I thought I'd go and check out the protest. I didn't have an affinity group and wasn't feeling that sociable so I just ended up watching really.

Lancaster House has a front entrance on the Mall (the big avenue that goes from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace), and a back entrance. On one side is a park.

By the front entrance there were many police vans, and also an array of satellite dishes. At first I thought these were something to do with tv news broadcasting but it looked more like they were security related. Anyone got any idea what they're for?

The protest wasn't that big, but it's good that it happened. World Development Movement (WDM) had banners saying "Drop The Debt" and did some shouting and stuff and they had a big board which said "Since this meeting began _______ children have died of poverty.", with an electronic counter that increased by 1 about every three seconds.

After a while, the samba band Rhythms Of Resistance arrived on the scene, colourfully dressed, knocking out some funky rhythms.

There was an anarchist / horizontal contingent who arrived early on the scene. For a while, they could be seen walking around in small groups looking dodgy (but in a good way!) and being followed by various police officers. "You follow these two, I'll keep an eye on this lot" I heard one uniformed man say to his colleague. I didn't stay until the end, so I'm not sure what they got up to eventually but I suspect they got some banners out or something.

There are lots more of these ministerials before the G8 Summit in Gleneagles. Anyone got a list of dates?
bloke