Asserting our right to demonstrate
Mark Mozaz Wallis: | 21.05.2005 11:02 | G8 2005 | Sheffield
Some Background.. We can debate and I have no doubt people will debate the rights and wrongs of asking the police for a demo during the G8 protest.. However The Sheffield Against G8 Collective felt at the time it was right to ask the police for a protest. Over the last few weeks this has been an ongoing process we asked Dr Jillian Creasey, green councillor for sheffield city centre, and J smith long term activist to undertake this task. You can view all e mails on this here 
http://lists.aktivix.org/pipermail/g8-sheffield/
http://lists.aktivix.org/pipermail/g8-sheffield/
I feel this is a important news item for here and ask the imc collective make this a middle page article. for now i post a copy of an e mail from Dr Jillian Creasey and a copy of a letter, she is asking for all members of the Sheffield community to add their comments to.. I'll make an effort to start a wiki page here http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/G8 for people to add their comments and feelings on this..
There is a full council meeting on the 1st June with a planned protest.. I'll post as a reply to this article more info on this and a call out from urbanparanoia on this meeting..
For now read and debate the what Dr Jillian Creasey has asked and suggested to be done..
Mozaz
Dear all
The negotiations with the police seem to be at a standstill - I suggested a route to Sgt Roche, but he has not got back to me. In case things don't progress, it would be good to have some public pressure ready to apply. John Smith has drafted this letter which we could spread far and wide by email/web and get load so signatures from individuals and organisations. What do people think? Is there someone out there who could set up a way of signing up to it on the our website? Or offer a postal address for collecting "hard copy" addresses?
Jillian
Open Letter: G8 summit: Sheffield people call for right to protest to be respected.
On June 16, the interior ministers of the world's seven richest nations (along with the decorative presence of Russia) meet in Sheffield to discuss how to step up the offensive against our human rights and our democratic rights which is being conducted under the banner of the 'war against terrorism'. Sheffield Against the G8 and other organisations (name them...) are joining together to organise a mass demonstration to protest against the disgrace brought upon our city by their presence.
Negotiations with the police to arrange a route are presently stuck, as local police representatives are awaiting instructions from 'higher up'. We are concerned that the police/government will attempt to suppress our right to protest in the centre of our city, and instead attempt to marginalise our demonstration by forcing it to the fringes.
This demonstration will be peaceful and self-disciplined. Young and old; families with children; the able-bodied and the disabled - in short everyone - is invited to participate. Anyone who does not respect the defined route of the demonstration and the stewards who will be appointed to keep order is not welcome and will be told to go away. We believe that any attempt to deny our right to march through the city centre on the grounds of our inability to protect the character of the demonstration would be a grave and unacceptable infringement of our rights.
http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/G8 for people to add their comments and feelings on this.. There is a full council meeting on the 1st June with a planned protest.. I'll post as a reply to this article more info on this and a call out from urbanparanoia on this meeting..
For now read and debate the what Dr Jillian Creasey has asked and suggested to be done..
Mozaz
Dear all
The negotiations with the police seem to be at a standstill - I suggested a route to Sgt Roche, but he has not got back to me. In case things don't progress, it would be good to have some public pressure ready to apply. John Smith has drafted this letter which we could spread far and wide by email/web and get load so signatures from individuals and organisations. What do people think? Is there someone out there who could set up a way of signing up to it on the our website? Or offer a postal address for collecting "hard copy" addresses?
Jillian
Open Letter: G8 summit: Sheffield people call for right to protest to be respected.
On June 16, the interior ministers of the world's seven richest nations (along with the decorative presence of Russia) meet in Sheffield to discuss how to step up the offensive against our human rights and our democratic rights which is being conducted under the banner of the 'war against terrorism'. Sheffield Against the G8 and other organisations (name them...) are joining together to organise a mass demonstration to protest against the disgrace brought upon our city by their presence.
Negotiations with the police to arrange a route are presently stuck, as local police representatives are awaiting instructions from 'higher up'. We are concerned that the police/government will attempt to suppress our right to protest in the centre of our city, and instead attempt to marginalise our demonstration by forcing it to the fringes.
This demonstration will be peaceful and self-disciplined. Young and old; families with children; the able-bodied and the disabled - in short everyone - is invited to participate. Anyone who does not respect the defined route of the demonstration and the stewards who will be appointed to keep order is not welcome and will be told to go away. We believe that any attempt to deny our right to march through the city centre on the grounds of our inability to protect the character of the demonstration would be a grave and unacceptable infringement of our rights.
Mark Mozaz Wallis:
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The G8 in Sheffield - why does it matter?
21.05.2005 11:42
Many Sheffield people will now be aware that the G8 Interior and Justice Ministers are meeting in Sheffield on 15-17 June 2005 - but what is it all about?
The G8 is not a democratic forum - it is an exclusive meeting of the seven biggest economies in the world, plus Russia. It's rather like the big boys ganging up in a corner of the school playground.
The G8's agenda has never been to solve the problems of hunger and health experienced by three-quarters of the world's population. They meet to make the world safe for globalisation - a process that puts capitalists in control of everything, right across the world.
The G8 states support globalisation through privatisation (e.g. of water supplies in Africa, as well as your bus services) and war (e.g. in Iraq, and the threats to Iran and Cuba). This adds to insecurity in countries in the global South, such as Bolivia and Ghana. Then people migrate, as they cannot survive or prosper in countries threatened by war or environmental catastrophe.
The Interior Ministers will be sharing ideas about combating terrorism, which they see as the worst threat. They have used terrorism as an excuse to:
a.. lock up suspects without a trial
b.. increase the state's control by keeping information about everyone, through ID cards for example
c.. play on people's fear of outsiders, and people with different beliefs, appearance or cultures
When the G8 comes to Sheffield, we'll see some of their ideas in action:
a.. residents in Nether Edge have been told they will have to carry a passport to enter and leave their homes
a.. armed police will patrol the streets and helicopters will hang overhead for days on end
b.. your email and phone calls may be intercepted
c.. you will be excluded from your city centre while the G8 wine and dine there
d.. pubs, theatres, clubs and restaurants have been asked to close, and transport will be disrupted
Your local MP and city council are, in fact, so proud of your city that they are prepared to exclude all citizens from it in order to show it off.
If you would like to add your voice to the protest against this way of running the world, join the peaceful demonstration in the city centre at 5.30 on Weds 15th June, and see
The G8 in Sheffield - why does it matter?
How was the decision to host the G8 in Sheffield taken?
21.05.2005 11:44
How have city centre traders and businesses been informed of arrangements for the G8 visit?
Have the churches and other faith communities been consulted about the visit?
Was the appropriate Area Panel (Nether Edge, Broomhill and Central) informed or consulted re the G8 visit?
Why was hosting the G8 not discussed in Full Council?
Were all the party leaders consulted about the G8 visit?
Effects in city
Will the G8 visit put Sheffield on the map because of mass protests?
What will be the economic effect of closing down the city centre for 3 days?
What will the G8 visit do for our credentials as a Fairtrade city?
Will the city council assess the effects of diverting most of its police force into protecting the G8?
What compensation has been offered to city centre traders and businesses?
Will the buses and trams run as normal throughout the G8 visit?
Is it true that the people of NetherEdge have been issued with passes?
G8 agenda
Will the G8 discuss ways of helping Sheffield's 300+ destitute asylum seekers?
Will the G8 discuss ways of stopping people fleeing environmental disasters?
Will the G8 discuss ways of stopping people fleeing war?
Will the G8 discuss the conditions of detainees in Guantanamo?
Will the G8 discuss control orders for people who haven't had been tried in court?
Will the G8 discuss ID cards?
Will the G8 discuss how to police anti-war protests?
Will the G8 discuss the privatisation of essential services such as water?
Will the G8 discuss the extension of PFI?
Which member of the G8 does the Council Leader most admire, and why?
If the G8 is such a good thing, why should they be afraid of Sheffield people?
When will Sheffield invite the leaders of the 8 poorest nations of the world?
What has the G8 done to close the gap internationally?
The G8 is a self selected, unelected caucus which meets outside the UN or the WTO - what kind of example does this set to national and local government?
How was the decision to host the G8 in Sheffield taken?