How did you all feel when you saw the Chinook land and the police stormed out? I thought this was awesome and showed the world what our police are prepared to do in the name of upholding law and order

"How did you all feel when you saw the Chinook land and the police stormed out? I thought this was awesome and showed the world what our police are prepared to do in the name of upholding law and order"

i too thought it an awesome event, if only to confirm to me that to a great extent the united forces of great britains finests riot coppers (surely political pigs!!) were overstretched that day.

they never had a clue what was happening that day, run ragged much like in the square mile on j18 years back.

as i say.............awesome,

see you at dsei?

Dissent gatherings may be pc but are so so fucking childish and boring. Perhaps the Welsh can be different.

You'll never sell anarchism to the public if it's so boring, really. Wouldn't you rather be repressed and exploited rather than bored out of ya bonce!

I think you need to firm up an anarchist network. It could be called a libertarian socialist network which is what I'd call myself, but that wouldn't go down well with the eco-fascists. Call it what you like with a user-friendly name. But it can be built on what has so far been developed.

This new network could then be part of Dissent, which could continue to co-ordinate things across the whole, and very loosely called anti-authoritarian left.. If Dissent goes then at least that remains.

I don't know why I am suggesting this, except that if you don't do something different Dissent will just disappear. The positions of power need rotating and not just amongst mates, otherwise things will just atrophy. Individuals need to be more generous and outward looking.

Those that have been organisers have worked very hard and achieved some great things - that’s come a long way and should be congratulated ... probably - because I don’t know what was really going on.

If things are not open and openly discussed by all then the wrong decisions will be made and many in the network will feel excluded and get pissed off and vote with their feet.

Anyway, things need sorting out. A hierarchy has formed in Dissent, so it's not a non-hierarchical organisation. In fact the only difference between Dissent and a hierarchical organisation like Respect, is that Respect are honest about being hierarchical, Dissent would deny it. Either because they are blinkered to it; so much in love with it that they are blind. Or they just don’t realise it.

Its the best thing that has happened to the non-hierarchical left, ever, isn’t it? So it can be picked up, and be moved onto to a more advanced and effective period. Retaining what has been found to be effective, and discarding the bad and the nonsense is best. Honing skills on disinformation, pantomime and confusing the coppers and journos is worth perusing.

Those in positions of power, cant believe their luck. That's the problem. They are not used to power and authority, how to handle it, and just covet it like any other lover of power. They need to be more generous and trusting of others. But trust is built on experience and working together. Some of that should have been developed, and can be used after reflection.

Looking at the G8. There was some success, but over all it didn't achieve much politically. Perhaps a lot of new people were politicised: I really don't know if this happened not having spent much time at the eco-village - sorry just too weird and boring for me. I hope it did. There were some good kids there, but I think many people are just into themselves and their own shit, which is very inward looking, but i guess there are security (and paranoia) reasons for this.

Yes, honestly Dissent didn't have much of an impact in the big political picture. The blockade got some publicity, but it didn't really impact much on the G8. The north south access roads used by delegates weren't really touched. It was only the public highways that were closed. So locals suffered but the delegates didn't really.

I must say that was bad planning. Or am I wrong. There were people of high ability doing planning so i feel i might be wrong, and the police were just so good, and in such large numbers that there was no chance of blocking the north-south a round that the delegates used.

I feel it's pointless now trying to stop these big events, the police have got it down to a T now, and they have so many resources to hand. The event could be used to have a political gathering that offers alternative political solutions. I nice village could be set up. But the excitement and challenge of a bit of a biff with the coppers wouldn't be there. No bad thing. Plenty of other opportunities for that.


If you were to be honest MPH, and g8 alternatives had the best two events/actions. The Sunday demo, and the demo to the gate of Gleneagles on the Wednesday.

Although the disruption in Edinburgh was effective, but to what end. I think the locals and the press could not make any sense of it, but perhaps I am wrong. I haven't read the reports on IM, or elsewhere - sorry.


The demo at Gleneagles was a success. The fence was nearly breached. 10,000 plus made the march. The townspeople were won over, mostly. Although the police nearly successful implemented a plan to trap the demo and beat the crap out of some. It was good that that was prevented by some of us.

They was a good rally on that day too. And to see all the drumming beds march was great including the band from Seattle. But the police were in control most of the day. They had planned well for Gleneagles. And the same will happen a t future G8s. I would be disinclined to mobilise in the same way again. Maybe use the time to mobilise locally. I don't know. Perhaps best to be tactical and play it year by year.

But to have the same predictable stand off between police and protesters is futile, and a waste of time and money. It could be better used.

So Dissent needs shaking up. Different people need to be put into the organising position, and not just mates or prodigies of the old ones. Otherwise the whole thing will fall apart. It might be a good idea to have an annual Dissent gathering, because Earth First and the PGA have slowly but surely diminished.

I think there should be a tight anarchist network, the components and collectives of which can operate within Dissent.

Anyway, they are some idea. As I ramble on with out much though whilst drinking my first coffee and having my first cigarette if the day.

It's meant to be constructive but it's honest too.

I wont be at the gatherings because they are just too difficult, and i might add too boring for me.

But have a constructive and fun time. I know |i sound negative, but it’s best to be realistic and take the baseline. I am sure that there are many who think Dissent has been a amazing success, and can go on to be an even greater one. They are probably right.

I dont agree with everything that Edward writes. In truth we have had our disagreements in the past, but he's always worth paying some regard, and a reasonable shag. I really disagree with the way that he has been treated. That is shit, really.

A big rethink on DISSENT is needed before it goes the way of all other moves. I was going to suugest a masscot for Dissent. The Wolf. We could make little furry wolves (not real fur, but sustainable shit), and sell them to make some bread. Call it Wolfy Wolf. I say, I was going to suggest it, but I wont, because you boring old farts will say its stupid.

A wooh be Wooh Wolfy!

Wolvina

I dont know you Wolvina. Some of what you write is definitely not true.

I am a virgin, so how can you give me a shagabilty rating.