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features | 16.09.2005 23:00 | DSEi 2005 | Anti-militarism | London
DSEi 2005: There have been 57 arrests in relation to the DSEI policing operation to date +++ Convergence Centre +++ For full list of anti-DSEi actions, protests and events see: [ Disarm DSEi - CAAT Listing ] +++ Legal Advice Card (pdf) | Legal Briefing (pdf)
Full Timelines of DSEi Events: Sat 10th | Tues 13th | Wed 14th | Thurs 15th
Disarm DSEi | Campaign Against Arms Trade | Beat the Bombers - Party for Peace
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Hide the following 15 comments
So.....
10.09.2005 16:14
Nothing happened today then?
Tyler
Yes it did ...
10.09.2005 18:46
and Pics here:
You obiously didn't do much yourself Tyler if you didn't know, easier to moan isn't it?
party for peace
Eh, Party for Peace...
10.09.2005 22:36
Missed the timeline obviously.
And no obviously I wasn't there, other commitments, but will be there Tuesday and Wednesday.
Is that alright with you?
Tyler
News from DSEi
13.09.2005 15:35
Information from The Metropolitan Police (3.40pm)
A march of approximately 200 people walked from Newham Town Hall to the ExCeL centre this afternoon (13.9.05). On reaching their destination the majority of people involved in the march have now disbanded.
The small group of approximately 50 protesters who were in the Custom House area have mainly dispersed although approximately five people remain.
Toby
Toby
e-mail:
Tobyc@mtcp.co.uk
The Numbers Game
15.09.2005 14:57
Two things to say:
First, don't be too down-hearted folks! For every hardcore activist taking part there will be many more following events on IndyMedia and saying 'yeah, go for it!' Your impact is greater than you may think. All protest movements start small and get bigger.
Second, bear in mind activists have made certain tactical and political choices which were bound to have this effect. Rejecting StW-style populist mass mobilisation in favour of direct action does inevitably mean accepting smaller numbers, doesn't it?
The argument is that direct action is more effective and involving, not so much A-to-B marching and speeches 'from the platform' - but the trade-off is a smaller activist base.
Either we say okay, fair enough, so be it - or maybe be prepared to compromise a bit on tactics and do some stuff (I hesitate to say it!) a bit more like StW do?
Mr Spoon
NOT ENOUGH OF US
15.09.2005 23:39
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
Very unhappy
16.09.2005 10:39
If we want to stop DSEI 2007 we need to re-think from the ground up. This year we failed.
Sue
144 arrests says bbc
17.09.2005 11:52
Apart from the CAAT march, I don't think there were much more than 250 people involved with counter-actions.
Where did the BBC get its numbers from?
Link:
not a clown
2003
17.09.2005 17:52
indymedia got its figures by paying attention.
me
Peaks and Troghs ( and more troughs?).
18.09.2005 11:25
You cant just blame it on the qualified success of the G8 mobilisation by the "Anti-Authoritarian" Left (AAL), which included the Dissent Network, and the iffy organisation of its leadership.
It's not surprising that most "direct action" activists stayed at home for DESi 2005. I mean who wants to run around like a headless chicken being repressed by the cops, without any prospect of disrupting the arms fair.
It's not right to just expect loads of people to turn up without organisers liaising with other left groups.
DESi 2003 attracted thousands, but after it the AAL ignored other lefts who did a lot of work to mobilise for DESi 2003. Some commented that they were getting too big for their boots, and were clueless about building an effective movement. But I would absolutely say that's not completely true.
The AAL can learn lessons from the experiences of the G8 and DESi this and last year, and rebuild ther forces. There is a need to face reality and not the follow the whims of its leaders. If the AAL arrogantly stand alone not only will they not count for very much at all, but they will completely dissapear off the radar.
Good luck, but get real.
Clandestino
Not that clued up ?
19.09.2005 06:58
That's because DESI is every two years and there wasn't one in 2004. Perhaps a little research before posting next time
Not clandestino enough
see my comments on stop the war us and uk demos
28.09.2005 16:55
if you are not in the news then you do not exist.
jolly jim
More people needed, more awareness needed
05.10.2005 19:39
Surely stopping war has something to do with selling arms?
The police and docklands rail system would have been easily overwhelmed by such numbers of people simply using this method of public transport (using a 4 zone travel card to justify them being there!) and essentially shut down DSEI!
Im not slagging off the efforts of those who had a go at DSEI (good on you for getting in there), but you need to be a bit more imaginative then just sitting down at the station and then getting dragged away by aggressive coppers. How about a few people jumping on the track and running in opposite directions - it would take hours to get the trains running again.
People should have been handing out flyers in central london and on the tubes, making everyone aware of what was going on at DSEI.
People should have hijacked the 'fuel protesters' media opportunities and got on National TV.
You have to remember that if it doesnt go on the news, then the event never existed. And, other than back slapping within the protest scene, this is essentially what happens every year.
Lets get organised!
Jolly Jim
jolly jim
direct action dead?
10.10.2005 11:48
working class community and workplace self organisation is the only way to challange the arms trade, not sitting outside a DLR station with some babies and a tame pedophile.
barry blagger
no its up to you
24.10.2005 13:52
Fin