You people need to chill out and stop being so violent. remember the words of the Beatles from 1968:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wgmNtcRmu8

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right

However prepare for a backlash from people who fetishise violent protests, and subesquently are all too eager to rabidly denounce anyone who dares to post an opinion other than how wonderful it is that windows are getting smashed, cars torched, and people hospitalised. Oh and no doubt we are MI5/MI6/CIA agents who wish to undermine the pure thinking posting this

Personally I do advocate self-defence if a peaceful protest is attacked by cops, but I don't like the way that people on here tend to cast an uncritical view of any ruckus with the cops/state/system/insert flavour of the month here while accusing anyone who doesn't glorify this as either brainwashed or working for the state.

And yer you know what happened to the beatles PLC - a multi billion pound empire.

Keep on smashing

can't help noticing that the german cops wheel out those water cannon at the slightest provocation. not really surprising that the baader meinhof gang came to being some decades ago because all protests then were dealt with so ruthlessly that they must have felt violence was the only effective response to such state violence. hope all the g8 protesters go well prepared. I'd recommend taking:

expendable waterproof jacket with a waist draw cord that's done up tight = unlike rain, that water jet is not just falling vertically.

waterproof trousers.

undamaged sealeasy plastic bags for protecting your delicate electronics like phones, cameras etc. chandlers do more robust triple sealed ones specially for the job.

unless it's seriously warm, don't wear cotton next to the skin as that water will be effectively straight from the mains, very cold which can numb and weaken your muscles and wet cotton in contact with your body chills it for a long time and takes days to dry. synthetic fleece is warm when wet and drys quickly.

contact lens and spectacle wearers should take some safety goggles. or everyone should consider wearing transparent safety visors like what the cops are wearing that cover the whole face = maybe from a tool shop.

the force of the jet can propel you several metres horizontally and skid you along abrasive tarmac so maybe wear knee/elbow padding and leather gloves. anyone running around in shorts and t shirt can expect to lose several layers of skin.

You don't know much about the Beatles. In fact Lennon changed the lyrics to that song to: "Don't you know you can count me out/in" he came to realise change wasn't so simple. If you want peace you have to struggle hard, you have to resist. Don't fetishise violence but you don't get to choose what you'd rather do.

since you're playing the 'quote musicians game' how about this one from Elvis Costello in his song "The Other Side of Summer.":

"Was it a millionaire who sang "Imagine no posessions?"

you havent got a clue what was going on behind the scenes and the context from just those photos.

stop writing bullshit.

Whatever the protest, we each have to decide what we are there for, and how we will react in a situation where it all kicks off.

My take? Mindless running amok for the hell of it pisses off the peaceful protestors, frightens the residents, and unless any acts of violence against property are carefully targeted they do little to advance any cause. Mindful resistance, and refusing to be intimidated by lines of armed police? An act of bravery and poetry that moves me to tears, and encourages solidarity.

Violence against people, beyond self defence, automatically means the police have won - and legitimises their violence to us.

What really matters is your purity of intent, and what you do after the excitement and adrenalin rush of the demo. no revolution without personal evolution.