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Demockracy Village in Parliament Square

[London] | 19.05.2010 22:22 | London

During this year's MayDday festivities, and despite torrential rain, a village of some twenty tents sprung up in in Parliament Square. Activists from Peacestrike and supporters have been living in the Demockracy Village ever since, staging a regular series of actions [1 | 2 | 3] and banner drops [1 | 2] calling for an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan and for the troops to be  brought home. Three weeks later, the village is still ongoing, and activists claim to be committed to maintaining an ongoing presence on Parliament Square until their demands are met.

See a timeline of reports from the village and the actions around it.


Reports from the Indymedia newswires:


Sunday 2nd:


Monday 3rd:


Wednesday 5th:


Thursday 6th:


Monday 10th:


Friday 14th:


Saturday 15th:


Sunday 16th:


Monday 17th:

 

Statement From The Democracy Village, Parliament Square

We, the concerned citizens of the Democracy Village on Parliament Square, demand on behalf of the majority of people that the war in Afghanistan is ended and the troops are brought home with immediate effect.

The Democracy Village calls all like-minded concerned citizens to come and join us. We are calling a Strike for Peace until our demands are met. We are committed to maintaining an ongoing presence on Parliament Square.

All are welcome to come and stay for a few hours, a day, or a night.
Donations of food and equipment are very welcome. Bring a sleeping bag and tent if you plan to stay.

In this election, no major party has offered the choice to end this pointless war.
VOTE FOR PEACE by coming to the village today.

For more info phone or text:-

Camilla  07962 889459
Maria     07886 662091

Email: democracyvillage@gmail.com


[London]
- Original article on IMC London: http://london.indymedia.org/articles/4842

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

More than just a claim...

20.05.2010 08:12

You claim to not be a troll, but at the very least you need to do some research. I can't find any evidence at all that the majority of the UK population support the Afghanistan War, and overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Public opinion has barely changed at all in the last year.

Feb. 2010 (Angus-Reid):
63% want the government to withdraw the troops within the year
64% think it is unwinnable
52% oppose the war
55% believe the troops should never have been sent in the first place
29% feel adequately informed about the conflict by the government

Jan 2010 (Ifop-Humanité):
59% oppose sending more troops

Dec. 2009 (Angus-Reid):
56% are opposed to military involvement in Afghanistan
56% oppose sending more troops

Nov. 2009 (ComRes):
71% want troops out within the year

I could go on, but it's tedious repeating the same thing over and over again :)

As to accepting differences of opinion, why don't you go and check it out yourself? You'll find that it's a very nice open atmosphere - decisions are made on consensus and everyone is able to have their voice heard. I wouldn't expect much enthusiasm for your views if you intend to justify the war, but if you argue it intelligently and respectfully you'll be listened to.

C

Comatus

PS

20.05.2010 08:19

Forgot to address the monopoly point - it's not an unfair assumption to make from a distance, that other protests would be forced out by the presence of the village; but it is wrong. There have been several other protests in the vicinity which have gone perfectly well, usually with the support of the villagers (coincidence of interests) - that purple protest for electoral fairness, Tamils, and several others. And Brian Haw is still carrying on his protest undeterred. So it's a bit unfair to say that the Democracy Village is forcing other protests out.

C

Comatus