polls show around 70% of britons want troops out of iraq, but only a few thousand turned up today for the 'stop the war coalition' march and rally in trafalger square. however, as the rally ended, a small band of people walked down whitehall and set up their response to the war pledging to remain outside downing street until the troops come home. now they just need a morsel of support from all those britons against the war.

i don't know if police were expecting more, but there was a ridiculous over presence at the start of the 'white flag revolution' protest opposite downing street. around 20 officers protected the gates of downing street, while another 20 trampled over the newly laid grass area outside the ministry of defence, making sure no peace protestors could damage it. another 20 lined the road, plus there were about a dozen police vans in the vicinity, as well as several 'spotters' (a current police term for 'forward intelligence teams').

all this for a group of protestors that didn't number more than a few dozen, armed with white flags and a handful of tents.

at first the tents were an issue, and police warned they would not be allowed to stay, but as numbers dwindled and around 50 people were left, police backed down and said the tents were a problem for westminster council rather than the police.

songs were sung, food was shared, circles were formed, and the police gradually withdrew, leaving a small crew of less than a dozen guarding the grass, and protecting the 'high security sites' of downing street and the defence buildings.

with the camp well and truly established, it's now an opportunity to create media attention and challenge the government on their doorstep.

70% of the population apparently tell pollsters they want the troops home from afghanistan - that's around 40 million people. if just 0.1% of those took the time to join this protest, there would be 40,000 people camping outside downing street. historically, revolutions have started with less!

now is a real opportunity then to network and build up numbers. a handful of very committed activists have begun the process, they are now begging for others to join them, even if only for a few hours at a time in shifts, though ideally with provisions, supplies, the necessary means to stay.

with popular outrage at swingeing cuts, with the war costing untold billions every year, with banks pocketing public bail-outs, and with students, doctors, firemen, public sector workers, and the poor getting angrier and angrier at an unelected government's assault on their future, now might be the time to join the dots, and join this small but potentially important protest.