boat actions goin off at DSEi - this morning - sat

newsbit | 06.09.2003 09:28 | DSEi 2003 | Anti-militarism | London

A pixie just told me that this morning people have been protesting against the dsei arms fair, taking direct action on the water against military ships arriving for the fair.

not much more info at the moment - there were about around a dozen people taking part in the action, most of whom are no doubt on their way to charing cross police station (where it seems everyone being arrested near the excel dsei centre is being taken - inc several people last night for various things inc flyposting).

peace.

newsbit

Comments

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Just got back from docks

06.09.2003 09:46

I happened to be in the area and got some footage (will upload later today).

What I saw was about half a dozen small inflatable boats (with cow heads?) making for the swing bridge and the locks. Police presense was obviously massive and I avoided getting close until the action started. I then tried to cross the bridge but was detained ("no we are not detaining you") by police so couldn't see much. I did see a couple of people in the water in suits. I didn't see the ship that was coming in but heard that it had been radioed and told to proceed with caution as there were people in the water.

I saw about half a dozen people arrested. They were land support people or perhaps people attempting to lockon to the bridge - impossible to tell but the police did confirm that people had tried to lockon. Those arrested will have been taken to Charing Cross which is the charging centre for the whole dsei policing thang.

I didn't see the people in the water getting removed thanks to the oh so friendly coppers. Helecopter kept circling. Suspect the ship was coming into the locks as I left. Didn't fancy hanging around as I got nicked last nigh in the area and didn't want to spend more time doing the charing cross thing.

Anyway, off to sort out video.

More news from the water front

06.09.2003 12:00

I've heard that one of the other teams (with canoes) outside of the docks, managed to get infront of the ship and delay it for a little while. No further news. Video coming soon...

This tiny actions are pointless

06.09.2003 14:54

These tiny actions which get people arrested are pointless. What is needed is mass actions involving tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands that can do maximum damage with no risk of arrest. I f you were doing these stupid tiny, heroic actions in Colombia, Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia or Iran these actions would get you tortured and executed! Please no more stupid heroic actions. Only mass actions! The mass actions in Serbia in 1999 which brought down Milosevic are the best example to follow.

Rockwell

what an insightful comment

06.09.2003 16:49

what insightful criticism, rockwell..... you find the masses and we'll start doing actions with them..... unfortunately at the moment, i think the masses here in england are quite happy sitting on their asses watching footy and drinking beer....... so until the glorious day when they heed your call, a small number of people in the gluttonous west will still keep doing what you deem "stupid, heroic actions"-- not out of stupidity, not out of heroicism, but out of love, rage, and a simple desire to do something when others refuse to act....

berlin

These people deserve our support

06.09.2003 17:56

These people who lock themselves together to form a human roadblock or put themselves in the way of warships are all spanners in the war machine, causing delays and hassles for the death merchants and their customers. The more hassle and delay there is, the less profitable it becomes, and the more chance of various powers that be deciding it's not worth doing another one next year.

Well done all of you NVDA-ers, keep up the good work. Respect is due.

Simon