REPRESSION UPDATE: RE RAIDS ON GERMAN CONVERGENCE CENTRES:
No one 'really' arrested (just 'detained' in the after-raid protests). Police do have the right to ask for ID and stop and search at any time. During the German raids a little over a week ago, they simply copied the contents of hard drives instead of physically confiscating items.
June 7th 'Star' march: Has been banned, but there are still 3 weeks until then, and legal proceedings have started to challenge this ruling.
BORDER UPDATE:
There has been some talk of closing borders, but this is simply not possible, and has been suggested that people try not using trains and highways, but smaller border crossings. If turned away, try somewhere else. And be sensible and leave the leaflets, black hoodies and masks at home.
Border checks - face checks - seem to generally be more concerned with drug trafficking.
There does not seem to be any indication of cross UK/German sharing of intelligence, but then again, it's ultimately difficult to ascertain just how anyone can know.
TRANSPORT:
Manchester Bus update: There was some interest in generated in the first meeting about hooking up with some Man folks for an 'illuminating' coach ride to G8.
Seems that they are pretty much full up, but that someone should maybe email them.
Car Share: Check out english page on Dissent site, or check out: www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/ for ride share info in Germany. It's a pretty good system of getting rides, but will be expected to pay for petrol.
Eurolines: about £79, cheaper if you book online. still spaces left. 17 hour ride, with a stopover in Hamburg or Amsterdam.
There are ongoing negotiations to have transportation between Hamburg and Rostock running 24 hours.
CAMPS:
3 confirmed camps:
- Rostock, the 'north' camp, which can hold about 4 - 5000 people (where it was proposed that maybe english folks initially meet up);
- Weichmanndorf, (or the 'Wendland camp') - which will eventually have water and electricity;
- Reddelich - has a contract to use space, can hold about 4000 people. There will be anti-sexist/trauma support there as well.
There are also convergence centers in Rostock, Berlin (decentralised convergence concept, with loads of little convergence centres, but that will close just prior to G8), Hamburg (which can be used by people coming a week or so in advance).
There is also the 'official' south camp (the commercial one), which student groups don't really like as it's too official, commercial, etc.
There will also be info points in cities like Hamburg to ask for updates, legal info, accomodation info, etc.
LEGAL:
Lawyers will try to be present ASAP at jails once they have been contacted, and there are approx 70 - 100 pro bono (that is, working for free, not pro 'bono'). There is a well established legal organisation called Red Help that will be present, helping people pay court fees etc, but will be working primarily in post arrest situations.
Look for signs saying EA (Ermittlungs Ausschuss) This means Legal Team.
RUN DOWN OF EVENTS:
again, refer to Dissent Network website for all details and updates.
Sat 2nd: East demo - anti capitalist groups
West demo - NGOs, anti racist and no borders groups will be at front of march.
Sun 3rd: Anti GM day
Mon 4th: No Borders Day - actions at detention centres, centralised demo in Rostock in afternoon, as well as conferences in evening.
Tues 5th: Anti Military day- actions at the airport in south.
Wed 6th: Blocades (where? everywhere?)
Thurs 7th: 'Star' march, from several surrounding cities, converging at fence.
**There will be one additional meeting this coming Thursday, 7 to 9 pm, and maybe a post G8 meeting on June 14th. As part of this meeting there will also be a get together of people staying in London to discuss and prepare the idea of a 'London G8 Solidarity and Info Point' during the G8 mobilisations in Germany. Come if you are staying in London but want to be part of the resistance to the G8!
see
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2007/05/371153.html
There will also be posted sometime soon 'Plan B', in case all of the above goes pear shaped and gets wrecked. Stay posted.
This is booklet is very useful: http://dissentnetzwerk.org/files/UK_visitors.pdf
No one 'really' arrested (just 'detained' in the after-raid protests). Police do have the right to ask for ID and stop and search at any time. During the German raids a little over a week ago, they simply copied the contents of hard drives instead of physically confiscating items.
June 7th 'Star' march: Has been banned, but there are still 3 weeks until then, and legal proceedings have started to challenge this ruling.
BORDER UPDATE:
There has been some talk of closing borders, but this is simply not possible, and has been suggested that people try not using trains and highways, but smaller border crossings. If turned away, try somewhere else. And be sensible and leave the leaflets, black hoodies and masks at home.
Border checks - face checks - seem to generally be more concerned with drug trafficking.
There does not seem to be any indication of cross UK/German sharing of intelligence, but then again, it's ultimately difficult to ascertain just how anyone can know.
TRANSPORT:
Manchester Bus update: There was some interest in generated in the first meeting about hooking up with some Man folks for an 'illuminating' coach ride to G8.
Seems that they are pretty much full up, but that someone should maybe email them.
Car Share: Check out english page on Dissent site, or check out: www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/ for ride share info in Germany. It's a pretty good system of getting rides, but will be expected to pay for petrol.
Eurolines: about £79, cheaper if you book online. still spaces left. 17 hour ride, with a stopover in Hamburg or Amsterdam.
There are ongoing negotiations to have transportation between Hamburg and Rostock running 24 hours.
CAMPS:
3 confirmed camps:
- Rostock, the 'north' camp, which can hold about 4 - 5000 people (where it was proposed that maybe english folks initially meet up);
- Weichmanndorf, (or the 'Wendland camp') - which will eventually have water and electricity;
- Reddelich - has a contract to use space, can hold about 4000 people. There will be anti-sexist/trauma support there as well.
There are also convergence centers in Rostock, Berlin (decentralised convergence concept, with loads of little convergence centres, but that will close just prior to G8), Hamburg (which can be used by people coming a week or so in advance).
There is also the 'official' south camp (the commercial one), which student groups don't really like as it's too official, commercial, etc.
There will also be info points in cities like Hamburg to ask for updates, legal info, accomodation info, etc.
LEGAL:
Lawyers will try to be present ASAP at jails once they have been contacted, and there are approx 70 - 100 pro bono (that is, working for free, not pro 'bono'). There is a well established legal organisation called Red Help that will be present, helping people pay court fees etc, but will be working primarily in post arrest situations.
Look for signs saying EA (Ermittlungs Ausschuss) This means Legal Team.
RUN DOWN OF EVENTS:
again, refer to Dissent Network website for all details and updates.
Sat 2nd: East demo - anti capitalist groups
West demo - NGOs, anti racist and no borders groups will be at front of march.
Sun 3rd: Anti GM day
Mon 4th: No Borders Day - actions at detention centres, centralised demo in Rostock in afternoon, as well as conferences in evening.
Tues 5th: Anti Military day- actions at the airport in south.
Wed 6th: Blocades (where? everywhere?)
Thurs 7th: 'Star' march, from several surrounding cities, converging at fence.
**There will be one additional meeting this coming Thursday, 7 to 9 pm, and maybe a post G8 meeting on June 14th. As part of this meeting there will also be a get together of people staying in London to discuss and prepare the idea of a 'London G8 Solidarity and Info Point' during the G8 mobilisations in Germany. Come if you are staying in London but want to be part of the resistance to the G8!
see
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2007/05/371153.html There will also be posted sometime soon 'Plan B', in case all of the above goes pear shaped and gets wrecked. Stay posted.
This is booklet is very useful:
http://dissentnetzwerk.org/files/UK_visitors.pdf
