WORTHING'S Critical Mass against the G8 and Climate Change on Saturday April 30 turned out to be a big success in several ways.
Twenty minutes after the official "gathering" time of 2pm, there were clearly going to be enough people taking part for the whole thing to work out! Hooray!
And after the 50 or 60 cyclists and foot followers had pulled out onto the main Brighton Road and entered the one-way system, there was still no sign of the local constabulary.
One patrol car eventually turned up and tried to halt the procession, but it was too late and too little to derail the proceedings.
The very slow-moving convoy successfully caused a major tail-back of traffic in the busiest road in town, then doubled back on the other side of the dual carriageway to let the drivers stuck in the queue know what it had all been about.
Thanks to last summer's high-profile town squat, Shut The G8 is quite well known in Worthing and an impressive contingent of local teenagers turned out on this event.
Everyone seemed to have a fun time on a sunny day and there was a great deal of enthusiasm for holding another one in the near future. Watch this space!
And after the 50 or 60 cyclists and foot followers had pulled out onto the main Brighton Road and entered the one-way system, there was still no sign of the local constabulary.
One patrol car eventually turned up and tried to halt the procession, but it was too late and too little to derail the proceedings.
The very slow-moving convoy successfully caused a major tail-back of traffic in the busiest road in town, then doubled back on the other side of the dual carriageway to let the drivers stuck in the queue know what it had all been about.
Thanks to last summer's high-profile town squat, Shut The G8 is quite well known in Worthing and an impressive contingent of local teenagers turned out on this event.
Everyone seemed to have a fun time on a sunny day and there was a great deal of enthusiasm for holding another one in the near future. Watch this space!
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Whoopee yay
06.05.2005 16:33
Your shouts of protest fall on deaf ears. The politicians and corporate bosses aren't listening, and they are powerful enough to stamp and resistance out if it gets too dangerous to them. Might as well face up to the truth that capitilism is here to stay, so lets make the best out of a bad bunch.
Resistance is futile.
ex-activst who has seen common sense
Resistance is Fertile
06.05.2005 22:27
Capitalism may well be continuing while you were there or not but at least it will cause a few, (out of the many effected by your group action) to consider why you felt the need to disrupt traffic. Even to join in future actions.
CM is also a good social event for those not sure about how to demonstrate their right to protest, don't even need a bike.
No Sense yet!
Too many stupid people I'm afraid
09.05.2005 21:17
Face it, if people really were going to join your cause they would have already done it, if these critical mass demos started getting people to think the way you want them to think (rather than go all reactionary on your arse) and then join your cause, they would have so many people involved that it would soon get widespread notice outside of your little activist cliques. As it stands people wanting to involve themselves on these things remain a tiny fraction of the population, and as I said previously, it's buisness as usual the next day, and there isn't anything you can do about it.
This is why I have jacked it in. Had enough of banging my head against a proverbial brick wall.
ex-activist
Get demoralised and give up!
10.05.2005 18:26
"There isn't anything you can do about it".
Yes, that's right. Nothing to see here. Go back to your homes.
Sounds a rather familiar line.
Hmmmm........
hmmmmm....
Not the MI5/6 agent accusations, please...
10.05.2005 20:35
Well, I saw this on the UK page which includes posts from all the local UK based IMC's (expect Bristol which has its own page), actually. Nowt wrong with keeping in touch with the news that I would hear from corporate sources, is there? Mebbe I just wanted to be controversial just in case the counter argument may have inspired me to believe anything other than that resistance is futile (which it hasn't). But thanks for the advice. I'll waste my time here no more.
ex-activist
correction on last comment
10.05.2005 21:05
ex-activist
resistance is still fertile
10.05.2005 21:34
Having went along to a few successful CM rides the feeling from being in a large (ish) group of riders and feeling safe from the traffic, having a chat to people i don't know, generally socialising/getting to know people with similar interests etc?... Is a very fulfilling and generally leaves myself (and friends) with a good outlook to the future. Knowing that people can still see that there is a point to actions of this kind, e.g. getting people together and helping each other.
I haven't participated in any CM rides because i either wanted to change drivers attitudes to other road users, (don't think thats why CM exists) or because i wanted to annoy car drivers (although obviously this is the case)...but for the reasons stated. Namely being in a group where everyone shares common interests or goals and are all working together to achieve those goals.
If you have decided that its all pointless and have given up, then that is your choice...myself i still like the choice to protest against things that i believe to be wrong/unsafe/unfair...
why give up