G8 - Todays action

by dunk Wed Jun 13, 2007 01:34

What's hot and not

Wandergesellens
An itinerant crafts people with a tradition dating back to the 12th century. Not only do they sport shapely, double zipper cords and sexy hans solo waistcoats but they also created the most incredible camp at Reddlich. We were all feeling the spacious showers, the capacious bar and the bodacious children's playground.
-From geek to chic in an astonishingly short space of time

Widening the cracks*
The resistance metaphor du jour and an 'an endless source of smirks, giggles and wise-cracks'. ho ho! . From the five fingers* widening the cracks of the G8 summit itself to the anarchist teapot for widening the cracks of activist music dogma.
-cracks were widened everywhere.

*the word crack has several meanings, in this case it is provoking giggling as it is a slang word for the part between your buttocks.

*the five fingers tactic was the tecnique used to break through the police lines and worked incredibly effectively. Upon reaching a police line the mass of people would divide into five fingers- becoming an ungovernable mass.

The unsung heroes of the resistance
It was not all about front-line glory – from the guy who spent every afternoon picking up the litter, Carlos Camper who fielded the worlds media at the gates to the people that held the front-line of porta loo hygiene. None of it would have been possible without them.

Tandems- the new buddies

Concierge-Welcome tents are so last year

Centralised washing up systems
A massive leap forward in camp hygiene and a possible explanation for this years lack of Dissent!ry

Pink and black international brigade t shirts
This seasons must have essential commodification of our resistance

Out of Action barrio

Providing medical help, chill out, support spaces and great coffee!

Mobile Kitchens at the blockades for feeding the front lines

The hedonist international
For squatting extra land at Rostock, for the old skool hay bale rave and for mobilising the musical cavalry to the demo's and blockades

Working with the local communities
Never goes out of fashion, there was not enough but what there was, was hot

Dry nights before actions
BLOCK FIRST – DRINK LATER
Slightly undermined by all the other bars everywhere but a great idea.

Forest, poppies and relentless sunshine

The blockades

Both mass and autonomous- huge, diverse, sexy, inspiring- Que scorchio!!!!!
You could not see the five fingers in action without it stirring your loins so many tales of caring, sharing, solidarity, dignity and grace under pressure. Having a plan made a big difference we hope to be seeing more of this in seasons to come.

And last but by no means least
A marked improvement from 2005- the main event was stopping the G8 from happening rather than welcoming them to do more--- Hot!

What's not

Lack of queer male wandegesellens- although the what's hot team have it on good authority that there is one joining in six months time

Insurectionary ManArchists

Aggressive,unreasonable, and a constant source of movement strife. Can you please go and insurrect someone where else and come back after you have had some gender awareness workshops!

“Confusing tactics with political principals”

Gender balance in Turbulence- other wise it would have been on the Hot list.

Shitting by the sides of the blockades- Companer@s please!!!!!!

Peter Wahl from Attac
Can you take any more distance please?

Chemical toilets and the absence of compost toilets

Silo guarders
A big thank you to all the people that put there time and energy into protecting the strategically important grain silos. Not only were our our beautiful Mexican companer@s not allowed up there but the Queer barrio took action against the silo guarders due to reports that they had their binoculars trained on the showers during women's showering hours...
so not hot

Queer Identertarianism- kind of defeats the whole point no?

Camera Paranoia
There is helicopters flying over head with technology beyond our imaginations, cops on every demo with a plethora of cameras and everyone has a mobile with a camera on it anyway. It is pointless to go intimidating and in some cases attacking movement based independent journalists.

Suicide Block
For going 100m away from the camp to the small village of reddlich, taking down some garden fences, dismantling a rockery garden, throwing some mollies around then going back home to bed. Oh and bringing the riot cops home with you. A lot of posturing for, well, nothing really.

Counter summit for taking place on the 6th of June- the same day as the mass blockades

See link for previous hot/cold summarys

by Fr Nick Mon Jun 11, 2007 17:05

Posting comments on websites definitely makes sweet f**k all difference, but you still do it all the time, so each to his/her own I guess. The chances of the G8 delivering on their promises would be somewhere below zero, even Bono and Sir Bob have come out denouncing them as charlatans, so confronting them when they put on their farcical show is the only sensible way for anyone to relate to them.

by Dr Nick Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:37

"I have not eaten in three days, and dehydration caused me to collapse. I was isolated and yelled at. I was stripped searched 3 times and dragged naked from the shower in prison. They have taken my camera and did not return it to me on my release. I was relased from prison without any phone calls. I managed to get a lift off some random hippy guy to the train station. I there met 3 english comrades. I think I was released becuase they though I was english as I got a letter from the english embassy. If the other Irish comrade is not released soon, I urge the Irish left to organise a demostration outside the German Embassy. I was treated like a dog. My things are missing and Iäm sick with dyhydration, lack of sleep and hunger."

Your stay in the german prison sounds much like my time out in malawi where i worked last year. The majority of people we had coming into the hospital (makeshift hut) were dehydrated,naked,hungry and the women scared. It really is in the hands of the g8 to save the fate of developing countries.
I hope the g8 actually keep there promises this time to as the things I saw out in Malawi are easily rectified If only for a bit of funding and better infrastructure.
To be honest the protesters out in Germany would be more of a use trying to make an actual practical differnece somewhere else as we saw in gleanegles protesting outside the G9 makes sweet f*ck all differnce.

by toner Fri Jun 08, 2007 19:59

They say that two people "were arrested by Rostock police yesterday" (thursday) and are still in custody.

Irish protestors arrested at G8 conference
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0608/g81.html

by Arise Fri Jun 08, 2007 17:40

Myself along with another Irish comrade were arrested on Wednesday, I was released from Prison today about an hour ago, no word from other Irish comrade. I was treated really badly and spent 24 hours in the hospital wing of the prison. Full report to follow on my arrival home. It´s horrible here, complete police state. I have not eaten in three days, and dehydration caused me to collapse. I was isolated and yelled at. I was stripped searched 3 times and dragged naked from the shower in prison. They have taken my camera and did not return it to me on my release. I was relased from prison without any phone calls. I managed to get a lift off some random hippy guy to the train station. I there met 3 english comrades. I think I was released becuase they though I was english as I got a letter from the english embassy. If the other Irish comrade is not released soon, I urge the Irish left to organise a demostration outside the German Embassy. I was treated like a dog. My things are missing and Iäm sick with dyhydration, lack of sleep and hunger.

Getting back to the camp from the Prison was aided by englsih comrades, my thanks to them as they took me back in their mini van when I collapsed on release from Prison. Feleling much better now, will hopfully see all the Irish comrades soon.

by soundmigration Fri Jun 08, 2007 17:30

# 17:30
The solidarity demonstration from the Frieda has been legalised and will take a different route to the detention center in Ulmenstrasse. There are around 500 people present.

# 16:20
Around 300 people are standing in front of the police lines in Friedrichstrasse. Another hunderd are in Warnowufer where the police has also blocked the street and is ordering people to leave the cross roads.

# 16:00
Two water cannons have been positioned before the demonstration at Friedrichsstrasses. (prison

# 15:55
Around 1000 people are on Friedrichsstrasse. Police have put on their helmets and want to speak to one of the leaders of the gathering.

# 15:45
Around 1000 - 1500 people are making their way from the final demonstration towards the detention center at Ulmenstrasse ( detention centres) as part of a spontaneous demonstration.

by soundmigration Fri Jun 08, 2007 17:09

all people arrested are currently getting tranferred from two pretty appalling detention spaces at Ulmenstrasse to a more cosy former statsi prison where it is reported that spirits are very high.

all protestors arriving at this prison over the past few days, now numbering close to 800, have started immediate hunger strikes, whilst maintaining high festive vocals

most journalist have been blockaded and stopped from attending todays summits, with many diverting themselves from the blockades to the convergence spaces.

German papers are reporting todays actions as a victory for protestors with one leading paper suggesting that the G8 'leaders' should be looking towards the demands of those blockading for the real soltions to climate change and poverty.

it seems that for today, 'we are winning' actually has real resonance

by dunk Fri Jun 08, 2007 15:45

similar to shell station blocade at end of g8 2 years ago in Scotland:

Clownbatants from the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (CIRCA) visited two petrol stations in Glasgow today to thank Shell and Jet for their contributions to global warming. They brought paddling pools, sandpits, and aquariums to the forecourts, to illustrate the effects of climate change.

Related Link: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/317578.html

in Dublin there is a critical mass bike ride taking off soon and talk of a similar shell station occupation too
http://indymedia.ie/article/82887

by dunk Fri Jun 08, 2007 15:41

irish activist speaking live on g8=radio about the shell occupation of 60= 70 activists, in solidarity with ireland and ogoni land
listen here
rossport solidarity camp set up in one of the local camps
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/179702.shtml
Jetsam (German and English) radio

from timeline
http://de.indymedia.org/ticker/en/
08.06.2007
14:45
60 - 70 people are blockading a Shell-Station in Evershagen. Nine police emergency vehicles are at the location, however holding back.

by dunk Fri Jun 08, 2007 15:30

Earlier on imc-ie there was an interesting article / discussion which opened>

The G8 will be visiting Germany next summer, and the “travelling circus” of protesters (as it was dubbed by Tony Blair) are already mobilising for the occasion. But it seems clear that the hey-day of summit protests is long past.

So, if summit protests are long past, as a strategy to change things, what alternatives are being proposed`.
Is the battle winnable, if so, what has to be done..

by dunk Fri Jun 08, 2007 15:10

There have been many arrests in Germany, a few have been arrested, tried and sentanced to 10-12 months with no bail, hopefully these are not our Irish friends

by dunk Fri Jun 08, 2007 14:15

---------------Australia
Melbourne
G8 solidarity speakout at GPO
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/06/146258.php

---------------Portugal
Porto
Porto Ahainst the G8
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372667.html
http://sardera.blogspot.com/2007/06/o-porto-contra-o-g8....html

------------------------------------------communication space and actions
---------------Mali
Sikasso
Contre Sommet au G8 Sikasso 2007
http://forumdespeuples.org/
http://malitchikan.org/spip.php?rubrique10

---------------England
London
G8 INFO WEEK AT RAMPART, JUNE 2007
http://rampart.xploiting.org/wiki/doku.php/g8infospace
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/05/371926.html

---------------Austria
g8 infopoint Vienna
http://raw.at/texte/sonstiges/g8infozentrum.htm

by dunk Fri Jun 08, 2007 13:33

anti g8 actions from around the planet.

--------------------Indy-Fundamentalism: Its Root Causes
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182406.shtml

--------------------Brasil -
Sao Paulo
[G8-Brasil] Sao Paulo protest report
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183016.shtml
[G8-Brasil] Torture at the jail in SP
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183024.shtml
Mais de cem ativistas anti-G8 são presos em São Paulo (images)
http://prod.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2007/06/38498...shtml
Protesto Anti G8 São Paulo
http://prod.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2007/06/38494...shtml
Fotos da repressão no protesto anti-G8 na avenida Paulista
http://prod.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2007/06/38493...shtml
[SP] [G8] Protesto de punks termina em confronto com a PM na avenida Paulista
http://prod.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2007/06/38489...shtml

Porto Alegre
[Porto Alegre - G8] Manifestantes se reunem contra as multinacionais e o G8

Porto Against the G8
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/181846.shtml
http://sardera.blogspot.com/2007/06/o-porto-contra-o-g8....html

--------------------Costa Rica
Anti-G8 Aktion auch in Costa Rica
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182915.shtml

--------------------Ecuador
Día de acción global contra el G 8 en Ecuador
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183039.shtml

--------------------Austria
Anti-G8 Solidemo in Wien
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182849.shtml

--------------------Denmark
Dänemark: "Smash G8– Fight capitalism and imperialism!"
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182798.shtml
http://indymedia.dk/article/1230
http://indymedia.dk/article/1227
G8 Protest in Copenhagen
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182521.shtml
http://www.modkraft.dk/spip.php?page=nyheder-artikel&id...=5694

--------------------Catalunya / Spain
Barcelona: manifestación contra g8
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183131.shtml

--------------------Nederlands
sabotage action against the g8, amsterdam
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182981.shtml

--------------------Germany
Bremen
Soli-Demo in Bremen am Mi., 06.06.07
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183117.shtml
Wiesbaden
Protest in Wiesbaden
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183119.shtml
G8-Demo in Reutlingen
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183018.shtml
Heiligendamm in Köln
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183003.shtml
G8-Soli-Demo auch in Oldenburg
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182912.shtml
Anti-Kapitalismus Demonstration in Oldenburg.
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182810.shtml
Demo gegen G8 und Polizeigewalt in Darmstadt
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182866.shtml
Anti-G8 Demo in Darmstadt
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182669.shtml
Blockade zu den G8 - Protesten in Plauen
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182852.shtml
spontane aktion gegen g8 in detmold
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182778.shtml
Spontandemo in Leipzig
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182691.shtml

--------------------G8 Heiligendamm
Pics + Video of blockades, street rave, thurs
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/183121.shtml

Postings on indymedia uk (pics and vid) from thursday 7th july:

Street Rave at East Gate G8 Blockade - thursday night
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372979.html

G8 West Gate Blockade, Thursday 7th
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372960.html

Heading for the blockade of the west gate
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372877.html

The blockade of the West Gate
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372897.html

Barricade Blockades West Gate Area - thursday
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372949.html

VIDEO Rush - March to Road Blockades
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372920.html

Barricading G8
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372911.html

G8 East Gate Blockade in place 24hrs and counting...
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372855.html

G8 West Gate Blockaded - thurs 7th june
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372850.html

Top 3 favourite hobbys of German riot Police
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372868.html

for update of vids, photos, articles see constantly upgraded link:
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/181679.shtml#berichte

thchuss, adieu, agur, slan,

by dunk Thu Jun 07, 2007 22:20

boats against g8 + nazi's plans to attack convergence center + westgates beatings and water cannon

Yes the delegates got in, only after some very heavy handed police and water cannon work to get some delegates in by road as a result of thousands of people blocking their way, saying they have no mandate from the people of this earth to destroy, exploit, kill and bring misery...

As a result of peoples actions sea and air were the main means of entry. On the water front greenpeace did a brave action which resulted
in 3 activists hurt: In scenes that resemble a James Bond movie: they took to the baltic sea in speed boats and played a game of cat and mouse with very high speed german cop / army speed boats untill their boat was hit and toppled into the water..

This evenings live transmission of g8-tv showed us the heavy handed stuff at the west gate. They also said hi to the screening of their live news.. a few in Germany, London and us @ Barcelona... perhaps revolt or imc-ie might pull a quick screening together for tomorow, the last day...

see the vid of boat action from RTE, link under article:
Activists make G8 protests on sea & land
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0607/g8demo.html
and on Greenpeace site:
Greenpeace boats deliver the message: G8 Act Now!
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/greenpeace-bo...70607

Also, could be a violent night at the convergence space...

from the timeline
http://de.indymedia.org/ticker/en/

# 20:00
The situation at the convergence center: At 7pm, around 50-70 nazis had gathered near the center +++ aware of the nazi's plans to confront the center, anti-g8 protesters had gathered at the center to protect it from a possible nazi attack +++ most the nazis were encircled and detained by police +++ at this moment, police are ammassing around the convergence center +++ negotiations between activists and police are taking place and currently the situation is calm

and earlier reports from the situation at the west gate:

# 18:25 ( Blockades Repression )

The demo medics have asked help to the police medics to treat a severely injured person from the demo
# 17:50 ( Blockades Repression )
Police starts to disperse people from the west gate area. There is massive use of water cannons and police units are violently attacking the protesters. Several people have been injured.

# 17:30 ( Blockades )
West Gate: Police is using water cannons against protesters +++ protesters are holding a plenary to discuss options for further activities +++ some G8 delegates are reported to be able to pass the gate, escorted by police

# 16:45 ( Blockades )
The situation at the west gate: Police is blocking the street with water cannons +++ a car with G8 delegates had to wait for 45 minutes and was then sent back +++ 2000 people are spread throughout the fields directly at the fence and are repeatedly trying to get on the streets +++ the mood amongst the activists is great

To answer the question
what if no one turned up for their summit?

they probably will get to do the same amount of "business" as they would have, had none of the 100,000 or so people bothered to try to stop them. But, like what we are trying to do here in Mataro, Catalunya (spain), we are trying to investigate how we can counter, resist, build alternatives to their world here and now, using this point in time to unite with others as they also try to do similar...

presently there are only the few who get there to do stuff at the summit, BUT, presently little happens at the homes of those in these days. What if that was to change, what if their a series of global actions to resist? Its easy to defend THEIR space, but what if all their world was threathened and targeted, in solidarity with those who are there today?

It would certainly change the way the game has been played so far, No?

but its not over yet, you never know what might happen......

on that note ill leave you with 2 interesting things ...

"One demonstration will change the course of earths history..."

G8 2007 Protest-Trailer:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uk-MBWp4vh8&mode=related&search=

and the latest communique on dissents site:
Plan B has started already: join to the battle of joy
http://dissentnetzwerk.org/node/3039

scenes from the latest Bond film : Boats take on the G8

by x Thu Jun 07, 2007 16:46

the blockades might be working - but I'm still seeing the G8 go ahead with all its leaders pomp and ceremony, the nonsense of a 'new cold war' being heralded by mainstream journalists who also seem to have had no bother getting to the summit venue - which begs the question as to what exactly the point of so much effort and human hours put in by activists is worth at these summit protests.

what if they held a summit and nobody came?

by dunk Thu Jun 07, 2007 16:39

Blocking G8 : good photo essay
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/372769.html

"we are here"

we are everywhere, rosstock, rossport, dublin, mataro.......

by dunk Thu Jun 07, 2007 16:31

Decentralized Actions Blockade G8 Summit in G
...Some 10,000 activists succeeded in blockading the G8 summit on Wednesday, June 6, relying on cunning and massive numbers to overcome an overwhelming police presence. ...
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182417.shtml

G8 - The Blockades Are Working! Block-G8
...http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182699.shtml

for up to date breaking news see
G8 Protests Timeline
http://de.indymedia.org/ticker/en/

latest update:

16:45 ( Blockades )
The situation at the west gate: Police is blocking the street with water cannons +++ a car with G8 delegates had to wait for 45 minutes and was then sent back +++ 2000 people are spread throughout the fields directly at the fence and are repeatedly trying to get on the streets +++ the mood amongst the activists is great

15:30 ( Blockades )
West gate: Police reinforcements were brought in by helicopters, blockaders have slowly retreated and spread along the fence. 1000 are sitting at the fence, another 3000 are moving through the fields next to the fence.
East gate area: Hundreds of people are walking along the fence.

15:25
West Gate: a naked block of 40 people arrived and started running towards the helicopter parked in the field next to the gate.

saturday will be a day of action in barceloana in solidarity with those in germany protesting the g8
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/306744/...x.php

On wednesday June 6, 500 G8-protesters gathered in Copenhagen.
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/182521.shtml
http://www.modkraft.dk/spip.php?page=nyheder-artikel&id...=5694

is there any demo being planned in dublin?

good luck to the bike riders of the critical mass on friday, hope you have plenty of numbers
http://indymedia.ie/article/82888

by dunk Thu Jun 07, 2007 16:08

result of action from pix above:
"As seven world leaders touched down in Rostock yesterday afternoon, over 10,000 protesters succeeded in blocking access by road to the Baltic coast resort of Heiligendamm and forced organisers to bring in delegates by sea and air."
from times:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/0607/11....html
more info about this on imc-de
http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/181680.shtml

here in mataro, we had our first day of infopoint : mataro contra g8 ( http://forumderadios.fm/g8/?q=en ) , people came to CSOA La Fibra, social centre, watched live g8 tv ( http://g8-tv.org ) listened to live radio g8 (http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/179702.shtml ), recorded stuff in spanish ( http://forumderadios.fm/g8/?q=en ), watched films relating to g8 and related issues and had some interesting discussions.

again at 9pm, 8pm irish time, the live stream of the half hour show from g8tv will happen.

more info is going out to local community here to attempt to build wider access to the truth of g8 mechanisms, connection with more groups and attempt to build locally to fight globally.

regards to those in rosstock and at home in ireland

by x Wed Jun 06, 2007 16:17

1000s managed to breakthrough to the fence. police declared red alert and seems not capable to stop the masses. they began with the demontage of NATO razor wire