One of those days...

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One of those days...

by louisa-outram ^Pro @ 07.04.2009 – 09:15:32

Strange, the first I'd heard of this was this morning when one of my work colleagues mentioned there were protesters outside Westminster!

I don't often get protestors. I mean the Government can't do anything but protest over the warring Sri Lanka themselves. If they were to do anything more then they'd be condemned for it... Hmmm!

And the riots last week... what did that achieve? Absolutely nothing! Most people saw them on the tv and decided all these people were out to cause trouble and not much more! I understand people wanting their voices heard but there are other ways to go about it. Violence never solved anything! Besides, none of the protestors are offering a viable solution... what do they suggest is done differently??

Ahem... anyhoo enough of that!

I have a feeling its going to be one of those days today. I have slipped and tripped about 5 times on the way into work I think its the shoes I use to walk in at the moment. I need some nice flats for the walking part and I only have flippy floppy slip on shoes at the moment! And I read that the training today included a site visit... damn it!! I don't think heels or flippy floppy type shoes are really suitable
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7 Comments to One of those days...

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- rithompson
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/rithompson/
- 07.04.2009 @ 09:44:47
Like the protests in 2003 against the Iraq War - the government went ahead and invaded Iraq anyway! Does make you wonder what the point of it is.
- - louisa-outram ^Pro
  - 07.04.2009 @ 10:36:55
  I get the point that people have freedom of speach and want to make themselves heard but there is such a stigma attached to protesting now I doubt it'll help anything. A lot of people who attend the protests are only there to cause trouble!
  
  Maybe these people should be thinking up solutions and putting them forward in better ways!!
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- chrisglos
- 07.04.2009 @ 16:25:10
Thats precisely the thought process that all of these 'anti-terror' and criminal laws, not to mention the over zealous media reporting, are designed to instill.

I mean, where the 'news' for them to report on the non-events?

The government have as good as made it a criminal offencce to demonstrate and protest without prior written authority and within controlled and designated areas. i.e. in a manner which they choose and control. Which completely goes against the point of democracy, and the human rights charter, to allow every person their basic right to protest without fear of retribution or denial.

And as for alot of people there to cause trouble, again, this is a skewed view based on the aspects which get reported on. There were several thousands of people on the protests. There were less than a few dozen that actually caused any criminal damage (and of course that element will always infiltrate anywhere). There is also the intimidatory tactics that occur prior to a demonstration both physically and in print which stoke up things - i.e. the 'kettling'. Im sure if I was peacefully exercising my right to protest and was penned in by the police in a cordoned off area and not allowed to leave, despite not breaking the law, and be forcibly kept there without ability to leave or even use the toilet, I might get a bit wound up. Oh, and they were only allowed to leave up to 7 hours later IF they consented to 'give their details'. Again, not necessary.

Plus, well, it gets attention. Would you be talking about it and as aware of the resentment without it?

And to close, people HAVE been thinking up solutions for years and years - such as not de-regulating the banking process, calling for capping and monitoring, environmental laws, not ignoring the impending problems of ecological issues and brushing them aside, and following promise after promise (best case) or wishy-washy statements of 'we pledge to possibly look in to doing something at a future point, perhaps...' And not to mention the billions of pounds used to rescue banks whose poor decision making caused their collapse. They are the cause of lots of economic woes for small businees, families, mortgage owners, yet rather than rescue packages being given to compensate them and keep roofs over their heads, it goes to the banks who then STILL will continue with acts of repossession or refusal of issuing new mortgages because of the economic uncertainty...

I could go on.....

xx
- - louisa-outram ^Pro
  - 07.04.2009 @ 16:34:53
  I know a lot of it is to do with perception but thats entirely the point isn;t it? If it wasn't for those few there wouldn't be the problem. And I know that the protests last week, only one of a number of protests ended up in violence, but thats one too many.
  
  As for solutions, people need to make it public, they need to get people to relate and stop seeming self righteous, condescending and as if they are looking down their noses at the rest of the population.
  
  And I am not condoning anything that has been done, just wanting to hear sensible solutions that can take place NOW. I don't expect things to be right overnight.
  
  And the police do what they have to to ensure the safety of everyone including themselves. It irritates me when people accuse the police of heavy handedness because I know these same people, if they had to stay there standing and taking the abuse that the police have to, they'd loose their rag and more violence would follow. It always amazes me at the restraint of the police, but then again they are trained for it! And maybe when protests stop being violent they will stop having to prepare for the worst.
  
  I am sick and tired of hearing the same thing over and over and over when it comes to protestors. Whether its a small amount or not, their is violence and that only makes more violence.
  
  I could go on too but am leaving now xx
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- chrisglos
- 07.04.2009 @ 16:56:52
I would like to point the honourable lady to my last section. There are many sensible proposals already on the table, regarding regulation, monitoring of assets and ensuring there is a viable level of debt held, closing loopholes on hedge funds and the like, as well the environmental solutions for the other side of the debate. But all of these have been on the table for the governments to adopt, with sufficient data to back them up, but get shunted back because they always pander to businesses and money first.

Im also not attacking individual officers - christ knows youve got to have some decent restraint. I do very much respect the police and what they stand for.
However, as good and restrained as they are, its some of the laws and actions that are forced on them that are not always the best. I know officers who disagree with the containment tactics, certainly 'en mass'. Its more than viable to filter these things, as aptly demonstrated at any usual large crowd gathering to resounding success and mutual admiration on both sides of the fence.

The thing is there are protestors / demonstrators who are the proper definition of that - intelligent, passionate, level headed individuals who know the power of peaceful and purposeful action and proposals.

And there are those who are not that, but call themselves that, and are basically anarchists. the sad thing is they will join in on these events, the same as they do in football/sports crowds, and so on.

Ner x
the end. tea time.
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- chrisglos
- 07.04.2009 @ 17:54:27
It was, however, piss poorly organised. No doubt good intentioned and well meaning, but no cohesion in bonding all of the criss crossing causes, just made a shambles instead.

I dont mean to get into an argument.

Im just passionate.

Right, Frasier time

p x
- - louisa-outram ^Pro
  - 08.04.2009 @ 10:02:45
  But its never well known that these things are out there... surely if people knew about it they could use their voices to shout that these things should be done rather than just shouting?
  
  And I agree that those people you hear about aren't proper protestors. The tv shows that enough. But so long as they are there and so long as they keep going, it will never change and the same stigma will be attached to protests and nothing will be acheived by them. My point is to say that maybe people need to think of another way of beinmg heard, as they aren't as things stand. Either that or think of a way to stop thes anarchists.
  
  And yes they need better organising... I mean if it was me I'd prepare for the worst... porterloos in the area...
  
  xx
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