CHOGM? Is Protesting counter-productive?

[Guest Mesqualero]

I'd just like to get some people's opinions on the likelihood of Mass protests outside the CHOG meeting.

Are of you going to be protesting there?

Do you know people who are ?

Do these protests give the citizens the chance to excercise the freedom of speech? (heh freedom of what?)or do the protesters merely alienate themselves further from the "common people" <---(whatever the hell they are) by taking such extreme stances and courses of action?

All I can think of is that at least there are people who are proud enough to stand up for what they believe in...and not be swayed by the overwhelming majority who scorn these "feral dole bludgers" during the sensationalised 5 minute news package that they watch from the comfort of their couch, over dinner.

Hmmmm Do i sound biased? hehehe.

But seriously I would like to protest, I even dusted off my Full face respirator that I have never had to use before

(I would love to march with them wearing a Reptile Costume screaming:

"The World Is controlled by a Hierarchy of Reptilian-Human hybrids who Control our Brainwaves through Radiowave Emmitting Devices such as the multitude of Satellites that orbit the earth. Devices which superimpose a holographic image of the reality they decide to choose for us while they continue to Rape and pillage the earth just as surely as they use humans as mere cloning material, manual labour and a source of food.")

Oh well I'd like to do that but Im not sure whether I should risk attracting the HeAT When I already have outstanding Fines.....Damnnit!

[theobromos]

You can't get arrested for that, surely? You might get abducted and have your faulty implant serviced though

[Guest Mesqualero]

Originally posted by theobromos:

You can't get arrested for that, surely? You might get abducted and have your faulty implant serviced though

well actually there are a few things one could get arrested for even just being there... Check it out http://www.stopchogm.org/Res/chogm_legal.pdf

Apparently even having a bag is an offence

[gomaos]

Hmmmmmm....

it's been over 20 years since I was on my last political demonstration. That one was in Germany against the "Grohnde"nuclear reactor, which is by now running full capacity and poisoning the whole area around my home town.

Yes......wouldn't mind going, especially since I got a lot of time on my hands since I stopped working...

Do you know where and when mesqualero? Do you have any friends who are going?

Please let me know...I wouldn't go by myself, however...

[Guest Mesqualero]

Originally posted by gomaos:

Do you know where and when mesqualero? Do you have any friends who are going?

Please let me know...I wouldn't go by myself, however...

I am not sure if i am going yetI think I will though..and at the moment only one friend is going with me.... Ummm there are several different groups which I am looking at who are participating..... Check out these sites ...

www.stopchogm.org

www.resistance.org.au (socialist group)

Resistance are planning a peaceful protest from Roma street To Musgravge Park.... on

Oct 6th...(or 5th I cant remember)

Whereas alot of other Groups such as Chogm Free Zone and the StopChogm Alliance plan on Blockading the Buildings...

With the situation as it is...although i am not what you will call a socialist I am probably going to end up with the Resistance people...mainly Because I dont want to get arrested and put in the watchhouse for a few eeks because of the warrants out for me...

[cactuslizardmagick]

valid questions mesqualero ... i've been thinking about the future of peaceful protest alot lately.

i intend to check out the situation in brisbane (perhaps risking my neck to another terrorist attack?) but am loathe to be on the "frontline" ... there is going to be a large socialist presence, which i am fearful may result in escalation and violence (not necessarily on their behalf, but some groups from sydney are far too militant for my liking).

i'd love to catch up with any of you who make it ... i'll organise a mobile number and post it here in coming days ...

[rkundalini]

Of course one could call the action to be expected of the police (if S11 -- last year's that is, not the WTC thing, is any indication) an act of terrorism. Violent, unprovoked attacks against innocent, peaceful people...

There is just so much to protest against with the CHOG, I can't imagine trying to fit it onto plackards or chants... whole books could be written...

[Guest wira]

Of course peaceful protest is a good thing [provided you know what you're actually protesting about, and not just turning up hoping for some action]. Surely better than the alternative of saying nothing and staying at home. I agree it can alienate some people but the reasons behind that are complex. The people who are alienated are often [but not always] the same people who feel threatened by the thought of change. People in general hate change, unless it is accompanied by the promise of financial profit, luxury, and security. This is a simplification of course, and I don't intend that to explain everything, but still a valid observation. So I guess my sentiment is that sure, protesting can alienate some people, but it can also inspire and awaken others to be proactive and try to bring about positive change, others who maybe thought they were alone in thinking that things are amiss in the world and feeling powerless to do anything about it.

The best anyone can do as a conscientious protester is to set a good behavioural example, avoid hate-mongering , and initiate discussions with interested passers-by, even police if there's one nearby with an open ear [i know that sounds silly, but I managed to do it at S11 with 2 different cops, so it's not entirely unrealistic ].

What it comes down to, for me, is that at this time in history, to be aware of what's going on in the world and to say and do nothing to try to make things better... is just not an option.

[Guest Silly Billy]

yeah eyah next protest im going ... i just made a new pair of nunchuks... and im hoping to KO 3-2 riot police before i get arrested.... mad shit!!! /```

/

[Guest Mesqualero]

Looks like it could be postponed hey?

I am also starting to get paranoid, or at least more so.

My belief in some sort of secret government/illuminati/bildeberger/Reptilian

conspiracy which Controls the world has led me to believe that even the Activist groups are being manipulated from within.

Sort of like the Wrestling...Choreographed to fit nicely yet still producing a winner.

So where does this leave me? I hate being all words and no talk.. but on the other hand

If I really want to survive in a future world where there is likely to be even more

restrictions on personal Freedoms and Liberties, A world in which the minute details of our lives are being monitored/surveilled/categorised and sent to the world's Intelligence networks, maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to stand out in the crowd..in what essentially will be a very long struggle against what can only be described as the Juggernaut of the New World Order.

Am I Too paranoid? Is there such a thing as being too paranoid or is it only common sense too listen to a gut feeling?

I have a feeling that relative anonymity may be handy one day when all the "known agitators" have been weeded out

Gawd I hate being Too paranoid

[rkundalini]

hehe I tried to talk to some police. One of them listened when I said "If you don't hurt me I won't hurt you" during one of the epic push and shove matches, but didn't have much to offer himself in the way of stimulating repartee. I had a bit of a longer conversation with a horse, horses in general being more erudite than their farmhouse relative the pig, until its rider tried to make it stampede us along with all the horses in the line.

I know what you mean, wira... but it's hard sometimes when you see their behaviour...

[Guest wira]

I don't think you're being paranoid at all, Mesqualero, but that's hardly comforting news...

Rk, I know what you mean, but what better way to show thugs the reality of their brutality than by continuing to be civil to them, to show them that you are a real human being with real ideals and principles. Sure, not all cops are approachable in that way [and I guess you're not exactly 'approaching' them if you're next to them because of being in a static blockade], but if they had received an order to start cracking heads a moment later on that occasion, I bet the cops I had been talking with would have left me alone [or at least gone easy one me]. Even for brainless thugs it can be harder to be violent against a person that has been humanised. Most of them manage to do it, I think, by seeing the protestors as mere scum that needs to be eliminated, rather than as real people.

If I sound like too much of a positivist, well I assure you all I am also a massive pessimist Just feels lately like there's already too much hate in the world to be adding more...

[rkundalini]

That's for sure!