Archive for March 27th, 2009
Police use social networks to monitor G20 protestors
Met keeps a close eye on Twitter and Facebook to gauge scale of disruption
vnunet.com, 27 Mar 2009
The Metropolitan Police is using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to monitor protests due to take place in London over the next few days.
Speaking at Scotland Yard yesterday to discuss police plans surrounding the G20 Summit and associated demonstrations, Metropolitan Police commander Simon O’Brien said that tapping into social networks is a “key area of our intelligence gathering”.
“That is where we are picking up a lot of our intelligence about numbers and what certain groups are aiming to achieve,” he said.The protests start on Saturday with a ‘Put People First’ march about the financial crisis, which is being organised by unions and anti-poverty groups. But the Met’s biggest concern is demonstrations taking place on 1 April, the day before the G20 Summit begins. –more–
Police: G20 Summit – advice to businesses
It is a rather ‘British’ page. Still recognising the demonstrators as people (I think). In America the demonstrators would be painted as potential terrorists … Imagine if all this was being planned at Wall Street …
Still surveillance, police brutality and false flag are all possible.
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City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police and City of London Corporation are determined that it will be business as usual within the City during the week of the G20 summit meeting and the various demonstrations expected.
A pan-London policing approach will be used in the week running up to and during the Summit, which relies on well-established protocols. A very experienced team of senior officers from both Metropolitan and City of London Police used to policing large scale events of this nature in London will be in charge.
There are a number of high profile events throughout the week of the G20 Summit with the first being the TUC march and rally at Hyde Park on Saturday 28 March with 40,000 expected. The City may see protests throughout the week of the Summit, however intelligence suggests the City is likely to see demonstrations on the 1st of April including:
- Financial Fools demonstration is likely to focus on 3 locations – Bank of England, European Climate Exchange in Bishopsgate and Royal Bank of Scotland in Bishopsgate. The protest is being advertised as a G20 meltdown with four meeting places advertised as Moorgate, Liverpool Street, London Bridge and Cannon Street at 1100 converging on Bank Junction.
- There are plans for a ‘climate camp’ outside the European Climate Exchange between the evening of 31st March and 2nd April.
The police are monitoring all information relating to planned protests and advertised actions. We will have officers deployed at key locations plus a large number in reserve that can respond to deal with whatever takes place.
It is believed that the majority of the protestors intend to conduct a peaceful demonstration. Businesses should however, remain vigilant at all times and ensure that buildings are secure. Banks and financial premises are the targets of the protest although this could extend to all premises in the city.
City of London Police offers the following advice on security and employee safety for the week of the Summit:
- Cancel unnecessary meetings
- Make sure all staff wear ID
- Stagger staff arrival and departures
- Cancel deliveries
- Keep movement in and out of business premises to a minimum
- Make sure security staff are fully briefed and wearing high visibility jackets
- Review smoking areas – do they weaken access security
- Consider security staff checking ID outside premises to create natural barrier
- Ensure business continuity plans are up to date
- Create a media strategy and nominate a spokesperson
- Make sure all staff are updated regularly
- Review whether staff should use own vehicles to come to work
- Check CCTV is working
- Ensure information is disseminated throughout multi occupied premises in plenty of time
- Advise staff not to antagonise protestors and risk escalation in incidents.
During the protest period update messages will be sent out via an e-mail alert system which businesses can sign up to for free. –City of London Police–
Iraq the Genocide, also Monsanto’s rule
Video about Monsanto having the legal right to force Iraqis to use Monsanto GM seeds.
Here is a separate post about Monsanto from the other day:
Video: The world according to Monsanto
Iraqi farmers by law have to use Monsanto seeds
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Six years into the occupation…
- 72 months of destruction
- $607 Billions spent on the war
- 2 Million Barrels of oil being sold per day
- 2 Million Displaced Iraqis inside of Iraq
- 3 Million Iraqis forced to leave the country
- 2615 professors, scientists, and doctors killed in cold blood
- 338 dead journalists
- $13 Billion misplaced by the current Iraqi government
- $400 Billion required to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure
- 3 hours average of electricity daily
- 24 car bombs per month
- 7 major mafias running the country
- 4260 Americans dead
- 10,000 cases of cholera per year
- 50 of my friends dead
- 22 of my relatives dead
- 15 abductions of close relatives and people I know and love
- At least 1.3 million Iraqis dead since 2003.
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So the numbers speak for themselves. Six. Six months is what it took for most Iraqis to realize no good could come of this war and occupation. Six years is what it has taken the rest of the world. Six years, six million Iraqis displaced inside and outside of Iraq- well over a million Iraqis dead or dying inside of the country.
As a scientist, as a researcher- it is a disaster that will never be sufficiently documented with numbers or words. As a researcher, the numbers are so astounding that we go back and recalculate to make sure they are real. As an Iraqi, it is enraging. The numbers and statistics fill me with a rage and shame that make my heart throb and my blood boil. It’s a rage towards all who are silent and uncaring, and a shame at the little we all are doing.
Souad N. Al-Azzawi Associate Professor, Baghdad, Iraq March26/2009
G20 protests – Do not be a HotHead
It is true the police will have a large presence. And many will indulge in aggression given the chance. There will also be agent provocateurs, plain clothes police and private security guards.
The notion that all organisations are infiltrated is a misnomer. We are all in this together. All mobile phones are living bugs, giving som iea of location (nearest transmitter), and the authorities are well aware of all the key players involved.
Alcohol will not help anyone, being alert will! Don’t be goaded or provoked, be wary of entrapment (A fake fight for example, to which you feel compelled to intervene), be wary of a group of agent provocateurs running down the street in a (false) state of panic trying to stampede everyone.
Be ready for the police to cordon whole groups of people into a confined space for hours. There is advice here:
I think tubes and buses are likely to be canceled, traffic jams will be created, people will not be able to rendezvous, bicycles are reliable.
The authorities have decades of experience, and also call upon experts from other countries.
Here is an excerpt from another blogger:
Apart from the protesters, though, the people who will really be having a ball next week are the heads of security at the City’s large corporate buildings. Many of them are ex-army or ex-police and often they tend to feel ignored and undervalued for much of the year. But next week will be their time in the sun. During the last major protest, I remember our security staff mounting a military style operation. They had set up communications with the police and with other security officers in other firms. They had a map on the wall where they plotted the movements of various protesters. As I stood talking to one of the guards in reception, on his radio he was getting regular updates on where the protesters were. I remember him telling me that McDonald’s on Holborn had been trashed. It was all very impressive. No doubt the security staff at all the major London offices are already preparing for war. They will probably enjoy themselves as much as the protesters.
In my experience, these anti-City protests are never as bad as they are hyped up to be. I expect there will be a lot of noise next week and some isolated violent incidents but I would be surprised if the mayhem gleefully predicted by the media actually comes to pass. –source–
Video G20 Meltdown
Republished on this blog because there are new visitors
Flash required for the video above
This is a copy of the video in case youtube pull it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl-IfrMh6cI
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G20 BBC, Times, Guardian March 27th Excerpts
Suspension will allow the Prof to spend all his time on the G20 protests
Professor suspended over claims he incited G20 violence
• Interview creates trouble for anthropology expert
• Protest organiser revels in ‘perfect storm for enemies’
- Richard Rogers and Paul Lewis
- The Guardian, Friday 27 March 2009
One of the leading organisers of next Wednesday’s Financial Fools’ Day protests was last night suspended from his role as Professor of Anthropology at the University of East London, on full pay.
Chris Knight, who has been a lecturer in anthropology at the university since 1989, and professor since 2000, was informed of his suspension yesterday evening, and was told it was because of an interview he gave to a newspaper this week in which he is quoted as “inciting criminal action, specifically violence against policemen and women and damage to banking institutions”.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Knight was pictured with a placard bearing the slogan “Eat the bankers”, and quoted as saying: “If they [the police] want violence, they’ll get it”. He is also quoted by the Standard as advising bankers that on April 1 “if you’re thinking of coming in, my advice is don’t”.
Knight, along with fellow UEL anthropologist Elizabeth Power and former Liberal Democrat councillor turned activist Marina Pepper, set up the G-20meltdown.org website and began to host meetings to which they invited other green and anarchist groups.
Knight told the Guardian last night that he was doing everything possible to make sure there was no violence next week. He said he had set up the protest group with theatrical rather than violent aims. –more–
The Guardian also has a flashy interactive supplement but it does not look complete for example it is missing the Stop the War demo.
The Guardian also has a a guide to to G20 protests yet might be better to look at UK Indymedia
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G20 protesters take fiery rhetoric and bunting to ‘big tent City’
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Eco-activists prepare for protest
BBC News
Police say protesters are planning in an “unprecedented” way for London’s G20 summit next week. But how do campaigners prepare for a demonstration?
Some Climate Camp members played a familiarisation game in the CityOutside Liverpool Street station in the City of London on a Friday evening in March, a band of young people began to congregate.
They arrived in ones, twos and threes – most aged in their early 20s – and could have been meeting for a regular night on the town.
However, the large presence of police inside and outside the station told a different story.
Many in the group were members of Camp for Climate Action – behind direct action protests at Heathrow airport and power stations in North Yorkshire and Kent – and the authorities are watching them carefully.
The main reason for police company was most likely to have been the organisation’s warnings of a day of “spectacular action” at the G20 summit in London next week, when supporters intend to “set up camp” in the City on 1 April.
Earlier that same day, the Metropolitan Police had warned some activists were planning in an “unprecedented” way ahead of the meeting and that there were some “very innovative and clever people” involved in the preparations.
And as darkness fell in Bishopsgate, it soon became clear how seriously the authorities were taking the planned demonstrations as one officer took out a video camera and filmed all those waiting and chatting, close enough to record their faces. –more–
Banks braced for city riots, Rioters to hang Bankers effigies
The Guardian article features the vandalism to a Bankers house, because of the possibility of a false flag, I omitted that for this excerpt:
Banks braced for City riots during G20 summit after attack on Sir Fred Goodwin’s home
The last time bankers faced angry demonstrations, some responded by pouring champagne or photocopied £50 notes from windows, but it is unlikely that protesters targeting the City next week during the G20 summit will be met by similar shows of bravado.
Many staff are being advised to dress down next Wednesday and Thursday to avoid being marked out as City workers – if they cannot avoid the protests entirely by working from home. Others have been advised to avoid leaving the office to attend meetings. –Guardian–
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G20 rioters to hang banker effigies from lampposts as city staff are told to wear disguises
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 7:52 PM on 26th March 2009
- Thousands of City staff told to stay at home next week
- Bankers told not to wear suits and ‘dress down’
- Additional 2,500 police deployed at cost of £10million
City workers are being urged to stay at home or to dress down during next week’s G20 summit to avoid being targeted by anti-capitalist protesters.
Unprecedented measures are being put in place to prepare for thousands of demonstrators targeting the City and Canary Wharf.
About 3,000 anti-capitalist protesters are expected, with groups next Wednesday marching to the Bank of England, holding ‘flashcamps’ outside the European Climate Exchange in Bishopsgate, and marching on the US Embassy.
Demonstrators have vowed to hang effigies of bankers from lampposts along the protest route.
Riot: Police guard the offices of Accenture in the City of London during May Day demonstrations in 2001
City workers have been warned not to wear suits, but to ‘dress down’ in chinos and loafers because they would be obvious targets.
Fossil Fools day plan of Action April 1st City of London
Welcome Back!
Participating Organizations
Fossil Fools Day 2009
There are lots of plans afoot for Fossil Fools Day all over the world, but we thought we’d upload some inspirational public actions you can get involved with on the April 1st, and some resources to help inspire you to take action in you local area. So, wherever you are in the world, whether you’ve been looking for a chance to dip a toe into the growing climate action movement, or have had your kick-ass action planned since last year, now is the time to do it – whatever it is. On April 1st, join the global day of resistance and pull a prank that packs a punch.
PUBLIC ACTIONS IN THE UK ON APRIL 1st
If your action isn’t listed below (wherever you are), email us and we’ll put it up here!
11 AM LONDON
FINANCIAL FOOLS DAY STREET PARTY
Assemble at Cannon Street, Moorgate, Liverpool Street or London Bridge stations 11am to form four marching blocks heading towards the Bank of England for 12-noon, in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City of London. Bring a portable radio! G20 Meltdown
1230 LONDON
HELP BUILD A CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN THE CITY OF LONDON
Stopping carbon markets – because nature doesn’t do bailouts.
Meet at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, action plans and ideas … let’s imagine another world. Don’t let the financial and fossil fools make the rules! For more details visit Climate Camp G20.
12.30 – 7.30PM LONDON
TAKE THE CLIMATE MESSAGE TO THE G20
Join the ice-berg at the G20 !
Ice-berg “Climate Emergency” demo – outside the Excel Centre (‘Royal Victoria’ stop on Docklands railway from Bank). We’ll be outside the Excel Centre (Western entrance – or as near as we can get) the day before the G20 meets there, from 12.30 pm. to 7.30 pm. (evening rally 6.30 pm). We will have a giant ice block – bring your own ice blocks and dress in white! For action updates visit the CACC website.
This entire post copied from: http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org/2009/category/frontpage/ And there is a lot more there!
G20 protests, camps, where to get information
Where to go to meet people and help in preparations for G20 Climate Camp and protests.
This is one of the main places for organising – but not the only place
From Thursday March 26th until Thursday April 2nd rampARTS will be a G20 infopoint, open to drop by from 2-10 pm. The Camp for Climate Action will have information there during this period.
On Saturday March 28th at 5 pm, and on Sunday March 29th at 2 pm, the camp will be serving tea and cake for those who want to meet up and share information, or make some banners and props.
On Tuesday March 31st at 7 pm, there will be a briefing at rampART, with a particular focus on new people who need information about the April 1st camp.
rampART is located at 15 -17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA (near Whitechapel, off Commercial Rd). rampart[at]mutualaid.org, 07050 618445
The info above from UKIndymedia at webpage:
This map from their website at: http://therampart.wordpress.com/location-contact/
Crucial info on Climate Camp in the city – UKIndymedia
Camp For Climate Action | 26.03.2009 13:42 | Climate Chaos | Ecology
(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING
(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION
(3) THE MAP
(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS
(5) SLEEPING SPACE
(6) THINGS TO BRING
(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS & MEDIA
(8) LEGAL
(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH
(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH
(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME
(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING
To be successful, we must all arrive at the Climate Exchange at the same time. We must swoop in from different directions, using different means to arrive within a minute or two of each other. Its a good idea to meet up with your friends early, and somewhere within easy reach of the Climate Exchange. Then, at the appropriate moment, leave quickly, to arrive at exactly 12:30. You may even want to practice beforehand.
Be aware that in light of current over-policing tactics, if you miss the swoop, you may be unable to join the camp. In places where our numbers are too low, the police may attempt to stop and search individuals, and confiscate items to prevent us from setting up the camp safely. We can avoid this by moving confidently and together. The police may also attempt to surround people to prevent us from moving (sometimes called a “kettle”). Nearby tube stations, particularly Liverpool Station, as well as the Bank (where the G20-meltdown protest is occurring at noon), are possible locations where the police may try to kettle people. If you see a kettle forming and don’t want to be stuck for the day in one, move and help others move out of it before it closes.
You are likely to have greater freedom of movement if you’ve planned your swoop and know the area. Because things may change on the day, please take copies of our map with grid reference points, and have a person in your group subscribed to the text alerts.
(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION –more at UK Indymedia–
