STAMP THE G8
for more information contact:
Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West
Montgomery Place, Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 557 6242
Demonstrators occupied two banks, blockaded a third and staged an unauthorised march along Princes Street., Edinburgh, today.
100 people took action despite the rain as part of coordinated world protests to highlight the links between economic globalisation, poverty, and the destruction of the Earth's environment.
Behind a banner reading GLOBAL CAPITAL CAN BANK ON GLOBAL RESISTANCE whistle blowing, drumming protesters stormed into the Clydesdale Bank on Hanover St. . Exiting the Clydesdale, the crowd then took over the Abbey National also in Hanover St. and staged a half hour party inside with druming, dancing and singing, while the bank's plate glass windows were plastered with posters. Later a 100 strong crowd blockaded the Halifax on George St., then marched along George St. & Princes St., Edinburgh's main street.
The day's actions finished with a demonstration outside the Bank of Scotland Headquarters on the Mound.
6 van loads of police were in attendance but were unable to stop the direct action. There were no arrests.
The actions are being held "in recognition that the global capitalist economy lies at the root of many of the woes facing us today: war, systematic ecological destruction, poverty and starvation of large parts of humanity, global exploitation of workers and peasants, mass maltreatment and killing of animals... the list is endless," according to Kenneth Johnston, a member of the group who organised the Edinburgh event. "Globalisation, Neoliberalism, the Free Market - whatever its new names and attributes, capitalism has always been inherently flawed: it reduces people and a beautifully rich natural world to just one dimension: the one that increases profits."
400-500 people participated in a moving street carnival in Glasgow, Scotland on 18th June as part of the global resistance to G8 and capitalism. An unauthorised march wended its way through the city centre for several hours, stopping for an hour or so in George Square, and culminating in Kelvingrove Park.
There were no arrests - the only known attempt at an arrest, in George Square, being thwarted by determined demonstrators who surrounded the police and ensured the handcuffed prisoner was freed.
With two mobile sound systems housed in vans, a contingent of drummers and many blowing whistles, the demo brought office and shop workers to the windows and the streets as it passed by. Passers by were curious and intrigued and large quantities of flyers and leaflets were distributed.
Many of the demonstrators were in fancy dress, particularly striking was a multi person monster! The march involved a range of ages, including several parents pushing kids in buggies.
The demonstrators joined forces from 3 different meeting points,plus a contingent of cyclists who staged a mini critical mass. The cyclists featured some unusual machines, notabley a pedal powered rocket.
Banners included GLOBAL CAPITAL CAN BANK ON GLOBAL RESISTANCE, RESISTANCE WILL BE AS GLOBAL AS CAPITALISM with the names of dozens of the cities world-wide where action was taking place, and CAPITALISM IS STUPID.
The march stopped at various appropriate sites, including the local Council Chambers, an Armed Forces Careers office where demonstrators hammered on the windows, a large bank of Scotland branch where Bank of Bigotry notes were distributed to staff outside, and the Pitt Street police station where the walls of babylon shuddered and shook and the polis looked particularly pissed off. The activity lasted for around 7 hours in all, from the gathering at the meeting points at 1pm till the departure from the Park at around 8pm.
A June 18th Street Party was also scheduled for Aberdeen in north east Scotland but lack of numbers meant direct action was impossible, though leaflets were distributed in the city centre and at a McDonalds.
Report from Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh 0131 557 6242
Demonstrators occupied two banks, blockaded a third and staged an unauthorised march along Princes Street., Edinburgh, today 12th June.
100 people took action as part of coordinated world protests to highlight the links between economic globalisation, poverty, and the destruction of the Earth's environment.
Behind a banner reading GLOBAL CAPITAL CAN BANK ON GLOBAL RESISTANCE whistle blowing, drumming protesters stormed into the Clydesdale Bank on Hanover St. . Exiting the Clydesdale after 20 minutes, the crowd then took over the Abbey National also in Hanover St. and staged a half hour party inside with druming, dancing and singing, while the bank's plate glass windows were plastered with posters. Later a 100 strong crowd blockaded the Halifax on George St., then marched along George St. & Princes St., Edinburgh's main street.
The day's actions lasted 3 - 4 hours and finished with a demonstration outside the Bank of Scotland Headquarters on the Mound.
6 van loads of police were in attendance but were unable to stop the direct action. There were no arrests.
Before and during the action thousands of flyers in the form of BANK OF BIGOTRY ten pound notes were distributed, and a special 2 sides of A4 leaflet was distributed on the day. (Hard copies of the bank notes available, please send stamped addressed envelope, the leaflet can be e mailed on request)
18 JUNE GLOBAL ACTION STARTS AROUND MIDNIGHT
- PAINT BOMBS PLASTER NEW DEAL PROFITEER REEDS EDINBURGH OFFICE
We have received the following anonymous message which we reproduce without comment and for information purposes only. It has been verified that the Reeds offices named have in fact been the subject of an action as described below :
"Dear ACE
We are a group of friends who are not involved in any formal organisation, but we hate workfare, the companies who profit from it, and the whole exploiting system.
Tonight around midnight on 17/18 June we paintbombed the Reed Employment office at 13 Frederick St and flyposted both Reed Employment and Reed Accountancy at 25 Frederick St., in central Edinburgh.
The text of the poster read:
"GREED
New Deal? A Dirty Deal
AN ATTACK ON THE UNEMPLOYED
Compulsory cheap labour for £55 per week if you can't get a job
AN ATTACK ON WORKERS
Undermining everyone's wages and conditions
FIGHT BACK
Workers - pressurise your boss to boycott the New Deal
Unemployed - organise to defend ourselves
STAMP ON THE G8"
We took this action as part of the ongoing opposition to Reeds running the New Deal scheme in the Hackney and City areas of London. And we took action as part of the global day of action on 18 June against the G8 summit in Koln, Germany and the capitalist system."
There was an excellent 2 page article in THE BIG ISSUE IN SCOTLAND (10-16 June) in advance of the actions.
There were brief mentions of the Glasgow activity in THE SCOTSMAN and THE HERALD at the end of major articles on the London events.
Stamp the G8! includes leaflet text.