As Obama visits Europe, protests in London, Berlin, Vienna, Frankfurt etc.

[Tender Branson]

Reporting from London -- Thousands of people marched through London on Saturday to demand punishment for bankers, power to the poor and protection of the environment at a protest meant as a wake-up call to world leaders gathering here this week for an economic summit.



It was one of the largest demonstrations this city has seen since massive rallies six years ago against the invasion of Iraq. The turnout, estimated at 35,000, reflected the depth of popular anger over Britain's economic crash and the perceived greed of bankers and other high-fliers whom many people blame for it.

Beneath a sea of banners, marchers representing trade unions, charities, environmental groups and churches snaked through the streets to converge on Hyde Park. Placards called for "People Before Profits" and "Jobs, Not Bombs," in a nation suffering its worst unemployment in more than a decade.



"It's people that make changes, not governments," said Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary of Unite, one of Britain's largest unions. "There should be more investment in public services and housing, not less, [and] greater help to get people back into work."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-britain-protests29-2009mar29,0,7112513.story

Thousands of demonstrators on Saturday marched through the Austrian capital Vienna to protest the effects of globalisation, days ahead of the summit of the G20 richest countries in London.

At least 6,500 people according to the police -- 20,000 according to the organisers -- marched through the city centre shouting slogans calling for greater financial regulation.



The demonstration, which was organised by the anti-globalisation organisation Attac together with Austrian organisations, passed off peacefully, said police.

World leaders, including US President Barack Obama on his first visit to Europe since he took office, will meet in London on Thursday for the Group of 20 summit amid the deepest global recession since the 1930s.

http://news.id.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2968580

[Franzl]

I'm in favor of free assembly as much as the next freedom loving person.......but GOD do these people get on my nerves.

[Hash]

I'm in favor of free assembly as much as the next freedom loving person.......but GOD do these people get on my nerves.

Indeed.

I like that CGT flag in the London protest. I see the CGT disease has spread abroad.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The media were obviously very upset that there was no "trouble" at the London protest. Not that any sane would have expected any; this was a very traditional, very respectable, very British protest of a sort that should be common to anyone who knows much about the political culture of this soggy little island. Might be some actual "trouble" during the G20 itself, especially if the coppers don't behave themselves, but that's different.

[minionofmidas]

Didn't notice anything. When was this?

[Tender Branson]

Didn't notice anything. When was this?

Yesterday

[minionofmidas]

I didn't leave the city all day, so that must have been an unusually quiet demonstration.

[k-onmmunist]

We should be protesting against Obama's pathetic interventionism and the central bank's screwing with the market.

[MaxQue]

We should be protesting against Obama's pathetic interventionism and the central bank's screwing with the market.

The central bank can't screw more the market than banks already did.

[Serenity Now]

The media were obviously very upset that there was no "trouble" at the London protest. Not that any sane would have expected any; this was a very traditional, very respectable, very British protest of a sort that should be common to anyone who knows much about the political culture of this soggy little island. Might be some actual "trouble" during the G20 itself, especially if the coppers don't behave themselves, but that's different.

I was there and based on my experience I couldn't agree more.

On another note, with many exceptions the overall tone of the demonstations was not so much anti-G20 as they were simply trying to put pressure on it. These were the legit ones after all..

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

6,500, 35,000... Small players!

Numbers of last French protests gave from about 1,5 million (authorities numbers) to 3 millions (unions members) people in French streets on the 19th of March.

Not that I encourage these demonstrations, but I just note a real anger, at least that's what i can see here. A not very definite anger but a real one, in the whole population in France, not only through far-lefty or kinda-anarchist movements, what used to be before.

The media were obviously very upset that there was no "trouble" at the London protest. Not that any sane would have expected any; this was a very traditional, very respectable, very British protest of a sort that should be common to anyone who knows much about the political culture of this soggy little island. Might be some actual "trouble" during the G20 itself, especially if the coppers don't behave themselves, but that's different.

Oh, would mean that the Thatcher's period was an "error" in British history? (referring to demonstrations there were during the whole Thatcher's era).

Well, the next big demonstrations announced are for the NATO summit actually. French police is waiting for about 50,000 protesters, from all sides far-lefties, far-righties, fearing Islamical terrorism, well, in short they will put the means in Strasbourg/Kiel.

Then, the next big protest in France should stand on 1st of May. If bad news continue, it could blast every records in France, because unlike the 2 preceding protest days, which shew an unusual growing presence in France of employees from private companies, this is a free day.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oh, would mean that the Thatcher's period was an "error" in British history? (referring to demonstrations there were during the whole Thatcher's era).

When there was serious violence at Thatcher-era protests, it was usually because the police attacked first.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Oh, would mean that the Thatcher's period was an "error" in British history? (referring to demonstrations there were during the whole Thatcher's era).

When there was serious violence at Thatcher-era protests, it was usually because the police attacked first.

Hmm, according to this answer, my question still stands.

[MasterJedi]

People love protesting for nothing and wasting their time. Maybe they should work more if they have jobs so they wouldn't be in as much trouble as they are? Though if they're marching they likely are comfortable enough to do what they're doing and complain all the time.

[Serenity Now]

Maybe they should work more if they have jobs so they wouldn't be in as much trouble as they are? Though if they're marching they likely are comfortable enough to do what they're doing and complain all the time.

Going on the occasional march isn't particularly expensive or time consuming so neither point makes sense. Also, someone comfortable with their own situation might still be concerned about others who are not..

[??????????]

Maybe they should work more if they have jobs so they wouldn't be in as much trouble as they are? Though if they're marching they likely are comfortable enough to do what they're doing and complain all the time.

Going on the occasional march isn't particularly expensive or time consuming so neither point makes sense. Also, someone comfortable with their own situation might still be concerned about others who are not..

Most of these protesters appear to be kids, not really much experience in the real world or in the real work force. I can't blame them for being ideological but most are probably a bit naive.

[ilikeverin]

What do they chant?  "Be superhuman!" "Fix everything!"

[Tetro Kornbluth]

It's the Anti-Everything brigade; what do think they are protesting about? (and most of them would still be there, economic crisis or not).

[afleitch]

It's the Anti-Everything brigade; what do think they are protesting about? (and most of them would still be there, economic crisis or not).

Most of them are concerned if they still have offices and coffee shops to go to in the City next week when 'Converse and home ripped jeans dress down play activist week' is over.
 
'Daniel they've smashed through Costa, we'll need to go elsewhere to get our morning espresso and muffin'

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

It's the Anti-Everything brigade; what do think they are protesting about? (and most of them would still be there, economic crisis or not).

It used to be that brigade, the one claiming for "be superhuman" and "fix everything". But with the economical crisis, anger spread through all classes, especially classical middle ones, and we could see them more and more in protests like that.

That said, in Strasbourg, yes that was mainly that guys, the important point here being that violence has passed to an other level with what happened in a borough of the city.