General
After the demo
Some observations: Pick an issue: I decided, in the end, that I should pick one of the many issues being demonstrated about, so that I could feel part of the demo. So I chose Free Palestine – an issue well worth demonstrating for – and bought a mug as a sign of solidarity (although I now notice that the Socialist Worker’s website is advertised on it in small letters). Numbers: the police estimated 20,000 at the demo, the organisers 40-50,000. I decided to estimate numbers myself. The march took 30 minutes to pass my position outside M&S -a few minutes were deducted because of hold-ups. The crowd was about 12 deep. So, if people passed me at the rate of 12 a second, there were 21,600 people. Craig Murray: after all my efforts, I did get to see His Excellency on a large monitor in Albert Square. However, his words were drowned out by a samba band. He still has the classic look of a British diplomat in casual attire – beige chinos and a denim shirt – but I have never seen one deliver a speech so passionately. Technology: a Palm Pilot and a mobile phone was all I had, and it worked very well. Wanted to use wi-fi, but couldn’t find a signal. Still need a way of taking and uploading web-ready photos on the move – that will have to be my next objective. The joy of crowds: I think the last demo I went on was in 1991 against student loans. I had forgotten what sort of buzz you can get from being in large crowds with a mission. Being on the football terraces has the same rush.
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live from the demo
2pm update - i think the march is about to begin - albert square is packed.
wife has joined me at the pub, having successfully bought shoes.
good to see a couple of hamas flags in the crowd to mix things up.
have just spotted a '9/11 is a frame-up' banner. fume.
so, here i am at the demo - a real pick'n'mix affair. choose a placard from a wide range of options. i prefer to sit outside the slug and lettuce and watch the proceedings.
cynicism aside for a minute, people are in good spirits, the sun is shining, and the whistle-sellers are doing a roaring trade.
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Hate Mail
I should never have looked at the Daily Mail's message board. I know it was wrong, and I feel dirty. It is the most astonishing place, both hilarious and frightening in equal measure. Here's just one post, and I promise I didn't make it up (although the Mail might have). Those of a nervous disposition look away now: "They come over here, take our jobs, marry our women and change our way of life. I'm not old enough to remember the old days, but my great uncle says that back in the day you used to be able to leave your front door open to get a bit of air in but these days you don't know what Tom, Dick or Dariusz is going to help yourself to your bread, ham or wife.
Quite what our women see in men who can't even speak the Queen's English is beyond me..." I particularly liked the phrase "I'm not old enough to remember the old days". What a complete tosser.
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Tasteless Headline of the Week...
...goes to the Daily Mail! With TV presenter Richard Hammond lying in hospital with a serious brain injury, the Mail came up with this cracker: TOP GEAR'S BRAINLESS LUST FOR SPEED Congratulations, Daily Mail, for demonstrating an astonishing lack of taste, even by your normally high standards.
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Time To Go...on telly
I notice that the Time To Go demonstration is supported by the Islam Channel, which states on its website that it
"will advance unbiased and accurate images of Islam and Muslims and endeavour to bring about cultural understanding and awareness for a peaceful and harmonious co-existence amongst communities." So, that's an 'unbiased' television channel supporting a demonstration that calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister. I'm not even sure that the Daily Mail would go that far. I wonder what they get for their support? Have they bought exclusive rights to the Mass Die In? Is this evidence that politics will go the same way as televised football, perhaps? Pay-per-view for the Conservative Conference. What a money-spinner.
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Time To Go…on a demo
It’s been a while since I went on a demo, so I plan to go along on Saturday to the Time To Go bash in central Manchester (and my other half can go shoe shopping). I'll be there strictly as an observer, because I don’t support the thing at all. It’s a hopeless mixture of too many single issues. Troops Out of Iraq. Don’t Attack Iran. Hands of Lebanon. No Trident Replacement. Freedom For Palestine. Take your pick. What if you don’t agree with all of these? Only stay for part of the demo? The Countryside Alliance demos of a couple of years ago suffered in impact terms because there were too many issues being pushed by too many groups. This demo is likely to go the same way. But I guess political activists – me included – always feel better if we’ve had a walk and a shout together, even if it changes nothing. Anyway, two particular reasons to go. The first is that I wanted to try out liveblogging, so check out the site on Saturday around 1pm. The second is the chance to see the great Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Tashkent and self-publicist campaigner for freedom. I know of Murray from my time in Whitehall. The phrase ‘colourful character’ springs to mind, and his diligence in cultivating good relations with locals while abroad is legendary among his former colleagues. Jibes aside, I think he has some very useful things to say about the muckiness of foreign policy post-9/11.
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Conference is coming
With Manchester just down the road, I simply have to make the most of the Labour Conference being on my doorstep. Plans so far include: - See a couple of the IPPR's debates, which look really interesting. In particular, Richard Dawkins on Faith in the State looks like a cracker
Will also try to use a few contacts to blag my way into other events, security permitting.
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