I was at the London peace march today, as organised by www.stopthewar.com in response the events with Israel and Palestine. I knew it was going to be a tough one, telling a friend yesterday that I was probably going to be walking into a riot.

The official route was right by the Israel Embassy, which I considered wasn't all that likely we'd ever get there. Apparently the front of the march did and this caused the police to clamp down.

By the time my part of the march got to the approach of the Embassy. The police were clamping down, making the march slower and slower - which in turn raised tempers.

As the march was getting so crowded and cramped that we at risk of a spontaneous crush in the event of a panic, I found myself ahead of a disable protestor in a wheelchair with an assistant. I kept that position so I could anchor myself in the case of an emergency, giving the disabled protestor some breathing space.

When things started to kick off, I even had to tell some nearby kids off who had just announced their intention to riot and got them to leave the area as quietly as possible. The disabled protestor beat a retreat and so I moved on forward, knowing that regular people could easily be trapped if the riot police just laid into people.

So for a time myself and about 4 to 5 others were trying to calm down a baying mob of young men. We were standing between these protestors and the riot police, berating people for attacking the police, taking apart makeshift baracades and trying to calm things down. While we were doing this no-one got truncheoned and no officer got wounded.

It was probably fairly easy for me because they were mostly young men and kids - so I mostly had a size and weight advantange while I was appealing to their consciences.

It was clear that we wouldn't be able to calm things down completely but we were able to buy time for everyone involved.

I left that scene escorting an elderly lady out of the "danger zone", thanked my fellow escort and peace-keeper and made my own way out of the demo. I did it by negotiating my way through police lines - thankfully they were happy to let non-violent protestors leave.

As I left I saw heavy reinforcements for the police trot towards the scene and I saw the horse boxs but no actual mounted riot police.

Well we did manage to protest and I also did what I promised myself I'd do, to try and calm down the situation if a riot threatened. I felt a bit shakey while walking away but I recovered.

Do you not think it might be possible for a person to protest on behalf of foreigners AND ALSO fight the corner of their compatriots?
I myself have in the past taken part in marches against other countries/foreign issues, and also taken part in marches against issues of my own country.
It seems to me what you are saying is that people should fight their own country's issues, and not support others.
Sorry I dont agree.
I also donate to international charities as well as national ones.
I suppose you are going to tell me to only give my money to local needy people and organisations and turn my back on my fellow human beings suffering abroad?
Pft, what nonsense.

You're wrong Rocketgirl. Maybe I wasn't clear enough... i can admit to that.
I will try to explain in other words.
I am not saying that you should forget about the others... but there's always an order of things. When it comes to your life, different things have a different orders of importance.
If you're married with kids, the uttermost priority that you feel inside (probably th emost important one) is their welfare... (let's say, food)
Once you have resolved this issue, then you tend to think about other things. some might be no less important, but your kids are the uttermost, ultimate importance.
That's probably why nobody works for free, that's why you won't find a no-charge plumber when you need one. And when the plumber that charges you for his service, is not saying "i wouldn't care less about you"... it's just that in his world, your problems could be last in a lengthy list of priorities.
That's why i say, "look at home"...
While our buddy here was protesting against Israel, prices in England were soaring... starting form the minimal everyday trouble, the Oyster card (transport in general), even though the oil prices have plunged lower than ever.
now, you make the calculations, and then come and tell me, when's the last time you've rallied against a "home issue" and seen the slightest success?...
After all, what hinders you from, at least doubting, that the conflict in the middle east isn't kept live by such kind of governances in order to keep the public eye, or protests away from home policies?
See? the guy above's got the courage to protest against that specific thing, while there's not a single day that passes and hist goverment f*cks up with his life and every single time manages to get away with it, - even richer then before, in any case.
I am not for chaos, i am against violence, agains unchannelized demands... the people that govern today, maybe will be governed by someone else tomorrow... so they're gambling with their own fates too...
be wise and ask the right demands at the right time... prioritize better and probably there will be more success.
PS: not even a bomb of Izrael, nor a rocket of Hamas has ever failed to explode because somebody 3 000 miles away wasted their times protesting in the freezing cold.
thanks.

A handful of nuclear warheads would put a quick end to every dispute. After a few million years the world would look pretty rosy again. It's good to think longterm sometimes.

Oops, did I say that?

Ah but kadushu, whoever survived/evolved in that time would just start all over again and fight and squabble and bring it all full circle.

Yep, and for the record I support the idea of anti-war protests, although I've never taken part in one so far. Isn't it time the world grew up and stopped making people miserable because of some aged dispute? Peaceful protests are the way forward surely

Your English isn't very good but I've had a stab at working through what you've written.

Despite your denials, money has often been at the heart of your criticism of others.

You sound very much like a typical Libertarian.

They are prone to be upset about the continued existence of democracy as they favour the rule of guns and money instead. It's more complex than that, of course, but the Wikipedia can tell you more.

Going on marches and other expressions of free speech is all part and parcel of life within a democratic country, whether you approve or not.

If you read about English history then you're learn about our long traditions of constantly seeking improvements within our own country *and* abroad. If you read about world history then you'll be able to understand the role of international activism in improving matters beyond national boundaries.

I'll let you get on with your study ...

Please....



Back on topic, shouldn't we lead by example? Humans are very good at copying behaviour, both consciously and subconsciously. If we hold peaceful protests for another country then surely this will inspire others to do the same and the concept will spread (hopefully to the target country) - especially in the modern age of instant communication. Are the London protesters not partly inspired by historic protests abroad?

Sasquirrel asks when anyone did something for their own country let alone others.
Hhhmm, well I used to every monday evening have a Local Agenda 21 meeting, we were instrumental at the time in getting the local govt in cornwall to create cycle lanes on roads to help improve cyclists safety, got local parks/athletics grounds etc to stop using certain bright lights at night which not only helped us see the stars but also helped bats and owls, ummm oh yes we secured SSSIs for bats and wild plants and buildings where bats lived, ummm oh yes we set up a local soup kitchen....yeah that was mondays, on fridays I had Amnesty International meetings, we wrote to presidents and wotnot around the world and had quite a bit of success helping to get innocent/political prisoners released/pardoned, some sadly posthumously, and I was also a letter-writing member in the run up to Nelson Mandela's release from jail.
I like to think I have done my bit and still try to wherever/whenever possible.
It matters not if it is an issue local to where I live or abroad. We are all dependent on one another as fellow human beings, and I include animal welfare here too.
Sometimes it is people in London or New York or wherever marching on the streets that are instrumental in helping to save the rainforests in Sumatra or the orang utans in Borneo or whatever.

Ed, Alice,

I think we are currently either seeing a troll trying to wind people up or a genuinely ignorant person.

The protests in London are definitely inspired by the historic success of international democratic activism both here and abroad.

Both local and international activism can be very effective, there is no denying that. However some people will always have a go, regardless.

Try not to feed the troll or allow him to drag you into unnecessary arguments for his own amusement.

Guy