Anti-G8 protest in Rostock, Germany, Saturday June 2, 2007

Here are some nice video clips that show the setting and panorama view, if your connection is fast enough.

http://www.zoulstory.com/g8

In the first one listed, I notice that the marching band there sets the same tone as the Infernal Noise brigade which visited from Seattle during the 2004 first year anniversary of the Iraq escalation. They kept playing off to the side as a group of teens were surrounded while standing in Market street, and then people going by BART stood watching and shouting at police. Just a thought

http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2004/03/20/cops_get_trashed.mov

These came up on a youtube search, and show more concise helicopter footage of the scenes where people are running around and water is being thrown.

xhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpf7U07oTs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFJmSunh5Z4

Although remember, most of the thousands of people there had an entirely peaceful time away from this field.

Here are some more shots from a building during a scuffle. Remember, most of the 40,000+ people here were at a concert and not over in this area. Are the police letting this happen to their van on film so that they can round everyone up on Tuesday? It also looks like there is a Pal vs. NTSC video incompatibility causing the motion to look sped up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDqThVpu1AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVvUdTNA8Io

Some people dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYwo3s725FU

This article was third from the top on the Spiegel website. They are saying that the protesters are a bunch of hypocrites who eat at McDonald's. I sort of doubt this, except there was a huge concert there. People visiting continental europe will notice that there are so many fewer chain restaurants, particularly international ones, and lots more food carts that sell sausage breads, kebabs, and so forth. East germany has even fewer international chains. One thing I noted actually, when visiting 10 years ago, was the attitude of east german waiters. They don't like to serve or ask how you are or if you need anything. In fact, once some waiters looked at me and my cousin and decided they didn't like us and went back into the kitchen until we went away. England is more similar to the U.S. in terms of having fast food, but it has more pubs and cafes that aren't 'TGI Friday's', or 'Applebee's'.


http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,486346,00.html
Wie hungrige Globalisierungskritiker ihre Ideale über Bord warfen

Der Hunger macht weich. Geduldig standen Demonstranten in Schlangen vor den internationalen Fastfood-Ketten an. McDonalds, Burger King und Pizza Hut machten mit dem Appetit der Globalisierungskritiker in Rostock ein Riesengeschäft - dabei stehen sie sonst im Zentrum des Protests.
ANZEIGE

G8 in Germany: FIGHT AGAINST LIES!

Fight BUSH

Fight MERKEL

Stop the WAR in Iraq

After the march, a conflict began between the police and the Black Bloc. Protesters threw rocks and sticks at the police, who retreated. Then the police regrouped and attacked, swinging their batons into the crowd, punching and kicking people, hurting several people. Here is a short video of state repression German-style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f185olt6W4I

A couple of hours later, some protesters set a car on fire. The cops responded by bringing out several water canon trucks, and firing water mixed with pepper spray into the crowd. Riot cops also marched through the crowd and several people were hurt and arrested.

more pictures not yet seen on indybay are at http://germany.indymedia.org/2007/06/180243.shtml#bilder click any page under subtitle "bilder". real action, not just nice banners

Just imagine if the resources that go into protesting the G8 went to helping the poor! I wonder how many Americans flew over there to protest?.. Hmmmmm... I like protests, they're fun to look at, but does anyone actually find their opinion in any way altered by some not terribly clever signs, and the inevitable stupidity that comes from humans in large groups?

"Just imagine if the resources that go into protesting the G8 went to helping the poor! I wonder how many Americans flew over there to protest?.. Hmmmmm... I like protests, they're fun to look at, but does anyone actually find their opinion in any way altered by some not terribly clever signs, and the inevitable stupidity that comes from humans in large groups?"

the signs aren't for you, they aren't for the protester they are there to make their voice heard to the leaders of this world. As far as "helping the poor." I think dismantling capitalism might be a step toward helping ELIMINATE the concept of rich and poor. A much more worthy cause I believe.

Dear Chris, Tina, and Rob, I see the usual creative commons license on the page with this image, but would like to verify for certain that I have your permission to reproduce "Anti-G8 Protestors Begin to March" in an (unpaid) article, in an academic, non-commercial, and not-for-profit journal (including in its online version). The article concerns the need to pay greater attention to the democratizing role of popular protest. If I have the permission, I would also like to know how you would prefer the image to be sourced (i.e. with your names?), if not as through the Independent Media Center. Thanks!!