Cidersomerset
24th June 2014, 20:05
Whether you think he's the next Messiah or '" Just a very naughty Boy" in the
immortal worlds of Eric Idle in the Life of Brian. Russell does join in with the 'foot
sloggers' and 'Banner wavers' and shows support for his roots.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell Brand to RT: MSM 'ingredient for oppression' ignored
yrpdvxzZbk4
Russel Brand at No More Austerity Protest 50,000 in Attendance
OaAcMVuKIOI
Published on 21 Jun 2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://static.guim.co.uk/static/41c2271d338be7efaf21ff78aa1b6f19dc5467eb/common/images/logos/the-guardian/news.gif
It's not about Russell Brand: why we marched against austerity
Guardian readers tell us why they attended the People's Assembly protest against
the coalition's austerity measures
Jame Walch
theguardian.com, Monday 23 June 2014 11.06 BST
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/6/23/1403516146004/7dd171b5-01cd-4d86-84eb-f63e1b1ae559-460x276.jpeg
Did you attend the anti-austerity rally in Parliament Square in London on Saturday? Photograph: Sipa USA/REX
A march organised by the People's Assembly attracted an estimated 50,000 to
London on Saturday to protest against the coalition's austerity measures. Speakers
included Owen Jones, Caroline Lucas, Mark Steel and the comedian Russell Brand.
Sam Fairburn, the group's national secretary, said: "Cuts are killing people and
destroying cherished public services which have served generations."
Guardian readers have been telling us why they attended the protest. Attendees
who contacted us were frustrated at the lack of coverage of the march in the
media, with the BBC in particular criticised for their lack of coverage.
Where you at the protest? Add your own accounts in the comments thread below
"I felt the march galvanised us"
I was there today in the NHS bloc, the march was very diverse but differences
aside we were there to put on an united front and let our faces be seen & voices be
heard, young and old.
To be honest for me this march was for the people, going down Regent Street I
hoped the people we passed realised there were people standing up to the
ConDems in the analogue world as well as the digital.
I wasn't surprised to discover the BBC ignored us again as they did the 50,000 in
Manchester when people marched for the NHS outside Tory conference.
I don't pretend to think that a bunch of speakers preaching to the converted will
change the way we are but I felt the march galvanised us.
There are 10 long months until the election and those that marched today know
that if the Tories remain in power that's the death knell of the public sector.
"Even the old bill were enjoying the atmosphere"
It was lovely to see so many families taking part, with the young and old marching
together, and many people of different faiths and ethnicity joining in, helping to
create a carnival atmosphere.
Even the Old Bill were enjoying the atmosphere and the weather, with a few of
them getting into the spirit, and chatting about the issues such as their shrinking
pensions.
I just hope that yesterday's peaceful march will encourage ten times as many
people to take part in October.
Stephen Porter
"This is people across the social spectrum"
Russel Brand was one man at an event of thousands. He was one of a dozen or
more speakers.
This is not rent a mob. This is people across the social spectrum working in the
public sector, private individuals who care about the services that the state
provides, and standing up for all of us so that we might still have a decent
education, a welfare state when we need it, and support when we are sick or elderly.
"Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities"
Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities campaigning in communities:
women from East London fighting for homes for families, and health care workers
from Bassetlaw fighting cuts.
It is that mix of local actions backing the inspiring ideas from people like Owen
Jones and Caroline Lucas that make this movement more and more important and
Labour sadly less and less relevant for the 21st century.
A meeting I attended at which Owen Jones spoke was among the most inspiring
and positive I have experienced in 30 years of political activity, sparking a wide
range of actions by a very varied group of people. I think much more is going to
come irrespective of national elections.
I tend to be sceptical about protest marches per se, but I have been impressed how
an alternative coalition is developing in communities via the People's Assembly, not
only to argue against the impacts of austerity policies and practices, but also to
propose alternative measures. I follow online groups which disseminate much
information about local actions but also global matters, raising awareness and
solidarity.
I think this is forming an interesting counterpoint to the rise of UKIP from the
opposite perspective with its rhetoric of ''the people's army.'' It seems the
traditional mainstream parties are caught in those two headlights like rather
perplexed rabbits. They also have far fewer government powers given the
dominance of global capital, which movements like this are starting to challenge in,
I think, some interesting and new ways despite some traditional approaches like
coming together occasionally in public events and protests still being part of the
mix. But without some visibility of course growth is difficult.
I am also sceptical about conspiracy theories, but I was surprised that The
Guardian seems to have been the only mainstream media to cover the event,
despite it being well organised, peaceful, humorous and non-threatening, well
received by crowds of shoppers in central London, and starting right outside the
BBC to make that point about their coverage of protests compared to the volumes
about UKIP. I have made a formal complaint to the BBC and may pursue that further.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/23/russell-brand-march-against-austerity
immortal worlds of Eric Idle in the Life of Brian. Russell does join in with the 'foot
sloggers' and 'Banner wavers' and shows support for his roots.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell Brand to RT: MSM 'ingredient for oppression' ignored
yrpdvxzZbk4
Russel Brand at No More Austerity Protest 50,000 in Attendance
OaAcMVuKIOI
Published on 21 Jun 2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://static.guim.co.uk/static/41c2271d338be7efaf21ff78aa1b6f19dc5467eb/common/images/logos/the-guardian/news.gif
It's not about Russell Brand: why we marched against austerity
Guardian readers tell us why they attended the People's Assembly protest against
the coalition's austerity measures
Jame Walch
theguardian.com, Monday 23 June 2014 11.06 BST
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/6/23/1403516146004/7dd171b5-01cd-4d86-84eb-f63e1b1ae559-460x276.jpeg
Did you attend the anti-austerity rally in Parliament Square in London on Saturday? Photograph: Sipa USA/REX
A march organised by the People's Assembly attracted an estimated 50,000 to
London on Saturday to protest against the coalition's austerity measures. Speakers
included Owen Jones, Caroline Lucas, Mark Steel and the comedian Russell Brand.
Sam Fairburn, the group's national secretary, said: "Cuts are killing people and
destroying cherished public services which have served generations."
Guardian readers have been telling us why they attended the protest. Attendees
who contacted us were frustrated at the lack of coverage of the march in the
media, with the BBC in particular criticised for their lack of coverage.
Where you at the protest? Add your own accounts in the comments thread below
"I felt the march galvanised us"
I was there today in the NHS bloc, the march was very diverse but differences
aside we were there to put on an united front and let our faces be seen & voices be
heard, young and old.
To be honest for me this march was for the people, going down Regent Street I
hoped the people we passed realised there were people standing up to the
ConDems in the analogue world as well as the digital.
I wasn't surprised to discover the BBC ignored us again as they did the 50,000 in
Manchester when people marched for the NHS outside Tory conference.
I don't pretend to think that a bunch of speakers preaching to the converted will
change the way we are but I felt the march galvanised us.
There are 10 long months until the election and those that marched today know
that if the Tories remain in power that's the death knell of the public sector.
"Even the old bill were enjoying the atmosphere"
It was lovely to see so many families taking part, with the young and old marching
together, and many people of different faiths and ethnicity joining in, helping to
create a carnival atmosphere.
Even the Old Bill were enjoying the atmosphere and the weather, with a few of
them getting into the spirit, and chatting about the issues such as their shrinking
pensions.
I just hope that yesterday's peaceful march will encourage ten times as many
people to take part in October.
Stephen Porter
"This is people across the social spectrum"
Russel Brand was one man at an event of thousands. He was one of a dozen or
more speakers.
This is not rent a mob. This is people across the social spectrum working in the
public sector, private individuals who care about the services that the state
provides, and standing up for all of us so that we might still have a decent
education, a welfare state when we need it, and support when we are sick or elderly.
"Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities"
Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities campaigning in communities:
women from East London fighting for homes for families, and health care workers
from Bassetlaw fighting cuts.
It is that mix of local actions backing the inspiring ideas from people like Owen
Jones and Caroline Lucas that make this movement more and more important and
Labour sadly less and less relevant for the 21st century.
A meeting I attended at which Owen Jones spoke was among the most inspiring
and positive I have experienced in 30 years of political activity, sparking a wide
range of actions by a very varied group of people. I think much more is going to
come irrespective of national elections.
I tend to be sceptical about protest marches per se, but I have been impressed how
an alternative coalition is developing in communities via the People's Assembly, not
only to argue against the impacts of austerity policies and practices, but also to
propose alternative measures. I follow online groups which disseminate much
information about local actions but also global matters, raising awareness and
solidarity.
I think this is forming an interesting counterpoint to the rise of UKIP from the
opposite perspective with its rhetoric of ''the people's army.'' It seems the
traditional mainstream parties are caught in those two headlights like rather
perplexed rabbits. They also have far fewer government powers given the
dominance of global capital, which movements like this are starting to challenge in,
I think, some interesting and new ways despite some traditional approaches like
coming together occasionally in public events and protests still being part of the
mix. But without some visibility of course growth is difficult.
I am also sceptical about conspiracy theories, but I was surprised that The
Guardian seems to have been the only mainstream media to cover the event,
despite it being well organised, peaceful, humorous and non-threatening, well
received by crowds of shoppers in central London, and starting right outside the
BBC to make that point about their coverage of protests compared to the volumes
about UKIP. I have made a formal complaint to the BBC and may pursue that further.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/23/russell-brand-march-against-austerity