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Thousands of protesters marched in London as world leaders convene for the Group of 20 conference, where the economic crisis will be the main topic. President Barack Obama met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown before the meeting; the NY Times reports that Obama "denied there is a rift between America and the world on Wednesday and urged leaders of the Group of 20 countries to act in unison to find a way out of the global economic crisis," with the president saying, "Nearly every country engaged here has done a fiscal stimulus. We can only meet this challenge together... I came here to put forward ideas but I also came here to listen, not to lecture. Having said that, we must not miss an opportunity to lead, to confront a crisis that knows no borders.”
As for the protests, four groups marched towards the Bank of London (there was another from the U.S. Embassy), but Londonist tells us they were "blocked in by police in what's apparently called a 'kettle'." Amusingly, it also seems that the police have "kept one group of protestors in front of... a branch of" the Royal Bank of Scotland, the U.K. bank associated with its financial crisis—but not so amusingly, protesters have allegedly broken the bank's windows and broken in. Red smoke bombs are seen, and there's reports of police batons drawing protesters' blood.
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eh, protesters...on another note its amazing how much PM Gordon Brown looks like Dan Rather in pic #3.
Based on that pic I thought for a second that there was another Zombie Walk going on.
"I came here to put forward ideas but I also came here to listen, not to lecture.."
Actually you came to grovel on your hands and knees, begging for a global bailout but all your deadbeat azz is gonna get is a foot shoved up it.
Silly protesters.
Don't they realize they should be focusing their thoughts on more important issues--like whether Michelle's lime green skirt is appropriate for Downing Street and whether Barack feels upstaged by Hillary at this event.
or meaningfully contributing to society. sorry there aren't jobs for you, why don't you go make something on a commune somewhere instead of agitating.
Great that the protesters tossed in the token Free Gaza bullshit into the mix. They should go to a Hamas or Hezbollah rally and see if those groups share their anti-war message.
my thoughts to those brothers and sisters there in London,
you keep on keeping on. and go git some! Git R done!
These fools are protesting world leaders working on resolutions?
exactly. instead of standing around doing nothing, why not actually DO something.
invent a useful product, produce new technologies, heal the sick, write a book or poem.
working: THAT's the economy stupid!
Yes, go about your business while well connected banks pillage your treasury and devalue your currency.
It's no problem, really.
yes egging police and breaking shit, that'll get business moving again...
Felix has made the point better than most of the protesters.
Before scoffing at these protesters as if they're some sort of know-nothing Williamsburg hipster Pandamonium attendees, we should keep in mind that the bankers and finaciers are there in London "protesting" for their own positions as well. Except they get to do it face-to-face with politicians and their handlers.
The point of the people on the street in London is to remind the G20 leaders that there are viewpoints and ideals that must be considered besides those of the corporate elite.
You're right. The operative word is "fools"...
I'm all-for a good protest but this is idiotic. 'Oh the economy went bad, down with capitalism'. No, thats too vague, you sound like an idiot, go away and come back with something specific you dirty hippies.
London they go hard.
I wonder how many NYU protestors flew over there to take part.
"We need consensus. We've got 10 minutes for consensus."
I love how the rest of the world blames America for this mess but would be perfectly happy if we went right back to buying all of their stuff. That is until their economies were righted and then they would go back to blaming us for war and global warming.
Where is this evidence of the rest of the world blaming America?
Do you not read newspapers or watch news channels?
LA Times, April 1, 2009:
"Obama is still seen as the antithesis of Bush, but he is no longer a fresh-faced candidate. Rather, he is the representative of a country and an economic system that many Europeans blame for leading them into the financial crisis."
NPR, April 1, 2009
Major European Banks Blame U.S. Economy : NPR
And it's not just today:
Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2009
Russia, China Blame Woes on Capitalism
citizenerased just got owned.
Sorry I was assuming your comment was pertaining to this gothamist article rather than some articles (from American media) you just googled up to make your point.
Back to the point (the article you're commenting on) these protests are being aimed at all of the G20 members, not just America, get over yourself. Are you suprised people blame the country in which the subprime mortgage crisis started?
Cretin.
I thought this kind of crap would end when GW Bush was out and Obama the Messiah was elected?! Don't these wannabe hippies and trust fund hipsters know that the economic mess is not Obama's fault?! Without the financial system, even though it's far from perfect, we would all be planting our own dinners and bartering for diapers!
If Bush was still in office, London would be in flames and ruins.
Which song would be more apropos for the eventual made for TV movie about the millennial depression using this stock footage? LONDON CALLING or ANARCHY IN THE UK?
London Calling.
The only band that matters.
Why is the NYPD the only police organization in the world that doesnt allow this to happen? Are they the only ones who know how to control crowds?
the NYPD uses horses.
What exactly is NYPD "not allowing"? Did you forget the RNC protests? Hundreds of people rounded up for doing nothing wrong? How about Tompkins Square? Critical Mass? NYPD suppresses protests about as well as police in China, Russia, Iran, Burma, Syria, etc.
In a perfect Freegan Utopia, The Royal Bank Of Scotland would be lending to beet farmers so they could take a break from the harvest and enjoy the solstice. Then, ten days later, return to the village market to purchase a cow at 2% interest, all of which goes to the wind farm that supplies their huts with fucking Twitter.
Anarchy FTW!
It's the people here in America sitting around their arse and watching American Idol that are being unproductive.
These people are protesting the corruption of these politicians, Bankers, and Elites (especially when it comes to this financial crisis).'
They are talking for the little people and for the millions of sheeple cowards who don't have the courage to do so.
They have The Courage To Whine.
Sorry I was assuming your comment was pertaining to this gothamist article rather than some articles (from American media) you just googled up to make your point.
Back to the point (the article you're commenting on) these protests are being aimed at all of the G20 members, not just America, get over yourself. Are you suprised people blame the country in which the subprime mortgage crisis started?
Cretin.
Are you suprised people blame the country in which the subprime mortgage crisis started?
No and I didn't say that they shouldn't. Learn to read. But the problem goes much deeper than simply subprime mortgages. The US consumes more than it produces. Everyone knows it. Everyone knew the global imbalances couldn't last forever. And yet the rest of the world's leaders with the exception of China aren't doing much of anything to grow their own economies for the long term. Some would prefer to devalue their own currencies and most would prefer to export their way out of the problem i.e. France, Germany, Japan, etc.
Cretin.
Asshole.
I dont think those smucks are getting beat down enough.
I bet that many of the property destroying anarchists can be hired as hooligans for some enterprising football club. Go Liverpool!
I'm very surprised at the number of commentators who are close-minded enough to believe there is no way to craft a system that is better than capitalism. true capitalism and true democracy cannot coexist in a sustainable manner.
"true capitalism and true democracy cannot coexist in a sustainable manner."
What does "true" mean?
and "craft" a system. Who does the crafting? Isn't that your ( I assume) issue. The idea that a few craft a system for the many.
"sustainable manner" . Nothing is truly sustainable. All things are born, they live and then they die. People, buildings, ideologies, economic systems, religions, my pet gold fish Swimmy.
For the record I am all for the protests, unruly and even obscene. There are some legitimate issues. For example, since the 60s there has been an amazing spike in CEO pay relative to the average salary for employees. It sends a message that they have more value. Perhaps some do, but the CEOs at many banks proved, they aren't worth it.
that said when they start breaking shit, well then I don't feel sorry for them when they get arrested or hurt.
You're right. There is a better system. Total Global facism. " 'ere's a boot right up yer arse, hippie."
I too am surprised at the hostility toward the protesters. These people are fighting against an unjust system. At least they have the courage to do something with their convictions rather than just sitting at home complaining. Would you have said the same thing about the civil rights protesters here in the U.S. during the 1960s? Shinbi Shaw has it right.
don't be surprised. gothamistas are all about snark and their high income bracket.
Civil rights protesters knew what they were fighting for and why. These idiots just show up to break shit. If you see one of them, ask them who the president of the World Bank is. Or to name five countries in the G20.
Plus anyone who unironically uses the term "sheeple" has a juvenile comprehension of political issues.
Beat them back to the 1960s. Screw all commie loving shit for brains libs.
you said it,
only 1300 more days till we rid our commie fascist govt and return to normalcy.
sorry, I've been reading too many yahoo boards.
Universal healthcare works.
Well, England you could dismantle your useless, lazy monarchy that you have allowed to horde major portions of your land and wealth off the backs of the working poor for hundreds of years, while they sit on their inbred asses and look down thier noses at all of you. Sure that their stuff would go for a few billion.
Some guy collapsed there, and the protesters blocked and then repeatedly threw glass bottles at the EMT trying to give him medical attention. He later died.
Just more evidence that modern protesters are a hopelessly confused and increasingly destructive force of unreason. Their bullshit agenda -- if even coherent -- no longer applies, which causes the hitherto moronic masses of self-righteous indignation to ramp it up and become not just stupid but murderously negligent.
¡Viva la revolución!
Also the Pretty Ballerinas sign in the pic background = brilliant!