[Imc-g8-2005] CAMDEN CALLING-

[unimundal monad]

Regarding 'feeling' part of the 'team' effort!  it is incredible to believe! 
For at least 365 days previous to the G8 every electronic list had a 'call 
out' for solidarity.  In the UK the 'network' has been going for at least 
the last decade, either the dongas, the land is ours, reclaim the 
streets,anarchists federation,antiroads or antigmo, etc - almost all of the 
IMC's since the turn of the millenium have been activists from one of the 
local/national groups of protesters and in the past usually wore 'different 
hats' and made great efforts to cover this for IMC.
Meetings were arranged all over the UK in preparation for the G8 and usually 
there were one or two IMC people present out of an average group of fifty 
people attending - all trying to prepare for the G8.
When it came down to the actual work of setting up- it was surprising that 
there were so so few on the ground actually setting up the infrastructure ( 
and I am not just talking about IMC)- some people (with jobs and families 
etc) actually moved up to Edinburgh or were there  months or  weeks before 
to ensure the space and set up!   And after the demo's were over and  most 
decamped there were very few people who actually took the time to help 
dismantle and return the autonomous spaces to their previous condition!  
During all this chaos everyone who was there 'chipped in' and  besides the 
blood, sweat & tears- they contributed financally also, to meet the 
immediate 'crisis' of the moment and none of this will ever be 'claimed 
back' So if there are debts from setting up the infrastructure and debts 
from 'stated loans' from good people in good faith to meet the crisis and 
lack of committed volunteers before the G8.....then the UK 'scene' needs to 
sort this out and take responsibility for the UK's first large G8 event (& i 
know that Birmingham had about 200 rtsers but there is hardly a 
comparision).
The callouts were there- there were meetings all over the UK and  yet if you 
talk to those who were trying to co-ordinate- I am sure they would all state 
that we needed more, more more ....BEFORE!-
Maybe there should be another meeting to learn from our experiences.  It 
would be great if there was the possibility of setting up & testing out 
everything so we are better prepared for the next time.  A lot of people- 
but too few- did a great job, over a widespread area of different 
cities,towns & areas and it would demeaning to this great effort if some 
people break the UK solidarity that was created over 'money'
llive ,love  & laugh  -M.ib