Starhawk and Other Protesters ARRESTED

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Strega	29 Sep 2002
Quote: It appears that during a protest of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meeting this past Friday over 600 people were arrested. There were peaceful protesters as well as aggresive protesters that may have thrown smoke bombs at police... but that is not confirmed. It appears that law enforcement officials arrested many of the protesters and are holding them over the weekend which effectively provents them from protesting the meetings. Among those arrested were Starhawk and 42 members of the Pagan Cluster who were peacefully demonstrating. Many arrestees were simply walking nearby on the sidewalks and were not taking part in the protest. There was news coverage of at least one government worker who was knocked over by police and arrested on her way to work. For more information, read the story HERE.

AmounrA	29 Sep 2002
We have had the same type of treatment here in Britain. A couple of years ago, the chinese leader was in London. The goverment was extremely rough handed with Free Tibet protesters, using force to ensure that they where not seen by the chinese leader. There where also trade protesters demostrating peacefully against western nations doing business with China. They also were delt with like criminals. A week after the chinese leader had gone home, the police said they had been put under a lot of pressure from the home secretary to ensure the protesters did not embarass the Chinese. We have also had some IMF protests here. [the imf is a corrupt banking system run by the west which cripples the poorest peoples in the world] I would suggest it's time for those of spiritual intent and who want to work for love & light to start, any way they can, to fight the machine......be it by repeatedly hassling media corporations, going on demos, writing to there governments, boycotting goods from certain nations and spreading the word. www.rense.com

Laurel	29 Sep 2002
I can still remember the WTO protests here in Seattle a couple of years ago and the tear gas and riot police. Right now, people here in the city are starting to gear up for some anti-war protests regarding the US and Iraq. As I get older, I'm finding it harder to find the enthusiasm and dedication for protests, boycotts, acts of civil disobedience. Sometimes it seems so hopeless. Thank you for starting this thread; I need to do some serious soul-searching on this matter because I know for one that War on Iraq is something I'm passionately opposed to. Laurel

Frequency	29 Sep 2002
Rulers will be rulers. The power is shifting in the world, and the bubble is bursting. The Canadian economy is speeding along and the American is sludging like molases. War helps the economy. Always has and always will. The American economy, as far as I can gather, is extremely dependant on warfare. You guys need a ruler who will back off and cut alliances. That's extremely difficult. I don't have the answer, but that's what I percieve. It sucks alot, but that's the way this crazy world is spinning. Hang on tight.

the hermit	29 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Frequency You guys need a ruler who will back off and cut alliances. That's extremely difficult. We had one... for 8 years. best economy in decades apparent movement toward peace in the middle east HUGE budget surplus but... constantly harassed by the republicans no personal ethics mired down in past business scandals and couldn't keep his zipper shut now after 2 years of new administration multiBILLION dollar budget deficit worst recession and unemployment since 1980's republican administration no middle east peace in sight on the brink of major war with Iraq stock market and the rest of wall street in the toilet (20 yr and beyond lows) administration full of major oil company toadies and worst case of "AMERICA RIGHT OR WRONG!!!" jingoism since the McCarthy Red Scares of the 1950's. damned if you do and damned if you don't now who do we vote for??? we got 2 years to figure it out my fellow americans but don't forget to vote for the least objectionable candidate of your choice in the November midterm elections... Congressional control is up for grabs. no complaining if you don't vote!

the hermit	29 Sep 2002
OH! And by the way... though many were protesting in DC peacefully many weren't. news coverage showed bottles, cans, rocks, bricks being tossed and sticks and what looked like baseball bats being used by some protestors (it's always the rotten few that make it worse for everyone else). coverage also showed typical over-reactions by some police to anyone caught in the wrong place at the wrong time (when a cop tells me to move along... i move). moral? ...don't go if you don't want the hassle. AND don't forget that 3 people were also arrested with explosives nearby so cops have some reasons to be a bit touchy. may not have been related to protests but cops will be cops when it comes to bombs!

Diana	30 Sep 2002
Although United States policy affects every single person on this planet, only Americans are allowed to vote for your President. Please people, do as Hermit says and help us all by voting for some decent people who care about the planet, and doing anything else you can. We are getting pretty desperate. I beg you.

Teranar	30 Sep 2002
I, like most of you, will not support the people whom have screwed the nation I live in up, by threatening a war in which I will almost certainly be drafted into because my dad and uncle were sent -against their wills- into vietnam, therefore giving my family a millitary background and ensuring I will be at the top of the draft list, Nor will I support the same leaders who allowed arsenic to be dumped into the water, the factories to pollute all they want, and whos solution to prevent forest fires is to cut all the trees down.

midnightmerry	01 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana Please people, do as Hermit says and help us all by voting for some decent people who care about the planet, and doing anything else you can. We are getting pretty desperate. I beg you. Diana, I will most certainly vote for as decent people as we Americans can find in the elections coming up & in the next Presidential election. I'm sickened by the havoc wreaked by the Bush administration so far. Neo-McCarthyism is about where we are at right now. When the President calls for mailmen and delivery people to spy on their own countrymen, I get sick to my stomach. Some of the more fanatical conservatives in this country believe they are living in the "End Times" and therefore a major war is inevitable with the "axis of evil", to use Bush's words. Some of the higher-up conservatives don't really believe that, but they are Warhawks and it suits their purpose to keep the people agitated and scared. Scared people are easier to get to overlook their civil rights and submit to more intrusive government measures. All this from a Political Party that claims to treasure 'smaller' government. Right. I think that only an overwhelming voter turn-out booting them out of office will overcome any 'tinkering' that might go on behind the scenes with the next Presidential election. Of course this means all the little Political side-Parties like the Greens & Libertarians are going to have to forget their own causes and rally behind one political candidate, probably a Democrat. I'm not counting on that, so who knows what will happen. I'd take Clinton with all his faults anyday over what we've got in the White House right now. All I can do is vote.

the hermit	01 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by midnightmerry I think that only an overwhelming voter turn-out booting them out of office will overcome any 'tinkering' that might go on behind the scenes with the next Presidential election. Of course this means all the little Political side-Parties like the Greens & Libertarians are going to have to forget their own causes and rally behind one political candidate, probably a Democrat. I'm not counting on that, so who knows what will happen. what's really sad here in america is that less than 50% of ELIGIBLE voters cast a ballot in any major election. that's actually beyond sad... it's disgraceful. :mad: if the rest of the voters turned out and DID vote for a green or libertarian candidate guess who'd be sitting in the oval office? it would certainly NOT be a democrat OR a republican. we might get some wacky libertarian or a black belt eco saboteur (by the way, some of my best friends are wacky libertarians and wanna be eco saboteurs workin' on their black belts as we speak) in the white house but it would certainly be a change... it might even get one of us an invite to the white house for dinner, a chat and a spread before a nice relaxing over-nighter in the Lincoln bedroom. :D unfortunately that ain't gonna happen either :(

divinerguy	01 Oct 2002
Republicans raise interest rates, democrats raise children. Republican politicians get into trouble over money, with democrats its sex. Republicans want prayer in public schools (preferably christian prayer), democrats want free choice. The list goes on ...

Kismet	12 Oct 2002
Strega, I'm sorry to hear of the arrests but do thank you for sharing. I used to be quite politically active some years ago when the Perot organization came to be. You'd be amazed at some of the events ongoing that are of such importance they aren't even mentioned or are a little "blimp" in news coverage. After 4 long years of having ideals, wanting to make a difference and investing so much in trying to change the world, I burned out. There are so many things by both major parties that so upset me I've lost all faith in there being any one good person to elect anymore with the tenacity, money it requires, and ability to pass the media's critique and not have a nervous breakdown. I was one of those protesting NAFTA, GATT, WTO when the notions were first conceived. It sickens me what our world is becoming. I believe the most disturbing political event I've seen occure in my lifetime is Tienamein Square (sp?). That is one event I personally will never forget. I was one of those in shcok and still in shock that our President gave China favored nation status and still agreed to trade with them after this occured. I was one protesting it, making calls, informing the public. All those people wanted was to be blessed as we are to have the freedoms we do here in America, they stood up to one of the mightiest nations, emulating our Statue of Liberty, only to have our President slap them symbolically in the face. I don't believe I'll ever get over that. I cannot recall who it was posting something to the effect of our rights slowly being taken away since 9/11, but you'd better belief that's true. It's sad so many are so blind to the reality of what's happening. I don't agree with going to war with Iraq, my husband at the time was in the Army and every other house on our street had someone go, the people in the duplex beside us had both the Mother and Father go. I don't understand why now we would go to war with them. I do believe though if we give them time to grow strong they will attack us. We've as a rule been a country that was attacked and defended herself rather than as an aggresor striking first. I do know unlike the last time we faced Iraq, there currently is no coalition and our President has said we'll go it alone if need be. It reminds me of what I've heard in footage from those fighting in Vietnam. "We were fighting but a lot of us didn't know what for." It is cary to think of going it alone with no one other than Britain as our allie. What will this action cause the world population to think of us?

The Starhawk and Other Protesters ARRESTED thread was originally posted on 29 Sep 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.