NetherEdgeFlyer
Democratic rights suspended in Sheffield
From the 15th - 17th June the Justice and Interior Ministers from the eight most powerful countries in the world - the G8 - will meet in Nether Edge in the Marriot Hotel on Kenwood Road. The G8 is a self appointed, non-democratic institution that makes important decisions on things that affect the whole world. These include things like as global warming and poverty in Africa yet the G8 are accountable to no one.
The G8 is not interested in hearing people's views whether from Africa or Nether Edge but will of course be using your tax money to fund this meeting. And the British government is helping silence all opposition to the G8. The fundamental democratic right, the right to protest, will be suspended and demonstrations are to be banned in Sheffield for the duration of the G8 meeting. The only permitted protest space will be on Devonshire Green, more than a mile away from the actual meeting. Being in a group of 2 or more will be illegal and some Nether Edge residents will require ID passes to get into their own homes.
These laws effectively stop anyone voicing their opposition to the G8 or their policies. These include controversial issues like the continuing war in Iraq and the 'war on terrorism,' compulsory ID cards, immigration, detention without trial, house arrests, and the question of the (il)legitimacy of the G8 itself.
However, despite this suspension of basic democratic rights, residents of Nether Edge may be the only people who still have a chance to to send any kind of message to the G8 at all.
What You Can Do:
The G8 ministers will be travelling right through Nether Edge to get to this meeting, perhaps right past your front door. Why not make a banner or window poster, to let them know what you think - "G8 not welcome", "Stuff the G8", or any message of your own. Or you can let your imagination and creativity loose; perhaps if you've been thinking of hiring a skip the 15th might be a good day to have a lot of awkward, unwieldy boxes down the street; perhaps a scarecrow or an unseasonal 'guy' of the G8 ministers might look very nice in your front garden; what else you can think of to get your message across...have some fun with it and see what's possible...
- Sheffield Against the G8
More about what's happening in Sheffield and how you can get involved:
www.sheffield.dissent.org.uk
www.sheffield.indymedia.org.uk
--Atw 10:17, 27 May 2005 (BST)