especially to answer Jenny Robinson.
This mistakes my admittedly cryptic note. Yes, the event
in London is extremely important and I wish had been there!
I was simply connecting the value of a number of events of which this
is one, a very important one, but one the number in which people are
engaged. This plurality of events is surely very welcome and I hope
that geographers welcome it.
Apologies if my crypticness was ambiguous.
Best,
David Crouch
On Tue, 22 Jun 1999 18:22:47 +0100 [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Oh dear, another brief and rather grumbly comment - was this sent to the CGF
> by mistake too? Perhaps, David, you would like to explain why you made this
> (implied) negative comment so that we could think more carefully about the
> value of demonstrating against global capitalism, the indebtedness of the
> poorest countries in the world and the fabulous pollution private cars in
> London generate...amongst other things.... What other kinds of protests or
> actions might make alternative voices heard in the c/City?
>
> Jenny Robinson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Crouch [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 22 June 1999 14:21
> To: keith halfacree
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: global protest
>
> A street cultural geography
>
> whether taking over Pettycoat Lane or Community Garden space it is
> all
> important.
>
> David
>
> On Tue, 22 Jun 1999 10:06:58 GMT0BST keith halfacree
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > > Any thoughts from CGFers about the J18 demos in London and
> elsewhere?
> > >
> >
> > Dear Fraser, Gavin, fellow CGFers,
> >
> > I'm glad that you also felt somewhat empowered by the events on
> > Friday. It meant a tremendous amount to me - just being there and
>
> > getting involved in a small way! Arriving a little after 12.00
> from
> > Swansea - late 'cos the Circle line was out - I was greeted by
> > the amazing scene of Liverpool Street station alive with people,
> > whistles, anticipation, not rushing anywhere.
> > Just as I got through the tube exit the Samba band kicked off and
> the
> > party started. Amusing to see the lack of certainty at first: in
> the
> > station, out of the station, back into the station again, but
> finally
> > some of the streets were reclaimed...
> >
> > Not having seen the TV news that night I'm not sure quite how it
> came
> > across. I can guess though, given the next day newspapers focus
> on
> > the predictable small minority. (As far as I could see the
> `trouble'
> > seemed to really start after the woman was knocked down along
> London
> > Wall area and, as regards attacks on the police, it was more sound
>
> > than fury. I, too, shed no tears for the Futures Exchange,
> although
> > I didn't see any of that. By around 5pm, when the riot police
> > heavies decided to clear the streets, people were already starting
> to
> > disperse - it had been a tiring day - and I'm not quite sure why
> it
> > was felt necessary to clear the streets then...) For most of the
> thousands of us
> > there the event was I feel very empowering; okay, it was a
> gesture,
> > but one which made many of those who left that day feeling they
> > wanted to do a lot more in the future...
> >
> > > I recall Guy Debord writing that 'revolutionary theory is the
> sworn enemy of
> > > revolutionary ideology - and it knows it', as if to say that a
> critical
> > > theory not practiced is no theory at all.
> > >
> > A big issue that one, Fraser! I certainly think that we all
> should
> > get our hands dirty in the streets sometimes i.e. get out there
> and
> > take part even if the event itself, those involved, tactics etc
> may
> > be far from ideal. The future cannot be set into clearly
> delineated
> > acts, boxes, lines etc and to treat it as if it could be is a sure
>
> > fire recipe for doing nothing at all. Okay, I knbow thats an old
> one
> > but it still rings true...
> >
> > Anyway, must get on now... See you on the streets soon!
> >
> > Keith
>
> ----------------------
> David Crouch
> Anglia Polytechnic University
> [log in to unmask]
----------------------
David Crouch
Anglia Polytechnic University
[log in to unmask]
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