Anarchists converging to Lisbon, Portugal for NATO Summit

[Havet]

We are fast approaching the next NATO summit, which will gather in Lisbon, from the 19th to the 21st of November, Barack Obama and the leaders of the other member-countries. Their goal is to adopt the new “strategic concept” of the organization. And we can already notice the growing bustle.

The police, through the commercial media, started to arouse the sense of fear among the population. According to the news, Portuguese security will be under the threat of both Al Qaeda and “anarchists and radical activists”. A period of unseen social control has therefore been announced, with special laws and punishments for those who dare to defy the warlords’ summit. Huge expenses on repression tools have been made (the Portuguese police recently bought the same tanks that are used in by the American troops in Iraq).

In such a battlefield-like territory, not even music events will be allowed: a concert from Shakira and the almost sold-out show from Arcade Fire, in a venue next to the summit, were unexpectedly forced to be cancelled due to “security reasons”.

But those opposing war and the NATO summit are also on the move, with non-stop street actions and discussion sessions. Last weekend, a university in Lisbon gathered Portuguese and international academics and activists for a conference under the title “NATO: what for?”. In the big cities, street actions crop up to remember the 9th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan and to announce the upcoming summit.

Additionally, assemblies prepare the opposition to the summit. There, peace-loving individuals and organizations are gathering to organize the actions during the event, namely a counter-summit, street demonstrations and the set up of a “Peace Square”.

All across Europe, organizations are calling for the mobilization of pacifists to the protests in Lisbon.

Source (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/466617.html)

I'm going, anyone else interested in coming? We could meet up, it would be a great time for OIers and Members to meet in a friendly environment :)

[ComradeMan]

There is a big AD at the top saying Portugal, One Place. A Thousand Sensations! above this thread... LOL!!! Kind of ironic no?

[Havet]

There is a big AD at the top saying Portugal, One Place. A Thousand Sensations! above this thread... LOL!!! Kind of ironic no?

I wouldn't know...I don't see any ads ^^

[Havet]

Come on people! Let's meet up! I know life's expensive, but this is a one of a kind opportunity of meeting me in person and beating the living shit out of me. Of course, preferably, we would all just get along just fine ^^

[ComradeMan]

Ad is still there damn it!

It would be nice... Is this also in the Portuguese section perhaps?

[Havet]

Ad is still there damn it!

It would be nice... Is this also in the Portuguese section perhaps?

There is no portuguese section, I think

[Jack]

Source (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/466617.html)

I'm going, anyone else interested in coming? We could meet up, it would be a great time for OIers and Members to meet in a friendly environment :)

So you're going to spend 2000 dollars to hang out with some anarkids and throw some rocks in a foreign country.........sounds like a productive use of your money.

[Havet]

So you're going to spend 2000 dollars to hang out with some anarkids and throw some rocks in a foreign country.........sounds like a productive use of your money.

Its far cheaper for me than that. And i'm not going to throw rocks. I'm going to talk to people and debate ideas. That's what civilized technocratic people do. Not that I am either, just throwing that out there.

There are plenty of initiatives already being held there that are strictly non-violent. Read the first post:

"Last weekend, a university in Lisbon gathered Portuguese and international academics and activists for a conference under the title “NATO: what for?”"

If you come too, you will be one more person to act more peacefully than the others, setting the example

[Ele'ill]

So you're going to spend 2000 dollars to hang out with some anarkids and throw some rocks in a foreign country.........sounds like a productive use of your money.

Better than using your money on internet to make snippy and ultimately useless sectarian comments on a forum designed to engage community in competent discussion.

"I'm sure the Marxist Leninists have far better things to do like starch their winter wools and wax their wispy half-developed mustaches."

"I suppose civil unrest makes authoritarians of all types nervous"














If this was an overreaction forgive me- I've had a very long day and have a thing to write up by tomorrow. Stress makes me all kinds of pleasant.

[Ele'ill]

If you come too, you will be one more person to act more peacefully than the others, setting the example

Wow are you unfamiliar with how this whole thing works. Being quiet to a line of police that have you penned in while you blow bubbles at them from twenty feet away isn't progress- it's a waste of time- to those that outright help the police arrest militant direct actioners- fuck you your time will come, traitors.

It's what I'd consider highly incompetent peace action.


If the answer is really 'all about peace' you might as well just stay home and take a nap. Same thing.

[Ele'ill]

I highly suggest two books to those here that consider themselves pacifists-

"Pacifism as Pathology"

"How non-violence protects the state"

[Havet]

Wow are you unfamiliar with how this whole thing works. Being quiet to a line of police that have you penned in while you blow bubbles at them from twenty feet away isn't progress- it's a waste of time- to those that outright help the police arrest militant direct actioners- fuck you your time will come, traitors.

It's what I'd consider highly incompetent peace action.


If the answer is really 'all about peace' you might as well just stay home and take a nap. Same thing.

Its not about being quiet. Its also not about making an unnecessary fuss. Its about shouting when speaking doesn't work, throwing rocks when the freedom to freely assemble is broken, and talking when shouting is just a waste of energy.

Its also an opportunity for revlefters to meet in real life, since I don't think that its something that happens often. However, i'll give everyone the benefit of the doubt and accept that most of you live far away from Portugal and will find it very costly to travel just to "befriends" strangers of the internet.

However, you'll probably find, as I have found many times during my life, that talking with people face to face is a much better, although inefficient in terms of audience size, way to discuss ideas and convince without being biased.

[Ele'ill]

There are incompetent militant actions for sure- lots of them- as there are peace actions that do absolutely nothing.

I just can't stand it when people advocate a peaceful presence- red flags start going off in my head and umbrella flares erupt from my eyes.

How about something that isn't a peaceful action- how about a militant and confrontational presence without throwing rocks and the like- most people- in fact I can safely say almost all people advocating a peaceful presence would cringe at this. That's why I can't stand it.

I don't like strict pacifism- it's boderline insane.

I agree that meeting internet people is fun- I've done it lots and it's always been rewarding.

I'm not sure a NATO summit demonstration is going to be a place to talk about anything.

Not prying here but have you ever been to a large summit demonstration before? Yes or No is sufficient.

[Havet]

I just can't stand it when people advocate a peaceful presence- red flags start going off in my head and umbrella flares erupt from my eyes.

Would you rather i've said: "Hey people! Let's all go there, get drunk and throw empty coca-cola bottles at the policemen just for fun!"


Not prying here but have you ever been to a large summit demonstration before? Yes or No is sufficient.

No

[Ele'ill]

Would you rather i've said: "Hey people! Let's all go there, get drunk and throw empty coca-cola bottles at the policemen just for fun!"

What? How about let's go and not engage but be willing and able to defend ourselves. It would be a far more practical approach and would be able to be tied directly into militant actions if need be.






No

Oh you're in for a treat. Don't go alone- know your rights ahead of time even if you don't plan to do anything at all. Recite them to yourself in front of a mirror. Don't forget legal numbers- they have to be written on your body- everything else on you will be confiscated.

Let people you're close with know where you're going and the nature of the event.

In regards to dealing with other demonstrators- no photos and no video is a good rule to follow.

I'm assuming you know all this from being on the forum for a while- and I'm assuming that you're going because you're interested in it and not because you're law enforcement or military. I don't think I'd be interested in meeting you under those conditions.

[Havet]

What? How about let's go and not engage but be willing and able to defend ourselves. It would be a far more practical approach and would be able to be tied directly into militant actions if need be.

Which is what i've said above. But before, you acted as if I wanted to win a fight against the whole british army without weapons, like Ghandi. As if I were a pacifist.


Oh you're in for a treat. Don't go alone- know your rights ahead of time even if you don't plan to do anything at all. Recite them to yourself in front of a mirror. Don't forget legal numbers- they have to be written on your body- everything else on you will be confiscated.

Let people you're close with know where you're going and the nature of the event.

In regards to dealing with other demonstrators- no photos and no video is a good rule to follow.

I'm assuming you know all this from being on the forum for a while- and I'm assuming that you're going because you're interested in it and not because you're law enforcement or military. I don't think I'd be interested in meeting you under those conditions.

The conditions of me being in law enforcement or military?

[ComradeMan]

I wonder if Lieut. Ferret might be there.... I bet Bud is selling the tickets though.... LOL!!!!!!:lol:

[Ele'ill]

Which is what i've said above. But before, you acted as if I wanted to win a fight against the whole british army without weapons, like Ghandi. As if I were a pacifist.

Ghandi had very little to do with things at that time. Britain was spread thin as it was and were facing a rising militant threat in India- which was a more popular stance opposing pacifism. Why wouldn't a colonial force want to negotiate with the least threatening body of people? The British colonial forces were also allowed to set the terms. The terms they set opened India up to exploitation all the way up to current times.

Ghandi established colonial imperialist rule from afar- which made it easier for colonial power to rule without threat.




The conditions of me being in law enforcement or military?

Yes- that is what I meant.

[Havet]

Ghandi had very little to do with things at that time. Britain was spread thin as it was and were facing a rising militant threat in India- which was a more popular stance opposing pacifism. Why wouldn't a colonial force want to negotiate with the least threatening body of people? The British colonial forces were also allowed to set the terms. The terms they set opened India up to exploitation all the way up to current times.

Ghandi established colonial imperialist rule from afar- which made it easier for colonial power to rule without threat.

i agree


Yes- that is what I meant.

So then, you're interested in meeting, as I am not part of those government "peace" forces.

[Ele'ill]

So then, you're interested in meeting, as I am not part of those government "peace" forces.


I cannot afford it.

If you're ever in the Portland or Washington area for some reason I would.

[Havet]

Anyone else can?

If I ever do go around that area, then i'll PM you in advance