Inside the world of the G8 "anarchists"

[G_j]

http://news.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=704582005

Inside the weird world of the G8 anarchists

SCOTT McCULLOCH

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Struggling to find the real venue for a planning meeting held by a loose coalition of anarchist groups in Glasgow in February, I knew I had reached the right place when I spotted a police helicopter circling helpfully overhead.

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The only anarchy on show, however, was the groups of children running wild around the meeting space as we discussed the finer points of keeping on the right side of Scots law while carrying out a disruptive - but non-violent - protest.

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There was a loose form of organisation to it all, though not exactly what you would call a well-oiled machine. During meetings, a speaker is never interrupted until it is clear they have finished speaking. The group use the hand waves to signal their agreement or disagreement, and a minute-taker speaks only to clarify points raised.

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When it came to direct actions, the group discussions became purposely vague. Any discussion that strayed into actual details was quickly shut down. Those that needed to know clearly already knew. As some of the group are veterans of previous G8 protests, the cloak and dagger approach they have adopted has come as a direct result of the treatment they have received at earlier protests.


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