UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Makhno, submitted on Tue, 14/10/2008 - 11:50

An act of mass public expression against the deepening economic crisis, dodgy bail-out, and the severe lack of economic assistance for ordinary people, is set to happen in the centre of Edinburgh on Friday the 24th.

The demonstration will gather at 5pm at the headquarters of HBOS where people will write down their anger, worries, and demands, and deposit them in a large black box. The demonstration will then proceed, with the black box in tow, down the royal mile to parliament, where the box will be left to be collected by parliament workers, without any speeches from MSP's or MP's.

Organisers say that this protest will not have VIP public speakers, and is not for a political party, or organisation. It is an opportunity for ordinary people to express their anger, worries and demands in this turbulent time of anxiety and uncertainty.

A huge number of people all over Edinburgh are angered by the government bail-out of the very banks which caused this crisis in the first place. People are angry that the greedy and irresponsible banks are rescued, while their jobs, pay, pensions, benefits, mortgages, homes and savings are all at risk of being cut or lost completely.

The HBOS headquarters is a fitting rally point. HBOS is in the process of merging with Lloyds TSB, and this merged "super-bank" will be the largest mortgage lender in the UK. As such it will own the majority of peoples mortgages: mortgages which are the subject of many peoples worries in this crisis. The "super-bank" will also be 43% publicly owned, with 2 directors on its board appointed by the treasury.

Press contact:
edinburghbankprotest@ymail.com

NOTES:

Organisers ask that people bring placards and banners, and bring pens and paper to assist other people in writing down their demands.

Gather 5pm: HBOS headquarters, top of the mound, near the High Court.

March off: 6.15pm march down the Royal Mile to Parliament

End: 6.45pm Scottish Parliament.

Comments

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Anonymous, submitted on Tue, 14/10/2008 - 12:18

I don't think we'll be in for a great depression.. IMHO what's happening is that Western capitalism is moving toward state capitalism with the nationalisation of banks.. in a dialectical way the Russian, Chinese and Middle Eastern economies, which are still relatively state capitalist, have overcome the Western ones not only industrially but ideologically. Re the vitriol about activist wank, that's my usual tack. But the reactionary class politics of "let's get the bankers and protect our living standards" (as opposed to creating Socialism) can be even more reactionary than lifestyle anarchism.. The mix of class hatred and undertone of contempt for "hippies" etc. reveals a dangerous hatred of individuality borne of fear... Very 1930s indeed.

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Akhrin, submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 14/10/2008 - 17:15

Definitely planning on being there, and I'll see about drumming up some support. Does anyone have any propaganda we can circulate to promote this?

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Carol Hainey, submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 16/10/2008 - 21:29

Thank you so much for organising this event and allowing ordinary people to protest against the massive bail-out for the rich, without any safeguards for the rest of us.

I am a woman Scottish Socialist Party member and I will be attending this demo. Some other SSP women and SSP members may also attend. I think the SSP has done well in informing people about this impending crisis for quite some time, in our newspaper the Scottish Socialist Voice. I also obviously think that we need socialist solutions to get us out of this economic mess. However, I totally respect the wishes off the organisers, that this is an event for ordinary people to express their anger.

I can get a few hundred copies of a basic flyer (I won't put SSP on them) for this demo and give them out in Edinburgh on Saturday 18th, as I will be there anyway, to attend an event the details of which are below.

I can bring a SpeakEzy Box and microphone to the demo on the 24th, if that is helpful to the organisers, though I won't get there until closer to 6pm, after work in Glasgow. (If you want me to bring the SpeakEzy just leave a comment here and I will check back. I would just request that if so there is gender balance in people speaking, so that women's voices are heard; and that comments attack fat cats and their political servants, not ordinary bank workers.)

Thanks again for organising this demo.

PS All are welcome at the following event which I am attending this Saturday 16th:

Social Forum on combating
CLIMATE CHANGE AND PEAK OIL
Imagining and creating a just and sustainable society

Sat 18th October (11-5.30)
Sun 19th October (11-2)
Edinburgh Students Union, Teviot Building
For all who want action not just targets

Workshop Strands will include:

1. WHAT are the causes of climate chaos?
2. HOW can we reduce carbon emissions fast?
3. WHO can change Policy not just light bulbs?

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Carol Hainey, submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 16/10/2008 - 23:23

I'm sure most peole would be able to design a better one than this, but here is a wee A5 flyer in case anyone wants to print and give out a few copies.

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Makhno, submitted on Fri, 17/10/2008 - 12:26

Thanks Carol!

Im glad you and some Women SSP members will be there :)

There are not any plans for speakers at the moment. The event is planned to be as horizontal as possible. But the PA thing would be great so that someone could let people know how to participate in the collective-symbolic part of issuing our demands to the parliament.

I fully respect the gender balance with the speakers request, and if we were having several speakers we would definitely ensure there was a balance. Too often political events like these are dominated by male views and voices.

Im sure there will be no problem with anyone being there as the SSP, and handing out SSP materials on the day. There will be members of the new Platformist organisations there, Liberty and Solidarity, and Praxis and im sure they will be distributing their own materials.

When are you flyering 2moro? i plan to be in town flyering as well, so perhaps we could combine forces? Here is a copy of the flyer we made. I am also trying to get a few people out thisafternoon to flyer, as people leave their work.

Also, could i ask a favour? The press are not picking up our press release, and I suspect it is because we are not "credible", while if the SSP said they were going to this demonstration, then that would be "credible" :)

Solidarity!

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Anonymous, submitted on Fri, 17/10/2008 - 21:40

Hi Makhno,

I will be giving out flyers from 9.30 at Waverley heading up towards Teviot for Red/Green Conference at 11. I will give out flyers at that, then if I have any left will maybe give some out at Meadows about 5ish as going visiting a relative.

I will bring the Speak Ezy box on Fri.

Not sure what I can do re media, as SSP national council to discuss economy is not until 25th, but I will ask about and get back to you.

Regards,

Carol

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Carol Hainey, submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 20/10/2008 - 19:14

Hi Machno,

I have checked and can't get SSP to put out a press release about the demo, as the wider SSP will not have a chance to discuss the economic crisis until our National Council on 25th October. However, I have been advised that you can send a press release via the website of the scottish press aqssociation. Their newsdesk is on 0870 830 6725. Just speak to whoever is on the desk.

I will put out a press release saying that women from the Socialist Wimmens Network will be attending the demo.

Hope this helps.

I gave out about 500 flyers for the demo on Saturday. How did you get on?

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Makhno, submitted on Tue, 21/10/2008 - 00:37

"I will put out a press release saying that women from the Socialist Wimmens Network will be attending the demo.

"Hope this helps."

That will definitely help, thanks! It would be great to get it in the press, the extra publicity would help get more than the usual suspects out on the demo :)

"I gave out about 500 flyers for the demo on Saturday. How did you get on?"

Thats excellent. I got on ok, distributed a couple of hundred. I have distributed more since. We have *loads* of flyers printed now (thousands!) im not sure we will manage to get them all distributed before friday! So if you need any more, let me know on thelandisours<at>riseup<dot>net.

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out?"

By Carol Hainey, submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 25/10/2008 - 14:09

I enjoyed the demo and thought it was a great starting point to build resistance against the attacks or ordinary people's living standards. I think it is a great idea to deliver the messages to Alistair Darling's surgery. Please post up details when there are plans to do this. Thanks again for organising the demo.

Re: UPDATE: Edinburgh Financial Crisis Protest: "Where is OUR bail-out"

By Anonymous, submitted on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 20:54

The last thing people expected in 1929 was a depression, yes there was a war for 6 years but it wasnt until 1954 the stock market got back on level with 1929 levels . So dont be so naive, its not about whether we go down the route of captitalism , socialism or state capatalism , giving the greedy sods who have ran our banking system into the ground a pat on the back and pouring more million pound bonuses into their pockets is simply immoral.

Back in 2003 when I was looking for a flat and found out some irish fella bought all 25 on a new estate to rent out was ... well not good. Going to the bank in 2005 when I eventually find somewhere cheap enough and then being told I could borrow nearly 6 times my wage if I wanted ,took me back a little. Luckily the shoebox place I wanted was on 3 times my piss poor wage. I was fortunate.

There has been a staggering amount of greed from people wanting to live of bonuses and gullible people who feel they have no option but to tow the line and get a mortgage 6 times their wage. The whole thing has spiralled , Mr Brown has sold off peoples pensions, their remaining money is indexed linked to the stock market so not good, pensioners who live of their savings now have beggar all , so wont be lending money to their dear offspring to put down deposits on their new houses. People in the public sector and upper eschalons of the private sector seem to think they are owed a living and bonuses even for wasteful work . Lets face we need to get a grip and have a lil bit more respect for our pennies. We hardly manufacture anything the only reason our wages have increased in recent memory is because Mr Blair told us everything was ok, Brown said its so ok I'll sell our gold reserves for a laugh, and we were conned into thinking our houses were palaces. The banks stung us for fools , and the government low and behold saved the SHAREHOLDERS ?!

Obviously we all need bank accounts but to save the guys gambling their future wages in stocks and shares whilst robbing the savers shows us all they're just shits. Unfortunately the only answer is to let the arse go out of the market as this will give more realistic prices and wake up the public , and worse still raise interest rates to get it over with quickly. They were 18 % early 90s . If people now buy houses on low rates of 3 % and a 1% increase occurs to 4% this would mean their mortgage expediture increase 25 % !!!!!

Dont you get it the con is still on !

Hold your money and we need to fight for the prats in banking and in government to stop pissing our money away . I wonder how many kids Gordon would have raised out of poverty by the time this is over , in many ways socialism is an extremely nobel vision but its just a nightmare in reality , run away capitalism is can also be messy but can lift us all . However !forget all that just remember no banker has the right to have our taxes.