Riots are spreading across Europe..

Originally posted by warrenb
the best sentence in the article is

Whoever pretends nothing is happening has already chosen which side they are on.

Yeah I saw that too and liked it.There must come a point in a persons life ,at certain times in history ,when you get the call and you respond to it,because all those safety nets just are'nt there any more and I think this is one of those times.

Originally posted by candyfloss

Originally posted by CosmicEgg
Main Entry: an·ar·chy
Pronunciation: \ˈa-nər-kē, -ˌnär-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin anarchia, from Greek, from anarchos having no ruler, from an- + archos ruler — more at arch-
Date: 1539

1 a: absence of government
b: a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
c: a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government

2 a: absence or denial of any authority or established order
b: absence of order : disorder

From Wikipedia:
The word "anarchy" is often used by non-anarchists as a pejorative term, intended to connote a lack of control and a negatively chaotic environment. Because of this, some activists have self-identified as libertarian socialists. In more recent times anti-authoritarian has offered another similar self-identification. However, anarchists still argue that anarchy does not imply nihilism, anomie, or the total absence of rules, but rather an anti-authoritarian society that is based on the spontaneous order of free individuals in autonomous communities, operating on principles of mutual aid, voluntary association, and direct action.

What would be wrong with anarchists coming together in a group? Do you understand what anarchy actually is or do you only know the incorrect, common usage? It's kind of like the common usage of communism and socialism. Once you know what the philosophy actually espouses, you learn that it's really a very noble idea - and that's why they don't work. We're still too selfish, short-sighted and narrow-minded. We need to evolve a bit still.

There's hope. Now off the sofa and off to rally!

Put me on your friend list at once!

Same here.

It was necessary to clarify this definition. And make the point about the knee-jerk "definitions" of communism and socialism.

Greece the home of democracy where it started.. Kind of funny these riots, i was speaking about democracy failling the people, and about it's greek origins briefly here on ATS a month or so ago..

Originally posted by Prima Facie
Greece the home of democracy where it started.. Kind of funny these riots, i was speaking about democracy failling the people, and about it's greek origins briefly here on ATS a month or so ago..

Then you are the zietgiest of ATS my friend.Maybe it is the birthplace of a new power of the people .I hope so ,God knows we need it..

reply to post by pieman


Having lived in Greece for a dozen years, having Greek friends and the ability to speak Greek, I can say that I understand where they are coming from.

They got royally screwed by the government with its BS promises of the benefits of joining the EU.

As soon as they joined the EU, food and commodity prices shot up.

To the average Greek there has been no benefit.

So yes, I agree with the people who want to change or remove the system.
On the other hand, while I oppose the actions of those that are in it for fun and random destruction, sometimes change comes in strange ways.

www.anarkismo.net...



Some more from Arkismo ..so you can see the thrist for change is every where

reply to post by warrenb


The EU has done none of the people of those nations any good. Not one of them/us. It was put to us as some sort of glorious unification machine that would improve things for all of us. Lies. Many of us knew it but still the machine rolled right over anyone with a dissenting voice. We were hindering the progress of our country. We were thwarting our economic well-being. We were small-minded and xenophobic.

They sold it to us saying that those in the North would have the same cheap goods as in the South, and those in the South would have better income like those in the North. Rubbish. None of us have anything except politicians who raise taxes and their own incomes while keeping our buying power and wages at a minimum. The quality of food in this country has bottomed out too. Personally, I'm not impressed. It's definitely time to rage against the machine. All the machines.

reply to post by CosmicEgg


I was under the impression, based on the former French prime ministers statements at the time, that the EU was created souly to counter balance the US influence in the world.

I cant find the quote, but, I remember it was something like that.

------------------edit--------------------

found a quote talking about the counter balance with respect to nato.

Both Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and President Jacques Chirac "have an identical...vision of Europe, where the primary concern is to create a counterbalance to American power", says Defence Minister Alain Richard.

source : BBC

sorry if it is off topic.



[edit on 11-12-2008 by JSR]

The last time students in Greece rioted like this, there was a military takeover. The military ran the country for many years.

How long the military will allow this to continue is the only real question.

Byt the way, riots are NOT sweeping all over Europe.

reply to post by CosmicEgg


well I think a global day of reckoning is definitely on the horizon.
may you and yours come through in good health.

reply to post by OldMedic


Considering that Greece has a military conscription, meaning all youth must have military service; I highly doubt the youth's in the military would shoot or "entrap" their friends and relatives.

It would take a foreign power but then that would just make the problem even worse.

I think they are just trying to set an example for America. We don't have massive protests anymore because the USA will gladly unleash the military on the civilians. It wouldn't be the first time.

Anarchy has always lead to violence, blood and mayhem. The main problem with this system of gov't or there lack of gov't is that anyone can join, such as Hitler, Stalin, Lenin.

Anarchy should be a last resort rather than a first and its leaders should be watched carefully.

Just my 2 cents.

Fox

reply to post by FoxStriker


democracy leads to pretty much the same things, as does theocracy, monarchy, fudalism, communism, facism, pretty much any -ism or -cy you want to roll out here. truth is, give anyone power and they'll start shooting.

anarchy is only different in that no-one has enough power to do any more than local damage, which makes it a hell of an improvement.

Riots sparked by the death of a Greek schoolboy who was shot by police spread across Europe last night.
As officers continued to battle protesters in Athens for the sixth day in a row,
there was also trouble in Spain, Denmark, Turkey and Moscow.
Eleven people were arrested by Spanish riot police after violent clashes in Madrid.
There were also demonstrations in Barcelona where hundreds of youths took to the streets.


Just for the doubters.I said in my original post that unrest was spreading NOT sweeping etc.This was also reported in the Daily Telegraph yesterday.So ,unless myself,the Daily Mail and Telegraph are all making it up something must have happened in Spain,Denmark,Turkey and Moscow.Last time I looked these countries were in or near Europe.It look likes the Athens protests have inspired others to act.Whatever their reasons.

reply to post by warrenb

Thanks for your insights Warren,very interesting.

www.godlikeproductions.com...



This is a really interesting thread on GLP with pics and live feed,worth a look definately.Reports of rallies being planned all over Europe.

There is a lot to this.

I still think that the major civil unrest potential lies in America.
The European riots are mild, but much of it is focused on their own government and what they see as an American-led global crisis.

It's clear that the riots in Greece are not about the boy who was shot, he was the catalyst, the emotive spark that triggered what is now an anti-government movement.

I am still very surprised that America is seeing nothing like this yet.
But then, I've been surprised time and time again that you haven't protested.
Of all the things Bush has done to screw you over, no one really says a word.

As an outsider (and I am not saying that this is true) it seems that the average American either doesn't understand what is happening in their own country, or they just feel that they have no power.
I'm willing to think it's a bit of both; so many are so dumb they eagerly accept the Patriot Act will protect them for the remarkably low odds of being killed in a terrorist attack, and the other intelligent people know that so many are so dumb it's pointless to try and protest against it.

But, I do think there will come a point when even a dumb person decides to take no more, and that will be when their toys are taken away from them.
When the masses realize that their money is at risk, they'll be out throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails too.

And what will happen in the "land of the free" then? The PTB will fight back with their usual overreaction of pepper spray, teargas and rubber bullets, and someone will be killed, and more will take to the streets, and more will be harmed and more will join the protest on and on until you have real social breakdown.

The only question is, what will cause this?

I think you'll have the continuing unemployment, it'll reach a critical point where authorities cannot keep up, and people are being left without any financial support.
Then something clearly unjust will happen to cause widespread anger.

And I still think February is a likely month for it. After Obama is in office.

reply to post by detachedindividual


okay,you have some interesting ideas.What would tip the US over the edge into mass street protests?How bad do things have to get ?Looking back to earlier in the year with the DNC/RNC protests and the way the plice acted,you have your work cut out in the US but the level of overreaction by the police is representative of their level of fear in my books.So afraid of losing control of the people they have brainwashed for decades.

Don't forget,in times like these when riots really kick in the police and the army usualyy end up joining the dissenters as the end of the day they are pissed off people too.

Checked the English papers today and most carry articles about the unrest spreading.Trouble in Turkey etc

If you interested google these newspapers and look in world and Europe sections- Times,Independant ,Guardian,Daily Telegraph (has quite alot of coverage)Daily Mail.

reply to post by JSR

The primary drive (although feverishly avoided in the press) is for the Euro currency to tackle the US hegemony which has been buoyed on by the "Petro-dollar" and its parasitic "buy-backs". The US buys the most oil, oil is the biggest seller in world-trade, so countries logically keep their 5% reserves (for world trade) in that currency - US dollars. The first person to switch their national reserve to Euros (against everyone's advice) was Saddam Hussein, in 2000. Iraq enjoyed enormous and surprising economic benefits from the move. One of the first policies passed by the new "government" following the Iraq invasion was to switch their Reserve back to US dollars...
See www.ratical.org...