G8 2005 Demonstration in Edinburgh by Mike Rose

On Saturday 2nd July we joined what turned out to be the biggest political demonstration in Scottish history. I've been on G8 demos before (Prague 2000 - Genoa 2001) but this one was the most diverse I have ever witnessed. The response from the churches was stunning. We had socialists, environmentalists, Christians, students, pensioners, and babies! All joined together, something that has never happened before on such a scale.

Make Poverty History have been great but were keen to separate the issues of War and Poverty. But the speakers who were the most radical drew the loudest response.

For many this will have been their first time on a demonstration. I think what has happened is that we have made protest part of the mainstream. Silly scare stories that were doing the rounds of the press didn't put people off demonstrating, and, later, a few people I spoke to said how impressed they were by the demo. My own feeling is that the G8 will only respond to a mass movement of civil disobedience. But for now this movement is on a learning curve.

People's view of what is required to keep up the momentum against our rulers will change over time. Saturday was one day, an important day, but only a snapshot of the full picture that we need to really make poverty history.

The struggle goes on in Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Slavery was abolished by mass resistance by the slaves which forced our ancestors to respond and change the law. Civil rights in America were won by mass resistance and civil, non-violent disobedience. At each stage those who opposed the existing system were attacked by the cynics and their friends in high places. This will continue to happen to us. On Saturday we heard the sound of marching feet, and it is getting louder. The struggle continues....

Photographs courtesy and Copyright © Mike Rose 2005

Going Down - Make Poverty History March In Edinburgh By Sarah Golightley
	There is nothing I loathe more than the sound of one of those wretched free ring tones on my mobile twanging away at 5 o'clock in the morning; especially when 5 o' clock is only three hours after I went to sleep following a night of clubbing at Fuel and accidentally locking my friends out of their own house. And then trying to let them in Read more...

Going Down - Make Poverty History Demonstration in Edinburgh 2nd July 2005 By Mo
	Martin Deane invited me along with 2 full coach loads of people from Hull to the Make Poverty History Demonstration in Edinburgh on the 2nd July 2005. It was an early start, 6am, because we had a long 6 hour trip up to Scotland (and another 6 hours back which I tried to forget) as we hopped aboard that drizzly morning. I'd packed my sandwiches, water etc and had a flask of hot coffee prepared for me by Cilla Read more...

Going Down - World Music Day at Queens Gardens Saturday 18th June 2005 By Mo
	This year's Hull World Music Day saw another impressive array of artists from across the globe. A warm sunny day was the perfect setting for various performances. These included the Shyani Ngcobo Band from South Africa, Persian band Flame, the Zeela Women's Choir from Liberia, Allah Lake Afro Mandinka from the Gambia, Shantha Rao of the Annapurna Indian Dance Company, Hako from Kurdistan Read more...

Going Down - Overnight Investigation of the Paranormal with The Spiritual Renaissance Group By Blair Ashworth Photos by Mo
	Insomnia must be a real advantage when you're investigating the paranormal. At least, it would have been if the night at Holmpton had passed slowly - but for me, and for Mo, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience, and I for one intend repeating it as soon as the opportunity next arises. So, there we were, the car drawing up to the guardhouse of the Holmpton bunker near Withernsea. Read more...

Going Down - Isn't 'Ull Brilliant! Hull Aid Tsunami Benefit Event By Cilla, 11 page Photo Gallery by Darren Rogers.
	After the unbelievable response to the Hull Aid Tsunami Benefit Event, where hundreds of you turned up to be entertained by some of the fabulous talent from in and around Hull, we can announce the current total donated by YOU! Together with collections at Yo-Yo Read more...

Going Down - thisisUll.com Tuesday 11th January - Hull Aid Tsunami Benefit Gig By Daniel Laney.
	It is 5am, I am with three proud members of thisisUll.com, sitting back and reflecting on eight hours of music. I have to break myself from conversation in order to put together my own thoughts of this magical event. In the background of the room I can hear Read more...

Going Down - thisisUll.com 2004 in Pictures.
	Both Cilla and I want to thank all the contributors for their work in 2004. Without their participation this website could not be possible, Over 100,000 people from over 80 countries are seeing Ull at it's very best with over 2,000 pages of superb Read more...

Going Down - Reclaim the Night - Wednesday 10th November 04 By Rich Mills
	Embarrassed as I'm to say it, but you can hardly have failed to have seen my ugly mug staring back at you from the pages of the Hull Daily Mail recently. What has got them so excited that I will soon need to employ a Press Officer? Well, the simple idea of Reclaim the Night. Read more...

Going Down - Newland Avenue Christmas Lights Switch On - Wednesday 24th November 04 By Tony Waddington
	The community spirit is not dead. This was demonstrated by the great attendance of the local residents for the switch-on of this year's Christmas lights. The event was a combined venture between the Newland Avenue Traders Association, Read more...

Going Down - Only Fools and Horses Convention By DJ Chris Plant
	The 3rd October2004 saw the Only Fools & Horses Convention road show arrive in Milton Keynes at the biggest venue to date, at the Bletchley Leisure Centre. My friend Alex and I set off at 7:30am to make sure that we got a good queue position. When we arrived in Milton Keynes, we searched for Read more...

Going Down - The Leeds Festival, Bramham Park August Bank Holiday Weekend 2004 By Steve Rudd
	One of the finest rock-orientated festivals of any given summer season, this was the second time that the massive 3-day event was held at Bramham Park, which is a beautiful site on the eastern fringes of Leeds - and that has previously been used for horse trials. Read more...

Going Down - The V Festival 2004 By DJ Chris Plant
	Well, I managed to get 2 tickets for me and my friend Alex on Ebay for £140 (including camping on the campsite next to V Campsite). We set off at 7am on Friday 20th August to beat the early birds and to make sure that we had a good place to pitch the tent. We packed loads of stuff Read more...