Posted on 06/01/2005 5:55:27 PM PDT by blam
Geldof denounced as 'irresponsible'
By Auslan Cramb, Scottish Correspondent
(Filed: 02/06/2005)
Politicians, senior police officers, church leaders and businessmen yesterday condemned Bob Geldof's "irresponsible" plea for a million people to march on Edinburgh.
They gave a warning that a mass protest at the start of the G8 summit next month could cause a tragedy and seriously damage the cause of anti-poverty campaigners.
Five miles of metal security fence are being erected around the Gleneagles Hotel estate
Police said they were happy to deal with events already planned, including a march by about 100,000 people on July 2, but could not cope with a million protesters in a city with a population of 430,000.
Geldof's appeal to pupils to play truant and adults to stay off work to join in the protesting was made despite warnings from officials that the infrastructure of the Scottish capital could not cope.
The rock star, who wants world leaders meeting in Scotland to be persuaded to tackle poverty in Africa and cancel Third World debt, was told his call for a mass protest was "emotional nonsense" and could cost businesses millions of pounds.
Ian Dickinson, assistant chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "Public safety is my over-riding concern and that requires consultation and planning.
"We may need to find additional police officers and that may be difficult. There has been talk of up to a million people coming to Edinburgh. Crowds of this size are potentially hazardous. No one wants tragedy to distract world attention from the aims of the campaigners."
Margo MacDonald, the Independent MSP, said the city would be "pushed to cope", adding: "We're not a big city, not London or Manchester, and I have a great fear about what will happen."
Tim Steward, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said hundreds of businesses in the city would "shut up shop".
He said: "It is irresponsible to suggest this, especially right at the start of the tourist season. Tourists will avoid Edinburgh and shops will batten down the hatches.
"I suggest that Bob Geldof and Midge Ure make a payment of several million pounds to compensate for all the damage."
Ure, the Scottish musician and the campaign co-organiser, called on churches to open their doors to protesters, but the Rev Bill Armitage, of London Road Parish Church, said: "I can't imagine my parish opening its doors for a moment. This emotional idea is nonsense. Poverty has to be tackled, we have to face up to it but this is irresponsible. I think it's something people will use, when they have no knowledge of what the issues are, as an excuse to protest."
Tom Ponton, a Liberal Democrat councillor, said Geldof was being "unbelievably irresponsible" and would cause "chaos" on the streets.
"This is just inexcusable. It's a great cause, and I have a lot of respect for the man, but it isn't acceptable that the city should be disrupted like this. To suggest that people should take time off work or school is unbelievably stupid."
Lothian and Borders Police said they expect the vast majority of demonstrators on July 2 to be well behaved and have asked their officers to smile and communicate closely with protesters.
Assistant Chief Constable Tom Halpin said Edinburgh would rely on "British policing" without using brute force.
He said: "We do not have water cannons. We do not use plastic bullets. The equipment being issued is the standard baton, CS canister, shield capability and protective padding.
"Our officers are well trained in keeping public order of a violent nature."
Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, where the world leaders will meet from July 6 to 8, has been surrounded by a five-mile security fence.
Everybody should march to Sir Bob's house, and he can throw his place open to protestors.
Eliminating poverty in 3rd world hellholes BEGINS with eliminating 3rd world hellhole dictators that keep 3rd world people in those hellholes. There's no getting around that.
The Mugabes of the world are not impressed with hairy rock stars with feel-good intentions. They ARE impressed with military action on their doorstep. Sorry.....that's real life.
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. Spice Girls!
Thats a relief.
I thought he might be gay, but it seems he's just irresponsible
Not to worry. A million people are not going to respond to Geldof's call.
I never heard of him. I just went and listened to a piece of his with the "Boomtown Rat". I understand why I never heard of him. Went back to listening to Ravel.
If I was a shop owner and I knew 1 million leftists were coming to my town, I wouldn't shut my shop to attend my best friend's funeral. No, what I'd do is stock up on anti-Bush bumper stickers and marijuana paraphernalia. After the leftist's left I would retire.
All I know about him is what I've read.
wanker...
LOL! Adam Smith would be proud!
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