dan hancox: Kettling 2.0: The Olympic State of Exception and TSG Action Figures

For a fascinating read about the new police 'weapon' that is to be used against the public, have a read of this excellent blog:

dan hancox: Kettling 2.0: The Olympic State of Exception and TSG Action Figures

*EXTRA BLOG - more from the world of robmacca

VIDEO: Rioters Explain Their Reasons

Newsnight (05/12/11) highlighted the findings from The Guardian and London School of Economics, which looked into the summer riots. They spoke to those people involved and found out why they rioted. The findings (see video above) were very interesting and gave a real insight to how people felt during the rioting and especially their attitudes towards the police and government.

Back in March 2011, I wrote an article on this very blog saying 'Anarchist Numbers To Rise In UK'. The student movement had been hit hard by the government tripling tuition fees and scrapping EMA, closing the door for many from poorer backgrounds. Naturally that anger would find an outlet, as I said:

Direct action is on the increase and no matter how many new laws or impositions Home Secretary Theresa May introduces, anarchists will work around the law to get their point across. The main political parties have failed young people and peaceful demonstrations, in their opinion, do not work. For many anarchists, taking matters into their own hands has become the only option. We will see more events like this over the coming months unless the government gives young people hope instead of hurting cuts.

Even before I wrote that article, the seeds of uprising in the UK were being sown as the coalition government began to unleash £81 billion in cuts to services and tax increases. They were hoping we would be just like the Irish, and roll over and take it. Our 'stiff upper lip' attitude would not wash once cuts to services and rising unemployment took effect. Back in December 2010, this blog correctly stated;

The coming year will either see the working class roll over into submission and accept unfair public sector cuts or 2011 will become the year that those from the very bottom of society fought back and beat the ruling classes by refusing to accept their ideological cuts agenda.

Rioting by a section of marginalised, mainly young people was only one result seen this year. We also witnessed around 1m people march in London against the cuts and millions of public sector workers joining together in strike action last month. With over 1m young people in the UK unemployed and many facing the prospect of either a lifetime of student debt or no university, the government needs to give the future generation hope. Sadly they are not listening, instead they roll out slave labour jobs where young people will have to either work for free or face having their dole cut or stopped. Young people want to better themselves and further education was meant to be one of the avenues they could take but alas, for many that avenue will be closed.

As mentioned on Newsnight and in other places, rioting will take place again unless the symptoms are addressed. Increasing child poverty, closing doors to young people, driving down workers wages and slashing public services will only exasperate an already volatile situation. Mark my words, we will see more unrest during 2012 and beyond unless the government changes course.
*video source: The Guardian / London School of Economics