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May Day protest against the circumstances of the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment bill
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After nearly 20 years hanging around Uni and never attending a protest I thought it was about time.
Exactly what the protest was about was a little confused leading up to the event, not helped by one person trying to co-opt the event for their own crusade and muddying the waters. As far as I could ascertain this was the first time for all the protest organisers, so some confusion was to be expected.
For the record I was there because of
1. the guilt on accusation principles in the act itself
2. the act as representative of how National has been abusing parliamentary urgency to legislate by decree.
There was quite a bit of standing around to start with - none of the guest speakers turned up. However this gave the opportunity to get to know some of the people there in conversation. Not as many turned up as had been hoped - of course - but nevertheless there were enough for a march, which got started reasonably promptly around 1:30 pm. There was a small police presence on Ilam road, but they must have decided we were harmless because I saw no sign of marked cars on Riccarton road.
I actually went up the other side of Riccarton Road to the march proper as it provided better scope for photos. This also meant I was able hear what passers-by thought was happening (although I was only asked about it by one person). There was definite confusion with most people (unsurprisingly*) assuming the march was against the idea of copyright itself, and reasonably disagreeing.
*Given that several of the placards basically said "No Copyright" without further explanation, and that was also the chant early on. By halfway up Riccarton road the chant had become "Copyright Won't Save Our City" in reference to the circumstances of the bill's passing, which was ... better.
The plan was to march from Ilam Fields (University) to Hagley Park. In fact the march went all the way to Hagley park, looped around and back down the other side of Riccarton Road to Ilam Fields again which is a credible effort from all involved. Various people did drop off on the way back as we passed their homes or the other places they had planned to go after the march. On the other hand, the march did also pick up a few people as it went along.
(Also my legs are killing me from constantly keeping ahead to take photos, even though I had my bike for those times I really fell behind).
So, a good effort by a bunch of people who have never organised a protest before - and mostly never protested before if I read the crowd right. There are preliminary plans for another in late August, just before the Act is due to come into effect.
~~~
Photos
~~~
After nearly 20 years hanging around Uni and never attending a protest I thought it was about time.
Exactly what the protest was about was a little confused leading up to the event, not helped by one person trying to co-opt the event for their own crusade and muddying the waters. As far as I could ascertain this was the first time for all the protest organisers, so some confusion was to be expected.
For the record I was there because of
1. the guilt on accusation principles in the act itself
2. the act as representative of how National has been abusing parliamentary urgency to legislate by decree.
There was quite a bit of standing around to start with - none of the guest speakers turned up. However this gave the opportunity to get to know some of the people there in conversation. Not as many turned up as had been hoped - of course - but nevertheless there were enough for a march, which got started reasonably promptly around 1:30 pm. There was a small police presence on Ilam road, but they must have decided we were harmless because I saw no sign of marked cars on Riccarton road.
I actually went up the other side of Riccarton Road to the march proper as it provided better scope for photos. This also meant I was able hear what passers-by thought was happening (although I was only asked about it by one person). There was definite confusion with most people (unsurprisingly*) assuming the march was against the idea of copyright itself, and reasonably disagreeing.
*Given that several of the placards basically said "No Copyright" without further explanation, and that was also the chant early on. By halfway up Riccarton road the chant had become "Copyright Won't Save Our City" in reference to the circumstances of the bill's passing, which was ... better.
The plan was to march from Ilam Fields (University) to Hagley Park. In fact the march went all the way to Hagley park, looped around and back down the other side of Riccarton Road to Ilam Fields again which is a credible effort from all involved. Various people did drop off on the way back as we passed their homes or the other places they had planned to go after the march. On the other hand, the march did also pick up a few people as it went along.
(Also my legs are killing me from constantly keeping ahead to take photos, even though I had my bike for those times I really fell behind).
So, a good effort by a bunch of people who have never organised a protest before - and mostly never protested before if I read the crowd right. There are preliminary plans for another in late August, just before the Act is due to come into effect.
~~~
Photos
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-01 05:36 am (UTC)From:I am against copyright infringement *mostly*. So I can't really stand beside a bunch of yobs holding 'I'm a pirate' signs and feel like I've done some good in the world. However I am glad to hear there were some more reasonable voices amoung the crowd.
It is a debacle the way this law has been handled, a disgusting misuse of governmental process. Especially in a time of emergency. I hope that a protest is formed that I do feel I can take part in.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-01 05:46 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2011-05-01 05:56 am (UTC)From:It looked to me like there was more than a couple of idiots in the crowd, but as long as they were outnumbered by the more sensible folk and were not carrying the day. Maybe I should have got of my ass and added myself to the sensible numbers. Me! Sensible, bwa hahaha. At least I would have made a decent sign.