I spent most of yesterday getting to and from London’s docklands to see what the demonstrators were up to at the G20 conference in the Excel Centre. There were several groups present but surprisingly few in total; The ban the bomb brigade doing a re-run of the 1960s and 70s, three African groups, a miscellany of cranks and a Buddhist monk – and more police than demonstrators.
It was worth the journey for the African’s who put on a spirited display throughout the day. Respesenting their homelands, Ethiopia, Somalia and Congo, they were demonstrating against their alegedly despotic polititions and the ethnic cleansing in their countries. Many carried photographs of starving children and mutilated women. Wrapped in their national flags they made a very colourful spectacle.
Getting back to Waterloo station for a train to Winchester proved more difficult than expected. The Dockland’s Light Railway station at Bank was closed because of demonstrations in the area. Apparently, many of those involved in the fracas with the police the day before had returned to hold an impromptu memorial service for the guy who died (or was killed) in the demonstration on April 1st. I have never before seen so many police at the same time. Mr Obama is in town, that would explan it!
As for the photographs. Once the early mists cleared it became a warm Spring day, too sunny for great shots so I relied on the flash to eliminate the worst of the shadows. There is a slide show in my Portfolio.
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