Rioters/Looters - what can WE actually DO about it?

[welliesandpyjamas]

Like many other in the silent majority, I'm just sitting here beyond disgusted and ashamed of what is going on in London, and now Birmingham. It's fab that there's a campaign to clear up London - my utter admiration goes out to everyone involved. I'm also not surprised to hear of local businesspeople and residents standing up to the mobs. I don't blame them at all.

What in earth can the rest of us do to SHOW and SAY LOUDLY that we hate what is going on?? And I don't just mean 'liking' facebook support pages or posting on forums because let's face it, most ordinary people don't have time to spare for endless debating online.

What works? What brings people together in a practical way? Ironically, organised peaceful protests are too risky and would give the mobs a new chance to start trouble.

[worldgonecrazy]

I think the best thing we can do is get out and go to the shops that have been looted, spend our money, however little, with them. Be seen on the streets and in the High Street if you can't afford to go shopping. Many people are today fearful of going out into city centres, at a time when retailers were already struggling to stay afloat.

How ridiculous that a bunch of thugs have managed to do what years of terrorism couldn't - frighten the British public.

(My more cynical side is remembering that a population in fear is a population that is easy to control, so I am refusing to be scared.)

[welliesandpyjamas]

Agree, worldgonecrazy. Definitely show them we are not scared and show businnesspeople that they are supported.

But what about on a far BIGGER scale? I mean mass nationwidde vocal opposition. Especially for those of us a long way from London.

[Pootles2010]

Don't think there is anything. Just keep going on with your everyday lives as normal!

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

As well as supporting businesses and helping with the clean-up, I'd suggest we stay well out of the way this evening and support the police by letting them get on with their job. People in the affected areas with teenage DCs need to know where they are. And, whilst respecting the decision of some people to stand up to the mobs, I would hate for there to be any hint of vigilanteism and I would also think it tragic if anyone lost their life that way either.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

We don't need nationwide vocal opposition. The entire establishment opposes what's happening. And if 'vocal opposition' meant some kind of demo.... we know what happens to demos. They get used as a springboard for more trouble. Not quite the MN mantra of 'ignore, ignore, ignore'... but we have to be careful not to pour oil onto burning waters.

[welliesandpyjamas]

No, no demo, it would not be the time for that, as I said in the op, but why should we sit quietly at home when we live ina time of easy, instant, mass communication. There ARE many many different Little ways of showing opposition but no one strong one that would be heard outside of the forum/website/ radio phone-in etcetc that it sits in.

[welliesandpyjamas]

Excuse typos

[ellisbell]

the best thing you could do would be to make sure it doesn't happen in your local community. Act as mentor to young people, if you can contact a local school and offer work experience, set a good example to your own children. and yes - go shopping if you can afford it.

[SurprisEs]

I think this is the time to let the police and IMO army do their job. And to stop criticising how they do their job. Let them deal with these thugs in any way they please. I don't care what happens to these idiots as they lost all dignity with their actions.
As an individual I can't think of anything to do. But as a nation I say we should show the authorities sone true support.

[SurprisEs]

I didn't meen full blown tanks, hellicopters, the lot. I just think the police lack in numbers and all authorities need to work together because obviously these people think/know they can do what they like with no reprocussion.

[teejwood]

ellis and on that we can agree.

[Erebus]

Actually, I suspect that this will prove a spectacular 'home goal' against the looters and the areas they hail from. What a perfect chance for a right wing government to quadruple sentencing for such acts (see how much time whassisname Wakeman got for his part in the student riots!), to slash benefits for single teenage mums and/or force parenting classes on them in return for benefits; to force the fathers of their mindlessly and casually conceived children to pay up at source (from their paypackets- no, realistically, from their dole).

Bet no government would face more than token resistance from the country at large if they drafted such laws tomorrow!

[LucreziaDomina]

I agree Eremus!

How fantastic would it be if the Govt did those things?

[ellisbell]

those in the areas where there has been rioting may be able to help identify those involved e.g catchalooter.tumblr.com/

[welliesandpyjamas]

Good site ellisbell (looting poundland, though?! )

Erebus, there certainly needs to be some sort of social change. Where and how can that start? Is it actually too late now? Depressing stuff.

Did anyone hear the interview with two teenage girls who had travelled especially to London to join the looters, were beyond pissed on stolen alcohol, and when asked by the interviewer why they had been looting they said it was "to show the police they could do what they wanted"...

[Erebus]

Actually, I think the grave financial situation we're in now will do some of the work for the government. It will be far easier to slash the benefits of the 'feckless', perceived or real, than it would have been a week ago.