arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Facing sub-zero temperatures, with no practice, bands
from London, Amsterdam, Nijmegen and Gent joined
together to form a 40 strong carnival bloc on todays
demo

After having been woken up very early by those well
organised and over-enthusiastic Globalise Resistors
who were more keen than us to get out in the freezing
breeze and icy streets; we made our way down to the
convergence centre at Tourn et Taxis.

There we met other RoR bands to make up the carnival
bloc. Leaving around 11am we found the front of the
march, but lined up and started playing in a
side-street until some of the demo had passed. We
followed the lengthy circular route which went from
and back to the convergence centre, a compromise route
between the Brussels city council and the D14
collective. In truth it was from the middle of nowhere
to the back of beyond, through deserted residential
streets. Compared to yesterday's Union demo, today had
far greater diversity, students, GR members, left
parties and general malcontents, with a large but
extremely fluffy Black Block (aka New Kids on the
Black Block)they seemed reluctant to smash the windows
of the few banks they eventually did; . around 30 000
is a reasonable guestimate.

We fared pretty well under the circumstances, tring to
work out common rhythms, ways of playing them and
languages eventually led to three tunes that we could
play reasonably well. Which kept people happy and
dancing in the extreme cold, but sunny afternoon.

Moving back to the Convergence Centre peacefully (more
or less) we listened to music before attempting to
disperse. Unfortunately cops had blocked the roads
away from the converge centre and seached everyone who
wanted to leave the area. This was around 3.30 pm.

At around 4pm we were told that the cops moved closer
to the centre and refused to allow anyone to leave the
area. This led to a stand off with people throwing
rocks etc with cop water cannon retaliation.

NO more news on this front but the cops are
apparently hovering aroung the IMC from where we are
writing...