We can get involved in the Protests in England

[nomaco-10]

I had an idea this morning, maybe it's insane, maybe it's impossible because of the time frame, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.
Could we find messageboards in England and leave messages that we are Americans and can't attend, if you are planning to attend the protests, please invite a friend that is undecided or on the fence about going and ask them to "March In Our Name". They could wear a name tag with a small American flag (maybe) and our name (real or username) and we could atleast be there in spirit.
I have limited computer skills, but I am willing to work day and night to make this happen before Thursday. Anybody else want to join me?

[Lars39]

1. I like this idea!

Alas, I have no computer skills to speak of, but I would like my name on somebody in the protest. I suggested this for the protests here in the US, but it didn't fly, but I probably didn't frame it as coherantly as you did. :)

[nostamj]

2. a sound idea.....

Brit DUers! and we KNOW you're there...

any suggestions for message boards?

Bare Your Bum At Bush

[tnlefty]

3. Great idea

kick

[democratreformed]

4. I like this idea too

Let me know how I can help.

[nomaco-10]

7. I need all the help I can get finding message boards......

I'm trying to register at ivillageuk.com, but I have to wait for an e-mail go ahead from them before I can post. It's a board for womens issues, it could be a good one, not sure. I think it may close down on the weekends. I'll keep trying.
We really need one of our talented duers that can find busy message boards in London. I don't think we should spam them, just have a couple of people to keep in contact at first to feel them out and then start providing them with our names.

[CityZen-X]

14. Here You go Blokes!

http://www.uk.indymedia.org

[nostamj]

22. my post to the indymedia board

Greetings from across the pond!

Many of us here at www.democraticunderground.com are watching with much admiration and support. I'm sure 10s of thousands would swim the Atlantic to be there if they could.

The Most Hated Man on Earth is getting the reception he deserves.

We hope he sees and hears you. Here, there is little chance of that happening.

If you'd like to carry the names of US supporters of your action and add our names to your protest, we're gathering the names now.

Jeff Matson (nostamj)
Brooklyn, NY

[Pastiche423]

27. How do I find your post

to add to it?

If there are more posts to yours it might get more attention?

[nostamj]

28. there's at least one other DU with a post

at the bottom of the "State Visit" story, there's a "read more" link. that opens the full story and the comments. you can add a comment from that page.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. I LIKE it

too! I am computer illiterate, but will help with whatever I can. I would LOVE to be there in person!

Did you see this on CNN? The Mayor of London is throwing a PARTY FOR THE PROTESTORS!!!!!! How KEWL!

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. That is a great idea!

Let me know what happens.

[Don_G]

8. Here's A Petition

A group in the UK is planning to track Dimbo's every move and post it on the 'net at this URL: http://www.interwebnet.org/

They have a petition you can sign on the site too.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

9. Two message boards that spring to mind:

Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/talk/

Independent:
http://forums.indigital.co.uk/id-argument?lgnF=Y

Also, it may be worth your while -- if you can get enough people -- writing to the Mirror - who have been promoting the protests - (or indeed the Guardian & the Independent) with the idea "Adopt an American against Bush" or something like that for publicity.

Equally, I'm sure "Stop the War" (UK: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/ & Scotland: http://www.edinburghstw.org.uk/ ( & "Expats against Bush" (http://expatsagainstbush.typepad.com/) may well be interested.

[nomaco-10]

11. Great sites and "Bush Visit" is a hot topic!

I'm waiting to get confirmation by e-mail to start posting at the guardian message board. Sign up to if you can on any or all three!
THANKS!

[MrPrax]

18. Ah...beat me to it

Both Guardian and Independent boards are fun-filled and 'treasonous' at time...rip snorting...
The HaveYourSay message board at the Mirror might get a wide audience...(and their anti-war front pages were kewl!!)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/haveyoursay/




http://www.interwebnet.org/

[Red_Viking]

10. KICK-A-LICIOUS

I love love love it! Please keep us updated. This is a terrific idea!

I'd gladly donate, whatever, to have a Brit walk around with my name plastered on a tee shirt or sign. Let's do this!

RV

[nostamj]

12. details of London anti-bush protests here:

http://stopwar.org.uk/index.asp

[nomaco-10]

15. I sent the webmaster an e-mail ....

explaining what we're trying to do. I'm hoping he will e-mail back with some advice and links. Thanks nostamj

[Pastiche423]

23. On this site

http://stopwar.org.uk/groups.asp anyone could add a group can be added:

Are you a member of an organisation that is opposed to the war, but for some reason, doesn't appear in the directory?
Ask your group whether they would like to be listed and then delegate someone responsible to fill out the add group form. Registration is completely free and allows other people get in touch with you.

It's a start.

Maybe we can contribute to have stickers or signs printed w/our names for our British brothers and sisters wear/carry.

I love your idea, nomaco-10!

[shirlden]

13. A few months ago

a Duer posted a link for a Brit discussion board much like DU. I visited there a number of times and I know some Duers were posting there. I lost the url when my hard drive crashed. If anyone remembers it, or has the url, please post. This would be a good one.
BTW.....love your idea of having a proxy demonstrator.

:kick:

[nomaco-10]

16. Everybody that wants to get involved.....

start e-mailing sites, posting links, whatever you can and then report back to this thread. I am way in over my head with this idea, that's why I threw it out there to more experienced duers, I knew there would be people here that could rock this into action. Let's do it together!

[nomaco-10]

17. I'm waiting for a confirmation for my username....

at the guardian, as soon as I get it, I will post on their board. They are organizing like mad for meetups at local places to converge on bush this week. I think we may have struck pay dirt with this bunch. Some of you guys sign up there too. Monkey has the link above in his/her post.

[nostamj]

19. suggestion:

ask them to protest:

IN OUR NAME

nice play on the "Not in our Name" pre-war slogans

???

[salinen]

20. also

be sure to bring all cam corders. the corrupt media will spot only fringe people and that will show on american t.v. this delegitimizes the whole group, which is their objective. film from high places to get the drama of the crowd size. interview well spoken protestors, especially families. be good soldiers. we love the brits!

[BevHarris]

45. Adding to your suggestion:

IN OUR NAMES
Put my name on a bun, please.

bare your bum at bush

Bev Harris

Nostamj -- you could get a great pop for QuestionW if you install a self-serve "Place my name on a British bun" list on QuestionW and then hit the blogs with it. Set a sign-up goal and invite the Brits to QuestionW to get names for their bums.

Probably too complicated, huh.

[Tansy_Gold]

52. A really pornographic suggestion

For those of us who can't go to London and bare our bums for bush (or bare our bushes for the bum????) --

Is there a way we could, um, photocopy our behind, put our name on the copy, then scan and email it to a Brit who would put it on a sign or tack it to a fence or whatever?

"Adopt a Yankee Ass for Peace"?

[Catfish]

21. Great idea!

I'll check back later to see what boards people here are posting on about this.

[DUreader]

24. kick

[democratreformed]

25. kick

so we don't get lost.

[GinaMaria]

26. Love your idea

Count me in.

[nostamj]

29. kick!

[Lefta Dissenter]

30. A KICK in the pants for bush

OH my gosh - what a great idea. Last night, I was reading through some of the UK sites, and wondering WHAT I could do to express support. What a BRILLIANT idea, and I love the 'In Our Name' name.

SIMPLY BRILLIANT!!!!!!!

[Lefta Dissenter]

31. KICK (eom)

[Spazito]

32. Kick

*

[nomaco-10]

33. I'm still trying to get something going...nostamj left a great ....

message over at indymedia.com I sent their webmaster an e-mail, but haven't heard back from them yet. I had to be away most of the afternoon, but will be working on some contacts most of the night. I have a list of everyone's name on this thread ready, just in case I get a favorable reply from any of the sites in England I've been trying to connect with. Will keep you informed of any progress, in the mean time, please feel free to find any and all UK sites you can and share their responses with us. Good luck and happy hunting.

[Military Brat]

34. Kick

[democratreformed]

35. I have contacted someone

at the Stop the War Coalition - a group who is helping to organize protesters. I am waiting for a reply. I'll let you know if I get one.

[nostamj]

36. great....

let's give this an occasional kick.

i'm waiting for response from my indymedia post.

BUT... this may be too late an effort. they are BUSY with this and an additional layer of complexity just may not work at this point.

doesn't mean we can't send messages of support though!

[shirlden]

37. kicking this one

:kick:

[Lefta Dissenter]

38. Kickidy-doo-dah... Kickidy day...... (eom)

[Isome]

39. You guys keep your feet on the ground. ;-)

I read this earlier. This is one of the best ideas yet... great job to the author!

[chaska]

40. OOH OOH!!! What about...

a billboard with our names on it in some centrally located place that's guaranteed to be shot by the tv crews? ... with a headline in bold saying something like 'AMERICANS PROTESTING IN ABSENTIA'

Each of the English protesters could carry the name of one of us on wide masking tape taped to their shirts. It's quick and cheap.

Maybe there are some ideas to be mined from the MIA thing from Viet Nam.

Brainstorming.

[BevHarris]

44. Or they could put our names on their bums while they moon him

I could certainly go for that.

Bare your bum at Bush

Since there are more Americans than Brits, it's a good thing they all have two buns. An American name on each!

All it requires is a magic marker.

Bev Harris
Jolly good, put my name on a bun, please.

[democratreformed]

41. kick

[woofless]

42. a well deserved

kick

[DemBones DemBones]

43. What's wrong with this picture? Brits protest freely against an

American president visiting London and the mayor gives a party for the protestors.

Americans protesting against the same American president in their own country are kept out of view, often behind fences, often some distance from the building where he is to speak.

[kyrasdad]

46. just "had my say" with the Mirror...

any word yet on the "In Our Name" campaign?

[Lefta Dissenter]

47. as cute as the bum idea is,

it won't get shown on tv!!! and some of the more conservative or inhibited people would decline to participate (I wouldn't show my bum to anyone other than my hubby - it would be too shocking and scare folks away, rather than getting my point across).

I agree with the taping names on shirts idea - and if this idea gets going, it wouldn't take long to spread the word throughout various sites and blogs, if someone in the UK would be willing to provide a clearinghouse for names. I guess they wouldn't even have to be there. Someone here who has a website could collect names, and folks in the UK could go there, and somehow mark off names as they 'adopt' them. It doesn't seem like it should be that difficult for someone who has a site already and can handle some traffic.

As to wearing the names, perhaps suggesting using some color or combination, like... oh, I don't know, like perhaps red, white and blue??? in order to give an easily recognizable, visible symbol, so the media just wouldn't be able to miss how MANY people are wearing the names.

If we suggested something like top band of red, center white with name on it, bottom band blue - there would be many variations, since some people would throw it on a piece of white paper with blue and red markers, and some people would get nicely carried away with printers and laminators - but it would be hard to miss seeing those taped or hung on the fronts of the marchers.

and hey, if any of them want to add a bum brigade to the march, who am I to stop them???

[BevHarris]

51. How's this: Tape my name on your shirt, or write it on your bum

Either way, the names represent Americans (and Canadians, too)

But since the Mayor of London is reportedly throwing a party for the protestors, the bums, especially if they have American names on them, may end up on British TV and therefore make their way to the Internet.

Bev Harris
http://www.blackboxvoting.org

[Lefta Dissenter]

48. KICK (eom)

[radfringe]

49. add my name and my partner's to a bun or two

keep us informed....

[nomaco-10]

50. Sunday morning Update

I have been googling my brains out and sending e-mails to several sites in the London area. I haven't heard anything yet, but I think the most promising e-mails were the ones I sent this morning, and I'm hoping to get some replies by sometime tomorrow.
I can report this, after googling and visiting dozens of sites all over the world, I have to say, there is nothing that compares to the level of intelligent discussion that goes on right here at du. Next time Skinner and crew hold a fund drive, I will not hesitate a heartbeat to get my wallet out. The informative and well researched posts, provided links and user friendly format puts this site heads and shoulders above anything I've seen anywhere.
When I suggested this "protest by proxy" idea, I never dreamed it would get so much response. I Just wish we'd come up with it sooner, I think the time constraints leading up to the protest may prove difficult, but I'm not giving up hope just yet. I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything at all.