South African Miners

[Alkapton]

In view of the recent shootings would there be any support for the idea of showing British Caver solidarity for them.
Someone set up a means of collecting donations to be sent to relatives of the murdered (well thats my word for what happened) miners?

 

[Cave_Troll]

Will i be criticised if i comment if i say "its probably not that simple as 'they were murdered'"

Personally i saw a bunch of people waving spears and machetes running towards a police line giving the police about 3 seconds to come up with a method of stopping them....

I don't see the link(other than going underground)
Perhaps a donation through the UK miners unions might be more relevant ?

 

[Alkapton]

The link is going underground.  In South Wales I know/have two iron mines, I see place the miner last was, it is hard to visit as a tourist, to work there as they did I cant imagine...  places last worked about 1830.

The African people have always been exploited, these Africans are mining a metal more valuable than gold...  Please for F's sake help them.

 

[Alkapton]

Actualy I just cried my eyes out, am now more in control.

We go underground because we want to, they go underground because they have no choice - south wales 200 years ago or 100 years... south africa today... in south wales we had chartists revolution - gives you commoners the vote!  South Africans are as exploited as we were, now lets help them... please!

 

[jonnyrocketboots]

You seem quite passionate about this Alkapton so I'd be happy to set the ball rolling with a small donation. If you (or anyone?) has the time and know how when it comes to organising the logistics for this appeal then let us all know, Sure a few of my caving mates would do their bit as well.  How would our money help stop something like this happening again tho??

Regards,

Scott

 

[Rhys]

I'm an enthusiastic trade unionist myself and I feel for all workers, but we don't know the full story here and I think the link with the UK caving scene is rather tenuos. Do what you feel you need to do. I would probably look to send support through the UK trade union movement - I'm sure they're watching this issue closely.

 

[JasonC]

Someone set up a means of collecting donations to be sent to relatives of the murdered (well thats my word for what happened) miners?

If you know of a way of sending them money, I can't imagine there'd be any objection to publicising it here, then individuals could make their own decision.
However, a short Google failed to find anyone appealing for funds...

In reply to Cave Troll, I think most police forces have slightly more subtle means of riot control at their disposal.  Firing with live rounds and continuing to do so seems an overreaction, to put it mildly

 

[Roger W]

In reply to Cave Troll, I think most police forces have slightly more subtle means of riot control at their disposal.  Firing with live rounds and continuing to do so seems an overreaction, to put it mildly

Hmm...  I wonder if PC Blakelock would have agreed with you?

 

[graham]

Hmm...  I wonder if PC Blakelock would have agreed with you?

Dunno, we can't ask him, we could always ask Simon Harwood, though.

I'm not trying to be controversial here, just, as you, seeing the issue from more than one side.

 

[Blakethwaite]

Actualy I just cried my eyes out, am now more in control.

We go underground because we want to, they go underground because they have no choice - south wales 200 years ago or 100 years... south africa today... in south wales we had chartists revolution - gives you commoners the vote!  South Africans are as exploited as we were, now lets help them... please!

Sorry bud but thats largely over-dramatic cliche.
Granted times could be truely awful for miners in the past but they weren't for the large part the woebegotten slaves they are often made out to be. They were men wanting to earn money and would often migrate huge distances for the privilege of doing so because it was better than the alternatives.

 

[Cave_Troll]

In reply to Cave Troll, I think most police forces have slightly more subtle means of riot control at their disposal.  Firing with live rounds and continuing to do so seems an overreaction, to put it mildly

indeed most police forces do have such options, but when you're faced with a mob running towards you , with 4 seconds before they hack you to death, and you've already deployed water cannon and tear gas, trying to fend them off with a 2 foot baton would seem to be optimistic at best.

 

[Hughie]

In reply to Cave Troll, I think most police forces have slightly more subtle means of riot control at their disposal.  Firing with live rounds and continuing to do so seems an overreaction, to put it mildly

indeed most police forces do have such options, but when you're faced with a mob running towards you , with 4 seconds before they hack you to death, and you've already deployed water cannon and tear gas, trying to fend them off with a 2 foot baton would seem to be optimistic at best.

Quite.

 

[whitelackington]

After the South African Policed fatally shot several tens of the rioting miners, it seems that the miners who lived but accompanied those killed,
are all to be charged with murder.
This seems like a re-run of what used to happen in England in the eighteenth/nineteenth century.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19424484