In response to Moley's comment about "if it were held anywhere else" then yes, I'd still have concerns for people's safety and the mess left. I appreciate you offering to clean up and steward...I really hope there is no trouble and that everyone that does come has a good time.

As being cynical..perhaps, but I believe Bob is irresponsible inviting that many people to a city that simply can't cope with those numbers. He doesn't live here...I do, and I KNOW what it's like to be squashed on Princes Street.

I attended the first few New Year celebrations (before they limited the numbers) and was caught at the bottom of Hanover Street by a wave of people being pushed up against the shop windows as there wasn't enough room for all to pass. It was one of the most frightening experiences I've ever had. There was a boy of about 10 next me with his Dad and the look of utter terror on both their faces was not nice. We managed to push the boy above our heads and pass him over to a policeman who carried him on his shoulders to safety but potentially it could have been very serious as he was having difficulty breathing. I dread a repeat of those days...That night there was about 290,000 or so...no where near the 1 million that Bob has urged to come.

I'm sure that 99% of those that will attend will do so peacefully and with the right intent BUT there will be that 1% who will be there to create utter hell for the others.

Approximatelty 4 years ago at the Bank of Scotland festival fireworks, a group of youths thought it would be "fun" to slash the legs of the spectators standing on the Mound (leading up to the castle). As it was busy, most people didn't notice anything had happened till they saw the blood. I can't recall exactly how many people attended A&E that night but I'm sure those people wouldn't like to see it repeated...it only takes a small minority of individuals to start a panic and the pushing to start. Remember Hynsel?

The A&E department is no longer in the centre of Edinburgh - it's now out by the bypass near Little France. So, if you are seriously injured, it will take longer for them to reach you and get you out to the hospital. Chances are, you might not make it...that many people WILL congest the streets resulting in difficulties for the emergency services reaching those in distress in time.

I personally don't work in the centre of Edinburgh (thankfuly) but spare a thought for those that do...shopworkers, banking staff etc that will find it almost impossible to get to work that day. They are merely doing their jobs but may find their place of work closed (with the hatches firmly lowered). Some will get paid regardless, others will be forced to take annual leave but there will be some who will be paid nothing...hardly fair (those people won't earn big wages). Bank staff and McD staff will be in the line of fire...broken windows equals flying glass. Do they deserve that? Hardly.  

So, I make no apologies for my comments. Deaths and injury in Edinburgh will not help those in Africa..by all means protest, stand for election if you think you aren't being heard (something BOB could do and try and sort the problem with those that make the decisions). Write to your MP, MSP or whoever (BUSH, BLAIR etc) but please, don't come to Edinburgh that week in July. Watch the concert on the TV and donate the money you would have used to come here directly to charity (and reduce the environmental inpact flying, trains, buses or Boats will have - something Bob doesn't seem to care two hoots about!).

Us Scottish folk aren't being killjoys, we just don't want people dying on our streets.

A GANG of 14 Edinburgh teenagers have been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with a series of attacks during the city’s Festival Fireworks police revealed today.

During one attack an 18-year-old man was left fighting for his life. The boy and girl gang - some as young as 14 - spread terror attacking people with knives, including a nine-inch Rambo-style weapon.

It is thought some of the gang, which includes three girls and 11 boys, may be prosecuted for attempted murder. One of the young thugs stabbed the 18-year-old in the chest after he went to the aid of another man during the "steaming" rampage on September 1.

The man was stabbed four times and needed emergency surgery. Police said he was lucky to be alive.

Its claimed the gang, who police say are all from the Niddrie Mains and Craigmillar areas, punched and kicked revellers causing terror as they made their way through the crowd of spectators.

It is thought they attacked at least 13 people at random and the violence marred a night of enjoyment for many revellers among the 250,000 crowd.

Today, a police spokesman said members of the group faced a range of charges from assault, robbery and theft to attempted murder after a lengthy police investigation. A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal who will decide what charges the group face.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "A large number of youths have been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with a number of incidents which occurred on the night of the Festival Fireworks on September 1."

In the aftermath of the attacks, police revealed that a nine-inch blade was one of at least five knives being carried by the gang. The first incident of the night of September 1 was a terrifying attack by the gang on a group of three teenage girls in Holyrood Park.

The girls aged 15 and 16 were surrounded by the gang, who began swearing at them before punching and kicking them, leaving one 16-year-old in hospital with a suspected broken jaw.

Police said the gang carried out at least three attacks in the park.

From there, police have reports of the mob making its way up the Cowgate or Royal Mile to the Lawnmarket, causing havoc as they went.

Further assaults took place in Drummond Street, South College Street, Teviot Place and Nicolson Street as the gang went on an uncontrolled violence spree.

In one terrifying incident, a group of girls from the gang surrounded a car outside the KFC restaurant in Nicolson Street.

With the driver and passengers inside, they broke into the car and made off with personal items.

Staff at the KFC restaurant were so alarmed by the gang’s violence that they set off the store’s restaurant’s panic alarm.

From the Lawnmarket, they made their way to the Bridges, where the alleged assault and stabbing took place.

The 18-year-old good Samaritan was stabbed once in the stomach and suffered other stab wounds. The man was stabbed, stamped on and kicked during the attack.

He was taken to the intensive care unit of the ERI where he made a good recovery.

So, don't think I'm not taking this seriously.

Hey, Alison,

Fireworks and teenagers are a little more dangerous than peaceful adults who want to help starving Africans.

K?

OK, for those of you out there that don't think Edinburgh will have any problems then have a quick look at these websites (and I only spent 2 minutes looking for them)

http://www.fookes.com/gallery/g8/   (photo’s of Geneva before G8 summit - Guess this is what the people of Edinburgh will face that week eh!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2954190.stm (protesters rampage at G8 summit in Geneva - um, that will be all those peaceful people out there then....)

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/07/20/genoa.protests/ ( a different summit - death in Genoa - need I say more)

So, you figure.....THERE WILL BE ACTIVISTS THERE and YES, THEY WILL MINGLE (it's not that big a city remember!). I'd love to be proven wrong, I really would but I'm going with PAST G8 protests....and it doesn't look good for Edinburgh....

(and yes, the report was from 2001 - it was taken from the Evening News archive pages for that year, pretty easy to find if you use their advance search).

Why can't you ever be hopeful?

I have halted myself several times in my life and asked, "Could I be wrong?" Why can't you do the same?

You're trying to make logical sense of this. I'm guessing that you're not among these violent anarchists and what-not. So their violence something you have absolutely no "official" information on, and certainly no control over.

Can you always base the future on past event?

Have Americans been hit by more terrorists in planes since 9/11?

Your logic may seem reasonable to yourself. It seems as if your loss of faith in humanity drives almost all of your logic - at least in this matter.

Let me add this: God forbid something should happen, you'll be all over the internet, on the news, and shouting it in the streets for all who hear, "I told you so! I knew it was going to happen again!" You'll try to be "the talk of the town," living up what no one listened to. That is conceited, but it seems like it's what you're hoping for to boost your "credentials" amongst other users here. You'd feel on top of the world! You knew it was going to happen, and nobody in the forum (because they are all high ranking members of government and society) listened. You could've saved Edinburgh! But at least now you can shove it in the faces of those who criticized you (me).

But imagine this: July 6 comes. There is no violence. There are peaceful protesters who want suffering Africans to be better off. They make their point and go along their merry ways.

Then what will you have been? You will have been a modified Chicken Little - you based your utter faith that, "The sky is falling!" on an acorn that fell. The thing is, the acorn had blown away, and has been gone for 4 years. Your only proof has been long forgotten by most.

If a woodpecker pecks a hole into a tree for a home, as it has done for several years with small damages, will you say that the tree is going to collapse and that you should then slay every species of bird to prevent it? And on top of all of that, then expect people to listen, believe, and act upon what you say?

Think to yourself - perhaps for the first time - "Might I be wrong?"

alison...

you do not want one incident at the g8 protests. not one. even if people try hard for one incident not to happen, for not one person to be arrested, for not one window to be broken it most probably will happen, because it would happen even if there were no protests!

so if there is ONE incident/arrest/window smashing then we will not admit being 'off the mark'. this protest is trying to unite the world, and you seem keen on dividing it even more. why

I just thought I was an educated realist but whatcha know - I'm a prophet of doom!!

(please lighten up folk!).