Because England, and the U.K., is a nation or a union of nations,
united by far more than they are divided by.

I suggest you look at political maps during the eighties

I don't need to look at "political maps". The fact that we have withstood 2
World Wars united and that we speak the same language, economic system, values,
culture, and many other things is evidence enough for me.

I deliberately missed the poll tax rioters out of the list since that
was far more complex, there was also a campaign on non-payment and large
media campaign against. Simliar to CND, I am sure the Greenham common
protests (people chains moreso than the camp) has some effects but there
was something much larger going on. The examples give were direct action
had an direct effect. My point being is that the protests containing
"ordinary people" have a greater effect then those where the
particapants are perceiced as anarchists.

Do you seriously believe that the Greenham common protests affecter Government
policy one iota?

As for the much maligned "poll tax", whilst a vociferous campaign was mounted
against it, some people are now actually calling for its return. There will
always be losers and gainers whenever a form of taxation changes, but don't be
be fooled into thinking that just because a lot of people made a lot of noise
on the issue that that was the reason it was abolished or that it was a worse
form of taxation than its successor.

Sometimes governments need 'waking up'.

I disagree: those who go on big demonstrations seem to find comfort in their
numbers, but they allow themselves to be deluded into thinking that they
represent much greater numbers than they do.

I don't think many expected it to stop that war, but since we were
presented with the whole "axis of evil" then it may have made them think
twice about starting other wars - a moot point now given the way Iraq
has turned out I think Syria, Iran, Cuba and N.Korea are of the
immediate radar.




Again, I disagree: governments start wars for a whole host of reasons, and they
have a much longer term vision than a few thousand or million people who, for
one day, choose to combine together to voice an opinion. They are soon
forgotten.

I doubt whether such numbers will ever demonstrate on this issue again: the
majority realise that they had no effect and, those that feel most strongly
about the issue, will resort to other means.

Marc.