g7uk » Documentary

Rusholme incident

GS — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:51:23 +0000

As I arrived in Rusholme on my bike at 8 o’clock on Monday night I was startled to hear the sound of breaking glass and see a man falling backwards out of Subway.

He was clutching a broken bottle by the neck and a member of staff was holding up a chair in self-defence, in much the same way as a lion-tamer might do.

Almost immediately a car screeched to a halt on Wilmslow Road and two men jumped out. One flipped open a collapsible truncheon and, shouting, they grabbed the man who was staggering about with his female friend.

It was a bizarre scene as they marched him down the street. One of the men giving him what I would describe as a ‘good talking to’. They disappeared around the corner and I went into Tesco.

By the time I came out, the man was back and sitting next to the cash machine asking for money. It seems there were no consequences for him, whereas the staff of Subway were left to clear up the glass and no doubt felt shattered themselves after the frightening experience.

I’ve witnessed several other incidents like this in recent years. It’s awful that people who work in shops have to put up with it.

Security guards refuse free entry to the Manchester Pride AIDS candlelight vigil (video)

GS — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:35:54 +0000

FULL VIDEO REPORT COMING SOON

The candlelight AIDS vigil on the final night of Manchester Pride has always been a key event and, to some people, the most important part.

World Naked Bike Ride 2008: Manchester (video)

GS — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:16:08 +0000

Cyclists dared to bare all in chilly conditions on Friday 13 June at Manchester’s third annual Naked Bike Ride. We asked riders and members of the public what they thought.

Help needed after the fire in Lever Street, Manchester on 30 April

GS — Sun, 13 May 2007 11:14:04 +0000

On 30 April, just four days after I wrote about the Basement Social Centre in Manchester city centre and said what a unique and absolutely spiffing place it was, a huge fire ripped through a building to the rear of it.
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The Power of Nightmares

GS — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 10:12:31 +0000

If you haven’t seen this fascinating three-part BBC documentary series, you can download it from the Internet Archive:

Part1 | Part2 | Part3

It explores ‘the origins in the 1940s and 50s of Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East, and Neoconservatism in America, parallels between these movements, and their effect on the world today.’

And it shows how politicians have used the terror threat to restore their power and authority in a disillusioned age.

It’s a brilliant use of archive film of all kinds, combined with interviews. Give it a look even if you don’t usually watch this kind of subject, because it’s interesting to see how Adam Curtis the producer combines such diverse visual material.

If you have problems playing MP4 files, just grab the free VideoLan player.

Liberation 91 protest, Manchester, UK 1991 (video)

GS — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 13:15:56 +0000

Don’t believe the big fibs that are put around by commercial vested interests today. They make out that Manchester was some kind of gay wasteland before Canal Street took off in the early 1990′s.

Why Guy Fawkes night is dreaded by many in inner-city areas of Britain

GS — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:18:19 +0000

In Britain, 5th November is Bonfire Night. When it’s traditional to let off fireworks and burn a dummy of Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605.

It’s supposed to be fun. A colourful spectacle. But for many people in inner-city areas this has become a time of year that they dread.

The other night, on some spare ground close to where I live, youths and children lit a large bonfire. It was close to houses. They used fireworks like guns, pointing them at head height and shooting them across the neighbourhood. Some of the kids were very young indeed and, though fascinated, were obviously afraid that they would be targeted and ‘shot’ by others.

The fire brigade arrived to put out the blaze but they seemed to be intimidated by the abusive youths. The fire crew didn’t leave the fire engine. In other areas there have been incidents where fire fighters were attacked.

They left and, soon after, returned accompanied by the Police.

The BritishPathe website has some vintage newsreel footage of children celebrating Bonfire Night in 1957 and 1959 at a cinema that is just a few hundred yards from this location. How things have changed.