F1 Fanatic

Those appear to be tear gas canisters. And there’s a lot that you can;t see out of shot – you can see the security forces firing, but you cannot see what they are firing at.

Tear gas canisters don’t explode like that

They do upon erupting from the barrel. That’s what muzzle flash is – superheated fumes from the firing of propellant igniting on contact with air. It happens to all weapons. Since tear gas canisters are larger and heavier than bullets, they require more force to propel them, which in turn creates more exhaust gasses.

I’ve never seen tear gas inspire such all consuming terror.

While tear gas is accepted as a non-lethal form of crowd control, it can – unfortunately – kill. It works by irrtating the mucous membranes in the eyes and throat, prompting people to seek clear air. But if someone has an existing medical condition, the effects can be exacerbated. Likewise, if tear gas is fired in a confined space or a space where there is limited access however well-ventilated (thus prolonging exposure), people can be ofer-exposed to it and its effects. There is evidence that suggests this happened when the security forces cleared out the Pearl Roundabout earlier this year, fuelling speculation that the government was using chemical weapons on its people. Stories of the effects of tear gas have likely spread, prompting people to flee.

why are the security forces shooting at a group of people who apear entirley peacefull before the first shot is fired?

Look at where the first shots are fired. Then follow the trajectory of later shots. The security forces are clearly firing at something out of frame.

I just think that if you look at this situation from a neutral perspective you’ll see that there’s no hope of the Grand Prix not being a political tool for someone whatever we do, so can we at least not let it be the tool of these despots.

Read all your arguments again. It’s quite clear that by calling for the Powers That Be to “not let it be the tool of these despots”, you are turning the race into the very political tool you are trying to keep it from becoming.

PM, thanks for the lecture on tear gas, I think your explanation there is to the point.

But this has become political since the Bahrain government are heavily involved in staging the race. And have detained and had fired a significant amount of people who work for the circuit. Not to mention that with this being seen to be really important for the country the opposition is focussing on it for political reasons as well.

There is not that much “making it political” we can add here any more.

And ongoing heavyhanded actions against any forms of people on the streets in groups is doing nothing towards showing the world how safe Bahrain is.

found this on cnn this morning during my daily news session, http://www.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/06/05/football.bahrain.arrests.F1/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

They do upon erupting from the barrel. That’s what muzzle flash is – superheated fumes from the firing of propellant igniting on contact with air. It happens to all weapons. Since tear gas canisters are larger and heavier than bullets, they require more force to propel them, which in turn creates more exhaust gasses.

You missunderstand me, an I think you know it, all high calibre projectile explode from the barrel, however, tear gas canisters do not explode on the ground as the first shot fired in the film did, nothing designed to be inherantly non-lethal would, for completley obvious reasons.

I have been in a situation where tear gas has been fired. It does not explode on the ground like that, it is fairly terrifying, however it is well understood by most people who might be protesting, or even, standing around on the street as appears to be happening in the video.

Now if you look at the trajectory of the shots, the first exploding canister that we see, lands in the crowd, makes them run then they fire after them. I don’t beleive the video needs be dismissed by the fact it doesn’t pan right.

Read all your arguments again. It’s quite clear that by calling for the Powers That Be to “not let it be the tool of these despots”, you are turning the race into the very political tool you are trying to keep it from becoming.

No, again I beleive that’s deliberatley misunderstanding my point. I beleive that any action in a situation such as this is deeply political. So my argument is that we mustn’t race in Bahrain as it would be legitimising the actions of Bahrain government in both there reaction to the crisis and in generall. Not racing condems them, I don’t want our sport to be political one, but the issue has been forced, so I hope the support makes the right choice.

I don’t really see why people keep complaining that it is only going ahead ‘for the money’. I am fairly sure that Bernie’s contract with the circuit/government would have been pretty nailed down and that he would still have been paid whether the race was held or not on the original date. It is not F1′s fault that the race couldn’t be held originally and it’s not like the Bahrain government is short of a few bob!

Yes he may have lost the trackside signage money and the take from the gate (which I think the circuit gets anyway) not that they get huge crowds anyway, but I doubt F1 or Bernie has lost out much either way.

Ahhh yes, Sorry I forgot about that!