It started with a dress...
19 September 2013 - 18:15 – 00:09
Worlds Collide
Presenting the award at the
Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs)
is an honour I have enjoyed for each of the
past three years; the company I work with (
Orbit Internet), is a Sponsor and so
we get to both judge a category and take a table for 10 (though this year
stretched to an enjoyable 13) for what is the closest thing to the Oscars you
can imagine. Blackpool Tower in all its genuinely stunning, Victorian glory –
its ballroom bedecked in gold and light, dark and bright beauteous spaces,
welcoming the hard working, talented, creative and enduring people who power
the businesses of Lancashire.
Categories that honour Best New Business, Small Business of
the Year, Importer of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Most Creative, e-Business
of the Year (our category), Lancastrian of the Year and more; it’s a wonderful
occasion. These awards surprised and delighted me when I first became involved;
I was concerned that it might be a lot of ‘who you know’ rather than how
genuinely worthy you were – I was (happily) completely wrong. From nomination
to final is an arduous journey and those who make it, deserve the
acknowledgement.
“What are you doing here?” is what one of the PR guys asked
in a none-too-friendly tone, tinged with discomfort. “I’m a judge.” I said.
At this point I noticed the look on all 10 (or so) faces – maybe
they were thinking I’d infiltrated and was planning to lock-on to someone or
something in some glamorous act of protest? It had crossed my mind when I saw
the table plans a few weeks ago and realised we’d be on opposing balconies – but there was never going to be any risk I’d
do anything at this event. I love the process of this, from the judging to the
big night, where people I respect are
celebrating surviving or thriving another year in a tough economy - this is THEIR night and rightly so. Looking out at it all - I thought how this gorgeous setting was in fact a
huge part of the engine room of Lancashire.
I was angered though to find this awful company attempting
to infiltrate and impact on our world; I know they lie (
ASA confirms this with
a ruling that means no-one can sue me for saying that), I know they
do not stick to the rules of planning and I know they hire others to try to sway the
community to their way of thinking; not by disclosing honestly, what the impact
of their industry will be on Lancashire (and the rest of the country as air and
water respect no county boundaries) but by using
propaganda techniques and bribery (although they call it sponsorship or community contributions).
As I
watched in awe at the brilliance of this room and the many people I respect who
were in it – I glanced across to the opposite balcony and hoped that this was
the last time I would have to see them trying to ‘do business’ here.
20 September 2013 - 00:16 – 00:17
That Isadora Duncan Moment
We’d left promptly as my (too rarely told how much I admire her) sister Julie, insisted I get off the dance floor and
into a cab as we had too little time for sleep before the 6:18 train from
Blackpool. I reluctantly dragged myself from the fun I was having, got into the
cab and we set off. We’d gone perhaps a couple of metres when two things
happened seemingly simultaneously – my ribs contracted and a man threw himself at
my passenger window. The cab stopped and I breathed to re-inflate my ribs that
had been crushed by the contracting bodice of my dress - this the result of the
ribbon being caught in the wheel of the cab. Every one of the loops on one side
(where the ribbon threaded} was torn but that was thankfully the worst of the
outcomes.
20 September 2013 - 00:18-00:30
Revelations
My waist hurts, I’m a bit chilly (dress barely on) but relieved I have a wrap
for dignity and I’m thinking about this thing called ‘activism’ that seems like
it has to be a whispered subject when I go about
my actual job (writing and
helping businesses to more effectively use social media). Sure I bring it up
with people I work closely with or see regularly and the media coverage of the
anti-fracking movement ensures that most people know I have this ‘other life’
where I sometimes
sleep in a tent and
hold a banner ...but it is still a definitely
separate thing.
Sometimes the contrasts catch me by surprise as I never really
think of work and activism in the same breath... but tonight I sensed the
overlap and the reason it
should; it isn’t just the rigs, threats, harms and
pollutants I want to keep out – I don’t want these
bad-business people doing
business here. I don’t think they suit Lancashire (or anywhere that decent
people exist).
The communities I move
in, in business and activism are amongst the most important parts of my life
and I genuinely enjoy, respect and care for the people I am fortunate enough to
spend time with... they should not have Cuadrilla, iGas or any of the others in
their lives.
20 September 2013 - 00:30-05:00
Sleep
Although room a bit spinny as I am useless at drinking - yet gave it a bit of a
go this evening.
20 September 2013 - 05:00-05:55
Dress & Pack Dress (+ needle & thread)
Jeans and a sweater on, gorgeous gown in a bag and repair materials packed we
head off to the train
20 September 2013 - 05:55-11:03
Trains From B to B
Blackpool to Brighton passed with a lot of sewing to get each loop threaded back
into the bodice so I could again wear the dress for what promised to be a
fun
act of protest called ‘
Frocking not Fracking’.
Friends of the Earth had arranged an action to coincide with Women’s
Day at the
Labour Party Conference and wanted it to focus on Women Vote NO to
Fracking.... there are a lot of powerful female voices in this movement and it
was a great idea to pull some together. In the final 15 minutes of the
journey a quick change in the loo led to perplexed expressions in the train carriage
– populated mainly by Bolton football supporters.
20 September 2013 - 11:03-18:15
Honk To Support!
Music, singing, gorgeous others and a real sense of fun made the day an
absolute pleasure. We women gathered outside the
Hilton where most of the
Labour Party meetings for Women’s Day were happening – one of our signs asked
passing drivers to ‘Honk for Support!’ and so very many did. A policeman tried
to say we should move back away from the edge of the pavement (where drivers were honking support) – but most of us are ‘veterans’ of the
Balcombe CommunityProtection Camp in West Sussex, where for over 7 weeks, protectors have slept
at the roadsides in tents and got up each weekday to slow the onslaught of
trucks (swathed in police) and delay this industry as best we can... till enough people are
informed and sanity prevails – so we really had no intention of doing what we
were told on this gentle day, without a fine legal reason.
The Hilton itself was rather kind as we went in to sit for coffee –
unlike most protests, we were beautifully over-dressed and they couldn’t seem
to find a reason to ask us to leave and told us we were the nicest protesters
they had met. Many excellent conversations with Councillors and others were
had, thanks to the keen eye of
Helen of Friends of the Earth – she can spot a
key person miles off and is so well-informed. Plans were made, networks hugely expanded and resources shared.
Finale... Day done, dress off, jeans on and a ludicrously long
journey home to discover the joy of remaining horizontal for a full 12 hours.
