Dear all... some end of year sorrys & some thanks:

So this is Christmas and what have we done? Unlike last year I am not as physically conscious of those about me being in the cold, in the snow, in the street – but so many ARE still there – maybe not outside St. Paul’s Cathedral as part of a determined, stubborn and uniquely beautiful protest but simply because we have not succeeded in civilising our world.

I feel a huge sense of failure and I sense this in others too; those who although warm this year, have to accept that austerity, greed, bankers’ bonuses and bailouts, tax havens and loop holes, easily corruptible politicians and lobbyists... mean there is just not enough to go round. Those with the least have even less and maybe it is those who have nothing, who have noticed the worsening least.

Did we really think we could change anything with our Occupy? YES. Why wouldn’t we? It was not a naive hope, it was a striving for sense, truth and justice and none of those is illogical or foolish – simply what EVERY one of us should be demanding.

Every month we pay those in power to care for our country – and rather than ensure quality education and health care, sane energy solutions and prices that are fair – they buy weapons and pollutants and dance with lobbyists whilst re-distributing our hard earned funds to the bankers and corporate giants who are fuel to their egos, careers and retirement plans.

Rich getting richer and poor getting bugger all may have long been the norm – but WHY do we have to accept this? This is OUR government who work for US... and I don’t accept that it’s our fault because our votes put them there; our votes can only fall onto the choices presented and those are ALL bad options.  How can we expect change when all that are there to steer it, are the same types who have always been there?

So... this is Christmas and I have one wish:
I wish this current corrupted system of government would crumble and fall and in its place emerge a new method of governance that serves us all and reflects true fairness without bias. Not looking for communism, socialism, anarchism or bloody revolution... just the emergence of intelligence, creativity and positivity that I see exists but so far has been silenced by the selfish who have the power and will not let it go.

To those on the streets who shiver through another harsh winter – I am genuinely sorry we have not brought the solutions you deserve as fellow human beings. To those recently told they should work despite acute illness, pain and suffering that makes it impossible; to those separated from their families because of cruel laws and immovable regulations that seem to punish misfortune;  to those in other parts of our abused planet who are trying to protect their communities from the ravages of the unquenchable thirst for profit-at-any cost by industry and energy sector giants; to those not yet able to take part in standing up to all this because life is just too bloody hard – keeping food on the table, fuel in the car so work can be reached and heat in the house, eats every moment and what few are left are spent trying to find some joy to bring home; the world’s  problems just seem impossible to tackle on top of everything else...

...sorry, many of us are trying and although there are very few ‘bad guys’ – they have built the system around them so it protects them against opposition – each uprising is the same uprising and our fellow protesters in all parts of our world are cruelly stopped and harshly treated... being an activist requires guts. I can in all honesty and realisation say that I have never admired any profession or type of person more – than I admireActivists; and to you I send my admiration and love xxx

Shared moments...

PRESS RELEASE - Shale Gas & Osborne's Autumn Statement

RAFF's (Residents’ Action on Fylde Fracking) response to Osborne's statement on shale gas

RAFF to initiate legal action and tactics to prevent shale gas industry threat to Fylde

5 December 2012    George Osborne's Autumn Statement concerning shale gas said very few words but spoke of tax relief for the industry; indicating a green light to this controversial practice. The statement held no surprises. This government has continually turned its back on green energy, trumpeted 'a 'dash for gas' policy and surrounded itself with ministers and advisors who have more than a little vested personal interest in shale gas.

Osborne has repeatedly refused to listen to industry leaders who are demanding the Government commit to a cut in carbon emissions by 2030. Failure to do so will, they say, harm the economy and cause them to miss out on the commercial opportunities and benefits associated with a shift to a low carbon economy.

The government is taking advantage of the ignorance of the population as a whole. A recently commissioned survey, conducted by BritainThinks, on behalf of gas drilling company Cuadrilla, revealed that only 15% of respondents claim to know very much about shale gas extraction, and this is from a sample of the population where fracking is about to re-start and who have been offered plenty of opportunities to discover more on the subject.

There's little doubt that fracking will resume in Lancashire very soon. RAFF's requests for both health and environmental impact assessment reports have been ignored. Residents will be exposed to methane emissions, toxic chemicals, radioactive waste and much more.  They will be completely unprotected.

RAFF will now take legal action and have initiated discussion with David Wolfe QC. Together with the increasing number of anti-fracking groups springing up throughout the UK, we will be employing delaying tactics, which will add to the already damaged confidence of investors in shale gas companies.