- hugely insightful on the workings (manipulations too) of Fylde Council - a body which I now loathe from the deepest pit of my loathing (save those wise Councillors who stood for the people they are meant to represent).
eg from the article linked above:
"We noted with interest that the distribution of papers omitted any of the Conservative members, suggesting they already had a copy of what Cllr Goodrich had said, and giving us cause to believe that he was speaking on a matter which had already been debated and decided behind closed doors in a Conservative Group meeting prior to the Council meeting, and he was simply the parrot. "
How do these people sleep at night? How did these people and others in politics like them - get where they are and manage to steal our rights from us?
I thought recently about the snowballing of anti-fracking groups across the country that has happened in just 3 years and wondered if each of the 250+ groups could equate to a Parish Council (not that I know much on this)... and wouldn't it be an idea (once we stop the frackers and have our time back to call our own) - if we, as determined activists/Protectors, ran for these roles so that each community would actually be represented (at least at the most local level), by those who actually give a damn and do something about community safety, preservation, quality of life etc. (and maybe unite when it proves a good strategy).
The 'system' as it stands, serves lobbyists and industry - as far as I can see, it DOES NOT in any way put 'we the people' first; fracking is a huge and obvious symptom of this problem... but you can see it too in banking bail-outs (where is the PEOPLE BAIL-OUT?), the push at privatisation of OUR NHS, the involvement in wars we oppose, the manufacture of arms for sale to those we don't trust, ridiculous investments we can all see through that are sold as beneficial to communities ...but we all KNOW are just about profit for a minority.
Fracking has the focus because it is a clear and present threat - it HASN'T happened at full scale production yet and we have EVERY chance of stopping it before it does... if only we keep growing and supporting each other. But what fracking has done too though, is expose the disregard by the 'system' and its lack of concern or consideration for what WE the people need and would choose.
Only WE can change this stuff and it starts with the success of halting fracking because we can and because it's necessary.
--x--
"There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part. You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop! And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it — that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!" Mario Savio
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.
I walked on stage to deliver the award to the winning e-Business and was greeted by a very amicable Eamonn Holmes. All sorts of
lovely stuff preceded and followed this, including Matt Cardle singing ‘When we Collide’. This turned out to be virtually prophetic as I rounded the bar area
to find myself smack bang in the middle of a gathering of people who work for
and with shale gas company Cuadrilla and their notorious PR agency PPS. My work
life and activist life rarely have overlap – and this was very surreal. (I am active with Residents Action on Fylde Fracking and am very, very opposed to the shale gas industry’s attempts to impact our region or anywhere).
“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
funact 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.
It is infuriating, misleading, propagandist and downright wrong that the media define those of us who are questioning the process of shale gas extraction (fracking) and other unconventional energy practices - by their own limited views.
Giving a damn about the health, safety and well-being of our communities does NOT mean we are ‘ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS UP IN ARMS’ or ‘ENVIRONMENTALISTS OBJECTING’...
...we are PEOPLE who are objecting.
People who gather into groups to share concerns and attempt to protect our communities. The large, long-established, well-known groups focus on environmental effects as part of the bigger global picture but most in the communities due to be 'fracked' - are simply everyday human beings trying to find out if the water and air we rely on for life will stay safe; whether the roads where we live will be jammed full of heavy diesel spewing vehicles carrying undiluted chemicals; whether our local farmers will still be able to produce safe food for our markets if the agricultural land is harmed; whether our current industries and jobs may be affected by this new industry; whether the industrialisation of our land is what is best for our communities.
The topic of unconventional energy and shale gas extraction (fracking) specifically is being made to move on from ‘IS IT ACTUALLY SAFE, worthwhile and beneficial for the humans (rather than the industry and those invested in it)?’ TO how much they will get in TAX BREAKS to incentivise and encourage this dirty business - as well as how much communities will be paid and who in those communities will GET THE CASH.
We (the humans who are deeply worried about our lives and those of our families and future generations) are gathering for a 'community conversation' tomorrow - if you can be here, we would warmly welcome your input x
I have been really fortunate to have travelled and lived in lots of places. My mum was in the horse racing business and it was through her work that my childhood and teenage years took me to wonderful, new countries. A love that stays with me and moves me too often for my daughter’s sanity! When aged about 9, she sweetly asked where ’home’ was – I answered that if the dog and I were there….then we were clearly at home.
Anyway, these are a few of my favourite images, because sharing them makes me smile and remember…
Luxembourg for Christmas because of the pure white snow that neatens everything. The mood is infectious, everybody is your long lost friend and large European hugging and kissing rituals assault you at every turn – enhanced moods possibly down to the mini Swiss chalets about the square; selling lakes of clove scented, warm mulled wine. How businesses get through December with a drunken workforce escapes me.
Mallorca (an island off Spain) during the celebration of the Three Kings around Christmas. Camels are ridden down from the hills and riders throw sweets at the hoards of children gathered in eager anticipation. There is absolutely no concept of the danger involved when throwing small, hard candy into a sea of soft, fleshy children. The locals accept the risk and then hold their babies skyward in the hope that they too may catch the candy gently between their eyelashes.
Australia at anybody’s bar-be-que, even if I have become a vegetarian since the last time I went to one. I just want to feel that comfort of being in a crowd of people with no ego, at their leisurely best. No-one does leisurely like an Australian.
The southern Belgian countryside to stay again in a village unchanged by two world wars; where bullet holes pock mark the buildings like aged teenage acne. The people sit silently outside their homes in a surreal setting amidst excitable dogs, children, chickens, tractors and field after extensive field of deep red poppies; atop the fertile land fed by seas of soldiers’ blood.
Blackpool seafront on the tram travelling North toward the fishing village of Fleetwood; with a shimmering ocean travelling at my left for a full 25 minutes. It is a Twilight Zone journey. The conductors are still listening to big band sounds in their heads and cracking saucy sexist jokes from days gone by. Just seeing a heavy, metal ticket machine about their waists makes me wonder at how the tram and its employees have escaped everything that happened in the last 60 years.
Hong Kong’s Peak. Hong Kong is an island and the peak offers a near 360 degree view of the thriving humanity beneath. We would have to run cross country for school up there; probably as it is the only bit of grass on this densely populated little island. Rather than fuss with the running, I would sit, have a cigarette and admire the beauty of the elderly Chinese as they practiced Tai Chi. Their moves were pure soul ballet energising old skinned limbs. A chorus line of gymnastic pensioners silhouetted against a backdrop of 6 million stressed people – a priceless image.
