Looking
into each others eyes for the answers seems to be the start of finding
them – the intention and the seeking of truth and direction not from
government but from others like us, who showed up. It is undeniably
obvious too that even as those answers are found or at least the
problems defined, those with the power to implement the urgently needed
change, don’t. So we go on, gathering ourselves and at least being the
change we want to see whilst desperately trying to make it happen.
Since the last event at the roadside of
Preston New Road Rolling Roadside Protest
on 4th December 2019, it has been an odd feeling of ‘loss’ for many of
us who have been so regularly and relentlessly involved in this intense
campaign at this location since 5th January 2017. It’s bloody brilliant
that the site that kept trying to exist as a shale gas production site –
has failed and gone the way of the sites in this area that went before
it – nowhere
For those that lived the battle though – we lost our daily comradeship,
our shared place and aims that brought us back up that hill time and
again. Online too the once busy groups and message threads that buzzed
throughout the day and night have calmed like a quietening kettle after
it’s off the boil. Pressure gone yes ...but so have we.
I am relieved that I’d said yes months ago to visiting
Frack Free North Somerset for their AGM on 14 January 2020 -
Richard
had asked if a few Nanas could come and even though a moratorium is in
place right now – it only covers ‘fracking’ and not all the other
unconventional energy extraction techniques just like it (and sometimes
worse)… FFNS is at risk of acidisation and so they remain on alert.
Activism and particularly Nana-ing has taken me to so many amazing
places in our country and this was one of them – others include the
beautiful Herefordshire, the warmly welcoming Ireland where I felt like I
was amongst ‘family’ and lots in between. Following the Nana meeting
the other day to plan getting back to outreach work, I did feel some
trepidation as it’s been a long three years at a roadside and being off
it – still hasn’t settled with me. I feel in-transit like I’m looking
for something to board for wherever/whatever is supposed to happen next.
I couldn’t have asked though for a better start to ‘next’ than the journey
Miranda
and I took south. I do love a good organiser (because I am such a poor
one) and the preplanning on this was wonderful – Richard had it all
sorted so there was that for starters – the knowledge that we wouldn’t
have to do anything but what we’d come here to do: give a talk and take
questions. It sounds clinical but is so far from that. The talking is
about the way our lives are impacted and how we created ways to cope
whilst challenging the industry that threatened us. And the questions
were an opportunity to share and learn from our individual experiences
of planning, policing, politics etc.
The meeting had XR and Green
Party people as well as anti-fracking campaigners and so it was good
company. There are many types of outreach we do – often at Festivals or
gatherings in places where people aren’t already aware and those are
very different and very much about raising subjects that are less known
to people – meetings with other campaigners though are amongst
like-minds and essential for keeping us connected.
The take-away
for me after these types of meetings is the relief I feel knowing how
many others are acting in whatever way they can to solve problems that
seem so insurmountable… that we are not small and alone.
It’s the
unity of purpose that’s seen this fight against fracking be the success
it’s been – of course it was the election and the earthquake that
brought the moratorium but it was the people in rooms, halls and cafes
like the one in Somerset that caused the industry to be so delayed and
tied up with planning objections and opposition - forcing them into
ludicrous and very costly legal battles and PR campaigns to try to win
us over with myths and promises that thankfully were pathetically poor…
that brought them to near financial ruin and zero success.
After
the moratorium I got quite upset when advised not to be joyous at the
pause – that it wasn’t good enough because it wasn’t a ban and that it
was politically motivated, that it didn’t cover anything other than the
very specific ‘fracking’ process and only because the earthquake was
felt… but this has been a near decade of a fight and the moratorium for
England was a major thing - as it has been in Ireland, Scotland and
Wales. So too was the acceptance by Conservative government that there
might be cause to pause and look further into this; back at the start
and for most of this time, Conservatives refused to even consider that
there could be a negative in what they sold as a wonderfully positive
vision for our energy future. Their version of perfection has natural
cracks in it now and they cannot be made good again (much like the
abandoned wells the frackers leave behind).
We have tools in
2020 that we didn’t have before. Council after council is declaring a
‘Climate Emergency’ and again… we could be cynical and say “oh but they
won’t act on it” - maybe true right now but every planning application
that threatens the environment can now be challenged on this basis –
everything IS different! The fact that councils and even media now
accept the climate emergency as a fact, is a massive positive too that
wasn’t there at the start.
Fighting to save the planet from
profit-driven destruction by the selfish who refuse to see further than
their own lifetime needs – was never going to be a quick and easy thing…
and that it’s a rewarding and sort-of successful thing can’t be seen
from the outside or be apparent to those just arriving at realisation…
but if you look back to the start of this and compare it to now – we
have covered so much ground! From nearly 70% of the UK being up for
fracking – there are moratoriums everywhere that have that on hold… from
only the Green Party standing with us… we now have all except the
Conservatives and even then… they are less confident and in the current
climate… less able to convince anyone this is a fabulous idea.
What happens next? Well for the room in North Somerset it is continued
vigilance even in this in-between time because of what’s proposed here
(acidisation like Yorkshire) and keeping the links with other groups
alive because we are all going to go on needing each other until we get
this right. Supporting actions, travelling to be with each other and
sharing online are still vital and for anti-frackers, it maybe needs to
be a lot more about looking to the other issues that are also urgently
in need of people like us – other areas at risk from industries that
threaten the health and well-being of the community and threaten the
environment.
I returned to the south again on Saturday to
Bristol this time and networked with a multitude of groups including
those defending and fighting for the rights of migrants, detainees,
homeless people and mental health care as well as environmental groups. I
was in great company too with fellow Nana
Louise and
Protest Justice campaigner
Carol;
the people in the room told stories that were heart breaking but those
who told them – inspirational. It’s a messy world in all its places and
so many aspects of it need help – need us to go on being that change.
Maybe we need to reach out across our issues and see who (just like us)
needs support for their work… and how we can link ourselves together to
trace all this mess back to the source and focus our immense energy on
that.
Thanks to all who made this week a great first step in a direction still un-named
Leftover thoughts:
-The Mendips wakes you super early with the most incredible range of beautiful bird song
-Hot water bottles! I’d forgotten how comforting they are –
particularly when made by someone who cares you’re warm enough (thank
you Nicky xxx)
-The kindness and goodness of people is far more
widespread than we sometimes think particularly having been in ‘warrior
mode’ for a while
-Chatting with Richard on the porch was a highlight
-I think I like cider – but that may be a bad thing lol!
……………………………………………………
Ps… (as if I haven't already rambled on enough!)
This trip South came the day after our so beloved cat Mister Tiddles
was put to sleep and I think I was glad of a reason to get above the
grief – I walked into Richard & Nicky’s home and their cat greeted
me with a deliberate and familiar head butt and let me give him all the
love I needed to soothe the pain a bit… then we got to the lovely venue
Loves
Cafe and their dog was upstairs looking down and within minutes arrived
at my side to pick up where the cat had left off… I swear they both
sensed I needed to love them because they felt like a way to connect
with the one I’d just lost. I remember reading somewhere once that all
cats are just aspects of a one cat… I’ll take that idea.
