Unpredictable cells...

This activism thing is far from easy; often frustrating, deeply intrusive, hugely time-consuming, life-changing and although it brings us to a place of self-empowerment and a life of genuine purpose - it can drain and exhaust, frustrate and infuriate. The anti-fracking movement in particular is one that because it affects air and water - affects EVERYONE... and so the people standing up to it, come from every walk of life. We find each other unusual sometimes, question motives and tactics, think to ourselves: "I would NEVER do an action that way." etc.

For every activist action that I have disliked and not agreed with personally - I have likely done one that makes someone else feel this way. BUT so long as we are all chipping away at the edges of the target (the fracking industry and the government that gives it permission) it is good - because we are not one mass that can be attacked by industry/government - we are many little cells of unpredictable behaviour coming at it from all sides, using a huge variety of tactics. This works - we are not yet fracking in the UK! Four years ago the industry expected to be underway - now all they have is test drills and a lot of expense to go along with a very informed and growing amount of opposition smile emoticon

We are succeeding - every day that there is a frack-free UK, is down to what each of us is doing ...in our own ways. Be it sharing online, marching in demos, holding protection camps, fighting legal challenges, researching the credibility of documents, exposing corrupt politicians, bothering Francis Egan, giving evidence, holding public meetings, waving banners at roadsides, making videos, livestreaming events, fundraising for fines, risking arrest, slowing trucks, doing media interviews, engaging in debates... talking to the neighbours - it ALL helps and it ALL works in its crazy, disorganised, un-collaborated yet rather beautiful way.

I discovered early on in this, that telling other activists how to do their activism is not helpful - the best is for each to act in their own way... we then find ourselves in good company when our ways match. I feel blessed to have Nanas and Protectors as my closest companions on the journey.

The movement is vast and when bits of it upset me - I look wider... spent time yesterday loving the actions of Australian and Pennsylvanian activists and felt soothed and reassured that what we see in our immediate view - is NOT the full picture. Much love and respect to all who aim at the target with good intent.

War on Fracking

Quote before action:

When we see dictators inflicting dangerous industry or chemical attacks on their own people, we are in uproar and our government acts. When democracy is abused by governments acting in the interests of industry and influential individuals whilst ignoring the will of the people, again our government acts. Yet here in the UK, OUR government is seeking to use dangerous practices, chemicals and waste dumping that will put residents at risk for generations to come. Yet here in the UK, OUR government is indicating that it will seek  to overturn a decision made here in Lancashire by Councillors representing the people of Lancashire because it took too long and they don't like the outcome. What democracy? What safeguards? What voice the people?
 
And so it is with the deepest sadness and regret that we find ourselves, we residents, mothers. grandmothers and children of Lancashire... here today to confront what can only be described as a dictatorship. In a true democracy we would have been heard the first time and not be about to be dragged into legal wrangles that we cannot afford to win, with opponents so powerful they dwarf us and silence our voices. today we roar in an uncommon declaration of war on fracking... because if we don't take steps to protect ourselves, our government certainly won't.

Yesterday's anti-fracking action involving Vivienne Westwood, a bus-load of Nanas and a tank at David Cameron's house - all in under 2 mins! Thanks to Cheryl Atkinson for photography - words to tune under video) x

NEW WORDS to 'Dad's Army' theme-tune ...

NAN'S ARMY
(Chorus)
Who do you think you are kidding Mr Cameron,
if you think we're on the run
We are the Nanas that will stop your fracking game.
We are the Nanas that will make you think again.
Cause who do you think you are kidding Mr Cameron
If you think old England's done

The Nanas have come to your town to tell you fracking's done
We're going home this evening for a cuppa and a bun
So watch out Mr Cameron you have met your match in us
If you think you can frack us
We're afraid you've missed the bus

Chorus
Cause who do you think you are kidding Mr Cameron
If you think we're on the run
We are the Nanas who will stop your fracking game
We are the Nanas who will make you think again
Cause who do you think you are kidding Mr Cameron
If you think old England's done

The Obligation...

Was chatting earlier to someone who was wondering about being a 'Nana' (the activist kind in a yellow tabard-type) - so I tried to sum up the 'Nana' thing...

Our 'Nana' status is not so much biological... more about a state of mind. We have young male and female Nanas who don't have children and all sorts. Vivienne Westwood and Natalie Bennett are Nanas too (even have their own Tabards). We wanted to protect our communities from the harmful effects fracking would bring and needed the media to stop categorising and labelling us as being: 'eco activists' or 'climate campaigners' etc. 

...We are caring human beings first and foremost - we are informed and we do this because we are OBLIGED to future generations; to ensure they can rely on fresh air and clean water. So I strongly suspect... you are a Nana xxx

Writing it made me aware too of just WHY we actually ARE unstoppable - because we are not choosing activism, we are obligated to do this. How can any of us say it's ok to let fracking happen - that the risks don't count anymore - that generations to come don't matter enough? That would be negligent and impossible.

For me... every exit door has my granddaughter's face on it and I can't get out till I fulfill my obligation to her (and everyone else's grandchildren).

I hope we all find our 'inner-Nana'...

Government tantrum

The Government announcement today that decisions on fracking can be taken out of Local Council hands and made by Central Government is a slap in the face not only of those opposing fracking but of anyone believing in democratic process. Ministers said the planning application dragged on and needed to be speeded up; for the benefit of who? Certainly NOT for communities looking for assurance that all aspects are considered and our health and safety are paramount.

This situation didn’t ‘drag on’ as today’s release stated, it took as long as required for a decision to be made. High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing is a new industry and there is a great deal to consider; it cannot be rushed through, just to satisfy ministers and industry.


This decision makes a mockery of government claims about localism and empowering communities. Our Councillors acted according to the evidence presented and the time it took to make the decision was largely a factor of obtaining accurate and thorough information from the fracking company.  The statement today is an insult to the hard work the Councillors have put in and obnoxiously ignores the wishes of the local community.

How many objection letters and how much evidence does it take to say no to this industry? Will this just go on until the industry and government get their way; regardless of local considerations? The Secretary of State for COMMUNITIES is to be permitted to make the decision on fracking applications ALONE; Greg Clark’s title smacks in the face of his powers.

Energy Secretary Amber Rudd has said since getting the job that she WILL ‘deliver shale’ and our Prime Minister has said he is ‘going all out for shale’; the missing voices here are our Councillors and the communities they represent. This has been such a battle every step of the way and it shouldn’t have been. Why is this people vs. Government? What on earth does ‘democracy’ mean in David Cameron’s mind?

By contrast, in June the government gave greater powers to communities to object to wind farms. We’re going backwards to dictatorial rule and embedding ourselves in a fossilised past as other countries surge forward with the jobs, lowered costs and reduced risks of renewable energy.

*NOTE:

Here are a few quotes from David Cameron's speech to local government leaders in 2011, which stands in contrast to today's announcement:

......

"I believe that our agenda of localism is one the most exciting things we are doing in government...
When we see a problem, we don’t ask what central government can do, we ask what can local people do, what can councils do...
Yes, we’re giving you [councils] this power. And yes, we’re doing that because we trust you."

Appealing...

It seems then that the strong 'No' from our Council and the people of the area, means little to this industry and they will persevere using all the legal and lobbyist powers money can buy. The further along this process goes the more absurd it gets. When do we get a say in this? Why is the decision of our Council not good enough? How many appeals and how much money and time can our cash-strapped Council spend on this? Is the hope that the industry's might will eventually wear us down?

Locally the opposition to this dangerous industry is not going away and continues to grow as more people become aware of the facts. Francis Egan said today that he is committed "to engaging with local communities to reassure them operations can and will be carried out safely" and we would absolutely welcome this. For nearly four years we have asked for an open, public debate with Cuadrilla but they never come.  Maybe I can take this opportunity through The Gazette to invite representatives of Cuadrilla to join us in a genuinely public forum at the earliest opportunity. Our deep concerns have kept us from our normal lives for years now and mumblings of reassurance are not enough. We have questions and would like them publicly answered in full.

With dire warnings of the potential effect of this industry on our health from the Medact Report, revelations in the now un-redacted DEFRA Report that herald warnings for our rural economy, increasing investor reluctance and the announcement by the Dutch government of a five year ban,  it is clear that fracking in the UK is dangerous, past it's opportunity and worthless.

The community will continue to oppose this and although we may not have the power and money of this industry, we operate from a position of protecting our young - which makes us unstoppable.


*Please CLICK HERE if you can help us x

Feeling it...

Time and again throughout the fight to halt fracking, in places where the power is held and abused, I have been reminded by stern voices that this is no place for emotion; that this is about reports and research documents (usually of dubious, influenced, financed origin)... that it is about economies not humanity, about mitigating risk not nurturing anything.

In the House of Lords when we gave evidence to the committee there... a horseshoe shape of 'Lords' with grey palour, inflated importance and soul-less eyes reminded me again, that this was no place for emotion when I dared to interrupt to correct a blatant lie.

But existence is FEELING and I cannot switch off the feelings I have about the world around us... I can no more bare the thought of toxins in the water and air here in Lancashire than I can the eradication of rainforests, the framing of 'human rights' as if we are somehow to earn entitlement, the proliferation of nuclear, the increase in arms sales, the slaughter by war, the manipulation of regimes by bigger players and corporate entities, bailouts for banks and austerity for people. ALL is connected and yet...

...we are isolated in cubicles and homogenised in behaviour; encouraged to judge each other if we do not conform or fit the mould. I have discovered through this fight to save air and water that it is ONLY when we open the space between us, remove our perceptions and judgements and allow ourselves to connect emotionally at some level... that ideas, solutions, actions and insight come. 

We need each other and in order to connect... this is going to have to be an emotional thing heart emoticon

May-be

Maybe it started with a petition
or clicking ‘like’ on a post,
by a friend
who you always think of as a bit quirky,
but fair-minded…
Maybe it was when you shared the post,
joined an online group,
said you’d attend an event
… actually attended an event?

Maybe these gateway steps brought you hesitantly to put your feet,
one in front of other onto streets,
streets now echoing with ownership.
Never having considered: whose streets?
let alone the actually true answer: OUR streets.

Maybe from there it went
in-tents,
surrounded
by unusual,
not common…
yet natural
yet familiar
sounds of humanity
stretching at its edges?
Voices calling, shouting, whispering, hissing
pleaing, preying, hoping, begging
…from personal, profound, perplexing, passionate
extremes;
tearing at seams
that once held
us all a-part.
Sections,
unsectioning.
Messy
mismatched
matchings
forming
in nonconformists shapes
of people
JUST people
…who once
signed a petition
liked a post
shared a post…
made the most of the journey to
‘out of here’

Maybe it was then that the activist broke through?