- 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.
There are media demands that go alongside activism and most of them sadly, are truly unpleasant - this however was a relaxed and enjoyable interview with Dave Hampton of Marlow FM.
From his link: [A chance to listen again to the Watt Next "Fracking Special" back in July. You heard it here first on Marlow FM. Great show, though I say it myself, and great content 39 mins in with Tina Louise-uk
As many turn their focus to
Balcombe, West Sussex where energy company/drillers Cuadrilla are currently
facing local opposition to their plans to 'frack' for oil or gas, it is clear that this is not going to
go quietly away. The media are playing on the fact that it is not only the
villagers of Balcombe that are trying to stop Cuadrilla - but that they are
joined by protest groups and individuals from elsewhere in the country; the media portray this as a bad thing
(I see it as a support and giving-a-damn thing).
It made me think about how it must be to be from Balcombe
- what would I want if I was them?
As we have had Cuadrilla here in Lancashire for a while and
they have ignored every form of legal objection, continued to flog propoganda
in our press and schools, confused/misled/fantasised most of our
Councillors/MPs into cheerleaders and paid NO attention to our pleas... we feel
small, powerless and at risk; I think we would be rejoicing if others from
ANYWHERE came and helped us protect our community from this dangerous industry
with its appalling safety record and history of harm in its wake.
For the villagers of beautiful Balcombe, the choice ahead
seems to be:
- accept that Cuadrilla aren't listening and have the power
to wrap our law enforcement around their vehicles – ensuring that they WILL
drill
OR
- accept that when/if other groups and individuals come to
help stop Cuadrilla – that there may be people, actions and interactions that
are not only unfamiliar - but maybe so far away from ‘normal’ that it can be
worrying.
AND... while I was thinking about all this it also became
clearer that because the risk of harm is to our shared, vital resources: air,
water and agriculture – that maybe it is impossible to define this community
defence by geography.
The unconventional energy business (fracking shale, coal
seam gas etc) has made it clear that more than 65% of our country is up for
grabs – so this is actually OUR stand, not just Balcombe’s.
The villagers,
understandably – wish none of this was their reality (we do too) but it is and
this is a crucial time because every time they drill, they pass through our
precious land and aquifers and the potential for harm begins (even before they
begin ‘fracking’).
Last weekend I went to Balcombe and met some amazing people from the village and elsewhere - each with a shared purpose and huge determination - regardless of their differences in origin or status (ie: first time protester or active on issues over a long time period); returning tomorrow.
WE the people of this country, of these counties at risk; WE the people who
depend now and always will (as will our children and theirs) on safe water and
air... have said NO to shale gas extraction (fracking) on countless petitions,
to numerous officials, time after time and WE have acted lawfully to be heard.
WE who are bullied by abused laws that wrap OUR law-enforcers around corporate trucks delivering drilling
bits and other dangerous sh*t to our precious places of residence and dependence.
Again it is WE who are forced to do this public protest, act
of self-defence – because it is OUR OWN government that is pushing this
dangerous business into our communities and inflicting it on our lives.
Tonight Bianca Jagger tweeted she would go to stand in support with Balcombe; after reading a tweet from Ray Beckerman
that lead to an excellent article in CommonDreams about the Great Gas Gala. She turned up and warmly shared the welcome and commitment - then shared the images and news to
those who follow her. Ian R Crane too was on
site and filming for those who follow him... as were the wonderful individuals
who contribute to the Occupy News Networkand Reel News - each has a role and each is a
conduit for the information network that is vital to ensuring an informed
public.
The intention of the energy companies for our country is a hugely important
matter that leads to the heart of most other hugely important matters – the impact
and control of lobbyists over our ‘democratic’ system of government; an impact
that gives greater voice to industry than it does to WE the people.
Whenever we hold public meetings and people are given unbiased information about shale gas extraction (fracking), they question the risk and so we focus heavily on getting the videos, studies and expert, industry voices out. Now though the danger grows ever nearer and we are having to block the roads, lock the gates and try our best to get this stopped before more harm is done. We each would wish to be heard and heeded by lawful means - but when laws are being abused by those with the power to do so (who have a vested interest)... how lawful can we remain?
I don’t know how we ultimately solve this – I do though feel that we can
ONLY succeed – together as WE, the people.
