Remembering the start of something...

Remembering the signs that made the sense that led to this:

When I went to the London Stock Exchange on 15th October 2011 - I did so because I'd reached a personal 'enough-is-enough' moment. I'd seen the government bail out the greedy, gambling, irresponsible banking sector again and in the next breath... speak of austerity and cuts for 'we, the people'. They talked of 'trickle down' and that's just ridiculous - why give money to the very sector that created the problem and then HOPE they will trickle it back into society? Then they said... "it's ok, they will probably lend it back to businesses and people" ...grrrrrrrrr! Why wouldn't they build in an INSISTANCE that they at least ensure the money makes its way back out of the vault? They didn't build in a clause or requirement or anything. So... along with my sister Julie Daniels and a tent we went to join Occupy the London Stock Exchange.

It was clear that 'our' government wasn't actually ours at all - that somewhere along the way we had not only let the corporate lobbyists in... but we had grown so used to this, we weren't noticing that something needed to be done about it. Those lobbyists are still there and we didn't get them out - this is clearly evidenced in the fight we are having to ensure dangerous, extreme energy extractiontechniques like FRACKING - are not done in our country. Key lobbyists and those PERSONALLY invested in the industry itself... walk the corridors of our houses of commons and lords: John Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley (Lord Browne), Baroness Hogg, Lord Howell (Chancellor George Osborne's father-in-law), #Balcombe MP Francis Maude and others. They have hijacked democracy.

BUT... the amazing coming together of individuals from all walks of life and all sorts of places, for all sorts of reasons... that became a worldwide Occupy Movement - was a fertile space and time; many of us, freshly informed and empowered - went on to discover symptoms of this 'DISease' of our democracy, this corruption of our government - all over the place. We joined other groups or made our own and became merged with campaigns tackling poverty, disability rights, employment, environmental and community threats, saving the NHS, exposing insane economics and for my sister and I, RAFF - Residents Action on Fylde Fracking.

It's not our UK Occupy anniversary until next month but it was Occupy Wall Street that placed a seed of an idea in me 2 years ago - the idea that I didn't have to accept anything so intolerable as watching communities be put at risk for some investor's profit or the ceaseless hacking away at the quality of our education and health care systems or the vile disregard for the dignity of our elders when they most need and deserve it or the slashing of our rights to object to any of this.

I DON'T accept these things and I am making time... for my outrage as it has a purpose and I owe it to the next generations. I am in the best company, alongside the finest individuals I have the fortune to meet - activists are people who give a damn and that makes them gorgeous.

The 50 Best Signs From #OccupyWallStreet

Radio interview ▶ Fracking Special 29July2013 by Dave Hampton

▶ Fracking Special 29July2013 by Dave Hampton

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




 

Bigger than Balcombe...

Bigger than any of us...

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 activists

Public opinion silenced
by over-enforcement of laws

...twisted to meet corporate greed’s needs

(This week in Balcombe at the Great Gas Gala against fracking for shale gas)

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 though are here in the fields trying to protect ourselves from an horrendous risk to our health and safety. WE are being deliberately intimidated by ‘law-enforcement’ and yet, it is WE who are arrested!

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.

HOW the hell do we stop this?

We gather, we share truths and research papers, we apply legal means, we print, we protest and we do all we can. Many speak out, others knit, multitudes march, a precious few research and delve deep into misleading Public Relations spin and some engage in freedom-limiting ‘Direct Actions’. The variety of acts-of-protest is both inspiring and effective; it brings this important matter to the attention of the very different types of people that WE are; in our many walks of life.

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 Network  and Reel News - each has a role and each is a conduit for the information network that is vital to ensuring an informed public.

WE cannot depend on honesty from an industry that will profit from the dangerous methods of extreme (unconventional) energy extraction because they depend on it; WE cannot trust our local officials to take the time to even understand this process. I discovered this for myself on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday night when Morecambe MP David Morris made his ignorance clear by not knowing that more than half of the chemical laced water that enters a shale gas well - does not come back during the operation; WE cannot rely on the media to accurately report the truth even of who WE are, as we have discovered in articles that demean, mock and attack those who are *activists (*activist is simply a description of a person who having seen a wrong - is acting to resolve it).


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.