We singe each other where our edges touch
Much too much ‘us’ in one place
Disaplacing reality as we
Scorch ourselves in embrace
Tracing lines of fire at our extremes
Cause only where extremes are spent
Were we ever able
Ever meant
To be
No place in day-to-day space for us
Just existing in the ether at theshadow
lines
Spine to spine on the line of existence
That breath of space where we embrace
Our souls
Where souls embrace our whole
And we recognize our entirety by being
Seeing the join and making it fade with recognition
Knowing that only here and now
Somehow, is the real of existence
I love you
I love who we are
When we’re together
Like this
Bliss in co-joined decision
To act
As one
For all
And all
For one
We’re
swarming now…
Like starlings gathering at sunset
We’ve finally met our points of union
And soon there’ll be so many more
We’ll soar…
High on truth and trust
Filled with lust
…for the honourable path
The best faces come when staring bleakly into the worst places... seeking
solace.
The ugly of the reality, of the shape of the corruption and abuse of power we
uncover as we strive to make sense of the seeming idiocy of those imposing on
us ...is sickening. As we question
those in office about the decisions they are making that directly affect our
lives - we are made to hush. As we stand to protect vital resources from
obvious, immediate threat - we are pushed down and arrested away. As we speak
and share and spread truths to those not yet informed - we are shouted down by
over-funded, over-hyped, PR-manipulated BS from Marketing Agencies charged with
masquerading beasts as saviours.
This can’t have just happened; must have been a system
morphing over time from what is perceived as ‘democracy’ to this ugly brute of
bullying hypocrisy that somehow ‘puts us in our place’ – as if such a thing
existed!
I blame our parents… and theirs and theirs and theirs – couldn’t they see this
coming? Didn’t they notice the ebbing away of true human rights and freedoms?
Didn’t they recognize that the gifts of ‘choice’ were myths and treason?
And what are WE now? Are we them? Will our children wear their soft-coated
shackles and thank us for them? If we sit back – don’t act… then we add to the
barbaric attacks on our resources and most of all – our ability to affect our
lives, protect ourselves, stand up for others and play any role in what new
rules are enforced upon us to barricade us out of the way.
It’s been a terrific and horrific journey from Occupy,
through fracking... to here
The terrific is actually more magical than that word explains – my heart is so
damned, ridiculously full it could explode… expanded and nourished by the most
glorious humans I have ever met. I’ve learned more than I thought could be
known, have hugged with true hearts and genuine feeling more than all the rest
of the years of my life and I have never felt more positive about the future –
my faith is beautifully wrapped, intact and makes a map of certainty.
Yeah the awful stuff is happening, threatening, burdening us with dwelling
still in the cold ugly places of faceless, soul-starved corporates… but WE are
there – it isn’t just you or just me holding up a sign… we are tribe!
What now? What next? It's just this moment become 2014 and
it feels like that really matters; feels like we need each and every, single
other... more now than ever before.
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.
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.
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
Dear Alison,
I write as a resident of Blackpool (up here in the 'desolate/unloved' North)
- we have been trying very hard for around 2 years to get Cuadrilla to
stop drilling here; they have drilled 4 wells, with one failing due to
the earthquakes and another now out of use due to equipment that is
stuck inside. The one that caused the earthquakes is inadequately sealed
and we are struggling to get a transparent picture of the plans around
how they will deal with potential ongoing risks from it.
This image is of the proposal for well sites where I live:
Cuadrilla have been into our places of education and business, in order to 'sponsor' things and win over and divide the community - who are largely ill-informed as the public meetings are not broadly publicised or attended... most people just don't have the time or knowledge to even look at what this is all about - complicated subject indeed.
That you are experiencing what it is like to have Cuadrilla doing business in your community is such a sad thing. I have been down to visit the camp over the past three weekends to see such wonderful villagers and concerned residents from across the UK, coming together to question the haste with which this business is undertaken; to question the history of accidents and harm that this industry is known for; to question the honesty and transparency of Cuadrilla who were only this year in trouble with the Advertising Standards Authority over exaggerations of safety claims in their literature.
You said in your post Alison that you were not aware of an invitation to people from outside of Balcombe to join in opposition to Cuadrilla’s drilling there and I understand how worrying this must be ...BUT I think it very important to note that the harm to air and water that could come when Cuadrilla are working, is something that will impact the residents everywhere - air and water have no respect for borders so it is to be expected that others from nearby and further afield will indeed be there.
I attended a meeting last Friday evening in Balcombe where a full room of village residents were indeed in favour of getting help to be heard – many had voted NO to Cuadrilla’s plans to drill, had signed petitions, objected to planning, written to MPs and Councillors – all to no avail.
You say that you have been balancing opinions and ‘tolerating extreme views’ and I don’t really understand what you mean? Is opposition to drilling an ‘extreme view’ or simply how they are expressing that view (genuine question)?
What Cuadrilla are doing to our air, water, agriculture and communities is criminal (even if the paperwork paints it differently); concerned citizens asking for a potential harm to stop BUT not being listened to in our democracy, is criminal; standing up to this criminality is not easy and because the industry is brutal and powerful, we have very little we can use. Currently, my weapons are truth and determination – but these have got me nowhere; at what point do I look at the law that wraps our law enforcement around corporate vehicles and tries to silence objection and wonder, what IS legal?
When that drill leaves Balcombe, it's coming back here to the North - where no-one seems to hear us when we scream for help; we would be hugging every person that came to stand in opposition with us.
