Balcombe Solidarity Sunday

RECLAIM THE POWER!

THANKS TO FRACKFREE CLEVELAND WE MANAGED TO SECURE A LIFT TO BALCOMBE. WE REALLY OWE THEM AND THE NEWCASTLE CREW A HUGE THANK-YOU, NOT ONLY FOR THE RIDE BUT THEIR HOSPITALITY AT CAMP.

THE CAMP ITSELF WAS SITUATED QUITE A WALK FROM THE ROADSIDE PROTEST, BUT ITS HARD TO FIND SPACE FOR SUCH A LARGE WELL EQUIPPED CAMP. ON ARRIVING WE WERE WELCOMED, GIVEN A CAMP GUIDE AND SHOWN THE BASIC LAYOUT. AFTER THAT WE HEADED TO THE BLUE CAMP TO SET UP TENTS AND LISTEN TO CHRIS PLAYING HIS MANDOLIN. WE WERE QUICKLY JOINED BY A BANJO PLAYER SEEKING A QUICK LESSON. SPIRITS WHERE HIGH AND THE CAMP AMAZING.

LATER THAT EVENING WE HAD A BITE AT THEIR LOVELY KITCHENS AND HEADED TO THE MAIN TENT TO LISTEN TO SOME SPEAKERS. THEY SPOKE ABOUT CAMP ETIQUETTE, THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE INVOLVED AND A SCIENTIST SPOKE ABOUT THE DEVASTATING EFFECT OF FRACKING. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SOME LIVE MUSIC AND DANCING.

THE NEXT DAY WE ATTENDED SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS AND INFORMATION TENTS ON MEDIA, CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE  LEGAL ADVICE ETC. THE CAMP WAS WELL STRUCTURED WITH SOLAR POWER, PLENTY OF COMPOST TOILETS, SHOWERS AND THE FAMILY FACILITIES WERE SECOND TO NONE. THEY HAD SECURED THE CHILDRENS PLAY AREA AND FAMILY CAMPING AREA AS A SAFE ZONE IN ANY RAIDS. THEY WERE NO GO AREAS FOR THE POLICE AND HAD SO MUCH FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO DO.

THE MARCH ITSELF WAS FANTASTIC, SPIRITS WHERE HIGH. PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE NATION UNITED IN TELLING THE GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY COMPANIES TO "FRACK OFF". THE PENTACLE DRUMMERS WERE AMAZING, THEY KEPT THE PARTY MOVING FOR HOURS AND REALLY ADDED TO THE ATMOSPHERE. IT WAS A GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT, BALCOMBE VILLAGERS WERE KEEN TO SHOW THEY DID SUPPORT PROTEST, AS DID PEOPLE FROM THE "DESOLATE NORTH" AND ALL OTHER COMMUNITIES EFFECTED BY FRACKING AND EXTREME ENERGY. THE MARCH WAS FOLLOWED BY SOME MORE GREAT SPEAKERS, THE WHOLE MARCH WAS PEACEFUL AND FULL OF DANCING AND MERRIMENT.

THIS WHOLE BALCOMBE MESS HAS PROVED ONE THING, WHO THE THUGS AND INSTIGATORS ARE AND IT IS NOT THE PROTESTERS. ITS THE VERY PEOPLE WE EMPLOY OUR GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE USING CHEAP TACTICS AND LYING TO TO US TO MAKE MONEY FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES. THEY ARE USING THE POLICE AS THUGS FOR HIRE TO PROTECT THEIR PERSONAL INTERESTS!