Save Lakeland's Forests
Here's a thorough report on the event with the views of some impressive people.
Thanks Dave for pointing it out in the comments below.
And here is my amateur slant on what happened!
Written before the event:
The Save Lakeland's Forests demo at Grizedale at 1:00 today.
I'm looking forward to gaining some insight into how to stop Cameron's mad gallop towards rapid change.
I will be good to meet up with similar minded people.
I'd go by bike if I thought I was fit enough ( my spell at the allotment yesterday demonstrated my weaknesses) but in reality it's going to be 90% car followed by 10% bike!
17 comments:
Good event.
Good speeches from both sides of the house - Tim Farron and John Woodcock amongst the many short but to the point words of wisdom.
What can we do to help O wise one ?
Judge for yourself and read the press who will hopefully report it.
it's only a forest
I hope the groundswell of opposition to this sell off grows fast. We need our forests to be cared for by an accountable body. Our children's children should walk among trees planted today. Let's not leave that to chance.
And there's that small issue of the future of the planet...
Responsible government is needed. This is a jewel not to be sold
Well considering this is such a "vital" issue not that many people turned up. I was up that way myself on saturday and was quite taken by how these "environmentalists" just love their cars, they weren't all running on cowshit and veggy oil I'll bet.
My observations and your video confirm the assembled multitude were nothing so much as the usual moribund bunch of tree huggers, dogshit merchants, mountain bike terrorists, Guardianistas, students up from Yooooni, wannabe pikeys,and those who would much prefer to abandon their second homes/sell the 4x4/ pour the chateau lafitte down the drain and return to their Islington flats rather than have anything to do with anything remotely Tory.
Sell off the forests says i. If it raises a quid or two for the nation and keeps this ragtag rabble away from me - RESULT!!
NHS reforms are simply incomprehensible. All that work detoxifying the Tory brand and David Cameron ends up allowing his health secretary to throw it all away with a reorganisation the NHS can't afford at a time when it was finally recording impressive improvements in service.
But the drive to privatise England's forests is more significant. It reveals not a miscalculation, but a complete disconnect with the public. The government evidently thought it was a minor issue, one which could be easily smuggled through without much more than a smattering of complaints from environmentalists and some sentimental middle-class types.
Instead the plans detonated, triggering a vicious response across the political spectrum. Why should this prompt more heat than cutting Sure Start centres or a regressive VAT rise? Because this challenges something deep down inside the English heart, way past reason or politics.
Our Land
Great vox pops video, BBC Countywide showed a great report on some of the varied concerns.
Lakes TV also have put up a good report
LakesTV report
Was a great turnout with a great cross section of people
Thanks Dave for pointing out the link to the Lakes TV report which is now featured in the original posting.
"A complete disconnect with the public" - no it isn't. Its (unjustifiably SO FAR) a complete disconnect with what might loosely be called the environmentalists, full stop.
"....way past reason or politics..our land." - I cannot get my head around "my land". Why is it mine. Using that logic I may fancy taking the kids to Catterick for a ride on a tank, or maybe demand a cruise in that sub currently fitting out in Barrow. I helped pay for it, therefore it is mine!
You misty eyed militants need to realise that, at least where I drink, people simply don't care. You are in the minority, as yet its not worth getting worked up about. Should the day arrive when somebody proposes to build a housing estate in Grizedale then you may have something to shout about but that day, if it ever happens is far off. I think, given the draconian and oh so exclusive planning restrictions applied by the LDNP, the very worst that can happen to you is that you may have to shell out a quid or two to gain access to forest land. Dear o dear!!
To answer George's point re cyclists.
There were lots of people arriving at the rally by bike.
Others who came from further afield like for instance Salford had brought bikes on their cars.
Furthermore many were moving off to have a walk into the forest after the rally.
My impression was that, for the most part, those attending are real and regular users of the forests.
George are you fat ? As in the rhyme you are Porgie up to now what a good job your parents did good name.
Get to the big outdoors.
Grisedale ?
Which reminds me - I got to play Georgie Porgie when I first went to school at about five -kissed the girls and made them cry.
I remember the girls crying - they made a big deal of it but nothing remains on the positive side of the kissing bit - I don't think I was ever allowed by them to get anywhere near!
Yesterday in Parliament.
The Prime Minister: I say to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman), is there not a problem when the Forestry Commission is responsible for regulating forestry and is a massive owner of forestry? We do not accept with that with the Bank of England or other organisations. It is therefore worth considering whether we can produce a system that is better for access, better for habitat, better for Natural England and better for the countryside that we love.
Mmmmmm?
JAK
George said
Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
Yours aye
JAK
Julie Hilling (Bolton West, Labour)
Even if community groups could afford to purchase woodland, why should they if it is already in public ownership? It is rather like a thief stealing a car and then offering to sell it back.
Interesting point from debate
Well done Geoff again.
The prime minister has been forced to change his mind on forest sell off, due to people power directed by people like you!
He has appointed 10 aides to examine any more stupid panic policies that may become an embarrassment.
They are going to be very busy we the public need to help.
JAK
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