Alan Lodge's Blog

Self Portraits: Using Digital Cam

Photographers & Video activists and the law

From Nick Cobbing:

Legal question and answer session at Doughty Street Chambers, 27th of November

It’s a legal briefing/ discussion about the implications of photographing in ‘public order’ situations in the UK. Earlier this year I was awarded damages against Thames Valley Police. Phillipa Kaufman and Keir Starmer QC were the two barristers who advised us, following that case I’ve persuaded them both to share their knowledge and take some (hopefully hard) questions from photographers.

I’ve given the Barristers these eight scenarios:

* Hand over the lens – obstruction of view by police or security

* Threat of arrest for obstruction

* Being asked to leave property under threat of trespass

* Being dragged or pulled from the job by police or security

* Forced to work from a designated area (press pen)

* Being detained with protestors surrounded by polic

* Confiscation of film/tapes -no arrest

· arrest but no charge

· arrest and charged

* Accompanying activists onto property with and without prior knowledge.

Please DO recommend working photographers cameramen/women and journalists that would benefit from this and offer personal experiences. I’m especially interested in those who work for Beeb, ITN, Channel Four, Reuters -please forward any contacts to me if you have them.

The date is now set for the 27th of November, hope you can make it.

Cheers

Nick Cobbing

nick@cobb-photo.com

http://www.cobb-web.org

also, check out:

Journo_hassle:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/journo_hassle.htm

Photo-difficulty:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/photo_difficult.htm

Legal assortment:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

Dealings With The Police And Arrests At Demonstrations

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_09_22_tash_lodge_archive.html#82114259

Breaking News: Police launch plan to control news

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_11_03_tash_lodge_archive.html#84116617

Bristol Party Attacked; Appeal for witnesses

Originally posted on DirtyCircus by Penelope Pitstop:

Ive been asked to post some more info about the police attack against party peeps on the 20th July at the Cumberland Basin, Bristol. Call for witnesses as injured partygoers sue police

Most of those on the receiving end of this “public order” policing in the early hours of 21st July 2002 were young women. Many were traumatised by co-ordinated police violence. Now several people are taking legal action against Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Several women have been approached by an Inspector Voisey of Portishead Police H.Q. He is part of the Police Complaints Authority and appears eager to arrange interviews. When one woman who received a bad beating on the night refused to meet him, he suggested maybe he could send round some plain clothes officers for a chat. He told another woman who declined to give him her files on the incident, ” We do have the power of seizure”. Hardly the language you would expect from the supposedly objective and understanding PCA. Could it be that the PCA are more interested in finding any words or ways to justify the actions of the riot police on 21st July? Perhaps Voisey and friends could consider a name change to Police Cover-up Authority.

3 PEOPLE STILL FACING SERIOUS PUBLIC ORDER CHARGES FROM POLICE RIOT AT FREE PARTY (21ST JULY). INJURED PARTYGOERS ARE SUING AVON AND SOMERSET CONSTABULARY. WITNESS STATEMENTS NEEDED.

REPETITIVE BEATS

July 21st, Cumberland Basin, Bristol. A free party organised by the Mutant Dance collective began just after midnight. As people arrived from all directions, many from the Ashton court festival, there was no sign of trouble. The site has been used for free parties for years without any problems. Half a dozen cops stood by, talking into their radios and watching the partygoers arrive. The crowd quickly grew and the atmosphere was friendly. People were up for a laugh and a night of dancing. At around 1 am over 10 riot vans appeared and hoardes of cops began putting on their riot gear as the police helicopter circled overhead. Attempts were made by several partygoers to communicate with the police and to prevent any aggro. One organiser offered to move the party elsewhere if there was a problem with this site. He was arrested for “Conspiracy to cause a public nuisance” (charges later dropped). The only responses given to partygoers asking about police intentions were “Go away, I have nothing to say to you”, and “If you’re down there you’re going to get hurt”. There was no attempt by officers to address the crowd and at no point did they make it clear that the party was illegal. Instead, at 2am, around 30 officers in full riot gear came to attack the party. By this time word had gone around, and many people formed a human chain around the DJs and sound systems to protect them. Many officers wore masks and no I.D. numbers – no comeback for cracking heads. They drew batons and assaulted a few people but did not break through the lines of people standing their ground. The strength and unity of the crowd was impressive in the face of unprovoked police aggression. But one person was dragged away, under a rain of baton blows as people shouted at the police to leave. After a stand off the order was given to withdraw, and the crowd cheered.

People were shaken up but the party continued until sunrise. Then the police came back, en masse and with dogs. This is when the worst attack began. Cops came from both sides of the party and began trashing the sound system and indiscriminately beating people. One eyewitness recounts :

“The police charged at everyone hitting them with their truncheons and trampling anyone in the way.

I saw at least 15 people being hit with truncheons, some were young females doing

absolutely nothing. I saw one young female around 18 years old being hit while on the floor by at least 5 police officers with truncheons”

Injuries ranged from bruises and bleeding noses to neck injuries, fractured wrists and broken arms. Most of those on the receiving end of this “public order” policing were young women. Many were traumatised by sickening police violence. Some are now taking legal action against Avon and Somerset constabulary. Several women have been approached by an Inspector Voisey of Portishead Police H.Q. He is part of the Police Complaints Authority and appears eager to arrange interviews. When one woman who received a bad beating on the night refused to meet him, he suggested maybe he could send round some plain clothes officers for a chat. He told another woman who declined to give him her files on the incident, ” We do have the power of seizure”. Hardly the language you would expect from the supposedly objective and understanding PCA. Could it be that the PCA are more interested in finding any words or ways to justify the actions of the riot police on 21st July? Perhaps Voisey and friends could consider a name change to Police Cover-up Authority.

A big benefit night in October raised enough money to replace the damaged sound kit. Clearly, people refuse to be intimidated and will carry on partying. The party crews will continue to regularly organise unlicensed, free gatherings. Bristol has a strong network of sound systems up for organising entertainment on our own terms, without profit and controls. It is widely believed that this police attack was planned as revenge for failing to stop a massive free festival which took place in the summer at Steart, near Bridgewater. Police were powerless to stop thousands of up-for-it people and around thirty sound systems converging for a huge all-weekend party. Plenty more where that came from!!

URGENT WITNESS REQUEST

There is an urgent need for witness statements about the police attack on the free party. Police are attempting to deny charges of brutality, claiming that they were attacked by ravers. 3 people are still facing public order charges and could face prison sentences. We can’t let the authorities make an example of these people to the rest of us. For legal action to be effective, we need as many detailed statements as possible. If you or anyone you know were assaulted or arrested, or witnessed police attacking or arresting anyone else, we need to hear from you.

Writing a statement might take just 20 minutes of your time. It could be crucial for anyone facing charges or with a case against the police. By sticking together and looking after each other, we can expose the truth of the police violence, prevent police fit-ups of partygoers, and make Avon and Somerset Constabulary pay compensation. So we need as many statements as possible from people at the party.

We encourage people to go through the police complaints procedure. This will make stronger cases for those suing the police. We are in touch with solicitors who specialise in suing the police. You or someone you know may have a good case against the police and you’re not alone, as others are determined to take legal action.

We cannot let them get away with this violence. If we do nothing and resign ourselves to it all, the police will have carte blanche to attack more free parties. Also, when they have to pay out thousands of pounds, it is likely to make them a bit more sensible and open to negotiation next time. Please contact us with any information. Send witness statements complete with contact details to disruptive@dangerous-minds.com. PARTY ON. STAY SOLID.

Police violence against free party – an account from a woman on the receiving end of “public

order policing”

Account from woman beaten up by police at the free party on 21st July.

Got to party around 1:30 -2am. Walked from Coronation Road to Hotwells under the motorway. On arrival seen police on top of motorway but as they were at a distance I did not pay much attention to them. As the day had been very chilled and relaxed at Ashton court I decided to totally enjoy myself and went straight to the sound system for a dance. Shortly after arriving at the party someone said the police were going to come and take the sound system. I stayed dancing and didn’t see any police so I presumed the party was allowed to go ahead. Very pleasant evening. Nice people. Nice music. No trouble. As it was getting bright word had it that the sound system was going to be taken. I didn’t pay much attention again as rumours had been going around all night. Then all of a sudden they were everywhere. I was standing behind the system. A police man came up and told me to get out of the way. I ignored him and stayed standing where I was. He pushed me and I fell to the ground. Then two of them began hitting me on the legs with their batons. This made me extremely angry. Even though my legs were aching I stood back up with the rest of the crowd. At this point I was quite loudly saying stuff like ” You can’t make me stop dancing”, and just dancing while the police began to retreat. They backed away down to one corner of the park which the motorway runs over. At this point I thought they would just leave it but they didn’t. Instead they charged at the crowd. I don’t remember much apart from being knocked to the ground and repeatedly hit on my calves, thighs, stomach and chest. As I was at the front of the crowd I did not see what happened to other people, but I do remember standing up and seeing a girl near me on the ground getting the same treatment. I was in shock at this stage so I wasn’t paying much attention to what the police were doing after this.

My feelings about the incident are not good. I do not think I posed any threat and definitely did not deserve the beating I got from fully equipped riot policemen. I am eight and a half stone and it should not take three heavy weight policemen to control me. If I was doing wrong why didn’t they bundle me into a police van and place me under arrest. As far as I could see they were determined to give people a beating. They were not civil and they weren’t doing what we pay them to do, which is supposedly to protect us from danger.

TACT – Temporary Anti-Capitalist Teams

Have just sent some pictures, as a contribution to this project. Thought you might want to know about it:

TACT – Temporary Anti-Capitalist Teams, are a powerful way to make dynamic networks of support and communication within the anti-Capitalist movement and to connect the local with the global. TACT is not an organisation, its an idea. No-one has to leave their existing group to join in. TACT is a network of self-organised groups willing to work together as equals, in a way which celebrates the diversity of our anti-Capitalist action and gives a clear voice to our resistance.

People all over the world fight back every day in their own ways, with their own reasons to struggle. Sometimes those struggles coincide with others and a more effective challenge can be made – individual refusal broadening out into a genuine and fundamental challenge.

Part of the fight against Capitalism is to generate awareness that these everyday struggles are part of a greater whole, breaking the bonds of isolation by relating local action to a wider worldwide movement and lending practical and political support and resources where its wanted.

Get TACTile – you don’t need to join, just join in! Be a part of something big, part of a larger movement that needs your support and will in turn lend support to you.

tact1@temporary.org.uk

http://www.temporary.org.uk

TACT1

c/o BCM Box 3328,

London WC1N 3XX.

TACT: Temporary Anti-Capitalist Teams – a discussion document

http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/tact/TACT1.pdf

TACT flyer as a PDF

http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/tact/tactflyer1.pdf

more/latest info at

http://www.guilfin.net/database/showevent.php3?ev_id=evINET1900

I had previously contributed to an ‘alternative’ exhibition in Manchester. Do check out:

Northern Arts Tactical Offensive – NATO

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_09_15_tash_lodge_archive.html#81885822

Being notified of Blog changes: Weblogs.com

Have mentioned before, various ways of notify those interested of when a blog is ‘updated’.

There is also a manual method of notifying Weblogs.com that my site has been updated.

After I updated one of my blogs, I’d can go to the ping site form of weblogs.com at:

http://newhome.weblogs.com/pingSiteForm,

fill it in, and the site would be added to the RSS feed. Thus readable by Feedreader and the like.

For other methods, please see “Being notified of Blog changes: Blogarithm” at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_11_03_tash_lodge_archive.html#84192179

also

Working the web Newsreaders – Guardian 29aug02

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,781838,00.html

Ben Hammersley – Content Syndication with XML

http://rss.benhammersley.com

Weblog.com: Recently Changed Blogs

http://www.weblogs.com

Battle of the Beanfield: incident near Stonehenge on BBC Radio4

You might be interested to know that I’ve contributed to a Radio 4 program recently on the Battle of the Beanfield. It is part of the ‘In living memory’ series that has just started on wednesday mornings.

The show on the Beanfield, events back in 1985 will be Transmitted on:

BBC Radio4 on the 27th Novemeber at 11.00am.

You might find it interesting. Below are a shed-load of links, that informs the background to these events.

an earlier entry on blog at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_07_21_tash_lodge_archive.html#79296253

and the festival in particular:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_10_13_tash_lodge_archive.html#83034092

For further background on all this, check out:

The story so far – history in context

http://tash.gn.apc.org/history.htm & http://tash.gn.apc.org/history.pdf

summary of beanfield bit

http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean.htm

My ‘cell notes’

http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean-notes1.htm

Photo-gallery of the day in field

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gal_beanf1.htm

diary I kept of my operations later year

http://tash.gn.apc.org/shenge_diary1988_1.htm

Assorted legal hassle, [for context]

http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

So much more on my main website at: http://tash.gn.apc.org since this was not an ‘isolated incident!’

Self Portraits: 35mm strips

Me: self portrait in car mirror

Since we’re on the subject of mirrors …..

He’s me, on the way home, and using up the end of the film

Sky Mirror: Nottingham Playhouse

This stunning sculpture is situated outside the Playhouse Theatre, providing the centrepiece for the re-development of the forecourt area. I thought I would take some pictures of it yesterday.

http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/skymirror

Facts & figures

Sky Mirror is nearly 6 metres in diameter and weighs nearly 10 tonnes. Blimey!

A smaller sculpture was made to test the manufacturing process. The safety of both any reflections and it’s strength in adverse weather conditions have been checked.

The stainless steel for the sculpture is from Sweden and Sky Mirror was manufactured in Finland through a process of cold forging. It was then taken to Wellingborough for final polishing to create the highly reflective surface.

The forecourt re-development uses 900 sq. metres of granite paving. The grey granite for the forecourt was quarried in South Africa, the water feature granite quarried in Zimbabwe.

The granite was cut and finished in Germany and installed by specialists from Portugal.

150 cubic metres of concrete was used for the forecourt with 10 tonnes of steel reinforcement.

Sky Mirror is attached to the water feature by 18 stainless steel bolts, each 1.6metres long.

Contrary to rumour the Sky Mirror does not pose any danger to pigeons in the form of a barbecue ray. Boffins have plotted the sun’s movement and erected a temporary sun screen on the roof of the playhouse to prevent direct sunlight hitting the Sky Mirror for two months each year.

Some have dubbed the six-metre sculpture “a giant shaving mirror”.

MI5 – Some of my own adventures

There is some accountability, a commission to oversee the investigation of complaints about surveillance by these services. Should a complaint to this tribunal be made, an individual would not be told whether or not they have actually been the target of MI5 surveillance. Under current procedure, they are only told if the tribunal considers MI5 to have acted wrongly. In effect, filling in one of the complaints forms, available from most police stations, simply alerts the security services to the fact that the individual suspects they are being watched (or perhaps, therefore, should be!!!).

On being Watched: http://tash.gn.apc.org/watched1.htm

Photo-Jounalist ‘Hassle’ list: http://tash.gn.apc.org/journo_hassle.htm

Difficulties in taking photographs: http://tash.gn.apc.org/photo_difficult.htm

Some of my ‘assorted legal hassles’ : http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

and earlier on this blog at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_11_03_tash_lodge_archive.html#84117787

This is a copy of the request I made as a ‘Subject Access Request’ to the Security Services. This was done under the powers of the Data Protection Act.

The Enquiries Desk

The Security Service

PO Box 3255

London SW1P 1AE

Sir,

I have become aware of an article in the Guardian titled: ‘Test case allows ‘right to know’ on MI5 files ‘ Richard Norton-Taylor. Tuesday 2nd October 2001.

It appears that the article was written, after a case was argued that members of the public might ask what information about them is held by the Security Services and its various subsidiaries.

As a first enquiry then, I would like to ask you for advice on the proceedures to follow in making such a request.

I believe that the service is comprised of many related organisations, such as Special Branch, National Public Order Intelligence Unit and others. Would you further advise if it is necessary to find and then contact each organisation individually, or, would one enquiry be sufficient to raise such personal information?

<>

‘Test case allows ‘right to know’ on MI5 files ‘ Richard Norton-Taylor Guardian Tuesday October 2, 2001.

The government’s blanket ban preventing anyone from knowing whether MI5 holds files on them is unlawful, it was ruled yesterday.

In a landmark decision, a special panel of the new information tribunal quashed a claim by Jack Straw when he was home secretary that MI5 should never admit to holding files on an individual, even when the disclosure would not damage national security.

The test case was brought by Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes .

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4268111,00.html

I am grateful for any assistance.

Regards

Alan Lodge.

* * * * * *

This is the response of the Security Services to my ‘Subject Access Request’ that I had made under the Data Protection Act.

So basically, in summary, they may have a file on me, but then again, perhaps not 🙂

However, after asking if they have, no doubt they find this request, ‘interesting’.

I recommend this as a ‘ripping read’. and ask you to consider your position, and make your own personal requests. As the title of the last of BBC series states: “It Could Happen To YOU !!”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4268111,00.html

&

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/true_spies/default.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,817849,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,817133,00.html

True Spies BBC2, after-show internet discussion .RAM

In the True Spies series award-winning reporter Peter Taylor reveals how the British “Secret State” – MI5 and Special Branch – has spied on citizens for decades, including trade unionists.

But does the personal freedom of each citizen need protecting as carefully as the security of the state itself?

Could there be files on you? Should the “Secret State” have the right to spy on people perceived to be a security threat?

How did Peter Taylor persuade agents, and their handlers, to speak out on camera?

The debate will be broadcast on Sunday 10 November at 2200 GMT, immediately after the final episode of True Spies.

You can watch the debate from:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/02/forum/true_spies/07nov.ram

[Real Player required]

more at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/true_spies/default.stm

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_11_03_tash_lodge_archive.html#84117787

Nottingham Remembrance Day Parade

I try and attend a public act of remembrance most years. Am in a bit of a minority in my own scene, in thinking that this is important. Not just ‘history’ either, since more of the same, seems just around the corner.

Announcing the new website of the travellers / techno community in Orgiva, Granada Province, Southern Spain

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy/

I did this website for my son, Sam, and hosted it on Fortunecity for the last few months to get it all, of the ground. However, the advertising winds a user up!!

So, I hassled the Partyvibe / Network 23 folks for space and have just transfered the pages.

Sam is a man working with the likes of Total Resistance and Desert Storm etc. So is in good company on the ISP have moved him to.

His Mobile : 0034 (0)617 903586 & E-mail: samconspiracy@hotmail.com

Network 23: http://www.network23.org

Partyvibe: http://partyvibe.com

Just to show you some of my family snaps, These piccys are from the site I made for my DJ-type son, he hangs out with ‘Total Resistance, Desert Storm etc, in the South of Spain. Orgiva in fact……

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

Anyway, his name is Sam, and i love him …….

The other one, my daughter, is called Siri, she did live in Spain, where she meet her boyfriend, Geoff. Now moved to England, and living in Bath. Guess what? I love her to.

Just sent the following about, to promote this work:

hello each

‘cos of the anti party / festival measures, in the UK and elsewhere, many travellers, party-persons, squatters etc etc …. have set up in South of Spain.

So, there are festivals, parties and communities were folks from all over have gathered and live all the year round. One such place is ORGIVA. In the Province of Granada, Southern Spain.

It all started in Alex’s garden about 5 years ago, everyone gathering with fire-wood, instruments, records, fire-staffs, booze and masses of enthusiasm. The dragon flag was hoisted above the proceedings and the festival was born.

Fifty or so people from Cigarrones, Tablones and El Morreon celebrating the Equinox, dancing, prancing, howling, stomping, their way into the Spring. From that moment it was set to become a regular event , since then it has under gone a quite colossal metamorphosis, may be only to be expected of a Spring celebration of fertility, new growth and change. Not only the buds and bellies of goats are enchanted into life and multiplication by the lengthening sunny days and sweet whiff of honeysuckle but none other than our own sweet DRAGON.

The festival is developing and drawing immense amounts of creative inspiration out of this community and beginning to reach further, to draw attention to the threats of greedy corporations who see potential in the lush water-filled valleys of the Alpujarras. The water is worth a fortune to them, golf courses and hotels need vast quantities to keep up with the ever increasing tourism on the coast, not to mention the countless hectares of plastic covered genetically modified vegetables. Unbelievably after all the Euro-blar about encouraging sustainable development, grants are being awarded here to strip the area of it’s water supply to a subterranean level, this will completely destroy the ecosystem and the independence of this area interms of water and production of food.

And so what exactly has the Dragon got to do with this impending arrival of the water husslers, backed by the Euro grants legitimised by officaldom and accountable to only themselves? Wasn’t there some lose talk about alternatives lifestyles, not being part of their system because we have better ideas, sure it was more than a more than a quite life in our sleepy Spanish backwater.

Between us here there is an incredible amount of ingenuity, recycling, clean energy, solar, wind, turbine, veggie oil engines/generators, alternative education, sustainability, ………..

What is the Dragon Fest?: is one of the high spots of the year:

What it is;

We asked this question to 100 people and these were the most popular answers.

The Annual party in Cigarrones

A real Celebration

A Gathering of the Clans

A Proper Free Festival

A chance to be creative

Ritual magic

Party of the Year

A Taste of Freedom

What parties are supposed to be like

Totally excellent

A Bloody OUTRAGE!

All inclusive

Wicked

A Forum for Frocks

On the Edge

Everybodies Carnival

Playtime for Kids of all Ages

It is a really good laugh!

*

*

*

What the Dragon Fest isn’t?:

We asked this question to A group of Dis-organisers and this is what they said.

It’s not a teknival.

Nor a profit making venture for individuals.

An ecological threat to the riverbed.

An opportunity to flex your ego-K sound system.

News just in: The Dragon event moving ……. to: A l m e r i a

[bit further along the coast …… check the site for further details.]

———————————————————-

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

E-mail: samconspiracy@hotmail.com

or Mobile + txt: 0034 (0)617 903586

earlier post:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_10_13_tash_lodge_archive.html#83074865

Announcing the new website of the travellers / techno community in Orgiva, Granada Province, Southern Spain

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy/

I did this website for my son, Sam, and hosted it on Fortunecity for the last few months to get it all, of the ground. However, the advertising winds a user up!!

So, I hassled the Partyvibe / Network 23 folks for space and have just transfered the pages.

Sam is a man working with the likes of Total Resistance and Desert Storm etc. So is in good company on the ISP have moved him to.

His Mobile : 0034 (0)617 903586 & E-mail: samconspiracy@hotmail.com

Network 23: http://www.network23.org

Partyvibe: http://partyvibe.com

Just to show you some of my family snaps, These piccys are from the site I made for my DJ-type son, he hangs out with ‘Total Resistance, Desert Storm etc, in the South of Spain. Orgiva in fact……

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

Anyway, his name is Sam, he’s part of the young and noisy teckno lot, but still love him …….

The other one, my daughter, is called Siri, she did live in Spain, where she meet her boyfriend, Geoff. Now moved to England, and living in Bath. Guess what? I love her to.

Just sent the following about, to promote this work:

hello each

‘cos of the anti party / festival measures, in the UK and elsewhere, many travellers, party-persons, squatters etc etc …. have set up in South of Spain.

So, there are festivals, parties and communities were folks from all over have gathered and live all the year round. One such place is ORGIVA. In the Province of Granada, Southern Spain.

It all started in Alex’s garden about 5 years ago, everyone gathering with fire-wood, instruments, records, fire-staffs, booze and masses of enthusiasm. The dragon flag was hoisted above the proceedings and the festival was born.

Fifty or so people from Cigarrones, Tablones and El Morreon celebrating the Equinox, dancing, prancing, howling, stomping, their way into the Spring. From that moment it was set to become a regular event , since then it has under gone a quite colossal metamorphosis, may be only to be expected of a Spring celebration of fertility, new growth and change. Not only the buds and bellies of goats are enchanted into life and multiplication by the lengthening sunny days and sweet whiff of honeysuckle but none other than our own sweet DRAGON.

The festival is developing and drawing immense amounts of creative inspiration out of this community and beginning to reach further, to draw attention to the threats of greedy corporations who see potential in the lush water-filled valleys of the Alpujarras. The water is worth a fortune to them, golf courses and hotels need vast quantities to keep up with the ever increasing tourism on the coast, not to mention the countless hectares of plastic covered genetically modified vegetables. Unbelievably after all the Euro-blar about encouraging sustainable development, grants are being awarded here to strip the area of it’s water supply to a subterranean level, this will completely destroy the ecosystem and the independence of this area interms of water and production of food.

And so what exactly has the Dragon got to do with this impending arrival of the water husslers, backed by the Euro grants legitimised by officaldom and accountable to only themselves? Wasn’t there some lose talk about alternatives lifestyles, not being part of their system because we have better ideas, sure it was more than a more than a quite life in our sleepy Spanish backwater.

Between us here there is an incredible amount of ingenuity, recycling, clean energy, solar, wind, turbine, veggie oil engines/generators, alternative education, sustainability, ………..

What is the Dragon Fest?: is one of the high spots of the year:

What it is;

We asked this question to 100 people and these were the most popular answers.

The Annual party in Cigarrones

A real Celebration

A Gathering of the Clans

A Proper Free Festival

A chance to be creative

Ritual magic

Party of the Year

A Taste of Freedom

What parties are supposed to be like

Totally excellent

A Bloody OUTRAGE!

All inclusive

Wicked

A Forum for Frocks

On the Edge

Everybodies Carnival

Playtime for Kids of all Ages

It is a really good laugh!

*

*

*

What the Dragon Fest isn’t?:

We asked this question to A group of Dis-organisers and this is what they said.

It’s not a teknival.

Nor a profit making venture for individuals.

An ecological threat to the riverbed.

An opportunity to flex your ego-K sound system.

News just in: The Dragon event moving ……. to: A l m e r i a

[bit further along the coast …… check the site for further details.]

———————————————————-

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

E-mail: samconspiracy@hotmail.com

or Mobile + txt: 0034 (0)617 903586

earlier post:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_10_13_tash_lodge_archive.html#83074865

UK Blogs – Yahoo Groups

RE: [ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukbloggers/ ]

This group has been going a little while. But after difference of opinion on what it was for, it has split into the following two groups. Am learning stuff from these groups, so have just re-subscribed.

So, if your in the UK and want to keep up with developments, you can check for more information at: http://weblogs.co.uk/ukb

At this time, there are two open-membership mailing lists covering different streams of content and conversation.

UKB Discuss – a typically low- to mid-volume list for discussion on weblogging and closely-related issues or topics. This list currently operates as a Yahoo Group to which anyone can subscribe or post, and can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukbloggers-discuss. Note that moderation on this list is relatively strict.

UKB Social – a mid- to potentially high-volume list where UK weblog authors discuss more or less anything. This list currently operates as a Yahoo Group to which anyone can subscribe or post, and can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukbloggers-social. Moderation on this list is fairly relaxed.

In addition, the original UKBloggers list that preceeded UKB Discuss and UKB Social has become UKB Announce. This is a weekly newsletter that summarises all the significant goings-on from the other two lists. UKB Announce currently operates as a Yahoo Group to which anyone can subscribe, and can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukbloggers.

* * * * *

this was post on first joining: http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_10_06_tash_lodge_archive.html#82648496

I have already joined Weblogs.com Yahoo Group, but a bit Americanified, for me.

Check out at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/weblogs-com

Being notified of Blog changes

Couple of way that you can get notified, if a blog your interested in, gets updated. One is by xml rss ‘feeds’ . These can be read by programs like feedreader http://www.feedreader.com. But you do need to install a program. Can be tricky on public computers.

Another service I have recently discovered is ‘Blogarithm.com – Blog info update’. Go to their website at http://www.blogarithm.com. Register for the service, and you’ll be notified by email, once a day of changes and update to the nominated blogs. Cool eh?

To be convinced of it’s value, you can always use the service on my blog, here, to keep up with my developments …….

A Conspiracy on Partyvibe

Last month, announced the website, I’d set up for my son, Sam and friends in the South of Spain. A party animal, by all accounts. Taken a while, but Hugh from ‘Partyvibe’ has volunteered the webspace [thanx Hugh]. and have just sorted the FTP out this morning……

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_10_13_tash_lodge_archive.html#83074865

Anyway, will make a short piece to ‘put about’ on the listings, to point to it being there.

Have just posted details on the Network 23 Bulletin Board http://cgi.magicmoon.force9.co.uk/network23

direct: http://cgi.magicmoon.force9.co.uk/network23/messages/1528.html

well, it’s a start!

Interest from American Musician

My name is Timothy Hull and I’m an activist musician living here in the states – in Washington state. I emailed you once several months ago asking for permission to perhaps use a photo of yours on the booklet of a CD that I am working on.

I’m still interested in using the photo if you might work with me to figure out an exchange and also help me get a good quality copy of the image.

(the image is attached just to let you know which it is that i’m talking about!)

How much would you charge?? I am at this point making a short run of the new album, and I sell them myself at my gigs – I haven’t got a label or anything.

I hope to tour over your way next spring.

There is more information about myself and what I do on my website

http://www2.whidbey.net/tinker

Thank you for all the photos you have posted – they are very inspiring!! I hope I can send you my new album when it’s done, and would be honoured to have your image as a part of the artwork.

Much thanks for any reply you might send along –

Cheers,

Timothy