Alan Lodge's Blog

Check out the 360 deg. image on the BBC website. An informative little toy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/360/360_stonehenge_001.shtml

Interesting eh!!

Since it’s coming up to the Summer Solstice, I thought I’d remind you all, what the ‘Peoples’ Free Festival of Albion at Stonehenge’ looked like.

Here is an aerial view.

Guardian Society

http://society.guardian.co.uk/environment/news/0,14129,1239334,00.html

As antiquarian rock star Julian Cope reflects on the significance of ancient megalithic monuments Andy Worthington says attempts to suppress the popularity of the summer solstice at Stonehenge and Avebury are doomed

Wednesday June 16, 2004

As the summer solstice approaches, heritage managers at Britain’s most popular ancient monuments, Stonehenge and its near-neighbour Avebury, will be hoping to avoid confrontation with pagans, travellers and hordes of the young and curious.

The sources of potential conflict are issues of access, ownership and preservation that began over a hundred years ago, when Druid revivalists and crowds of the general public first began to gather at Stonehenge. These issues came to a head in 1985, when the Stonehenge Free Festival, an annual event that had grown from a small gathering in 1974 to become a city-sized alternative state in 1984, was brutally suppressed at the Battle of the Beanfield.

In the wake of the festival’s suppression, a four-mile exclusion zone was set up around Stonehenge every summer solstice. Although the authorities achieved a short-term aim, crippling the traveller scene that was at the heart of the festival, first with violence and then with waves of draconian legislation, the frustrated impulses of the festival community mutated into a new raft of interest groups, all staking their own claims on the monument.

A particularly successful example was the road protest movement, famous for campaigns at Twyford Down, Solsbury Hill and Newbury, which was suffused with the general growth of paganism during these years, with its emphasis on nature and ecology, gender equality, libertarianism and the revived, or invented, festivals of an ancient ritual year.

As the violence of the 1980s gave way to a more conciliatory approach, large crowds began to appear at Avebury for the major pagan festivals, and Stonehenge was finally reopened to the public on the solstice in 2000, although only after the House of Lords judged that the exclusion zone was illegal.

The new access arrangements have been phenomenally successful, with over 30,000 people attending the solstice in 2003, and a workable compromise has clearly been achieved, balancing the demands of all the different interest groups with the concerns of those charged with the conservation of Britain’s ancient heritage. Nevertheless, doubts over the sustainability of these events remain.

Although English Heritage and the police are resolutely upbeat about the success of the new access arrangements at Stonehenge, the National Trust’s property manager, Scott Green, has suggested that “the trust is not convinced that the solstice observance as it is currently celebrated is sustainable in the long-term”.

At Avebury, the fault lines are even more evident. At the solstice in 2003, the local council enraged everyone from pagans to the Campaign to Protect Rural England by painting double yellow lines on all the roadside verges in and around the village, and on the night itself there were widespread complaints about the police’s heavy-handed approach to removing illegally parked vehicles.

Whilst I understand the concerns of those outlined above, I suspect that all attempts to suppress the popularity of the summer solstice are doomed to failure. For better or worse, the solstice has established itself as an alternative national holiday, a potent mixture of spirituality, politics and celebration that is unlikely to diminish in popularity in the near future.

· Andy Worthington is the author of Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion, published on June 21

Andy Worthington

This innovative social history looks in detail at how the summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge have brought together different aspects of British counter-culture to make the monument a ‘living temple’ and an icon of alternative Britain. The history of the celebrants and counter-cultural leaders is interwoven with the viewpoints of the land-owners, custodians and archaeologists who have generally attempted to impose order on the shifting patterns of these modern-day mythologies.

The story of the Stonehenge summer solstice celebrations begins with the Druid revival of the 18th century and the earliest public gatherings of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the social upheavals of the 1960s and early 70s, these trailblazers were superseded by the Stonehenge Free Festival. This evolved from a small gathering to an anarchic free state the size of a small city, before its brutal suppression at the Battle of the Beanfield in 1985.

In the aftermath of the Beanfield, the author examines how the political and spiritual aspirations of the free festivals evolved into both the rave scene and the road protest movement, and how the prevailing trends in the counter-culture provided a fertile breeding ground for the development of new Druid groups, the growth of paganism in general, and the adoption of other sacred sites, in particular Stonehenge’s gargantuan neighbour at Avebury.

The account is brought up to date with the reopening of Stonehenge on the summer solstice in 2000, the unprecedented crowds drawn by the new access arrangements, and the latest source of conflict, centred on a bitterly-contested road improvement scheme.

“The strange events that swirled around Stonehenge in the last couple of decades the Festival, the Convoy, the annual summer solstice ritual of confrontation between forces of order and of disorder were so bizarre there needs to be record of them. In his wonderful and often funny book, Andy Worthington tells this, the oddest tale ever told about the most famous ancient place of them all.”

Christopher Chippindale, Reader in Archaeology at Cambridge University and author of Stonehenge Complete

Published by Alternative Albion, an imprint of Heart of Albion Press.

ISBN 1 872883 76 1. June 2004.

415 x 175 mm, 281 + xviii pages, 147 illustrations, paperback £14.95

http://www.hoap.co.uk/alternative.htm#SCAS

A celebration of the 20th anniversary of the last Stonehenge Free Festival is taking place at the Vertigo Arts Centre/491 Club in Leytonstone on Saturday 19 June, featuring a photo exhibition, films and music, and tying in with the publication of Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion, the first full-length counter-cultural history of Stonehenge. Cover image and further information at: http://www.hoap.co.uk/alternative.htm#SCAS

BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/3808411.stm

Avon and Somerset police are taking advantage of new legislation to help break up illegal gatherings and raves before they happen.

Previously, 100 people had to be gathered in an open space before officers could take action.

The new order gives them powers to break up a crowd of 20 or more people in open or indoor areas.

And anyone who is moved on faces arrest if they try to start up another gathering within 24 hours.

The force is believed to be one of the first in the country to adopt the new legislation under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

‘Early Action’

Operational planning head, Superintendent Adrian Coombs, said police could now deal with incidents more effectively rather than relying on public order legislation.

“In the past we’ve had a situation where officers realised they could do little until a rave had been going on for some time, meaning serious disruption to both local people and officers.

“Now officers will have the power to take early action to prevent a rave getting off the ground in the first place,” he said.

The new legislation also gives police powers to remove 20 or more people suspected of trespass, which will stop raves in disused warehouses taking place.

and

So, there you have it! yet another turn of the screw. I pointed out the advance of these law changes, earlier on my blog at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_10_05_tash_lodge_archive.html#106569213958283190

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/10/278956.html

An earlier ‘Rant’ about it all at, and further info:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/rant_1.htm

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

http://tash.gn.apc.org/law_impl.htm also ….

New toys (and new skills) for the Old Bill

http://partyvibe.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1681

After a week of actions on G8 [and Stonehenge stuff next weekend], I thought I would put on my boots and get some exercise and some views. To remind myself, what’s it’s all about!

So anyway, starting out from the Yorkshire Bridge, up the really steep slop that is Win Hill. OS ref SK187852. Got all sweaty. Dithered about for a few pictures and then on to Loose Hill. Dithered again, then stuck NW along the course of the old Roman Road to the guide post at OS ref SK162874 Have come from the other direction here many times, usually starting out from Mam Tor, then along the ridgeway to Loose Hill. A lovely day, and put in about twelve miles up there. Lots to see………

More pictures on my FotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=133511

Here is a map of the area.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=418660&y=384717&z=3&sv=418660,384717&st=4&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=727

Nottingham commemorated the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings with a parade and drum-head service in the Old Market Square and a civic reception at Nottingham’s Council House.

The ceremony, on Sunday June 13 at 3pm, is one week later than the date of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944, so that veterans and their families could travel to France for European commemorations and also join in the City’s observance.

Veterans from the Allied Invasion lead a march past and a representative of the Notts branch of the Normandy Veterans laid a wreath.

The service was conducted by the Royal British Legion County Chaplain, Rev. Bryan Barrowdale, and the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor John Hartshorne, read the lesson.

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/watsnew/bulletin/database/articledetails.asp?ArticleID=3469

More pictures of the event, on my PhotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=132469

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293277.html

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=131422

This week, Nottingham folks have had a ‘critical mass’ bike ride around the city on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they blockaded the road to the oil installations at Colwick. And to round the whole thing of, people juggled and clowned about outside McDonalds in Clumber Street, Nottingham Centre on Saturday afternoon. Many leaflets about the G8 issues were distributed.

Neighbourhood Wardens and City Centre Street Wardens, [does anyone know the difference?] were on scene shortly, but they went away eventually. No police attended. Apparently you can’t juggle in the street without a licence from the council and also need to have Public Liabily Insurance!! Isn’t it amazing wot you learn on a protest?

Anyway ………

The regular viewer of my work will know of my interest in police surveillance methods.

http://tash.gn.apc.org/surv_10.htm & http://tash.gn.apc.org/watched1.htm

However, this event was extra interesting to me, since this was the first time I’ve seen one of these wardens, photograph people with a small digital and then did me!

I may apply for the piccy under the provisions of the Data Protection Act, ‘Subject Access Request’ section.

Previous events from this week. A good effort Nottingham.

UK Indymedia Nottingham Critical Mass 8june2004

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/292966.html

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=129239

UK Indymedia Nottingham Colwick ‘Oil’ Demonstration – Blockade

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293040.html

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=129163

Colwick Oil Installation, Nottingham

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=129926

and some earlier protest at:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gal_rts1.htm

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gal_rts10.htm

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gal_action10.htm

Great action at Colwick you lot. We’ll put some pix in the Exhibition…

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293040.html

Private View, Public Exposure

Meet at BP HQ, 1 St. James’ Square, 4pm, 16th June 2004

This is a call out asking you to join London Rising Tide to celebrate our resistance to the corporate hijacking of the arts by BP and their greenwash friends.

On 16th June at 4pm there will be a Street Party moving from outside BP’s offices in St. James Square (between Green Park and Piccadilly) to the National Portrait Gallery where BP sponsors the National Portrait Award, pulling their sophisticated brand of cultural PR wool over everyone’s eyes.

Whilst BP are busy encouraging British artists and their creative talent, indigenous peoples are having their lands stolen, poisoned and destroyed. All over the world people’s livelihoods and human rights are severely violated as BP, ExxonMobil, Shell and the rest of the industry plunder and mutilate for the sake of oil (like in the disastrous Baku Ceyhan and Sakhalin pipelines). Our environment and our climate are being thrown into chaos whilst the culprits try to blind us with their sunny logos and cultural sponsorship.

We want to tell BP and the NPG that the greenwash is not working. The National Portrait Award holds its Private View and party (for entrants, judges, the media and BP cronies) inside the NPG on the evening of June 16th. Let’s show them a real party, a party of resistance with noise, art and music and make their private party a very public one.

Bring your own art (or somebody else’s)!

It would be great to see the street party alive with our alternative art and show the NPG the true faces of big oil. Bring any medium that symbolises this, painting, photographs, banners, costume, music and dance.

Exhibition of Resistance to Big Oil and the Corporate Sponsorship of ‘the Arts’

Private View, Public Exposure is part of a wider week of events as part of Greenwash Or Us, an Exhibition of Resistance to Big Oil and the Corporate Sponsorship of ‘the Arts’, happening at various reclaimed spaces in central London. There will be week of alternative art depicting the true face of an oil company, films, workshops, music and debate from 14th to 21st June. Venue to be confirmed.

If you’d like to get involved, we’d love your help; if you can send us your art or just want to know more,

please contact: 07969 786770

62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES

http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk

http://www.risingtide.org.uk

email us at: london@risingtide.org.uk

On June 8th – 10th 2004, the G8 Summit will be staged on Sea Island, 80 miles south of Savannah in the United States. This location has been specifically chosen by the G8 because it is impossible for protestors to access and therefore groups in the United States have put out a call for decentralised actions.

In this spirit of solidarity, the Dissent! Network, a UK-wide anti-capitalist network that operates by the People’s Global Action hallmarks, is calling for local actions and events between 8th-10th June. Through a diversity of tactics Dissent hopes to make people aware of next years G8 summit in the UK and the growing movement, which opposes it. Actions could range from educational films and events, to street parties and targeted direct action against the UK government.

The leaders of the eight richest, industrial countries may hide on mountain-tops and remote islands, they may surround themselves by fences and police, but they cannot hide from the global movement against capitalism. From the War on Iraq to the global economic and ecological meltdown, the policies of the G8 are clearly corrupt. In 2004, Dissent! and others are already building momentum against the G8. In 2005, we will disrupt the G8 meetings in Britain. The days of the G8 are numbered.

In solidarity with the States protest movements, in the UK there will be protests and events against the G8.

This was Nottingham’s contribution to these matters, by taking direct action to blocade the Oil Terminal at Colwick. After erecting the tripod, there were a few instances of threats of violence, by lorry drivers and others, inconvenienced by the blockade. But all turned out well, People volunterily lifted the road block at 12.30.

To get involved contact Dissent!: http://www.dissent.org.uk

More on my Foto-blog at

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=129163

and Indymedia at:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293040.html

Critical Mass. meet at 4.30pm Market Square

A few folks cylced in Nottingham today, in support of environmental matters. To draw attention to an awareness of the madness of global capitalism. http://www.dissent.org.uk

The G8 meeting is happening now, on an island, so we protest, were we can.

I took these few piccys, before they cycled out of view, and I lost ’em!

more on Indymedia at:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/292966.html

http://uk-hippy.com

This chap has just started up his boards. Pay a visit and drop in ….

Oh no!! I think if this catches on, and I really hope it doesn’t, corporate Glastonbury and the like, will find it very useful. It will keep out the riff-raff eh?

Patrick Barkham

Saturday May 22, 2004

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1222291,00.html

You stroll past the queue outside and walk straight into the club slowing down to flash your arm past an electronic scanner. At the bar you claim your vodka tonic by flexing your triceps at the bar staff and even the door to the chillout room opens automatically when you approach.

It may not be for the squeamish but clubbers who want to dodge queues and get VIP treatment every night at a Spanish nightclub can have a microchip implanted in their left arm.

The chip, a radio frequency identification device the size of a grain of rice, gives members instant access to the VIP lounge at the Baja Beach Club, a popular haunt for British revellers. Injected into the upper left arm, it also allows them to reserve tables or pay for drinks by flexing their triceps in front of an electronic reader. The scheme is the brainchild of Conrad Chase, an American entrepreneur who owns the 3,000-capacity club in Barcelona.

The glass chip is injected by a licensed nurse at the club in a simple operation that costs £83. The chipped clubber is then given a 100 credit to spend at the bar.

Mr Chase said the operation reflected the club’s “philosophy of originality”.

“The club will know who you are and what your credit balance is,” he said.

He said the chip was anonymous and the information on it could not be accessed without a unique ID number.

But civil liberties groups sounded a warning. “Why would anyone want to have a minor surgical operation to get a drink more quickly?” said Barry Hugill of Liberty.

“If you are happy to be surgically implanted you must be aware of the dangers – you may be able to get served more quickly but it could also mean someone could stalk or monitor you.”

Mr Chase said only a handful of clubbers had so far decided to have the implant, and the club does not allow the operation to be performed in the early hours – which is the only time most pluck up the courage to have done.

Have just been to the Contemporary Arts Degree Show.

http://www.performanceandliveart.com &

http://www.ntu.ac.uk/ntsad

The Performance at The Powerhouse, Victoria Studios, Nottingham Trent University.

The work of a student Jess Sutton used this kit, and I asked her to see it in action.

Here is some of the info I found out about it.

http://www.epson.co.uk/product/imaging/projector/emp8300

Spec:

http://www.epson.co.uk/product/imaging/projector/emp8300/spec.htm

and the brochure PDF at:

http://www.epson.co.uk/contact/brochure/Projector/EMP-8300.pdf

and their press release at:

http://www.epson.co.uk/press/release/mar03.htm#8300

Earlier info on my blog at about the use of this kit:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2004_05_16_tash_lodge_archive.html#108512997140737617

&

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2004_05_09_tash_lodge_archive.html#108444155396719285

I want one !!!!!!

I still use Kodak Carousels for my ‘still photography’ work.

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

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

http://www.creativecollaborations.blogspot.com

frank.abbott@ntu.ac.uk

Video Projection on buildings on the Canal Waterside, Nottingham

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2004_05_09_tash_lodge_archive.html#108444155396719285

Starting out at the Yorkshire Bridge up to Bamford Edge SK205848 then across open country to High Neb at SK228855. What views! All the way to Edale, Loose Hill, Win Hill. All places I’ve stood on before, several times, but have never seen them from this direction.

I have now…..

Check out the map at:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=421500&y=384500&z=3&sv=421500,384500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=766

Piccys on my PhotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=112414

This is the Art and Design School, where I did my degree, and the original reason I moved from Wales to Nottingham.The show is now spread all over town [rather than just in the university confines] and has become the Nottingham Photo Festival. I think it a much better idea, to get out there, and engage with the public.

Have just been to see the first few pieces I fancy, and anyone around these parts, should drop in to the venues, and take a peek.

More details at:

http://www.zero8.co.uk

Runs from 19th – 28th May

Incident between me and security of Jumpin Jaks Nightclub, Burton Street Nottingham

More piccys on my PhotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=110150

Had been taking photos of the outside of the building, here in Nottingham, including some artwork displayed in the windows. All this was being done from the pavement outside.

The photos were actually just for my own interest, as I was walking past on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I had no commercial intent, just a spur of the moment idea. Had taken most of what had interested me, when I was approached by two security people from inside the building.

“Stop taking photos, you can’t do that here”. I insisted that I wanted to, and asked them to get out of the way. They became more forceful and both of them at different times tried to put their hand over the lens.

They said that the building was private property and that it and the artwork was copyrighted. That if I wanted to take photographs, that I needed to ask for permission from the management.

Now, I have been in this situation before. Further, there had been past discussion on the EP-UK listing about these very matters. Yet a further obstruction of photography in a public place. I even remember the relevant section of the law, which I quoted to but no avail. There was no interest, just a simple insistence that they were going to stop me from any photography.

**

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48)

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880048_en_4.htm#mdiv62

62.-(1) This section applies to-

(a) buildings, and

(b) sculptures, models for buildings and works of artistic craftsmanship, if permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public.

(2) The copyright in such a work is not infringed by-

(a) making a graphic work representing it,

(b) making a photograph or film of it, or

(c) broadcasting or including in a cable programme service a visual image of it.

(3) Nor is the copyright infringed by the issue to the public of copies, or the broadcasting or inclusion in a cable programme service, of anything whose making was, by virtue of this section, not an infringement of the copyright.

**

The security folks didn’t let me finish a sentence each time I tried to tell them that I knew what I was doing was allowed, and were very definatly not interested in any of these points I was attempting to raise. I asked them to get out of the way a couple more times, and then we then both called the police.

We both waited on the pavement for 10 minutes before their arrival.

Two officers eventually arrived PC 2268 and WPC 2567 of Nottinghamshire Police and we both relayed our story to them.

The first police response to me, after asking for my details, was “well, if they’d asked you to ask for permission first, and you didn’t, then their copyright is being broken.” So, since you’d not asked permission, why don’t you just move on”. I then quoted the fact that copyright was not being broken, and further, being in a public place, I had a ‘right’ to go about my interest / business. I then sited the above law to the officers. Further, I pointed out that I had been technically assaulted by putting the hand over my lens a few times.

The street scene was being recorded by CCTV, from within the club. The police didn’t seem so interested in this allegation of assault, so I restated the facts, to them, and said “well, PC2268, what are you going to do about it then?”. He pulled a face and then went inside to view a tape. He came out saying that he could not see any evidence of assault. But he had seen my persistence, i.e. taking photos over their heads.! Further, that an area of the pavement about 3 feet from the end of the building was private, and that I had been standing on that for some of the time.

There had been a discussion with officers inside the building, and the police then began to suggest that what was now at issue, wasn’t just the photography of the building, BUT had now moved to the fact that their business logo was on display and that it was copyrighted. I pointed out that any city street in the country could therefore not be photographed because of the number of logos that there would be, and what a lot of permissions would need to be asked. PC 2268 said he wasn’t going to get into a debate with me. That it was a civil matter between me and them, but he would be “very dissatisfied” if he got called back to the scene. Further, “that if I did get into civil dispute with the company, it might have a detrimental effect of my business!” I think the officers gave the impression of partiality, since there are now two security and two police officers, standing between me and the building / artwork I was trying to photograph.

Gosh!! It was a sunny afternoon, and I left the scene rather than ‘hype’ the situation any further. BUT with the feeling of disgruntlement that you might expect from someone who didn’t think he’d done anything wrong!

I went away with much intimidation and confusion, because of this newly introduce ‘restriction’. Not to photograph a building from a public place, because it has a copyrighted logo on it. Have been back through the act, and I can’t see any mention. This sort of thing happens to us photographers more and more.

I went to the City council for a definitive map, to confirm a right of way / public place. Further, I have taken advice from my union the National Union of Journalist NUJ who advised to inform police of my intention to return and photograph other aspects of the area. Am applying for the CCTV footage under the Data Protection Act 1998 – Section 7 – Subject Access Requests http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80029–b.htm#7

Does anyone else think this is quite a lot of trouble to simply take a photograph in a public place, there in the street??

Bloody Heck!

Had finished my business in the West End. Doing an interview for Radio4’s ‘Archive Hour on Festivals’, when I thought while here, I’ll take some piccys of the capital.

I haven’t been for years, so thought I’d put on my tourist hat and see what happend. Here are some of the few hundred I took.

And a few more: http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=108112