11-01-2006 12:19
Here's another set of old (murky) photos from the first Newbury bypass reunion, held on 11th January 1997, which saw a mass site invasion.
Between one and two thousand people turned up for the 'reunion rampage' which was billed as a commemoration and fence decorating rally. It was a very cold and misty day as people gathered at Newbury train station before marching towards the construction route at Middle Oak.
I remember so many people being shocked at the destruction - for many this was their first visit since the work had started and the months of evictions.
My memory is a little hazy, but at the compound near the Middle Oak people were lining up along the fence. Then suddenly to our right there was a hole - the fence had been cut. About twenty people stormed through followed by a few more, running into the mists, into the murk. I remember looking back expecting to see hundreds, but there was no one. There was a lot of shouting however. Some police had steamed in to try and block the hole. Security were now advancing from out of the mists in front of us, and then there were mounted police coming at the gallop bearing down onto the crowd by the hole in the fence - this was just well over the top, dangerous and provocative.
Those inside the compound were shouting to the others - "come on!". Then another part of the fence started to go - people were literally pulling it apart. More scuffles as police tried to push people back - but soon the tide of people was unstoppable and they streamed into the construction site.
At first security and police tried to push people away from the machinery, there were scuffles and arrests, but in the end all of the machinery were occupied with people sitting and standing ontop of them.
The site was fully occupied for what seemed like ages. A huge tall crane was scaled by several people as the entire site was taken over. The tree at middle oak became an impromptu social centre. People were drumming and sharing food, talking over old times, remembering the beautiful countryside that had been destoryed.
Some went further than others. As time wore on the machinery was getting a pounding. Hydraulic cables were cut and instrument panels smashed. Later as darkness approached the portacabin offices which had been occupied were set alight, as was some of the plant machinery. I remember many a heated discussion taking place, many people disagreed with burning the machinery, but understood the anger that drove people to do it. The Newbury bypass battle had seen endless property damage, with machinery put out of action, sand in fuel tanks, things smashed and so on, but some thought the burning was in a different class. Many were pleased to see it happen, others worried it would look bad in the press. It was a real mix of emotions, many of them raw.
Either way with darkness now replacing the eerie fog light, and bright orange flames licking the night, people soon began to stream away from the site. Job done, in one way or another.
See end for more reports and links.
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11-01-2006 08:18
Swedish people legal protection is in danger, when policemen are telling lies. Lambertz told on Saturday on a radio interview, that he believes innocent people beign jailed into Swedish jails.
Read more >>11-01-2006 02:01
Celtic-American rap anarchist Emcee Lynx is now booking shows for his first international tour (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galacia, Euzkadi, Spain, and England) this summer.
Read more >>10-01-2006 23:02
A review of news, opinion, and photography recorded, from the Indymedia Newswire. With times and freqs for tuning in anywhere you can at your leisure. Free to rebroadcast. The world & recorded for the community archive!
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10-01-2006 18:43
10-01-2006 17:43
Just as George Galloway MP who unseat a 'Blair Babe' on 5 May 2005 gets himself entangled in another row over British media bias against him, we focus on how open is the lack of care ion the British 'mainstream news rooms' about what they want to say against Galloway. The DAILY MAIL is as inaccurate as Channel4 news online. And they don't seem to care how many facts they get wrong when publishing against George Galaloway !
Read more >>10-01-2006 06:48
Much resepect to David Letterman, aka The Big Guy. Followed by a taste of a 1973 Watergate hearing and a 60 Minutes story on the CIA's practice of "Rendition", covert kidnapping using private jets. Finally, Lewis Black to bring a positive and uplifting finale.
Read more >>05-01-2006 23:04
| 2 additions
graff writers, street artists and whateva!!
you are invited to the first u.k.
"SPECIAL GRAFFITI SANDWICH JAM"
a paint splash fun fest in oxford on
sat 14th. & sun 15th. Jan 06
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27-12-2005 09:56
This episode features an anti-war speech by Journalist John Pilger recorded September 24 in London. Our favorite child sit-com star Dickie Richards hits the campaign trail as on the Republican ticket. A few semi-rude tunes from when I was a kid. Also, Kurt Vonnegut and a silly goofball poem by Jack Kerouac read by Juliana Hatfield.
Read more >>21-12-2005 18:46
15-12-2005 01:03
POVERTY OF TONY BLAIR’s empty facade fails to hide
the decay the destruction of the soul! ... BBC yields the unravelling of the Paxman myth and the official Opposition in the UK Parliament is an immorality and an absurdity
Read more >>09-12-2005 22:49
03-12-2005 03:12
UCL Social Forum and Hands Off Venezuela present a very special screening of
"THE OLD MAN & JESUS: PROPHETS OF REBELLION"
Monday 5th December from 7pm in the Chadwick Lecture Theatre (off main quad), University College London, Gower St, WC1 (nearest tube Warren St).
Introduced by the filmaker, Marcelo Andrade, with a discussion about the upcoming World Social Forum in Caracas (January 24th to 29th) plus Venezuelan food & music after.
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02-12-2005 15:20
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A double headliner of political song: * David Rovics * &
* Robb Johnson *. Playing live at LARC on Saturday December 3rd, 8 PM.
Read more >>01-12-2005 22:26
The London Gaggle of the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (CIRCA) celebrated Buy Nothing Day on Saturday November 26th by not shopping in the shops, stores, cafes and malls around Oxford Circus.
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01-12-2005 10:13
30-11-2005 19:57
The full video of the St Agnes eviction raid, 29 November, 2005.
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30-11-2005 18:02
Acoustic Emergency presents...A double headliner of political song: * David Rovics * & * Robb Johnson *. Benefit for LARC and London Rising Tide.
Read more >>29-11-2005 15:44
A local cafe on Broadway market, London E8, is being occupied by locals to prevent its demolition. Tony Platia, who had been running the cafe for 30 years, was evicted in July by a property developer who owns half of the street and now wants to build luxury flats. The occupation needs support.
Read more >>26-11-2005 22:53
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/12/330376.html 
