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by targeting the NPG we are 'blockading BP's extraction of our consent'

Harry the Hat full'o'Hope | 19.06.2004 08:59 | Ecology | London

...that was the message from Friday night's excellent workshop given by James and Greg from Platform at the squatted gallery space in Camden Town.

They delved into the way BP has embedded itself in British cultural life in order to gain a 'social licence to operate' in the way that it does all over the world. In effect, if we don't raise raise our voices against something like oil sponsorship of the arts, we are assumed to be in favour of it. And if we keep at it for 5-8 years, BP will go the way of previous NPG sponsors John Player (a cigarette manufacturer) and be politely shown the door. Which wouldn't be a revolution but would send a powerful signal that multinational oil, gas & other energy companies have to become and will become a thing of the past.

After all that fascinating but serious stuff, we tucked into a bit of very tasty free-or-donations dinner, and then started up an allcomers welcome music and poetry night, where a nicely diverse array of people took the plunge and performed a little number or two.

This weekend there is more of the same yet somehow different, and there will be constant leafletting of the NPG (with which help is always needed). Get up to 50 Chalk Farm Road as soon as you can, 'cos it'll be over midway through next week most likely.

Ta for reading, keep well and keep resisting...

Harry the Hat full'o'Hope
- e-mail: london@risingtide.org.uk
- Homepage: http://londonrisingtide.org.uk