Just as an addendum: these meetings are taking place across the country simultaneously at different sites. While we may not agree with the stance of the different participants, it is critical that we shelve our differences temporarily to use the swelling critical mass to bring about change in this country. Get on the bandwagon - attend and disseminate the information. It may be one of the few opportunities left before the Home Office and ACPO close these loopholes down also. As it is, by attending one could potentially be breaking the law at least twice: first by gathering and second by calling for change. God forbid anyone taking photos of the filth that will no doubt be out and about with their cameras.

Attend. Collaborate. Dissent. Rise up and bring about change. Sometimes breaking the laws that are immoral is the only act of morality left available to us.

THE WATCHTOWER
"The Convention for Modern Liberty – an odd coalition spanning Liberty and Amnesty International to the Countryside Alliance (wonder if our fox-hunting friends will be campaigning for the repeal of the Criminal Justice Act?)... The trouble with liberal outrage is that it’s so predictable. It’s OK to defend the free speech and movement of people who represent no threat to the status quo. If anyone’s in a position to effect actual radical change however then it’s OK for the gloves to come off. Will the Convention for Modern Liberty or the House of Lords be troubling themselves with the vicious sentences handed down to animal rights activists? Or will they be too busy cosying up to their fox-hunting pals?.. Meanwhile some are fighting back – One F.I.T watcher (see SchNEWS 639) has just been convicted by magistrates of obstructing police for getting in the way of cameras last June. This judgement runs completely contrary to an earlier judicial review saying police had no power to remove obstructions to their view... Our movements are under attack. It’s useful to have allies but ultimately...they have their agendas and we have ours..."
 http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news666.htm

THE RICH AT PLAY
The history of foxhunting and land ownership in Britain
Including ‘the politics and people behind The Countryside Alliance’
"The groundwork for the Countryside Alliance was being done as early as 1995 by people like Lord Mancroft, Eric Bettelheim and Robin Page. Robin has campaigned for the Referendum Party, spoken at the "Right Now!" Christmas 2000 Moan, and writes for "Horse and Hound" with a persecution complex. In the hunting press there is blatant and barely disguised racism, homophobia and nationalism. On the marches they've held so far we've seen all shades of right wing and fascist groups. One example of this is the demonstration the Countryside Alliance held at the Labour party conference in September 1999. Amidst the well publisized attendance by the BNP (although I am yet to see evidence that they actually did turn up) the usual assortment of lay rightists turned up. Evidence for this is a photograph published in "Howl" the magazine of the Hunt Saboteurs Association that clearly shows a confederate flag (beloved by the Klu Klux Clan), the St Georges cross and the Union Jack flying within 50 yards of each other - all common flags at fascist gatherings."
 http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/rpm/rpm.html