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London Eco-village occupation

Fil Kaler | 06.06.2009 12:39 | Climate Chaos | Ecology

Around 70 protesters occupied an empty plot of land next to Kew Bridge in Brentford, London (NR TW8 0EW). They plan to setup an eco-village. This will showcase community based sustainable methods of living such as vegetable growing, compost toilets. They in the process of setting up tents and are cleaning the site of rubbish.











This eco-village occupation is inspired by campaigns like The Land is Ours which campaigns peacefully for access to the land, its resources, and the decision-making processes affecting them, for everyone, irrespective of race,
gender or age. for more information, please visit:

www.tlio.org.uk

Fil Kaler
- Homepage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/filkaler/

Additions

Call out for kit.

06.06.2009 19:04

We could do with the more of the following if you are thinking of visiting:

>Big water containers (>10ltrs)
>Oil for bolts
>Screws, bolts, coach bolts.
>Stationary: paper, pens, sticky tape, etc.,
>Banner making material/paints.
>Tarps
>String and Rope
>Spades shovels and forks
>Lots of hose for moving water.

We have a really awesome and secure site, it looks like we are staying we have one large issue. Most of the site is heavily overlooked so we need to keep things tidy, make things visually interesting and have banners/posters so people know what we are up to. The local have been very supportive so far due to the proposed use of the site we are occupying. Lets keep it that way...any help much appreciated.

Jim


Comments

Hide the following 22 comments

not really TLIO... need a map up too!

06.06.2009 13:08

nothing much on either TLIO or Greenvoice websites
need to have a decent map, showing exact location and how to get there!
anyone up for doing it?
else just go down and call please contact Carolyn on: 01727 812369 or Gareth on: 07515 166011 or email:
 diggers360@yahoo.co.uk, if lost

Squatter Lotta


exact location!?!

06.06.2009 13:43

Bus stop T at  http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/kewbridge-2423.pdf
see it in photo 7

by the waggon and horses pub, 26 kew bridge road

Squatter Lotta


Fucked off with photographers.

06.06.2009 13:51

I was going to come to the occupation later this month (unfortunately couldn't make it today) but it seems to be infected with the same cancer that is killing the activist movement - photographers.

I don't wish to be photgraphed by the state or by other "activists". The state I at least expect it of though.

Make that 3 less of us who will be coming to help the occupation. :/

>:|


Cancer Killing The Protest Movement?

06.06.2009 15:39

Photographers killing the protest movement? Really.

If you're really that "fucked off" then stay at home, don't go outside, as you are going to be filmed more than anyone else in the world while living in the UK, especially London, and don't protest, the FIT will get you.

But be warned, if you stay indoors, don't switch on your computer. Guess what? There's a camera in there too. And it can be switched on at any time without your say-so, if the state really thinks you're worth investigating - which I somehow doubt.

Wait, there's more. Your phone. Aaarrghhh! Camera in there too, and GPS. They know where you are, every single moment of your life. That can be switched on without you knowing it too. The technology has been in place since 1997.

So, don't complain when photographers choose to cover a story in a public place, in which you or anyone else, including the police, have no right to privacy.

Get over it, or get off the planet.

Photographer


'Activist' photographers

06.06.2009 16:03

So " >:| " you obviously don't live in an urban area where government are photographing you a thousand times a day....or you stay indoor all day, or you only go out wearing a balaclava....

If we don't take our own photographs and video and control our own PR, then how can we keep ahead of the game?

Probably best a masked whinging 'activist' like you does stay away imho...

snapper


Aerial Map

06.06.2009 16:08


X marks the spot

snapper


THEY ARE WATCHING ME THROUGH THE COMPUTER SCREEN!!

06.06.2009 17:27

To Photographer:

There are cameras in my computer? Are you on some kind of drugs? If not you should be on the paranoia meds...

Nor is there a camera or GPS in my phone - you REALLY need your meds.

It won't be me getting "off the planet", once the movement gets back the disdain it has always had for togs.

As for going outside/the FIT, as I said I expect it of the state. I would hope the activist movement would have more respect for others (and to be fair, most do - it's a small amount of tits).


To Snapper:

Again, I said I expect it of the state - are you unable to read? Or have you spent so much time behind a viewfinder that your eyes have gone?

It would be much better for the movement if people like you stayed away - you contribute nothing; you'd rather live your life behind a camera than actively get involved.

Keep eating away like the cancer you are, more and more activists are getting annoyed with your kind, you'll soon be getting the same response you did in the 80/90's.

>:|


Wow...

06.06.2009 18:46

Yeah, and constant bickering and inability to work together is DEFINITELY going to help the movement.

It's stuff like this that prevents any kind of sustained effective activist movement which is exactly what the state wants. Photograph away I say, just make sure you ask people if they don't mind being in a photo, its not hard.

Grow up, all of you.

Grow up


Joining the camp.

06.06.2009 18:53

If you would like to join our autonomous space in west london then how do you get there?

1. Cycle; from central london there is one road with no change. The A315, it changes names to many things but starts south of Hyde Park (as Knightsbridge and Kensington Road) and continues through Chisick (Chiswick High Street) right untill the round about where the camp is setup. From kew bridge the camp can be clearly seen.

2. Take a train: from south east london this is the best option. Train are regular out of waterloo and take about 25 minutes to get to Kew Bridge station. You can take your bike on these trains.

3. Get daddy to give you a lift in his helicopter: you may get thrown out.

We are at Kew Bridge
Map:  http://tinyurl.com/n7ny33

Jo


agreed

06.06.2009 19:45

I actually agree with grow up - ask if you want to take a photograph, it's incredibly simple.

Unfortunately very few togs do, preffering just to snap away then putting the pics on the internet.

>:|


Fantastic to have occupied the Land

06.06.2009 20:49

joslers
joslers

Great move, well done and I hope it goes really well with this piece of land. I hope to visit soon. If I bring a camera I will be good and ask.

I felt moved to make a comment about the photography comments.

I am a person that points a camera as well. I have problems with photographers too. I think that when a photograph is TAKEN then something is indeed taken. Exactly what that something is I am not sure. Perhaps it is a different something every time. I think that many photographers become very hard. They TAKE a lot. I mean that on looking at the subject and pressing the shutter something is transferred to the person taking the photos from the subject. Also I would say that the importance of the information (ie if is for the greater good) may override the imperitive to obtain consent on rare occations. This is a difficult thing to make a judgment about. In my view it is important for the person taking the photos to be sensitive to what they are doing, but I have fallen short on many occasions. Sometime that means a photo isn't going to be taken. Money also messes up the process. If the photos are for sale I mean.

The jostling of photographers for money is a really weird scenario.

Mikey


Nice Set of Pics

06.06.2009 21:27

Nice stuff Fil.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there today but there were other things I wanted to do.

Obviously good pictures such as these play a vital role in making protests such as this visible to a wider public - and I'm sure Fil will be posting these elsewhere.







Peter Marshall
mail e-mail: petermarshall@cix.co.uk
- Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk


some photographers do 'ave 'em!

06.06.2009 22:38

*some* of the photographers who've commented here come across as really aggressive and dismissive...which is perhaps exactly why some people have a problem with photographers in general, because some individual snappers (too many unfortunately) don't wish to have any respect or understanding of the role they (can) play.

If you comment like that here, it's fair to assume you'll take photos like that too - in which case you're likely to provoke aggressive reactions.

Get some respect, or take your photos elsewhere (like the mirror).

dasgd


Photography

07.06.2009 11:18

Sorry to deviate from what looks like an incredibly positive project. Keep up the good work.

Photographs can have a positive social effect for the movement. Personally seeing photographs of the squatted social centre Ungdomshuset being defended is truly inspiring. We need these moments of inspiration to avoid burn out and to encourage others to join in. Anarchists and activists documenting their own struggle is vital to a degree.

To counter this at the Mayday protests in Brighton I witnessed a photographer getting in the way of the March. When protesters tried to push him out the way he got angry. A note to all photographers: You are their to document, this does not mean your photographs are more important than the demonstration its self.

The other point is that if we do not have ways of evidence gathering our selves then the police have all the evidence. This surly has to be something to be avoided. If it wasn't for photographers and videographers at the G20 the lasting message would be that we are 'Violent Thugs' instead the spotlight was turned on the police.

There is also a distinction between professional photographers and activist photographers. If a photographer is known for publishing picture of people in compromising situations or colluding with the police just to get some money then they should be treated as the enemy.

Ben


Potato Pocket Cabbage Patch Kids

07.06.2009 12:06

What I wish to know is what the EL is going to stop this land occupation becoming a cabbage patch of alcoholics and drug addicts? hope you thought this one out, this time around.

oi yoi


tlio.org.uk is sleeping

07.06.2009 13:50

 http://www.tlio.org.uk is sleeping...
they've been 'working' on updating it for a year (whoops)
hopefully it will blossom into life soon..

discussion of tlio-ish things is at the
independent and sometimes controversial list at:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diggers350/

[g]


George (dicegeorge)
mail e-mail: dicegeroge@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.dicegeroge.com


Usual crap and irrelevant comments

07.06.2009 15:01

Is this a thread about a land squat or photographers?

imc uk sucks


whoops my typing mistoke

07.06.2009 15:04

whoops my typing mistoke
in my email adrs

[g]

george (dicegeorge)
mail e-mail: dicegeorge@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.dicegeorge.com


The Diggers’ Song

07.06.2009 15:26

(about TLIO ) ...a new "drupal" based website is on his way...
and THE LAND occasional magazine is published "regularish"...

 http://www.tlio.org.uk/TheLand/index.html


TLIO may have his own "land cycle"...
 http://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/cycles1.htm

but the spirit of the Diggers is still alive in 2009 !!!

---

The Diggers’ Song

You noble Diggers all stand up now, stand up now! You noble Diggers all stand up now! The wasteland to maintain, seeing Cavaleers by name, Your digging does maintain and persons all defame, Stand up now, stand up now!

Your houses they pull down stand up now, stand up now // (means, repeat line as in verse one) Your houses they pull down, to fright your men in town, But the gentrye must come down, And the poor shall wear the crown, Stand up now, Diggers all.

With spades and hoes and plowes, stand up now, stand up now // Your freedom to uphold, seeing Cavaliers are bold, To kill you if they could and rights from you to hold, Stand up now Diggers all.

Theire self-will is theire law, stand up now, // Since tyranny came in they count it now no sin To make a gaol a gin, to starve poor men therein. Stand up now, Diggers all.

The gentrye are all ‘round, stand up now... // The gentrye are all ‘round, on each side they are found, Theire wisdom’s profound; to cheat us of our ground, Stand up now, stand up now.

The lawyers they conjoyne, stand up now... // To arrest you they advise, such fury they devise, The devill in them lies, and hath blinded both their eyes, Stand up now, stand up now.

The clergy they come in, stand up now.... // Thc clergy they come in and say it is a sin, That we should now begin our freedom for to win, Stand up now, Diggers all.

The tithes they yet will have, stand up now.... // The tithes they yet will have, and lawyers their fees crave, And this they say is brave, to make the poor their slave. Stand up now, Diggers all.

‘Gainst lawyers and ‘gainst Priests stand up now... // For tyrants they are both, even flatt against their oath, To grant us they are loath, free meat and drink and cloth, Stand up now, Diggers all.

The club is all their law, stand up now.... // The club is all their law, to keep all men in awe, But they no vision saw, to maintain such a law, Stand up now, Diggers all.

The Cavaleers are foes, stand up now, // The Cavaleers are foes, themselves they do disclose By verses not in prose to please the singing boyes. Stand up now, Diggers all.

earthling


From a local resident

07.06.2009 18:27

Most of the properties overlooking this site form part of a self-managed housing co-operative, there may well be a resonance in terms of ecological mindedness, I am however unsure as to how well it will go down having a bunch of people literally crapping on our doorstep.
Good luck nonetheless.

greendragon


housing coop

07.06.2009 19:40

Which housing coop? You should learn about compost toilets before making the "crapping on the doorstep" comment. Housing coops are a really good thing. Land coops also. I am sure you can make a good connection with these people and even learn stuff to the benefit of your cooperative.

muffit


how's it going guys?

10.06.2009 11:22

greetings & support from Brighton. An update of how it's going would be great. I'm hoping to visit, on my way to London anyhow, so any update on stuff you need also?

serss

serrs