The No Tesco campaign and the death of the democratic process
The democratic process has been exhausted. After 9 months of vocal opposition to its plans, Tesco Corporation are preparing are preparing to baptise their 'local' shop in Stokes Croft. This turn of events may come as a surprise after the multinational's attempts to open their 31st supermarket in Bristol have been repeatedly condemned by both crowds of protesters and the chair of Bristol City Council. 96% of neighbours objected, thousands of signatures were collected and the building itself was occupied by local residents and turned into a social centre.

Some may well breathe a sigh of relief when Tesco finally opens its doors. But the outcome of this campaign is a sign of the times. Yes, we have the right to protest, to petition, to lobby, to write letters to our MP, to march, to chant, to vote. But even the most naive of us, who bothered to vote for councillors who promised to take a stand against big business must now face facts. Voting changes nothing.

If we can't trust them to act in our interests on such a small issue as a cornershop, how can we expect them to stand up against the privatisation of the NHS, our schools and universities, council housing and all the other social services that Britons and Bristolians fought and died for?

Now is the time. Strike, occupy, resist.