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What's Happening at the Hori-Zone Eco site in Stirling

Brummie PPL | 06.07.2005 15:53 | G8 2005 | Culture | Free Spaces | Social Struggles | Birmingham

The eco-site in Stirling is at the forefront of the G8 protest. What's really happening at Hori-Zone?

The Horizone Eco-site is a rural convergence centre in Stirling, Scotland. It hs been estblished in response to the meeting of te G8 leaders at the nearby Gleneagles Hotel.

The camp site provide a focal point for activists protesting at and around the G8 summit in various local actions, as well as demonstrating how people and communities can co-exist and organise themselves efficiently and sustainably.

The Hori-Zone site comprises a campsite organised in "barios" representing various affinity groups, kitchen and food service areas, meeting spaces, social spaces and information centres such as the Indymedia centre which provides real time information about the G8 resistance.

A short walk around the site will reveal all kinds of colourful characters using innovation to demonstrate a more sustainable way of life.

Roy and Michael from Murrayshire in North Scotland are building composting toilets for users of the eco-site. Michael told me how he worked with American activist Starhawk in the consultation with Stirlingshire Council which led to the sites creation. Together they gained approval for the building of composting toilet along with the greywater system.

"A composting toilet consists of a raised platform and a wheely-bin", Michael explained. "When the user has finished with the facility, he or she then pours the sawdust provided into the toilet and leaves."

The site organisers have reached an arrangement with a local farmer whereby the wheely bins are stored for a set period of time, after which the nitrogen in the "humnure" and the carbon in the sawdust react to form a great compost which can be used as fertiliser for crops and gardens.

A little further on we came accross a traditional horse drawn bow top wagon owned by Jimmy Smith. Jimmy has lived in this modest but comfortable home for the "best part of 20 years", he told us.

Welcoming us into his home, Jimmy and prtner, Heather, showed us their combined kitchen and living areas complete with wood burner where a pot of tea was brewing.

"We're here to lend our support to the cause," he said. "We've been overwhelmed by the wonderful reception we've had here {Hori-Zone} from people from all over the world."

Jimmy enthused that the horses had been a source of amusement and awe for the numerous children on the site. "Horses make people smile," he added. "They might slow the traffic down now and then, though". He didn't seem to think this was a bad thing.

Metres from Jimmy's horses we encountered the "1 in 12" tent. "1 in 12" is an autonomous social centre in Bradford etablished in the eighties and so named because at the time it was reported that 1 in 12 people in Bradford were committing benefit fraud.

The 1 in 12 people were busily prepring their kitchen which has, for the last few days, been serving food for 200+ people per day in exchange for donations.

Jane from 1 in 12, looking up as she washed a jumbo sized pot said of Hori-Zone: "It's an excellent example of how people can pull together and do stuff for themselves".

Despite the fact that "1 in 12" have been stopped 4 times and searched twice by the police whilst bringing food into the site, Jane maintained an upbeat demeanour as she excused herself to finish preparing lunch.

Amongst the other people we met were Kate from "Wimmin Space", the Glasgow based organisation. They are a body of women to take action against the g8.

So far they've had a good response from other women on the site, who are interested in creating blocades and other forms of direct action.

They have a big female only tent, which also provides facilities for mothers including kids toys, paint and banner material.

we also met Jennifer, Ben and Jolene who are apart of Queer Barios who provide a welcoming space for gay activists on the site. They also run a kitchen with the Wimmin Space tent and have fun and games, inlcuding Twister, line dancing, singalongs and even give massages!

These are just a handful of the things going on in the Hori-Zone which is proving to be a runaway success.

Ta

Brummie PPL


Comments

Hide the following 12 comments

S-T-I-R-L-I-N-G

06.07.2005 15:58

Yep it was a runaway success this morning wasn't it?

Sorry mate but it's spelt S-T-I-R-L-I-N-G. If your going to wreck it at least have the balls to call it by it's proper name. I thank you.

Robert the Bruce


Dear Robert....

06.07.2005 16:13

aww shite t' ye and all your nonsense..

Lenny The Bruce


Lenny the lentil

06.07.2005 16:29

Wouldn't it be a great spectacle to see the local neds and chavs take on the tented warriors tonight?

Let's face it with the eco camp's involvement in wrecking a council scheme in Stirling this morning you've clearly outstayed your welcome, time to go.

Robert the Bruce


Chavs and Neds?

06.07.2005 16:35

Neh laddie...Us neds are firmly down with the protest! Dont you watch the the TV. news or read the papers? n' ye can leave me mate Lenny alone He's been payin' us neds and chavs handsomely in bottles of buckfast te sling benches and rocks at the polis.....

Ned Buckfast


Helene Damnation

06.07.2005 18:05

I feel for you...seek psychiatric help immediately-for your own sake, above all else.
Love,Lenny.

Lenny The Bruce


PMSL

06.07.2005 18:19

Re: Helene

Fucking class, best post on this site ALL day....

Scotsman


Hey Scotscop...

06.07.2005 18:28

Havent you got ANYTHING better to do -I mean, are you not supposed to be out oppressing people and denying them the lawful right to protest or something?

Lenny The Bruce


you're the ones that attack fire fighters aren't ye

06.07.2005 18:34

It's like this:
There's a fire. It's burning your fucking house down. It's going to catch your neighbour's house too if you're not careful. The fire brigade comes and fuckwits like you have a go at the firefighters for getting water on your fucking sofa.

If it wasn't for people fighting the government, we'd fucking all be slaves centuries ago. This is life in the big bad world.

albert the anarchist


Aye S-T-I-R-L-I-N-G

06.07.2005 18:39

Aye is't a fucking shame that these hippy's think its funny to twin Stirling with Sterling almost as funny as twining stirling with a nucreal sub. Question is whats worse, smelly hippies or sleazy politicians, fuck em both....

W Watters


Deleting posts

06.07.2005 18:56

Re: Helenes original post....where is it?

You have deleted it as you didn't like it's content.

Put it back up and let others have a laugh at your expense.

Scotsman


Renegades

06.07.2005 19:31

"If it wasn't for people fighting the government, we'd fucking all be slaves centuries ago."

Indeed. Unfortunately, sometimes it's hard trying to convince sheep that they're on their way to the slaughter.

woolsey


Some photos to accompany the article

06.07.2005 19:43

Flushing the composting toilet
Flushing the composting toilet

Michael demonstrates his creation
Michael demonstrates his creation

Jimmy Smith's caravan
Jimmy Smith's caravan

Here they are

Brummie PPL


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