Climate Change

In our second workshop we delved into the history of climate change protests in the UK. We revisited 1989 when the government announced a plan to build and overhaul more than 2,700 miles of major inter-urban roads, motorways and bypasses. This plan smashed through some of the UK’s most pristine nature – ancient woodlands, water meadows, historic valleys and downs or grass-covered hills. Opposition to the loss of these natural spaces was fierce, and from 1992, when building on the first road began, until 1996, communities shook with determined acts of resistance, and a new type of protest was born.

Since then, climate change protests have spread. We discussed Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion, and the relationship between the cost-of-living crisis and climate change.

In class reading: The Tree Agreement by Elise Paschen

Newbury`s Motorway Miscarriage;

by Angela Baker

It once was Newbury`s  historic glades.
Tory big-wigs flashed `convincing` blades.
Plan was to slice through, the ancient Oak groves,
together with the tenderest cress meadows.
A huge road-building scheme dislocates our bio-diverse regime.
Raising Nature`s best kept secret to the ground,
This is what was found.
People did come; they revolted! From all corners of the land, catapulted.
Vibrant sights and sounds of utter staying-power.
Out of the miscarriage a breach birth did flower.
We called our` branchy army` clean and pristine,..
tidal, self-governing, Sovereign-Supreme...
We`re up in the trees, suspending `neural` pathways,
We`re up `in thin air` climbing  mountains of trust,
Whilst they`re  workin` up a thirst, frozen-hungry, we tire,...
`Seems, both worlds are cooking over the same` open fire!`

CHORUS; Core values are trenches, tree-houses and treason,
`Find yourself something you truly believe in,
You`ll never work a day in your life!`....  Treason OR Reason?

We are digging down those tunnels, feeding down those roots,
Underpinning our infra-structure, like acupuncture!..
the rabbits are in cahoots!!
Wrenching -Machines are plucking-us-off, like limpets to the boil.
They are `taking-us-out’ one at a time, adding fuel to our toil,
YOU can`t evict a shelter belt, YOU`ll never live that down.
Of course WE ARE REVOLTING, Time over Crown.
YOU said we are cavorting, dancing on your grave,
In the name of greed and unseemly wealth,
Never be that slave!
Pledges upon pleaching, Oak arms` over-reaching’
Limbs,  human`n  made of bark,
hand-fast more than any marriage spark.
The Trees have always been there, like fine seasoned wine,
Warriors and Forests have bravely put their bodies on the line,
Toasting our convictions, braiding our` bodies -of-thought`,
Beings benign and `glimmering`, stand sentinel in the dark,
`Breathing a timeless hope, that this doesn’t amount to NAUGHT.

CHORUS;

Our core values are trenches, tree-houses and treason,
`Find yourself something you truly believe in,
And you`ll never work a day in your life!` Treason OR Reason?

Their power

by Jane Gregory

Their power leaves a very sour taste in my mouth
When I look to the East North West and South
They've shut all the roads loads and loads
You can't drive nowhere but they don't care

It's all apparently to save our health
But make a wrong turn it affects your wealth
£65 quid down the drain
The council coffers topped up again
It's literally driving people insane Holloway road is gridlocked again

The ambulance driver couldn't get through 30 minutes round the block to get to you
They don't care it's an emergency
The baby was born on the floor before they could get to the door
Sorry were late they've put up a gate

To stop the emissions
They've taken away out permissions to get where we need it's a catastrophe
But the emissions are still there it's still the same air
While the politicians sit in there comfortable chairs Pretending like they really care

We need to rise up people
To feel our worth
Don't let big brother destroy the earth
Whilst filling their bottomless purse