I've got this whole weekend booked to look for a property on the south coast so that I can move out of this area and let the place go to the dogs. So I'm packing everything up and then this- I win a Hackbridge hero award HACKBRIDGE HERO. Ok, its not a nobel peace prize and to be honest its got to be the most down to earth and heart warming award I've ever won. The council are cunts (they just are), viridor are just doing what they do (which is destroy the planet- someone has to or else evolution couldn't work) and the bird group is mainly middle class people that don't live in this area and their middle class wealth is built on propping up the the corridors of power (the likes of Viridor and the Council) and exploiting areas like Hackbridge. I guess I was never going to get the support of the people in power- their power is based on exploitation, so a community vision where power is shared out and we build a local community for people, planet and wildlife was delusional. A negative result in science however is a positive result as we begin to eliminate possibilities and begin to converge on the solution.
I've tried many times to reach out to the local community of Hackbridge, I've arranged nature walks that people couldn't get out of bed for , stood as a local councillor and got about 3% of the vote, endlessly promote the farmlands, local wildlife and nature based activities on social media, helped write the neighbourhood plan, have organised local volunteer groups and carried out local improvements. In short it seemed that nobody locally gave a flying fuck or even noticed. Most of the interest for Beddington Farmlands was coming from middle class areas of South London- a poisoned interest.
However, it appears that there is a growing group of 'Real People' that is rising up in Hackbridge now. I don't mean self righteous middle class do-gooders, or wealthy activists getting their tits out for nature, churches and consultancies funded by corporations trading gestures for greenwash or the community traps (like writing neighbourhood plans that take seven years to get through all the hoops ) that the council set or politicians that deal in the capitalisation and exploitation of expectations and hopes, I mean real people (decorators, mums, builders, small business poeple etc) waking up and beginning to see that they can make a difference, that they are the solution to everything.
I've won University Prizes, nominations from the BTO awards, I'm a Master of Science, A Bachelor of Science, I've won awards for environmental excellence- they are a load of fucking shit as my objectives to build a business and to be part of a community that existed to put People, Wildife and Planet first has completely failed. Those awards were nominated by Unsustainable Power Houses. The Hackbridge Hero award is the first award I've ever received from where the sustainable future will come from - from Real Poeple who will overthrow established Unsustainable Power- because they have to, to survive.
6 comments:
I feel sad to see you so upset.
Cheers Barry. I’m not that sad. If I was probably wouldn’t be able to post about it . Just accepting things really. It is sad that the time is not right for fundamental change and knowing that is actually quite a relief . It’s all very hard work . I’m in a caravan now doing absolutely nothing and feels good. I’ve got dieter’s net zero book with me to read.
You need to remember that its not everybody that can keep up with your active mind and others need time to work things out.Hope you get something out of Dieter's book and he also often despairs when others can't or won't accept the truth that's before them. I have long decided that the most important thing in my life is my wonderful family and know after all this time I will not be saving the World but am surrounded by their love - I guess I'm very lucky.
Well done on your award Peter, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you have at least tried to get people on board when many haven't bothered...
Cheers guys- some time out will do me good and spending more time with family (totally agree Barry). I can’t deal with the nano-inertia anymore - the crisis is too big to get caught up in small minded barbed wire. There’s two big targets to have a pop at - the 2022 local elections and the 2023 legal enforcement date and potential for a legal challenge /investigation into contract breaches. If I can get away from the front line clamour and concentrate on hitting them with as much impact as possible - I don’t need much public support for that . I work best alone or in small swat teams anyway. Getting away from all the noise and chaos is essential to get my head down and work with it out . Thanks again !
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