SN 09518657. Published by Aupora Ltd.SPOT10 London NUUK39 All lightlEServed. Printed by Newifax internationat London E13 THE THIRD round of the battle to prevent the building of the Newbury by-pass is on.
The campaign has united young environmentalists and members of the local community. It has forced politicians to focus on environmental policy.
More than swensy Camps line the by-pass route. Protesters maintain constant vigils, determined to put themselves between the diggers and the trees.
The campaign has worked for so long because of the protesters' emphasis or organisation and collective decision making.
They have effectively put their case to the media and gained local support. They Upside down world - profit rules whilst environmental resourses are squandered successfully organised a demonstration which brought together other ecology groups.
Importantly, it has also linked the campaign to the labour movement. Trade union banners were in evidence on the march.
The labour movement has been forced to take seriously the arguments raised against car dependence and in favour of an ecologically sustalnable transport policy.
Labour's environmental spokesperson, Chris Smith, has been forced to say that switching investment from roads to rail is economically sound. What Labour will do with the privatised rail network is another makers' minds.
It is now up to all of us, inside and outside the labour movement, to make sure these issues remain in the policy Despite the protests being peaceful, both the police and security guards have tried to break them up. The recent High Court decision that the protests are illegal has provoked the recent scenes of protesters being plucked from the trees.
The repressive legislation contained within the Criminal Justice Act has been used to charge protesters with offenses under the Aggravated Trespass section.
This legislation is being employed in a deeply political way. The protesters find themselves barding not only against the contractors and police, but against the whole Tory project to stamp out It is essential that these protesters do not remain the only champions of ecological debate in Britain, or that they fight alone against repressive legislation that affects us all.
These issues need to be linked to a broader project of social change. An effective struggle to defend the environment implies a broader fight against capitalism's abuse of resources. The special issue 100 will be out on April 4, 1996.