From: Christic Institute <christic@igc.apc.org>
Subject: DONT LET TWYFORD DOWN!
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 22:11:26 GMT

/* Written  8:42 pm  Oct  2, 1992 by gn:eastoxcomcen in cdp:en.alerts */
/* ---------- "DONT LET TWYFORD DOWN!" ---------- */
                      DONT LET TWYFORD DOWN!
 
Twyford Downs, near Winchester, form part of one of the most
beautiful and precious landscapes in England. Steeped in the
history of this land, the area has a wealth of unique historic
sites, SSSIs, ancient trackways and wild flowers that have been
virtually eliminated from the rest of the countryside. However,
thanks to our crazy car-culture and the DOTs blue line mania, plus
the intervention of powerful self-interested parties like
Winchester College, Tarmac Construction is poised to rip a 100ft
deep cutting through the centre of  this amazing place, and create
huge embankments across the adjoining water meadows with the
excavated chalk. The downs are still intact, well, 98% intact.
Preliminary work has created a hugely visible scar on the
hillside, but this could be restored and replanted if protesters
and environmental activists can win the fight against the planet-
wreckers.
 
Protest in many forms has been happening  here for twenty years
during this country's biggest ever anti-roads' campaign. Despite
efforts by many environmental groups, the Twyford Downs
Association and individuals, the government are determined to
ignore them and win this battle. It has implications for the whole
road-building programme, future planning and the whether people
can regain control over the way  their quality of life is
dictated.
The powers that be are utterly stubborn and un-democratic in this
matter; it is now clear that stronger measures are needed if  the
imminent tragedy is to be avoided. Until recently campaigners have
shied away from direct action as a means to halt environmental
destruction. Sadly, they have watched so much of the countryside
ruined by roads, housing estates and superstores that some have
now decided that enough is enough and its time to get physical.
Non violent direct action (NVDA) has been used many times this
summer to disrupt the contractors and send the message that we
will fight for our natural heritage; that no-one on this planet
should dare or have the right to order such devastation.
 
Time delays and extra costs have been caused by activists
obstructing  the preliminary works by locking onto machinery,
flooding the site and generally demoralising the contractors. At
the same time, there has been covert eco-tage by mysterious
operators who appear at night and are believed to originate at the
bottom of the roads minister's garden. The consensus view among
Earth First! activists is that we neither condemn or condone
damage to property, it is a matter for individuals to work out
their own methods of opposition. It could be, however, that even
the people of Winchester have seen that petitions and letters do
not work and are expressing their outrage in one of the only ways
left. Any-one who has been to Twyford will realise the importance
of preserving this landscape by any non-violent means, civil
disobedience is now the only thing that will succeed.
 
Near the Morestead Road, on the line of the proposed motorway, is
a network of ancient trackways with deep turfed gullies hewn by
millions of human and animal feet over thousands of years. To
stand here and feel the history of this site and feel a connection
with our past is a wonderful experience. The protesters now camped
here believe this place can be saved and have pledged to protect
it from the threatened environmental vandalism. The site has been
declared an independent territory and has been fortified in
readiness for stage one; the stripping of the flower rich turf
which has evolved over hundreds of years, and moving it to another
site. An act that can be likened to the collection of zoo
specimens while allowing their habitats to disappear. Some of the
protesters have been here since March and are totally committed.
But success also depends on large numbers of people visiting or
staying at the camp or supporting it in other ways like supplying
food or firewood and publisising the camp. There is more work to
be done in defending the trackways and always the opportunity of
inspiring or joining one of many actions against the contractors.
But it's not all work, camping out on the downs (there is usually
tent space available) and meeting  like-minded people is a very
worthwhile experience. Walk on the downs in the moonlight and
develop your sense of outrage at the mindless march of
'progress'. Get there soon. Don't let Twyford down.
 
For Information Contact:- South Downs EF! on 0273 683205, Oxford
EF! on 0865 725840
or HOTLINE:-  with a 30 second update message, on 0225 444133
 
end of message
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive