Blair Invokes Emergency Powers against Fuel Tax Protests
Corvus | 13.09.2000 13:43
Police commandeer fuel trucks and trick farmers
Truckers Block much of Central London
Domestic Fuel Supplies very Low
Truckers Block much of Central London
Domestic Fuel Supplies very Low
For background see articles on Los Angeles, Rocky Mountain, or Washington IMC s.
14:00 BST. Blair has used his Crown Prerogative Powers to enable police to compell truckers to move fuel from the refineries.
Farmers have had their humanitarian exemption taken advantage of: whilst pledging that vital supplies for hostpitals and fire stations would be allowed through, the police pushed through entire convoys destined for commercial outlets.
The whole episode raises questions for the new new-left, as it were. These protesters are not campaigning for anything except their own concerns, and yet it cannot be denied that the plight of small farmers and agricultural workers has worsened throughout the decade. Why has the left not tried to give them a sovialist perspective on thier problems, leaving them to turn to their traditional modes of thought ? Perhaps they wouldnt listen, but then did anyone ever try ?
Meanwhile, truckers have reached central London, blocking off Park Lane. Reports that Trafalgar Sq is in a similar position are unconfirmed.
14:00 BST. Blair has used his Crown Prerogative Powers to enable police to compell truckers to move fuel from the refineries.
Farmers have had their humanitarian exemption taken advantage of: whilst pledging that vital supplies for hostpitals and fire stations would be allowed through, the police pushed through entire convoys destined for commercial outlets.
The whole episode raises questions for the new new-left, as it were. These protesters are not campaigning for anything except their own concerns, and yet it cannot be denied that the plight of small farmers and agricultural workers has worsened throughout the decade. Why has the left not tried to give them a sovialist perspective on thier problems, leaving them to turn to their traditional modes of thought ? Perhaps they wouldnt listen, but then did anyone ever try ?
Meanwhile, truckers have reached central London, blocking off Park Lane. Reports that Trafalgar Sq is in a similar position are unconfirmed.
Corvus
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
what is the truth??
13.09.2000 14:58
emotion words have been used like DIRECT ACTION and BLOCKADE as if the whole protest has been radical full on action, when in fact a lot of the lorries did not leave there depots simply because the oil companies did not insist that they did or because drivers themselves did not wish to (as opposed to could not).
.
strange comments
13.09.2000 15:24
This whole fuel crisis has wrong footed a lot of people.
The other night someone from FOE friends of the earth said the whole problem with this protest was that it would give the green light to environmental activists to be more radical and hold the country to ransom - what a daft thing to say on Newsnight - doh!
It has been interesting seeing both fully grid locked streets and almost empty streets though.
Why did the police not move sooner? Was it because there were no blockades and confusion between 'demonstration' and 'picket'? Or was it because those taking part were businessmen?
Why were the oil installatoins apparently not interested in making sure the fuel got out?
Why did the media paint a picture of direct action blockades stopping the oil getting out?
Why did The Sun list The Poll Tax Riots as one of the great moments of protest and rebellion which is a proud tradition in this country... (honest... they really did)
BBC website has talking points on:
Should the government act over the petrol protests?
Fuel crisis: Your experiences
Are we too dependent on oil?
Escalating petrol prices - who's to blame?
Some interesting bits at:
International update:
Belgium - blockade of the streets of Brussels for a fourth day - Road blocks on Nivelle, Flanders and Liege motorways.
Traffic on the main A44 motorway between Belgium and Germany has also been stopped by Belgian truckers in both directions.
In the Netherlands, truck drivers are continuing to block several major routes.
Other action is beginning to extend as far as Poland, where truck drivers and fishermen have warned they intend to block oil refineries and ports.
German farmers have also announced their intention to 'gatecrash' political meetings around the country, including high-profile events attended by Mr Schroeder.
But where is the GREEN agenda in all of this?????
confused
Blockaders blockaded!
13.09.2000 15:25
From BBC Europe website - midday today:
British police have established an exclusion zone around the centre of London to prevent truck drivers taking their protest over high fuel prices to the gates of parliament.
Dozens of vehicles are already being diverted by the police and are currently blocking main streets about a kilometre from Westminster, creating huge traffic jams.
truckwatch
OPEC website still down
13.09.2000 15:40
'I think I speak for everyone out there when I say you guys need to get your collective asses in gear with the price of crude.
We really need to focus on the poverty-stricken countries who don't even have enough money for aspirin, let alone exorbidant prices for heating oil'
-