[diggers350] Action Update Article

[Tony Gosling]

EARTH FIRST! ACTION UPDATE NUMBER 58 APRIL 99

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IN 1999, TO ST GEORGE’S HILL

On the third of April, 350 years after the original band of
revolutionary roundheads that called
themselves the Diggers settled in to cultivate St George's Hill in
Surrey, a new group of like
minded diggers set out to do the same.
In 1649, when the original diggers settled on St George's Hill it was
common land. Nowadays it
comprises two golf courses and one of the most exclusive estates in
Britain, home to retired
dictators and corporate directors alike.
The more recent occupation started with a march of 300 people onto the
hill, following which
activists continued on to a nearby part of the hill to establish a
communal settlement Plants were
planted and structures erected.
There was one violent incident a few days later when a resident of the
estate pulled up in a four
wheel drive vehicle, started removing information boards, and when
challenged, punched a man in
the face. On the other side of the coin, many residents were supportive
of the idea (not to
the.point where they gave up their land and privilege, of course!)
One of the aims of the occupation was to increase public rights access
to St George’s Hill.
Specifically, the group tried to find a permanent home for the Digger’s
Memorial Stone, in a
public place with a new right of way leading to it. Negotiations on this
were not successful and
the stone is currently in Elmbridge Museum until a satisfactory home can
be found for it.
 Eventually the owners, North Surrey Water, obtained an eviction order.
The diggers, deciding that
a defended eviction was not part of the aims, left the hill on 16th
April. TLIO 01865 722016
-- 
Tony Gosling
tony at gaia.org

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OUR NEED - OUR RIGHT - HOMES FOR ALL!
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"...not only this Common, or Heath should be taken in and Manured by the 
People, but all the Commons and waste Ground in England, and in the whole World, 
shall be taken in by the People in righteousness, not owning any Property; but 
taking the Earth to be a Common Treasury, as it was first made for all."  - 
The Diggers' Manifesto - The True Levellers’ Standard Advanced, 1649 
 
Paranoid or complacent?
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