On the (f)utility of decorating white horses

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Wiltshire's White Horses are iconic of the county and shine out across the countryside - they have (in the past) and no doubt will be - in the future be used for publicity purposed.  Do you remember the Westbury horse having a red cross - representing the English flag of St George - in support of our football team in the World Cup.   I don't remember anyone complaining.  Now, the Alton Barnes white horse has had the Extinction Rebellion logo added.  Voices silent to the use of the Westbury White Horse for one cause are now raised in horror at the use of the Alton Barnes horse - looks like dual standards to me.

Cllr Allison Bucknell tweets

I remember seeing the media report of how well the community had worked together on this and it has now been vandalised.  I’m not impressed.

Really?  Vandalism is "deliberately destroy or damage (public or private property)" but I see no destuction of property with, I understand, soft cloth that could easily be removed used for the purpose.  And even if there was some damage, it was certainly not deliberate.  It seems that our councillor has chosen to use inflamatory language - perhaps because she does not like the message, or perhaps because she wants to add her "me also" voice to others who claim outrage.  I am not impressed.

The leader of Wiltshire Council - Philip Whitehead - is also at it on Twitter

Can someone explain how this helps tackle the environment. Stop protesting and do something.

Yes, I will explain. It helps bring the environmental issues up the agenda and onto the agenda of people like you. On researching this post, I visited the Wiltshire Council pages on what their community groups are doing for the environment - "last updated March 2018". Wow - 18 months no update, so clearly a hot concern and priority for our council.  Don't get me wrong - Wilts Council does a great deal, but perhaps it could and should be doing more, and having the odd white horse reminding them of this is no bad thing.

I'm going to move on to the second part of our leader's comment - "Stop protesting and do something."  He writes as is the two things are exclusive alternative.   They're not - both can be done, and doing both is far more than just the sum of the parts.  There are people who are expert at publcity and helping ensure than the world knows of the issues and they help smooth the way for those who are expert is suggesting and providing practical solutions ... and generalists who can tie the elements together.  Power to all thie elbows.

I encourage Councillors Whitehead, Bucknell and others to reslant their decisions towards a sustainable future.  To provide more power to the elbows of councillors Gamble, Prickett and others who have (and continue) to work so hard for more sustainable transport, and away from other routes which may win them votes in the short term, but are damaging and provide unsustainable change in the short term.  It's far too late to change what's going on on the A350 / A365 in Melksham - so much change with the private motor vehicle as its beneficiary.  So much could have been done to add a bus stop / interchange on the A365 - just a small adjustment.  I was told it could not be done - in fact I was told that the roadworks and changes weren't even going up as far as the station.  I was lied to.

[bobm]

There are still some in Berkshire who bemoan local government re-organisation in 1974 which saw the county lose the Uffington White Horse and gain Slough.   

[Clan Line]

I understand, soft cloth that could easily be removed used for the purpose. 

According to one report "clothing was used" - perhaps "fly tipping" might have been a better description   

[CyclingSid]

There are still some in Berkshire who bemoan local government re-organisation in 1974 which saw the county lose the Uffington White Horse and gain Slough.

Can somebody remind me whether the 1974 boundary reorganisation was before or after John Betjemin's poem "Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough"

[TaplowGreen]

Really?  Vandalism is "deliberately destroy or damage (public or private property)" but I see no destuction of property with, I understand, soft cloth that could easily be removed used for the purpose.  And even if there was some damage, it was certainly not deliberate.  It seems that our councillor has chosen to use inflamatory language - perhaps because she does not like the message, or perhaps because she wants to add her "me also" voice to others who claim outrage.  I am not impressed.

I look forward those who feel so strongly this way volunteering to do the repairs/cleanup operation themselves, in order to save the use of scarce public resources. They are also welcome to stock up on binliners and come up to London to help clean up the mountain of rubbish and filth that's building up.

No-one doubts (and most share) the noble motivations of the climate activists, but a much smaller number support their methods.

[Timmer]

No-one doubts (and most share) the noble motivations of the climate activists, but a much smaller number support their methods.

Here here.

[Bob_Blakey]

..... No-one doubts (and most share) the noble motivations of the climate activists, .....

A very unlikely generalisation, and one which certainly wouldn't include me. I regard the ER (anybody who uses the XR^▸ (Crossrail) acronym needs to consult a dictionary) crew as a bunch of misguided, and possibly ill-informed, anarchists who are using climate change as a convenient justification for their illegal activities.

Reason for edit: fixed quotation box

[ellendune]

There are still some in Berkshire who bemoan local government re-organisation in 1974 which saw the county lose the Uffington White Horse and gain Slough.

Can somebody remind me whether the 1974 boundary reorganisation was before or after John Betjemin's poem "Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough"

After.

The poem was written in 1937 (yes that early!)
http://www-cdr.stanford.edu/intuition/Slough.html

[Bmblbzzz]

There are still some in Berkshire who bemoan local government re-organisation in 1974 which saw the county lose the Uffington White Horse and gain Slough.

Can somebody remind me whether the 1974 boundary reorganisation was before or after John Betjemin's poem "Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough"

After.

The poem was written in 1937 (yes that early!)
http://www-cdr.stanford.edu/intuition/Slough.html

And he lived for a time (think it was later, not sure though) in Uffington, just under the White Horse.

[ellendune]

There are still some in Berkshire who bemoan local government re-organisation in 1974 which saw the county lose the Uffington White Horse and gain Slough.

Can somebody remind me whether the 1974 boundary reorganisation was before or after John Betjemin's poem "Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough"

After.

The poem was written in 1937 (yes that early!)
http://www-cdr.stanford.edu/intuition/Slough.html

And he lived for a time (think it was later, not sure though) in Uffington, just under the White Horse.

At the same time - according to Wikipedia he was churchwarden there in 1937

[Rhydgaled]

..... No-one doubts (and most share) the noble motivations of the climate activists, .....

A very unlikely generalisation, and one which certainly wouldn't include me. I regard the ER (anybody who uses the XR^▸ (Crossrail) acronym needs to consult a dictionary) crew as a bunch of misguided, and possibly ill-informed, anarchists who are using climate change as a convenient justification for their illegal activities.

Reason for edit: fixed quotation box

They aren't the only ones who need to consult a dictionary, the letter X is often used as an abbreviation for words that actually begin with 'Ex'. Express for example, which I assume is the intent behind all the bus routes/services which use a number like 'X50'. As for 'illegal activities' and those who don't agree with ExR's methods, if all they have done in this case is put some black fabric down (presumably held in place by putting natural stone on top of the fabric) then there don't appear to be any victims to this 'crime' if that's what it is. Blocking roads and gluing yourself to a Docklands Light Railway unit are rather more controversial tactics, I can see why somebody would disagree with those methods but this white horse thing is rather harder to find fault with.

[johnneyw]

..... No-one doubts (and most share) the noble motivations of the climate activists, .....

A very unlikely generalisation, and one which certainly wouldn't include me. I regard the ER (anybody who uses the XR^▸ (Crossrail) acronym needs to consult a dictionary) crew as a bunch of misguided, and possibly ill-informed, anarchists who are using climate change as a convenient justification for their illegal activities.

Reason for edit: fixed quotation box

They aren't the only ones who need to consult a dictionary, the letter X is often used as an abbreviation for words that actually begin with 'Ex'. Express for example, which I assume is the intent behind all the bus routes/services which use a number like 'X50'.

I've found myself guilty of such misdemeanors recently and it's a practice I'm going to canx!

[Bmblbzzz]

Well, they probably didn't want to involve the Queen. Or George Clooney!

[eightf48544]

Posted by  Rhydgaled

I've found myself guilty of such misdemeanours recently and it's a practice I'm going to canx!

Surely you mean CAPE^▸ (Cancelled At Point of Entry or Cancel All Previous Entries - a cancelled train)?