THE LAND Issue No 2, Summer 2006

CONTENTS (click on underlined headings for pdf file.)

COMMENT
Let 500 Factories Bloom In a global market consumers have global responsibilities. 4
The Medium is the Message Which is worse? 240 wind turbines or 600 pylons? 4

FARMING
Farm Squat Simon Fairlie gives an account of TLIO’s occupation of a County Smallholding. 6
The Landworkers’ Union Not the NFU. 11
I’m Better off on my Smallholding Dennis Johnstone explains why he dropped out of journalism. 12
Biofuel, Horsepower and Hectares Simon Fairlie compares the biofuel engine with the equine gut. 13

INTERNATIONAL
We Are Watching You jyc reports on the landless and roofless movements of Brazil. 16
Atenco? Never Heard of It Why were 3000 paramilitary policemen sent to brutalize a small town in Mexico? 19
The Water Needs the Good Earth Post-Maoist land law in China offers peasants little security against land-grabbers. 20
DFID Go Shopping Jyoti Fernandes reviews the Department for International Development’s enthusiasm for trade. 23
Half of Scotland is Missing The Scots need to rediscover their common lands, says Andy Wightman. 24

Legal Update on Commons, Adverse Possession and Town Greens 25

INLAND WATERWAYS
Boatyard Squat Evicted British Waterways eject squatters from Castlemill Boatyard. 26
They Covet the Waterfront Paul Kingsnorth on how the custodians of the UK’s waterways have become profiteers. 27
Move Along, Get Along Planning Committee member, Chris Coates, on his authority’s approach to boatdwellers. 28
Slow Swimming Jean Perraton challenges the nanny state’s paranoia about swimming in lakes and rivers. 30

Babylon Blues 32

URBAN RECREATION
Six Years of Destruction for Six Weeks of Sport Katy Andrews describes what 2012 will do to her neighbourhood. 33
Green Olympics Michael Wale asks: can local veg growers and international sports stars co-exist. 35
Evicted but not Defeated What happened when Lisa Andreassen took on too big an allotment. 36
Guerilla Gardening Graham Burnett demythologizes guerilla gardening. 37
Roller Coaster Squats Cai Snook on the underground culture of BMX dirt jumps. 38

Dwelling Ivan Illich’s thoughts on the subject of human habitation. 39

CHAPTER 7 NEWS
Welsh Planners Write Guidelines for LID 42
The Reprise and Fall of John Prescott 43
New Gypsy Definition and other items about planning policy. 44
People’s Market or Supermarket? Walmart are seen off from Newham. 46
Appeals and Applications The outrageous refusal of High Bickington, and other stories. 48

Ads and Announcements Timber-framed mobile home site and other proposals. 52
Letters 54
Publications For Sale 55