Krishna Celebrations & A Police State: On Sunday nineteenth August 2007 I went to {photograph} a spiritual celebration in Southall, round 11 miles from the place I dwell. I don’t drive and it takes nicely over an hour by public transport however I might then journey there on my bike in maybe 45 minutes. On the time the Local weather Camp was going down close to Heathrow at Harmondsworth, however having learn their “media coverage” I had determined to not go there, however within the occasion I received drawn into it a little bit. Right here I’ll re-publish, with some slight corrections what I wrote on My London Diary in 2007 along with footage from from the day, each in Southall and on my approach dwelling alongside the north of Heathrow.
On Sunday I cycled by the sunshine rain to the Shree Ram Mandir (Temple Of Lord Rama) in King Road, Southall, which was apparently the primary Hindu temple established in Britain, though just lately rebuilt. They had been holding their Janam Ashtami Shobha Yaatra, a procession in honour of the delivery anniversary of Krishna which this yr is on September 4.
I’ve to confess to discovering the Hindu faith complicated, however processions similar to this are full of life and vibrant occasions even when their full appreciation might require a fairly completely different mindset to mine.
It’s straightforward to share the emotions of celebration and of neighborhood, and to really feel the welcome given by so many. I additionally met for the primary time the newly elected MP for Ealing Southall who held the seat for labour in final month’s by-election, Virendra Sharma, collaborating within the procession; many had been desperate to pose for his or her image with him.
I took a route again from Southall alongside the north aspect of Heathrow, near the Local weather Camp at Harmondsworth. On my technique to Southall, alongside the Nice South West Street which runs alongside the south-east of the airport, I’d been stopped and searched by police at Hatton Cross.
Its an influence that police are utilizing an increasing number of – on common round 11,000 a month in London now, and one which makes me really feel uneasy. We now appear to be in a form of police state I’ve actually by no means voted for and don’t want to dwell in.
I received’t seem within the Met’s figures, regardless of being searched in London, as the 2 officers involved had been drafted in from Surrey for the day. They had been well mannered and we had a pleasing sufficient dialog, however to me it nonetheless appears an unreasonable intrusion.
Beneath Part 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, the police can search anybody in an space designated as more likely to be the topic of a terrorist assault – similar to airports. they don’t have to have any grounds to suspect you, being there’s sufficient.
Biking again alongside the pavement by the Bathtub Street (a shared path) there have been fairly extra police round, however they had been too busy with extra possible targets to cease me. As I got here alongside the highway I discovered myself using together with a lady who was clearly hurrying to get someplace. We each stopped on the identical level, reverse the place three activists had scaled the aspect of a small constructing with a banner studying “MAKE PLANES HISTORY”.
She jumped over the fence between the 2 carriageways to strategy the protesters, whereas I stayed on the alternative aspect from the place I had a greater view. Later she got here again to speak to the TV crew beside me which was speaking to one of many protesters – clearly she was happy with her daughter’s motion.
And she or he had each proper to be proud. We’d like motion over Heathrow, motion to forestall the takeover of much more land for the Third Runway. I’ve lengthy opposed the growth of Heathrow – and was on the native march in opposition to the Third Runway in June 2003. Now there shouldn’t even be a risk of additional growth, however the authorities should take a look at methods of working down the actions at Heathrow, or it will likely be failing not simply West London however the world.
Additional alongside the highway I discovered protesters gathering across the British Airports Authority workplaces, which had been ringed by police. Nothing a lot appeared to be taking place and the media had been there in pressure, so I left the fellows to it.
I’d beforehand been upset by the restrictive media coverage adopted by the Local weather Camp, which had the impact of stopping wise photographic protection of the occasion. So I used to be fairly much less than I would in any other case have been in placing myself out to take footage.
Alongside the highway I met a couple of teams of demonstrators and did take a couple of footage of them, together with some on the bridge over the highway into the airport, and a few the Clown Military being harassed by a police picture crew, however my coronary heart nonetheless wasn’t actually in it.
The British Airways workplaces had appeared to me a possible place for a confrontation – and clearly the police had thought so too, as groups of black clad figures paced up and down spoiling for a combat, watched over by the fellows in uniform and a gaggle of fits. On the high of the mound in entrance of the workplaces had been a few officers on horses.
It was like some portray of the sphere lining up earlier than a medieval battle, and I want I’d stopped to take an image, however they had been so clearly in search of hassle I made a decision I didn’t need the aggravation that this might probably have prompted. For as soon as you’ll simply should think about it!
Extra footage on My London Diary:
Janam Ashtami Shobha Yaatra
Heathrow Local weather Camp Protestors
Flickr – Fb – My London Diary – Hull Images – Lea Valley – Paris
London’s Industrial Heritage – London Images
All pictures on this web page are copyright © Peter Marshall.
Contact me to purchase prints or licence to breed.
Tags: 2007, Bathtub Street, British Airports Authority, British Airways, Local weather Camp, clown military, Harmondsworth, Heathrow, Hindu, Krishna, London, London Images, Lord Rama, Make Planes Hisory, media coverage, peter Marshall, police, protest, Part 44, Shree Ram Mandir, Southall, cease and search, Temple, Terrorism Act, third runway, Virendra Sharma
You may go away a response, or trackback from your personal web site.
