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Peaceful protestors await Tesco eviction

Posted on March 13, 2010 | 20 comments

I am in awe of the No Tesco squatters.

They are putting their safety and freedom on the line, taking non-violent direct action to keep the old Jesters building as a community centre.

It’s a lovely space with its wooden bars and stage and has become a hub of homemade entertainment and education since the squatters moved in.

In time, it could become a food coop selling affordable healthy food.

Instead Tesco wants to turn it into another soulless supermarket selling mass-produced food – even though there are five Tescos within walking distance.

The idea of another Tesco is unpopular.

Many (numbers tbc) have signed the e-petition at Bristol City Council.

3,500 have signed postcards complaining to Bristol City Council about the lack of consultation over the building’s change of use from ‘comedy club’ to ‘shop’.

Supermarkets are bad for local business and communities.

Supermarkets ‘will kill corner shops by 2015’ according to the Times.

Local shops create neighbourliness – and local profit.

Spend money with your local shopkeeper (instead of a supermarket) and the money doubles in value to the community because it is re-spent locally.

Planning laws are toothless – they cannot protect its own.

So the squatters moved into the beautiful old building Tesco wants.

Sadly, on the 2 March they lost their court case to keep it for the community.

The peaceful squatters want to save the building.

Inspired by Gandhi, they practice passive resistance, or Satyagraha.

My photo

The poles on the roof (see my pic above) are an urban version of climbing up a tree and refusing to leave in order to stop it being cut down.

It’s called manufactured vulnerability.

If Tesco wants to repossess the building, then the police and bailiffs acting on court orders will have to evict the squatters by force.

A terrible situation for all involved.

The squatters remind me of the suffragettes who chained themselves to railings.

Sometimes people take brave and desperate action to improve the quality of life for future generations.

Tesco could choose to hand the building back to the community.

What a graceful PR coup for Tesco that would be!

What do you think?

20 Comments

Posted in eating well on a budget, food, health, sustainable

Tagged Bristol, Cheltenham Road, Gandhi, No Tesco Stokes Croft, Satyagraha, Tesco PR, Tesco protest

Last meal at the No Tesco squat?

Posted on March 7, 2010 | 22 comments

Stephan rang me from the No Tesco in Stokes Croft squat.

I had just taken a picture of this Tesco bag blowing randomly on a branch in a car park in Portishead.

Stephan said tonight’s Sunday communal meal may be its last.

Last Tuesday, a repossession order was granted to Tescos plc – the ‘conscious squatters’ lost their court appeal to keep the site for the community.

I call them ‘conscious squatters’ because they look after the old Jesters comedy venue site with its bar and stage and share it consciously, hence the squat’s screening of Food Inc, last night’s Cosmic Cabaret and its regular Sunday night communal meal.

They have been occupying the premises ever since we locals heard Tesco has a planning application on the site. Even though there are 6 Tescos within a mile [see comment below] and 31 in Bristol.

I would much rather have this cosy communal space the squatters have created than another soulless supermarket.

Yet any minute now, eviction papers could be served. The squatters then have 48 hours to leave.

Here is Stephan’s Project Flowers at the squat. Note the framed flower drawings.

“Flowers represent positivity,” Stephan explains. “In a way we are all like flowers.”

He created the project so everyone could take part in it.

Food is like that – something we can all take part in.

Tonight the squat served the most amazing vegan meal for over 50 people in return for donations only.

My plate of varied inventive coleslaw (raw cabbage, slivers of kiwi, finely cut celery, herbs, seeds, and cardamon), vegan chilli stew, potato curry, beetroot and spinach leaves and a mound of brown rice. Followed by homemade fruit crumble and dairy-free custard.

The funny thing tonight turned out to be networking-central. I caught up with five different lots of friends from different parts of my life (including dance, work, family and food).

The No Tesco in Stokes Croft squat is creating community.

It is budding, at the beginning of its spring growth, fertile with plans including a food coop to make local healthy food affordable for all.

It would be no joke if the squatters in the old Jesters comedy club were evicted.