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« Polar bears | Main | Political science »
Wednesday
Aug072013

Environmentalist journalist

Louise Gray has adopted the role of recruiting sergeant for the Balcombe protest camp, offering up helpful advice on what aspirant participants should bring along:

At the moment there are around 40 protesters on the site, but this is expected to swell as word spreads about the camp. Groups involved include Frack Off, backed by Lush, UKUncut and the Occupy movement.

The ‘climate camp’ or ‘peace camp’ will include compost lavatories, a ‘kid’s space, communal kitchen and possibly solar and wind power. Larger tents will host workshops on direct action.

It is expected the camp will ‘occupy’ a field by the site. Campers are advised to bring a tent, a sleeping bag, warm clothes, toothbrush/paste, loo roll, sunblock, waterproofs, a torch, and “a desire to change the world”.

I think this probably kills off any suggestion that Gray is a reputable truth-seeking journalist.

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Reader Comments (69)

@SH

" But the tactics here are that since the drilling doesn't really cause much inconvenience, the protest will be as designedly unpleasant for local people as possible, and hence create or amplify opposition to the drilling."

More likely to create or amplify opposition to the protesters, I would have thought, particularly if (as seems to be the case) there aren't many local people among them.

Aug 7, 2013 at 7:55 PM | Unregistered CommenterTurning Tide

John, feel free, I'd be honoured - although it is very crude and I'm sure most could do better, hopefully it will serve a purpose!

Aug 7, 2013 at 7:55 PM | Unregistered CommenterSpence_UK

When I read her article and the language it uses to describe the climate camp I think I've correctly identified Louise as Cressida Wright-Pratt from Viz, Modern Parents http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Modern_Parents

Do I get my £5.00?

Aug 7, 2013 at 8:55 PM | Unregistered CommenterSerge

Thanks, Spence, it's on show at

http://thepurplescorpion.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/keep-calm-and-frack-on.html

Aug 7, 2013 at 10:09 PM | Unregistered CommenterJohn Page

'Campers are advised to bring a tent, a sleeping bag, warm clothes, toothbrush/paste, loo roll, sunblock, waterproofs, a torch, and “a desire to change the world”.'

If they stay for the duration, they might get a fracking breakfast

http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2013/6/28/fracking-with-marmite.html

Aug 7, 2013 at 10:36 PM | Registered CommenterPharos

A lotta leakin' goin' on in Balcombe?

http://www.ratedpeople.com/local/plumbers/west-sussex/haywards-heath-balcombe

Aug 7, 2013 at 10:55 PM | Registered CommenterPharos

Mike, if you think you'll ever get an informed democracy good luck with that!

Cosmic, isn't interference with the status quo what protest is for?

Anyway we agree on the protestors and their views, but the principle is more important.

You cant shout to shut down protest because you dont agree with the view or the type. That is, to use Mike's words, if I recall, anti-democratic.

Aug 7, 2013 at 11:01 PM | Unregistered CommenterRB

I am nor sure its ever been fair to call Louise Gray a journalist, a human photocopier for anything 'green' , yes but a journalist no.

Aug 8, 2013 at 1:45 AM | Unregistered CommenterKnR

...Tamsin Omond, .... a former pupil at the £9,800-a-term Westminster School, ...a veteran of previous protests against capitalism...

Hmm? Irony?

Aug 8, 2013 at 2:04 AM | Unregistered CommenterJimmy Haigh.

The ‘climate camp’ or ‘peace camp’ will include compost lavatories, a ‘kid’s space, communal kitchen and possibly solar and wind power. Larger tents will host workshops on direct action.
-----------
That's just like I always said "possibly solar and wind power".
There in lies the problem.
It's always "possibly" for wind and solar.
cn

Aug 8, 2013 at 3:04 AM | Unregistered CommenterChuck Nolan

Their ambition.is to "change the world". Why don't they tell the real truth to the public? That their ambition is global/international Marxism?
Obama does the same "change now" thing, I wonder how many would have voted on him if he had been honest and told the public "Marxism now"?

Aug 8, 2013 at 7:17 AM | Unregistered CommenterJon

"Mike, if you think you'll ever get an informed democracy good luck with that!

Cosmic, isn't interference with the status quo what protest is for?

Anyway we agree on the protestors and their views, but the principle is more important.

You cant shout to shut down protest because you dont agree with the view or the type. That is, to use Mike's words, if I recall, anti-democratic."

The leftist have a long tradition to sabotage and interrupt/hinder "others/political enemies" to have their democratic rights like public meetings and public peaceful demonstrations. They clearly mean that this "right/principle" is only for the political correct, their ideology?

Aug 8, 2013 at 7:32 AM | Unregistered CommenterJon

I attended the Fracking debate at the Royal Society in April at which Louise was present.

I had the opportunity to challenge her journalistic credentials on the grounds of my own research where I analysed the churning of environmental press releases in the media, finding her to be individually the worst offender.

She took the criticism so poorly, during the drinks reception afterwards she spent at least an hour with me trying to justify herself as a journalist, claiming that she "only has four hours" per story. She also stressed that in my research I should not pick out individual journalists to which I simply replied "well why not?" She didn't have an answer.

I seemed to have spooked her enough that she left her notebooks behind on the table we were resting our drinks on. Whilst the temptation was there to browse through them my better ethical angel came through and I simply handed them in at the reception desk for her to collect.

She truly is a shame to the profession and I find it very disappointing to see her continue to cheerlead like this despite being called out in public.

Aug 8, 2013 at 8:05 AM | Unregistered CommenterDanny

Danny at 8.05: "I had the opportunity to challenge her journalistic credentials on the grounds of my own research where I analysed the churning of environmental press releases in the media, finding her to be individually the worst offender."

That sounds like interesting research. Is it available anywhere?

Aug 8, 2013 at 8:37 AM | Unregistered Commentermike fowle

Sure Mike,
its getting on a bit now mainly because I've been preparing for a major update with dozens of more sources (I'll copy them into Bish when they're done if he's interested in publishing them on here).

Raw data is in JSON format. I'd like to set up some decent visualisation so people don't have to go through it manually, but again its a 'nice to do, not enough time' issue, at least not until I complete the PhD.

http://www.censoring.me/churnalism

Aug 8, 2013 at 11:00 AM | Unregistered CommenterDanny

Thanks Danny. I hope that our host does publish the eventual results - I think it is an important and revealing area of study.

Aug 8, 2013 at 2:30 PM | Unregistered Commentermike fowle

a desire to change the world

Including a change such as fracking ?

Aug 8, 2013 at 4:15 PM | Unregistered CommenterKatisha

Very gratified to see from the posts that I have not been alone in identifying Louise Gray as a raving lunatic who disseminates mis-information on a monumental scale. I have no idea why the Telegraph keeps on printing her nonsense - maybe she is shagging someone important. On hydraulic fracture in particular she drivels about contaminated water being "squirted" into the shale, and the water "displacing" the gas - all utter nonsense. Grand - well done the Bish's posters - lets silence this nut-case.

Aug 8, 2013 at 7:09 PM | Unregistered CommenterVernon E

Stuff about Lush http://mitheringsfrommorningside.wordpress.com/category/lush/

Can't expect Louise to run it, it's outside her field.

Aug 9, 2013 at 10:36 AM | Unregistered CommenterJohn Page

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