Friday the 30th Oct - it should be more scary!

Busy Friday Night -  Driftwood were playing at Crabble Mill in Dover last night. Dave was reported as enjoying himself with his other job in Bottles (they were headlining at the event).

I decided to attend the Deal With IT meeting on 'Renewable Energy' at St Georges with Michael Meacher MP and Alistair Gould from the Pines Calyx in St Margaret's Bay (5miles along the coast).

Good to catchup with Patrick (we compared notes on last weekend's marathons) and discuss his ideas on getting a sustainable-cycling campaign going locally.

The meeting was well attended for a friday - about 70 people and there was was a good level of  discussion. I have not heard Michael Meacher since the Miners Strike and he was forthwright and critical of the Government and political class in general but enjoyable to listen too.

Personally I thought the discussion missed the point a bit:

 a) what should be no-brainers like delivering the 'decent homes' standard to the millions of council homes which is being put on hold by the Government to save money to pay the debts from bailing out the bankers.This will only get worse with all parties pushing the cuts agenda in 2010.

b) The not in my-back-yard localism - In my view this is because others are making profits from a perceived eye-sore (like a turbine), and there is no direct benefit to the communities effected. Easy remedy give them a percentage of the profits or free power...

 c) The sense of urgency - in 150 year if nothing changes, where the meeting was held (in a plush Georgian Church) will be under the sea (due to rising sea levels and the fact that Kent is sinking [thats the Ice-age for you]). Time to pick up the pace... we should be scared

All in MHO, Roadie

Celebrating Our Deal...

'CelebrateYour Deal'
This Sunday 25th Oct saw a very successful 'Think Global, Act Local' event - the day was jam packed with stalls from local producers, Canterbury Greenpeace, creative writing, seed exchanges, workshops, talks, some community singing, face painting, a scary lot of pumkins from Rippledown and a really dangerous amount of real chocolate...

There was a good presence of local performers at the event:

Bill and Mac kicking things off at 10:30 in fine style

and the Deal Hoodeners did a couple of sets outside - including the 'Great North Run' which went down well with Snowdon marathon recovering Roadie

Driftwood played from 2:30 to the close (well actually beyond the close - they did Nelson's Blood as things were being packed up and the lights were going off; but they do pride themselves on being a band that can out last their audience!). A great set which went down well, fuelled by some serial tastings of a local cider. Thanks to our loyal supporters Lynda, Martin and Karen + Oregano for the lovely cake!

A video of Bad Moon Rising can be found at the band's YouTube Site

Well done to Helen (Age??) and all at 'Deal With It' for organising a fantasic event - Here's to a Greener Deal

Celebrate Your Deal - Landmark Centre 25th Oct 10am-4pm - Think Global, Act Local!

Driftwood are supporting and doing a session at the 'Celebrate Your Deal' event organised by our local green group 'Deal with it!'

The day aims to raise local awareness of environmental and sustainability issues and encourage everyone to discover all that is being made or marketed in and around Deal in order to keep this a thriving town. There will be 30 plus stalls of independent businesses and local producers, creative workshops, community groups, presentations, music, seed swap, competitions, exhibitions, free tastings, gardener’ Question Time, and entertainment for the children as well as the rest of us

Driftwood will be on at 2:30...and we will be recycling our songs

Check the Event website at http://www.transitiondeal.blogspot.com/

Email  celebrateyourdeal@yahoo.co.uk

or email dealwithittoday@yahoo.co.uk for the campaign

Possible gig date the 'Deal with it' event in October

More details to follow - check the http://www.driftwood.uk.net/