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GM & SAINSBURY'S - PROTESTERS DEMAND GM LABELLING ON PRODUCTS
27/3/04 North Lancs Real Food Group protesters leafletted outside Sainsbury's Supermarket in Lancaster today to protest against the company's massive support of genetically modified crop production. The brother of the supermarket chain owner, Lord Sainsbury, is also Minister for Science - with millions invested in GM. Green City Councillor Anne Chapman objected to the fact that the public was not allowed to choose whether to consume GM products, which are used as ingredients in many common foods and also animal feeds without labelling and without the consumer - or the farmer - being allowed to know that they are there. "These are products with little or no objective research into their effects on human or animal health, or the impact their proliferation will have on the wider eco-system.
Consumers should be aware that any own brand non-organic dairy - milk, cheese + eggs (including ice-cream and puddings) and non-organic own brand meat ranges (apart from Sainsburies' 'Taste the Difference' pork, which is non-GM reared) is likely to come from GM soya and maize-fed animals.
Friends of the Earth and The Real Food Campaign are demanding that all foods containing GM ingredients or products from GM-fed animals should be clearly labelled, allowing consumers to exercise a choice that the majority clearly want - to avoid GM altogether."
The Sainsbury's store manager was not able to comment on the protest. However the Sainsbury's website offers no comment on GM labelling but notes: "for the conventionally produced range we are concerned about the effect on the farming community and the sustainability of a non GM source. Sainsbury's is therefore continuing to work closely with the NFU to establish the impact this might have on their industry and the rest of the supply chain." There is no information as to why non-GM crops might become unsustainable.
GM varieties of crops are all patented and controlled by multinational companies. If they succeed in replacing 'naturally' bred crop varieties with GM they will, in effect, have complete control of the food chain. 3rd world countries are being told that they can only have agricultural aid if they accept patented GM seed fror crop production, rather than using traditionally bred varieties. This effectively ensures that the diversity of indigenous varieties will die out and keeps their entire food supply under the monopoly of foreign companies. The current incredible diversity of natural crop varieties could soon be replaced by a few laboratory developed and distribution-controlled crop-types. It is inevitable that a bug or blight will evolve to attack them. In the past the answer to this is to fall back on other varieties or use them to breed in resistance. This resource may no longer exist - with disasterous consequences
For more info on GM and the Real Food Campaign - go to www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/
The North Lancs branch meets monthly in Lancaster. Contact them at email: or Tel: 01524 811066

STILL FIGHTING AT BLACKWOOD
26/3/04, adapted from SchNews: The 10-year campaign to protect St Davids Wood, Blackwood in South Wales from being turned into the access road for an industrial area is in its final stage. Several Lancaster activists have been part of the protest to protect the woodland.
This week the camps protecting the woods were evicted -- but it's not too late to defend the last camp. Get down there now, but ring the first on 07811 948764 or 07708 420446.
It is now estimated that over 1,000 trees are set to be destroyed in St David's Wood, Blackwood, a number that far exceeds original reports that only 250 trees were in danger. The wood has lots of wildlife, some of it already endangered, including buzzards, bats, owls, dormice and perhaps badgers. The road, which will service the NORDAM aircraft repair base at Oakdale Industrial Park, a factory building hi-tech parts for bombers and fighter planes, was contested at public inquiry. The case is currently in the European Court and UK legal action continues.
Bailiffs and police moved in on Tuesday, securing the land over the next few days. A cordon is now ringed around the site, but some of the camp still exists outside the cordon. This eviction was done on dodgy legal grounds because it is taking place during an appeal against the legality of the whole project. If the appeal goes in favour of the protesters the eviction will have been illegal and Costain -- the project contractors, the bailiffs and police could all be found in contempt of court.
Police haven't charged anyone for resisting the eviction -- knowing the dubious legal status of the operation.
Residents from the camp told SchNEWS that the bailiffs had been bought in for Blackwood and would be moving on to protest camps at Sherwood Forest or Nine Ladies next.
• More about Blackwood: www.dragonnetwork.org/blackwood

ROAD SCHEMES RENEWED?
26/3/04: Many shelved UK road schemes may about to be resurrected, according to SchNews. With typical Neo-Labour spin, these are to be "re-branded": so the Hastings Bypass becomes the "Bexhill to Hastings Link Road"; the Salisbury bypass becomes the "Harnham relief road and Brunel link" and even the Arundel bypass rejected last July may rear its ugly head again soon. All this comes after the Government abandoned its target of reducing congestion and say car growth will grow by a fifth by 2011.
In the Lancaster area, yet another traffic count is in operation (why do these never seem to happen at half term, which would show just how much traffic is created by school runs? A report, which could pave the way for new Bypass proposals for the city, is due soon from the County Council.
• Why we don't need a bypass: Click here
• More national information: www.roadalert.org.uk

MENWITH HILL: FIVE LANCASTRIANS ARRESTED
26/3/04: Five Lancastrians were arrested during a 'block the base' protest at RAF Menwith Hill on the first anniversary of the start Iraq War last weekend.
All five Lancaster protestors from Lancaster Green Action were later released without charge and intend to sue for wrongful arrest and imprisonment. Menwith Hill near Harrogate is the largest "secret" US base in Britain and the largest electronic monitoring station in the world. Run by the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States, it is one of a global network of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) bases, which monitors the world's communications and relays information to NSA HQ at Fort Meade in Maryland, USA. Among other things, the base is responsible for co-ordinating intelligence and attacks in all the US's modern warfare escapades. The NSA was set up by Presidential decree in 1952 without any debate in the US Congress. Until a few years ago, the existence of the NSA was a secret and its charter and any mention of its duties are still classified.
• Indymedia report on the protest:
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/03/287786.html
• Yorkshire CND Menwith Hill Site Information: cndyorks.gn.apc.org/mhs/
• Federation of American Scientists: The Truth about Menwith Hill:
www.fas.org/irp/facility/menwith.htm
• Visit Menwith Hill
www.nukem.freeserve.co.uk/contents/localarea/menwith/

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL
26/3/04: After more than 10 years away from Lancaster the superb Janine Wells has returned, and will be performing at the John O'Gaunt next Thursday (1st April). If you have heard her before you will not have forgotten that wonderful voice. For those who haven't heard her, her voice is a mixture of the best country, blues, jazz and folk techniques, delivering songs both traditional and modern with amazing sensitivity and passion. She accompanies herself on guitar and you really have to hear her.

NASVILLE BASH!
26/304: Nashville session singer, Cathryn Craig will be performing at the Gregson tomorrow night (27th) along with Brian Willoughby and Salamander Hipflask. Cathryn has worked with and recorded for artists as diverse as Mickey Newbury, Bobby Bare and Shel Silverstein, and sang with Jorma Kaukonen on his Relix releases. Her highly acclaimed debut album Porch Songs was actually recorded live on the back porch and is considered a classic in acoustic/roots circles. Pigg River Symphony, her latest release and is a beautiful interpretation of songs from the Appalachian mountains, the boyhood home of her father and includes songs and stories by Cathryn's family. The event starts at 8.30pm. Tickets £7/£5

STOREY INSTITUTE PRIVATISATION PLANS
25/3/04 by Satori: The first of two public meetings at Lancaster's Storey Institute on Meeting House Lane was a pretty hot affair earlier today, as local arts supporters pointed out the lack of provision for local arts sponsorship in the plans for the new 'Arts Centre Development'.
The plan so far as explained by Project Co-Ordinator Deborah (after three attempts at getting a surname I started losing the will to live) is basically a kind of 'creative' industry park (the design shows a lot of units with terminals in them) with a 30 per cent reduction in gallery space and a nice cafe and atrium, all to be managed by an as yet unannounced private company.
On the plus side, there will be a 150 seat performance venue (an upgrade of the current lecture theatre) which can be used by Lancaster LitFest among others; an expansion and upgrade of the Folly multimedia exhibition space and full disabled access.
This plan has attracted funding of £673,000 to this currently fairly run-down building (see earlier story). However it was pointed out that Lancaster and Morecambe have very little public gallery space through which artists can show their work, thus severely limiting their commercial potential. A reduction in exhibition space would have a negative financial impact on the local arts community.
With shocking aplomb, Deborah responded to comments by claiming many artists weren't interested in money anyway -- and that there would be lots of corridor and hallway wallspace. For her, this actually meant an increase in exhibition space to show the work of what she referred to as "your girls' groups or your Asian women's groups".
The 'consultation' meeting wasn't helped by very poor presentation. The building plans were laid out on a desk rather than up on display stands, there was no key to explain them and no explanatory literature for people to study. Tiny stick-on post-its were provided for people to write their views.
Local film producer Paul Kondras pointed out that he had asked the City Council for sight of the Storey Institute covenant, which governs the uses of the building, and had been refused. Head of Regeneration Chris Pearson promised to rectify this situation.
A representative of the Lancaster & Morecambe Art Society complained that their annual exhibition venue (the music room gallery) had been redesignated as a commercial unit. Following some lengthy and warm debate of this nature Deborah assured the meeting that there could be facilities within the development to assist aspiring artists. Under consideration is subsidised studio space, exhibition space and a career development counselling service. However no information on how the funding or structure would cover this was forthcoming at this point.
A further issue raised was the fate of Luneside Studios. The building that houses the studio of this Quay-based artists' collective is to be compulsorily purchased by the City Council for Quayside redevelopment. Deborah thought that some of them might not even want to work in the Storey anyway.
Morecambe-based artists's group Quicksands has also recently lost its West Street studios through the sale of the building it wass based in, and is currently homeless. They are holding an Art Fair at the The Platform, Morecambe this Sunday in an attempt to raise funds towards new premises for studios and classes.
• If you have a view on how the Storey Institute might best be developed to benefit the City, arts-wise, email it to .

CVS EASTER CLOSURE
Lancaster District Council for Voluntary Services offices at Trinity Community Centre will be closed for the week beginning 12 April 2004.

CASH TO REGENERATE SEASIDE TOWN
25/3/04: A plan to make Morecambe more appealing to families and businesses has won cash from the regeneration agency English Partnerships. The money will be used to transform the West End area of Morecambe and provide a blueprint for future development. The Win Back the West End project plans to reduce the amount of rented accommodation and increase owner occupation in the town. Work is due to start next week and will take about nine months to complete.
The work is part of a Morecambe Action Plan, intended to improve the area, put together following a consultation with local residents -- although there has been some criticism of the scheme from local greens.
"The council is pleased that one of its top priorities, the implementation of the Morecambe Action Plan, is being taken forward by such a strong partnership," said Leader of Lancaster City Council, Councillor Ian Barker. "The involvement of English Partnerships will bring much needed change to the West End of Morecambe."
The Morecambe Bay Action Plan was agreed just over 12 months ago, after public consultation. English Partnerships says the funding will benefit the whole town.
Regional Director, Bill Skilki, said: "The commitment to produce a quality master plan and then see through its implementation will see the West End change for the better."
"English Partnerships are pleased to be involved with regeneration in Morecambe," commented the organisation's Regional Director, Bill Skilki. "The commitment to produce a quality Master Plan and then see through its implementation will see the West End change for the better, which can only be good for Morecambe as a whole."
"I'm delighted to be involved in the partnership that is bringing much needed funding and expertise to the problems of the West End," said the resort's MP< Geraldine Smith. "I'm sure positive change can be achieved, which can only be for the good of residents in the West End."

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AGM ANNOUNCED
25/3/04: The North Lancashire Friends of the Earth Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 24 April 2004 at The Friends Meeting House, Lancaster between 1 - 3.00pm.
This event will take the form of a shared lunch 'Jacob's Join' as the three aspects of NLFoE ­ the Real Food Group, family friendly group and monthly pub night/general issues people join together to share news of the past year. Families are very welcome!
The meeting will hopefully see the selection of a new local co-ordinator for NLFOE, as Abi Mills, who has held the post for over a year, has decided not to continue in the role.
• For any further details contact Abi Mills on 01524 389069

VIRUS WARNING FOR VL USERS
25/3/04: Some members of the VL team are getting personalised virus-mail from someone/ a virus program masquerading as the 'Virtual-Lancaster Team' suggesting the receiver click a link or open an attachment to fix a faulty mail account or repair a security issue. The links look like V-L site links - but aren't.
The attachment is almost certainly a virus we have not identified.
We are warning all our loyal readers to be aware of this latest virus ploy: you may have received similar e-mails from other organisations and contacts you would normally trust.
This is only one of several nasty computer viruses doing the rounds at the moment and we would urge everyone -- whatever computer platform they use (PC, Mac, LINUX etc) to ensure they have virus protection software installed and that if you use Windows, you have updated your operating system.
Windows Updates Page: windowsupdate.microsoft.com
There ae many anti-virus programs on the market. Here are a few of the major suppliers:

Free Anti Virus software
• AVG
A free personal edition of AVG's business software - for Windows
• SurfinGuard - Windows
30 Day Free Trial -
• VCatch - for Windows
• Agax - for Mac Users
• F-Prot - for all platforms except Mac but including LINUX, free program for home users
• Kaspersky - for LINUX 30 day free trial

Commercial Products
• McAfee - Mac and PC
• PSPL - Windows
• Sophos - Windows
• Stop Sign - Windows
•Symantec - Mac and PC
• VET Anti Virus

Virtual-Lancaster does not endorse any of the above products.
Some of the recent viruses are not only skimming e-mail addresses from already-infected PCs' address books but are also trawling web sites for addresses and creating fake mail headers, so it can appear an e-mail with a virus is coming from someone you know, but hasn't. We've had a few people sending outraged e-mails because they think we've sent them a virus.
As a general piece of advice, please be suspicious of any mail you get that tries to persuade you to click a link or open an attachment that doesn't follow up previous correspondence from Virtual-Lancaster or work in progress.
We also recommend that anyone using a broadband connection install a firewall on their machine. McAfee and Symantec are just two of the many companies offering commercial firewall solutions.

MAPPING LANCASTER
25/3/04: Radio 4 is broadcasting a documentary about Lancaster's history next Wednesday (31st) at 11.00am Wednesday 31st. In Mapping the Town, archaeologist Julian Richards finds Lancaster's street layout little changed since 1610, and wonders why a city that had prospered from the slave trade was far less marked by industrial change.

CYCLE PATH ON TRACK FOR TRAIN TRAVEL
25/3/04: Civic dignitaries and one of the nation's leading cycle experts are to team up to officially open a Lancaster centre cycle link road that will complete links between Caton and the nationwide rail network.
The Lancaster area already has 30 miles of cycle path but -- until now -- has had no direct cycle route to the city centre train station.
That's to change with the opening - on 29 March - of a 400-yard link from the station, along the back of St George's Quay to the Millennium Bridge to connect to other cycle routes going as far as Morecambe, the Crook of Lune and Caton.
The link, called the Marsh Safe Cycle and Walking Route, will be officially opened on Platform One of Lancaster railway station at 12.30pm by John Grimshaw, chief executive of cycle path campaign group Sustrans. Also present will be County Councillor Jean Yates, Lancashire County Council Cabinet member for Highways and Transportation and Councillor Janice Hanson.
County Councillor Yates said: "Lancaster has more cycle routes than anywhere in the North West but, until now, has not had a cycle link to the train station.
"There are secure cycle facilities at the station, so the hope is that people will feel free to cycle there and then connect to journeys further afield. The station's catchment area for walkers is about one mile - making it safe for cyclists will extend that to about four miles.
"Lancashire County Council recently chose Lancaster for a 10-week Integrated Transport campaign which aimed to encourage exactly this sort of transport. We are now putting our money where our mouth is."
Commenting on the opening of the new link, Green County Councillor Jonathan Sear, who originally proposed the scheme in 1999 and represents the station area, said "This is probably the most important new cycle link in Lancaster since the Millennium Bridge.
"I'm really pleased that everyone has worked together to bring the cyclepath right into the station. I'd like to thank everybody who has worked to make this a reality."
The £250,000 project has been funded by Lancashire County Council, the New Opportunities Fund and the European Union.
"This new link is a great example of what organisations can do when they push cycling higher up the agenda," feels John Grimshaw. "Everyone will be a winner in terms of quieter roads and improved health."
The new cycle route is supported by Sustrans, Dynamo, Network Rail, Virgin Trains and marsh Tenants' and Residents' Association.

LABOUR SHORTLISTS TWO WOMEN FOR LANCASTER & WYRE
22/3/04: The local labour Party has shortlisted two women for the position of prospective Labour candidate for Lancaster and Wyre at the next General Election, expected in about 18 months time.
The selection comes after the current MP, Hilton Dawson, announced he would not be running for office again and was moving back to his native North East.
Anne Sacks, who is also one of Labour's MEP candidates in the June Euro Elections has been the dance critic for the London Evening Standard. A member of Labour's European campaign team in the North West, she's been working with the party's MEPs to bring jobs and investment to the region. She is married with three stepsons.
27-year old Sukie (Sukhjit) Sohal, pictured, is currently a local Labour councillor in the London Borough of Redbridge. Before becoming a councillor she obtained undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in political science. She recently completed a job as a researcher for junior Northern Ireland minister Angela Smith MP.
Both candidates will now go forward to a final selection meeting on Friday 2 April at 7.30pm in Cabus Village Hall, just north of Garstang, where the winner will be selected on a one member, one vote basis.

SAILORS' FUND-RAISING CYCLE
22/3/04: A team of sailors is cycling to South Wales to raise money for the neo-natal unit at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Seven of the crew from HMS Lancaster will be making the 170-mile trip. They will set off from Liverpool where the ship is currently docked, and meet up with it when it arrives at Cardiff on Tuesday.

LOCAL MP CONDEMNS BNP
22/3/04: Local Labour MP Hilton Dawson has condemned the far right British National Party, which began campaigning for the Euro Elections in Lancaster last week.
"Evil appears in many forms," said Hilton in a press statement, which we publish here in full. "Last week it came to our fine City in the guise of a leaflet issued by the British National Party to hundreds of homes. It said that people from ethnic minorities -- our friends, our neighbours, our work colleagues, our fellow students, our fellow citizens of Lancaster -- are not welcome here.

"How dare they?

"Lancaster is a great City and its greatest strength is the quality and diversity of its people. People from 125 different countries live here. Some have lived here for generations, some like me for a few years and others arrived yesterday. All are welcome. Lancaster is a warm, decent community which values all our differences and benefits from our diversity.
"The British National Party tries to take advantage of our open democracy to spread its horrible message. No-one is safe if they succeed. We know from Nazi Germany that millions of Jews who were vilified, deported and killed were joined by millions more who were gypsies or disabled or gay or trade unionists or who simply opposed everything for which Hitler stood.
" We must stand up for our diversity, our decency and our welcome to Lancaster now. Everyone can play a part. No matter your ethnic background, your faith, your political party, your age -- whoever you are, whatever you do. I am calling on every single decent person in Lancaster to join with me in making a simple statement that: ' I support diversity, decency and a warm welcome to Lancaster'."
Mr Dawson is writing to local people to ask them for their support and is asking all local groups and media to join with him in a stand against the BNP.
His feelings echo those of Conservative leader Michael Howard, who recently condemned the BNP.
" Diversity, decency and welcome to Lancaster is a broad campaign open to anyone and everyone who respects and values all members of our community," says Hilton. "On 13 Thursday May between 6.00 and 10.00pm I am inviting the whole Lancaster community to the Ashton Hall to join me in an act of witness and a celebration of diversity, decency and welcome. I hope that this will turn into a festival of music, drama, poetry, speech making, culture and personal contribution. Our diversity is a huge advantage and a joy. It should be a source of great pride.
"I'll be holding a meeting for absolutely anyone who wants to help with the diversity, decency and welcome campaign on Monday 19 April at 7.30pm at Lancaster Town Hall.
"I'd be extremely grateful for the support of anyone who can help me; in particular from those willing to collect thousands of signed statements from all who value our diverse community. "We must all stand together against the threat to our community from those who would seek to divide its people.

"How dare they?"

• Click here for information on the 2004 Diversity Festival

WAT-ER PICTURE!
23/3/04: A young Lancaster-based landscape artist who is fast building a reputation for his innovative approach has already received an enthusiastic response to his first solo show, River, Lakes and Sea, which is completely devoted to water and has just opened at the Ashton Memorial Gallery, Williamson Park, Lancaster.
Graeme Atkinson's passion for the watery landscapes of Lancashire and the Lake District has led him to paint well-known beauty spots such as Coniston, Wastwater and Morecambe Bay but also local spots such as Skerton Weir, St George's Quay and Williamson Park lake. Last Autumn his painting of Lancaster's controversial Millennium Bridge was the most talked about at an exhibition of 38 Lancashire artists who displayed 200 works at Maiden Bridge, Tatham.
Graeme, 31, who is manager of Studio Arts in Lancaster, said: "I am constantly inspired by the landscapes of the Lake District and North Lancashire. The way light, different times of day or seasons affects them means that they always look different. I never get tired of painting them." Although Graeme trained in graphic design he began landscape painting just three years ago. He paints mainly in acrylics and even uses household paint. He then pours water itself on the canvas which washes some of the colour away and produces an impressionistic effect as well as creating different textures within the picture. The results are breathtaking and his work is becoming collectable.
"Yes, I am building up an a following and one man in particular has bought many of my works. He wants my pictures of Lancaster only which he sees as a good investment."
He also has exciting plans to use Lake District waterfalls in full spate by holding large (13 x 12 ft) paintings under the full force of a waterfall to obtain a genuine water-on-water effect. He has recently incorporated Ordnance Survey maps into his work and plans a painting project where he retraces both John Ruskin and JMW Turner's artistic trips to this region.
Graeme's knowledge of these terrains is intimate. He was born in Kendal, grew up in Kirkby Lonsdale and lives in Lancaster. He is also a competitive fell runner.
He has recently moved house to cater for the needs of a growing family and studio.
Typically, his main concern for the new house was that he could have a sink in his studio for all his watery endeavours!
• Graeme Atkinson's exhibition, 'Rivers, Lakes and Sea', runs until 25 April 2004 at the Ashton Memorial Gallery, Williamson Park, Lancaster. Tel 01524 68014 for details. You can see examples of Graeme's work at www.graemeatkinson.co.uk

COLLAPSE FORCES CLOSURE OF SMALL SECTION OF CYCLEWAY
22/3/04: A small section of the cycleway has been closed following the collapse of a small part of the parapet wall on the Lune crossing of the M6 motorway.
Part of the wall fell onto the cycleway below and Amey Mouchel, working on behalf of the Highways Agency, have closed the route for safety reasons.
This section of cycleway runs from Lancaster to Halton. Advice to users will be displayed at Lune Aqueduct, to the west of the motorway, and Denny Beck, to the east of the motorway.
Inspections of the damaged bridge will be carried out as soon as possible by Amey Mouchel to determine the extent of the problem and how quickly the cycleway can be re-opened.
Any enquiries concerning this work should be made to The Highways Agency Network Control Centre on 0845 600 1628.

LETTERS
Our letters page is finally up - so if you've incisive comment, steam to let off, news to share or just want to prattle on, address your emails to The editor reserves all the usual rights with respect to publication. The page will be updated weekly - usually on Mondays. Deadline for Monday is 12 noon Sunday.
• Check out the letters page

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