Sid hope interviewed by mark antony raines ghostman

THANKS GHOSTMAN ... here goes ..
The Stonehenge festival campaign exists to lobby, Protest, attend meetings, raise awareness, and maintain links with interested parties, to re-establish ‘the peoples free festival’ @ or near
Stonehenge. My inspiration ? Simple ...  the Stonehenge free festival, free festival and new age traveller movement supported a network of travellers, the counter-culture and city folk
who flocked to Stonehenge in their thousands. It still plays an important part in many peoples lives especially those who regularly attend the equinoxes and solstice gatherings @ Stonehenge
and provided a self sufficient alternative community – enough gatherings throughout the country to push a sizable community of the dole and into profit. At the heart of these gatherings
is a culture of anti-materialism, sharing and a passion for freedom and open spaces where middle class idealists mix with the products of unemployment and poverty, young and old, disillusioned
with living in stressful inner cities where housing is poor, job non-existent and families fractured. Free festival’s & gatherings have always attracted the unemployed or those on low incomes
and for many kids provides a first time opportunity to learn about and experience country life. A cheap annual holiday for whom not much else is provided. In an increasingly secular
society Stonehenge holds a mystical significance for many.
 
Formed in Aug 2011 the campaign continues to highlight the need for the festival’s return on a separate site – part of any solution to restore dignity @ Stonehenge and the current overcrowding
and mismanagement of summer solstice Stonehenge. The campaign regularly attends meetings with custodians English Heritage over our right to access and to help to ensure the smooth
running of Stonehenge gatherings. This year the campaign celebrated the 30th anniversary of the original free festival by releasing an anniversary C.D featuring live and studio recorded music
by bands who either appeared @ the festival or the campaign’s annual benefit gigs. Money raised from its proceeds goes to continuing our work and establishing a free festival fund.
The campaign runs an info and merchandise stall, as well as providing sound and light throughout the night for those gathered on the Stonehenge drove and other events. Nothing better illustrates
the struggle between rich and poor than issues surrounding land ownership and who has access to land. Many festival goers prefer to live nomadic or semi nomadic lifestyles, part of an
attempt to escape the ‘rat race’ and live a more self sufficient and spiritual lifestyle. Unfortunately they have been criminalised and effectively outlawed – legislation having abolished the duty on
local authorities to provide adequate sites. Ministers have made it clear that their intention is to push nomadic people into abandoning their way of life in favour of living in houses. For
travellers free gatherings are a refuge. After lobbying M.P’s, archaeologists, the National Trust, E.H, the M.O.D, private landowners, etc, the campaign continues to locate a suitable festival site.
 
I hope this helps .. please let us know if you do anything with it. You can contact me on 07985410448 email: festivalcampaign2012@hotmail.co.uk www.stonehengefestivalcampaign.co.uk or
check out Sid Hope on face book. Cheers !!