Magazine Issue 4 - Summer 1997
The Writing on the Wall

When we found Greg trying to build a'treehouse" on top of one of the filing cabinets we realised that something was up. Too many long hours, spent deep underground in the small windowless box we call our office. We have had a huge number of things to do. So many in fact that its been nearly four months since the last issue of our bi-monthly magazine. Apologies to all concemed. The obvious reasons: understaffed, unfunded, and very busy with the Corporate information Service giving campaigners from Faslane to Fairmile the latest corporate information to aid their most excellent work. Website finally up, business plan sent to possible funders, two vetran recruits replace drop outs, CW bunker crammed with more files than Monsanto's Marketing Department, Crude Operators conference a resounding success, genetics campaign kicking up a storm, etc.

So how does it feel to have just used (or not) 10% of your lifetime's ration of democracy? Of course, however you voted the government still got in.

At which point Corporate Watch would like to congratulate "Sir" David Simon on his non-election to the new ministerial post for Tade and Competitiveness in Europe. It's a brave chairman who steps out from behind the corporate veil into the public arena where some of us actually do give a damn about what corporations get up to. Remember Colombia, Si? You will.

This year witnesses tbe start of perhaps the most ambidous campaign ever. The campaign against oil. It's black and slippery and it represents the profits of one of the most twisted industries on the planet. Slay this dragon and the rest should be a turkey shoot. It's not going to be an easy campaign but if the global warming hypothesis is to be believed it's now a quesdon of self-defence (M'Lud). Your car may be convenient but its going to kill your children.

Congratulations also to Steven Norris, ex-MP, who recently figured out that the Newbury protestors were right. We hope your pronouncement has won you friends at your new job with the Road Haulage Association. Hooray for Stringers Common! It's great to see direct action swing council decisions in favour of the environment.

So here it is, issue Four Enjoy.