Fuel tax protests 2000
- a U.K. networked grass roots campaign
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In September 2000, the UK ground towards an imminent halt. Adopting strategies similar to their European counterparts,
the farmers and hauliers of Britain challenged Government on fuel tax
policy through direct action. Media polls indicated that they carried
the support of the British public in taking this action. Media comment
remarked on the 'leaderfree' character of this revolt: activities were
coordinated through mobile telephones and the internet. Leadership was
highly distributed.
Legal action against network activities is more complex than legal action
against a defined individual or agency. The protest stayed within legal
boundaries yet effectively paralysed the transport network.
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The links below represent a first attempt to record the emergence of new communications
resourced politics.
Media images of the European petrol revolts
2000
The e-mergence of transport boycotts: civil,
consumer and tax revolts
Transport boycotts have played an important role
historically in civil revolts: the most famous is probably the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama which initiated the
civil rights movement. The fuel tax revolts of September 2000 in the UK were
preceded by substantial campaigning activities on this issue by a range of
interests: parallel campaigns are to be found in respect of GM foods,
supermarket sourcing and environmental concerns. Typically such sites
provide their visitors with the opportunity to engage in '10 minute activism' -
signing an e-petition to government or a consumer complaint targeted on a
supermarket chain. The links below provide an indication of the e-activities in
the area of fuel tax reduction campaigning before the commencement of the
protests at refinery gates.
Scenes from the busy A41 in Watford - or anywhere?
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No fuel |
A delivery arrives |
A queue quickly forms |
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Generating media interest |
Consequent traffic disruption |
requiring police control |