Happy new year to all  - There seems to be some strange ( maybe bad/
good) things happening right now.

First there is a new road to Wigan Pier being made across the river
Orwell. Thursday the 6th January should be one moment in the history of
OAE in the UK as the so called "labour" government presents a case for
OAE for all via the risk-making gambling culture of the lottery. Does
anybody have the up-to-date ability to keep us all informed on this
moment? It would be great if this list could debate the implications of
this new government move towards "summer-camps" for all. As I understand
it, from afar, there is a move to support the school system and the
transitions from school-to-school and from school-to-work through the
use of adventure-based and outdoor-based work. I am not sure if this is
called "learning" or "eduction". Blunkett is, anyway, the man in charge
( but do not tell Blair!) and he is the man that is the "champion" - at
least as far as i can get the information. Is there more information
around?

Second - the Seattle World Trade Organisation protests have seemed to
make another moment in terms of OAE where OAE is related to themes like
- social justice, ecology, employment, christain movements for peace,
education for democracy, women at work, rural communities and so on.
Those like the Sierra Club, for example, were present and active in this
most interesting movement. Many other outdoor organisations too. Does
this list have any comments on this Seattle WTO happening? If so please
write in for I feel that many would be happy for the potential - even if
it is just for information. From Finland we had there a group called
"Grandmothers For Peace". Others from the Nordic lands were so diverse
that I cannot tell all but the main point was that all ( from different
perspectives and localities) identified one common cause to rebel
against.

Perhaps the question here could be will this new Blunkett "initiative" (
sorry OAE but I have not forgotten the past) say anything to this
seattle WTO movement or the possible social movement(s) that might be
happening ?

Happy New year
Steve Bowles



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