Penwith Earth First!

The mining industries’ welcome collapse 100 years ago, in West Cornwall, led to Europe’s first post-industrial region and the landscape is a testimony to nature’s ability to reclaim the scars left by industrial human interference. However, with tin mining giving way to tourism, this potential wilderness is under continual threat. In ever more desperate attempts to entice the holidaymaker and his car, developers are burying Penwith under concrete, plastic and tarmac. Chasing the tourist pound come the transnationals; McDonalds, Burger King, together with shopping complexes and superstores, all wishing to steal more land from the people.

As if all this wasn’t enough, Penzance has recently been announced as the site for the proposed University of Cornwall. The campus is to be on a green field site and in its wake will come all manner of destructive planning proposals and renewed calls for road building. To add insult to injury, the university is to specialise in courses on mining and engineering. We can only try our hardest to make sure the next generation of Earth rapists graduate into a world where their degrees are obsolete and their disgusting skills shunned. As a reaction to these, and other iniquities, Penzance now has an Earth First! group. Actions are planned and activists who fancy a lungful of reasonably fresh air are welcome to come down and join the fun. Contact 01736 67715 for more details.