North Dorset Campaign Centre
Campaigning - the challenge
The campaigning tradition of local publications is somewhat in retreat these
days.
The tradition is threatened firstly by an increasing indifference or even
hostility to local politics and a 'disconnectedness' that manifests itself in a
belief that the individual can have little effect on what happens around them.
Thus people generally wonder if there's any point in expressing their views.
Secondly, many local and regional publications are no longer independently run. So while
editors may be minded to support various local campaigns, the
extent to which they are able to do so may be constrained - not necessarily by 'dont
offend any advertisers' editorial control, more often by being given objectives
which don't allow them the time they need.
The Internet can't change the first of these constraints, but it certainly opens
up opportunities for like minded individuals to find and support each other. In
that way, they can exert more force to achieve their particular objectives.
Current campaigns:
Voluntary Link Car Scheme -
Gillingham
Fairtrade Shaftesbury
Sherborne Wind Energy Project
Allotments in Buckland Newton
Removing Shaftesbury
Town Hall
In the pipeline:
Secure Shaftesbury livestock market site for community use
Secure the Red Lion site in Gillingham for community use
One way traffic circulation in Gillingham High St.
Gillingham - Shaftesbury shuttle bus
northdorset.net will provide non-judgemental
campaign-space for individuals or groups who want to assess or elicit support for
specific objectives.
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