In 2011 I'll post a YouTube video entitled: "What I did that led to Hastings Pier Fire".
You'll be able to find it by searching on that phrase.
If anyone else sees how what they did led to the 5th October fire, feel free to post on YouTube.
If you don't want to go public with it, why not ask for the communication to be managed privately by mediators who work in Criminal Justice and related fields:
http://peoplesjustice.org.uk
And if you are suspicious of the circumstances around the fire, here's some company:
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Why Move to Hastings?
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Why Move to Hastings?
What are you waiting for?
Some Hastings Residents now think that the Pier Trust is not for them to support yet.
What are you/they waiting for?
Back in October, the Sunday after the fire, I interviewed the first passer-by for her reaction.
I found that she said she was going to begin supporting the Pier Trust.
If she has, great.
If not, wouldn't you wonder 'why not?'; what has impacted since October that means a change of plan?
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What are you/they waiting for?
- Waiting for an end to rumours about the fire being 'an insurance job'?
- Waiting for clarity about who is paying for the post-fire demolition work on the pier platform?
- Waiting for the end of the winter storms & more structural reports?
- Waiting for the completion of the competition for the design of the new pier?
- Waiting for lottery funding to the tune of £11million?
- Waiting for the completion of the compulsory purchase order?
- Waiting for Godot to appear at The White Rock Theatre?
Back in October, the Sunday after the fire, I interviewed the first passer-by for her reaction.
I found that she said she was going to begin supporting the Pier Trust.
If she has, great.
If not, wouldn't you wonder 'why not?'; what has impacted since October that means a change of plan?
Relevant links:
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Taking responsibility?
A theme that will be developed on this blog in 2011 is the taking of responsibility.
Mutual understanding of what other chains of actions led to the event eg Hastings Pier Fire about which someone feels sad and hurt is something this. What acts by you or others, things you did, or things you didn't do, made the fire of 5th October 2010 more likely?
For what are you willing to take responsibility?
I wrote on http://twitter.com/paulcrosland (29th November 2010) that when the truth comes out about #hastingspier fire on http://peoplesjustice.org.uk, perhaps you will also say "I'm Spartacus!" & you'll value, as I do, the opportunity to take some responsibility in this town we love:
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Mutual understanding of what other chains of actions led to the event eg Hastings Pier Fire about which someone feels sad and hurt is something this. What acts by you or others, things you did, or things you didn't do, made the fire of 5th October 2010 more likely?
For what are you willing to take responsibility?
I wrote on http://twitter.com/paulcrosland (29th November 2010) that when the truth comes out about #hastingspier fire on http://peoplesjustice.org.uk, perhaps you will also say "I'm Spartacus!" & you'll value, as I do, the opportunity to take some responsibility in this town we love:
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How's your inter-generational communication?
Below is an example of how some understanding was built between two people of different generations who've never met and yet who have impacted on each other's lives.
First there was the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire. Then there was their communication about how they were affected. If you were affected too:
How would you respond to someone making fun of your sadness and tears? The Level 1 response might well be frustration, rage, hatred and/or withdrawl/depression? The response that might come beyond that (Level 2) might be a wish to have yourself understood. Is it likely that you will get that understanding from them?
One way that is more likely to get that understanding is the Level 3 response - by seeking to understand first
what is going on for the other.
Getting to Level 3 - Mutual understanding - enables many possible Level 4 outcomes; commitments to make things better in the future. For example, you may want to live in example, a safer society and to create a more "caring and sharing Hastings" etc.
By learning about what lay behind people's actions you get the opportunity to create whatever you care about that depends on the behaviour of all involved. Level 5 goes beyond making commitments; it tests those commitments over time, bringing the people who made them back together to check out that the plans are working for people and creating what they wanted to create. Sometimes adjustments are necessary to the strategies we have been following; others can help us get real in how we make our dreams of what we want where we live come true.
To seek to understand what motivated an action is not to deny or excuse anyone their responsibility for what happened.
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First there was the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire. Then there was their communication about how they were affected. If you were affected too:
- How have you been communicating about it?
- What's happened as a result of your communication?
How would you respond to someone making fun of your sadness and tears? The Level 1 response might well be frustration, rage, hatred and/or withdrawl/depression? The response that might come beyond that (Level 2) might be a wish to have yourself understood. Is it likely that you will get that understanding from them?
One way that is more likely to get that understanding is the Level 3 response - by seeking to understand first
what is going on for the other.
Getting to Level 3 - Mutual understanding - enables many possible Level 4 outcomes; commitments to make things better in the future. For example, you may want to live in example, a safer society and to create a more "caring and sharing Hastings" etc.
By learning about what lay behind people's actions you get the opportunity to create whatever you care about that depends on the behaviour of all involved. Level 5 goes beyond making commitments; it tests those commitments over time, bringing the people who made them back together to check out that the plans are working for people and creating what they wanted to create. Sometimes adjustments are necessary to the strategies we have been following; others can help us get real in how we make our dreams of what we want where we live come true.
To seek to understand what motivated an action is not to deny or excuse anyone their responsibility for what happened.
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Even those who started the fire may have loved the pier
-is that possible?
Black Tide; poem by CVG, St Leonards-on-Sea, 9/10/2010
Black Tide
A black tide has rolled in,
A black tide of starlings,
A black tide of rats’ bones, charred,
A black tide of timber, plastic, glass and twisted metal:
The sea-claimed refuse of the night of flame.
‘You can save me’ read the banners.
‘Everyone loves the Pier’ said the poster
You trampled as you scaled the railings
To tear the heart out of the town
And release the black tide
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Black Tide; poem by CVG, St Leonards-on-Sea, 9/10/2010
Black Tide
A black tide has rolled in,
A black tide of starlings,
A black tide of rats’ bones, charred,
A black tide of timber, plastic, glass and twisted metal:
The sea-claimed refuse of the night of flame.
‘You can save me’ read the banners.
‘Everyone loves the Pier’ said the poster
You trampled as you scaled the railings
To tear the heart out of the town
And release the black tide
(Photo is of blog author, Paul Crosland)
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A circle of people (including Pier Trustees) are due to watch this video together on 15th January
& as the Trustees already have the Burning Bridges DVD & are arranging the venue, screen and sound, all I have to do is turn up and join in the discussion at the end:
To arrange another screening of this film email here)
More on Restorative Justice as I see it, here:
and yet more on restorative justice as I see it, on my YouTube Channel
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To arrange another screening of this film email here)
More on Restorative Justice as I see it, here:
and yet more on restorative justice as I see it, on my YouTube Channel
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My glib phrase: "Creating a more caring/sharing society in Hastings requires no external money and will see us through to 80% of the Improvement"
When I write that I want to be part of the (re?)building of a more caring/sharing Hastings, what does this glib phrase mean?
Caring:
I guess it means a place where people care eg when a crime has been committed about what they can do to create the conditions whereby it is less likely to happen again.
In Hastings, have I done enough to show I care?
Not yet; I've started though. Thus:
In Hastings, what do we share?
I speak for myself below:
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Caring:
I guess it means a place where people care eg when a crime has been committed about what they can do to create the conditions whereby it is less likely to happen again.
In Hastings, have I done enough to show I care?
Not yet; I've started though. Thus:
- I spend two months wages on creating (within a month of the fire) the People's Justice service: http://peoplesjustice.org.uk
- Well, I wonder how the community feels(?) about the fact that a tenth of the money raised so far (ie £1K of £10K) has Tescos name on it as the benefactor of http://hpwrt.co.uk
In Hastings, what do we share?
I speak for myself below:
- I'm planning to share two garage-loads of (mostly) useful stuff, or what might grandiosely be called 'community transformation stuff' -we all it; we all have possessions and skills; all this is the seed-corn for growing a trusting, resilient community.
- Earlier, I set up (with friend and fellow-transitioner Edmund) the Freelending Community Interest Company and associated freelender.org website which got the attention and some much appreciated pages of write up in The Moneyless Man (published 2010 and now being re-published in Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, German, Turkish, Portuguese (for Brazil), & Japanese too)
- Then, following the lead of Mark Boyle as The Moneyless Man, I experimented with re-labelling myself The Lend It All Man ; so that Hastings will have at least one resident willing to share everything he owns.
"Much as a value criticism as a fuel and way of modifying my plans, I'm particularly intrigued (from a series of emails from you) by the tone / sense of some annoyance with my plans and or my assumptions/ways of working.
I'm also intrigued by the extent that you believe the issues in Hastings are around lack of money, rather than that 80% of the improvement is possible without government money; just by creating a caring/sharing society there (which is my hypothesis)."Please add a comment below:
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Spirits of Hastings Pier; the most disturbing viewing to date; showing how many thousands of miles what we do in Hastings reaches!
"Spirits of Hastings Pier" is, without doubt, the most disturbing YouTube film I've seen. Part 1 is 14-odd minutes long; Part 2, 12-odd. The film shows how one Kentucky guy whose mental health is a concern to family (after two months in an asylum) saw a "Hastings Pier Fire" YouTube video by Maybrick44 (a Facebook friend of mine) and then after a series of transportation difficulties at the US airport and at Victoria/Ashford, made it to Hastings and either did or didn't genuinely believe he met a Victorian Spirit. Spooky.
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Only £10,000 pounds raised when £250K needed for emergency repairs!
(20th November 2010)
Am I the only one who is deeply disappointed to learn today that for all the work of the Pier Trust and others only about £10,000 has been raised since the 5th October Hastings Pier Fire?
On October 18th the Pier Trust update said:
"If we can raise about £250,000 before the winter sets in we can do emergency works ,one of the vital works is to fuse the pier like they did in the war. Taking out a section of metalwork. It was replaced after the war with mild steel so we need to take this part down, once we achieve this when the bridge section collapses it will not effect to front two sections of the pier"
I'm noting in the wording above "when the bridge section collapses"; not "if the bridge section collapses". My vested interest is in the pier surviving the winter, then the lottery grant and compulsory purchase going through as wished for next March. My wish here is to support (or even lead) a door-to-door fundraising campaign in East Sussex; aiming for people to make a regular financial commitment by standing order. For the fundraising booklet, I found a graphic designer yesterday of the calibre /international reputation that suits, and some weeks back found a photographer with a canvas of the the substructure of Hastings Pier on his wall -and other suitable photos in his portfolio. Please may the sea be kind to the pier this winter. Or is better to let it go?
(For more clarity on how I'm adjusting my plans to put energy and resources into Hastings see http://additionalinfo.blogspot.com)
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Am I the only one who is deeply disappointed to learn today that for all the work of the Pier Trust and others only about £10,000 has been raised since the 5th October Hastings Pier Fire?
On October 18th the Pier Trust update said:
"If we can raise about £250,000 before the winter sets in we can do emergency works ,one of the vital works is to fuse the pier like they did in the war. Taking out a section of metalwork. It was replaced after the war with mild steel so we need to take this part down, once we achieve this when the bridge section collapses it will not effect to front two sections of the pier"
I'm noting in the wording above "when the bridge section collapses"; not "if the bridge section collapses". My vested interest is in the pier surviving the winter, then the lottery grant and compulsory purchase going through as wished for next March. My wish here is to support (or even lead) a door-to-door fundraising campaign in East Sussex; aiming for people to make a regular financial commitment by standing order. For the fundraising booklet, I found a graphic designer yesterday of the calibre /international reputation that suits, and some weeks back found a photographer with a canvas of the the substructure of Hastings Pier on his wall -and other suitable photos in his portfolio. Please may the sea be kind to the pier this winter. Or is better to let it go?
(For more clarity on how I'm adjusting my plans to put energy and resources into Hastings see http://additionalinfo.blogspot.com)
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Why Move to Hastings?
Tour of how your private messages for Hastings "arsonists" & other "criminals" are handled; not just for people from Sussex!
Here's a YouTube video of the website which has the start of a private video-diary to the 'arsonists' on it. The first user was a 45 year-old Hastings resident who, at the right time, would like also to express what losing the pier means to him; expressing this face-to-face with those who burned it down if the Probation Service obliges.
The 18 & 19 year old fire starters, who I expect to be supervised by the probation service, will be due back in court in the first week of December for their bail to be renewed or a trial date set.
This time schedule doesn't however determine when the right time is to have the dialogues that gets the truth out so that the community response can be properly informed.
If you've got something to say to someone who committed a crime that affected you, say it privately to them on http://peoplesjustice.org.uk
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The 18 & 19 year old fire starters, who I expect to be supervised by the probation service, will be due back in court in the first week of December for their bail to be renewed or a trial date set.
This time schedule doesn't however determine when the right time is to have the dialogues that gets the truth out so that the community response can be properly informed.
If you've got something to say to someone who committed a crime that affected you, say it privately to them on http://peoplesjustice.org.uk
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First People's Justice video message sent to the 'arsonists'; watch it on YouTube, then join the private conversation on http://peoplesjustice.org.uk
(Sunday 7th November)
A video-message has been made for those who started the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire (being called Was19 and Was18) from Was45. Though permission has exceptionally been sought for this video to appear in public cyberspace (YouTube etc), you can reply to this message privately via http://peoplesjustice.org.uk.
You don't have to be a fire-starter to reply.
Ask for a Sussex Peoples Justice Account and you can also record (on a web-cam etc) or upload your videos or text messages which will privately go to those who started the fire and/or to their representatives.
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A video-message has been made for those who started the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire (being called Was19 and Was18) from Was45. Though permission has exceptionally been sought for this video to appear in public cyberspace (YouTube etc), you can reply to this message privately via http://peoplesjustice.org.uk.
You don't have to be a fire-starter to reply.
Ask for a Sussex Peoples Justice Account and you can also record (on a web-cam etc) or upload your videos or text messages which will privately go to those who started the fire and/or to their representatives.
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Bonfire Night 2010; a month after the Hastings Pier Fire; Open an account at People's Justice and have your say
The People's Justice website is launched today; how does it work?
If, for example, you simply want to open up a dialogue with eg the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust you can use the site and type some words, record some comments with a web-cam or upload a video. You can stay anonymous if you prefer; your email address will be kept confidential to the moderator of the messages at Mediation Support Ltd.
If you choose to address your message(s) to individuals or groups who are in the midst of a criminal justice process, Mediation Support Ltd will liase with criminal justice staff before passing on your messages and you will be contacted again about the progress of this. At this stage -as at any other stage- you may choose to remove certain messages from the video-diary or messages that you have put privately onto the People's Justice website.
If you don't have access to a camera to record a film to upload and don't have a web cam either, web-cams can then be borrowed for free via freelender.org
The Mediation Support staff and trained-volunteers will invite a response to your concerns. This may come from:
Maybe you want more than just being heard and getting answers. If you want to suggest what people could do to improve things in the Sussex Community, ask people or offer to start something that improves the situation.
Through People's Justice, you can work towards whatever it takes to get that justice that respects everybody and that is more than what the criminal justice system provides to bring about justice.
Open an account at the People's Justice website and be part of the dialogues that make a difference.
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Why Move to Hastings?
If, for example, you simply want to open up a dialogue with eg the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust you can use the site and type some words, record some comments with a web-cam or upload a video. You can stay anonymous if you prefer; your email address will be kept confidential to the moderator of the messages at Mediation Support Ltd.
If you choose to address your message(s) to individuals or groups who are in the midst of a criminal justice process, Mediation Support Ltd will liase with criminal justice staff before passing on your messages and you will be contacted again about the progress of this. At this stage -as at any other stage- you may choose to remove certain messages from the video-diary or messages that you have put privately onto the People's Justice website.
If you don't have access to a camera to record a film to upload and don't have a web cam either, web-cams can then be borrowed for free via freelender.org
The Mediation Support staff and trained-volunteers will invite a response to your concerns. This may come from:
- the person or people you are addressing
- someone who represents them in some way
- someone who has done something similar.
Maybe you want more than just being heard and getting answers. If you want to suggest what people could do to improve things in the Sussex Community, ask people or offer to start something that improves the situation.
Through People's Justice, you can work towards whatever it takes to get that justice that respects everybody and that is more than what the criminal justice system provides to bring about justice.
Open an account at the People's Justice website and be part of the dialogues that make a difference.
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A Telling Time in Sussex
My focus is on providing a way for privately recorded videos and text-messaging for those who have something directly to say to 'Was 18' and 'Was 19', their representatives, or others.
I am amazed and greatly heartened by what one local resident in particular wishes to record and communicate to them on an appropriate timescale.
For clarity, I am in no hurry to establish the direct contact with the arsonists, even though I know someone who knows them. Rather, I will prudently be involving individuals employed in the criminal justice system to moderate/mediate communications which do go to 'Was 18', ''Was 19'.
Communication on "The People's Justice" website will also be for anyone else who is charged in Hastings with offences involving criminal damage, especially by fire. (eg Hastings Observer, 29th October, p3 -"A teenager has been arrested after a spate of car fires.)
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Intro to this blog & ACT Hastings! (Actively Changing Things in Hastings!)
You are invited to read this blog and then to write for this blog. Comments on the pieces here are not moderated (until abuse occurs) and if you want to write new posts, phone me and I'll enable you to do so, just as I have for the activist, Scott Ellis, who published his letter in 8th October's Hastings & St Leonards Observer to say that "Maybe the destruction of the pier is the boot up the backside we need."
Last Saturday's meeting arranged by "kick up the backside" Scott Ellis has led to the formation of a group of 25-30 people (at present) under the name ACT Hastings! (Actively Changing Things in Hastings!). Other contact details and information on the areas of work being undertaken to improve Hastings will follow.
The pier fire is certainly what 'fired me up' to volunteer in the Pier Shop at 34, White Rock. I'm also moved by the community I see to move to St Leonards in 2011. A friend there says that the heart has been torn out of Hastings; yet I've seen it beating more strongly than ever. Personally, I put much of my heart and soul into providing web-based services to access people committed to offering their best and creating better communities. My mission: "That Sussex becomes somewhere where no-one wants to set light to a pier".
On bonfire night, a month after the pier fire, the "Sussex People's Justice" service is to be launched via this blog:
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The pier fire is certainly what 'fired me up' to volunteer in the Pier Shop at 34, White Rock. I'm also moved by the community I see to move to St Leonards in 2011. A friend there says that the heart has been torn out of Hastings; yet I've seen it beating more strongly than ever. Personally, I put much of my heart and soul into providing web-based services to access people committed to offering their best and creating better communities. My mission: "That Sussex becomes somewhere where no-one wants to set light to a pier".
On bonfire night, a month after the pier fire, the "Sussex People's Justice" service is to be launched via this blog:
Who am I to use web-sites to engage communities in this way?
- Co-director of Freelending Community Interest Company
- Director of Mediation Support Ltd,
- Personally invited to 10, Downing St to be thanked by the PM for my work on behalf of victims of crime.
- Former Head of Restorative Justice, Mediation UK (2001-2006)
First contact might be made with their:
- friends/family
- those in the criminal justice system who in some way “supervise” them.
Somewhere down the line I hope that the words & voices of the community recorded on the people's justice website will lead to a dialogue with whoever comes forward as a representative of the “arsonists”. It may be that other 18 & 19 year olds, or other (ex) “arsonists” offer to talk to the wider community in the first place.
Whatever you would want to ask or tell to each of the arsonists, type it or record it here or on the one-to-one video-messaging site to be announced here on 5th November.
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Thanking an HPWRT Trustee for offering to arrange a screening of the "Burning Bridges" DVD
Thank you for your work in getting a screening opportunity for 'Burning Bridges'. Before this is shown to a large group, I'd really like there to be a showing or two to not more than twelve people. Holding a discussion in a circle afterwards is a key component of the community process which I'd like to see. Only when the community has had it's say and framed some questions do I want to offer my experience for what it's worth & similarly offer my views and choice of ways forward (to be discussed).
It matters to me that a pier trustee, such as yourself, is setting this in place. I'm lacking in 'legitimacy', time and support than do more at present than:
-make myself available as per my calendar gaps (www.paulscalendar.pbworks.com)
-visit Hastings and listen to people as much as I can
-maintain www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com
-launch the "People's Justice" website on 5th November.
Best wishes
Paul
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It matters to me that a pier trustee, such as yourself, is setting this in place. I'm lacking in 'legitimacy', time and support than do more at present than:
-make myself available as per my calendar gaps (www.paulscalendar.pbworks.com)
-visit Hastings and listen to people as much as I can
-maintain www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com
-launch the "People's Justice" website on 5th November.
Best wishes
Paul
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Sussex People's Justice -launched 5th November - will be based on the winning idea at the 2010 Social Innovation Camp (www.jailbrake.org)
At the 2010 Social Innovation Camp, the team I was in, led by Aleksi Knuutila, won the competition for the web/mobile phone based idea most likely to reduce youth offending/ youth custody.
The judges of www.jailbrake.org were from:
Jailbrake 2010 from The People Speak on Vimeo.
NB I introduce my passion for Restorative Justice 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the above video, and go on to summarise some of the personal experience that led to that passion and my time as Restorative Justice Co-ordinator working in HMP Bristol; a job which I took up after a lovely holiday spent in Hastings in 2007.
More information about how People's Justice will work in Hastings here.
What I see myself as doing in Hastings is showcasing the idea that anyone can start a conversation about a crime, or other incident in which they have been embroiled and that the outcomes of such conversations will be unexpected and usually beneficial to a number of people. Time will tell if the service due to be launched on Bonfire Night proves this process and it's benefits in a Sussex town.
The judges of www.jailbrake.org were from:
- The Youth Justice Board
- The Prison Reform Trust
- The Police Improvement Agency
- Foyer Housing Foundation
Jailbrake 2010 from The People Speak on Vimeo.
NB I introduce my passion for Restorative Justice 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the above video, and go on to summarise some of the personal experience that led to that passion and my time as Restorative Justice Co-ordinator working in HMP Bristol; a job which I took up after a lovely holiday spent in Hastings in 2007.
More information about how People's Justice will work in Hastings here.
What I see myself as doing in Hastings is showcasing the idea that anyone can start a conversation about a crime, or other incident in which they have been embroiled and that the outcomes of such conversations will be unexpected and usually beneficial to a number of people. Time will tell if the service due to be launched on Bonfire Night proves this process and it's benefits in a Sussex town.
HASTINGS PIER EMERGENCY FUND
Lesley writes:
We want to see a community-owned 21st century pleasure pier serving residents, visitors with a year-round offer of leisure, pleasure, education, entertainment, arts, business & job opportunities”
The Emergency Fund will be used to stabilise the bridge and central section Pier to mitigate against the risk of collapse during the Winter Storms.
You can pay money in at any HSBC Bank in the country. Just pick up a paying in slip enter the following information and hand to the teller.
Sort Code 40-23-18 Account 12249871
This service is free
Please pass the above information on to as many people as you can
We want to see a community-owned 21st century pleasure pier serving residents, visitors with a year-round offer of leisure, pleasure, education, entertainment, arts, business & job opportunities”
The Emergency Fund will be used to stabilise the bridge and central section Pier to mitigate against the risk of collapse during the Winter Storms.
You can pay money in at any HSBC Bank in the country. Just pick up a paying in slip enter the following information and hand to the teller.
Sort Code 40-23-18 Account 12249871
This service is free
Please pass the above information on to as many people as you can
Hasting Pier and White Rock Trust (HPWRT) Adopt a Plank
Here is a link to some downloadable community information.
Click below the picture to directly download the 'Adopt a Plank' form:
Here, in the midst of this video, is someone in the Pier Shop, 34, White Rock adopting a plank:
Here is the main HPWRT website.
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Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Click below the picture to directly download the 'Adopt a Plank' form:
Here, in the midst of this video, is someone in the Pier Shop, 34, White Rock adopting a plank:
Here is the main HPWRT website.
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
WANTED: Garage-sized storage space in Hastings (or preferably St Leonards)
At the end of October 2010 I moved a library of community resources into two garages in Bexhill, which will from Spring 2011 onwards gradually be offered on www.freelender.org
Ideally, I'm looking for a garage worth's of storage space to the West of London Road i.e. in St Leonards. This will largely be to bring the library closer to Hastings, The themes of this library are:
If you have any books & DVDs etc which you are pleased to offer to trustworthy people who will come round at a convenient time and borrow, then return the items as requested then please add these items to www.freelender.org
(By all means consider asking for deposits when you lend using this service)
For more on freelending & this library see:
http://freelenders.blogspot.com
& The Mediation Support Ltd Mediation Library
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Ideally, I'm looking for a garage worth's of storage space to the West of London Road i.e. in St Leonards. This will largely be to bring the library closer to Hastings, The themes of this library are:
- Mediation
- Management that serves
- Transition
- Transformation
If you have any books & DVDs etc which you are pleased to offer to trustworthy people who will come round at a convenient time and borrow, then return the items as requested then please add these items to www.freelender.org
(By all means consider asking for deposits when you lend using this service)
For more on freelending & this library see:
http://freelenders.blogspot.com
& The Mediation Support Ltd Mediation Library
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Seeking to make up for the 'justice deficit' that gives 'victims' of the fire little say.
There are two aspects to justice; that by the state, and that which involves the victims and communities more directly. In societies that have lost the engagement that is characteristic of true community, justice is left to the state to perform on our behalf, and a massive loss, or 'justice deficit', follows.
If you want the full picture as seen by an early visionary in the field of restorative justice and regenerating communities, please read Nils Christie's "Conflicts as Property".
The article can be downloaded from the 'Restorative Justice Resources' website (the file is here)
Please note that this article was written before the term 'restorative justice' was coined.
(I write this posting as a criminologist, or ex-criminologist, who was employed at the Institute of Criminology in the Faculty of Law at Cambridge University (1997-2001). In 2001 I took a job enabling me to influence the on-going development of Restorative Justice in England & Wales. Whilst still working to that brief, I live now as a community activist wanting a deeper form of justice than that which we are usually offered, and moving to live closer to friends, family and the community I see in Hastings/St Leonards in September 2011.)
Nils Christie is my favourite criminologist. He writes about why our conflicts are valuable to communities and how we (or our predecessors) have handed over one of our most valuable resources, conflicts, exclusively to the Criminal Justice System. This handing over of our responsibility is our loss.
Nils Christie's latest UK lecture -see this University of Oxford News Item, with a link to the talk - challenges many views and includes:
Home
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
If you want the full picture as seen by an early visionary in the field of restorative justice and regenerating communities, please read Nils Christie's "Conflicts as Property".
The article can be downloaded from the 'Restorative Justice Resources' website (the file is here)
Please note that this article was written before the term 'restorative justice' was coined.
(I write this posting as a criminologist, or ex-criminologist, who was employed at the Institute of Criminology in the Faculty of Law at Cambridge University (1997-2001). In 2001 I took a job enabling me to influence the on-going development of Restorative Justice in England & Wales. Whilst still working to that brief, I live now as a community activist wanting a deeper form of justice than that which we are usually offered, and moving to live closer to friends, family and the community I see in Hastings/St Leonards in September 2011.)
Nils Christie is my favourite criminologist. He writes about why our conflicts are valuable to communities and how we (or our predecessors) have handed over one of our most valuable resources, conflicts, exclusively to the Criminal Justice System. This handing over of our responsibility is our loss.
Nils Christie's latest UK lecture -see this University of Oxford News Item, with a link to the talk - challenges many views and includes:
- a view of the Welfare State as unsustainable & damaging
- concern at an 'apartheid' to be addressed between youth and adults (30 minutes in)
- arson prevention strategy in Swedish schools (16 minutes in).
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Your invitation to record a message for the 'arsonists' here; public or private
In response to the Hastings Pier Fire, the "Sussex People's Justice" website will be launched before bonfire night (a month after the fire) by Paul Crosland, former Restorative Justice Co-ordinator in HMP Bristol). This site offers Restorative Justice across Sussex, for all who have grievances and things to get off their-chest, firstly in relation to the 5th October pier fire.
From 5th November you will be able to send:
If, instead of private communication, you want your words to them to be public, please use the comment option below this blog posting.
P.S. In the longer term, I will endeavour to make the "Sussex People's Justice"
service available in all Sussex Prisons, as part of my long-term Restorative Prisons work.
Other pages on this blog:
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Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
From 5th November you will be able to send:
- text messages to the 'arsonists', aged 18 & 19 from St Leonards on Sea
- audio messages to the 'arsonists', aged 18 & 19 from St Leonards on Sea
- video messages to 'arsonists', aged 18 & 19 from St Leonards on Sea
If, instead of private communication, you want your words to them to be public, please use the comment option below this blog posting.
P.S. In the longer term, I will endeavour to make the "Sussex People's Justice"
service available in all Sussex Prisons, as part of my long-term Restorative Prisons work.
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Alleged 'arsonists' due to have their bail reviewed in court on 2nd November; after that let's watch this documentary together?
Bail was renewed until 1st & 2nd December 2010.
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
October Meeting for Residents that want to do something about the town of Hastings
Scott Ellis has just phoned, in advance of emailing to 15 supporters of his letter, and has called a meeting.
This will be held on Saturday 23rd Oct 2pm at The Stag, All Saints St in the Old Town.
He wrote in a follow-up email;
"please encourage any friends or family to come along too if they are interested in getting involved."
(Scott received 15 responses, all supportive, in teh four days following publication of this correspondence in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 8th October)
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
This will be held on Saturday 23rd Oct 2pm at The Stag, All Saints St in the Old Town.
He wrote in a follow-up email;
"please encourage any friends or family to come along too if they are interested in getting involved."
(Scott received 15 responses, all supportive, in teh four days following publication of this correspondence in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 8th October)
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Is this Blog welcome in Hastings?
Below these four YouTube videos which I filmed in Hastings/St Leonards over the weekend is a troubling letter which I've received (indirectly) and which I share particularly with Hastings residents for your feedback please?
After filming the chip shop clip above, a Pier Trustee rang me and said there was no insurance.
Other pages on this blog:
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Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Relevant links:
Relevant links:
After filming the chip shop clip above, a Pier Trustee rang me and said there was no insurance.
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
"Boot up the backside was what we needed"
News update: Scott Ellis co-ordinates an October meeting for residents that want to do something about the town of Hastings.
From Friday 8th October's Hastings & St Leonards Observer, the letter that grabbed my attention the most was the one given the headline:"Boot up the backside was what we needed".
I quote the beginning and the end of that letter and then copy the correspondence since with Scott Ellis of Homesdale Gardens:
This town has become an absolute disgrace.Ithas become a breeding ground for The Jeremy Kyle Show. Surely now, after the defacing of the Banksy and the burning of the pier, it has to be the final straw.
...
We need to at least be on par with decent seaside destinations both here and abroad to attract the right type of visitors to the town.
Maybe the destruction of the pier is the boot up the backside we need. Let's force boring councillors to give their decision making over to a local team of talented, passionate, creative and visionary individuals with backbone, drive and clout, who can then spend a few years moulding Hastings into the aspiring seaside resort it once was and should be.
Anyone interested in ruffling some feathers and forming a group to discuss this further please mail me at scott@rockettmedia.co.uk
I wrote to Scott as follows:
Dear Scott
Out of all the letters in the Observer yours was the only one I wanted to re-publish.
Permission to blog your letter & email address, please on www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com ?
Please also vote on whether you want £500k to be spent on incarceration of those who burned down Hastings Pier:
www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com
Restorative Justice, to me, is the creation of a quality of connection where everyone's needs matter, pain is allowed expression and dreams are at least shared, whether or not they are subsequently enacted, together or apart.
Best wishes,
Paul
Scott replied:
Please feel free to publish my letter and anything in this email. It's the first time I've ever written a letter to a newspaper, but it got to the point where enough is enough. I've had lots and lots of mails in support and will probably be holding a meeting next Saturday early afternoon for all those who want to get involved. Time and place to be arranged, I'll let you know via email in the week. I hope you can attend, the aim of the meeting is to try and formalise things a little and discuss what direction the group will take. Of course the pier is in all our interests to get rebuilt to the highest standard, but for now I think it's best to focus on a shorter term plan to try and make Hastings a nicer place for residents and visitors, then we can add our weight to the bigger money projects (ie the pier, ice rink, bathing pool) as we grow. I've pasted below a response I've sent out to many of the locals who have shown an interest....
My plan really is to get some ideas together from people like yourselves and condense them into a shortlist which everybody who's shown an interest is in agreement on.
Once these are identified, then arrange for us all to meet in a week for a chat and try and set something a bit more formal up for a further meeting with some of the councillors and others who may have some clout.
Whether the councillors be willing to come and get an earful from us remains to be seen, but where there's a will there's a way! We'll have to hijack them at their offices if not. All we need really is to convince them that our ideas are good for the town (which they will be) and get them to show a bit of interest and backbone in getting them implemented.
Surely it's in these councillors interests to do this to make a bit of a name for themselves(?)
I think the ideas generated should be for short to medium term practical things that won't cost the council too much to put into place. As money can't be the reason for them not to act, we can put some pressure on them immediately to get the ball rolling.I've listed a few below to give you an idea on what I'm thinking, and would welcome your input from any additional thoughts or views/improvements you might have.
Re the Carnival. Get the whole thing properly co-ordinated and add some eye candy for excitement (ie stilt walkers, fire eaters, ridiculous costumes etc). We have lots of design degree courses running in Hastings and Brighton, lots of artists and creative people living in the town. Let's get them properly involved, have a group heading things up and co-ordinating, run some design competitions with local secondary schools/college/university etc. Arrange some local workshops with the costume and float designers who are involved with Notting Hill/Mardi Gras(Brighton). Anything has to be better than the crap we have already.
Any scruffy properties on roads in Hastings and St Leonards within 1mile of the town centre or seafront to be given 12 months to give them a compulsory lick of paint and a tidy up. This would make it look like there's a bit of pride about the place. Maybe some kind of monetary incentive like reduced council tax(and maybe some of the herberts doing community service could also get involved in painting and/or improving communal areas)
Old Town Licensing. Extend the noise curfew until later and encourage a more European approach to things. (A few moany residents in George St are suffocating the place). 'If you don't like noise then don't move to an area full of pubs, bars and restaurants'.
No taxis or vehicles allowed on George St on Fri or Sat evening.
The fountain roundabout needs sorting out. The edges of it are broken and scuffed from lorry wheels and years of neglect. It needs knocking down and rebuilding. Maybe a big stunning piece of artwork or sculpture in the middle, properly lit up so that it becomes a talking point and a landmark. (The television was invented in Hastings, maybe a tribute to the evolution of TV or a John Logie Baird or something?)
Strictly enforced bigger fines for dog owners who mess the place. Three strikes and you lose your dog. (Maybe that's a bit extreme but you know where I'm coming from!)
Proper encouragement made to replace tacky and cheap looking signage above shopfronts and in shopwindows with something classier and a bit more fitting to a stunning seaside location. Brighton, Bournemouth don't have this problem, it's made Hastings look cheap and nasty for years. Time to inject a bit of quality and style...
Any empty shops in the town centre or seafront to be used in a constructive manner (ie free display area for local students/artists, small business, entrepreneurs) until they find tenants. This should be compulsory.
A serious attempt be made and proper incentives given to attract a big 4 or 5 star hotel chain to look at opening in Hastings to start raising the profile of the place a bit.
The town website is rubbish. This needs to be a million times more attractive as it's the Hastings shopwindow to the whole world. And promoted properly online too to attract the right clientele.
Obviously these are just ideas at the moment and can be elaborated on or sidelined depending on the interest from within the group. I hope you both find them of interest, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts.
Kind Regards,
Scott.
From Friday 8th October's Hastings & St Leonards Observer, the letter that grabbed my attention the most was the one given the headline:"Boot up the backside was what we needed".
I quote the beginning and the end of that letter and then copy the correspondence since with Scott Ellis of Homesdale Gardens:
This town has become an absolute disgrace.Ithas become a breeding ground for The Jeremy Kyle Show. Surely now, after the defacing of the Banksy and the burning of the pier, it has to be the final straw.
...
We need to at least be on par with decent seaside destinations both here and abroad to attract the right type of visitors to the town.
Maybe the destruction of the pier is the boot up the backside we need. Let's force boring councillors to give their decision making over to a local team of talented, passionate, creative and visionary individuals with backbone, drive and clout, who can then spend a few years moulding Hastings into the aspiring seaside resort it once was and should be.
Anyone interested in ruffling some feathers and forming a group to discuss this further please mail me at scott@rockettmedia.co.uk
I wrote to Scott as follows:
Dear Scott
Out of all the letters in the Observer yours was the only one I wanted to re-publish.
Permission to blog your letter & email address, please on www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com ?
Please also vote on whether you want £500k to be spent on incarceration of those who burned down Hastings Pier:
www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com
Restorative Justice, to me, is the creation of a quality of connection where everyone's needs matter, pain is allowed expression and dreams are at least shared, whether or not they are subsequently enacted, together or apart.
Best wishes,
Paul
Scott replied:
Please feel free to publish my letter and anything in this email. It's the first time I've ever written a letter to a newspaper, but it got to the point where enough is enough. I've had lots and lots of mails in support and will probably be holding a meeting next Saturday early afternoon for all those who want to get involved. Time and place to be arranged, I'll let you know via email in the week. I hope you can attend, the aim of the meeting is to try and formalise things a little and discuss what direction the group will take. Of course the pier is in all our interests to get rebuilt to the highest standard, but for now I think it's best to focus on a shorter term plan to try and make Hastings a nicer place for residents and visitors, then we can add our weight to the bigger money projects (ie the pier, ice rink, bathing pool) as we grow. I've pasted below a response I've sent out to many of the locals who have shown an interest....
My plan really is to get some ideas together from people like yourselves and condense them into a shortlist which everybody who's shown an interest is in agreement on.
Once these are identified, then arrange for us all to meet in a week for a chat and try and set something a bit more formal up for a further meeting with some of the councillors and others who may have some clout.
Whether the councillors be willing to come and get an earful from us remains to be seen, but where there's a will there's a way! We'll have to hijack them at their offices if not. All we need really is to convince them that our ideas are good for the town (which they will be) and get them to show a bit of interest and backbone in getting them implemented.
Surely it's in these councillors interests to do this to make a bit of a name for themselves(?)
I think the ideas generated should be for short to medium term practical things that won't cost the council too much to put into place. As money can't be the reason for them not to act, we can put some pressure on them immediately to get the ball rolling.I've listed a few below to give you an idea on what I'm thinking, and would welcome your input from any additional thoughts or views/improvements you might have.
Re the Carnival. Get the whole thing properly co-ordinated and add some eye candy for excitement (ie stilt walkers, fire eaters, ridiculous costumes etc). We have lots of design degree courses running in Hastings and Brighton, lots of artists and creative people living in the town. Let's get them properly involved, have a group heading things up and co-ordinating, run some design competitions with local secondary schools/college/university etc. Arrange some local workshops with the costume and float designers who are involved with Notting Hill/Mardi Gras(Brighton). Anything has to be better than the crap we have already.
Any scruffy properties on roads in Hastings and St Leonards within 1mile of the town centre or seafront to be given 12 months to give them a compulsory lick of paint and a tidy up. This would make it look like there's a bit of pride about the place. Maybe some kind of monetary incentive like reduced council tax(and maybe some of the herberts doing community service could also get involved in painting and/or improving communal areas)
Old Town Licensing. Extend the noise curfew until later and encourage a more European approach to things. (A few moany residents in George St are suffocating the place). 'If you don't like noise then don't move to an area full of pubs, bars and restaurants'.
No taxis or vehicles allowed on George St on Fri or Sat evening.
The fountain roundabout needs sorting out. The edges of it are broken and scuffed from lorry wheels and years of neglect. It needs knocking down and rebuilding. Maybe a big stunning piece of artwork or sculpture in the middle, properly lit up so that it becomes a talking point and a landmark. (The television was invented in Hastings, maybe a tribute to the evolution of TV or a John Logie Baird or something?)
Strictly enforced bigger fines for dog owners who mess the place. Three strikes and you lose your dog. (Maybe that's a bit extreme but you know where I'm coming from!)
Proper encouragement made to replace tacky and cheap looking signage above shopfronts and in shopwindows with something classier and a bit more fitting to a stunning seaside location. Brighton, Bournemouth don't have this problem, it's made Hastings look cheap and nasty for years. Time to inject a bit of quality and style...
Any empty shops in the town centre or seafront to be used in a constructive manner (ie free display area for local students/artists, small business, entrepreneurs) until they find tenants. This should be compulsory.
A serious attempt be made and proper incentives given to attract a big 4 or 5 star hotel chain to look at opening in Hastings to start raising the profile of the place a bit.
The town website is rubbish. This needs to be a million times more attractive as it's the Hastings shopwindow to the whole world. And promoted properly online too to attract the right clientele.
Obviously these are just ideas at the moment and can be elaborated on or sidelined depending on the interest from within the group. I hope you both find them of interest, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts.
Kind Regards,
Scott.
Hastings Pier Fire - The Pier Shop Window
34, White Rock, Hastings:
Other pages on this blog:
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Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
What is the problem in Hastings?
RE hastingspier - just received a call saying "Hang on, the pier isn't the problem we've got in Hastings". What do you think the problem is?
Other pages on this blog:
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Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
How a "modest" door-knocker could raise £500,000 for HPWRT
The HPWRT YouTube videos builds my confidence in HPWRT as an organisation I'm willing to raise £500k for through doing a year's door-knocking, supported by a booklet of the same quality as that which karuna.org use. How come £500k; that's the five-yearly income based on people signing up for £10/month and I reckon I could get 5-6 sign-ups per night going out to about 3000-5000 selected Sussex houses over 200 days between October 2011 & October 2012.
UPDATE TO THIS BLOG POST:
PLEASE NOTE THAT I WROTE 'SUSSEX HOUSES'; many of the standing-orders will be signed by people outside Hastings & St Leonards, I reckon.
Nonetheless I have received the following feedback:
UPDATE TO THIS BLOG POST:
PLEASE NOTE THAT I WROTE 'SUSSEX HOUSES'; many of the standing-orders will be signed by people outside Hastings & St Leonards, I reckon.
Nonetheless I have received the following feedback:
Paul, I've just read your blogspot on fundraising...
The HPWRT YouTube videos builds my confidence in HPWRT as an organisation I'm willing to raise £500k for through doing a year's door-knocking, supported by a booklet of the same quality as that which karuna.org use. How come £500k; that's the five-yearly income based on people signing up for £10/month and I reckon I could get 5-6 sign-ups per night going out to about 3000-5000 selected Sussex houses over 200 days between October 2011 & October 2012.
....please remember that Hastings/St Leonards is the poor end of East Sussex; 40% of E.Sussex's unemployed are resident here. In fact Hollington (north-end of St Leonards), is apparently the 6th poorest ward in the country, Social services have relocated long-termed unemployed from the London Boroughs (because of cheap housing) down here over the last 20-30 years.
What I am trying to say is that you are unlikely to get people to donate to the extent that you are suggesting above, particularly in such an area of economic disadvantage, and that's to say nothing of the economic climate generally at the moment and the forecast for the medium-term. If it was Brighton, a well-heeled town, it might be different. I'm only saying this as I don't want you to waste your time and energies - they might better be directed elsewhere - sorry to sound like a killjoy.
message to the "arsonists"
There are a number of ways to send messages to the two individuals accused of the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier arson. One very public way is via YouTube; tagging your video: "A message to the Hastings Pier Fire 'arsonists'". The more private way, based on award winning* work by Restorative Technology Ltd will be launched here and on my twitterstream (#hastingspier) by the end of October.
*www.jailbrake.org - see the video of our winning Restorative Justice Messaging work there.
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*www.jailbrake.org - see the video of our winning Restorative Justice Messaging work there.
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Paul Crosland's master blog
The blog where I summarise all my activities -and have more on Hastings & Restorative Justice- is:
www.additionalinfo.blogspot.com
Other pages on this blog:
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Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
www.additionalinfo.blogspot.com
Other pages on this blog:
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Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Mission Statement
- Support the (People's) Pier
- Build a Community that really shares & cares
- Generate a deeper justice in Sussex
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
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Why Move to Hastings?
- Build a Community that really shares & cares
- Generate a deeper justice in Sussex
Community Resources:
- Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust
- Lets All Share
- freelender.org
- Sussex Community Blogspot
- Sussex: Telling Time (Restorative Justice & mediation on-line)
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