Just a short piece to report on a truly amazing day on Saturday accompanying the students of the MA ILTUS at Ruskin who have worked tremendously hard to gain a day off to attend the annual Levellers' Day event in nearby Burford.
If you need some introduction background to The Levellers' try these:
https://levellersday.wordpress.com/ (website for the annual event)
https://libcom.org/history/1642-1652-diggers-levellers (a good introduction/overview)
http://research.gold.ac.uk/10465/1/HIS_thesis_Rees_Thesis_2014.pdf (a definitive insight)
As stated by the speakers at Saturday's event what is needed in the UK's post-election period is a constant, high-profile series of debates/events/marches articulating an alternative to austerity.
Prominent amongst the Leveller ideal was the notion of 'the commons'; of land purposed for the common good. As house prices and rents soar following the election result, basic Leveller tenets take on a new purpose and appeal.
Sadly, I haven't time for a lengthier piece about The Levellers' and austerity, but I did want to post some of the images from Saturday.
They reveal a solid sense of the good times had by the hard working activist-scholars of Ruskin College; women and men who will play a leading part in re-imagining the Leveller tradition in the days and years to come.
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| Colm proudly sings The Internationale |
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| Comrades together! Amina, Chilayi, myself and Kalvinder |
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| Very proud of Byron (and Bryan) for agreeing to be dressed as Levellers |
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| Thanks to Simon for acting as custodian of the Ruskin banner during the Levellers' day events at Burford church. |
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| Well done to Neil for bringing his PCS branch banner! |
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| The plaque commemorating the three Levellers murdered in Burford churchyard |
In Solidarity
Ian
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