| Revision as of 17:06, 29 January 2006 edit82.143.162.72 (talk) Impossible to contact the author to check accuracy, unlike the UK parliament who can be contacted. UK parliament already dismissed as a source by another editor.← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:09, 29 January 2006 edit undo82.143.162.72 (talk) Link only represents one POV. Hansard has represented more than one but has been rejected as a source by another editor.Next edit → | ||
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Revision as of 17:09, 29 January 2006
New age travellers or Peace Convoy are a peculiarly British social phenomenon consisting of a group of people who often espouse New age and Neopagan beliefs, and who travel between music festivals and fairs in order to live in a community with others who hold similar beliefs. Their transport and homes consist of vans, lorries, buses and caravans, often painted in bright colours with slogans and often driven in convoys. They also make use of improvised tents, tipis and yurts. The movement originated in the free festivals of the 1970s such as the Windsor Park Free Festival, the early Glastonbury Festivals, and the Stonehenge free festivals.
The movement has, in their opinion, 'suffered persecution' by the British government since the mid eighties, beginning with the authorities' attempts to prevent camps at Stonehenge at midsummer and the Battle of the Beanfield in 1985 -- the largest mass civil arrest in English history. The 'persecution' culminated in the Criminal Justice Act of 1994 making trespass a criminal act, largely aimed at this group, and also traditional traveller groups like the Roma people. Members still congregate, but are forced to keep a low profile. Other travellers have emigrated to other parts of Europe.