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Revision as of 10:55, 26 January 2006 by 82.143.162.72 (talk) (NPOV)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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, usually devoid of the necessary road tax and 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.
See also
External link
- The Travellers' Situation
- New Age Travellers: Recovery of Authentic Reality
- BBC Four Timeshift: New Age Travellers
- 'The Battle of the Beanfield' and 'Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion' - books focusing on New Age Travellers