<
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/26/uk-economic-uncertainty-adds-fuel-to-fire-for-conspiracy-theorists>
"The sea of yellow placards, held aloft in the protest against Oxford’s
low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) scheme earlier this month, told a story. In
the crowd of about 2,000 people who took part, it was clear the demonstration
was about much more than traffic reduction.
“The 15-minute WEF ghettoes are not about climate, it’s tyrannical control,”
read a placard. “Say NO to the new world order. Say no to 15 mins prison
cities. Wake up, people, wake up.”
Oxford has accidentally found itself at a flashpoint. Its town planners cast as
the acolytes of some shadowy new world order, intent on crushing liberty – not
with secret police, arrests and intimidation but under the boot heel of a modal
filter planted with a few herbs and shrubs.
Across the UK, councils are installing barriers to limit car traffic to main
roads, while encouraging residents to walk, cycle and make use of local
amenities. The idea is to reduce pollution, while making streets safer and more
livable. The schemes, though, have split opinion.
In Oxford the council is going further than most to tackle worsening congestion
on its medieval roads. Six electronic traffic filters are to be tested in a
six-month trial. Private car drivers will need a permit to pass through between
7am and 7pm. Those without one will face a penalty charge of £35, rising to £70
if it is not paid within two weeks.
While there are legitimate concerns from residents, details of the scheme have
also been repackaged for a wider audience of sceptics. The far right,
libertarians, and assorted conspiracy theorists are riding the wave of
resistance to LTNs as fertile ground for their interests. As the Covid pandemic
fades, this is the next front in the fight against a supposed elite cabal,
centred on the World Economic Forum, which organises the annual Davos
gathering, pulling the strings on world events. For the Oxford protest, the
far-right group Patriotic Alternative, Laurence Fox, Piers Corbyn, Katie
Hopkins and the 1990s pop group-cum-conspiracy theorists Right Said Fred had
travelled in to the university city.
Some protesters continued with the anti-vaccine placards. For others, the new
targets were held aloft. Many have a common theme: the economy, its
institutions, and efforts to combat global heating."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
