Internet protest websites
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This page is a list of 'protest' sites (most of them based in the UK) that have used the Internet as the main vehicle for communication and publicity. No connection with SeeRed is implied. Nor is there any implied degree of endorsement, beyond that I have looked at these sites and thought the content interesting. The listing order is alphabetical.
Protest site concerning poor pension performance http://www.badpension.com .This site is a PowerPoint presentation so you need the appropriate program. Directed against Zurich/Allied Dunbar who (it is alleged) took 65% of pension contributions in the first two years as fees. But is this so unusual? The recent history of the financial services industry could be summarised as creaming off a lot of money for little work - but Clients rarely noticed because a booming stock market made everyone feel rich.
Road humps and other problems in Bromley are discussed on an extensive site operated by the Bromley Borough Roads Action Group.
Council Tax protest groups have become active throughout the UK. One of the largest is www.isitfair.co.uk. Also there is www.seniorsnetwork.co.uk/isitfair/ which contains links to about 20 other local tax-protest groups. The important point is that the government has been forced to act faced with a potential rebellion of 'small' people who have used the internet as a central means of co-ordinating their individual campaigns.
The Derby Gripe is an extensive and amusing site centred on Derby City Council. Worth visiting, especially for the linked Real UK pages.
The Derby Heart campaign site is centred upon objecting to new road schemes in the city centre. http://www.derbyheart.org.uk
A spirited campaign against 145 road humps in the Staffordshire village of Great Wyrley. http://www.greatwyrley.org.uk . Centres upon the arrogance of Staffordshire County Council - who have been forced to pay compensation for damage to vehicles.
My Right To Be Private is a new (2005) site www.mrtbp.com run by experts in market research who are uneasy about the extent to which government collects personal information and then sells it to third parties.
Campaign to vote an 'outsider' as a Director of the Portman Building Society (and others) as part of a wider campaign "to restore democracy and membership participation at UK Building Societies" http://www.mutualmembers.com.
Mentioned on the acclaimed 'Honest John' website is www.peachorlemon.co.uk - a selection of experiences with some of the worst models of cars. Unfortunately, the names of offending and/or grossly incompetent garages are not listed. Blame the lawyers!
A well researched site centred upon the health effects of exposure to pesticides, www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk has attracted extensive press coverage in the last few years. Worth reading even if you were not thinking to moving to the countryside for the good of your health!
A new site (March 2004) www.snagging.org aimed at dissatisfied purchasers of new homes - contains many links to small websites giving bad experiences of some builders.
Information/protest site concerning poor reliability of head gaskets on MGF sports cars is available at http://www.shame.4mg.com. Similar engines are used in some Land Rover Freelander models - which also have an appalling reputation for reliability on the Honest John site. A 'class action' lawsuit is in progress in respect of the poor reliability of the K series engine.
Exposure of waste of money in local government regarding cycle lanes is at http://www.weirdcyclelanes.co.uk The site has a serious purpose in helping to highlight the calibre of some UK road traffic engineers - other examples are given in seered.co.uk at trafficsignal.htm and roadhumps.htm and five_lamps_fiasco.htm.
One of the best known 'protest' sites is http://www.wronglybuilthouses.co.uk aimed at house builders Wilson-Connolly. Written by a man who bought a new home in Trowbridge, and who is obviously rather angry about its quality, the site was mentioned on a consumer radio programme broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in the UK. It is worth a visit even for the number of links, and to view the feedback. The central lesson is probably the extent to which large companies (and Local Councils) think they can still 'tough it out' when faced with valid criticism. This website is an illustration of how the Internet could change consumer protection for the better. See also the ideas elsewhere on SeeRed at cprotect.htm.
Your site could be added here. Please email me.
A useful site to enable you to fax your MP from a PC is often available.
If you want to see how lazy (or dedicated) your MP is, try www.theyworkforyou.com
For many motoring issues and dozens of links, see http://www.speedlimit.org.uk.
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