Going down the canal

It's just a thought, but aren't so-called 'direct action' events supposed to actually cause hardship to someone else in an attempt to make something change?

When teachers go on strike, it's the kids who suffer until the Government/LEA/headteacher backs down and gives in.

When lorry drivers blockade fuel depots, isn't it meant to affect people other than the drivers themselves?

When one million walked through London against the war in Iraq, wasn't it meant to shame the Government into realising that a lot of people didn't support the hunt for pretend weapons?

When Passport Agency workers work to rule (ha - done that one before, and we didn't notice the difference). But you get my drift.

So which bright spark dreamt up the narrow boat blockades of canals up and down the land today in protest at cuts to the budget of British Waterways?

Don't get me wrong, I love canals, particularly the Leeds-Liverpool. And I love the fact Birmingham has more canals than Venice.

But who exactly is going to suffer when the narrowboaters blockade the canals. After all, who else uses the water other than them? Up next: Fishermen protesting at the cuts by staging sit ins next to the water?