Reclaim Love

Every year for the last three years O-I-L have gathered a colourful bunch of noisy reprobates to hammer out on drums and rock the foundations of Piccadilly Circus with music from portable sound systems.

O-I-L is the brainchild of Irish-born Venus, a self-declared love activist: “The reason we call this Reclaim Love is because of Valentines,” she said. “People think that they have to go out shopping to prove that they love somebody. And it’s absolute rubbish. You do not have to go shopping. All you have to do is love them.

“People say that oil and gas are the most important resources on this planet today. That is also rubbish. Love is the most important resource of this planet. Because we are all O-I-L. One In Love.”

...

Halfway through the event Venus called on all those gathered to make a “beautiful big circle to send love and healing out to all the people of the world”. And they did. A truly incredible sight. Some six to seven hundred people from every background, every nation and religion, all stood hand-in-hand around the Eros statue to celebrate simple and untainted love. In fact, the circle was so large it spilled over and ran past Piccadilly Underground station into Shaftesbury Avenue.

...

So, when 14 February appears round the corner next year, stop and think for a while. Shall I go out and buy the one I love a big cuddly red heart, which was probably made in one of the millions of unloving sweatshops across the world? You can usually tell this by the country where the item was manufactured. Or shall I grab the one I love, be they male or female, and give them the biggest cuddle I can?

Consume or just simply love? That is the greatest question of all.

IndyMedia UK - Oscar Beard 14.02.2006 16:27

For more information go to: www.o-i-l.net