NEWS
the Blockades Committee has arranged to have some of the entrants to be documented
in a film tentatively entitled "The Blockade Builders: Trial by Fire", assuming there
are entrants that live within driving distance from the Blockade committee
headquarters.
FAQ:
are "dams" considered to be blockades by the committee?
it depends, technically while having their blockade poperties "dams" usually
aren't considered blockades because that blockade function is secondary in nature.
"dams" though can be thought of as highly specialized forms of blockades, being
dependant on
the presence of water. the primary purpose of dams is quite different than that of
a blockade. for example, a dams purpose is to reduce the flow of water considerably for
whatever reason. subsequently a blockades of a waterway purpose is to restrict the use
of the
water way by mostly people but may or may not restrict the flow of water.
and yes dams do fit both of these criteria but many in the committee feel that
the blockade qualities of a dam are just secondary arbitrary effects of dams.
so any documentation of a dam would have to focus on it's blockade qualities
and somehow prove that this function isn't arbitrary. (see "post structuralism")
what about "accidental" blockades? or blockades that is only a natural occuring
phenomena like the sand that deposits on the drainage area of a street and blocks
or alters the path of water, insects etc when it rains?
The committee feels very strongly that the most important qualities of blockades
lie in their intent and any such arbitrary nature of blockading is "not being true
to the nature of blockading". though the committe rarley disqualifies an entry
on this basis. the exception being when last year , a contestant submitted a
documentation of
a "beaver dam" as an example of a blockade was disqualified for "lack of effort".
this was done so in respect for the other "blockaders" that spent a good deal
of time in the construction of their examples. (see "driftwood sculpters")
what's the difference between a "blockade" and a "barracade"?
good question, much of this lies in semantics, but generally barracades tend to be
much more temporary in nature. generally "barracades" tend to be much less thought out
and hap hazard, used primarily as a defensive tactic where as blockades tend to be more
considered and an "offensive" maneuver.
What are some good historical examples of "blockades"?
probably the best historical example is in WWI when the english and it's naval
superiority
used the tactic of a "naval" blockade against the germans. the end result being
germanys desperate
attempts to thwart this blockade by adopting an "open season" on all ships sailing in
and out of the
area by german Uboats. even passenger liners containing large numbers of the
previously neutral americans.
once the germans sank the Lusitania (albeit the germans were forced into this) the
opinion of the
rest of the world turned decidedly against the germans which lead eventually to
germanys eventual surrender
and subsequent harsh treatment by the victors of germany which entually lead to WWII.
so in a way
the english blockade set in motion all the events that lead to Hitlers eventual rise
to power etc.
(see "propaganda" and "the effectiveness of naval blockades")
Jason Pierce
Coordinating Chairman,
Tornament of Blockades Committee
