Nomadic Penan and Kenyah indigenous peoples, their resistance to deforestation, and their daily lives. In the Belaga district of Sarawak, East Malaysia, Borneo 1991 Tropical rainforest and one of the world's richest, oldest eco-systems, flora and fauna, under threat from development, logging and deforestation. Home to indigenous Dayak native tribal peoples, farming by slash and burn cultivation, fishing and hunting wild boar. Home to the Penan, traditional nomadic hunter-gatherers, of whom only one thousand survive, eating roots, and hunting wild animals with blowpipes. Animists, Christians, they still practice traditional medicine from herbs and plants. Native people have mounted protests and blockades against logging concessions, many have been arrested and imprisoned.

In August 1990 ‘The Malvern families’, comprising off a dozen adults with eight young children, some homeless, all in urgent need of housing, moved into and squatted nine derelict staff bungalows on The Crescent, in the grounds of St. Wulstan’s hospital, Malvern. The bungalows were initially without water or electricity , but were soon redecorated, repaired, doors and windows replaced. There was a community spirit, sharing transport and resources. Gardens were cleared, and with no traffic the children were able to run around and play wherever they wanted. The families got water from wells on the Malvern Hills, and used camping stoves for cooking. In this idyllic rural retreat, the community lived in peace and hope for some months. However eviction notices were issued on the Malvern Families as the local health authority had agreed to sell the land to Bovis Homes for residential development. In October 1990 the squatters were due to be evicted but got a temporary reprieve while they appealed against a County Court Order at Worcester Crown Court. After five months of legal wrangling, the squatters’ appeal was lost and the families were eventually evicted by the High Sheriff on 28th January 1991. Armed with crowbars, supported by police, bailiffs entered the bungalows at St.Wulstan’s. Some of the squatters were dragged out. Furniture and belongings were dumped outside the bungalows. It was a very traumatic event for those involved. Some families were initially housed in local bed & breakfast accommodation, while others moved in with friends, and some eventually left the country.

'Hanging On By Your Fingernails' is the story of the struggle at Lea Hall Colliery, Rugeley, Staffordshire, during the Great Miners Strike of 1984-1985, which took place forty years ago. At Lea Hall, north of Birmingham, a few hundred brave strikers supported by their wives and families held strong during the year long miners strike, opposing the pit closures in Great Britain, together with hundreds of thousands of other striking miners across Wales, England and Scotland. The striking miners were fighting an onslaught against them, orchestrated by Margaret Thatcher and the National Coal Board. Lea Hall was what is known as a Minority pit. To begin with however 70% of the two thousand or so coal miners were out on strike, but within a few weeks many had returned to work over the issue of the ballot. Whilst most miners went to work and crossed picket lines throughout the year, what is remarkable is the small minority who held strong until the bitter end, manning the picket lines against the scabs, police and National Coal board. The colliery management tried to undermine morale by claiming normal production levels, but in fact this was not the case, as lorry loads of coal were brought on from other coal fields. In fact, most the strike supporters were face workers, and it was estimated that production was down over 50%. All eyes were on Lea Hall, as Lea Hall was the ‘Rolls Royce of the Western Area. Being the most modern pit. Firstly an Exhibition and later a book, both entitled ‘Hanging On By Your Fingernails’ were published during the 1980s in Great Britain. Most photographs shot during 1984-85, a few in the years following the strike. All images have been scanned from original blck & white negatives