[12
OCT 99] FREEDOM TO BE YOURSELF CAMPAIGN NEWS
Local Naked Campaigner On
Channel 4
 A
Coventry man who started a campaign for the right to be naked in
public will be the subject of a television documentary this
weekend.
Foleshill-based
Vincent Bethell began the Freedom to be Yourself Campaign in
1997 after penning several letters to the government which were
not answered.
Although he
admits that people find the idea of his campaign amusing,
Bethell says there is a very serious side to the idea.
He said:
"It is
about freedom of choice to do what you want to do. I wrote to
the government repeatedly asking them why nakedness was
illegal and I did not receive any response so I realised it
was time to take more drastic action.
"The first
protest was in Picadilly Circus and around six of us attended.
The aim is to highlight to people what it is to be
human."
But Bethell
reveals that the campaign has not been without its difficulties,
he was arrested on one protest and charged under the Public
Order Act.
He said:
"My
solicitor is taking that further and we will be appealing to
the European Court of Human Rights to look at the way I have
been infringed.
"When I
started up the campaign I was a bit worried about the reaction
I would get from people, I thought there would be some
negative feedback but mostly that is not the case.
"Often the
reaction I get is laughter but that is ok, when you are naked
it is a joyous occasion and something to be happy about."
Although the
campaign has been running for two years with leaflets and
flyers, membership has only reached 15 people with around half a
dozen attending each protest.
Last June Bethell
staged a protest walk in Coventry from the fountain to the
statue of Lady Godiva.
The history and
details of Bethell’s campaign can be seen in a Channel 4
documentary which will be screened at 3.35am this coming Sunday
morning.
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