BBC: People Power - Direct Action

"From the poll tax riots to fuel protests, from demonstrations against the transportation of live animals to the fight for father's rights, the documentary shows, through the stories of some of those involved, what lessons have been learned over the years from successive protests and why People Power has become such an influential and potent force in modern political life.

In 1990 Alistair Mitchell accompanied his film-making girlfriend to the poll tax demonstrations in central London. His job was to take stills of the event, but instead he found himself caught up in the poll tax riots which contributed to the downfall of a Prime Minister.

In 1995, Susan Robinson was a normal middle class woman in her 50s who had never been politically active. But protests at Shoreham against live animal exports affected her so much she joined in. Veal calf exports were halted.

In 2000, Brynle Williams, a North Wales farmer, organised the first fuel protest at Stanlow oil refinery which threatened to bring Britain to a halt. The government was forced into an embarrassing climb-down over increases in fuel prices."
(official page)