earthfirst – Page 115

Occupy! Manchester – 2nd October Tory Party Conference

From 2-5 October 2011 the Conservative Party are coming to Manchester to hold their annual conference. All eyes will be on this city as the Tory’s analyse their progress in implementing their disastrous program of public sector spending cuts, and reveal plans for the years ahead. This conference should not go unopposed. We intend to make the opposition to the cuts and the widely shared belief in a better alternative future visible, and we’d like to do this with you!

We have been inspired by the large and vibrant student protests that took place last winter, by the dynamic and high-impact actions of UK Uncut, and by the popular demonstrations we are witnessing across North Africa, the Middle East, Spain and Greece. The times are changing and people are speaking out against injustice and inequality.

What are you planning to do?

We need to try new forms of opposition. We have marched in our tens of thousands at previous party conferences, and in our hundreds of thousands in London. Crucial as they are, more marches in bigger numbers will not be enough. As the anti-war protests of 2003 showed, the government finds them easy to ignore. As anger at the Con-Dem cuts grows we need to make it more visible.

The cuts are for the benefit of the rich – we refuse to pay for their crisis!

The TUC have called a national demonstration to be held in Manchester on Sunday October 2nd. That afternoon anti-cuts protestors will occupy Albert Square to create an assembly of protest on the doorstep of the Tory’s conference, a symbol of the mass opposition to the cuts and a place for real
debate and discussion about the alternatives and the possibilities.

Come ready to make noise, and stay for the long haul!

Occupy!MCR

Supporters so far:

* Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union – Manchester and Merseyside.
* Education Activist Network.
* Geoff Brown, Secretary of the Manchester TUC (pc).
* Manchester Book Bloc.
* The Manchester Green and Black Cross.
* Manchester UKuncut.
* Manchester University Staff against the Cuts.
* Manchester University Student Union.
* Queer Resistance North-West.
* Real Democracy Manchester.
* Shift Magazine.
* Socialist Workers Party.
* Socialist Worker Student Society.

German coal blockade during climate camp

30.08.2011
Since 10.30 this morning a group of over 50 activists have been blockading a coal transport railway in the Cologne area. The action takes place at the same time as the nearby international Climate Camp, protesting the open-cast mining of brown coal (www.klimacamp2011.de)

The activists peacefully blocked the line early this morning, erecting banners and greenwashing the railway tracks. The protest is aimed at energy giant RWE, which operates a number of power stations in the area and is responsible for about 10% of Germany’s carbon dioxide emissions.

The protest is being kept well-supplied with blankets and food by members of the climate camp, and is currently preparing for a night on the tracks.

The international climate camp is situated in the village of Manheim which is scheduled to be destroyed in order to enlarge a brown coal strip mine. Brown coal, or lignite, is a less pure form of coal and is therefore much less energy-efficient and creates greater emissions than regular coal.

The international climate camp includes guests from as far afield as Colombia and Azerbaijan and aims to build links within the international climate justice movement, calling for urgent system change, not climate change.

Genetically Modified Papaya Farm Sabotaged in Hawaii

8.9.11

According to Hawaii County police, thousands of GE papaya trees were sabotaged last month, apparently by machete on the Big Island.

8.9.11

According to Hawaii County police, thousands of GE papaya trees were sabotaged last month, apparently by machete on the Big Island.

“It’s hard to imagine anybody putting that much effort into doing something like that,” said Delan Perry, vice president of the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association to the Associated Press. “It means somebody has to have passionate reason.”

Workshop for Actions and Alternatives – all-year-climate-camp

There’s something strange about climate change: It’s well-known, there’s no need for general education. Everybody supports approaching the problem and stopping human-caused climate change.

There’s something strange about climate change: It’s well-known, there’s no need for general education. Everybody supports approaching the problem and stopping human-caused climate change.
Although governments promise answers and solutions, we’re just watching a rapid increase of the climate catastrophe. Thus the suspicion comes to mind, that the right solutions haven’t been found – or rather that they’re not acceptable for economy and governments.
The question arises, if our world can wait for a solution. People in regions, where it comes to food shortage, scertainly not. At first, people in poor regions won’t be able to adapt to changes. Droughts or floods will force them to flee. Mostly various reasons urge people to flight, yet climate change will play an increasingly important role.
This fact by itself questions the distribution of raw materials and food on this world – or why the poorest, who contributed the smallest part of climate-relevant greenhouse-gases so far, shall bear most of the damage.
Europe guards itself: Legal barriers for fleeing persons are intolerably high and on the Mediterranean Sea, the European police force “frontex” provides a hardly passable blockade. We see this situation as cynical and dissatisfying – for the fleeing it’s rather fatal. On the basis of this example we want to illustrate that it’s about more than energy-saving lamps and recycled paper. Neither do we see the nuclear phaseout in Germany, linked to a half-hearted energy transition, as a solution. There’s a lot to do…

This flyer addresses to all persons, who are not willing to wait for a solution “from above” anymore. The aim shall be to take the initiative yourself, to see yourself as an active person in this “political power game”, in which we usually just should move as consumers. Let’s create determined, progressive politics together from below – for an entirely different climate.

Why in the Rhenish brown coal-mining region?
In this region, brown coal is mined in three opencast mines, mainly for six gigantic coal-fired power stations, whereby the vast bulk of CO2 in Europe is emitted. What “Wendland” is for nuclear energy, the Rhenish brown coal-mining region has to become for carbon energy. We want to work together with concerned locals – whole villages are forced to resettle – in solidarity against destruction.
We want to present a lively counter-image to capitalist destructiveness! Here, experimental living of a climate-neutral future, over there the tear-off edge, the hole – square-kilometres of destruction. Decide now!

Space for learning
Courses and seminars shall be provided in a Do-It-Yourself culture. Themes turn around climate-neutral life, non-hierarchical methods and forms of organisation, diverse kinds of theoretical stuff and methods of resistance. And since we neither belief in homogeneous concepts from above against climate change, nor find them desirable, we consider a debate from below necessary. A debate, in which everyone is invited to take part, which isn’t build up on expert’s hierarchies, which doesn’t seek unification, but which can stand different positions, in hope that there will arise syntheses out of tensions in between.

And action…
The workshop shall serve as a platform for different actions against destruction of the environment and living space. Thereby we focus on developing putting into practice methods of actions, which we together do with persons from there and elsewhere, which aim at the emancipation of the single individuals.

The Workshop for Actions and Alternatives is being built up from September (2011) on in
52355 Düren, Kallsgasse 20

How to get there and latest infos:
waa.blogsport.de

If you feel appealed by this text, there are diverse possibilities how you can take part:
– Come and see what we’re doing
– Contribute your ideas and talents (of organisation for example)
– Get in touch if you want to teach or learn something
– Distribute this flyer
– Offer your abilities: Lay-outing, writing, do research
– Donations of money would also help:
account of donation:

Red women on green rampage – Women’s wing of CPI(Maoist) tells Giridih to stop felling trees

Forests of Pirtand in Giridih district have new best friends in the form of CPI(Maoist) women’s wing, Nari Mukti Sangh.

Since one week, around 70 women of the rebel outfit are taking out hour-long roadshows in the afternoon across the block, exhorting people not to cut trees. If they do, they better pay up a fine of Rs 1,000 or face some unspecified punishment, which is likely to involve beatings. It is green activism that takes itself seriously.

“Jungle bachana hi hoga varna aane wale vinaash ke liye hum khud hi zimmewar honge (we have to save forests at any cost now, otherwise we will be responsible for natural calamities),” thundered Neela Devi, one of the leaders of the outfit.

The women, armed with axes, sticks and spades, move from village to village with grim determination, spreading the message of afforestation.

Not only are they sloganeering, they are also taking out rallies and staging nukkad (neighbourhood) meetings in different villages of the Maoist stronghold.

Sources said unlike their male counterparts, the women don’t believe in violence. But if anyone felling trees is caught red-handed, he might be roughed up, as the women members have “threatened dire consequences” if people damage the area’s green cover.
When the women rebels are not issuing threats, they are also informing people about the importance of trees.

“Forests are our real assets. Please realise their importance and save trees. They absorb poisonous gases and are the best friends of man and wildlife,” said Devi at a rally on Monday.

Villagers, slightly bemused, are however turning up in large numbers to hear the women speak.

“We have had good response. Villagers have promised not to fell trees indiscriminately. But the Sangh will keep its eyes open,” said Devi.

On Monday, the Sangh’s roadshow passed through different villages including Masnotand, Pandnatand, Chilga and Palgunj, with around 70-odd women armed with pickaxes, spades and bamboo sticks chanting pro-green slogans and holding impromptu meetings.

At every spot, tens of villagers listened in pin-drop silence that would have been the envy of any green NGO.

http://revolutionaryfrontlines.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/18848/

ASS needs you!

The Advisory Service for Squatters releases its first newsletter… and wants your help!

The hardworking bunch at the Advisory Service for Squatters have just released their annual report in the form of a newsletter.

Its full of as much information, juicy gossip and as many requests for help that you can fit on two sides of A4!

The Advisory Service for Squatters releases its first newsletter… and wants your help!

The hardworking bunch at the Advisory Service for Squatters have just released their annual report in the form of a newsletter.

Its full of as much information, juicy gossip and as many requests for help that you can fit on two sides of A4!

have a look here!: http://ompldr.org/vYTU5Zg/final-for-viewing.pdf

There are articles on the consultation papers, undercover infiltrators and the ASS’s opinion on an ex-member’s new anti-squat company.

They are also asking for assistance! ASS currently need volunteers for office shifts, volunteers for tasks outside the office and CASH!!!

If you can help with:

volunteering to do some time in the office
putting on a benefit gig/cafe/cinema etc
translation (documents to print or communications)
printing
archiving

…or in any other way you can think of then drop us a line at friendsoftheass@gmail.com

Please distribute!!

Final for printing (3MB): http://ompldr.org/vOXo0eA/final-for-printing.pdf

Rossport round-up

Shell Contractor Quarry Shut Down For Day
Barret’s Quarry in Bangor Erris shut down by protesters

On Wednesday 31st August at 8am 15 people entered Barrett’s quarry, just outside Bangor Erris in Co. Mayo and stopped work for the whole day, leaving at 5:30pm. Barrett’s is a subcontractor on the Corrib Gas Project, currently bringing truckloads of gravel and hardcore to Shell’s site in Aughoose.

Entering the quarry site Wednesday morning was easy, as there were only a couple security guards and there is no fencing around the site aside from the front gate. Once people were on site work was halted pretty quickly as people climbed up onto diggers and other machinery.

No attempt to remove the protesters was made, and the day was pretty calm. Folks even got up to playing werewolves and charades while on the machinery in order to pass the time.

At 5:30 after all the workers had gone home and there was no chance of them resuming their deliveries to the Shell site, all the protesters left through the front gate.

Protesters have been targeting Barrett’s lorries on the public road over the last few weeks as they were trying to make their stone deliveries to the Shell compound, by stopping them and climbing on top of them. This occupation of the quarry itself is a message to all contractors working for Shell on this project.

Nearby Lennon’s Quarry also supply material to the site and have also had many of their vehicles occupied in recent weeks. Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway said today: “Both businesses will continue to be a target of the campaign until they end all work at Shell sites.”

—-

Corrib protests – if Tuesday was not mad enough try today
26.8.11
MEP assaulted, work halted for six hours, campaigners drive into refinery and bounced back out again four hours later

Local Shell to Sea campaigners and their supporters at Rossport Solidarity Camp are resting after another bizarre day of lows, highs and outright idiocy during their ongoing protest against Shell in co. Mayo.

The day started unpromisingly with a 6am sortie against the compound at Aghoos seeking to exploit a couple of weak points in the fence. Shell’s contractors Roadbridge and Shevlins are racing to finish the first bit of work in constructing the fencing and new entrance way. Every moment is counting for them. This left a couple of promising gaps which people from the camp sought to exploit in their dawn raid.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Security from IRMS were aggressive from the beginning and were dragging people across hard-core and the road. Though the main target failed, a secondary one saw two people get in. As other weak points were probed, one protester who was on the road was deliberately charged from behind, tripping them face-first onto the road. This was all photographed; a complaint to a Sergeant imported from Galway was naturally treated with disdain, the gardaí happily taking their place as part of Shell’s private security. This has already been reported to the Amnesty/Frontline human rights observer in the area and will be pursued.

People returned to camp to get a bit of rest and recuperate. Just before midday, Dublin MEP Paul Murphy (of the Socialist Party) and a number of supporters turned up. They were shown the camp and given an update as to how the campaign has been going.

While this was happening a group of people waited near the junction near Glenamoy, a key turning point for the vehicles coming between the refinery at Bellinaboy and the Aghoos compound. Most trucks and tractors along this route are escorted by gardaí, who have placed officers along this route, and whose vans regularly follow people walking it.

Despite all this attention from gardaí, quick thinking meant that one person was able to jump on top of a Barretts Quarry truck – the firm providing much of the hard-core – at around 1pm. It was a beautiful moment. Campers, locals, Paul Murphy & co all converged on the site. A good natured protest ensued, with people laughing, joking, singing, children making water balloons and the person on top of the truck giving us a rendition of “Which Side Are You On”, re-worded to take in Shell.

In the refinery a backlog of trucks and other vehicles began to build up. The public order team turned up with their cherry picker to remove the person on top of the truck. Those in the road sat down and formed two lines wrapping arms and legs around each other with the aim of stopping the cherry-picker coming in. The thugs from the public order team waded in, as ever, dragging people out, ripping clothing and using pressure points on the ear. Paul Murphy, who was involved in the line was among those assaulted in this fashion. Naturally he was livid. Word is that the story is going ‘viral’.

Not to be deterred, after the person on the truck was removed and arrested, people decamped to the front of the refinery. Numbers grew to over 50 as more locals came to support. It was fantastic to see old faces again, something that really boosted the campers. It was clear there was a buzz despite the rain that came on. There was more playing in front of the gates, and a determination to resist in the air. For those who had been at the morning protest, it was such a lift. Gardaí and security stayed clear; the line of trucks backed up inside the refinery grew longer. The person who had been arrested was charged, released and came to join the protest.

Eventually Shell caved in. They parked up the trucks and shut up shop at Aghoos at 6.30pm. Though having pushed their workers to keep to the existing timetable, the day was lost to the campaigners. Fearing that they might try and take some of the vehicles out the back gate, people drove around, driving up close to the back gate. Two of these cars driven by locals (well known to security) and containing just as recognisable people were waved through the refinery gates by security. So, we suspect, heads are going to roll. One car drove around and back out again without security actually being aware of this. The other stayed in and drove around the refinery, two fingers up to all who think they can run rough-shod over the people of Erris. Naturally, the gardaí, late to the party this time, then began stopping workers going in. It was a great turn around to a long day. Now, for another planning meeting…

For Paul Murphy’s own account:
I was just about to finish this report when we heard… two IRMS (Shell’s private security) minibuses were blocked for an hour. And the car was still in the refinery as of 8pm. So down we head again, barely finishing inner. Security had surrounded the car at the inner perimeter fence as it was trying to leave. For some very bizarre reason they would not let the car leave by the gate directly in front of it, but wanted it to go all the way to the back gate.

The occupants refused that option as they were worried they would be ambushed. A tractor was brought and attached to the back of the car by a rope. For the next hour and a half the car was bounced backwards across the site. The idiocy of the people doing this meant that the car was constantly bouncing and knocking against the back of the tractor. Once occupant phoned the gardaí for help but the person answering the 999 call laughed. It is not hard to see why the gardaí in Erris are not trusted by the people who live there.

By 9pm a crowd of locals and people from the camp had assembled outside the back gate in support. Numbers swelled to forty by 10pm when the tractor finally brought the car out – gardaí and security filled out into the road – the security clearly acting like cops again – pushing concerned friends and family away. It was a relief to see our friends safe again.

A long, exhausting day, but amazing in so many unexpected ways. Welcome to Mayo.
http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org

—-

Mayo Road Blockaded in International Solidarity Protest
August 26 2011
From 6.00am to 9.30am this morning, three campaigners occupied Aghoos Road, as part of the ongoing protests against the controversial Shell refinery at Bellinaboy. They formed a triangle in the middle of the road using a set of especially made arm-tubes. This action follows on from yesterday, which saw the Gardai assault Dublin MEP Paul Murphy during a sit-down protest at the same part of the road. The protest stopped a number of Shell’s construction vehicles reaching their destination at Aghoos. All three have been arrested and taken to Belmullet.
From 6.00am to 9.30am this morning, three campaigners occupied Aghoos Road, as part of the ongoing protests against the controversial Shell refinery at Bellinaboy. They formed a triangle in the middle of the road using a set of especially made arm-tubes. This action follows on from yesterday, which saw the Gardai assault Dublin MEP Paul Murphy during a sit-down protest at the same part of the road. The protest stopped a number of Shell’s construction vehicles reaching their destination at Aghoos. All three have been arrested and taken to Belmullet.

One of those occupying the road said, “I’m doing this in support of a similar protest that took place in Broome Community, Australia last night. This is a powerful way to show that struggles from Ogoniland in Nigeria, to the Tar Sands in Canada, Australia, to Erris, Mayo and now to Australia are linked in common cause. Once we heard about the Broome Community actions we had to show solidarity. It feels really powerful to be part of this.”

The Broome Community are opposing a gas project that parallels the situation in north-west Mayo. Like Mayo, Shell is one of the companies being resisted by local communities. Links between the two communities are being established, and award winning film “The Pipe”, which documents the Mayo situation is being shown at events in Australia.

Yesterday saw a series of events targeting the Shell refinery in Aghoos and Bellinaboy. The Rossport Solidarity Camp was visited by Paul Murphy, MEP who came to learn more about local community resistance to the project. While taking part in a peaceful sit-down protest in front of a truck he was assaulted and had his clothes torn by gardai.

Con Coughlan, from the Camp said, “The determination we are feeling is incredible; knowing that people in Australia were doing their protests while we were doing ours was inspiring for us all. We send our best wishes out to them.”

ENDS

*FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:*
Rossport Solidarity Camp 085 1141170

Notes
1. For more information on the Broome Community protests see http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com/

2. For reports of events on Thursday, 25th August, see
Related Link: http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org

—–

Daily Protests in Mayo, Numbers Building
Actions are constant, sometimes 3 or 4 in a day

Between lock-ons, mass trespasses, lorry climbing and a breach of security at Shell’s refinery, this week brought a lot of people out protesting. Locals who haven’t been out on the roads in years have come out this week, and momentum is building.

Here are some photos from Wednesday 24th August that haven’t been posted. Tuesday and Thursday were so full of events that these photos didn’t make it up. But things are happening every day, keep looking at the shelltosea.com website, twitter, and indymedia to stay posted.

Wednesday’s events began with a 6am trespass onto Shell’s compound in Aughoose. Soon after a few people went to join the locals who are at the refinery gates every morning, and 6 people sat down in the road wrapping arms and legs around each other to stop a tractor. Gardai dragged people out of the road for the tractor to pass. After this one person managed to climb on top of a truck delivering bogmats outside the refinery. The person stayed up for about 10 minutes but when a garda climbed onto the lorry and wrestled her D-lock away, preventing her from locking on, she came down and was not arrested.

Later that day Shell illegally extended their Aughoose compound into the public road, using harris fencing to reduce the road to one lane. Shell’s private security then stood in the public road, and workers yet again stopped traffic whenever a delivery was being made to the compound (which happens 3-4 times an hour and can mean 5-30 minutes of road closure). When people from the Rossport Solidarity Camp saw them putting up fencing in the road people went down to take advantage of the narrow road for the next tractor delivery. However once again Gardai and IRMS worked together to push people into ditches, contain people, and clear the road.

Honest to god direct quote from MY 31 Sergeant Richard Mahony, explaining why people must clear the road, “For your own health and safety, or we’ll throw you in the ditch.”

Apologies for the belatedly posted photos, it is not easy keeping up with media stuff when actions are happening constantly! There is plenty to do that doesn’t involve protesting as well, including tending to the three gardens, cooking the communal meals, maintaining the wind turbines, and everything else it takes to maintain the camp!

The camp is located in a field overlooking the Shell compound in Aughoose, between Bellanaboy and Pullathomas. Come for a visit anytime! Contact the camp at rossportsolidaritycamp[at]gmail[dot]com or 085 114 1170

—-

Mayo Road Blockaded in International Solidarity Protest
From 6.00am to 9.30am Friday 26th August, three campaigners occupied Aghoos Road, as part of the ongoing protests against the controversial Shell refinery at Bellinaboy. They formed a triangle in the middle of the road using a set of especially made arm-tubes.

This action follows on from yesterday, which saw the Gardai assault Dublin MEP Paul Murphy during a sit-down protest at the same part of the road. The protest stopped a number of Shell’s construction vehicles reaching their destination at Aghoos. All three have been arrested and taken to Belmullet.

ENDS

Notes
1. For more information on the Broome Community protests see http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com/

2. For reports of events on Thursday, 25th August, see
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100407 and
This action follows on from yesterday, which saw the Gardai assault Dublin MEP Paul Murphy during a sit-down protest at the same part of the road. The protest stopped a number of Shell’s construction vehicles reaching their destination at Aghoos. All three have been arrested and taken to Belmullet.

ENDS

Notes
1. For more information on the Broome Community protests see http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com/

2. For reports of events on Thursday, 25th August, see above, or
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100407 and
http://www.paulmurphymep.eu/breaking-news-how-the-gardai-assaulted-me-and-other-peaceful-protestors-in-rossport

Oxford social centre gets stay of execution

25.08.2011
The squatted social centre known as “Plebs’ college” was in court this morning for an eviction hearing.

About 10-15 supporters crowded into the public gallery while a couple sat at the front to address the court.

There were, of course, the usual comedy moments that occur when a large group of people is forced to remain serious at a formal-but-slightly-ridiculous event.

25.08.2011
The squatted social centre known as “Plebs’ college” was in court this morning for an eviction hearing.

About 10-15 supporters crowded into the public gallery while a couple sat at the front to address the court.

There were, of course, the usual comedy moments that occur when a large group of people is forced to remain serious at a formal-but-slightly-ridiculous event.

The judge claimed that none of our defences amounted to a valid legal defence, and informed us with an affable demeanour that “you might be doing something very worthwhile and meritorious with the place, but you don’t have a right to be there” and “you may very well be homeless but you can’t stay on someone else’s property”.

Still, we had apparently gained his sympathies; he suggested to the owner’s solicitor that they undertake not to make use of the possession order for at least 7 days, and pointed out that it would likely take another 7 days beyond that to arrange bailiffs.

They agreed, and so we have the place for another 1-2 weeks.

One down-side is that the judge agreed to allow the owners to apply to the High Court for enforcement if necessary; which means if they need to they can send bailiffs with more powers (though they are also more expensive for the owner).

The judge finished with the comment: “I hope you find somewhere else”. Incitement and encouragement to continue the project in another squatted space? Well, perhaps…

—
From previous report from 14th August:
An empty industrial workshop in East Oxford has been squatted by a group planning to use it for community and social events, an organising base for local radicals and living space too.

We had our first visit from the cops today. To cut a long story short, they managed to coerce their way in by waving around battering rams and threats of arrest. But after wandering around and failing to find any evidence of theft or damage, they left.. leaving us pleasantly mystified. Not sure why they didn’t kick us out when they physically had the chance; there are many theories.

Still, now that first encounter is out of the way we can now get down to business. A freeshop, bookswap library, community meals and freeschool events are some ideas we have for starters, but we want your ideas too! If you have an idea for an event or project, get in touch or come and chat.

We’re at 55 Randolph Street, which is here:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=51.745114&mlon=-1.234634&zoom=16
…unfortunately at the moment getting in involves hopping over the front wall to get into the courtyard. This can be done using the neighbours’ front wall (luckily the folks in that house seem to be pretty sympathetic). If you need a hand with this give us a wave from the road.

Useful things you could bring:
-mattresses or bedding
-electrical or plumbing skills
-food and/or water

If you don’t have time to visit us in person you can reach us at:
oxsquat@riseup.net

The Black Fish is looking for crew members

The marine protection organisation The Black Fish is looking for people to join its direct action team and future ship’s crew.

The marine protection organisation The Black Fish is looking for people to join its direct action team and future ship’s crew. “In order to be effective in our marine conservation campaigns, we need to be out at sea, opposing the most destructive fishing and hunting activities, where they happen away from the public eye.” For this reason The Black Fish is working towards the purchase of an ocean going vessel and is looking for crew members.

“There are possibilities opening up to us which might see us getting access to a vessel in the near future. We need a crew for the initial overhaul of this ship and preparing it for its first campaign.” according to Wietse van der Werf, spokesperson for the organisation.

The Black Fish has launched a crew application page where people can apply for voluntary crew positions. “We are looking for people with sailing experience but this is not a necessity for the entire crew. Willingness and dedication to commit time and hard work to make future campaigns of The Black Fish a success, that is a must.”

Any questions related to crewing with The Black Fish, please see the crewing page on our website or contact the crewing coordinator at crew@theblackfish.org

We look forward to your application!

http://www.theblackfish.org/

HIGHWAY PROJECT SABOTAGED

received anonymously:

"10 kms of interstate highway staked out for extension were sabotaged last week in Northern Ukraine.

received anonymously:

"10 kms of interstate highway staked out for extension were sabotaged last week in Northern Ukraine.

Although some could argue that activism like this is not even worth mentioning (that's our own attitude on the matter, for example, like shoplifting or stensils), we do find it necessary to mention the act.

First reason is an important notice that usually fails to make its way into minds of some of our comrades. While it is important to respond to System offensive actions (like reactive attacks that took place in Kharkov and Saint-Petersburgh and Moscow and basically everywhere, where eco-anarchists RESPOND to raping of Nature), we find it more important to continue our attacks on technology and its means of destruction of nature even when no concrete offense is taking place.
In our case we just happened upon some old highway extension project, which, like many costly projects in Ukraine, was suspended because of awful economy of the country. Mother-Nature has already started reclaiming the area, with grass and dirt covering plates of concrete and some survey stakes.

But its obvious for everyone living in here that projects like this (interstate highway between Moscow and Kiev) will be put to life, for example as soon as next billion of dollars gets send by IMF or something.
So our small vagabond group of earth liberationists went to vandalism as soon as survey stakes were noticed. Just to help the Wild and hasten the process. We do believe the task was worth it.

And the reason for this is the thing that's often lost in communiques of our comrades world-wide. Its the most wonderful and magical feeling of communion with nature. When one does not only feels invigorated and excited because of his deeds, but something extraordinary happens, that gives hope and provides the momentum necessary for continuation of our project.

During the process of (tiresome and dangerous 'cause of police intervention) joyful destruction, our hungry and thirsty band (reasons for our thirst and hunger being banal travel from point A to point B) kept stumbling upon bountiful bushes of wild sweetbriar, so that we managed to fill ourselves and eat/suck the juices to our delight.
It is in moments like this that one gets to really appreciate the connection that comes into being when one turns away from civilization and towards untamed Wild.

– International ELF/FAI"