Squashcampaign : Save our Rights to Protest and squat.

There is a Government Consultation on Till Oct 5th 2011.
Concerning criminalising squatting/trespass which will affect rights to protest and occupy for tenants,workers,students eco,peace and climate camps.
There are 5 options in the consultation.
For more info check

www.squashcampaign.org
www.squattastic.blogspot.com – monthly meetings.
www.squattersactiongroup.wordpress.com

www.squashcampaign.org
www.squattastic.blogspot.com – monthly meetings.
www.squattersactiongroup.wordpress.com
email: squattersactiongroup@gmail.com

Help neede with the campaign,networking,awareness events,printing fliers,banner making,supporting actions.
Keep networking

More bomb attacks against nanotechnology in Mexico

17.8.11

The same group who took credit for anti-technology bombing in April, which news sources in Mexico reported exploding at Universidad Politécnica in Valle de Mexico, has claimed more attacks.

According to Time Magazine, “An anti-technology group… was responsible for a package bomb that injured two university professors just outside Mexico City, a state prosecutor said Tuesday [August 9, 2011]. Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office announced that a suspicious envelope presumbly containing explosives was found at Mexico’s National Polytechnical Institute on Tuesday, though it didn’t detonate. The office has opened investigations into both incidents.”

The Time article claims the groups is calling itself ‘Individuals Tending to Savagery’, although a translator’s note on the anarchist blog War On Society, which posted a translation of the communique, uses the name ‘Individualists Tending Towards the Wild’ and explains: “The group’s name, Individualidades tendiendo a lo Salvaje [ITS]… more literally means ‘individualities,’ and salvaje more literally means ‘savage’… having more of the connotations of barbarous undomesticated wildness than pure pristine wilderness, and without as much racist connotation as the English ‘savage’ has.”

As with the April communique, ITS is again a bit wordy, with plenty of footnotes, ala Ted Kaczynski. Here are some excerpts: “But what’s wrong with creating solar energy through modified nanoparticles? some will say. ITS answer: When these modified viruses affect the way we develop as the result of a nanobacteriological war, by some laboratory error, or by the explosion of nanocontamination that compromises the air, food, transportation, water, in short, the entire world, then they will realize, all those who defend nanotechnology and cannot find an apparent threat, that it was a grave mistake to leave it to grow at their leisure.”

“Among the projects at the mentioned university campus are the Center for Business Development and Transference of Technology, CEDETEC, which is part of a futuristic philosophy called Mission 2015, which is committed to developing research and technology relevant to nanobioindustrial progress for the country in different areas… CEDETEC is a place where the efforts of companies, the State, and the university merge, and which aims to promote job creation, attraction of capital, and growth of technology companies and to increase value for the academy.”

“…It is logical we will continue with these acts, and other scientists and the rest of technoswillology [the original 'tecnobazofia' more seamlessly combines two words meaning 'technology' and 'pigswill' or 'hogwash' – transl.] must pay the consequences of their actions…”

China orders petrochemical plant shutdown after protests

14.8.11

Chinese authorities have ordered a petrochemical plant to shut down immediately after tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of a nearby city, demanding the factory be relocated.

14.8.11

Chinese authorities have ordered a petrochemical plant to shut down immediately after tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of a nearby city, demanding the factory be relocated.

The demonstration in Dalian – one of the biggest in a series of recent Nimby rallies against potential polluters in China – was sparked by the news last week that a protective dike around the Fujia factory, in the Jinzhou industrial complex, had been breached by rain and high waves as typhoon Muifa approached.

In a rare concession the local Communist party chief, Tang Jun, and Dalian’s mayor, Li Wancai, promised to move the project out of the city, Xinhua reported.

The protesters demanded a clear timetable for moving the plant, with some refusing to leave until a plan was in place, the state-run news agency said. Read more here

China protest closes toxic chemical plant in Dalian

14 August 2011
Authorities in the north-eastern Chinese city of Dalian have ordered the closure of a chemical plant after a mass protest over pollution.

Scuffles had broken out on Sunday between police and thousands of protesters calling for it to be moved.

14 August 2011
Authorities in the north-eastern Chinese city of Dalian have ordered the closure of a chemical plant after a mass protest over pollution.

Scuffles had broken out on Sunday between police and thousands of protesters calling for it to be moved.

Officials ordered the plant’s closure “immediately” and pledged to relocate it, state news agency Xinhua said.

Last week a storm broke the dyke around the plant, sparking fears the paraxylene (PX) it makes could spill.

PX is used in fabric manufacture and can be highly toxic.

About 12,000 residents took part in the protest, some of them moving across the city chanting slogans and waving banners.

Xinhua said the city’s top official, Tang Jun, had tried to calm the crowd on Sunday but the protesters showed no sign of dispersing.

There were no reports of injuries in the scuffles during which riot police were deployed to shield the municipal government office.

Calls for protesters to gather on Sunday for a “group stroll”, as the rally was termed, had reportedly been circulating on social networks.

“Group strolls” have become a favoured tactic for Chinese people to show discontent with the government.
‘PX out!’

Photographs posted on the internet on Sunday showed protesters, including children, marching under such banners as “I love Dalian and reject poison” and “Give me back my home and garden! PX out! Protect Dalian!”.

One picture showed three men standing on top of a police van in front of People’s Square and a person in a skeleton costume surrounded by hundreds of men and policemen, Reuters news agency reports.

On Monday, residents living near the PX plant had to be evacuated after storm waves breached a dyke protecting it.

The dyke was repaired but concern rose among local people, and reports suggested the plant may have been operating illegally months before it received mandatory environmental approval.

PX is used to make plastics, polyester and cleaning products, and can damage vital organs after long-term exposure.

A Dalian resident, who declined to be named, told Reuters news agency: “We know that the typhoon caused some leak of poisonous chemicals from the PX project and we are all worrying about it because it is a threat to our life.”

Local people hoped their protest would “push the government to do something as soon as possible to dispel” the concern, the resident added.

Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, was being censored by the authorities to block searches for the terms “PX”, “Dalian” and “Dalian protests”.

New EF! Action Update

In an end of the summer compact EF!AU, find news about kicking shell in the teeth in Rossport again and then some more, solidarity with the community at Dale Farm, and anti-GM resistance – Spuds you Don’t Like demo in England, sabotage in Germany, France and Scotland.

On top of the usual contacts and dates, read about solidarity with jailed Swiss nanotech activists, resistance against steel plants, mobile phone masts, mining and energy projects here & across the world – stay angry and don’t carry on as usual!

The quarterly EF!AU, August 2011

New canopy occupation in the Willamette National Forest

8 Aug 11

An action-filled summer continues as a new call out for support comes from the Cascadia Forest Defenders: “…Looking for experienced tree sitters to occupy a sit we have put up in the North Deere timber sale in the Willamette National Forest.

8 Aug 11

“It is an old growth sale that is about to be logged and we need help defending it! Get yourself to Eugene and we will help you out with the rest (aka a place to stay, a ride to the forest, etc). Reply to forestdefensenow@gmail.com if you can come now… Come be part of the movement to stop saws and change minds!”

Learn more about the Cascadia Forest Defenders here

Protesters urge federal minister to stop Australian gas hub; 29 Arrested

7.8.11

The Federal Minister for Environment arrived in the Kimberley the morning of August 2nd as three arrests were made at the proposed James Price Point natural gas hub site. The massive new project is being forced on the community by the Australian government on behalf of Big Oil including Woodside Petroleum, Chevron, Shell, and BP.

There have now been 29 arrests in protest to the proposal which would signify the beginning of the industrialisation of the Kimberley. Two weeks ago, 5,000 people attended a protest at Cable Beach against the industrialisation of the Kimberley and the threat of turning Broome into a mining town.

Environs Kimberley Director Martin Pritchard said: “An extremely damaging 30 year ‘forest war’ is coming to an end in Tasmania and the Prime Minister and Environment Minister Tony Burke have seen firsthand how damaging this has been environmentally, socially and economically. What we are seeing here now is the beginning of the fight against large scale industrialisation of the Kimberley.”

“Minister Burke has to decide on what his legacy will be for this spectacular part of the world–industrialisation or the protection of the outstanding international wilderness values of the Kimberley… Wilderness areas across the planet are being destroyed and we are lucky here in Australia that we can make a choice to protect the Kimberley. We are calling on the Australian Government to step in and save this place.”

For more information:

Environs Kimberley

Kimberley Direct Action

Sea Turtle Restoration Project/Turtle Island Restoration Network

Links to more news from Kimberley:

Arrests at gas hub site

Three women have been arrested and charged with obstructing police during a protest near a proposed $30 billion gas hub site in the Kimberley.

Protesters urge federal minister to stop gas hub

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke arrived in Broome this morning to a rapturous reception from anti-gas protestors, who have pinned their hopes on him refusing to grant environmental approval to the State Government’s proposed processing precinct at James Price Point.

Frack Off! 500 ft high Banner Drop Off Blackpool Tower

6.08.2011

6.08.2011
Early Saturday morning anti-fracking [1] campaigners climbed 500 feet to hang two banners [2] from the iconic Blackpool Tower raising awareness about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas spreading to the UK. The two climbers was were later arrested by police when they descended, but not before having their lives risked by Blackpool Tower workers who attacked them with a pressure washer while they dangled hundreds of feet above the ground.

Blackpool Tower is five miles east of the first fracking test well in the UK. The group is highlighting the issue and launch of an anti-fracking direct action campaign centred around the website http://www.frack-off.org

Nathan Roberts, one of the climbers, said “There are so many things wrong with this unconventional method of gas extraction, it’s hard to know where to start! It has been linked with poisoned water supplies, earthquakes, leaking gas and even radioactive contamination – and that’s before you even get to the effect it will have on the climate. It’s unbelievable that they think they can get away with it. We can’t let this happen.”

Sami Jones, another climber, said “We hear a lot about energy shortages, but really we need to be investing in researching sustainable energy sources, rather than finding tiny pockets of non-renewable gas and destroying our planet in order to get to them.”

He continued, “The UK fracking industry is in its infancy. We must act now if we are to stop it in its tracks. It’s bad for Lancashire, it’s bad for the UK and it’s bad for the planet.”

Cuadrilla Resources [3] have been forced to temporarily suspend their exploratory test site at Preese Hall test well [4], near Blackpool following the outcry over two earthquakes in the vicinity, have in the meantime drilled another well and are presently moving their drilling rig to a third site. France, the states of New York and New Jersey, the Canadian province of Quebec and the Swiss canton of Fribourg have all recently banned fracking. Fracking needs to be stopped in the UK.

For comments call 07931195505 or media@frack-off.org
For more information go to www.frack-off.org

Notes:
[1] Hydraulic Fracturing (or ‘fracking’) is a method used to free otherwise inaccessible gas trapped in rock. Wells are drilled and ‘fracking fluid,’ consisting of millions of gallons of water, sand and a toxic cocktail of patented chemicals, is injected into the rock under high pressure to crack it. Some of these chemicals are known carcinogens and many are never recovered ( http://1.usa.gov/ftCV8J).
Fracking fluid also leaches radioactive elements and toxic chemicals like arsenic out of the rocks making disposing of the fluid a big problem. Fracking in the United States has already resulted in numerous spills of these fluids. Contaminated irrigation water could affect food supplies. Geologists have found a correlation between earthquakes and Fracking ( http://www.sott.net/articles/show/232634-US-Fracking-Operations-Cause-Thousands-of-Earthquakes-in-Arkansas).[2] The banner reads “FRACKING IS COMING TO THE UK. WE CAN STOP IT. WWW.FRACK-OFF.ORG”.
[3] Cuadrilla is a Shale Gas Exploration & Production Company ( http://www.cuadrillaresources.com)
[4] Preese Hall Test Well ‘is the second earthquake to strike Lancashire since April, and experts say it may be a result of the controversial practice, a process of drilling for natural shale gas which involves injecting water and rock-dissolving fluids underground at extremely high pressure to break apart hard shale rocks and release gas.Cuadrilla Resources, the company carrying out the fracking at Preese Hall, Weeton, close to the Fylde coast, said it had suspended operations to examine data collected by the British Geological Survey before deciding whether it was safe to resume. Neither quake was large enough to cause any structural damage’ ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jun/01/blackpool-earthquake-tremors-gas-drilling)

info@frack-off.org
http://frack-off.org/

Fantastic week of blocking Shell

3rd August 2011

3rd August 2011
This week saw Shell begin the next stage of their gas project by attempting to extend and secure their compound in Aughoose in preparation to lay the onshore section of the pipeline. This entailed tractors delivering fencing, machinery and other things for them to carry out the work. If all had gone to plan would have had the compound near completion now. However, there was five days of 12 hour blockades which has slowed them down tremendously. Here’s a quick round up of the events of last week…

The week started Monday 25th July at 7am with a tripod which lasted over five hours. The protester was removed using scaffolding. The afternoon was spent causing chaos on bikes and on foot with the cops eventually needing to seize bikes in order to stop the protesters. At most ten tractors made the journey to the compound, all having been delayed. Shell made a statement on the radio that their work had been “severely impeded”. Not bad for the first day.

At 7am on Tuesday there was an arm tube lock-on which lasted well over an hour. No arrests were made. Only 2 tractors made it into the compound before midday. The rest of the day was spent hiding in ditches and jumping out in front of and onto tractors with one person spending over an hour and a half on top of a tractor before being forcibly removed and arrested. Shell had still had less than 20 deliveries to the compound so far in the week.

Wednesday saw an 8 hour lock-on from 7am. Two individuals were arrested under public order charges. The Gardai (police) had stepped up their ‘protection’ of the tractors and were providing a tight convoy for each tractor. At some points there was two paddy wagons, two squad cars, a cutting team, an IRMS jeep and detective Brett Nolan’s undercover vehicle escorting each tractor. The Gardai were being ordered to get out of their vehicles and run alongside the tractor in order to try and stop the people hopping aboard. Despite this people were able to mount most tractors that went by and less than ten tractors made their deliveries by 7pm.

On Thursday the first tractor was stopped by someone climbing onto the cab. Pleasingly this lasted for two and a half hours, with the individual managing to jump the fence and get away without being arrested. With some fine communication and coordination, as the next tractor made its journey from the refinery to the new compound a group created a decoy by appearing to attempt to get on the tractor. However unbeknown to the cops this was merely a distraction as the tripod was being set up just a couple of hundred metres up the road. After the sounds of a battle cry in the distance the group of protesters causing chaos responded and ran up the road with the Gardai looking somewhat baffled. As the tripod was established a call went out to another group who were situated over in Crossmolina (a town 45 minutes from the camp)where the scaffolding firm are based. They blockaded the scaffolding firms gates for a couple of hours. No arrests were made. The tripod was eventually dismantled at around 3pm so people gathered at the refinery gates. Numbers grew and morale was high. When the next tractor was brought out chaos ensued. One protester climbed on the cab and after 20 minutes was forcibly removed and arrested. This was followed by another protester climbing underneath the same tractor. They were removed after about 15 minutes but managed to avoid arrest. This was followed by a rolling blockade on the road with people sitting down, being removed then sitting straight back down. After about 40 minutes the tractor reversed back into the refinery. The elation among folk was amazing. The cops looking defeated got in their vehicles and left. There was real celebration with a feeling that this had been one of the strongest days of the campaign. It was 5.15pm and work wasn’t due to finish until 7pm. A group stayed at the refinery to ensure nothing came out…it didn’t. Two trucks made deliveries on Thursday.

Friday was the mass day of action. Due to this Shell had already cancelled work for the day. Protesters made their way down to the compound at around 9.30. Some protesters made it into the compound whilst others tore down fences. There was a huge Gardai presence and approximately 80 IRMS (Shell’s private security). A second attempt was made later in the day to pull down more fences which ended in several people being hurt and requiring hospital treatment. Despite this people remained at the compound , many spending the afternoon playing music and relaxing on the road. Despite the injuries it was felt it was a great day and that by having the day of action our work was already done as Shell didn’t work.

Shell’s first week of work did not go to plan. After studying their traffic management plan , which outlines their predicted truck movements over the 26 month period that they intend to complete the project, it appears that at this stage their aim was to be making 159 truck movements per day! Last week in total they had approximately 40.

There feels like a real buzz in the campaign at the moment! The Gardaí are appearing stretched and are using up a lot of their resources. They are having to change their tactics daily and despite their efforts and ludicrous protection of Shell’s vehicles protesters are still managing to cause huge disruption.

If people can come up,now really feels like the time! To maintain this strong resistance we need people and ideas. There is so much to do on camp at the moment. Not only is there protests but camp life is always busy and full of things to do.

For more information call us on 0851141170 and email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org

Eviction callout from ZAD (occupied area against airport construction, France)

Call-out for support, to come, to the occupied area of Notre Dame des Landes (france) to organise against the coming evictions….

about the occupied area of Notre Dame des Landes (NDDL)
-call-out-

Call-out for support, to come, to the occupied area of Notre Dame des Landes (france) to organise against the coming evictions….

about the occupied area of Notre Dame des Landes (NDDL)
-call-out-

two years ago, in the area set aside for the construction of a new airport, we reclaimed the land and the houses left abandoned. Two years, to occupy, live, organise ourselves, think, chase off contractors, surveyors, soil-sample drillers and other ‘experts’. Two years to meet, make links, plot against the world, and see the military and helicopters pass.

Today, many of the occupied areas have been convened to appear in court in preparation of a massive eviction. If we are here, its to not leave this place free for them to destroy, control, and concrete over. To make them understand that they are not on conquered land. Whereas the evictions which are being prepared will be a martyrdom or ‘victory’ for them, for us it will be a fiesta: a fiesta because we know that they won’t chase us away with a bulldozer; that they can destroy our houses, burn our cabins, we will stay. We will stay and this struggle will continue.

about the trial….
the 11th august, many areas have been convened to appear in court in Nantes. We hope to get a delay. The 17th august, the other occupied areas will be judge in the court of Saint Nazaire. We are calling for a mass gathering / demo in front of the court house of Saint Nazaire from 8am the 17th august. Also, from the 16th to 19th august, we invite everyone to the squat ‘les planchettes’ (directions given later in text) to meet, discuss and organise.

…..and then we will be evictable….

as soon as we know the date given by the judge, we call everyone to come on mass to support the evictable areas. From the 17th, keep an eye on our website zad.nadir.org (mostly in french, we will try to keep news updated in english also, otherwise use internet translator, sorry…) to know the coming dates. we will need as many humans, energy, material, good ideas etc. as possible to defend the area and resist the evictions.

we are already organising to welcome as many people, and to create a strategy where all kinds of defence tactics can find their place.

and from now….
from now, if you are available and motivated, you can come and have a look at the area, imagine and brainstorm with your group what is possible to do, to help us skip/find as much material as possible, and to stay as long as you like. As there is a lot to think about, to discuss and organise, we will not always be as available as we’d like, but everybody is welcome, and for info there will be someone everyday to do a ‘welcome/info’, at the planchettes, from 12 – 14:00.

For all those who’d like to come see the area and what’s going on, for all those who have already been here and are linked with this struggle, its now or never. we need you.

faced with those who would destroy spaces of living and organising; faced with builders of airport and other such bollocks: organise the resistance!!

directions to squat ‘les planchettes’: hitch-hiking from Nantes: from the city centre, take the tram line 2 to the last stop, which is called Orvault Grand Val. From the tram stop, walk straight on down the hill, under the highway bridge, and you can start hitch-hiking at the roundabout directly in front of you. the first village you want is ‘Orvault Bourg’, from there take the road towards ‘La Paquelais’, once in La Paquelais, at the north end of the village you will pass through a roundabout, go straight ahead, after about 300metres is a fork in the road, take the road on your left going towards ‘Fay de Bretagne’ (D281). After about 3-4km, you will see a very obviously squatted old house on your right….for road directions, you can search ‘les planchettes, notre dame des landes, france’ on google maps. The D281 runs between the villages La Paquelais and Fay de Bretagne….

We are looking for all kinds of material to barricade and to hold out in case of long evictions…. here is a list of things which can be brought to ‘les planchettes’, between the 16th to 19th of August or any time before (and after, if we are still there, keep an eye on Nantes Indymedia or zad.nadir.org, we’ll try to keep updated in english too, otherwise in french):

*scaffolding
*concrete reinforcing steel (re-bar)
* solid metals
* steel cables
* beams * barbed wire
* metal plates
* nets
* metal grills / fencing
* metal cutters / pliers
* all kinds of rope
*banner material
* fire extinguishers
* large mirrors
* mattresses
* all kinds of saws and blades
* hammers * nails of all sizes
* gas masks
* diving goggles
* helmets
* malox, bio-lemons or lemon juice
* physiological salt solution
* pallets
* screws and nuts (any size)
* welding materials (rods, helmets…)
* megaphones
* glue
* paint
* blankets
* sleeping bags
* bicycles (whole or parts)
* vehicles which are not useful any more
* caravans
* pickaxes
* monsters
* wood plates * crowbars
* walkie talkies, cb, radios
* conserves, jam, eviction stash food…..

PLEASE SEND ON THIS TEXT….

zad@riseup.net
zad.nadir.org