earthfirst – Page 123

Stop the next generation of nuclear power stations with a blockade at Hinkley Point

Join us at Hinkley on 3 October 2011

Hinkley Point is the first of eight proposed sites for nuclear new build to go ahead. We stopped them here before, and we can do it again. If they fail at Hinkley, it is unlikely the “nuclear renaissance” will have the momentum to continue.

Join us at Hinkley on 3 October 2011

The catastrophe is still unfolding at Fukushima, but the British government is continuing with its plans for building new nuclear power stations – nuclear new-build. While other countries at least put a moratorium on new nuclear, or even make plans to phase out nuclear energy completely, in Britain it’s as if Fukushima didn’t happen. Like a mantra, government and the nuclear industry keep repeating that Fukushima could not happen in Britain because there are no earthquakes of that magnitude. We heard similar excuses after Chernobyl (1986) and Three Mile Island (1979). But nuclear accidents can and do happen – even in Britain; the disaster at Windscale in 1957 released massive levels of radiation into the atmosphere. If we continue to use and expand nuclear power, there will certainly be more catastrophic accidents, not to mention all the other enormous problems associated with nuclear power production, even when it is working ‘normally’.

Nuclear power is not necessary, not safe, not sustainable

More background at http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/

We can stop new nuclear

The government and the nuclear industry want us to believe that nuclear new-build in Britain is a done deal. They want to discourage us from protesting – the message they want us to swallow is clear: opposition is futile, and we will be going ahead anyway!

However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, the government has introduced a framework which effectively will subsidise new nuclear at our expense – as electricity consumers and taxpayers. Yes, the government has effectively deprived local communities from having a say in the planning process for new nuclear and other major infrastructure projects thus dumping a crucial cornerstone of local democracy.

But nuclear new-build in Britain is already behind schedule and has faced legal and other setbacks. Public concern is mounting following the Fukushima disaster. If we can stop the building at Hinkley, we can stop the whole process. Now is the time to mobilise and take action.

New-nuclear in Britain is far from being a done deal, and we can still stop it!

NEW NUCLEAR — STOP IT AT HINKLEY!

The action:
A non-violent blockade of Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset

On 3 October 2011 we will – with hundreds of people – non-violently blockade the access to Hinkley Point nuclear power station for one day.

While the blockade will be the key focus, there will be plenty of roles and activities for people who do not wish to risk arrest. So everyone who is anti-nuclear can come and join us on the day to express their opposition in many different ways. We will prepare ourselves for this blockade with non-violence training, and we will not be deterred by police trying to prevent our non-violent action.
The blockade will be inclusive, allowing people from all walks of life and with a wide range of experience in non-violent action – or no experience at all – to participate. We will organise a safe environment for everyone, built on trust for each other, but also on our determination to stop nuclear new-build.

In the days before the blockade, there will be local actions in Bridgwater. There will be a camp and local accommodation for people over the weekend and non-violence training will be provided.

* Callout for action – http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/node/10

* Sign one of the pledges at http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/pledges.

This is important, as it shows the strength of the campaign, and helps us to organise the blockade.
Web: http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-New-Nuclear/228971750452013
Phone: 0845-2872381

Stop New Nuclear is a campaign to stop new nuclear power stations and is an alliance of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop Nuclear Power Network UK, Kick Nuclear, Stop Hinkley, Sizewell Blockaders, Shutdown Sizewell, South West Against Nuclear, and Trident Ploughshares

Donate: We need your support. Please donate at
http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/donate

Watut river communities ‘riot’ against Harmony and Newcrest mining in Papua New Guinea

June 4 – Riots have reportedly broken out against the Australian based mining company, Newcrest Mining, and Harmony Gold of South Africa in the Bulolo District of Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

June 4 – Riots have reportedly broken out against the Australian based mining company, Newcrest Mining, and Harmony Gold of South Africa in the Bulolo District of Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The violence has been sparked by the long outstanding grievances of the communities down stream of the Hidden Valley mine over mining pollution and sediments which affect the lives of thousands of people who say they do not benefit one way or another from the operations of some of the worlds biggest mining companies.

Communities have, since 2009, been raising issues regarding toxic sediment build up causing damage to food gardens, washing away footbridges, die back of vegetation, the death of aquatic organisms, health and hygiene complications in communities, loss of navigation on water routes, loss of clean water and recreational areas, loss of economical land and hunting sites, destruction of secret (sacred) sites and destruction of a primary income source – aluvial gold.

Earlier last month, Papua New Guinea Mining Minister, John Pundari, tried to address the community grievances but this proved to be in vain as the meeting understanding sign by parties including Hidden Valley Joint Venture (HVJV), ‘a two face mining company’ comprising Newcrest and Harmony, was not implemented and HVJV and Papua New Guinea’s Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) failed to implement the understanding.

Local communities say they served 24 hours notice on MRA to address their concerns on June 2nd but by 4pm local time on June 3rd there was no answer.

While the Watut River communities grievances were not addressed, HVJV staff silently went on the communities land to collect water samples for analysis.

Earlier this year, the community based organization, the Union of Watut River Communities, attempted to enter into the Mining Lease and HVJV MoU covered area with its own chemist to collect samples but permission was rejected by the mining companies.

Yesterday a vehicle belonging to the Newcrest and Harmony was smashed by frustrated communities. Two Royal Police Constabulary officers who were providing security and private escorts to the mining companies have also being accused by local people.

Local people say more riots are expected today between the government officers, mining company and the PNG police force on one side with the rural mining affected communities on the other.

They also say police this morning sent a warning that they would burn villages houses if there is any more trouble.

A road blockade is expected to start today.

Bauxite mining halted in Indian region

Ranchi, June 4: Mining, dispatch and transportation of bauxite from Pakhar mines in the Naxalite-hit Kisko police station area of Lohardaga district have come to a grinding halt since Wednesday evening after a group of rebels torched six vehicles.

“Mining and transportation activities have been put on a halt since June 1. Around 25 rebels owing allegiance to the CPI(Maoist) burnt down three trucks, an SUV and two earth-moving equipment around 5.30pm and partially destroyed another vehicle. They also fired in the air and beat up the drivers and helpers,” officer in charge of Kisko police station Munu Tudu told The Telegraph.

The vehicles belonged to a contractor and private operators working for Hindalco Industries Limited — an Aditya Birla Group company.

…. Hindalco general manager (personnel and administration) R.B. Singh said the company was suffering huge losses because of the shutdown.

“We supply around 1,000 tonnes of bauxite from Pakhar, with more than 100 trucks plying daily. Everything has now come to a standstill,” Singh said.

http://revolutionaryfrontlines.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/india-red-terror-hits-lohardaga-bauxite-mines/

Trash to the beet, Germany

During the night of 31 May 2011, despite the fence and 24-hour security, a KWS field was destroyed in Wetze, Germany. KWS is a German genetic engineering company; the field trial was genetically modified beet H7-1, resistant to the herbicide Round-Up.

We have destroyed this field to directly attack an industry that makes us dependent on plant and animal patents. This is only possible in a capitalist system, in which new technologies are not created for need, but to maximize profit and to obtain power.

We see this action not only as an action against genetically engineered crops, but against the entire capitalist order.

This system – with its various implications and manifestations – is vulnerable on many levels with many resources …

ELF SABOTAGE, ARSON ATTACK TARGETS OIL COMPANY, ITALY

1 June 2011
MARINO LAZIALE (ROME)

– Six nozzles cut and taken away from the pumps
– Self-service booth sealed with liquid metal
– Retail shop set on fire using two five-litre jerrycans of napalm
– Banner left, ‘ENI – by wars and environmental disasters, they profit (A)’

1 June 2011
MARINO LAZIALE (ROME)

Solidarity with anarchists affected by the recent wave of state repression.
Silvia, Costa, Billy and Marco.

Long live the Earth Liberation Front!”

400 peasants, clowns, and reapers liberate Belgian GM potato field

The “battle of the potato” field in Wetterem, near Ghent, Belgium, was a resounding victory for anti-GM activists on Sunday (29 May) as members of a crowd of around 400 people broke through police lines and barbed wire fences to destroy an experimental Genetically Modified potato crop.

Genetic modification of food crops is currently banned in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium, and in the Brussels area, but the regional government of Flanders had given the go-ahead for this trial planting. People from across Belgium and further afield, including many “faucheurs volontaires” (volunteer reapers) from the established French anti-GM farming movement, came together under the banner of the “Field Liberation Movement” to put the experiment to an end.

The day started with setting up of a farmer’s market and communal kitchen in a sympathetic field across the motorway from the target site. There were briefings, discussions, infostalls, and some interaction with members of a “Save Our Science” counter demo by GM supporters, who came to argue their case that only more agribusiness supercrops can save the hungry of the world from crises of poverty and malnutrition. At 2pm the crowd started moving, led by a big international samba band, across the motorway footbridge to the field of destiny on the other side. The organisers had called for “non-violence” and not to provoke the cops, and the crowd was colourful, noisy, with small children and grown-up clowns in abundance. Truly Luddite in spirit (in all positive sense of that maligned term) it had the flavour of a peasants’ revolt confronting the high-tech forces of empire. Around 50 Flemish robocops waited, batons in hand, surrounding the field (only about the size of a basketball court), which was also ringed by sturdy fences topped with barbed wire, cameras and motion sensors.

As the sun broke through the clouds at 3pm a siren sounded and the action was underway. About half the crowd hopped the first low fence into the intervening meadow and ran towards the experimental enclosure. It was soon clear that the police were outnumbered, with many gaps in their lines through which protesters swarmed. (A major local football match may certainly have helped the protestors here.) The fencing was tough and attempts to pull it down with ropes proved unsuccessful. But it wasn’t high enough to keep out climbers who carried strips of carpet to get over the barbed wire. Once inside the compound the security measures then worked to the reapers’ advantage as the cops could only clamber after them, too late to stop potatoes flying everywhere. Organic seeding potatoes were hurled by others from outside the fence to replace the modified strain.

There were around 15 arrests, all those who had made it inside the compound were stuck and worthily sacrificed themselves to the law in the best pacifistic tradition. The police then had to dig a tunnel under the fence to get them out again, and they were immediately released after giving ID details. It is not clear yet what charges will be brought, but the consortium behind the field, which includes the university of Ghent, threatens to sue for damages. There were quite a few injuries including hospitalisations from barbed wire cuts and truncheon blows.

To quote from the Field Liberation Movement’s press release: “To sum up, the day of action was very successful. This action points out three paths to follow: the “peasant market” offered a platform for farmers with a real alternative, the demonstration gave the public the occasion to show solidarity with this campaign, and the action of civil disobedience effectively liberated a public space. The debate is now open. From today, biotechnology has to demonstrate that its research is in the service of an agricultural model which is sustainable, ecological, and just.”

http://fieldliberation.wordpress.com

Land is Ours autumn gathering 2011

The Land Is Ours
Autumn Gathering 2011

TLIO are hosting a weekend gathering from Sat 8th to Sun 9th October this year at Monkton Wyld Court, near Axminster, Dorset. Come and enjoy a feast of inspirational talks, open discussions, workshops and evening entertainment in the pleasantly eccentric setting of Monkton Wyld.

Talks and workshops will include the following themes:

The Land Is Ours
Autumn Gathering 2011

Talks and workshops will include the following themes:

• The need for land redistribution – post Peak-Oil

• Agricultural subsidies – who for & for what?/Campaigning against Megafarms.

• The Localism Bill and other Planning Reforms — Threats and Opportunities.

• Defending public forests.

• Setting up land trusts, for housing and land projects.

• Reclaim the Fields and Via Campesina.

• What future for direct action land campaigns?

Other proposals for workshops etc are welcome.

Places are limited so please book early. There is no fee for attendance, but lunch and supper are provided at £6 per meal, and bed and breakfast costs per night are £25 for a bed, £15 for a yoga mat in the main hall, or £10 camping (there will be a limited no of places half-price for the main hall and camping), available Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Please book in advance, by contacting

info@tlio.org.uk or 01297 561359
http://www.tlio.org.uk/TLIO-autumngathering2011

Please Note: There may be a TLIO Summer Gathering happening in the West Country area this summer as well. Keep checking the website for further announcements

Peru: 10,000 Aymaras Protesting against Transnational Mining Company

31st May 2011
For the past three weeks, more than 10,000 Indigenous People, mostly Aymaras, have been protesting against the oncoming Santa Ana silver mine in southeastern Peru near the border with Bolivia.

The Indigenous people are concerned that pollution from the new mine would threaten their livelihoods and contaminate local rivers and lakes. For those reasons, the protesters want to see the Peruvian government revoke the mining license it granted to the company behind the mining project, Canada’s Bear Creek Mining Corporation. The protesters are also calling for a definite ban on all mining in the region.

The massive protest, for which the Aymara and some Quechua have set up a sequence of blockades along a 300km stretch of road on both sides of border, was facing a media blackout until this past weekend.

On May 27, a number of government buildings in the Peruvian border town of Puno were looted and set ablaze.

That seemed to give the media what they needed; however, the organizers of the protests are insisting that they aren’t responsible for the violent lash out. Rather, they say, it was brought on by individuals who have infiltrated the protests.

In hand with the lack of media coverage, the police and military presence throughout the protest has been almost non-existent. On May 28, Reuters reported that President Garcia has indeed authorized the military to “maintain order”, but so far they haven’t tried do so.

That’s partly because of the sheer scale of the protest; but moreso because of the upcoming presidential election in Peru, which is set for June 5. According to Reuters, Garcia has stated that he won’t give the order to stop the protests until after the election concludes.

There was, however, at least one violent confrontation before the protest was in full swing. As noted on the WW4 Report,

At least one is reported dead in Peru’s southern region of Puno after the National Police fired on protesters April 26, the second day of a 48-hour civil strike or paro called by campesino groups to demand a halt to local mining and petroleum leases. The deceased, identified as María Choque Limache, 61, died after inhaling tear gas as police broke up a protest at the village of Yohoroco, in Huacullani district of Chucuito province, according to Walter Aduviri Calisaya, president of the Puno Front for the Defense of Natural Resources. National Police commander Jaime Cordero Ayala denied this version of events, insisting she had not been at the protest and had died of natural causes.

Most recently, on May 29, the protesters rejected a deal to stand down in exchange for a 12-month moratorium on mining. Negotiators for the protesters initially agreed with the offer, but the protesters themselves said they won’t settle for anything less than a definitive ban on mining which must be ratified through a presidential decree.

Video 1and 2

Coal protesters show solidarity with the people of South Mongolia, and stand against China’s crackdown on freedom of expression

Today, 30th May 2011, a small group of anti-coal protesters rallied to a call out by South Mongolian human rights activists for global protest [1] and held a short vigil outside the Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh. This comes at the end of a month of protests in Mongolia against the Chinese coal industries destruction of Mongolian herders land in which two people have been killed. One was a Mongolian herder and local anti-coal activist, Mergen, who was deliberately run over by by a coal truck while trying to stop it from taking short cuts across herders land on the 10th of May. According to the Guardian another protester was killed four days later [2].

These protests have rattled the Chinese state, which has responded with brutal crack-downs, and total censorship. Cities in South Mongolia are awash with para-military police and intense surveillance as areas are placed under Martial Law [3]. Internet a phone communication has been shut down. This is a continuation of the repression of people who dare to stand up for the rights of Mongolians. One case of particular concern to the South Mongolia Human Rights Information Centre is that of Mr Hada and his family [4].

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) has been hit hard during what one human rights organisation is calling the “coal rush.” Last year IMAR’s coal exports exceeded 700 million tons, with an estimated 732.3 billion tons of coal reserves still under the ground. This extraction has come at the expense of the local population and environment. The Mongolian people who have herded livestock on the land for generations are now being thrown from their land and Chinese coal corporations are moving in to dig up the coal. During the extraction convoys of coal trucks have been taking short cuts through herders land, destroying fences and livestock. Bayaguut, a Southern Mongolian cyber dissident, said “this really is a three-dimensional attack on us by the Chinese: they have destroyed our land, polluted our air, and now digging up what we have below ground. What we will be left with is a barren land uninhabitable to human beings.” [5]

The protest in Edinburgh was held at midday and the group held placards with slogans such as “End China’s Coal Rush” “Justice For Mergen Killed By The Coal Industry” and “Stop The Killings In Southern Mongolia!” One also called for the release of political prisoners in Mongolia. The protest was organised at short notice by people from Coal Action Scotland, a group which takes direct action and works with communities facing the coal industry in Scotland.

Luke Douglas, who attended the protest, said “It’s really important to show solidarity with the people of Southern Mongolia, and to show the Chinese state that there are people outside of Mongolia and outside of their control who are watching what’s going on. The brutal repression of the herders and students protesting is despicable. People should not be imprisoned just for calling for human rights and cultural and political freedom. I am inspired by the bravery by the people protesting in Southern Mongolia, and hope that today’s protest helps them in some way.”

Tammy Price added “I’ve worked with communities in Scotland who have been affected by the Coal industry. The health and environmental impacts of the open casts, plus the disruption caused by the transport of the coal, are devastating. It’s important to have a global perspective on coal as an issue, as it is one that affects people all across the world. As well as people in Scotland, we have previously heard from those in Indonesia [6], Columbia [7] and the US [8] fighting against the Coal industry. The coal industry globally is responsible for environmental destruction, human rights abuses, corruption and colonialism on a scale difficult to fathom until you start making these links between people affected on a global scale.”

Coal Action Scotland

media@coalactionscotland.org.uk

1. http://www.smhric.org/news_384.htm

2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/30/mongolia-protests-communist-party-crackdown

3. http://www.smhric.org/news_385.htm

4. http://www.smhric.org/Hada/Hada.htm

5 http://www.smhric.org/news_376.htm

6 http://coalactionscotland.org.uk/?p=2197

7 http://coalactionscotland.org.uk/?p=1433

8 http://coalactionscotland.org.uk/?p=2553

squatting stories wanted

Calling All Squatters!

Got any positive, funny or random stories from your squatting experiences?

We’re putting together an exhibition and zine with positive squatting stories to contradict and show the other side to squatting, to the one regurgitated again and again by the mainstream media.

Calling All Squatters!

Got any positive, funny or random stories from your squatting experiences?

We’re putting together an exhibition and zine with positive squatting stories to contradict and show the other side to squatting, to the one regurgitated again and again by the mainstream media.

Wherever you squatted, be it Brixton or Kurdistan, or whether you squat now or you did in the 70s, any positive stories are welcomed – the more varied in time & place the better. Some of the stories we have so far include from after the second world war when families took refuge by squatting abandoned army barracks, as so many homes had be bombed in the blitz, as well as some stories of how newly arrived Asian families to Britain gave up the council housing they had received to squat together in empty estates to avoid the racial abuse they were suffering.

Your stories don’t have to be this extreme though, anything that is positive, funny or in some way a success of managing to stick it up to the landlords or a successful use of squatting for a protest or campaign, is very much welcomed. The stories don’t have to be your own experiences but can be ones of friends, or ones you’ve heard, just so long as they are true.

Any good pictures you might have that can accompany the stories would be brilliant too. Also, if you have pictures of transformations you’ve made turning a destroyed building into a beautiful home, they would also be really appreciated. Of course you can be completely anonymous from anything you contribute.

Email stories & stuff to homemade@lorax.org.uk

Many thanks!