Author: earthfirst

Canada: Two Arson Attacks on Logging Trucks in the Province of Arauco

Arson attacks

Two arson attacks were carried out early Thursday morning at various points in the Araucania Region.

May 17th, 2015

The first took place in at the Mariposas Estate, located on Highway CH181that connects the townships of Curacautín with Victoria, in the Province of Malleco.

According to police reports, the unknown suspects entered the area and lit fire to a shed that contained logging equipment.

Guards confronted the suspects, which gave way to shots being fired, although police assert there were no injuries reported.

Due to the incident a tractor, as well as an excavator, were completely destroyed.

Logging trucks and Look-Out Posts Damaged in Mininco

Meanwhile, the other incident took place in an area of Mininco, on Highway 5 South, at the northern exit of the Araucania Region.

It was there that three logging trucks and a pedestrian lookout post were burnt down, and police are investigating on the scene.

Close to 20 armed hooded suspects forced out the truck drivers to complete the attack, and the fire reached the nearby look-out post, according to witnesses.

arson 2

During the morning hours, the Provincial Prosecutor, Luis Espinoza, stated that they would work with investigators and local police to search for clues in connection to two other similar incidents in the townships of Caracautín and Victoria.

“The attacks were simultaneous, which provoked the arson of three trucks and a look-out pedestrian post. It was a coordinated attack, dividing themselves between the trucks, and intimidating the drivers with long and short firearms,” alleged the prosecutor.

The local Government representative of the Araucania Region, Mario Gonzalez, stated that there would be charges against those responsible for the incidents.

“We are investigating the incidents with the arson of these trucks and the look-out posts to come up with possible charges,” stated the representative.

“Everyone rejects these actions that do not favour the development of the region,” added Gonzalez.

In the area, pamphlets related to the Mapuche land conflict were found, stating the freedom of [Mapuche Political Prisoner] Patricio Queipul.

from Women’s Coordinating Committee for a Free Wallmapu

Source: Radio Cooperativa

Notre-Dame-des-Landes: Three ‘Vinci’ lackeys chased out of the ZAD (and their vehicles sabotaged)

sabotaged biologist’s vehicle

Wednesday morning [April 29th 2015], in Vigneux-de-Bretagne, three biologists from Angers who came to study marbled newt were chased off by a dozen masked individuals.

In recent days, scientists from Gecco (Ecology and Conservation of Vertebrates Group), a Faculty of Sciences laboratory in Angers, have been taking samples on the ZAD. The concessionaire appointed by the state, mandated by Vinci, are studying the functionality of amphibian populations on the zone affected by the airport project. In this case the marbled newt.

Wednesday morning, they were acting in a place called La Fremière, north of Vigneux-de-Bretagne, when they saw a dozen hooded people arrive. They asked them to leave the premises after breaking windows and windscreens and puncturing their car tires.

By the time the gendarmes had arrived at the scene, the persons unknown had fled. There were no arrests. A complaint was filed.

BarnCamp in June – subverting tech, computers & media activism


BarnCamp is a low-cost rural DIY skill-sharing event open to everyone, including UK activists, campaigners, people involved in social and community groups, and anybody else with an interest in technology and how to subvert it to put it to good use. This year it's running from 19th to 21st June.

Brought to you by HacktionLab, Bristol Wireless and FLOSS Manuals, BarnCamp 2015 will be the sixth edition of our summer camp at Highbury Farm in the beautiful Wye valley. BarnCamp is three days of workshops, discussions, demos and practical how-to sessions looking at how technology can be useful (and dangerous) for campaigners, community activists and general trouble makers.

The weekend includes:

* Three days of workshops and open space sessions.
* Four nights camping in the beautiful Wye Valley.
* Food from Friday through to Sunday (9 meals).
* Indoor and campfireside entertainment.

We have limited places so please book your place on-line today at  https://barncamp.org.uk
 barncamp2015@hacktionlab.org

Germany: Police and Security Clear Barricades in Hambach Forest

Police, RWE and securities appeared at the occupations in the Hambach Forest.

28 April 2015: At around 11 o’clock, police, RWE and securities appeared at the occupations in the Hambach Forest. They cut several climbing ropes, imposed dismissals and surrounded the living barricade.
This is not the first time climbing ropes where cut as a sabotage. This is a life threatening and useless action on behalf of the police and RWE.
This happens after the ‚dialog‘ in the state parliament in Düsseldorf with the police, the ministry of internal affairs, the parties, RWE and the regional initiative on the 20th of April this year. After the annual general assembly of RWE last week and the human chain in Garzweiler last weekend.
This is supposed to be the energy transition and the dialog that is held. The interest of economy and those who are payed by them are in the foreground. On the 21th of may, the administrative court in Aachen will decide if the meadow occupation could be immediately evicted. This is a callout to all people who want to resist against the destruction of landscape.
Pics of the action [here]

News

06:28 am
Night is passing and a new day is rising… at the moment one person is in front of the police station, with banners and information. The police told to register a picket(?). If not the banners should be removed. the outcome remains open…

05:50 am
During the night, the persons in front of the police station was switched. It remains calm with no rain. Come around and bring breakfast. Hof coffee and tee are welcome.

02:37 am
A sign of life from the cellars of the courts of this city. The press and a person in front of the police station are determined to stay until our friend is released. In front of the police station, a guitar is playing and from the cellars one can hear the Anti RWE song from Mona&Hummel. You can listen to it here: http://monaundhummel.noblogs.org/musik/

01:28 am
Blankets, Matrasses and rice to eat have been brought. Here you can find a film documenting the assaults of the RWE security against activists. They are apparently talking about the supposed digger occupation of 06.04.2015.

01:20 am
Greetings from the police station in Kalk, we are preparing for a long night.

00:05 am
Several people are at the police station in Cologne/Kalk, to show solidarity with our arrested friend. She is happy about support, as well as blankets, hot tee and cups. The hot chocolate is almost gone! Come around!

23:30 pm
We are online again and have installed a press location and an EA in Cologne. If you want to know more about the course of events around our arrested frend. This number is reachable around the clock: 0049 15753511306

18:oo pm
We just received the sad message that a friend of ours, who has previously been held captured in Hürth, has now been transfered to the prison n Cologne/Kalk. A release is not in sight. As she has been locked on, they charge her pf ‚resistance against executory officers‘We send you power and strenght… . The police operation was commissioned by the regional forest department Rhein Erft. One of the many institutions which are closely related to RWE and who support the depletion of the Hambach Forest, as has been shown in the last years during similar operations.

16:31 pm
The police retreated from the forest. Apparently the operation was enforced by the forest department of NRW.

15:30 pm
Heavy machinery of RWE is still on it’s way through the forest and on the former highway A4, clearing the barricades. The first supporters are arriving in front of the police station in Hürth.

14 pm
More police cars/trucks arrive and drive towards the forest occupations.

13:50 pm
RWE evicted the Hedgehog with the help of police, now they cut a swath of destruction through the forest.

13:30 pm
The police just announced that the person locked in the Hedgehog has been brought tot he police station in Bergheim, accompanied by a medic.

12:50 pm
The person in the Hedgehog is evicted. They will start with the destruction of the habitat.

12:30 pm
The situation around the Hedgehog is tense. There, RWE security and diverse police departments have surrounded the place and plan to destroy the barricades in the forest and evict and destroy the Hedgehog (a big, living barricade). On person locked themselves in the Hedgehog to stop further useless destruction of nature with their own body.
The Hedgehog is located at the former meeting point in the forest, where some RWE securities stole a statue of Christ a few months ago.
Apart from this, the helpers of nature destruction have left the meadow, Oaktown and Beechtown for now. Arrested people are set free, nothing else is known so far.

12 pm
People are arrested in the Hambach Forest

11:40 am
Activists are surrounded and dismissals are imposed

 

Also, support the Hambach Defenders on 16 May:

from Hambach Forest Occupation
Support the environmental movement. Meadow under legal pressure

We at the Hambacher Forest have been resisting environmental destruction by the largest coal mine in Western Europe for the last three years experiencing 3 major evictions and numerous police and security actions. Now we are facing a new peril. Our support camp with its vegan kitchen, theater, infoshop and 2 libraries, numerous living and guest spaces is facing legal proceedings in Aachen on the 21st of May with a demonstration of support on May 16th in Cologne.
The Meadow Support Camp has become a canvas for building with strawbail, green roofs, renewable energy and biodynamic farming. It is also a home to many activists including two families with children. Supporting at the same time two forest occupations, direct action campaigs and public events.
We would like to call for international solidarity and support in the form of legal assistance in Germany as well as internationally. Please contact the court involved:

Demonstration on the 16th of May
Against coal mining in rheine area
Cologne / Ehrenfeld 14 o‘clock

Prozess on the 21st of May
Achen Administrative Court
Adalbertsteinweg 92
im Justizzentrum
52070 Aachen
fax 0241 9425 83204
tel 0241 9425 0

This is the court that will be attempting to use building code regulations to destroy structures in the Meadow Support Camp. It is the same regulations that are regularly used against earthship, straw bail and other informal architecture and spaces in favor of resource extraction rich(wasteful and destructive) habitats and interests.

Warrington fracking coal bed methane lock-on protest

21/4/15

Update:

Cheshire Police has confirmed that one woman and three men have been arrested for aggravated trespass.

At 1.25pm the woman had her chain removed but it was not until 4.30pm that all were arrested.

 

Anti-fracking Protectors Lock on at IGas Warrington coal bed methane compound

At Doe Green Widnes WA8 9TZ

The four protestors locked themselves to security fences around the well heads this morning

Please show local support!

Livestream: http://t.co/5IRjpIcv2q

Local newspaper article

 

fossil fool AGM season

Community Resistance to Extreme Energy: Standing in Solidarity with Frontline Communities

on 15th April, Wednesday,

6-9pm, A meeting at the Human Rights Consortium, UCL, Room 349, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU. Rising Tide UK join with Co-Resist, UK Tar Sands Network and the Human Rights Consortium’s Extreme Energy Initiative for this storytelling event with speakers from communities on the frontline of the Alberta Tar Sands & Gulf Coast Rising – providing a space to hear and reflect upon these important stories, as well as giving a general overview of BP’s extreme energy projects one day before the BP AGM as BP continues to trash the planet and push us further to the edge of climate catastrophe.
https://www.facebook.com/events/794277717322111/

BP AGM protest
on 16th April, Thursday,10am, ExCel Centre, above Custom House DLR Station, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16.
Join with many other activists days before the Deepwater Horizon anniversary, including those from the Gulf Coast communities, to demonstrate around the BP AGM where Share Action have tabled a resolution. Shareholders will be attending the 11.30am Meeting.

DRAX AGM/DECC Biofool Protest
on 22nd April, Wednesday,
11.00am-1.00pm, at the Drax AGM, the Grocer’s Hall, Princes St, EC2R 8AD, (down the left hand side of Bank of England). Join London Rising Tide helping their friends at Biofuelwatch with a lively protest to expose and oppose burning biomass and coal. Then….

At 1.00pm we will decamp to DECC (off Whitehall) with as many banners as we can to demand DECC stop subsidising burning trees and coal in the name of renewable energy and carbon saving.
#AXEDRAX Drax Power Station has led the way for the industry: lobbying; greenwashing; converting and building the necessary infrastructure; and clearcutting hugely biodiverse native forests in the southern US and Canada. Drax exemplifies much that is wrong with UK energy policy and “renewable” energy subsidies. So we are joining with coal and energy campaigners to tell DECC to #AXEDRAX now and for us to rethink the way that we do energy, moving beyond burning uniting Climate, Coal and Biomass campaigners with others who believe that this energy policy is stupid and unjust.
Spread the word: https://www.facebook.com/events/318444765019328/       See www.axedrax.org.uk

community of resistance reclaims unused land in Leeds

On 13th April 2015, there was a failed eviction attempt of Leeds Community Project.

The former University of Leeds research site, a unique space of nearly one acre, contains seven glasshouses and many established plants, including rare species. It now holds many future possibilities for sustainable food growing and can be envisioned as a space for education and social events, as well as a space for nature and wildlife1. Since its closure in 2011, North Hyde Park Residents Association tried to designate 6 Grosvenor Mount as a 'community asset' and took this to Leeds City Council in an attempt to halt plans. The designation was not successful because the Council argued that the space was not being utilised by the local community. However, use of the space by the local community has not been possible due to the site being closed off.

The University has been granted detailed planning permission to renovate the current residential building and to build seven new houses where the outbuildings, glasshouses and gardens now stand. It is currently in the process of selling the space to a private investor.

On 4th March 2015 Leeds Community project (LCP) re-occupied the non-residential areas of 6 Grosvenor Mount, LS6, after an unlawful eviction.

On 19th February LCP was unlawfully evicted and three of its members were arrested before being released without charge.

http://leedscp.noblogs.org

Hundreds of anti-Trident protesters descend on Faslane for blockade

13 April 2015

Hundreds of anti-nuclear activists have descended on Faslane naval base to take part in a blockade to protest against Trident.

The Bairns Not Bombs demonstration from Scrap Trident Coalition aims to see the closure of the base, home to the UK’s nuclear weapons system.

Protesters began gathering outside gates at the base from 7am on Monday in an attempt to stop workers from entering, with the blockade due to last until 3pm.

Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens and MSP for Glasgow, is among those taking part.

He said: “Trident is an obscenity. Through direct action and through the ballot box we can make the case for the UK to play a new role on the world stage.

“By pursuing peace, a global deal on climate change and ending the arms trade we can stand tall rather than clinging to outdated and dangerous status symbols.

“By choosing to disarm Trident we can re-skill workers on the Clyde to provide defence of the strategically important northern seas, and diversify our economy for social good.”

The group met with police on April 1 to ask them to not make arrests in what they argued would be a “peaceful and lawful” protest.

However a few hours into the demonstration police officers began making arrests of those in the blockade, with a spokeswoman confirming 15 protesters had been apprehended.

A Faslane spokesman added: “The MoD recognises the democratic right of individuals to participate in lawful and peaceful protest activities.

“The MoD police and Police Scotland are seeking to facilitate safe and peaceful protest activity but any breaches of criminal law will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.”

He also said the operational output of the base was not originally affected by the protest activity with contingency plans in place, however some staff were later sent home.

Letter

The blockade comes after a large rally in Glasgow’s George Square on Saturday April 4, which was attended by around 5000 people, at which First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke.

In a national newspaper on Sunday, comedian Frankie Boyle and Nobel prize winner Professor Peter Higgs were among leading figures who have made a new call for the nuclear deterrent to be scrapped.

 

Artists and scientists in joint call for Trident to be scrapped

Read More

Launched by political group Compass, the letter claimed polling data suggested nuclear disarmament is a “majority popular demand” across the country.

Former Royal Society president Sir Michael Atiyah, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, Massive Attack and US linguist Noam Chomsky were also among the 70 signatories to the letter.

 

London: Siege of Aylesbury estate security thugs against St James Square ANAL squat

The squatter crew Autonomous Nation of Anarchist Libertarians (A.N.A.L.) have occupied a number of high profile buildings in central London in recent weeks. These have included the former Institute of Directors (corporate fatcat club) HQ, Admiralty Arch (state power icon due to be turned into hotel), and now 24 St James’ Square, a flash office building on one of London’s most expensive squares, empty for ten years. They have been getting big picture splashes in corporate media rags like the Evening Standard and Daily Mail.

On Friday evening (10 April) the St James’ Sq squat came under siege by a mini-army of security guards. The heavies used similar tactics to those seen recently on the Aylesbury Estate and other squat clashes recently: unable to retake the building, they forcibly block entrances and exits to lock down the occupation, keeping out supporters and supplies.

This tactic is not usually successful, as many times our side can mobilise bigger numbers to come down and break the siege. Several dozen people responded to a call for back-up from ANAL on Friday evening, and the security thugs were forced to back down, after a few scuffles.

Police also came along, and in this case didn’t give the security any support, but instead warned them for not displaying their SIA (Security Industry Authority) registration badges, as her majesty’s law demands.

A number of the security guards present on Friday are regulars from Southwark Council’s security operation at the Aylesbury Estate. As a matter of course they do not wear any company insignia or registration numbers. They have been repeatedly violent and offensive to occupiers, estate residents and passers by.

We post below some photos from Friday. If you have any further information on these characters and their employers, please share it. Email to rabble(at)autistici.org, and/or to the Aylesbury Estate occupiers at aylesbury(at)riseup.net. Or you can contact ANAL via their facebook page, where there are also some more photos.

via Rabble Ldn

ANAL squat at form Institute of Directors building