earthfirst – Page 162

Preparing for a warm winter in Copenhagen: A guide to the COP15 protests

This December the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP15 will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark. Those organising the conference claim it aims to be a step towards the building of a ‘new global climate treaty’ in an attempt to tackle climate change.

But many feel that this meeting is a sham, created to prop up existing systems that promote, not hinder climate change. Propaganda to back this up is already pouring out of the COP15 website which in a recently published article dubbed Britain, France, Germany, Greece and Sweden as ‘climate heroes’.

Many groups and individuals have spent the last year and a half organising against COP15. This will culminate in several days of protest during the conference. The protests, organised by a wide network under a loose banner of ‘Climate Justice Action’ focus on many climate related issues including production, anti-corporate action and industrial agriculture.

Copenhagen has seen several mass protests in recent years, notably in 2008 after authorities evicted the Ungdomshuset squatted social centre. Read more at http://www.lasthours.org.uk/news/riots-in-copenhagen/
Who’s who?

What is COP15?

COP15 is the name given to the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place between the 7th and 18th of December in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Officials from almost 200 countries are expected to attend as well as representatives from other organisations and NGOs. The aim is to establish a ‘global climate agreement for the period from 2012′. The conference is sponsored by corporations such as BMW, Honda and Volvo.

Who are Climate Justice Action?

Climate Justice Action (CJA) is a broad network people and groups mobilizing to take action against Climate Change. The group includes NGOs and charitable organisations as well as more grassroots groups. All are operating under a united set of network goals and principles. For more information on CJA or to read the network principles visit http://www.climate-justice-action.org/about/about-cja/

Never Trust A COP

More explicitly anti-capitalist organising is also taking place. A network titled Never Trust A COP was formed in April 2009. The network includes people from the radical left, anarchists and ‘groups based on consensus decision making’. The network have called for an anti-capitalist block on December 12th’s mass demonstration as well as participation in the action on December 13th (see below). A longer text from NTAC which outlines the need for anti-capitalist action can be read here.

What’s happening?

[ edited – see Last Hours link below for more details of events happening throughout, BUT please note that the fullest and most correct dates/links during the climate negotiations are at http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22201 ]

Both Climate Justice Action and Never Trust A COP offer logistical information from their websites. The UK based group Camp for Climate Action have organised coaches to Copenhagen for the protests. You can find more information on this at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/actions/copenhagen-2009/coaches

Read at http://www.lasthours.org.uk/articles/preparing-for-a-warm-winter-in-copenhagen-a-guide-to-the-cop15-protests/ for links and pictures.

HELP URGENTLY REQUIRED – ILLEGAL EVICTION IN CAMBERWELL TOMORROW NOVEMBER 16th

HELP URGENTLY REQUIRED TO RESIST ILLEGAL EVICTION IN CAMBERWELL – 5 Decrespigny Park, Camberwell, SE5 8AB… Please come tommorow if possible, bring any gear you can to help resist eviction. Free tea provided.

Scottish Activist Legal Project launched for weekend of protests

The Scottish Activist Legal Project formed in October 2009. It draws on the experience people have of providing legal support for direct action at Faslane, the G8 2005 and many other situations.

The Scottish Activist legal Project will be involved in providing legal support for the anti-NATO protests in Edinburgh from the 13th-17th of November and the anti-SDL protests in Glasgow on the 14th of November.

Legal Observers will be around during the protests. They will be identifiable as having orange florescent jackets with “Legal Observer” written on the back. They will be handing out bust cards during the demo.

If you would like to volunteer to help with legal observing please email us.

Visit our website for legal information including legal guides and bust cards for the Smash NATO demo on Friday and the Stop the SDL demo on Saturday.

Legal Support Number’s
Edinburgh Anti-NATO Protests
0797 556 0809
Glasgow Anti-SDL Protests
0845 313 8459

http://scalp.noflag.org.uk

scalp [at] noflag.org.uk

Copenhagen COP15 Logistics – addresses – Locations – accomodation

This is a newsletter on the logistics concerning COP15, regarding what we know so far and what we are planning. Some things still haven’t been sorted out yet as bureaucracy in Denmark works very slow.
[For the fullest most correct set of dates for protests during the conference go to the Action dates & gatherings link]

1) ACCOMMODATION
2) FOOD
3) INFO POINTS
4) CONVERGENCE CENTRES
5) LEGAL TEAM
6) BORDER CONTROL
7) VISAS

8) VOLUNTEERS
9) MEDICS & TRAUMA
10) KIDS

11) WHAT TO BRING
12) TRANSPORT
13) MAPS
14) PLEDGING AND DONATIONS
15) MORE INFO

This is the second edition, we’ll be doing at least a third one just before the COP. Don’t panic if you arrive in CPH during COP15 not knowing how everything works. Just go to an info-point, all of which are currently being figured out; some will be centrally located around the Klimaforum09 and central station and some in Christiania and in the convergence center in Nørrebro. See map below for details.

If you have any questions concerning logistics, inputs, requests or anything else that we haven’t thought of, please don’t hesitate to contact us at logistics.cop15@gmail.com

Best regards,
Logistic-group of Climate Collective, Denmark
www.climatecollective.org // www.climate-justice-action.org

1) ACCOMMODATION:

To better organize accommodation for all of you, we would love if you could let us know you are coming, if you need us to provide you with a sleeping place. We are not asking you to register! You just have to tell us how many people you are coming with, from when to when, and, only if you like to, you can leave us a name, a contact and your country of origin. Please fill the form in only if you need to be accommodated by us! You can find the form here:
http://www.climate-justice-action.org/practical-info/let-us-know-youre-coming/

As it looks right now there are 3 different possibilities concerning accommodation.

Communal accommodation:
The situation is that we are (still) negotiating with the local municipality of Copenhagen in order to get access to big sports halls and schools in the area of Copenhagen to use for accommodation. We are doing it on a non-registration base. Accommodation will be free, but of course always happy about donations, as there will be some expenses for e.g. heating and electricity. The sites will feature the basics; heat and proper sanitary conditions. Not all sites may have access to showers, but in that case shower locations will be made available elsewhere in the city, although this might include a small user payment.

Currently, we have several sites on our hands:

a. Two vacant schools, Frederikssundsvejen and Voldparken schools, both with showers, toilets and heating and Frederikssundsvejen will host a kitchen.
– At the moment it looks like there’ll be some additional funding, earmarked for us, from the municipality for renting additional sites.
– We’re mapping and working on vacant buildings in Copenhagen and establishing contact with Copenhagen Project House, already working with this.

b. Rooms at unions, some with showers.
– Among other, we have confirmed space at the union of the children’s social workers.
– We’re still collecting support and building relations with unions, so hopefully more to come.

c. Flydende By, Floating City, has finally been granted a number of large industrial halls and buildings in Copenhagen’s South Harbour and we will be turning these into accommodation and social sites.

d. Rooms in community centers, both in Nørrebro and the South Harbor.

In the nearest future, we will compile the different sites, get an overview and distribute more specific information.

During the summit, you can always just go to an info point (see below), when you arrive to Copenhagen to know where accommodation is available. The info points will also be reachable by phone, again details will ome out in a later update.

We expect the halls to open for accommodation from when the summit starts, but we’ll also be able to accommodate people in the run up – so you’re more the welcome to come early and help out. Contact us by mail if you need accommodation before the COP starts.

“Ungdomshuset”
Dortheavej
a.k.a The Youth House. A social center which will feature a kitchen, workshops, meeting rooms and more.

Kapelvejens medborgerhus,
Kapelvej 44
Emergency sleeping place, showers etc

Private accommodation with (random) locals:
If you want to sleep privately, sent an email to: (the deadline for sign up is the 8th of November) contact@newlifecopenhagen.com

It’s an art project, in order to get people together. Everyone within an hour of transportation from Copenhagen can sign up as a host. The host and guest are put together randomly, so you can’t choose your host. Go to the website www.newlifecopenhagen.com to check out details. This option involves some registration and centralized, bureaucratic distribution.

Private accommodation with Danish activists:
If you have particular reasons for not wanting to use the communal accommodation, which we advise you to as much as possible, you can stay with local Danish activists and avoid to go through the general public sign-up (New Life Copenhagen, see above), you are asked to use the following email-address.

privateaccommodation.cop15@gmail.com

Please send us an e-mail, containing name, how many you will like to stay together (if you don’t mind staying individually, please state so in the mail), if possible the duration of your stay and contact information. You will then receive a mail with contact info of your host a few weeks before the COP15, so you can do the actual arranging yourself. We cannot guarantee people a spot though.

Please note, that the Danish scene can only provide sleeping opportunity for a limited number of guests.

2) FOOD:

People’s kitchens will be set up on central spots in Copenhagen, such as info points, accommodation spaces, when possible, and in areas of activist activities. The biggest kitchen will be placed close to KlimaForum, and the Central station, at an infopoint. Other big kitchens will be at Folkets in Nørrebro and at Nemoland in Christiania. All kitchens will need volunteers during the hole period. Food will be brought out to the larger demos and actions. We will have to ask for donations, around 20 DKK (2-3 Euros) per meal.

Also we are sending a call out to all vegetarian restaurants, cafe’s and walk by shops, to have special low cost offers.

If you’re part of a people’s kitchen planning to come for the COP15 and have not been in contact with us yet, please contact the logistics-group at: logistics.cop15@gmail.com for coordination.

3) INFO POINTS:

Info points will be set up several places in Copenhagen and we are trying to mobilize Danish organizations and groups to help out, but international volunteers will be needed, especially as groups taking on organizing the management of a specific site.

Sites: (see map below for exact location)
– On the Central Station, primarily as an information and “redirection” stand
– In Råhuset next to one of the communal kitchens by KlimaForum09 nearby the Central Station
– In the convergence center Støberiet on Nørrebro
– In Christiania, near the communal kitchen
– On the social center Bolsjefabrikken, The Candy Factory in Copenhagen North-West area

So far we’re thinking that the info points would be places with:
– Information on various practical matters and contacts, furthermore info on the following:
– Food and accommodation space
– Geography of Copenhagen (maps)
– Legal rights, trauma and medics
– Free internet services, with some computers available
– Hot drinks for freezing temperatures
– Free shop (with warm clothes, etc.)

… Please send logistics.cop15@gmail.com any more features you would suggest.

4) CONVERGENCE CENTERS:
We are working with a few convergence centers spread around the central parts of Copenhagen. To clarify, when speaking of a convergence center we talk of both a social space to relax, discuss and research, a space for practical and other preparations and containing facilities like medics and trauma.

Folkets Hus, Stengade 50
Key point of activities for activists during COP15 including a peoples kitchen. The non-comercial cafe will be running as normal during the entire period. Here you can get cheap coffee and other nice organic things.

Sites: (see map for exact locations)

– The “main” convergence, Støberiet on Blågårds Plads 3 on Nørrebro, which will feature medics, trauma support, legal aid, meeting and social spaces and info point.

– Bolsjefabrikken, The Candy Factory, Laekevej 11 which is a social center in Copenhagen NW (next to Nørrebro). This will be a more practical center featuring workshop areas with tools and accessories, kitchen, social and meeting spaces and an info point.

– A smaller convergence, Råhuset by KlimaForum09 on Vesterbro. This will primarily feature a social space and info point, also some KlimaForum09 activities and more. It is located next to the main communal kitchen.

– The House of Solidarity – Solidaritetshuset, Griffenfeldtsgade 41 – Activist media center on Nørrebro will feature a be-the-media activist centre open for everyone. It’s located very close to the “main” convergence, Støberiet.

5) LEGAL TEAM
A legal team of law-students has been set up in Copenhagen. They have worked out a paper on basic rights in Denmark for Danes and foreigners, see attached file. They are in contact with lawyers and will work from their office during the whole period of the COP.

Meanwhile we are setting up a prison solidarity support group, that will do the overall coordination of legal aid and prison support. They will be based in Støberiet, the main infopoint at Nørrebro. So if you have any legal issue or question, go to Støberiet. Then they can redirect you to the office of the legal team if it’s needed (which is very close to Støberiet).

If you or your group wants to work on legal aid during the COP, please contact climate09legalaid@gmail.com, for coordination.

6) BORDER CONTROL
We strongly recommend you to bring your passport even though you are travelling from a country member of Schengen. People going to the G8-summit in Rostock in 2008 were checked at the Danish/German border and people not possessing a passport were immediately sent back. We expect the same to happen during the COP15.

Border support teams are being set up at the German/Danish border and the Swedish/Danish border, together with lawyer support from Copenhagen. There will be organized pick up spots for people being denied entrance. We will have more specific information on this in the final newsletter, such as phone number, etc.

If you’re a group working with border issues, please contact climate09legalaid@gmail.com, for coordination.

7) VISAS
From some countries, including all Schengen countries, you don ́t need a visa. See the list in the following link to see if you need one:

http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/visa/who_needs_visa.htm

PLEASE BE AWARE: It can take up to 8 weeks to get a visa, and costs around 60 Euros. If you need a visa then you need to start the process immediately.

How to apply, go to:
http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/visa/how-to/how_to_app.htm

To get a visa you need a reference in Denmark. The easiest and most direct way to get a visa is to go through KlimaForum, it doesn’t matter if you don’t intend to participate in the forum. You need to fill out the attached spreadsheet in this mail and send it to: klimaforum09@klimaforum09.org
It would ease the process a lot if you register in groups. The deadline for registering is already the 6th of November.

If you have any questions or concerns, please write us at climatevisa@gmail.com
To get a more detailed guide on how to apply for a visa, please write the email address above.

8) VOLUNTEERS
We need your volunteer help to make our convergence on Copenhagen successful. Sign up both as an individual and even better as a group that is prepared to take on coordinating the logistics of a specific site for a specific period of time:

– Keeping an eye on accommodation areas, media centers, etc.: Look after an area, give out basic infos and make sure everything runs smoothly (both day and night shifts will be needed)

– Cooking food: chop veggies in one of the many communal kitchens and save the starving activists!

– Working in an Info point: Give out info of all kinds about town and COP15. You will be given all the info you might need, but it might help if you know Copenhagen, COP15 or the alternative activities a bit beforehand.

– Working as IT and technical support (media center): help solving any kind of IT crisis we might face

– Coordinating volunteers: You will be in charge of coordinating one group of volunteers connected to one specific place/role. Coordinate and smoothen up shifts, time tables and so forth.

– Driving/being a runner: Drive food around, go buying stuff or materials, etc

– Making Propaganda, hand out flyers, put up posters

– Translation: help us translating from and to different languages, both spoken and written (press releases etc.)

You can sign up here: http://www.climate-justice-action.org/mobilization/volunteer/
If you have questions write an email to climatevolunteers@gmail.com

9) MEDICS AND TRAUMA SUPPORT
For both the medics and trauma support, there are Danish groups coordinating affinity groups from a series of countries. Both groups will have a central area in the convergence center Støberiet, as well as other locations.

Are you an affinity group or individual doing medic work, please write streetmedics-d09@aktivix.org.

Are you an affinity group or individual doing trauma support, please write efa-cop@activix.org.

10) KIDS
There will so far be one medium sized space for kids to hang out. This space will be organized in collaboration with The Bottom meeting in Christania, and will need some parents to help out, take turns etc. We don’t really have an overview of what is needed in relation to kids, so if you’re interested – send an email to logistics.cop15@gmail.com. We hope to make another space for kids if it’s needed.

We are planning to reserve some accommodation places/room for families, see more on accommodation above.

11) WHAT TO BRING
– Warm clothes, average temperature in DK in December is between 5 and 0 degrees Celsius, and at night below zero.

– Rain clothes, as it can be raining a lot, but usually snow will not come until January.

– Money for donations for food and to cover other needs.

– Sleeping bag and sleeping pad (if sleeping privately, ask your host what’s necessary)

12) TRANSPORT

Transport to Copenhagen:

UK Realted info (travel, what to bring, legal etc):
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/actions/copenhagen-2009/coaches
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/actions/copenhagen-2009/logistics
http://www.blackcross.dk/bustcards/la_english.asp
http://www.climate-justice-action.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Your_legal_rights_in_Denmark.pdf

People are coming from all directions to the COP, try to hook up with someone already planning to come. The website is gathering all information on how people come here if they have place for others. So if you have place for others, (for instance) with a bus, download the form here http://www.climate-justice-action.org/media/documents/ fill it out, and send it to convergence@climate-justice-action.org. Then people have the possibility to find you.

If you want to hook up with other to come, check out the practical info section in a few days or click on the “Converge on CPH” button on the webpage. Information will be updated constantly, so keep your eyes open and let us know how you are coming as soon as you decide.

Transport within Denmark:
Danish Railways: www.dsb.dk . Right corner to switch to English. It’s easiest to use the “journey planner”.

In order to go to KlimaForum09, get off at “Hovedbanegården”, which is the main station.
In order to go to Nørrebro with convergence centers, info points etc. get off at “Nørreport st.” (but be aware that all trains don’t stop there). See map for details.

13) MAPS
Go to this website to see overview of locations of interests during COP15. The map will be updated continuously.

http://tiny.cc/cop

14) PLEDGING AND DONATIONS
In order to set up this infrastructure in Copenhagen and plan the different CJA actions it requires quite a lot of money. Contribution is always needed, you can of course make a contribution when coming to COP15, but it’s actually a bigger help for us if we have it beforehand.

Organizations/groups/network/individuals can transfer money using this information:

IBAN: DK2484010001125014
SWIFT-code:
VEHODK22 for international currency except Euros
MEKUDK21 for Euros

As an individual it might be easier just using paypal, se more here:
http://www.climate-justice-action.org/donate/

If you’re having problems transferring money or so, please write to: climate09accountancy@gmail.com

15) WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

www.climatecollective.org
Climate Collective is a network of Danish groups and individuals that coordinate and organize activities and actions related to climate change from an ant capitalistic stance. Towards COP15, Climate Collective is mobilizing, particularly in Denmark, and is organizing and coordinating logistics.

www.climate-justice-action.org
CJA is a broad international network, with member organizations from all over the world. They are planning actual actions in Copenhagen during the COP and putting an effort to coordinate mobilization worldwide along with doing solidarity work with the Global South.

www.klimaforum09.dk
Klimaforum09 is also referred to as “The alternative summit”. It will take place during the same time as COP15. Klimaforum09 is organized by a broad coalition of Danish and international environmental movements and civil society organizations. Go to their website to learn more about the declaration-process and the program.

http://nevertrustacop.org/
The Never Trust A COP network was formed in April 2009 by individuals who want to link social struggles and climate activism based on an anti-capitalist analysis to mobilize against the COP15 summit.

Global Minga Round-up (AKA Mobilisation in Defence of Mother Earth and the Peoples)

October 12 (the 517th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the Western Hemisphere) marked the first day of the Global “Minga”/Mobilisation in Defence of Mother Earth and the Peoples, called by the IV Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples Abya Yala. Rallies, protests and other actions are being carried out around the world in response to the call, including (infrastructure-related actions highlighted):

Labrador, Canada: Inuu elder and activist Elizabeth Penashue launched a week-long walk along the Mitsa-Shipu (Churchill River) from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Gull Island, in opposition to the proposed Lower Churchill Hydro Project. If built, the two dams would cause vast environmental devastation and irreparable loss of Innu land, history and culture.

USA: The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) is holding a weeklong mobilization against the North American and Central American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA/CAFTA) and against gold mining in El Salvador. Events are planned for Seattle, Olympia, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Find out more information here.

On October 16, the Durango, Colorado chapters of Earth First! and Root Force are presenting the Beehive Design Collective on their True Cost of Coal graphic tour.

London, England: Protests were held at the Colombian, Peruvian and Spanish embassies, the UK Foreign Office and the Department for Energy and Climate change, demanding and end to EU-Latin America free trade agreements and an end to UK agrofuel subsidies.

Melbourne, Australia: A Latin American Solidarity Network space was launched at Trades Hall. A documentary film night will be held October 15.

Guatemala: Social movements marked the Minga with a nonviolent demonstration. An assassin dressed in black fired on the crowd, killing a 19-year-old and seriously injuring a 16- and a 65-year-old.

Colombia: More than 25,000 indigenous People have begun to March to the city of Cali to protest for respect for their territory and against the harmful social policies maintained by the Uribe government. The protesters are expecting to arrive on October 16. 115 indigenous councils have ceased ongoing dialogues with the government for the occasion. (For updates, keep an eye on: www.cric-colombia.org, www.onic.org.co). Approximately 2000 Uwa have also begun an “armed strike” in opposition to Ecopetrol, who has been exploiting natural resources from their ancestral sanctuary for the past 13 years.

Paris, France: Social groups have organized a week of solidarity actions for the Minga, including public debates, forums, a one-day festival, and protest rallies in support of Indigenous Peoples.

Argentina: A Global Week of Action against Debt and International Finance Institutions (IFI’s) is running in conjunction with the Minga. Opposing the new agreement between the Government and the International Monetary Fund, participants will be rallying for climate justice (October 13), rural women and the repudiation of debt (15 October), food sovereignty (16 October) and the eradication of poverty (October 17). A memorial was also held on October 11, honoring the martyrs of resistance.

Cuba: A one day event http://www.movimientos.org/defensamadretierra/show_text.php3%3Fkey%3D15924&rurl=translate.google.ca&usg=ALkJrhgIwwHDwwtuTEeL6TgbGl3sC3Ef7g” target=”_blank”>commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Cry of the Excluded was held in Havana.

Bolivia: The First hearing of the International Court of Climate Justice will be running at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Cochabamba, from October 13 to 17. The event will be transmitted LIVE on the internet. An Assembly of Social Movements will also be held in Cochabamba on the 15th, immediately followed by a Regional Meeting Against Climate Change.

Peru: Delegations from around the country marched to the headquarters of the UN in Lima on October 12, to present a series of demands and proposals by indigenous peoples to stop global warming. This will be followed by 3 days of workshops led by indigenous communities.

Other events, including festivals, workshops, protests, Ceremonies and other actions are taking place in Spain, Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, and elsewhere.

Via Campesina has also called for an International Day of Action Against Multinational Corporations for the final day of the Minga: October 16, 2009.

Defenders of the Land, a cross-Canada network of First Nations in land struggle, is also putting together a week of educational events on Indigenous Rights and struggles, from October 25-31, 2009.

More information and reports are available (in Spanish) here.

Phoenix, AZ — The week was kicked off with a protest at Arizona State University against the recognition of “Columbus Day,” along with education about the true (genocidal) nature of Columbus. The rest of the week consists of a media initiative to spread the truth about Columbus Day. It will culminate on Friday with a mass march to protest the racist and human rights-abusing policies of Maricopa County Sherriff Joe Arpaio.

Tucson, AZ — A banner was suspended from a downtown bridge in opposition to mining (possibly a reference to planned copper mines in Arizona).

Another anti-mines banner, this one reading “No New Mines on Apache Land! Ya Basta!” was hung in Tucson, AZ on October 16 (this time from the “Snake Bridge” over Broadway Boulevard). It was in opposition to the proposed mine in Superior, Arizona on sacred Apache land.

Also in Tucson, activists held a Fair Trade fair. In Tucson and New York City, activists distributed information on the connection between the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and swine flu.

Action at Mainshill: Tree felling stopped again in solidarity with communities

At 10:30 Tuesday morning (10/11/2009) activists from the Mainshill Solidarity Camp stopped a massive harvesting machine from working at the site, and one person locked-on to it by the neck.

Work was stopped for 5 hours and the protestor who locked on will appear in Lanark court tomorrow. Today is the 14th anniversary of the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa & 8 other Ogonis for resisting Shell in the Niger Delta. This action was done in remembrance of them & in solidarity with communities across the world who are still fighting corporate oppression.

This action is one of many that has taken place at Mainshill Wood, in a relentless and determined campaign of direct action to stop Scottish Coal and Lord Home opencasting the site.

This action is in solidarity with communities who have their health destroyed, their environment polluted and countryside trashed, all for the quick profits of opencast coal mining. It is also in solidarity with other communities around the world fighting similar battles – communities such as in Rossport, Co. Mayo in Ireland fighting Shell’s raw gas pipeline, and indigenous communities in the Niger Delta also fighting Shell and their paramilitary forces and environmental destruction.

Solidarity is a weapon in the global struggle against big corporations and climate chaos, and linking our movements makes us stronger.

Join us at Mainshill Solidarity Camp to continue the struggle.

No new coal!

MOVEMENT #1 – No Borders Newsletter

The new free monthly newsletter featuring news and updates from the No Borders Network and beyond.

Download the .pdf

Join the mailing list

The new free monthly newsletter featuring news and updates from the No Borders Network and beyond.

Download the .pdf

Join the mailing list

The re-naming and re-launching of the newsletter is part of an attempt to to create a more regular and broad based periodical, drawing in other groups, organisations and individuals that work for freedom of movement and equality for all.

More details

No New Nuclear. Planning to win – updated details

Time to get organised and stop the new generation of nuclear power stations.

London
11am Saturday 21st until 4pm Sunday 22nd November 2009

The weekend will be a space for grassroots campaigners to network, share ideas and information and make plans to win.

Time to get organised and stop the new generation of nuclear power stations.

London
11am Saturday 21st until 4pm Sunday 22nd November 2009

The weekend will be a space for grassroots campaigners to network, share ideas and information and make plans to win.

Whatever your campaigning tools are, wherever you are from, if you are in a group or an individual, this weekend is for us all. The more of us who can make it the better plans we can make.

By developing skills and confidence in creating and implementing campaign and action plans we can identify when and where our interventions can be most successful.

Over the weekend we will:

Reflect on the successes of the anti nuclear movement.
A presentation from Ben Ayliffe, Greenpeace’s nuclear power campaigner.
A presentation from a representative of the French network “Sortir du nucléaire” on the ongoing calamities with EPR reactors (the types of nuclear reactors being proposed for the UK).
Discussion and making plans to stop a new generation of nuclear power.
Skills workshops such as: Strategic action planning and Dealing with the media.
Meet and build networks with a broad range of people opposed to new nuclear.
Get angry, get organised.

Seeds for Change is an activist training network that will facilitate the weekend and share skills for winning through campaign and action planning. Come along and take away ideas and tools for winning to share with your community and networks at home. http://seedsforchange.org.uk/free/winning

Cost: Costs will be kept as low as possible. You will be asked to contribute towards the venue and food, but don’t let being skint stop you from coming :).

To book your place, help organise or get more details contact: nonewnuclear@aktivix.org or ring 01524 383012 and leave a message.

http://www.nonewnuclear.wordpress.com/
http://www.gmdcnd.org.uk/

Alleged ELF/ALF Anarchist Arrested in Mexico

ELP has learnt of an arrest in Mexico where a 16 year old is accused of ELF activity. Below is a report about his arrest.

Last 27 of October a 16 years old Mexican activist was arrested at night and acused of being part of the ELF. He was riding his bike with a back pack wen a police patrol started to follow him. He decided to get rid of the backpack and ran away with his bike. Sadly the cops managed to capture him. Afterwards they took the backpack and found 4 incendiary devices (each one made with two petrol bottles), another petrol bottle, a pair of plastic gloves, a balaclava, a lighter, a spray can, and environmentalists logos.

ELP has learnt of an arrest in Mexico where a 16 year old is accused of ELF activity. Below is a report about his arrest.

He was sent to the police station were the police took pictures of him and found out that he is vegan. He was kept there all night and next morning. He refused to talk to the police or explain why he was carrying all that stuff in his backpack.

According to the press he is suspected of at least six attacks with incendiary devices by the ELF, ALF and eco-anarchists which are:

– The destruction by fire to a JCB on March 22 by the ELF.
– The arson attack that left serious damage inside a McDonalds on 12 May by the ALF.
– The destruction of a truck by an incendiary device of the government institution Sistema Intermunicipal Water and Sewer on May 19 by the ELF.
– The bomb threat at Federal Palace and the hospice cottages, where the Summit of North American leaders took place on July 7 by eco-anarchists.
– The placement of an incendiary device under a sports car in a residential area in Zapopan on 18 August by eco-anarchists.
– The burning of seven luxury cars at a car show on September 26th by eco-anarchists.

See communiques at http://www.elfpressoffice.org/actions2009.html and the McDonalds arson communique (+ video) at http://www.directaction.info/news_may12_09.htm

According to the press Diego A, the arrested activist, admited to be Anarchist, part of the ELF and responsable of the 6 attacks. But according to the Mexican Animal Rights magazine Rabia y Acción, this seems to be false.

Last 29 of October he went to trial but the judge didnt find enought evidence to convict him in a special prison for young men under 18 years old, so he was released. Now his parents are responsable of his future behaviour.

Weekend of Action and Workshops at Mainshill Solidarity Camp

RESIST new coal! Stop climate chaos!

Sat 28th Nov – Tues 1st Dec

RESIST new coal! Stop climate chaos!

Sat 28th Nov – Tues 1st Dec

While politicians are set to add more air to the climate pressure cooker in Copenhagen, the UK government is pushing ahead with doubling the number of opencast coal mines in the country. In the past 18 months 14 companies have applied to dig nearly 60 million tonnes of coal from 58 new or enlarged opencast mines. With our climate under imminent threat, this is just insane and needs to be stopped. So what better place than Mainshill for kicking off a December of direct action against climate criminals at home and abroad?

The Mainshill camp is occupying the site of a new open cast coal mine in Lanarkshire with lots of local support and seriously delaying work with digger diving, drill rig occupations and sabotage actions.

Join us for our open weekend Sat 28 Nov – Tues 1st Dec. There’ll be direct action workshops, legal briefings and a guided tour of the site on Sat and Sun, plus whatever actions people are up for. Or come up any time!

There’s lots and lots to do – not only are contractors busy felling trees on site, there are also four opencast coal mines within spitting distance of Mainshill, as well as the Ravenstruther coal rail depot.

From jumping on machinery and building momentum and support in the community, to chopping wood and cleaning out the compost loos – there’s something for everyone!

A brochure of coal targets in Scotland plus Digger Diving for Beginners
can be found at http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=10

WHAT TO BRING:
*warm clothes, boots and waterproofs, a tent, sleeping bag and mat *tools for building work and action materials if you can *Most importantly bring yourself and friends.

FOOD:
There’ll be communal vegan food for a donation, so come prepared to help with chopping veg.

GETTING THERE:
The camp is right next to junction 12 of the M74, which runs from Carlisle
to Glasgow. The nearest train stations are Lanark and Hamilton and there
are frequent direct busses to the site.
Email us if you need a lift from the train station.

Detailed travel directions:
http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=415

MORE INFO AND CONTACT:
info@leaveitintheground.org.uk
http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=827

Please note: People arrested at Mainshill are held overnight, then taken to the Sheriff’s Court in Lanarkshire on the next day before being released. If you are planning to take action, make sure you’ve got the next day off too.