earthfirst – Page 166

Shell recruitment event disrupted in Oxford [+ video]

21.10.2009
Shell’s annual graduate recruitment event aimed at schmoozing Oxford University students was disrupted by local activists tonight who heckled, switched off displays and audio equipment, gave an alternative speech and chatted to the students.

Less than a week after BP’s recruitment event at the same venue got similar treatment, a last-minute gathering of folks from Thames Valley Climate Action made sure that Shell’s PR gloss did not go unchallenged either.

Just like all oil companies, Shell are not only destroying all our futures by fuelling climate change, they also destroy communities on a local level, from the Tar Sands of Alberta, Canada, to Rossport, Ireland, Nigeria and beyond. Our action was in solidarity with all those affected by Shell’s operations, mindful of the much greater risks and repressions they face.

While their presentation was interrupted by an alternative speech, the PA system was being unplugged and shiny displays turned off to level the playing field a little. At this point a couple of us were dragged out by the heavies, making sure that everyone was loudly aware of why we were there in the process.

But with only a couple of security guards busy keeping an eye on the rest of the room, no-one was guarding the hotel door, and we were able to go straight back in for another round of ranting. Ooops; bit of an oversight on their part! Dragged out again, this time even more grumpily, and my friend was petulantly kneed in the leg on the way out just for the sake of it. Wonder what they were so pissed off about? 🙂

I don’t know the details of what happened next, but there were plenty of activists still in the room so I’m sure Shell were even further embarrassed. Hopefully more reports will be posted soon, probably with photos and videos too.

http://blip.tv/play/njSBrORbAg

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TVCA – http://tvca.ox4.org/
Recent action at BP event – http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/23240
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Corporate Watch profile of Shell – http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=305
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Tar Sands Watch – http://www.tarsandswatch.org/
Indigenous Environmental Network – http://www.ienearth.org/
Dirty Oil Sands – http://dirtyoilsands.org/
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Rossport Solidarity Camp – http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/
Shell To Sea – http://www.shelltosea.com/
Recent Rossport action – http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/23272

Germany: Solidarity action against E.on

On the night from Oct. 18 to Oct. 19, activists decorated trees and surroundings in front of the local E.on management building with specially prepared toilet paper.

On the night from Oct. 18 to Oct. 19, activists decorated trees and surroundings in front of the local E.on management building with specially prepared toilet paper. Printed on it were the slogan “e.off”, radioactivity warning signs and symbols of the local anti nuclear resistance movements.

Even after an E.on employee tried to remove the toilet paper, remains of it were still present up in the tree.

This action obviously was an act of solidarity with the activists trying to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar.

Reclaim the Earth Centre – conisbrough

There will be a walkabout the Earth Centre at Conisbrough (Doncaster, S. Yorks)on Friday, 23rd October at 1pm.

This meeting is an opportunity to meet each other an discuss plans to reclaim the earth centre for the people.

There will be a walkabout the Earth Centre at Conisbrough (Doncaster, S. Yorks)on Friday, 23rd October at 1pm.

This meeting is an opportunity to meet each other an discuss plans to reclaim the earth centre for the people.

The Earth Centre was a millenium commission funded project, it is a educational centre for sustainable living and after millions of pounds were pumped into it the site has been left derelict and closed to the public for 5 years. Unfortunately now in the hands of the council it is under immediate threat of development.

Imagine an island of low impact living structures, forest gardens, lush allotments, and the technology to be completely self sustainable this is the Earth Centre. Please help us save it!

Plane Stupid turf Virgin Atlantic out of their seats at the PR awards

21st October 2009
Last night seven Plane Stupid activists and one Heathrow resident popped over to the PR Week Awards and hijacked a table reserved for Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic have been strong advocates for the third runway at Heathrow and expansion of Britain’s airports, which we thought they shouldn’t get away with.

Dressed in glamorous evening wear, the activists entered the glitzy awards, which celebrates the highlights of the year’s public relations work. They occupied Virgin Atlantic’s table and refused to leave.

Christine Taylor, who lives next door to Heathrow and whose mother is due to lose her home if Heathrow’s third runway goes ahead said:

“It’s crazy to build more runways around London – we already have six. My mother wants to live out her days in her own home, but the bully boys of aviation think their profits are more important. Tonight at the PR awards we gave them a taste of what it’s like to be turfed out of your rightful place.”

Mainshill Drilling Vehicles Sabotaged

21/10/2009
An anonymous communique was received after two machines used for drilling and testing for coal on site were sabotaged in the early hours of Tuesday morning… The communique reads:

“On the morning of Tuesday the 20th of October two heavy vehicles had their Fuel lines, wires, gears and fuel tanks destroyed. Their windows and bodies where also spraypainted.

21/10/2009
An anonymous communique was received after two machines used for drilling and testing for coal on site were sabotaged in the early hours of Tuesday morning… The communique reads:

“On the morning of Tuesday the 20th of October two heavy vehicles had their Fuel lines, wires, gears and fuel tanks destroyed. Their windows and bodies where also spraypainted.
The vehicles damaged have been working to prepare the Mainshill Wood area for coal extraction. If it is open casted then it will join several other mines in the Douglas Valley, two of which are currently expanding.
Scottish Coal, the land owner Lord Home and the government and more than prepared to sacrifice the health of local communities and environment, as well as contribute to climate change and nearly universal environmental degradation for wages, bonuses, targets and profits.
This action was taken by a group of autonomous people in solidarity with all those who oppose the development of Mainshill Wood into an open cast coal mine.”

Hot off the press and packed with Direct Action – the new Earth First! Action Update is out!

Rebellion, a spark in search of a powder keg – the new Action Update is out, the quarterly round-up of ecological direct action from the UK and beyond.

What’s in this issue?

Rebellion, a spark in search of a powder keg – the new Action Update is out, the quarterly round-up of ecological direct action from the UK and beyond.

What’s in this issue?
Old King Coal meets his Match, but the Nuclear Empire Strikes Back! Read tales of flotillas, bishop-bashing, blockades and occupations as the Rebel Alliance takes on the Empire. The rebels have also been hanging around in nets and on platforms, occupying and locking-on at coal terminals, and passionately attacking power station fences around the world, trying to shut ’em down. Mainshill protest camp continues to pro-actively resist open-cast mining – they climb, occupy, and by night, anonymous pixies sabotage. Who knows when they sleep – with a strong alliance with local villagers, they welcome YOU to come and play anytime, with a gathering at the end of October.

Want more? Radio-towers toppled, dams and trucks seized, naked oil streaks and green smears in defence of the wild, a shit dumped with shit…resistance to peat mining, genetic engineering, logging and Shell in Ireland, and for Vestas wind turbine factory and workers on the Isle of Wight.

Still not enough? Stopping Tesco, climate campaigning successes, runway invasions, more ecotage, and the EF! Winter Moot, plus contacts and upcoming dates.

To download your copy go to this website:

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_oct09.pdf

If you want paper copies to distribute, contact us at: actionupdate@earthfirst.org.uk or pick up a bunch from our stall at the Anarchist Bookfair in London. To print your own, download from http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_oct09print.pdf

Wanted: We are very skint! Please send us some dosh to help us pay for the printing.
Cheques can be made out to Earth First! Action Update, and posted to The Basement, 78a Penny St, Lancaster LA1 1XN

Love and Rage
Your Action Update collective

reports of the Great Climate Swoop at Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station

Climate change activists have hailed this weekend’s direct action as a “massive success” after repeatedly breaching the fence and spending 24 hours outside Ratcliffe coal-fired power station.

Three activists are said to have recovered from injuries suffered at the hands of the police, while one more activist is believed to still be in hospital after collapsing yesterday afternoon. Footage was released last night of a protester-medic aiding a policeman taken ill at the protest (1).

Activists gathered in various points on Saturday morning, swooping on the power plant in separate groups to arrive at 1pm. Within five minutes they had already broken down one of the perimeter fences and several had entered the plant.

On Saturday night around 300 activists pitched tents in two camps outside the gates, despite attempt by police to intimidate campers by standing next to the campsite in full riot gear. The police have confirmed 58 arrests, but there are believed to be more arrestees yet to be booked in. Further action is expected to take place today.

Natasha Blair from the Camp for Climate Action said: ‘We’ve achieved what we came here to do: to show that coal has no future and there is a growing movement which is prepared to take action on climate change.”

This weekend, activists from around the world met in Copenhagen to finalist plans for similar actions during the UN climate talks taking place in December. The Camp for Climate Action has announced that they will be joining other activists in the ‘Push for Climate Justice’, which aims to take over the talks for a day.

Natasha Blair continued: “In the run up to the UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December, acts of civil disobedience to confront big business and governments that are causing catastrophic climate change are gaining support.”

Notes

1. Find the full video at: http://blip.tv/play/njSBqIoGAg

Action timeline

Live timeline and live map

Police videos of fence cutting and police being charged by fence.

Our videos – fences coming down | 11 year old atop fence | to the fences | and others here

Our photos

Mainstream news coverage

Nottinghamshire Police’s Chief Inspector has admitted that the figure of 80 people arrested during the first day of the climate swoop at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station was not correct. In fact only 52 people were arrested.

Climate Activist Arrested in Run-Up to Coal Action on way back from meeting

http://climate-swoop.appspot.com/
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/actions/climate-swoop-2009

Mainshill Solidarity Camp Gathering – Saturday 31st October & Sunday 1st November + video

Building – Workshops – Action

Join us at Mainshill Wood for the weekend of the 31st October & 1st November or longer if you can.

Building – Workshops – Action

Join us at Mainshill Wood for the weekend of the 31st October & 1st November or longer if you can.

Work has started at Mainshill, where Scottish Coal want a new coal mine but the community does not. Huge areas of plantation are being felled and JCBs have moved in. This gathering will strengthen the campaign and give new energy to the Solidarity Camp.

Events over the Weekend:

* Saturday 31st October, 13:00: A walk of the area with people from surrounding and affected communities, visiting areas that have been destroyed by Scottish Coal and areas that we can still save. A discussion on the campaign so far and where we can take it will follow.
* Climbing, tree-house building and tunnelling workshops
* A “work day” to build the Solidarity Camp some new defences
* Evening camp-fire entertainment
* Plenty of chances to stop a beautiful area of Scotland’s countryside from being turned into an opencast coal mine

What to bring:

* Warm clothes and water-proofs, a tent, sleeping bag and mat
* Any food, building materials and tools you can
* Most importantly, bring yourself and your friends

The Solidarity Camp has been doing its best to stop work on the site, but now we need your support and solidarity to win this fight against Scottish Coal, Lord Home and South Lanarkshire Council!

Stopping Work at Mainshill – Solidarity Camp Gathering 31st Oct & 1st Nov video

http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/

Edo Decommissioner defendants arrested at Target Brimar demonstration

Saturday 17th October 2009

This afternoon, around 70 people gathered in Chadderton, Greater Manchester at the launch demonstration of the Target Brimar campaign.

Saturday 17th October 2009

This afternoon, around 70 people gathered in Chadderton, Greater Manchester at the launch demonstration of the Target Brimar campaign.
The campaign opposes the activities of Brimar, a Manchester-based company which makes military components used by the British and American armies in Iraq and Afghanistan and by Israeli forces in Palestine and Lebanon, and which have also been sold to other militaries around the world. Although the company stresses the ‘situational awareness’ and defensive role of many of the items it manufactures, it also contributes parts to F16 fighters, Apache attack helicopters and Javelin missiles and lists ‘target acquisition systems’ for ground-launched missiles amongst its products.
In sunny weather the demonstration – which included generations of Manchester residents, from babies to veteran peace campaigners – started peacefully and in good spirits. Meeting at the Gardeners Arms roundabout in Moston, it proceeded along the Greengate to the industrial estate where Brimar’s factory is sited, where food and a children’s play area had been set up. The procession included Critical Mass cyclists, banners and music.
Unfortunately, during the talks and music which followed, Oldham Police chose to abuse their power by arresting three co-defendants from the Edo Decommissioners trial who were present to show their support for the Target Brimar campaign. The three were arrested for allegedly breaching draconian bail conditions which specify that various co-defendants are not allowed to communicate with one another. Witnesses at the demonstration stressed that the three had deliberately not been communicating with one another and were appalled to see that being in the same geographical area was regarded by Oldham Police as grounds to haul them away, threatening other people with arrest when they tried to intervene.
The Target Brimar demonstration continued after the arrests and wound up early to allow supporters to head to Oldham police station to offer solidarity to the arrested three.
The Target Brimar campaign would also like to express its solidarity and respect for the Edo Decommissioners and their principled action in January this year in carrying out an accountable action which destroyed up to £300,000 worth of equipment used by Edo in Brighton to produce weapons components involved in massive human rights abuses in Palestine, Pakistan and other conflict zones.
At the time of writing, supporters at Oldham police station have been informed that the three will be taken to Brighton for a hearing next week (w/c 19th October 2009) but that the time of their transportation is in the hands, not of Oldham Police, but of the private Group 4 security company.
For more information on future Target Brimar campaign plans, see http://www.targetbrimar.org.uk

Kernow Action Now!: New EF! style group in Cornwall

Kernow Action Now! (KAN!) is a new Cornwall-based activist group. KAN! supports, promotes and encourages all forms of direct action that aim to confront, stop and eventually reverse the destruction of our communities and our planet. We oppose all forms of oppression including racism, sexism and homophobia.

The group was formed in mid 2009 by people that have been active in anti-capitalist, environmental and social campaigning in the UK and around the world for many years. We felt it was time to bring these debates and struggles into our own communities, as well as continuing to work on the national and international stage.

We welcome anyone that supports our aims. If you want to get involved or want to find out more come to our meetings. You can find out what we are doing by visiting our website (http://kernowaction.wordpress.com), following us on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/kernowaction) or just email kernowaction@gmail.com.