earthfirst – Page 178

Villagers stage Oldbury anti-nuclear protest

Direct action by local residents against new E.On / RWE npower nuclear power plant planned in Oldbury, Gloucestershire.

Villagers stage Oldbury anti-nuclear protest
August 4 2009

Villagers living near the possible site of a new nuclear power station near Bristol staged a five-hour protest to prevent contractors getting on to the land.

Direct action by local residents against new E.On / RWE npower nuclear power plant planned in Oldbury, Gloucestershire.

Villagers stage Oldbury anti-nuclear protest
August 4 2009

Villagers living near the possible site of a new nuclear power station near Bristol staged a five-hour protest to prevent contractors getting on to the land.

Residents of Shepperdine, near Thornbury, blocked the access road to a field near the existing Oldbury atomic plant until they were finally asked to move by police.

The site is one of a number around the country put forward by the Government as a possible location for one of the new generation of nuclear stations.

Power firm Eon has acquired land at Shepperdine with another company RWE and wants to build a £4-billion station.

The process involved in getting permission will last for many years but as part of the initial site development work, small-scale ground investigation and seismic studies were due to have started yesterday morning on the Shepperdine land to help determine the type and best location for the foundations.

But when contractors from Almondsbury firm Hydrock arrived with lorries, they found their way blocked by the protesters.

About 13 residents occupied the lane leading to a field that has already been turned into a compound.

They said they had two concerns at this stage – whether permission had been given by the British Geological Survey (BGS) for the drilling to take place and whether South Gloucestershire Council had given the all-clear for the compound and parking area to be created.

Protester Reg Illingworth said: “Ultimately, we don’t want a new nuclear power station here.

“But this protest is solely about permission for the preliminary work and the compound, which has already been built.

“We want to know if consent has been given and if we see that in writing, then we will stand aside.”

At one point, four policemen were at the scene but that was later cut to two.

Acting sergeant Steve Wilson said: “It’s a peaceful protest and we are here to ensure it remains that way.”

There was also a debate throughout the morning about whether the road being blocked was part of the public highway or privately owned.

When it was confirmed it was a public road, the residents moved aside and the Hydrock lorries went through.

Alan Pinder, of South Gloucestershire Friends of the Earth, was among the demonstrators.

He said: “We want to ensure Eon is going through the proper process.

“You have to do everything by the book if you are going to run a nuclear power station.”

Eon spokeswoman Emily Highmore said: “While we respect the right of people to protest, we would like to reassure everyone the ground investigation works and establishment of a contractor’s compound have been carried out with the full knowledge of South Gloucestershire Council and the BGS.

“It’s still very early days but we’re committed to keeping everyone informed of our activities and would urge anyone with any questions or concerns to get in touch.”

BGS spokesman Clive Mitchell said the organisation had to be notified about drilling of holes deeper than 30m for water abstraction and mineral exploration but not site investigation.

South Gloucestershire Council spokesman Ryan Skeets said: “The council was made aware of intentions by Eon to carry out some temporary ground investigation works that appear to be covered by permitted development rights and therefore would not require prior planning permission.

“The council will monitor these works to ensure they are being carried out in line with these intentions.”

One day early: With classical music against nuclear power: “Musical inspection“ on the site of the fine storage site in Gorleben

8th August 09.

Today at 10:30am 60 musicians from the action group “Lebenslaute”, packed with instruments and music stands, climbed the four meter high wall around the site of the planned final storage site in Gorleben (Germany) and began a protest concert with mainly classical music.

8th August 09.

The musicians surprised with their action, originally announced for Sunday. With this “musical inspection” the activists protest against the continued operation of nuclear power plants and against the continued exploration of the salt mine in Gorleben for use as a final nuclear storage site.

“The discussion about nuclear power is about the live of coming generations, but the public does not take the danger seriously enough”, says Berthold Keunecke, a protestant priest from Herford and one of the spokespersons of Lebenslaute. Today we overcame the fences and walls of Gorleben, to effectively protest against nuclear technology which is threatening our lives. We want to awaken, provoke, dramatise – and we all, each one of us individually, stand up for this provocation.”

“The nuclear lobby wants to continue the work to turn salt dome in Gorleben into a final storage site, although the scandals around the salt mine Asse finally made clear, that Gorleben too is not save”, declares Katja Tempel, midwife and Lebenslaute spokesperson from the Wendland. “In the light of the unsolved question of the final storage of nuclear waste, we demand an end to the production of nuclear waste, that is the shutdown of nuclear power stations. The use of renewable energies has to be promoted.”

Under the slogan “A-Moll statt A-Müll” (A-minor instead of A(tomic)-waste” a varied and ambitious programme for choir and orchestra is being performed: the works of Georg Philipp Telemann, Willy Burkhard and Fanny Hensel, performed by “Lebenslaute” celebreate the beauty of nature, which is to be preserved. As an accusation and call for urgent action against the deadly dangers of nuclear energy, “Lebenslaute” will perform Heinrich Schütz’ Choral „Wie nun ihr Herren, seid ihr stumm” (What now, you men, are you silent), as well as parts of symphony No 101 “Die Uhr” (The clock) by Joseph Haydn and a choir version of “It`s my life” (Bon Jovi). Chamber music in different instrumentations concludes the concert.

“The music is an expression of the energy of different generations. With this, our action fits well into the broad spectrum of creative resistance in the Wendland”, explains Katharina Dehlinger, Lebenslaute activist from the county of Paderborn. “It is better that lively music comes through the walls and fences of the mine in Gorleben, than deadly nuclear radiation. The salt dome in Gorleben is not suitable for a save final storage of nuclear waste. The project has to be abandoned.”

With the combination of actions of civil disobedience and mainly classical music the initiative “Lebenslaute” has been raising awareness for wrongs in society for more than 20 years. The initiative includes politically active musicians from all over Germany.

Up-to-date photos (also in printing quality) will soon be available at http://www.lebenslaute.net

Scottish Camp for Climate Action builds support

The Scottish Camp for Climate Action has been building defences supporting the Mainshill open cast protest site this week. The camp is building action affinity groups and through direct action training enabling activists to take action on high carbon producing industries around the country. The camp focuses on alternative solutions to a damaging system where power is in the hands of powerful but damaging industries. Direct action is providing the means for people and groups to readdress that power imbalance and actions will take place during and after the camp. High emission industries across the country are to be targeted in the coming weeks; polluting energy intensive corporations will be brought into the spotlight and brought to a standstill.

London Rally Supports Vestas Workers – 6 Aug

The Campaign Against Climate change held a rally in London on Thursday 6 August in support of the 600 Vestas workers whose jobs making wind turbine blades are to be lost as the company moves production to the USA.

The rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall on Thursday evening started in light rain, but it was pouring by the time it finished. Despite the weather, the 80 or so present listened intently to speeches from a Vestas worker, trade union speakers from the RMT, PCW and Billy Hayes of the Communications Workers Union, as well as former Labour Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Meacher MP and Green Party GLA member Jenny Jones, who arrived at the event by bicycle.

Despite the government having spent thousands of billions propping up the banks it is unwilling to put up the much smaller amounts needed to support green industries. The problems of Vestas are indeed very much of the Government’s making, with its failure to put it’s money where its mouth is on green energy policies, relying on hot air rather than support for wind power and other alternative energies.

Making wind turbines is a profitable business, and will become even more so, but unless action is taken – such as nationalising Vestas, at least (as with the banks) on a temporary basis, the UK will be buying them from abroad rather than making money selling them to the rest of the world.

This story is also on Demotix, and I’ll put more pictures on My London Diary next week:
http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2009/08/aug.htm

Bristol Solidarity With Vesta Occupation

A wide selection of people: Bristol Rising Tide, Respect Party, Bristol Anarchist Bookfair, FBU, UNITE, Decommissioners and Bristol Co-Mutiny took part in a Solidarity Demo Outside the Environment Agency, today, Tuesday 4th August.

On Tuesday 4th August, protesters descended on the Bristol Headquarters of the Environment Agency in Aztec West carrying windmills and banners to support the action of Vestas workers who have occupied the St Cross wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight for the last two weeks because of plans to close the site with the immediate loss of 600 jobs

The workers are asking that the government – who have pledged £100bn towards renewable energy – nationalise the factory to save it from shutting. On the 4th August the Vestas company are going to court to evict the workers.

Around 20 people turned out to support the protest and they handed out flyers to staff and chatted to them about the Vesta Occupation. Many of the Environmental Agency staff supported the protest and understood the concerns of the protestors and the reasoning for the Vesta occupation.

Anti-nuclear Camp in Lecce – Italy

ENG
Italy – Lecce

20 – 23 AUGUST IN SALENTO, NUCLEAR CLIMATE CAMP

In the context of the social and environmental resistance, typical of the popular struggles in Italy, a series of experiences, subjectivities and collectivities emerged in the Autumn of 2008 in opposition to the government project to restart the Civil Nuclear programme.

ENG
Italy – Lecce

20 – 23 AUGUST IN SALENTO, NUCLEAR CLIMATE CAMP

Although a decade of grassrots struggles and the referendum of 1987 led to the closing of power stations and the nuclear programme, on 2th july 2009 the Camera (italian parliament) approved the “DDL Sviluppo-pacchetto anticrisi” that contains the reopening of nuclear power stations. In the next 6 months, the government will announce the sites, declared of “strategic-military interest”, in order to avoid clashes with Local Authorities: a open declaration of war against the population!

After one year of meetings and public initiatives, that gave birth to the National Anti-Nuclear Coordination health-environment-energy , the Pugliese Coordination is organizing a resistance camp, in August in Salento, convivial days of “pizzica” folk music and dedication to the cause. The Pugliese Coordination was set up in 1985 to fight nuclear installations in Puglia, and other parts of Italy. Already, even before Cernobyl, in 1985, the movement was rejecting the nuclear in Puglia.

The resistance camp will take place from 20th to 23rd of August in the “Masseria Fattezze”, 2km away from Ionio sea/Cesareo seaport: this period also sees the “Notte della Taranta”, that takes place in various parts of Salento, finishing the 22th of August in Melpignano.
We have choosen this site, a well know cultural reference in Salento, because it wont cost to you to enter, but it will cost 5 euros per day and there’s a kitchen that will cook tipical salentine food.

The resistance camp will basically focus on nuclear energy and fossil-fuels, but will be also discuss other issues on the autumnal political agenda: the crisis, precariety and incomes, racism, “major-works” from the TAV to the Bridge over the Straits, from motorways to drilling, from incinerators to regassificators, so all that kind of things that are the continuity of a model that has left only death and destruction over the territories.

The camp will also focus on the International situation, particularly on the liberation struggle in Palestine, Kurdistan, Nigeria.

The general programme is:

Thursday 20th August
6:00pm Introduction to the camp, and about current situations
7:30pm International overview

Friday 21th August
6:00pm Crisis: Work, precariety, income
7:30pm Common goods – regional energy plan

Saturday 22nd August
6:00pm Anti-nuclear assembly and energy choices

Sunday 23rd August
6:00pm “Field-trip” on the nuclear selected site, in Avetrana
9:00pm Party with Salentine music

Pugliese Coordination / National Anti-Nuclear Coordination health-environment-energy

boboaprile@tiscali.it
tel. 0039368582406

Tens of Thousands Protest for Democracy in the Forests, India

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa witness chakka jams, rasta rokos, dharnas, morchas and other protests.

Today in State capitals and district headquarters across the country, many tens of thousands of people joined morchas, dharnas and rasta rokos with the following demands:

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa witness chakka jams, rasta rokos, dharnas, morchas and other protests.

Today in State capitals and district headquarters across the country, many tens of thousands of people joined morchas, dharnas and rasta rokos with the following demands:

* Halt Forest Department interference, exclusion of rights holders, and violation of people’s rights under under the Forest Rights Act;
* Recognise our right and power to protect and control our forests and resources;
* Stop illegally destroying forests and robbing us of our resources through diversion for private companies and large projects.

In a tragedy, four protesters were killed and two seriously injured in Devala, Udaipur District, when a lorry hit the protesters as their rasta roko was ending. The organisation is pursuing the case to ensure that the driver and other concerned persons are arrested and brought to justice. Those who lost their lives in the struggle will be honoured as martyrs.

Protests took place in the following States:

Rajasthan: Chakka jams took place in Banswada, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Pratapgarh Districts, in total in 12 locations. More than 6,000 people participated. The rasta rokos included a blockade on the National Highway at Chindwara More.

Orissa: More than 5,000 people participated in a chakka jam in Bhubaneshwar, shutting down the main crossroads in the city for more than two hours. People joined the demonstration from across the state. Protests also took place in major district headquarters.

Maharashtra: Rasta rokos took place throughout the State, in several locations in Thane District (on the Ahmedabad – Mumbai national highway), in two places in Raigad district, in 4 places in Nandurbar district (rasta rokos will continue over the next three days in other locations in the district).

Madhya Pradesh: Approximately 4,000 people from 20 districts joined a chakka jam in Bhopal for several hours. More than 3,000 people courted arrest and were arrested.

Gujarat: Mass rallies took place in Rajpipla (10,000 people), Dharampur (4,000 people), Sabarkantha District (dharnas at three locations). Protests will take place in Chota Udaipur, Vyara and Bhilwada are expected in the coming days, in which several thousand people are expected to participate.

Chhattisgarh: A mass dharna took place in Raipur in which approximately 1,000 people participated.

Jharkhand: People from Kunti, Hazaribagh and Ranchi district joined a mass demonstration in Ranchi. Rallies took place at the sub-divisional level in East Singhbhum and at the block level in Latehar, Palamau, West Singhbhum Districts.

The passage of the Forest Rights Act in December 2006 was a historic step forward for the struggle against the autocratic, brutal and repressive rule of colonial laws and the Forest Department in India’s forests. But the mere passage of a law is not enough to overturn a century of oppression. Today, the fight continues for a new order in the forests – one built around democracy instead of bureaucracy, around the people rather than the officials, and around the forests and their citizens rather than the corporates and capital.

Mapuche communities mobilize to reclaim land

Several Mapuche communities have begun to reclaim traditional lands in Araucania, central Chile.

The reclamation began on July 23, about 2 weeks after the government of Michelle Bachelet refused to sit down with a group of Mapuche activists and talk about their concerns as Indigenous People.

Several Mapuche communities have begun to reclaim traditional lands in Araucania, central Chile.

The reclamation began on July 23, about 2 weeks after the government of Michelle Bachelet refused to sit down with a group of Mapuche activists and talk about their concerns as Indigenous People.

The activists had traveled 680 km to meet with Bachelet, having already waited for weeks to hear from from Araucania’s governor about establishing a dialogue .

Before heading home, the group left Bachelet a letter, stating they would take action unless the govenrment addressed their concerns.

On July 23, the Mapuche began to occupy properties they identify as part of their traditional lands, including one held by a logging company. Roadblocks have also been set up in at least 5 different areas in Araucania.

The so-called leftist government finally decided to respond—with violence. The police were sent in to protect the logging company and evict the Mapuche – a “violent occupying force” as far as the government is concerned. “Both Mapuche and police were injured in the clashes” that followed, says IPS News.

Several other attacks against the Mapuche have also been reported.

Last week, the paramilitary group “Hernan Trizano Commando” also came forward and publicly threatened to blow up and “disappear from the world” several Mapuche leaders involved in the reclamation, starting August 3.

“In response, Senator Alejandro Navarro, the presidential candidate of a new political party, the Movimiento Amplio Social (MAS – Broad Social Movement) announced… that he would file a lawsuit invoking the anti-terrorism law against the paramilitary group,” IPS continues.

The government itself does not appear to be taking any formal action against this immediate threat. Instead, they are emboldening the vigilante group by claiming the Mapuche effort is nothing more than “violent actions” led by a small minority: seven of Chile’s 2,800 indigenous communities.

Juan Carlos Curinao, a Mapuche “Lonco” or Chief, responded to the claims in a recent interview with IPS.Curinao said that the mobilization is in fact led by 40 Loncos, who together represent every Mapuche subgroup.

He also said that the reclamation is non-violent. “We don’t carry weapons to go around hurting non-indigenous settlers, we are fighting for our culture. It is the state that has attacked us, shooting at us.”

“If I occupy property, it’s not violence; I am reclaiming my territory,” he added.

While “there is no solution in sight”—-in large part because the government refuses to abide by international law and sit down with the Mapuche—there’s a small chance that things will turn for the better this week. The Senate has announced that it will hold a special session on Wednesday, Aug. 5 to discuss “the security situation that is affecting the region of Araucanía.”

Updates in English:www.mapuche.nl. Updates in Spanish: www.observatorio.cl

August 2, 2009: ELF Sabotages Telmex Cable Line in SW Mexico City

SABOTAGE OF EARTH-DESTROYING COMPANY, MEXICO

August 2, 2009: ELF Sabotages Telmex Cable Line in SW Mexico City

SABOTAGE OF EARTH-DESTROYING COMPANY, MEXICO

Once again, the earth-destroying Telmex company was sabotaged in the southwest of Mexico City around 2:30 in the morning on Sunday, August 2 by the Frente de Liberación de la Tierra. The idea was to cut the cables of the posts and then to cut the same post with a saw. It did not matter that it was slow and arduous work. The cable went through the branches of a tree obstructing its free growth. We climbed the tree and with cutters cut the cable, then we took a saw and began to cut the pole halfway through and with a cord tied to the pole we pulled, but unfortunately we could not move it since the movement of the cable that was connected to the next post was very noticeable, which caused nearby neighbors to call the police. This prevented us from continuing to pull the pole at the risk of running into the police; finally we left a mark on the post with spraypaint: ELF and Earth First.

For every tree that is ripped from the earth to serve Telmex there will be thousands of sabotages; we will not stop until we see disgusting civilization, progress and all those who spread it destroyed!

The darkness did not allow us to record the action but there is no excuse for not sharing the pleasure and the courage so we returned at dawn to take pictures of the action.

Earth Liberation Front and Eco-pirómanos por la Liberación de la Tierra [Eco-arsonists for the Liberation of Earth] are fighting!

Highgate Farm Protest Camp

Activists have occupied land near the entrance of Highgate Rabbit Farm in protest against their breeding of rabbits and ferrets for the vivisection industry. They supply several university and commercial laboratories, including Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). The campers are holding a peaceful occupation of the land, calling on the closure of the farm, and for the farmer Geoffrey Douglas to hand the animals over to a suitable organisation for rehoming.

If you can make it to the camp for any period of time, please ring the camp number: 07941184529
The farm is located at: Highgate Farm, Highgate lane, Normanby-by-Spital, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 2HQ
Click here for a map and directions.

There are several ways you can support the action:

• You can telephone the farm on: 01673 878259 and 01673 878 232.
• You can attend the camp to protest – whether it is for an hour, a day or a week your presence would be greatly appreciated.
* You can write to the farm at the address above.
* You can attend the national protest on the 26th September (click here for details)

Please keep all communications to the farm informative and polite. The purpose of your correspondence is to urge them to stop breeding animals for vivisection, and to allow the animals to be rehomed.

Monday’s timeline
Tuesday’s timeline
Wednesday’s timeline
Thursday’s timeline
Friday’s timeline
Saturday’s Timeline