earthfirst – Page 201

Climate Camp hits the City of London on April Fools Day, the eve of the G20 leaders’ London Summit. Join us!

Climate camp 2009 /// Stopping carbon markets /// Because nature doesn’t do bailouts.

First the city traders speculated with our homes, jobs and money – with disastrous results. Now they are speculating with our climate and the very future of life on earth – and once again our governments are cheering them on.

By creating a brain-bending system of carbon pollution licenses, fossil fuel companies and trading firms have found a way to keep on churning out global warming gases and to reap huge windfall profits at the same time.
Meanwhile, the UK government is justifying a third runway at Heathrow and a coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth by saying that these new “carbon trading” schemes will magically make all their emissions vanish.

They are handing control of our climate over to the same people and systems that caused the financial collapse. All the workable and fair alternatives aren’t getting a look-in

We need to stop this foolishness.

We’ve camped against the Heathrow runway, we’ve camped against the Kingsnorth coal power station. Now its time to camp against the over-arching problem: absolute faith in unfettered markets and endless economic growth. On April 1st the G20 leaders arrive in London. At a time of climate crisis their response to the market meltdown is emergency loans to car manufacturers, increased spending to encourage consumption, and bailouts for the very people who got us into this mess – just the thing that will make the climate crisis worse.

Don’t let them get away with it: join our camp in the Square Mile! Gather at noon, April 1st, at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, action plans and ideas…let’s imagine another world.

Don’t let the financial and fossil fools make the rules!

for updates, details on back-up plans, and moreinformation, visit us again at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

To get involved, come to our planning meeting on Saturday February 14th in London (arrive at the library houuse, 52 Knatchbull, at 1 pm for a 1:30 start) or come to the gathering on March the 6th/7th in Nottingham.

Email g20 [@] climatecamp.org.uk for more information.

Join the announcements list, the facebook page and event.

Please post this link, paste this text, and otherwise spread the word!

Help celebrate Fossil Fools Day and Financial Fools Day

Group out in force for the final days of the shooting season + arrest report.

4.02.2009
A quick report from Gloucestershire and Cotswold hunt sabs from the fields on the last Saturday before the end of the Pheasant shooting season.

On our last walking expedition through the beautiful Cotswold two weeks ago our small group of four came into some trouble with some of the security from the Brimpsfield park estate our small group of four were pushed around and shoved until we left the public footpath which was clearly marked on the map. Apparently it is fine to assault those who use a public right of way in the countryside if shooters are having a fun day’s massacre. The attitude of those who provide security for the Brimpsfield Park shooting is far from legal, they openly admit on camera they know where we live and will be paying us a visit, the shooters have ON camera refused to break gun, leaving activists with temporary deafness as chambers are emptied within inches of the heads of the sabs.

Saturday 31st Jan saw two land rovers packed with sabs stop five shooters during a rough shoot in the Cotswolds, after deciding to move onto a driven shoot in the area our land rovers were stopped by around 10 police vehicles and the while the drivers were being questioned by police all sabs went for a nice walk along the footpaths for a stroll. Unfortunately although the drivers and vehicles were released by police they were followed by the yokels who pulled in front of the vehicles and called the police where two activists were arrested for an apparent Aggravated trespass and Section 5 Public order for causing someone to be harassed alarmed and distressed.

One of the beaters made a statement saying that the two (one male, one female) had already been told to leave the land for three months by the police back in November, and that they had caused him to feel alarmed, harassed or distressed. They probably can’t decide which of those three things they are as they are still looking in the “word meanins book” (dictionary) so they can check the definitions.

Needless to say, we will be back for the new season and will continue to fight these animal abusers in our area until every last gun is silenced. Whilst preparing for the new season we will be out with our other local fox hunts helping to protect our wildlife.

More info check our new website below!

Gloucestershire and Cotswold Hunt Sabs
warn@riseup.net
http://huntsabs.wordpress.com

Call out for solidarity anti-nuke actions on 26th April (Chernobyl Day)

A call out for common actions against the construction of a new nuclear power station

Present-day Belarus is a post soviet country, on which territory a regime, police state in form and neoliberal in essence, fortified its position. For already 14 years the country is run by one and the same person Alexander Lukashenko, a populist at the beginning of his governing and openly pursuing antisocial reforms now. The freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly is not about our country. These basic values as well as the political opposition are suppressed. Peaceful gatherings dispersions, political trials, preventive detentions all this has become a norm of political practice in Belarus.

A few years ago the ruling top started to consider another venturesome project the construction of a nuclear power station (NPS). Lukashenko took a decision regardless of the public wishes and common sense. The decision was made with the active support of the international nuclear lobby. The construction is to be undertaken by a Russian corporation Rosatom. It is to be held in a seismically active zone, in a dozen kilometers away from Lake Naroch the largest lake in Belarus, which is ecologically unique for our country and is a tourists and holiday-makers attraction. On the construction will be spent $4 billion, which otherwise could be outlaid for alternative energy means development.

But the above-listed points pale before the fact that Belarus shared 70% of radioactive contamination after Chernobyl nuclear accident. But the government and the president are absolutely not concerned about that. They want to create a delayed-action bomb in the country, where one third of the territory is unfit for farming and berries/mushrooms gathering.

We, Antinuclear resistance, an anarchy group, come out against nuclear power engineering on the whole and against the NPS construction specifically in Belarus. A part of political forces in Belarus, including opposition, supported the NPS construction. Unlike them we do not believe in NPS safety irrespective of the political regime, within which it is functioning and being constructed. Our activity is based upon non-authoritarian principles, we do not cooperate with any political parties on a regular base, but with ecological organizations and grassroots initiatives.

On 26 April, the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, an annual demonstration Charnobylski Shlah (The Chernobyl Path) takes place in commemoration of the accident and the people who fell the immediate and lingering victims of it. Starting with the year of 1996 anarchists take part in the demo with ecological and antinuclear slogans. But nowadays the demonstration, instead of just mourning and commemorative event, is
gaining a protest mood: in the country, where dozens of thousands people have died as a result of the nuclear accident aftermaths and hundreds of thousands have acquired accident-caused illnesses or become handicapped, a new NPS is to be constructed! And that is done according to the common regulations of an authoritarian police state not asking the peoples opinion, but just confronting them with the fact.

On 26 April we will again take a most active part in the Charnobylski Shlah (The Chernobyl Path), well try to pass along to everyone our clear antinuclear position, will inform as many people as possible of the approaching danger. But now it is not enough! As an instrument of struggle against the state lawlessness we rely on the international support. We urge anarchists, environmentalists, antiauthoritarians of the world to carry out solidarity actions on 26 April 2009. We call for a decentralized day of action of any form, which could help people learn something about our problem and stop the impudent authority and their sponsors from IAEA.

If you already take actions on 26 April on your local problems concerning nuclear power engineering, please put on your list the demand for abolition of the NSP construction in Belarus. You are also welcome to participate in The Chernobyl Path in Minsk and other actions in Belarus.

Together we will be able to stand up for the right for life on a clean and ecologically safe planet!

If you have any intention to make solidarity actions with the Belarussian antinuclear movement or participate in the demonstration in Belarus please contact us:

antiatombel@riseup.net

Spread out the call out through any accessible for you information channels

belarus anarchists
http://belarus.avtonom.org

Sound weapons used against anti-whaling protestors

February 1, 2009
The Japanese whaling ships have been jamming Sea Shepherd communications and have been deploying a long range acoustic weapon device to repel Sea Shepherd boats. The sound waves cause disorientation and nausea.

The Japanese whaling ships have been jamming Sea Shepherd communications and have been deploying a long range acoustic weapon device to repel Sea Shepherd boats. The sound waves cause disorientation and nausea.

The deployment of military weapon systems in the Antarctic Treaty Zone is a violation of international law. The whalers are becoming increasingly violent in defense of their illegal activities.

“It is a very dramatic scene out here as ships zig zag back and forth in thick ice and heavy swells,” said Captain Paul Watson. “The whalers are deploying water cannons, concussion grenades, acoustic weapons, and throwing solid brass and lead balls at Sea Shepherd crewmembers. If we were to do any of the things these thugs are doing, we would be denounced as eco-terrorists. There certainly is a double standard where whale killers can use violence without fear of condemnation from their government and we can’t even defend ourselves without condemnation from our governments. What is important however is that despite the violence from the whalers, no whales are being killed. They can’t get away from us and if we keep on their tail they can’t kill whales.”

——–

A crewmember from the Steve Irwin was slightly injured after being struck by a high pressure water cannon fired from the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru. One of the cameramen on one of the Steve Irwin’s inflatable boats was cut and bruised above the eye when a high pressure blast of water knocked him off his feet while he was filming.

A second crew member was also injured in the confrontation with the whalers. Laurens De Groot of the Netherlands was slightly injured when struck in the face by a metal ball thrown by whalers. Whalers onboard the Yushin Maru #3 threw solid brass and lead balls at crewmembers on one of the Steve Irwin’s inflatable boats.

The Sea Shepherd crew also discovered that the Japanese whaling fleet is deploying a new weapon in defence of their illegal whaling activities.

The factory ship the Nisshin Maru and the two harpoon vessels in the fleet are equipped with Long Range Acoustical Devices (LRAD). This is a military grade weapon system that sends out mid to high frequency sound waves designed to disorient and possibly incapacitate personnel. It is basically an anti-personnel weapons system.

The Steve Irwin has been chasing the Japanese whaling fleet for twenty-four hours at high speed through scattered ice fields and changing weather conditions for over three hundred miles westward across the top of the Ross Sea.

At 0500 Hours (Sydney Time) the Steve Irwin deployed two fast inflatable boats and a helicopter to harass the fleet and to hurry them along. Sea Shepherd’s strategy is to keep the whaling fleet on the move. If they are running they are not killing whales and no whales have been killed during the last 24 hours. In fact the Steve Irwin crew were excited to see Fin whales swimming alongside the ship as they pursued the whaling fleet.

The Japanese harpoon vessels have been maneuvering very close to the Steve Irwin to intimidate and to try and lead the Sea Shepherd ship away from the Nisshin Maru. The confrontation that began in clear weather in dense ice and heavy swells became increasing treacherous as fog and blizzard conditions moved in around 0900 Hours.

The Steve Irwin crew retreated when within range of the acoustic weapons.

“All we need to do is to keep them running and to keep them from whaling and that is exactly what we are doing. It is proving to be a very successful day,” said Captain Paul Watson.

Weather conditions are becoming increasing worse with heavy snow, fog, increasing swells and denser ice conditions.

http://www.seashepherd.org/

ELF Mexico Torch Earth Destroying Machine

“An important ecological reserve located in Mexico City (D.F.) is being destroyed by people who consider the land their property; plants and many trees have been ripped up from the roots for the expansion of Civilization; because of this the ELF co

On the night of January 29 we destroyed the window of one of their machines and we sprayed enough gasoline to leave the machine that destroys the earth completely unusable.

Damages are estimated to be several thousand pesos for those bastard dominators of the earth.

The response will be like this, hard and to the point, if they continue the massacre!

FLT/ELF México”

received anonymously by http://directaction.info

Stop Incineration Now! SchNEWS Film and Roast Fundraiser !

Stop Incineration Now Film and Roast Fundraiser –
Just released:SchNEWS Film:Wasters:The quirky & inspiring story of a group of climate activists from Stop Incineration Now! & Climate Camp, who occupied the site of proposed Newhaven Incinerator last year, July 2008.
Also featured:The Story of Stuff.
Announcement of International Day of Action against Incineration: 11 July 2009

Address: The Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton BN1 4JA
Directions: From frnt of Brighton Station, turn left down Trafalgar St to end, then left ont o London Road, keep walking till u come to Somerfields, the Club is just a few steps further down the same road.
Nearest Public Transport: Buses on London Road, Brighton train Station
Postcode: BN1 4JA | View Map
Time: 2pm onwards
Price: Nothing to enter, £3.50 donation for roast
Phone: 07505016362
Email: mkechnge7@wildmail.com
Web: http://stopincinerationnownetwork.wordpress.com

Protests Resume at Tara

30.1.09
Yesterday 13 Tara Activists staged a return to ambush protests . The Video speaks for itself.

—

Calling all Protectors of Tara!

Following on from last Thursday’s successful day of Direct Action, peaceful
protest again on Wednesday 4th Feb

All welcome

—

A chairde

30.1.09
Yesterday 13 Tara Activists staged a return to ambush protests . The Video speaks for itself.

—

Calling all Protectors of Tara!

Following on from last Thursday’s successful day of Direct Action, peaceful
protest again on Wednesday 4th Feb

All welcome

—

A chairde

To raise funds for Action Days, there will be a Tara Pixie buskathon in
Galway on Saturday 6th Feb. Shop Street, 12pm to 5pm

Music, performers and guests wanted.

Crash space available but please RSVP ASAP

Lou and Emma Rua ()

Teamhair Abu

***********************************

Sábháil Teamhair
Shell Chun Sáille
www.tarapixie.net

Lou McManmon
loumcmanmon@gmail.com

Ten Thousand People Encircle the Niyamgriji Mountains in Orissa, India

January 30 2009

January 30 2009
Three days ago, 10 thousand people, a majority of them tribal, formed a 17 km long human chain around the Niyamgrii mountains in Orissa, India. The people were protesting the plans of Vedanta, a British mining company, to start bauxite mining the mountains. Bauxite is the most important raw material for aluminum production and last year the Supreme Court said two of the planned mining projects could go ahead.

The protest was the second large-scale demonstration in ten days: on 17 January up to 7,000 protesters marched to the gates of Vedanta’s aluminium refinery in the nearby town of Lanjigarh.

“The ruling meant that an arm of the British-listed mining giant Vedanta could use bauxite from a mountain in Orissa which local hill tribes view as sacred,” says on BBC News and continues:

In a separate ruling last year, South Korean steel firm Posco was also given the go-ahead by the court for a $12bn plant in the same state. Environmental and tribal campaigners have called on India’s prime minister to halt the Vedanta project. They argue that India’s rush to development should not come at the expense of traditional and sustainable ways of life of tribal and marginalised people.

Many who took part in Tuesday’s protest brandished traditional weapons, such as bows and arrows. They carried placards with slogans including “Vedanta, Go Back” and “Stop mining in Niyamgiri”. Their demonstration was followed by a public meeting in which speakers railed against the London-based company, which is currently setting up a large alumina refinery in the area.

Dongia KhondSpeakers said they would oppose mining in the hills until their “last breath”. They demanded the immediate cancellation of the mining lease to Vedanta. “The Niyamgiri hill is the lifeline of the tribals and there is no way we can allow bauxite mining here,” Lingaraj Azad, a leader who spoke at the meeting, told the BBC.

The Dongria Kondh tribe, who live in the Niyamgiri hills, consider the hill sacred. They have been opposing the mining lease given to Vedanta for years, saying it would destroy their lives, livelihood, religion and culture. Environmentalists have also opposed plans to start bauxite mining, because they say that the area is ecologically sensitive. They say that if mining goes ahead it would lead to the destruction of forest, large scale displacement and would dry up or pollute dozens of rivers and streams.

Vedanta claims that “no-one is going to be displaced…” and that the company is “committed to sustainable development of the area.”

Protesting in front of Vedanta’s meetingsSamarendra Das, an Indian author, film maker and activist, who has been fighting the case of the Dongria Kondh tribe, says that the bauxite mining will lead to cultural genocide. The tribes will be forced to leave their lands and adapt to a lifestyle they do not want to. Samarendra and Felix Padel have written several articles about the consequenses of the bauxite mining and some of the have been puplished here on Saving Iceland’s website: Agya, What Do You Mean by Development? and DoubleDeath: Aluminium’s Links With Genocide.

Survival International’s director Stephen Corry said yesterday: “By these protests the Dongria Kondh are showing just how far the authorities have failed them. The fact that the machines are run by a major British company should be a cause for shame in the City of London. This is a scandal which won’t go away until Vedanta leaves the tribe in peace.”

15 years on – Solsbury Hill anti-road resistance photo exhibition, book launch and on-line archive

Solsbury Hill near Bath was the setting for an early ’90s battle against road building (and by extension depending who you talked to from the campaign – unsustainable development/romans/global warming/industrial infrastructural growth/spectacular society/babylon/illogical transport policy/the tories/civilisation.)

Adrian Arbib a photographer who was also active in the campaign (and who has worked with indigenous groups worldwide) is publishing a book of his photos from the campaign and has set up a linked on-line video/document archive.

The book is being launched at a viewing and party of the Solsbury Hill Photo exhibit on Friday 20th February 6 – 8:30pm In the Walcot Chapel Gallery, Bath and over the road after to the Bell Pub.

The Exhibition is running until March 8th and the book of photo’s is coming out to coincide with the opening.
(Bring old photo’s/ news paper cuttings/ posters etc to up-load on the web page to make a bigger archive.)

For more details and to check out the archive see: www.solsburyhill.org.uk

ps please forward to any contacts from the hill.

Climate Rush gets chained to Parliament

28 january 2009

28 january 2009
As I write this blog our MPs are debating the subject of the third runway in the Commons. Although any decision made will not be binding it is possible that there will be a labour revolt over the current decision to go ahead when a vote is held at 7pm this evening. A not insignificant amount of MPs are seriously annoyed with our government’s collusion with BAA, with two MPs deciding to resign over the issue this morning.

Climate Rush were outside the gates of Parliament to show what they think of our farcical democracy at 10.30am this morning, cunningly bearing chains under large coats. It was an easy stroll over to the railings and a leisurely padlocking ensued before any police even took any notice. Eight women and two men dressed in assorted Edwardian-style gear unfurled their lovingly stencilled aprons bearing the immortal DEEDS NOT WORDS, and proceeded to smile for the attendant press.

After about an hour the police decided to move everyone else off the area with a bit of force, before then making a u-turn and letting everyone back in. They threatened arrest several times, for protesting in a SOCPA area (you have to apply to protest anywhere near Parliament) without a permit, and then for refusals to unchain. This was much to the amusement of the pro-cannabis lobby over the way in the square, who heckled us through their megaphone. I think they may take tips from us in the future. Tourists stopped to have their photos taken. Suffragettes drank tea from a flask and ate turkish delight.

Eventually, the boltcutters arrived, and the police chopped through the chains. But still no arrests, in fact they appeared desperate to avoid any arrests, clearly dreading the extra publicity over our demonstration of true democracy in action – orders seemed to change rapidly from whomever was passing them down from on high. After all the Suffragettes had been freed a group huddle ensued to decide on whether to further attempt arrest, but it was decided that this might prove nearly impossible given that it had already proved so difficult, and instead we went off for a cup of tea and a plate of chips in the Methodist Church Hall cafe.

I’d like to think that something sensible might occur in government today, like our elected politicians realising that building a third runway is not compatible with cutting 80% of our CO2 emissions, as already agreed. Alas I fear not….
Join the fun with Climate Rush if you’d like to voice your opinion on this matter on a future date.

climaterush.co.uk

More photos at http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/amelias_blog/2009/01/climate_rush_gets_chained_to_p.php