earthfirst – Page 214

Manchester students flashmob the RBS and E-On Recruitment Stalls + follow-up demo (update)

A busy careers fair at Manchester’s GMex was intererrupted yesterday by several long whistle blasts. 30 or so protestors suddenly revealed their yellow ‘Leave it in the Ground’ t-shirts and surrounded the Royal Bank of Scotland stall, holding banners and chanting ‘leave it in the ground!’.

A protester then read some extracts from the excellent report “Cashing in on Coal”, which shows that RBS is a climate criminal, pouring money into new fossil fuel extraction projects. The protester had his loudhailer taken away by security, but another protester (with a loud voice!) continued reading from the report. The security guards eventually began dragging protesters out so they didn’t get a chance to visit the E.ON stall. However the protest continued outside where people handed out leaflets explaining how E.ON (with a fat loan from RBS) plans to build the first new coal power station in the UK in 30 years, while security guards repeatedly threatened to have them arrested for trespassing.

E.ON flyer – application/pdf 287K
—

Over 50 Manchester students staged a flash mob demonstration at the RBS and E.On Recruitments stalls on Thursday 23rd October 2008. The group were protesting against the banks funding of climate chaos and against E.On’s plans to build a new coal power station at Kingsnorth.

At precisely 1pm, loose coal was dumped on the Royal Bank of Scotland and E-On recruitment stalls. Meanwhile, around 50 demonstrators stripped off their jackets to reveal bright yellow t-shirts with the words, “LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND” emblazoned across their chests.

A list of RBS’ environmental crimes was then read out to prospective employees attending the recruitment fair at Manchester Central (GMEX) convention centre. [4]

Some of the group were then forcibly ejected by security guards whilst others moved on to pay a visit to the E-On recruitment stall. E-On were questioned as to how their plans for a new coal fired power station squared with our commitment to reduce CO2 levels.

Toby Brett, 19, physics student at the University of Manchester says, “RBS, formerly priding itself on being “the oil and gas bank”, vastly outstrips all other UK banks in terms of funding climate change. In fact RBS investments emit more carbon dioxide per year than the whole of Scotland.”[6]

“Whilst I commend them for investing in renewable forms of energy as well as fossil fuels the two simply do not cancel out.”

“We are calling for an immediate halt to highly destructive investment such as in tar sands extraction and a swift switch to renewables. Quite frankly the world cannot wait.”

Marina Gerner, 20, Politics, Philosophy and Economics student and campaigns secretary at the University of Manchester’s Students Union says, “Coal is the dirtiest, most emissions intensive of fossil fuels and it is outrageous to see how our banks invest in it.”

This action is part of a series of actions by students from the campaigning groups People and Planet and Campaigns Collective against RBS and E-On. [5]

It formed part of Climate Action Week at the University of Manchester Students’ Union.

Notes:
——————————

1) “A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.” – Wikipedia

2) Climate change is the biggest threat to a secure future currently facing humanity. If current trends continue, average global temperatures could rise by 6.4˚C by the end of the century with devastating and permanent results for the planet. – “Summary for Policymakers”, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007

3) E-On plans to build the contentious new coal power station at Kingsnorth along with 17 other coal and gas power plants across Europe and Russia by 2010. RBS played a part in the $22 billion loan to E-On required to build these plants. http://www.oyalbankofscotland.com/cioc/pdf/cashinginoncoal.pdf

4) RBS is responsible for $15.93 billion worth of loans to companies engaged in loans to companies engaged in the extraction and/or combustion of coal. – http://www.oyalbankofscotland.com/cioc/pdf/cashinginoncoal.pdf

5) Other actions against RBS and E-On by People and Planet include a similar action at a careers fair in London on the 10th Oct. http://peopleandplanet.org/navid6525
An action against Edinburgh University’s investment in RBS at the university’s fresher’s fair.
http://peopleandplanet.org/navid6381
A “die-in” outside RBS headquarters in London as part of this years Camp for Climate Action.
http://peopleandplanet.org/navid6278
People and Planet and Campaigns Collective members attended the Camp for Climate Action against E-On’s proposed new coal power station at Kingsnorth.
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/home
On Monday 20th October students at Nottingham targeted amongst others the RBS and E.On stalls at a careers fair for their dubious ethical credentials. Dressed as Grim Reapers they explained that as a member of an organisation the employees are directly supporting and helping the actions of the organisation.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/411386.html

6) In 2007 RBS’ embedded emissions (emission due to its investments) was over 43 million tonnes, more than Scotland – PLATFORM, ‘The Oil and Gas Bank – RBS & the financing of climate change’, http://www.carbonweb.org/documents/Oil_&_Gas_Bank.pdf

——

Follow-up demo a week later:

Students question RBS at Manchester Uni recruitment drive

2.11.2008
The Royal Bank of Scotland were forced to change the schedule of their recruitment evening at the University of Manchester due to the presence of some polite but well informed environmental activists.

Students, thinly disguised as potential RBS employees, paid a visit to the RBS graduate recruitment evening held at the University of Manchester.

RBS hired extra security to deal with the potential threat following last weeks flash mob http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/411541.html and tried to check entrants for the infamous yellow ‘LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND’ T-shirts.

RBS recruitment staff found themselves answering more questions about their financing of the fossil fuel industry than about potential graduate opportunities.

Protestors employed the silent theatre technique whereby RBS did not know who was a genuine recruit and who was just pretending.

RBS insisted that they do hold a concern for the environment as shown by their investment in renewable technology. However, the Leave it in the Ground crew responded that this was massively counterbalanced by their active encouragement and financing of fossil fuel exploration. For example, RBS client E-On’s investment in renewables accounts for just 2% of their portfolio whilst coal accounts for 61%. (www.eon-uk.com/generation/191.aspx)

After 30 minutes of back and forth debate those potential recruits who remained were largely wearing yellow t-shirts. Security looked on nervously.

It seems where ever RBS go, their reckless and short-sighted financing of carbon intensive misdevelopments such as the new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth, will continue to haunt them.

The demo was held by University of Manchester and Manchester Met People and Planet groups.

http://www.peopleandplanet.org

Exeter’s first Critical Mass! Nov 1st 12.00

Come and join Exeter Critical Mass, November 1st. First Saturday of every month, meet outside Exeter Cathedral

Exeter’s first Critical Mass is taking place on November 1st and the first Saturday of every month- meet midday on Cathedral Green. Come and join in!

Come and join Exeter Critical Mass, November 1st. First Saturday of every month, meet outside Exeter Cathedral

Exeter’s first Critical Mass is taking place on November 1st and the first Saturday of every month- meet midday on Cathedral Green. Come and join in!

WHAT’S IS ALL ABOUT?
Critical Mass is a celebration of cycling, often described as an ‘unorganised coincidence’. It happens when a lot of cyclists happen to be in the same place at the same time and decide to cycle the same way together for a while

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE?
“Everyday, all over the world, people are resisting the problem culture of the car by getting on their bikes and riding, instead of driving.

Critical Mass is a celebration of the alternatives to cars, pollution, accidents and the loss of public spaces and freedoms.

Not an organisation or group, but an idea or tactic, Critical Mass allows people to reclaim cities with their bikes, just by getting together and out-numbering the cars on the road”

WHAT HAPPENS ON A CRITICAL MASS?
Each one is different and they follow no set route, with the direction being spontaneously chosen as people cycle along. Anyone is free to join or leave the ride as it pedals along.

The ride lasts no more than a couple of hours (depending on the weather!) and usually ends in a conveniently placed pub for more drinks.

Most all, they are peaceful, safe and fun!

DO I NEED A BIKE?
Nope! Critical Mass is not just for bikes – skateboards, roller blades, wheelchairs, pogo sticks – in fact any form of non-motorised, non-polluting are all very welcome!

Tasmanian Forest Activists Twice Violently Attacked by Loggers – solution to whole conflict proposed by activists

Forest activists attacked in the Upper Florentine Valley, Tassie
22 October 2008
On Monday morning a forest activist was repeatedly kicked in the head by violent, out of control loggers in the Florentine Valley, the site of a protest against old-growth logging.

A peaceful action by conservationists in the Upper Florentine was targeted by violent logging contractors, with one activist kicked in the head and blockade infrastructure attacked with a sledgehammer, seriously endangering two activists. This occurred while a Forestry Tasmania employee watched on.

The group blocked the road for three hours until about 9.30am (AEDT) when a contractor attacked the vehicle with a sledgehammer, she said.

“The contractor set upon the car with a sledgehammer and then dragged the activist out from the car and kicked him in the head while he was lying on the ground,” Ms Majewski said.

She said the victim, who escaped serious injury, was a 22-year-old male activist who unlocked his arm from the road during the sledgehammer attack.

“Members of the Tasmanian community engaged in legitimate peaceful protest in defence of ancient forests should not be subjected to this kind of violence, nor should it be condoned by Forestry Tasmania employees” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokeperson Ula Majewski.

“Due to the carbon-storage value of this forest, the contentious nature of this logging operation and today’s violence, Still Wild Still Threatened requests an immediate cessation of logging in coupe FO042E” Ula Majewski said.

“Violence of this kind is perpetrated by a small minority of logging contractors. Contractors such as Howell’s Logging should focus their anger on those who are endangering their livelihoods, such as Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited, who continue to damage Tasmanian communities and forests with an unsustainable, woodchip based industry” Ula Majewski said.

“Activists will be pursuing this matter with the police” said Miss Majewski.

On Saturday the camp will celebrate their second year trying to halt logging of old-growth forests in the Upper Florentine valley, about 120 kilometres west of Hobart.

The rainforest valley is surrounded on three sides by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has identified the Upper Florentine as having potential World Heritage value.

Ula Majewski, a spokeswoman for the group Still Wild, Still Threatened, said attempts to save the forest were reaching a critical point, with plans to drive a 10-kilometre logging road into the valley this summer.

“That would open the entire area up for logging,” Ms Majewski said.

Video (same video also here)

—
Campsite firebombed by loggers

24 October 2008
Three car loads of men arrived at the group’s campsite late last night, Still Wild Still Threatened member Ula Majewski said. “A number of unknown individuals arrived at Camp Florentine around 11.30pm and used jerry cans of petrol to set the two vehicles on fire,” Ms Majewski said today. “A forest activist who was sleeping in the vicinity of the vehicles was woken by shouting and loud smashing.

“A forest information booth provided for tourists was also set on fire and a gas cooker inside exploded,” she said.

The incident was reported to police after some of the activists had to walk out of the forest because their cars had been destroyed in the attack. Still Wild Still Threatened spokeswoman Ula Majewski said her group had used a “dragon” to block a road used by log truck drivers and forestry workers. With a “dragon” a car is driven over a device dug into the road and an activist, using a hole in the floor of the vehicle, locks an arm onto the device, she said.

The attack in the Florentine Valley, 120km west of Hobart, follows a violent clash between forestry workers and activists at a road block in the same area on Tuesday. Activists had disrupted logging in the area for a day last week using a tree-sitter, allegedly costing contractors an estimated $10,000 in lost revenue.

The camp has swelled with supporters to the Strathgordon Rd site in solidarity the protesters. The campsite, where five people were sleeping, blocks a forest road to an area marked for logging.

http://www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened

———–

Tasmanian forest activists propose a solution

Still Wild Still Threatened and the Huon Valley Environment Centre are proposing a solution to the protracted debate over contentious forestry operations in old growth and high conservation value areas of the Southern Forests.

“Still Wild Still Threatened and the Huon Valley Environment Centre are proposing a Tasmanian and Australian Government driven solution to contentious logging and roading operations in the Southern Forests. We are calling on all stakeholders to adopt a considered and rational approach to bringing this prolonged forest debate to a fair and environmentally responsible conclusion,” said Still Wild Still Threatened Spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“Our organisations are prepared to cease all in-forest peaceful direct action that restricts logging and roading operations, contingent on a moratorium on all forestry operations in old growth and high conservation value areas of the Southern Forests, and the creation of an independently mediated dialogue that aims to resolve the forest issue,” said Huon Valley Environment Centre Spokesperson Adam Burling.

The conditions of this proposed solution are:

1. SWST and the HVEC will commit to a cessation of all in-forest peaceful direct action that restricts

logging and roading operations in the Southern Forests

2. The Tasmanian and Australian Governments will commit to a moratorium on all forestry, logging and roading operations in old growth and high conservation value areas of the Southern Forests;^1

3. An independently mediated dialogue will be undertaken, driven by representatives of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Office of the Prime Minister, and attended by representatives of the relevant ministries, including climate change, and relevant conservation groups and industry stakeholders. This dialogue will aim to resolve the long running forest debate in Tasmania in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner;

4. That the above commitments remain in force for a period of six months, with extensions granted if dialogue is ongoing;

5. That community events continue unhindered in the Southern Forests, and forest activists are able to maintain a presence in areas such as the site of Camp Florentine.

“The Tasmanian community deserves better than to see the continued logging of our precious remaining carbon dense ancient forests, such as the Styx, Weld, and Upper Florentine. And it deserves better than to see a forest industry that exists on government handouts and marginalises local operators. We urge policy makers to consider this unique proposal,” Adam Burling said.

“We will be formally contacting Premier Bartlett and Prime Minister Rudd about this today and are seeking a response by Tuesday 11^th November,” said Ula Majewski.

UNITED ENVIRONMENT GROUPS TAKE TASMANIAN FOREST SOLUTION TO THE FEDERAL CABINET

Environment groups working towards an end to the conflict over forest management in Tasmania took a united position to meetings with four Federal Cabinet ministers last night in Launceston.
Meetings were positive and environmental campaigners are confident this will mark the start of a constructive working relationship that could see the long-overdue delivery of environmental, social and economic viability to the struggling Tasmanian timber industry.
“We are hopeful requests to the Federal Cabinet and Tasmanian Premier Bartlett to engage in meaningful dialogue and participate in the solution to this long-running dispute will bear fruit” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania.
“Collectively, we call on Tasmanian Minister David Llewellyn to take a more open and constructive approach than that so far displayed, and help bring the Premier to the table and start talking about a positive way forward,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.

Recent revelations that forest contractors want assistance to exit the industry, and that sawlogs are in over-supply, show that now is the time for a resolution to this conflict.
The Australian (4/11/08) reports, “In Tasmania, hard-hit forest contractors are seeking a federally funded exit package to allow them to leave the industry “with dignity”.

“Forestry Tasmania is not the appropriate body to negotiate this conflict. Only Premier Bartlett can, by joining with federal leaders and helping to steer forest conflict to an amicable closure” said Jenny Weber, spokesperson for the Huon Valley Environment Centre.

“Environment groups support a responsible forest industry in Tasmania and are united in the belief that there can be a resolution to the debate that could deliver win-win outcomes for our forests and forest-dependent communities,” said Ula Majewski, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.

Swedish Peace Activists Repeatedly Break Into Weapon Factories

23.10.2008

23.10.2008
Using hammers and bolt cutters, peace activists repeatedly broke into weapon plants and damaged weapons in Sweden. Activists from the Swedish group OFOG/Avrusta admitted damaging twenty high explosive grenade launchers as well as internal parts to a Howitzer 77. Five people were arrested. Two remain in jail. Two activists who were arrested and released were re-arrested after they returned to the weapons plant to do more damage. A fifth person was arrested Saturday in another break in. All are facing trial on charges from criminal damage to trespass at places of national security.

Members of the Swedish peace and disarmament group OFOG/Avrusta say they have been preparing for more than a year to carry out the actions. OFOG, which loosely translates as the word mischief, is a network of activists working for a nuclear free and demilitarized world. Avrusta is Disarm in English. The group released information to the press announcing their actions and posted videos of their entry and damage on You Tube. See: http://www.ofog.org/avrusta_aktionsvideo

At about 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning, activists approached the BAE Systems weapons facility in Karlskoga, Sweden, about 240 kilometers away from Stockholm. According to statements to the press, they used bolt cutters cut open a hole in the security fence and entered. They left behind a banner welcoming others, which said “The door is open — you are free to start disarming.” The activists used hammers to damage internal parts like cooling aggregates and hydraulic cylinders for the Howitzer 77. A fully operational Howitzer 77 can fire 6 rounds every second for 20 minutes and has a firing range of 30 kilometers. Inside, media reports note that the duo managed to affix a poster to the door that said, “In this factory are manufactured weapons that are used to wage wars — Disarmament is underway.” Disarmament activists, Cattis Laska, 24, and Pelle Strinlund, 37, were arrested and charged with trespassing and criminal damage. Laska is a youth leader and Strinlund is a writer. Both remain in jail pending a hearing.

Simultaneously, other activists entered a weapons facility run by Saab in Eskilstuna, Sweden, about 135 kilometers away. According to OFOG/Avrusta, they damaged twenty grenade launchers with hammers and then alerted guards to their presence. Anna Andersson, 26, and Martin Smedjeback, 35, were arrested and charged with trespass, severe criminal damage, and entering a protected national security area. Andersson is a web developer. Smedjeback is a trainer in non-violence. Both were released from jail on Friday.

The weapons damaged in the Saab plant were described as Carl Gustav type grenade launchers. These are shoulder mounted anti-tank weapons that can fire high explosive rounds. The weapons were reportedly found in boxes labeled for delivery to “US” and “New Delhi.” BAE has a long term contract with the Indian government for howitzers and grenade launchers, according to reports in the Hindu Times.

After being released from jail Friday, Andersson indicated she was glad to be going to trial. “I look forward to a chance to ethically and legally argue for our actions in court. I hope one day the arms manufacturers will be charged for the criminal damage that Swedish armaments cause in wars and conflicts around the world.”

In a surprise move early Saturday, Andersson and Smedjeback returned to the weapons plant where they were arrested again. They now remain in jail.

Also early Saturday morning, a fifth member of the group, Annika Spalde, 39, cut her way through the fence around a weapons plant in Karlskoga and hung a banner encouraging more disarmament actions. She was later arrested. She is charged with severe criminal damage and trespass in a place of national security. Spalde, who was later released, is a deacon in the Swedish church, an author and peace activist.

BAE Systems, owner of the Karlskoga plant, describes itself on its website as “the premier global defense and aerospace company” with 100,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $31.4 billion. BAE authorities confirmed the break in. Curiously, BAE press people in the US reported “very minor” damage while the BAE security manager in Sweden told the press there that he estimated damage at 50,000 euros and was not certain whether the damage would create delays in scheduled deliveries of the weapons or not.

Saab, owner of the Eskilstuna plant, proclaims it serves the global market with products, services and solutions ranging from military defense to civil security. It says it has 13,700 employees and worldwide sales of $2.5 billion. Lasse Jonsson, spokesperson for Saab, told the media, “They have scrapped a quantity of weapons’ spare parts that awaited export. Only after the police investigation has been completed will we be able to calculate the exact extent of the damage caused.”

Maja Backlund, spokesperson for OFOG, was quoted in the Hindu Times: “Civil disobedience and action are most vital parts of democratic development. Our colleagues who breached the Saab factory managed to damage 25 grenade launchers of the Carl Gustav brand that are in extensive use in Kashmir and other war zones in India.” OFOG also claims that some of the weapons damaged were of the same type as used by the U.S. military in Iraq.

Members of OFOG claim Swedish weapons exports have risen 88 percent since the US invasion of Iraq. They further claim that the Swedish government is violating its policy of peace and neutrality by supplying warring countries with arms.

Deacon Spalde insisted these actions were necessary. “When your government supports an illegal war and sells arms to dictatorships, it’s time for ordinary citizens like us to take action.”

OFOG/Avrusta said “This action is the first disarmament campaign in the 21st century in Sweden.” At this point, the campaign says it consists of activists willing to risk arrest and another fifty support people.

“Our activists have prepared themselves for more than a year for this campaign,” said a group member who asked to remain anonymous. “They are ready to serve time in prison if Swedish society should fail to see that nonviolent civil disobedience to suspend the disastrous Swedish arms exports to wars and dictatorships is less of a breach of law than these amoral arms exports.”

More disarmament actions, OFOG/Avrusta promises, will be forthcoming.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/swedish-peace-activists-repeatedly-break-into-weapon-factories/

http://ofog.org/about-campaign-avrusta

E.ON gets fingered : NEIN KINGSNORTH!

British Climate Camp activists have taken their campaign to the Munich offices of E.ON.
For Immediate release. 14.30 – 22/10/08
E.ON gets fingered : NEIN KINGSNORTH!

British Climate Camp (1) activists have taken their campaign to stop the building of a coal-fired power station in Kent, UK, to the Energy headquarters of E.ON in Munich, Germany (2).

This morning activists involved in the UK Climate Camp coordinated a ‘flash mob’ style action at the office of E.ON Energie. Dressed in splashes of E.ON red, around thirty people swamped the main entrance of the office to give E.ON the finger. Playing on the ‘E.ON F.OFF’ logo (3) from this summer’s Climate Camp the group held their middle fingers in the air, sending a clear message that the multi-national is a target across Europe.

“This summer saw a plethora of highly effective actions against the energy major in the UK” explained Jimmy Hoover, one of the UK Climate Campers who travelled to Munich to coordinate the action. “We wanted to make it very clear to E.ON that its not just about one week in a field in Kent. We have the means and the motivation to take this campaign to stop Kingsnorth and new coal continue all the way home to E.On’s headquarters in Germany. Until the plans for this new coal-fired plant are dropped, we will drag E.On’s name through the mud and expose them for being the climate criminals they are.”

Since this summer’s third and largest Climate Camp, the group have openly stated their intention to return to the Hoo peninsula in Kent to prevent the building of a new coal fired power station, should it be given planning permission by the British government.

“When you’ve got the world’s top climate scientist Jim Hansen explaining that this one power station will make extinct up to 400 species (4), you’ve got to ask why E.On would still be pushing ahead with this act of climate vandalism,” added Mel Evans. “Its clear that E.ON has their profits in mind, rather than the public interest and climate security. With the British tax-payer looking likely to own a 60% stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland – who have provided loans to E.On to build Kingsnorth (5) – I for one don’t want my taxes being used to trash the climate. That’s why we’ve come here today to make sure they get the message loud and clear – E.On, F.OFF!”

For high res images go to http://thevacuumcleaner.co.uk/eonmunich/

Notes to the Editor:

(1) www.climatecamp.org.uk

(2) Brienner Straße 40 80333 München Germany +49 (0) 89 – 12 54 – 01 http://www.eon-energie.com/pages/eea_en/index.htm

(3) http://www.flickr.com/photos/monaxle/2739086776/

(4) James Hansen, NASA climate scientist, estimates that if the new coal power station at Kingsnorth in Kent goes ahead, it will result in 400 extinct species due to its contribution to climate change. www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/04/climatechange.fossilfuels

(5) In 2007, RBS-NatWest took part in loans to E.ON, the company planning to build Kingsnorth, totaling $70 billion.

nein.kingsnorth@googlemail.com
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk

Dongria Kohnd mass protest – Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Councils Revealed as Vedanta Investors

Tribe dances in mass protest against British mining company
21 October 2008

Hundreds of members of the Dongria Kondh tribe danced and sang through the capital of the Indian state of Orissa on Monday, armed with traditional weapons, to mark their opposition to British company Vedanta’s plans to mine their sacred mountain.

Tribe dances in mass protest against British mining company
21 October 2008

A huge procession of the tribe and their supporters snaked through the Orissan capital, Bhubaneswar.

The FTSE 100 British company Vedanta, majority owned by London-based billionaire Anil Agarwal, has received the go-ahead from India’s Supreme Court to mine aluminium ore on the Dongria’s land. The mine would destroy the forests and streams the Dongria depend on, and would turn their sacred mountain into an industrial wasteland.

Dongria man Jitu Jakesika said at the demonstration, ‘We will carry on our struggle to save Niyamgiri at any cost.’

Survival’s director Stephen Corry said today, ‘If further proof were needed that the Dongria Kondh are determined to stop Vedanta, this would be it. The Dongria know that the mine would destroy them. Vedanta must heed their voices and pull out of this project.’

Last week Survival submitted a report to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Issues, saying, ‘Mining will devastate what the Dongria Kondh hold sacred and the natural resources from which they draw their specific identity as a people.’

Many British banks and pension funds invest in Vedanta, including the Universities pension fund (USS), F&C, Standard Life, Barclays Bank, Abbey National and HSBC, as well as Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Councils. Survival is campaigning for investors to pull out of Vedanta.

For more information please contact Miriam Ross at Survival International (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or (+44) (0)7504 543 367 or email mr@survival-international.org

UK free-spaces news – Rampart & Worcester possible evictions

New social centre under threat of illegal & possibly violent eviction tomorrow
21.10.2008
This is to inform everyone as well as a call-out for support – newly occupied community and arts centre in Worcester threatened with illegal and possibly violent eviction tomorrow.

This is a call-out for support – if you can get here before midnight tonight and want to stay here, and eat with us and have a merry night then please do. After midnight, the last door will be fully barricaded. Anyone wishing to show support for this illegal eviction after this point please turn up at 13-17 Carden Street (off City Walls Road), Worcester WR1 around 11.30 tomorrow (WEDNESDAY), bring banners, cameras and camera-phones and provide positive public relations, because if they are forcing their way into our home IT IS ILLEGAL and we will not be scared by this bullshit.

So what happened…?
At about 15:30 today a bailiff arrived at the door with a letter on behalf of Keather Properties Ltd. THE LETTER IS TRANSCRIBED AT THE BOTTOM FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO READ THE BOLLOCKS NOTICE

We’ve been on the phone to the Advisory Service for Squatters, and they have confirmed that this is a totally illegal eviction. They have dealt with matters like this on a day to day basis for 30 years and understand the law a lot better than most commercial lawyers. They assure us any attempt to evict tomorrow will be criminal and we should defend ourselves with numbers and physical barricades. The ‘exercising their rights’ part applies to land, and not buildings. And seeing as a tent can apply as a building, an 8000 square ft commercial building certainly counts!

This would be a different story if we only lived here.. but for two solid weeks we have been putting all our love and energy into this place. We have had dreams become reality in creating a space where anyone is welcome and can come and create anything, anytime they want.

Communal cooking, circuit bending and sewing workshops, music practice, painting, and much much more was on the agenda – our gallery covered with work from many different local artists, and now we have been discovered we are being presented with illegal and violent threats.

This whole thing is new to us.. but the barricades are being strengthened and people are getting ready for a potentially long day of defending the Wet Paint building.

This is a call-out for support – if you can get here before midnight tonight and want to stay here, and eat with us and have a merry night then please do. After midnight, the last door will be fully barricaded. Anyone wishing to show support for this illegal eviction after this point please turn up at 13-17 Carden Street (off City Walls Road), Worcester WR1 around 11.30 tomorrow (WEDNESDAY), bring banners, cameras and camera-phones and provide positive public relations because if they are forcing their way into our home IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE and we will not be scared by this bullshit.

call us on 07965710354

Your friends at WET PAINT 🙂

………….blah blah blah

TAKE NOTICE

KEATHER PROPERTIES LTD (LANDOWNER) are the owners of the land on which you are trespassing and require you to leave. You are here without consent and are therefore trespassing and have no right to remain. You should therefore leave together with all your vehicles and goods by 1200 hours on the 22 day of October 2008.

If you fail to do so, KEATHER PROPERTIES LTD (LANDOWNER) will exercise its rights to self-help to remove you from the land and have instructed Bailiffs from Swift Credit Services Limited to do so on its behalf. This right, under Common Law, is set out on Halsburys law of England. The police will attend if necessary to ensure that there is no breach of the peace.

Should this enforcement action by necessary , you will be held responsible for all costs of your removal and transportation and KEATHER PROPERTIES LTD (LANDOWNER) may take proceedings against you for the recovery of these costs.

KEATHER PROPERTIES LTD (LANDOWNER) will be entitled to take such action because you failed to respond to a request to leave the land on which you are currently trespassing.

DATED THIS 21 DAY OF OCTOBER 2008
SIGNED
LANDOWNER KEATHER PROPERTIES LTD
ADDRESS C/O ROBERT DAVIES PARTNERSHIP LTD.

wetpaint@riseup.net

—

SAVE the RampART

21 October 2008
RampART London’s longest lasting liberated space is facing eviction.

yesterday a member of the RampART collective talked to a guy outside RampART, who introduced himself as Stuart who was also present at court on the 20th of December. he said that the council building control department had been hassling them and he’d narrowly avoided them slapping a court order on them last week in relation to dangerous parts of the building such as slates hanging off etc.

they have been trying to get us evicted since March and got therefore a warrant from the high court, which means they are using the high court bailiffs, the police say they need 80 officers and demanded £25,000 for the costs. so the owner took the police to court and the police backed down. the hold up is still the police who have not given a date yet…

so….

basically the RampART could be evicted any time and it’s just the police being the ones that has held it up. we will not get notice of the date of the
eviction and we will find it difficult to hold off 80 cops and bailiffs on a surprise 5am eviction. we do need to pro-actively find another building as a backup. we won’t give in without resisting the eviction to make a statement against gentrification and the eviction of free spaces in east London.

we invite you to come and get creative in its defence. this Thursday we are launching an ongoing time of action.

we’ll start building and cooking @ 3 pm, then Danish activists will share experiences from the youth house @ 6 pm, dinner around 7.30 and building and direct action skill-sharing after that. we need tools for making the barricades efficient and beautiful, so if you have access to tools or materials please bring them along.

when we fight for Rampart we are not just fighting to defend the space. we are part of a world wide struggle against the capitalist world order.

we are fighting for everyone’s rights to learn and educate, share, live and love without authorities.

we are fighting for our dreams.

now is the time to show London and the rest of the world that the struggle continues…

rampart@mutualaid.org
http://www.rampart.co.nr

Students Target Unethical Career Corporatism

On Monday 20th October the annual AISEC Careers fair commenced at Nottingham University, featuring many organisations with despicable or at least dubious ethical credentials and social-responsibility records, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Qinetiq, E.On, BP, RBS, MoD and the army. The fair also featured some student activists and Grim Reapers who had made an appearance in order to remind fellow students of the deadly consequences of working in the arms trade or climate change industry.

AISEC claim to be ‘the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact on society.’ The organisation also claims to envision “Peace and fulfillment of humankind’s potential.” Despite this, at Nottingham, the organisations’ main endeavor appears to be to give a platform to arms dealers! For more see: http://www.aiesec.org/

Concerned about the presence of such unethical corporate entities and the glaring hypocrisy of AISEC, a group of students came together with the aim of raising awareness of the unethical nature of many of the companies at the fair and oppose the general presence of mechanisms of the capitalist death machine.

The morning began with fliering at various stalls, collecting of shiny corporate merch, and using up the representatives time. Nottingham University Security were being their usual oppressive selves and tried to prevent the students from fliering near the glossy corporate stalls. Threats of calling the police were also issued. The students also had a permanent stall next to the army (courtesy of One World Week) from which alternative information about companies, personal discussion and careers guides could be disseminated. When the army rep left his stall, a couple of students kindly stepped in to fill his role and invite students to ‘join the imperial death machine’.

In the afternoon four Grim Reapers appeared and went to pay a visit to the stalls of BAE and Rolls-Royce, much to the amusement of passers-by and bewilderment of corporate representatives. Simultaneously, a rather unambiguous banner was dropped in the main access stairwell of the building reading ‘BAE KILL’. The four reapers loitered at BAE and Rolls-Royces stalls for an hour or so handing our fliers and chatting to students and reps, before doing a mini-tour of other dubious corporate outfits in Portland Building (E.On, BP, Qinetiq). University Security reacted initially with ‘you lot have to leave or we’ll call the police’, one BAE rep intervened to assure security “it’s cool, they’re Ok”. Security later changed their line to ‘please take off your masks it’s causing intimidation’, and finally, meekly asked ‘can you please stop filming’, before eventually leaving the students to do their thing. A combination of knowledge about basic rights and the fact that they were armed with a video camera successfully protected the protesters from any silly games that security may have wished to play. Thankfully, this time, freedom of expression and the right to protest prevailed.

Some interesting discussions were had with some of the representatives. One BAE rep was heard to proclaim ‘Free Palestine’, despite working for a company that has provided parts for Israeli military equipment (notably electronics for the F-16 fighter aircraft) and also subcontracted work to Israel. The same rep also confessed feeling slightly guilty about working for BAE, despite being at the Careers fair precisely with the purpose of trying to convince others to do the same thing! A Qinetiq representative admitted that he felt the student protesters were doing a good thing, and was ultimately somewhat envious of the passion they clearly had for this issue. He also suggested that the student s should be targeting Airbus and the MoD additionally.

An eventful time was had by all, especially BAE’s reps! E.ON were the only company to actively complain about the student protests (as far as we know), the moody gits! Clearly various teddies were thrown out of various power-stations. On Tuesday, the second day of the fair, the vast majority of the REALLY immoral companies were not present.

For an awesome video of the action see: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJ8geHkaRk

EDF Exposed – LRT action

20 October 2008
London Rising Tide’s Greenwash Guerillas Brigade, Detection Platoon #1, moved into action this morning at 08:00 hours – targeting dirty great energy corporation Électricité de France (EDF) at the central London headquarters (HQ) of their UK subsidiary EDF Energy.

London Rising Tide used to meet fortnightly, but the wild success of the massive Climate Camp 08 outside the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station [1] has boosted the veteran climate change campaign to even higher levels of participation and direct action. I attended a ‘Film Night for Newcomers’ on Thu 18 Sep 08, as did a whole bunch of folks new to Rising Tide, and such was the upswing of enthusiasm, energy and creativity, we’ve been meeting weekly ever since.

Inspired by our sisters and brothers in France demonstrating against new nuclear power, we chose to target EDF’s attempts to muscle in their FALSE nuclear solution to the looming disaster of catastrophic climate chaos. Testing the mettle of seasoned campaigners, we newbies chose 08:00-09:00 on a Monday morning to kick up a stink about the dangers to the biosphere, humanity, and REAL renewable energy solutions posed by the nuclear fission industry rearing its ugly head.

And inspired by the response of our Argentinean sisters and brothers to having their life savings stolen by the banks, we made ours a Noize Demo [2] – pots and pans, whistles and samba bells echoed off the blank face of the bland corporate architecture at No.40 Grosvenor Place, drawing the attention of EDF bosses inside and thousands of pedestrians, cyclists, bus+coach passengers, van+truck drivers, and motorists outside to the greenwash bullshit leaking out of their stone-n-glass bastion. And in return, scores of vehicle horns saluted our protest, sounding a general public approval for protest against Nuclear Capital’s dirty machinations for new nukes.

If you feel inspired to take action for a future free from the threat of catastrophic climate chaos, you’ll be welcomed with open arms and a cup of something hot and refreshing at London Rising Tide’s next meeting: Thu 23 Oct 08, 19:30 to 21:00, at the London Action Resource Centre (LARC), 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London E1 1ES – and down t’pub after (optional ;-).

—-

For immediate release
Climate activists to target EDF

Photo opportunity: 20 October 2008 8.30am, 40 Grosvenor Place, London

On Monday 20 October climate activists calling themselves the Greenwash Guerrillas will be on hand to detect “dangerous levels of radioactivegreen hypocrisy”[1] eminating from the london offices of pro-nuclear lobbiests EDF.

Equipped with greenwash detectors and kitted out in toxic-waste suits, activists will be testing office workers for pro-nuclear PR contamination, and highlighting the unsustainability of the governments current energy policy.

The activists are outraged that given the recently announced target of an 80% reduction in Carbon dioxide emissions, Gordon Brown, and of course his brother Andrew (head of corporate communications for EDF), are arguing that new nuclear power should be central to our energy security.

Nuclear power is far from carbon neutral[2]

Nuclear power is unsafe[3]

Nuclear power is hugely expensive[4]

Real sustainable solutions exist[5]

The real solutions to the energy gap and climate change are available now!

1 – The Greenwash Guerrillas reveal PR tactics employed by corporations to deflect attention from their poor environmental standards for the greenwash it truly is.
www.greenwashguerrillas.org <http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-climate_change_debate/2587.jsp#one

3 – Over 100 staff at the EDF operated Tricastin plant were irradiated on 24 Jul 2008, the fourth such scare in a fortnight.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jul/26/britishenergygroupbusiness.utilities

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2454654/French-nuclear-leak-prompts-urgent-security-review.html

France’s independent radiation watchdog sounded the alarm Thursday after a nuclear leak – the fourth such scare in a fortnight.

French nuclear operator EDF comes in for a pasting, for saying that the latest nuclear blunders had no impact on “peoples health” or “the environment” because the doses emitted fell short of the maximum limits set by international standards.

Electricité de France workers were exposed to radioactive particles on Wednesday 23rd July, that escaped from a pipe at a nuclear reactor at the Tricastin complex. Experts said that the latest incident involved the highest number of workers to be collectively contaminated in French nuclear history.

4 – Nuclear power stations require huge initial investments, ongoing maintenance and the decommissioning costs*
* (at least £63 billion).

www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/news_release_national.pdf

Last week it emerged the cost estimate for cleaning up nuclear waste in the UK had risen by £10bn in one year. That increase is the same as the current cost of the 2012 Olympics – the finances of which have generated so much political heat.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jul/26/britishenergygroupbusiness.utilities

5 – New nuclear power stations are a distraction from the real solutions to climate change: decentralised energy as seen in Scandinavia, renewable technologies and energy efficiency.

Renewables would come online more quickly, require no fuel and won’t have the danger or cost of the nuclear power. The generating cost of onshore wind power is already cheaper than nuclear power, with nowhere near the level of investment and no emissions.

London Rising Tide,
c/o 62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES; Tel: 07708 794665
www.londonrisingtide.org.uk
www.artnotoil.org.uk – (send us your art!)
Shell’s now sponsoring ‘Oedipus’ at the National Theatre. Look out for the
gallery of images made in response, which we’ll add to the ‘Shell’s Wild
Lie’ counter-exhibition: www.artnotoil.org.uk/gallery/v/Shell
See also the Camp for Climate Action site: climatecamp.org.uk
as well as Climate Indymedia: climateimc.org

Guerrilla Gardening Comes To Chester

A group of Chester residents, having noticed that there is neglected and orphaned land all over the city, decided to form a guerrilla gardening troop. The term ‘guerrilla gardening’ is used loosely to describe different forms of radical gardening. Sometimes this is gardening with political aims – perhaps highlighting land use issues – or sometimes it is about growing food.

The troop of Guerrilla Gardeners have been out and about in Chester. Their first project involed transforming three litter strewn planters on Christleton Road, one of the main gateways to the city. Litter and weeds were removed and replaced with winter pansies, daffodils, forget-me-nots and honeysuckle.

The troop wants to reclaim land from perceived neglect and misuse. Armed with trowels, bulbs and vision, their idea is to garden everywhere, anywhere.

One Guerrilla Gardener stated:

‘ I was fed up of seeing these planters filled with rubbish and weeds every time I walked into the City Centre. I wanted to reclaim this resource for us all to enjoy’

The Guerrilla Gardeners want to make Chester a more appealing place to live, beautifying the neighbourhood and giving it back to the community.

To get involved or donate plants/saplings/ shrubs

contact chesterguerrillagardeners@hotmail.co.uk