earthfirst – Page 236

Vandalism at subway station (Athens, 13/6/2008)

From reports at http://athens.indymedia.org it seems that a group attacked Victoria’s subway station, breaking down cameras and ticket checking machines, throwing leaflets and spray painting slogans against surveillance and control and in solidarity to the detained M. Tsourapas-Chr.Kontorevithakis. A nearby bank on Patission avenue was also attacked.

Protest halts Drax coal train as summer of discontent against coal continues…

Media – Interviews are available with protestors: call 07944 367755 Photos from the protest at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sitefeed/ Protestors have halted a coal train carrying fuel for Drax power station in Yorkshire, the single biggest source of CO2 in the UK. The protest comes six weeks before the 2008 Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth power station … Continue reading “Protest halts Drax coal train as summer of discontent against coal continues…”

Media – Interviews are available with protestors: call 07944 367755
Photos from the protest at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sitefeed/

Protestors have halted a coal train carrying fuel for Drax power station in Yorkshire, the single biggest source of CO2 in the UK. The protest comes six weeks before the 2008 Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth power station – which will also highlight how using coal to supply energy will be a disaster for the planet.

Dressed in white overalls and canary outfits, they used safety signals to stop the train on a bridge overlooking the power station, before climbing on board and dumping coal off onto the tracks.

The train has been stopped on a branch line used exclusively for delivering coal to Drax. Protestors have used a network of climbing ropes to suspend themselves under the bridge from the train – meaning any movement while the protest continues is impossible.

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Updates at http://thecoalhole.org/

To find out what happened next, go to http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20903

Squat news – London, Cambridge

12.06.2008

Bowl Court Social Centre Days Are Numbered – London

12.06.2008

Bowl Court Social Centre Days Are Numbered – London

The courting hearing today ruled in favor of the property developers claiming ownership of the derelict warehouse in Bowl Court that has been used as a radical social centre since opening 23rd March. The David vs Goliath case was clearly motivated by Hammersons desire to prevent the new social centre becoming a hub for the local campaigns against their proposed development for the area, the biggest development in London since Docklands in the eighties.

The victorian social centre is located in the Shoreditch Street Conservation area and previous attempts to obtain planning consent for demolition have been refused. The neighboring warehouse was knocked down without planning permission by Gamma City Developments which was purchased by Hammerson, along with vast tracts of lands earmarked to become a forest of glass skyscrapers over the next ten years. Number 6 Bowl Court was left empty for years with a gaping hole cut in the roof and deep excavations dug around it’s external walls, apparently with the aim of speeding up it’s decay to justify future applications for demolition.

Although at least two other squatters occupy nearby properties which Hammerson claim to own, the attempts to evict Bowl Court came about only as it became apparent that the social centre was becoming involved in the local campaigns against the redevelopment plans for the area. The company had been informed of the occupation on the 24th March but only made moves to repossess the property three weeks ago.

In court, the defendants questioned the evidence presented by the claimants regarding ownership. Their land registry title was contradicted by titles known to be held by other companies. There was also issue over whether the notice of the proceedings had been correctly served as residential property requires five days clear notice but only three had been given. With no professional representation, the defendants were unable to put together a robust defense and also found themselves threatened with over £21,000 in costs. However, the judge also considered the costs to be outrageously inflated an choose to award just £2,500 in costs.

The future of the social centre is now obviously in doubt but in the meantime events continue as normal. See http://www.bowlcourt.co.nr for details.

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Mill Road Social Centre May Stay For Flippin’ Ages – Cambridge

A possession order was granted to Tesco today in court, yet representatives of the Mill Road Social Centre had apparent confirmation of indefinite leave to remain from Tesco’s solicitors.

About 20 social centre groupies went to court today dressed in all our wet finery and had a friendly bit of banter with the Tesco legal representative and the judge. The judge decided that, although we pointed out in our defense that their claim wasn’t accurate and so should be thrown out, she was happy to quickly amend it in court. This meant that we no longer had a defense as that was the only way our legal assistance had found for rejecting the claim. So, the judge awarded Tesco the possession order, as we thought they might.

We raised the issue of Tesco stating that they didn’t want to apply the possession order immediately, they just wanted hold of it. The solicitor again confirmed that this was the case.

SO, net result, as far as we know, we can remain in there doing fun things until Tesco want to get the builders in, hopefully sometime never. Obviously it’d be useful to keep open some kind of dialogue with Tesco about when they’re going to move in and we’ll look into that, however the early hope is that we actually have the space for a number of weeks and can get cracking in earnest to make it even more lovely and useful.

The solicitor said in court that “Tesco has no use today for the premises.” to which the judge replied “So they are in no position to commence redevelopment at this moment?”, and the solicitor answered “No.”. So if that’s right, and if they do want to wait on the planning process before trying to evict us, it could be a long long time. Hurrah! 🙂 It also means they were fibbing when they said they could open a store “tomorrow” in the evening news. Cheeky blighters.

millroadsocialcentre@lists.riseup.net
http://millroadsocialcentre.wordpress.com

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social centre attacked (again)

15.06.2008
At about half 1 this morning the mill rd social centre was attacked for the second time in a week. Thugs armed with an iron bar smashed windows and damaged vehicles in attempt to intimidate the occupants, then drove off. No Pasaran.
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New autonomous and creative social space in South London

The Chapel project is an autonomous and creative social space situated in the heart of Nunhead. The space is used for all kinds of creative and socially minded workshops and events. Our main aim is to provide affordable cultural activities to people, promoting creative interaction and therefore social change.

Come and get involved. Whatever ideas, materials or positive energies you can share would be great whether its running a workshop, showing your art work, or just spreading the word. We hope to see you soon.

http://www.chapelproject.com

Action day for persecuted eco-activists in the US

This Saturday (14th June), there will be an international action day for the, by now numerous, eco-activists who are currently imprisoned in the US.

The repression against people carrying out direct actions in the United States continues to rise. The most recent conviction in a series of sentences is that of Eric McDavid, who was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison ( http://supporteric.org/). He has actually never carried out any actions, but was allegedly part of a group that (according to a police informant) was planning them. He was sentenced on grounds of a witness statement of this police informant, who had not only infiltrated but actually steered the group, and received at least 75.000 USD for her “work”. Eric is 19 years old. Because he refused to “confess” or cooperate in the investigation, he received this incredibly high sentence.

Eric’s conviction is only one of many examples. Many more people are persecuted and prosecuted and consequently threatened with life in prison. The prosecutions started when North American authorities started an offensive against the radical ecological movement; the resulting investigation and prosecutions were later referred to by activists as “green scare” (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Scare). A court case is currently held against Marie Mason, for example ( http://freemarie.org/). Briana Waters has already been found guilty and is awaiting her sentencing in prison ( http://supportbriana.org). Tre Arrow ( http://trearrow.org/) is also facing trial after he was extradited from Canada. Although Tre Arrow “confessed”, in the hope for a lower sentence, he has refused to provide the authorities with information about others.

Many are already sentenced and imprisoned, many others could face new investigations and procedures at any point in time. The threat for radical activists is enormous, especially when considering that home security legislation has turned the US into a police state (see www.greenscare.org for background information).

Direct action

Those prosecuted are accused of having taken part in actions carried out in the collective names of ELF (Earth Liberation Front) or ALF (Animal Liberation Front), see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Liberation_Front. No one ever got hurt in any of the actions, which were generally related to fighting climate change and the introduction of genetic technology.

The 14th of June has been declared international day of action by the campaign supporting the first eco-activist to be imprisoned, Jeffrey ‘Free’ Luers. His campaign also shows that international solidarity actually works. He was initially sentenced to a horrendous 22 year imprisonment (his “crime”: setting fire to three SUVs owned by a car dealer). In appeal, the sentence was reduced to ten years. Jeffrey, who has been in prison since 2001, is expected to be released at the end of 2009! (see http://freefreenow.org/ for more information).

One of the biggest problems in resisting this extraordinary level of repression by the state is the American justice system, which rewards people who make statements incriminating themselves and others. Some of those accused also did this, and part of this “evidence” has been proven to be incorrect, and yet was rewarded with concessions in sentencing. Some of these snitches are therefore either not sentenced, or free after a shorter prison term, even though they were accused of the same “crimes” as those who are spending decades in prison. These people are of course not supported by solidarity campaigns.

Others have decided to confess and cooperate in the procedure against them, yet have refused all other form of judicial cooperation. And then there’s the brave ones, who have denied all charges and all forms of cooperation. These people are of course faced with the harshest forms of repression, and are in most need of support.

What to do?

Those accused, their friends and their family welcome international solidarity very much. Publicity about their plight is also very important. It should be considered, however, that those accused, especially when they are in the middle of a trial, are sometimes not waiting to be linked to wild actions which are used by the prosecution to criminalise them even further. Financial support is also welcome, for the individual trials as well as for the general campaigns. A small campaign office that manages a high work load with little means is the CLDC ( http://cldc.org/).

Daniel McGowan ( http://suportdaniel.org), one of the many victims who was sentenced (to seven years), declares in one of his newsletters why the work of the CDLC is so important ( http://supportdaniel.org/blog/?p=33).

Furthermore, it is important to send letters, postcards and books to the prisoners. The North American prison conditions are, however, very strict (and here also, prisoners might not want to be linked to illegal political actions). Also, do not forget to protect your own privacy ( http://security.resist.ca/).

And 14 & 15 June is time for solidarity actions!
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/05/375753.shtml

More information:

http://greenscare.org/
http://midwestgreenscare.org
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/topic/greenscare/
http://www.ecoprisoners.org/
http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/
http://www.anarchistblackcross.org/
http://breakthechains.info/
http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/
http://www.whosarat.com/

Women and Trans DIY-SQUATTING Weekend in London, 28th-29th June

This is a callout to all women and trans-folk that would like to be involved in a weekend of workshops around diy-squatting

We plan to take advantage of all the usual challenges that semi-derelict buildings pose as a platform for sharing our knowledge, skills, and experience in all the tasks related to opening and maintaining a healthy and happy squat!

This is a callout to all women and trans-folk that would like to be involved in a weekend of workshops around diy-squatting

These are all the areas that we’ve thought of so far, but more ideas are always welcome:

* Electricity
* Plumbing
* Gas
* Security- doors/locks etc
* Barricading
* Legal
* Dealing w/ cops/owners- talk about experience/share tactics
* Women/Trans squatting- open discussion on experience of squatting from a women/trans-perspective.
* Sustainable energy

All levels of experience in any of the above areas are welcome, and even if you have no experience in any of the practical, diy-related areas, we hope to have a platform to share
experiences, stories and advice related to all aspects of squat-living from a trans/woman’s perspective.

Please get in touch if you’d like to help out at all in organising this weekend – We’ll need help finding a suitable space and preparing it for the weekend, publicising the gathering, and then running workshops on the weekend itself, as well as collecting and preparing food.
We also hope to provide childcare (on a rota-basis), so please let us know if you can help with that.

This gathering will be held on the weekend of the 28th – 29th June.

You can e-mail us at diy_squatting@riseup.net

Please spread the word!

**Let us know if you would like to be sent leaflets**

Action update Australia

In May, a personal letter was hand delivered to the $10 million mansion of Mike Smith, the CEO of the ANZ bank in Melbourne’s most affluent suburb of Toorak.

In May, a personal letter was hand delivered to the $10 million mansion of Mike Smith, the CEO of the ANZ bank in Melbourne’s most affluent suburb of Toorak. The letter, signed by the E.L.F., declared that his property, including his and his wife’s luxury cars, amongst a detailed list of other personal items, would not remain safe so long as ANZ continued its financing of the proposed Gunns Tamar Valley Pulp Mill in Tasmania.

The proposed pulp mill, run by Gunns- Tasmania’s forestry corporation which holds a virtual monopoly over the state, would contribute greatly to global warming, it would spew 64,000 tonnes of effluent into the Bass Straight every day, bring the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, the spotted tail Quoll, and the giant freshwater crayfish to extinction, and would turn the ancient old growth forests of the Great Western Tiers, the North East Highlands, and the Ben Lomond forests into pulp.

The same night, vegan pizzas from numerous multi-national chains were delivered unsuspectedly to the doorstep of Mike’s family home.

By strange coincidence, the following week ANZ withdrew its support for financing the $2 billion Gunns Tamar Valley Pulp Mill project.

This effectively puts the pulp mill’s future in a dire situation. Unfortunately the state and federal governments of Australia still continue their backing of the eco-cidal project.

9th June Noise Demo at UK Coal Head Office Protest – next one 14th July

UK Coal is about to devastate a beautiful part of the Derbyshire countryside by starting an open cast mine. So ‘Leave it in the Ground’ and Earth First! decided to make some noise over it with people from Derby, Nottingham Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and Brighton as well as other places, all travelled to UK Coals Head office in Doncaster to make some noise.

On arrival the police were there as expected, but did little to engage us and a little later in the day a 2 police officer’s with a camera and a video did appear in a daft attempt to intimidate us. UK Coal had there own security at the gate who just stood there more bored than the police.

The day was hot and very sunny at the bleak entrance of UK coals Head Office, a soul less place with nothing that said they were very proud of their company, no ornate plants, flowers or trees, just a big maintained hedge for their privacy. It is no wonder they are happy to destroy beautiful countryside for the dirty coal.

Every one was in high spirits and chilled as we all made noise for the afternoon in the sun. The plod just looked bored and there faces were getting redder by the hour under the fluro’ jackets and helmets.

We were fine of course, as we occupied the UK Coals sign for the only bit of shade while the plod kept roasting; we also sat around eating cake, pasties and sausage roles all from Veggies in a take out form, while still making a din.

At times the noise sounded good and they deliberately had to try and play badly just so it was annoying, after all it was no picnic. Banners were also hung and a police officer told us we could tie them to a lamp post, not that we needed his permission. Drivers coming in or out were also leafleted and many motorists passing the entrance beeped in support (probably ex miners who hate open casting with a passion)

It’s not just the local open cast, people are opposing of course but also the UK policy on coal that is now outdated as climate change looms in front of our eyes. Burning coal is threatening the global environment and all our futures and UK coal are cashing in on climate devastation and destruction. The Lodge House site in Derbyshire is just one of 7 sites and Lodge house will have 1 million tonnes of coal ripped out of a 122 hectare area in 5 years

Local media had turned out and radio interviews were done over the phone and there is more stuff to follow check http://leaveitintheground.org.uk and http://leaveitintheground.wordpress.com for the latest information

derby@earthfirst.org.uk

Next event: noise demo outside UK Coal on Monday 14th July 2008 – meet 3:30 at Doncaster train station, or 4pm at UK Coal

Reclaim Hulme Park – every Friday – Manchester

Local residents reclaimed Hulme Park in Manchester on Friday for an hour by closing down the road that runs through it.

Local residents reclaimed Hulme Park in Manchester on Friday for an hour by closing down the road that runs through it. Leaflets had been distributed and posters stuck around inviting people to reclaim the park – “one love, one park!!” People played games, ate and drank, and generally sat around in the street chatting to old friends and new. The police turned up in fair numbers on time, but sensibly – shock horror – just left enough of them and PCSOs to help direct traffic away, and left us to it.

When the Crescents got knocked down in the 90s, to sanitise the community action and creativity that was rife throughout Hulme, these high-density crescents of flats were replaced with a new park, and the land around sold to developers for swanky houses and flats on new exclusive streets with (s)wanky names like The Sanctuary.

The problem with old Hulme, as described by the council regeneration stooges, was that people and cars didn’t have to mix and were largely kept separate. New Hulme – a mix of old council housing (just sold off), housing association, a big housing co-op, private rented & private sold – would be safe for the city centre to expand into the space left as communities were broken up and shipped out to overspill estates around Manchester.

So what this park needed, right, was a road right through the middle of it (as well as on all sides), to keep the children safe because “the headlights of cars would act as cat’s eyes and prevent danger”.

Well, we’ve had enough.

Every Friday, 5-6pm, until we…Reclaim Hulme Park!

and

Close down the part of Royce Road that separates the two halves of Hulme Park.

Bring frisbees, balls, bikes.

Demonstrators tear down privatisation fencing bars (Thessaloniki, Greece, 7/6/2008)

What happened is a demonstration of hundreds of residents of Kalamaria (a large suburb of Thessaloniki by the sea) and Thessaloniki on the seafront of Kalamaria.

What happened is a demonstration of hundreds of residents of Kalamaria (a large suburb of Thessaloniki by the sea) and Thessaloniki on the seafront of Kalamaria. There, privatization works fence the one open area after the other, so, after a decision of a residents assembly, the demonstrators tore down the fencing bars of the local marina that prevent free access to the seaside. This action was welcomed with applause from local people.

Texts in greek and a lot of photos can be found here:
http://indy.gr/ or here http://athens.indymedia.org/ or there: http://diexodos.blogspot.com/.

$3.5 million luxury home torched in South Carolina

6.06.2008
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. – 16 partially or recently constructed luxury homes have been intentionally burned down in southeast Charlotte, western Union County, and Lancaster County, South Carolina since 2001. Authorities have yet to find who is responsible for the fires, but now believe that radical environmentalists may be behind the arsons. The most recent development to go up in smoke was a $3.5 million mansion destroyed Monday evening, see pictures below.

The fire at 8407 Winged Bourne Drive, south Charlotte, started about 7:30 p.m. in a second floor hallway and spread quickly, shooting flames hundreds of feet into the air. The three-story mansion off Gleneagles Road near Quail Hollow Club had plywood floors and studded walls and was about 60% complete. By Tuesday investigators had ruled out all possible accidental causes.

“The only difference is this burned during daylight,” said Charlotte’s Chief Fire Investigator David Lowery said, declining to elaborate.