earthfirst – Page 251

Good news at last for Packers Field users!!!

Free, informal access to continue

The last 10 months may have seemed the quietest since 2002, when the City Academy’s plans to develop Packers Field first became public knowledge.

Free, informal access to continue

The last 10 months may have seemed the quietest since 2002, when the City Academy’s plans to develop Packers Field first became public knowledge.

In fact, the work of local campaigners trying to maintain free public access to Packers has continued throughout this period, and is to be rewarded with the implementation of a Community Use Agreement, or CUA. This CUA should uphold the right of local people to continue to use the site for informal sport and leisure, as they have done for generations. This is good news for local residents of all ages and backgrounds, in advance of the field re-opening in April or May.

What is a CUA?
A CUA is a document that is required when councils and government give funding to develop sports facilities. It is a signed legal document that makes it clear who can use the facilities and who is responsible for managing them. In the case of Packers, the CUA will be signed by the City Academy and Bristol City Council.

History of the Packers Field CUA
The implementation of a CUA was one of the conditions attached to planning permission granted to the Academy. However, this does not tell the whole story. ‘Community use’ refers primarily to official, organised groups of people who book the facilities (sports clubs, schools, etc). The rights of informal users (e.g. walkers, kite-flyers, children having a ‘kickabout’) are not automatically covered by a CUA. Indeed, the Academy stated from the beginning that its commitment was only to organised sport. The original CUA proposed by the Academy in 2005 consisted of just a few paragraphs, with no meaningful content regarding public use or the Academy’s responsibilities. It was understandably rejected by local people. The new agreement that has been agreed and signed is a robust, meaningful document, WRITTEN AND PROPOSED BY MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. Both of these documents are available to view at www.packersfield.org.uk.

The CUA now allows the local community and the school to enjoy the benefits of this green space, as has always been the intention of campaigners. However, the management of the CUA by the Academy will need to be monitored closely by all parties, as some questions remain over how the Academy can be held to account to do what it says it will do.

What does the Packers CUA mean for local people?

The CUA sets out a number of important guarantees for informal users of the field. These include:
– Free public access to the site at all times between 7.30am and dusk.
– The City Academy to be responsible for maintenance and safety of site.
– Annual consultation meetings with the Academy to discuss progress of informal use of the site, including grievances /
concerns. Local residents are strongly encouraged to attend these public meetings.

Informal users of Packers also have responsibilities under the terms of the CUA. These include:
– Not interfering with formal sports activities on the field or posing a health and safety risk to other users.
– Moving to other parts of the site if reasonably requested to do so by ground staff.
– Not walking dogs on the site.

This is only a brief summary of the agreed CUA. For a more detailed understanding of its content, please consult the original document at

www.packersfield.org.uk/news/cua2.htm or by contacting the City Academy.

Future development of Packers Field?
It has long been public knowledge that the Academy and Bristol City Council are keen to develop an athletics facility on Packers Field. A previous plan for a stadium and artificial running track was quickly retracted following public opposition, but both parties have since made clear their desire to see an athletics facility on the site. This poses some very serious challenges for the future, not least to the validity of the CUA itself. If an athletics facility were to be located on the site, any free space for informal use would undoubtedly be lost. It is also a very real possibility that floodlights will be part of the plan, which would affect many people in Whitehall and Greenbank. This may well become the next part of the campaign and will again need popular local support to stop it form happening.

Let’s end on a positive note! The Academy has made considerable concessions on its original vision for Packers Field, due to the strength and initiative of the local community. These concessions are a tribute to every person who has signed a petition, written a letter, attended a meeting or just supported the campaign with words of encouragement. The future of the field is still a long way from certain, but what we have achieved so far should give us the belief that we can further influence events and decisions.

To celebrate this positive development in the campaign, there will be a social evening at the White Hart pub on Whitehall Road on Sunday 30th March from 8 till late. There will be live bands, DJs and the chance to catch up with people who have supported the campaign over the last few years. Entry is free, although donations towards the ongoing costs of the campaign are appreciated. All welcome, please come along.

http://www.packersfield.org.uk

Word Document Leaflet delivered to Whitehall residents

Bristol Activists to join international day of action against Shell on St Patrick’s Day

Protesters will be picketing Shell garages in Bristol on St Patrick’s Day. The actions are part of an international day of action in solidarity with residents of Rossport, County Mayo, Ireland who are fighting the oil company’s plan to build a potentially devastating onshore oil refinery and high pressure pipeline in their remote and environmentally sensitive region.

The pickets are taking place on Monday 17th March, at the York Road Shell garage in Bedminister, from 7.30am until 9.30am and the Muller Road Shell garage, junction 2, of the M32, from 5pm until 7pm to coincide with rush hour. Please do come along. Musicians who play Irish music and Irish dancers will be particularly welcome. If you cannot dance brief lessons will be available at the Muller Road Shell on the day.

For more information text Rising Tide on 07917383517

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This year´s St Paddy´s day (Ireland’s national day), the 17th March, has been called as an International day of action against shell, in solidarity with the people of Rossport, County Mayo, Ireland.

Since 2000 the small rural community of Rossport, have been engaged in an epic battle trying to prevent Shell, Statoil, and Marathon from building a potentially devastating toxic onshore gas refinery and high pressure pipeline in their remote and environmentally sensitive region.

People from all over Ireland are set to join forces and show their united strength by going all the way to London to demonstrate on shell´s front door step. Gluaiseacht, the Irish environmental network organising the trip, are calling for people to join them at the shell head office in London, or there is also a call out to take solidarity actions at shell garages and offices, St Paddy´s day parades and Irish embassies all over the world to coincide with the visit from 15th-17th March.

The London shell centre is located on the South Bank in front of Jubilee Gardens (SE1) right next to Waterloo train station and across from the London Eye.

What´s Wrong With shell? – The Corrib Pipeline Project

Shell are the biggest stakeholder and beneficiary of the project to build this potentially devastating toxic onshore gas refinery and high pressure pipeline, so have therefore been the main target of protest.

Community Strength

From the summer of 2005 mass pickets shut down the refinery construction site after five Rossport residents were imprisoned for refusing to allow Shell’s sub-contractors access to their and their neighbours’ small farms which the pipeline is to go through. But in October 2006 the Irish state came to the aid of shell by bringing in a massive two hundred strong police unit to physically force a path for Shell to commence work. A large police presence, consisting of Gardai (Irish police) from all over Ireland, has stayed at the site to aid the work to continue undisrupted.

The costs to the Environment, Community & Health

Since shell started building the refinery, Carrowmore Lake, which is a Special Area of Conservation as well as the local water supply to 10,000 people, has been polluted with dangerously high levels of aluminium coming from the building site.

The gas pipeline is to operate at such high pressure that according to the government’s safety study if ruptured could potentially kill people and destroy buildings for hundreds of metres around.

The waste from the refinery is to be dumped into Broadhaven bay, where 220 sightings of seven whale and dolphin species, plus sightings of two seal species have been recorded.

This is all not to mention the irreparable damage fossil fuels, like gas, are having on destabilising the global climate and the devastation shell projects have caused around the world.

Although the resistance to shell in County Mayo is strong, the Irish state & shell´s tactics of brutality, repression and intimidation has paid a price on the people fighting the pipeline project.

So mark St Paddy´s day by showing solidarity with their fight!

For more info:

http://www.indymedia.ie/mayo – Reports of news and actions about the pipeline
http://www.struggle.ws/rsc – Rossport Solidarity Camp setup to aid the campaign against shell
http://www.corribsos.com – Campaign group Shell to Sea

Earth First! summer gathering date change & contact details

The dates of the EF! Summer Gathering have been changed, to work better with other events happening over the summer such as the Saving Iceland protest camp and the Camp for Climate Action.

The new dates are Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008.

This should give us all the space to recover & reflect, and to plot & plan onwards and upwards.

The dates of the EF! Summer Gathering have been changed, to work better with other events happening over the summer such as the Saving Iceland protest camp and the Camp for Climate Action.

The new dates are Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008.

This should give us all the space to recover & reflect, and to plot & plan onwards and upwards.

The new contact details for the EF!SG collective is summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

You can download publicity – 2 posters & leaflet all in one: (front & back)

Watch this space for more info nearer the time.

Building Works near Tara Threaten Irish National Monument – protest tunneling

These are two statements released by the Save Tara Campaign on behalf of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp outlining the emergency situation at the Rath Lugh National Monument near the Hill of Tara:

Statement on behalf of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp: 7th March 2008

These are two statements released by the Save Tara Campaign on behalf of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp outlining the emergency situation at the Rath Lugh National Monument near the Hill of Tara:

Statement on behalf of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp: 7th March 2008
(For direct contacts see phone numbers below)

Rath Lugh Monument near the Hill of Tara under direct threat from M3 Motorway building works.

“The Protectors at Rath Lugh have planned a Direct Action method used for the first time on protest sites in Ireland. They have dug a tunnel under the route of the M3 directly in front of the Rath Lugh promontory fort in the Gabhra Valley, Co Meath in Ireland.

The Protectors intend to occupy this tunnel and seal themselves inside indefinitely to prevent construction traffic from passing overhead.

They are laying their very lives on the line to protect and preserve Tara’s landscape from the destruction wrought by their own Government.

The Protectors said: “We want to draw attention to the continued erosion of the esker by passing construction traffic, hence damaging the base and foundation of the Rath.”

This is a continuation of their non-violent direct action. The tunnel acts like a souterrain giving the occupant protection and making it very difficult for the enemy to enter.”

Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp
For further information ring Derek on +353 86-845 9279 or Lou on 086-
3600478

http://www.tarapixie.net

Link to the video of events 5-6 March at Rath Lugh, Lismullin, Co
Meath

http://www.livevideo.com/video/4819A5371FDA46BAB4A42CA1D60B2A1F/rathlugh-down-under. aspx?m_tkc=11224420

Update: Press Release – Save Tara campaign: 09 Mar 2008

M3 Protesters warn Gardai tunnel ‘Will Collapse’

“A young woman has vowed to seal herself into the tunnel under the proposed route of the M3 near the Hill of Tara in Co. Meath.

Protesters were today frantically trying to communicate to the Gardai, the fragile nature of the soil in the Rath Lugh area, and that any movement of heavy machinery in the vicinity of the Rath will collapse the tunnel, with possible fatal consequences.

Minister Gormley issued a permanent protection order on the Monument last week. However, neither the Department of the Environment nor the Land Registry have been able to supply detailed maps of the protected zone. Protesters claim that the ongoing site works associated with construction of the M3 Motorway are endangering the stability of the esker upon which Rath Lugh is built.

The Gardai were today asked by senior figures in the Save Tara campaign, to do all they could to protect the welfare of the young female protester, and in no circumstances allow the NRA or any of their contractors move heavy machinery in the vicinity.

‘Any eviction attempt by unqualified and inexperienced personnel is likely to end in failure, with possible catastrophic consequences. There are specialist tunnel rescue crews that need to be consulted before any attempt is made to end this protest.’ Claimed Michael Canney today.”

For further information please contact; Dr. Muireann Ni Bhrolchain of the Save Tara Campaign: +353 87-9249510

From the Rath Lugh Camp Website: http://www.tarapixie.net/

“The Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp is situated two and a half kilometres from the Hill of Tara, on the Front Line of the proposed M3 between Lismullen and Baronstown. We are a diverse and international group of activists working together in a non-hierarchal way with the aim of putting a stop to the proposed M3. Currently we are hoping to obtain Gaeltacht Status, as Irish is spoken and taught in the camp on a daily basis……

…We participate in Non Violent Direct Action tactics in order to halt the ongoing destruction of the Tara complex. The camp works with an emphasis on the preservation of our heritage and our culture predating Christianity for future generations to appreciate and learn from. This involves blockading the key routes, hence stopping as much machinery and construction as possible on the sites…

…Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp welcomes all friends of Tara. We need people urgently to halt the Valley’s destruction. Everyone has a skill or talent they can lend to this protest. Bring wellies, raingear, sleeping bags, torch, lighter, plenty of warm clothing, and good spirits. The protest is only going to get stronger, we will continue to oppose the motorway until it is moved, so come to Rath Lugh as quickly as you can. WE NEED YOU ALL NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. Tara is calling, don’t ignore the call.”

On March 1st, Dr Jonathan Foyle, British chief executive of the World Monuments Fund, which placed Tara on its endangered sites list last year, likened the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara to the destruction by Afghanistan’s Taliban regime in 2001 of the Bamiyan Buddhas.

Sources: Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp Website:
http://www.tarapixie.net/

Save Tara: http://www.savetara.com/
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0301/1204240357176.html

With Thanks to the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp and the Save Tara Campaign.

The Tara Foundation:
http://www.tara-foundation.org
mail@tara-foundation.org

New groups & contacts/support setting up a group

At the recent EF! Winter Moot, eight new EF! groups & contacts for rock-on ecological direct action were formed, with others just finally getting an email address. Some have addresses already – click on their name if linked for those details & perhaps more info…

Derby EF! | derby@earthfirst.org.uk
Lancaster EF! | lancasterbasement@aktivix.org
Leeds EF! | leeds@earthfirst.org.uk
Norfolk & Waveney EF! | norfolk@earthfirst.org.uk
Notts EF! | notts@earthfirst.org.uk
Plymouth EF! | plymouth@earthfirst.org.uk
Scotland Central Belt EF! | scotland@earthfirst.org.uk
West Wales EF! | westwales@earthfirst.org.uk

If you want to set-up an EF! group, check out the ‘setting up a group’ at What is Earth First!? and let us knowwhat you get up to, or if you need a hand.

The Earth First! Summer Gathering collective also now have an email address (note the date change in this separate news story): summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

—–

2009 updates:

Flash mob reclaim space in Birmingham’s Bull Ring (article & video)

At 1.30pm on Saturday 8th March, upwards of 80 people took part in a flash mob in the Bull Ring (TM) in Birmingham city centre, where people froze in ‘suspended animation’ for 5 minutes.

I arrived at the meeting place shortly after 1pm, around 60 people had gathered near to St Martin’s church, I looked around to make sure I was in the right place and many knowing looks and smiles were exchanged. Shortly, the group were approached by three unfriendly and officious Bull Ring (TM) security guards who demanded to know who the ‘organisers’ were. There were a few shouts of “there are no organisers!” and “nope, none here”, before they approached a member of the group who carried a megaphone. The three of them stood around him as closely as they could and did their best to look intimidating. One of security team looked as if he was in his element, an important look dawned his face as he muttered into his FBI-style curly ear-piece. The megaphone carrier was told that they would have to “shut us down” if the group did not move on, however no elaboration of the consequences of this threat were provided. It seems that they somehow caught wind of this stunt, probably notified by the police who are rumoured to keep a close eye on the social network website facebook, which was used to arrange the action.

After regrouping near the infamous shitting bull (several years back there were reports of cow shit appearing at random times underneath it’s rear) the group prepared for the action and quickly dispersed in different directions. I stayed behind for a few minutes to watch security guards hopelessly look for potential ‘suspects’, but only succeeding in giving menacing looks to confused shoppers. By now it was 1.15pm and there was a good fifteen minutes before the beginning of the action so I carried out a quick reconnaissance mission to find a good location, finally settling on the lower floor at the centre of the pavillion. At precisely 1.30pm, a surreal vision materialised as people suddenly froze on the spot everywhere, some halfway through a footstep, some pointing, and the odd young couple embraced in a kiss. As the minutes passed, the amusement of onlookers was apparent; quite a crowd had gathered, and strangers were exchanging smirks and discussing what the meaning of this could be. Temporarily, the monotony of shopping had been broken, and a new use for the space had been found; amusement which didn’t require spending. I looked down the pavillion and saw three security guards running in full flight down the pavillion, narrowly missing shoppers as they sped past. Suddenly the security were shouting and shoving people out the way, even people who had nothing to do with the stunt. “YO YO everyone MOVE! Nothing to see here! MOVE ON!” they bellowed. Of course, no one did, and onlookers looked more irate than threatened. Unfortunately, the act of people not even batting an eye-lid enraged them further and the three of them exploded in anger, wildly shouting at everyone in the vicinity, much to the shock of everyone present. “Put your phone away!” one shouted as he grabbed my arm, to which I shouted back at him to stop assaulting members of the public, and said I was taking photos of him and his accomplices for evidence. He looked nervous and stepped back. Shortly, the five minutes was up, and everyone carried on walking. As if nothing had happened. The security guards followed some of the group outside, quite brashly congratulating each other on their ‘bravery’.

After reconvening at the infamous shitting bull, everyone in the group was in high spirits, the action had been a success, and it was agreed that a celebratory drink was in order. I saw a man in a suit talking to an older lady, who I recognised as being a member of the group. I approached them and listened in to their conversation. It became apparent that the suited man was the Bull Ring (TM) security manager and was complaining to the lady of the inherent dangers of “causing blockages” in the shopping centre (or perhaps the horrifying thought that corporate profit making was interrupted on his watch). After informing him of his exaggerations and putting it to him that the assaults carried out by his aggressive security staff were the only safety threat to patrons of the shopping centre, he declared that he “did not want to speak to me”. I noticed that a rather rotund security guard had been summoned while my back was turned, and he exclaimed that I was on private property, that I had to leave immediately, and that the police had been called. I told him that trespass is not a criminal offence but a civil matter so the police could not intervene, and furthermore I was in fact leaving the premises as he had requested but there was no law saying how fast I had to walk. He proceeded to press his belly against me which made me feel a little ill, so I decided it was time to pay a visit to the pub.

On the way, I considered the success of the action. I had attended simply for a bit of a laugh, It was an apolitical stunt, someone told me how the event could speak for itself if everyone brought their own interpretation and meaning to it. I thought how inspiring it was that so many people, most who had not met previously had come together to make this small piece of history. I think most people came for fun, to feel part of something special, and to show the public that something different and interesting can happen. Then I thought how intolerant certain people were of the event and why. Those who were intolerant respresented the interests of big business, and in my experience they are intolerant of all events like this. Any ‘deviant’ behaviour which does not fit the narrow confines of serving profit-making is stamped down upon. Their message is clear, however small the interruption is to their profits, it will not be tolerated. There is a creeping ideology which poses a threat to our public spaces, they are “zoned” for commerical purposes, their sole purpose for spending money and any other activities are unwelcome. Before the Bull Ring (TM) the throroughfare was public land, now it has been sold off to commerical interests without our consent or knowledge. That land was ours and now we could potentially be excluded from it. Recently, radical groups like Food Not Bombs who provide free food to the public (particularly homeless people), have been targeted by council officials as they do not fit in to their narrowly defined social norms.

This ideology should be challenged because this is *our* land, and we should be able to use it as we see fit without being subjugated by what is effectively an elitist special interest group claiming to represent the interests of everyone. In Spain people share a beer and play cards on the cathderal steps as the sun sets, in France people play boules on the grass, and in a US city this Friday a mass of people will play a night time urban game of “capture the flag” on their streets amongst drunken revellers. Is it any wonder we live in a more isolated and anonymous society? Public space is the glue which connects people and builds communities yet it has been compromised, unless of course it is mediated by a profit making entity such as $tarbucks or McDonalds. There has been no real discussion about this, it is just a status quo which has been insidiously forced upon us. However, this status quo can be challenged, we can reclaim our public spaces for fun, or whatever other purpose we see fit. Such stunts and actions show people that there is a different way of doing things and they are invited too. If anything, that was certainly proven on this day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHaPhrieGfQ
and
http://www.vimeo.com/764912

thieving parasitic squat leeches trash rampART social centre

Over the weekend one of the rampART collective caught friends of the neighboring squatters stealing the lead of the roof.

Over the weekend one of the rampART collective caught friends of the neighboring squatters stealing the lead of the roof. Confronted, they justified their action by saying that the place was going to be evicted in a week anyway. Of course that’s not actually true, there is no date yet for an eviction and who’s is to say that an eviction attempt would succeed. It could have been months before the rampART was finally closed.

Now there is water pissing through the rampART bringing the ceiling down. Not just in the social centre but also the houses in the block as well, including the building used by a local accountant as his office. People personal possessions have been trashed and the buildings made almost uninhabitable for the sake of under one hundred pounds worths of lead.

The scum who did it might try to justify it by saying that it’s the developers that pay but that’s not really the case. The building are currently occupied and even when evicted they weren’t going to be demolished. Now that water is pouring in the building would quickly fall into total disrepair and allow the owners to justify demolition which is what they’d really prefer to do.

So, for the sake of a quick buck, these parasites have basically hastened the end of the social centre and forced those living in the houses to move out ahead of threats from bailiffs. This incredibly anti-social behavior is sadly not untypical.

The St Bart’s squat near All Saints DLR was originally squatted as a convergence centre for the Disarm DSEi mobilisation and then was used as a residential squat. Before the place was evicted almost two years later, all the copper and lead was removed and weighed in. The building, which was a council owned adult education centre, was left exposed to the weather and made total unsuitable for reuse when it was considered for the next DSEi convergence. Repairs would cost a fortune so the council will now never put it back into social use, they’ll no doubt just let it rot for a few years and then sell it on as land for redevelopment.

thanks a bunch you thieving scum

Climate Case

Court fined activists… who pledged to shut down coal and stop climate chaos

On the last week of Winter exams, I donned a media badge and reporter’s notebook to observe the trial of eleven normal people as they faced Nottingham Bridewell Magistrates Court.

Some say it is beautiful. Just across the M1 from Sutton-Bonnington research farm lies the 40-year-old power station. The coal plant is the worst source of carbon dioxide pollution in the East Midlands. To me, its cooling towers are a symbol of waste.
Did you know that the wasted steam released from Ratcliffe could be piped to provide free hot water for the entire borough of Rushcliffe?

I agree with those determined to down that machine. Whilst the so-called “Ratcliffe 11” admitted they went into the power station, they lodged a special defence of necessity. One of the activists said “I believe this (attempted) action was a reasonable and proportionate response to the threat of catastrophic climate change and that this action was to prevent a greater crime occurring.” – According to an anonymous report online.

Dating back to the Luddite movement, so-called “non-violent direct action” (NVDA) is a slightly anarchist set of solutions, clashing with the politics of public order. Inspired by an international convergence of thousands of people to the first climate camp in Gigawatt Valley, the Nottingham neighbourhood continued to cook hot curries, skill-share and develop practical solutions. An educational “Spring into Action” week culminated on 10th April 2007, with a crammed mini-bus to the power station.
The power company are responsible for the safety of those on site, who stopped an estimated 5,000 tonnes of coal from getting to the bunkers. From there, the coal is burned to boil water from the river Trent to turn turbines to generate electricity for the National Grid. Of the 12, one escaped, one remained silent and used only body-language, and the remaining ten were found guilty of trespass.

Meet the climate criminals.
The eleven activists used their grandparents to illustrate “duties of care, as they give care to you.” One stopped working in offices, a cog in the capitalist system, felt so much better after taking action.
“I realised I was living in denial.” Testified Sam, an ecology graduate. “Drastic action needs to be taken, yesterday! In the next ten years… Otherwise it’s too late.”
Tim, 23, testified that their action was directly aimed at disrupting coal-burning, but nervously expressed thanks to other more public protesters. At the gates more people covered the corporate sign with “STOP! DON’T BE A FOSSIL FOOL”. To the make the “reclaim power” agenda clear, props included a giant thermometer and gas-masks. Beware of government-controlled TV News rushing into millions of homes! Defending economic growth may lead to media statements being economical with the truth. For the entire day of action, the power company inaccurately claimed that police were on site keeping things “fully operational”. “Head of Security” Nicholas was on holiday when 12 people walked inside. Using ordinary household equipment, they locked on to a range of railings, fire protection pipes, and “trash screens”. Christopher, shift-team-leader, went down to help explain the dangers of coal falling on to the latter position, so they produced the keys and moved to a safer location, from which they were arrested. One then ran up the coal chute and stayed a while in the rafters, covered in coal dust.

We suspect there are corporate sensitivities around energy traders and carbon emissions. The Plant Manager Roy “forgot to bring” any data. The contingency plan for “keeping the lights on” has not been published. The E.ON employee refused to confirm future plans for nuclear.

Guilty?
It was ruled that the defence of necessity may be used on a case by case basis. District Judge Cooper decided that catastrophic climate change should be tackled by democratic government, not autonomous individuals. The defence lawyer Mr Thomlinson researched case law and explained that if Anne Frank had escaped the holocaust on a stolen bicycle, she wouldn’t have to wait for the Gestapo to knock at her door, under English law. But is climate change comparable? Alan Simpson MP explains that you have to get a lot of people to break bad laws in order to repeal them. A spokesperson from e.on said the ten … had acted irresponsibly by breaking the law.

“This is not justice!” I declared. I read the judgment fully. The legal and historical importance of this trial in terms of environmental issues highlights what is a step too far. I’m not saying the guilty verdict was wrong, but if I were the judge, I would have found the activists innocent.

Science was central to their case.
Scarier than “Gore’s Law” as I call it, that CO2 warms the planet, is what I like to call “Climate Chaos”. Previously regarded as a stable atmosphere, the biosphere modeled by the “Gaia theory” could be thrown into a state of catastrophic climate change.
The defendants called an expert witness, Dr Simon Lewis, Royal Society Research Fellow at the Earth & Biosphere Institute of the University of Leeds. He is the author of many peer-reviewed technical papers in the world’s leading journals, several of which are cited by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He is a member of the Royal Society’s Climate Change Advisory Network and the United Nations ad hoc Expert Working Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change. He advised the Government of the United Kingdom during preparations for the G8 and UN meetings discussing climate change.
“I solemnly, sincerely, and truly swear and affirm that the evidence I shall give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”.
Dr Lewis used the term nonlinearities: points at which global warming feeds back to generate more global warming. Actually ecosystems like the Amazon or oceans could have separate thresholds. Every climate scientist with an academic position agreed that the government’s 2-degree target is already 50% likely to tip the system over the edge.
In other words, it is not like gradually polluting a lake and it gets gradually muddier and muddier, it is more like pushing a car over the top of a hill.
A grimly funny question about the environmental problems of palm plantations, certainly raised a few laughs amongst the audience. “Why are you asking me about illegal logging in Indonesia? Of course by definition, loss of trees…”
How many deaths can be attributed to climate change? The court heard Dr Lewis state in a low tone that in 2005, in Mumbai a record-breaking 1 metre of rain fell on a single day. 1000 people died. There are extensive studies on every continent, which can be compared with climate models. Climate change threatens to affect us all. And the UK? “We live in an increasingly globalised world.” An article in the Guardian called for more research attributing deaths to climate change “It’s time for a body-count”.

A defendant from Nottingham has degrees in biology and epidemiology. Her calculations, not peer-reviewed but based on George Marshall of coinet.org, estimate the amount to kill a person is in the region of 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. (nice science reviews the current eco-situation on page 49)

Did you know that the University of Nottingham’s growing rate of carbon emissions could fill three hot-air balloons for every student?!

Ideas for Eco-worriers
– Dig up the dirt on energy and carbon markets.
– D.I.Y offsetting by providing consumers with contraception, solving the population problem too.
– End the bloodshed for oil.
– Take “direct action” to fix your bike!
– Choose your own career path.
– Fancy dress as an endangered polar bear.
– Do you know anyone who died from climate change? Report it to the Environment Agency.
– Get the facts
– Reprint this article!
http://sen.blog-city.com/finally_the_judgement.htm

What Better Time? Issue Three out now!

The third edition of Scottish Climate Activists newsheet, What Better Time?, is out now. Read online at whatbettertime.livejournal.com

This months edition looks at biofuels, the M74 and more.

The third edition of Scottish Climate Activists newsheet, What Better Time?, is out now. Read online at whatbettertime.livejournal.com

This months edition looks at biofuels, the M74 and more.

Aldermaston – camp is NOT closing & surround the base, 24th March

In a frontpage (and inside) article today the Indy have got it into their heads that the women’s peace camp is cl

In a frontpage (and inside) article today the Indy have got it into their heads that the women’s peace camp is closing. You can read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/2h7jrf

Camp is not closing. In fact camp is very much there, today, outside Aldermaston.

Letters of support for camp are already coming in and we hope that the “wrong end of the stick” article will only highlight both the repressive byelaws situation (see http://www.aldermaston.net/news/212 for background) and the fact that Aldermaston is busy building new facilities for new nuclear weapons.

Come and join us!

And if you can’t join us today, then come to the women’s gate on Easter Monday(24 March) – part of a mass “surround the base” event against a new generation of Trident and a celebration of 50 years of anti-nuclear protest.

See http://www.cnduk.org/aldermaston
info@aldermaston.net
http://www.aldermaston.net