earthfirst – Page 258

Direct action around Greece reports (1/2008) – banks, police cameras, luxury cars get it; rats saved

Attack against a bank, 14 taken into custody (Athens, 30/1/2008)

According to a report at: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=821100

Attack against a bank, 14 taken into custody (Athens, 30/1/2008)

According to a report at: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=821100

There was an attack with sledge hammers, stones and paints against the Ethniki Bank in Gizi district (were a companion was arrested after an armed expropriation). After they left, police spread into the area and took into custody around 14 persons from the area.
—
Police camera destroyed, one person taken into custody (Thessaloniki, 29/1/2008)

From reports at athens.indymedia.org

Around 11:30 the power supply of a police camera was sabotaged in public. Riot-policemen and motorbike cops attacked the people on their way back, and managed to take into custody one person. Later on two more persons were also taken to the police headquarters, but set free after a few hours.

—
Series of incendiary attacks (Athens-Thessaloniki, 21/1/2008)

Report in english: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/21/europe/EU-GEN-Greece-Arson-Spree.php

According to a report in “Eleftherotipia” (Greek only): http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=25251808

From 12:51 to 01:18 the following targets were attacked:

Athens:

12:51: Porsche dealership, Halandri-4 cars damaged.
01:00: Eurobank open24 subsidiary, Egaleo
01:05: Luxurius car exposition “Car Collection”, Nea Erithrea-16 cars and one motorcycle damaged
01:08: Eurobank subsidiary, Dafni
01:08: Piraeus bank subsidiary, Dafni
01:09: Citybank subsidiary, central Athens
01:15: Eurobank subsidiary, Nea Filadelfia
01:17: PV MOTORS dealership, Argiroupoli
01:18: PPC crane vehicle, Keramikos

Another incendiary device was found untouched in the entrance of an “Ethniki” bank, in Peristeri, and was carried to the forensic office of the police.

Thessaloniki:

Two arson attacks occured within five minutes. A ppc car was damaged, as well as an ATM of Millennium bank in Analipsi.

Communique sent to directactiongr@yahoo.gr:

“Last night’s series of incendiary attacks against luxurious car dealerships in Halandri, Kifissia and Argiroupoli, bank subsidiaries in Nea filadelfia, Dafni, Egaleo, Ano Patisia, Dafni and in Thessaloniki at 117, Martiou Street, and against PPC (the state-run power company) cars outside its offices in both Athens and Thessaloniki, is undertaken by the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire Thessaloniki-Athens.

We selected to strike the bank subsidiares because the constitute the symbols-tools of exploration and of the economic empire. In parallel, the banks are the modern day corporations that accredit with loanee dreams the consumers, so that they would beglamour voluntarily their misery and their economic state of captivity.

We attacked the PPC corporation as a response to the dozens assassinations of workers that died in its workplace-prisons because of the lack of security measures, as well as for the deadly effects (such as cancer) that appear at the zones around its power plants.

We set on fire the dealerships of luxurious cars that form prestigious symbols of authority inside the commodity fetishist frenzy that has taken over the metropolis. We do not respect the law-abiding citizens’ wet dreams for a fast car in expense of the slow suicide offeed by the modern life style.

The revolutionary character of an economic-capitalist targets arson is n’t found only in its physical destructionm but also in the illegality of the action itself. In the decision to attack.

In this combatant situation, there are also losses. Accordingly, we dedicate last night’s attacks in Thessaloniki and Athens to the emprisoned anarchist V. Botzatzis who is accused for 3 arson attacks against 3 targets, as weel as to the 3 fugitive comrades accused under the same case, and that chose the way of a proud escape, than to give theirselves in.

We don’t forget any emprisoned comrade. We will be back soon…

Conspiracy of Cells of Fire Thessaloniki-Athens”

—
Bank firebombed and responsibility claim (Athens, 19/1/2008)

According to reports (in greek) at athens.indymedia.org unknown persons attacked with molotov cocktails a subsidiary of eurobank in Petralona district (Athens). According to ANA-MPA news agency, the arson caused sever damages to the bank. A group claimed responsibility by an anonymoys e-mail to directactiongr@yahoo.gr stating:

The “Cells of Incendiary Solidarity” (Pirines Empristikis Allileggyis) claim responsibility for the arson at Eurobank on Trion Ierarhon Street in Petralona, on Saturday January 19, in solidarity to the emprisoned anarchist Vaggelis Botzatzis, accused with 3 arson attacks against governmental-economic targets and to the three companions that are fugitive under the same case.

The institutions of state-run enterprises, car agencies and banks, have been and will be today’s targets, targets that every revolutionary chooses to attack. These attack are born from a total perception and a route of actions against the capitalist-economic domination. These words here do not mean to recognise their-selves in a “typical claim of responsibility” because their meaning is found in the transmission of the revolutionary flame. WE ARE ON WAR. The persecutions cannot stop the incendiary actions and the rebellious consciences. Honour to those that in their lives, they set their own time and place, their “how” and “why”…

The ashes of the burnt banks for the fugitive companions and the emprisoned anarchist Vaggelis Botzatzis.

Cells of Incendiary Solidarity

Note: Vaggelis Botzatzis is an anarchist from Thessaloniki, in a pre-trial emprisonment in Komotini prisons, accused for arsons in a french brand car yard, a millenium bank subsidiary and Public Power Company vehicles. He is persecuted based on a security guard’s accusations. Apart from him, another three anarchists are fugitive for the same case.
—
Attacks on three banks (Athens, 17/1/2008)

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=815410
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=815788

2 year after the arrest of Giannis Dimitrakis after a bank robbery, on 12 o’clock, were realised three simultaneous attacks on three banks and an ATM in central Athens.

Piraeus Bank on 12, George Street, Attiki Bank on 23 Omirou Street and Ethniki bank on 30 Omirou Street, had their glasses broken and other damages. An ATM was also damaged.

There were leaflets thrown around the banks stating:
2 years later…
WE DON’T FORGET, WE DON’T FORGIVE
solidarity to G. Dimitrakis, who is emprisoned for the bank robery at Ethniki Bank on Solonos Street at 16.01.2006
Solidarity to the 3 fugitive comrades

as well as “FIRE TO THE BANKS”
—
Lab-rats liberated from technical institute (Thessaloniki, 16/1/2007)

A report on this action can be found at athens.indymedia.org where there are also more photos and a short video, as well as a text in greek, translated here:

“On January 15th, in the Thessaloniki TEI (technical institute) was programmed a practical experiment on animals alive in front of the students. This hideous action would be realised if some people from Thessaloniki was n’t mobilized. Around twenty persons visited the TEI and took not only one, as it was to expected, but four animals (lab rats). Later on the four lab rats were set free in the nature were they should be from the very begining.

We know that these specific animals will not survive for a long time in the nature, since they were born in a lab. Though, we believe it is better for them to die in the nature than in a lab or a cage.”
—
Car dealership fire-bombed (Athens, 17/1/2008)

Source (greek only): http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=11424&subid=2&tag=8334&pubid=336523#

Two self-made explosive devises were placed underneath two cars in a Suzuki dealership in Peristeri, Athens. One of them exploded at 3:45 in the night causing minor damages, while the other one was found untouched by the police.

—
Bank arson and anonymous communique(Athens, 1/1/2008)

Source (greek only): http://news.pathfinder.gr/greece/news/449097.html

“The first fact reported to the police for 2008 was an arson attack 20 minutes after midnight at the subsidiary of Geniki Bank at 75 Kipselis street in Athens. Unidentified persons planted an incendiary device breaking the glass entrance door.”

Anonymous group claimed responsibility via e-mail to directactiongr@yahoo.gr):

“The attack at Geniki Bank on 1/1/2008 was in solidarity to emprisoned fighters.

The same time that in the city centre “celebrations” are organised to welcome the new year we, by striking, mean to prove that the flame of negation won’t cease to burn nor even this new year, against any repressive plan.

Freedom to Chr. Kontorevithakis and M. Tsourapas.”

Shell to Sea protest at Bellanaboy and Belmullet

February 2 2008
To coincide with Shell announcing their annual profits (of around €18 billion), yesterday morning around 80 people gathered at Bellanaboy to show their continued opposition to Shell’s plans for Mayo. Facing a biting wind and showers of hail and snow, the protestors highlighted the fact that even with all this profit, Shell still haven’t clean up their act. As if the elements weren’t bad enough, the protestors also had to contend with being outnumbered by about 2 to 1 by the heroic guardians of the State. This local day of protest against Shell was met with a excessive Garda presence of at least a 150 to act as private security for Shell. Of course the whole Corrib project fails to benefit the people of Ireland and all Shell’s construction costs are written off against tax.

At around 9.30am a section of the protestors went in to Belmullet to continue their protest and to hand out leaflets regarding Shell’s deadly record. Around 30 people stood around the main roundabout and received a very positive response. They waited until all their leaflets were handed out, before retiring for some well earned warm tea & coffee around 12.30pm. At first, the Gardai continued to use overkill tactics but soon realised they can’t get away with this in the full view of Belmullet. Despite the bitter weather, there was lots of support and it felt a good success.

One distasteful aspect to the day was the fact that, for the first time, members of the Rossport Solidarity Camp were prevented from making their way to Bellanaboy gates. On 3 separate routes the camp van was blocked from making their way to the picket. Initially the gardaí sought to open up the back of the camp van without quoting a necessary section of law. Under the Road Traffic Act, the guards don’t have authority to search a vehicle even though this hasn’t stopped them doing it on many occasions around the Bellanaboy area. At the initial road block, the guard also opened both the drivers and a side door before he was told that this behaviour was not allowed. When questionned, the gardaí kept on quoting the Road Traffic Act and gave the driver of the van the choice of either turning around or allowing the gardaí to search the vehicle. The driver refused both these options and stayed where he was for a considerable time on each occasion. As a matter of principle, the driver refused to allow a vehicle search unless they quoted a sufficient law. On numerous occasions the gardaí directed the driver to leave. However it shows the shaky ground that the gardaí knew they were on as they never cautioned the driver that he would be arrested.
Overall the 6 camp members in the van tried for over 2 hours (from around 7-9am) to try to get to the gates during which time many cars were simply waved through without being searched. They were stopped on 5 different occasions and on each occasion anything from 3 to 6 garda vans and squads were around the van. At the Bellanaboy bridge car park, passengers in the van questioned both one of the gardaí who stopped them and an Inspector in charge. At one stage the garda stated the “Offences against the State” gave them authority to search the vehicle, while the Inspector stated that ‘Common Law’ gave them the authority. The driver confirmed that the only law quoted at him was the Road Traffic Act which the Inspector basically admitted didn’t give them the authority to search.

The gardaí often claim that they are there to uphold the right to peacefully protest but this event clearly showed a complete misuse of power. However this failed to distract protestors from highlighting Shell’s €18bn profit at the expense of community’s worldwide. Overall it was a very positive day and a nice start to the spring.

Leaflet text:

Shell profits rise – Ireland gets 0%

Shell has announced record profits of €18 billion for the year, that’s €49.3 million per day! Shell has stated that it is too expensive to refine at sea. However, Shell’s profits clearly show this is untrue and unbelievably, the Irish law was changed so that all their building costs can be written off against tax!

Increased cost to refine at sea = €360 million
That’s about one week of Shell’s profits!

It is clear that these vast profits come at the expense of the countries, communities and environments that Shell operate. Look at the disasters of Russia and Nigeria…will you allow Shell to do this here?

In Texas, where Shell operates a large oil refinery, medical surveys have found that 70% of the town’s inhabitants have associated medical complaints.

Shell always put profits first
Shell in fact has the worse workforce death record of all the major oil companies.

Company 2003 Deaths 2004 Deaths 2005 Deaths 2006 Deaths
Exxon Mobil 23 6 8 10
Shell 45 37 36 37
BP 20 11 27 7
Workforce deaths for the 3 biggest oil & gas companies

If Shell care so little for the lives of their own workers, do you trust them to prioritise the safety of our community?

So far in Erris we know that every single water monitoring report carried out by Mayo County Council is above the limits for aluminium since Shell removed peat from Bellanaboy. The water from the Bellanaboy refinery site goes directly into Carrowmore Lake. Shell acknowledged responsibility for this problem and installed the Axonics water treatment plant. However, it was unable to cope with the demand during Shell’s peat haulage and so the aluminium levels have increased and the problem has worsened.

The Scottish EPA (who has licensed numerous refineries in Scotland) has stated that a refinery which falls within the catchment area of a drinking water supply would not get permission to operate in Scotland.

Consent cannot be bought
Shell has recently announced their new wish “to be a good neighbour”. Sending 5 men to jail for trying to protect their community was not a great start! And things haven’t improved since then. Shell have not taken on board our concerns and continue to ignore the people who are threatened with this experimental project on their doorstep. Shell is still intent on forcing through a raw gas pipeline through unstable land in close proximity of houses and a school.

“No other country in the world has given the oil company’s such favourable terms” Mike Cunningham, former Statoil director

We deserve a better deal: Don’t take Shell’s crumbs!
Given the obscenely generous terms at which Shell got the Corrib Gas, it’s no surprise that Shell are happy to give out a few college scholarships and grants here and there. Instead our natural resources should be going to benefit our education and health systems and country as a whole.
In the early 70’s, Norway chose to use their natural resources to benefit their people and today the country ranks as having the best quality of life in the world.
Because all of Shell’s construction costs can be written off against tax, the money Shell are trying to offer to our community belongs to us in the first place! The percentage given back is nothing compared to the €50 billion worth of Irish gas they own!

For more information or to request a copy of the Channel 4 ‘Policing the pollution’ film, please contact 0851141170.

Newts delay A47 – M1 is left for us to stop

Newts halt work on village bypass
Work on a long-awaited bypass in Leicestershire has been held up because a protected species of newt has been found in the construction area.

Work started in September on the Earl Shilton bypass – planned for more than 20 years – and is set to cost £15m.

But a colony of great crested newts has been found and their protected status means it is illegal to disturb them.

When temperatures rise, the newts will come out of hibernation and move to a pond, allowing work to continue.

‘Horror stories’

The county council’s director of highways, Matthew Lugg, said he was hopeful the lost time could be made up.

Mr Lugg said: “It is very difficult to detect these species and no matter how much you do to detect these creatures, it’s not necessarily going to be comprehensive.

“We are hopeful though that we can make up the time and get back on track. There have been some real horror stories in other parts of the country and our situation could have been much worse.”

The bypass is due to open late in 2008.

The route is about 5km (three miles) long and follows the corridor that links the A47 perimeter road from a new roundabout at Carrs Hill to the A47 Leicester Road.

>>>>>>>>>>>
A small part of the M1 has already been widened, but the battle remains to be fought – 115 miles of it and we can still stop it!

http://www.nowideningm1.org.uk/

Spring into action (though storms may be at the door) – the latest issue of the EF! Action Update has burst forth

Read all about occupations & lock-ons of big industrial places around the world, corporate & government blockades, squatting, airport invasions, subvertising, climate criminals locked & glued shut, trees climbed and chopped down, GM maize fields trashed, hunger strikes, burrowing under fences, jumping on whaling boats, Buying Nothing, Reclaiming the Streets and the unstoppable singing of Christmas songs, not to mention skating penguins. Even some upcoming dates to get stuck in or to meet other direct action crazies. We couldn’t make it up even if we tried.

Another bumper issue, with a special insert on Agrofuels including a list of refineries ‘in the pipeline’ or already on the ground, plus a legal update about the recent changes to your access to solicitors in police stations.

The latest issue of the Earth First! Action Update burst forth at the latest national meeting of the Camp for Climate Action (see climatecamp.org.uk for how the camp idea is audaciously morphing this year).

Download it to print out and share here. Do get in touch with the editorial collective to let them know if you’re dishing it up round your way, or need paper copies, or want to give them one of the rarer ingredients, dosh (to send it to prisoners, protest camps and far beyond) – their contact details and more are here.

Lakenheath 8 finally go to Trial for Socpa 128

On 26th 27th and 28th of March 2008 the Lakenheath 8 finally go to trial for a socpa 128 and criminal damage charge. The L8 took action in October 2006 at USAF Lakenheath in Suffolk against the use of cluster bombs and conventional weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 8 activists, Pete, Lesley, Mell, Lesley, Richie, Margaret, Irene and Emma entered the nuclear base and locked themselves to the munitions area gates to stop the loading of weapons onto the F15 e planes. The new at the time ‘socpa’ laws covered the base and the 8 new that they maximum sentence was a year in prison and a £5,000 fine. Since that action Mell, Emma,Irene and 3 others took another action to blocakade Lakenheath in October 2007 and the court has decided to put them on trial for obstruction at the same time as the Lakenheath 8. The trial will be held at Bury st Edmunds court in Suffolk and the defendants would like as much support as possible.
‘socpa effects us all, our right to protest is being taken from us and we must stand up against these ridiculous laws’.
Bring your banners! a tour of the US nuclear base, inside or out is also being offered! ( Are you watching special intelligence?? you had better have many police on security for at least a month!)
Accommodation is available for supporters and food will be provided by BSE Quakers.

Climate Activists block Copenhagen powerplant

29.01.2008
Approximately 50 activists from the Danish group ClimaX blocked the main entrance to a powerplant in Copenhagen owned by the DONG Energy corporation.

The power company plans to start building a coalfired powerplant in northern Germany. This powerplant when completed will double the CO2 emissions of the state. The building of the powerplant have been heavily critizised by the local community and climate organisations. The Danish state owns the majority of the stocks in DONG Energy.

“When the leaders of DONG and the Danish state fails to respect the climate, we react. Denmark will never be a leading country in countering climate changes when they own companies who make power on the worst CO2-polluting way possible” says Daniel Rask from ClimaX.

The action was colourful and creative. Along with noise and colors the activists brought a large wooden windmill with them, which they locked themselves onto.

The action ended peacefully when the blockade was lifted after about two hours.

Climax will continue the actions up until the big climate summit in Denmark in 2009. ClimaX can be reached on the email adress klimax(circle-A)forum.dk .

Coulsdon residents’ barricade halts phone mast

27.1.08
Construction of a phone mast in Coulsdon has been halted after more than 100 angry protesters barricaded the site.

27.1.08
Construction of a phone mast in Coulsdon has been halted after more than 100 angry protesters barricaded the site.

Residents and parents blocked two trucks and two cranes from accessing the proposed mast site on Sandown Road this morning in a bid to stop the transmitter being fixed to a building opposite Chipstead Valley Primary School.

The protesters, under the banner of the Radio Action group, said there were already 15 mobile masts in less than one square mile of the school.

A Radio Action spokesman said the 10 workmen remained in Sandown Road for more than two hours before turning back after discussions with residents.

He said the group was concerned about the health effects of mobile mast transmissions, particularly on children.

It is believed phone company T Mobile want to fix the mast to the first floor of the building in Sandown Road.

Stockholm blockade against motorway

26 January. Some 50 activists from Klimax marched into the traffic on one of the major streets in inner city Stockholm, seizing it for 15 minutes.

26 January. Some 50 activists from Klimax marched into the traffic on one of the major streets in inner city Stockholm, seizing it for 15 minutes. The action was directed against a planned mega-highway, to be built in the western parts of the capital.

Western UK sabotage for the animals

COUNTRYSIDE ALLAINCE SIGNS DESTROYED AND HUNT CARS SCRATCHED.
24 January 2008
Countryside allaince signs were smashed and the side of a landrover was scratched, another hunt car had both sides and bonnet scraped hope the respray didnt cost too much!
————–
MCDONALDS GETS THE ALF TREATMENT.
23 January 2008
“MEAT IS MURDER” was spray painted on the front and back windows of a McDonalds in the west, just to make sure they had trouble opening on time the next day all of the locks were glued.
————–
HUNT SCUM CAR RECIEVES PASSING VISIT FROM THE ALF
22 January 2008
Passing members of the ALF decided to make the pro hunt stickers on one car in the west impossible to see when the car had all its windows where covered completely in spray painted (have fun trying to drive it to the garage!).

Messages such as “ALF” and “HUNT SCUM” were left on the side so all the other hunters in the area new why it had been done.

If you support the hunt you are scum, but we do appreciate it when you display stickers letting us know this fact, this way we can make sure you get what is coming to you!

For the animals!

Your friendly local ALFers!

Teenager arrested after tying herself to Japananese Embassy

25.1.2008
A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said. Sophie said last night: “I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse.”

A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said.

Sophie Wyness, 14, and her father Martin attached themselves to a stone staircase inside the embassy lobby with cable ties overnight, saying it was wrong to “brutally murder” whales.

Sophie said last night: “I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse.”

It is not the first time the 14-year-old, who has also campaigned against Australia’s nuclear policy, has been removed from a protest but it is the first time she has been arrested.

She said: “I have just been released. We have been charged with criminal trespass and it will go before the Attorney General, not the CPS, because of the political implications.”

The teenager was inspired to take action after watching a film about the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza – which is currently disrupting the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.

One video clip lasting 30 seconds, which showed a whale being blown up, had “hit me hard”, she explained earlier.

The video pushed her to stage the hour-long protest because she felt it was wrong to wrong to “brutally murder” whales.

“It’s a very important subject at the moment. They’re such amazing creatures and they deserve rights and love and a bit of respect,” she said.

“I have total respect for the Japanese people but not what they’re doing out there with the whales.”

She said taking direct action was the only way to get attention on the issue.

“Hopefully it’ll get put out there and show we’re not going to sit back and let them get away with it.”

Mr Wyness said he was only involved in the protest in order to support his daughter and spoke of his pride that she had been so resolute in standing up for her convictions.

He said: “I was really only there as back up. This was Sophie’s day.”

He added: “I am extremely proud of Sophie. She is an amazing, amazing young woman full or courage and determination and her convictions are very strong. This documentary genuinely moved her to the point where she wanted to do something about it.

Quotes taken from thelondonpaper.com