earthfirst – Page 267

Sizewell Nuclear Power Blockade

1.12.2007
At 6:50 am this morning 8 sleepy protestors arrived at the gates of Sizewell A and B in Suffolk. What else would you do at this time in the morning at a nuclear power station, other than lay on the road, lock yourselves together, unfurl your banner reading ‘nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos’ and wait 15 minutes for the security to notice you.

As the shift change began, we lay comfortably on the wet and cold road, and only one worker threatened to run us over.
The griffins arrived (civil nuclear police), Suffolk police, and a couple of gnomes (or maybe security people). Apparently, people wanted to go to work, and so the police asked us to move. We declined.
After 2 and a half hours of shift change disruption (job done!) we made a deal with the coppers that we could leave, with all of our equipment, not get arrested, and be free to come and do it again another day. Bizarrely, the police agreed to this. Watch the video below of what happened just after release – apparently, they couldn’t arrest us under the human rights act – proportionality and all that, innit.

Videos:
The reasons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i7-Z3wdjAM
Interactions with the police http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57OiMfCGC94
Leaving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnPMcvj7BBQ

Below is the press release we sent out.

This week it was announced that Sizewell is one of the four sites proposed for the new build of nuclear power plants. Brown indicated that large government incentives for new nuclear stations will be promised in the new year. These would include a planning reform bill that will speed up the planning process. The protesters say that this will take away the ability to refuse permission on a local level and that many safety features were introduced during the extensive planning phase for Sizewell B.

One of the protesters, Peter Lux from Norwich said, “Gordon Browns statement is completely at odds with what we should be doing to combat climate change. The proposed aviation policy with the expansion of Heathrow will cause several times more greenhouse gas emissions than could possibly be saved by replacing our existing nuclear power stations even if nuclear power was carbon neutral which it is not.”

Another protester said: “It is so frustrating to think that we do not even have a democracy when it comes to our energy needs and use. That’s why we have to come and take direct action, how can we sit back and watch when we know this is the wrong route to be taking?.” Said Mell Harrison, one of the protesters and Campaigns Coordinator for Eastern Region CND. She went on “The government are going ahead with building new nuclear power stations without proper public debate and consultation. All you ever hear from the Government is about our growing energy needs, but the real answer is energy conservation and more sustainable life styles. For example we hear about China’s ever growing energy needs, but it’s the West’s desire for more cheap goods from China that is one of the biggest reasons for their carbon emissions.”
Sizewell B was the last nuclear reactor to be built in the UK and was completed in 1995. It took 15 years to complete, cost over £3billion with about £800 million in cost overruns, which resulted mainly from additional safety features.
The nuclear industry also suffered a setback earlier this month when it was announced that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was unable able to say what the costs of cleaning up Britain’s nuclear power stations would reach, but last month it raised its estimate by more than 12 per cent to £72.7 billion. This rising cost will be met by the taxpayer rather than the nuclear industry.

plunk@hushmail.com
http://www.easterncnduk.org

Maniac Motorist Marrs Mass in Glasgow

Last Friday’s Critical Mass in Glasgow was marred and cut short slightly by an assault on one of the riders. Not overburdened with festive spirit, a middle-aged woman leant out of a car (reg. no X754…) and pulled the cyclist off his bike.

After gathering as usual, defying rain and the invasion of George Square by a St andrews day icerink and a million Saltires, 20 cyclists went for their regular ride around. About 0 minutes into the event the atmosphere turned nasty while heading up St Vincent Street.

After attempting to drive in between the Massers, always a dangerous and counter-productive thing to do, the silver car nearly hit a rider. after that and a short conversation, the car’s passenger, a middle-aged blonde woman in a red jacket grabbed the cyclist by the shoulder, jerked him off of his bike.

The car with a registration number beginning X754 and ending in either LGG or a similar sounding combination of letters, then sped off up the hill. a rider caught up at the next set of traffic lights (always happens) but was unable to get a clear photograph of the violent criminal and her accomplice, who turned right up Pitt Street and got away.

Critical Massers regrouped to catch breath on the pavement, then most of them continued to ride for another 20 minutes or so. Including the assaulted cyclist, not seriously hurt but slightly shaken and, given the police’s inaction over a previous assault, unlikely to bother pressing charges. From Argyle Street, past the most polluted site in the city, over the river and back over the footbridge to the pub for a warming and well-earned drink.

“Motorist breaks law with impunity.” It’s hardly a news story, as you can see from this photograph of a completely different car on the same road. Two people in the car, wet road, lengthy stopping distance, yet it’s the driver who’s talking on the mobile phone. Another idiot endangering my life and my friends’ lives while slowly poisoning the air we all share. Where’s the choice in lifestyle choice there?

While the assault might cause Critical Massers to think more deeply about tactics, there’s no doubt that more than ever it’s a vital part of the battle for quality of life in Glasgow.

Meets at George Square, 5:30pm for a 6:00pm departure on the last Friday of every month.

Plane Stupid Disrupt Parliamentary Committee In Commons

28.11.2007
3.15pm – Climate activists opposed to plans for a third runway at Heathrow this afternoon disrupted a Parliamentary inquiry going on inside the House of Commons. Protestors from climate action group, Plane Stupid, disrupted the proceedings of the Transport Select Committee who were hearing evidence from BAA boss, Steven Nelson and Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick.

The team of protestors wore t-shirts emblazoned with “No Third Runway” interrupted the inquiry into “The future of BAA” and handed out copies of a Tyndall Centre climate change report about the impacts of flying on global warming.

Plane Stupid accuse the Government of pre-judging the decision on the Third Runway and ignoring recent scientific evidence about the impacts airport expansion would bring upon climate change.

Activist for Plane Stupid, Richard George, said:

“The Government are spinning that they want an open and thorough consultation on expanding Heathrow but they’re ignoring mass opposition and scientists’ warnings and are colluding with BAA to concrete over public debate.”

He added:

“Despite overwhelming evidence of the impact of carbon emissions from aviation – the government are deliberately ignoring concerns about climate change. The plan for a third runway flies in the face of the science and were it approved it would pollute more than the whole of Kenya!”

MORE INFORMATION/INTERVIEWS:

www.planestupid.com
press@planestupid.com

You can watch the action at:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=488&rel=ok

Workshop and Building Weekend, this weekend at Bilston Glen

You are invited to the Bilston Glen Workshop and Building Weekend!

This Weekend – Friday 30th to Sunday 2nd
Come down for the whole weekend or for however much you can manage.
Learn new skills and help us with some of our on-going projects in Bilston Glen

You are invited to the Bilston Glen Workshop and Building Weekend!

This Weekend – Friday 30th to Sunday 2nd
Come down for the whole weekend or for however much you can manage.
Learn new skills and help us with some of our on-going projects in Bilston Glen

What’s on:
# Learn how to climb
# Habitat enhancement for birds (relevant info – www.rspb.org.uk)
# Gardening
# Treeplanting
# Building new sleeping spaces
# Dig, dig, dig
# Urban Foraging (tour of the finest bilston skips!)
# Small party on the Saturday night

Come to the woods, bilston always needs you!

Also in a couple of week’s we’ll be having a bilston evening at the Forest Cafe. More info to come.

Links
http://bilstonglen-abs.org.uk
http://www.myspace.com

Golf course in Sydney dug in with warning

24.11.2007
The anonymous visitors were clear about why they caused the damage they did. “Warning!: you bastards kill one bird and we will destroy all your greens at our leisure. We will be watching and waiting” read a note on a piece of cardboard that was stuffed into one of the holes.

Sydney, Australia – Vandals visited the Warringah Golf Club over the weekend and during the night wrecked extensive damage on four putting greens and dug holes in three others. The anonymous visitors were clear about why they caused the damage they did. “Warning!: you bastards kill one bird and we will destroy all your greens at our leisure. We will be watching and waiting” read a note on a piece of cardboard that was stuffed into one of the holes.

Animal rights advocates and neighbours have been in an uproar since the club hired a marksman to shoot native wood ducks who land on the course. The ducks are considered by the golfers to be a nuisance because the make small holes in the turf as they forage for food. The club and some employees have been inundated with phone calls and emails since the shooter was hired.

Totally Immoral – A Day of Action against Total Oil

The Total out of Burma Day of Action took place on Saturday 24 November. Protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. Some stations were blockaded and all the protests received great support from the motoring and pedestrian public.

On Saturday 24 November, protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. The protests called upon Total Oil to pull out of Burma and stop financing the Burmese military regime. Protest locations included Bradford, Brighton, Chatham (Kent), Cardiff, Guernsey, London, Manchester, Oxford and Virgina Water (Surrey).

Blockades occurred at some stations, with several lasting for an hour or more. In Camden, London 10 protestors blocked the York Way Total station for an hour, while 15 students in Surrey blockaded the Virginia Water petrol station for more than 2 hours. Throughout the UK the protests received support from motorists and pedestrians alike. Many drivers turned away from the petrol stations upon seeing the protests, some informing protestors that they would not to buy from Total again. At all the targetted petrol stations business was noticeably slow, and in some cases virtually non-existent, during the protests.

Paul Golding, one of the protestors, said, “Total’s investment in Burma is the largest in Europe. By paying millions of dollars to the Burmese dictatorship every year they are helping keep it in power. If the West wants to help end the oppression and ongoing human rights abuses in Burma, then quite simply, we must stop our companies from funding the oppressors.”

In London, protests took place at 14 Total petrol stations during the course of the day. The final protest in London attracted over 30 supporters and took place at the Baker Street petrol station on Marylebone Rd, NW1, from 4pm to 6pm. In Guernsey, campaigners protested at all 14 Total stations on the island, and picketed the main station on the island for 3 hours. [2]

The day of action was part of a growing global campaign calling on French oil company Total to stop funding the Burmese junta:

– Boycott: Last week, the global internet advocacy website Avaaz.org launched a global boycott of Total, as well as US oil company Chevron, for their presence in Burma – with nearly 50,000 signing up in ten days [3].
– Divestment: European pension funds withdrew almost £110m in investments from Total in a matter of days in protest at the company’s involvement in Burma. [4]
– Popular protests: Since October weekly protests have taken place in London outside Total Oil’s offices. Other spontaneous protests have occurred outside Total garages around the UK. [5]

Photos are available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk

For more information & photos contact:
– Jonathan Stevenson on 07818 651124, jjjstevenson@fastmail.fm
– Paul Golding on 07984 799 958 or paul@pellarin.demon.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] Total Oil has had a joint business venture with the Burmese government since 1992. Its major project is the Yadana gas project in southern Burma, which earns the military regime hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democracy leader, has said that “Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma.” For more information about Total Oil’s investment in Burma see the Burma Campaign UK website: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.php.

[2] A full list of protests on 24 November, plus further information about the campaign, can be found at: http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

[3] See http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate/. Total’s products in the UK include its network of petrol stations, as well as such brands as Bostik (makers of Blu-tack) and Spontex cleaning products.

[4] See http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2204744,00.html

[5] For reports, see http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com

Buy Nothing Day reports – Leeds, Norwich, London, Edinburgh, Manchester x2…

The truth is out – buying stuff doesn’t make you happy! Central Leeds today saw a free shop sprout from the pavement to drive the message home.

Despite the cold and rain, a hardy group set up a free shop in Central Leeds this morning, offering burgers, books, records and clothes. The manifestation of people giving stuff away in the middle of consumer-land raised a few eyebrows, entertained the tired masses and got the idea across that buying loads of useless stuff is a futile activity. The assembled free-shoppers sang a variety of subvertised carols and handed out gift vouchers which were “redeemable for whatever takes your fancy” including a picnic in the park or playing your own music. All in all, a grand day out in town.

—–

To mark Buy Nothing Day, 12 people from Norwich Rising Tide held a Rat Race in the city centre.

Activists created a mobile rat race that stopped off at the city’s busiest malls and high streets.

People in rat costumes hurried hither and thither between the edges of the rat race maze, built out of placards reading Work Harder, Earn More Money, Buy More Things, Keep Going, while Fat Cats advised that happiness was just around the corner if the rats would only keep shopping!

At Castle Mall the rats were flummoxed by security guards who forced them to move on; after all, the rats were only telling people to buy more stuff!

A thousand leaflets were handed out (see below), and many passers-by expressed their support.

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It seems that Transport For London have bowed to activist pressure and decided to remove all the adverts from the district line.

I never would have thought that TFL would have taken part in buy nothing day, but it seems even Red Ken wanted to join in the fun.

A group of Space Hijacker agents were travelling across London when we spotted a TFL decoration team, swiftly turning all of the adverts on the District Line around so that their blank sides were facing out.

They then posted up official LondON stickers proclaiming:

“As part of TFL’s £10 Billion investment program, London Underground are removing all adverts from trains to improve the ambience of carriages and the overall travelling experience of passengers.”

We can only applaud this bold move against the constant corporate assault on our senses.

The team we saw doing it were very quick, managing to swap around entire carriages of adverts in less than the time it took the train to travel one stop. Infact so impressed were our agents that we kept an eye on the trains and spotted the advert free carriages several days after.

On the trains we overheard one of the passengers asking “but what are we going to read?”, the TFL spokesperson replied “You could try talking to each other?”

Three cheers for TFL 😉

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80’s slogan t-shirts are back in fashion! A group of Space Hijacker agents decided to wear the very latests trend setting t-shirts on a ‘Buy Nothing Day’ jaunt around London.

A team of Space Hijackers secret agents headed into Knightsbridge in London on Saturday to celebrate Buy Nothing Day, a day of corporate chainstore chaos.

Wearing the very latest ‘Nu Rave’ slogan t-shirts our intrepid agents decided to go and have a look around some of London’s most exclusive stores. Our first stop was Harrords, and after avoiding the piles of ferrari’s, porsches and mercedes, we managed to get instore and up to the top floor.

Our trendy “EVERYTHING IN STORE HALF PRICE TODAY” t-shirts certainly raised some eyebrows from the fashion conscious customers, several even came up and started asking us for directions etc. Helpful and polite as always we directed customers, tidied up messy rails of clothes and generally played the part of good members of society as we walked around the store.

Unfortunately the security teams seemed to have other ideas, and promtly attempted to round us up and eject us from the store! Cries of the fact that our shirts were the very latest katherine hamnett designer shirts, seemed to fall on deaf ears, and we were told that we may be arrested if we entered the store again!

Oh well, never mind, onto Gucci and Louis Vuitton for some designer window shopping. Entering the Gucci boutique in Knightsbrige we quickly found out that there were more of us than actual staff present, which was an entertaining prospect. However, in a move which was obviously down to brand envy, we were once again ejected. The security even followed us across the road and into Louis Vuitton calling out “Don’t let them in, it’s a prank!” as we entered the store. Why the cheek of it!

After looking around and helping customers choose their luggage we decided to leave the store and welcome people inside from the streets. However the weather was getting rather nippy by this point, so after a swift drink we decided to head into Oxford Street and onto Nike Town and Top Shop.

The security here was rather oafish to say the least, with three of our agents being dragged down to a special Top Shop instore prison which they have behind the counters. Thankfully after threats of sueing for wrongful imprisonment, and the fact we had a lawyer and criminal barrister amongst our ranks things were soon put right.

Unfortunately after all of the excitement of dealing with the grumpy security, we forgot to actually buy any consumer goods. Oh well, best go back next year 😉

http://www.spacehijackers.org

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Buy Nothing Day – Edinburgh Action

Today was International Buy Nothing day. Activists took to the streets all across the globe to try and persuade those who can afford to live consumerist lifestyles to think about how much they need all the things they buy.

In the run up to the Christmas shop-a-thon it is easy for many people to forget that the best things in life are free. Do we really need those things we buy? Is spending money on useless crap the only way to show loved ones how much we care for them? Of course not!

Clowns from Rampant Reekies, the Edinburgh gaggle of C.I.R.C.A, played games, danced and were generally silly on the streets, entertaining people without selling products. They also joyfully invaded shops, including HNM, GAP, BHS and Schu, and “brought mirth and merriment to the dazed monotony of Christmas consumption.”

A Food Not Bombs stall gave out free food in the form of pea soup, banana smoothies, bread and apple pie. Many shoppers walked straight past the hot-dog stall and had some lovely vegan soup for lunch instead. A chalk message on the pavement read “there is such a thing as a free lunch!”

A mobile Free Shop set up on the street to give things away for free. Many people came and found useful items to take away, or gifts for people which they were otherwise going to buy. One man said simple “this is the best thing I’ve ever seen” and a passing woman exclaimed “I’ve seen jumble sales, but never this!” A passing Police Officer even inquired if there was any mobile phones, as he was going to buy one that day but couldn’t now he knew it was Buy Nothing Day.

A person claiming to be from Society for a Transformation to Imagination Not Capitalisation (S.T.I.N.C) approached the stalls and informed the BNDers that they had released non-harmful stink bombs in a fast-food stores on Princes Street to “make it clear – Capitalism stinks”, although this remains unverified.

The reception from passers by was generally quite good. While some didn’t understand the point of it, many skeptics came and had a chat a left with an understanding of what Buy Nothing Day is about, along with some free stuff. Hopefully some shoppers will decide to make gifts for Christmas instead of paying someone else to.

Many involved really enjoyed the day and felt that it was effective, so look out for more Food Not Bombs activity in Edinburgh.

The Forest Cafe (www.theforest.org.uk) is having a week long Free Shop upstairs beginning on the 14th of December.

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On Saturday the 24th November Rhythms of Resistance Manchester and Manchester Climate Action (MCA) held a free stall where a wide range of things from plants, to clothes were well received. Even a couple of police officers joined in.

The two groups joined in the ‘Reinstate Karen’ demo which began in the Peace Gardens and marched through Manchester in support of free speech and free health care.

Several folks then went to the Arndale Centre and released a banner attached to pink helium balloons, which read: “Shopping Costs the Earth.” It floated up to the roof, right next to the giant Christmas Tree, to remind people of the social and environmental expense of purchasing.

In the Trafford Centre another activist from MCA disrupted shopping, in protest at the massive amount of car journeys it encourages in the name of profit.

For more info about free stuff and links check out www.freemanchester.org

Activists from Manchester Climate Action evacuated various parts of The Trafford Centre during this years buy nothing day, Saturday 24th of November. The sprawling palace to pointless consumerism owned by the £2bn Empire of Peel Holdings, the climate criminals who bought you such delights as Liverpool, Durham Tees Valley, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Sheffield City Airports also publicly opposed the Manchester congestion charge. Camouflaged covalent campaigners in their finest designer labels moved stealthily amongst the madding crowds whilst activating fire alarms and interrupting the daily toil of tedious transactions.

Alarms in the main malls cover certain zones and not the whole complex. They are silent for 30 seconds, sounding only in the security office. This leads to lots of people in red jackets running around looking concerned. When the alarms did sound it was accompanied by a message over the P.A telling people to ignore it and approach a member of staff if concerned. However, sounding the Alarms by the exits of the large department stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis leads to the entire shop being evacuated……Oh dear!

Bristol Cycle Circus 8th December

Join a colourful critical mass of people and peddlers of all shapes and sizes and let our cycling circus upstage and reveal Bristol’s climate criminals.

Roll up Roll Up:

Calling all : bicycle tricksters, bike powered gizmos, jugglers, banner makers, poets, storytellers, mobile musicians, performers.

Join a colourful critical mass of people and peddlers of all shapes and sizes and let our cycling circus upstage and reveal Bristol’s climate criminals.

Roll up Roll Up:

Calling all : bicycle tricksters, bike powered gizmos, jugglers, banner makers, poets, storytellers, mobile musicians, performers.

Lets bring the reality and causes of climate change to our streets..

Meet: College Green, 1pm
8th December

International day of action on climate change

We want to take creative action on climate chaos! We invite you to join us on our Cycle Circus where together we will reveal the climate criminals with their confidence tricks and green wash.

Our first stage will be The Royal Bank of Scotland where last month saw 30 actions in the UK on this biggest investor of oil and gas projects, they haven’t gone away and nor have we.

The next stage is up to us all. Talk, share ideas, plan ,prepare, turn up, transform!

Climate change is the biggest issue of our time effecting everyone and most of all the poor. We can take back control together, create the world we want to live in and have fun along the way! Lets take the stage of those who green wash our streets and our minds to make us think its all better. Picture this, people taking to the streets because enough is enough, no more exploitation! Our planet’s on the brink of ecological crisis and we won’t let corporations get away with our world.

Lets halt the infrastructure of more fossil fuel projects locking us into a future of climate chaos and that offer big buck high tech non-solutions.

Bristol Rising Tide is an open group making collective action dedicated to tackling the root causes of climate chaos and creating climate justice. We want to invite people to join this international day of action on climate change.

Buy Nothing Day – 24th November 2007 – Steal Something Day

The last Saturday of November sees International Buy Nothing Day taking place in many corners of the globe; particularly the affluent corners!

This year Buy Nothing Day will be marked in Birmingham city centre by a number of activities aimed at raising the profile of a range of aspects associated with mass consumerism.

Several groups will be putting together Buy Nothing Day themed stalls, displays and events, including a Santa Claus parade, Free Shops, Free Food, Bicycle-powered Free Drinks and (free) Music.

If you have anything to give away for free, be it possessions, ideas or skills then leave your money at home and get outside to enjoy a consumption free day.
Buy Nothing Day aims to challenge consumer lifestyles on environmental, human rights and political grounds, but if you have other reasons to “Stop Shopping” then Saturday 24th would be an ideal time to tell the world about them.

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Come down to the peace gardens in manchester at 11 am. There will be a free stall and loads of info and music etc. Rhythms of Resistance band have organised this plus a couple of small tables and a website for free things – all additions welcome.
www.freemanchester.org .In the afternoon other things are planned for after the Karen Reissman demo so it would be great to see you all anytime from eleven.

Any free stuff or info about free events or people wanting to do mini workshops would be very welcome.

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Saturday 24th November. Get stuff you want for free! Give your old stuff away!
Don’t throw away things that could be useful to others…freecycle them! Bring things to give away, and pick up something for yourself or for Christmas gifts…for free!
10.30am to 12.30pm The Southville Centre, Beauley Road, Bristol BS3 1QG.
Event organised by Transition Bristol www.transitionbristol.org & Freecycle Ashton Bedminster & Southville
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycleashtonbedminstersouthville
This event coincides with National Buy Nothing Day
www.buynothingday.co.uk

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Buy Nothing Day: Consumer Zombie Flashmob

Broadmead (junction of Merchant St and Broadmead), Bristol, 2pm, Saturday 24th November

This November, environmentalists, social activists and concerned citizens in as many as 65 countries will hit the streets for a 24-hour consumer fast in celebration of the 15th annual Buy Nothing Day.

Featured in recent years by the likes of CNN, MSNBC, Wired, the BBC, USA Today, The Age and the CBC, the international event has been gaining mainstream momentum as the climate crisis drives average people to seek out greener alternatives to unrestrained consumption.

Timed to coincide with one of the busiest shopping days on the retail calendar, as well as the unofficial start of the international holiday-shopping season, Buy Nothing Day has taken many shapes, from relaxed family outings, to free, non-commercial street parties, to politically charged public protests. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.

In past years, street activists have proven particularly imaginative in their celebrations, bringing zombie marches, credit-card cut-ups, and shopaholic clinics to malls and public squares in an effort to expose the environmental and social consequences of First World over-consumption.

Kalle Lasn is the co-founder of the Adbusters Media Foundation, the organization responsible for launching Buy Nothing Day as a yearly, global event. He explains that while most participants used to see the day simply as an escape from the marketing mind games and frantic consumerism that have come to characterize modern life, the focus has since shifted in light of the new political mood surrounding climate change.

“So much emphasis,” he notes, “has been placed on buying carbon offsets and compact fluorescent lightbulbs and hybrid cars that we are losing sight of the core cause of our environmental problems: we consume far too much.”

“Buy Nothing Day isn’t just about changing your routine for one day. It’s about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment. With over six billion people on the planet, it is the responsibility of the most affluent – the upper 20% that consumes 80% of the world’s resources – to set out on a new path.”

Last year, Bristol University and UWE People and Planet activists worked together to create a performative and creative way to celebrate Buy Nothing Day, bringing the undead to the streets of broadmead to parody the way in which first world over consumption is unquestioningly marching towards ecological and social disaster.

This year on November 24th join the zombie consumers as they stagger and stumble around Bristol’s soulless retail district in an attempt to make people think about their consumer habits in an entertaining and enjoyable way.

Rumours abound of possible undead orchestras and ghoulish circus performers…

But as is the case with any flashmob… no one quite knows what will happen until it emerges and self-organises itself into existence.

For videos documenting last year’s BND actions check out

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wlMMaLqxXng

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wlMMaLqxXng
—

Steal Something Day for the original call-out and critique of Buy Nothing Day

Protesters invade the Aviation Emissions Trading Summit 2007

22.11.2007
For immediate release:
Protesters invade the Aviation Emissions Trading Summit 2007.

– video and photos to follow later today.

London Rising Tide today interrupted delegates at the , held at Selfridges Hotel, central London. They interrupted proceedings with an impromptu speech and presentation, of a box of atmosphere. Free shares for pre Emissions Trading Scheme atmosphere were also given out to each delegate at the conference.

Protesters from London Rising Tide were at the conference today to highlight the huge risk of accelerated climate change through flights.

This scheme will allow the industry to claim environmental credentials when in fact stopping airport expansion and reducing flights is what is required. The fact that these permits will be auctioned at a bargain price will further add to the lack of impact that this scheme will have on the aviation industry.

ETS is an easy way for the super polluting aviation industry to cover themselves with greenwash.

For further information contact
http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk/
07708 794665

The back of the shares to the atmosphere read:
We hereby grant you the right to make great personal profit from the destruction of the human race of which you are a part and from who’s existence and misfortune you have benefited greatly.

We grant you the right to own the air that we breath and to fill it with carcinogens and green house gasses.

If our government does not subsidise you with a sufficient volume of the air in which to store your pollutants, we grant you the right to buy farming land and natural forest habitats from less fortunate peoples, to evict them from their homes and to replace them with monoculture plantations of eucalyptus and mango. We grant you the good fortune to be too busy making money to find out about the consequences of your actions for your fellow human beings.

We grant you the right to avoid at all costs the investment of your hard earned money into technologies free from fossil fuels. We recommend you spend lavishly to lobby government and do not get ahead of the game and outsmart your peers instead by developing safe, carbon-free methods of transport.

May you forever continue to blame your peers, your shareholders, the passengers, for the decisions you play your part in enacting. May you never think to reduce your flights, to take a positive action, to play your part in averting disaster for your fellow beings.

Carbon Trading. Not a way to tackle climate change.