earthfirst – Page 284

Activist targetted in latest arrest at EDO MBM

At a peaceful demonstration against Brighton arms company EDO MBM on July 18th 2007
a protester was arrested and a sound system seized in the latest show of
force by Sussex police. Police used an obscure council bylaw which has
never been used in a prosecution to confiscate the equipment. Last week the
same protester had charges for a public order offence dropped after having
to spend two days in court.

The weekly protest was policed by around 10 police officers including two
inspectors and an evidence gathering team filming the protest.

Sussex police have made over 40 arrests during the three-year campaign
against the US-owned bomb component manufacturer EDO MBM, the vast majority
of which have resulted in acquittals or charges being dropped. As well as
the two activists who had charges against them dropped last week, two
protesters who staged a rooftop demo at the EDO MBM factory against
Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon last year won their court case last month.

Spokeswoman Sarah Johnson said ‘ Despite Sussex Police repeatedly failing
in their attempts to criminalise peaceful protest they continue to target
activists who demonstrate against a company on their doorstep responsible
for war crimes committed across the globe. We refuse to be intimidated and
will continue our campaign against EDO MBM until they shut down.’

NATO Defeated by EarthFirst! in the Netherlands

For two years GroenFront! – Dutch & Belgian EarthFirst! – have been fighting with the local community in Schinveld, in the southeast of the country, to preserve a forest that would be destroyed for the sake of the NATO airforce base across the German border. A direct action camp was evicted in January, and 15 acres were destroyed, but 35 acres saved. GroenFront! was preparing to reoccupy the woods awating the final outcome of a legal battle between the local council and national government, but now to great surprise, the protestors have been vindicated and the forests are definitely saved from NATO’s bloody claws. On July 18th the Dutch highest administrative court ruled that the logging of Schiveld forest is illegal. This means the ministry of defence cannot continue the logging of the forest as requested by NATO, it also means the logging of the first six hectares in January 2006 was illegal. The forest would need to be destroyed to allow AWACS radar planes to lift off with more fuel in order to fly directly to Afghanistan and Iraq.

For almost 30 years local protestors in Schinveld have fought against NATO, first to stop the reopening of the base, then to reduce the nuisance caused by the outdated AWACS radar planes, and, since the eviction of the action camp and the logging in 2006, radicalised by GroenFront!’s forest camp, to close down the base.

When NATO wanted 20 hectares of the forest cut and it looked as if the local council would be overruled by the ministries of defence (owner of the forest) and infrastructure, they contacted GroenFront! and started a campaign where Schinveld was highlighted in the New York Times.

GroenFront! and the local community protest group Stop Awacs started a series of smaller actions. After thethe spring of 2005, the number of actions increased when the minister of infrastructure gave out a logging permit on August 3rd 2005, after a Nimby-legislation procedure (not in my back yard).
The local council and Stop Awacs tried to stop the logging until the final ruling (the one that came today) would have been made, but the court decided against that on the 2nd of December 2005. On Sunday December 4th 2005, GroenFront! occupied the forest and started an intensive international campaign.

The camp was evicted on January 9th 2006, the afternoon before about 2000 locals walked their demo in support of the activist into the forest, in spite of a restriction order, and cheered at the international group of more than 100 activist occupying the trees at that moment. Before the police could start evicting the trees, they had to remove several hundred locals who stayed in the woods after the demonstration, trying to avoid police blockades and committing other forms of civil disobedience as the mayor used emergency legislation against his own people.

Overview of last week’s events in Rossport

This summer has seen the Shell to Sea campaign gain increasing momentum as construction of the proposed onshore gas refinery in County Mayo, Ireland begins.

This summer has seen the Shell to Sea campaign gain increasing momentum as construction of the proposed onshore gas refinery in County Mayo, Ireland begins. The planned refinery and the high pressure pipeline, which would supply it with unprocessed gas from the offshore Corrib gas field, have been bitterly opposed by local residents and their many national and international supporters, since it was first proposed in 2000. Shell and their partners Statoil and Marathon had hoped to have the facility in operation by 2003, but massive local resistance has meant that four years on, the development is still in its infancy.

This week resistance was stepped up following the jailing of three local fishermen accused of assaulting Gardai (Police) during a Shell to Sea picket last year. On Wednesday 11th July, two years on from the jailing of the Rossport 5, these men became County Mayo’s latest political prisoners. The judge’s verdict was met with disbelief by all involved in the campaign. The prosecutions case was based solely on contradictory testimonies from members of the Gardai. Before sentencing the Judge stated that she had reservations about this evidence. In particular, that one Guard claimed he did not know if he had been hit by ’a car or a person’, and another claimed to have been punched with the left arm of a right handed man. She also stated that the injuries detailed by the Gardai were not serious enough to warrant a section three assault charge. Despite this, she found the three men guilty of this charge. Pat O’Donnell and Enda Carey were sentenced to three months in prison, Jonathan O Donnell, four months. All also received a 500 Euro (roughly £330) fine. Experience of state and corporate corruption is now commonplace for this small community, but this overt complicity of the judiciary has still come as a shock. The injustice of the incarceration of three men with no previous convictions, based on a prosecution case with no evidence, has seen the Shell to Sea campaign once again revitalized.

The following morning the community responded with a show of strength at the daily picket outside the proposed refinery at Bellanaboy. Over 100 people came to demonstrate both their solidarity with the three men and their resolute opposition to Shell‘s project. As people attempted to use their bodies to block construction vehicles on route to the site the police responded with brutality. One woman was thrown across the road, injuring her hip, leg and arm, and a fifteen year old lad was injured when a policeman gouged his eye.

After the picket supporters drove to the fishermen’s bail hearing. Analysis that the verdict and sentence had been prejudiced, handed out by a Judge with a clear political agenda, was confirmed when she denied each of the men bail for various arbitrary reasons. She refused to accept cash as a bond, nor would she accept proof of savings from a joint bank account statement without both parties present (the person unable to attend was one of the imprisoned men!). Finally, she refused the latest statement from an individuals account for not being recent enough, despite the provision of a supporting receipt taken that day from an ATM machine.

The next day the consequences of the Judge’s decision were played out on the ground at Bellanaboy. The morning picket was well attended and clown army activists provided the picket with amusement while they held the Gardai’ attention. At 9.20am a local resident and someone from the solidarity camp locked-on to a car, blocking a bridge on the main haulage route to the refinery site. Surrounded by around 40 supporters (held behind police lines) they maintained the blockade for around 6 hours. Meanwhile, other groups of local people set up spontaneous blockades on the alternative routes to the site. They used their bodies to obstruct the road, preventing Shell vehicles from passing but allowing free movement of other traffic. Construction lorries returned to their quarries with full loads as the haulage routes were blocked for most of the working day. At 15.20 the fire brigade cut the locked-on men free and they were arrested. The men were charged with several offences and released several hours later.

In the evening around 100 cars drove to meet the three fishermen who had been granted bail that morning. In an inspiring act of solidarity they were welcomed home by a vehicle procession through nearby towns with horns blaring and hazard lights flashing. When the procession reached the proposed refinery site it stopped. Around 200 people massed at the main entrance and people at the front of the crowd began to kick in the gates. Some people scaled the gates and undid the bolts on the other side enabling the final padlock to be easily forced open by the crowd outside. Around 100 people entered and marched through the site for around 20 minutes. Taking control of the Shell site was a fitting end to a highly successful day. The community here are clearly demonstrating that in the face corporate imperialism, continued Gardai violence and a biased judiciary, their dissent is unwavering.

More about recent events can be found at :

Check out: www.shelltosea.com www.indymedia.ie/mayo

What you can do

* Visit the solidarity camp. Visitors are always welcome. The camp is set in a beautiful location and a visit provides an opportunity to learn more about the campaign and to support the community directly through joining the picket and taking part in action. Support roles are diverse and the functioning of the camp depends on this diversity. Among other things people are needed for ‘camp-sitting’, DIY and to take part in action. If you are thinking of coming to take action try coming with ideas and, if possible, a crew! For more info and travel directions: www.rossportsolidaritycamp.com

* Spread awareness of the campaign in your local area. E-mail the camp for propaganda (it should be downloadable online soon) rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com

* Organise a solidarity action at your local Shell garage or distribution centre -see www.shell.com for addresses.

* Organise an action or picket at the Irish embassy or Shell HQ (both in London)

Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh under threat

We have 12 days to submit objections to the planning department.
please circulate widely and respond asap.

The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh is under threat as the landlord has put in a planning application to turn the space into a flat. ACE is now the only social centre left in scotland.

We have recently reopened after extensive renovations and continue to be a valuable resource

www.autonomous.org.uk for more information on our current activities

We have 12 days to submit objections to the planning department.
please circulate widely and respond asap.

The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh is under threat as the landlord has put in a planning application to turn the space into a flat. ACE is now the only social centre left in scotland.

We have recently reopened after extensive renovations and continue to be a valuable resource

www.autonomous.org.uk for more information on our current activities

We need as many folk as possible to write to the following address as soon as possible – we have about 12 days left to object.

you can use the template letter below but it carries more weight if it is a personal letter. please also include your name,address and the date:

kirsty.hope@edinburgh.gov.uk
Planning and Strategy Department
for the attention of Kirsty Hope
Waverley Court
Level G2
4 East Market St
Edinburgh EH8 8BG

with this subject stated:

Re Planning Application 07/02348/FUL

17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA

in solidarity
on behalf of ace
——————–

below attached letter

To the Head of Planning and Strategy, City Development Department, City of Edinburgh Council, 1 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1ZJ

Re Planning Application 07/02348/FUL

17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA

Dear Sir/ Madam

I wish to object to the application for planning permission to convert the above property into a flat. This would result in the loss of the valuable community facility currently provided in these premises.

I consider that the ACE charity operating in 17 West Montgomery Place provides a very useful resource in this neighbourhood, and serves a real local need.

I understand that the Council’s development policy is to protect local shops, community halls and meeting rooms – I would urge that this policy be adhered to, and that this planning application be refused.

Yours sincerely

SIGNATURE

Any additional comment :

ace@autonomous.org.uk
http://www.autonomous.org.uk

If you could also send a copy of your message to the local councillors for the Leith Walk ward, that would be great.
Here are their details.

Councillor Angela Blacklock (Labour)
angela.blacklock@edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party)
deidre.brock@edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Maggie Chapman (Green Party)
maggie.chapman@edinburgh.gov.uk
as she is on holiday, please also send to
Councillor Alison Johnstone (Green Party)
alison.johnstone@edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Louise Lang (Liberal Democrats)
louise.lang@edinburgh.gov.uk

Anticivilization gathering 2007

FIRST DRAFT OF PROGRAMME FOR THE 2007 ANTICIVILIZACION GATHERING

We have almost fixed the timetable for debates and the workshop.
SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Morning:
Welcome and preparing the place for the gathering. First workshops.

FIRST DRAFT OF PROGRAMME FOR THE 2007 ANTICIVILIZACION GATHERING

We have almost fixed the timetable for debates and the workshop.
SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Morning:
Welcome and preparing the place for the gathering. First workshops.
Afternoon:
Debate: ”The kaos and the wilderness” hold by XXX.
SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
Morning:
Debate: “A non primitivist anticivilization” hold by Wolfi from the Willfull Desobedience.
Afternoon:
Workshops.
MONDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
Morning:
“Global change, a chance for authoritarianism”
Afternoon:
Workshops.
TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
Morning:
“Post ecologism. Towards an ecology without romanticism”.
Afternoon:
Workshops.

Until now we have agreed about some workshops:
“Your health on your hands or self control of your health”
“Relaxation and body relations”
“A laughing workshop.”
“An approach to nano-technology”
“Making soap”
“A workshop about intrusion”
“Cryptography and PGP”
Also there will be the possibility of making bread.
If you want to hold a workshop or a debate, please contact us to organize it on time. We expect that people will share their abilities, theories, emotions, …

ATTENTION!!
There is more information at http://anticiv.blogspot.com and there’s a forum to discuss the 4 main debates in the gathering: kaos, non primitivist anticiv , global change and post-ecologism at www.nodo50.org/llavors for people who won’t be able to attend or which are too impatient and want to start already.

REMEMBER!!
You need to bring your tent, sleeping bag, plate, glass or cup, spoon and fork.

We would be glad about any translation of this call into other languages and the spreading of it.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

llavors@nodo50.org

Tesco Blockade in Porthmadog

A protest was held at Tesco’s store in Porthmadog north Wales on Saturday 14.07.07 to protest about
– Tesco’s token use of Welsh on signs etc within their stores
– Tesco’s link to Adecco recruitment agency who recently banned their staff from speaking Welsh
– Tesco’s destruction of small local shops and businesses (see www.tescopoly.com)

For full details of the protest see http://cymdeithas.org/2007/07/14/former_chairman_arrested_in_porthmadog_demo.html#rhagor

European activist gatherings (Ecotopia, Portugal 4-19 Aug & ASEED international activist camp, Bulgaria, 26-29 July)

You are invited to Ecotopia 2007 – Migrations

This year Ecotopia will take place between 4 – 19 August in Aljezur in the south of Portugal.

Ecotopia is a two-week activist camp and an open event for everyone interested in environmental and social justice issues.

You are invited to Ecotopia 2007 – Migrations

This year Ecotopia will take place between 4 – 19 August in Aljezur in the south of Portugal.

Ecotopia is a two-week activist camp and an open event for everyone interested in environmental and social justice issues.

More info at http://www.ecotopiagathering.org/

International Activist Camp – Bulgaria 2007 July 26th – 29th

In the skirts of Pirin mountain, south-west Bulgaria, about 2.5 kilometers away from an old village, people from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe will get together to share ideas and strategies for campaigning on environmental and social issues and get inspired by each others’ activities and work.

More info at http://www.aseed.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=381&Itemid=1

mobile phone masts destroyed by tank, Australia

July 15, 2007

A FORMER Telstra worker allegedly stole a tank and used it to demolish six mobile phone towers as he led police on a wild two-hour rampage through western Sydney yesterday.

July 15, 2007

A FORMER Telstra worker allegedly stole a tank and used it to demolish six mobile phone towers as he led police on a wild two-hour rampage through western Sydney yesterday.

More than 20 police chased the tank but were powerless to stop it, retreating to a safe distance as the huge vehicle cut a path of destruction through six suburbs.

They could only watch as the driver, hanging out of the top at times, allegedly rammed the tank through fences and into six mobile phone towers, telecommunication relay sheds and an electrical substation.

The damage caused major disruptions to mobile phone services in Sydney’s west yesterday.

The divorced father allegedly stole the 1967 Trojan armoured personnel carrier (APC) from his former workplace, A One Lift Truck Service, at Minchinbury.

His former boss, Greg Morris, said the man had a beef with mobile phone towers.

“He used to work for Telstra and told us he was going through a medical claim for his head injury.

He said something about the radiation from the towers had caused it,” Mr Morris said.

“He actually worked on the tank he stole, doing a lot of wiring and putting the engine in.”

The drama began at 2am when the ex-British Army tank – complete with steel tracks and replica gun turret – was taken from a holding shed and headed straight for its first target: an electricity substation at Michinbury.

The tank then allegedly rammed a police car as it drove from the Mount Druitt Hospital car park.

At its maximum speed of 52km/h per hour, it continued on through the suburbs of Mount Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Glendenning and Plumpton with 10 police vehicles in pursuit.

Several times police were forced to retreat when the driver allegedly swung the tank towards them.

He taunted police by leaning his head out the side window to wave at them.

The joyride ended at 4am when the vehicle stalled as the driver attempted to destroy a seventh mobile phone tower.

Police used capsicum sprayto subdue the man, who was dragged head first from the tank by officers.

Mr Morris said he bought the tank from the British military.

He restored the vehicle, which is valued at $1 million, and he hires it out for weddings and for motor shows.

A colleague who would not be named said the man who stole the tank had a “vendetta” against phone towers.

“He told us he’d worked for a government agency where he had to work around the towers and got radiation poisoning.

“So he planned out a map of where the towers were that he wanted to destroy.”

Mr Morris said he was “devastated” at the news.

“I can’t believe it,” he said.

Mr Morris described the man responsible for the carnage as a “quiet, well spoken” man.

He left in December but Mr Morris saw him often.

“We were mates, he’d call in for a chat and a few beers.’

“The problem he’s got is not with us. It’s just that it’s the tool he needed to do it.”

The chase attracted a lot of attention with drivers following the tank.

“It’s not something you see in Mount Druitt every day,” William Errington, 26, said.

Another local resident expressed similar disbelief after being woken up by her partner to chase the tank.

“Mick said we were going to follow a tank and I thought yeah a fuel tanker. Then the thing drove past us,” said Oakhurst resident “Ally”.

Mount Druitt Chief Inspector Guy Habberly said the man had not been drinking and did not appear to be affected by drugs.

Yesterday John Robert Patterson, 45, of Dharruk, appeared in Parramatta Court charged with stealing the tank, dangerous driving and malicious damage.

He did not enter a plea or apply for bail and he was remanded to appear in Penrith Court tomorrow.

His defence lawyer Ivan Bertoia told the court that in a police interview his client “suggested he had the authority to behave in such a manner”.

Magistrate Terry Forbes said there was a strong case to be made for the case to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

Mayo shell site blockaded, later occupied, jailings & solidarity demo

13.07.2007

Local Protesters Blockade Shell Construction site in Mayo

A number of Shell to Sea campaigners have established a non-violent blockade of the road leading to the proposed gas refinery site at Bellanaboy. Two protestors are locked on to an immobilized vehicle, preventing access to the site.

13.07.2007

Local Protesters Blockade Shell Construction site in Mayo

“It is vital for the preservation of Erris and the protection of its people that all work on this destructive and exploitative project be stopped immediately. Despite a contemptible strategy by the authorities that either ignores or maliciously persecutes those opposing the project, residents remain resolute in their opposition.” says John Monaghan

This action comes in the wake of the conviction of three local residents on a charge of assault, a charge they vigorously deny. The judges’ verdict has been met with surprise and chagrin from the community.

Today Shell to Sea supporters are clearly demonstrating that they will not be deterred by Gardai violence or false imprisonment

for timeline etc go to http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83416

Occupation of refinery site

Breaking news – 10pm

100 people have just occupied the proposed refinery site in Ballinaboy!

People jumped the main front gates of the refinery site and just walked on. Over 100 people occupied the site. The atmosphere was very relaxed and peaceful.

People chatted to the security staff and challenged them as to why they feel the necessity to work for Shell.

People stayed on site for roughly half an hour. They had a walk around, and a good look around. People walked right to the top of the site and back down again.

There were no Gardai there for the duration of the occupation.

People have just left the site together as a block and are going on to have a bonfire together and with the fishermen that have just been released from prison.

This follows a day of all out action by the people in Erris. Two people had locked on this morning to a vehicle. This blocade, supported by road blocades done by people on another road prevented the trucks from working for the vast majority of the day. The two men that ‘locked on’ have both been charged with numerous public order and road traffic offences. They are due to appear in the District Court in Castlebar on Wednesday.

Shell to Sea campaigners jailed for police assault

A text message and short phone call last night revealed that three Shell to Sea protestors have been jailed on assault charges against the Garda.

The text message from one at the Rossport Solidarity Camp said the three men were found guilty of assaults on the police.

One man received three months, another one month and the last is facing four months in prison.

A forth man is also facing the same charges.

An appeal is set for today to see if they can over turn the charges, but as the message I received last night said it did not look good.

For further updates keep your eye on here or on: http://indymedia.ie/mayo

Solidarity with Jailed anti-Shell Protesters- Picket at Department of Justice, Dublin

No Justice in Rossport- the Gardaí work for Shell

Supporters of the campaign to have Shell site their refinery offshore and for the Irish govt to secure Irish natural resources for the people showed their solidarity with the three Erris fisherment who have been wrongly jailed. A large group of about forty protesters handed in a short letter (signed by them all) to the minister expressing outrage at the treatment of the three men.

The Gardaí complained that the presence of such as a large group of people at the entrance of the building had health and safety implications, and tried to order those present to move, but it was poined out the health and safety implications of Shell’s scheme for Mayo were a much greater threat to us all.

Garda reinforcements arrived and tried to intimidate the protesters, who included some Sinn Féin and Green Party members (as well as members of smaller groups and none), but no one paid any attention to them, since they are widely recognised as simply being used as merceneries for Shell now, their authority is slipping away.

First Directions to The Camp for Climate Action 2007…..

The camp dates are drawing nearer and nearer and we’re all desperate to know where it will be… but we’ll just have to wait a little longer!

But what we do know is that if you get yourself to Staines railway station in West London by 10am on Tuesday 14th August, you will be greeted by our friendly welcome team and promptly transported via a magical mystery tour, to the camp! (There will also be lifts to the camp later in the day and throughout the week.)

The camp dates are drawing nearer and nearer and we’re all desperate to know where it will be… but we’ll just have to wait a little longer!

Camp for Climate Action comes to Heathrow this summer.

Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, and all our efforts to tackle climate change in other sectors are undone by the massive growth in air travel.
Holding the camp at Heathrow aims to highlight the lunacy of the government’s airport expansion plans, target industry giants profiteering from the climate crisis, and raise awareness of the need to fly less.
The camp will also support local residents in their long-term struggle against the building of a third runway and the destruction of their communities.

There will be a day of mass direct action aiming to disrupt the activities of the airport and the aviation industry, but in the interests of public safety there will be no attempt to blockade runways.

Although the location is different, the philosophy of the camp remains the same: to be a place for the burgeoning network of people taking radical action on climate change around the country to come together for a week of low-impact living, education, debate, networking, strategising, celebration, and direct action.
The camp will feature over 100 workshops covering topics such as climate change impacts, carbon offsetting, biofuels, peak oil, permaculture, practical renewables, campaign strategy, skills for direct action, and much more.
Run without leaders by everyone who comes along, it will be a working ecological village using renewable energy, composting waste and sourcing food locally.

It all comes down to us, now. We are the last generation that can do anything about climate change. In 20 or 30 years’ time, should we not change our ways, we’ll be committed to emissions increases that will see forests burn, soils decay, oceans rise, and millions of people die. If we don’t get this issue right, so much else is lost too.

We still have time, but not for long. Make it count.

Why target aviation?

It is the fastest growing source of CO2 emissions.
It has been left out of the first faltering frameworks to control emissions, eg. the Kyoto Protocol and the Climate Bill.
It is the most damaging form of transport.
Unlike the other high emitting sectors (e.g. energy and food production), there is no alternative sustainable technology.

The only way to reduce emissions from aviation is to reduce the number of flights.
And unlike those other sectors, aviation is not a necessity.
There is a major airport expansion programme planned at 21 airports, with increases in capacity equivalent to a new Heathrow every 5 years. This expansion programme locks us into increased emissions, and undoes all our other efforts elsewhere to reduce emissions.

Why target Heathrow?

Nowhere in the UK is there a larger source of CO2 emissions. Most countries emit less greenhouse gases than Heathrow’s planes.

Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport. It is an iconic global symbol of aviation.
Heathrow is the heart of the UK?s aviation industry.
Heathrow is the central plank of the government’s airport expansion plans. Heathrow has a planned third runway that can be stopped.

The third runway would bulldoze entire villages and destroy communities. There is a big, established, long-term local campaign against Heathrow and BAA that we can join forces with.

There is an opportunity to highlight bias in the corrupt planning process in favour of big business and development.

The presence of Harmondsworth detention centre nearby highlights the plight of environmental refugees and the fact that climate change is fundamentally an issue of social and global injustice.