earthfirst – Page 307

Activists shut down construction of LNG gas terminal in Milford Haven

14th Feb 07

Protesters against the continued and unrestrained promotion of fossil fuel projects by the UK government have blockaded the main vehicle access route into the new LNG pipeline terminal near Milford Haven, South Wales. Their aim is to highlight the serious environmental and safety issues surrounding this project, and to call for a more sober approach to the impending energy crisis.

14th Feb 07

Eight people have physically blocked the site access road, south of the village of Herbranston, S. Wales, preventing construction vehicles from entering the giant LNG terminal.

These protestors, inspired by the 2006 Camp for Climate Action, are targetting the construction of the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal and pipeline in South Wales. The actions aim to disrupt the work to the largest extent possible. Climate chaos is the greatest threat humanity has ever faced yet the British government and a conglomerate of Corporations are recklessly constructing this new carbon intensive energy project.

The development of LNG terminals in the UK is locking us into thirty years of yet more fossil fuels, in an era in which dramatic cuts in carbon are crucial. The Department of Trade Industry last week, gave permission for phase two of the LNG pipeline to be built. Yet, this project starkly reveals the incompatibility between the so-called need for ‘energy security’, and the far more pressing need to substantially diminish our use of fossil fuels.

Limiting global warming to a 2 degree increase with a relatively high certainty requires the equivalent concentration of CO2 to stay below 400 ppm. Achieving this means rich countries, like the UK, cutting their average emissions by around 90% by 2030.

A protestor said “A 90% cut in 25 years is going to require not just new technologies, but different cultures, different economies, different expectations – in short, a different way of life.”

The development of LNG terminals in the UK opens up previously unavailable carbon intensive natural gas to our energy markets, to the severe detriment of support for clean decentralised renewables. Furthermore, bringing gas from the Middle East is a much more energy intensive process than retrieving gas from the North Sea.

There are also substantial safety issues attached to this project. Studies show that an accident or terrorist attack at the Milford Haven terminals would cause “major injuries and significant damage to structures” within a radius of a third of a mile and could cause second-degree burns more than a mile away.

The terrain through which the pipeline will run has been extensively mined and is prone to subsidence in places. Needless to say, the installation of a massively pressurised gas pipeline through unstable land is highly dubious. Locals, fearing for their safety, have had their questions ignored. Concerns about the material used and quality of welding employed have not been properly addressed. Many members of affected communities continue to vocally protest, but with little recognition.

Protestors have chosen to take direct action today to show their solidarity with communities along the pipeline and to stop this morally indefensible fossil fuel de-struction project.

Contact: Sarah White 07901862522

Notes to Editor

The project:
Gas, liquefied in Qatar by cooling to -162C, is going to be shipped to West Wales on super tankers. There, at Milford Haven, it will be regasified in one of the two onshore terminals being built by:
· Dragon LNG, a consortium whose main partner is the BG Group (formerly British Gas).
· South Hook LNG, part of a new business, Qatargas II,owned by Qatar Petroleum and Exxon. This £6 billion project finances the work from well to terminal. It is the single largest energy-project financing ever[1] and this terminal alone will be the biggest LNG receiving terminal in the world[2].
The Pipeline: National Grid are connecting the gas to the national network. They are doing so by building a pipeline in two phases from Milford Haven to Gloucestershire. Phase 2 of the project was given the green light on 7th February 2007. This huge pipeline, 4ft in diameter, will run at 94bar pressure – that is 96kg/cm2.
National Grid’s (formerly known as Transco) Safety Record
In 1999, a family of four were killed in Scotland when a high pressure gas pipe exploded by their home. Massive corrosion in the pipeline, and a failure on the part of National Grid/Transco (NG/T) to keep adequate records on what kind of pipes were being used, led to the explosion. Corrosion has already been seen on the welds in the South Wales pipeline
Since privatisation, NG/T have shed thousands of engineering jobs and cut maintenance work. In 2000 it was revealed that Transco had underspent its agreed pipeline maintenance and replacement programme by £358m over the previous two years[3]. This same corporation, accountable to only its shareholders and board, is now responsible for the safety of thousands of people along the route of this pipe, which is run at a pressure, unprecedented in Europe and US, of which National Grid have no experience of running. Already, there is evidence of their cost saving strategy: the Health and Safety Executive stipulates the use of polyethelene in gas piping, yet National Grid is using other materials.

[1] The agreement was the third-largest project financing of any kind, after the Channel Tunnel and a Taiwanese high-speed rail financing. Banks with major roles in the project financing include HSBC, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Citigroup.
[2] http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/engineering/article1946244.ece
[3] http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=662322003

===================================================================
ACTION REPORT

Since November there has been lots of protests around the gas pipeline currently being constructed in Wales, and shortly Englans. Today people paid a visit to sunny pembokeshire to take direct action on one of the root causes of climate change; fossil fuel corporations seeking more profits for their shareholders.

Five people blockaded the main access to the construction site for six hours, resulting in huge tailbacks and the typical enormous police presence. People laid on the ground are apparently a threat to national security. What really is a threat to our security is the continuation of yet more fossil fuel projects, more carbon in the atmosphere and more death, misery and hunger. The people were eventually arrested at midday and are now enjoying a well deserved sleep in the luxurious surroundings of HaverfordWest Police station.

Around the same time this morning people also approached the kilometer long jetty, which will carry the liquid from the supertankers to the terminal. They were prevented from getting on to the jetty; apparently it’s dangerous unless you have been given health and safety training. Lets hope the people of Milford Haven have been given some training for what to do if there is accident. Milford Haven’s most experienced shipping pilots have described the risk of a fatal collision at one of the terminals as a ‘real everyday reality’ which would put 20000 people lives at risk.

Just twenty people have managed to cause a splendid commotion at the building site of the South Hook Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in West Wales. It is an inspiring example of how a few people can take responsibility for theirs and our future.

While work may continue tomorrow on the terminal, yet another spanner has been thrown in their LNG pipedream (I had to have one pipe pun).

See
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/02/362275.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/02/362322.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6360281.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6365223.stm
http://www.pembrokeshiretv.com/content/templates/v6-article.asp?articleid=3163&zoneid=33

Background
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25798

Anti-nuclear campaigners block UK WMD factory

13.02.2007

Yesterday six people were arrested outside AWE mAldermaston during an hour+long blockade of the nuclear weapons factory. Next BtB blockade 19 March – check the website for more info. What follows is a BtB press release, issued yesterday

13.02.2007

BLOCK THE BUILDERS
——————————————-
12 February 2007 – for immediate release
——————————————-

ANTI-NUCLEAR CAMPAIGNERS BLOCK UK WMD FACTORY

From 7am today [12/02/07], a group of around 50 anti-nuclear campaigners participated in blockades and protests outside Britain’s nuclear warhead factory – AWE Aldermaston in Berkshire.

Using a concrete-filled dustbin, metal lock-on tubes and D-locks, two groups blockaded the A340 on two sides of the base, close to entrances used by construction traffic. Roads were closed for one hour and ten minutes while specialist police teams cut out protesters. Cranes and other construction traffic was prevented from entering the site while the blockade was in progress. Other campaigners used large banners and flags to communicate their anti-nuclear message.

AWE is the site of ongoing construction work on new nuclear weapons facilities – on a similar scale to Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Work on the new Orion laser has started, despite the fact that a vote on the future of the UK’s nuclear weapons system is not due until March.

Six people were arrested during the protest, for obstruction of the highway. Two were subsequently charged and will appear at Newbury Magistrates’ Court on 22 February. Between eight and ten hours after arrest, four were given cautions.

All six had been handcuffed on arrest by Thames Valley and Hampshire police, though none had resisted arrest or attempted to abscond. Organising group Block the Builders – an explicitly nonviolent direct action group – are considering writing to Thames Valley police to query this interpretation of police guidelines on the use of handcuffs.

With the government poised to force a parliamentary vote on whether to replace the Trident nuclear submarine fleet, campaigners are concerned that the decision to recommit Britain to a further 50 years as a nuclear weapons state is being made without public consultation. Polls have consistently suggested that a substantial majority of the British public do not want to spend taxes on a new nuclear weapons system.

A spokesperson for Block the Builders said, “In a fortnight there will be tens of thousands on the streets of London, demonstrating their opposition to Trident replacement. When asked, most people don’t want UK WMD: today in this quiet corner of Berkshire, we are translating the will of this – frequently silent – majority, into practical resistance. If the parliamentary vote goes in the government’s favour, then AWE and the MoD had better get used to the idea of a long and active campaign of opposition.”

This morning’s actions are part of an ongoing campaign of nonviolent resistance to new facilities being developed at the Aldermastn site – which campaigners believe will facilitate the next generation of nuclear weapons.

ENDS

btb@aldermaston.net
http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk

Antarctica: Sea Shepherd Ship Holed during Collision with Whaling Ship

12.02.2007

The Sea Shepherd ship, Robert Hunter, has been holed in its starboard bow, and its port stern section above the waterline, during a collision with the whale spotter ship Kaiko Maru , according to Sea Shepherd’s president Paul Watson. No injuries have been incurred by crew on both ships, and neither ship is in danger of sinking. A pod of whales being chased by the Japanese ship escaped.

12.02.2007

Exact details of the collision are still confusing. It appears the two Sea Shepherd ships caught the Kaiko Maru chasing a pod of whales near the Balleny Islands in Antarctica, south of New Zealand. Attempts were made by Sea Shepherd activists to disable the propellor of the Kaiko Maru, it appears with some success. Sea Shepherd say on their website “At one point during the confrontation, the Kaiko Maru turned to starboard and struck the Robert Hunter.” According to Dr Hiroshi Hatanaka from the ICR on their website “The Robert Hunter rammed the Kaiko Maru.”

“Sea Shepherd threw smoke pots onto the Kaiko Maru and released ropes and nets to entangle her screw. Its propeller has been damaged by them. The vessel is stranded at the moment and has already put out several distress calls.” said Dr Hiroshi Hatanaka, the Director General of the Institute of Cetacean Research on the ICR website.

After the collision between the Robert Hunter and Kaiko Maru, the Japanese vessel was effectively blockaded against sea ice.

The Japanese vessel issued a maritime distress call saying that it was under attack and in immediate danger. According to the Sea Shepherd website “Sea Shepherd acknowledged this distress signal, but they Japanese vessel refused to say what distress they were in.”

The Greenpeace ship also responded to the distress call, offering immediate assistance, heading at full speed to their position. According to Dave on the Greenpeace weblog “According to the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand, first reports stated the Kaiko Maru was ‘under attack.’ Later reports claimed a collision between the Sea Shepherd vessel Robert Hunter and the Kaiko Maru, with the Robert Hunter receiving a hole in the hull above the water line and the Kaiko Maru suffering unspecified damage to its propeller.”

“At approximately 18.15, the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand requested that the Esperanza ‘stand down’. We informed the Rescue Centre that we would remain within VHF range in case assistance was needed. At 20:15 we received what’s known as a ‘Seelonce Feenee’, which means that the distress call is now over.” concluded Dave from Greenpeace.

Jonny Vasic, International director of Sea Shepherd, on board the Robert Hunter described the collision in a Sydney Morning Herald report “It was a loud noise – a big bang. I actually shuddered a bit. The ships collided two times, once side by side, and once when they rammed into us. I haven’t inspected it yet, but they did some damage to our hull. … We are here to keep those guys out of the whale sanctuary. We are not damaged beyond repair. We are still seaworthy,” Vasic said.

Both Sea Shepherd ships have been away from port for several weeks and are running low on fuel. Captain Watson said “We’re only probably good for the next few days,”

According to a report in The Age newspaper Captain Watson warned that unless anti-whaling governments such as Australia took stronger action, he might try to ram the stern of the Nisshin Maru.

“Do whale defenders have to die down here for the world to notice and take action against the criminal activities of the Japanese whalers?” he said. “For this reason it has been decided to stop the operations of the Japanese floating slaughterhouse, the Nisshin Maru, by ramming one of the ships up the slipway of that foul, sadistic piece of killing machinery.” he told a reporter for the Age.

Captain Watson has appealed to the Australian Government to enforce its territorial waters in the Antarctic against whaling, just as it has enforced laws against fish poaching in its territorial waters.

Both Sea Shepherd vessels do not have any current registration from a State, and have been labelled as ‘pirate ships’. Japan has pressured both the UK and Belize to cancel maritime registration of the two Sea Shepherd vessels.

Background:
* SF Indybay IMC – Antarctic Direct Action: Japanese Claims of Injuries are Bogus says Sea Shepherd
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/09/18360001.php
* SF Indybay IMC – US Government Refuses to Act against Japan on Whaling
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/09/18360043.php
* SF Indybay IMC – Sea Shepherd crew missing in Antarctic waters
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/08/18359650.php

Sources:
1. The Age – Whaling protesters threaten Japanese ship
http://tinyurl.com/2tnceo
2. Sea Shepherd – Sea Shepherd Saves Whale Pod from Whalers
http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_070211_2.html
3. ICR – RESEARCH VESSEL DAMAGED IN SEA SHEPHERD ATTACK
http://www.icrwhale.org/070212Release.htm
4. Greenpeace – We condemn violence in the Southern Ocean
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/02/we_condemn_violence_in_th.html
5. Sydney Morning Herald – ‘Pirate’ ship collides with whaler
http://tinyurl.com/34uhf3

30 shut down Manchester petrol station

10.02.2007

Yesterday, 30 climate activists shut down an ESSO petrol station on Upper Brook Street in Manchester for 2 hours. The action aimed to highlight the link between the oil industry and global warming.

10.02.2007

Yesterday, 30 climate activists shut down an ESSO petrol station on Upper Brook Street in Manchester for 2 hours. The action aimed to highlight the link between the oil industry and global warming.

ESSO is a direct contributor to climate change by burning fossil fuels. It still actively looks for more oil. At the same time, ESSO is the last oil company to deny the link between burning fossil fuels and climate change. It has consistently sabotaged international agreements on the issue. Although it announced a £20bn annual profit last week (the largest one in US corporate history), ESSO does not spend a penny on renewable energy.

30 people blockaded the two entrances to the petrol station, using bits of fencing and traffic cones. As a symbol against car culture, three people locked themselves with D-locks to bicycles. Two others were locked to concrete based signs. Two large banners were displayed reading “no.1 supplier, no.1 denier, no.1 profiteer” and “closed for denying climate change”.
Police attended the scene, but were generally supportive. Passers-by and car drivers gave an overwhelmingly positive response, many honking in support.

Media attention was high. Camera teams from both Channel M and ITV Granada interviewed activists. A photo journalist from Manchester Evening News was present. The BBC asked for footage to be sent in.

After two hours, hundreds of leaflets had been given out and the blockaders voluntarily re-opened the station. No arrests were made.

manchester@climatecamp.org.uk

Npower uses Thugs to Evict Radley Lakes Environmental Activists

At approx 5am Tuesday 6th February 12 bailiffs dressed from head to foot in black and wearing balaclavas without warning smashed through the window of the occupied npower property showering sleeping activist in glass. They then proceeded to cut the air supply to a fortified bunker without checking if it was occupied, smash there way into a fortified loft without checking that the occupant Dave was safe. Not long after this they climbed onto the scaffold tower positioned on the garage roof and topped with a wooden box containing a 45 gallon concrete lock. Chris who was in the box at the time said they climbed on top of the box and started to rock the tower before breaking in with sledge hammers. Veteran road protester Muppet Dave said ‘it was one of the most dangerous eviction he had experienced and that it was only luck that nobody was seriously hurt’.

Two activists were arrested and one subsequently de-arrested and Chris is due in Didcot Magistrates Court on Thursday 15th charged with obstruction of the Bailiffs. Shortly afterwards npower swiftly cordoned of the lakes despite a ongoing legal challenge by the local “Save Radley Lakes” group for it to be recognised as common land.

The property was occupied with the intention of creating a field centre to raise awareness and prevent these beautiful lakes being in filled with toxic ash from the burning of coal at the German owned RWE npower Didcot power station. However, despite massive support from the local community, where there is overwhelming opposition to npower’s plans, and nearby environmental groups it soon became clear that npower were having non of it, so we decide to oppose the repossession and dig in. This decision instantly created more media interest embarrassing npower and undermining their greenwash and it was probably for this reason that they decide to disregard the safety of individuals and send in the heavies. We are no seeking to take legal action against Shercurity Ltd for the lack of health and safety procedure and endangerment of life. However, we fully intend to continue our campaign to save the lakes and against RWE npower for both local and global pollution of the planet.

Shercurity Ltd – have dealt with protest evictions (& squatters) before:
Main Telephone number: +44 (0)845 890 9220
Fax: +44 (0)0845 890 9221

Company Offices
Shergroup House, Braintree Freeport, No 3 Freeport Office Village, Century Drive, Braintree, Essex CM77 8YG

London: 20-21 Tooks Court, London EC4A 1LB

http://www.shercurity.net/

Climate Action Gathering 17 March Edinburgh

Our planet is in crisis. The time to act is now…

The Climate Action Gathering will see people from across scotland that are at the forefront of action against climate change share their knowledge and experience with concerned people from all walks of life.

Our planet is in crisis. The time to act is now…

There will be oppertunities to discuss the policies of government, issues of social justice and how the modern world has created this problem. A dedicated cinema will show documentaries and short films relating to climate change and the fossil fuel industry. This will be a great oppertunity to meet others who are active in Scotland, explore alternatives together and build the movement to tackle the root causes of climate change.

Workshops
Climate change- the facts
Discussion;Causes & Responses
Future energy paths
The oil industry
Transport/ Aviation
Permaculture/ Sustainable communities
Direct Action
What next for our movement?

March 17th 9am-6pm
@
3 Bristo Place
Edinburgh

Sea Shepherd Engages Japanese Whalers

February 9th, 2007 0830 Hours. (Auckland N.Z. time)

The Sea Shepherd ships Farley Mowat and the Robert Hunter have been engaged in a confrontation with the Japanese Whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru since 0530 Hours this morning.

February 9th, 2007 0830 Hours. (Auckland N.Z. time)

The Sea Shepherd ships Farley Mowat and the Robert Hunter have been engaged in a confrontation with the Japanese Whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru since 0530 Hours this morning.

When the Robert Hunter first approached the Nisshin Maru there were three hunter killer vessels with the mother ship. These vessels quickly fled northward. The Nisshin Maru fled East straight towards the Farley Mowat. At two miles from the Farley Mowat, the Nisshin Maru turned and fled back west again.

There was a pod of whales in the area near the whalers. The Sea Shepherd crew are happy to report that these whales fled and are now safe from the Japanese harpoons.

The Sea Shepherd crew have successfully delivered six litres of Butyric Acid onto the flensing deck of the Nisshin Maru. This “butter acid” is a nontoxic obnoxious smelling substance. The foul smell has cleared the flensing deck and stopped all work of cutting up whales.

Sea Shepherd crew in Zodiacs have nailed plates to the drain outlets on the Nisshin Maru that spill the blood of the whales from the flensing deck into the sea. This is backing up the blood onto the flensing decks. The plates are secured by Hilt nail guns that drive steel nails through solid steel.

Sea Shepherd has relayed the coordinates to the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza. Despite Greenpeace’s refusal to cooperate with the Sea Shepherd ships, the whales need every anti-whaling ship in the area. Greenpeace refuses to give Sea Shepherd their position so it is unknown how long it will take them to reach the area where the whaling fleet is operating.

Sea Shepherd was able to outmaneuver the Japanese Satellite tracking system by taking the ships south of the Balleny Islands through heavy ice. Thirty years of ice navigation opposing the Canadian seal slaughter has proven quite helpful. The Satellite surveillance program cannot track a ship’s wake through the ice. “We came in the back door out of the freezer so to speak,” said Captain Paul Watson.

The Sea Shepherd ships have been searching for the Japanese fleet for five weeks and have covered thousands of square miles of ocean.

The crew of both Sea Shepherd ships are relieved that the Japanese whaling fleet has been found and is now under pursuit and engaged in confrontation with the Robert Hunter and the Farley Mowat.

You can support Sea Shepherd’s Operation Leviathan by visiting their webpage and making an on-line donation here: http://www.seashepherd.org/donate.html

12th February Aldermaston Blockade: Join us

THURSDAY 8 FEBRUARY – for immediate release
—————————————————–
With the parliamentary vote on replacing the Trident nuclear submarine fleet expected in mid-March, and a national demonstration of mass opposition called for 24 February in London, anti-nuclear campaigners will return to AWE Aldermaston on 12 February.

Nonviolent direct action campaigners Block the Builders have called for a blockade of Britain’s nuclear bomb factory on the Monday morning in an attempt to obstruct construction work on new nuclear warhead facilities. For the past four years a massive investment programme has been in place at Aldermaston, in advance of any parliamentary decision on the future of Britain’s WMD.

In previous blockades, Block the Builders and their friends have closed roads around the nuclear weapons factory for between two and four hours. The group, which is opposed to the replacement of the UK’s nuclear weapons system, aims to stop vehicles entering the site to work on the Orion laser facility – which is being built in advance of any parliamentary decision on Trident’s future.

A spokesperson for Block the Builders said “In a week in which the defence secretary confirmed that the nuclear ‘deterrent’ is a political rather than military weapon, has he bothered to ask the British public how many people really want a new nuclear weapon? People have to let the government know what they think. This is a critical time to engage in practical and effective action, which is why we’ve called this blockade. We’d also urge anyone who can’t come to AWE, to express their opposition to their local MPs in advance of March’s parliamentary debate”.

ENDS

———————-
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
———————-
Media representatives are invited to attend from 7am on 12/02
Suggested location for parking and locating spokesperson
http://tinyurl.com/qpm9f
Media contact tel no for the day is 07969 739 812

———————-
NUMBERS AND PURPOSE
———————-
With the build-up to the national demonstration on 24 February and the forthcoming parliamentary debate, organisers are obviously expecting good participation in the this event.

The purpose of the blockade is

– to obstruct construction traffic entering the site
– to hinder operations at the site
– to signal outrage at the government’s position

———————-
ABOUT BLOCK THE BUILDERS
———————-
Formed in 2004, Block the Builders is a nonviolent direct action group which has
been taking practical action to slow construction work AWE Aldermaston and at
the sites of companies with construction contracts with AWE.
This has taken the form of a monthly, publicly-announced blockade of AWE
Aldermaston, combined with unannounced actions at AWE and contractor sites, and
events in conjunction with other groups such as the recent Greenpeace/BtB mass
weapons inspection (27/11/06).

For reports of previous blockades, see http://www.aldermaston.net/news

—
*****************************************
BLOCK THE BUILDERS!
nonviolent direct action against new nuclear weapons
*****************************************
Pledge *your* support at http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/pledge
*****************************************

photos of Manchester carbon footprint stencils

7.02.2007

Last Thursday, to coincide with the IPCC report, a group of Manchester climate activists decorated the pavements outside flight centres, petrol stations, supermarkets and a humvee garage with carbon footprints.

Roughly a dozen stencils appeared Friday morning in various city centre locations. The stunt followed a number of other awareness raising actions in Manchester, such as the blockade of the humvee garage a few weeks earlier.

Brecon Resistance Camp – Wish List

6th Feb

The tree camp in the Brecon Beacons is still going strong. The mood is good and everyone is happy ( well all except National Grid that is !!! ).

Even with the promise of six inches of snow Wednesday night spirits are riding high in Brecon. The camp have requested that I send out a wish list and hopefully we can all arrange to do a little something to help out.

6th Feb

The tree camp in the Brecon Beacons is still going strong. The mood is good and everyone is happy ( well all except National Grid that is !!! ).

CLIMBING ROPES
CARGO NETS
BUILDING TIMBER
SCRAP METAL
CANDLES
AA & AAA BATTERIES
TARPS
POLYPROP
FIREWOOD / KINDLING / OLD NEWSPAPERS
FOOD ( VEGGIE / VEGAN MAINLY )
BEDDING
GINGER WINE!