Author: earthfirst

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.

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

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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.


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 !!! ).

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.

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!

Notts Critical Mass Relaunch for 23rd February 2007 with NEW Meeting Point

Let’s get this ride on the road!!!
Friday 23rd February is Nottingham’s next Critical Mass Bike Ride with a NEW Meeting Point in Market Square. This change is for everyone who rides a bike in Nottingham and wants to take part.

Nottingham Critical Mass Feb 07 flierLet’s get this ride on the road!!!
Friday 23rd February is Nottingham’s next Critical Mass Bike Ride with a NEW Meeting Point in Market Square. This change is for everyone who rides a bike in Nottingham and wants to take part.

Critical Mass is a monthly bike ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road. With no set routes and no leaders, it’s simply a bunch of people enjoying clean healthy transport.

Check out the website at  http://www.criticalmassrides.info/nottingham
Join the discussion group at http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/nottcriticalmass

In addition to all of the worthwhile issues that Critical Mass highlights, it’s a great way to meet people and perhaps do a bit of networking to promote other campaigns.

So why start from the Market Square? Well Critical Mass should appeal to anyone that rides a bike so it should start from the most central location for everyone’s benefit. Plus, practically every other Critical Mass around the globe starts from a central, well-known location which makes it easy to remember and easy to find.

It’s never more than a couple of hours. Bring bright clothing, lights, horns, bells, NOISE and FRIENDS.
The next one is Friday 23rd February from Market Square, Nottingham (Last Friday of every month). Gather at 5.30pm to depart at 5.45pm. Let’s get on our bikes and make this, the simplest of actions, happen.

Spring Into Action – A week of events on Climate Change, happening in Nottingham

A week of workshops, events, music and action on climate change happening at different venues across Nottingham, from Thursday 5th – Wednesday 11th April 2007.

A week of workshops, events, music and action on climate change happening at different venues across Nottingham, from Thursday 5th – Wednesday 11th April 2007.

Climate change is real and it’s happening now. Governments and corporations dream of continued economic growth – economic growth can’t solve this crisis, but we can. A massive and concerted effort is needed on the scale of ‘Dig for Victory’ or the ‘Home Front’: A war on climate change.

We can’t continue our current way of life – the oil on which it all depends is running out too fast. A shift to a locally based economy will have to happen, with food and energy being produced by the people that use it. The only question is when? We could start now, or we could wait for a future of war, famine, hurricanes, droughts and floods. We need to gain the courage and change fast enough to cultivate a new world, before it’s too late.
‘Spring into Action’  http://www.eastsideclimateaction.org.uk/ is part of an emerging grassroots movement against climate change. Born out of the Camp for Climate Action  http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/ ‘Spring into Action’ unites people across the east of England into making changes in our own lives, creating small scale solutions in our communities and resisting those who still seek their own short term gain over a safe future for us all.

So get involved, come join a workshop or run one yourself, come and help organise the change that you want to experience in our world.

Tel: 07765 217118
Email: info [at] eastsideclimateaction [dot] org [dot] uk

Public Meetings:
Monday 5th February 2007, 7:30pm, Leicester, Friends Meeting House, Queens Road.
Thursday 8th February 2007, 7:30pm, Nottingham, International Community Centre, Mansfield Road.
Next Planning Meeting:
Thursday 15th February 2007, 7pm, Nottingham, Sumac Centre, Gladstone Street.

Eastside Collective
info@eastsideclimateaction.org.uk
http://www.eastsideclimateaction.org.uk/

Manc protest against ESSO this Friday, 9th Feb

A protest against ESSO and its role in the environmental crisis will take place this friday (9th feb), meeting outside Manchester University Students Union at 5pm. All welcome, lets increase the noise on climate change around manchester!

A protest against ESSO and its role in the environmental crisis will take place this friday (9th feb), meeting outside Manchester University Students Union at 5pm. All welcome, lets increase the noise on climate change around manchester!

ESSO (Exxon mobil) is the world’s single largest emitter of CO2, as well as the world’s most profitable company. It has been funding numerous groups attempting to misinform the public over the causes of climate change (see www.exxonsecrets.org), and recently offered scientists $10,000 to write articles discrediting the latest IPCC report. Come and protest against ESSO’s reckless behaviour, and raise the noise levels on climate change around Manchester!

All welcome, starting at 5pm, Friday 9th of feb outside Manchester University Students Union, on the Oxford Road…seeyou there!

Next national climate camp organsing gathering Feb 17/18 in Leeds

The next national organsing gathering will be in Leeds on Sat and Sun Feb 17th/18th. It will be at The Common Place in Leeds city centre and vegan food, accommodationand creche will be provided (please contact us with accommodation, creche or any other needs though so we can plan ahead).

Climate camp logo 2 The next national organsing gathering will be in Leeds on Sat and Sun Feb 17th/18th. It will be at The Common Place in Leeds city centre and vegan food, accommodationand creche will be provided (please contact us with accommodation, creche or any other needs though so we can plan ahead).

Climate campers are at it again! More than seventy people from around the UK met in Leeds in January and decided to organise another Camp for Climate Action this summer from 14th to 21st August. As many of you know, for ten days last August hundreds of people gathered in the shadow of Drax coal-fired power station in Yorkshire to share knowledge and inspiration to tackle the greatest threat to life on Earth, live an example of more just and sustainable alternatives, and confront one of the UK’s biggest polluters in a day of mass direct action.

Following on from this success, Camp for Climate Action 2007 will take place near to a target relating to aviation or the coal or oil industries. The location will be chosen over the coming months. Organising outreach,
fundraising, site practicalities and workshops is underway. Self managed camping, eating and living neighbourhoods around themes and geographical areas are also being planned, contact details are on the website.

There is loads to do, and everyone is invited to get involved – no experience necessary! The next national planning meetings will be held in Leeds at the Common Place, on the 17th and 18th February, and then in
Bristol on the 17th and 18th March.

See www.climatecamp.org.uk for more info. There are lots of ways to get involved without coming to national gatherings, but coming to them is a great way of really feeling part of the whole process, we work with consensus decision making and collective responsibility, everyone gets their say in how the whole thing goes.

For a 20min film of last years camp get
V For Video Activist – SchMOVIES DVD Collection 2006 OUT January 2007
– £6 (including P&P). Contact the SchNEWS Office 01273 685913 or  schnews@brighton.co.uk

leeds@climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk