earthfirst – Page 309

The Bristol Alliance Against Urban 4x4s celebrated its launch on Saturday

30.01.2007

Campaigners gathered on College Green, after spending the morning issuing over 1,000 mock parking tickets to 4x4s in areas of central Bristol including Redland, Clifton and Broadmead. The paper tickets, which are placed harmlessly under the windscreen wipers of parked vehicles, are titled ‘Poor Vehicle Choice’ and challenge the need to own and drive a 4×4 vehicle in town.
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The dependent media were interested in the launch of the campaign. HTV shot a TV news item. Members of the group were interviewed by BBC Radio Bristol / GWR and Star. Stories appeared in the Bristol Evening Post and BBC Online. The Alliance aims to use peaceful and humorous means to raise awareness of the problems associated with 4×4 usage in cities like Bristol, led by concerns over road safety, road space and climate change. Although 4x4s are marketed as being safer than smaller cars – and many drivers buy them on this assumption – a series of expert reports warns this is not the case. Euro-NCAP crash tests and accident figures show that the greater weight and height of 4x4s increases the risk of rollover and makes them more dangerous in accidents with smaller vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. The British Medical Journal has run articles calling for ‘health warnings’ on 4x4s due to their increased injury risk, and a recent study in the US found the likelihood of a pedestrian fatality is nearly doubled in the event of a collision with a large 4×4 compared with a passenger car. There is also evidence that 4x4s pose extra dangers to the drivers of other cars – the Transport Research Laboratory has found that in a crash, the person driving a smaller car is 12 times more likely to be killed than the person in the 4×4. 4x4s also produce far more carbon dioxide – the main gas associated with climate change – per kilometre than smaller cars. A large 4×4 such as the Range Rover Discovery 4.4 produces 354g CO2/km – more than three times that of a Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 206 or Renault Clio (diesel models). TV presenter David Attenborough has said that driving a 4×4 is “morally wrong” and the energy minister Malcolm Wicks has criticised the “crass irresponsibility” of those who drive large 4x4s around the suburbs. The Alliance has received offers of help from over 100 Bristol residents so far, and sent out over 3,000 spoof parking tickets for distribution. On Monday we received a huge number of email orders for spoof parking tickets from concerned Bristol residents. Many new members have joined and are enthusiastic to start local groups in Redland and Bishopton. They plan to stage humorous direct actions against the 4x4s in Bristol that endanger the lives of people and the future of the planet. Thanks to everyone who helped organise our successful launch and came to College Green on Saturday and thanks to Claire for the inspiration.

bristol4x4alliance at yahoo.co.uk for more information on how you can be part of this campaign.

Foe of the 4×4
e-mail: bristol4x4alliance at yahoo dot co dot uk
Homepage: http://www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk/

Protests at Irish embassy in London against Shell’s hell in north west Ireland

30.01.2007

At midday today, while a samba band played below, a man who wished to be known as “G” climed the Irish embassy. This was in protest over the Irish governments collusioin with Shell’s activities in North West Ireland where they are constructing a pipeline and refinery. Many campaigners claim this pipeline and refinery pose as serious environmental risk. While there have been widespread protests in Ireland itself many claim that the government of Ireland has given Shell suspiciously favourable business terms on the deal. “G” was arrested for on suspicion of criminal damage though there was no damage visible from ground level. For further details see the corporate watch website.

30.01.2007

301007_Irish_Embassy_Shell_Hell – video/x-ms-wmv 5.4M

Press Release

Today, supporters for the Anti-Shell Campaign took their protest to the Irish Embassy. The action was to target the Irish State; Shell; Statoil and Marathon who are attempting to construct a dangerous and experimental onshore raw gas pipeline and refinery in County Mayo; a beautiful remote part of North West Ireland.

There is massive opposition to this proposed pipeline by the local community, Ireland and internationally. A campaign of direct action against this plan has been ongoing since 2005.

The action at the Embassy today is to demonstrate that this polluting project will not just affect the area in which it is to be built, but will contribute to the ongoing organised destruction of the planet by Shell. The action is in solidarity with the people directly affected by this unprecedented raw gas pipeline, which has been condemned as posing an unacceptable risk to health and safety.

The Irish State actively encourages the Shell led consortium – Norwegian owned Statoil and U.S. owned Marathon – by facilitating stages of the construction project, including the changing of laws to allow the project go ahead. These companies are tax exempt, thus there is no financial benefit to the Irish people. Shell are also deploying hundreds of police, who daily intimidate people and use violence to deter them, especially at recent demonstrations.

The action at the Embassy today is to show the concern which many people share about the corruption and complicity of the Irish Dáil, using its power to sell out the interests of the Irish people, putting personal profit before public interest, safety and health.

Events at Cowley Club, Brighton

Here is the latest list of events at the Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Weds 31st Jan, 7pm: V is for Video Activist – Schnews film showing

Thurs 1st Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Vegetable and nut bake with mushroom sauce, parsnip mash and salads

Here is the latest list of events at the Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Weds 31st Jan, 7pm: V is for Video Activist – Schnews film showing

Thurs 1st Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Vegetable and nut bake with mushroom sauce, parsnip mash and salads

Fri 2nd Feb, 8pm: Ground Zero DJs

Mon 5th Feb, 6.30pm: General Meeting – all members welcome to discuss the running of the club, make proposals etc.

Thurs 8th Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Jewish food, plus cocktails.

Fri 9th Feb, 8pm: Gig: Astpai, Austrian punk, The Steal, positive hardcore, and Andy Fiction, melodic punk

Sun 11th Feb, 5pm: Film and discussion with Oaxaca activist

Tues 13th Feb, 7pm: Film showing: And still they dance, documentary about the community resistance to the building of a Shell pipeline in Rossport, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Thurs 15th Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Curry Night

Fri 16th Feb, 8pm: Gig: Breach plus support

Sat 17th Feb, 8pm-late: Dub night, fundraiser for delegation to Palestine

Sun 18th Feb, 2-6pm: Sunday roast fundraiser for Brighton ABC

Thurs 22nd Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Italian delights

Thurs 22nd Feb, 8pm: Bar collective meeting, all volunteers welcome!

Fri 23rd Feb, 8pm: Gig: Los Albertos, fundraiser for Oaxaca

Sat 24th Feb, 8pm: Gig: Crowzone/Scrap Recs

Sun 25th Feb, 2-5pm: Sunday Roast in the bar, fundraising for The Refugee Trust

Tues 27th Feb, 8pm: Open Mic night

http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk

New Rising Tide Group Starting Up in Norwich

Tired of watching politicians and corporations screw up the planet? Think that endless economic growth is at the heart of the climate crisis? Uninspired by sending £3 to Charity X, but not sure where to put your energy? Want to help build just, sustainable solutions here and now? Then come to the first meeting of Norwich Rising Tide!

Norwich Rising Tide – Taking Action to Stop the Fossil-Fuelled Madness!

Be part of a national network committed to taking creative direct action against the root causes of climate change, and promoting local, community-run solutions to our energy needs. For five years, Rising Tide groups around the country have taken action to prevent airport expansion, end oil company sponsorship of the arts, stop construction of dodgy BP and Shell pipelines, start construction of urban community gardens and much, much more – see www.risingtide.org.uk.

We all know it’s time to act, so come along to kick-start an energetic new group that can help bring about the radical change that’s needed.

First Meeting:
When – Tuesday 27th February, 7.30 – 9.30pm
Where – The Greenhouse, 42-46 Bethel Street, Norwich, NR2

More Info –
www.risingtide.org.uk/norwich
07961 917535

Be part of a Rising Tide for Climate Action!

norwich@risingtide.org.uk
http://www.risingtide.org.uk/norwich

Some Jan Critical Mass reports – London, Leeds, Manchester (& I Bike Mcr festival)

You never know what the police are going to do next on the London ride. They clamp down on some things and relax on others from one month to the next and from one part of the ride to another. ‘Shambolic’ is perhaps the word that best describes their behaviour. They seem at times to behave more like Anarchists than the riders. You would think with their radios they could at least arrive at some sort of a consensus. In addition to our usual police overkill the Forward Intelligence Team were also in attendance at the South Bank, poking their cameras in people’s faces. All this just because of a bike ride!

This time the cops decided to get tough with riders without lights and those who go through red lights and also with sound systems in the SOCPA zone. Did you know, it is OK for someone with a car to play their sound system in the vicinity or Parliament but not for a cyclist with a sound system? How discriminatory is that? Anyway, the cops allowed an extra long ‘bikes high’ stop in Oxford Circus but no stop whatsoever in Picadilly Circus. Those riders who were pulled for going through red lights are now facing a £30 fine, despite the fact that some cops were actually ushering other riders through red lights!

One of the highlights of the ride was storming through the Aldwych underpass, something the police normally prevent. We had a fun time with Brian Haw in Parliament Square, he led the “More bikes less cars!” chants on his megaphone and seemed in a very good spirits. The ride split up after that at around 9pm, going off in all directions and leaving our yellow coated retinue behind, chin-wagging among themselves.
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk

Quicktime video version – video/mp4 8.3M
Windows video version – video/x-ms-wmv 8.6M

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45 people rode around Leeds for just under an hour last night, with no police interventions. The largest ride for some years, its hoped that this is the beginning of reversal in the downward trend of recent times.

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critical mass manchester last friday and the next one..

Critical Mass on Friday was absolutely amazing. We stood around chatting outside the library for ages just chillin and socialising and meeting the many newcomers to the mass. People making the I Bike MCR did some filming for part of the film and someone taking photos for the bicycle exhibition in March.

Then the 40 or so of us took to the streets, riding around the city centre and down past the station right down Grosvenor street and onto oxford road where masses of students waiting for some gig cheered us as we rode by the union. We rode through Rusholme and then up to Withington and back , hardly any negativity at all instead we were greeted with cheers and friendly beeps and waves from car drivers and pedestrians… woooo!
After the ride we all went for a nice cold beer..mmm

Join us on Friday 23rd Feb for the next one, which will end at the rampant lion on upper brook st/anson rd where we will have our very own celebrate critical mass party with bands and dj’s playing reggae, ska and punk..

email us at: mcrcriticalmass@yahoo.co.uk
be our myspace friend: http://www.myspace.com/mcrcriticalmass
see our website: http://velorution.x21.org.uk

Manchester I bike Mcr festival:

From 30th March to 20th April the I Bike MCR festival takes place in
Manchester. It is a grassroots festival organised by cyclists for cyclists
with diverse events that will entice any cyclist. From Bicycle Polo
classes and matches to Alleycat racing to a Bicycle Art Exhibition,
there’s something for everyone.

Those involved in organising the event are cyclists from different walks
of life including cycling instructors, daily commuters, bicycle
messengers, Critical Mass advocacy group members and bicycle mechanics.

Timetable

Friday 30th March
6pm Critical Mass bike ride, meet at Central Library to celebrate the
bicycle over car culture.

8pm Exhibition Opening at The Basement, 24 Lever St. The opening event
will be one to remember and will feature the premier screening of new
Manchester bicycle film “I bike MCR”. We shall also be showing other
bicycle films and having a roller race (an indoor bicycle race- on
rollers) with lots of prizes to be won! Local acoustic bands will be
performing including the amazing Cooper Jones and Dr Butler’s Hatstand
Medicine Band

Saturday 31st March
1pm Platt Fields Park Bicycle Polo class. Oxford bicycle polo team are
coming to teach us how to play the sport. Please email to reserve a place.
(they return 2 weeks later to play a match: Manchester vs Oxford)

Sunday 1st April
2pm Central Library April Fools Day Bicycle Treasure Hunt. A fun treasure
hunt around our city.

Wednesday 4th April
Moonlight Pub Ride Start 7pm Sandbar, Grosvenor St (off Oxford Road/opp.
All Saints Park. A night ride out and around the outskirts of Manchester
stopping off at some lovely pubs for a drink on the way.

Friday 13th April
Hell Of The North West Alleycat
Fixies and roadragers ride the alleycat for a fast race round our city. £5
entry, amazing prizes to be won. with some donated by the wonderous Twin
Six and Keirin Culture
Email to register

Alleykitten
Shoppers, bmx’s and silly bikes ride alleykitten for a random race full of
games and nonsense round our city centre. £5 entry, amazing prizes to be
won. Email to register

Saturday 14th April
1pm Platt Fields Park Bicycle Polo Match: Manchester vs Oxford.

For more information see the website: www.ibikemcr.org.uk or email
info@ibikemcr.org.uk

Colombian farmers evicted by British mining companies

Representatives of African-Colombian and Indigenous families evicted from their land in the province of La Guajira, Colombia to make way for a massive opencast coal mine will speak in London on Monday 29th January, 6.30pm-8.30pm at The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2.

Many communities have been forced from their land since the mine opened in the 1970s. The village of Tabaco was demolished in 2001 just after British-based companies bought into the project. Many inhabitants accepted the inadequate financial compensation on offer, others are still holding out for community relocation so that they can continue living as a community and farming the land as they did before.

The British-based companies that now own the mine are Anglo American, BHPBilliton and Xstrata. All raise money on the London Stock Exchange. Anglo American has its head office in London. Many pension funds invest in these companies. Many ordinary working people in Britain, without knowing it, are benefiting from the destruction of farming communities in Colombia by the world’s richest mining multinationals. All three companies have good reputations as socially and environmentally responsible enterprises. The reality is very different. Come and hear the communities’ side of the story

Location: The Auditorium, Amnesty International UK, The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2
Contact: info@colombiasolidarity.org.uk
(nearest tube Old Street)

3 protesters arrested at supermaket blockade (for Welsh language)

Morrisons supermarket was blockaded by protesters and three members of the Welsh Language Society were arrested today (Saturday 27 January) as part of the continuing campaign for a law ensuring rights to use Welsh
Following a public meeting held in the High Street of Bangor, north Wales, attended by about 250 people a smaller group held a sit-down protest in the entrance to Morrisons supermarket. Despite previous protests and meetings between campaigners and the company’s head office in England, Morrisons have failed to provide a full bi-lingual service.

As eighty or so protesters sat down blocking the entrance a number of other Welsh Language Society members plastered posters on the doors announcing that the store was temporarily shut. Gwenno Teifi, Stiwart Edwards and Bethan Willams were later arrested for suspected criminal damage. were later arrested for suspected criminal damage.

Established in 1962 The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) has been successful in winning a TV channel, education reforms and two changes in legislation providing limited rights ensuring government, local councils and official bodies make use of Welsh. However the Society constantly draw attention to examples such as Morrisons as typical of the private sector’s failure to provide bi-lingual services.

More photos on Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51447658@N00/

http://cymdeithas.org

12 February 2007 – Fantastic February Blockade at AWE Aldermaston

12 February 2007
Fantastic February Blockade at AWE Aldermaston
From 7 am at Tadley gate

Meet up the night before for conspiracy and practice

Block the Builders are calling for special efforts for this last
announced blockade before the vote on Trident replacement

Parliament will vote on Trident replacement within weeks. The government
are proposing a long term policy in favour of new nuclear weapons and
against
disarmament. Now is the time to show your opposition to British weapons
of mass destruction in a practical and visible way.

If Parliament vote to replace Trident in March it will be an uphill
struggle for decades to come, so it is vital that we exert pressure now
to influence the
debate. This means not just taking action, but also letting people know
– local groups, local media and your local MPs as they are the ones who will
be voting.

At Aldermaston new facilities to develop the replacement for Trident are
already being built. Block the Builders are calling for all building work to
stop until a decision is made about the future of Britain’s nuclear weapons.

Previously…
In November 400 people descended on Aldermaston to oppose Trident
replacement and halt the construction of new facilities. Nuclear war work
was disrupted for several hours but the large numbers involved meant
that only one person was arrested. The more people we have the lower the
risks are.

The road outside Aldermaston was closed by police for two hours in
December during a blockade by a dozen people using a concrete-filled
wheelie bin and
a variety of lock-ons. And a successful surprise action this week by
Scottish activists saw construction traffic blocked for four hours and
concrete
lorries arriving to build the new facilities were turned away.

Join the blockade on Monday 12 February.
Block the Builders are calling for a special effort during this crucial
time.
Non-arrestables and supporters are needed. We are encouraging others to “be
prepared”. Bring plans, equipment and enthusiasm. Bring your friends!

Accommodation available the night before, legal support team on the day.

See www.blockthebuilders.org.uk for further details or
ring 07969 739 812

Protests continue at Trebanos

26.01.2007

At 2.00 pm today a group of campaigners against the controversial LNG pipeline forced work to stop yet again on the construction site in Trebanos.

26.01.2007

At 2.00 pm today a group of campaigners against the controversial LNG pipeline forced work to stop yet again on the construction site in Trebanos.

Campaigners occupied a footpath running through the site. They argued that the footpath had been closed illegally because the required seven days notification had not been given. Even local residents had not been informed of the closure.

Initially, the police tried to stop protestors gaining access to the footpath, however, they had to admit that they were uncertain of the legality of the path closure.

Prior to today’s action, work on the construction site had been stopped for three weeks by campaigners occupying the footpath. Resistance to the pipeline is growing, with protest sites and actions against the pipeline increasing daily. The latest direct action site is a tree camp in Brecon occupying the route of the pipeline.

Come to Wales and be on the frontline of Britain’s eco-defence!

Contact Rachael (Trebanos): 01792 830417
Brecon Tree Camp: 07903152822

ex-vortex eviction thwarted this morning (pics and film)

dozens of supporters arrived this morning to ensure that no illegal eviction could take place at the occupied social squat in the building that used to host the vortex jazz club in stoke newington church street.

there was much local support as residents don’t want more luxury flats, a tesco, or a starbucks, all of which are possible plans for the site under owner richard midda’s stewardship.

midda is so unpopular in the area that a photography studio was sold to alex ross (the present owner of the spence bakery) at under market value, rather than allow midda to buy it, even although he was offering far more.

a woman police officer who attended the scene was clearly sympathetic to the squatters, and after seeking advice and clarification, reported that the bailiffs would have to return once they had written clarification from the court (which may take up to two weeks).

one independent photographer was so taken with the officer that he asked if she had a boyfriend – his hopes were dashed when she told him she was married.

quicktime – video/mp4 6.5M
flip4mac/wmv – video/x-ms-wmv 7.1M

films attached in wmv and mp4 formats

if you can’t see the film just by clicking on it (and waiting awhile, as these are several megabytes of data), then right-clik-hold (ctrl-clik on mac) instead and ‘download linked file’ before watching it on your viewer of choice
on mac or pc, i recommend downloading vlc which is a free viewer from viedolan, or also mplayer (free too)
on a mac, if you insist on watching the wmv, then download ‘flip4mac’ so you can watch it on quicktime, as the windows media viewer itself puts all sorts of nasties on your system.

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Earlier report:

From 8.30am around 70-80 people, the majority local residents, turned out to support the resistance to the threatened eviction of the Vortex Occupied Social Centre. The owner, Richard Midda, a well known thug and property developer threatened to use force to evict the occupiers if they did not leave by 9.00am.

But like the saying goes “they make plans we make history”! After seeing such a response, composed of all age ranges and faced with no fewer than 15 film and video cameras the police intervened and thereby starting a debate on the finer points of law. With the cops in the middle of this legal debate a decision was made to send one person from the Social centre and the owner, midda, to Stoke Newington Police station where independent legal advise is now being sort.

This is current as of 9.50am.

This occupation has its roots in both the trajectory of occupations from the Radical Dairy (Stoke Newington) in 2002 and the subsequent spaces (Occupied Social Centre – Kentish Town,Ex-Grandbanks – Tufnell Park, Institute of Autonomy – Bloomsbury, The Square – Bloomsbury), BUT also in last years occupation of “Francesca’s Cafe” on Broadway Market – Hackney and Daslton theatre in Dalston.

It shows that radical political interventions in the form of occupied social centres can resonate with pre-exisiting social tensions and antoganisms, especially around gentrification and “community” issues and activate people to self-organise and take some control on how their environment(and quality of life) are shaped.
If your in the area come down, we have now occupied both sides of the pavement due to numbers.
one of the Vortex Anarchists

occupiedsocialcentre@hushmail.com
http://www.londonsocialcentre.org.uk