Camp Bling at ‘Prittlewel King’ awards

17.01.2007

Southend ‘Mayor’ cancels F5 road widening at ‘Prittlewell King’ award celebrations

The campaign against the controversial A127/A1159 Priory Crescent ‘F5’ road widening scheme took yet another dramatic new turn tonight, when dozens of local residents ‘stormed’ a celebration at the town’s Cluniac Priory to mark Southend Borough Council receiving the coveted British Archaeological Awards 2006 ‘Current Archaeology Developer-Funder Archaeology Award,’ for the discovery of the ‘King of Bling,’ in Prittlewell in late 2003.

17.01.2007

Southend ‘Mayor’ cancels F5 road widening at ‘Prittlewell King’ award celebrations

The campaign against the controversial A127/A1159 Priory Crescent ‘F5’ road widening scheme took yet another dramatic new turn tonight, when dozens of local residents ‘stormed’ a celebration at the town’s Cluniac Priory to mark Southend Borough Council receiving the coveted British Archaeological Awards 2006 ‘Current Archaeology Developer-Funder Archaeology Award,’ for the discovery of the ‘King of Bling,’ in Prittlewell in late 2003.

Amid chaotic scenes, Councillors and Dignitaries attending the celebration received a speech from Southend ‘Mayor’ John Smith, who apologised on behalf of the Council for their intention to destroy the East Saxon king’s burial site, promised to return the award received last October in Birmingham, and then dramatically announced the immediate cancellation of the F5 road widening, after having, ‘finally listened to and taken note of the majority of people in Southend who have been shown repeatedly to oppose the scheme.’

Local resident Patsy Link who joined the demonstrators said, ‘This award presented to Southend Borough Council is said to celebrate the merits of developer funded archaeology, which in the case of the discovery of the burial has provided the opportunity to rewrite history. Southend Borough Council now has a site to rival the Sutton Hoo ship burial in Suffolk, but still seeks to bury it under 10 feet of concrete for the road widening. To celebrate then destroy it is nothing short of sheer lunacy on the part of the people here tonight at the Priory.’

A decision to fund the road widening has been awaited from the Department for Transport since a local Public Inquiry took place in March 2004. Information from the East of England Regional Partnership Group shows that costs have now risen to an estimated £25m for the 870 metre length of carriageway, making it potentially, ‘The most expensive stretch of road in the world.’

In the mean time local protest site Camp Bling still occupies the land above the burial, 4 as it has for sixteen months since first being set up by locals in September 2005. It is rumoured that one of the deepest protest tunnel systems ever known has since been dug to help defend the camp, and numbers have grown significantly as the funding decision is awaited.

Mabel Jones of Prittlewell said, ‘If the local Council and central Government perceive that this campaign is only about a handful of people against the road scheme then they need to think again and quickly. Tonight has shown that a large cross section of the local community are not just against the scheme, but will actively attempt to stop it if the funding go ahead is now given.’

 http://blingblog.bravejournal.com/

Thrupp Lake (Radley Oxfordshire) update

There were once nine lakes…

Local people have joined forces with ecologists and environmental activists in a pledge to save Thrupp Lake (at Radley, near Oxford), following a decision by Npower bosses to dump 500,000 tonnes of fly-ash on to the site.

There were once nine lakes…

Local people have joined forces with ecologists and environmental activists in a pledge to save Thrupp Lake (at Radley, near Oxford), following a decision by Npower bosses to dump 500,000 tonnes of fly-ash on to the site.

Thrupp lake is a nature reserve as designated by Oxfordshire County Council, with many rare plants, insects and animals including water voles and otters.

The plan is to cut down over 1,000 trees so that Npower can drain then fill the lake with 500,000 tonnes of toxic waste ash from the nearby Didcot Power Station. The waste ash is pulverised fly-ash which can be recycled and used in various building products such as cement and breeze blocks. Past study found traces of many nasties including Polonium 210!

Npower have already destroyed seven other lakes in the immediate area. The locals have been trying to save the lakes for many years using all legal means and have failed. Their latest challenge is to get the lake designated to village green status, which would save the lake. However, Npower have said they will begin work BEFORE this application will even be heard in court! The locals have welcomed us with open arms to fight this alongside them.

As part of this, our group occupied an empty property on the shore of the lake on December 28th with a view to protect the lake and using all non-violent means to resist eviction (Lock-on’s and barricades etc), whilst also opening the building up (compulsary purchased by Npower) as a field center for the study of the local ecology.

Recent News: Npower took us to County Court on 10th January to gain a repossession order to evict us, however, they did not expect us to have such a great legal team behind us. The order for repossession was thrown out as the papers were illegally served to us by Npower! Local press
headline was “Squatters win first round�. We are in court again Weds. 24th Jan. at the County Court in Oxford. We have a barrister working on the case and are putting up a stiff legal defense.

At present: We are working on defending the building and recording and photographing the local ecology (we need proof that certain species inhabit the area as part of the defense). We are still in LEGAL possession of the building and we have massive local support. The house is massive and the lake is absolutely beautiful.

HOW YOU CAN HELP : Visit us! Remember we are in legal possession and you are allowed to stay. Stay with us to defend the building if we get evicted, or come to do some ecology work. Bring your friends! (You may even see the Radley Lake Penguin!). Bring us things we need off our ‘Wish
List’. Come and support us in court on the 24th – bring banners etc.

Catch the train to Radley station (one stop from Oxford), and it is about a fifteen minute walk to the site. For directions ring the site mobile.
SITE MOBILE NUMBER IS: 07772 0553 384

For more information see www.saveradleylakes.org.uk or check out our progress on UK Indymedia or Indymedia Oxford.

Watch the video (video/x-msvideo 34MB)

WISH LIST
Food, Furniture, Blankets, Duvets, Sleeping Bags, Waterproofs, Ladders,
Buckets, Kitchen knives and cutlery, plates etc., Rope and Polyprop, Nuts,
bolts, Nails, Screws, Wire mesh, Tools, Spanners, wrenches, Socket sets,
Bottled Water (1 ltr), Banners, Paint, Shovel, Timber for building, Cable
ties, Climbing Caribineers for lock-on’s, Chains, 45 gallon oil drums,
Fake animal Fur (Yes thats right),Cash, YOU!

UNIVERSITY, RESEARCH INSTITUTE TARGETED BY ANTI-VIVISECTION ACTIVISTS

anonymous communique:

“Aberystwyth University and the Institute of Grasslands and Environmental Research (IGER) carry out cruel and pointless tests on animals.

Welsh activists have therefore been busy with the follwing actions to try and persuade them they should end their involvement with animal testing altogether.

anonymous communique:

“Aberystwyth University and the Institute of Grasslands and Environmental Research (IGER) carry out cruel and pointless tests on animals.

Welsh activists have therefore been busy with the follwing actions to try and persuade them they should end their involvement with animal testing altogether.

Japanese knotweed is a very destructive weed that spreads very easily. Large quantities of this was spread over different parts of the university grounds.

*Over a thousand letters saying “end your involvement in vivisection” were sent to Aberystwyth University Freepost address

*Butric acid was spread in toilets, changing rooms and library
The smell is very hard to remove and boy does it smell

*Over 50 texts were made to university staff home phone numbers just before a major open day.
When a text reaches the home phone it converts to a simulated voice message. It warned of chaos on the open day followed by other actions.

*Important people within these institutions had messages sprayed in red on their drives and gates.

Also IGER signs were sprayed with red slogans.

More important people had their personal car details used to apply for lots of car insurance quotes including their home and work phone numbers and work e-mails.

Lots more to come until they issue a statement saying they will stop testing on animals.”

LATE NIGHT VISITS FOR NOVARTIS, ASTELLAS EMPLOYEES

received anonymously:

“Saturday the 13th January was unlucky for some. The ALF were out in the dead of night visiting the homes of those who profit from animal abuse at HLS.

Astellas PA Margaret McQuillan, 22 Triggs Close, Woking, Surrey GU22

received anonymously:

“Saturday the 13th January was unlucky for some. The ALF were out in the dead of night visiting the homes of those who profit from animal abuse at HLS.

Astellas PA Margaret McQuillan, 22 Triggs Close, Woking, Surrey GU22
0EJ Tel: 01483 760 058
had all the garages near her spray painted with “number 22 is animal killer”, alf slogans and her front door had a pot of red paint thrown all over it.

Novartis director Kevin White, 3 Pipson Close, Yateley, Hants GU46 6JL
had 2 big brick walls sprayed with “number 3 is animal killer” and an alf slogan.

Novartis employee Christopher Golunski, Carthena Drive, Fleet, Hants GU52 7SF Tel: 01252 624 601
had the tyres of the 2 cars on his drive slashed and paint stripper poured all over them.

Secretary of Novartis UK Pension Trustees Ltd Richard Farrar of 23 The Brambles, Crowthorne, Berks RG45 6EF
had all the tyres of his people carrier slashed and the vehicle covered with paint stripper.

Novartis you are a priority target for the Animal Liberation Front worldwide. Stop dealing with HLS or we will force you to stop by any and all means necessary. Get ready. The ALF is coming after you.

ALF”

Activists stop work on gas pipe line Alltwen, Wales

16th Jan ’07 – At 9am this morning a construction site in Alltwen was stormed by activists, climbing cranes and locking-on with d-locks by their necks. Work was stopped on the controversial LNG pipeline for five and a half hours, adding to the list of recent delays.

Alltwen pipeline protest16th Jan ’07 – At 9am this morning a construction site in Alltwen was stormed by activists, climbing cranes and locking-on with d-locks by their necks. Work was stopped on the controversial LNG pipeline for five and a half hours, adding to the list of recent delays.
The protesters this morning were met with aggression, one had her camera snatched and damaged, whilst others were threatened with violence. After one activist climbed a crane, locked on by his neck, the operator of the crane then decided to move the crane about, seriously endangering the activist’s life – watch the video (video/x-ms-wmv 4.3MB).
Also construction workers initially kept on using heavy machinery on the site despite being advised not to due to health and safety reasons.

It is the eighth day that work has been stopped at the Trebanos camp across the valley. Support continues to grow for the campaign with more numbers getting involved daily.
The pipe, to be 115 miles long rips right through wales, having devastating effects on the welsh countryside.
This action is just a small part of a big campaign to fight the pipe!
Currently we are occupying a public footpath stopping access to the construction site in the village of Trebanos. We also have a house which is a safe base to do actions from.
Come to wales and be at the front line of britain’s eco-defence! Loads more actions
are planned and more sites too.
contact numbers
07790450747
07733190958

Building to a critical mass, bristol

Just a reminder this is soon,
Can anyone help with putting up additional posters? just print them out and stick them up.

Poster here; http://bristolcm.pbwiki.com/f/cmposter.doc

What
Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road.

Just a reminder this is soon,
Can anyone help with putting up additional posters? just print them out and stick them up.

Poster here; http://bristolcm.pbwiki.com/f/cmposter.doc

What
Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road.
One Idea is to have comparatively short (30-40 minute ) rides Bristol, hopefully this will allow us to make our point and communicate effectively with other road users.

When
6:30pm on the last Friday of every month. Starting on January the 26th.

Where
Starting outside the Arnolfini, ending up at the Hatchet.

If you would like to help then read about Traffic tactics http://www.reachoutpub.com/cm/gomass.html and think about what role you can play to make the mass a safe and positive experience.

* Bring plenty of lights and reflective stuff.

* Print out 2 pages of bike strips and put them on bikes.

* Print out and bring 20 leaflets to hand out on the mass.

More Bristol info, maps + posters etc;
http://bristolcm.pbwiki.com/

General CM info:
http://www.critical-mass.info/howto/
http://www.critical-mass.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass

Pipeline protests gather strength

15.01.2007

Active opposition is underway against the South Wales LNG pipeline in three separate locations. Objections to National Grid’s controversial project are spurred by lack of consulation, safety fears, environmenal issues and climate change concerns. Protests grow stronger day by day, supported by long term campaigning, creating a spirited and unified resistance.

Pipeline flier15.01.2007

Active opposition is underway against the South Wales LNG pipeline in three separate locations. Objections to National Grid’s controversial project are spurred by lack of consulation, safety fears, environmenal issues and climate change concerns. Protests grow stronger day by day, supported by long term campaigning, creating a spirited and unified resistance.

SLOW WALKING

Today saw setbacks to the progress of the South Wales LNG Pipeline for the second week running. Work was delayed at three separate sites along the gigantic 115 mile route way, by a growing anti-pipe movement. The pipeline is part of a massive National Grid project to lay a 115-mile pipeline from Milford Haven to Tirely in Gloucestershire. The project has sparked controversy and opposition from the onset.

Machinery at Trebanos is denied access by a protest camp upon a public footpath. Currently going strong, this has halted work for eight days in a row, much to the ongoing frustration of National Grid officials. Active opposition first began in Trebanos last November with an occupation within the pipe itself.

Inspired by this protestors in Milford Haven have been camped on a public footpath right in the path of the pipe since last November.

Meanwhile at Cilfrew, residents are using a walking blockade along the access road to the site, joined by volunteers from across Britain. This, backed up by a detailed knowledge of regulations and the area is proving most effective. Actions are continuing as they have everyday since Thursday.

Supporting written campaigns are at constant work to back up the direct actions.

Opponents say their investigations have led them to the conclusion that it’s purely profit led and dangerously hasty. By the Health and Safety Executive’s own admission there will be a hole in this pipeline during its lifetime. The volatile safety risks, environmental destruction and significant contribution to climate chaos are the price of National Grid being left unchecked to line their pockets. Cause for a significant and ever increasing number of citizens to take action. These include local communities the length of the route, campaign group Safe Haven Network, climate change groups such as Rising Tide and those concerned with the desecration of mile after mile of beautiful land.

This wanton destruction of our environment and our basic human rights cannot and will not be allowed to continue. The local council turns a blind eye, having ridden roughshod over the very people who voted them in. Democracy has vanished into the mists. The police have become like National Grids own security guards.

This is a battle cry from the valleys of Wales, come and join us, show the establishment they cannot continue to ignore us.

These voices will not die down. We grow stronger day by day, moral is high and the atmosphere is overwhelmingly supportive. The local community are keeping a very warm welcome in the hillsides!

Activist Mediation Network Launched!!!!!

Want to learn mediation skills?
Interested in helping support activist groups engage with internal disagreements and conflict, to make them more effective?
Want to tackle conflicts in your personal life that interfere with your activism?

Want to learn mediation skills?
Interested in helping support activist groups engage with internal disagreements and conflict, to make them more effective?
Want to tackle conflicts in your personal life that interfere with your activism?

Our launch events will be training days:

Northern Launch –
Leeds on 10th March 2007, from 11am – 5pm

Southern Launch
– London on 17 March 2007, from 11am – 5pm.

The aims of these days are:

To train people in conflict resolution skills that they can use in their own lives and activist work
For people interested in volunteering with us to receive training and to meet with us to discuss taking it further.

If you have a specific conflict or situation that you would like to discuss with us, then please get in contact and we’ll see if we can help.

Activist Mediation to the rescue! (not really!)

Details of the training days:

Booking essential: Please email activistmediation [at] aktivix [dot] org
Cost: We are asking for a £10 donation to fund expenses and help set up a travel fund to help with our mediation work. If money would prevent you from attending, then get in touch.
Creche: We are not providing creche facilities, but if childcare issues are preventing you attending, please get in touch and we’ll try and sort something out.
Access: Both venues are wheelchair accessible, and have accessible toilets. For other access needs, please contact us.
Lunch: Not provided. Please bring your own.
Transport and Accommodation: Get in touch if you have any issues or can offer a lift.

For further information have a look at our website www.activistmediation.org.uk
or telephone us on 0845 223 5254, and get in touch.

Background

For the last few years we have both been involved in mainstream mediation, and using these skills at various activist camps and situations (Climate Camp, Earth First!, Radical Routes, Trident Ploughshares). We have also been asked to work with other activist groups to help them resolve internal conflicts. There is obviously a need for this work to be done on an ongoing basis, and so we have decided to set up an activist mediation network. The aim is not for us to solve conflicts, but to skill share and offer impartial mediators in order to help groups and individuals resolve their own conflicts.