Author: earthfirst

Additional info to that on http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/?q=node/117

International Invite:
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South Florida is an accessible location for international travel, and is a social hotspot of current global commerce and politics. For several years, the globalization movement has influenced (and been influenced by) EF! But rarely has it been possible to dialogue with eco-radicals in other parts of the world, especially the majority world movements who have been inspiring direct action efforts within the U.S. empire. For these reasons, the invitation is being put out to help bring folks from other countries’ radical environmental movements and indigenous struggles here for the OC and Winter Rendezvous (this means visa assistance and some extra fundraising, so if you can be
of any help in those areas, please contact us ASAP!)

Organisers’ conference 15-17th February:
———————————–
– Last year’s OC seems to have been a more reflective, inner-growth and recovery focused conference. So we are proposing this year we reach towards the other end of the spectrum and be oriented towards movement strategy and vision on the broader scale; taking a look at global ecology and international movements on the frontlines.

– Reports from the Earth First! Journal- this is a standard subject of EF! gatherings, but there are some recent happenings in the eco-radical publishing world that might make for interesting discussions/proposal. For example, two prominent movement publications, Wild Earth and Do or Die have ceased production, while newer projects, such as Green Anarchy, have grown in circulation and recognition. Does this influence where the EF!J should place the focus of its content?

– Evaluating strategies, tools and tactics- in the past year and a half an article/proposal “Down with Empire, Up with Spring” (from the UK-based Do or Die, Issue 10) has been circulating the eco-anarchist networks. Essentially, it is promoting the Hotspot Theory as a global eco-defense/indigenous solidarity strategy and a SHAC style tactical approach for its grassroots application. Is it the most coherent vision of movement direction since EF! first promoted wilderness corridors for North American biodiversity restoration over 20 years ago or is it too rigid, lofty and spoiled with corporate/NGO influence?

– Examining our visions and aspirations- for the duration of EF!, the perspectives of deep ecology have been a driving and unifying factor of the movement. In the past few years, an anarchistic worldview has had a growth spurt within EF! Certain elements of anarchy have, of course, been there all along, but most would agree that there is a shift of some sort that appears to be occurring. In certain ways it is as cultural as it is ideological. The ‘green anarchy’ tendency seems to still reflect the principles of deep ecology but also bring some of its own aspirations and visions of a future world and how we might get there. Is the growing energy around the Feral Visions/Green Anarchy gatherings evidence of this shift? What, if anything, does that mean for EF! as a ‘movement’?

– Review of State Repression- how has new anti-terrorist legislation of the past several years impacted EF! and related groups? How have folks been effective in fighting back?

– Anti-oppression check-in- How have racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and other oppressive tendencies been manifesting themselves in our organizing & direct action efforts? How are people challenging them successfully? Are there still anti-immigrant sentiments in our midst? How can we expose them and send ’em on their way for good?

– Bioregional/international roundup- what are people up to within the EF! network, the environmental direct action movement and it’s extended webs of affinity within the full ‘activist’ spectrum from local grassroots community groups to global autonomous social movements? How do we fit into the bigger picture? Whose campaigns could use some extra hands, who has hands to spare? We can also expect a direct update from the Alternative Social Forum in Venezuela.

Winter Rendezvous! feb 17-19
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This is a time to kick back, enjoy each others company, inform & inspire each other with our skillshares/workshops, eat damn good food and revel in the good times so that we can more clearly know what kind of relationships with people and with the land that we are fighting for in our day-to-day lives.

At recent EF! gatherings there has been a lull in musician participation, so tell your friends to bring their songs and instruments. This year we will be honored with a performance by Sobreviviencia, a Guatemalan indigenous Mayan rock band. We are also hoping that some of the newer generation of radical folkies that have been rousing the rabble in the streets will come serenade us in the swamps too.

Friday night will be the annual ‘Night To Howl!’ gathering of the Warrior Poets Society, so bring poems, songs and stories to share.

You can expect to see some of the following topics pop up over the weekend:

• Fighting Gentrification
• Probing the Tech-Nightmare: bio, nano, robo, cellular, etc.
• Primitive Skillshares
• Plant Walks
• Indigenous Solidarity in North America
• Coastal Ecology Issues
• Climate, Energy and the Eco-Intifada
• Defending Pacific NorthWest Forests
• Mountain Top Removal
• Community Gardens
• Earth & Animal Liberation Prisoner Support
• Deeper Effects of Civilization on our Bodies & Communities;
• Making Your Own Homebrew

Special Workshop on Sunday February 19:
From Defensive to Offensive: Strategic Latin America Solidarity

Details of this and more onhttp://www.earthfirst2006oc.info/

Protestors are still in the trees and in the protest sites at Dalkeith Country Park. The eviction attempt started Monday 16th early morning, but as of 3pm Monday afternoon three of the four protest sites remain intact. “We urge supporters to come and join us,” one of the protestors said. “It’s not too late to take a stand against this road madness.”

Protestors are opposing the building of the A68 bypass through the Park, just south of Edinburgh. The authorities said today they expect the eviction to take two weeks.
Early this morning Police bailiffs raided one of the sites, top site, and have established a security cordon around it. As of 3pm at least one protestor remained in the trees at Top Site determined to resist eviction and the cutting of the trees in this part of the River Esk wildlife corridor in Midlothian.

Police mobilised climbers and machinery to remove those in the trees. Two arrests were reported. Protestors moved high into the trees to complicate the eviction process. They are filled with a passionate desire to protect these woodlands against what is viewed as senseless and inappropriate destruction of a significant ecological habitat.

As of late Monday afternoon middle site and bottom site of the protest were still intact, with demonstrators still in all the occuppied trees. More protestors were walking into the main bottom site where protestors were still in control of the camp. There was a police presence but they were only monitoring the situation. Indymedia has no confirmed news from the fourth site but it is believed to be intact.

A supporter of the protest told Indymedia “We call on people to come to Dalkeith Country Park to show solidarity. We cannot let this senseless profit-fuelled destruction go ahead.” Protestors are arranging transport to the site from the Forest Cafe on Bristo Place in nearby Edinburgh. Other protestors are making their way from Edinburgh by public transport, to join locals from Dalkeith and area (transport info at end of article).

The first of the four protest sites at Dalkeith Country Park was established on the 31 October 2005 due to information that tree felling for the A68 bypass (to be constructed during the summer of 2006) was to proceed immediately. Since that time, all areas in around the park where tree felling is necessary for the proposed bypass have seen the establishment of protest sites to defend against this large-scale habitat destruction.

The number of people involved in protesting the routing of the A68 Bypass through the country park has increased significantly since the establishment of the first protest site and includes strong support from many people local to the Dalkeith area.

Campaigners are adamant that before construction on the A68 bypass continues, a new Public Inquiry needs to occur. Since planning permission was granted for the bypass in 1993, all information regarding the need for its construction is dated from 1992 or earlier. A proper Environmental Impact Assessment has never been completed, the last Public Inquiry was in 1992, and the need for this bypass has not properly been reassessed since major changes to the transport infrastructure of the area (the dualling of the A1, the building of the A7 Dalkeith bypass, and the potential reopening of the Borders Rail Link). In 1999, the Strategic Road Review stated that the A68 Northern bypass should be held in abeyance until the completion of the Multi-Modal Transport study (to be completed in 2006) which would consider the need for the bypass with regards to these change.

TRANSPORT TO DALKEITH COUNTRY PARK
Transport is being arranged from the Forest Cafe, Bristo Place, near George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, which is also acting as an info point in Edinburgh. More info 077532 80009

You can also make your way there independently, by Lothian bus 3 and 3a from Edinburgh, directions below.

Dalkeith Protest Site Phone: 07783904369

DIRECTIONS to the main Protest Site
(There are four sites in total)
Please bear in mind the police may be obstructing access.

The site is in a stand of pines on the north side of the River Esk after the two branches have joined and near the cut for the overhead electric lines.

Enter Dalkeith Country Park at the north end- entrance off of the A6094 at Smeaton Lodge (between Dalkeith and Whitecraig). Go past Home Farm towards the River Esk, after crossing the bridge the protest site can be accessed by the first farm track on the left (note the site is not accessible for vehicles).

Alternatively, enter Dalkeith Country Park from the main entrance off of the High Street in Dalkeith. Straight ahead after you go through the gates, then stay on the road leading to the right past the adventure playground, shop and cafeteria; after passing the grazing fields and passing under three power lines cut the road will split. There is a prominent Scots pine here. Take the left fork towards the River Esk. After a short distance, again take the left fork when the road splits and go down the hill. After crossing the bridge, the protest site can be accessed by the first farm track on the left. This is around 35-40 minutes walk.

From Edinburgh, Lothian Buses 3 and 3a go to Dalkeith, you can use a day ticket for this journey.

For more information on the campaign to Save Dalkeith Country Park, visit www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/

DALKEITH COUNTRY PARK- ANTI A68 BYPASS PROTEST CAMPAIGN
PRESS STATEMENT- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 16 JANUARY 2006

Eviction of the four protest sites in Dalkeith Country Park against the construction of the A68 Bypass and the destruction of the River Esk wildlife corridor began this morning.

At around 4.30 a.m. this morning eviction of the protest sites in Dalkeith Country Park began. Police bailiffs raided one of the sites and have established a security cordon around it. Protestors remain in the trees determined to resist eviction and the cutting of the trees in this part of the River Esk wildlife corridor.

Police are now mobilising climbers and machinery to remove those in the trees. However, protestors have moved high into the trees to complicate the eviction process. They are filled with a passionate desire to protect these woodlands against what is viewed as senseless and inappropriate destruction of a significant ecological habitat.

The first of the four protest sites at Dalkeith Country Park was established on the 31 October 2005 in regards to information that tree felling for the A68 bypass was to proceed immediately. Since that time, all areas in around the park where tree felling is necessary for the proposed bypass have seen the establishment of protest sites to defend against this large-scale habitat destruction. The number of people involved in protesting the routing of the A68 Bypass through the country park has increased significantly since the establishment of the first protest site and includes strong support from many people local to the Dalkeith area.

Campaigners are adamant that before construction on the A68 bypass continues, a new Public Inquiry needs to occur. Since planning permission was granted for the bypass in 1993, all information regarding the need for its construction is dated from 1992 or earlier. A proper Environmental Impact Assessment has never been completed, the last Public Inquiry was in 1992, and the need for this bypass has not properly been reassessed since major changes to the transport infrastructure of the area (the dualling of the A1, the building of the A7 Dalkeith bypass, and the potential reopening of the Borders Rail Link). In 1999, the Strategic Road Review stated that the A68 Northern bypass should be held in abeyance until the completion of the Multi-Modal Transport study (to be completed in 2006) which would consider the need for the bypass with regards to these change.

10:30am
The police and bailiffs are working on the Top Site. The sites at Bottom and Middle still have everyone in place and are accessible. Please get along and support if you can (and while you can).

2pm
The top site has been fenced off, and two people arrested there so far, the other two are freely accessable for now but it is said may be evicted Tuesday and Wednesday.
At least one person is still to be taken from trees and at least one from a tunnel, at top site.
Climbers are removing structure from trees.
There is a Scottish Executive Press Officer and a Police Press Officer on site.

Update – Monday afternoon
Last info I have, they are still working on top site. They have fenced in middle site. Bottom site was still open and people there were calling for more support. However, they said that baliffs were on the way to bottom site to fence it off too.
However, those going out have been stopped by police before reaching the park and are than escorted to the ‘viewing area’ close to top site. Police have blocked people from entering the park and from going to either bottom or middle site.
Vans have been leaving regularly from the Forest Cafe to take people to Dalkeith. The eviction is far from over, and support will still be crucial over the following days. Even if you can’t get into one of the sites, being there to view the eviction process and show solidarity is vital!

Canadian Greenpeace whaling activist, Texas Joe Constantine, was dragged overboard into the freezing Antarctic waters after the whaling harpoon was fired over his inflatable and the harpoon rope became entangled in the craft. Constantine spent a few minutes in the water in his survival suit, before his compatriots could manouver their craft to pick him up. The harpoon killed the whale almost instantly after a chase lasting an hour.

Greenpeace entangled between whale and Japanese whaling vessel

The incident happened at 6pm on Saturday night while three activists in a Greenpeace inflatable were defending a minke whale in the sights of the harpoonist on the Japanese whaling catcher ship, Yushin Maru No2. The harpoon was shot perilously close to the heads of the activists, with the grenade tipped harpoon exploding and killing the whale almost instantly. The harpoon rope came down upon the inflatable getting stuck in the steering controls. As the harpoon line was reeled in with the inflatable trapped between the catcher ship and the dead whale, the rope became taught and dragged Constantine into the icy blood stained ocean clinging to the harpoon line.

After letting go of the harpoon line, Considine floated in the blood soaked ocean near the whale while the inflatable came round. He was dragged onboard, thankful for his survival suit which provides heat insulation and buoyancy.

Many whales hit by the harpoon can take several minutes to die, and Greenpeace has filmed whales that have taken more than half an hour to die after being harpooned.

Later Texas Joe Constantine described the incident: “We were out defending the whales. We have been out there for about an hour. I was driving our boat and we were in a good position and the whaler fired its harpoon,” said Mr Constantine. “All of a sudden the harpoon line came down on us trapping us between the whale and the catcher. The line came tight at that point and threw me from the boat into the water. It was a few minutes before our boat was able to come over and pick me up out of the water.”

Shane Rattenbury from the Arctic Sunrise said: “They had been running the gauntlet between the whale and the harpoon, using themselves as a shield, when suddenly the harpoon was fired over the top of the boat. It struck the whale and fortunately it died immediately. We have seen some kills that go on for a long time, with the whale thrashing about, in which case the whole boat would have capsized. The harpoon cord lay across the inflatable vessel.” There was no movement for a few seconds by the whalers or the activists. “I think we were all just stunned by how near a miss it was.” he said.

Shielding the whales from inflatables has proven a mixed success. Many whales escape the harpoon, but eventually the catcher ship chases a whale, runs it into exhaustion, and kills it despite the efforts of the activists. Shane Rattenbury said the tactics had been successful to a large extent in hindering the numbers of whales killed “It’s not the perfect tactic, but nothing was ever going to be. We’re doing our best down here but this hunt is not going to be entirely stopped by us being on the water. We need governments to bring pressure to bear on Japan and companies that run the whaling fleet to decide not to do it any more.”

“Before this happened, we had prevented them from killing this whale for about an hour,” Mr Rattenbury said. “Tensions have been rising the last few weeks and the fleet is frustrated at not getting clear shots at their targets. Yesterday took it to a new level. We are very concerned about that.”

Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) Director General Dr. Hiroshi Hatanaka accused Greenpeace of “dangerous risks to maintain media interest.” He said “Our harpooner had a clear shot and took it. The strike was perfect and the whale was
killed instantly. The fact that the rope fell onto their inflatable and one of the activists fell into the water is entirely their fault. We are also concerned that they tried to cut the line because it makes it more dangerous for them.”

Greenpeace Australia CEO, Steve Shallhorn, said the incident highlighted the need for more pressure on the Japanese government to recall their whaling fleet: “It’s way past time for John Howard and the world’s anti-whaling nations to demand that Japan gets its whaling fleet out of the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary. Greenpeace will keep up our intervention, but it will take strong international pressure to make Japan honour the International Whaling Commission ban on whaling in this sanctuary.â€?

=======================
Andrew, onboard the Esperanza, asks in his blog of 14 January, “Would you kill, to kill a whale”

“I’m asking a serious question here of the whalers. “Would you kill a person to kill a whale?” Because that is what it is down to here in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The reports and video from the Arctic Sunrise boat crew makes that abundantly clear. Meanwhile, out in the Billy G. we had our own close firing – not as menacing as the behaviour the Arctic Sunrise folks saw, but still irresponsibly close.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s my third trip to down here, and I can only attribute the whalers’ behaviour to two things – the fact that they’ve more than doubled the number of whales they want to kill, and that we’re being more effective then ever before at non-violently protecting these whales from the harpoon.

“It’s worth pointing out that as Greenpeace activists we’ve chosen to use peaceful tactics – to not put the whalers’ safety at risk, no matter what. We also each choose to put ourselves in harms way. But the whaler with the gun also has to make a choice about whether to pull that trigger. For the safety of my crewmates – I hope he doesn’t make the wrong one.

“If you know anyone working on the whaling ships, maybe ask them to ask themselves, “If you don’t shoot, what is the worst that could happen? If you do pull that trigger, what is the worst possible outcome then? Which would you rather live with?”
=======================

The incident with Constantine being dragged into the freezing water resulted in activists reassessing their tactics, taking the Sunday morning “off as a cooling down period.”, according to Andrew from the Esperanza. This allowed Greenpeace to do repair work on their inflatables. In the afternoon “the Yushin already had a whale alongside, but it was searching for a second. Nathan started up the pump [on the Billy G], creating an artificial shower to make whale spotting difficult. It was a bright sunny day, and the whalers weren’t really appropriately dressed for the occasion. As the Billy G. came closer, the crow’s nest and flying bridge emptied. Soon all the whalers had gone inside.” said Andrew on his blog.

The incident happened off the Mawson coast in the Australian Antarctic Territory, 2000 nautical miles south-west of Perth. The Fisheries Agency of Japan claims it is conducting a scientific research programme. Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd say the hunt is nothing more than commercial whaling in disguise. After the whales have been measured and weighed by the scientists, the whales are cut up and boxed for the market.

Sources:
http://greenpeace.org.au/media/press_details.php?site_id=8&news_id=1902
Harpoon knocks Greenpeace activist overboard – Greenpeace Australia, 15 Jan 2006

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3541116a7693,00.html
Man overboard in latest whaling clash – Stuff, 15 Jan 2006

http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm
Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR)

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/01/would_you_ki…
Would you kill, to kill a whale – by Andrew, onboard the Esperanza, Ocean Defenders Blog, 14 January 2006

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/01/our_new_best…
Our new best friends – by Andrew, onboard the Esperanza, Ocean Defenders Blog, 15 January 2006

http://tvyil.greenpeaceweb.org/default.asp?loadfilm=59&loadcat=10
Greenpeace Video: Between the whale and the harpoon – Short clip from activist Texas describing incident in which a harpoon line and his boat got into a tangle.

Dear friends ELP has five lots of news for you today:

1 (USA) Three new eco-prisoners
2 (Italy) Marco Martorana under house arrest
3) (Britain) Jan Lawrence released
4 (USA) Message from Kevin Tubbs support campaign
5 (USA) More mail restrictions for the 7th December arrestees.

1) ELP has just learnt about the arrests of three people in America who have been accused of planning to carry out Earth Liberation Front activity. As we understand it, they have not been accused of actually doing anything, just accused of “planning” to do something. (Does this sound familiar to anyone?)

The news of the arrests has literally only just come in so we have very little details, however below is a mainstream media article which reports the arrests.

Please send urgent letters of support to:

LAUREN WEINER X-4198634 BKGF
Sacramento County Main Jail
651 “I” Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
USA

ZACHARY JENSON X-4198632 BKGM
Sacramento County Main Jail
651 “I” Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
USA

ERIC MCDAVID X-2972521 BKGM
Sacramento County Main Jail
651 “I” Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
USA

If anyone has other further information about Lauren, Zachary or Eric or their alleged offences please do get in contact. And here is that mainstream media article we promised you:

FBI Arrests 3 Suspected ELF Members In Auburn, Foils Plot To Blow Up Cell Towers And Power Plants

(CBS 13) SACRAMENTO The F.B.I. has foiled an alleged plot to blow up cell towers, power plants and U.S. Forest Service sites by arresting three suspected ELF members in Placer County.

The FBI made the arrests this morning after a long investigation. 20-year-old Zachary Jenson of Monroe, Washington, 20-year-old Lauren Weiner of Philadelphia and 28-year-old Eric Taylor McDavid of Foresthill, California were taken into custody in a shopping center parking lot in Auburn. The FBI says the three were acting on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front.

The FBI says the arrests were based on evidence that the three were plotting to use explosives to blow up several sites. Their alleged targets included facilities owned by the United State Forest Service, cell towers and power plants. Although, the FBI says they do not believe there was any immediate danger to the public.

The federal government calls the Earth Liberation Front an environmental terrorist group with no known leader. They have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks that have caused an estimated $40 million in damage.

This is not the first ELF arrest in Placer County. In February of last year, 21-year-old Ryan Lewis of Newcastle was arrested in connection with a series of explosive devices found at several Placer County sites. The FBI says he also was acting on behalf of the ELF.

2) Despite the bad news of the above arrests, ELP does have some good news. Italian anarchist Marco Martorana has been released from prison under house arrest.

3) Staying with the good news. British animal rights activist Jan Lawrence has been released from prison under the electronic tagging system.

4) ELP has received the following mailout from Kevin Tubbs support campaign….

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to send out an update on Kevin Tubbs. Kevin is still being housed at the Lane County Jail in Eugene, Oregon. He is awaiting transport to the federal detention center in Sheridan, Oregon, but we have no way of knowing when this will happen. This may be as soon as next week, or may be in a couple of months. In the meantime, all of the letters of support from people are really keeping Kevin’s spirits up. He tries very hard to respond to each person that he receives a letter from. Jail is a very cold and lonely place, and mail call is the highlight of the day. Check out all of Lane County Jail’s rules of correspondence. He can receive letters and cards as long as there is no glitter, stickers, staples, anything taped or glued down, etc…. Envelopes are withheld from him so please remember to also write your return address on the letter itself. (But a return address label stuck on the letter will be rejected)

Kevin turns 37 this coming Wednesday, January 18th. Please take the time to send Kevin a birthday greeting! It really means a lot to him. We would love to flood him with cards and letters from friends and strangers. It will only take a minute and it will mean so much to him! Letters can be sent to:

Kevin Tubbs #1213751
Lane County Jail
101 West 5th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401
USA

As soon as we have a new address for him we will post it to his support website, www.supportkevintubbs.org . Please continue to check the website for updates.

Kevin can use support in the form of books, letters and money. Right now, we are holding off on sending him a lot of books, because if and when he is transferred, he will not be able to take any personal belongings with him. We will post a reading wish list to his website soon.

Any donations of support can be sent to: Kevin Tubbs Support Fund c/o PO BOX 3025 Eugene, OR 97403. Checks or money orders can be made out to Kevin Tubbs. A contributory account has also been set up at Oregon Community Credit Union and donations can be deposited directly into the account that is held in trust for him. Kevin has a large family of rescued cats and dogs and is very concerned about being unable to provide for their long-term care. Any donations of support are greatly appreciated.

You can also contribute to Kevin’s commissary fund at the jail so he can buy paper, postage and other necessities. You must send money orders only, with his full name and prisoner ID number on the money order, mailed in a separate envelope from any card or letter to the same address as above.

We will send out another update as soon as he has been transferred and has a new address. Thanks for all of your support,

Friends and Family of Kevin Tubbs

5) As mentioned above, there are some very strict restrictions on what can and can not be sent to the prisoners, arrested on the 7th of December 2005, who are held at Lane County Jail. Another “rule” the jail has come up with is that NOTHING may be attached to the envelope other than stamps and address labels. Any letter which is sent to the prison which contains anything else attached to the envelope will be rejected, this includes Air Mail stickers! Just recently British ELP had copies of our newsletter, Spirit of Freedom, rejected by the prison because they arrived in envelopes that had Air Mail stickers on them! If you are writing to the 7th of December prisoners from outside America and sending your letter by Air Mail please do not use an Air Mail sticker, but instead just manually write Air Mail where the sticker should be. ELP will naturally keep you informed as to all the crazy rules Lane County Jail is coming up with.

Also just to let people know, ELP has discovered that Lane County Jail is NOT allowing the 7th of December prisoners to write to overseas supporters. Therefore if you live outside of America and have not received a reply to your letter of support, please don’t feel disappointed. Your letter was very much appreciated. Its just the prisoner isn’t allowed to reply to you. However please don’t let the fact the prisoner can not reply to your letter stop you from writing again. As mentioned above, the prisoners love receiving your letters and as Kevin’s support campaign mentions, for many prisoners the highlight of their day is when the mail arrives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Prison is a weapon used by the State to crush individuals who step out of line” (Michael Collins – former Mayday 2000 prisoner)

Support All Animal & Earth Liberation Prisoners

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
BM Box 2407, London, WC1N 3XX, England
E-Mail ELP4321@hotmail.com
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Earth Liberation Prisoners Poland
c/o E-Mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Belgium Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
E-Mail elp_bel@hotmail.com

Italian Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
E-Mail italianelp@yahoo.com
www.italianelp.net

North American Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
E-Mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkey Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
E-Mail yesilansari@yahoo.com
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

On Saturday 7th January around 60 people gathered at Middle Oak to remember the resistance against the Newbury Bypass (A34), and reveal the huge traffic growth that’s come since.

It’s ten years on Monday since the destruction of around 10,000 trees began in ernest, or rather should have done – back then protestors scored an early victory by blockading the entrance to the security compound with scaffolding tripods, thus ensuring no vehicles could leave. The start of work heralded the most full-on phase of the ‘3rd Battle of Newbury’, Britain’s biggest ever road protest, which saw over thirty different tree camps set up to oppose the road and around one thousand arrests.

This afternoon, people met at Middle Oak (one of the few trees to remain enroute – now surrounded on all sides by roads) where a memorial tree was planted and the huge list of the various different camps that resisted the road were read out – from Gotan to Rickety Bridge, from Tot Hill to Mary Hare – and a good few I never heard of at the time. There was a bunch of media in attendance, and time for chatting with old friends. Folks then walked along some of the route over towards Castle Donnington for a candle lit vigil and more sloe gin, damson wine, chocolate and more gack.

Ten years on and the same issues are still there. Research over recent years and in particular last year has shown that the Bypass has fuelled traffic growth of almost 50% (compared with a national average of 5%). Figures also show that local congestion is as bad at rush hour as it was before the building of the bypass – and that the new road encouraged more traffic.

Rebecca Lush from Road Block said in a statement:

“In 1995 we predicted the road would bring only short term relief, but even we did not anticipate that the traffic would rise again so quickly. Ten years on we are sad to see Newbury is still grid locked at rush hour, but has sacrificed its beautiful pristine countryside forever. The lessons must be learned, that building more roads generates more traffic. However the government is still building roads and encouraging traffic growth. More roads mean more traffic, which means more climate change. We must change direction, and Newbury is an example of a failed twentieth century transport policy that must never be repeated”.

The A34 Newbury Bypass was Britain’s most controversial road-building project. Local campaigners battled against the road throughout the 1980s, their efforts culminating in a public inquiry in 1988 (with a minor follow-up inquiry in 1992). When the public inquiry found in favour of the road, there followed a spectacular campaign from 1994 to 1998 that took in every form of protest, from mass letter writing and European lobbying to mass non-violent direct action and property damage.

The building of the road saw four Sites of Special Scientific Interest damaged or destroyed at Snelsmore Common, the River Kennet, the River Lambourn and the Kennet Flood Plains (previously home to the Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail, discovered during the construction of the road); as well as this the road construction also damaged the site of the First Battle of Newbury in the English Civil War in 1643, and the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Opposition to new road building, airport expansion and climate change continues today, both in the Uk and beyond – for more info see:

Road Block:
http://www.roadblock.org.uk

Road Alert:
http://www.roadalert.org.uk

—————————-

NEWBURY LINKS:

Newbury Bypass Resistance Archive:
http://www.antiroads.org.uk/newbury/factfile.html

SchNEWS on Start of Bypass Destruction 1995:
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news56.htm

Newbury Bypass Monitoring Project:
http://www.newburyproject.org.uk

West Berkshire District Council’s Newbury Movement Study (published 2005):
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/WestBerkshire/transport.nsf/pages/NewburyM11…

Newbury Bypass on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbury_bypass

Road Raging: A Manual for Resisting Road Building:
http://www.eco-action.org/rr/

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Just a few great names of the many to remember… Mary Hare – Gotan – Snelsmore – Kennet – Reddings Copse – Sheep Dip – Heartb’k Hotel – Horse Shoe – Bagnor – Middle Oak – Granny Ash – Rickety Bridge – Tot Hill – Victor Charlie – Enborne St – Enborne Row – The Chase – Birthday Party – Skyward – Castlewood – PP3 – Babble Brook – Sea View – Manic Shire – Yip!

A forest that has to be cut down for NATO-planes, is already for more then a month occupied. AWAC-planes are terrorising the local people for over 25 years. But currently a minority of politicians and police (yes they are a minority) are trying to take over the forest and chop it down.

Background:
For 25 years the inhabitants of Schinveld and Brunssum in Dutch Limburg are organising actions against the prensence of the AWACS, these tremendously noisy planes cause noise nuisance, pollution and health problems for the locals since those planes have been banned from flying in the United States for exactly those reasons.

On top of all this, NATO wants to destroy 20 hectares of forest. Because the town council refused to deliver the necessary licenses to cut down the forest, a NIMBY-procedure was set up to take away the councils decision making power. On august 3rd the minister of territorial infrastructure delivered an exemption so the ministry of defense can start cutting the trees. The council appealed that decision with the supreme court (Raad van Sate) but lost the appeal on december 2nd for the 6 hectares of forest that are the closest to the base. Thats why two days later the forest was occupied, the activists get an enourmous support from the locals.

The local mayor is in favor of cutting the forest, but the rest of the council is doing their best to fight every decision he takes. Political parties are finally after all these years standing up against the NATO, hoping to profit from the enormous support that local actiongroups and Earth First get.Thanks to the great support, the camp has built up a nice defense against the loggers. However tonight the police is preparing everything to start the evicition. The governement plans to start logging on Monday morning.

Ongoing: (top is newest)
Monday 9 January 3:16 Riot police starts sweeping the forest. People are chaoticly running around. After the first line of cops, are cops with dogs. The people in the tree huts are being left alone at the moment. It’ s unclear how many people are in lock-ons on the ground.
2:42 German police retreats, they only gave logistic support 2:34 100 German cops are giving support to their Dutch collegues
2:15 The tree camp is besieged by Dutch riot cops
2:10 Riot cops are entering the forest
1:49 20 vans of riot police arrived
1:38 Helicopter is circling above the camp

Sunday, 8 January
23:30 Riot police returned to their departure place at the back side of the Maastricht-Aachen airport.
23:15 At the Groenfront!website (Earth First) there were lots of messages from people on their way to the forest. At least 100 people.
23:06 Cops left from Roermond, there are only 6 vans left there.
22:30 A group from the fire departement of Brunssum (nearby village) are in the forest. They decided to do so when the police requested their assistance to provide light for the eviction, they refused.
22:10 There are still many people in the forest, many activists, locals and some press teams.

An overview of the earlier developments might be posted later, stay tuned…

Older newshttp://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/12/329845.htmloverview 13/12http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/330807.htmlgeneral

After three days of obstructing the whale hunt by placing inflatable zodiacs between whales and the harpoon, the Nisshin Maru rammed the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise. The whalers are counter claiming their ship was rammed by Greenpeace. The collision ocurred in the Australian Antarctic Territory in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Nisshin Maru has continued north at full speed, with the three conservationists ships in pursuit.

Both sides have said that no one was hurt in the collision, although some damage was sustained above deck and to a mast on the Arctic Sunrise.

According to an ABC report, Shane Rattenbury from Greenpeace said that the Arctic Sunrise had been observing their activists onboard inflatable zodiacs as they painted the words “whale meat from sanctuary” on the side of the Japanese supply vessel, Oriental Bluebird, shortly before the collission occurred. According to Mr Rattenbury, it appeared to be a deliberate move by the Japanese Factory ship.

“At the time we were over a kilometre from the Nisshin Maru – it had been tied up with another vessel making transfers, it then pulled away, it had to come around the vessel that it had been transferring from and had to head directly toward the Arctic Sunrise,” he said. “There were no other vessels in the area and there was no reason to head towards us, the Arctic Sunrise was virtually stopped at the time.”

“There is no way to describe this as anything but a deliberate ramming which placed the safety of our ship and the lives of our crew in severe danger.” said Rattenbury. He said that the Nisshin Maru is more than twice as long and six times heavier than the Arctic Sunrise. The impact has left the Sunrise “battered and bruised” but with no crew members were injured.

A statement on the Institute of Cetacean Research website by Director-General Hiroshi Hatanaka said the Arctic Sunrise’s bow hit the side of the Nisshin-Maru twice. “The captain of the Nisshin-Maru confirmed to ICR today that Greenpeace had rammed our vessel, which has sustained some damage. Luckily, no crewmembers were injured.”

Dr Hatanaka said the collision happened when the Nisshin-Maru was approaching the refueling ship, the Oriental Bluebird. He called for “Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd should stop at once their dangerous and criminal actions.”

Statements by both parties conflict as to when the collision occurred and who caused the collision, but the video of the incident on the Greenpeace site clearly shows the Nisshin Maru cuting across the path of the Arctic Sunrise in breach of the collision avoidance rules at sea.

On the Greenpeace Ocean Defenders Blog, Shane said:

“One minute the Nisshin Maru was tied up with the re-supply vessel, offloading whale meat, the next it was heading straight for us. I was on the phone at the time, when suddenly Arne (the captain) said, “they are coming straight at us”. I looked around and saw the Nisshin Maru bearing down. It was very surreal, their ship is so large compared to ours. Then it looked like we were going to miss. I went back to the phone interview I was doing, only to be distracted again by Arne sounding the ships horn. The next part was like it was in slow motion, the Nisshin Maru coming towards us, their crew hanging over the rails watching, until suddenly there was a loud bang, and our little ship shook. Then a second bang, as their stern swung around and caught us again. And then the strangest part – as their stern slid past, I looked up and saw that a man was standing at one of their water cannons, and as he passed by, he turned the water cannon straight at us, pouring water at the bridge of our ship.”

“So was it deliberate? I have no doubt. The Nisshin Maru turned a big circle to come around to where we were. When they started, the re-supply vessel was between us and them – they had to come around it to get to us. Why else would you make such a manoeuvre? And the guy with the water cannon – surely that was premeditated, and it was certainly an act of aggression.”

Arne, the Captain of the Arctic Sunrise, claimed the Nisshin Maru Captain was solely responsible for the collision and is in breach of the collision avoidance rules at sea. “The ship that has the other one on the starboard side has to give way. The Arctic Sunrise was on the starboard side of the Nisshan Maru. Therefore I maintained my course and speed.”

The day was also marked by the arrival on the scene of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel, the Farley Mowat.

The previous two days have been marked by Greenpeace activists obstructing the whale hunt by placing their zodiacs between the whales and the harpoon. Greenpeace have fitted fire hoses to their zodiacs to spray a shield of seawater to obstruct the sights of the harpooner.

=== Mercy Shot ===

On Friday January 6, Greenpeace were put in the position of assisting the mercy killing of a whale. The whale had been hit and was mortally wounded, but the harpoon had not set. Blood was gushing out of the whale. The Greenpeace activists in their Zodiacs fell to the back of the Yushin Maru No. 2, well out of its way – hoping the whalers would end the animal’s suffering.

A second harpoon shot missed, with the whale somehow escaping the pursuit. A second whaling hunter ship, the Kyo Maru, joined the first in the search as well as the Greenpeace ships and helicopter. According to Andrew on board the Esperanza “For a brief twisted period we found ourselves on the same side, both Greenpeace and whalers working together – maybe for different reasons, but I would like to think that they also regretted the animal’s pain.”

The Captain of the Esperanza finally located the whale and “called the whalers on the radio to tell them (in no uncertain terms) where to find it, and to finish it.” wrote Andrew.

The third harpoon set, and then a crewman aboard the whaler used a rifle to end the whales misery. The drama took nearly 30 minutes to play out.

=== Japanese Whalers cry foul over Sea Shepherd activists ===

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel, the Farley Mowat, caught up with the whaling fleet and the Japanese Factory ship, the Nisshin Maru on the 8 December, 36 nautical miles inside the Australian Antarctic Territory. The Nisshin Maru had just detached from the supply ship Oriental Bluebird, turned a full 360 degrees and rammed the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. Three inflatables and a helicopter had been despatched from the Farley Mowat at some distance away. According to a news release from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, when the Farley Mowat was less than one mile from the Japanese factory ship, the whalers began to run at full speed northward.

Greenpeace Activists had succeeded in painting on the side of the Oriental Bluebird the words “whale meat from sanctuary”, and on the stern the words “whale meat”.

As the Nisshin Maru left the scene of the collision with the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise, crew members of the Sea Shepherd in inflatables threw a fouling line as the Nisshin Maru whaling factory ship sped past, in the hope of entangling the ships propellor.

According to the Sea Shepherd website, the Farley Mowat is chasing the Nisshin Maru but but cannot match the speed of the factory ship. While the Nisshin Maru is under way at speed no whales can be transferred from the harpoon vessels. Dead whales need to be transferred to the factory ship within 32 hours. The two Greenpeace ships are also shadowing the factory ship. Thus the whale hunt continues to be disrupted.

Captain Paul Watson reported from onboard the Farley Mowat, chasing the Nisshin Maru: “They have been running all day and they have not been whaling. The whalers are now 17 miles outside of the Australia Antarctic Territory. We ordered them to leave, and they left.”

According to Sea Shepherd the factory ship appeared to be off-loading whale meat to the Panamanian registered supply ship, Oriental Bluebird. Paul Watson said : “There are sushi bars in Tokyo in desperate need of these ‘research materials’. It appears they can’t wait for the whaling fleet to return in March.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society says the Japanese whaling operation is in violation of many international laws and regulations, including:

* Violating the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.
* They are violating the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling.
* They are targeting endangered fin and humpback whales that are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (CITES).
* The Japanese are also in violation of the Australian laws protecting the Australian Antarctic Territorial waters.
* They are violating the IWC moratorium on the use of factory ships to process any protected stock which includes the whales they are hunting – minke and fin whales.

See Also:

* Greenpeace Ocean Defenders Blog
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/
* Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
http://www.seashepherd.org/index.html
* Institute of Cetacean Research website
http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm

Sources:

1. Japanese whaling ship collides with Greenpeace boat – ABC, January 8, 2006. 5:19pm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1543643.htm

2. Whalers ram Greenpeace ship (Video) Statement from Greenpeace, January 8, 2006
http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/whalers-ram-ship-111

3. Their desperate Measures by Shane aboard the Arctic Sunrise, January 8, 2006
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/01/their_desper…

4. Arctic Sunrise rammed by whaler’s factory ship by Andrew, onboard the Esperanza, January 8, 2006
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/01/arctic_sunri…

5. Mercy Shot – by Andrew, onboard the Esperanza, January 6, 2006
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/01/mercy_shot.html

6. Institute of Cetacean Research statement (PDF), January 8, 2006
http://www.icrwhale.org/eng/060108Release.pdf

7. Sea Shepherd scares off Japanese Whaling Fleet – News release January 8, 2006
http://www.world-wire.com/news/0107060001.html

8. No Whales Will Be Killed While the Chase is On – News Release from Sea Shepherd, January 8, 2006
http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_060107_2.html

Please take time to write to these recently arrested prisoners earth liberation prisoners. To receive more frequent updates on these and other prisoners email ELP4321@hotmail.com asking to subscribe.

Check out the website www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk for addresses and info on other prisoners taking action in defense of the earth and it’s inhabitants. Writing to prisoners costs you no more than a few minutes and a stamp, and it’s importance can not be emphasised enough. If you don’t know what to say visit the above website OR Brighton’s Anarchist Black Cross website:www.brightonabc.org.uk

SIX ARRESTS IN AMERICA

On the 7th December 05 police carried out a series of raids in four States across America arresting six environmentalists. The six were Chelsea Gerlach, Kevin Tubbs, Stanislas Meyerhoff, [name removed by request], Daniel McGowan and William Rodgers. Sadly, within a fortnight of his arrest, William “Bill” Rodgers ended his own life whilst in custody. At the time of their arrests all six were accused of involvement in a series of ELF & ALF direct actions which all occurred in Oregon between 1998 and 2001. William “Bill” Rodgers was personally accused of involvement in a joint ALF/ELF arson on the US Department of Agriculture research facilities in Olympia in 1998. He was also named as a suspect for the 1998 ELF arson against the ski-resort in Vail, Colorado. In addition Bill had been named as a suspect in the destruction of wild horse corals in Burns, OR and Rock Springs, Wyo.

Bill’s death is a tragedy and ELP’s thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends. But we must remind everyone that despite Bill’s death the court cases against the other defendants are continuing and it is to them we must now offer our support. The charges against the others are as follows:

Chelsea Gerlach is accused of acting as a lookout during an ALF arson on Childers Meat Co, Eugene, in 1999. She is also accused of involvement in the toppling of the Bonneville Power Administration tower, OR, in 1999. Plus she is accused of involvement in an arson against Jefferson Poplar Farm, Clatskaine, OR, in 2001. In addition to these charges, at a bail hearing, Chelsea was named as a suspect for the 1998 ELF arson against the ski-resort in Vail, Colorado.

Kevin Tubbs is accused of involvement in an ALF/ELF arson on the US Department of Agriculture research facilities in Olympia in 1998. He has also been charged with an ELF arson against an SUV dealership, Romania Truck Chevrolet in Eugene, OR in 2001.

Daniel McGowan is accused of involvement in an ELF arson on Superior Lumber Co in Glendale in 2001. He is also accused of involvement in one of the two simultaneous arsons that also occurred in 2001 against Jefferson Poplar Farm, Clatskaine, OR, and University of Washington Centre for Horticulture in Seattle.

Stanislas Meyerhoff, who has been named by Chelsea Gerlach’s lawyer as a police informant, is accused of involvement in the toppling of the Bonneville Power Administration tower, OR, in 1999. He is also accused of involvement in an ELF arson on Superior Lumber Co in Glendale in 2001. Plus he is accused of involvement in one of two simultaneous arsons that occurred in 2001 against Jefferson Poplar Farm, Clatskaine, OR and University of Washington Centre for Horticulture in Seattle. In addition to these charges, Chelsea Gerlach’s lawyer has stated that Meyerhoff has admitted involvement in the ALF arson on Childers Meat Co, Eugene, in 1999, although he has not yet been charged with this offence. Because of the allegations that Meyerhoff is a police informant ELP has removed his details from our prisoner list pending further enquiries.

Besides those actually arrested on the 7th of December, according to media, the police suspect that at least two others were involved with one or more of the above listed actions. Josephine Sunshine Overaker has been indicted on charges of conspiring to destroy the Bonneville Power Administration tower. However it would appear from the media reports that the police failed to locate Josephine during their December 7th raids. An eighth person, who has not been named by the authorities, but who has been named by one of the Defence Lawyers as Jacob Ferguson, has been declared to be a police informant who has made statements against the others. The media have suggested that Jacob Ferguson has admitted involvement in the ALF/ELF arson on the US Department of Agriculture research facilities in Olympia in 1998. He has also admitted involvement in the ELF arson on Superior Lumber Co in Glendale in 2001 and the 2001 arson against Jefferson Poplar Farm, Clatskaine, OR. In addition to this he has admitted involvement in the Childers Meat Fire in 1999. Following the arrests on the 7th of December a number of support campaigns have been set up for the individuals involved.

Chelsea’s support campaign can be contacted viafreechelseagerlach@hotmail.com
Daniel’s support campaign can be contacted viaFriendsofDanielMcG@yahoo.com
Kevin’s support campaign can be contacted viasupportkevintubbs@gmail.com

Chelsea Gerlach #1308678, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. On remand accused of involvement in a series of direct actions that occurred in Oregon between 1998 and 2001.

Daniel McGowan # 1407167, Lane County Jail, 101 West 5th Street, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. On remand accused of involvement in a series of direct actions that occurred in Oregon between 1998 and 2001.

Kevin Tubbs #1213751, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. On remand accused of involvement in a series of direct actions that occurred in Oregon between 1998 and 2001.