Author: earthfirst

Anti Linslade Bypass Protestors go to Road Builders Bucks County Council

Linslade council banner hang

Protestors against the Linslade Bypass today took there protest to the Bucks County Council Offices in Aylesbury, hanging a large banner on a car park opposite the council offices reading Challenge Car Culture. (Oh the irony!)

Challenge Car Culture! – The banner opposite Bucks County Council Offices.

The protest was held to time with Bucks County Councils efforts in the High Court today to get a ruling forbidding further protests on the site, and was also at the same time as head of transportation Garret Emerson was holding a meeting with Bedfordshire County Council regarding the Bypass.

The aim of the protest was to show opposition to the construction of the Linslade bypass and secondly to encourage the council to develop a transport policy based upon increased support for public transport and local facilities. For example new housing (if really necessary) could be based around a reopened east-west rail link and express inter-town bus routes. It is hoped that the protest will also give encouragement to the more Eco-minded members of the Council to put across their views more strongly.

The banner was visible to anybody working within the main council office tower and would have would have been visible to anybody working within the council offices. Unfortunately as the banner was tied to the side of a private car park it was taken down by security within about 20 minutes, however those present felt it was there long enough to make a significant impact. The protest also got good local press and was covered by the Bucks Herald, Mix 96 Radio and BBC local radio.

4 security guys turned up to remove the banner and escorted the two protestors from the car park. Although technically within their rights as the protest was on private property, they were slightly mob handed in their actions. Where as the police on facing a situation like this will usually politely ask what you are doing and give you a chance to take down a banner yourselves, these guys moved in with little preamble and started to tear down the banner. Fortunately pleading with them worked to a small extent, as we were able to rescue the banner from their knives for use on another occasion.
Also to be fair to them they are probably paid very poor wages and are unlikely to be given training as to what to do in such situations.

Watch this space, more protest against the bypass will follow!
More people willing to get involved in action against the road always wanted. See road alert for contact details.http://www.roadalert.org.uk/

Peat processing plant sabotaged, Somerset

At the end of 2004 a peat processing plant near Glastonbury, Somerset, was sabotaged. The Plant processed peat for several companies distributing to Garden Centres. The peat was extracted from areas in and near 5 different Sites of Special Scientific Interest for their ecological value. These sites were within an Area of outstanding Natural Beauty.

Two large bulldozers, and a turbo engined packing machine had their engines destroyed. A catapilar tracked bulldozer and a JCB excavator had their engines sabotaged. All electrical cut outs for the processing plant were switched off and sealed. Over 200 palets of peat sacks for three different companies had their bags slashed (well over 1000 sacks). This action was taked in defence of the wild species of Somerset. Take action!

Solid Energy HQ Lawns Dug Up (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Solid Energy HQ mined

More than 20 members of the  SHVC and others arrived at the Solid Energy headquarters in Christchurch and proceeded to dig for coal under their front lawn. As a parady of Solid Energy’s mitigation plans, people dressed as kiwi entered the building and attempted to “relocate” Solid Energy staff so that the mining efforts outside could proceed. Everyone managed to get away before the police arrived, and the efforts were replayed on TV3 news that night

Angels Disrupt Nanotech Conference and Present ‘Can of Worms’ Award to former Monsanto Man.

A host of heavenly angels from THRONG (The Heavenly Righteous Opposed to Nanotech Greed) appeared today unto a nanotechnology business conference in order to bestow a “Can of Worms” Award on a representative of the Nanotechnology Industry. Chosen to receive the award was Mr Harry Swan, formerly of Monsanto, who is Nanotechnology manager of Britain’s leading producer of carbon nanotubes, Thomas Swan & Co.

Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the levels of atoms and molecules (a million nano-angels can dance on the head of a pin), is being touted to Industry as “the next big thing” despite major concerns over its safety and disruptive societal impacts.

Holding a banner that read “Nanotechnology – its not big and its not clever”, a dozen angels sang a melodic chorus of “Hark the throng of angels sing, Nanotech’s a dodgy thing” as the “Can of Worms” award was presented by THRONG archangel Sarah Phimn. She cautioned delegates against the foolish attempt to rush nanotechnology to market: “Where these nano fools rush in we angels fear to tread”, she said.

The “Nanotechnology – Delivering Business Advantage” conference is intended to convince UK businesses to adopt this controversial set of technologies. The conference, featuring speakers from arms company BAE and chemical giant ICI, is in part sponsored by The Institute of Nanotechnology – a UK Nanotech Trade Group whose backers include GM crop company Syngenta, food giant Unilever and defence contractor Qinetiq.

“The same greedy corporations who messed with the genetic basis of life are now seeking to alter and privatize nature right down to the atomic level”, explained THRONG spokesangel Pandora Spocks. “We want to warn companies attending this conference that getting into nanotech is really not a clever idea – for society or their business”

This is the first in what is hoped to become an annual “Can of Worms” award ceremony. This year’s prizewinner, Harry Swan, is very familiar with opening cans of worms: He was responsible for Monsanto’s public relations attempt to convince the public to accept GM foods – just a small taste of the bigger controversy over nanotechnology still to come.

Notes to Editors:

– For more details, photos and video contact Gabriel: +44(0)7746 411539
email: angelsagainstnanotech@crapmail.com

– Copies of the information given to delegates and of Sarah Phimns award presentation speech will be available at http://angelsagainstnanotech.blogspot.comand www.indymedia.org.uk

– Details of the conference can be found athttp://www.imeche.org.uk/

– The Institute of Nanotechnology can be reached atwww.nano.org.uk

– THRONG are not affiliated with THONG (but we offer them a tip o’ the hat!) seehttp://www.chicagothong.org/nanocommerce.php?photo=061

 

Award Speech given by Sarah Phimn, THRONG Archangel, at “Nanotechnology-Delivering Business Advantage” conference, Bucks UK – 9th Dec 2004

“Brothers and sisters
Be not afraid. We have tidings of great importance. We are here on behalf of THRONG (The Heavenly Righteous Opposed to Nanotech Greed) to hand over the first ever “Can of Worms Award” to a representative of the nanotech industry.

We have been watching the earthly plain for many millennia and from the firmament we have noticed of late many fools rushing into the great nanotechnology gamble. This causes us much concern. Those we see rushing into nanotech include: the great foolish armies of the world; the foolish US president and of course the transnational companies fresh from making foolish things such as weapons (like BAE Systems), pesticides (like BASF) and GM Crops (Syngenta).
Where these nano fools rush in, we angels fear to tread.

Our angelic host will pass out amongst you hymnals to explain our concern.

And its not just us in the heavenly high getting our halos in a twist about small things. Environmental groups, the insurance industry, trade unions … why even royals and royal societies are issuing stern warnings:
– about the toxicity of nanoparticles.
– about the military use of nanotechnologies.
– about how nanosensors will increase control and surveillance.
– about how nanotechnology will strengthen corporate power.
– about patents on matter.
– about circumventing disability rights.

It is clear to us that the emerging field of Nanotechnology is an almighty can of worms fraught with problems, dangers and, lets face it, really bad PR problems..

And so we are here to present the first ever Can of Worms Award to:
Mr Harry Swan (of Thomas Swan and Co.)

Now.. you might not all realise but Harry is no stranger to opening messy cans of worms.

He was PR spokesperson for Monsanto. He had the job of convincing the British public that they wanted GM foods. Oops!
Later Harry took a job with a company that helps big oil and biotech companies attack environmental and human rights groups. tut tut!

But with an unerring nose for new cans of worms, Harry has now returned to the family firm to stake its future on becoming the UK’s major producer of carbon nanotubes – toxic asbestos-like fibres.

Harry, with neither regulations, safety tests or a clear liability regime in place for nanotechnology we can already hear those worms squirming .. You are a very deserved winner of this can of worms..
But really we would advise you NOT to open it….”

 

A Nano-hymn

Hark the throng of angels sing, nanotech’s a dodgy thing
Piece by piece the world defiled
Godlike science running wild
Careful al ye people wise
Nano could be your demise
We will not cooperate
With your corporate nano-state
Hark the throng of angels sing, nanotech’s a dodgy thing

Leaflet at:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/12/302569.pdf More info from:
http://angelsagainstnanotech.blogspot.com/

Video at:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/12/302638.wmv

Battle of Sherwood commences as Under-sheriff risks protestors lives

Eviction Aruga!! Sherwood eviction

Eviction underway at Sherwood Green Protest site, Nottinghamshire – Under-Sheriff risks tunnellers’ lives, trees protestors have been cleared, tree-felling underway.

After over 14 months spent protecting a village green from illegal destruction. Protesters in Sherwood forest are facing the toughest day – Police turned up without warning at 8 this morning and started to evict them.

The trees were evicted quite fast , but there is a tunnel network that will take far longer. The tunnels are well stocked and extremely well defended.

No notice was given that the evictions were to take place and the Under-Sheriff of Nottingham (whose ultimately in charge of evictions in the area) told the protesters only last week, that there would not be an eviction while legal cases were still outstanding.

Protesters and local people are currently trying to prevent the police from getting near the tunnels to stop any further destruction of the village green.

As this release goes out, the beech tree which is at least a couple of hundred years old is facing the axe.

Several people are known to be in tunnels, local residents watch in anger, and the Nottinghamshire Police who previously assured them that no tree-felling would take place until the tunnels had been evicted, have now allowed felling to commence  of very large mature trees, directly above the siting of the tunnels which could cause a fatal tunnel collapse.

For information telephone: Olan Trust 08708 080 080 or Fax: 08708 080 081

www.sherwoodgreen.net

Peat Excavation Site Sabotaged – Chat Moss

Earlier this year a peat excavation works at Chat Moss near Manchester was Sabotaged. The site where the extraction was taking place was of high ecological value and in the vacinity of a wildlife Site of Scientific Importance. Peat bogs also have great value as Co2 sinks.

Under cover of a gale people entered the peat excavation site at Chat Moss. A turbo engined peat cutter and a catapilar tracked excavator both had their engines destroyed. Locks on workshops, storage area and office all had their locks sealed. This action was taken in defense of the wild. It was easy, anybody could do it all it takes is the will to act!

Sherwood Forest Camp on High Eviction Alert

Sherwood Back Off Bellway

Sherwood Forest protest camp at Mansfeild Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire are on high eviction Alert after they have been issued new Papers earlier this week, Balifs and unmarked security vans are now patrolling the area and equipment is being delived to site.
The camp expects to be evicted very soon. They need people to act now, get on camp

According to people on site they could be evicted within the week, or by christmass. there is lots of activity and desperatly need help in preperations and to have people on site as once the cordon goes up you won’t get in. So get on camp as soon as possible.
If you are not on the phone tree call the SUMAC centre on 0845 4589595 or the site 07800 501248
Website and maps etc.http://www.veggies.org.uk/sherwood/index.htm

They obviously need climbing tat, materials and food etc.

Solidarity Action for Nine Ladies

Early this morning activists blocked Stancliffe Stone a subsidiary of Marshalls PLC for three and a half hours using two tripods.

The action was done to show that regardless of the camp being evicted from 9 Ladies site, that Marshalls or Stancliffe Stone are still very easy to shut down and that activists can cause economic damage in a peaceful non violent way.

Nanotech conference at Leeds’ Royal Armouries disrupted at lunchtime today (Friday 12th November)

At lunchtime today, a meeting of companies involved in nanotechnology industries was invaded and disrupted by a group of people opposed to technologies of social control.

The protest took 3 main parts. Firstly, an information gathering exercise to gain further details of who is involved in what, for future actions. Secondly, the hall was visited and made extremely unplesant by a well-known substance for stinking out conferences: comfrey in water left to rot for a couple of months, and fish bait. visitors to the hall an hr after said people were holding their noses and not staying, and the smell was hideous. Leaflets were also given out. The third aspect was the seizing of the tannoy and a communique being read out. This coincided with a talk on nanotech which drowned it out, and was heard in every room through the museum. Leaflets were also scattered down. Two of these people were held by security until the police arrived, took down the name and address and date of birth that the two claimed were theirs, quick check to make sure there was no warrant on the names given, and then released.

Nanotechnology is the newest weapon against diversity, rebellion, difference, autonomy and freedom. The US military is, of course, the biggest investor as it tries to ensure total domination of all life on the planet. The British government has also invested £90 million in nanotechnology and most industries and universities* are developing interests in the field.

Genetic engineering was recognised as having massive social and ecological implications and this ensured worldwide resistance against it. Nanotechnology, which has the ability to transform all matter, has far more dramatic effects and needs drastic action to confront this new assault on diversity of life.

Nanotech, and its links to biotechnological, informational and cognitive sciences, provides the state with yet more tools with which to control all dissent and iron out all life into a homogeneous, manipulable mass. Be it advances in surveillance technologies, the ability to disable neural transmitters and break apart DNA strands by remote control, artificially create ‘workaholism’ in labourers, or ‘stamp out’ physical and mental difference, nanotechnology puts mind control, body control, social control and control of the natural world more firmly in the hands of the state, the corporations and the ruling elite.

Just as biotechnology was sold to us as a green technology that would feed the world, so nanotech is being heralded. Both instinct and reason tell us to take action against these new technologies before we lose our last liberties to them.

Leeds action is a UK first!

However, we were beaten by North Americans taking their clothes off in October – Action in Chicago by THONG at nanocommerce 2004 – (Topless Humans Organised for Natural Genetics) – see
http://www.chicagothong.org/nanocommerce.php?photo=061 for amusing photos and also
http://nanobot.blogspot.com/2004/10/nano-industry-hits-bottom.html for industry reaction
and before that, a 30 Jan 2004 protest of the groundbreaking of the Molecular Foundry, a new Dept of Energy nanochemistry facility at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in Berkeley, CA USA;

and those pesky Continental-types:
actions/protest against nanotech/converging technologies in Grenoble by piecesetmaindoeuvre (anti tech activists – disrupting nano-conferences) – seewww.piecesetmaindoeuvre.com

* These are easy targets
* Get scared, then get active!

FURTHER INFO ON NANOTECH:

For those who, like many of us, have buried our heads in the sand about this new technology, but have decided it is time to learn and to act, the following information should assist:

http://www.etcgroup.org – campaigning but non-radical group with info on nanotech; see ‘The Big Down’ report
http://www.wtec.org/ConvergingTechnologies/Report/NBIC_frontmatter.pdf– info from the “other side”
http://www.leedsef.org.uk/atomtech.htm – earth first! website with an 8 page nanotech article somewhere on it!

Another Director Resigns from ‘Bridge Across the Bay Co’

Prof. Bill Davies has announced his resignation from the notorious ‘Bridge Across the Bay Company’ after protests last week at the Lancaster Enivironment Centre.

Lancaster Earth First! have been informed that Professor Bill Davies, who was one of the directors for the company investigating the possibility of building an 11mile bridge across Morecambe Bay from Heysham to Barrow has sent an email explaining that he is no longer a director of the company.

Visit Lancasteraction.co.uk for latest updates…
earthfirst@lancasteraction.co.uk