campaigners from the UK Tar Sands Network staged a dramatic piece of street theatre outside Chatham House. Conference attendees, including Peter Kent himself, were greeted by the disturbing spectacle of black-clad masked figures representing Canada and Shell literally ‘strangling’ climate activists. The campaigners handed out flyers and spoke to the conference attendees, questioning whether genuine solutions to climate change that would end our dependence on fossil fuels, promote climate justice and penalise highly-carbon-intensive companies could really be on the table for discussion at an event sponsored by Shell and featuring Peter Kent as a keynote speaker.
Author: earthfirst
Activists disrupt speeches by Canadian Minister and Shell Chairman
Today at a high-level conference on climate change at Chatham House, London, two activists interrupted first Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister, then Shell’s UK Chairman Graham van’t Hoff, as they got up to make speeches.
Today at a high-level conference on climate change at Chatham House, London, two activists interrupted first Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister, then Shell’s UK Chairman Graham van’t Hoff, as they got up to make speeches.
The first activist, Danny Chivers, accused Peter Kent of being a ‘dangerous radical’ and asked for him to be removed from the stage. The audience responded to the tongue-in-cheek speech – in which Kent was also referred to as an ‘agent from a rogue petro-state’ – with a mixture of laughter and heckling, and the protester was able to speak for several minutes before being removed by security.
During the intervention, Mr Chivers explained that Kent had clearly got into this climate change conference under false pretences. Far from being a leader on the issue, Kent is dedicated to promoting the highly destructive tar sands – despite the industry’s negative impact on local indigenous communities, and its potential to emit enough greenhouse gas to tip the world over the edge into runaway climate change. Kent also pulled Canada out of the Kyoto Protocol and his country continues to lobby fiercely against the inclusion of tar sands in the EU Fuel Quality Directive, which aims to reduce emissions from transport and has stalled as a result of Canada’s interference.
The second activist, Sophie Preston, then rose as Graham van’t Hoff was about to speak. She accused Shell – the sponsor of the event – of being a ‘world-class greenwasher’ whilst energetically lobbying against genuine national and international climate action. Shell is one of the largest operators in the tar sands and plans to double its production despite a legal challenge from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation who claim their treaty rights have been violated. She too was removed by security.
Earlier that morning, campaigners from the UK Tar Sands Network staged a dramatic piece of street theatre outside Chatham House. Conference attendees, including Peter Kent himself, were greeted by the disturbing spectacle of black-clad masked figures representing Canada and Shell literally ‘strangling’ climate activists. The campaigners handed out flyers and spoke to the conference attendees, questioning whether genuine solutions to climate change that would end our dependence on fossil fuels, promote climate justice and penalise highly-carbon-intensive companies could really be on the table for discussion at an event sponsored by Shell and featuring Peter Kent as a keynote speaker.
The protest follows a series of damaging revelations about how closely the Canadian government, oil companies such as Shell and BP, and some British politicians are working together to further the highly-polluting tar sands industry’s aims. Earlier this year the Fuel Quality Directive – a key piece of EU climate legislation that would discourage tar sands imports to Europe – stalled after intensive lobbying by Canada and the oil industry resulted in key member states, including the UK, not supporting it. Two weeks ago, Vince Cable, formerly Shell’s chief economist, was revealed to be ‘Contact Minister for Shell’ within the UK Coalition Government, following a Freedom of Information Request.
Danny Chivers, said ‘Inviting Peter Kent and Shell to speak at a climate change event is like asking the Cookie Monster and Homer Simpson to address a conference on healthy eating. We know that in order to have a chance of preventing runaway climate change, we need to leave the tar sands in the ground, yet Canada and Shell are intent on heavily promoting this insanely destructive industry. They are part of the problem and certainly should not be held up as experts in a discussion about effective climate solutions.’
Sophie Preston, who is a Climate Change and Policy student, said: ‘I have been to Canada and seen first-hand the devastating effects of tar sands oil extraction on the local environment and Indigenous communities whose rights are being violated. So I am very distressed to find that lobbying by Canada and Shell is now also scuppering attempts to make effective climate policy in the EU and internationally. Until it has halted all plans to expand the tar sands, Canada should be treated as a climate pariah, not invited to the table to skew the debate.’
Shell’s Tunnel Boring Machine parts delayed by lock-on
First segments eventually delivered to tunnelling compound,11 segments to come
On Thursday night Shell's efforts to move parts of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) critical to the Corrib gas project hit another delay as protesters blocked the main gate of the refinery site with a concrete lock-on.
First segments eventually delivered to tunnelling compound,11 segments to come
On Thursday night Shell's efforts to move parts of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) critical to the Corrib gas project hit another delay as protesters blocked the main gate of the refinery site with a concrete lock-on.
Two protesters from the Rossport Solidarity Camp locked themselves into a 400kg reinforced concrete barrel from 7.30pm until the Garda protest removal team finished cutting them out at about midnight. By this stage about 20 people had gathered at the gates in support, but this was out-numbered by a force of about 50 to 60 Gardaí which was clearly already planned to mobilise to move the TBM.
For the hour or two before the Gardai cordoned off the area around the lock-on, campaigners chatted drinking tea and eating scones. It was satisfying to hear that as the lock on was being set up at Shell's main refinery gate, Gardaí were searching the ditches on the Aughoose road (where most of the recent lock-ons have happened).
After the lock-on had been dealt with the Gardaí swept up its remains to clear the way for the TBM parts, then proceeded to clear the section of road outside the refinery with the usual lawless pushing and shoving. After a delay of over 2 months since the first delivery was attempted, Shell and the Gardaí finally managed to deliver some of the TBM parts to the Aughoose tunnelling compound two miles away.
The two lock-on protesters were released from Belmullet Garda station at about 4am this morning each charged with sections 8&9 (obstruction and refusing to obey the directions of a Garda when suspected of committing a crime) of the public order act, and join 5 more campaigners due to appear in court in Belmullet on November 14th.
In a recent letter to local residents Shell have said that they intend to start tunnelling in the coming weeks, but it is thought that there are still 11 sections of the TBM yet to be delivered before they can begin. There are signs that delays will continue – without any help yet another lorry delivering TBM parts went off road earlier in the week outside Bangor – after making its delivery however.
After a lie in today we headed down to remove the windmill – last vestige of the summer camp 2012. The previous week had been a massive moving effort to clear out the field and pack the camp infrastructure away for the winter. The house up the hill at Barr na Coilleadh Pullathomas is now the main camp base again for the winter. Come visit and check out the view for yourself!
See rossportsolidaritycamp.org for info about staying at the camp,
email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com or
ring 085 1141170 to let us know you're coming or for other info.
(Ukraine) Excavator torched
reported by activists in Ukraine:
reported by activists in Ukraine:
"Ukraine, Kiev. In the night of 02/10/2012 anonymous activists attacked a clearcut site on the 'Bald Mountain'. A LIEBHERR excavator fell victim to their arson. Clearcut coordinates: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=50.3891043&lon=30.5495088&z=16&l=0&m=b
We take this opportunity to report about a similar action at the same location on the 20/03/2012 (http://nature-first.info/2012/03/20/forest-svyatoshyno/)."
—
reported on http://vk.com/anarcho.ecoline:
"Tree spiking in Ternopol municipal park. Ukraine.
This act of ecotage is in response to development plans of a local construction company: it intends to destroy a public park to make room for private living blocks.
We spiked trees with huge nails, so the developer will have to bring in heavy equipment in order to destroy those trees. But construction vehicles can be taken care of as well!"
(India) Anti-Nuclear Fishermen
On 22nd September 3,000 fishermen and anti-nuclear activists aboard 500 boats attempted to blockade a port to prevent the unloading of nuclear fuel into the recently constructed Kudankulam nuclear power plant located on the Tamil Nadu coast in southern India.
On 22nd September 3,000 fishermen and anti-nuclear activists aboard 500 boats attempted to blockade a port to prevent the unloading of nuclear fuel into the recently constructed Kudankulam nuclear power plant located on the Tamil Nadu coast in southern India.
This massive power plant is a joint venture between India and Russia and houses two nuclear pressurized water reactors (PWR) reactors, with future plans to construct four additional reactors at the site.
This has resulted in a period of sustained direct action by local residents, strongly opposed to the plant's construction. Over a million people live within 30 km of the proposed plant. Over the last year demonstrators have endured severe repression as over 10,000 police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the area. Villagers have been beaten, hundreds have been arrested and some activists face charges of sedition and even of waging war against the government. In April the police cut off the water, food and power-supply to protesting villagers and imposed a curfew in the villages at the heart of the resistance.
At this point the Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Enegy (PMANE) called off their protests hoping for some respite for the people. They filed a public interest litigation against the governments civil nuclear program complaining that the plant itself was unsafe, that there has not been a public hearing and thus it is an authoritarian project imposed upon the people. Unfortunately their pleas were ignored and when the Indian government announced that the loading of fuel into the plant would begin on or around 11th September the people immediately sprung into action.
CHAIN REACTION
On 10th September thousands of anti-nuclear protesters marched towards the power plant, many were injured by the police who lobbed tear-gas shells into the crowd, while at Manappadu police fired into the crowd and a fisherman was shot and killed. On the 13th hundreds of protesters formed a human chain in the sea to protest at the loading of the fuel, staying in for two hour intervals in shifts. They demanded the release of all arrestees, compensation for those injured by the police and an end to the police repression.
One major fact is that there are more than one million people living within a 30km radius of the plant, which in the event of a disaster would make the evacuation of the population impossible. This far exceeds the recommendations of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and so the plant should never have been built there. Not that this will worry the Russian firm that supplied and built the reactor as the Indian government agreed that they will have zero liability in the event of an accident. (Similar conditions apply to power companies responsible for major civic emergencies in the UK)
Beyond their legitimate safety concerns, villagers have other reasons to be angry. The government has invested millions on a new hospital and other facilities exclusively for plant empoyees, meanwhile the rest of the locals live in squalor lacking even basic facilities such as running water.
The Indian government has attempted to discredit the movement complaining that foreign organisations are agitating the local people and that this should not be allowed. Despite all of this further demonstrations are planned for the coming weeks and they are not giving up.
Anti-nuclear activists claims major victory in mass trespass
8 October 2012
At least eight protesters have been arrested during a mass trespass at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset.
More than 50 people swooped on the perimeter fence of the land earmarked for two new EPR mega-reactors next to the existing power plant just after dawn.
8 October 2012
At least eight protesters have been arrested during a mass trespass at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset.
More than 50 people swooped on the perimeter fence of the land earmarked for two new EPR mega-reactors next to the existing power plant just after dawn.
Dozens fanned out around the 5-miles long fence while others held banners and placards outside the main security gate. A 14-foot banner reading, “Nuclear disaster zone. Boycott EDF” was hung across the gate.
At 11am a total of 577 seed balls were thrown over the fence onto the construction area in a symbolic attempt to repair the damage already caused to the land. The seed balls represent the number of days since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Around 10 people are known to be still on the land owned by EDF Energy. Many others are expected to join them later on today.
The mood has been relaxed and celebratory. “This is a major victory for the anti-nuclear movement,” said Camilla Berens, spokesperson for the Stop New Nuclear Alliance. ‘Because the government has refused to listen to us and we have been forced to raise the game. We have successfully blockaded the main entrance to Hinkley Point on two occasion in the last year and now we have accomplished a mass trespass. Our message today is that we will continue to raise the game with peaceful protest until our voice in heard.”
More info at Stop New Nuclear and Stop Hinkley
(Sweden) Swedish Forest Occupation Declares Temporary Victory
Environmental activists have been celebrating a victory on Gotland Island, off the coast of southeast Sweden, as tree felling machinery remained idle on Saturday evening.
Environmental activists have been celebrating a victory on Gotland Island, off the coast of southeast Sweden, as tree felling machinery remained idle on Saturday evening.
“It was a smart and brave decision,” field biologist Alva Snis Sigtryggsson told Swedish news agency TT. “It feels like a partial victory.”
Earlier in the day police had to use cutting equipment to remove Greenpeace protestors who had chained themselves to the machinery. The tree clearance was planned to make way for a controversial limestone quarry in the Ojnare forest adjacent to an EU designated Natura 2000 protected area.
The forestry owners’ association, Mellanskog, issued a statement indicating that the forest clearance will be stopped until after a High Court Ruling on the issue.
“We are well aware that Nordkalk has a legal right to start work here but we want to avoid long term splits and bitterness in this community where we have many members,” the association wrote.
The mining company’s communication chief, Eva Feldt, called the decision “deplorable” and blamed the country governor for putting pressure on the forestry group.
Environmental groups, including the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Greenpeace have pledged to block all attempts to open a quarry in the area which they say should be protected in line with European Union rules on biodiversity.
The Swedish Ojnare Forest has been described as unlike any other on the planet – with unique ancient pine forests, short in stature due to the cold climate, yet with individual trees up to 1000 years old, in ecosystems containing 265 endangered species. These old forests shroud the island’s unique and complex groundwater system, and their destruction will place the island’s biggest freshwater source at risk. The area’s unique natural ecosystem habitats are of high national interest for nature conservation, as the Ojnare Forest is located between and adjacent to two European Natura 2000 conservation areas, and is proposed to become a National Park. The Ojnare Forest and its natural ecosystems are under attack by a large open pit limestone mine that would cover 420 acres with a 26 meter deep toxic hole.
Over the objections of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, and despite appeals to the Supreme Court, preparatory work for the mine is already underway. There is a major forest protest occupation ongoing at Gotland Island against this logging and mining. Protesters have been occupying Ojnareskogen since July, and in recent days some 70 police officers have come to remove them, and the number of protestors has risen to over 100 – ranging from self-described rebels against ecocide, to families with small children. Despite having already started clearing land for in excess of what had been approved, Mellanskog decided on Saturday to suspend the ongoing logging on Gotland pending a decision from the Supreme Court. While a positive development, protest continues until the logging and entire project are cancelled.
Although the acutely threatened area is “only” 170 hectares in size, the case reveals Sweden’s weak forest protection legislation and possible resource allocation corruption. Only a few percent of Sweden’s high conservation value forests remain, and only 3.3 percent of the productive forest area is protected. The verdict in this case will be used by other corporations to clearcut and exploit other old natural ecosystems in the country. Ecological Internet has a long history of successfully supporting local Scandinavian old-growth forest protection movements. In 2009, our network sent 1,117,294 protest emails in a successful campaign stopping industrial development in 80% of Finland’s Central Lapland wilderness, covering tens of thousands of hectares. Few thought such protections were possible, yet with strong local organizing backed up by EI’s unprecedented global network’s international campaign, it was one of many great victories for Earth’s old forests.
(USA) Hudson Valley Earth First! Continue to Resist Fracking in New York
Residents in western Orange County began fighting the project over a year ago, and have taken every legal step possible. FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) approved the project with a 3 to 2 vote, unprecedented in their history as a rubber stamping revolving door for industry. The split decision was the result of an alternative site proposed by residents, which would involve the expansion of an already existing compression facility. With their decision, FERC confirmed what we already knew, that when the interests of industry come up against community, the government is no ally. The gas industry has plans to turn Minisink and Western Orange County into a hub for operations, with another compression station and an $800 million dollar natural gas power plant already in the early stages of regulatory approval.
The community, however, has no plans to bow to industry or FERC. They have responded with a promise for daily action. On day 1, the site was successfully blockaded for over half the day, and only one resident was arrested (he was released within 2 hours with a ticket for disorderly conduct). On day 2, there were numerous work stoppages as a result of soft blockades (one brave individual was arrested), vehicular intervention, and the actions of one resident who jumped on top of a piece of heavy machinery (and amazingly managed to avoid arrest). On day 3, around 75 people, including many children and local families marched from the site through town and back again to continue to spread awareness about the toxic compressor station and strengthen resolve. On Day 4, a flash mob stopped traffic to the site for about an hour, with CBS news coming to cover the story. As we approach the 5th day, it remains to be seen how this campaign will escalate in the near future.
One thing is certain; no one in this area saw resistance of this magnitude coming. Hopefully this signals a sea change in the way things have been in the Hudson Valley. This bio-region has suffered enough suburbanization, gentrification, pollution, and downright dirty dealing. From Indian point (the nuclear plant with no evacuation plan) to PCBs, natural gas infrastructure to green-washed incinerator projects, we are here to let it be known that the heyday of industry is over. No compressor station! No compromise! Long live the Indiana Bat!
The next day of action is this Saturday (10/6/12) with another march, followed by a direct action training presented by Hudson Valley Earth First!
excavator torched, trees spiked in the Ukraine
reported by activists in Ukraine:
"Ukraine, Kiev.
Excavator torched.
reported by activists in Ukraine:
"Ukraine, Kiev.
Excavator torched.
In the night of 02/10/2012 anonymous activists attacked a clearcut site on the 'Bald Mountain'. A LIEBHERR excavator fell victim to their arson. Clearcut coordinates: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=50.3891043&lon=30.5495088&z=16&l=0&m=b
We take this opportunity to report about a similar action at the same location on the 20/03/2012 (http://nature-first.info/2012/03/20/forest-svyatoshyno/)."
—
reported on http://vk.com/anarcho.ecoline:
"Tree spiking in Ternopol municipal park. Ukraine.
This act of ecotage is in response to development plans of a local construction company: it intends to destroy a public park to make room for private living blocks.
We spiked trees with huge nails, so the developer will have to bring in heavy equipment in order to destroy those trees. But construction vehicles can be taken care of as well!"
Reclaim Hinkley – 8 October 2012 – MASS TRESPASS, MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
No New Nuclear – International call out
Join us in an act of mass civil disobedience as we trespass on the proposed site of Hinkley C nuclear power station in Somerset.
No New Nuclear – International call out
Join us in an act of mass civil disobedience as we trespass on the proposed site of Hinkley C nuclear power station in Somerset.
EDF Energy is already trashing fragile Somerset countryside in preparation for the Hinkley C nuclear power station – even though it hasn’t got planning permission to start building.
SOWING THE SEEDS OF DISSENT
This mass action is for anyone who feels able to publicly trespass – or bear witness to the mass trespass by joining us around the perimeter fence. We need people who are prepared to be arrested.
We also need people to support those who are trespassing by gathering around the perimeter fence. We will be providing legal briefings and support for any trespassers who are arrested.
Our aim is to make the trespass as safe and dignified as possible. All our activities are bound by the principles of non-violent direct action. We are holding a camp immediately before the trespass so that everyone involved has a voice in planning the action itself.
On the day of the trespass, we will attempt to reintroduce some of the biodiversity that has been stripped through EDFs premature preliminary works.
Once inside we will scatter wildflowers and other species native to this site. By showing your support for an end to nuclear power, you are part a growing movement that is exposing this corrupt government policy that puts profits before safety.
EDF is Eagerly Destroying Fields even though it doesn’t yet have permission to build the reactors – nor does it have approval for the reactor design, or even a final investment decision.
The new EPR reactor design will produce radioactive waste that is so toxic that it will have to be stored on site for over 100 years. The dangers associated with flooding, terrorist attack and accidental leakage are totally unacceptable.
NO MORE NUCLEAR BAILOUTS
The movement against the government's so-called 'nuclear renaissance' is winning….but we must keep up the pressure. Out of the eight new nuclear power stations supported by the coalition government when it came into power, only two are still on the table: Hinkley in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk.
French-owned EDF Energy – the owner of Hinkley and Sizewell – is pressuring the government to increase the range of hidden subsidies on offer in a desperate bid to attract interest from sceptical investors. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN.
If EDF gets its way, it will be a double whammy for us – and for future generations. It will mean we pay twice: once as taxpayers and once as consumers through our energy bills.
We say put the £60bn earmarked for 'new nuclear' into a cleaner, greener, fairer future. The way forward is through energy reduction and greater investment into research and development to make renewable energy and energy storage fit for the 21st century.
We need to create a long term sustainable energy plan that is based on meeting people's needs rather than making profits for investors. In May, energy secretary Charles Hendry told ministers at a select committee hearing that the government’s energy policy would be robust enough without including nuclear in the mix. It's time we moved energy policy forwards rather than backwards.
NUCLEAR IS NOT THE ANSWER
….Chernobyl
The crisis is far from over: the sarcophagus covering the doomed Russian reactor is falling apart. Only this year, governments finally approved the funding for a new one. The human population in the most heavily contaminated territories is in decline. In Belarus 80% of children were born healthy before Chernobyl. Now, just 26 years later, only 20% of children are born healthy.
…..Fukushima
Thanks to people power, all of Japan's reactors have now been turned off. For the first time in over half a century Japan is nuclear free. However, the crisis at Fukushima is far from over.
- The Japanese people are footing the bill. The company behind the power station, Tepco, has had to be re-nationalised because of the spiralling cost of compensation and the ongoing attempts to stabilise the reactors.
- Many people are still living in heavily contaminated areas that should have been evacuated.
- Food across Japan is heavily contaminated and people are being encouraged to support the farmers of Fukushima by eating it.
- The triple meltdown is still in full swing.
- All of the fuel pools in reactors 1,2,3 & 4 are in bad condition.
- The pool in reactor 4 is of particular concern. Thousands of highly radioactive spent fuel rods are at risk of further explosions. If such an event occurs, high levels of radioactive contamination could spread as far as Tokyo and wipe out Japan's commercial infrastructure.
WE WANT A FUTURE, NOT A DISASTER
More information coming soon.
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