Animal Rights/Liberation – Page 21

Charges dropped against 14-year old & dad who tied themselves to Japanese Embassy

A 14-year-old anti-whaling campaigner arrested at the Japanese embassy has condemned a decision to drop charges.

Sophie Wyness was arrested with her father Martin, 50, after tying themselves to a staircase inside the London building on 24 January.

Criminal trespass charges against the pair, from Hereford, were dropped for “evidential reasons”.

However, the schoolgirl claimed the case was dropped to avoid damaging commercial ties with Japan.

Sophie said: “If they have resources to spend on trivial prosecutions like this, they should really be putting them into the fight against Japan’s barbaric whaling industry, which is illegal under international law.”

A spokesman for the CPS said it had dropped the charges for “evidential reasons”.

He said: “After further review it was decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

But Mr Wyness, a shop worker, said he and his daughter were guilty and had gone to court expecting to be sentenced.

“This is clearly a travesty and is bringing British law into disrepute.

“They’re saying lack of evidence and yet we were guilty. They have all the evidence they want for a conviction.”

District Judge Quentin Purdy lifted an order at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court banning the publication of Sophie’s name, after legal representation from the BBC.

After the court hearing Sophie and her father delivered a letter to the Japanese embassy asking the ambassador to put pressure on his government to end whaling.

Security staff at the embassy stopped the pair entering the building, but agreed to pass the letter on.

Sea Shepherd Launches Operation Migaloo II / Sharkwater Film released on Feb. 22 / Planktos Ocean Dumping Scheme Defeated

The Hunt for the Japanese Whale Poachers Resumes…

Press Release: 02/13/2008

After twelve days of repairs, refueling, re-crewing, re-supplying and re-provisioning, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin is returning to the Southern Ocean. The estimated time for departure is 2000 hours Melbourne time on Thursday February 14.

The Hunt for the Japanese Whale Poachers Resumes…

Press Release: 02/13/2008

“A special thank-you to Australia,” said Captain Paul Watson. “You helped to send the Steve Irwin back to sea as a Valentine’s Day gift to the whales.”

Donations of money for fuel, donations of food and supplies flooded onto the decks of the whale conservation ship during the brief stay in Victoria docklands.

“We are anxious to return to the coast of Antarctica,” said Sea Shepherd cook Amber Paarman from South Africa. “Every moment that we are not on the tail of the Japanese fleet means that the lives of the whales are in peril.”

The Steve Irwin intends to harass and intervene against illegal Japanese whaling for the next four to five weeks. This should stop them to the end of the whaling season. The fleet’s operations were shut down for more than three weeks in January. Sea Shepherd intends to shut them down again.

“In January we prevented them from slaughtering whales for three weeks, we cost the Japanese over two million dollars in fuel during the pursuit and we exposed their illegal whaling activities worldwide and most importantly we got the story into the Japanese media. This provoked a real debate in Japan on the cost of whaling to Japan’s reputation,” said Captain Paul Watson.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society does not intend to surrender the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to the poachers. After this season, Captain Paul Watson is working to secure a 2nd ship with the objective of mounting a non-stop pursuit for the 2008/2009 whaling season.

The Steve Irwin dropped off 16 volunteer crewmembers in Melbourne on February 2nd and 19 volunteers have joined the crew. Eleven crewmembers have been with the campaign from the beginning.

The 32 crew, 8 women and 24 men returning to the Southern Oceans represent 10 different nationalities. In addition to 15 Australians, crewmembers have joined from New Zealand, Canada, the U.S.A., Sweden, South Africa, the Netherlands, the U.K. Spain, and Japan.

http://www.seashepherd.org
================================

Award winning documentary Sharkwater will have its theatrical release in the United Kingdom on February 22. In the film, shark conservationist Rob Stewart teams up with Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd to combat the shark fin mafia in Costa Rica and the Galapagos.

“This is a film that will forever shatter the stereotypical myths that surround sharks. Where Jaws taught people to hate and fear sharks, Rob Stewart’s passionate masterpiece will have people loving and caring for these important animals,” praises Captain Watson.

Full details: www.sharkwater.com www.seashepherd.org

UK THEATRICAL RELEASE SCHEDULE
ALL VENUES PREMIERING 22nd FEBRUARY
London
Apollo Cinema
19 Regent Street London, SW1Y 4LR

Regions
Birmingham Showcase
Kingsbury Road (A38) Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9QE

Bristol Showcase
Avon Meads, St. Phillips Causeway, Bristol, BS2 0SP

Cardiff Showcase
Heol-Yr-Odyn, Park Nantgarw, Trefforest Industrial Estate, Nr Pontypridd, CF15 7QX

Hull Odeon
Kingston Park, Kingston Street, Hull, HU1 2TX

Glasgow East Showcase
Barrbridge Leisure Centre, Coatbridge, Glasgow, G69 7TZ

Norwich Odeon
Riverside Leisure Park, Wherry Road, Norwich, NR1 1XA

Nottingham Showcase
Redfield Way, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2UW

Leeds/Bradford Odeon
Gallagher Leisure Park, Thornbury, Bradford, BD3 7AT

Manchester Showcase
Hyde Road (A57), BellVue, Manchester, M12 5AL

================================

Planktos Ocean Dumping Scheme Defeated by Anti-Whalers

News release: Sea Shepherd
02/14/2008

Our campaign against Planktos Inc. is over. The controversial plan to dump hundreds of tons of iron ore dust into the ocean in a bizarre scheme to seed plankton blooms has been abandoned by the Planktos corporation of California.

This is a victory against a corporate carbon trading scheme that had no scientific credibility.

This is from the February 13th, 2008 edition of the New York Times” ( http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/commercial-ocean-fertilization-project-
halted/index.html?ref=technology):

“Planktos, the California company trying to turn a profit by fertilizing the ocean with iron dust, pulled the plug on planned field tests on Wednesday, citing a lack of funds. At the company’s Web site, planktos.com, a simple notice blamed the shutdown on a “highly effective disinformation campaign waged by anti-offset crusaders.”

The business plan had been to sell “carbon offset” credits earned by triggering blooms of phytoplankton that, in theory, would absorb a predictable amount of the climate-warming gas carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and then sink to the seabed. The credits would be sold to companies or individuals trying to compensate for unavoidable emissions of carbon dioxide (from driving, flying, and the like).

Plankton blooms happen naturally when dust containing iron settles on ocean waters where a lack of iron otherwise prevents plankton from thriving. Huge blooms have resulted after dust from the Sahara Desert blows over the Atlantic, for example. But efforts to replicate the process artificially have met with strong opposition from environmental groups. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which for years has confronted, and sometimes rammed, whaling and fishing vessels had threatened to block a fertilization effort by Planktos last summer near the Galapagos Islands, forcing it to change plans.

A number of marine and climate scientists have also opposed commercial fertilization efforts, for various reasons. In a “joint policy statement” published in the journal Science last month, a group of researchers from around the world said trade in carbon credits earned this way was premature “unless research provides the scientific foundation to evaluate risks and benefits.”

The Planktos vessel Weatherbird II has been stuck in port on the Portuguese island of Madeira after months of revised plans and failed efforts to attract more investors. Financial troubles had been mounting for months. On Wednesday, the company said it had called back the vessel and its crew.

The Planktos statement said:
“Management has also radically downsized the company’s staffing while the board of directors has formed a new committee to explore all options currently available. Options include a possible re-launch of planned marine operations, pending additional financing or new partnerships, as well as the possible pursuit of other promising business opportunities in the environmental sphere.
The board of directors continues to believe in the urgent ecological necessity of its ocean restoration plans and the scientific speciousness of objections voiced to date. However, ideological hostility to and misrepresentations of this work will continue to stymie progress until the true gravity of our climatic and ocean crises is more widely understood.”

The Sea Shepherd Position:
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society opposed the iron ore dust dumping scheme because it was condemned by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States and was in fact a violation of United States and International regulations on the dumping of materials at sea. The scheme was also opposed by the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Ministry of the Environment of Ecuador.

Sea Shepherd did not make any judgment on the scientific merits, if any, of the scheme. We acted because the dumping was a violation of Ecuadorian, American and International law.

In August of 2007, Sea Shepherd blocked the plan in the Galapagos. In November 2007, Sea Shepherd confronted the Planktos vessel in Bermuda forcing it to move onto Madeira.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society would like to thank Planktos for acknowledging our opposition as the reason for the abandonment of this scheme.

Will dumping iron ore dust into the sea stimulate plankton blooms? Will increased plankton blooms sequester more carbon dioxide? We don’t know but the answers need to be found in the lab before using the living ocean as a testing facility. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is not in a position to determine scientific merit. We can only act upon the recommendations of scientific bodies and law enforcement agencies. As a partner with the Galapagos National Park and the Ecuadorian National Environmental Police we acted in accordance to their opposition to this scheme and we agreed with the EPA in the USA, and the Darwin Research Centre in the Galapagos, that the Planktos scheme lacked sufficient scientific credibility.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will continue to monitor this kind of activity and will intervene if the plans do not demonstrate tested scientific experiments that show such plans are safe for marine life.

http://seashepherd.org

Meat on climate action in Sweden

5 February.

5 February. Some 30 activists from Klimax-Stockholm and Green Youth staged a protest outside the office of Swedish Meat, a major meat corporation, to highlight the severe effects the industry is having on our climate. The activists were dressed as the bosses of Swedish Meat, while frying planet earth in a fire exhumed by a cow. Car traffic was blockaded for a while, before the activists enjoyed a vegetarian pick-nick in front of the office.

Support the Eco-Prisoners – Imbolc 2008 – they’re in there for us out here, please write

Spirit of Freedom
(February 2008)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening words and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!”
(Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the February 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. As we enter February so we await three major events. First off, Jeff ‘Free’ Luers is due to be re-sentenced. We hope its good news. Secondly, Eric McDavid is also due to be sentenced. As soon as Eric has been sentenced we urge everyone to send him letters of support. And thirdly, the police informant Jacob Ferguson is also due to be sentenced. His cowardly deals and treachery means he won’t be sent to prison. But we await with interest to see what sentence this piece of scum does receive. If anyone hears, please do let ELP know. But whilst we await those three sentencings, please don’t forget all the other eco-prisoners. Remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, CS# 05850722, Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center, 4216 Wilkinson Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2, Canada. On remand accused of involvement with an arson on logging trucks and an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. Both arsons occurred in the USA. Tre is fighting his extradition to the USA.

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO 81002, USA. Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. On one of the vehicles the letters ELF was spray-painted.

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600 Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. Serving 18 years. 1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations. 2) Eight years for the murder of a Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.

Rod Coronado – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Ibai Ederra, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 – Iruñez – Pamplona, Navarra (España), Spain. Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Jeffrey Luers, #1306729, Lane County Adult Corrections, 101 West 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401-2695, USA. Awaiting resentencing. Originally sentenced to 22 years & 8 months for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck.

Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E 231A, Sacramento County Main Jail, 651 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. Awaiting sentencing having been found guilty of planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants.

Daniel McGowan #63794-053, Unit I, FCI Sandstone, Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072, USA. Serving 7 years for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an old growth logging corporation. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Christopher McIntosh #30512-013, FCI Fairton, PO Box 420, Fairton, NJ 08320, USA. Serving 8 years for setting fire to a McDonald’s restaurant.

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera (PV), Italy. Il Silvestre activist serving 2½ years. 1) 18-months for burgling and firebombing a multinational company. 2) 12-months for organising an anti-GM protest. Costanino is also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Julio Villanueva, C.P. Prision De Pamplona, 31080, Iruna (Navarra), Spain.
Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F, Dublin, CA 94568, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

Jon Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to his involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. Jailed for breaching her parole conditions imposed on her for telling a fox hunting murdering scum what she thought of them. Also awaiting trial accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Nathan Block – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK4 4DA, England. On remand accused of involvement with an arson and blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Victorville Medium I Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 48 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Rod Coronado, Voice of the Earth, PO Box 732, Tucson, AZ 85702, USA. Due to be sentenced to one-year imprisonment after Rod informed people how to make an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering.

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution, Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Downview, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PD, England. Serving 5½ years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following the damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life Science.

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA. Serving 36 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072 USA. Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution, 37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA. Sentenced to 51 months for an ALF arson on a horse meat plant. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

John Smith TB4887, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, FCI Butner Medium II Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 1500, Butner, NC 27509 USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Joyanna Zacher – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell – Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft. Worth, TX 76127, USA. Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world. The actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court and making threatening communications. Previously Helen had served 20½ years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo. 2) Burning $25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental destruction & economic injustice. 3) Mailing warning letters with bullets attached to Government & corporate officials.

THE LECCE FIVE
The Lecce Five have been charged with “subversive association” accused of damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists in Chile. All of the defendants are currently either under house arrest or released on bail.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Lasandra Burwell W063658, Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave. Marysville, OH 43040, USA. Serving 5 years for taking part in an anti-fascist demonstration that turned into a riot.

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g. Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia. Serving 2½ years for stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack.

Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech Republic.
Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against local neo-nazis. His charge was “bodily harm”. He speaks Czech, Slovak and Polish. You can also write him short postcards in English.

Gubski Maxim, VK-2 – 21, Batowa str. 4, Bobruisk, 213800 Belarus. Serving 3 years for fighting with neo-nazis.

Vladislav Vladimirovich Plyashkevich, IK-10 otryad 4, Novopoltsk-5 Vitebskaya oblast, 211440 Belarus. Serving 3 years for fighting with neo-nazis.

Christian Sümmermann, BNR: 727/07/7, JVA Tegel, Seidelstr. 39, 13507 Berlin, Germany. Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities.

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending himself.

OTHER PRISONERS

Oscar Santa Maria Caro, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. The exact charges against Oscar are unknown but Oscar is a member of RATA, a known animal rights group.

Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. Co-defendant of Oscar Santa Maria Caro.

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk 140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson, criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya. Due for release in 2009.

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA.
Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke campaigner.

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of all life. There are currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving 100 years after been framed for the murder of a cop in 1979. 9th defendant, Merle Africa, died in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa (006307), Janet Holloway Africa (006308) and Janine Philips Africa (006309) all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA 17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA 15370, USA. In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop. He was originally sentenced to death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in 2001.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions. ‘Spirit of Freedom’ does not condone violence. But we are also against censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in 1993 to support jailed eco-activists. We support the prisoners by producing various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP’s international monthly prisoner listing which is circulated by e-mail.

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details. For more info e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters – ELP has a number of websites that provide news, prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by ELP. To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact. For more info e-mail elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco Camenisch. For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.

North American ELP is our North American contact. For more information e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact. For more info e-mail yesilanarsi@yahoo.com

Direct action around Greece reports (1/2008) – banks, police cameras, luxury cars get it; rats saved

Attack against a bank, 14 taken into custody (Athens, 30/1/2008)

According to a report at: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=821100

Attack against a bank, 14 taken into custody (Athens, 30/1/2008)

According to a report at: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=821100

There was an attack with sledge hammers, stones and paints against the Ethniki Bank in Gizi district (were a companion was arrested after an armed expropriation). After they left, police spread into the area and took into custody around 14 persons from the area.
—
Police camera destroyed, one person taken into custody (Thessaloniki, 29/1/2008)

From reports at athens.indymedia.org

Around 11:30 the power supply of a police camera was sabotaged in public. Riot-policemen and motorbike cops attacked the people on their way back, and managed to take into custody one person. Later on two more persons were also taken to the police headquarters, but set free after a few hours.

—
Series of incendiary attacks (Athens-Thessaloniki, 21/1/2008)

Report in english: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/21/europe/EU-GEN-Greece-Arson-Spree.php

According to a report in “Eleftherotipia” (Greek only): http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=25251808

From 12:51 to 01:18 the following targets were attacked:

Athens:

12:51: Porsche dealership, Halandri-4 cars damaged.
01:00: Eurobank open24 subsidiary, Egaleo
01:05: Luxurius car exposition “Car Collection”, Nea Erithrea-16 cars and one motorcycle damaged
01:08: Eurobank subsidiary, Dafni
01:08: Piraeus bank subsidiary, Dafni
01:09: Citybank subsidiary, central Athens
01:15: Eurobank subsidiary, Nea Filadelfia
01:17: PV MOTORS dealership, Argiroupoli
01:18: PPC crane vehicle, Keramikos

Another incendiary device was found untouched in the entrance of an “Ethniki” bank, in Peristeri, and was carried to the forensic office of the police.

Thessaloniki:

Two arson attacks occured within five minutes. A ppc car was damaged, as well as an ATM of Millennium bank in Analipsi.

Communique sent to directactiongr@yahoo.gr:

“Last night’s series of incendiary attacks against luxurious car dealerships in Halandri, Kifissia and Argiroupoli, bank subsidiaries in Nea filadelfia, Dafni, Egaleo, Ano Patisia, Dafni and in Thessaloniki at 117, Martiou Street, and against PPC (the state-run power company) cars outside its offices in both Athens and Thessaloniki, is undertaken by the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire Thessaloniki-Athens.

We selected to strike the bank subsidiares because the constitute the symbols-tools of exploration and of the economic empire. In parallel, the banks are the modern day corporations that accredit with loanee dreams the consumers, so that they would beglamour voluntarily their misery and their economic state of captivity.

We attacked the PPC corporation as a response to the dozens assassinations of workers that died in its workplace-prisons because of the lack of security measures, as well as for the deadly effects (such as cancer) that appear at the zones around its power plants.

We set on fire the dealerships of luxurious cars that form prestigious symbols of authority inside the commodity fetishist frenzy that has taken over the metropolis. We do not respect the law-abiding citizens’ wet dreams for a fast car in expense of the slow suicide offeed by the modern life style.

The revolutionary character of an economic-capitalist targets arson is n’t found only in its physical destructionm but also in the illegality of the action itself. In the decision to attack.

In this combatant situation, there are also losses. Accordingly, we dedicate last night’s attacks in Thessaloniki and Athens to the emprisoned anarchist V. Botzatzis who is accused for 3 arson attacks against 3 targets, as weel as to the 3 fugitive comrades accused under the same case, and that chose the way of a proud escape, than to give theirselves in.

We don’t forget any emprisoned comrade. We will be back soon…

Conspiracy of Cells of Fire Thessaloniki-Athens”

—
Bank firebombed and responsibility claim (Athens, 19/1/2008)

According to reports (in greek) at athens.indymedia.org unknown persons attacked with molotov cocktails a subsidiary of eurobank in Petralona district (Athens). According to ANA-MPA news agency, the arson caused sever damages to the bank. A group claimed responsibility by an anonymoys e-mail to directactiongr@yahoo.gr stating:

The “Cells of Incendiary Solidarity” (Pirines Empristikis Allileggyis) claim responsibility for the arson at Eurobank on Trion Ierarhon Street in Petralona, on Saturday January 19, in solidarity to the emprisoned anarchist Vaggelis Botzatzis, accused with 3 arson attacks against governmental-economic targets and to the three companions that are fugitive under the same case.

The institutions of state-run enterprises, car agencies and banks, have been and will be today’s targets, targets that every revolutionary chooses to attack. These attack are born from a total perception and a route of actions against the capitalist-economic domination. These words here do not mean to recognise their-selves in a “typical claim of responsibility” because their meaning is found in the transmission of the revolutionary flame. WE ARE ON WAR. The persecutions cannot stop the incendiary actions and the rebellious consciences. Honour to those that in their lives, they set their own time and place, their “how” and “why”…

The ashes of the burnt banks for the fugitive companions and the emprisoned anarchist Vaggelis Botzatzis.

Cells of Incendiary Solidarity

Note: Vaggelis Botzatzis is an anarchist from Thessaloniki, in a pre-trial emprisonment in Komotini prisons, accused for arsons in a french brand car yard, a millenium bank subsidiary and Public Power Company vehicles. He is persecuted based on a security guard’s accusations. Apart from him, another three anarchists are fugitive for the same case.
—
Attacks on three banks (Athens, 17/1/2008)

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=815410
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=815788

2 year after the arrest of Giannis Dimitrakis after a bank robbery, on 12 o’clock, were realised three simultaneous attacks on three banks and an ATM in central Athens.

Piraeus Bank on 12, George Street, Attiki Bank on 23 Omirou Street and Ethniki bank on 30 Omirou Street, had their glasses broken and other damages. An ATM was also damaged.

There were leaflets thrown around the banks stating:
2 years later…
WE DON’T FORGET, WE DON’T FORGIVE
solidarity to G. Dimitrakis, who is emprisoned for the bank robery at Ethniki Bank on Solonos Street at 16.01.2006
Solidarity to the 3 fugitive comrades

as well as “FIRE TO THE BANKS”
—
Lab-rats liberated from technical institute (Thessaloniki, 16/1/2007)

A report on this action can be found at athens.indymedia.org where there are also more photos and a short video, as well as a text in greek, translated here:

“On January 15th, in the Thessaloniki TEI (technical institute) was programmed a practical experiment on animals alive in front of the students. This hideous action would be realised if some people from Thessaloniki was n’t mobilized. Around twenty persons visited the TEI and took not only one, as it was to expected, but four animals (lab rats). Later on the four lab rats were set free in the nature were they should be from the very begining.

We know that these specific animals will not survive for a long time in the nature, since they were born in a lab. Though, we believe it is better for them to die in the nature than in a lab or a cage.”
—
Car dealership fire-bombed (Athens, 17/1/2008)

Source (greek only): http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=11424&subid=2&tag=8334&pubid=336523#

Two self-made explosive devises were placed underneath two cars in a Suzuki dealership in Peristeri, Athens. One of them exploded at 3:45 in the night causing minor damages, while the other one was found untouched by the police.

—
Bank arson and anonymous communique(Athens, 1/1/2008)

Source (greek only): http://news.pathfinder.gr/greece/news/449097.html

“The first fact reported to the police for 2008 was an arson attack 20 minutes after midnight at the subsidiary of Geniki Bank at 75 Kipselis street in Athens. Unidentified persons planted an incendiary device breaking the glass entrance door.”

Anonymous group claimed responsibility via e-mail to directactiongr@yahoo.gr):

“The attack at Geniki Bank on 1/1/2008 was in solidarity to emprisoned fighters.

The same time that in the city centre “celebrations” are organised to welcome the new year we, by striking, mean to prove that the flame of negation won’t cease to burn nor even this new year, against any repressive plan.

Freedom to Chr. Kontorevithakis and M. Tsourapas.”

Spring into action (though storms may be at the door) – the latest issue of the EF! Action Update has burst forth

Read all about occupations & lock-ons of big industrial places around the world, corporate & government blockades, squatting, airport invasions, subvertising, climate criminals locked & glued shut, trees climbed and chopped down, GM maize fields trashed, hunger strikes, burrowing under fences, jumping on whaling boats, Buying Nothing, Reclaiming the Streets and the unstoppable singing of Christmas songs, not to mention skating penguins. Even some upcoming dates to get stuck in or to meet other direct action crazies. We couldn’t make it up even if we tried.

Another bumper issue, with a special insert on Agrofuels including a list of refineries ‘in the pipeline’ or already on the ground, plus a legal update about the recent changes to your access to solicitors in police stations.

The latest issue of the Earth First! Action Update burst forth at the latest national meeting of the Camp for Climate Action (see climatecamp.org.uk for how the camp idea is audaciously morphing this year).

Download it to print out and share here. Do get in touch with the editorial collective to let them know if you’re dishing it up round your way, or need paper copies, or want to give them one of the rarer ingredients, dosh (to send it to prisoners, protest camps and far beyond) – their contact details and more are here.

Western UK sabotage for the animals

COUNTRYSIDE ALLAINCE SIGNS DESTROYED AND HUNT CARS SCRATCHED.
24 January 2008
Countryside allaince signs were smashed and the side of a landrover was scratched, another hunt car had both sides and bonnet scraped hope the respray didnt cost too much!
————–
MCDONALDS GETS THE ALF TREATMENT.
23 January 2008
“MEAT IS MURDER” was spray painted on the front and back windows of a McDonalds in the west, just to make sure they had trouble opening on time the next day all of the locks were glued.
————–
HUNT SCUM CAR RECIEVES PASSING VISIT FROM THE ALF
22 January 2008
Passing members of the ALF decided to make the pro hunt stickers on one car in the west impossible to see when the car had all its windows where covered completely in spray painted (have fun trying to drive it to the garage!).

Messages such as “ALF” and “HUNT SCUM” were left on the side so all the other hunters in the area new why it had been done.

If you support the hunt you are scum, but we do appreciate it when you display stickers letting us know this fact, this way we can make sure you get what is coming to you!

For the animals!

Your friendly local ALFers!

Teenager arrested after tying herself to Japananese Embassy

25.1.2008
A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said. Sophie said last night: “I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse.”

A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said.

Sophie Wyness, 14, and her father Martin attached themselves to a stone staircase inside the embassy lobby with cable ties overnight, saying it was wrong to “brutally murder” whales.

Sophie said last night: “I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse.”

It is not the first time the 14-year-old, who has also campaigned against Australia’s nuclear policy, has been removed from a protest but it is the first time she has been arrested.

She said: “I have just been released. We have been charged with criminal trespass and it will go before the Attorney General, not the CPS, because of the political implications.”

The teenager was inspired to take action after watching a film about the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza – which is currently disrupting the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.

One video clip lasting 30 seconds, which showed a whale being blown up, had “hit me hard”, she explained earlier.

The video pushed her to stage the hour-long protest because she felt it was wrong to wrong to “brutally murder” whales.

“It’s a very important subject at the moment. They’re such amazing creatures and they deserve rights and love and a bit of respect,” she said.

“I have total respect for the Japanese people but not what they’re doing out there with the whales.”

She said taking direct action was the only way to get attention on the issue.

“Hopefully it’ll get put out there and show we’re not going to sit back and let them get away with it.”

Mr Wyness said he was only involved in the protest in order to support his daughter and spoke of his pride that she had been so resolute in standing up for her convictions.

He said: “I was really only there as back up. This was Sophie’s day.”

He added: “I am extremely proud of Sophie. She is an amazing, amazing young woman full or courage and determination and her convictions are very strong. This documentary genuinely moved her to the point where she wanted to do something about it.

Quotes taken from thelondonpaper.com

Sea Shepherd Hostages Return Back to Steve Irwin – Lack of Cooperation May Kill the Whales

Japanese Poachers Release Sea Shepherd Hostages
18/01/08 http://www.seashepherd.org

Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane were transferred from the Yushin Maru No. 2 to the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking early in the morning at 0200 Hours Melbourne time (1300 Hours GMT). The two men were transferred to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin at 0930 Hours Melbourne time (2030 Hours GMT).

Japanese Poachers Release Sea Shepherd Hostages
18/01/08 http://www.seashepherd.org

Both men were happy to be reunited with their shipmates and eager to return to chasing the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans. Both men reported that although they were roughed up when they first boarded the whaling ship, that they were treated well during their time onboard. The only injury was a bruised wrist suffered by Giles Lane.

“It did not take long before the whalers realized that they made a huge public relations mistake in keeping us on their ship,” said Benjamin Potts. “We made it clear to them that Sea Shepherd was committed to stopping their illegal whaling activities.”

“Although we appreciate the concern that people have expressed for our welfare, it is important to remember that this is not about us.” said Giles Lane. “It’s about stopping this cruel and illegal whale hunt. The treatment that we received was trivial in comparison to the suffering that the whales experience at the hands of the Japanese whalers. They may have been rough with us but at least we were not harpooned, electrocuted and mutilated. This is not about us, it’s about the whales.”

The Steve Irwin is continuing its pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet. “This is the 8th day that whales have not been killed,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Every day that we stop the whalers is a victory. We will continue to intervene, harass, block, and obstruct the whalers at every opportunity.”

The Steve Irwin is presently at 59 Degrees 46 Minutes South and 85 Degrees 59 Minutes East and on the tail of the Japanese whaling fleet.
http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/video/2008-01-18_video_clip_05_Sea_Shepherd_crew_members_released_back_to_the_Steve_Irwin.wmv

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“With “allies” like the Australian government and Greenpeace, it is becoming increasing difficult to keep the Japanese fleet from killing whales,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Australian Customs deliberately led us away from the fleet and Greenpeace is guarding the coordinates like the crown jewels to prevent us re-locating the fleet.”

Lack of Cooperation May Kill the Whales
From onboard the Steve Irwin in the Southern Oceans (18/01/08)

The Australian Customs and Fisheries Patrol vessel Oceanic Viking has thrown the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin off the trail of the Japanese fleet.

After picking up the two Sea Shepherd crewmembers from the Yushin Maru No. 2 the Oceanic Viking notified the Steve Irwin to head for a rendezvous point a few hours away.

This was unusual considering that the Yushin Maru No. 2 was only about ten miles away at the time. The Steve Irwin was forced to stop tailing the Yushin Maru No. 2 to meet up with the Oceanic Viking. This allowed the whaler to head off in an unknown direction to rejoin the factory ship Nisshin Maru.

After dropping off Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane, the Oceanic Viking headed off in a direction away from the Japanese fleet. The fleet then apparently changed course and has now been lost from Sea Shepherd. Greenpeace tagging along with the Nishin Maru has reported that the catcher boats have met back up with the main fleet.

Although Sea Shepherd has been relaying the position of the catcher boats to the Greenpeace ship Esperanza for the last three days, Greenpeace refuses reciprocate and refuses to reveal the present location of the fleet.

Complicating the search is the fact that the Japanese have sent a new ship the Fukoyoshi No. 68 to shadow the Steve Irwin at all times. The vessel is not part of the whaling fleet. It’s a large Japanese drag trawler. It does not have any fishing gear onboard and seems to have more electronic gear than normal for a fishing vessel. This ship is apparently reporting the Steve Irwin’s position to the Japanese fleet.

Sea Shepherd has shut down whaling for a week. Unless the Steve Irwin can find the fleet soon, the killing will begin again. The Oceanic Viking will take pictures of dying whales and Greenpeace will hang banners, take pictures and continue on with their ineffective stunts. They will not stop the killing.

“If whales begin to die within the next few days, I will hold Greenpeace and the Australian government responsible,” said Captain Paul Watson. “They know we can stop the killing because whales don’t die when Sea Shepherd arrives. By leading us off the tail of the whalers and refusing to cooperate on coordinates they are deliberately helping the whalers to escape from Sea Shepherd and to resume the slaughter of the whales. I understand that Greenpeace needs kill footage and images of “heroic eco-warriors” buzzing about in inflatables but that does not stop the harpoons. Our very presence will deter the Japanese from killing whales. Sea Shepherd is the best weapon that Greenpeace can use to stop the resumption of whaling. By withholding cooperation they are contributing to the death of the whales. If any whales are killed within the next week I will hold Greenpeace responsible for their deaths because they have the power to cooperate with Sea Shepherd to prevent the killing from continuing.”

The Steve Irwin is conducting helicopter surveillance patrols to re-locate the whaling fleet. The fleet should be within two hundred miles of Sea Shepherd.

http://seashepherd.org

Whalers Hand Activists Over To Australia’s Ship

17th January: the activists — Australian Benjamin Potts, 28, and Briton Giles Lane, 35 — were detained Tuesday after boarding the harpoon ship to protest Japan’s whaling programme. They were handed over to Austrialia’s ‘Ocean Viking’ earlier today.

A Japanese whaling ship late Thursday handed over to an Australian customs vessel two anti-whaling activists who climbed aboard two days earlier, an official from Japan’s Fisheries Agency said.

Australia sent the customs ship, the Oceanic Viking, to the Japanese whaling ship in a bid to end the stand-off involving the activists of the militant Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

“Two Sea Shepherd activists who intruded onto the Yushin Maru No 2 and have been in custody on the ship were handed over to the Oceanic Viking chartered by the Australian government,” Hideaki Okada, a whaling official at the Fisheries Agency in Tokyo, told AFP early Friday.

More at http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gzy-7LzEluJCEYZWmJXa_MiYpOcQ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7193212.stm

Hopefully they will be returned back to Sea Shepherd’s ‘Steve Irwin’ very soon, that is the plan.

Back to destroying whaling…

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Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign
Operation Migaloo 07-08

For more details, see http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/index.html