Capitalism / Globalisation – Page 10

Mi’kmaq Blockade Update: RCMP Has Withdrawn, Resistance Continues

18th October by Trashfire / Earth First! News

After a day of clashes yesterday, the police withdrew around 7pm to cheers from the crowd.

40 people are reported arrested and 5 police vehicles were burned.

No One Is Illegal reports these lists of solidarity actions – Google Docs

Powershift Canada

Yesterday saw many emergency solidarity actions including a major throughway being shutdown in Winnipeg.

Today is a day of action called for by the Mi’kmaq earlier this week.

Tomorrow is another day of action against fracking organized under the banner Global Frackdown.

There has also been a request that supporters call the premier of New Brunswick to express concerns over the RCMP’s actions against the Mi’kmaq – .New Brunswick Premier – David Alward
Email: premier@gnb.ca
Phone: (506) 453-2144
Fax : (506) 453-7407

Charges for those arrested included firearms offences, uttering threats, intimidation, mischief and for refusing to abide by a court injunction.

The protesters arrested were taken to three different communities where they are expected in court Friday morning around 9:30 to face charges. Police spread the arrested protesters out in an effort to prevent the courthouses being overwhelmed by protest supporters during the arraignments.

Chief Aaron Sock was among those arrested in the clash. He and a few of his band council members were released a few hours after their arrests.

Sock is the leader of the band that has been blockading Route 134 near Rexton since Sept. 30.

On Oct. 1, Sock issued an eviction notice to SWN Resources of Canada. His band and his band council planned to pass a resolution preventing the government and shale gas companies from continuing their work by reclaiming all unoccupied reserve land and giving it back to First Nations.

The road between Rexton and Highway 11 has been the scene of the protest, involving a coalition of natives and non-natives opposed to shale gas exploration.

Protesters moved into the area on Sept. 30, initially establishing a barricade to the staging area used by SWN Resources Canada to park its exploration vehicles and equipment.

The protest progressed to the point where barricades were also established on the road, preventing traffic from going through.

SWN Resources went to the Court of Queen’s Bench and successfully sought an injunction to end the protest.

During a hearing, court was told SWN Resources is losing $60,000 every day its seismic exploration trucks remain blockaded in the compound off Route 134.

Let's watch that shit again #elsipogtog #mikmaqblockade ... on Twitpic

Video by the Stimulator (click for video) and @stimulator on for up to the minute updates

Romanian Villagers 3-day Occupation Forces Chevron to Stop Fracking

18th October

US energy giant Chevron said Thursday it has suspended shale gas test drilling in northeastern Romania after three days of protests by villagers opposed to fracking.

“Chevron can today confirm it has suspended activities in Silistea, Pungesti commune, Vaslui county,” a press release read.

The move comes a day after Romanian police clashed with villagers who have occupied since Monday a field to prevent Chevron from drilling its first exploration well.

The protesters are afraid of the environmental and health impact of the highly controversial drilling method used to unlock shale gas, called hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’.

The technique consists of pumping water and chemicals at high pressure into deep rock formations to free oil and gas, with environmentalists warning the process may contaminate ground water and even cause small earthquakes.

Chevron has permits to explore for shale gas in three villages in this impoverished part of northeastern Romania as well as on Romania’s Black Sea coast.

“Our priority is to conduct … activities in a safe and environmentally responsible manner consistent with the permits under which we operate,” the group said Wednesday.

No Dash for Gas Protestors Have Sentences Quashed

18th October from No Dash for Gas

Six activists out of 21 who shut down EDF’s West Burton Gas power station last year walked free from Nottingham Crown Court today, taking the total number of those given conditional discharges to eleven. Lawrence Carter, Hannah Davey, Alistair Cannell, Aneaka Kellay, Ewa Jasiewicz, and David Shakespeare had their sentences for Aggravated Trespass overturned on appeal.

All six had been sentenced to 150 hours community service. None had any previous convictions.

Five protesters received conditional discharges in June when the 21 initially appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court.

The convictions had been for taking part in the UK’s longest ever power station protest which lasted eight days from October 29th – November 5th of last year.

The protesters, all from the group No Dash for Gas, had camped up two 80 meter Chimney flues for a week in protest at government plans to build up to 40 new gas power stations and make the UK reliant on gas for the next 30 years.

The group argues that the ‘dash for gas’ which also includes drilling for shale gas will exacerbate climate change, crash the UK’s legal obligations to cut carbon emissions and keep millions stuck in crippling fuel poverty.

EDF sued the group for £5million damages but were forced to drop their claim after widespread protest, loss of customers and a successful social media campaign which saw 64,000 people sign a petition in support of the group in less than four weeks.

The remaining ten protesters from the group chose not to pursue an appeal on legal advice.

Ewa Jasiewicz said ‘This is yet another victory for civil disobedience in defence of our climate and against fuel poverty. As energy companies ramp up their prices and millions turn to foodbanks and suffer cold homes and winter deaths, we believe another energy system is possible – one that values people and planet over profit. One that is democratically controlled and based on sustainable, clean energy. Both are not just possible, they are vital if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change and ensure not just real energy security, but social and economic security for all’.

David Shakespeare said ‘Direct action is a vital part of creating social change – this is why, after petitions, letters and all other means failed, we took a stand and shut down the first of up to 40 new gas power stations last year. Whether it’s protecting the Arctic, camping against Fracking or occupying power stations, all these acts of principled protest are part of a movement that is acting to safeguard the future of generations to come. We need to keep the pressure up until governments act in the public interest’.

Blockade Against Monsanto in Argentina Enters Second Month

18th October from Revolution News

Today is day 28th of the blockade against Monsanto in Malvinas, Argentina and around 50 protestors camping there have no intentions of going home any time soon. Citizens are making themselves at home near the main entrance of the new Monsanto plant currently under construction.

They are camping out indefinitely to protest the new GMO seed processing plant which is scheduled to open for business in 2014. Revolution News spoke with activist Celina Molina from Asamblea Malvinas Lucha por Vida who said simply, “We do not want Monsanto to install the 2nd largest GMO seed processing plant of Latin America in our city.”

The plans for Monsanto’s new plant show future construction of 240 silos for storage of chemically treated GMO corn. The silos have fans that are required to ventilate the shafts. GMO corn in an enclosed area tends to rub together and produce chemical dust which explodes without proper ventilation. People there fear that when Monsanto switches on the fans the local town of Malvinas will be engulfed in a cloud of chemical dust.

Monsanto has already done enough health damage to citizens of Argentina. They have witnessed the long term effects of exposure to Roundup for the past decade. Epidemiological surveys were conducted 2001-2002 in areas heavily fumigated with Monsanto Roundup herbicide. Results of the surveys showed alarmingly high rates of birth defects and malformations in children, cancer clusters and miscarriage rates 100 times higher than the national average. The onset of skyrocketing health issues in Argentina coincides directly with the rise of soya cultivation and spraying of herbicides near populated areas. Professor Andres Carrasco, Director of Molecular Embryology at the University of Buenos Aires conducted laboratory studies linking local health issues to Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup.

Monsanto has a terrible track record in Argentina and the citizens of Malvinas are not going to allow further expansion for the agrochemical giant without a fight. Videos of police repression of peaceful protestors on September 30, 2013 circulated online. Sofia Gatica, spokeswoman for Madres de Ituzaingo Anexo was injured during the clashes with police. Videos of the repression have since circulated online and more people are arriving at the construction site everyday to join the blockade.

Birth defects found in child born in barrio Ituzaingo Anexo.

Monsanto – Argentina

Timeline

1996 – Soya crops first introduced to Argentina along with Monsanto Roundup herbicides

2001 – Residents of Ituzaingo Anexo started noticing health irregularities in their neighborhoods and began their own epidemiological surveys

2002 – Results of surveys were alarming: cancer clusters, high rate of malformations and birth defects, miscarriages 100 times higher than the national average. Professor Andres Carrasco (Director of Molecular Embryology U. of Buenos Aires) performs lab studies linking health problems with exposure to Glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto Roundup). Local mothers formed activist group “Madres de Ituzaingo” and protests began.

Also in 2002, Argentina defaulted on it’s foreign debt, country was in a state of economic upheaval & riots ensued

2004 – First formal criminal complaint against local farmer & aerofumigation pilot, Parra, was filed for illegal pollution

2008 – Complaint filed against Pancello (another local farmer & aerofumigation pilot) for illegal pollution

2011 – Complaints from 2004 & 2008 are combined and a trial date is scheduled.

June 11, 2012 – Criminal trial against Parra & Pancello began

June 15, 2012 – President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced arrival of a new Monsanto plant to be built in Malvinas, Argentina. It will be the largest Monsanto plant in Latin America

July 2012 – Activist group “Asamblea Malvinas Lucha por Vida is formed”. Protests against new Monsanto plant construction began.

August 22, 2012 – Landmark verdict in criminal case against Parra and Pancello – both farmers are found guilty of illegal pollution and given 3 year suspended sentences. Both are given community service and banned from working with agrochemicals for 10 years but neither will serve jail time.

2012 – 2013 – Citizens begin to take legal action against Monsanto thanks to Parra & Pancello case. No compensation is offered to families of victims affected by contamination. Protests against Monsanto continue.

September 18, 2013 – Blockade in front of new Monsanto plant entrance in Malvinas begins.

September 30, 2013 – Videos of police repression at Malvinas circulate online, local well-known activist, Sofia Gatica is injured on camera by police.

Current – Blockade ongoing

UPDATE: Full Invasion Force Arrives at Mi’kmaq Blockade

17th October 700 RCMP are currently reported at the scene of the Mi’kmaq blockade with an armored pe

17th October 700 RCMP are currently reported at the scene of the Mi’kmaq blockade with an armored personnel carrier. Talks have failed. Snipers with the RCMP have been seen pointing their scopes at groups of young supporters, drawing intense criticism from observers. In a statement, one RCMP officer declared, “the Crown land belongs to the government, not fucking Natives,” revealing the systemic contempt for treaty rights with First Nations and international agreements. RCMP are now lined up with riot shields, as the standoff continues to maintain the blockade that is currently keeping “thumper trucks” from destroying the land in Mik’maq territory. Chief Aaron Sock of the Elslipogtog has been released by the RCMP after being arrested while blockading the compound of Texas-based SWN Resources. However, over 40 Mi’kmaq warriors remain in custody, as the RCMP continue to use pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets in attempts to break up the blockade. Canada is clearly in violation of international treaties with this war-like act against a peaceful nation engaged in lawful direct action against the theft and destruction of their land by a multinational energy company. According to Submedia, “During my short stay [at the two-week-strong blockade] I’ve witnessed the co-operation between natives and settlers, a partnership that has kept this blockade fully stocked and operational. Food, wood, hot coffee, tents and other supplies keep streaming all the while SWN berates the police in the media for not arresting the protesters.” In retaliation against the invasion, which comes one day before an international day of solidarity with the Mi’kmaq Blockade and two days away from a meeting set to continue peace talks, unknown persons have set six RCMP vehicles ablaze, hurled stones at the police line, and confiscated fracking equipment. In related news, SWN stock hit a sharp decline today on the New York Stock Exchange. As of this time, the RCMP is not letting media in. However, reinforcements continue to swell the numbers of supporters at the blockade. The Mi’kmaq have issued a call for continued international solidarity, and for increased support for the blockade.

Mi’kmaq Resist! 6 RCMP Cars Torched, Fracking Equipment Confiscated

Photo by Ossie Michel

Photo by Ossie Michelin

17th October

In retaliation against a violent police raid this morning on a peaceful First Nations blockade, Mi’kmaq warriors and supporters have fought back.

The RCMP appear to have arrested journalist Miles Howe, who has been reporting on the Elsipogtog struggle against the illegal gas grab on indigenous lands. More than 200 RCMP are participating in the raid, including snipers in fatigues. Ambulances have been prevented from treating protestors wounded by pepper spray, plastic bullets, and general brutality.

As of the time of writing this, six RCMP vehicles have been torched, and melees of stones have been hurled in response to tear gas, plastic bullets, and pepper spray from the RCMP (update: it is being claimed that the fires were started by an agent provocateur). Mi’kmaq allies have also confiscated fracking equipment in continued efforts to maintain the blockade against the gas company.

Blockades are reportedly springing up elsewhere throughout Mi’kmaq territory, as news has spread of police brutality and unnecessary use of force against peaceful protestors, including elders and children. Idle No More’s twitter account has called on all the Sacred Fires of the World, and solidarity demos in DC, NYC, Vancouver, BC, and Winnipeg have already been announced.

The Mi’kmaq Blockade has cost the gas company an estimated $50,000 per day, and has been ongoing for two weeks. Today’s crack down is a direct betrayal of a peace process ongoing between the Elsipogtog and the New Brunswick premier, and a violation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples as according to the UN. The government of Canada has instigated a major diplomatic incident, and global solidarity is coming in from countries around the world.

The whole world is watching!

Tense Standoff at Elsipogtog Blockade, Molotovs Thrown

17th October from Earth First! Newswire

A tense stand off is ongoing between 200 RCMP, Mi’kmaq blockaders, and about 200 supporters. According to the Stimulato r, the chief and tribal council personally blockaded gas company trucks behind barricades. Protesters have hurled rocks and a corporate news tripod at the RCMP. At the moment, RCMP are making mass arrests, SWN vehicles appear to be rolling out of the compound, and six RCMP vehicles have been set ablaze.

Molotov cocktails were thrown from the woods earlier this morning in defense of the land and peoples. The RCMP, some with long rifles, entered the woods. Shots were fired, and screaming was heard. There is an unconfirmed report that activist Steven Gould has been shot. (UPDATE: We are now receiving reports that less-than-lethal rounds have been fired at supporters, as well as tear gas. Pepper spray has been deployed against supporters attempting to get through police lines. The RCMP is currently unloading riot gear.)

Supporters broke through police lines to join the Mi’kmaq (video her e). The RCMP have erected a barrier on one side of the blockade, and appear to have the blockade surrounded. More people are coming to support with food and water.

Solidarity blockades have sprung up elsewhere in the Mi’kmaq territory. There are solidarity actions planned at the Canadian Consulate in NYC at 5pm and the Canadian Embassy in DC, as well as Vancouver and Winnipeg.

As of time of writing, arrests have been made, and there is at least one report of police brutality against Mi’kmaq warrior Suzanne Patles, an Ilnu woman and member of the Mi’kmaq Warrior Society. (UPDATE: It appears that mass arrests are currently being made.)

According to the New Brunswick, Anglophone North School District, the RCMP did not notify them of the raid as is legally required. Schools are currently on lock-down.

The Mi’kmaq are blockading Highway 132 near Rexton to halt the activity on the compound belonging to a gas company, SWN Resources Canada. SWN Resources has been illegally trying to frack the land of the Elsipogtog for months, and the tribe has been joined by other tribes of the Mi’kmaq and Wabanaki Confederacy peoples in attempts to take direct action against the gas company.

According to Ellen Gabriel of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation, “Forcible removal of Mi’kmaq on their traditional lands, [is] an illegal act by Police who should not enforce.”

Last week, a Canadian judge issued an injunction against the blockade, but the Elsipogtog have sought peaceful negotiation. Today’s raid must be seen as a preemptive action to prevent the October 18 day of action from taking place, which was called by the Mi’kmaq Warriors Society for physical support of the SWN blockade.

The demands of the Warriors Society are the following:

Produce all Bills of Sales, Sold, Ceded, Granted and Extinguished Lands for New Brunswick.
Produce documents proving Cabot’s Doctrine of Discovery.
Produce the Treaty of Peace and Friendship 1686.
Produce Treaty of Fort Howe 1768.
Produce consents for Loyalists to land in Nova Scotia/New Brunswick.
Produce records of Townships created and consents by Chiefs to allow this.
Produce agreements or consents by all New Brunswick Chiefs who agreed to Confereration of 1867.
Produce evidence of consents to The Indian Act by all Native Tribes.
Produce records of Trust Funds.
Produce agreements for 4% of all mineral shares of finished products in Canada, except coal.
Produce all correspondence letters pertaining to Numbered Treaties (Promises).
Produce all documents creating border divisions, that divide the Wabanaki confederacy.
Produce the Orders from the Lords of Trade to the Governor of the Colonies.

Indigenous Pipeline Protesters Harass Oil Tanker

B.C.

B.C. First Nation, the Tsleil-Waututh, were joined by environmentalists Oct 14, as they crossed Burrard Inlet in canoes to protest Kinder Morgan’s proposed pipeline expansion.

15th October The Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and environmentalists have crossed Burrard Inlet in traditional canoes to protest U.S. oil giant Kinder Morgan’s $5B plans to expand its Trans Mountain pipeline.

Protesters dodged tankers as they sailed close to the Westridge Marine Terminal, in a bid to stop Kinder Morgan nearly tripling the capacity of the pipeline, which carries crude oil from the Alberta oilsands to tankers in Vancouver.

When completed, the proposed expansion is expected to increase capacity in Trans Mountain from the existing capacity of 300,000 barrels per day to 850,000 barrels per day.

The protest comes as cabinet ministers and senior bureaucrats head to British Columbia as part of a major government push to mollify opponents of building oil pipelines to the West Coast.

The new Harper initiative follows a report from the prime minister’s special pipelines representative in British Columbia, David Eyford, who told Harper last month that negotiations with First Nations are a mess.

Sources say Eyford urged the federal government take the lead role in dealing with Indian bands on both the proposed expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project.

The Trans Mountain line stretches 1,150 kilometres between Edmonton and terminals in the Vancouver area and Washington State. It carries heavy and light crude oil, as well as refined products such as gasoline and diesel.

It has been involved in several recent spills including more 100,000 litres of light crude oil that was spilled at Kinder Morgan’s Sumas terminal in January.

Meanwhile, an Enbridge official says the company expects a decision from the federal government on its proposed Northern Gateway pipeline by mid-2014, meaning the pipeline could be moving oil by 2018.

The Northern Gateway pipeline proposed by Enbridge would deliver 525,000 barrels of petroleum a day to a tanker terminal in Kitimat, on the north coast of B.C.

Two La Parota Resisters Attacked With Machetes

14th October The Land is Not for Sale! A community in resistance to La Parota dam.

14th October The Land is Not for Sale! A community in resistance to La Parota dam.

UPDATE (10/15/2013): Although the attack happened on Oct 11, the federal Public Ministry (responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes) has yet to visit the men in the hospital to take any statement from them.

Two members of the Council of Ejidos and Communities in Opposition to La Parota Dam (CECOP) were attacked at their home with machetes on Friday, Oct 11, by supporters of the dam project. Both of the men, Rodrigo León Jacinto and Isidro Saligán Guadalupe, are still under medical supervision. Saligán may lose an eye. Both men and all five of their attackers (four men and a woman) come from the village of Huamuchitos.

The attackers are believed to have fled the area.

Massive Indigenous Rights Movement Launches Across Brazil

Tuesday 1st October, Brasilia, Brazil – Today hundreds of indigenous peoples representing Brazil’s native communities converged on government buildings in the nation’s capital to decry unprecedented and growing attacks on their constitutional rights and territories. The historic mobilization coincides with the 25th anniversary of the founding of Brazil’s constitution with its groundbreaking affirmation of indigenous rights and aims to preserve these rights in the face of powerful economic interests behind a spate of pending laws seeking access to resources on native territories.

Brazil’s Articulation of Indigenous People’s (APIB) called the mobilizations – staged simultaneously in various cities across the country such as São Paulo, Belém, Rio Branco – to protest the attack against territorial rights of native peoples. Emanating from the Brazilian government and backed by a powerful congressional bloc representing agribusiness known as the bancada ruralista as well as large mining and energy interests, a series of new proposed laws seek to undermine Article 231 of the Brazilian Constitution, which assures the indigenous right to an exclusive and permanent usufruct to resources on their ancestral territories.

“We are here because Congress wants to take our rights and extinguish our people,” said Chief Raoni Metuktire, a legendary Kayapó leader from the Amazon. “This assembly is important because it aims to unite our peoples against this threat.”

Hundreds of planned laws and constitutional amendments targeting the rights of indigenous and traditional communities are under debate in Brazil’s Congress and risk being passed this month before lawmakers go into recess, making this week’s mobilizations both urgent and timely.

Among the proposed changes are Proposed Complementary Law (PLP) 227 which would modify Article 231, eliminating the indigenous right to resources in cases of “relevant public interest,” clearing the way for industrial farming, dam-building, mining, road building and settlement construction on indigenous lands. Proposed Constitutional Amendment (PEC) 215 would roll back the demarcation of new indigenous territories by passing the authority to demarcate lands from the Executive to a Legislative branch that is increasingly hostile to indigenous rights.

Indigenous protesters gather at the encampment outside the National Congress in Brasilia

“These amendments and new laws that the government wants to pass will destroy indigenous rights enshrined in the Brazilian Constitution and the international treaties of which Brazil is a signatory,” said Maíra Irigaray Castro of Amazon Watch. “If Brazil denies the rights of these traditional populations they risk extinction, something the world cannot afford. These are the guardians of the rainforests for the benefit of all humanity.”

“We’re not going to stand by and watch our territories being stolen, our houses being invaded and our rivers being destroyed,” said Sonia Guajajara, coordinator of APIB. “Rather than calling Congress the house of the people it should be called the house of agribusiness.”

In addition to presiding over this unprecedented assault on indigenous rights, the Rousseff government has demonstrated the worst record of indigenous territorial demarcation since the nation’s dictatorship era. Further undermining the integrity of these territories, the office of her Attorney General proposes Ordinance 303 in order to veto any expansion of demarcated lands while authorizing the construction of roads, energy transmission lines, and military installations within their borders when such projects are deemed relevant to “national security.”

These moves coincide with increasing government backing and finance for projects and industries, exemplified by Brazil’s dam-building boom in the Amazon, that are entirely at odds with indigenous rights.