Climate Chaos – Page 101

Shell due to restart work in Ireland soon

Shell will attempt to lay the offshore pipe this Spring and preparation work both on land and at sea is due to start in the next few weeks. We are determined to stop this preparation work and so people are needed from mid-March – May.
We expect Shell to begin putting up security fences and building the compound very soon, possibly in the next few weeks…

The Rossport Solidarity Camp always welcomes committed & motivated people to get more involved in the campaign, whatever your experience or skills.
Come over & help out with actions, support, housekeeping, equipment maintenance, PR, office work, media work, gardening etc

Please consider doing one of the following:
•Come visit Mayo:
You would be more than welcome to stay at the camp. Find directions here: http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/directions.html
There are jobs for everyone to do from making banners, doing actions or starting this year’s garden. There really was a good vibe at the camp last autumn and we’re hoping for more of the same this time round. Contact the camp if you’re coming or if you have any questions.

•Take action at Home
There’s a load than can be done from wherever you are. See http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/support.html for some suggestions.
solidarity actions, info stalls, showing the campaign films, donate to the campaign, think of ideas for actions, put on a fundraiser…
If you are interested in helping to do research work about the new onshore pipeline application please email us.

Winter update
During the winter many court cases have been proceeding against those who object locally, for a variety of charges, from traffic offences, public order breaches to Garda assaults. It goes without saying that no Gardai have been prosecuted for their vicious assaults to date. While some fines and suspended sentences have been handed down, and Gardai have perjured themselves on the stand and the judges have lapped it up, no one has been found guilty of Garda assault to date (some cases had to be appealed to secure this). There are still many Shell to Sea cases before the courts, from local people refusing to bend to the corrupt will of Shell and the state. They need help to continue resisting!

Shell have recently put in planning applications for the onshore section of the pipeline which can be seen here www.corribgaspipeline.com

The economic situation has utterly changed and most people in the country are seriously questioning corporate power and government subservience to that power. Recently even the Gardaí took to the streets to oppose government policy (and no one threw them off the road!!!).
We are in a lot more favourable times to try to get our message and points across than this time last year.
We can win but we need your support!

For travel directions, leaflets, more info about the campaign pls check out:
http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com

Final update: Climate Camp in London’s Square Mile, April 1 2009.

Final update at bottom of story – Because nature doesn’t do bailouts.

April 1 in the evening… the sun has gone down, the sky is clear and stars are on view… instead of going home we get firewood from our backpacks, make tea and coffee on rocket stoves and then, just as the hunger pangs start, jacket potatoes!

Yes, we are actually going to camp in the city…

The G20 meeting is coming up fast, as are our plans to shut down carbon markets and be camping in London’s Square Mile as the 20 heads of state arrive. Below we’ve included more information and the latest update.

You can check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 as we get closer to Financial and Fossil Fools Day — April 1st.

In the meantime, we all need to get the word out. Basically the success of the Camp in the City is a game of getting as many people as possible to the City on April 1.

**The callout can be forwarded to your friends and email lists- it is here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

**Invite your friends to the facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225

**Forward this update to your mates, any relevant lists you are on, and post it on websites.

**Hold a local group meeting to discuss the G20

**Download the postcard version for photocopying and get it out:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/files/G20PostcardB_4onA4.pdf

**Stickers and colour postcards are available — email g20 at climatecamp.org.uk to get them.

Below you’ll find:

1) THE CLIMATE CAMP IN 2009
2) PRACTICAL INFORMATION
3) INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND AUTONOMOUS GROUPS
4) CALL OUT FOR WORKSHOPS
5) CALL FOR LEGAL OBSERVERS
6) FOOD AT THE G20 CAMP, MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD GROUP
7) DETAILS OF NEXT MEETING — NOTTINGAM MARCH 7/8

This information is also available at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20-practicalities.

1) THE CLIMATE CAMP IN 2009

The Climate Camp new year national gathering made huge progress, conceiving a strategic decision to focus on the failed economic system, and developing four ambitious and exciting projects stemming from this. If you weren’t at the gathering, or haven’t yet had a chance to look over the decisions made, check them out: http://climatecamp.org.uk/?q=node/501

The most urgent project going ahead is “Climate Camp hits the City”, a one day and night camp in the square mile of London taking place on April 1st, the eve of the G20. Climate Camp has never organised an action at such a fast pace, and so everyone is encouraged to get networking locally across the UK to make Climate Camp first event of 2009 an enormous success! To find out more about the details of the G20, go to http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

2) PRACTICAL INFORMATION

CONVERGE. There will be a convergence centre from Saturday the 28th April, so you can go to the ‘Put People First’ march by the big NGO’s and Unions, and stay in London until the Wednesday 1st April, and camping in the City.
There will be plenty of work to do over those last days! See www.climatecamp.org.uk nearer the time for the exact location.

ARRIVE. Come for the day, or if possible come for the day and night! The adventure will begin at noon, April 1st, European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. More details nearer the time. For some background on carbon markets, and why we’re shutting down the exchange, visit http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20-why

LOOK AFTER EVERYONE. Although we hope to provide some food, and shelter for those who want to sleep, please try to arrive as self-sufficient as possible — when you are camping in the heart of the financial district, there are no guarantees that we’ll be able to have much infrastructure!
Bring water, warm clothes, a pop-up tent if you’ve got one, sleeping bag, and if you can, some blankets and tarp. Carrying your own food to share and water will also put less strain on our kitchen, and please arrive well fed.

TRANSFORM. We also want to transform the financial district, both symbolically and visually into a physical manifestation of our desired worlds. Doing that is up to all of us. We want our space to look beautiful. So come with your own plans, costumes, theater, entertainment and spectacle. Wind turbines, mobile cinemas, action plans — whatever you think you can pull off.

Let’s imagine another world or two or three….

3) INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND AUTONOMOUS GROUPS

If you are part of a Climate Camp neighbourhood, or would like to be part of one, contact your local group: http://climatecamp.org.uk/node/40.

If you are in a local group, give the Process Group (process@climatecamp.org.uk) your details for the Climate Camp website.

With an exciting process up and running again, people are hopefully looking to get involved. However, our Local Group page is out of date.

Therefore, if you are a local Climate Camp group (whether or not you were a neighbourhood at the Camp ’08), give us some text about the basic details (when and where you meet, contact details, a bit about yourselves) and we’ll get it on the website. We can also arrange for your local group to have an @climatecamp.org.uk email address.

If groups arrive sorted, that will put less strain on everyone. Think about how you would like to transform our space, and come with the materials you need to do so. We are also urging all groups to have back up plans and actions. There is no Planet B, but everyone should have a Plan B…

4) WORKSHOPS AT CLIMATE CAMP PART 1

The camp is looking for workshops for the day. We would love to hear from you if you can offer a workshop, especially (but not limited to) workshops on carbon trading, market solutions to climate change, and the economic crisis. We are also really keen to hear from you if you can offer music, street theatre or anything else which will make the day inspiring and educational!

Please let us know if you would be able to offer a workshop. Contact: at g20workshops at riseup.net

5) LEGAL OBSERVERS FOR CLIMATE CAMP PART 1

Want to be a trained legal observer? If so we really want lots of legal observation for the G20 camp on the 1st April. There will be a training event on 31st March. Remember we need people for both the 1st and 2nd of April. Email: legal at climatecamp.org.uk.

6) FOOD AT THE G20 CAMP, MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD GROUP

First. Bring plenty of fresh WATER; Bring Food; Bring a bog roll!; Bring bin liners to take away rubbish; bring a bowl, cup and fork.

Second. Do NOT bring propane bottles or sharp knives.

Third. If you can bring a Rocket Stove – it would be wonderful – it’s proper camping and visually cool.

Fourth. There is a food and kitchens group who will work hard in collaboration with local groups to pre-prepare SUPPLEMENTARY vegan food throughout the 24 hours of action — some in the location and in other places. This could include a light dinner on the 1st April and possibly hot breakfast on April 2nd. Donations of £2-3 per head will be requested to fund this provision.

Fifth. Join the food group and help to make and distribute food. Email tummyfiller at riseup.net

7) NEXT MEETING — NOTTINGAM MARCH 7/8

The next national Camp for Climate Action gathering is going to be in Nottingham, from the 7th to 8th of March. The Venue is the wonderful Sumac Centre, details of which can be found on their website at:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/welcome.html

The Gathering will run from 10.30am on the Saturday till 5pm on the Sunday, so get booking your trains and coaches. We’ll not only be discussion the G20, but also, other climate camp projects.

——

Update (25th March):

The G20 Swoop & crucial information for the Climate Camp in the City of London!

April 1st is only a week away! Below is the crucial information you will need for camping in the square mile during the G20.

Please forward this to your friends, any groups you are a part of, and post it on websites. Check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 for updates. Once again, our list goes to 11.

(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING
(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION
(3) THE MAP
(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS
(5) SLEEPING SPACE
(6) THINGS TO BRING
(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS & MEDIA
(8) LEGAL
(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH
(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH
(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING

To be successful, we must all arrive at the Climate Exchange at the same time. We must swoop in from different directions, using different means to arrive within a minute or two of each other. Its a good idea to meet up with your friends early, and somewhere within easy reach of the Climate Exchange. Then, at the appropriate moment, leave quickly, to arrive at exactly 12:30. You may even want to practice beforehand.

Be aware that in light of current over-policing tactics, if you miss the swoop, you may be unable to join the camp. In places where our numbers are too low, the police may attempt to stop and search individuals, and confiscate items to prevent us from setting up the camp safely. We can avoid this by moving confidently and together. The police may also attempt to surround people to prevent us from moving (sometimes called a “kettle”). Nearby tube stations, particularly Liverpool Station, as well as the Bank (where the G20-meltdown protest is occurring at noon), are possible locations where the police may try to kettle people. If you see a kettle forming and don’t want to be stuck for the day in one, move and help others move out of it before it closes.

You are likely to have greater freedom of movement if you’ve planned your swoop and know the area. Because things may change on the day, please take copies of our map with grid reference points, and have a person in your group subscribed to the text alerts.

(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION

Things may change on the day, perhaps significantly. There is a text message news service which will be available in advance and during the G20 Leaders meeting. We strongly recommend that people subscribe to it. It is possible, even likely, that the place that we finally set up camp will not be the Climate Exchange.

http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/text-updates

We also use Twitter http://twitter.co /ClimateCamp but please note that twitter does not reach mobile phone numbers and is now a web-service, so on the day this will only be useful for those with web-enabled phones or those with friends at home ready to call.

You may want to also exchange phone numbers with your friends and people in other groups so that our communication network is as decentralised as possible.

(3) THE MAP

A map of the city, with grid reference points will be released at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/map in the coming days. Please print copies for you and your friends. It will be used on the day when the text alert gives the location of the camp, or any other information throughout the day.

Various carbon off-set companies, carbon trading firms, greenwashing firms, and other climate-criminals will also be highlighted on the map. If the police prevent us from safely setting up the camp, groups are especially encouraged to do an action at one of these locations, or any other location they have researched. It can also aid communication between you and your mates. Losing your friends in a crowd really sucks!

(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS

From Thursday March 26th until Thursday April 2nd rampARTS will be a G20 infopoint, open to drop by from 2-10 pm. The Camp for Climate Action will have information there during this period.

On Saturday March 28th at 5 pm, and on Sunday March 29th at 2 pm, the camp will be serving tea and cake for those who want to meet up and share information, or make some banners and props.

On Tuesday March 31st at 7 pm, there will be a briefing at rampART, with a particular focus on new people who need information about the April 1st camp.

rampART is located at 15 -17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA (near Whitechapel, off Commercial Rd). rampart[at]mutualaid.org, 07050 618445
http://therampart.wordpress.com/location-contact/

(5) SLEEPING SPACE

If you are coming from out of town, places are available to stay! Please contact us early so that we can reserve you a place. Email iwanttocrashinasquatfortheg20@hushmail.com to let them know how many people will be staying, and the dates you need.

(6) THINGS TO BRING

If you’re staying for the full 24 hours, please check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/what-to-bring for what to bring.

(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS AND MEDIA

Are you planning an autonomous action and would you like to try and get media there as soon as it happens? You can chat to the climate camp media crew about it beforehand who can point the media your way, or can help you get your press release out. You don’t have to give them the details beforehand, but do get in touch with press@climatecamp.org.uk or call 07040 900905 to arrange something.

(8) LEGAL

Our legal team have prepared a handy crib sheet of information about your legal rights and what to do if something goes wrong. These will be handed out on the day, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get one before encountering the police, so we advise you to print a copy to bring along.
Check it out at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/legal

(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH

Workshops and music are on! Workshops will include: Trading our way into trouble, the Fossil Fuel Economy, A history of Direct Action, Techno fixes, Transition to a low carbon economy, the latest climate science from Copenhagen, Mobilising for Copenhagen, Debt and Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Copenhagen, Sustainable Activism, Samba, Poetry vs Climate Change … and more!

Check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/events for the latest schedule

We also need more musicians to play at the ceilidh. More musicians and sound systems are welcome!

(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH AND LEAFLETING

A Camp for Climate Action block for the Put People First March on Saturday the 28th of March will be meeting at 11 am outside Charing Cross National Rail Station, on the strand. We need help handing out leaflets during the march. 07534 598733 for more info.

(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

The only way we can win this is through a mass mobilisation of people. With a week to go we can still get people to join us for the camp. Talk to your friends and bring them along; change your status and profile picture on social networks, and invite your contacts to our facebook event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225 . On the day, make sure you let the people back home know how the camp is going, and how they can disseminate our message. If each of us brings someone along, we double our numbers and our strength.

——

Final update (31st March):

Hi campers, not long to go before we join each to set up camp in the city on April 1st! This is the final update, please read it carefully and forward it to all your friends who are coming…

WHAT TO BRING:

We hope many of us will be staying overnight, please bring a popup tent, food, 4 litres of water, warm clothes, hand cleaning gel (for hygiene, we might not get water) and whatever you might need for 24 hours of rebel camping adventure. (a full list is here http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/what-to-bring)

HOW TO DO IT:

1) SYNCHRONIZE YOUR WATCHES: It is important that we swoop at exactly the same time, and those arriving too late or too early might not make it in. You can use the speaking clock or this: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com

2) PLUG IN: Sign up to text messages here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/text-updates You will only get text messages if there is a change of plan.

3) PREPARE: Print out the map from http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/map and if you still need somewhere to sleep the night before check http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/sleepspace Remember that there may be limited toilet facilities so don’t arrive with bursting bowels !!!

3) SWOOP DOWN: Arrive at 62 Bishop’s Gate, the European Climate Exchange at 12:30 on the dot. Swoop swiftly and stealthily from a location of your choice. It might be good to avoid Bank and Liverpool Street stations where other protest groups are meeting at 11.00am as you may be unable to leave due to police Kettles (when police surround a crowd). Avoid kettles at all costs and if when you get to the Climate Exchange the police invite you into a protest pen, say “no thanks, we’ll camp elsewhere”, keep moving and wait for text messages.

4) SPREAD INSPIRATION: You can use your phone to send reports, pictures, audio etc from the streets to Indymedia. Its very easy – see http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/425262.html for numbers and details.

If you are covering the action using twitter, please include the hashtags #g20cc or both #g20 and #protest so we can pull tweets into one single feed of the event.

5) AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST – ENJOY: The next few days will be extraordinary days for extraordinary times…

Plane Stupid Scotland shuts Aberdeen airport – updated

protest ended update – see below main article ::: 3rd March – Nine young protesters from the climate action group Plane Stupid Scotland have this morning shut down Aberdeen airport by setting up a golf course on the taxiway. They have surrounded themselves with fortified security fencing whilst another group are occupying the roof of the terminal building and have unfurled a banner reading, “Nae Trump Games with Climate Change”.

The peaceful protest began at 02.15am this morning whilst the runway was closed. Plane Stupid aims to prevent the scheduled reopening of the runway at 5am. The group intends to maintain its blockade for as long as possible to prevent the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Photos available for download and media on our Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/planestupid. All photos licensed under Creative Commons.

The activists entered the runway by cutting the fence and scaled the roof climbing ladders. Dressed as Donald Trump, sporting wigs and golfing attire, with crazy golf clubs and balls, the group are ‘putting’ on the tarmac. The banner on the fencing erected by the group reads “Plane Stupid Scotland Golf Open 2009”.

Donald Trump is supporting the expansion of Aberdeen airport where his super-rich friends will arrive to play golf on his controversial golf course. BAA Aberdeen said they welcome Donald Trump’s Golf Course. Like Alex Salmond, Trump wants to bulldoze over democratic opposition to environmentally damaging projects like airport expansion. Both Trump and BAA’s plans face fierce local opposition.

One of the activists on the taxiway, Jonny Agnew, 22, from Edinburgh, said:

“We have been failed by the generation of Donald Trump and Alex Salmond. Despite a catalogue of scientific reports warning them that they can’t keep on with aviation growth – even if that hinders their ability to jet in for a weekend of golf – they continue with disregard for all of us, who will end up dealing with the impacts of the climate crisis.”

He added:

“The reality is that our generation’s future is vanishing so that people like Donald Trump and his super-rich friends can jet into Aberdeen for a round of golf. The expansion of this airport just cannot go ahead.”

Another, 24 year old Tilly Gifford, a social worker from Glasgow, said:

“Alex Salmond wants to let the Spanish shareholders of BAA, Donald Trump and his super-rich American friends concrete over Scotland and its efforts to stop runaway climate change.”

She added:

“Arctic ice is melting, the sea is already rising and experts warn the world’s rainforests could collapse. Our generation is already starting to feel these impacts as the warming kicks in so it’s obvious that it’s going to need to be us that urgently puts the brakes on expanding unnecessary airports.”

The campaigners chose to close Aberdeen after the Scottish government gave its backing to the expansion of capacity at the airport by 1.5 million passengers by 2015. Aviation is Britain’s fastest growing source of emissions, already amounting to at least 13% of the UK’s climate emissions.

With plans in the Scottish government’s ‘National Planning Framework’ for growth at Scottish airports including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen – as well as Heathrow and Stansted – experts from the Tyndall Centre for climate research say aviation policy alone will scupper any chance the UK has of hitting its climate targets.

25 year old Dan Glass, a community worker from Glasgow, said:

“We’re here to say it cannot happen, and our generation won’t let it happen. The scientists tell us we’ve got seven years to make emissions peak then drop, and if we fail, the people on this runway and their entire generation, and our children, willl live with the consequences. That’s why we’re doing this.”

For more information/interviews:

Dan on 07507085963
Katie on 07786381674

For photos – www.flickr.com/photos/planestupid

—-

Seven members of the campaign group Plane Stupid were detained at about 0820 GMT after releasing themselves.

Two other protesters, who remained on the roof of the main terminal building, were detained later.

The protest began at about 0300 GMT. There were no flights to or from the airport until after 0900 GMT.

BBC video
—-

At 09.30am Plane Stupid Scotland’s protest at Aberdeen airport has come to a close after six hours. The eleven people, including local residents that this morning breached the airport fence have now been arrested.

The protesters were told by police to dismantle their peaceful protest because the taxiway they were secured to was needed by an emergency helicopter. A baby apparently required urgent treatment, and any other approach would cause delays. Obviously the safety of the public was of paramount concern to the activists and so they duly removed themselves.

Plane Stupid has subsequently spoken to both the Accident and Emergency unit of Aberdeen hospital, and its press department. They were unaware of any transfers requested by air this morning. Not only that, but spokesperson Lesley Middleton said:

“We have our own helipad which we use in emergencies. Of course you can’t anticipate what may happen, but in all my years of working here I can’t think of a time when we’ve used Aberdeen airport. The only circumstances I can imagine where we’d need to get access to the area would be if there was an accident at the airport.”

The protesters are now looking into the conduct of the police and are considering making a complaint.

Plane Stupid Scotland has, during the last week of National Planning Framework consultation, effectively shed light on the illogical expansion plans. At a time of economic recession and looming climate crisis Scotland has the opportunity to be at the forefront of a secure and sustainable future and to take a strong position to tackle climate change. They also linked the plans for airport expansion with the current development’s of Donald Trump’s Golf Course in Aberdeenshire.

Katie Morrison, from the group Plane Stupid Scotland said:

“It is unnecessary to expand Aberdeen airport as 58% of flights are domestic and could be replaced with high speed rail link. We ask that the government stop playing around with big business and start winning the race against runaway climate change. Trump’s golf course and our governments planned expansion will concrete over Scottish democracy.”

The activists were in high spirits as they removed themselves from the airport but general feeling was of annoyance at the underhanded tactics used by the police which lured the protesters in and took advantage of their caring nature.

The activists are currently being held in custody in Inverurie and are being charged with breach of the peace. It is likely that they will be appearing in court tomorrow morning, all support is welcome and will be greatly appreciated.

We will inform you of any updates as they happen. Good work Plane Stupid Scotland, time to celebrate another successful action.

Anti-Coal Protesters Blockade Washington Power Station (U$A)

2nd March 2009
Thousands of demonstrators braved icy winds and snow to march on the US capitol’s coal-fired power plant on Monday to demand a more sane approach to energy policy. Organized by Capitol Climate Action thousand blockade the five main gates to the Capitol Power Plant in south-east Washington, not far from Capitol Hill.

The blockade lasted nearly four hours, forming what organizers called the largest display of civil disobedience on the climate crisis in U.S. history. Police were out in force, but no one was arrested.

The 99-year-old coal fired power station is responsible for an estimated one-third of the legislative branch’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is no longer even used to generate electricity but instead acts as a glorified boiler providing steam for heating and chilled water for cooling buildings for the legislative buildings of the Capitol Complex.

Environmental and climate celebrities led the protest action, including NASA climatologist Dr. James Hansen, who released a video on You Tube in February urging people to join him March 2 at the demonstration to send a message to Congress and the President that, “We want them to take the actions that are needed to preserve climate for young people and future generations and all life on the planet.”

“What has become clear from the science is that we cannot burn all of the fossil fuels without creating a very different planet,” Hansen said. “The only practical way to solve the problem is to phase out the biggest source of carbon and that is coal.”

Congressional Democrats have already moved to convert the Capitol Power Plant to cleaner-burning natural gas. On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid released a letter asking the Capitol Architect to switch the Capitol Power Plant from coal to 100 percent natural gas by the end of 2009.

“The switch to natural gas will allow the CPP to dramatically reduce carbon and criteria pollutant emissions, eliminating more than 95 percent of sulphur oxides and at least 50 percent of carbon monoxide,” wrote Pelosi and Reid in their letter to Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers.

“We strongly encourage you to move forward aggressively with us on a comprehensive set of policies for the entire Capitol complex and the entire Legislative Branch to quickly reduce emissions and petroleum consumption through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean alternative fuels,” they wrote.

“While the costs associated with purchasing additional natural gas will certainly be higher, the investment will far outweigh its cost,” wrote Pelosi and Reid. “The conversion will also reduce the cost of storing and transporting coal as well as the costs associated with cleaning up the fly ash and waste.”

“Eliminating coal from the fuel mixture should also assist the City of Washington, D.C., in meeting and complying with national air quality standards, and demonstrate that Congress can be a good and conscientious neighbour by mitigating health concerns for residents and workers around Capitol Hill,” the leaders wrote.

“We’ve been fighting to clean up the Capitol for years – it’s an important symbol for the whole nation,” said Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder on Thursday.

Last week, Blackwelder and representatives of Earthjustice and the Sierra Club sent letters to Reid and Pelosi asking that they stop using coal at the Capitol power plant.

“Dirty coal plants all over the country continue to release heat-trapping gases and pollute the air we breathe, so there remains much work to be done, but today’s announcement is a signal of a major change in direction,” Blackwelder said.

“People in D.C. have been fighting against the plant for years, it is very dirty and located in a poor neighbourhood. They haven’t had much success until now,” said Adrian Wilson, a San Francisco-based environmental organizer with the Capitol Climate Action coalition. “The fact that three days before the action, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid wrote letter for plant to be switched from coal to natural gas shows the power of direct action to make change quickly.”

Bruce Nilles, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, said, “Stopping the use of coal at the Capitol Power Plant will help local residents breathe easier, but the positive impacts will stretch far beyond the District. Bold measures are needed right now to reduce global warming emissions and we look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the new administration to send a clear signal to cities and states across the country that after eight long years, America is serious about clean energy and green jobs.”

The Capitol Power Plant demonstration was part of a larger movement in the nation’s capital on the weekend that lasted through this evening – Power Shift 2009. Some 12,000 college and high school students travelled to DC for the second Power Shift conference, a meeting of students confronting climate change, and business-as-usual attitudes in Washington.

Energy Action, a coalition of 50 environmental groups, organized the Power Shift weekend conference and lobby day. For three days, students attended seminars on the histories of coal power, direct action and uranium mining, media and leadership training sessions, grassroots organizing and anti-oppression workshops.

For video, links to lots of photos and more, http://www.capitolclimateaction.org/

Fossil Fools Day 2009, 1st April – actions & resources

FFD is only five weeks away! We know of various affinity group actions around the UK but thought we’d upload some inspirational public actions you can get involved with on the April 1st and some resources to help inspire you to take action in you local area.

PUBLIC ACTIONS

12 Noon

PUBLIC ACTIONS

12 Noon

Help build a Camp for Climate Action in the City of London.Stopping carbon markets – because nature doesn’t do bailouts. Meet at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, action plans and ideas … let’s imagine another world. Don’t let the financial and fossil fools make the rules!

For more details visit – http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

6PM – *** POSTPONED by BP following police advice. ***

For reasons unfathomable yet deeply pleasing, BP* has chosen Fossil Fools Day to celebrate its centenary. This will take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good will quaff cocktails, snaffle canapes and watch a celebratory film. And Rising Tide and Art Not Oil will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your Party’s Over!’ Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery. Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate. * BP = Burning Planet, British Plunder, Bloody Profits, Broken Promises,Boring Parties, Breathtaking Protests and..? Send your unravelled acronyms to info@artnotoil.org.uk

RESOURCES

Media – Rising Tide has produced an 11 page Media Q&A for Fossil Fools Day. If you think you’ll be talking to the media on the day and want a few tips for tricky questions send us an email (info@risingtide.org.uk) and we’ll email you a copy.

Action Ideas – For a short guide on why and how to take direct action against the fossil fuel industry … including planning tips, target locations, examples of successful actions and much more visit the RT Resources page were you can download ‘15 Actions to Topple the Fossil Fuel Empire’.

FFD is only 5 weeks away so whether you’ve been looking for a chance to dip a toe into the growing climate action movement, or have had your kick-ass action planned since last year, now is the time to do it – whatever it is. On April 1st, join the global day of resistance and pull a prank that packs a punch.

http://risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday2009

Climate Rush at UK Coal HQ & coal awards – Doncaster & London – and next one 5th March at RBS

Northern Climate Rush visit to UK coal headquarters

Around 15 climate activists from the North of England visited the headquarters of UK Coal near Doncaster yesterday, 26th February, in a protest against new coal and calling for tougher measures to control CO2 emissions.

Two people climbed up lamposts to suspend a 6m banner reading ‘Leave it in the Ground’, while on the ground below the protestors played a bit of samba, danced, and had a picnic. The protestors wore Edwardian themed dress including red sashes with the words ‘No New Coal’ written across them.

UK Coal is the UK’s largest coal company. The Doncaster protest was timed to coincide with the Climate Rush at the UK Coal Awards, hosted by UK coal, in London.

The police reaction was fairly low-key and non-obstructive, although they did take an awful lot of photos (I suppose they had nothing else to do). A van driver was hassled by cops, had his details checked and was told he was not insured to drive the vehicle (which was not the case).

—

Thursday 26th February 2009
PRESS RELEASE: Northern Climate Rush visits UK Coal headquarters

Climate activists from the North visited the headquarters of UK Coal near Doncaster today in a protest against new coal and calling for tougher measures to control CO2 emissions. The protest coincided with the ‘Climate Rush’ in London where people intended to gatecrash the Coal UK Conference and Awards 2009 at the Landmark Hotel in Regents Park. However, the London protesters arrived to find the Conference had moved venue at the last minute. Around 200 protesters in London occupied the lobby of the Landmark and dropped banners. They asked that the hotel to refrain from hosting any future events with fossil fuel industries such as UK Coal, to which the management agreed.

The protestors of both demonstrations wore Edwardian themed dress including red sashes with the words ‘No New Coal’ written across them. In Doncaster two female protesters scaled lamp-posts to hang a banner reading ‘Leave it in the ground’ across the entrance to the UK coal headquarters.

Coal is the dirtiest form of energy production yet the government has plans to expand the coal industry, including a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent. UK Coal are responsible for operating several open cast mines across the UK. Open cast coal mining is particularly damaging to the local environment since it involves scalping the landscape and typically provides an average of only 40 jobs per site, for a handful of years only.

Vanessa Hall, spokeswoman for the Northern Climate Rush said, “It is essential that we take climate change seriously and move away from dirty fossil fuels like coal. There is no way we can avoid runaway climate change if we continue to burn coal.”

Megan Beech, 24, said, “The coal industry talk about Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as the magic bullet that will allow us to keep burning coal. However CCS is as yet an unproven technology. You don’t start a fire on the promise that one day we”ll invent a fire extinguisher with which to put it out.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

This is the third major ‘Climate Rush’ event, following from the first in Parliament square in October 2008 on the centenary of the Suffragette rush on Parliament. Protesters demanded ‘Deeds Not Words’ on climate change, including an end to airport expansion and no new coal. The second was at Heathrow and Manchester airports to draw attention to the threat of aviation and climate change.

The Northern Climate Rush is made up of campaigners from Manchester, Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford and Liverpool.

www.climaterush.co.uk
www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com

———

Climate Rush hosted cocktail party for the coal industry outside of the Landmark Hotel on Marylebone Road, London.

Coal UK planed to presented celebratory awards to the most damaging companies in the coal industry. Climate Rush offered an alternative awards based on the ecological damage that the coal industry is inflicting on the environment.

However after several tries at rushing the hotel people discovered that the award dinner had been cancelled.

Brochure for the awards dinner:
http://conf.mccloskeycoal.com/journals/McCloskey/Conferences/Conferences/attachments/Coal%20UK%20Brochure%20web.pdf

Climate Rush calls for:

1. No new coal to avoid runaway climate change

Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, and by far the dirtiest way to produce electricity. We must leave coal in the ground and not build any new coal fired power stations if we want to avoid runaway climate change. CCS is an unproven technology that may never be a viable option. Climate change is happening now and we must act now to stop it.

2. We can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet

At this outdated and fossilized awards ceremony UK Coal is celebrating the worst excesses of our failing economic system. Just like overpaid bankers these heads of corporations are receiving plaudits for plundering the planet.

3. A transition to a low carbon society with sustainable jobs

We must counteract any jobs losses from the coal industry with a major re-skilling program in sustainable trades. Many more jobs will be created by a huge retrofitting program of old housing stock and in the new renewable energies sector than in new coal. The German clean energy revolution has seen the creation of 250,000 new jobs.

More photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/filkaler/tags/climaterush/

—

Landmark Decision Against Coal Industry
For immediate release: 26 February 2009

LANDMARK DECISION

A top class London hotel has vowed companies and organisations which contribute to climate chaos will no longer be welcome to use their facilities for corporate promotion and entertainment

The move follows a Climate Rush action on the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, where hundreds of protesters converged on Thursday to halt a coal industry awards ceremony.

Coal is acknowledged among scientists and climate change activists as the world’s worst contributor to climate change in the form of CO2 emissions.*

The coal industry under the banner of UK Coal were booked into the Landmark to host an awards ceremony with five star food and drink where they planned to hand out gongs for UK coal personality of the year and the best open cast miners among other categories.

Protesters dropped banners and staged a peaceful sit-in to speak out at the hotel’s support and the coal industry’s insistence of “business as usual” in the face of evident escalating climate chaos.

The Landmark’s landmark decision has been applauded by activists. “At Last! For too long profiteering from climate change has been sold to the public as a necessity of ‘business as usual’. But with global temperatures rising and climate chaos running riot in the form of drought (Africa and Australia) and flooding (low lying lands all over), we all need to work together.

“ We applaud the Landmark for their good sense and the vision to say ‘enough is enough’. They rightly don’t want to be associated with the corrupt system that needs overturning. We welcome the Landmark to play their role in the new way of doing things so needed.”

The Landmark now plans to deny companies such as the Royal Bank of Scotland (the biggest single investor in coal and oil industries) and oil companies, such as ESSO, BP and Shell, as well as the coal industry from using their ballrooms and banquet halls to promote their cause.

The hotel has also pledge to communicate with the 24 other five star hotels in its’ group to suggest they do the same.

Climate Rush has pledged to work with the Landmark Hotel to ensure the right companies are blocked, to send a clear message to polluters: they’re not welcome.

ENDS
Notes and footnotes to Editors

Coal is responsible for 50 % of the climate change gases in the atmosphere caused by human activity.

Climate Rush is a cutting edge movement of carbon cutting individuals who have seen the light and want to spread the word through their remit: Deeds not words, based on the clarion call of the suffragettes

For high quality photos and further comments please ring 075 2839 8441 or email media@climaterush.co.uk

For comments from the landmark hotel please ring Francis T Green 0207 631 8000

—

UK No New Coal Awards

Climate Rush is delighted to announce that it will be presenting the following “Canary in the Coalmine” awards:

Science Fiction award
goes to the most unbelievable technology not yet available to stop CO2 emissions, Carbon Capture and Storage.

Financial Fool award
goes to the Royal Bank of Scotland, for helping to raise $16 billion in loans to finance the worldwide coal industry over the past two years.

Lifetime Achievement award
goes to Drax coal fired power station, for the Greatest Emissions in the UK, equivalent to that of the 54 poorest countries in the world.

Best Supporting Role
goes to the biggest Climate Coward, Gordon Brown, for his useless leadership over Climate Change.

Best Newcomer
goes to the next likely “factory of death”, Kingsnorth coal fired power station in Kent.

and finally…

UK Coal Personality of the Year
goes to Paul Golby, CEO of energy company E.ON, for outstanding services to Greenwash (whilst plotting to build Kingsnorth)

——

CLIMATE RUSH: THURSDAY 5TH MARCH, 1PM, RBS HQ

GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK and STOP TRASHING THE PLANET

Royal Bank of Scotland: £33 billion in bail outs SO FAR!

Using OUR MONEY!

RBS boss 50-year-old Sir Fred: retires early with a whopping £16 million pension fund.

Using OUR MONEY!

OUR bank: arranges £16 billion in loans to the coal industry in just two years.

RBS: the BIGGEST investor in climate chaos.

FOR THE LOVE OF OUR MONEY, WHAT PLANET ARE THEY ON?

Grab your mates, bring some lunch and get down to the bank to demand OUR money back.

Royal Bank of Scotland HQ

Thursday 5th March

1.OOPM PROMPT: think flashmob…

280 Bishopsgate, near Liverpool Street Station

ANGRY? You better believe it: Let’s rush!

See what they’re saying about the RBS Climate Rush in the Guardian here

Facebook invite here: invite ALL your friends

Please help spread the word by downloading the poster as a pdf here to print out and stick up wherever you go!

Be sure to keep checking the site for updates… and don’t forget to subscribe and join our facebook group!

Work Stopped at Shipley Open Cast Coal Mine Site

26th Feb 2009
This morning a group of four ex-local residents, not affiliated with any particular group went digger diving at the Shipley Open Cast Coal Mine.

Work was stopped for one hour and a half. The protestors left when the police turned up.

The police entered into discussion with UK Coal about creating a more permenant space for people to protest at, the police suggested some kind of shelter. UK Coal declined, stating that they were worried the protestors would turn the shelter into a “concrete lock-on”.

No arrests were made.

Same banner; different protest.

Work Stopped at Rosewell Open Cast Coal Mine Site

23.2.2009
At 9am today a group of eco-activists began to disrupt the operations of Scottish Coal at the Rosewell open-cast coal mine in the Midlothians. Some of the 10 activists stopping work today are local residents.

They climbed onto digging machinery to prevent works and climbed onto trucks to prevent coal from leaving the Rosewell site for 2 hours this morning. Then police arrived but no-one were arrested.

One activist said “the burning of coal to generate electricity is one of the most polluting and destructive of all human activities. We cannot deal with climate change while companies like Scottish coal continue to profit from coal exploitation.”

A local resident said “With a government committed to expanding opencast, deep mine and new coal power generation across Scotland, asking politicians will achieve nothing. Peaceful direct action is the only way people are going to stop coal expansion.”

Another said. “We are opposed to this climate disaster of an energy policy and to the scarring of scotland’s countryside with these horrible open-cast coal mines, Rosewell and Scottish Coal’s other operations have and will continue to be met by resistance from local people taking direct action.”

This action was done by individuals who are not affiliated to any particular group.

This is another example of the growing resistance to new coal in scotland. For more general info on how people are stopping new coal in Scotland, check out www.coalactionedinburgh.noflag.org.uk

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 86, February 2009

————————————
UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————————

1. ARTIVISM, Smash EDO’s week of anti-war creativity – Brighton – 24.02.09-01.03.09
2. Climate Rush – London and Manchester – 26.02.09
3. Camp for Climate Action Gathering – Nottingham – 7-8.03.09
4. Earth First! & Treesponsibility Tree Planting weekend – Hebden Bridge – 13-15.03.09
5. People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port – Newcastle, Australia – 21.03.09
6. Direct action and carbon trading education weekend – London and Brighton – 21-22.03.09
7. Fossil Fools Day – all over – 01.04.09
8. Coal Caravan – Midlands, Yorkshire and North East – 24.04.09-04.05.09

——————
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
——————

1. Biofuelled attacks in Sumatra, Indonesia – 18.12.08
2. Plane Stupid turns Southampton airport into a refugee camp – 17.01.09
3. Climate Rush activists lock on to Parliament – 20.01.01
4. E.On Ref Off! – 24.01.09
5. A not-so-Royal welcome for the nuclear industry – 09.02.09
6. Manchester RBS branch roof occupation – 11.02.09
7. Occupation of Kelsterback Forest, Frankfurt Airport, Germany – Ongoing
8. New report – Catering for the Coal Industry

————————————
UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————————

1. ARTIVISM, Smash EDO’s week of anti-war creativity – Brighton – 24.02.09-01.03.09
Including an Art Exhibition, Music & Voices in Exile, Peace Choir, Images from the Smash EDO campaign and the world events that inspired the resistance to Brighton’s local bomb builders. Events include Guy Smallman, international photo-journalist; on the ground photography from Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 2006; the classic drawings of John Catt, veteran anti-war activist; photography by Medyan Dairieh, Al-Jazeera journalist; ‘On the Verge’ the film they tried to ban; Clandestine Rebel Clown Training; Radical Cheerleading: make pom-poms, write cheers and practice your moves; carnival creations and mask making; and Benefit Finale at the Albert Pub.
www.smashedo.org.uk

2. Climate Rush – London and Manchester – 26.02.09
Climate Rush cordially invites you to an awards ceremony for the coal industry, to honour the world’s greatest emitters of CO2, on THURSDAY 26TH FEBRUARY at THE LANDMARK HOTEL. Dress formally for cocktails in the Winter Garden at 6.30 prompt.
www.climaterush.co.uk

And in Manchester, Northern Climate Rush will be paying a visit to the UK’s largest coal company – UK Coal. Meet in front of the Student Union building at 1pm.
www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com

3. Camp for Climate Action Gathering – Nottingham – 7-8.03.09
With the G20, climate criminals and COP 15 in mind, be part of the gathering – inspiration, action and solidarity guaranteed.
www.climatecamp.org.uk/?q=node/468

4. Earth First & Treesponsibility Tree Planting weekend – Hebden Bridge – 13-15.03.09
The annual and sociable opportunity to plant thousands of native trees on a ecologically degraded hillside is happening in March. Organised by Earth First! activists in collaboration with Calderdale community group Treesponsibility. Based in Hebden Bridge in Calderdale. A weekend of hard but satisfying work planting native woodland combined with good food and socialising.
More info: treesponsibility@yahoo.co.uk or 07983743894

5. People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port – Newcastle, Australia – 21.03.09
Coal exports are Australia’s single biggest contribution to global climate change, and the fastest growing. In Newcastle, the world’s biggest coal port, community groups have been campaigning against the doubling of coal exports from Newcastle Harbour. There have been three community blockades of Newcastle Harbour now, and each of them has managed to keep coal ships from entering or leaving for most of the day. The next one is on Saturday 21 March 2009.
www.risingtide.org.au

6. Direct action and carbon trading education weekend – London and Brighton – 21-22.03.09
Climate Camp Carbon Trading Education Weekend, London. With Climate Camp targeting carbon markets this year, find out everything you ever wanted to know about carbon trading and more but were afraid to ask! More info:international@climatecamp.org.uk

Also this weekend, a two-day direct action training at the Cowley Club, Brighton. 10 AM start.
www.cowleyclub.org.uk

7. Fossil Fools Day – all over – 01.04.09
Climate Camp at the European Climate Exchange, followed by a “celebration” of BP’s centenary at the British Museum; interspersed with local actions all over the country and the world!

Climate camp hits the city: stopping carbon markets // because nature doesn’t do bailouts
On April 1st the G20 leaders arrive in London. At a time of climate crisis their response to the market meltdown is emergency loans to car manufacturers, increased spending to encourage consumption, and bailouts for the very people who got us into this mess – just the thing that will make the climate crisis worse. Don’t let them get away with it: join our camp in the Square Mile! Gather at noon, April 1st, at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW.
www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

“Celebrate” BP’s centenary: Tell them the party’s over!
For reasons unfathomable yet deeply pleasing, BP has chosen Fossil Fools to celebrate its centenary. This will take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good will quaff cocktails, snaffle canapes and watch a celebratory film. Join us between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your party’s over!’ Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery. Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate.
www.fossilfoolsday.org
www.artnotoil.org.uk

8. Coal Caravan – Midlands, Yorkshire and North East – 24.04.09-04.05.09
The fabulous climate caravan lives on, as the COAL CARAVAN, walking and cycling between the sites for proposed open cast mines and new power stations in the Midlands, Yorkshire and North East. On our route we’ll be talking to local people, organising bicycled power films and events, holding public discussions and displays, and linking groups from different areas to help strengthen isolated campaigns. For route details see:
www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/21915
More info or to get involved: caravan@climatecamp.org.uk.

——————
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
——————

1. Biofuelled attacks in Sumatra, Indonesia – 18.12.08
In the rush to clear subsistence farms and forest for agro-fuel plantation, local villages in the global South are suffering. On 18th December 2008 the village of Suluk Bongkal in Sumatra, Indonesia was attacked by hundreds of armed police and paramilitaries with fire-arms and teargas and was also fire-bombed from a helicopter. Hundreds of houses were burned down and later bulldozed. Most of the villagers fled into the forests and others were arrested. The attack is linked to a subsidiary company of Sinar Mas, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) which is clearing land for pulp and paper tree plantations. Sinar Mas is one of the biggest owners of palm oil and pulp and paper plantations in Indonesia. A protest letter is collecting signatories to send to the Indonesian authorities.
To sign and for more info: www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/index.php

2. Plane Stupid turns Southampton airport into a refugee camp – 17.01.09
Activists chained themselves to the entrance of Southampton airport and erected tents at the main entrance in a bid turn the regional airport into a climate refugee camp. In addition to setting up camp, activists formally submitted a planning application with Eastleigh Borough Council to turn the airport into refugee housing.
www.planestupid.com

3. Climate Rush activists lock on to Parliament – 20.01.01
On the day that Parliament voted about the third runway, nine Climate Rush activists highlighted the high farce that is UK democracy by chaining themselves to the gates of Parliament. Despite staying for hours and entertaining tourists and the press, when the police finally cut them out, the activists walked away scot free.
www.climaterush.co.uk

4. E.On Ref Off! – 24.01.09
On Saturday 24th January a group of London Climate Camp activists turned up at Stamford Bridge dressed as football referees to show E.ON the red card. Over 40,000 Chelsea and Ipswich fans arriving for the game heard us blowing the whistle on E.ON’s dirty FA Cup sponsorship money, and thousands of them were personally handed an “E.ON F.OFF” red card explaining how the company is making foul profits from the climate crisis. It was all good fun and reactions were pretty positive – E.ON themselves would have paid tens of thousands to get the opposite publicity for their brand!
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/420346.html

5. A not-so-Royal welcome for the nuclear industry – 09.02.09
Hundreds of tourists, visiting the Palace for the Changing of the Guard, were amused to see “nuclear guards” taking their place at the gates. They held up a large banner reading “Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Climate Chaos!” and a placard reading “Royal Nuclear Family? No Thanks!”, drawing attention to the fact that Prince Andrew, the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, was hosting a gala lunch at the Palace for the nuclear industry, presumably to plot how best to promote their toxic greenwash agenda at home and abroad.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421693.html

6. Manchester RBS branch roof occupation – 11.02.09
Around 35 students held a climate change ‘Eviction Demonstration’ outside (and on top of) a Royal Bank of Scotland branch at the University of Manchester Students Union. The group from People and Planet also submitted a motion to the Union General Meeting proposing that the Union does not renew the lease for RBS’ branch when it expires in January 2010. Students climbed up on to the roof of the branch, and dropped banners advertising RBS’ fossil fuel investments. Others engaged in ‘rapid information dessimination’, racing off to speak to as many people as they could in 20 minutes before returning back to the RBS branch to compare scores.
http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22169

7. Occupation of Kelsterback Forest, Frankfurt Airport, Germany – Ongoing The occupation of the threatened Kelsterback Forest continues. This is a large and beautiful forest that has already been encroached upon for existing airport infrastructure and is “in the way” of a planned, additional runway.
http://waldbesetzung.blogsport.de

8. New report – Catering for the Coal Industry A personal account from an activist on the ground in Columbia,documenting resistance to exploitation in Columbia’s’ coal industry.The report is focused on the lives of those who prepare and serve the food necessary for the mine to function. They want people outside of La Loma to hear of their inhumane, dangerous and humiliating working conditions. Reading and sharing this report helps to break the invisibility of the exploitation within the global coal infrastructure.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419675.html

———-

Please send anything you’d like included in this news sheet to:
newssheet@risingtide.org.uk

To view previous editions of the Rising Tide News Sheet, visit the News Sheet Archive at http://risingtide.org.uk/newssheet

This News Sheet was brought to you by Rising Tide, a grassroots network of groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.

For more information…
email: info@risingtide.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0)845 458 8923 / +44 (0)7708 794665
Address: 62 Fieldgate St, London, E1 1ES
Web site: http://risingtide.org.uk

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND AND INVITE THEM TO JOIN THE LIST

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit:
http://risingtide.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/rt-news

Upcoming action dates, activist gatherings, & the official meetings en route to the Copenhagen climate summit, 2009 – updated

‘Official’ meetings on the Road to Copenhagen:

31 March to 8 April 2009
First Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bonn, Germany

‘Official’ meetings on the Road to Copenhagen:

31 March to 8 April 2009
First Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bonn, Germany
The first meeting on the “road to Copenhagen” and first international climate meeting for the Obama administration. Expected Outcome: Broad discussions on respective mitigation goals for developed and developing countries. However, it is unclear whether President Obama will have a climate negotiator and under secretary in place at this time so there will real “negotiating” at this meeting. http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/2654.php

2 April 2009
G20 Meeting, London, England
This will likely be President Obama’s first large-scale meeting with other world leaders. The agenda will likely look to tackle the financial crisis, but the G20 website mentions the need to “make progress on long-term issues such as climate change and international development.” Expected Outcome: Develop a commitment that the global economic recovery will factor in carbon emissions. http://www.g20.org/

24-26 May 2009
World Business Summit on Climate Change, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Copenhagen Climate Council is organizing the World Business Summit on Climate Change, which will bring together the business community, top scientists, economists and other leading thinkers. Expected Outcome: Issue recommendations for the next international global warming agreement. http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/

1-12 June 2009
Second Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bonn, Germany
Draft negotiating text is expected to be issued before or during this meeting and will likely be very general with all the contentious items placed in brackets, but it will be the basis for actual negotiations. Expected Outcome: Draft negotiating text. http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/2654.php

8-10 July 2009
G8 Summit, La Maddalena, Italy
The host, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, does not share the commitment to addressing climate change of previous G8 hosts. Addressing climate at this meeting will be critical for keeping momentum toward Copenhagen. Expected Outcome: G8 Agreement setting the stage for Copenhagen
http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_Home.htm

31 August – 4 September 2009
World Climate Conference Three, Geneva, Switzerland
The World Climate Conferences (WCC) is the major “scientific” meeting for 2009 and is the third in a series of international meetings, organized by the World Meteorological Organization
about global climate issues. The second WCC in 1979 resulted in the creation of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. http://www.wmo.int/pages/world_climate_conference/index_en.html Expected Outcome: Group will address climate prediction, disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change.

August 2009 (date not set)
Third Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bangkok, Thailand
This is the third meeting on the “road to Copenhagen” and, by this point, parities should have set their negotiating positions so the framework for the next international treaty can start to be crafted. Expected Outcome: Nation’s set negotiating positions. http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/2654.php

21-25 September 2009
United Nations General Assembly Climate Summit, Copenhagen
New York, New York – *UN Secretary General Bon Ki Moon has indicated that he plans to hold a special session with heads of state to address climate change. Expected Outcome: Indications of nation’s negotiating position for

October 2009 (date not set)
Fourth Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting/Minister’s Meeting), Location to be determined
Expected Outcome: Final draft text agreed to. This is the final negotiating session before Copenhagen and may be attended only by environment ministers making it a closed door meeting designed to set the stage for COP 15.

7-18 December 2009
UNFCCC Conference of the Parties 15, Copenhagen, Denmark
If there is to be no gap between the Kyoto Protocol and a new agreement, a framework must be agreed to at this meeting. Expected Outcome: New international global warming treaty. http://www.cop15.dk/en

2010 (dates unconfirmed)
UNFCCC Conference of the Parties 16, Jamaica

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

Old dates from this calendar:

Compiled at the recent EF! Winter Moot (scroll down for your summer of fun – dates up until December ’09):

21-22 February 2009
No Borders UK gathering, Bristol

26 February 2009
Demonstrations at UK Coal Awards (www.climaterush.co.uk) & at UK Coal HQ (www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com)

5 March 2009
Next Climate Rush, London
> http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22254

13-15 March 2009
EF! Treeplanting, Hebden Bridge
(trees@riseup.net > www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22158)

13-15 March 2009
COP15 International Mobilisation Network meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark (www.climateaction09.org)

14-15 March
National squat meetup, Bristol
(www.squatmeet09.wordpress.com)

21-22 March 2009
Climate Camp Carbon Trading Education Weekend, London
(international@climatecamp.org.uk)

21-22 March 2009
Direct Action training, 10am at Cowley Club, Brighton
(www.cowleyclub.org.uk)

1 April 2009 Fossil/Financial Fools Day
G20 Protests + Events List + Locations Map
Squaring up to the Square Mile: the London G20 map

Climate Camp in the City, London (www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20)
G20 Meltdown at the Bank of England (www.g20meltdown.org)
Fossil Fools’ Day, everywhere (www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday2009)
Times & resource links > http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22258

* G20 Critical Mass
9:00 AM Meet at Bank Junction (Bank tube station) EC2

* Financial Fools Day Street Party
Assemble at Cannon Street, Moorgate, Liverpool Street or London Bridge stations 11am to form four marching blocks heading towards the Bank of England for 12-noon, in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City of London.
See: http://www.g-20meltdown.org/
Bring a portable radio!

* Climate Camp in the City
The climate camp are camping in the European Carbon Exchange, Hasilwood house, City of London 12-noon.
See: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20
Final update on what to bring and what to do where at http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22291

* Fossil Fools Day: ‘Your Party’s Over!’ *** POSTPONED by BP following police advice. ***
Climate Criminal BP is celebrating its centenary with cocktails and canapes at the British Musem. And we will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your party’s over!’
Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate
See: http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org
Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery.

2 April 2009
* Crash the Stock Exchange
Eat capitalism for breakfast. Disrupt the traders whose financial egomania perpetuates global injustice: let’s shutdown trading for the day.
Meet outside the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, City of London, London EC4M. 7am (traders arrive at 7am, trading commencing 8am). Nearest tube: St Pauls – have a pleasant journey in… tubes might be busy.
* Excel Centre
Direct action all day against the Excel Centre, Canning Town where the G20 will be meeting
ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL
A coalition of groups including: The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, The British Muslim Initiative, and CND have called two protests at the G20; a march and rally in central London on the afternoon of April 1st, and a protest to the conference itself on April 2nd.

3-5 April 2009
Demonstrations at NATO 60TH Anniversary Summit, Baden-Baden, Germany & Strasbourg, France
http://dissent.fr/taxonomy/term/165

24 April-5 May 2009
Coal Caravan, cycling from Nottingham, through Derbyshire, Yorkshire & .
Stopping off at a variety of open-cast sites, power stations and other beautiful places! Full details of how to book, itinerary for where to join.
(caravan@climatecamp.org.uk > www.coalcaravan.org.uk)

25/26th April 2009
Sizewell anti-nuclear Camp and Demo

2-3rd May 2009
Anti-militarist conference, Brighton
(http://antimilitaristnetwork.noflag.org.uk)

4th May 2009
Smash EDO Mayday! Mayday! Street party against war and greed, Brighton.
(http://www.smashedo.org.uk)

6 May 2009
A Wake for BP at the oil behemoth’s centenary party

29 May-1 June
Rossport Solidarity Camp summer gathering

1 June
Climate Rush Pedal Power
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22611

6 June 2009
Eco-village occupation, SW London
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22593

6-7 June 2009
National Anarchist Gathering, London
www.conference09.org.uk

11-14 June 2009
Scottish Climate Camp Convergence
(http://climatecampscotland.org.uk)

23th-29th June 2009
Calais No Borders Camp
(http://calaisnoborder.eu.org/)

3-5 July
Forest Circus festival, Lappersfort, Belgium

8-10 July 2009
Demonstrations at G8 Summit, La Maddalena, Italy

11-12 July 2009
Anti-Militarist Network Gathering, Nottingham
(http://www.antimilitaristnetwork.org.uk)

11-19 July 2009
Danish Climate Camp, near Copenhagen
(http://camp09.dk/)

12-19 July 2009
Das Klima Workshop Festival/Le camp climatique, near Berne, Switzerland
(http://www.netzwerkzeug.org/)

18th-? July
Saving Iceland Summer Mobilisation 2009
(www.savingiceland.org)

20–26 July 2009
NO to Uranium Power – Antinuclear Climate Camp, Tervola, Finland
(http://www.hyokyaalto.org/category/english)

23rd-27th July 2009, Oxfordshire.
You are invited to Peace News’ first ever summer camp.
(http://www.peacenewscamp.info)

3-9 August 2009
French Camp Action Climat, Notre Dame des Landes, Nantes
(www.campclimat.org)

3-9 August 2009
Dutch/Belgian Climate Camp
(www.klimaatactiekamp.org)

3-10 August 2009
Scottish Camp for Climate Action
(http://climatecampscotland.org.uk)

13-16 August 2009
Climate Camp Cymru, Near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
(http://climatecampcymru.org)

15-23 August 2009
Irish Climate Camp
(http://www.climatecamp.ie)

18-24 August 2009
Earth First! Summer Gathering, Cumbria
(www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk)

20-23 August 2009 IN SALENTO, NUCLEAR CLIMATE CAMP, Italy – Lecce
More info

21-23 August 2009
Beyond Borders weekend, Nottingham
A weekend of skillsharing and discussion about fighting border controls and showing solidarity with migrants
(http://beyondbordersweekend.wordpress.com)

27 August-2 September 2009
UK Camp for Climate Action – convergence within the M25/London (www.climatecamp.org.uk)

September 2009 (dates unconfirmed)
Climate Camp, South Australia
(http://climatecampsa.org)

North American action camps summer 2009
international list of Convergences for Climate Action

12-20 September 2009
Bristol Co-Mutiny

18-19 September 2009
squats and autonomous spaces – 2 days of direct action around housing and the creation of more autonomous spaces at this time of crisis. See link

10-11 October
Workers’ Climate Action conference, London

12-16 October 2009
Global Mobilisation in Defence of Mother Earth and the Peoples
called by the 4th Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples Abya Yala (”America”)
More info/resources

16-18 October 2009
COP15 International Mobilisation Network meeting
(www.climateaction09.org)

17-18 October 2009
The Great Climate Swoop, closing down Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station
More info

24 October 2009
London Anarchist Bookfair
(http://www.anarchistbookfair.org)

24 October 2009
International Day of Climate Action
http://www.350.org/

31 October-1 November
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/23245

31 Oct-1 Nov 2009
Gathering Against the Prison Society, Brighton
Discussions & presentations about the struggle for liberation, inside and outside of the prison walls
More info

21-22 November 2009
No New Nuclear. Planning to win strategising weekend, London

28 November-1 December 2009
Weekend of Action and Workshops at Mainshill Solidarity Camp

5 December 2009
COP15 OUT, a secret plan to take a space in the City of London away from and after the Wave. It’s time to show our ‘leaders’ how we’re going to take action to reduce emissions ourselves.

3-9 December 2009
Social and Climate Justice Caravan from the WTO Ministerial in Geneva to the COP15 summit in Copenhagen.
http://www.climatecaravan.org

7-18 December 2009
Demonstrations at COP15 Summit, Copenhagen, Denmark
(www.climateaction09.org)
See this article for background & links to Action Guide & Map

7-18 December 2009
Klimaforum: People’s Climate Summit
http://www.klimaforum09.org

11 December 2009
* Our Climate! Not Your Business! (organised direct action to stop Corporations taking part in COP process)
http://notyourbusiness.hacklab.dk/

12 December 2009
* Flood for Climate Justice (demonstration by FoE)
http://www.foei.org/en/what-we-do/un-climate-talks/global/2009/the-flood-is-coming
* Global day of Action
http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org/
* March for Climate Justice (including system change, not climate change bloc)
* Don’t Nuke the Climate! International Day of Action
http://www.dont-nuke-the-climate.org/index.php?lang=en

13 December 2009
Hit the Production of Climate Chaos
http://htp.noblogs.org/
* Farmers action (Via Campesina against agro-industry)

14 December 2009
* No Borders, No Climate Refugees! (Day of action in Copenhagen. Call to action to international no borders groups during the COP 15 in Copenhagen)
http://info.interactivist.net/node/13135
* Reparations for Climate Debt

15 December 2009
* Resistance is Ripe! Agriculture Action Day (Change the food system not the climate)
http://www.climate-justice-action.org/mobilization/agriculture-action-day/

16 December 2009
* RECLAIM POWER! – Pushing for Climate Justice! (Mass action to enter the COP15 conference area and disrupt the sessions in order to hold a People’s Summit for Climate Justice. Confrontational civil disobedience)
http://www.climate-justice-action.org

18 December 2009
* (last official day of the summit) – “Never Trust a COP” actions throughout the city
http://www.nevertrustacop.org/