Climate Chaos – Page 123

Bath Bomb #9 now online (& update on Chippenham squatted social centre)

Yes, the new edition of the Bath Bomb is finally ready. Stories from the dark underbelly of lovely lovely Bath. Or something like that:

The Bath Bomb – @nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #9
free/donation
April 08

Diana Verdict: 10 Years On, Still Dead

Seattle Was A Riot…

Yes, the new edition of the Bath Bomb is finally ready. Stories from the dark underbelly of lovely lovely Bath. Or something like that:

The Bath Bomb – @nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #9
free/donation
April 08

Diana Verdict: 10 Years On, Still Dead

Seattle Was A Riot…

Sunday the 20th April at the Porter Cellar saw a screening of ‘Breaking the Spell’: an hour-long look at the 1999 Seattle WTO protests and the anarchists who travelled there to set a new precedent for militant confrontation. Showing from 1pm til 4, free admission, with a practical and fresh look at the old debate of pacifism versus political violence, the film captured a moment when world history was up for grabs. Look out for the next offering from Bubbling Under, 3rd Sunday of the month, same time, same place, always free and always fun!

www.moles.co.uk
http://www.crimethinc.com/

EDOn’t Believe It!

That’s right folks, last month saw Bath Activist Network and Bath Stop the War Coalition illicitly screening a copy of the film the cops tried to ban in that shady den of crime and subversion otherwise known as the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House. The film was ‘On The Verge’, telling the story of a dedicated crew of Brightonians who have nearly succeeded in shutting down a bomb-building factory after 4 years’ campaigning. They have suffered continual police harrassment, with over 40 arrests so far, and the bother didn’t stop when they took their new film on tour. Obviously not happy with exposing us to the idea that we have the power to change society, the police have been scurrying round the country bullying small venues to make them drop the film [telling one woman they would take away her exhibition license if she disobeyed]. The same happened in Bath – the Bell, our original venue, got a call from a sweaty-palmed worm of a human being named Alan Bartlett. Alan, acting under orders of his police overlords had threatened the pub out of showing the film. Nevertheless, the film went ahead to a packed theatre, numbers doubled due to the controversy caused by police and council bullying. The film was inspirational and the night was a great success. And as for our inept, toady friend Alan, and the wannabe film critics that constitute the thin blue line… I’m guessing they havn’y heard the last of this just yet!

Our next chance to stick it to EDO MBM will fall on the 4th of June at the ‘Carnival Against the Arms Trade’ in Brighton, where red will be this season’s fashion. For more on the demo, film and campaign, check out www.smashedo.org.

Don’t Be A Fossil Fool

The 1st of April was declared ‘Fossil Fools Day’ this year, with 35 demonstrations against gas, oil and coal companies up and down the country. Ffos-y-fran, near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, is the site of the UK’s biggest open-cast coal mine, and, at only 36m away from the nearest house, is potentially in breach of new environmental health regs. Coal is the least efficient of fossil fuels, and with the spectre of climate change risking innocent lives the world over, activists from Bath, Bristol, Oxford and across Wales decided to take a stand. Or at least a nice lie down. Whilst some disrupted the site of the mine itself, others blockaded nearby Aberthaw power station on the 3rd, owned by RWE npower, which processes the coal from Ffos-y-fran, and produces 7.4 million tonnes of Co2 a year. It also has a shocking disregard for health and safety, workers revealed, following a death at work last June. From 5.30 am, 15 blocked the main access route with 4 locked-on to concrete-filled suitcases [!], 8 blocked the back road, and 2 scaled machinery. Operations were screwed for up to 8 hours, with no vehicle access, mass tailbacks, and 50 staff getting a free day off! 15 were eventually dragged away for aggravated trespass, but the message was clearly sent: profit from climate change, and you will have to pay!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6746429.stm
www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk
www.stopffosyfran.co.uk

Bristol and Bath Railway Path: The Truth and the Rumours

First, the rumour that Bristol City Council were planning to support the development of part of the Bristol-Bath Cycle Path with a rapid transport bus route leaked out. Speculation followed that the mature trees cut down at Lawrence Hill had already been felled in preparation for the work. The widely reported story that the scheme was to be shelved turned a protest ride along the proposed route from Fishponds to College Green into a massive, colourful celebration. 1,500 attended this good-natured romp and parade in the spring sunshine – an unprecedented turnout for a local issue. Among them were three marching bands, a peddle-powered train, a mobile ‘consultancy wagon’ – oh and not forgetting a single gladiator. This was despite yet another rumour that the rally had been cancelled! Everyone wants better public transport but to displace the most environmentally friendly commuters and travellers – cyclists and walkers – and destroy the only green corridor for wildlife in East Bristol is ludicrous. The plan directly threatens Sustrans most successful cycle path which has been their showcase route since it was fully opened in 1986. Their response is that the bus rapid transit route is ‘the right idea in the wrong place’. Yes, we need to tempt people out of their cars with bigger, faster, stronger, cheaper, more reliable and integrated public transport. On land the (usually single-occupant) private car is the most inefficient means of transporting individuals from A to B imaginable.

As I write the council meeting to decide the fate of the plan is scheduled for Tuesday 1st April. It is now confidently predicted that councillors will scrap the proposals. However, rumours abound among sceptical constituents that the plans might reappear at a later date when the media spotlight is off the issue. Transparency and scrutiny? We’ll be watching every move.

www.railwaypath.org

Human Freedom, Animal Rights…

We run a lot of animal rights stories in this humble rag, and are often asked to justify their point: there’s more important things, aren’t there? With the anti-foie gras campaign, beyond the cruelty of force-feeding waterfowl till they burst, what about the health implications of eating diseased liver, no matter the posh nom de plume? There are 2 national anti-vivisection demos this month, in Oxford on the 19th, and Horsham on the 26th [World Day for Lab Animals!]: with no scientific studies ever being taken into the relevance of animal testing results for human medicine, and medical drug side effects being the fourth biggest killer in the UK, big pharma is lobbying hard to put profit before lives. Meat and dairy-based diets are being increasingly linked to cancer, heart disease and diabetes, whilst livestock production causes deforestation, high methane emissions, mass starvation, water pollution and shortages: so the environment is stuffed, too. Bloodsports are intrinsically linked to land enclosure and wealth inequalities, as well as being barbaric. And then when you add on repression in the UK, with animal rights activists going down for years on trumped charges and ridiculous new laws coming out every year, then worries about a police state become more and more valid… So, it’s not just all about fluffy bunnies and puppies. FFI on local animal rights activism, contact bathanimalaction@yahoo.co.uk.

Bath Activists Have Cracking Time In Chippenham

We here at the Bath Bomb are delighted to announce the opening of Chippenham’s newest squatted social centre – the 78. The following account detailing the occupation of the new centre was recieved anonymously: “After being contacted by squatters in Chippenham, several Bathonians made the rail trip to the town to see what was happening. The building they had in mind is a lovely old bungalow with loads of potential and really friendly neigbours. It had not been lived in for 30 years, but that didn’t make getting in easy. After trying several doors and windows, we came across a slightly chipped window, giving us enough room to use a twig to unhook the latch from the inside! Once in, we got busy changing the locks and tidying up the rooms and garden. The place had obviously been left in a hurry, as 1970’s tins of mushy peas and sardines greeted us in the fully-stocked kitchen! The space is open to all and operates a no-smoking, drinking or drugs policy. Some of the projects to be run from the squat include community gardening, people’s education nights, free shops, donation-based dinner evenings and much more. The 78 should be up and running soon, so keep your eyes peeled. We are only 10 minutes by train from Chippenham and trains run past midnight most nights – Bath Activist Network are looking forward to many nights of fun, food and education in our new local squat, so why not get down there and check it out for yourself?”

Fight War, Not Wars

On 15th March activists from Bath joined a 40,000-strong demonstration in London against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the repression of the Palestinians and a possible attack on Iran. It is now five years since the coalition invaded Iraq on a lie. Since then, hundreds of British and American troops and thousands of Iraqis and Afghans have been killed or injured. Torture, repression and ill-treatment have become commonplace. Loads of money that could have been better spent on hospitals, schools, benefits and pensions have been wasted on the war. At home, due to ‘the war on terror’, political, legal and civil rights built up over many years are being eroded by the state. War criminals Bush and Blair continue their careers with no apology for the death and desturction they have caused. If the coalition states like Israel, Britain and the USA attack Iran, marches, strikes and direct action must be the answer by the people, the majority who have been against these murderous military adventures from the outset.

To join the local Stop the War group, you can attend the vigil outside the front of the Abbey every Saturday 11.30-12.30

Squat’s All The Fuss About?

What do you think of when someone says ‘squatter’? Chances are, the stereotypes of drug-fuelled, special brew swilling freeloaders pops to mind, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The principle behind squatting is simple – good buildings should not be left to rot while people have a use for them. As a rule, most squatters will only ‘crack’ a building that has been empty for some time, and is not in use. For example, Bath’s last three squats were the former Stothert and Pitt site, a church that had been disused for three, and a shop near the pump rooms that had been disused for at least as long. The latter two both operated drink and drug-free policies and provided community rescources such as free shops, cheap food, free film nights and much more. Importantly, they also provided people with a much needed place to live. This country has a proud tradition of squatting, from the Diggers in 1649, to the poor families of Bath and Corsham who moved into deserted army barracks in the 1940’s.

Squatting is not about ripping people off or giving anyone a hard time (except maybe corrupt councillors, scummy landlords and property developers) – it is about turning unused buildings into valuable community resources, taking them from the developers and speculators, and giving them back to the people they belong to – all of us. Now for the legal bit! Squatting IS legal, so long as you follow some very simple guidelines. You MUST NOT cause criminal damage when entering the building. You must have sole access to the building, so fitting your own locks is a must, and you should definitely have at least one person in the building at all times, as, in the case of squatting, possession is very much 9/10ths of the law. When the landlord finds you, he may try to get a Possession Order. Once this has been given, it is illegal to stay in the building, but if you pick the right place, that may not happen for years, if ever. http://squat.net/

50 Years And Still Fighting

On the 24th March, Bath CND and Bath Stop The War Coalition hired a coach to join 5,000 protesters to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of CND. With this also being the anniversary of the first march to the nuclear facility AWE Aldermaston, they surrounded the base by peacefully linking hands. Before the surrounding of Aldermaston, there was a rally with guest speakers, including Vivienne Westwood, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas, Bruce Kent, and CND Chair Kate Hudson. The demo consisted of old, middle-aged and young. There were some veterans from the very first march back in 1958, where 4,000 gathered in London on the coldest weekend in memory, for a 600-strong march to the site, braving the snow. Fifty years on and some say ‘what has changed?’ Well, now the majority of the population are opposed to nuclear weaponry rather than it just being a minority view, and the Cold War is over. This year’s protest went well, leaving the perimeter fence strung with messages, communicating our dismay at the madness of the Government’s plans to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system, flushing £5 billion down that particular drain.

Foie Gras News

The foie gras saga continues with Beaujolais in Chapel Row targeted for selling the diseased liver of force-fed ducks. Saturday 29 March saw 5 activists braving the rain, armed with leaflets and a petition of over 500 signatures to get the vile stuff banned by Bath Council. The amiable co-owner of Beaujolais stated that she’d heard the ethical arguments but would continue to sell it. When the police turned up and she realised we weren’t about to bugger off, she claimed to have stopped selling it (despite the website listing). Changing her story several times within the space of half an hour, she later told us she’d put it on the menu “just for us.” Nice lady, bit confused. Following the demo, a statement was posted on their website claiming that they only sell ‘faux foie.’ Make up your mind, woman!

www.banfoiegras.com/page.php?module=sustained&article_id=27>
www.ciwf.org.uk/campaigns/other_campaigns/exotic_foods.html>

EVENTS

Monday nights – Bath Hunt Sabs Meeting, 8pm, Bell
Wednesdays 4-7pm – London Rd Food Co-op, Riverside Community Centre
Saturdays 11.30am-12.30 – Bath Stop The War Vigil, Abbey Courtyard
23rd April, tbc – Anti-sweatshop demo, 2.30pm til 5pm, Topshop in Bath
25th April, 9.30pm-4am – Benefit gig for Bristol No Borders & Bristol Antifa, New Trinity Hall, Trinity Road, Bristol £7 entry
26th April, 11am – National SHAC demo, Horsham Park, Horsham, W Sussex
29th April, 7.30pm – ‘Bath: An Eco-City?’ debate, Bath Abbey
1st May, 7.30-9pm – Bath Activist Network meeting, downstairs at Hobgoblin
3rd May, tbc – Anti foie-gras demo, contact bathanimalaction@yahoo.co.uk
7th May, 7.30-8.30pm – Bath Animal Action meeting, backroom of Bell
10th May, 12-3pm – Bath Freeshop, outside Pump Rooms, Stall Street
11th May – Bath Animal Action info stall, outside Pump Rooms

For further info on any of our stories see www.myspace.com/bathbomb

GOT A STORY? WANT TO RECEIVE THE BATH BOMB BY EMAIL? HOPING TO SUE?
Contact us by e-mailing bathbombpress@yahoo.co.uk. Large print e-versions available on request.

Q: Who Are Bath Activist Network? A: A local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development, environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights, workers’ rights and more. Helping to produce The Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to anarchists, liberals to greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better. For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, ring us on 07949 611912, email bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk, or see our website: www.myspace.com/bathactivistnetwork

And now, to the disclaimer: As anyone is free to contribute to this newsletter, the opinions expressed in each article are not necessarily reflective of each contributor. Naturally, any right-wing or corporate bullshit will be binned and spat on. Needless to say, the opinions of the author of this disclaimer does not necessarily represent the views of any other contributor…

—

update on Chippenham squat – April 24, 2008

Unfortunately, on Monday, the would-be social centre ‘the 78’ was evicted on a rushed through Interim Possession Order…

Brighton 2-4 May Direct Action training and training for trainers

BRIGHTON: DIRECT ACTION TRAINING FOR TRAINERS
Friday 2nd May and Saturday 3rd May, from 11am -5pm.

BRIGHTON: DIRECT ACTION TRAINING FOR TRAINERS
Friday 2nd May and Saturday 3rd May, from 11am -5pm.
Learn how to give direct action training and how to help people prepare for effective action. For people with experience of participating in direct action or civil disobedience. Not for the mildly curious, you’ll be coming because you want to stimulate real Local action and/or get involved in Climate Camp/Network. You will also have an opportunity to train people new to Direct Action on the Sunday, to practise your new training skills, so please include the Sunday 4th May as part of your schedule.

BRIGHTON:DIRECT ACTION TRAINING
Brighton, Sun 4th May 11am -5pm
for people new to Direct Action or to brush up your skills. Learn practical skills useful for taking actions! This is open to anyone who would like to learn these skills.

Where: Brighton, phone/email for more details and to book:
mkechnge7@wildmail.com
07722 172 393

Vegan food will be available and call us for accommodation. The Training is free but
donations towards costs would be appreciated.

Oil price rises: Nigerian militants attack & seek peace; Scottish strike; Exxon strike in Nigeria – updated

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Militants said they blew up two more oil pipelines Monday in southern Nigeria and called for former President Jimmy Carter and actor George Clooney to help mediate an end to the crisis. [27th April 2008 updated at bottom]

Military policemen patrol the creeks of the Omadino community in Warri South district of the Niger Delta.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, said in a statement that fighters hit two pipelines it believes are operated by Chevron Corp. and a Royal Dutch Shell PLC joint venture in southern Rivers state.

Shell officials had no immediate information on any attack, and the Nigerian military battle group that patrols the oil region’s waterways said it had no reports of overnight violence. Officials from Chevron could not immediately be reached for comment.

The militants last week claimed a separate attack on a pipeline operated by a Shell joint venture that the company said shut down a small amount of oil production. Video Watch how Nigeria attacks help hike gas prices »

The militants say they are stepping up their activities after the arrest of one of their leaders, Henry Okah, who is on trial for terrorism and treason.

The militants also called for mediation by Carter with the aim of ending the long-running crisis that government-led peace parleys have so far failed to control. The militants have also asked President Bush and Clooney for their involvement, but said they have received no reply.

“MEND expressed its willingness to embrace a genuine and transparent peace program without getting any response. The ripple effect of this attack will touch your economy and people one way or the other and hope we now have your attention,” it said.

The militant group emerged in early 2006, launching bombing attacks on Nigeria’s oil infrastructure that cut about one quarter of the usual oil output in Africa’s biggest crude producer. That has helped send oil prices to all-time highs.

The militants want the release of their leaders from prison, and for more oil industry revenue for their areas, which remain deeply poor despite the natural bounty.

But crime and militancy are closely interwoven in the southern Niger Delta where the crude is pumped. Many of the various armed groups in the region have had links to local politicians, who helped arm and direct the gunmen in their efforts to rig elections.

Both militants and government officials are suspected of heavy involvement in the theft and resale of crude oil, which oil industry officials brings revenues that run into the millions of dollars per day.
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Nigeria’s vast network of oil pipelines crisscross the swamps and creeks in the Niger Delta and are easily sabotaged. But the militants haven’t recently shown the sophisticated, military-style raids on staffed oil infrastructure that made them the most potent-ever militant group in southern Nigeria.

The militants’ activities appear to have moved further into the propaganda realm, with demands on international figures linked to external news events. Carter was in the Middle East on Monday.

– from mainstream media source (also below).

—–

Oil prices headed toward $117 a barrel as oil giant BP prepared to shut down a key North Sea pipeline and a strike at Exxon in Nigeria disrupted production.

BP’s Forties pipeline, which provides a third of the UK’s daily oil output, will close if a two-day strike by refinery workers goes ahead.

Rebels in Nigeria also claimed another attack on a Royal Dutch Shell pipeline.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has repeatedly tried to sabotage Shell’s production in recent weeks.

A strike by workers at Exxon Mobil, Nigeria’s biggest foreign oil producer, has further disrupted production in the African country. It said it had been forced to halt its output of crude oil, estimated at 200,000 barrels per day.

In the UK, workers at the Grangemouth plant are due to take part in a two-day strike from Sunday in a row over pensions.

The BP-run pipeline from the Forties oil fields in the North Sea, relies on steam and electricity from the Ineos refinery at Grangemouth in central Scotland.

A BP spokesman said that closing Grangemouth would cause up to 70 platforms in the North Sea to either shut down or reduce production of oil.

BP said the pipeline would close when the provision of steam and electricity from Grangemouth runs out.

The company added that it would keep the pipeline open as long as possible, but anticipated shutting it late on Saturday, if strike action goes ahead.

======
Fri Apr, 25 2008

Nigerian main rebel group, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), today said it blew up another oil pipeline belonging to Shell in it renewed attack against oil infrastructures in the region.

MEND said the late Thursday night attack occurred at Kula River in Rivers state of Nigeria.

MEND says it is fighting to force the federal government to direct more oil industry revenues to the region, which remains deeply poor despite four decades of oil production in the area.

The militant group said military officials who were supposed to protect the pipelines actually assisted the fighters when they ran into them during the attack.

“After the blast, the fighters ran into a docked joint military patrol boat but were astonished that instead of a confrontation, the soldiers in the patrol boat urged them on and lamented about having to defend what is unjust.

“MEND uses this opportunity to thank its numerous sympathizers inside the military, oil industry and oil producing communities for facilitating the success of the on-going Operation Cyclone (the
crippling of the entire Nigerian oil export industry).

“This attack is dedicated to the Rivers state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi who boasted to the Financial Times that our past successes were attributed to the absence of patrol boats undergoing servicing. We waited for the patrol boats to return back in service before carrying
out this attack to proof a point.

“Our candid advice to the oil majors is that they should not waste their time repairing any lines as we will continue to sabotage them. We have time on our side and there is so much to be destroyed. The only time we will stop is when we receive a direct order from our Shepherd.” The
group said in an email sent by Jomo Gbomo to The Times of Nigeria.

Shell confirmed three attacks over the past week, and announced it may not be able to meet its obligations to ship some 169,000 barrels per day from Nigeria over the next few weeks. The company, one of the main operators in the country, has yet to report any production outages from
the other attacks.

Those attacks have helped send crude prices to historic highs on international markets.

The militants have stepped up activities as one of the group’s reputed leaders, Henry Okah, faces trial on terrorism and treason charges. The group emerged two years ago and quickly established itself as the region’s most effective militant organization.

Since Okah’s arrest, the group has not launched any of the coordinated, military-style armed raids on staffed facilities that originally made it notable.

Big Blether 6

BIG BLETHER 6
Friday 9th- Sunday 11th May 2008
Talamh Life Centre, Near Glasgow
www.bigblether.org.uk

Synthesis and Celebration
Support and celebration within our multifaceted movement.

BB is a meeting place for activists to bring and share ideas, information and enthusiasm and to create action out of inspiration.

Everyone is welcome to participate and contribute – big or small

BIG BLETHER 6
Friday 9th- Sunday 11th May 2008
Talamh Life Centre, Near Glasgow
www.bigblether.org.uk

Synthesis and Celebration
Support and celebration within our multifaceted movement.

BB is a meeting place for activists to bring and share ideas, information and enthusiasm and to create action out of inspiration.

Everyone is welcome to participate and contribute – big or small
There will be workshops on Saturday and Sunday. Topics we hope to include: climate change issues, meditation, creative campaigning, transition towns, nuclear resistance, activist films, permaculture, yoga, woodland crafts, practical activism and local food networks.

In recognition of the many approaches involved in creating sustainable practice, we hope to host some events whose purposes are to strengthen, explore and celebrate our collective basis of action and the diversity of roles within it.

Are you interested in putting on a workshop?

Big Blether is the creation of everyone who comes, if you have an idea then please get in touch by email to ellie@bigblether.org.uk with a brief description.

BB is a non-profit organisation and entrance will be by donation on the gate.

Are you interested in putting on a workshop?

BB is the creation of everyone who comes, if you have an idea please get in touch by email to ellie@bigblether.org.uk with a brief description.

BB is a non-profit organisation and entrance will be by donation on the gate.

Greenwash Guerrillas Pie Thomas Freedman

Providence, RI – Earth Day, 2008.
Footage available at http://www.greenwashguerrillas.org

Thomas Friedman, the author and NY Times columnist, was invited to Brown University to give a keynote speech on Earth Day, before a packed auditorium. His talk, titled “Green is the new Red, White and Blue” was about how corporate environmentalism (based on putting a price on the atmosphere, and investing in agrofuels and techno-fixes) can restore America to its “natural place in the global order.” This outrageous neoliberal capitalist propaganda was interrupted with a surprise visit from the Greenwash Guerrillas. After splattering him with two green cream pies, leaflets were thrown to the crowd, stating:

Thomas Friedman deserves a pie in the face…

* because of his sickeningly cheery applaud for free market capitalism’s conquest of the planet

* for telling the world that the free market and techno fixes can save us from climate change. From carbon trading to ethanol, these distractions are dangerous in and of themselves, while encouraging inaction with respect to the true problems at hand.

* for helping turn environmentalism into a fake plastic consumer product for the privileged

* For his long-standing support for the US Occupation of Iraq and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Such committed support to the US War Machine and its proxy states overseas cannot be masked behind any twisted mask of “green” – the US Military is the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.

* for his pure arrogance.

On behalf of the earth and all true environmentalists — we, the Greenwash
Guerrillas, declare Thomas Friedman’s “Green” as fake and toxic to human and planetary health as the cool-whip covering his face.

Meanwhile, while the planetary clock is ticking. If there are to be truly real solutions (and not capitalist false solutions) to the many problems we face, it will come out of transformative social movements and not corporate boardrooms. For these reasons, we challenge Thomas Friedman and all other green capitalists to a duel, in which we will continue to expose their shams while pointing towards the social movements in the Majority World that are already living solutions and transforming society towards a liveable, healthy, and non-corporate future based on justice not greed.

1 May Day of Climate Action -only one week to go!

1 MAY: DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
Invasion of the climate snatchers!

Only one week to go!
We’ll keep it short: contacts, resources and ideas for action, and public actions.

If you need any info or support email us!
E: mayday@daysofclimateaction.org.uk
W: http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

1 MAY: DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
Invasion of the climate snatchers!

Only one week to go!
We’ll keep it short: contacts, resources and ideas for action, and public actions.

If you need any info or support email us!
E: mayday@daysofclimateaction.org.uk
W: http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

For more info and background about the day of action please see the bottom of the posting.

TELL US WHAT YOU GET UP TO – email us or phone us on the day (07880 937511) as soon as your action is underway so we can list it on the website include it in the national press release about the day, and the actions round-up the next day. Our actions are so much more powerful when they are seen on masse!

RESOURCES
Lots of information for action/explaining the issues has gone up on our website in the last few days. Check it out and pick your favourite climate red herring: from agrofuels to nuclear power, carbon-trading to hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture and storage, genetic engineering to nanotechnology. Uncover these techno-fixes for what they are: a distraction from the root cause of climate change and a means to carry on the status quo of endless economic growth and the exploitation of people and planet.
http://daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

There’s also a local press release that you can adapt
http://daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday_actionresources.html

15 ideas for action for last-minute action planners! At
http://www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday/resources

IDEAS FOR ACTION

There are many possibilities, from direct action, publicity stunts, talks and workshops to stalls. Whether you’re in a group or whether there’s just one or two of you, there are lots of things you can do to raise the vital issues.

Some ideas to get you started!

TAKE DIRECT ACTION. Occupy the offices of you local carbon offsetting company; Blockade your local biofuels refinery; Visit your local nuclear power station or take your cows and veg to a carbon trader and set up a real market ; Protest at your local University’s GM and Nano-tech departments; Protest at your local Tesco petrol station against biofuels

SPREAD THE WORD. Hang banners in public places; Hold talks, workshops and film nights about the issues; Leaflet town on your chosen issue; Free Giveaway stalls; Produce and distribute local-based guide on alternatives to capitalism, co-ops, alternative economies, free shops etc. Co-organise events with union members to discuss the issues around employment and climate change; Write articles and letters for papers and websites.

For inspiration check out the write-up of the actions on Fossil Fools Day
– Truly amazing!
http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org/category/front-page/

PUBLIC ACTIONS
Although lots of people are keeping their plans under wraps, this public demos have been announced (If you know of a publicly announced action, let us know and we’ll list it on the website):

Critical Mass and Demo at Sizewell Nuclear Power Station
Saturday 3rd May, meet at 12 noon at Saxmundham train station for a Critical Mass bike ride to Sizewell nuclear power station.
If you don’t have a bike, get to Saxmundham station anyway and we’ll get you to the power station.
Why Sizewell on this day?

See also the Camp for Climate Action (www.climatecamp.org.uk), Network for
Climate Action (www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk) and Climate Indymedia
(www.climateimc.org)

http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

Why take action on 1 May?

May 1st, international workers day, has traditionally been a day to challenge the capitalist system and a celebration of solidarity and workers’ struggle for a more just social system.

On this day we are calling on people to make the link between capitalism, economic growth, climate change and social struggle.

As climate change is starting to hit people around the world, a huge number of techno-fixes are forming a new economic sector: from biofuels to nuclear power, carbon-trading to hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture and storage. Everywhere corporations are seeking the elusive elixir which allows us to continue business as usual. All this whilst our planet is burning and people are loosing their homes, their livelyhoods and their lives to climate chaos.

All of these technologies are a distraction from the root cause of climate change: an economic system based on endless economic growth not only at the cost of the environment we live in but also based on an exploitative social system.

Many of these technofixes are also directly counterproductive to stopping climate chaos and pose new threats to people’s livelyhoods and the survival of the planet.

Agrofuels expansion is direcly responsible for subsistence farmers being cleared of their land, food shortages and enormous price rises, whilst doing nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nuclear power is heralded as a green fuel, but the environmental hazards of uranium extraction, radiation leaks during use and storage, the danger of melt-down and fatal applications in warfare are as dangerous as they have always been.

Scientists promise genetically engineered wonder plants to cope with climate changes, but people in third world countries have yet to see any benefits and fight against the patenting of the genes of traditionally used plants, whilst multinationals are lining their pockets.

The real solution to climate change must be a massive reduction in our consumption, the end to economic growth and a society based on equality and mutual aid.

Technofixes are not the answer to climate change – what we need is far reaching social and economic change!

Arson against ministry of development offices because of new coal power stations (Athens, 21/4/2008)

A translation of the parts of a communique sent to “Eleftherotipia” newspaper and published on 25/04/2008, not mentioning any group’s name:

“Kavala, Almyros at Volos, Mantoudi at Evia, Astakos at Etoloakarnania, Elefsina: Residents mobilizations are realised against the plans of building new power plants using coal. Public Power Company (PPC) in cooperation with national or international partners promotes its investment plans, within the country as well as in the Balkans, responding to the system’s increasing needs for power consumption, something that signifies the constant amplification of economy and the wider subordination of our existance to it.”

“When capitalism is self-declared environment friendly, it is only to measure and manage the symptoms of the crisis it produced itself.”

“We don’t share any environmentalist compasion. It is impossible to fit within any green slogans that belittle any perspective of rupture in their partiality. The concern raised by the environmental destruction is disarmed through the participation of active citizens in ironic programms of beach cleaning or the ridiculous consumers preferance for “eco-friendly” enterprises.”

“The impacts of the use of coal are only a part of the symptoms of the development this world promises: climate change, species extinction, desertations, forest destruction. This is why, the way we talk and act against everything that turns our lives to a total disaster, aims at the constant subversion of the capitalist structures, the total overthrow of the authoritarian relationships.”

Crowd stops work on new coal loader, Newcastle, Australia

April 19, 2008
A crowd of around 50 protestors walked into the construction site for the third coal terminal on Kooragang Island in Newcaslte this morning, stopping work at the site in protest against the expansion of the coal industry and its contribution to climate change.

The protestors, including a number of parents and grandparents from the Hunter and other regions in NSW say they have been forced to take drastic action because they fear that too little is being done to address our major contribution to climate change – our dependence on coal for power and as an export commodity.

The protestors walked onto the site this morning and immediately informed construction crews that they were on site and that work must cease.

Georgina Woods, spokesperson for Rising Tide Newcastle, who is at he protest said, “Historically, ordinary people have achieved extraordinary things by taking direct action to prevent immoral or unsupportable actions. We are here today because we don’t want our children and grandchildren to bear witness to the terrible havoc that climate change has already begun to wreak on our world.

“We are willing to put ourselves at risk of arrest, if it will help convince the Governments of Australia that expanding the export coal industry is putting everyone’s future in jeopardy.

“We are standing together today to call on the Federal Government in particular to help this region move away from coal and stop this mad expansion that will come at such a terrible cost.

“We call on the delegates at today’s 2020 Ideas Summit to remember that coal exports is Australia’s number one contribution to climate change, as well as our fastest growing. If Australia’s response to climate change fails to include a plan to phase out coal, it will be a failure.

“Many of us here today have never done anything like this before, but we are doing it now, because we may not get another chance.”

More community direct action against coal exports will take place at the in July this year.

The protest lasted for one and a quarter hours. 16 of the protesters were arrested and charged with trespass.

Biofools: pumps disabled/clowns nicked, Edinburgh; banner drop, Glasgow; demos in Brighton/Bristol/London; Belgian blockade

April 15, 2008

April 15, 2008
From today, all petrol forecourts will be required by law to sell only fuel which is blended with 2.5% agrofuel. The answer to climate chaos you ask? Hardly. Corporations like Tesco are already jumping on the new “green” bandwagon, speaking little of the greater emissions, displacement, poverty and hunger that will be left in its path.

People from Bristol Rising Tide and Espacio Bristol-Colombia were joined by others to inform the public about this issue at Tesco in Eastville this afternoon. There was some interest in the issue from a number of passersby who were surprised that such a big change had been virtually unspoken about, but there’s little that consumers can do to avoid buying the product. The only answer to the energy crisis is a big shift in the way in which we live, travel and eat.

http://www.risingtide.org.uk

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Biofuels protesters disable fuel pumps

Agro-fuels protesters disabled the fuel pumps of two BP filling stations early this morning in opposition to mandatory blending of biofuels into petrol and diesel. Protesters argue that biofuels will worsen climate change, and cause food shortages.
Protesters have taken this action in Edinburgh as part of a national day of action against biofuels – April Biofools day – coinciding with the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation’s (RTFO) coming into force, making it a legal requirement to mix 2.5% biofuels into all petrol and diesel.

BP was targeted since it is a major investor in biofuels.

Biofuels are more appropriately called agrofuels, as far from being connected to natural, sustainable life they are made from crops grown on unsustainable monoculture plantations.

Far from being a green solution to greenhouse gas emissions, agrofuels drive climate change. Increased use of agrofuels has been promoted by governments as a possible way of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from transport. However, there is evidence that the process of producing agrofuels hugely increases greenhouse gas emissions when deforestation, peatland destruction and nitrogen fertiliser-use are taken into account.

The production of agrofuels is causing large-scale deforestation which is likely to lead to a tipping point of irreversible rapid destruction of forests, which could mean the release of as much as 120 billion tonnes of CO2. Similarly, the expansion of palm oil production for agrofuels is leading to an acceleration of peat draining, which is likely overall to mean the release of 40 million tonnes of CO2. In addition, increased large-scale agriculture means increased use of fertilzers which mean the release of large amounts of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Agrofuels are also a major threat to food supplies and food sovereignty. Increased demand for agrofuel crops is putting pressure on food prices, pushing more and more people below the breadline.

Agrofuel crops are being grown on monoculture plantations. The land for these is often violently seized by governments and corporations from the people who live and work on it. People displaced are forced to either go to join the growing numbers of people living in poverty on urban peripheries or, as happened in the 1970s, settle in a previously uninhabited area of rainforest, causing further ecological devastation to add to that already caused by the plantations themselves.

Agrofuels are being pursued by Western governments because they offer a non-Middle Eastern fuel source. This is unrelated to the need to combat climate change, and is instead based on maintaining neo-imperialist power.

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Lothian and Borders Police Harass a Peaceful Protest

Five members of the Edinburgh Clown Army (1) were detained for questioning this afternoon at a peaceful and entertaining biofuels protest in Bruntsfield(2). They have since been arrested and charged with a breach of the peace, despite maintaining a friendly atmosphere.

Eye-witnesses state that the biofuels demonstration was peaceful, friendly and party-like atmosphere.

Witnesses also state that the Clowns were friendly and entertaining, creating a comical and amusing ambiance for the protest.

Witnesses say that the Clowns gave no grounds for the police to charge them with a breach of the peace.

Police moved in in large numbers, surrounding the Clowns, filmed them, and took them one by one into the back of a police van.

They were taken to St Leonards Police Station for questioning, at which point they were charged with a breach of the peace.

The protest was part of the biofuels day of action, and took place at the BP garage in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh.

People who attended the demonstration are shocked and angered by the treatment the Clowns have received from the police.

This latest move from the police is part of an ongoing campaign of harassing peaceful demonstrators over the last six months. Three environmental campaigners were detained for questioning at 7.30 in the morning last month, including one of the Clowns who were targeted by the police on Tuesday.

They are due in court tomorrow, and the friends and relatives of those arrested will be turning up to support them.

Friends and relatives of those Clowns who were arrested urge the media to provide the pictures and videos that will help prove that they have been wrongfully arrested.

Notes:

(1) A comical and entertaining activist group that use humour and ridicule to challenge the status quo. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clandestine_Insurgent_Rebel_Clown_Army
(2) The protest was called by Biofuels Watch to raise awareness about the negative impacts this fuel source has: calling for a an EU moratorium on agrofuels from large-scale monocultures. Agroenergy monocultures are linked to accelerated climate change, deforestation, the impoverishment and dispossession of local communities, bio-diversity losses, human rights abuses, water and soil degradation, loss of food sovereignty and food security. www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/

Press Contact: Alex Cabb
Telephone: 07858723742

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Biofuel bannerdrop in Glasgow

Protesters against biofuels dropped a banner at Charing Cross today, to draw attention to the use of food to make petrol.

Biofuels are responsible for contributing to CO2 emissions, clearing rainforest and displacing subsistence farmers, and lead to higher food prices, causing riots in Haiti and many other parts of the world.

Turning food into fuel for cars is burning food which the world needs to feed its population, yet today a new law came into force that petrol must contain 2.5% biofuel, with this percentage rising over years. Hungry people are being sacrificed on the altar of the holy automobile.

www.biofuelwatch.org.uk

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Brighton Biofools Day Protest

A group of biofuel activists made a colourful banner and flyer tour of Brighton city centre and Sussex University on Tuesday raising awareness around a new law which came into affect as of yesterday. The RTFO or “Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation” has mandated 2.5% biofuels at British fuel pumps from April 15th, and thereby hugely increased UK consumption of biofuels.

Demonstration against the RTFO, April 15th

Amongst such headlines over the last fortnight as “Food shortages threaten to become the biggest crisis of the 21st century” the U.K. government has nevertheless conceded to EU plans to mandate massive amounts of biofuels into petrol and diesel across Europe. Environmentalists have warned for years that these EU targets will wreak havoc on the climate and food supplies, and eco-systems and people in the global South. These concerns are now echoed by senior scientists and policy makers. EU targets are set to increase to 10% by 2020.

Alison Freeman chair of the Environmental Society at Sussex University stated, “Our primary concern is to break the illusion the government and corporate sector is propagating of these fuels as “renewable”, “green” and “bio” which deliberately obfuscates the issue for the general public. Our message is simple: biofuels kill. The current system’s unyielding hunger to burn nature and humanitarian recourses in the engine of the capitalist machine will pull us all over the edge! We must stop Western economies internalising these fuels before it is too late”.

The Brighton biofuel protest was part of national reaction, with groups protesting across the country including Aberdeen, Bristol, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwhich and hundreds outside Downing Street in London. On the 6th of August a mass national action against agrofuels will take place as part of this year Climate Camp- see http://climatecamp.org.uk/agrofuels.php to get up date information.

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Protests to UK Prime Minister – Scrap Biofuel Targets / Scrap RTFO

Hundreds of people in London and groups across the UK held protests against the introduction of mandatory biofuel blending on April Biofools Day. A protest was held later outside Downing Street, with speakers from Colombia, Campaign against Climate Change, Friends of the Earth, Global Forest Coalition, GM Freeze and Biofuelwatch condemning the government’s decision to go ahead with their biofuel policy against overwhelming evidence of catastrophic impacts on climate, communities, biodiversity and food security.

Phil Thornhill of Campaign against Climate Change and Andrew Boswell of Biofuelwatch, in a joint statement, said “The RTFO or “Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation” will mandate 2.5% biofuels at British fuel pumps from April 15th, and thereby hugely increase UK consumption of biofuels. The government is demonstrating a perverse obstinacy in ploughing ahead with this despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that far from helping in the struggle to control climate change, biofuels will accelerate climate change, and are a major cause of an emerging global food crisis that is creating starvation and food riots in several countries.”

Play the Biofuel song on Global Food Crisis at: http://www.biofuelsong.com/music

A lunchtime protest was held outside the Department for Transport, Tuesday April 15th, April Biofools Day. Other protests were held outside the constituency offices of Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, and Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, and at BP and Tesco fuel stations. BP and Tesco are two of the companies with significant investment in biofuels from large-scale monocultures, and which have been strongly lobbying for mandatory biofuel blending.

“The UK has chosen to ignore a vast mountain of evidence that biofuels are contributing to hunger, climate change, deforestation and human rights abuses,” said Dr. Rachel Smolker, main author of “The Real Cost of Agrofuels.” She continued, “Perhaps they are counting on new technologies using cellulose from wood and grasses, but these won’t sidestep the problems either. Whatever feedstocks are used will result in further expansion of industrial monocultures, possibly including Genetically Engineered trees. The bottom line is that there is a limited amount of land available, a large population to feed and a desperate need to preserve remaining biodiverse ecosystems. Instead of focusing on improving efficiency and reducing consumption, the UK is mandating further destruction.”

Almuth Ernsting from Biofuelwatch adds: “Protests against the agrofuel industry and this government’s biofuel policies will not end today. The government is talking about vague ‘sustainability standards’, whilst agrofuels are causing ever greater harm to the climate, to forests and other ecosystems, to communities in the global South, to biodiversity worldwide, and to food sovereignty and food security. We need a moratorium on all agrofuel incentives and targets to prevent those catastrophic impacts.”

On 8th April, 29 UK and international groups wrote to the UK government, calling for an agrofuel moratorium and demanding a suspension of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, and opposition to new EU biofuel targets – both the proposed 10% biofuel target in the Renewable Energy Directive, and the inclusion of biofuels in the draft new Fuel Quality Directive. Around 200 organisations from North and South have signed a call for an EU moratorium on agrofuels from large-scale monocultures, and there are separate calls for a US agrofuel moratorium and for an African agrofuel moratorium, as well as growing number of declarations from the Southern groups that are deeply concerned about the impacts which biofuel policies in Europe, including in the UK, are having on their communities, food sovereignty and environment.

Notes:

1. For a copy of the joint NGO letter to the UK government, see: http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/files/rtfo_letter.pdf

2. For copies of the moratorium calls and the other declarations, see
http://www.econexus.info/biofuels.html
http://www.grain.org/agrofuels/?moratoriumen
http://ga3.org/campaign/agrofuelsmoratorium
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/declarations.php

3. Some other protests

Bolton (video):
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1213934526/bctid1504464364

Edinburgh:
http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/5536/index.php
http://rinf.com/alt-news/activism/police-harass-a-peaceful-protest/2969/
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Protest-clowns-arrested-after-Capital.3985990.jp
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/396710.html

Brighton:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/396734.html

Bristol:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/396663.html

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Biofools day: Cargill factory blocked in Ghent (Belgium)

17.04.2008
This morning thirty activist of “agrocrisis” blocked the gates of the Cargill factory in Ghent (Belgium). Several activist are chained to the main gate blocking entrance to trucks.

According to An Maeyens, agrocrisis spokesperson, this actions means a one day block from transit. but above all a support to the struggle of thousands of small scale farmers, who are depraved of land and income and forced to migrate to slums near big cities, living in poverty, all because of the activities of big companies such as Cargill in their country,

UPDATE: cargill in the port of Ghent is completely blocked, police agreed not to intervene.

first pictures on

ovl.indymedia.org

More info & photos at http://www.aseed.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=552&Itemid=1

Video:

We’ve put the videoreport in FIVE languages on two sites. The choice is yours. This is a must see…

Politube:

Francais: http://www.politube.org/show/647
Nederlands: http://www.politube.org/show/645
English: http://www.politube.org/show/642
Espagnol: http://www.politube.org/show/648
Deutsch: http://www.politube.org/show/663

Youtube:

Francais: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vyMMfjFQOeY
Nederlands: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yFyA2H-8S5s
English: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XYq8J2N2JaA
Espagnol: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0bfDBb10IiI
Deutsch: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qt4eC3x0Q5o

Plane Stupid Scotland Scale Parliament To Challenge

PRESS RELEASE
14/04/08

FOR INTERVIEWS: Dan Glass 07717 811 747
GENERAL PRESS CONTACT: Richard Shore 07929 340 333

*Plane Stupid Scotland Scale Parliament To Challenge Backdoor Airport Expansion.* Activists voluntarily walked off and arrested at 2pm*

PRESS RELEASE
14/04/08

FOR INTERVIEWS: Dan Glass 07717 811 747
GENERAL PRESS CONTACT: Richard Shore 07929 340 333

*Plane Stupid Scotland Scale Parliament To Challenge Backdoor Airport Expansion.* Activists voluntarily walked off and arrested at 2pm*

Plane Stupid Scotland scaled the Scottish Parliament building today, in an early morning protest at Scottish Government plans to impose massive airport expansion by the back door. At 2pm the protestors voluntary walked off the building, were arrested and taken to St.Leonards police station.

The surprise occupation exposes outrageous Government proposals to ban the public and MSPs from consultations that sanction major developments, including airport expansion. The action comes the day before consultation on these National Planning Framework proposals closes (1). Two members of Plane Stupid Scotland occupied the rooftops of the Parliament, unfurling a massive banner saying, “Planestopping! Choose a future: No airport expansion..”

Under National Planning Framework proposals, Ministers will designate a whole generation of dirty development as ‘National Developments’, which bypass public or parliamentary approval. Subsequent planning enquiries will be limited to design issues (2). The meager consultation exercise on the proposals ends tomorrow (April 15) with legislation expected in the autumn.

The NPF is being targetted for its signicant – but stealthy – contribution to UK-wide airport expansion programmes, and the massive increase in carbon emissions that airport expansion will produce.

Plane Stupid Scotland spokesperson Tilly Gifford said:

“The environmental and democratic credibility of this Framework is zero. We are facing a runaway climate threat, but the Scottish Government’s reaction is to triple air traffic (3) and use the NPF to gag affected communities. Without reducing aviation and emissions there will be no future to plan for..”

The proposals list Edinburgh and Glasgow airport expansions as National Developments, reinforcing existing plans to expand all Scottish airports by 2030.(4) As a blank cheque for massive airport expansion with no scrutiny or accountability, the NPF is recipe for disasters like Heathrow in every major Scottish city.

The planned expansion, from 14 million to 50 million passenger movements by 2030, would cause a massive rise in climate change emissions, confirming aviation’s position as the fastest growing source of greenhouse-gas emissions in the UK (5). The program makes a mockery of the NPF’s sustainability remit, and of Scotland ‘s target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050 (6)..

Spokesperson Richard Shore added:

“Aviation is destroying our future and retreating into smoke-filled rooms is no solution. You don’t get good planning by gagging the people you’re planning for. We need democracy, and we need to face the fact that air traffic must shrink.”

Plane Stupid Scotland is fed up with Government inaction and white elephants in the face of an unprecedented climate threat. Today’s action by Plane Stupid Scotland is the start of concerted action against the National Planning Framework, as part of the growing movement of ordinary people (7) who have decided we must act ourselves to tackle climate change.

ENDS

FOR INTERVIEWS ON THE GROUND: Dan Glass 07717 811 747
ON PARLIAMENT ROOF: 07824 658 092
GENERAL PRESS CONTACT: Richard Shore 07929 340 333

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

Plane Stupid Scotland are calling for:

1) The Government to end all subsidies given to the Scottish aviation industry
2) An urgent, targeted and public investment strategy in the alternatives to short-haul aviation
3) No more runways- and a strategy to dismantle existing ones.
4) Mobilisation of affected communities to determine their own lives against aviation expansion and runaway climate change.
5) Research and investment into genuinely sustainable alternative employment opportunities for those employed in the aviation industry.

(1) & (2) Under the 2006 Planning (etc.) Scotland Act, Ministers gained the power to designate ‘National Developments’. This designation reserves decisions on where, when and what to build for Ministers alone, with no arrangements for scrutiny or accountability. Once a ‘national development’ is designated any subsequent inquiry will not be allowed to consider the justification or need for the proposal.” (Scottish Environment LINK) The proposed National Planning Framework is a spatial plan which sets out a strategy for planning in Scotland , and identifies the first set of National Developments.
( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07093039/0 – NPF proposals)

To quote the excellent report by Scottish Environment LINK: “At no stage in the process will individuals or organisations be able to lodge formal representations or objections… Any local level consultation, inquiry or decision will be required to confine itself to design matters such as the colour of chimneys and the height of security fences.”
( http://www.scotlink.org/pdf/NPFmap.pdf)

The first set of National Developments outlined in the proposals are as follows:
# facilities and infrastructure to support the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games
# grid reinforcements to support renewable energy development
# a replacement Forth crossing
# enhancements to Edinburgh Airport
# enhancements to Glasgow Airport
# enhanced access to the Grangemouth Freight Hub
# the Rosyth International Container Terminal
# the Scapa Flow Container Transhipment Facility
# the Glasgow Strategic Drainage Scheme
( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/01/08095631)

(3) & (4) The UK and Scottish Governments plan a massive tripling of air traffic. All Scottish airports face expansion by 2050. Passenger movements are planned to grow from 14 million to 50 million passengers by 2030..
(http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/air/chapter5scotland)

(5) Government plans to expand aviation whilst reducing other emissions will result in air traffic taking up one quarter of UK emissions by 2050. Currently aviation accounts for 13% of the UK ‘s climate change impact.
( http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/environment/reports-05/rar05-05-vol01-03.htm#1)
(Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Anderson , Bows (2006) ‘Policy Clash’, Transport Policy. http://www.tyndall.ac.uk)

(6) Consultation on the proposals for the Climate Change Bill, with its target of an 80% cut by 2050, end April 23. The proposals have already come in for widespread criticism for omitting aviation and shipping emissions, and for relying solely upon inefficient carbon trading markets to cut emissions.
http://www.stopclimatechaosscotland.org

(7) The December 2007 report by the campaign group HACAN revealed that only 18% of respondents support expansion of UK airports. The report, by Woodnewton Associates for enoughsenough, found there is no public appetite for airport expansion. Only 18% support it. Indeed, 57% of people support “a policy aimed at slowing down the growth in air travel”.
www.hacan.org.uk

More information on the impact of aviation on climate change can be found at:

www.planestupid.com

NOTES END

FOR INTERVIEWS ON THE GROUND: Dan Glass 07717 811 747

ON PARLIAMENT ROOF: 07824 658 092

GENERAL PRESS CONTACT: Richard Shore 07929 340 333