Climate Chaos – Page 146

End of the line for coal: Protestors blockade coal trains, New Zealand/Aotearoa

Press release: Save happy Valley Christchurch
Sunday 29th April 2007

Save Happy Valley members have locked onto the train tracks near Christchurch to call for an end to new coal mines in New Zealand. Other members have hung a twenty-two metre banner – ‘Solid Energy: Govt Sponsored Climate Chaos – along two of the coal wagons. They are on Kirk Road, Templeton.

Press release: Save happy Valley Christchurch
Sunday 29th April 2007

“Catastrophic climatic events are already occurring; climate change is happening now,” said Graham Jury, Save Happy Valley Christchurch spokesperson. “Earlier this year New Zealand finally reached the end of the line for coal fired power stations. It must also be the end of the line for coal mining.”

Two activists are locked onto the tracks, while a further twenty are on the tracks by the train. Save Happy Valley works for the protection of Happy Valley, proposed site of Solid Energy’s next opencast mine on the West Coast of the South Island. The group also campaigns for a just and swift transition away from coal mining.

“Solid Energy is ever increasing its production, leaving decimated ecosystems and waterways in its wake. Already, they are responsible for annual carbon dioxide emissions approximately equivalent to New Zealand’s entire transport fleet. Saying “no” to new coal mines would be an easy first step in actually addressing climate change,” said Simon Riddel, one of the activists locked to the tracks.

“The world’s climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable and human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are evidently responsible. The fossil fuel industry is a preventable cause,” said Gregory Curline, the second activist ‘on the line.’

“Half of the coal extracted is sent off shore, generating emissions outside of our Kyoto Protocol obligations. However, New Zealand is responsible for the coal it exports. The Government must pull its state owned enterprise back under control,” said Mr Jury.

// ENDS

Media Contact
Graham Jury, Save Happy Valley Christchurch spokesperson, 0273070448

Notes
In March 2007, Mighty River Power, another SOE, announced that it had discarded its plans to turn Marsden B into an operational coal fired power station.

http://savehappyvalley.org.nz

Cambridge Climate Camp meetup

Hey all. There will be a meeting on Sat May 5 at 7pm for anyone in Cambridge and East Anglia generally who is interested in going to the Camp for Climate Action on August 14-21, 2007. People who were at last year’s camp will talk about what it was like, and we will have a chance to get to know each-other and talk about going as a group to the climate camp.

The meeting is in the McCrum Seminar room in Corpus Christi College. The directions to Corpus are here: www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/about/directions.htm To get to the McCrum Seminar room, head to the McCrum lecture theatre off Benet St (marked on the map – its next to the Eagle pub); but turn right in front of the lecture theatre, up some stairs. Directly ahead are some more steps going down to the left, go down those into a passageway and the McCrum Seminar room is to the right.

The Camp for Climate Action (www.climatecamp.org.uk) is a week-long event that will include workshops about climate change and other topics, entertainment, alternative technology, low-tech living, and direct action against some of the industrial polluters that cause climate change.

Please invite anyone who might be interested.

cambridge@lists.riseup.net
http://www.cambridgeaction.net

Critical Mass reports

Police charge cyclists at Glasgow Critical Mass
29.04.2007

Last night the police committed a surprising u-turn in their approach to dealing with Glasgow Critical Mass. The Mass has previously been accompanied by cycle officers “to ensure the safety of the cyclists” however there has been no police presence since last September. This changed dramatically with the April Critical Mass; the 50-70 cyclists were tailed by a police van for the majority of the ride with the police stopping some of the riders at the front of the mass and warning them not to continue else they may face charges. In the midst of the cycle run, while the Mass dutifully waited at a red light, the two officers (A303 and A628) made their way to the front of the mass and selected three cyclists, apparently at random. It should be noted that these three were not the cyclists spoken to by the police earlier. These arbitrarily chosen cyclists have been charged with “Cycling without due consideration for other road users” under section 29 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act (exact wording: If a person rides a cycle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he is guilty of an offence.In this section “road” includes a bridleway). They were informed that a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal for further consideration. Watch this space.

http://www.glasgowcriticalmass.org.uk

Critical Mass London 13th Anniversary ride.
16MB film – mp4
The very well attended Mass got off to a good start, despite a spelling mistake on the kindly donated t-shirts. There was the usual large police presence with its usual intimidating videoing of riders. Pity they can’t take their own medicine and try to conceal their faces.

The police returned to their previous tactic of blocking the front of the ride, thus adding to traffic congestion. At the entrance to Parliament Square the front of the ride was blocked for several traffic light cycles. Finally, in frustration, and after some booing at the blockers, riders decide to go around on the pavement to enter the Square. At some point the ride split into two but managed to join up again in the Strand. Videoing stopped at the couriers’ pub, while the ride continued on into the night heading Eastwards.

All in all very enjoyable and merry ride.

!!!MANCHESTER DIRECT ACTION TRAINING DAY!!! – venue update

!!!MANCHESTER DIRECT ACTION TRAINING DAY!!!

Date: Sunday, May 6, 2007
Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Location: MOVED TO MERCI DUE TO FIRE AT BASEMENT – see http://www.merci.org.uk/bridge-5.php for directions

!!!MANCHESTER DIRECT ACTION TRAINING DAY!!!

Date: Sunday, May 6, 2007
Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Location: MOVED TO MERCI DUE TO FIRE AT BASEMENT – see http://www.merci.org.uk/bridge-5.php for directions
Manchester
Contact Info Email: manchester@climatecamp.org.uk

A fun filled day of workshops and briefings on non-violent direct action techniques and tactics, legal issues, security issues, and chances to discuss and plan your own direct action ideas. In light of the climate camp, the theme will be taking direct action against climate change. it will be a great chance to meet people with experience of and an interest in taking direct action!
Breakfast served at 10am, then workshops from 11-6

Leeds Monthly Critical Mass Celebrations

Its the last friday of the month again: get your chains oiled, your tyres pumped, and adore your bike with horns and bells… its time for a little reclaiming of the streets.

The monthly impromptu meeting of leeds cyclist will once again hit the city centre on friday evening to parade around the city and celebrate the joys of using the lo-tech carbon free transport of the past, present and future. Although, by the very nature of critical mass nothing has been officially planned its highly likely that an accidental meeting of cyclists will take place at 5.30pm in Millenium Square.

Following the ride, there are strong rumours that a game of bicycle polo will also take place on a open public space somewhere in the city.

There can surely be no better event to attend on the eve of the Wakey Wakey Spring Tour that comes to town this weekend. (See http://www.fraw.org.uk/tour/leeds.shtml for further info.)

…And remember to spare a small thought for those still living in he 20th century with internal combustion engines fueled by crude oil derivatives that idle in their vehicles as they crawl throught the friday evening rush hour. Bless them and their antiquated ways.

Bath Party against Petrol report

Saturday 21st April. The Party Against Petrol crowd gathered in Bath Abbey at midday to begin what would have been a colourful and noisy protest against car culture and fossil fuels, intending to occupy Lower Bristol Road and the Esso station forecourt there. Around 25-30 activists turned up, and the police, themselves numbering 30 or more, with mounted police again, imposed conditions on the procession: march round the Abbey for 30 mins, then disperse.

Well, we did as were told, marched round the Abbey, drumming and dancing and playing football, returned and dispersed… only to form up again and continue the parade, flowing through the police lines easily. Handed out leaflets, spoke to passersby, meanwhile, the highly trained police were overheard arguing with each other, throwing out blame for their lack of control, right in front of the shoppers and tourists. The street party parade came to a close at Victoria Park, amidst picnic and sunbathing, under the police’s watchful eye.

This unseasonably hot April, whilst good for sunbathers, is probably nothing to do with climate change.

Despite the heavy handed police harrassment and intimidation we’ve had so far, with various people being repeatedly stopped and questioned throughout the city, with A4 checkpoints and trains station searches on the Thursday, tomorrow should see a free kitchen, freeshop stall, workshop on recycling junk into useful stuff, and litterpick, meeting in Bath at midday. To find us, ring 07800 583011.

Report from Land and Marine demo and demo announcement

Despite massive over-policing and the eviction of Bath Climate Camp, actions are continuing as scheduled, so if you were thinking of coming down for saturdays demo, starting at 12 at Bath Abbey, please do so to show that their repression will not make us go away! – here is a report of the Land and Marine demo –

Friday 20th April, at 8 am, a group of 7 protesters approached the Land and Marine office, to leaflet and banner drop, as part of the advertised blockade, and were faced by a huge police presence. The cops demanded that the protestors move about 30 meters away from L&M, making the protest invisible. The group refused, and after negotiations and a couple of tense moments, were able to stay in front of the offices, although the cops put a restriction on the number of protesters to 6 (they counting skills should be called into questions, as by this point, there were 8 protestors!), forbidding any additional protesters from joining the demo and also imposed a time limit, restricting the demo to two hours. Twice the time limit was passes, and twice re-negotiated until protester voluntarily left at 12.30. The office was shut all day and no workers entered the premises. Also, L&M shelled out on a double row of fencing around their property and a large number of security guards who have been there in various numbers for a couple of weeks… Result! Our congratulations to Inspector Adam Jenners.

Also, the activists were all searched under a proposed modification to Section 1 of the PACE 1984 Act, for items to be used in connection with criminal damage. It may well be that this proposed modification to the law hasn’t yet came in to power by the time they tried to use it, so there may well be a lawsuit in the works…

Police also confirmed their use of phone tapping to one activist: “Acording to your phone calls, you only expected 10 people at your meeting, but when we there you had 100.” It seems that the police had confused our camp with that of the coming national Climate Camp, this summer – and wasted 100,000s of pounds in the process. The head of this over-zealous policing operation is probably sweating round about now.

Overkill police tactics failed to intimidate us and hopefully the day long closure of L&M will be another setback in the construction of the pipeline.

To find out the facts, and get involved in the anti-pipeline campaign, check out www.risingtide.org.uk/bristol/pipeline

Intimidation and repression will not beat us or make us go away!

Bath Climate Camp evicted – BUT THE DEMOS ARE STILL HAPPENING!

19.04.2007
Bath Climate Camp was today evicted by a stupidly large number of cops, part of a stupidly large police operation involving random stop and searches at the train station and on the streets – The reason for the eviction? Section 63 of the CJB – we were apparently using the demo as a pretext for a free party!

But the demos will go on as planned, and crash space is available –
*Friday – office hours – Demo at Land and Marine HQ near the A4 on Lower Bristol Rd
*saturday, party against petrol – meet 12 noon at Bath Abbey

If you were thinking of coming along, please still do, to show the cops that their bullying tactics won’t stop our resistance!

(less) Happy Camper x

bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk

Party Against Petrol! – Saturday 21st April

As Part of Bath Climate Camp, there will be a party against petrol – a chance to protest against car culture and fossil fuels. Meet at 12 at Bath Abbey or 11 at Bath Climate Camp

The protest is going to be a colourful carnival, so bring props, banners and noise makers. There will be free cake, kids bloc, music, a ‘balls to climate change’ reclaim the streets footie game and more!
The day will be a chance to take back the streets from cars and pollution and use them for fun and frivolity!

For more info, email bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk

Bath Climate Camp will be set up from Thursday the 19th April through to Sunday 22nd, and will both serve as a demonstration of eco-living and ideals, and also serve as an education anf focus point for eco-action. Setting up from mid afternoon on Thursday, there will be onsite ethical vegan kitchen providing breakfast and dinner, music/entertainment in the evenings, talks, permanent freeshop, and a kids‘ zone, attended by professional carers. The camp can be located near where the Lower Bristol Road meets the A4 out to Bristol. The camp number is 07800 583011.

*Friday 20th April – All day – Shut down Land And Marine! – Land and Marine are the main construction company responsible for the gas pipeline smashing through the Welsh countryside, including the Brecon Beacons. We have the company’s offices in Bath, and resistance to the pipe has been strong in Wales, it’s time to take the fight to their doorstep! We are asking people to blockade, make music, wave banners, leaflet or whatever else springs to mind! For more info on the pipeline, visit www.risingtide.org.uk/bristol/pipeline

*Saturday 21st April – 11 @ Bath Climate Camp or 12 @ Bath Abbey – PARTY AGAINST PETROL! – Colourful carnival against car culture and fossil fuels! Bring noise makers, props, bright things and banners. The demo will have a kids’ bloc.

*Sunday 22nd April (though there will be workshops on the other days as well!) – All day – Workshops

There will be workshops on direct action against the pipeline in Wales, Poi making and dancing sessions, solutions to climate change, setting up independent media, diet and the environment, ‘we wont buy your crap, but we will use your scrap’ DIY session, making handicrafts from ‘junk’ and loads more.

bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/bathclimatecamp

Disrupt Shell’s Annual General Meeting!

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Royal Dutch Shell plc will be held at Circustheater, Circusstraat, The Hague, The Netherlands at 11.00 am (Dutch time) on Tuesday May 15, 2007, with an audio-visual link to a satellite meeting place at Novotel London-West Hotel and Convention Centre, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom at 10.00 am (UK time).

Dear All,

The date for the Shell AGM has been recently announced. It is the 15th of May. As with last year the AGM will be held in the Hague with a video link up in London. The link up in London will be at the Novotel London West Hotel and Conference Centre, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, at 10 am UK time.

Shell to Sea is calling for Solidarity protests at the AGM. On the ground in Erris resistance continues to Shell’s proposed refinery. Peat removal began at the start of April and since then there have been five group trespasses onto the site shutting down work temporarily. We are currently in the midst of the EPA oral hearing for the IPPC (integreated pollution prevention and control) license which is to grant Shell a license to pollute. Numbers of Gardai in the area remain high.

Now more than ever we need to send Shell a message that this project is not acceptable and that 100 years is enough! We are hoping to send a delegation from Ireland to the Hague to protest directly. All protests at the London video link up would be warmly appreciated.

Solidarity