7.02.2007
Last Thursday, to coincide with the IPCC report, a group of Manchester climate activists decorated the pavements outside flight centres, petrol stations, supermarkets and a humvee garage with carbon footprints.
7.02.2007
Last Thursday, to coincide with the IPCC report, a group of Manchester climate activists decorated the pavements outside flight centres, petrol stations, supermarkets and a humvee garage with carbon footprints.
Roughly a dozen stencils appeared Friday morning in various city centre locations. The stunt followed a number of other awareness raising actions in Manchester, such as the blockade of the humvee garage a few weeks earlier.
A week of workshops, events, music and action on climate change happening at different venues across Nottingham, from Thursday 5th – Wednesday 11th April 2007.
A week of workshops, events, music and action on climate change happening at different venues across Nottingham, from Thursday 5th – Wednesday 11th April 2007.
Climate change is real and it’s happening now. Governments and corporations dream of continued economic growth – economic growth can’t solve this crisis, but we can. A massive and concerted effort is needed on the scale of ‘Dig for Victory’ or the ‘Home Front’: A war on climate change.
We can’t continue our current way of life – the oil on which it all depends is running out too fast. A shift to a locally based economy will have to happen, with food and energy being produced by the people that use it. The only question is when? We could start now, or we could wait for a future of war, famine, hurricanes, droughts and floods. We need to gain the courage and change fast enough to cultivate a new world, before it’s too late.
‘Spring into Action’ http://www.eastsideclimateaction.org.uk/ is part of an emerging grassroots movement against climate change. Born out of the Camp for Climate Action http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/ ‘Spring into Action’ unites people across the east of England into making changes in our own lives, creating small scale solutions in our communities and resisting those who still seek their own short term gain over a safe future for us all.
So get involved, come join a workshop or run one yourself, come and help organise the change that you want to experience in our world.
Tel: 07765 217118
Email: info [at] eastsideclimateaction [dot] org [dot] uk
Public Meetings:
Monday 5th February 2007, 7:30pm, Leicester, Friends Meeting House, Queens Road.
Thursday 8th February 2007, 7:30pm, Nottingham, International Community Centre, Mansfield Road.
Next Planning Meeting:
Thursday 15th February 2007, 7pm, Nottingham, Sumac Centre, Gladstone Street.
Eastside Collective
info@eastsideclimateaction.org.uk
http://www.eastsideclimateaction.org.uk/
A protest against ESSO and its role in the environmental crisis will take place this friday (9th feb), meeting outside Manchester University Students Union at 5pm. All welcome, lets increase the noise on climate change around manchester!
A protest against ESSO and its role in the environmental crisis will take place this friday (9th feb), meeting outside Manchester University Students Union at 5pm. All welcome, lets increase the noise on climate change around manchester!
ESSO (Exxon mobil) is the world’s single largest emitter of CO2, as well as the world’s most profitable company. It has been funding numerous groups attempting to misinform the public over the causes of climate change (see www.exxonsecrets.org), and recently offered scientists $10,000 to write articles discrediting the latest IPCC report. Come and protest against ESSO’s reckless behaviour, and raise the noise levels on climate change around Manchester!
All welcome, starting at 5pm, Friday 9th of feb outside Manchester University Students Union, on the Oxford Road…seeyou there!
6.02.2007
IF YOU CAN GET DOWN THERE TODAY
Eviction began at Radley lakes at around 6.30 this morning.
http://www.saveradleylakes.org.uk/
6.02.2007
IF YOU CAN GET DOWN THERE TODAY
Eviction began at Radley lakes at around 6.30 this morning.
http://www.saveradleylakes.org.uk/
The next national organsing gathering will be in Leeds on Sat and Sun Feb 17th/18th. It will be at The Common Place in Leeds city centre and vegan food, accommodationand creche will be provided (please contact us with accommodation, creche or any other needs though so we can plan ahead).
The next national organsing gathering will be in Leeds on Sat and Sun Feb 17th/18th. It will be at The Common Place in Leeds city centre and vegan food, accommodationand creche will be provided (please contact us with accommodation, creche or any other needs though so we can plan ahead).
Climate campers are at it again! More than seventy people from around the UK met in Leeds in January and decided to organise another Camp for Climate Action this summer from 14th to 21st August. As many of you know, for ten days last August hundreds of people gathered in the shadow of Drax coal-fired power station in Yorkshire to share knowledge and inspiration to tackle the greatest threat to life on Earth, live an example of more just and sustainable alternatives, and confront one of the UK’s biggest polluters in a day of mass direct action.
Following on from this success, Camp for Climate Action 2007 will take place near to a target relating to aviation or the coal or oil industries. The location will be chosen over the coming months. Organising outreach,
fundraising, site practicalities and workshops is underway. Self managed camping, eating and living neighbourhoods around themes and geographical areas are also being planned, contact details are on the website.
There is loads to do, and everyone is invited to get involved – no experience necessary! The next national planning meetings will be held in Leeds at the Common Place, on the 17th and 18th February, and then in
Bristol on the 17th and 18th March.
See www.climatecamp.org.uk for more info. There are lots of ways to get involved without coming to national gatherings, but coming to them is a great way of really feeling part of the whole process, we work with consensus decision making and collective responsibility, everyone gets their say in how the whole thing goes.
For a 20min film of last years camp get
V For Video Activist – SchMOVIES DVD Collection 2006 OUT January 2007
– £6 (including P&P). Contact the SchNEWS Office 01273 685913 or schnews@brighton.co.uk
leeds@climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk
Seen on Feb 2 2007
Seen on Feb 2 2007
4.02.2007 – York:
Another month, another ride, and this time around we narrowly exceeded the previous months attendance. However, the police made another brief intervention, as two cycle police and an officer on foot joined the ride.
4.02.2007 – York:
Another month, another ride, and this time around we narrowly exceeded the previous months attendance. However, the police made another brief intervention, as two cycle police and an officer on foot joined the ride.
The women PC (on foot) was immediately very hostile, demanding that cyclists proceed single file, essentially making the ride pointless. However, they bizarrely vanished, and the ride finished off more or less in one piece. This did have the effect of encouraging a few riders to leave early. There was a bizarre moment where an officer announced into their radio that they’d found the organiser. Ironically, this was the one regular rider who’d been much quieter than usual!
The ride headed out through Monkbar and along the last untouched section of the inner ring: Lord Mayor’s Walk. The ride than headed past the hospital, where the ride had to evacuate the road to allow an ambulance through. Over the bridge into the Clifton area, and along Burton Stone Lane, before heading out to Clifton Green. Here the ride crossed the river, and headed through Leeman Road, before riding along Rougier Street and back across Ousebridge.
The next ride will be on 3rd March, when skies will just about still be light when we set off. And looking ahead, the first “summer time” ride will be on 6th April, Good Friday, when the ride will be advertised as family friendly (and much easier to photograph!!). It’ll be interesting to see what the police decide to do next: it won’t be surprising if they fail to show up until midway through yet again. Legally, they have no right to prevent the ride, nor to interfere with it, other than if the ride stops mid-road or mid-junction. Whatever happens, it should be fun non-the-less.
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Friday 2nd February – St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham City Centre:
The second Critical Mass cycle ride of 2007 was to celebrate the legal appeal victory of Daniel Cadden who refused to cycle in the gutter.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2007/01/361089.html
Critical Mass has steadily seen increasing numbers of riders taking part. This month almost 30 Birmingham cyclists met up for a cycle ride around the city centre to highlight the increasing presence of cyclists on our streets. The rides are expected to increase the consciousness of other road-users to the safety needs of cyclists as well as demonstrating that cycling is a fun, viable, healthy and environmentally-benign alternative to infernal combustion powered vehicles.
This month’s ride saw the arrival of Birmingham Critical Mass’ first junior rider in the shape of a two-year-old trailer passenger. Throughout the ride she was able to luxuriate in her carriage and enjoy a range of popular songs related to cycling. The ride was also publicised on the sound system using a sampled voice declaring ‘We are Critical Mass, come ride with us’.
Next month’s Mass will also be accompanied by a musical trailer and it is hoped that people will submit their favourite tunes beforehand for inclusion in a compilation to be played as the ride goes on. This will take place over the Brum Critical Mass riseup.net group. Sign up now, submit your tune ideas and come and hear them on 2nd March. The riseup group has now exceeded 50 members and more are expected following this month’s ride.
Future ride ideas include a ride of suits with bowler hatted cyclists Massing through Birmingham’s rush hour and heavy flyering along busy city cycle routes.
3.02.2007
Today at the Shell-sponsored Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, 20 activists inspired by the Camp for Climate Action (1), smeared oil over the photographs. This was an act of outrage at Shell’s painfully transparent attempts to greenwash its reputation via cultural sponsorship.
3.02.2007
Today at the Shell-sponsored Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, 20 activists inspired by the Camp for Climate Action (1), smeared oil over the photographs. This was an act of outrage at Shell’s painfully transparent attempts to greenwash its reputation via cultural sponsorship.
Shell’s sponsorship of the Natural History Museum is deeply ironic, since it devastates wildlife and the environment around the world through the extraction and production of ever more oil and gas.
Today’s action comes hard on the heels of the release of Shell’s 2006 financial figures, documenting the 13 billions of pounds made at the expense of people and the planet. Shell’s activities extracting oil result in major ecological and social impacts. Trading 3.6 million barrels of crude oil equivalent a day, the company is also a major contributor to climate change, which has been predicted to wipe out a quarter of all species on the planet by 2050, and to devastate the poorest regions of the planet (2). The extent of the threat was highlighted on Friday with the release of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change fourth report.
For all these reasons, the climate camp activists are calling on the Natural History Museum to end its oily sponsorship deal with Shell.
As the black oil-like liquid has been spread over the glass covering the photographs, the activists have not damaged the work itself. As Dan Baker said, “This is not an attack on the work of the photographers. Shell does not deserve to have its name associated with their beautiful images.” A banner reading “Make Nature History Museum – sponsored by Shell” was also unfurled.
Activist Daisy Williams said, “This action sheds light on the ugly stain that covers this exhibition as a result of the Museum’s collusion with Shell. We’re here to make sure everyone knows about this despicable greenwash sponsorship deal. With more public pressure, we can kick Shell out of the Natural History Museum!”
For high resolution photos of today’s action, visit this image site:
https://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=2903&ppwd=ks8551dt&Action=_VC&id=59798
A short video of the Shell Oil Wildlife Photograph Exhibition at the London Natural History Museum getting polluted with sticky black stuff.
NHM_Shell_painting – video/x-ms-wmv 12M
For interviews call: 07913 299 852
And also today, on the occasion of the UN International Panel on Climate Change releasing it’s latest report ->
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Well done! Ten of us held a protest outside a Shell petrol station in Aberdeen at the same time, with a large banner and placards, and we mentioned the London action in our press release, too.
aberdeen_climatechange@yahoo.co.uk
http://climatechangecampaign.blogspot.com
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On 3rd February 07 the Climate Change campaigners were joined by Rhythms of Resistance Manchester to raise awareness about global climate change issues. The event took place in the city centre. Campaigners gave out newspapers and leaflets informing people about what they could do to make a difference and highlighting detrimental government plans regarding future energy provision for the UK.
Rhythms of Resistance played drawing in spectators who were then treated to environmental street theatre. The atmosphere was positive and people seemed to engage with the issues.
On 2 Febuary at around 3pm, a group of people under the guise of fictional company ‘Greenwash & Co’, did a satirical performance at a talk being given by the current UK minister for the environment, David Miliband, at Edinburgh University. The minister was then pied in the face by a lone pie-bearer in an unrelated incident.
On 2 Febuary at around 3pm, a group of people under the guise of fictional company ‘Greenwash & Co’, did a satirical performance at a talk being given by the current UK minister for the environment, David Miliband, at Edinburgh University. The minister was then pied in the face by a lone pie-bearer in an unrelated incident.
One Member of GreenWash & co said
“We are here to put a green sheen over the terrible environmental track record of the New Labour government. Our assistance was thought to be particularly important given the presence of the Rt Hon. Mr Miliband as figurehead of the government’s latest wave of environmental spin and green rhetoric. With airport expansions, road building schemes and continued illegal foreign policy in the scramble for oil control, the government need all the help they can get in greening up their image.”
Another Member of GreenWash & co said
“Greenwash has become a widespread and very harmful issue in the fight for environmental sustainability. Now any political body or corporation can reel off a few well-placed buzzwords or implement an insubstantial policy and appear ‘green’ without really having to make any serious changes. This is lulling people into a false sense of security. The purpose of protests like this is to show people what lies beneath the rhetoric and to wake up to the in-action and spin that surrounds us regarding environmental issues. Question everything: ‘green’ is not always what it seems.”
GreenWash & Co use satire and pantomime to perform a new kind of political protest through clowning and audience participation. They aim to change the grounds upon which protest is conducted by performing at a cultural level and mocking existing power structures so as to reveal their contradictions, untruths, spin and control. They have a strictly non-violent philosophy and always try to keep things as light hearted as possible despite the incredible seriousness of issues like climate change.
The group stormed the talk with a banner saying “GREENWASH polluting reality with rhetoric” and got straight to work cleaning all of those dirty government policies and brushing all of our carbon under the carpet (through the carbon market). The crowd cheered at the well humoured theatrics but after a few minutes as the security amassed, the performers made a dignified exit to the applause of the crowd.
Simultaneously in a totally unrelated incident an autonomous individual calling himself Colonel Crust used the theatrics as a distraction to thrust a vegan short-crust pastry confection into the well kept hair of Rt Hon Milliband. Witnesses said the minister appeared displeased until he tasted the bright green custard and was presently surprised by the quality of the pie.
You can contact David Milliband to congratulate him for his Green-washing abilities via his email address, david.miliband (at) defra.gsi.gov.uk
This morning ( Wed 31-01-2007 ) five people were arrested on the public footpath running through the construction site in Trebanos, South Wales.
The Trebanos Five….. Whose quick decision making left a bit to be desired were arrested today for “learning Italian, having a picnic and reading” on an illegaly closed public footpath in Trebanos…… Having being given 5 minutes to move on, they were handcuffed and manhandled whilst deciding what to do next( three minutes later….) They are now known as The Trebanos Faffing Five !!!
This morning ( Wed 31-01-2007 ) five people were arrested on the public footpath running through the construction site in Trebanos, South Wales.
The Trebanos Five….. Whose quick decision making left a bit to be desired were arrested today for “learning Italian, having a picnic and reading” on an illegaly closed public footpath in Trebanos…… Having being given 5 minutes to move on, they were handcuffed and manhandled whilst deciding what to do next( three minutes later….) They are now known as The Trebanos Faffing Five !!!
The footpath was subject to an “undated” closure notice on Thursday 25th January 2007. The notice gave 7 days notice. Today’s arrests on the footpath were within the 7 day period and those arrested are seeking legal advice with regards their wrongful arrest.
Neath Port Talbot CBC who closed the footpath are soon to be subject to a Judicial Revue for the way they handled the planning process. National Grid are now threatening local people in South Wales that they will sue them should their work be delayed any longer….
National Grids Security Guards, sorry I mean The South Wales Police Force, seemed very pleased with themsleves and were filmed and photographed by a local resident concerned for the safety of those arrested.
Up to 40 police officers were on hand to arrest the five young people.
National Grids 48″ dia, high pressure pipeline has caused a storm of controvesy. The enviromental issues, safety issues, the lack of democracy and the abuse of human rights have drawn support for the protestors from all of the UK, The Bahamas, California and Rossport.
The Trebanos Five were arrested within a few feet of the site where National Grid are attempting to dig a 30 mtrs deep vertical shaft through which will travel the 48″ pipe. The pipe goes through much of the South Wales Coalfield and also through the Brecon Beacons National Park.
National Grid claim this pipeline is essential for our future energy needs. That has been disproved using their own data. This pipeline is not needed, it is not wanted and it is a dangerous project which will only add to our carbon footprint. The continued use of fossil fuels, which is clearly supported by our government and police force, can only end in disaster. We may not see all of the effects today, but our children and their children will have to live with the results of our blatant disregard of the Earth.
