Update (11am): Day 12 and blockade still going strong. Cuadrilla need to get in a constant stream of trucks to keep drilling and the community are making it as difficult for them as possible.
Update (11am): Day 12 and blockade still going strong. Cuadrilla need to get in a constant stream of trucks to keep drilling and the community are making it as difficult for them as possible.
Update (9am): Day 13 and blockade still going strong. A lot of people stayed overnight. Some people also heading down to Crawley Magistrates Court for 9:30am to support two Balcombe Defenders charged as a result of blockade. Come show your support!
Update (12pm): Good weather and people arriving for Tea Party this afternoon. Come on down!
Update (7am): Large number of people stayed overnight after the great day yesterday.
Update (12pm): Good weather and people arriving for Tea Party this afternoon. Come on down!
Update (7am): Large number of people stayed overnight after the great day yesterday.
Update (12:00pm): Villagers announce result of their own survey of village: 85 percent against, 9 percent undecided, 6 percent for fracking.
Update (11:30am): Around 250 more villagers stroll down to the blockade. Big crowd here.
Update (7am): Somerset Saturday today! Rig Race from London and Brighton.
Around 400 People At The Community Blockade In Balcombe
Update (2:00pm): 2 arrests reported. Come down and support Balcombe.
Update (11:00am): Confused media rumour that drilling may start soon but drill isn’t moving.
Update (9:15am): Fylde Friday at the community blockade in Balcombe. Community groups from Lancashire are visiting to show their support. Police continuing to try to push trucks through the blockade. Weather a bit damp but spirits high.
Apparently Random Attack On Man At Community Blockade By Sussex Police
Another Fracking Truck Tries To Force Its Way Through In Balcombe
Community Groups From “Desolate” Lancashire Are Support Balcombe At The Blockade
There Is Always Another Fracking Truck To Block In Balcombe
Blocking Fracking Truck In Balcombe At The Community Blockade
Police Trying To Escort A Fracking Truck Through The Community Blockade
1st August 2013
We’ve all heard about the revolution kicking off in Balcombe, but before today few would have known that the HQ of Britain’s premier fracking corporation Cuadrilla are located in the Midlands. Their offices in Lichfield were stormed today by a group acting in solidarity with the bockade in West Sussex.
1st August 2013
We’ve all heard about the revolution kicking off in Balcombe, but before today few would have known that the HQ of Britain’s premier fracking corporation Cuadrilla are located in the Midlands. Their offices in Lichfield were stormed today by a group acting in solidarity with the bockade in West Sussex.
A man in a suit, calling himself Mr Fracktastic, was accompanied by another man in a high vis carrying a fracking rig, which appeared to be made of cardboard. The unsightly duo were chased down the streets of a picturesque city, known by the locals as LichVegas, by an articulate and well-dressed mob armed with well-researched facts and catchy chants.
Mr Fracktastic shouted incoherently through a megaphone: ‘It’s going to be fracking fantastic, we’ll produce billions of litres of chemically enriched delicious water for you all to drink.’
The group responded by chanting: ‘No Dash For Gas! Reclaim the Power!’ and handed out informative leaflets to bemused onlookers. The protesters explained how fracking has become the frontline of the Government’s Dash for Gas, their lans to build up to 40 new gas-fired power stations as our existing power stations come to the end of their life. They’ll be pumped full of fracked gas fresh from our devastated countryside, leaving a trail of broken communities behind. As we spin into climate chaos from further fossil fuel fanaticism, the price of gas is set to rocket, pushing even more people into fuel poverty.
The rag tag bunch finally arrived at Cuadrilla HQ only to find that the doors of the office were locked and de-logo’d, guarded by police and surounded by a (modest) media frenzy.
‘Ha!’ Mr Fracktastic exclaimed. ‘The police are doing their job; protecting corporate profit and not the people.’ The coporate big wig proceeded to launch into a tirade, declaring the protesters a ‘bunch of smelly hippy vermin who simply do not understand the medically proven benefits of water enhanced with fracking fluid.’
Within a minute the posh executive was ovecome by the crowd, first cowering under the cardboard drilling rig. Finally, he lay on his back, arms and legs raised in the air and whimpered ‘I submit’ in a distinctive Etonian accent.
It was a small victory for the forces of sanity, in a battle that is set to continue in the coming weeks, with an ongoing blockade at Balcombe and the Reclaim the Power camp
Update (3:45pm): Two fracking trucks forced through blockade with police escort. Ambulance called for lady pushed over by police.
Update (1:00pm): Police tow away fire engine with two frackfighters still lock on inside!
Update (3:45pm): Two fracking trucks forced through blockade with police escort. Ambulance called for lady pushed over by police.
Update (1:00pm): Police tow away fire engine with two frackfighters still lock on inside!
Update (11:00am): Police have put up scaffolding next to fire engine and are trying to cut frackfighters off. Driver arrested. Support Balcombe in its fight against fracking!
Update (8:45am): Police trying to talk frack-fighers into leaving! Will they succeed?
Update (7:30am): A beautiful day in Balcombe. Weather lovely and an old fire engine is blocking the entrance of Cuadrilla’s fracking site. How could it get any better? Support the community in Balcombe!
Update (6:50am): Balcombe gets more support. Antique fire engine blocking entrance of Cuadrilla’s fracking site in Balcombe in Sussex
Our Children Say No To Fracking In Balcombe
Police Trying To Tow Fire Engine Away With Frackfighters Still Inside!
Frackfighters Inside The Fire Engine At The Community Blockade In Balcombe
Police Suround Frackfighter’s Fire Engine At Community Blockade
Police Suround Frackfighter’s Fire Engine At Community Blockade
Good Weather For Day 8 Of The Community Fracking Blockade In Balcombe
Police Cutting Team On Roof Of Fire Engine In Blacombe
Police Have Put Up Scaffolding Next To Fire Engine In Balcombe
Police Trying To Remove Frackfighters From Cab Of Fire Engine In Balcombe
Very Sunny Day In Balcombe! Take Sensible Precautions!
Frackfighter’s Twitter Account Was Suspended Shortly After The Began Tweeting
Police Trying To Remove Frackfighters From Roof Of Fire Engine In Balcombe
Good Start To The Day At Community Fracking Bloackade Of Cuadrilla’s Site
Fracking Emergency Crew Block The Entrance To Cuadrilla’s Site In Balcombe
Fracking Emergency Crew Block The Entrance To Cuadrilla’s Site In Balcombe
Community In Balcombe Gets Support From An Unlikely Source. Fracking Emergency!
The FrackFighters Settle In For The Long Haul At Balcombe Community Blockade
Community Fracking In Balcombe Get A Hand. Fracking Emergency!
Community In Balcombe Gets Support From An Unlikely Source. Fracking Emergency!
The Fracking Emergency Crew At The Balcombe Community Blockade
Fracking Emergency Crew Are In Balcombe! Old Fire Engine Blocking Entrance To Site
Fracking Emergency! Old Fire Engine Blocking Entrance To Fracking Site
31 July 2013 Fracking company Cuadrilla Resources are trying to start drilling in Balcombe, West Sussex and the community is trying to stop them. Over 250 people stopped 15 trucks bring on equipment on Day 1 (Thurs).
31 July 2013 Fracking company Cuadrilla Resources are trying to start drilling in Balcombe, West Sussex and the community is trying to stop them. Over 250 people stopped 15 trucks bring on equipment on Day 1 (Thurs). On Day 2 more than 100 police were used to break the blockade and escort trucks onto the fracking site. On Day 3 the community continued to resist attempts to force trucks through the blockade but gave up early afternoon. On Day 4 Cudrilla did not attempt to bring any trucks onto the site. On Day 5 Cuadrilla continued to try to push trucks through the blockade and the community have continued to resist. Camp is still going strong and renewed efforts are being made to defend Balcombe.
Update (10:00am): Cuadrilla’s fracking site closed and trucks being turned away. Go Balcombe!
Update (9:00am): Two people superglue themselves together, locking the gate of the Cuadrilla fracking site to defend the community of Balcombe and Sussex more generally from fracking
Cuadrilla’s Fracking Site In Balcombe Blocked By Community
Two People Glue Around The Gate Of Fracking Site In Balcombe
Two People Lock The Gate Of The Cuadrilla Fracking Site In Balcombe
30 July 2013 Right now there is a battle against mining in Sapmi, north of Sweden, going on. We have barricaded the road leading to the site where Beowulf Mining Plc. want to make test mines. This is the Sami peoples lands stolen by the Swedish state and colonized since way back. We stand in solidarity with indigenous culture and fight against the mega-machine of mining. The Swedish police are now on the site removing obstacles to help the mining corporation proceed. At least 6 people have been arrested already but protests are still going on. For five days the police have this special mission to help the evil corporation, that’s why we need people now!
This is a strategic battle, if the resistance to the mine is strong enough Beowulf will not be able to sell the mining site to another corporation (which is their plan). There is a security radius of 150m from the test pits, if people are inside those the corporation are not able to detonate explosives. How far is this corporation ready to go? Are they ready to blow people up to get their ore? We don’t know but we are ready to die to stop them. Solidarity protests, new warriors, prayers, actions and whatever you can imagine to help is/are welcome!
For everything wild and free!
30 July 2013 Photos from yesterday show that the police are massing to get Cuadrilla vehicles onto the site at Balcombe, so Cuadrilla can begin the dangerous path to fracking.
30 July 2013 Photos from yesterday show that the police are massing to get Cuadrilla vehicles onto the site at Balcombe, so Cuadrilla can begin the dangerous path to fracking.
Update (7:00pm): Rain cleared and more people coming down to show their support.
Update (5:00pm): Very large numbers of police being used to try to imposed fracking on the people of Balcombe. Come and support them!
Update (9:40am): Fracking truck attempting to force way through blockade with help of police. Come down and support community!
Update (9:00am): Weather not great today but but community standing strong against Cuadrilla’s fracking threat. Come support them.
Update (7:00am): Breakfast begin prepared at community blockade in Balcombe. Come down and support the fight against fracking.
29 July 2013 In a direct action following the Canyon Country Action Camp, hundreds of activists have swarmed two mining sites in Utah tar sands.
29 July 2013 In a direct action following the Canyon Country Action Camp, hundreds of activists have swarmed two mining sites in Utah tar sands. Activists are currently locked down to machines, stopping work.
Canyon Country Rising Tide have joined with the Lakota, Dine, and Idle No More in condemning the tar sands in Utah as a defiling of the precious Green River ecosystem, and an assault on fresh air and clean water in the US. The tar sands and oil shale mining proposed in Utah and neighboring states would traverse more than one thousand square miles.
The first blockade went up two hours ago, and is still holding. Contracted Cardwell, Inc. contractors attempted to hit peaceful protestors with their trucks, but the activists were able to lock down, and unfurl a banner that reads, “If you build it they will come.”
Private security personnel and three police cars have shown up on the scene, but no arrests have been made yet.
The second blockade went up approximately one hour later, and is still holding.
29July
29July 2013 Update: The action has been declared a success as businesses were forced to lock their doors and close their blinds – apparently the dance party was just too much of them to even look at! In addition, all TWAC activists have avoided arrest and gear was not confiscated
A tripod has been erected at the entrance of a building that houses a TransCanada office, blocking the entrance and causing businesses inside to lock the doors. Protesters outside have responded with a very glittery and colorful dance party in front of the building and a banner that reads “No Tar Sands On Native Lands. Stop Genocide.”
This action was organized by the Trans and Womyns Action Camp (TWAC), a direct action group for women and trans* and gender-variant folks. A correspondent from TWAC said that they took action today “to stand in solidarity with communities that are affected disproportionately by tar sands, including everyone in Alberta who is forced to live in areas of tar sands oil extraction, folks near the Gulf Coast affected by tar sand refinement plants, and communities who are living on the pipeline route.” With conditions on the Gulf Coast already toxic, high rates of asthma and cancer are becoming the norm, and the arrival of tar sands will only worsen these conditions. In the Athabaska watershed in Alberta, communities have seen the rise of a large number of rare cancers, and First Nations communities have been affected most heavily.
Steph Cascadia, who is sitting at the top of the tripod, said, “Extraction of the tar sands is the most destructive project on the continent. It threatens the integrity of the entire biosphere, not to mention the First Nations peoples dependent upon access to clean water, land, and air for the health of their communities.”’
A correspondent from TWAC also said that TWAC was there “to remind the employees of TransCanada that the death and destruction does not end when they go home to their families, or when they leave to take their lunch break. Lots of other people have jobs and are often not able to work and provide for their families because of the actions that this corporation has taken, which solely benefit TransCananda–nobody else wins.”
Security guard in the foreground, dance party in the back
Yudith Nieto, a TWAC participant who traveled from a community in Houston affected by tar sands refineries, said, “I am committed to amplifying the voices of communities of color that are systematically silenced, like mine, that are being disproportionately affected by environmentally destructive industries, and experiencing racism and classism.”
This action follows a long string of actions taken by groups and communities all across the country to stop tar sands extraction, transportation, and refinement – all of which put communities at risk and exacerbate global climate change. These actions can be taken virtually anywhere in the United States or Canada where there are corporations who invest in, construct, or otherwise do business with tar sands infrastructure. Little by little, we will stop these corporate marauders.
29 July 2013 Over 100 anti-fracking activists have taken over the entrance to an injection well site in Ohio.
29 July 2013 Over 100 anti-fracking activists have taken over the entrance to an injection well site in Ohio. The action comes at the end of the weekend-long Don’t Frack Ohio event, which was full of trainings and activities.
The rally is spearheaded by “concerned citizen” groups and 350.org as part of the national Summer Heat campaign. It is being labeled “Don’t Frack Ohio 2.0,” in reference to last year’s action involving more than a thousand participants.
Don’t Frack Ohio states on their webpage: “Remember Don’t Frack Ohio from last summer when over a thousand of us marched in Columbus, took over the statehouse rotunda and held a People’s Assembly? We are doing it again this year, with a bolder action and with more grassroots Ohio leadership. We are focusing on Class 2 injection wells and the infusion of toxic radioactive fracking waste brought in from other states and also being generated in Ohio. Last year the Oil & Gas industry injected almost 600 million gallons of toxic waste in our state, with little regard for our communities health and welfare.”
The goal of this and other actions are to get the governor to ban injection wells, in particular, which would effectively end fracking in the state.
