Climate Chaos – Page 25

New Blockades in Guangdong, Third Major Protest This Week

17 July 2013 Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have promised to halt production at two factories near Sihui city after demonstrators blocked the gates, clashing with workers in the third mass e

Local residents said vehicles continued to come in and out of the main gates of an ink-making plant and a print factory on Tuesday, however, raising suspicions that production may still be going on.

The promise from local government officials came after hundreds of residents of Sihui’s Baisha village converged on the Nanyue Screen Printing Factory and the Precision Ink. Co. Ltd. plant, which they claim are polluting the local environment.

“We blocked up their gates using cement,” one protester surnamed Lu said on Tuesday.”We demanded that the workers on the production floor stop work, but they closed the door on us and wouldn’t let us in.”

“A group of people got overexcited and forced their way onto the shop floor, and got into a fight with some of the workers there,” Lu said. ”A number of villagers were injured in the fight, and had to be taken to hospital.”

Mounting anger

A second Baisha resident surnamed Liang said anger had been mounting over alleged pollution from both factories among local people for a number of years.

“In recent years, people have been getting sick, and it’s getting worse and worse,” Liang said. “A lot of villagers have developed respiratory diseases like asthma and pneumonia.”
“A lot of people have constant sore throats and inflammation, too, while some of the older people in the village have lung cancer,” he said.

“The kids all have upper respiratory tract inflammation, asthma and even pneumonia.”
Lu said villagers were still suspicious that the promise to halt production hadn’t been carried out, because both factories provided high levels of income to local government through taxation

“These two factories are class A taxpayers to the Sihui municipal goverment,” he said. “They are very large, and they pay huge amounts in taxes.”

“They are big customers around these parts, and they hire a lot of workers, so of course the government is going to be on their side.”

‘Running normally’

An employee who answered the phone at the neighborhood committee of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Sihui’s Chengzhong district declined to comment. “I don’t know about this,” the employee said.

Repeated calls to the district environmental protection department went unanswered during office hours on Tuesday.

An employee who answered the phone at the Nanyue Screen Printing Co. said administrative staff were operating normally on Tuesday, but declined to comment on the protest, or on the reported halt in production.

“We are all at work, and things are running normally,” the employee said, in reference to the office staff. “I don’t really know about it, because the top-level leadership is dealing with it.”

Third protest

The Sihui confrontation on Monday marks the third mass environmental protest in Guangdong this week.

On the same day, thousands of people marched in Huadu district of the provincial capital Guangzhou in protest over plans to build a waste incinerator plant on their doorstep.
And the Huadu protest came just one day after residents of Jiangmen won an apparent concession from local officials, who said they would cancel plans to build a nuclear fuel processing plant near the city after three days of demonstrations.

Worsening levels of air and water pollution, as well as disputes over the effects of heavy metals from mining and industry, have forced ordinary Chinese to become increasingly involved in environmental protection and protest.

Honduran Army Kills Indigenous Leader of COPINH Who Resisted Dam in Rio Blanco

16 July 2013 On Monday July 15th, while the Lenca community of Rio Blanco, in Honduras, marked 106 days of resistance to the building of Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam, the Army indiscriminately shot at the demonstrators killing one of the l

Tomas was a Lenca indigenous leader who was part of his community’s Indigenous and Auxiliary Council and of the National Council of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH).

The Honduran activist was shot dead while he was walking with other community members to the project’s facilities owned by Desa and Sinohydro companies, while his son, who was seriously injured by a high-calibre bullet, is in hospital and his life is in danger, Berta Caceres, leader of COPINH, told Real World Radio.

Berta described the act as “a desperate and criminal reaction” by the companies that want to build a dam on River Gualcaeque, seriously affecting the communities living there. The Honduran army supports the companies, said Berta, and they even pay for the transportation and maintenance of troops deployed by the Honduran government in Tegucigalpa in Rio Blanco.

On Monday night, COPINH reported of more military troops being deployed in Zacapa, Santa Barbara, and there were fears of new shootings against civilians during the wake of the murdered indigenous leader.

“The community is outraged. We are in great sorrow, also because we believe we have to continue our struggle”, said Berta during a phone interview. “As the elections approach (in November) they want to teach COPINH a lesson”, she explained and said the community decided to continue occupying the access to the dam.

A few hours after the incidents, COPINH had reported that since Friday 12, top executives of the company Desarrollo Energético Sociedad Anónima (DESA)- which is in charge of the project together with the original group Sinohydro – travelled to meet with local hitmen, who are responsible for direct threats against several members of the indigenous council, including Tomas Garcia.

Before they started shooting at civilians, the military made no attempt to talk with the activists, said Berta.

The leader of COPINH was illegally arrested in May and submitted to a trial for purportedly having an illegal weapon, something that the court could not prove and the case was finally dismissed.

The leader highlighted that in the new cases of repression against residents of the community of Rio Blanco, we urgently need international solidarity to report the civic and military authorities and both companies for murder.

“We are aware that we are confronted with an impunity strategy in a context that seems to be worsening”, said Berta. She said the communities’ determination to defend their territory is strengthened in these situations of state and private violence.

In fact, river Gualcarque is considered an essential part of the Lenca spirituality and the communities are confronting the business projects as a tribute to their culture’s symbolic figure: Lempira.

“We continue fighting, we are not afraid, we will not be prey to fear and we will continue this peaceful but strong battle for life”, she concluded.

Daniel McGowan Loses Lawsuit Against Bureau Of Prisons

16 Jult 2013 A federal court has dismissed an environmental activist’s claims against the U.S.

16 Jult 2013 A federal court has dismissed an environmental activist’s claims against the U.S. Bureau of Prisons over a restrictive prison wing he was housed in, but a lawsuit filed by other prisoners against the government over its restrictive communication management units continues.

Daniel McGowan, 39, served seven years in federal prison for arson connected with the Earth Liberation Front, four of them in the secretive communication management units, or CMUs, dubbed “Little Guantanamo” by critics.

Along with dozens of other mostly Muslim inmates, McGowan’s phone calls with the outside world and physical contact with his family were severely limited. Even after he was released to a halfway house, McGowan was briefly tossed back into prison this year for writing a Huffington Post blog entry detailing his case.

McGowan’s lawyers at the Center for Constitutional Rights had argued that his re-jailing proved he was still at risk for re-incarceration in the CMUs. But the judge overseeing the lawsuit disagreed, citing a 1990s-era law that severely restricts the rights of federal prisoners to challenge cruel and unusual punishment.

McGowan’s lawyers at the Center for Constitutional Rights said in a statement that they were “deeply disappointed” by Senior Judge Barbara J. Rothstein’s decision, but that they would push on with the larger lawsuit.

Residents raise sinkhole warning signs over Shell tunnel

Yesterday (14th July), local residents and supporters raised signs on Sruwaddacon estuary, warning of the sinkholes that continue to appear over Shell's tunnel.

Yesterday (14th July), local residents and supporters raised signs on Sruwaddacon estuary, warning of the sinkholes that continue to appear over Shell's tunnel. Residents first noticed the sinkholes beginning to appear in the special area of conservation on the 20th May and numerous sinkholes have appeared along the tunnel route since then.

The warning signs which read "Danger Sinkholes: Keep Back" were erected in order to warn users of the estuary of presence of the sinkhole, which have been up to 8 foot deep. Residents were forced to put up the warning signs after both Mayo County Council and the Department of Energy & Natural Resources, despite being contacted, have failed to take any action.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service are also believed not to have investigated thus far the possible damage that may be occurring to the benthic life in the estuary, despite the area being both a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway stated "When Shell experts were giving evidence in the oral hearing, there wasn't a word about sinkholes and the bubbling up of possible contaminated material to the surface of the special area of conservation".[1]

Shell have previously sent up to 10 workers with shovels out on the estuary in a failed attempt to fill in the sinkholes.

Mr Conway continued "We can currently follow the path of the tunnel by the trail of sinkholes that have appeared on the strand. Failure to regulate has caused alot of suffering in Ireland, yet the Government are still allowing Shell to do whatever they want. The sinkholes are further proof that the Government continues to abandon their responsibility to regulate Shell."

Links

[1] YouTube Video: What's happening in Shell's Tunnel? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hvz2l27Ooc

[2] Reports of sinkholes above Corrib tunnel investigated
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/reports-of-sinkholes-abo…54717

[3] Midwest Radio Clip about third sink-hole in Sruwaddacon estuary
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/midwest-radio-clip-ab…tuary

Bubbling in the water in the foreground while people raise warning signs in the background of photo

New Tree Sit in Tasmanian Old Growth

15th July Anti-forestry activists have erected a tree sit to halt logging in Tasmania’s far south.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber says the wood from the old growth is destined for timber processor Ta Ann Tasmania.

”The tree sit structure is attached to the logging machines, halting them from continuing logging today,” Ms Weber said.

The protest again involves members of the Australian Student Environment Network who also shut down Ta Ann’s Smithton mill on Friday.

The Smithton action was condemned by peak environment groups who negotiated the forestry peace deal which will lead to 504,000 hectares of forests being protected.

However, it is up to the Legislative Council to approve a protection order for the future reserves. MLCs will make their decision after considering how effective the legislation has been, including the impact of ongoing protests on Tasmania’s wood markets.

Ta Ann Tasmania has repeatedly denied using wood from old-growth forests.

Midnight Confiscation of Drilling Equipment at New Brunswick Anti-Fracking Protest

15 July 2013 Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick – ”We’ve taken it to the next level,” said Grand Elder Ray Robinson of last night’s events. “The bubble is about to burst, if it hasn’t already been burst.”

At approximately 12 midnight last night, locals began hearing booming sounds characteristic of the Southwestern Energy (SWN) seismic testing trucks, or ‘thumpers,’ as well as other less familiar industrial sounds nearby. After an online call-out expressing concern that SWN might be attempting to begin drilling under the cover of darkness, locals and camp members began to search for the source of the sounds.

Local Elsipogtog warrior Jason Okay recounts what followed: “We stopped to ask for directions from a lady’s house that was near the sounds. We told her where we thought the sounds were, and she said ‘No way! That’s my [privately owned] land!’ We said ‘sorry ma’am, but your land’s getting drilled.’”

Camp members and locals entered the forest on the woman’s property to find a crowd of RCMP officers and private security forces protecting two SWN trucks. Protesters confronted the RCMP, stating that SWN was operating on private property without consent and must leave immediately.

According to Okay and other camp sources, protesters were followed onto the site by a group of individuals identifying themselves as UN independent observers, who proceeded to talk with the RCMP. Following discussion, it is reported that the “observers” convinced the RCMP to escort SWN officials off the property, abandoning the trucks. Elsipogtog residents confiscated the trucks, towing them onto the Elsipogtog reserve where they are still being held.

Following the abandonment of the site by SWN security and the RCMP, locals went deeper into the forest and discovered what are reported to be unmanned SWN drilling trucks. Upon investigating the surrounding area, a series of large holes in the earth were discovered. Warriors and protesters remain camped out in the area awaiting means to transport the equipment to the reserve.

“Everything should halt,” said Okay of the significance of last night’s confrontation. “SWN should realize we don’t want them here … [If we wouldn't have confiscated the equipment] they’d be drilling right now.”

Police remain camped out near the entrance to the site of the drills, blocking any attempts by protesters to transport the equipment off-site. Unmarked police vehicles dot the highway near the camp site, and SWN security vehicles have been sighted driving past the camp frequently. A Global News crew attempted to set up without consent in front of the camp at approximately 5:00am this morning, but were evicted by camp members before filming began.

Questions about UN observers

Chief Aaron Sock of Elsipogtog states that he contacted the UN last weekend to request UN observation, in order to maintain peace between the RCMP and locals due to recent security concerns. Two individuals identified by themselves and local leadership as UN Independent Observers have been present on camp for two days since, conducting interviews with camp members, collecting information, and last night, providing a mediating role in confrontations.

However, upon contacting Wilton Littlechild, Chairperson of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), Littlechild stated that while he was contacted by Chief Sock in regards to security concerns at the camp, he had not directly deployed any observers as of yet.

Meanwhile, a source in the office of the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the UN confirmed to rabble.ca that there are currently no UN observers anywhere in Canada.

Despite this lack of clear verification, camp members and First Nations leadership hold that the individuals have a relationship with the UN, pointing to the RCMP’s respect for the observers’ role as mediators in last night’s confrontation as further evidence.

Update – 11:45pm EST: Upon further discussion with local leadership and the individuals identified as ‘UN Independent Observers,’ it has been made clear that the term ‘Independent Observer’ was intended to communicate that the individuals were not directly employed by the UN. They have been appointed by local leadership to maintain a peacekeeping role in the camp, and compile a report based on their observations of the situation to be independently submitted on behalf of the community to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (which has been confirmed by the UN via Wilton Littlechild, Chairperson of EMPRIP). The titles of the individuals have been switched to ‘Peacekeepers’ to avoid future confusion.

Claire Stewart-Kanigan is a writer from Montreal currently reporting from the anti-fracking protest camp. See her first dispatch here.

Photo: Jason Okay

Activists Form Human Pipeline on Flatbush Avenue to Protest Natural Gas Pipeline

Activists say they’re concerned wildlife would be impacted if something went wrong with the pipeline being built in Brooklyn. (July 14, 2013)

Dozens of activists formed a human pipeline on Flatbush Avenue today in protest of a natural gas pipeline that’s being built through parts of Brooklyn.

Parts of the pipeline are already under construction to connect Brooklyn with a pipeline that goes up and down the East Coast. Activists say they’re concerned about the impact the underground flowing gas could have on the borough, wildlife and the environment.

A representative from Transco, the company behind the project, argued that opponents are overlooking the fact that the environmental benefits of natural gas are exactly what is driving the project. It is also the primary reason why the mayor specifically cited this project as key to helping the city achieve its clean air goals, Transco says.

The spokesperson added that Transco has been safely providing natural gas to New York City for more than 50 years without incident.

A public comment period will be held to discuss the project further.

China Cancels Uranium Plant One Day After Protest

13 July 2013

China has abruptly canceled plans to build its largest uranium processing plant in a southern Chinese city, a day after hundreds of protesters took to the streets demanding the project be scrapped, a local government website said on Saturday.

The proposed 230-hectare complex in the heart of China’s Pearl River delta industrial heartland in Guangdong province had also sparked unease in neighboring Hong Kong and Macau.

Authorities in the gambling enclave had formally raised the issue with their Guangdong counterparts, the South China Morning Post reported.

A one-line statement published on the Heshan city government’s website said that “to respect people’s desire, the Heshan government will not propose the CNNC project”.

State-run China National Nuclear Corporation and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp (CGNPC) had planned to build the 37 billion yuan ($6 billion) project.

Officials from both companies could not be reached for comment.

A Beijing-based nuclear power expert said he was surprised local authorities had taken the decision as the project designed to produce 1,000 tonnes of uranium fuel annually by 2020 was hotly contested by local governments.

“Compared to a nuclear power plant, a uranium processing facility is way more safer, as there is no fusion or reaction taking place in the production process,” said the official with close knowledge of the project. He declined to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The surprisingly swift decision to cancel the project came after hundreds marched to city offices on Friday that forced officials to pledge an extension of public consultation by 10 days. Locals had planned more protests on Sunday.

Chinese authorities are becoming increasingly sensitive to local protests over environmental issues, having canceled, postponed or relocated several major petrochemical and metals plants.

The planned conversion and enrichment plant had been meant to supply fuel for China’s expanding nuclear power capacity, likely to reach 60-70 gigawatts by 2020 from the current 12.6 GW.

China currently produces 800 tonnes of uranium fuel at its plants in southwestern Sichuan province and north China’s Inner Mongolia. China sources uranium both from domestic mines and imports from Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia, said the expert.

Guangdong is one of the country’s largest nuclear power bases, already running five nuclear reactors and building another dozen, incorporating technologies from companies like French Areva and Westinghouse, a unit of Japan’s Toshiba Corp.

Reclaim the Power! Invite to protest camp

This summer, a wide coalition of people and groups are coming together to Reclaim the Power – join us.

If you’re up for creating a more sustainable, equal society, we want you to join us. If you want to fight against the economic and environmental crises that governments and big business have created, we want you to join us. If you want to meet, plan and take action with a diverse range of groups and individuals who have shared goals, we want you to join us.

Reclaim the Power is going to be a 4 day action camp and protest at West Burton power station. West Burton is the first of up to 40 new gas fired power stations that are currently being planned. If they are built, the UK will definitely fail to meet our modest carbon reduction targets. This gives us a real opportunity to change the way our power is generated and controlled. The mainstream political parties want to tie us to fossil fuels for another generation. They want to allow energy companies to get ever richer whilst more and more people are forced to choose between heating and eating. We want a sustainable energy system that prioritises people, not profit. This is a huge decision and it’s happening now. Let’s Reclaim the Power and stop this Dash for Gas.

Last October, 21 environmental activists shut down EDF’s West Burton power station for a week in protest at the government’s Dash for Gas. With your help, including a solidarity petition signed by 64,000 people – they fought off EDF’s attempt to sue them for £5 million.
And now we’re going back.

This summer, from 16th-20th August, over 1000 people will gather on the doorstep of the power station for a camp – including workshops and action planning – and a mass action. With your help, we will shut down the Dash for Gas.

Please share this callout with your networks.

Peru: police fire on Cajamarca protesters —again

8th July 2013 National Police troops in Peru's Cajamarca region opened fire July 6 on campesinos attempting to attend the public presentation of an environmental impact statement on the

8th July 2013 National Police troops in Peru's Cajamarca region opened fire July 6 on campesinos attempting to attend the public presentation of an environmental impact statement on the Chadín II hydro-electric project at the highland town of Celendín, witnesses said. According to a statement from the group Tierra y Libertad, nine were wounded when the troops fired on the opponents of the project who were trying to gain access to the public building where the meeting was being held. Marle Libaque Tasilla, a leader of the local ronda, or peasant self-defense patrol, and an organizer for Tierra y Libertad, said that among the injured is the noted Peruvian environmentalist Nicanor Alvarado Carrasco.

The Chadín II project is conceived to speed the development of mining projects in Cajamarca, and is slated to provide energy to the Yanacocha company which is developing the controversial Conga project. Thousands of local residents stand to be displaced by the Chadín II project, which would flood some 3,000 hectares along the Río Marañon, a major tributary of the Amazon. Protests against the hydro project were held in the affected communities late last year. (Tierra y Libertad via Kaos en La Red, July 7; NoticiasSER, Dec. 12)

The shooting incident occurred three days after Celendín held official commemorations for the five campesinos killed by National Police last July during protests against the Conga project. A special mass was held at Celendín's church, followed by a public procession to the cemetery where the martyrs lie bured. (Celendin Libre, July 4)