Climate Chaos – Page 57

Earth First! Winter Moot, what to expect

This years Earth First! Winter Moot takes place in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In a months time environmentalists from across the UK and beyond will converge to discuss and debate. Below is an update from the organising collective who are working on the program.

The Moot 2012 collective has felt that at previous EF! Gatherings groups have primarily attended to recruit for their respective campaigns. Yet those who attend EF! Gatherings are predominantly already active, making them good places for networking, but not necessarily for outright recruitment. We recognise the effort gathering organisers put into planning agendas but often the more discursive aspects of the gatherings focus on larger, abstract questions and debates have often been framed by self-appointed experts. We feel that these discussions ineffectively attempt to find answers or reach consensus where this is inappropriate.

For example at the first EF! Gathering 20 years ago the question was asked: 'What is EF!?' 20 years later in 2011 at the last Moot the same question was still being asked . . .

The answer is EF! is what we make it, and this year we are going to make it a space in which we can approach our campaigns both critically and analytically by asking more specific and practical questions. Our activism should be constantly evolving not stuck in a rut asking the same questions again and again.

The agenda will be designed to ask questions around four key issues: the tactics we use; the strategies that we employ in our campaigns; community solidarity; and sustainable activism. There will be no attempt to reach conclusions or consensus especially about what EF! is. Instead we want to have discussions that lead to new ideas that could evolve ongoing campaigns or give creative inspiration to ones that are just getting started.

A free space will be provided in which campaigns will be able to hold meetings and have further discussions if they wish, and there will also be some space given for campaign updates with an emphasis on honest analysis rather than promotion.

For updates and more info check the website or email us.

EF!WM Crew
e-mail: efwintermoot@noflag.org.uk
Homepage: http://earthfirstgathering.org.uk

Scaling tree cutters and trees to halt Corrib pipeline works

Shell today, 9th January 2012, began to cut down a Coillte plantation in the village of Leenamore, Co. Mayo. This surprise move marks the beginning of their attempts to prepare the 4km stretch of land between the Aughoose tunnelling compound and the Bellanaboy refinery. Despite a large Garda and private security presence, campaigners entered the tree felling area and halted work.

Shell starting this section of the pipeline was completely unanticipated both by local campaigners and those of us living at Rossport Solidarity Camp. Rumour had it that the clearing of the plantation might not happen until later in the year. As it happened many of us had planned to take the day off actions today to tend the camp gardens, carve new wind turbine blades, bake bread and work on other projects. The day turned out quite different to how we planned…

When we arrived at Leenamore at 11am we saw that they were cutting down trees at two different sections of the road and setting up a machinery storage compound. There was a heavy Garda presence including members of the public order unit with no number tags. There were twenty Gardaí and at least fifty of Shell’s private security IRMS attempting to guard the tree line. There was seven of us, basically meaning we were outnumbered by about 10 to 1.

A few of us tried to get over the fence or into the trees to prevent the tree cutting from happening. Five of us succeeded in breaching lines of security to impede work at different times. Some of us were carried back over the barbed wire fence by security guards. The security guards had real difficulty in removing us from the area as the ground was extremely uneven and boggy. They kept stumbling as they carried us out and it was really dangerous for the security themselves. The Gardai were standing out on the road and wouldn’t let us stand on the road.

After trying to get in over the fence along the road a few times, several campaigners broke away to try to enter from further away and disappeared in the woods.

To everyone’s delight, one campaigner reappeared about an hour later, on top of a tree-cutting digger. Another campaigner, also reappeared a hour later, without his trousers! His explanation was that the ski-suit he had been wearing had been causing rustling as he approached security lines so eventually he had to resort to removing them and run in his thermals to make it to climb a tree that was in the path of Shell’s destruction. As a newcomer to the camp, this is his experience of trying to stop Shell in his own words;

“I arrived at the camp a few days ago. It’s my first visit. I spent the first day helping to block lorries and got a good chance ot be active against Shell’s destruction. This morning everyone was surprised that Shell were starting work on the forest. A few of us went away to come at the machinery from another angle. We crawled through the woods towards the area they were cutting slowly. As were crawling towards the digger I darted off left. All the security were shouting ‘hold the line’. I kept running until a group of security broke away from a group at the road and started running after me. I ran back into the woods with them running behind me shouting, so I went to ground and hid for 20 minutes. Then crawled down a bit and looked up to see where they were and they were all around me. I had to run accorss a big gap where they could all see me and into another patch of woods. With them all running behind me I got into the trees again. I reached the first suitable tree to climb just to the right of the tree-cutting-digger. By the time I was up the security guards had run past me but couldn’t see me. Fifteen or twenty of them were below filming and wandering around. They shouting at me, things like ‘are you going to come down?’ and ‘Chop him down!’. I climbed right to the top to see where the digger was. I swung to another tree and then to another to get a bit closer to the digger as it moved. I stayed up for about 45 minutes as the digger broke up the trees beside me. The security guards started to get more and more angry with me. They started shaking the tree and getting sticks. I said, ‘I’m really going to want to come down with you doing that!’. I negotiated with them to let me come down safely and agreed that one of them would escourt me out of the woods. I met up with the other campers and camp back to get a cup of tea and some food. A few local people called in to catch up with us. I feel good to be here to so far. I’ve met some good people. I found it good to be doing actions with energetic people who have been fighting this campaign for a long time.”

The other camper up on the tree-cutter stayed up to stop work until 6.30pm before coming down. This camper reported that one of the IRMS security supervisors that had been running after him in the woods, as he got to the tree-cutter, had injured his ankle and had eventually been stretchered off the site. The campaigners were not arrested as the cutting was happening on private land.

New camp members are always welcome and even if you don’t feel like crawling around in the woods in your first few days there is plenty of other things to do…

Rossport Solidarity Camp is calling for support in advance of this coming Friday the 13th of January. Friday is the first Day of Solidarity of the new year, when people from around Ireland are invited to join the protests for a day to show their support for the ongoing resistance to the Corrib Gas Project.

Shell's tree cutting disrupted for second day running

Disruption to the felling of the Coillte woodland for Shell's planned onshore pipeline (along with the stopping of haulage trucks to the Aughoose compound), continued today as protestors intercepted a specialist 8-track tree felling machine between the Aughoose tunnelling compound and Leenamore forest.

A Barrett's truck transporting the machine was halted as it made the 1km journey at 7am this morning by a small band of merry protestors, one of whom quickly ascended the arm and settled into position as a lone Garda looked on. Several more Gardaí soon came to join her supported by a large number of IRMS staff who have been positioned along the road by the forest since yesterday.

As a wintery dawn broke over the beseiged bog the Gardaí “removal” team arrived along with their “transporter”, driven by Sgt Aidan Gill, who then proceeded to initiate Garda attacks on the gathering supporters, in the name of health and safety.

Following some hasty positioning of 'crash-mattresses' and blankets (!!) on and around the machine an attempt was made to remove the protestors, only for the Gardaí to discover that the protestor had D-locked her neck to the machine.

In an extraordinarily reckless move, the Gardaí then decided to use an angle grinder just millimeters away from the protestors' head, all to enable the continuation of Shell's work for the day.

However the delay of 3 & 1/2 hours to the tree felling had also thwarted all deliveries of stone and removals of peat at the Aughoose compound as the driver of the truck carrying the machine had been swerving so much, as to end up preventing the passage of any other trucks on the road.
After being taken down the protestor was arrested and charged and is due to appear in Belmullet court along with 4 other campaigners.

Later on in the evening another protest was called for outside Bellanaboy, however it seems the latest activity has resulted in a further increase in the amount of Gardaí loitering in the area. About 15 Gardaí were immediately on hand and so not too many trucks were stopped in the evening.

Anti-Coal Plant Protesters Storm Buildings, Evict Officials, Block Roads in South China

21.12.11

CHINESE protesters against a coal-powered power station have blocked a main road and defied riot police.

Reuters reports that the situation seems to have escalated, with residents smashing cars and hurling bricks even though officials sought to calm tempers by suspending the unpopular plan.

Angry crowds smashed and overturned police cars and riot police fired teargas in Haimen town in Shantou city on Wednesday, the second day of the unrest, Hong Kong newspapers reported.

Residents of Haimen, furious with plans to build a coal-fired power plant, took to the streets , surrounding a government building and blocking an expressway.

Officials agreed to suspend the project this week, but residents refused to back down, demanding the plan be scrapped.

Outside a large and closed petrol station near a highway into Haimen, about 100 men on motorbikes watched a wall of riot police armed with batons and shields, blocking the highway.

"What place in the world builds two power plants within one kilometre?" said one of the Haimen residents, who was surnamed Cai, as he watched the riot police.

"The factories are hazardous to our health. Our fish are dying and there are so many people who've got cancer , " he added.

"We thought of protesting outside the government office but we know none of them has listened to us. So we had no choice but to block the highway. The police beat up so many of the protesters in the past two days."

At one point, Haimen residents screamed and surged forward when a riot policeman, waving his baton in the air, charged towards a man on a motorcycle who had been riding towards the police blockade on the highway.

State news agency Xinhua said several hundred people had protested on a highway on Wednesday. According to Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper, more than 1,000 residents gathered at a toll gate to confront hundreds of riot police.

Witnesses said police fired four rounds of teargas and beat up protesters, who do not want another power plant when existing power facilities there were already polluting air and seawater and had greatly reduced their catch at sea, the report added.

At least three protesters were hit and arrested.

Adds Reuters: "People in China are increasingly unwilling to accept the relentless speed of urbanisation and industrialisation and the impact on the environment and health.

"Protests are also often held over corruption, wages and land seizures, that officials justify in the name of development.

"Residents of Wukan village, also in Guangdong, agreed to end a 10-day standoff with authorities over a land dispute on Wednesday."

Video

Second report here

Activists protest against Devada power plant in India

13.12.11

The 1,040 MW Hinduja Thermal Power Plant coming up at Devada village in the coastal district of Visakhapatnam has run into trouble again, with locals and activists staging mass protests against the mega project on grounds of environmental pollution and large-scale displacement of farmers.

A large group of residents and anti-project activists, supported by opposition parties and environmental groups, staged a demonstration near the plant site on Monday, demanding immediate halt to the works and effective rehabilitation package for the displaced families. As the protests led to tension in the area, police swung into action and dispersed the demonstrators.

The coal-based power project, being developed by the Hinduja Group, has run into rough weather with local farmers, opposition groups, energy experts and environmental activists putting up a stiff resistance.

Stop New Nuclear newsletter no 10, 3 December 2011

Dear all,

this is our first newsletter since the Stop New Nuclear gathering in Bristol on 5/6 November, where we decided on our next major action. We are all excited about our new plan, and with this newsletter we send you some information about the planned action to surround Hinkley Point on 10 March 2011, followed by a 24 hour blockade until 11 March 2011. All this to mark one year since the beginning of the catastrophe of Fukushima, which is far from over.

No more Fukushimas

Fukushima is the biggest industrial disaster in history, and has brought Japan to its knees. The reactors that went into meltdown in March have now melted through the foundations and 40 years of accumulated nuclear waste is emitting vast amounts of radiation, contaminating the land, sea and air. In desperation, the Japanese government is transporting and burning radioactive rubble all over Japan and exporting highly contaminated food as “aid” to developing countries. Men, women and children are living in highly radioactive areas but they are not being evacuated as they should be. This intense radiation exposure has very serious health consequences for these people.

How has Japan ended up in this dreadful situation? Their government always said “It can’t happen here.” Sound familiar? Powerful political and economic interest groups are gagging the world’s media on this unfolding tragedy. Ordinary people the world over will pay the price.
Since the first civilian reactor started generating in 1954, there has been, on average, a major accident every 14-18 years: Windscale 1957, Three Mile Island1979, Chernobyl 1986, Fukushima 2011.

Stop New Nuclear's answer to the crisis of Fukushima is clear: now new nuclear in Britain and anywhere else! Therefore, our action on "Fukushima day" will be to

Surround and blockade Hinkley Point, Somerset

Hinkley Point is the first of eight proposed sites for nuclear new build to go ahead. We stopped them here before in 1987, and we can do it again in 2012. If they fail at Hinkley, it is unlikely the “nuclear renaissance” will have the momentum to continue.
On the 10th -11th March 2012, one year since the Fukushima nuclear disaster began, we will return to Hinkley to form a human chain around the station to show our determined opposition to new nuclear.
In 2010, dozens of us blockaded the gates at Hinkley. In 2011 hundreds of us blockaded the entrance again. In 2012, thousands of us will surround the power station to say No to new nuclear! Not here, not anywhere!
In October 2011, people pledged to blockade. This time, pledge to bring 5 friends and tell them to do the same. Thousands are needed to surround the station!
Pledge to surround Hinkley Point, to bring five friends, or to blockade Hinkley Point

Help us mobilise

To ‘Surround Hinkley’ is to demand to have a voice in decisions about our energy future. Help to make this a festival of creative resistance with music, art, theatre, banners, and whatever takes your fancy! To mark the end of the ‘Surround’, there will be a gathering at the main gate of Hinkley for a rally and music. You may want to return on the coaches after the action or stay to blockade the gates for 24 hours. With tents and tubes we will remain at the gates to show our solidarity with the people of Japan.

The time to act is now! Join your local anti nuclear campaign, form affinity groups. The Stop New Nuclear Alliance can help by giving training in non-violent direct action, consensus decision- making, spokes councils and advice on transport etc….

In our hundreds, in our thousands we will come together to stop nuclear power at Hinkley Point and dismantle the whole new nuclear agenda! This is the chance to be part of smething massive. JOIN US!

Please help to spread the message by either downloading the flier, or ask us to send you a pack. We welcome some donation to cover postage, but even if you can't – we need to get the message out!

Get in touch with us if you want to organise a minibus or put on a coach.

News from nuclear new build

Hinkley Point

There was some news at the end of October that EDF is delaying its final investment decision about Hinkley C (and its other planned new nuclear power stations in the UK: Sizewell, Heysham, etc) until the end of 2012. However, EDF still insists that it will submit its application to the Infrastructure Planning Commission soon, and also declared that it wants to start preparing the site for Hinkley C from spring 2012 on. For us, this means two things:

The next year will be crucial to push EDF to abandon its plans for Hinkley C. We need to step our campaigning to show EDF that it is not a good idea to invest in Hinkley C, and that they should invest in renewable energy instead.
EDF still wants to prepare the site, which means it wants to destroy the land from spring 2012 on, even though there is not even a final decision whether they will really go ahead with Hinkley C. This shows that a legal challenge to the preliminary works permission is even more important. Stop Hinkley is raising funds for a legal challenge to West Somerset Council's decision to grant EDF permission to carry out preparatory work on the site, even though EDF is still far from a permission to construct the power station itself (and hasn't even made a final decision). Stop Hinkley needs to raise about £15,000 for this legal challenge, to please support Stop Hinkley. More information at http://stophinkley.org/LegChallAppeal.htm.

Nevertheless, EDF went ahead with its application to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). The IPC has accepted the application, and from Friday, 2 December, there are 28 days for everyone to register that they want to comment on the application. This is only a first registration, and does not need to be accompanied by the detailed objections, but without this registration, you will not be able to object later.

The Infrastructure Planning Commission is also organising events locally near Hinkley Point to explain the process, when to register and how to make a representation to the IPC. They will be held between 10am – 9pm at the following locations:
– Stogursey – Monday 5 December, The Victory Hall, Tower Hill, Stogursey, TA5 1PR
– Cannington – Thursday 8 December, Cannington Village Hall, 2 Brook Street, Cannington, TA5 2HP
– Williton – Friday 9 December, West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, TA4 4QA
– North Petherton – Monday 12 December, The Walnut Tree Hotel, North Petherton, TA6 6QA
– Combwich – Tuesday 13 December, Otterhampton Village Hall, Riverside, Combwich, TA5 2QZ
– Bridgwater – Wednesday 14 December, Town Hall, High Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3BL.
More information on the planning process is available on the website of the IPC at http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/south-west/hinkley-point-c-new-nuclear-power-station/.

Stop Hinkley will be presenting more than 12,000 petitions against Hinkley Point C at Downing Street on Tuesday, 6 December, at at 1.30pm and at the Department of Energy and Climate Change in London on 6th December at 2.00 pm. Members of Stop Hinkley will be accompanied by Wells MP Tessa Munt and Green Party leader and MP Caroline Lucas. The Department of Energy is at 3 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2AW. More information in the Stop Hinkley press release at http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net/content/stop-hinkley-campaign-presents-petition-government-against-edf%E2%80%99s-nuclear-plans.

Wylfa

Things are also hotting up at Wylfa, where Horizon, a joint venture of German utility companies RWE and E.on, is planning to build two to three new nuclear reactors. Horizon continue to bully the Jones family of Caerdegog and have applied for compulsory powers to ascertain the suitability of their land for construction. Horizon Nuclear Power (HNP) recently applied to Ofgem for Section D of their Electricity Generation Licence to be “switched on”. Immediately upon approval, HNP applied to Ofgem for consent to exercise their new exploratory rights under the Electricity Act 1989. This would allow a generation licence holder to enter and survey any land to establish whether it would be suitable for the construction of an electricity generation station. It would also give them the power to execute their authority to make compulsory land purchase. On Thursday afternoon 17th November, Richard Jones and his family received a letter in English only from Ofgem informing them of the rights recently granted to HNP to gain access to their land at Caerdegog. Ofgem have failed in their duty under the Welsh Language Act to provide the Jones family with the documents in their own language. Furthermore it is considered unreasonable for any objections to be lodged within a time limit of five working days especially in view of the legal content of the correspondence (see the official consultation at http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?file=Consultation%20on%20Horizon%20Application%20for%20Consent%20to%20use%20Exploratory%20Rights.pdf&refer=Licensing/Work).
Horizon have continued to say that they would only use compulsory powers as a last resort yet they executed their newly acquired authority within days of it being granted.
On behalf of the family, Richard Jones said: “We as a family will resist Horizon’s bullying tactics in the attempted destruction of our heritage, our livelihood and our future.”
See the press release of People Against Wylfa B at http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net/content/nuclear-monster-continues-torment-local-family.

Donate

The new action to surround Hinkley, and the 24 hour blockade, will need a lot of money to make them happen. While we don't start with nothing, we are nowhere near what we will need. We are presently working on a budget, but one thing is clear: Please give generously. You can donate online at http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/donate, or you can send a cheque made payable to Stop New Nuclear to:
Stop New Nuclear
c/o 5 Caledonian Road
London N1 9DX
Thank you!

Stop New Nuclear newsletter

Three days of action against Shell

December 13, 2011

Protesters give Shell an early Christmas present

December 13, 2011

Protesters give Shell an early Christmas present

The Shell to Sea campaign is still running strong 11 years after the inception of the Corrib gas project. Everyday people are becoming aware of the people's struggle against Shell, but still more are needed to come and see for themselves and save our country from the global corporate takeover.

On Friday 9th of December, Rossport Solidarity Campaign [http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/] continued with the locals' protest slowing down Shell's work, spirits were high and people were pleased with the action despite the Chief’s legal judgement [http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101060] people still braced the cold conditions to continue the protest.

On Saturday the 10th a Day Of Action commenced with groups of people from all over the country coming out to support the Shell to Sea campaign. People from the Occupy camps [http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100863] in Galway, Dublin and Cork came to protest Shell's occupation of Erris. Protesters stood outside the compound at Aghoos for 2 hours preventing any work from starting. The action was a success and no Garda presence was noticed.

On Monday 12th a spontaneous action happened at the refinery site at Ballinaboy with 15 protesters from various parts of the country managing to stop up to 12 trucks simultaneously for an hour, no arrests were made, the small Garda presence were no match for the swiftness and bravery of the protesters. The only casualty was a bike unlawfully confiscated by the Garda.

On Tuesday 13th the regular protest took place at the Ballinaboy compound. Around 15 protesters were met with an equal number of Gardai who prevented people walking on the road. The right to peaceful protest was met with the threat of arrest. People still managed to stop 7 trucks for 40 minutes. Strong cold winds and hail, combined with the protesters, stopped Shell doing any work on the Tuesday.

Through the internet and Occupy groups in various Irish cities there is an outlet for information of upcoming actions and events. January 13th is the next Day Of Action; all are welcome to come and change our nation's history.

Relentless Blockading of $hell’s Work

November 29, 2011

In Erris, Co. Mayo the Tuesday morning traditional gathering outside the $hell refinery continues despite increasing presence of Gardai and rain.

November 29, 2011

In Erris, Co. Mayo the Tuesday morning traditional gathering outside the $hell refinery continues despite increasing presence of Gardai and rain.

$hell use the refinery as a holding area for materials, and it is also set on the haulage route between local quarries, the peat deposition site, and the compound at Aughoose.

This morning local residents and supporters from Rossport Solidarity Camp were out in good numbers, blocking deliveries of stone and truckloads of extracted peat throughout the morning and giving the Gardai a run for their dirty money. Regardless of the odds one person rose to the challenge, occupying a truck from Barrett's quarry for two hours – all work at the compound then came to a halt.

The Gardai eventually brought in the 'transporter' to remove them, during which they also attempted to prevent people filming the arrest.

In the face of the enormity of $hell's plans for Erris, the struggle continues!
If you would like to join us for any amount of time see
www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org / www.shelltosea.com

——

Gardai and IRMS rendered powerless as campaigners blockade Shell’s compound

December 2, 2011

Work was completely halted at Shell’s compound yesterday for over five hours in a great show of resiliance by local campaigners and their supporters. For the past two weeks now, Shell have been attempting to remove masses of peat from the compound in preparation for the tunnel boring machine which is expected to arrive early next year. Progress has been continuously disrupted as protesters brave the winter weather to stop trucks and a determined resistance is building momentum.

A local campaigner yesterday waited patiently outside the main gate of Shell’s compound in his car and requested to see someone in charge. For weeks now he has been trying to lodge complaints about public safety and traffic issues generated from the Aughoose compound. His concerns have been to date ignored. Having contacted the Shell offices in Belmullet and the refinery he was further directed by staff to go and try lodge his complaints at the compound in Aughoose where following a long wait his request remained unanswered. Once again the serious concerns of local people were ignored.

In the meantime, protesters arrived to slow work down and were met with six garda vehicles and a dozen or more Gardai along with just as many IRMS security. A tractor was prevented from entering the compound with equipment despite gardai pushing and shoving protesters around the road. Once the campaigners asked the Gardai to fullfil their duty and arrest them for blocking Shell vehicles the Gardai stepped back. It is obvious that the state’s police force here in Mayo prefer to employ violence against protesters where possible. Civil disobedience in numbers made them think again.

For the following 4 hours the gates remained shut, a long line of trucks and tractors turned off their engines and work ground to a halt as campaigners continued to peacefully demonstrate. One local person was assaulted by IRMS and after many requests the Gardai eventually took his complaint. No arrests were made in a highly spirited day. An Garda Siochana, who are supposedly the guardians of the peace, can blatantly be seen to be guardians of corporations and corruption up here in Erris.

The struggle continues. Be part of the resistance. All are welcome to stay at our winter camp or come join us during our day of solidarity on Saturday, 10th of December.

Indigenous Elders & Supporters Occupy ALEC Member Salt River Project Headquarters

2.12.11

Indigenous Dine’ (Navajo) and O’odham elders and supporters are taking direct action by occupying Salt River Project (SRP) headquarters today at 10am. This action is occurring while the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds their “States & Nation Policy Summit” in Scottsdale, AZ. SRP is on ALEC’s corporate board.

2.12.11

Louise Benally, a resident of Black Mesa impacted by SRP’s operations, is delivering a letter to SRP that outlines critical concerns of her community. She expressed that “My community is heavily impacted by Salt River Project’s coal and water extraction activities. SRP has extensive ties to Peabody Energy’s massive mining operations and the Navajo Generating Station which they co-own. Coal mining has destroyed thousands of archeological sites and our only water source has been seriously compromised. Their operations are causing widespread respiratory problems, lung diseases, and other health impacts on humans, the environment, and all living things.”

“…We demand that SRP & Peabody meaningfully involve the indigenous communities they are impacting, and that they convert to non-fossil fuel based energy sources and address the health impacts on our communities.”

“…ALEC, acting in the corporate interests of SRP & Peabody Energy, continues policies & operations that are not only devastating whole communities and ecosystems, but greatly de-stabilizing our planet’s climate for the profit of a few, the so-called 1%.” stated Benally.

Ofelia Rivas, an elder and activist of the O’odham, Indigenous Peoples on the border of Arizona and Mexico, states “As indigenous people we understand that the balance of the land is actually the balance of our people and any disturbance of that is very devastating not only to our spiritual health but our overall physical health, as well as all living things. As indigenous people we are not separated from our environment. We’re deeply connected to everything in the universe: the land, the mountains, water, air, and all plant and animal life.”

“…The proposed loop 202 freeway extension that threatens South Mountain and the continuing construction of the US and Mexico border and it’s militarization. Trade policies such as NAFTA and CANAMEX alter our way of life and threatens our Him’dag. We will no longer accept the violence the state attempts to enforce on us along their border. Especially the aggressive legislation of ALEC. We demand you recognize the declaration of universal indigenous rights as well as the rights of our mother earth. Enough is enough, it ends now!”

The massive canals constructed before colonial invasion of O’odham lands are now being utilized by Salt River Project. O’odham culture is deeply rooted throughout this area, which is as far north as the Phoenix Valley, as far west as the coast of Mexico in what is now Rocky Point, east as the San Pedro river and as far south as Hermosillo and the Sierra Madres Mountains.

Ray Aguilar stated that “the air conditioning and power we enjoy and water we drink comes at the suffering caused by SRP and Peabody’s exploitation of the land and people. When will we realize that our privileges our based on this? We must take further action. I just spent one week doing direct, on-land support with Black Mesa residents assisting with basic essential human needs. That’s why I’m here today. This critical situation would not exist if not for these greedy corporations.”

Peabody Energy, also an ALEC member, is the world’s largest private-sector coal company. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody creates 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

Since 1974 more than 14,000 Dine’ families have been forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands due in large part due to U.S.-backed tribal councils and cola mining.

Photos, videos and what happened next at http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/

———

ALEC Background, call-out etc

The convergence to expose and shut down the American Legislative Exchange Council's policy meeting has begun in Scottsdale, AZ. ALEC's tentacles reach into almost every one of the environmental and social justice struggles we work on. Exposing ALEC is difficult because of the massive amount of information we have about them and the broad range of issues they effect. As wikileaks has been the platform for a vast amount of information bringing light to corruption, Alecexposed.org is a treasure trove information exposing ALEC. I'm looking for help posting to independent media websites and blogs about the ALEC protest in AZ, and links to ALECs regional impacts. We need a few people around the country posting to both english and spanish language indymedia sites.

There are press releases in english and spanish and a call to action (including information about the action to "Occupy the Phones") see attachment and azresistsalec.wordpress.com

websites: azresistsalec.wordpress.com - for general information about the convergence to shut down alec Shutdownalec.org - We are posting media (foto/video) directly by tagging flickr photos and video with the hashtags: #occupyALEC, #shutdownALEC and/or #ALECexposed

The AZ Resists media team is posting video on youtube.com <http://youtube.com> on channel: shutdownalec. Crowd sourced video on shutdownalec.org

Please pass on this email to anyone you think might be interested in supporting!

In Solidarity

AZ Resists ALEC Media Team azresistsmedia@gmail.com 530-598-1670 <tel:530-598-1670>

SHUT DOWN THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL

This document includes informations about:

-OCCUPY THE PHONES ! IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION

-Call for National Solidarity

-Suggested Actions to help expose ALEC!

1. Call the WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA.

2. Tell them you do not approve of their decision to host the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC’s) States and Policy summit.

3. Be friendly, don't take your anger out on the hotel workers who are not responsible, but make sure your message gets across.

4. Hang up, and call again.

Use these numbers to occupy their lines!

general contact: 480.624.1000 <tel:480.624.1000>

resort reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>, 800.354.5892 <tel:800.354.5892>

dining reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>

spa reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>

tee time reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>

resort activities: 480.624.1268 <tel:480.624.1268>

media contact: 480.624.1315 <tel:480.624.1315>

special events: 480.624.1332 <tel:480.624.1332>

meetings and events: 480.624.1220 <tel:480.624.1220>

Background info:

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is built to host conventions. Tucked away in Scottsdale, and less than one mile from Scottsdale Executive Airport, well-funded organizations can meet in a comfortable, secretive environment without setting foot outside the luxurious hotel grounds. This is where ALEC has chosen to bring together legislators and corporations to draft model legislation that exempts corporations from environmental and labor laws, pushes for Three Strikes and mandatory minimum sentencing, and targets, criminalizes and incarcerates communities of color, among other profit-driven laws (more info: alecexposed.org.

Call the Westin Kierland today to shame them for their part in allowing the sale of local and national legislation to the highest bidder.

More info: azresistsalec.wordpress.com .

Be the media! www.shutdownalec.org

Here are a few suggestions for actions, share your creative ideas with us and keep in touch on N30.

azresistsmedia@gmail.com

http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/

#occupyALEC, #shutdownALEC and/or #ALECexposed

-Hold a Teach-In or other educational outreach event (an informative power point and other resources are available: http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/more-info-on-alec/)

-Shut down the 1% ! Occupy an ALEC corporation near you…too many to choose from? Focus on the board of directors http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Boards_and_Task_Forces)

-Bring your message to an ALEC legislative member near you. What’s your local connection to ALEC? – In AZ we are focusing on the ongoing colonization and exploitation of Native land and ALEC’s connection to immigration and the private prison industry. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians

-Street theater exposing corruption – Remember Billionaires for Bush? - Form a “business suit bloc” and March! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAv8Mv9tzoA)

-Literally “Expose” ALEC – two letters per butt cheek...just sayin’... Or get a trench coat and hide ALEC’s sample bills inside…show people what’s under your coat…

Go to the website and see “Find ‘Find Model Bills’ here” http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

-Twitter and Blog about ALEC on N30- get the word out far and wide!

-So many issues! Can’t decide? Focus on how private prisons affect your community.

http://www.thenation.com/article/162478/hidden-history-alec-and-prison-labor

-Got a projector? Have a guerilla movie night to expose ALECs major funder the Koch brothers.

http://kochbrothersexposed.com/thepress/2011/05/13/guerrilla-drive-in-at-lincoln-center-shames-koch-brother/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vykr06dMwY&feature=player_embedded

Lots more information can be found at:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations

http://www.alecexposed.org/

______________________________________________________________________

Take Action on N30!SHUT ALEC DOWN!

From November 30 to December 3rd, 2011,some of the most powerful corporations and thousands of state legislators will be bringing Wall Street politics and greed to Scottsdale, AZ. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), will be having their States and Nations Policy Summit where they can continue their drive for profits, and to control and destroy our communities and the earth.

Most of us learned about ALEC, a secretive nation-wide organization, when they were exposed for their relationship with private prisons and their role in SB1070 and its copy cat laws, although they've been involved in various efforts to criminalize people through such things as the mandatory minimum sentencing and three strikes laws. They were also involved in the creation of the animal enterprise terrorism act (AETA), they support companies (including BP) involved with energy extraction across the world (including Tar Sands), as well big pharmaceutical companies.

We are calling for a *national day of action*on November 30 to demonstrate against ALEC during their conference.

Join us in Scottsdale, AZ on occupied Onk Akimel O’odham lands, to expose, confront, and resist ALEC and what they represent.

ALEC is everywhere. If you can't make it, find one or more representatives of ALEC (corporate, government, or non-profit org) in your area to expose, confront, and resist!

Please spread the word!

http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations

http://www.alecexposed.org/

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Some Messaging:

“We want ALEC to be so transparent they don’t exist anymore”

“ALEC is the 1% ”

“Corporations write legislation?!? This is corrupt and should stop!”

“People over Profits! No more profiting of the misery of others”

anti- Fracking protesters shut down the country’s only hydrolic fracturing rig – again!

1.12.11

Activists settle in for long-term occupation of toxic new industry which threatens the West Country

The controversial proposed Fracking site in Hesketh Bank, Lancashire was shut down this morning as 8 Bristol cyclists stormed the drilling rig. Three of the climate justice campaigners from Bristol Rising Tide scaled the Cuadrilla Resources equipment with supplies and have declared their intention to stop work for several days.

The drilling rig is the only operation of it's kind working in the country, after a similar exploratory site in Blackpool was shut down in the spring because it induced two earthquakes in the area. [1]

Liz Sparks, a spokesperson for Bristol Rising Tide, explained the potential dangers of fracking in the South West:

“Large parts of Wales, Devon, Somerset and Dorest are potentially under threat from this desperate new technology, which involves extracting the gas in shale rock through Hydraulic Fracturing, (or fracking) [2]. Huge amounts of water mixed with toxic chemicals are forced into the ground at high pressure, a large proportion of which are never recovered. This fluid also leaches arsenic out of rocks, creating a dangerous cocktail that’s difficult to dispose of. In the United states numerous spills of these fluids have contaminated irrigation water, effecting food supplies, and the health of surrounding communities." [3]

The same site was occupied last month by another group– “Frack Off”, and local community resistance across the country is gaining ground. [4]

Paul Williams, who works in a Bristol Library, was among the protestors. He commented:

"People simply aren’t going to stand by and let this crazy extreme sneak into our landscape. We've been inspired by the remarkable work of our neighbours in Wales. Glamorgan county council recently voted unanimously against an application to Frack the area.[5] This decision was influenced by Welsh Water's submission that reserve groundwater sites are at risk of contamination. We can stop this before it starts if we act now. If you want earthquakes, runaway climate change, contaminated water, and a threat to agricultural production then Fracking's the way forward. If you want energy security and more jobs per kilowatt hour, go with renewables [6]. It's a no brainer."

The industry is quick to point to the US experience of fracking, but their safety record there is on increasingly shaky ground. New York State has just instituted a moratorium against fracking, as has Quebec, Canada. France has banned it outright, as has New Jersey in the US. [7]

Twitter: Follow the action on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BrisRisingTide (BrisRisingTide)

Photos and videos updated in real-time on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/71113300@N08/ (Bristol Rising Tide)

For more info see: www.frack-off.org
And www.risingtide.org.uk/bristol

Xstrata mining stormed by Occupy London protestors + global anti-Xstrata protests

30.11.11

An action took place in London against a union-busting earth-trashing Swiss/British coal and metal mining company – for a selection of the global protests against them, see below the main article. There's various footage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5. Part of the N30 mass strike (timeline).

#OccupyLSX had announced an action at 3pm at Piccadilly Circus. They set off with the samba band and minutes later a flare was set off inside Panton House, Haymarket, whilst a banner was hung from the roof. Outside protestors challenged some plainclothes cops in the crowd, after which a 'bubble' or kettle was set up, apparently with more plain clothes cops trapped inside it.

Occupy London – part of the global movement for social and economic justice – today highlighted the corporate greed endemic in the UK and called for a change within society.

About 60 protestors gained entry into the offices of mining company Xstrata, a ‘leading light’ of the FTSE 100 and British industry to highlight the fact that CEO Mick Davies was the highest compensated CEO of all the FTSE 100 companies in the last year, when his companies had losses and the economy collapsed. He received £18,426,105 for his efforts. [1]

This comes in a year when the average pay rise of executives across FTSE 100 companies was 43%, with ‘top’ directors at 49%. [2]

Led by a samba band to the building from Piccadilly Circus, the protesters entered the HQ at 25-7 Haymarket, London, with the protesters chanting against the corporate greed of Mick and other executives, in support of all those striking for fair pensions for all today. The protestors also unfurled a banner saying “All power to the 99%” from the roof top.

There are currently about 20 protesters inside – being held down on knees, of which many are women. There are a few hundred people kettled outside.

The protesters today are making the connection between the slashing of private and public sector pensions, while supposed ‘top’ executives cash in by increasing their own pay levels, leaving many without pensions. These CEOs like Mick Davies lavishly secure their own futures while ignoring the security and wellbeing of their own workers.

Mines have closed in Australia, South Africa and Spain within the last decade resulting in hundreds of workers in the last decade being laid off.

Karen Lincoln, supporter of Occupy London said: “Mick Davies is a prime example of the greedy 1 per cent, lining their own pockets while denying workers pensions. In this time when the government enforces austerity on the 99 per cent, these executives are profiting. The rest of us are having our pensions cuts, health service torn apart and youth centres shut down.

“We refuse to stand by and let this happen. We call on others to join us in the fight for a more just society. Today we have taken this to one of the offices of the 1 per cent. This is only the beginning. Come and join us on 15th December for Occupy Everywhere.”

Occupy London will unveil details of Occupy Everywhere soon. Be ready.

Notes

[1] According to the Income Data Services, Mick Davies from Xstrata (mining company) was the highest paid executive in the FTSE 100. His company has recently taken severe hits as FTSE 100 companies face drop in value (£104 billion off FTSE 100 companies). He was paid £18,426,105. LONDON OFFICE: Registered Office, 4th Floor 25/27 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4EN

Highest paid executives in the FTSE 100:

1. Mick Davies, Xstrata, £18,426,105

2. Bart Becht, Reckitt Benkiser, £17,879,000

3. Michael Spencer, ICAP £13,419,619

4. Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco £12,038,303

5. Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto £11,623,162

6. Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP Group £8,949,985

7. Todd Kozel, Gulf Keystone Petroleum £8,913,223

8. Don Robert, Experian £8,601,984

9. Edward Bonham Carter, Jupiter Fund Management £8,003,641

10. Dame Marjorie Scardino, Pearson £8,003,641

[2] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/business-as-usual-top-directors-get-49-per-cent-pay-rise-2376929.html

[3] Facebook page for Occupy London’s Stock Exchange site just by St Paul’s (OccupyLSX) is https://www.facebook.com/occupylondon. Overall Occupy London twitter Occupy Londonhastag is #occupylondon. OccupyLSX Twitter is https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyLSX ; hashtag#occupylsx. Twitter for the new Finsbury Square site is https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyFS; hastag #occupyfs. Twitter for Bank of Ideas is http://twitter.com/bankofideas and facebook is http://facebook.com/bankofideaslondon

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What happened next (& photos) – ejection, kettling (with new added 'info screens'), arrests and arrestee-coach blocking.

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Oct.'07: Xstrata, criticized heavily by a growing number of Chileans opposing the Swiss mining company’s plan to build a large hydroelectric dam in northern Patagonia (Region XI), is no stranger to controversy – especially when it comes to rivers. More

Oct.'06: THE traditional Aboriginal owners of land near the Gulf of Carpentaria are travelling to Darwin to protest against the mining company Xstrata's decision to expand a zinc and lead mine by diverting the McArthur River. More

Jan.'08: Communist rebels have attacked a $2 billion copper and gold mine owned by Xstrata in the Philippines. More

May '11: Peru – Xstrata halts activities at Las Bambas due to protests More

Nov.'11: Workers of the mining group Xstrata are to demonstrate in Johannesburg on Tuesday to demand the right to take part in industrial action…."This march will be taking place amid the impromptu arrest of Numsa members by [the] SA Police Service under the instruction of one of Xstrata's key executives." More

Nov.'11: Vehicles torched in job protest at Xstrata mine More