Category: Culture Jamming/Subvertising

Be Proud to Make a Difference: Subvert an Army Ad & DSEi Day of Action, 11 September 2007, tank & critical mass

Army recruitment ads on phoneboxes in Oxford get the treatment they rightly deserve!

Shut down the arms fair:Manzil Way phonebox (Class War sticker already there!)

Pixies strike again in Oxford, this time to shut down a certain arms fair, and also to promote a certain political ideology…

http://dsei.org

army phonebox subvert 1army phonebox subvert 2Army recruitment ads on phoneboxes in Oxford get the treatment they rightly deserve!

Shut down the arms fair:Manzil Way phonebox (Class War sticker already there!)

Pixies strike again in Oxford, this time to shut down a certain arms fair, and also to promote a certain political ideology…

http://dsei.org

1pm Custom House.

Come by bus. Come by DLR. Come by bike. Come by foot. Come by tank.

Get to Custom House.

Invade ExCeL.

Shut down the arms fair.

Bring your friends.

4.30pm Canning Town bus station.

The delegates will be at your disposal.

Please use your imagination and a diversity of tactics.

Have fun…

See www.dsei.org for more information and directions.

DISARM DSEi
disarm@dsei.org

———————–
Information from today’s Space Hijackers press conference

The Space Hijackers Arms Dealing at DSEi Arms Fair

Press Release

Every two years DSEi (Defence Systems & Equipment International), the worlds largest Arms fair, happens at the ExCeL centre in east London. Selling everything from up close torture weapons to long distance civilian maiming bombs, the fair offers a wide range of choice to the 20,000 delegates traveling to the fair from an assortment of corrupt regimes and often from countries at war with each other!

Previously the Space Hijackers have attempted to disrupt the fair, disguising themselves as arms dealers, boarding trains to the fair with the dealers and then attempting to sell them prosthetic limbs (arms!) and later sex toys (we figured they were a bit too obsessed with phallic objects and were perhaps compensating for a lack of weapons capabilities elsewhere).

On all previous occasions we have been escorted out of the area by the £4million worth of police who are called in to protect the delicate souls selling the weapons in the fair. This year we have decided to learn from the arms dealers themselves and take a leaf out of their book.

After several months of fundraising and receiving investment from Artists Anonymous, The Space Hijackers are now proud owners of a Saracen Mk1 tank, which we intend to drive to the arms fair, right into the mix of protesters and police. As the protesters line up against the heavily armed police, we intend to roll up and auction our tank to the highest bidder. If this so happens to be an angry teenager in a balaclava, then so be it. We don’t see how destruction caused with our tank can possibly be our responsibility.

Several people have got in touch with us claiming that this kind of behavior is slightly reckless “what if someone drives over a police car in your tank?” Our response is simple: we are simply looking to make a profit, it’s just business transaction. As with the arms dealers and their weapons, once the goods are out of our hands, how can we be held accountable for how they are used?

So ladies and gentlemen, roll up to the arms fair this September 11th and join in the bidding. We will have a promotions team on hand to make the event memorable, dancing girls and boys, music and of course a 10 tonne armored vehicle ready to be driven away!

For more information please visit:

http://www.spacehijackers.org
http://www.dsei.org

———————–
Bikes not Bombs logoAs part of a week of action against the DSEi arms fair there will be a ‘Bikes not Bombs’ critical mass’ bike ride meeting up at Bank tube station at 10:30am on Tuesday, and riding to the arms fair. Bikes and any other human-powered vehicle welcome – no tanks!

There will also be a ride on Thursday evening for the arms dealers’ dinner, leaving from by the NFT under Waterloo Bridge at 6:30pm.

http://dsei.org/

New Earth First Action Update OUT NOW!

The printed EF! Action Update is back again! After a bit of a lull a new editorial collective is in place and ready to roll. We have just produced a summer edition in time for the Camp for Climate Action, where you can pick up printed copies.

EF! AU logo 1The printed EF! Action Update is back again! After a bit of a lull a new editorial collective is in place and ready to roll. We have just produced a summer edition in time for the Camp for Climate Action, where you can pick up printed copies.

The Action Update is produced quarterly to aid the sharing of news, information and ideas amongst those interested in taking action. The next newsletter will be out in November. If you’ve got news to share about your groups, campaigns and actions post them straight onto this website and we’ll make sure they’re included in the next edition.

You can also download and print out the PDF of the Action Update by clicking here.

Earth First! summer gathering – Wednesday 18th July until Sunday 22nd July 2007 – location & programme announced

What is the Earth First! Summer Gathering?

* Are you fed up with bare-faced lies from politicians, big business and the media?
* Have you had enough of a world where corporate profit comes before life and dignity?
* Do you want to see an end to mindless consumption>
* Then this Gathering is for you! Read on…

EF! gathering '07 logo (rabbit/fence)What is the Earth First! Summer Gathering?

* Are you fed up with bare-faced lies from politicians, big business and the media?
* Have you had enough of a world where corporate profit comes before life and dignity?
* Do you want to see an end to mindless consumption>
* Then this Gathering is for you! Read on…

Exploring alternatives to the corporate world of greed, lies & exploitation –

The Earth First! Summer Gathering is the place where people involved in radical ecological direct action – or those who want to be involved – get together for five days of time and space to talk, walk, share skills, learn, play, rant, find out what’s going on, find out what’s next, live outside, strategise, hang out, incite, laugh and conspire.

The gathering is also a practical example of non-hierarchical low-impact living in action.

We are a diverse community with a wide range of approaches to our action, so there should be plenty to interest and inspire everyone whether you have been active for years or are completely new to it all.

More info at earthfirstgathering.org.uk

Starbucks opening greeted by local knees up

Described as “a proper east-end knees up”, locals gathered outside the new Starbucks store for a tea party, “in defence of our area, and to show off the lovely culture we have”.

whitechapel starbucks protest 1
whitechapel starbucks protest 2
Starbucks 'welcome' posterDescribed as “a proper east-end knees up”, locals gathered outside the new Starbucks store for a tea party, “in defence of our area, and to show off the lovely culture we have”.

The group said that the area has a vibrant community of local cafés and small coffee shops and are “worried about an oncoming blanding of local culture, as other multinational chains follow Starbucks into the area and attempt to gentrify it with their bland corporate décor, homogenous facades and tasteless products.”

From about 1pm till 4pm they set up a stall and gave out free fair trade teas and home made cakes in an attempt to show what the area will be missing if Starbucks and their ilk are allowed to settle in. They gave out maps of the area on which were marked alternative local places to buy coffee and keep money within the local community.

The London Food Not Bombs group, who have been giving away free hot meals every saturday in the park opposite, join the tea party with a sound system and steaming pots of food which soon attracted a queue.

Police eventually stepped in and threatened to arrest those gathering around the stall for obstruction of the highway. The Food Not Bombs groups moved across the road to their normal spot in the park. Everyone else shuffled a few feet back behind the building line but packed up shortly after anyway as all the tea and biscuits had run out.

Geneva Motor Show: all arrested before demo

Paris, 19 March 2007: For the occasion of the closure day of the Geneva Motor Show, some 10 activists from different organizations were planning to do a small demo at the inside of the Geneva motor show, deploying a banner to point out the hypocrite discourse of the car manufacturers.

anti-4x4 logo 1Paris, 19 March 2007: For the occasion of the closure day of the Geneva Motor Show, some 10 activists from different organizations were planning to do a small demo at the inside of the Geneva motor show, deploying a banner to point out the hypocrite discourse of the car manufacturers.

As a preventive measure, Police Detectives of the Geneva Canton have taken the whole group of activists and the camera crews in their presence in custody, and kept them for more than 8 hours for questioning.
Jeroen Verhoeven, Coordinator of the 4x4network and participating in the action, has been hand-cuffed and taken away to the police station for questioning. The activists have been charged of being” the alleged authors of threats alarming the public”, even if the action did not take place!

In order to avoid any dissident voice at the motor show, the activists have been phone-tapped, hand-cuffed, strip searched, their DNA and fingerprints have been taken, and video material, laptops and mobile phones have been seized by the Geneva Police. The disproportionate character of the measures taken to prevent a non-violent action, gives reason to question the underlying motive of this intervention of the Geneva Police.

Jeroen Verhoeven strongly rejects the methods of the Swiss Police Detectives, who use anti-terrorist laws to intimidate and muzzle anti-4x4activists and says that: “Apparently pointing out the risks of climate change is equal to alarming the public and as such a criminal act under Swiss law”.
Only car manufacturers seem to have the right to “inform” the general public trough advertising for climate killing gas-guzzlers.

Because Climate Change is indeed a “threat which can alarm the general public”, the European groups united in the 4x4network will continue, despite the intimidations, to demand binding legislation for the emissions of newly sold cars, with a target of 120gC02/km by 2012.

Contact:
Jeroen Verhoeven +32.2 542 61 01 (mobile phone seized…)
http://www.4x4network.org/

Whitechapel Knees Up against Starbucks

Starbucks, everyone’s favourite nipple-less mermaid merchants, have decided to move into the east end with a new store in Whitechapel. It’s an area with a vibrant community of local cafés and small coffee shops, as well as being an area local to many Space Hijacker agents. As you can probably guess, we are less than pleased about our new neighbour…

Starbucks knees upStarbucks, everyone’s favourite nipple-less mermaid merchants, have decided to move into the east end with a new store in Whitechapel. It’s an area with a vibrant community of local cafés and small coffee shops, as well as being an area local to many Space Hijacker agents. As you can probably guess, we are less than pleased about our new neighbour…

We are worried about an oncoming blanding of local culture, as other multinational chains follow Starbucks into the area and attempt to gentrify it with their bland corporate décor, homogenous facades and tasteless products. In defence of our area, and to show off the lovely culture we have, we are putting on a tea party outside the new Starbucks!

We will be setting up a stall and giving out free fair trade teas, home made sandwiches, and all manner of other goodies to our neighbours, in an attempt to show what the area will be missing if Starbucks and their ilk are allowed to settle in.

Bring along tea, biscuits, home-made cakes, jams, and scones to share. Bring your dining room furniture out into the street, bring bunting, music and of course bring friends.

1pm
Sat 24th March
Outside the new Starbucks
Whitechapel High St
London

Opposite Altab Ali Park
Tube – Aldgate east or Whitechapel
Bus – 25, 205, 106 or 254

http://www.spacehijackers.org

Call for workshops at the Earth First! Summer Gathering 2007

This year’s gathering is from 18 – 22 July in Norfolk, near a mainline railway station.

The focus is on practical skills, but there will also be many of the regular diverse and interesting workshops.

EF! summer gathering 2007 logoThis year’s gathering is from 18 – 22 July in Norfolk, near a mainline railway station.

The focus is on practical skills, but there will also be many of the regular diverse and interesting workshops.

The idea is to have multiple workshop sessions, e.g. four two-hour slots spread over four days building up skills in a particular area, so people can learn the basic skills to actually do the job at other mobilisations, events like the climate camp – or wherever. For example plumbing, electrical skills, medics…and whatever else people want to do… It’s not just about the practical skills but also about getting to know each other and starting to work together.

If you would like to offer a workshop please write to:
martinshaw64@riseup.net

Thanks – the EF! summer gathering collecting
General contact details etc at http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/

please forward to people you think would be interested.

Bedminster subvert

Campaigners in Bristol have altered a ‘benefit cheats’ billboard so the original message targeting people working illegally while on benefit, now highlights the governments decision to halt an inquiry into a corrupt arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

Blair arms deals subvertCampaigners in Bristol have altered a ‘benefit cheats’ billboard so the original message targeting people working illegally while on benefit, now highlights the governments decision to halt an inquiry into a corrupt arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

The poster in West St, Bedminster, now features the head of Tony Blair and statements such as “If I keep quiet about making a few extra bribes it doesn’t make me a hypocrite�, “No ifs, no buts. No dodgy arms deals� and “Corruption is a crime�. The changes expose the government’s contradiction of pursuing the poor for working extra hours while on benefit at the same time as curtailing an inquiry into bribery and corruption.

Since 2003, the Serious Fraud Office had been investigating claims that Saudi officials enjoyed prostitutes and luxury holidays paid for by a £60m ‘slush fund’ administered by BAE Systems, which supplied Tornado fighters under the Al-Yamamah arms deals of the 1980s and 1990s. However in December the government curtailed the investigation after it was reported that the Saudi authorities had suspended talks on a further multibillion pound deal to buy Eurofighter jets from BAE Systems.

The world’s leading anti-bribery watchdog, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has written to the government demanding an explanation for its controversial decision. Laurence Cockcroft, director of the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, described the government’s decision to call off the SFO as ‘a tremendous step backwards’.

Meanwhile in Blair’s Britain inequality between rich and poor continues to grow. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that income inequality in Britain rose by 40% between 1979 and 2001, a larger increase than in any other developed country, with a particularly pronounced divergence between the super-rich and the abject poor.

This benefit “cheats� campaign has coincided with the government stopping a corruption inquiry for no good reason and the first Prime Minister being interviewed by the police about cash for honours. It therefore seems hypocritical Blair to now crack down and scapegoat those workers whose hourly rate is so low that they must rely on benefit.