Culture Jamming/Subvertising – Page 3

Licence to Spill – Liberate Tate create an oil spill at the Tate – inside & out

On the evening of the 28th of June at approx 7:15pm, Liberate Tate In protest over BP’s sponsorship of the arts performed a “Solemn” oil like spill at the Tate’s Summer party.

Dressed in black and veiled the performers carrying black buckets with BP logos spewed molasses over the entrance way as onlookers watched in amazement as the Portland stone floor was consumed by the black oil like mess.

Feathers were scattered and filled the air and in the same manner of approach the artists gracefully paced their escape.

Licence to Spill

“Apart from catastrophic spills like the Deepwater Horizon, there are a whole host of adverse impacts that are associated with the production of oil. On the local level, it often involves extreme forms of pollution for local communities, while regionally oil is frequently associated with greater militarization and conﬂict. Globally, carbon emissions, oil companies, and our collective dependence on the product they push, are taking us ever closer to the edge of climate catastrophe. “

To download Licence to Spill, a new release from Platform, visit http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=381&parent=39

Info : http://www.artnotoil.org.uk/

Watch the video of the action : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-_2KLt1W0

—–

Another report, including what happened inside the ex-garden summer party:

Sipping Pimms and gobbling canapés many of the guests expressed confusion at whether these striking actions were ‘art’ or not. Despite inaccurate reporting in various media outlets, Liberate Tate would like to claim full responsibility for these acts of creative disobedience as art – art that refuses to pretend to do politics but is politics, art that makes transforming the world a beautiful adventure.

The Tate Summer Party had been planned to be in the museum gardens and involve speeches from BP executives. However, due to the rumours of disruption, Tate was forced to hold the entire event inside the museum and no speeches were made.

As the evening sun baked down on the stone courtyard of Tate Britain and members of the cultural and corporate elite made their way into the party, 13 figures dressed in black, their faces veiled, appeared from around the corner. In a mournful procession the art-activists approached the entrance carrying large barrels branded with the BP logo. Dozens of photographers and TV cameras swarmed and a moment of tense silence enveloped the area. Something was going to happen.

Then in a perfectly choreographed moment, the front phalanx poured hundreds of litres of the black liquid all over the entrance, whilst others threw feathers into the air which gently drifted down into the huge sticky black pools. The sombre figures walked calmly away, disappearing into the city, as the security redirected the guests to another entrance as the cleanup operation began.

Meanwhile, despite the heavy security at the door, two Liberate Tate art-activists managed to infiltrate the party wearing large floral bouffant dresses underneath which were concealed large sacks filled with the oily molasses. Calling themselves Toni Hayward and Bobbi Dudley, they began their performance in the crowded central gallery. At first drips began to fall from their handbags. “Oh, I seem to have a leak” whispered one of them to the lined up waiters dressed in brilliant white, who kindly provided napkins to stem the spill.

Soon the sacks under their dresses burst releasing tens of litres of ‘oil’ across the shiny parquet floor. As a crowd formed around them, the two donned BP branded ponchos and scrambled on all fours trying to clean up the mess using their high heel shoes to pour the slick back into their handbags, but to no avail. “Compared to the size of the gallery this is a tiny spill, a drop in the ocean,” they apologised to the viewers, “we’ll definitely have it cleaned up by, say, August”.

The polite crowd that had formed continued to watch appreciatively for another 20 minutes, amidst a sea of camera-phones. Many began debating among themselves whether this was art or not (“I think it is. I like it”), whether Tate had organised it, and what their personal aesthetic reactions to it were (“If I had seen this outside, I think I would have felt as I do seeing it… inside”). More than one invited artist openly described this to their fellow drinkers as the most sophisticated work in the room.

LIBERATE TATE

Liberate Tate, is a network dedicated to taking creative disobedience against the Tate until it drops its oil company funding. The 28 June art activist performances follow on from last month’s disruption of Tate Modern’s 10th Birthday celebrations by hanging dead fish and birds from dozens of giant black helium balloons.

The network was founded during a workshop in January 2010 on art and activism, commissioned by Tate. When Tate curators tried to censor the workshop from making interventions against Tate sponsors, the incensed participants decided to continue their work together beyond the workshop and set up Liberate Tate.

www.twitter.com/liberatetate

Images: www.immoklink.com/BP-Tate/index.html

www.youandifilms.com/2010/06/license-to-spill/

See also LIBERATE TATE COMMUNIQUE 1 http://bit.ly/9RFfxJ (MAY 2010)

Full Video Report http://www.youandifilms.com/2010/06/licence-to-spill-full-report/

Greenwash spill at the BP-sponsored National Portrait Gallery

On Tuesday night (22 June 2010) at 6.07 PM the London brigade of the Greenwash Guerrillas got a call from a panicked pedestrian outside the National Portrait Gallery.

On Tuesday night (22 June 2010) at 6.07 PM the London brigade of the Greenwash Guerrillas got a call from a panicked pedestrian outside the National Portrait Gallery. It seemed that the prizegiving ceremony for BP Portrait Award was about to start, and toxic greenwash had begun to gush uncontrollably from the gallery’s front doors.

Arriving on the scene, armed with the latest in greenwash detecting equipment and wearing protective biohazard suits, the Guerrillas
immediately identified several sources of the leak. Greenwash levels appeared to be the strongest anywhere a bright green BP logo was to be
found: from the massive banners fronting either side of the grand entrance, to the microscopic embroidery on a security guard’s lapel. The
Guerrillas were given the run-around by gallery security and the Metropolitan police, who escorted Britain’s cultural establishment into
the awards ceremony first at the front, then around the side, then back at the front entrance again. By 7 PM, everyone had convened at the front entrance, and the Guerrillas set to work to contain the leak, quarantine the area, and warn attendees against entering the building.

Many clean-up efforts were tried, from throwing golf balls and old tires at the leak to trying to plug it with mud, but for some reason the spill just kept gushing. Meanwhile, some Guerrillas attempted to arm the attendees – most of whom, inexplicably, were determined to enter the
contaminated building – with information about BP, oil industry sponsorship of the arts, and the best way to protect themselves from
greenwash.

Despite the best efforts of the Guerrillas, greenwash unfortunately continues to spew forth from the BP-sponsored National Portrait Gallery
and countless other oil-sponsored arts institutions across London. But resistance is growing, and this summer might just be remembered as the
tipping point in the campaign to free art from oil.

More info:
http://www.risingtide.org.uk
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
BP’s sponsorship of the National Portrait Award is greenwash – a way of cleaning up BP’s tattered public image and covering up its shocking
environmental and human rights record.

Greenwash is as toxic as oil. With it, BP buys our approval, and hopes we’ll forget about the gusher in the Gulf, the 300 000 lives already lost each year due to climate change, and the fact that the company is poised to enter the Canadian tar sands – the most destructive project on earth.

Every pound the National Portrait Gallery accepts from BP is tainted. In response to changing public opinion, cultural institutions eventually
decided that it was no longer in their best interests to take money from the tobacco industry. It’s high time we kicked Big Oil out of our
galleries too.

Check out a brilliant video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-adx5mS2klA

london@risingtide.org.uk
http://www.risingtide.org.uk

The new Action Update – full of of action news and analysis

In the new summer edition of the EF! Action Update, read about coal trains blockaded, peat bogs defended, and gas terminals shut down. Find out about the dangers of nanotech, current state of nuclear GM trials in the UK, Tesco uprisings, golf course trashing, tar sands action and much more.

Be inspired by our protest camp feature and the recent Titnore victory. And from across the seas, read about our brothers and sisters struggling against whaling ship sabotage, coal port pirates, riots in Zagreb, mining firm occupations in Bolivia, dam resistance in Brazil and much more.

“We are going to inherit the earth . There is not the slightest doubt about that. We Are not afraid of ruins. We carry a new world, here in our hearts. That world is growing this minute.” – Durruti

To download the latest EF!AU for printing, go to http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_summer10print.pdf

To read the latest EF!AU online, go to http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_summer10.pdf

Plane Stupid targets Red Bullshit

Environmental campaign group, Plane Stupid, has deposited a large mound of manure outside the south London HQ of soft drink giant Red Bull.

Environmental campaign group, Plane Stupid, has deposited a large mound of manure outside the south London HQ of soft drink giant Red Bull. Three activists, dressed as ‘avenging air hostesses’ in wigs and mini-dresses the same colour as the company’s logo, crowned the mound with placards reading: ‘Red Bull-sh*t’, ‘Red Bull gives you (plane) wings’ and ‘No second runway by stealth.’

The move was prompted by the revelation that Red Bull has applied for planning permission to build an aerodrome opposite London City Airport. The company claims that the new control tower, runway and helipads would support its annual air race on the River Thames.

But there are growing fears that the company is working with London City Airport and Newham Council to introduce a new heliport and permanent runway for private jets through the back door. ‘We believe Red Bull’s claim is bullsh*t and we’re telling them so,’ said spokeswoman Elizabeth Baines.

‘London City Airport is positioning itself a major hub for City executives,’ Elizabeth continued. ‘We suspect that Red Bull’s planning application is an underhand way of helping the airport to attract private jet and helicopter users. That way, they won’t have to deal with fierce opposition from people in East London who are sick and tired of the noise and pollution from the airport.’

London City Airport has been feeling the heat recently. Local campaign group Fight The Flights (FTF) has launched a High Court bid to stop the airport from expanding its flights volume by 50%. Six local councils have publicly supported FTF’s bid. The Greater London Assembly’s Environment Committee is also holding a probe into the effects of the expansion.

‘We insist that Newham council turns down this planning application. Red Bull may have high flying ideas but this time we think their wings should be clipped,’ Elsie added. ‘

For more information contact:
Leo Murray: 07595 506673
Nancy Birch: 07506 006597

Upcoming action dates & activist gatherings, 2010 – updated

scroll down for latest dates…

8-10 October 2010
Earth First! tree planting weekend – Treesponsibility

10 October 2010
Glasgow airport shut-down action

12 October 2010

scroll down for latest dates…

8-10 October 2010
Earth First! tree planting weekend – Treesponsibility

10 October 2010
Glasgow airport shut-down action

12 October 2010
Global Minga for Mother Earth

12-16 October 2010
Direct Action for Climate Justice, CJA call-out

13 October 2010
It’s Hammertime! – Smash EDO

16 October 2010
Crude Awakening – big oil day of action in London City

23-24 October 2010
Stop Nuclear Power Network UK Gathering, Bristol

10-12 December 2010
Earth First! tree planting weekend – Treesponsibility

=========

Old dates from this calendar:

2010

15-17 January 2010
Peace News Winter Gathering, Nottingham

23-26 January 2010
Mainshill Pre-Eviction Gathering

5-7 February 2010
EF! Winter Moot, North East England

12-14 February 2010
UK Rossport Solidarity Gathering, Nottingham

19-21 February 2010
Camp for Climate Action national ‘where next?’ gathering, Bristol – regional ones happening over January & February (details here)

26-28 February 2010
No Borders Winter Gathering, Nottingham

14 March 2010
UK Tar Sands Campaign Gathering, York

11am till 6pm (Vegan lunch by donation)
With BP’s AGM just 1 month away, and 2 weeks of actions planned for 1st to 15th April, come and connect with other UK-based Tar Sands campaigners, share ideas and create actions. We’ll be looking at strategies and actions for targeting Shell, BP and the Royal Bank of Scotland – Britain’s Dirty Threesome on Tar Sands investment.

We’re meeting in Derwent College, York University, room D/056 – from the station or city centre, take bus number 4 to the very last stop, walk back about 50 meters, and the road entrance to the college is signed on the left. D/056 is accessed from the outside, beyond the dining hall and ponds.

1 April 2010
Fossil Fools Day

1-4 April 2010
The Huntington Lane Fossil Fools weekend convergence

1-15 April 2010
BP Fortnight of Shame
including London Mass Action

17-18 April 2010
Social Centres in a Time of Crisis, Leeds
A weekend of workshops, discussions and socialising for everyone with an interest in radical autonomous social centres

22-23 April 2010
anti-aviation 48 hours of sticker-whacking, subvertising, adbusting pandemonium

23-26 April 2010
Anti-nuclear Camp, Suffolk – see latest EF!AU for details

6-10 May 2010
Activist Tat training week: putting up marquees, erecting and mending flat pack toilets, as well as technical and theoretical (power, plumbing etc) skillsharing

15 May 2010
Party at the Pumps 2

21 May-5 June 2010
Merthyr to Rossport solidarity bike ride – Climate Chains

5-8 June 2010
Rossport Solidarity Camp Gathering, Ireland

11-19 June 2010
World Naked Bike Ride – 11 June: Manchester, Southampton; 12 June, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London; 13 June: Brighton, Bristol; 19 June, Sheffield, York

18-21 June 2010
Outdoor Skillshare, Scotland

19 June 2010
National Gathering of the Stop Nuclear Power Network, London

25 June-31 August 2010
Ecotopia Biketour, from Critical Mass, Towards Car Free Cities Conference, to the French & German climate camps and much in between.

6-12 July 2010
Anti-Industrial Land Defence Action Camp, Catalonia
Go only if you can speak Catalan or Spanish – http://acampadaderesistencies.blogspot.com

14-22 July 2010
Nordic climate action camp, Southern Sweden

22 July-1 August 2010
French Camp Action Climat, near Le Havre

22 July-2 August 2010
Swiss climate camp Fr / De

23-27 July 2010
Peace News Summer Camp, Oxfordshire

29 July-4 August 2010
Belgian Climate Camp, near Liege

4-9 August 2010
EF! Summer Gathering, Derbyshire

12-16 August 2010
Irish Climate Camp, County Tyrone

13-17 August 2010
Climate Camp Cymru

21-24 August 2010
Climate Camp targets RBS in Edinburgh: Action Days

21-29 August 2010
German Klimacamp, near Erkelenz

27-30 August 2010
National Animal Rights Gathering, near Northampton

27-29 August 2010
Dutch Earth First! Gathering and CJA meeting – Groen Front!

Bath Bomb 29 Out Now

THE BATH BOMB

@nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #29
free/donation
Apr ’10

“An unstoppable juggernaut of journalistic intent”

Hard Pressed To Avoid ‘Em

As mentioned back in the apparently nigh-oracular Bath Bomb #11, Tesco have finally admitted their schemes for the old Bath Press site on Lower

THE BATH BOMB

@nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #29
free/donation
Apr ’10

“An unstoppable juggernaut of journalistic intent”

Hard Pressed To Avoid ‘Em

As mentioned back in the apparently nigh-oracular Bath Bomb #11, Tesco have finally admitted their schemes for the old Bath Press site on Lower

Bristol Road. The five-acre site was bought by Tesco’s London-based front group St James’s Investments in 2008, though Tesco always straight-

facedly maintained the developers were nothing to do with them. After sniffing round the city for decades, they’ve now finally submitted an

application for a superstore in Bath, and spokesman Quentin Webster claims that a series of public consultations are on the cards for later in the

year; although they presumably won’t take “fuck off” for an answer.

Various studies spell out supermarket encroachment as bad news for jobs and small retailers, as well as the environment: when large supermarkets

are built on the edges of city centres, other grocers lose between 13% and 50% of their trade – yet more shop closures – and, according to the

National Retail Planning Forum in ’98, each new superstore accounts for the loss on average of 276 full-time positions in an area. Meanwhile,

whilst the city houses only 80,000 or so, the supermarket plague is due an outbreak soon: Sainsburys, Tesco and a Lidl all in one long row on

Lower Bristol, two Sainsbury Expresses in the centre, Sainsbury’s Local on Moorland Road, a Tesco Express on Bathwick Hill and another in Weston,

a Morrisons on the London Road and yet another Sainsburys in Odd Down!

The hotly contested Tesco Express at Bathwick Hill quickly closed down neighbouring indie Bathwick Stores, as feared, but only time will tell for

the future of the unique, bustling village high street vibe of Moorland Road; hopefully, there’s fight left in them yet.

Put Out For The Night

Another month, another move at the Black Cat, Bath’s increasingly itinerant social centre. Attempts to negotiate with the Council to arrange a

lease failed early in the month, with Council officials dismissing the proposals out of hand – and throwing in some personal insults to boot – and

taking the centre straight to court. The first eviction attempt, on Friday 26th March, was easily seen off by a large public demo outside. The

show of support was sufficient that the bailiffs didn’t even get out of their car before driving off.

After a weekend of barricading (with help from the recently evicted Tesco occupation in Stoke’s Croft) and an excellent celebratory dub night,

bailiffs returned in force early on Monday morning. With full police support, a cherry picker and a pair of bolt croppers allegedly costing £450,

it took them over two and a half hours to clear the building – their biggest obstacle being a bleary-eyed but determined rooftop occupation by a

man in a dressing gown.

Although saddened, the Black Cat Collective suffered no arrests and only minor injuries (sustained when bailiffs removed a vital escape ladder

from the roof), and have taken a much-needed week out. They’re now back again with a new building at 100 Walcot St, open 12-7pm every day from

12.04.10.

The public reaction has been vocal and strong, with many people criticising the cost of the eviction – an alleged £30,000 – when the Centre had

repeatedly offered to pay a small amount of rent. The Collective have vowed to keep up pressure on the Council to provide community-controlled

social spaces. If that sounds like something you support, there’s a petition online at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/
blackcatbath, or drop by the centre to find out how you can help out.

Proper Tea Is Theft?

Ethos Café of Walcot Street is yet another victim of B&NES Property and Legal Services’ stitch-ups, of which the Black Cat also recently fell

foul.

In the continuing greed-inspired transformation of Walcot Street from its ‘artisans quarter’ charter origins to Bland Identikit Shopping Strip

#43712, the Council have forced out Ethos in the same way as they did the Hat & Feather, Doollallys, Walcot Rec, Crock A Doodle Doo, Speaking

Tree, Walcotmart, and indeed, even the much-loved Walcot Nation Day festival. Rent for the petite, indie caff had shot up from £11K to £12K per

annum, with strings attached to an inflexible 12-year lease, kicking the charming fair-trade Walcot regular to the streets – even though its

higher-turnover neighbours face only £10K each.

Completely lacking in co-operation and accountability as ever, unelected Property Services’ Sarah ‘Iron Lady’ Marshman toed the Council line of

refusing to meet their clients even halfway; not only do they “not negotiate with squatters”, they apparently don’t negotiate with what they view

as legitimate business, either – unless they’re supermarkets. Never mind the fact they’re refusing to reimburse Ethos for the central heating they

installed, or any of a host of other improvements. But then again, they equally mugged the owners of Glasstone Records for the roofing, windows

and disabled toilet they had to put in at Riverside Business Park. The phrase ‘robber barons’ comes to mind.

But with B&NES’ apparent going-out-of-business-as-usual plans for Bath’s smaller and less socially-destructive companies, and boarding going up on

vacant units up and down London Road, Walcot Street and throughout the rest of the city, we wonder to ourselves: who’s next?

And now, to the disclaimer: As anyone is free to contribute, the opinions expressed in each article are not necessarilly reflective of each

contributor. Naturally, any right-wing or corporate bullshit will be binned and spat upon. Needless to say, the opinions of the author of this

disclaimer do not necessarilly represent the views of any other contributor.

Maybe Mayday Melee?

Ah, spring. A time of flowers, warmth, swallow migrations and frolicking bunnies. A time to look back and realise the class war is as alive as

ever, and the bosses still screw us. Since before the Chicago Haymarket Riot of 1886 when martyred anarchists and workers won the eight-hour cap

on the working day, Mayday has long been associated with workplace struggle. And today, with PCS civil servants, Unite/BA cabin crew, UCE uni and

college lecturers (plus student support), NASUWT and NUT teaching staff up and down the country on strike or close (be it over low pay, insulting

redundancy/pension measures, or education cuts), things are no different. Indeed, conniving management at Network Rail struck below the belt at

the RMT and TSSA recently, whining to the High Court about the legitimate strike votes being invalid; it just goes to show that whilst the railway

signal workers and maintenance staff want a safe and efficient service, the bosses just want profits – no matter the cost, to workers’ rights or

even customers’ lives.

In light of all this, Bath Trades Council and friends plan a Mayday celebration/awareness-raising day of protest on Saturday May the 1st. Meeting

at 12.30 outside the Abbey, the event is still very much in the planning stage, so please get in touch to help make it something powerful:

bathactivistnet[at]yahoo.co.uk. Musicians are especially in demand! We may not be dancing round a Beltane maypole, or dancing on the ruins of

multinational corporations, but you gotta start somewhere.

GOT A STORY? WANT TO RECEIVE THE BATH BOMB BY EMAIL? HOPING TO SUE? Contact us by emailing bathbombpress[at]yahoo.co.uk. Large print e-versions

available on request. And for more info on any of our stories, check out http://www.thebathbomb.blogspot.com

Bordering On Insanity

An agency of crazy white people in the UK pledges to kidnap and deport brown people, unless they either have the one correct piece of paper they

require, or they’re actually Europeans: in which case it’s fine.
The Rajpoot curry house in Argyle Street was raided by these mobsters on the 24th of March, with two people kidnapped and questioned by white

nationalists in a building called a ‘police station,’ even though most things done there are illegal.

Thanks to some cunning investigative journalism, the Bath Bomb can now reveal that the crazies appear to work for an organization called the ‘UK

Border Agency,’ a collective of fanatical statists who think their permission is required in order to enter UK territory.

Although the Agency has not yet produced evidence that it owns the 94,060 square miles of land standing for the British territory, it still

behaves as if it was so. Regional crazy white person Jane Farleigh warns in the Chronicle: ‘If people choose to flout the law, we will find them

and look to remove them from the country.’

Apparently unaware that the British territory is an open-field natural resource and not the Border Agency’s private property, Ms Farleigh wants

all of you to help her track down people who think liberty is a right, so she can then deport them, and the laws of Nazi Germany be finally

obeyed. But in Britain.

You can help that organization of crazies fail by feeding them false information, at 01275 841500.

Beneath The Paving… The Beach?

A bizarre-Bath style crimewave is striking fear deep into the heart of Bathonians, allegedly. As reported in the Chron, a ring of illicit,

pseudo-Situationist, pavement-thieves have struck the city, causing rifts in the city’s criminal underworld. With 10m stretches of granite

pavement slabs being prised up in Lansdown, Sion Hill, and throughout the city, is nothing sacred? Police, fearful of potential bricks to the

skull, are urging residents to report any suspicious workmen activity or delivery trucks capable of shifting heavy loads in the area. Whatever

next – elderly women’s grand piano robberies? The taking of liberties? The taking of piss?

Come Shell Or High Water

As a follow-on from the national ‘Fossil Fools Day’ of environmental action against polluting big business, members of Bristol & Bath Rising Tide

visited the Shell garage on Muller Road, Eastville, on the morning of Saturday 3rd April, laying temporary pipelines and holding placards. They

went there to highlight the repression experienced by communities in Ireland, currently combating Shell’s attempts to build an onshore

experimental high pressure pipeline and gas refinery.

The community in Erris, County Mayo, has seen continued harassment and intimidation by the Gardai police and Shell security for over a decade. In

February, fisherman Pat O’Donnell was sentenced to seven months for ‘breach of the peace’ and ‘obstructing a Garda’, after his boat was boarded

and sunk by masked men. Hysterically, as Shell’s pipe-lying ship ‘the Solitaire’ operated off the coast, Irish Navy gunboats and Air Force spotter

planes joined police and private security to control the 100-strong demo ashore. But the tales of dodgy shit just keep on coming: Shell security

staff have been discovered recently in Bolivian terrorist groups, trying to destabilise the region and kick-start civil war.

Construction of the gas refinery has already resulted in the pollution of local drinking water, with untreated waste chemicals like lead,

mercury, arsenic and radon being pumped into Broadhaven Bay, despite its ‘Special Area of Conservation’ status. Yet despite the scale of state

repression there, the campaign just won’t pipe down, having already set the pipeline’s completion date back from 2003 to 2013.

http://www.shelltosea.com/node/21

http://risingtide.org.uk/node/336
www.indymedia.ie/article/96167

EVENTS

Bath Hunt Saboteurs meetings, 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, 8pm, The Bell, Walcot Street

Debt advice drop-in, Tuesdays, 4-7pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

London Road Food Co-op, Wednesdays, 4-7pm, Riverside Community Centre, London Road

The Lost Plot workday, Thursdays, 10am-dusk, Bathampton

Bath Stop The War Coalition vigil, Saturdays, 11.30am-12.30, Bath Abbey Courtyard

Recycle Your Sundays, Sundays, 10.30am, starts Abbey Churchyard, the regular series of sociable, easy-paced cycle rides,

http://www.bathrys.org.uk/ tel Hazel 01225 469199

Black Cat Centre general meeting, Sundays, 1-3pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

‘Fortnight of Shame’: two weeks of action against BP’s investment in tar sands extraction, now to15th April, contact bristol[at]risingtide.org.uk

FFI

Horse Racing Awareness week demo, Friday 9th April, Westgate Street, contact bathanimalaction[at]yahoo.co.uk FFI

Bristol Industrial Workers of the World meeting, Friday 9th April, starts 7pm (8.30-10pm open to non-members), GWRSA, outside Bristol Temple Meads

train station, e-mail bristoliww[at]riseup.net FFI

Bristol Eco-Village public meeting, Friday 9th April, 7.30pm, Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol

Bath FreeShop, Saturday 10th April, 12-3pm, outside Pump Rooms, Stall Street

Broadlands Orchardshare Volunteering Day, Saturday 10th April, 12-4pm, Broadlands Orchard, Box Road, Bathford,

http://www.bathford.net/broadlands.php

talk: ‘The Chartists and Their Legacy’, Saturday 10th April, 2pm, New Room (Wesley Chapel), 36 The Horsefair, Bristol, BS1 3JE

‘Defend our Public Services’ march and rally, Saturday 10th April, London, tickets for coach available, http://www.10410demo.co.uk

Bath Animal Action meeting, Monday 12th April, 8-9pm, The Bell, Walcot Street

talk: (Steve) Mills & (Ian) Bone, Monday 12th April, 7.30pm, The Stag & Hounds, 74 Old Market Street, Bristol

AstraZeneca anti-vivisection demo, Tuesday 13th April, 3.30-6pm, AstraZeneca Avlon Works, Severn Road, Hallen, Bristol, BS10 7ZE; if you need

transport or further info, e-mail barc[at]hotmail.co.uk

skillshare: ‘Freeskilling – Conscious Communication (Non-violent Communication)’, Tuesday 13th April, 7pm, Better Food Co. Cafe, St Werburghs,

Bristol

talk: ‘Thomas Spence – the Forgotten Revolutionary’, Wednesday 14th April, 7.30pm, The Scout Hut (Benjamin Perry Boat House), Redcliffe Wharf,

Bristol

Bath Green Drinks, Wednesday 14th April, 8.30pm, the Rising Sun, Grove Street

Radical Debate Club: ‘Migrants and Borders’, Thursday 15th April, 7pm, Black Cat Centre, Walcot Street

benefit gig against homelessness in Taunton, Thursday 15th April, 7-11pm, the Roadhouse, Taunton, free, feat Clayton Blizzard, 51st State, Rat

Bandits and Two Minute Hour; http://www.anonpromo.co.uk

talk: ‘Vote, Protest And Riot’, Thursday 15th April, 7.30pm, GWRSA, outside Bristol Temple Meads train station

course; ‘Design & Build a Compost Loo’, Friday 16th to Sunday 18th April and Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th April, Monkton Wyld Court, nr Charmouth,

Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6DQ, phone 01297 560342 or e-mail info[at]monktonwyldcourt.org

Bristol Eco-Village BIG SWOOP!, Saturday 17th April, location tbc, e-mail bitsofwood[at]riseup.net to get involved

Update and discussion on the planning process, Sunday 18th April, 11-3.30pm, £5 adavanced booking essential by 5th April, e-mail afrelmira[at]

googlemail.com

Bristol Convention of the Left planning meeting, Monday 19th April, 6.30-8.30pm, Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol

Green Light lectures: ‘Energy Futures and Global Cooling’, Monday 19th April, doors open 7pm, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, £3 entry/£1.50

concessions

talk: ‘Votes for Ladies: The Suffragette Movement 1903-1914’, Monday 19th April, 7.00pm, Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol

‘An Agenda for Humanity: Peace, Justice and Environment’ meeting with election candidates in Bath, Wednesday 21st April, 7.30pm, Friends Meeting

House, York Street, e-mail postmaster[at]bathstopwar.org.uk FFI

talk: ‘Every Cook Can Govern: From Athens To Westminster?’, Wednesday 21st April, 7.30pm, CWRSA, outside Bristol Temple Meads train station

‘Get Your Sticker On’ Plane Stupid subvertise challenge, Thursday 22nd to Friday 23rd April, location tbc, e-mail info[at]planestupid.com

gig: ‘The Liberty Tree’, Friday 23rd April, 7.30pm, The Thunderbolt, The Olde Turnpike,124 Bath Road, Totterdown, BS4 3ED, £7 door, feat Leon

Rosselson and Robb Johnson

Camp Against Nuclear New Build, Friday 23rd to Monday 26th April, Sizewell, Suffolk, http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net

‘STOP The Cuts’ community day and march, Saturday 24th April, 12 noon start, meet at Barton Hill Settlement or Beacon Centre, Bristol

Bristol Radical History Walk, Saturday 24th April, start 7.30pm, Central Ferry Landing, next to the waterfall in-between Anchor Road and Broad

Quay, Bristol

World Day for Lab Animals march in London, Saturday 24th April, coach 8.30am, leaving Bristol Temple Meads train station, £10 ticket

Mock Election bonfire night and music, Sunday 25th April, 7.30pm, Boiling Wells Project, St. Werburghs City Farm, Boiling Wells Lane, St.

Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9YJ; feat The Blue Sequoias, Who’s Afear’d and the Surfin’ Turnips; bring and burn an effigy of your most despised public

figure!

Bath Socialist Forum, Monday 26th April, 8pm, upstairs at St James Wine Vaults

Kennet and Avon Users Forum, Thursday 29th April, 7pm, Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB

Mayday demo, Saturday 1s May, 12.30 outside Bath Abbey

Bath Activist Network meeting, Thursday 6th May, 7.30-9pm, downstairs at The Hobgoblin, St James Parade,

http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

Introductory Permaculture Weekend, Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th May, £50, for bookings e-mail afrelmira[at]googlemail.com

Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre, Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th May, the Ampitheatre, Waterfront Square, Bristol Harbourside,

http://bristol.ecoveggiefayre.co.uk/

‘Adapting to Climate Change’ week, 7th-11th June, see http://www.oursouthwest.com/climate FFI

Earth First! Summer Gathering, Wednesday 4th to Monday 9th August, Derbyshire, £20-30; five days of workshops, skill sharing and planning action,

plus low-impact living without leaders; e-mail summergathering[at]earthfirst.org.uk FFI

Sheikh, Rattle And Roll

In solidarity with the Palestinian neighbourhood Sheikh Jarrah, currently being bulldozed and facing other repression, actions took place up and

down the country on the 17th March; and Bath was no different. From 12 til 2.30pm, a typically-Bathonian size demo (six people!) took place

outside Barclays Bank on Milsom Street. With Barclays being the UK’s largest investor in the arms trade, with holdings of over £7.3bn, they are

also manufacturers of cluster bombs and depleted uranium munitions, and invest in murderous outfits like Thales and Raytheon, who arm the Israeli

Defence Force. To go on, they also provide ‘market-maker’ services to everyone’s favourite ITT/EDO, home of the ‘Paveway’ missile laser-guidance

system that has so devastated Palestine and Iraq. On the day, concerned folks from Bath Activist Network and others distributed leaflets, with two

scaling a ladder to the lower roof to unveil a banner claiming ‘Barclays: Global Dealers in Death’, in the face of burly but confused security

guards. Most of the passing public received the demo well, with only a couple of idiots advocating war as a way of solving arguments and as being

vital for human evolution.

Bath Bomb Dictionary Corner: market-maker (n) a corporate middle-man, purchasing shares from a seller and holding them until such a time as a

buyer becomes available

Bath Activist Network are a local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development, environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights,

workers’ rights and more. Helping to produce the Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to anarchists,

liberals and greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better. For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, email

bathactivistnet[at]yahoo.co.uk or see our website: www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

Theory Corner: On Lawful Rebellion And Resistance

There’s been a lot of talk recently about producing a claim of right and declaring our independence as individuals, which we can do under article

61 of the Magna Carta. This is an approach to resistance that was chosen, among others, by market anarchist Mike Gogulski, who, after having fled

from fascist America, decided to send a form of citizenship renunciation. Other renunciants include members of the nationalist UK Independence

Party.

While escaping the state’s grasping hands is certainly legitimate, anarcho-syndicalist Michael Bindner has argued that this was far from enough in

the long term. One is free, an entire class remains in subjection. Also at issue is the ability of a person to renounce citizenship. Hence whether

article 61 is meaningful, for instance, for the poor who actually need benefits to survive?

This author is also annoyed at the positivism of the whole affair. That is, one is allowed to be left alone, not because he has a right to, but

because it was written down centuries ago. What if it hadn’t been included in the Magna Carta? Too bad, let’s go get tea now?

Lawful rebellion is a good tool if you already are a mostly independent individual, like capitalist Gogulski above; but it is not founded in law

because governing without consent is not lawful anyway. Therefore, the process is here stood on its head: whereas your consent should be required

before you get citizenship, you have to go to the length of renouncing it. Since living under the government was never validated by any process

where refusal was possible and meaningful, it follows that no one is truly a citizen, yet.

Therefore, renouncing citizenship is a recognition that one was actually a citizen – I’m a hostage; also, that the Magna Carta creates our rights

– my rights are natural and do not depend on an old piece of paper; finally, that the government respects our rights – when what it does is

writing down what we will have and what we won’t.

For those reasons, I find lawful rebellion disturbing to say the least, and enjoin everyone to build up free communities instead; the very act of

which will make an actual citizen out of you, rather than a hostage passively paying bills and inserting a piece of paper in a box every few

years.

Lappersfort Gets Evicted – Who Threw The First Bank Note?

On the 4th of March, the Belgian authorities evicted the occupiers of the Lappersfort forest, in the name of the property rights of Fabricom, the

‘owner’ of that forest. The forest has been occupied since 2001. It was a stronghold of activist resistance, and a wonder for all those who

cherish nature and self-sufficiency.

Beyond the pain and the rage, I would be interested to know who Fabricom ‘bought’ the forest from? And how was it ‘their’ forest? How do you even

sell a forest? How do you own it? I wish we were back in the day when common sense had a chance in this world.

Today, in the case of the Black Cat, we see the same folly in the form of the publicly-owned Newark Works. I believe you will find this phrasing

is incorrect. The public stands in the same relation to this building as Fabricom did to the Lappersfort forest: they are outsiders. They have

never touched the Works and they probably never will, not in the collective fashion that is entailed by the word ‘public’. Use and homesteading

being the basis of ownership in land, it follows occupiers and squatters were more the owners than their remote (but wealthy) opponents.

It is also wrong to assume that the public chose to buy this building; the Council did. A minority of individuals pretending to represent the

public, against the very plain fact that an individual is a world unto themself, and therefore unable to be fully and accurately represented by

anyone.

How did the Council get their hands on the two and half million pounds for the purchase? Well, they seem to have a system in place whereby they

simply state the amount of money they need, and take it, without leaving the taxpayers free to refuse, with only vague promises of change every

few years.

This act of theft obviously cannot be considered legitimate; therefore, the Council does not own the money that was used to acquire the Newark

Works, even on the flawed representative system terms. So let’s give a toast to the wealthy thieves who believe throwing bank notes at people

gives them a title in land.

And Now A Word From Our Sponsors…

Anti-aviation campaigning group Plane Stupid have issued a ‘Get Your Sticker On!’ 48-hour subvertising competition to take place in towns up and

down the land from Thursday the 22nd to Friday 23rd of April. As currently contested over the proposed expansion of Bristol Airport, the industry

loves to pretend that they are just responding to the public’s desires by offering ever more flights, ever more noise and ever more emissions.

But, like tobacco advertising, flying promotion needs to become a thing of the past. Until then, let’s subvertise! For the beginners amongst you,

you can download designs from Plane Stupid’s Flickr site to stick over existing adverts – or of course DIYourself. They then advise to take some

pics, set up a temporary anonymous address at an internet cafe, and e-mail your handiwork to info[at]planestupid.com. The group who stickers the

most images in 48 hours wins prizes!

And words from the wise: “Use your head, and remember to dress well for the occasion – caps and scarfs are just the thing for subvertising season.

Some officers of the law may be convinced that subvertising is borderline illegal, so take a friend as lookout, keep an eye open for CCTV and

don’t get caught.”

http://www.nobristolairportexpansion.co.uk/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/planestupid
https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2007/12/388098.html?c=on
http://www.bugaup.org/

http://www.graphicattack.org.uk/

Earth First! Summer Gathering, 4th – 9th Aug 2010, Derbyshire – location & programme announced/set-up plans & call-out

Ecological Direct Action without Compromise

5 days of workshops, skill sharing and planning action, plus low-impact living without leaders.

Meet people, learn skills, take action.

For latest details, see http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/
Set-up plans & call-out
Location
Programme

Ecological Direct Action without Compromise

5 days of workshops, skill sharing and planning action, plus low-impact living without leaders.

Meet people, learn skills, take action.

For latest details, see http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/
Set-up plans & call-out
Location
Programme
Want to do something to stop our planet from getting trashed?

EF! is about direct action to halt the destruction of the Earth. It’s about doing it yourself rather than relying on leaders, governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of it, whether you’re standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an open-cast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

We’re a loose network of people, groups and campaigns coming together for ecological direct action.

Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions, run without leaders by everyone who comes along. The gathering is also a practical example of low-impact eco-living and non-hierarchical organising.

What’s happening?
Over 80 workshops, discussions, planning, strategy and ‘where next’ sessions:

*Share and learn skills for kick-ass actions on land and water.
Small boat handling and blockading using kayaks / Blockading – tripods, lock-ons/ Fences / Climbing skills / Action reconnaissance / Security for Activists / Strategy and tactics / How to research corporations /

*Network current campaigns against ecological destruction
Open-cast mining / Genetic engineering / Agrofuels / Saving Iceland / Climate actions / Pipeline resistance in Rossport / Anti-nuclear / Airport expansion/ Tar Sands

*Think about eco-centric ethics and alternative ways of organising
Deep green ethics / Anarchist economics / Anarchist history / Radical Politics / Working without leaders/ Consensus decision-making

*Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living.
Introduction to Ecology / Restoration ecology / Flora and Fauna identification / Vegan Cake making / Power from solar and wind / wild food / Squatting / Bike maintenance

As well as international campaigns round-up, networking and planning for future actions.

Cost and practical things
£20-30 according to what you can afford.
The gathering is in Derbyshire, the exact location will be announced the week before. More info on our website.

Find out more and join in!

Email us if you can offer a workshop, want to help out with the gathering or if you would like posters and leaflets to distribute.

We have now a stack of freshly printed posters advertising the gathering. If you’d like to send you some to stick up in your area or to take to events, festivals and the like, please email us. Alternatively you can also download the files and print your own. They are fairly large files! EF! gathering poster (A4)

We are now looking for people to run workshops and discussions at the gathering. Please contact us if you can offer something. Have a look at our programme page to see the kind of thing we’re looking for.

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk, summergathering _ NOSPAM _ @ _ NOSPAM earthfirst.org.uk

Shell apologises

Shell Apologises for Human Rights Violations in Niger Delta

The Hague, 27 March 2010

Today, Royal Dutch Shell is holding back the tears no more. Shell apologises to all inhabitants of Nigeria’s Niger Delta for the many years of human rights violations, for which Shell takes full responsibility.

Shell Apologises for Human Rights Violations in Niger Delta

The Hague, 27 March 2010

Confronted with massive evidence of human rights violations that can only be attributed to its operations in the Niger Delta, Royal Dutch Shell is extremely proud to be the first international petrochemical company to publicly say:

We are sorry.

Since Shell first discovered oil in the Niger Delta in 1956, the company has ravished the land and polluted the environment. “We thought these people didn’t know what was good for them,” explains Bradford Houppe, Vice-President of Shell’s newly established Ethical Affairs Committee. “We never knew that we were bringing them impoverishment, conflict, abuse and deprivation. Now we know.” Shell acknowledges that it is responsible for large-scale oil spills, waste dumping and gas flaring. Each year, hundreds of oil spills occur, many of which are caused by corrosion of oil pipes and poor maintenance of infrastructure. “Our failure to deal with these spills swiftly and the lack of effective clean-up greatly exacerbate their human rights and environmental impact,” says Houppe. “And that is wrong. It’s just really wrong.”

More than 60 per cent of the people in the Niger Delta depend on the natural environment for their livelihood. But due to the oil pollution, many of them use polluted water to drink and to cook and wash with, and eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins. Oil spills and waste dumping have also seriously damaged agricultural land.

The destruction of livelihoods and the lack of redress have led people to steal oil and vandalise oil infrastructure in an attempt to gain compensation or clean-up contracts. Armed groups engage in large-scale theft of oil and the ransoming of oil workers. Government reprisals frequently involve excessive force and the collective punishment of communities, thus deepening general anger and resentment.

Between 2005 and 2008, the Nigerian government received around $36 billion in taxes and royalties from Shell. “They have never, not in the slightest, held us to account for all the wrong we did,” says Houppe. “So without taking back any of our apologies, by all means: blame them too!”

A comprehensive Plan of Action, featuring general apologies, detailed apologies, apologies in Braille and apologies in rhyme that Shell employees will hang on the walls in their offices, will be presented at Shell’s Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2010 in The Hague.

http://shellapologises.com/

Plane Stupid issues 48hr subvertising challenge

It’s that time of year when every airline starts aggressively advertising for your business. Well, we’ve had enough. Plane Stupid is inviting all of you to take part in its very own subvertising competition. From Thursday 22nd April – Friday 23rd April, we’ll be launching 48 hours of sticker-whacking, subvertising, adbusting pandemonium.

The aviation industry spends millions every year telling us that we’re no good to anyone unless we keep flying with them. So it’s time to hit back! Like tobacco adverts, aviation advertising needs to become a thing of the past. But until then, let’s subvertise. Any poster, advert or billboard is fair game.

Whether you’re a first time activist looking for an easy way-in, or an old timer looking for some light relief………it’s time to take to the streets and reclaim some public space. Taking part is easy:

1. You can download a choice of designs from our Flickr site, or use your design skills to make your own.
2. Print them out on standard, non divided, A4 sticker paper (available from most printers and stationers).
3. Then find your nearest aviation advertisement.
4. Stick ’em up punk!
5. Take photographs, set up a new temporary email address in an internet cafe (under a pseudonym) and email your images to info@planestupid.com.

The group who stickers the most adverts in the 48 hour period wins. Wins what? Prizes! We got the bumper crop of 5 spray cans, Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn, Do It Yourself, A handbook for changing our world, by the Trapese Collective and Scribbleboy by Philip Ridley to give away.

Of course don’t feel limited to individual stickers, think big! You can write your own message on large stretches of blank wall paper to cover whole bill boards. Make up some wall paper paste, get a paint roller, a stick it up. If necessary – attach the roller to a broom handle for those hard to reach places. Helpfully, there’s some great how-to guides on t’internet.

One last point. Please be respectful about where you sticker. Corporate nasties are fine…..but the local old people’s homes may not appreciate your art on their walls!

Use your head, and remember to dress well for the occasion – caps and scarves are the in thing this subvertising season. Some officers of the law may be convinced that subvertising is borderline illegal, so take a friend as lookout, keep an eye open for CCTV and don’t get caught.

Rapid Technology Transfer Group to take over the Earth Centre

A campaign has been running to reclaim the earth centre in doncaster as a community skill share centre. It has come to light that the local council and a conglomorate of many multinationals has been planning a take over. They deal in chemicals, construction, nuclear, engineering, audiovisual, 3D tech, aerospace, defense and a whole lot more.

They planned an open day to our knowledge this has not been publicised and very few people in the community are aware so in order that the community not be excluded again! We feel it important to share this information and urge you to attend:

Earthw rks
Development Planning 2010
First Quarter – Open Days – Tuesday, February 9th and Wednesday, March 31st
This is an open invitation to all organisations and individuals willing to contribute expertise to restore the site of the former Earth Centre as a national resource for researching, understanding and practising sustainability.

Please e-mail mike@therttg.org to register and receive full details. Outdoor wear is recommended. Photography for personal use is permitted in all areas.

for more details of this situation please see http://welovetheearthcentre.blogspot.com