Culture Jamming/Subvertising – Page 4

Buy Nothing Day (Bristol, Birmingham, Falmouth, Leeds, Lincoln, Sheffield…) – Steal Something Day (everywhere)

Bristol: To buy, or not to buy…

Saturday November 28th is Buy Nothing Day (UK). It’s a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from shopping and anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending!

Everything we buy has an impact on the environment. Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of shopping. The developed countries – only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth’s natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and an unfair distribution of wealth.

As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? The argument is infinite – while it continues we should be looking for simple solutions and Buy Nothing Day is a good place to start.

As last year’s buy nothing day was a huge success in the city centre, we will be doing the same event again – a free shop, where people can take away things for free. We will be right at the heart of the mad shopping world that is Broadmead.

Helping people think about the material world we live in, and making conscious decisions in the way we exploit the world, its people and the natural resources.

Bring musical instruments, things to give away in the free shop, chalk, and your lovely self!

Hope to see you there.

Happy 10th Buy Nothing Day!

Buy Nothing Day started in North America in the early 90’s and has grown to an international day celebrated in over 50 countries. The Buy Nothing Day UK website went online in January 2000. We’re not quite 10 years old, but on November 28th Buy Nothing Day will be just 10 days young – another reason to celebrate the frugal festival.

http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/

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Birmingham: We are holding our 8th annual Santa Parade in Birmingham City Centre for Buy Nothing Day on 28th November at 12:00 noon. Email: joe (at) birminghamfoe.org.uk. For last years parade click here.

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Falmouth:
Free Shop
Kernow Action Now! a new direct action group in Cornwall will be launching what will become a regular Freeshop on Buy Nothing Day. The Freeshop will be from 1pm outside the old Woolworths in Falmouth, Cornwall.

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Leeds:

Buy Nothing Day is trying to make people think about the goods they buy – think before you shop! We are NOT asking you to go without milk if you run out. Instead, before you buy think about where things come from, how they got here, what resources were used to make them and: do you REALLY need them?

The idea is to encourage people that instead of buying something for Christmas they could make something (see our alternative Christmas gifts for ideas). There is so much advertising saying BUY THIS we thought that there should be some saying BUY NOTHING.

Last year we had Christmas Carols, a free shop, food and all for free in Briggate. Lots of people interested in the concept and lots of cups of tea.

Join us.

See website below for meetings or come to Briggate – 11am

http://www.greenactionleeds.org.uk/buy-nothing-day-09

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Lincoln:

My Dads Strip Club out again on Buy-Nothing-Day-Release, this time three events in three days in the city of Lincoln.

Thurs 26 Nov 2009 8-10pm Dog and Bone, St Johns St, Lincoln.
BITE THE HAND feeds thoughts of breaking conditioned responses … subverting systems upon themselves… interrupting needless consumption… and cutting off the power. Enjoy an evening at the Dog and Bone with My Dads Strip Club as they demonstrate to you ‘the art of reclaiming space’. Putting embarrassment aside, they will address the delicate subject of carnal knowledge of Coke machines. The comedy in the work runs very close to anger, and excites all kinds of stuff in on-lookers.

Fri 27 Nov 2009 5.30-7.30 pm at the Healthy Hub cafe Beaumont Fee
(after The 4pm Mini-Wave happening at the cathedral )
FROM DIRTY CASH TO CLEAN GREEN come watch us try to navigate our way out of the chaos of climate change through drawing and performance capturing the connections between slag heaps and supermodels green-washing and the titanic and our flooded out cumbrian towns. Sound by FLOTEL.

Sat 28 Nov 2009 at various locations in the city of Lincoln.
GOOD SHIT DOESN’T HAVE TO COST THE EARTH Making our annual dis-functional attempt to relate to the shopping experience MDSC will try to coerce innocent shoppers to break their addiction to mass produced poorly made products (cheap-shit) instead offering for sale alternative organic and sustainable high-priced merchandise. Meet us for a report back at the Dog and Bone pub 1pm sharp.

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Lincoln Mini Wave – meet Friday 4pm outside Lincoln Cathedral. The event is in solidarity with mobilisations around the UN conference in Copenhagen www.ecolincs.org
Buy Nothing Day – sabotage the shopping
www.buynothingday.co.uk
www.dogandbonelincoln.co.uk – Best community pub in Great Britain award 2009

http://www.mydadstripclub.com

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Consumer Virus Outbreak, Sheffield

Meet by the statue in the main Meadowhall concourse at 1pm and do anything but shop!
We know that sweet tasty braaaains will be short supply during the run up to Christmas, but let’s see what we can do … Zombies and outbreak cleanup crew are all welcome : bring friends, costumes, signs and fake blood aplenty!!!
A facebook event page can be found here : www.facebook.com
FEEL FREE TO INVITE FRIENDS : ALL ARE WELCOME IN THE ZOMBIE HOARD!!!

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Steal Something Day

“…Unlike Buy Nothing Day, when people are asked to “participate by not participating,” Steal Something Day demands that we “participate by participating.” Instead of downplaying or ignoring the capitalists, CEOs, landlords, small business tyrants, bosses, PR hacks, yuppies, media lapdogs, corporate bureaucrats, politicians and cops who are primarily responsible for misery and exploitation in this world, Steal Something Day demands that we steal from them, without discrimination….

…Unlike the misplaced Buy Nothing Day notion of consumer empowerment, Steal Something Day promotes empowerment by urging us to collectively identify the greedy bastards who are actually responsible for promoting misery and boredom in this world. Instead of ignoring them, Steal Something Day encourages us to make their lives as uncomfortable as possible.

As we like to say in Montreal: diranger les riches dans leurs niches!

And remember, we’re talking about stealing, not theft. Stealing is just. Theft is exploitative. Stealing is when you take a yuppie’s BMW for a joyride, and crash into a parked Mercedes just for the hell of it. Theft is when you take candy from a baby’s mouth.

Stealing is the re-distribution of wealth from rich to poor Theft is making profits at the expense of the disadvantaged and the natural environment. Stealing is an unwritten a tax on the rich. Theft is taxing the poor to subsidize the rich. Stealing is nothing more than a tax on the rich. There is solidarity in stealing, but property is nothing but theft….”

For the full original text and call-out, go to http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/432

EARTH FIRST! WINTER MOOT: 5th – 7th Feb 2010, County Durham – exact location released, & other info (incl. for cyclists)

EARTH FIRST! WINTER MOOT
6pm Fri 5th – Sun 7th Feb 2010
North-east England

“A weekend of networking, reflection, strategic discussions & campaign planning for anyone involved in ecological direct action who believes in non-hierarchical organisation and directly confronting the forces responsible for the destruction of the Earth and its inhabitants”

EARTH FIRST! WINTER MOOT
6pm Fri 5th – Sun 7th Feb 2010
North-east England

Venue:
The Winter Moot will be taking place at the Dipton Community Centre, Front Street (A692), Dipton, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 9DR. Further information on getting there can be found via the How to get there link (now including cycling directions).

New poster to download
New flyer to download

Details of EF! Winter Moot announced:

The Earth First! Winter moot is an opportunity for people who feel affiliation with the ideas behind Earth First! to network, discuss and reflect on the UK ecological direct action movement and to plan for the future. Earth First! is about direct action to halt the destruction of the Earth. We believe we can make a real difference by doing it ourselves rather than relying on leaders, governments or industry.

This years Earth First! Winter Moot will be taking place in Co. Durham on the weekend of 6/7th February. As well as evaluations and updates from a number of ecological campaigns from around the country, this year we will have a themed event – The Crisis: evaluation, analysis and possible responses. We will be exploring the interactions between the various ecological, financial and resource crises, examining our own conceptions and experiences of crisis, then tying it altogether to find a way forward using non-hierarchical approaches.

We will also be hosting a discussion on how Earth First and the Camp for Climate Action intersect, to deal with quite a number of issues that emerged at the EF! Summer Gathering, including issues of generational understanding, anarchism vs. liberalism, are we seperate networks, and how can we go forward together in the future. This debate will be taking from 6.15-7.30pm on the Saturday evening of the Moot, and is open to all.

Everyone welcome

If your campaign (local or national) is interested in participating in the feedback please get in touch.

The venue will be accessible, and parent-friendly. Vegan food provided. Suggested donation for the weekend is £20. The venue will be announced one week beforehand so keep an eye on the website for details; however, for those who want to purchase advance tickets, the nearest station will be Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

For more information visit http://earthfirst.org.uk/ & http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/2010moot/front.html
Tel: 0777 114 2131

1. It is in doors with communal sleeping areas (no camping – we’re not that mad 🙂 )

2. The actual venue will be announced a week before hand, so please check the website then, or email us.

For enquiries, offers of facilitation & help, ideas for workshops and TO LET US KNOW YOU ARE COMING! email : wintermoot@earthfirst.org.uk

More about the Moot
The EF! Winter Moot is an opportunity for people who feel affiliation with the ideas behind Earth First! to network, discuss and reflect on the UK ecological direct action movement and to plan for the future.

Following a popular discussion at 2009’s EF! Summer Gathering 2010’s Moot also aims to hold discussions on the theme of “readying ourselves for unpredictability and instability in the UK and globally”. The current & impending crises of economics, ecology, energy & society fundamentally alter the terrain of struggle; this in turn impacts both the practice and possibilities for a radical ecological movement.

2010’s Winter Moot is to be held in County Durham, an area with a large number of opencast coal mines, both active and at the application stage. The weekend will include opportunities to meet with activists involved locally in campaigns against these.

Cost including vegan food & crash-pad accommodation £20-£30 (depending what you can afford-but please don’t blag-even the organisers will pay).

If you have particular accommodation, access or dietary needs or are bringing children it would help us to know as soon as possible so we can plan suitable facilities; whoever you are please do try & drop us an email at least a week in advance so we can gauge how many to cater for.

www.earthfirst.org.uk

Hot off the press and packed with Direct Action – the new Earth First! Action Update is out!

Rebellion, a spark in search of a powder keg – the new Action Update is out, the quarterly round-up of ecological direct action from the UK and beyond.

What’s in this issue?

Rebellion, a spark in search of a powder keg – the new Action Update is out, the quarterly round-up of ecological direct action from the UK and beyond.

What’s in this issue?
Old King Coal meets his Match, but the Nuclear Empire Strikes Back! Read tales of flotillas, bishop-bashing, blockades and occupations as the Rebel Alliance takes on the Empire. The rebels have also been hanging around in nets and on platforms, occupying and locking-on at coal terminals, and passionately attacking power station fences around the world, trying to shut ’em down. Mainshill protest camp continues to pro-actively resist open-cast mining – they climb, occupy, and by night, anonymous pixies sabotage. Who knows when they sleep – with a strong alliance with local villagers, they welcome YOU to come and play anytime, with a gathering at the end of October.

Want more? Radio-towers toppled, dams and trucks seized, naked oil streaks and green smears in defence of the wild, a shit dumped with shit…resistance to peat mining, genetic engineering, logging and Shell in Ireland, and for Vestas wind turbine factory and workers on the Isle of Wight.

Still not enough? Stopping Tesco, climate campaigning successes, runway invasions, more ecotage, and the EF! Winter Moot, plus contacts and upcoming dates.

To download your copy go to this website:

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_oct09.pdf

If you want paper copies to distribute, contact us at: actionupdate@earthfirst.org.uk or pick up a bunch from our stall at the Anarchist Bookfair in London. To print your own, download from http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_oct09print.pdf

Wanted: We are very skint! Please send us some dosh to help us pay for the printing.
Cheques can be made out to Earth First! Action Update, and posted to The Basement, 78a Penny St, Lancaster LA1 1XN

Love and Rage
Your Action Update collective

Reclaim the Earth Centre at Doncaster – People needed for planned occupation

The Earth Centre in Doncaster has been left to ruin for 5 years. We intend to take it back. This site now owned by the council was developed to be a sustainable living education centre and community farm. It is currently being used as a firing range by weapon enthusiasts Cerberus Airsoft.

The Earth Centre was developed on derelict land left over from former coal pits, it was intended to be the museum for the millenium. Initial plans were for a gradual development of the site, incorporating community-led projects and with much construction work being undertaken by Mowlem, who used the site to train apprentices. The first stage of that project opened in 1994, including a sustainable aquaculture centre and a community farm.

In 1995 the Millennium Commission made an award to Earth Centre, which became one of its Landmark Millennium projects. The site was completely redesigned and virtually all existing landscaping and projects were destroyed, which lost the goodwill of the local community who felt excluded from the project. From 1996 work progressed on the remediation of the remaining polluted land and the design and construction of the many buildings and exhibitions.

In September 2004 the attraction closed to the public, and only pre-booked school parties were allowed. By the end of October, the Earth Centre, monument to Sustainability, was to the money men un-sustainable and was put in the hands of administrators. It is now in the hands of the Council who surprise surprise have made no effort to return it to its original intent. Instead the council chooses to allow access to Cerberus Airsoft a company specialising in providing war games and shooting outings to a select membership group. General public will be thrown off by the police!!

We think that this is an amazing site and the original concept behind the Earth Centre is a fantastically intelligent way of educating communities about sustainable living. It is now the time to return the Earth Centre to the people.

We need support in many forms to make this happen. To begin with we need people to come and help occupy the site, we will need tools and volunteers. This is a great opportunity for anyone that has been wanting to live in a community, in an eco village setting and a real chance to put South Yorkshire on the map for environmental education and lifestyle.

We’re planning a swoop on the site and then aim to transform it so that everyone can use it and benefit from its resources.

Please help contact – thereismore2lfefolks@yahoo.co.uk

This is a very urgent matter!
The following story was published in local paper ‘Peterborough Today’ 15 February 2007

DONCASTER Council is poised to sell off the ill-fated Earth Centre to developers after admitting running costs mean it would be “extremely unlikely” it could be used by community groups.
The probable fate of the 200 remaining acres of the former £38 million green visitor attraction was revealed in the council’s Corporate Asset Management Plan, presented to councillors last week.
The Earth Centre has been mothballed with 24-hour security patrols since it was wound up in 2004.
The Asset Management Plan presented to a meeting of the Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Panel describes the Earth Centre as “extremely unlikely to find sustainable use from community or other not for profit groups because of the very high cost of running and maintaining both the buildings and the grounds.” The report goes on to say that a “disposal solution” would be the “only viable option” for the site.
Ripon-based Pearson Developments Limited have submitted a planning application to build 300 houses, flats and offices on 17.5 acres of the 30 acres the company bought from the Millennium Commission. This land includes the former car park area and the lodge facilities.
Doncaster Council owns the remainder of the 200-plus acre site, including greenbelt land and the showpiece conference centre and galleries.
Their report adds: “Adjacent land owned by the Millennium Commission was sold in spring 2006 to a developer and discussions are in hand regarding a possible sale of the council’s landholding potentially to the same developer.”
Former Earth Centre member Bernard Pearson said: “All the money spent there was spent by the Millennium Commission from lottery money – I think the people who have paid into this should be taken into consideration. I don’t think the Council has tried very hard to get rid of it.”
Mr Pearson, who claims the maintenance bill for the site is in the region of £30,000 per month, added of the likely sell-off: “I think it is sad but it was what one would expect after two and a half years. I would look forward to seeing what proposals are put forward for the site. A lot of public money was invested in the site and I would hope the public will get something out of the arrangements.”
Opened in March 1999 as one of the Government’s flagship millennium projects, the Earth Centre was originally billed as an ‘environmental theme park’.
But the projected visitor numbers failed to appear. A relaunch in 2001 saw the centre rebranded to appeal to business and education users, but its fortunes did not revive enough for the attraction to break even. It went into liquidation in 2004 and has been mothballed ever since.
Nobody at Doncaster Council was available for comment this week.

We will not allow this to happen action must be taken!

The Earth Centre is key in educating the world about the effects of climate change and sustainable living solutions

Check out what it’s got to offer!

• 80% of building materials were either reclaimed or recycled
• Europe’s largest flat-foot photovoltaic installation.1,300m2 canopy containing 250 photovoltaic panels – generating 80,000 KW of electricity per year and would run the systems and the galleries.
• Conference centre constructed largely from reclaimed materials including telegraph poles, crushed concrete, glass and radiators.
• A shop and café area
• 6500m2 black box gallery space conditioned through an underground thermal store called the Labyrinth
• “Living Machine” sewage treatment plant. A local water treatment system processing all waste water coming from Earth Centre toilets, basins and kitchens, operating entirely through biological reactions, using both bacteria and nutrient-demanding tropical plants in the warmth of a greenhouse.
• Fully integrated network of water management that incorporates rainwater harvesting and the treatment, storage and recycling of water for use in irrigation and water features and as a wildlife habitat.
• 100,000 new trees including 15 acres of willow as well as some ancient woodlands, two rivers and a variety of ecological grasslands and wetlands
• Demonstrations of organic gardening methods, fruit orchards, willow sculptures, forest and bog gardens, and other flower and sculptural gardens

All this and a pirate ship!

……Attention……
We need support for the takeover of the Earth Centre, we intend to transform it into a camp for sustainable living and community activism contact us now! A swoop date will be announced soon.

Nuclear New Build Blessed by Bishop of Cumbria

The Bishop of Carlisle ( which includes all of Cumbria) has given his blessing to the “green future” of nuclear new build.

We will be in Carlisle on 10th Oct to witness his inauguration at the Cathedral and make clear that nuclear is as far away from a green future as it is possible to get.

Remember the story of Turning the tables over in the Temple at defunct moral compass ?

The Bishop of Carlisle ( which includes all of Cumbria) has given his blessing to the “green future” of nuclear new build.

We will be in Carlisle on 10th Oct to witness his inauguration at the Cathedral and make clear that nuclear is as far away from a green future as it is possible to get.

Remember the story of Turning the tables over in the Temple at defunct moral compass ?

If you would like to join us please contact me on rafl@mariannebirkby.plus.com

more info below……

http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/anti_nuke_cathedral_protest_1_604487?referrerPath=home/search_results_page_2_1681

http://web.mac.com/mariannebirkby1/iWeb/Radiation%20Free%20Lakeland/Update%20on%20Open%20Letter%20to%20Carlisle%27s%20pro-nuke%20Bishop.html

EF! summer gathering – exact location, travel info & updated workshop programme announced; coal-blighted communities visit

Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18th-24th August 2009, Cumbria

Never has halting the destruction of our planet been so important… Learn how to make them stop!

The gathering this year will be held at Seathwaite in the beautiful Borrowdale. The site is right in the heart of the Lake District and surrounded by mountains, streams and tarns. The nearest train station is Penrith. More detailed directions, public transport, walks & cycle rides to the site

Workshop programme in a variety of formats

Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18th-24th August 2009, Cumbria

Never has halting the destruction of our planet been so important… Learn how to make them stop!

Workshop programme in a variety of formats

WHO
Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we’re standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically

WHAT
Planning actions and campaigns, meeting and sharing skills with others who care. Over 80 training workshops plus games and evening fun:
• Learn skills for direct action. Tree Climbing, Orienteering, Security for activists, Legal briefing, Escaping public order situations, street medics – first aid, self defence, Boat blockading using kayaks, radio procedures and rock abseiling.
• Network your campaign against ecological destruction. opencast mining, genetic engineering, agrofuels, dam-building, hunt-sabbing, climate actions, oil pipeline resistance, road stopping, anti-whaling, squatting, rainforest protection.
• Learn about ecology, ecocentric ethics and alternatives to the corporate world of exploitation.
• Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living, field trips and hands-on work.

YOU
We are all crew! This is your gathering come prepared to help run the camp and contribute to the programme. Contact us in advance with ideas for workshops, help with organising the gathering, come early to help setup the site or stay on for a couple of days for takedown.
If you can help get in touch!

BRING
Bring tent and sleeping bag. You can either cook food for yourself or for £4 per day chip in with collective cooking of delicious vegan organic food. There’ll be quiet sleeping areas, toilets and running water, a children’s space and spaces for workshops and info stalls.
Veggies will provide vegan cake and snacks. Children and young adults welcome with subsidized meals.

Arrive Tues pm. Workshops from Wed am until Sun pm.

Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summer’s EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.

An excursion to visit communities in the North East threatened by an expansion of coal mining on Monday 24th August. Visit beautiful valleys and strong spirited communities and make links for ongoing resistance.

We aim to make the site as accessible as we can please contact us in advance if you have special needs, questions or concerns.

WHERE
The site is near in the Lake District, Cumbria. The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp.

Dogs: We are fortunate this year to be able to accommodate well behaved owners with dogs on leads but think about whether your dog will feel comfortable in workshops. Please call beforehand so we know numbers.

Cost: £20 – £30 according to what you can afford. We are not for profit all extra cash goes to help fund next year. Under 14’s free.

For more info contact us at :
summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk
www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk

Camp for Climate Action Scotland

There is no time to act but now! Come to the Camp for Climate Action in Scotland 3-10 August

For a week of low-impact living and high-impact direct action, keep 3-10 August free and join us in Scotland to take direct action against the root causes of climate change and ecological collapse. This summer the struggle against a capitalist system intent on extinguishing life on the planet will hit the Firth of Forth!

What’s happening:

We’re going to set up camp somewhere around the Firth of Forth, a part of the central belt of Scotland littered with power stations, corporate HQs, gas and oil refineries, open cast coal mines, a nuclear power station and a cement factory. We want you to join us to hold the people and systems responsible for climate change to account.

The camp will focus on supporting groups of people taking action against a whole range of targets. If you’re coming with a group of friends that’s great – we’ll help you choose targets and actions, and if you’re coming alone there will be plenty of opportunity to meet other people to work and take action with.

The camp will have as low an ecological impact as possible so expect compost toilets, grey water systems and micro-renewable energy. There will be kitchens on site where campers will make three meals a day so there’s no need to bring any food or cooking equipment. Organised horizontally, the camp will provide lots of opportunities to get involved, be creative and practical and learn new skills. There will be workshops, discussions and opportunities to link up with other people, groups and campaigns.

We hope to work with and in solidarity with local communities and ongoing campaigns around the camp’s locality to build on what others are already doing and for the camp to have long-lasting positive impacts.

How to get there:

The location of the site will be announced just before the start of the camp – check here or phone the info number which will be available shortly before the 3rd for directions to the camp. If you’re coming by public transport get yourself to Edinburgh Waverley or Glasgow Central train stations and be prepared to travel – info-points will tell you the train station to get to and how to get there. There will be shuttle buses from the nearest train station to the camp. If you can’t make all of the camp, just come along for a day, a weekend or whatever you can.

What to bring:

Camping gear – a tent, sleeping bag and mat, practical clothing and footwear. Be prepared for rain and sun. Banners and decorations to make our site beautiful and anything else that you would like to see. But most importantly, bring all of your friends!

We will also be asking for donations to cover costs of food and expenses for the camp. Suggested amounts will be made available closer to the time.

What not to bring:

It is possible that you will be searched by police on entering the site – penknives and anything that may be construed as a weapon is best left behind. You may also want to protect your personal details but remember, if you don’t bring a cash card, bring enough cash to cover your transport, food donations etc.

Know your rights!

Checkout the websites below for some advice on dealing with the police.
http://www.faslane365.org/en/legal
http://www.g8legalsupport.info/guide/

Up to date legal information and advice will be available at the camp.

Children:

Are most welcome and there will be a kids space that people will be able to volunteer for.

Dogs:

If you bring dog(s) please take responsibility for them. We ask that you keep them on a lead as there have been incidents at past camps that we’d prefer to avoid.

If you want more information or to get in touch email us on climatecampscotland@riseup.net

See you there!

Come to our next meeting!

Edinburgh, Wednesday 29th July, 12:00-16:00, Forest Cafe Action Room, 3 Bristo Place

in the meantime, get yourself down to Mainshill Solidarity Camp!
See: http://coalactionedinburgh.noflag.org.uk/

Greenwash Guerrillas confront the Guardian – Mon 15 Jun 09

Dateline: theguardian CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 2009, Hotel Russell, London, UK, 08:30-09:30, Mon 15 Jun 09 – Despite climate criminal corporation E.ON’s efforts to bag billions of quid from the British State to build new filthy dirty coal fired power stations at Kingsnorth, north Kent and elsewhere, the Guardian still too

* theguardian MULTICULTURAL SUMMIT 2009, sponsored by the BNP?
* theguardian GEOGRAPHY SUMMIT 2009, sponsored by the Flat Earth Society?
* theguardian ABORTION RIGHTS SUMMIT 2009, sponsored by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children?

The Greenwash Guerillas, London Brigade, Detection Platoon #1 could not let this obscenity go un-protested!

Vidz at YouTube

• Greenwash Guerrillas – 1. Action
» youtube.com/watch?v=NzEASynZxck

• Greenwash Guerrillas – 2. Interviews
» youtube.com/watch?v=M5A6NYpvArs

An excellent full colour spoof edition of the Guardian, using the newspaper’s own articles from the last year to expose the destructive role E.ON is playing in the UK’s fight against climate change, was available en mass for distribution to summit attendees, and a couple of plucky comrades infiltrated the venue early doors to distribute them.

Greenwash Guerillas actions work best without interference from the filth, but because this event had already attracted activist attention…
• Greenwash Alert – Guardian Climate Change Summit (17 Apr 09)
» www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/leedsbradford/2009/04/427737.html
…a Press Release was published in advance…
• Greenwash Guerrillas Targeting Guardian Climate Change Summit (14 Jun 09)
» www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432268.html
…and sure enough Plod turned up mob-handed.

However… the cop-in-charge, a Sgt Saltmarsh – EK 10, was unlike any cop I’ve come across before – communicative, co-operative, open to compromise and negotiation, even charming, while at the same being controlling and coercive. As we donned our white ‘greenwash hazard’ suits in leafy Russell Square, he approached us and told us of the pen we’d be restricted to, on the opposite corner of a crossroads from the summit entrance to the Russell Rooms in the Russell Hotel, wherein the summit was being held. But… although he mentioned that our two infiltrator comrades were ejected from the venue, he said he’d made sure a copy of our spoof Guardian was on every attendees seat inside. Whether this was actually so remains unverified. And… I found it easy to negotiate freedom from being penned for media news gatherers (myself and a videographer documentary film-maker), such that when a couple of cop bottom-feeders tried to interfere with my recording the event on camera, I could say, “We’ve already secured a freedom arrangement for media workers with your sergeant – you need to speak to him,” which terminated their interference and put them on the defensive.

We initially occupied the wide pavement space outside the summit entrance, and lashed our TOXIC GREENWASH HAZARD banner to the railings flanking the Russell Rooms entrance. A hotel manager emerged and began taking it down – and in a later confab with Sgt Saltmarsh, got his smug grin wiped off his face (oh, for a sensitive rifle microphone!). While threatening us with arrests under Section 12, Public Order Act 1986, Sgt Saltmarsh agreed to compromise over the location of the protester pen, and got his underlings to drag crash barriers across Herbrand Street to opposite the Russell Rooms entrance. And two non-hazard-suited comrades were “allowed” to hand copies of our spoof Guardian to summit attendees as they arrived. But the modus operandi raison d’être of Greenwash Guerillas – consensually running e-scanners over arriving summit attendees, and interpreting the scanners’ “moop-moop-NEEK” noise as “TOXIC GREENWASH DETECTED”, as both a street-theatrical performance AND a serious conversation-starter – was completely negated by Sgt Saltmarsh’s impositions of Public Order Act conditions.

But… in conversations afterward, he intimated that his post-event intelligence report would emphasise how fluffy, peaceful, and (if only under the coercive threats of multiple Section 12 arrests) ultimately co-operative the Greenwash Guerillas were on this occassion. Who knows – maybe in future he’ll have no grounds for pre-judging our actions to entail a threat of “serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the life of the community”, and we can protest without arrest threats? But I’m not holding my breath, so to speak – better by far to only send advance Press Releases embargoed until the action’s start time, or only send them at the action’s start time, so we’ve a higher chance of peaceful protest without ANY interference and obstruction from the filth.

Whatever Next?
I recommend another Government of the Dead protest production:
“New” Labour Zombie Lunchtime Lurch
• Date: Thu 18 Jun 09, 13:00 & lurching onwards to 15:00
• Rendezvous: “New” Labour Party HQ, 39 Victoria St, London, SW1H 0HA
• Shout Out: Brown barely survived the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting on Mon 08 Jun 09. Since he’s hanging on for grim death, we can look forward to a period of “Zombie Dead Man Walking” government in the run up to an election. Can we take the power to the streets? YES WE CAN!!
• Who-What: The Government of the Dead will be sending a whole lurch of zombies down there to “New” Labour Party HQ on Thu 18 Jun, from 13:00 lunchtime, when zombies could be hungry. Zombies are not known for their sense of direction, so they could head off to Parliament and Downing Street at a slow shuffle, or they might end up staggering across St James’ Park to Buckingham Palace, demanding to be dissolved and put out of their misery.
• Dress Code: this can be ordinary clothes, but torn up or bloodstained is a good look, especially with trendy blairite suits; on the other hand, why not go for the gothic?
• Makeup: green/white pale skin, good healthy look for a zombie, blood, wounds, sores all recommended; PVC glue gives good skin-peel effect.
• Locomotion: SLOW, gets there in the end.
» Location & Public Transport Map: tinyurl.com/NLZLL-map
» Facebook Event Page: tinyurl.com/NLZLL-FB
» Web: tinyurl.com/GotDead-future

Galwegian’s are Reclaiming it’s Streets (Eire)

May 17, 2009

May 17, 2009
Yesterday afternoon, Galwegians and their friends from around the country and world came together on newly renamed (by us), Anti-Shop Street, to take back our space from the capitalist, consumerist culture which has taken over, with it’s bizarre ideas of a life dedicated to shopping, spending, buying and profit, so that we could share an experience of another world, where everything is free, people share and give food, fun, stuff and life, simply because they can and it just feels good!

“Free Food, Free Stuff, Free Fun, Free Social Interaction, Free World for Everyone”, was the chant of the day, encouraging everyone to join in the fun. ‘Feck Money’ could also be heard every now and again, amongst the joyful shouting and whooping! The event started at 1.30pm, when a ‘Really Really Free Market’, magically appeared out of nowhere; clothes, videos, toys, teddies, cards, matches, markers, crayons, zines and more were all decked out on a table and offered to bemused passers-by for free. Confused by the idea of free stuff, those who were afraid to ask were left wondering ‘what’s the catch?’ Needless to say, there was none. Just a group of people who believe in a better world where gifts can be given freely, and the only profit sought is the joy of making others happy. They were promptly joined by Galway Food-Not-Bombs, (who share vegetarian food, messages of peace and a better society, with the public), to feed the participants and onlookers with lovely vegetarian soup, bread and amazing cookies at the REAL recession busting price of no euros and no sense! Participants decorated Anti-Shop street with colourfull banners letting people know “Another World is Possible”, encouraging them to “Spend Less, Give More”, inviting them to “Celebrate Our Streets” and one suggesting that we should just “Feck Money!” Others decorated the ground, chalking messages such as “Capitalism Kills”, until the Gardai informed them it was illegal!

Galway Shell to Sea, who know all about the urgent need to reclaim control over our own lives, environment and resources, came out to participate and spread the word about the Rossport Solidarity Camp’s June Bank Holiday Gathering, coming up on May 29th.
Entertainment was abundant with random individuals showing off and teaching their juggling and poi skills, traditional Irish music, Capoeira dancing with accompanying music, people playing chess, others blowing bubbles, DIY art with home-made natural paints. And, how better to interact and have fun on our streets then to play Twister! Plus lots of other fun and random stuff…

It was about two hours before traffic wardens arrived to try and kill the fun. Unable to give out parking tickets, due to our inconsiderate lack of licence plate numbers, they made a poor attempt at taking our Twister. Then the Gardai were called in to deal with our menacing antics. The first Garda on the scene told us we had to move the Twister because we were blocking the street. We politely refused and argued that these were our streets and people seemed to be getting by just fine. Shortly thereafter, five to six guards huddled on the opposite corner, obviously a bit unsure of what they should or could do. They no doubt were grateful when the free water arrived in abundance from the sky. Not ready to give up just yet we continued on playing wet Twister for twenty minutes, taking full advantage of all the free water before wrapping it all up with a lot of cheering, clapping and a great sense of achievement. We had Reclaimed the Street if only for a few hours and we’ll do it again and again and again….

To find out more about Galway Reclaim the Streets or get involved in the next one contact thestreetgig@gmail.com

Camp Bling announces ‘the end’ as road scheme stopped.

Press release:

Camp Bling ‘Save Priory Park!’ road campaign

Thursday 30th April 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

—————————————————————————————

Camp Bling announces ‘the end’ as road scheme stopped.

Press release:

Camp Bling ‘Save Priory Park!’ road campaign

Thursday 30th April 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

—————————————————————————————

Camp Bling announces ‘the end’ as road scheme stopped.

Long running road protest and counter-cultural campaign site Camp Bling, based in the middle of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, is set to be decommissioned by the summer, after the long awaited announcement that the controversial Priory Crescent road widening has now officially been cancelled. (1)

Members of the camp met with Council leaders last night with a view to resolving the situation, after the publication of an open letter from Transport Councillor Anna Waite, stating that £5m in central government funding would be spent solely on the Cuckoo Corner roundabout, with possible junction improvements – but no widening – to follow at the Prittle Brook industrial site at a later date. (2)

As a result, campaigners intend to honour their public pledge to clear and vacate the camp, now that their objective to stop the road has been met completely. It is expected that it will take a number of weeks to fully return the East Saxon king’s burial to its former condition, with all structures and materials on the site to be removed by the group, with the objective of incurring no cost to the local taxpayer.

Speaking from the camp Ginger said, ‘We would like to thank each and every one of the people who have been involved, not just with Camp Bling, but also with the ongoing campaign which ran from 2001 in opposition to the scheme. It’s not every day that you get to be part of an effort to stop a £25m road widening, with the added opportunity to warn people of the culmination of environmental and social crises that we now all face.’

‘For many of us this has been our first taste of an alternative, lower impact, and more compassionate lifestyle. We have shared our experiences – both good and bad – along the way, and often got people to acknowledge the real choices that we all have. It is time for everyone to confront reality, as western industrial society continues to overshoot the ecological limits of the Earth.’ (3)

People are still welcome to visit the camp whilst decommissioning is underway, and are also encouraged to check out some of the alternatives at: www.campbling.org

—————————————————————————————

ENDS.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

(1) Camp Bling was first set up by local activists on 23rd September 2005. For more info about both the camp, and the long running campaign, go to: www.campbling.org

(2) See full contents of letter at: http://www.southend.gov.uk/news/default.asp?id=2835

(3) Climate, Peak Oil, Overpopulation, Mass Extinction, Overconsumption, etc.

Camp Bling ‘Save Priory Park!’ road campaign
www.campbling.org

Contact Camp Bling directly on 07866 967601

Or e-mail camp.bling@yahoo.co.uk