Oil – Page 23 – Earth First!

Shell to Sea visit Shell’s boats & picket begins again in Rossport & UK actions call-out

29.8.2008

29.8.2008
Yesterday, with work in Broadhaven Bay still delayed, a small Shell to Sea marine team paid a visit to the current Shell water nerve-centre based at Ballyglass pier. Currently moored off Ballyglass is a barge containing winching cable, the recently returned Vlaanderen VII which ran aground at Glengad two weeks ago and also the Zenne which is the backhoe dredger that last Friday dropped tonnes of debris within feet of protestors. Also around the area were a number of other smaller Shell boats.

The Shell to Sea paddlers were made up of members of the Shamrock squadron (the J. Connolly, J. Larkin, M. Collins) & Emerald squadron (the Grainne) along with 2 members of the international flotilla (the Guy Fawkes of Yorkshire squadron and the Robin Hood of Nottingham squadron).

The paddlers had made their way about the 1km out to the boats before the Shell safety and security boats reacted.
After about an hour paddling around the area the Shell to Sea team headed into Ballyglass Pier to greet the Garda boat which was just launching from the RNLI slipway. The gardaí politely refused the request of a race from the J. Connolly (Shamrock squadron) after which the team then made their way to the public slipway where they were met by shore support.

Meanwhile marine training continued for the activists preparing for the Solitaire and associated boats.

——–

Shell to Sea protesters stepped up their campaign against Shell’s offshore pipe-laying operations by mounting a picket at the Shell compound, Glengad, Erris Co Mayo, Ireland.

A daily picket was maintained at the Bellanaboy refinery site from the summer of 2005 till recently. This is the first time since 2005 that a picket has been staged at the Shell ‘Security Zone’ in Glengad. The picket started at 7am and lasted till 9am, during which time Shell security, who were ready to leave after their overnight shift, remained on site for the duration. Shell workers arriving for work at the site remained outside. The picket was stood down voluntarily at 9am and the workers left and entered the compound consequently.

The original Bellanaboy picket was effectively broken by the unlawful and violent behaviour of An Garda Síochána which began on October 3rd, 2006 and continued through 2007. The Bellanaboy picket diminished significantly during that whole period and into 2008, understandably, because of a sustained assault by the State against its own citizens, resulting in much physical, emotional and psychological injury to the community and its supporters.

Today’s picket saw the return of many on the receiving end of that attack and it has to be said that the women of Erris, many of whom have been brutalised by An Garda Síochána in the past, were the first to return to the camp and the refreshed picket.

Meanwhile, a Shell to Sea marine team took to the water from Inver pier to pay a visit to some Shell & Garda boats moored off Ballyglass pier on the opposite side of that stretch of water. Apologies, no pics in this report yet of that little expedition. Maybe later.

No sign of the Solitaire yet, probably due to the following factors:

1) Bad weather.

2) The Chief Pat O’Donnell’s successful defence of his pots from Shell thieves aboard the Highland Navigator. Pat’s gear remains in the path of the Solitaire and perhaps only the ruling of a judge can resolve that dispute, unless the Solitaire steams through regardless.

3) Stiff and growing resistance.

——

Urgent Call For Actions Against Shell & Allseas

NOW IS THE TIME- Support Shell to Sea, Ireland. ANY DAY NOW the biggest pipe laying ship in the world, the Solitaire, is due to arrive. The ship is owned by ALLSEAS. Shell are attempting to illegally construct the offshore section of the high pressure raw gas pipeline. Our community are determined to resist Shell here in Mayo, Ireland…but we need your help!

Actions are ongoing and will intensify with the arrival of the Solitaire. There is a role for everyone, regardless of age, experience, availability and skill. The areas you can help with are endless and particularly in the fields of camp support, water based skills, legal, cooking, medical, media and of course direct action.

The atmosphere is resurgent in the area, with a fresh burst of confidence evident among both locals, national and international Shell to Sea activists. This is a golden opportunity to reinvigorate the fight against this project in a meaningful and effective way.

Shell can only hold onto the rented Solitaire for a limited period of time and all efforts to hinder its progress will seriously damage Shell’s plans. ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly.

The choppy waters of Broadhaven Bay will hopefully aid us in our actions but we need you too!

Come to Erris!
Contact: email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com & phone 0851141170

Or take action at home

http://www.allseas.com/uk
Allseas UK Limited
Address: Knyvett House The Causeway
City: Staines, Middlesex
Postcode: TW18 3BA
Telephone: +44 1784 898038
Fax: +44 1784 898030

Irish Embassy and Shell HQ London
Shell garages across the country.

SMASH SHELL
rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
http://www.indymedia.ie/mayo,
http://www.shelltosea.com
http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp110mb.com

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 82, AUGUST 2008

————————-
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————-
1) CLIMATE ACTION CAMP & NO BORDER CAMP, HAMBURG, GERMANY, 15-24.8.08
2) SHELL TO SEA WEEK OF ACTION, 17-23.08.08
3) EARTH FIRST! SUMMER GATHERING, NORFOLK, 27.8-1.9.08
4) BRISTOL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR, BRISTOL, 13.09.08
5) TOWARDS CLIMATE ACTION IN COPENHANGEN 2009, DENMARK, 13-14.09.08
6) CLIMATE CAMP WHAT NEXT MEETING, MANCHESTER, 26-28.09.08
7) NATIONAL MEETING TO RESIST NEW COAL, MANCHESTER, 11-12.10.08
8) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY 2009, 01.04.09

—————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
—————-

1) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION, KINGSNORTH, KENT, 3-11.08.08
2) DERBYSHIRE COAL MINE EVICTED, 14.08.08
3) US CLIMATE CAMPS, JULY/AUGUST
4) SAVING ICELAND CAMP, JULY/AUGUST
5) AIRPORT OCCUPATION, GERMANY, ONGOING
6) STICKING IT TO THE PM, LONDON, 22.07.08
7) 32 4x4s DISARMED, OXFORD, 18.07.08
8) NEW RISING TIDE LEAFLET
9) NEW REPORT: CASHING IN ON COAL

————————-
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————-
1) CLIMATE ACTION CAMP & NO BORDER CAMP, HAMBURG, GERMANY, 15-24.8.08
‘These camps are going to take place in or near Hamburg. It’s two different camps, but probably on the same camp site and doing together at least two mass actions like blockades: on 22nd August at the deportation airport of Hamburg and on 23rd at the harbour or at the new coal power plant. http://klimacamp08.org

2) SHELL TO SEA WEEK OF ACTION, 17-23.08.08
The Solitaire (the biggest pipe laying ship in the world) is set to begin illegally constructing the offshore section of the pipeline. It is believed that the Solitaire is on a pretty tight schedule & booked up for the next 2 years, so ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly. Members of the ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ recently deployed at the E.ON coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in
Kent, England, have made their way from Climate Camp UK to Erris, in order to assist Shell to Sea campaigners in their opposition to this pipeline construction at Glengad.

3) EARTH FIRST! SUMMER GATHERING, NORFOLK, 27.8-1.9.08
5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions in a beautiful field in Norfolk. The gathering is also a practical example of low-impact eco-living and non-hierarchical organising. www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk

4) BRISTOL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR, BRISTOL, 13.09.08
St Werburghs Centre, 10am to 5pm, free entry. With a workshop by Bristol Rising Tide: Why direct action? Social change not climate change? www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org

5) TOWARDS CLIMATE ACTION IN COPENHANGEN 2009, DENMARK 13-14.09.08
Join the first international planning meeting in Copenhagen from the 13-14th of September 2008. The meeting aims at preparing a large mobilisation for direct action against the root causes of climate change in Copenhagen and throughout the world during the UN Climate Conference (30 Nov-11 Dec 2009). More info:
http://klimax2009.org/?p=33&langswitch_lang=en Tell them you’re coming:
sept08@klimax2009.org

6) CLIMATE CAMP WHAT NEXT MEETING, MANCHESTER 26-28.09.08
All are invited to the first Post-Climate Camp National Gathering. The gathering will offer a chance to reflect on where we are at, decide where we go from here, and provide info as to how to get involved in the ongoing direct action campaign to stop Kingsnorth.
Questions? Email process@climatecamp.org.uk

7) NATIONAL MEETING TO RESIST NEW COAL, MANCHESTER, 11-12.10.08
A meeting to bring together groups and communities resisting coal in the UK – from open cast and deep coal mines, to power stations and coal imports. Share information, plan for action, and build a strong network of resistance. www.leaveitintheground.org.uk

8) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY 2009, 01.04.2009
Four continents, 150 actions, and an April Fool’s Day with a fantastically subversive (and radically necessary) twist – we’re definitely doing that again! So Fossil Fools Day 2009 is a go – start picking your fossil fuel target now! Info and resources will be posted on the website soon, and look out for leaflets to distribute in December.

—————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
—————-

1) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION, KINGSNORTH, KENT, 3-11.08.08
From the Heathrow Conference to the Caravan, from the workshops to beautiful camp life, from the GRRR pirates to the fence breachers to the bail breakers, and the flurry of affinity group actions before, during and after the camp, the 2008 Camp for Climate Action was a roaring success. We outsmarted 26 police forces to run the biggest climate camp ever. We covered the river in boats, filled the streets with people, covered the power station gates with banners and hit at least eight other targets with autonomous actions. We flooded the national, local and independent media with our stories and messages. E.ON and the Government threw everything they could at us, and they still couldn’t hold us back. Actions, in no particular order, included: an office invasion of mining company BHP Bilton, taking over an incinerator site in Newhaven, a blockade of Cargill over its rainforest destruction and land-grabbing, a pro-vegan roof occupation and banner drop at Smithfield Meat Market, a protest at US air base Mildenhall to highlight military CO2 emissions, a banner drop from an electricity pylon, a naked protest at DBERR, the world’s smallest protesters climbing E.ON’s smokestack (at Legoland), actions at Royal Bank of Scotland (not once but twice – students do a die-in and Rising Tiders bust out the superglue), a demo at Longannet power station in Fife, a multi-pronged attack on Gatwick by Plane Stupid, the shutting down of the South’s biggest biofuel storage facility, and in
a single day of mayhem in the City, the Climate Caravan targeted RBS and the PR firms for Shell, BAA & E.ON.
www.climatecamp.org.uk
Photo slide show: http://blip.tv/file/1167973
Video: http://www.undercurrents.org/visionon/

2) DERBYSHIRE COAL MINE EVICTED, 14.08.08
The squat in Derbyshire, a protest on the site of a proposed new open-cast coal mine, came to end with the eviction of the remaining two protesters, who had resolutely resisted attempts to clear the site by furiously digging for victory. Come to the national Leave it in the Ground meeting in October to help with the next steps. www.leaveitintheground.org.uk

3) US CLIMATE CAMPS, JULY/AUGUST
All three US Climate Camps have now wound down, with action highlights including the Southeast Climate Convergence occupying a nuclear facility in Virginia, the Billionaires for Coal striking Bank of America 4 times in 3 days and a protest at NW Natural Gas following the West Coast Convergence. And check out http://www.uncampement.net/?q=en/node/775 for
the ongoing (8-24 August) camp in Quebec, Canada.

4) SAVING ICELAND CAMP, JULY/AUGUST
Saving Iceland’s fourth action camp is now over but the fight goes on. The three-week camp was at Hellisheiði, where Reykjavík Energy is expanding their geothermal power plant, first of all to supply energy to aluminium smelters. Actions included: work on the Century Aluminum’s existing smelter as well as a steel factory were blockaded, holding up a shift
change for several hours. A Reykjavik Energy geothermal drill site at Hellisheidi, being built for Century, was completely shut down for a day as activists locked to machines, climbed the drill and occupied the power control room. The national power company Landsvirkjun had it’s office invaded, and it’s CEO Fridrik Sophusson had his home visited. Saving Iceland nailed an eviction notice to his door. www.savingiceland.org

5) AIRPORT OCCUPATION, GERMANY, ONGOING
In Germany climate activists have been squatting a woodland since the beginning of June to stop the construction of yet another new runway for the already massive Frankfurt airport. The camp continues to grow with over 30 people living on site and has the support of the community. Demos and actions are being organised together with local residents’ groups
against airport expansion. Amazing treehouses, walkways and funky ground shelters have been constructed to make life pleasant in the woods and to resist eviction as long as possible. People are welcome to join in. www.waldbesetzung.blogsport.de

6) STICKING IT TO THE PM, LONDON, 22.07.08
On 22nd July a Plane Stupid campaigner superglued himself to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 10 Downing Street. He’d been invited to receive an award for protesting, so promptly decided to carry on in that vain! Whilst asking Gordon about refusing to meet West London
residents opposed to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, the intrepid protester put his superglue covered hand onto Brown’s polyester suit. When Brown went to turn away he found he was stuck and for once had no option but to listen. www.planestupid.com

7) 32 4x4s DISARMED, OXFORD, 18.07.08
32 SUV owners woke up in Oxford on 18th July to discover that their environmentally destructive vehicles had been disabled using the ‘mung bean trick’ to let down their tires.

8) NEW RISING TIDE LEAFLET
At long last, Rising Tide has a new leaflet – who we are, what we do and why we do it, wrapped up in an inspiring photo collage package. Sneak a peak at , or email info@risingtide.org.uk to get a bunch posted to you for distribution in your local area.

9) NEW REPORT: CASHING IN ON COAL
High street banks are making millions by providing the financial fuel that drives the expansion of coal extraction and combustion. This report examines the role in the last two years of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HSBC and Barclays in providing and arranging the financial means to the coal industry to extract and burn vast quantities of coal. The report reveals that RBS has helped lend more money to the coal industry, in more deals, than any other major UK bank. www.carbonweb.org

—————–
Rising Tide UK,
c/o 62 Fieldgate Street,
London E1 1ES
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.artnotoil.org.uk
www.fossilfoolsday.org
Tel: 07708 794665

See also the Camp for Climate Action (www.climatecamp.org.uk), Network for Climate Action (www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk) and Climate Indymedia (www.climateimc.org)

———-

Please send anything you’d like included in this news sheet to:
newssheet@risingtide.org.uk

To view previous editions of the Rising Tide News Sheet, visit the News Sheet Archive at http://risingtide.org.uk/newssheet

This News Sheet was brought to you by Rising Tide, a grassroots network of groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.

For more information…
email: info@risingtide.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0)845 458 8923 / +44 (0)7708 794665
Address: 62 Fieldgate St, London, E1 1ES
Web site: http://risingtide.org.uk

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND AND INVITE THEM TO JOIN THE LIST

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit:
http://risingtide.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/rt-news

Earth First! gathering – programme and travel directions

Earth First! Summer Gathering
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise
27 Aug – 1 Sept 2008, Norfolk
Join us for 5 days of workshops and planning actions

Travel directions:

Earth First! Summer Gathering
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise
27 Aug – 1 Sept 2008, Norfolk
Join us for 5 days of workshops and planning actions

Travel directions:
The gathering this year will be held at Woolseybridge Farm – a lovely site in Norfolk with lots of trees and a little stream. It’s approximately 1.5 miles NNE of Diss. Diss has regular train services and a wholefood shop. The Grid Reference of the site is TM130819. The post code is IP22 5SY.

The site is easily accessible by public transport, you can get the train either to Diss or Norwich and then catch the bus route no 1 (Simmonds) from Diss to Norwich or vice versa – this route goes right past the site and we’ll be asking the local bus company if they will stop right outside the site on request. Or you could walk or cycle – it’s only 1.5miles away from Diss train station. Please come by public transport if at all possible! .
We will run pick-ups from the train station for anybody who can’t use the bus service or for larger groups of people. If you need a lift please let us know well in advance (and not in the middle of the night, when you’re at a train station somewhere!). Ring the Gathering mobile on 07789 331857

For a map and further details on travel including bus times and directions for drivers check out http://earthfirstgathering.org.uk/2008/where.html

Programme
This year’s programme focusses on info and planning for actions, direct action skills as well as spaces to discuss how we can respond to and deal with the widening ecological, economic and societal crises. We hope there’s something for everyone.
We recommend that you arrive Tue evening, as workshops will start on Wednesday morning and run until Sunday evening

For more info about the gathering check out our website or email us (though we won’t be able to answer email after 21 Aug, as we’ll be on site setting up)

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk, summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk

The workshops

Wednesday

12:00
Introduction to Earth First! and the gathering
Dealing with the mainstream media – how to get your message across
Basic electrics – for squats and homes.
Capitalism and climate change – how to make the links visible in actions
Queer networking session

2:30
Self-defence – mixed practise session
Squatting FAQ – sharing tips and tricks
Action Reconnaissance for beginners
Introduction to the root causes of ecological destruction and an exploration of alternatives
Advanced Navigation

4:30
Saving Iceland – Introduction to the campaign
Nuclear waste and nuclear weapons
Consensus Decision-making
Introduction to Ecology
Confronting Abusive Behaviours within our Communities – without the police/prison.

6:00
Library Space: Negotiating Safer Sex: tips on putting the theory into practice, and making your sex life more fun as well as safer!

8:00
Cinema: Talk with video on resisting rainforest destruction in Tasmania

Thursday

10:30
Dealing with Public Order situations – understanding police tactics and how we can deal with to them/turn them to our advantage (runs until lunch)
State and corporate oppression of the Australian Aborigines
Action reconnaissance – advanced skillshare, share your most clever tips and tricks for getting info for actions
Practical plant identification (beginners)
Activist trauma and recovery

12:00
Saving Iceland – an evaluation of the camp this summer
Security for Activists Part I: Do’s and don’ts of organising action, from arranging to meet, planning and what happens after
Arrest support for actions – how to provide support for your affinity group, medium sized actions or mega camps and gatherings.
Introduction to Earth First! and the summer gathering

2:30
Women’s self-defence – introductory session
Food and Climate Action: info for action
How to plan an action
Police liaison for actions – what it is, its uses and limitations and how to make it work.
Changing light bulbs or smashing the system. Sharing +/- experiences of working within/outside the system

4:30
Opposing nuclear expansion: planning for action
How to plan and run a successful medium to long-term campaign
Night time skills Part I: introduction (followed by practise session at 8.30pm)
Legal and arrest workshop
Introduction to anarchist history/potted anarchist histories

6:00
Library space: open discussion ?Direct action or publicity stunt??
8:00

Cinema: Seashepherd film and talk
8:30

Night time skills Part II – practice your skills in the field.

Friday

10:30
Blockading tactics
Climate Camp debrief: a critical look at the climate camp, its achievements and politics
Introduction to Earth First! And the summer gathering
Computer Security for the non-technical
Prison Abolition: what’s wrong with prison? what do we mean by abolition and how can we make it happen?

12:00
Food and climate change: action and campaign planning
Self-defence mixed practise session
Squatting to resist – occupations to resist the powers of darkness
History of Earth First!

2:30
The Earth First! Action Update and website: feedback and getting involved
Resisting agrofuels – update on the situation and action planning
Sea Shepherd – an intro to its campaigns and how to support/get involved.
Grow your own food – share you skills and experience
Queer Activist Forum: Radical queers organise for the future!

4:30
Queer Self-Defence: an intro to basic self-defence skills (verbal and physical)
Setting up new direct action groups
Saving Iceland ? planning actions for the coming year
Techno-fixes and climate change ? report by Corporate Watch
Urban self-reliance and self-sufficiency

7:30
Library: Prisoner Support – An informal get together to discuss the state of prisoner support in our movements, find out news and get advice on writing to prisoners, as well as making and writing cards to send to prisoners.

8:00
Cinema: A talk and film by a tribal activist from Orissa opposing mining

Saturday

10:30
Campaigns and Actions Round-up: UK and international news (no other workshops)

12:00
Women’s self-defence practise session plus running alongside – introduction to women’s self-defence
Stopping GM test fields – discussion on future campaign/actions
Research and destroy – how to research corporations
Future models of society – finding a path to sustainable living
Introduction to Earth First! and the summer gathering
Using tripods for blockading

2:30
Leave it in the ground – building resistance to new coal mining and power stations
Facilitation of meetings
Activist Security Part III: doing actions without leaving traces
Restoration Ecology
Creating safer spaces
Visit to Burston Strike School

4:30
Regional meetings and action planning (no other workshops)

6:00
Library Space: Working without leaders – discussion about core values of anarchism

8:00
Cinema: Smash Edo film and talk

Sunday
11:00
Self defence mixed practice session
Sorting out ways of communication within EF!
Using radios on actions
Introduction to Earth First! And the summer gathering
Fences: getting over them/taking them down

12:15
The summer gathering: feedback on this year’s and getting involved in organising the next one

2:30
Condoms, capitalism and climate change
Smash Edo
Introduction to navigation
What’s new in the world of law?
Feminist Health
Climbing trees, lamp posts and anything else

4:30
Radical politics in the age of collapse
The Royal Bank of Scotland and Fossil Fuel Financing
Getting your electricity from solar power and wind
Radical Parenting
Looking after our mental health – sharing ideas and experiences

8:00
Cinema: films – climate camp footage, ready steady skip etc

Monday
Take-down: please stay for a day or two to help take down the site. If you’ve got access to a vehicle/van, it’d be great if you could help transporting marquees, recycling etc to the places they need to go. Cheers!

More info about the Earth First! Summer Gathering
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.

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk, summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk

Spirit of Freedom (August 2008)

Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening words
and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!” (Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening words
and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!” (Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the August 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. As people will soon see, ELP’s prisoner lists have grown yet again. If we exclude the Geek anarchist, Vaggelis Botzatzis, and the two Americans Richard Sills and Michael Sykes (all of whom are listed by ELP as ‘Other Prisoners’), there are now 40 listed animal & earth liberation prisoners in Europe & America.
There are also a number of non-listed prisoners, who are not listed either by their own choice, or because they betrayed their fellow activists and became informants. And remember these numbers do not include those people who are either under House Arrest or on Bail pending Trial. Nor do they include the activists whose locations are currently unknown and who are described by the police as “on the run”. Seeing so many good people removed from their families & loved ones for merely acting out of compassion and a desire to stop environmental destruction and animal abuse is heartbreaking.
Some of the prisoners ELP lists are very well known, others are less well known. However ALL of them deserve our love and support. ALL of the listed prisoners welcome letters of support. Even if it’s just a card saying “Hi. I’m thinking of you”. So please, no matter where you are in the world, support the eco-prisoners. And no compromise in defence of Mother Earth.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, SWIS #640393, Multnomah County Detention Center, 1120 S.W. 3rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97206, USA. Awaiting sentencing of six and a half years imprisonment having reached a non-cooperation plea-bargain with the authorities who accuse him of involvement in two arsons. 1) an arson on logging trucks 2) an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. (Tre is a raw energy vegan – He has asked that his letters of support are written on scrap paper or tree-free paper).

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO 81002, USA. Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. The letters ELF were spray painted onto all of the vehicles. (Grant is a vegan).

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600 Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Diet unknown).

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. Serving 18 years. 1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations. 2) Eight years for the murder of a Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy. (Marco is a meat eater who encourages organic living).

Daniele Casalini, Casa Circondariale, Via Burla 59, 43100 Parma, Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy. (Daniele is a vegan).

Rod Coronado – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Francesco Gioia, C.C. Sollicciano, Via Girolamo Minervini 2/R, 50142 Firenze Sollicciano (FI), Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy. (Francesco is a vegetarian and Straight Edge).

Paola Gori, Via delle Macchie 9, 57124 Livorno, Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of allowing her house to be used to plan illegal activity. (Paola is a vegan).

Bryan Lefey #38664-086, FDC SeaTac, Federal Detention Center, P.O. Box 13900, Seattle, WA 98198, USA. On remand accused of an ELF action that saw the damaging of GM trees and the damaging of US Forestry Service vehicles. (Diet unknown).

Jeffrey Luers, # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave, Portland, OR 97211-1708, USA. Serving 10 years for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck. The original sentence was 22 years & 8 months, but was reduced on appeal. (Diet unknown).

Eric McDavid, 16209-097. FCI Victorville Medium II, PO BOX 5700, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 19 years & 7 months for planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants. At the point of his arrest no criminal damage has actually occurred. (Eric is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan, #63794-053, FCI Terre Haute, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 33, Terre Haute, IN 47808, USA. Serving 7 years for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an old growth logging corporation. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. At the moment Daniel is in transit as he has been ordered to appear before some Grand Juries. Daniel is refusing to answer the Grand Jury questions and is gaining additional prison time because of this (Daniel is a vegetarian).

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Briana Waters, 36432-086, FDC – Seatac, Federal Detention Center, P.O. Box 13900, Seattle, WA 98198, USA. Serving six years for involvement in an ELF arson on a University. (Diet unknown).

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F, Dublin, CA 94568, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Diet unknown).

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS
(All Animal Liberation Prisoners follow a minimum vegetarian diet and most are vegan).

Jon Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection. (Jon is a vegan).

Dan Amos VN7818, HMP Exeter, 30 New North Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4EX, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Dan is a vegan)

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Gregg is a vegan).

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Nat is a vegan).

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK4 4DA, England. On remand accused of involvement with an arson and blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.
(Mel is a vegan).

Martin Balluch, (JA Josefstadt), Justizanstalt Wr. Neustadt, Maximiliang. 3, 2700 Wr. Neustadt, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. (Martin is a vegan)

Christoph, Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, 1070, Vienna, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. At the moment Christopher does not wish to have his full name published. (Christoph is a vegan).

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Victorville Medium I Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 48 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Jake is a vegan).

Rodney Coronado #03895-000, FCI El Reno, PO Box 1500, El Reno, OK 73036, USA. Serving one-year imprisonment after he informed people how to make an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering. (Rod is a vegetarian).

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS. (Don is a vegan).

Jürgen Faulmann, Justizanstalt Wr. Neustadt, Maximiliang. 3, 2700 Wr. Neustadt, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. (Jurgen is a vegan).

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution, Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Lauren is a vegan).

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA. Serving 36 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Josh is a vegan).

Felix Hnat (JA Eisenstadt), Justizanstalt Wr. Neustadt, Maximiliang. 3, 2700 Wr. Neustadt, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. (Felix is a vegan).

Jan, Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, 1070, Vienna, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. At the moment Jan does not wish to have his full name published. (Jan is a vegan).

Kevin Kroemmer, Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, 1070, Vienna, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. (Kevin is a vegan)

Sean Kirtley WC 6977, HM Prison Blakenhurst, Hewell Lane, Redditch, B97 6QS, England. Serving four and a half years for running an anti-vivisection campaign website. (Sean is a vegan).

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072 USA. Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Kevin is a vegan).

Leo, Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, 1070, Vienna, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. At the moment Leo does not wish to have his full name published. (Leo is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Christian Moser, Justizanstalt Wr. Neustadt, Maximiliang. 3, 2700 Wr. Neustadt, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. (Christian is a vegan).

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign. (Heather is a vegan).

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution, 37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA. Sentenced to 51 months for an ALF arson on a horse meat plant. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Jonathan is a vegan).

Sabine, Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, 1070, Vienna, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. At the moment Sabine does not wish to have their full name published. (Sabine is a vegan).

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, USP Marion, P.O. Box 1000 Marion, IL 62959, USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Andrew is a vegan).

Elmar Völkl (JA Eisenstadt), Justizanstalt Wr. Neustadt, Maximiliang. 3, 2700 Wr. Neustadt, Austria. One of ten Austrian’s held on remand accused of various animal rights actions. (Elmar is a vegan).

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection. (Kerry is a vegan).

Sarah Whitehead, VM7684, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx, TW15 3JZ, England. Serving two years for: 1) rescuing a puppy from horrific conditions. 2) rescuing over 100 animals from a pet breeder who was later prosecuted for animal abuse. Also awaiting trial for SHAC activity. (Sarah is a vegan)

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell – Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft. Worth, TX 76127, USA. Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world. The actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court and making threatening communications. Previously Helen had served 20½ years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo. 2) Burning $25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental destruction & economic injustice. 3) Mailing warning letters with bullets attached to Government & corporate officials. (Diet unknown).

THE LECCE FIVE
The Lecce Five have been charged with “subversive association” accused of damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists in Chile. All of the defendants are currently either under house arrest or released on bail.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g. Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia. Serving 2½ years for stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack. (Diet unknown).

Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech Republic.
Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against local neo-nazis. His charge was “bodily harm”. He speaks Czech, Slovak and Polish. You can also write him short postcards in English. (Diet unknown).

Fabio Milan, C.C. via Pianezza 300, 10151 Torino, Italy. On remand accused of fighting with the police after an anti-fascist protest. (Diet unknown).

Andrea Neff, Bnr: 746/07/2, Justizvollzugsanstalt fur Frauen in Berlin, Arkonastrasse 56, 13189 Berlin, Germany. Serving 14 months for anti-fascist activity. (Diet unknown).

Christian Sümmermann, Bnr: 441/08/5, JVA Plötzensee, Lehrterstr. 61, 10557 Berlin, Germany. Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities. (Diet unknown).

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending himself. (Tomasz is a vegetarian).

Yuri Yurevich Milevskiy, SIZO #7 kamera 38, g. Brest, ul. Karla Marksa 86, 224000 Belarus. On remand for fighting with neo-nazis. (Diet unknown).

OTHER PRISONERS

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk 140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson, criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya. Due for release in 2009. (Diet unknown).

Vaggelis Botzatzis, Komotini Juridical Prison (“Dikastikes Fylakes Komotinis”), T.K. 69100, Greece. On remand accused of setting fire to two company cars owned by a energy/power company. It is believed that the person or persons unknown who carried out the arson did so in protest at the destruction of the natural environment and in support of two workers who died at the power plant. Vaggelis is also accused of setting fire to a bank and starting a fire inside a car yard. (Meat Eater).

Richard Sills (Address Unknown, USA). Serving 15 months for bomb hoaxing a University saying they would be targeted by the ALF if they didn’t stop their animal experiments. (Diet unknown).

Michael W. Sykes, 100 East 2nd St, Monroe, Michigan 48161, USA. Youth held on remand accused of anti-sprawl arsons, criminal damage, spray-painting an anarchist sign and burning the American flag. (Diet unknown)

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA.
Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke campaigner. (Fran is a vegan).

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of all life. All move prisoners describe themselves as vegetarians. There are currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving 100 years after been framed for the murder of a cop in 1979. 9th defendant, Merle Africa, died in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa (006307), Janet Holloway Africa (006308) and Janine Philips Africa (006309) all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA 17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA 15370, USA. In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop. He was originally sentenced to death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in 2001.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions. ‘Spirit of Freedom’ does not condone violence. But we are also against censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in 1993 to support jailed eco-activists. We support the prisoners by producing various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP’s international monthly prisoner listing which is circulated by e-mail.

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details. For more info e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters – ELP has a number of websites that provide news, prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Greek language ELP Website
http://greekelp.blogspot.com

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by ELP. To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Australian ELP.SN is our Australian contact. For more info e-mail elp4321@hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact. For more info e-mail elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco Camenisch. For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.

Greek ELP.SN is our Greek contact. For more info e-mail greekelp@yahoo.gr

North American ELP is our North American contact. For more information e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact. For more info e-mail yesilanarsi@yahoo.com

Sitting on piles of coal, revolting peasants, trashing things & fixing other things together, it’s the latest EF! Action Update

Smelters smelted and woodchippers chipped, protestors around the world have been busy again taking action against the planet-trashers – read all about it in the latest quarterly EF! Action Update.

This EF!AU is jam packed with exciting actions, plus features on international resistance against coal in time for this year’s Camp for Climate Action, a resurgence of anti-genetics campaigning, and proposals for a rolling blockade next year of Kingsnorth. You’ll be inspired to Taste the Waste, Leave it in the Ground and who knows what else!

With stories of greenwash laid bare, guerrilla-gardening, revolting peasants, protest camps against coal mines and airports, buildings burnt down, conveyors and trains stopped, tires deflated, GM fields liberated & ‘trials’ decontaminated, despite tear-gas, jail threats, and fortress-like field protection, continuing resistance in Mayo & Iceland, and campaign successes, the diverse uses of superglue just become mundane. Got a broken tea cup or an incinerator to shut down? You know what to use!

And if smashing greenhouses or hanging about 60 metres up seems wierd, read on…

Also includes full lists of ecological direct action groups, protest camps & support groups. Batteries not included.

Pick up your copy at the Camp for Climate Action or at your nearest social centre. Or drop us a line at actionupdate AT earthfirst.org.uk and we’ll post you as many as you like for distributing around town and at events.

Download the latest EF!AU to share with others, subscribe or check out some past issues. The next issue will come out at the beginning of November.

And of course, this year’s EF! Summer Gathering (click here for latest news) is from Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008, if you want to plot & plan, and laugh & chat with old friends & new.

Latest info on Camp for Climate Action (& action reports during the camp) – useful links including ‘what’s it like’ video

All the latest info you need to have a rewarding Camp for Climate Action is below – read more.

Also please note that during the camp, the best place to get related action reports will be https://indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2008/climatecamp/, with others on the general IMC newswire. Daily video reports trailer.

We’ll do a round-up of actions & photos afterwards, as last year.

All the latest info you need to have a rewarding Camp for Climate Action is below – read more.

We’ll do a round-up of actions & photos afterwards, as last year.

Getting there | What to bring | Neighbourhoods | Phones & security | Direct action | 9th August mass action | Other useful info about the camp | Workshop programme – you’ll find 2 workshops clearly labelled as EF! but there’ll be EF!ers, such as you dear reader, sprinkled here and there throughout the camp in all sorts of roles, or off site taking action; also check out all the exciting UK coal resistance workshops, mainly in the Welsh neighbourhood & not in the main workshop programme.

Video – Attending the camp. The practicalities, fun, and fears. Views, reassurance, clarification, and enthusiasm from people who attended in 2007, and a little bit of the magic in their words and eyes.

Activists take site for the Camp for Climate Action and reveal location

30 July 2008

Activists take site for the Camp for Climate Action and reveal location

30 July 2008

Activists take site for the Camp for Climate Action and reveal location

100 people entered and secured an uncultivated field at Deansgate Ridge at 3.00pm today, only 1 km from Kingsnorth Power Station. They erected and climbed tripods to prevent police from moving them and have erected a marquee alongside a banner which reads ‘No New Coal’.

Although the climate camp activists have been upfront and open about most aspects of their plans, the location of the camp had not been revealed until today in order to prevent E.ON and the police from attempting to stop it from happening. The uncultivated field is on a road that runs between Hoo St Werburgh and High Halstow. The Camp for Climate Action intends to return the field in two weeks in as good, if not better, condition than it was found.

Around 20 sheep were in the field when it was occupied. They have been rounded up and are being taken care of with food and water.

The camp, which is due to officially start on Sunday, 3 August, is expected to attract thousands of people coming from all over the UK. The week long camp hosts hundreds of workshops on sustainable living and the politics of climate change. The camp will culminate on Saturday 9 August in a mass direct action to shut down Kingsnorth power station on protest over E.ON’s plans to build the first new coal-fired power station in the UK for 33 years.

“We want to warmly invite people from the local community to come down and see for themselves what the camp is all about,” said Terry Graves, who has already pitched his tent up in the field.

“E.ON and the government believe that you can have endless fossil-fuelled economic growth in a world of finite resources,” said Christina Greensford, who helped to secure the camp. “People from all over the UK are here to create a democratic, low-carbon society in which our long term future on this planet is prioritised over the short term profit margins of the fossil fuel industry.”

“We have a future to protect, and today, in setting up the climate camp, we’ve drawn a line in the sand at Kingsnorth.” said Hannah Abbots. “We will not allow companies like E.ON drag us over the edge of climate catastrophe.”

Press can contact Conor O’Brian at 07530 306267 who is on site and arrange interviews, either over the phone or on the perimeter of the site.

Press can also contact the media team, who are not currently on site, at 07772 861 099

A press advisory will be shortly issued giving information as to when the first media tours of the camp will take place.

camp media team
press@climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk

—

The OS grid reference for the camp is TQ 773 742. The site is between Deangate round about on the A228 and the village of High Halstow. The site is on the west side of the road (left coming north from the A228) as you go up hill after the Deangate sports field and before Dux Court farm.

—

For directions and other useful info, see http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/21137

EarthFirst! gathering workshop call & travel info

LAST CALL FOR RUNNING WORKSHOPS

at the Earth First! Summer Gathering
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise
27 Aug – 1 Sept 2008, Norfolk

Get in touch if you or your campaign/group/network would like to run a workshop or session at the gathering, especially if you can offer workshops on action training, direct action campaigns, ecology, ecological restoration and sustainable living.

Email us on summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk or ring 01524 383012

Deadline 12 August!

We’ve already got lots of workshops confirmed. Join us for:

LAST CALL FOR RUNNING WORKSHOPS

at the Earth First! Summer Gathering
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise
27 Aug – 1 Sept 2008, Norfolk

Email us on summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk or ring 01524 383012

Deadline 12 August!

We’ve already got lots of workshops confirmed. Join us for:

DIRECT ACTION TRAINING
including: Blockading, reccies for actions, security for actions, how to plan actions, legal and arrest info, map reading for beginners, squatting, how to run legal support and police liaison

GET INVOLVED IN AND PLAN DIRECT ACTION CAMPAIGNS
Leave it in the ground – resistance to coal
Stopping GM test fields
Saving Iceland: resistance to heavy industry
Food and Climate Change info and action
Opposing the nuclear industry
Biofuels
Smash Edo – what’s happening and intersting lessons for other campaigns
Rising Tide

ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Learn about ecology, eco-centric ethics, sustainable living and ecological restoration including field trips and hands-on work.

There’ll also be international and national action round-ups, regional get-togethers, sessions on strategy, where next and how we communicate.

———

More info about the Earth First! Summer Gathering

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.

WHERE IS IT?
The gathering is happening on lovely fields less than 3 miles from Diss in Norfolk, with regular trains to Diss and buses from Diss to the site.
We recommend that you arrive Tue evening, as workshops will start on Wednesday morning and run until Sunday afternoon.

FOOD AND WHAT TO BRING
Delicious vegan food will be provided by the Anarchist Teapot for £4 per day, or you can cater for yourself
Bring camping gear – if you want details of B&Bs in the area contact us.
We are asking for a contribution of £15-£25 according to what you can afford.
Dogs: the gathering is held at a dog free site, unfortunately we will have to turn away any dogs that arrive.
Please leave your car at home, it’s really easy to get to by public transport or come by bike. You can also check out our lift sharing board:
http://www.easf.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=15

WHAT YOU’LL FIND ON SITE
Welcome tent at the gate
Workshop spaces
Anarchist Teapot Kitchen
Veggies Cafe
Kids space with toys
Library with books on radical thought and some relaxing fiction
Book stall by Natterjack Press
A space for leaflets and displays
Cinema showing political/campaigns films
Bar
Washing facilities and compost toilets
Sauna and hot tubs
Renewable power

(Please not that the gathering is not a festival)

Find out more and join in!

The nearest train station is up on the website (for booking advance train or coach tickets), and there’s a lift-sharing forum too.

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.

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk, summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk

Community halts illegal work on Special Area of Conservation, Ireland- pls help!

24th July 2008
The fight goes on- be part of it.

24th July 2008
The fight goes on- be part of it.
This is an urgent call for support to protect the community and environment of Rossport in Mayo, Ireland. Shell is now attempting to construct the first 200m metres of the onshore section of the pipeline without any planning permission. 13 residents were arrested on Tuesday and this morning a 10ft fence was erected and guarded by40 police & 70 security.
Help is urgently needed. Come if u can. Protest at Irish Embassy, Shell garages etc.

At 8am this morning, over 40 police, who are now stationed in the Shell compound, and 70 Shell specialist security forced the local community away from Glengad beach. The crowd who had assembled to monitor the illegal work being done on the cliff-face at Glengad were peacefully protesting on the beach. However the local community were then forced off the beach to allow 10ft high fencing to be placed down to the water edge. This has blocked of the right of way on Glengad beach. All attempted questions regarding the legality and the consents for the work were ignored by both Gardaí and Shell staff alike.

The legality of the consents given is still an issue of major concern to the people of the locality as it is still unclear what permissions Shell have received and for what exact work. While Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has claimed that it was just an “oversight” that the latest authorisations for the project wasn’t published, this clouding of what consents have been granted has been a characteristic of the whole Corrib Project.

Local resident Terence Conway said “The fact is that this first onshore section is the most dangerous part of the whole project as the pressure could be as high as 345bar and still it will not have gone through any planning if it is constructed”.

Shell is now attempting to construct the first 200m metres of the onshore section of the pipeline without it going through planning permission at all. Although the remaining 9.2km of the onshore pipeline is currently being examined by An Bord Pleanala, Shell are attempting to lay the first 200m metres before a decision is made.

On Tuesday 22nd July, 13 residents were arrested at Glengad, while challenging Shell on the permissions they had to do excavation and other works around the site of the proposed landfall area of the pipeline. The arrested people included Goldman Prize winner Willie Corduff as well as Shell to Sea trailer hostess Mary Horan. The 13 were arrested around 2pm and held at Belmullet police station for 3 hours before being released without charge, with files being sent to the DPP. One of the people arrested had to be brought by ambulance to Castlebar Hospital after seeing a doctor in Belmullet station. The mood of the arrestees after release was definitely one of resolute defiance. After the 13 were arrested, Shell attempted to re-commence the excavation work however another group of around 20 locals arrived and halted the work for the remainder of the day.

On Wednesday 23rd July, a Shell digger began clearing the topsoil from the area around the cliff-face to begin the procedure of creating a causeway down to the beach. Roughly an hour later they were requested by local residents to produce the permissions but were only met with silence from the line of security which at first tried to let the digger continue but eventually the digger retired to behind security gates.

While Shell have received a Foreshore Licence in 2002 by the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources for the offshore part of the pipeline, this Licence is only valid up to high-water mark. However Shell are seeking to do work that would involving creating a pipe pull-in facility that would lay the pipeline up to the proposed pressure reduction facility which will be over 30m back from the cliff-face. Planning permission for all of the onshore pipeline section is currently before An Bord Pleanala since May 2008 under the new Strategic Infrastructure Act and it is believed that an Oral hearing will be heard before An Bord Pleanala provides the necessary rubber-stamp.

However in the meantime it is believed that all the work currently being done in Glengad doesn’t have the necessary permission. Shell have now installed about 5 large port-cabins which include office and cafeteria facilities on the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) only about 300m away from where the Rossport Solidarity Camp stood, until they were removed less than a year ago.

After about an hour standoff, the gardaí led by Superintendent John Gilligan arrived at the scene, parking all their squads, jeeps and paddy wagons inside on the Shell compound on the SAC. After speaking with Shell personnel, Supt Gilligan approached the group and was told about the concerns over the permissions for the work. Supt Gilligan was told that members of the assembled protestors had met with Conor Ó Raghallaigh, Director of the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) on the previous day and that it had been agreed that the necessary permission were to be sought from the Dept of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources and the Dept of Agricultuture & Fisheries. However, the Departments hadn’t replied to any of the queries sent so far, and so it was requested by the protestors that the work be halted until the situation was clarified. After again speaking with Shell personnel, Supt. Gilligan said that Shell were willing to stop for 2 hours so queries could be made into the permissions granted, however he was told that it was believed that this would not be long enough. Supt. Gilligan was also reminded how last October he had attempted to push through drilling work in the area for Shell that was challenged by locals and which was subsequently found to be illegal. Supt. Gilligan then once more spoke with Shell personnel inside the compound and after warning all the people assembled, people began to be arrested.

I would like to say that I have been trying to establish the legality of these works for almost 2 weeks now, and have sent off countless emails and made a lot of phone calls and am still no clearer than when I began (and many other people have hit blank walls too). I have been dealing primarily with NPWS which is the section of the Dept of Environment whose duty it is to oversee work on SACs and other sensitive areas. I was first of all told on the phone that the work was under the Foreshore Licence and I would receive a detailed email which would clarify my concerns. However no clarification has been forthcoming and now NPWS have decided to wash they hand of it and have started referring any queries to the other 2 departments involved. The whole episode once again shows way that this project has been split up from start to finish and how no person or department will take any responsibility once questioned.

It should be noted that NPWS in their report seeking the removal of the Rossport Solidarity Camp, stated that site where the camp was would take “10 to 15 years for the site to fully recover” and recommended that the camp be removed and “the habitats allowed to recover naturally”. Now NPWS turn a blind eye when a whole compound (which is probably illegal) has been set up.

One of the most infuriating sights of the day was the 2 NPWS rangers who hung out with the Shell paid ornithologist on the beach for the day watching over the sand martin colony while only 10 metres away a digger had begun destroying the cliff-face. Luckily however the people of the locality have long given up hope that any of these authorities will protect either them or their environment and took action.

If you wish to join the fight and visit the area, there is space to stay in the Rossport Solidarity House ( http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com).

The fight will go on regardless but any help is invaluable.
http://www.shelltosea.com

Manchester & London Critical Masses this Friday + South London

OH MY!
It’s CRITICAL MASS this Friday….how ace is that?

Friday 27th June 6pm
Central Library Manchester

Afterwards we’ll have a BBQ and hang out a park, so bring BBQ’s, food, music, drinks etc. (vegan BBQs preferred as then it can be accessible to everyone!)

OH MY!
It’s CRITICAL MASS this Friday….how ace is that?

Friday 27th June 6pm
Central Library Manchester

Afterwards we’ll have a BBQ and hang out a park, so bring BBQ’s, food, music, drinks etc. (vegan BBQs preferred as then it can be accessible to everyone!)

A totally ace bike ride around our city to meet other cyclists and ride on our roads…For a few hours once a month we can show how beautiful our city can be when bicycles, instead of cars, dominate the roads.

it’s such a nice and sociable and fun way to spend a Friday evening on a bicycle..wow. so ace. and now we’re getting bigger and bigger..someone said they counted at least 150 people on the one last month, how ace is that?!!. come and be part of our lovely friendly cruise around..to collectively enjoy the beautiful experience that is riding a bike.

—-

People’s comments about Manchester Critical Mass

“…it’s brilliant. Usually I’m charging around on my bike, getting where i need to go as fast as i can. Critical mass is different. It’s about enjoying riding. It’s the most relaxed ride around the city I’ve ever had. Where all my worries and fears float away. And I’ve met some lovely people too”

“I was scared it would be some angry bike militants but everyone is so friendly and the ride is fun no aggro at all. See you next month!”

“it’s quite something to have that many peeps riding round at once.”

“Critical Mass sometimes has a reputation for being an angry rabble of cyclists that want to string up any car drivers they see. This is not true of Manchester Critical Mass, it is a fluffy mass of people that like to have fun on bikes, there are often have children with us and a bicycle sound system to add to the party fun atmosphere. As well as being fun and
a social event it is also to show how great a car free city will be. This is achieved every month by showing motorists an alternative, yet critical mass Manchester doesn’t aim to annoy drivers we want them to join us..”

“I spend all month, every month, riding around behind exhaust pipes and swerving out of the way from angry, disrespectful drivers, I live in a world that is dying from climate change..only the other day it was announced the white rhino is extinct, it tears me up inside. Riding a bike isn’t going to change all of that instantly but I believe that not only does it mean less cars on the roads but riding a bike also gives a feeling of connection with one’s surroundings and other people and through this we can start to act in other ways that can create social change”

“Critical Mass isn’t a place to vent the anger that comes from having to deal with cars (I don’t think), because it’s nice to, instead, spend that time enjoying riding my bike. Sometimes it can feel so alienating riding a bike surrounded by so many motorists. Critical Mass shows that we are not alone and that we are growing. It’s the most fantastic piece of direct action I’ve ever done- I want there to be less cars on the roads and by
being one less car there is!!!”

(taken from emails we’ve received)

============

Critical Mass in London for Marie this Friday

Assemble under Waterloo Bridge 6pm on Friday

The Critical Mass in London will attempt to go all the way to Brixton to celebrate the life of Marie, who was killed by 2 cars on her way to the demonstration against the arms trade in Brighon, see:

https://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2008/06/400604.html

Assemble under Waterloo Bridge 6pm on Friday

============

South London critical mass?!

The first ever south London Critical Mass is happening on Friday 4th of July, and every first Friday of the month there after.

It will take place @ 6.30, starting from Peckham library.

Help campaign for safer roads for cyclists. All other human powered transport welcome too!
Massive rolling sound system provided by rawkus rickshaws.