What Better Time? Issue One out now!

What Better Time? is a free news sheet from the Scottish Climate Activist Network. Issue one is out now, get em while they’re hot (actually after the demo on Saturday they’re a bit wet and soggy).

What Better Time? is a free news sheet from the Scottish Climate Activist Network. Issue one is out now, get em while they’re hot (actually after the demo on Saturday they’re a bit wet and soggy).
This monthly news sheet aims to inform people across Scotland, and further, from a wide range of back-grounds about a fight to save the planet (yes, that old chestnut). As I am sure you are aware human induced climate change is imminent, and every person on the planet has to do something about it. The Scottish Climate Activist Network brings together activists and concerned individuals from across Scotland so we can support each other in our work to stop climate change through protest and direct action along with building sustainable alternatives.

It is available in hard copy in all good social centres and hippy hang-outs or online.

Email: whatbettertime [at] riseup.net
Website: whatbettertime.livejournal.com

Fossil Fools Day, April 1st 2008

Rising Tide International is calling for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st 2008…

Fossil Fools Day advance flierRising Tide International is calling for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st 2008…
FOSSIL FOOLS DAY!

Roll up, roll up! The climate circus is in town. Climate change threatens our very survival, but the fools at the head of the fossil fuel empire continue to plunder the earth, with governments the willing court jesters at their side.

They would have us believe that we can escape climate change with techno-fixes, market mechanisms and offset schemes – all technocratic acrobatics that distract us from the truth: the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

For over a century the fossil fuel industry has been fooling with our lives. From extraction to combustion they have poisoned our air, polluted our water and ruined our climate. On April 1st, 2008, we’re going to turn the tables and show them who the real fools are.

Find a local fossil fool – the coal-mining clown, the offset contortionist, the aviator tripping on the high wire, the supermarket food mile freak show, the oily strong man, or any other fool that deserves your attention – and join with thousands around the world in taking one step closer to dismantling the fossil fuel industry.

On Fossil Fools Day, bring the spirit of carnival and mischief to the fight for climate justice.

www.fossilfoolsday.org
www.risingtide.org.uk

(More info and resources coming soon… for now, put the date in your diary, spread the call-out above far and wide, and start scheming!)

Totally Immoral – A Day of Action against Total Oil

The Total out of Burma Day of Action took place on Saturday 24 November. Protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. Some stations were blockaded and all the protests received great support from the motoring and pedestrian public.

The Total out of Burma Day of Action took place on Saturday 24 November. Protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. Some stations were blockaded and all the protests received great support from the motoring and pedestrian public.

On Saturday 24 November, protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. The protests called upon Total Oil to pull out of Burma and stop financing the Burmese military regime. Protest locations included Bradford, Brighton, Chatham (Kent), Cardiff, Guernsey, London, Manchester, Oxford and Virgina Water (Surrey).

Blockades occurred at some stations, with several lasting for an hour or more. In Camden, London 10 protestors blocked the York Way Total station for an hour, while 15 students in Surrey blockaded the Virginia Water petrol station for more than 2 hours. Throughout the UK the protests received support from motorists and pedestrians alike. Many drivers turned away from the petrol stations upon seeing the protests, some informing protestors that they would not to buy from Total again. At all the targetted petrol stations business was noticeably slow, and in some cases virtually non-existent, during the protests.

Paul Golding, one of the protestors, said, “Total’s investment in Burma is the largest in Europe. By paying millions of dollars to the Burmese dictatorship every year they are helping keep it in power. If the West wants to help end the oppression and ongoing human rights abuses in Burma, then quite simply, we must stop our companies from funding the oppressors.”

In London, protests took place at 14 Total petrol stations during the course of the day. The final protest in London attracted over 30 supporters and took place at the Baker Street petrol station on Marylebone Rd, NW1, from 4pm to 6pm. In Guernsey, campaigners protested at all 14 Total stations on the island, and picketed the main station on the island for 3 hours. [2]

The day of action was part of a growing global campaign calling on French oil company Total to stop funding the Burmese junta:

– Boycott: Last week, the global internet advocacy website Avaaz.org launched a global boycott of Total, as well as US oil company Chevron, for their presence in Burma – with nearly 50,000 signing up in ten days [3].
– Divestment: European pension funds withdrew almost £110m in investments from Total in a matter of days in protest at the company’s involvement in Burma. [4]
– Popular protests: Since October weekly protests have taken place in London outside Total Oil’s offices. Other spontaneous protests have occurred outside Total garages around the UK. [5]

Photos are available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk

For more information & photos contact:
– Jonathan Stevenson on 07818 651124, jjjstevenson@fastmail.fm
– Paul Golding on 07984 799 958 or paul@pellarin.demon.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] Total Oil has had a joint business venture with the Burmese government since 1992. Its major project is the Yadana gas project in southern Burma, which earns the military regime hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democracy leader, has said that “Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma.” For more information about Total Oil’s investment in Burma see the Burma Campaign UK website: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.php.

[2] A full list of protests on 24 November, plus further information about the campaign, can be found at: http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

[3] See http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate/. Total’s products in the UK include its network of petrol stations, as well as such brands as Bostik (makers of Blu-tack) and Spontex cleaning products.

[4] See http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2204744,00.html

[5] For reports, see http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com

Bristol Cycle Circus 8th December

Join a colourful critical mass of people and peddlers of all shapes and sizes and let our cycling circus upstage and reveal Bristol’s climate criminals.

Roll up Roll Up:

Calling all : bicycle tricksters, bike powered gizmos, jugglers, banner makers, poets, storytellers, mobile musicians, performers.

Join a colourful critical mass of people and peddlers of all shapes and sizes and let our cycling circus upstage and reveal Bristol’s climate criminals.

Roll up Roll Up:

Calling all : bicycle tricksters, bike powered gizmos, jugglers, banner makers, poets, storytellers, mobile musicians, performers.

Lets bring the reality and causes of climate change to our streets..

Meet: College Green, 1pm
8th December

International day of action on climate change

We want to take creative action on climate chaos! We invite you to join us on our Cycle Circus where together we will reveal the climate criminals with their confidence tricks and green wash.

Our first stage will be The Royal Bank of Scotland where last month saw 30 actions in the UK on this biggest investor of oil and gas projects, they haven’t gone away and nor have we.

The next stage is up to us all. Talk, share ideas, plan ,prepare, turn up, transform!

Climate change is the biggest issue of our time effecting everyone and most of all the poor. We can take back control together, create the world we want to live in and have fun along the way! Lets take the stage of those who green wash our streets and our minds to make us think its all better. Picture this, people taking to the streets because enough is enough, no more exploitation! Our planet’s on the brink of ecological crisis and we won’t let corporations get away with our world.

Lets halt the infrastructure of more fossil fuel projects locking us into a future of climate chaos and that offer big buck high tech non-solutions.

Bristol Rising Tide is an open group making collective action dedicated to tackling the root causes of climate chaos and creating climate justice. We want to invite people to join this international day of action on climate change.

TOTALitarian Oil Out of Burma – demos this week

This Saturday (24 November) is the UK-wide “TOTAL Out of Burma” Day of Action, supported by Burma Campaign UK.

Total 24 NovemberThis Saturday (24 November) is the UK-wide “TOTAL Out of Burma” Day of Action, supported by Burma Campaign UK.

There are 16 confirmed protests, with several more awaiting confirmation. It’s not too late to organise your own protest. Or you can join one or more of the protests listed below. And in London there will be a protest finale at the Total station on Marylebone Road (near Baker Street tube) from 4pm til 6pm, after which there will be a party. All are welcome.

And don’t forget our weekly protests on Wednesday and Thursday.

**This week only there will be an additional protest on WEDNESDAY EVENING at WEMBLEY PARK TOTAL GARAGE, to coincide with the England v Croatia football match at Wembley Stadium**.

————————–
UPCOMING PROTESTS

Wednesday 21 November
8.30am – 10.30am
Protest at Total Oil HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
nearest tube: Oxford Circus
map: http://tinyurl.com/2oardl

Wednesday 21 November
5.30pm – 7.30pm
Protest at Wembley Park Total petrol station, Bridge Road, Wembley, London
nearest tube: Wembley Park

Directions: Turn right at the bottom of the steps out of Wembley Park tube (Metropolitan line, 20 minutes from Baker St) onto the main road (Bridge Road). The Total garage is highly visible straight ahead, on the big traffic island opposite the retail park – 3 minutes walk.

Thursday 22 November
5.00pm – 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station, Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR
nearest tube: Baker Street
map: http://tinyurl.com/2zg4qf

Saturday 24 November
TOTAL OUT OF BURMA NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

A day of action around the UK calling for Total Oil to stop funding the Burmese military regime and pull out of Burma. Protests are being organised at petrol stations around the UK. For an up-to-date list of protest locations, contact details and details of how to organise your own protest, go to
http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

——————————————————–
1. Confirmed protests on Sat 24 Nov
——————————————————–

BRADFORD
Vigil against Total
5pm-7pm
meet at Centenary Square, Bradford

BRIGHTON
Kemp Town Total station
Meet at the Pavillion Bus Stop at 11.30am

GUERNSEY
Protests will be happening at Total stations across the island.
contact: Kev on burma@landofkev.com or 07911 770 017

LONDON – Baker Street
4pm-6pm
Dorset House Total station, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, Westminster NW1 5AR
nearest tube: Baker Street
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com
(note: this is the final London protest of the day – all welcome, with a party to follow)

LONDON – Camden
from 11.30am
Camden Town Total station, 109-113 York Way, Islington N7 9QE
nearest tube: Caledonian Rd or Kentish Town
contact: Jonathan on jjjstevenson@fastmail.fm or 07818 651 124

LONDON – Chiswick
2pm-4pm
West Four Total station,137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED
nearest tube: Turnham Green
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com

LONDON – Hammersmith
11am-2pm
Raven Total station, 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith W6 0XF
nearest tube: Stamford Brook
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com

LONDON – Kensal Green
1pm-3pm
Kensal Total station, 904 Harrow Rd, Kensal Green NW10 5JU
contact: Steph at fifth_state@yahoo.co.uk

LONDON – Kilburn
12.30pm-1.45pm
Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn NW6 7QG
nearest tube: Kilburn
contact: Dan at dviesnik [at] yahoo.co.uk

LONDON – Manor Park
1pm- 3pm
Manor Park Total station, 893 Romford Rd, East Ham E12 5JT
nearest tube: East Ham or (rail) Manor Park
contact: Paul on paul@riseup.net or 07939 975 085

LONDON – Newham
10.30am-12.30pm
High St North Total station, 409-419 High St North, Newham E12 6TL
nearest tube: East Ham
contact: Paul on paul@riseup.net or 07939 975 085

LONDON – Southwark
2pm-4pm
Thomas Beckett Total station, 233-247 Old Kent Road, Southwark SE1 5LU
nearest tube: Elephant & Castle or Borough
contact: Danae on papakura2000@hotmail.com or 07731 956 415

LONDON – Whitechapel
10am-12noon
Vallance Total station, 112 Vallance Rd, Tower Hamlets E1 5BW
nearest tube: Whitechapel
contact: Danae on papakura2000@hotmail.com or 07731 956 415

LONDON – Willesden
11am-12.15pm
Willesden Lane Total station, 290 Willesden Lane, Willesden NW2 5HS
nearest tube: Willesden Green
contact: Dan at dviesnik [at] yahoo.co.uk

OXFORD
from 9.30am
Cowley Total station, 44 Garsington Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LG
contact: Dennis at dhambridge@btinternet.com or 07804 433 602

ST ALBANS
meets outside Barclays Bank, St Peters Street at 11am
moving on to Total garage tbc at 12noon.
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com

——————————————————–
2. Protests to be confirmed
——————————————————–

LONDON – Bermondsey
LONDON – Haringey
LONDON – Peckham
LONDON – Waltham Forest
MANCHESTER
WREXHAM

If you interested in attending any of these protests please email totaloutofburma@gmail.com

——————————————————–
3. Details of how to get involved
——————————————————–

There are two ways to take part in the day of action:

1. Join a garage protest (see list above). You can get in touch with the contact listed or you can just turn up on the day and offer your support. As protests are confirmed we’ll add them to the blog: http://www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

2. Organise your own action – there are several hundred TOTAL petrol stations in the UK to choose from. Follow these three easy steps:

a. Find out where your local TOTAL garage is by using the handy Service Station Finder at http://www.total.co.uk or check the google map of UK TOTAL garages being created at http://tinyurl.com/2ftvdf.

b. Get some simple visual materials together, plus some leaflets or petitions, and publicise it to your friends, contacts and local press. If you want the details listed publicly (e.g. by email and on the blog) email them to totaloutofburma@gmail.com or call Paul on 07939 975 085.

c. Hold the protest! Take some pictures, post a report on Indymedia.org.uk and send the link to totaloutofburma@gmail.com. Plus write to TOTAL’s head office telling them what you’ve been up to.

Basic placard designs, petitions, leaflets and a model press release are downloadable from: http://www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

————————–
For more information go to:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html
http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com
Join the facebook group: “Get Total Oil out of Burma”

Further Information
————————————-
Total out of Burma blog
http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com

Facebook group – Get Total Oil out of Burma
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6833508763

Burma Campaign UK’s info on Total Oil
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html

Thanks again for supporting the call to get Total Oil out of Burma.

Manchester petrol station blockaded in Burma protest & 24th November national day of action vs Total

13.11.2007
Yesterday, up to 20 human rights campaigners blockaded a TOTAL garage on Oxford Road, Manchester. This was in protest at Total Oil’s investment in the military regime of Burma.

Manchester Total burma blockade13.11.2007
Yesterday, up to 20 human rights campaigners blockaded a TOTAL garage on Oxford Road, Manchester. This was in protest at Total Oil’s investment in the military regime of Burma.

The activists, many of them students, blockaded the entrances to the petrol station successfully with the aid of 3 arm tubes. A large banner was displayed reading “Totally Out of Order – Fuelling oppression in Burma”. Leaflets were given out resulting in a number of supporting comments from people walking past.

a fourth arm tube was used to blockade the exit of the garage. The protest delayed the entry of a lorry delivering oil to the garage.

Police attended the protest but had made no attempt to remove those who were locked to each other with arm tubes by the time I left. There was also some mainstream media attention, notably from the Manchester Evening News.

==-=-=-=-=

National Day of Action against TOTALitarian Oil – Sat 24 Nov

For more details, see:
http://www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com/

Climate Action News Sheet, 73 November 2007

CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) WILD LIE EXHIBITION PURSUES SHELL TO ABERYSTWYTH – 10-17.11.07

CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) WILD LIE EXHIBITION PURSUES SHELL TO ABERYSTWYTH – 10-17.11.07
2) FREE FILM SCREENING OF ‘THE WARNING’ – LONDON, 12.11.07
3) TOTTERDOWN ART TRAIL – BRISTOL, 16-18.11.07
4) OXFORDSHIRE ECO-HOUSE OPEN DAYS – 24-25.11.07
5) BANNER PROTEST AT BIOFUELS CONFERENCE – LONDON, 27.11.07
6) CRITICAL MASS DATES AND UPDATES – OCT/NOV 2007
7) CLIMATE CHANGE BIKE RIDE / NATIONAL MARCH – LONDON, 8.12.07
8) BEYONDTV FESTIVAL – SWANSEA, 28.11.07-2.12.07
9) CLIMATE CAMP EXHIBITION ON TOUR – WINTER 2007
10) LOW-IMPACT LIVING INITIATIVE COURSES – WINTER 2007
11) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE ART EXHIBITION – NOV/DEC 2007
12) EARTHFIRST MOOT / NEW ACTION UPDATE – WINTER 2007
13) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) SONGS OF FREEDOM AT OPENING OF SHELL’S WILD LIE EXHIBITION – 27.10.07
2) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION VS. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
3) PEOPLE’S BLOCKADE OF WORLD’S BIGGEST COAL PORT – AUSTRALIA, 3.11.07
4) GREENWASH GUERILLAS DISRUPT “CARBON TRAITORS” IN NEW YORK – 30.10.07
5) BP EXECUTIVE PIED AT EUROPE’S LARGEST BIOFUELS EVENT – 17.10.07
6) CAMP HOPE, GLOUCESTER – 20-21.10.07
7) PLANE STUPID AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT – 8.10.2007
8) GREENPEACE PROTESTORS SHUT DOWN POWER PLANT – 8.10.07
9) TOTAL BLOCKADES – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2007
10) NUFFGLOBAL FILMS – NOVEMBER 2007
11) ESCALATING DEFLATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST 4X4S IN SWEDEN – OCT ‘07
12) DIRECT ACTION NEWS FROM GREECE – 7-15.10.07
13) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 4 – NOVEMBER 2007

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) WILD LIE EXHIBITION PURSUES SHELL TO ABERYSTWYTH – 10-17.11.07
Immediately after hosting the 2006 Shell Wildlife Photographer exhibition (organised by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife magazine) Aberystwyth Arts Centre is showing our counter-exhibition; ‘Shell’s Wild Lie’. http://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/whatson/exhibitions/
‘Shell’s Wild Lie’, has been put together as part of London Rising Tide’s ‘Art Not Oil’ campaign, and features photographs and illustrations that we consider give a truer snapshot of the disastrous effects that Shell and the whole fossil fuel industry have on our planet:
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk/gallery/v/Shell/
Book it yourself, and tell the Museum and BBC Wildlife what you think:
m.dixon@nhm.ac.uk, cc’ing to feedback@nhm.ac.uk,
wildlifeletters@bbcmagazinesbristol.com & info@artnotoil.org.uk

2) FREE FILM SCREENING, THE WARNING – LONDON, 12.11.07
The first UK screening of the award-winning film “The Warning” will be on 12th November, 8pm at Passing Clouds Works in Dalston, east London. This documentary charts the struggle of Siberian communities to protect their sacred lands from predatory oil companies. Passing Clouds is behind ‘Uncle Sam’s’, which is on 438 Kingsland Road. Get there from Shoreditch /Old Street on the 242, 243, 67 or 149 buses.

3) TOTTERDOWN ART TRAIL – BRISTOL, 16-18.11.07
Including art, films and exhibitions connected with climate change and peak oil. www.frontroom.org.uk

4) OXFORDSHIRE ECO-HOUSE OPEN DAYS – 24-25.11.07
Are you planning to renovate your house in the most environmental way possible? Do you want to slash energy bills and make your house warmer and healthier? Are you selling your house and want to improve its poor energy rating? Do you want to prepare for life in the climate change century? 18 eco-houses in Oxfordshire are opening their doors to the public to share the techniques, products and possibilities of eco-renovation. This is a superb opportunity to see a wide range of approaches and talk to the house owners directly about their experiences.
www.ecovation.org.uk
www.coinet.org.uk

5) BANNER PROTEST AT BIOFUELS CONFERENCE – LONDON, 27.11.07
This will take place outside the Biofuel Finance and Investment World Conference at Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street (near High Street Kensington tube station) on Tuesday, 27th November, 12 noon to 2pm.
Biofuel investment means more global warming, more deforestation, more people going hungry because of higher food prices and food shortages, and more human rights abuses and refugees as agribusinesses take control over ever larger areas of land.
www.biofuelwatch.org.uk

6) CRITICAL MASS DATES AND UPDATES – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2007
Sheffield; last Friday of the month, 5:30pm at the University Concourse.
London; last Friday of the month, 6:00pm under Waterloo Bridge by the NFT, South Bank. Next ride November 23rd 2007.
http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk/main.html
For reports on the October rides see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/6274

7) CLIMATE CHANGE BIKE RIDE / NATIONAL MARCH – LONDON, 8.12.07
Saturday 8 December, Cyclists assemble 10am Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Cycling to Parliament Square to link up with main march to US Embassy, (timed to coincide with the UN climate talks in Bali). Marchers assemble 12 noon Millbank for main march. [Westminster Tube]
2.30 pm Rally at US embassy. Speakers include Chris Huhne MP, Michael Meacher MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Zac Goldsmith, George Monbiot. The National Demo in London will be one of many global climate demonstrations taking place on the 8th.
http://www.campaigncc.org

8) BEYONDTV FESTIVAL – SWANSEA, 28.11.07-2.12.07
Undercurrents will host the 8th annual BEYONDTV festival of political documentaries, animations and music videos from inspiring media directors. All films will have a theme of social or environmental activism. Hosted in the very heart of Swansea, BeyondTV promises to be an entertaining week with all proceeds going to to support the charity work of undercurrents.
http://beyondtvfestival.clearerchannel.org/whatisbtv

9) CLIMATE CAMP EXHIBITION ON TOUR – WINTER 2007
The Climate Camp exhibition documents in sound, words, installations and images the life, workshops and direct action of those ten busy days in August. It examines the issues and thinking of people who seek to stop the world sleepwalking into a disaster that is manifestly preventable, but hugely profitable for a powerful few. This exhibition will be touring UK cities threatened by regional airport expansion.
Workshops, talks and film screenings will appear at http://www.minimouse.me.uk/show as they are confirmed.
Photographs from the show are a selection from those to be seen at
http://www.minimouse.me.uk/photographers.html

10) LOW-IMPACT LIVING INITIATIVE COURSES – WINTER 2007
LILI will be running 10 courses at a new venue called Unstone Grange (nr. Sheffield) and 28 one day courses at Hackney City Farm in London. For the full range of courses for 2007-2008, see;
http://www.lowimpact.org/courses.htm

11) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE ART EXHIBITION – NOV-DEC 2007
Plymouth Environment Centre is holding a fund-raising art exhibition and auction at the B-bar in the Barbican Theatre, Plymouth.
Exhibition – Friday 23rd November to Thursday 13th December 2007
Auction – Thursday 13th December 2007 starting at 7pm
http://plymouthenvironmentcentre.org.uk/art_auction.php

12) EARTHFIRST MOOT / NEW ACTION UPDATE – WINTER 2007
To download the EF! Action Update and for advance notice of the Winter Moot (February gathering of eco-activists) see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/6347

13) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
The site is now running and will be filling up with images, ideas, graphics, posters, links…
Check for updates on what promises to be a memorable day of action.
http://www.fossilfoolsday.org

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) SONGS OF FREEDOM AT OPENING OF SHELL’S WILD LIE EXHIBITION – 27.10.07
15 or so folk from all over Carbon Town gathered today to sing a new hymn of hope to an oil-free future in the co-opted cathedral that is the Unnatural History Museum, where the heartbreakingly beautiful Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has just opened. Gradually the singers were removed, gathering again on the pavement outside with
images from the Shell’s Wild Lie exhibition and more songs. Spirits were high, and responses from the public lovely and heart-warming. No police were present. It still looks as if the campaign to get Shell kicked out as sponsor might bear fruit – we’ll find out very soon if its 2 year contract will be renewed. Let’s keep the pressure up!
For a full report and what you can do to help, see;
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/231
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk//content/view/39/1/
For a short film of the action, see;
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384607.html

2) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION VS. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
From Edinburgh to Cornwall, blockades to invisible theatre, polar bears to treacle tarts; RBS felt the sting today. All in all there were 32 actions across the country including firsts for several groups. Everyone is delighted with the phenomenal response to the day of action…except RBS of course! The actions highlighted their role as one of the world’s
largest funders of climate-wrecking oil and gas extraction. For full reports on the various fantastic protests see;
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/230
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/383812.html
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5176

3) THE PEOPLE’S BLOCKADE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST COAL PORT – AUSTRALIA,
3.11.07
Rising Tide Australia estimate that about 400 people came to Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle and that about 250 entered the shipping channel to blockade the world’s biggest coal port with canoes, kayaks and inner tubes. This was a fantastic show of community determination to take action against Australia’s biggest contribution to climate change, despite
resistance from government and industry. As well as being a powerful and symbolic action, the protest succeeded in disrupting coal exports from Newcastle Harbour.
http://www.risingtide.org.au/peoplesblockadereport

4) GREENWASH GUERILLAS DISRUPT “CARBON TRAITORS” IN NEW YORK – 30.10.07
Rising Tide North America’s Greenwash Guerrillas paid a surprise Halloween visit to the Carbon Market Insights conference in New York City. Posing as delegates, two protesters took the stage at the exclusive event and presented the 700 attendees with a “Deed to the Atmosphere” denouncing Carbon Trading as a sham approach to the fossil fuels crisis. The action was the first in the US to target the growing Carbon Trading industry.
http://risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/category/front-page/

5) BP EXECUTIVE PIED AT EUROPE’S LARGEST BIOFUELS EVENT – 17.10.07
A stunned audience gasped as a cream-pie was launched at BP Biofuels’ Europe & Africa Director Oliver Mace, while activists swarmed the stage and handed out leaflets to attendees. One of the protesters D-locked himself to the podium, telling delegates “we need to reduce our consumption now – technological fixes are not the answer.” Panic alarms
were then set off around the room and the conference was halted.
There was also a demo outside the event and a lock on blockade at a D1 refinery. D1 are one of the biggest traders in biofuel specific crops.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384123.html
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5205
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/expoprotests.php

6) CAMP HOPE, GLOUCESTER – 20-21.10.07
Camp Hope took place in a field opposite the entrance to Gloucestershire Airport on the weekend of 20/21 October 2007. Activists set up the camp in protest at the proposed expansion and increased aviation at Staverton in Gloucester. Workshops and discussions included those given by; Bicycology, Plane Stupid, Seeds For Change, Stop Bristol Airport Expansion and Biofuelwatch.
http://www.myspace.com/campofhope

7) PLANE STUPID AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT – 8.10.2007
Activists from Manchester Climate Action and Manchester Plane Stupid blockaded the security check-in of terminal 3 of Manchester Airport. Passengers were denied access to the departure lounge by seven activists locked together using arm-tube devices. Leaflets and train timetables were handed out. Two banners were unfurled reading, Manchester City Council…supporting climate chaos and Domestic flights cost the Earth. The action was inspired by the Camp for Climate Action.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/climate-change-activists-blockade-domestic-flights

8) GREENPEACE PROTESTORS SHUT DOWN POWER PLANT – 8.10.07
Greenpeace campaigners staged a dawn raid at a power plant which could be the site of Britain’s first new coal-fired station for 20 years. More than 50 activists said they wanted Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reject the proposal for the Kingsnorth site, on the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent. After entering the site, one team locked on to conveyor belts while another team climbed to the top of the chimney.
http://greenpeace.org.uk/tags/kingsnorth

9) TOTAL BLOCKADES – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2007
A wave of demonstrations against the oil giant Total and its role in supporting the brutal regime in Burma have taken place in London, Bradford, Cardiff and Oxford. While not strictly climate-based, these protests keep the spotlight on criminals like Total. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader, said that “Total has become the main supporter of the Burmese military regime.” She told the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur that “Total knew what it was doing when it invested massively in Burma while others withdrew from the market for ethical reasons”.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5122 & 5137, 5204, 5207 & 6346

10) NUFFGLOBAL FILMS – NOVEMBER 2007
NUFFglobal film festival supported a project to produce 25 short films on different aspects of climate change made by young film-makers from around the world. For more info and to watch the clips online see;
http://nuffglobal.net/

11) ESCALATING DEFLATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST 4X4S IN SWEDEN – OCT ‘07
One thousand 4x4s have now been disarmed by The Indians of the Concrete Jungle! The campaign is spreading like wildfire, prompting national debate and furious aggression among SUV-owners.
http://asfaltsdjungelnsindianer.wordpress.com/

12) DIRECT ACTION NEWS FROM GREECE – 7-15 OCTOBER 2007
http://directactiongr.blogspot.com

13) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 4 – NOVEMBER 2007
For the 4th edition of Bath’s premiere radical tabloid see; http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/385124.html

Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK: info at risingtide.org.uk
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with the subject line ‘subscribe’ (without the quotes).

Shell Targeted across Edinburgh

11 Nov 2007
In solidarity with the people of Rossport and Nigeria, the Shell petrol station on Dalry Road was blockaded for 2 hours on Saturday by 20 people including members of the Clown Army. The Comiston Shell Petrol Station was subjected to a nighttime redecoration.

Shell Edinburgh blockade11 Nov 2007
In solidarity with the people of Rossport and Nigeria, the Shell petrol station on Dalry Road was blockaded for 2 hours on Saturday by 20 people including members of the Clown Army. The Comiston Shell Petrol Station was subjected to a nighttime redecoration.
‘From Oganiland to Rossport’ was the message of anti-Shell protesters blockading Shell
Petrol Station in Dalry Road, Edinburgh, this morning (Saturday 10 November).

The group of around twenty protesters shut off the petrol station by blocking entrances and hoisting signs. The protesters aimed to educate and entertain those prevented
from accessing the station, bringing with them an array of musical instruments and games
as well as information about Shell.

An activist explained. ‘This action is not only a protest against Shell’s atrocious environmental record in the Niger Delta and Rossport, County Mayo, but also a gesture of solidarity with those who have already suffered so much at the hands of Shell. Today marks the twelfth anniversary of the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa who was executed by the
Nigerian government for his attempts to protect the lands of his people, the Ogani community. In addition this time last year the Irish Garda police baton charged a peaceful blockade of the Shell refinery in Rossport, injuring unarmed members of the Rossport community who were peacefully trying to protect their homes from commercial exploitation. We stand in support of these brave people and aim to draw attention to the worldwide issue of Shell’s violation of both human rights and the health of our planet in
pursuit of profit’

Also attending the blockade was a gaggle of clowns from the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army, who brought a sense of comic festivity to the otherwise somber anniversary.

Sergeant Toast explained: ‘We clowns represent the sane in an insane world, where the profit of multinational companies comes before the rights and lives of communities. Even the likes of Shell and their actions in the world cannot quell our sense of the joyousness and beauty of life and our determination to replace these commercial values
with out own-those of playfulness, freedom and love. Join the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel
Clown Army and help us protect our world and freedoms!’

The Rossport community of County Mayo, Ireland, have since 2000 waged an ongoing resistance to the attempts of Shell to turn their coast-land into the site of a toxic refinery with a high pressure gas pipeline which will cut through the community, in same cases running just 70metres from peoples homes. The ‘Rossport 5’-farmers who refused to
obey a compulsory purchase order to seize their land-were imprisoned in 2005, and their
efforts are supported by the whole community, worthy of nation wide and international
support for the struggle they are bravely maintaining. (www.struggle.ws/rsc, www.shelltosea.com)

Nigeria-On November 10th 1995 Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni colleagues were executed by the Nigerian state for campaigning against the devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies, especially Shell and Chevron. (www.remembersarowiwa.com)

In an unrelated incident the Shell petrol station at Comiston was targeted in a night time attack. Messages were spray painted, locks were glued and the petrol pump dials rendered unreadable. (see http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1802622007)

Ogoni 9 Day – Rossport Endures to Prevail; Today Smelt Like Victory (photos)

November 9th 2007
Not in our name !

Mayo Ogoni solidarity 1

Mayo Ogoni solidarity 3November 9th 2007
Not in our name !

Today, to commemorate Shell’s judicial murder of the Ogoni 9 and a look back in anger at the Garda baton-fest a year ago, some 400 activists journeyed from all reaches of Ireland to voice our outrage outside and inside Shell’s Bellanaboy site, I was with the section of protestors that first manned the front line at Bellanaboy bridge at 6AM at the request of S2S when it was rightly surmised that Shell and the Guards would attempt to steal a march by bringing the workers in early – for a while, before Garda weight of numbers prevailed, we were effective in blockading and preventing them from earning their 30 pieces of Mammon silver inside.

After being prevented from joining the main group by a two deep line of Guards, we successfully scaled the gates of the refinery to be greeted inside with wanton violence and rough handling by Shell’s thugs dressed in security uniforms.

What stimulated the title was an encounter with a German from Riegen and a couple from the UK Midlands who had spent the previous 48 hours travelling overland from mainland Europe and England just to attend today’s protest, what commitment?, even so, the people of Erris match it and, further afield, activists, who with a granite sense of conscience turn up again and again in Bellanaboy to bear witness against a rogue corporation and their shoe shine boys in government who pave and grease their way?

Updates received via Text Message from Protestors

6.47: Gate 2 blocked since 6am

7.10: Situation tense for a group from Cork hemmed in near Gate 2 (gate nearest the bridge). On the road but the guards have half of it.

7.35: The refinery site has been occupied. One group of 30 people have entered and are now occupying the site compound. Meanwhile on the road between the bridge and Gate 2, a group of 90 protesters prevented a truck from from entering the site for about 20 minutes. The truck drove over one person’s foot and an ambulance is on its way. One of the blockaders was arrested around the same time.

8:08: The same truck that drove over the protester’s foot is still being blockaded from entering the quarry (around 40 minutes at this stage).

8:35: There are currently two different groups on the building site and another two groups of blockaders at Gate 1 and Gate 2.

The protester whose foot was driven over has been taken to hospital. Guards were reported as being very rough while removing people from the road at Gate 2 – standing on people’s arms and chests and pulling them off the road by their necks. Local, John Monaghan had his camera pulled off him and thrown into the ditch by gardai.

8:57: The truck has since got past the blockade of Gate 2 (leaving it blocked for just over an hour). 30/40 local people were actively involved in the blockade. Guards reported as violently dragging people away – punching people in back and stomach. Many guards reported as not wearing their identification numbers.

The blockaders have now joined the group at the main gate to the site and there is a line of gardai (now including the public order unit) between them and the compound gate. Two other arrests have been confirmed aside from the protester blockading Gate 2. Further details on these two arrests to be confirmed.

9:05: One group of about 20 protesters on the site attempted to get past the inner gate (with spikes on top) to the site but suffered minor injuries (cut hands) as well as ripped and torn clothing as the site security prevented them from getting across by pushing them back against the spikes at the top of the gate. Two of the people who succeeded in getting to the inner site were ejected from the site by site security needed first aid but are now on their way up to join the group on the road by the main gate.

10:26: Six people have been escorted out of the compound after breaching it via a back entrance. The group managed to breach the inner perimeter and stop work temporarily. There were minor scuffles but security were ‘generally nice’.

14:56: 16 people are currently on site. There are security present but no gardai as of yet. The group is a mix of locals and supporters.

15:01: “Security guards assaulting protesters, grabbing cameras, work continuing”

Shell Gas Offices plagued in Derbyshire

9.11.2007
Supporters of the International struggle against shell have demonstrated outside the Shell Gas offices in Duckmanton, Nr Chesterfield this morning with banners, noise and images of the community struggle in Ireland. They leafleted the workers at the offices and demanded an end to the ongoing violence, intimidation and bribery that the Shell project has begun on the local people of Mayo, NW Ireland.

9.11.2007
Supporters of the International struggle against shell have demonstrated outside the Shell Gas offices in Duckmanton, Nr Chesterfield this morning with banners, noise and images of the community struggle in Ireland. They leafleted the workers at the offices and demanded an end to the ongoing violence, intimidation and bribery that the Shell project has begun on the local people of Mayo, NW Ireland.

Today’s demonstration was in solidarity of an international day of action all over the world with the Irish and Ogoni communities November the 10th is the first anniversary of the gardai (police) baton charge against the people in Erris. It is also the 12th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni people who were leaders in the movement against Shell in Nigeria. As in Nigeria in the early nineties, state violence is being used on the local people of Mayo to protect corporate profits.

Workers at the Duckmanton office seemed somewhat surprised this morning with the demonstration and they didn’t get much support from their neighbours either who also stated “they hate them”

The refinery is to be built in a Special Area of conservation under EU regulations. Shell’s own study found that the bay is a breeding and rearing area for whales and dolphins recording over 220 sightings of seven whale and dolphin species, two seal species, basking sharks and sea turtle. Toxic waste is to be pumped into Broadhaven Bay from the refinery, including lead, nickel, magnesium, phosphorous, chromium, arsenic, mercury and radioactive gas radon.

Shell are responsible for the site related health problems, spills, toxic releases and murder of local peoples around their plants in Nigeria, South Africa, Texas, Louisiana, The Philippines, Curacao, Brazil

Act Now! Help local people stop Shell’s Hell

More information
http://www.indymedia.ie http://www.corribsos.com
http://www.corporatewatch.org http:// www.shellfacts.com
images www.radical-images.co.uk