Bacton, Norfolk. Locals show solidarity with Shell to Sea

3.08.2007
Today a small group of local campaigners visited Shell’s processing plant at Bacton on the North Norfolk Coast to demonstrate solidarity with communities struggling against Shell in Co. Mayo, Eire. Bacton is one of the major landfall locations for North Sea gas in England and Shell’s refinery has been included in the recent SOCPA legislation.

bacton3.08.2007
Today a small group of local campaigners visited Shell’s processing plant at Bacton on the North Norfolk Coast to demonstrate solidarity with communities struggling against Shell in Co. Mayo, Eire. Bacton is one of the major landfall locations for North Sea gas in England and Shell’s refinery has been included in the recent SOCPA legislation.

Mayo shell site blockaded, later occupied, jailings & solidarity demo

13.07.2007

Local Protesters Blockade Shell Construction site in Mayo

A number of Shell to Sea campaigners have established a non-violent blockade of the road leading to the proposed gas refinery site at Bellanaboy. Two protestors are locked on to an immobilized vehicle, preventing access to the site.

Bellanaboy car blockade13.07.2007

Local Protesters Blockade Shell Construction site in Mayo

A number of Shell to Sea campaigners have established a non-violent blockade of the road leading to the proposed gas refinery site at Bellanaboy. Two protestors are locked on to an immobilized vehicle, preventing access to the site.

“It is vital for the preservation of Erris and the protection of its people that all work on this destructive and exploitative project be stopped immediately. Despite a contemptible strategy by the authorities that either ignores or maliciously persecutes those opposing the project, residents remain resolute in their opposition.” says John Monaghan

This action comes in the wake of the conviction of three local residents on a charge of assault, a charge they vigorously deny. The judges’ verdict has been met with surprise and chagrin from the community.

Today Shell to Sea supporters are clearly demonstrating that they will not be deterred by Gardai violence or false imprisonment

for timeline etc go to http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83416

Occupation of refinery site

Breaking news – 10pm

100 people have just occupied the proposed refinery site in Ballinaboy!

People jumped the main front gates of the refinery site and just walked on. Over 100 people occupied the site. The atmosphere was very relaxed and peaceful.

People chatted to the security staff and challenged them as to why they feel the necessity to work for Shell.

People stayed on site for roughly half an hour. They had a walk around, and a good look around. People walked right to the top of the site and back down again.

There were no Gardai there for the duration of the occupation.

People have just left the site together as a block and are going on to have a bonfire together and with the fishermen that have just been released from prison.

This follows a day of all out action by the people in Erris. Two people had locked on this morning to a vehicle. This blocade, supported by road blocades done by people on another road prevented the trucks from working for the vast majority of the day. The two men that ‘locked on’ have both been charged with numerous public order and road traffic offences. They are due to appear in the District Court in Castlebar on Wednesday.

Shell to Sea campaigners jailed for police assault

A text message and short phone call last night revealed that three Shell to Sea protestors have been jailed on assault charges against the Garda.

The text message from one at the Rossport Solidarity Camp said the three men were found guilty of assaults on the police.

One man received three months, another one month and the last is facing four months in prison.

A forth man is also facing the same charges.

An appeal is set for today to see if they can over turn the charges, but as the message I received last night said it did not look good.

For further updates keep your eye on here or on: http://indymedia.ie/mayo

Solidarity with Jailed anti-Shell Protesters- Picket at Department of Justice, Dublin

No Justice in Rossport- the Gardaí work for Shell
Mayo jail solidarity demo
Supporters of the campaign to have Shell site their refinery offshore and for the Irish govt to secure Irish natural resources for the people showed their solidarity with the three Erris fisherment who have been wrongly jailed. A large group of about forty protesters handed in a short letter (signed by them all) to the minister expressing outrage at the treatment of the three men.

The Gardaí complained that the presence of such as a large group of people at the entrance of the building had health and safety implications, and tried to order those present to move, but it was poined out the health and safety implications of Shell’s scheme for Mayo were a much greater threat to us all.

Garda reinforcements arrived and tried to intimidate the protesters, who included some Sinn Féin and Green Party members (as well as members of smaller groups and none), but no one paid any attention to them, since they are widely recognised as simply being used as merceneries for Shell now, their authority is slipping away.

Related Link: http://www.youtube.com/shelltohell

On the anniversary of the imprisonment of the Rossport Five, Shell’s peat stripping continues

Bellanaboy, Friday June 29th 2007

In Erris, protests continue every day at the site of the proposed refinery at Bellanaboy, County Mayo.

Rossport imprisonment 2nd anniversaryBellanaboy, Friday June 29th 2007

In Erris, protests continue every day at the site of the proposed refinery at Bellanaboy, County Mayo.

Last Friday, June 29th, was the second anniversary of the imprisonment of the Rossport Five. The day saw the continuing of the operation to strip the surface peat away from the Bellanaboy refinery site, and as is now normal, local people protesting were joined by supporters of the Shell to Sea campaign from other parts of Ireland and abroad.

As usual, the Garda response to the protests was brutal. One protester was arrested and many more were assaulted. Gardaí also threw activists into the deep ditches near the Bellanaboy site.

Videos of the protests on Friday morning can be seen here: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=kAXKHu3_bKo

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=tSMF4GgnC_I

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=u7jnUOq8LYA

or check www.youtube.ie/shelltohell

The Gardaí were said to be surprised at the number of protesters at the site on Friday morning, while many people present complained that the police were suffering from the effects of the night before. Protesters commented on the noticeable smell of alcohol coming from a lot of the officers, and their generally dishevelled appearance, as well as their aggressive and juvenile behaviour. One garda, when confronted with the fact that his behaviour was not acceptable, loudly declared “I’m allowed to drink when I’m off duty!”.

Many people are still angry with the Gardaí over their treatment of a local landowner whose property they trespassed onto to allow Shell’s contractors to install a security cabin near the pier at Pollotomais, across the estuary from Rossport. The portacabin has recently been removed by Shell, but not before legal action had to be threatened.

Many local people accuse the Gardaí of intimidation of the elderly landowner, putting him under such stress that he had to be admitted to hospital. His family have said that he has been upset by a series of incidents including visits by up to six gardaí to the house. Officers asked him questions and video-taped the responses. However, the Gardaí have denied there was any pressure or intimidation involved.

Over the last few months thousands of tons of surface peat have been removed from the refinery site at Bellanaboy and dumped 11KM away, in advance of the Environmental Protection Agency decision on whether the refinery will receive a licence to operate.

New minister with responsibility for the scheme, Eamon Ryan, has been asked for a meeting with local people and other supporters of Shell to Sea, but so far has not responded. In the coming weeks and months, it is expected that more people from outside the area will join the protests.

One of the Rossport Five, Micheál Ó Seighin said recently:
“We welcome people taking non-violent direction to stop Shell’s scheme. This has never been a purely local issue. It has always had national and international dimensions. Not only are people concerned entitled to protest, they are obliged to stand up for what is right.
Related Link: http://www.youtube.ie/shelltohell

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The activist who was arrested on Friday morning was taken in handcuffs to Bellmullet Garda station where he was detained for four hours before being charged with various public order offences, including that he “did without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, wilfully prevent or interrupt the free passage of a vehicle…”.

See also : A Tainted Process http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83016, Prosecuting the Gardaí http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83096, Court Report http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82730, Portacabin incident http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82983,

Undead support campaign against Spanish oil multinational

Last Thursday 14th June in Asturias, Northern Spain I was present at an action where a Zombie Collective came back from the dead to support La Campana Asturiana e Contra el Expolio de las Petroleras and other Spanish solidarity organisations by staging a series of die-ins in a garage forecourt and elsewhere around the city of Gijon.

Last Thursday 14th June in Asturias, Northern Spain I was present at an action where a Zombie Collective came back from the dead to support La Campana Asturiana e Contra el Expolio de las Petroleras and other Spanish solidarity organisations by staging a series of die-ins in a garage forecourt and elsewhere around the city of Gijon.

The action was to draw attention to the actions of Spanish based oil multi-national Repsol who are responsible for population displacement, militarization, violence and murder in several South American countries, most notably Colombia, where they operate clandestinely.
Publicity at the action told of El Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos (Permanent Tribune of the People) that is described as an international organisation, looking for truth, justice and reparation for the victims of oil companies Repsol, British Petroleum and Occidental Petroleum in Colombia. It operates outside official judicial structures of any country and represents the ethical conscience of the people and humanity. The TPP is holding a judgement on these companies in Bogota in August this year. There is also a preliminary meeting to this in Madrid in June.

One of the Zombies said:
“ We are here in solidarity with all those who have died as a result of Repsol’s actions in Colombia. We are also here because we wish to make you, the Living aware of how so many of the organisations, institutions and systems that you cling to are in fact corpses themselves. From the Other Side we have a clearer picture than you and we see that though you trick yourselves into believing otherwise, your courts, your governments, your businesses in so many cases serve only Death. You cling to them because you are afraid to let go and allow new systems that can truly serve you and Life to grow. Always something has to die for the new to be born. Many of you hold a new world in your hearts but it cannot be born while you hold on to the rotting corpse of the old. Let it go, grieve it if you must but its time is past and it serves you no longer.”

I asked for clarification but the undead companera declined to elaborate. Perhaps she was referring to social movements where people seem to be moving away from trying to change the behaviour of governments to learning how to govern themselves and build the world they want….?

Related Link: http://www.repsolmata.ourproject.org

Rossport ‘Shell to Sea’ update

Friday June 15, 2007

New pipeline routes, court appearances and Garda headlocks.

1) Residents wearing clothes torn by Gardai take a look at the new pipeline route corridors proposed by RPS; 2) Wednesday morning’s proceedings in Belmullet district court and; 3) Thursday morning at Bellanaboy.

Rossport 'Say no to Shell'Friday June 15, 2007

New pipeline routes, court appearances and Garda headlocks.

1) Residents wearing clothes torn by Gardai take a look at the new pipeline route corridors proposed by RPS; 2) Wednesday morning’s proceedings in Belmullet district court and; 3) Thursday morning at Bellanaboy.

New pipeline routes
On Tuesday 12th June, the day after police brutally forced an illegal portacabin onto private land through crowds of protesters near Pollathomais, Rural Planning Services (RPS) announced the eight new possible corridors for the Corrib gas pipeline. RPS are the company subcontracted by Shell to find a new route for the controversial pipeline promised in the aftermath of the Cassells report. The selected route corridors were unveiled at a reception and open evening in the Broadhaven Bay Belmullet. The route unveiling was well attended by Shell to Sea campaigners many wearing clothes torn by police at the face off on Monday, underlining the fact that while Shell and their partners claim community consultation ultimately they will use force courtesy of the Gardai to push their project through.

Campaigners reiterated their opposition to the Corrib project in its current configuration. They pointed out that the idea that the pipeline route is the sole problem is a product of the ‘project splitting mentality’ that has marred this project from the outset and that the recommendation of rerouting of the pipeline as a solution to the Corrib conflict comes from the flawed Cassel’s report.

Shell to Sea campaigners brought placards and a banner reading ‘stop before its too late’ into the RPS reception. Protesters unfurled the banner across the hall and called on everyone opposed to raw gas in Erris to get behind the banner. The room was quickly divided into a mass of people behind the banner chanting ‘Shell to Sea’ as a handful of RPS personnel looked on. Having made their point protesters left the hall together to chat outside.

Campaigners up in court
Campaigners were back in Belmullet on Wednesday morning for the sitting of Belmullet district court. Those who were up included Mr John Monaghan of Rossport for charges relating to two alleged assaults on a Garda; five campaigners who stopped peat haulage for 5 hours on Tuesday 5th June using a ‘lock-on’ on charges of breach of the peace, obstruction and failing to obey the orders of a Garda; Mr Ed Collins for alleged assault of a Garda on 10th November last; one campaigner on charges of dangerous parking and three others on charges relating to alleged intimidation. Mr Niall Harnett was in court to bring charges of assault, theft and destruction of property against Sgt. Butler, Inspector Robinson and Superintendent Gannon. All the cases bar Mr Harnetts were adjourned , the bulk of them to the 11th July.

Also present were large numbers of Gardai, over twenty in uniform with the three facing charges in suits. Garda MY72 thought it necessary to bring a baton into court. When an elderly lady sitting next to him playfully slid it out of his pocket he reached for the baton on reflex before muttering something about the baton being an item of uniform and generally getting quite flustered.

Niall Harnett v Sgt. Butler, Insp. Robinson and Supt. Gannon.
Niall Harnett had summonsed Sgt. Butler, Inspector Robinson and Superintendent Gannon who were represented by Liam Guidera. Mr Harnett asked the judge for latitude and patience given his lay status. Problems arose with the summonses served by Mr Harnett on the three Gardai. The summonses had not been filed with the registrar within the four days required but only the night before the court. Mr Harnett appealed to the discretion of the court to allow the summonses to be entered into the record of the court on that day.

Liam Guidera, solicitor for the defendants responded by questioning Mr Harnett’s motivation. He presented the judge with a compilation of Indymedia articles written by Mr Harnett and described him as having “a position of authority” with regards to the site. Mr Guidera proceeded to make representations to the court that Mr Harnett was abusing the processes of law by “inflamatory, defamatory and contemptible” comments against Gardaí on Indymedia. Mr Harnett responded to Mr Guidera’s submission, by defending and standing over any Indymedia articles and comments that he make, saying that his motivation in writing such articles is simply call the Gardaí to account and to empower people to stand up to abusive Gardaí.

The matter was then raised of a letter that Mr Harnett wrote to Supt. Joe Gannon to say that should he or the other 2 Gardaí involved, wish to return the camera or its damaged parts to Mr Harnett, then he would make an application to Belmullet District Court on June 13th to have all three charges dropped against them. Judge Mary Devins gave this ruling where she described the letter as

“most definitely an interference in the prosecution, a taint of the process, using the court as a tool, and perhaps a weapon, that the prosecutor Mr Harnett in this case can take up and drop as he sees fit. If a Guard had issued proceedings in a criminal case and in the course of evidence I heard that that Guard had gone to the accused and had said that ‘if you do such and such a thing, I will not enter this summons, or if you apologise I will not continue this prosecution’, and that person refused to reply and the Guard then entered the summons, and I was given that evidence in court then I would most definitely consider that the prosecution was thereby fundamentally tainted and flawed. I would consider it an abuse of the process, an abuse of the administration of justice and an abuse of the district court. Because of that letter I cannot entertain the summonses, and so they are not before the court, and I have no further comment.”

Delays at Bellanaboy
Delays were caused this morning for trucks involved in the transport of peat from the proposed refinery site at Bellanaboy to the Bord na Mona facility at Sramore due to the presence of protesters on the haulage route. A crowd of Shell to Sea supporters blocked the path of trucks for approximately 20 minutes as Gardai attempted to move them along. A resident of the Solidarity Camp was dragged from his vehicle after attempting to drive onto the haulage route and finding the way blocked by a crowd of protesters and Gardai. Several Gardai entered through the back door of the van and attempted to drag him from the vehicle in a headlock, forcefully and deliberately striking the camcorder he had taken out to film the incident. Eventually he was removed from the vehicle which the police drove a few metres down the road and parked. They initially refused to return the keys until he produced his documents (which would have proved difficult, seeing as they were locked in the van) but relented after an hour. Another young local managed to climb on to a peat truck but was quickly removed.

G8 climate day of action reports – London, Norwich, New Zealand, Bristol, Germany, USA, Nottingham, Portugal, Brasil

London: Climate activist ‘super-glued to door’ of lastminute.com

An environmental activist was so enraged that lastminute.com continue to push ‘short haul’ flights whilst knowing the damage they do to the climate, that she super-glued herself to the front door of the company’s Victoria HQ.


London: Climate activist ‘super-glued to door’ of lastminute.com

An environmental activist was so enraged that lastminute.com continue to push ‘short haul’ flights whilst knowing the damage they do to the climate, that she super-glued herself to the front door of the company’s Victoria HQ.

At 8am this morning, Penny Eastwood – a member of climate action group, Plane Stupid, pasted superglue over her hands and glued herself to the front doors of the building – blocking staff from entering their offices.

Penny said, “Whilst G8 leaders have simply spouted more hot air, I’ve showed what one woman alone can do to shut down climate criminals.”

She added, “Lastminute.com irresponsibly encourage people to binge-fly five times a year. They’re forcing the world towards the brink of eco-meltdown and all for a quick buck!”

Penny Eastwood is one of those planning to attend this summer’s Camp for Climate Action at Heathrow.

info@planestupid.com
http://www.planestupid.com

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Esso Chelsea 1
London Rising Tide and Friends descended on Chelsea Tractor country on Friday night in a protest against the G8’s pathetic attempt to “consider” climate change and to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Tigers and Clowns blockaded the E$$O station at Fulham Rd for over to two hours to highlight Exxon Mobil/E$$Os role in bankrolling our future down the pipe. Their support for the Liquid Natural Gas pipeline coming to a city near you is paving the way for new Gas Fired power stations, locking us into another 30 years with these emission-spouting beasts. The emissions from these stations are comparable to the existing Coal Fired ones!

Because the tankers carrying this gas have to come from Qatar and are so huge, they cannot navigate the Suez Canal so have to circumnavigate Africa, freezing the gas as they go. In terms of emissions this makes the final figures at use almost as high as energy derived from coal. LNG is NOT a clean fuel!

The protest went well with the overwhelming majority of people, including car drivers… were positive to the message that we were giving out. The Police arrived after about thirty minutes, but after telling us to stay out of E$$Os forecourt, we remained for another hour: their threat of “ten minutes of you’re in the van” being the usual bravado. A good time was had by all, and the Tigers will continue to prowl…….

To get in touch:
london@risingtide.org.uk

For more info on ESSO’s pipeline http://www.fightthepipe.co.uk

STOP THE PRESS:
With the pipeline converging on two fronts the protest three camp in the Brecon Beacons has just been served with an eviction notice and are now on high alert for Monday 11th. Activists are now dug-in and locked-on up trees with support from local people, ready to resist. They need your support. If you can get down there, ring the camp hotline on 07917383517, or email
bristol@risingtide.org.uk

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Esso West London
At around 7.15 pm on the 8th May, in a non-violent action activists from London Rising Tide, who are concerned about climate change, blockaded an ESSO petrol station in West London.

They claim ESSO’s huge economic clout enables the company to influence energy policy, and that that a high pressure pipeline currently being constructed to carry ESSO natural gas to UK power stations is unsafe. They maintain that the solution to the climate change problem is an overall reduction in energy use. The construction of the pipeline has also led to concerns over its damage to environmentally sensitive areas.

Funny clowns with red noses supported activists who were dressed as ESSO tigers while motorists were leafleted and engaged in debate about their energy use. The police arrived after an hour or so and where generally well behaved. At one point the police told activists they could only carry on their protest for another 10 minutes however a deal was done allowing access to for motorists to the petrol station, and the action carried on for another 45 minutes or so.

This action was timed to coincide with the end of the G8 in Germany.

For more info on ESSO’s pipeline http://www.fightthepipe.co.uk

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Norwich petrol station shut down on DoA Against Climate Change and the G8

During this morning’s rush hour twelve activists from Norwich Rising Tide braved the East Coast storm warnings and shut down their local Jet petrol station as part of the International Day of Action Against Climate Change and the G8.

Having met up at silly o’clock in the morning and gathered together banners, rope and ‘Danger, Global Warming’ hazard tape, we arrived at the Jet petrol station on Dereham Road only to find 8 of Norfolk’s finest lying in wait. Ignoring them, we unpacked our banners and stretched them across the three entrances, preventing vehicles from filling up. Passing motorists rushing to work were treated to the sight of us jumping up and down in the rain, waving banners bearing the slogans ‘Closed for a Total Re-think’; ‘Social Change, Not Climate Change’; and ‘International Day of Action Against Climate Change and the G8.’

We handed out leaflets to drivers and pedestrians, explaining that the blockade was part of a series of events taking place around the world to highlight the role played by the leaders of the high-emitting G8 nations in causing climate change, and to show up this week’s so-called ‘climate deal’ for the sham that it is.

One of the banner wavers was heard to shout: ‘We will not stand by and watch the planet burn as the G8 leaders and their corporate bedfellows trivialise the greatest threat facing humanity with a blind faith in techno-fixes and market mechanisms such as fraudulent carbon offset schemes. If we are going to truly solve this problem, we need a rapid transformation to a low-energy society – starting with the dismantling of the oil industry.’

We chose the less well-known Jet as our target to show that there is no such thing as a good oil company. Jet is owned by ConocoPhillips, the fifth largest oil refiner in the world, and the first Western oil company to enter Iraq after the start of the war. Jet and ConocoPhillips have so far escaped the criticism that has been justifiably heaped upon industry giants like Shell and BP, but they are no different. ConocoPhillips, like all oil companies, destroys ecosystems and communities around the world, and is profiteering from oil wars and climate chaos.

The response from drivers and passers-by was predictably mixed, and although the early arrival of the police forced us to change our plans slightly, the action still served its purpose: to highlight the inability of G8 leaders to truly tackle climate change, and to take action in solidarity with those disrupting the summit in Germany and those already suffering from the effects of climate change around the world.



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

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TOUR OF EEEEVIL IN WHANGANUI-A-TARA, NEW ZEALAND – ACTION REPORT

The number of protesters had been few, the attention by our friends in blue astonishingly intense – 2 cop cars and one paddy-wagon were following the small group closely.

the Tour of EEEEEvil started in Midland Park with a phat boom-box hailing out loud. first they cycled towards the US embassy. crayons were used to beautify the pavement, being under heavy scrutiny by security guards and police.

a cat’s leap later, the protesters rang the door-bell of the German embassy to tell them they are all scummy polluters of the environment. next station was the British High Commission where a banner was unfolded to make capitalism history.

finally, the group was not keen on visiting the other embassies of the G8 and cycled through the CBD and dispersed around Victoria St, receiving smiles and applause from some people on the streets.

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Bristol CM deaths banner
BRISTOL CRITICAL MASS – ACTION REPORT

This morning saw a good natured critical mass reclaim the streets of Bristol from car-culture. A crowd of 40 to 50 riders gathered in solidarity with protests against the G8 and to draw attention to the chaos of climate change.

This morning saw a good natured and fun critical mass reclaim the streets of Bristol from car-culture! A good crowd of 40 to 50 riders gathered in the centre ready to move off in a carnival of cycling in solidarity with protests against the G8 and to draw attention to the chaos of climate change.

This morning saw a good natured and fun critical mass reclaim the streets of Bristol from car-culture! A good crowd of 40 to 50 riders gathered in the centre ready to move off in a carnival of cycling in solidarity with protests against the G8 and to draw attention to the chaos of climate change. It was interesting to note there was lots of media here this time – normally at a critical mass these is no media, but (being cynical) I wonder if the media arrived this time because there was a little agro at the last one? Shame that the media go for sensationalist news and not real news!

Anyway, the crowd moved off towards Temple Quay, the new financial heart of bristol (?) down Baldwin Street, over the bridge and down towards the roundabout that connects to Bristol Temple Meads, then over into temple quay where we found a mural on the floor ‘We Have the Power’ – very apt! Then on towards Broadmead and onto the bottom of the M32 and round back to the fountains. A good mornings work!

The reception was almost totally positive, flyers were handed out to pedestrians and fellow cyclists and drivers explaining what this was all about. Lots of people waved, cheers and beeped as we passed. There were bemused faces in corporate Bristol as the be-suited Temple Quay was invaded by pedal-power!

This event just going to show how people can reclaim a public space from the relentless grind of the rat-race and build some community. Unlike the G8, we care about climate change and got off our ass to do something! See you at the next one!

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G8 German Shell 1
G8 German Shell 2
Germany: 60 – 70 people are blockading a Shell-Station in Evershagen. Nine police emergency vehicles are at the location, however holding back.

20070608_Shell – video/x-ms-wmv 7.6M
20070608_Shell – video/x-ms-wmv 7.6M

On Friday samba bands and protestors shut down the Shell garage in Evershagen, Rostock

Police, unsurprisingly, arrived in seconds, and the riot squads surrounded the garage.

But, despite this, the Shell station was blocked for an hour.

In Germany fuel stations are not kept in stock by tanker trucks. They run huge fuel pipelines from one to the other, linking them across the city. And in every fuel station is an emergency shut-off button.

And, low and behold, someone hit the button, shutting off the fuel supply to some if not all the Shell garages across Rostock, causing a slight headache for the multinational oil and gas company’s profits that day in the lovely north-west German city.

More photos at http://indymedia.ie/article/82971
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Portland, Oregon, USA

ACTION #1: Anti-Borders Action

The Leaders of the 8 most powerful countries, who maintain global inequality, war, and starvation will meet behind closed doors to plot our future for us at a luxurious health resort in Germany June 6th thru 8th. There has been a call out for international days of action across the globe to coincide with the mobilization against the G8. Hundred of thousands of people from around the world are converging on Germany, even some of our neighbors in Portland.

We hear that call and come together in Portland as decentralized and autonomous groups to say No to the G8, No to there Lies, and No More Tricks. They are eight, we are six billion…lets start acting like it and reject their chaotic system of exploitation and control.

We meet at the INS Office to say No to the Border fence being built, ICE Raids, and to reject the idea that multi-national corporations can freely cross borders to exploit people and steal land. While the people are being contained by borders, forced off lands and controlled by militarization.

Friday, June 8th at 5:30pm
INS Office
NW Broadway

Supported by: Cascadia Rising Tide, Portland Sin Fronteras, Food not bombs, and Students for Unity.

ACTION #2: Anti-Dam Action

On Friday, Stop La Parota PDX launched its campaign to pressure companies with ties to the financing of La Parota Dam to sever all connections to the destructive project.

Activists held a colorful demonstration in front of the Lloyd Center Sears to demand the Sears Holding Corporation cut all ties to Grupo Carso. Grupo Carso is the financial umbrella of Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim Helú, who has publicly declared that Grupo Carso subsidiaries will be involved in every aspect of La Parota.

La Parota, a 765-megawatt hydroelectric dam slated for the Papagayo River in Guerrero, Mexico, is a classic infrastructure expansion project resulting from trade agreements like NAFTA and the FTAA in the worst of ways. The dam would submerge 43,000 acres of forest and farmland along the river’s banks, displacing at least 25,000 mostly indigenous campesinos (subsistence farmers) from the Communal Lands of Cacahuatepec. Already, indigenous resistance to the dam has been met with imprisonment and murder.

Far from being a renewable energy source, sediment accumulation limits the electricity generating capacity of dams to 50-100 years. Meanwhile, large dams are significant contributors to global warming. As the tremendous biomass of a tropical forest decays beneath a reservoir, it gives off greenhouse gases. Dams in tropical regions have been shown to produce anywhere from two to 40 times as much carbon dioxide as an equivalent coal-fired plant.

The reason for this blatant exploitation and ecocide? Electricity generated from La Parota would be incorporated into an international energy grid and used to power factory-centers, maquiladoras (export-oriented sweatshop corridors). The phenomenon of seizing indigenous lands and then forcing inhabitants into working for suboptimal wages is not ‘economic development,’ but a modern version of colonialism.

The CFE made no attempt to include the campesinos in the decision-making process regarding La Parota. In July 2003, without giving notice or seeking permission, the commission simply sent in machinery to build two tunnels to divert the flow of the Papagayo. Farmers from surrounding communities responded with road blockades and encampments to keep CFE equipment out of the area. The ongoing roadblocks have been largely successful, and the CFE has been forced to pull out most of its equipment In Chilpancingo, the state capital, the protesters were 30,000 strong. Their message was clear: “We are ready to die for the land.”

The demonstration was held both in solidarity with the resisting campesinos as well as the resistance in Germany to the G8. La Parota is a manifestation of the global system of oppression created by organizations like the G8 to further the interests of transnational corporations at the cost of people and environmental integrity.

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Asheville Critical Mass
Bank of America climate action 1Bank of America climate action 2
For Immediate Release
June 8, 2007
www.risingtidenorthamerica.org

Asheville Critical Mass Confronts Bank of America for Investments in Coal Industry

Today dozens of cyclists paid a surprise visit to Bank of America to protest their financial backing of coal companies as a part of the International Day of Action Against Climate Change and G8. After tying up downtown traffic, the 30-strong bike ride descended on the downtown Asheville headquarters of Bank of America. Once there, a number of people dumped coal in front of the main entrance, while another person spontaneously sacrificed their bike lock and locked the front doors shut.

With police still not in sight, the bike ride continued on to another Bank of America branch, where participants plastered the bank in stickers, handed out flyers to customers, and held banners reading, “Stop Banking on Climate Change” and “Climate Chaos: Brought to you by Bank of America.”

The protest was held in solidarity with the massive anti-G8 protests in Germany, where leaders of the 8 richest countries continue to drag their feet on making any meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The bike ride was organized by Asheville Rising Tide, a group dedicated to confronting the root causes of climate change.

Bank of America plays a major role in perpetuating climate change by its massive investments in the coal industry. Pound for pound, burning coal releases more C02 emissions then any other fossil fuel. Bank of America has facilitated nearly $1 billion in loans to Massey Energy and Arch Coal, two of the largest companies involved in the environmentally devastating process of mountaintop removal coal mining. Mountaintop removal mining has already reduced 500 square miles of mountains to rubble and buried over 1,200 miles of streams in Southern Appalachia.

Bank of America has also made loans and facilitated stock offerings for Peabody Energy to the tune of several billion dollars. Peabody is infamous for its human rights violations against Native Americans. Since 1975, over 14,000 indigenous people, mostly Dine’, have been forcibly relocated off of their ancestral lands to make way for Peabody’s Black Mesa strip mine in northeastern Arizona. This strip mine, the largest in the US, has devastated thousands of acres of indigenous land and drained local aquifers that are essential for sustaining life in this desert climate. In addition to these abuses, Peabody Energy, along with a number of other companies funded by Bank of America, are pursuing the construction of a new wave of dirty coal plants.

“By targeting coal industry investors, we can undermine their financial support which they depend on to continue operation. The less money they have, the less coal they can extract and burn. In the face of cataclysmic climate change, we do not have time to wait for government regulations. We must directly intervene now!” said Jennifer Clayson, who participated in the ride.

This week’s G8 meetings failed to even begin to address climate change. While some European countries pushed for 50% emissions cuts by 2050, the US managed to derail even this goal, which falls far short of the reductions that are necessary. In the end, the G8 countries agreed to “consider” cutting greenhouse gas emissions. “In the face of massive species extinction, drought, and rising sea levels, the best these world leaders can come up with is to ‘consider’ doing something? Until there is real change, we, along with people around the world, will continue to take direct action
against those responsible for climate change,” said Liam Jefferson. According to scientists, greenhouse gas emissions need to be slashed by at least 80% by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

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San Francisco G8 Critical Mass
San Francisco Bike ride against G8

On Friday June 8, 2007, there was a critical mass-style bicycle ride with an anti-G8 theme which initially gathered at Justin Herman plaza, and then proceeded along the Embarcadero, Columbus Avenue, Market Street, Valencia St., and then ended at Dolores Park. Everything proceeded peacefully, and the size of the group was good for being able to be aware of everyone’s location. There was a large police presence the entire time. This might have stemmed from a fiasco of police response to the 2005 G8 protest which resulted in commanders getting reassigned, inventive charges against participants and FBI visits to journalists.

Most people on the sidewalks appeared happy to see us, or at least had no negative reaction. Sometimes call-in radio shows and ranting sections on youtube and newspaper websites give the feeling that the public has a lot of antibicycle fanatics, but we didn’t see any.

Appearances were made by both Gabe Myers, who was basically arrested during the 2005 protest as a ‘sucker’ and charged (and later let go) with felony lynching after dropping a foam sign in the road as a police car drove at high speed towards him, and also Josh Wolf, who spent a record amount of time in jail for refusing to speak to a grand jury formed to probe the battery of the other officer who was driving the vehicle. Grand juries gathering evidence and issuing indictments are allowed unrestricted questioning of witnesses, unlike regular courtroom practice, and a witness is not allowed to have a lawyer present. In situations where a political group is involved (such as the Red Scare of the 1950s), these juries are capable of vastly overreaching and gathering long lists of names of people uninvolved in crimes, who could be branded as suspects. Press reports created a confusing picture, but Wolf was not considered in contempt of court for refusing to testify about the injury of the officer, or to show his video tape, but rather he didn’t agree to unrestricted questions about participants who he had a confidential journalistic relationship with.

The ride was pretty nice. It was very sunny, and most of the route had long stretches uninterrupted by short cycle lights. The nature of the large police response was interesting in that only a small group of friendly bicycle officers, plus some Harley and motorbike riding police officers were mixed together in the crowd. We had no trouble splitting the road and tunnel with cars, and things felt much safer than during ordinary times when you inevitably split the right lane with buses and right-turning cabs. In a few cases, there was mixed body language when some officers objected to the tail-end of the group continuing to move on a red light, so people became worried and stopped. Yet other officers appeared to be hurrying the group through on the red by stopping traffic. In any case, every so often one could squint two blocks down and make out police vans, Chevy Suburban/Tahoes, and cars moving by, sometimes briefly sounding a horn as though they were trying to get around traffic. Occasionally the ride would come across a new group of police parked well away from the start, such as Columbus avenue. Then at the end where people listened to music, while a smaller group stood across the street, it seemed like more vans with police emblem kept turning the corner to drive by.
Reasons behind the negative response by thousands of people (from the left, right, and center) to the G8 are difficult to summarize briefly. On the surface, a meeting of world leaders might appear to be a positive thing, akin to the creation of the UN. In addition, it isn’t clear how much could really get discussed during 2-3 days of talks, or how anything so ominous could arise out of this.

The easiest way to explain it is that the era of colonialism never ended. Governments (spanning multiple presidents) have spent the last few decades working closely with large companies and are controlling the economies and governments of most of the third world against the interests of their populations. It is easy to let your eyes glaze over and think “yes, we just need to invest in Africa” and not realize that the areas of Africa with the most foreign ‘investment’ are the most impoverished, for instance the horrible resource wars in the Congo (where the United States helped assassinate their democratic leader in the 60s, and installed a dictator), or Shell Oil destroying the land base in the Nigerian Delta while sharing none of its profits.

Much of the decisions and content of these meetings is worked out beforehand. Institutions such as the World Bank are where the details of public/private plans are worked out by small committees. One of the most common mechanisms for creating third world poverty is the forcing of countries to take loans for large infrastructure projects such as dams, waterworks and power grids which aren’t used by working class, are carried out by first world corporations (such as Bechtel in Bolivia) and end up indebting the population for decades.

Finally, while it seems like individuals have little chance of influencing such powerful institutions, it is important to remember that the WTO has had to make major concessions to emboldened latin american, african, and SE asian contingents after the major turning point after the 1999 protests. The signing of Merkel’s Climate statement was regarded as a big success during this meeting, although the lack of concrete actions promised in this agreement makes it seem like the public was just successful in making the leaders want to seem responsive. You as an individual might not be able to change it all by yourself, but it is coming about as an emergent property of a movement of less than 10% of the population who become activists.

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FLORIDA: CRITICAL MASS
Picket signs blew in the wind as three bikers rode slowly but surely down Dixie Highway. Uniting with activists worldwide in protest of the Group of Eight summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, Lake Worth contributed a total of six. But the issues they brought hit close to home.

Their destination was the Palm Beach Gardens home of FPL Group Inc. Chief Executive Lewis Hay III.
Their complaint: FPL’s decision to build the West County Energy Center, a natural gas plant, about 1,000 feet from a wildlife preserve, according to the group’s flier. “You can’t smoke 1,000 feet from a school, but you can put a power plant 1,000 feet from an animal preserve?” asked supporter Rachel Kijewski, 22.

The group rode a large part of the four-hour trek in front of their veggie truck. The beat-up blue solution to global warming fights petrol with vegetable oil. “Its exhaust smells like tempura,” said bike rider Panagioti Tsolkas.

Most drivers’ reactions to the trio were positive, giving them thumbs-up. Their journey, however, was not without challenges. Mother Nature poured down rain all Friday afternoon. Averaging 7 to 10 mph on the highway, the group pressed on, stopping traffic the entire way until they were stopped outside the gate leading to Hay’s home inside Old Marsh Country Club.

As the G-8 summit’s gathering of the eight industrial powerhouses comes to a close, Lynne Purvis said she feels their fight is just beginning.
“It’s hard you know,” Purvis said.
“We’re all pretty low budget. These rich executives have all this security and money and to supply these things and we use cardboard signs and public transit.” Laughing in spite of their small numbers, the protestors remained optimistic.
“We’d love if he decided not to build an energy center,” she said. “As easy as it is for him to keep this in his nine-to-five life, it affects us too.”

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Nottingham: Activists picket A453 exhibition

The Highways Agency held a fancy exhibition in Clifton today, to promote their planned widening of the A453. So climate-change activists picketed it.

With thoughts of the G8 and the international day of action on climate change in our heads, we came to the roadbuilder’s PR show to put the other side of the argument. Our display was a lot less flash than that of the H.A. but we got our message across, and many visitors to the exhibition were very supportive.

We wanted to point out the links between the proposed A453 scheme and the proposed M1 widening and EMids Airport expansion…a combined recipe for more traffic growth, more pollution, more C02 pumped into our dying atmosphere. Strangely the H.A. exhibition made no mention of climate change, although they were tackling pollution by giving away free in-car air fresheners!

The exhibition is at Clifton Leisure Centre, Southchurch Drive all day tomorrow (sat 9th). Why not email your comments on roadbuilding and climate to A453Widening@highways.gsi.gov.uk as well.

climateactionnow@hotmail.co.uk

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Portugal G8 climate
In Portugal, the G8 Network has made accions in city of Lisbon and Porto at 8 of June, International Day of Direct Accion for Climate Accion. You can see fotos and videos in the blog www.geoito2007.blogspot.com

In Lisbon we made, in Down Town (Augusta Street), a batlle for climate justice (“World isn´t a target, from CO2 has to be saved”), in wich the people of the street tried to stop the 8 leaders of G8 to fill the world, speacilly south hemisfere, with pollution: the world against the politics of G8! In a world map the G8 throw black balls (the CO2) to the poorest countries while people throw green balls (“the good actions for climate”) to prevent climate disaster and social injustice: meaning that G8 are historical responsables for climate change and their politics will not prevent serious disasters that affect primarily the poorer, because they will continue to polute the world making business of pollution and exploring the poorest countries. We made also some games in the street, inviting people to step pollution and save climate (the G8 stepped the actions to save climate and not pollution…), and put banners in one of the most polluted avenues in city due to automobile traffic saying: “400 thousand cars for day…is to much”, “less car, more public transports, less polution”, “freedom to move, city to the people”.

In Porto we simulate, in Down Town (Santa Catarina Street), a emissions trading market. The G8 leader traded emissions between them (black ballons) and then offered pollution to the people on the street.

Congratulations to all!

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Sao Paulo G8 critical mass
A bad smell surrounded Bicyclist’s Square last friday morning, Global Direct Action Day against G8 and Climate Change. All around the world, people relcaimed the streets to say no to the letarghy of the 8 leaders that met in Germany behind fences and armys.

In Sao Paulo, Brasil, 25 human beings joined to celebrate life, sustainability and the act of living togheter in a Critical Mass ride for life. In Germany, there’re only 8 human beings deciding to keep war and preadatory waste of resources that destroys the planet and kills lifes all around the globe.

A tree was planted on Bicyclist’s Square. It was in honor of a homeless man that was sleeping below the Square and was killed by a car on may 25th, a few hours before may Critical Mass take the streets to celebrate life.

First stop: Italian Consulate. Fiats, Ferraris, Masseratis, Lamborghinis and Berlusconis kills thousands of human beings every year.

Second stop: Petrobrás building, the brazilian fuel company. The plan to make Brazil become a huge cane brake is no energetic or ecological solution, but only a way to fuel an obsession and keep the state of war, enviromental destruction and irrational mobility standarts.

Off the bikes on the crosswalk, going to the third stop: Japan Consulate. Hondas, Toyotas and Mitsubishis kills thousands of people every year all around the world.

Fourth stop: French Consulate. Renaults and Peugeots pollute as much as the others. In Sao Paulo, air pollution kills about 8 people a day. More than a half of the air pollution comes from private cars.

Still We Ride

Fifth stop: German Consulate. Mercedes, BMWs and Audis spread individualism and agressivity, contributing to the planetary state of war.

Who makes profit on that?

In front of British Consulate, Earth on Danger on the hands of war poodle Tony Blair.

They’re responsible for recycling in São Paulo.

Love against war.

Ethanol is a lie.

Mr. Puttin was’t there.

We’re traffic.

Critical Mass at Daslu, the store where the richest people in Brazil shops. Our “G8-people” shop there and seems to feel nausea about their own land: english written phrases, employees dressing french butler clothes, just beside the polluted Pinheiros river and surrounded by third world favelas.

Canadian consulate on World Trade Center Sao Paulo: Earth in danger (and it’s not because of Bin Laden).

U.S. Consulate. Outside, it looks like Guantanamo.

Note to Mr. Bush: “Brazil isn’t a cane brake / G8: State Terror”

66 years old, 22 years riding.

A gift from Critical Mass: one less car!

Shramore Five Lock Out Shell in Ireland

“Peaceful my arse you cunt”, Supt. Joe Gannon speaks to protest spokeswoman.

On Tuesday morning, June 5th, a team of five protesters and their support crew successfully halted Shells operation in Erris for five hours through the use of “lock-On” arm tubes. The blockade ended with the five being cut loose from each other by the fire brigade and arrested whilst a crowd of around thirty people cheered them on. Shramore is the final stop on the peat haulage route from the site of the proposed gas refinery at Bellanaboy.

Shramore blockade 1“Peaceful my arse you cunt”, Supt. Joe Gannon speaks to protest spokeswoman.

On Tuesday morning, June 5th, a team of five protesters and their support crew successfully halted Shells operation in Erris for five hours through the use of “lock-On” arm tubes. The blockade ended with the five being cut loose from each other by the fire brigade and arrested whilst a crowd of around thirty people cheered them on. Shramore is the final stop on the peat haulage route from the site of the proposed gas refinery at Bellanaboy.

Terence Conway of Shell to Sea in Mayo who was present at the protest said “this is an outrageous deal, the government has consistently put out myths about the benefits of this project for the people of Ireland. There are no benefits of this project for the people of Ireland, there are no royalties and all tax is cost deductible which means that Shell, Statoil and Marathon benefit from the deal while the people of Ireland don’t benefit at all. This deal needs to be renegotiated immediately”.

The stoppage commenced at 7.00 a.m. at the peat deposition site when the protesters emerged with their support crew. Three unsuspecting security personnel shut the gates (presumably expecting some kind of trespass or site occupation). This gave the team sufficient time to lock themselves together on the ground in front of the gates. They did this through linking their arms together inside a dual tube system laced with concrete and steel rods. The police did not arrive on the scene until ten minutes later when banners reading “stop before it’s too late!” had been hung from the gates.

Initially the police response was bemused – they were informed that if they attempted to move the people on the ground it would be very likely that they would break their arms. This was filmed and all the police numbers were relayed to a supporter in Dublin. The mood changed when Superintendent Joe Gannon arrived on the scene and a spokesperson informed him that it was a peaceful protest. “Peaceful my arse you cunt” was the response he made to this woman after which he tore down the banners. About an hour later a more supporters arrived on the scene and the police violently removed all support crew from the gates, dragging a couple of people by the hair including a trained medic. The spokesperson once again read out a statement informing the police that they would break the arms of the protesters if they attempted to move them themselves and that they should instead call the fire brigade to deal with the situation. This was ignored and a medic made a run across the road to the protesters after one of the girls screamed when they tried to move her. The medic was grabbed by five officers and hit a number of times before being thrown to the ground.

Over two hours after the protest began the fire brigade finally arrived. By this point the people had been without water for over an hour and the police had refused them access to a doctor despite them visibly burning in the sun and a number of concerned local residents demanding that the five should be given access to medical attention. The firemen gave them water and began to figure out how to cut the group loose – it took them three hours by which time a larger group of supporters had assembled across the road from them.

This tactic was adopted due to the Garda strategy of violence and intimidation. It is difficult to argue that protesters are being violent when they are lying on the ground and unable to move. Unfortunately the misinformation strategy continues. In one instance whilst the fire brigade were cutting the protesters free, a Garda informed a colleague that one of the girls would need stitches in front of the mother of one of the people locked on. Later the police informed a radio journalist that the arrestees had been charged with firearms offences- in fact they were all charged with minor public order offences. The journalist in question has since stated that they will be making a complaint to the Garda ombudsman.

The protest aimed to demonstrate that the issue of the Corrib controversy will not go away. The protesters hope that members of any prospective government recognise the urgent need for a renegotiation of the deal that will not be at the expense of the people of Ireland or their environment. The great Corrib gas swindle cannot be permitted to happen nor will it be allowed.

The ‘Five’ will appear at Belmullet District Court next Wednesday 13th June, to answer some minor public order offences. Support welcome.

http://www.shelltosea.com
Lots more photos at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82900

International Day of Direct Action Against Climate Change and the G8 – UK events: Haringey… (& Jeff Luers solidarity callout)

Friday 8th June 2007
Direct Action for Climate Justice – Resistance is Self Defense!

We all know the terrifying statistics: a million species extinct by 2050, 19 of the 20 hottest years on record since 1980, Greenland and Antarctica melting, droughts, floods, famines … the G8 have had over 30 years to address climate change and only succeeded in providing trillions in subsidies to the very industries that are destroying our planet and our future. And while the G8 continues to line their pockets, island states disappear and hundreds of thousands die as a result of the freak weather conditions caused by their irrational and uncontrollable obsession with never ending economic growth.

G8 2007 climate day flierFriday 8th June 2007
Direct Action for Climate Justice – Resistance is Self Defense!

We all know the terrifying statistics: a million species extinct by 2050, 19 of the 20 hottest years on record since 1980, Greenland and Antarctica melting, droughts, floods, famines … the G8 have had over 30 years to address climate change and only succeeded in providing trillions in subsidies to the very industries that are destroying our planet and our future. And while the G8 continues to line their pockets, island states disappear and hundreds of thousands die as a result of the freak weather conditions caused by their irrational and uncontrollable obsession with never ending economic growth.

We have a ten-year window to act. As the megalomaniac G8 leaders meet in Germany, masked behind a barrier of fences and soldiers, intent on leading us further towards catastrophic and irreversible climate chaos, we must shout, scream and roar ‘no more’. Now is the time to take direct action and shut them down, them and their climate criminal industry friends!

The 8th of June International Day of Action Against Climate Change and the G8 has been called by the International Rising Tide Network. This is a call for autonomous, decentralized actions appropriate for your town, city, or local area. Use this international day of action to support local struggles against oil refineries, gas pipelines, strip mines and coal-fired power plants. Disrupt the financial backers of the fossil fuel industry. Organise workshops to spread sustainable post-petroleum living skills. Find a weak point in the infrastructure of resource exploitation and throw a literal or symbolic wrench in the works. It’s time to visit your local polluters and give ’em hell!

We already know of actions planned across the UK, North America, Germany, Canada and Australia and that’s just the start! By 8th June actions will be planned around the world. Pass this call out on to all environmental justice, climate action, radical sustainability and related movements in all the G8 countries and the Global South.

Rising Tide will create a collection of outreach and agit-prop materials (including this call out in five different languages) that can be used by groups around the world to organise locally. These materials will be downloadable from www.risingtide.org.uk and http://risingtidenorthamerica.org.
Direct action and civil disobedience are the rational response in this time of crisis. Support the 8th of June International Day of Direct Action against Climate Change and the G8! Tell us about planned actions for climate justice being planned in your community. Contact us – info@risingtide.org.uk and contact@risingtidenorthamerica.org

In June 2007 the G8 will understand the meaning of rebellion, revolt and revolution. Their recipe for catastrophe will be met with our worldwide resistance!

*G8 Day of Action Resources – Downloadable G8 day of Action flyers and posters.
*Organise a Critical Mass Bike Ride on the 8th of June – here are some leaflet ideas to help you.

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You could link your event in with Day of Solidarity with Jeffrey Free Luers, June 9, 2007:

June marks the seventh year that our friend and comrade, Jeffrey “Free” Luers has been imprisoned and held captive by the state. Sentenced to an outrageous 22 years and 8 months for burning three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) at Romania Chevrolet in Eugene, Jeff has continued to be active in prison and fight back with his words and inspiration. Although Jeff recently won his appeal and is expecting a reduced sentence, this case is not over:

“I have spoken with my attorney and there are still many battles ahead. Hard choices will have to be made. I am by no means close to walking out of prison, just one step closer. This is a victory, and while my own personal struggle is making headway others are just beginning.”

We encourage people to organize events for Jeff and other political prisoners, uniting struggles for human, earth, and animal liberation. In Jeff’s own words:

“This June, show your solidarity with me, and all those who have struggled, past and present, to make this world a better place. Struggle with us. Hold demonstrations or gatherings at federal buildings or US embassies and demand change. It doesn’t matter what cause or issue you fight for – we are all connected. What does matter is that we stand united and make our voices heard.”

More at http://freefreenow.org/june2007.html

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ANNOUNCED UK EVENTS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

HARINGEY CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE 2007

Can’t make it to Germany? Sick of the all those cars getting in your way on the autobahn! Don’t despair…join us on Saturday 9th of June for the 2007 Haringey Critical Mass. A leisurely ride down the Green Lanes to reclaim our streets and send a breath of fresh air to those meeting in Germany.

Saturday 9th June • Assemble 12 Noon @ Manor House
• Finishing at Chestnuts Park for a picnic •

All Welcome: especially cycles, scooters, wheelchairs, skateboards, rollerblades, pedestrians…
Supported by Haringey Solidarity Group www.haringey.org.uk

FOR CLEAN AIR AND A GREEN G8

WHY HAVE A CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE IN HARINGEY?
We are joining together on a Critical Mass Bike Ride through Haringey as a colourful and fun way of highlighting environmental and transport issues in the borough. In the week when the G8 are gathering in Germany and the day
after the International Day of Direct Action Against Climate Change we should also be focusing on the global crisis of climate change and the environmental impacts of oil dependency.

• It’s time we reclaimed our streets from the traffic and congestion that causes toxic levels of pollution and injury and death.
• We want cycle lanes on Green Lanes and all over Haringey to make cycling a safer, more viable form of transport.
• We want measures in place to reduce traffic speeds on all roads in Haringey, where dangerous driving regularly puts cyclists, children and pedestrians at risk.

WHAT’S THE G8 GOT TO DO WITH THIS?

• The G8 (Group of eight, most industrialized nations) Summits are hosted, on rotation, by the group’s member states. In 2007 the summit is to be held on 6-8 June in Rostock, Germany.
• While it seems to be in the news a lot, Climate Change is perhaps the issue that has received least attention compared to the scale of destruction that life on earth is facing. It is the most serious problem facing the world, more serious than international terrorism, according to the UK Government’s chief scientific advisor.
• Climate change needs to be higher on the G8 agenda. However, we cannot leave it just to the scientists and politicians to dismantle the carbon machine.
• This bike ride aims to highlight this issue through action and the promotion of cycling.

Let’s celebrate the freedom and pleasure of travelling by bike – it’s much more fun and much healthier than being stuck in a car in a traffic jam. This will be a fun day out for everyone in a safe, supportive, positive atmosphere, showing how much safer and more pleasant our streets can be.

COME AND JOIN US!

If you feel it’s time to promote cycling and encourage a more sustainable Haringey, or if you would like to get involved, visit the Haringey Solidarity Group website: www.haringey.org.uk

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

What is the Earth First! Summer Gathering?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More info at earthfirstgathering.org.uk

Dublin Shell to Sea – Bringing it all Back Home

Day of Action – They deserve it and you deserve better

On the 18th of May Dublin Shell to Sea is going to escalate its campaign against Shell’s command centre – Corrib house on Leeson Street with another day of action starting at 7.30 am sharp. This attempt to shut down Shell’s HQ, like our last day of action (http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82200), is being called to highlight the incredible theft of our natural resources that totals 51 billion euros in the Corrib field alone. This is only possible with your help; we encourage everyone to come along.

1st Dublin Shell Day of Action 1
1st Dublin Shell Day of Action 2
Day of Action – They deserve it and you deserve better

On the 18th of May Dublin Shell to Sea is going to escalate its campaign against Shell’s command centre – Corrib house on Leeson Street with another day of action starting at 7.30 am sharp. This attempt to shut down Shell’s HQ, like our last day of action (http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82200), is being called to highlight the incredible theft of our natural resources that totals 51 billion euros in the Corrib field alone. This is only possible with your help; we encourage everyone to come along.

Dublin Shell HQ mapFuel Poverty – A National Scandal
Ireland is currently facing a crisis. Our health service verges on the brink of collapse as our nurses are forced to strike for decent working conditions. Our politicians have told us they can’t give in, in fear we all might ask for decent conditions.

We have been constantly reminded in the election campaign about how much we owe our politicians. We are told the Celtic Tiger has brought untold riches and this country is now awash with money. This is true to a certain extent. More money has been generated and emigration has stopped. But still all is far from perfect in this country. Money has been wasted and the greatest giveaway is happening as we speak. 51 billion euros of our natural gas reserves is being given to Shell, Marathon and Statoil (for more info on deal see http://www.publicinquiry.ie/reports.php). Whilst these figures are often too big to contemplate, it is sometimes easier to look at who is being directly affected. As usual it is those who need help most who will be affected worst.

Unbelievably, each winter, up to 3,000 people die prematurely every year from fuel poverty (‘The Potential Health Benefits of Improving Household Energy Efficiency’ Clinch and Healy 2000 and Help The Aged., source: http://www.eirigi.org/campaigns/naturalresources/fuel_p…y.htm). This is our parents and grandparents who are dying. What is our politicians’ response to this? Instead of trying to solve the problem they gave away the one thing that could alleviate the problem – natural gas. Above all else natural gas could have ensured that three thousand people lived out their lives, but they chose to give it away instead (http://www.publicinquiry.ie/reports.php).

Royal Dutch Shell A.G.M. in The Hague
Whilst our politicians are to blame they are not the only ones. Shell, Statoil and Marathon are the thieves in this situation and are making away with enormous amounts of our resources. This week one of the thieves, Shell, will celebrate their grotesque profits at their A. G.M. in Holland. It’s quite telling that the only place that Shell’s board of directors can be held to account (if you are rich) is in a conference hall in The Hague. We the rightful beneficiaries of the natural gas deposits off our west coast won’t have a say.

The new beneficiaries are people like the Queen of Holland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Beatrice) Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (also director of Rio Tinto, Jeroen van der Veer, Linda Cook, Andy Pyle and Terry Nolan (for other members of Shell’s board of directors see (http://www.search.shell.com/cgi-bin/rsearch.cgi). Throughout this week Royal Dutch Shell will wine and dine the global elite and divide out 51 billion euros of our money.
At this meeting the rest of Shell’s shareholders will get the chance to see how their investments are doing and decide what to do with €51 billion they stole from you and Shell’s executives this year will no doubt have a nice cigar and champagne at your expense.

These men and women with their suits and briefcases will sit smug in The Hague with their caviar in the knowledge that they have ripped off a country that needs its resources badly – Our health service verges on the brink of collapse as our nurses are forced to strike for a decent wage, our elderly now live in fear of Winter as up to 3000 people die each year from fuel poverty and pensions are being privatised.

What you can do?
But all is not doom and gloom, on Friday the 18th just as Shell’s Irish elite arrive back having given away our resources to the global rich. Dublin Shell to Sea plans to greet these people by shutting down their Irish nerve centre and headquarters – Corrib House. This is the building where all decisions are taken, where they hatched the plans to steal our resources and target the Mayo communities in their relentless pursuit of profit. So come and join us in protesting against these criminals and blockade their offices on Friday the 18th of May – they deserve it and you deserve better!

Related Link: http://www.shelltosea.com