Oil – Page 31 – Earth First!

Bath Party against Petrol report

Saturday 21st April. The Party Against Petrol crowd gathered in Bath Abbey at midday to begin what would have been a colourful and noisy protest against car culture and fossil fuels, intending to occupy Lower Bristol Road and the Esso station forecourt there. Around 25-30 activists turned up, and the police, themselves numbering 30 or more, with mounted police again, imposed conditions on the procession: march round the Abbey for 30 mins, then disperse.

Well, we did as were told, marched round the Abbey, drumming and dancing and playing football, returned and dispersed… only to form up again and continue the parade, flowing through the police lines easily. Handed out leaflets, spoke to passersby, meanwhile, the highly trained police were overheard arguing with each other, throwing out blame for their lack of control, right in front of the shoppers and tourists. The street party parade came to a close at Victoria Park, amidst picnic and sunbathing, under the police’s watchful eye.

This unseasonably hot April, whilst good for sunbathers, is probably nothing to do with climate change.

Despite the heavy handed police harrassment and intimidation we’ve had so far, with various people being repeatedly stopped and questioned throughout the city, with A4 checkpoints and trains station searches on the Thursday, tomorrow should see a free kitchen, freeshop stall, workshop on recycling junk into useful stuff, and litterpick, meeting in Bath at midday. To find us, ring 07800 583011.

Party Against Petrol! – Saturday 21st April

As Part of Bath Climate Camp, there will be a party against petrol – a chance to protest against car culture and fossil fuels. Meet at 12 at Bath Abbey or 11 at Bath Climate Camp

The protest is going to be a colourful carnival, so bring props, banners and noise makers. There will be free cake, kids bloc, music, a ‘balls to climate change’ reclaim the streets footie game and more!
The day will be a chance to take back the streets from cars and pollution and use them for fun and frivolity!

For more info, email bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk

Bath Climate Camp will be set up from Thursday the 19th April through to Sunday 22nd, and will both serve as a demonstration of eco-living and ideals, and also serve as an education anf focus point for eco-action. Setting up from mid afternoon on Thursday, there will be onsite ethical vegan kitchen providing breakfast and dinner, music/entertainment in the evenings, talks, permanent freeshop, and a kids‘ zone, attended by professional carers. The camp can be located near where the Lower Bristol Road meets the A4 out to Bristol. The camp number is 07800 583011.

*Friday 20th April – All day – Shut down Land And Marine! – Land and Marine are the main construction company responsible for the gas pipeline smashing through the Welsh countryside, including the Brecon Beacons. We have the company’s offices in Bath, and resistance to the pipe has been strong in Wales, it’s time to take the fight to their doorstep! We are asking people to blockade, make music, wave banners, leaflet or whatever else springs to mind! For more info on the pipeline, visit www.risingtide.org.uk/bristol/pipeline

*Saturday 21st April – 11 @ Bath Climate Camp or 12 @ Bath Abbey – PARTY AGAINST PETROL! – Colourful carnival against car culture and fossil fuels! Bring noise makers, props, bright things and banners. The demo will have a kids’ bloc.

*Sunday 22nd April (though there will be workshops on the other days as well!) – All day – Workshops

There will be workshops on direct action against the pipeline in Wales, Poi making and dancing sessions, solutions to climate change, setting up independent media, diet and the environment, ‘we wont buy your crap, but we will use your scrap’ DIY session, making handicrafts from ‘junk’ and loads more.

bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/bathclimatecamp

Disrupt Shell’s Annual General Meeting!

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Royal Dutch Shell plc will be held at Circustheater, Circusstraat, The Hague, The Netherlands at 11.00 am (Dutch time) on Tuesday May 15, 2007, with an audio-visual link to a satellite meeting place at Novotel London-West Hotel and Convention Centre, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom at 10.00 am (UK time).

Dear All,

The date for the Shell AGM has been recently announced. It is the 15th of May. As with last year the AGM will be held in the Hague with a video link up in London. The link up in London will be at the Novotel London West Hotel and Conference Centre, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, at 10 am UK time.

Shell to Sea is calling for Solidarity protests at the AGM. On the ground in Erris resistance continues to Shell’s proposed refinery. Peat removal began at the start of April and since then there have been five group trespasses onto the site shutting down work temporarily. We are currently in the midst of the EPA oral hearing for the IPPC (integreated pollution prevention and control) license which is to grant Shell a license to pollute. Numbers of Gardai in the area remain high.

Now more than ever we need to send Shell a message that this project is not acceptable and that 100 years is enough! We are hoping to send a delegation from Ireland to the Hague to protest directly. All protests at the London video link up would be warmly appreciated.

Solidarity

Support the Eco-Prisoners, Easter 2007

Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)
Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“I thank you all dearly for writing” (Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)

Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)
Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“I thank you all dearly for writing” (Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the Easter 2007 edition of Spirit of Freedom. First off I’d like to apologise in the delay in publishing this edition of Spirit of Freedom.
A lot of things have been happening recently for ELP’s volunteers and a delay was inevitable. However, despite the delay in publication ELP has some fantastic news. For the first time in ages ELP is able to bring some good news! A lot of the ‘Il Silvestre’ prisoners have been released! Marco Camenisch has had his sentence reduced at appeal! Jeff Luers may have his sentenced reduced! Rod Coronado has been released! Garfield Gabbard has been released! And long-term prisoner Dave Blenkinsop has been released!!!
This is all brilliant news. However despite our celebrations, ELP has also seen a number of new prisoners added to our list. So lets celebrate the good news of our friends and then lets support the news prisoners. Also before we end this editorial we’ve been asked by Joyanna Zacher to remind everyone on ELP’s policy towards police informants. We do not support them! Regardless of how long they are jailed for, we do not support them. Regardless of who they are, we do not support them. A police informant relinquishes their right to be regarded as an eco-prisoner as soon as they inform. ELP supports eco-prisoners, not police informants. But remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the real eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES

MARCO CAMENISCH APPEAL NEWS
In mid March 2007 ELP received some news from Switzerland that at his appeal, Marco Camenisch, has had his 17-year prison sentence, for allegedly killing a Swiss boarder guard, reduced to 8 years. The Appeal Court ruled that the original Judge had not taken into account Marco’s time spent in prison in Italy for destroying electricity pylons, nor had the Judge fully considered the outstanding prison sentence Marco had to serve for destroying electricity pylons in Switzerland. Added altogether (39 years), the prison sentence was excessively long and so was reduced so now Marco is serving an 18-year sentence.

JEFF LUERS APPEAL UPDATE
On Valentines Day (Feb 14th) the American media announced that the Court of Appeal has declared Jeff ‘Free’ Luers, 22+ years prison sentence is too long and suggested it should be reduced to between 11+ to 13+ years. ELP will bring you more news as we get it.

ARRESTS IN MEXICO
On the 30th of November 2006 two Mexican anarchists, Oscar Santa Maria Caro and Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, were arrested for as yet unknown reasons. Oscar is a well known animal rights activist who is involved with RATA (Resistance Against Animal Torture). Reports are coming out of Mexico alleging that both Oscar and Sacramento have been tortured whilst inside. There are also reports alleging that their interrogators have threatened to rape female political prisoners if the two men do not confess to their alleged crimes. ELP is trying to obtain more information about these arrests and will bring you more news as we get it.

ROD CORONADO UPDATE
In late March, American Earth First! activist, Rod Coronado, was released from prison having served his sentence for sabotaging a mountain lion hunt. ELP has learnt that Rod’s trial for “demonstrating the use of a destructive device,” relating to a speech he gave in San Diego in 2003, is scheduled to begin in June.

FINNISH ‘GREEN SCARE’
ELP has learnt that the authorities in Finland appear to be copying American tactics and are targeting known animal rights and environmental activists. No matter how minor the ‘offence’ the Finnish police seem determined to prosecute. One person ended up in court for ringing the doorbell of an animal abuser whilst on a demo. The activist was fined for “disturbing home peace”. Another activist was questioned for ‘criminal damage’ after they allegedly spat on a fur shop window! Two more activists were raided and questioned for allegedly putting a leaflet through a post box and putting a sticker on the window of a fur shop. The police accused them of ‘criminal damage’.
ELP’s Finnish friends, who wish to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, say these are just a few examples of the types of police activity happening in Finland at the moment.
ELP is informed that the police have set up a special unit to investigate animal rights activists and the unit has said intend to get activists involved in the early stages of activism ‘before it gets more serious’. Translation, the police want to intimidate people away from activism.

SERIOUS ORGANISED CRIME!
Every so often ELP brings you stories of ridiculous prosecutions of non-violent activists under Britain’s new ‘Serious Organised Crime’ legislation. Who can forget the fines imposed on two peace activists for reading out the names of the British war dead, killed in Iraq, whilst standing next to Britains main war memorial! Sadly the courts have now moved beyond just fining people and have started to hand out prison sentences to activists under this new law. In early March three British animal rights activists were jailed for between 15 months to 4 years for their part in a non-violent campaign against Huntindon Life Sciences.
According to the BBC, the three were accused of being key figures in a campaign against companies with links to HLS. They were accused of entering the offices of the companies and demanding that those companies cut their links to HLS. They were also accused of organising loud demonstrations against the companies buildings. Plus they were accused of taking photos of the people who worked for the companies.

MAN ARRESTED IN AMERICA
At the end of March the American media reported that a 24-year old man, Grant Barnes, had been arrested accused of setting fire to SUVs in Denver, CO. The media quoted the cops as saying incendiary devices were used to damage the vehicles and one of the vehicles had ELF spray painted on it. The police also stated they did not believe that Grant Barnes was a member of the ELF.

IL SILVESTRE UPDATE
At the end of February 2007 the Italian courts ruled that Silvia Guerini and Federico Bonamici should be released under house arrest. This means that only three Il Silvestre members are currently imprisoned. They are Benedetta Galante, Francesco Gioia and Costantino Ragusa.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Fadalla Idris Alajaimy (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.

Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.

Tre Arrow, CS# 05850722, Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center, 4216 Wilkinson Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2, Canada. On remand accused of involvement with an arson on logging trucks and an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. Both arsons occurred in the USA. Tre is fighting his extradition to the USA.

Grant Barnes #1533241, PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201, USA. On remand accused of setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. On one of the vehicles the letters ELF was spray-painted.

Nathan Block, #1663667, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

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

Ibai Ederra, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 – Iruñez Pamplona, Navarra (España), Spain. Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Benedetta Galante, Casa Circondariale, Contrada Capo di Monte, 82100 – Benevento (BN), Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 3 years 6 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Francesco Gioia, Via Maiano, 10, 06049 Spoleto, Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 5 years 2 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial for escaping from house arrest.

Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, OSP, 2605 State St. Salem, OR 97310, USA. Serving 22 years & 8 months for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck.

Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.

Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E 231A, Sacramento County Main Jail, 651 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. On Remand accused of planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants.

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera (PV), Italy. Il Silvestre activist serving 7½ years. 1) Five years for promoting & participating in COR direct action. 2) 18-months for burgling and firebombing a multinational company. 3) 12-months for organising an anti-GM protest. Costanino is also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

John Wade #38548-083, FCI Petersburg Low, Satellite Camp, PO Box 90027, Petersburg, VA 23804, USA. Serving 37 months for a series of ELF actions against a number of targets including McDonalds & Burger King; urban sprawl; the construction industry; and an SUV dealership.

Joyanna Zacher #1662550, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

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

Madeline Buckler PR7492, HMP Morton Hall, Swinderby, Lincoln, LN6 9PT, England. Serving 2 years for sending hate mail to a family who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

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

Donald Currie TN4593, HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambs, PE15 OPR, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS.

Josh Demmitt 12314-081, FCI Safford, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 9000, Safford, AZ 85548, USA. Serving 30 months for an ALF arson on a University animal testing facility.

Darius Fullmer #26397-050, FCI Fort Dix Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 1000, Fort Dix, NJ 08640 USA. Serving 12 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury Route #37, 33 1/2 Pembroke Road, Danbury, CT 06811 USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving 5½ years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following the damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life Science.

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

Joseph Harris TN5728, HMP Bullingdon, Patrick Haugh Road, Arncott, Nr. Bicester, Oxon, OX25 1WD, England. Serving 2 years for damaging the property of people associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences. (His original sentence was reduced on appeal).

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

Josephine Mayo PR6508, HMP Drake Hall, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6LQ, England. Serving 4 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Trish Portwine, TM7153, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving fifteen months for her role in loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

John Smith TB4887, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, FCI Butner Medium II Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 1500, Butner, NC 27509 USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Mark Taylor TT6636, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London, SE28 0UB, England. Serving four years for organising loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

Suzanne Taylor, TM7154, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving two and a half years for helping organise loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

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

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

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

OTHER ANTI-WAR PRISONERS

Brendan Walsh, 12473-052, FCI Allenwood Low, PO Box 1000, White Deer, PA 17887, USA. Serving 5 years for an arson on an army recruitment office in protest at the War on Iraq.

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

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Lasandra Burwell W063658, Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave. Marysville, OH 43040, USA. Serving 5 years for taking part in an anti-fascist demonstration which turned into a riot.

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

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

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

PARTY & PROTEST
Around the world there have been several massive protests against global capitalism and its environmental impact. The following have all been jailed in connection with the protests.

Jonathan Philip Robert, Crisp County Detention Center, 197 Ga. Hwy. 300 South, Cordele, GA 31015, USA (12 months)

OTHER PRISONERS

Oscar Santa Maria Caro, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. The exact charges against Oscar are unknown but Oscar is a member of RATA, a known animal rights group.

Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. Co-defendant of Oscar Santa Maria Caro.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAPUCHE PRISONERS & OTHER LAND RIGHTS PRISONERS
Due to space limitation we cannot publish the names & addresses of the Mapuche & Land Rights prisoners in this edition of Spirit of Freedom, however if you would like a list please contact Spirit of Freedom.

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

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

Spirit of Freedom is ELP’s international bimonthly publication (available via e-mail or in a paper version). If you would like to receive a copy contact Spirit of Freedom, BM Box 2407, London, WC1N 3XX, England. Or e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

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

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

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

North American ELP Prisoner Fund. The North American ELP group has set up a fund where people can pay money, for North American Eco-Defence and Animal Rights prisoners, which will then be distributed to the North American prisoners. For information about the Fund and how to make a donation please contact naelpsn@mutualaid.org

DEDICATION
This Edition of Spirit of Freedom is dedicated to Russian antifa activist, Stanislav Korepanov, who died in hospital on the 31st of March 2007, having been attacked a few days earlier by an armed gang of neo-nazis. Stanislav is the second Russian antifa activist to have been brutally attacked in recent months. On the 14th of January 2007 vegan animal rights activist, Ivan Elin, was surrounded and attacked by ten neo-nazis in St. Petersburg after he had taken part in a weekly “Food not bombs” peace rally. Ivan suffered 21 stab wounds and was rushed to hospital where he is making his recovery. Following on from the knife attack on Ivan, on the 4th of February, with a small bomb exploded in Vladimirskaya Square of St. Petersburg, near to where Food Not Bombs organise their weekly protests. The bomb was hidden in a kiosk selling flowers. Luckily the bomb only damaged the kiosk and did not injure anyone.
This is not the first time neo-nazis have used knives or explosives to target Russian activists. On the 22nd of December 2006 a number of police were injured whilst trying to defuse a device, which set to murder antifa activists in Moscow. In August 2006 eleven people were killed in Moscow when a neo-nazi bomb exploded in Cherkisovski marketplace. The brutal murder of Stanislav Korepanov and the attack against Ivan are a reminded of why fascism must never be allowed to go unchallenged. ELP wishes Ivan Elin a speedy recovery from his injuries and we congratulate the Russian ‘Food Not Bombs’ movement for not giving into this neo-nazi intimidation.
Our thoughts and sorrow are with the family and friends of Stanislav Korepanov who was only 18 years old when he died.

Climate Change: Corporate Criminals ExxonMobil (Esso) Targeted in Surrey

Around 100 people turned up on a gloriously sunny Good Friday at ExxonMobil (Esso)’s UK headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey for an Easter action organised by Campaign Against Climate Change. The vigil and protest ran for 24 hours, starting from Thursday early evening. There was a chilled-out festival vibe on Friday, with colourful costumes and banners, live acoustic music, speakers, poetry, food stalls and face-painting.

ExxonMobil (Esso) has for years been using its vast wealth to run a cynical global campaign of funding junk science to spread disinformation and deliberately muddy the waters on our understanding of climate change, and using its clout with the Bush administration to block recognition of climate change and global action to reduce emissions.

See Campaign Against Climate Change website for more details:

www.campaigncc.org

For more on evil Exxon:

www.exxonsecrets.org
www.exxposeexxon.com
www.campaigncc.org/stopexxon.html

Shell Poisoning Erris Water Supply: Don’t Mention The Water

A two part short film (from an in-progress feature movie called Policing The Pollution) investigating the pollution of Carrowmore Lake, the water supply for over 10,000 Erris people in County Mayo. The polluter – Shell. Local resident John Monaghan and myself look over the water tests and confront Mayo County Council.

Don’t_mention_the_water_01 – video/x-ms-wmv 19M

Don’t_mention_the_water_02 – video/x-ms-wmv 17M

When I first met with John Monaghan during my time in Ireland, the first thing he mentioned was the pollution of the local water supply which was coming directly from the Shell/Statoil Corrib Gas Project at Bellanaboy Bridge.

This has been reported before on Indymedia.ie. Now their latest reports are starting to point to what we uncovered whilst out there.

In order to construct the refinery foundations 500,000 tons of wet Atlantic peat must be removed. Shell started this but halted operations when high-aluminium content “doib” soil was exposed. The aluminium made contact with on-site surface water and proceeded to contaminate surrounding streams and rivers, all of which lead to Carrowmore Lake, the drinking water supply for over 10,000 residents in the Erris community.

Acting after the initial problem arose, on 8 September 2005, Mayo County Council (MCC) issued Shell E & P Ireland (SEPIL) an official warning: “Failure to take immediate action to avoid pollution of the waterways will result in MCC issuing a notice under Section 12 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977.”

Aluminium in drinking water has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer-type diseases, and bone disorders. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) will not admit or deny this, stating the link between aluminium and such diseases “cannot be ruled out”, in 1993 they set a maximum limit of 200 ug/l (micrograms per litre).

The levels set on the Corrib Gas Project and issued directly to SEPIL are an “action limit” of 135 ug/l and an “maximum limit” of 200 ug/l.

It took Shell till February 2006 to act. They installed an Axonics Electro-Chemical Water Treatment Plant to strain out aluminium using electrical currents that passed through the water and collected the aluminium on conducting plates. But the aluminium levels kept rising and the Axonics plant continually broke down.

When asked by this journalist to discuss the levels of aluminium that the plant could safely deal with, no one at the Axonics company in Swansea would give a reply. The secretary said she was told to explain to me they were in a legally binding contract and were allowed not to make any comment without prior consent from the customer.

When the levels in the river, lake and water continued a steady rise the local community complained again. MCC acted again. This time it cut nearly all drinking water tests, reduced Carrowmore Lake tests dramatically and Shell began doing their own on-site testing.

By the end of 2006 the water coming off-site was regularly over the maximum limits, often two or three times and peaking at levels of over 2000 and 3000 ug/l.

Discrepancies were also found when records released from MCC were compared to the tests by Shell on-site.

On 13/12/06 Shell’s on-site testing showing an “indicative level” of 666 ug/l, still over three times the maximum limit. MCC Figures released in February showed the same date, same source of testing (SP1) and recorded 3271 ug/l.

On 20/12/06 Shell’s figures showed 180 ug/l. MCC recorded 1928 ug/l.

The knock-on effect has seen higher levels of aluminium appear in the lake and the drinking water itself. 03/01/07 it tested 521 ug/l. By 14/02/07 it had risen to 658 ug/l. The drinking water, tested twice from a source in Belmullet at the end of January 2007 first registered 1714 ug/l, then dropped several days later to 406 ug/l.

Shell denied they were anything to do with the rising levels, claiming it was because of river bank erosion in the area.

The pollution of Carrowmore Lake has more recently took centre-stage of the protest, leading to a site invasion by 60 locals and an occupation of council offices in recent weeks, who residents accused of failing to act on the issue (see Indymedia.ie/mayo).

On 2 April 2007, I was informed by local people in the area Shell had recommenced the removal of the rest of the peat, which will expose more of the doib soil. Only one-third was originally removed in previous operations.

For further information:

http://www.corribsos.com/

http://www.indymedia.ie/mayo

Bath Climate Camp – info and wish list

Between late afternoon on thursday 19th of April and sunday 22nd April, there is going to be a climate camp just outside of Bath focusing on Land and Marines offices (the company building the gas pipeline smashing through Wales).

The camp is shaping up to be a really good event. We have most things up together such as bands, a vegan field kitchen, a compost toilet, marquees etc, but there are a few things we could do with more of including

– Materials for banner making, carnival props etc
– vegetables/spices/pulses – we have got food sorted out, but could always do with some more
– reclaimed wood for fires and construction

Most importantly, we need people to attend the camp, as this is an opportunity to take the fight over the pipeline to the front door of those building it.

as well as bands, food, workshops, DIY sessions and kids activities, we have two demos planned –

*friday 20th of April – All day – Shut down Land and Marine – a day of autonomous actions against Land and Marines offices. Wether you want to blockade, make music, banner drop, leaflet, or anything else you can think of, all non violent actions and all non-violent people are very welcome!

*Saturday 21st April – Party against Petrol – Meet at 11 at Bath Climate Camp or 12 at Bath Abbey – A colorful, noisy carnival against car culture and fossil fuels, roaming around Bath and stopping to party and highlight some local climate criminals!

we hold weekly planning meetings on Thursdays in the hobgoblin (47 st. James Parade) at 7.30 in the downstairs room, all are welcome.

For more info, to request posters/booklets etc or to ask any questions, please e-mail bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk or check out www.myspace.com/bathclimatecamp

See you in the fields!

bathclimatecamp@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/bathclimatecamp

EXPOSE EXXON DAY 5-6th April

24 hours of protest at Exxon (Esso) HQ,
5.00 pm Thursday 5th April to 5.00 pm Good Friday, April 6th.

Mass Action 2.00 pm Friday

24 hours of protest at Exxon (Esso) HQ,
5.00 pm Thursday 5th April to 5.00 pm Good Friday, April 6th.

Mass Action 2.00 pm Friday

FAT CAT’S PARTY
CLIMATE VICTIMS’ VIGIL

Music, Street Theatre, Workshops, Speakers

Come and target the ultimate Global Warming Villain More info on Exxon here.

Exxon HQ is South of London on the Northern outskirts of Leatherhead, about 20 minutes walk from Leatherhead Railway Station (45 minutes by train from Waterloo). See map here or close-up here

Floorspace available overnight (details here): if you would like accomodation overnight for the 5th-6th, it will help to email us at info@campaigncc.org with “OVERNIGHT EXXON” in the subject line. Please indicate, also, whether you would like to volunteer for a shift at the overnight vigil outside Exxon HQ. A minibus will pick people up from Exxon HQ on Thursday evening and take them to the accomodation (and back in the morning).

Cycle against Exxon : a cycle protest will leave from under Waterloo bridge on the South Bank at 100.am, Friday (from there it is 20 miles to join the protest at ExxonMobil HQ).

>>> Draft Schedule with more details here.

Niger Delta Women shut down Agip Oil Facility

March 23, 2007

A group of women from the Idheze community in Isokoland have once again shut down oil facilities of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) because have failed to pay promised compensation for damages caused by chemical/waste fluid of the firm flushed into the community. The people of Isokoland have experienced continued series of crisis over the past 15 years. (There are about 27 oil wells in the area). Many incidents have been a result of divide and rule tactics by the Nigerian government between and within ethnic minorities in Delta State and other states in the region. When there have been clashes the government has sent in mobile police resulting in death, injury and destruction of people’s properties. The last time I visted Oleh Town (the headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area in 2000 women spoke of the brutallity of the mobile policie (MOPO) and how many of them lost their homes. I saw homes burnt down to the ground by the MOPO. Each time they come into the area people are afraid and run away and then their homes are looted and often burned to the ground.

March 23, 2007

“Many houses were burned down, many things destroyed, we loose all our property. Some people loose their money, everything concerning trading material many things lost. Some people now are not even staying in this town because all their house all their property has burned down. There is a lot of suffering. Both men and women they are suffering in this town. Up till now there are something children who are lost (missing) up till now we have never seen any certificate of children born.”

Now we have to wait and see how the government will respond to the women’s protest and hope that this time Obasanjo does not send in his army to protect the oil company and attack Nigerian women who are protesting against the environmental damage to their community by Agip which is is normal reaction to any protests against oil companies and facilities.

Recently, chemical/waste from the rig site was discharged into the swamp of Idheze leading to the death and destruction of aquatic life. Many dead aquatic animals were still afloat in the ponds yesterday. The women had early in December 2006 seized oil facilities belonging to Agip, owing to the failure of the company to implement an earlier agreement signed with the community on their entrance into their land. They revealed that a spill led to the death of seven adults and three children and also destroyed economic trees and crops in 1982.

The women carried placards, barricaded the main entrance of the company’s facilities and turned back all workers. Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as: “We are tired of the inhuman treatment of NAOC”, “We will continue to disrupt your activities until you meet our demands”, “Pay compensation for the chemical/waste fluid you have used to pollute our land.”

The women came to the premises with their utensils and food items, including bags of rice, yams, garri as well as canopies with which they erected makeshift tents. They vowed not to vacate the yard until their demands were met. According to them, after all that the community suffered as a result of the spill, Agip has refused to heed the advice of the inspectorate body of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) which ordered Agip to compensate the community.

Leader of the protesters, Mrs. Mercy Okunwa, who spoke on behalf of the community’s President-General, Joel Ogbru, accused the company of insensitivity to the plight of the locals as well as reneging on agreement reached with the community in Port Harcourt last December.

She said the non-challant attitude of NAOC to the issues of their community, led to a protest by the community on the December 19, 2006 to register their “vexation but until now none of the promises made by NAOC when they invited the community people has been implemented”.

She disclosed that many of the servicing companies operating in the rigs were “carrying out the job with the knowledge of Agip but detrimental to the community because none of them pays royalty to the community.”

They accused servicing firms such as SERIC, IMPEANTI, and KCA Deutage for flouting outrightly, agreements reached with the community, saying that Agip conspired with some of the servicing firms to rob the community of their entitlements. She lamented that contracts that should have been given to the indigenes were executed by outsiders.

“We are peace-loving people and knowing that Agip has been deceiving us, we wouldn’t want anything that will be detrimental this time to our people and so until the company’s management responds to our demand, we will not vacate the premises,” the aggrieved women declared.

Soldiers barred journalists from reaching the Community Relations Officer in charge of the Kwale Gas Plant of Agip, Prince Obi, who was at the premises addressing the protesters.

Climate Camp Meeting this weekend in Bristol, and Film

Last year saw 600 people gather in the shadow of Drax Power Station for the ten day Camp For Climate Action. This weekend in Bristol is the next national planning meeting, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March. The venue is Barton Hill Settlement which is 5 min from Lawrence Hill Station.

Any questions, suggestions or proposals for the meeting can be sent to gatherings [at] climatecamp.org.uk.

Last years camp was captured on video and turned into a documentary by Cine Rebalde called Reclaim Power. Copies are now available on DVD in this country from Rising Tide and local groups working towards this years climate camp.

Those in London can check out the climate camp film as part of two evenings of climate chaos related films at the rampART social centre (see http://rampart.co.nr for details). Also showing is the epic documentary The Planet, plus Global Dimming and The Denial Machine. Additionally there will be speakers and info.

More info on film at http://www.cinerebelde.org/site.php3?id_rubrique=22&lang=en
More info on camp for climate action at http://climatecamp.org.uk