Action Reports – Page 136

News from EF! Italy

News from Earth First! Italy:

After the national gathering of April 1 to 4 in Umbria are forming new groups in central and northern Italy. Now very active 4 groups: Rome, Prato, Padua, Turin. The site continues to be followed by more than 500 visits a month and many activities are carried out. On 5 June in Rome there will there will be an EF! night with discussions, dinner, film screening and music in support of ongoing campaigns. In Turin active “guerrilla gardening”. Padua operates mainly on the face of animal liberation. In Prato they are organizing campaigns against incinerators and cement.

More information: http://earthfirstitalia.blogspot.com

Ffos-y-Fran Coal Train Blockade – Action Report (and ‘Pictures’)

An action report as promised.
All cameras were seized by police – instead sketches have been drawn to document the action.

A group of individuals who met through the Rising Tide network and were inspired to take direct action against the route causes of climate change. They maintain an 8-hour blockade of coal trains carrying fuel from Ffos-y-Fran open-cast coal mine to Aberthaw power station.

An aerial view of the mine, the protest groups and the police response

ACTION

On 26th April 2010 in the early afternoon a group of individuals made their presence known to staff and security at Ffos-y-Fran open-cast coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil. Having ensured their presence around the tracks was known and no trains would be leaving until they were removed, they proceeded to lock themselves to the train track using chains and super glue. This single track is used to transport train-loads of mined coal to Aberthaw power station, and the first and only train for the day was due to leave soon after. Legal observers and support were present.

It took a long time for police to make the lengthy journey from the nearest police station, however they sent their friendly neighbourhood helicopter on plenty of pointless gas-guzzling jaunts around the area. Once the police properly arrived they immediately arrested the four support people, placed them in handcuffs and made them wait beside the track while a cutting team arrived to remove the group who had locked on to the rails. Despite the handcuffs, the support team continued to provide food and water to the lock-on team. Later the police also arrested the legal observer who was clearly on the other side of the fence and not on the track. After approximately 4 and a half hours of lengthy response times and a paper-chain of police bureaucracy that group was removed and arrested.

The first group locked on complete with washing-line banner

As this group of people were being led off the train tracks they informed the police of some incredibly irritating news. A second group had been hiding just round the corner and were as they spoke emerging and locking onto the tracks with heavy duty lock-on tubes. Clearly too exhausted from their hard work operating bolt croppers to take a quick stroll down the line to check this out, the helicopter took to the skies once more. One quick swoop confirmed what it had failed to notice on its many swoops earlier – four protesters with a legal observer and support, cheerfully waving from the train track before, now finally sure their presence had been noted, calmly taking their places on roll mats and rugs and locking on inside two lock-on tubes placed in convenient gaps under the railway line. By this point it was 5.00pm.

A network rail engineer ran a couple of hundred metres down the tracks to check upon the new group. The police drove. Again on arrival they immediately arrested the legal observer and support, who were cheerfully reading a novel to those locked. Despite failing to produce on demand a Risk Assessment of the cutting operation (but plenty of whinging about how dangerous it is) it took the cops until 8pm to cut open the tubes – one of which was multi-layered, and the other of which had a very thick metal layer. A special groan was reserved for when they realised the protesters had not just chained but also superglued their hands together inside the tubes and had to send for some industrial glue remover.

The second group flagging down the chopper before locking on

All arrested were taken to Ystrad Mynach Police Station. This included four people who were enjoying a nice day out in the beautiful surrounding countryside, who the police arrested out of some kind of belief that they were in some way involved. In total 18 were arrested and spent 24 hours in the cells. It is believed that no coal left Ffos-y-Fran that day.

The second group in position

CONSEQUENCES

It appears that legal observers and support roles were originally arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, however they were subsequently charged with the same charge as those who had locked on. All 18 were eventually charged with “Unlawful Act With Intent To Obstruct The Railways” contrary to section 35 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861. This rather quaint law designed to protect the interests of private landowners over 150 years ago carries a rather less quaint maximum sentence of life in prison. However the protesters have stated that they are not anticipating anything approaching that kind of sentence as the law is obviously out of date and ample safety measures were taken to ensure there would be no danger to the train, the train driver, the police or the protesters.

All were bailed to return to Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court at 10am on 10th May 2010. All were bailed “not to be upon or allow yourself to be upon any property owned, leased or rented by British rail network”. They were allowed to travel home by train that day however any future train trips had to be cleared by arresting officers. Those who gave fixed addresses were bailed to reside at those addresses. Those who did not give fixed addresses were bailed to reside at contact addresses, despite making it clear they did not have any permission to live there and had no connection with those addresses other than being able to receive post from those addresses. Some were also bailed to sign in regularly at local police stations. One of those arrested was bailed to reside in Cornwall but sign in daily at Bath Police Station without the use of trains!

Black Cat Centre (Bath) Illegally Evicted

7.05.2010
The Black Cat, Bath, has sadly been evicted this morning from the Porter Butt building on London Road.

We lost in court this morning, and rather than wait for an eviction order to come through, the landlords came right round the house and barged in with the full support of local police.

7.05.2010
The Black Cat, Bath, has sadly been evicted this morning from the Porter Butt building on London Road.

We lost in court this morning, and rather than wait for an eviction order to come through, the landlords came right round the house and barged in with the full support of local police.

We’re currently negotiating for the release of our possessions from the building, and are intending to keep fairly quiet until those negotiations are concluded in our favour. Once that’s done, thought – or if it doesn’t happen – then we’re going to raise some merry hell!

Saturday’s Open Mic may find a new home, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Thanks to all our supporters, and apologies to those of you who should have got emails about this, rather than having to see it on indy – the only person who can spell our email password is off playing D&D…

Solidarity and Struggle,
The Black Cat Collective

Bristol Eco Villager hospitalised after tripod demolition

5th May 2010

5th May 2010
After entering the Eco Village site this morning, bailiffs persisted through the day in their attempts to evict all Eco Villagers from the St Werbergh’s site. Local residents joined villagers in an increasingly desperate attempt to prevent this. Although a cherry picker was turned away, a digger was finally brought on site. Attempts had been made to prevent this by climbing onto it, but the digger operator evaded this by aggressive driving, throwing at least one person to the floor.

A mound of earth was then pushed against the building giving bailiffs access to non-tripod sitting villagers. The bailiffs then proceded to lower the tripods whilst the sitters were still in them, with no regard for their well being and safety, As a result of this treatment one tripod sitter was sunsequently taken to hospital with potentially serious injuries to his legs.

During all of this police ignored cries of pain and calls for help, they did, however, act to prevent villagers attempting to re-enter the site over the fence.

The bailiffs then proceded to demolish the on site building, ignoring requests to dampen the earth to protect the native endangered newt population.

The site owner has since contacted local residents to talk about non industrial use of the land.

The bailiffs firm acting on behalf of the High Court were Constant & Co.

Constant & co. are responsible for the some of the most violent and horrific evictions across the country, specializing in brutalizing Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities. (one quick example, but there are loads more out there: http://www.wombles.org.uk/article2009075558.php)
One could inform them in a variety of formats that their activities are other than desirable making use of the details below:

Constant & Company
66 Harpur Street,
Bedford,
MK40 2RA

(t) 01234 340091
(f) 01234 301299

bedford@constantandcompany.co.uk

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Eco Villager Hospitalised: update and request for footage and witnesses

Just a quick update to you all on Kevs condition and a few details about what actually happend. Six bailiffs illegally lowered the tripod he was on, crushing him bitweed the polls. They then proceeded to sit on him to prevent people from seeing/filimng what was going on, causing the polls to act like giant blunt scissors and badly damaging the left side of his body.

Whilst trying to remove him, they also yanked his left leg violently from side to side, causing bad ligament damage to a previous knee injury. The docs at the hospital have given him some pretty hefty pain killers and hes completly zonked out next to me as I type.

If anyone has any footage of what happend, or would like to act as a witness, could you please please please get in contact with us as we WILL be pressing charges.

Activists Occupy Cargill US HQ

May 5, 2010

Update: five activists locked themselves to the staircase of the Lake Office, blocking the entrance to the company’s executive offices for over two hours. All five activists were arrested.

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Nation’s Largest Private Agribusiness Company Under Fire for Rainforest Destruction

May 5, 2010

Update: five activists locked themselves to the staircase of the Lake Office, blocking the entrance to the company’s executive offices for over two hours. All five activists were arrested.

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Nation’s Largest Private Agribusiness Company Under Fire for Rainforest Destruction

Wayzata, Minn. – Six activists with Rainforest Action Network (RAN) have taken over the executive offices of the nation’s largest private agribusiness company. Playing a loud recording of chainsaws cutting down rainforests and holding signs reading “This is the sound of your supply chain,” and “Mr. Page: Rainforest Destruction Stops with You,” the activists have locked themselves to the staircase of the Lake Office, blocking the entrance to the company’s executive offices.

A dozen demonstrators are conducting a solidarity vigil at the front of Cargill’s Wayzata headquarters, greeting employees as they enter with a 12 ft paper mache orangutan and a sign reading: “Rainforest Destruction Starts with Cargill.”

The activists have requested a meeting with Gregory Page, Cargill’s CEO, and are refusing to leave until he agrees to stop destroying rainforests and to implement a comprehensive palm oil policy covering its entire supply chain.

“Cargill has been lying to its customers and to our community,” said Eric Nielsen, local activist participating in today’s protest. “We want CEO Greg Page to act now to stop Cargill’s destruction of rainforests before it’s too late.”

The protest comes in the wake of a damning report directly linking Cargill, the nation’s largest importer of palm oil, to rainforest destruction in Borneo. The report, released yesterday, documents systematic failures by Cargill to comply with international palm oil standards and respect Indonesian law throughout its palm oil supply chain. The report also documents rainforest destruction on two plantations that Cargill owns, but has hidden from the Indonesian government and its customers. Over 10,500 hectares of rainforest have been destroyed since 2005, causing significant conflict with traditional and Indigenous communities.

“Cargill has destroyed an area of rainforest the size of Disney World in Borneo, endangering orangutans, polluting waterways and taking land and livelihoods from local communities,” said Leila Salazar-Lopez of Rainforest Action Network. “How unsustainable can a company be?”

Palm oil is one of the most commonly found ingredients in thousands of consumer products, from soap and lipstick, to breakfast cereal and soymilk. Its use is widespread and increasing around the world, but particularly in the United States, where its consumption has tripled in the last five years. As the nation’s largest importer of palm oil, Cargill supplies the commonly used ingredient to some of the nation’s largest food companies, including General Mills, Nestle, Mars and Kraft, making it likely that almost all Americans have bought Cargill’s palm oil sometime within the last week.

Unfortunately, palm oil has been tightly linked to the destruction of some of the world’s remaining rainforests. Expanding consumption has triggered expanded production, replacing once lush rainforests with palm oil plantations and endangering unique species including orangutans and sun bears.

The full report on Cargill’s activities, entitled Cargill’s Problems with Palm Oil, A Burning Threat to Borneo, can be downloaded at: http: www.ran.org/cargillreport

BRISTOL ECO VILLAGE EVICTION – BAILIFFS ON SITE NOW

5th May 2010
This morning Bailiffs moved onto the site at St Webergh’s Bristol.

5th May 2010
This morning Bailiffs moved onto the site at St Webergh’s Bristol. Residents are resisting and at present there are still four people on site plus two Tripod sitters, one on the roof of the building and one on the gate. In a disturbing move however, bailiffs sre threatening to remove the tripod sitters and and people on the roof without climbing teams and special equiment, claiming that these are not necessary.

Location BS2 9SH: Author earthfirstPosted on May 5, 2010Categories South West England, Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites

upcoming events at the Black Cat occupied community social centre

Lifted from the Black Cat centre blog [blackcatcentre.blogspot.com]:

“The Black Cat occupied community social centre is currently homed at the
former Porter Butt public house on London Road, Bath, opposite the E$$o
station and next door to Morrisons. We still have a lot of work to do,
cleaning and setting things up – volunteers always appreciated to the level
of mad, overbearing puppy enthusiastic adoration, slobber and all (napkins
provided) – but already have a couple of events lined up:

Tuesdays, from 6.15-7.30pm, weekly free yoga classes are back on, so come
soak up the authentic wood flooring and chilled late spring sunlight,
spiritual one-ness an’ all

Wednesday 5th May will present ‘Never Mind the Vote, Here’s the Folk’: an
evening of anti-folk, folk-rap & faux folk with ‘The Casual Terrorist’
(anarcho anti-folk from Newcastle), ‘Clayton Blizzard’ (Brizzle’s own chubby
guitar-wielding, wordsmith virtuoso), and ‘Madame Hatter’ (the Black Cat’s
own miss-fit, decadence plumbing, answer to a very silly question); running
from 7.30pm-11pm, £3 suggested donation entry (though no one turned away for
lack of funds), there will also be cheap vegan food, and a potential free CD
of one sort or another for every punter

Saturday the 8th of May will feature the second incarnation of Madame
Hatter’s ‘Scabrous Cabaret’, at 21.03 hours, free entry, a wide open stage
night for whatever performances people can bring, with DJish collaboration
from DJ Stoney Monster and DJ Beavis – dub/dancehall/Balkan beats: “Should
you be prudish puddings, freak frogs, vegan vultures, breakfast brutes and
funky fruits, bang poets or junk poets or even plain poets, blue cabbages
and pink trumpets, merry-go-round travellers or magic roundabout surfers and
hulla-hoop singers, studious students and naughty rodents, squatterpillars
or passers-by, funny flapping flowers or blooming butterflies, party people
or bursting bubbles, the usual crows and so many more if you’re hungry for
the encore, you are all invited to the new edition of Madame Hatter’s
scabrous cabaret for a night of sweet delirium open to all sorts of
performers, artists, poets, story-tellers… She’s slim and slimy and could easily break into your pipery, Beware of Madame Hatter coz’ of decadence she’s the plumber…”

And following on from that frivolity, but in no way lessened by it, will be
the Bristol & Bath Rising Tide meeting – a campaigning group making a name
for itself taking direct action against the root causes of climate
injustice, from 7pm – all welcome

Events at this current location will probably come to a close following this, as we are due in Bath County Court defending against Julian Richer’s possession claim on Friday the 7th May. C’est la vie

love, rage and kitty litty”

Sabotage stopping Trump

April 29, 2010

Newly-planted marram grass was ripped up, fences pulled down, diesel supplies polluted and two JCB diggers destroyed, causing an estimated £50,000 of damage.

The damage was discovered on Monday. More than 1,000sqm of marram grass was ripped out of the ground at the 15th green, while 150 metres of fencing bordering the hole was also torn down.

April 29, 2010

Newly-planted marram grass was ripped up, fences pulled down, diesel supplies polluted and two JCB diggers destroyed, causing an estimated £50,000 of damage.

The damage was discovered on Monday. More than 1,000sqm of marram grass was ripped out of the ground at the 15th green, while 150 metres of fencing bordering the hole was also torn down.

Just 24 hours before, vandals had targeted two heavy diggers at the site, cutting their wiring, removing batteries and pouring sand into the engines. About 3,000 litres of diesel were also destroyed when the fuel was mixed with what is thought to be sugar.

The malicious assault is the latest evidence that the development is becoming increasingly unpopular. A poll published this week suggested Scots now oppose the scheme by two to one, despite claims it will boost tourism in the north-east and create thousands of new jobs.

Mr Trump, also known as ‘The Donald’, first announced his plans to build the “world’s greatest golf course” in March 2006, but his proposal took more than two years to gain approval after it was furiously opposed by conservationists. Critics argue that the resort, which will include two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses, will wreck rare sand dunes, which are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are also concerns that Mr Trump will use compulsory purchase orders to force residents whose houses are in the way of his plans out of their homes.

The attack comes less than two weeks after a fire spread across six acres of grass and dunes at the site. The blaze was blamed on a discarded barbecue. It is not known if the incident was a deliberate act.

CLIMATE PROTESTERS FACE LIFE SENTENCES AFTER COAL TRAIN BLOCKADE

On Monday 26th April, people involved in the Rising Tide Network
literally put their necks on the line by blockading the railtrack which
carries coal from the controversial open-cast mine at Ffos-y-Fran in
Merthyr Tydfil to Aberthaw Power Station. It took the combined efforts
of British Rail Police and South Wales Police over 8 hours to remove the
last of the protesters at 8.10pm on Monday evening.

18 People from Bristol and Bath are due in court on 10th May, charged
under the Malicious Damages Act of 1861, a law to protect the interests
of 19th Century rail owners. If convicted they face anything up to a
life sentence in prison. The 18 People, who are part of the Rising Tide
(UK) Network were held for over 24 hours, and were only allowed to phone
out after 11.00 am yesterday (Tuesday). The house of one of those
involved was raided by 8 police officers who spent 3 hours searching
their home.

Kim Green from Rising Tide (UK) said:

“We are protesting the continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels
in the face of a global climate emergency. The failure of the Copenhagen
climate talks to deal with this huge problem, and the obvious policy
inadequacy the three main UK parties contesting the general election to
take the necessary action to tackle the problem has highlighted the need
for the people to take grass-roots direct action.”

Kim Green continues:

“This action is also in support of the local people of Merthyr Tydfil
whose campaign ‘Residents Against Ffos-y-Fran’ has been fighting the
mine for over six years. The mine causes noise pollution for up to 16
hours a day, dust and dirt are carried into the town by the wind, and it
turns the rain black.”

The process by which Miller-Argent were able to get the go ahead to
exploit this resource at the social cost of both the local and global
community failed to take into consideration the social-environmental
impact of such projects, highlighting the democratic deficit in the
planning process. The newly formed quango “The Planning Commission” will
only make these things worse, being able to ignore any consideration in
favour of profit.

Miller Argent have been quick to pressure their small workforce into
mobilising against local concerns – but their apparent concern for their
workers is betrayed by the fact that they are actually looking to sell
the mine as there is only half the quantity of high quality coal as they
initially believed. They are in fact making a loss on the project.

On the potential life sentence, a spokesperson for the 18 said:

“We would not anticipate facing any such penalty as we took great care
to ensure the safety of all taking part and had made certain that the
coal train would not leave the loading area before the line was blocked.”

“This was a carefully planned action: hence it’s success. However, we
admit that it was a drastic course of action but even this barely
matches the climate crisis we will face if much more radical measures
are not taken now.”

All 18 have been bailed to appear at Merthyr Tydfill Magistrates Court
on 10th May at 10.00 am.

*** Aberthaw Power Station is the biggest polluter in Wales. In 2006 it
released 7.4. million tonnes of Co2. It is Projected to run until 2025
with NO PLANS to fit carbon capture storage (CCS) technology. 40% of the
coal for the power station is supplied by Ffos-Y-Fran. It was targeted
by Bristol & Cardiff Rising Tide in 2008.

*** Miller Argent own and run Ffos-Y-Fran. Argent are in turn owned by
the BT Pensions Group. Both of these organisations make much of their
ethical and sustainable practices. But in this case they seem to be
placing profits over and above any element of social responsibility.

Plane Stupid targets Red Bullshit

Environmental campaign group, Plane Stupid, has deposited a large mound of manure outside the south London HQ of soft drink giant Red Bull.

Environmental campaign group, Plane Stupid, has deposited a large mound of manure outside the south London HQ of soft drink giant Red Bull. Three activists, dressed as ‘avenging air hostesses’ in wigs and mini-dresses the same colour as the company’s logo, crowned the mound with placards reading: ‘Red Bull-sh*t’, ‘Red Bull gives you (plane) wings’ and ‘No second runway by stealth.’

The move was prompted by the revelation that Red Bull has applied for planning permission to build an aerodrome opposite London City Airport. The company claims that the new control tower, runway and helipads would support its annual air race on the River Thames.

But there are growing fears that the company is working with London City Airport and Newham Council to introduce a new heliport and permanent runway for private jets through the back door. ‘We believe Red Bull’s claim is bullsh*t and we’re telling them so,’ said spokeswoman Elizabeth Baines.

‘London City Airport is positioning itself a major hub for City executives,’ Elizabeth continued. ‘We suspect that Red Bull’s planning application is an underhand way of helping the airport to attract private jet and helicopter users. That way, they won’t have to deal with fierce opposition from people in East London who are sick and tired of the noise and pollution from the airport.’

London City Airport has been feeling the heat recently. Local campaign group Fight The Flights (FTF) has launched a High Court bid to stop the airport from expanding its flights volume by 50%. Six local councils have publicly supported FTF’s bid. The Greater London Assembly’s Environment Committee is also holding a probe into the effects of the expansion.

‘We insist that Newham council turns down this planning application. Red Bull may have high flying ideas but this time we think their wings should be clipped,’ Elsie added. ‘

For more information contact:
Leo Murray: 07595 506673
Nancy Birch: 07506 006597