Action Reports – Page 146

Support the Local Campaign Against Bradley Proposed Open-cast

This years EF! winter moot was held in Dipton Community Centre, which looks over the proposed site for an open-cast at Bradley. Members of the local campaign against the mine have asked if people who attended the moot, (as well as those who didn’t) would write in their objection to the development.

UK Coal’s application is expected to be heard by the planning officials in the near future. The local campaign would appreciate it if people would write in letters of objection to the following address, stating the APPLICATION No. CMA/1/37

Mrs C.L.Teasdale
Plannng Development Control Team
Regeneration and Economic Development
Durham County Council
Durham
DH1 5UQ

Apparently letters hold more weight if you say that you have visited the area.

The facts about this proposed mine:
UK Coal has applied to surface mine 556,000 tonnes of coal from a coal seem covering 22,000 acres.
The current version of the application is has not yet gone to the Planning Authority.
The application is being resisted by The Pont Valley Network www.pontvalley.net
If the application goes ahead the residents are particularly concerned about the loss of their heritage sites.
The final destination for the coal is either the steel industry or a power station generating electricity.
Burning this coal will release over 2 million tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
UK coal say the mine will create 38 jobs. Mr Cory of UK Coal says that there will be no new jobs but people will be transferred to this site.
The mine will need 3 lorry trips per hour, each way.
UK coal and other surface mining companies have applications at the planning stages for a further 13 mines in the area and a further 5 have been granted in the area.
The nearest planned site also currently at the planning stages is Skons Park, which Hall construction are applying to extract half a million tonnes of coal fire clay. This application was last refused in 2007 but Halls have since reapplied this year.

The Bradley site is 10 miles south of Newcastle in a beautiful area. The proposed site can be seen from Newcastle and Cheviot on a clear day. A mine would scar the landscape; cause habitat destruction which would affect many species, including Great Crested Newts and Red Kites; contribute to global warming; increase traffic locally and destroy the remains of wagon-ways and bell pit and shaft mines in the area. Residents are also concerned that if the mine is given the go ahead then they will see further extensions applied for and granted.

For more information about the site and to add strength to letters of objection please see http://pontvalley.net under NOTT campaign on the left hand side.

attempt to arrest whalers – Sea Shepherd captain abducted – crocodile assault

February 15 2010
Captain Pete Bethune Boards Shonan Maru 2 to Arrest Japanese Skipper

At 0629 Hours (Perth Time), New Zealand Captain Pete Bethune of the recently sunk Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil breached the Japanese government security ship Shonan Maru 2 and successfully boarded the vessel under cover of darkness.

February 15 2010
Captain Pete Bethune Boards Shonan Maru 2 to Arrest Japanese Skipper

His mission is to attempt a citizen’s arrest of the skipper of the Shonan Maru 2 for the destruction of the Ady Gil and attempted murder of the six Ady Gil crewmembers.

At 0600 Hours, Captain Bethune (of New Zealand) left the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin on a Jet Ski driven Larry Routledge (of Great Britain).

The Jet Ski lay in wait for the Shonan Maru 2 to approach. With the Japanese vessel making 14 knots through the water, Routledge maneuvered the Jet Ski into position under the anti-boarding spikes along the port side of the Shonan Maru 2.

Captain Bethune made the jump and climbed onboard the whaling ship without being noticed. Captain Bethune is presently onboard the Shonan Maru 2 awaiting sunrise to make his presence known.

Captain Bethune also has a bill for $3 million dollars to present to the Master of the Shonan Maru 2. The bill is for the cost of replacing the Ady Gil.

Captain Bethune will be demanding that the Shonan Maru 2 Captain surrender himself to Sea Shepherd or take his ship to the nearest Australian or New Zealand port to turn himself in to legal authorities.

Captain Bethune will make it clear that he does not wish to return to a Sea Shepherd ship without the Captain of the Shonan Maru 2.

Sea Shepherd anticipates that the Japanese will hold Captain Bethune as prisoner onboard the Shonan Maru 2.

“This was an impossible mission,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Captain Bethune boarded a Japanese whaling fleet security ship at high speed in total darkness, breached the spikes and anti-boarding nets and is presently onboard and the Japanese crew are still not aware that he is there. He is there to demand justice for the sinking of his ship.”

—

Japan Takes A Prisoner In their Crusade to Plunder the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

The Japanese government has said they will have Captain Peter Bethune of New Zealand taken to Japan to be tried on unknown charges in a Japanese court.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Captain Peter Bethune were prepared for this possibility prior to the boarding of the Shonan Maru #2 by Captain Bethune.

“Captain Peter Bethune’s $3 million dollar vessel the Ady Gil was rammed, sunk and destroyed by the Captain of the Shonan Maru #2. The incident injured one of the six crewmembers and could have killed all six,” said Captain Paul Watson, “Captain Bethune was entirely in his rights to confront the man who almost killed him and destroyed his ship. And now this same Japanese captain who destroyed a ship almost killing its crew is intent on bringing Captain Bethune back to Japan as his captive. The question must be asked – who are the pirates here?”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society sees this as an opportunity to rally support for Captain Peter Bethune in New Zealand and Australia. These Japanese poachers plunder the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with impunity and now they are hauling a courageous Kiwi hero to the Land of the Rising Sun to crucify him for defending the whales.

Captain Peter Bethune is no longer just a man who set a world record in boating and had the courage to defend the whales. He will now be the very symbol of the citizens of New Zealand and Australia and their love for the great whales.

The last time a Kiwi was taken prisoner to Japan was in their great war of imperialism when they attempted to enslave both Australia and New Zealand. They have now returned to plunder Australian and New Zealand waters and once again they are arrogantly flaunting the law and taking prisoners.

“I don’t think that Australian and New Zealanders are going to tolerate the abuse of Peter Bethune by the thugs from Japan who annually plunder the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary for profit in the name of research,” said Steve Irwin Chief Cook Laura Dakin of Canberra.

“If the Japanese put Peter Bethune on trial in Japan, it will be a case that will draw the attention of the world,” said Captain Paul Watson, “What is the Japanese government thinking? The persecution of Captain Peter Bethune will a rallying point for an international campaign to free Captain Bethune and to end the brutal illegal slaughter of the whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

—

Steve Irwin Launches Croc Assault on the Japanese Whaling Fleet

Crikey! And now for something completely different.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society always likes to inject a little humor into our campaigns and today we decided to do just that.

As a tribute to the late and legendary Steve Irwin for whom the Sea Shepherd flagship is named, the crew of the Steve Irwin delivered dozens of crocodile eggs onto the flensing deck of the Nisshin Maru.

Each of these eggs was sponsored by Sea Shepherd supporters on shore who paid $50 to inscribe a message on the outside of the egg. When these eggs make contact with water, a baby crocodile emerges from the egg and expands rapidly.

A few of the eggs were signed with messages from Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin.

“I cannot think of anything more appropriate for the Steve Irwin to toss onto the bloody flensing decks of the Nisshin Maru than crocodile eggs and baby crocs.” Said Captain Paul Watson.

Of course these baby crocs and their eggs are not real. We can just see the Japanese trying to accuse Sea Shepherd of cruelty to animals for this action and they probably will since they can’t seem to tell the difference between fact and fiction.

“Before his tragic death Steve wanted to join us in our efforts to defend the whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Because of that, we asked Terri Irwin for permission to name our ship in his honour.”

The croc delivery went very well. Japanese water cannons provided the moisture to crack the eggs and to release the expanding crocs onto the deck of the Nisshin Maru.

“Steve would have loved this,” said 3rd Officer Vincent Hayes of Williamstown, Victoria.

So down here in the Southern Ocean today – Crocs rule!

We love you Steve!

Bath Black Cat occupied social centre moves again!!

15.2.10
For 6 months, the Black Cat has been providing Bath with a liberated community space featuring a radical library, freeshop, cafe, debt advice centre, and dozens of film nights, meetings, activities and workshops .

UPDATE – After a brief stay at 63 West Avenue, the Black Cat, Baths only occupied social centre has moved on to a bigger and better building. The location will be secret for the next week or so, but to get involved in helping prepare the space, or to drop by and check it out, drop us an email at bathsocialcentre@googlemail.com and keep checking out the Black Cat blogspot (www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com) for more info.

Hundreds blockade nuclear bomb factory

15th Feb 2010

15th Feb 2010
Update: Approximately 800 protesters blockaded the base, with a large police and FIT/EG surveillance presence. 26 arrests were reported, mainly for obstruction of a public highway. The blockade caused a huge backlog of traffic, many of which were workers trying to get to work at AWE, and failing due to blocked gates. Mainstream media coverage.

Campaigners call for disarmament of Trident and abolition of nuclear weapons

An estimated eight hundred campaigners from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and a number of other countries have joined a blockade of every gate of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston, Berkshire, England. [1] The blockade started at 7am.

Individuals present at the blockade, which is aimed at halting construction of multi-billion pound facilities for research and development of a new generation of nuclear warheads, [2] include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jody Williams, from Vermont, USA and Máiread Corrigan-Maguire, from Belfast, Northern Ireland (both Jody and Máiread were locked on using tubes). [3] Also present are the Catholic bishop of Brentwood, Thomas McMahon; the Anglican bishops Stephen Cottrell (Reading), Mike Hill (Bristol) and Peter Price (Bath and Wells); Jill Evans MEP, Vice President of Plaid Cymru and chair of CND Cymru (Wales); and Kate Hudson, chair of CND.

All gates have been blockaded, with a large number of people locked-on using tubes. In particular, several women are locked-on at the main gate exit, one of whom is in a wheel chair. Police are currently cutting people out of their lock-ons. Five arrests have been made to this point, with more expected over the course of the day.

Brian Larkin, a Trident Ploughshares (TP) activist who travelled from Helensburgh, Scotland, said: “This is the biggest blockade of Aldermaston in years and comes at a time when even major political parties are questioning the logic of spending up to £97 billion [4] on useless weapons. It demonstrates the depth and breadth of determined civil society opposition to Trident and its planned replacement. [5] Although the government now seems to have delayed the next phase of Trident replacement until after the general election, the ongoing construction of facilities at the AWE for the design, development and manufacture of new nuclear warheads is illegal and immoral and will only lead to further proliferation of nuclear weapons.”

Angie Zelter, co-founder of TP, who travelled from Knighton, Wales, added: “In May, world governments will meet to review the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); [6] but this program of modernisation of UK nuclear weapons violates the treaty and could lead to a disastrous failure of the Review Conference. Over forty years ago, when it signed up to the treaty, the UK made a deal to negotiate multilateral nuclear disarmament in exchange for states without nuclear weapons agreeing not to obtain them.[7] Not only have we failed to keep that promise but now we are preparing to build a new generation of nuclear weapons. If the government wants to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons it should get rid of its own nuclear weapons first. We are calling on the UK to abide by its agreement to achieve nuclear disarmament – that means taking Trident off patrol, halting all work and preparations for any new generation of nuclear weapons and using the AWE only for disarmament and verification.”

Sarah Lasenby, a TP activist who travelled from Oxford, added: “The time has come for the UK to disarm its nuclear weapons. Instead of building a new generation, the government should go to the upcoming NPT Review Conference in New York and commit to negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention to abolish nuclear weapons worldwide.” [8]

Each of the gates to the nuclear weapons site is themed: Scotland, Wales, England, internationals [9], cyclists and environmentalists, faith groups, women and students. Choirs, medical professionals, academics and politicians are also present.

Media contacts: Daniel Viesnik 07506 234 091; Brian Larkin 07768 312 676; Angie Zelter 07835 354 652

Images from the blockade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cnduk

Updates:
http://twitter.com/TridentPlough
http://blockawe.blogspot.com

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The Aldermaston Big Blockade was initiated by Trident Ploughshares and supported by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign) (AWPC) and various other groups.

Trident Ploughshares is a campaign to disarm the UK Trident nuclear weapon system in a nonviolent, open, peaceful and fully accountable manner.
Website: http://www.tridentploughshares.org

CND website: http://www.cnduk.org
AWPC website: http://www.aldermaston.net

Blockades of AWE Aldermaston took place most recently in October 2008 and June 2009.

2. The Ministry of Defence’s planning application for a new enriched uranium handling and storage facility at AWE Aldermaston, Project Pegasus, was approved by West Berkshire council on Wednesday 10 February 2010, despite receiving over 1400 letters of objection. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8509000/8509099.stm

Campaigners say the new facility will be used to build a new generation of nuclear warheads, which they say breaches the UK’s legal obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [see note 7].

For information on all facilities under development or planned at the AWE, see: http://www.aldermaston.net/awe

3. Jody Williams won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 jointly with the campaign she worked for, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jody_Williams

Máiread Corrigan-Maguire was awarded the prize in 1976 jointly with Betty Williams for their work to end violence in Northern Ireland.
http://en.wikipedia..org/wiki/Mairead_Corrigan

4. See report from Greenpeace, In the Firing Line (September 2009): http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/reports/firing-line-hidden-costs-supercarrier-project-and-replacing-trident

5. In an ICM poll for the Guardian published on 13 July 2009, 54% of respondents indicated that they wanted to see Britain abandon its nuclear weapons and not replace its Trident system. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/13/icm-poll-nuclear-weapons

6. The next five-yearly Review Conference of the NPT is due to take place 3-28 May 2010 in New York. For background information on the NPT and the Review Conference, see: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org

7. Article VI of the NPT, ratified by both the UK and the US, stipulates: “Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.”
http://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2005/npttreaty.html

8. For further information on the international campaign for the NPT Review Conference to commit to negotiations toward a Nuclear Weapons Convention, see: http://www.icanw.org

9. In addition to the hundreds of UK people who have participated in the blockade, there are people from Belgium, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland in attendance at Aldermaston.

media@tridentploughshares.org
http://blockawe.blogspot.com/

Tar Sands protests (Brighton & London)

Climate Camp Invades BP Petrol Stations Over Tar Sands

Climate Camp Invades BP Petrol Stations Over Tar Sands
On Saturday 13th February activists from the South Coast neighbourhood of the Camp for Climate Action invaded the three BP petrol stations in Brighton, on the Lewes Rd, Ditchling Rd and London Rd, to protest at BP’s plans to invest in the Alberta Tar Sands in Canada. Moving by bicycle 8 activists carried a banner reading ‘Tar Sands Oil Is Blood Oil’. They handed out information on the Canadian tar sands and BP’s plans to invest in it to customers and urged them to boycott BP.

Many of BP’s customers where shocked to hear about BP’s proposed involvement in one of the dirtiest businesses on earth, especially in the light of its past attend to project a green image, and in some cases left immediately left to get their fuel somewhere else. This action is the start of a campaign, which is hoped will spread across the UK. A one of the Brighton activists said: “We hope that other concerned local people across the UK will follow our example and begin putting the pressure on BP in their areas. Tar sands are an appalling example of placing insane greed ahead of the whole planet and everyone on it.”

Tar sands are deposits of tar, sand and clay under the forests of Alberta in western Canada. Tar sands extraction is an ecological disaster, sometimes referred to as ‘The biggest environmental crime in history’. Oil produced from tar sands is the filthiest most carbon intensive oil (over 3 times as much CO2 to produce as conventional oil). The Athabasca tar sands operations are the largest single industrial emitter of CO2 on the planet. Enough natural gas is used every day extracting this oil to heat 3.2 million Canadian homes.

Tar sands extraction involves the wholesale destruction of vast tracts of ancient forest over an area the size of England and Wales and the use of huge amounts of water that is left so contaminated that it must be stored in giant ponds. The toxic tailings ponds are so vast they can be seen from space. Leaks for these ponds are poisoning local rivers and the indigenous peoples that live there. The rush to extract oil from tar sands is also trampling on the rights of the local indigenous peoples.

While the tar sands are in Canada, much of the financing is coming from UK companies. BP which once tried to rebrand itself as `Beyond Petroleum’ to give itself a green image is planning on investing $10billion in the Sunrise Project a tar sands extraction project in Alberta. This week a number BP’s shareholders have started a revolt and are pressuring BP to stop. Other UK companies that are involved in tar sands include Shell, RBS and Barcalys.

Photos:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4354992582_a300eeb4fb_b_d.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4354252823_1123bd6cd9_b_d.jpg

Tar sands info:
http://www.ienearth.org/tarsandsinfo.html

Press:
BP faces protest over oil sands development
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article7018483.ece
Shareholder group calls on BP to rethink oil sands project
http://business.scotsman.com/business/Shareholder-group-calls-on-BP.6050650.jp

Contact:
E-mail: southcoast@climatecamp.org.uk
Web: http://climatecamp.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/south-coast

—

Tar Sands banner London Oil-ympics Come To Trafalgar Square
On Saturday, 13 February at 12 noon, UK and Canadian environmental activists opened the ‘Oil-ympics’ at Canada House in Trafalgar Square. The event, timed to coincide with the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, highlighted the role of British companies in the single biggest industrial project on earth, the Canadian Tar Sands (1).

The Oil-ympics event saw activists divided into three teams: BP, Shell and RBS, all ready to ‘Race to the Tar Sands’. Traditional winter sports were subverted to illustrate the irony of Canada portraying the Vancouver Winter Olympics as an event which celebrates Canadian indigenous culture and environmental sustainability, while in the neighbouring province of Alberta, Canadian First Nations are finding that their lands, communities and health are being devastated by the Tar Sands (2).

BP received special attention after it recently unveiled plans to embark on its first Tar Sands extraction project. BP had previously sold its potential stake in Alberta in 1999, when BP’s chief executive at the time, Lord Browne, deemed Tar Sands extraction to be economically unviable and environmentally unpleasant. However, BP’s new chief executive, Tony Hayward, is now set to make BP a major player in the Tar Sands with a partnership with Canada’s Husky Energy – a venture that is facing sharp criticism from BP’s own shareholders (3, 4).

Alice Hargreaves, of the UK Tar Sands Network, said: “BP has been trying to prove that they are ‘Beyond Petroleum’ for years, but with their entry into the Tar Sands project, we can see the truth: Beyond Petroleum is nothing more than a Broken Promise.(5) BP shareholders are rebelling over this betrayal, and so are we. Over the next two months, we’ll be putting the pressure on to make sure BP get the message – stay out of the Tar Sands!”

Shell has been singled out as it is already a major operator in the Tar Sands, and RBS as it is the 7th biggest global investor in the Tar Sands. (6)

tarsandsinfocus@gmail.com

http://tarsandsinfocus.wordpress.com/

(1) Deposits of Tar Sands are spread out over 54,000 square miles of prime forest in northern Alberta, an area the size of England and Wales combined. Producing crude oil from the Tar Sands generates up to five times more carbon dioxide, the principal global warming gas, than conventional drilling: see

Environment Canada, 2007, National Inventory Report Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada 1990–2005, http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/inventory_report/2006_report/som-sum_eng.cfm

(2) This action is in solidarity with Canadian First Nations who have called for a moratorium on the Tar Sands. For more information see the Indigenous Environmental Network: http://www.ienearth.org/cits.html

(3) BP has entered a joint venture with Husky Energy to develop a Tar Sands facility which will be capable of producing 200,000 barrels of crude a day by 2020. In return for a half share of Husky’s Sunrise field in the Athabasca region of Alberta, the epicentre of the Tar Sands industry, BP has sold its partner a 50 per cent stake in its Toledo oil refinery in Ohio. The companies plan to invest $10 billion in the project, making BP a major player in Tar Sands extraction. The final investment decision will be made in the next few months.

http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7038865

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aGw2sL7JwHG8

(4) A coalition of shareholders has tabled a resolution for BP’s AGM on April 15 highlighting the environmental and social risks of Tar Sands extraction. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article7018483.ece

(5) http://tarsandsinfocus.wordpress.com/bpbrokenpromises/

(6) For Shell Investments see http://www.foei.org/en/resources/publications/pdfs-members/economic-justice/shells-big-dirty-secret/view?searchterm=shell%27s%20big%20dirty%20secret

For RBS investments see http://understory.ran.org/2010/01/31/banks-ranked-and-spanked-on-tar-sands/

UK Tar Sands Network
tarsandsinfocus@googlemail.com
http://www.tarsandsinfocus.wordpress.com

Riot police arrest 23 in night raid on peaceful protest against the destruction of Zagreb pedestrian zone

11.02.2010
At 03.30 this morning around 100 riot police arrested 23 activists from Green Action and the Right to the City initiative in Zagreb, Croatia. The raid took place just hours after 4000 people turned out in snowy conditions to protest against turning part of the pedestrian zone into a ramp for an underground garage planned as part of the Cvjetni shopping centre and luxury flats development in the old part of Zagreb.

The operation aimed to remove the accommodation container which the groups had put on Varsavska Street pedestrian zone as a 24-hour info-point in order to block the beginning of works on the ramp, which is still under legal dispute. Activists inside of the container and on the roof peacefully resisted removal by locking themselves together using arm tubes, and were arrested after the fire brigade cut the tubes. Around 50 more activists blocked the road exits of the lorry carrying the container but were also removed by the riot police.

The police also hacked to pieces a five-metre high wooden trojan horse which had been brought to the site for the previous evening’s protest as a symbol of private interests and corruption masquerading as urban redevelopment.

“Using riot police against a small group of peaceful protesters is a disturbing over-reaction to the civil offence of failing to obtain permission before temporarily placing the container in the pedestrian zone”, said Teo Celakoski from Right to the City. “Yet the whole Cvjetni project is based on dubious legal manoeuvres such as the city authorities’ decision to declare it a project of public interest when it is clearly nothing of the kind”.

“The Croatian authorities must concentrate on tackling the real problem of corruption instead of shooting the messengers, added Tomislav Tomasevic, from Green Action. “The European Commission has repeatedly identified corruption as a major remaining obstacle to Croatia’s EU Accession but if this project is anything to go by there is still a long way to go.”

Videos of removal of activists & removal of shipping container

Contact: Tomislav Tomasevic. +385 98 719 253
http://www.zelena-akcija.hr/

Chhattisgarh (India): 19 Mining Trucks Set Ablaze

From the Daily Mail

http://dailymailnews.com/0110/29/FrontPage/FrontPage8.php

Maoist separatists set ablaze 19 trucks of Indian Govt

From the Daily Mail

http://dailymailnews.com/0110/29/FrontPage/FrontPage8.php

Maoist separatists set ablaze 19 trucks of Indian Govt
NEW DELHI—Over 100 Maoist guerrillas stormed into a mining complex of the state-run NMDC Ltd in Chhattisgarh’s restive Dantewada district and set 19 trucks on fire in the early hours of Wednesday. The armed Maoist separatists raided the mining complex of India’s largest iron ore miner at Kirandul, about 400 km south of here, at around 2 am. “The rebels sneaked into Kirandul’s 11-B deposit of the NMDC and burnt 19 trucks hired by NMDC for iron ore transportation. This resulted in panic amongst the hundreds of NMDC staff engaged in mining in the hilly area,” Lakhan Thakur, in charge of the Kirandul police station, told media….

Bath Bomb #27 Out Now

THE BATH BOMB

@nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #27
free/donation
Feb 10

“I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better!”

B&NES Cuts It Fine

THE BATH BOMB

@nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #27
free/donation
Feb 10

“I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better!”

B&NES Cuts It Fine

In the ongoing saga of B&NES Council’s job-cutting bonanza, plans have been revealed to go on a massive redundancy spree, starting in April. Since the Bath Bomb got hold of confidential documents and blew B&NES’ axing plans out of the water back in November, they have been trying to gloss over and deny what will be a massive attack on public sector employees and service users alike. It now appears that the cuts will come in three stages: presumably a poor attempt at making the redundancies and service slashes seem less numerous, starting in earnest this spring. In the meantime, we have to satisfy ourselves with 70 immediate redundancies, affecting several key departments of the council. In April, the attacks will be switched up a gear, with 400 losses planned. To add insult to injury, those workers lucky enough to keep their jobs will suffer a proposed two-year pay freeze being discussed at Westminster (agreed on by all three mainstream parties) to recoup costs after their mates, the bankers, pissed the economy down the drain.

Unsurprisingly, redundancies so far won’t affect middle or high management, but are instead aimed at the ground-level workers who provide us with services and support. Workers that remain in their departments will also be expected to shoulder the workload of their former colleagues. Council workers have told the Bath Bomb that if the planned redundancies go ahead, it will be literally impossible to run their departments or provide any competent service to the public, as many of the job cuts affect workers with very specific skills and abilities, and departments would be left too understaffed to be fit for purpose. This latest round of attacks on council workers is coupled with mounting plans to privatize our public services and slash the effectiveness of what remains.

With this only being stage one of a three-pronged attack, we are left wondering what will be left of our public services by the time B&NES have finished mauling them. It’s not all doom and gloom though, with local activists, community groups and unions gearing up to fight back and defend our jobs, our services and our communities from the greed-driven onslaught being unleashed on us by these politicians – watch this space for news on the fightback!

Charlie Gets Fat While He Tightens Our Green Belt

Yes, this just in – famous environmentalist and everyone’s least favourite jug-eared parasitical tax drain Prince ‘Last Tango in Paris’ Charles has decided to sell off part of his vast green belt estate to be used for new housing. Around 2,000 new homes are planned for Bath, half of which are to be on Crown-owned lands around Newton St Loe. Conveniently forgetting his supposed ‘green credentials’ for a second, Charlie has shown his royal streak by being won over by massive amounts of a different type of green – cash.

Local opposition groups have already sprung up in protest at the plans, which will see yet more of our treasured green spaces disappear under concrete. We wouldn’t mind so much, were it not for the abundance of disused and dilapidated buildings in Bath that sorely need rennovation and could provide homes for thousands. But once again, we are seeing that the royal family, who only clawed their way to the top through bloodshed and greed, are no friends of ours. What really worries us here at Bath Bomb, however, is once all the green fields have been concreted over, where are we going to take our horses and hounds when the time comes to stick a tail on Charlie and his degenerate ilk and chase them down?

Keep your ear to the ground, as more news of plans to fight the development are popping up all the time, and with the impending concreting of Bathampton Meadows, we’ve got a proper fight to get stuck into to save the green spaces around Bath!

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Contact us by emailing bathbombpress[at]yahoo.co.uk. Large print e-versions available on request. And for more info on any of our stories, check out http://www.thebathbomb.blogspot.com

In By The Catflap

The Black Cat, Bath’s best autonomous social space, is now up and running again for the new year. The old Black Cat building, on the Upper Bristol Road, was evicted late last year – and then almost immediately reopened by a group of local residents. This new collective ran the centre until early January, when the ‘owners’ of the building used a back-door legal process to resurrect their previous eviction order – despite such an act being flagrantly unlawful.

The two Black Cat collectives have now joined forces directly to open a new centre in Oldfield Park. Situated at the junction of West Avenue and Cynthia Road, and mere minutes from Oldfield Park Station. Once again the centre will house the Bath FreeShop, an extensive infoshop (including copies of this fine publication), plus an intensive program of dance classes, exhibitions, dub nights, debate clubs, film nights, cafes, open mic nights, and more. A suitable venue is also being sought to hold a follow-up to the last centre’s hugely successful benefit gig.

The Black Cat is open right now, unless you’re reading this between the hours of about 7pm and 1pm, and would love for you to drop by. They can be contacted at bathsocialcentre[at]googlemail.com, or on 07946 777609. The centre is open most days from 1pm to 7pm, earlier on Sundays, and extra hours as needed for events.

http://bathsocialcentre.blogspot.com

Bath Activist Network are a local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development, environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights, workers’ rights and more. Helping to produce the Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to anarchists, liberals and greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better. For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, email bathactivistnet[at]yahoo.co.uk or see our website: http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

Green Guerillas Hit Bath

The last couple of months have seen a number of mysterious gardens springing up in the Bath area, the most noticeable of these being an ongoing project on Park St, behind St James’ Square. The garden has been created by guerrilla gardeners – people who, sick of seeing useable land left uncultivated, have taken it upon themselves to create more local food sources. They’ve cleared the overgrown area and planted fruit trees and bushes to feed the local populace for free.

Anyone can be a guerilla gardener; just find a few seeds, a disused area and some mates, then pop along in a clandestine fashion and plant your veggies. There are lots of different reasons for guerrilla gardening – some people want to feed themselves, some hope to provide their community with free and local veg, while others, such as the cheeky gardeners who planted ganja in the floral display at the police station a few years back, may have other motives!

You don’t need to be part of a group or have much gardening experience to be a guerrilla gardener, but if you want to hook up with a local group, check out the local Transition Towns group at transitionbath[at]googlemail.com. Alternately, there are other communal gardening schemes, such as the allotments in Vicky Park – with Bath people cultivating more and more of the city every day, there’s never been a better time to go green!

Wheely Good News

Cycling enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that Bath Cycling Campaign are relaunching that old favourite, the Critical Mass. A Critical Mass is a celebration of pedal power in which cyclists take to the streets en masse to highlight the fun and eco-friendliness of the bicycle. It is a carnivalesque parade, so feel free to dress-up, dress down, or just dress plain old weird (non-fancy dress/ serious ‘politico’ styles are are also welcome!).

The Critical Mass is a worldwide event that happens regularly in Barcelona, London and New York to name but a few, and is always great fun, so why not come and get involved? The last Bath Critical Mass drew over 50 people and was a great success. The Mass is meeting at 1pm at Kingsmead Square on Saturday the 27th of March.

http://www.bathcyclingcampaign.org.uk

Smile, You’re On Camera!

In a humorous turn of events, the obnoxious Bath police spy vehicle has gotten itself into a spot of bother recently after being photographed parked in a disabled-only space! While on her way out, a conscientious member of the public manged to beat the cops’ personal voyeur wagon at its own game, snapping a few choice shots of the van in the disabled space. Bath police have since apologised and claimed that they were on “very urgent business“, but won’t say what; in other words, they wanted a bite to eat and felt above the law enough to deprive a disabled person of their spot while they went to get it.

So hopefully the sight of a few red-faced spy-cops will bring a smile to the face of all of us who hate police surveillance and the CCTV society, or just find it plain old irritating that the cam-van’s threatening, sinister motto “smile, you’re on camera” is written in such a lovely, friendly font!

EVENTS

Bath Hunt Saboteurs meetings, 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, 8pm, The Bell, Walcot Street

Free samba dancing classes, Mondays, 7-8pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Debt advice drop-in, Tuesdays, 4-7pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

London Road Food Co-op, Wednesdays, 4-7pm, Riverside Community Centre, London Road

The Lost Plot workday, Thursdays, 10am-dusk, Bathampton

Bath Stop The War Coalition vigil, Saturdays, 11.30am-12.30, Bath Abbey Courtyard

Recycle Your Sundays, Sundays, 10.30am, starts Abbey Churchyard, the regular series of sociable, easy-paced cycle rides, http://www.bathrys.org.uk/ Hazel 01225 469199

Black Cat Centre general meeting, Sundays, 1-3pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Antifascist benefit punk/ska/hip-hop gig, Friday 12th February, doors open 6.30pm, £6 entry, the Croft, 117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol, featuring La Fraction, Left For Dead, Jakal and Rejected,
http://libcom.org/news/gentle-bonecrusher-life-death-ivan-khutorskoy-17112009

Orchard Management Workshop for all levels of experience, Saturday 13th February, 10-3.30pm, the Vine House, Bailbrook Lane, Solsbury Hill, Bath, £15 including light lunch, book with Jim Dowling/e-mail piltonman[at]googlemail.com/ tel 01225 481500

‘Incorporating Climate Change into your Community-Led Planning Process’, Saturday 13th February, 11-4pm, Brunswick Room, the Guildhall, Bath, re-mail sara_grimes[at]bathnes.gov.uk

Bath FreeShop, Saturday 13th February, 12-3pm, outside Pump Rooms, Stall Street

Broadlands Orchardshare Volunteering Day, Saturday 13th February, 12-4pm, Broadlands Orchard, Box Road, Bathford, http://www.bathford.net/broadlands.php

Allotment Fair, Saturday 13th February, 2-5pm, the Guildhall, Bath, e-mail alotta_thingsgoingon[at]yahoo.co.uk/ tel 01225 332246

EVICT THE BAILIFFS! Punk and folk benefit gig, Saturday 13th February, The Plough, Easton, Bristol, featuring KilnAboy, The Autonomads, Harijan and Hacksaw

AWE Aldermaston blockade, Monday 15th February, starting 7am, there is already a carload going from Bath (4 am start)

Bath Cycling Campaign meeting, Monday 15th February, 7.30pm, the Rising Sun, Grove Street, http://www.bathcyclingcampaign.org.uk

Talk by Alastair McIntosh: ‘Engaging the Powers’, Monday 15th February, 7.30pm, 3rd Floor, Bush House (above the Arnolfini) 72 Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QD, £3 entry, http://www.ecoshow.org.uk

Workshop: ‘Community Benefits of Renewable Energy’, Tuesday 16th February, 6-9pm, Council Chamber, The Hollies, Midsomer Norton, e-mail sara_grimes[at]bathnes.gov.uk/ tel 01225 477548

Tue 16 Feb – Transition Film: ‘Hawaii: Message in the Waves’, Tuesday 16th February, doors open 7.15pm, the Minerva Centre, 8 Combe Park, Lower Weston, Bath BA1 3NP, http://www.transitionbath.org

‘Junk Poetry’ open mic night, Thursday 18th February, 7.30pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Camp for Climate Action national gathering, Friday 19th-Sunday 21st February, Bridewell, Bristol

Transition Bath open review: ‘How are we doing?’, Monday 22nd February, 7.15pm, back room of the Bell, Walcot Street, Bath, bring food to share, http://www.transitionbath.org

Free yoga class, Wednesday 24th February, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Film: ‘Matwan’, Thursday 25th February, 7pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Free yoga class, Wednesday 3rd March, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

North Somerset Council Meeting on future of Bristol Airport expansion, Wednesday 3rd March, 6pm, Town Hall, Weston Super Mare, come along to the meeting and show councillors your concerns, http://www.stopbia.com

Bath Activist Network meeting, Thursday 4th March, 7.30-9pm, downstairs at The Hobgoblin, St James Parade, http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

Bath Animal Action meeting, Monday 8th March, 8-9pm, The Bell, Walcot Street

Exhibition: ‘Loss of Innocence: Gaza Children’s Artwork’, Monday 8th March-Wednesday 17th March (not Sundays), mostly 10-4pm, St John’ Church, Frome, ffi e-mail adam.stout[at]virgin.net

Free yoga class, Wednesday 10th March, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Bath Stop the War Coalition public meeting, Wednesday 10th March, 7.30pm, Friends Meeting House, York Street, Bath

Bath Green Drinks, Wednesday 10th March, 8pm, the Rising Sun, Grove Street

Radical debate club: ‘When environmentalism becomes fascism’, Thursday 11th March, 7-9pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Free yoga class, Wednesday 17th March, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Bath tree-planting project day, Saturday 20th March, more details tbc

Free yoga class, Wednesday 24th March, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Bath Critical Mass, Saturday 27th March, 1pm start, Kingsmead Square

Trapese Collective course: ‘Tools for Social Change’, training in grassroot organising for social change, Saturday 27th March-3rd April, Ragman’s Lane Farm, Forest of Dean, £175-£350, limited places available so book early! http://www.stuffit.org/trapese/ragm.pdf

Free yoga class, Wednesday 31st March, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Free yoga class, Wednesday 7th April, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Radical debate club: ‘Radicalism & religion’, Thursday 8th April, 7-9pm, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Free yoga class, Wednesday 14th April, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

Free yoga class, Wednesday 21st April, 10.30-11.30am, Black Cat Centre, http://www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com

World Day for Lab Animals march in London, Saturday 24th April, coach 8.30am, leaving Bristol Temple Meads, £10 ticket

And now, to the disclaimer: As anyone is free to contribute, the opinions expressed in each article are not necessarilly reflective of each contributor. Naturally, any right-wing or corporate bullshit will be binned and spat upon. Needless to say, the opinions of the author of this disclaimer do not necessarilly represent the views of any other contributor.

Insane In The B&NES

Meanwhile, back to other news. The Save Bathampton Meadows campaign to save, err, Bathampton Meadows, recently suffered a blow when B&NES Council gave themselves permission to proceed with their four-stage Bath Transport Plan – including the wildlife-devouring Bus Rapid Transit route, the expansion of two existing Park & Ride schemes, and the sacrifice of the Meadows to be gloriously reborn as a new flood-prone P&R. The much-hated A36/A46 link road plan still remains too, despite constant public denial. Though the Council’s complete lack of transparency and democratic representation (66% of Bathonians objected to the Bathampton scheme in Nov 08) defied all expectations, and the traffic congestion and air quality benefits (less than 1%, according to government studies) of the plan are implausible at best, B&NES’ true motive is clear as glass: money. Yep, the £5.75 million carrot of government grant has got them all wet, and residents or the environment can fuck off.

In response, the seven-year strong SBM lot hosted a packed-out community meeting in Batheaston on the 27th of last month. The campaign is now psyching themselves up for a pincer attack legal challenge, taking first the Secretary of State to court, and then B&NES… if they can afford it. To this end the ‘protest company’ VeraCity Ltd have been formed, and with court costs expected between £10,000 and £30,000 (with even the sending of a letter costing £500, those solicitors get pricey!) they are now eager for investors to share out the burden of a quid each. Paradoxically, most of these challenges take six years, but VeraCity are only being given three months.

B&NES have now started tending out for construction, spin and architects contracts with which to waste their money. With luck, any info about companies showing interest will come to light either on our own blogspot, or the SBM one.

Whilst we here in the office have some doubts on the efficiency of wading through all that red tape, this, various NIMBY legalese and Compulsory Purchase Order courtroom battles could very well be the key to save the ecologically-important meadows. And if not, here’s to hoping the VC doesn’t lead the campaign away from its direct action commitments.

http://www.vcbath.blogspot.com
http://www.newbridgematters.blogspot.com
http://www.response2route.co.uk/wordpress/?p=221
http://www.savebathamptonmeadows.org.uk

A Censorble Response To Islam4UK

A lot has been made lately of the antics of the pro-Sharia Muslim group ‘Islam4UK’ (a front group for Al-Muhajiroon led by Anjem Choudary), who advocate the turning of Britain into an oppressive Muslim state, complete with capital punishment and flogging for public drunkenness (amidst a host of other gems). They also recently received notoriety for the government’s banning of their proposed Wootton Bassett demo – the repatriation town for British war dead. White nationalists were quick to condemn the march, but you don’t have to be a flag-waving skinhead to oppose these nutcases.

Since the opening of hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, various groups have sunk to using the parading of war casualties in Wootton Bassett as a propaganda tool. While some revel in the body count to promote anti-western sentiment, others like the BNP use coffins and grieving families to fly nationalist flags. The truth, though, is that dead soldiers are neither heroes nor monsters – they’re simply men and women who have paid a harsh price for doing the dirty work of corrupt politicians.

Really, the BNP and Islam4UK are both a threat to the working class, and pander to a political elite who desire only to see us divided along their lines of race, religion, gender and sexuality, instead of class. Surely we want to build a society based on tolerance, respect and equality, and must resist the authoritarian regime envisioned by the far right? If so, then we need to wake up and treat these people – no matter the colour of skin or the faith – like the fascists they are. And whilst we can’t condone state control and bans, it’s the job of our communities to crush them.

To Vote Or Not To Vote?

On Thursday the 11th of February, the Black Cat Centre held a debate on the subject of voting. Should we vote? If so, for whom? If not, why not? I have been asking around to get a feel of what people passing through the centre think, and the results are far from unanimous. They range from not voting as a categorical imperative, to voting for the Tories so the revolution comes, with middle-ground positions as well, contrasting national election with local ones. The debate promised to be mighty interesting.

There is not enough space to explore this issue in depth, so I will use the little I have left to present the act of voting under different lights, which will hopefully allow us to have a constructive exchange. There can be two ends in voting; voting to rule the country, and voting to destroy the system. Those who propose to vote, at least the ones I’ve spoken to, are referring to the second one; and, you’ve probably guessed, those who propose that we don’t vote are referring to the first; that is, someone has yet to say that we should form a party and win the elections.

There is no disagreement, then, on the right to rule. It doesn’t exist. What the people I’ve spoken to disagree on is whether it does us any good, as an activist movement, that one party or another is behind the wheel. Can it help us build the resistance? Or does voting, as such, undercut it?

Here EDO Again

For the last five years, Brighton-based bastards EDO/ITT have been the subject of a concerted activist campaign initiated when locals learned that EDO supplies the Israeli and US military with bomb release mechanisms and other nasties that have been used in Gaza, Iraq and elsewhere. Since the beginning of the campaign, EDO has been subject to numerous protests, lock-ons, blockades, vandalism and other actions and has seen their share value plummet, and gone through four directors in as many years.

On January the 18th, over 300 people gathered in Brighton to mark the first anniversary of the bombardment of Gaza that EDO made possible. Throughout the day, activists, including Bathonians, dodged batons and police dogs to make their way to the EDO factory, which they eventually did via a little-used footpath. Upon the march reaching the factory, sections of the fencing disappeared, allowing protesters entry to the site, where a brief skirmish with the police ensued. From there, the demo, which by this point had been officially banned by the police, headed back into town to let Brightonians know what grotty death merchants peddle their trade on their doorsteps. It was later discovered that, in anticipation of the protests, the factory had been closed the entire day. To add to EDO’s financial misery, later that night the factory was visited and heavily paint-bombed and lock-glued in solidarity with the people of Gaza – not a bad day’s work! The campaign against EDO continues, and you can find out more at http://www.smashedo.org.uk

In support of the Brighton demo, BAN supporters and others picketed Barclay’s Bank in Bristol. Barclays was targeted because it is the main bank of arms companies. 20 people gave out leaflets and held a banner in support of Elijah Smith, a Bristol-based anti-militarist who has been remanded in custody without a trial for a year following an event last year where EDO was subjected to the single action that brought it closer to collapse. Seven ‘de-commissioners’ entered the factory and destroyed almost every piece of equipment they could find. There has been a campaign to keep his spirits up, including sending letters and gifts, and even loud gigs held outside the nick by supporters! To send Elijah your support, send him a letter at – Elijah Smith, VP 7551, Sheppey Cluster (Elmley), Church Rd, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Kent, ME 12 4DZ.

TESCO UPDATE: Former Jesters Squatted. Huge Turnout for Meeting on Monday. Stokes Croft Organises its own Consultation. Website

11 February 2010

11 February 2010
The former Jesters Comedy Club at 142 Cheltenham Road, Stokes Croft, whose lease has been taken over by Tesco, has been squatted. It is believed that the squatting action took place on Tuesday night. Astonished at the lack of proper consultation and Tesco’s underhand tactics, local residents moved into occupation of the premises determined not to allow the development to go ahead. This pre-empts work beginning on the 32nd Tesco store in Bristol alone.

There are 2306 Tesco related premises in the UK at present and with Tesco accounting for about £1 in every £8 spent in the UK retail sector we seriously believe they are breaking EU Monopoly Laws.

We have been informed that security personnel, presumably working on behalf of Tesco PLC, arrived sometime on Wednesday armed with sledgehammers, intent on regaining the property. The Police were called and they ordered the Security gang to desist from their intended action, thus heading off the possibility of needless violence. The squatters remain in situ.

Monday night’s meeting, hosted at Hamilton House, attracted over 200 local people. In view of the lack of Community Consultation, it was decided that the Community would organise their own.

In order to co-ordinate the Community’s response to Tesco’s proposed incursion into Stokes Croft, a dedicated website has been set up.
www.notescoinstokescroft.org.uk

A message from the occupiers:
“We will resist eviction, and are calling out for like minded people across bristol.
There is no need for another plastic store local shops are adequate enough. Let’s mobilise, even if we manage to win this one we know they’ll want more!”

Find out how you can join in. Posters for your window, or the window of your business,surveys and postcards to send to BCC can be obtained from PRSC HQ between 11 and 6pm.

http://www.tescopoly.org/

Sea Shepherd update – whaling shut-down, and skirmishes

February 8 2010
Sea Shepherd Has Shut Down Illegal Japanese Whaling

Steve Irwin Joins Pursuit of Nisshin Maru

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin joined the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker this morning at 0700 Hours (Sydney time). Both Sea Shepherd ships are now on the tail of the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru.

February 8 2010
Sea Shepherd Has Shut Down Illegal Japanese Whaling

Steve Irwin Joins Pursuit of Nisshin Maru

The Japanese fleet was running fast to the Northeast not knowing that the Steve Irwin was on a course of Southwest coming directly for them. With the fleet doing 15 knots, and the Steve Irwin doing 15 knots, the Steve Irwin and the whaling fleet closed the gap at 30 knots cutting the rendezvous time in half.

The Steve Irwin sat motionless by an iceberg for two hours at a distance of thirty miles to allow the Nisshin Maru to continue towards it. At a distance of only three miles, the Steve Irwin got underway and intercepted the Nisshin Maru.

As the Steve Irwin passed by the Nisshin Maru, the factory ship turned on their water cannons and were surprised when the Steve Irwin responded with a more powerful water cannon that had a couple of the whalers diving for the bridge doors as the frigid water struck their bridge wing deck.

The Steve Irwin is presently tailing the Nisshin Maru a few cable lengths and slightly to the port side of the factory ship. Across from the Steve Irwin, the Bob Barker is tailing the Nisshin Maru slightly to the starboard side.

Following in the wake of the Nisshin Maru are the Japanese vessels Shonan Maru 2, Yushin Maru 1 and Yushin Maru 2. There is no sign of the Yushin Maru 3.

Six ships, two from Sea Shepherd and four vessels from the Japanese fleet, are heading at full speed northeastwardly.

“Not a single whale has died since the Bob Barker intercepted the fleet at 0100 Hours on February 6th. It is now the third day that the whaling fleet has been unable to kill a whale. We intend to turn these three whaling free days into three whaling free weeks,” said Captain Paul Watson. “I am confident that once again we will severely cut their kill quotas and we will once again negate their profits.”

The Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker have enough fuel to pursue the whaling fleet for another month.

“It does not matter where they go, east or west along the Antarctic Coast,” said Steve Irwin 1st Officer Locky MacLean. “We intend to stick to their rear like glue and we will not allow a single whale to be loaded onto the decks of that foul floating abattoir.”

There are 41 crew (29 men and 12 women) on board the Steve Irwin from Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, France, Japan, Hungary, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States (15 nationalities).

There are 30 (6 women and 24 men) crew on board the Bob Barker from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Sweden, United Kingdom, and South Africa (6 nationalities).

—

February 09, 2010
Sea Shepherd Escorts Whaling Fleet Out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

The Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker have successfully escorted the Japanese whaling fleet out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

After repeated orders from Sea Shepherd to desist their illegal activities and remove themselves from the Southern Ocean, the Nisshin Maru, Yushin Maru, Yushin Maru #2 and Shonan Maru #2 have crossed north of sixty degrees and continue to head North by Northwest.

“We did not actually expect them to follow our orders to quit the Whale Sanctuary but they have indeed exited and are now running outside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary”, Said Captain Paul Watson, “They have not killed a single whale since February 5th. We intend to turn four whaling free days into weeks.”

At 0500 Hours on February 7th the Nisshin Maru was intercepted by the Steve Irwin at 64 Degrees 2 Minutes South and 80 Degrees 11 Minutes East. The whaling fleet then ran Northeast for 95 miles on a course of 060 Degrees and then changed course at 1600 Hours on February 7th to 260 Degrees began to run Northwest for 260 miles. The whaling fleet left the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary at 1830 Hours (Sydney Time) at 60 Degrees South and 77 Degrees East. (February 9th, 2010)

The Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin and Bob Barker continue to chase the Japanese whaling fleet.

“We intend to keep on their tail and to prevent any whaling operations for as long as our fuel reserves last and that should be for another few weeks at least,” Said Bob Barker captain Chuck Swift.

The Sea Shepherd ships are with the entire whaling fleet except the Yushin Maru #3. That ship has not been seen since the collision with the Bob Barker on February 6th.

—

February 11 2010
Five-Hour Battle At the Gateway of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

A battle erupted between the Sea Shepherd ships Bob Barker and Steve Irwin and the Japanese whaling fleet when the whalers ignored a warning from Sea Shepherd to not reenter the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

The Japanese fleet was escorted out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary at 1530 Hours on Tuesday, February 9th. They left the Sanctuary at 60 Degrees South and 76 Degrees and 36 Minutes East.

The fleet fled north on a course of 310 Degrees to the position of 57 Degrees 14 Minutes South and 69 Degrees 6 minutes East and then turned back one hundred and eighty degrees and headed back towards the Sanctuary on a course of 230 at 1700 Hours on February 10th.

At 1650 on Thursday, February 11th the Japanese fleet reentered the Whale Sanctuary at 60 Degrees South and 62 Degrees East.

As the Japanese fleet reentered the Whale Sanctuary, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin pulled up alongside the Nisshin Maru to deliver a message by loudspeaker in Japanese warning them not to enter the Whale Sanctuary. The Nisshin Maru responded with water cannon and LRAD fire. The Steve Irwin returned water cannon fire.

The Steve Irwin then attempted to launch a helicopter when the three harpoon vessels moved in with water cannons and LRADs blazing in an attempt to destroy the helicopter on the deck. The Bob Barker moved into position to block the harpoon vessels and the Steve Irwin was forced to fire warning flares in front of the harpoon vessels to force them to back off.

The six ships, four whaler and two conservation vessels, engaged for over five hours. There were many near misses but no collisions. There were no injuries.

A Sea Shepherd Delta launched from the Steve Irwin annoyed the harpoon vessels with rotten butter bomb attacks.

All ships have backed off and the convoy of whalers and anti-whalers continues in a Southwestern direction into the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

“Tomorrow marks a full week that not a whale has been killed,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Our goal now is to make it two weeks and then three weeks. We will not tolerate the death of a single whale. If they attempt to kill and transfer a whale to the Nisshin Maru there will be inevitable collisions, because we will neither move out of harms way nor cease blocking the slipway. That I can promise.”