Action Reports – Page 169

Climate protesters scale Carbon Exchange

27th August 2009
Climate change protesters have scaled a building in the City to highlight their opposition to carbon trading.

Activists targeted the Carbon Exchange in Bishopsgate at about 0900 BST and unfurled a banner claiming carbon trading to be a “false solution”.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said about 20 activists were at the site and that officers were “in attendance”.

Hundreds of protesters have gathered in London as part of Climate Camp – a week of “education on green issues”.

The site for the camp – Dartmouth Field in Blackheath, south-east London – was kept secret until the last moment and details were sent to activists by text.

Activists had repeatedly refused to reveal the final location, saying they did not trust the police.

It followed accusations that the Metropolitan Police were heavy-handed in policing the G20 protests.

The site was chosen because it is within view of the City and near the River Thames, organisers said.

A Climate Change spokeswoman said: “Some people are making huge profits from carbon trading, and politicians are telling us it’s cutting carbon emissions but it’s not.

“Carbon trading is a false solution that is doing nothing to tackle climate change. So businesses, bankers and governments are just gambling with our planet.”

The four key themes of the annual camp are education, direct action, sustainable living, and building a movement to tackle climate change.

Ch Supt Helen Ball, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “As yet we don’t know what camp participants intend to do in the days ahead.

“I’d like to repeat our request that they talk to us about any protests they are planning so we can ensure a proportionate policing response and minimise any further impact on Londoners.”

The campers have wind turbines on site and say they are composting their food and toilet waste.

Flood plains

Campaigners say that about 3,000 activists are expected to visit the camp over the coming week.

They will be invited to workshops on a range of subjects, from climate change, biofuels and the fight against Heathrow airport, to yoga, wooden pencil-making and pedal-powered sound systems.

Organisers said this year’s venue symbolised the financial and corporate centres of power, and was within the flood plains of the River Thames, which they warned was at risk of bursting its banks as climate change escalated.

The heath was the setting for the Peasant’s Revoltuion, which saw thousands of protesters demonstrate against taxes more than 700 years ago.

The site hosted Jack Cade’s Kentish rebellion against King Henry VI in 1450, which was followed by the Battle of Deptford Bridge in 1497 during which Cornish rebels camped at the site.

Irish climate camp & actions round-up

Peat power worse than coal for CO2 emissions

Climate Camp is up and running at Shannonbridge, Co.Offaly – started Saturday 15th August and goes on till Sunday 23rd August.

Peat power worse than coal for CO2 emissions

Climate Camp is up and running at Shannonbridge, Co.Offaly – started Saturday 15th August and goes on till Sunday 23rd August.

It’s about what we can do in the face of changing climate that will affect us all. Peat bogs are a living carbon sink – greater even than forestry. Burning peat releases more CO2 into the atmosphere than burning coal. The peat-fired powerstation beside the camp should have been shut down long ago – since our government and Bord na Mona still fail to see the urgency of reducing emissions, climate camp will be staging a major protest on Saturday 22nd August – this will be a day of action and fun, including street theatre, art, etc, which will hopefully bring media attention to this important issue.

Meanwhile, the camp has lots of great workshops every day this week about sustainable living, peat bogs, forestry, cycling, renewable energy, etc, etc. Come along to my Trees and You workshop on Wednesday ! I will be talking about trees as carbon sinks, as vital elements of biodiversity, as added value to farms and gardens, woodland gardens, agroforestry, CELT native tree nursery, CELT Weekend in the Woods (19 / 20 September) (another event not to be missed !) ………………………

So get yourself along to CLIMATE CAMP and be a part of it !

http://www.climatecamp.ie

Camp trailer

Newsletter, including next organising gathering
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Climate Campers take Direct Action on Bog Restoration
August 23, 2009

Hundreds participated in Climate Camp at Shannonbridge, which was held under the shadow of the peat burning powerstation.
The Climate Camp organised three events to create better awareness around the industrial use of peat in powerstations.

Fianna Fáil’s Garret Tubridy unknowingly contributed to the eco-conscious Climate Camp at Shannonbridge. Recent local election posters were reused as part of the men’s toilet facilities. Users did not have to look at his face. Gavin Harte gave a talk on communicating the media message with plenty of workshops on drumming, Rossport, permaculture, the endless dreamcatchers and there were more banners being made than you could shake a stick at. It was great for kids and parents alike.

Lentil Disorder provided the veggie food for the hungry masses with an oats crisis on the Saturday morning. Chocolate flapjacks sated the appetites of early risers.

Locals were bemused watching the parade which left the camp shortly after midday. The barmen from both locals – Killeen’s and Luker’s pubs – waved at some of their new customers. Another local said nothing like this had ever happened in Shannonbridge before. Paraders from the camp had dressed up as zombies and the dark forces of dangerous carbon emissions with a symbolic chimney stack. Biffo of course led the zombies through the village! Campers had made banners, placards, dream catchers and an eclectic sound system boomed, ‘Black Betty, Bam Alam’ and Marley.

Kayakers got onto the little island in the middle of the Shannon holding aloft a banner ‘Sponge Bog Stops Floods’, as the parade reached the bridge timed nicely with cyclists returning from another direct action from the bog.

A few different direct actions were planned and no one told me nuthin’.

There are three peat powerstations in Ireland, Lanesboro and Edenderry, where agile activists dropped banners from, and Shannonbridge where there was a parade and some scuffles broke out when the parade couldn’t go up to the powerstation.

Look at ClimateCamp.ie for more information about the issues.

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Climate Campers take Direct Action on Bog Restoration

No time to waste – preserving Irish peatlands is essential

Climate campers of all ages at Shannonbridge took a direct action this morning August 18th, on a nearby bog by filling in trenches that are used to drain the bog for cutting. The peaceful demonstrations lasted 2 hours with police curiously onlooking at the hard working activists.

This morning at 11.30am sixty odd Climate Campers of all ages strolled 2km from the camp beside the Shannonbridge Peat Burning Power Plant towards one of the Bord na Móna man-made brown deserts outside of the town. Equipped with some sacks, shovels, pillow cases, wheelbarrows, banners and good cheer, they started filling in the trenches made to drain the bogs with milled peat which was destined for burning at the power plant. The direct action continued for about 2 hours filling in a significant part of the trench. Local police watched as the climate campers, including many children, diligently set about their task and some engaged the police in conversation explaining to them the reasons for their actions.

This is the first step that’s needed to restore our bogs” said Molly Walsh, spokesperson for Climate Camp Ireland. “People don’t realise that when bogs are drained and dried, they release ample amounts of carbon dioxide, even before the peat is burnt. Degraded peatlands release 0.97 million tonnes of C02 annually in Ireland.” she added.

Colourful banners and placards were unveiled on the bog saying “Climate Change Costs Lives” and “The bog is our rainforest”. One banner was mounted on a piece of peat-cutting machinery which said “Don’t Burn our Bogs”. Some of the activists boarded a bog train, while others pushed them along, symbolising that humanity is on the wagon towards climate chaos unless we halt these climate chaos causing activities immediately.

Come join us at the camp for more actions and workshops! Climate Camp Ireland continues at Shannonbridge until August 22nd with the main day of action. We call on everyone to come join us on a day of peaceful civil disobedience to stop peat burning at the Shannonbridge Power Station.

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Climate Camp shuts down two peat burning power stations
22nd August 2009

The Climate Camp culminated in Shannonbridge with a day of action. The unsustainability of the peat burning was successfully highlighted with actions at all three peat burning power plants. Activists suceeded in shutting down the two plants at Shannonbridge and Lanesborough. The Shannonbridge plant has been shut all week since the camp started, and the Lanesborough plant was shut down by activists today.

This morning a group of Climate Camp activists carried out a peaceful direct action at Lanesborough peat burning power plant. Some activists locked themselves to the gates while another group entered the plant and carried out a banner drop on one of the buildings which read “Give Peat a Chance.” The power plant’s chimney stack stopped bellowing its carbon emissions for most of the working day. Two activists were arrested.

Gerald Glynn, a spokesperson for Climate Camp said, “We took this peaceful direct action to highlight the urgency of climate justice issues. Our bogs are our rainforests and we need to protect them. We can’t wait for our governments to act. Let’s give peat a chance now.”

At midday another group of Climate Campers targetted a third power plant in Edenderry, owned by Bord na Mona. Five women dropped a banner from the power station’s conveyor belt which read “Climate Justice Now”. The workers at the plant came out and took an interest in the action. “Bord na Mona’s sustainability talk is nothing but that, talk, they are still extracting and burning the dirtiest fossil fuel. We are sending out a strong message of solidarity with communities in the Global South suffering from the impacts of climate change.” said Jerrieann Sullivan, a spokesperson for the group.

A lively colourful parade began at 12pm in Shannonbridge and made its way through the town, across the river and back towards the power plant. Many creative banners were carried by Climate Campers of all ages with slogans such as “Climate Change Costs Lives” and “Bogs are our rainforests”. People were dressed up as zombies and bog monsters as they paraded, chanted, danced and sang through the town while locals looked on with amused interest. Another group merged with the parade after taking more direct action filling in trenches which drain the bogs to start restoring our peatlands. A Climate Camp river crew also unveiled a banner saying “Sponge bog stops floods” to many cheers from the main parade.

“300,000 people are dying annually worldwide as a result of climate change, not to mention losses in wildlife and biodiversity.” said Nancy Serrano, spokesperson for Climate Camp. “People in the midlands deserve better community-oriented sustainable jobs. We need to think long-term and we need to start now.” she added.

ENDS

www.climatecamp.ieFor interview or further information contact the climate camp media phone 085 7851241
or for specific information on the action in Lanesborough – 085 1386675

http://www.flickr.com/photos/climatecampireland

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Daily peaceful blockade of Shannonbridge power station

site taken for Camp for Climate Action 2009, at Blackheath

After a relaxed start to things, getting to the campsite seemed almost too easy. Only one videographer was hassled when an officer tried to grab his camera early on. After a first meeting, tents and marquees are going up all over the place.

The weather is nice, albeit somewhat windy and the view over London is amazing. It’s almost hard to believe that we’re still in the city.

Swoop action timeline

Location, more photos and more at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/

Come to a Picnic

A Family Picnic Day to Stop Tesco Building at Titnore Woods, in West Sussex.

On Tuesday 22nd September, we will meet at 12 noon at the roundabout in front of the existing West Durrington Tesco Extra. It’s the where Romany Road joins New Road. At about 1230 we’ll move to a better picnic site in the fields behind the Tesco car park, where building work for the new Tesco has begun. Bring food to share and anything else that you think will help make the point that we don’t want Tesco destroying our landscape and our communities! Please tell your friends and bring them along.
The protest camp is nearby and they welcome visitors and donations.

http://www.titnore.wordpress.com

Eco-Anarchists Attack Luxury Car in Guadalajara, Mexico

Communique:

“Arson attack on a luxury car by eco-anarchists in Guadalajara, Mexico

In the early morning hours of August 18 our cell once again decided to attack the machines which destroy the planet and its inhabitants; this time our protest was against the automobile, and why do it if not to luxury cars. We entered a bourgeois area of our city and we set fire to the front tires of a luxury car; unfortunately the fire did not spread because of the rain; it only melted the tires, but it created a psychological fear in all those who choose to invest their money and spend it in the destruction of our planet.We will return to destroy their machines!

ECO ANARCHISTS GUADALAJARA MEXICO”

Source: ELF Press Office

Ride Planet Earth

Dear all,

I hope you are well.

My name is Richard i am the British coordinator of the Ride Planet Earth project.

I hope you can take a moment to read this message.

Dear all,

I hope you are well.

My name is Richard i am the British coordinator of the Ride Planet Earth project.

I hope you can take a moment to read this message.

Ride Planet Earth is encouraging action to prevent dangerous climate change. The project culminates on 6th Dec 09, the day before the Climate Change negotiations begin in Copenhagen, with a series of simultaneous cycling events in cities, towns, and dirt tracks around the globe. The message we are sending is that ordinary people can and will take action to stop climate change so our governments must do the same. Start Cycle Change: Stop Climate Change.

Ride Planet Earth began as a journey from Brisbane to Copenhagen by bicycle, to highlight the current impacts of climate change on the planet’s most vulnerable communities. The Cycle Change Convoy has now reached Georgia and over the next 4 months will cross europe to Denmark.

To find out more visit

www.rideplanetearth.org

At present the 6th Dec will see events occurring in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. But to make a stronger statement we need more. The UK has a huge potential to help.
That is why I am writing to you.

Please contact me at richardkimberley8@hotmai.com, if you, your organisation can or know of any individuals or organisations who have the capacity to put on a ride, large or small. Your help will be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Lets spread the word

Yours sincerely,

Richard Kimberley

British Coordinator
www.rideplanetearth.org
richardkimberley8@hotmail.com

Start Cycle Change Stop Climate Change

RBS glued shut by the ELF

The Royal Bank of Scotland is one of the largest investors and profiteers of environmental destruction and the international arms trade. They destroy natural habitats, therefore unbalancing the ecosphere, by using genocidal methods against the species populating the Earth.

Whilst holding shares in arms dealer ITT, who supported the Nazis and now make wars possible in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine, RBS are also the largest financier of the arms industry, having loaned £44.6 billion in the last ten years and holding £36.4 million shares.

In response to the call for action against the arms trade, in the run up to the DESi arms fair, their locks were glued shut in Somerset.

ELF

Five activists walk straight into Faslane nuclear weapons base – breaking news

Trident Ploughshares, Monday August 17, 2009 – 16:40pm – for immediate release

This afternoon five peace activists from nonviolent direct action group Trident Ploughshares walked unchallenged straight into Faslane naval base in Scotland, the home of Britain ’s nuclear-armed Trident submarines, making a mockery of security for Britain’s “strategic nuclear deterrent.” The five are currently still inside the base.

The activists, one man and four women, released the following statement:

“We invite others to follow us through this gate to restore humanitarian law.”

Further information to follow.

Notes to editor:

Trident Ploughshares is a campaign initiated in 1998 to disarm Britain ’s Trident nuclear weapons system in a non-violent, peaceful, safe, open and accountable manner

Website: http://www.tridentploughshares.org

Trident Ploughshares Media
tridentp.media [at] yahoo.co.uk

—–

Statements from the citizen inspectors; arrestee details

17.08.2009 17:25
The five Trident Ploughshares citizen inspectors, who are now in custody after the “bandit alarm” went off at Faslane for around half an hour, are as follows:

Brian Larkin 49 American , unemployed teacher living in Scotland

Sylvia Boyes 65 Peace Campaigner from Keighley

Mary Millington 61 Retired welsh language tutor – lived at Greenhan for 5 years

Angie Zelter 58 Human Being!

Penny Stone 25 Musician

They issued the following statement:

Dear Friends at Faslane,

A group of us from Trident Ploughshares have entered the base today to call for the process of disarmament of Trident nuclear weapons to begin. We are here to remind all concerned that the UK government, as signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty undertook more than 40 years ago to complete the disarmament of its nuclear weapons. The continuing deployment of Trident seriously threatens global security and peace, encouraging further proliferation. In 2009 Judge Bedjaoui, President of the International Court of Justice, gave an opinion on “the legality of a nuclear weapons system that deploys over 100 nuclear warheads with an approximate yield of 100 kilotons per warhead.” He stated: “Bearing in mind that warheads of this size constitute around eight times the explosive power of the bomb that flattened Hiroshima … and killed over 100,000 civilians, it follows that the use of even a single such warhead in any circumstance, whether a first or second use and whether intended to be targeted against civilian populations or military objectives, would inevitably violate the prohibitions on the infliction of unnecessary suffering and indiscriminate harm as well as the rule of proportionality…. In my opinion, such a system deployed and ready for action would be unlawful.”

The Scottish government formed a working group for a future of a Scotland without nuclear weapons nearly two years ago but has failed to release a report let alone take any relevant action while the people of Scotland overwhelmingly oppose the presence of nuclear weapons in these waters. As long as the governments fail to begin a process of disarmament members of Trident Ploughshares are committed to whatever nonviolent action possible to begin that process. We invite others to join us or contact us to discuss your concerns.

The process of disarmament would not have to mean the loss of jobs in the area. We urge the government to redirect the resources currently allocated to Trident to meet real human needs. The skills of people working at this base could well be employed in the area building the infrastructure for renewable energy, alleviating the threat of climate change, among other possibilities. We invite you to contact us so that we can enter into planning for the future of a Scotland and world without nuclear weapons.

Rather than continue to threaten other nations and millions of innocent civilians with nuclear weapons Scotland and the UK could lead the world by scrapping Trident.
We entered the gate fully aware that we might be charged with violation of SOCPA. That laws was established ostensibly to deter “serious organized crime.” But it is the presence of Trident submarines each carrying 48 warheads ten times more destructive than the Hiroshima bomb which constitutes a serious organized crime. We invite others to follow us through this gate and restore humanitarian law.

In peace and hope,

Sylvia Boyes Contact:
Mary Millington 07768 312675
Penny Stone
Brian Larkin
Angie Zelter

Members of Trident Ploughshares 17 August 2009

Mary Millington additionally issued the following statement:

“Having recently moved to Glasgow, I am so proud that Scotland has decided we do not want Trident or any other nuclear weapon.

“I have entered Faslane Naval Base today to express my sense of urgency for this weapon of mass destruction to be gone, for just the very possession of it, let alone its potential use, is immoral, illegal and causing proliferation and danger across the planet.”

Trident Ploughshares Media
tridentp.media [at] yahoo.co.uk
http://www.tridentploughshares.org

——-

All five arrestees were released at around 9pm on Monday evening (17 August) and charged with criminal trespass under the Serious Organised Crime and Police (SOCraP) Act 2005 (also known as SOCPA) s.128 and under the Ministry of Defence byelaws (entry to the base without authority). A report is being sent to the Procurator Fiscal who will decide whether or not to prosecute.

The five were in Scotland to take part in the Trident Ploughshares disarmament camp at Coulport, near Faslane. The camp is a week long gathering during which peace activists share ideas, plan actions and enjoy themselves. The camp will run until the 23rd of August and everyone is invited to come and participate. Details can be found here: http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article983

Whats going on in Mayo? Rossport Update

Overview of the Rossport Solidarity campaign in the last few months: the Solitaire, actions, on-land section, arrests, assaults, strategy, planning appeal, mobilising and more!

What’s going on in mayo?!

Overview of the Rossport Solidarity campaign in the last few months: the Solitaire, actions, on-land section, arrests, assaults, strategy, planning appeal, mobilising and more!

What’s going on in mayo?!

The last few months have been difficult times for the Rossport campaign but have also seen some great collaborations with activists from across Ireland, internationals and the local community.

This summer the Solitaire laid the first section of pipe in Broadhaven Bay. Dredgers are in the process of back filling the first section of the pipeline, coming and going from the bay depending on weather conditions…. IRMS, the private security firm employed by Shell, continue to target and assault protestors. Earlier this year they sunk the boat of local fisherman Pat O’Donnell, one of the ‘Rossport 5’ and attacked Willie Corduff, another campaigner, during a non-violent protest. Both were hospitalised.

Several international anti-Shell campaigners were recently remanded for a blockade and bailed away from Mayo. This is a worrying development enforced by corrupt judges colluding with Shell. Maura Harrington, and Niall Harnett, both well known Shell to Sea campaigners were both given 4 and 8 months respectively, after refusing to comply with a good behaviour bond which stated that they would keep the peace, and stay away from any Shell related infrastructure.

Maura appealed her conviction, and was released from prison on bail pending appeal. Niall served 15 days in Castlerea prison for refusing his extremely restrictive bail conditions, which effectively stopped him from being in his home. He is now out on bail.

In the last two weeks alone there have been 2 accidents involving Shells boats, one causing an oil spill, another damaging a supply ship to the pipeline. According to Shell neither had any environmental impact, despite substances leaking into the sea. This further proves the mockery that is the risk assessments on the environmental impacts that they are conducting.

Despite the success of the Solitaire and pressure from the gardai and IRMS the fight is by no means over!! In August the oral hearing was held where Shell sought to obtain a compulsory purchase order for land needed across the bay to lay the on-shore pipe section…and the decision has been put back till the end of October.

Resistance in Glengad is still strong, with plans for the next phase in the battle against Shell….with the on-shore section comes a new wave of challenges (and opportunities) for campaigners fighting to stop the pipeline… We will be continuing to challenge Shell’s intimidation tactics in order to stop this illegal, unsafe, and environmentally catastrophic project. The situation in Rossport is a line in the sand for new methods of intimidation, human rights abuses, and environmentally disastrous gas extraction and must be stopped. International links in the campaign have been developing over years, especially with the Ogoni tribe in Nigeria where Shell’s tactics have caused many humanitarian crises, and famously led to a trial against Shell for the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Most recently the Shell guilty campaign will see a collaboration between activists from across the globe fighting to stop Shell.

On camp and up at the house we are doing maintenance work on the boats, garden and equipment, and people are always very welcome! The Irish Shell to Sea network is mobilising people ahead of the next section of the campaign, organising actions and demos, and developing strategies for action… in the UK there’s loads that can be done: organising film nights, benefit gigs, taking action in your local area against Shell and the other companies profiting from the pipeline, and mobilising ahead of the next phase. With people being bailed away from Mayo, it’s more important than ever to have people coming to take action against Shell!

To find out more keep an eye out for workshops at the EF gathering, Climate Camp’s and festivals across the UK..

The struggle continues!

For more information see
www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com

www.corribsos.com

www.shellguilty.com

or email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com

China villagers storm lead plant

17 August 2009
At least 600 children have excessive amounts of lead in their blood

Hundreds of Chinese villagers have broken into a factory that poisoned more than 600 children, reports say.

Villagers tore down fencing and smashed coal trucks at the lead smelting factory in Shaanxi Province.

17 August 2009
At least 600 children have excessive amounts of lead in their blood

Hundreds of Chinese villagers have broken into a factory that poisoned more than 600 children, reports say.

Villagers tore down fencing and smashed coal trucks at the lead smelting factory in Shaanxi Province.

Local authorities have admitted that the plant is responsible for poisoning the children. More than 150 were in hospital.

Air, soil and water pollution is common in China, which has seen rapid economic growth over the past few decades.

Toxic metal

The villagers broke into the Dongling Lead and Zinc Smelting Company, near the city of Baoji in western Shaanxi on Monday, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

About 100 police officers were sent to the plant to restore order.

The villagers are angry because medical tests revealed that at least 600 children under 14 from two villages near the plant have excessive amounts of lead in their blood.

About a quarter of them were taken to hospital for treatment.

Environmental officials from Baoji city government admitted on Sunday that the plant was “mainly to blame” for the children’s lead poisoning, according to Xinhua.

Checks found that water, soil and waste from the factory – a major local employer – all met national environmental standards.

But the lead content in the air around the factory was more than six times the level found a few hundred metres away.

The smelting plant has now been closed down.

Local officials had promised to relocate all residents living within a 500m ( 550 yard ) radius of the factory within three years of its opening, but that plan stalled.

Xinhua said only 156 families had been moved; three times that number are still waiting.

Villages are also worried that the new homes are still not far enough away from the plant to prevent their children from getting sick.

Lead is a toxic metal that can get into the air and water supplies.

It can cause a range of health problems, from learning disabilities to seizures. Children under six are most at risk.