Action Reports – Page 173

Daring Action Gets Supplies To Vestas Workers Occupation

30.7.2009
A group of twenty people successfully brought vital supplies into the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight this afternoon, to the whoops and cheers of the occupying workers.

The group including workers, local supporters, and campaigners from the Climate Camp, Workers Climate Action, the Anarchist Federation and Workers Liberty split into two teams. At around 2pm, one team approached the main entrance of the factory, carrying decoy bags of food, to draw off police and security guards. While this first team was being escorted and carried bodily from the site, a second team ran through a hedge and were able to pass a large sack of supplies up to the occupying Vestas workers. The supplies were based on a wishlist provided by the occupiers, and included food, drink, and crucially a kettle with tea and coffee.

Jim Spencer, a member of the Climate Camp who took part in the action, said the Vestas management have been attempting to starve the occupiers out. After much protest, they are currently providing them with one insubstantial meal per day such as a single slice of pizza or a lone sandwich per worker. This is an utter disgrace, and so many of us camped outside have been thinking about how to get supplies in to them. It turned out that some of the factory workers and their local supporters were thinking the same way, so we all decided to work together.

Mr Spencer went on: The fact that workers, locals, environmentalists and labour campaigners are all working together reflects how important this occupation is. It’s vital to the factory workers and their families, it’s vital to the local economy, and it’s vital in the fight to avert climate disaster. The Vestas wind turbine factory must be saved.

ENDS

For interviews with someone onsite, call 07932 096677
To contact the Climate Camp media team:
phone: 07040 900 905 (or 07772 861 099 or 07932 096 677)
email: press@climatecamp.org.uk

A Number of Small Actions in Reykjavík

During the last days, a number of small actions have taken place in Reykavík; banner drop in the center of Reykjavík, graffiti and stinky liquid at Jarðboranir and a nighttime shut-down of Útlendingastofnun.

This morning, July 30th, a huge banner was dropped in the center of Reykjavík, bringing attention to the connection and co-operation between the aluminium industry and the weapon industry. The banner said: “30% of all aluminium goes to the weapon industry – Stop the aluminium industry!” From the beginning of our campaign we have not only focused on the destructive environmental impact of aluminium production and big dams, but also the social and humane impacts. Alcoa in Iceland has steadily refused the connection, but with only a little look at the website of n.b. Alcoa Defense, one sees with own eyes that Alcoa does not only produce aluminium for weapon manufacturing, but proudly takes a huge part in the design of military equipment of all types.

Several articles have been written about the issue as well as many press releases following Saving Iceland’s actions:
Lygar og Útúrsnúningar (in Icelandic only)
Agya, What Do You Mean With Development?
Saving Iceland Blockades Rio Tinto-Alcan’s Smelter in Hafnarfjörður
Saving Iceland Disrupts International Aluminium Conference in Germany

Drill your own heads!
Yesterday night Saving Iceland received an anonymous letter titled Solidarity Action, which though did not include any photos:

“The workers of Jarðboranir received a disgusting surprise this afternoon. The company’s fancy entrance was covered in rotten and smelly liquid. Rotten like their hearts, smelly like the money they earn by drilling the Earth. The message we wrote to the workers was: DRILL YOUR OWN HEADS – BASTARDS!”

Jarðboranir (Earth Drilling ) owns the drills that are used to search for geothermal energy. Jarðboranir have recently signed contracts with several energy companies; Landsvirkjun, Reykjavík Energy and Þeistareykir ehf. about drilling for energy, which is meant to run already constructing and upcoming aluminium smelters.

The lack of public knowledge about test drilling is one of the main reasons for the myth about geothermal energy being ‘green’ and sustainable. For each test drill, a piece of land in the size of a football field has to evened out, e.g. for road construction. The test drilling’s efficiency is very limited; only very few of the holes end up providing energy. By then the area is already destroyed and the destruction won’t be taken back.

Companies like Jarðboranir have not been very visible in the critique and resistance against the destruction of Iceland’s wilderness, but is as important as the aluminium and energy companies. Without every single part of the chain, the chain does not work.

Útlendingastofnun

Poke in a belly!
And a little off-topic but still concerning the Icelandic government…

On Wednesday morning, Útlendingastofnun (The Directorate of Immigration) was targeted by no-border activists. The anarchist website Aftaka published this press release:

“This morning, when the workers of The Directorate of Immigration showed up to work, they faced closed and locked doors. Therefore they could not start their everyday job: To look for ways how to deport refugees to deportation camps in Greece or to the open death in their own home countries.

After long-lasting and ineffective protests, article writing and meetings with the authorities, a small group to the issues in its own hands, glued the locks of the office’s doors, threw red paint on the walls and wrote S.S. on windows.

The group realizes that the action is very small-scale, only a tiny little poke in the belly of a gigantic institution, but hopes that it will become a figurehead and an inspiration for other groups who are tired of protesting against fascism and will rather break it down with their own force.

The action group Poke in a Belly!”

This happened only one day after Saving Iceland glued and closed the offices of six institutions and companies that are involved in the heavy industrialization of Iceland.

Climate Camp Scotland Legal Briefing Released

The Legal Guide for Climate Camp Scotland, taking place next week, is available now from our website.

Go to http://climatecampscotland.org.uk/?page_id=291

See you all next week!

The Legal Support Working Group

The Legal Guide for Climate Camp Scotland, taking place next week, is available now from our website.

Go to http://climatecampscotland.org.uk/?page_id=291

See you all next week!

The Legal Support Working Group

ELF Mexico Targets Former City Councilman’s Truck & Telmex

Planetary destruction has been at a peak now for several years, as this has been happening the enormous complicity of governments (whatever form they take: fascist, socialist, democratic, republican or any other shitty one) with private companies, both domestic and foreign, engaged in large scale ecocide is amazing, leaving only remnants of what were once large wooded regions and green areas of wilderness. Civilization has almost completely destroyed it.

Earth Liberation Front Communique: 07.21.09

ELF Burns Former City Councilman’s Truck in Protest of Corruption and Urban Sprawl in Mexico

Communique:

“Planetary destruction has been at a peak now for several years, as this has been happening the enormous complicity of governments (whatever form they take: fascist, socialist, democratic, republican or any other shitty one) with private companies, both domestic and foreign, engaged in large scale ecocide is amazing, leaving only remnants of what were once large wooded regions and green areas of wilderness. Civilization has almost completely destroyed it.

Today, those people directly connected to the destruction of the environment for urbanistic development continue to be targets of the Frente de Liberación de la Tierra [Earth Liberation Front]. They have names and addresses and we, with rage, conviction and gasoline will not stop in our struggle against all that destroys the planet of which we are a part, along with the animals, the wind, the plants, the water, the trees and all the natural elements worthy of being respected.

This time the target that we hit was in a small town in Mexico State. A former town councilman who voted for urbanist expansion in a large section of greenspace, where dozens of trees were cut down to build a pedestrian corridor, was visited by the FLT.

Upon reaching the area around his home, we looked on as this murderer was watching his plasma TV, comfortable in his luxury couches, enjoying the exploitation (this bastard also now owns a social event hall where plates of dead animal bodies are served) and the corruption of his past political administration. Our action was to leave a clear message for this destroyer of ecosystems at the door of his home with a note that read: ‘It will all be paid for someday’. Later we placed an incendiary device under one of the front tires of his small truck, the device worked well and in a few minutes a flame was lifted to the skies, filling the streets of the town with chaos. Haulers who had been passing through, desperately joined with the evilborn ecocidist who at that moment shot out of his house to find that his truck was on fire. They managed to control the fire and so this time the damage was not as we had planned it to be if the fire had spread further. The result was damage to the front section, the window and the tire of the small truck. Nonetheless what we have caused is incalculable damage, damage that cannot be quantified, the psycho-emotional damage that this destroyer of the earth will have after watching his truck set on fire right before his nose and after a few minutes he will see our intimidating message.

The destroyers of the earth will receive what they deserve, not from a judge, nor from the laws that govern Mexico which is currently in the midst of a military siege, but from cells of concious people fed up with the devastation of the earth, they will receive blows …from the Frente del Liberación de la Tierra.

‘Years after many dozens of trees were cut down, small flowers returned to be reborn from between the cracks in the pavement that divides up the city’

ELF México”

Earth Liberation Front Communique: 07.20.09

ELF Targets Telmex Branch office in Mexico

Communique:

“On the last night of July 20th we went to one of the many Telmex branch offices in Mexico State. Its walls were very high and around this was metal fencing used to protect the property. Police presence a few streets away and the security cameras did not stop us from carrying out our action. Our action was fast, while one of us sealed the front door with a lot of glue, another left a clear message below the door which read:

‘All the painted and cut telephones, the telephone control boxes set on fire, the burned trucks with punctured tires, these are not technical problems, they are acts of sabotage against the biocidal Telmex company, as is this warning attack.

We are the Ludditas Contra La Domesticacion de la Naturaleza Salvaje [Luddites Against the Domestication of Wild Nature] and we form part of a cell of the Frente de Liberación de la Tierra F.L.T. [Earth Liberation Front E.L.F.], this is only a warning message, get ready for war!

For the Liberation of the earth
Sabatage the bastards!

And in case the threat was not enough for the employees, the day after they were frightened by this message we threw a homemade bomb into the facility, ignoring the sign hanging outside this office that said that any act that damaged the property would be considered an attack on the channels of communication in general and was therefore a federal crime. The bomb detonated a few seconds after our escape, the sound was deafening and could be heard from two streets away.

We know very well that civilization will collapse one day, but there must be an acceleration of that collapse.

Attentively, The cell of the ELF-LCDNS México”

Source – http://www.elfpressoffice.org

Flotilla / vigil against nuclear power, Bradwell, Essex – Sun 9 August

Sunday, 9th August 2009 – from 14.00 to 16.00 hrs
join a peaceful summer vigil in the Blackwater Estuary

The future of the Blackwater Estuary should concern everyone. Any despoiling of this unique facility will take away the opportunity for its enjoyment for many generations to come.

Sunday, 9th August 2009 – from 14.00 to 16.00 hrs
join a peaceful summer vigil in the Blackwater Estuary

The future of the Blackwater Estuary should concern everyone. Any despoiling of this unique facility will take away the opportunity for its enjoyment for many generations to come.

This does not apply just to “the waterfolk”, but to all who enjoy outdoor pursuits and activities around the Estuary, such as local residents, fishermen, birdwatchers, ramblers and walkers, wildfowlers and for those who just like the “open and peaceful space of the Estuary”.

If we are not vigilant, the Estuary, as we like it, could be irretrievably ruined for the future.

The intention is to attract recreational and commercial users of the estuary and its surroundings to join a PEACEFUL VIGIL at Bradwell in protest against the development of a proposed new nuclear power station (possibly more than one) and the associated high level radioactive waste dump.

Watercraft –

anchor/float about off the beach to include yachts, motorboats, dinghies, kayaks canoes and “whatever” between 14.00 and 16.00 hrs

Show your participation by displaying flags/banners, if afloat – from the rigging – make these up out of old bedsheets or something similar. Just display anything to show your protest!

Walkers, birdwatchers and beachcombers –

make it an outing – bring family and friends and enjoy a picnic or barbecue on the beach in front of the old station.

If you unable to get afloat or visit Bradwell, a group will be meeting for a picnic from 1.30 onwards on West Mersea beach, close to St Peter’s Steps, and just a short walk down Coast Road from West Mersea Church. – Don’t forget to bring a sunshade if it’s a sunny day, especially if you are bringing any children!

DIRECTIONS: If coming by rail and/or bus, the two-hourly West Mersea bus 67 leaves the North Station bus stop from 8.10am onwards on the south side of the bridge. So for example if you get the one which leaves North Station at 12.10pm, Colchester High Street at about 12.15pm, and the bus station at 12.20pm it gets to Mersea near the church at 12.50pm.

Don’t forget there are special bargain bus fares on Sundays. The bus returns at 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm and 11pm so you can make a day of it. Cut your carbon footprint and leave your car at home for a change perhaps if you would normally travel by car???

There is free car parking behind the library if there are any spaces, or you can park along various roads including St Peter’s Road – go past the church and it’s to the right off Coast Road.

We want to highlight:

* Environmental damage to the Estuary foreshore, wildlife, pleasure and commercial fishing and local oyster industries
* Potential restriction on access for recreational use to the Estuary and its foreshore
* Long term on site storage of highly radioactive waste
* Increased health risks to surrounding population resulting from toxic waste and from the lack of long term evacuation plans for the surrounding areas
* Negative Visual impact of the new facility and the retention of the former station

Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG)
http://www.banng.org.uk

Saving Iceland Closes Nature Killer’s Offices

July 28 2009
Last night Saving Iceland closed the offices of companies and institutions that are heavily responsible for extreme destruction of nature. Super-glue was put in to the locks and signs put up saying: “Closed because of destruction of nature!” Locksmiths had to be called to open the doors when workers showed up in the morning.

The companies and institutions that were targeted have all shown their determined criminal will against Icelandic nature and don’t stop at anything in their search for an easy financial growth and favorable contracts, even with companies who have scandalous history. These companies should have been closed long time ago to prevent more destruction to take place.

The following companies and institutions were targeted: the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Environment, who have cleared the way for heavy industry here in Iceland; ÍSTAK (construction company), which takes care of most of the earth destruction that has to take place before test drills and the construction of heavy industry related buildings; Jarðboranir (Earth Drilling), which owns the drills that are used for geothermal drilling all over the country; and HRV (engineering company), which does most of the Environmental Impact Assessments for heavy industry projects as well as taking a big part in designing the infrastructures connected to heavy industry.

Saving Iceland also closed an office shed on one of ÍAV’s (construction company) construction areas in Reykjavík, but the company is now busy with building Century’s aluminium smelter in Helguvík.

Camp for Climate Action Scotland

There is no time to act but now! Come to the Camp for Climate Action in Scotland 3-10 August

For a week of low-impact living and high-impact direct action, keep 3-10 August free and join us in Scotland to take direct action against the root causes of climate change and ecological collapse. This summer the struggle against a capitalist system intent on extinguishing life on the planet will hit the Firth of Forth!

What’s happening:

We’re going to set up camp somewhere around the Firth of Forth, a part of the central belt of Scotland littered with power stations, corporate HQs, gas and oil refineries, open cast coal mines, a nuclear power station and a cement factory. We want you to join us to hold the people and systems responsible for climate change to account.

The camp will focus on supporting groups of people taking action against a whole range of targets. If you’re coming with a group of friends that’s great – we’ll help you choose targets and actions, and if you’re coming alone there will be plenty of opportunity to meet other people to work and take action with.

The camp will have as low an ecological impact as possible so expect compost toilets, grey water systems and micro-renewable energy. There will be kitchens on site where campers will make three meals a day so there’s no need to bring any food or cooking equipment. Organised horizontally, the camp will provide lots of opportunities to get involved, be creative and practical and learn new skills. There will be workshops, discussions and opportunities to link up with other people, groups and campaigns.

We hope to work with and in solidarity with local communities and ongoing campaigns around the camp’s locality to build on what others are already doing and for the camp to have long-lasting positive impacts.

How to get there:

The location of the site will be announced just before the start of the camp – check here or phone the info number which will be available shortly before the 3rd for directions to the camp. If you’re coming by public transport get yourself to Edinburgh Waverley or Glasgow Central train stations and be prepared to travel – info-points will tell you the train station to get to and how to get there. There will be shuttle buses from the nearest train station to the camp. If you can’t make all of the camp, just come along for a day, a weekend or whatever you can.

What to bring:

Camping gear – a tent, sleeping bag and mat, practical clothing and footwear. Be prepared for rain and sun. Banners and decorations to make our site beautiful and anything else that you would like to see. But most importantly, bring all of your friends!

We will also be asking for donations to cover costs of food and expenses for the camp. Suggested amounts will be made available closer to the time.

What not to bring:

It is possible that you will be searched by police on entering the site – penknives and anything that may be construed as a weapon is best left behind. You may also want to protect your personal details but remember, if you don’t bring a cash card, bring enough cash to cover your transport, food donations etc.

Know your rights!

Checkout the websites below for some advice on dealing with the police.
http://www.faslane365.org/en/legal
http://www.g8legalsupport.info/guide/

Up to date legal information and advice will be available at the camp.

Children:

Are most welcome and there will be a kids space that people will be able to volunteer for.

Dogs:

If you bring dog(s) please take responsibility for them. We ask that you keep them on a lead as there have been incidents at past camps that we’d prefer to avoid.

If you want more information or to get in touch email us on climatecampscotland@riseup.net

See you there!

Come to our next meeting!

Edinburgh, Wednesday 29th July, 12:00-16:00, Forest Cafe Action Room, 3 Bristo Place

in the meantime, get yourself down to Mainshill Solidarity Camp!
See: http://coalactionedinburgh.noflag.org.uk/

Mainshill Solidarity Camp

Get down to Mainshill Solidarity Camp as soon as you can, eviction is expected soon.
In the meantime watch the film and get inspired.

Film
Youtube “Mainshill solidarity camp”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG43wAy2RTY

Website
www.coalactionedinburgh.noflag.org.uk

Map
Search for “Douglas, Lanarkshire” on Google maps
http://maps.google.co.uk/

Get down to Mainshill Solidarity Camp as soon as you can, eviction is expected soon.
In the meantime watch the film and get inspired.

Film
Youtube “Mainshill solidarity camp”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG43wAy2RTY

Website
www.coalactionedinburgh.noflag.org.uk

Map
Search for “Douglas, Lanarkshire” on Google maps
http://maps.google.co.uk/

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC (27 JULY)

VENUE/TIME:- AGM OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LINCOLN CENTRE, 18 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, WC2A 3ED, (nearest Tube- Holborn)
27 JULY 2009, 2.00 pm onwards

STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, DEADLY POLLUTION

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC (27 JULY)

VENUE/TIME:- AGM OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LINCOLN CENTRE, 18 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, WC2A 3ED, (nearest Tube- Holborn)
27 JULY 2009, 2.00 pm onwards

STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, DEADLY POLLUTION
The Global Campaign against Vedanta Resources plc will be protesting inside and outside the Annual General Meeting of Vedanta Resources plc at Lincoln Centre, 18 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED on 27 July 2009 from 2.00 pm onwards. Simultaneous protests will be held worldwide on 27 July, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa and other parts of India and a series of demonstrations, public meetings and rallies will be held in Orissa, Kolkata, Mumbai and other cities from 27 July onwards.
Vedanta Resources is a multinational mining company, listed on the London Stock Exchange whose spectacular rise involves violating Environmental Laws, Human Rights Abuse, Financial scams & Political corruption in Zambia, Armenia, India and other countries where it exploits poorly regulated mining enclaves. Recently Vedanta has announced plans to start mining in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa, India from October 2009 and it aims to increase operations by 6 fold by 2011. Vedanta’s mining in Orissa will have a devastating impact on the fragile Ecosystem of this fertile and vitally important forested mountainous region and the state of Orissa in general. It will lead to a Cultural Genocide of the ancient tribal civilization of the Dongria Kondh and Majhi Kondh tribes, who have lived ecologically sustainable & self sufficient lives for centuries in these mountains. Vedanta’s mining will also lead to severely toxic pollution, diseases, terminal illnesses, destruction of endangered wildlife, damage to the wild elephant population, devastation of crops and arable land and the poisoning and drying up of rivers and streams, which will have catastrophic effects on tens of thousands of people for whom these rivers are crucial lifelines in Kalahandi, one of the most drought prone regions of India.
The Global Campaign against Vedanta Resources plc is spread over several countries and includes over 150 solidarity groups, Grassroots movements, NGOs, activists, intellectuals, academics, students and professionals.
WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:-
1. Vedanta should IMMEDIATELY ABANDON PLANS for mining Bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa.
2. PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATIONS in the UK and in India into Vedanta’s operations in India and around the world.
3. Vedanta, a UK based company, MUST BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE for the social, environmental and health repercussions suffered by local communities around the world as a result of Vedanta’s callous mining activities. Those who have been affected and abused by Vedanta’s activities MUST BE ENABLED to seek justice in their home countries and/or in the UK.
4. Vedanta Ltd, Regulators, the UK Government and Governments of the mining enclaves MUST IMPLEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROLS on Vedanta’s operations.
5. Vedanta’s Shareholders and other investors must be MADE FULLY AWARE of the true nature of this mining company they are investing in so that they can make a better informed decision on whether to WITHDRAW THEIR INVESTMENTS from this criminally destructive mining company.

BACKGROUND TO WHY VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC MUST BE STOPPED
After a highly controversial legal case lasting 3 years at The Supreme Court of India, which witnessed some outrageous distortion of facts and a major miscarriage of justice, in April 2009 the Indian Government gave clearance to Vedanta to mine Bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa for the next 25 years. Vedanta plans to start mining Bauxite in October 2009 and aims to increase by 6 fold by 2011.
CRITICAL REASONS WHY WE MUST NOT LET VEDANTA COMMENCE MINING ACTIVITIES IN NIYAMGIRI and leave behind a trail of terrible ENVIRONMENTAL and HUMAN DEVASTATION includes the following:-
· Vedanta’s mining activities will have a catastrophic effect on the fragile Ecosystem of Orissa with over a thousand hectares of prime Evergreen ‘Reserve Forests’ being wiped out, rivers being poisoned, ground water levels falling. Already Vedanta’s Refinery, which has been built on tribal land in Lanjigarh, is critically polluting. Major rivers of Orissa, including River Bansadhara, has already been polluted at its source. Toxic wastes have ruined fertile agricultural lands, polluted air, contaminated drinking & bathing water, & caused severe illnesses in people & wildlife. Mining will compound these effects.
· Hundreds of the local indigenous population have been killed in work and road accident in and around this Refinery because of Vedanta’s criminal negligence. The Community has been violently split and is terrorised by thugs in Vedanta’s pay.
· Niyam Dongar is the most densely forested mountain in the Niyamgiri range. It is home to the ancient civilization of the Dongria Kondh tribe, who have preserved their sacred mountain, prevented deforestation, lived ecologically sustainable & self sufficient lives for centuries.
· Cultural Genocide is imminent with Mass Unemployment and Destitution as farmers, fishermen and forest dwellers will be displaced and abandoned in shanty-towns. Delicate social structure will be torn apart with the collapse of traditional Economic systems, Kinship system, Egalitarian power structures and Religious values. Already displacement and the invasion by an alien industry has led to a sharp rise in illegal liquor shops, fraudulent schemes, drunken violence, wife beatings, suicides, prostitution & serious fractures in the community. Cultural Genocide will also affect Majhi Kondh tribe and will culminate in the destruction of Niyam Dongar, the most sacred mountain of the Kondh tribe and their Lord of Law. The Kondhs perceive the mountains and the forests as their Gods. So their destruction is both an environmental and a cultural atrocity.
· These Bauxite-capped mountains are the reason for the region’s exceptional fertility and bio-diversity. Bauxite, which contains the Aluminium ore, soaks up rainwater, holds this water and releases it to numerous perennial streams and rivers, which are essential Lifelines in Kalahandi, one of the most drought prone regions of India. Removing this Bauxite will be catastrophic for the fragile ecosystem, endangered wildlife and for tens of thousands of people who rely on these rivers.
· If mining starts on Niyamgiri, at least 50 other major mountains are next in line! Already tribal people and ‘Dalits’ (Untouchables) have movements to protect Bapla Mali, Mali Parbat, Deo Mali, Gandhamardan and other mountains in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. BHPBilliton, Alcoa, Rio Tinto, Jindal & Dubai-based companies are poised to set up Bauxite mines.
· In Dec 2000 police opened fire on tribal campaigners, killing three at the Utkal project. While an Inquiry into the police firing was holding up this project Vedanta made its move, building its refinery before applying for permission to mine! Vedanta has repeatedly violated Government Pollution Guidelines, illegally occupied village land, criminally started construction work without Environmental Clearance, dumped toxic pollutants into rivers and cleared ‘Reserve Forest’ land despite valiant efforts by villagers to protect their forests.
· Mountains of North Orissa are some of the last pockets of wild elephants in Eastern India. These majestic animals are being threatened by the rampant mining. Magnificent wildlife, forests, some of the highest waterfalls in India and many tribal cultures are in serious danger of being wiped out forever.

WORLDWIDE REACTIONS & MOVEMENTS
· In early 2009, in a breathtakingly beautiful non-violent protest over 10,000 villagers and concerned citizens held hands to form a 17 kilometre human chain around the Niyamgiri hills.
· On July 9, 2009 Amnesty International stated that “The Indian Government should immediately withdraw the clearance granted to a massive mining project (Vedanta) that threatens the lives and livelihoods of a protected indigenous community living in the Niyamgiri hills.
· Vedanta has been blacklisted by the Norwegian Govt Pension Fund, with its pension fund investments divested in 2007 citing “serious malpractice and contraventions of environment norms and ethics by the Vedanta management in the past wherever they operate” and “human rights violation”. Procedural violations in procurement of environment and forest clearance for mining were cited. The Martin Currie Scottish Trust Fund also withdrew their £2.37m investment in Vedanta in July 2008 on grounds of “environmental and human rights violation.”
· The Orissa State Pollution Control Board has issued more than 3 notices to Vedanta for violating pollution norms at its Refinery and the CEC committee of the Indian Supreme Court submitted several reports highlighting irregularities and corruption in Vedanta and recommending that Environmental Clearance for mining activities should NOT be give. Both Vedanta’s parent company- Sterlite and Vedanta’s subsidiary MALCO have been charged in court with the criminal violation of Environmental laws, callous dumping of toxic wastes and illegal construction.
· Worldwide uproar followed Vedanta being awarded the ‘Golden Peacock Award’ by the World Environmental Foundation (WEF) in 2009. This same award was awarded to Satyam Computers in September 2008 before being withdrawn in January 2009 after senior management and the founder chairman were arrested for fraud. Various concerned citizens wrote a letter to the jurors of this ‘Golden Peacock Award’ voicing their concerns and exposing Vedanta’s activities. In reply the jurors dissociated themselves from Vedanta and said that the prize decision was made beforehand by one Mr Mehra. Mr Mehra is a highly dubious London based corporate guru of whom ‘The Observer’ released an article in May 2003 called ‘The Contradictions of Madhav Mehra’! Hundreds of organisations and individuals wrote to the jury of the ‘The Golden Peacock Award’ and demonstrations were held at the Award ceremony in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Such was the public anger that even the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and other Government officials refused to participate in this Award ceremony.
· In Vietnam, the tribal people of the Central Highlands are being invaded by the world’s top aluminium companies. General Vo Nguyen Giap – a war hero, now aged 97, who helped defeat the French and American invasions – is among a large group of the country’s leading citizens who are opposing this new invasion by mining companies. Scientists are prominent in the campaign. In Peru’s Amazon region opposition against oil extracting companies gained worldwide attention after a blockade by about 30,000 people was met by severe police violence on 5-6 June 2009, which killed at least 85 Indians. In Nigeria the assault on indigenous communities involved the outrageous ‘execution’ of writer and environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa, who was non-violently opposing multinational oil companies. In the Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Burma, Tibet etc mining, oil and logging companies are destroying forest simultaneously with the livelihood of the indigenous peoples. Scientists believe that Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico could be due to the horrendous pollution spread by the big meat companies. In Western Australia, Erin Brockovich, the famous Environmental lawyer is representing the local community against Aluminium giant Alcoa after an outbreak of respiratory illnesses.
· We need to understand that the Financial Crisis, Global Warming & Pandemics are linked to these exploitive industries, which pollute callously, devastate crops and arable land, destroys communities & cultures, leads to the loss of rare animals & medicinal plants, death of rivers, infliction of sickness and terminal diseases. All for the sake of a few greedy years of corporate profits. We need to join with the Grassroots movements in India, Vietnam, Peru and other countries in opposing these monstrously destructive corporations and in choosing genuinely sustainable development, which will be genuinely beneficial for the local communities and be ecologically sustainable for many generations to come.

CONTACT DETAILS:-
GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST VEDANTA,
Samarendra Das- sdasorisa@hotmail.co.uk, sdasorisa@rediffmail.com
Felix Padel- felixorisa@yahoo.com
Chanda Asani (Kashipur Solidarity Group)- chanda_asani@yahoo.co.uk
Sachin Masurkar (Kashipur Solidarity Group)- sachinam_sai@yahoo.co.in
Phone- (+ 91)9869324085
Agrotosh Mookerjee- whatculture@yahoo.co.uk
Phone- (+44) 07528435541
Miriam Rose- welliebird7@hotmail.co.uk

Come visit Faslane Peace Camp this summer (stay forever…)

it’s summer, come help stop the war machine!!

Has been a quiet summer so far up ere at peace camp. And we wondering where you all are? Got a few residents off doing other projects for a while, so some solidarity would be much appreciated. Even if you can only visit for a day or so. If you’ve not been before please visit. We can accommodate you, help with actions, protests or even just come to chill.

Weekly vigil every wed at 4pm outside north gate.

Work weekend coming soon.

01436820901

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Faslane Peace Camp is in dire need of people,

At the moment all residents except one are defending land elsewhere in the country the camp is being manned with only one resident who is quickly losing it!!

This is a call out for people to move here or visit as often as they can, we are afraid to say that if the camp stays practically empty for much longer we will have to close.

The main purpose as i can see it of the camp is to be a base for direct action against nuclear weapons and related issues, if the camp is not being used by peace activist for its intended purpose i see little point in lots of time and energy being spent.

The current peace campers are tired and unable to continue with the upkeep of the entire site without new energy. Please make your contribution to the 27 year old site, none of us want to see the end of such a historic place.