Action Reports – Page 217

Derbyshire Coal Mine Occupation – Eviction Ended

The police have launched a full eviction attempt at the Bodge House squat in Shipley, Derbyshire. The house is located on the site of a proposed open cast coal mine.

Update Thursday 14th August: The last 2 protestors were evicted from the tunnel at about 2:30am, and have been handed over to the cops. UK Coal has already pulled Prospect Farm down, leaving us with no option but protest day trips to the site!

Update Sunday 10th August: Eviction is still ongoing at Bodge House, in Derbyshire. This is the 4th day of the operation and 4 people were arrested earlier today. The house is very heavily barricaded and 2-3 people are still reported to be inside. 4 vans of police and bailiffs still in attendence.

Update Friday 8th August: – We were there today to give support to those still in the house. We arrived about 11.00am. There were loads of police as would be expected and 3 people were taken out of the house while we were there and taken to Ripley police station. We were not allowed near so could not see who it was. Around 3.00 in the afternoon a chap in a suit and 2 women in inappropriate shoes turned up. We think they were from the bailiff teams. They spoke to the chief inspector in charge and went to the house. All the time the bailiffs on site had been cutting down the trees surrounding the house and trying to get in the front door of the house. They succeeded just before the ‘suits’ arrived. We left around 4pm to run some film to ITN but I heard later that the bailiffs had started up a generator to get air to the people in the tunnel under the house but left the site around 5.30. they are due back tomorrow (Saturday) to get the 2 people in the tunnel out. Anyone who can get there, please get there to give support.

Update Thursday 7th August: Around 7.45am about 60 police and 50 bailliffs arrived at the house. Throughout the day the police have been trying to get through the barricades and defences. Local people and media have been at the scene. So far 3 people have been removed from lockons and a cargo net outside the house and have been arrested. 7 people are still inside and are heavily barricaded in, included being hidden in tunnels under the house. The bailiffs have put up security fences and although they have managed to enter part of the building, the eviction attempt has been stopped for today. It is estimated the eviction will take at least another couple of days.

Background –
On Friday July 18, UK Coal, who own the site, were granted a possession order for the Squatted farmhouse on the planned Lodge House open cast coal mine site. For some time it has been anticipated that an eviction is imminent, particularly as the climbing team used against road protesters has been seen around the site. It is evident that with the Climate Camp happening at Kingsnorth Power Station, the police saw their oppertunity to move in.

Bits from mainstream sources (above from IMC) –

The protesters have been occupying the building at Prospect Farm, in Bell Lane, Smalley, for almost two months in the hope of making it impossible for UK Coal to begin opencast mining at the 334-acre site this autumn.

Bailiffs from the National Eviction Team arrived yesterday, leading to the arrest of three protesters. Three more left voluntarily.

A spokesman for UK Coal said: “We believe up to eight people remain in the house, four of whom could be in a labyrinth of tunnels underneath the house, according to information we have.

We’ve got just over 20 experts from the National Eviction Team, who worked on the site until 6pm last night.

Andy Green, a spokesman for Leave It In The Ground, said: “We’ve built an extensive tunnel network and have tree-structures and suspended cargo nets.

“As bailiffs and police arrived on site, people were chained to barricades defending strategic parts of the property.”

UK Coal has Government clearance to mine for four-and-a-half years from this autumn, despite Derbyshire County Council having refused to grant planning permission.

One of the protesters, who left voluntarily and identified himself only as Ben, said: “We need to find an alternative to coal and time for action is long overdue because climate change has already started happening.”

Eviction starts story and directions

Short audio report from first day – audio/x-wav 716K

A little background: The site was occupied on Tuesday June 18 by climate campaigners from ‘Leave it in the Ground’. They barricaded themselves in a disused farm building and took to the trees on the site of the open cast mine. Under the cover of darkness activists secured themselves in the Prospect Farm building, on the site which is about to be devastated by huge machines. and claimed squatter’s rights.

US: Southeast Climate Convergence occupies nuclear facility

Southeast Climate Convergence occupies nuclear facility. Police set up checkpoints around convergence site.

August 7 Louisa, VA Activists from the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action occupied the welcome center for Dominion’s North Anna nuclear power plant today. The action was taken to protest Dominion’s plans to build two new nuclear reactors and to call out nuclear power for the false solution that it is to the climate crisis. “We are here to serve notice on the so-called ‘nuclear renaissance’ that the anti-nuclear movement is alive and well,” said Glenn Carroll, coordinator of Nuclear Watch South.

Southeast Climate Convergence occupies nuclear facility. Police set up checkpoints around convergence site.

In all 25 people occupied the visitors center for 2 hours until police came in to remove them. The protesters wore shirts that read “Nukes not Welcome” and chanted and sang. “We chose to take non-violent direct action because Dominion and the federal government have completely failed to address the climate crisis,” said Paxus Calta who lives twenty miles from the plant. The protesters also gave their own version of a tour for visitors revealing the true nature of the nuclear industry. In all 6 people were arrested for refusing to leave the building and were escorted out in handcuffs to the cheers of their friends.

The nuclear power industry is attempting to pose itself as our savior for the climate crisis. This is simply not possible. The only thing that the nuclear industry can promise us is a life of radioactive waste, poisoned water, and cancer. Nuclear energy has no place in our transition away from fossil fuels. Since the action, police have set up check points around the convergence, following cars leaving the area, and pulling people over and running ID’s.

We send our solidarity to the UK Climate Camp!
We will continue to fight for climate justice in the southeast. More action to come! The convergence runs through August 11th so come on out! Todays action was planned by Nuclear Watch South, Blue Ridge Earth First!, and Rising Tide North America. www.climateconvergence.org/southeast

Day of action at Kingsnorth Camp for Climate Action

The day of action against Kingsnorth took different forms: the Orange group negotiated with the police to take a route to the power station, suitable for kids and parents amongst others; the Green group went direct for the fences; the Blue group took to the water and the Silver group was airborne(ish).

>>>E.ON’s Defences Breached Following Olympic Efforts by Protesters<<<

>>>E.ON’s Defences Breached Following Olympic Efforts by Protesters<<<
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Saturday 09/08/08

Protesters Evade 26 Police Forces To Enter Power Station Site

The Climate Camp at Kingsnorth was celebrating today as protesters succeeded in breaching the perimeter fence and inner 10,000 volt electric fence to enter the power station site despite the best efforts of 26 police forces with over 1,500 police.

The day started early with a flotilla of boats – the Blue group – sailing towards Kingsnorth in the sun. Over twenty crafts made their way up the Medway to converge on the coal loading jetty. Three people occupied the ledge above the power station’s water inlet tunnel while a banner proclaiming ‘CO2AL: Starter Gun for Climate Chaos’ was hung from Darnet Fort on an island in the Medway directly opposite the power station.

Kent Police have been claiming that they had to rescue rafters from the Medway, but the participants have stated that the safety precautions they had taken were entirely sufficient and at no point were they in any danger. “Its a bit cheeky for the police to say that we had to be rescued when for starters we weren’t in any danger, and secondly, they were the ones who had confiscated our safety boat this morning,” said Rebel Rafter Harold Cryer. “The River Police were very professional and courteous, unlike their landlubbing equivalents.”

Meanwhile, around 1,000 people from the Orange group headed from the Camp directly to the main gates at Kingsnorth, led by a colourful carnival dragon made by children during the camp. At the gates the Camp’s Christian Cafe crew held a service giving the power station its last rites. The group blocked the main entrance even after a police helicopter circling above had demanded the marchers disperse.

The few hundred strong Green group made it to the perimeter fence of the power station. Some used a section of fencing to make a ladder to breach both the outer and the inner electric fence. Others climbed a nearby pylon to hang a banner reading ‘Shut Down Kingsnorth'(2).

Spokeswoman Emily Davies said, “It shows how serious we are about stopping climate change that people from all walks of life were prepared, despite blatantly intimidatory policing, to take direct action to disrupt E.ON. This Olympic effort certainly deserves a gold medal.”

Campers have been signing pledges to return to Kingsnorth if Minister for Business John Hutton gives E.ON the go-ahead to build the first coal-fired power station in the UK for 30 years. They promise to take action against E.ON and other companies until they abandon all such plans. Elsewhere in the country people are currently down in tunnels resisting eviction of a protest camp on the site of a proposed open-cast coal mine in Derbyshire.

“It’s been a great today, but a real victory for us will be when we have conclusively scuppered E.ON’s coal-fuelled mania. If Hutton gives the green light to this power plant, E.ON can expect to be seeing a lot more of us in the future,” said Ewa Steckel, who has signed one of the pledges to stop the plant.

Bizarrely, Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister stated yesterday that we need Kingsnorth to counter catastrophic climate change. (1). Campers reacted furiously, “Malcolm Wicks’ claim that building an unabated coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth is necessary to save us from climate change shows him to be delusional and dangerously scientifically illiterate.” said camper Ania Kemp.

ENDS

Contacts:
07772 861 099 and 07932 096 677

(1) See interview in today’s Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/08/carboncapturestorage.fossilfuels
Q Patrick Wintour, Guardian: But why does the government not set a cut off point, such as 2020, by which time coal stations such as Kingsnorth would be shut if the clean coal technology was not in use?
A: Malcolm Wicks: “I think if we did that at the moment, when we do not know 100% that CCS is going to work, the engineering has not yet been tested and no one is fully aware of what the costs might be, then that would put an end to coal-fired power stations and demonstration plant and people would build gas again.”

(2) photos are available from www.indymedia.org.uk

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Orange:

Little video clip of orange march – video/avi 1.4M

Orange Block marches to Power Station. Arrives. Speeches. Police say go back. They march back to camp. Some people stay. They are all arrested.

—

The Children’s Revolution joined together with the Orange march to Kingsnorth power station on the day of mass action and combined with the children of local residents to help form a huge blockade which attracted the attention of all the international news media.

The Children of the Eco Warriors marched alongside the Kingsnorth dragon created by Raga the well known Quaker peace activist, and they were led by Kristoff the clown and the Carbon Town Cryer band.

The march itself was fairly uneventful with a number of arrests – there were mounted police at the front of the march and a snatch squad grabbed (only just, he nearly got back into crowd) someone for rolling up the ‘POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS’ tape that was doing no good as we were in both lanes of the dual carriagewy, as the Orange group meeting agreed to do despite the Police insistence that the march, containing families and children, use one lane while lorries could zoom past in the fast lane. No way Jose!

At the power station banners were erected on the gates, and the police kept a watchful eye on the speakers using the Bicycology sound system microphone.

At one pm a police helicopter announced that the protest was over and that anyone who stayed in the vicinity would be arrested under section 14 of the Public Order Act.

Most of the climate campers drifted off back to the Camp for Climate Action but many stayed outside the power station gates and the Rhythms of Resistance samba band continued their drumming at the nearby roundabout.

Eventually the police started to push and shove a group of teenagers who had been part of the flotilla of little boats, and several police horses were also used to try to force them to move back to the camp site.

One young girl appeared to be snatched from behind by the police and the rest of the group were shouted at and bullied for about twenty minutes before the police finally gave up and left them alone.

———-

Green group:

There were several breaches of the perimeter fence. Activists used extra fencing that had been errected in advance of the protests as make shift ladders to scale the interior fence. Some also used them on the inner electric fence (the fence being turned off), with a small number of activists entering Kingsnorth itself.

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Silver group:
As part of the Silver Group actions, Pasty the CCS pig became airborne at around 11.03 for a short flight, but due to adverse weather conditions the CCS pig never flew far – boooooo!
Keep an eye out for future appearances 🙂
———-

Blue group:

Eco Hero Kayak Crew splash out on the Medway

A daring crew of 8 climate campers in inflatable kayaks kept police boats busy for 3 hours this morning heading towards Kingsnorth Power station on the Medway.

The fleet of 8 craft and 1 safety boat dropped into the water at around 9am this morning at a secret launch point near Rochester. They paddled towards Kingsnorth power station to join the protest against E-on and the building of the first new coal fired power station in 34 years. Their mobile craft allowed them to evade police capture for some time. The crew were picked up one by one by marine division officers finally ending up in a stand off on the Hoo mudflats close to the power station. All 8 kayakers were finally picked up at around 12.30pm, turned over to the Harbour Master and released without charge.
“The local papers say we’re crazy,” said one of the crew ” but what’s really crazy is that government and business are not seriously committed to combating climate change.”
All activist involved have signed a camp wide pledge to campaign to stop the building of the new power station.

—

8.30am and RAF Search and Rescue is hovering overhead. Pirates are hiding in the bushes at Upnor beach, timbers a’shivering. Police believed they’d be constructing rafts at the camp, but the reality is they’d been built and buried in the woods two weeks before.

The helicopter flies off upstream, and crews pour out of the woods. The inflatables got off easily, the IKEAs (build it yourself rafts) had a little bit more trouble and two, sadly, were intercepted by police launches almost immediately.

Others got away fine though, and sailed happily down the Medway towards Kingsnorth.

One crew stopped off on the way at an old fort to make a banner drop “Coal – Starting Gun for Climate Chaos” before ploughing on against a falling tide and getting stuck in the mud.

Afterwards we met up with the Coastguard. They were very friendly and complimented the crews on their attention to safety. But they were scathing about police activity earlier in the week. “When we heard they’d raided the camp and seized life jackets our hearts dropped” they said. “It was irresponsible and could have put lives at risk”.

—-

On Saturday the 9th of august four activists using great skill and dexterity managed to gain access to the water inlet area of Kingsnorth power station and sat on a ledge above the water.

While the protesters sat calmly getting to know one another and making phone calls to the local press the riot police behind the razor wired fence began to cut holes using bolt croppers to allow climbing specialists rigged with all their equipment to come from either side surrounding the protesters. The police removed a large sign from behind and another hole was cut in order to allow the police to pull the peaceful protesters through to the other side of the fence where barking dogs and riot police awaited. All four protesters remained calm and decided to link arms with one another. As the police struggled to pull them free they held on tightly and managed to remain there whilst more police joined in the task of removing the peaceful static protesters using all the force and tactics they could. Eventually after much effort from the police one by one the protesters were removed, after being handcuffed and searched (again) they were put in to the back of a police van this was the first of many as they went through at least three different vehicle on the way to the station. Three of the protesters were released later on that night and the fourth was charged in the early hours of Sunday morning where she then found out that unbeknown to her e’on had instructed “the water inlet cooling system to be shut down” thus causing major disruption to the entire running of the plant. The fourth activist was remanded and after attending court on the monday morning she was granted bail.

Well done to everyone that took part weather in the action itself (green, blue, silver and orange groups) or in climate camp in general (food, workshops, setting up and securing the camp) your input has been greatly appreciated and this success would have not been possible without you, thank you.

———-

Pylon-action:

This morning, climate camp activists scaled high voltage transmission pylons carrying electricity from the power station. As some activists began to scale the pylons, others made phone calls to the relevant bodies. They have now ascended past barbed-wire anti-climb devices and have hung a banner reading ‘Shut down Kingsnorth’.

Jo, one of the climbers, said: “We weighed up the risks and researched this carefully before deciding on this peaceful action to shut down Kingsnorth today. The threat posed to our climate change targets by the Government’s proposed new generation of coal-fired power stations is so great that we are prepared to do this occupation to ensure Kingsnorth is shut for the day. Climate change, driven by carbon dinosaurs such as Kingsnorth, already kills 160,000 people a year, according to the World Health Organisation. It is utter madness to build new coal-burning plants when we need urgent and deep cuts in our carbon emissions”.

The protestors are set to remain for the rest of the day as other protests against Kingsnorth and E.ON coal expansion plans gather pace.

The protestors are from this year’s ‘Camp for climate action’ at Kingsnorth in Kent. The week-long camp has been holding workshops on climate change and show-casing practical low – or zero – carbon alternatives. At the same time, it has been building up to today: a day of action to shut down Kingsnorth.

E.ON, the German-owned energy company, plans to build the first of a new series of coal-burning plants in the UK. The company argues the plant will be ‘carbon capture ready’, But the overwhelming majority of experts agree the technology won’t be technically or economically viable for at least a decade, if ever. Should the technology not be proven as a viable option, there is currently no obligation on the utility to fit carbon capture technology at all. In other words, there’s a very strong chance we could end up with a standard coal plant belching out millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide for half a century to come.

The pylons are sited on the Hoo peninsular at post code DA12 3HU which can be reached by road and which has parking. OS grid reference is TQ 694 737

Jo, one of those occupying the pylons, can be reached on 07879283517
Another climate camp spokesperson at the scene: Richard 07956163272
Available for media interviews: James 07964618657
Photos available at AP and other outlets

—

Update:
3 people, including the two climbers, were arrested around lunchtime under a section of PACE as the police were unable to verify their addresses (yeh, right). 4 hours later and the police have yet to confirm which police station they have been taken to.

This was one of the actions that have led to 1261 news articles generated by today’s actions, so far. Amazing, huge respect.

Maine EF! Says No More Games; Bold Protest Urges LURC to Reject Massive Plum Creek Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13 NOON
Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC) 18 Elkins Lane – Harlow Building 22 State
House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0022

For More Information Contact: Logan Perkins – 207-615-5158

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13 NOON
Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC) 18 Elkins Lane – Harlow Building 22 State
House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0022

For More Information Contact: Logan Perkins – 207-615-5158

In a bold stunt today, a dozen people affiliated with Maine Earth First!, protested at the LURC office in Augusta. One woman suspended herself 35 feet in the air from a giant tripod made of wooden poles, while others hula-hooped on the ground below her. Under the banner “LURC: Do the right thing! No Development! Plum Creek can’t buy ME” the concerned citizens gathered to make it clear that the only responsible decision is for LURC to reject Plum Creek’s entire plan. Maine Earth First! is an all-volunteer group of Maine citizens working toward the protection of all remaining wild places in Maine as sources of biodiversity, climate stability and cultural heritage.

“The public has spoken and clearly told LURC to reject this destructive proposal.” said Meg Gilmartin from the top of the tripod. “The future of Maine is in their hands and they will be held responsible for the decisions they make for generations to come. Today’s protest should put LURC on notice that their complicity in the destruction of the largest undeveloped area east of the Mississippi will not be tolerated.”

Plum Creek’s Concept Plan proposes to rezone 20,000 acres, an area roughly the size of Portland, for development as part of its Moosehead Lake Concept Plan. The plan includes 90,000 acres of conservation easements to satisfy the Land Use Regulatory Commission’s (LURC) requirement for a conservation balance. An additional 266,000 acres worth ofdevelopment rights on Plum Creek land will be sold to The Nature Conservancy and The Appalachian Mountain Club for $35 million. This conservation is being hailed by many as an unprecedented opportunity to protect a large tract of land in Northern Maine, however, the conservation easements only prevent further development. They do not prevent gravel mining, spreading of sewage sludge, commercial water extraction, socalled”sustainable forestry,” or other extractive activities.

The debate around Plum Creek’s plan has focused in recent months on the future of Lily Bay, slated for a large resort development in the proposal. The Natural Resources Council of Maine and other large environmental organizations have focused their opposition to the plan primarily on protecting the pristine land around Lily Bay. Even these limited efforts have not been successful despite huge public opposition to the development in Lily Bay. When LURC released its recommendations in June, downsizing the number of acres slated for development in Lily Bay, but not decreasing the total number of residences, they were flooded with public comment urging the Commission to reconsider its position on Lily Bay. The protesters in front of LURC today, however are notstaking their opposition on just Lily Bay. “We feel that the scope of the debate has been narrowed to soon by those who would bargain away the North Woods. LURC has heard ample reasons from the people of this state to reject this plan in its entirety. This plan is a bad deal for Mainers and for the North Woods,” said Jessie Dowling, one of the hula-hoopers on the ground below the tripod.

“What LURC has before it now, is an application to extend rampant development, habitat destruction, climate change and mass extinction into one of the most pristine undeveloped areas in the country. The stakes for this type of development are incredibly high. LURC has in its sights a historic and incredibly significant decision to make, and I hope they do the right thing,” said Dowling.

Direct actions by people from the Camp for Climate Action

Climate activists at Longannet call for closure date
6.08.2008
One-night mini Scottish camp outside UK’s dirtiest power station. SNP Government urged to set early closure date for plant and guarantee green jobs for coal workers in the growing renewables revolution.

A group of climate protestors were at Longannet power station in Fife this morning in solidarity with the Camp for Climate Action near to Kingsnorth power station in England.

Longannet coal plant, which produces a quarter of Scotland’s electricity, produces around 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year – roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of 2.5 million cars.

Eight sciences students from the University of Edinburgh presented Scottish Power representatives with the recent respected ‘Zero Carbon Britain’ report from CAT.

Daniel Abrahams, a physics student, told Scottish Power, who run the plant:
‘Any talk of ‘clean coal’ or carbon capture is a total distraction. We need to radically reduce emissions in less than a decade and we just don’t have the time to wait for unproven technology when we already have renewable solutions ready to roll. Longannet must close by 2015.’

Sarah Holliday, a chemistry student from the Isle of Tiree said:
‘The SNP must urgently fund a transition deal for all those in the coal industry. All those employed in the carbon sector must be guaranteed green jobs in the renewables revolution.’

Notes to editors:

1. Longannet ranked as the UK’s dirtiest power station in a 2007 WWF report:
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/european_dirty_thirty_may_2007.pdf

2. The Scottish Climate Bill will bind Ministers to a target of an 80% in greenhouse gases by 2050. An 80% cut in carbon dioxide would mean total emissions for the whole nation of 10-13 million tonnes a year. Longannet produces 10 million tonnes now.

3. Alex Salmond recently described coal as a ‘fuel of the future’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7487184.stm

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Climate Activists Shut Down South’s Biggest Biofuel Base, Thurrock

7.08.2008
This morning climate activists from around the country have shut down the South’s biggest agrofuel depot.

The campaigners, who say that agrofuels will cause runaway climate change if left unchecked, have dropped a 35 foot banner from the top of one of the site’s biggest oil containers and are blocking fuel lorries from leaving or entering the base.

Dean Rivers, who is currently chained to the roof of the oil depot said: “companies like Greenergy and Tescos who use Thurrock are profiteering out of the rush to biofuels causing food price rises, hunger for millions, ecosystem destruction and accelerated Climate Change. These are crimes against humanity and the earth from which we may never recover.” The protest is currently stopping one truck from leaving the Thurrock site every 90 seconds.

George Monbiot, who is at the Climate Camp said “far from being a solution to Climate Change, agrofuels are so damaging they make petroleum look green. They threaten both to accelerate Climate Change and to trigger a global humanitarian disaster. I’m delighted that this depot has been blockaded and I hope it sends a strong signal that agrofuels are a part of the problem not of the solution.”

Last month, it was revealed that the US had buried a report from the World Bank which shows that agrofuels are responsible for 75% of recent food price rises. Despite this, both Europe and the USA continue to invest billions into the fuels, which under UK and EU law continue to make up 2.5% of the UK fuel mix at the pump.

Julia Brownlow, who is blocking lorries from entering or leaving the site said “Agrofuels are destroying the very ecosystems which can stabilise the climate – with the collapse of the Amazon possibly just a few years away I am left with no choice but to take action.”

The protest will continue for the rest of the day.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Agrofuels are biofuels derived from plant material grown in extensive monocultures.

what happened & biofuels explained – audio/x-wav 7.0M
————

Another climate camp action – Students Killed at Royal Bank of Scotland’s HQ.
7.08.2008
Fifteen dead bodies are currently lying in a pool of oil blocking the entrance to RBS London HQ at Liverpool Street [1]. Students are staging a ‘die-in’ blockade to highlight the devastating effects of climate change. The protesters are demanding RBS stop funding destructive fossil fuel projects which will create climate catastrophe. The action is taking place as part of the climate camp and is co-ordinated by the student action network PANDA [1].

A report released today by a coalition of environmental NGOs [2] reveals that RBS is estimated to have been involved in providing loans of over $20 billion to coal-related companies in the last two years – including the energy company E.ON.

Head of Climate Change Campaigns at People & Planet, Bronwen Thomas said

“Thousands of climate change activists are currently gathered at the Climate Camp in Kingsnorth to oppose E.ON’s plans to build the first coal-fired power station in the country for 33 years. Coal is the dirtiest fuel there is. Opening coal fired power stations is madness – We should be stopping climate change not making it worse”

PANDA student activist Alex Wood, 22, is currently chained to other activists in front of RBS. He explained his reasons: “I’m risking arrest today because RBS must take responsibility for the emissions caused by their investments. Climate change causes the death of 150, 000 people per year – each one of the fifteen bodies lying outside RBS represents 10, 000 deaths. To stop this number increasing RBS must act now.”

RBS, who refer to themselves as ‘the oil and gas bank’ has also loaned money to companies like Arch Coal, who are involved in the controversial technique of coal mining called Mountain Top Removal. This destroys the tops of entire mountains and produces large quantities of toxic sludge.

PHOTOS ON REQUEST: pandapress@hushmail.com

NOTES:

[1] RBS London HQ address is 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4NR

[2] PANDA is People & Planet’s Associated Network for Direct Action. For more details see:
http://peopleandplanet.org/ditchdirtydevelopment

[3] The coalition of groups consists of Friends of the Earth Scotland, People & Planet, Platform, BankTrack, Stop Climate Chaos and Scottish Education and Action for Development.

[4] For more info on the Climate Camp visit www.climatecamp.org.uk

[5] For more info on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s financing of fossil fuel extraction see: www.peopleandplanet.org/ditchdirtydevelopment

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Plane Stupid leaves Camp for Climate Action for protest at Gatwick
7.08.2008
Nine protestors from the anti-aviation group ‘Plane Stupid’ have left the Kingsnorth Climate Camp to mount a protest against short-haul flights from the nearby Gatwick Airport. The nine climate activists had been planning to protest against the government’s plans to expand Kingsnorth coal fire power station. However continual police intimidation and violence forced them to leave the camp, choosing instead to protest against the popularity of short-haul flights, especially during the Edinburgh Festival, from Gatwick airport.

The nine activists arrived at the airport at 7.50am. They then split into three groups. The first group scaled the wall next to the escalator above the train station, occupying the roof structure and dropping a banner: ‘SHORT-HAUL FLIGHT? LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN.’ The second group mounted the mezzanine above the arrivals lounge, handcuffed themselves to a railing and dropped a banner: ‘STOP SHORT-HAUL’. The third group, dressed as ‘information points’, with t-shirts asking, ‘can I hinder?, leafleted the surprised crowd with information about the ecological cost of aviation and the irresponsibility of those who fly short-haul.

Lotti Rutter, one of those handcuffed to the railing, said:

‘It’s terrifying – we’re approaching a climate catastrophe yet the Department for Transport do absolutely nothing to provide us with a low carbon transport policy – there are a total of 139 flights from London to Edinburgh as opposed to just 22 trains. We’re here today to protest against short-haul flights. We’re well aware that a lot of people will be choosing to go to the Edinburgh Festival and we’re here to ask them to make the right decision – to take the train. In a time of climate crisis anything else is more than irresponsible: it’s Plane Stupid.’

Gatwick flies 26 times daily to Edinburgh. The same route is covered by a four hour train ride from London King’s Cross. However there are only 22 trains per day. The route from London to Edinburgh (by air) is also covered by Heathrow (66 flights), Stansted (31 flights), Luton (12 flights) and London City Airport (4 flights).

The activists are presently at Gatwick continuing their protest, after which those not arrested will return to the Climate Camp to continue their environmental action.

http://www.planestupid.com

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World’s smallest campaigners scale Kingsnorth smokestack
7.08.2008
E.ON’s replica of the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station has been occupied by one inch tall climate change campaigners. The drama unfolded at the Legoland park in Windsor – sponsored by E.ON – where the Lego Kingsnorth is given pride of place next to Big Ben and Canary Wharf.

The Lego campaigners struck as hundreds of people gather at this year’s Climate Camp to protest the planned new coal plant at Kingsnorth in Kent.

The six campaigners appeared at the top of the construction at around 11am this morning, before unveiling a banner saying STOP CLIMATE CHANGE down the length of the tower. Lego police are in attendance at the foot of the tower, along with a Lego police helicopter.

E.ON proudly announced the construction of Britain’s newest coal-fired station at Legoland in 2006. The German utility giant is Britain’s single biggest greenhouse gas polluter. The company is aiming to have Kingsnorth 2 built by 2012. Despite claims that the new plant will be more efficient, it is estimated that it will emit 8.4 million tonnes of climate changing pollutants every year, compared to the 8.7 million tonnes the existing plant releases annually, and nowhere near the 80% reductions needed to combat global warming.

Neither the campaigners nor the police would comment, because they’re made of Lego and therefore can’t talk.

legoactivist@googlemail.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/legoactivist

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Climate Camp activists superglue themselves to RBS
8.08.2008
This morning at 8.30 AM, activists from the Camp for Climate Action superglued themselves to the front doors of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Oil and Gas Division in Bishopsgate, Central London wielding a banner reading “RBS: Cashing In On Coal”.

The following is taken from the Camp’s press release:

“Location: 199 Broadgate Court, Bishop’s Gate, near Liverpool Street station.

Royal Bank Of Scotland Targeted By Climate Camp Activists For The Second Day Running

Activists from the Camp for Climate Action have superglued themselves to the front doors of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Oil and Gas Division in Central London [1]. Wielding a banner reading “RBS: Cashing In On Coal”, the campaigners are staging this protest to highlight the links between the financial sector, the fossil fuel industry, and disastrous climate change.

This action follows the protest at RBS’s headquarters yesterday, when 15 students staged a “die-in” blockade [2] to demand that the bank stop funding fossil fuel projects including the proposed new coal power station at Kingsnorth. Today’s action, which takes place as part of the climate camp and involves members of the climate action network Rising Tide [3], will show the bank that this campaign pressure is not going to go away.

In 2007, projects financed by RBS were responsible for more emissions that the whole of Scotland. Along with other banks, RBS participated in financing E.ON – the owners of Kingsnorth coal-fired power station – $70 billion over the course of 2007 [4]. RBS has financed companies like Arch Coal, who are engaging in controversial mountain top removal mining in the US [5], and are also financing companies like Dynegy [6] who are looking to roll out new coal power stations across America.

Sarah Horne, who is at the Climate Camp in Kent, said:
“The Climate Camp has always been about far more than just stopping a new power station at Kingsnorth. The fact that the Royal Bank of Scotland has been targeted twice in as many days highlights the intimate involvement of well-known high street banks in the destruction of our climate, thanks to the billions of pounds they invest in fossil fuel projects each year. We need to shift to a different kind of economy – one that doesn’t rely on endless economic growth at all costs, and respects the natural limits of the planet.”

Sam Harrison, who is currently superglued to the entrance of RBS’s oil and gas division, said “The fact that RBS have a special office dedicated entirely to funding oil and gas projects shows exactly where their priorities lie. We need to radically reduce our use of fossil fuels to have any chance of avoiding disastrous climate change, so it is completely perverse for RBS to keep pouring so much money into oil, gas and coal. We’re here to make them to take responsibility for their actions.”

PHOTOS ON REQUEST: press@climatecamp.org.uk.

For updates and interviews about the action contact Sam Harrison on 07939 142072. For information about the Camp for Climate Action, call 07531396232 or see www.climatecamp.org.uk.

NOTES:

[1] RBS London’s Oil and Gas Division address is at 199 Broadgate Court, Bishop’s Gate, near Liverpool Street station.

[2] The students posed as oil-covered dead bodies to block the entrance to RBS’s HQ. For more details on yesterday’s RBS action, contact Richard Roaf on 07801140192

[3] For more information about Rising Tide see www.risingtide.org.uk

[4] Project Finance, Issue No. 287, February 2008

[5] Bank Track, Mind The Gap, 2007, pp 124-5

[6] www.banktrack.org”

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Naked protest at BERR

Photographs of protesters superglued to the sign of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, 1 Victoria Street, London. August 8, 2008.

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Climate campers target mining corporation
11.08.2008
An affinity group from Thames Valley Climate Action, inspired by this year’s climate camp, occupied the lobby of BHP Billiton today, supergluing themselves to the doors and windows and climbing onto part of the architecture. After several hours, they managed to negotiate leaving without any arrests.

BHP are the world’s biggest mining corporation. Based in Australia, they are responsible for mining hundreds of tonnes of coal, as well as for human rights abuses worldwide. One example is their involvement in Cerrejón, the world’s biggest opencast mine, in Colombia, which has displaced 14’000 people.

With all this in mind we decided to disrupt business as usual at BHP’s head offices in London. We scattered coal in the lobby, glued to the revolving doors and nearby windows, while a second door nearby was D-locked. Meanwhile a team of mischievous ferrets slipped upstairs in suits to see what else could be done, while others held a banner outside saying ‘BHP: Undermining the future’ (a play on their vacuous corporate slogan) and leafleted the intrigued passers-by.

When the ‘ferrets’ were dragged back down to the lobby, they joined the rest of us. One of them also glued to the revolving door, while the other held a ‘Coal Hearted Killers’ banner and eventually managed to scramble up onto a bit of the structure.

A couple of cops eventually showed up, but there was a tangible reluctance on the part of BHP to escalate the situation; they seemed to want to do anything necessary to get us to quietly go away! It was mainly because of this (and because they didn’t have any easy way of getting the climber down) that we were able to negotiate getting everyone away without arrest, after the glued on folk had been unglued by the police using a special chemical solution.

We adjourned to a nearby pub where we sat in mild shock at having done what we planned to do without the expected hassle of arrests..

We can heartily recommend paying them a visit! The massive plate glass windows provide a good view for passers-by, media etc.

BHP Billiton Plc
Neathouse Place
Victoria
London SW1V 1BH

There are also plenty of other similarly evil outfits around central London – do your own research!

http://tvca.atspace.com/
http://leaveitintheground.org.uk/
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/

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Climate Campaigners Target Military Base
11.08.2008
At USAF Mildenhall today, activists linked to the climate camp made a surprise appearance. Dressed as military aircraft and traffic jam both with CO2 technicians. They attempted to entertain whilst defiantly educating the troops and passers by. They said they where there to raise awareness of the large CO2 emissions created by Military aircraft.

A single KC135 plane uses 44 gallons of fuel per minute, emitting approximately the same amount of CO2 as 2000 cars. The planes are used for air-to-air refuelling and can carry 30,000 gallons of fuel – enough to drive a car over 30 times around the earth.

One of the activists, Mell Harrison said ‘We are here to show that military aircraft are not only committing war crimes, but climate crimes also. You very rarely hear about the vast amounts of CO2 emitted by the military and at a time when all should be accountable for their carbon footprint now is the time to put our efforts and resources into tackling climate change not fighting wars over oil resources. ’

Richard Jackson dressed as KC-135 58-0036 said, ‘Nweeeeeeeeearhhhhhhh phut phut phut phut’

Whilst dressed as an ‘alluring’ car sales girl, Pete Lux said, “Even if you do not believe that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are counter productive as we do, there is still the large amount of unnecessary flying. Often the planes will do ‘touch and goes’ where they land and then take off several times. This is a needless emission of carbon dioxide, in fact during the 2 hours of our presence here we have had the same two aircraft taking off and landing continually. ”

Mildenhall is one of the major logistic bases for US Air Force and plays a major role in supporting combat aircraft in both Afghanistan and Iraq. US planes carry out about 40 ‘close air support’ missions every day in Iraq and a similar number in Afghanistan. Each KC-135 flies on average, for 435 hours each year. There are 15 KC -135s at this US base alone. This results in over 160 million Kg of CO2 per year.

Whilst at the US air base somebody with the group was told by a female Suffolk police officer that if she did not tell them who they were, how long they would be there and numbers expected, she, as the ‘nice police’ , would have to call in ‘ the ones with shields and dogs’. So looks like the police tactics of the last few days continue……
We did not see any puppies though.

As Climate Camp finishes, the group say that the campaign against climate criminals will continue all year round.

The KC-135 uses 2650 gallons per hour = 44.16666667 gallons per minute
Carries 90700 kg of aviation fuel = 126000 litres = 27800 gallons.
Average new car creates 140g CO2 per km = 12.6 kg CO2 per hour = 0.21 Kg CO2 per minute.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/kc-135e.htm
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=110
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas

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Climate camp activists target environmentally ‘irresponsible’ meat industry
This morning, 11th August 2008, six Climate Camp activists climbed the roof of Smithfield meat market to highlight the links between climate change and meat consumption. The activists dropped a banner bearing the message “Fight climate change – Go Vegan”.

The activists also quoted the 2007 UN Food and Agriculture report that found that 18% of global greenhouse emissions are caused by animal farming – more than the entire transport sector worldwide. The protestors argue that all major political parties have failed to address this serious problem and as a consequence the public have not been encouraged to adopt an environmentally responsible diet.

The group is calling for more people to choose a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products including meat, eggs and dairy, in order to massively reduce climate altering emissions. “An animal-based diet is no longer sustainable with climate change threatening the planet, its ecosystems, and the people who depend on them,” said Clare Whitney, one of the activists.

The fossil fuel input to produce a day’s food for a vegan is just under 10,000 calories, compared to 34,000 calories for a meat eater – the equivalent of nearly 1.5 tonnes more carbon dioxide per person per year. As such, the climate camp protestors maintain, changing the way we eat is one of the most powerful ways for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.

Smithfield market is one of the largest wholesale trading places for meat products in the UK. Eighty-five thousand tonnes of produce pass through it each year including meat, poultry and cheese.

Phil Murray, 22, noted: “the meat industry is up there with short-haul flights as one of the most environmentally irresponsible sectors.”

The action took place as part of the Camp for Climate Action, a week-long protest against the building of a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, which, if built, will emit between 6 and 8 million tons of CO2 every year.

(This is actually just our press release but since the back light on our laptop just vanished we’re going to have to leave it as that…)

Climate Camp Vegan Action Group
angelo.b@talk21.com

Five GMO fields sabotaged in 3 weeks – Germany

Amflora potatoes (GMO) cleaned up

Dambeck (Müritzkreis), 22th June 2008

Amflora potatoes (GMO) cleaned up

Dambeck (Müritzkreis), 22th June 2008

Despite the high surveillance on the field, people managed to mix up seeds of bio-potatoes with the ones of the GMO-potatoes present on the field, which means that those last one will have to be destroyed, because thanks to this mix-up its uniqueness will not guaranteed any further.

Few weeks before, the field had been squatted by anti-GMO opponents, an eviction followed to this.

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Liberation of a GMO-field in Westheim

Westheim (Unterfranken), 29th June 2008

Around 60 actvists destroyed the fence around a GMO corn-field and managed to destroy almost all of it before getting arrested by the cops.

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GMO cornfield in Rheinstetten has been destroyed

Rheinstetten, 4th June 2008

In the night to the 4.7, some activist managed to destroy again some parts of the Rheinstetten experiment field, Despite a strict surveillance, over 5000m² of the field could be destroyed.
Here a translation of the communique:

“In the night from the 4 to the 5 of july, we destroyed around 5000m² of gmo cornfield in Rheinstetten-Forcheim.
We cutted away a part of it, the rest is so destroyed than nothing will ever grow anymore.
The plants can not create cobs anymore. Therefore the experiment is now failed.
The technogical center for the rural development of Augustenberg (LTZ) wanted to study the socalled „co-existence“ of gmo and non-gmo corn in Rheinstetten. Every reasonable person knows that such co-existence is impossible. A large cultivation of gmo plants conducts to a melt, soon or later. The pollen do not let themselves be ruled Seedproducers such as Monsanto render through their genetic engineering farmers all over the world dependent to their products.
By this, they endanger the world’s nourishment as much as its variety.
The LTZ and its responsible, the minister for agriculture Hauk, through their genetic engineering attempts make themselves helpers of the genetic engineering industry. They do not respect the will of the population, which mostly refuse such application within the agricultural sphere.
Fences, watchtowers and sentinels neither did stop us, nor will ever do, in defending us by all means against Monsanto and its collaborators.

Kommando Biene Maja”

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NRW free from GMOs!

Werne, 10th July 2008

Declaration:

“Do it yourself
The attempt in Werne, NRW, could be brought to a successful end thanks to courageous way of acting. Few days ago, fields full of herbicide-resistent corn have been liberated.
Good prepared is half a reminder.
Especially small experiment-fields are a thankfull gift of the agricutural genetic engineering industry, where one can intervene in a decisive and influential way with an handful of people.
Just do it and do not let yourselves get caught
Enough written – act!”

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Another gmo-field liberated

Kitzingen, 11th July 2008

Declaration:

“There steps the bear on! Bruno destroys the gmo-field
Experts are confirming it after it happened: Bruno the avenger is back.
Together with the ominous commando Bimberle, he left behind himself a trace of destruction at a gmo-field at Kitzingen. Even though Genhofer asked for the shooting of the problematic bears, there wasn’t at all a danger for the population.
And since there are still too many gmo-fields, Bruno said ‘Destroy them all!'”

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direct action news from germany
http://www.directactionde.blogspot.com

Eviction Of Coal Mine Protest Site Started (Bodge House)

7.08.2008
Around 7.45am about 60 police and 50 bailliffs arrived at the house. Throughout the day the police have been trying to get through the barricades and defences. Local people and media have been at the scene. So far 3 people have been removed from lockons and a cargo net outside the house and have been arrested. 7 people are still inside and are heavily barricaded in, included being hidden in tunnels under the house. The bailiffs have put up security fences and although they have managed to enter part of the building, the eviction attempt has been stopped for today. It is estimated the eviction will take at least another couple of days.

Bowl Court Evicted This Morning – Call Out For Help

7.08.2008
This morning at 7am, 40 high court bailiffs have evicted the Bowl Court squat in Shoreditch. It is located in Bowl Court which is up Plough Court next to the junction of Great Eastern Street and Shoreditch High Street. Please come around – help needed urgently !

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I went there at 1pm the situation was :

– a lot of security around, both sides of the building

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I went there at 1pm the situation was :

– a lot of security around, both sides of the building
– a lot of rental vans – it looks like they might be emptying it
– metal grills have been fixed to all entrances, both sides of the building
– they had running generators outside, going in. Don’t know what for.

I didn’t see any of the squatters, there was nothing to do so I left.

Free Food Give Away – 31st July 2008 – Nottingham

The Nottingham Animal Rights crew take great tasting vegan food to the masses and get the facts out about McDonalds.

The Nottingham Animal Rights crew take great tasting vegan food to the masses and get the facts out about McDonalds. The overwhelming majority of the public are delighted by delicious food and more than slightly concerned by the dubious ethical practices of everybody’s least favourite (alright KFC & Burger King, joint least…) fast food chain.

Following kind donations from Alley Cafe, Dotty’s Cafe, Veggies, Screaming Carrot and some home-baked goodness vegan food took over Nottingham for a productive few hours. People gushed in awe at Dotty’s cupcakes, and went crazy for Alley Cafe vegan pizza. McDonalds customers (or should it be ex-customers..?) got a taste of what a real burger should taste like – the veggies burger, 100% tasty and minus dead flesh and assorted nasties that crafty Ronald McDonald sneaks into his kitchens.

Leaflets were on hand covering all variety of great reasons to go veggie (or even better vegan); be it for animals, the environment or our health.

Veggie food never looked so appealing 🙂 For anyone interested in similar events in the future, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Peace, Love & Compassion

http://www.myspace.com/nottinghamanimalrights

URGENT CALL OUT: MAYO NEEDS YOU! NOW IS THE TIME

During the next 2 weeks, the Solitaire (the biggest pipe laying ship in the world) is set to begin illegally constructing the offshore section of the pipeline. It is believed that the Solitaire is on a pretty tight schedule & booked up for the next 2 years, so ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly.

After the success of Climate Camp, come over to Ireland and support a community determined to resist Shell…but they need your help!
Although local resistance has been ongoing, the police and a hired security force have meant it is incredibly difficult. A few weeks ago 13 people were arrested in Glengad (1 man remains in hospital). However the police are now just escorting people from the site and not arresting people.

Therefore there is a real need for clever actions to help delay current construction at the landfall area in Glengad and the planned offshore pipe laying. The local people are calling for your assistance at this time.

It is expected that once the off-shore pipe laying is done, there will be another quiet period for several months before construction is due on the onshore section possibly next spring or summer, so NOW IS THE TIME TO COME!

If you cannot come over please do what you can from home …organise Rossport film nights, protest at Shell garages & offices, contact the Irish Embassy & media.

Travel details on camp website www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com
The cheapest and easiest way to travel from England-Ireland is to get a coach or train ticket that includes ferry too. www.sailandrail.com – 08705 455 455 www.coachacross.com
Accomodation is avaliable at the camp house
we can win but we need you
e-mail: rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
Homepage: http://www.shelltosea.com, www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com, www.indymedia.ie/mayo