Action Reports – Page 219

Office Attacked in Protest of Pulp Mill

“On the morning of Thursday the 31th of July, the Earth Liberation Front attacked the Victorian office of Gunns Ltd. This was an act of economic sabotage and resistance against the proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill, an eco-cidal project which would cause disastrous and irreversible damage to the ancient and precious eco-system of Tasmania.

This mill’s hunger for woodchips would mean a doubling of the already immense current rate of wood-chipping[1], ravaging the native forests of the North-East of the state. It would bring the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed eagle, the Spotted Tail Quoll and the Giant Fresh-Water Crayfish to the brink of extinction[2]. It would spew 30 billion litres of dioxin and furan laced effluent into the Bass Straight every year[3], consume up to 40 billion litres of fresh water[4], and contribute greatly to climate change[5].

We will not accept Gunns’s continual assault on Tasmania’s old growth forests, wildlife, water supplies and carbon sinks. More extreme forms of eco-cide call for more extreme forms of protest.

We will not cease until Gunns abandons its controversial Tamar Valley Pulp Mill.

In defense of our Earth,

Earth Liberation Front.

[1] Gunns Ltd. Bell Bay Pulp Mill, Draft Integrated Impact Statement.
[2] Gunns’s referral under the EPBC Act, April 2007.
[3] University of Melbourne and Forestry Tasmania 2003: Bekessy transcripts, Wielangta court case 2006.
[4] Gunns Ltd. Bell Bay Pulp Mill, Draft Integrated Impact Statement.
[5] Trees- The forgotten solution to climate change; The Wilderness Society, 2006.”

Reported anonymously by Bite Back

DC Students for a Democratic Society & Potomac Earth First! Funk I-69

July 31, 2008

July 31, 2008
Resistance to the construction of Interstate 69 continued nationally on Monday as nearly 100 people took over K Street in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their opposition to NAFTA & I-69. SDSers, Potomac EF!ers, and others danced in the streets, handed out hundreds of fliers and stickers about I-69, and held corporations publicly accountable for their complicity in I-69 and the Plan Puebla Panama. Distracting the police with their funky dance moves, the crowd was able to storm the Cato Institute, a right-wing think tank responsible for forcing neoliberal ideology down the throats of communities across the world, and left their pristine glass doors plastered with anti-I-69 stickers.

The rowdy crowd continued to the offices of HNTB, a planning firm responsible for I-69, but were limited to blocking traffic and chanting by the line of riot police protecting their corporate bosses. The group finally danced its way down to the Washington Post, holding the corporate apologist responsible for uncritically supporting neoliberal policies and free trade agreements throughout the Americas. Once again, the crowd was almost obtained entrance to the offices, distracting those inside and disrupting work, but were forced down the stairs by a line of riot police.

The action forced hundreds of people to stop in their tracks (literally, as traffic was stopped by a dancing reclamation of the streets), open their eyes, and learn about Interstate 69. It also served as a reminder to those responsible for Interstate 69: we know where you are, we will continue to visit you wherever you hide, and all that protects you are thin glass doors and a line of riot police. Capitalism may be globalized, but so is resistance.

Police invade Climate Camp – and FIT are ejected

2.08.2008
The Forward Intelligence Team made a foray onto the field today but were ejected from the field by campers.

2.08.2008
The Forward Intelligence Team made a foray onto the field today but were ejected from the field by campers.

Police still feel confident to wander about the site in pairs – followed and escorted, natch – but the arrival of the FIT with cameras proved too much.

Accordingly they were surrounded and ejected from the field today by the camp.

Numbers are swelling – the clmate camp info line is very busy with last minute requests for directions – and we will soon be empowered to reclaim absolute ownership of the site.

———-

Activists dove under police vans and formed human chains to prevent them from getting on site, and people scrambled up the double tripods – but campers were outnumbered 3 to 1 by the police.

Although police claimed to be searching for materials that could be used on the 9th August day of action, they also seized items such as guy-ropes for safely securing marquees, radios used in medical emergencies, and building materials essential for the construction of compost toilets. The seizures went as far as the confiscation of such ridiculous items as a bicycle repair kit, three board games and a pack of children’s crayons.

But the real stand off took place over water pipes and wood for the kitchens. In a twist of supreme irony, as the council dug a pipeline to deliver fresh water, activists had to engage in a tug of war with the police to keep the water pipes on site – which they did successfully. And as the police brought in a flat-bed lorry to remove wood for the kitchens, activists climbed onto the woodpile and prevented it from being taken away.

As the police gave in and the lorry drove away, a cheer went up and campers immediately formed a human chain to carry the wood up to the kitchens. Unfortunately, there is for the time being a small police presence on site.

Everything is now calm on site, but the raid has put the set-up back by half a day, so more people on site are needed to get the camp ready for this Sunday. The big push will be happening over Friday and Saturday as the majority of materials arrive, and there’s plenty of work to be done – so come on down!

31.07.2008
This afternoon over 100 police officers invaded the Climate Camp, claiming to search for material that could be used for criminal damage. Since there are only around 150 people currently on site, more people are urgently needed to make the site more secure. There are reports that several people were arrested.

Activists who blocked police vehicles were removed in a very heavy handed manner. The names and details of many people were taken. Materials were removed from site, including a wet suit. All the while, a police helicopter was in the sky over the camp.

Police have now left.

—

IMC timeline:

19:10 – Police numbers on site are now substantially reduced but they have installed a mobile police station at the entrance to the camp and there is talk of a permanent patrol. Campers currently negotiating the return of the property stolen by police, much of which is essential to setting up the camp infrastructure.

18.36 – The wood pile has been saved. People sat on the woodpile protecting it and eventually the police gave up and sent the recovery vehicle away. The seizure of water pipe was also attempted but stopped by people sitting on it.

18.15 – Currently the police are removing the pile of construction wood using a 24 hour recovery vehicle. Other confiscated items now include: lots of rope, lots of tools, 3 boardgames, a ladder, boiler suits, flares. Police have emptied entire vans. Half of the police have gone off-site, the other half stopped the search but are still on-site. So far 2 people have been arrested, 1 for stopping police from going into their tent (obstruction).

16.40 – Over 200 police officers have entered the site with vehicles and a police helicopter is hovering overhead. Police were issued with a warrant for the searching and seizing of articles for use in criminal damage. Confiscated items have included: planks of wood, carpet and a war-on-terror boardgame. Every tent is being searched. People are up in the tripods. Some officers are reported acting aggressively towards people trying to resist the search. Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) are walking around the site photographing and filming people.

—

Any materials relating to the Day of Action, including things that appear to be innocuous (oars, inflatables, pumps, D-locks for bikes and so on) may be seized by the police.

You may like to store such items offsite for collection at a later date.

Eviction Postponed for Wembley Sports Ground; New Threats

On Wednesday morning the Wembley Sports Ground occupiers and local businesses saw off council workers, who came to evict the local businesses as part of a simplistic divide-and-conquer manoeuver, but were forced to back off and postpone the eviction ’til Friday.

Last Saturday, the 26th, saw a new group occupy the Wembley Sports Ground. The group, called GRASS (Grass-Roots Alliance for Social Spaces), claims that the construction of a new Academy on the grounds will close them off from the local community and exclude many children and young people from using it. With dwindling community resources due to funding cuts across the nation (to help pay for the Olympics), and reports of rising youth crime and violence all over London, the group says that excluding even more young people from safe social spaces could drive them to the streets, and towards violent gang crime.

On Monday, construction workers and land surveyors attempted to enter the site, and found themselves faced with locals and campers, as well as a large tire barricade. The locals chatted to the workers and informed them of what was going on, while the campers buckled down in front of the gate. The workers left and everyone had a nice drink in the sun.

After this, the council decided to try out the usual tactics of authority everywhere, and informed the businesses on the site (four in all: the football ground, a kids’ nursery, a motorbike driving school and a carwash) that they must leave by Wednesday 9am. Anyone could see this as an attempt to turn businesses against community, and the plan backfired as the businesses held a meeting and decided to resist, along with the camp occupiers. On Wednesday morning a council worker, along with a legal aide, arrived on site and informed the businesses that their eviction has been postponed until Friday morning.

Brent Council is in deep trouble, as they have already promised several parents that their children have places in the unbuilt school, which is due to open at the beginning of the school year in September. With less than five weeks to go, it has become abundantly clear that the privately-owned and run academy (funded by ARK, a children’s “charity” managed by several rich businessmen, including Arpad Busson) will not be built in time. Sources say that the plan is for several portacabins to be laid out to start with, while the school itself will be built around the students during the school year.

Meanwhile, the campaign by locals to keep their sportsground open and free of privatised education has been going for the past two years, as consultations with the community have resulted in open mass opposition to the idea. The council, however, has steamrollered over the opinions of local people and went ahead with the plan.

Tomorrow is Friday, and there are reports of several countermeasures being contructed to stop the bailiffs from evicting the campground and businesses. If you are interested in coming along to help, there are plenty of tents and sleeping bags, and you will be made welcome. The sports ground is on Forty Avenue, Wembley Park Station being the nearest tube. For information and directions, please call 07533192116.

Earth Liberation Front Claims Arson Against Urban Sprawl

“ELF claims arson on urban sprawling project in Älmhult, Sweden the 25/7. An estimated 2 millionSEK [approximately £170,000] villa was burnt to the ground, in response to the increasing urban sprawling as well in Älmhult as in Sweden and the civilisation all over.”

Received anonymously by Bite Back Magazine.

Sitting on piles of coal, revolting peasants, trashing things & fixing other things together, it’s the latest EF! Action Update

Smelters smelted and woodchippers chipped, protestors around the world have been busy again taking action against the planet-trashers – read all about it in the latest quarterly EF! Action Update.

This EF!AU is jam packed with exciting actions, plus features on international resistance against coal in time for this year’s Camp for Climate Action, a resurgence of anti-genetics campaigning, and proposals for a rolling blockade next year of Kingsnorth. You’ll be inspired to Taste the Waste, Leave it in the Ground and who knows what else!

With stories of greenwash laid bare, guerrilla-gardening, revolting peasants, protest camps against coal mines and airports, buildings burnt down, conveyors and trains stopped, tires deflated, GM fields liberated & ‘trials’ decontaminated, despite tear-gas, jail threats, and fortress-like field protection, continuing resistance in Mayo & Iceland, and campaign successes, the diverse uses of superglue just become mundane. Got a broken tea cup or an incinerator to shut down? You know what to use!

And if smashing greenhouses or hanging about 60 metres up seems wierd, read on…

Also includes full lists of ecological direct action groups, protest camps & support groups. Batteries not included.

Pick up your copy at the Camp for Climate Action or at your nearest social centre. Or drop us a line at actionupdate AT earthfirst.org.uk and we’ll post you as many as you like for distributing around town and at events.

Download the latest EF!AU to share with others, subscribe or check out some past issues. The next issue will come out at the beginning of November.

And of course, this year’s EF! Summer Gathering (click here for latest news) is from Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008, if you want to plot & plan, and laugh & chat with old friends & new.

Latest info on Camp for Climate Action (& action reports during the camp) – useful links including ‘what’s it like’ video

All the latest info you need to have a rewarding Camp for Climate Action is below – read more.

Also please note that during the camp, the best place to get related action reports will be https://indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2008/climatecamp/, with others on the general IMC newswire. Daily video reports trailer.

We’ll do a round-up of actions & photos afterwards, as last year.

All the latest info you need to have a rewarding Camp for Climate Action is below – read more.

We’ll do a round-up of actions & photos afterwards, as last year.

Getting there | What to bring | Neighbourhoods | Phones & security | Direct action | 9th August mass action | Other useful info about the camp | Workshop programme – you’ll find 2 workshops clearly labelled as EF! but there’ll be EF!ers, such as you dear reader, sprinkled here and there throughout the camp in all sorts of roles, or off site taking action; also check out all the exciting UK coal resistance workshops, mainly in the Welsh neighbourhood & not in the main workshop programme.

Video – Attending the camp. The practicalities, fun, and fears. Views, reassurance, clarification, and enthusiasm from people who attended in 2007, and a little bit of the magic in their words and eyes.

Activists take site for the Camp for Climate Action and reveal location

30 July 2008

Activists take site for the Camp for Climate Action and reveal location

30 July 2008

Activists take site for the Camp for Climate Action and reveal location

100 people entered and secured an uncultivated field at Deansgate Ridge at 3.00pm today, only 1 km from Kingsnorth Power Station. They erected and climbed tripods to prevent police from moving them and have erected a marquee alongside a banner which reads ‘No New Coal’.

Although the climate camp activists have been upfront and open about most aspects of their plans, the location of the camp had not been revealed until today in order to prevent E.ON and the police from attempting to stop it from happening. The uncultivated field is on a road that runs between Hoo St Werburgh and High Halstow. The Camp for Climate Action intends to return the field in two weeks in as good, if not better, condition than it was found.

Around 20 sheep were in the field when it was occupied. They have been rounded up and are being taken care of with food and water.

The camp, which is due to officially start on Sunday, 3 August, is expected to attract thousands of people coming from all over the UK. The week long camp hosts hundreds of workshops on sustainable living and the politics of climate change. The camp will culminate on Saturday 9 August in a mass direct action to shut down Kingsnorth power station on protest over E.ON’s plans to build the first new coal-fired power station in the UK for 33 years.

“We want to warmly invite people from the local community to come down and see for themselves what the camp is all about,” said Terry Graves, who has already pitched his tent up in the field.

“E.ON and the government believe that you can have endless fossil-fuelled economic growth in a world of finite resources,” said Christina Greensford, who helped to secure the camp. “People from all over the UK are here to create a democratic, low-carbon society in which our long term future on this planet is prioritised over the short term profit margins of the fossil fuel industry.”

“We have a future to protect, and today, in setting up the climate camp, we’ve drawn a line in the sand at Kingsnorth.” said Hannah Abbots. “We will not allow companies like E.ON drag us over the edge of climate catastrophe.”

Press can contact Conor O’Brian at 07530 306267 who is on site and arrange interviews, either over the phone or on the perimeter of the site.

Press can also contact the media team, who are not currently on site, at 07772 861 099

A press advisory will be shortly issued giving information as to when the first media tours of the camp will take place.

camp media team
press@climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk

—

The OS grid reference for the camp is TQ 773 742. The site is between Deangate round about on the A228 and the village of High Halstow. The site is on the west side of the road (left coming north from the A228) as you go up hill after the Deangate sports field and before Dux Court farm.

—

For directions and other useful info, see http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/21137

Saving Iceland Shuts Down Geothermal Drilling Work in Hengill

HELLISHEIDI (ICELAND) – This morning the direct action campaign Saving Iceland has occupied one of the main geothermal drill sites in Hengill where the Hellisheidi power plant is being expanded by Reykjavik Energy. 20 activists have chained themselves to machinery and have climbed the drill to hang up a banner saying “Reykjavik Energy out of Hellisheidi and Yemen”. They have also occupied the power control room of the drill site. The power to the drill was shut off and drilling was stopped for the rest of the day. Seven people got arrested. The protest was aimed at Reykjavik Energy supplying electricity to aluminium smelters in Iceland, destruction and pollution of the Hengill area and RE’s sponsoring of severe human rights abuse in Yemen.

In the last week, Saving Iceland took action at the Glencore and ALCOA headquarters in Switzerland as well as all Swiss Icelandic consulates, the Icelandic embassy in Rome, Icelandic consulate in Milan and also the headquarters of Impregilo. In Iceland Century Aluminum and Landsvirkjun both saw two actions against them and now Reykjavik Energy was targeted.

“We have been camping at Hellisheidi for two weeks now and we are witnessing the scale of destruction, most of which is not very visible to the public. People should really come and have a look what is happening here. What used to be a beautiful natural area is now full of tarmac and pollution. It used to be full of tourists. Now the hiker huts are abandoned while mountains are being blown up to power the Century smelters,” says Saving Iceland’s Jaap Krater.

Most of the work is being done by Eastern Europeans who are living in a work camp, in similar conditions to the Karahnjukar construction.

Reykjavik Energy Invest in Yemen
Saving Iceland also criticises Reykjavik Energy for it’s investments in Yemen (1,2), a country with a Shari’a regime, where there is no free press and security services are routinely involved in torture and even extrajudicial executions (3,4).

“RE say that geothermal investments will benefit the poor in the country. The reality is that the energy will not go to the poor. The regime is very corrupt and Yemen is even advertising for aluminium smelters to come there. If someone would have said ten years ago: I’m making a deal with Sadam Hussein to help the poor, would you believe them?”
“RE should not make deals with anyone involved in serious human rights violations, whether it’s a fundamentalist state or heavy industry corporations,” says Krater.

Impact of Hellisheidi extension
The environmental impact asessment for Hellisheidarvrikjun says explicitly that the only purpose is to supply energy for the Century expansion at Grundartangi and possible new ALCAN and Century plants at Straumsvik and Helguvik (5). At the same time, farmers pay twice as much for electricity as these corporations (6).
Saving Iceland has published reports documenting a long list of human rights violations of these companies (7, 8).

Saving Iceland spokespeople Miriam Rose and Jaap Krater have documented the effects of the geothermal power in Hengill in the journal the Ecologist (9):

“Laced with various and sometimes toxic compounds from deep within the bedrock, the [geothermal borehole] water is either pumped back into the borehole – which can lead to geological instability – or is pumped untreated into streams and lakes. This particular technique has already created a huge dead zone in lake Thingvallavatn.”

Pictures of the physical impact of the drilling can be seen on the Saving Iceland website (10 / see below)

About Saving Iceland
In the last two weeks, Saving Iceland stopped work at the construction site of Century Aluminum’s planned new smelter in Helguvík, they blockaded the existing Century smelter on Hvalfjordur, and took a number of actions against Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s national power company. This is part of their fourth summer of direct action against heavy industry in Iceland.
Saving Iceland was started by Icelandic environmentalists asking for help to protest the Icelandic wilderness, the largest remaining in Europe, from heavy industry. Aluminium corporations Alcoa, Century Aluminum and Rio Tinto-Alcan want to construct new smelters. This would require exploitation of all the geothermal areas in the country, as well as damming all major glacial rivers (see http://www.savingiceland.org/sos).
This year, the fourth action camp to protect Icelandic nature has been set up near the Hellisheidi geothermal plant.

More information
http://www.savingiceland.org
savingiceland at riseup.net

References

1. Yemen News Agency (2008). Yemen, Icelandic REI sign document to invest in generating electricity by geothermal. http://www.sabanews.net/en/news151190.ht… [Accessed July 27th, 2008]
I2. ceNews (208). Electricity agreement signed between Yemen and Iceland. http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2008/04/… [Accessed July 27th, 2008]
3. BBC News (2008). Country Profile: Yemen. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_… [Accessed July 17th, 2008]
4. Embassy of Yemen in the US (2008). http://www.yemenembassy.org/economic/ind…. [Accessed July 17th, 2008]
5. VGK (2006). Environmental Impact Assesment fot Helisheidarvirkjun. VGK, Reykjavik.
6. Iceland Review (2007). Century Smelter to Pay Less for Energy than Farmers. June 7th 2007. Also available at http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=821. [Accessed July 27th, 2008]
7. Saving Iceland (2007). Alcan’s Links to the Arms Industry. http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=882 [Accessed July 27th, 2008]
8. Saving Iceland Press Release (2007). Saving Iceland Blockades Century and ELKEM. http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=841 [Accessed July 27th, 2008]
9. Krater, J., Rose, M., Anslow, M. (2007). Aluminium Tyrants. The Ecologist 2007 (10). Also available at http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=1021 [Accessed July 27th, 2008]
10. Saving Iceland (2008). Destruction of Hengill. http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?page_id=… [Accessed July 27th, 2008]

Caravan heads for Camp for Climate Action – events programme – Heathrow conference – updated again

Angry Penguins & Climate Refugees to Visit Climate Criminals

Wednesday 30th July: A large group of displaced penguins, a homeless polar bear, and several human climate refugees crossed London Bridge to enter the City of London today

Angry Penguins & Climate Refugees to Visit Climate Criminals

Wednesday 30th July: A large group of displaced penguins, a homeless polar bear, and several human climate refugees crossed London Bridge to enter the City of London today

“We have been forced from our homes by the actions of companies that are reaping huge rewards from the perpetuation of a fossil fuel economy” said Penny LeGuin. “If they are allowed to continue with their reckless behaviour, you humans will also find yourselves without a home – planet Earth will become uninhabitable.”

The group will be visited a variety of oil, gas and finance companies that they have identified as fuelling the runaway climate chaos that is destroying their homes. This event is part of the Climate Caravan, which is travelling through London, from Heathrow Airport to the Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth power station in Kent.

Paula Bare explained – “Our Caravan began in Sipson, where an entire community faces eviction for a suicidal 3rd Runway for Heathrow. On our journey to the site of an equally absurd proposed new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth, we are bringing the catastrophic impacts of climate chaos to the oil-soaked heart of the problem – the City of London.”

Notes for Editors:
1. The Climate Caravan began on Sunday July 27th, leaving from the site of last years’ hugely successful Camp for Climate Action which was held on Sipson Lane, under the deafening roar of Heathrow’s flightpath. By wheel and foot, around 50 people are making their way to the Camp for Climate Action under the shadow of Kingsnorth Power Station. The 60+ mile trip will take a week, with events planned at each stop. The Caravan will arrive at the Camp on Sunday 3rd August. See www.climatecamp.org.uk/caravan

2. See www.climatecamp.org.uk for more information on The Camp for Climate Action.

3. Contact the Caravan Press Team on 07989 985 442.

———-

Caravan Events Programme

These events are to act as local outreach in the run up to the Camp as well as to provide entertainment/interest to Caravaners.

Sunday 27th July: Launch of the Climate Caravan.
The Climate Caravan starts its 60 mile journey from Heathrow to Kingsnorth.
9.30am Harlington Baptist Church, 266 High Street, Harlington Hayes, UB3 5DG

Sunday 27th July: Climate Camp-What’s it all about?
Come along & meet the campers.
7.30pm Grove Gardens Chapel, Lower Grove Rd, off Queens Rd, Richmond.

Monday 28th July: ‘Turning the world upside down’-
The Putney Climate Debate.
Arrive 6.30pm. Speakers from 7pm. St Mary’s Church, Putney High Street, SW15 1SN.
Speakers :
Andrew Simms (New Economic Foundation)
Jenny Jones (London Green Party)
Penny Eastwood (The Camp for Climate Action)
Leila Deen ( World Development Movement)
Simon Okotie ( London Citizens)
Keith Wilson (Treesponsibility)
Andy Goldring (Permaculture Association)
Dr. Paul Chatterton (Leeds University) will introduce and facilitate.

Tuesday 29th July: A fair & sustainable transition. How do we make it happen?
7.00pm: Synergy Centre, 220 Farmers Road, Oval. SE5 OTW
This evening starts with a 50 minute film “Power of the Community” about Cuba introducing peak oil, post fossil-fuel communities, permaculture, urban food solutions and transitioning to a post-fossil fuel economy whilst maintaining a welfare state. A brief intro to transition towns follows and then an open space creative visioning session to prepare us for a positive debate around how to get this going here and now.

Wednesday 30th July: Climate & Capitalism
Finance and The City
A Tour; meet at 3.30pm outside Liverpool St, Bishopsgate exit. (1 ½ hours).
*Tackling climate change starts at home, apparently.*
Examining the root causes of climate change has brought us to the bleeding
heart of London: the single square mile of the business district. Decisions
made in the City over financial investments across the world are locking us
into decades of carbon emissions. How are we tied up in this? How do we
affect it?
Take the tour, meeting at Liverpool St on Bishopsgate at 3.30pm.
Look for the suits with umbrellas..

Thursday 31st July: Life Beyond Cars
Family friendly foray into a fossil fuel free future. Bring your bikes-Dr Bike in residence. Workshops, talks, displays & demonstrations.
4-6pm: nr Oxleas Wood Cafe, Crown wood lane, Shooters Hill, Greenwich, SE18 35A
Friday 1st August: Climate Camp-What’s it all about?
Come along & meet the campers.
7.30pm: St Botolph’s Church Hall, The Hill, Northfleet. DA11 9EU.
Saturday 2nd August: Climate Camp-What’s it all about?
Come along & meet the campers.
7.30pm: Church of St Francis of Assisi, Galahad Avenue, Strood, ME2 2YS.

——-

Heathrow launch conference

Stop Incineration caravan from Sussex

Practical caravan info, meeting points etc | Route
——-

29.07.08 Climate camp caravan – film stop.

The climate camp caravanners stopped at the Synergy centre in Oval for a scheduled break from their travels on Tuesday evening.

Around 30-50 people of varying backgrounds and ages settled in for the night, and after a home-made meal they watched a film about sustainable living in Cuba, and how to introduce techniques for sustainable living into their lives here in the UK. The film was shown on a cycle-powered cinema, which featured 2 bicycles, allowing people to swap when they got tired without loss of power.

Afterwards the group gathered together for a group discussion about sustainability, which began with speeches by a Camden councillor, two environmental thinkers and a member of the climate camp staff. The theme of the evening was very much about how to try and ensure the communities in which the caravanners live become as self-sufficient and environmentally friendly as soon as humanly possible.

Finally, an exhausted caravan did their best to absorb it all and wash up before crashing for the night.

In a few days time the caravan will arrive at the site at Kingsnorth, whose site has already been claimed by the Campers, in preparation for their arrival…

Onward.
: ))

——-

Wednesday 30th July, the fourth day of the Climate Caravan traveling to this year’s Climate Action Camp in Kingsnorth, Kent. The theme of today’s leg was ‘Climate & Capitalism’, and so, there’s probably no better place to point out the links between Climate Chaos and Capitalism’s obsession with making bucks out of the depletion of the planet’s natural resources, than the Square Mile.

Fleeing penguins and polar bears, and climate refugees on boats migrating due to the devastating effects of climate change, invaded London Bridge at about eleven in the morning, and they slowly made their way into the City of London. The traffic in London Bridge was brought to a standstill for about one hour, whilst protesters gave away hundreds of leaflets and the Camp’s newspaper to the passers-by.

The Caravan then moved into the City itself, with a detour through several of the City’s main landmarks. It eventually stopped at the global investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs, where a long speech was made through the bike sound system about the sort of ‘investments’ Goldman Sachs are involved in, and how this relates to Climate Change and its effects on communities and the environment. It was also pointed out that Goldman Sachs had already been targeted before by the Justice For Cleaners campaign, for their low standards of employment conditions for the City’s army of invisible cleaners.

The Caravan then moved to St Paul’s Cathedral where it stopped for a couple of hours for lunch. A photo exhibition was set up, whilst the bike sound system kept playing chill tunes for the participants, as well as for the many tourists that approached it to find out what was all that about.

The Caravan then set off for the meeting point at Liverpool Street station, where it was joined by some more people waiting there. It then moved to the nearby headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland, where bags full of pennies where thrown at the main entrances to symbolize the corporation’s investments in Climate Chaos.

——

The caravan is on the move! For four days now the collection of bikes, trikes, walkers, penguins, pirate ship and polar bear have manoeuvred their way from the site of last year’s camp into the heart of London. From beautiful city parks to three-laned roundabouts the group has brought bright colours,music and a vibrant, positive change to the surrounding environment. This was most apparent today (Wednesday) as we danced in sunshine through the financial district of London, flyering inquisitive onlookers and setting a different stage for city lunch-time buyers.

The response from passing people as we weave our way through the streets has been astounding. Everywhere we have visited pedestrians and drivers alike have taken a genuine interest in why we are here- and willing to talk about the relevant issues of climate change.

The Putney debates was well attended as groups discussed six proposals to turn the world upside down. Topics ranged from permaculture to environmental economics, and was heartily begun with a song to remember the diggers of 1649.

Petrol stations have been constantly frequented along the route with guitar melodies to lighten the mood for those at petrol pumps.

Today, a waddle of penguins stopped traffic on London bridge and made their way towards the financial and advertising institutions complicit in the use of fossil fuels for short-term economic gain. This was an utterly amazing and inspiring action. The penguins had an open road over the bridge to enter the city as two lanes were used for waddling and the rest of the group calmly dealt with the traffic behind.

Penguins made visits all over London to the advertising companies promoting the likes of Shell (in solidarity with the Rossport camp), BAA and E-ON. Occupations were made at offices in Holborn and Tottenham Court Road areas where normal operations were disrupted and links to the carbon web expressed.

A trip was also made to the city hall in Stratford where a council meeting was being held concerning the expansion of City Airport. Tents were put up and members of the council given information concerning the impact of airport expansion and runaway climate change.

Tomorrow we leave London for Kent “the garden of England” to hear stories of Oxleas Wood and a step closer towards our destination at Climate Camp. Tonight we sang songs in Hackney City Farm and partied in London Fields with the locals, after hearing the brilliant news that the site has been taken next to the power station. Come and join us on are journey to Kingsnorth and certainly to a fossil-free sustainable future!

Following are the experiences of some of the caravaners so far on the route;

* Learning the stories of London along the route and connecting the Putney debates to another radical point in history has made me feel completely hopeful in achieving the big ideas for change.

* I’m tired but inspired by the beautiful train of bicycles and people with colourful flags and pirate ship. Weeving our way through the city has felt peaceful despite all the traffic. Every day is exciting and i can’t wait for the next. A highlight has been dancing in sunshine after navigating to the Synergy centre in Oval.

* Come join us! We have been shimmering our way through the city with the police leaving us aloneand self-managing are route.

* My favourite moment has been walking past a school with the caravan and all the kids looking really interested in what was going on. As we left the teacher seemed to start explaining our presence there.

* Going through hectic traffic junctions and working together has been so important in bringing the group together as a solid block. I’ve learnt loads about traffic control! and that we’re best tightly-knit and not as a fragmented troop.

* I’m really excited and felt tearful with joy earlier. It’s empowering walking on the road and feel amazingly safe. It’s really well organized and there’s great chances to chat with people and interact. You forget where the cars are and just enjoy the journey.

* I’m chuffed with the openness and feel of the caravan and there’s great freedom to get involved. it’s completely multi-faceted- as some people seem to walking as a pilgrimmage, while others for outreach. It doesn’t feel like a traditional march, it’s much more engaging with who we’re passing because we can take time to talk to passing motorists and pedestrians.

* I’ve found it absurd and amazing- i had loads of fun played sardines in leafy, overgrown Richmond graveyard. We’ve adapted to the new places we’ve arrived at and interacted well with the locals- from putting on events with them to doing handstands and streetdancing in Oval!

* I’m tired but very positive and elated to be here. It’s a non-stop rollercoaster of fun from meeting new people and seeing new place to learning new skills.

* I feel prepared, inspired and creative, and also part of a tradition in learning about the history of when people create something to stand up together.

* I feel excited and have gained energy from being part of this amazing group of people. I had concerns about the safety of the carava but these disappeared on the first day. Everyone is in high spirits, there’s good vegan food and wicked creativity.