Category: Action Reports

Activists disrupt work at site of opencast coal mine

29.06.2008

Activists yesterday obstructed a steamroller which was being used to set a tarmac ramp designed allow heavy plant machinery access to the fields where UK Coal intend to extract around 1 million tonnes of coal.

Once the steamroller had halted, one activist proceeded to d-lock themselves to the machine.

29.06.2008

Activists yesterday obstructed a steamroller which was being used to set a tarmac ramp designed allow heavy plant machinery access to the fields where UK Coal intend to extract around 1 million tonnes of coal.

Once the steamroller had halted, one activist proceeded to d-lock themselves to the machine.
All remained until the police arrived, which was a considerable time later. However, the spontaneous action clearly delayed their work, as the site foreman spent much time talking to the police etc.

Concerned of Smalley
http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/leaveitintheground/

London, Brighton & Manchester Critical Masses commemorate dead cyclists

June’s Critical mass in London saw a slightly different route. As always we met at Southbank and managed to leave at 7.15pm.

June’s Critical mass in London saw a slightly different route. As always we met at Southbank and managed to leave at 7.15pm.

Following the killing of Marie Vesco on the A23 her friends, rampART and Food Not Bombs asked people to ride to Brixton, where she served free food every Sunday afternoon with Brixton Food Not Bombs.

Approximately 600 cyclists left Waterloo going South via Lambeth North, then Elephant& Castle, going round a few times stopping the traffic. Via the Oval we went to Brixton, where we stopped at Windrush Square. By now there were maybe 300-400 cyclists left (there was a bit of North-London snobbery). Different people spoke about Marie and how they missed her. How she died and why she worked with Brixton FoodNotBombs and how giving out free food was so important to her. There was a minute’s silence for her.

Then we cycled North again, police stopped us halfway up towards Stockwell. They had tried to dictate the tempo previously, but rogue cyclists broke through, stopped the traffic ahead of the police line and in that way forced the police to let the Mass go (Health and Safety and all…).

They managed to block Stockwell Road and we didn’t quite get the momentum of breaking through. To the coppers’ surprise the tip of the Mass turned around, cycling back on themselves and turning off the main road further down (Sidney Road I think). We made our way to the Oval, cycling past the Cricket knobs, some of which were using bad language, when we came in sight. Others were supportive.

Vauxhall Bridge ended up being a bit of a splitter were we lost a few people. Going across the bridge, past Parliament we hit the square, encircling it a couple of times, until something happened with the sound system (as always) not quite sure what. music stopped. Raising bikes, blocking road, we then went to see the queen. The whole ride took about two hours and a bit. Nice atmosphere, good mix of people and bikes and so good to have some music on the way (three sound systems).

What happened with the sound system on the North side of Parliament Square was that the police stopped it playing and riders strongly objected to this ban which caused a long traffic holdup.

The cycle police keep on targeting Critical Mass sound systems in the SOCPA zone around Parliament while doing nothing to stop sound systems in cars, buses and lorries. Also the SOCPA legislation is currently under review and other police are tending not to enforce it.

video of ride.

More videos:

cycling down brixton road

through brixton high street

outside the ritzy, enjoying some tunes, before a minutes silence in memory of Marie Vesco

riding up the mall

bringing the mass & some music to the queen
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Yesterday the Brighton Critical Mass monthly bicycle ride was done in the memory Marie Vesco – the young French woman who had been killed on her way from London to the Carnival Against the Arms Trade, that was held on the 4th of June. We, at Critical Mass decided to complete her journey to EDO MBM (ITT) bomb factory that she could not make.

The usual meeting place The Level, 6 p.m. saw police waiting for some sort of a demo. There were: 2 police vans full of coppers, 1 CCTV UNIT van, 6 motorbikes, and none of the police on bicycles.

The ride had commenced as have rode onto Lewes Road escorted by police motorbikes. For a while it felt as if we were prime ministers escorted to some important meeting.

When we had reached the bottom of the Home Farm Road there were few police waiting for us. We then went to the factory to be astonished by the police presence at the factory. There were at least 40 officers with dogs waiting for some sort of a riot.

We have held one minute silence for Marie and went back to town where after a half an hour police had left us alone.

Overall a success.

video of ride.

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This month Manchester critical mass had a one minute silence to honour two passionate cyclists that were killed this month by motorists, and to remember all our cycling comrades that have been killed on the roads.

NORMAN FAY
Norman Fay died on Friday, June 20. He was cycling to the York cycle rally when a motorist collided with him.

“He was just 72 so it’s come as a real shock.

Norman had a well deserved reputation for fine craftsmanship and engineering, and had an infectious love of all things cycling. His bikes have been many people’s introduction to cycling and his experimentation with different cycle forms appealed to hard core enthusiasts and occasional riders alike. I’ve been the lucky owner of a couple of his bikes, one of which I bought when I was 18 and I still have but is sadly gathering dust in the hut.

Both Norman and his late wife Marion were both founding members of South Tyneside Friends of the Earth.

Whilst he died relatively young in modern terms, his continued cycling proved that you’re never to old to get on your bike. Maybe it’s time I dusted off mine.

A true local hero.”

MARIE VESCO

Marie Vesco was killed by a car on Wednesday 4th June while cycling to Brighton. Active in various London social centres, Whitechapel and Brixton Food Not Bombs, she now had plans to open a new social centre.

Marie was part of a group of twelve cyclists who left Brixton in the early hours of the morning to join the Smash EDO demo. They were on the A23 by Burgess Hill when an impatient gas guzzling imbecile swerved across two lanes straight into Marie, then another car hit her. She died instantly, there was nothing her friends could have done. The driver of the second car got straight on his phone as soon as he came to a halt – not for an ambulance but to call his lawyer. He then started pushing Marie’s mates around. One driver has been arrested.

On the arson of Sprider store (Athens, 28/6/2008)

“After puting off the fire, firemen found gas canisters inside the store, a fact leading invstigations to an arson case, and police takes over…”

Sprider shop burnt“After puting off the fire, firemen found gas canisters inside the store, a fact leading invstigations to an arson case, and police takes over…”

Communique sent via e-mail to directactiongr@yahoo.gr:

On June 28, 2008 we chose to strike one of the well-known Sprider chain stores, at Lykovrissi. This choise wasn’t random at all.

We live an every day life turned into an arena of competition as well as accumulation and demonstration of lifeless objects. The expensive car, the classy outfit, the new mobile phone and fast internet are the modern values of your world. The consumer crowds grumbles over costliness while they buy off at their shopping therapy a piece of “joy” and a sterile image of success and show-off. In our days, humans seek for an identity at the new accessories of their mobile phones, their cars’ covers and fashion trends. And everything seems cool.

It is enough for one to choose, of Saturday night’s dilemma between Kolonaki or Psyrri area, the right dress, the appropriate mobile phone and most of all that fake smile, to impress everybody around.

When it comes to everyday life, the lack of communication, loneliness, the slow suicide of alienation, the servitude to a job, the cops’ orders, the reporter’s truth, the bosses’ exploitation… Who cares about all that? Besides, they’re not even a life-style trend to be advertised and followed faithfully.

Thus, all of you faithful consumers, titled with misery and proprietors of the lie can keep dressing up your fancy nothingness tissued with all the shades of compromise and indifference. We instead have chosen for ourselves the colors of war: As long as our life suffocates in the tissue of commercial advertise, useless objects, stylish orders and all the symbols of a consumer paradise, our rage with consiousness will keep searching for break-outs.

We had written in our communique concerning our previous strike against the Aigaleo Police Station, that we do not need an incident or a concurrence to get to action. Now though, we come with an event. On July 11, 2008 the comrades Marios Tsourapas and Chrissostomos Kontorevithakis face a jury, for their arsonist attempt against a municipal police car, an action they have claimed responsibility for, and stand up to it.

All we have to say on that, is that the material damages and the total destruction of this luxurious store are illustrative of our wilfulness, in case of our comrades imprisonment continues.

Gangs of Conscience

Note: You can read the previous claim of the Gangs of Conscience (Symmories Synidisis) on their attack against Aigaleo Police Station here:
http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/2008/05/attack-against-police-station-plus.html

Arrests As International Whaling Commission Fails To Protect Whales

Fifteen people were arrested by police at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), held this year in Santiago, Chile.

IWC protest

Fifteen people were arrested by police at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), held this year in Santiago, Chile. The protesters were supposedly trying to ‘storm’ the meeting but other reports state that the mere presence of people in front of the meeting’s venue was seen as a ‘security threat’.

The IWC meets annually to regulate the whaling industry and make decisions on conservation of whale populations. So far the meeting hasn’t reached any agreements and the commission continues to be strongly devided between the pro- and anti-whaling nations. Skye Bortoli, an activist from Teens Against Whaling described the meeting this year as ‘pathetic’, saying “this body will be known in the future as a small group of ecologically arrogant people who are condemning the world’s whales to agony and oblivion for petty politics and a few lousy bucks.”

Related Audio: Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson Talks in London | Interview With Nottingham Activist On Return From Whale Saving Mission

Related Newswire: Iceland Defies Moratorium On Commercial Whaling – Whale Hunt Started | Norway Starts Whale Hunting Season

Previous Features: Armed Canadian Coast Guard Storms Conservation Vessel | Nottingham Activist Returns From Whale Saving Mission In Antartica | Injured Among Sea Shepherd Crew As Japanese Military Open Fire | Activists Held Hostage By Japanese Whalers In Southern Ocean

Links: IWC official website | Wikipedia on IWC | Teens Against Whaling | Sea Shepherd Conservation Society | Greenpeace | Santiago Indymedia | Indymedia Ocean Defence

This year, like many a year before, the IWC fails to make progress in their protection of whales. Japan and other pro-whaling nations push for a partial lifting of the ban on commercial whaling. Also, the US (which has been involved with Japan’s whaling industry) has been pushing for the regulation of ‘scientific whaling’, something which conservations argue would only legitimize an already illegal activity. Japan uses the ‘scientific research’ as a smokescreen for their illegal commercial whaling practices.

There has been a debate about whether Greenland should be allowed a bigger quota of whales for their hunt and discussions are ongoing about Japan’s hunt in the Southern Ocean. It has been reported that the earliest the IWC might come to some kind of agreement is by next year’s meeting, which is to be held in Madeira, Portugal. The commission continues to be strongly divided between pro-whaling (Japan, Denmark, Norway, Iceland) and anti-whaling (Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa) nations.

Captain Paul Watson, from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, did manage to get into the hotel this year. He normally never makes it inside as the Sea Shepherd is the only organisation officially banned from attending IWC meetings. Paul, like Skye Bortoli, isn’t impressed with the state of affairs at this year’s meeting: “There were many things that could come out of this meeting. Japan could withdraw from the IWC and become a renegade whaling nation along with their partners in conservation crime Norway and Iceland. Or a compromise may be brokered that will allow the Japanese to withdraw from the Southern Ocean without losing face or thirdly, and most likely, nothing will come out of this meeting at all. From the way things are going so far it looks like Sea Shepherd will be returning to the Southern Ocean to once again enforce the regulations that the IWC and the nations of the world refuse to uphold. Oh well, I come to these meetings with no expectations hoping to be pleasantly surprised. After more than three decades I am still waiting.“

Greenpeace was also present in Chile, with a dominant presence among the various anti-whaling NGO’s and conservationists. Dave writes on the Greenpeace blog: “We hope something good comes out of these meetings, and that the commission transforms itself into a body that protects the whales and not the whalers. While commissioners sit in rooms talking, whales are still dying in the Southern Ocean and around the world from commercial whaling, ship strikes, sonar-related deaths, netting and pollution, amongst other human-induced hazards.”

On a positive note, Chile, the host of this year’s meeting has declared a permanent ban on whaling in its waters. Speaking at a former whale processing plant that Chile closed in 1967, President Michelle Bachelet said she sent a bill to Congress proposing a whale sanctuary along Chile’s coastline and declared the whale a national monument.

imc-uk-features

9th August: Day of Mass Action at the Camp for Climate Action!

JOIN WITH THOUSANDS IN MASS ACTION TO SHUT DOWN KINGSNORTH POWER STATION

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE – LAND, SEA OR AIR

CCA pen-knifeJOIN WITH THOUSANDS IN MASS ACTION TO SHUT DOWN KINGSNORTH POWER STATION

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE – LAND, SEA OR AIR

This summer the Camp for Climate Action will be located in Kent near Kingsnorth coal-fired power station, where 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are pumped into the atmosphere every year. On Saturday August 9th, the camp will culminate in a spectacular mass action to shut down the power station. Why Kingsnorth? While the power station is scheduled for demolition, its owners E.ON are planning to build a brand new coal-fired plant in the same place – a ludicrous response to the climate crisis threatening hundreds of millions of lives around the world. The Camp for Climate Action has other ideas. Beginning on August 9th, we intend to shut down Kingsnorth – permanently!

Those at the camp will be joined by thousands more from across the UK to converge on the power station via land, sea and air. We are organising ourselves into four different groups, each using different tactics. There’s something for everyone (including a group accessible to parents and children).

The ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ (GRRR) will be launching an armada of rafts of every shape and size. From pirate ships to Viking boats, a multitude of different themed rafts are being constructed out of recycled materials and every bit of scrap imaginable (materials will be available at the camp for you to build your own rebel raft – for more info see www.thegrrr.net). Once on the river, rafts will swarm towards Kingsnorth like a giant shoal of disobedient fish, all with a single aim – shut down the climate criminal. Safety is obviously of paramount importance and full safety briefings and equipment will be provided.

If you’re a landlubber, not to worry, you can join the ‘Orange Pod’, who will be putting on their dancing shoes and heading straight for the main entrance in a colourful, musical spectacle. And if you’re more of a fan of wild undergrowth than endless economic growth then the ‘Green Guerrillas’ will be approaching through the surrounding fields and woods, looking for weak points in the perimeter fence – up, under or through.. As for the aerial approach – these plans are strictly under wraps, find out more at the camp!

If you can’t make it to the camp, join us just for the day. Trains run from central London to a pick up point near Kingsnorth every few minutes and take less than an hour. If you have more time, come to the camp the night before, or for the full week (August 4th – 10th) where you can take part in over a hundred workshops and experience sustainable living in action, like 1,500 people did last year.

Times, transportation information and more details about the groups and their meeting points will be available at www.climatecamp.org.uk/massaction

Get involved today! Join our email list to get mass action updates:
http://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/climatecamp

For more information about the camp, visit www.climatecamp.org.uk

Be there on August 9th. Shutting down this power station promises to be a defining moment in the global struggle against climate change!

Anniversary of the first week at Shipley Bodge (& upcoming protest dates)

It has been a week already since climate chaos activists took occupation of a farm house on the site of the UK’s newest open cast site. Here is an update. The possession court case was chucked out of court for the moment – more here. Don’t forget the 14th July noise demo (link to left).

UK Coal have started some preparatory works at the Shipley open cast site. Many Tonnes of concrete has been cast to reinforce the public access road near the squatted site. This is allow 200 tonne machines to travel back and forth without doing damage to the public right of way. (I’ll pause here while you un-flabbergast yourself………)

Bodge graffitti 2Bodge flowers 3It has been a week already since climate chaos activists took occupation of a farm house on the site of the UK’s newest open cast site. Here is an update. The possession court case was chucked out of court for the moment – more here. Don’t forget the 14th July noise demo (link to left).

UK Coal have started some preparatory works at the Shipley open cast site. Many Tonnes of concrete has been cast to reinforce the public access road near the squatted site. This is allow 200 tonne machines to travel back and forth without doing damage to the public right of way. (I’ll pause here while you un-flabbergast yourself………)

Meanwhile, further along Bell Lane, telecom engineers were busy with their underground cable detectors. I don’t know why they couldn’t just phone BT and ask where they put them!

Clearly the angry owner of Whitehouse Farm gatehouse (map ref SK41619 44026) is gradually getting knackered from having to keep opening the gate for vehicles on UK Coal business, as he was having fancy new hinges fitted to the gateposts.

The route is still passable on foot or horse, which is just as well. We have confirmed with Derbyshire County Council that the path from Smalley to the gate at Whitehouse Farm is a designated footpath and from there to Shipley Park it is a public bridleway. The Rights of Way Officers at DCC are very keen to hear of any problems members of the public experience when trying to exercise their right to travel freely along this path.

There is no problem with vehicle access from the Shipley Park end, although the gate may be locked on Sundays (please confirm before you travel)

Meanwhile, back at Shipley Bodge…

The new residents have continued to modernise the old farmhouse so it now boasts a loft apartment, new flags and exterior décor. The garden has not been overlooked with nice new fencing, and several tree-houses under construction.

The protesters are in good spirits and well stocked but please keep the supplies coming. People are also needed, for an hour, a day or preferably longer.

Please bring water, timber and food etc.

See http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20918 for initial occupation report, and contact, map, wish list, access to the site, court papers & a protest.
See http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20943 for a report of someone’s visit there.

http://www.leaveitintheground.org.uk

Bodge graffitti 1
Bodge flag
Bodge flowers 1
Bodge flowers 2
Bodge flowers 4

Road resistance round-up from the Midwest US

Indiana June 24- Resistance to I-69 has been rapidly heating up in the past month. While the first protest camp set up was quietly evicted in early May, a tree-sit and occupation created in the path of a proposed onramp later that month lasted five weeks.

B-rad Camp - against I-69Indiana June 24- Resistance to I-69 has been rapidly heating up in the past month. While the first protest camp set up was quietly evicted in early May, a tree-sit and occupation created in the path of a proposed onramp later that month lasted five weeks.

During that time, participants also built an elaborate ground camp, while simultaneously carrying on intensive organizing with local families threated by the road, culminating in a community picnic in Oakland City attended jointly by landowners and eco-activists. Exciting demonstrations and solidarity actions happened throughout the month – in Bloomington, Louisville, Maryland, and beyond.

Dubbed B-Rad Camp (after Brad Will, an Earth First!er and Indymedia journalist murdered by the Mexican state), the occupation was evicted last Friday, June 20. Five people were arrested around the camp, with the two treesitters being exposed to extreme danger and brutality by the state climbers. Three additional protesters were arrested at a police checkpoint on their way to support those facing eviction.

Solidarity actions were launched almost immediately, and one person was arrested that afternoon at an I-69 planning office in Bloomington. Since then, demos have been called across Indiana, at offices belonging to the Indiana Department of Transportation, contractors, and the Department of Natural Resources, who were responsible for lending climbers to INDOT. Nearly 100 people joined a torch march in Bloomington the following night, leading police to scramble to protect the downtown planning office while people chanted, drummed and shot off fireworks.

A few chants from this demo and others: “They wreck dreams – we wreck roads” “I-69 Shut it down, drive INDOT out of town” “No more roads, no more jails” and “Solidarity means attack – against the road we will fight back” and at the end of the torch march “We will win!”

Since then, local organizers have worked to put together legal support for those now facing charges (none extremely serious), while others have continued to act in response to the eviction. A militant office invasion against Bernardin Lochmueller and Associates (a deeply complicit contractor) in Evansville today ended in confrontations with managers and broken windows.

This account is only a brief summary of some of the more visible actions that have occurred in the past weeks against I-69. Meanwhile, many people have continued with other kinds of exciting opposition efforts, including the Roadblock Report (available on the website), the I-69 Listening Project (a push to create more space to dialogue and share stories across the spectrum of farmers and others resisting), and gardening with landowners along the route, among other experiments to spread and deepen the struggle.

More details and pictures can be found at
www.stopi69.wordpress.com . Pictures at http://stopi69.wordpress.com/photos/

BAA’s parent company, Ferrovial, is responsible for providing much of the funding being used to currently build I-69, through its purchase of the Indiana Toll Road.

Anti-Sprawl Direct Action in Montana

Flathead Valley, Montana, U.S. – A group calling itself Americans Stopping Sprawling Development (ASSD) has taken credit for a rash of incidents involving the removal of surveyor stakes and graffiti that is estimated to have cost developers as much as $20,000 so far.

Stop Sprawl!Flathead Valley, Montana, U.S. – A group calling itself Americans Stopping Sprawling Development (ASSD) has taken credit for a rash of incidents involving the removal of surveyor stakes and graffiti that is estimated to have cost developers as much as $20,000 so far.

A three page anti-capitalist manifesto was left behind by the vandals after the first incident which took place on May 17th. The document call urban sprawl “one of the greatest issues facing our society” and promised more actions against it.

The non-profit environmental group Citizens for a Better Flathead has joined developers and their allies and offered a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for a campaign anti-sprawl vandalism.

Citizens for a Better Flathead pledged $100 towards the reward fund. A representative at the Sierra Club’s Missoula office also disavowed the action.

News from the battles for free space in Copenhagen

Struggles around free space and squats continue abounds in Copenhagen, Denmark. Not only are there still weekly demos still for the campaign to have a new Youthhouse (Ungdomshuset) but a new extension to the famous squatted Christiania has been occupied with great success.

Struggles around free space and squats continue abounds in Copenhagen, Denmark. Not only are there still weekly demos still for the campaign to have a new Youthhouse (Ungdomshuset) but a new extension to the famous squatted Christiania has been occupied with great success. It also looks like the council has given in to pressure from the squatters movement and agreed a new Youth House for the kids!!

69 WEEKS for UNGDOMSHUSET:
69 weeks. At least 1 demo every week. Thursday demo number 69 was obviously symbolic (It was the street number of the Youthhouse) and the demo crew had announced it was going to last 24 hours, going through most parts of Copenhagen with different sorts of activities planned throughout – four meals during the 24 hours, open air cinema, pirate party, blocking traffic, speeches, concerts and happenings.
Initially there was some sceptiscism from both activists and police, but it soon became apparent that people were going to stick it out all 24 hours. The demo moved around Copenhagen, stopping in different locations to give speeches or show political films. At many points there were disagreements with the police following the demo, but the demo always got its way in the end, often stopping for long stretches in main roads blocking traffic. After 21 hours – on Friday around 2 pm – the police had finally had enough of the demo acting autonomously and confined the demo to a square in Vesterbro. This resulted in a big public manifestation on the square with both bands and DJs coming from other parts of the city to play.
After 24 hrs the demo ended in a count down and a big greeting to the activists and the city which had both been upside down for 24 hrs through sun and rain, light and darkness.
PICTURES: http://english.indymedia.dk/publish/show/180

A NEW YOUTH HOUSE COMES SLOWLY INTO BEING:
On Wed June 11th, the last city council meeting before summer, the politicians of the council voted in favor of the agreement on a new Ungdomshus in the buildings of Dortheavej 61. The votes were 38 pro and 13 against. The votes were given after 2 hours of discussion. Activists has promised militant activity in the streets again if this meeting was unable to come to a decision on a YES vote for a new place and an address.
The new house will be in what is now a local culture centre under the council. It will be in two connected buildings, one of which will be split in half. The culture centre will remain in the other half of the building and the city council has agreed to build a new add on to compensate for the space lost to the new Ungdomshus.
The first part of the take over (the smaller building comprising 600 m2) will happen on July 1st. After that the main building will be available for take over on January 1st next year.
There has been very positive contact between the left radical scene and the leaders of the culture centre, who are welcoming the new house.
PICTURE: http://english.indymedia.dk/system/photo/file/111/616161.jpg

CHRISTIANIA EXPANDING!!
The area on Refshalevej right next to Christiania that was squatted on the 31st of May is stil growing and the different houses and constructions are taken shape. Neither the City council or the state approves of the situation but can’t figure out who has the authority to act on the squat since half the road is state property and the other half belongs to the city.
Neither the City council nor the state approves of the situation but can’t figure out who has the authority to act on the squat since half the road is state property and the other half belongs to the city. Apparently ‘the constructors’ on Refshalevej for once are benefiting from the bureaucracy, since nothing will be done to clear the street until the two administrations agrees on who’s doing what,
Meanwhile small houses are being built both on water and on the ground as well as roadblocks to slow down car traffic has been established. Around 28 different projects are currently under construction and ‘the constructors’ invited more people to join in!

PICTURES OF NEW SQUATTED REFSHALEEVEJ:
http://english.indymedia.dk/publish/show/175
http://english.indymedia.dk/publish/show/178

BUT EVICTION NOTICE NOW SERVED
The new area squatted near Christiania – Refshalevej – has been given notice. The eviction date is not finalised but will be up soon.
For some weeks activists have been building in the newly squatted ground just outside Christiania called Refshalevej. Now the builders have been given notice by the city council and the state who have joint ownership over the area. An eviction is said to be pending although no date has yet been officially given.
The activists have stated that they intend to resist the eviction non violently, and that they intend to resquat the area immideaitely following the eviction.

COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE STRUGGLE FOR UNGDOMSHUSET
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungdomshuset

EVICTION AND RIOTS CHRONOLOGY + PICTURES/VIDEOS
http://www.emoware.org/ungdomshuset.asp
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/363973.html

COMPLETE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANIA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christiania

Manchester & London Critical Masses this Friday + South London

OH MY!
It’s CRITICAL MASS this Friday….how ace is that?

Friday 27th June 6pm
Central Library Manchester

Afterwards we’ll have a BBQ and hang out a park, so bring BBQ’s, food, music, drinks etc. (vegan BBQs preferred as then it can be accessible to everyone!)

OH MY!
It’s CRITICAL MASS this Friday….how ace is that?

Friday 27th June 6pm
Central Library Manchester

Manchester Critical MassAfterwards we’ll have a BBQ and hang out a park, so bring BBQ’s, food, music, drinks etc. (vegan BBQs preferred as then it can be accessible to everyone!)

A totally ace bike ride around our city to meet other cyclists and ride on our roads…For a few hours once a month we can show how beautiful our city can be when bicycles, instead of cars, dominate the roads.

it’s such a nice and sociable and fun way to spend a Friday evening on a bicycle..wow. so ace. and now we’re getting bigger and bigger..someone said they counted at least 150 people on the one last month, how ace is that?!!. come and be part of our lovely friendly cruise around..to collectively enjoy the beautiful experience that is riding a bike.

—-

People’s comments about Manchester Critical Mass

“…it’s brilliant. Usually I’m charging around on my bike, getting where i need to go as fast as i can. Critical mass is different. It’s about enjoying riding. It’s the most relaxed ride around the city I’ve ever had. Where all my worries and fears float away. And I’ve met some lovely people too”

“I was scared it would be some angry bike militants but everyone is so friendly and the ride is fun no aggro at all. See you next month!”

“it’s quite something to have that many peeps riding round at once.”

“Critical Mass sometimes has a reputation for being an angry rabble of cyclists that want to string up any car drivers they see. This is not true of Manchester Critical Mass, it is a fluffy mass of people that like to have fun on bikes, there are often have children with us and a bicycle sound system to add to the party fun atmosphere. As well as being fun and
a social event it is also to show how great a car free city will be. This is achieved every month by showing motorists an alternative, yet critical mass Manchester doesn’t aim to annoy drivers we want them to join us..”

“I spend all month, every month, riding around behind exhaust pipes and swerving out of the way from angry, disrespectful drivers, I live in a world that is dying from climate change..only the other day it was announced the white rhino is extinct, it tears me up inside. Riding a bike isn’t going to change all of that instantly but I believe that not only does it mean less cars on the roads but riding a bike also gives a feeling of connection with one’s surroundings and other people and through this we can start to act in other ways that can create social change”

“Critical Mass isn’t a place to vent the anger that comes from having to deal with cars (I don’t think), because it’s nice to, instead, spend that time enjoying riding my bike. Sometimes it can feel so alienating riding a bike surrounded by so many motorists. Critical Mass shows that we are not alone and that we are growing. It’s the most fantastic piece of direct action I’ve ever done- I want there to be less cars on the roads and by
being one less car there is!!!”

(taken from emails we’ve received)

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Critical Mass in London for Marie this Friday

Assemble under Waterloo Bridge 6pm on Friday

The Critical Mass in London will attempt to go all the way to Brixton to celebrate the life of Marie, who was killed by 2 cars on her way to the demonstration against the arms trade in Brighon, see:

https://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2008/06/400604.html

Assemble under Waterloo Bridge 6pm on Friday

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South London critical mass?!

The first ever south London Critical Mass is happening on Friday 4th of July, and every first Friday of the month there after.

It will take place @ 6.30, starting from Peckham library.

Help campaign for safer roads for cyclists. All other human powered transport welcome too!
Massive rolling sound system provided by rawkus rickshaws.