!! OPENING !! (finally…!!)
After weeks of resisting forcible evictions we’re ready to open!
Come by for a potluck dinner + movie + music. FREE!
!! OPENING !! (finally…!!)
After weeks of resisting forcible evictions we’re ready to open!
Come by for a potluck dinner + movie + music. FREE!
Come support the city’s newest social centre and the future of autonomous spaces in London!
FEBRUARY 14th
6pm – midnight
231 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney (go around the back and ring the bell!)
(at the last stop of the 38 bus route)
FREE! (bring extra skipped food, music, friends)
The Hunt for the Japanese Whale Poachers Resumes…
Press Release: 02/13/2008
After twelve days of repairs, refueling, re-crewing, re-supplying and re-provisioning, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin is returning to the Southern Ocean. The estimated time for departure is 2000 hours Melbourne time on Thursday February 14.
The Hunt for the Japanese Whale Poachers Resumes…
Press Release: 02/13/2008
After twelve days of repairs, refueling, re-crewing, re-supplying and re-provisioning, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin is returning to the Southern Ocean. The estimated time for departure is 2000 hours Melbourne time on Thursday February 14.
“A special thank-you to Australia,” said Captain Paul Watson. “You helped to send the Steve Irwin back to sea as a Valentine’s Day gift to the whales.”
Donations of money for fuel, donations of food and supplies flooded onto the decks of the whale conservation ship during the brief stay in Victoria docklands.
“We are anxious to return to the coast of Antarctica,” said Sea Shepherd cook Amber Paarman from South Africa. “Every moment that we are not on the tail of the Japanese fleet means that the lives of the whales are in peril.”
The Steve Irwin intends to harass and intervene against illegal Japanese whaling for the next four to five weeks. This should stop them to the end of the whaling season. The fleet’s operations were shut down for more than three weeks in January. Sea Shepherd intends to shut them down again.
“In January we prevented them from slaughtering whales for three weeks, we cost the Japanese over two million dollars in fuel during the pursuit and we exposed their illegal whaling activities worldwide and most importantly we got the story into the Japanese media. This provoked a real debate in Japan on the cost of whaling to Japan’s reputation,” said Captain Paul Watson.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society does not intend to surrender the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to the poachers. After this season, Captain Paul Watson is working to secure a 2nd ship with the objective of mounting a non-stop pursuit for the 2008/2009 whaling season.
The Steve Irwin dropped off 16 volunteer crewmembers in Melbourne on February 2nd and 19 volunteers have joined the crew. Eleven crewmembers have been with the campaign from the beginning.
The 32 crew, 8 women and 24 men returning to the Southern Oceans represent 10 different nationalities. In addition to 15 Australians, crewmembers have joined from New Zealand, Canada, the U.S.A., Sweden, South Africa, the Netherlands, the U.K. Spain, and Japan.
http://www.seashepherd.org
================================
Award winning documentary Sharkwater will have its theatrical release in the United Kingdom on February 22. In the film, shark conservationist Rob Stewart teams up with Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd to combat the shark fin mafia in Costa Rica and the Galapagos.
“This is a film that will forever shatter the stereotypical myths that surround sharks. Where Jaws taught people to hate and fear sharks, Rob Stewart’s passionate masterpiece will have people loving and caring for these important animals,” praises Captain Watson.
Full details: www.sharkwater.com www.seashepherd.org
UK THEATRICAL RELEASE SCHEDULE
ALL VENUES PREMIERING 22nd FEBRUARY
London
Apollo Cinema
19 Regent Street London, SW1Y 4LR
Regions
Birmingham Showcase
Kingsbury Road (A38) Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9QE
Bristol Showcase
Avon Meads, St. Phillips Causeway, Bristol, BS2 0SP
Cardiff Showcase
Heol-Yr-Odyn, Park Nantgarw, Trefforest Industrial Estate, Nr Pontypridd, CF15 7QX
Hull Odeon
Kingston Park, Kingston Street, Hull, HU1 2TX
Glasgow East Showcase
Barrbridge Leisure Centre, Coatbridge, Glasgow, G69 7TZ
Norwich Odeon
Riverside Leisure Park, Wherry Road, Norwich, NR1 1XA
Nottingham Showcase
Redfield Way, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2UW
Leeds/Bradford Odeon
Gallagher Leisure Park, Thornbury, Bradford, BD3 7AT
Manchester Showcase
Hyde Road (A57), BellVue, Manchester, M12 5AL
================================
Planktos Ocean Dumping Scheme Defeated by Anti-Whalers
News release: Sea Shepherd
02/14/2008
Our campaign against Planktos Inc. is over. The controversial plan to dump hundreds of tons of iron ore dust into the ocean in a bizarre scheme to seed plankton blooms has been abandoned by the Planktos corporation of California.
This is a victory against a corporate carbon trading scheme that had no scientific credibility.
This is from the February 13th, 2008 edition of the New York Times” ( http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/commercial-ocean-fertilization-project-
halted/index.html?ref=technology):
“Planktos, the California company trying to turn a profit by fertilizing the ocean with iron dust, pulled the plug on planned field tests on Wednesday, citing a lack of funds. At the company’s Web site, planktos.com, a simple notice blamed the shutdown on a “highly effective disinformation campaign waged by anti-offset crusaders.”
The business plan had been to sell “carbon offset” credits earned by triggering blooms of phytoplankton that, in theory, would absorb a predictable amount of the climate-warming gas carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and then sink to the seabed. The credits would be sold to companies or individuals trying to compensate for unavoidable emissions of carbon dioxide (from driving, flying, and the like).
Plankton blooms happen naturally when dust containing iron settles on ocean waters where a lack of iron otherwise prevents plankton from thriving. Huge blooms have resulted after dust from the Sahara Desert blows over the Atlantic, for example. But efforts to replicate the process artificially have met with strong opposition from environmental groups. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which for years has confronted, and sometimes rammed, whaling and fishing vessels had threatened to block a fertilization effort by Planktos last summer near the Galapagos Islands, forcing it to change plans.
A number of marine and climate scientists have also opposed commercial fertilization efforts, for various reasons. In a “joint policy statement” published in the journal Science last month, a group of researchers from around the world said trade in carbon credits earned this way was premature “unless research provides the scientific foundation to evaluate risks and benefits.”
The Planktos vessel Weatherbird II has been stuck in port on the Portuguese island of Madeira after months of revised plans and failed efforts to attract more investors. Financial troubles had been mounting for months. On Wednesday, the company said it had called back the vessel and its crew.
The Planktos statement said:
“Management has also radically downsized the company’s staffing while the board of directors has formed a new committee to explore all options currently available. Options include a possible re-launch of planned marine operations, pending additional financing or new partnerships, as well as the possible pursuit of other promising business opportunities in the environmental sphere.
The board of directors continues to believe in the urgent ecological necessity of its ocean restoration plans and the scientific speciousness of objections voiced to date. However, ideological hostility to and misrepresentations of this work will continue to stymie progress until the true gravity of our climatic and ocean crises is more widely understood.”
The Sea Shepherd Position:
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society opposed the iron ore dust dumping scheme because it was condemned by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States and was in fact a violation of United States and International regulations on the dumping of materials at sea. The scheme was also opposed by the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Ministry of the Environment of Ecuador.
Sea Shepherd did not make any judgment on the scientific merits, if any, of the scheme. We acted because the dumping was a violation of Ecuadorian, American and International law.
In August of 2007, Sea Shepherd blocked the plan in the Galapagos. In November 2007, Sea Shepherd confronted the Planktos vessel in Bermuda forcing it to move onto Madeira.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society would like to thank Planktos for acknowledging our opposition as the reason for the abandonment of this scheme.
Will dumping iron ore dust into the sea stimulate plankton blooms? Will increased plankton blooms sequester more carbon dioxide? We don’t know but the answers need to be found in the lab before using the living ocean as a testing facility. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is not in a position to determine scientific merit. We can only act upon the recommendations of scientific bodies and law enforcement agencies. As a partner with the Galapagos National Park and the Ecuadorian National Environmental Police we acted in accordance to their opposition to this scheme and we agreed with the EPA in the USA, and the Darwin Research Centre in the Galapagos, that the Planktos scheme lacked sufficient scientific credibility.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will continue to monitor this kind of activity and will intervene if the plans do not demonstrate tested scientific experiments that show such plans are safe for marine life.
Athens, 13 February 2008
Yet another police surveillance camera was put out of use today during a large demonstration against pension reform and the rest of the Greek government’s neoliberal policies.
One activist climbed on a ladder and painted the camera lens using an extension, while others unscrewed a compartment at its base, cut the wires and filled it with foam that solidified soon thereafter. Leaflets against surveillance and repression by the state were handed out.
Athens, 13 February 2008
Yet another police surveillance camera was put out of use today during a large demonstration against pension reform and the rest of the Greek government’s neoliberal policies.
One activist climbed on a ladder and painted the camera lens using an extension, while others unscrewed a compartment at its base, cut the wires and filled it with foam that solidified soon thereafter. Leaflets against surveillance and repression by the state were handed out.
The action was undertaken by the Network for Political and Social Rights, a group that earlier this year celebrated 20 years in action.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcaJ8fCqs1E
Network for Political and Social Rights (greek only)
www.diktio.org
12 Noon February 14th, Kildare Street Dublin 2.
On Thursday this week, there will be a protest at Leinster House in Dublin to bring attention to the sweetheart deal between the Irish Government and the Corrib Partners (Shell, Statoil,and Marathon) for the exploitation of Ireland’s natural resources. Protesters will gather at Kildare Street at 12 noon. More info here: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86192
12 Noon February 14th, Kildare Street Dublin 2.
On Thursday this week, there will be a protest at Leinster House in Dublin to bring attention to the sweetheart deal between the Irish Government and the Corrib Partners (Shell, Statoil,and Marathon) for the exploitation of Ireland’s natural resources. Protesters will gather at Kildare Street at 12 noon. More info here: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86192
1PM February 23rd, Shell Glasnevin, Finglas Road Dublin 11
On Saturday 23rd of February there will be a picket of the Shell Service station opposite the main gate of Glasnevin Cemetery. Although Shell no longer run the forecourt business, all the fuel sold in this and other Shell garages is still sourced from Royal Dutch Shell. Protesters will be asking motorists to boycott the station until concerns about the Corrib scheme are addressed by the company.The protest will start at 1PM sharp. More info here: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86187
The next large-scale protest in Mayo will be on Friday, February 29th. Shell are set to announce the new route for the production pipeline linking the gas field to the Bellanaboy Refinery site sometime towards the end of February. Many people in Erris expect the company to apply for permission to run the pipeline under the water of Sruth Fáda Conn, the inlet bay that runs alongside Rossport. This will mean the Minister for the Environment will have to apply for permission from the European Parliament to break the rules which are designed to protect endangered habitats and protected environments.
More details of the February 29th protest will follow nearer the time.
Keep up to date with Shell to Sea by checking indymedia.ie/mayo
You can see Shell to Sea videos on youtube here: www.youtube.com/shelltohell
For more information call 0871323369.
February 12 2008
Survey work was halted
This morning survey work stopped when members of the community questioned Ollie Murray (Shell Community Liason Officer) on whether he had the necessary permission. He is a man of few words and our questions were met with his mantra of ‘I don’t know, contact RPS’. ‘’Do you have the RPS number? No. ‘’. It was a beautiful day and whilst we were waiting for the RPS engineer to ring back with details (at 22.00pm he still hasn’t), the surveyor admired the view of the pristine bay in Glengad. No survey work was undertaken. The bore hoels illegally constructed 5 months ago are still there, despite Minister John Gormley ordering their removal asp.
February 12 2008
Survey work was halted
This morning survey work stopped when members of the community questioned Ollie Murray (Shell Community Liason Officer) on whether he had the necessary permission. He is a man of few words and our questions were met with his mantra of ‘I don’t know, contact RPS’. ‘’Do you have the RPS number? No. ‘’. It was a beautiful day and whilst we were waiting for the RPS engineer to ring back with details (at 22.00pm he still hasn’t), the surveyor admired the view of the pristine bay in Glengad. No survey work was undertaken. The bore hoels illegally constructed 5 months ago are still there, despite Minister John Gormley ordering their removal asp.
Blockading of trucks
Of course the community are still attempting to slow down construction on the Shell refinery site. Blockades happen as much as possible; last week workers were once again blockaded and today lorries were blocked from entering. When the authorities fail to protect the community and the Special Protected Area, the community have no choice but to actively do it ourselves. For reasons of health, safety and environmental protection, we cannot let this refinery be built at Ballinaboy.
’People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens. Development today must not undermine the development and environmental needs of present and future generations.’ Local Agenda 21
————–
12.2.08 Local people block Shell from illegal work in a SAC at Glengad, Erris for 4 hours until Gardai force through workers, injuring protesters.
At approx 8am this morning, local residents became aware of a Shell contracted survey team in the Glengad area on the SAC. To work in this area we understand that permissions must be obtained prior to any work being undertaken by Shell. Shell have still yet repaired the illegal work done last October.
To our knowledge, they are only entitled to remove the illegal boreholes, as ordered by Minister Gormley. Our requests for evidence of other permission continues to be ignored by both Shell, RPS and NPWS. Today’s surveying had nothing to do with repairing the damage however, despite claims to the contrary by security staff.
Despite contacting Shell’s supposed public liasons officer in the last few days no attempt has been made by Shell to clarify if they have any other of the required permissions.
A group of local people were forced to enter upon the land to stop this illegal work. Work was halted between 8am until approx 12 noon when a force of over a dozen Gardai came to escort the survey team back onto the SAC.
Despite explaining why the local community had reasonable excuse to stop further damage being done, the Gardai very forcefully removed all protesters from the entrance gate, ushering in the survey team. In their zealous pursuit of Shell’s best interests, the Gardai assaulted many of the approx 10 protesters present at the time. 1 man was arrested after being shoved onto a barbed wire fence, cutting his arm in several places before having his head banged off the ground by several Gardai. Others were dragged off, received kicks, shoves, had hair pulled, while the Gardai simultaneously obstructed the only camera from filming. The man who was arrested was later released without charge.
Around 20 activists, some dressed as wolves in sheep’s clothing, visited the D1 Oil refinery in Bromborough on the Wirral, on 2nd February 2008.
Around 20 activists, some dressed as wolves in sheep’s clothing, visited the D1 Oil refinery in Bromborough on the Wirral, on 2nd February 2008. They were there to highlight the dangerous consequences of large-scale bio-fuel production for the climate and for people worldwide.
Video Video Footage – video/mp4 2.5M
The demonstrators from Manchester and Liverpool, inspired by the Camp for Climate Action, erected a 16 metre banner reading, “Biofuels cause Climate Chaos” and another smaller banner reading “Biofuels + Big Business = Disaster”. The demonstration came at the end of a week of action called by Biofuelwatch.
On arrival activists were told by security that the plant was empty and not operating, however when several activists entered the site, at least twenty workers dressed in boiler suits came out to meet them. Although the gates were shut campaigners remained for approximately one hour to talk with staff and local residents. Police attended but no arrests were made.
D1 Oils plc. have used palm, soya and rapeseed oil to make bio-diesel. Now they have joined forces with corporate giant BP, aiming to acquire and plant one million hectares of land with supposed ‘wonder crop’ Jatropha, within four years. For information on the real impact of this crop and other agro-fuels check out www.biofuelwatch.org.uk
9 February. Some 30 activists put up a blockade in the middle of the highway running through Umeå, the largest city in northern Sweden.
9 February. Some 30 activists put up a blockade in the middle of the highway running through Umeå, the largest city in northern Sweden. Recent studies have found the highest concentrations of carbon dioxide ever recorded in Umeå, due to increasing traffic, while Sweden’s car park remains the most fuel-guzzling in the EU. Klimax-Umeå demands a rapid expansion of public transportation in the city and an end to subsidizing new roads. The blockade lasted for half an hour, wreaking considerable chaos in the inner city traffic
7.02.2008
In May of last year, someone stood in the road and tried to stop a car, who had hit a Critical Mass cyclist off their bike, from driving away. For that he was arrested for obstructing the highway, thrown to the floor by his neck whilst handcuffed, and then – surprise surprise – also arrested for assaulting a police officer.
7.02.2008
In May of last year, someone stood in the road and tried to stop a car, who had hit a Critical Mass cyclist off their bike, from driving away. For that he was arrested for obstructing the highway, thrown to the floor by his neck whilst handcuffed, and then – surprise surprise – also arrested for assaulting a police officer.
Today, after 9 months of nervous waiting, he was finally cleared of all charges, as Bristol Magistrates Court accepted a submission that the police evidence was at best ‘severely flawed’ and at worst, fabricated, and the trial was stopped.
A man that became involved after the event was also charged with assault and is awaiting to see if his charge will also be quashed as he can also argue that he was preventing a police ‘miscarriage of justice’.
The trial took a day and a half to realise what was evident all along – that the defendant was only guilty of trying to do the police’s job when they blatantly weren’t interested in doing it, for blatantly political reasons. Unbelievably, the police admitted to getting together to watch the cctv (presumably over a nice cup of bovril) BEFORE writing their statements, of failing to follow PACE procedures in the arrests, and of trying to pass off a wrestling move (clearly shown on the CCTV footage) as a form of ‘reasonable force’ in an arrest!
But the most unbelievable part of the whole sorry mess is the police’s deliberate allowing of the hit-and-run driver to escape, and then never following up the incident, despite the fact leaving the scene of an accident is a more serious crime than those the defendants were charged with, and despite having a full description of the car, driver AND THE REGISTRATION PLATE. Makes you wonder who the ‘mystery driver’ was doesn’t it …….
The next steps for the defendant is, first, celebrate his narrow escape from a politically motivated conviction, and then sue the police for the shocking way in which he was handled during the ‘practice dummy session’ that passed for his arrest. The local chief constable observed the trial, so we assume that his full apology and compensation won’t take too long to sort.
Critical Mass’s continue in Bristol on the last Friday of every month, meeting at 5.30pm outside the Hippodrome.
———–
A subdued start to a good ride, held up by a massive traffic jam in the Strand, but it livened up later with a bike high in Piccadilly Circus and taunts to impatient car horns. Joyful chants of ‘More bikes less cars’ and ‘Whose streets? Our streets’.
Video: http://www.archive.org/details/cml25-1-08
Several sound systems this time, some were threatened with SOCPA prosecution if they dared to play in the vicinity of Parliament. Cycle police were back after their Christmas/New Year break, about 28 in all – they usually don’t turn up at all to the December ride. They barked orders and blocked the ride at some intersections but did a good job of corking and even told off a few drivers. Later they shut down a sound system in Whitehall.
Just before Oxford Circus, a wannabe saboteur threw a glass bottle into the road which shattered into lots of puncturing shards, something to watch out for in future.
More:
http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk/
http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk/socpasounds.html
CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – (INTER)NATIONAL, 1.4.08
2) FOSSIL FOOL FILMS AT HOUSMAN’S BOOKSHOP – LONDON, 29.3.08
CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – (INTER)NATIONAL, 1.4.08
2) FOSSIL FOOL FILMS AT HOUSMAN’S BOOKSHOP – LONDON, 29.3.08
3) CLIMATE OF CHANGE 2 EXHIBITION – LONDON, STARTS 1.2.08
4) NIGHT TALKS AT THE SYNERGY PROJECT – LONDON, 8.2.08
5) COIN EVENTS – LONDON, FEB-MARCH ’08
6) CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE TRADE UNION CONFERENCE – LONDON, 9.2.08
7) COLOMBIAN ACCOMPANIMENT TRAINING – BRISTOL, 16-17.2.08
8) ‘THE CARBON CONNECTION’ UK PREMIERE – LONDON, 21.2.08
9) SAVING ICELAND GATHERING – NOTTINGHAM, 22.2.08
10) EARTH FIRST! WINTER MOOT – NOTTINGHAM, 22-24.2.08
11) CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE NATIONAL MEETING – MANCHESTER, 23.2.08
12) TELL SHELL AND BP: HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL! – NATIONAL, 23.2.08
13) MASS RALLY AGAINST HEATHROW EXPANSION – LONDON, 25.2.08
14) BRINGING THE PIPELINE BACK TO SHELL – LONDON, 15-17.3.08
15) WEEK OF ACTION ON THE CLIMATE BILL – NATIONAL, 30.3.08-5.4.08
16) APRIL BIOFOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 15.4.08
17) NATUREWISE COURSES – LONDON AREA, 2008
18) ECO-COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS – SUFFOLK, FEBRUARY-APRIL ’08
19) CAT COURSES – WALES, MARCH-SEPTEMBER ’08
20) CLIMATETALK CARD GAME – FREE UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY ’08
21) E-PETITIONS AGAINST AIRPORT EXPANSION – HEATHROW AND NEWQUAY, ONGOING ’08
———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) TOP WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION DITCHES SHELL – 26.1.08
2) NEW WAVE OF CLIMATE ACTION – NATIONWIDE, JANUARY ’08
3) ACTIVISTS BLOCKADE PRIVATE JETS – EDINBURGH, 21.01.08
4) PENGUINS RECLAIM ICE (SH)RINK – LONDON, 12.01.08
5) GREENWASH GUERILLAS HIT SHELL HQ – 4.1.08
6) LONDON RISING TIDE DIE-IN AT THE TATE – 4.1.08
7) GREENERGY BIOFUELS PROTESTS – LONDON AND EDINBURGH, 30.1.08 AND 31.1.08
8) TESCO GREENWASH PROTEST – MANCHESTER, 23.1.08
9) CLIMATE CAMP SET UP OUTSIDE COURT – NOTTINGHAM, 14.1.08
10) CLIMAX BLOCK DONG POWERPLANT! – COPENHAGEN, 29.1.08
11) INDIGENOUS ACTION AGAINST MINING – PHILIPPINES, 17.1.08
12) OGONI DAY REMEMBERED AS SHELL FAILS TO HALT GAS FLARES – 4.1.08
13) CLIMATE CAMP SUPERGLUE TRIAL – LONDON, JANUARY ’08
14) BONN SQUARE TREE OCCUPATION – OXFORD, JANUARY ’08
15) ACTION AGAINST MOTORWAY THROUGH TARA – IRELAND, JANUARY ’08
16) CRITICAL MASS REPORT – LONDON, JANUARY ’08
17) FOREST PROTEST ACTIONS AND ARREST – TASMANIA – 8.1.08
18) SHELL TO SEA UPDATES – IRELAND, JANUARY ’08
19) ROAD BLOCK E-BULLETIN – JANUARY ’08
20) PERMACULTURE ASSOCIATION E-BULLETIN – JANUARY ’08
21) SAVE SWALLOW’S WOOD CAMPAIGN UPDATE – JANUARY ’08
22) EARTH FIRST! ACTION UPDATE – SPRING ’08
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
Roll up! Roll up! The Countdown to Fossil Fools Day Begins…
With less than two months to go, activists are busy plotting and planning, intent on bringing the spirit of carnival and mischief to the fight for climate justice. The day of action is being supported by the Climate Camp movement, Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network among others. Numerous actions are expected worldwide, with possible targets including the oily strongman and gas guzzling gowk, the dirty coal merchant and biofuel clown, the offset juggler and aviation freakshow. It’s time to turn the tables on the fossil fools and to pull a prank that really packs a punch.
http://www.fossilfoolsday.org/
http://www.globalexchange.org/
http://www.ran.org/
The network for climate action is planning 3 Days Of Action Over 3 Months, starting with Fossil Fools.
April 1st: Fossil Fuels / May 1st: False Capitalist Solutions / June: Food and Climate Change. This third day of action will coincide with the UN conference on food security and climate change on 3-5 June.
www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk
2) FOSSIL FOOL FILMS AT HOUSMAN’S BOOKSHOP – LONDON, 29.3.08
Housman’s Bookshop at Kings Cross will be screening two short documentaries in the run up to FFD ( ‘Those Who Dance’ and ‘The Carbon Connection’) highlighting the struggle of communities at the frontline of the fossil fuel empire. Starts at 5pm. http://www.housmans.com/
3) CLIMATE OF CHANGE 2 EXHIBITION – LONDON, STARTS 1.2.08
6-9pm at the old Mercedes Garage,341 Finchley Rd. Camden, London NW3 6ET.
Then on the following Tues and Thurs 6-9pm. This is an open submission exhibition.
http://www.circlecommunity.org/
4) NIGHT TALKS AT THE SYNERGY PROJECT – LONDON, 8.2.08
Climate Abuse – getting over the addiction! by Jonathan Essex 02:00-02:40
Biofuels – worse than fossil fuel? By Jim Roland, eco-campaigner 02:40-03:30
As part of the Synergy event at the SeOne club, Weston Street, London Bridge.
http://www.thesynergyproject.org/content/view/13/38/
5) COIN EVENTS – LONDON, FEBRUARY-MARCH ’08
Win the climate change argument in a 15 minute tea break, 7.2.08 / Carbon Cafe, 12.2.08 / Climate Change Condensed, 28.2.08 / Climate Action Groups, 11.3.08
See www.coinet.org.uk for full details of all our trainings!
6) CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE TRADE UNION CONFERENCE – LONDON, 9.2.08
University of London Union, Malet Street, 10 am – 5 pm. Delegate fee £10.
Opening plenary speakers include Michael Meacher MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Mark Serwotka (General Secretary, PCS), Matt Wrack (General Secretary, FBU).
http://www.campaigncc.org/CCAC%20Trade%20Union%20Conference.pdf
7) COLOMBIAN ACCOMPANIMENT TRAINING – BRISTOL, 16-17.2.08
Espacio Bristol-Colombia are organising a two day training for people interested in going to Colombia to do solidarity ‘accompaniment’ there; that is to both provide an international presence to deter the army or paramilitaries from killing social activists and to work with Colombian organisations building solidarity links. There is the opportunity to get involved with work on biofuels, BP, coal mining as well as struggles around food sovereignty and indigenous rights. The training will take place at Kebele Community Coop , 14 Robertson Road, Easton, Bristol from 11am – 5pm on Saturday and then 10pm – 4pm on Sunday.
If you are interested in attending this training email;
espacio@redcolombia.org.
http://www.redcolombia.org/
8) ‘THE CARBON CONNECTION’ UK PREMIERE – LONDON, 21.2.08
6.30 pm at Waterloo Action Centre, 16 Baylis Road, London SE1 7AA. This brilliant documentary exposes government claims that buying and selling carbon credits can reduce global warming. Plus discussion on sustainable alternatives to trading in pollution. Introduced by Kevin Smith, Carbon Trade Watch and Penny Cole, author of ‘Running a Temperature – action plan for the eco-crisis’. Refreshments. Details: info@aworldtowin.net 07871 745258
http://www.carbontradewatch.org/
9) SAVING ICELAND GATHERING – NOTTINGHAM, 22.2.08
One day gathering on opposition to wilderness trashing dams in Iceland; these are part of the USA’s carbon trading scam and evidence shows that dams are not free from releasing greenhouse gases either. For more info. phone; 01508 531636
http://www.savingiceland.org/
10) EARTH FIRST! WINTER MOOT – NOTTINGHAM, 22-24.2.08
2 days of discussion on radical direct action on climate change, GM food, nuclear power and much more. For more info. phone; 01508 531636
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19843
11) CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE NATIONAL MEETING – MANCHESTER, 23.2.08
An opportunity for you to get involved in deciding what the Campaign Against Climate Change should be doing in the coming year, and to hear about plans already made! 11.45 am to 5.00 pm, in the Peterloo Room – The Mechanics Centre, 103 Princess Road, Manchester.
http://www.campaigncc.org/
12) TELL SHELL AND BP: HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL! – NATIONAL, 23.2.08
London action (as part of National Day of Action) meet 12.30pm, Bond Street tube Hold a protest at your local Shell and BP garages (see website for resources), and contact handsoffiraqioil@gmail.com so they can help publicise it.
www.HandsOffIraqiOil.org
13) MASS RALLY AGAINST HEATHROW EXPANSION – LONDON, 25.2.08
‘We want to fill Central Hall, Westminster to get our message across to the Government.’ Speakers, music, solidarity, conviviality, inspiration for action…7pm on the 25th.
http://www.stopheathrowexpansion.com/
14) BRINGING THE PIPELINE BACK TO SHELL – LONDON, 15-17.3.08
Gluaiseacht are mobilising people from all over Ireland to travel to Shell Headquarters in London on St Patrick’s Day to protest the give-away and mismanagement of our national resources. We will be carrying a 200ft pipeline to Shell’s front door. For more info email; gluaiseacht@gmail.com
http://gluaiseacht.nologic.org/wordpress/
15) WEEK OF ACTION ON THE CLIMATE BILL – NATIONAL, 30.3.08-5.4.08
A whole host of NGOs, under the banner of Stop Climate Chaos, will be taking action for a stronger Climate Bill from March 30th to April 5th. In particular, they are encouraging everyone who cares about the Bill to lobby their MPs (not just in the week of action, but starting immediately) – and have produced a comprehensive pack of resources about how to do so. This is available for download at;
http://icount.org.uk/get_involved/296.asp
On Saturday April 5th, Friends of the Earth have called for a Day of Action on the Climate Bill.
http://www.foe.co.uk/index.html
16) APRIL BIOFOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 15.4.08
On the 15th April the UK biofuel legislation known as the RTFO (Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation) will come into force. This commits the UK to a 2.5% mix of biofuels in both diesel and petrol rising to 5% in two years (2010). This increased demand will exacerbate the serious problems of tropical deforestation, biodiversity loss, land grabs and food price increases forcing yet more people into life-threatening food poverty. A number of NGOs will be protesting on this day and they are hoping for solidarity actions.
www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk
17) NATUREWISE COURSES – LONDON AREA, 2008
Introductory weekends: Hornsey Rise Gardens / Kingston upon Thames / Spittlefields City Farm.
Permaculture for families residential weekend: Epping.
Full design course (residential): Chingford / North London.
Woodland Weekends: Sussex.
Fees: Negotiable and flexible, depending on income.
http://www.naturewise.org.uk/page.cfm
18) ECO-COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS – SUFFOLK, FEBRUARY-APRIL ’08
February 12th, Non-hierarchical Decision Making and effective meetings.
February 13-14th, Solar photo-voltaic panels and 12 volt electrics.
April 3rd-4th, Introduction to permaculture.
April 14th-16th, Building a Grey water system.
Booking is essential – Contact Mell on 07760161755 / 08453370282
email; susteducation@hush.ai
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/2008/01/388741.html
19) CAT COURSES – WALES, MARCH-SEPTEMBER ’08
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) has announced a new programme of one-day courses for 2008:
8 March; Land Art: As Nature Inspires / 15 March; Mosses and Lichens of the Old Quarry / 29 March; Hurdle Making / 29 March; Willow Weaving / 26 April; Forest ecosystems: Dead wood, leaf litter and nutrient cycling / 10 May; Birds of the Old Quarry / 24 May; Woodland Painting / 31 May; Charcoal Drawing / 31 May; Organic Vegetables of the Old Quarry / 3 June; Upland Ecology and Landscape Management: the Future / 14 June; Practicalities of Using Rainwater / 21 June; Plants of the Old Quarry / 19 July; Mammals of the Old Quarry / 30 August; Charcoal Making: Practical and Theoretical / 27 September; Trees of the Old Quarry. Contact the Courses Department on 01654 705981.
http://www2.cat.org.uk/shortcourses/
20) CLIMATETALK CARD GAME – FREE UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY ’08
This is a conversation game that helps groups of about 6 people talk about climate change and what they might do about it. Everything they need, including the information and process for this conversation are provided in a smart little pack. Copies of the kit are currently available for free for small organisations that commit to sending their results. It is also freely downloadable from www.climatespace.org
21) E-PETITIONS AGAINST AIRPORT EXPANSION – HEATHROW AND NEWQUAY, ONGOING ’08
Two minutes? – two petitions.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopheathrowexpansion/
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopnqyexpansion/
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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
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1) TOP WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION DITCHES SHELL – 26.1.08
Shell’s two year tenure as sponsor of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has come to an end. A determined, creative two year national campaign, coordinated in part by Rising Tide and its Art Not Oil campaign, helped force the National History Museum and the BBC to ditch their unlikely sponsor. London Rising Tide’s Chris Hyde said: “This victory has shown what climatically conscious grassroots art can achieve…we will be keeping up the pressure with our Art Not Oil campaign.”
And please send your art in to the 2008 Art Not Oil online gallery…
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/259,
www.shelloiledwildlife.org.uk,http://www.artnotoil.org.uk/
2) NEW WAVE OF CLIMATE ACTION – NATIONWIDE, JANUARY ’08
Here’s some reasons to be cheerful in the dark winter months… far from hiding away from the cold (or hiding heads in the sand for that matter), hotbeds of climate action are springing up around the country. On the Rising Tide front, six new groups have formed in the last six months, with more people joining in all the time.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/253
3) ACTIVISTS BLOCKADE PRIVATE JETS – EDINBURGH, 21.01.08
Over twenty environmental protesters breached security at Edinburgh Airport and blockaded the entrance to the private jet company, Greer Aviation. The activists, from direct action group Plane Stupid Scotland, pledged that today’s actions come as part of a nationwide campaign to reverse the current plans for a tripling of air travel in Scotland which they say flies in the face of the government’s own climate targets.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/plane-stupid-scotland-activists-blockade-Edinburgh-airport-private-jets
4) PENGUINS RECLAIM THE ICE (SH)RINK – LONDON, 12.01.2008
Around 30 penguins today “reclaimed the ice” at the Natural History Museum’s ice (sh)rink in protest at British Airways sponsorship of the museum’s annual winter festivities. The protesters, from the climate action group Plane Stupid, dressed as penguins to highlight the irony of an airline creating an ice rink in central London.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/march-penguins-climate-activists-protest-british-airways-ice-rink
5) GREENWASH GUERILLAS HIT SHELL HQ – 4.1.08
A small band of Rising Tide greenwash guerillas entered the lobby of the London Shell HQ to highlight the massive amount of toxic greenwash emanating from the building. Once ejected they continued their work outside, warning the public of the dangers of greenwash.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/250
6) LONDON RISING TIDE DIE-IN AT THE TATE – 4.1.08
Activists from London Rising Tide staged a ‘die-in’ in the BP sponsored Tate Britain. Bob Jones from LRT said “we’re here to demand that the Tate cut it’s ties with BP, an art gallery is no place for an environmental hazard such as an oil company. BP are here to Greenwash their image and distract from the ecological devastation they’re causing around the world”. The protesters handed out lots of leaflets and urged patrons to demand the end of oil companies’ sponsorship of art galleries.
http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk/node/409
7) GREENERGY BIOFUELS PROTESTS – LONDON AND EDINBURGH, 30.1.08 AND 31.1.08
In London, a colourful banner protest was held outside the office of Greenergy International, the UK’s largest biofuel supplier. This was part of a National Week of Action on Agrofuels in which different groups and organisations across the UK are organising protests against the deforestation, high food prices, human rights abuses and faster global warming caused by biofuels from large-scale monocultures. There was a second protest at Edinburgh’s Greenergy office.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/390483.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/390551.html
8) TESCO GREENWASH PROTEST – MANCHESTER, 23.1.08
See; http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19911
9) CLIMATE CAMP SET UP OUTSIDE COURT – NOTTINGHAM, 14.1.08
While the trial of the eleven climate change activists who shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station on April 10th 2007 began at Nottingham Magistrates Court,
Over 30 people set up a climate camp outside the court. This is the first time that the defence of necessity in relation to climate change has been used in a court of law. The defendants will call an expert witness; a climate scientist, and Royal Society Research Fellow, to prove to the court the scale and imminence of the threat that climate change poses. The judgement is expected on 25th February.
http://www.eastsideclimateaction.org.uk
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/389386.html
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19860
10) CLIMAX BLOCK DONG POWERPLANT! – COPENHAGEN, 29.1.08
50 activists from the Danish group ClimaX blocked the main entrance to a powerplant in Copenhagen owned by the DONG Energy corporation. The power company plans to start building a coal-fired powerplant in northern Germany.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19933
11) INDIGENOUS ACTION AGAINST MINING – PHILIPPINES, 17.1.08
Tribal villagers blockaded an Australian mining company and forced the firm to leave the village.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19875
12) OGONI DAY REMEMBERED AS SHELL FAILS TO HALT GAS FLARES – 4.1.08
At just before 8.30 this morning, as staff were arriving for work at Royal Dutch Shell’s Irish headquarters in Dublin, they were treated to a taste of what life is like for those who have to live and work near Shell installations in other parts of the world.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19799
13) CLIMATE CAMP SUPERGLUE TRIAL – LONDON, JANUARY ’08
The prosecution collapses. See;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19819
14) BONN SQUARE TREE OCCUPATION – OXFORD, JANUARY ’08
For updates see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19837
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19818
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19827
15) ACTION AGAINST MOTORWAY THROUGH TARA – IRELAND, JANUARY ’08
For action updates see;
http://www.tarapixie.net
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19929
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19905
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19902
16) CRITICAL MASS REPORT – LONDON, JANUARY ’08
See; http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk/
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19920
17) FOREST PROTEST ACTIONS AND ARREST – TASMANIA – 8.1.08
For reports see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19937
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19877
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19878
18) SHELL TO SEA UPDATES – IRELAND, JANUARY ’08
See; http://www.corribsos.com/
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19926
19) ROAD BLOCK E-BULLETIN – JANUARY ’08
To get these monthly updates on campaigns against road building schemes (and for some quick online actions ) sign up here;
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/user/subscribe/2
20) PERMACULTURE ASSOCIATION E-BULLETIN – JANUARY ’08
For the latest ebulletin from the Permaculture Association (Britain) see;
http://permaculture.org.uk/ebulletin.php
21) SAVE SWALLOW’S WOOD CAMPAIGN UPDATE – JANUARY ’08
See; http://www.saveswallowswood.org.uk/index.shtml
22) EARTH FIRST! ACTION UPDATE – SPRING ’08
See; http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/19938
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Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK: info at risingtide.org.uk
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This News Sheet was brought to you by Rising Tide, a grassroots network of groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.
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ENDS
12 noon Easter Monday – 24th March
Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston
We invite you to participate in a lively demonstration against the development of nuclear weapons at Aldermaston and to celebrate 50 years of anti-nuclear protest in Britain.
12 noon Easter Monday – 24th March
Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston
We invite you to participate in a lively demonstration against the development of nuclear weapons at Aldermaston and to celebrate 50 years of anti-nuclear protest in Britain.
This Easter marks the 50th anniversary of the first march to the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston – the heart of Britain’s nuclear weapons programme. We need you – and your friends, colleagues, communities, and networks – to surround the base and create a colourful, effective, and massive demonstration.
With parliament voting in March 2007 for a new fleet of nuclear armed submarines, and with the construction of facilities for a new generation of nuclear warheads already underway at Aldermaston, it’s time to send a clear message to the government that 50 years is enough!
While celebrating five decades of sustained campaigning against nuclear weapons, the emphasis will be on embracing the future, pushing for disarmament and working together to build a broad movement that grows from strength to strength.
The event will be lively, with each gate at the site being linked to a different era – with appropriate decoration and entertainment – and is being organised by CND national and regional groups and people from the wider anti-nuclear, peace and anti-war movements. If you would like to get involved in organising for this event in your area, please get in touch.
Groups can come dressed as they want, could be in theme with the gates, or as weapons inspectors, or campaigners from the future, or as nuclear bombs, or flowers!
The possibilities are endless! The event will be organised using the ‘ Block’ structure so that your group comes ready to take up as much space around the site as possible. We have a website for your ‘Block’ to add their details and how much space they can take up along the fence line.
For Example, Eastern Block, dressing as nuclear cowboys can take up 200 meters of fence line using 2 banners 100 people and a radioactive horse prop!
That’s just an example.
We need to start mobilising now and get our coaches booked and the seats full! It will take 5,000 people to surround Aldermaston AWE. The developments at Aldermaston are well on their way, we need to move our campaigning to the next stage, build an even stronger movement and stop the development of new nuclear weapons. THE BOMB STOPS HERE!
http://www.cnduk.org/aldermaston/
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Aldermaston byelaws – judicial review update
On 1 February 2008 Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign) took their Judicial Review of the Aldermaston Byelaws 2007 to the High Court in London. Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Mr Justice Walker decided to hear the case against the Secretary of State for Defence in full.
The case – a judicial review of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) decision to introduce byelaws which deny the women’s peace camp their right to freedom of assembly – was brought by Public Interest Lawyers on behalf of a member of the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp (AWPC).
At the High Court, arguments from the claimant and defendant were completed by the end of the day and the Justices are expected to give their written judgment within the next fortnight.
After the hearing a spokeswoman from AWPC said “We feel that the byelaws are vague, that they undermine the specific rights of assembly and association and that, in implementation, they will be applied in a discriminatory manner against camp women by the Ministry of Defence Police”.
To date ten women have been arrested under the Aldermaston Byelaws 2007. All cases have been dropped after pre-trial review stage.
In related news, the camp announced today that it will be hosting one of the gates for the Aldermaston march 50th anniversary events this Easter. Called by CND, the 24 March event will be a “lively demonstration against the development of nuclear weapons at Aldermaston and a celebration of 50 years of anti-nuclear protest in Britain.”
On Easter Monday AWPC will take up residence at their historic home – Falcongate – and invite all women to join them. See link below for details. General details of the Easter event at http://www.cnduk.org/aldermaston/
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For background on the judicial review, see: http://www.aldermaston.net/news/212 and http://www.aldermaston.net/news/183
info@aldermaston.net
http://aldermaston.net/falcongate08.php
