Action Reports – Page 252

Climate camp set up outside court – Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station action necessity

Climate Change Trial Opens

The trial of the eleven climate change activists who shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station on April 10th 2007 began today Monday 14th Jan at Nottingham Magistrates Court

Climate Change Trial Opens

The trial of the eleven climate change activists who shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station on April 10th 2007 began today Monday 14th Jan at Nottingham Magistrates Court

Over 30 people, concerned about climate chaos, held a demonstration outside the court in support of the defendants at 9.30 this morning

BBC and ITN camera crews were there to film and interview.

The prosecution completed giving its evidence today and the evidence for the defence will be heard tomorrow.

The Trial is being heard before a District Judge and is expected to last 3 days.

http://www.eastsideclimateaction.org.uk

Day 1 report
Day 2 report
Day 3 report

Judgement expected 25th February.

Original action report and as part of Spring into Action.

Anti-whaling hostages – update & solidarity demo reports: Berlin, London, Barcelona, New York, Washington DC

17/1/2008
Sea Shepherd Shuts Down Antarctic Whale Hunt
The Japanese hunt for endangered whales in the Southern Oceans Whale Sanctuary has been shut down.

“All whaling activities have come to a halt,” said Captain Paul Watson from onboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship Steve Irwin. No whales have been killed since January 11th. The Japanese whaling fleet has been denied a solid week of whaling activity. Our task now is to make that two weeks and then three weeks.”

As long as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Greenpeace keep the Japanese whaling fleet on the run, there will be no whaling activity.

“I wish that Greenpeace would be more cooperative,” said Captain Paul Watson. “However we will continue to feed them the coordinates for the rest of the fleet as they tail the factory ship Nisshin Maru. If we cannot work with Greenpeace directly we will work with them indirectly. The strength of any movement is in diversity.”

January 17th found the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin chasing the whaling supply vessel Oriental Bluebird and three other whaling ships eastward along the line of Latitude of Sixty Degrees South near the Eighty Six Degree East line of longitude. This is approximately 2000 miles from Fremantle, Australia.

The Japanese whalers continue to hold Australian citizen Benjamin Potts 28 and Giles Lane 35 of Great Britain. The Japanese government has ordered their release but the whalers are defying that order and refusing to release their hostages until Sea Shepherd agrees to their demands. One of the demands is for Sea Shepherd to discontinue opposing whaling activities. Captain Watson responded by refusing to acknowledge their demands and demanding instead that the hostages be released without conditions.

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin will continue to pursue illegal Japanese whaling activities for as long as possible.

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Australia to intercede in Safe Return of Sea Shepherd activists

After two days being held hostage on the Yushin Maru No 2, two Sea Shepherd anti-whaling activists may be returned within the next day to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin by the authorisation of the Australian Government to use the Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Oceanic Viking as an intermediary.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said “What is required now to transfer those two men is the agreement of the Japanese Government, which we have, the agreement of the Australian Government, which we have,” Mr Smith said. “We now need the full and complete cooperation of the two vessels, the two captains and the two men concerned.”

Sea Shepherd were refusing to meet the conditions stipulated by the Captain of the Yashin Maru No 2 to stop interfering with the whaling fleet operations for the transfer of the two crew members, with Captain Paul Watson saying on the ABC 7.30 report “I don’t acquiesce to terrorist demands and that’s what that is. Holding hostages and making demands is a terrorist tactic.”

Asked to justify two members of his crew boarding another vessel without authorisation, which the Japanese have accused as an act or terrorism or piracy, Paul Watson replied “You can run around the ocean jumping on poacher’s vessels. They’re targeting endangered species and whale sanctuaries, in violation of a global moratorium. The United Nations’ world charter of nature on section of implementation under Section 21 E allows for non-government organisations to uphold international conservation law. So, we are authorised to do that. These are poachers, I’m trying to get that through to people. They are poachers.”

Section 21 E of the World Charter for Nature, passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982, states that “States and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities, international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall ….(e) safeguard and conserve nature in areas beyond national jurisdiction.”

Section 24 of the charter says that “Each person has a duty to act in accordance with the provisions of the present Charter; acting individually, in association with others or through participation in the political process, each person shall strive to ensure that the objectives and requirements of the present Charter are met.”

According to the Australian Foreign minister, Stephen Smith on the ABC 7.30 Report, “the only conditions that will be imposed here are conditions that will be imposed by the Australian authorities and the ‘Oceanic Viking’, and those conditions will go to the safety and security of this operation.

It was reported by AAP that the transfer may take place in the next 24 hours. According to Kim McCoy, the executive director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, on board the Steve Irwin “We have just spoken very recently with an agent on board the Oceanic Viking customs vessel,” she said. “We have received official contact from them stating that they’re just waiting for the Japanese to confirm that they’re willing to accept those terms.”

“My understanding is that the Australian government is not going to impose any conditions on us to stop harassing the whaling, because the whaling is illegal. The only condition that the Australian government wants to impose is the safe transfer, and of course we’re going to have to facilitate a safe transfer, we don’t want to jeopardise anyone’s safety during the transfer of Giles and Pottsy (Benjamin Potts) to our ship.

“Beyond that they’ve told us that there will be no additional conditions. In other words, we are going to continue intervening against the illegal whaling activity of the Japanese.” she said.

Captain Paul Watson told Ali Moore from the ABC 7.30 Report “We’re not protesting their whaling operations, we’re not protesting them. What we are doing is interfering with illegal activities. This is an interventionist operation not a protest organisation.”

Sources:

* ABC 7.30 Report – Jan 17, 2008 – Govt considers sending ‘Oceanic Viking’ to the rescue
* ABC 7.30 Report – Jan 17, 2008 – Sea Shepherd captain reports from the high seas
* ABC News – Jan 17, 2008 – Sea Shepherd will only accept ‘unconditional’ Govt help
* news.com.au, Jan 17, 2008 – Anti-whalers contacted over detainees
* United Nations General Assemby 1982 World Charter for Nature

Repost from report on Sydney Indymedia, that contains all source links.
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/australia-intercedes-safe-return-sea-shepherd-activists

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Sea Shepherd Solidarity Protest at Japanese Embassy, Berlin

16.1.2008
People went to put pressure on officials at the Japanese Embassy at Hiroshimastrasse in Berlin today. They hung banners on the fences of the Embassy demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the two Sea Shepherd crew members taken hostage on 15 January by the Japanese
Whaling Fleet.

For updates, see www.seashepherd.org

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Sea Shepherd Hostage London Solidarity Demo
16/1/08

Fifty picket the Japanese embassy in London in solidarity with the Sea Shepherd hostages (see previous posts). The embassy staff were not happy. Banners read ‘Free the Hostages’, ‘Stop the the Whale Slaughter’ and ‘Defend the Wild’. The picket got a lot of media coverage with multiple TV crews including one from Japan.

Updates posted here and at www.seashepherd.org

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Sea Shepherd demo, Barcelona
17.1.2008
Demonstrators today held a protest outside the Japanese Consul in Barcelona, also delivering a letter to the General Consul demanding the immediate release of two Sea Shepherd crew members currently held hostage by Japanese whalers.

A group of Sea Shepherd supporters demonstrated outside the Japanese Consulate in Barcelona today, to call for the immediate release of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts, currently held hostage aboard a Japanese whaling ship.

Inside, two people delivered a letter to the Consul condemning the hostage taking and demanding Japanese intervention. Outside, 150 leaflets were handed out to workers and passersby.

The Mossos turned up but everything was quiet. Solidarity to Sea Shepherd!

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NYC Protest for Sea Shepherd Hostages

17.01.2008
Activists braved the cold of New York City today to protest yesterday’s kidnapping of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts by an illegal Japanese whaling ship. They were released earlier today to the Ocean Viking (Australia’s ship).

VIDEOS
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1AKVRbR8I
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb7IM9VNY48

Activists braved the cold of New York City today to protest yesterday’s kidnapping of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts by an illegal Japanese whaling ship.

The duo are currently being held hostage on the ship, and demonstrations and protests at Japanese embassies and consulates across the globe are being held in solidarity with the Sea Shepherd crew.

Japan, we demand you stop the bloody slaughter of innocent whales and dolphins and return the kidnapped activists IMMEDIATELY without harm!

http://www.war-online.org

—–

17/01/08

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO2I38jBo-E

Activists from NYC banded together with activists from Washington D.C. to protest the kidnapping and hostage taking of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society members Giles Lane (UK) and Benjamin Potts (Australia).

Animal lovers and environmentalists gathered outside the Japanese embassy and demanded the release of Potts and Lane, who are regarded as heroes, and also demanded an end to the slaughter of beautiful whales and dolphins that go to feed Japanese bellies.

At the end of yesterday’s protest activists received the call: The Sea Shepherd heroes had just been released.

Indigenous Action Against Mining Hold Australian Firm At Bay in the Philippines

2008-01-17
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines- Tribal villagers up north Luzon blockaded the Australian mining company from further exploring minerals in their community, Friday noon, and forced the mining firm to leave the village.

According to reports, hundred dozens of indigenous residents in Kasibu town ,”pushed away employees of a foreign mining firm and their earth-moving equipment that were supposed to start exploration in their community”, said Inq.Net. The action held by local people has lead to an indefinite operation shut down of OceanaGold Philippines Inc.- an Australian company.

Indigenous residents were only protecting the Papaya watershed that feed the Alimudin, Malong and Pahduan rivers. These are the main sources of irrigation for about 150,000 fruit trees in Malabing Valley, which has six villages. But the mining firm came in without consent among the villagers and threaten their means of existence.

This is what the Australian Mining Company has said in their media release:
“OceanaGold officials insist they no longer need proof of consent from the community since they have a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) granted by the government in 1994 to Climax Mining Ltd.”

Biofuel week of action – 26th January-2nd February 2008

Biofuelwatch are calling for a national week of local action on agrofuels between 26th January and 2nd February 2008. Rather than organising one central protest, UK groups and campaigns are encouraged to organise local protests and actions – which could involve a banner protest outside a Tesco or BP petrol station or outside an agrofuel refinery (click for map of biofuel refineries), leafleting and/or street theatre in the city centre, a press release, a public film show, etc. Please email us at info[at]biofuelwatch.org.uk if you can help in any way, or if you would like to find out if anything is already planned in your area.

If you are planning a local event and would like us to put the details on our website, then please email us at info[at]biofuelwatch.org.uk.

Click here for details of events in London, Teeside, Cheltenham and Aberdeen.

Click here for resources!

Japanese whalers take Sea Shepherds hostage (incl. Brit) – demo, L’don, 16 January; email addresses; release demands; videos

15.01.2008 – [latest update at bottom]
In what has been an unpredictably dramatic day for the campaign against whaling in Antarctica, the crew of a Japanese harpoon gunboat have seized Australian and British crew mebers of the Sea Shepherd vessel, Steve Irwin.

Astounding! Last year around this time, things were really getting dramatic in the Sea Shepherd pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet across Antarctica. Crew missing at sea, shipboard fires, the risk of a pristine environment being chemically decimated, and even one human death as an accompaniment to the slaughter of hundreds of mammoth sentient beings.

Not to be outdone, the 2007/08 season of resistance has just kicked into overdrive. Today, the Australian Federal Court called Japanese whaling – in Australian waters, at least – what it is: illegal. The Honourable Justice Allsop issued an injunction ordering that all Japanese whaling within Australian Antarctic waters (which Japan and most other countries don’t recognize) stop immediately. So, technically, since about 3pm Australian East Coast time every single crew member of the Japanese whaling fleet has been eligible for arrest should they enter Australian territories.

But the Japanese whaling fleet, as always, needed to up the ante. In the last 50 minutes it has been reported that the crew of the harpoon gunboat Yashin Maru II have taken two Sea Shepherd activists – Australian Benjamin Potts and a Briton, Giles Lane – hostage, and tied them to the radar mast of their ship. Earlier today the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin broke off its pursuit of the whale-processing factory vessel, also known as the Cetacean Death Star, the Nisshin Maru. With Greenpeace’s Esperanza still pursuing the factory ship away from the rest of the whaling fleet, the Shepherds turned about to disrupt the activities of the rest of the scattered fleet.

Obviously, they found them alright. Shepherd Captain Paul Watson reports that the two men, who have now been effectively kidnapped on the high seas – ironically, a genuine act of piracy by the Japanese whalers – had boarded the ship to deliver a letter to the captain proclaiming their whaling activity illegal and demanding an immediate cessation of whale-hunting, as per the order made today by the Federal Court.

Seems that Australian concerns about creating a diplomatic incident with Japan pale in comparison to what the whaling fleet are clearly eager to create.

Stay tuned.

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The Japanese harpoon vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 has taken two Sea Shepherd volunteer crew members hostage. Benjamin Potts 28, an Australian citizen and Giles Lane, 35, a citizen of Great Britain are being held hostage onboard the whaling vessel. Both men were assaulted and then tied to the railings of the whaler. They were then moved and tied to the radar mast by the whalers.

Japanese Whaling Fleet On the Run With Two Sea Shepherd Hostages

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship Steve Irwin is in full pursuit of five vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet including the Japanese supply vessel Oriental Bluebird.

Both men boarded the Yushin Maru to deliver a message to the Japanese captain that the whalers were in violation of international conservation law by targeting endangered species in an established whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling. They also notified the captain that Australia had just passed a court ruling barring Japanese whalers from the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone.

All of this activity has taken place in the area of 60 Degrees South and 78 Degrees East. All activity has been documented from the Sea Shepherd helicopter and the fast moving Delta vessel. The Steve Irwin has dispatched a small fast Delta boat and a helicopter to attempt to persuade the Yushin Maru No. 2 to stop and release the hostages.

Captain Paul Watson has notified the Australian Federal Police that he would like to see kidnapping charges brought against the Japanese whalers. The Australian government and the British Embassy have been informed that their citizens are being held hostage on an illegally operated Japanese whaling ship in International waters.

The Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru has fled over 700 miles to the Northwest and is heading towards South Africa accompanied by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. The entire whaling fleet is on the run and outside of the whaling area with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in hot pursuit of five vessels of the Japanese fleet.

No whales have been slaughtered for the last four days and it does not look as if the whaling operations are going to begin again for another week at least, and not at all if the vessels are prevented from regrouping. The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has a good supply of fuel and can remain in the area for some time and will continue to police the illegal whaling operations by the Japanese fleet.

Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson will turn over authority to the Australian government to enforce the court ruling against illegal whaling in the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone upon request from the Australian government and an agreement that Australia will enforce the court’s ruling to bar all Japanese whaling activities in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The letter taken aboard:

To: The Captain of any Japanese ship involved with poaching operations in The Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

Sir,

My name is Giles David Lane

I am a British citizen and an unpaid volunteer on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Steve Irwin

I have come onboard your ship because you have refused to acknowledge communication from our ship pertaining to your illegal activities in the waters of the Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

I am not boarding your ship with the intent to commit a crime, to rob you or to inflict injury upon your crew and yourself or damage to your ship. My reason for boarding is to deliver the message that you are in violation of international conservation law and in violation of the laws of Australia. It is my intent to deliver this message and then to request that you allow me to disembark from your vessel without harm or seizure.

I am empowered to act to uphold these laws in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature and the laws of Australia.

I am boarding you with the request that you please refrain from any further criminal activity in these waters and cease and desist with the continued killing of endangered whales in this designated Whale Sanctuary in violation of the IWC global moratorium on commercial whaling and that you cease and desist in continued violations of Australian law by killing whales within the territorial waters of Australia without permit or permission from the government of Australia.

I am boarding you on the orders of Captain Paul Watson who requests that you treat me with respect and in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

http://www.seashepherd.org/

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Picket at 2.15pm 16/1/08 at Japanese Embassy, London. Nearest Tubes Green Park & Hyde Park Corner.

The address is:101-104 Piccadilly, London, W1J 7JT
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It would be great if everyone could take a moment to email the Japanese embassy and Foreign office and ask them to do whatever they can to effect Giles’ release. Japanese Embassy: info@jpembassy.org.uk

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: It would be good to copy them in to whatever you send to the Embassy. I had some trouble getting hold of an email address, but you could try the following one – msu.publicin@fco.gov.uk; Meg Munn is the Minister “responsible” for Asia and the Pacific.meg.munn@fco.gov.uk or munnm@parliament.uk
020 7008 1500

Suggestion of what to write: Dear Japanese Ambassador,I am writing to you to protest in the strongest possible terms the taking of two hostages on board a Japanese Whaling Ship this morning.Press reports (see links below) have suggested that the two men, (one of whom is a UK National by the name of Giles Lane), who peacefully boarded the Yushin Maru No. 2 to deliver a letter, were assaulted and then tied up. Photographs from their own vessel, the Sea Shepherd, show the two men being tied up outside. The incident happened several hours ago and I am greatly concerned for their safety.I demand that you intervene at once to ensure that these men are released, protected from the elements, and returned safely to their vessel as soon as possible. I also hope that your government will ensure that the captain and crew of the Yushin Maru No. 2 be prosecuted for their actions.Yours sincerely, etc

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16/1/2008

Japanese Whalers Make Demands for Return of Hostages

The Institute of Cetacean Research, the front group for the illegal Japanese whaling operations are making demands for the release of the two Sea Shepherd crew being held hostage onboard the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2.

The whalers said they will return the hostages in return for Sea Shepherd agreeing to no longer interfere with their whaling operations.

“The Institute of Cetacean Research is acting like a terrorist organization,” said Steve Irwin’s 1st Officer Peter Brown. “Here they are taking hostages and making demands. Our policy is that we don’t respond to terrorist demands.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has heard reports from the media that Japan has agreed to release the hostages but the Steve Irwin has not heard anything official from either the Australian or Japanese governments.

“The activities of the Japanese whaling fleet are illegal under international conservation law. The Japanese are poachers and should be treated in the same manner as elephant or tiger poachers,” said Captain Paul Watson.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will not negotiate with poachers and demands that the Japanese whalers release Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane as soon as possible.

The location of the Yushin Maru No. 2 with the hostages onboard is not known presently. The vessel is no longer in sight or within radar range of the Steve Irwin.

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BBC video of ship being boarded

Collection of different videos

Saving Iceland Update 2008 – Mini-gathering – Friday 22nd February 2008, Sumac Centre, Nottingham

Saving Iceland Update 2008
Mini-gathering

A day of talks and film showings to pass on information about the on-going international campaign and the current situation in Iceland

Friday 22nd February 2008, Sumac Centre, Nottingham

Saving Iceland Update 2008
Mini-gathering

A day of talks and film showings to pass on information about the on-going international campaign and the current situation in Iceland

Friday 22nd February 2008, Sumac Centre, Nottingham

The event is aimed at:
Activists who have been involved with Saving Iceland in the past, have parted company for whatever reason, but would like to know what’s happening now
UK-based Saving Iceland activists who were unable to make it to the recent organising gatherings abroad and would like an update
People who are new to the issue but are interested to find out about this great ecological threat to our relatively local wilderness.
Anyone with questions about the campaign

Please book in advance (email savingiceland@riseup.org, subject heading “UK mini-gathering”) so we have some idea of catering requirements, and let us know if you need accommodation. We will be asking for a small donation to cover costs of food and venue.

We will start at 10 a.m. with an introduction to the issues. If you already know the basics, aim to arrive by 11a.m.

* * *

www.savingiceland.org

Oxford Tree Protest Brings Fences Down; update & latest on end of protest/arrest

12.1.2008 A demonstration in Oxford against the felling of trees and the building of a monstrous new shopping centre saw hundreds of people gather around Bonn Square. Many of them then took spontaneous direct action to stop the fencing-off of the square, and forced the Council to take the fences back down! We won this … Continue reading “Oxford Tree Protest Brings Fences Down; update & latest on end of protest/arrest”

Oxford Saturday tree protest 3

12.1.2008
A demonstration in Oxford against the felling of trees and the building of a monstrous new shopping centre saw hundreds of people gather around Bonn Square. Many of them then took spontaneous direct action to stop the fencing-off of the square, and forced the Council to take the fences back down!

We won this time, but the struggle to save the trees and stop the Westgate Centre goes on. On Monday, the tree-sitter is in court and the Council is seeking final permission to go ahead with the felling. Support is always needed down at the Square, and watch this space for announcements of future actions.

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Activist arrested while trying to give tree protester water

13.1.2008
An activist is arrested for “on suspicion of littering” while trying to throw Gabriel, the Bonn Square tree protester, some water.

At about 2 AM on Sunday morning two activists went to Bonn Square to try to give the fenced-off tree protester, Gabriel, some water. As one distracted the security, the other tried to throw a bottle to Gabriel, but unfortunately it wasn’t a very good throw 😉

Police sitting in a nearby car quickly noticed and the bottle-thrower was arrested “on suspicion of littering”. Fortunately only about 3 hours was spent at the police station before the activist was released without charge – the police seemed to have changed their mind and decided it wasn’t a prosecutable offence.

The arrestee was advised by a solicitor that whilst the arrest was potentially unlawful, pursuing legal action would likely only result in a different charge such as “public disorder”. An IPCC complaint may be made.

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14.1.2008
Latest update from BBC:

Police arrest tree man protester

A protester who was living in a tree in an attempt to stop it from being chopped down has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

Gabriel Chamberlain set up his makeshift tree house in Bonn Square, Oxford, 11 days ago.

The city council secured an eviction order to force him down, but Mr Chamberlain came down voluntarily after he ran out of water and supplies.

The tree was later felled as part of a £1.5m facelift in Oxford’s west end.

The sycamore was the largest of four trees which have been cut down.

The operation sparked protests in Bonn Square from other residents and police have arrested at least two other people.

The trees will be replaced with seven semi-mature robinia pseudoacacia trees.

A council spokesman said Bonn Square was in a key location at the intersection of four major routes.

He said the plan was aimed at making the square more attractive and improving CCTV surveillance.

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Yesterday morning Gabriel was arrested and work began on destroying the tree. I don’t know the exact details; whether it was a planned eviction or whether he was grabbed having come down from the tree for supplies or a break.

Protesters were outnumbered by cops and security and the tree itself was surrounded by several layers of fencing. Nevertheless a few attempted to block the work, but were quickly dragged away. They were arrested for aggravated trespass and I believe all have now been released on police bail, and will find out in a few weeks whether or not the charges will be dropped.

This is not the end of the campaign though; there are still tens of trees under threat as part of the Westgate expansion, and the Bonn Square campaign has served to galvanise local action. Watch this space 🙂

Meanwhile the Radley Lakes Town Green application was turned down by the County Council, despite plenty of evidence; campaigners will take the case to the High Court.

Forest defenders take action in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

Two forest actions took place in the Styx Valley this week. On Tuesday morning, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened halted work on a new bridge as a forest defender locked onto forestry machinery for over 10 hours before being cut off by police. Yesterday, activists conducted a peaceful walk in to stop the industrial scale destruction of ancient forests located in coupe SX10F.

See media releases and audio links below…
MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Forest defenders take action in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

This morning, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened halted work on the construction of a new bridge across the Styx River. If built, this bridge will provide increased log truck access to the globally significant stands of giant eucalypts located in the valley.

“Tasmania is currently in a state of environmental emergency. Vast tracts of old growth forests are being destroyed and sent to the chipper in order to further inflate the already grossly bulging bank accounts of a select few. Right now, in coupe SX10F, chainsaws and bulldozers are ripping apart some of our most precious natural heritage” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“The community is being locked out of their own forests all over the state, while local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania employ their usual farcical spin and claim that this bridge will be used primarily for tourists. What this bridge will do is increase the wholesale destruction of some of the island’s most significant carbon sinks” said Ms Majewski.

Recent developments at the Bali climate conference have further reinforced the importance of halting the deforestation and degradation of carbon sinks. Eucalyptus regnans old growth forests, such as those located in the Styx Valley, have been shown to store huge amounts of carbon.

“We are calling on the Rudd government to take serious action and demonstrate to the global community that Australia is implementing intelligent, enlightened and equitable strategies to combat climate change by ensuring the immediate protection of Tasmania’s ancient forests” said Ms Majewski.

Forest defenders will continue to take a stand against the destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine Valleys.

Listen to SWST vs Forestry Tasmania on ABC Radio http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/15/2138389.htm

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 17th January 2008

Forest activists continue their protest in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

Early this afternoon, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened conducted a peaceful walk in to coupe SX10F to document and bear witness to the ongoing destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx Valley.

“Some of our most significant carbon sinks are being destroyed at a disturbingly accelerated rate, rendering Tasmania’s forestry practices an international disgrace. The Rudd government continues to endorse the logging and burning of ancient forests located in the Styx Valley. Protecting Tasmania’s old growth forests is a simple, cheap and intelligent climate change solution” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“SX10F has gained an international profile over the past few years, becoming an iconic example of Tasmania’s globally renowned forests. This irreplaceable ecosystem, located within 1.5km of the World Heritage Boundary, is being ripped apart by bulldozers and chainsaws to line the pockets of greedy woodchippers Gunns Ltd.” said Ms Majewski.

Forest defenders will continue to peacefully protest against the destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine Valleys.

March of the penguins: Plane Stupid reclaim the ice

12.01.2008
10.30am – Around 30 penguins today ‘reclaimed the ice’ at the Natural History Museum’s ice rink in protest at British Airways sponsorship of the museum’s annual winter festivities.

The protestors, from the climate action group Plane Stupid, dressed as penguins to highlight the irony of an airline creating an ice rink in central London, whilst its business activities are a major cause of global warming, which is melting the polar ice caps and causing dangerous climate change. The loss of the polar ice will imperil wildlife such as penguins and polar bears and is believed to be a major ‘tipping point’ which will speed up climate change.

A spokespenguin called Tamsin said: “We’ve come to remind people that we love ice too, but the ice in our own home is melting as a result of global warming. BA has shown no concern for the issue of climate change. It is a major lobbyist for the expansion of Britain’s airports – particularly the third runway at Heathrow – which will lead to a huge rise in greenhouse gas emissions at a time when emissions from other sectors are being cut back. It is shameful that an institution like the Natural History Museum should allow British Airways to trade on its eco-friendly reputation by sponsoring this ice rink. BA are pushing for airport expansion which will guarantee we cannot stop catastrophic climate change.”

She added, “British Airways’ money is dirty, and we hope that next year the museum will find a more appropriate sponsor for their ice rink.”

The penguins, carrying banners and placards reading, ‘BA Fly, Penguins Die’, and ‘Freeze Flights’ skated and handed out leaflets for around 20 minutes before being forcibly removed from the ice by British Airways security staff. There were no arrests.

www.planestupid.com

– ENDS –

Climate Camp– Open invite to a UK wide decision making meeting – Leeds 26-27 Jan

The Climate Camp on its own didn’t stop climate change – but it’s part of a growing social movement that can! Come and take the next steps forward at the upcoming UK-wide meeting on Jan 26-27 in Leeds. Everyone is welcome, whether you came to the camp, or were simply inspired by it.

The Camp’s at Drax and Heathrow had 4 key aims: popular education, direct action, sustainable living, and building a social movement to collectively tackle climate change. Regional meetings have been happening up and down the country, and the last national meeting was in Oxford .We will meet in Leeds to collectively share all our ideas for taking our aims into 2008.

The meeting will start at 11am on Saturday morning and end at 4pm on the Sunday- although if you can’t stay for the whole weekend you are still welcome!

If you are planning to arrive on the Saturday morning please head straight down to the venue which is The Common Place, 23-25 Warf Street, LS2 7EQ
www.thecommonplace.org.uk – you can find a map at
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?hloc=GB|LS2%207EQ and you will notice that it is walking distance from the train and bus stations.

If you are planning on arriving the Friday night – before the gathering- please email process@climatecamp.org.uk so we know! There will be accommodation available for the Friday night – but at a community centre called Oblong ( http://oblongleeds.org.uk) rather than at the Common Place.
Food will be served at the Common Place over the weekend- so please bring about £10 to contribute towards the food and accommodation costs if you stay the whole weekend. Of course if you really can not afford it then you are none the less very welcome!

There will also be a travel pool (whereby people who live nearby and who have minimal travel costs will be asked to make donations to off set the expense for those who had to make much longer journeys to attend). Accommodation is simply floor space- so please bring a camping mat and sleeping bag. If you have particular access needs, and/or if sleeping on the floor is not suitable for you please email us as soon as possible so we can make appropriate arrangements.

If you are planning to bring children who will need child care facilities please let us at process@climatecamp.org.uk know as soon as possible. The agenda for this meeting has not yet been set – if you have any ideas about topics you think it is important for us to discuss, please email
process@climatecamp.org.uk- by Friday the 19th January
Hope to see you there!

camp for climate action networking group
networking@climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk