Action Reports – Page 258

All Manchester city centre Flight Centres & Hummer dealership targetted

For people interested in something a little more direct than the big climate demo in London tomorrow…

Tonight, all Flight Centre branches in Manchester city centre have been superglued closed, in time for Saturday trading and to coincide with the climate march in London tomorrow. They were pasted with notices saying: “Closed – we want your kids to have a planet”

For people interested in something a little more direct than the big climate demo in London tomorrow…

The UK’s only Hummer dealership, Bauer Millett, was also locked shut with a D-lock.

Stickers have also started appearing all over Manchester with “The Tide is Rising” and a blue line…see earlier post about a banner drop, http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17886

Earth First!

The Tide Is Rising

7.12.2007
A banner reading: ‘THE TIDE IS RISING’ with a blue wave across it now welcomes all those entering the city of Manchester on the Princess parkway. This marks the beginning of a number of Climate campaigns this weekend.

In the early hours of this morning (Friday 7th Dec 2007) activists dropped a banner from the pedestrian bridge near Hulme. It was still there at eleven twenty and, as far as we know, remains hanging at this moment.

Sea levels may well rise by 6 metres if the worst reports come true. The 8th December is the international day for Climate Change. Whether you’re in London, Manchester or any where, you can join the tide for change. Use ribbons, chalk, or anything non toxic to mark a symbolic tide line, 1 metre above the ground on trees, fences or any other places this weekend. Let’s make facing this urgent problem unavoidable.

Fred Pearce in his most recent book ‘The last generation’ has sighted a number of alarming reports from scientists in both the Artic and Antarctic that state ice is melting at an experiential rate.
If these reports are right we have passed an irreversible tipping point making sea level rises imminent (in some reports as much as 6 Metres).

Action needs to be taken from the grass roots level to the top.

Be the change!

Women Climate Activists Blockade the Department for Transport

7.12.2007
Women have this morning blockaded the Department for Transport preventing staff from getting to work and carrying out their policies which are catapulting us towards dangerous run-away climate change. This action comes in response to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirming the government’s intentions to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow and co-incides with the opening of their first ‘consultation’ exhibition.

This protest is part of a growing direct action movement against climate change inspired by the Camp for Climate Action (1). On Wednesday over 30 climate activists including the columnist George Monbiot invaded and occupied Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales. On 28th November, protesters from climate action group Plane Stupid disrupted the proceedings of the Transport Select Committee who were hearing evidence from BAA boss, Steven Nelson and Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick in protest at the Heathrow expansion plans. This weekend thousands of people will march on the streets of London to protest about climate change. This protest is a call to all to stand up and take action against the governments and corporations who are fueling climate chaos.

Why the DfT?

Transport is the fastest growing source of climate change gases in the UK, now accounting for 26% of emissions (2). In a time when we desperately need to reduce emissions, the DfT plans to build more roads and more airports encouraging us to drive and fly more. The DfT was targetted during the Camp for Climate Action in August, and women have returned today to re-emphasise the role of our government in dangerous transport expansion plans. Groups will continue to return to the DfT until the government reviews its policies.

Why women?

Women have acted today in solidarity with the residents of Sipson, especially the women who continue to campaign to protect their homes, despite bullying and pressure from BAA, and the women all over the world who fight everyday to survive in the face of increasing climate chaos.

NO 3rd runway at Heathrow

Aviation is already the fastest growing source of UK carbon dioxide emissions (3), and these emissions are released high in the atmosphere meaning we feel their effects immediately. Heathrow is already the busiest airport in the world. Building a third runway will lead to even more flights and more pollution. Oxford University recently concluded that it will be impossible to meet the government’s own target for a 60 per cent carbon reduction by 2050 without curbing aviation growth (4)

NO M1 Widening

The DfT is building a £5 billion 115 mile long expansion of the M1 with an increase of 186,092 tonnes of CO2 every year (5). Is this taking climate change seriously? We call for a scrapping of the current and proposed schemes up and down the length of the M1.

NO green wash

We call for a reduction in transport, and reject dangerous green wash such as ‘biofuels’ and carbon offsetting. We cannot continue with relentless growth on a finite planet. We all need to reduce consumption, and our carbon emissions. (6)

Jane Wilson, on the protest says, “The government does not like to admit it , but we cannot sustain our current levels of consumption or the growth economy and stop climate change. Its time to stop tinkering at the edges and wake up to the reality of the threat & take serious and drastic action. We have to create a society that is less dependent on energy, and that is more locally self-sufficient.”

Notes for Editors:

1 The Camp for Climate Action 2007 (www.climatecamp.org.uk) was a large protest and educational event at Heathrow this year, highlighting the link between the aviation industry and climate change.

2 The Campaign for Better Transport (www.bettertransport.org.uk)

3 Campaign for Better Transport

4 Campaign for Better Transport

5 Biofuelwatch (www.biofuelwatch.org.uk)

==========================
Update and outcome

In the end: Having shut the DFT for over two hours, eight women who were locked or glued to the doors of the DFT were arrested, held all day in Belgravia Police Station and then released on bail.

They are all charged with offences under SOCPA (serious organised crime and police act). At least one more was summoned to appear under SOCPA, although not arrested.

Total amount of women involved was around twenty. They’re all ace and of course this is only the beginning of women pitching in to stop climate chaos on their own terms.

—

One of these women, having been released on bail for SOCPA, was rearrested at the Dec 8 March in London, for being in the SOCPA zone!!

She was held until Monday 10th when the court saw her and threw out the bail-breach on the grounds that she should never had had such bail conditions.

Another example of the MET endearing themselves to us then.

70 stop old growth logging in 3 East Gippsland Coupes

2007-12-06
Today 70 conservationists stopped logging in three coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria. The protest is in response to unfilled election promises to protect old growth forests made by the Bracks/Brumby government over a year ago. Four have attached themselves to machinery halting clear-felling operations.

Activists stopped operations in Black Cuttings, Aspen Battery Track and Goongarah Catchment. Currently two people are locked on to machinary in both Aspen Battery Track and Black Cuttings. Other activists are black wallerbying (running around) the coupes avoiding Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) officers. 20 people were asked to leave Goongarah Catchment and complied with that direction, avoiding arrest.

“We are here today to hold politicians to account to fulfil election promises. It is outrageous that the Bracks/Brumby government have not yet put these areas into reserves. Brumby needs to act now and solves this issue.” said Mark Tylor spokespersons for the group.

Only two percent of Victoria’s old growth forests remains. These critically important areas are home to many endangered species, including sooty owl, powerful owl and long footed potoroo.

“Forestry causes a significant proportion of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. If Labor is serious about taking real action to prevent dangerous climate change they must commit to ending logging of high conservation forests now.”

“The government needs to stop pandering to the multinational woodchip industry, and have the courage to do what the science tells us is necessary to protect the future survival of all Australians and the planet” concluded James Ludd.

Ffos y Fran Coal Mine, 5th Dec 2007: activists chained to bulldozers to prevent work on open-cast coal mine (video added)

More than thirty climate activists and local residents this morning took mass direct action to prevent excavation work on Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales. (1)

Climate campaigners from all over Wales (2) joined with local people from Merthyr Tydfil to evade police and security before taking over the 1,000 acre site on a hilltop near Cardiff. They have chained themselves to bulldozers and other heavy machinery to prevent work on the mine and have unfurled large banners. They’ve pledged to prevent work on the site for as long as they can by climbing onto, and chaining themselves to the 1,300 horsepower yellow diggers. The leading environmentalist and author, George Monbiot, is amongst their ranks.

Climate Protestor, Tim Helweg-Larsen, from Machnynlleth, said:

“Gordon Brown’s officials this week jet off to Bali for UN talks on cutting carbon emissions but at home they’re trying to drag us into a new coal age.”

He added:

“Coal is the filthiest fuel known to man and projects like this mine could destroy all our chances of tackling global warming. The battle over this hilltop in Wales is a fight for the stability of the global climate and it epitomises this government’s hypocrisy on climate change.” (3)

Merthyr resident, Leon Stanfield, explained:

“We’ve protested this mine in all the conventional ways. Now we’re turning to direct action as a last resort. This project is wrecking both the local and the global environment and is putting the health of our community and its children at risk.”

Over 10,000 local people petitioned against the pit.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

(1) Background about the mine is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/09/energy
Miller Argent is the consortium digging this pit. They are mining for 11 million tonnes of coal from the site. When this is burned, it will emit more than 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The edge of the mine pit will be just 36 metres from people’s homes.

(2) Activists are from the group who organised the Camp for Climate Action outside Heathrow during the summer. www.climatecamp.org.uk

(3) The government has convened a UK coal forum to “bring forward ways of strengthening the industry, and working to ensure the UK has the right framework to secure the long term future of coal fired generation.”
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39568.pdf (page8)

– ENDS –

Streaming for online viewing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuCn5HMI2M4

Full rez screening copy
http://blip.tv/file/get/Undercurrents-PolarBearsPopulateWelshCoalMine312.mp4

International Hoax Targets US Business Consortium Amidst Bali Climate Negotiations

Climate activists with the international Rising Tide network embarrassed the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a lobby group composed of 33 prominent businesses and organizations, by distributing a spoof press release declaring that the consortium’s members had committed to a 90 percent reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In addition, the spoof release called for an immediate moratorium on the construction of all new coal-fired power plants.

“To stabilize our climate, reductions need to be based on science, not on creating windfall profits for the world’s largest polluters,” said Matt Leonard. “Leading scientists say decisive action must happen now to reduce our emissions. However, corporate interests have stymied substantive action and are derailing genuine efforts of civil society to adequately address climate change.”

The fake press release was picked up by several media outlets, including the Dallas Morning News, UK Hemscott and several blogs before journalists realized that USCAP members would never agree to such progressive reductions in carbon emissions or a moratorium on coal plants. Furthermore, Rising Tide activists have done dozens of interviews with media and even received calls from real USCAP member companies about the website and press release.

Rising Tide used the phony website www.climateactionpartnership.org to distribute the release, which mimicked USCAP’s site, www.us-cap.org. USCAP’s members include many of the largest US corporations, including Alcoa, BP, Caterpillar, ConocoPhillips, Dow, DuPont, Ford, General Electric, General Motors Corp., Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, PG&E, Shell and Xerox.

The hoax was timed to coincide with the opening of a major United Nations climate summit in Bali in an effort to expose the disproportionate influence of large corporations on the climate negotiations and the lack of initiative from corporations on reducing fossil fuel use. Rising Tide said that they will now transition the site into an archive of environmental misdeeds and human rights abuses of USCAP’s members.

“USCAP says it is serious about stopping climate change, but these companies have not put their money where their mouth is,” said Brian Sloan of Rising Tide North America. “It’s time to base our policies on science and the safety of our communities, not on someone’s bottom-line.”

Rising Tide is an international network of all volunteer grassroots activists who target corporations responsible both for climate change and for blocking efforts to find solutions to it. Activists in Australia, the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Indonesia participated in the hoax.

###

SPOOF PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2007

Contacts:
Joan Adams, Parsons & Fischer, 202-684-8097, jadams@parsonsfischer.com
Jack Escobar, Parsons & Fischer, 202-683-8451, jescobar@parsonsfischer.com

Information at www.climateactionpartnership.org

MAJOR US BUSINESSES ANNOUNCE COMMITMENT TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 90%

Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2007 – The U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a consortium of 33 prominent businesses and organizations, announced today a commitment amongst its members to a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The announcement was timed to coincide with the opening of a major United Nations climate summit in Bali.

“In an effort to encourage decisive action in Bali this week, USCAP’s members have committed to a 90% reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said Matt Leopard, a spokesperson for the consortium. “This commitment should send a strong message to the assembled countries and businesses about the type of reductions needed to stop global warming.”

USCAP’s members include many US market leaders such as Alcoa, BP, Caterpillar, ConocoPhillips, Dow, DuPont, Ford, General Electric, General Motors Corp., Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, PG&E, Shell and Xerox. USCAP’s goal is to further public policy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate.

The announcement from USCAP’s members also includes a mid-term commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% from 1990 levels by 2020. Following the leads of NASA’s top climate scientist James Hansen, as well as bi-partisan political leaders, USCAP is also calling for an immediate moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

Toward this end, USCAP is urging the US and other industrialized nations to enact a policy framework for mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of the economy. USCAP has produced a comprehensive set of principles and recommendations for scientifically effective, socially responsible climate policy. This document, titled A Call to Action1, has been released by USCAP to underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive policy shift on energy and climate.

USCAP is the first consortium of major businesses to make such a commitment in hopes that it will yield to policy decisions to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission technologies and energy efficiency. In particular, USCAP is promoting landmark legislation for a government funded “Sustainable Job Corps.” This politically popular program would create 5 million jobs building a new public utility grid based on renewable technologies, with a goal of producing 50% of the US energy supply by 2020.

“USCAP has offered a plan for the US to lead by example in efforts to protect the climate,” said Matt Leopard. “The world governments assembled in Bali this week should begin a rapid transition to zero-emission energy sources and commit to a 90% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050″.2

USCAP’s website is www.climateactionpartnership.org.

http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org

Switzerland: Police brutality against RTS. 245 activists detained

3.12.2007
Nearly 500 riot cops with tanks and water cannons stopped a peaceful Reclaim The Streets party. The cops used pepperspray, non-lethal guns and did beat people. They detanied 245 people.

Police hunted people through the streets. In a park they surrounded hundreds of activists. Each activist was filmed and brought to a nearby prison. The prison was absolutely new and it seems it was constructed for arresting protesters. After some hours no one was allowed to go to the toilet or to ask for drinking water. The detainees were forced to be naked. After the arrest people were brought by police not back into the city of Luzern – but in neighbouring villages. Quote of a cop: “We don´t want you in the city”.

Repression is on a new level in Switzerland. Time to act.

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 74, DECEMBER 2007

CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-

1) RISING TIDE ANNOUNCES FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
2) NATIONAL CLIMATE MARCH, BRISTOL CYCLE CIRCUS, GLOBAL DOA – 8.12.07

CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-

1) RISING TIDE ANNOUNCES FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
2) NATIONAL CLIMATE MARCH, BRISTOL CYCLE CIRCUS, GLOBAL DOA – 8.12.07
3) RECLAIM THE PLANET PARTY – BATH, 1.12.07
4) THE WORST EU LOBBYING AWARDS – BRUSSELS, 4.12.07
5) CLIMATE CAMPER’S TRIAL – UXBRIDGE, 8/9.1.07
6) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LEEDS, 26-27.1.08
7) GREENHOUSE BRITAIN EXHIBITION – WINTER 07-08
8) POPULAR EDUCATION GATHERING – HEBDEN BRIDGE, 18-20.1.08
9) LOW IMPACT COURSES – BUCKS, JANUARY 2008
10) WOODHEAD TUNNEL ACTION IDEAS? – 8.12.07
11) PROTECT TASMANIA’S FORESTS – JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2008
12) CONTACT VEDANTA – EMAIL ACTION
———————————————-

RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) BUY NOTHING DAY RAT RACE – NORWICH, 24.11.07
2) LRT PROTESTORS INVADE ETS SUMMIT – 21.11.07
3) COAL TRAIN BLOCKADE – AUSTRALIA, 19.11.07
4) PLANE STUPID DISRUPT BAA PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE – 28.11.07
5) ACTIVISTS SHUT DOWN COAL POWER PLANT – AUSTRALIA, 15.11.07
6) TOTAL OUT OF BURMA – NATIONWIDE, 24.11.07
7) DOVER CLIMATE ACTION – 4.11.07
8) SOLIDARITY AGAINST SHELL – UK, NOVEMBER 07
9) LEGAL BLOW TO BP OVER TEXAS CITY BLAST – 21.11.07
10) PERMACULTURE UPDATE – NOVEMBER 07
11) CLIMATE JUSTICE TRIBUNAL REPORT – COLOMBIA, 29.10.07

———————————————-

UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-

1) RT ANNOUNCES FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
FOSSIL FOOLS DAY, April 1st 2008
Roll up, roll up! The climate circus is in town. Climate change threatens our very survival, but the fools at the head of the fossil fuel empire continue to plunder the earth, with governments the willing court jesters at their side. They would have us believe that we can escape climate change with techno-fixes, market mechanisms and offset schemes – all technocratic acrobatics that distract us from the truth: the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Find a local fossil fool – the coal-mining clown, the offset contortionist, the aviator tripping on the high wire, the supermarket food mile freak show, the oily strong man, or any other fool that deserves your attention – and join with thousands around the world in taking one step closer to dismantling the fossil fuel industry.

www.fossilfoolsday.org.uk /
www.risingtide.org.uk <http://www.campaigncc.org

The Shell’s Wild Lie exhibition will feature at the London demo after-party at the Synergy Centre:
www.thesynergycentre.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=109,
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk//content/view/41/2/

This will be one of many global climate demonstrations taking place on the 8th. There are actions planned in 80 countries.
http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org

One of the events planned in the UK is a cycle-relay of messages from Transition Towns and Climate Friendly Villages in Cornwall to Parliament.
http://www.transitionfalmouth.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29

Bristol Rising Tide are having a Cycle Circus – Join a colourful critical mass of people and peddlers of all shapes and sizes and let our cycling circus upstage and reveal Bristol’s climate criminals. Meet: College
Green, 1pm.
http://risingtide.org.uk/bristol

3) RECLAIM THE PLANET PARTY – BATH, 1.12.07

Bath Activist Network are having a demo/party highlighting radical alternatives to environmental destruction.

Meet at Abbey Courtyard at 11.30 am, then moving through Bath saying hello to some of our favourite planet trashers, playing music, sharing food, playing games and making mischief!
http://www.myspace.com/bathactivistnetwork

4) THE WORST EU LOBBYING AWARDS – BRUSSELS, 4.12.07

The annual award for deceptive, manipulative and unethical lobbying. This year there is a special Greenwash Prize. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Brussels on 4th December.
http://www.worstlobby.eu <http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/nextmeeting.php

7) GREENHOUSE BRITAIN EXHIBITION – WINTER 07-08

This exhibition addresses the environmental, political and economic challenges of rising sea levels caused by climate change. The central feature will be a multimedia video projection onto a giant relief model of mainland Britain, where the rising waters are seen to redraw the coastline.
http://greenhousebritain.greenmuseum.org/tour/

8) POPULAR EDUCATION GATHERING – HEBDEN BRIDGE, 18-20.1.08

Come and learn techniques and be inspired by popular education, share new skills and talk about how we can expand radical education networks in UK and beyond.
http://www.trapese.org/

9) LOW IMPACT COURSES – BUCKS, JANUARY 2008

Low impact smallholding / How to make biodiesel / Heating with wood / Pruning & care of old fruit trees. For more details, see:
http://www.lowimpact.org/
<http://nomottrambypass.blogspot.com/2007/11/say-goodbye-to-woodhead.html
<http://www.huon.org/

12) CONTACT VEDANTA – EMAIL ACTION

Solidarity would be hugely appreciated as India’s Supreme Court looks like it is going to rule in favour of British mining corporation Vedanta to be able to mine the Niyamigiri Hills in Orissa. This could lead to the death
of thousands of people and will set a precedent for the mining of all of India’s forests.

25,000 farmers are to form a human chain around one of the worlds largest dams in protest against this development.

Feel like contacting Vedanta to tell them how you feel?

By email; investorrelations@vedantaresources.com

By post; Vedanta Resources plc
16 Berkeley Street
London W1J 8DZ

http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/6348

———————————————-

RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-

1) BUY NOTHING DAY RAT RACE – NORWICH, 24.11.07

Norwich Rising Tide marked Buy Nothing Day with a rat race. Activists created a mobile rat race that stopped off at the city’s busiest malls and high streets.
People in rat costumes scurried hither and thither through a maze built from placards reading; Work Harder, Earn More Money, Buy More Things, Keep Going… Meanwhile Fat Cats advised that happiness was just around the corner if the rats would only keep shopping!
A thousand leaflets were handed out and many passers-by expressed their support.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/237
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/386382.html

For reports of Buy Nothing Day in Leeds, London, Edinburgh and Manchester see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17851

2) LRT PROTESTORS INVADE ETS SUMMIT – 21.11.07

On November 21st London Rising Tide interrupted delegates at the Aviation Emissions Trading Summit, held at Selfridges Hotel, central London. Free shares for pre-Emissions Trading Scheme atmosphere were given out to each
delegate at the conference.
<http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk/node/399

3) COAL TRAIN BLOCKADE – AUSTRALIA, 19.11.07

Rising Tide activists blockaded a coal train on its way into the world’s biggest coal export port, at Kooragang Island in Newcastle Harbour. No trains are able to enter Kooragang Coal Terminal because of the blockade.
“When faced with an overwhelming problem and a Government unwilling or unable to take action to solve the problem, it is the duty of all citizens to take action on the community’s behalf…There is no way Australia can continue passing the buck on climate change. We are the biggest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases and the biggest coal exporter in the world.”
(spokesperson for Rising Tide, Georgina Woods)
http://www.risingtide.org.au/coaltrainblockade

4) PLANE STUPID DISRUPT BAA PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE – 28.11.07

Climate activists opposed to plans for a third runway at Heathrow disrupted a Parliamentary inquiry going on inside the House of Commons. Protesters from climate action group, Plane Stupid, disrupted the proceedings of the Transport Select Committee who were hearing evidence from BAA boss, Steven Nelson and Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick.
The team of protesters, wearing t-shirts emblazoned with No Third Runway, handed out copies of the Tyndall Centre climate change report about the impacts of flying on global warming.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/plane-stupid-disrupt-parliamentary-committee-future-baa

5) ACTIVISTS SHUT DOWN COAL POWER PLANT – AUSTRALIA, 15.11.07

Greenpeace activists occupied the Munmorah coal-fired power station today. A Greenpeace activist pushed the button to stop the conveyor belt. Now it’s time to push the emergency switch on all coal power plants.
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/news/Climate-change/coal-kills-shut-down
<http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17852

Also on the 13th November, campaigners blockaded a Total garage on Oxford Road, Manchester. http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17820

7) DOVER CLIMATE ACTION – 4.11.07

In the early hours of a Sunday morning, climate activists made a bold statement about global warming with a banner drop from a four-storey building.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/6352

8) SOLIDARITY AGAINST SHELL – UK, NOVEMBER 07

While the company continues to flare gas in Nigeria claiming lack of funds, people are taking action…

On the 9th, supporters of the International struggle against Shell demonstrated outside the Shell Gas offices in Duckmanton, Nr Chesterfield with banners, noise and images of the community struggle in Ireland. They leafleted the workers at the offices and demanded an end to the ongoing violence, intimidation and bribery that the Shell project has unleashed on the local people of Mayo, NW Ireland.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17808

In solidarity with the people of Rossport and Nigeria, the Shell petrol station on Dalry Road, Edinburgh was blockaded for 2 hours on the 11th by 20 people including members of the Clown Army. The Comiston Shell Petrol
Station was subjected to a night-time redecoration.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17805
Rossport: Another Season of Resistance is an excellent indymedia update.
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/386253.html

Also in the news; The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has upheld a complaint by Friends of the Earth against Shell over the oil company’s claims that it uses its waste CO2 to grow flowers.
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/shell_advert_is_ruled_misl_01112007.html

9) LEGAL BLOW TO BP OVER TEXAS CITY BLAST – 21.11.07

BP’s hopes of drawing a line under its problems in the US after agreeing a $380m (£184m) settlement with the authorities have been dealt a blow by a legal challenge over the fatal explosion at its Texas City refinery. An
attorney for victims of the blast, has asked a federal judge to reject the settlement, saying it is “shockingly lenient”.
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk//content/view/42/2/

10) PERMACULTURE UPDATE – NOVEMBER 07

November ebulletin from the Permaculture Association (Britain).
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/ebulletin.php

11) CLIMATE JUSTICE TRIBUNAL REPORT – COLOMBIA, 29.10.07

For a report on the grass-roots Tribunal into Climate Justice in Bogotá, see;
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=26987&search_text=colombia

———-

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Sizewell Nuclear Power Blockade

1.12.2007
At 6:50 am this morning 8 sleepy protestors arrived at the gates of Sizewell A and B in Suffolk. What else would you do at this time in the morning at a nuclear power station, other than lay on the road, lock yourselves together, unfurl your banner reading ‘nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos’ and wait 15 minutes for the security to notice you.

As the shift change began, we lay comfortably on the wet and cold road, and only one worker threatened to run us over.
The griffins arrived (civil nuclear police), Suffolk police, and a couple of gnomes (or maybe security people). Apparently, people wanted to go to work, and so the police asked us to move. We declined.
After 2 and a half hours of shift change disruption (job done!) we made a deal with the coppers that we could leave, with all of our equipment, not get arrested, and be free to come and do it again another day. Bizarrely, the police agreed to this. Watch the video below of what happened just after release – apparently, they couldn’t arrest us under the human rights act – proportionality and all that, innit.

Videos:
The reasons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i7-Z3wdjAM
Interactions with the police http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57OiMfCGC94
Leaving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnPMcvj7BBQ

Below is the press release we sent out.

This week it was announced that Sizewell is one of the four sites proposed for the new build of nuclear power plants. Brown indicated that large government incentives for new nuclear stations will be promised in the new year. These would include a planning reform bill that will speed up the planning process. The protesters say that this will take away the ability to refuse permission on a local level and that many safety features were introduced during the extensive planning phase for Sizewell B.

One of the protesters, Peter Lux from Norwich said, “Gordon Browns statement is completely at odds with what we should be doing to combat climate change. The proposed aviation policy with the expansion of Heathrow will cause several times more greenhouse gas emissions than could possibly be saved by replacing our existing nuclear power stations even if nuclear power was carbon neutral which it is not.”

Another protester said: “It is so frustrating to think that we do not even have a democracy when it comes to our energy needs and use. That’s why we have to come and take direct action, how can we sit back and watch when we know this is the wrong route to be taking?.” Said Mell Harrison, one of the protesters and Campaigns Coordinator for Eastern Region CND. She went on “The government are going ahead with building new nuclear power stations without proper public debate and consultation. All you ever hear from the Government is about our growing energy needs, but the real answer is energy conservation and more sustainable life styles. For example we hear about China’s ever growing energy needs, but it’s the West’s desire for more cheap goods from China that is one of the biggest reasons for their carbon emissions.”
Sizewell B was the last nuclear reactor to be built in the UK and was completed in 1995. It took 15 years to complete, cost over £3billion with about £800 million in cost overruns, which resulted mainly from additional safety features.
The nuclear industry also suffered a setback earlier this month when it was announced that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was unable able to say what the costs of cleaning up Britain’s nuclear power stations would reach, but last month it raised its estimate by more than 12 per cent to £72.7 billion. This rising cost will be met by the taxpayer rather than the nuclear industry.

plunk@hushmail.com
http://www.easterncnduk.org

Maniac Motorist Marrs Mass in Glasgow

Last Friday’s Critical Mass in Glasgow was marred and cut short slightly by an assault on one of the riders. Not overburdened with festive spirit, a middle-aged woman leant out of a car (reg. no X754…) and pulled the cyclist off his bike.

After gathering as usual, defying rain and the invasion of George Square by a St andrews day icerink and a million Saltires, 20 cyclists went for their regular ride around. About 0 minutes into the event the atmosphere turned nasty while heading up St Vincent Street.

After attempting to drive in between the Massers, always a dangerous and counter-productive thing to do, the silver car nearly hit a rider. after that and a short conversation, the car’s passenger, a middle-aged blonde woman in a red jacket grabbed the cyclist by the shoulder, jerked him off of his bike.

The car with a registration number beginning X754 and ending in either LGG or a similar sounding combination of letters, then sped off up the hill. a rider caught up at the next set of traffic lights (always happens) but was unable to get a clear photograph of the violent criminal and her accomplice, who turned right up Pitt Street and got away.

Critical Massers regrouped to catch breath on the pavement, then most of them continued to ride for another 20 minutes or so. Including the assaulted cyclist, not seriously hurt but slightly shaken and, given the police’s inaction over a previous assault, unlikely to bother pressing charges. From Argyle Street, past the most polluted site in the city, over the river and back over the footbridge to the pub for a warming and well-earned drink.

“Motorist breaks law with impunity.” It’s hardly a news story, as you can see from this photograph of a completely different car on the same road. Two people in the car, wet road, lengthy stopping distance, yet it’s the driver who’s talking on the mobile phone. Another idiot endangering my life and my friends’ lives while slowly poisoning the air we all share. Where’s the choice in lifestyle choice there?

While the assault might cause Critical Massers to think more deeply about tactics, there’s no doubt that more than ever it’s a vital part of the battle for quality of life in Glasgow.

Meets at George Square, 5:30pm for a 6:00pm departure on the last Friday of every month.