![Salford Civic Centre Shut Down By Barton Mo
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31st January 2014
ANTI FRACKING CAMPAIGNERS SHUT SWINTON CIVIC CENTRE
Salford Council's Civic Centre in Swinton was dramatically shut down this afternoon as five anti-fracking campaigners from the Barton Moss Protection Camp locked on in the reception area.
The campaigners' action was against Government attempts to bribe Salford Council to allow fracking in the city.
The front doors of Salford Civic Centre were closed this afternoon as five campaigners locked on in its reception area to draw attention to ConDem Government attempts to bribe councils to accept rates and community payments in exchange for allowing fracking in their cities.
Two anti-fracking campaigners from the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp – site of exploratory drilling by fracking company IGas – superglued themselves to bars on the reception windows, while two more attached themselves to an arm tube, with another superglued to them. It took the Greater Manchester Police Protester Removal Team around two hours to free them, while the Centre remained closed to the public.
"The protectors are here protesting against Salford Council's allowance of IGas to do exploratory drilling with a view to fracking at Barton Moss" said Darren Nesbit, an observer from the Camp "We've had one of the protectors, Boris, here on the lawn of the Civic Centre for the last few weeks and we attended the demo at the full Council meeting recently.
"Everything we do is to, firstly, raise awareness of fracking and the corruption of the Government and Council, and, secondly, to let councils know that this is what will happen to every council in the country if they allow fracking or any other corporate rape of the earth which will affect their residents."
Dozens of protestors from around the globe rallied against Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, on Tuesday urging its shareholders to consider the risks of growing and consuming genetically modified crops.
Protestors, with signs in hand, converged at the Monsanto headquarters in suburban St. Louis, MO during the company’s annual investors meeting in support of two shareholder resolutions that questioned the level of contamination passed onto non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) crops and requested the seed giant end its fight against mandatory labels on foods containing GMO ingredients, reports Reuters.
The resolutions failed by considerable margins and 11 protestors were arrested after attempting to disrupt traffic near the Monsanto gates.
“Right now there’s a growing movement to label genetically modified food,” said Dave Murphy, executive director of Food Democracy Now!, who presented the labeling proposal at Tuesday’s shareholder meeting “Monsanto has chosen unfortunately to resist the rights of American people.”
Over the last two years, Monsanto has spent more than $13.4 million to defeat GMO labeling efforts in California and Washington state, said Murphy.
Shareholder Adam Eidinger introduced the labeling resolution, hoping to get at least 7 percent of investors to support it, but wound up with just 4 percent, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The second resolution, introduced by shareholder John Harrington, focused on Monsanto’s potential liability to organic farmers. It received just 6.5 percent support from investors.
Live audio of the shareholder meeting, which was broadcast for the first time on the internet, also attracted Monsanto supporters, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Justin Danhof, general counsel for the National Center for Public Policy Research, told WSJ.com the protest was a “campaign of junk science” against biotech foods. Danhof insisted Monsanto combat the environmentalist outcry by enlisting its scientists as spokespeople on talk radio and other media to create an open conversation with the public.
According to Reuters, the protest resolutions were backed by environmental, food safety and consumer activist groups. Protestors said that 2.6 million members of those groups support the anti-GMO initiative.
“It’s time that Monsanto join the 21st century and allow Americans the basic right to know what’s in their food, something that’s already done in 64 other countries around the world. Why not America?” said Murphy.
30/1/14
Dozens of protestors from around the globe rallied against Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, on Tuesday urging its shareholders to consider the risks of growing and consuming genetically modified crops.
Protestors, with signs in hand, converged at the Monsanto headquarters in suburban St. Louis, MO during the company’s annual investors meeting in support of two shareholder resolutions that questioned the level of contamination passed onto non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) crops and requested the seed giant end its fight against mandatory labels on foods containing GMO ingredients, reports Reuters.
The resolutions failed by considerable margins and 11 protestors were arrested after attempting to disrupt traffic near the Monsanto gates.
“Right now there’s a growing movement to label genetically modified food,” said Dave Murphy, executive director of Food Democracy Now!, who presented the labeling proposal at Tuesday’s shareholder meeting “Monsanto has chosen unfortunately to resist the rights of American people.”
Over the last two years, Monsanto has spent more than $13.4 million to defeat GMO labeling efforts in California and Washington state, said Murphy.
Shareholder Adam Eidinger introduced the labeling resolution, hoping to get at least 7 percent of investors to support it, but wound up with just 4 percent, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The second resolution, introduced by shareholder John Harrington, focused on Monsanto’s potential liability to organic farmers. It received just 6.5 percent support from investors.
Live audio of the shareholder meeting, which was broadcast for the first time on the internet, also attracted Monsanto supporters, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Justin Danhof, general counsel for the National Center for Public Policy Research, told WSJ.com the protest was a “campaign of junk science” against biotech foods. Danhof insisted Monsanto combat the environmentalist outcry by enlisting its scientists as spokespeople on talk radio and other media to create an open conversation with the public.
According to Reuters, the protest resolutions were backed by environmental, food safety and consumer activist groups. Protestors said that 2.6 million members of those groups support the anti-GMO initiative.
“It’s time that Monsanto join the 21st century and allow Americans the basic right to know what’s in their food, something that’s already done in 64 other countries around the world. Why not America?” said Murphy.
![Maules Creek mining site protest.
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28.01.14 – More than 100 protesters have blocked access for work crews in the Leard State Forest as the campaign to block construction of the Maules Creek open-cut coal mine expands.
Workers from Whitehaven Coal, the developer of the planned mine in northern NSW, were turned away early on Tuesday, said Georgina Woods, spokeswoman for the Leard Forest Alliance. Machinery is tied up at three sites and four access roads are blocked, she said.
“We’re basically digging in to stop them from using the machines to clear the forest,” said Ms Woods. “It’s not going to end until this forest gets a reprieve.”
Police have arrested at least 10 protesters since the main blockade began about two weeks ago. One protester has been arrested on Tuesday as police move in on campaigners attached to several structures on the work site.
The campaigners want federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to revoke approval to clear the forest for coal mining.
Police and the Rural Fire Service this month succeeded in having the Leard forest declared closed to the public until March 31 by the Forestry Corporation of NSW because of fire risks. The move sparked complaints by environmental groups and a firefighters’ union.
Council eviction vote
A separate move by the Narrabri Council to evict the protesters from crown land under their control will now proceed after after several councillors had lodged an objection to the move. The council brought forward a vote on the eviction from February 4 and passed the eviction order on Tuesday afternoon.
“There’s a prediction that there’s very hot weather on the way,” said Bevan O’Regan, one of the councillors who halted the original council move, detailing the reason given for the early vote.
Mr O’Regan said the council’s general manager may not proceed to issue fines for those who refuse to move on from crown land.
“The question is now whether they will start evicting, or is it a bluff?,” said Mr O’Regan. “We’ll soon find out,” he said, adding that the protestors may not move their camps back into the forest.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a maximum of 35 degrees on Tuesday and then six days ranging from 37 to 40 degrees.
Among people risking arrest on Tuesday is Bill Ryan, a legally blind 91-year old Kokoda veteran, who is taking part with his 65-year old son, campaigners said.
“This blockade has given our community hope that we are not just the collateral damage of the coal industry,” said Maules Creek resident Roslyn Druce in a statement “(It) is doing the job the government should have done, protecting an irreplaceable forest.”
A weekend gathering for people involved or want to know more about ecological direct action around the UK including fighting opencast coal, fracking, GM, nuclear power, new road building and quarries with discussions and campaign planning – emphasis on the tactics and strategies, community solidarity and sustainable activism.
A weekend gathering for people involved or want to know more about ecological direct action around the UK including fighting opencast coal, fracking, GM, nuclear power, new road building and quarries with discussions and campaign planning – emphasis on the tactics and strategies, community solidarity and sustainable activism.
Evening Friday 7th – afternoon Sunday 9th March 2014, Nottingham
Cost scale £20 to £30. This includes full vegan meals and accommodation.
It will be an indoor floor sleeping space so bring a warm sleeping bag and mat. Train to Nottingham then tram to Beaconsfield street– walk to the end turn right on to Gladstone St — 245 Gladstone St, Nottingham NG7 6HX — www.earthfirst.org.uk
Full map/travel details
For offers of help or questions email themiddle@earthfirst.org.uk
Programme
Friday
16.30-17.30 Security Workshop
17.30-18.30 Film
18.30 Dinner
20.00 Benefit Gig
Saturday
8.30-9.30 Breakfast
9.30-10.45 Intro go round of campaigns
10.45-11.00 Break
11.00-12.00 Future of Earth First Part 1
12.00-13.00 Security Workshop
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-14.30 Lush/fundraising workshop
14.30-18.15 Campaign Workshops (timings to be finalised to include Fracking, Nuclear, Roads and Coal)
18.15-18.30 Summer Gathering handover
18.30 Dinner
20.00 DJ??
Sunday
9.00-10.00 Breakfast fry up
10.00-10.30 Tidy up of venue
10.30-11.30 Feedback go round
11.30-12.30 Future of Earth First Part 2
12.30-14.00 Summer Gathering Planning (and time of other workshops to run in parallel)
14.00-15.00 Lunch
15.00 End
January 22nd From June 20th to July 1st, locally well-known journalist and activist Will Parrish lived 50 feet above ground in a wick drain &l
January 22nd From June 20th to July 1st, locally well-known journalist and activist Will Parrish lived 50 feet above ground in a wick drain “stitcher” in the northern Little Lake Valley (ie, Willits Valley) wetlands, where the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) is building an unnecessary and environmentally destructive freeway bypass.
By putting his body inside the framework of this destructive equipment, which is in the process of installing roughly 55,000 80-foot drainage tubes into the Little Lake wetlands, Will blocked it from operating and brought nationwide attention to the harm CalTrans is causing the Little Lake Valley watershed. This harm includes destroying the largest Northern California wetlands area of any project in over 50 years.
As punishment for Will’s more than 11 day stand on behalf of the Valley’s land and people, Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster is charging him with 16 misdemeanors (14 counts of “unlawful entry” and two of “resisting arrest”), with a maximum eight-year jail sentence. He also wants Will to pay Caltrans a mind-boggling $490,002 in restitution. This is an unheard of move by a district attorney in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties, which each have a rich tradition of struggle for social justice and the natural environment. If the DA and Caltrans have their way, Will would spend the rest of his life paying off these absurd penalties.
About The Case
When Mendocino County DA David Eyster first filed a complaint against Will on July 2nd, the charges consisted of three infractions corresponding to each of Will’s three non-violent arrests protesting the Bypass. This complaint included a requirement to pay undisclosed restitution fees.
Under an infraction, the defendant’s case is presided over by a judge rather than a jury. Will was unwilling to accept the uncapped restitution stipulation and was also adamant about his right to receive a jury trial, so his attorney (Omar Figueroa of Sebastopol) asked that Eyster re-file the charges as misdemeanors. Will understood and accepted that the infractions would become misdemeanors, and would include the possibility of jail time, but was not prepared for Eyster’s arbitrary decision to add thirteen additional counts for misdemeanor violations.
Notably, Will already endured a form of house arrest in the wick drain stitcher and was deprived of food, water and medical attention by the CHP (at the behest of CalTrans). The CHP even arrested six people who attempted to bring him supplies. Will went for almost six days with no food, survived partially on rain water, and was bitterly cold after being drenched by more than two days of unseasonal rain.
Why Will Is Pursuing a Jury Trial
This part of the case bears repeating. There is a common misconception that Will is seeking a jury trial because he wants to leverage his case for maximum publicity. This claim has been repeated in numerous media accounts of the case. But it is largely untrue. While Will is indeed interested in maximum publicity for his case, he is exercising his Constitutional right to a jury trial primarily because of DA Eyster’s draconian insistence that he pay criminal restitution to Caltrans.
Will believes a jury trial provides the best opportunity for him to oppose the criminal restitution stipulation.
Will adamantly opposes this harsh criminalization of environmental activism on principal, particularly when the real criminals in this case are those who preside over Caltrans’ Willits Bypass construction. Criminal restitution has not been pursued against direct action protesters in Northern California in recent memory. Thus, the imposition of restitution would also have a chilling effect against future activism. Besides not wanting to be in a position of paying off Caltrans for the rest of his life, Will is dead set against seeing people who stand on their rights to defend the earth from illegal plunder be persecuted for it. He is willing to risk a jail sentence to oppose this dangerous precedent.
January 20, 2014 – Germany The following is a summary of recent incidents in Germany reported on the Anti-Hunting Blog (animal rights activists may not be responsible for all of these incidents):
January 20, 2014 – Germany The following is a summary of recent incidents in Germany reported on the Anti-Hunting Blog (animal rights activists may not be responsible for all of these incidents):
– A hunting seat/tower was destroyed by fire in Hettenshausen (Bavaria) on January 18.
– According to news reports, between January 6-7 a hunting tower at the edge of a nature reserve near Salem (Schleswig-Holstein) was knocked over. Two other hunting towers in the same area were damaged in November and December. Police blamed "Militant hunting opponents."
– In early January, two hunting towers were demolished near Hagen (North Rhine-Westphalia). Local police speculated that animal rights activists were responsible.
– On December 24, a hunting tower was set on fire near the city of Hildesheim (Lower Saxony).
– Police are investigating an explosion that completely destroyed a hunting tower in Pollhagen (Lower Saxony) in mid-December. The exact cause of the blast has not been determined.
– Late on December 14 a hunting tower was damaged by an explosion in Samern (Lower Saxony). photo: gn-online.de
– On November 14, the inside of a hunting tower in Duderstadt (Lower Saxony) was soaked with butyric acid, making it unusable.
16.1.14
Arm tube lock on blocking iGas lorries getting through
One of the protectors has superglued her leg on the arm tube
Protectors being cut free now by police removal team
LIVE at http://bambuser.com/v/4272902
During the night of December 31 – January 1 we torched 2 vehicles used in development project in Southern Moscow. Security didn’t expect us to show up as they were busy drinking themselves into oblivion at the guardhouse. So we used 2 jelly cans of gasoline and some rags to destroy unguarded machinery.
During the night of December 31 – January 1 we torched 2 vehicles used in development project in Southern Moscow. Security didn’t expect us to show up as they were busy drinking themselves into oblivion at the guardhouse. So we used 2 jelly cans of gasoline and some rags to destroy unguarded machinery. No harm came from our actions (only harm being made was that to the developer’s purse).
We dedicate this action to anarchists from Belarus, those who stay imprisoned. Guys, we remember you, we miss you and wait for you to become free again. We ask for ABC Belarus to help us in spreading this information and letting our imprisoned comrades know of our words and deed. We hope the news will help to lighten up the mood and keep you warm and smiling in the grey prison reality.
As for our ecodefence activism, we are not planning to make a U-turn. Unlike Mrs. Chirikova [self-proclaimed leader of mass protests during Khimki forest struggle – trans.] we are not looking for a comfortable chair in local administration. So we can afford to do what needs be done. We don’t accept moanings like: “Violence is bad, we shouldn’t be torching vehicles, we should get more signatures under petition, so as to be heard by federal government.” This reminds us of the fears of a person who’s afraid to loose the goodwill of powers-that-be. If we allow somebody to commit violence against ourselves, it means we’re raising the white flag. It is time to question the rationale behind continuous withdrawal under the blows of authorities. It is time to stop hiding your inability to act behind phrases like: “we shouldn’t act, this is violent tactics” or “this is too macho-ist” or “this is illegal”. If you want to ask for permission to protest, you must understand that you’re in fact selling yourselves. Only uncontrollable forms of resistance can hope to remain free. Any protest coordinated from under liberal umbrella organization is doomed to a failure. Gather your strengths, stay free and be wild, god damn it!
31st January 2014
