Category: Action Reports

Fracking on trial – again!

The safety of fracking will be challenged at Preston Magistrates Court today, as 3 people go on trial following a protest at Cuadrilla’s Hesketh Bank site, Lancashire, in December last year. (1) The trial is expected to last until Thursday.

 

The safety of fracking will be challenged at Preston Magistrates Court today, as 3 people go on trial following a protest at Cuadrilla’s Hesketh Bank site, Lancashire, in December last year. (1) The trial is expected to last until Thursday.

 

On 1 December 2011, protestors from Bristol Rising Tide occupied the test drilling rig, shutting it down for 13 hours. (2) (3)

Hydraulic fracturing is a method of extracting gas in shale rock. Huge amounts of water mixed with toxic chemicals are forced into the ground at high pressure, a large proportion of which are never recovered. This fluid also leaches arsenic out of rocks, creating a dangerous cocktail that’s difficult to dispose of. In the United States numerous spills of these fluids have contaminated irrigation water, affecting food supplies, and the health of surrounding communities. (4) (5) (6)

Rachel Greenwood from Bristol Rising Tide said: "Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water, and the devastation of local ecosystems, is inevitable. You cannot do it safely, and regulation of fracking is totally ineffective. Cuadrilla were able to continue drilling after their planning permission had expired. If fracking is allowed to go ahead in Lancashire it could happen throughout the UK."

There are twelve licenses to frack for shale gas in the UK, five of which are held by Cuadrilla resources in Lancashire. (7)

Cuadrilla’s activities are opposed both by local groups (8) (9) and climate campaigners. On 10th July 2012, three people were found guilty of aggravated trespass following an occupation of the Cuadrilla Resources test drilling site at Banks. (10) On 18 June, 20 people blockaded Cuadrilla Resource’s drilling rig at PR Marriot’s compound in Chesterfield, locking themselves to the gates to prevent the rig from being moved to Cuadrilla’s site in Lancashire. (11)

UK Methane recently announced their intention to apply for planning permission to drill a Coal Bed Methane borehole in Keynsham, Bristol. (12)

Coal Bed Methane involves drilling into coal seams to extract gas in a similar manner to fracking. A wide variety of techniques are used depending on the nature of the coal seam. If the seam is permeable enough, pumping water out of the seam will be enough to start gas flowing from the well, but if not, some sort of stimulation will be needed. Often this is hydraulic fracturing.

Because the coal seams tend to be relatively close to the surface, and because such large quantities of water are pumped out of the coal seam (water that has been marinading in coal for thousands of years), problems with water contamination and leaking methane tend to occur regardless of whether fracking is performed. (13)

There is currently planning permission for around 60 Coal Bed Methane wells in Britain. (14)

Notes for editors

1. Two of the defendants are charged with aggravated trespass (section 68 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994). The other is charged with an offence under section 69 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which is failing to leave land as soon as practicable when directed to do so by the senior officer at the scene.

2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/dec/01/fracking-lancashire-hesketh-bank-cuadrilla

3. Photos of the action are available at: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/71113300@N08/

4. 'Cracks in the Façade: EPA Traced Pollution of Underground Water Supply to Hydraulic Fracturing' (Aug 2011 – EWG)
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/fracking/cracks_in_the_facade.pdf

5. 'Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing' (May 2011 – Duke)
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/cgc/pnas2011.pdf

6.'Shale gas: a provisional assessment of climate change and environmental impacts' (Jan 2011 – Tyndall Centre)
http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/sites/default/files/coop_shale_gas_report_final_200111.pdf

7. http://frack-off.org.uk/new-homepage/bad-guys/locations/

8. Residents Action on Fylde Fracking: http://stopfyldefracking.org.uk/

9. Ribble Estuary Against Fracking: http://reafg.blogspot.co.uk/

10. The defence was supported by a number of witnesses, including academics from the UK and US and members of the local community, who testified regarding the consequences of shale gas extraction, in terms of climate change, water contamination, earthquakes and severe health effects. For more information see: http://frackingontrial.org/

11. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/jun/18/fracking-protest-chesterfield-cuadrilla-hesketh-bank

12. UK Methane have contacted Transition Keynsham to announce that they will apply for planning permission to drill a Coal Bed Methane borehole in Keynsham: http://www.frackfreesomerset.org

13. http://frack-off.org.uk/coal-bed-methane-the-evil-twin-of-shale-gas/

14. http://frack-off.org.uk/bad-guys/locations/

For more information see:
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.frackfreesomerset.org
www.frack-off.org.uk
www.frackingontrial.org

Climate Sirens drop banner on Tower Bridge

Today Climate Siren activists scaled Tower Bridge to drop a massive banner above the Paralympic symbol which read "Climate Change our Next Challenge".

Today Climate Siren activists scaled Tower Bridge to drop a massive banner above the Paralympic symbol which read "Climate Change our Next Challenge". Their blog contains 'an open letter to the world' (see below) where they ask us all to focus on the "changing climate and the threat it poses to our civilisation’s very existence on this beautiful planet" After the drop Tower bridge was evacuated for "safety reasons" the activist arrested and taken to Bishopsgate where their supporters followed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear People of the World,

The 2012 Olympics were a huge inspiration as to how we can come together to overcome challenges and achieve success – at many levels; as participants, as spectators, as competitors, even as a host nation. No doubt the Paralympics will equal or surpass this.

But these Games can be an inspiration for us to confront the biggest challenge our species has ever faced – perhaps will ever face: The changing climate and the threat it poses to our civilisation’s very existence on this beautiful planet.

Climate change is happening now. Don’t be fooled by those whose vested interests ensure that they would have you think otherwise. Or by colder winters. Climate change unfolds unevenly over time and is not uniform across all areas of the globe. Think of the stock market:

“Any competent financial advisor will tell you that the road to secure retirement is paved with market drops. Any competent climate scientist will tell you that our road to a hotter planet will be paved with cold snaps, even record-breakers.” – Prof. Laurence Smith

Even those formerly sceptical come round to the irrefutable evidence eventually, as Prof. Muller has recently shown. We may not understand the physical science of the Earth well enough to accurately predict how the climate will change over long periods, particularly at the regional level, but then we don’t understand meteorology well enough to determine whether it will be raining or not in Chicago next 15th April. Doesn’t mean that it will not be raining in Chicago come 15/04/13!

But our models are getting better. Twenty years ago, scientists had to ‘write-in’ complex, irregular climate variability events such as El Niño/La Niña cycles. Nowadays, they arise spontaneously within our models: a clear indicator that we are getting more and more accurate in our predictions.

Even without the models, the field of paleoclimatology gives us irrefutable and chilling evidence of how rapidly and enormously the global climate can and has changed. Ice cores tell us that around 11,500 years ago, surface temperature in Greenland increased by 8.3°C in a single decade. In the Pliocene, when sea levels were 25 metres higher than they are now, the C02 content of the atmosphere was just 100 parts per million (ppm) more than they are now. Our annual rate of increase is currently about 2.07ppm and rising.

We are already committed to a 0.6°C rise on 1990 levels, simply from the long-term warming effects of what we’ve already put in the atmosphere. Even the IPCC (notorious for underestimating global climate change to achieve scientific consensus) in its most optimistic SRES scenario – known as ‘B1’ – sees us approaching close to a 2°C rise in global temperature by 2100. In this model, northerly latitudes, including the Arctic, would see rises anywhere between 3.5 – 6°C by century’s end. That might not sound like so much until you realise that the temperature difference between a giant ice sheet covering Edinburgh, Berlin, Moscow and New York was only 5°C lower than now, during the last Ice Age. 

The biggest challenge is not in physically doing what is necessary – we have the technology and skills to transition to a sustainable society without a huge amount of difficulty. The challenge is in overcoming the doubts and confusion sown by those with vested interests in preventing change. To overcome our fears and take that first step into new territory. It is the challenge of confronting the forces of demography, globalisation and climate change and asking serious questions about the way we organise our economies, societies and local communities, the way we use our Earth’s natural resources, how we distribute them and how we preserve them for future generations. 

In truth, our biggest challenge is a moral challenge. 

And we face it now.

clisir

Australia: Climate activists do Banner drops in Boggabri and Melbourne against coal rush

Activists from Quit Coal were able to get a message across this morning: with a banner drop over the main entrance of the Victorian State parliament house. The banner said "'Coal is the single greatest threat to civilisation and all life on our planet' Prof. James Hansen, NASA.

Activists from Quit Coal were able to get a message across this morning: with a banner drop over the main entrance of the Victorian State parliament house. The banner said "'Coal is the single greatest threat to civilisation and all life on our planet' Prof. James Hansen, NASA. Why is Baillieu funding coal?" At the same time activists in central NSW at Boggabri climbed a coal-crusher and dropped a banner which said "Stop the Coal Rush: Protect Health, Water, Climate"

Related: Further subsidies for Victorian coal by Victorian and Federal Governments | Quit Coal photos: Parliament House Banner Drop & Lock On

"Why is Baillieu funding coal?" demand climate activists

Four activists eluded security and were able to climb the scaffolding at the back of parliament house to the roof to drop the banner just after 9am. Two chained themselves on the roof while two more dropped down with the banner on ropes. Nine other people chained themselves on the steps of parliament house. Protestor Dominic O'Dwyer said from the roof: "We are planning on staying here until the government does something recognising the threat that climate change poses. We would like the government to take the threat of climate change seriously."

 

The banner was present for a few hours before police peacefully escorted the protestors away. Bolt cutters had to be brought in to cut the chains of people on the steps. According to a police spkeswoman no charges have been laid at this stage.

MR Baillieu when asked about the protest by reporters commented "It will be a matter for the president and the speaker. Those people have endangered themselves but they have also endangered other people."

Energy minister Michael O'Brien called the protest a "stupid and dangerous stunt".

Dominic O'Dwyer, who chained himself on the roof, told AAP reporter and reported in the Herald Sun "We're disappointed that the government is not taking action on climate change and they've got their head in the sand. That's why we're here today, we're not here today because we enjoy this. We've seen record ice melts in the Arctic this year, that means more bushfires, more severe droughts, worse flooding, which affects millions of Victorian families."

Gavin Jennings, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister of Health, tweeted during the protest:

 

One of the reasons protestors identified for the action was the State government decision to put $45 million into funding 'clean coal' initiatives along with another $45 million from the Federal Government. Mr O'Dwyer said "For a start they should withdraw that money".

Protest against coal expansion Gunnedah Basin, NSW

While the protest at the Victorian Parliament House was occurring there was also a protest and banner drop in central New South Wales, where activists scaled a coal-crushing plant at Boggabri Coal Mine on the Gunnedah basin.

According to the media release the NSW Government has recently approved a fourfold expansion of the Boggabri Coal Mine. The two protestors dropped a banner saying: "Stop the Coal Rush: Protect Health, Water, Climate". After more than 8 hours atop the coal-crusher two protestors were arrested and taken to Narrabri Police Station. The men were protesting against the destruction of Leard State Forest, in the Gunnedah Basin, for three open-cut coal mines.

Sources:

GM sunflowers – Faucheurs Volontaires in action

2 September 2012

Press release

In the early hours of 2nd September, a hundred Faucheurs Volontaires (voluntary reapers of GM) from all over France simultaneously decontaminated 8 test fields in the Isère region and 1 in the Drôme.

2 September 2012

Press release

In the early hours of 2nd September, a hundred Faucheurs Volontaires (voluntary reapers of GM) from all over France simultaneously decontaminated 8 test fields in the Isère region and 1 in the Drôme.

Par cette action que nous assumons pleinement, nous voulons : mettre en évidence qu’une partie importante des surfaces de tournesol de la région a été semée avec des variétés mutées, issues de technologies brevetées, tolérantes à des herbicides, véritables OGM qui ne disent pas leur nom. Dénoncer le passage en force des firmes semencières et des opérateurs de la filière, qui cachent aux paysans la véritable nature de ces variétés. C’est la politique du fait accompli : on colonise les champs, ensuite on discutera.

Par ailleurs, aucune traçabilité ni étiquetage n’est exigée pour les produits de consommation humaine (graines et huile de tournesol) et animales (graines et tourteaux) Les récoltes de ces parcelles seront mélangées avec les récoltes conventionnelles et se retrouveront donc dans nos assiettes

Nous attendons du ministre de l’agriculture et des Services de l’Etat : qu’ils garantissent aux consommateurs la liberté de consommer sans OGM qu’ils agissent pour que ces technologies ne soient plus exclues du champ d’application de la directive européenne 2001-18 sur les OGM (alors qu’elle les définit comme tels : art 2 et 3)

Ces variétés de tournesol muté constituent des impasses techniques : toujours plus de pesticides, risques de résistance de l’ambroisie… Les producteurs doivent les refuser et ne pas se laisser embarquer dans cette spirale qui les rendent encore plus dépendants des firmes semencières agrochimiques

PAS D’OGM DANS NOS CHAMPS ET NOS ASSIETTES QU’ILS SOIENT ISSUS DE TRANSGENESE OU DE MUTAGENESE

Les Faucheurs Volontaires

Japan Dolphins Day 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around 100-150 protesters held a rally outside the Embassy of Japan in London yesterday (31st August 2012) to send a clear message to Japan on the eve of the Taiji dolphin slaughter season- END THE UNNECESSARY & CRUEL MURDER OF DOLPHINS IN THE COVE. Similar events were held at Japanese embassies around the world, with thousands of passionate  people from all walks of life and of all ages coming together for the cause and celebrating lives of the beautiful and intelligent creatures on Japan Dolphins Day. We made a lot of noise and got a lot of attention from embassy staff, security and importantly the public.

 

For more information-

http://thecovemovie.com/

http://www.seashepherd.org/

http://savejapandolphins.org/

USA: Earth First! Blockades Florida’s Dirtiest Power Plant protesting Mitt Romney’s Acceptance Speech

Apollo Beach, FL—In the climax of the 2012 Republican National Convention, protestors with Earth First! have blocked access roads to TECO’s Big Bend coal plant on the eastern shore of Tampa Bay. The environmental action group is citing corporate influence in politics and ecological impacts of fossil fuel dependency as reasons for the disruption.

Apollo Beach, FL—In the climax of the 2012 Republican National Convention, protestors with Earth First! have blocked access roads to TECO’s Big Bend coal plant on the eastern shore of Tampa Bay. The environmental action group is citing corporate influence in politics and ecological impacts of fossil fuel dependency as reasons for the disruption.

Report from Indybay IMC: A30 Earth First! Lockdown at Tampa's Big Bend Coal Plant During 2012 RNC
| Youtube video: Environmental Protest in Tampa Bay during RNC , Protestors chained together, Protest ends peacefully

This year’s RNC was funded by an estimated $55 million in corporate pay-offs, with corporations including the Tampa based-TECO Energy, along with Chevron, Duke Energy and Exxon Mobil.

According to a report by Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) last year, Florida is among the dirtiest states in power plant pollution. NRDC found TECO’s Big Bend plant to be in the state's, “top three most polluting smoke stacks.”

Earth First! activists chose this day for their protest in order to highlight Mitt Romney's plan to expand what the group calls the “energy empire” which favors the interest of big donors in oil, gas and coal industries.

Romney’s top energy policy advisor is the wealthiest oilman in the country and according to data analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics, Romney has already raised more from mining interests than Bush or McCain raised from these industries in their entire campaigns.

Locally, TECO's Big Bend plant has a long history of pollution. Along with being declared Florida's number one dirtiest power plant by Florida Consumer Action Network, they were also documented discharging waste into Cobia Bay in Apollo Beach in years past.

But that's not all. TECO has been called one of the nation's worst offenders when it comes to mountaintop removal coal mining. In coal mining regions of the Appalachian Mountains, TECO has ruined entire communities to maximize their profits. Kentucky coalfield resident Doug Justice worked in the coal mines for 22 years and said “I have never seen an outfit treat a community the way TECO Coal has done us.”

In response to the devastation from floods caused be TECO's mining in 2002, Granville Burke of Letcher County, Kentucky, had this to say: “I wish TECO had never started mining above our home. Protection for families like ours is supposed to come from the state and federal regulatory agencies, but instead they look the other way as coal companies destroy entire communities for the sake of profit.”

“Dirty energy becomes dirty politics. We can't afford to stand by and watch it anymore. We have to fight back.” Said Rachel Kijewski, an organizer with the Earth First! movement in Florida.

xxx

 

Twyford Down anti-road protests gathering, September

There is going to be a Twyford Down anti-roads protest reunion to mark that it is 20 years since the protests started.  It's on 29-30 Sept, when it'll be the Harvest Moon.  

There is going to be a Twyford Down anti-roads protest reunion to mark that it is 20 years since the protests started.  It's on 29-30 Sept, when it'll be the Harvest Moon.  

There will be a camp run along the same lines as 20 years ago (bring what you expect to find… water butts, tents, food, etc).  That said, there will be some domes and the @ teapot are going to be doing catering (Sat dinner and Sun breakfast) – hurrah!  Camp location to be on top of St Catherine's Hill, near Winchester.

There will also be a protest / photo opportunity about this current Government's mania of roadbuilding. 

 Please spread this amongst your contacts who you think may be interestd.  There is a Facebook page if you do such things called Twenty Years Since Twyford: http://www.facebook.com/events/344190508996315/

More details and flyer downloadable at http://bettertransport.org.uk/blogs/roads/100912-twyford-20

Netherlands: destruction of potato GM trial site

Two GM potato trial fields at the University of Wageningen were destroyed by activists in July and August 2012. 

The potato trials were for mildew resistance.  They were in Lelystad and Valthermond. It was only recently, on 16th August, that the destruction was discovered.  The action has not been claimed. 

Two GM potato trial fields at the University of Wageningen were destroyed by activists in July and August 2012. 

The potato trials were for mildew resistance.  They were in Lelystad and Valthermond. It was only recently, on 16th August, that the destruction was discovered.  The action has not been claimed. 

Russia. Khimki forest (north of Moscow). Construction vehicles torched, tree-cutter assaulted, his arm broken

reported by activists in Russia:

"Russia. Khimki forest (north of Moscow). Construction vehicles torched, tree-cutter assaulted, his arm broken.

reported by activists in Russia:

"Russia. Khimki forest (north of Moscow). Construction vehicles torched, tree-cutter assaulted, his arm broken.

Unknown activists have torched several construction vehicles and assaulted tree-cutter at the new toll highway construction site in Khimki forest. These news appeared in joint declaration, published by state enterprise “Avtodor” and “North-Eastern concession” (subsidiary of Vinci). The accidents happened on nights of 19.07 and 21.07.
“Avtodor” representatives stated that an assault on tree-cutters took place on 19.07: one of the workers tried to prevent eco-activists from entering the construction site. In the following fight his arm broke.
On the night of 21.07 special construction vehicles were torched: several brand new harvesters and hydraulic excavator were completely destroyed by fire. Material damage is estimated to be over $ 2 000 000.
Earlier the same companies filed a complaint about unknown people opening fire on construction vehicles (supposedly from “Saiga”, a civil 12-mm carbine) and torching workers sheds with molotovs.
Eco-activists present at the site of eco-camp near the construction failed to provide police with evidence or ideas about the nature of perpetrators."

reported by activists in Russia:

"Russia. Khimki forest (north of Moscow). Construction vehicles torched, tree-cutter assaulted, his arm broken.

Unknown activists have torched several construction vehicles and assaulted tree-cutter at the new toll highway construction site in Khimki forest. These news appeared in joint declaration, published by state enterprise “Avtodor” and “North-Eastern concession” (subsidiary of Vinci). The accidents happened on nights of 19.07 and 21.07.
“Avtodor” representatives stated that an assault on tree-cutters took place on 19.07: one of the workers tried to prevent eco-activists from entering the construction site. In the following fight his arm broke.
On the night of 21.07 special construction vehicles were torched: several brand new harvesters and hydraulic excavator were completely destroyed by fire. Material damage is estimated to be over $ 2 000 000.
Earlier the same companies filed a complaint about unknown people opening fire on construction vehicles (supposedly from “Saiga”, a civil 12-mm carbine) and torching workers sheds with molotovs.
Eco-activists present at the site of eco-camp near the construction failed to provide police with evidence or ideas about the nature of perpetrators."

 

"On the night of 20-21 july, after having received news of new tree-cutting activity in Khimki forest, we decided to visit the workers. We aimed for 2 trucks and excavator parked on the clear cut. They were completely destroyed.

Our solidarity goes out to eco-activists who broke the arm of private guard who was guarding the clear cut (this piece we learned from news).

Enough of pseudo-legalism!

Do like us, do better than us.
– Autonomous autonoms

 

Protesters Shut Down Largest Mountaintop Removal Coal Mine in U.S.

Ramping up renewed efforts to end mountaintop removal mining in central Appalachia, scores of protesters staged a daring action at the controversial

Ramping up renewed efforts to end mountaintop removal mining in central Appalachia, scores of protesters staged a daring action at the controversial Hobet strip mine today in Boone County, West Virginia, shutting down operations through a series of coordinated lock downs, tree-sits and banner drops. In a symbolic challenge to the Obama administration’s failed regulatory policies, the protest targeted the Hobet 45 mountaintop removal mine, which had been granted a widely denounced permit over two years ago.”

Twenty protesters were arrested, and are being held for a total of $500,00 dollars in bail. A call for support to raise funds has been issued.

View a video of the action here. Learn more at rampscampaign.org.