Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites – Page 27

Earth First! Winter Moot 2012 – 24-26th February 2012. Updated: location & what to expect

A weekend of discussion and networking for those taking direct action against ecological destruction.

Please note date & location change (due to date clash & venue problems):

24-26th February 2012, near Glasgow

Nearest train station: Lanark.

A weekend of discussion and networking for those taking direct action against ecological destruction.

Please note date & location change (due to date clash & venue problems):

24-26th February 2012, near Glasgow

Nearest train station: Lanark.

See earthfirstgathering.org.uk for further information about location, programme and contact details

Update:

Where – this years Earth First Winter Moot will take place in Glespin Village Hall, South Lanarkshire. Glespin is a small village about 14 miles south of Lanark, and 35 miles south of Glasgow. South Lanarkshire also has many beautiful areas with rivers, hills, forests and peat bogs. Full directions

What to expect – this years Earth First! Winter Moot takes place in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In a months time environmentalists from across the UK and beyond will converge to discuss and debate. Below is an update from the organising collective who are working on the program.

The Moot 2012 collective has felt that at previous EF! Gatherings groups have primarily attended to recruit for their respective campaigns. Yet those who attend EF! Gatherings are predominantly already active, making them good places for networking, but not necessarily for outright recruitment. We recognise the effort gathering organisers put into planning agendas but often the more discursive aspects of the gatherings focus on larger, abstract questions and debates have often been framed by self-appointed experts. We feel that these discussions ineffectively attempt to find answers or reach consensus where this is inappropriate.

For example at the first EF! Gathering 20 years ago the question was asked: 'What is EF!?' 20 years later in 2011 at the last Moot the same question was still being asked . . .

The answer is EF! is what we make it, and this year we are going to make it a space in which we can approach our campaigns both critically and analytically by asking more specific and practical questions. Our activism should be constantly evolving not stuck in a rut asking the same questions again and again.

The agenda will be designed to ask questions around four key issues: the tactics we use; the strategies that we employ in our campaigns; community solidarity; and sustainable activism. There will be no attempt to reach conclusions or consensus especially about what EF! is. Instead we want to have discussions that lead to new ideas that could evolve ongoing campaigns or give creative inspiration to ones that are just getting started.

A free space will be provided in which campaigns will be able to hold meetings and have further discussions if they wish, and there will also be some space given for campaign updates with an emphasis on honest analysis rather than promotion.

For updates and more info check the website or email us.

efwintermoot@noflag.org.uk

The Dale Farm Eviction and the Whiff of Fascism

19th October 2011

Despite courageous resistance by families and a group of activists, Basildon Council are continuing their eviction of Dale Farm residents, backed up by the iron fisted brutality of Essex riot cops. Harrowing and devastating though the episode is for the people being oppressed, it also has dark implications for society as a whole, in the UK and globally.

19th October 2011

While the corporate media routinely spreads the deception that Dale Farm is an "illegal site", it is in fact legally owned by the travellers themselves. In one part, residents constructed buildings having won planning permission to do so. In the other – where eighty families had been camped before today- no such permission has been won. However, the lack of legal rights for travellers is part of a broader issue, and cannot justifiably be used to excuse one of the largest mass evictions in the country's recent past. It should be noted that 90% of planning permission applications by travellers are rejected.

The land currently called Dale Farm has been disputed for decades. Though it is often referred to as "green belt", it was used as a scrapyard by the council as early as the 1960s. English travellers first lived there in the 1970s, but they mostly left around ten years ago, when Irish travellers moved in.

Legal battles have been raging between Basildon Council and the travellers for years, and the latter have exhausted every possible avenue in defending their homes. But when the High Court verdict was handed down last week, it became clear that the council's eviction would be going ahead.

Cops and bailiffs began their invasion at seven this morning, as police in riot gear illegally broke down a rear fence, while an appartently planned distraction took place at the front. Electricity was cut off, affecting essential medical equipment used by one resident. Police used Tasers – again potentially illegal in this situation – and one batoned woman was hospitalised with back pain, unable to move her legs. Cops were met with bricks and other missiles, but their superior force is telling.

Local Conservative MP John Baron was quick to applaud the state aggression, stating that: "The police have been restrained but at the end of the day, the police have got to defend themselves to ensure there is no violence". [emphasis added]

Clearly for Baron, police violence is not violence, and in fact serves to prevent violence. The incongruity of violently defending yourself from violence before violence takes place does not seem to have occurred to him. In plain English, this gang of armed thugs smashed their way into someone's property and got their retaliation in first, in much the same way as the US and UK rained "shock and awe" on Iraq eight years ago, before condemning the indigenous resistance.

The financial costs of all this – estimated at nearly £20 million at a time of public sector austerity – show that this is not just some council's response to a planning issue. Rather it is a political attack on a marginalised layer of society, aimed at: 1) reclaiming a piece of land for potentially more profitable use, 2) diverting attention from ruling class crimes which are impoverishing broad masses of the population, and 3) spearheading the government's Localism Bill – which will decrease the already insufficient number of sites available to travellers.

In respect to number 2, the right wing gutter press has been leading this charge for months, combining crude ethnic stereotyping of the travellers with outright lies about the activists who have dedicated so much time to this struggle. In a time of sky-high economic tensions, the ruling class are desperate to find scapegoats and alternative hate figures, in order to protect themselves from the seething class anger now endemic in society.

In this respect, the British ruling class is no different to the French, the Italian, Hungarian and Czech governments, which have all dramatically increased their persecution of Roma in recent times. This – alongside the anti-Muslim bigotry promoted by rulers throughout the western world – is an expression of the sort of ruling class decay that was last seen during the last Great Depression, and ultimately led to fascism in Europe.

The events at Dale Farm must serve as a warning to all working class people: Today they came for the travellers; tomorrow they are likely to come for you.

Aldermaston Women Invade Faslane Peace Camp

18/10/2011

18/10/2011
This weekend saw the delectable women from Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp descend on Faslane. The theme of the invasion was ‘Domestic Extremists ‘ at large and they did her Majesty’s Royal Navy a service by closing off the North Gate for a few hours on Saturday and giving the Ministry of Defence a much needed lesson in domesticity! A few of us from Peace Camp joined our sisters and, armed with rubber gloves, head scarves and thought provoking banners, like good domesticated women, we gave the gate a right scrub. Of course, we had to stop the influx of NATO army trucks by blocking the road… that’s why the gate was so dirty in the first place! With the gate (and the MoD police car!) sparkling we decided to cause a bit of mischief with some wool but this made the MoD police rather cross… Nevertheless, the whole cleaning operation ended amicably with no arrests and some of us went on to the South Gate to make our feelings on the illegality and immorality of the British Nuclear Weapons Programme known to the base traffic we’d successfully diverted.

Our visit to Coulport earlier that morning also caused a bit of a kafuffle for the gate staff. On behalf of the nation footing the bill for these abhorrent bombs, we formed a team of Weapons Inspectors. We merely wanted to take a look at the warheads that are engulfing so many of the nation’s taxes at the expense of our NHS and community projects, but were denied entry. We love our accountable, democratic state.

Conclusion: Those of us at Faslane Peace Camp greatly appreciated the wonderful atmosphere and engaging conversation that came with our weekend invasion. Our formidable sisters of Aldermaston Peace Camp are welcome to come and make domestic extremist mischief with us any time!

Autumn Action Day at Faslane Peace Camp 22nd October

With the winter coming Faslane Peace Camp is having a creative day of workshops and action against the Trident missile system based at Faslane.

With the winter coming Faslane Peace Camp is having a creative day of workshops and action against the Trident missile system based at Faslane.
Come to Faslane Peace Camp, in continuous occupation for over 29 years now, for workshops including direct action, land occupation and outdoor living, campaign skillsharing including palestine, and many more. If you have a skill you’d like to share, want to share your experience with campaigns or just want more information, please contact us!
So bring your instruments and friends along for dinner and a cuppa tea (this is an alcohol free event)
There’ll be live music and vegan food provided for donation, and visitors are very welcome to stay for longer.
There’s plenty of sleeping spaces available in caravans, although if possible bring a tent as there is camping spaces available.
Dogs and children are welcome to this event too!
Call us on 01436820901 for more information.

directions-
The camp is situated 6 miles North of Helensburgh. Helensburgh can be reached from Glasgow by train, for £5 return, trains leave every half hour from Glasgow Queens Street (Low level station).Or the 216 from Jamaica St – Helensburgh.
or direct train from edinburgh waverly to helensburgh.
You can catch the 316 bus from Helensburgh Central train station (for Coulport or Garelochead, stops outside the camp) it only costs £1.75, and you can ask to be dropped off at the peace camp.

-F.P.C. is on the east verge of the A814 road, which leads to HMNB Clyde and beyond. The Camp is therefore visible to all traffic coming towards the base from the direction of Helensburgh.

We are about 30 miles west of Glasgow, by the Gareloch, a river Clyde estuary sea loch. Faslane Naval Base is on the Gareloch.

The Trident nuclear weapons system for the UK is based at Faslane Naval Base just down the road from the peace camp. It costs the taxpayer over 2bn every year to maintain 4 nuclear submarines with a total of 144 nuclear weapons, each over 10 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on hiroshima and nagasaki. capable of wiping out all of humanity at any moment.
They’re proposed to be replaced soon so now is the time to take action and stop another 50 years of nuclear threat, environmental degradation and waste of taxpayers money on a weapons system which is capable of destroying humanity at the touch of a button. Faslane peace camp

Update: Work starts to cut down Irton’s beech tree

Breaking News 11pm, Tuesday 4th:
CONTRACTORS have started work to cut down Irton’s beech tree.
Vicki “Beechnut” Welsh spent four nights in the tree but came down at 10.10am today to applause from villagers, who have now accepted defeat in their battle to save the tree.

4 October 2011
A PROTESTER who is the latest to sit in the branches of a threatened tree in Irton yesterday demanded answers to four questions – one of which was aimed squarely at the Prime Minister – before she leaves her leafy home.

The 17-year-old Bridlington girl, who is known only as Beech Nut, had been there since Friday and is the fifth treetop protester since the start of the sit-in two weeks ago today.

She said that a special appeal had also been set up. She said: “I am here to launch the Irton Tree Foundation and would like to appeal for any help with our cause.”

Beech Nut said she wanted to dispel any misconceptions that the protest had cost council taxpayers £250,000 – because their protest began after the decision to fell the tree had been taken.

She added that, while they did not roost in the tree, bats used it as a primary feeding site. She said: “I’d like to see the results of a reputable bat survey.”

Beech Nut said that the villagers had been treated with disrespect and deserved answers. She asked: “Has the evidence been seen by a high court judge?”

And in a question directed at Prime Minister David Cameron she asked about the validity of tree preservation orders – the beech tree was the subject of an order but it was overruled by a judge. She said: “It’s not just about this tree, in this village, it’s about all trees in England.”

A North Yorkshire County Council representative read out a statement on Friday which said that anyone preventing the tree felling, which is likely to take place by the end of this week, could face a prison sentence.

Tree supporters have taken separate legal advice to challenge the court decision and are waiting to hear the results.

Irton resident David Parker said that they would continue the protest until the first “chainsaw touched the trunk”. He added: “We’ve been told that some time this week the tree will definitely be felled but no official person has come here so far.”

He said that they would continue to look into every legal avenue that they possibly could. He said: “We are quite within our rights to do so. We have a right to object peacefully against something we disagree with. We will act within the law.”

The tree has been the subject of a long-running legal battle between villagers, two local authorities and a nearby homeowner, who successfully applied to a judge to have the beech cut down.

People who would like to donate to the Irton Tree Foundation can do so through any branch of HSBC by using the sort code 40-40-22 and account number 91752707.

3rd October: Manchester occupied!

Yesterday saw the occupation of Albert Square in Manchester outside the town hall. Throughout the afternoon and evening several open mic assembly sessions were held with people speaking about various issues with the common themes being resistance to cuts, community organising, direct democracy, and occupations. There was also a sound system pumping out tunes and some dancing in the rain.

The persistent rain proved to be a discouraging factor and after several hours the size of the crowd pretty much matched the size of the tarps strung across lamposts to provide some cover (earlier the police had tried to prevent people rigging up the shelters).

Later in the evening people heckled guests attending tory party fringe meetings at the town hall and the police went around grabbing beers off a few people.

Around 9pm a group of 20-30 people with a sound system on their way to the occupation from the squatted convergence centre were hassled by the cops and there were a few arrests.

http://www.occupymanchester.org

Dale Farm: injunction remains for now

LATEST: Monday 3 October: Basildon Council concedes that full clearance of Dale Farm as originally proposed would be illegal. Council ordered to pay one third of Dale Farm’s legal costs. Awaiting outcome of applications for judicial reviews, due Tuesday.

The legality of the eviction notices served by Basildon Council on Dale Farm residents was challenged by the Travellers in the High Court on Friday. Once the arguments had been heard, including an application by Basildon Council for the scaffolding at the entrance to the site to be removed, the Judge Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart said that there would not be a ruling before Monday 26 September (now extended to Tuesday 4 October). Late in the day it was reported that the injunction to restrain bailiffs from starting any clearance or eviction of the site would stand in its current form until at least 4pm Monday. A later report indicated that the judge may further extend the injunction into the middle of next week or beyond if necessary. In the meantime, applications are being prepared for judicial review of the eviction, which could lead to further delay of a final decision. Basildon Council has already set aside £18 million to evict the Dale Farm residents. However, with the current stalemate reported to be costing the council over £1 million per day, the total cost is likely to have increased by some £8 million by Monday and will continue to rise during any further delay. With a bit of luck they’ll run out of money before the eviction is allowed to go ahead.

Supporters are needed both at the High Court now and at Dale Farm now and for the duration. Contact savedalefarm@gmail.com for more information or see Save Dale Farm.

Community-Suported Treesitting in Yorkshire: the way forward

27.9.11
An old beech tree has been occupied since Tuesday 20th September, to stop it’s felling, with a change-over of occupier last Saturday, whilst borough and county council battle it out in the courts over whether the tree should be felled or preserved.

Background

The local community has been protesting against the destruction of an 80+ year old Beech Tree in Irton, North Yorkshire for several years.

Irton is a village which has a strong community spirit. Residents and outsiders have come together to show their opposition to a North Yorkshire Council decision which goes against common sense.

One visitor to the village stated “ I went prepared to think it was just an ordinary tree …. But it is exceptional! It is beautiful – it adds grace to the village. Losing it would make a huge difference.”

The tree has a ‘tree preservation order’ on it, which presumably means that tree experts feel it should not be destroyed. Despite this as well as local opposition from residents, local councillors, the general public and environmental experts, – North Yorkshire County Council has decided to follow legal procedures to destroy the tree. ….

Why is the tree being destroyed?

Occupiers of a nearby house state that the tree roots are affecting, or may affect in the future:

• The boundary walls
• The drainage system
• The current owners access to the property

Why these are not valid reasons

The boundary walls
• There is no visible sign of damage to boundary walls.

“ It is not in any way affected – it is perfectly upright” says one independent observer. House owners need to provide evidence that damage has happened. This concern cannot be taken seriously.

The drainage system
• 2 expert reviews or ‘technical reports’ have apparently been conducted. Allegedly, the first report found that the damage to drains preceded the tree, and the second report found that the drains were being damaged by the tree.
o Who has commissioned these reports? No information has been provided to the public about who did these reports. Why aren’t these in the public domain?
o A local tree student has explained that any damage done to walls or drains can nowadays be dealt with by localised methods – the affected roots can be treated and there is no need to cut down an entire tree.

The current owners access to the property
• The current occupiers can move their access point, or consider using sustainable methods of transport.
o Long term residents of the village have stated that the property entrance was originally well away from the tree, and only in recent years has the gateway been altered.
o Residents have indicated that the current owners wrere previously interested in property development on the site – they submitted a planning application for the development, of several dwellings…… but were declined.

North Yorkshire County Council may have fears about the financial implications of decisions they make now, however it is unacceptable to make the fear of an individual home owner suing the council override the rights and needs of normal citizens.

The protesters

This protest is entirely peaceful, and there was a feeling of confusion amongst protesters surrounding the concept that what they are doing is a lawbreaking activity.

“We felt the tree had been condemned. We needed to stop it happening. It is disgusting.”

The protest includes a tree-sit in. 2 residents have been residing in the tree in order to save it.

“We got ladders, and stood them up the tree. An hour later, the contractors turned up. There are 60 and 70 year olds who really do not want this tree cut down. Come and have a look – there is no evidence of damage.”

Protestors in and out of the tree have been supported by a strong community, providing moral support, food, drink and warmth, as well as the obligatory wee jar.

The views

“This is really moving all the bystanders…. Their expressions are amazing…. It can’t be wrong to make a peaceful protest.”.
“There is no defence for killing this tree… I can’t find any defence.”
“ It can’t be right…. People in power making decisions….it just seems very wrong…. It is very wrong. ”

Protestors are currently being advised by the Environmental Legal Foundation.

More photos

Video

new EF! Action Update

In an end of the summer compact EF!AU, find news about kicking shell in the teeth in Rossport again and then some more, solidarity with the community at Dale Farm, and anti-GM resistance – Spuds you Don’t Like demo in England, sabotage in Germany, France and Scotland.

On top of the usual contacts and dates, read about solidarity with jailed Swiss nanotech activists, resistance against steel plants, mobile phone masts, mining and energy projects here & across the world – stay angry and don’t carry on as usual!

The quarterly EF!AU, August 2011

Rossport roundup

Gardaí look on as Shell security continue to use unlawful force on peaceful protestors

On Thursday last, the 15th September, Shell’s private security force, IRMS continued their practice of using force on the public road as they see fit. Once again the Gardaí sat close by and witnessed this unlawful use of force by IRMS and allowed it to continue unimpeded.

At approximately 2:30pm last Thursday, a small number of campaigners from the Rossport Solidarity Camp went down to the entrance of the Shell compound in Aughoose to peacefully protest. Workers at the compound were attempting to lay tarmac at the entrace to the compound, so the campaigners attempted to sit down on the edge of the road. However the campaigners were prevented from sitting down at the edge of the road by IRMS and were pushed, kicked, punched, pulled and carried away from sitting down at the edge of the road. This continued for over 45 minutes during which Gardaí watched the whole situation from Garda vans parked no more than 50 metres away.

Commenting on the latest incident Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway stated “Let’s be clear about this: Shell’s private security – IRMS – have absolutely no right to use any force on campaigners who are peacefully protesting on a public road. The fact that Gardaí would watch IRMS assault campaigners for nearly an hour on a public road is another clear example of the total suspension of the rule of law in relation to protesting against Shell.”

“In October in Geneva, the UN Universal Periodic Review will review Ireland’s human rights record, and while the Irish Government give great lip-service to human rights abuses in far-away places, they are letting Shell and the Gardaí here in Mayo do whatever they wish to peaceful protestors”. [1][2]

NOTES

[1] UN urged to examine Irish human rights lapses – Irish Times – 13th August 2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0813/1224302379794.html

[2] Shell to Sea highlights human rights abuses to UN
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/shell-sea-highlights-human-rights-abuses-un

—

Fence climbing, trespassing, tractor climbing and more disruption of work in Aughoose, Co. Mayo

Tuesday 13th September six people from the Rossport Solidarity Camp went down to Shell’s tunnelling compound in Aughoose, Co. Mayo to disrupt work. Work was slowed from three separate actions spread over 2 hours as people interfered with fencing work and then two people got up on a tractor making a delivery to the compound.

Over the past couple days Shell’s compound in Aughoose has seen some major damage to the perimeter fencing. The heavy duty palisade fencing (the green spiky one) is still in place, but a lot of the flimsy silver harris fencing is down, concrete bollards holding other fencing was smashed, and the green fencing panels (which is in piles along the road in the photos) came down. As a result of this destruction, Shell has all but stopped making deliveries to the compound.

On Tuesday afternoon as Shell workers were trying to repair some of the damage done, six people went down to disrupt them. Green fencing panels were in piles along the roadside of the compound, and people sat on the piles to prevent the workers from putting them back up. A digger on the inside of the compound was waiting to re-erect the panels, but the protesters made this difficult and the digger driver gave up.

Shell’s security (IRMS) eventually came over and dragged people off of the panels. This was not on Shell’s property but the road verge, so the private security had no right to use force on the public road. Gardai were present but didn’t seem to mind private security assaulting people on the public road and at one point even did some labour for Shell, moving fencing panels back into place.

After awhile people went around the side of the compound and trespassed onto Shell’s land where workers were trying to finish the last bit of the heavy duty palisade fencing. As soon as people showed up the workers gave up and packed away their tools, the drivers got out of the diggers and walked away. This lasted for about an hour until Shell security dragged and carried people off the land.

One protester was sexually assaulted as they were being carried by IRMS. Their pants were falling down and they asked security to put them down so they could pull their clothes back on, but IRMS refused. The security member (pictured below) who was carrying the person’s legs shoved both of his hands up into the person’s crotch. He refused to show his identification badge following the assault.

After this a tractor carrying some sort of bog-drainage equipment was coming down the road towards the compound. People ran towards it and despite attempts by Gardai to keep them off the tractor two people climbed up on top of it. One person was dragged down from a considerable height, and the other came down after being given a warning under the Public Order Act. Neither person was arrested.

Actions against Shell are pretty much constant at the moment, with sometimes 3 or 4 separate actions in a day. Morale is high, and anytime is a good time to visit if you’d like to see the area and find out more about what is happening. There is a weekly protest outside Shell’s Bellanaboy refinery, with lots of locals and people from the Rossport Solidarity Camp. And there’s plenty to do aside from protesting, including cooking, tending to the three gardens, meeting locals and loads of building/site maintenance!

The Rossport Solidarity Camp is located in a field in Aughoose, between Ballinaboy and Pullathomas. To contact the camp, rossportsolidaritycamp[at]gmail[dot]com or 085 114 1170

More photos – http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100512