Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites – Page 40

TESCO UPDATE: Former Jesters Squatted. Huge Turnout for Meeting on Monday. Stokes Croft Organises its own Consultation. Website

11 February 2010

11 February 2010
The former Jesters Comedy Club at 142 Cheltenham Road, Stokes Croft, whose lease has been taken over by Tesco, has been squatted. It is believed that the squatting action took place on Tuesday night. Astonished at the lack of proper consultation and Tesco’s underhand tactics, local residents moved into occupation of the premises determined not to allow the development to go ahead. This pre-empts work beginning on the 32nd Tesco store in Bristol alone.

There are 2306 Tesco related premises in the UK at present and with Tesco accounting for about £1 in every £8 spent in the UK retail sector we seriously believe they are breaking EU Monopoly Laws.

We have been informed that security personnel, presumably working on behalf of Tesco PLC, arrived sometime on Wednesday armed with sledgehammers, intent on regaining the property. The Police were called and they ordered the Security gang to desist from their intended action, thus heading off the possibility of needless violence. The squatters remain in situ.

Monday night’s meeting, hosted at Hamilton House, attracted over 200 local people. In view of the lack of Community Consultation, it was decided that the Community would organise their own.

In order to co-ordinate the Community’s response to Tesco’s proposed incursion into Stokes Croft, a dedicated website has been set up.
www.notescoinstokescroft.org.uk

A message from the occupiers:
“We will resist eviction, and are calling out for like minded people across bristol.
There is no need for another plastic store local shops are adequate enough. Let’s mobilise, even if we manage to win this one we know they’ll want more!”

Find out how you can join in. Posters for your window, or the window of your business,surveys and postcards to send to BCC can be obtained from PRSC HQ between 11 and 6pm.

http://www.tescopoly.org/

Kew Bridge Eco-Village update (+ Seedy Sunday)

There’ll be a seed swap day on 14th Feb, inspired by Brighton’s original Seedy Sunday – details here.

On June 6th 2009, nearly a hundred activists converged on a piece of derelict land at Kew Bridge in south west London to create an eco-village community based entirely on sustainable technology and construction techniques.

This eco-village occupation is inspired by campaigns like The Land is Ours which campaigns peacefully for access to the land, its resources, and the decision-making processes affecting them, for everyone, irrespective of race, gender or age. for more information, please visit:

Please post any seeds or postcards or anything you like to:

The Eco Village
2 Kew Bridge Rd
Brentford
TW8 0JF
site phone number – 07967864370

In December we had a six month celebration and invited people from the community to a fire party. It was a great success.

In September last year, villagers cheered when Hounslow councillors put off a plan by St George to build 164 flats, a riverside pub, a business hub and a piazza on the site.

The development is not due to be discussed by a council committee before March and, with local elections taking place in May, a meeting may not take place until June – meaning the eco-village may remain for another six months.

Over the last 4 months we have gradually improved our living conditions on the site. We have a full working compost toilet, a kitchen and a roundhouse. Still 100% relying on donations and the rubbish you throw away, we have built up our community from nothing!

The best improvement so far is definitely our homes. You may have gone past us on the bus and seen a tarp village, assuming that it was all tents – but its not! We have learnt to build our own houses out of hazel wood poles. By bending them into arches, tying them down and then insulating with blankets and tarps, we have created wonderful little living spaces that are easy peasy to do!

We still maintain that we are essentially a community garden. We encourage everyone from the local area to pay us a visit and share their ideas about what we should do with the land, as well as getting them to help us plant our vegetables and also just to chill out and get to know us all.

We will hold a public meeting every Thursday night at 7pm on site, and we shall try to make every Sunday an event filled open day.

Needless to say, we still welcome everybody from all over London and the world. We have had quite a few international visitors lately! Everyone is welcome to come and stay as long as they follow site rules which include no drugs and alcohol, as well as being considerate to others and you must actively participate as a member of the community.

We especially welcome anyone with any skills or knowledge which may be useful or interesting. We encourage people to hold workshops to share their skills, whether it is about common law, herbal remedies, yoga, or even how to make didgeridoos or repair bicycles! Or even if you know nothing but just want to learn, come along too!

Our week:

Mondays – Closed (we go and protest outside MOD and downing street)

Tuesdays – Fridays – Open 11-1 and 5-7pm

Every Thursday – 7pm Public meeting

Every Friday – Wild Food Friday 10am – a walk around Richmond park tasting and learning berries nuts and mushrooms

Saturdays and Sundays – Open 11-6

(By ‘Open’ I mean the gate is open and we give tours. If you want to come and help us then please just come in anyway!)

…………………………………………………………..

You are welcome to come and visit us and stay over if you like, but:

1. You must sleep in the Hexiyurt guesthouse as we don’t have the room for any more tents. The guesthouse can accomodate about 6 people, so it may be best to ring us prior to your visit to check if there is enough room for you!

2. The Hexiyurt has to be cleared of your stuff by 10am so it is open for visitors and as a workshop space. (you can store your things in the mansion shed instead during the day)

3. You are welcome to stay up to 7 days, after which time you must leave as to give others the chance to stay over.

4. If, after staying for 7 days, you wish to move in permanently, we will have a meeting to discuss it, to determine if we have enough room, and then shall hopefully welcome you in!

Capacity is a big issue on site at the moment and we are unlikely to allow many more people to move in on a permanent basis. However as winter freezes over we might lose a few members and have room for some more. If you are desperate to stay with us then showing us that your are a good, hard worker who gets along with most people on camp and who is polite and courteous to all will defiantly help you 🙂

Soon after it started

Non Commercial House is gone again…

On Wednesday 3rd Feb at 9.20 am, High Court Bailiffs came round the Non Commercial House Free Shop, armed presumably with a restitution warrant, and evicted the place and i

On Wednesday 3rd Feb at 9.20 am, High Court Bailiffs came round the Non Commercial House Free Shop, armed presumably with a restitution warrant, and evicted the place and its occupiers.Owners and Bailiffs seemed quite happy to prevent us from running a FreeShop (oooooh, scary, giving out shit for free!!!!) and making some more people homeless because they want to keep their building empty for another couple of years.

Once a person coming into the shop simply asked: “but why do they want to evict you?” Thats a very good question isn’t it? Why? Probably hundreds of reasons, just pick your favorite one. Maybe the reason they want us out is exactly why we’re moving in! 🙂

So the Non Commercial House Free Shop is gone. It’s been an amazing project, so many people just passing by, coming in, having a quick chat, being so shocked that this was a squat and that some of the people they were talking to were actually here in relation to their anarchist politics, taking a couple of cool things they liked, promising to bring some of their own unused stuff (and sometimes actually doing it!!!!).

Apart from having loads of people giving and taking the most incredible stuff on opening days, many complementary activities happened in the house: bike repairs, parties, Spanish lessons, mothers’ gathering, workshop of nothing, polyamory workshop, squatting meetings, wireless hacking, queer fashion show, film screenings and boxing in the basement, etc

It’s also been so much fun for everyone involved that it would be surprising not to see some more FreeShop blossoming later this year…

https://london.indymedia.org/groups/non-commercial-house
email: noncommercialhouse at riseup.net

The new EF! Action Update – bursting onto the seams…

In the Spring edition of the EF! Action Update, see how King Coal is being confronted – chimneys climbed, conveyors locked-on to, mines invaded, machinery occupied, ecotage, and more.

Marvel at the Mainshill strategy of continuous action, look with awe at the range of tactics they used in the many months before eviction…and then think about what you can do, with who, where and when.

“If not you, who? If not now, when?”

The Mainshill feature includes an action timeline, local community links and ideas for the future.

The Nuclear New Build CONsultation is over on 22nd February – read about what happens next, who’s involved, and an anti-nuclear camp in April.

“in the end we just need rebellion. Everywhere.” – what was your response to the Copenhagen climate chaos, whether you went or stayed at home?

Be inspired by an interview with “D Lock,our mystery digger diving activist” – get out there, bicycle lock in hand. In January, one person so-armed brought a whole coal terminal to a halt for many hours.

And from across the seas, read about our brothers and sisters struggling against high-speed train destruction in Italy, high-voltage power lines in Catalonia, and whale hunting on the High Seas.

And if you don’t get high on all that, try not to be inspired by conferences blockaded, dams delayed, earth-trashing machinery sabotaged, trees hugged, architects imposted, genetics roofed, biomess biomassed and much more.

“We are going to inherit the earth . There is not the slightest doubt about that. We Are not afraid of ruins. We carry a new world, here in our hearts. That world is growing this minute.” – Durruti

To download the latest EF!AU for printing, go to http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_feb10print.pdf

To read the latest EF!AU online, go to http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/efau/actionupdate_feb10.pdf

Reclaim the Fields Gathering, Barcelona

Invitation to the Reclaim the Fields gathering
13th 14th and 15th February, Can Masdeu, Barcelona

http://www.reclaimthefields.org/
http://www.canmasdeu.net/

Invitation to the Reclaim the Fields gathering
13th 14th and 15th February, Can Masdeu, Barcelona

http://www.reclaimthefields.org/
http://www.canmasdeu.net/

The European Coordination « Reclaim the Fields » (RtF) was born of the gatherings and initiative of a small group of young farmers and landless people linked to Via Campesina, the RtF coordination met last October at a European camp of over 400 people involved in many different small agriculture and collective initiative projects. After the camp, new people were motivated to continue the process, proposing another meeting in Catalonia, to bring together people already involved here in out-of-the-ordinary agriculture and self-production initiatives such as collective agriculture and the occupation of land and abandoned villages, producers and consumer cooperatives, the fight against genetic engineering and for ecological agriculture, etc.

Aware that networks already exist around Can Masdeu and beyond, we invite you to come and meet with us and compare experiences, and
perhaps create connections that will go beyond this gathering…

For more information write to: reclamem-els-camps@pimienta.org.

We will send you more information about the political content and logistical details of the gathering. You can also sign up on the doodle
http://www.doodle.com/avyaivy5a6dy8ug4. We need you to do this to plan for accommodation and food.
The programme for the gathering is still being written.

—
European Coordination Reclaim the Fields

Mainshill Solidarity Camp evicted – not an end, but a beginning

30th January 2010
Yesterday was the fifth and final day of the eviction of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp – the last two arrests as the final occupiers were dragged out of the rapidly shrinking Wood. A total of 45 arrests were made over the course of the eviction with close to 70 people taking part and supporting the camp.

All five days saw the violence inflicted by the state on those who try to create positive change, and the collusion between the courts, police and corporations. But they also saw heroic acts of defiance, with people fighting off bailiffs until having their hands and feet cable-tied together and supporters maintaining a 24-hour vigil throughout the eviction.

This eviction is not an end, but the beginning of a campaign of community-based radical direct action sweeping Scotland’s central belt which can only grow in strength. From actions to stop work on opencast sites and the shutting down of a major coal rail terminal for a day (which happened for a third time on Wednesday), to community engagement and solidarity resulting in a seven-month occupation and a positive change in direction for radical environmentalism in Scotland.

But where can we go next? We’ve hit these capitalists and money-grabbers where it hurts most – in the pocket – and we can’t wait to hear how much it has cost them in total. Over 30 direct actions have taken place over the past 12 months, and that’s not including the eviction. Machines have been trashed, health studies published and bonds been made with those affected by heavy industry and the causes of climate change. We’ve dug tunnels, defended trees and climbed onto diggers.

The Mainshill Solidarity Camp has now been evicted, but the struggle continues!

mainshill@riseup.net
http://mainshill.noflag.org.uk/

Update from the ongoing Mainshill eviction, day 4

The ongoing eviction of Mainshill Solidarity Camp entered its fourth day with the struggle to clear the sycamores continuing.

Yesterday the battle for the sycamores had started with the removal of the skyraft, and one protestor being hauled out of a tree.

The ongoing eviction of Mainshill Solidarity Camp entered its fourth day with the struggle to clear the sycamores continuing.

Yesterday the battle for the sycamores had started with the removal of the skyraft, and one protestor being hauled out of a tree.

Treehouses were destroyed and the remaining anti-coal activists were left without tarps, bedding or in some cases, a way down the tree.

During the course of today, five other people were evicted from the sycamores.

The hidden treetop camp known as ‘Ewok Village’ was cleared as well with climbers tackling some tough defences.

In all, there were nine arrests.

A huge amount of heavy machinery has been moved onto site, so opportunities for actions to stop work on site are literally everywhere.

“The fight isn’t over yet”, said the almost infamous Barry Cader, recently released on bail.

Update from day 3 Mainshill eviction

Seven more protestors were arrested today, Wednesday 27th January, in the third day of resistance against the eviction of Mainshill Solidarity Camp.

As the tactics of the National Eviction Team grew increasingly aggressive and cavalier, spirits on site remained strong. Climbers attempted to evict the stand of sycamores but were met with determined resistance and succeeded in only removing one protestor. Branches have been stripped from the remaining trees and treehouses destroyed. The coal activists have been left without bedding or tarps for the night.

Bulldozers destroyed trees within 50metres of a hidden treetop camp as the locked-on protestors screamed and whistled to try and reveal themselves and stop work. The discovery of this further site has delayed the end of the eviction and raises doubts about the competency of the NET. A search helicopter had made several passes over the area but seemingly failed to find anything, despite hovering over their exact location for several minutes. As the bulldozers neared the treehouses, support folk outside site begged the NET to stop the work to secure the area and ensure the safety of those locked-on. Their whistles could clearly be heard from the front of site but the NET were stubborn in their refusal to accept the possible presence of another occupation. Work was finally stopped metres from the treehouses. The climbing team expect to start trying to clear the area, known as ‘Ewok Village’ tomorrow.

A treehouse, the net, and a skyraft were cleared of occupants. Tunnel teams continue to work through the night to clear the underground defences.

The 26 people held and charged over the last two days have all been released on bail, and are charged with either breach of the peace or section 68(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

In solidarity with the Mainshill Solidarity Camp, Ravenstruther coal rail terminal was shut down for up to five hours this morning as a protestor locked on to a digger.

It is still easy to get onto site so come down and support the Mainshill crew from the inside or do some support work from the outside.

For info about the campaign see www.mainshill.noflag.org.uk

Ravenstruther coal rail terminal shut down + Mainshill eviction continues, 3rd day…

A coal terminal in South Lanarkshire was brought to a standstill this morning when a protestor locked himself to a piece of machinery.

At 9am this morning (Wed 27th) a man climbed to the top of a digger and locked himself to it by his leg, effectively shutting down Ravenstruther coal rail terminal.

A coal terminal in South Lanarkshire was brought to a standstill this morning when a protestor locked himself to a piece of machinery.

At 9am this morning (Wed 27th) a man climbed to the top of a digger and locked himself to it by his leg, effectively shutting down Ravenstruther coal rail terminal.

About 15 trucks full of coal are unable to access the terminal and have been forced to dump their load, and the coal train that was being loaded has been stopped.

Ravenstruther is where coal from the open-cast mines in South Lanarkshire is loaded onto trains and sent south to power stations such as Drax.

An hour after the action started NETCU and 6 police officers arrived.

This action was taken in solidarity with Mainshill Solidarity Camp which is in the third day of resisting eviction.

The Scottish Government is approving up to 33 new open cast coal sites. A protestor from Mainshill said: “As Climate Chaos grows exponentially worse, it is becoming more and more important to resist and obstruct the ever enlarging fossil fuel industry. We will do everything in our power to make the extraction, transport, and burning of coal as financially unviable as possible by continuing to fight against it at every step of the way, from the mines to the power stations.”

——–

Mainshill Solidarity Camp:

The eviction is still ongoing. The site perimeter cannot be secured so there is still massive scope for resisting this eviction and Scottish Coals activities generally, get yourself up to Lanarkshire and get stuck in. Four people were arrested from the camp this morning (27th).

More information about the Mainshill Solidarity Camp and how to get there is available at www.mainshill.noflag.org.uk

Forced eviction of Mainshill Solidarity Camp under way – updates

Update, 6pm, Tuesday 26th:

This morning the tunnel team succeeded in clearing the expanding foam blockading the first door, inserted a camera into the tunnel, and removed one person.

Update, 6pm, Tuesday 26th:

This morning the tunnel team succeeded in clearing the expanding foam blockading the first door, inserted a camera into the tunnel, and removed one person.
A protestor outside site was arrested for breach of the peace.
The multilayered defence known as ‘the fort’ took all day to evict, with climbers bringing down the final two occupants as dusk fell.
Three more protestors held a pine plantation all day before being removed, with one man still occupying a tree there as the climbing team left for the night.
Although exact numbers aren’t available, there are still many protestors locked-on in the canopy.
The tunnel team will be working through the night again, but there are plenty of ways on to site for those wishing to help resist the eviction from the inside, and other roles for anyone wanting to support site from the outside. A total of 9 people were arrested today.

Update, 9am, Tuesday 26th:
Bailiffs & police worked through the night with only a two hour break – get up there today if you can.

Update, 4pm, Monday 25th:
19 arrests so far, of 60 people staying on site over weekend. Floodlights up around site, though camp is not secure.
The two main barricades, the bunker, and the ‘buckfast’ communal were JCB-ed, with the underground lock-ons in the bunker proving a challenge for the bailiffs.
Three treehouses at ‘buckfast’ gave the climbing team a run for their money, as protestors occupied walkways and climbed into the very highest branches of the trees.
Behind one of the barricades a double-layered tripod with a prism shaped skyraft hanging from its apex cost the NET another three or four hours. It was eventually defeated when they built their own walkway above the raft, attached ropes around it, cut the ropes which were suspending it, and lowered it to the ground. In a spectacular fit of risky behaviour, the NET then took down the double-layered tripod structure by kicking it.
A treehouse above a bunker, and the bunker itself (positioned above a tunnel) lasted another three hours. The tunnel team worked all night but only managed to expose the entrance to the tunnel.

Twitter
The people carrying out the eviction – the ‘national eviction team’.
Other contractors at Mainshill – dirty hands list
—-
25.1.2010
This morning at 08:30am around 25 private bailiffs, supported by 10 police, began their dawn assault to evict the Mainshill Solidarity Camp in South Lanarkshire.

The bailiffs are acting on behalf of landowner Lord Home (1) who is set to profit from allowing Scottish Coal to extract 1.7 million tonnes of coal from Mainshill Wood near the village of Douglas. Despite the formidable police and bailiff operation, camp members are staying put down their tunnels and behind their barricades, fortified towers and tree houses. Numbers at the camp have swelled over the weekend with people arriving from across the country. The eviction could take weeks and cost the land owner millions (2) and it is hoped that the delay to the mine and the price of eviction will deter those who want to develop new coal projects in the UK.

The camp was occupied 7 months ago in solidarity with communities in the Douglas Valley who have been fighting the plans for ten years. As such it was well received with many supplies donated by the camp’s neighbours including a full Christmas dinner. The setting up of the camp has heralded a campaign of direct action against the mining of Mainshill, a necessary step after the 650 letters of objection to the mine were disregarded when South Lanarkshire Council which granted permission to the application.

The communities have been blighted by the detrimental health impacts of the 4 existing open casts in the immediate area (3). Harry Thompson, former chairman of the Douglas Community Council (4), said:
“Despite massive community opposition to the mine at Mainshill, Scottish Coal and South Lanarkshire Council continue to disregard the interests of those living in proximity to the mines. The particulate matter released in the open cast mining process in this area has caused unusually high rates of cancer and lung disease. Granting permission to a new mine 1000 metres from the local hospital is the final straw”.

Mining in the Douglas Valley is intended to feed Britain’s increasing reliance on coal as an energy source. Coal taken from the proposed mine at Mainshill will result in the release of 3.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere if burned. If this and the other 18 proposed mines in Scotland go ahead it will be a massive contributor to climate change, and prevent Scotland’s climate bill from succeeding.

With the recent failure of the UN Framework on Climate Change in Copenhagen to reach a deal, communities worldwide will continue to be displaced and suffer from the mining and combustion of coal. One camper, Anna Key, expressed her determination to create positive change in the face of redundant political processes:
“I can’t do anything directly about the ocean becoming more acidic or melting icebergs but those things will only continue if we keep burning fossil fuels and accepting a culture that insists on the pursuit of profit through the exploitation of people and the environment. By acting in solidarity with community struggles we can stop this – there’s nothing else to be doing but digging up roads and building barricades.”

Those occupying the site have vowed to stay as long as possible, and resist any attempts to remove them. Doug Well, who is resisting eviction in a fortified tunnel, said:
“We’ve been here for so long now, and we really don’t want to leave. If this mine goes ahead it really will be a tragedy for the local people and for the climate. I’m going to do everything I can to make it as hard as possible for them to remove me.”

The eviction will take a few days, and there is still lots to do. The camp still needs your support, so try and make it to Mainshill if you can. Contact site phone 07806926040 .

For interviews from the camp including people in defences please ring: 07500163480
Website: http://www.mainshill.noflag.net

Notes:

(1) Lord Home is Chairman of Coutt’s bank, the corporate wing of RBS, and is currently being investigated for alleged fraud. See http://www.nowpublic.com/world/coutts-bank-chairman-lord-home-named-carr…
(2) A protest camp at Dalkeith in 2006 cost £1.9 million and took 11 days to evict.
(3) Information on the health impacts of open cast mines can be found in the Douglasdale Edition of the Coal Health Study online: http://coalhealthstudy.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/douglasdale_v42.pdf
(4) The Douglas Community Council has been staunchly against the open cast and has supported the Mainshill Solidarity Camp since the start, http://www.douglascommunitycouncil.info.

http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=415
http://www.douglascommunitycouncil.info/index.asp?pageid=60854 (including maps of Mainshill mine proposal and other opencast sites nearby)