Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites – Page 41

London squatting news

Non Commercial House is Back!

The Non Commercial House was a squatted autonomous space on 165 Commercial Street, London, E1. The project consisted of a giant Free Shop for people to share, recycle what they dont need and take what they need. After several attempts that were resisted, the space was finally evicted on 30th November 2009 by high court bailiffs, on behalf of the owner The City of London.

But the place has been taken back!! and on Saturday 16th of January there was the Grand Re-Opening. Apart from the FreeShop itself and some free food and loads of cuppas, there was also skillsharing sessions and some music in the evening to enjoy the space at its best. [Event]

“We live in a society of over consumption and waste. Non Commercial House aims to offer an alternative based upon cooperation, mutual respect and sustainable living. It is not only about objects but about sharing!”

Address: 165 Commercial Street E1 (next to Bishopsgate, Liverpool st tube station)
Email: noncommercialhouse..at..riseup.net
Website: http://london.indymedia.org.uk/groups/non-commercial-house

Children are very welcome within the space. We are hoping to have a kids section of the free shop with free toys / clothes and hold family friendly events. The ground floor is wheelchair accessible. However, the only toilet in the building is on the top floor and not.

This is a non-profit, non-hierarchical space open to all and your input is valued so drop by some time to get involved and let us know what your ideas / thoughts are.

The Non Commercial House collective

Email Contact: noncommercialhouse@riseup.net

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100 flowers [Belgrade Road] evicted
19 January 2010

The 100 flowers squat on Belgrade Road [Hackney] has been evicted this morning

There were about 30 people outside, and a number of people inside the place which had been barricated.

Several vans of riot cops came [in full gear] and eventually managed to remove the people outside, before breaking in and evicting the place.

No arrests that Im aware of.

Mainshill Eviction Date Given: Monday 25th January & research about expansion of open-cast mining in Britain

Mainshill Solidarity Camp has received a reliable tip-off that the site will be evicted on Monday the 25th of January.

We’re taking this tip-off seriously and are preparing to resist any attempts to remove us from the area. Mainshill has stood in solidarity with the local community of Douglas for seven months and we’re not about to surrender to the wishes of fat cat landlords, scottish coal, or corrupt councillors any time soon!

Please come help us defend the woods! Come to the pre-eviction Gathering and find out how to get involved

For more info: http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/

For more info about coming to site please ring 07806926040.

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150 NEW OPENCAST MINES ON THE CARDS FOR THE UK BETWEEN NOW AND 2025 CLAIMS NEW REPORT FROM THE MINORCA OPENCAST PROTEST GROUP

To meet Britain’s energy needs between now and 2025 a new study undertaken for the Minorca Opencast Protest Group argues that they are unlikely to be the only locality in the UK to experience the prospect of an opencast mine on their doorstep. This new report “Opencast / Surface Mining: It’s Role in Providing UK Energy Security” suggests that ten new opencast sites a year will need to gain planning permission between now and 2025, making 150 sites in all, if targets to ensure Britain’s Energy Security are to be met. Using Government and Coal Industry data the report highlights the following:

• Most British coal is already produced by opencast methods.

• In future, of an expected 20m tonne British coal production, 10 -12m tonnes initially is expected to be from current and future opencast mines, possibly rising to a 100% opencast production in the 2020’s.

• However there are no current projections for the need for coal if CCS technology does not prove itself to be viable practically or commercially.

• Nor do current estimates for the demand for coal take account of the possibility of developing new technologies that use coal such as Underground Coal Gasification.

• Only seven deep mine are left working in England.

• No new deep mine is likely without a public subsidy.

• Unless new investment is undertaken the existing deep mines have a limited life and all could be closed by the end of the next decade.

• To ensure energy security, a mix of energy sources including predominately opencast British coal is needed according to the Government.

• That the Coal Authority, responsible for promoting and safeguarding coal, argued in 2006 that to ensure energy security, 10 new ‘low impact’ opencast mines would be needed a year for the foreseeable future.

• In the opinion of those opposed to opencast mining, by increasingly relying on opencast coal to provide energy security for the UK the Government are condoning the creation of new coal supplies by methods which are not only extremely environmentally destructive but will blight the lives of thousands of people over the next 15 years. Coal produced by such methods. ‘Clean’ coal? It is hardly that.

• Numerous areas of the UK are at risk of being the victims of opencast mining in the future, 9 counties in England, 10 in Scotland, 3 in Wales and 1 in Northern Ireland. In addition 21 unitary authorities across England Scotland and Wales could also be affected.

This, the second of MOPG’s Research Reports reaches these conclusions after undertaking extensive research and analysing the results. It claims to be the first report of its kind on Britain’s Energy Policy written from the perspective of those who oppose opencast mining.

Steve Leary, the Report’s author and MOPG Spokesperson said

“This report demonstrates that those opposing the Minorca application in Leicestershire are not just engaged in a ‘Nimby’ issue. Opposing the Minorca application raises significant questions about the future energy policy the Government is being locked into – a growing reliance on opencast coal production. MOPG is to ask the House of Commons Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change to enquire further on the findings of this report and to ask questions about whether current policy is worth the desecration of 10 new opencast sites a year for the foreseeable future.”
Minorca Opencast Protest Group logo
This 32 page report can be downloaded from the following web page:
http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/measham/mopg-reports.html
It will be available on the MOPG web site shortly at this site address
http://mopg.co.uk/MOPG-Research-Reports.php

Pre-Eviction Gathering! Sat 23rd to Tues 26th January

*A long weekend of action, workshops and defence-building in preparation for the eviction of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp*

With the long-awaited and highly-anticipated eviction of the camp surely drawing closer, join us for the weekend (and as much time after that as you can spare!) to add the finishing touches to defences, build new ones and fortify barricades. Ever wanted to build yourself a treehouse? Dig yourself a tunnel? Make yourself a lock-on? Now is your chance!

We’re asking anyone who wants to be a part of stopping this open cast coal mine, anyone who wants to fight corporate greed, corrupt government and the feudal land ownership, and anyone who wants to defend a community from the self-interest of the few, to come to the camp and help us build a viable alternative to the destruction that will otherwise ensue.

Asking nicely has failed. Its time to fight back!

What to bring:

* Warm clothes and waterproofs
* Sleeping bag

Tasty vegan food will be provided, but bring any supplies you can. Any building materials, tools, climbing equipment, bedding or anything on our wish list you can spare please bring it along.

Directions – http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=415#How%20to%20Get%20There

http://mainshill.noflag.org.uk/

Coal Machinery Sabotaged in South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Late one night in early January Pennile open cast coal mine was visited by a number of people who sabotaged machines. A total of 13 pieces of machinery were damaged, including one giant earth mover, six giant dumper trucks, four standard sized earth movers and two flood light generators.

Recently Pennile open cast finished mining, but the machines Scottish Coal had working there were supposed to be moving to Mainshill Wood. However as we all know Scottish Coal’s plans have been substantially disrupted by the occupation of the wood by the Mainshill Solidarity Camp.

This action was taken by autonomous people in solidarity with everyone who opposes the destruction of Mainshill Wood and it’s development into another coal mine.

videos from Mainshill and German treesit against a proposed pipeline

The Mainshill Solidarity Camp presents:

*Off With Their Heads!*

Holding the politicians behind Mainshill Open Cast Coal Mine to account

Featuring: Jim Hood MP, Karen Gillon MSP, Councillor Danny Meikle and Lord Home

The Mainshill Solidarity Camp presents:

*Off With Their Heads!*

Holding the politicians behind Mainshill Open Cast Coal Mine to account

Featuring: Jim Hood MP, Karen Gillon MSP, Councillor Danny Meikle and Lord Home

This short film documents the corruption, conflict of interest and hypocrisy dominating the politics of South Lanarkshire, that result in Scottish Coal receiving approval for coal mine after coal mine in the Douglas Valley. With no regard for community health, local democracy, the environment or climate change, Scottish Coal are allowed to run roughshod over the people of the Douglas Valley. The Mainshill Solidarity Camp occupied the site of Mainshill Wood over six months ago to help local communities fight off Scottish Coal and the landowner Lord Home.

The struggle continues!

Watch it here: http://www.politube.org/show/23788

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Since the 18.12.09 ROBIN WOOD-Activists squat several trees in the Gählerpark in Hamburg Altona to impende the contruction of a heating pipeline for the planned coal power plant Hamburg Moorburg, which would mean the loss of the trees in the park. The company proposing the pipeline is Vattenfall, a Swedish corporation. With their protest they support two residents who have squattet two trees already at 3rd of december.

(German with English subtitles)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJeo631Pyv4

New Zealand climate camp report-back

15 December 2009

15 December 2009
Preparations for New Zealand’s first Climate Camp are going well with people moving onto the site yesterday. Campers spent the day setting up some of the infrastructure required for the camp including the kitchen and storage tents. As the day progressed water lines could be seen snaking across the field, solar panels popped up next to tents and by the end of the day hot food was being prepared in the kitchen. The site is perfect, large trees dot the field, a river with swimming holes runs beside the camp and there is easy vehicular access.

Climate camp officially kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) and will be going until the 21st. The camp will be a working demonstration of sustainable living with composting toilets and electricity generated on site. It will also host workshops on dozens of subjects as well as providing space for people to organise to take action against the root causes of climate change. The 21st will see campers taking to the streets in protests which will be organised at camp. As details of these protests are organised they will be distributed widely.

Feel free to bring anything you think might be useful – tools, bikes, koha to help pay for food and tents etc. The camp is being organised and run by participants so feel free to make it your own. If you want to run a workshop or spend a few hours in the kitchen that would be great! Weather has been a mixed bag over the past day so a good tent and heaps of warm clothes in case you get wet would be a really good idea. Food will be provided throughout the camp.

So if you have any spare time over the next week be it an afternoon or the entire camp pop on down to Moonshine park in Upper Hut from today.

For more information and regular updates on how the camp is going please visit climatecamp.org.nz

For the days photos please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45638777@N08/

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Activists disrupt presentation by head of the New Zealand Carbon Exchange.
18 December 2009

This action coincides with New Zealand’s first climate camp in Upper Hut Wellington and pecedes mondays day of direct action against false solutions planned for Wellington on monday.

Yesterday members of Carbon Progress Response (CPR) disrupted a presentation by Stuart Frazer member of the New Zealand Carbon Exchange. The protesters disrupted the meeting at three points holding banners saying “Our Climate Not Your Business”, “Food Markets Not Carbon Markets” as well as talking about why carbon trading would not result in real action being taken to prevent climate change. During the presentation Stuart Frazer talked of how we need to stabilise atmospheric CO2 levels at 450ppm and global temperatures at a 2 degrees Celsius rise. The protesters pointed out that at these levels hundreds of millions of the worlds poor will be affected by drought and famine.

The action was taken in solidarity with the 100,000 protesters in Copenhagen as well as the 300 civil society delegates which walked out of the conference.

The CPR activists involved in the disruption explained their actions in this way “Carbon trading, also known as Cap and Trade, allows wealthy, industrialized countries and companies to keep polluting at the same rates by trading carbon credits amongst themselves. This allows business to continue as usual and encourages the disadvantaged and poor to sell their livelihoods for the gain of the rich.”

After the first two groups of protesters were removed around a dozen protesters held banners outside as well as using a siren to emphasis that we are facing a climate emergency. After the presentation had finished an activist slipped back into the meeting and disrupted it for a third time.

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21 December 2009
About 150 people took to the streets early this morning in Wellington as two banners were hung overnight in prominent locations. First stop was the Stock Exchange, to disrupt business as usual and tell the profiteers of climate change that our climate is not their business. While people entered the building a samba band, radical cheerleaders and a kids block were outside all main entrances. There was also a vocal bunch from a group claiming to be counter-protesting for the right to profit from exploiting the environment. Nine people were arrested in a sit-in blockade but later released with no charge.

After 9 arrests the protest took over Lampton Quay to go and support two climbers occupying the outside of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade with a giant banner denouncing Foterra for its part in New Zealand’s high emissions from agriculture. The action was taken to draw attention to the fact that 51% of New Zealand’s climate changing emissions come from agriculture. The protesters who were initially at the stock exchange, marched down Lambton Quay to support the two activists hanging off MFAT. The two climbers came down later and were not arrested. A Reclaim the Streets style protest continued for over half and hour.

The nine from earlier are coming out of the police station now, some or all without charge…

OUR CLIMATE IS NOT YOUR BUSINESS!!

http://climatecamp.org.nz/

Save Titnore Woods!

With the threat of development on Titnore Woods, one of the two remaining semi-ancient woodlands left on the West Sussex coastal plain fast approaching, now is the time to rise up and resist the destruction of our natural environment by corporate greed.

West Durrington Consortium, which consists of Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpy and Heron Homes could be given the go ahead to build a 1250 home development and a road in the new year. Previously 875 homes where to be built, so clearly their eyes are seeing more pound signs as they envision more clearance of the precious land. The project is estimated to cost over 3 billion pounds to build and take 6 years to complete which is utter madness when Worthing is reported to have over 1000 empty buildings! If planning permission is granted West Durrington will no longer home a semi- ancient woodland with it’s rich diversity in rare species, flora and fauna or it’s surrounding farmland but a massive housing development, road, a giant Tesco and possibly 2 schools and a health centre.

Already the destruction is evident when you visit Titnore. Just across the field from the protest site the eye sore that will be Tesco is well under way and is due to open in February/March 2010. West Sussex County Council gave permission on December 9th 2009 to close the public footpath reaching Tinore woods from Fullbeck Avenue. No persons are allowed to use this right of way to visit the woods now as it is viewed as a public safety hazard until the West Durrington Consortium project is completed. Also trees and bushes have been cleared here, although none are of the semi ancient woods this is still a haunting reminder that construction is imminent.

On Thursday January 28th 2010 at 6pm the West Durrington Consortium will meet at Worthing Borough Council’s Control Committee to push for permission to begin development. If they win then it’s full steam ahead for the bulldozers and a very sad day for the hard working folk of Camp Titnore who have occupied the woods in resistance of the destruction for the last 3 and a half years, and also for the local Worthing residents who strongly oppose the plans and wish to see their ancient woodland left standing.

To show that you oppose their plans to tear down an irreplaceable natural space come and join the counter demo at 5.30pm outside Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing on January 28th 2010.
Please visit Camp Titnore. Enjoy its beauty, help to build new defences and walkways. Donations of wood, nails, polyprop and corrugated iron would be much appreciated.

Camp Titnore needs you!

See Titnore contact links for directions and so on

Mainshill Celebrates 6th Month of Resistance! Come celebrate with us over Christmas!

Mainshill Solidarity Camp will celebrate its 6th month of resistance against Scottish Coal and fat cat interests this Friday the 18th of December!

The winter is drawing in, but the temporary autonomous tree sit at Mainshill is warmer and cosier than ever! With a new log cabin communal and wood burning stove there’s nowhere better to spend x-mas than in the ice encrusted woods in the company of deer, robins, and other wildlife whose habitat is slowly being deforested by Scottish Coal.

Join us this weekend to celebrate 6 months of occupation in resistance to a new open cast coal mine in an area already blighted by several such developments.

Directions

Buses run to Douglas from Lanark and Hamilton. Both Lanark and Hamilton have train and bus stations and are easy to get to from either Glasgow Central Train Station or Buchannon Street Bus Station. From South of the border, going to Glasgow is the easiest way to get to Douglas. Buses from Lanark to Douglas are much more frequent!

Bus from Lanark:

The Service Number 9 (William Stokes & Sons) runs from Lanark – Glespin, stopping in Douglas (service every 49mins past each hour). Ask to be dropped of outside the camp – drivers are usually happy to do this. Otherwise, get off at the Eggerton Bridge stop just before Douglas – you’ll see the camp on your left just after the M74 underpass!

Bus from Hamilton:

The X50 (Henderson Travel – http://www.henderson-travel.co.uk/) Hamilton-Glespin runs Hamilton, Interchange – Lesmahagow, Church Hall – Rigside – Douglas, leaving Hamilton at 17:05 (one service per day)

From Douglas:

The bus will stop before Douglas at Eggerton Bridge and you will see the camp on your left after the M74 underpass. If you miss this stop get off in Douglas and walk North East back up the A70 for 1km and the camp will be on your right just before the M74.

Hitching:

If you hitch, the camp is right next to the M74 which runs from Glasgow to Carlisle. Get dropped of at junction 12 and walk South West down the A70 towards Douglas and the camp is a few hundred metres on your left. Happendon services are close to junction 12 – if you end up therewalk South down the B7078, turn right onto the A70 towards Douglas, which takes you under the M74 and as above.

If you need a ride…

…from somewhere close by call the site phone and we’ll try to sort you out.
Contact Us

Call the site phone on: 07806926040

Email us on: mainshill@riseup.net

Black Cat Occupied social centre evicted and Reoccupied!

Yesterday saw the eviction of the Black Cat Centre, a squatted social centre that for 3 months became a genuinely well used and valued community resource, involving hundreds of local people in various capacities. The eviction was met with a 17 strong solidarity demo, but no resistance from the inside as the eviction came slightly earlier than expected.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –

Following the eviction of the Black cat Centre yesterday, the building has been re-squatted. Local activists and residents, acting in solidarity with the recently evicted Black Cat squatters last night squatted the building again, and intend to continue operating it as The Black Cat Social Centre. Speaking to Bath Activist Network last night, one of the new squatters, a resident of Oldfield Park, said ‘The work that the original Black cat squatters put into the social centre was so inspiring, and such a benefit to the community that we felt that we had to act, and re-open the social centre to the community for as long as possible’.

This latest development means that owners Cabot will have to re-instigate court proceedings to evict the new squatters. The occupiers last night said that, as with the last occupiers, they were keen to enter into a rent paying agreement with Cabot in order to keep the space in community use for as long as possible.

The new squatters intend to have the Black Cat, with all of its previous uses and events running by Friday morning.

For more information, or for an interview with the new squatters, call 07794774938
bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk

Contractor’s van sabotaged at Mainshill

On Wednesday 16th, contractors parked in front of Mainshill Solidarity Camp returned to find their van sabotaged.

The Raeburn workers turned up at 2.30 with the estate manager and left their vehicles unattended while they took soil samples within the camp. In less than ten minutes, though the work van windows were smashed and ‘out of mainshill’ and ‘no more coal’ sprayed on the sides. A bucket of compost was tipped over the bonnet. Unfortunately, the estate manager’s 4×4 only got a small scratch.

The occupation of Mainshill continues, and we welcome others who wish to join us in resisting open cast coal mining and the environmental toxification it causes.