Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites – Page 52

Eco-village occupation London June 6th

Hello friends,

you may be aware of the eco-village occupation which is being planned for Saturday June 6th. The idea is to occupy a disused urban site in SW London near Hammersmith and to start an eco-village community based on sustainable methods of living such as vegetable growing, compost toilets the works. There is a press release below- please can you distribute it to all and sundry and tell everyone you know who would want to know that this thing is going down or up? (depending on which way you look at it 😎

Hello friends,

For immediate release…

Background:

In May 1996, 500 The Land is Ours activists occupied 13 acres of derelict land on the banks of the River Thames in Wandsworth, highlighting the misuse of urban land, the lack of provision of affordable housing and the deterioration of the urban environment. That action grew into far more than just a simple land rights action.

A community grew up on the site called Pure Genius!! over the 5½ months that the occupation lasted for…..

Then and now:

“Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars” Martin Luther King.

In the first three months of 2009, nearly 13,000 Britons lost their home to repossessions. Now, perhaps more than ever, the ideas of peaceful land reclamation and eco-villages are becoming recognized as the solution to problems such as overcrowding in cities and the destruction of the land due to harmful agricultural practices.

Action:

In the spirit of Pure Genius, On June 6th 2009, hundreds of activists will converge on a piece of derelict land close by to Hammersmith in south west London to create an eco-village community based entirely on sustainable technology and construction techniques.

Come and be a part of this eco-village community.

Inspired:

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:

www.tlio.org.uk

Meet-up:

The exact location of the site will be revealed on the day. The meet up point is at Waterloo Station (under the clock in the middle of the station) at 10AM on Saturday 6th June. Please try to be on time as we don’t want to be hanging around all morning.

If you would like to speak to someone regarding the campaign or the occupation, please contact Carolyn on: 01727 812369 or Gareth on: 07515 166011 or email: diggers360@yahoo.co.uk

Galwegian’s are Reclaiming it’s Streets (Eire)

May 17, 2009

May 17, 2009
Yesterday afternoon, Galwegians and their friends from around the country and world came together on newly renamed (by us), Anti-Shop Street, to take back our space from the capitalist, consumerist culture which has taken over, with it’s bizarre ideas of a life dedicated to shopping, spending, buying and profit, so that we could share an experience of another world, where everything is free, people share and give food, fun, stuff and life, simply because they can and it just feels good!

“Free Food, Free Stuff, Free Fun, Free Social Interaction, Free World for Everyone”, was the chant of the day, encouraging everyone to join in the fun. ‘Feck Money’ could also be heard every now and again, amongst the joyful shouting and whooping! The event started at 1.30pm, when a ‘Really Really Free Market’, magically appeared out of nowhere; clothes, videos, toys, teddies, cards, matches, markers, crayons, zines and more were all decked out on a table and offered to bemused passers-by for free. Confused by the idea of free stuff, those who were afraid to ask were left wondering ‘what’s the catch?’ Needless to say, there was none. Just a group of people who believe in a better world where gifts can be given freely, and the only profit sought is the joy of making others happy. They were promptly joined by Galway Food-Not-Bombs, (who share vegetarian food, messages of peace and a better society, with the public), to feed the participants and onlookers with lovely vegetarian soup, bread and amazing cookies at the REAL recession busting price of no euros and no sense! Participants decorated Anti-Shop street with colourfull banners letting people know “Another World is Possible”, encouraging them to “Spend Less, Give More”, inviting them to “Celebrate Our Streets” and one suggesting that we should just “Feck Money!” Others decorated the ground, chalking messages such as “Capitalism Kills”, until the Gardai informed them it was illegal!

Galway Shell to Sea, who know all about the urgent need to reclaim control over our own lives, environment and resources, came out to participate and spread the word about the Rossport Solidarity Camp’s June Bank Holiday Gathering, coming up on May 29th.
Entertainment was abundant with random individuals showing off and teaching their juggling and poi skills, traditional Irish music, Capoeira dancing with accompanying music, people playing chess, others blowing bubbles, DIY art with home-made natural paints. And, how better to interact and have fun on our streets then to play Twister! Plus lots of other fun and random stuff…

It was about two hours before traffic wardens arrived to try and kill the fun. Unable to give out parking tickets, due to our inconsiderate lack of licence plate numbers, they made a poor attempt at taking our Twister. Then the Gardai were called in to deal with our menacing antics. The first Garda on the scene told us we had to move the Twister because we were blocking the street. We politely refused and argued that these were our streets and people seemed to be getting by just fine. Shortly thereafter, five to six guards huddled on the opposite corner, obviously a bit unsure of what they should or could do. They no doubt were grateful when the free water arrived in abundance from the sky. Not ready to give up just yet we continued on playing wet Twister for twenty minutes, taking full advantage of all the free water before wrapping it all up with a lot of cheering, clapping and a great sense of achievement. We had Reclaimed the Street if only for a few hours and we’ll do it again and again and again….

To find out more about Galway Reclaim the Streets or get involved in the next one contact thestreetgig@gmail.com

New protest camp at Rolls Royce Rayensway, Derby

9.05.2009
Protesters opposed to Trident nuclear submarines have set up a camp across the road from Rolls Royce on the Rayensway in Derby

They have been there for a week and have only just been spotted by the police, which shows how poor the security is taken at Rolls Royce Rayensway, a site that has a Neptune (nuclear) test reactor used to test the fuel reactivity for the submarines engines which powers the hunter fleet, which are equipped with trident missiles. Elements are also made at the manufacturing site with enriched uranium and zircaloy RR has recently gained contracts to build nuclear reactors for power stations

Protesters are wanting Rolls Royce to phase out all nuclear activities at the Rayensway plant within the next 5 years and move into work which is sustainable and provide and make publicly available a comprehensive evacuation plan for people living and working within a two mile radius of the factory. This plan should be thoroughly tested and evaluated by the local council and emergency services.

What you can do

Get down to the camp and show your support tree houses are already in place and we are working on a community space, there is plenty of room as the site is located on the old Ram Arena, the old training ground for Derby’s football team so there is an overgrown football size patch for tents, as well as an old gym which has nice graffiti all of which are under a section 6 notice (right to squat) the site backs on to a fork off the river Derwent and is full of wildlife and trees.

Although we have no specific requests for tat at the moment but climbing gear and the usual stuff is always needed

The police are aware of the site and so far have been polite and minimal numbers (solo cop) and seem to be visiting once a day

The site is easy to get to by following the river footpaths for Alvaston form the city centre, look out for the peace signs

The location of the site is between point A and the sign A5111 on the right hand side of the road on the Google map
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Raynesway,+Derby,+Derby,+United+Kingdom&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=9.040008,27.070313&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FSNNJwMd_irq_w&split=0&ll=52.903415,-1.431656&spn=0.018016,0.052872&z=14

Google street view of the entrance http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?utm_campaign=en_GB&utm_medium=ha&utm_source=en_GB-ha-emea-gb-bk-gm&utm_term=road

For more information visit Trident Ploughshares
http://www.tridentploughshares.org/index.php3

More photos

Shell compound in glengad is currently being removed and Remove Shell’s Illegal Fences – National Day of Action 9 May – CALL OUT

May 3, 2009
Direct action against Shell in Mayo

May 3, 2009
Direct action against Shell in Mayo
Around 100 members of the Erris community are currently removing shell’s illegal fencing in Glengadd. Whilst some people have locked onto the fence more have thrown ropes over other sections of the fence and are attempting to pull the pallisade fencing down. The private security firm IRMS (with links to european fascists) have a heavy presence and are attempting to cut the ropes.
A garda presence is starting to assemble. The mood is positive.

This is the third time in ten days Shell’s compound has faced direct action from the community

—-

Saturday 9th May, 2009 at 6pm – Day of Action – Support Needed to Remove Shell Fences from Glengad.

Tearing Down the Barricades
This is a Call Out from the united community of Erris Co Mayo to all our national and international supporters, asking you to come to Glengad this coming Saturday 9th May at 6pm in the evening, on a Day of Action to help us remove Shell’s illegal fences from the area.

As you know, Shell returned to Glengad with fences and machinery on Wednesday 22nd April, with force and violence. Since then there have been a number of attempts at removing the fences and stopping the work, with a mixture of failure and success.

As you can see from the photos and footage below, the will is clearly there to fight Shell, in spite of the fact that large numbers of Shell security and Gardai have been drafted into the area. But what is also clear is that numbers are needed to achieve success. Numbers, People, Bodies. That means you. Please come.

Rossport Solidarity Camp Contact Details: Phone 085 1141170 or email rossportsolidaritycamp (at) gmail (dot) com
By way of background to the current mood in Erris, let’s remind ourselves of 2 key recent events.

In the early hours of Thursday 13rd April, Shell mercenaries viciously attacked Willie Corduff within the confines of the Shell compound.

On Thursday 30th April at a community meeting with Ministers Eamon Ryan and Eamon O’Cuiv, people realised that trying to ‘talk’ to these guys was a fruitless exercise. There were calls from all corners of the community for civil disobedience, the physical stopping of the project and the taking of the ‘law into our own hands’, when the ministers refused to invite Shell to pull back to allow breathing space to resolve the conflict.

This is serious stuff. The mood in Erris now is that people are willing to pay any price to Stop Shell, and to take action accordingly.

But we need support, in numbers, to achieve the critical mass of people required to be effective. To be effective in pulling down Shell fences in order to remove them.

This protest is about taking direct action against the Shell machine and removing it from Glengad.

The pictures and footage included in this article, which show local people attempting to remove fences today, demonstrate that Action has begun in earnest this Spring and will continue in the coming weeks and months. But it’s going to be a battle, when faced, like today, with strong fences and large numbers of Shell security and Gardai. A similar attempt was made last Friday by members of the local community which included Pobal Le Cheile, Pobal Cill Chomain, the Rossport Solidarity Camp and Shell to Sea, but numbers were limited. All groups agreed, at a meeting on the ground, that a National Day of Action next Saturday 9th May was required to build momentum. That is why local people are calling for support, in numbers, to build strength against the show of force against us.

The weather is improving steadily and The Rossport Solidarity Camp is being rebuilt near the shore. People are welcome to come and stay at the camp or the camp house. Phone 085 1141170 or email rossportsolidaritycamp (at) gmail (dot) com

Join us in taking action against Shell. Don’t come empty-handed. Please spread the word amongst your friends, groups and networks.

See you in Glengad.

http://www.shelltosea.com

Camp Bling announces ‘the end’ as road scheme stopped.

Press release:

Camp Bling ‘Save Priory Park!’ road campaign

Thursday 30th April 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

—————————————————————————————

Camp Bling announces ‘the end’ as road scheme stopped.

Press release:

Camp Bling ‘Save Priory Park!’ road campaign

Thursday 30th April 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

—————————————————————————————

Camp Bling announces ‘the end’ as road scheme stopped.

Long running road protest and counter-cultural campaign site Camp Bling, based in the middle of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, is set to be decommissioned by the summer, after the long awaited announcement that the controversial Priory Crescent road widening has now officially been cancelled. (1)

Members of the camp met with Council leaders last night with a view to resolving the situation, after the publication of an open letter from Transport Councillor Anna Waite, stating that £5m in central government funding would be spent solely on the Cuckoo Corner roundabout, with possible junction improvements – but no widening – to follow at the Prittle Brook industrial site at a later date. (2)

As a result, campaigners intend to honour their public pledge to clear and vacate the camp, now that their objective to stop the road has been met completely. It is expected that it will take a number of weeks to fully return the East Saxon king’s burial to its former condition, with all structures and materials on the site to be removed by the group, with the objective of incurring no cost to the local taxpayer.

Speaking from the camp Ginger said, ‘We would like to thank each and every one of the people who have been involved, not just with Camp Bling, but also with the ongoing campaign which ran from 2001 in opposition to the scheme. It’s not every day that you get to be part of an effort to stop a £25m road widening, with the added opportunity to warn people of the culmination of environmental and social crises that we now all face.’

‘For many of us this has been our first taste of an alternative, lower impact, and more compassionate lifestyle. We have shared our experiences – both good and bad – along the way, and often got people to acknowledge the real choices that we all have. It is time for everyone to confront reality, as western industrial society continues to overshoot the ecological limits of the Earth.’ (3)

People are still welcome to visit the camp whilst decommissioning is underway, and are also encouraged to check out some of the alternatives at: www.campbling.org

—————————————————————————————

ENDS.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

(1) Camp Bling was first set up by local activists on 23rd September 2005. For more info about both the camp, and the long running campaign, go to: www.campbling.org

(2) See full contents of letter at: http://www.southend.gov.uk/news/default.asp?id=2835

(3) Climate, Peak Oil, Overpopulation, Mass Extinction, Overconsumption, etc.

Camp Bling ‘Save Priory Park!’ road campaign
www.campbling.org

Contact Camp Bling directly on 07866 967601

Or e-mail camp.bling@yahoo.co.uk

Ravens Ait evicted!

1st May 2009
around 4.15am this morning around 100 commandos stormed Ravens Ait island

they arrived in 27 black zodiac inflatables

they were wearing helmets, balaclavas, and flackjackets, and carried sidearms

1st May 2009
around 4.15am this morning around 100 commandos stormed Ravens Ait island

they arrived in 27 black zodiac inflatables

they were wearing helmets, balaclavas, and flackjackets, and carried sidearms

overhead a low flying helicopter used thermal imaging to locate the approximately 20 residents who were sleeping at the time

the commandos kicked down doors and took people outside and off the island

the entrance to the tunnel and treehouse were guarded and nobody was in them at the time

most people left peacefully, but a few resisted eviction and were arrested

the last resister climbed on top of the outdoor marquee and the police pulled it down to arrest him

by 7.30am all residents were off the island, but lots of their posessions are still on the island

at least 50 more regular Kingston police have since arrived and are currently on the island

the former residents and their supporters are currently on the Surbiton riverbank in good spirits enjoying the sunshine, and request more supporters to join them to show local and national news crews how much support they have for their eco community centre plans

www.ravensait.org.uk

—

Local press coverage, photos & alternative version of numbers of police involved.

Police Raid on Newly Opened Squat, Bristol. Occupants evicted within 40 minutes.

27.04.2009
Thank you to everyone who came down in solidarity. Big thanks to all.

This is what occurred: Reliance security company responded to an alarm that went off inside the building. The police were then called. The first copper on scene was prepared to depart saying that ‘they have squatters rights and it is a civil matter’, and then Reliance called the police again and 3 riot vans and 5 police cars turned up.

Whilst some of the Reliance personnel tried to take sitex metal sheets off, in order to gain access, the police suited up and arrived at the main door with battering ram in hand.

The occupants were given the option of leaving now with no charge (‘leave now and you can walk’), or stay and get nicked. After a group meeting, the occupants decided to remain. The police (with riot shields and shouts of ‘stand down, stand down’) then bashed down the door, detained the occupants and bailed them to the street, to return to Trinity police station in May, on suspicion of criminal damage.

They were allowed leave with cheers for each person resonating from the crowd.

There were a couple of comedy moments: namely a conversation between Reliance security and squatters:
Squatter: Can I tell you a joke?
Reliance: Go on then
Squatter: What do call a man with no shins?
Reliance: What?
Squatter: Tony!

—and an old classic from the sargent in charge: ‘Can I speak to the organiser, or your spokesperson?’ Amazing, they never learn do they?!

— A battering ram police officer was hilariously referred to by their colleagues as ‘Captain Chaos’, which caused the occupants much constant mirth. ‘Whose Captain Chaos then, when’s he coming!’

141 Ashley Road has been empty for nearly a year now since the previous occupants (who were squatters) were evicted and empty for longer before that. It is on the corner before the shops on Ashley Road and Grosverner Road, and the garden is regularly used for drug deals. Locals complain about this, yet Places for People have done nothing about this property for years.

87 Ashley Road whose roof was occupied for 3 weeks during eviction resistance, remains empty to this day, (despite Places for People’s assurances that it would be turned into affordable housing.)

The director of places for people receives a salary of £250,000 a year.

Squatters, self-housing themselves, are taking matters into their own hands, and the onus off social housing corporations to house them. The argument that squatters delay social housing is rubbished by the fact that 87 and 141 Ashley Roiad have remained empty for months and years after the eviction of squatters, and not turned into affordable social housing. It seems P4P are more concerned with selling off social housing stock on the private market as can be seen with the new flats up at the top of Ashley Road.

This is a company that claims to be working to house people, yet it appears profit is the only motivation they have.

and another joke from the day:
One of the riot vans had a sticker saying Operation Relentless which after investigation is a campaign of fear against ‘those who commit crime’: laughable.

Happy Valley update, New Zealand

SE dismantle Happy Camp – so we’re relocating to SE front lawn
The Happy Valley Occupation camp has been dismantled by Solid Energy and helicoptered out of the Valley. So we’re re-locating – to Solid Energy’s Front lawn!

Media Advisory
Save Happy Valley Coalition
7.00am Friday 24 April

Protesters sleep on coal company lawn

Media Advisory
Save Happy Valley Coalition
7.00am Friday 24 April

Protesters sleep on coal company lawn

Five Save Happy Valley Coalition members camped on the front lawn of state-owned coal miner Solid Energy’s Christchurch headquarters last night. Around 30 protesters helped set up a pup tent on the lawn at 2.00pm yesterday, as a response to the removal of a long-term occupation camp on the site of a proposed West Coast coal mine.

“It certainly wasn’t as peaceful as a night in Happy Valley,” says Front Lawn Protester Anna-Clair Hunter. “We heard cars and trucks instead of weka and kiwi.”

Media are invited to a community breakfast at the Front Lawn site from 7.30-8.30am on Friday morning.

The group has spent the past five years protesting the plans of the state-owned company to destroy a pristine area north of Westport, home to 13 endangered species including /roroa/, great spotted kiwi.

ENDS

—-

7.5.09
Solidarity for Happy Valley in Tauranga
Banner Hung to Highlight Climate Crimes

Solid Energy and Genesis continue to profit from coal mining in New Zealand despite their “million dollar” greenwash marketing campaigns.

Happy Valley is a pristene native wetland near Westport, on the west coast of the South Island. Solid Energy plan to extend their already massive open-cast coal mine at Stockton into Happy Valley.

Two years ago a group of people concerned about climate change and the native ecosystems set up an occupation camp to protect Happy Valley. On the 21st April this year the camp was forcibly removed by Solid Energy.

Tauranga port is a key location for the trafficking of coal in and out of New Zealand by Solid Energy and Genesis. This banner was hung on a mega billboard (bearing a poignant message!) along a major road and railway used for transporting coal, in order to highlight the continued climate crimes committed by Solid Energy and Genesis in this time of global and ecological emergency.

http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz

Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled

23.04.2009
Shell’s illegal Glengad compound was dismantled last night and Goldman winner, Willie Corduff was assaulted by masked Shell security during truck protest.

23.04.2009
Shell’s illegal Glengad compound was dismantled last night and Goldman winner, Willie Corduff was assaulted by masked Shell security during truck protest.
Yesterday Shell’s attempts to restart their works on the Corrib Gas project were ground to a halt after only eight hours. At 6-30 a workforce of about 20, backed up by around 50 private security guards erected fences to re-establish a compound. This compound is the would-be on-shore pipe installation base. Works were seriously hampered when local people and solidarity camp activists occupied machinery.

By 4 o clock Rossport Five member Willie Corduff was still refusing to leave the from under the truck, which he had occupied in the compound and all work had ground to a halt. Shell were unable to continue as Willie was preventing necessary equipment being used.

As the evening drew to a close Willie was resolute that he would stay and the community rallied around in support. Throughout the evening supporters gathered at the compound to show support for the campaign and Willie Corduff’s stand bringing blankets and hot water bottles.

As the crowd gathered tensions rose as Erris people saw first hand Shell’s attempt to devastate their community for a tenth year in a row. The fence beside the truck where Willie was positioned was removed and the activists made their way to Willie to ensure he was ok. Soon the entire southern exterior perimeter was dismantled. Shell’s initial works were almost undone.

At this point people returned to see Willie who was cold and still but all things considered was in good spirits. Erris activists had checked Shell’s attempts to restart work. People sat around talking and were in high spirits.

Protesters Attacked

Around 3am the vigil of supporters were gathered on the road and Willie was accompanied at the truck only by his brother- in-law. Willie had briefly gotten out from under the truck to stretch his legs. The two men were standing beside the truck when up to ten Shell security personnel in black and wearing balaclavas “appeared out of nowhere”. The men pushed Willie to the ground and started kicking him and hitting him with a heavy object that appeared to be a baton or torch. They knelt on his head and twisted his arms behind his back as they beat him. His brother-in-law attempted to aid Willie but was pushed back repeatedly and forcibly removed by the masked Shell security into an adjacent field where he was then knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten.

A Shell medic stayed with Willie for a period. Local people, who arrived on the scene shortly after the two men were assaulted, were so frightened of the Shell security personnel that they called the Gardaí who were patrolling the area. Willie was removed by an ambulance to Castlebar General Hospital, where he is being treated for nausea and severe bruising to the head and body. A Garda statement confirmed the identity of Willie and his brother-in-law’s attackers stating that “A protester [Willie] who was present on the site since yesterday was this morning removed from the compound by security staff.”

Works as we write appears to be suspended. Willie Corduff is in hospital, the area is on a knife-edge as a mixture of fear and anger brews.

People are urged to travel to Erris now to stand with Erris people to make a stand against Shell.

Lappersfort- Police out of control

Following the ambush & arrest of 3 lappersfort occupiers on the night of 21st April, the Brugge police yesterday conducted a raid on the house of a local sympathiser.

Following the ambush & arrest of 3 lappersfort occupiers on the night of 21st April, the Brugge police yesterday conducted a raid on the house of a local sympathiser. Atleast 6 pigs entered the home after showing a warrant, and took with them many personal items from the occupiers, including passports, other forms of ID and even personal letters and journals. The police are taking every opportunity to weaken local support through the media circus and also to gather identification of the occupiers. The belief is that they are gathering the id’s in order to be able to charge people with the costs of the eviction (after eviction in 2002, 13 occupier who had given their names were threatened with having to pay the eviction costs of 50,000euros if they are caught again in the forest) . We aren’t sure if this means the eviction is coming any sooner now, but the camp is under constant eviction threat. There is some speculation as to whether or not the police raid yesterday was done legally or not, and also whether or not they will take the next step of raiding the camp….

Meanwhile 3 of our friends are still sitting in prison in brugge and will face the judge tomorrow. They are accused of scraping some words in wet concrete, which the pigs have decided deserves the official charge of “destroying the road”. We are obviously hoping they will all be released tomorrow, but the courthouse here in Brugge has a reputation for locking up lappersforters for anything they possibly can. One local paper also reported that the security and dogs who ambushed and arrested the 3 on Tuesday night were requested by the mayor himself.

Life in the forest is getting sometimes difficult, and the pigs are obviously using their tactics of intimidation, fear and repression to demoralise the camp and cause division between the occupiers and the local community. But the camp and the campaign goes on, spring is happening, and more humans are always wished for and welcome….we wont let the piggies stop us, or even slow us down…