Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites – Page 65

A visit to the Opencast Squat

21.06.2008
I decided to take a trip to Shipley today to see how the new residents of Prospect farm were settling in.

Just to recap the story so far. In the early hours of last Wednesday morning a group of caring individuals took possession of a building on the site of UK Coals planned new open cast site in Derbyshire. There aim is to protest/prevent the countryside and wider environment being devastated by the extraction and burning of the dirtiest fossil fuel.

As if we needed any reminding of the climate chaos coal burning contributes to, when I arrived on Saturday (21st June!) it was wet and drizzly and the forecast was for storms.

But the rain had not dampened the spirits of the crew now living at Prospect Farm (now re-christened Bodge farm). While they were still busy with all those jobs that need doing when you move into a new home they had already achieved a great deal and the place was very homely. A well-stocked kitchen was set up and a welcoming open fire means there is always a kettle on the go.

To the sounds of acoustic guitar from one of the tree-houses I watched a couple of people fixing fencing and looked up to admire the suspended cargo netting between the trees.

There have been other visitors coming to show their support including three generations of the family who used to live in the house before UK Coal kicked them out.

I was delayed on leaving as a large van full of provisions had just arrived and needed unloading. This had been spontaneously arranged and paid for by locals and included just about everything you could think of from tinned beans to cotton buds, fresh veg to bottled water.

Please get along there and support them, it’s a lovely location and the squat/camp has a great feel.

But get along there because at some point we have just got to draw a line. For all our futures and for generations to come, leave it in the ground.

http://www.leaveitintheground.org.uk

Climate change protestors occupy Derbyshire open cast coal site – contact, map, wish list, access & court papers

18th June 2008 – For immediate release
Leave it in the Ground 07852 460871

Today climate campaigners from ‘Leave it in the Ground’ have occupied the UK Coal’s Lodge House site in Derbyshire by barricading themselves in a disused farm building and taken to the trees on the site of the open cast mine.

Under the cover of darkness activists have secured themselves in the Prospect Farm building on the site which is about to be devastated by huge machines. Food and supplies have also been taken in for a long term occupation and barricades’ have been set up preventing police form bringing in specialist equipment down Bell Lane, Smalley Derbyshire into the heart of the site. Similarly, people are locked on by their necks behind the doors preventing force being used to gain entry. The protesters are claiming squatter’s rights.

At Lodge House today, Andy Green said “We are here because the single greatest threat to the climate comes from burning coal. Coal fired generation is historically responsible for most of the CO2 in the air today – about half of all carbon dioxide emissions globally. Coal form open cast mines is dirtier than that from deep mines, so it is even worse!”

Lodge house is owned by UK Coal, Britain’s largest coal company who plan to extract one million tonnes of coal from the 122 hector site. Protestors claim this will devastate the area. Local councils, residents and local environmental groups have all objected to the plans, however, the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn granted planning permission in 2007 and work is set to commence imminently.

New open cast mines are being actively supported by the government and the number of opencast mines going into the planning process and being approved is on the increase.

The Leave it in the Ground, is part of the Network for Climate Action (2) and its allies, has seen over a dozen actions take place around the UK including the occupation of a coal train heading for Drax power station. Protests have focused on the companies responsible for runaway carbon dioxide emissions, as well as those promoting false solutions to climate change.

“We are taking action to prevent the coal industry bent on economic growth from destroying our future,” said Julie Lee from Leave it in the Ground. “If Gordon Brown gives the go ahead to a new generation of coal fired power stations beginning with Kingsnorth in Kent, it will undermine – perhaps fatally – Britain’s chances of meeting its climate change targets. If Britain is to cut its emissions by 80% by 2050, the eight planned new coal power-fired plants alone will wipe out half of our carbon budget.”

A further demonstration is planned for 14th July at UK Coal’s Head quarters in Doncaster.

For interviews and more information about today’s action at Lodge House contact:
Andy PHONE NUMBER 07852 460871
EMAIL derby@earthfirst.org.uk

** Updates will be available throughout the day at
http://leaveitintheground.wordpress.com or from 07852 460871 **

Notes to editors.

1. UK coal’s headquarters is situated at Harworth Park, Blyth Road, Harworth, Doncaster DN11 8DB.

2. To combat open-cast mining, a new action group “Leave it in the Ground” has formed, supported by Earth First! As well as other environmental groups.

3. UK coal has submitted planning applications for 5 new sites:
(Site and Potential Tonnage)
Potland Burn, Northumberland 2,000,000 tonnes
Park Wall North, Co. Durham 1,275,000 tonnes
Bradley, Co. Durham 550,000 tonnes
Huntington Lane, Shropshire 900,000 tonnes
Blair House, Fife 700,000 tonnes

It is proposed that the 122 hectare site will produce one million tonnes of coal over five years, after which the land will be ‘returned back to its natural state’. However, UK Coal will not be able to replace ancient edges and mature trees, and their licence enables the company to expand beyond the 122 hectares without needing further permission

Coal is the dirtiest form of power generation known to man. Top NASA James Hansen recently remarked: “The only practical way to prevent CO2 levels from going far into the dangerous range, with disastrous effects for humanity and other inhabitants of the planet, is to phase out use of coal except at power plants where the CO2 is captured and sequestered.”

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The house and site has been dubbed Bodge House.

We need more people on site to make additional preparations and secure other areas to stop open casting and build long term home.

Supplies are also needed

Site phone 07503 335870

Most of all we need people to come down and stay on the site. It is a beautiful area, with much wildlife, and easy access to public transport. Come down and visit!

See here for directions & map – take public transport to Shipley Country Park or other nearby place, then make for Prospect Farm, marked on the map.

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Wish list:

Water: Please bring lots when you come as there is currently no running water on site.

scaffold, tarpaulin, planks, large nails, polyprop especially 8mm, 10mm and 12mm (but any rope is good)

sand and cement

Climbing tat – ropes, harness’ carabinas, belay plates, d-locks, padlocks and chains, cargo netting,

Blankets, carpets, quilts, sleeping bags, hammocks,

bowsaws, burners, plastic sheets, shovels and other tools, torches, hurricane lamps and head torches.

Axes, batteries (car and torch), bolt croppers, buckets, candles, fishing line, flexiflue and cutting gear,

food (tinned is good, dried food particularly things like fruit and nuts is fantastic, fresh fruit and veg is really appreciated) cooking pans and cutlery, mugs and plates first aid, generators, paraffin, refuse sacks, rope, string, tents, thermos flasks, tin storage (ammo) boxes, water butts.

Nylon crane netting, pulleys, loudhailers, parachutes, rucksacks, steel cable,

Clothes, Boots, warm clothes and socks, waterproof clothing, wellies.

Musicians, climbers, mechanics, carpenters, healers, bakers, solicitors, sponsors, poets, friendly shop keepers, trader exchange, nature-lovers and everyone else too!

Transport

Bicycles and tools.

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access to site

19th June
The chap at the Lodge on Bell Lane is not letting people past and claiming he owns the road (he is an angry farmer with dog).

Alternative access is from shipley – when coming from heanor, turn right off A6007 (Ilkeston rd) as you leave shipley (into ‘the field’), turn right onto tarmac road after the steiner school (one left) and go up this road. Bear left past bridge and lake on right and turn right through gate just before big house. You are now on Bell lane and site is the house next to road works after bridge.

if you go take lots of water

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Papers served and another protest

The farm house on the prospective open cast coal site that was squatted this week has receieved its papers.

It will be taken to court on 30th June at 10 am at Derby Combined Court Centre, Morledge, Derby, DE1 2XE by Harworth Estates Agricultural Land Ltd (part of the UK Coal Conglomerate).

The people on site are putting a call out for people to come and stay on the site and help out. If you have ever fancied your hand at protecting beautiful land against the capitalist machine, nows your chance!

There will be a protest/show of support is planed for the 30th June at Derby combined courts, The Morledge, Derby.

Come and show your support with a fun little protest at 9am.

Squat news – London, Cambridge

12.06.2008

Bowl Court Social Centre Days Are Numbered – London

12.06.2008

Bowl Court Social Centre Days Are Numbered – London

The courting hearing today ruled in favor of the property developers claiming ownership of the derelict warehouse in Bowl Court that has been used as a radical social centre since opening 23rd March. The David vs Goliath case was clearly motivated by Hammersons desire to prevent the new social centre becoming a hub for the local campaigns against their proposed development for the area, the biggest development in London since Docklands in the eighties.

The victorian social centre is located in the Shoreditch Street Conservation area and previous attempts to obtain planning consent for demolition have been refused. The neighboring warehouse was knocked down without planning permission by Gamma City Developments which was purchased by Hammerson, along with vast tracts of lands earmarked to become a forest of glass skyscrapers over the next ten years. Number 6 Bowl Court was left empty for years with a gaping hole cut in the roof and deep excavations dug around it’s external walls, apparently with the aim of speeding up it’s decay to justify future applications for demolition.

Although at least two other squatters occupy nearby properties which Hammerson claim to own, the attempts to evict Bowl Court came about only as it became apparent that the social centre was becoming involved in the local campaigns against the redevelopment plans for the area. The company had been informed of the occupation on the 24th March but only made moves to repossess the property three weeks ago.

In court, the defendants questioned the evidence presented by the claimants regarding ownership. Their land registry title was contradicted by titles known to be held by other companies. There was also issue over whether the notice of the proceedings had been correctly served as residential property requires five days clear notice but only three had been given. With no professional representation, the defendants were unable to put together a robust defense and also found themselves threatened with over £21,000 in costs. However, the judge also considered the costs to be outrageously inflated an choose to award just £2,500 in costs.

The future of the social centre is now obviously in doubt but in the meantime events continue as normal. See http://www.bowlcourt.co.nr for details.

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Mill Road Social Centre May Stay For Flippin’ Ages – Cambridge

A possession order was granted to Tesco today in court, yet representatives of the Mill Road Social Centre had apparent confirmation of indefinite leave to remain from Tesco’s solicitors.

About 20 social centre groupies went to court today dressed in all our wet finery and had a friendly bit of banter with the Tesco legal representative and the judge. The judge decided that, although we pointed out in our defense that their claim wasn’t accurate and so should be thrown out, she was happy to quickly amend it in court. This meant that we no longer had a defense as that was the only way our legal assistance had found for rejecting the claim. So, the judge awarded Tesco the possession order, as we thought they might.

We raised the issue of Tesco stating that they didn’t want to apply the possession order immediately, they just wanted hold of it. The solicitor again confirmed that this was the case.

SO, net result, as far as we know, we can remain in there doing fun things until Tesco want to get the builders in, hopefully sometime never. Obviously it’d be useful to keep open some kind of dialogue with Tesco about when they’re going to move in and we’ll look into that, however the early hope is that we actually have the space for a number of weeks and can get cracking in earnest to make it even more lovely and useful.

The solicitor said in court that “Tesco has no use today for the premises.” to which the judge replied “So they are in no position to commence redevelopment at this moment?”, and the solicitor answered “No.”. So if that’s right, and if they do want to wait on the planning process before trying to evict us, it could be a long long time. Hurrah! 🙂 It also means they were fibbing when they said they could open a store “tomorrow” in the evening news. Cheeky blighters.

millroadsocialcentre@lists.riseup.net
http://millroadsocialcentre.wordpress.com

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social centre attacked (again)

15.06.2008
At about half 1 this morning the mill rd social centre was attacked for the second time in a week. Thugs armed with an iron bar smashed windows and damaged vehicles in attempt to intimidate the occupants, then drove off. No Pasaran.
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New autonomous and creative social space in South London

The Chapel project is an autonomous and creative social space situated in the heart of Nunhead. The space is used for all kinds of creative and socially minded workshops and events. Our main aim is to provide affordable cultural activities to people, promoting creative interaction and therefore social change.

Come and get involved. Whatever ideas, materials or positive energies you can share would be great whether its running a workshop, showing your art work, or just spreading the word. We hope to see you soon.

http://www.chapelproject.com

Women and Trans DIY-SQUATTING Weekend in London, 28th-29th June

This is a callout to all women and trans-folk that would like to be involved in a weekend of workshops around diy-squatting

We plan to take advantage of all the usual challenges that semi-derelict buildings pose as a platform for sharing our knowledge, skills, and experience in all the tasks related to opening and maintaining a healthy and happy squat!

This is a callout to all women and trans-folk that would like to be involved in a weekend of workshops around diy-squatting

These are all the areas that we’ve thought of so far, but more ideas are always welcome:

* Electricity
* Plumbing
* Gas
* Security- doors/locks etc
* Barricading
* Legal
* Dealing w/ cops/owners- talk about experience/share tactics
* Women/Trans squatting- open discussion on experience of squatting from a women/trans-perspective.
* Sustainable energy

All levels of experience in any of the above areas are welcome, and even if you have no experience in any of the practical, diy-related areas, we hope to have a platform to share
experiences, stories and advice related to all aspects of squat-living from a trans/woman’s perspective.

Please get in touch if you’d like to help out at all in organising this weekend – We’ll need help finding a suitable space and preparing it for the weekend, publicising the gathering, and then running workshops on the weekend itself, as well as collecting and preparing food.
We also hope to provide childcare (on a rota-basis), so please let us know if you can help with that.

This gathering will be held on the weekend of the 28th – 29th June.

You can e-mail us at diy_squatting@riseup.net

Please spread the word!

**Let us know if you would like to be sent leaflets**

Demonstrators tear down privatisation fencing bars (Thessaloniki, Greece, 7/6/2008)

What happened is a demonstration of hundreds of residents of Kalamaria (a large suburb of Thessaloniki by the sea) and Thessaloniki on the seafront of Kalamaria.

What happened is a demonstration of hundreds of residents of Kalamaria (a large suburb of Thessaloniki by the sea) and Thessaloniki on the seafront of Kalamaria. There, privatization works fence the one open area after the other, so, after a decision of a residents assembly, the demonstrators tore down the fencing bars of the local marina that prevent free access to the seaside. This action was welcomed with applause from local people.

Texts in greek and a lot of photos can be found here:
http://indy.gr/ or here http://athens.indymedia.org/ or there: http://diexodos.blogspot.com/.

Action Days for Autonomous Spaces; Berlin – updated with longer report of actions during the week

31.5.2008
Reports below –

***A short report on Action Days for Autonomous Spaces in Berlin

31.5.2008
Reports below –

***A short report on Action Days for Autonomous Spaces in Berlin

On Tuesday last a squat that had only been open for a few hours was brutally evicted by the Berlin police. The response from the anarchist and autonome movement has been devestating; well over one million in damages from decentralised actions over 4 nights. The actions have included property destruction, over 50 car burnings and sabotage, spontaneous demonstrations, squatting and paintbombing. Many people have been arrested. Two comrades are facing charges or arson.

As well as the decentralised actions there have been many workshops, presentations, shared meals and social gatherings. A pirate radio station is providing constant reporting on events around the city.

Visit http://wba.blogsport.de/ for more info, for up to date news reports visit http://ticker.so36.net/ (both in German)

***Longer report –
A personal report from last week’s action days for autonomous spaces in Berlin. This report reflects the thoughts and opinions of the authors, not of any campaign, although these opinions may be shared by others.

Berlin- in Chaos!
Action Days for Autonomous Space
May 27 to June 1

“If we do not wish to find ourselves in a world where no one really lives, where no one really knows anyone else, where everyone has become a mere cog in a machine meshing with other cogs but
remaining truly alone, then we must have the strength to attack alienation in every way we can.”

“We believe for a space to be truly autonomous it must first be liberated. Liberated in our sense doesn’t just mean taking something out of the hands of capitalists (the mere re-appropriation of a building) but rather taking space and finding ways to use it as a weapon against the State and Capital.”

Last week, anarchists set their own dates for a confrontation with the State and Capital. Not prepared to be crushed by increasing repression against the spaces in which we live, plot and fight
from, the Action Days for Autonomous Spaces put Berlin in chaos.

Following the three-day ‘Interspace’ meeting in Kesselberg (a previously squatted land project outside Berlin) from May 24-27, many people headed into Berlin to put theory into practise and to
join forces on the streets with those already preparing for the Action Days. An info-point was set up at the Kopi, radical left projects provided voku (people’s kitchen) for the week as well as
hosting theoretical and practical workshops.

But, most importantly, hundreds of people from Berlin and from elsewhere went on the offensive and instigated 6 charged days of diverse and often militant action. In a city which has one of the
harshest anti-squatting policies in Europe – the Berlin Line – where squats can be evicted immediately and brutally, people showed they were undaunted and defiant.

The focus of these action days in many ways remains the defence of certain threatened physical structures. However, as the diversity of actions that took place demonstrates, what was being fought for is not confined to or by the walls of such buildings. By expanding the definition of what we understand by ‘free space’ we are able to broaden our attack beyond these physical spaces to an attack against social control as a cornerstone of capitalist logic – from autonomous space to liberated space.

Highlights of the week taken from the info-ticker:

4 cars burnt and caltrops (bent-nail devices used to puncture tyres) left on the surrounding streets to deter cops and the fire brigade from getting there in order to put the fires out.

Construction crane burnt.

A truck and four more cars burn.

Squatting of building on Michael-Kirch Platz.

8 cars burnt as a response to eviction of Michael-Kirch Platz and in solidarity with those arrested.

Anti-Gentrification Rally at Bethanien.

Parts of Rigaer 84 squatted and opened to public.

Luxury apartment attacked with paint bombs and stones.

Bike Tour of Media Spree buildings, the company responsible for much redevelopment in Berlin.

A Mercedes, a rental car and 2 cars from a telecommunications/security company burnt out.

Windows of bank Sparkasse smashed.

8 luxury cars, 2 bins and billboards burnt or destroyed.

Offices of estate agent Oliver Rohr who works for Rigaer94/Liebig14 landlord Beulker attacked with graffiti, paint bombs and glue in the locks.

O2 advertising screen at Warschauer Strasse attacked with paint bombs.

McDonalds in Kreutzberg- trashed.

2 unfinished lofthouses have their windows smashed- one attack takes place in broad daylight.

Cop car windows smashed by Mauer Park.

18 windows of SAP, a software company connected to arms trade, smashed.

Windows of Verdi Hotel by Kopi smashed.

Cops attacked with stones and bottles outside Kopi.

Banner drop in support of Rigaer94 from the roof of the cathedral Berliner Dom.

Barricades built in Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Wedding.

There was also a pirate radio (originally set up for the April Days of Action in Defence of Free Spaces) and a web-based real time info-ticker which provided up-to-the-minute information on everything from demos, actions, arrests, police locations and detailed descriptions of undercover cops and their vehicles.

The constant prowling of undercover cop cars and a rumoured 250 civil police (as well the politically motivated crime unit) deployed in Kreuzberg did not deter people from taking action, and
nor did brutal attacks on crowds of demonstrators or the imposition of “Platzverweise” or “banning orders” from particular areas on anyone who looked ‘autonomous’ – the use of these was ruled
illegal by a judge later in the week. Despite beatings and arrests, the cops were finally unable to contain, control and crush the spirit, energy and daring of the week-long revolt.

After years of simply responding to dates set by institutions, governments and trade fairs etc, those acting to resist the repression of free space – which extends to the totality of what we conceive as freedom – are left with a revived feeling of strength and energy. Discussions and analyses have been sparked; creative, autonomous participation has been inspired and face to face affinities built on. Above all, what has emerged from and what underpins these elements is the offensive action that people have taken which has let loose the reins of our imaginations and our resistance.

We hope it does not stop here, and that the quality and diversity of attacks, as well as a deepening understanding of what it means to liberate space in lives held hard in the velvet claw of
capitalism, continues everywhere.

Put Berlin in Chaos! Put Everywhere in Chaos! …

One note of sadness and anger from last week is the state-murder of an 18 year old boy in custody on May 29. Not known to be connected to the autonomous scene, he was arrested with two friends after attacking traffic lights and a car and was found hanged in his cell at 1.20am, only 3 hours after the time of his arrest. It is unlikely that it was suicide – as the cops have stated – because of the
design of the cells in Templehof nick and the short amount of time that would have been available to him while being driven to the police station and processed.

Citex Squat Amsterdam Illegally Evicted

27.05.2008
The Citex squat in Amsterdam has recently been illegally evicted.

On friday night, there was a birthday party. The police claim that there was a noise complaint from a neighbour, and asked for the identity papers of a person in the squat. They have no legal right to ask for this since the space was not public space but a residence . Afterwards, they tried to arrest this person. The person was de-arrested and took inside by the squatters. From this point on, the police escalated the situation, leading to the eviction of the entire block of 4 houses and the citex social spaces. 51 people were arrested and roughly treated. Currently , there are a few people still inside prison, but most people have been released. On Sunday, there was a demonstration that first passed by the heavily guarded (with dogs) citex-block, where it was made clear that we were not happy. Later, windows of the mayor’s house (Job Cohen) and of city hall were smashed. The previous night, the windows of the housing company were also smashed. Because this was an unexpected eviction (citex is still in legal processes and the court results are due on thursday), all people’s belongings were still inside. On Monday, the people could luckily get their stuff back through a moving company who took it out. The people were not allowed inside, and there was security, dogs and police all over the area. Riot police and undercover police (civilian clothed arrest teams) arrived many times for no clear reason except to provoke.
For more updates and stories look on www. indymedia. nl.
Most stories are in dutch for now, english versions will come soon.
An english personal account of someone http://leightoncookie. blogspot. com/ and a polish account http://www. indymedia. nl/nl/2008/05/52573. shtml are available.

Keep yourself updated, the struggle continues!!
You can’t evict ideas, squatting continues!!!

Camps for Climate Action round the world…

2008 will see camps spring up around the world, inspired by the Camps for Climate Action that have taken place in the UK, first near Drax, then Heathrow.

UK: near Kingsnorth coal-fired power station and proposed site for new generation – Climate Caravan to the camp from Heathrow, 26th July-3rd August, Camp for Climate Action 3rd-11th August 2008 – www.climatecamp.org.uk

2008 will see camps spring up around the world, inspired by the Camps for Climate Action that have taken place in the UK, first near Drax, then Heathrow.

Germany: Klimacamp, Hamburg, near a variety of climate criminals – 15th-28th August –
www.klimacamp08.net

Australia: Camp for Climate Action, Newcastle coal port, north of Sydney – 10th-15th July – www.climatecamp.org.au

USA: West Coast Convergence for Climate Action, near Eugene, Oregon (28th July-4th August); South East Convergence for Climate Action, Louisa County, Virginia (5th-11th August); Northeast Climate Confluence, Epworth (27th July-3rd August) – www.climateconvergence.org

New Zealand: www.climatecamp.org.nz

Forest defender arrested as activists halt work on road to climate chaos in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

2008-05-20

2008-05-20
This morning, forest activists halted work on the construction of a new ‘road to climate chaos’ in the Styx Valley to highlight community concerns with the continued destruction of Tasmania’s ancient forests. Activists are halting roading operations which, if completed, will access significant tracts of giant eucalypt forest in close proximity to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area boundary. A female activist, who had been attached to roading machinery for over 9 hours was arrested this afternoon. Police arrived at the site, located near Jubilee Road in the South Styx, around 9am. The activist was cut off the machine at approximately 2pm and was arrested and charged by local police officers.

“Once again, Forestry Tasmania is using taxpayers money to smash new roads through some of our most unique and irreplaceable ecosystems. This road to climate chaos in the South Styx will enable woodchipping barons Gunns Ltd. to devastate some of the island’s most carbon rich old growth forests” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“The Rudd Government must take decisive action and put an immediate stop to these environmentally criminal acts, rather than standing back and endorsing the large scale woodchipping and torching of some of our most precious natural heritage. In this era of increasingly dangerous climate change, the destruction of Tasmania’s ancient forests is a global issue” said Miss Majewski.

Forest defenders will continue to take peaceful action against the continued decimation of Tasmania’s globally significant old growth forests.

http://www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
http://campflorentine@gmail.com

Diddly squats reports – Cambridge, London & Brighton [updated – eviction threat]

Cambridge: former Wilco building squatted – to be turned into social centre

Cambridge: former Wilco building squatted – to be turned into social centre

On Monday night, 19 May, the former Wilco building on Mill Road (the very site where Tesco want to open a new supermarket) was squatted. On Tuesday afternoon, acting on a ‘tip off’ from a neighbour, armed police entered the premised on the pretext of looking for illegal drugs. There were a total of three police cars, a police van, and at least eight officers. The premises were searched, but no illegal substances (bar a supermarket trolley that was already on site) were found. The building is now being turned into a social centre. Tonight (Tuesday) there will be a big clear up, before the space is spruced up with some furniture. There are plans for a cinema corner, an activity corner, and a space to hang out and drink coffee and tea.

Please come and help with the clear up or donate some furniture, rugs, etc.

The squat or the social centre are not connected to the No Tesco on Mill Road campaign, but will create a more useful, positive role for the building.

http://millroadsocialcentre.wordpress.com/
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WominSpace Eviction, the story of a squatted social center in East London

The short-lived but infamous WominSpace Social Center by Mare Street was, after a successful resistance, and some weeks of tension, eventually evicted on the 9th of May.

For the past three months the WominSpace social center has hosted amongst other things, welding, stencil-making, herbal skill-share, feminist singing workshops, photoshop and piracy, and a women’s direct action group. There has been a DIY Womin’s Health weekend, regular café and kids space. The space has been open to all self-identified women and trans people and aimed to be respectful to each individual’s autonomy and experience.

Although we managed to resist the first eviction with wider support from friends and the North East London Squatters Network, we have now lost our house by the canal in East London.

Out of experiences with the WominSpace it was decided to form an anarcha-feminist collective, open to all self-identified women and trans people. If you want to be part of the early stages of forming this collective, get in touch: womenorganise@yahoo.co.uk

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New Name, New Website, Old Threat

London’s latest social centre has finally given itself a name, set up its own website and received a visit from the owners saying “get out!”

Squatted over the long Ester weekend in March the new social centre opened its doors on the 11th April for the International Days of Action For Squats and Autonomous Spaces.

Among the activities over that weekend was a Squatters Estate Agency which attracted the attention of the mainstream media.

Operating with an open collective in the style of the rampART social centre that proceeded it, the new social centre took some time to reach consensus on a name. Among those in the running were Two Point Two (indicating only its lineage and legacy in relation to the rampART), Front Line (indicating it’s strategic position between Shoreditch and the expanding developments of the city), The Liberty of Norton Folgate (a reference to a historic ‘freespace’) and Sod The Rich (a handy anagram of Shoreditch). However in the end the name Bowl Court was agreed, which simply and unorriginally refers to the little cobbled street the building is located in.

Finaly given a name a new website was set up (see http://bowlcourt.co.nr) but no sooner than the site created, the owners of the building put a downer of things by dropping round to say ‘get the fuck off my land’.

Needless to say, this is far from the end of the story, perhaps just the beginning, and now is the time to get involved.

The location is amazing and offers an unrepeatable opportunity to work with the local community against the massive wave of development threatening to sweep away much of Shoreditch.

The collective meets every monday at 7pm. You will find Bowl Court off Plough Yard which is next to the Drunken Monkey at the junction of Shoreditch Hight St and Great Eastern Street. (See the map here http://tinyurl.com/4xeq2q)

If you need to contact us, email bowlcourt@riseup.net or phone 0208 8192596

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Free Skool event this thursday

thursday 22nd from 7pm onwards people will be coming together at bowl court social centre to discuss the concept of a free skool and how this could be put into practice within the space.

so, this is a call for people who want to share knowledge and skills to come and get involved. through the institutionalisation of education, knowledge is taken out of the hands of the masses. a free skool aims to reclaim that education for all through sharing theoretical and practical knowledge. this can involve anything from a one off workshop on building a bicycle powered washing machine to individuals with shared interests meeting on a regular basis. come along to bowl court social centre (6 bowl court, off plough yard, next to the great eastern street/shoreditch high street junction) at 7pm on thursday if you are interested. if you cant make it but would like to get involved email us at bowlcourt@riseup.net

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Bowl Court social centre under threat

21.05.2008
the new social centre in shoreditch was served papers today for a court hearing on the 4th june. the owners hammerson have no immediate interest in the building which they have yet to secure planning consent to demolish for their huge redevelopement plans for the area. the developments are the biggest in london since the creation of dockland and canary warf.

the social centre which was opened last month for the days of action for squats and autonomous spaces is planning to fight this threat loudly through the mainstream media and to contribute as much as possible to the campaigns against the bishops place developement during the time left in the building.

hammerson is a massive property company concentrating mostly on retail and office parks. they are partcularly active in the uk, france and germany.

more info soon….

if you can help the social centre go on the offensive on this, please get in touch

bowlcourt at riseup dot net
http://bowlcourt.co.nr

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East London Against Gentrification: Two Events this week

Both Wednesday the 21st and Saturday the 24th will see two events held in East london hosting international activists from the Vancouver Anti Poverty Committee, (Canada) and the Movement for Justice in El Barrio (Harlem, NYC) both fighting gentrifcation and displacement. See details below.

Vancover Anti Poverty Committee Fight the Olympics: Public Talk on Wednesday the 21st of May 8pm

Action Eastend and London Coalition Against Poverty (LCP) are organising a joint public meeting for a Canadian comrade involved in the Anti Poverty Committee in Canada and anti-olympic solidarity there, she is going to be in London on the Wednesday 21st May
and is going to introduce the ‘Five Ring Circus’ film about the travesty of the 2010 Winter Olympics and is willing to discuss and answer any questions people have.
Please feel welcome to attend and please distribute as widely as possible.

Venue is at
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bowl%20court%2C%20shoreditch&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl

Film Trailer
http://www.thefiveringcircus.com/

Anti Poverty Committee
http://apc.resist.ca/

Movement for Justice in El Barrio: Gentrification from Harlem to Dalston
Public Talk Saturday the 24th of May

Juan Haro, a speaker from Movement for Justice in El Barrio will talk in Dalston, about their struggle against displacement by gentrification in Harlem, New York city. On Saturday the 24th of May @ Passing Clouds, on Richmond Rd, just off Kingsland road in Dalston, 10 mins from Dalston Kingsland Station. Buses: 149, 242, 243, 67.Free or donation entry to talk from 7.00pm.

Followed by Latin bands and DJs hosted by Movimientos at around 9pm “From folkloric to electronic Movimientos is the sound of London’s Latin alternative”. (£5 entry)

Dalston, like many other parts of London is undergoing development that will mean rent rises for tenants already struggling to pay extortionate London rents. When an area becomes appealing for investors and “regeneration” it’s those people with money who end up enjoying the new housing, expensive cafes and shops, and the people with less money who end up having to move further away from the centre of the city or who, if they stay, lose the shops, cafes and resources they rely on. Movement for Justice, the organization of tenants in Harlem, New York that have been struggling against the landlords that want to price them out of their area say;

“This displacement is created by the greed, ambition and violence of a global empire of money that seeks to take total control of all the land, labor and life on earth. Here in El Barrio (East Harlem, New York City), landlords, multi-national corporations and local, state and federal politicians and institutions want to force upon us their culture of money, they want to displace poor families and rent their apartments to rich people, white people with money. They want to change the look of our neighborhood, with the excuse of “developing the community.”

The talk will explore issues around resisting gentrification and the model of organization that Movement for Justice have used to work with each other – an inspiring and educational example from across the Atlantic that we could learn from in London.

“Together, we make our dignity resistance and we fight back against the actions of capitalist landlords and multinational corporations who are displacing poor families from our neighborhood. We fight back locally and across borders. We fight back against local politicians that refuse to govern by obeying the will of the people. We fight back against the government institutions that enforce a global economic, social and political system that seeks to destroy humanity.”

Talk organized by Hackney Solidarity Network, Hackney Independent, Haringey Solidarity Group and London Coalition Against Poverty.

Contact: hackneysolidarity@hotmail.co.uk

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Also for news on what’s happening at the Spike squatted centre in South London, see http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20636
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Free Kaff in Brighton

Residents and supporters of 88 London Road, Brighton – the former Methodist church where a recent eviction attempt was successfully resisted – have been holding frequent free food stalls like this one on Sunday.

For a report on the attempted eviction, see: http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20653

LOCAL SUPPORT

Since the events of a week ago, when a large number of Brighton residents witnessed the day-long attempted eviction of the squatters and the story was featured on the front page of the local evening paper, support for the squatters has been growing, with a lot of positive feedback, offers of help and donations of food from local residents and shops.

METHODISTS – A DODGY CORPORATION

Few people seem to be convinced by the Methodist Church’s position that it ‘needs’ the building back again, especially as it has been left empty for several years already. The Methodist Church is now so rich and profitable that it has been forced to register as a corporation rather than a charity and the job of the trustees is to make as much profit for the corporation as they can, which they do by making the usual dodgy investments with a few lame excuses for failing to drop these. Of its investments in Nestle, for instance, it says: “[Nestle’s] operations are not unethical in a way to preclude investment.” Since it also invests in Rio Tinto and BP, one wonders just what a company might have to do to be considered unsuitable for Methodist investment. A quick look at the make-up of the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church sheds some light on the situation – the board includes former managing director of BAE Systems Pensions fund, John Gibbon, along with accountants, tax experts and other financial high-flyers from a range of private companies.

NEW LONDON ROAD – BRIGHT OR BLIGHT?

It seems likely that the Methodist Church hopes to cash in on investment proposals for ‘revitalising’ the healthy mix of local shops along London Road by demolishing them and creating a so-called ‘Bright New London Road’, http://www.brightnewlondonroad.co.uk. The only non-negotiable part of this plan appears to be a Tesco superstore and car park. See http://www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk/2008/05/friday-9th-may-at-7pm-community-base.html for more information on these proposals. Many of the local people and shopkeepers who have given their support to the London Road squatters have also expressed serious concerns about these development plans.

COMMUNITY BUSINESS AS USUAL

While the residents of 88 London Road remain in the church, they plan to continue to use it as a community space and to run their ‘free kaff’ with surplus food which would otherwise have ended up as methane-producing landfill.

PRE-EVICTION CALL-OUT

If you’re in the Brighton area, please keep an eye on http://www.indymedia.org.uk for news of further eviction attempts. If you can get yourselves down to the church to assist and resist when it’s needed, this would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

http://www.myspace.com/88londonroadsquat
our e-mail is 88londonroad@live.co.uk. please get in touch if you wanna get involved in any way, shape, or form!