Squatting / Free Spaces / Protest Sites – Page 88

Events at Cowley Club, Brighton

Here is the latest list of events at the Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Weds 31st Jan, 7pm: V is for Video Activist – Schnews film showing

Thurs 1st Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Vegetable and nut bake with mushroom sauce, parsnip mash and salads

Here is the latest list of events at the Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Weds 31st Jan, 7pm: V is for Video Activist – Schnews film showing

Thurs 1st Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Vegetable and nut bake with mushroom sauce, parsnip mash and salads

Fri 2nd Feb, 8pm: Ground Zero DJs

Mon 5th Feb, 6.30pm: General Meeting – all members welcome to discuss the running of the club, make proposals etc.

Thurs 8th Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Jewish food, plus cocktails.

Fri 9th Feb, 8pm: Gig: Astpai, Austrian punk, The Steal, positive hardcore, and Andy Fiction, melodic punk

Sun 11th Feb, 5pm: Film and discussion with Oaxaca activist

Tues 13th Feb, 7pm: Film showing: And still they dance, documentary about the community resistance to the building of a Shell pipeline in Rossport, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Thurs 15th Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Curry Night

Fri 16th Feb, 8pm: Gig: Breach plus support

Sat 17th Feb, 8pm-late: Dub night, fundraiser for delegation to Palestine

Sun 18th Feb, 2-6pm: Sunday roast fundraiser for Brighton ABC

Thurs 22nd Feb, 8-9pm: Evening Meal in the bar – Italian delights

Thurs 22nd Feb, 8pm: Bar collective meeting, all volunteers welcome!

Fri 23rd Feb, 8pm: Gig: Los Albertos, fundraiser for Oaxaca

Sat 24th Feb, 8pm: Gig: Crowzone/Scrap Recs

Sun 25th Feb, 2-5pm: Sunday Roast in the bar, fundraising for The Refugee Trust

Tues 27th Feb, 8pm: Open Mic night

http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk

Protests continue at Trebanos

26.01.2007

At 2.00 pm today a group of campaigners against the controversial LNG pipeline forced work to stop yet again on the construction site in Trebanos.

26.01.2007

At 2.00 pm today a group of campaigners against the controversial LNG pipeline forced work to stop yet again on the construction site in Trebanos.

Campaigners occupied a footpath running through the site. They argued that the footpath had been closed illegally because the required seven days notification had not been given. Even local residents had not been informed of the closure.

Initially, the police tried to stop protestors gaining access to the footpath, however, they had to admit that they were uncertain of the legality of the path closure.

Prior to today’s action, work on the construction site had been stopped for three weeks by campaigners occupying the footpath. Resistance to the pipeline is growing, with protest sites and actions against the pipeline increasing daily. The latest direct action site is a tree camp in Brecon occupying the route of the pipeline.

Come to Wales and be on the frontline of Britain’s eco-defence!

Contact Rachael (Trebanos): 01792 830417
Brecon Tree Camp: 07903152822

ex-vortex eviction thwarted this morning (pics and film)

dozens of supporters arrived this morning to ensure that no illegal eviction could take place at the occupied social squat in the building that used to host the vortex jazz club in stoke newington church street.

there was much local support as residents don’t want more luxury flats, a tesco, or a starbucks, all of which are possible plans for the site under owner richard midda’s stewardship.

midda is so unpopular in the area that a photography studio was sold to alex ross (the present owner of the spence bakery) at under market value, rather than allow midda to buy it, even although he was offering far more.

a woman police officer who attended the scene was clearly sympathetic to the squatters, and after seeking advice and clarification, reported that the bailiffs would have to return once they had written clarification from the court (which may take up to two weeks).

one independent photographer was so taken with the officer that he asked if she had a boyfriend – his hopes were dashed when she told him she was married.

quicktime – video/mp4 6.5M
flip4mac/wmv – video/x-ms-wmv 7.1M

films attached in wmv and mp4 formats

if you can’t see the film just by clicking on it (and waiting awhile, as these are several megabytes of data), then right-clik-hold (ctrl-clik on mac) instead and ‘download linked file’ before watching it on your viewer of choice
on mac or pc, i recommend downloading vlc which is a free viewer from viedolan, or also mplayer (free too)
on a mac, if you insist on watching the wmv, then download ‘flip4mac’ so you can watch it on quicktime, as the windows media viewer itself puts all sorts of nasties on your system.

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Earlier report:

From 8.30am around 70-80 people, the majority local residents, turned out to support the resistance to the threatened eviction of the Vortex Occupied Social Centre. The owner, Richard Midda, a well known thug and property developer threatened to use force to evict the occupiers if they did not leave by 9.00am.

But like the saying goes “they make plans we make history”! After seeing such a response, composed of all age ranges and faced with no fewer than 15 film and video cameras the police intervened and thereby starting a debate on the finer points of law. With the cops in the middle of this legal debate a decision was made to send one person from the Social centre and the owner, midda, to Stoke Newington Police station where independent legal advise is now being sort.

This is current as of 9.50am.

This occupation has its roots in both the trajectory of occupations from the Radical Dairy (Stoke Newington) in 2002 and the subsequent spaces (Occupied Social Centre – Kentish Town,Ex-Grandbanks – Tufnell Park, Institute of Autonomy – Bloomsbury, The Square – Bloomsbury), BUT also in last years occupation of “Francesca’s Cafe” on Broadway Market – Hackney and Daslton theatre in Dalston.

It shows that radical political interventions in the form of occupied social centres can resonate with pre-exisiting social tensions and antoganisms, especially around gentrification and “community” issues and activate people to self-organise and take some control on how their environment(and quality of life) are shaped.
If your in the area come down, we have now occupied both sides of the pavement due to numbers.
one of the Vortex Anarchists

occupiedsocialcentre@hushmail.com
http://www.londonsocialcentre.org.uk

Unlawful eviction planned for Vortex Social Centre tomorrow (Friday 26th Jan)

We need as many people in the building at to ensure the security of the social centre against the bailiffs. Please circulate this widely and let as many people as possible know.

Property owner of 139-141 Church street Richard Midda was granted a possession order by Shoreditch county court on wednesday 24th Jan. The next stage legally is for the courts to issue a bailiffs warrant to court appointed bailiffs who will carry out the eviction on a pre-arranged date. This date we should know about in advance. Only court appointed bailiffs have the right to carry out an eviction.

Immediately after the court hearing on wednesday Midda, along with his own hired private bailiffs came round to the social centre (where the parent/baby group were meeting) threatening people while demanding he now had the right to the building any everyone must leave. He, nor his hired goons, have a legal right to repossess the building.

This morning (thursday 25th) he stuck a notice on the door saying his private bailiffs company (used primarily to harass tenants for rent) will be returning at 9am on friday morning to ensure we vacate the premises. He has no legal right to do this.

Not only then is this an unlawful eviction any attempt by him to gain access, or attempt to forcibly remove people from the premises, will be a criminal offence.

We need as many people as possible in, at, and around the social centre to prevent him gaining access (this is still our social centre!) and that any activity he engages in will be documented by us.

Be at the social centre at 8.30am. bring cameras, camcorders, your friends. The more of us there are the stronger we are.

occupiedsocialcentre@hushmail.com
http://www.londonsocialcentre.org.uk

Gaspipe protest in Trebanos comes to an end

25.01.2007

Today the footpath in Trebanos has been closed, despite residents recieving next to no notification. Legally National Grid had the right to close the footpath tomorrow (friday 26th) but noticing a reduction in numbers the footpath was sealed off today.

25.01.2007

Despite having the equipment to properly resist an eviction the activists decided that they’d “made their point and it was time to move on”. Well actually there was no need to risk arrest when we have another 115 miles of pipe to protest against.

The protest continues, here in Trebanos, Cilfrew, at the new tree-site in Brecon, and everywhere else along route, where local people are suddenly becoming radicalised and small actions are popping up all over the place.

Radley lakes – eviction imminent – update 29th jan

Urgent call for help in Oxfordshire, where activists are occupying and intend to defend a squatted lakeside property in order to prevent the infilling of Radley Lakes with toxic ash from the burning of cheap imported coal at the nearby NPower owned Didcot power station.

Radley Lakes squat
Urgent call for help in Oxfordshire, where activists are occupying and intend to defend a squatted lakeside property in order to prevent the infilling of Radley Lakes with toxic ash from the burning of cheap imported coal at the nearby NPower owned Didcot power station.

The lakes are unusual in their clarity and the area contains local and national rare and threatened species, with 115 species of birds recorded and over1000 trees surrounding the lake which will be felled. However this has been ignored by power company RWE npower, and has been rail-roaded through by Oxfordshire County Council.

The lake contains several protected species, including a possible sighting of otters, and despite a report paid for by local people confirming all this the local government bigwigs have given permission for N Power to fill the lake with flyash from Didcot power station, killing everything in the process. They have already been allowed to do this to 3 other lakes in the immediate vicinity. The local county ecologist has dismissed the report, despite a long term campaign and evidence from another ecologist proving the lake is a wildlife haven. The whole thing stinks.

Please, please if you are free this week, (or even better, right now), get down there, lock on, and make sure they have a fight on their hands. The baliffs are due any minute and more people are desperately needed.

Get off the train at Oxford, then catch train to Radley, takes about 10 mins, then another 10/15 minute walk. For more info call the site mobile on: 07772055384.

TAT NEEDED!
PolyProp, air horns/ rape alarms, cement, aggregate, etc, BOATS (dingy/inflatables etc – lakeworthy!) bedding & PEOPLE! – even if you can just spare a day to help out with building defences is is much needed and appreciated.
Thanks

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24.01.2007 – Npower have been granted immediate possesion of Sandles, the squatted field centre at Radley lakes. A call out to anyone to come down and bring cake and lock on tubes!
Call the site mobile 0777 2055 384
www.saveradleylakes.org.uk for more info on the npower plans to destroy this beautiful area

N London Social Centre needs help now!

24.01.2007

The squatted Vortex social centre has been fending off an illegal eviction attempt this morning. There is a call out for folks to help tonight and tomorrow morning

24.01.2007

The squatted Vortex social centre has been fending off an illegal eviction attempt this morning. There is a call out for folks to help tonight and tomorrow morning

Vortex Social Centre
139-141 Stoke Newington Church Street
Stoke Newington
N16
Help needed Wednesday night (24th) and Thursday morning (25th)
Get on down there and see what help you can offer

Welsh pipeline protest – New tree camp set up near Brecon

22.01.2007

Following support from local people in Brecon at the weekend, a new protest camp has been set up right in the middle of the phase two route of National Grids controversial pipeline.

22.01.2007

Following support from local people in Brecon at the weekend, a new protest camp has been set up right in the middle of the phase two route of National Grids controversial pipeline.

The protest camp is up in the trees in ancient woodland 4 miles west of Brecon on the A40 close to Bettws Penpont church.It is located at Ordnance Survey national grid reference SN9728728525.
The ancient woodland is scheduled for decimation by National Grid to clear a path for the 48″ high pressure gas pipeline. The protesters aim to stop the destruction of yet more ancient woodland by National Grid and it’s contractors.

There are over 15 people on site at the moment and they are requesting any donations. Please send supplies of all sorts, food, water, warm clothes and bedding, camping and cooking gear, wood, rope, nails, etc etc etc. They would also like any people interested to join them and show solidarity in this battle to save our environment.
Map link

Stories about recent stalls & samba in Clydach Indoor Market and Brecon

Events at the Vortex Social Centre: Jan 22nd to Jan 27th

Vortex Social Centre
139-141 Stoke Newington Church Street
Stoke Newington
N16

MON 22 Jan
8pm – Olympic Action Group meeting
Concerned about the financial cost and negative development plans for London 2012? Feel strongly that 2012 will be damaging to you, your community or the environment?
Join our group of like-minded people, with the aim of supporting each other and developing ways to challenge the negative Olympic effect.
All welcome

TUES 23 Jan
7pm – Cafe and cinema night.
Hot food, drink and anti-copywright cinema. Donation.

WEDS 24 Jan
10am – 12pm Babies@Play.
New parent/baby group, come along for tea/coffee chat and playtime for babies. Bring your toys and ideas to share. Every wednesday. Free.
10.30am – Court appearance for the eviction of the social centre.
Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court
29 – 41 Gee Street
London
EC1V 3RE
All welcome to attend.
7pm – Social Centre general meeting.
Come and get involved in the running of the social centre, propose new intiatives and campaigns

THURS 25 Jan
7pm – No Starbucks in Stokie.
Anti Starbucks campaign meeting to ensure the social centre isnâ€™t demolished for Starbucks. All welcome.

FRI 26 Jan
7pm – Cafe and cinema night.
Hot food, drink and anti-copywright cinema. Donation.

SAT 27 Jan
8pm – Live jazz Upstairs at the Social Centre.
Old jazzers relive the glory days of the original Vortex. Donation on the door.

Photographic exhibition:

London Social Centres in Picures
Photograph exhibiton of the last five years of london social centres and a brief background to each one.

Protest
Small collection of photographs from acclaimed photographer Guy Smallman covering major demonstrations across Europe over recent years.

We hope to open daily from midday onwards for coffee, tea, soft drinks, cake and biscuits. Voluenteers are always needed to help out. If you are interested pop in and speak to someone. Alternatively come to the meetings on Wednesday.
See you there.

occupiedsocialcentre@hushmail.com

Bloody report from Ballinaboy/ Rossport, Ireland

Friday 19th January 2007.
Today a good crowd of protestors gathered at the usual rendezvous, approx 60+ people. The crowd was buoyed by the presence of a member of Global Community Monitor, over from the states, and a film crew travelling with him. At 7.30 people proceeded up the road, some wearing white jump suits with chemical contaminants inscribed on the front, poisons which the Ballinaboy terminal would pollute the local area, fresh water and sea with. The crowd was lead with a large banner reading Corrib Terminal Illness.

As the crowd passed over the narrow bridge tempers frayed and to nobodies surprise the Gardai ploughed into the protestors, shoving them every which way. At this point two Gardai held Patâ€™s arms while another punched him in the face several times. Similarly his brother Martin was seriously assaulted, suffering cutting and bruising to face and eye. But as the dawn has not yet broken capturing any image of this is virtually impossible, especially given the number of Gardai there to hide each others activities and deny same.
Itâ€™s very hard to ascertain if there is any logical point to the Gardai activities with regard to wading in and assaulting all around them as other than to bully and injure people it serves no practical purpose. Usually their excuse for pushing and shoving is to ensure your safety and make sure you are on the other side of the white line so none of Shells workers or trucks can possibly be delayed for even a second. However as can be seen in the first photo some Gardai are nearly on the other side of the road, where there is no hard shoulder as this is on the bridge, and still they are pushing, shoving and assaulting people.

Yesterday after the Gardai headed off for their breakfasts, leaving the trucks to fend for themselves, local residents blocked access to the site, holding up stone trucks for a period of time. Security appeared to panic somewhat closing and locking the site gates before Gardai with out a commanding officer appeared on the scene to usher in the stalled trucks.

Water quality continues to be a serious issue, despite Co.Co. assurances that it is fine. Images below show water leaving the Ballinaboy site, some clearly untreated and looking very similar to last year, silver grey, when it was found to be heavily contaminated with aluminium. The main outfall area from the site looks marginally better, where the water is at least supposed to have been treated by this point, however it is also clearly looks nothing like drinking water quality and exhibits some silver grey colouring. Despite the fact that all water leaving the site is supposed to be treated before leaving site you can clearly see the water from the truck wash at Gate 3 being pumped straight into exiting drains.
The past 3 days have seen members of Shell to Sea handing out leaflets at the Shell greenwash events in Castlebar and Ballina. Very few people attended these events, and numbers must have been doubled or even trebled by the attendance of 2 school groups, 1 from secondary school and 1 from primary school, never to early to start brain washing.

Our own presence was welcomed by many people passing by and many who did go in to see Shells expensive PR work were firmly behind the stance of Shell to Sea. As we handed out information leaflets and chatted to people 1 passerby even went into the hotel and brought out a tray of steaming hot whiskeys!