Transport – Page 13 – Earth First!

French police arrest anarchists for train sabotage + web link for more info

11th November 2008
French police raided alleged anarchist cells in three cities on Tuesday and arrested at least 10 suspects following a series of sabotage attacks on the country’s high-speed rail network.

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said police intelligence officers had been investigating an “ultra-left anarchist movement” for several months and had acted following the weekend’s disruption of train services.

“We found that this ultra-left movement has links in five European countries and in other non-European countries,” she said, alleging that the French gang has contacts in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Greece.

None of those arrested works for the SNCF state rail network, she added.

A source close to the investigation told AFP anti-terrorist officers were examining “possible links between the suspects and the German hard-left, which has claimed responsibility for actions agains trains carrying nuclear waste”.

President Nicolas Sarkozy congratulated police on the arrests and welcomed “the rapid and promising progress made in the context of the inquiry.”

Thousands of passengers and more than 160 train services were delayed Saturday after a gang jammed steel rods across overhead power cables on three high-speed lines between Paris and London, Brussels and the French regions.

The attack halted trains and damaged several sections of 25,000-volt power lines, but no one was hurt.

In a separate incident on Sunday in the southwest of the country, another high-speed train rammed a pair of concrete blocks placed on a line. There were no injuries and it is not yet clear whether the incident was related.

Alliot-Marie said 10 suspects were being held, but an interior ministry official said more than 20 had initially been detained in raids conducted in Paris, the central town of Tarnac and the northern city of Rouen.

Following Saturday’s incident, which followed at least one similar incident involving the use of rods designed to reinforce concrete and a series of other acts of vandalism, officials spoke of a “concerted campaign” of sabotage.

Experts from the SNCF state rail company told reporters that the sophistication of the attacks showed the saboteurs were technically very competent, since neutralising the power lines required expert knowledge.

The TGV high-speed rail network has been the target of several extremist campaigns over recent years by criminals seeking to blackmail SNCF, Basque separatist guerrillas and militant trade unionists.

Saturday’s attacks were among the best planned, taking out trains on lines north, east and south of the capital at almost the same moment and plunging the national network into chaos.

In addition to national services, Eurostar trains to Brussels and London and Thalys journeys to the Netherlands and northern Europe were halted.

Despite the most intense protests by anti-nuclear campaigners for several years, a French shipment of radioactive waste arrived in Germany early on Tuesday after a 20-hour delay.

Eleven lorries carrying 123 tonnes of nuclear waste arrived at the Gorleben dump in northern Germany just after midnight (2200 GMT), police said.

For most of the journey from western France the waste travelled by train and was halted for half a day at the German border by three activists who had jammed their arms into a concrete block under the track.

Once in Germany, around 16,000 baton-wielding police were deployed as around 15,000 demonstrators rallied along the route to try to hinder progress using tactics such as setting barricades on fire on the tracks.

The train eventually arrived at its final destination on Monday, more than 14 and a half hours late and the cargo was then transferred to lorries for the final 20 kilometres (12 miles) trip to Gorleben.

Along the final leg some 1,000 activists had to be removed one-by-one by riot police before the lorries could pass. Tractors had been parked across the road and activists chained themselves to tall cement pyramids.

For updated info and background articles, see http://tarnac9.wordpress.com/about/

John Gormley interrupted by Plane Mad

November 5, 2008

November 5, 2008
Environment Minister John Gormley was interrupted during his speech to the Green Infrastructure conference this morning in Malahide. The environmental campaign group Plane Mad disrupted the conference to express their opposition to another runway at Dublin Airport. The group oppose the runway on the grounds that it will double the aircraft emissions at the airport. These emissions play a dangerous part in causing climate change. Two activists dressed as cartoon criminals mimed building a runway around the podium that Gormley was speaking from. Aircraft noise was simultaneously played from the back of the room. One of the “criminals” moved among the audience passing out information about the proposed new runway form his bag of “swag”. The minister was also presented with a letter by the group which he accepted.

The activists were dressed as criminals to represent the crime that it would be if Fingal County Council and the Dublin Airport Authority(DAA) were allowed to double capacity at Dublin Airport. The activists had “DAA-CLIMATE CRIMINALS” written on their backs.

Minister Gormley said that he agreed with them on this issue, indeed he had mentioned the “serious threat” of climate change several times in his speech. After the campaigners had made their point they were peacefully escorted out of the conference suite and Mr Gormley was allowed to continue. Despite all he says Plane Mad continue to be disappointed that neither John Gormley or his party are clear or vocal enough in their opposition to expansion at Dublin Airport.

Ian Clotworthy, one of cartoon criminals, said
“Fingal County Council are not fit hosts for a green infrastructure conference when one of the least “green” pieces of infrastructure in Ireland is currently being built at Dublin Airport.”
“We support “UPROAR” in their campaign against this second runway and we oppose it ourselves because of the contribution of aviation emissions to climate change”

UPROAR (United Portmarnock residents opposing another runway) have been opposing the construction of a 2nd runway for 8 years, since 2000. 850 people from the area objected to the runway after the campaign was launched around Christmas 2000. UPROAR were initially extremely successful in that the Inspector reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and all the information available about the planned development found in favour of the objectors. The Inspector recommended that the planning application be refused on mainly on the issue of noise pollution and community welfare. Her decision however, was overturned by An Bord Pleanala.

Tara Sheehy of Plane Mad who was also in the conference suit in Malahide said,
“Doubling capacity at Dublin Airport will also double the amount of emissions. Spending money in an economic downturn on such a project of pollution is madness.”

The Environmental Protection Agency allocated just over 20,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent for each of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 to Dublin Airport. This is only 1% of the 2 million tonnes of CO2 (at least), emitted by Dublin Airport’s 21 million passengers.

On a day when even America can elect a president who claims to understand the importance of climate change, Plane Mad would like to see this “Green-tinged” government halt their airport expansion plans. Plane Mad will continue to fight the second runway until it is stopped.

http://www.planemad.org

Exeter’s first Critical Mass! Nov 1st 12.00

Come and join Exeter Critical Mass, November 1st. First Saturday of every month, meet outside Exeter Cathedral

Exeter’s first Critical Mass is taking place on November 1st and the first Saturday of every month- meet midday on Cathedral Green. Come and join in!

Come and join Exeter Critical Mass, November 1st. First Saturday of every month, meet outside Exeter Cathedral

Exeter’s first Critical Mass is taking place on November 1st and the first Saturday of every month- meet midday on Cathedral Green. Come and join in!

WHAT’S IS ALL ABOUT?
Critical Mass is a celebration of cycling, often described as an ‘unorganised coincidence’. It happens when a lot of cyclists happen to be in the same place at the same time and decide to cycle the same way together for a while

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE?
“Everyday, all over the world, people are resisting the problem culture of the car by getting on their bikes and riding, instead of driving.

Critical Mass is a celebration of the alternatives to cars, pollution, accidents and the loss of public spaces and freedoms.

Not an organisation or group, but an idea or tactic, Critical Mass allows people to reclaim cities with their bikes, just by getting together and out-numbering the cars on the road”

WHAT HAPPENS ON A CRITICAL MASS?
Each one is different and they follow no set route, with the direction being spontaneously chosen as people cycle along. Anyone is free to join or leave the ride as it pedals along.

The ride lasts no more than a couple of hours (depending on the weather!) and usually ends in a conveniently placed pub for more drinks.

Most all, they are peaceful, safe and fun!

DO I NEED A BIKE?
Nope! Critical Mass is not just for bikes – skateboards, roller blades, wheelchairs, pogo sticks – in fact any form of non-motorised, non-polluting are all very welcome!

Students Target Unethical Career Corporatism

On Monday 20th October the annual AISEC Careers fair commenced at Nottingham University, featuring many organisations with despicable or at least dubious ethical credentials and social-responsibility records, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Qinetiq, E.On, BP, RBS, MoD and the army. The fair also featured some student activists and Grim Reapers who had made an appearance in order to remind fellow students of the deadly consequences of working in the arms trade or climate change industry.

AISEC claim to be ‘the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact on society.’ The organisation also claims to envision “Peace and fulfillment of humankind’s potential.” Despite this, at Nottingham, the organisations’ main endeavor appears to be to give a platform to arms dealers! For more see: http://www.aiesec.org/

Concerned about the presence of such unethical corporate entities and the glaring hypocrisy of AISEC, a group of students came together with the aim of raising awareness of the unethical nature of many of the companies at the fair and oppose the general presence of mechanisms of the capitalist death machine.

The morning began with fliering at various stalls, collecting of shiny corporate merch, and using up the representatives time. Nottingham University Security were being their usual oppressive selves and tried to prevent the students from fliering near the glossy corporate stalls. Threats of calling the police were also issued. The students also had a permanent stall next to the army (courtesy of One World Week) from which alternative information about companies, personal discussion and careers guides could be disseminated. When the army rep left his stall, a couple of students kindly stepped in to fill his role and invite students to ‘join the imperial death machine’.

In the afternoon four Grim Reapers appeared and went to pay a visit to the stalls of BAE and Rolls-Royce, much to the amusement of passers-by and bewilderment of corporate representatives. Simultaneously, a rather unambiguous banner was dropped in the main access stairwell of the building reading ‘BAE KILL’. The four reapers loitered at BAE and Rolls-Royces stalls for an hour or so handing our fliers and chatting to students and reps, before doing a mini-tour of other dubious corporate outfits in Portland Building (E.On, BP, Qinetiq). University Security reacted initially with ‘you lot have to leave or we’ll call the police’, one BAE rep intervened to assure security “it’s cool, they’re Ok”. Security later changed their line to ‘please take off your masks it’s causing intimidation’, and finally, meekly asked ‘can you please stop filming’, before eventually leaving the students to do their thing. A combination of knowledge about basic rights and the fact that they were armed with a video camera successfully protected the protesters from any silly games that security may have wished to play. Thankfully, this time, freedom of expression and the right to protest prevailed.

Some interesting discussions were had with some of the representatives. One BAE rep was heard to proclaim ‘Free Palestine’, despite working for a company that has provided parts for Israeli military equipment (notably electronics for the F-16 fighter aircraft) and also subcontracted work to Israel. The same rep also confessed feeling slightly guilty about working for BAE, despite being at the Careers fair precisely with the purpose of trying to convince others to do the same thing! A Qinetiq representative admitted that he felt the student protesters were doing a good thing, and was ultimately somewhat envious of the passion they clearly had for this issue. He also suggested that the student s should be targeting Airbus and the MoD additionally.

An eventful time was had by all, especially BAE’s reps! E.ON were the only company to actively complain about the student protests (as far as we know), the moody gits! Clearly various teddies were thrown out of various power-stations. On Tuesday, the second day of the fair, the vast majority of the REALLY immoral companies were not present.

For an awesome video of the action see: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJ8geHkaRk

The latest EF! Action Update is out, bringing you reports of eco-resistance for the darkening days…

Bringing light & inspiration to the darker evenings are the action stories in the latest Earth First! Action Update.

Blockades of nuclear power, roads & rivers around the world were joined “with this Shell-blockading D-lock I thee wed”.

Bringing light & inspiration to the darker evenings are the action stories in the latest Earth First! Action Update.

Blockades of nuclear power, roads & rivers around the world were joined “with this Shell-blockading D-lock I thee wed”.

And if anti-fascist action, quarry sabotage, squats, tree platforms, wrekin’ opencasts, scaling luxury hotels & the latest protest camp news wasn’t enough for you, chuck in some glue, arm tubes, a pool of oil, stink bombs, airborne rape alarms and a Lego-sized occupation, then there’s full reports from this summer’s antics at the Camp for Climate Action, Rossport solidarity camp, EF! summer gathering and Saving Iceland camp, plus a crop of global climate camps & news of protest & resistance from all 5 continents.

“No nukes, no coal, no kidding” – with people dying (both literally & symbolically) from the activities of the Earth-destroyers, people have been shouting to just “Leave it in the Ground”, dragon boats have clashed with navy gunboats in Ireland, an oil war was declared in Nigeria, and ‘moles’ spent a week underground digging further and further away from the forces of darkness at an open-cast coal site.

Details of the new Coal Action Network, upcoming dates & a full contact list should help launch (or boost) you into the orbit of eco-resistance.

Subscribe and get it sent direct to a letterbox near you – you’d also be supporting the EF!AU to get printed and sent out to prisoners & protest camps. If you want some to distribute, contact us at: actionupdate (AT) earthfirst.org.uk

Download the latest issue or past issues here.

The EF!AU is there to inspire people to take ecological direct action, to provide info to help you just get out and do it. Don’t feel shy, put your best foot forward.

The EF!AU is the quarterly newsletter of people taking ecological direct action – send us news of your action or campaigns, and come along to the Winter Moot if you want to get involved in any of the campaigns you’ve read about.

What is Earth First!?

Spirit of Freedom (October 2008) – support the eco-prisoners

Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening words and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!” (Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening words and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!” (Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the October 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. The last month has been a month of mixed emotions for ELP. On the one hand we heard the brilliant news that the Dutch animal rights activist, Gerben Jan, was found not guilty of assaulting a police officer, causing the officer to break his leg, during an animal rights demo in Sweden. Instead Gerban was found guilty of resisting arrest for which he was fined and deported. Also in an unexpected move, all the Austrian Animal Rights prisoners were released from prison pending their trial! Plus, the American vegan, Nathan Knoerl, was granted bail in his case where he is accused of involvement in an anti-vivisection protest. Following Nathans release a support campaign has been set up to try and help raise money for Nathan’s forthcoming legal case. For more info please e-mail supportnathan@gmail.com. However, just as ELP started to think our prisoner lists might start to go down, we received news of further police raids in Austria. ELP also learnt that, due to Frank Ambrose, grassing everyone up, the American’s Marie Mason, Stephanie Lynne Fultz, and Aren Burthwick, have all had to enter Plea Bargains and admit some of the charges set against them. In Marie’s case she has admitted her direct role in an ELF arson on a University building involved with GM crop tests, whilst Stephanie and Aren have admitted not reporting a fire (Stephanie has admitted cutting Marie’s hair which was burnt following the arson). We don’t know what sentences Stephanie and Aren are likely to receive, but Marie is looking at 15 to 20 years and has been remanded into custody. This is really bad news, especially as it was hoped Marie might remain free until her sentencing early next year. Around the world, people are being imprisoned for standing up for what they believe in and trying to
help the animals and the earth. So please, no matter where you are in the world, support the eco-prisoners. And no compromise in defence of Mother Earth.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, #70936-065, (in transit), USA. Serving 78 months for his involvement in two ELF arsons. 1) an arson on logging trucks 2) an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. (Tre is a raw energy vegan – He has asked that his letters of support are written on scrap paper or tree-free paper).

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO 81002, USA. Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. The letters ELF were spray painted onto all of the vehicles. (Grant is a vegan).

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600 Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Diet unknown).

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. Serving 18 years. 1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations. 2) Eight years for the murder of a Swiss Border Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy. (Marco is a meat eater who encourages organic living).

Daniele Casalini, Casa Circondariale, Via Burla 59, 43100 Parma, Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy. (Daniele is a vegan).

Rodney Coronado #03895-000, FCI El Reno, PO Box 1500, El Reno, OK 73036, USA. Serving one-year imprisonment after he informed people how to make an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering. (Meat eater).

Francesco Gioia, C.C. Sollicciano, Via Girolamo Minervini 2/R, 50142 Firenze Sollicciano (FI), Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy. (Francesco is a vegetarian and Straight Edge).

Paola Gori, Via delle Macchie 9, 57124 Livorno, Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of allowing her house to be used to plan illegal activity. (Paola is a vegan).

Bryan Lefey #38664-086, FDC SeaTac, Federal Detention Center, P.O. Box 13900, Seattle, WA 98198, USA. On remand accused of an ELF action that saw the damaging of GM trees and the damaging of US Forestry Service vehicles. (Diet unknown).

Jeffrey Luers, # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave, Portland, OR 97211-1708, USA. Serving 10 years for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck. The original sentence was 22 years & 8 months, but was reduced on appeal. (Diet unknown).

Marie Jeanette Mason, Newaygo County Jail, PO Box 845, White Cloud, MI 49349, USA. Awaiting sentencing having pleaded guilty to involvement in ELF arson against a University building carrying out Genetically Modified crop tests. Marie also pleaded guilty to conspiring to carry out ELF actions and also admitted involvement in 12 other ELF actions. Marie is expected to receive a sentence of between 15-20 years. (Marie is a vegan).

Eric McDavid, 16209-097. FCI Victorville Medium II, PO BOX 5700, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 19 years & 7 months for planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants. At the point of his arrest no criminal damage has actually occurred. (Eric is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan, #63794-053, USP Marion, US Penitentiary, PO Box 1000, Marion, IL 62959, USA. Serving 7 years for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an old growth logging corporation. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Daniel is a vegetarian).

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Briana Waters 36432-086, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution, Route 37, Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving six years for involvement in an ELF arson on a University. (Diet unknown).

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F, Dublin, CA 94568, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Diet unknown).

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS
(All Animal Liberation Prisoners follow a minimum vegetarian diet and most are vegan).

Jon Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection. (Jon is a vegan).

Dan Amos VN7818, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5DF, England.
On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Dan is a vegan)

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Gregg is a vegan).

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Nat is a vegan).

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK4 4DA, England. On remand accused of involvement with an arson and blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.
(Mel is a vegan).

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Victorville Medium I Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 48 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Jake is a vegan).

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS. (Don is a vegan).

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution, Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Lauren is a vegan).

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA. Serving 36 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Josh is a vegan).

Sean Kirtley WC 6977, HMP Stafford, 54 Gaol Road, Stafford, ST16 3AW, England. Serving four and a half years for running an anti-vivisection campaign website. (Sean is a vegan).

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072 USA. Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Kevin is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign. (Heather is a vegan).

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution, 37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA. Sentenced to 51 months for an ALF arson on a horse meat plant. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy. (Jonathan is a vegan).

John Smith, TB4887, HMP Lindholme, Bawtry Road, Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, DN7 6EE, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection. (John is a vegan).

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, USP Marion, P.O. Box 1000 Marion, IL 62959, USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Andrew is a vegan).

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection. (Kerry is a vegan).

Sarah Whitehead, VM7684, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx, TW15 3JZ, England. Serving two years for: 1) rescuing a puppy from horrific conditions. 2) rescuing over 100 animals from a pet breeder who was later prosecuted for animal abuse. Also awaiting trial for SHAC activity. (Sarah is a vegan)

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell – Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft. Worth, TX 76127, USA. Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world. The actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court and making threatening communications. Previously Helen had served 20½ years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo. 2) Burning $25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental destruction & economic injustice. 3) Mailing warning letters with bullets attached to Government & corporate officials. (Diet unknown).

THE LECCE DEFENDANTS
The Lecce Defendants have been charged with “subversive association” accused of damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists in Chile. All of the defendants are currently either under house arrest or released on bail.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g. Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia. Serving 2½ years for stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack. (Diet unknown).

Fabio Milan, C.C. via Pianezza 300, 10151 Torino, Italy. On remand accused of fighting with the police after an anti-fascist protest. (Diet unknown).

Andrea Neff, Bnr: 746/07/2, Justizvollzugsanstalt fur Frauen in Berlin, Arkonastrasse 56, 13189 Berlin, Germany. Serving 14 months for anti-fascist activity. (Diet unknown).

Christian Sümmermann, Bnr: 441/08/5, JVA Plötzensee, Lehrterstr. 61, 10557
Berlin, Germany. Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities. (Diet unknown).

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending himself. (Tomasz is a vegetarian).

Yuri Yurevich Milevskiy, SIZO #7 kamera 38, g. Brest, ul. Karla Marksa 86, 224000 Belarus. On remand for fighting with neo-nazis. (Diet unknown).

OTHER PRISONERS

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk 140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson, criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya. Due for release in 2009. (Diet unknown).

Vaggelis Botzatzis, Komotini Juridical Prison (“Dikastikes Fylakes Komotinis”), T.K. 69100, Greece. On remand accused of setting fire to two company cars owned by a energy/power company. It is believed that the person or persons unknown who carried out the arson did so in protest at the destruction of the natural environment and in support of two workers who died at the power plant. Vaggelis is also accused of setting fire to a bank and starting a fire inside a car yard. (Meat Eater).

Richard Sills (Address Unknown, USA). Serving 15 months for bomb hoaxing a University saying they would be targeted by the ALF if they didn’t stop their animal experiments. (Diet unknown).

Michael W. Sykes, 696693, 3855 Cooper St, Jackson, MI 49201, USA. Youth held on remand accused of anti-sprawl arsons, criminal damage, spray-painting an anarchist sign and burning the American flag. (Diet unknown)

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA. Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke campaigner. (Fran is a vegan).

MOVE

MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of all life. All move prisoners describe themselves as vegetarians. There are currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving 100 years after been framed for the murder of a cop in 1979. 9th defendant, Merle Africa, died in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa (006307), Janet Holloway Africa (006308) and Janine Philips Africa (006309) all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA 17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA 15370, USA. In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop. He was originally sentenced to death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in 2001.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions. ‘Spirit of Freedom’ does not condone violence. But we are also against censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in 1993 to support jailed eco-activists. We support the prisoners by producing various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP’s international monthly prisoner listing which is circulated by e-mail.

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details. For more info e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters – ELP has a number of websites that provide news, prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Greek language ELP Website
http://greekelp.blogspot.com

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by ELP. To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Australian ELP.SN is our Australian contact. For more info e-mail elp4321@hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact. For more info e-mail elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco Camenisch. For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.

Greek ELP.SN is our Greek contact. For more info e-mail greekelp@yahoo.gr

North American ELP is our North American contact. For more information e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact. For more info e-mail
yesilanarsi@yahoo.com

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
elp4321@hotmail.com
http://spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Police attack on London Critical Mass & I Bike MCR Mini Festival & South London CM reminder & Liverpool report

While there was a notable absence of police on the September Critical Mass ride in London, we did have one unpleasant encounter with a very aggressive group of officers from the TSG unit.

Travelling between Victoria Street and Buckingham Palace Road on Friday night, we ran into a van load of police dressed in overalls, fleeces and baseball caps. Their van was an odd silver grey colour and apparently was not equipped with a siren or flashing lights.

To compensate for their lack of adequate apparatus the officers, led by # SX 836, attempted to force their way through the mass by knocking riders to the ground, and dragging others to the side of the road and dumping them on the pavement.

At one point SX 836 encouraged drivers of other vehicles to ram the mass, telling them “Just drive at them, they’ll get out of the way!” despite the fact that we were all in the middle of a traffic jam at the time. Another officer involved whose number I managed to note down was QA 232.

Photos::
http://18hz.deid.net/2008/septembermass/vikings03im.jpg
http://18hz.deid.net/2008/septembermass/vikings01im.jpg

Higher resolution versions of my photos can be fund at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29703759@N08/sets/72157607617808713/

—

One hellllll of a mass (london)

critical mass london | 01.10.2008 23:33 | Climate Chaos | London
And there’s plenty more drama to come …

I got out of work at about half past five, so i came down to the south bank early; the tide was out, so i spent a while strolling on the beach of the Thames. It’s an amazing place – a beach in the middle of a city of seven million people, and deserted except for me and two or three others. Like a rubbly, silty secret garden.

Back up on ground level, we once again set off a good few ticks after seven. Boo hiss. But at least we went through the Kingsway underpass!

But – shock horror! – with no cops. I didn’t see a single policeperson accompanying the ride – did my eyes deceive me? How could this be? Anybody know? We did have the cycling ambulanceman with us, though.

I’m very pleased to say that, as far as i could tell, the mass ran like clockwork. We kept together (mostly – we split into a fast and a slow pack after Buckingham Palace, and i bounced between the two for a bit), we corked – we even let pedestrians through! Brilliant! Pats on backs all round!

Although one thing that was evident was much more aggression from drivers, particularly black cab drivers. Recently, we’ve always had coppers around, and cabbies have behaved themselves. Tonight, though, their basic ferocity was fully in evidence. There were two main instances of this that i saw.

The first was on High Holborn, at the junction where i spoke to the ambulanceman – this was why i was stopped. The mass was coming along from the east; i think the advance bulk had passed through, and then was a thinner stream of us coming along behind. A black cab was sat in Grape Street (i think – i’m looking at a map here; one of the side streets off on the north, just before the junction), and i imagine had been waiting a while for the mass to pass. When it thinned out, he took his chance (we hadn’t corked him), and came out onto High Holborn, turning right, and staying in the rightmos lane. Fifty metres ahead of him was a red light at the junction. Less than fifty metres ahead of him was a masser, riding slowly. The cab driver drove less slowly – he drove right up to within inches of the masser, tailgated him for ten metres or so, and then quite deliberately drove straight into the back of him. The guy went down, the cab stopped, and a crowd of us clotted around the scene. Luckily, the guy wasn’t hurt.

I was to the left of this, in the second or third lane over, and a little way behind the cab; i saw everything happen right in front of me. It was quite obvious that the cab driver did it deliberately: the masser was riding at a constant speed, and the driver accelerated, hitting him. he had driven to within inches of him, which is simply not a safe way to drive.

So, we made sure the taxi wasn’t going anywhere, took photos of the scene, registration plate, driver, etc, and some of us who had seen it gave the guy our details. The cabbie wasn’t giving his details, though. Someone called the police, and after a while our friends in blue duly turned up and did their best to work everyone up into a frothing rage. Do cops get training in dealing with angry punters (other than with a truncheon)? Because these guys were to defusing confrontations as Guy Fawkes was to the bomb squad. Anyway, eventually, questions were asked, details were recorded and exchanged, and the lead copper declared that he was recording this as a no-injury collision, and they weren’t going to follow it up. Apparently deliberately driving into a cyclist doesn’t count as careless driving or anything. He came out with, essentially, the usual crap about ‘our word against his’. During this i had a long chat with the other copper, who seemed very nice when he wasn’t trying to start a fight, but completely clueless about cycling, and indeed road safety generally. Still, i’m sure if i wanted an electrician shot dead, he’d be just my man.

I also talked to the masser who was hit, his two friends, and a courierish guy who also stopped. I didn’t quite get the victim’s name. Nice lad. As i said, he wasn’t hurt, but his back wheel went under the cab’s, and was pretty bent. I had a look at it: the hub looked like it should be okay, and the tyre and tube should be fine, but he’s going to need a new rim, (it was a Bontrager, the poor thing!) spokes, and brake disc. Basically, he’s going to need a new wheel. I couldn’t see any damage to the stays, mech, etc, but he needs to take it to a bike shop to get it checked out. He’s got the cabbie’s insurance details; he didn’t really seem to understand about how insurance works, but i’m sure he knows someone who does.

I suggested we bend the wheel back into shape so he could at least roll the bike home, so we found a fence and did a bit of ghetto truing – an essential urban cycling skill, and the second time i’ve had to do it on a mass! He and a friend set off walking for King’s Cross to catch a train home. I sincerely hope he didn’t decide to try and ride – he had rather a touch of teenage invincibility, so i worry he might have.

Anyway, one of his friends had received a signal that the rest of the mass was at Buckingham palace, so he, the courierish guy and i set off. We got there a few minutes before the mass set off again – i just had time to wish Des Kay well with the Lords and ride a lap round the top of the Victoria Memorial.

After that, we started to get spread out, between the main body at the front and a long tail of slow riders. I’m a speedster myself, so i was half tempted to go a bit sheepdog on them and get them moving, but i ended up bouncing back and forth – going forward, helping cork or just waiting, and being caught up.

Taxi incident number two came as we rode down Theobald’s road. A stream of traffic was trying to come in from the right, i think from Red Lion Street (again, i’m looking at a map and guessing), and had been corked. There were only a few people there, so i looped back and joined them.

At the front of the queue was a taxi driver. He wasn’t very happy about being stopped, and insisted we move. We didn’t, of course – the mass was still passing. He got rather upset, and started shouting. He then started edging his taxi forward – he went from being a foot away from us to actually pressing his right fender into my leg and starting to push me over; there was another guy beside me, and a few people around us, and we made it clear we weren’t going anywhere until the mass had passed. It did, and i was set to go – but he was still pressing into my leg, which meant i actually couldn’t get on my bike and move off. If i had, and he’d edged forward any further, i would have gone straight under him. Bit of an impasse, cue much shouting.

Eventually, he stopped his engine, got out of his cab, and came up to me and tried to shove my bike out of the way. Because he’d stopped, i was actually able to move, and was quite happy to do so, so in a way, his move was quite successful! There was a bit more shouting, with neither side really wanting to let the other have the last word (although i was silent – i just wanted to get home and have my dinner), and a disgusting drunk old fat man walked over and started shouting and shoving a lady masser about, but eventually we disentangled ourselves and rode on.

By this point, i was getting tired and hungry, our numbers were down, and i decided to call it a night. We hit the junction with Rosebery Avenue, where i turn left. The mass defaulted to heading straight on, but a few people were shouting to go left: i mentioned that i was in favour of that because i wanted to go home; the girl beside me said she wanted to go left because she wanted some doritos, which i found quite puzzling.

It was only after i’d sped away into the night that i realised she’d said ‘burritos’, and must have been referring to the really good little burrito place at Angel. I could have kicked myself, because i could really have gone for a burrito right then.

And that, as they say, is that.

http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/cm-london
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/

========================

I Bike MCR presents a week long series of cycling events and activities to celebrate the bicycle from 6th-12th October 2008

I Bike MCR is a grassroots voluntary group where everyone gives their time and skills for free. We organise events that aim to promote cycling and to build a strong supportive cycling commiunity in MCR. We do this in our own spare time because we believe that giving our time to make a change will be worth it.

It will be a free festival in order to make it accessible to everyone no matter their economic situation. We will, however, ask for donations to go to helping the I Bike MCR cycle campaign, you can give money or time please look here for info:
http://www.ibikemcr.org.uk/minihelp.htm

MINI FESTIVAL TIMETABLE
Every week-day morning we will be having a group ride from Owen’s Park in Fallowfield down Oxford Road to the Universities so that students can meet each other and gain confidence by cycling in together as a group.

Meet in the carpark area of Owens Park (map)
8.15am, we’ll leave at 8.30am PROMPT to get into uni at 8.45am
We hope this will continue after the week festival is over.

Monday 6th October
7.30pm Council Chambers Manchester University
Bicycle Film Night

Tuesday 7th October
Meet 6pm Outside Manchester University refectory
A bicycle tour around our city, taking you to the nicest parks, the best bike shops, cool places to hang out, the best cycle routes, nice landmarks and nice pubs.

Wednesday 8th October
2pm – 5pm Email info@ibikemcr.org.uk to book a place
FREE Bicycle Confidence lessons. Book asap to reserve a place.
No matter whether you need some tips on how to deal with a particular junction or how to ride one handed you can benefit from a bike confidence class with a qualified cycling instructor.

7pm Basketball courts in Platt Fields Park
The Spokes Bicycle Dance Troupe,
The all woman Spokes bike dance troupe have an open practice to encourage more bike loving women to get involved and join them in dancing with their bikes to encourage more women and girls to cycle.

Thursday 9th October
6pm Whitworth Park, Denmark Road
Bicycle Polo Practice. We will teach newcomers how to play this exhilarating and fun sport.

Friday 10th October
Register at 6pm, Ride at 7pm…
Meet in the carpark behind the Sandbar, Grosvenor Street (map)
I Bike MCR Superheroes Treasurecat.
No matter what bike you’re on or how well you know the city you can take part (and have a chance to win!) in this treasure hunt on bicycles.

* Dress as a superhero for more points..go all out!
* Ride as a dynamic duo, both people must be present at each checkpoint but only one needs to do the task (if you can’t find a partner beforehand, don’t worry you’re sure to find one on the night)
* With a final sprint to see which out of your pair is the superhero and which is the sidekick
* If the phone rings answer it. You may get a secret mission to win more points, then choose if you want to go for fastest time or most points
* Prizes for a wide variety of things NOT JUST FASTEST. inc.Team back at any time with the most points, Winner of the final sprint, Best costume and loads more…So it’s open for anyone to win a prize no matter how little you know the city or how fast you can ride

Amazing prizes from:
Cantgoslo
Bagaboo
Seagull Bags
HK Fixed
Knog
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative
Bicycle Boutique

Saturday 11th October
Noon at Piccadilly train station
or 1.30pm at Delamere Forest Information Centre
Mountain biking in Delamere Forest
(you can hire mountain bikes there)

8pm The Sandbar Grosvenor Street (map)
Moonlight Ride: a 3 hour circular ride into the night with a pub stop.

Sunday 12th October
Noon Meet Sainsbury’s Carpark, off Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield
A ride along one of Manchester’s nicest off road cycle routes, the Fallowfield Loop, where we will stop off to help create a mural depicting the celebration of the bicycle. Everyone welcome to get involved making the Fallowfield Loop brighter and fun. Bring brushes, tatty clothes, paints and lots of enthusiasm (don’t worry if you not that artistic we’ll find some way for you to help!)

info@ibikemcr.org.uk
http://ibikemcr.org.uk/

========================

The 4th South London critical mass bike ride is this friday and every first friday of the month.

Come and liberate the streets of south london, taking the mass to the masses not just to shoppers,tourists and irate cabbies. Meet 6.30pm outside Peckham Library,off Peckham High Street.

========================

Big Turnout for Liverpool Critical Mass

This month’s critical mass was bigger than ever. The ride ended at Next To Nowhere (social centre) where the riders got free refreshments and saw a film.

Dozens of cyclists of all ages and backgrounds, from students to social workers, turned out. They included a visitor who has recently come from New Zealand and took part in critical mass rides there.

After doing a tour around the city centre they stopped at the social centre, where they were given free soup and cakes, and watched a film showing the history of how the Critical Mass rides started in San Francisco in 1993. The rides in that city grew to thousands-strong, and worked beautifully through collective organisation, without committees or leaders. They had the effect of causing more people to commute by bicycle instead of car, and to use the bicycle as their normal transport. This was disrupted when the San Francisco police decided the cyclists needed to be “organised” and made to follow officially designated routes. Ultimately, however, the cyclists decided they didn’t want or need to be organised.

Liverpool Critical Mass has not so far had any police interference, and is successfully enabling cyclists to use the roads safely, and assert their right to be recognised as road users. But as one cyclist said, “If the police wanted to organise us – how? There are no leaders and no-one’s in charge. There’s just a bunch of cyclists who happen coincidentally to turn up at the Chinese arch on the second Friday of the month, and go for a ride together.”

A bunch of cyclists may, coincidentally, be at the Chinese arch on Nelson Street at 6pm on 12th November and 15th December. They would welcome any-one who wants to turn up and ride along with them.

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 82, AUGUST 2008

————————-
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————-
1) CLIMATE ACTION CAMP & NO BORDER CAMP, HAMBURG, GERMANY, 15-24.8.08
2) SHELL TO SEA WEEK OF ACTION, 17-23.08.08
3) EARTH FIRST! SUMMER GATHERING, NORFOLK, 27.8-1.9.08
4) BRISTOL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR, BRISTOL, 13.09.08
5) TOWARDS CLIMATE ACTION IN COPENHANGEN 2009, DENMARK, 13-14.09.08
6) CLIMATE CAMP WHAT NEXT MEETING, MANCHESTER, 26-28.09.08
7) NATIONAL MEETING TO RESIST NEW COAL, MANCHESTER, 11-12.10.08
8) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY 2009, 01.04.09

—————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
—————-

1) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION, KINGSNORTH, KENT, 3-11.08.08
2) DERBYSHIRE COAL MINE EVICTED, 14.08.08
3) US CLIMATE CAMPS, JULY/AUGUST
4) SAVING ICELAND CAMP, JULY/AUGUST
5) AIRPORT OCCUPATION, GERMANY, ONGOING
6) STICKING IT TO THE PM, LONDON, 22.07.08
7) 32 4x4s DISARMED, OXFORD, 18.07.08
8) NEW RISING TIDE LEAFLET
9) NEW REPORT: CASHING IN ON COAL

————————-
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————-
1) CLIMATE ACTION CAMP & NO BORDER CAMP, HAMBURG, GERMANY, 15-24.8.08
‘These camps are going to take place in or near Hamburg. It’s two different camps, but probably on the same camp site and doing together at least two mass actions like blockades: on 22nd August at the deportation airport of Hamburg and on 23rd at the harbour or at the new coal power plant. http://klimacamp08.org

2) SHELL TO SEA WEEK OF ACTION, 17-23.08.08
The Solitaire (the biggest pipe laying ship in the world) is set to begin illegally constructing the offshore section of the pipeline. It is believed that the Solitaire is on a pretty tight schedule & booked up for the next 2 years, so ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly. Members of the ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ recently deployed at the E.ON coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in
Kent, England, have made their way from Climate Camp UK to Erris, in order to assist Shell to Sea campaigners in their opposition to this pipeline construction at Glengad.

3) EARTH FIRST! SUMMER GATHERING, NORFOLK, 27.8-1.9.08
5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions in a beautiful field in Norfolk. The gathering is also a practical example of low-impact eco-living and non-hierarchical organising. www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk

4) BRISTOL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR, BRISTOL, 13.09.08
St Werburghs Centre, 10am to 5pm, free entry. With a workshop by Bristol Rising Tide: Why direct action? Social change not climate change? www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org

5) TOWARDS CLIMATE ACTION IN COPENHANGEN 2009, DENMARK 13-14.09.08
Join the first international planning meeting in Copenhagen from the 13-14th of September 2008. The meeting aims at preparing a large mobilisation for direct action against the root causes of climate change in Copenhagen and throughout the world during the UN Climate Conference (30 Nov-11 Dec 2009). More info:
http://klimax2009.org/?p=33&langswitch_lang=en Tell them you’re coming:
sept08@klimax2009.org

6) CLIMATE CAMP WHAT NEXT MEETING, MANCHESTER 26-28.09.08
All are invited to the first Post-Climate Camp National Gathering. The gathering will offer a chance to reflect on where we are at, decide where we go from here, and provide info as to how to get involved in the ongoing direct action campaign to stop Kingsnorth.
Questions? Email process@climatecamp.org.uk

7) NATIONAL MEETING TO RESIST NEW COAL, MANCHESTER, 11-12.10.08
A meeting to bring together groups and communities resisting coal in the UK – from open cast and deep coal mines, to power stations and coal imports. Share information, plan for action, and build a strong network of resistance. www.leaveitintheground.org.uk

8) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY 2009, 01.04.2009
Four continents, 150 actions, and an April Fool’s Day with a fantastically subversive (and radically necessary) twist – we’re definitely doing that again! So Fossil Fools Day 2009 is a go – start picking your fossil fuel target now! Info and resources will be posted on the website soon, and look out for leaflets to distribute in December.

—————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
—————-

1) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION, KINGSNORTH, KENT, 3-11.08.08
From the Heathrow Conference to the Caravan, from the workshops to beautiful camp life, from the GRRR pirates to the fence breachers to the bail breakers, and the flurry of affinity group actions before, during and after the camp, the 2008 Camp for Climate Action was a roaring success. We outsmarted 26 police forces to run the biggest climate camp ever. We covered the river in boats, filled the streets with people, covered the power station gates with banners and hit at least eight other targets with autonomous actions. We flooded the national, local and independent media with our stories and messages. E.ON and the Government threw everything they could at us, and they still couldn’t hold us back. Actions, in no particular order, included: an office invasion of mining company BHP Bilton, taking over an incinerator site in Newhaven, a blockade of Cargill over its rainforest destruction and land-grabbing, a pro-vegan roof occupation and banner drop at Smithfield Meat Market, a protest at US air base Mildenhall to highlight military CO2 emissions, a banner drop from an electricity pylon, a naked protest at DBERR, the world’s smallest protesters climbing E.ON’s smokestack (at Legoland), actions at Royal Bank of Scotland (not once but twice – students do a die-in and Rising Tiders bust out the superglue), a demo at Longannet power station in Fife, a multi-pronged attack on Gatwick by Plane Stupid, the shutting down of the South’s biggest biofuel storage facility, and in
a single day of mayhem in the City, the Climate Caravan targeted RBS and the PR firms for Shell, BAA & E.ON.
www.climatecamp.org.uk
Photo slide show: http://blip.tv/file/1167973
Video: http://www.undercurrents.org/visionon/

2) DERBYSHIRE COAL MINE EVICTED, 14.08.08
The squat in Derbyshire, a protest on the site of a proposed new open-cast coal mine, came to end with the eviction of the remaining two protesters, who had resolutely resisted attempts to clear the site by furiously digging for victory. Come to the national Leave it in the Ground meeting in October to help with the next steps. www.leaveitintheground.org.uk

3) US CLIMATE CAMPS, JULY/AUGUST
All three US Climate Camps have now wound down, with action highlights including the Southeast Climate Convergence occupying a nuclear facility in Virginia, the Billionaires for Coal striking Bank of America 4 times in 3 days and a protest at NW Natural Gas following the West Coast Convergence. And check out http://www.uncampement.net/?q=en/node/775 for
the ongoing (8-24 August) camp in Quebec, Canada.

4) SAVING ICELAND CAMP, JULY/AUGUST
Saving Iceland’s fourth action camp is now over but the fight goes on. The three-week camp was at Hellisheiði, where Reykjavík Energy is expanding their geothermal power plant, first of all to supply energy to aluminium smelters. Actions included: work on the Century Aluminum’s existing smelter as well as a steel factory were blockaded, holding up a shift
change for several hours. A Reykjavik Energy geothermal drill site at Hellisheidi, being built for Century, was completely shut down for a day as activists locked to machines, climbed the drill and occupied the power control room. The national power company Landsvirkjun had it’s office invaded, and it’s CEO Fridrik Sophusson had his home visited. Saving Iceland nailed an eviction notice to his door. www.savingiceland.org

5) AIRPORT OCCUPATION, GERMANY, ONGOING
In Germany climate activists have been squatting a woodland since the beginning of June to stop the construction of yet another new runway for the already massive Frankfurt airport. The camp continues to grow with over 30 people living on site and has the support of the community. Demos and actions are being organised together with local residents’ groups
against airport expansion. Amazing treehouses, walkways and funky ground shelters have been constructed to make life pleasant in the woods and to resist eviction as long as possible. People are welcome to join in. www.waldbesetzung.blogsport.de

6) STICKING IT TO THE PM, LONDON, 22.07.08
On 22nd July a Plane Stupid campaigner superglued himself to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 10 Downing Street. He’d been invited to receive an award for protesting, so promptly decided to carry on in that vain! Whilst asking Gordon about refusing to meet West London
residents opposed to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, the intrepid protester put his superglue covered hand onto Brown’s polyester suit. When Brown went to turn away he found he was stuck and for once had no option but to listen. www.planestupid.com

7) 32 4x4s DISARMED, OXFORD, 18.07.08
32 SUV owners woke up in Oxford on 18th July to discover that their environmentally destructive vehicles had been disabled using the ‘mung bean trick’ to let down their tires.

8) NEW RISING TIDE LEAFLET
At long last, Rising Tide has a new leaflet – who we are, what we do and why we do it, wrapped up in an inspiring photo collage package. Sneak a peak at , or email info@risingtide.org.uk to get a bunch posted to you for distribution in your local area.

9) NEW REPORT: CASHING IN ON COAL
High street banks are making millions by providing the financial fuel that drives the expansion of coal extraction and combustion. This report examines the role in the last two years of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HSBC and Barclays in providing and arranging the financial means to the coal industry to extract and burn vast quantities of coal. The report reveals that RBS has helped lend more money to the coal industry, in more deals, than any other major UK bank. www.carbonweb.org

—————–
Rising Tide UK,
c/o 62 Fieldgate Street,
London E1 1ES
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.artnotoil.org.uk
www.fossilfoolsday.org
Tel: 07708 794665

See also the Camp for Climate Action (www.climatecamp.org.uk), Network for Climate Action (www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk) and Climate Indymedia (www.climateimc.org)

———-

Please send anything you’d like included in this news sheet to:
newssheet@risingtide.org.uk

To view previous editions of the Rising Tide News Sheet, visit the News Sheet Archive at http://risingtide.org.uk/newssheet

This News Sheet was brought to you by Rising Tide, a grassroots network of groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.

For more information…
email: info@risingtide.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0)845 458 8923 / +44 (0)7708 794665
Address: 62 Fieldgate St, London, E1 1ES
Web site: http://risingtide.org.uk

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http://risingtide.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/rt-news

Earth First! gathering – programme and travel directions

Earth First! Summer Gathering
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise
27 Aug – 1 Sept 2008, Norfolk
Join us for 5 days of workshops and planning actions

Travel directions:

Earth First! Summer Gathering
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise
27 Aug – 1 Sept 2008, Norfolk
Join us for 5 days of workshops and planning actions

Travel directions:
The gathering this year will be held at Woolseybridge Farm – a lovely site in Norfolk with lots of trees and a little stream. It’s approximately 1.5 miles NNE of Diss. Diss has regular train services and a wholefood shop. The Grid Reference of the site is TM130819. The post code is IP22 5SY.

The site is easily accessible by public transport, you can get the train either to Diss or Norwich and then catch the bus route no 1 (Simmonds) from Diss to Norwich or vice versa – this route goes right past the site and we’ll be asking the local bus company if they will stop right outside the site on request. Or you could walk or cycle – it’s only 1.5miles away from Diss train station. Please come by public transport if at all possible! .
We will run pick-ups from the train station for anybody who can’t use the bus service or for larger groups of people. If you need a lift please let us know well in advance (and not in the middle of the night, when you’re at a train station somewhere!). Ring the Gathering mobile on 07789 331857

For a map and further details on travel including bus times and directions for drivers check out http://earthfirstgathering.org.uk/2008/where.html

Programme
This year’s programme focusses on info and planning for actions, direct action skills as well as spaces to discuss how we can respond to and deal with the widening ecological, economic and societal crises. We hope there’s something for everyone.
We recommend that you arrive Tue evening, as workshops will start on Wednesday morning and run until Sunday evening

For more info about the gathering check out our website or email us (though we won’t be able to answer email after 21 Aug, as we’ll be on site setting up)

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk, summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk

The workshops

Wednesday

12:00
Introduction to Earth First! and the gathering
Dealing with the mainstream media – how to get your message across
Basic electrics – for squats and homes.
Capitalism and climate change – how to make the links visible in actions
Queer networking session

2:30
Self-defence – mixed practise session
Squatting FAQ – sharing tips and tricks
Action Reconnaissance for beginners
Introduction to the root causes of ecological destruction and an exploration of alternatives
Advanced Navigation

4:30
Saving Iceland – Introduction to the campaign
Nuclear waste and nuclear weapons
Consensus Decision-making
Introduction to Ecology
Confronting Abusive Behaviours within our Communities – without the police/prison.

6:00
Library Space: Negotiating Safer Sex: tips on putting the theory into practice, and making your sex life more fun as well as safer!

8:00
Cinema: Talk with video on resisting rainforest destruction in Tasmania

Thursday

10:30
Dealing with Public Order situations – understanding police tactics and how we can deal with to them/turn them to our advantage (runs until lunch)
State and corporate oppression of the Australian Aborigines
Action reconnaissance – advanced skillshare, share your most clever tips and tricks for getting info for actions
Practical plant identification (beginners)
Activist trauma and recovery

12:00
Saving Iceland – an evaluation of the camp this summer
Security for Activists Part I: Do’s and don’ts of organising action, from arranging to meet, planning and what happens after
Arrest support for actions – how to provide support for your affinity group, medium sized actions or mega camps and gatherings.
Introduction to Earth First! and the summer gathering

2:30
Women’s self-defence – introductory session
Food and Climate Action: info for action
How to plan an action
Police liaison for actions – what it is, its uses and limitations and how to make it work.
Changing light bulbs or smashing the system. Sharing +/- experiences of working within/outside the system

4:30
Opposing nuclear expansion: planning for action
How to plan and run a successful medium to long-term campaign
Night time skills Part I: introduction (followed by practise session at 8.30pm)
Legal and arrest workshop
Introduction to anarchist history/potted anarchist histories

6:00
Library space: open discussion ?Direct action or publicity stunt??
8:00

Cinema: Seashepherd film and talk
8:30

Night time skills Part II – practice your skills in the field.

Friday

10:30
Blockading tactics
Climate Camp debrief: a critical look at the climate camp, its achievements and politics
Introduction to Earth First! And the summer gathering
Computer Security for the non-technical
Prison Abolition: what’s wrong with prison? what do we mean by abolition and how can we make it happen?

12:00
Food and climate change: action and campaign planning
Self-defence mixed practise session
Squatting to resist – occupations to resist the powers of darkness
History of Earth First!

2:30
The Earth First! Action Update and website: feedback and getting involved
Resisting agrofuels – update on the situation and action planning
Sea Shepherd – an intro to its campaigns and how to support/get involved.
Grow your own food – share you skills and experience
Queer Activist Forum: Radical queers organise for the future!

4:30
Queer Self-Defence: an intro to basic self-defence skills (verbal and physical)
Setting up new direct action groups
Saving Iceland ? planning actions for the coming year
Techno-fixes and climate change ? report by Corporate Watch
Urban self-reliance and self-sufficiency

7:30
Library: Prisoner Support – An informal get together to discuss the state of prisoner support in our movements, find out news and get advice on writing to prisoners, as well as making and writing cards to send to prisoners.

8:00
Cinema: A talk and film by a tribal activist from Orissa opposing mining

Saturday

10:30
Campaigns and Actions Round-up: UK and international news (no other workshops)

12:00
Women’s self-defence practise session plus running alongside – introduction to women’s self-defence
Stopping GM test fields – discussion on future campaign/actions
Research and destroy – how to research corporations
Future models of society – finding a path to sustainable living
Introduction to Earth First! and the summer gathering
Using tripods for blockading

2:30
Leave it in the ground – building resistance to new coal mining and power stations
Facilitation of meetings
Activist Security Part III: doing actions without leaving traces
Restoration Ecology
Creating safer spaces
Visit to Burston Strike School

4:30
Regional meetings and action planning (no other workshops)

6:00
Library Space: Working without leaders – discussion about core values of anarchism

8:00
Cinema: Smash Edo film and talk

Sunday
11:00
Self defence mixed practice session
Sorting out ways of communication within EF!
Using radios on actions
Introduction to Earth First! And the summer gathering
Fences: getting over them/taking them down

12:15
The summer gathering: feedback on this year’s and getting involved in organising the next one

2:30
Condoms, capitalism and climate change
Smash Edo
Introduction to navigation
What’s new in the world of law?
Feminist Health
Climbing trees, lamp posts and anything else

4:30
Radical politics in the age of collapse
The Royal Bank of Scotland and Fossil Fuel Financing
Getting your electricity from solar power and wind
Radical Parenting
Looking after our mental health – sharing ideas and experiences

8:00
Cinema: films – climate camp footage, ready steady skip etc

Monday
Take-down: please stay for a day or two to help take down the site. If you’ve got access to a vehicle/van, it’d be great if you could help transporting marquees, recycling etc to the places they need to go. Cheers!

More info about the Earth First! Summer Gathering
EF! is about direct action to halt the destruction of the Earth. It’s about doing it yourself rather than relying on leaders, governments or industry.
Direct action is at the heart of it, whether you’re standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an open-cast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.
We’re a loose network of people, groups and campaigns coming together for ecological direct action.
Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions, run without leaders by everyone who comes along. The gathering is also a practical example of low-impact eco-living and non-hierarchical organising.

http://www.earthfirst.org.uk, summergathering _ AT _ earthfirst.org.uk

Rath Lugh update, Ireland

August 14th 2008

August 14th 2008
Protectors were staging a Tree Protest near the Collierstown site highlighting the fact that roughly 62 bodies were removed from their sacred burial grounds to make way for the construction of the M3 Motorway. Collierstown graveyard dates from prehistoric times with burials continuing into the early medieval era.

The Tree Protest was given huge support from passing motorists. Locals also joined in coming out of their homes to give encouragement and there were plenty of volunteers to take stints to maintain a presence.