Unnecessary Developments – Page 54

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

Penan mount logging road blockade

Penan mount logging road blockade
8 October 2008

Penan communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, have mounted a road blockade against the logging company Interhill in an attempt to stop the destruction of their last remaining rainforests.

The Penan organized the blockade after negotiations with Interhill’s representatives at the company’s timber camp failed.

Penan mount logging road blockade
8 October 2008

Penan communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, have mounted a road blockade against the logging company Interhill in an attempt to stop the destruction of their last remaining rainforests.

The Penan organized the blockade after negotiations with Interhill’s representatives at the company’s timber camp failed.

‘We are asking Interhill to respect our Native Customary Rights and to stop logging our remaining primary forests,’ a Penan spokesman said.

The blockade, in the Middle Baram area of Sarawak, is being organised by the Ba Abang, Long Item, Long Kawi and Long Pakan communities. A similar blockade was erected in the area in June 2006 but was dismantled by the police after two weeks.

The blockade comes shortly after Penan women raised a cry of alarm over cases of sexual abuse and violence by logging company workers in the region.

The Penan tribe are nomadic hunter-gatherers. Many now live in permanent settlements, but continue to rely on the forest for their existence.

Interhill is a Malaysian company, and has been logging primary rainforests in Sarawak since the 1970s.

Source: Bruno Manser Fund

Background info: www.survival-international.org

SWOMP – A freestate in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Introduction

It is the fourth time activists have squatted a piece of land in the Pijp (an area of Amsterdam) and by far the most succesful action. They are protesting against unnecessary demolition and speculation as well as taking action in support of local neighbourhoods for a sustainable future.

Introduction

Some history

On July 11, 2008, a group of people from the Pijp squatting group and Groenfront! Amsterdam squatted a vacant lot at Rustenbergerstraat 438-440. A school had previously stood on the land and was demolished against the wishes of the neighbourhood, probably to prevent it being squatted. There are currently no plans for the site, which has a tree which is protected by permits. Previous land squats had been evicted quite brutally by police so this time the activists were prepared – they were in large numbers, had the support of local residents and made sure their caravans were well secured in the ground!

After one month, the project declared itself a free state and the residents pledged to live in a carbon neutral fashion on the site. Instead of waiting for local government to decide what to do with the land they decided to take action themselves! Permaculture gardens were set up and solar panels were installed. Local squat cafes are doing benefits in support of the project. In September an open day was held with a tour speakers and discussions

Living at SWOMP (in the words of one resident)

The whole thing has grown into a climate friendly experimental garden. Every day we are learning more about the problems you encounter when having to provide for yourself (doing it in a way which means in the future you can keep providing yourself). These are the same problems society / the community will faces soon. We are experimenting with permacultures, we have a groundwaterpump and a solarcell and are planning to build our own eco toilet.

Being busy with this I’m meeting a lot of other people being busy with similar stuff, and suddenly the feeling of being an activist calling out in the land of the deaf is changing. More and more people seem to be realising something has to be done, and most importantly, we can do it (we are going to win)!

We stumbled across the concept of transition towns. Apparently others are doing the same as us. Others, not activists just communities. Communities that stop and think: how are we going to deal with the upcoming (unavoidable) oil-crisis and climate change? What happens when the trucks stop driving and bringing us food and produce from all over the world? Looting, only the fittest will survive? Or can we as a community prepare ourselves and equip ourselves with workable solutions. We should start preparing: Where do we get food? Who heals the sick, how do we transport? How do make tools without our current technology? And most important of all how do we prevent future crisis? How can we find a balanced way of living without wearing out our own surroundings?

New ethics will have to be developed. This all might seem a distant dream or fantasy but it is already happening all over the world. With 33 transition towns in England and 77 worldwide. And four times more being set up worldwide. It is actually a very accessible way of changing, it’s realising that we ourselves need to do it and nobody else. It starts with creating consciousness. Not about the upcoming crisis, everybody knows about that by now and activists all over the world feel frustrated about everybody knowing but nobody acting on it.

We need to grow consciousnes about self-determination, and about the possibilties that you have as an individual and a community. Of course the government and corporations won’t change by themselves. We don’t need to wait for them, we should even exclude them. The steps seem so big but are actually small and achievable. It starts with growing consciousness, its almost like a sect man! Wherever some people start being busy with transition towns, all the people around them get infected and enthusiasm soon grows a network. A network starts having meetings, and in the meeting realistic goals will be set. “In however many years we should be able to get at least 50% of our food from our own lands, by then we need to have reduced our oil-dependence, at least by the year of XXXX, we shall be totally independent”.

Stuff like that, read it, it’s inspiring. In England ther are some towns, villages, dwellings, but also neighbourhoods that started thinking about the future. These towns or dwellings will be the pioneers in the time of transition which pretty soon everybody is going to experience. We can wait till our wallets force us to change, or we can be the ones who will later have the advantages of having started off early. It’s just a logical step to take in a time like this.

Links

In”>http://www.steenbreek.org/img/pers/DeMorgen_20080906.pdf>In the Belgian press

4 Women Lock Down in LURC Office to Oppose Recent Decision

September 29, 2008
LURC Office
Augusta, Maine

“Why did you sell our future?” Group Asks LURC
Act of Civil Disobedience a Way to be Heard When the System is Broken?

September 29, 2008
LURC Office
Augusta, Maine

“Why did you sell our future?” Group Asks LURC
Act of Civil Disobedience a Way to be Heard When the System is Broken?

Today, in an act of civil disobedience, four women locked their necks together in the office of the Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC). Last week, LURC signaled their approval for the controversial Concept Plan put forth by Plum Creek to rezone a large tract of the Moosehead Lake Region. The women, part of Maine Earth First!, refused to leave the office until the LURC staff could explain why they had recommended approval of the plan.

Last week, the Commission approved the plan revisions that LURC staff recommended in a move that surprised many who have been watching the process closely. Critics of the plan noted that LURC received over 1,700 comments opposing a resort development at Lily Bay as part of the Plum Creek Concept Plan. LURC received only 6 comments in favor of the plan. Despite this overwhelming public statement against the Plum Creek development, the commission refused to amend their recommendations by removing the Lily Bay resort. “The public has spoken on this issue, and LURC refuses to listen. We want to know why they are selling our future,” said Emily Paine, one of the four locked together.

Many of the groups that intervened in the formal Concept plan review process are expected to file appeals to LURC’s decision in Maine Superior Court. Some of the grounds for these appeals are likely to revolve around the flawed process that has LURC staff writing changes to Plum Creek’s plan so that it can be rubber stamped by the Commission. The staff that is working on tailoring the Concept Plan for Plum Creek works in the office occupied by Paine and others. “We aren’t leaving until the LURC staff who made the recommendations can adequately justify their actions. Many Mainers believe their process has been undemocratic and corrupt… LURC’s decision flies in the face of thousands of Mainers who have expressed serious concerns about the Concept Plan.” said Meg Gilmartin, another of the women locked down.

Maine Earth First! has been critical of the plan from the beginning, but this is the first time people from that group have committed civil disobedience to express their concerns. LURC will meet on Wed. October 1st to present its final version of the plan to Plum Creek who will then have ten days to accept or reject the plan. Members of Maine Earth First! are pledging continued resistance to the plan as it moves forward in the coming months. Gilmartin said, “We are completely dedicated to doing what LURC has refused to do: protecting a way of life, safeguarding biodiversity, promoting climate stability and preserving the culture that makes the Moosehead Lake Region so unique and so wonderful. This is just the beginning.”

Maine Earth First! is an all volunteer movement dedicated to protecting the long term climate stability of the planet, maximizing biodiversity, and maintaining the rural way of life and culture of Maine. No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth!

Plum Creek proposes to rezone 20,000 acres, for development of high-end resorts and second homes as part of its Moosehead Lake Concept Plan. The plan includes 90,000 acres of conservation easements to satisfy the Land Use Regulatory Commission’s (LURC) requirement for a conservation balance. An additional 266,000 acres worth of development rights on Plum Creek land will be sold to The Nature Conservancy and The Appalachian Mountain Club for $35 million. This conservation is being hailed by many as an unprecedented opportunity to protect a large tract of land in Northern Maine, however, the conservation easements only prevent further development. They still allow ecologically destructive practices such as gravel mining, spreading of sewage sludge, commercial water extraction, industry defined “sustainable forestry,” road building and the erection of power-lines.

A contentious component of the Concept Plan is Plum Creek’s development visions for Lily Bay on the undeveloped eastern shore of Moosehead Lake. This area is natural habitat for the endangered Canada Lynx and abuts the highly valued and utilized Lily Bay State Park. Plum Creek wishes to build a resort that can accommodate over 700 units, a marina and golf course. Plum Creek’s lead attorney, Severin Beliveau told LURC that “Lily Bay is the keystone to this plan. Without Lily Bay there is no plan.” However, over 1700 citizens have written to LURC expressing a different view, opposing any development in this area (just six have written LURC in favor of Lily Bay development). LURC is prepeared to approve the Concept Plan, including Lily Bay development and discard this clear public outcry against Plum Creek’s proposed ecological destruction of the Moosehead Region.

Saving Iceland Targets International Aluminium Conference

Today, September 25, the 11th International Conference on Aluminium Aloys (ICAA) met with angry protests. Activists from the environmentalist network Saving Iceland disrupted the proceedings at the University in Aachen. Early this morning, during one of Rio Tinto Alcan’s lectures, the fire alarms in the building were put on. Later today – again during Rio Tinto Alcan’s lecture – stink bombs were thrown and a high volume rape alarm was put on and suspended out of reach by green and black helium baloons. The auditorium was also strewn with information leaflets. The aim was to call attention to the industry’s singular involvement in ecological destruction in Iceland, as well as on a global scale.

The ICAA conference is a weeklong event held at a different international location every 2 years. This is its first appearance in Germany and as such is run in parallel to the Aluminium trade fair in Essen, about 80 km away. This double event is sure to call together all major players of an industry that still tries to present itself as having a green conscience, and with some success: Alcoa has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, for the 7th year running. [1] Environmentalists dispute this depiction in the strongest terms.

Global Impacts
“There is no level on which the continued expansion of the aluminium industry can be pursued sustainably” says Andreas Jager of Saving Iceland,” In India, for example, the primary material, bauxite, is open-cast mined and refined into alumina, stripping rainfores covered mountains, displacing tribal people from their land and polluting the water supply with “red mud” residue [2, 3]. In Australia and Jamaica, virgin forests are also destroyed for the same prize – and with the same toxic consequences [4].

Destruction of Icelandic Wilderness, for weapons
“ In Iceland, the country’s unique natural landscape is being raided for its energy potential by these multinational invaders: at a time when the world is finally waking up to climate change, the effect of our high energy dependence, the process of aluminium production requires colossal quantities of electricity, for which it plans to block and harness every glacial river, exploit every geothermal field and transform Iceland’s wild beauty into a spent and polluted wasteland, dotted with smelters. This does not equate to green energy, particularly considering that the planned Icelandic aluminium smelters will far exceed the generous 1,600,000 tonnes of emissions permitted to that country under the Kyoto Convention [5].

“And the end product? For the most part, military hardware used for destruction of every imaginable kind, aviation, which is increasingly being shown to be incompatible with a stable climate, and disposable packaging, a symptom of our wasteful society. There can be no future for this industry, above all others, if we are to avoid environmental crisis.”

Rio Tinto Alcan’s Environmental and Human Crimes
Saving Iceland protests Rio Tinto’s investments in Iceland and in Africa. In Iceland the RT-Alcan smelter in Hafnarfjordur, southwest Iceland is being upgraded to increase production. The Budarhals dam is currently being constructed to power the smelter expansion.

“The people of Hafnarfjordur voted against expansion of the smelter in a local referendum, but still production is being increased,” says Jager. “The smelter discards its toxic spent potlinings in a landfill in the sea that floods at high tide [6]. We do not want more pollution and we do not want more dams here in Iceland, which are destroying our beautiful wilderness. Especially for a company with the most abysmal record in human rights,” states Jager.

Rio Tinto has been accused of subjecting it’s workers to poisoning in mines, of having security guards shooting locals looking for small amounts of gold in one of it’s mines and having union-members spied upon and fired [7, 8]. It has also hired mercenary forces against local populations protesting it’s operations in Papua and Bougainville [9, 10, 11].

The Norwegian government has sold its shares in Rio Tinto because it’s Grasberg mine in West Papua has devastated the land of the Amungme and Kamoro tribes. Norway sold its almost £500 million shares in Rio Tinto following recommendations from its Council on Ethics to exclude the company from its government pension fund [12].

International Solidarity
People all around the world are waking up and becoming aware of the destruction caused by the aluminium industry, as well as the situation in Iceland. Last week, big banners were hanged up in Copenhagen saying: “The Aluminium Industry is Destroying All Major Icelandic Rivers!” [13].

Footnotes and further reference:

[1] http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=3182&a…
[2] http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=602&am…

[3] http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=2607&a…
[4] http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=2233&a…
[5] http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?page_id=…
[6] Rio Tinto Alcan (2008). Alcan Environment: Potlinings. http://www.riotintoalcan.is/?PageID=111 [Accessed September 24th, 2009].
[7] SBS Australia (200). Dateline, Report on Rio Tinto, August 2000.
[8] Asia-Pacific Human Rights Network, “Rio Tinto’s Record and the Global Compact,” July 13th 2001.
[9] Wikipedia Germany (22-7-2007), http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandline-Af…
[10] Contract between PNG Government and Sandline: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/PNG….
[11] Sarei v Rio Tinto, 456 F.3d 1069 (9th Cir. 2006), USA.
[12] Survival International (2008). Norwegian government – Rio Tinto’s Papua mine unethical. http://www.survival-international.org/ne… [Accessed September 24th, 2008]
[13]

CRUSH the Cabot CREDIT Circus

This Thursday the 25th of Sept, a call to action came to disrupt the farcical opening ceremony of Bristol’s brand new abomination.

CRUNCH CABOT CREDIT CIRCUS was emblazoned across the vile new shopping complex’s advertising hoard in plain view of motorists arriving through the newly routed, soon to be congested, road system that snakes around the £500 million project that offers yet more sterile, soulless, capitalist consumerism.

The ridiculous timing of the advent of this unnecessary monstrosity, during the so-called ‘credit crunch’, offers the opportunity to think about just how little community consultation took place; about the mass displacement of the poorer sections of our community to make way for its construction; and about the sheer slap in the face to people on low-incomes whose lives hang in the balance as banks crumble and credit becomes scarce. All the while the Bristol (Imperial) Alliance siphon off what profits they might make, out of our city, to Birmingham, London and the hands of a few corporate profiteers.

This rupture with the Alliance’s image and ethos – where ‘retail therapy’ has replaced community contact and our social interactions are increasingly channelled through monetary transactions and materialist consumption – serves as an exclamation. This is a call for further and sustained action against this odious symbol of aggressive global capitalism and the gentrification that is seeping into our city.

Already full of empty shops, at such a financially unstable time, if it doesn’t crumble of its own accord, this disease must be purged from the city,

BUY LESS, LIVE MORE!

Take your own actions.

Whistle crews, musical chair shop invasions, dress like the drones that make this shambolic circus possible and cause some mischief!

Join the Zombie march this Saturday the 27th of Sept, assemble 11am at the Bandstand in Castle Park, shamble & lurch from noon.

Buy Nothing: Steal Something Day: http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/

CABOT CIRCUS on Indymedia: http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688930

Bath Bomb 14 hits the streets

Another issue of Bath’s should-be award winning grassroots publication…

anti-cop, right? copy and distribute
The Bath Bomb
Issue #14
“All the news the Chron didn’t Use!”

free/donation

Sept ‘08

Reds, Shite And Booze

Another issue of Bath’s should-be award winning grassroots publication…

anti-cop, right? copy and distribute
The Bath Bomb
Issue #14
“All the news the Chron didn’t Use!”

free/donation

Sept ‘08

Reds, Shite And Booze

Saturday the 16th of August was to be the second annual Red, White and Blue Festival of the BNP, a so-called family event, held on the farm of former Tory councillor Alan Warner, in Denby, Derbyshire. Though pitching themselves as the media-friendly ‘Nazi-Lite’ face of modern nationalism, Nick Griffin’s party still can’t quite drag itself away from its hardline right-wing roots, as betrayed in the program’s highlights: talks on ‘heritage and culture’, night-time navigation and survival skills, kooky Morris-style dancing around a horse skull, stalls selling Union Jack attired golliwogs, and let’s not forget the Hitler Youth-esque kids’ camp, teaching 12-year-olds live ammo marksmanship, knife-fighting, techniques for dealing with ‘Marxist teachers,’ and how to make ‘Dutch arrow’ throwing spears (erm.. that doesn’t sound very British). However, this insanity isn’t the sort of shit that ordinary people stand for and, whilst residents and local activists have been making plans to shut it down, nationally, Antifa and the organised Left converged.

Though the powers-that-be have no issue with the fascist nature of the event, as soon as they realised the storm of resistance that was building, police banned the festival’s music and liquor licenses – but didn’t subject the festival to even a modicum of the hassle they did with Climate Camp. Their true colours shined even more so on the day, releasing hoodied-up agents provocateurs into the 400-strong SWP, UAF, TUC-dominated march and rally, and Merseyside cops outdid themselves by phoning and attempting to fit up known anti-fascist activists by offering supposed lifts to the demo. Whilst the marchers were engaging in token pushy-shovey and chanting with the police line (a lip service gesture to democratic freedom was made in the form of 30 protesters escorted to the entrance to the festival for an insulting 15 minutes, against a hail of BNP abuse), Antifa made their own plans. That morning, 80 masked up and made their way through the undergrowth to confront the fash directly, intending to set up a system of roadblocks and sabotage. However, following the first barricade, police violence forced them back and into a string of running battles – culminating in more than 30 arrests and one injured cop.

So unfortunately, RWB wasn’t crashed, but was surrounded by chaos (as well as drunken sieg-heils) and villagers are now pleading with the BNP not to come back; to add your voice to this request, contact Alan Warner (The Bungalow, Codnor Denby Lane, Denby Village, Derbyshire, DE5 8PT, 01773 748129/ 07810 383595, or alan.warner@w3z.co.uk) or organiser David Shapcott (6 The Spinney, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 0PB, 07871 029681). But Antifa’s antics do bring up serious questions – considering the strategic importance of the BNP’s RWB, why did so few opponents put in an appearance? And how did small, yet admittedly rabid, clusters of cops put superior numbers of determined militants to rout and infighting, with thrown bricks occasionally hitting their own? Beyond talk of machismo, organisation and violence, perhaps more activists need to focus on their own personal limits and be honest with themselves over what threats they are prepared to face… Not only for the success of individual actions and the movements’ credibility, but also in terms of both our own safety and that of our comrades And next year, let’s really stop them!

http://www.antifa.org.uk/
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688740
http://netcu.wordpress.com
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/09/03/bnp…22309

Sainsbury’s And Tesco – Destroying Communities All Over The World

While Tesco threatens to infest Bath with crappy ‘food’ and depressing, repetitive jobs under patronizing bosses who don’t care about you, Sainsbury’s look set to crawl their way into Odd Down. The site proposed by Storegap Commercial and Odd Down Developments would be the same size as Bath’s Morrisons. If you’re in favour of good quality food products made with a regard to animal welfare and environmental sustainability, worker’s rights and the fair distributions of wealth – or if you simply hate being rushed around as if you were in a chaotic cattle market every time you go out to buy groceries, while being blinded by artificial lighting – we’d love to have you on board our campaign, aimed at resisting supermarket expansion and creating viable alternatives. Email bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk for more details.

A brief update on the Tesco Express on Bathwick Hill – originally due to open early this year, now, due to the actions of local community and activists, it’s still yet to open its doors due to the enforcement of the conditions they tried to weasel out of completing.

Watching/Smashing Up The Watchers

Your faithful, yet paranoid journalists here at Bath Bomb towers have given many column inches over the past few months to the increasing surveillance we are subjected to nowadays. Britain is now the most surveillance-heavy country in the world, narrowly besting notable competitors such as China and the good ol’ US of A. Industry insiders have agreed that CCTV is almost useless in dealing with real crimes, such as rape and murder, and only really comes in useful when dealing with those things that only politicians and the rich count as crimes, such as shoplifting. Taking into account their inefficiency at solving serious crime, it can be sensibly assumed that the prime function of CCTV (on which our pervy government spends millions each year) is social control; of spreading the idea that you cannot step out of line because you are always being watched. Well, now, finally, we have a chance to strike back! October the 11th is an international day of protest and decentralised action against CCTV and surveillance. Want to be part of the fun? A plastic bag or well aimed spray can blast can temporarily disable a CCTV camera, while hammers and screwdrivers can do a much less subtle, yet longer lasting job! Wondering how to access those cameras in hard to reach places? A paintbrush tied to a bamboo stick does the trick! There are literally hundreds of legal and illegal ways we can strike back against big brother, so let’s use the 11th as an opportunity to show the state we can live outside of their control, laws, authority and oppression. If nothing else, use the day as a chance to look a CCTV camera (or community support officer) dead in the eye, flip a finger and defiantly shout (safe in the knowledge that thousands across the globe are doing the same thing) ‘stop looking at me funnily you weirdos!’.

CCTV News Part Deux

The Bath Bomb can exclusively reveal that Big Brother (as in 1984, not that reality TV farce of squawking, egomaniacal lobotomy-cases) is changing the way it interferes with The People and scapegoats the young. Previously obvious CCTV installations are now being gutted into redundant bluff cameras, with the real camera placements being hidden nearby in tiny black casements, though their lens will still need to be exposed to the light of day. And, it’s also recently emerged that sinister scientists at Bath Uni have been spying on Bluetooth users in the city for the last three years, without consent, with ‘Cityware’ scanners following around 3,000 devices every weekend, following citizens’ movements and shopping patterns. Targeted marketing, or marking targets? We’ve heard it all. Stay out of trouble kids!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/21/civilliberties…yfull

Theory Corner Part A: Are All Cops Really Bastards?

After reading the Theory Corner: ‘Are All Cops Bastards?’ article in July’s issue 12, I got the permission of said article’s author to have my say on this complex issue. Yes, the police have devolved from your friendly neighbourhood bobby; the one who made you feel a bit safer, who gave you directions and popped round for a cup of tea (how wrong can you go with old TV programmes as your barometer for reality?) They’ve gone from this to a mindless mass automaton who go on power trips and think that anyone who finds themselves at a demonstration of any sort, be they strong or not so strong, young or not so young, deserves to at best be spoken to in a patronizing manner and at worst be manhandled away and arrested for no good reason.

BUT, and this is a big but. Taking it as read that the ultimate goal of ‘changing the world’ is, in fact, to make that world a better place for everyone, then we have to realise that cops are in fact human, despite the lengths they can go to try to hide this fact. Take away the uniform, the weapons, the smug above-you attitude and you will find someone with the same basic needs and desires as everyone else. I’m sure the answer is not to engage in this cat-and-mouse relationship with them, slagging them off (though they often have no qualms about doing the same to us – for example the sickening comments on the ‘Police Inspector’s Blog’), just as that is not the way to go with the Rich, though that is another article. This, to me, seems a lazy way of going about things that will just enable the status quo to be kept; we get to make our jokes about PC Plod and never have to come to terms with the fact that they will be part of this new society.

I don’t know what the way forward is, I think it is a slow path, where we get out of our cosy activist corners and mix with people of all walks of life, even those who make us feel ill with what they’re doing to the world. We welcome people and talk to them about our way of life, without judging or forcing anyone to see it our way. Some will come over to our side. Some will resist, but we never know what effect our viewpoint is having on them. It is hard to change, and won’t happen over night. But only with these small victories and gradual changes will any real and lasting change ever come about. To describe a group of people as largely irredeemable, will cause defensiveness – we have to believe in the possibility in people to change, whether they show us any proof of this or not. You can do so much more with peace and welcome than you can with violence, judgement and isolation – isn’t that what ‘our side’ is all about? After all, this other way’s been tried so many times before, in fact it’s all we as a human race has ever done, and has it ever worked? With this dismissive attitude we condemn ourselves to a limited success, when with all our skills, energy, ideas and compassion, we can achieve so much more.

http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/young-m…n-go/ (police inspector’s blog)
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&…34851 (newsletter issue 12)

Stop The Wars, Stop The Walls & Stop Wall Street

Despite what the Daily Mail would have us believe, we are all now a witness to an unprecedented rise in border management and social control. Neo-Labour is at the forefront of this squeeze, and are holding their annual party conference in Manchester this month. Coinciding with this, with violence peaking in Afghanistan, dragging on in Iraq, and breaking in Georgia, Stop The War have called for a ‘Troops Out’ march on Saturday the 20th at 12 midday, and the UK No Borders network have also jumped in – anti-authoritarians and all others against borders, states and war can consider themselves humbly invited to join the ‘Freedom of Movement’ bloc, assembling at the north end of Albert Square – follow the red and black flags!

http://www.manchesternoborders.org.uk
http://www.stopwar.org.uk
http://www.acbar.org
http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk/

Racist BIAstards Feel The Heat In Bristol

In other immigration-related news, No Borders activists recently paid a visit to the British Immigration Authority offices in Portishead. BIA round up failed immigration applicants for forced deportation. Favourite tactics include ‘dawn raids’, intended to round up the whole family before the kids can get to school. Recent brave deeds by our jackbooted friends have included the forced removal of a Columbian single mother from the Bristol area, her 7-year-old son sending a letter to his class mates from a detention centre reading ‘I don’t know why I am here, they have put me in prison, but I promise I haven’t done anything wrong’. When activists arrived at the Portishead BIA centre, from which Bath and Bristol dawn raids are launched, the buildings’ locks were glued, the entire fleet of vehicles used for dawn raids were destroyed with spanners, etching fluid and paint stripper and the slogan ‘racist thugs work here’ was daubed over walls for all to see. BIA represent the sharp end of the state’s racist war on asylum seekers, who, having fled persecution, terror and torture, ask only for a safe place to live, and not to be deported to certain death and imprisonment. Unfortunately, the majority find out the hard way that government the world over is a brutal mechanism for the repression and incarceration of ordinary people. We must stand side by side with other oppressed peoples struggling for a decent standard of life, and like the BIA saboteurs, fight for a world without borders or governments, and respond by any means necessary to the violent and destructive forces of state and capital.

Frothy Cinematic Undercurrents

After the summer break, the Bubbling Under series of radical film lunches will return to the big[ish]screen at the Porter Cellar, starting again on Sunday the 28th September, from 1 til 4pm, free entry. This month, we will be showing a couple of filmlets – one about the recent Camp for Climate Action in Kent, and the other about the upcoming Shut I.T.T./Smash EDO day of action in Brighton, following up on June’s successful Carnival Against the Arms Trade. Come along for great grub, food for thought, and mediocre company! Drop us a line if you have any ideas for upcoming films, to show on the third Sunday of the month.

http://www.smashedo.org.uk/shut-itt.htm
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/

Theory Corner Part B: Metamorphosis and Liberation

It’s all too easy to feel helpless in the face of the state, like a tiny cog in a towering machine. Religion and television preach the importance of “finding yourself” and “staying true” to that self once you’ve found it. But we shouldn’t feel trapped and limited by our genes and the experiences and conditioning society has given us – we have no true self and life should be about creating it, not finding it! As human beings we have a vast potential for self-change. The awareness of the ability you possess to change yourself can be extremely liberating. It’s important to start small – choose a habit at random you wish to adopt or eliminate. At first, this should be something so simple you can’t fail at it, like having an extra sugar in your tea each morning. Keep the same goal for two or three weeks, and scribble it on a post-it note and stick it to the fridge, if this helps you remember. There are all sorts of self-hypnosis techniques that can help. Focusing intently on your goal while in an altered state of consciousness accessed by meditation, dancing, drumming, chanting, orgasm, art… (try staring intently at yourself in a mirror while trying not to let your eyes distort the image) are all ways to do this. Remember to ground afterwards! Laughter helps.

It’s important to set a new target once you’re done with the old one. Start small and your confidence and self-discipline will grow so long as you make willed self-change a habit. Work up to bigger goals and you’ll realise that things you thought you couldn’t do are totally possible – confronting a phobia, going vegan, taking direct action. Eliminating fears and smashing taboos (eating food from skips, acting oddly in public) can be so empowering and widen your range of possible experiences.

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/chaos/rites/beyondwa….html

EVENTS

Mondays
Bath Hunt Sabs Meeting, 8pm, Bell
Wednesdays
London Rd Food Co-op, Riverside Community Centre, 4-7pm
Saturdays
Bath Stop The War Vigil, Abbey Courtyard, 11.30-12.30
Saturday 20th Sept
No Wars No Borders, All Saints Park, Manchester, 12.30
Friday 26th Sept
Anti-foie gras demo, outside Minibar, John St, 7-9pm
Sunday 28th Sept
Bubbling Under, the Porter Cellar Bar 1-4pm
Wednesday 1st Oct
Bath Animal Action meeting, back room of the Bell, 7.30-8.30pm
Thursday 2nd Oct
Bath Activist Network meeting, Hobgoblin, downstairs 7.30-9pm
Friday & Saturday 3-4th Oct
No Borders Fest, TJs, Newport
Saturday 11th October
Day of action against surveillance
Saturday 11th Oct
Westside Climate Camp Gathering, Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol, 10-5
Saturday 11th Oct
Bath Freeshop, Stall St, 12-3pm
Wednesday 15th Oct
Smash I.T.T, opp Falmer Station, Brighton, meet 12noon

For further info on any of our stories see www.myspace.com/bathbomb

And now, to the disclaimer: As anyone is free to contribute, the opinions expressed in each article are not necessarily reflective of each contributor. Naturally, any right-wing or corporate bullshit will be binned and spat on. Needless to say, the opinions of the author of this disclaimer does not necessarily represent the views of any other contributor…

Q: Who Are Bath Activist Network? A: A local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development, environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights, workers’ rights and more. Helping to produce The Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to anarchists, liberals to greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better. For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, ring us on 07949 611912, email bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk, or see our website: www.myspace.com/bathactivistnetwork

GOT A STORY? WANT TO RECEIVE THE BATH BOMB BY EMAIL? HOPING TO SUE?

‘Leave it in the ground’ national meeting on 11 and 12 October in Manchester

Announcement – ‘Leave it in the ground’ national meeting

Climate change is the biggest threat facing us, and burning coal is the biggest historical cause of climate change. Every day more coal is burned, yet industry and government seem intent on burning even more.

Announcement – ‘Leave it in the ground’ national meeting

‘Leave it in the ground’ is the slogan of a new network for groups taking action opposing new coal developments in the UK, including the 30+ planned opencast sites and seven new coal-fired power stations. Added to those already operating, and the coal import and transport facilities, these projects represent a massive threat to our ability to cut greenhouse gas emissions to safe levels, and would be a disaster for the climate as well as for local areas.

The first ‘Leave it in the ground’ meeting will be held at the Yard Theatre, 41 Old Birley
Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5RF, on 11 and 12 October.

The network plans to be a way for groups to share skills and experience in different areas and to encourage collaboration on common goals. It is a loose network of equals, and is not affiliated to any political party or NGO.

The proposed agenda for this meeting includes:

Saturday 11th

§ Introduction to the UK coal industry
§ Updates on opposition to coal developments in the UK, including the campaigns against the Ffos-y-Fran (near Merthyr Tydfil) and Lodge House (Derbyshire) opencast sites, the 2008 Climate Camp and the proposed Kingsnorth coal-fired power station blockade.
§ Discussing climate change solutions, including the importance of a socially just transition to a low-carbon economy.
§ Thinking about how our network will function, its decision-making structure, name and communications
§ Planning initial events and strategy for the network
§ Regional networking between groups

Sunday 12th

§ Media training
§ Introduction to direct action planning
§ Further discussions on climate change, climate justice and international networking

If you can only make one day of the meeting, please try to come on Saturday. We will aim to start at 10:00 and to finish by 18:00 to allow for travel. The meeting will free, lunch and evening meal on Saturday and lunch on Sunday will be available for donations.

If you would like to attend, please register by emailing info@leaveitintheground.org.uk, with ‘meeting’ in the subject line, stating how many of your group wish to attend, any special dietary or access requirements and whether you want accommodation for Saturday night. Free accommodation will probably be ‘crashpad’ only, but we can provide details of nearby hotels etc.

For those travelling from far off, we will operate a ‘pool fare’ system to even out the costs of travel. The venue is about ten minutes walk from Manchester Oxford Road station, and is served by number 54 and 86 buses, with many others serving the nearby Stretford road. More details on the GMPTE website.

Common Ground Community Garden Celebrates Success with Party on 6 September!

After a year and half of green-fingered, community-spirited direct-action, we – the organisers of Common Ground Community Garden – are celebrating success … and we invite all our friends,

After a year and half of green-fingered, community-spirited direct-action, we – the organisers of Common Ground Community Garden – are celebrating success … and we invite all our friends, neighbours and supporters to join in the fun!

Since opening the garden in May 2007, we have resisted being criminalised while fighting for green, community-managed space in our neighbourhood. Since turning a council owned derelict plot into a beautiful community garden, we and our neighbours have ignored injunctions, protested eviction attempts and even faced arrest. But finally, we have not only definitely won new sites for at least one community garden, but Common Ground itself has been granted a legal license! Success*!

Reading Grassroots Action (RGA)** who run the garden, have been working with Katesgrove Residents Association (KRA) and have managed to agree the license for Common Ground with Reading Borough Council (RBC), which sees the garden being insured by KRA and re-opened to the public until the council demolish the existing buildings***. We have also visited three sites in Katesgrove which could be used for one or more long-term gardens. We have chosen our preferred sites and hope to agree terms as soon as possible****.

To celebrate this success, we will be holding one more community event at Common Ground Community Garden on Saturday 6th September – and this time we have the full consent of the council! The event, running from 2-9pm, will feature fun for all the family such as games including a raffle, face-painting, fresh food and drink and a live graffiti exhibition produced by local artists. In addition, we will have diverse acoustic music from acts including Londons ‘Babar Luck’ and ‘The King Blues’ as well as other local acts. And of course, visitors will be able to find out more about what else we are up to and get involved in the new community garden in Katesgrove.

We would really love to welcome everybody to the garden one last time and thank everyone who has supported the project, so we hope to see you there!

But thats not all… Supporters of Common Ground are organising an all-night after party at a nearby venue! There will be a room for band (punk, ska etc) and a room for DJ’s (hiphop, drum n bass, dubstep, techno etc) and confirmed acts include Broken Note and the Bath Dub Soundsystem. See you there!

Thanks,
‘Common Ground’, part of ’Reading Grassroots Action’.

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR:

* Whilst we are celebrating, we want to thank everyone who has supported us for making this project a serious of successes from day one. Common Ground has always been about bringing people together, mobilising people into taking action to improve our community without waiting for those in power to do it for us (we reckon you might wait for ever otherwise!). It has been about a small piece of land taken back under community control and used to benefit the neighbourhood, in contrast to the usual situation where resources are used solely to make profits and benefit bosses and shareholders. In this way, Common Ground was a success every time people joined us to ignore injunctions, each time we saw off eviction days, each time people took the initiative to work in their garden. It has been a success as it was respected by young people, as it was enjoyed by local workers and families and as diverse peoples – from squatters and anarchists to residents of all backgrounds – had conversations we wouldn’t otherwise have had. So, thank you!

** Reading Grassroots Action (RGA) aims to help increase the collective power of ordinary people like ourselves, improving our living and working conditions and creating new democratic institutions which act as examples of the world we want to see. We are guided by our hope of one day living in a society of genuine freedom and equality, with all resources commonly owned and democratically organised by everyone for everyone. Several people involved in Common Ground were already RGA members and in April 2008 the groups became one and the same, with RGA looking forwards to helping create a long-term community garden in Katesgrove and moving on to tackle other campaigns in Reading. If interested in joining or supporting RGA, people are encouraged to email us at rgacollective(AT)hotmail.co.uk.

*** The buildings from Crown Street round to the beginning of Silver Street have unfortunately been left by RBC to fall into a state of disrepair over the last few years. We would prefer them to be renovated, as we believe they could be brought back to life as good-looking and useful buildings. However, RBC wish to demolish them as soon as possible, as they hope to sell yet more publicly owned land to a private property developer.

**** RBC have offered three potential sites which could be used for green, community space in Katesgrove. Of these, the site on the corner of Southampton Street and the one on the corner of Elgar Road are our favourites. Over the next few months, RGA and KRA will work to agree terms with RBC in order to gain access one or both of these sites. We appeal to the local community, and to anybody who supports this project to get in touch, and any help with work or donations would be very welcome!

rgacollective@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.rgacollective.org.uk

Good news from Titnore + stalls, tidy-ups and open day/tours

Further success for the inspiring Titnore Woods campaigners reported in todays press

Trees saved from axe
Sunday 24th August 2008

A controversial housing development has been revised to save hundreds of trees.

Plans to build 875 homes on green fields at West Durrington, Worthing, sparked fury among environmentalists when they were unveiled in 2003.

Further success for the inspiring Titnore Woods campaigners reported in todays press

Trees saved from axe
Sunday 24th August 2008

A controversial housing development has been revised to save hundreds of trees.

Plans to build 875 homes on green fields at West Durrington, Worthing, sparked fury among environmentalists when they were unveiled in 2003.

Around 275 trees would have been axed under the original proposals as Titnore Lane, a winding country road, was straightened.

But the proposal led to protesters setting set up a permanent tree camp in woods near Titnore Lane.

Now the West Durrington Consortium, which consists of building firms with a stake in the development, has revised its design so that only 75 trees will be chopped.

It said around 2,350 trees would also be planted on the site.

The new planning application will be considered by Worthing Borough Council later this year.

—-

That’s really good news about the plans not to cut the trees, but really it’s no time to celebrate. This is by no means a victory as the question of ecology in the area goes far beyond the very small patch of woodland that was planning to be cut down. If these houses are built then the area is fucked.

That is also only looking at it from an ecological point of veiw, when really this, as with other housing developments goes far beyond the ecological issues. The building of 600 unaffordable houses (along with the 200 set aside for “key workers”) has many effects on the area, it is another act of gentrification, this battle is about more then trees and nature (for some involved) but part of an anti capitalist struggle.

Not to mention it is fucking pointless building more houses to rot and be unsold, except that we have more to squat in 10 years time.

They are nice trees though, I would be lying if i would say it didn’t make smile to think at least some them might remain.

—–

WHEN is a wood not a wood? When it has a road running right through it!

The “new” planning application for the West Durrington development in Worthing, West Sussex, is being sold to the Worthing public as a “response to public opinion” that will spare many of the Titnore trees.

But, like the original plans, it includes access roads that will cut right through the beautiful ancient woodland currently occupied by the protest camp. A wood is no longer a viable bio-system with a road cutting it in half. Wildlife like dormice and crested newts will not survive in what will be no more than roadside clumps of trees surrounded by tarmac and executive homes.

The developers do not mention that the lack of road widening was forced on them through legal pressure, rather than dreamt up out of the goodness of their hearts. And they do not mention what would be likely to happen in a few years’ time, when the massive increase in traffic to the new estate and the mega-Tesco would no doubt be expected to force a re-think on Titnore Lane for the usual “safety” reasons.

Needless to say, the battle against the destruction of our countryside in West Durrington goes on! We are urging everyone to send in their letters of objection to planning application WB/04/00040/OUT as soon as possible – October 9 is the very latest deadline. Write to James Appleton, Development Control Manager, at Worthing Borough Council, Portland House, Richmond Road, Worthing BN11 1LF or email planning@worthing.gov.uk

There will also be stalls in Worthing town centre, the first being next Saturday, September 6, from 11am at Holder’s Corner, Montague Street (near Liverpool Gardens).

And, of course, the camp is still going strong. There is, however, an urgent need for repairs to the infrastructure and defences, which have degraded over the last couple of years. Polyprop rope is badly wanted – as well as financial contributions.

If you can spare an hour or two to help at the camp, a tidy-up day is being held on Sunday September 21, from 10am. And then on Sunday September 28 there will be an Open Day, from 2pm. This will included guided tours, showing where the roads and housing are planned to destroy the area. Bring food to share.

More info: www.protectourwoodland.co.uk