The phone number to contact the Titnore Woods protest camp has changed. The new number for the camp is 07913 534083. The old one no longer works. Please pass the new number around.
We are camped in Titnore Woods near Worthing to resist a large Tesco and housing development project. It would destroy some of the last remaining ancient woodland in Sussex, if it goes ahead. Visitors and donations are welcome.
The phone number to contact the Titnore Woods protest camp has changed. The new number for the camp is 07913 534083. The old one no longer works. Please pass the new number around.
We are camped in Titnore Woods near Worthing to resist a large Tesco and housing development project. It would destroy some of the last remaining ancient woodland in Sussex, if it goes ahead. Visitors and donations are welcome.
Interesting photos for all you budding arm-tube construction artists. Look how tricky it is to remove a multi- and different-layered one, even when you’ve got all the best kit:
Interesting photos for all you budding arm-tube construction artists. Look how tricky it is to remove a multi- and different-layered one, even when you’ve got all the best kit:
Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)
Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK
“I thank you all dearly for writing” (Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)
Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)
Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK
“I thank you all dearly for writing” (Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)
Welcome to the Easter 2007 edition of Spirit of Freedom. First off I’d like to apologise in the delay in publishing this edition of Spirit of Freedom.
A lot of things have been happening recently for ELP’s volunteers and a delay was inevitable. However, despite the delay in publication ELP has some fantastic news. For the first time in ages ELP is able to bring some good news! A lot of the ‘Il Silvestre’ prisoners have been released! Marco Camenisch has had his sentence reduced at appeal! Jeff Luers may have his sentenced reduced! Rod Coronado has been released! Garfield Gabbard has been released! And long-term prisoner Dave Blenkinsop has been released!!!
This is all brilliant news. However despite our celebrations, ELP has also seen a number of new prisoners added to our list. So lets celebrate the good news of our friends and then lets support the news prisoners. Also before we end this editorial we’ve been asked by Joyanna Zacher to remind everyone on ELP’s policy towards police informants. We do not support them! Regardless of how long they are jailed for, we do not support them. Regardless of who they are, we do not support them. A police informant relinquishes their right to be regarded as an eco-prisoner as soon as they inform. ELP supports eco-prisoners, not police informants. But remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the real eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!
COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES
MARCO CAMENISCH APPEAL NEWS
In mid March 2007 ELP received some news from Switzerland that at his appeal, Marco Camenisch, has had his 17-year prison sentence, for allegedly killing a Swiss boarder guard, reduced to 8 years. The Appeal Court ruled that the original Judge had not taken into account Marco’s time spent in prison in Italy for destroying electricity pylons, nor had the Judge fully considered the outstanding prison sentence Marco had to serve for destroying electricity pylons in Switzerland. Added altogether (39 years), the prison sentence was excessively long and so was reduced so now Marco is serving an 18-year sentence.
JEFF LUERS APPEAL UPDATE
On Valentines Day (Feb 14th) the American media announced that the Court of Appeal has declared Jeff ‘Free’ Luers, 22+ years prison sentence is too long and suggested it should be reduced to between 11+ to 13+ years. ELP will bring you more news as we get it.
ARRESTS IN MEXICO
On the 30th of November 2006 two Mexican anarchists, Oscar Santa Maria Caro and Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, were arrested for as yet unknown reasons. Oscar is a well known animal rights activist who is involved with RATA (Resistance Against Animal Torture). Reports are coming out of Mexico alleging that both Oscar and Sacramento have been tortured whilst inside. There are also reports alleging that their interrogators have threatened to rape female political prisoners if the two men do not confess to their alleged crimes. ELP is trying to obtain more information about these arrests and will bring you more news as we get it.
ROD CORONADO UPDATE
In late March, American Earth First! activist, Rod Coronado, was released from prison having served his sentence for sabotaging a mountain lion hunt. ELP has learnt that Rod’s trial for “demonstrating the use of a destructive device,” relating to a speech he gave in San Diego in 2003, is scheduled to begin in June.
FINNISH ‘GREEN SCARE’
ELP has learnt that the authorities in Finland appear to be copying American tactics and are targeting known animal rights and environmental activists. No matter how minor the ‘offence’ the Finnish police seem determined to prosecute. One person ended up in court for ringing the doorbell of an animal abuser whilst on a demo. The activist was fined for “disturbing home peace”. Another activist was questioned for ‘criminal damage’ after they allegedly spat on a fur shop window! Two more activists were raided and questioned for allegedly putting a leaflet through a post box and putting a sticker on the window of a fur shop. The police accused them of ‘criminal damage’.
ELP’s Finnish friends, who wish to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, say these are just a few examples of the types of police activity happening in Finland at the moment.
ELP is informed that the police have set up a special unit to investigate animal rights activists and the unit has said intend to get activists involved in the early stages of activism ‘before it gets more serious’. Translation, the police want to intimidate people away from activism.
SERIOUS ORGANISED CRIME!
Every so often ELP brings you stories of ridiculous prosecutions of non-violent activists under Britain’s new ‘Serious Organised Crime’ legislation. Who can forget the fines imposed on two peace activists for reading out the names of the British war dead, killed in Iraq, whilst standing next to Britains main war memorial! Sadly the courts have now moved beyond just fining people and have started to hand out prison sentences to activists under this new law. In early March three British animal rights activists were jailed for between 15 months to 4 years for their part in a non-violent campaign against Huntindon Life Sciences.
According to the BBC, the three were accused of being key figures in a campaign against companies with links to HLS. They were accused of entering the offices of the companies and demanding that those companies cut their links to HLS. They were also accused of organising loud demonstrations against the companies buildings. Plus they were accused of taking photos of the people who worked for the companies.
MAN ARRESTED IN AMERICA
At the end of March the American media reported that a 24-year old man, Grant Barnes, had been arrested accused of setting fire to SUVs in Denver, CO. The media quoted the cops as saying incendiary devices were used to damage the vehicles and one of the vehicles had ELF spray painted on it. The police also stated they did not believe that Grant Barnes was a member of the ELF.
IL SILVESTRE UPDATE
At the end of February 2007 the Italian courts ruled that Silvia Guerini and Federico Bonamici should be released under house arrest. This means that only three Il Silvestre members are currently imprisoned. They are Benedetta Galante, Francesco Gioia and Costantino Ragusa.
ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS
Fadalla Idris Alajaimy (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.
Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.
Tre Arrow, CS# 05850722, Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center, 4216 Wilkinson Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2, Canada. On remand accused of involvement with an arson on logging trucks and an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. Both arsons occurred in the USA. Tre is fighting his extradition to the USA.
Grant Barnes #1533241, PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201, USA. On remand accused of setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. On one of the vehicles the letters ELF was spray-painted.
Nathan Block, #1663667, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.
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 Boarder Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.
Ibai Ederra, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 – Iruñez Pamplona, Navarra (España), Spain. Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.
Benedetta Galante, Casa Circondariale, Contrada Capo di Monte, 82100 – Benevento (BN), Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 3 years 6 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.
Francesco Gioia, Via Maiano, 10, 06049 Spoleto, Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 5 years 2 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial for escaping from house arrest.
Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, OSP, 2605 State St. Salem, OR 97310, USA. Serving 22 years & 8 months for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck.
Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.
Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E 231A, Sacramento County Main Jail, 651 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. On Remand accused of planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants.
Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera (PV), Italy. Il Silvestre activist serving 7½ years. 1) Five years for promoting & participating in COR direct action. 2) 18-months for burgling and firebombing a multinational company. 3) 12-months for organising an anti-GM protest. Costanino is also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.
John Wade #38548-083, FCI Petersburg Low, Satellite Camp, PO Box 90027, Petersburg, VA 23804, USA. Serving 37 months for a series of ELF actions against a number of targets including McDonalds & Burger King; urban sprawl; the construction industry; and an SUV dealership.
Joyanna Zacher #1662550, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.
ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS
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.
Madeline Buckler PR7492, HMP Morton Hall, Swinderby, Lincoln, LN6 9PT, England. Serving 2 years for sending hate mail to a family who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.
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.
Donald Currie TN4593, HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambs, PE15 OPR, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS.
Josh Demmitt 12314-081, FCI Safford, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 9000, Safford, AZ 85548, USA. Serving 30 months for an ALF arson on a University animal testing facility.
Darius Fullmer #26397-050, FCI Fort Dix Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 1000, Fort Dix, NJ 08640 USA. Serving 12 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.
Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury Route #37, 33 1/2 Pembroke Road, Danbury, CT 06811 USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.
Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving 5½ years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following the damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life Science.
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.
Joseph Harris TN5728, HMP Bullingdon, Patrick Haugh Road, Arncott, Nr. Bicester, Oxon, OX25 1WD, England. Serving 2 years for damaging the property of people associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences. (His original sentence was reduced on appeal).
Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072 USA. Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.
Josephine Mayo PR6508, HMP Drake Hall, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6LQ, England. Serving 4 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.
Trish Portwine, TM7153, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving fifteen months for her role in loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.
John Smith TB4887, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.
Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, FCI Butner Medium II Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 1500, Butner, NC 27509 USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.
Mark Taylor TT6636, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London, SE28 0UB, England. Serving four years for organising loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.
Suzanne Taylor, TM7154, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving two and a half years for helping organise loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.
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.
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.
OTHER ANTI-WAR PRISONERS
Brendan Walsh, 12473-052, FCI Allenwood Low, PO Box 1000, White Deer, PA 17887, USA. Serving 5 years for an arson on an army recruitment office in protest at the War on Iraq.
THE LECCE FIVE
The Lecce Five 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
Lasandra Burwell W063658, Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave. Marysville, OH 43040, USA. Serving 5 years for taking part in an anti-fascist demonstration which turned into a riot.
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.
Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech Republic. Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against local neo-nazis. His charge was “bodily harm”. He speaks Czech, Slovak and Polish. You can also write him short postcards in English.
Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland. Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending himself.
PARTY & PROTEST
Around the world there have been several massive protests against global capitalism and its environmental impact. The following have all been jailed in connection with the protests.
Jonathan Philip Robert, Crisp County Detention Center, 197 Ga. Hwy. 300 South, Cordele, GA 31015, USA (12 months)
OTHER PRISONERS
Oscar Santa Maria Caro, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. The exact charges against Oscar are unknown but Oscar is a member of RATA, a known animal rights group.
Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. Co-defendant of Oscar Santa Maria Caro.
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.
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.
MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of all life. 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 Grateford, PO Box 244, Grateford, PA 19426-0244, USA.
Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), 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.
MAPUCHE PRISONERS & OTHER LAND RIGHTS PRISONERS
Due to space limitation we cannot publish the names & addresses of the Mapuche & Land Rights prisoners in this edition of Spirit of Freedom, however if you would like a list please contact Spirit of Freedom.
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 bimonthly publication (available via e-mail or in a paper version). If you would like to receive a copy contact Spirit of Freedom, BM Box 2407, London, WC1N 3XX, England. Or e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com
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
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
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.
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
North American ELP Prisoner Fund. The North American ELP group has set up a fund where people can pay money, for North American Eco-Defence and Animal Rights prisoners, which will then be distributed to the North American prisoners. For information about the Fund and how to make a donation please contact naelpsn@mutualaid.org
DEDICATION
This Edition of Spirit of Freedom is dedicated to Russian antifa activist, Stanislav Korepanov, who died in hospital on the 31st of March 2007, having been attacked a few days earlier by an armed gang of neo-nazis. Stanislav is the second Russian antifa activist to have been brutally attacked in recent months. On the 14th of January 2007 vegan animal rights activist, Ivan Elin, was surrounded and attacked by ten neo-nazis in St. Petersburg after he had taken part in a weekly “Food not bombs” peace rally. Ivan suffered 21 stab wounds and was rushed to hospital where he is making his recovery. Following on from the knife attack on Ivan, on the 4th of February, with a small bomb exploded in Vladimirskaya Square of St. Petersburg, near to where Food Not Bombs organise their weekly protests. The bomb was hidden in a kiosk selling flowers. Luckily the bomb only damaged the kiosk and did not injure anyone.
This is not the first time neo-nazis have used knives or explosives to target Russian activists. On the 22nd of December 2006 a number of police were injured whilst trying to defuse a device, which set to murder antifa activists in Moscow. In August 2006 eleven people were killed in Moscow when a neo-nazi bomb exploded in Cherkisovski marketplace. The brutal murder of Stanislav Korepanov and the attack against Ivan are a reminded of why fascism must never be allowed to go unchallenged. ELP wishes Ivan Elin a speedy recovery from his injuries and we congratulate the Russian ‘Food Not Bombs’ movement for not giving into this neo-nazi intimidation.
Our thoughts and sorrow are with the family and friends of Stanislav Korepanov who was only 18 years old when he died.
A two part short film (from an in-progress feature movie called Policing The Pollution) investigating the pollution of Carrowmore Lake, the water supply for over 10,000 Erris people in County Mayo. The polluter – Shell. Local resident John Monaghan and myself look over the water tests and confront Mayo County Council.
A two part short film (from an in-progress feature movie called Policing The Pollution) investigating the pollution of Carrowmore Lake, the water supply for over 10,000 Erris people in County Mayo. The polluter – Shell. Local resident John Monaghan and myself look over the water tests and confront Mayo County Council.
Don’t_mention_the_water_01 – video/x-ms-wmv 19M
Don’t_mention_the_water_02 – video/x-ms-wmv 17M
When I first met with John Monaghan during my time in Ireland, the first thing he mentioned was the pollution of the local water supply which was coming directly from the Shell/Statoil Corrib Gas Project at Bellanaboy Bridge.
This has been reported before on Indymedia.ie. Now their latest reports are starting to point to what we uncovered whilst out there.
In order to construct the refinery foundations 500,000 tons of wet Atlantic peat must be removed. Shell started this but halted operations when high-aluminium content “doib” soil was exposed. The aluminium made contact with on-site surface water and proceeded to contaminate surrounding streams and rivers, all of which lead to Carrowmore Lake, the drinking water supply for over 10,000 residents in the Erris community.
Acting after the initial problem arose, on 8 September 2005, Mayo County Council (MCC) issued Shell E & P Ireland (SEPIL) an official warning: “Failure to take immediate action to avoid pollution of the waterways will result in MCC issuing a notice under Section 12 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977.”
Aluminium in drinking water has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer-type diseases, and bone disorders. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) will not admit or deny this, stating the link between aluminium and such diseases “cannot be ruled out”, in 1993 they set a maximum limit of 200 ug/l (micrograms per litre).
The levels set on the Corrib Gas Project and issued directly to SEPIL are an “action limit” of 135 ug/l and an “maximum limit” of 200 ug/l.
It took Shell till February 2006 to act. They installed an Axonics Electro-Chemical Water Treatment Plant to strain out aluminium using electrical currents that passed through the water and collected the aluminium on conducting plates. But the aluminium levels kept rising and the Axonics plant continually broke down.
When asked by this journalist to discuss the levels of aluminium that the plant could safely deal with, no one at the Axonics company in Swansea would give a reply. The secretary said she was told to explain to me they were in a legally binding contract and were allowed not to make any comment without prior consent from the customer.
When the levels in the river, lake and water continued a steady rise the local community complained again. MCC acted again. This time it cut nearly all drinking water tests, reduced Carrowmore Lake tests dramatically and Shell began doing their own on-site testing.
By the end of 2006 the water coming off-site was regularly over the maximum limits, often two or three times and peaking at levels of over 2000 and 3000 ug/l.
Discrepancies were also found when records released from MCC were compared to the tests by Shell on-site.
On 13/12/06 Shell’s on-site testing showing an “indicative level” of 666 ug/l, still over three times the maximum limit. MCC Figures released in February showed the same date, same source of testing (SP1) and recorded 3271 ug/l.
On 20/12/06 Shell’s figures showed 180 ug/l. MCC recorded 1928 ug/l.
The knock-on effect has seen higher levels of aluminium appear in the lake and the drinking water itself. 03/01/07 it tested 521 ug/l. By 14/02/07 it had risen to 658 ug/l. The drinking water, tested twice from a source in Belmullet at the end of January 2007 first registered 1714 ug/l, then dropped several days later to 406 ug/l.
Shell denied they were anything to do with the rising levels, claiming it was because of river bank erosion in the area.
The pollution of Carrowmore Lake has more recently took centre-stage of the protest, leading to a site invasion by 60 locals and an occupation of council offices in recent weeks, who residents accused of failing to act on the issue (see Indymedia.ie/mayo).
On 2 April 2007, I was informed by local people in the area Shell had recommenced the removal of the rest of the peat, which will expose more of the doib soil. Only one-third was originally removed in previous operations.
For further information:
26.3.07 – Today, a group of local residents, inspired by last year’s Camp for Climate Action at Drax power station, but dismayed at plans to increase congestion and pollution on the M1, have visited Jackson’s yard in Sutton in Ashfield, near Mansfield. The citizens locked the gates shut and hung a variety of banners giving the clear message that Jackson’s contribution to a worsening environment was not welcome.
26.3.07 – Today, a group of local residents, inspired by last year’s Camp for Climate Action at Drax power station, but dismayed at plans to increase congestion and pollution on the M1, have visited Jackson’s yard in Sutton in Ashfield, near Mansfield. The citizens locked the gates shut and hung a variety of banners giving the clear message that Jackson’s contribution to a worsening environment was not welcome.
Jacksons are heavily implicated in the ridiculous plans to increase congestion and pollution on the M1 by widening it into four lanes in each direction – their main focus is the area around junctions 31 and 32. Until recently, the yard, on Coxmoor Road, also housed a dodgy Scandinavian outfit called Skanska. These clowns are even deeper in the mire; in asscociation with Balfor Beatie they are engaged in work from the M25 to Luton.
Given that Blair’s government is thoroughly in the pocket of big business, it should be no surpise to anyone that recently, when Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman was churning out the same old lies about road widening for the Nottingham Evening Post, he repeated almost word for word parts of the Skanska website’s M1 page!
Clearly, the sensible response to traffic congestion would involve investment in public transport and increased use of the railways for frieght. However, since these solutions are unlikely to make much profit for Blair’s friends in big business, we are all left choking on the fumes generated by a massively expensive white elephant. The Government is
giving your money to climate criminals and profit terrorists, whilst claiming to take climate change seriously – the time has come for sane and moderate people everywhere to take a stand against this madness.
Maybe the Police are starting to get the idea too – they turned up, but then went away again, allegedly due to a staff shortage.
To get involved in the next Climate Camp, visit www.climatecamp.org.uk
23.03.2007
Statoil, Norway’s state owned oil company has interests in a gas pipeline being constructed in Ireland. Many locals oppose its construction. Their protests against the pipeline have been policed in a heavy handed way. The protest was taken to the Norwegian embassy in London yesterday.
23.03.2007
Statoil, Norway’s state owned oil company has interests in a gas pipeline being constructed in Ireland. Many locals oppose its construction. Their protests against the pipeline have been policed in a heavy handed way. The protest was taken to the Norwegian embassy in London yesterday.
The non-violent protest outside the Norwegian embassy started at around midday and continued for more than an hour. Police were called but no arrests made. A samba band played and and one policeman complained that the band really needed a string section. It was a good humoured demo, but the point was made. I have personally seen a video of the protests in Ireland and was shocked at the violent way the police delt with often quite elderly protesters who include local fishermen and farmers. I saw them being beaten with battons, pushed and punched.
Press release by demonstrators.
The demonstration held yesterday 22nd March, 2007, by a nationwide autonomous collective, was highlighting Norway’s state-owned Statoild and gas company’s present involvement in the proposed gas pipeline adn refinery development in the West of Ireland at Rossport, county Mayo.
Statoil has an alleged ethical policy, but there are not ethics involved in this development and no local support or consultation. The company, and thus the Norwegian government, are promoting human rights abuses by supporting the Irish State’s policy of brutal suppression of the right to protest using the Irish police (Garda), and polluting Carrowmore Lake, the local drinking water supply.
This group is issuing a demand to Norway and Statoil to stop its part in this development or face a call for a tourist boycott of Norway and disruption of Norwegian trade and commerce to the UK.
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220307_Nor_Emb – video/x-ms-wmv 8.4M
From the press release:
“The demonstration held today, by a nation-wide autonomous collective (and one dog), was highlighting Norway’s state-owned Statoil and gas company’s present involvement in the West of Ireland at Rossport, County Mayo.
Statoil has an alleged “ethical policy”, but there are no ethics involved in this development and no local support or consultation. The company, and thus the Norwegian government, are promoting human rights abuses by supporting the Irish State’s policy of brutal suppression of the right to protest using the Irish police (Garda), and polluting Carrowmore Lake, the local drinking water supply.
This group is issuing a demand to Norway and Statoil to stop its part in this development or face a call for a tourist boycott of Norway and disruption of Norwegian trade and commerce to the UK.”
The dog bit was not in the original release, that was my lil’ add on. So, sue me.
As the video shows the banner blocking the door lasted as long as it took the ten or more heavily armed police officers from the Metropolitan Diplomatic Division to arrive. They removed the banner immediately and ushered the protestors into one specific area of the pavement.
Two Irish citizens then decided to try to apply for a Norwegian passport, as Norway has profited massively from Irish natural resources, producing far superior health and education prospects in Norway than in Ireland. So they figured the least Norway could give back was a free passport and access to their health care.
The representative, as the video shows, seemed to find the whole thing funny at first, but watch his smile drop as he is shown printed images from the recent month’s of violence the local community of Rossport have suffered at the hands of the Garda.
As reported in the 6 November 2006 release of Garda Review, Superintendent Joe Gannon, who is in charge of policing the Shell/Statoil Corrib Gas Terminal construction site, was quoted: “There were no arrests. That was part of our strategy; we did not want to facilitate anyone down there with a route to martyrdom. There has been that policy ever since.”
No arrests. But baton charges, throwing old men and women in ten-foot deep trenches, punching, kicking, martial arts techniques and daily intimidation are acceptable, it seems from this journalist’s own experiences over the last month.
16.03.2007
This morning, Saving Iceland and the Dutch/Belgian environmentalist network GroenFront! built a dam blockading the entrance of the Icelandic Embassy in Brussels (photo-report). Earlier this week, a picketline was held at the Icelandic Consulate in Rotterdam and the folk singer Armand, the “Dutch Bob Dylan”, performed songs of praise to Icelandic nature. Last night, EarthFirst! closed down both ALCOA’s Dutch head office in Drunen and an ALCOA factory in Kerkrade, the Netherlands in opposition to heavy industry. The actions this week express growing international concern on the plans for expansion of the aluminium industry and megahydro in Iceland and other countries such as Trinidad and Brazil.
16.03.2007
This morning, Saving Iceland and the Dutch/Belgian environmentalist network GroenFront! built a dam blockading the entrance of the Icelandic Embassy in Brussels (photo-report). Earlier this week, a picketline was held at the Icelandic Consulate in Rotterdam and the folk singer Armand, the “Dutch Bob Dylan”, performed songs of praise to Icelandic nature. Last night, EarthFirst! closed down both ALCOA’s Dutch head office in Drunen and an ALCOA factory in Kerkrade, the Netherlands in opposition to heavy industry. The actions this week express growing international concern on the plans for expansion of the aluminium industry and megahydro in Iceland and other countries such as Trinidad and Brazil.
Last night “Earth First!” closed Alcoa’s headquarters in Drunen, the Netherlands. Alcoa’s largest dutch factory in Kerkrade was also shut. Entrance gates were locked with chains. The gates’locks themselves were sabotaged with a liquid.
Alcoa is constructing new aluminum smelters in Iceland. Alcoa also plans to build new smelters in Trinidad and in the Amazon. There is fierce local and international opposition to these plans. Effects on nature and climate are devastating. Various planned smelters would be powered by constructing new megadams that would flood large areas of unique wilderness.
Last night “Earth First!” closed Alcoa’s headquarters in Drunen, the Netherlands. Alcoa’s largest dutch factory in Kerkrade was also shut. Entrance gates were locked with chains. The gates’locks themselves were sabotaged with a liquid.
Alcoa is constructing new aluminum smelters in Iceland. Alcoa also plans to build new smelters in Trinidad and in the Amazon. There is fierce local and international opposition to these plans. Effects on nature and climate are devastating. Various planned smelters would be powered by constructing new megadams that would flood large areas of unique wilderness.
With this action, we are declaring our solidarity with the Saving Iceland campaign. Saving Iceland has called out for an international week of action against heavy industry. This action has been done in response to that call.
Earth First! in Belgium and the Netherlands is also called Groen Front!.
Earth First! is not an organisation but an international banner for direct action.
NO COMPROMISE IN DEFENCE OF MOTHER EARTH!
(Source of this report:
https://prod.indymedia.nl/nl/2007/03/43107.shtml)
Also relevant:
http://www.groenfront.nl
http://www.savingiceland.org
SPRING is in the air, the birds are singing in the trees and Titnore Woods in Sussex is once again a lovely place to be…
With the end of a tough winter, the protest camp near Worthing has today appealed for help in a spring offensive aimed at making sure it is in fighting fit shape as its first anniversary and another rebel summer approach.
SPRING is in the air, the birds are singing in the trees and Titnore Woods in Sussex is once again a lovely place to be…
With the end of a tough winter, the protest camp near Worthing has today appealed for help in a spring offensive aimed at making sure it is in fighting fit shape as its first anniversary and another rebel summer approach.
It was set up in May last year to oppose plans for a 875-home estate, access roads and new Tesco megastore on ancient woodland and green fields in West Durrington.
Top of the wishlist at the moment are pallets, long support beams for treehouses, climbing equipment (not harnesses) and climbing rope. Also someone with a van or similar vehicle who would be able to help clear away rubbish from the site.
Most of all, of course, there is a plea for more people! Whether you can spare five minutes, five hours, five days, five weeks or five months, your physical presence in any supportive capacity is always appreciated.
Why not get down there yourself and discover the kind of environmental direct action that they thought had gone out of fashion after Newbury?
The camp is in woods just north of “Somerset Lake”, a fishing lake east of Titnore Lane. However, Titnore Lane is very dangerous for pedestrians and easiest access is from Fulbeck Avenue, off Titnore Way. Take the path at the far east of Fulbeck Avenue, then turn left until there is a large gap in the hedgerow on the left, opposite a cleared square of ground on the right, and cross right over to the far side of the field, keeping the clump of trees to your left.
It can also be reached via the car park at Tesco’s in Durrington, served by the “Pulse” bus route from Worthing town centre. Basically head straight on from the entrance to the fields at the back end of the supermarket car park, reaching the gap in the hedgerow mentioned above.
Nearest railway stations are Durrington and Goring by Sea on the main South Coast line with direct trains from Brighton, Portsmouth and London.
There is a camp phone – 0780 4245324.
More info: www.eco-action.org/porkbolter
www.protectourwoodland.co.uk
Indymedia Global Report article on Titnore – mp3 5.5M
a piece about the camp made for the Indymedia radio show
This year’s gathering is from 18 – 22 July in Norfolk, near a mainline railway station.
The focus is on practical skills, but there will also be many of the regular diverse and interesting workshops.
This year’s gathering is from 18 – 22 July in Norfolk, near a mainline railway station.
The focus is on practical skills, but there will also be many of the regular diverse and interesting workshops.
The idea is to have multiple workshop sessions, e.g. four two-hour slots spread over four days building up skills in a particular area, so people can learn the basic skills to actually do the job at other mobilisations, events like the climate camp – or wherever. For example plumbing, electrical skills, medics…and whatever else people want to do… It’s not just about the practical skills but also about getting to know each other and starting to work together.
If you would like to offer a workshop please write to:
martinshaw64@riseup.net
Thanks – the EF! summer gathering collecting
General contact details etc at http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/
please forward to people you think would be interested.
