Wilderness Defence – Page 106

Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp Evicted

thursday 17th April
Eyewitness account of todays events at Rath Lugh

Shortly before 1 o clock today there was a peaceful eviction of the Rath Lugh Camp. Four Protectors who were on site were told by Gardai that they had to be out by 1 o clock and to gather up their belongings and leave. This was not done in an aggressive manner and was complied with by the Protectors.

Once they had left the woods no one was allowed back in. There were 20 Gardai, 3 Garda Cars plus 2 Vans as well as about a dozen Construction Workers at the entrance to the woods as this was happening. A steel fence has now been erected separating the Rath from the public road. A mini digger is busy creating a path and a low loader is in situ.

In a sinister twist after the eviction, a female Protector was taking photographs from her car when she was approached by a man with an MD SECURITY yellow vest on and wearing a Balaclava! This was about 200mt from Gardai. He was harassing her about taking photographs even though she was perfectly entitled to do so and parked on a public road. Amazingly when she made a complaint to a Garda he denied that there were any men in balaclavas in the vicinity. Just as he said that, 2 Security men ran past them, both wearing balaclavas! The Garda refused to do anything about this and threatened to arrest her under the Housing and Miscellaneous Act!!!

Mark Cleary has just appeared with his camera.

There will be a video of this incident and the eviction issued shortly.

http://www.tarapixie.net

—

6:30pm – another update – the protector is still in the tree house and they are trying to knock him down.
The camp has been completely thrashed and when some people tried to retrieve their belongings they were told that they would be arrested if they entered the woods.
The mood of construction workers and operators is very threatening, bags of belongings being cut with stanley knives etc.
There is no one to document what is going on.
There is a digger destroying the round house apparently …
They were told that no one is allowed into the wood any more.
They are not allowed to clean up – which was the intention over the next number of days.
What is really worrying is that one well known operator flashed some documents at the protestors and said that SIAC had just bought the whole wood from Coillte.

Saving Iceland in Aberystwyth, May 7th

8pm, The Treehouse, Baker St – Talk & Film
A number of heavy industry corporations including RioTinto and ALCOA are invading vast areas of uninhabited wilderness in Iceland for new smelters, refineries and power plants. Come and visit some of the most stunning places of beauty on earth, and help protect them with direct action.
Despite of its green image, Iceland is planning a large number of heavy industry projects, including a number of aluminium smelters and an oil refinery. If they continue, every glacial river in the country will be dammed, vast areas will be destroyed by flooding and large scale geothermal drilling. The subarctic tundra harbours some of the most valuable wetlands and bird breeding areas in Europe, unique ecosystems with geological phenomena and landscapes that can not be seen anywhere in the world.

May 7th, Saving Iceland will give a presentation of these issues in the Treehouse in Aberystwyth, and we will tell you about the international direct action campaign that has taken place, and the plans for this summer’s camp starting in July, including practicalities. We will have a number of vehicles going from the UK (incl. Wales) and Europe to the camp. We will also show some videos of recent actions and a slideshow of some of the threatened areas.

More info: http://www.savingiceland.org.

Giant Garrett pays a long overdue visit to the Upper Florentine valley, Tasmania

2008-04-14
Activists from Still Wild Still Threatened have welcomed a 6 metre tall Peter Garrett to the Upper Florentine Valley.

2008-04-14
Activists from Still Wild Still Threatened have welcomed a 6 metre tall Peter Garrett to the Upper Florentine Valley. Activists took the ‘giant Garrett’ on a tour of coupe FO42F which is due to be burnt in the immediate future and highlighted their concerns with the continued logging and burning of some of Tasmania’s most carbon dense forests. Old growth forests play an essential role in the global carbon cycle, soaking in and storing huge amounts of carbon from our atmosphere. The logging of FO42F last Summer prompted a number of protests against the continued destruction of high conservation value forests in the area.

“We are speaking out against the systematic eradication of some of our most significant carbon sinks at the hands of local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Ltd., and are calling on Peter Garrett to take immediate action and halt this rampant woodchipping and burning of our precious old growth forests” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“It is an environmentally criminal act to continue decimating and burning these irreplaceable ecosystems Protecting Tasmania’s ancient forests is a simple, cheap and effective climate change solution” said Ms Majewski.

It is rumoured that the ‘giant Garrett’ will be visiting a number of threatened forests during the burn season. The details of this tour will be made public in the near future. Stay tuned.

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

Bunbury – College Grove protesters stop machines for the day

14 April 2008 – College Grove protesters stop machines for the day: Protesters accuse police of using excessive force…
The fourth day of actions by protesters brought work to a halt for the day.

The battle for the forest at College Grove is set to continue for some time to come…

14 April 2008 – College Grove protesters stop machines for the day: Protesters accuse police of using excessive force…
The fourth day of actions by protesters brought work to a halt for the day.

The battle for the forest at College Grove is set to continue for some time to come…

MORE: Protesters accuse police of using excessive force – 11 April 2008

Activists from the College Grove protest in Bunbury have lodged a formal complaint to the Bunbury police regarding an incident in the forest on 9 April 2008. STORY: http://www.radicalhack.com/gwfag/video/violence.htm

Many people have been shocked to witness on both GWN and WIN news a police officer hitting a none violent protester several times directly in front of his supervising officer.

Questions remain to be answered. Firstly, whilst acknowledging and respecting the professionalism and responsible actions of the majority of police officers present, it is only reasonable to ask; was this force applied by one of the police officers in the news footage, necessary to maintain law and order?

Secondly, will the authorities find ways to make this look like the police officer was in the right or will these bully tactics be properly and adequately addressed?

Click here to view the news footage – GWN at normal speed and WIN in slow motion: http://www.radicalhack.com/gwfag/video/violence.wmv

White Crosses bear witness to bulldozed bushland – 12 April 2008:
http://www.radicalhack.com/gwfag/media/080412cross.htm

The Bunbury community has laid dozens of white crosses on land at College Grove that has been bulldozed by LandCorp.

Simon Peterffy, a spokesperson for the College Grove Forest Rescue group said that the crosses were a symbol of the death of the forest. “The bushland at College Grove was a high conservation area, home to the endangered Western Ringtail possum and loved by many people”, he said. “LandCorp has destroyed some of the bush and are planning to destroy more”. “We have asked the community to hammer in a white cross as a symbol of respect for the bush”.

He said that people could bear witness to the destruction that had occurred to a valuable part of Bunbury’s natural heritage. ‘We must be able to show our respect’, he said.

Councillor Brendan Kelly said that the effort by protesters to try to stop the destruction was to be admired. “These rogue developers must realize that they have to stop”, he said. LandCorp has cleared about 3 acres out of 7 to date but are planning to develop nearly 100 acres.

Councillor Kelty said that the world had changed and developers needed to know that their activities are no longer acceptable.

MEDIA Contact: Simon 0422540756 Brendan 0407219515

See photos, video and more information here:
http://www.globalwarmingfg.com/

Police Violence at treesit action in College Grove, Bunbury, Australia

April 10, 2008: Following a pre-dawn raid yesterday at College Grove bushland in Bunbury, 2 activists were arrested with one taken to hospital after a forceful and violent push by WA Police.

April 10, 2008: Following a pre-dawn raid yesterday at College Grove bushland in Bunbury, 2 activists were arrested with one taken to hospital after a forceful and violent push by WA Police. A spokes for the Community Independent Activists (CIA) group says it was the “most violent display by police in 15 years of forest activism…”

The forest rescuers managed to stop heavy machinery for over two hours on the first day of native bushland being cleared for the controversial LandCorp/City of Bunbury land release.

The CIA group are asking for your help in the action. Billeting can be provided for anyone wishing to help out on the ground. Please phone 9791 5515 or 0422 540 756 to get in contact…

Almost one police per protester was sent to College Grove to ensure that industry got to smash down one of the few remaining areas of forest in Bunbury Western Australia.

The group of peaceful activists had been occupying a tree in the College Grove bushland near Bunbury in WA’s south-west. At 5am on Wednesday 9th April around a dozen police officers surrounded the tree.

A tree-sitter removed all ropes for climbing down the 30 metre tuart tree she was occupying and refused to come down. She had been part of a rotation of dozens of concerned local people taking shifts up the old Tuart over the past two months. According to the Bunbury Mail, a cherry picker attempted to remove her at 9am – protesters were told that they would be arrested if they entered the “worksite.”

The CIA told Perth Indymedia today that after a callout to the community. Some 40 people – consisting of elderly people, children, mothers and those not at work – converged at the site and rushed an excavator, playing music and generally making the most of the situation. More police arrived bringing the number to around 40.

A group including elderly and children broke the line and held up the heavy machinery that was clearing a path through the forest to the tree platform.

They left when warned by police they would be arrested, but ran back in front of the moving machine a short time later.

Protestors climbed onto the machine, unfurled a banner along one side and sung songs for almost two hours before police reinforcements arrived and cleared the group. One man used a locking device to lock himself to the grader.

CIA report that two of the group were arrested following a violent and unprovoked attack by police after they refused to loosen their grip on the machine.

South West Environment Centre spokeswoman Susan Hill told the West the majority of people in Bunbury were opposed to the development. “At least 50 per cent of the community of Bunbury want this to remain here and this is our legacy,” she said. She said protests would continue until the developers backed down.

The Tactical Response Group have since left, being replaced by new officers and the CIA group have since reoccupied the tree and are conducting walkthroughs at the site.

Mainstream news cameras were at the scene and reported the violent police actions on south-west television last night.

Please phone 9791 5515 or 0422 540 756 to get in contact… “WA forests need your help”

—

VIDEO: Industry destroys more Australian heritage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWu_5I9ZY2c

Police move in to College Grove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2FAA9B57rw

WAforests – Youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WAforests

Perth Indymedia Background:
College Grove Tuart action escalates in Bunbury
http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=default&featureview=618

Bunbury Mail
The West
===================================

I’m about to give my own “report” for the events of the 10th (yesterday).

[Reports are being posted by someone else so I’m going to do a mini report in the hope that they will give a more detailed report (according to the needs and philosophies of the local crew)].

Yesterday a person (not sure if I’m able to use his name yet) “locked on” to a machine all day at College Grove. He was allowed by the police to remain locked on, thanks to the outcome of a court case involving another of our crew. The police admitted to being powerless, thanks to the courts and “new laws”.

———————–End of report———————–

Recently one of our crew was acquitted of charges laid against him for an identical action at Arcadia Forest (near Collie) last year.

Well this does not automatically create a “binding precedent” as that happens when a decision is handed down by a higher court (where we’re concerned – higher than the Magistrates court) but myself, Roger and now Dave have been acquitted under similar circumstances. Well it seems to have made an impact on the police, though we have not actually affected an actual precedent.

My PERSONAL feeling is that having lost three consecutive forest cases and accrued in excess of $10,000 of costs as a result, not to mention time wasted and bad publicity, that the police have possibly considered that the benefits of doing what they always do to stop us, is no longer viable.

PHEW! What does this mean? 1). Well we locked on and the cops, as the officer admitted to us ‘Are disempowered” to do anything. 2).We can keep locking on and there is nothing they can do about it.

HOWEVER! It’s still early days. It’s damn fine news but I would like to seek legal advice before recommending a course of action.

In the meantime, stay radical.

From ‘The West’:
Police move on College Grove protesters – 11th April 2008, 16:00 WST

http://southwest.thewest.com.au/Regionals.aspx?MenuID=277&ContentId=67471

Police have issued seven move on notices to protesters at College Grove bushland to keep people from entering the LandCorp housing development site.

Yesterday a man chained himself underneath a front end loader, halting the movement of the vehicle for several hours.

Acting Inspector Eric Asjes said the protesters had to accept the democatic process and allow police to devote their manpower to other causes.

“I don’t think the protesters are doing the right thing here, to cause so much grief and loss of manpower is really not the aim of the protest but it is affecting our ability to attend other jobs,” Insp Asjes told thewest.com.au

Solidarity with Tara in Ireland – trip reportback

A group of us from Brighton went over to Ireland recently to support the Irish protesters attempt, to halt the work on the M3 Motorway.

The 50km, four lane stretch includes a huge, 53 acre interchange, with two massive orbits and 10 flyover bridges, the construction has already diverted gabhra rivers historical waterways, and heavy machinery have bulldozed ancient tombs and graves within the sacred valley.

Whilst the money spinning, toll roads are being built by Dick Cheyneys’ Halliburton company, SIAC and Ferrovial are the real criminal companies responsible for most of the carnage.

If the motorway is not stopped or re-routed it will destroy one the most important archaeological landscapes in Europe, and wipe out a huge amount of Irelands culture, history, identity and heritage.

On the 15th of march we arrived at the direct action camp, which is situated on top of the ancient monument of Rath Lugh. This is one of 150 sacred sites within the Tara Complex, and one of the 43 that has been wiped out along the route of the motorway.

The protesters have built a number of walkways linking tree houses together, and built various lock on’s, the security have been heavy handed in removing the protesters from the Rath Lugh Site but other camps are being set up along the route to continue the battle to save the Tara.

Equipment and people are urgently needed!!

One of the first things I noticed when I got there was the intimidation and the threats of violence from the security, they had metal bars and lumps of wood and they were ready to lash out at anyone who tried to physically stop the construction.
I still went digger diving everyday, but because I had a camcorder with me this acted as a deterrent against their assault.

When we arrived Lisa Feeney AKA “Squeek” had just come out of a 20ft deep tunnel, after being down there for 60hrs. Her father and uncle were guilt tripping her saying she was selfish and she was going to die. So Lisa agreed to come out of the tunnel but only if a 12 point agreement was signed between her-self and the National Roads Authority, the N.R.A representative Kevin O’Rourke signed the agreement which stated that all work would be stopped for one month, after Lisa came out the tunnel the agreement was breached by the NRA within 24hrs, they lied and claimed no agreement made.

The protesters will now make an application for an emergency injunction at the supreme high court, because of the discrepancies over the Compulsory Purchase Order on Rath Lugh, which is currently breaking the national monuments act of 2004.

The N.RA. have admitted that they have been working off inaccurate maps since the planning process, but still continue to claim that they are not damaging the 2000 yr old fort.

Archaeologists have contradicted this by stating that the motorway will cut open the hillside leaving it entirely unstable, as it is built on an esker – this is a ridge made of small rocks left behind by the glacier that formed the local hills and valleys since the last age. It’s pretty obvious that if you damage the foundation or the esker you will also damage the monument.

During the visit I went to another other solidarity camp, which is on the foot of the hill of Tara. This is where a sacred fire has been burning since summer solstice 2006, people have come from all over the world to keep the fire burning, although no-one lives there officially. People take part in a rota-system, but recently the O.P.W (office for public works) which is the gov’t body responsible for looking after Irish heritage and the public land have given a notice for the people to leave the area within seven days.

The people who really care for the land are refusing to leave, they are a diverse group of local artists, musicians, and members of the public, that are taking the responsibility to create a world heritage park, their aim is to promote the potential of the area for education, sustainability and heritage. The group currently holds talks lectures, and workshops on crafts and history.

An official proposal for the world heritage park is being created, but unfortunately it has to be your gov’t that nominates monuments for world heritage status. The Irish people can not count on their gov’t to do that, so the people want to illustrate this themselves. In hope that people power will demand that Tara gets the respect it deserves.

To Chk out up-dates on this campaign go to www.savetara.com or www.tarapixie.net
The protesters at Tara have asked me to call out for climbers and tunnelers which are urgently needed to share skills etc…

If you can’t get over to Ireland to protect Tara then you can target the SIAC construction companies,UK partners based in Gloucestershire and Sussex.

Lancing Business Park
Lancing
West Sussex
BN15 8TY
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1903 755991
Fax: 00 44 (0)1903 755384
E-mail: r.thomson@grahamwoodstructural.co.uk
Website : www.grahamwoodstructural.co.uk

To see films www.schnews.co.uk/schmovies
click on: “Tara tara tara” and “skulduggery”

Sea Shepherd Crew Attacked By Mob Of Seal Hunters

6.04.2008
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship, the Farley Mowat, was attacked this morning by a mob of 30-40 angry fishermen. The attack took place while berthed in the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The Farley Mowat was berthed in St. Pierre to transfer video footage of the Canadian seal slaughter onto shore and await the resumption of the slaughter, which was temporarily suspended after the death of four sealers.

Tensions quickly escalated in St. Pierre as the growing mob hurled rocks, threats, and insults at crew members of the Farley Mowat. Cameraman Simeon Houtman was assaulted by an axe-wielding fisherman after stepping onshore to film the incident. “The fisherman raised the axe above his head with one arm and tried to knock Simeon back with his other. Simeon jumped back onto the ship just before the mob threw our gangplank into the water,” said Peter Hammarstedt, First Officer of the Farley Mowat.

Captain Alex Cornelissen requested assistance from the French police–at least half a dozen of whom were present at the scene–but they did nothing to defend the ship or crew against the mob. Instead, the police suggested that Sea Shepherd should leave St. Pierre immediately. Captain Cornelissen explained to the police that it would take some time to warm the engines in order to leave port safely and avoid serious engine damage. He requested protection during that time, but the police did nothing other than stand by and watch as fishermen hacked at the mooring lines of the Farley Mowat with an axe and ripped the gangplank from the ship, setting it dangerously adrift into the harbor. After the mob severed head and bow-spring lines from the bollards, Sea Shepherd crew members scurried to pull in lines and prevent them from drifting back towards the screw or into the bowthruster. “The mob responded with a rain of stones and rocks that were thrown with the intent to injure,” said Hammarstedt.

Without engine power, the Farley Mowat drifted uncontrollably in serious danger of crashing into nearby rocks and/or ships in the harbor. Captain Cornelissen had no choice but to start the engines cold–risking irreparable damage–in order to avoid a potentially lethal collision. Although the Farley Mowat was able to escape the hostile crowd at St. Pierre, the extent of engine damage sustained remains undetermined. Fortunately, all crew members were on board during the attack, and no-one was injured.

http://www.seashepherd.org/

Humboldt Forest Defense Action Camp and Skillshare 2008

Preliminary announcement of the next Forest Defense Skillshare. We’ll be rendezvousing in the Ancient Redwoods here in Humboldt. More details will be out shortly. Inviting old-timers and newcomers alike!

We’ll be rendezvousing in the Ancient Redwoods here in Humboldt. More details will be out shortly. Stay tuned at our blog http://humboldtforestdefense.blogspot.com/

Join us May 2nd through May 9th to share and acquire skills for non-violent direct action focused on defending our forests!

Newbury Bypass video archive (& other protest gems)

Nearly 3 hours of neatly collated video from the Newbury Bypass evictions in the winter of 1996.

Very last century, but good for inspiration…

http://www.kinokast.net/newbury.html
kinokast@gmail.com

There’s also lots of stuff:
various environmental protests at http://www.kinokast.net/ecoprotest.html
RTSs at http://www.kinokast.net/reclaimthestreets.html

Nearly 3 hours of neatly collated video from the Newbury Bypass evictions in the winter of 1996.

Very last century, but good for inspiration…

http://www.kinokast.net/newbury.html
kinokast@gmail.com

There’s also lots of stuff:
various environmental protests at http://www.kinokast.net/ecoprotest.html
RTSs at http://www.kinokast.net/reclaimthestreets.html
and London Critical Masses, G8 and much more, www.kinokast.net

Last chance for College Grove forest – Tree sit continues, Australia

30.3.08
Bunbury residents turned out on Sunday to a second picnic to show the powers that be that they don’t want the forest at College Grove to be destroyed by developers.

“We should all be aware of the importance of this bush corridor and the endangered species living within… Their dedicated actions have highlighted the importance of the need to retain this area of forest, which not only contains the unique tuart transition zone, but is also the habitat of the threatened Western ring-tailed possum…” – Bunbury Mail
GW Forest Action: With few options left, Bunbury residents turned out to a second picnic to show the powers that be that they don’t want the forest at College Grove to be destroyed by developers.

Word has gone out on several occasions that the bulldozers were about to go in, but as yet nothing has happened.

Meanwhile protesters remain vigilant and are determined that they will stay on.

The tree platform in the forest remains occupied and the bulldozers can be sure they will be met with protest when/if they start the destruction.”

===

A man known only as ‘Alan’ has been living on a platform at the top of a 30 metre tuart tree for almost two weeks. He has been joined by about five other local residents who are taking turns protesting up the tree.

The Community Independent Action Group’s spokesman, Simon Peterffy, says the platform the men are living on will be expanded so more people can be up the tree at once. “Yes it is currently being altered a little bit to accommodate more people, more space and I believe by the weekend it could be significantly developed to accommodate all the people who want to get up there and support the saving of this beautiful bush,” Mr Peterffy said.

“We want to expose Landcorp’s intent to destroy this vital section of the corridor to all Western Australians”, he said. “This is more than just a piece of bush to be flattened. It contains the rare tuart transition zone and provides habitat to a protected species which relies upon the bush for its ongoing existence”.