Wilderness Defence – Page 110

Whalers Hand Activists Over To Australia’s Ship

17th January: the activists — Australian Benjamin Potts, 28, and Briton Giles Lane, 35 — were detained Tuesday after boarding the harpoon ship to protest Japan’s whaling programme. They were handed over to Austrialia’s ‘Ocean Viking’ earlier today.

A Japanese whaling ship late Thursday handed over to an Australian customs vessel two anti-whaling activists who climbed aboard two days earlier, an official from Japan’s Fisheries Agency said.

Australia sent the customs ship, the Oceanic Viking, to the Japanese whaling ship in a bid to end the stand-off involving the activists of the militant Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

“Two Sea Shepherd activists who intruded onto the Yushin Maru No 2 and have been in custody on the ship were handed over to the Oceanic Viking chartered by the Australian government,” Hideaki Okada, a whaling official at the Fisheries Agency in Tokyo, told AFP early Friday.

More at http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gzy-7LzEluJCEYZWmJXa_MiYpOcQ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7193212.stm

Hopefully they will be returned back to Sea Shepherd’s ‘Steve Irwin’ very soon, that is the plan.

Back to destroying whaling…

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Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign
Operation Migaloo 07-08

For more details, see http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/index.html

Anti-whaling hostages – update & solidarity demo reports: Berlin, London, Barcelona, New York, Washington DC

17/1/2008
Sea Shepherd Shuts Down Antarctic Whale Hunt
The Japanese hunt for endangered whales in the Southern Oceans Whale Sanctuary has been shut down.

“All whaling activities have come to a halt,” said Captain Paul Watson from onboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship Steve Irwin. No whales have been killed since January 11th. The Japanese whaling fleet has been denied a solid week of whaling activity. Our task now is to make that two weeks and then three weeks.”

As long as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Greenpeace keep the Japanese whaling fleet on the run, there will be no whaling activity.

“I wish that Greenpeace would be more cooperative,” said Captain Paul Watson. “However we will continue to feed them the coordinates for the rest of the fleet as they tail the factory ship Nisshin Maru. If we cannot work with Greenpeace directly we will work with them indirectly. The strength of any movement is in diversity.”

January 17th found the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin chasing the whaling supply vessel Oriental Bluebird and three other whaling ships eastward along the line of Latitude of Sixty Degrees South near the Eighty Six Degree East line of longitude. This is approximately 2000 miles from Fremantle, Australia.

The Japanese whalers continue to hold Australian citizen Benjamin Potts 28 and Giles Lane 35 of Great Britain. The Japanese government has ordered their release but the whalers are defying that order and refusing to release their hostages until Sea Shepherd agrees to their demands. One of the demands is for Sea Shepherd to discontinue opposing whaling activities. Captain Watson responded by refusing to acknowledge their demands and demanding instead that the hostages be released without conditions.

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin will continue to pursue illegal Japanese whaling activities for as long as possible.

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Australia to intercede in Safe Return of Sea Shepherd activists

After two days being held hostage on the Yushin Maru No 2, two Sea Shepherd anti-whaling activists may be returned within the next day to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin by the authorisation of the Australian Government to use the Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Oceanic Viking as an intermediary.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said “What is required now to transfer those two men is the agreement of the Japanese Government, which we have, the agreement of the Australian Government, which we have,” Mr Smith said. “We now need the full and complete cooperation of the two vessels, the two captains and the two men concerned.”

Sea Shepherd were refusing to meet the conditions stipulated by the Captain of the Yashin Maru No 2 to stop interfering with the whaling fleet operations for the transfer of the two crew members, with Captain Paul Watson saying on the ABC 7.30 report “I don’t acquiesce to terrorist demands and that’s what that is. Holding hostages and making demands is a terrorist tactic.”

Asked to justify two members of his crew boarding another vessel without authorisation, which the Japanese have accused as an act or terrorism or piracy, Paul Watson replied “You can run around the ocean jumping on poacher’s vessels. They’re targeting endangered species and whale sanctuaries, in violation of a global moratorium. The United Nations’ world charter of nature on section of implementation under Section 21 E allows for non-government organisations to uphold international conservation law. So, we are authorised to do that. These are poachers, I’m trying to get that through to people. They are poachers.”

Section 21 E of the World Charter for Nature, passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982, states that “States and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities, international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall ….(e) safeguard and conserve nature in areas beyond national jurisdiction.”

Section 24 of the charter says that “Each person has a duty to act in accordance with the provisions of the present Charter; acting individually, in association with others or through participation in the political process, each person shall strive to ensure that the objectives and requirements of the present Charter are met.”

According to the Australian Foreign minister, Stephen Smith on the ABC 7.30 Report, “the only conditions that will be imposed here are conditions that will be imposed by the Australian authorities and the ‘Oceanic Viking’, and those conditions will go to the safety and security of this operation.

It was reported by AAP that the transfer may take place in the next 24 hours. According to Kim McCoy, the executive director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, on board the Steve Irwin “We have just spoken very recently with an agent on board the Oceanic Viking customs vessel,” she said. “We have received official contact from them stating that they’re just waiting for the Japanese to confirm that they’re willing to accept those terms.”

“My understanding is that the Australian government is not going to impose any conditions on us to stop harassing the whaling, because the whaling is illegal. The only condition that the Australian government wants to impose is the safe transfer, and of course we’re going to have to facilitate a safe transfer, we don’t want to jeopardise anyone’s safety during the transfer of Giles and Pottsy (Benjamin Potts) to our ship.

“Beyond that they’ve told us that there will be no additional conditions. In other words, we are going to continue intervening against the illegal whaling activity of the Japanese.” she said.

Captain Paul Watson told Ali Moore from the ABC 7.30 Report “We’re not protesting their whaling operations, we’re not protesting them. What we are doing is interfering with illegal activities. This is an interventionist operation not a protest organisation.”

Sources:

* ABC 7.30 Report – Jan 17, 2008 – Govt considers sending ‘Oceanic Viking’ to the rescue
* ABC 7.30 Report – Jan 17, 2008 – Sea Shepherd captain reports from the high seas
* ABC News – Jan 17, 2008 – Sea Shepherd will only accept ‘unconditional’ Govt help
* news.com.au, Jan 17, 2008 – Anti-whalers contacted over detainees
* United Nations General Assemby 1982 World Charter for Nature

Repost from report on Sydney Indymedia, that contains all source links.
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/australia-intercedes-safe-return-sea-shepherd-activists

——
Sea Shepherd Solidarity Protest at Japanese Embassy, Berlin

16.1.2008
People went to put pressure on officials at the Japanese Embassy at Hiroshimastrasse in Berlin today. They hung banners on the fences of the Embassy demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the two Sea Shepherd crew members taken hostage on 15 January by the Japanese
Whaling Fleet.

For updates, see www.seashepherd.org

——

Sea Shepherd Hostage London Solidarity Demo
16/1/08

Fifty picket the Japanese embassy in London in solidarity with the Sea Shepherd hostages (see previous posts). The embassy staff were not happy. Banners read ‘Free the Hostages’, ‘Stop the the Whale Slaughter’ and ‘Defend the Wild’. The picket got a lot of media coverage with multiple TV crews including one from Japan.

Updates posted here and at www.seashepherd.org

——

Sea Shepherd demo, Barcelona
17.1.2008
Demonstrators today held a protest outside the Japanese Consul in Barcelona, also delivering a letter to the General Consul demanding the immediate release of two Sea Shepherd crew members currently held hostage by Japanese whalers.

A group of Sea Shepherd supporters demonstrated outside the Japanese Consulate in Barcelona today, to call for the immediate release of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts, currently held hostage aboard a Japanese whaling ship.

Inside, two people delivered a letter to the Consul condemning the hostage taking and demanding Japanese intervention. Outside, 150 leaflets were handed out to workers and passersby.

The Mossos turned up but everything was quiet. Solidarity to Sea Shepherd!

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NYC Protest for Sea Shepherd Hostages

17.01.2008
Activists braved the cold of New York City today to protest yesterday’s kidnapping of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts by an illegal Japanese whaling ship. They were released earlier today to the Ocean Viking (Australia’s ship).

VIDEOS
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1AKVRbR8I
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb7IM9VNY48

Activists braved the cold of New York City today to protest yesterday’s kidnapping of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts by an illegal Japanese whaling ship.

The duo are currently being held hostage on the ship, and demonstrations and protests at Japanese embassies and consulates across the globe are being held in solidarity with the Sea Shepherd crew.

Japan, we demand you stop the bloody slaughter of innocent whales and dolphins and return the kidnapped activists IMMEDIATELY without harm!

http://www.war-online.org

—–

17/01/08

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO2I38jBo-E

Activists from NYC banded together with activists from Washington D.C. to protest the kidnapping and hostage taking of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society members Giles Lane (UK) and Benjamin Potts (Australia).

Animal lovers and environmentalists gathered outside the Japanese embassy and demanded the release of Potts and Lane, who are regarded as heroes, and also demanded an end to the slaughter of beautiful whales and dolphins that go to feed Japanese bellies.

At the end of yesterday’s protest activists received the call: The Sea Shepherd heroes had just been released.

Indigenous Action Against Mining Hold Australian Firm At Bay in the Philippines

2008-01-17
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines- Tribal villagers up north Luzon blockaded the Australian mining company from further exploring minerals in their community, Friday noon, and forced the mining firm to leave the village.

According to reports, hundred dozens of indigenous residents in Kasibu town ,”pushed away employees of a foreign mining firm and their earth-moving equipment that were supposed to start exploration in their community”, said Inq.Net. The action held by local people has lead to an indefinite operation shut down of OceanaGold Philippines Inc.- an Australian company.

Indigenous residents were only protecting the Papaya watershed that feed the Alimudin, Malong and Pahduan rivers. These are the main sources of irrigation for about 150,000 fruit trees in Malabing Valley, which has six villages. But the mining firm came in without consent among the villagers and threaten their means of existence.

This is what the Australian Mining Company has said in their media release:
“OceanaGold officials insist they no longer need proof of consent from the community since they have a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) granted by the government in 1994 to Climax Mining Ltd.”

Japanese whalers take Sea Shepherds hostage (incl. Brit) – demo, L’don, 16 January; email addresses; release demands; videos

15.01.2008 – [latest update at bottom]
In what has been an unpredictably dramatic day for the campaign against whaling in Antarctica, the crew of a Japanese harpoon gunboat have seized Australian and British crew mebers of the Sea Shepherd vessel, Steve Irwin.

Astounding! Last year around this time, things were really getting dramatic in the Sea Shepherd pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet across Antarctica. Crew missing at sea, shipboard fires, the risk of a pristine environment being chemically decimated, and even one human death as an accompaniment to the slaughter of hundreds of mammoth sentient beings.

Not to be outdone, the 2007/08 season of resistance has just kicked into overdrive. Today, the Australian Federal Court called Japanese whaling – in Australian waters, at least – what it is: illegal. The Honourable Justice Allsop issued an injunction ordering that all Japanese whaling within Australian Antarctic waters (which Japan and most other countries don’t recognize) stop immediately. So, technically, since about 3pm Australian East Coast time every single crew member of the Japanese whaling fleet has been eligible for arrest should they enter Australian territories.

But the Japanese whaling fleet, as always, needed to up the ante. In the last 50 minutes it has been reported that the crew of the harpoon gunboat Yashin Maru II have taken two Sea Shepherd activists – Australian Benjamin Potts and a Briton, Giles Lane – hostage, and tied them to the radar mast of their ship. Earlier today the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin broke off its pursuit of the whale-processing factory vessel, also known as the Cetacean Death Star, the Nisshin Maru. With Greenpeace’s Esperanza still pursuing the factory ship away from the rest of the whaling fleet, the Shepherds turned about to disrupt the activities of the rest of the scattered fleet.

Obviously, they found them alright. Shepherd Captain Paul Watson reports that the two men, who have now been effectively kidnapped on the high seas – ironically, a genuine act of piracy by the Japanese whalers – had boarded the ship to deliver a letter to the captain proclaiming their whaling activity illegal and demanding an immediate cessation of whale-hunting, as per the order made today by the Federal Court.

Seems that Australian concerns about creating a diplomatic incident with Japan pale in comparison to what the whaling fleet are clearly eager to create.

Stay tuned.

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The Japanese harpoon vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 has taken two Sea Shepherd volunteer crew members hostage. Benjamin Potts 28, an Australian citizen and Giles Lane, 35, a citizen of Great Britain are being held hostage onboard the whaling vessel. Both men were assaulted and then tied to the railings of the whaler. They were then moved and tied to the radar mast by the whalers.

Japanese Whaling Fleet On the Run With Two Sea Shepherd Hostages

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship Steve Irwin is in full pursuit of five vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet including the Japanese supply vessel Oriental Bluebird.

Both men boarded the Yushin Maru to deliver a message to the Japanese captain that the whalers were in violation of international conservation law by targeting endangered species in an established whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling. They also notified the captain that Australia had just passed a court ruling barring Japanese whalers from the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone.

All of this activity has taken place in the area of 60 Degrees South and 78 Degrees East. All activity has been documented from the Sea Shepherd helicopter and the fast moving Delta vessel. The Steve Irwin has dispatched a small fast Delta boat and a helicopter to attempt to persuade the Yushin Maru No. 2 to stop and release the hostages.

Captain Paul Watson has notified the Australian Federal Police that he would like to see kidnapping charges brought against the Japanese whalers. The Australian government and the British Embassy have been informed that their citizens are being held hostage on an illegally operated Japanese whaling ship in International waters.

The Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru has fled over 700 miles to the Northwest and is heading towards South Africa accompanied by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. The entire whaling fleet is on the run and outside of the whaling area with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in hot pursuit of five vessels of the Japanese fleet.

No whales have been slaughtered for the last four days and it does not look as if the whaling operations are going to begin again for another week at least, and not at all if the vessels are prevented from regrouping. The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has a good supply of fuel and can remain in the area for some time and will continue to police the illegal whaling operations by the Japanese fleet.

Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson will turn over authority to the Australian government to enforce the court ruling against illegal whaling in the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone upon request from the Australian government and an agreement that Australia will enforce the court’s ruling to bar all Japanese whaling activities in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The letter taken aboard:

To: The Captain of any Japanese ship involved with poaching operations in The Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

Sir,

My name is Giles David Lane

I am a British citizen and an unpaid volunteer on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Steve Irwin

I have come onboard your ship because you have refused to acknowledge communication from our ship pertaining to your illegal activities in the waters of the Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

I am not boarding your ship with the intent to commit a crime, to rob you or to inflict injury upon your crew and yourself or damage to your ship. My reason for boarding is to deliver the message that you are in violation of international conservation law and in violation of the laws of Australia. It is my intent to deliver this message and then to request that you allow me to disembark from your vessel without harm or seizure.

I am empowered to act to uphold these laws in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature and the laws of Australia.

I am boarding you with the request that you please refrain from any further criminal activity in these waters and cease and desist with the continued killing of endangered whales in this designated Whale Sanctuary in violation of the IWC global moratorium on commercial whaling and that you cease and desist in continued violations of Australian law by killing whales within the territorial waters of Australia without permit or permission from the government of Australia.

I am boarding you on the orders of Captain Paul Watson who requests that you treat me with respect and in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

http://www.seashepherd.org/

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Picket at 2.15pm 16/1/08 at Japanese Embassy, London. Nearest Tubes Green Park & Hyde Park Corner.

The address is:101-104 Piccadilly, London, W1J 7JT
============

It would be great if everyone could take a moment to email the Japanese embassy and Foreign office and ask them to do whatever they can to effect Giles’ release. Japanese Embassy: info@jpembassy.org.uk

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: It would be good to copy them in to whatever you send to the Embassy. I had some trouble getting hold of an email address, but you could try the following one – msu.publicin@fco.gov.uk; Meg Munn is the Minister “responsible” for Asia and the Pacific.meg.munn@fco.gov.uk or munnm@parliament.uk
020 7008 1500

Suggestion of what to write: Dear Japanese Ambassador,I am writing to you to protest in the strongest possible terms the taking of two hostages on board a Japanese Whaling Ship this morning.Press reports (see links below) have suggested that the two men, (one of whom is a UK National by the name of Giles Lane), who peacefully boarded the Yushin Maru No. 2 to deliver a letter, were assaulted and then tied up. Photographs from their own vessel, the Sea Shepherd, show the two men being tied up outside. The incident happened several hours ago and I am greatly concerned for their safety.I demand that you intervene at once to ensure that these men are released, protected from the elements, and returned safely to their vessel as soon as possible. I also hope that your government will ensure that the captain and crew of the Yushin Maru No. 2 be prosecuted for their actions.Yours sincerely, etc

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16/1/2008

Japanese Whalers Make Demands for Return of Hostages

The Institute of Cetacean Research, the front group for the illegal Japanese whaling operations are making demands for the release of the two Sea Shepherd crew being held hostage onboard the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2.

The whalers said they will return the hostages in return for Sea Shepherd agreeing to no longer interfere with their whaling operations.

“The Institute of Cetacean Research is acting like a terrorist organization,” said Steve Irwin’s 1st Officer Peter Brown. “Here they are taking hostages and making demands. Our policy is that we don’t respond to terrorist demands.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has heard reports from the media that Japan has agreed to release the hostages but the Steve Irwin has not heard anything official from either the Australian or Japanese governments.

“The activities of the Japanese whaling fleet are illegal under international conservation law. The Japanese are poachers and should be treated in the same manner as elephant or tiger poachers,” said Captain Paul Watson.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will not negotiate with poachers and demands that the Japanese whalers release Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane as soon as possible.

The location of the Yushin Maru No. 2 with the hostages onboard is not known presently. The vessel is no longer in sight or within radar range of the Steve Irwin.

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BBC video of ship being boarded

Collection of different videos

Saving Iceland Update 2008 – Mini-gathering – Friday 22nd February 2008, Sumac Centre, Nottingham

Saving Iceland Update 2008
Mini-gathering

A day of talks and film showings to pass on information about the on-going international campaign and the current situation in Iceland

Friday 22nd February 2008, Sumac Centre, Nottingham

Saving Iceland Update 2008
Mini-gathering

A day of talks and film showings to pass on information about the on-going international campaign and the current situation in Iceland

Friday 22nd February 2008, Sumac Centre, Nottingham

The event is aimed at:
Activists who have been involved with Saving Iceland in the past, have parted company for whatever reason, but would like to know what’s happening now
UK-based Saving Iceland activists who were unable to make it to the recent organising gatherings abroad and would like an update
People who are new to the issue but are interested to find out about this great ecological threat to our relatively local wilderness.
Anyone with questions about the campaign

Please book in advance (email savingiceland@riseup.org, subject heading “UK mini-gathering”) so we have some idea of catering requirements, and let us know if you need accommodation. We will be asking for a small donation to cover costs of food and venue.

We will start at 10 a.m. with an introduction to the issues. If you already know the basics, aim to arrive by 11a.m.

* * *

www.savingiceland.org

Forest defenders take action in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

Two forest actions took place in the Styx Valley this week. On Tuesday morning, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened halted work on a new bridge as a forest defender locked onto forestry machinery for over 10 hours before being cut off by police. Yesterday, activists conducted a peaceful walk in to stop the industrial scale destruction of ancient forests located in coupe SX10F.

See media releases and audio links below…
MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Forest defenders take action in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

This morning, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened halted work on the construction of a new bridge across the Styx River. If built, this bridge will provide increased log truck access to the globally significant stands of giant eucalypts located in the valley.

“Tasmania is currently in a state of environmental emergency. Vast tracts of old growth forests are being destroyed and sent to the chipper in order to further inflate the already grossly bulging bank accounts of a select few. Right now, in coupe SX10F, chainsaws and bulldozers are ripping apart some of our most precious natural heritage” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“The community is being locked out of their own forests all over the state, while local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania employ their usual farcical spin and claim that this bridge will be used primarily for tourists. What this bridge will do is increase the wholesale destruction of some of the island’s most significant carbon sinks” said Ms Majewski.

Recent developments at the Bali climate conference have further reinforced the importance of halting the deforestation and degradation of carbon sinks. Eucalyptus regnans old growth forests, such as those located in the Styx Valley, have been shown to store huge amounts of carbon.

“We are calling on the Rudd government to take serious action and demonstrate to the global community that Australia is implementing intelligent, enlightened and equitable strategies to combat climate change by ensuring the immediate protection of Tasmania’s ancient forests” said Ms Majewski.

Forest defenders will continue to take a stand against the destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine Valleys.

Listen to SWST vs Forestry Tasmania on ABC Radio http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/15/2138389.htm

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 17th January 2008

Forest activists continue their protest in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

Early this afternoon, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened conducted a peaceful walk in to coupe SX10F to document and bear witness to the ongoing destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx Valley.

“Some of our most significant carbon sinks are being destroyed at a disturbingly accelerated rate, rendering Tasmania’s forestry practices an international disgrace. The Rudd government continues to endorse the logging and burning of ancient forests located in the Styx Valley. Protecting Tasmania’s old growth forests is a simple, cheap and intelligent climate change solution” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“SX10F has gained an international profile over the past few years, becoming an iconic example of Tasmania’s globally renowned forests. This irreplaceable ecosystem, located within 1.5km of the World Heritage Boundary, is being ripped apart by bulldozers and chainsaws to line the pockets of greedy woodchippers Gunns Ltd.” said Ms Majewski.

Forest defenders will continue to peacefully protest against the destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine Valleys.

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 75, JANUARY 2008

CONTENTS:

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
2) LONDON RISING TIDE BENEFIT – LONDON, 11.1.08

CONTENTS:

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
2) LONDON RISING TIDE BENEFIT – LONDON, 11.1.08
3) NEWQUAY AIRPORT EXPANSION, PUBLIC DEBATE – CORNWALL, 12.1.08
4) RADICAL ACTION VS. CLIMATE CHAOS, NATIONAL MEET – NOTTINGHAM, 12.1.08
5) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LEEDS, 26-27.1.08
6) BIOFUELWATCH WEEK OF ACTION – NATIONAL, 26.1.08 – 1.2.08
7) MANCHESTER CLIMATE FORUM – 1.3.08
8) DAY OF ACTION VS. GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS – INTERNATIONAL, 26.1.08
9) LOW-IMPACT SMALLHOLDING – BUCKS, 11-13.1.08
———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) NEWQUAY AIRPORT ROOFTOP OCCUPATION – 15.12.07
2) SANTAS AGAINST EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION – NORWICH & LONDON, 15.12.07
3) BRISTOL RISING TIDE TAKES ACTION VS. SHELL GREENWASH – DECEMBER 2007
4) SHELL TO SEA SCALE GOVERNMENT OFFICE – IRELAND, 19.12.07
5) NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH AND ACTIONS – 8.12.07
6) DUTCH COAL ACTION – 8.12.07
7) FLIGHT CENTRES SHUT FOR BUSINESS – MANCHESTER, 7.12.07
8) CHEADLE-HIGH-STREET AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE – DECEMBER 2007
9) SUBVERTISEMENTS IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER – DECEMBER 2007
10) WOMEN’S BLOCKADE OF DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT – 7.12.07
11) THE TIDE IS RISING! – 7.12.07
12) CLIMATE ACTIVISTS STOP WORK AT COAL MINE – SOUTH WALES, 5.12.07
13) INTERNATIONAL RT HOAX TARGETS BIG CARBON – 3.12.07
14) HOMELESS POLAR BEARS IN COURT – BRISTOL, 14.11.07
15) KEEP OIL UNDERGROUND – DECEMBER 2007
16) SIZEWELL NUCLEAR CLIMATE ACTION – 1.12.07
17) MANIAC MOTORIST MARS MASS – GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2007
18) VIVA’S ‘HOT!’ CAMPAIGN – DECEMBER 2007
19) WHAT BETTER TIME? – DECEMBER 2007
20) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 5 – DECEMBER 2007
21) PACIFIC CURRENTS – DECEMBER 2007
22) A HOUSE OF CARDS – DECEMBER 2007
23) SOUTH WEST AIR ACTION – DECEMBER 2007
24) RISING TIDE LEAMINGTON SPA – DECEMBER 2007
25) RISING TIDE ON YOU TUBE

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
Just three months to go – are you out practising your routines? rehearsing your songs? building your props yet? I should get out more over Christmas…
However, it will soon be time to hatch your mischievous scheme, so get your friends round and start plotting!
http://www.fossilfoolsday.org/

2) LONDON RISING TIDE BENEFIT – LONDON, 11.1.08
In support of London Rising Tide, AMP is organising a night of live music at The Others, Manor Road, Stoke Newington. Entrance £5.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=38074566

3) NEWQUAY AIRPORT EXPANSION, PUBLIC DEBATE – CORNWALL, 12.1.08
Organised by Rising Tide with speakers from Groundswell and Plane Stupid.
7pm St. Mawgan Community Hall, Nr. Newquay, Cornwall. For more info. email; kernow@risingtide.org.uk

4) RADICAL ACTION VS. CLIMATE CHAOS, NATIONAL MEET – NOTTINGHAM, 12.1.08
11am – 6pm at The Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, Nottingham.
This meeting came out of the last Climate Camp gathering in November. It is focussed on growing our movement – how can we encourage more groups to form and more actions/campaigns to happen? What things do we want to do to help build a vibrant network of regional action groups doing actions locally and nationally?
For instruction on how to get there: http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/map.html
Also, 11 people are going to trial in Nottingham on Monday 14th for ‘shutting down’ the local coal power station, If anyone wants to stay to support them that would be great!

5) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LEEDS, 26-27.1.08
The Climate Camp on its own didn’t stop climate change – but it’s part of a growing social movement that can! Come and take the next steps forward at the upcoming UK-wide meeting on Jan 26-27 in Leeds. Everyone is welcome, whether you came to the camp, or were simply inspired by it.
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/nextmeeting.php

6) BIOFUELWATCH WEEK OF ACTION – NATIONAL, 26.1.08 – 1.2.08
Biofuelwatch are calling for a national week of local action on agrofuels between 26th January and 1st February 2008. We will shortly update our website to provide more background information about the UK agrofuel industry and policies, as well as a draft leaflet and other resources. If you would like to get involved or find out more, please email us at info[at]biofuelwatch.org.uk.
http://biofuelwatch.org.uk/

7) MANCHESTER CLIMATE FORUM – 1.3.08
Manchester Climate Forum “Climate Change: it’s time to prepare”
9.15am at the Methodist Hall, Oldham St, Central Manchester
http://www.manchesterclimateforum.org.uk/index.html

8) DAY OF ACTION VS. GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS – INTERNATIONAL, 26.1.08
On January 26 self-organized groups from all around the world will take creative action in their community. This will manifest in many ways, from nonviolent direct action, civil disobedience, street theatre, convergences, teach-ins and other activities and events. Grassroots movements around the world are making their voices heard and saying “Another World is Possible”. In coordination with the World Social Forum.
http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/category/front-page/

9) LOW-IMPACT SMALLHOLDING – BUCKS, 11-13.1.08
Next course by the Low-Impact Living Initiative;
http://www.lowimpact.org/courseoutlinelowimpactsmallholding.htm

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) NEWQUAY AIRPORT ROOFTOP OCCUPATION – 15.12.07
For the recently formed Kernow and Plymouth Rising Tide groups, this action marked an escalation in their fight against climate change and for environmental justice. However the planned rooftop protest at Newquay airport was given an unlikely boost when builders at the airport left a ladder propped up!
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/248
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7146159.stm

2) SANTAS AGAINST EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION – NORWICH AND LONDON, 15.12.07
Subversive Singing Santas Spread Seasonal Sanity in London and Norwich On one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Rising Tide activists in both London and Norwich dressed up as Santas Against Excessive Consumption and hit the high streets to sing a different tune to the usual buy, buy,
buy madness of the holiday season.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/247

3) BRISTOL RISING TIDE TAKES ACTION VS. SHELL GREENWASH – DECEMBER 2007
A series of actions is being taken against the organisers of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award and Bristol Museum, in protest at the sponsorship of the event by Shell. A grumpy polar bear visited the offices of BBC Wildlife magazine, then activists disrupted Bristol Museum’s posh reception to kick off the exhibition with a Yes Men-style intervention. And on the opening morning, dozens of humans, polar bears, a snow leopard and a tiger gathered (complete with the Shell’s Wild Lie counter-exhibition) in front of the museum. They handed out leaflets and created quite a spectacle. Protests are expected to continue through Jan. 13th.
http://risingtide.org.uk/bristol

4) SHELL TO SEA SCALE GOVERNMENT OFFICE – IRELAND, 19.12.07
A special prayer and carol service was held on 16th December at Bellanaboy, County Mayo, marking the end of another year of community struggle against Shell’s proposed raw gas pipeline and inland refinery.
On the 19th, a small group of Shell to Sea activists scaled the heights of the Department of Natural Resources to place a banner reading PROTECT IRISH NATURAL RESOURCES on the balcony outside Eamon Ryan’s office.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17942
http://www.corribsos.com/

5) NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH AND ACTIONS – 8.12.07
Over 10,000 climate campaigners took to the streets to take part in marches in London and Glasgow over the weekend, despite pouring rain. Protesters braved the weather in one the biggest demonstrations calling for climate justice the UK has ever seen.
http://www.campaigncc.org/
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/12/387497.html
Environmental activists from direct action group Plane Stupid shut down travel agents and airline offices along the route of the Climate March in London.
http://www.planestupid.com/
Meanwhile, in Manchester airline billboards advertising cheap flights to European cities were subverted.

6) DUTCH COAL ACTION – 8.12.07
A collective of twenty Dutch EarthFirst! activists blocked the coal conveyor- belt to a plant owned by the German energy giant E.on on the Maasvlakte near Rotterdam.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17893

7) FLIGHT CENTRES SHUT FOR BUSINESS – MANCHESTER, 7.12.07
All Flight Centre branches in Manchester city centre were super-glued shut in time for Saturday trading and to coincide with the climate march in London. They were pasted with notices saying: “Closed – we want your kids to have a planet” The UK’s only Hummer dealership, Bauer Millett, was also D-locked shut.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17887

8) CHEADLE-HIGH-STREET AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE – DECEMBER 2007
Activists from Cheadle-High-Street Against Climate Change held a “A planet is not just for Xmas” campaign for a sustainable Xmas.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17917

9) SUBVERTISEMENTS IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER – DECEMBER 2007
Two adverts promoting DVD’s by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson now have large stickers stuck on declaring “This causes climate change”. Also, FlyBe appears to have spotted the errors of their ways and cancelled their short-haul summer routes. Bravo FlyBe!
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17937

10) WOMEN’S BLOCKADE OF DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT – 7.12.07
Women climate activists blockaded the Department for Transport preventing staff from getting to work and carrying out their policies which are catapulting us towards dangerous run-away climate change. This action comes in response to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirming the government’s intentions to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow and coincides with the opening of their first “consultation”.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17883

11) THE TIDE IS RISING! – 7.12.07
A banner with this warning/statement was dropped to welcome all those entering the city of Manchester on the Princess parkway.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17886

12) CLIMATE ACTIVISTS STOP WORK AT COAL MINE – SOUTH WALES, 5.12.07
More than thirty climate activists, including members of the Rising Tide network, joined with local residents from Merthyr Tydfil in stopping excavation work for a full day on Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales. Activists evaded police and security before taking over the 1,000 acre site on a hilltop near Cardiff. Dressed as clowns and polar bears, they chained themselves to bulldozers and other heavy machinery to prevent work on the mine.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/242

13) INTERNATIONAL RT HOAX TARGETS BIG CARBON – 3.12.07
Climate activists with the international Rising Tide network embarrassed the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a lobby group composed of 33 prominent businesses and organizations, by distributing a spoof press release declaring that the consortium’s members had committed to a 90
percent reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In addition, the spoof release called for an immediate moratorium on the construction of all new coal-fired power plants.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/240
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/03/oil.bp

14) HOMELESS POLAR BEARS IN COURT – BRISTOL, 14.11.07
Four homeless polar bears appeared before Bristol Magistrates Court on 14th November. They were arrested after blockading the Royal Bank of Scotland corporate offices on Avon St. during the Rising Tide national day of action. After pleading guilty to charges of “wilfully obstructing the public highway with a non motor vehicle” (i.e. a suit case) they were given a conditional discharge and went on to picket the RBS branch on Baldwin Street!
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/243

15) KEEP OIL UNDERGROUND – DECEMBER 2007
The only way to fight climate change. A new report by OilWatch.
http://www.oilwatch.org/doc/documentos/Keep_oil_underground.pdf
http://www.oilwatch.org/

16) SIZEWELL NUCLEAR CLIMATE ACTION – 1.12.07
What else would you do at this time in the morning at a nuclear power station, other than lay on the road, lock yourselves together, unfurl your banner reading “nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos” and wait 15 minutes for the security to notice you.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17868

17) MANIAC MOTORIST MARS MASS – GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2007
Unburdened with festive spirit, a middle-aged woman leant out of her car and pulled a cyclist off his bike.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17889

18) VIVA’S ‘HOT!’ CAMPAIGN – DECEMBER 2007
“Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency.” United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation 2006
find out more at
http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/hot/index.php

19) WHAT BETTER TIME? – DECEMBER 2007
A free news sheet from the Scottish Climate Activist Network.
http://whatbettertime.livejournal.com/

20) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 5 – DECEMBER 2007
Christmas edition of the monthly Bathonian rabblerousiness.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17905

21) PACIFIC CURRENTS – DECEMBER 2007
For updates on the work of Pacific Environment, a non-profit organisation that protects the Pacific Rim’s wild places and wildlife, see;
http://www.pacificenvironment.org/article.php?id=2658

22) A HOUSE OF CARDS – DECEMBER 2007
From fantasy finance to global crash.
Your guide to understanding the crisis that is sweeping through the global financial system and what it means for ordinary people.
Endorsed by Kevin Smith of Carbon Trade Watch and filmmaker Ken Loach.
http://www.aworldtowin.net/about/HouseOfCards.html

23) SOUTH WEST AIR ACTION – DECEMBER 2007
A new website.
http://www.swairaction.org.uk/

24) RISING TIDE LEAMINGTON SPA is born – DECEMBER 2007
The group had its first meeting on 3rd January and is now swinging into action. If you live in the area and want to find out more or get involved contact becqke@riseup.net

25) RISING TIDE ON YOU TUBE
Rising Tide action footage has been springing up all over youtube – check out http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=RisingTideNetwork for some RT films, some of the latest actions and links to other’s videos of RT actions.

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

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

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

For more information…
email: info@risingtide.org.uk
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Woman arrested at Tas forestry protest

January 8, 2008

A 23-year-old woman involved in a forestry protest in Tasmania’s south has been plucked by a crane from her forest perch, arrested and charged.

A Tasmanian police search and rescue squad arrived at the protest site in a remote forest in the state’s south about 10am (AEDT) Tuesday to break up a four-day activist vigil.

January 8, 2008

A 23-year-old woman involved in a forestry protest in Tasmania’s south has been plucked by a crane from her forest perch, arrested and charged.

A Tasmanian police search and rescue squad arrived at the protest site in a remote forest in the state’s south about 10am (AEDT) Tuesday to break up a four-day activist vigil.

The woman was sitting atop a 10-metre tall tree trunk which had been concreted into the middle of a major access road.

She has been charged with trespassing, obstructing police, and disobeying directions, Inspector Mark Mewis of Kingston Police said.

She will be bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Two protesters remain sitting in trees at the Weld Valley site, which activists say is under threat from logging.

Police continue to negotiate with the protesters while cables which had connected the tree-borne activists to the road below have been removed.

Huon Valley Environment Centre activists say about 1,000 hectares of untouched “wilderness” could be logged, with plans by Forestry Tasmania to build a bridge across the Weld River to access the area for the first time.

Spokeswoman Jenny Weber said Forestry Tasmania had indicated it planned to start building the bridge before Christmas, and although work has yet to start, it could begin any day.

About a dozen people were at the protest when it got underway on Saturday.

Six people left on Monday after a Forestry Tasmania helicopter hovered over the area and another woman left on Tuesday morning.

The conservation group says the North Weld wilderness includes some of the best examples of ancient forests in Tasmania.

Forestry Tasmania said vast areas of the Weld were already protected.

It said 88 per cent of the valley was protected, with only 12 per cent of the area, in forests outside these zones, available for logging.

It said the designated forestry area would be logged for special timbers to be used for crafts and design, an important industry for the state.

Forestry Tasmania spokesman David Tuck said the protesters had been told repeatedly to leave.

“They have been told for four days to clear out,” he told AAP.

Mr Tuck said protesters wore balaclavas and hurled insults at Forestry Tasmania workers.

The activists were trespassing and had vandalised gates, he said.

“The incredible irony is that they’ve cut down trees in order to construct a tree-sit and put the forest in danger by having a campfire in peak bushfire season,” he said.

http://news.smh.com.au/woman-arrested-at-tas-forestry-protest/20080108-1ksf.html

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JAN 9 2007 – Tasmania Police have confirmed that three anti-forestry protesters were arrested in the Weld Valley, south of Hobart, yesterday.

Police and emergency workers used a crane to forcibly remove a 23 year old woman from a blockade yesterday afternoon.
She has been charged with trespass, causing injury to property, obstructing police and disobeying police directions.

A 29 year old woman and a 26 year old man were arrested last night and charged with trespass.

All three are from Lucaston, in Tasmania’s south. They will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court in February.

source abc

Actions against the motorway through Tara, Ireland – reports and upcoming

This morning, monday 6th jan ’08 at 7 am, 11 of us split up into two groups. We went to the Ardsallagh Compound (site entrance 2.10) and Roestown (site entrance 2.1 ) . All the machinery was parked at these two sites for the past two weeks over Christmas.

Ardsallagh ; four of us went on site into the compund and blocked a lowloader in the gate, preventing any more machinery being brought off to other sites. They then headed across country towards the River Boyne at site no. 2.9 . While two held the gate, two followed them across the field ,stopping them before they reached the next stretch.Construction workers at the gate , trying to intimidate the protesters assaulted one man , dragging him to the ground and pulling out of the way allowing the lowloader past. In the mean time, off route down the road two of us were waiting to be picked up (help with transport needed), when we saw a digger coming towards us along the hedge line. The driver proceeded to drive up to us nearly kocking us over. when we stood our ground in front of the machine, he got out and verbally and physically asaulted us. The gaurds then arrived treatening arrest on anyone who stayed under the Miscellaneous Act2004 section 19c but were helpful and co operative when told about the assaults , taking the digger drivers name.

Roestown: As today was the first day of construction since before Christmas, we needed to blockade the machinery from entering the valley again. From the N3 we could see the machinery moving towards Trevet from the Roestown compound. We arrived there just as the first digger was approaching. There were 5 of us. We all went into the site and approached the digger. The driver complied with health and safety regulations and stopped his machine immediately. We made a blockade in front of the machine with traffic cones, poles and safety notices. Mark Cleary and his comrades entered the site, along with security. They filmed us and removed the blockade. One protestor was standing on the blockade, Mark Cleary pushed him off. A jeep coming from the Roestown direction passed us by, the digger driver had switched back on his machine. Another protestor on bail conditions stayed at the site entrance with banners on the public road, playing his tin whistle. Mark Cleary and this protestor had a cameral duel! The Gardai arrived and asked us to leave the site, quoting the Housing and Misc Act 2004, section C. We were told we would be arrested if we were seen again today on a M3 site. The Gardai followed us to the Ardsallagh compound. We held a banner protest there on the side of the road. The same Gardai were very interested in the Tara issue, and asked us questions about archaeology and Lismullen. Nobody was arrested.

Rainforest chief killed in Borneo for his opposition to logging

January 3, 2008
Keleasu Naan, a Penan chieftain and longtime activist against logging, disappeared in October while checking animal traps. His
tribes’ worst fears were confirmed when they found what they believed to be Naan’s remains last month. According to the Associated Press, the chieftain’s nephew, Michael Ipa, has stated that the body had several broken bones, leading Ipa to believe that “he has been killed by people involved in logging”.

Keleasu Naan had been one of the key figures in the Penan community’s fight against logging. He was also a plaintiff and witness in a land rights claim that has been awaiting trial since 1998.

One-hundred Penan villagers walked sixty miles this week to lodge a report at the closest police station and demand an investigation into Naan’s death. This is not the first time that Penans involved in anti-logging activity have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Two activist Penans disappeared in the 1990s. In 2000, Bruno Manser, a Swiss environmentalist and champion of Penan rights, also disappeared in the jungle. No sign of him has been found, and some believe he was assassinated.

Logging in Borneo has been rampant since the 1980’s. In 2005 just over 50% of Borneo’s forest remained. More recently palm oil
plantations have increased pressure on the forests. Naan’s Penan community had managed to keep logging out of what the villagers claim is their ancestral land, but they now believe that several timber companies plan to resume logging. Aboriginal peoples of the Malaysia’s Sarawak region, the Penans number around 10,000. They currently live in settlements, but have not completely abandoned their traditional nomadic ways. They subsist off small gardens, hunting, and gathering. Since so much of the Penan’s resources come from the forest, its disappearance may mark their own.

http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0103-borneo_hance.html