Wilderness Defence – Page 16

Mi’kmaq Anti-Fracking Update: Two Warriors Released on Bail, Four Others Remain in Jail

One of some 40 people arrested b

One of some 40 people arrested by RCMP on Oct 17, 2013. CBC News,Oct 25, 2013

Bail hearings for 3 others continue; 1 denied bail Thursday

Two of six protesters who were held in custody following the shale-gas protest confrontation near Rexton, N.B., last week have been released on bail.

Jason Augustine and David Mazerolle were released on a number of conditions and will be back in court next month to enter a plea. The pair face various charges, including mischief, unlawful confinement, escaping lawful custody, obstructing a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer.

Thursday another protester, Coady Stevens, was denied bail. He remains in custody and is to enter a plea on November 1.

The six men — Stevens, Augustine, Mazerolle, Aaron Francis, Germain Junior Breau, and James Sylvester Pictou — face 37 charges in all.

Bail hearings are continuing for the other three jailed protesters. They’ve been in custody since their arrest eight days ago.

The six were among 40 people arrested when RCMP broke up a weeks-long protest against shale gas exploration on Route 134 in Rexton. The protesters were preventing SWN from accessing seismic-testing vehicles and equipment in its compound in the area. The exploration company had obtained a court injunction ordering that it be allowed access to its vehicles and be allowed to carry out exploration work without harassment.

‘No means no’

After being released, Augustine hugged his wife and mother outside the Moncton Law Courts.

“It’s good to be out,” he said. “It’s not good to see my bros that are still in there be incarcerated for something that we believe is right to save.”

Augustine said he and his fellow warriors were arrested trying to save the province from the dangers of shale gas development.

“We are there for our Mother Earth. We’re not there to uphold politics. Politics this, politics that. No way. Just say no, and no means no.”

Aboriginal leaders have not said they are absolutely against shale gas development, however.

“They’re not saying no to all resource development,” Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo said during a visit to Elsipogtog First Nation on Thursday. “Just saying not yes at all costs.”

Meanwhile, Elispogtog Chief Aaron Sock said the issue of resource development should be dealt with after going to court to deal with aboriginal land claims.

Augustine said his opinion hasn’t changed.

“Shawn Atleo and Aaron Sock have to understand — this is a Mi’kmaq territory land. You can’t destroy our Mi’kmaq territory land, no matter how much people are trying.”

protests and ecotage at road building site in Iceland

28.10.13

[from a maintream newspaper:] Equipment at the Gálgahraun lava field – where construction of a controversial new road is planned – was sabotaged by vandalism last night.

As reported last week, protesters were arrested at the lava fields for refusing to move out of the way of road construction equipment. The proposed road, Álftanesvegur, is planned to pass through a protected lava field, which has prompted public resistance in the form of direct action.

Vísir now reports that construction workers arrived at the site this morning to find that someone (or some people) had poured gravel into the fuel tanks of the machines, rendering them useless.

Lava Friends – the organisation that has protested road construction at Gálgahraun most prominently – denied any involvement with the sabotage, saying, "Lava Friends do not use violence nor ruin the private property of others. Lava Friends speak on behalf of nature, and know that nature will win in the end."

Malaysia: Sarawak Dam Protest Intensifies with Blockades, Confrontations

26th October Anti-dam protestors, who on Wednesday put up blockades at two roads leading to Sarawak’s next hydroelectric dam near Long Lama in Baram, have warned sta

26th October Anti-dam protestors, who on Wednesday put up blockades at two roads leading to Sarawak’s next hydroelectric dam near Long Lama in Baram, have warned state electricity provider Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) to remove its construction machinery from nearby Long Naah within three days.

The protestors claimed that the proposed site for the dam was on their native customary rights (NCR) land.

The machinery had been transported to the area to prepare the construction of a 1200 megawatt (MW) dam that would displace up to 20,000 indigenous Kenyah, Kayan and Penans. The dam will also flood a rainforest area of 400sq km.

Environmental group Save Rivers Network and protestors confronted a group of 30 workers who were conducting rock testing activities at Long Naah.

The group said the workers were told to pack up and leave the native land immediately.

“The workers tried to negotiate but were told in no uncertain terms that there was no need for further negotiations as the communities rejected the dam project.”

Save also said that a group of villagers had set up camp at the proposed dam site to monitor the withdrawal of the workers.

The latest blockades added pressure on the government ahead of a key UN meeting in Geneva on Malaysia’s human rights record where UN member states urged Putrajaya to respect the rights of the natives.

The UPR process provides the opportunity for all UN member states to state what action they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. Yesterday’s session represented the second review of Malaysia, the first being in 2009.

Sarawak deputy state secretary Datuk Ose Murang was in the Malaysian delegation to Geneva, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, SEB chief executive officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit, has said he would now like to hear from the “very vocal NGOs and action groups currently in Geneva, and the organisation that nominated Sarawak Energy for the Public Eye award”.

The NGO that nominated SEB for the Public Eye award is the Swiss environmental group, the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF).

The award honours the most despicable and shameful company of the year – companies with a track record of human rights violations, environmental destruction and exploitation of their workers or involvement in corruption.

BMF said they nominated SEB due to its gross disregard for the environment, the indigenous people and massive corruption linked to the project.

The winner would be picked during the 2014 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland in January.

“We would love to hear from the NGOs on how they propose the state deploy transformational projects that can elevate all Sarawakians and lift per capita income across the board if not through hydroelectric projects,” Sjotveit said. – October 25, 2013.

New Protest Camp at Wisborough Green and Kirdford Proposed Drill Site

26th October A small band of anti-fracking campaigners who wished to be known as ‘protectors’ have set up camp on land adjacent to Celtique Energie’s proposed drill site.

Many of them have spent time in Balcombe, protesting against Cuadrilla’s drilling activities.

Talking from their camp, where they have permission from the land owner to temporarily reside, one of the group said: “I’m here because the country is on the brink of what could possibly be the most intense environmental catastrophe that we have ever known, and that its sneaked in under the radar of good sense, under the radar of democracy, and people aren’t aware just how dangerous fracking can be, particularly in this country where we are riddled with fault lines.”

Tim, who preferred not to give his surname and age, added: “It is a matter of great urgency that every body stands up and gets active now.

“We’re all activists now and that is how it is – one way or another the country is being industrialised, and it is time for everybody to stand up.”

Fellow ‘protector’ Prajna spoke of one of our ‘existential rights’ – water, saying it is under threat by the process of hydraulic fracturing which uses high pressure water laced with chemicals to stimulate oil and gas reserves trapped in rock beneath the ground.

The 53 year old, who travels with his 46 year partner Kali, spent two months at Balcombe before arriving in Kirdford about two weeks ago.

“If fracking were to take place in Wisborough Green and Kirdford it would be disastrous for this local environment,” said Kali. “But equally it is going to be disastrous for the whole island – poisoned water supplies.

“It is going to affect absolutely every individual and if the water is contaminated than we shall be dependent on corporations who bring it in from elsewhere.”

A 27 year old called Dominic added: “I’ve come here to raise awareness among local people about fracking – it is an attack on the natural ecosystems of the area.”

Kris, sporting an impressive ginger moustache, said he had been brought up in the oil industry and had lived all around the world, but was now totally disillusioned with the sector for many reasons.

But chief amongst these, he said: “There is a very substantial risk of contaminating the water table.”

Asked why those we spoke to were reticent to give their full names, they said it could give the authorities and corporations a hold over them, and raised concerns about the might of the organisations against which they are campaigning.

———————————————————————————–

One of the most colourful characters we spoke to at the Kirdford camp called himself Bro Rainbow. What follows is a direct transcript of the interview with Bro.

How old are you Bro?

Eternal

Where’s home?

Where the heart is.

Is that right here now?

Always, hope so, otherwise get an ambulance.

Why here right now?

Why right here and now, it’s the only place you can be – here and now – they call it the present – it’s a gift, make the most of it.

Why have you come here?

Because it really actually matters. We are one nation, one tribe, living on a very beautiful space-ship – they call it Earth, but I call it Planet Heart which is just a respelling of Earth.

But actually it is not earth, it is two thirds water and so it is planet Heart, and she is spinning 1,800 mph – can you feel it?

The most amazing life support system that I am aware of in the moment, and what’s going on? Just delusion, truly, and madness. And the future generations are going to look back and they will just be incredulous at what has been happening up until this point.

Basically, do we truly need it? This gas, this fracking, this desecration of the Mother, this ruination of our water, our air, our soil – is it needed?

Yes, because we need to change our consciousness and we need to rise above, that’s from my heart to yours, that we all might live true.

And here’s a poem:

“Listen’t to the mustn’ts child

Listen to the don’ts

Listen to the wouldn’ts, couldn’ts, shouldn’ts and the won’ts,

Listen very closely,

Then listen close to me,

Anything can happen,

And anything can be,

And in the potential reality that I want to exist in, this is not happening – ok.

They say that an English woman’s home is her castle, I say women because we’re women and man, we’re two sided,

We’re not all right, we’re half right, half left.”

That’s the truth of it, otherwise we’d fall over, and hopefully, straight up the middle,

Straight up, fracking is wrong and that is why I am here because I feel it intensely within me, and I am voting with my feet and my whole being, to be here to say please, let’s go in a different direction.

Bless

Remove Your Machinery Within Three Days, Baram Natives Warn Dam Builders

25th October Native communities from Malaysia’s remote Baram district on the island of Borneo have warned state-owned electricity provider Sarawak Energy t

25th October Native communities from Malaysia’s remote Baram district on the island of Borneo have warned state-owned electricity provider Sarawak Energy today to remove its construction machinery from their lands within three days. The machinery had been transported to the Baram region in order to prepare the construction of a 1200 MW dam that would displace up to 20’000 natives and flood a rainforest area of 400km2.

According to Sarawak’s Save Rivers network, a group of 30 workers had been found to conduct rock testing activities at the planned dam site at Long Naah. The workers were told to pack up and leave the native lands immediately. “The workers tried to negotiate but were told in no uncertain terms that there was no need for further negotiations as the communities rejected the dam project.”

Sarawak Energy was given a three-day ultimatum to remove its machinery from the native lands. A group of villagers set up a camp at the planned dam site to monitor the implementation of their demands.

Villagers upholding a second road blockade site near Long Lama today informed that their blockade was successful and no new construction equipment had been transported into the interior.

Further information on the dam protest would be released by Radio Free Sarawak (www.radiofreesarawak.org) on SW 15420 KHZ between 7 pm and 8.30 pm local time.

The Bruno Manser Fund calls on the Malaysian government and on Sarawak Energy to halt all works on the planned Baram dam and to create full transparency on the costs and contracts related to the construction of the Murum dam.

Nigeria: Coordinated Mass Protests Shut Down ExxonMobil

24th October The people of Eket federal constituency in Akwa Ibom State yesterday embarked on a mass protest shutting

24th October The people of Eket federal constituency in Akwa Ibom State yesterday embarked on a mass protest shutting down the operations of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil in Ibeno and Eket, in the state

The mass protest was staged simultaneously around Mobil facilities, the Airstrip in Eket, Mobil Terminal in Ibeno and Mobil Housing Estate in Eket.

The protest was in respect of the sum of N26.5 billion oil spill fund reportedly released by ExxonMobil through the state government to the four oil producing local government areas.

The protesters who chanted slogans with placards and trumpets, barricaded the oil company’s access gates, while a coffin with the inscription ‘RIP Mark Ward’ was kept at the gates of Mobil Terminal in Ibeno, amidst other banners and placards.

At the Mobil airstrip in Eket, plantain suckers where planted at the gates while the youths locked the gate with padlock in the full glare of a detachment of policemen who watched to prevent a degeneration of the crises.

Also seen at one of the deserted gates of the Mobil Terminal was a canoe, wrapped with traditional palm leaves and a white fowl, which the Ibeno protesters claimed found itself to the gate of the terminal from the river on its own, and dared authorities of the oil firm to remove the canoe if they had the guts.

The communities lamented that Mobil was insensitive to their plight, as evident by its refusal to pay the compensation for the 2012 oil spill incident that resulted in the discharge of more than 300 barrels of crude oil into the aquatic environment of the oil producing areas.

During the protest march, some prominent youth leaders under the aegis of Eket Federal Constituency Vanguard led by Mr. Isaiah Abia and Mr. William Mkpa, strongly scolded ExxonMobil for being insensitive to their plight of its host communities.

ExxonMobil, they said, lacked employment opportunities for the people of the community, operate on a deplorable condition of social infrastructure in the host communities, as well as hazards resulting from the exploitation by the oil firm.

They warned that failure of Mobil to address the ugly trend would leave them with no option than to put finality on their operation in their land.

The demonstrators also called for the immediate redeployment of the Managing Director of ExxonMobil, Mr. Mark Ward, over his persistent snub of all the overtures from the communities.

Addressing the protest at the company’s terminal in Ibeno, Mr. Isaiah Abia said there was no going back in calling Mobil to order.

He said the protest march came at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the authorities of the company last week.

Abia said the people of the areas where totally against the notion that ExxonMobil wanted to use the oil spill compensation fund to execute projects in the communities, maintaining that such a notion was an attestation to the nonchalant attitude of Mobil.

Burma: Village Protests Shut Down Coal Mine

24th October The Karen National Union (KNU) in Southern Burma has suspended a coalmine from operating in the Pawklo area, east of Dawei.

The KNU stopped the mine after listening to the demands local villagers made to the political organisations district leaders.

The KNU Mergui-Tavoy District 16th Congress that finished on the 19 October decided that the coal mine in Tha Nay Kler village area should stop operating after KNU township representatives pushed for its closure.

P’doh Saw Beeler, chairman of KNU Mergui-Tavoy District told Karen News.

“We consider the villagers demands requesting the suspension of coal mining in the Paw Klo area. We will time to investigate the issue and talk and listen to local people about their concerns.”

The KNU permit granted to a Thai company East Star has been suspended, but sources claim the company still has a grant issued by the Myanmar government.

East Star is a joint venture with May Flower, a Burmese owned company, that was granted a 25-year concession by the government to mine for coal in the Paw Klo area.

Until the recent ceasefire between the Burma Army and the KNU, the Paw Klo area was a conflict zone – it is still under the control of the KNU. The company received permission from the KNU to mine in 2011. The KNU agreement states the company must renew its permit every year.

The KNU permit limits large-scale coal mining to a 60-acre area and states that the company is only allowed to mine outside village areas to avoid damage to farmland, waterways and the environment.

Villagers in the Paw Klo area protested against the company and alleged that the mining has destroyed their land and has had adverse impacts on village water sources. Villagers claim that they fear the polluted drinking water could have a negative impact on their future health.

Villagers in Paw Klo, submitted a letter of complaint on September 2 urging the KNU to stop coal mining in Tha Nay Kler village.

The letter submitted on September 2 to the KNU Mergui-Tavoy district office states that, “The East Star Company has failed to follow the agreement made between the KNU and villagers that it [company] will protect against damage of the environment and would not harm local lands and peoples’ livelihoods.”

Icelandic road protest – elves and lava fields, Gálgahraun

Lögreglumenn fjarlægja mótmælendur í Gálgahrauni

21.10.2013

A group of protesters, hoping to stop planned road construction through a protected lava field, were arrested by police today. A law professor believes that arrest was premature.

As reported last month, the controversy surrounds the lava fields of Gálgahraun, which is located on the Álftanes peninsula. Although the fields were officially protected in 2009, construction of a new road – Álftanesvegar – was green-lit earlier this month, and will in part go through Gálgahraun.

This has sparked protests that have taken the form of direct action, as protesters put themselves between the lava fields and construction equipment, stopping development before it could begin.

Today, Vísir reports, police officers moved in on the protesters, arresting them, carrying some of them physically away from the site of construction.

Among those arrested was noted journalist and environmentalist Ómar Ragnarsson, as can be seen in this video.

Law professor Sigurður Líndal told Vísir that he believes no arrests should have happened before a court of law has decided whether or not building a road through a protected lava field is even legal.

"It is completely natural that [authorities] wait for a court decision first," district court lawyer Katrín Oddsdóttir said. "I admire people who stand up for this. People should be able to submit such matters before a court of law to have confirmed whether operations that threaten nature are legal."

More photos

Project corruption background

Over to the elves

Solidarity Protests and Blockades Ignite Across Turtle Island in Solidarity with Mi’kmaq

18th October

photo of yesterday's solidarity blockade at Esgenoopetitj 18th October

The RCMP retreat from the Mi’qmak blockade has not stemmed the outrage against the Canadian government’s ruthless attack yesterday on the peaceful Mi’qmak blockade. As Southwestern Energy attempts to extend the injunction against the Mi’qmak, solidarity protests are spreading throughout Turtle Island.

Numerous infrastructure points throughout Canada were snarled by indigenous blockades in the immediate aftermath of the state invasion of the Mi’qmak. At least 30 solidarity protests are also being undertaken according to Idle No More.

According to Santa Cruz Indigenous Solidarity, by 3pm yesterday six peaceful highway and bridge blockades had been errected at Roads in Burnt Church (NB), Tobique (NB), Esgenoopetitj (NB), Hamilton (ON) and Six Nations (ON).

The Listuguj Mi’Gmaq built a tipi on the VanHorne bridge, blocking traffic on the Quebec-New Brunswick border.

In Winnipeg, protestors tied up traffic at the intersection of Portage and Main, burning a Canadian flag to protest against the Crown’s historic betrayal of First Nations treaty rights. Police appeared to be clearing the way for the march, halting traffic at numerous points.

In Montreal, members of the Mohawk nation gathered to show solidarity. During the RCMP crackdown on the Mi’kmaq Blockade, many observers compared the state’s repressive response to the 1990 Oka Crisis, which saw the Mohawk resist development on their lands for months.

New York, Washington, DC, and numerous other cities across the US have also seen solidarity demonstrations.

There is a call for solidarity for today and tomorrow, which happens to be an international day of action against fracking (the #globalfrackdown http://www.globalfrackdown.org/). The day of solidarity will use the hash tag #INDIGENIZE, with organizers sending report backs and media updates to ReclaimTurtleIsland [at] gmail [dot] com.

Mi’kmaq Blockade Update: RCMP Has Withdrawn, Resistance Continues

18th October by Trashfire / Earth First! News

After a day of clashes yesterday, the police withdrew around 7pm to cheers from the crowd.

40 people are reported arrested and 5 police vehicles were burned.

No One Is Illegal reports these lists of solidarity actions – Google Docs

Powershift Canada

Yesterday saw many emergency solidarity actions including a major throughway being shutdown in Winnipeg.

Today is a day of action called for by the Mi’kmaq earlier this week.

Tomorrow is another day of action against fracking organized under the banner Global Frackdown.

There has also been a request that supporters call the premier of New Brunswick to express concerns over the RCMP’s actions against the Mi’kmaq – .New Brunswick Premier – David Alward
Email: premier@gnb.ca
Phone: (506) 453-2144
Fax : (506) 453-7407

Charges for those arrested included firearms offences, uttering threats, intimidation, mischief and for refusing to abide by a court injunction.

The protesters arrested were taken to three different communities where they are expected in court Friday morning around 9:30 to face charges. Police spread the arrested protesters out in an effort to prevent the courthouses being overwhelmed by protest supporters during the arraignments.

Chief Aaron Sock was among those arrested in the clash. He and a few of his band council members were released a few hours after their arrests.

Sock is the leader of the band that has been blockading Route 134 near Rexton since Sept. 30.

On Oct. 1, Sock issued an eviction notice to SWN Resources of Canada. His band and his band council planned to pass a resolution preventing the government and shale gas companies from continuing their work by reclaiming all unoccupied reserve land and giving it back to First Nations.

The road between Rexton and Highway 11 has been the scene of the protest, involving a coalition of natives and non-natives opposed to shale gas exploration.

Protesters moved into the area on Sept. 30, initially establishing a barricade to the staging area used by SWN Resources Canada to park its exploration vehicles and equipment.

The protest progressed to the point where barricades were also established on the road, preventing traffic from going through.

SWN Resources went to the Court of Queen’s Bench and successfully sought an injunction to end the protest.

During a hearing, court was told SWN Resources is losing $60,000 every day its seismic exploration trucks remain blockaded in the compound off Route 134.

Let's watch that shit again #elsipogtog #mikmaqblockade ... on Twitpic

Video by the Stimulator (click for video) and @stimulator on for up to the minute updates