Community members in Canaan de Cachiaco
Community members in Canaan de Cachiaco
By: Ronald Suarez, President of the Network of Peruvian Indigenous Communicators, Ucayali
*Correction: Maple Energy is a company listed in London and Lima, Peru. It is not a Canadian company.
Over 400 villagers in the Native Community of Canan de Cachiaco in the Ucayali region of the Peruvian Amazon have taken control of nine oil wells, belonging to oil company, Maple Gas, in oil lot 31B.
Community members took over the oil wells on September 2nd, and continue to hold them as a result of 37 years of oil contamination in their territory by the company.
The community leader, Basilio Rodriguez Venancio, said the action was made necessary because the company did not consider the environmental impact assessment carried out by an independent consultant.
One of the oil wells occupied by members of the Canaan de Cachiaco community in the Peruvian Amazon, September 2012
The community is demanding that the company pay them compensation for the use of their lands and for the environmental damage they have suffered for 37 years. Such damage includes the contamination of their rivers, their only source of drinking water, and the contamination of their soils due to the company´s use of chemicals and heavy minerals, which the population says has significantly affected the productivity of their land.
Several community members testified that they have become sick due to the company’s negligence and contamination of their drinking water. There have been several instances in the past years of cancer and ¨unknown deaths¨ that the community attributes to company abuses.
The community awaits the arrival of state representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mines and Ministry of Environment, scheduled for Thursday, September 13th, to resolve this conflict.
Meanwhile the villagers are still stationed in the camp until authorities settle their claims.
For more information on the case of Canaan de Cachiaco, and the neighboring community, Nuevo Sucre, watch this video.
road sabotaged to protect wildlife reserve, Ukraine
September 10, 2012
received anonymously:
"Kiev. Roads sabotaged in sanctuary.
September 10, 2012
received anonymously:
"Kiev. Roads sabotaged in sanctuary.
On the night of 08.09 Kiev eco-activists dug a trench cutting the only road that led to the sanctuary 'Zhukov Ostrov', a habitat of several rare species of animals.
Kievan middle and upper class has developed a bad habit of using SUVs for weekend hikes to forests and riverbanks.
The act was an attempt to make such kind of communion with nature more difficult."
Protesters in Greece Clash with Police Over Gold Mine, Again
Riot police show up to protect mining interest
Hundreds of protesters have battled riot police for hours over plans for a gold mine in northern Greece’s Halkidiki peninsula.
Police fired tear gas to fend off protesters who had gathered in the Skouries area of Halkidiki, northern Greece, on Sunday to protest gold mining activity.
Dozens of residents of the nearby village of Ierissos, as well as protesters who arrived by coaches and cars from Thessaloniki, approached the forest in Skouries, where Hellenic Gold, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Eldorado Gold, has begun mining activity that locals are appealing against.
Protesters accused the police of making heavy use of tear gas, causing a fire in the woods, and of chopping down trees to prevent demonstrators from approaching the mine. Police say protesters threw firebombs at them, setting ablaze a forested area on the site. Either way, the fire has been put out.
There were reports of several people being arrested and detained at Ierissos police station. Several people were also injured, including SYRIZA MP Vangelis Diamantopoulos.
Hellenic Gold has been awarded an area of 26,400 hectares, of which 410 is forest land. Almost all the trees in the forest will be cut down as part of the mining firm’s plan to extract gold. The company says it will replant trees when it finishes its work.
Environmental opponents of the mine argue it would lead to the destruction of the local forest and irreversible damage to the ecosystem. Owners of local tourist lodging are also fiercely opposed due to environmental reasons.
This is not the first clash over the gold mine. Opponents succeeded a decade ago in canceling a multimillion-dollar gold mining project in a nearby area. Source
The film below, Treasure Hunt, documents that struggle. This is the first 10 minutes of the film:
The entire documentary with subtitles can be found online by clicking this link.
Twyford Down anti-road protests gathering, September
There is going to be a Twyford Down anti-roads protest reunion to mark that it is 20 years since the protests started. It's on 29-30 Sept, when it'll be the Harvest Moon.
There is going to be a Twyford Down anti-roads protest reunion to mark that it is 20 years since the protests started. It's on 29-30 Sept, when it'll be the Harvest Moon.
There will be a camp run along the same lines as 20 years ago (bring what you expect to find… water butts, tents, food, etc). That said, there will be some domes and the @ teapot are going to be doing catering (Sat dinner and Sun breakfast) – hurrah! Camp location to be on top of St Catherine's Hill, near Winchester.
There will also be a protest / photo opportunity about this current Government's mania of roadbuilding.
Please spread this amongst your contacts who you think may be interestd. There is a Facebook page if you do such things called Twenty Years Since Twyford: http://www.facebook.com/events/344190508996315/
More details and flyer downloadable at http://bettertransport.org.uk/blogs/roads/100912-twyford-20
Update in tunnel boring machine saga – community resistance strong
4.8.12 update: 150 Gardai to move TBM 5km; Mayo County Council begin cover-up
4.8.12 update: 150 Gardai to move TBM 5km; Mayo County Council begin cover-up
Aware that something was going to happen, campaigners spent the night at Glenamoy sleeping in cars and vans, aware that something was going to happen. Two slept under the bridge. Local residents nearby told us how the road had sunk 4 inches in the last few days, while other parts were ruined from the exceptional traffic. We're sure the Council will not be so quick to do those repairs…
At 4am, gardai began to swarm into the area. 150 IRMS security also marched up the road. We ran up, but the sheer weight of numbers kept us back. Ten managed to get into the field on the side where the truck was listing. Suddenly, 40 IRMS came in and set up a fence. Diggers and trucks of stone came in and for the next ten hours, Shell filled in ditches and built up a road around the collapsed bank. The crane plan had been abandoned and its seemed the field owner had given permission. Thus, without warning the crossroads were closed to all traffic, causing chaos yet again. Shell only later offered its usual bland, 'sorry for the inconvenience' shite.
Rumour is it that the crane stopped the previous day simply turned around and went home after being stopped. And that Shell were desperately trying to find a replacement – offering 15K for a crane driver alone to do the job, and another 50K for a crane itself.
Those in the field, having been given directions to go there when the road was being cleared were told they were being detained there and physically prevented from leaving by gardai. After watching the spectacle close up for a couple of hours, they made their way through other fields to get out.
Maura Harrington's van was stopped at Bellinaboy by Gardai and had its back window deliberately smashed by Sgt Dermot Butler, the well known bully of the public order unit – his former partner now has a restraining order against them, but in the dubious ranks of Mayo's police, that probably puts him in line for a promotion. Maura was arrested and charged, though subsequently released and the van returned in what was a blatant occasion of preventative detention.
Another campaigner also had their car impounded; while a third person was told their van could only leave the area if a garda drove it back to camp. There was quite a pattern were known protesters were being denied right of passage along the road, while other were stopped outright or repeatedly harassed and searched. Those walking had their own personal garda escort, and every fifty meters from Glenamoy to Bellinaboy there was at least one garda standing – someone counted them and the total there alone came to 80. We heard of checkpoints set up as far as Bangor Erris.
Butler continued his customary incivility when a local resident went to Belmullet garda station to have his tax return signed – Butler opened the hatch and said I'm not signing that for the likes of you, before slamming the hatch shut.
Betty Schults, a well known local campaigner, and others were following the trail of who had given permission for the TBM trucks to go up to Glenamoy in the first place. Having been told that documentation was at the Castlebar headquarters of Mayo County Council, she made the 100km round trip only to receive a phonecall telling her that it was missing from the file just as she arrived.
At 2pm we had news the TBM was moving so we headed down to Ballyscelly junction to witness it. Vehicles were backed up all along it, one local resident unable to get to her elderly mother who was at home alone. As usual, gardai were happy to block the road entirely for Shell, causing massive disruption as even the backroads were closed off this time.
The twitchiness of An Gardai Síochána was apparent. They were desperate to see this go off without any hitches. As the tunnel boring machine came up the road, 38 gardai walking in front of the truck alone. IRMS security were also floating around. With such numbers there was little that could be done. Punctuating all this was a thunderstorm right overhead.
The subject of such massive operation, which underlines its importance, it was clear that the TBM would be delivered back to Bellinaboy. Yet for five days it was stuck at Glenamoy, a national news story and galvinizing the surrounding communities. Shell was at the centre of the embarrassment; An Gardai Síochána left red-faced, their ability to respond reduced to simple thuggery; and the blatant criminal collusion of Mayo County Council becoming apparent once more. Ironic, as Friday was elven years to the very day that Mayo County Council signed their first agreement with Shell.
As we sat in a local pub, swapping stories of the week, it was clear that there is hardly a local who does not believe Mayo county manager, Peter Hynes, has not sold his soul to Shell. The question is for how much. Certainly he does not have the trust or respect of anyone up here.
The battle is not over yet. The TBM has not got to where it is meant to, Aghoos. Before that can happen, the road at Ballyscelly junction has to be built up so it can turn. More pieces of it have still to arrive. Aghoos is not yet ready for it either, being plagued by flooding, while the weight of the TBM is not going to do the fracturing ground at Bellinaboy refinery any good either.
Shell have shot themselves in the foot several times; not only a huge embarrassment that made national headlines, it showed the ongoing strength of resistance coming from the community here. As we sat in the pub last night we could hear the buzz of a people fighting back.
As ever the camp is open to all who want to come and support, though you might have to mind the moat and drawbridge…
Cartoon in Irish News on the story – http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/notanumber/irishnews030812-p16.jpg
———
2nd August 2012
Day three and things are still looking bad for Shell. Protesters and the Irish bog have the upper hand, with Shell receiving flack and Gardai humbled as crane sent packing.
Day Three in the TBM House
Somewhere in Erris idiots at are work…
Most of the day was quiet around the TBM itself. Fencing was put up and IMRS formed a cordon around it. We are able to walk up and around the TBM – in places you can reach out and touch the Fionnuala. The turning wheels have caused the tarmac to scrunch up in quite a few places. The front of the truck has pushed the ditch out two foot, the back axles sitting in a pool of water and looks like one of them has buckled. The road is pretty badly damaged and it is easy to see why the driver was not going any further. The load on the back is also pushing the frame of the trailer down onto the tires.
Most work was on finishing bypasses around the TBM so vehicles could get in and out of Rossport. Cars are able to get to Rossport, but the direct route is still not possible, meaning the road through Glenamoy village is still being used, causing damage to locals gardens and the road surface is being destroyed by turning lorries from Barretts & Lennons. Local councillors moaned about it and asked for reports from Shell's pet Mayo County Council.
However, one of the Rossport 5 and Goldman Prize winner Willie Corduff did something about the haulage trucks coming through the village, standing in front of one truck coming through. Unfortunately arrested, but released without charge two hours later.
Locals and campers monitored the situation all day, everyone in good spirits enjoying the sight. Even though it underlines Shell's idiocy in attempting the whole project in the first place, it is awesome to see the unbelieveable.
Elsewhere, the two arrested for the Crossmolina lock-on pleaded guilty in Ballina court. One was fined 200 euros on the spot and the other had their punishment deferred to the September hearing in Belmullet, when many others arrested on previous protests are also having their cases heard.
Gardai were around all day, but in small numbers. Amazing given how much was spent on escorting it a day or so ago that they've pretty much abandoned it now. Definitely a question or two to be asked there about a colossal waste of money. Maybe they were getting the bollocking they truely deserved as the trucks could only have been on that road with their permission.
Some people did a bit of digging and it turns out that not only was there a major failure of judgement among experienced people who should have known better about taking a heavy load up a rural road through bogland, but it may also been illegal. According to the road traffic managment plan, the approved haulage route ends at the Ballyscally junction to Aghoos. Peter Hynes, the Mayo County Council Director of Services / County Manager who always bends over backwards to help Shell, has said that Shell had all the necessary permissions, which, to put it politely is disassembling somewhat. Did he really give permission for Shell to go up to Glenamoy? Maybe people should ring his office ((094) 90 24444) and ask to see the documents. Heads need to roll on this one.
In answer to someone's question, the trucks came the designated route, on the main route past Ballinaboy to the Aghoos compound. They failed to make the turning at the Ballyscally turning where the animal labs are, so continued up to Glenamoy / Rossport junction – to turn around and try from the other direction.
But back to the direct action bit. In the evening reports started coming in (and this is the beauty of a community wide campaign – eyes and ears everywhere) that a crane was on its way. Shell were saying that the TBM was going to be moved. Mmmh, a lot of people thought otherwise. Infact, some turned thought into action. Maura was there with her car across the road at Bellinaboy bridge, holding it up. More sped down there to give support, and before you could blink another protester was up on the crane.
The whole road was blocked. Shell workers from the refinery had to go the long way around, gridlocking the road out from Pullathomas – and, we are told, made to wait by some local residents none too happy at the sight of them.
Maura's car was pulled out of the way, but the gardai ended up crashing it into the side of the bridge, causing them to abandon the effort. After a while it was back in place, making sure the cherrypicker to take down the person on the crane could not reach them.
Several hours later somewhere between sixty and hundred people came to enjoy the sight of the the crane stuck in the middle of the road. While some might moan about the blockage or emergency services, the fact remains that these are the roads of the local community and it is they who are making the decisions that Shell needs to be kicked out – and taking action. This was not a local community annoyed by the road being blocked, but happy to see Shell taking another poke in the eye.
Gardai arrived – then called for backup as they realised they were struggling to contain the situation. You could see they were loosing it, dragging out various old faces including Brett and other faces familiar from baton charges several years ago; some even thought pushing young girls around with their heavy hands was appropriate. They were met with fury.
There was a stand-off, with the gardai isolating Maura and the crane. More scuffles. The cherrypicker was temporarily occupied with the Gardai assaulting a number of people to get it back, including pressure-pointing – the usual over-reaction from the likes of Butler and Gill from the Public Order Cutting Team. At least one gardai had his pepper spray out and Brett was trying to use his torch as a baton.
For pictures, see here http://shelltosea.com/content/pictures-last-night-blocking-tbm-crane
Maura's car was toed out of the way once more and the person from the crane arrested – and given a cheer. The cherrypicker itself started listing dangerously as one of its tires deflated.
Then as we readied ourselves for the crane to come through, it reversed and disappeared into the night, last seen somewhere beyond Bangor… They gardai had lost the stomach for the fight, it seems. You could hear the happiness in the voices of the people all around us. Eleven years on in this long fight, victories were still possible in the face of Shell's invasion. This part of Erris remains free in the hearts of the people there.
Afterwards, people went back up to Glenamoy to keep vigil there. People continue to arrive at camp. This is not over yet.
For a good video of some of the resistance of previous nights see http://shelltosea.com/content/youtube-videos-shell-sea-resists-shells-attempt-move-tunnel-boring-machine-rossport-31-7-201
Some other reports
http://shelltosea.com/content/councillor-appalled-over-shell-truck-blockage-glenamoy
http://shelltosea.com/content/rossport-farmer-arrested-jack-knifed-lorry
Shell humbled as protestors disrupt arrival of the Tunnel Boring Machine
31st July 2012
31st July 2012
The last twelve plus hours saw protesters in Erris take on one of the largest Gardai operations Ireland has seen in some time – and ran rings around it. The mammoth operation saw hundreds of Gardai and IRMS security trying to escort the tunnel boring machine [TBM] to Aghoos. Yet Shell to Sea campaigners managed, in separate incidents, two lock-ons and used a car to blockade a bridge on the route of the TBM.
Following on from Sunday night's discovery of the arrival of the TBM into Dublin Port (see http://www.indymedia.ie/article/102198 & http://www.wsm.ie/c/garda-deployed-protect-shells-machine-people-ireland ), protesters from Sligo met it at its overnight resting place, while others mobilised with people coming from across the country. We were told that there would be an armed response unit and other pieces would be joining the convey, having come in from Killybegs and Belfast.
Despite short notice a call out for a protest at Ballina 9pm, Monday night, was quickly picked up and spread. Local radio stations spread the word, and the sixty or so protesters were joined by many from Ballina and surrounding areas – some to see the TBM itself, but often offering support as well.
Banners were held calling for an end to Shell's occupying army, pointing out that not only were Shell colonizing Erris for its own needs, not and they were doing it with the connivance of the Irish state – who had supplied armed Gardai to add to their many insults. There were many plain-clothes cops circling around, some of them displaying remarkable faithfulness to 1970s stereotypes…
Just after midnight the first of the lock-ons went into place outside of Crossmolina. Despite a strong Gardai presence in this town, it caught them completely on the hop. The convoy was halted on the outskirts of Ballina, with the Sligo road being blocked by Gardai, while the public order team raced to deal with the lock-on. Protesters and others from Ballina attempted to reach the convoy but were turned back.
The lock-on lasted a little under an hour with two arrested. Reaction from the Gardai, never the most pleasant from the public order unit's cutting team of Butler and Gill was sourer than usual.
Protesters, undeterred, left Ballina and regrouped at Bellacorrick. After a few hours wait, topping ourselves up with refreshments, the convoy came into sight (4.30am). One well known local campaigner promptly blocked the bridge with her van, parking it diagonally across a narrow spot bringing things once again to a halt. Yet again despite there being several van loads of Gardai with us.
A tractor from Carey's Tool and Plant Hire of Bangor (097-83018 / 086-8236018) was brought up to haul it out – the company are well known for doing this for Shell over the years. Resistance was put up by the 30 or so protesters there, leading to a battle for the bridge. Though overwhelmed several times over by Gardai numbers, it took them time to clear us out of the way, kettling us next to the old pub. It was easy to see that it was starting to affect them.
Just as that was finishing and the convoy was on its way again, later than ever, news came through that a second lock-on was in place on the Bangor road (6am). Cue enraged Gardai as the carefully planned operation to move the TBM became farcical. Another hours worth of delay with another two arrests.
The whole of the surrounding area was sealed off, though some protester vehicles managed to get back to camp to the great irritation of local Gardai. To top it off, the TBM, now many hours later than it should have been, was unable to make the turning at Aghoos which would take it down to its final resting place. Thus forcing it to go to Glenamoy in order to turn and try again.
Where it promptly got stuck at 8am. One local couple were told to park their van up in a specific place by Gardai. Who then said they that was wrong and dragged it away to a new place. Where the turning truck crashed into it… adding insult to all of this, the l van driver was assaulted by Gardai. Then got stuck as the road began to cave in under the weight of the 162 ton segment; the driver refused to get back into the truck in case it toppled down the side of the embankment.
Meanwhile the tailbacks grew. Drivers, understandably irate irate drivers were threatened with arrested; an individual on McGrath's truck on their way to dialysis was sent home.
As it stands, the trucks are still there, one tied to the other to stop it slipping more. For a good image see http://www.shelltosea.com/sites/default/files/images/TBM_truck_stuck_at_Glenamoy.jpg Thhe main road to Rossport is cut off and might be for the foreseeable future as they try to find solutions. Word is that cranes might be brought in, but they come with their own sets of problems. The rain has finally started. We will wait and see, and probably have a few good laughs. The TBM, offensively, has been named Fionnuala from the Children of Lir, and like that legend may it be stuck there for 300 years…
It is fair to say people here are pleased. At short notice as great response was organised and the multi-million euro operation made a mockery off. Shell and the Irish state thought they were going to sneak the TBM in under everyone's noses. Instead they got a rapidly mobilised set of protests that used it to bring the campaign message to people who had not encountered it before. The farce it became was given the airtime it deserved, Shell's dirty secretly received a public washing. It was really spiriting to learn that a group of young lads had come down from Sligo to oppose it, having only just heard about it on the radio.
We thought that at best it would be highly symbolic, we never thought that we could make such a laughing stock of a multi-million euro operation. The icing on the cake though, came from Shell. The farce at Glenamoy shows them up for what they were. If they cant, with all that planning, get the TBM in, how can there be any trust that they can run the pipeline safely. As one sleep-deprived but cheerful camper said, if they cant even get the tunnel boring machine turned on the road, how the hell are they going to get it up the estuary…
Update: Right, a quick update from camp. The Tunnel Boring Machine is still stuck. Shell's contractors Roadbridge have been trying several different methods, but none working. Currently, it is believed the plan is to build up the road so local residents can get past, then use the main road to bring in cranes that can lift the truck in sections. However, there is resistance in the air…
Following on from previous stories…
Initially the Gardai closed off the entire road, making local residents and tourists sit in their cars without information – reaching us many tales of outright lies being told to people by Gardai who refuse to acknowledge it was anything to do with Shell. The people of Erris are not stupid.
The vast Gardai numbers which had been escorting the TBM vanished entirely from the area, presumably utterly exhausted from a whole night of being given the run around. They left four of their number to try and manage the traffic, which was by the afternoon slow and backed up, mostly as lorries from Lennon and Barretts quarries had started turning up with stone for the road building. Locals residents, already furious at the disruption and gardai rudeness towards them, came out of their houses and stopped the trucks, saying the TBM was simply not wanted.
The four Gardai were not up to the job, and mostly did what Roadbridge told them to – so when Roadbridge's foreman demanded the lorries come through side by side, gridlock ensued. Residents had to sort the Gardai's mess, redirecting traffic and lorries to clear the blockage.
More and more people started coming as radio and word of mouth carried the story, with people coming from across Mayo to stand in solidarity with friends and family. Doors were opened by the people of Glenamoy to those who came to stand in the rain against Shell.
Meanwhile, Mayo county council is bending over backwards to help Shell clear up their mess – all those grants seem to be coming useful after all. County manager Peter Hynes is not going to hold Shell responsible, so yet again the people are picking up Shell's bill. However, Shell did have to eat humble pie as the story spread, with the head of Shell Ireland having to issue an apology, or rather regretting the inconvenience. Not as much as the residents do.
Shell's security IRMS are now controlling a public road and deciding where residents can walk. This was challenged leading to some people being put in the ditch. Of course the Gardai stood in line with IRMS – really was impossible to tell them apart, but residents made it very clear that the road did not belong to Shell or its lackeys.
As ever, with these things, it is great to be in the midst of such community spirit and resistance.
It appears that Roadbridge are going to resume work after midnight, with the aim of shifting the listing truck tomorrow and taking it to Bellinaboy refinery (a change from going direct to the Aghoos compound), until more work can be done to strenghten the roads. We think the mighty Irish bog may be a bit tricker than that…
Camp is taking a rest – its been a long 36 hours for many people, though some are going to maintain a presence at the site of the fiasco. Other good news is that the two people arrested for the second lock-on have been released without charge. The first two are up in court in Ballina tomorrow.
One twitter captured it: http://pic.twitter.com/55lYSNpB
For images see http://www.shelltosea.com/content/pictures-tunnelling-machine-stuck-glenamoy and http://photos.independent.ie/gallery/Shell_to_Sea_protest/slideshow/Shell_to_Sea_activists_protest/05mI7xq7Oxakf
Daring Protesters Shut Down Strip Mine In West Virginia; 500,000 in Bail Needed!!!!
29.7.12
29.7.12
Ramping up renewed efforts to end mountaintop removal mining in central Appalachia, scores of protesters staged a daring action at the controversial Hobet strip mine today in Boone County, West Virginia, shutting down operations through a series of coordinated lock downs, tree-sits and banner drops. In a symbolic challenge to the Obama administration’s failed regulatory policies, the protest targeted the Hobet 45 mountaintop removal mine, which had been granted a widely denounced permit over two years ago.
According to RAMPS, a West Virginia-based grassroots groups that organized the “mountain mobilization” protest as part of a nationwide summer of actions against devastating extraction industry operations, St. Louis-based mine owner Patriot Coal has left behind a legacy of destruction in coal country for both area residents and miners. Patriot filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, which could also affect pension and United Mine Workers of America union contracts.
“The government has aided and abetted the coal industry in evading environmental and mine safety regulations. We are here today to demand that the government and coal industry end strip mining, repay their debt to Appalachia, and secure a just transition for this region,” said Dustin Steele of Matewan, West Virginia, in a released statement. The son and grandson of union coal miners, Steele took part in one of the truck lockdowns.
Citing the mounting evidence of the health and humanitarian crises in the coalfields from toxic mining fallout, including a rise in black lung disease and links to birth defects and cancer, the protesters also stationed banners on the mine site: “Coal Leaves, Cancer Stays.”
“The coal companies are poisoning our water and air, and they’re treating the workers no better than the land — fighting workplace health and safety protections to get the most out of labor as they can,” said Junior Walk, a former coal company employee from nearby Whitesville, West Virginia, who won the 2011 Brower Youth Award for his environmental activism.
Protesters also called on the Obama administration and regional politicians to launch more sustainable job training and coalfield regeneration projects.
Coal mining residents have pleaded for basic civil rights and environmental protection for years, with more than 20 peer-reviewed studies suggesting higher risks and links between reckless strip mining and devastating health impacts, including birth defects, cancer and chronic heart, lung and kidney disease. (A recent report noted that strip miners are even subjected to unacceptable levels of black lung disease.)
A bill, the ACHE Act, calling for an emergency moratorium on mountaintop removal mining was recently introduced into Congress.
For updates on the protests and arrests, follow RAMPS campaign.
Donate to the Legal Fund here. Help any way you can.
Angry Environmental Protesters Occupy Government Office, Smash Computers in China
28.7.12
Angry demonstrators occupied a government office in eastern China on Saturday, destroying computers and overturning cars in a violent protest against an industrial waste pipeline they said would poison their coastal waters.
28.7.12
Angry demonstrators occupied a government office in eastern China on Saturday, destroying computers and overturning cars in a violent protest against an industrial waste pipeline they said would poison their coastal waters.
The demonstration was the latest in a string of protests sparked by fears of environmental degradation and highlights the social tensions the government in Beijing faces as it approaches a leadership transition this year.
About 1,000 protesters marched through the coastal city of Qidong, about one hour north of Shanghai by car, shouting slogans against the plan pipeline that would empty waste from a paper factory in a nearby town into the sea.
Demonstrators rejected the government’s stand that waste from the factory would not pollute the coastal waters.
“The government says the waste will not pollute the sea, but if that’s true, then why don’t they dump it into Yangtze River?” said Lu Shuai, a 25-year-old protester who works in logistics.
“It is because if they dump it into the river, it will have an impact on people in Shanghai and people in Shanghai will oppose it.”
Several protesters entered the city government’s main building and were seen smashing computers, overturning desks and throwing documents out the windows to loud cheers from the crowd.
Reuters witnessed five cars and one minibus being overturned. Over 1,000 police – some paramilitary – guarded the city government office compound in lines.
At least two police officers were dragged into the crowd at the government office and punched and beaten enough to make them bleed.
On Friday, in an effort to stave off the protest, the Qidong city government announced it would suspend the project for further research.
But many protesters said on Saturday that postponement was not enough.
“If the government really wanted to stop this project, they should have done it right from the beginning. At this point they are too late,” said Xi Feng, a 17-year-old protester.
Local officials took steps to ward off the demonstration and residents received text messages and letters warning that any public demonstration would be illegal.
Environmental worries have stoked calls for expanded rights for citizens and greater consultation in the tightly controlled one-party state.
The outpouring of public anger is emblematic of the rising discontent facing Chinese leaders, who are obsessed with maintaining stability and struggling to balance growth with rising public anger over environmental threats.
The protest followed similar demonstrations against projects the Sichuan town of Shifang earlier this month and in the cities of Dalian in the northeast and Haimen in southern Guangdong province in the past year.
In Shifang, the government halted construction of a copper refinery following protests by residents that it would poison them. It also freed most of the people who were detained after a clash with police.
The leadership has vowed to clean up China’s skies and waterways and increasingly tried to appear responsive to complaints about pollution. But environmental disputes pit citizens against local officials whose aim is to lure fresh investment and revenue into their areas.
sabotage to save Khimki forest, Russia
reported by activists in Russia:
"Russia. Khimki forest (north of Moscow). Construction vehicles torched, tree-cutter assaulted, his arm broken.
reported by activists in Russia:
"Russia. Khimki forest (north of Moscow). Construction vehicles torched, tree-cutter assaulted, his arm broken.
Unknown activists have torched several construction vehicles and assaulted tree-cutter at the new toll highway construction site in Khimki forest. These news appeared in joint declaration, published by state enterprise “Avtodor” and “North-Eastern concession” (subsidiary of Vinci). The accidents happened on nights of 19.07 and 21.07.
“Avtodor” representatives stated that an assault on tree-cutters took place on 19.07: one of the workers tried to prevent eco-activists from entering the construction site. In the following fight his arm broke.
On the night of 21.07 special construction vehicles were torched: several brand new harvesters and hydraulic excavator were completely destroyed by fire. Material damage is estimated to be over $ 2 000 000.
Earlier the same companies filed a complaint about unknown people opening fire on construction vehicles (supposedly from “Saiga”, a civil 12-mm carbine) and torching workers sheds with molotovs.
Eco-activists present at the site of eco-camp near the construction failed to provide police with evidence or ideas about the nature of perpetrators."
reported on From Russia With Love:
"On the night of 20-21 july, after having received news of new tree-cutting activity in Khimki forest, we decided to visit the workers. We aimed for 2 trucks and excavator parked on the clear cut. They were completely destroyed.
Our solidarity goes out to eco-activists who broke the arm of private guard who was guarding the clear cut (this piece we learned from news).
Enough of pseudo-legalism!
Do like us, do better than us.
– Autonomous autonoms
video footage of the action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P51k3CrtF20&feature=youtu.be"
Aristocrat landlord’s garden opencasted!
18.07.2012 Earlier today activists from Take Back the Land! visited Lord Home’s mansion in the Douglas Valley and opencasted his garden, hoping to bring the issues closer to home for him.
18.07.2012 Earlier today activists from Take Back the Land! visited Lord Home’s mansion in the Douglas Valley and opencasted his garden, hoping to bring the issues closer to home for him. Lord Home owns Mainshill and all of Glentaggart East which is currently being occupied by an action camp. Of course only some of the things that impact communities so much would have been felt because of this opencast, such as seeing a big mess. He won’t have to put up with the health impacts from dust and diesel fumes, the danger on the roads, the noise, contempt from South Lanarkshire Council – the list goes on.
COAL ACTION SCOTLAND MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE 18th July
Lord Home’s garden opencasted by anti-coal activists
At 10:30 this morning 20 environmental and social justice protesters entered the grounds of Lord Home’s stately home at Castlemains in the Douglas Valley and began digging up his front garden. The protest brought home to Lord Home how much of an eye sore an open cast next to your residence is. A banner held up in front of his home which read “Community Health not Lord Home’s Wealth!” Police attended the scene but no arrests were made.
Rob Hearne, one of the activists digging up the Lord’s garden said: “Lord Home is making millions off opencast coal mining in the Douglas Valley. He owns land currently being mined at Mainshill, and owns the entire Glentaggart East site, next on the list to be mined. There is no community consent for opencast in this area, with 70% of people in Douglas opposing Mainshill and over 650 letters of objection sent to the council against it. Yet because of his aristocratic and hereditary privilege, he can do what he wants and walk all over the wishes of the community. We’re digging up his garden to bring the issues closer to home.”
Local resident David Grey said: “The Lord owns everything around here and makes loads of money but gives virtually nothing back to the community. He gets millions but we get cancers, asthma and respiratory diseases. He is essentially a parasite, sucking the wealth out of the area and consolidating it into his private estate.”
Clare Reed, another of the diggers at Castlemains, added: “Lord Home doesn’t even live in the valley despite his massive house and huge land ownership. He lives in London, sits in the House of Lords and is Chairperson of Coutts Bank. He is totally complicit in the destruction caused by opencast mining in the valley and all the health impacts inflicted on communities, but suffers none of the impacts himself. In fact, he makes a killing – we estimate he’ll make up to £7 million off Glentaggart East alone.”
Today’s protest follows Monday’s blockade of Broken Cross Open Cast Coal Site and Saturday’s invasion of Mainshill Open Cast Coal Site where 45 activists stopped work on the site for the day. These actions are part of a week-long action camp and occupation of Scottish Coal’s intended new mine in the area, Glentaggart East. The camp called “Take Back the Land!” has attracted activists from across Scotland, the UK and Europe to take direct action against the blight of opencast coal mining.
Coal Action Scotland
contact@coalactionscotland.org.uk
http://takebacktheland.org.uk/