Wilderness Defence – Page 76

Environmental Activists killed by Mining Companies in Latin America

On 26th December, Dora Alicia Recinos Sorto became the third victim of a wave of violence against environmental campaigners in the Cabañas Region of El Salvador, where community members are protesting against the re-opening of a Gold Mine by Canadian Company Pacific Rim.

Dora Alicia was a member of the Cabañas Environmental Committee, and had been active in opposing the mine. She was eight months pregnant when she was shot dead, and her two year old son was also wounded in the attack.

Her murder comes six days after the fatal shooting of Ramiro Rivera Gomez, Vice President of the Cabañas Environmental Committee, who had survived being shot eight times in August this year. In June, another environmental campaigner, Gustavo Marcelo Rivera Moreno, had been tortured and killed. Many other members of the community have received death threats, including youth workers and journalists for the local community radio station Radio Victoria, and the local priest Father Luis Quintanilla narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping.

In Mexico, Mariano Abarca Roblero campaigned against the environmentally destructive open-pit Barium mine Blackfire, a World Bank project. He was shot to death on the evening of November 27, 2009, in front of his house in Chicomuselo, Chiapas. More details.

Whalers and Whale Defenders Clash for the First Time This Season

The first clash between whalers and whale defenders took place on December 14th when the Steve Irwin and the Shonan Maru #2 exchanged shots with their water cannons.

The Shonan Maru #2 has been following the Steve Irwin from Fremantle since December 9th. At 1400 Hours (Melbourne time) the Steve Irwin went around an iceberg, did a figure eight out of view of the Shonan Maru #2 and re-emerged within a quarter of a mile of the Japanese whaler’s portside quarter catching the whalers completely by surprise.

A pursuit began and the Shonan Maru #2 turned on two water cannons. The crew of the Steve Irwin immediately responded by placing their water cannon in readiness. The Shonan Maru #2 and the Steve Irwin were engaged in a high speed pursuit for two hours before Captain Watson decided to break off the pursuit to resume course to the coast of Antarctica.

The Japanese whalers are spending a great deal of money, first locating the Steve Irwin by air and then directing the Shonan Maru #2 to the coordinates of the Sea Shepherd vessel. By staying on the tail of the Steve Irwin, the harpoon vessel is able to keep the rest of the fleet aware of the Sea Shepherd position. Captain Paul Watson needs to lose the tail of the Shonan Maru #2 in order to locate the whaling fleet. He is counting on heavier ice conditions to assist in this effort.

“We will use the icebergs and the ice floes to our advantage.” Said Captain Paul Watson. “I’ve observed today that I am a more experienced ice navigator than the Japanese captain chasing us. We need to get him to follow us into the ice fields and let the ice work for us.”

The Steve Irwin crew were left wet, but in good spirits after the confrontation.

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Sea Shepherd Evades Pursuit by Japanese Whaling Fleet Security Vessel

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has successfully left the Australian Economic Zone (EEZ) without any sign of the Japanese whaling fleet security ship Shonan Maru No. 2.

The Steve Irwin departed from Hobart at 1800 Hours on December 31st and took advantage of gale force winds and heavy swells to slip past the waiting Japanese vessel.

“It’s a big ocean down here they have no idea where we are,” said Captain Paul Watson. “I’m now confident that we can proceed with our search for the Japanese whaling fleet without further interference from the Shonan Maru No. 2.”

The Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil is patrolling the Southern Ocean in advance of the Steve Irwin in search of the fleet.

The Shonan Maru No. 2 was waiting for the Steve Irwin when it left Fremantle on December 7th. The Japanese had chartered an aircraft out of Albany to locate the conservation vessel. They then relayed the Steve Irwin’s position to the Shonan Maru No. 2 to enable the Japanese security vessel to intercept the Steve Irwin.

The Steve Irwin was unable to lose the pursuit of the Shonan Maru No. 2 for more than two weeks. Only by returning to Tasmania was the tail lost because Japanese whaling ships are prohibited from entering Australian territorial waters.

“Thanks to the stormy weather, there was no possibility of a chartered flight locating the Steve Irwin and we were able to pass back into international waters without any sign of the Shonan Maru No. 2,” said Captain Watson. “They will be hard pressed to locate us now and without them on our tail, I am confident that we will be able to track down the whale poachers in the Australian Antarctic Territory.”
“It was awesome seeing them run like cowards when we turned on them,” said Third Mate Vincent Hayes from Williamstown in Victoria.

Sabotage at Broken Cross Open Cast Coal Mine (Mainshill Solidarity Action)

In the early hours of the 25th December, a group of autonomous activists delivered their Christmas present to Scottish Coal. Four machines were sabotaged at the Broken Cross open cast site, the largest of its type in Europe, just 5 miles from Mainshill Solidarity Camp.
This is a message to Scottish Coal that regardless of the time of year, we will resist. Not just at Mainshill, but at all of their sites across South Lanarkshire, which is one of the most heavily mined areas in Europe.
As the “festive” season comes to an end, the destructive work will commence again at Mainshill. Eviction is looming as their work progresses. Numbers are needed as ever on site to help out and fill defences.

UK Coal ‘ greenwash’ Durham planner’s! OPENCAST looks likely (near where Winter Moot will be in February)

Money grabbing UK coal have overcome one of the largest barriers in their plans to opencast the PONT VALLEY,

OPPONENTS of a large opencast mine in a picturesque valley fear the worst now that planning permission has been granted to move a colony of Great Crested Newts – a protected species.

Money grabbing UK coal have overcome one of the largest barriers in their plans to opencast the PONT VALLEY,

OPPONENTS of a large opencast mine in a picturesque valley fear the worst now that planning permission has been granted to move a colony of Great Crested Newts – a protected species.

Durham County Council planners agreed to an application by UK Coal to create four habitat ponds for wildlife near Leadgate, Consett, County Durham.

The company, which plans to extract 556,000 tonnes from the Bradley site, an area of 73,000 square meters in the Derwent Valley between the villages of Leadgate and Dipton, was hindered by the presence of the tiny animals on a pond in the middle of the area where it wants to mine. Now that councillors have approved the plans to create new ponds UK Coal will proceed with its application to mine.

A spokesman for the company said: “The proposals are to create a site of nature conservation involving additional planting and landscaping and new ponds on part of the site to form an extended wildlife habitat from the adjacent Billingside Wood Site of Nature Conservation Importance.

“The application for habitat ponds in construction terms is relatively minor in nature and has the potential for significant conservation and habitat enhancement opportunities for the local area.”

Eight letters of objection including responses from the Dipton Community Partnership and the Pont Valley Network were received.

Objectors argued that the application is part of the intention to opencast the site, known as the Bradley site and should not be treated separately.

But senior planning officer Mike Hempsall said the two applications had to be treated individually.

He said: “The proposal provides an opportunity for additional habitats that would be of ecological and landscape benefit to the area and can be carried out in an environmentally acceptable manner.

“The stated grounds of objection concerning determination of the application separate to the surface coal mine application, archaeological, landscape character, effects on public rights of way and wildlife impact are not considered sufficient to lead to reasons to refuse the application.”

UK Coal says the opencast proposal would create 38 jobs, produce 556,000 tonnes of coal needed for the British steel or electricity industry, and provide a new conservation area after mining is completed within three years. It intends to formally submit a planning application in the new year.

But Durham County councillor Watts Stelling said: “This area has been ravaged by industry in the past and should now be allowed to recover.

“Everybody knows the two applications are linked. UK Coal is not building new ponds due to any fondness for Great Crested Newts. It wants to dig a great big hole in attractive countryside.”

It should be noted that Durham wildlife trust didn’t even respond when asked for an opinion by Durham County Council maybe this is because lots of funding for wildlife trusts comes from the aggregate industry or maybe their just lazy!

GOOD NEWS!!!
FAMILIES in a rural hamlet are calling on a development company to abandon its bid for an opencast mine in the Northumberland countryside after planners firmly rejected the controversial scheme.

Campaigners in tiny Halton Lea Gate near Haltwhistle say they are “overjoyed” after county councillors voted unanimously to refuse permission to dig 140,000 tonnes of coal from a 75-acre site, within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

They urged applicant HM Project Developments to “get the message”, admit defeat and not launch an appeal against the decision.

HM Project Developments’ agent, Newcastle-based firm Blackett, Hart and Pratt, did not comment.

Tree felled despite protesters underneath & protection agreement

23 December 2009
A MAJESTIC 350-year-old oak tree in Steep was chopped down just hours after a deal was struck to save it.

Shocked villagers looked on in horror as contractors reneged on an agreement to save the landmark oak, which has stood in Ashford Chace since the time of Oliver Cromwell, by clambering up into the highest branches and hacking it down last Tuesday afternoon.

23 December 2009
A MAJESTIC 350-year-old oak tree in Steep was chopped down just hours after a deal was struck to save it.

Protestors standing underneath the canopy were forced to take cover when it became clear tree surgeons had no regard for their safety, as parts of the tree came crashing to the ground.

Police were called amid confrontational scenes between villagers and contractors, before the residents were forced to watch helplessly as the oak was systematically dismantled.

Ashford Hangers Preservation Society tree warden Drake Hocking said: “They started off carefully and slowly and then sometime in the middle of the day they changed tack and started butchering it.
“They did not stop.
“It was tragic and the village is now in shock.”

The oak tree is situated on the Hangers Way and forms part of the right of way for a new four-bedroom house, built by Rolls Royce’s head of human resources Avery Duff and wife Elfrida of Empshott Green.

They intend to turn the site where the oak tree stood into a straight tarmac drive for their property.

The tree was considered rotten by East Hampshire District Council’s arbocultural team, so was not protected by a tree preservation order.

Mr Hocking explained an agreement had been thrashed out on Monday evening with the Duff’s contractors Pegasus Builders, which stated it would only remove about a third of the tree.

However, the promise was broken within 24 hours.

“It appears the Duff’s architect went over the head of the contractor and insisted the tree should be cut,” he said.

Kate Burke, of Ashford Chace, said: “It is shocking, absolutely shocking.
“I am so upset about it and the way the situation has been handled.
“I cannot understand how some people can have such disregard for the countryside.
“If it had been a different owner or a different arbicultural officer at the council then I think the outcome would have been very different.”

She added when she went to inspect the tree after it was felled, the rot inside was only the size of her cupped hands.

“As a proportion of the whole circumference of the tree, it was nothing,” Mrs Burke said.
“It is so, so sad.”

Another angered resident, Jessica Pocock, said: “I think I can speak for all those present when I say that we have all been truly shaken and appalled by the crass and disdainful attitude displayed to to the people of Steep, many of whom tried to negotiate with the Duffs for over two years, and to the magnificent oak tree, which has been felled for no good reason.

“We did consider taking up a stance again to try and prevent the work being done, but in truth, we have no chance of stopping such ruthless behaviour, and the strain of the last few days has been considerable.”

On Monday a sign was placed beside the tree which quoted the famous war poet Edward Thomas, who lived in Steep 100 years ago.

It read: “In the sun and in the snow, there are no more sins to be sinned on the dead oak tree bough.”

Avery Duff was unavailable for comment when The Post went to press.

Save Titnore Woods!

With the threat of development on Titnore Woods, one of the two remaining semi-ancient woodlands left on the West Sussex coastal plain fast approaching, now is the time to rise up and resist the destruction of our natural environment by corporate greed.

West Durrington Consortium, which consists of Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpy and Heron Homes could be given the go ahead to build a 1250 home development and a road in the new year. Previously 875 homes where to be built, so clearly their eyes are seeing more pound signs as they envision more clearance of the precious land. The project is estimated to cost over 3 billion pounds to build and take 6 years to complete which is utter madness when Worthing is reported to have over 1000 empty buildings! If planning permission is granted West Durrington will no longer home a semi- ancient woodland with it’s rich diversity in rare species, flora and fauna or it’s surrounding farmland but a massive housing development, road, a giant Tesco and possibly 2 schools and a health centre.

Already the destruction is evident when you visit Titnore. Just across the field from the protest site the eye sore that will be Tesco is well under way and is due to open in February/March 2010. West Sussex County Council gave permission on December 9th 2009 to close the public footpath reaching Tinore woods from Fullbeck Avenue. No persons are allowed to use this right of way to visit the woods now as it is viewed as a public safety hazard until the West Durrington Consortium project is completed. Also trees and bushes have been cleared here, although none are of the semi ancient woods this is still a haunting reminder that construction is imminent.

On Thursday January 28th 2010 at 6pm the West Durrington Consortium will meet at Worthing Borough Council’s Control Committee to push for permission to begin development. If they win then it’s full steam ahead for the bulldozers and a very sad day for the hard working folk of Camp Titnore who have occupied the woods in resistance of the destruction for the last 3 and a half years, and also for the local Worthing residents who strongly oppose the plans and wish to see their ancient woodland left standing.

To show that you oppose their plans to tear down an irreplaceable natural space come and join the counter demo at 5.30pm outside Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing on January 28th 2010.
Please visit Camp Titnore. Enjoy its beauty, help to build new defences and walkways. Donations of wood, nails, polyprop and corrugated iron would be much appreciated.

Camp Titnore needs you!

See Titnore contact links for directions and so on

Mainshill Celebrates 6th Month of Resistance! Come celebrate with us over Christmas!

Mainshill Solidarity Camp will celebrate its 6th month of resistance against Scottish Coal and fat cat interests this Friday the 18th of December!

The winter is drawing in, but the temporary autonomous tree sit at Mainshill is warmer and cosier than ever! With a new log cabin communal and wood burning stove there’s nowhere better to spend x-mas than in the ice encrusted woods in the company of deer, robins, and other wildlife whose habitat is slowly being deforested by Scottish Coal.

Join us this weekend to celebrate 6 months of occupation in resistance to a new open cast coal mine in an area already blighted by several such developments.

Directions

Buses run to Douglas from Lanark and Hamilton. Both Lanark and Hamilton have train and bus stations and are easy to get to from either Glasgow Central Train Station or Buchannon Street Bus Station. From South of the border, going to Glasgow is the easiest way to get to Douglas. Buses from Lanark to Douglas are much more frequent!

Bus from Lanark:

The Service Number 9 (William Stokes & Sons) runs from Lanark – Glespin, stopping in Douglas (service every 49mins past each hour). Ask to be dropped of outside the camp – drivers are usually happy to do this. Otherwise, get off at the Eggerton Bridge stop just before Douglas – you’ll see the camp on your left just after the M74 underpass!

Bus from Hamilton:

The X50 (Henderson Travel – http://www.henderson-travel.co.uk/) Hamilton-Glespin runs Hamilton, Interchange – Lesmahagow, Church Hall – Rigside – Douglas, leaving Hamilton at 17:05 (one service per day)

From Douglas:

The bus will stop before Douglas at Eggerton Bridge and you will see the camp on your left after the M74 underpass. If you miss this stop get off in Douglas and walk North East back up the A70 for 1km and the camp will be on your right just before the M74.

Hitching:

If you hitch, the camp is right next to the M74 which runs from Glasgow to Carlisle. Get dropped of at junction 12 and walk South West down the A70 towards Douglas and the camp is a few hundred metres on your left. Happendon services are close to junction 12 – if you end up therewalk South down the B7078, turn right onto the A70 towards Douglas, which takes you under the M74 and as above.

If you need a ride…

…from somewhere close by call the site phone and we’ll try to sort you out.
Contact Us

Call the site phone on: 07806926040

Email us on: mainshill@riseup.net

Contractor’s van sabotaged at Mainshill

On Wednesday 16th, contractors parked in front of Mainshill Solidarity Camp returned to find their van sabotaged.

The Raeburn workers turned up at 2.30 with the estate manager and left their vehicles unattended while they took soil samples within the camp. In less than ten minutes, though the work van windows were smashed and ‘out of mainshill’ and ‘no more coal’ sprayed on the sides. A bucket of compost was tipped over the bonnet. Unfortunately, the estate manager’s 4×4 only got a small scratch.

The occupation of Mainshill continues, and we welcome others who wish to join us in resisting open cast coal mining and the environmental toxification it causes.

Philippines: NPA Shuts Down Logging Operation, Seizes Arms

Victorious NPA Offensive: Raid on SUDECOR

New People’s Army Front 30 seized 13 automatic rifles consisting of two M14s, five Garands and six carbines on November 11 in a raid on the office of the Surigao Development Corporation (SUDECOR) in Barangay Pakwan, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. The guerrillas conducted the disarming operation without firing a single shot.

Victorious NPA Offensive: Raid on SUDECOR

After disarming the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA) and SUDECOR guards, the Red fighters confiscated seven chainsaws from the company. The people’s guerrillas also destroyed four bulldozers, two log yarders, a timber jack, a crane, two dumptrucks and a welding machine.

The objective of this punitive action was to put a stop to SUDECOR’s logging operations, said Ka Maria Malaya, National Democratic Front-Northeastern Mindanao Region (NDF-NEMR) spokesperson. She added that it was about time they ended the company’s plunder and relentless destruction of the environment and people’s livelihood.

The company uses bulldozer dragging, a method where bulldozers drag felled logs and destroy small trees in their path. The method likewise erodes the soil and contributes to the siltation of rivers. SUDECOR has thus been responsible for the rapid destruction of the environment and has been depriving the national minorities and settlers of their livelihood, said the NDF-NEMR spokesperson.

That same day, combined forces of the 58th IB Philippine Army, 1405th PNP Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) and SCAA attempted to defend the company and were ambushed. This resulted in the death of nine 58th IB elements, a policeman and two SCAA elements after they were hit by command-detonated explosives (CDX) along Kilometer 10 of the same town. Twelve other soldiers were wounded.

SUDECOR is owned by the big comprador bourgeois Puyat family. It has wrought havoc for more than four decades in Surigao’s forested areas. As a result, Surigao now has only 3,000 hectares of virgin forests, down from the previous 69,000 hectares.

http://southasiarev.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/philippines-npa-shuts-down-logging-operation-seizes-arms-2/

Autonomous Pixie Action in Solidarity with Mainshill

In the early hours of Monday the 7th of December a drilling rig and other machinery was sabotaged at Mainshill Solidarity Camp. This action was taken by a group of autonomous people in solidarity with all those who oppose the development of Mainshill Wood into an open cast coal mine.

Actions such as these are not mindless acts of vandalism, but valid responses to corporations like Scottish Coal and their blatant disregard for life and communities of people everywhere. Such acts damage the rich and wealthy in the only place that matters to them – their wallets. As life on earth is threatened in every direct by the blind pursuit of profit, we look not to politicians in Copenhagen for indecision, but take matters into our own hands.

Burning coal undermines the very ability of human beings to live on a healthy vibrant planet, a right our ancestors enjoyed and our children should inherit. Yet the climate is changing, the oceans are acidifying, and hundreds of species go extinct every single day because of the greed of a few. Let’s not stand idly by and watch while so much beauty is plundered and destroyed!

There is no time to act but now. Come to Mainshill Solidarity Camp and send your own message to Copenhagen!