Eastern England – Page 11

McDonalds Protester Found “Not Guilty”!

An activist from Animal Rights Cambridge arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act for a protest inside the McDonalds restaurant in Cambridge in June 2008 was found ‘not guilty’ on 30th April 09.

See http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/2008/06/401637.html for more on the case and to see a video of the protest in question.

The protest was in commemoration of the now famous Mclibel cases anniversary, that was a huge PR disaster for McDonalds. The protesters entered the restaurant and informed customers about issues regarding McDonalds corporate practices on a range of issues. One of the campaigners was then arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

This is a small victory for the animal rights movement that has been under increasing state repression. “Lets take this as a collective lift to our self-esteem” said the cleared activist “I’m Mcloving it!”.

The case has dragged on but it finally came to an end with the magistrate finding the defendant not guilty “Animal rights activism may have been covertly outlawed in the UK” said the activist “but it seems not everyone has read the memo yet!”.

The campaigners Barrister put forward an excellent case with the help of the brilliant defence witnesses. As the Not Guilty verdict was read out the supporters in the public gallery began to applaud!

Sizewell nuclear vigil report

26.4.09: Protesters gathered at a generating station in Suffolk to mark 20 years since the Chernobyl disaster have held a vigil against nuclear power.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), which organised a “peaceful” overnight protest at Sizewell said it wanted to highlight the dangers.

26.4.09: Protesters gathered at a generating station in Suffolk to mark 20 years since the Chernobyl disaster have held a vigil against nuclear power.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), which organised a “peaceful” overnight protest at Sizewell said it wanted to highlight the dangers.

The Government said new nuclear power stations could be built at 11 sites in England including Sizewell.

The group has been joined by a number of clergymen who are leading the vigil.

A spokeswoman said the protesters were angry about plans for new reactors on the site.

In the early hours of April 26 1986, one of four nuclear reactors at a power station at Chernobyl, Ukraine, exploded in the world’s worst nuclear accident.

Sizewell Camp and Demo – 25/26th April (& solidarity call-out for anti-nuke actions on Chernobyl Day)

No to New Nuclear Power – Yes to Decentralised Energy!

If you do not think nuclear power is the answer to climate chaos come and join us in the 2 day demo and camp this weekend.

Where – Sizewell A and B, Suffolk UK.
When – 25th April
Time -12 noon

No to New Nuclear Power – Yes to Decentralised Energy!

If you do not think nuclear power is the answer to climate chaos come and join us in the 2 day demo and camp this weekend.

Where – Sizewell A and B, Suffolk UK.
When – 25th April
Time -12 noon

Speakers include- Pete Wilkinson Co-founder of Greenpeace UK, CORWM etc (tbc), Peter Lanyon and Charles Barnet, Shut Down Sizewell Group, Mell Harrison, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Sizewell Blockaders, Rupert Read Green Party European candidate.

Bring a banner, friends, music, colour, costume, cakes and tea.

There will also be a camp on the beach over night so that we can hold a vigil
on the morning of 26th April, Chernobyl Day, to remember all those who are still
being affected by the 1986 disaster.

Bring a tent, water and a sunshade

More info contact 08453370282 or mellcndeast@cnduk.org.

Hope to see you there
more info and local (to sizewell) transport contact Mell 08453370282

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PRESS RELEASE (and UPDATE-
Update- Since the press release below all 5 activists have had their bail conditions removed from 9am on the 25th April to 2pm on the 26th April. So will be able to attend..)

Sizewell Nuclear Power Stations-‘3 times a nuisance!’

The government has announced that Sizewell is one of the sites nominated for a new nuclear power station, Sizewell activists head to court and a demonstration against new build at Sizewell is planned. What a week!

Tomorrow (Friday 17th, 10 am) the group calling themselves the ‘Sizewell Blockaders’ Rebecca Dale 33 from Bungay, Mell Harrison 37 from Geldeston, Nicola Stikles 39 from Saxmundham, Irene Willis 60 from Essex and Pete Lux 44 from Beccles, are again appearing at Lowestoft magistrates court for taking direct action against the what they say are ‘unlawful activities’ at the nuclear power stations at Sizewell in Suffolk. The group are hoping to have restrictions on their right to protest lifted so that they can attend the two-day demonstration and camp planned for 25th and 26th April. The reason for the planned demonstration is two fold- one to commemorate all those who died and are still affected by the radioactive fallout from the disaster at Chernobyl and two- because the government has announced that sizewell has been nominated as a site for not one, but two new nuclear reactors.
Local campaigners are concerned about this choice. Mell Harrison , who works for Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and lives in Suffolk said, “The flood risks of the sizewell coast are clear, the maps given with the site nominations show just how high risk it is. 10 years of waste are in a fuel pond at the site now- it seems very irresponsible to build here,” she continued “ everyone knows the risks involved with nuclear power but we are being told it is a necessary evil to bridge the energy gap- this is not true. Models such as the Borough of Woking show just how decentralisation of energy supplies can work, not just at delivering energy but cutting CO2 emissions too’
Woking Borough has a population of 100,000 and has the largest domestic combined photovoltaic/ combined heat and power (CHP) in the UK and is home to the UK’s first small –scale combined heat and power/heat fired chiller system. Woking borough council have developed these projects, with Allan Jones at the forefront, through its public/private joint energy service company- Thamesway Energy Ltd, again the first of its kind in the UK .The council is now recognised as the most energy efficient local authority in the UK having achieved-
1. Over 80% CO2 cuts
2. 51% reduction in energy consumption
3. 44% reduction water consumption

At the demonstration the campaigners hope to highlight the Woking model as an alternative to nuclear power but they will need to wait and see if they are allowed within 100m of the site before this can happen. Only tomorrow will tell.

More Info.

Woking – www.ideascentre.co.uk/download/file?ref=68
Sizewell new build nomination, including flood map- http://www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk/nomination/sizewell
Sizewell Blockaders
http://www.easterncnduk.org/News/size200807.php

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Call for actions on 26 April – the day of Chernobyl, against the construction of new nuclear power station in Belarus

A call out for common actions against the construction of a new nuclear power station in Belarus. 26 April the day of Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Present-day Belarus is a post soviet country, on which territory a regime, police state in form and neoliberal in essence, fortified its position. For already 14 years the country is run by one and the same person Alexander Lukashenko, a populist at the beginning of his governing and openly pursuing antisocial reforms now.
The freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly is not about our country. These basic values as well as the political opposition are suppressed. Peaceful gatherings dispersions, political trials, preventive detentions all this has become a norm of political practice in Belarus.
A few years ago the ruling top started to consider another venturesome project the construction of a nuclear power station (NPS). Lukashenko took a decision regardless of the public wishes and common sense. The decision was made with the active support of the international nuclear lobby. The construction is to be undertaken by a Russian corporation Rosatom. It is to be held in a seismically active zone, in a dozen kilometers away from Lake Naroch the largest lake in Belarus, which is ecologically unique for our country and is a tourists and holiday-makers attraction. On the construction will be spent $4 billion, which otherwise could be outlaid for alternative energy means development.
But the above-listed points pale before the fact that Belarus shared 70% of radioactive contamination after Chernobyl nuclear accident. But the government and the president are absolutely not concerned about that. They want to create a delayed-action bomb in the country, where one third of the territory is unfit for farming and berries/mushrooms gathering.
We, Antinuclear resistance, an anarchy group, come out against nuclear power engineering on the whole and against the NPS construction specifically in Belarus. A part of political forces in Belarus, including opposition, supported the NPS construction. Unlike them we do not believe in NPS safety irrespective of the political regime, within which it is functioning and being constructed. Our activity is based upon non-authoritarian principles, we do not cooperate with any political parties on a regular base, but with ecological organizations and grassroots initiatives.
On 26 April, the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, an annual demonstration Charnobylski Shlah (The Chernobyl Path) takes place in commemoration of the accident and the people who fell the immediate and lingering victims of it. Starting with the year of 1996 anarchists take part in the demo with ecological and antinuclear slogans. But nowadays the demonstration, instead of just mourning and commemorative event, is gaining a protest mood: in the country, where dozens of thousands people have died as a result of the nuclear accident aftermaths and hundreds of thousands have acquired accident-caused illnesses or become handicapped, a new NPS is to be constructed! And that is done according to the common regulations of an authoritarian police state not asking the peoples opinion, but just confronting them with the fact.
On 26 April we will again take a most active part in the Charnobylski Shlah (The Chernobyl Path), well try to pass along to everyone our clear antinuclear position, will inform as many people as possible of the approaching danger. But now it is not enough! As an instrument of struggle against the state lawlessness we rely on the international support. We urge environmentalists and antiauthoritarians of the world to carry out solidarity actions on 26 April 2009. We call for a decentralized day of action of any form, which could help people learn something about our problem and stop the impudent authority and their sponsors from IAEA.
If you already take actions on 26 April on your local problems concerning nuclear power engineering, please put on your list the demand for abolition of the NSP construction in Belarus. You are also welcome to participate in The Chernobyl Path in Minsk and other actions in Belarus.
Together we will be able to stand up for the right for life on a clean and ecologically safe planet!
If you have any intention to make solidarity actions with the Belarussian antinuclear movement or participate in the demonstration in Belarus please contact us:
antiatombel@riseup.net
Spread out the call out through any accessible for you information channels

Why climate camping & other protest? Ecological debt day for your city…coming soon!

Ecological debt: no way back from bankrupt

While most governments’ eyes are on the banking crisis, a much bigger issue – the environmental crisis – is passing them by, says Andrew Simms. In the Green Room this week, he argues that failure to organise a bailout for ecological debt will have dire consequences for humanity.

“Nature Doesn’t Do Bailouts!” said the banner strung across Bishopsgate in the City of London.

Civilisation’s biggest problem was outlined in five words over the entrance to the small, parallel reality of the peaceful climate camp. Their tents bloomed on the morning of 1 April faster than daisies in spring, and faster than the police could stop them.

Across the city, where the world’s most powerful people met simultaneously at the G20 summit, the same problem was almost completely ignored, meriting only a single, afterthought mention in a long communique.

World leaders dropped everything to tackle the financial debt crisis that spilled from collapsing banks.

Gripped by a panic so complete, there was no policy dogma too deeply engrained to be dug out and instantly discarded. We went from triumphant, finance-driven free market capitalism, to bank nationalisation and moving the decimal point on industry bailouts quicker than you can say sub-prime mortgage.

But the ecological debt crisis, which threatens much more than pension funds and car manufacturers, is left to languish.

It is like having a Commission on Household Renovation agonise over which expensive designer wallpaper to use for papering over plaster cracks whilst ignoring the fact that the walls themselves are collapsing on subsiding foundations.

Beyond our means

Each year, humanity’s ecological overdraft gets larger, and the day that the world as a whole goes into ecological debt – consuming more resources and producing more waste than the biosphere can provide and absorb – moves ever earlier in the year.

The same picture emerges for individual countries like the UK – which now starts living beyond its own environmental means in mid-April.

Because the global economy is still overwhelmingly fossil-fuel dependent, the accumulation of greenhouse gases and the prognosis for global warming remain our best indicators of “overshoot”.

World famous French free-climber Alain Robert, known as Spiderman, climbed the Lloyds of London building for the OneHundredMonths.org campaign as the G20 met, to demonstrate how time is slipping away.

Using thresholds for risk identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), on current trends, in only 92 months – less than eight years – we will move into a new, more perilous phase of warming.

It will then no longer be “likely” that we can prevent some aspects of runaway climate change. We will begin to lose the climatic conditions which, as Nasa scientist James Hansen points out, were those under which civilisation developed.

Small dividend

As “nature doesn’t do bailouts”, how have our politicians fared who ripped open the nation’s wallet to save the banks?

Not good.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the UK spent a staggering 20% of its GDP in support of the financial sector.

Yet the amount of money that was new and additional, announced in the “green stimulus” package of the Treasury’s Pre-Budget Report, added-up to a vanishingly small 0.0083% of GDP.

Globally, the green shade of economic stimulus measures has varied enormously. For example, the shares of spending considered in research by the bank HSBC to be environmental were:

* the US – 12%
* Germany – 13%
* South Korea – 80%

The international average was around 15%. HSBC found the UK planned to invest less than 7% of its stimulus package (different from the bank bailout) in green measures.

Comparing the IMF and HSBC figures actually reveals an inverse relationship – proportionately, those who spent more on support for finance had weaker green spending.

So here we are, faced with the loss of an environment conducive to human civilisation, and we find governments prostrate before barely repentant banks, with their backs to a far worse ecological crisis.

Extreme markets

On top of low and inconsistent funding for renewable energy, the shift to a low carbon economy is being further frustrated by another market failure in the trade for carbon seen, for example, in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

Bad market design, feeble carbon reduction targets and the recession have all conspired to drive down the cost of carbon emission permits, wrecking economic incentives to grow renewable energy.

Worse still, the difficulty of accounting to ensure that permits represent real emissions has led both energy companies and environmentalists to warn of an emerging “sub-prime carbon market”.

Relying on market mechanisms is attractive to governments because it means they have less to do themselves. But they will fail if carbon markets are just hot air.

There seems to be a hard-wired link between memory failure and market failure.

As the historian E J Hobsbawm observed in The Age of Extremes: “Those of us who lived through the years of the Great Slump still find it almost impossible to understand how the orthodoxies of the pure free market, then so obviously discredited, once again came to preside over a global period of depression in the late 1980s and 1990s”.

Perhaps the greatest failure is one of imagination.

Some people alive today lived through those past recessions and depressions. They know they can be nasty and need averting.

But the last time the Earth’s climate really flipped was at the end of the last Ice Age, more than 10,000 years ago. No one can remember what that felt like.

Lessons of history

Looking forward, the IPCC’s worst case scenario warns of a maximum 6C rise over the next century.

Looking back, however, indicates that an unstable climate system holds worse horrors.

Work by the scientist Richard Alley on abrupt climate change indicates the planet has previously experienced a 10C temperature shift in only a decade, and possibly “as quickly as in a single year”.

And, around the turn of the last Ice Age, there were “local warmings as large as 16C”.

Imagine that every day of your life you have taken a walk in the woods and the worse thing to happen was an acorn or twig falling on your head.

Then, one day, you stroll out, look up and there is a threat approaching so large, unexpected and outside your experience that can’t quite believe it, like a massive gothic cathedral falling from the sky.

In tackling climate change we need urgently to recalibrate our responses, just as governments had to when they rescued the reckless finance sector.

Then officials had to ask themselves “is what we are doing right, and is it enough?”

They must ask themselves the same questions on the ecological debt crisis and climate change.

The difference is, that if they fail this time, not even a long-term business cycle will come to our rescue. If the climate shifts to a hotter state not convivial to human society, it could be tens of thousands of years, or never, before it shifts back.

Remember; nature doesn’t do bailouts.

Andrew Simms is policy director of the New Economics Foundation (nef), and author of Ecological Debt: Global Warming and the Wealth of Nations

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One Planet Living http://www.oneplanetliving.org

Your city’s Ecological Debt Day:

Using the latest data available WWF has calculated when residents of British cities will have consumed their fair share of natural resources for 2008 – or when their ecological debt day is.

City Ecological debt day

Winchester 10 April
St Albans 13 April
Chichester 14 April
Brighton & Hove 14 April
Canterbury 17 April
Oxford 17 April
Southampton 21 April
Durham 22 April
Cambridge 23 April
Portsmouth 23 April
Edinburgh 23 April
Chester 24 April
Aberdeen 24 April
Ely (East Cambs) 26 April
Hereford (County of Herefordshire) 28 April
Stirling 28 April
London 29 April
Lichfield 29 April
Lancaster 30 April
Newcastle upon Tyne 30 April
Wells (Bath and NE Somerset) 1 May
Bath (Bath and North East Somerset) 1 May
Ripon (Harrogate) 2 May
Manchester 2 May
Inverness (Highland) 2 May
Preston 2 May
Norwich 2 May
Peterborough 2 May
Dundee City 3 May
Leeds 3 May
York 3 May
Sheffield 3 May
Derby 4 May
Carlisle 4 May
Leicester 4 May
Worcester 4 May
Bangor (Gwynedd) 4 May
St Davids (Pembrokeshire)4 May
Nottingham 4 May
Liverpool 4 May
Bristol 5 May
Birmingham 5 May
Lincoln 5 May
Bradford 5 May
Glasgow 6 May
Cardiff 6 May
Exeter 6 May
Coventry 7 May
Swansea 8 May
Salford 8 May
Wolverhampton 8 May
Truro (Carrick) 8 May
Sunderland 8 May
Wakefield 9 May
Gloucester 9 May
Stoke on Trent 10 May
Kingston upon Hull 10 May
Salisbury 10 May
Plymouth 11 May
Newport 11 May

Fight Speciesism! #8 – Out Now

Spring 2009 issue of the latest anti-speciesist, anti-capitalist, abolitionist direct action news is out now.

Articles: SHAC 7 solidarity, operation sinking ship, hunt sabbing, mink released, ‘fashion’ shop closed, liberationists arrested, max mara campaign, international actions, prisoner letters, police under attack, alf vs wageningen uni, prisoner support, monkeys fight back, netcu, bullring riots, aeta 4, earth liberation, mexican actions, whale wars, rioting in london and edo smashed.

Spring 2009 issue of the latest anti-speciesist, anti-capitalist, abolitionist direct action news is out now.

FS! #8 https://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2009/03//424982.pdf

PRINT / SHARE / DISTRIBUTE

Antispeciesist Action is a collective of militant antispeciesists and animal liberationists committed to confronting animal abuse, suffering and exploitation of non-human beings through the use of direct action.

Fossil Fools Day 2009, 1st April – actions & resources

FFD is only five weeks away! We know of various affinity group actions around the UK but thought we’d upload some inspirational public actions you can get involved with on the April 1st and some resources to help inspire you to take action in you local area.

PUBLIC ACTIONS

12 Noon

PUBLIC ACTIONS

12 Noon

Help build a Camp for Climate Action in the City of London.Stopping carbon markets – because nature doesn’t do bailouts. Meet at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, action plans and ideas … let’s imagine another world. Don’t let the financial and fossil fools make the rules!

For more details visit – http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

6PM – *** POSTPONED by BP following police advice. ***

For reasons unfathomable yet deeply pleasing, BP* has chosen Fossil Fools Day to celebrate its centenary. This will take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good will quaff cocktails, snaffle canapes and watch a celebratory film. And Rising Tide and Art Not Oil will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your Party’s Over!’ Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery. Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate. * BP = Burning Planet, British Plunder, Bloody Profits, Broken Promises,Boring Parties, Breathtaking Protests and..? Send your unravelled acronyms to info@artnotoil.org.uk

RESOURCES

Media – Rising Tide has produced an 11 page Media Q&A for Fossil Fools Day. If you think you’ll be talking to the media on the day and want a few tips for tricky questions send us an email (info@risingtide.org.uk) and we’ll email you a copy.

Action Ideas – For a short guide on why and how to take direct action against the fossil fuel industry … including planning tips, target locations, examples of successful actions and much more visit the RT Resources page were you can download ‘15 Actions to Topple the Fossil Fuel Empire’.

FFD is only 5 weeks away so whether you’ve been looking for a chance to dip a toe into the growing climate action movement, or have had your kick-ass action planned since last year, now is the time to do it – whatever it is. On April 1st, join the global day of resistance and pull a prank that packs a punch.

http://risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday2009

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 86, February 2009

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UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
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1. ARTIVISM, Smash EDO’s week of anti-war creativity – Brighton – 24.02.09-01.03.09
2. Climate Rush – London and Manchester – 26.02.09
3. Camp for Climate Action Gathering – Nottingham – 7-8.03.09
4. Earth First! & Treesponsibility Tree Planting weekend – Hebden Bridge – 13-15.03.09
5. People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port – Newcastle, Australia – 21.03.09
6. Direct action and carbon trading education weekend – London and Brighton – 21-22.03.09
7. Fossil Fools Day – all over – 01.04.09
8. Coal Caravan – Midlands, Yorkshire and North East – 24.04.09-04.05.09

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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
——————

1. Biofuelled attacks in Sumatra, Indonesia – 18.12.08
2. Plane Stupid turns Southampton airport into a refugee camp – 17.01.09
3. Climate Rush activists lock on to Parliament – 20.01.01
4. E.On Ref Off! – 24.01.09
5. A not-so-Royal welcome for the nuclear industry – 09.02.09
6. Manchester RBS branch roof occupation – 11.02.09
7. Occupation of Kelsterback Forest, Frankfurt Airport, Germany – Ongoing
8. New report – Catering for the Coal Industry

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UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
————————————

1. ARTIVISM, Smash EDO’s week of anti-war creativity – Brighton – 24.02.09-01.03.09
Including an Art Exhibition, Music & Voices in Exile, Peace Choir, Images from the Smash EDO campaign and the world events that inspired the resistance to Brighton’s local bomb builders. Events include Guy Smallman, international photo-journalist; on the ground photography from Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 2006; the classic drawings of John Catt, veteran anti-war activist; photography by Medyan Dairieh, Al-Jazeera journalist; ‘On the Verge’ the film they tried to ban; Clandestine Rebel Clown Training; Radical Cheerleading: make pom-poms, write cheers and practice your moves; carnival creations and mask making; and Benefit Finale at the Albert Pub.
www.smashedo.org.uk

2. Climate Rush – London and Manchester – 26.02.09
Climate Rush cordially invites you to an awards ceremony for the coal industry, to honour the world’s greatest emitters of CO2, on THURSDAY 26TH FEBRUARY at THE LANDMARK HOTEL. Dress formally for cocktails in the Winter Garden at 6.30 prompt.
www.climaterush.co.uk

And in Manchester, Northern Climate Rush will be paying a visit to the UK’s largest coal company – UK Coal. Meet in front of the Student Union building at 1pm.
www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com

3. Camp for Climate Action Gathering – Nottingham – 7-8.03.09
With the G20, climate criminals and COP 15 in mind, be part of the gathering – inspiration, action and solidarity guaranteed.
www.climatecamp.org.uk/?q=node/468

4. Earth First & Treesponsibility Tree Planting weekend – Hebden Bridge – 13-15.03.09
The annual and sociable opportunity to plant thousands of native trees on a ecologically degraded hillside is happening in March. Organised by Earth First! activists in collaboration with Calderdale community group Treesponsibility. Based in Hebden Bridge in Calderdale. A weekend of hard but satisfying work planting native woodland combined with good food and socialising.
More info: treesponsibility@yahoo.co.uk or 07983743894

5. People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port – Newcastle, Australia – 21.03.09
Coal exports are Australia’s single biggest contribution to global climate change, and the fastest growing. In Newcastle, the world’s biggest coal port, community groups have been campaigning against the doubling of coal exports from Newcastle Harbour. There have been three community blockades of Newcastle Harbour now, and each of them has managed to keep coal ships from entering or leaving for most of the day. The next one is on Saturday 21 March 2009.
www.risingtide.org.au

6. Direct action and carbon trading education weekend – London and Brighton – 21-22.03.09
Climate Camp Carbon Trading Education Weekend, London. With Climate Camp targeting carbon markets this year, find out everything you ever wanted to know about carbon trading and more but were afraid to ask! More info:international@climatecamp.org.uk

Also this weekend, a two-day direct action training at the Cowley Club, Brighton. 10 AM start.
www.cowleyclub.org.uk

7. Fossil Fools Day – all over – 01.04.09
Climate Camp at the European Climate Exchange, followed by a “celebration” of BP’s centenary at the British Museum; interspersed with local actions all over the country and the world!

Climate camp hits the city: stopping carbon markets // because nature doesn’t do bailouts
On April 1st the G20 leaders arrive in London. At a time of climate crisis their response to the market meltdown is emergency loans to car manufacturers, increased spending to encourage consumption, and bailouts for the very people who got us into this mess – just the thing that will make the climate crisis worse. Don’t let them get away with it: join our camp in the Square Mile! Gather at noon, April 1st, at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW.
www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

“Celebrate” BP’s centenary: Tell them the party’s over!
For reasons unfathomable yet deeply pleasing, BP has chosen Fossil Fools to celebrate its centenary. This will take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good will quaff cocktails, snaffle canapes and watch a celebratory film. Join us between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your party’s over!’ Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery. Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate.
www.fossilfoolsday.org
www.artnotoil.org.uk

8. Coal Caravan – Midlands, Yorkshire and North East – 24.04.09-04.05.09
The fabulous climate caravan lives on, as the COAL CARAVAN, walking and cycling between the sites for proposed open cast mines and new power stations in the Midlands, Yorkshire and North East. On our route we’ll be talking to local people, organising bicycled power films and events, holding public discussions and displays, and linking groups from different areas to help strengthen isolated campaigns. For route details see:
www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/21915
More info or to get involved: caravan@climatecamp.org.uk.

——————
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
——————

1. Biofuelled attacks in Sumatra, Indonesia – 18.12.08
In the rush to clear subsistence farms and forest for agro-fuel plantation, local villages in the global South are suffering. On 18th December 2008 the village of Suluk Bongkal in Sumatra, Indonesia was attacked by hundreds of armed police and paramilitaries with fire-arms and teargas and was also fire-bombed from a helicopter. Hundreds of houses were burned down and later bulldozed. Most of the villagers fled into the forests and others were arrested. The attack is linked to a subsidiary company of Sinar Mas, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) which is clearing land for pulp and paper tree plantations. Sinar Mas is one of the biggest owners of palm oil and pulp and paper plantations in Indonesia. A protest letter is collecting signatories to send to the Indonesian authorities.
To sign and for more info: www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/index.php

2. Plane Stupid turns Southampton airport into a refugee camp – 17.01.09
Activists chained themselves to the entrance of Southampton airport and erected tents at the main entrance in a bid turn the regional airport into a climate refugee camp. In addition to setting up camp, activists formally submitted a planning application with Eastleigh Borough Council to turn the airport into refugee housing.
www.planestupid.com

3. Climate Rush activists lock on to Parliament – 20.01.01
On the day that Parliament voted about the third runway, nine Climate Rush activists highlighted the high farce that is UK democracy by chaining themselves to the gates of Parliament. Despite staying for hours and entertaining tourists and the press, when the police finally cut them out, the activists walked away scot free.
www.climaterush.co.uk

4. E.On Ref Off! – 24.01.09
On Saturday 24th January a group of London Climate Camp activists turned up at Stamford Bridge dressed as football referees to show E.ON the red card. Over 40,000 Chelsea and Ipswich fans arriving for the game heard us blowing the whistle on E.ON’s dirty FA Cup sponsorship money, and thousands of them were personally handed an “E.ON F.OFF” red card explaining how the company is making foul profits from the climate crisis. It was all good fun and reactions were pretty positive – E.ON themselves would have paid tens of thousands to get the opposite publicity for their brand!
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/420346.html

5. A not-so-Royal welcome for the nuclear industry – 09.02.09
Hundreds of tourists, visiting the Palace for the Changing of the Guard, were amused to see “nuclear guards” taking their place at the gates. They held up a large banner reading “Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Climate Chaos!” and a placard reading “Royal Nuclear Family? No Thanks!”, drawing attention to the fact that Prince Andrew, the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, was hosting a gala lunch at the Palace for the nuclear industry, presumably to plot how best to promote their toxic greenwash agenda at home and abroad.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421693.html

6. Manchester RBS branch roof occupation – 11.02.09
Around 35 students held a climate change ‘Eviction Demonstration’ outside (and on top of) a Royal Bank of Scotland branch at the University of Manchester Students Union. The group from People and Planet also submitted a motion to the Union General Meeting proposing that the Union does not renew the lease for RBS’ branch when it expires in January 2010. Students climbed up on to the roof of the branch, and dropped banners advertising RBS’ fossil fuel investments. Others engaged in ‘rapid information dessimination’, racing off to speak to as many people as they could in 20 minutes before returning back to the RBS branch to compare scores.
http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22169

7. Occupation of Kelsterback Forest, Frankfurt Airport, Germany – Ongoing The occupation of the threatened Kelsterback Forest continues. This is a large and beautiful forest that has already been encroached upon for existing airport infrastructure and is “in the way” of a planned, additional runway.
http://waldbesetzung.blogsport.de

8. New report – Catering for the Coal Industry A personal account from an activist on the ground in Columbia,documenting resistance to exploitation in Columbia’s’ coal industry.The report is focused on the lives of those who prepare and serve the food necessary for the mine to function. They want people outside of La Loma to hear of their inhumane, dangerous and humiliating working conditions. Reading and sharing this report helps to break the invisibility of the exploitation within the global coal infrastructure.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419675.html

———-

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Upcoming action dates, activist gatherings, & the official meetings en route to the Copenhagen climate summit, 2009 – updated

‘Official’ meetings on the Road to Copenhagen:

31 March to 8 April 2009
First Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bonn, Germany

‘Official’ meetings on the Road to Copenhagen:

31 March to 8 April 2009
First Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bonn, Germany
The first meeting on the “road to Copenhagen” and first international climate meeting for the Obama administration. Expected Outcome: Broad discussions on respective mitigation goals for developed and developing countries. However, it is unclear whether President Obama will have a climate negotiator and under secretary in place at this time so there will real “negotiating” at this meeting. http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/2654.php

2 April 2009
G20 Meeting, London, England
This will likely be President Obama’s first large-scale meeting with other world leaders. The agenda will likely look to tackle the financial crisis, but the G20 website mentions the need to “make progress on long-term issues such as climate change and international development.” Expected Outcome: Develop a commitment that the global economic recovery will factor in carbon emissions. http://www.g20.org/

24-26 May 2009
World Business Summit on Climate Change, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Copenhagen Climate Council is organizing the World Business Summit on Climate Change, which will bring together the business community, top scientists, economists and other leading thinkers. Expected Outcome: Issue recommendations for the next international global warming agreement. http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/

1-12 June 2009
Second Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bonn, Germany
Draft negotiating text is expected to be issued before or during this meeting and will likely be very general with all the contentious items placed in brackets, but it will be the basis for actual negotiations. Expected Outcome: Draft negotiating text. http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/2654.php

8-10 July 2009
G8 Summit, La Maddalena, Italy
The host, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, does not share the commitment to addressing climate change of previous G8 hosts. Addressing climate at this meeting will be critical for keeping momentum toward Copenhagen. Expected Outcome: G8 Agreement setting the stage for Copenhagen
http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_Home.htm

31 August – 4 September 2009
World Climate Conference Three, Geneva, Switzerland
The World Climate Conferences (WCC) is the major “scientific” meeting for 2009 and is the third in a series of international meetings, organized by the World Meteorological Organization
about global climate issues. The second WCC in 1979 resulted in the creation of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. http://www.wmo.int/pages/world_climate_conference/index_en.html Expected Outcome: Group will address climate prediction, disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change.

August 2009 (date not set)
Third Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting), Bangkok, Thailand
This is the third meeting on the “road to Copenhagen” and, by this point, parities should have set their negotiating positions so the framework for the next international treaty can start to be crafted. Expected Outcome: Nation’s set negotiating positions. http://unfccc.int/meetings/items/2654.php

21-25 September 2009
United Nations General Assembly Climate Summit, Copenhagen
New York, New York – *UN Secretary General Bon Ki Moon has indicated that he plans to hold a special session with heads of state to address climate change. Expected Outcome: Indications of nation’s negotiating position for

October 2009 (date not set)
Fourth Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC Intercessional Meeting/Minister’s Meeting), Location to be determined
Expected Outcome: Final draft text agreed to. This is the final negotiating session before Copenhagen and may be attended only by environment ministers making it a closed door meeting designed to set the stage for COP 15.

7-18 December 2009
UNFCCC Conference of the Parties 15, Copenhagen, Denmark
If there is to be no gap between the Kyoto Protocol and a new agreement, a framework must be agreed to at this meeting. Expected Outcome: New international global warming treaty. http://www.cop15.dk/en

2010 (dates unconfirmed)
UNFCCC Conference of the Parties 16, Jamaica

=============

Old dates from this calendar:

Compiled at the recent EF! Winter Moot (scroll down for your summer of fun – dates up until December ’09):

21-22 February 2009
No Borders UK gathering, Bristol

26 February 2009
Demonstrations at UK Coal Awards (www.climaterush.co.uk) & at UK Coal HQ (www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com)

5 March 2009
Next Climate Rush, London
> http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22254

13-15 March 2009
EF! Treeplanting, Hebden Bridge
(trees@riseup.net > www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22158)

13-15 March 2009
COP15 International Mobilisation Network meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark (www.climateaction09.org)

14-15 March
National squat meetup, Bristol
(www.squatmeet09.wordpress.com)

21-22 March 2009
Climate Camp Carbon Trading Education Weekend, London
(international@climatecamp.org.uk)

21-22 March 2009
Direct Action training, 10am at Cowley Club, Brighton
(www.cowleyclub.org.uk)

1 April 2009 Fossil/Financial Fools Day
G20 Protests + Events List + Locations Map
Squaring up to the Square Mile: the London G20 map

Climate Camp in the City, London (www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20)
G20 Meltdown at the Bank of England (www.g20meltdown.org)
Fossil Fools’ Day, everywhere (www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday2009)
Times & resource links > http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22258

* G20 Critical Mass
9:00 AM Meet at Bank Junction (Bank tube station) EC2

* Financial Fools Day Street Party
Assemble at Cannon Street, Moorgate, Liverpool Street or London Bridge stations 11am to form four marching blocks heading towards the Bank of England for 12-noon, in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City of London.
See: http://www.g-20meltdown.org/
Bring a portable radio!

* Climate Camp in the City
The climate camp are camping in the European Carbon Exchange, Hasilwood house, City of London 12-noon.
See: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20
Final update on what to bring and what to do where at http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22291

* Fossil Fools Day: ‘Your Party’s Over!’ *** POSTPONED by BP following police advice. ***
Climate Criminal BP is celebrating its centenary with cocktails and canapes at the British Musem. And we will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your party’s over!’
Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate
See: http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org
Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery.

2 April 2009
* Crash the Stock Exchange
Eat capitalism for breakfast. Disrupt the traders whose financial egomania perpetuates global injustice: let’s shutdown trading for the day.
Meet outside the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, City of London, London EC4M. 7am (traders arrive at 7am, trading commencing 8am). Nearest tube: St Pauls – have a pleasant journey in… tubes might be busy.
* Excel Centre
Direct action all day against the Excel Centre, Canning Town where the G20 will be meeting
ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL
A coalition of groups including: The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, The British Muslim Initiative, and CND have called two protests at the G20; a march and rally in central London on the afternoon of April 1st, and a protest to the conference itself on April 2nd.

3-5 April 2009
Demonstrations at NATO 60TH Anniversary Summit, Baden-Baden, Germany & Strasbourg, France
http://dissent.fr/taxonomy/term/165

24 April-5 May 2009
Coal Caravan, cycling from Nottingham, through Derbyshire, Yorkshire & .
Stopping off at a variety of open-cast sites, power stations and other beautiful places! Full details of how to book, itinerary for where to join.
(caravan@climatecamp.org.uk > www.coalcaravan.org.uk)

25/26th April 2009
Sizewell anti-nuclear Camp and Demo

2-3rd May 2009
Anti-militarist conference, Brighton
(http://antimilitaristnetwork.noflag.org.uk)

4th May 2009
Smash EDO Mayday! Mayday! Street party against war and greed, Brighton.
(http://www.smashedo.org.uk)

6 May 2009
A Wake for BP at the oil behemoth’s centenary party

29 May-1 June
Rossport Solidarity Camp summer gathering

1 June
Climate Rush Pedal Power
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22611

6 June 2009
Eco-village occupation, SW London
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/22593

6-7 June 2009
National Anarchist Gathering, London
www.conference09.org.uk

11-14 June 2009
Scottish Climate Camp Convergence
(http://climatecampscotland.org.uk)

23th-29th June 2009
Calais No Borders Camp
(http://calaisnoborder.eu.org/)

3-5 July
Forest Circus festival, Lappersfort, Belgium

8-10 July 2009
Demonstrations at G8 Summit, La Maddalena, Italy

11-12 July 2009
Anti-Militarist Network Gathering, Nottingham
(http://www.antimilitaristnetwork.org.uk)

11-19 July 2009
Danish Climate Camp, near Copenhagen
(http://camp09.dk/)

12-19 July 2009
Das Klima Workshop Festival/Le camp climatique, near Berne, Switzerland
(http://www.netzwerkzeug.org/)

18th-? July
Saving Iceland Summer Mobilisation 2009
(www.savingiceland.org)

20–26 July 2009
NO to Uranium Power – Antinuclear Climate Camp, Tervola, Finland
(http://www.hyokyaalto.org/category/english)

23rd-27th July 2009, Oxfordshire.
You are invited to Peace News’ first ever summer camp.
(http://www.peacenewscamp.info)

3-9 August 2009
French Camp Action Climat, Notre Dame des Landes, Nantes
(www.campclimat.org)

3-9 August 2009
Dutch/Belgian Climate Camp
(www.klimaatactiekamp.org)

3-10 August 2009
Scottish Camp for Climate Action
(http://climatecampscotland.org.uk)

13-16 August 2009
Climate Camp Cymru, Near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
(http://climatecampcymru.org)

15-23 August 2009
Irish Climate Camp
(http://www.climatecamp.ie)

18-24 August 2009
Earth First! Summer Gathering, Cumbria
(www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk)

20-23 August 2009 IN SALENTO, NUCLEAR CLIMATE CAMP, Italy – Lecce
More info

21-23 August 2009
Beyond Borders weekend, Nottingham
A weekend of skillsharing and discussion about fighting border controls and showing solidarity with migrants
(http://beyondbordersweekend.wordpress.com)

27 August-2 September 2009
UK Camp for Climate Action – convergence within the M25/London (www.climatecamp.org.uk)

September 2009 (dates unconfirmed)
Climate Camp, South Australia
(http://climatecampsa.org)

North American action camps summer 2009
international list of Convergences for Climate Action

12-20 September 2009
Bristol Co-Mutiny

18-19 September 2009
squats and autonomous spaces – 2 days of direct action around housing and the creation of more autonomous spaces at this time of crisis. See link

10-11 October
Workers’ Climate Action conference, London

12-16 October 2009
Global Mobilisation in Defence of Mother Earth and the Peoples
called by the 4th Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples Abya Yala (”America”)
More info/resources

16-18 October 2009
COP15 International Mobilisation Network meeting
(www.climateaction09.org)

17-18 October 2009
The Great Climate Swoop, closing down Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station
More info

24 October 2009
London Anarchist Bookfair
(http://www.anarchistbookfair.org)

24 October 2009
International Day of Climate Action
http://www.350.org/

31 October-1 November
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/23245

31 Oct-1 Nov 2009
Gathering Against the Prison Society, Brighton
Discussions & presentations about the struggle for liberation, inside and outside of the prison walls
More info

21-22 November 2009
No New Nuclear. Planning to win strategising weekend, London

28 November-1 December 2009
Weekend of Action and Workshops at Mainshill Solidarity Camp

5 December 2009
COP15 OUT, a secret plan to take a space in the City of London away from and after the Wave. It’s time to show our ‘leaders’ how we’re going to take action to reduce emissions ourselves.

3-9 December 2009
Social and Climate Justice Caravan from the WTO Ministerial in Geneva to the COP15 summit in Copenhagen.
http://www.climatecaravan.org

7-18 December 2009
Demonstrations at COP15 Summit, Copenhagen, Denmark
(www.climateaction09.org)
See this article for background & links to Action Guide & Map

7-18 December 2009
Klimaforum: People’s Climate Summit
http://www.klimaforum09.org

11 December 2009
* Our Climate! Not Your Business! (organised direct action to stop Corporations taking part in COP process)
http://notyourbusiness.hacklab.dk/

12 December 2009
* Flood for Climate Justice (demonstration by FoE)
http://www.foei.org/en/what-we-do/un-climate-talks/global/2009/the-flood-is-coming
* Global day of Action
http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org/
* March for Climate Justice (including system change, not climate change bloc)
* Don’t Nuke the Climate! International Day of Action
http://www.dont-nuke-the-climate.org/index.php?lang=en

13 December 2009
Hit the Production of Climate Chaos
http://htp.noblogs.org/
* Farmers action (Via Campesina against agro-industry)

14 December 2009
* No Borders, No Climate Refugees! (Day of action in Copenhagen. Call to action to international no borders groups during the COP 15 in Copenhagen)
http://info.interactivist.net/node/13135
* Reparations for Climate Debt

15 December 2009
* Resistance is Ripe! Agriculture Action Day (Change the food system not the climate)
http://www.climate-justice-action.org/mobilization/agriculture-action-day/

16 December 2009
* RECLAIM POWER! – Pushing for Climate Justice! (Mass action to enter the COP15 conference area and disrupt the sessions in order to hold a People’s Summit for Climate Justice. Confrontational civil disobedience)
http://www.climate-justice-action.org

18 December 2009
* (last official day of the summit) – “Never Trust a COP” actions throughout the city
http://www.nevertrustacop.org/

Photographers turn out in solidarity against new “terror law”.

Reposted: 16.02.2009: everyone knows Indymedia’s a copper’s favourite read, but after a couple of hundred snappers turned up outside the yard this morning they’ll be queuing up today to see whose mug’s on the wire.

Because snuck in today under the usual cover of the war against terror came Section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.

This criminalises anyone ‘eliciting, publishing or communicating information on members of the armed forces, intelligence services and police officers which is “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

But given the police’s regular and blatant misuse of other laws such as Section 44 of the existing Terrorism Act and Section 1 of PACE, photographers feel it’s a racing certainty that it’ll get used to suppress evidence the police don’t want used against them.

“I can see it now”, wrote photographer Marc Vallee in Thursday’s Guardian ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/11/police-terrorism-photography-liberty-central) “If you don’t stop taking pictures of me hitting this protester on the head, I’m going to nick you under section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.”

At least three legal cases are currently pending relating to such police over-exuberance at last year’s Climate Camp in Kingsnorth, Kent. Almost two thousand cops from 26 forces assembled at a cost of over 6 million quid and – having first harassed and delayed the press – chose to lay in on a regular basis on campers with steel batons.

Sadly for them these attacks were nevertheless filmed and photographed and this evidence stands ready to disprove the lies they make in justification for that behaviour. Imagine how much easier life will be for them in future if those newsgatherers can be taken away from the scene under threat of a ten year stretch.

High up behind the mirrored windows of New Scotland Yard the Forward Intelligence Team will have been at work photographing the photographers for their records.

And they’ll have noticed something new – as well as the usual twenty or so photographers they always target for “reporting the news the wrong way” there were a couple of hundred new faces: working news photographers who’ve had it up to the back teeth with being pushed around illegally on threat (and sometimes the reality) of arrest.

It’s no longer just an activist minority that sees through this sham of repression presented almost as a health and safety issue (keeping us safe from the bad men). Political police intrusion is becoming ever more invasive, is affecting all our lives and fucking up the freedoms we’re supposed to believe are (were?) our right.

This new law is just one more subtle tool in the armoury of public repression and this extraordinary turnout by what is normally an apathetic and politically careless bunch of photographers sends a clear signal that the worm is finally turning.

Earth First! tree planting weekend in Pennines Fri 13th-Sun 15th March

The annual and occasionally hedonistic opportunity to plant thousands of native trees on a ecologically degraded hillside is happening in March. Organised by Earth First!

The annual and occasionally hedonistic opportunity to plant thousands of native trees on a ecologically degraded hillside is happening in March. Organised by Earth First! activists in collaboration with Calderdale community group Treesponsibility we will be based in Hebden Bridge in Calderdale. If you fancy a weekend of hard but satisfying work planting native woodland combined with good food and socialising put the weekend of the 13-15th March in your diary.

Earth First! tree planting weekend…

Date: Friday 13th – Sunday 15th March

Venue: We will be staying in a camping barn with comfy beds and heating. Bring a sleeping bag.

Transport: Get yourself to Hebden Bridge train station for a pick up at 6pm or 8pm on the 13th. Pickups are available by arrangement at other times if you e-mail in advance.

Food: All food will be cooked collectively and will be vegan.

Cost: £25 for the weekend. This includes all food and accomodation. You’ll have to supply you own beer. We will be visiting the famous Blue Pig public house on the Saturday night.

Need more info? Contact: treesponsibility@yahoo.co.uk or call 07983743894