Category: Global

Global

New Tree Sit in Tasmania

[On December 14 2011, the Tasmanian forest defence group] Still Wild Still Threatened…set up a 60m-high tree sit-in at the TN044B logging coupe near Maydena inside the 430,000ha being assessed for reserve status under the forestry peace deal.

[On December 14 2011, the Tasmanian forest defence group] Still Wild Still Threatened…set up a 60m-high tree sit-in at the TN044B logging coupe near Maydena inside the 430,000ha being assessed for reserve status under the forestry peace deal.

The “Observer Tree” will be occupied by SWST’s Miranda Gibson, who was one of two activists assaulted by workers during a protest in 2008.

Speaking to the media via mobile phone from the platform, Ms Gibson said she would maintain a blog and a web camera to broadcast to the world.

“It’s a different approach because one of our major concerns is that there is a misconception out there that the forest has been protected,” Ms Gibson said. “We want people to see what is happening in the forests.”

She said she was committed to staying on the platform until logging in 13 coupes inside the area being assessed for protection stopped.

Technical difficulties prevented Ms Gibson from speaking to journalists via video-link, but SWST expect the webcast to be up in the next few days.

Senator Bob Brown yesterday used his taxpayer-funded charter allowance to hire a helicopter to allow media outlets to photograph and film the tree-sit from the air.

He said Premier Lara Giddings and Prime Minister Julia Gillard were dishonouring their own agreement by allowing Forestry Tasmania to log the coupes.

“Their word is being clear-felled by what I judge is illegal logging. If this agreement has any legal force then this logging is illegal,” Senator Brown said.

“I didn’t write this agreement, I didn’t have anything to do with it, but the Prime Minister did and the Premier did. The Prime Minister wrote to me and said these forests had been placed in informal reserves.”

Forestry Tasmania’s general manager of operations Steve Whitely said the coupe was one of 13 being logged inside the assessment area that was identified by independent schedulers as necessary for supply contracts.

He described the protest as frustrating and pointless given that forestry operations would shut down for about a month from tomorrow.

“Forestry Tasmania needs to keep operating and we need to select some coupes that are suitable to meet our customers’ needs and we’re doing that while there’s a verification process going on,” Mr Whitely said.

Ms Kerr said that she would not be deterred by the Christmas shutdown. “I’ll stay up here and keep an eye on things and be here ready when they get back,” she said.

 

Check out the blog theObserverTree to get real time updates and offer support.

Activists protest against Devada power plant in India

13.12.11

13.12.11

The 1,040 MW Hinduja Thermal Power Plant coming up at Devada village in the coastal district of Visakhapatnam has run into trouble again, with locals and activists staging mass protests against the mega project on grounds of environmental pollution and large-scale displacement of farmers.

A large group of residents and anti-project activists, supported by opposition parties and environmental groups, staged a demonstration near the plant site on Monday, demanding immediate halt to the works and effective rehabilitation package for the displaced families. As the protests led to tension in the area, police swung into action and dispersed the demonstrators.

The coal-based power project, being developed by the Hinduja Group, has run into rough weather with local farmers, opposition groups, energy experts and environmental activists putting up a stiff resistance.

Indigenous Elders & Supporters Occupy ALEC Member Salt River Project Headquarters

2.12.11

Indigenous Dine’ (Navajo) and O’odham elders and supporters are taking direct action by occupying Salt River Project (SRP) headquarters today at 10am. This action is occurring while the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds their “States & Nation Policy Summit” in Scottsdale, AZ. SRP is on ALEC’s corporate board.

2.12.11

Indigenous Dine’ (Navajo) and O’odham elders and supporters are taking direct action by occupying Salt River Project (SRP) headquarters today at 10am. This action is occurring while the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds their “States & Nation Policy Summit” in Scottsdale, AZ. SRP is on ALEC’s corporate board.

Louise Benally, a resident of Black Mesa impacted by SRP’s operations, is delivering a letter to SRP that outlines critical concerns of her community. She expressed that “My community is heavily impacted by Salt River Project’s coal and water extraction activities. SRP has extensive ties to Peabody Energy’s massive mining operations and the Navajo Generating Station which they co-own. Coal mining has destroyed thousands of archeological sites and our only water source has been seriously compromised. Their operations are causing widespread respiratory problems, lung diseases, and other health impacts on humans, the environment, and all living things.”

“…We demand that SRP & Peabody meaningfully involve the indigenous communities they are impacting, and that they convert to non-fossil fuel based energy sources and address the health impacts on our communities.”

“…ALEC, acting in the corporate interests of SRP & Peabody Energy, continues policies & operations that are not only devastating whole communities and ecosystems, but greatly de-stabilizing our planet’s climate for the profit of a few, the so-called 1%.” stated Benally.

Ofelia Rivas, an elder and activist of the O’odham, Indigenous Peoples on the border of Arizona and Mexico, states “As indigenous people we understand that the balance of the land is actually the balance of our people and any disturbance of that is very devastating not only to our spiritual health but our overall physical health, as well as all living things. As indigenous people we are not separated from our environment. We’re deeply connected to everything in the universe: the land, the mountains, water, air, and all plant and animal life.”

“…The proposed loop 202 freeway extension that threatens South Mountain and the continuing construction of the US and Mexico border and it’s militarization. Trade policies such as NAFTA and CANAMEX alter our way of life and threatens our Him’dag. We will no longer accept the violence the state attempts to enforce on us along their border. Especially the aggressive legislation of ALEC. We demand you recognize the declaration of universal indigenous rights as well as the rights of our mother earth. Enough is enough, it ends now!”

The massive canals constructed before colonial invasion of O’odham lands are now being utilized by Salt River Project. O’odham culture is deeply rooted throughout this area, which is as far north as the Phoenix Valley, as far west as the coast of Mexico in what is now Rocky Point, east as the San Pedro river and as far south as Hermosillo and the Sierra Madres Mountains.

Ray Aguilar stated that “the air conditioning and power we enjoy and water we drink comes at the suffering caused by SRP and Peabody’s exploitation of the land and people. When will we realize that our privileges our based on this? We must take further action. I just spent one week doing direct, on-land support with Black Mesa residents assisting with basic essential human needs.  That’s why I’m here today. This critical situation would not exist if not for these greedy corporations.”

Peabody Energy, also an ALEC member, is the world’s largest private-sector coal company. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody creates 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

Since 1974 more than 14,000 Dine’ families have been forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands due in large part due to U.S.-backed tribal councils and cola mining.

Photos, videos and what happened next at http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/

———

ALEC Background, call-out etc

The convergence to expose and shut down the American Legislative
Exchange Council's policy meeting has begun in Scottsdale, AZ. ALEC's
tentacles reach into almost every one of the environmental and social
justice struggles we work on. Exposing ALEC is difficult because of the
massive amount of information we have about them and the broad range of
issues they effect. As wikileaks has been the platform for a vast amount
of information bringing light to corruption, Alecexposed.org is a treasure trove information exposing
ALEC.  I'm looking for help posting to independent media websites and
blogs about the ALEC protest in AZ, and links to ALECs regional impacts.
We need a few people around the country posting to both english and
spanish language indymedia sites.



There are press releases in english and spanish and a call to action
(including information about the action to "Occupy the Phones")  see
attachment and azresistsalec.wordpress.com




websites:
azresistsalec.wordpress.com - for
general information about the convergence to shut down alec
Shutdownalec.org - We are posting media (foto/video) directly by tagging
flickr photos and video with the hashtags: #occupyALEC, #shutdownALEC
and/or #ALECexposed



The AZ Resists media team is posting video on youtube.com
<http://youtube.com> on channel: shutdownalec. Crowd sourced video on
shutdownalec.org



Please pass on this email to anyone you think might be interested in
supporting!



In Solidarity



AZ Resists ALEC Media Team
azresistsmedia@gmail.com 
530-598-1670 <tel:530-598-1670>







SHUT DOWN THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL



This document includes informations about:



-OCCUPY THE PHONES ! IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION



-Call for National Solidarity



-Suggested Actions to help expose ALEC!



1. Call the WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA.



2. Tell them you do not approve of their decision to host the American
Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC’s) States and Policy summit.



3. Be friendly, don't take your anger out on the hotel workers who are
not responsible, but make sure your message gets across.



4. Hang up, and call again.



Use these numbers to occupy their lines!



general contact: 480.624.1000 <tel:480.624.1000>



resort reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>, 800.354.5892
<tel:800.354.5892>



dining reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>



spa reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>



tee time reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>



resort activities: 480.624.1268 <tel:480.624.1268>



media contact: 480.624.1315 <tel:480.624.1315>



special events: 480.624.1332 <tel:480.624.1332>



meetings and events: 480.624.1220 <tel:480.624.1220>



Background info:



The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is built to host conventions. Tucked
away in Scottsdale, and less than one mile from Scottsdale Executive
Airport, well-funded organizations can meet in a comfortable, secretive
environment without setting foot outside the luxurious hotel grounds.
This is where ALEC has chosen to bring together legislators and
corporations to draft model legislation that exempts corporations from
environmental and labor laws, pushes for Three Strikes and mandatory
minimum sentencing, and targets, criminalizes and incarcerates
communities of color, among other profit-driven laws (more info:
alecexposed.org.



Call the Westin Kierland today to shame them for their part in allowing
the sale of local and national legislation to the highest bidder.



More info: azresistsalec.wordpress.com
.



Be the media! www.shutdownalec.org



Here are a few suggestions for actions, share your creative ideas with
us and keep in touch on N30.



azresistsmedia@gmail.com 



http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/



#occupyALEC, #shutdownALEC and/or #ALECexposed



-Hold a Teach-In or other educational outreach event (an informative
power point and other resources are available:
http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/more-info-on-alec/)



-Shut down the 1% ! Occupy an ALEC corporation near you…too many to
choose from? Focus on the board of directors
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Boards_and_Task_Forces)



-Bring your message to an ALEC legislative member near you. What’s your
local connection to ALEC? – In AZ we are focusing on the ongoing
colonization and exploitation of Native land and ALEC’s connection to
immigration and the private prison industry.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians



-Street theater exposing corruption – Remember Billionaires for Bush? -
Form a “business suit bloc” and March!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAv8Mv9tzoA)



-Literally “Expose” ALEC – two letters per butt cheek...just sayin’...
Or get a trench coat and hide ALEC’s sample bills inside…show people
what’s under your coat…



Go to the website and see “Find ‘Find Model Bills’ here”
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed



-Twitter and Blog about ALEC on N30- get the word out far and wide!



-So many issues! Can’t decide? Focus on how private prisons affect your
community.



http://www.thenation.com/article/162478/hidden-history-alec-and-prison-labor



-Got a projector? Have a guerilla movie night to expose ALECs major
funder the Koch brothers.



http://kochbrothersexposed.com/thepress/2011/05/13/guerrilla-drive-in-at-lincoln-center-shames-koch-brother/



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vykr06dMwY&feature=player_embedded



Lots more information can be found at:



http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations



http://www.alecexposed.org/



______________________________________________________________________




Take Action on N30!SHUT ALEC DOWN!



  From November 30 to December 3rd, 2011,some of the most powerful
corporations and thousands of state legislators will be bringing Wall
Street politics and greed to Scottsdale, AZ.  The American Legislative
Exchange Council (ALEC), will be having their States and Nations Policy
Summit where they can continue their drive for profits, and to control
and destroy our communities and the earth.



Most of us learned about ALEC, a secretive nation-wide
organization, when they were exposed for their relationship with private
prisons and their role in SB1070 and its copy cat laws, although they've
been involved in various efforts to criminalize people through such
things as the mandatory minimum sentencing and three strikes laws.  They
were also involved in the creation of the animal enterprise terrorism
act (AETA), they support companies (including BP) involved with energy
extraction across the world (including Tar Sands), as well big
pharmaceutical companies.



We are calling for a *national day of action*on November 30 to
demonstrate against ALEC during their conference.



Join us in Scottsdale, AZ on occupied Onk Akimel O’odham lands, to
expose, confront, and resist ALEC and what they represent.



ALEC is everywhere. If you can't make it, find one or more
representatives of ALEC (corporate, government, or non-profit org) in
your area to expose, confront, and resist!



Please spread the word!



http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com 



http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations



http://www.alecexposed.org/



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Some Messaging:



“We want ALEC to be so transparent they don’t exist anymore”



“ALEC is the 1% ”



“Corporations write legislation?!? This is corrupt and should stop!”



“People over Profits! No more profiting of the misery of others”

 

Xstrata mining stormed by Occupy London protestors + global anti-Xstrata protests

30.11.11

30.11.11

An action took place in London against a union-busting earth-trashing Swiss/British coal and metal mining company – for a selection of the global protests against them, see below the main article.  There's various footage: 1 | 2 | 3  | 4 | 5. Part of the N30 mass strike (timeline). 

#OccupyLSX had announced an action at 3pm at Piccadilly Circus. They set off with the samba band and minutes later a flare was set off inside Panton House, Haymarket, whilst a banner was hung from the roof. Outside protestors challenged some plainclothes cops in the crowd, after which a 'bubble' or kettle was set up, apparently with more plain clothes cops trapped inside it.

Occupy London – part of the global movement for social and economic justice – today highlighted the corporate greed endemic in the UK and called for a change within society.

About 60 protestors gained entry into the offices of mining company Xstrata, a ‘leading light’ of the FTSE 100 and British industry to highlight the fact that CEO Mick Davies was the highest compensated CEO of all the FTSE 100 companies in the last year, when his companies had losses and the economy collapsed. He received £18,426,105 for his efforts. [1]

This comes in a year when the average pay rise of executives across FTSE 100 companies was 43%, with ‘top’ directors at 49%. [2]

Led by a samba band to the building from Piccadilly Circus, the protesters entered the HQ at 25-7 Haymarket, London, with the protesters chanting against the corporate greed of Mick and other executives, in support of all those striking for fair pensions for all today. The protestors also unfurled a banner saying “All power to the 99%” from the roof top.

There are currently about 20 protesters inside – being held down on knees, of which many are women. There are a few hundred people kettled outside.

The protesters today are making the connection between the slashing of private and public sector pensions, while supposed ‘top’ executives cash in by increasing their own pay levels, leaving many without pensions. These CEOs like Mick Davies lavishly secure their own futures while ignoring the security and wellbeing of their own workers.

Mines have closed in Australia, South Africa and Spain within the last decade resulting in hundreds of workers in the last decade being laid off.

Karen Lincoln, supporter of Occupy London said: “Mick Davies is a prime example of the greedy 1 per cent, lining their own pockets while denying workers pensions. In this time when the government enforces austerity on the 99 per cent, these executives are profiting. The rest of us are having our pensions cuts, health service torn apart and youth centres shut down.

“We refuse to stand by and let this happen. We call on others to join us in the fight for a more just society. Today we have taken this to one of the offices of the 1 per cent. This is only the beginning. Come and join us on 15th December for Occupy Everywhere.”

Occupy London will unveil details of Occupy Everywhere soon. Be ready.

Notes

[1] According to the Income Data Services, Mick Davies from Xstrata (mining company) was the highest paid executive in the FTSE 100. His company has recently taken severe hits as FTSE 100 companies face drop in value (£104 billion off FTSE 100 companies). He was paid £18,426,105. LONDON OFFICE: Registered Office, 4th Floor 25/27 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4EN

Highest paid executives in the FTSE 100:

1. Mick Davies, Xstrata, £18,426,105

2. Bart Becht, Reckitt Benkiser, £17,879,000

3. Michael Spencer, ICAP £13,419,619

4. Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco £12,038,303

5. Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto £11,623,162

6. Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP Group £8,949,985

7. Todd Kozel, Gulf Keystone Petroleum £8,913,223

8. Don Robert, Experian £8,601,984

9. Edward Bonham Carter, Jupiter Fund Management £8,003,641

10. Dame Marjorie Scardino, Pearson £8,003,641

[2]  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/business-as-usual-top-directors-get-49-per-cent-pay-rise-2376929.html

[3] Facebook page for Occupy London’s Stock Exchange site just by St Paul’s (OccupyLSX) is  https://www.facebook.com/occupylondon. Overall Occupy London twitter Occupy Londonhastag is #occupylondon. OccupyLSX Twitter is  https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyLSX ; hashtag#occupylsx. Twitter for the new Finsbury Square site is  https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyFS; hastag #occupyfs. Twitter for Bank of Ideas is  http://twitter.com/bankofideas and facebook is  http://facebook.com/bankofideaslondon

——

What happened next (& photos) – ejection, kettling (with new added 'info screens'), arrests and arrestee-coach blocking. 

——-

Oct.'07: Xstrata, criticized heavily by a growing number of Chileans opposing the Swiss mining company’s plan to build a large hydroelectric dam in northern Patagonia (Region XI), is no stranger to controversy – especially when it comes to rivers.  More

Oct.'06: THE traditional Aboriginal owners of land near the Gulf of Carpentaria are travelling to Darwin to protest against the mining company Xstrata's decision to expand a zinc and lead mine by diverting the McArthur River. More

Jan.'08: Communist rebels have attacked a $2 billion copper and gold mine owned by Xstrata in the Philippines. More

May '11: Peru – Xstrata halts activities at Las Bambas due to protests  More

Nov.'11: Workers of the mining group Xstrata are to demonstrate in Johannesburg on Tuesday to demand the right to take part in industrial action…."This march will be taking place amid the impromptu arrest of Numsa members by [the] SA Police Service under the instruction of one of Xstrata's key executives." More

Nov.'11: Vehicles torched in job protest at Xstrata mine More

 

Timber Barons are the 1%: Occupy Eugene Meets Forest Defence

18th November 2011

18th November 2011

Cascadia Forest Defenders and marchers with Occupy Eugene shut down Umpqua Bank yesterday from noon to close.  Activists raised a banner reading “Stumpqua funds clearcuts,” and soft blockaded both customer entrances. Umpqua, which was the first stop in a series of N17 Occupy Eugene bank closures, chose to lock its doors rather than call on law enforcement.

Umpqua Bank has a long history of providing low interest loans to Oregon’s timber barons. The bank is most infamously tied to Roseburg Forest Products’ sole owner, Allyn Ford, who is also the chairman of Umpqua Bank’s board of directors. Over the last year RFP logged hundreds of acres of Cascadia’s ancient temperate rainforests and laid off over 200 Oregon mill workers. In targeting Stumpqua, activists hope to thwart attempts of green and local washing on the part of bank executives.

After the Umpqua action, marchers proceeded on to U.S. Bank, Bank of America, and Chase. Between the three banks, law enforcement arrested 17 activists for similar soft blockades.

East Gippsland forest protests & background

Logging East Gippsland old growth forests destroys wildlife refuge in a warming climate

17 November 2011

Logging East Gippsland old growth forests destroys wildlife refuge in a warming climate

17 November 2011

Environmental activists have been out in old growth Forests in East Gippsland this week attempting to stop more rape of our natural environment and protecting important refugia habitats for endangered species. Logging operations on Survey Rd on the Errinundra Plateau were halted by a tree-sit attached to five logging machines and suspended 40 metres up in the tree canopy.

"In the face of recent Baillieu government moves to weaken the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, conservationists have again taken their message to logging sites where important wildlife habitat continues to be logged for woodchips", said Ms Amelia Young, spokesperson for the conservationists of the Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) (Facebook).

"This site on Survey Road is another controversial logging coupe, in precious, ancient forest right on the border of the national park. Forests on and around the national park have been identified as key refugia – a safe place – for threatened wildlife; that they continue in 2011 to be targeted for short-term logging projects, is inexcusable."

"The future of the logging industry lies in sourcing saw and pulp logs from plantations. Government assistance should be procured immediately to support the industry to make this transition out of our publicly owned high-conservation value forests."

"With waratahs in flower, individual trees expected to be in excess of 500 years old and endangered spot-tailed quolls detected in the area, there’s no question this old-growth forest is worth more standing", concluded Ms Young.

Both sides of traditional politics have supported the logging of old growth forests, even though native old growth forests are so important to preserve for a raft of reasons that rise above the economic exploitation for wood pulp and timber:

Earlier this month the State Government quietly announced Logging contractors will be able to seek exemptions from state environment laws protecting endangered species under proposed changes by the Baillieu state government. The Secretary of the Department of Sustainability and Environment would be able to exempt a logging project from the requirements of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. Goodbye endangered species habitat!

The Supreme Court of Victoria last year banned VicForests from logging old-growth forest at Brown Mountain in East Gippsland after activists released a video of a long-footed potoroo filmed in a logging coupe on Brown Mountain.

More recently, the Victorian Supreme Court has stopped logging of old growth forests at Sylvia Creek in Victoria's central highlands because it threatens the habitat of the endangered Leadbeater's Possum. A court injunction presently prevents logging old growth forests in this area till 2012, while the case is heard. The changes by the State Government seek to undermine the Supreme Court rulings to protect endangered species.

The Wilderness Society has attacked the Baillieu Government for undermining Victoria's environmental laws.

"Decades of overlogging and three major fire events in Victoria's forests have pushed many species closer to extinction. Our unique wildlife, including Victoria's endangered faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's Possum, need their native forest homes protected, not betrayed to the Baillieu government bulldozers. It is not too late to turn this decision around." says the Wilderness society.

The State Government has no electoral mandate for making these changes. Liberal MP Mary Wooldridge told an environment forum held at Melbourne Town Hall on 18 November 2010 during the Victorian state election campaign, of the importance of protecting forest that contains threatened species such as Leadbeaters Possum.

"Some concerns we can address are issues about pre logging assessments and making sure the areas we are logging don't have protected species or different issues with the Leadbetter's possum in relation to in terms of the catchment areas. Making sure we are doing those assessments, making sure if areas are logged they don't have those assets, insuring those assessments are done and those areas are protected before hand." said Mary Wooldridge MP.

It seems this is just another broken promise from a Government marching backwards on climate and the environment, as well as general social conditions in public hospitals and health, and in education in Victoria.

Background: Coalition’s 2km wind farm veto sets a risky precedent | Retreating on climate policy – Victorian Government stops discussions on Hazelwood closure | Victorian Government needs to come clean on plan to achieve 20 percent emissions cut by 2020

Image Source: GECO – Logging machinery, awesome cabling and trees that once stood tall – Survey Rd blockade November 2011

Mass environmental justice uprising engulfs Damietta on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast

Nov 15, 2011

Nov 15, 2011

The popular movement against a Canadian petrochemical plant has forced the Egyptian government to shut down the Agrium-Mopco gas-fertiliser factory, after residents shut down highways, bridges and a deepwater port, and battled the Egyptian military in the street.

Grainy photos and video-clips  tweeted out – especially by Al-Jazeera’s @Mansourtalk – show locals standing up to military forces using live ammunition and tear gas. After 25 were arrested, fellow protestors besieged an army unit and APC until their friends were released. At least one local – Islam Abdullah – was killed by police or military and many others injured.

Twitter: Protestors besiege APC demanding release of their comrades @mansourtalk

Following the repression by the Egyptian state, the Damietta uprising has escalated its demands, calling for closure of other polluting factories in Damietta (including Methanex and SEGAS LNG – financed by RBS), and banning the construction of similar factories and complexes.

Repression threatens the uprising in Damietta @mansourtalk

The popular campaign against Agrium’s plant – using local gas to produce urea fertiliser – already scored a victory in 2008, forcing the Canadian company Agrium’s plans for a new petrochemical factory to merge with Egyptian Mopco. People in Damietta – and especially the Ras El-Barr island designated as the site – were worried about pollution destroying their health, the fish, the natural environment and potential for tourism. Fertiliser-producing plants are known to make local communities sick, with Agrium specifically facing controversy in several countries. Opposition to the new factory was strong across the town – including lawyers, fisherfolk, political activists, families and tourism developers. Black banners against the ‘factory of death’ were draped from homes and across streets: “Against Resource Drain and Pollution in Damietta…and No to Pollution in Ra’s al-Barr.”

Public unhappiness with the pollution from the existing factory and continuing construction grew since January, using the political space generated by the revolution. Newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm quotes a statement from the protestors:

“They told us Agrium factory was moved out of Damietta. In 2011, after the revolution, we found out that we were deceived and that the factory wasn’t moved. The committee formed to mull the region’s environmental status proved that this factory had caused people many diseases and dangerously affected man, animal, plant and fish resources.”

The paper also quoted a local resident, Mohamed Hassouna, as saying

“We are choking from the toxic fumes coming out of the garbage dumped close to residential areas. The fumes are causing serious respiratory problems among the elderly and the ill.”

The uprising – in which the local community successfully shut down Damietta’s massive deepwater port and blockaded the highways and bridges for days – has touched a nerve in Egypt. There is already widespread unhappiness about the collusion between foreign multinationals, military-controlled companies and private Egyptian elite interests in using Egyptian resources  (land, natural gas, etc) – frequently subsidised – to make outrageous profits. The role of the military in attacking the Damietta community physically enacts this co-operation against the people.

Pollution and dumping of waste in Egypt  – such as in Idku by BG and BP – is increasingly being publicly challenged as a political decision, that prioritises profits for those in charge over the lives and rights over fenceline communities. The language of the revolution is being used to describe environmental injustice.

 

How to use a bikelock to save the Great Barrier Reef – protest halts Gladstone dredging

9 November 2011

9 November 2011

Derec Davies used a bicycle U lock to attach himself to a dredger in Gladstone Harbour this morning. The direct action was taken to protect the Great Barrier Reef against the development of Gladstone harbour liquefied natural gas facilities on Curtis Island to export Coal Seam Gas. Massive Dredging of the Gladstone harbour is occurring which fisherman and environmentalists say is causing turbidity in the water and causing illness of fish effectively closing down the local fishing industry. Development is endangering the World Heritage status of the Great Barrier Reef.

Related: In 2010 Conservationists criticised government over coal ship grounding on Great Barrier Reef near Gladstone | Capricorn Conservation Council: The LNG invasion of Curtis Island | ABC TV Four Corners: Great Barrier Grief | Getup! petition to Save the reef

Derec Davies, a Friends of the Earth campaigner, was whisked out to a dredger about 9.30am this morning by a fast inflatable boat. He unfurlled a banner on the dredge, which read "Save the reef, halt dredging" and chained himself. All dredging stopped when he locked onto equipment. The police were called and attended to cut him free. Dredging was stopped for over 2 hours.

Derec Davies was released from custody at 3:40pm today with three charges under the Transport Operations and Maritime Safety act. The charges carry a total maximum penalty of $74000 or one years imprisonment.

"The Great Barrier Reef is worth a lot more than $74 000, so I think that it was worthwhile," said Mr Davies. "We shouldn't have to take action like this, but our Environment ministers Vicky Darling and Tony Burke are letting us all down. Hopefully the judge will see that people need to have the right to protest, otherwise this destruction of the reef will go unchallenged." said Mr Davies.

Drew Hutton, a spokeperson for Friends of the Earth said that the purpose of the protest was to call for a halt to all dredging in the harbour until a genuine independent enquiry was held into the causes of the apparent ecosystem collapse in the harbour.

The ABC TV Four Corners current affairs Program on Monday night did an in depth report on port developments in Queensland and their impact on The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area. (Watch Great Barrier Grief)

In the 12 hours following the airing of the program some 19,000 people signed an online Getup! petition to Save the reef.

There are six major port developments already planned or underway along the Queensland coast to export coal and coal seam gas.

"ABC has reported that the chair of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority expressed ‘extreme concern’ to the Government about the dredging and its unacceptable impacts on marine life within the World Heritage area," said Senator Larissa Waters from the Greens.

“We now have a huge spike in marine animal deaths up and down the coast, a fish disease epidemic in Gladstone harbour and the fishing industry on its knees, after just 1.5 million of the 46 million cubic metres have been dredged. The turbidity conditions imposed by the federal Environment Minister for the dredging are being continually breached, and now we learn that three heavy metals – aluminium, copper and chromium – are exceeding the national safety guidelines. And still the dredging continues." Senators Waters said in a media release.

Mr Hutton said the disproportionate number of marine animal deaths and diseased fish in Gladstone harbour reflected an ecosystem under extreme stress and his organisation had no faith in the Queensland Government's preparedness to look seriously for the causes.

"This is an issue of concern to all Australians who believe the Great Barrier reef should not be sacrificed for fleeting economic development. The coal seam gas industry, once again, has demonstrated what a detrimental impact it is having on rural and regional Queensland." said Drew Hutton.

According to Drew Hutton in a report on Lock the Gate, neither the Queensland government nor the federal government were trusted by most people to get to the bottom of the problem because they had too strong a vested interest in seeing these projects go ahead.

"So far all we have seen from the Bligh government is flawed water quality monitoring, constant assertions that the problems of marine species’ deaths and fish disease have nothing to do with developments in the harbour and the desire to see developments proceed at breakneck speed."

"The Gladstone Port Corporation’s dredging program is one of the biggest in our history and we need to know if dredging up historic layers of industrial pollutants as well as the acid sulphate soils that are known to be in the area are linked with this catastrophe."

Drew Hutton has highlighted the links between the reckless pace of development in Coal Seam Gas wells, with the port expansion threatening major impacts to fisheries and tourism industries associated with the Great Barrier Reef.

"Coal seam gas is, in all likelihood, linked with the problems in Gladstone harbour but you can follow the trail of destruction and possible catastrophe back to the tens of thousands of hectares of bushland being cleared for gas pipelines and the long-term destruction of underground water." he said, "It is only people power that will force recalcitrant governments to act responsibly to bring the coal seam gas industry under control and to act to protect the Great Barrier Reef from high-impact development.."

Friends of the Earth is calling for a dredging halt, independent testing in Gladstone harbour, and the current enquiry announced by Federal and State Governments to widen its terms of reference to include all aspects of industrial development in the region.

Australia failed to notify the World Heritage Committee earlier this year regarding the port developments and their possible impact on the World Hertiage status of the Great Barrier Reef. They have called for a strategic assessment of all coastal assessments impacting on the reef. The reef may be in danger of losing its World Heritage status.

“Australians have to ask right now – are we prepared to lose one of our greatest national assets so we can turn the Great Barrier Reef into a coal and gas highway?” concluded Senator Waters.

Defending the Xingu River basin from the Belo Monte Dam

Last week, on October 27 in Altamira, Brazil, the Belo Monte Dam construction site was occupied by 400 indigenous people, fishermen and community members intending to permanently occupy the site and calling allied organizations and movements to join them.

Last week, on October 27 in Altamira, Brazil, the Belo Monte Dam construction site was occupied by 400 indigenous people, fishermen and community members intending to permanently occupy the site and calling allied organizations and movements to join them. The occupation was a collective decision made by 700 representatives from local communities who attended a seminar against the Belo Monte Dam held the week before in Altamira.

Protesters notified the Brazilian government about the occupation and participating groups released a statement saying: “In the face of the Brazilian government’s intransigence to dialogue and continuing disrespect, we occupied the Belo Monte construction site and blocked the Trans-Amazon highway. We demand a definitive cancellation of the Belo Monte Dam.”

Juma Xipaia, a local indigenous leader, explained, “We only demand what our Constitution already ensures us: our rights. Our ancestors fought so we could be here now. Many documents and meetings have already transpired and nothing has changed. The machinery continues to arrive to destroy our region.”

After 15 hours, protesters were disbursed from the construction site with the arrival of two justice officials and three lawyers from Norte Energia (the dam-building consortium), who carried an injunction in favor of the consortium. Upon informing the protesters about the judicial order, officials threatened that “Shock Troops” were surrounding the area, ready to act.

This was a substantial change from the Monday prior, when a federal judge in Brazil stated that the environmental licensing of the controversial Belo Monte Dam was illegal given the lack of consultations with affected indigenous communities.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS) also requested explanation from the Brazilian Government regarding the rights of indigenous peoples affected by the dam, in April. According to the OAS, the Brazilian Government is obligated to consult indigenous peoples who will be affected by the dam, before construction begins.

On October 26, the day prior to the occupation and blockade, Brazilian government officials refused to attend a closed hearing convened by the IAHCR intended to foster dialogue toward resolving this conflict.

A statement by groups participating in what they called “#Occupy Belo Monte Dam” said this of the blockade: “The unprecedented occupation of the Belo Monte construction site was a direct result of an autonomous and sovereign decision by indigenous people and fishermen from the Xingu River basin and is considered the landmark of a new alliance in the struggle against the Belo Monte Dam. The mutual recognition and partnerships sealed this week among the segments that will suffer the most with the destruction of the Xingu River marks a new, stronger level of the fight against Belo Monte. Such unprecedented partnership between indigenous people and fishermen shows that the people from Xingu are united to defend the river, nature and their traditional way of life.

Our resistance against this destructive project called Belo Monte remains unshakable. The occupation has sent a clear message to President Dilma Rousseff’s administration that the fight for the Xingu is more alive than ever. If the Brazilian government continues to insist on violating our rights, other resistance actions shall come.”

The statement was signed by the following groups:

-Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira – COIAB
-Comissão Pastoral da Terra – CPT
-Conselho Indigenista Missionário – CIMI
-Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre – MXVPS

Hundreds of international solidarity action have also occurred around the world in recent months.

For more information, check out:

More blockades at proposed gas hub in Walmadan, Western Australia

22.10.11

A PROTESTER has tied himself to a communications tower near a proposed gas hub site in the Kimberley in a bid to stop survey work for the controversial project.

22.10.11

A PROTESTER has tied himself to a communications tower near a proposed gas hub site in the Kimberley in a bid to stop survey work for the controversial project.

The protester scaled the 30-metre tower at around 4am today and is suspended by a rope between the top of the tower and the ground near James Price Point [Walmadan]. Anti-gas hub protester Joseph Roe has told AAP the rope crosses an access road and any attempt to cut it to allow Woodside Petroleum contractors in would endanger the protester.

Police are at the site about 60km north of Broome where protesters have gathered to support the man up the tower. “If they cut the rope there will be a terrible accident. The police don’t know what to do,” said Mr Roe, a Jabirr Jabirr-Goolarabooloo man who has pursued extensive legal action against the project.

The protester up the tower, Scott Daines, has said he would stay there “for as long as it takes for Woodside to leave”.

Woodside contractors have been carrying out geotechnical survey work around the site of the proposed $30 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct, with protesters keeping a constant vigil on the access road.

Mr Roe said he wanted answers from the Broome shire council about approvals for the tower to be changed from a weather observation station to a communications point for the Woodside project.

He said the gas hub project was a land grab by WA Premier Colin Barnett who was “hell-bent on industrialising our traditional lands”.

The Kimberley Land Council, on behalf of traditional landowners, has signed off on the deal which would deliver $1.5 billion in benefits to the region’s Aboriginal communities.

But the proposed gas hub has divided the Kimberley Aboriginal community and Broome residents. A final sign-off for the project by Woodside and its joint venture partners is expected by the middle of next year.