Global – Page 96 – Earth First!

Tasmanian forest defenders halt logging in the Styx Valley

2007-12-11
Yesterday morning, forest activists from Still Wild Still Threatened halted logging in coupe SX10F in the Styx Valley, to highlight the ongoing devastation of Tasmania’s World Heritage valued forests. This coupe has gained an international profile over the past few years as an iconic example of Tasmania’s unique old growth forests.

“This pristine tract of ancient forest, located within 1.5km of the World Heritage boundary, is of outstanding conservation value and has been visited by thousands of people. Right now, bulldozers and chainsaws are ripping apart this irreplaceable ecosystem” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

“We are calling on the federal Labor Government to honour their international environmental commitments and put an immediate halt to this senseless devastation of some of Australia’s most outstanding natural heritage” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Jess Wright.

“Here we have yet another example of a unique forest being decimated in order to further the interests of greedy woodchip barons and corrupt politicians. As world leaders gather in Bali to discuss the climate emergency, the island’s most significant carbon sinks are being destroyed, rendering Tasmania an international disgrace” said Ms Majewski.

Fossil Fools Day, April 1st 2008

Rising Tide International is calling for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st 2008…

Rising Tide International is calling for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st 2008…
FOSSIL FOOLS DAY!

Roll up, roll up! The climate circus is in town. Climate change threatens our very survival, but the fools at the head of the fossil fuel empire continue to plunder the earth, with governments the willing court jesters at their side.

They would have us believe that we can escape climate change with techno-fixes, market mechanisms and offset schemes – all technocratic acrobatics that distract us from the truth: the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

For over a century the fossil fuel industry has been fooling with our lives. From extraction to combustion they have poisoned our air, polluted our water and ruined our climate. On April 1st, 2008, we’re going to turn the tables and show them who the real fools are.

Find a local fossil fool – the coal-mining clown, the offset contortionist, the aviator tripping on the high wire, the supermarket food mile freak show, the oily strong man, or any other fool that deserves your attention – and join with thousands around the world in taking one step closer to dismantling the fossil fuel industry.

On Fossil Fools Day, bring the spirit of carnival and mischief to the fight for climate justice.

www.fossilfoolsday.org
www.risingtide.org.uk

(More info and resources coming soon… for now, put the date in your diary, spread the call-out above far and wide, and start scheming!)

70 stop old growth logging in 3 East Gippsland Coupes

2007-12-06
Today 70 conservationists stopped logging in three coupes in East Gippsland, Victoria. The protest is in response to unfilled election promises to protect old growth forests made by the Bracks/Brumby government over a year ago. Four have attached themselves to machinery halting clear-felling operations.

Activists stopped operations in Black Cuttings, Aspen Battery Track and Goongarah Catchment. Currently two people are locked on to machinary in both Aspen Battery Track and Black Cuttings. Other activists are black wallerbying (running around) the coupes avoiding Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) officers. 20 people were asked to leave Goongarah Catchment and complied with that direction, avoiding arrest.

“We are here today to hold politicians to account to fulfil election promises. It is outrageous that the Bracks/Brumby government have not yet put these areas into reserves. Brumby needs to act now and solves this issue.” said Mark Tylor spokespersons for the group.

Only two percent of Victoria’s old growth forests remains. These critically important areas are home to many endangered species, including sooty owl, powerful owl and long footed potoroo.

“Forestry causes a significant proportion of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. If Labor is serious about taking real action to prevent dangerous climate change they must commit to ending logging of high conservation forests now.”

“The government needs to stop pandering to the multinational woodchip industry, and have the courage to do what the science tells us is necessary to protect the future survival of all Australians and the planet” concluded James Ludd.

International Hoax Targets US Business Consortium Amidst Bali Climate Negotiations

Climate activists with the international Rising Tide network embarrassed the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a lobby group composed of 33 prominent businesses and organizations, by distributing a spoof press release declaring that the consortium’s members had committed to a 90 percent reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In addition, the spoof release called for an immediate moratorium on the construction of all new coal-fired power plants.

“To stabilize our climate, reductions need to be based on science, not on creating windfall profits for the world’s largest polluters,” said Matt Leonard. “Leading scientists say decisive action must happen now to reduce our emissions. However, corporate interests have stymied substantive action and are derailing genuine efforts of civil society to adequately address climate change.”

The fake press release was picked up by several media outlets, including the Dallas Morning News, UK Hemscott and several blogs before journalists realized that USCAP members would never agree to such progressive reductions in carbon emissions or a moratorium on coal plants. Furthermore, Rising Tide activists have done dozens of interviews with media and even received calls from real USCAP member companies about the website and press release.

Rising Tide used the phony website www.climateactionpartnership.org to distribute the release, which mimicked USCAP’s site, www.us-cap.org. USCAP’s members include many of the largest US corporations, including Alcoa, BP, Caterpillar, ConocoPhillips, Dow, DuPont, Ford, General Electric, General Motors Corp., Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, PG&E, Shell and Xerox.

The hoax was timed to coincide with the opening of a major United Nations climate summit in Bali in an effort to expose the disproportionate influence of large corporations on the climate negotiations and the lack of initiative from corporations on reducing fossil fuel use. Rising Tide said that they will now transition the site into an archive of environmental misdeeds and human rights abuses of USCAP’s members.

“USCAP says it is serious about stopping climate change, but these companies have not put their money where their mouth is,” said Brian Sloan of Rising Tide North America. “It’s time to base our policies on science and the safety of our communities, not on someone’s bottom-line.”

Rising Tide is an international network of all volunteer grassroots activists who target corporations responsible both for climate change and for blocking efforts to find solutions to it. Activists in Australia, the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Indonesia participated in the hoax.

###

SPOOF PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2007

Contacts:
Joan Adams, Parsons & Fischer, 202-684-8097, jadams@parsonsfischer.com
Jack Escobar, Parsons & Fischer, 202-683-8451, jescobar@parsonsfischer.com

Information at www.climateactionpartnership.org

MAJOR US BUSINESSES ANNOUNCE COMMITMENT TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 90%

Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2007 – The U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a consortium of 33 prominent businesses and organizations, announced today a commitment amongst its members to a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The announcement was timed to coincide with the opening of a major United Nations climate summit in Bali.

“In an effort to encourage decisive action in Bali this week, USCAP’s members have committed to a 90% reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said Matt Leopard, a spokesperson for the consortium. “This commitment should send a strong message to the assembled countries and businesses about the type of reductions needed to stop global warming.”

USCAP’s members include many US market leaders such as Alcoa, BP, Caterpillar, ConocoPhillips, Dow, DuPont, Ford, General Electric, General Motors Corp., Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, PG&E, Shell and Xerox. USCAP’s goal is to further public policy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate.

The announcement from USCAP’s members also includes a mid-term commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% from 1990 levels by 2020. Following the leads of NASA’s top climate scientist James Hansen, as well as bi-partisan political leaders, USCAP is also calling for an immediate moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

Toward this end, USCAP is urging the US and other industrialized nations to enact a policy framework for mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of the economy. USCAP has produced a comprehensive set of principles and recommendations for scientifically effective, socially responsible climate policy. This document, titled A Call to Action1, has been released by USCAP to underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive policy shift on energy and climate.

USCAP is the first consortium of major businesses to make such a commitment in hopes that it will yield to policy decisions to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission technologies and energy efficiency. In particular, USCAP is promoting landmark legislation for a government funded “Sustainable Job Corps.” This politically popular program would create 5 million jobs building a new public utility grid based on renewable technologies, with a goal of producing 50% of the US energy supply by 2020.

“USCAP has offered a plan for the US to lead by example in efforts to protect the climate,” said Matt Leopard. “The world governments assembled in Bali this week should begin a rapid transition to zero-emission energy sources and commit to a 90% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050″.2

USCAP’s website is www.climateactionpartnership.org.

http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org

Golf course in Sydney dug in with warning

24.11.2007
The anonymous visitors were clear about why they caused the damage they did. “Warning!: you bastards kill one bird and we will destroy all your greens at our leisure. We will be watching and waiting” read a note on a piece of cardboard that was stuffed into one of the holes.

Sydney, Australia – Vandals visited the Warringah Golf Club over the weekend and during the night wrecked extensive damage on four putting greens and dug holes in three others. The anonymous visitors were clear about why they caused the damage they did. “Warning!: you bastards kill one bird and we will destroy all your greens at our leisure. We will be watching and waiting” read a note on a piece of cardboard that was stuffed into one of the holes.

Animal rights advocates and neighbours have been in an uproar since the club hired a marksman to shoot native wood ducks who land on the course. The ducks are considered by the golfers to be a nuisance because the make small holes in the turf as they forage for food. The club and some employees have been inundated with phone calls and emails since the shooter was hired.

Climate Change crew shut down Simcoa plant near Bunbury

November 20, 2007 – A group of activists concerned about Climate Change occupied the Simcoa silicon plant at Kemerton, 160kms south of Perth, for seven hours on Monday…

SIMCOA ACTION – Two people locked themselves onto a conveyor belt of the plant, with two others on the gate – forcing the closure of operations.

Details are sketchy at this stage, but it seems two of the group were charged with Trespass and will appear in the Bunbury Courthouse this Friday at 9.30. They say they will both plead guilty and ask that supporters gather at the Courthouse for potential further non-violent direct actions against Simcoa.

A spokesperson for the activists said the group forced the silicon plant to shut down for seven hours forcing 160 workers to stop work. The group say Simcoa’s forest destruction equals climate chaos.

The Japanese-owned company Simcoa has an annual allocation of 150,000 tonnes of “3rd grade” jarrah logs for making into charcoal which is used in the process of making silicon. The Labor government intends to continue supplying Simcoa with jarrah. At present the government lets Simcoa have this jarrah at around $4/tonne.

Substitutes that Simcoa could use, like plantation timber cannot compete with this price and as a result jarrah is still being plundered from our forests at alarming rates. Simcoa also consumes 8% of W.A.’s electricity, at very reduced rates!

The jarrah logs, which could be used by saw mills to value-added the timber, are turned into woodchips. Then the whole lot is turned into charcoal to make silicon.

Coal blockades Down Under – train & power plant

19th November, 2007
Grassroots climate change action group Rising Tide has blockaded a coal train on its way into the world’s biggest coal export port, at Kooragang Island in Newcastle Harbour. No trains are able to enter Kooragang Coal Terminal because of the blockade.

The blockade comes just two days after the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report warning that the effects of climate change will be worse than previously anticipated, and five days before the Federal Election.

Spokesperson for Rising Tide, Georgina Woods, said, “Our Governments have failed us: both major parties are terminally addicted to coal. The situation is dreadful and we have been forced to take this action because the leadership of this country is morally bankrupt.”

The IPCC reports that two degree Celsius warming of the globe will put about one third of species at risk of extinction. Billions of people are predicted to be at risk of water scarcity.

“There is no longer any room for vacillation: we must act, and that is what we are doing today.”

“When faced with an overwhelming problem and a Government unwilling or unable to take action to solve the problem, it is the duty of all citizens to take action on the community’s behalf.

“There is no way Australia can continue passing the buck on climate change. We are the biggest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases and the biggest coal exporter in the world.

“Hundreds of community members have pledged to take direct-action to prevent the expansion of the coal industry.

“We are taking action today on behalf of our children, and for all those species that will be pushed to the extinction by climate change. It is unconscionable for the Government and the coal industry to continue profiting from accelerating greenhouse gas emissions in this way.”

Contact: (02) 4926 1641
http://www.risingtide.org.au/

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

Activists shut down NSW coal power plant

November 15, 2007 – Early this morning Greenpeace activists occupied the Munmorah coal-fired power station. A Greenpeace activist pushes a button to stop the conveyor belt. It’s time to push the emergency switch on coal…
Australia — Early this morning 15 Greenpeace activists occupied and took peaceful direct action to shut down a coal-fired power plant on the NSW Central Coast. The occupation was to protest against John Howard and Kevin Rudd’s dismal climate change policies, which will not stop increasing greenhouse emissions.

Greenpeace is demanding that both major parties commit to deep cuts to Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution in the next decade, which means switching from coal fired power to cleaner and smarter energy use.

9.45AM – The power station has been evacuated and is shutting down due to our occupation. Seven activists have been arrested and eight are still inside the plant. The activists have shut down the coal-feed conveyor belt and painted the message “Coal Kills” on the roof of the station. They have also deployed a banner saying “Climate change starts here.” Two activists are also hanging off the roof displaying climate change messages.

The Munmorah coal-fired power station, 110km north-east of Sydney, is the oldest in NSW and one of the most inefficient in the country.

Climate activists took non-violent direct action to shut down the power station by locking onto the conveyor system to prevent coal from feeding the plant. The activists hung a huge banner reading ‘Climate change starts here’.

Another team climbed on the roof of the main building to paint the message “Coal Kills”. All staff were evacuated from the plant around 7am.

Energy campaigner John Hepburn, who was one of the climb team, said that we couldn’t just sit back and watch while scientists measure how quickly humans are killing the planet.

“We need to cut carbon emissions right now. It’s not complicated. If we installed solar hot water heaters in half of NSW’s households we could switch off Munmorah and cut 1.5 million tonnes of CO2,” he said.

“The activists are protesting because just one week away from the federal election, both major parties are backing climate policies that will see greenhouse emissions increase. This at a time when the world’s top scientists are telling us we have no time to lose and must make deep cuts to emissions if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.”

GRRENPEACE:
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/

“RILA IS DEAR!” JOIN EFFORTS TO PROTECT NATIONAL PARK

In September 2007 construction of what is hailed as “a new mega-ski area” began inside and around the boundaries of Rila National Park in Bulgaria. The park is one of the largest in Europe, a haven for natural forests, endangered species, and clean waters. A good indicator that these areas are in grave danger is the exclusion of the Rila Buffer Zone, an area around the National Park, from the NATURA 2000 network of biodiversity commissioned by the European Commission. Despite ample scientific evidence, the Ministry of the Environment prioritized political and economic concerns, violating the criteria set by both national and European law.

At this moment the Park’s chalets and lodges are being transformed into hotels and condominiums. Paths marked as trails on the National Park map are now roads. Trucks speed down from the mountaintops, hauling away timber illegally cut to create ski slopes. No management plan exists for the chairlift being constructed into National Park territory and the environmental assessment provided by developers is no longer valid. Unfortunately little is being done to stop this project. Although the local municipality was recently fined 5,000 euros for illegal road construction, the sanction seems to be a slap on the wrist considering the tens of millions supposedly invested in the project.

Sites on the Internet already promote properties near the Rila Mountains as the latest location to buy vacation homes in Bulgaria. Locations, like the Rila Lake holiday apartments (http://www.mirela.bg/en/project.php?id=44949), are in zones just excluded from protected status by the Bulgarian government. Unfortunately, prospective foreign buyers are largely unaware of the controversies surrounding these areas. Not only could they become silent accomplices in the destruction of Europe’s wilderness, they may also lose their investments purchasing illegal properties.

LET NATURE REMAIN IN BULGARIA, a coalition of 17 environmental and social NGOs are leading the movement against the illegal activities in Rila National Park. Unfortunately, their struggle is by no means easy. When activists tried to hand out information near the Rila Park Information Center, they were confronted by a group of men armed with guns and knives. They threatened the lives of the participants as well as the journalists covering the action. Although police arrived before any violence, it was the environmentalists that they warned, rather than the attackers. They were told, “Next time, we may show up too late.”

Despite the threat, the coalition remains firm in its conviction construction in the park must be halted until a full investigation can be made of the project’s environmental impact and the area’s status within the NATURA 2000 network is resolved. To prevent further destruction you can sign the petition for Rila and complete an online letter to the European Union at http://forthenature.org/petitions. To find out more about the destruction of natural areas in Bulgaria, see their website http://forthenature.org or find about WWF’s campaign for Bulgaria’s protected sites. You can also contact, Cveta Hristova, Forest and Protected Areas Program, Za Zemiata, cveta.hristova@gmail.com, cveta@zazemiata.org.

Protect Tasmania’s Old growth Forests

*Summer Campaign Update and Events 2008*

Tasmania angel on tripod *Summer Campaign Update and Events 2008*
*Southern Tasmania *

Hi all –

Its going to be a great summer to come to Tasmania and be involved in the campaign to protect Tasmania’s old growth forests!

It has been a huge year for the forests of Tasmania, particularly with the national emphasis on the proposed Bell Bay pulp mill. Despite huge community opposition to this proposal, it has been approved by both Federal and State Governments and building of the facility is scheduled to start in January 2008. However the community campaign against this environmentally polluting mill which will have a huge appetite for native forests continues.

So too does the unprecedented level of destruction of our southern Tasmanian old growth and high conservation level forests. The campaigns to protect the southern forests of the Weld Valley, the Styx Valley, and the Florentine Valley continue on and 2007 has seen more community based campaigning and direct action than ever.

Since the destruction of Camp Weld – the Pirate Ship Blockade – in November 2006, the whole of the valley has been declared an exclusion zone, shutting out the general public, however activists have not been deterred and have continued to keep the spotlight on the destruction. This year saw clear-felling on the World Heritage border in the Weld Valley, and forestry plan to build a road and bridge over the Weld River to open up 2000 hectares of untouched ancient forest for logging. This is the largest piece of rainforest in Southern Tasmania. This is planned to start in the next few months.

A road is also planned to be pushed 3km into the Picton opening up 2000 hectares to logging which used to be national park. Old growth logging is also continuing on in the Arve, Esperence and Little Denison Regions. The moratorium on the Florentine Valley ends at the time of the Federal election in November, meaning once again this majestic forest will be under attack. With the recent global focus on climate change, now more than ever we must protect our ancient forests as they play an integral role in climate change mitigation through their role of storing carbon.

We are all working incredibly hard in Tasmania to protect these ancient forests, however we need your help. Please consider coming to Tasmania this summer and supporting our campaign. Walk in the bush, witness the majesty of these forests before they are gone. Learn new skills, get informed about the issues and how you can help. Below is a list of summer events that you can take part in.

Can’t come to tassie but still want to help?? Then consider holding a film night or fundraiser. Distribute information and raise awareness in your own area. Become a member of the Huon Valley Environment Centre and be updated regularly. Make a donation. Check out the websites. Be part of what is an incredible community campaign! Email: centre@huon.org or campflorentine@gmail.com for more information.

*Southern Forests Convergence
January 18th – 20th
Forest Skillshare.*
Learn about the southern forest campaigns, forests and climate change and how you can help.
Speakers, workshops, films, music.
Camping. No Dogs.

*Gunn’s n Dozers
Lose Your Exclusion Tour
January 21st – 28th
Community Action Week*
Addressing Tasmania’s Southern Forests Exclusion Zones.
Including an RTS and Music Event.

*TAZ
D.I.Y Gathering
February 8th – 10th*
Electronic music, live performances, cabaret, films, workshops and more.
Kids welcome. Camping. No dogs.

*For more information:*
www.huon.org
www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
email:centre@huon.org or campflorentine@gmail.com
phone: 03 62641286

Huon Valley Environment Centre
www.huon.org

The Huon Valley Environment Centre is a grassroots, not for profit, volunteer run charity based in the Huon Valley, Southern Tasmania. The centre opened 6 years ago as a result of huge community concern over the devastation of local forests, which form a huge part of the majesty and magic of Tasmania’s unique landscape. Since then it has been at the forefront of the campaign to protect these ancient forests in Southern Tasmania.

The Environment Centre facilitates a community working space, an eco-shop and library, a community awareness raising campaign, film nights, musical events, fundraising events, festivals, direct action, lobbying, information
stalls, and the Black Sassy Art collective.

The Huon Valley Environment Centre is one of the Gunns 20 defendants, and is currently being sued by the woodchipping giant Gunns Ltd. for over half a million dollars for standing up for Tasmania’s ancient forests.

300 on the streets of Helsinki for squat Elimäki – International Days Of Action For Squats & Autonomous Spaces – April 08

Helsinki, Finland: We get more time – 300 on the streets of Helsinki for squat Elimäki

Thursday was a day of victory for the squatting scene in Helsinki. 300 people defied the really shitty weather and gathered to demonstrate at the Youth Department of the city to show their support to the social centre Elimäki, aka squat E15.

Helsinki, Finland: We get more time – 300 on the streets of Helsinki for squat Elimäki

The Youth Department of Helsinki had gathered to decide on whether to rent the squatted house on Elimäenkatu (Elimäkistreet) to be used as a social centre for the youth of the city. This was the second time officials from the city came together to decide on the issue. After postponing the decision at their first meeting a month ago the board now unanimously decided to investigate the real condition of our house. The decision can be understood as an official recognition of the importance to have an autonomous space in Helsinki.

The house on Elimäenkatu has been deemed in very bad condition by the officials of the city. The statement has been supported by no real measurements or data whatsoever and on the contrary been proved wrong by the investigations we ourselves have made. This fact got recognized by the board of the Youth Department in their decision to appoint a private construction firm to investigate further on the matter.

The solution that the squatters and some people from the city have been working on is to have the house rented by the Youth Department to be used as an autonomous social centre. The house has been in this use since it was squatted in the beginning of August. After a long period of bad events on our issue the outlook is now better. But it would be overtly optimistic to say that if the investigations on our house turn out to be good the city would support us. During the last months the politicians and officials of the city have been changing their statements on whether to legalise the house or not on a daily basis. The Finnish media does not follow the game in the side-scenes where politicians and officials are manipulating each other to topple our project. We are far from securing the only social centre in Helsinki but much closer than before.

However the situation of Squat E15 develops the squatting scene in Helsinki and other Finnish cities is now stronger than ever before. We are constantly growing in numbers and a support demo of 300 people (or more) is more than we ever could have mustered half a year ago. We now have recognition for our needs and will not give up until we have this house or an equally good place guaranteed to us. Last but not least the international support we have been getting (Ghent, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Tallinn and Malmö as far as we know) means a lot to a small
but growing scene like ours. The struggle for free spaces continues!

Love and solidarity
Social centre Elimäki
www.valtaus.org

—————————-

On Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of April 2008, we call for two days of demonstration, direct action, public information, street-party, squatting… in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture. Through these two days, we want to help create more visibility of autonomous spaces and squats as a european/global political movement. We want to develop interconnections and solidarity between squats and autonomous spaces. We want to keep linking our spaces with new people and new struggles, and support the creation of autonomous spaces in places where there has not been a history of this kind of action. We want to build, step by step, our ability to overcome the wave of repression falling on us.

We call for decentralised and autonomous actions of all kinds, depending on what people feel to be the most appropriate to their local context. You’ll find below the political content we wish to give to these two days.

= We are everywhere…

For centuries, people have used squats and autonomous spaces, either urban or rural, to take control of their own lives. They are a tool, a tactic, a practice, and a way for people to live out their struggles. For decades, squat movements across Europe and beyond have fought capitalist development, contributing to local struggles against destruction; providing alternatives to profit-making and consumer culture; running social centres and participatory activities outside of the mainstream economy. Demonstrating the possibilities for self-organising without hierarchy; creating international networks of exchange and solidarity. These networks have changed many lives, breaking out of social control and providing free spaces where people can live outside the norm.

Among other things, these places provide bases for meetings and projects, for the creation and distribution of subversive culture, for the non-monetary based exchange of goods, resources and knowledge, for experimentating with new ways of living, for collective debates, for recycling and construction, for agricultural activities, for the production of independant media.

Whether we speak of urban squats or of purchased land, of negotiated or re-appropriated rural land, of restored factories or self-built buildings, these spaces are refuges for rebels and outlaws, poor and homeless people, radical activists, illegal immigrants. Social centres are crucial to us as part of a movement for social change.

= All over Europe, repressive agendas are being pushed by governments

They are attacking long-standing autonomous spaces such as the Ungdomshuset in Copenhagen, Koepi and Rigaer Straße in Berlin, EKH in Vienna and Les Tanneries in Dijon, squatted social centres in London and Amsterdam, Ifanet in Thessaloniki, etc. In France, squats have become a priority target for the police after the anti-CPE movement and the wave of actions and riots that happened during the presidential elections period. In Germany, many autonomous spaces have been searched and attacked before the G8 summit. In Geneva and Barcelona, two old and big squatting “fortresses”, the authorities have decided to try to put an end to the movement. Whereas it is still possible to occupy empty buildings in some countries, it has already become a crime in some others. In the countryside, access to land is becoming harder and communes face increasing problems from legislation on hygiene, security and gentrification by the bourgeoisie and tourists. All over Europe, independent cultures are being threatened.

Several months ago we saw running battles in the streets of Copenhagen and actions everywhere in Europe in an explosion of anger at the eviction of the Ungdomshuset social centre. Since then, and with a few other big resistance stories that happened over the last months, we’ve managed to renew the meaning of international solidarity.

We are motivated by the same passions, we feel the same determination, face a common enemy in repression, and are united across borders by our desire to build a world of equality and self-determination. As unaligned and ungovernable islands of uncontrolled freedom we want to continue to act in solidarity, and strengthen our international links, no matter how many kilometres there are between us.

= Issues beyond the actions

We also would like these days of actions to enable and inspire discussion, to demonstrate various possibilities & strategies, to be an occasion to share skills. These are some of the issues we would like to push:
* what do we expect from and understand by autonomous spaces?
* What is their role in the pursuit of radical social change?
* Where do they lie on the scale of’alternative’ to ‘confrontational’?
* share information on the range of activities that take place in autonomous social spaces along with ideas for how to make them work;
*question the production of goods and services; and encourage the exchange of knowledge particularly between the town and the countryside.
* share experiences, inspire each other, find out how others live collectively, and their activities, alternative economic exchange systems…
* share various ways of getting spaces all over europe: illegal occupations, Do It Yourself constructions, wagenburgs, buying collectively, free contracts…
* share practical resources and a feeling of solidarity between:
different users of autonomous spaces (either current or potential): co-operatives, people without papers, activists, travellers, immigrants, urbanites, rural dwellers, small farms;
different ways of using spaces; activities for the community, meeting area for groups, living spaces;
* enable the forming of common strategies when faced with state repression or eviction;

= Who are we, how can we collaborate on this project, and make it happen?

At the moment, we are a group of people involved with various autonomous spaces around Europe, who decided to start discussing this call. We’ll meet various collectives in the coming months and see how people feel about this proposal for european days of action, and how they want to get involved. Its success depends a lot on our capacity to create a bigger international working group. This would mean everybody who wanted to take part into it would try to start discssing the idea in various spaces, creating and distributing some propaganda materials and networking information about what’s going on near them during those days. We would also like to organize a physical meeting about all this in the upcoming months. Get in touch!

= Materials

Flyers etc can be found on our website. Please download the PDF file, print it and spread it around squats and autonomous spaces in your area.

= Preparation meeting

The success of this call now depends upon our capacity to create a bigger international working group. The whole event will happen without any “central commitee”, and will be made of a various autonomous decentralised actions. Still, we think it is important to have a physical meeting, in order to exchange ideas and strategies, discuss the contents of the call, see how to create common information tools around that project, how to connect and help the various local initiatives.
Thus, we’re calling for an international preparation & coordination meeting on November 24th & 25th 2007, in the autonomous space “Les Tanneries”, located in Dijon, France. It is a squatted social centre in a post-industrial environment, occupied since 1998. Thanks to years of struggle against the city council owning the buildings, the project has reached a certain degree of stability. It hosts a collective house, a gig room, a hacklab, a free shop, an infoshop, a collective garden, a library…

We hope that many of you will be able to join. Please tell us a bit in advance if you’re planning to come, so that we get an idea of the number of people we have to accomodate and plan food for. You’re very welcome to pass this invitation to squats and autonomous spaces that you know.

= Getting in touch & helping out

Please get in touch, by writing to april2008 at squat dot net. Any help with translations in whatever languages is greatly appreciated.
http://april2008.squat.net/