London
After a relaxed start to things, getting to the campsite seemed almost too easy. Only one videographer was hassled when an officer tried to grab his camera early on. After a first meeting, tents and marquees are going up all over the place.
After a relaxed start to things, getting to the campsite seemed almost too easy. Only one videographer was hassled when an officer tried to grab his camera early on. After a first meeting, tents and marquees are going up all over the place.
The weather is nice, albeit somewhat windy and the view over London is amazing. It’s almost hard to believe that we’re still in the city.
Location, more photos and more at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/
Benny Wenda, West Papuan independence leader and chairman of the Koteka Tribal Assembly, and most of the rest of the small handful of West Papuans living in Britain demonstrated opposite the Netherlands Embassy in London on Fri 14 Aug, to mark the anniversary of the ‘Day of the Broken Promise’, 15 August 1962.
Benny Wenda, West Papuan independence leader and chairman of the Koteka Tribal Assembly, and most of the rest of the small handful of West Papuans living in Britain demonstrated opposite the Netherlands Embassy in London on Fri 14 Aug, to mark the anniversary of the ‘Day of the Broken Promise’, 15 August 1962.
The western half of New Guinea became a Dutch colony in the nineteenth century, but by the 1950s they were moving towards giving it independence. However the Indonesian goverment claimed the country and threatened invasion after then Dutch set up an elected government of West Papua in 1961.
Indonesia was backed by military aid from the Soviet Union, and the Kennedy administration in the USA wanted to prevent further movement of the country towards the Soviet bloc, so pressured the Netherlands into signing the ‘New York Agreement’ with Indonesia in August 1962. This allowed Indonesia to take over the administration of the country but provided for all the adult population of West Papua to vote at a later date on whether they wished to become independent.
The Indonesian army moved in on 1 May 1963 and began a programme of repression and human rights abuse against the people. In 1969 they rounded up and detained just over a thousand West Papuans as representatives of the people and enusured that they voted for rule by Indonesia by threats, including at least in some cases that they and their families would be killed unless they did so.
The Indonesian government made it impossible for the UN represenatative who was supposed to oversee the election to operate properly, and banned most foreign reporters. Although it was clear that the vote did not reflect the will of the West Papuan people – and had failed to meet the terms of the agreement – which had been ratified by the UN – it was approved by the UN General Assembly.
Since then there have been many reports of repression by Indonesia in the country, including murder, political assassinations, torture, rapes, dissapearances and bombing. The government also had a programme of resettling migrants from Indonesia in the country, apparently aimed at producing an Indonesian majority population.
West Papuans have engaged in both civil disobedience – particularly around cermonial raising of the West Papua flag (the Morning Star) as well as armed resistance.
Wenda was jailed for displaying the West Papuan flag (on his chest and at top right of picture) but managed to escape and gain asylum in the UK. Estimates of the number of West Papuans killed by Indonesian repression are in the hundreds of thousands (400,000 according to the Free West Papua Campaign), and in 2006, 43 refugees landed in a traditional canoe in Australia, claiming the Indonesian military was carrying out a programme of genocide.
Despite a widespread recognition of what has been happening, there is little international support for West Papua. The country has the world’s largest copper and gold mines, largely owned by US Compnay Freeport-McMoRan with UK based Rio Tinto Group also involved.
Today’s demonstration was peaceful and tuneful, with Benny and Maria Wenda and others playing instruments and singing traditional West Papuan songs opposite the embassy.
A Dutch diplomat came across the road to talk to the demonstrators and receive a letter demanding that the Netherlands and other governments insist on the proper implementation of the 1962 agreement, with a free and fair independence referendum involving all West Papuans overseen by the UN. Papuans feel they were let down by everyone involved, but particularly by the Dutch; “We trusted you and we believed in you. But you betrayed us.”
The diplomat spoke for a few minutes with the demonstrators and was interested to see a feature on the rebel army there which appeared in today’s Independent on display.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/bows-arrows-and-a-dream-of-liberation-1771884.html
After the demonstration at the Netherlands Embassy the protest was moving to the Indonesian Embassy in Grosvenor Square, where the West Papuans hold regular protests.
Dear Campers,
*IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SWOOP – SIGN UP TO THE TEXT MESSAGING
SERVICE ON THE WEBSITE NOW !!*
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/swoop-update
Over 900 people have signed up for the Summer Swoop in the first 2 weeks,
which is a brilliant start. If every single one of you is in London by 12
noon on Wed 26th August, we’ll be an unstoppable swooping force! But the
Dear Campers,
*IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SWOOP – SIGN UP TO THE TEXT MESSAGING
SERVICE ON THE WEBSITE NOW !!*
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/swoop-update
Over 900 people have signed up for the Summer Swoop in the first 2 weeks,
which is a brilliant start. If every single one of you is in London by 12
noon on Wed 26th August, we’ll be an unstoppable swooping force! But the
swoop is now ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY today, and we still need more people, so
please keep inviting your friends.
(1) HERE’S THE PLAN…
(2) CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR
(3) BE PREPARED TO SWOOP AND STAY
(4) WHAT TO BRING
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(1) HERE’S THE PLAN…
Everyone needs to be in London and prepared to swoop from 12 noon on
Wednesday 26 August. Swoop starting positions will be announced online –
keep your eye on the website in the preceding 48 hours… !
Everyone needs to sign up to be in one of the coloured groups detailed on
the website. Each of these will have a different meet-up point on the day.
After that the fun will begin.
(2) CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR
If you want to be in the same group as your friends, you’ll need to sign
up for the same group. Get chatting now and then all sign up for the SMS
updates on the website. This is the primary way that we will know that
we’ve got enough people in each group and everything’s on track. The 10
colours are:
Green – Accessible and child friendly group
White – North Bike group (Cyclists only!)
Brown – South Bike group (Cyclists only!)
Pink – North (On foot/public transport)
Blue – South (On foot/public transport)
Purple – West (On foot/public transport)
Red – West (On foot/public transport)
Yellow – East (On foot/public transport)
Silver – East (On foot/public transport)
Orange/Invisible – not meeting up in a public place (On foot/public
transport)
Some of you may prefer to choose your own meeting point in London – one
that won’t be publicly announced. If you’d like to choose your own
meeting spot, sign up for the Orange/Invisible swoop group!
You can sign up to your chosen colour here:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/swoop-update
If you don’t have a mobile phone, it’s probably best to pair up with
someone who does. Once you’ve chosen your colour, get creative! Wear
something in your chosen colour on the day. There may be loads to do in
your swoop group, so get involved.
(3) BE PREPARED TO SWOOP AND STAY
The crucial thing about the swoop is that we get large numbers of people
to take part, and that we all stay to set up and defend the Camp until
everyone else starts arriving. This means it’s a 24 hour thing, so you
need to bring your stuff for the Camp, take the day off if you need to,
and bring food to feed yourself until the kitchens are up and running. If
everyone thinks they’re coming for an hour and then goes home we won’t
have a defendable site.
(4) WHAT TO BRING
– A one-day Zone 1-6 Travel Card (you may be required to travel on all
forms of public transport)
– Water
– Snacks/food
– Sleeping stuff
– Your tent
– All weather clothing
– A luggage label in case you get separated from your stuff
– Anything else you want to bring to Camp
That’s it for now. As we say, the starting points for the Swoop will be
announced closer to the time, and the location of the Camp itself won’t be
announced until the moment of the Swoop! But make sure you’re signed up to
as may methods of communication as possible so you receive the news as
soon as we have it:
SMS updates: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/swoop-update
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=238893455547
Climate Camp Newsletter: https://lists.riseup.net/www/subrequest/climatecamp
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/climatecamp
If you’ve got any questions for us, drop us a line via
summerswoop@googlemail.com
Happy swooping,
Summer Swoop
ps. We know, we know, swoops are like buses – you wait all summer for one
and then two come along at once. For anyone confused, the Great Climate
Swoop is a mass action to shut down Drax or Ratcliffe-on-Soar on 17-18
October – see http://www.thegreatclimateswoop.org/ to vote for which one
to shut down. It’s also going to be incredible! But first things first…
Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18th-24th August 2009, Cumbria
Never has halting the destruction of our planet been so important… Learn how to make them stop!
The gathering this year will be held at Seathwaite in the beautiful Borrowdale. The site is right in the heart of the Lake District and surrounded by mountains, streams and tarns. The nearest train station is Penrith. More detailed directions, public transport, walks & cycle rides to the site
Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18th-24th August 2009, Cumbria
Never has halting the destruction of our planet been so important… Learn how to make them stop!
The gathering this year will be held at Seathwaite in the beautiful Borrowdale. The site is right in the heart of the Lake District and surrounded by mountains, streams and tarns. The nearest train station is Penrith. More detailed directions, public transport, walks & cycle rides to the site
Workshop programme in a variety of formats
WHO
Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we’re standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.
Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically
WHAT
Planning actions and campaigns, meeting and sharing skills with others who care. Over 80 training workshops plus games and evening fun:
• Learn skills for direct action. Tree Climbing, Orienteering, Security for activists, Legal briefing, Escaping public order situations, street medics – first aid, self defence, Boat blockading using kayaks, radio procedures and rock abseiling.
• Network your campaign against ecological destruction. opencast mining, genetic engineering, agrofuels, dam-building, hunt-sabbing, climate actions, oil pipeline resistance, road stopping, anti-whaling, squatting, rainforest protection.
• Learn about ecology, ecocentric ethics and alternatives to the corporate world of exploitation.
• Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living, field trips and hands-on work.
YOU
We are all crew! This is your gathering come prepared to help run the camp and contribute to the programme. Contact us in advance with ideas for workshops, help with organising the gathering, come early to help setup the site or stay on for a couple of days for takedown.
If you can help get in touch!
BRING
Bring tent and sleeping bag. You can either cook food for yourself or for £4 per day chip in with collective cooking of delicious vegan organic food. There’ll be quiet sleeping areas, toilets and running water, a children’s space and spaces for workshops and info stalls.
Veggies will provide vegan cake and snacks. Children and young adults welcome with subsidized meals.
Arrive Tues pm. Workshops from Wed am until Sun pm.
Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summer’s EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.
An excursion to visit communities in the North East threatened by an expansion of coal mining on Monday 24th August. Visit beautiful valleys and strong spirited communities and make links for ongoing resistance.
We aim to make the site as accessible as we can please contact us in advance if you have special needs, questions or concerns.
WHERE
The site is near in the Lake District, Cumbria. The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp.
Dogs: We are fortunate this year to be able to accommodate well behaved owners with dogs on leads but think about whether your dog will feel comfortable in workshops. Please call beforehand so we know numbers.
Cost: £20 – £30 according to what you can afford. We are not for profit all extra cash goes to help fund next year. Under 14’s free.
For more info contact us at :
summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk
www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk
10.8.2009
Welcome home Mandy! At 6am this morning, two climate suffragettes and the Yes Men barricaded Peter Mandleson’s Regent’s Park home in support of the Vestas workers and wind power in the UK. The climate suffragettes, chained to his gate, unfurled a banner reading ‘Mandy, Put Some Wind in Vestas’ Sales’ while the Yes Men inflated their ‘survivor balls’ in preparation for the worst effects of climate change…
10.8.2009
Welcome home Mandy! At 6am this morning, two climate suffragettes and the Yes Men barricaded Peter Mandleson’s Regent’s Park home in support of the Vestas workers and wind power in the UK. The climate suffragettes, chained to his gate, unfurled a banner reading ‘Mandy, Put Some Wind in Vestas’ Sales’ while the Yes Men inflated their ‘survivor balls’ in preparation for the worst effects of climate change…
With the workers being evicted from the Vestas factory in Newport last Friday, the campaign to save Vestas and galvanise wind power in the UK continues. The protest called on Lord Mandleson, as Business Secretary and general governmental overseer, to ensure Vestas’ presence in the UK remained economically viable. The government has already shown they are willing to bail out the banks and stimulate the car industry (Mandleson returns from holiday today to try and secure 5000 jobs at Vauxhall’s Luton and Ellesmere Port plants), yet the wind power industry remains a sad indictment of years of government neglect.
Vestas’ UK chief, Rob Sauven, claimed that for the company to remain economically viable in the UK it would need to be receiving 1GW worth of order a year. With Vestas controlling a quarter if the UK market this would require the UK to be adding 4GW of wind power every year. Last year the UK added only 0.5GW.
With the government wanting to achieve 15% of total energy production from wind power by 2020, as part of its green economic recovery plan to create tens of thousands of green jobs, Sauven’s assessment illustrates a dire need to stimulate demand and ensure Britain’s already late transition to a low carbon economy does not fail.
info@climaterush.co.uk
http://www.climaterush.co.uk
The Campaign Against Climate change held a rally in London on Thursday 6 August in support of the 600 Vestas workers whose jobs making wind turbine blades are to be lost as the company moves production to the USA.
The Campaign Against Climate change held a rally in London on Thursday 6 August in support of the 600 Vestas workers whose jobs making wind turbine blades are to be lost as the company moves production to the USA.
The rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall on Thursday evening started in light rain, but it was pouring by the time it finished. Despite the weather, the 80 or so present listened intently to speeches from a Vestas worker, trade union speakers from the RMT, PCW and Billy Hayes of the Communications Workers Union, as well as former Labour Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Meacher MP and Green Party GLA member Jenny Jones, who arrived at the event by bicycle.
Despite the government having spent thousands of billions propping up the banks it is unwilling to put up the much smaller amounts needed to support green industries. The problems of Vestas are indeed very much of the Government’s making, with its failure to put it’s money where its mouth is on green energy policies, relying on hot air rather than support for wind power and other alternative energies.
Making wind turbines is a profitable business, and will become even more so, but unless action is taken – such as nationalising Vestas, at least (as with the banks) on a temporary basis, the UK will be buying them from abroad rather than making money selling them to the rest of the world.
This story is also on Demotix, and I’ll put more pictures on My London Diary next week:
http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2009/08/aug.htm
Car tyres deflate in the night, diggers halted in their tracks, buildings and MPs covered in slime…airports plagued by crazy golf, picnics, city gents and hostage-taking…eco-villages and other autonomous spaces sprout, as others are under threat…tree-sits, banks evicted, fake phone-masts and whaling ships sunk….it must be time for another Earth First! Action Update, bringing you a concentrated quarterly blast of inspiration and contacts to get out there and take direct action against the bastards threatening this planet and its inhabitants.
News from the front-lines – permanent protest camps old and new, and temporary gatherings in a field near you, all the dates and info you need for a summer of blistering action and torrential outpourings!
Successes here, across the pond and round the very other side of the world.
Car tyres deflate in the night, diggers halted in their tracks, buildings and MPs covered in slime…airports plagued by crazy golf, picnics, city gents and hostage-taking…eco-villages and other autonomous spaces sprout, as others are under threat…tree-sits, banks evicted, fake phone-masts and whaling ships sunk….it must be time for another Earth First! Action Update, bringing you a concentrated quarterly blast of inspiration and contacts to get out there and take direct action against the bastards threatening this planet and its inhabitants.
News from the front-lines – permanent protest camps old and new, and temporary gatherings in a field near you, all the dates and info you need for a summer of blistering action and torrential outpourings!
Successes here, across the pond and round the very other side of the world.
A report back from the Coal Caravan, plus info about the communities along its route.
Court news – what happened after protesters planned to shut a coal-fired power plant, and climbed atop a train, plus handy Security Tips for Going on Actions.
Leaving it All in the Ground – news of global fights against the mining of gold, copper, bauxite and aluminium – blockading, torching and night-time pixieing.
A View from the Trees – a story from our eco-centric cousins. And indigenous Peruvians fight on against the wholesale onslaught on our world.
And a round-up of your favourite public order situations – G20, SmashEDO and Athenian rubbish dumps!
Read, download and print it here, subscribe so you get it direct to your door, or look out for it at a climate camp near you.
If you want to be listed or get a bunch of them to distribute, please get in touch.
Share your inspirational news at EF! Action Reports, and it’ll find it’s way into your very own printed EF!AU, in good old black and white print.
GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC (27 JULY)
VENUE/TIME:- AGM OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LINCOLN CENTRE, 18 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, WC2A 3ED, (nearest Tube- Holborn)
27 JULY 2009, 2.00 pm onwards
STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, DEADLY POLLUTION
GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC (27 JULY)
VENUE/TIME:- AGM OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LINCOLN CENTRE, 18 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, WC2A 3ED, (nearest Tube- Holborn)
27 JULY 2009, 2.00 pm onwards
STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, DEADLY POLLUTION
The Global Campaign against Vedanta Resources plc will be protesting inside and outside the Annual General Meeting of Vedanta Resources plc at Lincoln Centre, 18 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED on 27 July 2009 from 2.00 pm onwards. Simultaneous protests will be held worldwide on 27 July, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa and other parts of India and a series of demonstrations, public meetings and rallies will be held in Orissa, Kolkata, Mumbai and other cities from 27 July onwards.
Vedanta Resources is a multinational mining company, listed on the London Stock Exchange whose spectacular rise involves violating Environmental Laws, Human Rights Abuse, Financial scams & Political corruption in Zambia, Armenia, India and other countries where it exploits poorly regulated mining enclaves. Recently Vedanta has announced plans to start mining in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa, India from October 2009 and it aims to increase operations by 6 fold by 2011. Vedanta’s mining in Orissa will have a devastating impact on the fragile Ecosystem of this fertile and vitally important forested mountainous region and the state of Orissa in general. It will lead to a Cultural Genocide of the ancient tribal civilization of the Dongria Kondh and Majhi Kondh tribes, who have lived ecologically sustainable & self sufficient lives for centuries in these mountains. Vedanta’s mining will also lead to severely toxic pollution, diseases, terminal illnesses, destruction of endangered wildlife, damage to the wild elephant population, devastation of crops and arable land and the poisoning and drying up of rivers and streams, which will have catastrophic effects on tens of thousands of people for whom these rivers are crucial lifelines in Kalahandi, one of the most drought prone regions of India.
The Global Campaign against Vedanta Resources plc is spread over several countries and includes over 150 solidarity groups, Grassroots movements, NGOs, activists, intellectuals, academics, students and professionals.
WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:-
1. Vedanta should IMMEDIATELY ABANDON PLANS for mining Bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa.
2. PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATIONS in the UK and in India into Vedanta’s operations in India and around the world.
3. Vedanta, a UK based company, MUST BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE for the social, environmental and health repercussions suffered by local communities around the world as a result of Vedanta’s callous mining activities. Those who have been affected and abused by Vedanta’s activities MUST BE ENABLED to seek justice in their home countries and/or in the UK.
4. Vedanta Ltd, Regulators, the UK Government and Governments of the mining enclaves MUST IMPLEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROLS on Vedanta’s operations.
5. Vedanta’s Shareholders and other investors must be MADE FULLY AWARE of the true nature of this mining company they are investing in so that they can make a better informed decision on whether to WITHDRAW THEIR INVESTMENTS from this criminally destructive mining company.
BACKGROUND TO WHY VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC MUST BE STOPPED
After a highly controversial legal case lasting 3 years at The Supreme Court of India, which witnessed some outrageous distortion of facts and a major miscarriage of justice, in April 2009 the Indian Government gave clearance to Vedanta to mine Bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa for the next 25 years. Vedanta plans to start mining Bauxite in October 2009 and aims to increase by 6 fold by 2011.
CRITICAL REASONS WHY WE MUST NOT LET VEDANTA COMMENCE MINING ACTIVITIES IN NIYAMGIRI and leave behind a trail of terrible ENVIRONMENTAL and HUMAN DEVASTATION includes the following:-
· Vedanta’s mining activities will have a catastrophic effect on the fragile Ecosystem of Orissa with over a thousand hectares of prime Evergreen ‘Reserve Forests’ being wiped out, rivers being poisoned, ground water levels falling. Already Vedanta’s Refinery, which has been built on tribal land in Lanjigarh, is critically polluting. Major rivers of Orissa, including River Bansadhara, has already been polluted at its source. Toxic wastes have ruined fertile agricultural lands, polluted air, contaminated drinking & bathing water, & caused severe illnesses in people & wildlife. Mining will compound these effects.
· Hundreds of the local indigenous population have been killed in work and road accident in and around this Refinery because of Vedanta’s criminal negligence. The Community has been violently split and is terrorised by thugs in Vedanta’s pay.
· Niyam Dongar is the most densely forested mountain in the Niyamgiri range. It is home to the ancient civilization of the Dongria Kondh tribe, who have preserved their sacred mountain, prevented deforestation, lived ecologically sustainable & self sufficient lives for centuries.
· Cultural Genocide is imminent with Mass Unemployment and Destitution as farmers, fishermen and forest dwellers will be displaced and abandoned in shanty-towns. Delicate social structure will be torn apart with the collapse of traditional Economic systems, Kinship system, Egalitarian power structures and Religious values. Already displacement and the invasion by an alien industry has led to a sharp rise in illegal liquor shops, fraudulent schemes, drunken violence, wife beatings, suicides, prostitution & serious fractures in the community. Cultural Genocide will also affect Majhi Kondh tribe and will culminate in the destruction of Niyam Dongar, the most sacred mountain of the Kondh tribe and their Lord of Law. The Kondhs perceive the mountains and the forests as their Gods. So their destruction is both an environmental and a cultural atrocity.
· These Bauxite-capped mountains are the reason for the region’s exceptional fertility and bio-diversity. Bauxite, which contains the Aluminium ore, soaks up rainwater, holds this water and releases it to numerous perennial streams and rivers, which are essential Lifelines in Kalahandi, one of the most drought prone regions of India. Removing this Bauxite will be catastrophic for the fragile ecosystem, endangered wildlife and for tens of thousands of people who rely on these rivers.
· If mining starts on Niyamgiri, at least 50 other major mountains are next in line! Already tribal people and ‘Dalits’ (Untouchables) have movements to protect Bapla Mali, Mali Parbat, Deo Mali, Gandhamardan and other mountains in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. BHPBilliton, Alcoa, Rio Tinto, Jindal & Dubai-based companies are poised to set up Bauxite mines.
· In Dec 2000 police opened fire on tribal campaigners, killing three at the Utkal project. While an Inquiry into the police firing was holding up this project Vedanta made its move, building its refinery before applying for permission to mine! Vedanta has repeatedly violated Government Pollution Guidelines, illegally occupied village land, criminally started construction work without Environmental Clearance, dumped toxic pollutants into rivers and cleared ‘Reserve Forest’ land despite valiant efforts by villagers to protect their forests.
· Mountains of North Orissa are some of the last pockets of wild elephants in Eastern India. These majestic animals are being threatened by the rampant mining. Magnificent wildlife, forests, some of the highest waterfalls in India and many tribal cultures are in serious danger of being wiped out forever.
WORLDWIDE REACTIONS & MOVEMENTS
· In early 2009, in a breathtakingly beautiful non-violent protest over 10,000 villagers and concerned citizens held hands to form a 17 kilometre human chain around the Niyamgiri hills.
· On July 9, 2009 Amnesty International stated that “The Indian Government should immediately withdraw the clearance granted to a massive mining project (Vedanta) that threatens the lives and livelihoods of a protected indigenous community living in the Niyamgiri hills.
· Vedanta has been blacklisted by the Norwegian Govt Pension Fund, with its pension fund investments divested in 2007 citing “serious malpractice and contraventions of environment norms and ethics by the Vedanta management in the past wherever they operate” and “human rights violation”. Procedural violations in procurement of environment and forest clearance for mining were cited. The Martin Currie Scottish Trust Fund also withdrew their £2.37m investment in Vedanta in July 2008 on grounds of “environmental and human rights violation.”
· The Orissa State Pollution Control Board has issued more than 3 notices to Vedanta for violating pollution norms at its Refinery and the CEC committee of the Indian Supreme Court submitted several reports highlighting irregularities and corruption in Vedanta and recommending that Environmental Clearance for mining activities should NOT be give. Both Vedanta’s parent company- Sterlite and Vedanta’s subsidiary MALCO have been charged in court with the criminal violation of Environmental laws, callous dumping of toxic wastes and illegal construction.
· Worldwide uproar followed Vedanta being awarded the ‘Golden Peacock Award’ by the World Environmental Foundation (WEF) in 2009. This same award was awarded to Satyam Computers in September 2008 before being withdrawn in January 2009 after senior management and the founder chairman were arrested for fraud. Various concerned citizens wrote a letter to the jurors of this ‘Golden Peacock Award’ voicing their concerns and exposing Vedanta’s activities. In reply the jurors dissociated themselves from Vedanta and said that the prize decision was made beforehand by one Mr Mehra. Mr Mehra is a highly dubious London based corporate guru of whom ‘The Observer’ released an article in May 2003 called ‘The Contradictions of Madhav Mehra’! Hundreds of organisations and individuals wrote to the jury of the ‘The Golden Peacock Award’ and demonstrations were held at the Award ceremony in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Such was the public anger that even the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and other Government officials refused to participate in this Award ceremony.
· In Vietnam, the tribal people of the Central Highlands are being invaded by the world’s top aluminium companies. General Vo Nguyen Giap – a war hero, now aged 97, who helped defeat the French and American invasions – is among a large group of the country’s leading citizens who are opposing this new invasion by mining companies. Scientists are prominent in the campaign. In Peru’s Amazon region opposition against oil extracting companies gained worldwide attention after a blockade by about 30,000 people was met by severe police violence on 5-6 June 2009, which killed at least 85 Indians. In Nigeria the assault on indigenous communities involved the outrageous ‘execution’ of writer and environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa, who was non-violently opposing multinational oil companies. In the Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Burma, Tibet etc mining, oil and logging companies are destroying forest simultaneously with the livelihood of the indigenous peoples. Scientists believe that Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico could be due to the horrendous pollution spread by the big meat companies. In Western Australia, Erin Brockovich, the famous Environmental lawyer is representing the local community against Aluminium giant Alcoa after an outbreak of respiratory illnesses.
· We need to understand that the Financial Crisis, Global Warming & Pandemics are linked to these exploitive industries, which pollute callously, devastate crops and arable land, destroys communities & cultures, leads to the loss of rare animals & medicinal plants, death of rivers, infliction of sickness and terminal diseases. All for the sake of a few greedy years of corporate profits. We need to join with the Grassroots movements in India, Vietnam, Peru and other countries in opposing these monstrously destructive corporations and in choosing genuinely sustainable development, which will be genuinely beneficial for the local communities and be ecologically sustainable for many generations to come.
CONTACT DETAILS:-
GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST VEDANTA,
Samarendra Das- sdasorisa@hotmail.co.uk, sdasorisa@rediffmail.com
Felix Padel- felixorisa@yahoo.com
Chanda Asani (Kashipur Solidarity Group)- chanda_asani@yahoo.co.uk
Sachin Masurkar (Kashipur Solidarity Group)- sachinam_sai@yahoo.co.in
Phone- (+ 91)9869324085
Agrotosh Mookerjee- whatculture@yahoo.co.uk
Phone- (+44) 07528435541
Miriam Rose- welliebird7@hotmail.co.uk
“On June 6th 2009, nearly a hundred activists converged on a piece of derelict land at Kew Bridge in south west London to create an eco-village community based entirely on sustainable technology and construction techniques.”
From the Eco Village facebook group
“On June 6th 2009, nearly a hundred activists converged on a piece of derelict land at Kew Bridge in south west London to create an eco-village community based entirely on sustainable technology and construction techniques.”
From the Eco Village facebook group
Last Saturday (the 13th of June) we went to check out the Kew Eco Village…we arrived and were welcomed in…some people had come to work and others to just check it out.
The site, about an acre, has apparently been empty for over two decades and used to house a Scottish Widows building. All that remains is a small out house and a large pile of rubble close to the entrance on Kew Bridge Road. We climed the mound which included large sheets of metal and an old pub sign (immediatly next door is a pub) to survey the site. Behind us was a caravan and a wood pile. Ahead towards the river and Bridge, is mostly like a medow with a plastic covered structure where people can relax and sosialise and behind that scattered tents amidst the meadow. To the right is the kitchen and washing up area (All water has to be bought from off-site) and the remaining concrete building that people seem to sleep in and is to be the ‘safe’ for food and tools and such-like. We elected to muck in and were put on road-building duty which included a disabled access ramp (slightly narrower than planned due to a surprise unidentified pipe).
We also dug some garden planters in using old beds. This included smashing down rocks and sifting rubble to make usable soil. Others were using rocks and bricks to outline other guardens. Locals came to chat, find out what was going on and to have a look around. Kids turned up to help and hang out and to decorate the shelter with graffitti. There were tons of bees also in the yellow wildflowers. We were offered food froom the kitchen and there was water and, of course, tea .
“Come, be a part of this eco-village community!
This eco-village occupation is inspired by campaigns like The Land is Ours which campaigns peacefully for access to the land, its resources, and the decision-making processes affecting them, for everyone, irrespective of race, gender or age. for more information, please visit:
We now have a media website – http://ecocamp.info/ Its in its early stages but check out the fantastic video episodes of our first few days!
Please post any seeds or postcards or anything you like to:
The Eco Village
2 Kew Bridge Rd
Brentford
TW8 0JF
telephone: 07967864370″
see also
Email Contact email: m@s-kollective.com
2nd July 2009
2nd July 2009
People gathered in London outside the Irish Embassy at 1pm yesterday to protest at the draconian jailing of 7 Shell to Sea protestors in Co. Mayo, Ireland. The 4 women and 2 men were arrested on Sunday June 28th for their part in the ongoing campaign against the construction of the Shell Corrib gas pipeline in Erris, Mayo. They were remanded on Mon June 29th to appear at court this Friday, 3rd July at 10.30am. Those being held on remand were all charged with minor public order offences (section 6: breach of the peace, section 8: refusing instructions of a guard and section 9: willful obstruction of a highway – 3 of them were arrested for simply walking across the road). None of these offences would usually result in someone being put on remand. We are concerned that the treatment of the protestors has been unjust for the following reasons;
– None of the protestors had previous convictions, yet they were refused normal bail conditions
– Judge Devins denied and/or deferred decisions on their kegal aid, although it was evident that some of the protestors are not able to afford their legal representation.
– Judge Devins has shown her disdain and bias against Shell to Sea protestors. Sending people to jail whose first offence is to be arrested for not obeying the directions of a guard is ridiculous and unprecedented.
We delivered a letter to the Irish Ambassador calling for him to ensure that the protestors are treated fairly, released from remand, and are allowed access to the legal aid to which they are entitled. It also expresses general concerns regarding the recent treatment of protestors by the Gardai and by the security that Shell have employed have employed to protect their gas project – Integrated Risk Management Services. I-RMS have been continually accused of using excessive force against the protestors. The letter also calls for a fair and thorough investigation into the recent allegations and for assurances that campaigners who are carrying out their democratic right to protest are treated fairly and their human rights upheld.
* The protest also hoped to raise awareness of events in Co. Mayo by holding banners and giving out leaflets asking people to support the seven on remand, and to make their protest against the actions of Shell and the Irish Government.
For further infomationa and updates: www.indymedia.ie and www.corribos.com
Email: info@corribos.com
Shell to Sea spokespersons: Ms Maura Harrington (T.087 9591474) an Mr Terrence Conway (T.086 0866264). Rossport Solidarity Camp media co-ordinator: Mr Niall Harnett (T. 086 8444966)
