London – Page 26 – Earth First!

Social Centre in Hackney Downs- London- is Calling for Support

Dear all
Social Centre in Hackney Downs is calling for support.
We have been squtting this place for 4 years. We have gone through lots and now that finally we could do something with this beautiful place we have to be evicted.The landlord wants to build new flats.
We are still going to do as much as we can.
The local community is also supporting us. The plan is to create a community centre, play centre, youth club, art centre.We are creating a coop with the neighbours.

But we need all the support from everyone who wants to help.

Ongoing Gallery – Call for Artistes
Planned is Film Night-Call for independent film makers- animators-short films
Children activities in the afternoons ending with show case of their work and final children party
Life drawing Class wed 25 March and week ends Open Classes everyone welcomed!
Flamenco Classes from 1-3 every week day
Critical Mass ending here with Film and sound system?cycles powered – ( To be confirmed)
Jumble sale to raise money for court case and future Community Centre organised by the neighbours
Cafe’- we need people to bake-cook-help
Open mike-
Call for Acoustic musicians- Chill out -djs-minimal electronica- anything that is not gonna be too loud!
Although we could have live bands during the day;;we will keep you informed!

Events from Friday 20 March – Eviction 3 April 11.45am
Assembly Rooms
8, Andre Street
E8 2AA

utopia.unknown@gmail.com
WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Attempted RampArt Eviction Under False Pretence

12 March 2009

12 March 2009
Earlier this morning there was a minor fire in the derelict part of the block on Rampart Street. After the fire had been put out, several men knocked on the door at RampARTS, claiming to be from the fire brigade. After they had gained entry under this false pretense, they were revealed to be agents of the owner of the building. The proceeded to call the police and evicted the person inside. Without bothering to ascertain that there were no more people in the house, they started to board up the building, placing security personnel at the doors. In the meantime some people managed to climb back into the building, carrying on with the successful occupation. About 30 people are outside and are asking for everyone to join them and show their support for this community.

The eviction comes 20 days before the G20 hits London, on a day were one of several related events was announced for rampART. The Social Centre had also announced to keep the doors open during the G20.

++ 15:00 ++

Security dragged on person out of house number 7 and beat him up. Police have withdrawn, but firebrigade is there.

People are still inside rampART, and are calling for support to defend it from being boarded up.

++ 16:00 ++

Eviction has been successfully prevented.

Securities are still next door, there are fewer people at rampART, and still calling for more people to come, as they want to retain a strong presence.

WE NEED MORE NUMBERS.

Ramparts has been an amazing community and political activity centre for a few years. There was an eviction order which ran out after the owner failed to act for 6 months. nevertheless, today’s events threaten to take Ramparts away once again, and for good. we need support NOW.

rampART
15 -17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA (near Whitechapel, off Commercial Rd)
rampart[at]mutualaid.org
07050 618445
rampART | rampART MySpace |

The Greening of Peter Mandelson & Hoon ‘hooned’ – arrrested update

6th March

6th March
Green custard was this morning thrown in the face of the Labour governments Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson by Plane Stupid activist Leila Deen. The former Northern Ireland Secretary was accosted moments after stepping out of his limo to attend a so-called ‘low-carbon’ summit in London. In full view of the assembled TV cameras he got a face full of custard and hurried inside. Leila then explained to the cameras that the action had been over Mandelsons unelected and undemocratic role in granting permission for Heathrows third runway on behalf of the business community.

Mandleson referred to the incident as an ‘adolescent protest’. He joked, “I suppose in a democracy people are entitled to have their say but I would rather people said it to my face rather than throw it. I am prepared to take my fair share of the green revolution on my shoulders but I am less keen on having it in my face.”

When interviewed later on the BBC Leila Deen described the move as a “last resort” after the democratic process failed. She said that Mandelson was an unelected politician and he was siding with the “interests of business” rather than the “interests of the people and the planet” in backing the new runway.

She justified the “direct action” as the best way of bringing about change, claiming she and others were excluded from the democratic process. “When democracy is failing you have to resort to any means necessary as long as it is peaceful and does not harm other human beings,” she said.

She continued, “Peter Mandelson is the same person who effectively bullied Ed Miliband and other members of the cabinet to accept a third runway that nobody wants, a third runway that no one was consulted on and no one is able to say no to. It’s not right that someone like Peter Mandelson can stand up and talk about being green.”

Leila Deen, 29, said:

“That such a clearly corrupt human being is still in government, despite being unelected, is an affront to democracy and a threat to any hope we have of stopping the impact that climate change is already beginning to have on our lives. We have a tiny window left to stop climate change. I want to tell my children that I did not stand back and applaud as Mandelson ruined our last chance.”

—-

March 5th 2009

Hoon ‘hooned’ in silly stunt

Geoff Hoon woke up yesterday and went out to give a speech to the Royal Society about the many solutions to aviation and climate change. The solution, of course, is to let everyone fly as much as they like, because technology would save us. Technology and the Emissions Trading Scheme, which, as he reminded his audience, is a real and effective cap on aviation emissions in Europe…

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

The Secretary of State was cut off in mid-flow, as a loud honking noise blared out across the room. Up popped a young woman who apologised for making a racket. She’d rather foolishly forgotten to turn off her lie detector horn, which had picked up on Hoon’s rather blatant fibbing. It wouldn’t happen again, she promised.

Of course it did; other people in the audience had brought their lie detectors and these kept sounding as Hoon tried to give his speech. If only, he thought to himself, I’d remembered to tell the truth, instead of a bunch of nonsense that sounded good when Flying Matters told it to me. Maybe these silly stunts have a purpose after all…

—-

Update: Leila Deen, Custard Queen, Arrested

8th March
London activist Leila Deen was arrested Saturday for throwing green custard over government minister Peter Mandelson on Friday to protest at his undemocratic involvement in the decision to Heathrow airport. She received a text message and phone call from the police to inform her she was to be arrested for common assault. After being interviewed she was released without charge, and bailed to return on the 9th of April.

Lelia had managed to avoid security outside the Royal Society on Friday morning where Mandleson he was due to attend a co-called ‘low-carbon’ summit in London. After Leila threw the custard over him, Mandleson rushed inside the building dripping with green goo. About five minutes later he returned to face the media with some hastily prepared damage control ‘wit’.

There is conflicting information on whether Mandelson had made a complaint or whether the police were obliged to investigate the incident without a formal complaint being made. Lelia said that the police had been told that they had to take action although Mandelson had apparently not made a formal complaint but some of the mainstream media reports suggested that Mandelson had now mad a complaint. Mandelson was also reported as saying he was surprised that his attacker “could just saunter off without being apprehended”.

Bank climate rush at RBS

5th March 2009
About 100 people gathered outside RBS this lunch time.

Environmental “Climate Rush” activists gather outside RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) to protest the pension pay out to Sir Fred Goodwin, former RBS Chief Executive, of 16 Million GBP.

The second event organised by Climate Rush in less than a week, around a hundred people gathered outside the RBS head offices near Liverpool Street Station, although a large percentage of those were press or others with cameras. The police were there to in great numbers guarding every door to the vast RBS building and plenty more in reserve in vans hidden away in the back street just in case. An uncomfortable mix of Met and City cops, they needn’t have worried as the hastily organised ‘rush’ had attracted only a small crew and the action turned into more of a picnic than an full frontal assault on the bank.

Despite being a climate rush event it did attract the local Whitechapel Anarchist, the Government of the Dead and Class War’s Ian Bone. So-called ‘FIT’ were there too to take some snaps and make voice inaccurate observations about people personal lives. Crowds of city workers took photos with their mobiles from vantage points on the opposite side of the road and RBS employees watched from the balconies inside their glass fortress.

Speeches where made (amplified over the tandem towed trailer sound system) and highlighted the how this bank which is now mostly owned by the tax payer continues to supply funding to industries complicit in climate crimes. Much was made of a certain wankers retirement pay-off and a cap was handed round to top up his pension should he choose to forgo his undeserved wind fall (the £8.27 collected was later given to a homeless person who seemed more in need). Also raised during the speeches was the mobilisations being planned around the G20 in April.

Many passers by enquired what was going on, at least one joined in. There were no arrests, no rush. Lots of cameras, little to shoot. Some food, some tea, little anger but a bit of dancing.

Final update: Climate Camp in London’s Square Mile, April 1 2009.

Final update at bottom of story – Because nature doesn’t do bailouts.

April 1 in the evening… the sun has gone down, the sky is clear and stars are on view… instead of going home we get firewood from our backpacks, make tea and coffee on rocket stoves and then, just as the hunger pangs start, jacket potatoes!

Yes, we are actually going to camp in the city…

The G20 meeting is coming up fast, as are our plans to shut down carbon markets and be camping in London’s Square Mile as the 20 heads of state arrive. Below we’ve included more information and the latest update.

You can check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 as we get closer to Financial and Fossil Fools Day — April 1st.

In the meantime, we all need to get the word out. Basically the success of the Camp in the City is a game of getting as many people as possible to the City on April 1.

**The callout can be forwarded to your friends and email lists- it is here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

**Invite your friends to the facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225

**Forward this update to your mates, any relevant lists you are on, and post it on websites.

**Hold a local group meeting to discuss the G20

**Download the postcard version for photocopying and get it out:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/files/G20PostcardB_4onA4.pdf

**Stickers and colour postcards are available — email g20 at climatecamp.org.uk to get them.

Below you’ll find:

1) THE CLIMATE CAMP IN 2009
2) PRACTICAL INFORMATION
3) INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND AUTONOMOUS GROUPS
4) CALL OUT FOR WORKSHOPS
5) CALL FOR LEGAL OBSERVERS
6) FOOD AT THE G20 CAMP, MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD GROUP
7) DETAILS OF NEXT MEETING — NOTTINGAM MARCH 7/8

This information is also available at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20-practicalities.

1) THE CLIMATE CAMP IN 2009

The Climate Camp new year national gathering made huge progress, conceiving a strategic decision to focus on the failed economic system, and developing four ambitious and exciting projects stemming from this. If you weren’t at the gathering, or haven’t yet had a chance to look over the decisions made, check them out: http://climatecamp.org.uk/?q=node/501

The most urgent project going ahead is “Climate Camp hits the City”, a one day and night camp in the square mile of London taking place on April 1st, the eve of the G20. Climate Camp has never organised an action at such a fast pace, and so everyone is encouraged to get networking locally across the UK to make Climate Camp first event of 2009 an enormous success! To find out more about the details of the G20, go to http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

2) PRACTICAL INFORMATION

CONVERGE. There will be a convergence centre from Saturday the 28th April, so you can go to the ‘Put People First’ march by the big NGO’s and Unions, and stay in London until the Wednesday 1st April, and camping in the City.
There will be plenty of work to do over those last days! See www.climatecamp.org.uk nearer the time for the exact location.

ARRIVE. Come for the day, or if possible come for the day and night! The adventure will begin at noon, April 1st, European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. More details nearer the time. For some background on carbon markets, and why we’re shutting down the exchange, visit http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20-why

LOOK AFTER EVERYONE. Although we hope to provide some food, and shelter for those who want to sleep, please try to arrive as self-sufficient as possible — when you are camping in the heart of the financial district, there are no guarantees that we’ll be able to have much infrastructure!
Bring water, warm clothes, a pop-up tent if you’ve got one, sleeping bag, and if you can, some blankets and tarp. Carrying your own food to share and water will also put less strain on our kitchen, and please arrive well fed.

TRANSFORM. We also want to transform the financial district, both symbolically and visually into a physical manifestation of our desired worlds. Doing that is up to all of us. We want our space to look beautiful. So come with your own plans, costumes, theater, entertainment and spectacle. Wind turbines, mobile cinemas, action plans — whatever you think you can pull off.

Let’s imagine another world or two or three….

3) INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND AUTONOMOUS GROUPS

If you are part of a Climate Camp neighbourhood, or would like to be part of one, contact your local group: http://climatecamp.org.uk/node/40.

If you are in a local group, give the Process Group (process@climatecamp.org.uk) your details for the Climate Camp website.

With an exciting process up and running again, people are hopefully looking to get involved. However, our Local Group page is out of date.

Therefore, if you are a local Climate Camp group (whether or not you were a neighbourhood at the Camp ’08), give us some text about the basic details (when and where you meet, contact details, a bit about yourselves) and we’ll get it on the website. We can also arrange for your local group to have an @climatecamp.org.uk email address.

If groups arrive sorted, that will put less strain on everyone. Think about how you would like to transform our space, and come with the materials you need to do so. We are also urging all groups to have back up plans and actions. There is no Planet B, but everyone should have a Plan B…

4) WORKSHOPS AT CLIMATE CAMP PART 1

The camp is looking for workshops for the day. We would love to hear from you if you can offer a workshop, especially (but not limited to) workshops on carbon trading, market solutions to climate change, and the economic crisis. We are also really keen to hear from you if you can offer music, street theatre or anything else which will make the day inspiring and educational!

Please let us know if you would be able to offer a workshop. Contact: at g20workshops at riseup.net

5) LEGAL OBSERVERS FOR CLIMATE CAMP PART 1

Want to be a trained legal observer? If so we really want lots of legal observation for the G20 camp on the 1st April. There will be a training event on 31st March. Remember we need people for both the 1st and 2nd of April. Email: legal at climatecamp.org.uk.

6) FOOD AT THE G20 CAMP, MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD GROUP

First. Bring plenty of fresh WATER; Bring Food; Bring a bog roll!; Bring bin liners to take away rubbish; bring a bowl, cup and fork.

Second. Do NOT bring propane bottles or sharp knives.

Third. If you can bring a Rocket Stove – it would be wonderful – it’s proper camping and visually cool.

Fourth. There is a food and kitchens group who will work hard in collaboration with local groups to pre-prepare SUPPLEMENTARY vegan food throughout the 24 hours of action — some in the location and in other places. This could include a light dinner on the 1st April and possibly hot breakfast on April 2nd. Donations of £2-3 per head will be requested to fund this provision.

Fifth. Join the food group and help to make and distribute food. Email tummyfiller at riseup.net

7) NEXT MEETING — NOTTINGAM MARCH 7/8

The next national Camp for Climate Action gathering is going to be in Nottingham, from the 7th to 8th of March. The Venue is the wonderful Sumac Centre, details of which can be found on their website at:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/welcome.html

The Gathering will run from 10.30am on the Saturday till 5pm on the Sunday, so get booking your trains and coaches. We’ll not only be discussion the G20, but also, other climate camp projects.

——

Update (25th March):

The G20 Swoop & crucial information for the Climate Camp in the City of London!

April 1st is only a week away! Below is the crucial information you will need for camping in the square mile during the G20.

Please forward this to your friends, any groups you are a part of, and post it on websites. Check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 for updates. Once again, our list goes to 11.

(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING
(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION
(3) THE MAP
(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS
(5) SLEEPING SPACE
(6) THINGS TO BRING
(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS & MEDIA
(8) LEGAL
(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH
(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH
(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING

To be successful, we must all arrive at the Climate Exchange at the same time. We must swoop in from different directions, using different means to arrive within a minute or two of each other. Its a good idea to meet up with your friends early, and somewhere within easy reach of the Climate Exchange. Then, at the appropriate moment, leave quickly, to arrive at exactly 12:30. You may even want to practice beforehand.

Be aware that in light of current over-policing tactics, if you miss the swoop, you may be unable to join the camp. In places where our numbers are too low, the police may attempt to stop and search individuals, and confiscate items to prevent us from setting up the camp safely. We can avoid this by moving confidently and together. The police may also attempt to surround people to prevent us from moving (sometimes called a “kettle”). Nearby tube stations, particularly Liverpool Station, as well as the Bank (where the G20-meltdown protest is occurring at noon), are possible locations where the police may try to kettle people. If you see a kettle forming and don’t want to be stuck for the day in one, move and help others move out of it before it closes.

You are likely to have greater freedom of movement if you’ve planned your swoop and know the area. Because things may change on the day, please take copies of our map with grid reference points, and have a person in your group subscribed to the text alerts.

(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION

Things may change on the day, perhaps significantly. There is a text message news service which will be available in advance and during the G20 Leaders meeting. We strongly recommend that people subscribe to it. It is possible, even likely, that the place that we finally set up camp will not be the Climate Exchange.

http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/text-updates

We also use Twitter http://twitter.co /ClimateCamp but please note that twitter does not reach mobile phone numbers and is now a web-service, so on the day this will only be useful for those with web-enabled phones or those with friends at home ready to call.

You may want to also exchange phone numbers with your friends and people in other groups so that our communication network is as decentralised as possible.

(3) THE MAP

A map of the city, with grid reference points will be released at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/map in the coming days. Please print copies for you and your friends. It will be used on the day when the text alert gives the location of the camp, or any other information throughout the day.

Various carbon off-set companies, carbon trading firms, greenwashing firms, and other climate-criminals will also be highlighted on the map. If the police prevent us from safely setting up the camp, groups are especially encouraged to do an action at one of these locations, or any other location they have researched. It can also aid communication between you and your mates. Losing your friends in a crowd really sucks!

(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS

From Thursday March 26th until Thursday April 2nd rampARTS will be a G20 infopoint, open to drop by from 2-10 pm. The Camp for Climate Action will have information there during this period.

On Saturday March 28th at 5 pm, and on Sunday March 29th at 2 pm, the camp will be serving tea and cake for those who want to meet up and share information, or make some banners and props.

On Tuesday March 31st at 7 pm, there will be a briefing at rampART, with a particular focus on new people who need information about the April 1st camp.

rampART is located at 15 -17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA (near Whitechapel, off Commercial Rd). rampart[at]mutualaid.org, 07050 618445
http://therampart.wordpress.com/location-contact/

(5) SLEEPING SPACE

If you are coming from out of town, places are available to stay! Please contact us early so that we can reserve you a place. Email iwanttocrashinasquatfortheg20@hushmail.com to let them know how many people will be staying, and the dates you need.

(6) THINGS TO BRING

If you’re staying for the full 24 hours, please check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/what-to-bring for what to bring.

(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS AND MEDIA

Are you planning an autonomous action and would you like to try and get media there as soon as it happens? You can chat to the climate camp media crew about it beforehand who can point the media your way, or can help you get your press release out. You don’t have to give them the details beforehand, but do get in touch with press@climatecamp.org.uk or call 07040 900905 to arrange something.

(8) LEGAL

Our legal team have prepared a handy crib sheet of information about your legal rights and what to do if something goes wrong. These will be handed out on the day, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get one before encountering the police, so we advise you to print a copy to bring along.
Check it out at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/legal

(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH

Workshops and music are on! Workshops will include: Trading our way into trouble, the Fossil Fuel Economy, A history of Direct Action, Techno fixes, Transition to a low carbon economy, the latest climate science from Copenhagen, Mobilising for Copenhagen, Debt and Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Copenhagen, Sustainable Activism, Samba, Poetry vs Climate Change … and more!

Check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/events for the latest schedule

We also need more musicians to play at the ceilidh. More musicians and sound systems are welcome!

(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH AND LEAFLETING

A Camp for Climate Action block for the Put People First March on Saturday the 28th of March will be meeting at 11 am outside Charing Cross National Rail Station, on the strand. We need help handing out leaflets during the march. 07534 598733 for more info.

(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

The only way we can win this is through a mass mobilisation of people. With a week to go we can still get people to join us for the camp. Talk to your friends and bring them along; change your status and profile picture on social networks, and invite your contacts to our facebook event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225 . On the day, make sure you let the people back home know how the camp is going, and how they can disseminate our message. If each of us brings someone along, we double our numbers and our strength.

——

Final update (31st March):

Hi campers, not long to go before we join each to set up camp in the city on April 1st! This is the final update, please read it carefully and forward it to all your friends who are coming…

WHAT TO BRING:

We hope many of us will be staying overnight, please bring a popup tent, food, 4 litres of water, warm clothes, hand cleaning gel (for hygiene, we might not get water) and whatever you might need for 24 hours of rebel camping adventure. (a full list is here http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/what-to-bring)

HOW TO DO IT:

1) SYNCHRONIZE YOUR WATCHES: It is important that we swoop at exactly the same time, and those arriving too late or too early might not make it in. You can use the speaking clock or this: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com

2) PLUG IN: Sign up to text messages here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/text-updates You will only get text messages if there is a change of plan.

3) PREPARE: Print out the map from http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/map and if you still need somewhere to sleep the night before check http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/sleepspace Remember that there may be limited toilet facilities so don’t arrive with bursting bowels !!!

3) SWOOP DOWN: Arrive at 62 Bishop’s Gate, the European Climate Exchange at 12:30 on the dot. Swoop swiftly and stealthily from a location of your choice. It might be good to avoid Bank and Liverpool Street stations where other protest groups are meeting at 11.00am as you may be unable to leave due to police Kettles (when police surround a crowd). Avoid kettles at all costs and if when you get to the Climate Exchange the police invite you into a protest pen, say “no thanks, we’ll camp elsewhere”, keep moving and wait for text messages.

4) SPREAD INSPIRATION: You can use your phone to send reports, pictures, audio etc from the streets to Indymedia. Its very easy – see http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/425262.html for numbers and details.

If you are covering the action using twitter, please include the hashtags #g20cc or both #g20 and #protest so we can pull tweets into one single feed of the event.

5) AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST – ENJOY: The next few days will be extraordinary days for extraordinary times…

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

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

PUBLIC ACTIONS

12 Noon

PUBLIC ACTIONS

12 Noon

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

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

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

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

RESOURCES

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

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

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

http://risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday2009

Climate Rush at UK Coal HQ & coal awards – Doncaster & London – and next one 5th March at RBS

Northern Climate Rush visit to UK coal headquarters

Around 15 climate activists from the North of England visited the headquarters of UK Coal near Doncaster yesterday, 26th February, in a protest against new coal and calling for tougher measures to control CO2 emissions.

Two people climbed up lamposts to suspend a 6m banner reading ‘Leave it in the Ground’, while on the ground below the protestors played a bit of samba, danced, and had a picnic. The protestors wore Edwardian themed dress including red sashes with the words ‘No New Coal’ written across them.

UK Coal is the UK’s largest coal company. The Doncaster protest was timed to coincide with the Climate Rush at the UK Coal Awards, hosted by UK coal, in London.

The police reaction was fairly low-key and non-obstructive, although they did take an awful lot of photos (I suppose they had nothing else to do). A van driver was hassled by cops, had his details checked and was told he was not insured to drive the vehicle (which was not the case).

—

Thursday 26th February 2009
PRESS RELEASE: Northern Climate Rush visits UK Coal headquarters

Climate activists from the North visited the headquarters of UK Coal near Doncaster today in a protest against new coal and calling for tougher measures to control CO2 emissions. The protest coincided with the ‘Climate Rush’ in London where people intended to gatecrash the Coal UK Conference and Awards 2009 at the Landmark Hotel in Regents Park. However, the London protesters arrived to find the Conference had moved venue at the last minute. Around 200 protesters in London occupied the lobby of the Landmark and dropped banners. They asked that the hotel to refrain from hosting any future events with fossil fuel industries such as UK Coal, to which the management agreed.

The protestors of both demonstrations wore Edwardian themed dress including red sashes with the words ‘No New Coal’ written across them. In Doncaster two female protesters scaled lamp-posts to hang a banner reading ‘Leave it in the ground’ across the entrance to the UK coal headquarters.

Coal is the dirtiest form of energy production yet the government has plans to expand the coal industry, including a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent. UK Coal are responsible for operating several open cast mines across the UK. Open cast coal mining is particularly damaging to the local environment since it involves scalping the landscape and typically provides an average of only 40 jobs per site, for a handful of years only.

Vanessa Hall, spokeswoman for the Northern Climate Rush said, “It is essential that we take climate change seriously and move away from dirty fossil fuels like coal. There is no way we can avoid runaway climate change if we continue to burn coal.”

Megan Beech, 24, said, “The coal industry talk about Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as the magic bullet that will allow us to keep burning coal. However CCS is as yet an unproven technology. You don’t start a fire on the promise that one day we”ll invent a fire extinguisher with which to put it out.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

This is the third major ‘Climate Rush’ event, following from the first in Parliament square in October 2008 on the centenary of the Suffragette rush on Parliament. Protesters demanded ‘Deeds Not Words’ on climate change, including an end to airport expansion and no new coal. The second was at Heathrow and Manchester airports to draw attention to the threat of aviation and climate change.

The Northern Climate Rush is made up of campaigners from Manchester, Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford and Liverpool.

www.climaterush.co.uk
www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com

———

Climate Rush hosted cocktail party for the coal industry outside of the Landmark Hotel on Marylebone Road, London.

Coal UK planed to presented celebratory awards to the most damaging companies in the coal industry. Climate Rush offered an alternative awards based on the ecological damage that the coal industry is inflicting on the environment.

However after several tries at rushing the hotel people discovered that the award dinner had been cancelled.

Brochure for the awards dinner:
http://conf.mccloskeycoal.com/journals/McCloskey/Conferences/Conferences/attachments/Coal%20UK%20Brochure%20web.pdf

Climate Rush calls for:

1. No new coal to avoid runaway climate change

Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, and by far the dirtiest way to produce electricity. We must leave coal in the ground and not build any new coal fired power stations if we want to avoid runaway climate change. CCS is an unproven technology that may never be a viable option. Climate change is happening now and we must act now to stop it.

2. We can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet

At this outdated and fossilized awards ceremony UK Coal is celebrating the worst excesses of our failing economic system. Just like overpaid bankers these heads of corporations are receiving plaudits for plundering the planet.

3. A transition to a low carbon society with sustainable jobs

We must counteract any jobs losses from the coal industry with a major re-skilling program in sustainable trades. Many more jobs will be created by a huge retrofitting program of old housing stock and in the new renewable energies sector than in new coal. The German clean energy revolution has seen the creation of 250,000 new jobs.

More photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/filkaler/tags/climaterush/

—

Landmark Decision Against Coal Industry
For immediate release: 26 February 2009

LANDMARK DECISION

A top class London hotel has vowed companies and organisations which contribute to climate chaos will no longer be welcome to use their facilities for corporate promotion and entertainment

The move follows a Climate Rush action on the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, where hundreds of protesters converged on Thursday to halt a coal industry awards ceremony.

Coal is acknowledged among scientists and climate change activists as the world’s worst contributor to climate change in the form of CO2 emissions.*

The coal industry under the banner of UK Coal were booked into the Landmark to host an awards ceremony with five star food and drink where they planned to hand out gongs for UK coal personality of the year and the best open cast miners among other categories.

Protesters dropped banners and staged a peaceful sit-in to speak out at the hotel’s support and the coal industry’s insistence of “business as usual” in the face of evident escalating climate chaos.

The Landmark’s landmark decision has been applauded by activists. “At Last! For too long profiteering from climate change has been sold to the public as a necessity of ‘business as usual’. But with global temperatures rising and climate chaos running riot in the form of drought (Africa and Australia) and flooding (low lying lands all over), we all need to work together.

“ We applaud the Landmark for their good sense and the vision to say ‘enough is enough’. They rightly don’t want to be associated with the corrupt system that needs overturning. We welcome the Landmark to play their role in the new way of doing things so needed.”

The Landmark now plans to deny companies such as the Royal Bank of Scotland (the biggest single investor in coal and oil industries) and oil companies, such as ESSO, BP and Shell, as well as the coal industry from using their ballrooms and banquet halls to promote their cause.

The hotel has also pledge to communicate with the 24 other five star hotels in its’ group to suggest they do the same.

Climate Rush has pledged to work with the Landmark Hotel to ensure the right companies are blocked, to send a clear message to polluters: they’re not welcome.

ENDS
Notes and footnotes to Editors

Coal is responsible for 50 % of the climate change gases in the atmosphere caused by human activity.

Climate Rush is a cutting edge movement of carbon cutting individuals who have seen the light and want to spread the word through their remit: Deeds not words, based on the clarion call of the suffragettes

For high quality photos and further comments please ring 075 2839 8441 or email media@climaterush.co.uk

For comments from the landmark hotel please ring Francis T Green 0207 631 8000

—

UK No New Coal Awards

Climate Rush is delighted to announce that it will be presenting the following “Canary in the Coalmine” awards:

Science Fiction award
goes to the most unbelievable technology not yet available to stop CO2 emissions, Carbon Capture and Storage.

Financial Fool award
goes to the Royal Bank of Scotland, for helping to raise $16 billion in loans to finance the worldwide coal industry over the past two years.

Lifetime Achievement award
goes to Drax coal fired power station, for the Greatest Emissions in the UK, equivalent to that of the 54 poorest countries in the world.

Best Supporting Role
goes to the biggest Climate Coward, Gordon Brown, for his useless leadership over Climate Change.

Best Newcomer
goes to the next likely “factory of death”, Kingsnorth coal fired power station in Kent.

and finally…

UK Coal Personality of the Year
goes to Paul Golby, CEO of energy company E.ON, for outstanding services to Greenwash (whilst plotting to build Kingsnorth)

——

CLIMATE RUSH: THURSDAY 5TH MARCH, 1PM, RBS HQ

GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK and STOP TRASHING THE PLANET

Royal Bank of Scotland: £33 billion in bail outs SO FAR!

Using OUR MONEY!

RBS boss 50-year-old Sir Fred: retires early with a whopping £16 million pension fund.

Using OUR MONEY!

OUR bank: arranges £16 billion in loans to the coal industry in just two years.

RBS: the BIGGEST investor in climate chaos.

FOR THE LOVE OF OUR MONEY, WHAT PLANET ARE THEY ON?

Grab your mates, bring some lunch and get down to the bank to demand OUR money back.

Royal Bank of Scotland HQ

Thursday 5th March

1.OOPM PROMPT: think flashmob…

280 Bishopsgate, near Liverpool Street Station

ANGRY? You better believe it: Let’s rush!

See what they’re saying about the RBS Climate Rush in the Guardian here

Facebook invite here: invite ALL your friends

Please help spread the word by downloading the poster as a pdf here to print out and stick up wherever you go!

Be sure to keep checking the site for updates… and don’t forget to subscribe and join our facebook group!

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 86, February 2009

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

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

——————
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
——————

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

——————
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
——————

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

———-

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

‘Official’ meetings on the Road to Copenhagen:

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

‘Official’ meetings on the Road to Copenhagen:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Old dates from this calendar:

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

21-22 February 2009
No Borders UK gathering, Bristol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 May-1 June
Rossport Solidarity Camp summer gathering

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

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

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

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

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

3-5 July
Forest Circus festival, Lappersfort, Belgium

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12-20 September 2009
Bristol Co-Mutiny

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

10-11 October
Workers’ Climate Action conference, London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26th Feb Climate Rushes – north and south

Northern Climate Rush – Rush on UK Coal!

Fresh from their Manchester Airport incursion, Northern Climate Rush is back, and we are paying a visit to the UK’s largest coal company! We will be travelling by minibus to the headquarters of UK Coal in Doncaster. Meet in front of the Manchester University Student Union building at 1pm on Thursday Feb 26. Dress in Edwardian fashion (if you so desire) and bring food to share, banners, and musical instruments.

WHAT IS NORTHERN CLIMATE RUSH?

It’s a group of intrepid activists who, taking inspiration from the suffragettes, use civil disobedience to bring about a transition to a low-carbon economy. We believe that, given government’s total failure to take meaningful action on climate change, a campaign of civil disobedience is necessary, and in fact it is the only responsible way forward, given that the fate of all future generations rests on the decisions that are made now and in the next couple of years.

Our sister group of Climate Rushers in the South will be paying a visit to a coal industry awards ceremony in London on the same day.

WHY UK COAL?

Coal companies such as UK Coal are actively standing in the way of the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy based on renewables. They invest in new coal mines, and by lobby government against the changes needed for a transition to alternatives.

HOW CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT COAL?

Various recent scientific reports* have shown how the UK could transition from fossil fuels, to a low-carbon economy. We would have to switch to renewable power sources (mainly wind and wave) and reduce our energy consumption by flying much less, by reducing the use of private cars by creating a vastly improved public transport system, by ensuring that within the next few years all UK homes and buildings are properly insulated, and by requiring all appliances to have the highest standard of energy efficiency.

WHAT ABOUT JOBS?

During the miners’ strikes of the 70’s and 80’s most coal mines in the UK were deep pit mines, which required hundreds of miners to work them. But now most of the coal that can be deep-mined has already been dug up, and new UK coal mines are open-cast – huge diggers are used to rip the top off a hill, and then coal is sifted from the rubble. It is tremendously destructive to local ecologies, and also employs far fewer workers.

By contrast the creation of new wind and wave-power infrastructure, a program of building insulation installation, and laying on more trains, trams and buses, would all create new, sustainable jobs. We are calling for government to provide training programs so that workers from fossil fuel industries which need to be phased out can move directly into positions in the new, sustainable industries.

It’s now or never time for the climate, join us!

All genders welcome.

* See for example:
– Nicolas Stern, “Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change”, http://www.occ.gov.uk/activities/stern.htm

– Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, “Decarbonising the UK”, http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/media/news/tyndall_decarbonising_the_uk.pdf

northernclimaterush@googlemail.com
http://www.northernclimaterush.wordpress.com

————-

UK Coal will be presenting celebratory awards to the most damaging companies in the coal industry on February 26th February at the Landmark Hotel on Marylebone Road, London. Climate Rush will be in attendance to offer alternative awards based on the ecological damage that the coal industry is inflicting on the environment.

We invite you to join us in your best cocktail finery (fabulous hats a recommendation, and sooty styling a suggestion) to show UK Coal precisely what “industry players can expect to challenge them in 2009.”

NO NEW COAL AWARDS

THURSDAY 26TH FEBRUARY

THE LANDMARK HOTEL
Dress formally for cocktails in the Winter Garden at 6.30 prompt.

WHAT CLIMATE RUSH SAYS TO THE UK COAL AWARDS

No new coal to avoid runaway climate change
Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, and by far the dirtiest way to produce electricity. We must leave coal in the ground and not build any new coal fired power stations if we want to avoid runaway climate change. CCS is an unproven technology that may never be a viable option. Climate change is happening now and we must act now to stop it.

We can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet
At this outdated and fossilized awards ceremony UK Coal is celebrating the worst excesses of our failing economic system. Just like overpaid bankers these heads of corporations are receiving plaudits for plundering the planet.

A transition to a low carbon society with sustainable jobs
We must counteract any jobs losses from the coal industry with a major re-skilling program in sustainable trades. Many more jobs will be created by a huge retrofitting program of old housing stock and in the new renewable energies sector than in new coal. The German clean energy revolution has seen the creation of 250,000 new jobs.

http://climaterush.co.uk/