London – Page 36 – Earth First!

Stuck for something to do!? Uninspired & lacklustre..? The all new singing dancing EF!AU is here to lift your spirits

As if putting the boot into the genetics industry, filling empty spaces with joy & creativity, and fooling the fossil-heads wasn’t enough, people have been busy washing lumps of coal and covering themselves with paint…we kid you not…all in aid of halting the trashing of the planet!

Parliaments have been climbed, airport terminals flash(mobb)ed, fields & various other sites occupied, building stormed & blockaded, pipelines blockaded & destroyed…

Parliaments have been climbed, airport terminals flash(mobb)ed, fields & various other sites occupied, building stormed & blockaded, pipelines blockaded & destroyed…

Throw into the mix ye oldie Reclaim the Streets, the tried and tested eeeeevil Mr/Ms Sabotage, the launch of a new campaign ‘Leave it in the Ground’, plus a summer-full of dates, new contacts list, it’s a wonder we’ve fitted in a brand new sexy EF! summer gathering poster (front & back). Download the latest EF!AU to share with others, subscribe or check out some past issues. The next issue will come out at the beginning of August.

And of course, this year’s EF! Summer Gathering (or follow the link to the left) is from Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008, if you want to plot & plan, and laugh & chat with old friends & new.

Phew, what a scorcher!

Save the Spike Surplus Scheme

The Spike Surplus Scheme in Peckham (London) is under threat from Southwark Council which has threatened to sell off the land. Please sign the petition and help to save the only free creative space in Peckham.

THE Spike Surplus Scheme is under serious threat, we need help.

For a decade we have provided a creative community space alongside a community garden and dojo to aid the community’s well-being. Throughout the years a full range of musical and creative talent has passed through our doors from puppet shows to Manu Chao. [Hundreds of exciting local musician have used Spike facilities, raising their profiles through our services including advice and product. Spike has facilitated bands and other users on their roads to success. Courses are free and open to all.]

Please have a look at/sign the “Save The Spike Surplus Scheme” petition and forward to as many mates as possible.

please sign/forward petition at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/paulk/

Together we can move forward

check out website
www.spikesurplus.org

or look us up under Peckham (history section) in wikipedia

or myspace
myspace.com/spikesurplus

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 79, MAY 2008

CONTENTS:

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LONDON, 10-11.5.08
2) SAVING ICELAND IN WALES AND SCOTLAND – 7th & 9th MAY ‘08
3) TURNING UP THE HEAT – LONDON, CARDIFF, MANCHESTER & ONLINE, 8/10/13.5.08
4) BIG BLETHER 6 – GLASGOW, 9-11.5.08

CONTENTS:

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) ‘MAYDAY! MAYDAY! INVASION OF THE CLIMATE SNATCHERS’ – INTERNATIONAL, 1.5.08
2) M1 PUBLIC NUISANCE CASE DISMISSED – SHEFFIELD, 1.5.08
3) BANK OF AMERICA, DIRTY COAL PROTEST – CHARLOTTE (USA), 23.4.08
4) GREENWASH GUERILLAS PIE FRIEDMAN – NEW YORK, 21.4.08
5) ECO-RELATED ARSON IN GREECE – 21.4.08
6) KOORAGANG COMMUNITY WALK-IN – AUSTRALIA, 19.4.08
7) BELGIAN AGRO-GIANT BLOCKADE – 17.4.08
8) TARA UPDATES – IRELAND, APRIL 08
9) BIOFOOLS DAY – NATIONWIDE, 15.4.08
10) PLANE STUPID TAKE TO THE ROOF – EDINBURGH, 14.4.08
11) BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL! – TASMANIA, 14.4.08
12) COLLEGE GROVE UPDATES – AUSTRALIA, APRIL ‘08
13) CHEVRON TOXICO GOLDMAN AWARD – SAN FRANCISCO, 13.4.08
14) SUBVERTISING – NEW GROUP, APRIL ‘08
15) CARBON DETOX – NEW BOOK, APRIL ‘08
16) BRING CLIMATE CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE – WEBSITE, APRIL ‘08
17) PROTEST WATCH – WEBSITE, APRIL ‘08
18) AIRPORTWATCH BULLETIN – APRIL ‘08
19) THE BATH BOMB – APRIL ‘08
20) LONDON CRITICAL MASS, 14TH ANNIVERSARY – APRIL 08

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LONDON, 10-11.5.08
Greenpeace HQ, Canonbury Villas, London, N1 2PN. 10am-6pm.
This summer the Camp for Climate Action will pitch its tents outside Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent for a week of education, sustainable living and direct action. Everyone is invited to the camp, which is now part of an international movement, with eight climate camps on four continents planned for this summer. Together, we will show that the blind pursuit of economic growth at any cost is simply insane, and is
to blame for the CO2 emissions and ecosystem destruction that are causing catastrophic climate change. Come to the gathering and get involved!
www.climatecamp.org.uk

2) SAVING ICELAND IN WALES AND SCOTLAND – 7th & 9th MAY 08
Aluminium smelting, even when powered by geothermal energy, emits so much greenhouse gas emissions that Iceland now produces 18 tons of CO2 equivalent per capita, compared to the European average of 11. May 7th at 8pm – Saving Iceland will give a presentation of these issues at The Treehouse, Baker St. Aberystwyth, and will describe the international direct action campaign and plans for this summer’s camp in July. (There will be a number of vehicles going from the UK to the camp.) Come and see some of the most stunning places of beauty on earth, and help protect them with direct action!
May 9th – Vegan banquet with live music, bar and raffle! The Banquet starts at 7pm at Old St Pauls Hall, Edinburgh. £5 (unwaged / low income) and £7 (waged). All profit will go to funding the Scottish Saving Iceland Collective.
Email; savingicelandscotland@riseup.net to reserve your tickets!
More info; http://www.savingiceland.org.

3) TURNING UP THE HEAT – LONDON, CARDIFF, MANCHESTER and ONLINE, 8/10/13.5.08
Can big business save the planet? A series of interactive debates on climate change and corporate power. Attend the live events or watch online!
Thursday 8 May – Can the free market stop climate change? 7:30-9:30pm at Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre 17-25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA.
10.5.08 – ‘Will biofuels help combat climate change?’ 2:30-4:30pm Cardiff University, Main Building, Shandon Theatre, Park Place CF10 3AT.
13.5.08 – ‘Does climate change mean we should restrict aviation & tourism?’ 7:30-9:30pm, Manchester Convention Centre, Cockcroft Theatre, Sackville Street M1 3BB.
To book your free place and to register to watch online please go to http://www.wdm.org.uk/heat or call 020 7820 4900 for more information.

4) BIG BLETHER 6 – GLASGOW, 9-11.5.08
Talamh Life Centre, Near Glasgow.
BB is a meeting place for activists to bring and share ideas, information and enthusiasm and to create action out of inspiration. Everyone is welcome to participate and contribute – big or small. There will be workshops on Saturday and Sunday, including everything from climate change issues, creative campaigning and transition towns to nuclear resistance, yoga and woodland crafts. BB is a non-profit organisation and entrance will be by donation. www.bigblether.org.uk

5) CLIMATE CAMP SPEAKERS’ TRAINING – MANCHESTER, 17.5.08
If you would like to talk to people about the Climate Camp and help inspire hundreds of people to come this year, then this training is for you. The networking team in conjunction with COIN (http://coinet.org.uk/) and TRAPESE (http://trapese.clearerchannel.org/) have designed a short presentation/ workshop that anyone can give to groups interested in coming to the camp.
10:30 till 5:30pm.
Contact; speakers@climatecamp.org.uk to book your place.

6) MAKE A NOISE! – LONDON, 31.5.08
An agenda for colossal airport expansion and colossal climate change demands a colossal response. You’re invited to a carnival on Saturday 31st May, which will make its way from Hatton Cross Tube Station (Piccadilly Line, 12pm) to Sipson, the village that will be wiped out if Heathrow expansion goes ahead. At the end, you’ll have the chance to help form a great big NO! spelt out by human bodies. Organisers hope to set a new world record for the biggest and loudest NO! in the world.
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/make-a-noise-20080408

7) CLIMATE ACTION WITH A BITE! – NATIONAL, 3.6.08
The food we eat contributes up to a third of the emissions poisoning the planet. It’s time for a detox! Climate action starts on your dinner plate, at the supermarket, on your allotment and in your back yard, at the food distribution centres, down on the farm, in your high street, at the airport and the lorry park. Whatever your tastes, there’s something for everyone on this action menu! Local food markets, free food stalls, workshops and film showings, street theatre, info stalls, protests and direct action, cooking demonstrations, allotment shows. Get creative and get involved!
This Day of Action on Climate Change has been called by the Network for Climate Action in co-operation with the Rising Tide Network and the Camp for Climate Action. It has been planned to coincide with The UN Conference on World Food Security and Climate Change, which runs from 3rd to 5th June.
Please email; foodNO@SPAMdaysofclimateaction.org.uk for further info.

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) ‘MAYDAY! MAYDAY! INVASION OF THE CLIMATE SNATCHERS’ – INTERNATIONAL,
1.5.08
This day of action targeted false capitalist solutions to climate chaos.
There were actions in Europe and Canada:
Leamington Rising Tide visited the E.on headquarters in Coventry to expose the truth behind its greenwash and show that carbon capture is a false solution to the problem of climate change. People arrived at 8am to hand fliers to the workers, while one protester occupied the roof of the building. The day was a great success with a festive vibe and no arrests. Norwich Rising Tide got together with Earth First for a Critical Mass to Sizewell nuclear power station to highlight that nuclear is not a solution to climate change. In London, The Coal Cleaning Company launched their enterprise with E.on; according to the chatty cleaners, “There’s no mess too big! We make coal Fossil Fuel Fresh!” In York people from groups across the city and both Universities took part in a banner protest outside Royal Bank of Scotland’s central branch in the city. Leaflets were handed out summarising RBS’s climate crimes. Meanwhile, members of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front joined forces to carry out an action against unnecessary urban development in the south-west. A JCB and other vehicles were damaged on a road construction site.
Greenwash flyers were handed out at the Green Living Show in Toronto Canada, while in Paris “Biofuel=Danger” was chalked on the side of the French Agricultural Research institute.
http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/276

2) M1 PUBLIC NUISANCE CASE DISMISSED – SHEFFIELD, 1.5.08
Seven climate camp activists opposed to the widening of the M1 had the case against them dismissed from Sheffield Crown Court. The Judge resoundingly rejected the prosecution’s argument that the hanging of banners over the motorway could constitute a public nuisance.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20611

3) BANK OF AMERICA, DIRTY COAL PROTEST – CHARLOTTE (USA), 23.4.08
Activists with Asheville Rising Tide, Rainforest Action Network, and Croatan Earth First! hit the streets of Charlotte to protest at Bank of America’s annual shareholders meeting. Bank of America has seen an escalating level of protest in the past year for its funding of the coal industry.
http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/2008/04/23/asheville-rising-tide-confronts-bank-of-america-shareholders/

4) GREENWASH GUERILLAS PIE FRIEDMAN – NEW YORK, 21.4.08
Thomas Friedman, the author and NY Times columnist, was invited to Brown University to give a keynote speech on Earth Day, before a packed auditorium. His talk about how corporate environmentalism can restore America to its “natural place in the global order” was interrupted with a surprise visit from the Greenwash Guerrillas. After splattering him with two green cream pies they threw leaflets to the crowd explaining their action.
http://greenwashguerrillas.wordpress.com/
http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/2008/04/22/greenwash-guerrillas-pie-thomas-friedman-on-earth-day/

5) ECO-RELATED ARSON IN GREECE – 21.4.08
Eco-related arson against the ministry of development offices in Athens was carried out in protest against the plans to build new power plants using coal. “When capitalism is self-declared environment friendly, it is only to measure and manage the symptoms of the crisis it produced itself.”
http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/

6) KOORAGANG COMMUNITY WALK-IN – AUSTRALIA, 19.4.08
A crowd of around 50 protesters walked onto the construction site for a new coal terminal on Kooragang Island in Newcastle. They stopped work at the site in protest against the expansion of the coal industry and its contribution to climate change. Georgina Woods, spokesperson for Rising Tide Newcastle said, “Historically, ordinary people have achieved extraordinary things by taking direct action to prevent immoral or
unsupportable actions…Many of us here today have never done anything like this before, but we are doing it now, because we may not get another chance.” 16 of the protesters were arrested and charged with trespass. More community direct action against coal exports will take place in July this year.
http://www.risingtide.org.au/communitywalkin

7) BELGIAN AGRO-GIANT BLOCKADE – 17.4.08
In Belguim thirty activists blocked the gates of the Cargill factory in Ghent.
This action was taken to highlight the agro-giant’s involvement in everything from biofuels to soy monoculture, GMO to pesticides…The action began at around 6h30 in the morning and lasted until after 5 p.m. During all that time, not one truck with soy could enter or leave the firm.
http://www.aseed.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=552&Itemid=211

8) TARA UPDATES – IRELAND, APRIL 08
On Thursday 17th April there was a peaceful eviction of the Rath Lugh Camp. Four Protectors who were on site were told by Gardai that they had to gather up their belongings and leave. This was not done in an aggressive manner and was complied with by the Protectors.
http://www.tarapixie.net/
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20557
Tara trip report – A group from Brighton went over to Ireland recently to support the Irish protesters attempts to halt the work on the M3 Motorway.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20502

9) BIOFOOLS DAY – NATIONWIDE, 15.4.08
From April 15th, all petrol forecourts will be required by law to sell only fuel which is blended with 2.5% agrofuel. Corporations like Tesco are already jumping on the new “green” bandwagon, speaking little of the greater emissions, displacement, poverty and hunger that will be left in its path. The only answer to the energy crisis is a big shift in the way in which we live, travel and eat.
Nationwide protest included; Aberdeen, Bolton, Cheltenham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich and hundreds outside Downing Street in London.
Bristol Rising Tide and Espacio Bristol-Colombia were joined by others to inform the public about this issue at Tesco in Eastville, Bristol. A group of biofuel activists made a colourful banner and flyer tour of Brighton city centre and Sussex University. Agro-fuels protesters disabled the fuel pumps of two BP filling stations in Edinburgh. Also in Scotland, five members of the Edinburgh Clown Army were detained for questioning at a peaceful and entertaining biofuels protest in Bruntsfield, and in Glasgow a biofool banner was hung.
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20546

10) PLANE STUPID TAKES TO THE ROOF – EDINBURGH, 14.4.08
Two environmental activists from the climate action group, Plane Stupid Scotland, climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to protest against plans for expansion of Scottish airports. They unfurled a large banner which carried a parody of the Trainspotting design, “Choose Life.” The banner read, “Plane Stopping: Choose the future. Say no to airport expansion.”
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/plane-stupid-scotland-occupy-roof-scottish-parliament

11) BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL! – TASMANIA, 14.4.08
Activists from Still Wild Still Threatened have welcomed a 6 metre tall Peter Garrett (MP and singer from Midnight Oil) to the Upper Florentine Valley. Activists took the ‘giant Garrett’ on a tour of coupe FO42F which is due to be burnt in the immediate future to highlight their concerns about the continued logging and burning of some of Tasmania’s most carbon dense forests.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20536

12) COLLEGE GROVE UPDATES – AUSTRALIA, APRIL 08
29 April 2008 – Activists have set up a new camp in the College Grove forest area that is due to be destroyed in the next stage of development.
http://www.globalwarmingfg.com/
14 April 2008 – College Grove protesters stop machines for the day:
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20535
10 April – Police Violence at treesit action in College Grove, Bunbury, Australia. Two activists were arrested with one taken to hospital after a forceful and violent push by WA Police. A spokes for the Community Independent Activists (CIA) group says it was the “most violent display by police in 15 years of forest activism.”
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20531

13) CHEVRON TOXICO GOLDMAN AWARD – SAN FRANCISCO, 13.4.08
Two campaigners who have spearheaded a landmark class-action lawsuit against Chevron in Ecuador have been awarded the Goldman Prize, the world’s most prestigious environmental honor, for their efforts to make the company clean up what experts believe is the world’s worst oil-related disaster. The Goldman Prize Comes two weeks after these damages were estimated at up to $16 Billion. Chevron Toxico is the international campaign to hold ChevronTexaco accountable for its toxic contamination of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
http://www.amazonwatch.org/

14) SUBVERTISING – NEW GROUP, APRIL ‘08
A new group want to set up a climate-focused national subvertising network where everyone has a role and where people are well supported. If you would like to get involved, see http://www.myspace.com/subvertising

15) CARBON DETOX – NEW BOOK, APRIL ‘08
A new book by George Marshall of COIN. Mark Lynas,author of Six Degrees, says:
“Buy this book and thrust it into the hands of someone who still doesn’t believe in the climate crisis. No other book goes further in addressing people’s denial and their resistance to change.”
http://www.carbondetox.org/

16) BRING CLIMATE CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE – WEBSITE, APRIL ‘08
A campaign to establish a legal process in the UK and abroad to facilitate the criminal prosecution of Government Ministers and key business leaders whose policies and activities contribute to the mass loss of life which climate change is certain to now cause.
www.climatecriminals.co.uk

17) PROTEST WATCH – WEBSITE, APRIL ‘08
A new site which aims to become a comprehensive resource for anybody interested in actively protesting in the UK.
http://www.protestwatch.org.uk/

18) AIRPORTWATCH BULLETIN – APRIL ‘08
AirportWatch updates for April. See;
http://www.aef.org.uk/downloads//AirportWatch_bulletin_April2008.pdf

19) ‘THE BATH BOMB’ – APRIL 08
Anti-copyright: copy and distribute! Issue #9 free/donation. See;
http://www.myspace.com/bathbomb

20) LONDON CRITICAL MASS, 14TH ANNIVERSARY – APRIL ‘08
For ride reports/info. see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20584
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/main.html

———-

Please send anything you’d like included in this news sheet to:
newssheet@risingtide.org.uk

To view previous editions of the Rising Tide News Sheet, visit the News Sheet Archive at http://risingtide.org.uk/newssheet

This News Sheet was brought to you by Rising Tide, a grassroots network of groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.

For more information…
email: info@risingtide.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0)845 458 8923 / +44 (0)7708 794665
Address: 62 Fieldgate St, London, E1 1ES
Web site: http://risingtide.org.uk

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND AND INVITE THEM TO JOIN THE LIST

Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK: info at risingtide.org.uk
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with the subject line ‘subscribe’ (without the quotes).

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit:
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London InterACTIVE diners club / radical assembly – 14th May

This week sees the second Interactive Diners Club, an initiative relaunched for the 21st century. Those who experienced the original pre Criminal Justice Act Interactive Diners Clubs in the early nineties, the RTS meetings of the mid 90’s, or the late 90’s London Underground meetings etc. will know what kind of thing to expect. The idea is to inspire and re-energise each other, form new links, strengthen old alliances, share skills and resources, raise awareness and get people involved.

This is a social and networking event for activists and campaigners in London (or beyond). It’s an opportunity to network with other activists, speak about campaigns you are involved in and learn about other projects taking place. It takes the form of a go-round where everybody present gets to introduce themselves and the campaigns or projects they are involved in. Food is then served and everyone gets to chat, plot and conspire.

It takes place on WED 14TH MAY, 7pm at the new squatted social centre in Shoreditch. The address is 6 Bowl Court, off Plough Yard which is next to the Drunken Monkey at the junction of Great Eastern Street and Shoreditch High Street. Nearest tubes are Old Street and Liverpool Street.

Please bring (vegan) food to share along with leaflets, flyers, posters etc for upcoming events.

It is hoped that these assemblies will happen every month at different autonomous spaces around London. Please network this widely to make it happen.

Date: 14th May 2008
Time: 7pm
Address: 6 Bowl Court, EC2A 3LJ
Tubes: Old St or Liverpool St

Sucessful street party, London [& videos]

1.05.2008
The Space Hijackers Mayday street party is being held in Shepherd Market, Mayfair.

Lots of fun had by all despite heavy police presence. Several sound systems. Dancing. Acting. Boozing. Maypole.

Although the police surrounded the revellers in Shepherd Market they didn’t stop individuals coming and going and I didn’t see any arrests.

—-

Original call-out:

Mayday Meeting Point – 1708 revisited

Come and join us for a celebration and re-enactment of the state’s oppression of the traditional May Fayre in Mayfair. A collaboration between Space Hijackers and The Metropolitan Police Players….

MAYDAY MEETING POINTS

1) Space Hijackers, Peasants, Aristocracy, Performers, Merchants, Peddlers, Strumpets and Virgins Meet in Green Park by Green Park tube, we will then head off to the May Fayre at 2:03pm promptly

2) Metropolitan Police, Fools, Soldiers and Vagabonds Meet outside Bond Street tube station, we will then head off to the May Fayre at 2:34 promptly

Please note it is very important you do not join the wrong meeting point, otherwise you will look like a total fool!

Call this number for live updates of where we will be – 07513335777

Things to bring:

Musical Instruments, Corsets, Hay, Farm Animals, Food to share, Drinks, Manure, Stocks, Maypoles, Venetian Masks, Mummers, Police, Flags, Revolutionary Fervour, Barricades, Mead, Babies and Royalty

x x x x x

Mayday 2008 is the 300th anniversary of the last free Mayday before the Grand Jury suppression of the traditional May Fayre in central London; a riotous, raucous celebration of fertility and freedom. From the 1st of May each year, and for up to two weeks afterwards, the people stopped working, rejected their normal routines then danced, drank, laughed and made love in the streets, jeering at the controlling figures of the Church and State, and turning everything they could upside down.

It was known as such “a nursery of vice and debauchery”, that after 1708 the authorities, having had enough of this dangerous freedom and subversion, shut it down. Although there were some attempts at reviving it, the creeping spectre of gentrification made sure it couldn’t continue, as the area of the fayre was gradually built over with palaces and playgrounds for the rich.

To commemorate this significant anniversary, and the still thriving tradition of over the top state control, the Space Hijackers and the Metropolitan Police proudly present a collaborative re-enactment of the end of this traditional May Fayre. Our modern-day interpretation of the cycle of uprising and suppression is in keeping with the attempted repression of parties, protests and gatherings enacted by the state throughout the ages.

In act one, the Space Hijackers will be inviting people to join a mayday street party in it’s traditional home, with music, bands, food and revelry. This will be later followed by the Metropolitan Police Players, who will be re-enacting a classic clamping down on civil liberties and freedom of the people.

All are welcome to this celebration, bring food, bands, mead, rum, codpieces, bales of hay, 18th century prostitutes, music, laughter, wonky teeth, corsets, bustles, spit roasts and virgins dancing around poles.

The exact location of the fayre is still a closely guarded secret, however it will be revealed closer to the date here on our website.

STUFF YOU SHOULD TO KNOW

COSTUME IDEAS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1700-1750_in_fashion

http://www.marquise.de/en/1700/pics/1700a.shtml

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/round/18th_century_men/formal_wool/index.html

http://www.freewebs.com/fashionmuseum/1700.htm

MAYDAY HISTORY:

http://libcom.org/library/a-history-of-mayday

http://www.urban75.org/mayday02/history.html

http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/grub/mayfair.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/news/may/mayday/mayday_history.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robin_Goodfellow

—

http://www.spacehijackers.org

—

Watch this video or this one.

Mayday Mayday: Invasion of the climate snatchers…: day of climate action [updated again; video added]

1.5.2008
London: at 07.45 this morning E.ON offices on Pall Mall were targeted by the new upstart Coal Cleaning Company as part of a nationally co-ordinated Day of Climate Action against False Capitalist Solutions.

FOR ONSITE INTERVIEWS AND UPDATES CONTACT : 07790 430 620

The Coal Cleaning Company launched their enterprise with E.ON as their first customer. According to the chatty cleaners, “There’s no mess too big! We make coal Fossil Fuel Fresh ™”.

The climate activists targeted E.ON for their promotion of ‘false capitalist solutions’ to climate change. E.ON is exploiting the idea of a future Carbon Capture and Storage system to justify building a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth – where the utopia of low-impact living // education // high-impact direct action that is the Climate Camp will spring up this August.

CCS requires up to 40% more coal per unit of electricity than coal generation without CCS. So more coal needs to be burnt; increasing the overall pollution caused. It also neglects to address the wider problems of over consumption or deal with coal’s other social and environmental impacts.

The Coal Cleaning Company can be contacted on 07790 430 620 for onsite interviews and updates.

www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk 07880 937511 for national updates

www.climatecamp.org.uk

Video: Coal Cleaners at E.ON – video/mp4 29M
=========

RBS Banner Protest in York

People from groups across the city and both Universities took part in a banner protest outside Royal Bank of Scotland’s central branch in the city. Leaflets were handed out sumarising RBS’s climate crimes.

If the action was unimpressive in and of itself, then the fact we’ve finally broken the inertia around actions in York was probably a success in itself. The rain managed to hold off (only just) and even the passing cops had nothing whatsoever to say on the matter.

The action was held today because, well, its Mayday and its the day of action against False Capitalist Solutions, of which investment in new oil is perhaps the dimmest idea of the lot!

=========

Green Living show Inspected in Canada

Green Living show inspected and greenwash flyers handed out yesterday in Toronto Canada.

For pictures of the stalls on display with greenwash stickers, visit here

=========

Urban development sabotaged

The Earth and its inhabitants are being raped of their natural resources by the Corporate-State Complex. This is why for the Day of Climate Action we sabotaged this smooth operation in the early hours of April XX

Members of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front joined forces to carry out an action against unnecessary urban development in the south-west. Ecoteurs broke into the construction site that is building yet another bridge for the transport of motorized vehicles. A 4×4 was found, paintstripped, all sides completely scarred, tyres damaged, whilst a truck and JCB had logos removed and sides stripped. The flawed concept of “building our way out of congestion” will no longer be tolerated at the expense of the rivers wildlife and £8 million of tax payers money spent on this project.

No Compromise in Defence of Mother Earth.

=========

INRA – French agricultural research – chalked about biofuels

The words AGRO-CARBURANTS = DANGER were chalked on the side of the French Agricultural Research institute, as were various cars throughout Paris.

=========

Sizewell Mayday Critical Mass

In support of the Mayday Climate Action Day, some people from Rising Tide and Earth First got together this Saturday for a Critical Mass to Sizewell nuclear power station to highlight that nuclear is not a solution to climate change.

We turned up at the meeting point – a train station in the tiny Suffolk village of Saxmundham – to be greeted by 15 police officers including some FIT from London. As we set out on a lovely sunny ride through the countryside, the extent of the over-the-top police operation became clear as we passed several unmarked cars full of FIT photographers, the entrance to Sizewell guarded by another twenty cops, and a further ten congregated at our end-point on Sizewell beach. All told we reckon there were fifty cops on hand to police our fun family day out to Sizewell. It was a great critical mass, a good time was had by all, and the local press seemed as bemused as we were by the ridiculousness of the police operation. Wonder if there are any red faces in police intelligence this weekend?

Why Sizewell on Mayday weekend?
This demo was part of a national weekend of action against false solutions to climate change. As climate change rises up the political agenda, a huge number of techno-fixes are forming a new economic sector: from biofuels to nuclear power, carbon-trading to hydrogen fuel cells, dumping urine in the ocean to carbon capture and storage. Everywhere corporations are seeking the elusive elixir which allows us to continue business as usual. All of these technologies are a distraction from the real solutions: a massive reduction in our consumption and the end to economic growth.

Let’s challenge these false solutions to climate chaos and show the real solution: far-reaching social change.

http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk

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On May 1st, Leamington Rising Tide visited the E.on headquarters at Westwood Business Park in Coventry to expose the truth behind E.on’s greenwash and show that carbon capture is a false solution to the problem of climate change.

E.on are planning to build a £1.5 bn extension to their coal fired plant in Kingsnorth. They justify this on the grounds that it will be ‘carbon capture ready’ even though the technology for carbon capture has yet to be invented and even when it does exist it will emit more pollutants trying to capture and store the carbon than if they just left the emissions unchecked. To protest against this, Leamington Rising Tide arrived at 8am to hand fliers to the workers.

Banners were erected reading “POLLUTE.ON NO MORE GREEN WASH”. There was juggling and a picnic outside the doors of the building as the protestors waited for a march of students from Warwick University People and Planet to arrive at 1.30. The marchers came with a replica model of the coal power station and a game of ‘catch the carbon’ with balloons and nets. The protesters gathered outside the building and then the sign outside was painted green to symbolise the e.ons greenwash and one protester occupied the roof of the building. The day was a great success with a positive, festive vibe and no arrests.

London Critical Mass 14th Anniversary ride

Early in the ride police blocked the front at traffic lights and prevented movement, even when the lights were green.

Early in the ride police blocked the front at traffic lights and prevented movement, even when the lights were green. This is a familiar tactic which is done to compress the ride into as small a space as possible, with officers and a van at the back hassling stragglers to keep up, which slows things down and holds up traffic as well as making cycling difficult.

Several riders deep managed to completely encircled Parliament Square and perform at least three or four circuits before police put a stop to it and diverted the ride into Whitehall. Beyond Downing Street, and well out of earshot of Parliament, someone turned their cycle sound system on and was quickly made to turn it off again by one of the police who then attracted shouts and criticism from nearby riders. A short distance up the road it was defiantly turned on again before leaving the zone just before entering Trafalgar Square. Currently the law on sound systems within the SOCPA exclusion zone around Parliament is under review but this doesn’t stop the cycle police trying to spoil the fun, despite there being no ban outside of the zone or on car sound systems within the zone. Throughout the ride several individual riders were picked on and argued with by the cycle police, who number 25+ on every ride, except the one in December which just happens to coincide with Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Police aside, the April ride was well attended and good fun but the usual commemorative anniversary t-shirts were sadly missed this time. Ironically, towards the end of the ride it was held up for a while in Shaftesbury Avenue by the usual Friday evening motorised traffic congestion. Critical Mass is often blamed for holding up traffic but they are not the only ones doing so on entertainment evening outings, nevertheless they are much more stringently policed.

http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/socpasounds.html

Video of ride.

1 May Day of Climate Action -only one week to go!

1 MAY: DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
Invasion of the climate snatchers!

Only one week to go!
We’ll keep it short: contacts, resources and ideas for action, and public actions.

If you need any info or support email us!
E: mayday@daysofclimateaction.org.uk
W: http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

1 MAY: DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
Invasion of the climate snatchers!

Only one week to go!
We’ll keep it short: contacts, resources and ideas for action, and public actions.

If you need any info or support email us!
E: mayday@daysofclimateaction.org.uk
W: http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

For more info and background about the day of action please see the bottom of the posting.

TELL US WHAT YOU GET UP TO – email us or phone us on the day (07880 937511) as soon as your action is underway so we can list it on the website include it in the national press release about the day, and the actions round-up the next day. Our actions are so much more powerful when they are seen on masse!

RESOURCES
Lots of information for action/explaining the issues has gone up on our website in the last few days. Check it out and pick your favourite climate red herring: from agrofuels to nuclear power, carbon-trading to hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture and storage, genetic engineering to nanotechnology. Uncover these techno-fixes for what they are: a distraction from the root cause of climate change and a means to carry on the status quo of endless economic growth and the exploitation of people and planet.
http://daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

There’s also a local press release that you can adapt
http://daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday_actionresources.html

15 ideas for action for last-minute action planners! At
http://www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday/resources

IDEAS FOR ACTION

There are many possibilities, from direct action, publicity stunts, talks and workshops to stalls. Whether you’re in a group or whether there’s just one or two of you, there are lots of things you can do to raise the vital issues.

Some ideas to get you started!

TAKE DIRECT ACTION. Occupy the offices of you local carbon offsetting company; Blockade your local biofuels refinery; Visit your local nuclear power station or take your cows and veg to a carbon trader and set up a real market ; Protest at your local University’s GM and Nano-tech departments; Protest at your local Tesco petrol station against biofuels

SPREAD THE WORD. Hang banners in public places; Hold talks, workshops and film nights about the issues; Leaflet town on your chosen issue; Free Giveaway stalls; Produce and distribute local-based guide on alternatives to capitalism, co-ops, alternative economies, free shops etc. Co-organise events with union members to discuss the issues around employment and climate change; Write articles and letters for papers and websites.

For inspiration check out the write-up of the actions on Fossil Fools Day
– Truly amazing!
http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org/category/front-page/

PUBLIC ACTIONS
Although lots of people are keeping their plans under wraps, this public demos have been announced (If you know of a publicly announced action, let us know and we’ll list it on the website):

Critical Mass and Demo at Sizewell Nuclear Power Station
Saturday 3rd May, meet at 12 noon at Saxmundham train station for a Critical Mass bike ride to Sizewell nuclear power station.
If you don’t have a bike, get to Saxmundham station anyway and we’ll get you to the power station.
Why Sizewell on this day?

See also the Camp for Climate Action (www.climatecamp.org.uk), Network for
Climate Action (www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk) and Climate Indymedia
(www.climateimc.org)

http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html

Why take action on 1 May?

May 1st, international workers day, has traditionally been a day to challenge the capitalist system and a celebration of solidarity and workers’ struggle for a more just social system.

On this day we are calling on people to make the link between capitalism, economic growth, climate change and social struggle.

As climate change is starting to hit people around the world, a huge number of techno-fixes are forming a new economic sector: from biofuels to nuclear power, carbon-trading to hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture and storage. Everywhere corporations are seeking the elusive elixir which allows us to continue business as usual. All this whilst our planet is burning and people are loosing their homes, their livelyhoods and their lives to climate chaos.

All of these technologies are a distraction from the root cause of climate change: an economic system based on endless economic growth not only at the cost of the environment we live in but also based on an exploitative social system.

Many of these technofixes are also directly counterproductive to stopping climate chaos and pose new threats to people’s livelyhoods and the survival of the planet.

Agrofuels expansion is direcly responsible for subsistence farmers being cleared of their land, food shortages and enormous price rises, whilst doing nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nuclear power is heralded as a green fuel, but the environmental hazards of uranium extraction, radiation leaks during use and storage, the danger of melt-down and fatal applications in warfare are as dangerous as they have always been.

Scientists promise genetically engineered wonder plants to cope with climate changes, but people in third world countries have yet to see any benefits and fight against the patenting of the genes of traditionally used plants, whilst multinationals are lining their pockets.

The real solution to climate change must be a massive reduction in our consumption, the end to economic growth and a society based on equality and mutual aid.

Technofixes are not the answer to climate change – what we need is far reaching social and economic change!

Do you want to kiss it better?

Do you want to kiss it better is a charity comics anthology to raise money for the world land trust (http://www.worldlandtrust.org) to assist in their work to preserve the world’s most biologically important and threatened lands

Do you want to kiss it better?

The work in Green was all contributed with the intention of making people think about goes on around them & all profits from the sale of the comic will go towards their projects.

It is 40 pages cover to cover, 35 pages of strip art. Printed on 100% recycled paper with inks based on vegetable oil from a press powered by wind turbines. It Features a colour cover from Phil Corbett & work from Leonie O,Moore, shiro, Scroobius pip, Rufus Dayglo, The King Blues, and many other talented artists & writers.

please have a look at:

http://doyouwanttokissitbetter.110mb.com
www.myspace.com/doyouwanttokissitbetter

Hackney Social Centre Under Threat of Eviction!

The Hackney Social Centre (231 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney) is now waiting for High Court Bailiffs, scheduled to arrive at the property at 9:00 AM this Monday, April 21, 2008.

Hackney squat The Hackney Social Centre (231 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney) is now waiting for High Court Bailiffs, scheduled to arrive at the property at 9:00 AM this Monday, April 21, 2008. Anyone able to stand with us to meet the bailiffs and defend the space is asked to gather outside the Social Centre at 8:00 AM on Monday Morning.

In March, Howun Estates – the property developers who had left the building empty after buying it in 2007 as a pre-Olympic Games “investment opportunity” – was awarded an Order of Possession by Judge Manners (her real name!) at the Gee Street County Court and subsequently secured the Warrant of Posession needed to evict the Social Centre.

County Court Bailiffs were booked for the social centre’s eviction Monday 21 April 2008 at 10:20 am. However, residents of the Social Centre were awoken at 9:30 am this Friday morning (18 April 2008) by two alleged representatives of the courts and two police escorts, who informed the residents that a High Court eviction was now scheduled for Monday at 9:00 am.

It seems as if Howun Estates has moved ahead and escalated the eviction threat by sending the notoriously aggressive High Court bailiffs for the first eviction, dramatically ahead of the typical schedule, which usually begins with County Court bailiffs. This move follows several successful resistances to County Court eviction attempts in Hackney last week.

Early last week both a residential property and another autonomous space were effectively resisted, though police presence was high and police intimidation rampant. At the attempted eviction of the residential property, one resister was threatened with pepper spray, and another was assaulted by a police officer who threatened her and twisted her wrist.

The last-minute announcement that High Court bailiffs are now scheduled for the Social Centre’s eviction is seen by many Social Centre residents and supporters as an aggressive, escalation tactic, and a response to last week’s successful eviction resistances.

** Please gather in front of the Hackney Social Centre (231 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney) at 8:00 AM. The aggression of greedy property developers and the police who serve and protect them must not be allowed to exist behind closed doors. The resistance to this eviction must be public. **

It is a well-known fact that the police read both the Hackney Social Centre website and Indymedia UK. A police presence is expected at the eviction. Come prepared.