London – Page 41 – Earth First!

Latest details: Earth First! Winter Moot 2008 – February 22nd – 24th 2008 – Nottingham

Join us for
Activist skill share
Planning radical action on climate change,
Sharing ideas for the Earth First! Summer Gathering
Opposition to the UK genetic crop trials and mega-dams in Iceland
a chance to share info on your own campaign

Arrive from 5pm, Friday February 22nd 2008, with dinner at 7 o’clock.
Open to all those who have been involved in radical ecological direct action and to those who just want to find out more.

Arrive from 5pm, Friday February 22nd 2008, with dinner at 7 o’clock.
Open to all those who have been involved in radical ecological direct action and to those who just want to find out more.

Cost: £15 (to include accommodation and food)
Crèche and disabled access both available,
but please call to let us know if you need either or if you have other needs.

At The Sumac Centre, Gladstone Street Nottingham, www.veggies.org.uk/sumac
For more info call 01508 531636 (number not available during the event)

Friday late afternoon and evening will be a chance to arrive, and for introductions, plus a G8 talk & film, and an Introduction to EF!

We’ll be kicking off early on Saturday morning (9am breakfast) – starting with all sharing the most important reasons why we’ve come to Nottingham, we’ll get on with some practical discussions around the EF! Action Update, the website, and the summer gathering.
From what we’ve all said, we’ll be able in the afternoon to move on to ‘where next?’, plus sharing campaigns we’re involved with & seeing what they need, and getting together locally and regionally with other folk who are there.

On Sunday we’ll move into groups to concretely take the ideas forwards from the Saturday, from the campaigns we’re already working on and what we want to do together. We’ll finish at 4pm, after having shared what we’ve come up with. Hoorah.

Earth First! is not an organisation, but a way of using non-hierarchical organisation and the use of direct action to confront, stop and eventually reverse the forces that are responsible for the destruction of the Earth and its inhabitants. For further info check out www.earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/

Plus
All day Friday 22nd February, Saving Iceland UK meeting, also at the Sumac Centre. Open to those interested in travelling to Iceland or taking part in solidarity actions against the construction of large, wilderness wrecking dams in Iceland.

For further information and essential booking contact 01508 531636 or savingiceland@riseup.org

New social centre opening tonight in London!

!! OPENING !! (finally…!!)

After weeks of resisting forcible evictions we’re ready to open!
Come by for a potluck dinner + movie + music. FREE!

!! OPENING !! (finally…!!)

After weeks of resisting forcible evictions we’re ready to open!
Come by for a potluck dinner + movie + music. FREE!
Come support the city’s newest social centre and the future of autonomous spaces in London!

FEBRUARY 14th
6pm – midnight
231 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney (go around the back and ring the bell!)
(at the last stop of the 38 bus route)

FREE! (bring extra skipped food, music, friends)

http://www.hackneysocialcentre.blogspot.com/

Critical Mass ‘Have a Go Hero’ cleared of all charges in Bristol (& London Critical Mass January ride report/video)

7.02.2008
In May of last year, someone stood in the road and tried to stop a car, who had hit a Critical Mass cyclist off their bike, from driving away. For that he was arrested for obstructing the highway, thrown to the floor by his neck whilst handcuffed, and then – surprise surprise – also arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Today, after 9 months of nervous waiting, he was finally cleared of all charges, as Bristol Magistrates Court accepted a submission that the police evidence was at best ‘severely flawed’ and at worst, fabricated, and the trial was stopped.

A man that became involved after the event was also charged with assault and is awaiting to see if his charge will also be quashed as he can also argue that he was preventing a police ‘miscarriage of justice’.

The trial took a day and a half to realise what was evident all along – that the defendant was only guilty of trying to do the police’s job when they blatantly weren’t interested in doing it, for blatantly political reasons. Unbelievably, the police admitted to getting together to watch the cctv (presumably over a nice cup of bovril) BEFORE writing their statements, of failing to follow PACE procedures in the arrests, and of trying to pass off a wrestling move (clearly shown on the CCTV footage) as a form of ‘reasonable force’ in an arrest!

But the most unbelievable part of the whole sorry mess is the police’s deliberate allowing of the hit-and-run driver to escape, and then never following up the incident, despite the fact leaving the scene of an accident is a more serious crime than those the defendants were charged with, and despite having a full description of the car, driver AND THE REGISTRATION PLATE. Makes you wonder who the ‘mystery driver’ was doesn’t it …….

The next steps for the defendant is, first, celebrate his narrow escape from a politically motivated conviction, and then sue the police for the shocking way in which he was handled during the ‘practice dummy session’ that passed for his arrest. The local chief constable observed the trial, so we assume that his full apology and compensation won’t take too long to sort.

Critical Mass’s continue in Bristol on the last Friday of every month, meeting at 5.30pm outside the Hippodrome.

———–

A subdued start to a good ride, held up by a massive traffic jam in the Strand, but it livened up later with a bike high in Piccadilly Circus and taunts to impatient car horns. Joyful chants of ‘More bikes less cars’ and ‘Whose streets? Our streets’.

Video: http://www.archive.org/details/cml25-1-08

Several sound systems this time, some were threatened with SOCPA prosecution if they dared to play in the vicinity of Parliament. Cycle police were back after their Christmas/New Year break, about 28 in all – they usually don’t turn up at all to the December ride. They barked orders and blocked the ride at some intersections but did a good job of corking and even told off a few drivers. Later they shut down a sound system in Whitehall.

Just before Oxford Circus, a wannabe saboteur threw a glass bottle into the road which shattered into lots of puncturing shards, something to watch out for in future.

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

3 climate days of action: 1st April (Fossil Fools), 1st May (false solutions) & 3rd June (food)

For Fossil Fools Day on 1st April, see previous post
____________________________________________

1 MAY

Mayday Mayday: Invasion of the Climate Snatchers….

For Fossil Fools Day on 1st April, see previous post
____________________________________________

1 MAY

Mayday Mayday: Invasion of the Climate Snatchers….

As climate change rises up the political agenda, the same corporations that are largely responsible for the problem are attempting to dominate the mainstream debate about the solutions, in the hope to maintain the economic status quo.

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 to continue business as usual.

All of these technologies are a distraction from the real solution to the problems we face: a massive reduction in our consumption and the end to economic growth.

What’s wrong with these technologies?

* A lot of these technologies won’t be ready in time to save the climate
* Many actually increase carbon emissions
* Some rely on a different non-renewable resource
* Many have massive environmental impacts
* None of them can provide us with the amount of energy we currently use
* Many will perpetuate problems of social injustice

On May 1st, international workers day, lets challenge these false solutions to climate chaos and show the real solution: far-reaching social change, and reduction in consumption.

____________________________________________
3 JUNE

Day of Action on Food and Climate Change

The Climate Action day that bites….

The kind of food we eat contributes up to a third of our greenhouse emissions. It’s about time for us to switch to plant based, organic, seasonal and locally produced food.

Climate action starts on your dinner plate, in the supermarket, on your allotment and in your back yard, in the food processing and distribution centres, down on the farm, in your high street, at the airport and in the lorry park.

Take action on 3rd June and help highlight the role of food and the food industry in climate chaos.

Get involved – whether you’re into local food, permaculture, animal rights, allotmenting, humanitarian issues, food politics, transport campaigning. Join the dots on climate change.

____________________________________________

Please distribute this info widely, stick it in your diaries and get
planning. More info including a website to follow soon! In the meantime
you can contact us at manchester@climatecamp.org.uk

For lots of resources and on taking climate action and contact details for
your nearest climate action group see
http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk

Support the Eco-Prisoners – Imbolc 2008 – they’re in there for us out here, please write

Spirit of Freedom
(February 2008)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening words and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!”
(Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the February 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. As we enter February so we await three major events. First off, Jeff ‘Free’ Luers is due to be re-sentenced. We hope its good news. Secondly, Eric McDavid is also due to be sentenced. As soon as Eric has been sentenced we urge everyone to send him letters of support. And thirdly, the police informant Jacob Ferguson is also due to be sentenced. His cowardly deals and treachery means he won’t be sent to prison. But we await with interest to see what sentence this piece of scum does receive. If anyone hears, please do let ELP know. But whilst we await those three sentencings, please don’t forget all the other eco-prisoners. Remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, CS# 05850722, Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center, 4216 Wilkinson Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2, Canada. On remand accused of involvement with an arson on logging trucks and an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. Both arsons occurred in the USA. Tre is fighting his extradition to the USA.

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO 81002, USA. Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. On one of the vehicles the letters ELF was spray-painted.

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600 Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. Serving 18 years. 1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations. 2) Eight years for the murder of a Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.

Rod Coronado – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Ibai Ederra, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 – Iruñez – Pamplona, Navarra (España), Spain. Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Jeffrey Luers, #1306729, Lane County Adult Corrections, 101 West 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401-2695, USA. Awaiting resentencing. Originally sentenced to 22 years & 8 months for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck.

Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E 231A, Sacramento County Main Jail, 651 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. Awaiting sentencing having been found guilty of planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants.

Daniel McGowan #63794-053, Unit I, FCI Sandstone, Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072, USA. Serving 7 years for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an old growth logging corporation. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Christopher McIntosh #30512-013, FCI Fairton, PO Box 420, Fairton, NJ 08320, USA. Serving 8 years for setting fire to a McDonald’s restaurant.

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera (PV), Italy. Il Silvestre activist serving 2½ years. 1) 18-months for burgling and firebombing a multinational company. 2) 12-months for organising an anti-GM protest. Costanino is also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Julio Villanueva, C.P. Prision De Pamplona, 31080, Iruna (Navarra), Spain.
Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F, Dublin, CA 94568, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

Jon Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to his involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. Jailed for breaching her parole conditions imposed on her for telling a fox hunting murdering scum what she thought of them. Also awaiting trial accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Nathan Block – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK4 4DA, England. On remand accused of involvement with an arson and blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Victorville Medium I Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 48 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Rod Coronado, Voice of the Earth, PO Box 732, Tucson, AZ 85702, USA. Due to be sentenced to one-year imprisonment after Rod informed people how to make an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering.

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution, Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Downview, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PD, England. Serving 5½ years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following the damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life Science.

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA. Serving 36 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072 USA. Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution, 37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA. Sentenced to 51 months for an ALF arson on a horse meat plant. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

John Smith TB4887, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, FCI Butner Medium II Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 1500, Butner, NC 27509 USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Joyanna Zacher – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell – Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft. Worth, TX 76127, USA. Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world. The actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court and making threatening communications. Previously Helen had served 20½ years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo. 2) Burning $25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental destruction & economic injustice. 3) Mailing warning letters with bullets attached to Government & corporate officials.

THE LECCE FIVE
The Lecce Five have been charged with “subversive association” accused of damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists in Chile. All of the defendants are currently either under house arrest or released on bail.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Lasandra Burwell W063658, Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave. Marysville, OH 43040, USA. Serving 5 years for taking part in an anti-fascist demonstration that turned into a riot.

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g. Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia. Serving 2½ years for stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack.

Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech Republic.
Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against local neo-nazis. His charge was “bodily harm”. He speaks Czech, Slovak and Polish. You can also write him short postcards in English.

Gubski Maxim, VK-2 – 21, Batowa str. 4, Bobruisk, 213800 Belarus. Serving 3 years for fighting with neo-nazis.

Vladislav Vladimirovich Plyashkevich, IK-10 otryad 4, Novopoltsk-5 Vitebskaya oblast, 211440 Belarus. Serving 3 years for fighting with neo-nazis.

Christian Sümmermann, BNR: 727/07/7, JVA Tegel, Seidelstr. 39, 13507 Berlin, Germany. Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities.

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending himself.

OTHER PRISONERS

Oscar Santa Maria Caro, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. The exact charges against Oscar are unknown but Oscar is a member of RATA, a known animal rights group.

Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. Co-defendant of Oscar Santa Maria Caro.

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk 140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson, criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya. Due for release in 2009.

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA.
Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke campaigner.

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of all life. There are currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving 100 years after been framed for the murder of a cop in 1979. 9th defendant, Merle Africa, died in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa (006307), Janet Holloway Africa (006308) and Janine Philips Africa (006309) all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA 17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA 15370, USA. In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop. He was originally sentenced to death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in 2001.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions. ‘Spirit of Freedom’ does not condone violence. But we are also against censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in 1993 to support jailed eco-activists. We support the prisoners by producing various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP’s international monthly prisoner listing which is circulated by e-mail.

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details. For more info e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters – ELP has a number of websites that provide news, prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by ELP. To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact. For more info e-mail elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco Camenisch. For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.

North American ELP is our North American contact. For more information e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact. For more info e-mail yesilanarsi@yahoo.com

Spring into action (though storms may be at the door) – the latest issue of the EF! Action Update has burst forth

Read all about occupations & lock-ons of big industrial places around the world, corporate & government blockades, squatting, airport invasions, subvertising, climate criminals locked & glued shut, trees climbed and chopped down, GM maize fields trashed, hunger strikes, burrowing under fences, jumping on whaling boats, Buying Nothing, Reclaiming the Streets and the unstoppable singing of Christmas songs, not to mention skating penguins. Even some upcoming dates to get stuck in or to meet other direct action crazies. We couldn’t make it up even if we tried.

Another bumper issue, with a special insert on Agrofuels including a list of refineries ‘in the pipeline’ or already on the ground, plus a legal update about the recent changes to your access to solicitors in police stations.

The latest issue of the Earth First! Action Update burst forth at the latest national meeting of the Camp for Climate Action (see climatecamp.org.uk for how the camp idea is audaciously morphing this year).

Download it to print out and share here. Do get in touch with the editorial collective to let them know if you’re dishing it up round your way, or need paper copies, or want to give them one of the rarer ingredients, dosh (to send it to prisoners, protest camps and far beyond) – their contact details and more are here.

Teenager arrested after tying herself to Japananese Embassy

25.1.2008
A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said. Sophie said last night: “I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse.”

A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said.

Sophie Wyness, 14, and her father Martin attached themselves to a stone staircase inside the embassy lobby with cable ties overnight, saying it was wrong to “brutally murder” whales.

Sophie said last night: “I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse.”

It is not the first time the 14-year-old, who has also campaigned against Australia’s nuclear policy, has been removed from a protest but it is the first time she has been arrested.

She said: “I have just been released. We have been charged with criminal trespass and it will go before the Attorney General, not the CPS, because of the political implications.”

The teenager was inspired to take action after watching a film about the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza – which is currently disrupting the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.

One video clip lasting 30 seconds, which showed a whale being blown up, had “hit me hard”, she explained earlier.

The video pushed her to stage the hour-long protest because she felt it was wrong to wrong to “brutally murder” whales.

“It’s a very important subject at the moment. They’re such amazing creatures and they deserve rights and love and a bit of respect,” she said.

“I have total respect for the Japanese people but not what they’re doing out there with the whales.”

She said taking direct action was the only way to get attention on the issue.

“Hopefully it’ll get put out there and show we’re not going to sit back and let them get away with it.”

Mr Wyness said he was only involved in the protest in order to support his daughter and spoke of his pride that she had been so resolute in standing up for her convictions.

He said: “I was really only there as back up. This was Sophie’s day.”

He added: “I am extremely proud of Sophie. She is an amazing, amazing young woman full or courage and determination and her convictions are very strong. This documentary genuinely moved her to the point where she wanted to do something about it.

Quotes taken from thelondonpaper.com

New London Social Centre under Siege

A new autonomous space in Hackney sustained two violent attacks this week as representatives of both Howen Estates Ltd., and the Hackney Metropolitan Police attempted to forcibly and illegally gain entry to the newly opened social centre.

At approximately 7:17pm on the evening of Tuesday 22 January, three people claiming to be the owners of the property attempted to kick in the front door and break into the building, refusing to engage in dialogue with the occupiers. No police officers were involved though within 11 minutes nearly 30 members of the local activist community had arrived at the premises to support the occupiers.

Purported representatives of Howen Estates, Ltd, returned on the morning of Wednesday 23 January at approximately 11:45am. They arrived in a large van, were equipped with a number of tools, and again tried to gain forcible entry to the building, ignoring and ridiculing the Section 6 Legal Warning posted on the door and the requests of the occupiers for dialogue and non-violence.

Having seriously damaged the street entrance to the building, the purported owners stopped only after police officers arrived at approximately 12:15pm. Police had been called by the occupiers to respond to the supposed owners’ contravention of Section 6, Criminal Law Act, 1977.

The occupiers attempted to open dialogue with the police, and met the officers at the building’s back entrance. There, they were accused by the officers and supposed owner of gluing a padlock on the building’s street entrance, and the officers demanded entry to the building to investigate.

After conferring with the owner, the officers also claimed they had called “the electricity company” and had proof that the occupiers had no account and were hence illegally abstracting electricity.

The occupiers had no knowledge of any glued padlock on the building. Furthermore, according to an email sent from Ashleigh Corbett, Energy Advisor for British Gas Business, an electricity account had been opened by the occupiers on 18 January 2008, with a one-year contract.

Regardless, officers maintained that they had evidence of illegal electricity abstraction, and proceeded to attempt forcible entry to the building making use of tools including a crowbar and a battering ram. After breaking through the back gate and entering the garden, officers began trying to break through the building’s back door.

Meanwhile, over twenty members of the local activist community gathered outside in support of the occupiers and officers closed the back gates, impeding witness photo and video documentation. In response, several activists scaled nearby walls to film officers as they illegally broke through the back entrance fire doors and began to dismantle the barricades constructed by the occupiers.

While the police discussed the situation, the occupiers overheard officers commenting on the accents of those inside the building and speculating on the possibility of “getting them” on immigration grounds.

The struggle over the remaining unstable and makeshift back barricades – built from doors, radiators, and scrap pieces of metal and wood – lasted over fifteen minutes, said the occupiers. In the final minutes, the barricades had tipped over and on top of the occupiers before they were able to push them back into place.

“I was scared of being crushed by the barricades and was surprised by the aggressiveness of the situation,” said one occupier.

Officers had become aware that supporters were filming their activities from nearby walls and rooftops and re-opened the back gates. Activist supporters repeatedly told the officers that their actions were illegal, that charges can and may be pressed against them, and that this is a civil matter – between the owners and the occupiers – and not a criminal matter.

“They [the police] appeared to loose confidence after we made it clear that we had evidence and were willing to press charges,” said one witness. “That’s why they left.”

Leaving the garden, the officers said “You’ve won this round, but we’ll come back. It could be tomorrow, it could be at two in the morning. We will get in, and you’ll all have to come in [to the station].”

Set to open to the public in early February, the as yet un-named autonomous space hopes to provide non-commercial social space for the community and to host activities such as: detainee support, a bike workshop, free language classes, a donations-only café, silk-screening and graffiti workshops, and much more.

For more information on the attacks or on future social centre activities and organizing, contact Joan at 07506095491.

Mayo Shell blockade & 15-17th March London demo & action call-out

Blockade of Shell site, thurs morning, 24/1/8, approx 100 cars blocked for 45 mins

This morning, local residents’ yet again braved the bitterly cold wind to show Shell that it will never have their consent. Knowing that only they can protect the health and safety of their community and environment, people peacefully held banners at the gates, shutting down the site and preventing approx. 100 Shell cars from entering. There were no Gardai for approx. 45 mins!
Yesterday, people were stood by the side of gate 2, not blocking the cars, but were forcibly removed by the Gardai, who refused to give a reason. As usual, there was disagreement between the Gardai themselves on why we were being removed and some were clearly uncomfortable with their colleagues’ unreasonable behaviour (‘public order act’ ‘Trespass’ ‘miscellaneous housing act’ and my personal favourite, ‘you are causing a destruction’). The morning pickets are still happening and there are frequent blockades, so come and support the Kilcommon Parish who are simply calling for the gas to be refined at sea and to renegotiate the deal to benefit the people of Ireland. Shell to Sea!
Who’s cops?
It came as no surprise to see the recent Shell Project Monitoring Committee praising Supt Gannon for his work in the locality.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

hey all, hope you can join us in London to bring the pipeline back to Shell – 15-17th March.

Gluaiseacht are mobilising people from all over Ireland to travel to Shell Headquarters in London on St Patrick’s Day to protest the giveaway and mismanagement of our national resources. We will be carrying a 200ft pipeline to Shell’s front door.

The Irish people will not benefit from the Corrib Gas Project. We will have to buy back any gas that Shell will sell to us at the ever increasing full market value. As well as this, Shell will destroy a pristine environment and the health and safety of the local community.

If you can’t get to London, there’s a call out for solidarity actions to happen at St Paddy’s Day parades, Shell offices & garages and Irish Embassies all over the world during this weekend.

What is Gluaiseacht?
Gluaiseacht is a non-hierarchical environmental and social justice movement bringing together grassroots organisations, concerned individuals and student groups from all over Ireland to take action on social, environmental and political issues.

For more information, please email back. many thanks!

http://gluaiseacht.nologic.org/

London’s Rampart still open

Rampart Newsletter 23rd January 2008

Hi there,

Latest news, as of writing, we have lodged an appeal to the court decision back in December and are now waiting back for a hearing date..
to decide whether there can be an appeal or not and whether or not we have a ‘stay of execution’ (the Rampart building DOESN’T have a planning application on it yet). Oh well. At least the possession order from the last court case is delayed until this hearing.

Rampart Newsletter 23rd January 2008

Hi there,

In all this uncertainty we’re not rolling over and playing dead. We’re still very much open and operating at (nearly) normal levels.. whatever that means! We’re taking on new event proposals and invite you to send further requests so contact us at the usual address rampart@mutualaid.org

For events, in the case of eviction, we have the new building to fall back on, which has taken shape nicely and now has the capacity to host meetings and workshops, with the music space not far off being ready. More helping hands please, if you have any spare send them our way!

We always need people to help with the occupation rota, 3 in the building at all times, so email us if you have a spare day or evening free. We are also looking at, and I stress only looking at, the benefits
and implications of becoming a legal entity in order to negotiate with landlords for use of buildings. How this affects our ability to operate as a space for radical politics is under scrutiny. Anyone with knowledge or experience of forming a legal entity for such a purpose please get in contact, we’d really like to hear what you have to say.

So happenings at the Rampart the coming week looks like this:

++ FRIDAY 25TH ++

== Reclaim Your Health ==

What?
An Alternative Homeopathic Clinic focussed on empowering & enabling you to health.

How?
One-to-one consultations on a monthly basis. Remedies, Essences, Herbs & advice to take during the month.

Where?
Rampart Social Centre, 15-17 Rampart Street, Whitechapel, E1 2LA

When?
Every Friday: 2pm – 6pm

How Much?
£0. It’s an exchange or barter clinic. Bring whatever you want. Eg. Skipped food, poetry, art, socks, a good book or an IOU!
reclaim@homeopathy4health.co.uk

== Radical Theory Reading Group ==

We’re reading Gilles Deleuze’s ‘Postscript on the Societies of Control’ and, if you have time ‘Intellectuals & Power: A Conversation between Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze’: here
http://libcom.org/library/postscript-on-the-societies-of-control-gilles-deleuze
and here
http://libcom.org/library/intellectuals-power-a-conversation-between-michel-foucault-and-gilles-deleuze

6pm in the Library

== Dissident Island Disks ==

They’re going to do some feat to get the radio show out this Friday since there’s now no internet connection at the Rampart but the Dissidents are very determined to make it happen, so tune in for
interviews, radio play and some amazing tunes, starting sometime after 9pm

http://dissidentisland.servebeer.com

++ WEDNESDAY 30TH ++

== Popular Uprising in Oaxaca ==

When Mexican paramilitary forces shot Brad Will in the chest, killing him, his camera fell from his hands. But it didn’t stop recording. It continued moving from hand to hand, telling Brad’s story, as well as the story of the movement of movements that he was a part of. From the squats of New York to the forests of Oregon, from the anti-globalization protests in Seattle, Prague, Quebec to the popular uprising in Oaxaca, Brad’s camera paints us a picture of what his life was about, and what so many of his friends continue to struggle for.

Film screening and debate. Starting 8PM

++ Call for participation ++

Radical Theory Reading group are organising a symposium entitled ‘Radical Theory & Everyday Life Symposium’, for February 2nd or a date afterwards
Anyone interested contact symposium0202@yahoo.co.uk, call out is below
Call for volunteers to help organize the Radical Theory and Everyday Life Symposium on the 2nd of February.
It is a symposium designed to address the relationship between radical ideas and strategies for collective action and social change. The aim is to offer opportunities for discussion, bring together people committed to fighting injustice and oppression, explore radical ideas in an informal setting and get convivial over drinks, music etc.

How can you help us? Come along to the next meeting of Radical Theory Reading Group on the 25th of January (see below the details of our next meeting) and tell us about your idea of a presentation or workshop which you want to do. Or you can get in touch on this email address symposium0202@yahoo.co.uk Your help in organizing practical and technical things around the Symposium is also very welcomed.

Elsewhere >>

++ Vigil and Fast for Lovinsky continues ++

The international Vigil and Fast for Lovinsky continues at the usual time of 5-6pm every Wednesday from 23 January – the same day as the weekly human rights demonstration at the Martyrs Monument in Port-au-Prince, which Lovinsky’s organization has been holding for years, and which has now also become a vigil for his return.
Outside the Brazilian Embassy
32 Green Street
London W1K 7AT
Call 020 74822496 to confirm!
http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/

Rampart meetings every Monday at 7pm, come along to get involved, was nice to see so many people at the meeting just gone. Thanks for reading and for all your support.