London – Page 44 – Earth First!

Women Climate Activists Blockade the Department for Transport

7.12.2007
Women have this morning blockaded the Department for Transport preventing staff from getting to work and carrying out their policies which are catapulting us towards dangerous run-away climate change. This action comes in response to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirming the government’s intentions to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow and co-incides with the opening of their first ‘consultation’ exhibition.

This protest is part of a growing direct action movement against climate change inspired by the Camp for Climate Action (1). On Wednesday over 30 climate activists including the columnist George Monbiot invaded and occupied Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales. On 28th November, protesters from climate action group Plane Stupid disrupted the proceedings of the Transport Select Committee who were hearing evidence from BAA boss, Steven Nelson and Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick in protest at the Heathrow expansion plans. This weekend thousands of people will march on the streets of London to protest about climate change. This protest is a call to all to stand up and take action against the governments and corporations who are fueling climate chaos.

Why the DfT?

Transport is the fastest growing source of climate change gases in the UK, now accounting for 26% of emissions (2). In a time when we desperately need to reduce emissions, the DfT plans to build more roads and more airports encouraging us to drive and fly more. The DfT was targetted during the Camp for Climate Action in August, and women have returned today to re-emphasise the role of our government in dangerous transport expansion plans. Groups will continue to return to the DfT until the government reviews its policies.

Why women?

Women have acted today in solidarity with the residents of Sipson, especially the women who continue to campaign to protect their homes, despite bullying and pressure from BAA, and the women all over the world who fight everyday to survive in the face of increasing climate chaos.

NO 3rd runway at Heathrow

Aviation is already the fastest growing source of UK carbon dioxide emissions (3), and these emissions are released high in the atmosphere meaning we feel their effects immediately. Heathrow is already the busiest airport in the world. Building a third runway will lead to even more flights and more pollution. Oxford University recently concluded that it will be impossible to meet the government’s own target for a 60 per cent carbon reduction by 2050 without curbing aviation growth (4)

NO M1 Widening

The DfT is building a £5 billion 115 mile long expansion of the M1 with an increase of 186,092 tonnes of CO2 every year (5). Is this taking climate change seriously? We call for a scrapping of the current and proposed schemes up and down the length of the M1.

NO green wash

We call for a reduction in transport, and reject dangerous green wash such as ‘biofuels’ and carbon offsetting. We cannot continue with relentless growth on a finite planet. We all need to reduce consumption, and our carbon emissions. (6)

Jane Wilson, on the protest says, “The government does not like to admit it , but we cannot sustain our current levels of consumption or the growth economy and stop climate change. Its time to stop tinkering at the edges and wake up to the reality of the threat & take serious and drastic action. We have to create a society that is less dependent on energy, and that is more locally self-sufficient.”

Notes for Editors:

1 The Camp for Climate Action 2007 (www.climatecamp.org.uk) was a large protest and educational event at Heathrow this year, highlighting the link between the aviation industry and climate change.

2 The Campaign for Better Transport (www.bettertransport.org.uk)

3 Campaign for Better Transport

4 Campaign for Better Transport

5 Biofuelwatch (www.biofuelwatch.org.uk)

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Update and outcome

In the end: Having shut the DFT for over two hours, eight women who were locked or glued to the doors of the DFT were arrested, held all day in Belgravia Police Station and then released on bail.

They are all charged with offences under SOCPA (serious organised crime and police act). At least one more was summoned to appear under SOCPA, although not arrested.

Total amount of women involved was around twenty. They’re all ace and of course this is only the beginning of women pitching in to stop climate chaos on their own terms.

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One of these women, having been released on bail for SOCPA, was rearrested at the Dec 8 March in London, for being in the SOCPA zone!!

She was held until Monday 10th when the court saw her and threw out the bail-breach on the grounds that she should never had had such bail conditions.

Another example of the MET endearing themselves to us then.

Plane Stupid Disrupt Parliamentary Committee In Commons

28.11.2007
3.15pm – Climate activists opposed to plans for a third runway at Heathrow this afternoon disrupted a Parliamentary inquiry going on inside the House of Commons. Protestors from climate action group, Plane Stupid, disrupted the proceedings of the Transport Select Committee who were hearing evidence from BAA boss, Steven Nelson and Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick.

The team of protestors wore t-shirts emblazoned with “No Third Runway” interrupted the inquiry into “The future of BAA” and handed out copies of a Tyndall Centre climate change report about the impacts of flying on global warming.

Plane Stupid accuse the Government of pre-judging the decision on the Third Runway and ignoring recent scientific evidence about the impacts airport expansion would bring upon climate change.

Activist for Plane Stupid, Richard George, said:

“The Government are spinning that they want an open and thorough consultation on expanding Heathrow but they’re ignoring mass opposition and scientists’ warnings and are colluding with BAA to concrete over public debate.”

He added:

“Despite overwhelming evidence of the impact of carbon emissions from aviation – the government are deliberately ignoring concerns about climate change. The plan for a third runway flies in the face of the science and were it approved it would pollute more than the whole of Kenya!”

MORE INFORMATION/INTERVIEWS:

www.planestupid.com
press@planestupid.com

You can watch the action at:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=488&rel=ok

Totally Immoral – A Day of Action against Total Oil

The Total out of Burma Day of Action took place on Saturday 24 November. Protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. Some stations were blockaded and all the protests received great support from the motoring and pedestrian public.

On Saturday 24 November, protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. The protests called upon Total Oil to pull out of Burma and stop financing the Burmese military regime. Protest locations included Bradford, Brighton, Chatham (Kent), Cardiff, Guernsey, London, Manchester, Oxford and Virgina Water (Surrey).

Blockades occurred at some stations, with several lasting for an hour or more. In Camden, London 10 protestors blocked the York Way Total station for an hour, while 15 students in Surrey blockaded the Virginia Water petrol station for more than 2 hours. Throughout the UK the protests received support from motorists and pedestrians alike. Many drivers turned away from the petrol stations upon seeing the protests, some informing protestors that they would not to buy from Total again. At all the targetted petrol stations business was noticeably slow, and in some cases virtually non-existent, during the protests.

Paul Golding, one of the protestors, said, “Total’s investment in Burma is the largest in Europe. By paying millions of dollars to the Burmese dictatorship every year they are helping keep it in power. If the West wants to help end the oppression and ongoing human rights abuses in Burma, then quite simply, we must stop our companies from funding the oppressors.”

In London, protests took place at 14 Total petrol stations during the course of the day. The final protest in London attracted over 30 supporters and took place at the Baker Street petrol station on Marylebone Rd, NW1, from 4pm to 6pm. In Guernsey, campaigners protested at all 14 Total stations on the island, and picketed the main station on the island for 3 hours. [2]

The day of action was part of a growing global campaign calling on French oil company Total to stop funding the Burmese junta:

– Boycott: Last week, the global internet advocacy website Avaaz.org launched a global boycott of Total, as well as US oil company Chevron, for their presence in Burma – with nearly 50,000 signing up in ten days [3].
– Divestment: European pension funds withdrew almost £110m in investments from Total in a matter of days in protest at the company’s involvement in Burma. [4]
– Popular protests: Since October weekly protests have taken place in London outside Total Oil’s offices. Other spontaneous protests have occurred outside Total garages around the UK. [5]

Photos are available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk

For more information & photos contact:
– Jonathan Stevenson on 07818 651124, jjjstevenson@fastmail.fm
– Paul Golding on 07984 799 958 or paul@pellarin.demon.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] Total Oil has had a joint business venture with the Burmese government since 1992. Its major project is the Yadana gas project in southern Burma, which earns the military regime hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democracy leader, has said that “Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma.” For more information about Total Oil’s investment in Burma see the Burma Campaign UK website: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.php.

[2] A full list of protests on 24 November, plus further information about the campaign, can be found at: http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

[3] See http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate/. Total’s products in the UK include its network of petrol stations, as well as such brands as Bostik (makers of Blu-tack) and Spontex cleaning products.

[4] See http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2204744,00.html

[5] For reports, see http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com

Buy Nothing Day reports – Leeds, Norwich, London, Edinburgh, Manchester x2…

The truth is out – buying stuff doesn’t make you happy! Central Leeds today saw a free shop sprout from the pavement to drive the message home.

Despite the cold and rain, a hardy group set up a free shop in Central Leeds this morning, offering burgers, books, records and clothes. The manifestation of people giving stuff away in the middle of consumer-land raised a few eyebrows, entertained the tired masses and got the idea across that buying loads of useless stuff is a futile activity. The assembled free-shoppers sang a variety of subvertised carols and handed out gift vouchers which were “redeemable for whatever takes your fancy” including a picnic in the park or playing your own music. All in all, a grand day out in town.

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To mark Buy Nothing Day, 12 people from Norwich Rising Tide held a Rat Race in the city centre.

Activists created a mobile rat race that stopped off at the city’s busiest malls and high streets.

People in rat costumes hurried hither and thither between the edges of the rat race maze, built out of placards reading Work Harder, Earn More Money, Buy More Things, Keep Going, while Fat Cats advised that happiness was just around the corner if the rats would only keep shopping!

At Castle Mall the rats were flummoxed by security guards who forced them to move on; after all, the rats were only telling people to buy more stuff!

A thousand leaflets were handed out (see below), and many passers-by expressed their support.

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It seems that Transport For London have bowed to activist pressure and decided to remove all the adverts from the district line.

I never would have thought that TFL would have taken part in buy nothing day, but it seems even Red Ken wanted to join in the fun.

A group of Space Hijacker agents were travelling across London when we spotted a TFL decoration team, swiftly turning all of the adverts on the District Line around so that their blank sides were facing out.

They then posted up official LondON stickers proclaiming:

“As part of TFL’s £10 Billion investment program, London Underground are removing all adverts from trains to improve the ambience of carriages and the overall travelling experience of passengers.”

We can only applaud this bold move against the constant corporate assault on our senses.

The team we saw doing it were very quick, managing to swap around entire carriages of adverts in less than the time it took the train to travel one stop. Infact so impressed were our agents that we kept an eye on the trains and spotted the advert free carriages several days after.

On the trains we overheard one of the passengers asking “but what are we going to read?”, the TFL spokesperson replied “You could try talking to each other?”

Three cheers for TFL 😉

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80’s slogan t-shirts are back in fashion! A group of Space Hijacker agents decided to wear the very latests trend setting t-shirts on a ‘Buy Nothing Day’ jaunt around London.

A team of Space Hijackers secret agents headed into Knightsbridge in London on Saturday to celebrate Buy Nothing Day, a day of corporate chainstore chaos.

Wearing the very latest ‘Nu Rave’ slogan t-shirts our intrepid agents decided to go and have a look around some of London’s most exclusive stores. Our first stop was Harrords, and after avoiding the piles of ferrari’s, porsches and mercedes, we managed to get instore and up to the top floor.

Our trendy “EVERYTHING IN STORE HALF PRICE TODAY” t-shirts certainly raised some eyebrows from the fashion conscious customers, several even came up and started asking us for directions etc. Helpful and polite as always we directed customers, tidied up messy rails of clothes and generally played the part of good members of society as we walked around the store.

Unfortunately the security teams seemed to have other ideas, and promtly attempted to round us up and eject us from the store! Cries of the fact that our shirts were the very latest katherine hamnett designer shirts, seemed to fall on deaf ears, and we were told that we may be arrested if we entered the store again!

Oh well, never mind, onto Gucci and Louis Vuitton for some designer window shopping. Entering the Gucci boutique in Knightsbrige we quickly found out that there were more of us than actual staff present, which was an entertaining prospect. However, in a move which was obviously down to brand envy, we were once again ejected. The security even followed us across the road and into Louis Vuitton calling out “Don’t let them in, it’s a prank!” as we entered the store. Why the cheek of it!

After looking around and helping customers choose their luggage we decided to leave the store and welcome people inside from the streets. However the weather was getting rather nippy by this point, so after a swift drink we decided to head into Oxford Street and onto Nike Town and Top Shop.

The security here was rather oafish to say the least, with three of our agents being dragged down to a special Top Shop instore prison which they have behind the counters. Thankfully after threats of sueing for wrongful imprisonment, and the fact we had a lawyer and criminal barrister amongst our ranks things were soon put right.

Unfortunately after all of the excitement of dealing with the grumpy security, we forgot to actually buy any consumer goods. Oh well, best go back next year 😉

http://www.spacehijackers.org

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Buy Nothing Day – Edinburgh Action

Today was International Buy Nothing day. Activists took to the streets all across the globe to try and persuade those who can afford to live consumerist lifestyles to think about how much they need all the things they buy.

In the run up to the Christmas shop-a-thon it is easy for many people to forget that the best things in life are free. Do we really need those things we buy? Is spending money on useless crap the only way to show loved ones how much we care for them? Of course not!

Clowns from Rampant Reekies, the Edinburgh gaggle of C.I.R.C.A, played games, danced and were generally silly on the streets, entertaining people without selling products. They also joyfully invaded shops, including HNM, GAP, BHS and Schu, and “brought mirth and merriment to the dazed monotony of Christmas consumption.”

A Food Not Bombs stall gave out free food in the form of pea soup, banana smoothies, bread and apple pie. Many shoppers walked straight past the hot-dog stall and had some lovely vegan soup for lunch instead. A chalk message on the pavement read “there is such a thing as a free lunch!”

A mobile Free Shop set up on the street to give things away for free. Many people came and found useful items to take away, or gifts for people which they were otherwise going to buy. One man said simple “this is the best thing I’ve ever seen” and a passing woman exclaimed “I’ve seen jumble sales, but never this!” A passing Police Officer even inquired if there was any mobile phones, as he was going to buy one that day but couldn’t now he knew it was Buy Nothing Day.

A person claiming to be from Society for a Transformation to Imagination Not Capitalisation (S.T.I.N.C) approached the stalls and informed the BNDers that they had released non-harmful stink bombs in a fast-food stores on Princes Street to “make it clear – Capitalism stinks”, although this remains unverified.

The reception from passers by was generally quite good. While some didn’t understand the point of it, many skeptics came and had a chat a left with an understanding of what Buy Nothing Day is about, along with some free stuff. Hopefully some shoppers will decide to make gifts for Christmas instead of paying someone else to.

Many involved really enjoyed the day and felt that it was effective, so look out for more Food Not Bombs activity in Edinburgh.

The Forest Cafe (www.theforest.org.uk) is having a week long Free Shop upstairs beginning on the 14th of December.

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On Saturday the 24th November Rhythms of Resistance Manchester and Manchester Climate Action (MCA) held a free stall where a wide range of things from plants, to clothes were well received. Even a couple of police officers joined in.

The two groups joined in the ‘Reinstate Karen’ demo which began in the Peace Gardens and marched through Manchester in support of free speech and free health care.

Several folks then went to the Arndale Centre and released a banner attached to pink helium balloons, which read: “Shopping Costs the Earth.” It floated up to the roof, right next to the giant Christmas Tree, to remind people of the social and environmental expense of purchasing.

In the Trafford Centre another activist from MCA disrupted shopping, in protest at the massive amount of car journeys it encourages in the name of profit.

For more info about free stuff and links check out www.freemanchester.org

Activists from Manchester Climate Action evacuated various parts of The Trafford Centre during this years buy nothing day, Saturday 24th of November. The sprawling palace to pointless consumerism owned by the £2bn Empire of Peel Holdings, the climate criminals who bought you such delights as Liverpool, Durham Tees Valley, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Sheffield City Airports also publicly opposed the Manchester congestion charge. Camouflaged covalent campaigners in their finest designer labels moved stealthily amongst the madding crowds whilst activating fire alarms and interrupting the daily toil of tedious transactions.

Alarms in the main malls cover certain zones and not the whole complex. They are silent for 30 seconds, sounding only in the security office. This leads to lots of people in red jackets running around looking concerned. When the alarms did sound it was accompanied by a message over the P.A telling people to ignore it and approach a member of staff if concerned. However, sounding the Alarms by the exits of the large department stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis leads to the entire shop being evacuated……Oh dear!

Protesters invade the Aviation Emissions Trading Summit 2007

22.11.2007
For immediate release:
Protesters invade the Aviation Emissions Trading Summit 2007.

– video and photos to follow later today.

London Rising Tide today interrupted delegates at the , held at Selfridges Hotel, central London. They interrupted proceedings with an impromptu speech and presentation, of a box of atmosphere. Free shares for pre Emissions Trading Scheme atmosphere were also given out to each delegate at the conference.

Protesters from London Rising Tide were at the conference today to highlight the huge risk of accelerated climate change through flights.

This scheme will allow the industry to claim environmental credentials when in fact stopping airport expansion and reducing flights is what is required. The fact that these permits will be auctioned at a bargain price will further add to the lack of impact that this scheme will have on the aviation industry.

ETS is an easy way for the super polluting aviation industry to cover themselves with greenwash.

For further information contact
http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk/
07708 794665

The back of the shares to the atmosphere read:
We hereby grant you the right to make great personal profit from the destruction of the human race of which you are a part and from who’s existence and misfortune you have benefited greatly.

We grant you the right to own the air that we breath and to fill it with carcinogens and green house gasses.

If our government does not subsidise you with a sufficient volume of the air in which to store your pollutants, we grant you the right to buy farming land and natural forest habitats from less fortunate peoples, to evict them from their homes and to replace them with monoculture plantations of eucalyptus and mango. We grant you the good fortune to be too busy making money to find out about the consequences of your actions for your fellow human beings.

We grant you the right to avoid at all costs the investment of your hard earned money into technologies free from fossil fuels. We recommend you spend lavishly to lobby government and do not get ahead of the game and outsmart your peers instead by developing safe, carbon-free methods of transport.

May you forever continue to blame your peers, your shareholders, the passengers, for the decisions you play your part in enacting. May you never think to reduce your flights, to take a positive action, to play your part in averting disaster for your fellow beings.

Carbon Trading. Not a way to tackle climate change.

www.risingtide.org.uk

TOTALitarian Oil Out of Burma – demos this week

This Saturday (24 November) is the UK-wide “TOTAL Out of Burma” Day of Action, supported by Burma Campaign UK.

There are 16 confirmed protests, with several more awaiting confirmation. It’s not too late to organise your own protest. Or you can join one or more of the protests listed below. And in London there will be a protest finale at the Total station on Marylebone Road (near Baker Street tube) from 4pm til 6pm, after which there will be a party. All are welcome.

And don’t forget our weekly protests on Wednesday and Thursday.

**This week only there will be an additional protest on WEDNESDAY EVENING at WEMBLEY PARK TOTAL GARAGE, to coincide with the England v Croatia football match at Wembley Stadium**.

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UPCOMING PROTESTS

Wednesday 21 November
8.30am – 10.30am
Protest at Total Oil HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
nearest tube: Oxford Circus
map: http://tinyurl.com/2oardl

Wednesday 21 November
5.30pm – 7.30pm
Protest at Wembley Park Total petrol station, Bridge Road, Wembley, London
nearest tube: Wembley Park

Directions: Turn right at the bottom of the steps out of Wembley Park tube (Metropolitan line, 20 minutes from Baker St) onto the main road (Bridge Road). The Total garage is highly visible straight ahead, on the big traffic island opposite the retail park – 3 minutes walk.

Thursday 22 November
5.00pm – 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station, Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR
nearest tube: Baker Street
map: http://tinyurl.com/2zg4qf

Saturday 24 November
TOTAL OUT OF BURMA NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

A day of action around the UK calling for Total Oil to stop funding the Burmese military regime and pull out of Burma. Protests are being organised at petrol stations around the UK. For an up-to-date list of protest locations, contact details and details of how to organise your own protest, go to
http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

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1. Confirmed protests on Sat 24 Nov
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BRADFORD
Vigil against Total
5pm-7pm
meet at Centenary Square, Bradford

BRIGHTON
Kemp Town Total station
Meet at the Pavillion Bus Stop at 11.30am

GUERNSEY
Protests will be happening at Total stations across the island.
contact: Kev on burma@landofkev.com or 07911 770 017

LONDON – Baker Street
4pm-6pm
Dorset House Total station, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, Westminster NW1 5AR
nearest tube: Baker Street
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com
(note: this is the final London protest of the day – all welcome, with a party to follow)

LONDON – Camden
from 11.30am
Camden Town Total station, 109-113 York Way, Islington N7 9QE
nearest tube: Caledonian Rd or Kentish Town
contact: Jonathan on jjjstevenson@fastmail.fm or 07818 651 124

LONDON – Chiswick
2pm-4pm
West Four Total station,137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED
nearest tube: Turnham Green
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com

LONDON – Hammersmith
11am-2pm
Raven Total station, 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith W6 0XF
nearest tube: Stamford Brook
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com

LONDON – Kensal Green
1pm-3pm
Kensal Total station, 904 Harrow Rd, Kensal Green NW10 5JU
contact: Steph at fifth_state@yahoo.co.uk

LONDON – Kilburn
12.30pm-1.45pm
Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn NW6 7QG
nearest tube: Kilburn
contact: Dan at dviesnik [at] yahoo.co.uk

LONDON – Manor Park
1pm- 3pm
Manor Park Total station, 893 Romford Rd, East Ham E12 5JT
nearest tube: East Ham or (rail) Manor Park
contact: Paul on paul@riseup.net or 07939 975 085

LONDON – Newham
10.30am-12.30pm
High St North Total station, 409-419 High St North, Newham E12 6TL
nearest tube: East Ham
contact: Paul on paul@riseup.net or 07939 975 085

LONDON – Southwark
2pm-4pm
Thomas Beckett Total station, 233-247 Old Kent Road, Southwark SE1 5LU
nearest tube: Elephant & Castle or Borough
contact: Danae on papakura2000@hotmail.com or 07731 956 415

LONDON – Whitechapel
10am-12noon
Vallance Total station, 112 Vallance Rd, Tower Hamlets E1 5BW
nearest tube: Whitechapel
contact: Danae on papakura2000@hotmail.com or 07731 956 415

LONDON – Willesden
11am-12.15pm
Willesden Lane Total station, 290 Willesden Lane, Willesden NW2 5HS
nearest tube: Willesden Green
contact: Dan at dviesnik [at] yahoo.co.uk

OXFORD
from 9.30am
Cowley Total station, 44 Garsington Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LG
contact: Dennis at dhambridge@btinternet.com or 07804 433 602

ST ALBANS
meets outside Barclays Bank, St Peters Street at 11am
moving on to Total garage tbc at 12noon.
contact: totaloutofburma@gmail.com

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2. Protests to be confirmed
——————————————————–

LONDON – Bermondsey
LONDON – Haringey
LONDON – Peckham
LONDON – Waltham Forest
MANCHESTER
WREXHAM

If you interested in attending any of these protests please email totaloutofburma@gmail.com

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3. Details of how to get involved
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There are two ways to take part in the day of action:

1. Join a garage protest (see list above). You can get in touch with the contact listed or you can just turn up on the day and offer your support. As protests are confirmed we’ll add them to the blog: http://www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

2. Organise your own action – there are several hundred TOTAL petrol stations in the UK to choose from. Follow these three easy steps:

a. Find out where your local TOTAL garage is by using the handy Service Station Finder at http://www.total.co.uk or check the google map of UK TOTAL garages being created at http://tinyurl.com/2ftvdf.

b. Get some simple visual materials together, plus some leaflets or petitions, and publicise it to your friends, contacts and local press. If you want the details listed publicly (e.g. by email and on the blog) email them to totaloutofburma@gmail.com or call Paul on 07939 975 085.

c. Hold the protest! Take some pictures, post a report on Indymedia.org.uk and send the link to totaloutofburma@gmail.com. Plus write to TOTAL’s head office telling them what you’ve been up to.

Basic placard designs, petitions, leaflets and a model press release are downloadable from: http://www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com.

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For more information go to:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html
http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com
Join the facebook group: “Get Total Oil out of Burma”

Further Information
————————————-
Total out of Burma blog
http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com

Facebook group – Get Total Oil out of Burma
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6833508763

Burma Campaign UK’s info on Total Oil
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html

Thanks again for supporting the call to get Total Oil out of Burma.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love and solidarity
Social centre Elimäki
www.valtaus.org

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

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

= We are everywhere…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

= Issues beyond the actions

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

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

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

= Materials

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

= Preparation meeting

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

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

= Getting in touch & helping out

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

Climate Action News Sheet, 73 November 2007

CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) WILD LIE EXHIBITION PURSUES SHELL TO ABERYSTWYTH – 10-17.11.07

CONTENTS:
———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) WILD LIE EXHIBITION PURSUES SHELL TO ABERYSTWYTH – 10-17.11.07
2) FREE FILM SCREENING OF ‘THE WARNING’ – LONDON, 12.11.07
3) TOTTERDOWN ART TRAIL – BRISTOL, 16-18.11.07
4) OXFORDSHIRE ECO-HOUSE OPEN DAYS – 24-25.11.07
5) BANNER PROTEST AT BIOFUELS CONFERENCE – LONDON, 27.11.07
6) CRITICAL MASS DATES AND UPDATES – OCT/NOV 2007
7) CLIMATE CHANGE BIKE RIDE / NATIONAL MARCH – LONDON, 8.12.07
8) BEYONDTV FESTIVAL – SWANSEA, 28.11.07-2.12.07
9) CLIMATE CAMP EXHIBITION ON TOUR – WINTER 2007
10) LOW-IMPACT LIVING INITIATIVE COURSES – WINTER 2007
11) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE ART EXHIBITION – NOV/DEC 2007
12) EARTHFIRST MOOT / NEW ACTION UPDATE – WINTER 2007
13) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) SONGS OF FREEDOM AT OPENING OF SHELL’S WILD LIE EXHIBITION – 27.10.07
2) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION VS. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
3) PEOPLE’S BLOCKADE OF WORLD’S BIGGEST COAL PORT – AUSTRALIA, 3.11.07
4) GREENWASH GUERILLAS DISRUPT “CARBON TRAITORS” IN NEW YORK – 30.10.07
5) BP EXECUTIVE PIED AT EUROPE’S LARGEST BIOFUELS EVENT – 17.10.07
6) CAMP HOPE, GLOUCESTER – 20-21.10.07
7) PLANE STUPID AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT – 8.10.2007
8) GREENPEACE PROTESTORS SHUT DOWN POWER PLANT – 8.10.07
9) TOTAL BLOCKADES – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2007
10) NUFFGLOBAL FILMS – NOVEMBER 2007
11) ESCALATING DEFLATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST 4X4S IN SWEDEN – OCT ‘07
12) DIRECT ACTION NEWS FROM GREECE – 7-15.10.07
13) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 4 – NOVEMBER 2007

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) WILD LIE EXHIBITION PURSUES SHELL TO ABERYSTWYTH – 10-17.11.07
Immediately after hosting the 2006 Shell Wildlife Photographer exhibition (organised by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife magazine) Aberystwyth Arts Centre is showing our counter-exhibition; ‘Shell’s Wild Lie’. http://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/whatson/exhibitions/
‘Shell’s Wild Lie’, has been put together as part of London Rising Tide’s ‘Art Not Oil’ campaign, and features photographs and illustrations that we consider give a truer snapshot of the disastrous effects that Shell and the whole fossil fuel industry have on our planet:
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk/gallery/v/Shell/
Book it yourself, and tell the Museum and BBC Wildlife what you think:
m.dixon@nhm.ac.uk, cc’ing to feedback@nhm.ac.uk,
wildlifeletters@bbcmagazinesbristol.com & info@artnotoil.org.uk

2) FREE FILM SCREENING, THE WARNING – LONDON, 12.11.07
The first UK screening of the award-winning film “The Warning” will be on 12th November, 8pm at Passing Clouds Works in Dalston, east London. This documentary charts the struggle of Siberian communities to protect their sacred lands from predatory oil companies. Passing Clouds is behind ‘Uncle Sam’s’, which is on 438 Kingsland Road. Get there from Shoreditch /Old Street on the 242, 243, 67 or 149 buses.

3) TOTTERDOWN ART TRAIL – BRISTOL, 16-18.11.07
Including art, films and exhibitions connected with climate change and peak oil. www.frontroom.org.uk

4) OXFORDSHIRE ECO-HOUSE OPEN DAYS – 24-25.11.07
Are you planning to renovate your house in the most environmental way possible? Do you want to slash energy bills and make your house warmer and healthier? Are you selling your house and want to improve its poor energy rating? Do you want to prepare for life in the climate change century? 18 eco-houses in Oxfordshire are opening their doors to the public to share the techniques, products and possibilities of eco-renovation. This is a superb opportunity to see a wide range of approaches and talk to the house owners directly about their experiences.
www.ecovation.org.uk
www.coinet.org.uk

5) BANNER PROTEST AT BIOFUELS CONFERENCE – LONDON, 27.11.07
This will take place outside the Biofuel Finance and Investment World Conference at Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street (near High Street Kensington tube station) on Tuesday, 27th November, 12 noon to 2pm.
Biofuel investment means more global warming, more deforestation, more people going hungry because of higher food prices and food shortages, and more human rights abuses and refugees as agribusinesses take control over ever larger areas of land.
www.biofuelwatch.org.uk

6) CRITICAL MASS DATES AND UPDATES – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2007
Sheffield; last Friday of the month, 5:30pm at the University Concourse.
London; last Friday of the month, 6:00pm under Waterloo Bridge by the NFT, South Bank. Next ride November 23rd 2007.
http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk/main.html
For reports on the October rides see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/6274

7) CLIMATE CHANGE BIKE RIDE / NATIONAL MARCH – LONDON, 8.12.07
Saturday 8 December, Cyclists assemble 10am Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Cycling to Parliament Square to link up with main march to US Embassy, (timed to coincide with the UN climate talks in Bali). Marchers assemble 12 noon Millbank for main march. [Westminster Tube]
2.30 pm Rally at US embassy. Speakers include Chris Huhne MP, Michael Meacher MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Zac Goldsmith, George Monbiot. The National Demo in London will be one of many global climate demonstrations taking place on the 8th.
http://www.campaigncc.org

8) BEYONDTV FESTIVAL – SWANSEA, 28.11.07-2.12.07
Undercurrents will host the 8th annual BEYONDTV festival of political documentaries, animations and music videos from inspiring media directors. All films will have a theme of social or environmental activism. Hosted in the very heart of Swansea, BeyondTV promises to be an entertaining week with all proceeds going to to support the charity work of undercurrents.
http://beyondtvfestival.clearerchannel.org/whatisbtv

9) CLIMATE CAMP EXHIBITION ON TOUR – WINTER 2007
The Climate Camp exhibition documents in sound, words, installations and images the life, workshops and direct action of those ten busy days in August. It examines the issues and thinking of people who seek to stop the world sleepwalking into a disaster that is manifestly preventable, but hugely profitable for a powerful few. This exhibition will be touring UK cities threatened by regional airport expansion.
Workshops, talks and film screenings will appear at http://www.minimouse.me.uk/show as they are confirmed.
Photographs from the show are a selection from those to be seen at
http://www.minimouse.me.uk/photographers.html

10) LOW-IMPACT LIVING INITIATIVE COURSES – WINTER 2007
LILI will be running 10 courses at a new venue called Unstone Grange (nr. Sheffield) and 28 one day courses at Hackney City Farm in London. For the full range of courses for 2007-2008, see;
http://www.lowimpact.org/courses.htm

11) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE ART EXHIBITION – NOV-DEC 2007
Plymouth Environment Centre is holding a fund-raising art exhibition and auction at the B-bar in the Barbican Theatre, Plymouth.
Exhibition – Friday 23rd November to Thursday 13th December 2007
Auction – Thursday 13th December 2007 starting at 7pm
http://plymouthenvironmentcentre.org.uk/art_auction.php

12) EARTHFIRST MOOT / NEW ACTION UPDATE – WINTER 2007
To download the EF! Action Update and for advance notice of the Winter Moot (February gathering of eco-activists) see;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/6347

13) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – 1.4.08
The site is now running and will be filling up with images, ideas, graphics, posters, links…
Check for updates on what promises to be a memorable day of action.
http://www.fossilfoolsday.org

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) SONGS OF FREEDOM AT OPENING OF SHELL’S WILD LIE EXHIBITION – 27.10.07
15 or so folk from all over Carbon Town gathered today to sing a new hymn of hope to an oil-free future in the co-opted cathedral that is the Unnatural History Museum, where the heartbreakingly beautiful Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has just opened. Gradually the singers were removed, gathering again on the pavement outside with
images from the Shell’s Wild Lie exhibition and more songs. Spirits were high, and responses from the public lovely and heart-warming. No police were present. It still looks as if the campaign to get Shell kicked out as sponsor might bear fruit – we’ll find out very soon if its 2 year contract will be renewed. Let’s keep the pressure up!
For a full report and what you can do to help, see;
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/231
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk//content/view/39/1/
For a short film of the action, see;
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384607.html

2) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION VS. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
From Edinburgh to Cornwall, blockades to invisible theatre, polar bears to treacle tarts; RBS felt the sting today. All in all there were 32 actions across the country including firsts for several groups. Everyone is delighted with the phenomenal response to the day of action…except RBS of course! The actions highlighted their role as one of the world’s
largest funders of climate-wrecking oil and gas extraction. For full reports on the various fantastic protests see;
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/230
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/383812.html
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5176

3) THE PEOPLE’S BLOCKADE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST COAL PORT – AUSTRALIA,
3.11.07
Rising Tide Australia estimate that about 400 people came to Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle and that about 250 entered the shipping channel to blockade the world’s biggest coal port with canoes, kayaks and inner tubes. This was a fantastic show of community determination to take action against Australia’s biggest contribution to climate change, despite
resistance from government and industry. As well as being a powerful and symbolic action, the protest succeeded in disrupting coal exports from Newcastle Harbour.
http://www.risingtide.org.au/peoplesblockadereport

4) GREENWASH GUERILLAS DISRUPT “CARBON TRAITORS” IN NEW YORK – 30.10.07
Rising Tide North America’s Greenwash Guerrillas paid a surprise Halloween visit to the Carbon Market Insights conference in New York City. Posing as delegates, two protesters took the stage at the exclusive event and presented the 700 attendees with a “Deed to the Atmosphere” denouncing Carbon Trading as a sham approach to the fossil fuels crisis. The action was the first in the US to target the growing Carbon Trading industry.
http://risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/category/front-page/

5) BP EXECUTIVE PIED AT EUROPE’S LARGEST BIOFUELS EVENT – 17.10.07
A stunned audience gasped as a cream-pie was launched at BP Biofuels’ Europe & Africa Director Oliver Mace, while activists swarmed the stage and handed out leaflets to attendees. One of the protesters D-locked himself to the podium, telling delegates “we need to reduce our consumption now – technological fixes are not the answer.” Panic alarms
were then set off around the room and the conference was halted.
There was also a demo outside the event and a lock on blockade at a D1 refinery. D1 are one of the biggest traders in biofuel specific crops.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384123.html
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5205
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/expoprotests.php

6) CAMP HOPE, GLOUCESTER – 20-21.10.07
Camp Hope took place in a field opposite the entrance to Gloucestershire Airport on the weekend of 20/21 October 2007. Activists set up the camp in protest at the proposed expansion and increased aviation at Staverton in Gloucester. Workshops and discussions included those given by; Bicycology, Plane Stupid, Seeds For Change, Stop Bristol Airport Expansion and Biofuelwatch.
http://www.myspace.com/campofhope

7) PLANE STUPID AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT – 8.10.2007
Activists from Manchester Climate Action and Manchester Plane Stupid blockaded the security check-in of terminal 3 of Manchester Airport. Passengers were denied access to the departure lounge by seven activists locked together using arm-tube devices. Leaflets and train timetables were handed out. Two banners were unfurled reading, Manchester City Council…supporting climate chaos and Domestic flights cost the Earth. The action was inspired by the Camp for Climate Action.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/climate-change-activists-blockade-domestic-flights

8) GREENPEACE PROTESTORS SHUT DOWN POWER PLANT – 8.10.07
Greenpeace campaigners staged a dawn raid at a power plant which could be the site of Britain’s first new coal-fired station for 20 years. More than 50 activists said they wanted Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reject the proposal for the Kingsnorth site, on the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent. After entering the site, one team locked on to conveyor belts while another team climbed to the top of the chimney.
http://greenpeace.org.uk/tags/kingsnorth

9) TOTAL BLOCKADES – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2007
A wave of demonstrations against the oil giant Total and its role in supporting the brutal regime in Burma have taken place in London, Bradford, Cardiff and Oxford. While not strictly climate-based, these protests keep the spotlight on criminals like Total. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader, said that “Total has become the main supporter of the Burmese military regime.” She told the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur that “Total knew what it was doing when it invested massively in Burma while others withdrew from the market for ethical reasons”.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5122 & 5137, 5204, 5207 & 6346

10) NUFFGLOBAL FILMS – NOVEMBER 2007
NUFFglobal film festival supported a project to produce 25 short films on different aspects of climate change made by young film-makers from around the world. For more info and to watch the clips online see;
http://nuffglobal.net/

11) ESCALATING DEFLATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST 4X4S IN SWEDEN – OCT ‘07
One thousand 4x4s have now been disarmed by The Indians of the Concrete Jungle! The campaign is spreading like wildfire, prompting national debate and furious aggression among SUV-owners.
http://asfaltsdjungelnsindianer.wordpress.com/

12) DIRECT ACTION NEWS FROM GREECE – 7-15 OCTOBER 2007
http://directactiongr.blogspot.com

13) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 4 – NOVEMBER 2007
For the 4th edition of Bath’s premiere radical tabloid see; http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/385124.html

Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK: info at risingtide.org.uk
To receive this News Sheet monthly, email news-subscribe at risingtide.org.uk
with the subject line ‘subscribe’ (without the quotes).

Autumn EF! Action Update out – and advance notice of the Winter Moot, 22-24 February (gathering of eco-activists), Nottingham

The latest issue of the quarterly EF!AU was dished up at the Anarchist Bookfair – bursting at the seams, it had to be turned into a bumper issue, with a round-up of the actions around the time of the Camp for Climate Action, plus loads of action reports from around the world since then – from pieing oil executives, blockading garages & airports, polar bears locking-on, sabotage, prisoners, occupied spaces, digger-diving, GM crop-trashing, to cake and the cunning use of mung beans (oh, and of course, much much more).

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

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The EF! Winter Moot will happen from 22nd – 24th February 2008, in Nottingham – more details nearer the time, as this is just advance notice.

It’s a gathering for environmental activists – in the past, it’s been a chance for people involved in all kinds of ecological direct action to get together for a weekend indoors to chat about where things are at in the UK, and so improve all aspects of how we work together, in order to take direct action in defence of the earth.

Contact 0845-0223 5254 for more info

Protest shackles Total Oil petrol station (& 7th November action call-out)

On 1st November protestors gathered at the 24-hour Total petrol station on Marylebone Road in central London. They were calling for Total Oil to pull out of Burma due to their funding of the Burmese military regime. The protest began at 5pm to coincide with rush hour.

The protest consisted of banners, placards, leaflets and a petition. One protestor wore shackles to signify the oppression of the Burmese people.

Within 10 minutes of the protest beginning staff closed the station, blocking off the forecourt and switching off the lights. Even the accompanying shop was shut. When it became apparent that the protest was continuing the police were contacted. One officer arrived and after consulting the staff told the demonstrators that there were not allowed onto the forecourt and risked arrest if they “interfered” with the business’s trade by blocking the entrance or locking onto any of the pumps. (It should be noted that none of the protestors had entered the forecourt or caused any “interference”.)

After an hour the station re-opened. The protest continued until 7.00pm.

http://www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com

A worldwide day of action against French oil giant Total’s investment in Burma has been called for Wednesday 7th November, the day the company’s quarterly results are published. Total’s continued involvement in the operation of the Yadana gas pipeline in the south of the country, in partnership with Chevron-Texaco, is opposed by the country’s democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest or detention for 12 years. The pipeline earns the regime hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue every year, with only a tiny fraction reaching the Burmese people. The main customer for the pipeline is Thailand.