Rest of Europe – Page 36

Back up in the trees (Basque Country)

If we reported yesterday that the attempt to remain in the trees of Bekea (Galdakao) had failed, today we have to report that activists are back to it!!

If we reported yesterday that the attempt to remain in the trees of Bekea (Galdakao) had failed, today we have to report that activists are back to it!! Somehow this shows the determination of the movement (hope it keeps this way!). More than twenty activists entered the building site for the High Speed Train of Bekea (near Bilbao) and some climbed up again to some trees with banners and pans. The struggle continues!!

Meanwhile yesterday 6 activists were tried in Tolosa for chaining themselves to the balcony of the Ordizia councilhouse in june 2008. They have been fined.

Excavator set on fire in the Basque Country

yesterday 12th Oct someone phoned the basque paper Gara to claim the burning of an excavator of a company which takes part in the building of the High Speed Train. The company is UTE Benta Aundi.

Reivindican la quema de una excavadora en denuncia de las obras del TAV

http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20091013/161223/es/Reivindican/la/quema/de/una/excavadora/en/denuncia/de/las/obras/del/TAV/

yesterday 12th Oct someone phoned the basque paper Gara to claim the burning of an excavator of a company which takes part in the building of the High Speed Train. The company is UTE Benta Aundi.

Reivindican la quema de una excavadora en denuncia de las obras del TAV

http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20091013/161223/es/Reivindican/la/quema/de/una/excavadora/en/denuncia/de/las/obras/del/TAV/
GARA |
Un comunicante anónimo informó ayer a GARA de que el pasado 30 de setiembre llevaron a cabo un sabotaje contra una máquina excavadora en Ibarra. Según detalló, prendieron fuego a la máquina, que resultó calcinada, por lo que los trabajos que llevan a cabo cerca del río se paralizaron durante una semana.
El comunicante anónimo señaló que el ataque se realizó contra una máquina excavadora de la empresa UTE Benta Aundi. Denunció que detrás de esa empresa se esconden varias empresas que construyen el Tren de Alta Velocidad en Euskal Herria. Y ésa ha sido la razón que esgrimió para llevar a cabo el ataque.

Silencio y ocultación
«A quienes están destruyendo nuestras tierras, a quienes se están enriqueciendo a costa del futuro de este pueblo y a todos aquellos que colaborar con estos hemos querido transmitir un mensaje sencillo. Con los que promueven la destrucción, es decir, con Amenabar, Fonorte, Adif, Uria… ¡no se puede colaborar!».
Asimismo, el comunicante también denunció el silencio que se ha impuesto sobre todo lo relacionado con el TAV, «como este ataque», con objeto, a su entender, de dar una imagen de que «no hay movimiento, no hay oposición, no hay respuesta. Ocultan todo y así dibujan la sociedad que ellos emiten desde los (des)informativos. Por desgracia para ellos, nosotros no estamos de acuerdo».

Activists keep on against the High Speed Train & video

The campaign against the High Speed Train doesn’t rest over here in the Basque Country. Funny enough: in both sides of it (if you can consider there are such), in the French administrated as ell as in the Spanish one. Next Saturday 17th October a demo has been called in Baiona, where people from ‘both sides’ will attend . Meanwhile the latest attempt to climb trees and defend the woods has failed today when activists were taken down by the Basque police (yes, there is one – brutal,fascist and feared as much as the Spanish and French ones!!). This new attempt aimed to continue the success of the last weeks when activists remained for two weeks up in centenary birch trees in woods facing removal. This action, in some way the first one of its kind after camps, sit-ins, etc, triggered a series of actions all over the Basque Country. Activists climb centric trees of their own cities and towns to show solidarity and to take the message. Without any doubts, the most mediatic of such actions was the climbing of the Gernika tree. This is the historic oak tree which ancient Basque chieftains gathered around. The one targeted by the nazis, the Condor Legion, when the well known bombing of this city. However this seems to be the only tree that really matters to basque politicians.

(i will try to post something else with more time – please distribute this item as widely as you can)

mantxo@yahoo.com

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Video of activists climbing the Basque sacred oaktree of Gernika, the only tree these bunch of technocrats care for. You can notice the police’s (Ertzantza) failure to remove the activist and the subsequent action of the fire brigade. The action had great media coverage. Enjoy it!

http://www.sindominio.net/ahtez/?q=es/node/325

12,000 mink freed from fur farms, one farm to close

Media in Denmark have reported that more than 10,000 mink were released from cages at Danish fur farms this week. Media in Sweden has reported that approximately 1,000 mink were released from cages at a farm in Eksjo, Sweden early on October 5.

TWO FUR FARM RAIDS IN THREE DAYS, 11,000 MINK FREED (Denmark)

Media in Denmark have reported that more than 11,000 mink were released from cages at Danish fur farms this week. During the night of October 6, 6000 mink escaped from a farm near Søndervig after cages were opened and fences surrounding the property were destroyed. Then, early on October 9, 5000 mink were freed from cages at a farm in Fousing.
(photo: Morten Melhede / dagbladetringskjern.dk)

1000 MINK RELEASED FROM CAGES, FARM WILL CLOSE! (Sweden)

Media has reported that approximately 1,000 mink were released from cages at a farm in Eksjo, Sweden early on October 5.
Water pipes and equipment at the farm were also damaged. It was the fourth time that the farm had been targeted, most recently in April.

The farmer has announced that the farm will close.

Source: Bite Back Magazine

Hit the Production of Climate Chaos – get involved – 13th December call for actions

The climate catastrophe has not happened by random chance and the melting glacier is not its place. Our economic system, the way it produces goods, and the way they are transported and finally consumed is the root of climate change.

We do not believe that this COP will solve the climate crisis. The delegates, NGOs and company representatives are stuck in an ideology of never ending economic growth and universal market solutions to all human-made problems, such as ecological destruction. Social justice issues are consequently ignored.

On December 13th we call for action on this economic system. We encourage affinity groups to take action on targets in Copenhagen, and abroad. In the Morning of December 13th we will also shut down the harbour of Copenhagen through a mass action blockade. The harbour is a key symbol of the global free-market economy. Here becomes visible what is usually hidden: ecological deterioration, economic and social exploitation, and utter injustice.

Since the dawn of colonialism the global shipping industry has been characterized by violence. What was once gold pillaged from the Incas is these days profit based on cheap resources and cheap labour – usually transported by ships. Today, container shipping is one of the foundations of capitalism. There are hardly any regulations: fuel is not taxed, emissions are not subject to control and borders are seemingly non-existent for container ships. At the same time, the never ending need for more cheap goods is almost limitless. The ‘free’ global flow of goods continues to grow – with benefits for only the few.

But whereas these flows of goods can enter the EU/ rich world freely, humans cannot. As soon as people do not have the right passport or enough money when entering rich countries, they are put in prisons, deported and deprived of the most basic human rights. And the militarisation of the seas is not just happening around the EU borders. It is also used to protect international shipping, like in Somalia where international fishing fleets have robbed Somali fishermen of the fundamental elements of their existence.

Finally, international shipping is more than just a method of transport for the global economy. It is in itself a primary cause of climate change. Approximately 5% of Global Greenhouse Emissions are produced by the shipping industry. Container ship fuel is basically toxic waste left over from petrol production, containing high amounts of sulphur and mercury. And like international flights, nobody is responsible for shipping industry emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

Climate justice and real social change will not come from above. Effective change has to come from everyone – affected, responsible, and observer. True change has to be organized and realized by people all over the world – all people on the streets and in the fields. We say no to the power of governments, companies and so-called non-government organisations which are only interested in maintaining their power, influence and flows of capital.

We will try to stop this madness for a day. Fighting for climate justice means changing our economic system and this needs to happen here in the rich global north, which reaps the most benefits from the disaster. For the free flow of people and ideas, instead of flows of goods to benefit the few.

Contact htp@riseup.net to get involved with planning the action, or come to one of our next meetings: Berlin October 3-4 & Copenhagen October 18.

Copenhagen Mass action against Coal Plant today

26th September 2009

26th September 2009
Today in Copenhagen is a large mass action against a Coal Power Station near to the city. Breaking news is of one mass ‘preventative’ arrest of activists from one of the two blocks (green / purple) and the cops attacking another group with truncheons. A hole has been cut in the fence of the plant at the rear. The action is continuing…

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As is now usual when the Danish cops make a mass ‘preventative’ arrest of loads of protesters, they kettle them, take them individually, and handcuff them with their arms behind their back. Then they put each person one by one behind the other with the legs alongside the one in front. Sitting in the fashion for a while becomes painful as you wait for the wagons to eventually arrive and cart you off from the protest site.

They’ve been using this mass arrest thing for a number of years now. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re in the place they want to arrest people then its tough!

It’s like the UK kettle with an added twist!

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Today about 1500 people took direct action to shut down one of Copenhagen’s coal fire power plants.

The action plan was openly announced several months ago and Danish police have been gearing up for massive use of force and to trial new anti-protest laws. Around 100 of the protesters managed to get inside the power plant which should have been shut down due to safety regulations at that point – but was kept running. However, as this was the goal for the action protesters have declared the action a success. Around 100 people have been arrested.

One person so far has been charged. The action was widely and positively covered in Danish news and protesters regard it as a very positive trial run for actions around the COP 15.

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Success critera for Shut It Down Saturday 26th September, Copenhagen

1. enter a power plant and to shut down the production
2. confront politicians and energy companies with direct action, challenging the existing system
3. to evoke international recognition of the intentness of climate movements
4. mobilise people for climate activism by participating in an creative, colourful and integrating action
5. and finally to raise awareness about the conflict between coal power and climate change

http://shutitdown.dk/

Five fur farms closed down after ALF actions

reported by activists in Italy:

“August 2009

The Animal Liberation Investigation Unit (ALIU) announced the final closure of 2 mink farms in Italy.

reported by activists in Italy:

“August 2009

The Animal Liberation Investigation Unit (ALIU) announced the final closure of 2 mink farms in Italy.

– The De Nardi farm in Vittorio Veneto (TV) was found locked and long abandoned. Instead of mink in the sheds, some sheep roam.
We entered the farm at nightfall and we found some cages with birds inside.
Although our aim was only to document the closure of the farm, we could not leave these beautiful animals locked in tiny cages, so we smashed the cages and watched the birds fly away.
De Nardi until a few years ago was president of the Italian Mink Farmers Association.

(click here for additional photos from the De Nardi farm)

– The Anipel mink farm in San Martino Buon Albergo (VR) is finally closed. All cages and sheds are empty. Some sheds were being dismantled and cages were stacked outside along with a truck for sale.
The walls of the sheds still have messages painted by activists who previously visited this farm, and the building that houses cold storage and warehouses has no roof, which was probably destroyed in the fire of 2006.
A dozen dogs are still confined on the grounds of the farm.”

(click here for additional photos from the Anipel farm)

The anti-fur network Offensive gegen die Pelzindustrie has announced that three fur farms in Germany have closed down, farms that until recently imprisoned thousands of mink.

Among the farms was one near the city of Melle that was visited by the A.L.F. in January 2007 when hundreds of empty cages were destroyed. The farm never rebuilt following the action.

Source: http://directaction.info

Calais: Solidarity Needed!

Around 2000 migrants living in squats and camps in Calais, France, are under threat of eviction and deportation as the French immigration minister has vowed to destroy their homes. Reports (including a statement by the French immigration minister) suggest large-scale clearances of camps could take place this week.

Calais is just one of many points across Europe where repression against migrants is at its most visible. Here, around 2000 people, unable to cross the border into Britain, are persecuted by French police; beaten, harassed, forced to sleep rough in nearby woods, & attacked during the night.

People are urgently needed in Calais to support the migrants in their fight for freedom of movement. Come and do something really meaningful and directly effective now!

Check out Calais Migrant Solidarity http://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/ for info on contacting people there, what to bring, where you can stay. (You can get a ferry crossing for £10!)

More background information on the situation in Calais at http://london.noborders.org.uk/calais2009

Solidarity call-out http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/09/438182.html

GM Round-Up: Ready? Global sabotage the answer

Despite the European Food Safety Authority and of course Monsanto declaring MON 810 maize to be safe, Germany and France in Spring of this year banned the cultivation of this genetically modified crop. It was the only GM crop permitted in Germany. There are very active opposition movements in both countries – ripping up GM crops both at night and by day, occupying fields were it was due to be planted and other wide-scale protests.

In June in Germany, two hundred and seventy apple trees on a trial site owned by the Institute for Breeding Research on Horticultural and Fruit Crops of the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) in Dresden-Pillnitz were destroyed by unknown intruders. Most of the trees were genetically modified plants being grown in tubs in a special safety tent under field-like conditions. It is the first time that protesters have destroyed plants that were not being grown in the field.

According to a press release by the JKI, the tent fabric was cut open and all of the trees, which were about seven years old, were either snapped by hand or cut with pruning shears above the graft. The institute estimates the cost of the damage to be around EUR 700 000. Around ten years of research work has been destroyed.

Meanwhile, in Spain 80,000 hectares of GM maize are grown, mostly in Zaragoza and Catalonia. Thousands of people took to the streets this Spring to protest against Spain being the GM dustbin of Europe.

The UK government continues to spout recycled (from 10 years ago) industry nonsense claims about feeding the world, solving climate change and generally saving humanity. Scottish and Welsh politicians remain opposed to GM however.

In the UK BASF – who have been trying to grow GM potatoes over the last couple of years – didn’t bother this year. There have been critical reports over their antibiotic-marker GM potatoes, and the company is preparing itself for a hostile takeover bid. More info: decision not to plant this year | takeover threat

However, there are claims that a trial was grown in secret, and a Welsh GM industry-funded farmer continues to try to provoke through claiming to grow GM.

In April in Poland, anti-GM campaigners from GMO-Free Poland went on hunger strike for 3 weeks, wringing a minor concession out of the government.

Protest in India against GM corn led to a large number of arrests, with 35 arrested in other protests there against GM rice.

And on 19th August 2009 in Iceland, genetically-modified barley, which was being grown for experimental purposes in Gunnarsholt, south Iceland, by start-up company ORF Liftaekni, was damaged by a group of activists in the early hours of Wednesday. There will be no harvest this fall. The CEO said: “For a small company like ours, which is struggling in the difficult innovation environment, this is a serious matter.” The group of activists, which calls itself Illgresi (Weed), sent an anonymous email to the media, claiming responsibility for the sabotage.

German anti-nuclear protests heat up ahead of 21 September election

About one thousand Castor caskets full of nuclear waste are produced by just one atomic power station during its operative life without there being a final repository for it anywhere.

That’s a point the German anti-nuclear activist group Campact is making with demonstrations in 12 cities of the country, which goes to the polls on 27 September.

About one thousand Castor caskets full of nuclear waste are produced by just one atomic power station during its operative life without there being a final repository for it anywhere.

That’s a point the German anti-nuclear activist group Campact is making with demonstrations in 12 cities of the country, which goes to the polls on 27 September.

The conservatives of Chancellor Angela Merkel, keen backers of nuclear power, are tipped to win by a large margin.

Last Friday Compact put on its spectacular show in Berlin, the capital, on Saturday they were in Hamburg, the second-largest city.

Part of the action is a huge lifelike mock-up of a Castor casket, the kind of receptacle in which waste is transported and stored.

Meanwhile 30 farm tractors from the Gorleben waste dump area are rolling towards Berlin, to be joined by 100 more later, for a demo on 5 September expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. More than 1,000 people and 120 tractors sent them on their journey of hundreds of kilometres. At this writing they had passed through Lueneburg, Uelzen and Braunschweig.

A leftwing newspaper, “taz”, reports that nuclear power companies are giving their apprentices time off work to attend a pro-nuclear demonstration at the Biblis power station, one of whose two blocks is to be shut down by the end of this year. It is situated in a heavily industrialised and populated central German area encompassing Frankfurt/Main, Darmstadt and Mannheim. The power companies deny that they’re pressuring the trainees, but one source in the RWE company said there’s a clear order to take part. If all do, that would make 10,000 pro-nuclear demonstrators.

Meanwhile the Federal Radiation protection agency reports that a lump of 20,000 tonnes is likely to drop 40 to 45 metres out of the ceiling of a former salt mine in Morsleben which is one of several dodgy nuclear waste dumps in Germany.

The agency says there’s even a possibility that the entire ceiling could collapse. People in the area would be able to feel it, glasses would wobble. Brine is running in the mine and has even formed stalagtites.

Morsleben used to be the nuclear dump of the former communist East Germany and Ms Merkel, then environment minister, allowed dumping to continue there despite warnings by scientists that it was unsafe. It was finally stopped by a court order, initiated by Greenpeace.