Rest of Europe – Page 37

Land and Forest Occpation started in Lapland (Finland)

On the 26th of August an international occupationcamp has been started in Finnish Lapland, due to the planning of uranium mining and the planning of a new nuclear plant. Locals and participants from the climate camp finland, decided to combine powers and try to preserve the lappish nature and way of life.

Irish climate camp & actions round-up

Peat power worse than coal for CO2 emissions

Climate Camp is up and running at Shannonbridge, Co.Offaly – started Saturday 15th August and goes on till Sunday 23rd August.

Peat power worse than coal for CO2 emissions

Climate Camp is up and running at Shannonbridge, Co.Offaly – started Saturday 15th August and goes on till Sunday 23rd August.

It’s about what we can do in the face of changing climate that will affect us all. Peat bogs are a living carbon sink – greater even than forestry. Burning peat releases more CO2 into the atmosphere than burning coal. The peat-fired powerstation beside the camp should have been shut down long ago – since our government and Bord na Mona still fail to see the urgency of reducing emissions, climate camp will be staging a major protest on Saturday 22nd August – this will be a day of action and fun, including street theatre, art, etc, which will hopefully bring media attention to this important issue.

Meanwhile, the camp has lots of great workshops every day this week about sustainable living, peat bogs, forestry, cycling, renewable energy, etc, etc. Come along to my Trees and You workshop on Wednesday ! I will be talking about trees as carbon sinks, as vital elements of biodiversity, as added value to farms and gardens, woodland gardens, agroforestry, CELT native tree nursery, CELT Weekend in the Woods (19 / 20 September) (another event not to be missed !) ………………………

So get yourself along to CLIMATE CAMP and be a part of it !

http://www.climatecamp.ie

Camp trailer

Newsletter, including next organising gathering
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Climate Campers take Direct Action on Bog Restoration
August 23, 2009

Hundreds participated in Climate Camp at Shannonbridge, which was held under the shadow of the peat burning powerstation.
The Climate Camp organised three events to create better awareness around the industrial use of peat in powerstations.

Fianna Fáil’s Garret Tubridy unknowingly contributed to the eco-conscious Climate Camp at Shannonbridge. Recent local election posters were reused as part of the men’s toilet facilities. Users did not have to look at his face. Gavin Harte gave a talk on communicating the media message with plenty of workshops on drumming, Rossport, permaculture, the endless dreamcatchers and there were more banners being made than you could shake a stick at. It was great for kids and parents alike.

Lentil Disorder provided the veggie food for the hungry masses with an oats crisis on the Saturday morning. Chocolate flapjacks sated the appetites of early risers.

Locals were bemused watching the parade which left the camp shortly after midday. The barmen from both locals – Killeen’s and Luker’s pubs – waved at some of their new customers. Another local said nothing like this had ever happened in Shannonbridge before. Paraders from the camp had dressed up as zombies and the dark forces of dangerous carbon emissions with a symbolic chimney stack. Biffo of course led the zombies through the village! Campers had made banners, placards, dream catchers and an eclectic sound system boomed, ‘Black Betty, Bam Alam’ and Marley.

Kayakers got onto the little island in the middle of the Shannon holding aloft a banner ‘Sponge Bog Stops Floods’, as the parade reached the bridge timed nicely with cyclists returning from another direct action from the bog.

A few different direct actions were planned and no one told me nuthin’.

There are three peat powerstations in Ireland, Lanesboro and Edenderry, where agile activists dropped banners from, and Shannonbridge where there was a parade and some scuffles broke out when the parade couldn’t go up to the powerstation.

Look at ClimateCamp.ie for more information about the issues.

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Climate Campers take Direct Action on Bog Restoration

No time to waste – preserving Irish peatlands is essential

Climate campers of all ages at Shannonbridge took a direct action this morning August 18th, on a nearby bog by filling in trenches that are used to drain the bog for cutting. The peaceful demonstrations lasted 2 hours with police curiously onlooking at the hard working activists.

This morning at 11.30am sixty odd Climate Campers of all ages strolled 2km from the camp beside the Shannonbridge Peat Burning Power Plant towards one of the Bord na Móna man-made brown deserts outside of the town. Equipped with some sacks, shovels, pillow cases, wheelbarrows, banners and good cheer, they started filling in the trenches made to drain the bogs with milled peat which was destined for burning at the power plant. The direct action continued for about 2 hours filling in a significant part of the trench. Local police watched as the climate campers, including many children, diligently set about their task and some engaged the police in conversation explaining to them the reasons for their actions.

This is the first step that’s needed to restore our bogs” said Molly Walsh, spokesperson for Climate Camp Ireland. “People don’t realise that when bogs are drained and dried, they release ample amounts of carbon dioxide, even before the peat is burnt. Degraded peatlands release 0.97 million tonnes of C02 annually in Ireland.” she added.

Colourful banners and placards were unveiled on the bog saying “Climate Change Costs Lives” and “The bog is our rainforest”. One banner was mounted on a piece of peat-cutting machinery which said “Don’t Burn our Bogs”. Some of the activists boarded a bog train, while others pushed them along, symbolising that humanity is on the wagon towards climate chaos unless we halt these climate chaos causing activities immediately.

Come join us at the camp for more actions and workshops! Climate Camp Ireland continues at Shannonbridge until August 22nd with the main day of action. We call on everyone to come join us on a day of peaceful civil disobedience to stop peat burning at the Shannonbridge Power Station.

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Climate Camp shuts down two peat burning power stations
22nd August 2009

The Climate Camp culminated in Shannonbridge with a day of action. The unsustainability of the peat burning was successfully highlighted with actions at all three peat burning power plants. Activists suceeded in shutting down the two plants at Shannonbridge and Lanesborough. The Shannonbridge plant has been shut all week since the camp started, and the Lanesborough plant was shut down by activists today.

This morning a group of Climate Camp activists carried out a peaceful direct action at Lanesborough peat burning power plant. Some activists locked themselves to the gates while another group entered the plant and carried out a banner drop on one of the buildings which read “Give Peat a Chance.” The power plant’s chimney stack stopped bellowing its carbon emissions for most of the working day. Two activists were arrested.

Gerald Glynn, a spokesperson for Climate Camp said, “We took this peaceful direct action to highlight the urgency of climate justice issues. Our bogs are our rainforests and we need to protect them. We can’t wait for our governments to act. Let’s give peat a chance now.”

At midday another group of Climate Campers targetted a third power plant in Edenderry, owned by Bord na Mona. Five women dropped a banner from the power station’s conveyor belt which read “Climate Justice Now”. The workers at the plant came out and took an interest in the action. “Bord na Mona’s sustainability talk is nothing but that, talk, they are still extracting and burning the dirtiest fossil fuel. We are sending out a strong message of solidarity with communities in the Global South suffering from the impacts of climate change.” said Jerrieann Sullivan, a spokesperson for the group.

A lively colourful parade began at 12pm in Shannonbridge and made its way through the town, across the river and back towards the power plant. Many creative banners were carried by Climate Campers of all ages with slogans such as “Climate Change Costs Lives” and “Bogs are our rainforests”. People were dressed up as zombies and bog monsters as they paraded, chanted, danced and sang through the town while locals looked on with amused interest. Another group merged with the parade after taking more direct action filling in trenches which drain the bogs to start restoring our peatlands. A Climate Camp river crew also unveiled a banner saying “Sponge bog stops floods” to many cheers from the main parade.

“300,000 people are dying annually worldwide as a result of climate change, not to mention losses in wildlife and biodiversity.” said Nancy Serrano, spokesperson for Climate Camp. “People in the midlands deserve better community-oriented sustainable jobs. We need to think long-term and we need to start now.” she added.

ENDS

www.climatecamp.ieFor interview or further information contact the climate camp media phone 085 7851241
or for specific information on the action in Lanesborough – 085 1386675

http://www.flickr.com/photos/climatecampireland

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Daily peaceful blockade of Shannonbridge power station

Whats going on in Mayo? Rossport Update

Overview of the Rossport Solidarity campaign in the last few months: the Solitaire, actions, on-land section, arrests, assaults, strategy, planning appeal, mobilising and more!

What’s going on in mayo?!

Overview of the Rossport Solidarity campaign in the last few months: the Solitaire, actions, on-land section, arrests, assaults, strategy, planning appeal, mobilising and more!

What’s going on in mayo?!

The last few months have been difficult times for the Rossport campaign but have also seen some great collaborations with activists from across Ireland, internationals and the local community.

This summer the Solitaire laid the first section of pipe in Broadhaven Bay. Dredgers are in the process of back filling the first section of the pipeline, coming and going from the bay depending on weather conditions…. IRMS, the private security firm employed by Shell, continue to target and assault protestors. Earlier this year they sunk the boat of local fisherman Pat O’Donnell, one of the ‘Rossport 5’ and attacked Willie Corduff, another campaigner, during a non-violent protest. Both were hospitalised.

Several international anti-Shell campaigners were recently remanded for a blockade and bailed away from Mayo. This is a worrying development enforced by corrupt judges colluding with Shell. Maura Harrington, and Niall Harnett, both well known Shell to Sea campaigners were both given 4 and 8 months respectively, after refusing to comply with a good behaviour bond which stated that they would keep the peace, and stay away from any Shell related infrastructure.

Maura appealed her conviction, and was released from prison on bail pending appeal. Niall served 15 days in Castlerea prison for refusing his extremely restrictive bail conditions, which effectively stopped him from being in his home. He is now out on bail.

In the last two weeks alone there have been 2 accidents involving Shells boats, one causing an oil spill, another damaging a supply ship to the pipeline. According to Shell neither had any environmental impact, despite substances leaking into the sea. This further proves the mockery that is the risk assessments on the environmental impacts that they are conducting.

Despite the success of the Solitaire and pressure from the gardai and IRMS the fight is by no means over!! In August the oral hearing was held where Shell sought to obtain a compulsory purchase order for land needed across the bay to lay the on-shore pipe section…and the decision has been put back till the end of October.

Resistance in Glengad is still strong, with plans for the next phase in the battle against Shell….with the on-shore section comes a new wave of challenges (and opportunities) for campaigners fighting to stop the pipeline… We will be continuing to challenge Shell’s intimidation tactics in order to stop this illegal, unsafe, and environmentally catastrophic project. The situation in Rossport is a line in the sand for new methods of intimidation, human rights abuses, and environmentally disastrous gas extraction and must be stopped. International links in the campaign have been developing over years, especially with the Ogoni tribe in Nigeria where Shell’s tactics have caused many humanitarian crises, and famously led to a trial against Shell for the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Most recently the Shell guilty campaign will see a collaboration between activists from across the globe fighting to stop Shell.

On camp and up at the house we are doing maintenance work on the boats, garden and equipment, and people are always very welcome! The Irish Shell to Sea network is mobilising people ahead of the next section of the campaign, organising actions and demos, and developing strategies for action… in the UK there’s loads that can be done: organising film nights, benefit gigs, taking action in your local area against Shell and the other companies profiting from the pipeline, and mobilising ahead of the next phase. With people being bailed away from Mayo, it’s more important than ever to have people coming to take action against Shell!

To find out more keep an eye out for workshops at the EF gathering, Climate Camp’s and festivals across the UK..

The struggle continues!

For more information see
www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com

www.corribsos.com

www.shellguilty.com

or email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com

3 tonne boulders to sabotage fishing trawlers

Greenpeace are sinking 150 boulders, weighing up to three tonnes off the Danish/Swedish coasts to stop fishing trawlers operating in the area by ensnaring/damaging nets.

“Greenpeace has begun sinking boulders in EU-protected cod fishing grounds to prevent what it says are destructive forms of fishing in the area.

Greenpeace are sinking 150 boulders, weighing up to three tonnes off the Danish/Swedish coasts to stop fishing trawlers operating in the area by ensnaring/damaging nets.

“Greenpeace has begun sinking boulders in EU-protected cod fishing grounds to prevent what it says are destructive forms of fishing in the area.

The environmental group says it will drop 180 boulders off the Swedish and Danish coasts to prevent fishing boats from dragging nets along the sea bed.

Greenpeace says the bottom-trawling fishing method destroys both the sea bed and the marine environment.

Greenpeace spokesman Staffan Danielsson told AFP news agency that the granite boulders, weighing as much as three tonnes, would be sunk over the next week.

They would have “no negative impact on the environment”, he said.”

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8194105.stm

EF! summer gathering – exact location, travel info & updated workshop programme announced; coal-blighted communities visit

Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18th-24th August 2009, Cumbria

Never has halting the destruction of our planet been so important… Learn how to make them stop!

The gathering this year will be held at Seathwaite in the beautiful Borrowdale. The site is right in the heart of the Lake District and surrounded by mountains, streams and tarns. The nearest train station is Penrith. More detailed directions, public transport, walks & cycle rides to the site

Workshop programme in a variety of formats

Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18th-24th August 2009, Cumbria

Never has halting the destruction of our planet been so important… Learn how to make them stop!

Workshop programme in a variety of formats

WHO
Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we’re standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically

WHAT
Planning actions and campaigns, meeting and sharing skills with others who care. Over 80 training workshops plus games and evening fun:
• Learn skills for direct action. Tree Climbing, Orienteering, Security for activists, Legal briefing, Escaping public order situations, street medics – first aid, self defence, Boat blockading using kayaks, radio procedures and rock abseiling.
• Network your campaign against ecological destruction. opencast mining, genetic engineering, agrofuels, dam-building, hunt-sabbing, climate actions, oil pipeline resistance, road stopping, anti-whaling, squatting, rainforest protection.
• Learn about ecology, ecocentric ethics and alternatives to the corporate world of exploitation.
• Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living, field trips and hands-on work.

YOU
We are all crew! This is your gathering come prepared to help run the camp and contribute to the programme. Contact us in advance with ideas for workshops, help with organising the gathering, come early to help setup the site or stay on for a couple of days for takedown.
If you can help get in touch!

BRING
Bring tent and sleeping bag. You can either cook food for yourself or for £4 per day chip in with collective cooking of delicious vegan organic food. There’ll be quiet sleeping areas, toilets and running water, a children’s space and spaces for workshops and info stalls.
Veggies will provide vegan cake and snacks. Children and young adults welcome with subsidized meals.

Arrive Tues pm. Workshops from Wed am until Sun pm.

Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summer’s EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.

An excursion to visit communities in the North East threatened by an expansion of coal mining on Monday 24th August. Visit beautiful valleys and strong spirited communities and make links for ongoing resistance.

We aim to make the site as accessible as we can please contact us in advance if you have special needs, questions or concerns.

WHERE
The site is near in the Lake District, Cumbria. The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp.

Dogs: We are fortunate this year to be able to accommodate well behaved owners with dogs on leads but think about whether your dog will feel comfortable in workshops. Please call beforehand so we know numbers.

Cost: £20 – £30 according to what you can afford. We are not for profit all extra cash goes to help fund next year. Under 14’s free.

For more info contact us at :
summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk
www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk

News from climate action camps in Scotland, Belgium/Netherlands and France

Scottish camp starts – Scottish coal conveyor supplying Drax sabotaged – targets list –
Belgian/Dutch camp starts – Belgian coal terminal occupied – French camp & Nantes airport action

…

Scottish camp starts – Scottish coal conveyor supplying Drax sabotaged – targets list –
Belgian/Dutch camp starts – Belgian coal terminal occupied – French camp & Nantes airport action

…

Local support for Climate Camp Scotland is made quite clear on the (longer than we expected) bus ride from Lanark through the winding country lanes to Mainshill solidarity camp that is also now Scotlands’ Climate Camp.

Spotting us with our tent and gear an older woman says she would’ve joined the camp if it wasn’t for her bad health and other women on the bus jeer and promise food donations. A bloke immediately struck up a conversation telling us he used to work on the opencast mine and that his brother still does. He said he couldn’t understand why they were so keen to reopen and restart work on the site. He’ll more than likely be visiting the camp this week too.

We arrived at the 6ft wooden fence fitted with a door that is the main gate of the camp about 2pm – the driver making an unscheduled stop to drop us off at the camp entrance so we didn’t have to walk back from the nearest stop – just as 2 local plod had managed to walk in wandering half way up the lane to the camp finding themselves quickly surrounded by climate campers convincing them to leave. Other than that, the lone cop with video cam at Lanark station and the chopper which hovered around for a few minutes a while ago, the authorities seem to be keeping a low profile. No FIT at the camp, in fact no police hanging around at all.

Although not very busy yet, the camp is looking solid: never mind the compost toilets, there’s a bike-powered cinema, big kitchen tent, and solar-powered (indy)media tent. And plenty of camping space, of course. From the other end of the field we can see the wind farms on hills to either side of the camp.

——–

Glentaggart Coalmine Sabotaged; Police leave cancelled across the region

The Camp for Climate Action Scotland has been informed that anonymous activists have successfully sabotaged the Glentaggart opencast coal mine in South Lanarkshire. The unknown individuals have disabled the conveyor belt that moves coal from the mine to Ravenstruther rail terminal where the coal is then sent to Drax power station in Yorkshire.

The sabotage has the potential to greatly disrupt the removal of coal. Insiders say that once it has been stopped it is difficult to restart the heavily laden conveyors which is several kilometers long and comes in quarter kilometer sections. Drax power station was the site of the first Camp for Climate Action 2006.

The Camp for Climate Action Scotland is taking place cross the valley from Glentaggart at the site of another proposed open cast mine at Mainshill woods near Douglas. A protest camp has already been in place for six weeks campaigning against the plans which have gone through despite strong local opposition. The area is already one of the most heavily mined areas in Europe with a number of other opencast mines already being worked.

Diarmaid Lynch, a spokesperson from the Camp said on hearing the news, “Fantastic. Congratulations to those who did this. Opencast mining is responsible for a spike in the number of lung related deaths in this small area. It is time that the likes of Scottish Coal and the planning authorities are held directly responsible for their role in these deaths. Climate change is a killer, both at home and in the Global South where those who have benefited the least from industrialisation are the first to pay the price.”

The World Health Organisation estimates that climate change kills 150,000 people a year and that figure is expected to grow as countries fail to take action. Cancer in the Douglas postcode area is 23% above the national average, and 28% above the regional average. In the four years that the existing three opencast mines have been operating in the area pulmonary issues have increased 60%.

In a separate development the Camp for Climate Action has also learned that police leave across the central belt of Scotland has been cancelled as the various forces move to a state of high alert. To date the policing at the Camp has been very low key, but campers remain alert.

Scotland’s Climate Criminals

The following is a list of the operations in Scotland which profit from the exploitation of fossil fuels. None of these operations are compatible with the vision for a zero-carbon Scotland as such they will be targetted with direct action in order to ensure we can make a just transition towards a sustainable future.

Longannet and Cockenzie Coal Power stations

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Preswick and Aberdeen Airports

Oil & Gas operations in Aberdeen-shire

Grangemouth Oil & Gas Refinery

Hunterston coal terminal

All open-cast coal mines

Coal distribution network including;
Ravenstruther coal terminal
Crowbandsgate Rail Facility
Glentaggart Conveyer belt

RBS HQ

Scottish Power HQ

Scottish and Southern Energy HQ

Motorway constructions such as M74

http://climatecampscotland.org.uk/

Video – http://www.envirospeak.tv/video/375

——–

Guide to dismantling the coal industry in Scotland, a 16-page information sheet released by Climate Camp Scotland and Coal Action Scotland [pdf 5.3M]

includes information on open cast coal mines and mine operators, coal-fired power stations, coal rail and port infrastructure, industry lobbyists, and a map of Scottish targets.

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Netherlands/Belgium camp – We’ve started – come join us!

More than 100 people entered and secured a field between Zandvliet and Berendrecht, in the heart of Antwerp’s industrial harbour, at 1am this morning. They have erected tripods, hung banners and are well underway in setting up camp.

Although the Climate Action Camp has been open about most aspects of the plan, the location of the camp had not been revealed until Saturday morning in order to prevent police from attempting to stop it from happening.

The official start date is Monday August 3rd! Take a look at the map below or google ‘Derdeweg Zandvliet Antwerp’ to see the exact location. You can also email info[at]klimaatactiekamp.org or contact the info line at+32 (0)485916863 (please text if possible).*

How to reach the camp site by bus from Antwerp:
From the Rooseveltplaats, close to Antwerp Central station, you can take buslines 770 or 771 direction ‘Zandvliet’. After appr. 40 min., you’ll get to the stop ‘Zoutestraat’ where you have to get off the bus. Follow the street in travel direction, after about 200 meter you will see a couple of tents on the left side. The street next to it is called ‘Derde Weg’, follow it and you’ll quickly reach the welcome tent!

http://www.climateactioncamp.org/

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Climate Action Camp occupies Belgian coal terminal

8.8.2009
The Climate Action Camp on the Belgian/Dutch border yesterday occupied the Antwerp Bulk Terminal (ABT) coal terminal in Antwerp Harbour, Belgium. This terminal; responsible where coal is imported to Europe from Africa and South America before distribution by train and boat to power stations around Europe was shut down for the day as activists blocked train lines and conveyor belts at the site.

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French camp

Camp Action Climat 2009 – Le teaser

climate action alert at Nantes airport, Saturday 8th August 2009 – people invade the terminal of the airport.

One day early: With classical music against nuclear power: “Musical inspection“ on the site of the fine storage site in Gorleben

8th August 09.

Today at 10:30am 60 musicians from the action group “Lebenslaute”, packed with instruments and music stands, climbed the four meter high wall around the site of the planned final storage site in Gorleben (Germany) and began a protest concert with mainly classical music.

8th August 09.

The musicians surprised with their action, originally announced for Sunday. With this “musical inspection” the activists protest against the continued operation of nuclear power plants and against the continued exploration of the salt mine in Gorleben for use as a final nuclear storage site.

“The discussion about nuclear power is about the live of coming generations, but the public does not take the danger seriously enough”, says Berthold Keunecke, a protestant priest from Herford and one of the spokespersons of Lebenslaute. Today we overcame the fences and walls of Gorleben, to effectively protest against nuclear technology which is threatening our lives. We want to awaken, provoke, dramatise – and we all, each one of us individually, stand up for this provocation.”

“The nuclear lobby wants to continue the work to turn salt dome in Gorleben into a final storage site, although the scandals around the salt mine Asse finally made clear, that Gorleben too is not save”, declares Katja Tempel, midwife and Lebenslaute spokesperson from the Wendland. “In the light of the unsolved question of the final storage of nuclear waste, we demand an end to the production of nuclear waste, that is the shutdown of nuclear power stations. The use of renewable energies has to be promoted.”

Under the slogan “A-Moll statt A-Müll” (A-minor instead of A(tomic)-waste” a varied and ambitious programme for choir and orchestra is being performed: the works of Georg Philipp Telemann, Willy Burkhard and Fanny Hensel, performed by “Lebenslaute” celebreate the beauty of nature, which is to be preserved. As an accusation and call for urgent action against the deadly dangers of nuclear energy, “Lebenslaute” will perform Heinrich Schütz’ Choral „Wie nun ihr Herren, seid ihr stumm” (What now, you men, are you silent), as well as parts of symphony No 101 “Die Uhr” (The clock) by Joseph Haydn and a choir version of “It`s my life” (Bon Jovi). Chamber music in different instrumentations concludes the concert.

“The music is an expression of the energy of different generations. With this, our action fits well into the broad spectrum of creative resistance in the Wendland”, explains Katharina Dehlinger, Lebenslaute activist from the county of Paderborn. “It is better that lively music comes through the walls and fences of the mine in Gorleben, than deadly nuclear radiation. The salt dome in Gorleben is not suitable for a save final storage of nuclear waste. The project has to be abandoned.”

With the combination of actions of civil disobedience and mainly classical music the initiative “Lebenslaute” has been raising awareness for wrongs in society for more than 20 years. The initiative includes politically active musicians from all over Germany.

Up-to-date photos (also in printing quality) will soon be available at http://www.lebenslaute.net

Anti-nuclear Camp in Lecce – Italy

ENG
Italy – Lecce

20 – 23 AUGUST IN SALENTO, NUCLEAR CLIMATE CAMP

In the context of the social and environmental resistance, typical of the popular struggles in Italy, a series of experiences, subjectivities and collectivities emerged in the Autumn of 2008 in opposition to the government project to restart the Civil Nuclear programme.

ENG
Italy – Lecce

20 – 23 AUGUST IN SALENTO, NUCLEAR CLIMATE CAMP

Although a decade of grassrots struggles and the referendum of 1987 led to the closing of power stations and the nuclear programme, on 2th july 2009 the Camera (italian parliament) approved the “DDL Sviluppo-pacchetto anticrisi” that contains the reopening of nuclear power stations. In the next 6 months, the government will announce the sites, declared of “strategic-military interest”, in order to avoid clashes with Local Authorities: a open declaration of war against the population!

After one year of meetings and public initiatives, that gave birth to the National Anti-Nuclear Coordination health-environment-energy , the Pugliese Coordination is organizing a resistance camp, in August in Salento, convivial days of “pizzica” folk music and dedication to the cause. The Pugliese Coordination was set up in 1985 to fight nuclear installations in Puglia, and other parts of Italy. Already, even before Cernobyl, in 1985, the movement was rejecting the nuclear in Puglia.

The resistance camp will take place from 20th to 23rd of August in the “Masseria Fattezze”, 2km away from Ionio sea/Cesareo seaport: this period also sees the “Notte della Taranta”, that takes place in various parts of Salento, finishing the 22th of August in Melpignano.
We have choosen this site, a well know cultural reference in Salento, because it wont cost to you to enter, but it will cost 5 euros per day and there’s a kitchen that will cook tipical salentine food.

The resistance camp will basically focus on nuclear energy and fossil-fuels, but will be also discuss other issues on the autumnal political agenda: the crisis, precariety and incomes, racism, “major-works” from the TAV to the Bridge over the Straits, from motorways to drilling, from incinerators to regassificators, so all that kind of things that are the continuity of a model that has left only death and destruction over the territories.

The camp will also focus on the International situation, particularly on the liberation struggle in Palestine, Kurdistan, Nigeria.

The general programme is:

Thursday 20th August
6:00pm Introduction to the camp, and about current situations
7:30pm International overview

Friday 21th August
6:00pm Crisis: Work, precariety, income
7:30pm Common goods – regional energy plan

Saturday 22nd August
6:00pm Anti-nuclear assembly and energy choices

Sunday 23rd August
6:00pm “Field-trip” on the nuclear selected site, in Avetrana
9:00pm Party with Salentine music

Pugliese Coordination / National Anti-Nuclear Coordination health-environment-energy

boboaprile@tiscali.it
tel. 0039368582406

Latest EF! Action Update bursts forth

Car tyres deflate in the night, diggers halted in their tracks, buildings and MPs covered in slime…airports plagued by crazy golf, picnics, city gents and hostage-taking…eco-villages and other autonomous spaces sprout, as others are under threat…tree-sits, banks evicted, fake phone-masts and whaling ships sunk….it must be time for another Earth First! Action Update, bringing you a concentrated quarterly blast of inspiration and contacts to get out there and take direct action against the bastards threatening this planet and its inhabitants.

News from the front-lines – permanent protest camps old and new, and temporary gatherings in a field near you, all the dates and info you need for a summer of blistering action and torrential outpourings!

Successes here, across the pond and round the very other side of the world.

Successes here, across the pond and round the very other side of the world.

A report back from the Coal Caravan, plus info about the communities along its route.

Court news – what happened after protesters planned to shut a coal-fired power plant, and climbed atop a train, plus handy Security Tips for Going on Actions.

Leaving it All in the Ground – news of global fights against the mining of gold, copper, bauxite and aluminium – blockading, torching and night-time pixieing.

A View from the Trees – a story from our eco-centric cousins. And indigenous Peruvians fight on against the wholesale onslaught on our world.

And a round-up of your favourite public order situations – G20, SmashEDO and Athenian rubbish dumps!

Read, download and print it here, subscribe so you get it direct to your door, or look out for it at a climate camp near you.

If you want to be listed or get a bunch of them to distribute, please get in touch.

Share your inspirational news at EF! Action Reports, and it’ll find it’s way into your very own printed EF!AU, in good old black and white print.

Two Irish Anti-Shell Campaigners Jailed for Civil Disobedience

31.7.2009

— Eight and four month sentences show dramatic increase in repression —

31.7.2009

— Eight and four month sentences show dramatic increase in repression —

Shell to Sea campaigners Maura Harrington and Niall Harnett were sentenced to four and eight months in jail respectively at Bellmulet district court today. Both protesters have been convicted for taking action as part of a campaign of peaceful civil disobedience against the ill-fated Corrib Gas Project. Maura was given her four month sentence under Section 8 of the Public Order Act; ‘failing to comply with the directions of a Garda’. The sentence was handed down in relation to an incident that occurred duing a protest at Shell’s ‘landfall’ compound gate on 30th August 2008. Niall was sentenced to eight months in relation to two separate incidents. He was given a four month sentence under Section 8 of the Public order act, and another four months under Section 2, for the supposed assault of a Garda.

Maura had driven her car to the gate of the compound which is the site where the high pressure gas pipeline is to come ashore. She then refused to move her car in one of several acts of peaceful civil disobedience that Maura has engaged in. This is the third time this year that Maura Harrington, retired local school principal, has been jailed for peacefully protesting against the Corrib Gas project.

The alleged assault for which Niall was convicted occured at the compound fence and eye witness acounts and video footage shows Niall attempting to aid another protester garda who is being violently assaulted by a Garda. Niall, who is on his way to Castlerea Prison (Co. Roscommon.) after sentencing this afternoon said:

“I have been jailed for my opposition and civil disobedience to Shell and their facilitators in the Irish State, and for my part in a brilliant protest which will continue and will grow. They will not get away with the destruction of the community, the environment and the giveaway of Irish natural resources. My motives are pure, and this sentence will have served a purpose if it exposes the lengths the State will go in their complicity in the rip-off of Ireland’s natural resources”.

Both defendents were forced to choose between signing restrictive bonds to keep the peace or lengthy jail terms. The bonds would have placed limits on and prevented each of them from exercising their democratic rights to freedom to protest and freedom of movement. Under such bonds they would have been forbidden from attending any protest and excluded from the areas around any Shell sites.

Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway said: “Certain prominent protesters appear to have been targeted in an attempt to crush resistance in the area. These jail sentences represent the lastest examples of a sustained campaign by the state, in conjunction with Shell, to criminalise and intimidate the local community and their supporters in order to implement their project at any cost. Maura and Niall are courageous campaigners against the destruction of the environment, the threat to health and safety and the giveaway of Ireland’s natural resources. ”

A protest was organised by Dublin Shell to Sea group for Thursday 30th July outside Mountjoy prison where Maura was taken after sentencing on Thursday morning.