Rest of Europe – Page 48

Updates from Mayo – Shell to sea – London solidarity

15th September 2008
Protest at the Shell’s Dublin HQ

Activists from different backgrounds came along to a 1PM protest in support of the actions taken in the last week against Shell and the Irish government.

15th September 2008
Protest at the Shell’s Dublin HQ

Activists from different backgrounds came along to a 1PM protest in support of the actions taken in the last week against Shell and the Irish government.

Hundreds of leaflets were distributed and many passing motorists beeped their horns in support.

As always a large contingent of gardaí were on hand to protect the Shell employees and the company’s property from the entirely peaceful and dignified protest outside.

Around 20 people took park in a solidarity vigil at 6pm at Shell HQ in support of shell to sea hunger striker Maura Harrington.

—-

Today Maura Harrington marked her birthday with a seventh day on hunger strike, while supporters from the UK & Ireland demonstrated across London to bring attention to her protest. Maura, a teacher in NW Mayo, is part of the Shell To Sea Campaign which has been actively opposing Shell’s latest attempts to lay an 80 km sea based stretch of gas pipeline.

Maura’s hunger strike began on Tuesday in protest at the arrival of the Solitaire ship which was to lay the pipeline for Shell. Maura ‘s has declared that her protest will continue until the Solitaire agrees to leave Ireland without laying the pipeline.

Two Irish neighbours of Maura picketed the Shell HQ from midnight Sunday until 9am with a candle lit vigil for their friend. At 7am this morning Shell workers were greeted with leaflets & informed of Maura’s plight.

Next was AllSeas UK Ltd who own the Solitaire pipe-laying ship. 30 people banged pans, blew whistles & handed out leaflets outside the registered office of AllSeas. A blank sticker had been placed over their company label & someone from inside the building claimed that no-one was home. Eventually a security guard took a letter from the protesters, addressed to the Chief Executive, demanding that the Solitaire is removed from Irish waters immediately.

After an hour at AllSeas the crowd processed to the Irish embassy shouting ”Irish woman on hunger strike. No new Shell pipeline”. The Irish embassy refused to take a letter from an elderly Mayo woman. The protesters were asking that the Irish embassy protect its citizens such as Maura who are attempting to protect their community from the health and safety and environmental nightmare that the pipeline poses, instead of supporting the Garda intimidation and brutality.

The Norwegian embassy was the last to be visited. Norway is profiteering from the oppression of people in Ireland. It’s state oil company, Statoil is working in partnership with Shell. Here a member of staff did come out to meet us and accepted a burning candle as a symbol of our solidarity with Maura and the request of the campaign that the Norwegian Government send the Solitaire home.

As Maura’s condition deteriorates, the Solitaire is yet to respond and leave Ireland. Daily protests continue with a international day of solidarity action planned for this coming Saturday.

——–

Shell Demos from Thur 11th Sept

There were two demonstrations held in Dublin on Thursday in solidarity with the struggle in Rossport against Shell’s activities.

One demo was held outside Shell’s headquarters earlier in the evening and later there was a demo outside the GPO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m84LRWsLUr4

——–

September 14th 2008

Shell’s pipe-laying ship pretends not to listen: meanwhile 500+ cars join protest rally in Erris

Hunger striker Maura Harrington’s daughter Astrid and son Iollan travelled to Killybegs Co. Donegal, today to make a personal plea to the Shell pipe-laying ship the Solitaire and its captain Mr. Simon van der Plicht to leave Irish waters immediately, and allow Maura to end her strike. Meanwhile, over 500 cars (with their drivers and passengers) drove around Erris this afternoon in a massive show of support for Ms. Harrington, who has now entered the sixth day of her hunger strike.

A deputation from Shell to Sea travelled to Killybegs, Co. Donegal today to attempt communications with Shell’s pipe-laying ship the Solitaire and with its captain, Mr. Simon van der Plicht. the deputation included two of hunger striker Maura Harrington’s children – her daughter Astrid, and her only son Iollan, who was brutally arrested by Shell’s Gardaí during yesterday’s beach reclamation action in Glengad, Co. Mayo.

At about lunchtime, soon after the Shell to Sea deputation arrived in Killybegs, radio contact was established with the Solitaire, which replied to initial VHF radio contact. Once the deputation announced their identity and their purpose over the radio, all radio contact with the Solitaire ceased, and all communications on VHF radio channels were met with silence. Disappointed with the ship’s attitude but undaunted, the deputation kept communicating their message to the Solitaire over the radio, with Astrid and Iollan eloquently explaining the current situation in Mayo and why their mother has chosen to go on hunger strike, and they made dignified requests for the Solitaire to leave Irish waters, so that their mother can end her strike. The other ships that were involved in Shell’s abortive pipe-laying operation in Mayo were similarly addressed; these communications were also met with silence. A further attempt at communication with Shell’s ships some two hours later was met with silence again. The Shell to Sea delegation kept trying to establish communication for about a half an hour, but were ultimately fruitless.

Between the communication attempts, Astrid boarded the Irish Naval Service ship the LÉ Eithne, which was moored in Killybegs harbour. She managed to encounter its captain, and she began explaining to him calmly the situation in her home place in NW Co. Mayo and her disgust at the Irish Navy’s role in Shell’s attempt to begin pipe-laying in Broadhaven Bay, but he walked away from her without commenting. She was then escorted off the ship.

Meanwhile back in Co. Mayo a motor car rally of over 500 cars made its way around Erris this afternoon – a sign of the massive support Shell to Sea’s and Maura Harrington’s stand command in the locality. The rally started at Barnatra at 3:30pm and is continuing at the time of posting.

Maura Harrington entered the sixth day of her hunger strike this lunchtime. Her health and spirits remain strong, as she stays in her car parked before the Shell Glengad compound gates. The gates area is kept constantly lit by Shell an an attempt to disrupt her sleeping pattern, and the numerous Gardaí stationed there continue to behave in a aggressive abusive manner. A vigil of supporters keeps watch on Maura 24 hours a day, and help combat the various Garda verbal and physical nastinesses. Her hunger strike will continue until she receives solid assurances from either the Solitaire or its owners Allseas Group SA that the ship will not be pipe-laying in Broadhaven Bay this year and will be leaving Irish territorial waters without delay.

Come to Mayo and see for yourself what Shell and the state have done to a resisting unconsenting community!

Son of Shell to Sea hunger striker assaulted and arrested at Glengad beach

13.09.2008
Today at midday around 50 local and national Shell to Sea campaigners attempted to reclaim Glengad beach, Special Area of Conservation, from Shell. Despite Shell’s commitment to allow public access to the beach, for the past two months the beach has been closed to the public while preparatory pipeline work is ongoing.

When campaigners attempted to exercise their right to public access to the beach they were met by Garda violence. Four people were arrested, including hunger striker Maura Harringotn’s son. Ms. Harrington’s son was treated particularly brutally by the Gardai. Four Gardai knelt on his back, pushed his face into the sand for several minutes and twisted his arms behind his back.

One witness to the arrests stated, “There were over 50 people participating in the demonstration and out of all these the Gardai clearly singled out Maura Harrington’s son. They called him by name and then assaulted him. It was no co incidence that it was Maura’s son that was so violently arrested.”

All who were arrested are currently being held in Belmullet Garda station.

At the time of writing Maura Harrington, Shell to Sea, is into her fifth day of a hunger strike which she began on Tue 9th August at approximately 6pm when Shell’s pipe-laying ship the Solitaire arrived in Broadhaven Bay, Erris, Co Mayo.

Maura is clear that her hunger strike will end in one of two ways.

1) Written confirmation that the Solitaire has left Irish territorial waters.
2) Her death.

Rossport Update on 11th September 2008 & solidarity action in Brighton & upcoming action in London

An update on the situation as of this morning in occupied Erris

After a truly momentous day in Erris yesterday,things are much calmer this morning.
The Solitaire has been confirmed to be stationery in Killybegs Co Donegal.

An update on the situation as of this morning in occupied Erris

After a truly momentous day in Erris yesterday,things are much calmer this morning.
The Solitaire has been confirmed to be stationery in Killybegs Co Donegal.

Police presence in the area is still very heavy this morning although the general atmosphere (aside from at the compound gates) is slightly less tense. Maura Harrington continues her courageous hunger strike at the compound gates with round the clock solidarity from both locals and the camp.

It is still not clear how exactly the Solitaire sustained the damage to its “stinger”
The stinger is DEFINITELY slightly damaged in one section however this reporter can confirm that it was not so damaged on Tuesday night when it arrived in Broadhaven Bay and that conditions all throughout Tuesday night were absolutely calm both at land and on sea (remembering that the Solitaire can operate in extremely heavy seas unhindered due to its size).

The cause of the damage is a heavily speculated upon matter and I will not add to other than the fact that AllSeas Ltd may be contractually relieved from its obligations under a damge clause in the contract.

More from yesterday

Lock-on protest

The 5 people who locked on in atrocious conditions for 6 and a half hours from 5.30am to midday and blocked the road were all released without charge from Belmullet Garda Station. 4 were held for 6 and a half hours and 1 was released after 4 hours. They report that they were treated well in Garda custody and that their needs were attended to correctly.

Up to 15 people were in attendance in solidarity at one point or another during the day, Gardai refused to allow any to stay inside the walls of the (public) station,including a solicitor who is part of the protests. The lock-on participants are all in good form today and proud of their actions and a good day for the campaign.

Pat O’Donnell and son
Pat O’Donnell and son as has been previously reported were again arrested yesterday morning to prevent them exercising their legal entitlement to fish the waters of Broadhaven Bay. The pair were again arrested under the “blank cheque” that is Section 8 of the Public Order Act 1994.

This was the second time the pair were arrested in 24 hours and released without charge,a spurious use and flagrant abuse of the law A possible route to stem this behaviour would be to seek an injunction in the High Court to prevent the Gardai from using the law in this way,this however is a very rare achievement and is unlikely to be heard.

Maura Harrington’s hungerstrike
Maura continued courageously with her refusal to eat until the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters. She has been giving interviews to media at intervals and has been chatting with supporters when the police are at a safe distance. Gardai were,at 4am on Wednesday morning ,revving their engines extremely loudly right in front of Maura’s car in order to disturb her sleep as much as possible. Supporters have maintained a constant presence since the beginning of the action at 5pm Tuesday.
The hunger strike continues

SOLITAIRE
We do not know whether or not the Solitaire will return. We remain on high alert.

All solidarity in whatever form and wherever is needed and appreciated.

—

10th September:

Five Rossport Solidarity campers have locked on to a bridge about 100m from the gates of the Shell compound in Glengad. The campers have been locked on since 4:30am – 5am. Gardaí have refused to call the fire brigade, but have put a makeshift wee tent over the protestors, and have cut a drain in the side of the road to allow lodging rain on the road to drain off.

Two fishing boat skippers (plus crews) have been arrested after Gardaí boarded the vessels as they approached the Solitaire at anchor in Broadhaven Bay. Local on-the-scene reports say that Pat ‘the Chief’ O’Donnell and his son Jonathan are among those arrested. Gardaí are alleging public order offences (I expect to hear they’ll all be released without charges soon). Gardaí are preventing access now to the compound gates, where Maura Harrington remains in her car and on hunger strike. Gardaí are using the lock-on action as a pretext for stopping public movement along that stretch of road.There is only one protestor keeping watch on Maura with a camera, but supporters can get close to both of them through the fields nearby. Internet connection has returned to the Camp office, since about an hour before this posting.

Welcome to Ireland 2008 – Shell’s little police state!

Get up to Mayo now and confront their violent thieving plans!

Pat O’Donnell and his son Jonathan were AGAIN arrested this morning as they were attempting to to exercise their legal right to be a sea.

The lock-on continues to block the road from the Belmullet side and the police have set up a road-block form the other side of the compund (Pollathomais side)

The 2-3 mile area in between is a pen where the police are preventing people from walking (although people are accessing the road,and Maura,through the fields.

The Police are attempting to begin the cutting of the pipes that are being used in the lock-on,this could take quite some time as they are extremely thick.

The lock-on participants are lying in puddles of water at this stage as the rain continues to lash down in Erris.

A constant vigil was kept at Mauras side all ngith with at least 5 people there at all times to ensure the cops didnt try anything.

The Solitaire is stationery at its anchor location and there is no activity on the compound at Glengad.

It must be underlined that the arrests of Pat O’Donnell and his comrades are TOTALLY spurious ,a bullshit application of Section 8 of the Public Order Act 1994 to keep the Chief and his fishermen colleagues off the waters.

An injunction is being sought to prevent further spurious arrests.

——-

Two activists are currently occupying the roof of the Shell petrol garage on Preston Road, Brighton in solidarity with the communities resisting the Corrib gas pipeline development in Rossport, Ireland. This action is in response to an urgent call out made by the Rossport solidarity camp due to the presence of the pipe laying vessel, the Solitaire, in Broadhaven bay and the imminent commencement of the building of the pipeline.

The ship that is to build the pipeline is booked for the next two weeks. If Shell is able to follow its timetable to bring the pipeline into land, this will create massive problems for any resistance to the project in the future. Shell will be creating ‘facts on the ground’ which will essentially make it easier to push through a decision on the land route, which local residents and campaigners have been fighting against. If work is prevented at this time, it is unlikely that the ship will be able to return for at least two years as it has already been booked up.

Since 2005 there has been massive resistance, including a strong campaign of civil disobedience, from the local community, around Ireland and beyond.

Update – 4:30pm

The two protesters came down sometime after 3-30 and were immediately arrested following an accusation by the manager (a really nasty piece of work) of criminal damage to the roof. Quite how she knew this without looking can be for the courts to decide (can’t wait). They are now in Hollingbury Custody suite.

—–

Rossport Solidarity Action
12 noon Monday 15th Sep
Allseas UK offices,7 Albemarle St, Westminster London WIS 4HQ

Allseas owns the Solitaire which tried to lay the gas pipe in Broadhaven Bay, Mayo last Tuesday. It has been damaged and may return to Holland. A local Woman is on hunger strike until it leaves Irish waters and we in the UK have been asked to demonstrate at the Allseas offices in support of Maura. The offices previously advertised on this website cannot be confirmed as the Allseas offices so we are going to their registered address in Westminster. Please show solidarity to the people of Erris if you can.

The Solitaire arrives in Broadhaven Bay

9.9.2008
The world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, The Solitaire, arrived off the coast of Mayo, Ireland, this evening. The Solitaire is installing the offshore section of the Corrib Gas pipeline for Shell. The ship is supported by a number of Shell support craft, the Irish Police Water Unit and part of the Irish Navy.Stiff opposition is expected, with a local school teacher already on hunger strike. Hundreds of police officers are in the area, and the main road to the beach has been closed.

Local people have been alarmed to see so many police officers, and sinister figures in green rainjackets, who may be police (although the Irish Police, the Garda Siochána, usually wear blue) or could be Shell security or even members of the Irish Army.

Internet access in the area near the Shell compound has been cut off, and the main road to the beach has been blocked.

Opposition to the pipe laying operation consists of a number off environmental and political activists based in the Solidarity Camp, local fishermen who are worried about contamination of the waters they depend on, and many local people who are concerned that the offshore section of the Shell scheme is being put in place while no planning permission exists for the onshore section.

A local school principal has vowed to refuse food until the ship leaves the area. She has parked her car in front of the Shell compound. A fisherman from nearby Porturlin who refused to move his crab gear from the path of the Solitaire has been arrested.

In 2005 a number of local people were jailed for 94 days for opposing the Shell project as it was then configured.

Since then, the project has been dogged by controversy, with many arrests, court cases, injuries, complaints to the Garda Complaints Board and Ombudsman, and political activity both in and outside the Dáil.

In recent weeks there have been 29 separate arrests in thee area around Glengad beach, where the pipe is due to make landfall.

Shell spokespeople have claimed that the project has not been affected by the protests. They say that recent delays to the project have been caused by severe weather.

Some newspapers have claimed that the project, which is being carried out by a consortium of companies including Statoil from Norway and Marathon Oil from Texas in the United States, will benefit the country, even though all of the natural gas will belong to the Corrib partners and no royalty will be charged. There is no contractual obligation for Shell, the scheme’s major shareholder and operator, to sell any of the gas to Bord Gáis Éireann, and so the resource will be sold to the highest bidder.

The will be no financial benefit to Irish consumers from the Corrib gas field.

Environmentalists have warned that the onshore section of the scheme, which includes a huge refinery being constructed nine kilometers inland at Bellanaboy, will be expanded and used to process gas from other fields off the west coast in the the future. They also say that Shell will use the precedent of an onshore refinery to strong arm their way into installing similar schemes in other places around the world.

The Irish government, including Green Party Ministers of the Environment and Natural Resources, has backed Shell’s scheme. Last month the Garda released figures showing that 11 million euro had been spent policing the project since 2006, more than half the amount the force spent on fighting organised crime.

Activists on the ground in Mayo have asked for assistance. Those not in a position to travel to Mayo can hold solidarity protests (this article could be used as the basis for leaflets) at the Irish embassy or Shell petrol stations. Green Party politicians in Britain may have some influence over their counterparts in the Irish Green Party.

Shell can only hold onto the rented Solitaire for a limited period of time and all efforts to hinder its progress will seriously damage Shell’s plans. ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly.

The choppy waters of Broadhaven Bay will hopefully aid us in our actions but we need you too!

Come to Erris!

Contact: email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com & phone 0851141170
Train + ferry from £21 from most cities www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/

Or take action at home

http://www.allseas.com/uk
Allseas UK Limited
Address: Knyvett House The Causeway
City: Staines, Middlesex
Postcode: TW18 3BA
Telephone: +44 1784 898038
Fax: +44 1784 898030
(owners of the Solitaire)

Irish Embassy and Shell HQ London
Shell garages across the country.

For more info see indymedia.ie/mayo

Rossport latest & solidarity actions (Berlin, London

Shell to Sea activists board the Solitaire
8.09.2008
This afternoon three Shell to Sea activists, one carrying the Tricolour, boarded the Solitaire to hand deliver a letter of protest to the Captain of the ship following his failure to respond to previous communication .

The three men were part of a crew of five Shell to Sea activists in four vessels (James Connolly, Jim Larkin, Bobby Sands and Geronimo), who paddled out to the Solitaire in Donegal Bay this morning.

Representing the views of many from the communities affected by the Corrib gas project, the letter asks the Captain of the Solitaire to reconsider his, and the ship’s, participation in the development.

The Captain was also invited to Rossport Solidarity camp for dinner to give him the opportunity to meet with the local community affected by the Corrib gas project and to hear their concerns.

Today’s boarding is just one of many recent marine based actions carried out by Shell to Sea . Campaigners have vowed to prevent the Solitaire from carrying out pipeline work in Broadhaven Bay.

Protestor John O Connell at Killybegs stated, “Resistance to the Corrib gas project will continue. New marine activists are joining us every day and if necessary we will blockade both Killybegs Harbor and Broadhaven Bay to stop vessels involved in the work. There is no consent for Shell’s project and it will not be completed.”

—-

On Sunday 7th September, the doors of the Irish Embassy in Berlin were glued shut and graffiti was left saying “Shell Out of Rossport” and “No Pipeline”. This action was taken in solidarity with those fighting the laying of the pipeline in Rossport and those fighting the destruction of life by governments and corporations everywhere.

—-

Rythms of Resistance are going to play outside the Irish embassy at 3.30 this
Wednesday (10th) in support of our friends in Mayo. If you can come along to 17 Grosvenor Place,
London, SW1X 7HR, it would be great.

Eight arrested as Shell begin winching operation in Rossport

Late Thursday evening, Shell To Sea flotilla attempted to block the winch boat which has just arrived at Glengad. 11 small craft were launched from the Solidarity Camp. They strongly resisted the Gardaí and Navy boats who attempted to ram the Shell To Sea dinghies and knock the occupants into the sea. The resistance lasted for 2 hours and was cheered on by a huge local crowd who had gathered in support along the cliffs and beach.

Yesterday evening at Glengad, eight Shell to Sea protestors were arrested for opposing the latest work being carried out by Shell. At approximately 7pm a barge began work pulling a winching cable into the landfall area at Glengad. This is one of the most crucial stages in the offshore pipeline that can be disrupted.

Three squadrons of Shell to Sea vessels took to the water to stop the work. They were opposed by fifteen Shell, Navy and Gardaí boats. Despite this the winching work was delayed for one and a half hours while Gardaí and Navy personnel worked with Shell security in arresting seven people from the water. Subsequently an eighth Shell to Sea protestor was arrested outside the gates of the compound under the Public Order Act. All have been released without charge.

During this action all of the S2S Fleet were rammed by Garda or Shell boats, with the exception of the S2S safety boat which was threatened with ramming by the Gardaí boats before she withdrew. All of Shell’s ‘safety’ boats had Garda personnel on board and the Gardai, Navy and Shell worked togther throughout.

One of those arrested Mary Campbell stated “Despite being opposed by 9 Garda and Navy boats, we were still able to stop work for one and a half hours. Our community is taking on the might of both Shell and the State but the battle is far from over. We will continue to resist this project. There is no consent.”

The Shell to Sea vessels seized by the Gardaí and Navy during the protest were The Niamh Cinn Óir, The Maedbh, The Michael Davitt, The Luke Kelly, The Ronnie Drew, The Robin Hood and The Hypatia.

At present, the winching operation is only part completed. It can’t be predicted exactly when they will attempt to complete the work due to stormy weather conditions. Gales are forecast for the next few days. However, the work WILL happen as soon as the weather is fine. There is still time to get to Mayo! Check out www.coribsos.com for more info and www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/ for travel and accomodation info

Irish Navy flees from Shell to Sea inflatable boats

3.09.2008
Shell to Sea protesters in inflatable Kayaks braved strong winds and rough seas whilst approaching the Irish Navy Gunboat stationed off the coast, to establish communication with it’s Captain.

Today at 1.30pm, eight Shell to Sea protesters in seven inflatable kayaks braved force 5-6 northerly winds and 6 foot waves, to attempt communication with the Irish Gun Ship, the Le Orla.

Concerned by the arrival of a second Navy vessel into Broadhaven Bay, the Shell to Sea crew of the Granuaile (part of the Emerald Squadron), attempted to speak to the Captain of the Le Orla.

Following the Captain’s failure to respond to Shell to Sea’s last attempt to establish contact on Saturday, today’s message was relayed in both Irish and English to ensure it would be understood. The Captain was asked to declare the Navy’s intentions in the bay and why a second ship had been deployed.

No response was received, instead, the ship fired up its engines, weighed anchor and fled the area.

Maebh Hall, one of the crew in the Emerald Squadron, said ” I couldn’t believe it. We approached this huge military ship in a few inflatable boats, and they ran scared. Its crazy here, there’s now two navy ships acting for Shell in our bay. Will they withdraw the army from Chad and bring them in next?”

ENDS

http://www.corribsos.com/

Direct Action Camp in the squatted forest near Frankfurt/Germany

The forest of kelsterbach near the airport of frankfurt/main is occupied now since three month. Fraport (the corporation running frankfurt airport) is planning to build a new runway on this place, cutting down every tree on 300ha of land. In total something about 100.000 trees would have to fall for the profit of an enormous international acting corporation. For the people of this region it will mean twice the flight movements per year, at least to a level of one movement every 45 sec.

In the first week of september there will be an action camp on the site of occupation, from where we´re going to start countless direct activities in the forests, the streets and the terminals.

Programme
the camp will be an DIY camp, we will provide a kitchen, food and all what is necessary to cook, but we are not enough people to cook alone, so we will do this altogether. The action camp starts monday 1.9.08 an will end on sunday 7.9.08.

Monday: 10:00-12:00 Preparation of forest excursions
13:00-17:00 Forest excursions
17:00 Info meeting
20:30 three months of forest occupation, discussion
Documentations of the resistance against
Startbahn 18 West in the 1980´s

Tuesday 10:00-12:00 action training:
different techniques and strategies
performance during actions
13:00-14:00 daily preparations for actions
13:30-14:00 ev. coordination meetings
14:00-16:00 walkabout in the camp
discussion: luxus for everybody
standards of live in a suitable world
16:00-18:00 direct action planing
different blockade techniques +
creative activism
19:00-20:30 Castor 2006 (Cine Rebelde)
mobilization for Castor 2008
20:30 nasty tricks of police and justice

Wednesday
10:00-12:00 hut building
climate protection and veganism
walkabout in the forest
paint bombs and creative beautification
13:00-14:00 daily preparations for actions
13:30-14:00 ev. coordination meetings
14:00-16:00 direct action training
lock-on´s, tri-pods, radioballet, …
16:00-18:00 open street map
19:00-20:30 Klimacamp 2006 (Cine Rebelde)
20:30 concert (?)

Thursday 10:00-12:00 intensification of our action preparations
13:00-14:00 daily preparations for actions
13:30-14:00 ev. coordination meetings
14:00-16:00 climate protection from below
16:00-18:00 poems
massage
19:00-20:30 anti-gmo field occupations
Docu, film, discussion
20:30 The fourth world war (big noise)

Friday action day meet you at the airport
20:30 Poetry slam (?)
open stage
cinema

Saturday 10:00-12:00 local and international networking
ev. founding of a rising.tide network germany
13:00-16:00 drum session against fraport
and training at the lake
16:00-18:00 antifascists forest excursions
19:00-20:30 Film about Julia Butterfly Hill
20:30 concert

Sunday 10:00-12:00 Klimacamp 2009
info about the preparations
founding of a Rhein-Main Group
13:00-15:00 Freiräume
15:00 militant resistance against big players
with examples from Startbahn West and Anti AKW
excursion to Startbahn West
19:00-20:30 evaluation
20:30 Party

There is a forest full of room for your workshops, films, music and for you!

What to bring: Sleeping stuff
Tents
climbing equipment
and all you can´t miss in a forest

How to find us:

by train
from frankfurt or mainz with the S-Bahn to kelsterbach
out of the railway station you go left following the rüsselsheimer straße about 2km with the railway on your left
at a crossing out of the city you go again left and pass under the railway, ignore the road on your right and take the next parking place on the right, follow the signs

by car
Autoroute 3 Kelsterbach
Kelsterbach Stadtmitte
pass through town direction Raunheim
first crossing after you´ve left the town you go left and take the first parking on your rigtht
follow the signs

waldbesetzung@riseup.net
http://www.waldbesetzung.blogsport.de

Support Portuguese anti-GM activists.

All over Europe, citizens engage into civil disobedience and direct action in resistance against cultivation of genetically modified crops. Only in Portugal, people that have applied this strategy are officially labeled as terrorists. Please help pulling the Portuguese activists out of their isolated position and express your solidarity by signing the petition!

SIGN PETITION

SIGN PETITION
———————
http://gopetition.com/online/21252.html

ON WEBSITE
——————–
http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/
On our website you find articles examining closer the action of Movimento Verde Eufemia and the results it produced. We also elaborate on the question of civil disobedience and terrorism, and provide information about the shape of resistance against GM in Europe. We invite everyone, both portuguese citizens and members of the international community to participate in our discussion. Our website has portuguese and english translation.

CONTACT US
——————–
solimove@googlemail.com
If you have ideas for support or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

BACKGROUND
———————–
One year ago, the Portuguese Movimento Verde Eufemia (MVE) went into an action of civil disobedience. In a symbolic but determined act they destroyed less than 1 hectare of the first field of genetically modified corn in the region of the Algarve, previously declared GMO Free Zone by local authorities.

In the days following the action, the wide media attention MVE received instigated a large polemic, resonating into layers of the general public, the environmental movement itself, academics and even the government. Never did any environmental action achieve so much attention in the recent history of Portugal.

The initial media highlights were not so much on the subject of the action, the presence of GMO in Portugal, but rather on the spectacular nature and the illegal aspect of it. However in a second phase attention shifted as well to the debate on GMO, and its dangers. For that reason alone, the action of MVE was considered by many people with environmental concerns as a great success.

Because of that success, the current Portuguese government responsible for a policy in favour of GMO has responded strongly in an attempt to isolate the activists of MVE and other environmental organizations struggling against GMO, through a strategy of criminalization. This strategy came to the point of even labeling the action as a terrorist act (Europol EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2008). Some people that have been brought in relation to the case by the police are therefore facing the risk of being prosecuted within this context of terrorism. In general, it became harder to act against GMO in Portugal. Individuals or organizations who attempt, run a high risk of being under suspicion and surveillance by authorities.

One year later, the opportunity of the anniversary of this controversial but influential action is used to launch SoliMoVE, Grupo de Solidariedad com o Movimento Verde Eufemia. The objectives of Solimove are:

* To show all actors involved in the debate that the action of MVE is not an isolated case in the Portuguese historical context, and certainly not in the current international context, where these types of actions are common, particularly against the cultivation of GMOs.
* To build understanding of the term civil disobedience, its value as an active and engaged form of civil society participation, and its necessity in safeguarding the people and the environment from the threat of genetic contamination.
* To provide an international platform for any individual or organization, wishing to express its moral support towards MVE and its action.
* To defend the freedom of expression of all citizens against GMOs.

solimove@googlemail.com
http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/

Today’s news from Glengad, Erris, Co. Mayo

August 31, 2008
A lunchtime Garda visit to Solidarity Camp & evening blockade of Shell compound

Today’s main news events from the epicentre of resistance against Shell – a visit about lunchtime from the Garda brass (plus lackeys inc. roving video operator), later a practice run for the Shell to Sea flotilla, followed by a blockade of Shell’s Glengad compound in the evening.

Today at about 1pm a delegation of Gardai called to the Rossport Solidarity Camp, ostensibly about informing campers of section 8.1 of the Public Order Act. While annoyed by their presence on the camp, the Gardai were prevented from snooping around the marquees, though the use of a video camera by Gda. Burke (old foe) to follow young children around roused righteous ire in their parents. Once they delivered their utterly pointless message they were escorted off the site to the road and their waiting squad car and van.

In the late afternoon, S2S Flotilla exercises were held off the Glengad compound and the marine protest/action squadron used the fine weather today to sharpen their nautical skills. Exercises lasted an hour, followed by a quick shower and off to the next S2S activity.

At 6:45 pm local residents and Rossport Solidarity Campers mounted a blockade of the gates of the Shell Glengad compound. This caught the Gardai off balance, and they deployed only in sparse numbers, very slowly, and remained firmly ensconced in their vehicles. After an hour of blockading, locals and campers returned to the Solidarity Camp for tonight’s party on the foreshore (a celebration of our mutual capacity for resistance to the corporate juggernaut and a bit of R&R too!).

Still no sign of the Solitaire. The clock is well-burnt now – she remains in Killybegs harbour but she’s still a looming threat that must be met.

The need for people to come here and help in the struggle to save Erris and stop the Great Gas Robbery remains urgent. Come to Glengad if you can!

http://www.corribsos.com