Rest of Europe – Page 56

BlokR was a success! Copenhagen action day report – Ungdomshus update

The transformed BlokR action was held on April 3rd as planned. About 5-6000 people took part in the massive demo, that went by many of the places in Copenhagen that have supported Ungdomshuset and housed its activities for the last year or more. The route took nearly four hours to walk and every mile was severely enjoyable and festive with four speaker trucks playing everything from rock through disco to electronica.

The demo was received at the square in front of Nørrebrohallen where G13 started by four tripods with banners in the colours of the four blocks, roman candles and a big banner saying simply “ungdomshuset”.

Even though the mood at the demo was festive the speakers kept emphasizing that the battle is not yet over and that Thursday demos will continue until we are in actual physical possession of a new house. And even after that has happened, most likely the Thursday demos will continue, because the council has still not come through on its promise of a new children’s house that they took away and promised to replace about five years ago.

From the speaker trucks a solidarity greeting was also sent out to the activists in Bukarest actioning against the NATO summit there. So the struggle continues.

———

10.4.2008
At the last Monday meeting of the Ungdomshusets, consensus was reached to agreeing to an offer of a new building in Northwest of Copenhagen on Dortheavej 61.

The new solution for an Ungdomshus in Copenhagen has been agreed by all parties involved. The final decision still rests with the city council and will be formalized on June 11th, but publicly several politicians, including the mayor Ritt Bjerregaard, have ok’ed the solution and Ungdomshusets Monday Meeting has agreed as well.

The new house will be in what is now a local culture centre under the council. It will be in two connected buildings, one of which will be split in half. The culture centre will remain in the other half of the building and the city council has agreed to build a new add on to compensate for the space lost to the new Ungdomshus.

The first part of the take over (the smaller building comprising 600 m2) will happen on July 1st. After that the main building will be available for take over on January 1st next year.

There has been very positive contact between the left radical scene and the leaders of the culture centre, who are welcoming the new house.

19 April Sheffield: Climate Action Movement Building Day

A date for your diary!

Climate Action Movement Building
Network for Climate Action
Saturday 19th April, 10am – 5pm
Friends Meeting House Sheffield
Map – http://home.btconnect.com/sheffieldquakers/hire.htm

A date for your diary!

Climate Action Movement Building
Network for Climate Action
Saturday 19th April, 10am – 5pm
Friends Meeting House Sheffield
Map – http://home.btconnect.com/sheffieldquakers/hire.htm

Are you involved in local climate action or would you like to be? Climate Chaos is getting real and we need to act now – building a vibrant grassroots movement taking action all over the country.

The Network for Climate Action is a Uk network of local groups and and national networks with the aim of sharing skills and providing support for each other as well as organising for action.

We’d like to invite you to a day of networking, skillsharing and organising!

What’s going to happen?

1) DAYS OF ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Review of Fossil Fools Day and planning the next round!
1 May: Invasion of the Climate Snatchers (day of action against false solutions to climate change)
3 June: Day of Action on Food and Climate Change
(for more info see: http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk)

2) NETWORK FOR CLIMATE ACTION
What do we want the Network to do? How should it function? What needs improving? How do we organise skillsharing, support, information sharing, direct action training, outreach etc?

3) BUILDING MOMENTUM for the Climate camp and beyond
Ideas for building momentum for the climate camp locally

4) WORKSHOPS
on topics such as getting a local group going/keeping momentum, planning actions and local press work. Let us know if you could contribute to a workshop, or even offer to run one.

We’re still in the planning stages – please get in touch if there’s something you’d like to see happening on the day!

PRACTICAL INFO
Saturday 19th April, 10am – 5pm
Friends Meeting House Sheffield
Map – http://home.btconnect.com/sheffieldquakers/hire.htm

We aren’t able to provide lunch, but there is a fantastic vegan/veggie cafe nearby or you can bring your own food.
We’re asking people for a donation of £2-3 towards the cost of the room. Some accommodation will be available (please email us if needed).

The venue is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you have any special requirements.

Please let us know whether you are planning to come, so we can get an idea of numbers! Email us at contact_NO@SPAM_networkforclimateaction.org.uk

Check out our website with hundreds of resources for climate action and a directory of local groups! http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk

For info about the days of climate action check out http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk

Appeal for international solidarity: Nianfors Uranium drilling blockade, Sweden

Activists organise blockade to prevent test drilling for Uranium in Nianfors, North Sweden. We appeal for your support!!

During the last three months local activists have been involved in a dispute with a drilling company over prospecting for uranium close to a small village called Nianfors in north east Sweden.

Nianfors is located in a breathtakingly beautiful valley at the foot of the Majsaberget Mountain, the area is renowned for it’s forests, crystal clear lakes and rivers which provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife, flowers. insects and funghi.

In a bid to prevent test drilling activists have set up camp and have set up a blockade to prevent test drilling going ahead. The weather conditions this time of year are tough, some nights the temperature reaches -20 the snowfall can be up to 30cm deep, but people dress heavily and the comradery is wonderful, so the spirit is strong. We make food, sing songs and tell stories among ourselves to pass the time.
Any comrades who happen to pass this way are welcome to join us, everyone is welcome (Except test drilling companies!).

Our website is in Swedish and English, so hopefully you can read about our campaign. We have posted an online Petition and appeal to our comrades to extend the hand of international solidarity and sign it.

We can prevent this, but we need all the support we can get, so please circulate this message to as many other comrades as you can. Say ‘NO TO CORPORATE PLUNDERING OF OUR PLANET – NO TO NUCLEAR POWER!’

In comradeship

Our site : www.nianfors.nu/engvers.html
Our online Petition : http://www.nianfors.nu/engjustnu.html

RATH LUGH UPDATE – updated

THURS MORNING 20th MARCH
Bulldozer ploughing into Esker. Garda Riot Van with shields on window at Lismullin and cement mixer on road from Lismullin approach. Protectors have not reacted yet.

Situation tense. Supporters needed. Bring phone credit, camera and video equipment etc. Standby.

—

THURS MORNING 20th MARCH
Bulldozer ploughing into Esker. Garda Riot Van with shields on window at Lismullin and cement mixer on road from Lismullin approach. Protectors have not reacted yet.

Situation tense. Supporters needed. Bring phone credit, camera and video equipment etc. Standby.

—

There are 50 security at rath lugh, and security walking through the camps in the woods preparing for the eviction, we need more people urgently!!!!
Please bring, poly prop, for walk ways in the trees, batteries,video equipment, cameras., warm blankets and food, any support would be gratefully recieved thanks

—

Massive presence of Security and Workers estimated now at 100.
3 Riot Vans in the vicinity.
2 Diggers working on the Esker.
2 Ferrovial taking photographs of tents and benders.
Journalist talking to Squeek.

Help needed urgently.

—–

FRI 21ST MARCH

8.30am – at least 8 diggers
6 Gardaí and about 40 Construction Workers bringing in topsoil and earth at Rath Lugh.
They are not working on shoring up the esker but on actual construction.
Over 40 Security are lining BOTH sides of the route at RL.

…

NRA contractors cut into Rath Lugh Monument near Tara

The mound upon which ancient Rath Lugh rests is now being sliced for the M3 Motorway.

Good Friday Newsflash from the Tara Foundation:

The mound upon which ancient Rath Lugh rests is now being sliced for the M3 Motorway.

The National Roads Authority has stated work is advancing on the M3 motorway in the area close to Rath Lugh where protestors have set up camp. Up to fifty Gardaí are said to be at the scene.

The NRA says it is putting in place what is known as a ‘box cut’, which outlines the road’s route. It is also building a quib wall and security fencing. It says the steps are being taken for health and safety reasons, and with the advice and consent of the Gardaí.

The NRA alleges that workers at Rath Lugh are being intimidated by protestors, and that a civil understanding reached with Lisa Feeney allowing for the fencing to be put in place has not been honoured. Previously the NRA had claimed that no agreement was reached with the tunnel protestor.

Protesters say Ms Feeney only agreed to come out of the tunnel on the night of 15th March 2008, after a deal was struck on with the National Roads Authority to halt work at the monument for a month.
On 17th March, St. Patrick’s Day, Lisa Feeney stated that she had a “whale of time” underground and was pleased to have won a month-long moratorium on work at the site.

Work will not begin at Rath Lugh until April 17th, Lisa Feeney stated, giving M3 opponents enough time to mount further legal challenges to this contentious section of the road, which they say is too close to important heritage sites.
“There is a Supreme Court challenge in three weeks, so that will give us enough time to prepare for that”, said Ms. Feeney.

Minister for the Environment and Green Party member John Gormley visited the Rath Lugh monument on March 20th, where he discussed preservation issues around the site with the Department’s archaeologists. Minister Gormley did not visit the M3 site or speak with protestors. A spokesman for the Department said that the Minister is satisfied that measures being proposed by the NRA will protect the national momument at Rath Lugh.

On March 1st, Poet and Nobel laureate Séamus Heaney described the M3 motorway as a ruthless desecration of the sacred landscape around the Hill of Tara.
Dr Jonathan Foyle, British chief executive of the World Monuments Fund, which placed Tara on its endangered sites list last year, likened the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara to the destruction by Afghanistan’s Taliban regime in 2001 of the Bamiyan Buddhas.

Scrap the M3 Motorway, which will increase Carbon Emissions. Support a comprehensive railway system for Dublin and Meath!!!

Emergency call-out: Protests are ongoing on Rath Lugh and Soldiers Hill near Tara. As many people as possible are needed for the protests:
Protest Every Day at Soldiers Hill – but especially every Friday at 3pm

Directions to the Rath Lugh Camp:

By Car: Take the N3 from Dublin. Tara is halfway between Dunshaughlin and Navan. At Ross Cross, there is a pub on the left called “Tara na Ri”, a yellow building with flat roof. Turn right here towards Skryne and Duleek. Go straight, and take the first right towards Skryne. This is a very windy road, and woodlands will be on the right hand side. Go straight through the crossoroads. Rath Lugh camp is on the right, on the sharp bend on the road. The entrance is a gap in the woods, usually with a few cars parked on the side of the road.

By Bus: Daily buses from Busáras, Dublin City Centre. Take the N3 towards Navan. Ask to get off at the Tara Na Ri Pub and follow directions above.
For further information: 0035386 1537146

Directions for the Tara Camp:

By Car: Take the N3 and then turn left at the Tara signpost

By Bus: Take either the Navan, Kells or Cavan bus, departing Busáras. Ask to get off after Tara Cross at the Lismullen bus stop and it is a short walk from there.

The vigil camp is located near the car-park at the Hill of Tara, about 200 metres on the right and a little in from the road. There are sign posts from the car-park.
For further information: 0035386 175 8557

To ring from NI or UK- replace first zero with 00353

5 years of war! Stop the Nanotech and Biotech War Profiteers!

Click here to join the action, join us on March 19th, 2008.

This Nano-Virtual-Sit-In is being performed on the 5th anniversary of the war on Iraq. We have chosen biotech and nanotech corporations and organizations as our targets, because their science is driven by the war and drives the war.

http://bang.calit2.net/5yearsofwar/

Click here to join the action, join us on March 19th, 2008.

http://bang.calit2.net/5yearsofwar/

Report back from Anti Shell actions in London – Gluaiseacht, RoR, anonymous

Gluaiseacht members along with Shell to Sea campaigners, friends and British supporters took part in 3 different actions over the weekend of St Patrick in London. Here is a summary of their story!

Gluaiseacht members along with Shell to Sea campaigners, friends and British supporters took part in 3 different actions over the weekend of St Patrick in London. Here is a summary of their story!
..
Having started at Ennis in County Clare at 11am on Friday the 14th picking up people along the way a full coach load of bewildered people arrived on Rampart street home of the The Rampart Social Center. It is soon to be evicted so we felt lucky to be there.

Having found a place to set up our various air beds and sleeping mats some put the head down for a few hours kip while most went out and about looking to do some site seeing, watch the rugby or catch up with friends or relations in London town.

The rest of the Day was made up of cooking food the masses and having planning meetings for the weekends actions.

THE ACTIONS

Having assembled at the given point on Sunday morning for our part in the Parade it was decided to keep our banners folded for the first few minutes until the parade got underway as he had received warning that organisers weren’t happy with protesters in their parade and may ask police to confiscate political banners.

After about 5 mins of walking we unveiled the banners and began singing songs and passing out leaflets to the crowds. We were well received for the most part and the songs streaming out from our many megaphones seemed to lift the crowd on what was a wet and cold london day.

Just as the parade was near its end police did indeed try to take out banners but we were too fast for them. The were quoting the new SOCPA laws which prevent any protest at all within a mile of any point around Westminster Parliament building.

We had heard that Enda kenny and John Gormley were to make speeches at Ken Livingston’s St Patrick’s party in Trafalgar square later so we headed on up there. As we arrived Mr Gormley was making his speech. We were unable to get near to the stage so instead unveiled ours pipeline and banners at the top end of the square and some members of our group spoke on the mega phone to the assembled crowd about why they were there.

Wet but satisfied we made our way back home to the Rampart.

The SHELL HQ

The following morning we headed over to Waterloo home of Shell in London. The pipe was unwrapped again and presented at the Door of Shell by representatives of the different sections within our group. John from Mayo protesting the coercion of the local community, Bro Anthony from Limerick protesting the Robbery Irish natural resources and Laura from Italy protesting Shells record of crimes and against humanity and the environment world wide. Despite calls for a representative to receive the pipe om Shells behalf none were forthcoming. Then the party started and musicians and mobile sound system cranked out the tunes and the crowd danced Irish jigs outside the building. This helped to keep us warm and our spirits up.

Watch RTE footage here http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0317/corrib.html

The SHELL INVESTORS MEETING

This meeting was one for Shell to sell themselves to potential investors. We decided to remind these investors that it would be unwise to receive stolen property or to become accessories to worldwide human and environmental degradation. With this in mind we went off to The London Tower bridge hotel where the meeting was to take place. The group repeated the earlier performance of music and dancing while parading the pipeline out side the hotel and around the assembled police. Having found the conference room where the meeting was taking place members of the group advised any potential investors of the record of shell worldwide and asked police to arrest those inside for there murderous activities.

With that we all piled onto the bus again to head for home exhausted but exhilarated at the same time.

http://www.gluaiseacht.ie
http://www.corribsos.com/
http://www.mayogasinfo.com/faq.html

—

old street shell garage evening of 17th march

Members of Rhythms of Resistance Samba band visited Shell’s old street petrol station around 8pm on the evening of 17th March to spread information about the pipeline to passers by and drivers visiting the petrol station.
We decided not to actually block the entrance/exit but instead to play on the forecourt (lovely accoustics!).
On arrival we noticed a tanker on the forecourt filling up the pumps. As he atemped to leave we decided to sand in front of his lorry and stop him leaving, and gave him a flyer explaining why we were present.
Several times the irate driver moved his vehicle forward attaempting to squash/scare those people standing in front of the lorry.
Eventually when he failed in running us over he decided to make a phone call instead,(we presumed to the police), and at this point we moved away from in front of the lorry but he just continued to sit there.
At this point we decided to leave before the police arrived and return once he had left and the police had been and gone.

On our return some 20 minuites later we again went onto the forecourt and commenced drumming, but this time two police appeared within some minuites.
We were asked to move to the pavement and complied, all the time drumming.
Soon the police returned from their car again and asked us if we’d promise to not go back onto the forecourt so they could leave and deal with 5 robberies!?
We said yes, of course.
So they left.
We continued for a while longer, witnessing a ‘biodiesel’ taxi enter the forecourt and fill up with regular diesel.
On talking to the driver he told me ‘you gotta put diesel in it and there’s nowhere to buy biodiesel’ and when i said ‘so the fact it says on the side “run on biodiesel” is a lie then?’ he replied “yes’.

Shell Sells Suicide
Some words:

there’s a bird dressed in black
there’s a world nearly cracked
there is me, there is you
what the hell shall we do?

it’s not hard to explain
all the ways we can gain
from a world without oil
no more spills, no more spoils

Shell smells sweet gas off the seashore in Mayo
they think it’s theirs just ‘cos the government says so
but they forgot about the will of the people
and the people of Mayo say ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no –
it’s Shell that’s got to go!’

Shell sells suicide on the forecourt
Shell sells suicide
Shell sells suicide with such forethought
or
Shell smells sweet gas over in Rossport
or
Shell smells sweet oil in Port Harcourt
Shells sells ecocide

Shell buys South Bank silence completely
Shell sells wild lies
Shell kills wildlife and still smiles so sweetly
Shell kills wildlife (and somewhere the future quietly dies…or is reborn?)

here’s a bird dressed in black
there’s a world nearly cracked
there is me, there is you
what the hell shall we do?
– can we start anew?
– say farewell to Shell
– say no to oil etc.

—

From an anonymous tipoff call very early in the morning two Shell service stations were found to have been D-locked and shut down for several hours on the morning of Monday 17 March 2008.

To coincide with the Shell Day of Action and visiting members of the Shell To Sea campaign from County Mayo, Ireland, although no connection apart from solidarity, some activists took it upon themselves to shut down two of Shell’s garages.

The service stations remained closed for several hours as frustrated staff used hack saws to remove the D-locks clamped around petrol pumps.

The Day of Action also saw Irish protestors deliver 20 metre pipeline to Shell HQ on Southbank London, and gave a lively protest.

Shell recently declared record profits for the second year running, the second time the corporation has broken all UK records for profit made by a British company, this year declaring £13.9 billion.

But the damage from this company continues to span the globe from County Mayo in Ireland, where the unfinished gas refinery construction has polluted the local water supply with high levels of aluminium, to the continuing ecological destruction of the Niger Delta, where death and disease from pollution and pipeline accidents has become a weekly occurance.

Squeek has left the tunnel at Rath Lugh

Sunday March 16, 2008

Have heard from two reliable sources that Squeek has left the tunnel at Rath Lugh. She left with Gardai and some of her family present. The Gardai have taken her away from the site as far as I am aware.

Sunday March 16, 2008

Here’s hoping for 100 to take her place. Tara is THE symbol of dead-end corruption and anti-democratic government in Ireland. The dictatorship of the developers. Pitting people against each other.

Well done Squeek. Takes a lot of nerve.

Tunnel has been filled in with earth.

Spirit of Freedom (March 2008) – Earth Liberation Prisoners

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

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

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

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

Welcome to the March 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. First off in this
Editorial ELP would like to apologise about an error we have made in our
prisoner listing. We wrote that the American Eco-Defence prisoner Grant
Barnes spray-painted the letters ELF onto one of the vehicles he set fire
to. Grant has asked for a correction, pointing out he spray-painted the
letters ELF onto all of the vehicles he set fire to. Secondly as people may
be aware, the American environmental prisoner, Eric McDavid, is currently
held on remand awaiting his sentencing having been found guilty of having
the intention to destroy the property of the US Foresty Service, etc. (note:
he never actually destroyed or set fire to anything). Eric’s sentencing is
constantly being put back and back and we urge everyone to support him as we
recognise this constant delay in his sentencing will be a very stressful
time for Eric. Remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the
eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

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

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

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

Vaggelis Botzatzis, Komotini Juridical Prison (“Dikastikes Fylakes
Komotinis”), T.K. 69100, Greece. On remand accused of setting fire to two
company cars owned by a energy/power company. It is believed that the
person or persons unknown who carried out the arson did so in protest at the
destruction of the natural environment and in support of two workers who
died at the power plant. Vaggelis is also accused of setting fire to a bank
and starting a fire inside a car yard.

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

Daniele Casalini, Casa Circondariale, Via Burla 59, 43100 Parma, Italy. Il
Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Rod Coronado – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

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

Francesco Gioia, C.C. Sollicciano, Via Girolamo Minervini 2/R, 50142 Firenze
Sollicciano (FI), Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of
using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear
energy.

Jeffrey Luers, #1306729, Lane County Adult Corrections, 101 West 5th Ave,
Eugene, OR 97401-2695, USA. Serving 10 years for arson on a SUV dealership
& the attempted arson of an oil truck. The original sentence was 22 years &
8 months, but was reduced on appeal.

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

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

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

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

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

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

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

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

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

Nathan Block – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

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

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

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

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

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

Gabriel Villeneuve #HUL03299801, 500, de la Faune, Case Postale 87130,
Québec, Québec, G1G 5E4, Canda. Held on remand accused of breaching probation conditions by allegedly attending an animal rights protest, even though he never actually went to the protest!

Joyanna Zacher – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

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

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

ANTIFA PRISONERS

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

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

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

Fabio Milan, C.C. via Pianezza 300, 10151 Torino, Italy. On remand accused of fighting with the police after an anti-fascist protest.

Andrea Neff, Bnr: 746/07/2, Justizvollzugsanstalt fur Frauen in Berlin, Arkonastrasse 56, 13189 Berlin, Germany. Serving 14 months for anti-fascist activity.

Christian Sümmermann, Bnr: 441/08/5, JVA Plötzensee, Lehrterstr. 61, 10557 Berlin, Germany. Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities.

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

OTHER PRISONERS

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

Maura Michlle Lungarlli, booking # 1167062, Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF), 11705 South Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262, USA. Well known animal rights Laura Lungarlli held on remand accused of activity unconnected to animal rights. (Please note the prison officials have made a spelling mistake with her name which must be replicated on her letters of support).

Kevin Olliff, booking #1167029, Terminal Annex, P.O. Box #86164, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164, USA. Animal rights activist held on remand accused of activity unconnected to animal rights. Co-defendant of Laura Lungarlli.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Greek language ELP Website
http://greekelp.blogspot.com

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

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

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

Australian ELP.SN is our Australian contact. For more info e-mail elp4321@hotmail.com

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

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

Greek ELP.SN is our Greek contact. For more info e-mail greekelp@yahoo.gr

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

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

Action at World Biofuels Market, Brussels (& video)

14.3.08
Thursday morning, 08.00. Activists make an attempt to block all 7 sets of entrance doors and 2 gates to the World Biofuels Market held in Brussels this week. All but one set of doors succeeded. The action ended after 3 hrs with three people arrested, who were released after a few hours.

This morning, activist group ‘Agrofools’ closed down the World Biofuels Market by locking closed with padlocks and chains four sets of double doors and sandwiching themselves in between just before the official opening soon after 08:00. A battle ensued between protesters and security to lock the fifth set of doors.

Outside the conference centre the gates were also locked by a chain and blocked by activist group of Rhythms of Resistance who then made their presence felt with upbeat Samba for nearly two hours before being given an ultimatum by police. The Samba was played to a backdrop of three banners with slogans like ‘Agrofuels are a Scam’ and ‘No Solution to Oil Addiction’.

Meanwhile security forces inside the conference centre managed to re-open one door as guards and staff overwhelmed protesters in a comic ‘tug-o-war’. Delegates were then allowed to enter while the other doors remained blocked for a further hour. Between each set of double doors, a couple of activists, dressed up as conference delegates, had locked themselves in.

When the entrance was not effectively blocked anymore, both groups were still in direct sight of participants, outside at the entrance or through the glass of the locked doors.

Activists targeted the World Biofuel Market as a “blatent attempt to greenwash the oil industry”. The long list of corporate delegates, and the texts issued by the World Biofuel Market itself, clearly show that they enter the emerging market of agrofuels not because they’ re worried about climate change or environmental damage: agrofuels are just another corporate marketing strategy to squeeze the last bits of money out of our oil dependancy and to win control. The run for agrofuels is already causing severe social and environmental damage, especially in the South. The so-called 2d generation agrofuels are often put forward as an alternative, a claims that lacks serious scientific background.

The activists were soon either arrested or sent away by Police after a thorough ID check. The 3 arrested people were released at 12am.

PRESS RELEASE

ACTIVISTS PROTEST AT WORLD BIOFUELS MARKET
Brussels, 13 March 2008
EMBARGOED UNTIL March 13, 8:30
Today at 08.30 am, the action group ‘Agrofools’ staged a protest the entrance to the World Biofuels Market. Visitors to the World Biofuels Market were met by activists, a group of international drummers, banners, and flyers entitled “Agrofuels ? No Solution for Oil Addiction”.
The human blockade is a protest against the blatant promotion of agrofuels by the World Biofuels Market and the corporations taking part in it. “Massive expansion, reaching into many millions of hectares, of monoculture plantations will cause further damage to biodiversity, human rights and livelihoods”, says activist Remy de Boer. “Agrofuels will exacerbate climate change and will certainly not help to combat it. It is immoral to keep promoting the use of
agrofuels like the World Biofuels Market does”, he added.
The World Biofuels Market describes itself on its website as a great place for business to ‘network’ with decision makers and “structured to maximise business opportunities”. Meanwhile, agrofuels are being legitimised by claims of environmental benefits. That, however, is a pure greenwash exercise. “The corporations push for agrofuel production, pretending they care about the climate. While in reality agrofuels will help them to ensure that our oil addiction continues, that the car industry can keep selling more and heavier cars, and that the unequal access to resources in the world remains unchanged”, says De Boer.
There have already been many declarations and moratorium calls from movements and organisations from North and South denouncing new targets for agrofuel use, such as the 10% target by 2020 proposed by the EU. One such call by African organisations states that “.. the reality is that the gold rush is firmly controlled by giant transnational companies which are taking over Africa’s land at an incredible pace, and are bringing about disastrous socio-economic and environmental impacts on our communities, food security, forests and water resources”.
‘Second generation’ agrofuels, like cellulose ethanol, are often said to deal with problems such as competition for land for food production and targets are set, based on expectations that these will become available soon. But the large amounts of cellulose needed to produce them can lead to the expansion of large scale monoculture (GM) tree plantations, with all problems involved. These plantations have already invoked strong resistance from local communities. On March 4th this year, nearly 900 women of La Via Campesina occupied Stora Enso’s Taruma estate in Rosario do Sul municipality, near the border with Uruguay. They entered the land -of nearly 2,100 hectares- and cut
eucalyptus trees and planted native trees instead. This action was responded to by police forces with repression and violence. Overall, the North must stop exporting its over-consumption problems to the South and begin to solve its own problems. We need a strong reduction of consumption of energy use especially in industrialised countries. We say no more roads, no more promotion of individual motorised transport; but a cheap, sustainable collective transport system. The production and use of food, feed and energy should take place as locally or regionally as possible. Industrial agriculture
must be replaced by more small scale, diverse community supported agriculture.

For more information:
Press contact: 0471/ 37.35.01 and 0495/ 31.76.46 [english and dutch] High resolution pictures can be sent to you on request. Send an email to
———————————-END PRESS
RELEASE———————————————————————
Facts for the editor:
* Deforestation and other types of land use change is estimated by the Stern Review (2006) to be responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally. Peat drainage accounts for even more carbon emissions than deforestation worldwide. Monoculture expansion is a leading cause for both land use change and peat destruction worldwide. Large amounts of fossil fuels are needed to produce the fertilizers, running agricultural machinery, transporting feedstocks and fuels, and refining agrofuels. NOx emissions from fertilizer use are also a major greenhouse gas.
* The European Union is already the largest importer of palm oil products in the world and the Netherlands is the main importer within the EU. Crude Palm Oil imports grew from 1.7 million tons (Mt) in 1995 to 5 Mt in 2007. The EU imports of soy meal from Argentina and Brazil combined added up to 24 Mt in 2007, in addition to 14 Mt of soy from which oil is produced in the EU. Use of soy oil as agrofuel will be another added value to the product, which is likely to increase its production.
* A collection of calls for a moratorium on targets and incentives for agrofuel use and trade can be found on www.biofuelwatch.org.uk

Axion video of the succesful blockade of the world biofuels market

EVICTION AT TARA!!! TRIP FROM UK. SOLIDARITY WEEK OF ACTIONS 17TH MARCH ON – updated (& video)

13.03.2008
The M3 Motorway is cutting through one of the most beautiful ancient places in Europe.

Rath Lugh eviction attempt 1
13.03.2008
The M3 Motorway is cutting through one of the most beautiful ancient places in Europe.
Help is needed to support the protesters in County Meath, Ireland who are currently sitting in tunnels, after an illegal dawn raid on the direct action camp this morning!!
UK activists going to Tara this Saturday, for more info contact schnews@brighton.co.uk,
Week of solidarity action starts Paddys Day 17th March, read more….

The intense battle between protesters and the M3 Motorway, carving through the archaeological landscape, surrounding the ancient hill of Tara in County Meath in Ireland continues…….
This morning at 6.30am there was a dawn raid on the direct action camp on top of the Rath Lugh National Monument, only four hours before an injunction was due to be placed at 10.30am.
During the raid clueless construction workers were acting like the police, throwing their weight around, whilst dismantling the camp.
Protesters inside the tunnel network are vulnerable and need legal observers to protect them, the bulldozers are continuing to work on top of them, knowing full well that the ground is mainly sand and silt.
“The eviction is blatantly not being done with any care or proper training to remove the tunnel inhabitants” All tunnel veterans from the 90’s please get over to Tara to help with skills and advice ASAP!
This part of the M3 route is where Halliburton (owned by Dick Cheyney) are planning to build the tolls for the motorway, the construction workers are using C.P.O’s, compulsory purchase order’s to access the area, where they’ve started to cut into the esker / foundation.
This will result in lowering the water table, preventing water reaching the roots of the forest situated on top of the monument, gradually destroying hundreds of ancient oak’s and beech trees.
The National Roads Authority and the Irish Gov’t are choosing to ignore the fact that Rath Lugh is protected under the National Monuments act 2004 and are continuing to break EU Laws left, right and centre.

Further along the route tarmac is being laid at Soldiers Hill for the massive three acre interchange, as the concrete flyovers are going up.
Developers have plans for the surrounding area which will include shopping centres, hotel complexes and the usual Star Bucks and Mc Shite everywhere!!

People are desperately needed to go to Tara now, to build a new direct action camp, activists are meeting at Holyhead ferry port between 12noon -1pm Saturday 15th March, we have some money to contribute towards tickets, if folk want to come, get in touch with schNEWS.
If you can’t come to Ireland but want to take action here in the UK see below SIAC companies:

SIAC are an Irish company (South Ireland Asphalt Company) who have a 5% stake in the construction of the Irish M3 on it’s contested route in co Meath Ireland, and are also involved in the construction of an onshore gas refinery terminal at Rossport co Mayo.
along with their croneys FERROVIAL (Owners of Climate criminal company BAA and. 7 U. K airports) They are instrumental in the desecration and destruction of the sacred Tara valley in Ireland, Activists have called for solidarity against SIAC, and there will be ongoing actions against them and ferrovial internationally, with the formulation of international affinity groups.
Activists say there will be Actions against SIAC on and around March 17th 08, with dates for an international day of action against FERROVIAL to be announced shortly, SIAC have operations throughout the UK and Ireland in many fields ranging from construction to pharmaceutical research so there are plenty of opportunity to make you objections to them felt, so please publicise and organize in your local community, (see link’s bellow) TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERANCE!

Howell James, Managing Director, SIAC Construction (UK) Ltd
Bond’s Mill
The Counting House
Stonehouse
Gloucestershire
GL10 3RF
Tel: 00 44 145 382 8888
Fax: 00 44 145 382 4188
Sales enquiries E-mail: bob.abraham@siac.co.uk

Structural Steel
Richard Cooper, Managing Director, SIAC Tetbury Steel Ltd
London Road
Tetbury
Gloucestershire
GL8 8HH
Tel: 00 44 1666 502792
Fax: 00 44 1666 504246
E-mail: richard.cooper@siac.co.uk

Russell Thomson, Managing Director, Graham Wood Structural Limited
Chartwell Road
Lancing Business Park
Lancing
West Sussex
BN15 8TY
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1903 755991
Fax: 00 44 (0)1903 755384
E-mail: r.thomson@grahamwoodstructural.co.uk
Website : www.grahamwoodstructural.co.uk

FOR UP-DATES AND INFO HOW TO GET TO TARA CHK OUT :

www.tarapixie.net
www.savetara.com
www.tarataratara.net

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Approx 80 personnel including several Gardai not displaying their numbers have descended on Rath Lugh.

There are 3 vehicles on the esker and a tractor half way up. This is seriously jeopardising the life of the girl pictured above who is locked into the tunnel by the neck. The Gardai are aware of this and are paying no heed!!!!

There is also a tractor heavy laden with steel works approaching from the Baronstown side and 22 jeeps have been counted.

The situatuion is extremely delicate and extremely tense.

Please go there if you can. Bring video equipment and phone credit. Go Now!!!

Please spread the word, contact all media, ring the Dept of the Environment, Tansport , Museum all…..

No coincidence that this is happening before a Court Order was made to stop them.

=======================================

3pm
A protester has been arrested – she has been released. She is not the same woman as that in the tunnel.
Straight from the protest site: things have calmed down. The Fire Brigade are well gone, will not make any attempt to remove the girl from the tunnel.
A tent will be erected at the entrance so that one other protester can communicate with her.
No effort was or will be made to remove her.
There are still 5 other people locked on with cement.
There is a small digger and steam roller as well as 18 jeeps at the site.
Nothing is driving on the esker.
They are tripping over media and cameras!
There are flood lights being brought in.
Court case being heard again at 2pm.

=======================================

4pm
Two more protesters arrested, dragged down the esker. A dump truck, a bulldozer in the area. Search and Rescue have arrived, – Civil Defence.
They need the garda ombudsman there –
They are hammering into the esker to erect the fence …………………..

=======================================

4:30
The construction workers with the aid of the Gardai have fenced off the sensitive area surrounding the tunnel entrance, separating it from the rest of the camp and the protesters. They are in the process of driving posts into the ground, endangering the stability of the area. The protesters onsite have backed away as the presence of Gardai, security, workers and activity around the area is also posing a threat and they do not wish to add further to the human element of possible damage due to an excess of bodies on the mound. Contact with the protester underground is being maintained by one other supporter inside the fence. An agreement has been reached which keeps the Machines at a safe distance.

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The injunction was refused by the court. Watch a video of today here

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Breaking news at www.indymedia.ie

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Background & new camp wish-list:

Here’s some background history and up-dates on what’s happening at Tara, Ireland.

Whatever you dream you can do begin it.
Boldness has genius,power & magic in it.
Begin it now.
Goethe

The idea that the land can be owned by a few at the expense of the many, is comparatively new in Ireland, when compared to the lovingly sculpted perfectly astronomically aligned hills of theTara/Skryne valley.
These are monuments from a time when the land was loved and honoured by the tribes that lived upon it, these days however a few morally bankrupt individuals feel it more advantageous to impose a tarmac coated nightmare on the once sacrosanct fields and hills of Tara/ Skryne.

A handful of Fianna Fail (the Irish ruling party) supporters and local property developers have brought land along an area that has SINCE become the route of the planned four lane M3 motorway, which would dissect 44 ancient sites, comprising a complex of pre-historic monuments, hillforts, and henges which make up one of the richest
archaeological sites anywhere in the world.

The highly respected world monuments fund have placed the entire valley on its list of one hundred most endangered world heritage sites, all this is bad for business you might think?

Especially if you’re one of the corrupt politicians or builders who want to destroy this valley with their developments so these people have become stubborn in there refusal to listen to a few academics, much less 70% of the Irish people who wished to see the road re-routed, the millions of euros the developers are going to make on the back of their dodgy dealing must have blocked their ears to the calm voice of reason. And so the diggers moved in attempting to build a massive 52 acre interchange at the foot of Tara hill itself.

On the 16th October 07 the last of the sites that exist on the proposed route of the M3 was reported to campaigners by a worried anonymous local, so concerned citizens on the ground went to see if there was any substance to reports that poorly trained polish archaeologists had been working in secret over previous weeks to excavate something at a site near soldiers hill (itself a site of major historical importance) relating to a decisive battle from the Irish 1798 up-rising which was recently bulldozed.

It would be nigh on impossible to express the history and significance of every site mentioned as the area Surrounding Tara/Skryne is so steeped in History so rich in archaeology that it would take page upon page to give an outline of each one and their relationship to one another.

There are ten sites of importance at the proposed interchange alone, only one other interchange of this size and type exists in Europe (it’s in Lithuania) the sheer size of it has prompted great fear amongst locals that more and more motorways are planned to criss-cross the area around Tara. (Tara hill it’s self is a site equivalent to Stonehenge in UK as a focus for the neo-pagan community).

Of course there’s been an outcry naturally there would be, after all through successive generations of Irish history Tara hill has stood as one of the most emblematic geographic symbols of the struggle that everyday people have had to overcome in order to secure a life not dominated by the greed of the few oppressing the happiness of the many.

Time and time again through the pages of Irelands history Tara and her environs emerge as the stage for an epic play that has mirrored the struggle of all the peoples of the Earth to live a life of worth and meaning.

In ancient times the high king or Ard Ri’ was chosen from amongst the Irish tribes, the Ard Ri’ lived at Tara and although their immediate lands were comparatively small it fell to the Ard Ri to have the final say in matters of judgement between the various tribal representatives of ancient Ireland.

Some may disagree with the notion of Kings and rulers imposing their will on the land and people from some distant hill,but notions of Kingship landownership and chieftainship where in entirely different under brehon law, than those that we in the UK have inherited as a result of nearly a thousand years of subjugation by a small elite of Norman robber Barons and their decendents.

St Patrick first preached his Gospel at Tara to the then Ard Ri’ (leoghiaire son of Na’ial) in mid 400 AD and Brian Mac Kennady (Brian Buru) was the last Ard Ri’ at Tara until 1041

In 1798 three hundred poorly armed “united Irish men” were massacred there, at site now called soldiers hill (the proposed location of the Blundellstown interchange) It’s also where O’connell addressed a crowd believed to be up to a million supporters from the top of tara hill when he led the movement for catholic emancipation in the 1830s from the laws penalising Catholics that had been passed by Cromwell in the 1650’s.

The Spainish company Ferrovial along with smaller operators, Wills Brothers and SIAC have taken on the Public Private Partnership alongside the national roads authority to build this road along it’s ridiculous crooked route through this complex of world heritage sites , and although they have been repeatedly ordered by the E U commission to stop all work on the site, all three companies and the Irish Gov’t have stubbornly refused to cease the work they have been compared by local MEP Kathy Sinnot to a small child who when asked to share a desert with a sibbling, stubbornly stuffs the whole thing in their mouths and petulantly replies ” I can’t it’s all gone” except this is nothing so trivial as that of course, because the land in question is one of the most archaeologically rich landscapes anywhere on earth , with an unbroken record of 6000 years of human habitation, the mind boggles at the potential significance of the archaeology in the area.

Incidently multinational giant Ferrovial helping to carry out this attack was founded (circa 1953) to porovide hardware for the Spainish rail system but was soon in financial difficulty and was eventually bailed out by Spain’s fascist dictator Franco, these links and others within Ferrovials board of directors have led many people to believe that its vindictive actions have been prompted by the right wing Spanish Catholic cult “Opus Dei” who incidently have their headquarters in Ireland, right in the centre of the ancient temple complex of the Tara/ Skryne valley.

Some things however, we can be absolutely certain of, Ferrovial were involved in a project (successfully resisted by locals) that had been intended to bulldoze a mountain, ancestoral graveyard, and sacred precinct,in Mexico, not to mention similar attrocities in Chile.
They also own 7 U.K airports, and are involved with with the forthcoming planned expansion of Dublin airport, plus the on going attempt to expand Heathrow etc, having purchased the British aviation authority for £10.31billion sterling last year.

At present they are trying another route to get there grubby little tenticles in the till by obtaining a slice of London’s underground system.

Of course there was outcry in Ireland when the idea of putting a motorway through Tara was first vaunted, but as Aldous Huxley once said “in the future it will be possible for the powers that be to controll the masses by providing endless amounts of distraction and propaganda” the Irish spin machine has shown it’s self to be as manipulative as any other in the developed world.

First word went out that a motorway was proposed at Tara, then as you would expect there was an uproar, so the Irish national roads authority put masses of funding into an awareness campaign “explaining” that they were not after all proposing a road through Tara, in fact they had merely suggested putting a road “around” Tara, an obvious ploy one might think, but one the Irish people have been expected to swallow hook line and sinker.

As the people of Ireland breathed their initial collective sigh of relief it was expected by the NRA that the public would overlook all the things that were not mentioned, issues like the 52 acre interchange at the foot of tara hill, the bulldozing of 44 (yes 44) archaeological sites, the demolition of a wooden henge with cannine and human internments in its original context (believed to be unique) the human burials include a high status female internment (which with proper analysis may well have provided useful commentary on the possible bias of the early christian scribes toward male kingship etc) the partial demolition of a unique hillfort, the bulldozing of a graveyard full of 60 french “celtic” style internments, the list goes on and on and on graves and sites and temples all sacred to the living soul of the land and her people, torn out so a handful of greedy selfish philistines can make a quick buck.

Meanwhile with the ongoing and wholesale destruction underway the Irish powers that be repeat their mantra, it’s not going through Tara hill they say, the living are more important than the dead and the living need that motorway, and on and on they repeat their patronsing oversights as if the people are so stupid as to not know that there is a better route to the west of Tara hill, that route would follow the flat level gradient of a disused railway track, or that all the best development land of the linked towns lays to the west, or that the shortest and best crossing of the Boyne river is to the west, in fact the only logical reason why anyone would build a road on the present proposed route is because a few crony’s of the Irish ruling party have brought up masses of land in the Tara/skryne valley and they alone stand to profit from this route.

So the politicians and road builders keep their heads in the sand, vainly repeating their mantra against reality, my hands are tied, we need a road, it’s not going through Tara, etc etc.
The Rath Lugh direct action camp was evicted yesterday,and people are still locked on in the tunnels we need people to come and help build a new camp along the M3.
Every visitor makes a difference to the protest.

Activities so far have included limited use of tripods, most recently at an iron age fort complex discovered in october near soldiers hill where protesters locked on to to obstruct the shoddy practices of badly trained and unprofessional polish archaeologists drafted in, to rush the dig through in secret, also tree houses have been placed on route, but work has been mainly stopped sporadicly by concerned E.U citizens upholding the law by physically standing in front of bulldozers,.

“The tactics and actions vary as we continue to shut down all work on this road once and for all” said one protestor ” the one thing that will never change is that we will defy this road to the last sod, and continue to protest as long as those responsible try to destroy our sacred land”

But greater numbers are urgently needed, anyone who cares is urged to visit and lend physical, moral or other support, everyone has something they can offer, the main thing is just to go to Tara hill and meet other people who care, it’s not about “protesters” or “activists” doing their demo , it’s about YOU caring enough to do something before it’s too late, don’t leave it to someone else.

HOW TO GET THERE.
National express funfares from £15 one way from the U.K (inc ferry) or £52 for a months open return on the train from most U.K rail stations.
Once you get to Dublin city center, get a 109 bus from Busaurus (central bus station) going north to Navan, and ask to be let off at Tara. It’s a short well signposted walk from the bus stop to Tara hill and the vigil site, this should cost about 11 euros return.

WISH LIST FOR THE NEW CAMP BEING SET UP!!!
Tarps, carpets, digital cameras and memory cards, old C.B. Rigs aerials etc, Mobile phones and credit, Large tents and tarpaulins, rope, climbing equipment and harness, Locks, chains, waterproof warm dry and durable clothing, serviceable welly boots and wax jacket, and all other types and sizes of serviceable boots, clean and warm blankets and bedding, Lighting equipment, security lights, and 12volt spotlights, scaffolding bars and clamps, welding equipment, pic’s shovels, mic’s and recording equipment, pic’s shovel’s etc, etc, but especially we need individuals with their own innitiative, the protest belongs to no one,, it’s up to you, if not you then who? If not now then when?

There are big events planned for may 1st, june 21st, aug 1st, sept 21st, oct 31st dec 21st feb 1st and march 31st,
The resistance will be ongoing against ferrovial regardless, and against the road until it is re routed, and let’s face it there’s nothing like a surprise visit to cheer folks up, so come on down to Tara and celebrate our love of the land and the strength of our unity and defiance.

Donations toward direct action gratefully received at www.tarapixie.net (direct action website, excellent films and up to the minute info from the ground)

And legal costs direct action and campaigning at www.savetara.com
Ongoing campaigning and corruption info and refs can be found at www.tarawatch.org

WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST SIAC STARTS MON 17th MARCH 2008

CONTACT: HEADMEN AT SIAC

Country code (0035)
Mark Cleary 08681 90323
Liam Shorthall 0868274419
Wills Headman 0879101759

Ciaran Feieghery Chairman of SIAC
Hank Fugarty is the director of SIAC Operations

GRUPO FERROVIAL S.A.
Principe de Vergara 135
28002 Madrid Spain
Tel no.+34-91 586- 2500
Fax no. +34-91-586-2677