Rest of Europe – Page 60

French Farmer Calls Off Hunger Strike

PARIS (AP) – Militant French farmer Jose Bove and about 15 supporters called off their hunger strike in its eighth day after the government ordered the suspension of the use of genetically modified corn Friday.

France will suspend cultivation of MON810, the seed for the only type of genetically modified corn now allowed in the country, until a European Union review is conducted, Prime Minister Francois Fillon’s office said.

The move was based on a recommendation this week by a government-appointed panel calling for ‘the need for additional analyses on the health and environmental effects of the genetically modified product MON810 in the long term,’ Fillon’s office said in a statement.

Bove and his supporters began the hunger strike Jan. 3, saying they hoped to pressure the government to make good on a promise in November to suspend cultivation of MON810. He said they only drank water or unsweetened tea during the protest.

The seed, which resists some types of insects, was authorized before a government-ordered moratorium on genetically modified products took effect in 1999. Last year, it was planted in about 54,000 acres in France – mainly in southern farmland.

Bove rose to fame in August 1999 when he and supporters used farm equipment to dismantle a McDonald’s branch under construction in Millau, in the foothills of France’s Massif Central mountains.

He has faced repeated trials and served jail time for destroying genetically modified crops.

The Associated Press, 11 January 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hq-PHd96BpmEGZYsFUZ4_KEto5zAD8U3VO802

CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 75, JANUARY 2008

CONTENTS:

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
2) LONDON RISING TIDE BENEFIT – LONDON, 11.1.08

CONTENTS:

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
2) LONDON RISING TIDE BENEFIT – LONDON, 11.1.08
3) NEWQUAY AIRPORT EXPANSION, PUBLIC DEBATE – CORNWALL, 12.1.08
4) RADICAL ACTION VS. CLIMATE CHAOS, NATIONAL MEET – NOTTINGHAM, 12.1.08
5) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LEEDS, 26-27.1.08
6) BIOFUELWATCH WEEK OF ACTION – NATIONAL, 26.1.08 – 1.2.08
7) MANCHESTER CLIMATE FORUM – 1.3.08
8) DAY OF ACTION VS. GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS – INTERNATIONAL, 26.1.08
9) LOW-IMPACT SMALLHOLDING – BUCKS, 11-13.1.08
———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) NEWQUAY AIRPORT ROOFTOP OCCUPATION – 15.12.07
2) SANTAS AGAINST EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION – NORWICH & LONDON, 15.12.07
3) BRISTOL RISING TIDE TAKES ACTION VS. SHELL GREENWASH – DECEMBER 2007
4) SHELL TO SEA SCALE GOVERNMENT OFFICE – IRELAND, 19.12.07
5) NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH AND ACTIONS – 8.12.07
6) DUTCH COAL ACTION – 8.12.07
7) FLIGHT CENTRES SHUT FOR BUSINESS – MANCHESTER, 7.12.07
8) CHEADLE-HIGH-STREET AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE – DECEMBER 2007
9) SUBVERTISEMENTS IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER – DECEMBER 2007
10) WOMEN’S BLOCKADE OF DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT – 7.12.07
11) THE TIDE IS RISING! – 7.12.07
12) CLIMATE ACTIVISTS STOP WORK AT COAL MINE – SOUTH WALES, 5.12.07
13) INTERNATIONAL RT HOAX TARGETS BIG CARBON – 3.12.07
14) HOMELESS POLAR BEARS IN COURT – BRISTOL, 14.11.07
15) KEEP OIL UNDERGROUND – DECEMBER 2007
16) SIZEWELL NUCLEAR CLIMATE ACTION – 1.12.07
17) MANIAC MOTORIST MARS MASS – GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2007
18) VIVA’S ‘HOT!’ CAMPAIGN – DECEMBER 2007
19) WHAT BETTER TIME? – DECEMBER 2007
20) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 5 – DECEMBER 2007
21) PACIFIC CURRENTS – DECEMBER 2007
22) A HOUSE OF CARDS – DECEMBER 2007
23) SOUTH WEST AIR ACTION – DECEMBER 2007
24) RISING TIDE LEAMINGTON SPA – DECEMBER 2007
25) RISING TIDE ON YOU TUBE

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY – NATIONAL, 1.4.08
Just three months to go – are you out practising your routines? rehearsing your songs? building your props yet? I should get out more over Christmas…
However, it will soon be time to hatch your mischievous scheme, so get your friends round and start plotting!
http://www.fossilfoolsday.org/

2) LONDON RISING TIDE BENEFIT – LONDON, 11.1.08
In support of London Rising Tide, AMP is organising a night of live music at The Others, Manor Road, Stoke Newington. Entrance £5.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=38074566

3) NEWQUAY AIRPORT EXPANSION, PUBLIC DEBATE – CORNWALL, 12.1.08
Organised by Rising Tide with speakers from Groundswell and Plane Stupid.
7pm St. Mawgan Community Hall, Nr. Newquay, Cornwall. For more info. email; kernow@risingtide.org.uk

4) RADICAL ACTION VS. CLIMATE CHAOS, NATIONAL MEET – NOTTINGHAM, 12.1.08
11am – 6pm at The Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, Nottingham.
This meeting came out of the last Climate Camp gathering in November. It is focussed on growing our movement – how can we encourage more groups to form and more actions/campaigns to happen? What things do we want to do to help build a vibrant network of regional action groups doing actions locally and nationally?
For instruction on how to get there: http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/map.html
Also, 11 people are going to trial in Nottingham on Monday 14th for ‘shutting down’ the local coal power station, If anyone wants to stay to support them that would be great!

5) CLIMATE CAMP NATIONAL GATHERING – LEEDS, 26-27.1.08
The Climate Camp on its own didn’t stop climate change – but it’s part of a growing social movement that can! Come and take the next steps forward at the upcoming UK-wide meeting on Jan 26-27 in Leeds. Everyone is welcome, whether you came to the camp, or were simply inspired by it.
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/nextmeeting.php

6) BIOFUELWATCH WEEK OF ACTION – NATIONAL, 26.1.08 – 1.2.08
Biofuelwatch are calling for a national week of local action on agrofuels between 26th January and 1st February 2008. We will shortly update our website to provide more background information about the UK agrofuel industry and policies, as well as a draft leaflet and other resources. If you would like to get involved or find out more, please email us at info[at]biofuelwatch.org.uk.
http://biofuelwatch.org.uk/

7) MANCHESTER CLIMATE FORUM – 1.3.08
Manchester Climate Forum “Climate Change: it’s time to prepare”
9.15am at the Methodist Hall, Oldham St, Central Manchester
http://www.manchesterclimateforum.org.uk/index.html

8) DAY OF ACTION VS. GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS – INTERNATIONAL, 26.1.08
On January 26 self-organized groups from all around the world will take creative action in their community. This will manifest in many ways, from nonviolent direct action, civil disobedience, street theatre, convergences, teach-ins and other activities and events. Grassroots movements around the world are making their voices heard and saying “Another World is Possible”. In coordination with the World Social Forum.
http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/category/front-page/

9) LOW-IMPACT SMALLHOLDING – BUCKS, 11-13.1.08
Next course by the Low-Impact Living Initiative;
http://www.lowimpact.org/courseoutlinelowimpactsmallholding.htm

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) NEWQUAY AIRPORT ROOFTOP OCCUPATION – 15.12.07
For the recently formed Kernow and Plymouth Rising Tide groups, this action marked an escalation in their fight against climate change and for environmental justice. However the planned rooftop protest at Newquay airport was given an unlikely boost when builders at the airport left a ladder propped up!
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/248
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7146159.stm

2) SANTAS AGAINST EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION – NORWICH AND LONDON, 15.12.07
Subversive Singing Santas Spread Seasonal Sanity in London and Norwich On one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Rising Tide activists in both London and Norwich dressed up as Santas Against Excessive Consumption and hit the high streets to sing a different tune to the usual buy, buy,
buy madness of the holiday season.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/247

3) BRISTOL RISING TIDE TAKES ACTION VS. SHELL GREENWASH – DECEMBER 2007
A series of actions is being taken against the organisers of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award and Bristol Museum, in protest at the sponsorship of the event by Shell. A grumpy polar bear visited the offices of BBC Wildlife magazine, then activists disrupted Bristol Museum’s posh reception to kick off the exhibition with a Yes Men-style intervention. And on the opening morning, dozens of humans, polar bears, a snow leopard and a tiger gathered (complete with the Shell’s Wild Lie counter-exhibition) in front of the museum. They handed out leaflets and created quite a spectacle. Protests are expected to continue through Jan. 13th.
http://risingtide.org.uk/bristol

4) SHELL TO SEA SCALE GOVERNMENT OFFICE – IRELAND, 19.12.07
A special prayer and carol service was held on 16th December at Bellanaboy, County Mayo, marking the end of another year of community struggle against Shell’s proposed raw gas pipeline and inland refinery.
On the 19th, a small group of Shell to Sea activists scaled the heights of the Department of Natural Resources to place a banner reading PROTECT IRISH NATURAL RESOURCES on the balcony outside Eamon Ryan’s office.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17942
http://www.corribsos.com/

5) NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH AND ACTIONS – 8.12.07
Over 10,000 climate campaigners took to the streets to take part in marches in London and Glasgow over the weekend, despite pouring rain. Protesters braved the weather in one the biggest demonstrations calling for climate justice the UK has ever seen.
http://www.campaigncc.org/
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/12/387497.html
Environmental activists from direct action group Plane Stupid shut down travel agents and airline offices along the route of the Climate March in London.
http://www.planestupid.com/
Meanwhile, in Manchester airline billboards advertising cheap flights to European cities were subverted.

6) DUTCH COAL ACTION – 8.12.07
A collective of twenty Dutch EarthFirst! activists blocked the coal conveyor- belt to a plant owned by the German energy giant E.on on the Maasvlakte near Rotterdam.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17893

7) FLIGHT CENTRES SHUT FOR BUSINESS – MANCHESTER, 7.12.07
All Flight Centre branches in Manchester city centre were super-glued shut in time for Saturday trading and to coincide with the climate march in London. They were pasted with notices saying: “Closed – we want your kids to have a planet” The UK’s only Hummer dealership, Bauer Millett, was also D-locked shut.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17887

8) CHEADLE-HIGH-STREET AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE – DECEMBER 2007
Activists from Cheadle-High-Street Against Climate Change held a “A planet is not just for Xmas” campaign for a sustainable Xmas.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17917

9) SUBVERTISEMENTS IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER – DECEMBER 2007
Two adverts promoting DVD’s by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson now have large stickers stuck on declaring “This causes climate change”. Also, FlyBe appears to have spotted the errors of their ways and cancelled their short-haul summer routes. Bravo FlyBe!
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17937

10) WOMEN’S BLOCKADE OF DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT – 7.12.07
Women climate activists blockaded the Department for Transport preventing staff from getting to work and carrying out their policies which are catapulting us towards dangerous run-away climate change. This action comes in response to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirming the government’s intentions to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow and coincides with the opening of their first “consultation”.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17883

11) THE TIDE IS RISING! – 7.12.07
A banner with this warning/statement was dropped to welcome all those entering the city of Manchester on the Princess parkway.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17886

12) CLIMATE ACTIVISTS STOP WORK AT COAL MINE – SOUTH WALES, 5.12.07
More than thirty climate activists, including members of the Rising Tide network, joined with local residents from Merthyr Tydfil in stopping excavation work for a full day on Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales. Activists evaded police and security before taking over the 1,000 acre site on a hilltop near Cardiff. Dressed as clowns and polar bears, they chained themselves to bulldozers and other heavy machinery to prevent work on the mine.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/242

13) INTERNATIONAL RT HOAX TARGETS BIG CARBON – 3.12.07
Climate activists with the international Rising Tide network embarrassed the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a lobby group composed of 33 prominent businesses and organizations, by distributing a spoof press release declaring that the consortium’s members had committed to a 90
percent reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In addition, the spoof release called for an immediate moratorium on the construction of all new coal-fired power plants.
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/240
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/03/oil.bp

14) HOMELESS POLAR BEARS IN COURT – BRISTOL, 14.11.07
Four homeless polar bears appeared before Bristol Magistrates Court on 14th November. They were arrested after blockading the Royal Bank of Scotland corporate offices on Avon St. during the Rising Tide national day of action. After pleading guilty to charges of “wilfully obstructing the public highway with a non motor vehicle” (i.e. a suit case) they were given a conditional discharge and went on to picket the RBS branch on Baldwin Street!
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/243

15) KEEP OIL UNDERGROUND – DECEMBER 2007
The only way to fight climate change. A new report by OilWatch.
http://www.oilwatch.org/doc/documentos/Keep_oil_underground.pdf
http://www.oilwatch.org/

16) SIZEWELL NUCLEAR CLIMATE ACTION – 1.12.07
What else would you do at this time in the morning at a nuclear power station, other than lay on the road, lock yourselves together, unfurl your banner reading “nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos” and wait 15 minutes for the security to notice you.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17868

17) MANIAC MOTORIST MARS MASS – GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2007
Unburdened with festive spirit, a middle-aged woman leant out of her car and pulled a cyclist off his bike.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17889

18) VIVA’S ‘HOT!’ CAMPAIGN – DECEMBER 2007
“Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency.” United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation 2006
find out more at
http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/hot/index.php

19) WHAT BETTER TIME? – DECEMBER 2007
A free news sheet from the Scottish Climate Activist Network.
http://whatbettertime.livejournal.com/

20) BATH BOMB, ISSUE 5 – DECEMBER 2007
Christmas edition of the monthly Bathonian rabblerousiness.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17905

21) PACIFIC CURRENTS – DECEMBER 2007
For updates on the work of Pacific Environment, a non-profit organisation that protects the Pacific Rim’s wild places and wildlife, see;
http://www.pacificenvironment.org/article.php?id=2658

22) A HOUSE OF CARDS – DECEMBER 2007
From fantasy finance to global crash.
Your guide to understanding the crisis that is sweeping through the global financial system and what it means for ordinary people.
Endorsed by Kevin Smith of Carbon Trade Watch and filmmaker Ken Loach.
http://www.aworldtowin.net/about/HouseOfCards.html

23) SOUTH WEST AIR ACTION – DECEMBER 2007
A new website.
http://www.swairaction.org.uk/

24) RISING TIDE LEAMINGTON SPA is born – DECEMBER 2007
The group had its first meeting on 3rd January and is now swinging into action. If you live in the area and want to find out more or get involved contact becqke@riseup.net

25) RISING TIDE ON YOU TUBE
Rising Tide action footage has been springing up all over youtube – check out http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=RisingTideNetwork for some RT films, some of the latest actions and links to other’s videos of RT actions.

———-

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newssheet@risingtide.org.uk

To view previous editions of the Rising Tide News Sheet, visit the News Sheet Archive at http://risingtide.org.uk/newssheet

This News Sheet was brought to you by Rising Tide, a grassroots network of groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change.

For more information…
email: info@risingtide.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0)845 458 8923 / +44 (0)7708 794665
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Actions against the motorway through Tara, Ireland – reports and upcoming

This morning, monday 6th jan ’08 at 7 am, 11 of us split up into two groups. We went to the Ardsallagh Compound (site entrance 2.10) and Roestown (site entrance 2.1 ) . All the machinery was parked at these two sites for the past two weeks over Christmas.

Ardsallagh ; four of us went on site into the compund and blocked a lowloader in the gate, preventing any more machinery being brought off to other sites. They then headed across country towards the River Boyne at site no. 2.9 . While two held the gate, two followed them across the field ,stopping them before they reached the next stretch.Construction workers at the gate , trying to intimidate the protesters assaulted one man , dragging him to the ground and pulling out of the way allowing the lowloader past. In the mean time, off route down the road two of us were waiting to be picked up (help with transport needed), when we saw a digger coming towards us along the hedge line. The driver proceeded to drive up to us nearly kocking us over. when we stood our ground in front of the machine, he got out and verbally and physically asaulted us. The gaurds then arrived treatening arrest on anyone who stayed under the Miscellaneous Act2004 section 19c but were helpful and co operative when told about the assaults , taking the digger drivers name.

Roestown: As today was the first day of construction since before Christmas, we needed to blockade the machinery from entering the valley again. From the N3 we could see the machinery moving towards Trevet from the Roestown compound. We arrived there just as the first digger was approaching. There were 5 of us. We all went into the site and approached the digger. The driver complied with health and safety regulations and stopped his machine immediately. We made a blockade in front of the machine with traffic cones, poles and safety notices. Mark Cleary and his comrades entered the site, along with security. They filmed us and removed the blockade. One protestor was standing on the blockade, Mark Cleary pushed him off. A jeep coming from the Roestown direction passed us by, the digger driver had switched back on his machine. Another protestor on bail conditions stayed at the site entrance with banners on the public road, playing his tin whistle. Mark Cleary and this protestor had a cameral duel! The Gardai arrived and asked us to leave the site, quoting the Housing and Misc Act 2004, section C. We were told we would be arrested if we were seen again today on a M3 site. The Gardai followed us to the Ardsallagh compound. We held a banner protest there on the side of the road. The same Gardai were very interested in the Tara issue, and asked us questions about archaeology and Lismullen. Nobody was arrested.

Ogoni Day remembered as Shell fail to honour promise to halt gas flaring

Today is January 4th 2008.

On this day in 1993, 300,000 people in Nigeria marked the United Nations Year of Indigenous Peoples by protesting against Shell’s activities and the environmental destruction of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta.

2008 was supposed to be the deadline for the ending of gas flaring by Shell in Nigeria, but the company now says that this deadline will not be met.

Letting the company have a taste of its own medicine

Today is January 4th 2008.

2008 was supposed to be the deadline for the ending of gas flaring by Shell in Nigeria, but the company now says that this deadline will not be met.

Letting the company have a taste of its own medicine

At just before 8.30 this morning, as staff were arriving for work at Royal Dutch Shell’s Irish headquarters in Dublin, they were treated to a taste of what life is like for those who have to live and work near Shell installations in other parts of the world.

Short version of video (45 seconds) here: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=u4uZDvA5WY4

Long version (2 minute) here: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=597hkm9MuTo

More information on Shell in Nigeria here: http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2007/May3_DU_Flaring.htm

Gas Flaring is simply the releasing of excess gas and liquids associated with oil and gas production pipelines and refineries into the atmosphere. The main purpose of gas flaring is to protect pipelines and infrastructure from over-pressuring

The released gases are burned off, releasing any by-products into the air. These include nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds like xylene and hydrogen sulfide. Carcinogens such as benzapyrene are also released. People exposed to these substances can suffer from a variety of respiratory problems, which have been reported amongst many children in the Niger Delta but have but have never been systemically investigated. These chemicals can also aggravate asthma, cause breathing difficulties and pain, as well as chronic bronchitis.

Benzene, which is known to be emitted from gas flares in undocumented quantities, is acknowledged as being a causative agent for leukemia.

Gas flaring of course, also contributes to global warming and climate change.

Together with oil spills, gas flaring is seen as a major cause of environmental degradation. In Nigeria, the practice is supposed to be illegal, but there is no sign of the Nigerian government being able to enforce this law. Here in Ireland we know all about how Shell can manipulate the world of politics and the legal process to suit the needs of the company’s shareholders.

In Nigeria in 1995 however, it appears that Shell’s PR people slowly realised that their part in the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other activists was a public relations disaster, and in the aftermath the company made various concessions to its critics, in a vain attempt to undue some of the damage it felt had been done to its brand. One of the promises made was the announcement of an end to gas flaring.

Shell of course, is not well known for living up to its promises, and so flaring is still going on today. In the year 2000, Shell formally announced that it would stop gas flaring by 2008. Interestingly, since 2000, gas flaring in the Niger Delta has actually increased (according to the 2005 Shell Sustainability Report).

In November 2005, the Federal High Court of Nigeria stated that Shell and other oil companies
should end gas flaring in the Niger Delta. In a case brought against Shell, the court ruled that the damaging and wasteful practice of flaring could not lawfully continue and must stop. Shell appealed against the decision.

At the demonstration on January 4th 1993, an Ogoni elder said:
“We have woken up to find our lands devastated by agents of death called oil companies. Our atmosphere has been totally polluted, our lands degraded, our waters contaminated, our trees poisoned, so much so that our flora and fauna have virtually disappeared”.

January 4th became known as Ogoni Day.

For more information see:

www.remembersarowiwa.com

Success for City Indians: 4WD targetted in Denmark

4th January 2008

Originally from Sweden a movement of “city indians” targetting large 4WD cars has spread widely in Denmark, while in Sweden a truce has been declared.

The number of attacks on high pollution 4WD city cars have been increasing steadily in Denmark since the city indians first began in Sweden some months ago. New year’s eve saw another wave of actions in Copenhagen.

4th January 2008

Originally from Sweden a movement of “city indians” targetting large 4WD cars has spread widely in Denmark, while in Sweden a truce has been declared.

Meanwhile in Sweden where the actions started a truce has been declared by the CI. “It seems our actions have had effect, the message that city jeeps have no place in our cities has gotten through. But if we don’t continue to see decreasing sales of the cars the hatchet is easily unburied”, the CI in Sweden said in a statement on their website.

The CI in both Sweden and Denmark have received countless death threats on their websites.

Celebrating the end of the carbon economy

This afternoon, at 5pm. members of Groenfront will join together in the centre of capitalism in the Netherlands: the Beursplein in Amsterdam. Here they will bring out a toast to the record-high price of oil of $100 per barrel. Since 2003 the price of oil has sky-rocketed, with the rate sometimes climbing several dollars a day. GroenFront-activist Rogier: “What the earth needs is economic ‘shrinkage’. The climate crisis and the peaking oil production show us that we need to adjust to the limits of our ecosystem”.

Peakoil is the geologically determined peaking and – after that – shrinking of oil production. The remainder of oil becomes harder and harder to retrieve, demanding a still greater technological and financial effort.
It looks as if the worldwide production of oil has reached that peak. Every following year, the production will decrease. The decreased supply in combination with an ever increasing demand will push up the price of oil. Executives of, among others, Total, Conoco, Philps, Saudi Aramco and the Libyan National Oil Corporation have already stated that they are not able to meet the current demand for oil. The last few years have seen lower yields from oil fields in the US, Mexico and the North Sea. The International Energy Agency expressed its concerns over the ever growing gap between supply and demand in the global oil market.

Whether the record-high price of $100 is beneficial to the environment depends on the way the oil-addicted societies react. If the shortage in oil will be compensated for with pollutive replacements, like agrofuels, unconventional oil and synthetic diesel from coal and natural gas, the world still has not learned its lesson. This record-high price should be used as a wake-up call: fossil fuels are limited and already we are faced with the consequences.

Families in the United States are seriously concerned with the oncoming winter because of the greatly increased cost of petrol. Transport and fishing sector in Europe are anticipating protests against the risen price of diesel fuel. In Third World countries – where fuels are usually subsidised – governments are faced with a choice: an empty treasury or uprising. In Africa and Asia a growing amount of fishermen are forced to stay ashore because of the high costs of fuel. Farmers are not able to bring their products to the market place. Peakoil starts to rear its ugly head everywhere.

“The climate crisis and the depletion of fossile fuels show us that a radical change in our economic system is an absolute necessity,” says GroenFront activist Rogier. “Failing to do so means waiting for an economic recession which will hit the people who are already having difficulties to cope. A redistribution of wealth is necessary, but most of all a choice has to be made for a little less wealth. We can do that now, voluntarily and peacefully, or wait until both economy and ecology force us to do so.” In conclusion, Rogier states: “Economic shrinkage is the only real solution to the approaching economic and ecologic crisis.”

Hunger strike in France to protest gene-altered crops

PARIS: The militant French sheep farmer Jose Bove and as many as 15 of his supporters were expected to begin a hunger strike Thursday aimed at raising pressure on the French government to impose a long-term ban on growing genetically modified crops.

In a newspaper interview published Wednesday, the anti-globalization activist vowed not to eat again until a ban was in place.

Bove captured worldwide attention for helping to organize the ransacking of a McDonald’s restaurant nine years ago to protest the influence of multinational corporations. Since then he has served time in a French prison for damaging gene-altered crops.

While his campaigns have struck a sympathetic chord in many parts of France and Europe where gene-altered foods are widely mistrusted – and where Bove is something of a folk hero – the latest protest against altered crops comes as divisions over the potential benefits of the technology appear to be deepening across the region.

Some European Union officials remain wary of using products that could endanger insects and fish and disturb ecosystems, but others have redoubled calls to ease restrictions on altered seeds as a way of keeping farming globally competitive at a time of skyrocketing food prices.

The European agriculture commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel, warned farm ministers in November that Europe’s resistance to importing genetically modified products like livestock feed was contributing to the rising cost of raising pigs and chickens and could pose a threat to the meat industry.

In October, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, disappointed supporters of a long-term ban by announcing a temporary freeze on genetically modified seeds pending the outcome of a review of the technology that is expected early this year.

Bove has said he is undertaking his hunger strike to push the French government into making a much longer-term commitment to end seed cultivation.

Genetically modified corn is already imported into several EU countries, including France and Germany, where it is used to feed animals like cows and chickens. But only one genetically modified crop is currently grown in Europe, a form of corn produced by Monsanto and nine other companies called Mon 810 that is the main target of Bové’s protest.

Austria, Hungary and Poland are among countries that already have banned the Monsanto corn.

A long-term ban ‘is the only thing that will put an end to this hunger strike,’ Bove told the French daily Sud Ouest in an interview published Wednesday. ‘Promises won’t be satisfactory.’

Bove told Sud Ouest that he would conduct the hunger strike in a well-known public location in Paris where he would not cause any security problems. He declined to reveal the whereabouts of the location before Thursday.

Bove began reducing his intake of alcohol, meat, eggs and cheese at the end of December to start accustoming his body to the fast, during which he said he expected to lose half-a-kilogram, or about one pound, of weight each day, he told another French newspaper, Midi Libre.

‘This hunger-strike is a well-considered commitment, not a suicidal act,’ Bove told Midi Libre.

By James Kanter International Herald Tribune, January 2 2008 http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/02/europe/gmo.php

December’s Greek round-up of bank, cash machine & Group 4-Wackenhut vehicle attacks

Arson at a bank’s ATM (Athens, 24/12/2007)

Source (greek only-page bottom): http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=91228912

At 4:43 in the morning, the ATM of a Kyprou Bank subsidiary in central Athens, was set on fire. There was no responsibility claim.

Arson at a bank’s ATM (Athens, 24/12/2007)

Source (greek only-page bottom): http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=91228912

At 4:43 in the morning, the ATM of a Kyprou Bank subsidiary in central Athens, was set on fire. There was no responsibility claim.
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Molotov cocktail attack against security vehicles (Athens, 24/12/2007)

Source (greek only): Eleftherotypia – http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=91228912

According to “Eleftherotypia newspaper report the “Revolutionary Attack Groups” (Epanastatikes Omades Epithesis) claim responsobility for the arsons of “Group 4 Securicor” vehicles in Kolonos, Athens. “On Dec. 24 we attacked the private guard company “Group 4-Wackenhut” headquarters destroying around 15 vehicles used in money transfers. This company, apart from owning private prisons in America and England, in our country constitutes the most important piece of the growing police-like corp of security professionals that floods the streets, breeding the big brother shoving cameras, circulating the banks’ wealth and guarding diverse capitalist targets contributing in the increasing social control and repression.”
They also mention:
“The message here is clear. When dealing with the rage of insurgents they cannot be safe, even in their headquarters. Our attack was an action of solidarity to our emprisoned comrades: Giannis Dimitrakis, Giorgos Voutsis-Vogiatzis, Marios Tsourapas, Chrissostomos Kontorevithakis, Vaggelis Botzatzis as well as to the prisoners of the Revolutionary Organisation November 17 that are being kept under a state of total isolation. It is an action of solidarity to the insurgent prisoners of April, many of whom face torture and constant transfers. It all continues…”
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Police camera supply box on fire (Thessaloniki, 21/12/2007)

According to reports at http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=807773 a group of individuals set on fire a police camera power supply box, on Ethikis Amynis Street, Thessaloniki.
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Arson at an Emporiki Bank (Volos, 21/12/2007)

Source: (greek only-page bottom: http://www.taxydromos.gr/article_detail.asp?node_serial=001001&node_id=2&article_id=7803)

Unidentified persons caused a gas canister explosion at a bank subsidiary in Volos, around 4:30 in the morning, at Emporiki Bank on Iolkou and Konstanta street, causing damages to the bank’s ATM. Police suspects individuals from the city’s antiauthoritarian milieu.
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Potatoes to Heavy Industry – Xmas blockade in Iceland with video

24 December 2007
On Saturday nine ‘jólasveinar’ wandered into the Hellisheiði Powerplant by Mount Hengill, expressing their opposition to the rise of heavy industry and other nature devastating activities in Iceland, as well as solidarity with human nature conservationists. (The jolasveinar are 13 Icelandic santas, born of a child-eating troll mother, who descend from the mountains in the days before christmas to sneak through the houses, stealing, teasing and causing mischief.)

“We decided to take a stroll by there before coming to town, and give out rotten potatoes to the naughty industrialists, and maybe a gift or two to the workers that do their jobs badly” said Pottaskefill (Pot scraper) on behalf of the group. Naughty Icelandic children such as these traditionally get a rotten potato in their christmas shoe.

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The Jule Lads, Nordic trolls who’s tradition preceed Father Christmas, descended upon a geothermal power station which is being enlarged to power the enlargement of an aluminium smelting factory by RUSAL/Nordural. Hengill was once a beautiful mountain range, at the edge of a highly volcanic area in Iceland, a ski resort peppered with natural hot pools and steaming rocks. Now it is nothing but a screaming factory.

The Jule lads join up for a special direct action with the Saving Iceland collective as they left to town… the video can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfY5Ou31SWE

Please consider coming out to Iceland for our 2008 action camp, we need all the help from activists we can get. This island is Europe’s last wilderness and with huge dams, geothermal power plants, power lines, tarmac roads, polluting factories, not to mention all the terrible affects on the surrounding sea, and a whole host of other forms of destruction.

More photos at:
http://www.savingiceland.org/node/1077

Shell to Sea protesters scale government building to reach Minister’s Office

Wednesday December 19, 2007

A small group of Shell to Sea activists scaled the heights of the Department of Natural Resources today, to place a banner reading PROTECT IRISH NATURAL RESOURCES on the balcony outside Eamon Ryan’s office.

Wednesday December 19, 2007

Splitting into two small teams, the protesters used advice from GreenPeace to distract the security and gain access to the Minister’s top floor office and leave a message for him.

This action was carried out to bring to public attention the government’s support for every aspect of the Rossport pipeline/refinery scheme, and the giveaway of Irish Natural resources to multinational companies like Shell, with no lasting benefit for people in Ireland. The Green party have now had a full term of the Dáil to honour their election promises, but sadly, their end of term report is is marked FAIL.

None of the gas or oil in the wells off the western coast of Ireland will belong to the state, since the government still plans to give it all away for free to private companies. The recent changes to licensing agreements won’t apply to the eight billion euro Corrib project, and don’t amount to a serious stake for the people of Ireland in their own natural resources, 100 per cent of which is still being given away to companies like Shell and Statoil.

None of the money from these fossil fuels will be invested in renewable sources of energy like wind and wave power, and no thought has been given to the impact that the exploitation of these resources will have on climate change.

Áine, one of the Shell to Sea protestors, said “The government’s supine support for the oil companies shows that they prioritise the welfare of Shell shareholders over the wellbeing of their own citizens. Shell are being allowed to keep all the gas and sell it to the highest bidder, almost certainly in Britain. The refining of 4 million euro worth of raw gas per day will clearly degrade the environment, both locally for the people of Mayo, and also in terms of carbon dioxide emissions when the gas is used. From an Irish point of view, we would be better off leaving the gas where it is, under the sea.”

Shell to Sea protestors have also pointed out that the government’s double talk on climate change can be clearly seen when they are supporting the construction of a raw gas refinery, and say they are hoping for further exploitation of fossil fuels in the Atlantic margin.

ÁÍne continued: “Until supply-side solutions are put in place, the continuing exploitation of fossil fuels will be adding to carbon dioxide emissions which is causing climate change. Any possible benefit from this is lost because the gas and oil are simply handed over to the big corporations. The people of Ireland will see no advantage, either environmental or financial, from their own gas and oil resources.”

“Meanwhile the corporations which will see huge profits from Irish resources, seek to use the cheapest and most dangerous way of exploiting them. Our government is happy to see lives of people in Ireland put at risk by the use of an onshore pipeline and refinery in Mayo, simply to maximise returns for Shell shareholders. “