Rest of Europe – Page 68

G8 Bike Caravan Action Nijmegen

7.05.2007 – Today a bicycle demo against the G8 was held in Nijmegen, Holland..

Today the bicycle demo against the G8 was a success. Despite the pouring rain and the absence of the majority of the international bicycle caravan, there were still 30 cyclists ready for action. Several locations that had some connection with the G8 politics were visited by bike for some good-spirited demonstrating . Unlike in Utrecht the police was wise enough not to show up. Tonight the rest of the caravan will arrive in Nijmegen, where the cyclists will stop for the night. Tomorrow the caravan will continue towards Germany, where the G8 summit will take place from 6th to 8th of june, in Heiligendamm.

7.05.2007 – Today a bicycle demo against the G8 was held in Nijmegen, Holland..

The first stop was made at the local Mcdonalds. This was surrounded by the cyclists and the entrance road to the mcdrive was blocked with fences.This fast food chain is a symbol of exploitation of workers and environment in third world countries by the rich western society.

Of course Berendonck was also visited. Here, environmental groups and local nature enjoyers are resisting the expansion of the golf terrain, into a valuable forest and lake area. The activsts reclaimed the public space by placing signs proclaiming “This is not a Golf State / Free access recreational area”. Trees were planted in the holes, and there was a game of football. Like Berendonck is wasted for a small group of rich people, the same goes for the G8 – on a world wide scale.

The last action was at the local headquarters of the marechaussee (immigration police). The gates to the building were locked from the outside by thick chains. Banners were hung on the fences, on which was written “no human being is illegal” and “break the power of the G8” By this way the activists protested against the Fortress of Europe. The marechaussee plays an important role in the inhumane immigration politics. Migration is one of the main themes of the protests against the G8.

Photos: http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2007/05/44322.shtml

Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5LnmkG2zOQ

SHAC TAKES THE FLAK: FLIMSY PRETEXT FOR COUNTRY-WIDE ARRESTS OF ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

4.5.07
In yet another hammerblow aimed at the animal rights movement, police made 32 arrests across the UK in the early hours of Tuesday morning in ‘Operation Achilles’. Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard of Kent Police says the arrests are “one of the largest, if not the largest, police operation that has targeted animal extremism in the UK.” Three properties were also searched in Belgium and the Netherlands.

700 police were involved as homes and animal sanctuaries were raided, with police seizing computers, mobile phones and cash. The whole operation was designed with maximum publicity in mind – the press were tipped off in advance and dutifully reported on the latest crackdown on animal rights ‘extremism’. Almost all those arrested had some connection with the SHAC campaign

Of course what didn’t hit the headlines was the number of properties raided without arrests being made and the fact that 24 hours later only nine of those arrested had been charged – two with blackmail and the other seven with ‘conspiracy to blackmail’. Twenty were released on bail and one without charge. Two of those nicked, main organisers in the SHAC campaign, have been held for further questioning.

Crucially, the police investigation – in a nod to corporate martial law – used intelligence and forensic support from the private sector. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry greeted news of the raids with glee: “News of today’s operation will act as a great fillip to the medical research community across Europe,” said a statement issued by Aisling Burnand, chief executive of Britain’s BioIndustry Association.

One source close to SHAC told SchNEWS, “This has all the hallmarks of a fishing expedition, designed to cause massive disruption to animal rights campaigns and show Big Pharma here and abroad that the police are making strides against the animal rights movement.”

NETCU CLOSES IN

As details emerged of the botched raid on Freshfields Animal Sanctuary in Liverpool, sanctuary head Dave Callendar told SchNEWS, “At 5.30 they kicked in the door and seized three staff members. At 6.20 they seized two others as they turned up for work. There were about sixty coppers – they set up a cordon and refused access to anyone. Those seized were held in vans but not arrested. My farm manager had his collarbone broken after he was grabbed by three police when he climbed the back wall to check on our pigs. He was held in a van for three hours and refused access to medical attention. Although the police brought an RSPCA inspector with them it was clear that when we regained access to the site that nothing had been done for the animals. Also they allowed animals to escape, which we’re still looking for. They took every single piece of hardware, mobile phones, photocopiers, you name it – but they didn’t take a single piece of paperwork. It’s difficult to see it as anything other then deliberate intimidation and disruption – nobody here is involved with the Huntingdon campaign. We’re a pro-active community organisation and we’re not going to let them walk all over us.”

The raids come against a backdrop of a decline in criminal incidents related to animal rights and demonstrate that the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordinating Unit’s (see www.netcu.org.uk) efforts are now aimed firmly at the ‘legitimate’ above ground animal rights movement. With SHAC once again able to conduct demos outside HLS (see SchNEWS 581) and activism spreading across Europe, Britain’s political police seem intent on decapitating the A.R. movement, by any means necessary.

* See www.shac.net for more
* Freshfields Animal Sanctuary see www.freshfieldsrescue.org.uk

Call for Submissions: Zine on Property Destruction

Entering the radical community, many quickly find themselves constantly hearing about debate over property destruction. Is it violence? Does it matter if it’s violence? Is it effective? Is it alienating? And on and on. I’ve been hearing this argument pretty much since I regularly started attending protests. At this point, I almost don’t want to deal with the subject. Naturally, you’re asking, “Then why the hell do you want to make a zine about it?”

The answer is simple: I may be sick of the debate, but that’s just me. As the war in Iraq drags on (dragging bloodied Iraqi corpse upon bloodied Iraqi corpse with it) and discontent and disillusionment with this whole socio-political-economic system increases, more people are getting involved in the fight against capitalism and its machines of war (both the armies abroad and the police at home). For many, when they start going to protests and demonstrations, they have at best mixed feelings about things like property destruction, violently resisting the police, or even just marching in the street without a permit. And some apprehension about these tactics is completely understandable. After all, everything in this system is designed to teach us that property (or perhaps more accurately, corporate property) is sacred, that police should always be obeyed (or else) and that breaking the law, even small laws, is morally and ethically wrong and can never be justifiable.

And so, this is a call for articles, stories, art, or anything else about the tactic of property destruction and its merits for a zine that seeks to give those on the fence about this issue a gentle nudge (and maybe convince them to rip down the fence!). Since this is meant to be a zine for people new to social movements, I respectfully ask that the tone of the articles keep that in mind when choosing their words. To put it plainly, please no anti-liberal rants–they piss me off too, but this is supposed to be the case for property destruction, not the case against liberals (maybe next time!).

When I say articles, I mean previously published or unpublished articles arguing for the validity or effectiveness of property destruction. It doesn’t even have to be something you wrote. If there’s an article that you think is really great and think that it should be included, tell me about it (things like, where I can find it, who wrote it, and how I can get ahold of them). There’s two kinds of stories that would be really great to have for this zine: personal accounts and “historical” accounts. Personal accounts would be something talking about witnessing or even committing an act of property destruction, how it made you feel, what impact it had, etc. Obviously this is very sensitive, so trying to be relatively vague is best (and also see the next paragraph for the best way to submit things like that). A “historical” account would be more of a general story (preferably contemporary) of how property destruction put pressure on an institution to win a concrete goal. Art would be anything that would be an image. A cartoon, a cool drawing, whatever.

If you have anything to contribute, please send an email to tacticaldiversity@gmail.com. I may want to edit some of your submission for various reasons (most likely space). Any edits or cuts will be run by you first. If for some reason you can’t or don’t want to submit something online, send an email and we can discuss other methods of submission. As was said above, sending personal accounts about property destruction over email is not necessarily a good idea. In fact, for both our sakes, it’s a bad idea. Any personal accounts should be submitted will an anonymous email service like www.willselfdestruct.com (be sure to make it at least 1 view). If you want me to respond somehow, you can leave an email address in the willselfdestruct message and I can respond in kind. If you don’t leave a way to respond to you, I may make edits without running them by you first. Also, a major goal is to make sure that every piece published is published with the creator’s permission. This zine isn’t going to be sold anywhere and will be distributed for free, but I still don’t want to use other people’s stuff in this zine without their express permission. So yeah, don’t submit other people’s work acting like it’s your’s and get people pissed at me. If you run an infoshop or any other radical space that could distribute this zine upon completion and are interested in receiving copies, drop a line and you’ll be kept in the loop when it comes time to publish.

In love and rage,
Casey Ford

On how to block just about everything

The upcoming actions against the G8 summit in Heiligendamm will present considerable challenges for the creativity and stamina of activists. After all, the idea is to effectively block all the entry points. The problem is that an enormous army of security and public order forces will be present and try to prevent the same. But history has shown that everything can be blocked. Below you will find some useful stories about the practice of blockades. This text will be updated as new ideas pour in.

Original version of the article, with many illustrations, can be found here: http://www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/1200/30/

Also written by the affinity group Wilnis: 8 good reasons to block the G8 summit ( http://www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/1209/30/)

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The roads to Heiligendamm come in all shapes and sizes. Except to the airport, there are no big motorways, which require their own expert approach to blocking. Most of the roads that will be used to transport people and goods to the G8 summit are dual carriageways, sometimes with a crash barrier inbetween the lanes, often with crash barriers (and cycle paths) along the sides of the road.

To begin an effective blockade is not that difficult, but the skill lies in keeping it going. Good preparation is half the work. You can start with preparing a few days before in the action camps, but it will be even easier if you have made plans before and have organised yourselves in a so-called affinity group. Then you can think beforehand about how you want to do actions, what you need for it, you can also practice already beforehand, etc. During the preparations, you can ask others for advice, learn certain techniques, etc. It is important to form a group of people who more or less agree on the manner in which they want to do actions, so that not too much time goes into discussions or disagreements. If you have not organised yourself in a group yet, or if you have questions, you can always try and find contact through activist meetings. Convergence centres, for example, are going to be set up in Berlin, Hamburg and Rostock, amongst others for this purpose. In the Netherlands, you can find fellow activists at the dissent meetings.

Moreover, during the preparations as well as the implementation of the actions you should expect that the blockade is going to be successful and that it will last long. The G8 summit goes on for 3 days, and the blockades will be implemented for that period of time. Make sure, therefore, that at least for the first hours you have enough to eat and drink and some form of entertainment. Boredom is often one of the biggest problems with successful blockades and occupations.

Inbetween blockades, you can hold sports competitions, lectures, teach-ins, etc. Or you can think about which new function Hotel Kempinski will have afterwards… Also, make sure (especially if you’re in a big group) that you are accompanied by activist first aid and legal observers, activist media, etc. Make sure you have communication channels with other blockades and action camps so that you know what’s going on. If the blockade perseveres, better communication and supply structures can be started later and you can communicate to others that the blockade has started and that other people can help to secure it.

It can be useful to have (in a side street nearby?) one or more cars so that people can get materials there and back.

Make sure you have nice decorations for the blockade, banners, flags and, for example, these things (link to demo units: http://www.demotech.org/d-design/d-construct.php?p=69), so that it is clear to the viewer what it’s all about.

The most simple way to blockade is to just sit on the street with a few people. This is already enough to stop car traffic and if there’s a lot of it, the resulting traffic jam will create even more problems for mobility in the surroundings. The more people take part in the blockade, the more difficult it will be to break it. However, past experiences have shown that if the police really want to, they can chase away the blockade fairly easily. There are methods to make the blockade somewhat stronger. For example, by linking arms or by practicing resistance methods against being dragged away. This will delay the eviction. But keep in mind that the police can apply forceful measures: water cannons, tear gas, horses and even dogs. Moreover, it often uses violence when dragging people away (twisting of arms, fingers in the nose, battering with the stick, etc.) Make sure cameras are directed towards the police, that might restrain them in their violence.

On a (hopefully unnecessary) side note: before you sit on the street, the traffic has to have stopped. You also have to make sure that newly arriving cars cannot drive into the blockade. There are many ways to stop traffic, you can also decide to choose a spot near traffic lights. Make sure you have a group of people warning the traffic some hundred metres before the blockade that they have to stop. If blockading roads at night, make sure there is sufficient lighting. Never block a road with traffic on it or if you are not sure that the traffic has been stopped, and never block a road just after a curve. Also, do not just throw things on the road and walk away, this can cause accidents. Once the road is out of use, by police or activist intervention, then throwing things on the roads is, of course, possible. In practice, however, a blockade that is defended by people is much more effective than just some objects left behind.

Using lock-ons is another way to make your blockade stronger. You can get them in all shapes and sizes. (link: http://www.eco-action.org/rr/ch12.html) Most often they are metal pipes in which you can stick your arm in one side and another person in the other, this way you can make human chains. You can, for example, make a circle of people and link this to another circle, etc. By making barrels with concrete shortly before blockading you can link the lock-ons to heavy objects. Remember though that the police does not shy away from being heavy-handed against you in this situation either. Make sure that you can always free yourself and that there are other ‘unlocked’ people around you (who can also bring food, scratch your back, etc.)

The more material you have, the more stable the blockade. You can use materials you find in the area around you (wood, stones, containers, etc.) or by planning the blockade in areas where you have a lot of material at your disposal. You can also bring your own.

A famous example is the tripod. (picture)

The higher it is the more difficult it is for police to break it down. You can make it from tree trunks, metal pipes, etc. But tripods can cause accidents; you have to know what you’re doing, first practice and ask advice from people who have used them before. Also keep in mind that sometimes the police is willing to let people fall, as was the case during the G8 summit protests in Lausanne.

It is easier to strengthen the blockade with different kinds of material. First make sure the blockade is erected, then you can make it stronger. Speed is essential, if the blockade has been secured well before the police arrives, it will be more difficult to push it to the side. Organise groups of people to get materials and make sure there are always enough people left over to form the blockade. Sometimes it is useful to have thought in advance about what you need to get the materials there: ropes, if objects have to be towed, or saws if you want to cut bits of woods loose. Depending on the situation, you can also fix cables inbetween the crash barriers or trees. Make sure, however, that you make them clearly visible with flags and keep in mind they can be a hindrance for you, too, if you need to get away.

Always try and stay friends with people living in the neighbourhood. Do not use their front garden fence for you barricade and explain to people what the blockade is about. Invite them to have a look at the action camps. Be prepared that not all of them will be friendly. The same applies to car drivers. It can be useful to decide beforehand who will act as a spokesperson (certainly for the media). It can also be useful to have one or more person(s) acting as a contact person to the police.

The response of the police will depend on the circumstances and the time they have at their disposal. If there are blockades everywhere, they will not able to tackle them all at the same time. In any case though, you have to expect an attack by the police at some point in time.

They can arrive with vehicles to push aside the blockades (armoured cars, picture), with water cannons to attack groups of people or with groups of police officers wearing protective gear to attack people with batons, etc.

It is important to have discussed in advanced about how you want to defend the blockade. In Seattle, it appeared that a big group of determined people can be much more effective than strong materials. Make sure the atmosphere on the blockade is good. Prevent people being surprised by fellow activists using methods that not everyone supports. But also prevent people from being intimidated and leave the blockade sooner than necessary. It often takes hours before police takes heavy handed action and most of the time you can predict their actions by watching their moves closely. For example, you only have to start worrying about tear gas when they put on their gas masks. Keep in mind that the police that is keeping you busy cannot be deployed elsewhere.

Another strategy to delay the breaking of a blockade is to sit down and link arms. But be prepared for police being heavy handed in hauling you away. The fact that you do not use violence is not a guarantee that they will not use it either (in fact, often the opposite seems to be the case). There are, of course, other and more militant ways to keep the police at bay. A sudden attack by clowns can also considerably disturb the plans of the public order troops. There is little you can do against armoured police vehicles (unless the barricade is very stable indeed) but they do, for example, hate paint on the windscreen. In fact this applies to all police vehicles. And it has been proven that even armoured cars and water cannons can get stuck in a ditch.

Setting a barricade on fire helps also during a ‘manual’ eviction by the police, that is without vehicles. Do consider that after a while the barricade will be gone. Also make sure the fire cannot spread to nearby objects or areas such as a forest. This would be the last effect you would want your ‘protest’ to have. If located near buildings, make sure they are not endangered. Do not leave bottles with inflammable fluids lying around, they can cause nasty accidents.

There are ways of making a road unusable for longer term, but that often takes a lot of time and/or specific hardware. During the anti-nuclear protests in Gorleben, for example, local inhabitants and activist dug tunnels underneath the roads so that trucks could no longer pass. If you want to stop regular cars, you will have to take off the top layer of asphalt or concrete as well, for which you need a jack-hammer, pickaxe and shovels. Naturally, if the road is not asphalted you can dig holes in it. Non-asphalted roads sometimes lead to bigger roads that you might want to block and they are often used by police as access road to the blockade. If you dig a hole, pile up the sand on ‘your’ side, if it lies on the side of the police they simply shovel it back in. During evictions in Amsterdam some people even managed to get a dragline excavation machine going which was parked in the neighbourhood…

Until now, we discussed the traditional road block/blockade. There are many more ways to intervene in road traffic. Keep in mind that the police also knows them and undergoes training programmes to deal with them, so be creative and invent new methods! Sit in a tree next to the road, that’s difficult for police to evict and often they do not dare to continue let traffic go through, at least not their higher vehicles. Even better: choose two trees standing across the road from each other, tie a rope between them high above the street and hang in them, that’s a so-called walkway. The idea is that police and other road users will not risk driving underneath the rope as they fear the people hanging in it will drop something or jump down onto the street. This methods requires a lot of experience. Make sure you have a good accompanying group with you and stop the traffic during the setting up. Do not start hanging in the ropes before the traffic has been stopped!

You can also park one or several cars on a crossing and lock yourself to them (picture Gleneagles). Again, take all the above-named precautionary methods. You can also secure the barricades with turned over cars (for example old cars you took with you).

Most action methods are criminalised and made illegal in order to make it difficult for activists and be able to dish out punishments afterwards. But it is, of course, not explicitly illegal to drive really slowly with your car. Or to have a break-down in the middle of the road somewhere…

The experience from Gleneagles has shown that a blockades that uses different methods in one is the most difficult to break. One road, 3 km from the summit, was chosen because it passed a small bridge. On both sides of the bridge people built barricades from materials they found in the forest (tree trunks, car tires, etc.). Inbetween, two groups used lock-ons and just after the bridge people had started tree-sitting. When the police rushed to the scene, five minutes after the start of the blockade at 6 am in the morning, we heard them discuss the situation and they estimated they needed “at least 80 men and a crane” to get rid off the blockade, which they simply did not have at their disposal. The road block lasted the whole day and people even left to secure another blockade a few streets further which had been broken off and was taken up again.(pictures here: http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2005/07/29208.shtml)

If the blockade is broken up by police, those that have not been arrested should swarm out (link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_Intelligence) (look out for each other, try not to panic, try and make sure each group that swarms out has people who know the way or have a map, accompaniment by members of first aid and legal teams, etc…). You can swarm out to new places to continue blocking. Small groups of people can also be disruptive. It also helps to randomly block police cars, even if they use roads not used for the summit. You thereby stop them from breaking up blockades elsewhere or transporting arrestees.

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There are, of course, other means of transport that will be used for the summit. These are mainly helicopters and ships. They are more difficult to block, but also for the authorities more difficult to use. Only a small number of people can be transported by helicopter. Helicopters can also be blocked; especially take-off and landing spots, but also in mid-air: in Gorleben, for example, people used sky rockets and some people flew around with hang gliders which forced helicopters to leave. You can also think about taking with you helium balloons on very long ropes so that helicopters do not dare come closer. The sea can also be blocked, even though you need boats, which are expensive when they get damaged or confiscated. But you can always block the entrances to the harbour, so that people cannot be transported to the ships to leave.

In short: we will win this battle, if everyone joins in!

(Affinity Group Wilnis, Dutch Polder)

Websites with more information on methods and techniques:

ENGLISH:
http://www.uhc-collective.org.uk/webpages/toolbox/index.htm
Delia Smiths basic blockading guide (pdf): http://www.sprayism.com/dawiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?id=guides&cache=cache&media=guides:basic_blockading.pdf
Everything about doing direct action: http://www.sprayism.com/dawiki/doku.php?id=guides

On Affinity Groups: http://www.rantcollective.net/article.php?id=30
(Noam Chomsky: “If you assume correctly that whatever group you are in is being penetrated by the FBI, when something serious is happening, you don’t do it in a meeting. You do it with some people you know and trust, an affinity group and then it doesn’t get penetrated. That’s one of the reasons why the FBI has never been able to figure out what’s going on in any of the popular movements.”)

DUTCH
dissent.nl and dissent.be
http://www.directe-actie.nl
Article on the history of direct action: http://www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/1068/41/

Disrupt Shell’s Annual General Meeting!

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Royal Dutch Shell plc will be held at Circustheater, Circusstraat, The Hague, The Netherlands at 11.00 am (Dutch time) on Tuesday May 15, 2007, with an audio-visual link to a satellite meeting place at Novotel London-West Hotel and Convention Centre, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom at 10.00 am (UK time).

Dear All,

The date for the Shell AGM has been recently announced. It is the 15th of May. As with last year the AGM will be held in the Hague with a video link up in London. The link up in London will be at the Novotel London West Hotel and Conference Centre, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, at 10 am UK time.

Shell to Sea is calling for Solidarity protests at the AGM. On the ground in Erris resistance continues to Shell’s proposed refinery. Peat removal began at the start of April and since then there have been five group trespasses onto the site shutting down work temporarily. We are currently in the midst of the EPA oral hearing for the IPPC (integreated pollution prevention and control) license which is to grant Shell a license to pollute. Numbers of Gardai in the area remain high.

Now more than ever we need to send Shell a message that this project is not acceptable and that 100 years is enough! We are hoping to send a delegation from Ireland to the Hague to protest directly. All protests at the London video link up would be warmly appreciated.

Solidarity

Saving Iceland tour coming to Oxford

Monday 23 April 7.30pm
Oxford Action Resource Centre (OARC) 44b Princes St (corner of Cowley Road)

Activists from the Saving Iceland campaign to defend Europe’s last great wilderness from destruction by dams and corporate ‘development’ will be in Oxford next Monday (23rd). Come and meet them to hear about the campaign, this summer’s protest camp and forthcoming conference. Find out what people in Britain can do to help.

Monday 23 April 7.30pm
Oxford Action Resource Centre (OARC) 44b Princes St (corner of Cowley Road)

http://www.savingiceland.org/camp2007
http://www.savingiceland.org/conference

Support the Eco-Prisoners, Easter 2007

Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)
Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“I thank you all dearly for writing” (Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)

Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)
Produced by EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“I thank you all dearly for writing” (Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the Easter 2007 edition of Spirit of Freedom. First off I’d like to apologise in the delay in publishing this edition of Spirit of Freedom.
A lot of things have been happening recently for ELP’s volunteers and a delay was inevitable. However, despite the delay in publication ELP has some fantastic news. For the first time in ages ELP is able to bring some good news! A lot of the ‘Il Silvestre’ prisoners have been released! Marco Camenisch has had his sentence reduced at appeal! Jeff Luers may have his sentenced reduced! Rod Coronado has been released! Garfield Gabbard has been released! And long-term prisoner Dave Blenkinsop has been released!!!
This is all brilliant news. However despite our celebrations, ELP has also seen a number of new prisoners added to our list. So lets celebrate the good news of our friends and then lets support the news prisoners. Also before we end this editorial we’ve been asked by Joyanna Zacher to remind everyone on ELP’s policy towards police informants. We do not support them! Regardless of how long they are jailed for, we do not support them. Regardless of who they are, we do not support them. A police informant relinquishes their right to be regarded as an eco-prisoner as soon as they inform. ELP supports eco-prisoners, not police informants. But remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the real eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES

MARCO CAMENISCH APPEAL NEWS
In mid March 2007 ELP received some news from Switzerland that at his appeal, Marco Camenisch, has had his 17-year prison sentence, for allegedly killing a Swiss boarder guard, reduced to 8 years. The Appeal Court ruled that the original Judge had not taken into account Marco’s time spent in prison in Italy for destroying electricity pylons, nor had the Judge fully considered the outstanding prison sentence Marco had to serve for destroying electricity pylons in Switzerland. Added altogether (39 years), the prison sentence was excessively long and so was reduced so now Marco is serving an 18-year sentence.

JEFF LUERS APPEAL UPDATE
On Valentines Day (Feb 14th) the American media announced that the Court of Appeal has declared Jeff ‘Free’ Luers, 22+ years prison sentence is too long and suggested it should be reduced to between 11+ to 13+ years. ELP will bring you more news as we get it.

ARRESTS IN MEXICO
On the 30th of November 2006 two Mexican anarchists, Oscar Santa Maria Caro and Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, were arrested for as yet unknown reasons. Oscar is a well known animal rights activist who is involved with RATA (Resistance Against Animal Torture). Reports are coming out of Mexico alleging that both Oscar and Sacramento have been tortured whilst inside. There are also reports alleging that their interrogators have threatened to rape female political prisoners if the two men do not confess to their alleged crimes. ELP is trying to obtain more information about these arrests and will bring you more news as we get it.

ROD CORONADO UPDATE
In late March, American Earth First! activist, Rod Coronado, was released from prison having served his sentence for sabotaging a mountain lion hunt. ELP has learnt that Rod’s trial for “demonstrating the use of a destructive device,” relating to a speech he gave in San Diego in 2003, is scheduled to begin in June.

FINNISH ‘GREEN SCARE’
ELP has learnt that the authorities in Finland appear to be copying American tactics and are targeting known animal rights and environmental activists. No matter how minor the ‘offence’ the Finnish police seem determined to prosecute. One person ended up in court for ringing the doorbell of an animal abuser whilst on a demo. The activist was fined for “disturbing home peace”. Another activist was questioned for ‘criminal damage’ after they allegedly spat on a fur shop window! Two more activists were raided and questioned for allegedly putting a leaflet through a post box and putting a sticker on the window of a fur shop. The police accused them of ‘criminal damage’.
ELP’s Finnish friends, who wish to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, say these are just a few examples of the types of police activity happening in Finland at the moment.
ELP is informed that the police have set up a special unit to investigate animal rights activists and the unit has said intend to get activists involved in the early stages of activism ‘before it gets more serious’. Translation, the police want to intimidate people away from activism.

SERIOUS ORGANISED CRIME!
Every so often ELP brings you stories of ridiculous prosecutions of non-violent activists under Britain’s new ‘Serious Organised Crime’ legislation. Who can forget the fines imposed on two peace activists for reading out the names of the British war dead, killed in Iraq, whilst standing next to Britains main war memorial! Sadly the courts have now moved beyond just fining people and have started to hand out prison sentences to activists under this new law. In early March three British animal rights activists were jailed for between 15 months to 4 years for their part in a non-violent campaign against Huntindon Life Sciences.
According to the BBC, the three were accused of being key figures in a campaign against companies with links to HLS. They were accused of entering the offices of the companies and demanding that those companies cut their links to HLS. They were also accused of organising loud demonstrations against the companies buildings. Plus they were accused of taking photos of the people who worked for the companies.

MAN ARRESTED IN AMERICA
At the end of March the American media reported that a 24-year old man, Grant Barnes, had been arrested accused of setting fire to SUVs in Denver, CO. The media quoted the cops as saying incendiary devices were used to damage the vehicles and one of the vehicles had ELF spray painted on it. The police also stated they did not believe that Grant Barnes was a member of the ELF.

IL SILVESTRE UPDATE
At the end of February 2007 the Italian courts ruled that Silvia Guerini and Federico Bonamici should be released under house arrest. This means that only three Il Silvestre members are currently imprisoned. They are Benedetta Galante, Francesco Gioia and Costantino Ragusa.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Fadalla Idris Alajaimy (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.

Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.

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 #1533241, PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201, USA. On remand accused of setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles. On one of the vehicles the letters ELF was spray-painted.

Nathan Block, #1663667, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

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.

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.

Benedetta Galante, Casa Circondariale, Contrada Capo di Monte, 82100 – Benevento (BN), Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 3 years 6 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Francesco Gioia, Via Maiano, 10, 06049 Spoleto, Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 5 years 2 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial for escaping from house arrest.

Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, OSP, 2605 State St. Salem, OR 97310, USA. Serving 22 years & 8 months for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of an oil truck.

Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad (address unknown). Sudan anti-dam protester on remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the construction of a dam.

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

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera (PV), Italy. Il Silvestre activist serving 7½ years. 1) Five years for promoting & participating in COR direct action. 2) 18-months for burgling and firebombing a multinational company. 3) 12-months for organising an anti-GM protest. Costanino is also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

John Wade #38548-083, FCI Petersburg Low, Satellite Camp, PO Box 90027, Petersburg, VA 23804, USA. Serving 37 months for a series of ELF actions against a number of targets including McDonalds & Burger King; urban sprawl; the construction industry; and an SUV dealership.

Joyanna Zacher #1662550, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

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.

Madeline Buckler PR7492, HMP Morton Hall, Swinderby, Lincoln, LN6 9PT, England. Serving 2 years for sending hate mail to a family who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

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.

Donald Currie TN4593, HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambs, PE15 OPR, England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection industry including HLS.

Josh Demmitt 12314-081, FCI Safford, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 9000, Safford, AZ 85548, USA. Serving 30 months for an ALF arson on a University animal testing facility.

Darius Fullmer #26397-050, FCI Fort Dix Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 1000, Fort Dix, NJ 08640 USA. Serving 12 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury Route #37, 33 1/2 Pembroke Road, Danbury, CT 06811 USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, 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.

Joseph Harris TN5728, HMP Bullingdon, Patrick Haugh Road, Arncott, Nr. Bicester, Oxon, OX25 1WD, England. Serving 2 years for damaging the property of people associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences. (His original sentence was reduced on appeal).

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

Josephine Mayo PR6508, HMP Drake Hall, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6LQ, England. Serving 4 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Trish Portwine, TM7153, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving fifteen months for her role in loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

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.

Mark Taylor TT6636, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London, SE28 0UB, England. Serving four years for organising loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

Suzanne Taylor, TM7154, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England. Serving two and a half years for helping organise loud demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

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.

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.

OTHER ANTI-WAR PRISONERS

Brendan Walsh, 12473-052, FCI Allenwood Low, PO Box 1000, White Deer, PA 17887, USA. Serving 5 years for an arson on an army recruitment office in protest at the War on Iraq.

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 which 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.

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

PARTY & PROTEST
Around the world there have been several massive protests against global capitalism and its environmental impact. The following have all been jailed in connection with the protests.

Jonathan Philip Robert, Crisp County Detention Center, 197 Ga. Hwy. 300 South, Cordele, GA 31015, USA (12 months)

OTHER PRISONERS

Oscar Santa Maria Caro, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. The exact charges against Oscar are unknown but Oscar is a member of RATA, a known animal rights group.

Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico. On remand. Co-defendant of Oscar Santa Maria Caro.

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.

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 Grateford, PO Box 244, Grateford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), 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.

MAPUCHE PRISONERS & OTHER LAND RIGHTS PRISONERS
Due to space limitation we cannot publish the names & addresses of the Mapuche & Land Rights prisoners in this edition of Spirit of Freedom, however if you would like a list please contact Spirit of Freedom.

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 bimonthly publication (available via e-mail or in a paper version). If you would like to receive a copy contact Spirit of Freedom, BM Box 2407, London, WC1N 3XX, England. Or e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

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

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

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.

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

North American ELP Prisoner Fund. The North American ELP group has set up a fund where people can pay money, for North American Eco-Defence and Animal Rights prisoners, which will then be distributed to the North American prisoners. For information about the Fund and how to make a donation please contact naelpsn@mutualaid.org

DEDICATION
This Edition of Spirit of Freedom is dedicated to Russian antifa activist, Stanislav Korepanov, who died in hospital on the 31st of March 2007, having been attacked a few days earlier by an armed gang of neo-nazis. Stanislav is the second Russian antifa activist to have been brutally attacked in recent months. On the 14th of January 2007 vegan animal rights activist, Ivan Elin, was surrounded and attacked by ten neo-nazis in St. Petersburg after he had taken part in a weekly “Food not bombs” peace rally. Ivan suffered 21 stab wounds and was rushed to hospital where he is making his recovery. Following on from the knife attack on Ivan, on the 4th of February, with a small bomb exploded in Vladimirskaya Square of St. Petersburg, near to where Food Not Bombs organise their weekly protests. The bomb was hidden in a kiosk selling flowers. Luckily the bomb only damaged the kiosk and did not injure anyone.
This is not the first time neo-nazis have used knives or explosives to target Russian activists. On the 22nd of December 2006 a number of police were injured whilst trying to defuse a device, which set to murder antifa activists in Moscow. In August 2006 eleven people were killed in Moscow when a neo-nazi bomb exploded in Cherkisovski marketplace. The brutal murder of Stanislav Korepanov and the attack against Ivan are a reminded of why fascism must never be allowed to go unchallenged. ELP wishes Ivan Elin a speedy recovery from his injuries and we congratulate the Russian ‘Food Not Bombs’ movement for not giving into this neo-nazi intimidation.
Our thoughts and sorrow are with the family and friends of Stanislav Korepanov who was only 18 years old when he died.

Let’s defend the autonomous space “Les Tanneries” (Dijon, France)

After nearly 10 years of existence, the squatted autonomous space “Les Tanneries” (in Dijon, France) is being threatened by a private medical complex, facilitated by the city council.

The excellent social centre, which hosted the centralised part of the PGA conference last year as well as digital struggles and free spaces sections, has a concert hall for do-it-yourself bands and miscellaneous performances, a housing collective and some anarchist affinity groups, a hacklab for developing free software and running alternative servers, a free-shop, a space for mecanics and a bike-repair workshop, rehearsal rooms and silk-screening facilities, a meeting space, an organic garden, an alternative media center, a squatters’ helpdesk, a library, diverse ecological constructions, dozens of collectives, associations, and local and international networks that use the space to organise gigs, info-nights, actions, skill-shares, meetings and projects…

Les Tanneries

Let’s defend the autonomous space “Les Tanneries”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Català : http://squat.net/tanneries/documents/EADT-C-20070324-cat.txt
Deutsch : http://squat.net/tanneries/documents/EADT-C-20070324-de.txt
Español : http://squat.net/tanneries/documents/EADT-C-20070324-es.txt
Euskara : http://squat.net/tanneries/documents/EADT-C-20070324-eu.txt
Français : http://squat.net/tanneries/documents/EADT-C-20070324-fr.txt
Italiano : http://squat.net/tanneries/documents/EADT-C-20070324-it.txt

After nearly 10 years of existence, the squatted autonomous space “Les Tanneries” (in Dijon, France) is being threatened by a private medical complex, facilitated by the city council.

We have just learnt that Dijon’s city council had started negociations to sell our occupied social centre and its surroundings to developpers, and we need to act quickly. This is why we have written the following statement, explaining why and how we will struggle for the very existence of our free space.

After a first protest gathering and an occupation of the city hall meeting in Dijon, as well as a number of support e-mails from around the world, the council has slightly backed up, saying they will consider putting our space aside from the building plans. However, there’s no way we can take that for granted; not if we don’t maintain pressure, and
prepare to act whenever we face another alert.

To all those you have been supporting us in the last few days, we want to say: “thanks for the amazing strenght and support you gave us”. We still incite you all to voice your discontent to the municipality, by letters, telephone or e-mails:

Mairie de Dijon,
M. François Rebsamen, Phone: (+33|0)-380-745-151
place de la Libération, E-mail: francois.rebsamen@ville-dijon.fr
21000 Dijon, France.

We need to maintain the pressure, and take the time to create a wider mobilisation. Thanks again, and be ready!

* * *

Without any public consultation, but with the typical secrecy that typically accompanies hot topics during electoral periods, the “socialist” city council of Dijon is making decisions that could lead to the end of the autonomous space “Les Tanneries”, a self-managed political, social, cultural centre that was squatted in 1997 and since then has become an important node for anarchist organizing and radical activism throughout France and Europe. Needless to say, we won’t let the council carry out their plans!

We have known since the beginning that we would have to maintain a permanent vigilence, despite the no-eviction agreement we obtained from the council in 2002 after years of fighting. In early March 2007, after hearing persistant rumours about threatening projects, we got in touch with the council and asked for explanations. In spite of repeated
queries by mail and telephone, we were denied any answer. Two days ago, we got the confirmation from a trustworthy but unofficial source, that the city council had sent a written proposal to the “Générale de Santé”, offering them the whole piece of land where our space is located for the construction of a 25-acre-wide private medical complex by 2009.

While public healthcare services are being threatened by neo-liberal privatising strategies in Europe, will the Dijon city council encourage a “two gear” health system?

Does it want to contribute to the monopoly of Générale de Santé, the biggest european private health transnational (1.741 billion euros of profit in 2006, 10% of the transnational being owned by Vivendi) by offering them land that is close to the city centre, almost in front of the public hospital? The Générale de Santé would thus seize this great opportunity to close its nearby hospitals rather than renovating them.

Despite its propaganda for “participative democracy”, the city council did not ask us or anyone else from the neighbourhood before proposing the deal which not only threatens us, but would also decide upon the future of a whole part of town.

* * *

Why support Les Tanneries loud and clear?

The council’s policies are already threatening the independant theater “L’Eldorado”, as well as the squat called “Le Toboggan”. By planning to shut down “Les Tanneries”, the council will ostensibly confirm that the so-called “socialist” party wants France to be a police state without places of resistance, experimentation and popular culture.

“Les Tanneries” hosts a concert hall for do-it-yourself bands and miscellaneous performances, a housing collective and some anarchist affinity groups, a hacklab for developing free software and running alternative servers, a free-shop, a space for mecanics and a bike-repair workshop, rehearsal rooms and silk-screening facilities, a meeting
space, an organic garden, an alternative media center, a squatters’ helpdesk, a library, diverse ecological constructions, dozens of collectives, associations, and local and international networks that use the space to organise gigs, info-nights, actions, skill-shares, meetings and projects…

While public cultural spaces run with the help of huge grants, and private ones thanks to businesses and sponsors, hundreds of people come weekly to “Les Tanneries” to create a truly independent culture and indulge in all kinds of activities for free or on a “sliding-scale” basis. To preserve its freedom, “Les Tanneries” has always been run
without any kind of subsidees nor any employees.

In a country where self-managed structures are almost always repressed and therefore fragile, “Les Tanneries” is one of the very few long lasting projects of this kind. Hence it has become a resourceful place and a crucial part of an autonomous, activist and counter-cultural scene in Europe.

“Les Tanneries” is about putting radical social views into practice and about providing tools for people to experience their ideas. We try to break down the borders between our “personal lives” and the “political world” – an attempt at organizing in formal horizontal fashion, against authoritarian and hierarchical structures.

We want to build things ourselves and change our own lives by challenging domination, racism, sexism and homophobia – in the streets, as much as within our own walls. Most importantly, we want to do it now, rather than wait for some D-day that might not come.

However, “Les Tanneries” doesn’t want to be a “nice and friendly” alternative that won’t shove established powers too violently, nor does it want to be some tolerated folklorical zoo that would prove the democratic goodwill of council leaders. We’re here to struggle and change the world, naturally!

Still, we don’t fantasize about standing on the fringe of society. Contrary to the cynical mainstream political norm, experiences such as ours are showing it is possible to practically challenge capitalism and authority without electoral speeches. Throughout its existence, “Les Tanneries” has proved that it is not only realistic, but also relevant to self-organise without institutions. We also believe that we’ve demonstrated that our project is not just the delirious utopia of a bunch of kids who will change their minds when they grow older.

“Les Tanneries”, just like all these places standing against the world surrounding them, is unique in its way, and yet bound to the history of so many. It sprang out of the dreams, collusions and affinities, encounters and combativity of hundreds of people. Carved within its walls are the joys and angers, rages and passions, adventures and emotions of several generations.

* * *

# Our project can’t be moved or destroyed;
# It must stay in the neighbourhood!

Whatever the new urban development plans for the neighbourhood might be, we will struggle to preserve what we’ve been building here for ten years and to ensure that the project as a whole can carry on. It is perfectly possible, considering how much available space there is around “Les Tanneries”. With a real political will from the City Hall, suitable solutions can be found.

Thanks to everyone for their support, and thanks for the series of pressure actions that were done before “Les Tanneries” got an end to city harassment in 2002. Five years later, we’re ready to start fighting again to defend this space and build a new network of resistance based upon the contacts, experiences and complicities that we’ve made over the years. Not only is “Les Tanneries” deeply-rooted locally, but it is also part of a larger community whose affinities know no borders. Be it through support actions around the world, or by coming to “Les Tanneries” to physically defend the place against eviction, we expect this extended family to mobilize with us!

Let’s hope leaders will keep in mind the long days and nights of demonstrating and rioting that paralysed the Danish capital in the last weeks, as well as the number of radical actions that happened all over Europe in support of our friends in Ungdomshuset. Just like theirs, our struggle is a global fight for self-organised spaces and nodes of
subversion to carry on and extend all over Europe.

While we’re very likely to call for solidarity actions in the future, we want to start with a warning campaign, and incite you to write to Dijon’s city-hall to say that you want “Les Tanneries” to carry on existing where it is. If you want to be informed of support actions and demonstrations, send us your e-mail or phone number at tanneries@squat.net.

We’ll defend, we’ll resist. Parce qu’on a la rage!

Dijon, March 24th 2007,
Espace autogéré des Tanneries,
http://squat.net/tanneries/

Polish ecologists still under surveillance…

A letter, sent to all Polish police headquarters about an order to investigate and gather information about opponents of building the bypass through Rospuda Valley has already been circulated around the Internet.

Although everybody laughs at the fact that the police are wasting their time keeping ecologists under surveillance the case is quite serious because the purpose of this police action is defined as: “to gather information about possible dangers to public order and illegal sabotage acts from organizations which show their aversion to governmental enterprise”.

For the time being, it is not entirely obvious what they are looking for and how this information is going to be used by them but most probably journalists from www.zieloni.org.pl will also be under police surveillance (although we do not have any sabotage plans, we show our “aversion” to governmental project) that is why we’re going to observe constantly their plans and inform you systematically. Below you can read the letter to the police headquarters.

The same letter was sent to all police headquarters in Poland (a copy of the letter is available from the website http://adamwajrak.blox.pl)

From: The Crime Division of The Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra
To: The Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra

TELEGRAM nr MJ-B-5421/38/07

On account of the orders included in document no WK II 146/06 from the Chief of the Police Station, Konrad Kornatowski, dated 19 Feb 2007 about the plans for building the Augusów bypass (Podlaskie province) I would like to ask to order subordinate policemen to direct work of personal sources of information (and to recruit new ones) to gather information about possible dangers to public order and illegal sabotage acts from organizations which show their aversion to governmental enterprise.

All the information should be sent to SMI WWK KWP in Wrocław (with “Rospuda” in the subject of the report) and The Crime Division from The Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra should be informed at the same time.

One copy was made.

(sent via fax)

Written by JL

VICE GOVERNOR
of the Crime Division
The Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra

Chief Inspector Artur KRAWCZYK

[a comment by the author of the post] I am not sure what it supposed to be: is it a joke or should I start to panic that we are under surveillance. I wonder what they are going to do with this information and for what and where they are looking… It’s madness! So far I count on free flow of information and that they will restrain themselves when they see that everybody has read these letters.

Shell Poisoning Erris Water Supply: Don’t Mention The Water

A two part short film (from an in-progress feature movie called Policing The Pollution) investigating the pollution of Carrowmore Lake, the water supply for over 10,000 Erris people in County Mayo. The polluter – Shell. Local resident John Monaghan and myself look over the water tests and confront Mayo County Council.

Don’t_mention_the_water_01 – video/x-ms-wmv 19M

Don’t_mention_the_water_02 – video/x-ms-wmv 17M

When I first met with John Monaghan during my time in Ireland, the first thing he mentioned was the pollution of the local water supply which was coming directly from the Shell/Statoil Corrib Gas Project at Bellanaboy Bridge.

This has been reported before on Indymedia.ie. Now their latest reports are starting to point to what we uncovered whilst out there.

In order to construct the refinery foundations 500,000 tons of wet Atlantic peat must be removed. Shell started this but halted operations when high-aluminium content “doib” soil was exposed. The aluminium made contact with on-site surface water and proceeded to contaminate surrounding streams and rivers, all of which lead to Carrowmore Lake, the drinking water supply for over 10,000 residents in the Erris community.

Acting after the initial problem arose, on 8 September 2005, Mayo County Council (MCC) issued Shell E & P Ireland (SEPIL) an official warning: “Failure to take immediate action to avoid pollution of the waterways will result in MCC issuing a notice under Section 12 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977.”

Aluminium in drinking water has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer-type diseases, and bone disorders. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) will not admit or deny this, stating the link between aluminium and such diseases “cannot be ruled out”, in 1993 they set a maximum limit of 200 ug/l (micrograms per litre).

The levels set on the Corrib Gas Project and issued directly to SEPIL are an “action limit” of 135 ug/l and an “maximum limit” of 200 ug/l.

It took Shell till February 2006 to act. They installed an Axonics Electro-Chemical Water Treatment Plant to strain out aluminium using electrical currents that passed through the water and collected the aluminium on conducting plates. But the aluminium levels kept rising and the Axonics plant continually broke down.

When asked by this journalist to discuss the levels of aluminium that the plant could safely deal with, no one at the Axonics company in Swansea would give a reply. The secretary said she was told to explain to me they were in a legally binding contract and were allowed not to make any comment without prior consent from the customer.

When the levels in the river, lake and water continued a steady rise the local community complained again. MCC acted again. This time it cut nearly all drinking water tests, reduced Carrowmore Lake tests dramatically and Shell began doing their own on-site testing.

By the end of 2006 the water coming off-site was regularly over the maximum limits, often two or three times and peaking at levels of over 2000 and 3000 ug/l.

Discrepancies were also found when records released from MCC were compared to the tests by Shell on-site.

On 13/12/06 Shell’s on-site testing showing an “indicative level” of 666 ug/l, still over three times the maximum limit. MCC Figures released in February showed the same date, same source of testing (SP1) and recorded 3271 ug/l.

On 20/12/06 Shell’s figures showed 180 ug/l. MCC recorded 1928 ug/l.

The knock-on effect has seen higher levels of aluminium appear in the lake and the drinking water itself. 03/01/07 it tested 521 ug/l. By 14/02/07 it had risen to 658 ug/l. The drinking water, tested twice from a source in Belmullet at the end of January 2007 first registered 1714 ug/l, then dropped several days later to 406 ug/l.

Shell denied they were anything to do with the rising levels, claiming it was because of river bank erosion in the area.

The pollution of Carrowmore Lake has more recently took centre-stage of the protest, leading to a site invasion by 60 locals and an occupation of council offices in recent weeks, who residents accused of failing to act on the issue (see Indymedia.ie/mayo).

On 2 April 2007, I was informed by local people in the area Shell had recommenced the removal of the rest of the peat, which will expose more of the doib soil. Only one-third was originally removed in previous operations.

For further information:

http://www.corribsos.com/

http://www.indymedia.ie/mayo