Italy—More Arrests in the Struggle Against the TAV

NO_TAV_logo

NO_TAV_logo

This morning (11th July) three anarchist comrades were arrested between Milan and Lecce, and another one was raided.

The three are accused of taking part in the attack on the yard in Chiomonte in the night between 13th and 14th May 2013, the same episode following which Chiara, Mattia, Claudio and Niccolò were jailed in December 2013.

We don’t know much about the charges yet. In the press we read: damage, arson, violence on public official, possession and fabrication of explosive devices. Therefore it seems that prosecutors from Turin have been forced to rule out the charge of terrorism, following a previous sentence from the court of cassation that cancelled this charge in Chiara, Mattia, Claudio and Niccolò’s case.

from informa-azione.info / translated by Act for Freedom Now

Germany’s Hambach Forest Occupation Calls for Solidarity and Support

Campaign_Poster_(CURRENT_NEW)+Greetings and Salutations from the Hambacher Forest Occupatio

Campaign_Poster_(CURRENT_NEW)+Greetings and Salutations from the Hambacher Forest Occupation!

We are presently blocking the expansion of the largest opencast lignite mine in Western Europe with tree sits and barricades through out the Hambacher Forest. After the last eviction on March 27th 2014 we re-occupied the forest, this time, building up two tree sits with multiple platforms, tree-houses, walk ways in between and barricades .

At present we are facing regular intrusion of repressive law enforcement destroying our structures on the ground and have already faced two largescale evictions using tactical teams costing millions of euros while at the same time, the German government, is cutting sustainable energy subsidies. Instead choosing to compensate for the shut down of nuclear power plants with support to the extremely polluting and ecologically catastrophic coal industry (in our case RWE power company which is engaging in massive green washing PR campaigns).

We would like to send you updates and inform you of the upcoming Climate Camp and Skill-shares Gathering (July 26th to August 3rd 2014) happening in our vicinity which we are also helping to organize. We also have a support camp with legal status at the edge of the forest functioning as a de facto activist eco village with a vegan kitchen, guest
caravans, straw bail structures, gardens and many other on-going sustainable projects, to which we would like to invite all of you who may find yourselves in our neck of the woods.

As of recently, we have also built an info-shop/library for which we would like to appeal for any extra literature that you would be willing to share with us. We could cover the costs of shipment and if possible discount rates of literature itself not to mention we would be extremely interested and gratefull if you would be willing to share any back issues or extra literature. If this is a possibility please also respond with your preferable snail-mail address, as we would like to share some of our material with you as well.

We have a support centre in Duren, which is unfortunately undergoing a bit of transition at the moment. For the time being the literature for our Meadow Base Camp info-shop and the Climate Camp could be sent, care of one of our supporters:

Frau Annika Lindberg
Rohrbachstr. 37
60389 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

If you would be interested in updates from the forest please include your PGP key in the correspondence.

There is a sense of urgency as even though the forest has been occupied for two years now there is a new autobahn ready for opening in September bypassing the one separating the last remnant of the forest from the mine allowing the mine to expand and logging and strip mining to commence on the last remnant of the forest. We expect that to be the time of mass police actions. For that reason it is mega important to both get the word out and keep people involved, inspired and on track of the importance and the context of the struggle.

Minks released from cages, vehicles demaged at two fur farms in Czech Republic

Anonymous report from GreenAction.cz

Anonymous report from GreenAction.cz

„We visited two fur farms in the last two weeks. At first were released approximately 50 minks from cages on the farm in Dolní Cerekev (farm is currently almost empty). During the second visit were damaged two cars and tractor, also with using pyrotechnic mixture – thermite. On the other farm in Velký Ratmírov were damaged truck, excavator and next things for managing the farm.

ARM, 20.6.2014″

Earth First! Summer Gathering 2014 – exact location & other practicalities added

Updates: Exact location has been releases – see here

Travel – book your travel to Castle Cary or Bruton train station, then it's a bus journey and 20 minute walk.

Updates: Exact location has been releases – see here

Travel – book your travel to Castle Cary or Bruton train station, then it's a bus journey and 20 minute walk.

Bus times are : 8.14am – 9.44am – 11.44am – 12.33pm – 2.14pm – 4.33pm (last bus).  There's no Sunday service so we will timetable a shuttle bus to return.

Cycling: Bruton is better if you are cycling as it is a mile shorter, and there is also a bus from there too. The last bus from here leaves later.  (Bus times from Bruton are: 9:09am – 10:39am – 12:12pm – 1:39pm – 3:54pm – 5:39pm)

We will post the exact address three weeks before the gathering.

Refreshments – ‘This year there is no bar on site. People are welcome to bring their own but we ask that there's no drinking before dinner/7pm. Anyone causing a nuisance or breaking our Safer Spaces policy will be asked to stop and/or leave. There will be a cafe & snack bar on site.’

Dogs – ‘This year dogs are welcome, but please get in touch in advance, and keep them on a lead at all times on the site.’  Further info

—————-

28th-31st August 2014, in the South West….

A place for people involved in radical green direct action to come together….
to talk….share skills….learn….listen….play….rant…. find out whats going on….
scheme….live outdoors….hang out….laugh….
experience non hierarchical, low impact, family friendly living.

An activist camp that spans 5 days and consists of a programme of workshops throughout each day facilitated by people like you and me who think they have a skill or a level of knowledge in a subject that is valuable to share with others to improve their activism.

Is this camp for you?  Whether you're just starting out in the world of direct action or you're an old (glued and paint-stained) hand at it, you're welcome here.

More info here

Summary of Repression from ZAD

Screen shot 2014-06-30 at 12.46.24 PM 30th June Summary of arrests and trials since the demo in Nantes, February 22nd, according to information found by the anti-repression committee (CARILA)

Screen shot 2014-06-30 at 12.46.24 PM 30th June Summary of arrests and trials since the demo in Nantes, February 22nd, according to information found by the anti-repression committee (CARILA)

February 22nd: 14 arrests, two released without charge. Of the 12 people charged, 5 had immediate trials the next day, and the 7 others will have trials later (3 on June 19th, 2 minors in children’s court, and no news for the 2 others).

February 24th: 5 immediate trials, 4 of them judged for “violence against someone with public authority”, and “participating in an armed group”. They were all convicted.
- 100 hours of community service
- 5 months suspended sentence
- 5 months of prison
- 5 months of prison and 1 month probation
- 6 months of prison and 6 months of probation + 500 euros for the undercover cops supposedly injured

Of all those convicted this day, no one went directly to prison. This means that they can negotiate a lighter sentence.

March 31st: First wave of arrests after the demo: 9 people were arrested at home (in Carquefou, St. Herblain, Nantes, and Ille-et-Vilaine).

- 2 were released without charges
- 4 were judged the next day in immediate trials
- 2 minors: one accused of throwing fireworks at the police judged in juvenile court, placed under house arrest until their trial in 2015, the other we don’t think they were charged but we have no confirmation
- 1 person had a trial later but we don’t have contact with them

April 1st: Immediate trials for those arrested the day before

- P: 4 months suspended sentence, forbidden to carry weapons for a year, forbidden to protest in Notre Dame des Landes and Nantes for a year
- J: 5 months of prison, forbidden to carry weapons for 2 years, forbidden to protest in Nantes for 2 years
- G: 2 months suspended sentence + 2 months prison (suspended sentence from last arrest), aquitted for vandalism
- E: 1 year of prison, starting immediately after the trial, forbidden to protest for 3 years, forbidden to have explosives or flammable materials for 3 years. The judge doubled the sentence that the DA asked for!

May 14th: G arrested in Paris under a warrant for vandalism February 22nd. He refused an immediate trial, fuzzy photos were the only evidence. He was placed in preventative detention, but got out a month later because of a procedural error. His trial is July 16th.

May 27th: R. arrested in the street in Rennes by undercover cops, transferred to Nantes. He refused immediate trial, and was put under house arrest, and forbidden from the Loire-Atlantique region until his trial, June 19th.

June 13th: Additional trial for someone convicted February 24th to decide how much they should pay in damages to the undercover cops. No information on the verdict for the moment.

June 18th:
- O. arrested at home in Rennes, accused of vandalism, he has an immediate trial the next day.
- Someone from the ZAD arrested in Nantes, who had a warrant out for violence against the police and participating in an armed group.

June 19th:
- Trial for 3 people arrested during the demo -K: convicted of throwing paving stones towards the police and arrested in possession of a hammer and an iron bar, 4 months suspended sentence, 18 months probation (forced to find a job or go to vocational school, and forbidden to carry weapons) + 105 hours of community service -C: convicted of participation in an armed group and throwing a beer can at the police, sentenced to 2 months suspended sentence -G: arrested in possession of a hammer, sentenced to 1 month suspended sentence
- Hearing for O. (arrested in Rennes the day before): he refuses his trial and is put under house arrest until his trial, July 10th
- Trial of R. (arrested in Rennes, May 27) for vandalism and participating in an armed group. Sentenced to 8 months suspended sentence + 1 month suspended sentence + 5218 euros in damages for the city of Nantes+ forbidden from Loire-Atlantique region for 2 years.
- Hearing for 5 people arrested 2 days before by undercover cops while driving: -one person (a hitch-hiker) accepted the immediate trial, convicted to possession of 1 gram of hash + refusing fingerprints and DNA. No sentence 3 people refused immediate trials and are put under house arrest until their trial, July 18th 1 person refused an immediate trial and is in prison awaiting trial (July 18th)

“They were arrested tuesday after a “random” identity control by undercover cops on the ring road in Nantes. Amoung them was R., who had a trial Thursday and was on their way to Nantes to see their lawyer with their friends. After 48 hours of police custody, 4 of them were charged with “possession of stolen goods”, suspected of having stolen… a head lamp. Also they refused to give fingerprints and DNA. More seriously, they are accused, based on some flyers in their car and a toolbox, of “association of wrong-doers”, and “intent to commit an armed assembly in front of the courthouse in Nantes”. They risk up to 5 years in prison.”

June 20th: Hearing for S., who lives on the ZAD. He was arrested 2 days before in Orvault, accused of having stolen 2 books. He had a warrant out for participating in the February 22nd demo. He is accused of theft (with prior convictions), refusing fingerprints and DNA (with prior convictions), and participating with a weapon in an armed group, and violence against the police. He refused an immediate trial and has been put in jail awaiting his trial on July 7th.

2 people are currently in preventative detention, awaiting trial.

Three More Vehicles Sabotaged in Italy’s No TAV Struggle

14th June We receive from anonymous mail and transmit:

“Genoa—In the night of 3rd June 2 excavators and 1 concrete mixer were sabotaged at the Terzo Valico Erzelli yard.

To stop it is up to us

To stop it is possible

Let’s sabotage everything

No TAV Terzo Valico”

 

14th June We receive from anonymous mail and transmit:

“Genoa—In the night of 3rd June 2 excavators and 1 concrete mixer were sabotaged at the Terzo Valico Erzelli yard.

To stop it is up to us

To stop it is possible

Let’s sabotage everything

No TAV Terzo Valico”

 

[See this article for more info on the No TAV movement]

Tourist Chains Himself to Icelandic Whaling Ship

anti_whaling_activist_hvalur8_026th June Update:

anti_whaling_activist_hvalur8_026th June Update: After 15 Hours Activist Ends Lockdown Due to Threats

A 32-year-old unnamed activist from Berlin from the organization Hard to Port chained himself to the mast of Icelandic whaling ship Hvalur 8 this morning and has declared that he will remain there for at least 48 hours in protest of whaling.

“Workers seem irritated. Collective brainstorming how to deal with me up here. First whale watching tourists stop by to take pictures and show support,” the activist posted on Facebook this morning.

Hard to Port released a statement to the media, explaining their intention to: “…raise awareness among potential tourists of Iceland worldwide of the cruel and unethical practice [of whaling].”

Hvalur 8 is docked at the shipyard in Reykjavík in preparation for the upcoming whaling season, which begins this month. The quota for fin whales is 154 animals and their hunting will result in significant work on sea and land, Morgunblaðið reports.

Sabotage on the High Speed Railway Track Bologna-Milan

luogo_sa2 4th June From the local media we learn that in the night between 19th and 20th May, copper and fibre optic cables were cut along the high speed rail track in Bologna, and two cockpits were

luogo_sa2 4th June From the local media we learn that in the night between 19th and 20th May, copper and fibre optic cables were cut along the high speed rail track in Bologna, and two cockpits were set on fire. In the area graffiti NO TAV were left.

From the press we learn that over 40 high speed trains were delayed up to 30 minutes, and consequently also a dozen local trains were delayed.

luogo_sa3

Protest against tar sand oil shipment in the Basque country

Yesterday May 29th activists from Ekologistak Martxan and from the Coke Ez network closed one of the access gates to the Petronor (Repsol) refinery in Muskiz (near bilbao, Basque Country). The reason was the first shipment of oil from tar sands from Canada.

Yesterday May 29th activists from Ekologistak Martxan and from the Coke Ez network closed one of the access gates to the Petronor (Repsol) refinery in Muskiz (near bilbao, Basque Country). The reason was the first shipment of oil from tar sands from Canada. This cargo is linkt to the new FTA (Free Trade Agreements) between the European Union (EU) and USA and Canada, as a way of finding a market to this heavy oil. That's why, it's thought this is a first shipment previous to many more. The activists held banners with the slogang "Repsol Murderers" and "Heavy crude, more pollution". They also wore masks with Repsol's logo turned into a skull.

There are only 5 plants in the EU capable of processing the tar-sand oil, 3 of them in Spain, belonging to Repsol; one of them is this one close to the Bilbao port. The crude will be processed in the reacently built Coke Plant, which was source of great opposition among locals and a many years campaign because of the high levels of pollution, which this newly brought  tar will add to: highly cancerigenous elements like benzenes, toluenes, etc, as well as an increment on greenhouse effect gases. If this shipment means the arrival of more tar sand oil (apparently another shipment is due to enter the Bilbao port next Tuesday), this will mean the binning of the current EU's Fuel Quality Directive, which stated a 6% reduction in the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels by 2020. The newly entered crude would pump up this greenhouse gas intensity of fuels to 23% more.

The protest had present as well the serious impact which this kind of "oil" extraction has in Canada and in territories belonging to the First Nations. These impacts (destruction of forest, pollution of rivers, fires, etc) as well as those caused by the oilpipes must be added to those associated to their transportation. Yesterday's shipment came from the Freeport (Texas) port after crossing through teh entire United States by train, and then by ship through the ocean: another high bill for the Climate Change!! tar-sand oil transportattion by train has been the cause of huge accidents, due to the high inflammability of this kind of oil.
The protest has had an excellent echo in the local and national media (televisions, papers, radios, etc). In the communiqués sent by the organizing groups, solidarity messages were set to those resisting the tar-sand extraction sites and the oilpipes and trains. Also to those affected by these dreadful projects, and specially to the Original People from those areas.

no tar sands oil in Euskal Herria!!
no tar sands oil elsewhere!!

Reoccupation of the Hambach Forest in Germany

26.04.2014

Struggle against megalomaniac energy provider RWE and the biggest human-made hole of europe.

26.04.2014

Struggle against megalomaniac energy provider RWE and the biggest human-made hole of europe.


Since April 2012, activists in Germany have occupied the Hambach forest to prevent the expansion of Europe’s largest open-cast coal mine. The mine expansion project would mean the clearcutting of the forest and the eviction of thousands of local residents. On March 27, 2014, the forest occupation was evicted by police and today, on April 26, 2014 a new occupation arose. There are platforms and walkways up in the trees and a big demonstration is taking place close by. After a couple of days of strong repressions and the constant attempt by the „authorities“ to criminalize the sruggle the reoccupation is successful. For more information and a current ticker visit our English blog (hambachforest.blogsport.de).

A recent interview with an activist can be found via the following link

Love&Solidarity

Hambacher Forest
hambachforest.blogsport.de