Scotland (Central & Southern) – Page 14

Pre-Eviction Gathering! Sat 23rd to Tues 26th January

*A long weekend of action, workshops and defence-building in preparation for the eviction of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp*

With the long-awaited and highly-anticipated eviction of the camp surely drawing closer, join us for the weekend (and as much time after that as you can spare!) to add the finishing touches to defences, build new ones and fortify barricades. Ever wanted to build yourself a treehouse? Dig yourself a tunnel? Make yourself a lock-on? Now is your chance!

We’re asking anyone who wants to be a part of stopping this open cast coal mine, anyone who wants to fight corporate greed, corrupt government and the feudal land ownership, and anyone who wants to defend a community from the self-interest of the few, to come to the camp and help us build a viable alternative to the destruction that will otherwise ensue.

Asking nicely has failed. Its time to fight back!

What to bring:

* Warm clothes and waterproofs
* Sleeping bag

Tasty vegan food will be provided, but bring any supplies you can. Any building materials, tools, climbing equipment, bedding or anything on our wish list you can spare please bring it along.

Directions – http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=415#How%20to%20Get%20There

http://mainshill.noflag.org.uk/

Coal Machinery Sabotaged in South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Late one night in early January Pennile open cast coal mine was visited by a number of people who sabotaged machines. A total of 13 pieces of machinery were damaged, including one giant earth mover, six giant dumper trucks, four standard sized earth movers and two flood light generators.

Recently Pennile open cast finished mining, but the machines Scottish Coal had working there were supposed to be moving to Mainshill Wood. However as we all know Scottish Coal’s plans have been substantially disrupted by the occupation of the wood by the Mainshill Solidarity Camp.

This action was taken by autonomous people in solidarity with everyone who opposes the destruction of Mainshill Wood and it’s development into another coal mine.

videos from Mainshill and German treesit against a proposed pipeline

The Mainshill Solidarity Camp presents:

*Off With Their Heads!*

Holding the politicians behind Mainshill Open Cast Coal Mine to account

Featuring: Jim Hood MP, Karen Gillon MSP, Councillor Danny Meikle and Lord Home

The Mainshill Solidarity Camp presents:

*Off With Their Heads!*

Holding the politicians behind Mainshill Open Cast Coal Mine to account

Featuring: Jim Hood MP, Karen Gillon MSP, Councillor Danny Meikle and Lord Home

This short film documents the corruption, conflict of interest and hypocrisy dominating the politics of South Lanarkshire, that result in Scottish Coal receiving approval for coal mine after coal mine in the Douglas Valley. With no regard for community health, local democracy, the environment or climate change, Scottish Coal are allowed to run roughshod over the people of the Douglas Valley. The Mainshill Solidarity Camp occupied the site of Mainshill Wood over six months ago to help local communities fight off Scottish Coal and the landowner Lord Home.

The struggle continues!

Watch it here: http://www.politube.org/show/23788

—

Since the 18.12.09 ROBIN WOOD-Activists squat several trees in the Gählerpark in Hamburg Altona to impende the contruction of a heating pipeline for the planned coal power plant Hamburg Moorburg, which would mean the loss of the trees in the park. The company proposing the pipeline is Vattenfall, a Swedish corporation. With their protest they support two residents who have squattet two trees already at 3rd of december.

(German with English subtitles)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJeo631Pyv4

Sabotage at Broken Cross Open Cast Coal Mine (Mainshill Solidarity Action)

In the early hours of the 25th December, a group of autonomous activists delivered their Christmas present to Scottish Coal. Four machines were sabotaged at the Broken Cross open cast site, the largest of its type in Europe, just 5 miles from Mainshill Solidarity Camp.
This is a message to Scottish Coal that regardless of the time of year, we will resist. Not just at Mainshill, but at all of their sites across South Lanarkshire, which is one of the most heavily mined areas in Europe.
As the “festive” season comes to an end, the destructive work will commence again at Mainshill. Eviction is looming as their work progresses. Numbers are needed as ever on site to help out and fill defences.

Mainshill Celebrates 6th Month of Resistance! Come celebrate with us over Christmas!

Mainshill Solidarity Camp will celebrate its 6th month of resistance against Scottish Coal and fat cat interests this Friday the 18th of December!

The winter is drawing in, but the temporary autonomous tree sit at Mainshill is warmer and cosier than ever! With a new log cabin communal and wood burning stove there’s nowhere better to spend x-mas than in the ice encrusted woods in the company of deer, robins, and other wildlife whose habitat is slowly being deforested by Scottish Coal.

Join us this weekend to celebrate 6 months of occupation in resistance to a new open cast coal mine in an area already blighted by several such developments.

Directions

Buses run to Douglas from Lanark and Hamilton. Both Lanark and Hamilton have train and bus stations and are easy to get to from either Glasgow Central Train Station or Buchannon Street Bus Station. From South of the border, going to Glasgow is the easiest way to get to Douglas. Buses from Lanark to Douglas are much more frequent!

Bus from Lanark:

The Service Number 9 (William Stokes & Sons) runs from Lanark – Glespin, stopping in Douglas (service every 49mins past each hour). Ask to be dropped of outside the camp – drivers are usually happy to do this. Otherwise, get off at the Eggerton Bridge stop just before Douglas – you’ll see the camp on your left just after the M74 underpass!

Bus from Hamilton:

The X50 (Henderson Travel – http://www.henderson-travel.co.uk/) Hamilton-Glespin runs Hamilton, Interchange – Lesmahagow, Church Hall – Rigside – Douglas, leaving Hamilton at 17:05 (one service per day)

From Douglas:

The bus will stop before Douglas at Eggerton Bridge and you will see the camp on your left after the M74 underpass. If you miss this stop get off in Douglas and walk North East back up the A70 for 1km and the camp will be on your right just before the M74.

Hitching:

If you hitch, the camp is right next to the M74 which runs from Glasgow to Carlisle. Get dropped of at junction 12 and walk South West down the A70 towards Douglas and the camp is a few hundred metres on your left. Happendon services are close to junction 12 – if you end up therewalk South down the B7078, turn right onto the A70 towards Douglas, which takes you under the M74 and as above.

If you need a ride…

…from somewhere close by call the site phone and we’ll try to sort you out.
Contact Us

Call the site phone on: 07806926040

Email us on: mainshill@riseup.net

Contractor’s van sabotaged at Mainshill

On Wednesday 16th, contractors parked in front of Mainshill Solidarity Camp returned to find their van sabotaged.

The Raeburn workers turned up at 2.30 with the estate manager and left their vehicles unattended while they took soil samples within the camp. In less than ten minutes, though the work van windows were smashed and ‘out of mainshill’ and ‘no more coal’ sprayed on the sides. A bucket of compost was tipped over the bonnet. Unfortunately, the estate manager’s 4×4 only got a small scratch.

The occupation of Mainshill continues, and we welcome others who wish to join us in resisting open cast coal mining and the environmental toxification it causes.

Autonomous Pixie Action in Solidarity with Mainshill

In the early hours of Monday the 7th of December a drilling rig and other machinery was sabotaged at Mainshill Solidarity Camp. This action was taken by a group of autonomous people in solidarity with all those who oppose the development of Mainshill Wood into an open cast coal mine.

Actions such as these are not mindless acts of vandalism, but valid responses to corporations like Scottish Coal and their blatant disregard for life and communities of people everywhere. Such acts damage the rich and wealthy in the only place that matters to them – their wallets. As life on earth is threatened in every direct by the blind pursuit of profit, we look not to politicians in Copenhagen for indecision, but take matters into our own hands.

Burning coal undermines the very ability of human beings to live on a healthy vibrant planet, a right our ancestors enjoyed and our children should inherit. Yet the climate is changing, the oceans are acidifying, and hundreds of species go extinct every single day because of the greed of a few. Let’s not stand idly by and watch while so much beauty is plundered and destroyed!

There is no time to act but now. Come to Mainshill Solidarity Camp and send your own message to Copenhagen!

Glasgow Airport Terminal 2 branded unethical

2/12/2010
On the day the world’s leaders were to release their global emissions target, Plane Stupid Scotland unveiled a new sign welcoming people to Glasgow Airport. Giant letters read “T2 closed” and “Closed for Ethical Rethink”, pointing to the increasingly airport.

The action is the first in a growing campaign to keep Terminal 2 shut for good. It was closed over the winter as a cost saving measure after passenger numbers fell by 11.3% to 7.2 million. Glasgow airport operates a huge number of short haul and domestic flights.

Local residents have had fewer sleepless nights due to the decreased air traffic and the airport’s emissions have also reduced from the 618,539 tonnes of Co2 it emitted in 2008 (although unsurprisingly BAA won’t tell us by how much). This trend must continue if we’re to meet our emissions targets, or the “world’s greatest Climate Change Bill” (copyright Scottish Parliament) will become the world’s biggest embarrassment.

Reggie Whittaker, who lives by Glasgow airport explained: “T2 really is plane stupid. It’s unsustainable and unnecessary.”

Lord Home’s mansion visited in solidarity with Mainshill

In the early hours of Sunday 29th November a group of autonomous activists caused embarrassment to Lord Home, exposing his role in the proposed development of Mainshill Woods into and open cast coal mine. This action was taken by a group of autonomous people in solidarity with all those who oppose the development of Mainshill Wood into an open cast coal mine.

Lord Home was entertaining friends at his country mansion, almost certainly before a day of grouse shooting. In the dead of night, the activists deflated tyres on all of the posh cars outside the house, put superglue on the windscreens and left a sign on Home’s lawn saying ‘No Open Cast’. The car presumed to belong to Home’s housekeeper was left untouched.

Actions such as these are not mindless acts of vandalism but designed to embarass Lord Home into having to explain his blind pursuit of profit and neglect of community interest to his cronies. As well as drawing attention to the fight to stop the open casting of Mainshill, the action may conveniently also have put some of Home’s mateys off going grouse shooting again.

Another Successful Action-Packed Gathering at Mainshill Solidarity Camp

From Saturday 28th Nov – Tues 1st Dec there was another successful action-packed gathering at Mainshill Solidarity Camp. With activists traveling from all over the UK, around 55 people converged on the camp and spent the weekend solidifying old defences, working on new ones and stopping the logging work on site.

Harvesters were stopped from chopping down trees and preparing the ground for mining machinery on both Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. The harvester drivers seemed happy to get a break and were friendly and chatty with the protestors. There are now 3 harvester machines working on site rather than just the one which has been working up until now, perhaps indicating that the almost daily actions to stop work have seriously delayed the work of removing trees at Mainshill in preparation for the mine.

Saturday night saw another legendary party and gave everyone a chance to celebrate some of the hard work done to solidify the defences in anticipation of an eviction. As well as all the work on defences, the communal spaces were also improved with the installation of a beautiful new burner in the communal made especially for the camp and a lot of progress on the new kitchen extension.

By Sunday morning there was news that an autonomous group of activists acting in solidarity with all those who oppose the open casting of Mainshill Wood had paid Lord Home a visit. Apparently Home was at home down the road from the camp, wining and dining a group of chums, probably in anticipation of a Sunday of grouse shooting. Reports on Indymedia state that “activists deflated tyres on all of the posh ccars outside the house, put superglue on the windscreens and left a sign on Home’s lawn saying ‘No Open Cast’.”

Climbing and bunker building workshops kept everyone busy on Sunday as well as collecting wood to keep the camp going during these colder weeks. There was snow on Monday but everyone was in high spirits after a really good weekend of work.