South East England – Page 36

Autonomous spaces weekend – pre-announced events (London, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Reading, Bristol)

ASS Benefit & More 11th -13th April

ASS benefit
Open access squatters-housing-land art – photography exhibition
Workshops & stalls
Cinema
Actions

ASS Benefit & More 11th -13th April

ASS benefit
Open access squatters-housing-land art – photography exhibition
Workshops & stalls
Cinema
Actions

Weekend long social centre/s event in London in occupied space/s to coincide with the Europe-wide days of action in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture.

Various venues still to be confirmed, more info coming soon.

Advisory Service
housingmatters@hushmail.com
http://www.squatter.org.uk

——

MANCHESTER SPACE INVADERS LINE UP
Manchester Space Invaders are a collective of autonomous groups and individuals working together to reclaim our city…we are mobilizing to fight gentrification, ‘regeneration’ and all the borders that exist within the city. We call for all groups, individuals, networks and families to get involved and to join in our glorious celebration of autonomous spaces…

THURS 28TH MARCH
SPACE INVADERS MEETING 6pm
SQUAT FILM NITE 7pm
Films about squatting: securing a building, eviction, culture..
bring your own films!
Get involved in preparations for the days of action!
Popcorn, vegan cake and beer!
For location email manchesterspaceinvaders@yahoo.co.uk..

FRIDAY 11TH
SPACE INVADERS BAND NITE
The weekend will kick off from 5pm on Friday..come to the squat for food, music and help create the space…bring yer mates, art materials and enjoy the sounds of GNOD, CASH FOR YOUR STORIES, THE AUTONOMADS, SONIC BOOMSIX..and more!
Location TBC…call for more info

SATURDAY 12TH
I BIKE MCR BIKE ART PARADE
Dress yourself and your bike up for a bike art parade..Any theme for fancy dress for you and your bike is welcome..why not make it cosmic for some fun with the Space Invaders!?
Meet All Saints Park on Saturday 12th April at 2pm for a nice picnic in the park and to admire each others fancily decorated steeds and riders(bring some nice picnic food and drink)..also if you don’t get chance to bling your bike before you come, there will be opportunity and materials to do it there… then we shall ride around the city showing off how greatour blinged-up bikes look…..ending up at the Manchester Autonomous Spaces Squat where there will be food and entertainment and all sorts of exciting activity!!!
http://ibikemcr.org.uk

PARK FUN DAY…SAT 12TH
Cathedral Gardens, outside Urbis from 1pm to 6pm..
Bring your family and friends, picnics and crafts!
Folk bands, a soundsystem, magic tricks, street theatre and art session!
Transister madness with our mobile sound system…bring your portable radio!
Get creative and get involved before reclaiming the city with No Borders…

DEMONSTRATION IN DEFENCE OF AUTONOMOUS SPACES SAT 12TH
Saturday, April 12,a demonstration for FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR ALL and IN DEFENCE OF AUTONOMOUS SPACES.Assemble at Urbis (next to Victoria Station), 5pm
Check http://www.april-12.blogspot.com/ for updates.
Across the country cities are being sold to the highest bidders. The drive for ‘regeneration’ is demolishing homes, marginalising communities, privatising public space and closing down vital community services. There has seldom been a time when fighting for autonomous spaces in Manchester has been more important.
The struggle for self-organisation and social autonomy brings migrants and squatters into inevitable confrontation with the existing social and political system. Self-organisation does not mean living outside of society. We want to live in it but according to our own rules. We want to emancipate ourselves from the capitalist processes that govern our city and our lives, without turning our backs to society.

INFO manchesterspaceinvaders@yahoo.co.uk
http://mcraz.wordpress.com
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/

SUBSCRIBE https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/manchesterspaceinvaders

CALL 07526256932 AFTER 6TH APRIL
………
MORE EVENTS TBC CLOSER TO THE TIME….if you could offer a workshop/equipment/skills/time….get in touch and join the invaders!

manchesterspaceinvaders@yahoo.co.uk
http://mcraz.wordpress.com/

——

the Audacious Space free cafe & info-shop

A Celebration of Free Spaces
Leeds City Centre, Friday 11th – Saturday 12th April 2008

Part of the international weekend of action in support of squats and autonomous spaces around the world (see www.april2008.squat.net for more info).

Across the world, communities are under threat as city “regeneration schemes” favour a glamorous , business-friendly environment over and above issues such as community,. social housing and diversity. Leeds is no exception as PFIs and similar privatised “regeneration” programmes threaten communities across the city.

We want to show that communities throughout our city are not prepared to lie down and accept this!

For this weekend we are planning a squatted space in Leeds City Centre, featuring:

– cafe
– focus on housing / squatting / gentrification
– free shop
– family friendly space: daytime cafe will be alcohol-free & drug-free space
– opportunity to link up with other communities threatened by the above issues

…but most importantly the space will be open for whatever you want it to be: an opportunity for films, displays, art, workshops… to get involved give us an email on leedssquat@googlemail.com or call 07526 261061.

The venue will be an easy walk from Leeds city centre / train station / bus station – for location please call 07526 261061 or email leedssquat@googlemail.com
——–

Action for squats and autonomous spaces in Nottingham

On Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of April, we are planning to answer the international call out for two days of demonstration, direct action, public information, street-party, squatting etc in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture.

People from a number of cities across the UK have already announced that temporary autonomous spaces will open for the 11th and 12th of April 2008. A group of people will open a temporary autonomous space in Nottingham city centre. We want this (hopefully) vibrant and public space to be an exuberant response to news of a final closure of the ASBO.

By visibly taking a space in the city centre, we intend to raise awareness of squatting and so contribute to a future of squatting in Nottingham with more long-term squats elsewhere in the city.

One goal for this weekend of action will be to inspire and empower people who have previously been unfamiliar with squatting. By providing materials and information, workshops, squatters’ handbooks and by relaying our own experiences, we can enable people to house themselves without compromising with capitalism. In addition, we can utilise the autonomous environment created by squatting for other needs than housing. Discussing campaigns and sharing knowledge and skills we can support one another and be
empowered ourselves, as well as drawing in new people by creating a vibrant and exciting place to be. This can be in the form of food, workshops, films, art, talks – and absolutely anything you are motivated to provide.

Over the last few weeks of meetings we’ve made some basic logistical decisions. We welcome creative, energetic and/or enthusiastic people, and everyone else, to help us realise and then use the space. Every Tuesday at 7pm we will have open planning meetings to discuss and plan the weekend. These meetings will be held at the Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, Nottingham.

Alternatively, you can contact us at squatnottingham@hotmail.co.uk

——

Free Social Space weekend of events in Birmingham, April 11th to 13th 2008

As part of the Europe-wide call for decentralised action for squats and autonomous spaces (see http://april2008.squat.net/ ), there will be a temporary free space and weekend of workshops and events in Birmingham on the 11th to 13th of April.

CALL OUT: FREE SPACE BIRMINGHAM AND THE EUROPE-WIDE CALL OUT FOR SQUATTED SOCIAL SPACES.

Across Europe on the weekend of April 11th-13th, people will be taking over buildings and open spaces left abandoned by state or private concerns. For one weekend we will be united in a festival of resistance across Europe. (see http://april2008.squat.net/ )

Birmingham, UK will be responding to this call and invite you to join in. We’re a group of people who have formed an autonomous voluntary collective. We have no bosses to obey, no shareholders to feed and make decisions by consensus, all pulling our weight.

We have chosen to occupy an empty building in the city (close to Birmingham’s main rail stations and the city centre) for the weekend, hopefully to improve its neglected condition and open it up for the benefit of the city of which we are a part.

We hope you can join us for this event, and invite you to join our collective or form your own with similar aims.

Come and learn stuff, play games and enjoy the food and company – or come and facilitate a discussion, play a song, sing and dance.

EVENTS:

Workshops including: bike repair and maintenance, consensus decision making, action against climate change, disability rights and politics, 12volt electricity, LETS, permaculture, guerilla gardening, introduction to social centres, housing rights, DIY arts (jewellery making, paper mache, sculpture and making banners)and many more…

Demonstration against gentrification and for free space outside Birmingham City Council headquarters on Friday 11th (see next article)

Entertainment including an open mic night, film showings and live bands (TBC)

Free shop

Food by Birmingham Food Not Bombs

WHY SQUATTING?

There is a long tradition and history of squatting in the British Isles, dating from at least the 14th century, as people occupied land previously worked and occupied in common. The mania for enclosing land as private has always been resisted. The Diggers, levellers and others in the turbulent period of the 17th century occupied land for common use.

The practice of occupying buildings became popular amongst de-mobilised soldiers in the 20th century. Returning home from the Great and Second World wars, finding none of the promised ‘homes fit for heroes’, squatting empty buildings was a common method of growing viable homes in the cracks and empty matrices of post-war Britain.

More recently, squatting enjoyed a revival in the 1960s and 70s against the disastrous housing and architectural policies of the time. And in the last ten years there has been a revival of squatting to answer the need for social space as well as housing need. Today squatting acts as a bulwark against and alternative to gentrification – the growth of exclusive housing for the rich, pushing out the poor. This is what’s happening in Digbeth.

Squats are portals into other societies. Places where real alternatives can be grown and autonomous collective ways of organising and living found free of red tape, in places otherwise left empty and wasted.

There’s nothing ‘dirty’ about squatting. On the contrary, the practice cleans up after the waste and dis-ease produced by capitalistic authoritarianism, transforming wasted space into liberated space. Thus many people prefer the term ‘free space’ as an alternative to ‘squat’.

WHY SOCIAL CENTRES?

A viable social centre can be squatted (occupied), or facilitated through bureaucratic means such as renting or purchase. In recent years there has been a growth in social centres across Britain, from Manchester to Bristol, London to Leeds, Glasgow to Nottingham and in Birmingham too.

In creating a short term occupied social centre we hope to create a free space for the benefit of the city. The only real limit on what can happen in a social centre is the imagination. Since we respect the integrity of the building and don’t trash it (unlike its ‘owners’) we can as a collective open it for positive community projects. Social Centres can and have been used for: film screenings, healthy food and drink, libraries of books and information exchange (including free internet access), freeshops (the free exchange of goods) and all manner of creative/artistic projects,
and political organising around local and global issues.

In these times, when councils are closing and privatising public facilities hard won by our forebears, social centres are an invaluable part of society today, fulfilling an increasingly ignored need.

Free Space Collective
freespacebrum@riseup.net
http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/birmingham_social_centre

—

Details of what’s on in Brum:

The venue will be within a short walk of the Custard Factory and of Moor Street Station – email freespacebrum@riseup.net or phone 07527580190 for exact location details.

FRIDAY 11TH APRIL:

10.00am (approx): Venue opens

11am – 1.30pm (approx): Banner and prop making for demo (see below)

2pm: “Stop Selling Off Our City” demo outside Council House (see http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2008/04/395252.html )

5pm (approx): Return to temporary social centre

6pm: Talk on public sector privatisation and gentrification, followed by dinner courtesy of Birmingham Food Not Bombs

8pm onwards: Acoustic open mic night – all singers, poets, musicians and performance artists welcome…

SATURDAY 12TH APRIL:

11am – 1pm:
Workshop A: Introduction to Social Centres
Workshop B: Bike repair and maintenance (possibly ongoing for rest of Sat)
Workshop C: Jewellery making

1-2pm: Lunch

2-4pm:
Workshop A: Talk by Mexican activist on the Zapatista movement
Workshop B: Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS)
Workshop C: T-shirt printing

4-6pm:
Workshop A: Talk on the UK disability rights movement
Workshop B: 12Volt electricity
Workshop C: Art from recycled materials

6-7pm: Dinner by Birmingham Food Not Bombs

7-9pm:
Workshop A: Squatting and land rights
Workshop B: Palestine solidarity
Workshop C: Poi/fire spinning

9pm onwards: evening entertainment TBC

SUNDAY 13TH APRIL:

11am – 1pm:
Workshop A: Permaculture and Transition Towns
Workshop B: Rocket stoves (DIY wood burning stoves)
Workshop C: Face massage

1-2pm: Lunch

2-4pm:
Workshop A: Introduction to co-operatives (Radical Routes)
Workshop B: Climate change activism, including the Camp for Climate Action
Workshop C: Poetry

4-6pm:
Workshop A: Consensus decision making
Workshop B: Stencil art
Workshop C: Guerilla gardening

6-7pm: Dinner by Birmingham Food Not Bombs

7-9pm: “What Next?” The future of free social spaces in Birmingham – discussion, all welcome to participate and make suggestions!

All workshops subject to time change or cancellation depending on number of people interested.
——–

Autonomous Space Events in Reading! Common Ground to be Reopened!

As part of the global days of action for squats and autonomous spaces (see http://april2008.squat.net for two (maybe three!) events will take place in Reading, Berks.

FRIDAY 11TH APRIL:

* Free Cafe Event*

Reading Grassroots Action will hold a free cafe event in a privatised area of the riverside in the Town Centre. The action will aim to temporarily reclaim some space in the town centre, publicise further events and organisation and spread information on several linked up struggles from the autonomous spaces movements to the Zapatistas and from community gardens to Starbucks workers. Hopefully a film will be shown illustrating the global resistance against empire and good free food and Zapatista coffee will be given out.

SATURDAY 12TH APRIL:

* Common Ground Squatted Community Garden will be Re-Opened!*

Common Ground – a squatted community garden in Katesgrove area of Reading – was closed down by Reading Borough Council in October 07, following two previously unsucsessful eviction dates.

But on Sat 12th April, it will once again by opened to the public!

– Free Entry from 1pm!

– Free BBQ (trad & vegan options) from 3pm!

– Live Acoustic Music from 5pm!

Featuring:

* Neil Sutherland – Positive folk-punk in the vein of Billy Bragg.
* Clayton Blizzard – Acoustic hip hop – lyrical genius!
* Smoky Bastard – Irish style folk-punk in vein of Flogging Molly/Pogues/Dropkicks
* Kelly Kemp – Country style folk-punk from ex-vocalist of No Comply
* Naomi Hates Humans – Soulful folk-punk melodies
* Sam Russo – “Boss mad sounds!”

LOCATION:

Entrance is through the alleyway, next to ex-Womens Information Centre, Silver Street, Reading, RG2. It’s two mins from town centre, just up London Street from Global Cafe/Great Expectations.

Q: “But wont the cops stop us?!”

A: “Never fear, Plan B is here!”

If the miserable council and moody coppers stop us, we’ll go cheer them up…

… by moving the entire event outside their offices!

So, if you can’t find us at Common Ground, ring 07757280546 on the day for latest info!

Hope to see ya then!

P.S. We’ve even heard rumour of a free party in town that night, so keep yer ears to the dirty Reading ground……

katesgrovegarden(AT)yahoo.co.uk
http://www.rgacollective.org.uk

——–

Bristol: with the Broadmead Expansion and its spillover into St Pauls and Old Market that is displacing our local communities, the time is now to take matters into our own hands and reclaim our public spaces.

For more info call: 07528 953 230 / 07591 631 230

FRIDAY 11th
– daytime: Come help create the space
– evening: Film night from 7pm

SATURDAY 12th
– Carnival Parade starting from Albany Green St. Pauls at 11am.
– Art Exhibition open all day
– Cabaret/Open mic, live music

REPAIR NOT REDEVELOP

Yuppie flats are not part of a sustainable future and are pushing social housing out of the city centre. Resist the displacement of local people and join the parade!

Come One, Come All!
Take back our public space – If this motivates you spread the Word!

International Days of Action for Squats and Autonomous Public Spaces have been called for on the 11th and 12th of April 2008. http://april2008.squat.net:8080/. Diverse groups of enraged creatives from Prague to New Zealand will be taking things into their own hands: reclaiming spaces for art, housing, workshops, discussions, talks, films, food, swap-shops, music, performances & open mics to name but the bare essentials.

Whilst their motives are locally specific, these autonomous actions are drawn together internationally by common threads: indignation at the impending grip that corporate expansion has on our cities; diminishing social housing; ‘streamlined’ rents; the homogenisation of the high street with corporate chains; the segregation of cities along the lines of wealth and power…

Here in Bristol we will be reclaiming a private space and breathing life back into it momentarily for a public weekend of celebration. As a rupture with the march of high speed commercial existence, we will show films, parade through the streets, open space for art and workshops, cook and eat food, listen to music and live a little. Whether you’re a lock breaking specialist, poet, painter or film-maker and would like to get involved – or if you just want to come have a look at what can be done with love and shoestring – come along!

The carnival procession will make its way through Bristol on Saturday 12th. We will assemble at Albany Green, St Pauls at 11am for the start of the parade – bring friends and family, whistles and horns, pedal power and music. By taking back our streets we’ll show our communities are fed up with the odious creeping hand of shiny redevelopment. And in preparation: come create costumes, banners and carnival trimmings at workshops in the space the day before, Friday 11th.

This open invitation is a call out to communities and individuals of all skills and interests that can help make these days as visible as possible- take action in OUR city! Come join to raise awareness that there is an alternative, and resist the aggressive private expansion into our public spaces.

http://april2008.squat.net/index.php/category/english/lang-pref/en

—

More Bristol details: Save Stokes Croft

Saturday 12th April: Protest Against Gentrification of Central Bristol

11.00am Albany Green, St. Pauls and 2.00pm Broadmead (Centre)

Bristol is undergoing massive attacks on our free spaces and culture by property developers and their friends in the City Council. Across the city green spaces, pubs, clubs and amenities are being closed and sold off with little consultation with the communities affected.

So if you oppose the…

* Threat of closure of the clubs and pubs on Stokes Croft (Clockwork, Lakota, Blue Mountain, Junction)
* The threatened sell off of Castle Park to the developers
* The loss of playing fields and green spaces city-wide
* The ‘private streets’ of Cabot Circus
* The dispersion orders on College Green
* The removal of the Bristol-Bath cycle path
* The loss of pubs and meeting spaces in our communities

On Saturday 12th April there will be street protests against the gentrification of Central Bristol. There will be two meeting points:

11.00am Albany Green, St. Pauls: Join the ‘Bristol Space Invasion’ Carnival Parade as part of a europe wide weekend of action against the privatisation of public space

Joining with…

2.00am Broadmead (Centre): ‘Save Stokes Croft from Gentrification’ party parade going to College Green

After the parades come along to Bristol Space Invasion Autonomous Zone featuring Art, performance, cinema, open-mic and live music – ALL FOR FREE! – Call 07528 953 230 or 07591 631 230 on the day for details of precise location.

Please show your opposition to the destruction of our places, spaces and culture, before its too late.

See you there….

Save Stokes Croft and Bristol Space Invasion

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spirit of Freedom (March 2008) – Earth Liberation Prisoners

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

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

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

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

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

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rod Coronado – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

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

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

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

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

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

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

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

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

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

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

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

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

Nathan Block – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joyanna Zacher – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

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

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

ANTIFA PRISONERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OTHER PRISONERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

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

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Earth First! summer gathering date change & contact details

The dates of the EF! Summer Gathering have been changed, to work better with other events happening over the summer such as the Saving Iceland protest camp and the Camp for Climate Action.

The new dates are Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008.

This should give us all the space to recover & reflect, and to plot & plan onwards and upwards.

The dates of the EF! Summer Gathering have been changed, to work better with other events happening over the summer such as the Saving Iceland protest camp and the Camp for Climate Action.

The new dates are Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008.

This should give us all the space to recover & reflect, and to plot & plan onwards and upwards.

The new contact details for the EF!SG collective is summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

You can download publicity – 2 posters & leaflet all in one: (front & back)

Watch this space for more info nearer the time.

Aldermaston – camp is NOT closing & surround the base, 24th March

In a frontpage (and inside) article today the Indy have got it into their heads that the women’s peace camp is cl

In a frontpage (and inside) article today the Indy have got it into their heads that the women’s peace camp is closing. You can read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/2h7jrf

Camp is not closing. In fact camp is very much there, today, outside Aldermaston.

Letters of support for camp are already coming in and we hope that the “wrong end of the stick” article will only highlight both the repressive byelaws situation (see http://www.aldermaston.net/news/212 for background) and the fact that Aldermaston is busy building new facilities for new nuclear weapons.

Come and join us!

And if you can’t join us today, then come to the women’s gate on Easter Monday(24 March) – part of a mass “surround the base” event against a new generation of Trident and a celebration of 50 years of anti-nuclear protest.

See http://www.cnduk.org/aldermaston
info@aldermaston.net
http://www.aldermaston.net

Aldermaston – camp is NOT closing & surround the base, 24th March

In a frontpage (and inside) article today the Indy have got it into their heads that the women’s peace camp is closing. You can read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/2h7jrf

Camp is not closing. In fact camp is very much there, today, outside Aldermaston.

In a frontpage (and inside) article today the Indy have got it into their heads that the women’s peace camp is closing. You can read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/2h7jrf

Camp is not closing. In fact camp is very much there, today, outside Aldermaston.

Letters of support for camp are already coming in and we hope that the “wrong end of the stick” article will only highlight both the repressive byelaws situation (see http://www.aldermaston.net/news/212 for background) and the fact that Aldermaston is busy building new facilities for new nuclear weapons.

Come and join us!

See http://www.cnduk.org/aldermaston
info@aldermaston.net
http://www.aldermaston.net

Invitation to the Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth Power Station: August 3-11 2008

***Please forward and post widely***

Invitation to the Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth Power Station

Day of Mass Action at Kingsnorth: Saturday August 9th, 2008

www.climatecamp.org.uk

***Please forward and post widely***

Invitation to the Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth Power Station

Day of Mass Action at Kingsnorth: Saturday August 9th, 2008

www.climatecamp.org.uk
Low-impact living // education // high-impact direct action

This summer the Camp for Climate Action will pitch its tents outside
Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent for a week of education,
sustainable living and direct action. Everyone is invited to the camp,
which is now part of an international movement, with eight climate camps
on four continents planned for this summer. Together, we will show that
the blind pursuit of economic growth at any cost is simply insane, and
is to blame for the CO2 emissions and ecosystem destruction that are
causing catastrophic climate change.

Get out the diary, here’s the plan:

In late July this year’s camp will begin with a one-day event at
Heathrow, which will continue the fight against airport expansion and
support the people who welcomed us into their communities last year.

Next, everyone is invited to travel together over a number of days
across London to Kingsnorth in Kent (around 50 miles in total).
Marching through London highlights the political links between aviation,
coal and agrofuels: Central London’s investors, industry lobbyists and
PR companies all determine what gets built and what gets passed off as
‘solutions’.

The camp will converge on Kingsnorth power station where owners E.ON
plan to build the UK’s first coal-fired plant in 30 years. The science
shows that expanding the fossil fuel economy must stop. Yet, without a
forceful campaign against this madness, government and business are set to
build a power station that will burn the dirtiest of all fossil fuels.

The camp will bring together thousands of people for a week of
workshops, discussion and direct action. Run without leaders by everyone
who comes along, the camp will be a working ecological village using
renewable energy, composting waste and sourcing food locally.

Climate campers will not only highlight positive solutions, but will
also take direct action against two drivers of climate change:

Wednesday August 6th: Day of Action against Agrofuels. Agrofuels are
fast replacing rainforests and agriculture for food production, meaning
more hunger, CO2 emissions, and biodiversity loss. They must be stopped.
Join us on this day of action, details to follow.

Saturday August 9th: Day of Mass Action against Kingsnorth coal-fired
power station. The power station must not and will not be built! This
promises to be an epic moment in the battle against climate change. If
you can only make it for the day, not to worry: trains run from Central
London to Kingsnorth, every few minutes and take less than an hour.

Too much to manage? They said that last year, and look what we pulled
off. We say – we must be audacious; the Camp for Climate Action is just
warming up! We are the last generation that can avert catastrophic
climate change, so come and play your part!

For more information, visit www.climatecamp.org.uk and join our email
list at http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/climatecamp

***Important dates***

Late July: Heathrow event and travel to Kingsnorth. Details soon…
Sunday August 3th: Camp set up. We’ll all make the camp happen together.
Monday August 4th-10th: Workshops, networking and action training.
Wednesday August 6th: Day of Action against Agrofuels
Saturday August 9th: Day of Mass Action against Kingsnorth coal-fired
power station
Monday August 11th: Help return the camping field back to nature.

Notes from the UK Squatters’ Meeting 9/10 February 2008

This, the first attempt to coordinate a national meeting for some time, was held in a beautiful old nursing home with extensive grounds at Headingley in Leeds.

This, the first attempt to coordinate a national meeting for some time, was held in a beautiful old nursing home with extensive grounds at Headingley in Leeds. There was a good mixed turn out with squatters represented from many of the major towns in the uk, some protest sites and some travellers attending. All in all perhaps 30-40 people.

Overall the meeting was constructive and positive with a lot of things discussed with a good party on Sunday night, of which the local residents were very accomodating once we explained it was a one off. It was a different matter with the local constabulary who were miffed to say the least, but unable to act because of a secure building and the number of people present. (apart, that is, from a bit of harrassment, including an isolated piece of brutality/assault). They finally got their vindictive revenge by confiscating the van taking the rig away on monday by claiming that the driver was not allowed to use a german driving license in this country!! We managed to save the rig though: Ha!

What follows is the basic agenda, followed by rough notes from each meeting highlighting points raised, ideas and criticisms put forward and general information concerning the different aspects of squatting around the uk.

BASIC AGENDA (of general topics)

1. Builing a stronger network between squats/autonomous spaces (aut. spaces) in the uk.

2. Initial planning for days of action.

3. How can we make better use of squats/aut. spaces in terms of connecting them to wider issues such as increased surveillance, housing problems, gentrification, ghettoisation and the fundamental issues of who controls our land , spaces and ultimately lives.

4. The impact of non-squatted autonomous spaces (ie rented/bought/legal social centres) on the squatting movement.

5. Breaking out of the ‘squatting scene’.

6. The impact of drugs on the movement.

7. Repression facing autonomous spaces in the uk and how we can resist effectively.

Saturday: first meeting

Introductions

What is happening in places in the uk?

BRISTOL: A new squatted social centre is in the process of opening. There is Magpie, a long term squat/autonomous space. The local social centre is Kebele, which has now been there nearly eleven years. It was originally squatted, the eviction was resisted and then the building was rented with a housing co-op in it to cover the rent. The building is now owned, but the housing co-op have moved out as they found it difficult to co-exist with activities taking place. The building now accomodates free space for workshops, a cafe, a library, internet and other amenities. Kebele has also, slowly, become recognised as part of the local community.

NORTH EAST LONDON: A squatters’ network has been started in the area around hackney consisting of approx. 11 squats resulting in better solidarity and response to eviction threats. There has been some more social centre organising, with one currently by Lower Clapton Roundabout (info: 07506095491). Ramparts have possibly 2 more months, but have opened a new building.

LEEDS: A few residential squats round Chapeltown, no organised network, no squatted social centres, there is also a partially working ‘Common Place’ legal social centre

NOTTINGHAM: Sumac social centre (not squatted), a few squats, not many activists. City has lots of potential but needs injection of energy.

EXETER: Not much happening, trying to set up a place for temporary autonomous arts (TAA) and skill share. Big regeneration at moment, lots of empty spaces but not much action.

SCOTLAND: There are squats but they tend to be evicted quickly and legally. ESRA- Edinburgh Squatters’ Rights Association.

BRADFORD: There has been a squat on Westgate for 3 years and a block of flats has been squatted down Manchester Rd.

MANCHESTER: Not much squatting happening. There are legal social centres, the ‘Basement’ recently closed down due to a fire/water damage but there is a gay/lesbian/transgender one and a mainstream/straight one which is a bit of a problem.

BRIGHTON: Very difficult to squat. squats last on average 6 weeks, sometimes can be moved on 3-4 times a week. IPOs (Interim Possession Orders) used more and more (gives cops instant eviction power). Illegal evictions with bailliffs, police or both commonplace. Police have gone on record in local paper saying that ‘squatting will not be tolerated in Brighton’. There is a legal social centre, the Cowley Club, bought with a mortgage through Radical Routes, with a housing co-op to pay off the mortgage. Club has cafe, bar, gigs, free English lessons, library, bookshop and internet access as well other activities. Luckily there are two long term squats at the moment.

PROTEST SITES

Tara- Nr Dublin, Ireland: been there over a year, about 15 people on 2 sites. Historical sites threatened, strong local campaign, need more people to help build stockades and fences.

Faslane, Scotland. Punx picnic on 2-4 May.

Rossport, county Mayo, Ireland. Need support. Have good local support. Action camp from where direct action is done.

9 Ladies, Derbyshire- have technically won campaign, waiting on papers. Some of site tatted down.

Bilston Glen- against a road funded by biotech corporations, need more people, council haven’t got money to evict.

Camp Bling- near Southend, anti-road campaign, been there 2 years.

Titnore Woods, nr Worthing- against supermarket and urban sprawl, strong local support, 2 camps

GENDER AND SEXISM

Machismo- there is often a competition of male vs male over dominance, sometimes between female. Is this Alpha male/female complex a purely biological effect or is it reinforced by societal conditions?

Is homophobic/queer/transgender ‘abuse’ a problem?

Does creating ‘queer fiendly’ nights encourage segregation? Maybe we should focus on anti-homophobic issues instead? However queer fiendly nights allow an expression of their culture not always tolerated by mainstream society. Or, in other words, there is a temptation to ghettoize yourself in order to feel comfortable and fit in with like minded people around you.

Maybe there is not such a problem within the alternative/squatting scene itself, but at free parties when people from outside the scene come there can be problems. How can we educate them and break down these discriminatory barriers?

Ghettoisation occurs on many levels, not just with queers, eg anarchists, travellers. Plus in wider society ghettoisation is occuring more and more, asian, black, white working class and middle class gated communities- we need to bear this in mind.

Is it less about gender and more about role playing? Do certain people take on certain roles in squats- someone does electricity, someone does locks, plumbing, security etc.

But do certain people just take on roles or fall into them- ie does a certain dynamic grow, where people are doing the same jobs because only they have the skills?

To counter this perhaps skill sharing workshops could be an option, or an apprentice approach where people watch and learn locks being changed, plumbing being fixed etc.

Do gender stereotypes take over? Males change locks, fix plumbing, electricity/ females cooking, cleaning etc? How can we address this?

In order to challenge gender/role stereotypes people should not follow the easiest efficient path-i.e. someone does the locks, someone does the plumbing as this perpetuates role entrenchment/division of labour.

THE IMPACT OF DRUGS ON THE MOVEMENT

Both Bristol and Brighton split between drugs squats/creative squats. However, is this true or can a positive squat happen when the squat is filled with munters (drug taking idiots smashed out of their face talking shit)?

Some squats are just party squats and attract bad press.

It can be difficult for families/children to squat because of the presence of drugs.Squatting could be made more attractive to families.

Drugs have divided the squatting scene, or is it that they have invaded all of it?

A lot of people get into squatting through the free party scene and then continue to squat just to party, especially those who have just left home and wish to express themselves and not take responsibility. Is it possible to politicise this element without being patronising?

If squats have a short shelf life, like in Brighton, then there is not so much motive to maintain it by some people and a hedonistic attitude can take over.

There is the problem that some people will come to visit a squat and think, ‘oh, it’s just a squat’ and will get pissed or off their head. This can be a problem inside the squat but more so outside in the public eye.

It is down to individual squatters what they want to do with their space and how they want to live.

Not all squats should be seen as places to go and be entertained.

How do drugs effect autonomous spaces policy wise? How do you, or should you, draw a line on ‘acceptable’ behaviour, to say ‘wait a minute, everyone is getting battered’ and yet maintain the ability for people to be autonomous and express themselves individually?

Should drugs be seen as a societal symptom and not just concerned with the squatting movement?

Is there sometimes a difference between the type and quantity of drugs used by the people who break the squats and then those who move in later, or is this a false dichotomy?

NETWORKING AMONGST SQUATS

What is networking? An e-mail list? More meetings?

It should be more than this, it should be active solidarity.

The network in London was created by having meetings once a month. They also have a phone with everybodys’ numbers on it, but no names, so that if there is an emergency a text can be sent to everyone.

Having Squatters’ dinners, rotating around each squat in an area.

ational network- how can we make it happen?

Create a riseup list in conjunction with an e-mail account which sends no mail but info is placed in a draft folder.

Have 2 national meetings a year.

Make a newsheet of ongoing news from the draft folder in the e-mailm account and distribute as printed or PDF.

News about squatting actions can also be sent to 325collective(at)hush.com and will be compiled on the web site.

What do we want out of the network?

People could work out local/specific skills and network them nationally.

People should be responsible for contacting people/ finding out what’s going on, not waiting for news to be sent to them.

There can be problems with communication when living on site.

What is the point of the network?

To be a social movement which threatens the status quo, yet without diluting our fundamental political beliefs.

‘Recruitment’, getting people on board- facilitating our skills to demonstrate a more valid image of squatting than is currently represented.

Not all squatters represented at the meeting, we need to remember that not all people squat for ideological purposes. How can we get over our political meaning without alienating people?

We should reach out to immigrants/refugees/vulnerable people, but handing out info isn’t enough- there must be a support network in place.

Perhaps a local meeting/info point for people to come and get help.

Possibly visit local housing offices and hand out info?

SOCIAL CENTRES

Practical aspects of occupying/setting up a centre were discussed.

What is the effect of legal social centres on the movement? Do they detract from the squatting aspect or are they a good half way house?

It can take a long time to set up relationships with people in the local are, so long term legal centres can be good for this. It means that the centre can be for the local community rather than being moved on all the time and centred on the scene.

There is a danger of cliques/closed groups occurring.

There can be problems with security with squatted social centres, in case the owner turns up.

It is possible to file an injunction against the owner, but only with reasonable grounds- i.e. he has tried to breach section 6. If done file it using someone on benefit so that it is covered by legal aid.

There can be problems if the fire brigade come and check safety. Do a personal public liability assessment covering health and safety aspects.

New social centre london- hackneysocialcentre.blogspot.com

If industrial buildings are left empty for 3 months or more then the owners can lose money on a tax break, so it is in their interrests for them to be occupied. For a commercial property to be lived in it must be partly residential-ie have a shower, toilet and kitchen.

Different ways of occupying social centres are: squatting, squat and then get in touch with owner and get permission, get permission first, rent, or mortgage

It is perhaps better to engage with people on a practical level in the local community and not just on an idealogical level.

Outreach/word of mouth with local community. Ask local community, ‘what do you want?’. Make it clear that they have just as much say in the running of things as everyone else.

DAYS OF ACTION

Dijon, France- the days of action concept was thought of and it was decided that people should do things relevant to their own country.

Should groups concentrate on their own area or do a centralised action?

Perhaps lots of decentralised actions as well as a big squat to make a statement, as just one big action on its own would maybe detract from the idea that squatting happens everywhere.

Some kind of manifesto/press release explaining international character of actions, showing that our strength lies in our network/diversity.

Maybe don’t concentrate on the press too much so our actions aren’t twisted into a publicity stunt.

Is the fact that we have to rely on the press a sign of our weakness? Should we therefore rely on our own alternative press, or is it possible that we can manipulate the mainstream press?

Put any ideas into the e-mail account draft folder.

There is a London wide co-ordination meeting on the 23rd Feb.

Press release will focus on national/international nature and then local groups can add their own relevant details.

People could decide to stay in their own town or a few towns close to each other could co-ordinate.

Possibly a solidarity action around what is happening in Berlin?

Perhaps clandestine direct actions with/without a press release.

SQUATTING AND RESISTANCE.

what successful ways work to resist evictions?

Does it depend on individual situation?

Why should we resist? This depends on personal reasons and this meeting is not about ideology.

Are there times that we shouldn’t resist? When it is too difficult to secure the building. If electricity is abstracted and can’t be covered up.

There should be less focus on resisting evictions that have been to court and more focus on automatic all round defence in case of illegal evictions. We should defend our space without relying on the legal process.

It is relatively rare that evictions are resisted when due process has been carried through the courts.

As soon as we become illegal in a space, ie after a possession order is granted we move on, when really this is the point where we should be attacking. We should resist because for some of us the point of squatting is to attack the system.

Bigger squats rather than lots of smaller ones may be better option. But what about internal politics? Division destroys our cohesion

If we generally believe that we are doing the right thing and these are our homes then we should be prepared to defend them.

Local support- If the community saw something positive in a squat/social centre and then we defended it, it would look good in terms of encouraging pro-active action and not relying on authority.

It should not be about images though, we should not become just another spectacle.

Is it the building that matters or is it the community that matters?

We shouldn’t have an image of the local population being totally apathetic and passive. They may be open to pro-active participation.

We shouldn’t be so wary/scared of authority, we should refuse to let the police in. Or does this give them an excuse to use Section 17 of PACE (suspicion that an offence is taking place) to kick down the door.

Supportive acts at the time of eviction in the surrounding area?

Once bailiffs get in should you fight back or declare non-violence?

Police tactics- Psychological: react to the police/bailiffs on their own terms. If they shout, shout back, if they start to be violent and attack the door then proactively defend it.

Have an action plan ready in case of surprise eviction attempt.

Knowledge of the law is not a defence on its own, ie- just because you know the law don’t expect the police to respect it. But it is very useful to know your basic rights, like not having to give your name.

However a knowledge of the law is crucial in any form of resistance as it facilitates an area of conflict where tactical advantage may be gained.

We should concentrate on actually defending squats and not fall into the legal game, yet it is important to know some.

If you resist an eviction the first time and the bailiffs leave, then you can’t be sure when the bailiffs/police will come back and you will have to stay in the building.

If people actually resist and confront authority they will be more aware of why they squat.

Moving on all the time just perpetuates a transient situation where no connection can be made with the local community. This also causes ‘the scene’.

When you have a situation where heavies want you out but have been unable to get in to evict you it can make it dangerous to go out.

In terms of illegal evictions you do have the right to defend the building using ‘reasonable’ force, but not with a legal eviction where you only have the right to defend yourself.

Resisting squats in UK will give a boost to the European network.

Tactics: Mattresses behind the door frame to counteract kinetic/pneumatic battering rams; braces across doors/windows; trapdoor on stairs with weights (eg- hardcore/rubble) on top; ring in false witness sightings/crime reports to misdirect police to false incidents; use paint bombs;create confusing conditions on the ground for the police/bailiffs.

Use a video camera and get in the cops/bailiffs face with it.

If police confiscate/destroy video evidence go to court to retrieve it. Not sure if entitled to legal aid for this.

Have more than one film/memory card for camera and swap them over frequently so that if the police get one you will still have some evidence.

Turn it from a private situation into a public situation by creating noise/ a spectacle outside. Fireworks?

Press coverage can be beneficial (if represented properly).

Use injunctions against owners if they have used threatening language outside (get a recording).

Leeds street medic training, 28th-30th March

The UK Action Medics are running a 2 1/2 day street medic training in Leeds at the end of this month. This is a 20 hour course that will teach you the basics of general First Aid, as well as skills to deal with medical situations specific to direct action, such as dealing with chemical weapons and the police. The course will involve scenarios and hands-on practice and, although we cannot offer you any official accreditation, the 2 1/2 day training is the minimum standard for membership of the Action Medics, and will equip you for a wide range of situations, from hypothermia to baton wounds.

The training will be on the 28th-30th of March, which is Friday to Saturday. There will be 3 or 4 hours on Friday evening and two full days on Saturday and Sunday. Food will be provided, as well as accommodation if needed – we ask for a donation of £30 to cover costs, although this will be less if we can find a venue for free.

The venue is as yet unconfirmed, but the training will take place in central Leeds, and we can give you directions from the train/bus station. It is essential to book a place so we know how many people are coming – please email iloveavocado@hotmail.com to do this, or with any questions.

Also, we are planning to organise a 4 hour certified ‘Emergency Life Support’ course on the Friday (28th March) afternoon. This will cover CPR as well as a bit of other stuff, like how to control bleeding and deal with an unconscious person. We don’t teach CPR in the 2 1/2 day course, although we cover everything else, but having certification is useful. We’d recommend that people coming on the 2 1/2 day course try to attend this too, but it isn’t mandatory, and it is open to people who can’t commit to the weekend. As we will be bringing in an outside trainer, please email if you want to come on this so we can work out if we have the numbers.

www.actionmedics.org.uk

International Anti Nuclear Festival

Invitation to join International Anti Nuclear Festival –
– FINLAND – Midsummer – June 2008 –

Due to the increasing nuclear threat developing in Finland and indeed globally, a coalition has formed to promote discussion, networking, education, skill development, and action for international civil society to oppose and resist nuclear power developments.

Invitation to join International Anti Nuclear Festival –
– FINLAND – Midsummer – June 2008 –

We are in the initial stages of planning the first Finnish International Anti Nuclear Festival, to be held during Midsummer (mid to late June) 2008, in the vicinity of Olkiluoto, construction site of the world’s largest nuclear reactor.

Finland is currently setting a president for Europe and the world. After years of denial and inaction on climate change, governments and industry are now promoting nuclear power as the solution to ‘clean’ energy production and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We believe civil society must also set a president by opposing the construction of this prototype reactor, thus send a message to policy makers that we will not allow our world and our future to be contaminated by a dangerous
radioactive legacy.

Our objectives are numerous. We wish to bring people together to speak, learn and act about problems associated with the nuclear power process – from mining on indigenous people’s lands, to ore processing and its use in reactors, to waste disposal and military applications. We seek to learn of other people’s struggles, victories and setbacks.

We also seek to develop a coordinated international strategy. Increase skills; in civil democracy / consensus decision making, research, media, fundraising, sustainable living, non-violent communication, action and civil disobedience. We hope to involve ourselves in the decisions which affect our lives and those of future generations, from consumer choice to climate change, Chernobyl to Hiroshima.

Most of all, we want to invite you to a festival to celebrate the beautiful possibilities of life, to dance, sing and share…and to make it very, very difficult for them to keep building nuclear death machines. We would hope that anybody possibly affected by the growing nuclear threat would feel inspired to participate, indeed help organise this festival.

We are inviting speakers, trainers, logistical and monetary support, musicians, medics, clowns and others.

More information at www.olkiluoto.info and www.nuclearmadness.info

if you would like to get involved, have ideas or want to be updated, e-mail camp@olkiluoto.info or jsun@rbgi.net