South East England – Page 49

14 Landrovers covered in Paintstripper

Fourteen 4x4s were covered in painstripper in a Land Rover Dealership near Hereford in an action against climate change. Slogans were also sprayed while the vehicles were left to ruin.

This action was taken to warn any dealership specialising in these cars, that they are a target. Driving one of these vehicles is the equivelent to leaving the TV on for 32 years, cars like this must be stopped in their tracks.

Fourteen 4x4s were covered in painstripper in a Land Rover Dealership near Hereford in an action against climate change. Slogans were also sprayed while the vehicles were left to ruin.

Climate Change is the most massive globally destructive issue that is facing us today, we can not wait for anyone else to take action but ourselves. The new dawn is coming for direct action in defence of the Earth. There will be no more tolerance.

Earth Liberation Front

Next BIG Aldermaston Blockade Monday 19th March

Next blockade: Monday 19th March
http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/Blockades.php

This will be the first blockade since the vote in parliament last
Wednesday 14th March in favour of replacing Trident. Because of that vote and
the total lack of public debate and consultation that preceded it, this needs
to be the most massive show of strength ever to tell them that there is,
and there will continue to be, massive opposition to any new nuclear weapons.

Next blockade: Monday 19th March
http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/Blockades.php

The building work at Aldermaston has continued throughout the so-called
parliamentary “debate”; millions are being invested in new facilities.
Right now, work on the Orion laser site – a key facility for the future of
Britain’s WMD project – is well underway.

Meet up on Sunday 18th March at 6pm at the Friends Meeting House in
Newbury (map: http://tinyurl.com/beuyo) for a planning meeting on the
action on Monday morning, and a meal. Please bring a sleeping bag and a
mat. More details on http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/Blockades.php

Climate Camp Meeting this weekend in Bristol, and Film

Last year saw 600 people gather in the shadow of Drax Power Station for the ten day Camp For Climate Action. This weekend in Bristol is the next national planning meeting, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March. The venue is Barton Hill Settlement which is 5 min from Lawrence Hill Station.

Any questions, suggestions or proposals for the meeting can be sent to gatherings [at] climatecamp.org.uk.

Last years camp was captured on video and turned into a documentary by Cine Rebalde called Reclaim Power. Copies are now available on DVD in this country from Rising Tide and local groups working towards this years climate camp.

Those in London can check out the climate camp film as part of two evenings of climate chaos related films at the rampART social centre (see http://rampart.co.nr for details). Also showing is the epic documentary The Planet, plus Global Dimming and The Denial Machine. Additionally there will be speakers and info.

More info on film at http://www.cinerebelde.org/site.php3?id_rubrique=22&lang=en
More info on camp for climate action at http://climatecamp.org.uk

concrete lock-on tips (following Parliament Square blockade)

If they took only 20 mins to demolish each lockon then your concrete doesn’t sound up to scratch. Don’t mean to brag but a similar lock on I once built took them 6 hours to demolish with jack hammers and angle grinders. In future you need to include some metal reinforcing mesh or crinkly rebar rods, either offcuts of the proper stuff from builders skips or sawn up supermarket trolleys are ok. Including metal mesh serves not only to bind the concrete together but it spreads the shockwave from jack hammers throughout the material rather than allowing it to be concentrated at the chisel tip. Also good to include some short lengths of blue 6mm rope which prevents the forces of darkness from being able to separate the chunks of fragmented concrete which really winds them up. The other really important things are to use freshly bought cement, be sure your concrete mix is very thoroughly mixed – absolutely no sandy or cementy streaks visible – and then poured in less than 20 mins or so and when pouring it, don’t do it all in one go but ram or tamp (jiggle and shake) it in thoroughly into the container in stages with the end of a bit of 4 x 2. Your concrete looks like it has voids in it which is always a considerable weakness. Good luck with future courageous actions.

Never ever use ordinary “building” or soft sand which is only used for bricklaying and will make very crumbly concrete indeed. You should be using all in ballast which is sharp sand already mixed with pebbles. In some parts of the country – mostly the north – you can’t get this so will have to mix your own using SHARP sand and mixed size pebbles from pea size up to the size of brazil nuts or so.

First Aldermaston SOCPA arrest on run-up to Trident vote

11.03.2007
At the start of the week that sees a vote on Trident replacement (14 March), Juliet McBride from Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp was arrested after spending over two hours on a high security fence surrounding the new Orion laser at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston.

Juliet was subsequently held for more than 10 hours and charged with Criminal Trespass under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. The Attorney General must now decide whether to proceed with a prosecution.

Her action was taken just before parliament prepares to vote on the government motion on Trident Replacement: “That this house supports the government’s decision as set out in the white paper The Future of the United Kingdoms Nuclear Deterrent (CM6994) to take the steps necessary to maintain the UK minimum strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the existing system and to take further steps towards meeting the UK’s disarmament responsibilities under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

While the White Paper outlined its belief in the need for iminent decisions on replacing the submarine fleet and missile bodies, the government claims that decisions on future nuclear warheads will not be required until the next parliament. However, work is already well under way on the new Orion laser – before any decision is made in parliament, at an estimated cost of over £180 million (see building work in pictures). Orion will be able to replicate the conditions of a nuclear explosion, can only be needed and intended to design new nuclear warheads.

For more info contact 07887 802879.

A range of groups are organising events to say “no” to Trident replacement on 14 March. See http://tridentvoteday.org.uk

info@aldermaston.net
http://www.aldermaston.net

Titnore tree protest camp appeals for help (& audio report)

SPRING is in the air, the birds are singing in the trees and Titnore Woods in Sussex is once again a lovely place to be…

With the end of a tough winter, the protest camp near Worthing has today appealed for help in a spring offensive aimed at making sure it is in fighting fit shape as its first anniversary and another rebel summer approach.

SPRING is in the air, the birds are singing in the trees and Titnore Woods in Sussex is once again a lovely place to be…

It was set up in May last year to oppose plans for a 875-home estate, access roads and new Tesco megastore on ancient woodland and green fields in West Durrington.

Top of the wishlist at the moment are pallets, long support beams for treehouses, climbing equipment (not harnesses) and climbing rope. Also someone with a van or similar vehicle who would be able to help clear away rubbish from the site.

Most of all, of course, there is a plea for more people! Whether you can spare five minutes, five hours, five days, five weeks or five months, your physical presence in any supportive capacity is always appreciated.

Why not get down there yourself and discover the kind of environmental direct action that they thought had gone out of fashion after Newbury?

The camp is in woods just north of “Somerset Lake”, a fishing lake east of Titnore Lane. However, Titnore Lane is very dangerous for pedestrians and easiest access is from Fulbeck Avenue, off Titnore Way. Take the path at the far east of Fulbeck Avenue, then turn left until there is a large gap in the hedgerow on the left, opposite a cleared square of ground on the right, and cross right over to the far side of the field, keeping the clump of trees to your left.

It can also be reached via the car park at Tesco’s in Durrington, served by the “Pulse” bus route from Worthing town centre. Basically head straight on from the entrance to the fields at the back end of the supermarket car park, reaching the gap in the hedgerow mentioned above.

Nearest railway stations are Durrington and Goring by Sea on the main South Coast line with direct trains from Brighton, Portsmouth and London.

There is a camp phone – 0780 4245324.

More info: www.eco-action.org/porkbolter
www.protectourwoodland.co.uk

Indymedia Global Report article on Titnore – mp3 5.5M
a piece about the camp made for the Indymedia radio show

ID-DAY – National Day of Action against ID CARDS 26/3/07

DEFY ID CARDS & THE DATABASE STATE

TAKE BIG BROTHER DOWN

ID-DAY

Is a national day of autonomous action against ID cards and the Database state.
Across the country people will be protesting against the opening of the new ID ‘enrolment’ centres.

DEFY ID CARDS & THE DATABASE STATE

TAKE BIG BROTHER DOWN

ID-DAY

Is a national day of autonomous action against ID cards and the Database state.
Across the country people will be protesting against the opening of the new ID ‘enrolment’ centres.

GM Potatoes to be grown in Cambridge – campaign meeting, 13th March

The German multinational chemical company, BASF, has been granted permission to plant genetically modified potatoes at NIAB in Cambridge from the end of this month.

BASF were forced to pull out of these exact same trails in Ireland last year because they could/would not comply with conditions imposed by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency. Clearly the safety rules being set by the British government are sufficiently lax so as not to inconvenience the company. No such crop trails have taken place in this country in the last three years, after massive public pressure forced the government and the companies involved in the technology to back down.

The German multinational chemical company, BASF, has been granted permission to plant genetically modified potatoes at NIAB in Cambridge from the end of this month.

You could have been forgiven for thinking that that argument was over and the anti-GM battle won…but you would be wrong…

If you are concerned about the return of GM experimentation right here on our doorstep, come along to a meeting to discuss how we can resist it. The meeting will take place at 3 Fletchers Terrace (off Mill Road) at 7:30 next Tuesday (13th of March) and is open to everyone.

Map to Fletchers Terrace – http://tinyurl.com/2n67hy

Bellow are some resources that give some interesting background information about GM in general and the proposed trails here in Cambridge in particular.

An article in The Ecolgist, 22 September 2006
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=612

Whole load of GM info and links
http://www.munlochygmvigil.org.uk/uk_2006.htm#Anchor-GM-49575

Friends of the Earth Press Release on the GM potato issue
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/uk_government_urged_to_rej_30112006.html

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THE CAMPAIGN…

Call for workshops at the Earth First! Summer Gathering 2007

This year’s gathering is from 18 – 22 July in Norfolk, near a mainline railway station.

The focus is on practical skills, but there will also be many of the regular diverse and interesting workshops.

This year’s gathering is from 18 – 22 July in Norfolk, near a mainline railway station.

The focus is on practical skills, but there will also be many of the regular diverse and interesting workshops.

The idea is to have multiple workshop sessions, e.g. four two-hour slots spread over four days building up skills in a particular area, so people can learn the basic skills to actually do the job at other mobilisations, events like the climate camp – or wherever. For example plumbing, electrical skills, medics…and whatever else people want to do… It’s not just about the practical skills but also about getting to know each other and starting to work together.

If you would like to offer a workshop please write to:
martinshaw64@riseup.net

Thanks – the EF! summer gathering collecting
General contact details etc at http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/

please forward to people you think would be interested.

Heathrow residents disrupt minister’s speech

6.03.2007

ANGRY HEATHROW RESIDENTS DISRUPT MINISTER’S SPEECH

~ Airport residents resort to direct action techniques for the first time
~ Marks new phase in resistance to airport expansion

6.03.2007

ANGRY HEATHROW RESIDENTS DISRUPT MINISTER’S SPEECH

~ Airport residents resort to direct action techniques for the first time
~ Marks new phase in resistance to airport expansion

1pm – Londoners facing house demolitions and increased noise from government plans for expansion of Heathrow today took direct action against the plans for the first time. They stormed the stage at an aviation industry conference and disrupted an address being made by the Transport Minister, Douglas Alexander.

The residents from the West London villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth joined environmental activists from climate action group, Plane Stupid, and breached security at Chatham House. Some unfurled a banner reading, “No third runway” whilst another went nose-to-nose with the Minister in front of the conference delegates. Other residents with banners demonstrated outside the conference centre.

Local resident Dr John Hunt from Hounslow who went head-to-head with Alexander on the stage, said, “For decades the government has betrayed us with a catalogue of broken promises. In the 80s we were told Terminal 4 would be the last expansion, then in the 90s we were told Terminal 5 would be the end. Now we’re facing yet more noise and more concrete, and this time they want to wipe our entire community off the map. The time for gentle persuasion is over. Douglas Alexander is warned: the fight back has begun.”

He added, “We’re glad to be joined by our eco-warrior friends from Plane Stupid. They’ve done this kind of thing before and have been helpful with their direct action training over recent weeks. I think it’s safe to say there’s more of this to come.”

Plane Stupid shot into the headlines with their blockade of an airport runway at Nottingham East Midlands short haul airport in September. The group have also occupied BAA and Easyjet offices in recent months, and organised November’s national day of action against short haul flights.

Plane Stupid’s Richard George said, “Whist Ministers like Douglas Alexander preach about action to stop climate change they’re concreting over local democratic opposition to new runways with their plans to cater for unnecessary and climate-wrecking short haul flights. It’s not surprising that having failed though conventional protest, the residents have decided to up the ante.”

For interviews/information:

info@planestupid.com
http://www.planestupid.com