South West England – Page 44

Mobile phones, the stealth ID card, bug and tracking device in your pocket.

Earlier this month it emerged that the FBI had been remotely activating a mobile phone’s microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. The surveillance technique, which “functioned whether the phone was powered on or off.” came to light as a result of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan on the legality of the “roving bug”. It had been approved by U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping. Cell phones owned by two alleged mobsters, John Ardito and his attorney Peter Peluso, were used by the FBI to listen in on nearby conversations.

The news that the FBI had been remotely activating mobile phones as eaves dropping devices confirms what many activists have been saying for years.

“A cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone. This is done by transmitting to the cell phone a maintenance command on the control channel. This command places the cellular telephone in the ‘diagnostic mode.’ When this is done, conversations in the immediate area of the telephone can be monitored over the voice channel.” – National Reconnaissance Organization newsletter,1997.

As long as I can remember there has been a kind of unspoken rule among activists about taking batteries out of mobile phones during meetings to prevent bugging – along with occasional arguments about it being paranoid. While it has long been know to be a theoretical possibility, the mafia court case confirms it is actually a practical technique and is being used.

It is not clear exactly how the FBI achieve their remote activation but it is known that it is possible to update the software on a mobile phone by sending an unnoticeable SMS message to a particular cell phone. Changes to the phones software than make it possible to spy on the user around the clock, as long as the phone has power. All SMS messages can be read and all calls and conversations can be listened to, including those taking place in the vacinity of the phone. It would also be possible to access and copy address books and other information stored on the phone.

It should be fairly obvious to anyone that simply ‘switching off’ a mobile phone could not prevent the software from reactivating the phone at will. Like most computers, the on/off switch on a mobile phone is simply a button that requests the software to do something, ie.. turn the phone on or off – or more acturately, switch the phone between standby and normal operations. Many have an alarm feature which can operate when the phone is apparently ‘switched off’.

Some of the vunerabilities of mobile phones may only be exploitable by the state or private interests with financial muscle to obtain access to the records of mobile phone networks. Others however are much easier to exploit and well within the capabilities of private investigators. One example is the ability to read mobile phone numbers from all phones in a room as those phone routinely poll and communicate with the nearest cell phone repeater.

And lets not forget the ability to track cell phones (again, potentially even when they are turned off). With the data retention laws requiring mobile phone networks to keep this data for a year or so, it is easy for the authorities (or private agencies with influence) to not only monitor somebodies movements but also cross reference that with other people and build up acturate pictures of networks of association.

As repression on dissent increases, it is vital that we are all aware of the information we provide our enemies and what steps we can take to limit the damage.

What advice might you consider?

Don’t take any mobile phone to a meeting and if you must, remove the battery.
Don’t take your personal mobile phone with you on actions.
Remove the battery if making journeys others should not know about.
Better yet, don’t take the phone or send it out on a walk in the park with a friend.
Don’t power up you ‘clean’ action phone in any building you don’t want assocaited with an action.
Never use ‘clean’ action phones to call comrades personal phone numbers.
Don’t call a ‘clean’ action phone from any ‘non clean’ phone.
Don’t continue to use the same set of action phones on future actions.
Only pay cash for phone credit and don’t not from places with CCTV (difficult).

how to make lock-ons (lessons from Faslane 365)

The basic principle of a lock-on is to lock yourself onto something so that you cannot be easily physically removed. That something can be another person or something fixed. The best way is with a climbing carabina and a chain or rope around your wrist. The important thing is to make it very difficult for the police or whoever to cut your lock-on off. Thats where the fun part comes in, covering that lock-on to make it very difficult to get to, thus delaying the authorities and making your blockade as successful as possible. They will possibly have access to specialist equipment.

Simple steel lock-on tubes are great but can be cut into in 20 minutes with a specialist drill head. The yellow pipes with a 2 cm thick wall are also great because the plastic actually melts around the drill head making them very hard to get into.

To make an oil drum lock-on you simply need an oil drum and some piping – preferably steel – which is just wide enough to fit your arm in and no more, cut so that it is as long as the barrel is wide. Drill a hole in the middle of this pipe section so that a metal rod can be inserted, this is what you actually lock on to. Cut holes on either side of the barrel so that this pipe can fit in in such a way that two people can lock-on on either side. Then simply fill this barrel with concreate and all sorts of hell like scraps of metal (lengths of thick steal wire will hold it together), megamorphic rock (very solid rock), quartz and the odd diamond if you want to bling it up, lengths of shredded polyprop is also very good at stopping the break-up of concreate from the wrath of a jack hammer. If you wanna be real hardcore putting in canisters of camping gas or lighter filler make the cops quite reluctant to cut into them (or even just saying you have, they wont take the risk), this is of course pretty dangerous. It will take the most skilled cutting crew in the country at least a couple of hours to cut you out of there. Two people locked on is better than one because with one person they may just try to lift it out of there with a fork lift truck, two bodies makes this far less likely.

The â€œBaby barrelâ€? lock on is much more portible, fitting into a normal ruck-sack this one is for the blockader on the go. Its just a steel lock on tube inserted into a small barrel lengthways, its a similar idea as the oil barrel lock on with the concrete mass surrounding where you are locked on to the other person inside the tube. It is a little easier to cut into but its portability and ease of construction makes this the one to have this christmas.

Portability is often an important factor. Being able to stash and camoflage your lock-on will help here but always have a plan B if it gets found. The police will eventually be able to cut you out, no material is unbreakable but the longer you can hold your blockade the more you will have achieved out of your eventual arrest. Happy blockading.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it… (report from activist security gathering)

ID cards, injunctions, CCTV with voice activated alerts, national license plate monitoring, face recognition, directional microphones, network profiling, DNA databases, keylogging, phone taping, bugging and tracking, these are just some of the tools of repression being used against those battling to save the world from total domination and destruction.

This message will self destruct in 10 seconds…. 9.. 8.. 6.. 5.. 4.. 3.. 2..

One might think that this is some cloak and dagger spy thriller, or orwellian distopia – but todays world is one of overt and covert surveillance and repression. The likes of you and me are the target and this is no paranoid delussion – they really are out to get us.

This was the stark reality presented at a top secret conference on activist security that took place this month. Meeting in a quite location somewhere near the coast, dozens of campaigners from around the country came together to learn about the technology and techniques being used by the authorities and private agencies as they attempt to gathering information and disrupt and destroy campaigns.

The aim of the gathering however was not to make everyone paranoid and feel helpless in the face of the technological assaults on our privacy, but rather to equipe people with the awareness and knowledge to enable them to take steps to reduce the risk to themselves and those they associate with.

The two day conference involved a wide variety of workshops, some discussion-based, some practical or computer-based. Lessons learned by those attending included the importance of ‘need to know’, the now proven fact that switching off a mobile phone is not enough to prevent it being remotely activated as a bug or tracking device. Also discussed was how to spot and loss a tail, how to trap and expose infiltrators, issues of security for campaign groups and their offices such as maintaining a secure contacts database. Computer based skills covered included encryption of stored data and electronic communication, and ways to use the internet for research etc without leaving a trace.

Mush of the information presented during the workshops came from the document ‘Practical Security Advice for Campaigns and Activists’ and this, along with the experiences and ideas contributed by the participants of the gathering are apparently going to be put together as a printed booklet for distrubution next year. Additionally there are plans for a ‘walls have ears’ style poster outlining basic precautions which can be displace in meeting spaces and social centres etc to remind people of the need to consider security.

info@activistsecurity.org
http://www.activistsecurity.org/

Invitation:building support for action against climate change: 14th December, Manchester

What can we do to support and encourage radical action against climate chaos?

One of the follow-up meetings after the climate camp focused on what we can best do to support action taking place on climate change. There will be another in Manchester on Dec 14th.

What can we do to support and encourage radical action against climate chaos?

One of the follow-up meetings after the climate camp focused on what we can best do to support action taking place on climate change. There will be another in Manchester on Dec 14th.

We met at the Northern Eco-Action gathering in Bradford on November 11. At a productive and energising meeting, we came up with a list of concrete suggestions, and a whole load more questions to be answered. A report of
the meeting is attached.

We’ll be taking these questions forward at a further meeting, which will look at what we can best do to support local actions and groups taking radical action on climate change, consider how best to stay in touch and share skills and resources. Proposals from this meeting will be brought to the next gathering in Leeds in January.

We’ll be meeting in Manchester on Thursday, December 14, 11am-5pm. Bring food to share for lunch.
The venue is at Bridge-5 Mill (otherwise known as MERCi) – fully accessible & close to Manchester Piccadilly train station, details at http://www.merci.org.uk/visiting-b5m.php

We will be putting people’s thoughts and responses online in the lead-up to the meeting. Two of these are below: one a report from a workshop at the EarthFirst! Summer Gathering, one the reflections of one of the participants at the meeting in Bradford. If you have something to contribute to the debate that you would like people to read before we
meet, please email it to actionsupport@climatecamp.org.uk and we’ll circulate it to those who are coming.

If you want to read any other thoughts sent out before the meeting, or if you’re likely to arrive late or need somewhere to stay, please email actionsupport@climatecamp.org.uk to let us know you’re coming.

“Supporting radical action against climate change across the country

Report from meeting Saturday 11 November, Bradford Resource Centre
(Meeting to develop ways of supporting local climate action groups and actions, how to stay in touch and how to share skills and resources. Plus co-ordinated days of actions.)

We started by looking at what we need in order for lots of actions to be taking place.

Broadly speaking, they fell into two categories. The more abstract:

– inspiration
– buzz
– energy
– (feeling of) a critical mass taking part in actions
– sense of urgency
– hope

and the more concrete:

– people finding out about actions so they can get involved
– feeling of success (and publicising our successes)
– skills
– money
– information resources
– feeling of difference from approaches and tactics that haven’t worked in the past
– lessening/avoiding/ability to resist state oppression
– strategic reflection

We felt that the more concrete needs would follow relatively easily if the first were met: people’s energy and inspiration would mean that money is raised, information resources get researched and distributed, etc..

We identified as the main catalyst to inspiration and energy was positive reports of success from lots of actions taking place. So, the question became: where is the best place to concentrate our energy and resources to influence and establish the positive feedback loop that would lead to an escalation of direct action taking place?

As a precursor to evaluating this, we tried to list some of the more and less concrete things that would be likely to have this input, some steps that could be taken. This list is not comprehensive, but reflects the directions our thinking and discussion took on the day.

Resource packs
– briefings
– template actions
– press releases
– potential targets
– legal briefings
– reports of success stories
– leaflets
– stickers
– other merchandise: beer mats, branded condoms, lollipops etc.
– different modes of how local groups might organise
– potentially useful action tat (e.g. dinghies)

Skillsharing

Secure means of communicating and networking

Convergence
– face-to-face meetings
– parties
– big actions
– treeplanting

Publicising actions
– print media: ours
– EF! update
– schnews
– local newssheets
– print media: others’ (we provide the stories, they publish)
– liberal press (often keen for stories, sometimes sympathetic)
– more mainstream press
– cascading, decentralised methods, e.g.:
– word-of-mouth
– stickers
– graffiti
– email
– film showings
– web-based
– EF! action reports
– indymedia
– indymedia climate
– rising tide
– climate camp
(also use of email and web for distribution of paper-based media)

Ways in
– distribution of newssheets
– distribution lists
– people to help!
– friendship networks
– local groups contacts — publicised (not necessarily a group: can be person(s) up for stiff if more want to get involved)
– public meetings and gatherings
– presence on demos, at conferences, festivals
– big, advertised public actions
– stalls
– gateway actions/groups
– roadshow

Kickstart actions
– local
– bigger

Identity
– network identity rather than movement identity
– heterogeneous membership
– existing networks
– individuals
– groups
– friendship groups

Note on local organising (particularly relevant for contacts and for resource packs)
All local groups are different, and what works somewhere might not be the best way of organising in a different area. There are lots of successful ways of organising, including
– one ‘action group’ with a broadly consistent membership but changing focus, perhaps doing actions under different banners
– different groups with people who attend more than one as informal links
– different groups with a forum in which they come together
– there is no local group, but people occasionally come together to do stuff
We shouldn’t be prescriptive: there are as many sorts of local organising as there are local groups.

The way forward from here:
The main task ahead is to work out how we can best use our resources for the greatest effect. This goes both for which areas we prioritise, and how we can best tackle each area. In looking at, say, web-based publicity, we need to look at what it is we need to fulfill our aims, evaluate whether any of the existing fora meet these aims, and if not, if it would be possible to transform them into something more useful for our purposes, and the likely effort involved in this (worth comparing with, say, resources to set something up from scratch.)”

“NOTES FROM EF! Summer Gathering Workshop:
Building a movement for climate justice beyond the Camp for Climate Action

Most interesting is section 3 – HOW WOULD THE NETWORK BE ORGANISED?

1 WHAT SHOULD IT ACHIEVE?
* Dismantle the fossil fuel industry (and therefore Capitalism)
* Place CC at the center of social thinking/culture in wider society, not just us
* Provide support for each other Ã¢â‚¬â€œ knowing that others are working on the same issues
* Develop renewable energy, decentralised around the country, locally run
* Develop and set up workable alternatives
* Awareness raising and education
* Work to reduce consumption/demand Ã¢â‚¬â€œ also means reshaping how we think about economic growth/progress
* Focus on aviation/aviation as a new anti-roads movement?
* Focus on Nuclear be ready for nuclear new build with strong arguments and analysis

2 WHAT WOULD THE NETWORK DO/ HOW WOULD IT BE DIFFERENT?
* Direct action!
* Building housing co-op movement, urban/rural links to re-localisation
* Radical analysis not pissing about
* Think long term re-localisatiom (within the movment also)
* Working in communities allotments, residents groups.
* Works with NIMBY groups re aviation/nuclear.
* Links with majority world.
* Find weak points in system now increasingly info/communications rather than physical spaces.

3 HOW WOULD THE NETWORK BE ORGANISED?
* Need a group/named network to feel part of, to feel belonging and sense of support
* Setting up new network seems inefficient why not use whats already there Rising Tide Network? has basic structure in place, communication and decision making structures, news-sheet, web-hosting, etc., international element RT North America, Australia, etc
* No time for lobbying government
* Use social centres
* Gatherings for decisions making
* Regionally based support for local individuals

4 WHAT NEXT?
* Recognise that people are motivated to come together to work on a specific action or project, rather than form a group for the sake of a group
* So harness the energy coming out of the camp by calling for everyone to take part in specific upcoming actions it is this that will kick-start local groups
* Oct 3-4 Day of Action coinciding with G8 Energy and Enviro ministers meeting in Mexico (called by Rising Tide North America) soon but maybe good because there will still be a buzz on after the camp
* Oct 21st Shell sponsored Wildlife photographer of the year award RT is doing a tour of the country with people from Shell affected communities (eg. Rossport, Nigeria), along with an alternative exhibition, in the run up to the award winner being announced on Oct 21st. RT will only be able to get to a few cities people who come to the the camp could be part of/expand this?
* February 2007 possible International Day of Action against Shell (called by Rossport Solidarity)

* Another camp? Maybe local camps are more sustainable, so no big camp next year but lots of small regional camps.

* Also recognised that some new local groups will need support Rising Tide might be able to help, or at least help link up people who need skills/training with people who could provide this”

Climate chaos and aviation: giant issue – giant letter

5.12.2006

Yesterday climate activists from Southwest Climate Action smartly stormed North Somerset Environment and Planning Offices to protest against the planned expansion of Bristol International Airport.

The planners were taken aback by the style of delivery when presented with a giant letter, but as the protesters explained, climate change is a giant issue.

They occupied the lobby and some climbed onto the roof, claiming they were trying to escape the rising sea levels that climate change will bring. A nearby soundsystem played recorded sounds of planes taking off in order to bring home to the planners the effects that their decisions could have upon people in the Southwest.

In the lobby protestors had the full attention of key people involved in making this decision and together they flooded them with the arguments: moral, environmental and economical, for why expansion must not happen.

The planners admitted to the protesters that they might have to rethink the entire approach to the national program of expansions in the light of increasing news about climate change. The recently published Stern Report predicts that climate change will push the world economy into a depression if we do not act now.

Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, North Somerset Council Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, also agreed with our statement that if expansion went ahead it would make a mockery of peoples individual efforts.

Stansted airport was refused planning permission for their expansion last week. The planners said that the Stern report was a major factor in their decision. The government plans to expand almost every airport in the UK, tripling air traffic by 2030. But this would make it impossible to meet the targets for emissions in order to avoid runaway climate change.

The protesters urged people to oppose the expansion. Passerbyers thatt felt moved wrote their comments on postcards which were handed in at the end of the day. The deadline for objections is Dec 22nd, which is the last chance for people to have their say.

Southwest Climate Action are a group of individuals inspired by the climate camp and the global movements for climate justice. They have pledged that, if the expansion goes ahead, they will take direct action in order to stop it.

The submitted letter:
Monday 4th December 2006

Dear Planners,

We are a group of individuals who are very alarmed by the proposed master plan to expand Bristol International Airport considering consensus by climate scientists that we need to take action now to avert catastrophic effects on humans and the ecosystems we are part of.

We need to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels: the point at which dangerous processes caused by climate change could spiral out of control, such as the melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, which could raise global sea levels by 7m and Weston being flooded.

Aviation: Bristol Airport already pumps out more emissions than the whole of Bristol’s traffic. If the airport expansion goâ€™s ahead it will be impossible for North Somerset to meet their target of 60% cuts by 2050.

Local Economy: Tourists spend Â£11bn in the UK, while UK tourists spend Â£26 billion abroad â€“ a loss of Â£15bn to our economy. Regional tourism is the single largest industry in the South West with 8% of all jobs; with expansion the tourism deficit is likely to double by 2030.

Furthermore, the Stern report reaches the simple conclusion: â€œthe benefits of strong, early action on climate change considerably outweigh the costs.â€?

In light of this information it is critical that you fully acknowledge this information now.

Demandâ€™s

Recognise that climate change is a serious global threat, it demands an urgent response.

Recognise the glaring contradiction between the councils stated commitment, through the Nottingham declaration, to tackle climate change and the expansion of the airport.

Recognise that if the airport expansion goes ahead it will be to the detriment of the local and global economy.

Acknowledge that the â€˜Master Planâ€™ contains inaccuracies and fails to deal with the issue of climate change, and thus is irresponsible.

Acknowledge that the people of the South West will stand by the council in the rejection of this insane planning application. North Somerset council will not be alone in rejecting the current wave of ill-conceived airport expansions.
Uttlesford Council Planners have recently turned down the expansion of Stansted saying
â€œIt would be premature to grant planning permission for the increased use of the runway in advance of clarification by the Government as to whether part of its response to the Stern Review and other recent research will be to withdraw or amend its Air Transport White Paper.â€?
â€œGiven new evidence, such as the Stern report it is uncertain whether the policy of encouraging airport growth is a reasonable basis on which to proceed.
If the expansion is given the go ahead, despite the acknowledgement of the above information, then the council will be complicit in the devastation of lives, communities and habitats around the world, who will be hit by the impacts of climate chaos.

It would be negligent for the council to allow the expansion, but if they do we will take sustained action to stop it, taking responsibility for our lives and our future.

Yours truly,
South West Climate Action

westsideclimateaction@gmail.com

EF! gathering advance notice: date & contact to get involved

The Earth First Gathering 2007 is well into the planning stage.

Make space in your diary now: 18th – 22nd July 2007, somewhere in Norfolk. Please circulate this information widely.

If you want to get involved contact nexter@riseup.net.

The Earth First Gathering 2007 is well into the planning stage.

Make space in your diary now: 18th – 22nd July 2007, somewhere in Norfolk. Please circulate this information widely.

If you want to get involved contact nexter@riseup.net.

Thanx
The Collective.

State Scum Protect Hunt Scum (again) in SW

1.12.2006

Yesterday four hunt saboteurs were arrested under section 5 of the Public Order Act, as they followed a beagle pack near Chipping Sodbury, just outside Bristol.

Yesterday Bristol and Bath hunt sabs paid a visit to a beagle pack just outside Chipping Sodbury. The groups followed a tip-off from a League Against Cruel Sports hunt monitor that the hunt were still illegally hunting hares.

1.12.2006

Yesterday four hunt saboteurs were arrested under section 5 of the Public Order Act, as they followed a beagle pack near Chipping Sodbury, just outside Bristol.

The sabs arrived at the meeting point at 1pm and followed the hunt as they walked their hounds along the road. The hunt claimed that they were following a trail, explaining that as the law changed, they changed (ha!). The saboteurs explained that they had no problem with trail hunting and would not disrupt the hunt unless they started to hunt hares, as they reminded them, illegal hunting.

After following the hunt for a good half-hour, preventing them from hunting nearby fields, four police officers turned up, threatening to arrest the saboteurs if they didn’t take their masks off. The police did not give the sabs a chance to however and arrested one sab before he had the chance to reach for his mask. The rest of the sabs complied with the order and removed their masks, continuing to follow the hunt. However police backup arrived and promptly arrested three other sabs, who resisted, believing that they had been unfairly arrested.

The sabs were offered a fixed penalty notice with a fine of Â£80 which they may contest at a later date. Two sabs decided that this option was preferrable to spending the rest of the day in the custody of the state. This allowed one sab the opportunity to return and continue to follow the hunt. The other two sabs refused to accept the fixed penalty, after all, the pigs seemed so keen to get them to accept, that was enough to make them suspicious! They were held in Southmead Police Station, in custody for a total of 9 hours, and released unfortunately just after pub closing time.

The ban has had NO effect on hunting, if anything it has helped them because people don’t think it’s necessary to sab any more. The police announced as the Hunting Act was passed that they don’t have the resources to enforce it. The police continue to not only turn a blind eye to the hunts continuing to kill hares and foxes, they actively facilitate this. Since the ban came into â€œeffectâ€? Bristol and Bath sabs have seen the police:

block the road to prevent sabs following hunts repeatedly and SLOWLY searching sab vehicles to prevent sabs from following the hunt â€œloseâ€? footage of the hunt attacking sabs fail to prosecute huntsmen despite clear video footage being presented showing the sabs being assaulted fail to respond to emergency calls when sabs were being attacked by the hunt repeatedly threaten sabs with arrest and continue to arrest sabs.

This is clear example the police force acting to protect the ruling classes, those with the money and power to secure virtual police immunity.

Sabbing is now as important as it ever was.

Hunt sabotage is a non-violent form of action (at least on the part of the sabs). Our tactics focus entirely on diverting the houds from the scent of their quarry (the animal they’re trained to kill). We do this by:
using hunt horns to attract the attention of the hounds
masking the scent of the quarry with citronella spray
using the sound of a cracking whip to â€œrateâ€? the hounds, ie stop them from following the quarry

to get involved with sabbing contact your local group:
http://bbhuntsabs.rbgi.net
www.league.org.uk

Contact the Bath group:
bathsabs@fsmail.net
Tel: 07900181683
BATH HUNT SABS
P.O. BOX 426
BATH BA1 2ZD

Contact the Bristol group:
bristolhuntsabs@linuxmail.org
Tel: 07724077505
BRISTOL HUNT SABS
C/O KEBELE
14 ROBERTSON ROAD
EASTON
BRISTOL BS5 6JY

The Camp for Climate Action was just the beginning! – next meeting January 13/14th, Leeds

Come and take the next steps forward and be part of a newly energised movement in the fight to avoid catastrophic climate change.

In August of this year hundreds gathered near Selby to confront the UK’s biggest CO2 emitter: Drax Coal Power Station. The Camp for Climate Action was an inspiring 10 days of learning, sustainable living and direct action to challenge the causes of climate chaos.

There is already much enthusiasm for organising another Camp, come and get involved on 13th/14th January at ‘The Common Place’ in Leeds (see www.thecommonplace.org.uk for directions). Meetings will run Saturday 11am-5pm and Sunday 10am-6pm.

This project is still at its early stages and details such as when, where and how to organise the next Camp are to be decided at this meeting. Food and crash pad accommodation will be provided. Everyone will be asked for a donation of around Â£10 to cover costs. If you have particular access or childcare needs, or if would like more information contact leeds@climatecamp.org.uk.

Please spread the news far and wide. You can download a rather nice poster here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/resources.htm

Some of the neighbourhoods from last yearâ€™s camp are meeting in the meantime to generate ideas for the next camp and organise locally.

London Neighbourhood Meeting
London Action Resource Centre
Dec 2nd 1.00pm

Yorkshire Neighbourhood Meeting
The Common Place
Dec 6th 7.00-9.00pm

Manchester Neighbourhood Meeting/Social
The Basement 24 Lever St, Manchester
4th December 7:30 ( http://thebasement.clearerchannel.org/ for
directions). Please email: mcragainstclimatechange@lists.riseup.net to confirm

Local groups

Some of these are specifically Climate Camp, Rising Tide or Plane Stupid groups, some are local groups involved in taking direct action against climate change that don’t necessarily see themselves as belonging to a national group.

Nottingham: nottingham[at]climatecamp.org.uk
Oxford: oxford[at]climatecamp.org.uk
Manchester: manchester[at]climatecamp.org.uk
London Rising Tide: london[at]risingtide.org.uk
South Penines: potzo8[at] yahoo.com
South West: caromac20032000[at]yahoo.com
Leeds/Bradford: katieplum75[at]yahoo.co.uk
Scotland and Ireland: scotland[at]climatecamp.org.uk
Cambridge Action Network: cambridge[at]lists.riseup.net
Birmingham: flatline[at]aktivix.org
Reading: climatejustice[at]postmaster.co.uk
York Rising Tide: yorks[at]risingtide.org.uk
Scotland Rising Tide: scotland[at]risingtide.org.uk
London Plane Stupid: london[at]planestupid.com
Manchester Plane Stupid: manchester[at]planestupid.com
Cambridge Plane Stupid: cambridge[at]planestupid.com
Oxford Plane Stupid: oxford[at]planestupid.com
Sheffield Plane Stupid: sheffield[at]planestupid.com
Sussex Plane Stupid: sussex[at]planestupid.com
Reading Plane Stupid: reading[at]planestupid.com

leeds@climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk

Manchester, Bath, Bristol, Redditch, London, York, Birmingham & Oxford (x2) Buy Nothing Day events

Saturday, 25th November 06: Buy Nothing Day, a day where you challenge yourself, friends and family to switch off from shopping and tune into life. This is how a group of colourful happy people celebrated Buy Nothing Day in Manchester UK. Rhythms of Resistance Manchester, Aliens, singers and their lovely friends took over the city … Continue reading “Manchester, Bath, Bristol, Redditch, London, York, Birmingham & Oxford (x2) Buy Nothing Day events”

Rhythms of Resistance Manchester, Aliens, singers and their lovely friends took over the city in a colourful celebration of Buy Nothing Day , that included:

A FREE MARKET with lots of books, clothes, tapes, dvds and toys. All for people to take away (free) to promote re-using items rather than binning and re-buying.

FLYERS: Aliens, sambistas, singers and students gave out flyers with information on Buy Nothing Day and reusing and recycling. Awareness was also raised regarding ethical shopping, asking people to think about the environmental damages that products may result to.

SAMBA: the samba band, Rhythms of Resistance Manchester, entertained hundreds of people with samba encouraging them to â€œStop Buying Start Dancingâ€?. The band was joined by singers and poets too! The sambistas entered the Triangle Shopping Centre, with a banner and flyers and full samba swing. The acoustics were great and the band sounded excellent â€“ the security guards though pushed the sambistas out. The sambistas re-entered through the other door in clowning fluffy loving style. The tough security guards were liberated with samba rhythms, as they smiled to the fun of RORM!

GAMES: games were played in the shopping centres, reclaiming the space from a mad buying zombie area to a space of friendships, fun and positivity.The games engaged young people and shoppers too!

BANNER FLOAT (the action which was also known in code: â€œbanner drops, they are so last year sweetie darlingâ€?!): A banner suspended by 28 helium balloons was released next to the Christmas tree in the Arndale Shopping Centre. The banner which simply stated â€œBuy Nothing Dayâ€? was admired by hundreds turning the shopping centre in a beautiful space! The banner float was accompanied by more flyering.

In summary it was a beautiful dayâ€¦ and remember kids:

Think …
Only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earthâ€™s natural resources causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and distribution of wealth.
Re-thinkâ€¦
Buy locally sourced fresh organic produce
Say No to animal tested products
Fewer air miles â€“ Stop Climate Change
Buy environmentally and ethically sound products.
Re-use and recycling.

============================================

Bath activists took to the streets on friday to celebrate ‘buy nothing day’

On Friday, six members of Bath Activist Network visited some of the biggest, badest chain stores in Bath and hid anti-consumerist letters in books/items of clothing/crappy Xmas tack. The letters encouraged consumers to consider where their products were made, who made them and the environmental impact of making and transporting them. Consumers were also asked to consider what we could do with the spare time we would gain if we forsook recreational shopping and 40 hour working weeks. Several hundred leaflets were hidden in Gap, Disney store, waterstones, FCUK and loads of other shops in the town centre. The text of the leaflet should be up on the B.A.N website in the next couple of days.

bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/bathactivistnetwork

============================================

Cruel Tesco Targetted for Buy Nothing Day

Freedom for 20 supermarket trolleys in Bristol
————————————————–

Last night a group of activists concerned for trolley welfare cut the fence at Tesco’s bloody supermarket complex in Eastville.

Combining skin-tight planning with daring elan, the activists gained access to the perimeter and rounded up 20 scarred and batterd shopping trolleys.

These trolleys exist in the most appalling of conditions, forced day after day to shoulder the weight of capitalisms worse excesses, their backs literally broken by the wild eyed hoarding of crazed consumers.

To mark Buy Nothing Day, a plan was hatched to liberate these poor beasts of business burden, and slow down Tesco’s profit machine in the process.

As soon as the gaggle of trolleys was herded close enough to the edge of the compound, a ramp was hastily erected and the trolleys were herded out, straight into the River Frome and freedom!

I am sure that their freedom wil be shortlived, and they will be soon returned to their captors, but for a few hours we were able to show them what life would be like if they no longer had to strain as the workhorses of an all-destroying profit machine!

DOWN WITH THE PROFIT MACHINE!

WE ARE ALL SHOPPING TROLLEYS NOW!

============================================

Another five bite the (saw) dust

More billboards liberated across Bristol in honour of Buy Nothing Day

In the last few days, more billboards have been liberated across Bristol.

At least five have been torn down, from Easton to Bedminster. Many more have been altered or tampered with, rotating billboards have been disabled and lights have been well and truly put out.

In the run up to the consumer madness that is Chistmas, our skyline is littered with thousands of these monstrosities.

Adverts play on our hopes, fears and insecurities to serve just one purpose – to sell us products regardless of how much we really need them. In the run-up to Christmas they are all vying for a share of our hard-earned cash.

Kids have to have the shiniest, newest gadgets, the most up-to-date rip-off computer games, while teenagers are sold the latest line of sweatshop-made designer gear.

The admen realise that if we feel inadequate weâ€™ll buy products to make us feel and look better. They use images of airbrushed models to reinforce gender stereotypes; to the adman youâ€˜re only a woman if youâ€™re stick-thin, have a big chest (if not youâ€™ll need to buy a wonderbra), a pink mobile phone and covered in designer makeup. Likewise you are only a man if you are toned, tanned, wear Calvin Klein aftershave and Dolce & Gabbana and drive a bigger, faster car than other men.

One of the liberators said; “We are Bristol residents, sick of advertising hoardings making a mess of our streets, cluttering our skylines and blocking our views. Bristol residents have complained for years about these billboards, erected against our wishes but the Council wonâ€™t listen. We are taking non-violent direct action to tear down and remove unwanted billboards from our communities.”

“Walk through the streets of Easton, St Paulâ€™s, Bedminster and St Werburghs and you find hundreds of these monstrosities on every main road, selling us cars, beauty products, credit cards and soft drinks. But how many billboards do you see in Clifton where the ad execs live? They are happy to litter our communities with their vulgar images but they wonâ€™t have them in their own backyard.”

As the Council continues to allow companies to erect billboards it continues to clamp down on â€œanti-social vandalsâ€? who spray â€œgraffitiâ€?. However often graffiti is the only option, the only way alienated individuals can express themselves in our society. What is commonly called â€œartâ€? is in reality elitist, confined to sterile galleries which only display work from â€œartistsâ€? privileged enough to go through art school, only to be viewed by those who can afford it. The real vandals are the advertisers who erected these billboards without our permission, often without even planning permission.

The liberators urge everyone to take action to reclaim our visual space; “Wouldnâ€™t it be better if instead of these ugly billboards our public space was used for art, for people to be able to express themselves with beautiful and challenging images, words and sculptures rather than for images aimed only at making more profits for fat cat shareholders? ….”

============================================

Buy Nothing Day in Redditch

As part of International Buy Nothing Day, members of Redditch Friends of the Earth held a `free shop` & leaflet stall in Redditch Town Centre on Saturday, the aim being to highlight the environmental & ethical consequences of consumerism, and also to encourage people to live more and work/spend less!!

5 members of Redditch FOE held a 3 hour stall where we gave away over 100 items(incl videos, toys, books, household stuff etc) to the general public(one item each person). We also handed out over 400 leaflets(see above) about BND, plus many more about Freecycle etc and copies of Redditch FOE`s latest newsletter.

We felt the day was a great success and 2 local papers printed great articles about the forthcoming event, in last weeks editions. This is the first time that a BND event has been staged in Redditch, but it won`t be the last!

Redditch FOE are part of the recently formed Redditch Alliance of Greens, set up to boost co-operation and support between local `green` goups, and to create more awareness of the good work we`re all involved in.

For more info see the following websites:
Buy Nothing Day http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/
Enough http://www.enough.org.uk/index.html
Freecycle http://freecycle.org/
Redditch Alliance of Greens http://www.redditch-ag.info/

============================================

Everything instore half price today!!!

For this year’s Buy Nothing Day, the Hijackers decided to resurect one of our favourite projects. The Half Price Sale.

The plan is simplicity itself. Print up a bundle of “EVERYTHING INSTORE HALF PRICE TODAY” t-shirts, then wander into shops, tidy things up and watch chaos ensue.

A dozen Hijacker secret agents came along for the action, and visited Nike Town, Top Shop, HMV, Selfridges and others on the day. Nike as always were the least impressed with our antics, with a pack of over eager security guards ushering us out of the store within about 5 mins. Top Shop were far to vast to catch us, and totally confused by our actions.

assistant with clip board: what are you doing here.
Hijacker: just here to help
acb: where are you from.
Hijacker: I’m from London.
acb: no one told me you where coming(pause) why are you here
Hijacker: just here to help
acb: but your are not on the plan(leaves confused)
HMV were clear winners with a security guard exclaiming:
“You have to stop tidying things up, you’re being illegal, you have to leave!”

to see more please visit:
http://www.spacehijackers.org

============================================

York Buy Nothing Day – report & pictures

International Buy Nothing Day came to York today. As only four people turned up our plans had to be scaled back a bit, so we didn’t quite manage to overthrow the corrupt capitalist system (mebbe next year, eh?!).

Instead, we set up a free fair-trade coffee stall outside Starbucks on Coney Street, and made life a little bit easier for their corporate accountants.

In an hour and a half, over 150 cups of tea and coffee were dished out to slightly bemused passers by. Some wanted to know what the catch was, some asked if we were connected with the church (“definitely not!” was the resounding reply), and one person even tried to give us a donation (“definitely not!” was the resounding reply!).

A fair few people stopped and talked at length, and some promised not to buy anything for the rest of the day.

A gang of enthusiastic teenage girls kindly held our ‘Buy Nothing Day’ banner and advertised our wares for 45 minutes.

Two friendly coppers walked past, but unfortunately couldn’t be tempted to free drinks, and just as we were winding up, someone from the council came along to tell us ‘the rules’ about stalls in town. He told us that we needed permission to hold a stall, and gave us a form to be completed for next time. He was very pleasant about it and was happy for us to carry on for another 15 minutes (we’d run out of everything by then anyway, so we agreed), but we couldnâ€™t persuade him to take a free coffee. In all the excitement, the form appears to have been lost, so it looks like our next event will have to be ‘unauthorised’ as well. . . . . .

After the coffee stall had been wound-up, a couple of activists had some â€œfunâ€? on the escalators in Marks and Spencers – until they were asked to leave by security.

So, that’s it for this year. We didn’t change the world, or stop much shopping, but we diverted a small amount of cash from Starbucks’ coffers, had a lot of fun giving stuff away and put smiles on peoplesâ€™ faces!

============================================

Birmingham’s Contribution to Buy Nothing Day 2006

A great success with protest Santas, FreeShop, repetitive beats, Guantanamo Bay Campaign, and Food Not Bombs coming together attracting and creating a vibrant street event.

Buy Nothing Day has been celebrated in Birmingham for a few years now, initially by Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s anti-consumer info-stalls and Santa Claus demonstrations. Last year, in addition, autonomous events were staged: in-store pranks and games, Food Not Bombs, and a Free Shop.

This year the anti-consumerist protest Santas were back, as were Food Not Bombs, who serve free food in town fortnightly. The Guantanamo Bay campaign was present raising awareness, a fantastic portable sound system turned up, and the Free Shop returned. All these groups came together to make the event what it was, attracting a strong crowd and creating a busy, vibrant street party.

Why Free Shops?
It has long been recognised that capitalism is over-productive of goods, and that our consumer culture produces a very wasteful society.

A free shop is a shop where we exchange goods without a pricing system: unwanted items are donated and wanted items taken away.

‘Junk belongs to us, the people. It does not belong to councils, shires, governments or contractors’. Freeshops promote direct recycling and re-use of goods, locally, and in a way that answers immediate need.

Freeshops ‘have their roots in the anarchist movement’ and are well established in Northern Europe and in the USA. There are always temporary freeshops too, and a monthly freeshop has been running in Norwich since 2004. Internet freeshops have given new life to the movement through the online ‘FreeCycle’ community [see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/birmingham_freecycle].

Occasionally, FreeShops can be stolen. This happened to a freeshop in Whitechapel in 2002. Such incidents fortunately are rare; because no money changes hands and no one makes an unfair profit, freeshops don’t encourage criminal activity, unlike those other kinds of shops.

Any of us can start a freeshop. This reporter would like to see it become a regular event, with people swapping goods in town as a more sustainable challenge to the consumer culture of Birmingham City Centre.

An organiser commented on last Saturday’s event

“Today has been a huge success. Almost all of the stock from the shop has been taken away by the shoppers of Birmingham. Along with this they’ve hopefully taken away a new way of looking at consumer habits in this country. People visiting the stall have been very enthusiastic about what we’re doing; some individuals were very enthusiastic about getting involved themselves so there may be more than one Free Shop at the next Buy Nothing Day. Everything which we gave away today has been saved from being sent to the local incinerator and all of the stock was hauled into the city centre in a small bicycle convoy. Having music at the event really got people interested and made the afternoon feel like an event worth elebrating”.

Food Not Bombs returned after a 2 month break to serve reclaimed food to the hungry and campaign against poverty, rubbish food, homelessness and militarism. The group strengthened it’s commmitment to using non-aluminium cookware, featured innovative new recipes, an improved information shop, and was greatly energised by new people. Three Food Not Bombs first-timers took part, with one commenting that FNB was the ‘one of the most positive political experiences’ she had had in years of campaigning experience. ‘The group’s ability to communicate and organise made for a great team experience,’ she said. ‘We all were so positive and supported each other. It felt like a proper team effort which was fantastic and I want people to know about that’. As usual the food was enthusiastically consumed and information on local and global issues distributed. The collective ended the day with a social and met again the following Tuesday for a review meeting and to plan future actions.

Food Not Bombs will be back Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December (as part of the vigil for Human Rights Day), and there is a meeting to plan this on Tuesday 5th; social events are also in the works. Email brum_fnb@riseup.net for more information.

For more on the freeshop movement check http://colorado.indymedia.org/newswire/display/12028/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_store

All in all it was an exciting event that brought a vibrant and political street culture to Birmingham, and showed how different groups can collaborate to strengthen the movement’s range and appeal – here’s to many more of these kinds of events.

============================================

Oxford Shoppers Left Bemused By Consumer Cult

The Rev. E. Littlehelps, Lord High Purchaser of the Cult of Consumerism, explains in his own words what happened when a group of activists pretending to be corporation-worshippers descended on Oxford City Centre for International Buy Nothing Day.

Thought For The (Buy Nothing) Day
By Rev. E. Littlehelps

It was half past ten in the morning, on Saturday November 25th. The skies over Oxford City Centre were grey as I waited outside the Temple of St. Clarendon (known to the uninitiated simply as â€œThe Clarendon Centreâ€?), pulling my robes tightly around me. The morning was chill, but I was filled with a fiery purpose. Today was â€œBuy Nothing Dayâ€?, a false festival created by infidels in an attempt to discredit the holy corporate brands; it was our sacred mission to counter their foul sacrilege by preaching the Good Word of The Holy Multinationals to all who would listen. Glorious work, my children. Glorious work.

Some loose-mouthed folk call us the Cult of Consumerism; we know ourselves as the iPostles, and work for the greater good of our wondrous corporate pantheon and all of their noble profits.

As my brothers and sisters assembled around me, my heart soared in anticipation of the great work before us. All five of the Inner Circle were there: Sister Bucks, Preacher Bright, Padre Station, Sister Swoosh and Apostle Macintosh. We began our first incantation (â€œShop, Shop, Till You Dropâ€?), to cleanse ourselves of any impure, non-consumer thoughts, and strode boldly out onto the consecrated ground of the Cornmarket pedestrianised shopping precinct.

So many brands, all around us, already glowing neon in the weak morning light! So many small but perfect chapels to consumerism, where even at this hour worshippers were flocking to make their offerings! The rapture was soon upon us, and we began to prostrate ourselves before each gleaming altar, crying our praises to the skies.

Sing praise to McDonalds! We worship you, St Ronald, and your wondrous power, the power to transform rainforests into obese children. All hail Starbucks, and the Sacred Business Model â€“ we marvel at your ability to pay coffee growers 40p for a pound of coffee, keeping them poverty-stricken and fully in your thrall, whilst selling lattes for Â£4 a cup! All hail Vodafone â€“ we thank you for selling us a new phone every six months when the old one still works, and thus stripping away the planetâ€™s resources and fuelling wars over rare minerals, all in your glory! All hail!

Truly, as Apostle Macintosh observed, the profits were speaking through us. And o, most wondrous thing, in front of The Disney Store (all praise the sparkly corporate plastic tat, made by children for children), that same good brother was suddenly filled with the spirit of Mickey Mouse, and began to speak in high-pitched tongues, to our utter delight and wonder!

At Westgate Cathedral we beheld faÃ§ade upon glorious faÃ§ade, begging us to consume the whole planet piece by shrink-wrapped piece. We had barely begun our worship outside the Church of Sony (â€œall hail stand-by mode!â€?), when one of the guardians of the temple, jealous of any favour we might be winning from our shared corporate deities, escorted us firmly from the premises â€“ but we were undeterred, and showed our defiance with a spontaneous chanting and rapping medley outside the temple gates. Mallelujah!
We threw ourselves as humble supplicants before Gap, singing praise to the enormous gap between the wages of the sweatshop workers and their high street prices. We wept tears of gratitude before the sign of the holy Virgin, thanking St Branson for solving climate change by telling us all to fly more. Outside Argos, we invoked the words of the great theologian Sir William of Bailey, and gave praise to the Laminated Book of Dreams, sheathed in sacred plastic to catch the tears of joy from those who stand in awe before it. Help us, Argos! We need a pink Playboy liquid lamp! A plastic flamingo to sit beside our Golfing Gnomes! My toaster is the wrong colour, Argos â€“ surely you hold the key to my salvation within the Mysterious Dungeon of Plenty?

As the day progressed, many crowds of onlookers gathered around us, drawn by the truth of our words. Many of them seemed strangely gripped by fits of laughter, doubtless overcome by joy at the thought of the blessed corporations pervading every aspect of our lives; others followed us, shouting out suggestions for where we should worship next. Great multitudes beheld our ceremonies, and many hundreds of pamphlets were handed out to the curious congregation. It was only after the event that we realised that a terrible error had occurred, and we had somehow been distributing a blasphemous Buy Nothing Day â€œAnti-Catalogueâ€?, which warned people of the supposed dangers of excessive consumption, and encouraged them to shop less and live more, even going so far as to suggest a number of â€œfunâ€? and â€œfreeâ€? things that people could do instead of consuming.

Despite this dreadful oversight, as dusk fell over the city we decided that our work had been well done, and returned to our individual homelife consumption modules with a sense of deep and blessed satisfaction.
Rest assured, people of Oxford, we shall return in good time to deliver more sacred shopping sermons. Unless, of course, those accursed Corporate Plunder Pirates get there first and steal our thunder.

WTO-approved blessings to you all,
The Rev. E Littlehelps

“And behold the splendour of KFC, and the miraculous buckets of greasy fried gunk. Yea, for the rainforests are an abomination unto the Most Righteous Colonel Saint Sanders, and must be torn down to make way for the bounteous fields of chicken feed, to fatten the birds in the Holy Cages of Wonder. Thus we may all share the glorious bounty of the Family Special Offer Boneless Box. Rejoice!”

For an electronic copy of the Anti-Catalogue, email dannychivers [at] wildmail.com.

============================================

“Put me down! I won’t bring you happiness” More Buy Nothing Day Pixie-ing

A merry band of Oxford pixies full of the joys of the season visited many, many shops – including Miss Selfridges, Topshop, Gap, HMV and Dixons – placing thought-provoking stickers in dressing rooms and on products.

Why did these pesky pixies make life difficult for the staff who then had to peel the labels off? Well, read on and discover why some the aforementioned places were targeted.

***About Arcadia Group (owns Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans, Outfit)***

Arcadia Group is owned by billionaire Philip Green. In 2005, Arcadia’s profits “rose to Â£326 million in the 52 weeks to 27th August 2005…As a reward, Arcadia shelled out a Â£1.3bn dividend to its shareholders, Â£1.2bn of which went to Green, already the UKâ€™s fifth richest person.”[1] However whilst this was already well and good for Green and Arcadia shareholders it was a different story for the workers who produced the tacky t-shirts for Topshop and their ilk. In a factory in Cambodia in 2004, after over 1000 workers went on strike to protest against poor pay, “19 union leaders and 120 union workers were fired”[2].

In conclusion: not Green by nature at all.

***About Dixons (sister groups: Currys Digital, PC World)***

In 2003, Dixons, who mainly stock electrical equipment (hi-fis, vacuum cleaners, iPods etc) announced a partnership with ‘support services firm’ Capita to manage one of Dixons’ call centres. Uh oh – bad move – as Capita is probably best know for its mismanagement of the Criminal Records Bureau: after failing to check teachers’ records on time the company was eventually fined Â£2 million; small change really from the Â£400 million budget it received from the government for the contract[3].
After the partnership deal was clinched, Capita went on to sack staff at the Sheffield based call centre[4].

Dixons dealing with the Conservatives, environmental reporting and tax avoidance has also been criticised by many in the past. In a report in 2001, Friends of the Earth found that Dixons was a business backer of the Conservative Party; it also short-listed the store as “as [a] possible targets for a major consumer campaign over ‘dodgy’ chemicals.”[5] FOE also found that the company had no formal policies on conduct on overseas labour standards. Dixons has also been accused of using their subsidiary, Dixons Insrance Services ltd registered in the Isle of Man as a tax haven[6].

Finally, at the beginning of this year, Which? magazine had found Dixons to be one of the worst retailers in Britain.[7]

All this is before we even go into the environmental devastation involved in producing some of the merchandise that Dixons sells!
****
Most of the above information was from Labour Behind the Label, the campaign that supports garment workers’ efforts worldwide to improve their working conditions. http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org
***
Be warned. The Pixies may strike again…

References:
[1] ‘Arcadia: the high street of exploitation – November 2005 Update’, Labour behinid the Label, http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/content/view/17/53 viewed 30/11/06

[2] Ibid

[3] Sean O’Neill & Stewart Tendler, ‘Blunder on criminal records was revealed a year ago’, The Times, 22/05/06

[4] Tim Richardson, (29/04/04) ‘Ex-Dixons staff ‘”kicked in the teeth”‘, The Register, http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/29/dixons_capita_redundancies viewed 30/11/06

[5] ‘UK Democracy Plc How the corporate juggernaut is crushing our democracy’, Friends of the Earth briefing, December 2001, http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/uk_democracy_plc.pdf viewed 30/11/06

[6] From ‘UK Democracy Plc How the corporate juggernaut is crushing our democracy’
and ‘Company information: Dixons’, Ethiscore, http://www.ethiscore.org/company.aspx?id=33640 viewed 30/11/06

[7] ‘Shoppers snub Dixons and Powerhouse’, Which? 31/01/06, http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/audio_visual/reports/audio/Shoppers_snub_Dixons_and_Powerhouse_news_article_557_59378.jsp viewed 30/11/06

http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

eco-prisoners – Spirit of Freedom November 2006

Spirit of Freedom
(November 2006)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“I thank you all dearly for writing”

Spirit of Freedom
(November 2006)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

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

Welcome to the November 2006 edition of Spirit of Freedom. First off I’d like to appologise for this edition of the newsletter being late. As people may be aware the USA-SHAC 7 where all due to start their prison sentences this month and we were awaiting to hear where they were before we went to print. Sadly all of the USA-SHAC 7 defendants are now in jail so we urge everyone to please write to them. They have been jailed for merely reporting the news, so please do support them. However, whilst supporting the USA-SHAC 7, please don’t forget the other prisoners. They also need our support. So please, no matter where you are in the world, please support the eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES

OREGON UPDATE
In early November 2006, it was announced that four Americans, Jonathan Paul, Daniel McGowan, Nathan Frazer Block and Joyanna Zacher, who are all defendants in the Oregon Case, had entered Guilty pleas to various charges against them.

When entering their Guilty Pleas these four remained true to their principles and although admitting their own guilt refused to name any
others. It is unclear what length of sentences the four will receive but it is clear they no longer face the possible ‘Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole’, which they were facing if they’d gone to trial. All four are due to be sentenced in mid-December 06.

Also in early November, Grand Jury prisoner, Jeff Hogg, was released from prison. Jeff had always refused to testify against anyone in the Oregon case and was serving an indefinite prison sentence as a result. ELP celebrates Jeff’s release and praise him for his moral stance.

With other news in this investigation, in early October 2006, two of the police informants in the University of Washington arson case, Lacey Phillabaum and Jennifer Lynn Kolar (also known as Jen), pleaded guilty to their roles in the arson which occured in 2001. Kolar also admitted to an arson against a gun club. Following their guilty pleas Kolar is expected to receive a sentence of between 5-7years imprisonment, whilst Phullabaum is expected to received 3-5 years imprisonment.

As soon as any of the sentences, of any of the defendants in this case, are known ELP will bring you the news. However we would like to remind everyone that we do not support police informants and therefore, although reporting their sentences, we will not be listing the prison details of any of the police informants in this case. We do offer our total support to those who have pleaded guilty to their personal charges but not cooperated with the authorities whilst doing so.

Also, despite the various guilty pleas ELP would like to remind everyone that this case is not over. There are still at least three defendants in this case who locations are unknown to the FBI. And also, Briana Waters has formally pleaded not guilty to the University of Washington fire and is scheduled for trial in May 2007. ELP will keep you informed as to all the developments in Briana’s trial.

NADIA WINSTEAD
In mid-October 2006, American animal rights activist, Nadia Winstead, was found Guilty of contempt of court after she refused to testify before a Grand Jury which is investigating a series of Animal and Earth Liberation actions. Nadia was granted leave to appeal her conviction and that appeal hearing is due later on this month. ELP will bring you more news just as soon as we have it.

IL SILVESTRE UPDATE
In early November 2006, Giuseppe Bonamici, was released from prison under house arrest. Giuseppe is one of ten Il Silvestre members, arrested in May 2006, who has been charged with using explosives to destroy an electricity pylon in protest against nuclear power. Following Giuseppe’s release this means that six of the ten defendants are now under house arrest, but four remain imprisoned.

The remaining four are all said to be doing well and remaining strong. One of the four Benedetta Galante, initially after her imprisonment found herself subject to strict mail censorship and only received a few letters within the first four months of her imprisonment. However, her mail now does appear to be reaching her and is described as “flooding in”, so much so that the prison doesn’t have enough mail censors to keep up with her post!!!

Besides the four Il Silvestre prisoners awaiting trial following the May 06 arrests, ELP would like to remind everyone that a fifth Il Silvestre activist is also currently imprisoned. Francesco Gioia is serving 5 years and 2 months for promoting & participating in COR direct action. He is also awaiting trial for escaping from house arrest.

JOE HARRIS
On 20/09/06 British Animal Rights activist, Joe Harris, was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for taking direct action against Huntingdon Life Sciences targets. His tactics included gluing locks and slashing car tyres.

MADELINE BUCKLER
On 22/09/06 British Animal Rights activist, Madeline Buckler, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for sending hate mail to the Hall family, who use to supply guinea pigs to the vivisection industry.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

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

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

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.

Nathan Block, #1663667, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401, USA. On remand accused of involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership. Also charged with involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

Federico Bonamici, Casa di Reclusione, ia Nuova Poggioreale 177, 80143 Napolo Poggioreale (NA), Italy. Il Silvestre member on remand accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon. Also accused of planning to overthrow the State.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. Serving 27 years. 1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations. 2) Seventeen years for the murder of a Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.

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

Rodney Coronado #03895-000, FCI Tucson, 8901 South Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705, USA. Serving 8 months for his role in an Earth First! hunt sabotage against a mountain lion hunt. Rod is also facing additional charges relating to a speech he made at an animal rights gathering in 2003.

William Frediani (currently under house arrest). Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for promoting & participating in COR direct action.

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

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

Silvia Guerini, Carcere “La Dozza”, Via Del Gomito 2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Il Silvestre member on remand accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon.

Leonardo Landi (currently under house arrest). Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 3 years 6 months imprisonment for promoting & participating in COR direct action.

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

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

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

Christopher McIntosh 30512-013, USP Hazelton, US Penitentiary, PO Box 2000, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, USA. Serving 8 years for a joint ELF/ALF arson attack on a McDonalds restaurant.

Alessio Perondi (currently under house arrest). Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 3 years 8 months imprisonment for promoting & participating in COR direct action.

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera (PV), Italy. Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 5 years for promoting & participating in COR direct action. Also awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

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

Joyanna Zacher #1662550, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. On remand accused of involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an SUV dealership. Also charged with involvement in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

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

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 3JZ, England. Serving 16 months for a public order offence after telling a fox hunting murder what she thought of them.

Dave Blenkinsop EM7899, HMP Rye Hill, Onley, Warwickshire, CV23 8AN, England. Serving 10 years. 1) Three years for a stave attack on the Managing Director of HLS. 2) 18 months for rescuing 600 guinea pigs from a lab supplier. 3) 51â?„2 years for planting incendiary devices under an abattoirs vehicles.

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

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

Rodney Coronado. Serving 8 months for his role in an Earth First! hunt sabotage against a mountain lion hunt. See his details in the Eco-Defence Prisoners list.

Donald Currie TN 4593, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DA, England. On remand accused of arson against a courier company with links to the vivisection industry including HLS.

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

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

Garfield Marcus Gabbard TB 4271, HMP Moorland (Closed), Bawtry Road, Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN7 6BW, England. Serving 36 months for Affray during an animal rights demo where he jumped onto a car and kicked a security guard who pulled him off the car.

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

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England.
Serving 51â?„2 years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following the damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life Science.

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

Joseph Harris, TN5728, HMP Lewes, Brighton Road, East Sussex, BN7 1EA, England. Serving 3 years for damaging the property of people associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences.

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

Chris McIntosh. Serving 8 years for a joint ALF/ELF arson on a McDonalds.
See his details in the Eco-Defence Prisoners list.

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

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.

Daniel Wadham TF5524, HMP Rochester, Kent. ME1 3QS, England. Serving 12 months for a public order offence after telling a fox hunting murder what he thought of them.

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.

Peter Daniel Young, #10269-111, FCI Vitorvill Medium II, Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 5700, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving two years for releasing mink and foxes from six different fur farms. Also awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a raid on a fur farm in South Dakota.

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 201â?„2 years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo. 2) Burning $25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental destruction & economic injustice. 3) Mailing warning letters with bullets attached to Government & corporate officials.

OTHER ANTI-WAR PRISONERS

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

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

ANTIFA PRISONERS

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

Igor Kisielewicz, syn Aleksandra, A.S. Bialystok, Kopernika 21, 15-377 Bialystok, Poland. Serving 3 months for failing to do his community service imposed for antifa activity.

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

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

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

OTHER PRISONERS

Ted Kaczynski (04475-046), US Pen – admin Max Facility, PO Box 8500, Florence Colorado 81226, USA. Serving multiple life sentences for the infamous ‘Unabomber’ anti-technology bombing & murder campaign.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEDICATION
ELP feels it its important to remember those who have died defending Mother Earth. We use Samhain (a traditional time to remember the dead) as our opportunity to honour all our fallen friends who have died over the years.

Due to space limitation we can only list EF! & ELF style fallen friends.
But for a full list of all Animal & Earth Liberation activists who’ve died in defence of the planet check out our full memorial list on our website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

This edition of Spirit of Freedom is jointly dedicated to American David “Gypsy” Chain, who was crushed to death in September 1998 when a tree was felled on top of him whilst he defended the forests; Italian activists Maria Rosas & Edoardo Massari who died in custody, in 1999, whilst awaiting trial for their alleged involvement in the sabotaging of a high speed rail line construction site in the Northern Italian Alps; Brazilian Jose Marlucio da Silva who was shot dead by police in July 2000 whilst attempting to storm & occupy a bank during an anti-GM protest; British activist ‘Jo’ whose body was found in her burnt out hut at the Nine Ladies anti-quarry protest camp
in March 2002; American Beth O’Brien, who died in April 2002 after falling from a tree she was sitting in whilst trying to defend the forests; Brazilian Bartolomeu Morais da Silva (aka “Brasilia”) who led the struggle against illegal logging, land fraud and destructive large-scale infrastructure projects was found murdered in July 2002 from shot gun wounds and his legs broken; American Robert “Naya” Bryan, died October 2002 after falling from a tree he was sitting in whilst trying to defend the forests; French activist SÃ©bastian B., who, in November 2004, was run by a train carrying nuclear waste after SÃ©bastian had tied himself to the tracks; American William “Bill” Rodgers who ended his own life in December 2005 following his arrest for a series of ELF & ALF actions.

If you know of someone who should be on this list, but isn’t, please let ELP know.
“ELP Support Network”