Pipeline camp at Trebanos decides to close, Milford Haven camp continues, & more to come

pipeline protests respect wishes of landowner , to protect her from bullying police and national grid officials….

after continued harrassment and bullying from the police and national grid, the 68 year old lady on whose land the trebanos pipeline protest was on has aked protestors to leave. she was informed by her legal representative that she still risked a £60k fine and possible arrest, although we are still unsure as to how serious the danger of this happening to her was.

pipeline protests respect wishes of landowner , to protect her from bullying police and national grid officials….

after continued harrassment and bullying from the police and national grid, the 68 year old lady on whose land the trebanos pipeline protest was on has aked protestors to leave. she was informed by her legal representative that she still risked a £60k fine and possible arrest, although we are still unsure as to how serious the danger of this happening to her was.

to save her from this ordeal her wishes have been respected, this is a protest where the locals call the shots.

this is no defeat, we stopped them for nearly 2 weeks, and got them to abandon their plans to use explosives to blast sections of unstable hillside near a school.

the landowner, just like the overwhelming majority of local people, is still completely against the pipeline and in support of protestors.
our numbers are swelling as word of mouth and various publicity stunts have helped inform people about this, an issue which has been kept very quiet by the authorities. this is the biggest energy project Britian has ever seen, and it’s fossil fuel…. every level of corruption and intimidation and incompetance has been employed by those at the helm of this fossil fuel disaster.

meanwhile the mothers and grandmothers at milford haven are continuing to stop work. they are camped on a public footpath along the proposed route.

authorities are having great trouble moving them…. its public land you see

there are 36 places in total where the pipeline’s intended route crosses pub lic footpaths….. so if anyone’s up for camping, then find yourself a spot and go….

more info soon on our next site

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”

Prisoner Solidarity 12Spirit 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 – Iruñez – Pamplona, Navarra (España), 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 Sébastian B., who, in November 2004, was run by a train carrying nuclear waste after Sébastian 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”

Steal Something Day, a shameless 24-hour stealing spree!

The 24 hour moratorium on spending, ‘Buy Nothing Day’ is this Saturday 26th November in the UK. 6 years ago some Canadian anarchists came up with a critique of ‘Buy Nothing Day’ and called for a new initiative, ‘Steal Something Day’.

Steal Something DayThe 24 hour moratorium on spending, ‘Buy Nothing Day’ is this Saturday 26th November in the UK. 6 years ago some Canadian anarchists came up with a critique of ‘Buy Nothing Day’ and called for a new initiative, ‘Steal Something Day’.

As their original article seems to have virtually disappeared into the unrecoverable bowels of the digital archive of the internet, I thought I’d reproduce their critique along with it’s graphic and help document it. Hopefully it’ll help maintain their initiative for this ‘Buy Nothing Day’ and help people reflect on some of Adbuster’s problematic claims.

November 26, 1999 – Participate by participating!
(Press release from http://tao.ca/~lombrenoire)

For the past eight years, a few self-described “culture jammers” from Adbusters Magazine have dubbed the last Friday in November “Buy Nothing Day.”

From their stylish home base in Vancouver’s upscale suburb of Kitsilano, the Adbusters’ brain trust has encouraged conscientious citizens worldwide to “relish [their] power as a consumer to change the economic environment.” In their words, Buy Nothing Day “proves how empowering it is to step out of the consumption stream for even a day.”

The geniuses at Adbusters have managed to create the perfect feel-good, liberal, middle-class activist non-happening. A day when the more money you make, the more influence you have (like every other day). A day which, by definition, is insulting to the millions of people worldwide who are too poor or marginalized to be considered “consumers.”

It’s supposed to be a 24-hour moratorium on spending, but ends up being a moralistic false-debate about whether or not you should really buy that loaf of bread today or … wait for it … tomorrow!

Well, this year, while the Adbusters cult enjoys yet another Buy Nothing Day, accompanied by their fancy posters, stickers, TV and radio advertisements and slick webpages, a few self-described anarcho-situationists from Montreal’s East End are inaugurating Steal Something Day.

Unlike Buy Nothing Day, when people are asked to “participate by not participating,” Steal Something Day demands that we “participate by participating.” Instead of downplaying or ignoring the capitalists, CEOs, landlords, small business tyrants, bosses, PR hacks, yuppies, media lapdogs, corporate bureaucrats, politicians and cops who are primarily responsible for misery and exploitation in this world, Steal Something Day demands that we steal from them, without discrimination.

The Adbusters’ intellegentsia tell us that they’re neither “left nor right,” and have proclaimed a non-ideological crusade against overconsumption. Steal Something Day, on the other hand, identifies with the historic and contemporary resistance against the causes of capitalist exploitation, not its symptoms. If you think overconsumption is scary, wait until you hear about capitalism and imperialism.

Unlike the misplaced Buy Nothing Day notion of consumer empowerment, Steal Something Day promotes empowerment by urging us to collectively identify the greedy bastards who are actually responsible for promoting misery and boredom in this world. Instead of ignoring them, Steal Something Day encourages us to make their lives as uncomfortable as possible.

As we like to say in Montreal: diranger les riches dans leurs niches!

And remember, we’re talking about stealing, not theft. Stealing is just. Theft is exploitative. Stealing is when you take a yuppie’s BMW for a joyride, and crash into a parked Mercedes just for the hell of it. Theft is when you take candy from a baby’s mouth.

Stealing is the re-distribution of wealth from rich to poor Theft is making profits at the expense of the disadvantaged and the natural environment. Stealing is an unwritten a tax on the rich. Theft is taxing the poor to subsidize the rich. Stealing is nothing more than a tax on the rich. There is solidarity in stealing, but property is nothing but theft.

So, don’t pay for that corporate newspaper, but steal all of them from the box. Get some friends together and go on a “shoplifting “spree at the local chain supermarket or upscale mall. With an even larger mob, get together and steal from the local chain book or record store. Pilfer purses and wallets from easily identified yuppies and business persons. Skip out on rent. Get a credit card under a fake name and don’t pay. Keep what you can use, and give away everything else in the spirit of mutual aid that is the hallmark of Steal Something Day.

Download our detourned poster http://tao.ca/~lombrenoire, make copies and stick it up wherever you can. And don’t forget, send your scamming and stealing tips to us at lombrenoire@tao.ca.

See you next Steal Something Day which, unlike Buy Nothing, happens every day of the year.

Ten Reasons to Block LNG in Wales, contractors address & First victory for Trebanos protestors

Corporate greed and mindless materialism threaten to destroy the planet. Act now

Ten reasons to join the protest at Milford Haven LNG

1. The supposed justification for this facility is that we need a secure source of energy when we run out of our own. When is this projected need going to exist? We have just received a pipeline from the huge stocks of Norway. We have so much gas we haven’t got room to store it.

Corporate greed and mindless materialism threaten to destroy the planet. Act now

Ten reasons to join the protest at Milford Haven LNG

1. The supposed justification for this facility is that we need a secure source of energy when we run out of our own. When is this projected need going to exist? We have just received a pipeline from the huge stocks of Norway. We have so much gas we haven’t got room to store it.

2. If the possibility of having to rely on Russian gas at some hypothetical point in the future represents a strategic threat to our energy supply, how does getting it from the Middle East in vulnerable ships improve our security?

3. The answer is that Qatar, which has the third largest reserves of LNG in the world after Russia and Iran, is the staunchest ally of the USA in the Middle East. Coincidentally the LNG company operating out of Milford is owned by the US giant Carlyle group, whose involvement with the Bush Neo-cons is well documented, and who stand to make enormous profits. http://english.pravda.ru/comp/2002/06/25/31119.html
http://www.ameinfo.com/94204.html

4. The planning process has been pushed through, against public protest into safety factors, as a prototype of the Blair governments need to secure energy supplies from private companies. Effectively their power depends on maintaining central control of the legislation related to planning for large energy projects.

5. The Haven is eminently unsuitable for this kind of project; being located in hazardous waters and situated within metres of numerous oil storage tanks. SIGTTO – the industry’s safety consultation network has condemned the siting of the LNG Terminal at Milford.
http://sigtto.re-invent.net/DNN/

6. The pipeline is ostensibly so large to act as a storage facility as a deterrent to Terrorist attack. Not only is this untenable in view of the vulnerability of the ships, but this kind of pressurised pipe has no precedent in this country and its safety remains a mystery which they have refused to investigate.

7. This whole project is totally unnecessary. As the film Inconvenient Truth points out, we can solve our energy needs and climate change by adopting energy efficiency measures. In this light such massive investment in wasteful technology is absurd and distracts us from the need to create long-term renewable solutions.

8. This whole affair represents the steamrollering of public participation. The first many knew, including those who had signed consents for a “pipeline� of unspecified dimensions to cross their land, of the massive destruction wrought on 200 miles of welsh countryside with motorway size routes cut through priceless landscapes, was when they suddenly found it all happening.

9. In many places the routes have passed perilously close to dwellings, electrical cables and, as in the case of Trebanos, where they have at last prevented them blasting through the mountain, poses a significant risk of landslides. Previous accidents using this technology don’t bear contemplating; the precautionary principle must apply here.

10. Why should this development come through the heartland of rural Wales? Reports suggest the terminal and Re-gassification plant should be sited offshore and brought in somewhere along the Bristol Channel. This shows that corporate interests are at stake and even vie with each other to determine that the route of the pipeline does not go through their land.

http://www.green-culture.blogspot.org

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

Contractor Details for LNG pipeline
22.11.2006 19:06
Main contractor fo LNG pipeline are:-
Land Marine Project Engineering Ltd
Dock Road North
Bromsborough
Wirral
CH6 2LN
Tel No 0151 641560
Fax No 0151 6449990
http://landandmarine.com
A quick look at website lists they are undertaking contracts for MOD as well working in even more enviromental parts of the globe

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

In the face of concerted opposition from local people, the government has reversed its decision to allow the pipeline constructors to use explosives close to the village of Trebanos in South Wales.

BBC news report on the reversed decision from the DTI.

This clearly would not have happened without the campaign of resistance from local people, so this is only the first step on the path to stopping this enormously destructive pipeline.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6170620.stm

PIPELINE SQUAT?PROTEST public transport, maps info & video

http://www.pontardawe.org.uk/
gives you all you need
so no excuses
very low police prescence,
enormous local support

Trebanos demohttp://www.pontardawe.org.uk/
gives you all you need
so no excuses
very low police prescence,
enormous local support
they love us, and we love them
we can win this one
more bodies needed though!
especially during mon-fri as many of us have jobs to keep up…. unfortunately.
get down there, its great!

4 min video report from the occupied LNG pipeline at Trebanos in South Wales.
Trebanos report – video/x-ms-wmv 9.0M

Safe Haven Pipeline Demo update & contact details

18.11.2006

since thursday a group protesting about lack of safety regulations and public consultation have been blocking the laying of the pipeline right next to the LNG constryction site – they are digging in for the long haul!

18.11.2006

since thursday a group protesting about lack of safety regulations and public consultation have been blocking the laying of the pipeline right next to the LNG constryction site – they are digging in for the long haul!

Thanks to Schnews newsletter I got down to the demo yesterday afternoon to find 3 OAPS huddled in a tent on the public footpath which runs right through the middle of the massive construction site of the new Milford Haven LNG terminal.

The weather was appalling and they have already roughed it for one night. As soon as they had pitched camp on thursday hordes of cops and officials surrounded them with every manner of arc lights, generators, fenceposts, barbed wire and then packed up and went off to leave the site deserted for the weekend.

The owerwhelming presence of machinery and earthworks seems to blot out the existence of the Safe Haven protest group who are campaigning to have the official Risk Assessment report released for public consultation – apart from the actual pipeline there are grave concerns over the safety of the re-gassification plant. Previous accidents with this kind of technology have been known to produce fireballs of 27 square Km.

They have been trying to raise awareness of the issues ever since the virtaully non-existent public consultation for the Planning of this vast and unnecessary white elephant – which just turns out to be another pet project for the money-spinning Carlyle group [Bush and Saudi Patronage].

They are currently on a public footpath so there may be a struggle to evict them – basically they want to get the Safety report into the public arena and believe that if the facts are known they stand to gain considerable concessions even if the whole thing doesn’t get stopped completely.

Any support gratefully appreciated phone 07752 698489 for details

——————————————————————————————–

Anyone wishing to contact the camp at Tyn y Pant Farm in the Swansea Valley where protestors are occupying a length of pipe and have done since Sunday 12th November 2006 please telephone 07805 038725. The protest goes into it’s second week amidst amazing support from the people of the area who have had enough of being walked over by corporate business for the installation of a fossil fuel industrial sized pipeline to create a market for raped gas from foreign countries. Remember every time you turn on a gas flame or an electric light that it is not so that you can see or be warm but to enable someone, somewhere, probably not in your country, to make a profit.
We ask all those who come into contact with the fencing surrounding this pipeline to please tie a piece of green cloth or ribbon to the fence. One piece for every tree that has been destroyed in the wake of the pipeline, one ribbon for every person that will live in fear of this massive pipeline under their feet for the next 30 years if it is not stopped and one ribbon for every unnecessary death from terrorism and its causes
Thank you for your support all those who have already shown it.

Stop the pipeline! info flyer + events this week (& second camp started)

Stop the Pipeline!!
Land and homes across Wales are currently being destroyed for a huge, unsafe gas pipeline. Is this the best way to tackle climate change?

Trebanos pipeline 1Stop the Pipeline!!
Land and homes across Wales are currently being destroyed for a huge, unsafe gas pipeline. Is this the best way to tackle climate change?

What’s wrong with the pipeline?

The pipeline will be 150 miles long from Milford Haven through the Brecon Beacons into Gloucester, making it the biggest pipeline of its kind in Europe, cutting a chunk the width of a motorway. Despite concerns about on going climate chaos the government is putting their energy and resources into digging up beautiful countryside and people’s homes for more non-renewable energy, rather than building for alternatives like solar, wind and hydro power.

Locals groups have formed in resistance to the pipeline. Many feel they have not been properly consulted, some feel bullied and deceived, on an issue that affects them directly, with some people having their homes compulsorily purchased. There have also been many safety concerns as people feel the government have rushed plans through without proper health and safety checks. For example, it’s being built on the only earthquake zone in Britain, parts of it is on land that’s deemed too unstable for houses and the gas is odourless so locals wouldn’t know if there was a leak. In Trebanos, near Swansea, it was decided the land was too unstable for mains gas pipelines to the village and now they’re building Europe’s biggest gas pipeline!

What’s been happening this week?

Due to the absurdity of these plans, and the fact that no amount of campaigning has had an effect, people have recently taken direct action to stop work along the pipeline. At 5.30am last Monday (12th November) activists entered the worksite with some people climbing on to machinery and others occupying parts of the pipeline. The protestors have claimed squatter’s rights on a section of pipeline and have successfully stopped work since Monday. On Thursday 16th another protest site was started by concerned families in Milford Haven in solidarity with the protestors in Trabanos. There is also a green ribbon campaign for locals to show support for the protest.

What next?

A mass bike ride has been organized for Friday 24th November to raise awareness and show opposition to the gas pipe line. Meet outside Y Mochyn Du pub in Sophia gardens at 3.30pm.

More people are joining the camps as we speak but help and support are always needed, anyone with spare time is welcome to join in.
For regular updates and information see www.indymedia.org.uk

Daughters of Rebecca at Faslane

Approximately 100 people from across Wales took part in the rolling 1-year Faslane 365 campaign over three days this week (Mon 13th – Wed 15th November). 19 protesters including eight teenagers, some of whom were as young as 14, were arrested for blockading the nuclear base. Those under 16 were almost immediately de-arrested by the police, but those aged 16 and over are treated as adults in Scottish law and were detained overnight in police cells along with everyone else. Warning letters from the procurator fiscal were issued to arrestees on their release. Since the campaign began on October 1st, only one Faslane 365 case has been referred to court.

Faslane Wales 1
Faslane Wales 2Approximately 100 people from across Wales took part in the rolling 1-year Faslane 365 campaign over three days this week (Mon 13th – Wed 15th November). 19 protesters including eight teenagers, some of whom were as young as 14, were arrested for blockading the nuclear base. Those under 16 were almost immediately de-arrested by the police, but those aged 16 and over are treated as adults in Scottish law and were detained overnight in police cells along with everyone else. Warning letters from the procurator fiscal were issued to arrestees on their release. Since the campaign began on October 1st, only one Faslane 365 case has been referred to court.

The South Wales group brought with them a contingent of the Rebel Clown Army, a giant red dragon and assorted politicians, while the North Wales group included a sizeable group of “Merched Beca” (Daughters of Rebecca) with voluminous skirts, bonnets and blackened faces. The actions of Merched Beca in 1839-44, where protesters dressed up in women’s clothes and destroyed much-hated toll gates in Wales, led directly to a Royal Commission to examine the issue, and by 1844 most of the remaining toll gates had been legally removed, allowing ordinary people to move freely along the roads. The 21st Century Daughters of Rebecca hope that their nonviolent direct action as part of Faslane 365 will bring about the decommissioning and dismantling of Britain’s nuclear weapons, allowing taxes to be diverted to more useful purposes.

wrexhamsaw@yahoo.com
http://www.wpjf.org.uk

Directions to pipeline protest & Update

15.11.2006

Despite lots of bluff and bluster, police finally left the site today! more support is needed to keep the protest site going!

Trebanos camp 215.11.2006

Despite lots of bluff and bluster, police finally left the site today! more support is needed to keep the protest site going!

Despite warnings from police that the site would be evicted today at 8am, no attempt to remove activists from the site has been made. police filmed heavily and helped the National Grid intimidate the landowner (who is still very much in support of the protest!).

There are still people staying in the pipe itself 24 hours a day, as well as a presence on the cranes and bulldozers. the floodlight left by police is now able to be turnned on and off as the protestors desire.

If this an URGENT NEED FOR MORE PEOPLE! several people have had to leave today, though they will be returning soon, there it plenty of work needed to be down on site to blockade the pipe.

For directions to the (completely secire and totally legal) campsite alongside the pipe, from Cardiff:

Leave the M4 at junction 44 (signposted Swansea East), then at roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the B4290 (signposted Birchgrove, Clydach) Entering Birchgrove
At traffic signals turn left onto the B4291
Continue forward onto Birchgrove Road – B4291. Entering Glais
Bear left onto Birchgrove Road – B4291. Entering Clydach
At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A4067 (signposted Pontardawe)
Continue forward onto the A4067. Entering Pontardawe
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A4067 (signposted Pontardawe)
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A474 (signposted Ammanford)
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A474 (signposted Ammanford)
Bear right onto Swansea Road – A4067
Bear left onto Glan-Rhyd Road
Bear left
Bear left onto Ty’n-Y-Pant Road
Arrive at Ty’n-Y-Pant Farm
Enter the courtyard and the camp is on the left, you can’t miss it!

gwentanarchists@yahoo.co.uk
http://southwalesanarchists.org

No to Welsh gas pipe, no to new major carbon energy projects

On Monday morning, protestors stopped work on the huge gas pipeline that is being built from Milford Haven to Gloucester.

We occupied the 48″ gas pipeline and digging machinery to ensure that no work continues.

On Monday morning, protestors stopped work on the huge gas pipeline that is being built from Milford Haven to Gloucester.

We occupied the 48″ gas pipeline and digging machinery to ensure that no work continues.

The landowner invited us on to her land after she felt deceived by the national grid, hence there was a strange legal situation as we weren’t trespassing. Furthermore, she refused the police permission to come on her land!

She had agreed to allow the pipe being built after being told it would just be a small pipe – the destruction of a 100m wide strip which runs all through her land and the woods above her farm that her grandfather built show that they conned her.

However on Tuesday the police and national grid bullied her into asking us to leave the land where the pipe is being built (not the field where we are camped) otherwise she would not receive her compensation. People were still in the pipeline and up cranes last night and an illegal eviction was due to happen at 8am today (Wednesday)

The pipeline is 48″ in diameter and the national grid want it to be running at 92bar pressure. They admit they have no experience of running a pipeline at such hgh pressure.

Different figures are floating around over how much it is costing but it seems at least £700million. According to one of the protesters, it is designed to carry a fifth of the UK’s gas supply.

We need to have 90% cuts in carbon emissions by 2030, yet if we allow this mega-project to go ahead, we will be going in completely the opposite direction. This is a major energy infrastructure project and must be confronted. The government are on paper commited to reducing carbon emissions yet are not changing the energy policy. They are terrified that they won’t be able to meet gas supply as this would cause the city to go into panic and result in capital leaving the country.

There are loads of safety issues as well with this pipeline. It is being built on unstable land and parents in the nearby school are threatening to remove their childen from the schol if it gets built above their school – for fear of an repeat of Aberfan, where a landslide killed all the children in the primary school. Already there have been landslides on the hill above the site we have occupied that have blocked roads.

Work was due to end in October because of weather but they are behind schedule and hence rushing to push it through. They are being fined a large figure every day they are late (£1million a day is floating around) and hence are continuing into November.

Anyone who can get out to the site and get involved with stopping the work should definitely do so. The support of the locals is amazing and they are doing their stuff too; marches, legal proceedings; etc. If you want to go up, then there is a local who drives back from work in Cardiff at 5pm every day and is happy to give lifts to anyone heading up there. His number is 07973619183