Yorkshire & The Humber – Page 17

Camp for Climate Action: Great Rebel Raft Regatta update & newspaper launched

THE GREAT REBEL RAFT REGATTA UPDATE

Following a professional reconnaissance and Health and Safety test trip by boat last Wednesday, rebel rafters and experienced sailors gave the thumbs up for the water borne disobedience on the Mass Day of Action, August 9th. Launching with the tides and if the weather is not blowing a gale, the action was deemed totally do able and has the potential to be a spectacular success. The key will be in the number of rafts, the more rafts ( or anything that floats !) there are the more impossible it will be for the forces of darkness to stop the armada reaching it’s target. So start packing paddles, canoes,inflatables, rafts, dinghies, amphibious vehicles etc.. with your tent. Try to encourage any yacht or boat people, pirates or sailors you know to join in. All rebel rafters will be requited to attend a water safety workshop that will be run daily for the three
days leading up to the day of action, and will have to wear life jackets ( if you don’t have your own, these will be provided by the camp). A write up is available on the GRRR website.

Meanwhile many groups across the country are getting excited by the GRRR bug and planning to build rafts and get teams together. If your group has any news, pictures of rafts or ideas to share, then send it to the constantly updated news feed on www.thegrrr.net . For any further enquiries email: pirates@thegrrr.net

CLIMATE CAMP NEWSPAPER HITS THE STREETS AND FESTIVALS

Last week 30,000 newspapers, beautifully designed in black and bright cyan and not looking anything like a boring political paper, came off the printing press and began their journey around the country.

Published to inspire people to come to the camp it is filled with full pages images of last years events, portraits of hot climate campers, a stunning map of this years camp and texts that describe the politics of radical climate activism. If you would like copies to hand out in the street, festivals, drop off in cafe’s etc. contact distribution@climatecamp.org.uk with your address and how many you want, they will be sent out asap or ring Isa 07984158 108 to find out where you can pick some up. The pdf’s is now online here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/node/23

250 hens liberated for Sean Kirtley

“With one more comrade behind bars, we decided to turn to a more direct form of action.

“With one more comrade behind bars, we decided to turn to a more direct form of action. Sean Kirtley got over 4 years for editing a website. So why bother doing anything legal?

Taking the message from the government loud and clear, we took up the tools of liberation during the night and made our way to an egg battery farm south of York. We ‘broke in’ by opening the door to the lower section of the farm and climbing up to the cages. Over-night we freed 250 hens and took them all to new homes across the country.

This action is dedicated to Sean whose spirit will still be outside those bars helping animals in the face of government stitch-ups and a corrupt legal system.

The change is in our hands, the battle has just begun…
The Animal Liberation Front”

anonymous communique – additional photos

Support Sean Kirtley

Climate Camp Bike Ride

People will be riding to the climate camp, starting from Glasgow, descending southerly picking up thousands en route.

The final leg, London to Kingsnorth is on sunday 3 August meeting under Waterloo bridge (southside) at 9am
For more info on the route and how to get involved e-mail climatecampbikeride@lists.riseup.net
Up the the velorution.

People will be riding to the climate camp, starting from Glasgow, descending southerly picking up thousands en route.

arrest charges dropped – round-up: Fossil Fools Day & M1 Conspiracy

As with the majority of protest arrests (if you do a NO COMMENT interview), though there’s been a load of people arrested recently, they’ve released without charge, on bail to return to a police station.

This gives the CPS time to decide what to do, but also hinders protest because the police can dictate punative bail restrictions.

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M1 Conspiracy Case Thrown Out

1st May 2008

This gives the CPS time to decide what to do, but also hinders protest because the police can dictate punative bail restrictions.

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M1 Conspiracy Case Thrown Out

1st May 2008
Seven climate camp activists against the widening of the M1(1*) had the case against them dismissed from Sheffield Crown Court yesterday. Charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance Judge Robinson said that: “there was not a jot of evidence” for a jury to infer an endangerment of any member of the public.

Seven climate camp activists against the widening of the M1(1*) had the case against them dismissed from Sheffield Crown Court today. Charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance Judge Robinson said that: “there was not a jot of evidence” for a jury to infer an endangerment of any member of the public.

Arrested over a year ago the protesters had their houses raided with property such as computers and phones taken and held for the duration of the investigation.

This ruling in the midst of a crack down (2*) on green protest sets a precedent for policing of environmental demonstrations. The Judge resoundingly rejected the prosecution’s argument that the hanging of banners over the motorway would constitute a public nuisance. He went on to say: “that all of the available material (presented to
the court) is consistent only with peaceful protest.”

Campaign spokesperson Dr Julie White, a GP from Sheffield, said: “this is victory for the right to protest in the face of government policy of expanding roads, runways and coal-fired power stations in a time of climate crisis.”

The activists say that the experience has not deterred them from taking action against the root causes of climate change and will be attending the Camp for Climate Action(3*) at Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent this August.

Contact Julie White on 0779851073.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
1*) The Department of Transport have decided against widening the M1 any further: http://www.nowideningm1.org.uk/

2*) this month the Sunday Herald reported that protestors in Scotland had been harassed by police after peaceful demonstrations: http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2210574.0.protesters_police_treated_us_like_terrorists.php

3*)The Camp for Climate Action went to Heathrow last summer over the building of a third runway this year it will pitch up at Kingsnorth over the potential building of the UK’s first new coal-fired power station for 30 years:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/

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Bacton gas terminal 19

On 1st April, EF!ers blockaded the gas terminal at Bacton to celebrate Fossil Fools Day. The police tried to arrest everyone, and got 19 people. For a full report, see http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20420

Due to return to a rural Norfolk police station, people were keen to phone up the police station to find out what was happening. The police had not taken any decision, and a few days before decided to drop charges against all but 3 people locked-on who got off with cautions.

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Police drop charges against Wunderman protestors

The three activists arrested following the invasion of Wunderman’s offices have had all charges against them dropped.

The environmentalists, from direct action group London Rising Tide, had been charged with “burglary of pens, paper and phone calls”.

They were held after staging a four-hour sit-in over two of parent agency Y&R’s key clients – Land Rover and BAE Systems.

The action was part of a worldwide campaign against climate change, dubbed Fossil Fools Day. In the UK, the group also staged demonstrations outside Porsche dealerships, the head office of E-on, and a coal mine in Wales.

The three activists managed to get into the Y&R building –Greater London House on Hampstead Road, NW1 – by posing as executives from a newly-privatised wing of the MoD called HarrionProjects, a spoof company whose centrepiece is the Harrion, a civilian version of the Harrier Jump-Jet.

Once inside, they barricaded themselves into the conference room, opposite Wunderman EMEA chief executive Marcus Starke’s office.

Yorkshire GM trial sabotaged

The Tadcaster GM potato trial has been decontaminated, according to the Sunday Mirror!

The Tadcaster GM potato trial has been decontaminated, according to the Sunday Mirror! According to the article, they were completely destroyed, and the Environment Minister isn’t happy. Mr Woolas said: “The people behind this should have the guts to go public and join the debate about GM foods. Their arrogance appalls me.” The attack on June 5 leaves Britain with just one remaining field of GM crops, government sources said last night. The news has not appeared anywhere else.

The Long Good Friday – coal train protest eventually evicted – final update

5am, Saturday 14th June 2008
Police confirmed all protesters had been removed from the train, and arrests went “into double figures”.

Twenty-nine climate campaigners halted a train taking fuel to Drax power station in North Yorkshire on Friday.

Those arrested face possible charges of conspiracy to obstruct trains, obstructing trains and railway trespass, police said.

The train remains where it stopped, close to the village of Carlton, near Goole, ahead of an inspection.

Up to 100 police officers, some in riot gear, boarded the wagons of the train in the operation to remove the activists.

Supt Terry Nicholson of British Transport Police said: “It’s been a lengthy operation but our priority has been the safety of the public and our officers.

“We have been dealing with the protesters in a safe and professional manner and we have been arresting people for obstructing the railway.”

One of the party of demonstrators said they had chained themselves to the train and would need to be cut free if police wanted to remove them.

Speaking from the train, one of the protesters, called Natalie, said: “The police have moved into the hoppers. They’ve started taking stuff. There must be about 10 of them on the train but loads more around it.”

Some of the protesters could be seen moving on to the top of the steel arch of the bridge over the River Aire where the train is parked, a few miles from the village of Carlton.

The train was stopped in Rawcliffe, on the border of North and East Yorkshire, apparently by a protester waving a red flag.

The environmental campaigners used an iron girder bridge and climbing equipment to scale the 12ft high truck.

“This was a complex operation as many of those arrested had to be cut free having attached themselves to rail vehicles and the overbridge,” the BTP statement added.

The protesters had hoped to stay on the train for several days and had with them food and water as well as a portable lavatory.

See original story at http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20894

Video of start of eviction attempt

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Update:
At 12pm on Friday evening the last three coal train blockaders where evicted from the bridge above the blockaded train. The occupation had lasted 16 hours and occupiers had shovelled around 30 tons of coal onto the tracks. 20 people where cut out of arm tube lockons and 9 were taken of the bridge, 29 were arrested and charged with conspircy to commit Unlawful and malicious obstruction of trains. Everyone was out of the police cells and accounted for by 10pm Saturday evening. Everyone is bailed to return… you guessed it on the 31st of July and 4th 5th and 6th of August. The fires at Drax are still burning but the movement to stop coal is growing fast.

Redecorated: McDonalds for Sean Kirtley & SUVs for Jeff Luers

“McDonalds in South Yorkshire had their toilets redecorated with ‘Free Sean Kirtley’ posters and ‘McDonalds=McMurder’ (Sheffield & Barnsley restaurants)

Till all are free..

PS: Some SUVs at a garage on Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield, needed their paintwork redoing after a little redecoration in red…free Jeff Luers!”

“McDonalds in South Yorkshire had their toilets redecorated with ‘Free Sean Kirtley’ posters and ‘McDonalds=McMurder’ (Sheffield & Barnsley restaurants)

Till all are free..

PS: Some SUVs at a garage on Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield, needed their paintwork redoing after a little redecoration in red…free Jeff Luers!”

Sean Kirtley: http://supportsean.wordpress.com
Jeff Luers: http://freefreenow.org

Source: http://directaction.info

Protest halts Drax coal train as summer of discontent against coal continues…

Media – Interviews are available with protestors: call 07944 367755 Photos from the protest at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sitefeed/ Protestors have halted a coal train carrying fuel for Drax power station in Yorkshire, the single biggest source of CO2 in the UK. The protest comes six weeks before the 2008 Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth power station … Continue reading “Protest halts Drax coal train as summer of discontent against coal continues…”

Media – Interviews are available with protestors: call 07944 367755
Photos from the protest at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sitefeed/

Protestors have halted a coal train carrying fuel for Drax power station in Yorkshire, the single biggest source of CO2 in the UK. The protest comes six weeks before the 2008 Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth power station – which will also highlight how using coal to supply energy will be a disaster for the planet.

Dressed in white overalls and canary outfits, they used safety signals to stop the train on a bridge overlooking the power station, before climbing on board and dumping coal off onto the tracks.

The train has been stopped on a branch line used exclusively for delivering coal to Drax. Protestors have used a network of climbing ropes to suspend themselves under the bridge from the train – meaning any movement while the protest continues is impossible.

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Updates at http://thecoalhole.org/

To find out what happened next, go to http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20903

9th June Noise Demo at UK Coal Head Office Protest – next one 14th July

UK Coal is about to devastate a beautiful part of the Derbyshire countryside by starting an open cast mine. So ‘Leave it in the Ground’ and Earth First! decided to make some noise over it with people from Derby, Nottingham Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and Brighton as well as other places, all travelled to UK Coals Head office in Doncaster to make some noise.

On arrival the police were there as expected, but did little to engage us and a little later in the day a 2 police officer’s with a camera and a video did appear in a daft attempt to intimidate us. UK Coal had there own security at the gate who just stood there more bored than the police.

The day was hot and very sunny at the bleak entrance of UK coals Head Office, a soul less place with nothing that said they were very proud of their company, no ornate plants, flowers or trees, just a big maintained hedge for their privacy. It is no wonder they are happy to destroy beautiful countryside for the dirty coal.

Every one was in high spirits and chilled as we all made noise for the afternoon in the sun. The plod just looked bored and there faces were getting redder by the hour under the fluro’ jackets and helmets.

We were fine of course, as we occupied the UK Coals sign for the only bit of shade while the plod kept roasting; we also sat around eating cake, pasties and sausage roles all from Veggies in a take out form, while still making a din.

At times the noise sounded good and they deliberately had to try and play badly just so it was annoying, after all it was no picnic. Banners were also hung and a police officer told us we could tie them to a lamp post, not that we needed his permission. Drivers coming in or out were also leafleted and many motorists passing the entrance beeped in support (probably ex miners who hate open casting with a passion)

It’s not just the local open cast, people are opposing of course but also the UK policy on coal that is now outdated as climate change looms in front of our eyes. Burning coal is threatening the global environment and all our futures and UK coal are cashing in on climate devastation and destruction. The Lodge House site in Derbyshire is just one of 7 sites and Lodge house will have 1 million tonnes of coal ripped out of a 122 hectare area in 5 years

Local media had turned out and radio interviews were done over the phone and there is more stuff to follow check http://leaveitintheground.org.uk and http://leaveitintheground.wordpress.com for the latest information

derby@earthfirst.org.uk

Next event: noise demo outside UK Coal on Monday 14th July 2008 – meet 3:30 at Doncaster train station, or 4pm at UK Coal

World Naked Bike Ride UK

A peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture. A celebration of the bicycle and also a celebration of the power and individuality of the human body. A symbol of the vulnerability of the cyclist in traffic. The world’s biggest naked protest: 50+ cities and thousands of riders participate worldwide, including more than 1500 in the UK in 2007.

http://worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/

To check any details of rides below, see http://nakedwiki.org/wiki/UK

# Southampton: Fri 6 June, 6pm
# Brighton & Hove: Sat 7 June, 11am
# York: Sat 7 June, 4pm
# Sheffield: Sun 8 June, 2pm
# Manchester: Fri 13 June, 6pm
# Cardiff: Sat 14 June, (time is still being finalised)
# London: Sat 14 June, 3pm
# Edinburgh: 28 or 29 June – TBC

# There is discussion about possible rides in Cambridge, Belfast, Glasgow, Oxford, or even a Bristol to Bath ride.