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India police arrest dozens of villagers for protesting against new toxic dump

4th Feb 2012

A total of 47 indigenous people were arrested and another 5 needed hospital treatment after hundreds of Indian police and Vedanta security guards confronted a peaceful demonstration two weeks ago in the state of Orissa, India.

On January 21, a group of villagers came together to protest against a new toxic mine waste dump that threatens to disrupt their way of life.

4th Feb 2012

A total of 47 indigenous people were arrested and another 5 needed hospital treatment after hundreds of Indian police and Vedanta security guards confronted a peaceful demonstration two weeks ago in the state of Orissa, India.

On January 21, a group of villagers came together to protest against a new toxic mine waste dump that threatens to disrupt their way of life.

Despite the peaceful nature of the protesters, as seen in the following video by Amnesty International, the 47 villagers were subsequently charged with "attempted murder" and "rioting".

Amnesty International is calling for the obviously-false charges to be dropped. They're also urging the government to release the protesters; and to properly take their needs and rights into account before letting the company proceed with the new waste dump.

Just prior to the arrests, Amnesty alleged that the Uk-based mining giant hasn't done anything to clean up existing pollution at the site of its Lanjigarh aluminum refinery beside Niyamgiri mountain in Orissa.

Similarly, "The Indian authorities have remained silent on the issues of cleaning up the refinery and monitoring the health of local communities. They must act on this now," said Amnesty International's India researcher Ramesh Gopalakrishnan.

"The red mud pond, which collects toxic waste by-products from the refinery, covers an area of approximately 38 hectares. The pond is full to the brim and suffered serious leaks during last year’s monsoons," explains Amnesty.

Two weeks ago, the High Court of Orissa rejected the company's plan to expand the Lanjigarh refinery after finding that the project is in violation of India's environmental laws.

The welcomed decision is the latest in a long line of legal setbacks for the company.

Earth First! Winter Moot, what to expect

This years Earth First! Winter Moot takes place in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In a months time environmentalists from across the UK and beyond will converge to discuss and debate. Below is an update from the organising collective who are working on the program.

This years Earth First! Winter Moot takes place in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In a months time environmentalists from across the UK and beyond will converge to discuss and debate. Below is an update from the organising collective who are working on the program.

The Moot 2012 collective has felt that at previous EF! Gatherings groups have primarily attended to recruit for their respective campaigns. Yet those who attend EF! Gatherings are predominantly already active, making them good places for networking, but not necessarily for outright recruitment. We recognise the effort gathering organisers put into planning agendas but often the more discursive aspects of the gatherings focus on larger, abstract questions and debates have often been framed by self-appointed experts. We feel that these discussions ineffectively attempt to find answers or reach consensus where this is inappropriate.

For example at the first EF! Gathering 20 years ago the question was asked: 'What is EF!?' 20 years later in 2011 at the last Moot the same question was still being asked . . .

The answer is EF! is what we make it, and this year we are going to make it a space in which we can approach our campaigns both critically and analytically by asking more specific and practical questions. Our activism should be constantly evolving not stuck in a rut asking the same questions again and again.

The agenda will be designed to ask questions around four key issues: the tactics we use; the strategies that we employ in our campaigns; community solidarity; and sustainable activism. There will be no attempt to reach conclusions or consensus especially about what EF! is. Instead we want to have discussions that lead to new ideas that could evolve ongoing campaigns or give creative inspiration to ones that are just getting started.

A free space will be provided in which campaigns will be able to hold meetings and have further discussions if they wish, and there will also be some space given for campaign updates with an emphasis on honest analysis rather than promotion.

For updates and more info check the website or email us.

EF!WM Crew
e-mail: efwintermoot@noflag.org.uk
Homepage: http://earthfirstgathering.org.uk

Shell’s Peat Haulage Has Begun… And Been Disrupted !

Shell is removing peat bog from the tunnelling compound in Aughoose, Co. Mayo, Ireland, and replacing it with stone and gravel from nearby quarries. The increased truck movements has not gone unchallenged.

 

Shell is removing peat bog from the tunnelling compound in Aughoose, Co. Mayo, Ireland, and replacing it with stone and gravel from nearby quarries. The increased truck movements has not gone unchallenged.

 

Following the peat truck protest last Wednesday that resulted in 4 people being arrested –  https://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/content/campaigners-block-shells-peat-haulage-morning-after-taisce-faces-local-community – protests have been happening almost every day.

On Saturday 19th November, around 12pm, 4 people stopped peat and quarry trucks along the haulage route. By the time Gardai arrived, most of the workers in the compound had gone home and work had stopped for the day.

On Monday the 21st , 8 people entered into Barrett's Quarry in Bangor and tried to get onto diggers to stop work. One campaigner reached one of the diggers, but was dragged down by security before climbing on top. The IRMS security grabbed everyone and held them down until they could drag them out of the quarry. This is the first time entering Barret's Quarry that no-one succeeded in getting on top of machinery. If there had been a couple more people on the action, it may have succeeded (i.e. come up to Mayo!)

On Tuesday 22nd November around 12:15pm, 2 people locked their arms into a concrete barrel; blocking the main haulage route. This happened after the weekly Tuesday morning protest with locals and supporters from 8 to 11am. The morning was very effective in its own right as over 20 people spread out along the Bellanaboy refinery road and stopped many of the peat and quarry trucks at several points. The Gardai present were stretched in dealing with the situation at hand.

The lock-on was put in place an hour after the end of the morning protest. At one stage Gardai briefly attempted to pull out one person's arm while they were screaming that they were locked into the barrel, which required some angry reminders from others present that cutting them out was going to be the only acceptable way. The lock-on was highly effective and lasted from 12:15pm until 5:30pm. There was local support for a while before the Gardai proceeded to close down the road. Up to 12 trucks were sat waiting in the Aughoose compound and diggers and other machinery therefore had nothing to do. The 2 campaigners were arrested and released later that evening.

Also worth mentioning were several trucks being stopped or slowed down throughout the week for half an hour or so when the opportunity arose. No arrests were made on those occasions.

If you and/or your friends are interested in coming down to the ongoing campaign and being almost certain of halting work for all or most part of the day, then now is the time !

Show your support – the battle goes on !

www.shelltosea.com

www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org

Protests Continue Against Iron Mining in Armenia

9.11.2011

9.11.2011

Opposition politicians and environmental activists joined on Wednesday about two hundred residents of the central Armenian town of Hrazdan in protesting against the opening of an iron mine which they believe would have grave ecological consequences.

The crowd rallied in Hrazdan’s central square before heading to a nearby hill rich in iron ore in a convoy of buses and cars.

Bounty Resources Armenia Limited (BRAL), a company partly owned by a Chinese firm, plans to launch open-pit operations there and in two other, larger iron deposits elsewhere in the country in the coming years. A team of geologists hired by BRAL is currently working there to ascertain iron reserves hidden underground through test drilling.

Environment protection groups are strongly opposed to iron mining in the area, saying that it would pollute air, agricultural land and the Hrazdan river, the main supplier of irrigation water to the fertile Ararat Valley in the country’s south.

Many Hrazdan residents share these concerns. Some of them already demonstrated against the project late last month.

“There is a ghost town in China near a similarly exploited mine,” said one woman taking part in the protest. “We would have the same situation here.”

Miasnik Malkhasian, a geologist coordinating test drilling at the site, dismissed such concerns as he and his workers were confronted by the angry crowd. “There is no danger whatsoever,” he said.

The protesters remained unconvinced. Some of them smashed wooden boxes containing drilling samples. Police officers monitoring the demonstration did not intervene.

“Such criminal decisions are not made in Hrazdan,” Karine Hakobian, a leader of the opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, told the protesters before the march. “They are made in Yerevan, at the presidential palace and the government building. They have turned us into slaves in our own country.”

Sasun Mikaelian, a Hrazdan-based former parliamentarian affiliated with the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), singled out former Environment Minister Vartan Ayvazian for blame.

The Hetq.am news service reported last January that by Ayvazian and his family at least partly control BRAL. The ex-minister, who now chairs one of the standing committees of the Armenian parliament, did not deny that.

The Hetq report followed the announcement by the Chinese company Fortune Oil that it has paid $24 million to acquire a 35 percent share in BRAL. Fortune Oil has the option of raising the stake to 50 percent for an additional $16 million.

Ayvazian had considerable regulatory authority over the mining industry when he served as environment minister from 2001-2007.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24386103.html

Earth First! Winter Moot 2012 – 24-26th February 2012. Updated: location & what to expect

A weekend of discussion and networking for those taking direct action against ecological destruction. 

Please note date & location change (due to date clash & venue problems):

24-26th February 2012, near Glasgow

Nearest train station: Lanark.

A weekend of discussion and networking for those taking direct action against ecological destruction. 

Please note date & location change (due to date clash & venue problems):

24-26th February 2012, near Glasgow

Nearest train station: Lanark.

See earthfirstgathering.org.uk for further information about location,  programme and contact details

Update:

Where – this years Earth First Winter Moot will take place in Glespin Village Hall, South Lanarkshire. Glespin is a small village about 14 miles south of Lanark, and 35 miles south of Glasgow. South Lanarkshire also has many beautiful areas with rivers, hills, forests and peat bogs.  Full directions

What to expect – this years Earth First! Winter Moot takes place in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In a months time environmentalists from across the UK and beyond will converge to discuss and debate. Below is an update from the organising collective who are working on the program.

The Moot 2012 collective has felt that at previous EF! Gatherings groups have primarily attended to recruit for their respective campaigns. Yet those who attend EF! Gatherings are predominantly already active, making them good places for networking, but not necessarily for outright recruitment. We recognise the effort gathering organisers put into planning agendas but often the more discursive aspects of the gatherings focus on larger,  abstract questions and debates have often been framed by self-appointed experts. We feel that these discussions ineffectively attempt to find answers or reach consensus where this is inappropriate.

For example at the first EF! Gathering 20 years ago the question was asked: 'What is EF!?' 20 years later in 2011 at the last Moot the same question was still being asked . . .

The answer is EF! is what we make it, and this year we are going to make it a space in which we can approach our campaigns both critically and analytically by asking more specific and practical questions. Our activism should be constantly evolving not stuck in a rut asking the same questions again and again.

The agenda will be designed to ask questions around four key issues: the tactics we use; the strategies that we employ in our campaigns; community solidarity; and sustainable activism. There will be no attempt to reach conclusions or consensus especially about what EF! is. Instead we want to have discussions that lead to new ideas that could evolve ongoing campaigns or give creative inspiration to ones that are just getting started.

A free space will be provided in which campaigns will be able to hold meetings and have further discussions if they wish, and there will also be some space given for campaign updates with an emphasis on honest analysis rather than promotion.

For updates and more info check the website or email us.

efwintermoot@noflag.org.uk

Call Out: OpposeThe EDL In Birmingham 29th Oct

The EDL are to hold a demo in Victoria square, Birmingham on 29th October 12:00 – 18:00. Victoria Square is also the location of the Occupy Birmingham protest camp which could become a target for the EDL. This is a call out for people to come to Victoria Square on the 29th and defend the Occupy Birmingham camp and defend the city from the EDL.

The EDL are to hold a demo in Victoria square, Birmingham on 29th October 12:00 – 18:00. Victoria Square is also the location of the Occupy Birmingham protest camp which could become a target for the EDL. This is a call out for people to come to Victoria Square on the 29th and defend the Occupy Birmingham camp and defend the city from the EDL.

The Islamophobic & Racist Organisation The English Defence League Are Organising An Anti-Islam Demonstration In Birmingham On Saturday 29th October 2011, When The EDL Hold Their Demonstrations In Cities & Towns Across The Country It Ends Up In Mosques Being Vandalised & Innocent Muslims Including Women & Children Being Physically & Verbally Attacked, This Is Why Its Very Important For Everyone To Come & Protect The City From The… Islamophobes & Racists.

The EDL have been to Birmingham 3 times previously & have failed miserably all 3 times by getting run out of the city, it has took the EDL over 2 years to muster up some confidence to come back to Birmingham, lets make sure it ends in failure for the EDL again.

new EF! Action Update

In an end of the summer compact EF!AU, find news about kicking shell in the teeth in Rossport again and then some more, solidarity with the community at Dale Farm, and anti-GM resistance – Spuds you Don’t Like demo in England, sabotage in Germany, France and Scotland.

In an end of the summer compact EF!AU, find news about kicking shell in the teeth in Rossport again and then some more, solidarity with the community at Dale Farm, and anti-GM resistance – Spuds you Don’t Like demo in England, sabotage in Germany, France and Scotland.

On top of the usual contacts and dates, read about solidarity with jailed Swiss nanotech activists, resistance against steel plants, mobile phone masts, mining and energy projects here & across the world – stay angry and don’t carry on as usual!

The quarterly EF!AU, August 2011

Chinese villagers riot over pollution

19 September 2011
A solar panel factory in eastern China has been shut down after protests by local residents over pollution fears.

Some 500 villagers staged a three-day protest following the death of large numbers of fish in a local river.

19 September 2011
A solar panel factory in eastern China has been shut down after protests by local residents over pollution fears.

Some 500 villagers staged a three-day protest following the death of large numbers of fish in a local river.

Some demonstrators broke into the plant in Zhejiang province, destroying offices and overturning company cars before being dispersed by riot police.

…

RIOTS have broken out in China against a factory polluting local water as resistance grows globally to the neoliberal industrial nightmare.

Reports China Forbidden News: “Villagers in Haining city, Zhejiang province in China have held three days of protest against Jinko Solar Co. discharging heavy cancer-causing pollution.

“Villagers and journalists were beaten by company security. The protesters beat local officials and overturned four police cars. The police also fired tear gas.

“Online sources state that over 10 people are injured or dead.

“A human rights activist said that Chinese Communist Party’ (CCP) system was causing the struggle in people’s lives.

…

“We feel that it is socially responsible to close the factory first and to take corrective measures,” company spokesman Thomas Jing told the BBC.

He said there had been accidental discharge into the surrounding area during a rainstorm at the end of August.

He said chemicals used at the factory had been stored in an open area rather than a warehouse, and that the covering had been ripped off during the unexpectedly harsh weather.

Mr Jing said the firm was investigating whether the fluoride was responsible for the death of the fish. A clean-up was also under way, he said.

…

“The Jinko Solar company is a subsidiary of a New York Stock Exchange-listed Chinese solar company, fully financed by Hong Kong Paker Technology Co., Ltd.

“They produce solar wafers, cells and other products, exporting to more than twenty countries within Europe, Asia, and the United States.

“The plant is located in Haining city, Zhejiang province and Shangrao city, Jiangxi province.
There are over 10,000 employees and the plant covers more than 165 acres.

“Villagers blame the company for discharging polluted water and harmful gases into the environment, causing the massive deaths of fish floating in the river.

“Local villagers found that there were over 10 people who developed cancer as a result of the pollution.”

…

This is the latest example of Chinese citizens being spurred to action over environmental worries. Last week, Shanghai halted production at two factories over worries about lead poisoning.

Last month, a chemical factory in the north-eastern city of Dalian was ordered to move after 12,000 residents took to the streets over pollution fears.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14968605
http://vastminority.blogspot.com/2011/09/chinese-villagers-riot-over-pollution.html

Outdoor skillshare 2011! 26-29th August, South Lanarkshire

Much more information about the event has been uploaded here: http://outdoorskillshare.noflag.org.uk/

Coal Action Scotland warmly invites you to join us in beautiful rural South Lanarkshire for a weekend of skillsharing and workshops about outdoor life and resistance techniques. From mass catering to foraging wild foods, from land defence to self defence, from climbing trees to digging tunnels and everything between; come and learn new skills, meet new people and share your experiences with others.

Much more information about the event has been uploaded here: http://outdoorskillshare.noflag.org.uk/

Coal Action Scotland warmly invites you to join us in beautiful rural South Lanarkshire for a weekend of skillsharing and workshops about outdoor life and resistance techniques. From mass catering to foraging wild foods, from land defence to self defence, from climbing trees to digging tunnels and everything between; come and learn new skills, meet new people and share your experiences with others.



Since the occupation of Mainshill Wood and the recent nine month occupation of Happendon Wood, Coal Action Scotland has had much collective experience of occupying and defending land along with sustaining and growing a community of resistance. The skillshare was conceived of because even though we have lots to share, we still have much more to learn and we hope to collectively empower ourselves and others to increase our mutual capacity for effective action.

This skillshare will be a safe, inclusive and participatory environment for learning new, interesting and transferable skills and is open to people of all abilities and experiences. Whatever your particular campaign, whatever interests or excites you, the skillshare will be a creative melting pot of ideas and techniques to sustain life and resist oppression (however it manifests itself).

Check the website or join our mailing list to receive updates as they happen and feel free to contact us with any suggestions/requirements/questions you may have at outdoorskillshare [at] riseup.net.

**Solidarity with Dale Farm: At the same time as the Outdoor Skillshare will be taking place, Camp Constant will be holding a skillshare at Dale Farm, in solidarity with 90 families facing eviction from the UK’s largest traveling community. The two skillshares, although at the same time, are supporting each other – if you can’t come to one, please come to the other! http://dalefarm.wordpress.com/**

China protest closes toxic chemical plant in Dalian

14 August 2011
Authorities in the north-eastern Chinese city of Dalian have ordered the closure of a chemical plant after a mass protest over pollution.

Scuffles had broken out on Sunday between police and thousands of protesters calling for it to be moved.

14 August 2011
Authorities in the north-eastern Chinese city of Dalian have ordered the closure of a chemical plant after a mass protest over pollution.

Scuffles had broken out on Sunday between police and thousands of protesters calling for it to be moved.

Officials ordered the plant’s closure “immediately” and pledged to relocate it, state news agency Xinhua said.

Last week a storm broke the dyke around the plant, sparking fears the paraxylene (PX) it makes could spill.

PX is used in fabric manufacture and can be highly toxic.

About 12,000 residents took part in the protest, some of them moving across the city chanting slogans and waving banners.

Xinhua said the city’s top official, Tang Jun, had tried to calm the crowd on Sunday but the protesters showed no sign of dispersing.

There were no reports of injuries in the scuffles during which riot police were deployed to shield the municipal government office.

Calls for protesters to gather on Sunday for a “group stroll”, as the rally was termed, had reportedly been circulating on social networks.

“Group strolls” have become a favoured tactic for Chinese people to show discontent with the government.
‘PX out!’

Photographs posted on the internet on Sunday showed protesters, including children, marching under such banners as “I love Dalian and reject poison” and “Give me back my home and garden! PX out! Protect Dalian!”.

One picture showed three men standing on top of a police van in front of People’s Square and a person in a skeleton costume surrounded by hundreds of men and policemen, Reuters news agency reports.

On Monday, residents living near the PX plant had to be evacuated after storm waves breached a dyke protecting it.

The dyke was repaired but concern rose among local people, and reports suggested the plant may have been operating illegally months before it received mandatory environmental approval.

PX is used to make plastics, polyester and cleaning products, and can damage vital organs after long-term exposure.

A Dalian resident, who declined to be named, told Reuters news agency: “We know that the typhoon caused some leak of poisonous chemicals from the PX project and we are all worrying about it because it is a threat to our life.”

Local people hoped their protest would “push the government to do something as soon as possible to dispel” the concern, the resident added.

Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, was being censored by the authorities to block searches for the terms “PX”, “Dalian” and “Dalian protests”.