Other – Page 38 – Earth First!

Spirit of Freedom (March 2008) – Earth Liberation Prisoners

Spirit of Freedom
(March 2008)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening
words and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!”
(Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Spirit of Freedom
(March 2008)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

“The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening
words and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!”
(Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the March 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. First off in this
Editorial ELP would like to apologise about an error we have made in our
prisoner listing. We wrote that the American Eco-Defence prisoner Grant
Barnes spray-painted the letters ELF onto one of the vehicles he set fire
to. Grant has asked for a correction, pointing out he spray-painted the
letters ELF onto all of the vehicles he set fire to. Secondly as people may
be aware, the American environmental prisoner, Eric McDavid, is currently
held on remand awaiting his sentencing having been found guilty of having
the intention to destroy the property of the US Foresty Service, etc. (note:
he never actually destroyed or set fire to anything). Eric’s sentencing is
constantly being put back and back and we urge everyone to support him as we
recognise this constant delay in his sentencing will be a very stressful
time for Eric. Remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the
eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

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.

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO
81002, USA. Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles.
The letters ELF were spray painted onto all of the vehicles.

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600
Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF
arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership.
Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Vaggelis Botzatzis, Komotini Juridical Prison (“Dikastikes Fylakes
Komotinis”), T.K. 69100, Greece. On remand accused of setting fire to two
company cars owned by a energy/power company. It is believed that the
person or persons unknown who carried out the arson did so in protest at the
destruction of the natural environment and in support of two workers who
died at the power plant. Vaggelis is also accused of setting fire to a bank
and starting a fire inside a car yard.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. Serving 18
years. 1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons
leading from nuclear power stations. 2) Eight 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.

Daniele Casalini, Casa Circondariale, Via Burla 59, 43100 Parma, Italy. Il
Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Rod Coronado – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

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.

Francesco Gioia, C.C. Sollicciano, Via Girolamo Minervini 2/R, 50142 Firenze
Sollicciano (FI), Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of
using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear
energy.

Jeffrey Luers, #1306729, Lane County Adult Corrections, 101 West 5th Ave,
Eugene, OR 97401-2695, USA. Serving 10 years for arson on a SUV dealership
& the attempted arson of an oil truck. The original sentence was 22 years &
8 months, but was reduced on appeal.

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

Daniel McGowan #63794-053, Unit I, FCI Sandstone, Federal Correctional
Institution, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072, USA. Serving 7 years for an
ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an old growth
logging corporation. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Julio Villanueva, C.P. Prision De Pamplona, 31080, Iruna (Navarra), Spain.
Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial
Itoiz dam construction site.

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F,
Dublin, CA 94568, USA. Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against
a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership. Also
admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

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.

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF,
England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to his
involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15
3JZ, England. Jailed for breaching her parole conditions imposed on her for
telling a fox hunting murdering scum what she thought of them. Also awaiting trial accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Nathan Block – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks
MK4 4DA, England. On remand accused of involvement with an arson and
blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.

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.

Rod Coronado, Voice of the Earth, PO Box 732, Tucson, AZ 85702, USA. Due to
be sentenced to one-year imprisonment after Rod informed people how to make
an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering.

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX,
England. Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual
years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection
industry including HLS.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution,
Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Downview, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PD,
England. Serving 5½ 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.

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

Daniel McGowan – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx.
TW15 3JZ, England. On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in
relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution,
37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA. Sentenced to 51 months for an
ALF arson on a horse meat plant. Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF
conspiracy.

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.

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.

Gabriel Villeneuve #HUL03299801, 500, de la Faune, Case Postale 87130,
Québec, Québec, G1G 5E4, Canda. Held on remand accused of breaching probation conditions by allegedly attending an animal rights protest, even though he never actually went to the protest!

Joyanna Zacher – See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

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 20½ 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.

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 either under house arrest or released on bail.

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 that turned into a riot.

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g. Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia. Serving 2½ years for stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack.

Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech Republic.
Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against local neo-nazis. His charge was “bodily harm”. He speaks Czech, Slovak and Polish. You can also write him short postcards in English.

Fabio Milan, C.C. via Pianezza 300, 10151 Torino, Italy. On remand accused of fighting with the police after an anti-fascist protest.

Andrea Neff, Bnr: 746/07/2, Justizvollzugsanstalt fur Frauen in Berlin, Arkonastrasse 56, 13189 Berlin, Germany. Serving 14 months for anti-fascist activity.

Christian Sümmermann, Bnr: 441/08/5, JVA Plötzensee, Lehrterstr. 61, 10557 Berlin, Germany. Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities.

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

OTHER PRISONERS

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.

Maura Michlle Lungarlli, booking # 1167062, Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF), 11705 South Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262, USA. Well known animal rights Laura Lungarlli held on remand accused of activity unconnected to animal rights. (Please note the prison officials have made a spelling mistake with her name which must be replicated on her letters of support).

Kevin Olliff, booking #1167029, Terminal Annex, P.O. Box #86164, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164, USA. Animal rights activist held on remand accused of activity unconnected to animal rights. Co-defendant of Laura Lungarlli.

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 Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974), SCI Mahanoy, 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.

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 monthly prisoner listing which is circulated by e-mail.

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

Greek language ELP Website
http://greekelp.blogspot.com

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

Australian ELP.SN is our Australian contact. For more info 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.

Greek ELP.SN is our Greek contact. For more info e-mail greekelp@yahoo.gr

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

Road blockades in Argentina against gold mine exploitation

Barrick Gold Secretly Building Roads to Attack Mt. Famatina in La Rioja

12th March 2008

Barrick Gold Secretly Building Roads to Attack Mt. Famatina in La Rioja

12th March 2008

On the one-year anniversary of the road blockade in Peña Negra and “ouster” of Barrick Gold from the Famatina mountain range, it has been confirmed that Barrick Gold, with the complicity of the national and provincial government, has been secretly constructing a new entry road into the backside of the mountain. This new road enters through Potrero Grande near Vinchina, avoiding the widespread public resistance on the east side of the range, and links Barrick Gold’s Famatina project with the uranium projects under exploration along the southern border of the neighboring province of Catamarca.

Barrick’s Famatina project was an open-pit gold mine to be located upon the higher flanks of the Famatina Range. Barrick’s insertion into the beloved mountain was carried out silently and secretly during the past few years until 2006, when residents found out and began a grassroots campaign of education, outreach and resistance. In March 2007, residents began a round the clock peaceful blockade of the only road entering into the mountain and Barrick’s mining camp. In an astonishing turn of events, widespread anti-mining public opinion led to the ouster of corrupt provincial Governor Angel Maza, a province-wide “prohibition” of open-pit mining, and the scheduling of a public referendum. Confronted with turmoil and resistance, Barrick Gold announced their “withdrawal” from the Famatina project in April 2007.

Owing to Barrick Gold’s history of lies and misrepresentations, nobody believed them. Sure enough, in the past year, new governor Luis Beder-Herrera reneged on his promises to stop the mining exploitation: First he blocked the scheduled public referendum, claiming that it was unnecessary because there were already laws in place to prohibit open-pit mining — months later he claimed that these very laws he had signed were non-binding because they had never been subject to a public referendum! The Governor has been negotiating secretly with mining companies, including Barrick Gold, to pave the way for their return.

The access road to Famatina has remained steadfastly blockaded by neighbors throughout the year. And now, Barrick Gold and the province of La Rioja are confirmed to be constructing a new road to try and insert out the view of the firmly anti-mining residents. The truth came out in February when a truck carrying unknown chemicals plunged off a cliff near Potrero Grande, killing the driver contracted by a subsidiary Barrick Gold. It still remains unannounced what chemicals were spilled in the tragic accident.

One thing remains certain: The Famatina mountain range provides the water which supports the lives of all the people and ecosystems in the region. La Rioja is an arid province which depends upon the runoff from the mountain peaks, their only source of water and life. And the people of this region remain steadfast in their opposition to large-scale mining projects, be they gold or uranium.

The “self-organized neighbors” (vecinos autoconvocados) of Famatina, Chilecito, and La Rioja have called upon their neighbors on the other side of the mountain range (in the towns of Vinchina, Jague, and Potrero Grande) to come forth and prevent further construction of Barrick Gold’s cowardly rear access road. Sure enough, on March 12, 2008, neighbors have followed their example, carrying out a first blockade of the highway in the town of Patquía.

Self-Organized Neighbors of Famatina In Defense of Life
Coordination of Citizen Assemblies of Chilecito
Self-Organized Neighbors of Pituil,
Self-Organized Neighbors of Chañarmuyo
Self-Organized Neighbors of North Famatina
Self-Organized Neighbors of La Rioja capital

For More Information:
www.ciudadanosporlavida.com.ar

Good news at last for Packers Field users!!!

Free, informal access to continue

The last 10 months may have seemed the quietest since 2002, when the City Academy’s plans to develop Packers Field first became public knowledge.

Free, informal access to continue

The last 10 months may have seemed the quietest since 2002, when the City Academy’s plans to develop Packers Field first became public knowledge.

In fact, the work of local campaigners trying to maintain free public access to Packers has continued throughout this period, and is to be rewarded with the implementation of a Community Use Agreement, or CUA. This CUA should uphold the right of local people to continue to use the site for informal sport and leisure, as they have done for generations. This is good news for local residents of all ages and backgrounds, in advance of the field re-opening in April or May.

What is a CUA?
A CUA is a document that is required when councils and government give funding to develop sports facilities. It is a signed legal document that makes it clear who can use the facilities and who is responsible for managing them. In the case of Packers, the CUA will be signed by the City Academy and Bristol City Council.

History of the Packers Field CUA
The implementation of a CUA was one of the conditions attached to planning permission granted to the Academy. However, this does not tell the whole story. ‘Community use’ refers primarily to official, organised groups of people who book the facilities (sports clubs, schools, etc). The rights of informal users (e.g. walkers, kite-flyers, children having a ‘kickabout’) are not automatically covered by a CUA. Indeed, the Academy stated from the beginning that its commitment was only to organised sport. The original CUA proposed by the Academy in 2005 consisted of just a few paragraphs, with no meaningful content regarding public use or the Academy’s responsibilities. It was understandably rejected by local people. The new agreement that has been agreed and signed is a robust, meaningful document, WRITTEN AND PROPOSED BY MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. Both of these documents are available to view at www.packersfield.org.uk.

The CUA now allows the local community and the school to enjoy the benefits of this green space, as has always been the intention of campaigners. However, the management of the CUA by the Academy will need to be monitored closely by all parties, as some questions remain over how the Academy can be held to account to do what it says it will do.

What does the Packers CUA mean for local people?

The CUA sets out a number of important guarantees for informal users of the field. These include:
– Free public access to the site at all times between 7.30am and dusk.
– The City Academy to be responsible for maintenance and safety of site.
– Annual consultation meetings with the Academy to discuss progress of informal use of the site, including grievances /
concerns. Local residents are strongly encouraged to attend these public meetings.

Informal users of Packers also have responsibilities under the terms of the CUA. These include:
– Not interfering with formal sports activities on the field or posing a health and safety risk to other users.
– Moving to other parts of the site if reasonably requested to do so by ground staff.
– Not walking dogs on the site.

This is only a brief summary of the agreed CUA. For a more detailed understanding of its content, please consult the original document at

www.packersfield.org.uk/news/cua2.htm or by contacting the City Academy.

Future development of Packers Field?
It has long been public knowledge that the Academy and Bristol City Council are keen to develop an athletics facility on Packers Field. A previous plan for a stadium and artificial running track was quickly retracted following public opposition, but both parties have since made clear their desire to see an athletics facility on the site. This poses some very serious challenges for the future, not least to the validity of the CUA itself. If an athletics facility were to be located on the site, any free space for informal use would undoubtedly be lost. It is also a very real possibility that floodlights will be part of the plan, which would affect many people in Whitehall and Greenbank. This may well become the next part of the campaign and will again need popular local support to stop it form happening.

Let’s end on a positive note! The Academy has made considerable concessions on its original vision for Packers Field, due to the strength and initiative of the local community. These concessions are a tribute to every person who has signed a petition, written a letter, attended a meeting or just supported the campaign with words of encouragement. The future of the field is still a long way from certain, but what we have achieved so far should give us the belief that we can further influence events and decisions.

To celebrate this positive development in the campaign, there will be a social evening at the White Hart pub on Whitehall Road on Sunday 30th March from 8 till late. There will be live bands, DJs and the chance to catch up with people who have supported the campaign over the last few years. Entry is free, although donations towards the ongoing costs of the campaign are appreciated. All welcome, please come along.

http://www.packersfield.org.uk

Word Document Leaflet delivered to Whitehall residents

Earth First! summer gathering date change & contact details

The dates of the EF! Summer Gathering have been changed, to work better with other events happening over the summer such as the Saving Iceland protest camp and the Camp for Climate Action.

The new dates are Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008.

This should give us all the space to recover & reflect, and to plot & plan onwards and upwards.

The dates of the EF! Summer Gathering have been changed, to work better with other events happening over the summer such as the Saving Iceland protest camp and the Camp for Climate Action.

The new dates are Wednesday 27th August to Monday 1st September 2008.

This should give us all the space to recover & reflect, and to plot & plan onwards and upwards.

The new contact details for the EF!SG collective is summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

You can download publicity – 2 posters & leaflet all in one: (front & back)

Watch this space for more info nearer the time.

New groups & contacts/support setting up a group

At the recent EF! Winter Moot, eight new EF! groups & contacts for rock-on ecological direct action were formed, with others just finally getting an email address. Some have addresses already – click on their name if linked for those details & perhaps more info…

Derby EF! | derby@earthfirst.org.uk
Lancaster EF! | lancasterbasement@aktivix.org
Leeds EF! | leeds@earthfirst.org.uk
Norfolk & Waveney EF! | norfolk@earthfirst.org.uk
Notts EF! | notts@earthfirst.org.uk
Plymouth EF! | plymouth@earthfirst.org.uk
Scotland Central Belt EF! | scotland@earthfirst.org.uk
West Wales EF! | westwales@earthfirst.org.uk

If you want to set-up an EF! group, check out the ‘setting up a group’ at What is Earth First!? and let us knowwhat you get up to, or if you need a hand.

The Earth First! Summer Gathering collective also now have an email address (note the date change in this separate news story): summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

—–

2009 updates:

Leeds street medic training, 28th-30th March

The UK Action Medics are running a 2 1/2 day street medic training in Leeds at the end of this month. This is a 20 hour course that will teach you the basics of general First Aid, as well as skills to deal with medical situations specific to direct action, such as dealing with chemical weapons and the police. The course will involve scenarios and hands-on practice and, although we cannot offer you any official accreditation, the 2 1/2 day training is the minimum standard for membership of the Action Medics, and will equip you for a wide range of situations, from hypothermia to baton wounds.

The training will be on the 28th-30th of March, which is Friday to Saturday. There will be 3 or 4 hours on Friday evening and two full days on Saturday and Sunday. Food will be provided, as well as accommodation if needed – we ask for a donation of £30 to cover costs, although this will be less if we can find a venue for free.

The venue is as yet unconfirmed, but the training will take place in central Leeds, and we can give you directions from the train/bus station. It is essential to book a place so we know how many people are coming – please email iloveavocado@hotmail.com to do this, or with any questions.

Also, we are planning to organise a 4 hour certified ‘Emergency Life Support’ course on the Friday (28th March) afternoon. This will cover CPR as well as a bit of other stuff, like how to control bleeding and deal with an unconscious person. We don’t teach CPR in the 2 1/2 day course, although we cover everything else, but having certification is useful. We’d recommend that people coming on the 2 1/2 day course try to attend this too, but it isn’t mandatory, and it is open to people who can’t commit to the weekend. As we will be bringing in an outside trainer, please email if you want to come on this so we can work out if we have the numbers.

www.actionmedics.org.uk

Treesit last ditch attempt stop bushland destruction

2008-2-29
A group of Concerned Independent Activists (CIA) have placed a platform occupied by an activist, high up a tuart tree in bushland at College Grove in Bunbury. It is hoped this will delay destruction of this contentious forest.

The bush, which forms part of a valuable nature corridor, is under threat of being bulldozed by Landcorp for a hosing development. CIA spokesperson Simon Peterfly said “this is the last nature corridor on the Swan Coastal Plain that connects the ocean to a river”…
The platform is a last ditch attempt to save the bush, which includes a rare population of ring-tailed possums. He said that Landcorp’s project was contrary to all good sense and showed a total lack of moral standing in the world of conservation.

“We want to expose Landcorp’s intent to destroy this vital section of the corridor to all Western Australians”, he said. “This is more than just a piece of bush to be flattened. It contains the rare tuart transition zone and provides habitat to a protected species which relies upon the bush for its ongoing existence”.

Mr Peterfly said that the independent activists hoped that their remaining actions would help educate people about the fragility of the remaining bushland at College Grove. “If people log onto Google Earth, they will see just how thin the nature corridor has become… It is just so fragile and too valuable to lose”.

Mr Peterfly said that the platform would stay in place as long as possible to focus people’s attention on the plight of remnant bushland on the Swan Coastal Plain.

CONTACT Simon Peterfly – 0422 540756

South West Environment Centre

Brixton Reclaim Your Food Collective, 2 Arrests.

People taking part in Brixton’s Reclaim Your Food weekly action faced arrest on Sunday (2nd March 2008 ) as they challenged the legitimacy of a Dispersal Order issued by the Lambeth branch of the Metropolitan Police.

The weekly vegan open picnic has recently faced growing repression from Police and consistent support in the community. Police (which constituted a mix of PCs, CSOs and higher-ranking officers) were waiting for the collective before they even arrived. They came equipped with a mobile surveillance van, 2 regular Police vans and 2 Police cars. Disproportionate? Make up your own mind…

The first arrest came as a result of a refusal to comply with the Dispersal Order placed upon the group, the second for attempting to establish the legal basis for such an arrest.

The Dispersal Order, made possible by the controversial Anti-Social Behaviour Act, was issued in response to an alleged Section 5 Public Order offence – defined as causing harassment, distress or alarm. However, when questioned, the Police failed to provide adequate evidence to suggest that such an offence was taking place. What followed was a series of convoluted and dubious explanations as to why they had reason to believe an offence was being committed:

1) By giving out free food, a climate was being created that enabled drug-dealing – which in itself could promote harassment, distress and/or alarm. Case Law contradicts the use of this Public Order law ‘by proxy’ (as it were) and it has previously been ruled that if a Section 5 offence is being comitted, it is unlawful to arrest anyone other than the alleged perpetrator of the offence.

2) “Local Businesses” – such as the nearby McDonalds & KFC restaraunts – were claiming that the actions of the collective were inhibiting their ability to make a profit. No law that explicitly states the interests of said businesses are to take precedent over the interests of the other parties involved was invoked. However, it’s hardly a shocking revelation that profit comes before people.

3) The concentration of Brixton’s drug users and dealers in Brixton Town Square, allegedly as a result of the Reclaim Your Food collective’s project, was making the ‘problem’ more difficult to Police. This isn’t even worthy of a witty retort.

Thankfully, the long arm of the law did not stretch to the Bicycle Repair Workshop or those making Puncture Repair Kits and Wallets from recycled and sustainable materials. These were welcome additions to the Town Square, which was reclaimed as a fully-functional public space for all…with room for a bit of a dance to the chilled reggae/dub soundsystem!

Despite all the Police intimidation and generally not fantastic weather, a good time was had by most people who turned up or happened to be passing by!

Sunday’s events also demonstrate the power of solidarity and engagement with the community, after Police abandoned initial threats to arrest everyone present because they thought those involved had ‘learnt their lesson’ and would not be back the next week. This, of course, had nothing to do with the logistical difficulties that would’ve arisen from arresting up to 50+ people with limited resources – and having to justify that to the largely supportive members of the public present…honest, sarge! There were many people on hand to photograph and film the behaviour of the Police and to record the identity numbers of the officers involved. The action was not only fully completed and largely unimpeded by Police intervention but also took to the streets afterwards, marching to Brixton Police Station and standing in solidarity with the two arrestees. The Reclaim Your Food banner was unfurled accross the Metropolitan Police logo at the front of the station, generating public interest and support. Tea and Biscuits were also on offer, giving the whole proceeding an uncharacteristically twee vibe!
Many Brixton residents approached the collective, sharing their own experiences of dealing with Police intimidation and brutality. Whilst this may appear incredibly doom-and-gloom, the atmosphere was more conducive to a sense of mutual support and a desire to challenge the state apparatus than of feeling downtrodden or apathetic, which left many people feeling positive about the possiblity of resisting the ever-creeping Police state.

The collectives involved in Sunday’s action are keen to welcome anyone who is interested in any aspect of the project to come along. The project will continure to meet at Brixton Town Square

(by Coldharbour Lane, opposite the Ritzy Cinema) from around 2/3pm every Sunday. The town square is well on it’s way to being a free public space, for anyone to use. This does not figure in the plans of the Police and Local Government, who are intent on seeing through gentrification of the area. Let’s show them whose streets they really are!

Video and Report: http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/392723.html
Previous Encounters: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/391653.html?c=on#c189534

Lancaster ‘First’ Carnival Of Culture 2008

“The Carnival of Culture is a celebration of all that’s good and distinctive about Lancaster and a protest against the corporate takeover of our city by Centros Miller and other developers, against the wishes of the community.
From Centros Miller, the Northern Link road and out-of-town supermarket plans at Lawson’s bridge, Lancaster is subject to a barrage of proposed developments designed to benefit large companies, yet threaten the fabric and liveliness of our communities. We are tired of the lack of any say for the residents of the city as to the direction that the planners are taking us.

The Carnival is about giving Centros, the Council and any other developers a taste of the strength of our communities and of our opposition. It’s also about making links and creating lots of exciting and fun events!”

Taken fron website….

Saturday 1st of March saw Lancaster’s Carnival of Culture come off without a hitch. During the day, between 250-350 people joinedin a fantastically colourful, creative and vibrant street procession that snaked around the town through the afternoon, stopping in spots that are due to be blighted by car-parks, big box retail shopping and so forth, as well as the town square with it’s Trumpton-style Victoria statue, the City hall and the planners’ offices. We were treated to performances by a community steel band, Batala samba (leading the procession for much of the day), SistaSlap women’s african drumming group, an impromptu klezmer group, a skateboarding 10-foot Punch puppet, an alien on stilts etc etc etc.

The procession also took up the City’s one-way system in between events, with a bike sound-system providing the bassy beats. Stewards for the carnival on bikes blocked side streets and on foot, handed lollipops to car drivers caught up in the blockage. The police, it has to be said, facilitated the whole thing in a low-key manner, except for the unnecessary presence of 3 undercover cops and evidence gathering team. Why don’t they just use our website for pictures!? 😉

The protest/procession was organised over several months at open, public meetings run by consensus, and at ‘infrastructure group’ meetings (also open), with tasks divided into working groups for e.g. music, performance, carnivalism…The event itself was proceded by a street performance where corporate ‘grey men’ pulled the maggot of consumerism through saturday shoppers, sucking the souls from ‘unsuspecting’ ‘random’ Lancastrian shoppers, who were offered empty shiney bags and emerged with zombie-mask blank faces.

It is impossible to convey the ‘vibrancy’ and ‘diversity’ (we wanted to reclaim these corporate-propaganda words from the developers) of the day, it’s best to visit the website at www.carnivalofculture.org.uk. We have sent a loud and colourful, well-organised and diverse, unambiguous ‘NO’ to the corporate take-over of our city, and a multi-faceted ‘YES’ to the alternatives of non-commercial community and creativity.

carnivalofculture at googlemail dot com
http://www.carnivalofculture.org.uk

Fossil Fools Day – 1 Month to Go!

Whether you’ve been plotting for months or have just been inspired, there’s plenty of time left to plan your action. Read on for loads of resources and support…

With one month to go until April 1st, actions are being plotted up and down the country and around the world, ranging from street theatre and town centre demonstrations to high profile direct actions targeting industry operations and headquarters. Networks from Earth First! to People and Planet have got on board in helping to spread the word. National press have been in touch and are planning to cover the day. People are emailing from around the country asking for more info on planning their prank, and looking for local actions to get involved in.

We are in the middle of an unstoppable rise of creative, radical, necessary direct action against climate change… be part of it, on Fossil Fools Day and beyond.

Whether you’ve been plotting for months or have just been inspired, there’s plenty of time left to plan your action. Read on for loads of resources and support… and whatever you do, make sure to call or email us on the day so we can add your action to our end-of-day round up, and show the world what grassroots action against the fossil fuel industry can achieve.

Happy Fossil Fools Day everyone!

CONTACTS
www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday
info@risingtide.org.uk
0796 191 7535

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

Resources available at www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday (get in touch if you’d like anything mailed to you in hard copy):
-actions booklet with 15 ideas for action against the fossil fuel industry, including planning tips, target locations, examples of successful actions and more
-posters, leaflets and graphics to make your own materials
-coming soon: a generic leaflet you can adapt to hand out on the day and a Q&A sheet for answering media questions

Want to find an action to get involved in?
If you’re looking to get involved where you live, get in touch and we may be able to link you up with something in your local area… or give you advice on getting your own action off the ground… or put you in touch with a local group for future actions!

Publicity
If you’re planning a publicly announced action, let us know ASAP and we can help spread the word.

Media
We’ll be sending out a national press release and may be able to direct journalists to you on the day if you wish, so any info you can let us know in advance will be really helpful – and/or a phone number to contact you on the day if that’s possible. And call or email us as soon as your action’s happened so we can include it in the end-of-day actions round-up, which we’ll be press releasing as well. Get in touch if you’d like help writing and/or sending your own press release – there’s a great guide here:
http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk/toolkit/press_and_media/guides_for_using_the_mainstream_media/short_guide_to_the_media.pdf

And if your action’s all sorted and you just can’t get enough of FFD… Help spread the word!
• Send an email or letter to everyone who might be interested, or who supports your group, letting them know about Fossil Fools Day and where to find out more.
• Post a Fossil Fools Day link or event description on your website, or to any other lists, blogs or websites you can think of.
• Distribute Fossil Fools Day leaflets and put up posters wherever you can – mailed to your local groups, in your community centre, office, pubs, bookshops, cafes, library, wherever you can think of. Just let us know how many you need and we’ll send them out to you!

And one last time… the call-out:

FOSSIL FOOLS DAY, April 1st 2008
Pull a prank that packs a punch.

Roll up, roll up! The climate circus is in town. Climate change threatens our very survival, but the fools at the head of the fossil fuel empire continue to plunder the earth, with governments the willing court jesters at their side.

They would have us believe that we can escape climate change with techno-fixes, market mechanisms and offset schemes – all technocratic acrobatics that distract us from the truth: the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

For over a century the fossil fuel industry has been fooling with our lives. From extraction to combustion they have poisoned our air, polluted our water and ruined our climate. On April 1st, 2008, we’re going to turn the tables and show them who the real fools are.

Find a local fossil fool – the coal-mining clown, the offset contortionist, the aviator tripping on the high wire, the supermarket food mile freak show, the oily strong man, or any other fool that deserves your attention – and take direct action to end the fossil fuel empire.

On Fossil Fools Day, bring the spirit of carnival and mischief to the fight for climate justice.

PS. Don’t forget, Fossil Fools Day kicks off a season of action…
3 MONTHS, 3 DAYS OF ACTION
April 1st: Fossil Fuels
May 1st: False Capitalist Solutions
June 3rd: Food and Climate Change
www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk
www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk

and…
August 4-11: Camp for Climate Action 2008
www.climatecamp.org.uk