Other – Page 44 – Earth First!

The Bath Bomb Issue #3 October ‘07 * @nti-copyright: copy and distribute! *

“Soapy suds of truth in a bathtub of b*llshit!””

Oh, Just More Shops…

“Soapy suds of truth in a bathtub of b*llshit!””

Oh, Just More Shops…

Walking past the rubble of the Southgate Centre, could my ears be deceiving me? I have now heard several people remarking how nice the view looks without the buildings. The latest one of these came when I was walking behind three very fashionable looking girls who looked like they were ‘born to shop’:
“What are they putting there?”
“Oh, just more shops.”
Could it be that more people than we realize would like more from life? Could it be time for something new? Could it be that consumer culture is really on the wane? Coz it’s gonna take more than a Debenhams to impress me.
What would the people of Bath like to see in a new shopping centre’s place? What could happen if we let our imaginations run wild? Why not get in touch with your ideas?

Reduce Carbon, Cut Capitalism!

Sunday the 16th September saw the arrival of the ‘Cut the Carbon’ march in Bath. The group, including a member of MST, a Brazillian peasants movement who take land back from the rich to cultivate and feed their families, has been marching all over the UK, starting in Dublin, and ending the following week in London, to publicise the effects of climate change on the planet. The group was met in Abbey Courtyard by 50 supporters, including a contingent from Bath Activist Network, waving red and black flags and a banner reading ‘social change not climate change!’.
Their message was simple, we can all do our bit to help stop climate change, but it is the rich and the big businesses, from oil companies to coal mining corporations to the road building industry, that are really raping the planet. We reckon that the solutions to climate change, poverty, wage slavery and greed can all be solved when we get together and take the power away from those causing the problems – politicians, the idle rich and the corporations. Bath Bomb would like to wish the ‘Cut the Carbon’ marchers well on the last leg of their journey and good luck in spreading their important message.

Work Kills

A new campaign has started in Bath to highlight the dangers of casual and temporary work. This campaign is aimed at students and young people, many of whom are killed and injured doing this type of work each year. The campaign is being run by the Trades Council, a grass-roots trades union group, and the Simon Jones campaign (an action group set up to demand justice for a student killed at work due to the neglect of company management)
The campaign will be talking at schools and universities, offering advice and help. In early 2008, there will be a public meeting and an exhibition (keep an eye on the Bath Bomb for further details!)
This campaign is needed because the state justice system and bosses care more for control and profits at work than safety.

www.simonjones.org.uk

Events Listing

Monday nights Bath Hunt Saboteur meetings back room of Bell, Walcot Street, 8pm
6th Oct Fight the Pipe benefit gig, 8pm, The Plough in Easton, Bristol, with Crowzone, Drug Sniffin’ Dogs and Burnt Porkchops
13th Oct Bath FreeShop outside Holland & Barretts, Stall Street, 12-3pm
14th Oct Permaculture Collectiec Cafe food, film & workshop, Kebele Kulture Projekt 14 Robertson Road, Bristol, from 5.30pm
15th Oct Day of action against Royal Bank of Scotland, details tbc
19th Oct ‘Leftism’ Benefit club night in aid of B.A.N., downstairs at The Crown, Bathwick Street, 9pm-1am
19th Oct Anarchist Black Cross benefit gig, 8pm, The Junction, 51 Stokes croft, with Born Dead, Jesus Bruiser, 7 Crowns and War/System
21st Oct ‘Bubbling Under: Behind The Mask’ Porter Cellar Bar, George Street, 1-4pm
23rd Oct cheap house clearance, benefiting animal shelter in Kent! Ring 07990 847700 for details
27th Oct Anarchist Bookfair in London www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk
1st Nov Bath Activist Network meeting downstairs Hobgoblin, St James Parade, 7.30-9pm
1st-11th Nov Bath Film Festival www.bathfilmfestival.org
3rd Nov Bash The Rich, Notting Hill, Portobello road, London, 2pm www.bashtherich.org.uk [come along if you’re Class War or cop]
3rd Nov Gagged! benefit gig, Le Pub, Caxton Place, Newport, 9pm, with No Choice, Kilnaboy & Gunrack?
7th Nov Bath Animal Action meeting back room of the Bell, Walcot Street, 7.30-8.30pm
10th Nov SHAC demo Huntingdon town centre, national day of action against animal abuse in Huntingdon Life Sciences, www.veggieromance.com/f/61290
13th Nov Green Light Lecture – ‘Peak Oil: how to face the challenge of global oil decline’ – BRLSI, Queen Square, 7.30pm
24th Nov Punk all-dayer gig, benfitting legal costs from the National Camp for Climate Action, from 1pm at backroom [Walcot Palais!] of the Porter Butt on London Road – Tofu Love Frogs, Kilnaboy, Spanner, Jesus Bruiser, and more!

Fur Patrols

Here in the Bath Bomb office it’s starting to get a bit nippy, now that winter’s on its way. But don’t worry, this isn’t a call for heating donations – we’ve still got plenty of Chrons to feed the fire! What this does mean though, is that fur will soon start returning to our high streets, and we can’t have that. Around 40 million innocent animals die every year to feed the fashion market, often spending their entire lives in tiny cages, going mad with hunger and fear. ‘Pelting’, or slaughter, often takes the form of brutal hangings, electrocution, car exhaust gassing – that is, if they’re not skinned alive.
For the last couple of years, Bath Animal Action and friends have been campaigning against fur outlets in the city, with a string of successes: Square signed the fur-free pledge last year, and John Anthony the year before. After weeks of regular demos, it now remains to be seen as to whether Eleanora Brown at AH Moda will bring in rabbit fur, again. Crying wolf like any of today’s best actresses, she collaborated with police last year to try and fit up a couple of activists on false Public Order charges back in January, both of whom were found not guilty.
BAA sleuths are now investigating the shopping centres of the city to see if any stores are intent on profiting from this animal abuse. Real fur is softer than synthetic fur, and if you do suspect any stores of selling, please drop them a line: bathanimalaction@yahoo.co.uk.

http://www.caft.org.uk/

How Many MPs Does It Take To Veto Nuclear Power…

We are hearing more and more that nuclear is the solution to our power needs, how plants are so much safer these days, blah blah blah. STOP. This is a dangerous thing to be considering and will not even achieve what we need it to (nuclear power, which only supplies electricity, would only cut UK emissions by 4% by 2025-2030, by the government’s own figures). Renewable energy will get forgotten about in the process, with hardly any funding allocated to research.
Nuclear power is wasteful, causes a lot of pollution, is dangerous in many ways and isn’t even more reliable seeing as it still needs a fuel source which we must get from other countries. Renewable energy offers a supply of clean fuel that is right on our doorsteps (such as wind, solar and geothermal), it will achieve much more and sooner. The government’s stubborn insistence on nuclear power is another example of a quick fix that seems like it’s solving a problem when really it’s only a temporary measure that will come back to bite us in the ass in the future. Hard. We’ve got to stop cutting corners and take the route that might take a bit more effort, may be a bit less familiar, but that is ultimately the only way to begin to get us out of this mess we’ve got ourselves into.
Have your say here www.greenlightonbath.org/ with a questionnaire or send out the model letter to add your views to the Government’s review of the future of nuclear energy. Also on this site, under the resources link is an interesting DVD you can view amongst other things. The deadline for this is the 10th October, but if you miss that, as it’s short notice, there’s bound to be more opportunities to have your say. We must all shout loud and be determined in our refusal of nuclear. The definition of stupid is doing the same thing (over and over) and expecting different results. Also remember two easy things you can do to reduce your energy use – low energy light bulbs (they cost more but last much longer) and turn off your standbys!

www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/index.php
http://nuclearpower2007.direct.gov.uk/reg/reg.asp

Director’s [Bolt] Cut

The second film in the ‘Bubbling Under’ alternative cinema series screens on Sunday the 21st of this month, downstairs at Porter Cellar on George Street, at 1pm. Keith Mann, former animal liberationist jailbird, introduces ‘Behind The Mask’, a documentary about people who risk their liberty to save animals. He’ll also be discussing his book ‘From Dusk Til Dawn’. Great veggie food also available.

www.fromdusktildawn.org.uk

Who Are Bath Activist Network?

We are a local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development,
environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights, workers’ rights and more. Helping to produce
The Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to
anarchists, liberals to greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better.
For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, ring us on 07949 611912, email
bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk, or see our website: www.myspace.com/bathactivistnetwork

Dirty Money

Not a week goes by now without another climate change and severe weather horror stories hitting the press, causing around annual 160,000 deaths worldwide. And we know some of the culprits, too: while companies like Esso, Shell and National Grid plunder the earth and endanger our lives, the finance to do this has to come from somewhere. This is where the Royal Bank of Scotland come in. The self-proclaimed ‘Oil & Gas Bank’, whilst other investors are jumping to fund renewables projects round the world, RBS is busy undercutting competitors, and funding the deadliest and dirtiest projects around: liquefied natural gas in Qatar, oil pipelines in Azerbaijan/Georgia, tar sand extraction in Canada, North Sea Oil, and another drilling project off the coast of Russia, the summer feeding ground of the threatened western grey whale. And then they fund airport expansion, too!
In 2005, their various funded projects produced nearly 4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, as well as displacing indigenous peoples and encouraging oil wars the world over.
Also, remember Bath Climate Camp? That was set up to oppose Land & Marine’s LNG pipeline in south Wales, also funded by RBS, putting the lives of thousands in jeopardy from potential gas explosions. Eco-campaigners are calling for a national day of action against the bank [who also own NatWest, Direct Line and Churchill Insurance] on the 15th of this month, so keep a look out!

www.theoilandgasbank.com
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk
www.carbonweb.org/documents/Oil_&_Gas_Bank.pd
To find your nearest RBS branch or office:www.rbs.co.uk/microsites/general/branch_locator/step1.asp

HOT OFF THE PRESS!:
Cadbury’s prove yet again that they couldn’t give a Fudge about their staff, with the announced closure of their successful factory in Keynsham, Wink-ing out 500 jobs. And whilst it’s Time Out for the workers who have helped make the Mr Big execs rich, the relocation to Poland will no doubt prove a tidy Boost to the confectioner’s profits; as well as stirring up Moro racism and anti-Pole resentment over here. Greedy bastards.

http://www.thisisbath.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=18568762

Well Fed Not An Animal Dead!

Saturday morning of the 22nd September saw Bath Animal Action and supporters holding a stall of vegan food, gratis, proving that there is such thing as a free lunch! Held as part of ‘Go Veggie Month’, it all went like hot cakes, and the public enjoyed it, too! Recipes were swapped and debates were had, and a real feeling of community was [not Don!] fostered.

Fox Hunting’s Fishy History

Did you know that the expression ‘red herring’ originates from peasantry in centuries past trying to sabotage fox hunts? Pissed off with low pay, long hours and crap working conditions, it was a weekend pastime for many of the 18th and 19th Century rural poor to ruin their rich masters’ hobby. Amongst other tactics, they did this by laying herrings and other fish in the undergrowth, distracting the hounds from the scent of the fox, allowing it to escape. Our methods may have changed since then, but hunt saboteurs are still out in the fields every weekend protecting hunted wildlife from the over-rich, under-IQ’d inbreds that constitute Britain’s ruling class. If you are interested in publicising Bath Hunt Saboteurs, helping us raise money, or better yet, coming out and helping us actively sabotage local hunts, email bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk or give us a bell on 07854 062336

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_herring
http://hsa.enviroweb.org/hsa.shtml

GOT A STORY? WANT TO RECEIVE THE BATH BOMB BY EMAIL? HOPING TO SUE?
Contact us by e-mailing bathbombpress@yahoo.co.uk. Large print e-versions are available
on request

And now, to the disclaimer: As anyone is free to contribute to this newsletter, the opinions expressed in each article are not necessarily reflective of each contributor. Naturally, any right-wing or corporate bullshit will be binned and spat on. Needless to say, the opinions of the author of this disclaimer does not necessarily represent the views of any other contributor…

http://www.myspace.com/bathbomb

2nd wave of Burma solidarity – target Total (London, Cardiff, Oxford)

London Total Oil’s offices targeted again this morning
5.10.2007

Total Oil’s London HQ was targeted again this morning as workers made their way into the building in order to highlight the company’s involvement in financially supporting the Burmese military junta.

London Total Oil’s offices targeted again this morning
5.10.2007

After a mass call out, activists showed up again this morning to speak to office workers at Total Oil’s London HQ about the company’s involvement in Burma. Police forces were already present at the site, actually outnumbering protesters at 8:30, guarding the entrance and checking everyone entering the building, which caused significant nuisance and slowed things down a bit. A FIT team was also present, happily snapping pictures of people. After staging a die-in outside the entrance and handing out leaflets, it was decided to end the action and re-group for breakfast.

We shall be back.

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Cardiff Total closed in Burma protest

7.10.2007
A Total garage in Cardiff was closed for three hours in a solidarity action for the people of Burma

Around 30 people marched from the centre of Cardiff to the Total garage, where more protesters had already gathered.

Despite the normal threats of arrest from the police, activists blocked the entrance and exit routes to the garage, shutting it down. The garage remained closed by the action for three hours. There were no arrests.

The level of public support for the action was amazing, and car horns were beeping their support almost constantly. Even the motorists that turned up to use the garage were (on the whole) supportive, and happily drove off to find somewhere else to fill up.

This was an effective and successful action – it would be nice to see more of these in the weeks and months to come.

——–

Text of leaflet that was given out:

Total Oil – the current situation in Burma

French Oil Company Total is the biggest corporate investor for the undemocratic, military dictatorship of Burma. For the last 45 years a military dictatorship has ruled Burma with an iron fist. Total oil has provides the dictatorship with 30% of there export revenue, which is estimated at $450 million.

This is the largest foreign investment supporting the brutal regime, and Total is fully aware of this. It has been funding the regime since 1992, which has permitted them to execute some atrocious human right violations including:

70,000 child soldiers.
One of the largest armies in South East Asia, despite no external enemies.
Rape of women and children as a weapon of war.
Mass oppression of freedom of speech and opinion, which has lead to 1,350 political prisoners.
Almost half of the budget is spent on the military while only 19p is spent on health care per person, per year.
Total funded the creation of a 63-kilometer pipeline, secured by the army, which has lead to:

Between 600,000 and 1 million people forced from their homes and internally displaced.

Some of the worse forced labour abuses on thousands of Burmese people.

Forced transporting of weapons, beatings and torture.

And the use of civilians as human minesweepers.

Total Oil is funding and protecting this violent regime, to defend its assets and profits made form Burmese oil and gas.

In 1988 mass demonstrations occurred across Burma due to the brutality of the Military regime, and a 500% increase in oil and natural gas prices. This resulted in over 5000 people indiscriminately being slaughter by the army, and thousands more imprisoned, 1, 350 of which are still there.

2007 UPRISE – A REPEAT OF HISTORY – On the 15th of August, petrol prices rose by 500%, sparking mass protests for the next 2 months. The protests were lead by tens of thousands of social activist, monks and civilians. The military fought back with tear gas, beatings, arrests, shootings and pre dawn raids on monasteries.

It’s estimated that up to 3000 people, including elderly monks, children between 5 and 10 years old, nuns and women have been arrested, enduring atrocious conditions in prison. It has been internally estimated that 130 people have been killed.

Even though the media coverage is disappearing today, the oppression and violence directed towards the Burmese’s people continues to escalate.

Stop the military regime. Act now before another 5000 die.

Action

www.burmacampaign.org.uk To sign petitions pressuring Total and other corporations to withdraw investment in Burma.
www.burmanet.org/news/ For up to date reliable news in Burma.
www.southwalesanarchists.org A group of like-minded individuals into civil disobedience.
www.avaaz.org To sign a petition targeting and pressuring China, the main supporter of the regime.

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Total Totally Blockaded in Oxford

6.10.2007
Protesters peacefully blockaded a Total petrol station in Oxford today, in support of the democracy movement in Burma (Myanmar); activists were there for two hours and seriously disrupted Total’s business for the day.

This protest took place in solidarity with the pro-democracy movement in Burma, who have asked for international support now that the regime is cracking down on them. Total Oil is the fourth largest oil company in the world and one of the biggest foreign investors in Burma. Its joint venture with Burma’s dictatorship earns the military regime hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

People began to gather outside the petrol station in East Oxford at 2.30 pm, and at 2.45 moved into the entranceway, holding a banner which read ” Fuelling Oppression In Burma”. We blocked the entrance for a while until the police arrived and threatened to arrest people. However, even after we shuffled to either side of the main driveway, just the presence of the protesters, the banner and the police was enough to put most customers off – we saw numerous people eyeing up the entrance and then choosing to drive by.

Those few who did plunge past the crowd of protesters onto the forecourt were quickly pounced upon by friendly leaflet-wielding activists who managed to persuade the majority to take their business elsewhere.

The Total staff were less than overjoyed, but we gave them all leaflets too and explained why we were there. The police, too, were less than delighted by our presence but seemed willing to tolerate us, even though we’d pretty much closed the petrol station down for the afternoon. We got lots of waves and horn-toots of support from passers-by.

Total has been a longstanding supporter of Burma’s brutal regime. Widespread human rights abuses have been associated with the Total pipeline in Burma, including forced labour, torture and rape. In addition, tougher European sanctions against Burma have been blocked by the French government in its effort to protect Total’s interests in the country.

Today’s action was part of a growing international movement against Total. Forcing the company to pull out of Burma would be a major blow to the legitimacy of the regime, jeopardise a vital source of income for the junta and would make it even more difficult for other companies to do business in the region.

For more information see www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total_briefing.html. To get involved in action in Oxford email oarc@riseup.net.

—-

2nd Report from the Oxford Total demo

A brief explanation of some of the situation in Burma and a report on the demonstration in Oxford which took place on the 6th of October, 2007.

Global Day of Action for Burma

The 6th of October was the global day of action for Burma (also known as Myanmar), and activists and supporters demonstrated around the world for an end to the appalling actions of the repressive and vicious military junta (group of army generals) that rules the country. If you watched the news recently you might remember images of thousands of monks marching on the streets, before the brutal military crackdown. There is little or no news getting out of Burma now because the government shut off the internet and has started to seize mobile phones and cameras so that images of violent repression cannot escape. The junta has banned protesting and the expression of any other view apart from their own, which is that they are creating a “discipline-flourishing democracy” and unusually for a democracy, all opposition must be crushed. Contradictory? It sure is, but it is no laughing matter for fifty million Burmese.

Demonstrators marched in countries as varied as Thailand, France, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as many more. One of the biggest protests in this country was in London, but they took place in every major city in the country. One of the less publicised, but nonetheless very well attended protests was in Oxford, where protesters managed to successfully stop almost everyone filling up at a Total garage from doing so for over two and a half hours.

On the face of it this action might seem to have little to do with Burma, since Total is a jointly owned French and American company. However, Total has a contract with the Burmese government, signed in 1992, and is the sole company operating in the country. Two oil pipelines have already been built, one to Thailand and one across Burma, and a third one is on its way, despite the fact that new investments from French companies in Burma were banned in 2004. The pipelines have been associated with serious human rights abuses for those working on them, such as forced labour, the use of civilians as human minesweepers, the use of children, and systematic rape of women. Total has been said to be the single biggest company propping up the junta’s regime.

Total is one of the five biggest oil companies in the UK and therefore wields an enormous influence both here and abroad. The French government has blocked measures such as sanctions against the junta due to the fact that Total has such heavy involvement there.

With all this in mind I went to a demonstration close by to Reading, by a Total garage in Oxford. A huge banner reading “Fuelling Oppression in Burma” left people in no doubt as to what the protest was about. Volunteers handed out leaflets showing a brief summary of the injustice of the military’s rule, and Total’s role in it, as well as petitions that concerned citizens could sign. The turnout was excellent, considering that the demonstration had not been as well publicised as other, larger ones in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester. In two hours we managed to stop the majority of people filling up at Total. The workers at the garage were understandably not very pleased but we gave them leaflets too and let them know that we have nothing against them since they are only doing their job. Many people did not have any idea of the things which this company is involved in and once they were informed most of them chose to fill up at one of two nearby petrol stations further along the road.

The atmosphere was very jolly and everyone was eager to meet new people and help each other out. The good weather helped with this as did the fact that most people were very friendly. We had support both from the local police who were assigned to watch the demonstration, and from passers-by, many of whom honked their horns at us as they drove past. Many people who had filled up promised not to do so again. The protest began at 2:30, and although most people had gone by half past four, three of us chose to stay until five, handing out leaflets to drivers.

We do accept that some people have no choice but to fill up there and we have nothing against people who do so, but I feel it is important that people have an informed choice about what it is that they are supporting when they fill up at a Total garage. At a time when many oil companies are regarded as unethical the idea that a company would openly fund one of the world’s most despicable regimes produces bad publicity and a lack of trust, so it is in Total’s best interest to pull out of Burma and in so doing, increase their profits due to winning back respect from people who have lost it for them. They should see that in the long term, due to the situation in Burma (with some states having had a civil war for over 20 years) staying in the country is unsustainable and bad for their business as well as for human rights.

Should you wish to find out more about Total and their involvement in Burma, please visit www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total_report.html. Please also sign the petition to help the Burmese protesters, which will be presented to the president of China after it receives a million signatures, at www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma .

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Aside from these direct actions, various demonstrations have happened around the country over the last few weeks – for full details, search at indymedia.org.uk

Report from Anti London Olympics/regeneration march and meeting plus comment

Sunday the 23rd September was a sad day in the history of gardening. It was the day the Manor Gardens Allotments were closed by the Olympic Delivery Authority.

It was also the day former allotment holders and many other people decided to march and demonstrate their concern over the way in which development and so called regeneration is soaking up much needed green space. Martin Slavin an Olympic researcher was on the march and comments “ … so called regeneration projects like the Olympics are more about the careers of those involved in the Olympic industry, and the profits of developers and construction companies than they are about improving the lives of ordinary people”.

The Manor Gardens Allotments, were a little piece of the countryside in London, and were given to the gardeners of East London by Mayor Villiers, an old fashioned philanthropist, he was dedicated to improving the life of working class Eastenders by a transfer of resources from him (rich) to the people of East London (poor). As well as the allotments, the Olympic project has swallowed up a huge chunk of land in East London, most of it compulsorily purchased. The acquisition of the Olympic Park land is virtually a mirror image of what Major Villiers did all those years ago.

The compulsory purchase of the Olympic Parkland has been funded by public money, and as such it can be argued that it should stay in public ownership, post Olympics, however, exactly what will happen to the land remains undecided, but both Ken Livingstone and Ruth Kelly have publicly stated that they plan to bank role the Olympic project by selling off land within the park to developers when the Games are over. Major Villiers would no doubt turn in his grave, as his beautiful allotments along with virtually the whole STATE AREA site is bulldozed for a project which will most likely result in a transfer of land from public to private ownership. As the Olympic project runs further and further into financial difficulty the pressure will be on to claw back as much money as possible. This will inevitably mean getting into bed with property developers who, along with the construction companies, will be the main beneficiaries of a project that has been flawed from the very beginning.

An added tragedy to this story is that much what will form Olympic Park was previously available for use, on a non-income dependent basis, a cycle circuit, allotments, social housing, football pitches, little nooks and crannies, were all sorts of marginal business and artists had found a foothold. There was also a rave scene at Hackney Wick, with tired and dazed ravers leaving parties on Sunday mornings whilst the well dressed congregations of the many African Churches filed by. It was an area that had grown organically over more thaan a century and though it has some rough edges the area had an authenticity rarely found in 21st century London. This has been lost to what will more than likely be an Olympic legacy of expensive flats within gated communities, a sterile, privately owned area similar to the docklands.

It would be impossible to sell the Olympics to the nation for 3 weeks of sport, it is simply too expensive, so those making their living out of this project have marketed it on the supposed benefits of a legacy which remains unplanned. One of the problems is that New labour has control of the project, it has central government backing and with New Labour also controlling all 4 of the boroughs in which the Olympic Park is situated, and with the Olympic Delivery Authority awarding planning permission to itself the Olympic project can be pushed through virtually unchecked.

Sunday’s march from Hackney Town Hall to the new security gates of the Olympic construction site was a sign of the public’s misgivings over this deeply flawed project. After the march there was a meeting where discussions were held relating to development and regeneration. One interesting point covered in this discussion was the way these large projects evolve. First plans are made, then a so-called consultation takes place and then the work begins. However the meeting agreed that the consultations were generally a public relations exercise and that they made little difference to the outcome of projects, which are usually forced through despite any public misgivings. The Olympics appears to be a case in point.

Sun 23rd Sep: Rally Against Olympic Evictions – on Allotment Demolition Day

Details of March & Rally Against Olympic Evictions on Allotment Demolition Day – Sunday 23rd Sept
Meet 2pm outside Hackney Town Hall

The demo will be in solidarity with other evicted groups such as Clays Lane Housing Co-op who have already been evicted from their homes and traveller/Gypsy communities soon to be evicted. The demo in Hackney calls into question the excessive social, economic and environmental costs of the Olympics as a catalyst for (de)regeneration.

Details of March & Rally Against Olympic Evictions on Allotment Demolition Day – Sunday 23rd Sept
Meet 2pm outside Hackney Town Hall

“Development” – at what cost?
Their consultation = we know best

Planning permission for the Manor Gardens Allotments temporary relocation site at Marsh Lane Fields in Waltham Forest was granted on Tuesday June 12th 07. The London Development Agency’s plan has always been to remove them to make way for a footpath to the stadia needed for the four weeks of the Olympics.

Manor Gardens, bequeathed to be allotments ‘in perpetuity’ by their original owner the ‘Right Hon’ Major Villiers, sit in the North central section of the Olympic Park. The site has been earmarked to be vacated on Sunday 23rd September.

However, allotment holders aren’t going out with a whimper. Tomorrow, they are going to hold a march and rally on Allotment Demolition Day. Allotment holders, supporters and campaigners will be meeting at 2pm outside Hackney Town Hall, marching to Hackney Wick Community Association Baths, 80 Eastway, E9.

Allotment Holders Sowing the Seed of Resistance in Reading

On Monday 17th September 07 Cow Lane allotment holders began their first action against plans to bulldoze the site to make way for a new road as part of the Reading station upgrade.

See http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/377780.html for previous report.

Allotment holders where alerted to the arrival of surveyors gathering information for the new road design last week. To ensure this event did not go unnoticed allotment holders quickly mobilised to greet and dismiss the surveyors.

Most allotment holders were at work, however a small group managed to make a very visible presence at the gates to the allotment site. They erected a 10 metre long banner over the entrance, fashioned some makeshift placards and handed out 500 leaflets to passing motorists, many of whom where very supportive, hooting there horns and stopping to take leaflets. The usual sharp-witted rant of ‘Get a Job’ was only heard once towards the end of the day. Friends from Common Ground community garden and associated activists also turned up to show support.

One Landscape Architect had the audacity to turn up only to be turned away with a clear message that we intend to fight to save our allotments, and those companies involved would not be immune from action.

The allotments are under threat due to the closure of one of the Cow Lane bridges and a subsequent diversion of the road as a part of development plans for Reading station. The road will also affect the Reading Festival site, Mobile home residents and the Riverside Sports and social centre.

We also made it into our local rag ( http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2015/2015224/protest_over_allotment_land)

Find out more about us and our campaign at www.cowlane.org.uk

Other allotment sites under threat!
www.lifeisland.org
www.eastleigh-allotments-association.org.uk

Costa Nothing strikes again!

15.09.2007 – more coffee, tea and cake handed out by the caffeinated crew

You may have already seen last week’s report about our adventures. If not check this out first.

15.09.2007 – more coffee, tea and cake handed out by the caffeinated crew

You may have already seen last week’s report about our adventures. If not check this out first.

So here’s a brief report from this week’s Costa Nothing.

No pictures as we’re lame and forgot to bring a camera. Oh, actually, I lie. A few pictures were taken by a photographer from the Oxford mail who complained that we were late (supposed to start at 2pm but rolled up at ten past – oh these volunteers – you just CAN’T get the staff these days). Anyway, he got got huffy because one of the crew wouldn’t do an ‘angry’ pose (her default pose is chirpy!) and left quickly to ‘go to Wantage’.

We got through the cake a lot quicker this time, especially as it went to feed some hungry people who had the munchies.

We would like to do it again BUT:
1. It’s getting expensive. We’ve had £4 back in donations – but have spent over £25 for the last two weeks.

2. We’re running on a crew of 5/6. To maintain something like this takes people. The people who have been involved so far are also involved in many other activities, and – believe it or not – have full-time jobs; more people are needed to sustain this campaign.

So we may not do it next week. But if another crew wants to take it on…If you want to come and play then email dizzydaisy[at]riseup.net

Anti-City Academy Teachers Take To The Trees

Saturday 8 August, 2007: For six months teachers have squatted the sports ground on Forty Lane in Wembley, North West London, to protest against a privatised City Academy school being built on the site.

The council threatened to evict them and the sports ground leaseholders if they did not leave. So in true fighting fashion, the teachers, with some advice from Heathrow Airport Climate Camp erected tree platforms right under the noses of the authorities and took to the branches on Friday night.

Saturday saw a very loud protest on the ground and from the trees, informing local people of what it means to send your children to a City Academy.

City Academy’s, for those not in the know, are funded by wealthy business people, who get a say in what is and is not being taught.

Other City Academy’s have eradicated any sign of Darwinism and evolution from the classroom, only teaching creationism. Other Academy’s have designed the education program to suit their corporate interests, training children for jobs, not educating them, cutting out activities like art, music and other creative outlets.

One Academy, as one of the teachers told me, does has after-school activities though – a fully working Call Centre, where children as young as 11-years can learn the joys of working your proverbials off in probably the most pitiful form of employment known to the human race.

The protest lasted the weekend, the teachers enduring vicious abuse from the England fans, who descended on Wembley for the England-Israel football match. They could be heard for miles yelling, “Who’s that wanker in the tree” while throwing tomatoes and eggs at the teachers.

But the teachers endured, several giving it back and getting the last laugh when the England fans turned on the Israeli’s with the now historically recorded chant of, “Take you Islam and shove it up your ass.”

Football fan intelligence on parade.

Needless to say, many of the football fans did not grasp the fact that the teachers were trying to save the football pitches for the local children.

Academy Schools do not like play areas for their kids. The proposed Academy at Wembley has no space for play or outside activities.

But as the sun set that Saturday evening, the irony set in. There we were. Sat under the lit-up Wembley Stadium archway, following a national football game, drinking with teachers who were trying to save the last sports ground in the area from becoming breeze-block, concrete and glass. And mass profit for some private investor.

For more information or to support the campaign and oppose all City Academy’s and the rapid privatisation of the UK schooling system, see: http://www.tentcityoccupation.co.uk

Global Actions Against Heavy Industry

12.09.2007 – Today, people in South Africa, Iceland, Trinidad, Denmark and America are protesting against heavy industrialisation. This is the first coordinated event of a new and growing global movement that began at the 2007 Saving Iceland protest camp in Ölfus, Iceland. The common target of these protests against heavy industry is the aluminium industry, in particular the corporations Alcan/Rio-Tinto and Alcoa.

South Africa, around 250 people have marched on Alcan’s headquaters in Johanasburg to protest against Alcan’s preferential energy treatment, ahead of a population of which 30% have no access to electricity. Alcan is to be provided with coal and nuclear powered energy for a new smelter in the Eastern Cape that will consume as much electricity as half of Cape Town, at some of the lowest tarriffs in the world. Today the entrance to the Alcan HQ was blocked for one and a half hours with no one comming in or out.

The organisation Earthlife Africa Jhb, whose member Lerato Maregele attended the Saving Iceland 2007 Conference and protest camp, are taking part in the demonstration and have the following demands: First, Alcan and Eskom, the national power company, fully disclose all the details of their deal, including the actual price of electricity sold. Second, that Eskom allocate a basic lifeline of 100kwh per month to every South African.

Iceland, despite terrible winds and rain today, there have been protests outside the government offices in Reykjavik and a gathering along the islands next proposed dam route, along the river Thjorsa (Þjórsá) at 3pm GMT. Also, the Icelandic Minister for the Environment, Thórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, was visited at her home this morning to have a friendly chat with activists and receive a letter asking her to clear up her seemingly contradictory green opinions.

The Icelandic government is trying to rush through the construction of numerous new and expanded aluminium smelters to bring the islands total aluminium output up to three million tonnes per year. These hydro and geothermal powered heavy industry projects have been condemned by environmental scientists and lobbying groups. Three dam reservoirs are to be created along the Thjorsa river, where protesters have gathered, to power a new Alcoa smelter near the northern town of Husavik, or an expansion of the Alcan plant in Hafnarfjordur which was vetoed in a local referendum.

“Unemployment in Iceland is 0.9%. So this destruction is only based on the greed of Landsvirkjun [the national power company] and has no economical logic. We are here to show support with the local farmers who are fighting against Landsvirkjun to defend their land and our land.”
– Saving Iceland activist Siggi Hardarson.

Trinidad, activists are remembering the first anniversary of an action in which people confronted plans for an Alcoa smelter in the rural town of Chatam; whilst lawyers are regrouping ahead of a legal battle against the Environmental Management Authority, representing heavy industry, that will be pivotal in the islands development.

“September 12 2006 was the day that activists confronted tractors and police on Foodcrop Road and this day will forever live in the hearts and minds of activists in
Trinidad and Tobago as a crucial moment of our fight for environmental and
social justice.”
– Attillah Springer, Rights Action Group

Pressure from grassroots actions such as this persuaded Prime Minister Patrick Manning to drop plans to build the Alcoa smelter in Chatam. Confronted by four cases against themselves, the EMA, whose two main stakeholders are NEC and the aluminium corporation Alutrint, were significantly turned down by the Judge in their plea that three NGO’s – RAG, PURE and Smelta Karavan should not be able to bring action against them. This important ruling recognises that the issue of heavy industrialisation is to Trinidad national, not merely local. The people Vs EMA continues on Thursday 13th September.

Denmark, at 6pm CEST (4pm GMT) this evening a crowd will march to the Icelandic embassy and the Greenland’s Representation Office with a banner that reads “Global Struggle Against Heavy Industry”. Talks will be given on the global fight against heavy industry and the movement of resistance. Alcoa is in the planning stage of a smelter project in Greenland whilst the prime minister Hans Enoksen is presently in New York to seek loans to finance the hydropower project.

In Australia, residents in the West have acquired the support of US Attorney Erin Brockovitch in a legal battle against Alcoa. The corporation intends to double the output of its operations in the region whilst residents of the nearby town Yarloop are demanding that Alcoa relocate them. They claim that they are “living in a toxic bubble” and that their health has dramatically suffered due to Alcoa’s work.

Further actions may be taking place, we shall send updates out as soon as we get them.

savingiceland [at] riseup.net
http://www.savingiceland.org

Direct Action News From Greece

news from nowhere – http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/

DIRECT ACTION NEWS FROM GREECE

-English: Providing an open database on sabotage-vandalism-rioting and other fine popular arts that blossom throughout the ruins of our post-industrial society. Send your own reports at directactiongr@yahoo.gr

news from nowhere – http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/

DIRECT ACTION NEWS FROM GREECE

An attemp to cover-publicise-translate all direct action news, away from the mass media mediation.

http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/

It Costa Nothing! Reclaiming the Cowley Road, Oxford

10.09.2007
Increasingly annoyed with the growing number of chains and instead of whinging about the state of our society, a group of intrepid activists decided to do something about it…

Gentrification is crap leaflet – application/pdf 87K

Shouting,“Who says you can’t get something for nothing”, the small gang set up ‘shop’ outside the new Costa coffee. Handing out free coffee, tea, vegan cake and (hastily made) leaflets on the current state of the Cowley Road, passers by stopped to chat, chew and slurp.

HOMOGENISATION AND RENTS RISES

According to new economics foundation (nef):
“The homogenisation of high streets is also not a benign or inevitable product of ‘progress’:
* Loss of diversity ultimately leads to a loss of true choice for consumers as well as a loss of local character
* Replacement of locally owned outlets by retail multiples can damage the local economy as profits drain out of the area to remote corporate headquarters and local employment is destroyed
* The many people who now wish to return to local, high street shopping may find that their distinctive local shops have been replaced by “micro-format” supermarket or chain branches” http://neweconomics.org/gen/clonetown.aspx

And it’s not just cloning that’s wrenching the heart out of East Oxford, thanks to the rate rise on the Cowley Road, small shops have gone out of business. Coopers, the newsagents and a family run business for 15 years – closed recently. The ‘Plain Traders’ are also feeling the squeeze, with Bead Games, over 20 years old, considering shutting up shop too. Here big business benefits from its huge revenues; moving in and making the whole world a blander place. As well as challenging the cloning, capitalism needs dismantling too! Starting with free cake is a small step in the right direction!

“…TOTALLY AGREE”

And people passing by concurred; some of the feedback we received included:
* “Good on you, I visit Oxford once a year and it’s heart-breaking what’s happening to East Oxford”
* “We’ve just written stuff about gentrification for our A levels, we feel dead guilty because we’re meeting some mates in Costa”
* “Wow, this cake is delicious. I totally agree with what you’re doing. I mean, do we really need another coffee shop? Do we really need another George & Danvers?”
* “In Jericho we’ve started to call it New Deli, coz there’s delicatessen after delicatessen after delicatessen.”
* “You doing this to piss off Costa? Fuckin’ nice one!”

It’d be well cool to see other people taking the initiative: free sandwiches freshly made outside the Subway (remember, it still doesn’t have planning permission), sound systems outside the new Carling Academy. Use your imagination; reclaim your world!

As for Costa, we’ll be back there next Saturday, maybe upping the ante a bit too. Meet 1pm at the OARC (1st floor of the East Oxford Community Centre) and we’ll go from there.

http://neweconomics.org/gen/m1_1_i4_renewal.aspx