Page 220 – Respect existence or expect resistance!

Spirit of Freedom (October 2008) – support the eco-prisoners

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)

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 October 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom. The last month has been a month of mixed emotions for ELP. On the one hand we heard the brilliant news that the Dutch animal rights activist, Gerben Jan, was found not guilty of assaulting a police officer, causing the officer to break his leg, during an animal rights demo in Sweden. Instead Gerban was found guilty of resisting arrest for which he was fined and deported. Also in an unexpected move, all the Austrian Animal Rights prisoners were released from prison pending their trial! Plus, the American vegan, Nathan Knoerl, was granted bail in his case where he is accused of involvement in an anti-vivisection protest. Following Nathans release a support campaign has been set up to try and help raise money for Nathan’s forthcoming legal case. For more info please e-mail supportnathan@gmail.com. However, just as ELP started to think our prisoner lists might start to go down, we received news of further police raids in Austria. ELP also learnt that, due to Frank Ambrose, grassing everyone up, the American’s Marie Mason, Stephanie Lynne Fultz, and Aren Burthwick, have all had to enter Plea Bargains and admit some of the charges set against them. In Marie’s case she has admitted her direct role in an ELF arson on a University building involved with GM crop tests, whilst Stephanie and Aren have admitted not reporting a fire (Stephanie has admitted cutting Marie’s hair which was burnt following the arson). We don’t know what sentences Stephanie and Aren are likely to receive, but Marie is looking at 15 to 20 years and has been remanded into custody. This is really bad news, especially as it was hoped Marie might remain free until her sentencing early next year. Around the world, people are being imprisoned for standing up for what they believe in and trying to
help the animals and the earth. So please, 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, #70936-065, (in transit), USA. Serving 78 months for his involvement in two ELF arsons. 1) an arson on logging trucks 2) an arson on vehicles owned by a sand & gravel company. (Tre is a raw energy vegan – He has asked that his letters of support are written on scrap paper or tree-free paper).

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. (Grant is a vegan).

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. (Diet unknown).

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 Border Guard whilst on the run. In ’02 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy. (Marco is a meat eater who encourages organic living).

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. (Daniele is a vegan).

Rodney Coronado #03895-000, FCI El Reno, PO Box 1500, El Reno, OK 73036, USA. Serving one-year imprisonment after he informed people how to make an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering. (Meat eater).

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. (Francesco is a vegetarian and Straight Edge).

Paola Gori, Via delle Macchie 9, 57124 Livorno, Italy. Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of allowing her house to be used to plan illegal activity. (Paola is a vegan).

Bryan Lefey #38664-086, FDC SeaTac, Federal Detention Center, P.O. Box 13900, Seattle, WA 98198, USA. On remand accused of an ELF action that saw the damaging of GM trees and the damaging of US Forestry Service vehicles. (Diet unknown).

Jeffrey Luers, # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave, Portland, OR 97211-1708, 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. (Diet unknown).

Marie Jeanette Mason, Newaygo County Jail, PO Box 845, White Cloud, MI 49349, USA. Awaiting sentencing having pleaded guilty to involvement in ELF arson against a University building carrying out Genetically Modified crop tests. Marie also pleaded guilty to conspiring to carry out ELF actions and also admitted involvement in 12 other ELF actions. Marie is expected to receive a sentence of between 15-20 years. (Marie is a vegan).

Eric McDavid, 16209-097. FCI Victorville Medium II, PO BOX 5700, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 19 years & 7 months for planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants. At the point of his arrest no criminal damage has actually occurred. (Eric is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan, #63794-053, USP Marion, US Penitentiary, PO Box 1000, Marion, IL 62959, 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. (Daniel is a vegetarian).

Jonathan Paul – See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Briana Waters 36432-086, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution, Route 37, Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving six years for involvement in an ELF arson on a University. (Diet unknown).

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. (Diet unknown).

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS
(All Animal Liberation Prisoners follow a minimum vegetarian diet and most are vegan).

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. (Jon is a vegan).

Dan Amos VN7818, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5DF, England.
On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Dan is a vegan)

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Gregg is a vegan).

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 3JZ, England. On remand having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Nat is a vegan).

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.
(Mel is a vegan).

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. (Jake is a vegan).

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. (Don is a vegan).

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. (Lauren is a vegan).

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. (Josh is a vegan).

Sean Kirtley WC 6977, HMP Stafford, 54 Gaol Road, Stafford, ST16 3AW, England. Serving four and a half years for running an anti-vivisection campaign website. (Sean is a vegan).

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

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. (Heather is a vegan).

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. (Jonathan is a vegan).

John Smith, TB4887, HMP Lindholme, Bawtry Road, Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, DN7 6EE, England. Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection. (John is a vegan).

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, USP Marion, P.O. Box 1000 Marion, IL 62959, USA. Serving 36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign. (Andrew is a vegan).

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. (Kerry is a vegan).

Sarah Whitehead, VM7684, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx, TW15 3JZ, England. Serving two years for: 1) rescuing a puppy from horrific conditions. 2) rescuing over 100 animals from a pet breeder who was later prosecuted for animal abuse. Also awaiting trial for SHAC activity. (Sarah is a vegan)

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. (Diet unknown).

THE LECCE DEFENDANTS
The Lecce Defendants 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

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. (Diet unknown).

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

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

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. (Diet unknown).

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

Yuri Yurevich Milevskiy, SIZO #7 kamera 38, g. Brest, ul. Karla Marksa 86, 224000 Belarus. On remand for fighting with neo-nazis. (Diet unknown).

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. (Diet unknown).

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. (Meat Eater).

Richard Sills (Address Unknown, USA). Serving 15 months for bomb hoaxing a University saying they would be targeted by the ALF if they didn’t stop their animal experiments. (Diet unknown).

Michael W. Sykes, 696693, 3855 Cooper St, Jackson, MI 49201, USA. Youth held on remand accused of anti-sprawl arsons, criminal damage, spray-painting an anarchist sign and burning the American flag. (Diet unknown)

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. (Fran is a vegan).

MOVE

MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of all life. All move prisoners describe themselves as vegetarians. 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

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
elp4321@hotmail.com
http://spiritoffreedom.org.uk

CAMPESINOS FIGHT AGAINST GM SOY – PARAGUAY

9.10.2008
Farmers occupy large Brazilian-owned farms to block the entry of genetically-modified soy.

Campesinos in the department of San Pedro occupied Brazilian-owned farms on Oct. 1 to block the entry of transgenic soy, and began planting other crops such as sesame and yucca on the plots.

9.10.2008
Farmers occupy large Brazilian-owned farms to block the entry of genetically-modified soy.

Campesinos in the department of San Pedro occupied Brazilian-owned farms on Oct. 1 to block the entry of transgenic soy, and began planting other crops such as sesame and yucca on the plots.

Some 120 campesinos occupied two 600-hectare (1,480 acre) farms, according to local media reports.

Cristino Peralta, the San Pedro correspondent of the daily ABC Color, said that the farmers immediately began planting the sesame and yucca after occupying the plantations.

”There was no law enforcement intervention,” he said. ”The group´s leader Florencio Martínez said that the occupation marked the start of the recovery of Paraguayan territorial sovereignty.”

San Pedro is considered Paraguay´s best farmland, but it is also the country´s poorest department. President Fernando Lugo worked as a bishop there for a decade.

Land is concentrated in the fewest hands in Paraguay than in any other Latin American country. Only 351 landowners hold 9.7 million hectares (24 million acres), while, according to civil society organizations, there are more than 350,000 families with insufficient quantities of land or no land at all.

The demonstrators said that they took over the Brazilian-owned plantations in protest of what they called the government´s failure to implement land reform. Paraguay has also seen other campesino protests against transgenic soy plantations and the indiscriminate use of farming chemicals.

Lugo had requested that the campesinos give his government 100 days starting Aug. 15 to seek financing for land reform. The period ends on Nov. 22.

According to campesino leader Elvio Benítez, the government ”continues without finding a solution to the lack of land of thousands of our compatriots, while the Brazilians´ presence is getting bigger and bigger. We can´t do anything else but occupy the Brazilian-owned haciendas because the soy crops are causing deforestation, eliminating natural forests and contaminating people with its pesticides.”

Penan mount logging road blockade

Penan mount logging road blockade
8 October 2008

Penan communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, have mounted a road blockade against the logging company Interhill in an attempt to stop the destruction of their last remaining rainforests.

The Penan organized the blockade after negotiations with Interhill’s representatives at the company’s timber camp failed.

Penan mount logging road blockade
8 October 2008

Penan communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, have mounted a road blockade against the logging company Interhill in an attempt to stop the destruction of their last remaining rainforests.

The Penan organized the blockade after negotiations with Interhill’s representatives at the company’s timber camp failed.

‘We are asking Interhill to respect our Native Customary Rights and to stop logging our remaining primary forests,’ a Penan spokesman said.

The blockade, in the Middle Baram area of Sarawak, is being organised by the Ba Abang, Long Item, Long Kawi and Long Pakan communities. A similar blockade was erected in the area in June 2006 but was dismantled by the police after two weeks.

The blockade comes shortly after Penan women raised a cry of alarm over cases of sexual abuse and violence by logging company workers in the region.

The Penan tribe are nomadic hunter-gatherers. Many now live in permanent settlements, but continue to rely on the forest for their existence.

Interhill is a Malaysian company, and has been logging primary rainforests in Sarawak since the 1970s.

Source: Bruno Manser Fund

Background info: www.survival-international.org

Halloween land squat, Birmingham – housing crisis

POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN FIELD SITES FOR HOUSING

The issue of a lack of good quality, well maintained homes for social rent has long been an issue in Birmingham

Poor quality and badly maintained rented homes cause a variety of problems for their occupants including poor health.

POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN FIELD SITES FOR HOUSING

The issue of a lack of good quality, well maintained homes for social rent has long been an issue in Birmingham

Poor quality and badly maintained rented homes cause a variety of problems for their occupants including poor health.

During colder months the issue of insulation is a major problem with those on low wages or benefits not being able to heat their home properly. AND IT IS YET ANOTHER SOURCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE caused by a lack of insulation

On September 1st 2008 JUSTICE NOT CRISIS action group scaled the Town Hall in Birmingham to protest at the council’s social housing policy.

On Thursday 30th October JUSTICE NOT CRISIS are squatting a piece of vacant council housing land and setting up the JOHN LINES HOMELESS VILLAGE. We intend to celebrate Halloween on the Friday and stay for as long as possible.

For full up to date info please visit the web site at www.justicenotcrisis.wordpress.com
email us at justice.not.crisis@googlemail.com

We are campaigning for:

1. That the council release some of their housing land to housing associations so that they can use £100m worth of government grants to build 2,000 new homes for social rent.
2. We oppose the building of 1,000s of new homes on green field sites in and around Birmingham as part of the councils aspiration to build up to 60,000 new homes.
3. We want to see the council improve their homes to a much better standard than the laughable “decent homes standard”.

UK No Borders Gathering 8-9 November

Just over a month till the next network-wide No Borders Gathering, to be held in Newcastle on 8 & 9 November.

The Gathering will be a chance to discuss, network and plan, and to build on the discussions held at the last network-wide Gathering earlier this year.

Just over a month till the next network-wide No Borders Gathering, to be held in Newcastle on 8 & 9 November.

The Gathering will be a chance to discuss, network and plan, and to build on the discussions held at the last network-wide Gathering earlier this year.

The Gathering is a collectively organised event with shared responsibility for content and organisation, being co-ordinated this time by people in Newcastle. It will take place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November, starting 9am for breakfast for a 10am start each day, ending at 6pm on the Saturday and 2pm on the Sunday. Venue details and directions will be posted nearer the time. Accommodation will be available on request.

You can contact us at whydontyou@post.com if you’d like more info, would like to suggest items for discussion at the Gathering or would like to get involved.

No Borders is a network of groups struggling for the freedom of movement for all and an end to all migration controls. We call for a radical movement against the system of control, dividing us into citizens and non-citizens.
We demand the end of the border regime for everyone, including ourselves, to enable us to live another way, without fear, racism and nationalism.
Visit the website www.noborders.org.uk

newcastle planning group
whydontyou@post.com

Earth First! Winter Moot – last update

Brighton, February 6-7-8th 2009

The Earth First! Winter moot is an opportunity for people who feel affiliation with the ideas behind Earth First! to network, discuss and reflect on the ecological direct action movement and to plan for the future. In contrast with the yearly EF! Summer Gathering, which is held outside for around five days, the winter moot is a shorter weekend meeting, inside, less aimed at skill sharing and more at looking where we are at as movement and where we want to be going.

Brighton, February 6-7-8th 2009

Earth First! is not an organisation, but a banner for non-hierarchical organising and the use of direct action to confront, stop and eventually reverse the forces that are responsible for the destruction of the Earth and its inhabitants.

Topics that have been raised include (Updated):
– the Copenhagen climate summit with a number of people from Denmark coming over to talk about logistics, tactics and mobilisation
– the G20 summit in London
– Leave it in the ground / coal
– GM
– Rossport
– Strengthening the EF network: communication and security, actionupdate and gatherings
– Implications of the crisis
– Climate and migration / eco-activism and Noborder networks
– Heathrow expansion
– UK Biofuels
– Nanotechnology
– Water-based actions

There will not be workshops on any of these topics – please inform yourself on topics of your interest before the moot. We will be focusing on discussing strategy and action planning.

There will be a Saving Iceland meeting on the Friday afternoon before the gathering.

Please contact the organizing collective (moot2009@earthfirst.org.uk) know if you want to add anything, want to help with facilitation or have any other queries. You are welcome to use our PGP key below.
Suggestion: read the activist security guide on http://www.activistsecurity.org/

There will be sleeping places arranged and food available at cost price from Friday evening. The program will start on Saturday at 10 AM. Please be on time.

Venue: Cowley Club, 12 London Road.
http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk/
(Please do not contact the Cowley Club phone nr. with information requests).
Click for directions

Please note:
– No dogs please
– The weekend is not open to journalists

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So, here’s the lowdown on what the Danish people coming over for the EF! Winter Moot will be talking about.

*Copenhagen Climate Summit*
Do we cheer them on, block them in, or close them down?

*When?*
*Where?*
*What?* Danish Klimax activists will kick off a discussion about the movement to stop climate change.
*Why?* The UN talks in Copenhagen this December are supposed to be the place where world leaders agree a new international deal to stop climate change.
But progress so far has been undermined by corporate lobbying and false, market-based solutions. When activists from across Europe hit the streets of Copenhagen, should we be calling on governments to do better, blockading them in until they come up with a good deal, or be saying they are so flawed we should try to close them down?

Most people now agree that we need to do something about climate change. But there isn’t agreement on what. For corporations and most governments its a form of green (or maybe greenwashed) capitalism and before we even get there it will probably be too late. In opposition to this corporate agenda, social movements in the South have proposed ‘climate justice’, a transition to a sustainable world which sees the rich minority who caused climate change pay to put it right, not try and push the costs onto the poor majority.

Within this more progressive agenda proposals range from a ‘green new deal’ of state-led investment for social and environmental goals, to those who argue that only a grassroots anti-capitalism can get us out of this mess. This is the political background to the mobilisation around the Copenhagen climate talks and the strategic and tactical decisions activists are trying to make about it.

This is a chance for activists who are less and more involved in climate campaigning to come together and discuss all these issues. We can also talk about how we mobilise for what may be one of the most important events since the ‘battle’ of Seattle exactly 10 years previously.

SWOMP – A freestate in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Introduction

It is the fourth time activists have squatted a piece of land in the Pijp (an area of Amsterdam) and by far the most succesful action. They are protesting against unnecessary demolition and speculation as well as taking action in support of local neighbourhoods for a sustainable future.

Introduction

Some history

On July 11, 2008, a group of people from the Pijp squatting group and Groenfront! Amsterdam squatted a vacant lot at Rustenbergerstraat 438-440. A school had previously stood on the land and was demolished against the wishes of the neighbourhood, probably to prevent it being squatted. There are currently no plans for the site, which has a tree which is protected by permits. Previous land squats had been evicted quite brutally by police so this time the activists were prepared – they were in large numbers, had the support of local residents and made sure their caravans were well secured in the ground!

After one month, the project declared itself a free state and the residents pledged to live in a carbon neutral fashion on the site. Instead of waiting for local government to decide what to do with the land they decided to take action themselves! Permaculture gardens were set up and solar panels were installed. Local squat cafes are doing benefits in support of the project. In September an open day was held with a tour speakers and discussions

Living at SWOMP (in the words of one resident)

The whole thing has grown into a climate friendly experimental garden. Every day we are learning more about the problems you encounter when having to provide for yourself (doing it in a way which means in the future you can keep providing yourself). These are the same problems society / the community will faces soon. We are experimenting with permacultures, we have a groundwaterpump and a solarcell and are planning to build our own eco toilet.

Being busy with this I’m meeting a lot of other people being busy with similar stuff, and suddenly the feeling of being an activist calling out in the land of the deaf is changing. More and more people seem to be realising something has to be done, and most importantly, we can do it (we are going to win)!

We stumbled across the concept of transition towns. Apparently others are doing the same as us. Others, not activists just communities. Communities that stop and think: how are we going to deal with the upcoming (unavoidable) oil-crisis and climate change? What happens when the trucks stop driving and bringing us food and produce from all over the world? Looting, only the fittest will survive? Or can we as a community prepare ourselves and equip ourselves with workable solutions. We should start preparing: Where do we get food? Who heals the sick, how do we transport? How do make tools without our current technology? And most important of all how do we prevent future crisis? How can we find a balanced way of living without wearing out our own surroundings?

New ethics will have to be developed. This all might seem a distant dream or fantasy but it is already happening all over the world. With 33 transition towns in England and 77 worldwide. And four times more being set up worldwide. It is actually a very accessible way of changing, it’s realising that we ourselves need to do it and nobody else. It starts with creating consciousness. Not about the upcoming crisis, everybody knows about that by now and activists all over the world feel frustrated about everybody knowing but nobody acting on it.

We need to grow consciousnes about self-determination, and about the possibilties that you have as an individual and a community. Of course the government and corporations won’t change by themselves. We don’t need to wait for them, we should even exclude them. The steps seem so big but are actually small and achievable. It starts with growing consciousness, its almost like a sect man! Wherever some people start being busy with transition towns, all the people around them get infected and enthusiasm soon grows a network. A network starts having meetings, and in the meeting realistic goals will be set. “In however many years we should be able to get at least 50% of our food from our own lands, by then we need to have reduced our oil-dependence, at least by the year of XXXX, we shall be totally independent”.

Stuff like that, read it, it’s inspiring. In England ther are some towns, villages, dwellings, but also neighbourhoods that started thinking about the future. These towns or dwellings will be the pioneers in the time of transition which pretty soon everybody is going to experience. We can wait till our wallets force us to change, or we can be the ones who will later have the advantages of having started off early. It’s just a logical step to take in a time like this.

Links

In”>http://www.steenbreek.org/img/pers/DeMorgen_20080906.pdf>In the Belgian press

Indigenous group occupies Bukidnon ranch in Phillipines

1st October 2008
MARAMAG, Bukidnon – Members of an indigenous group in the villages of Panalsalan and Dagumbaan in Maramag, Bukidnon, occupied and planted crops on a 520-hectare land that used to be the cattle ranch of former Kibawe Mayor Ernesto Villalon.

Saying they have to avert food shortage in their communities, 100 members of the Panalsalan Dagumbaan Tribal Association (Padata) planted fruit trees and corn in the ranch pending the approval of their Community-based Forest Management (CBFM) application for property.

Villalon’s Forest Land Grazing Lease Agreement (FLGLA) No. 1816 expired on December 1997. Its control thus technically reverted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Since the place is mountainous and is part of the Kulkul Range and classified as timberland, the new settlers claimed it is viable for the CBFM program.

Padata chief Datu Henry Aslag had applied for a CBFM at the office of the DENR but the department has not acted on the matter yet.

CBFM is a strategy for sustainable forest development that addresses rural poverty and promoting social justice. Under this program, the community or actual residents in a production forest are the de facto managers of the land, allowing them to develop, utilize and conserve specific portions of the forest lands within a 25-year production-sharing agreement.

The growing poverty incidence in these two villages caused the indigenous group to apply for CBFM and occuppy the timberland that had been under DENR supervision since 1997.

Aslag justified this, saying: “In order to survive, 70 percent of our members eke out a living as seasonal agri-workers of a nearby banana plantation earning a meager P70-100 daily. We must start planting before we run out of budget to buy NFA rice.”

DENR data show that the total forest land area in Bukidnon is 669,576 hectares, comprised of 187,548 hectares of production forest and 481,978 hectares of protection forest.

To date, only 15 percent or 26,977.9 hectares of the total production forest has CBFM application. When approved, Padata would be the 48th CBFM holder in the province.

“Embracing the spirit of CBFM which promotes social justice, we appeal to Secretary Atienza to grant our CBFM application the earliest time possible,” said Aslag, a leader of the Talaandig tribe.

He also urged the office of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) to expedite the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process which is a requirement before DENR shall approve their CBFM application.

Padata also submitted to Secretary Atienza a petition for denial of Villalon’s lease renewal after the DENR regional office endorsed the said application despite the absence of a certification from the NCIP.

“We actually question the action of DENR Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso. We do not want to believe that there is a connivance between Villalon and the DENR regional office behind Secretary Atienza’s watch,” said Aslag.

He argued that it will be unreasonable for DENR to retain Villalon’s ranch because of his failure to develop the land for cattle grazing by giving up his control over around 150 hectares to farmers.

Aslag said that the most effective approach to revive the productivity of the land and conserve the forest is to rather distribute the land to landless farmers through CBFM

nuclear protester in court .so early protest to support comrades rolls royce trident anti nuclear protest

monday 20/10/08
our comrades are in court .they used lockins /outside rolls royce nuclear plant rayesway derby .due in court 20/10/08 support them and come to early morning prottest

monday 20/10/08
our comrades are in court .they used lockins /outside rolls royce nuclear plant rayesway derby .due in court 20/10/08 support them and come to early morning prottest

our comrades are in court /for crossing the so called goverment red lines .they were locked in concrete blocks .it took police 4 hours to free them ./.on the tarmac outside ro;;s royce are red lines .the tarmac is provided out of ratepayers money .not r,r .if you cross it it is ilegal .when taking a driving test .does the highway code mention red lines .how many people in the street know what they are for./ /the illegal trident weapons banned by the un .but as usual not america.are stored uraniam .as more close by is b.o.c thet store gases in bottles calor oxygen aceyaline propane all lethal to bomb makers .1000 yards away is celanese chemical and acatate plant /so many dangerous chemicals on premises there is a benzene tank .acatate acids stuff ive not heard off .there have been many fires and expolsions ,the last one /the benzene tank .,22 fire engines and specail units .a 7 hour battle they claimed was a overheated valve /yet they sealed spondon off /this factory was on the i.r.a list /.and other terror groups .all 3 premises can be got in with ease .security is poor .all are in flood plains and getting worse as new buildings go up so come alng and support .the prottest on the 20/10/08 /. pickup points derby statoin ./spondon station .safe parking privat land .transport each way /pete 07727226032 /email tigger1946@fsmail.net

4 Women Lock Down in LURC Office to Oppose Recent Decision

September 29, 2008
LURC Office
Augusta, Maine

“Why did you sell our future?” Group Asks LURC
Act of Civil Disobedience a Way to be Heard When the System is Broken?

September 29, 2008
LURC Office
Augusta, Maine

“Why did you sell our future?” Group Asks LURC
Act of Civil Disobedience a Way to be Heard When the System is Broken?

Today, in an act of civil disobedience, four women locked their necks together in the office of the Land Use Regulatory Commission (LURC). Last week, LURC signaled their approval for the controversial Concept Plan put forth by Plum Creek to rezone a large tract of the Moosehead Lake Region. The women, part of Maine Earth First!, refused to leave the office until the LURC staff could explain why they had recommended approval of the plan.

Last week, the Commission approved the plan revisions that LURC staff recommended in a move that surprised many who have been watching the process closely. Critics of the plan noted that LURC received over 1,700 comments opposing a resort development at Lily Bay as part of the Plum Creek Concept Plan. LURC received only 6 comments in favor of the plan. Despite this overwhelming public statement against the Plum Creek development, the commission refused to amend their recommendations by removing the Lily Bay resort. “The public has spoken on this issue, and LURC refuses to listen. We want to know why they are selling our future,” said Emily Paine, one of the four locked together.

Many of the groups that intervened in the formal Concept plan review process are expected to file appeals to LURC’s decision in Maine Superior Court. Some of the grounds for these appeals are likely to revolve around the flawed process that has LURC staff writing changes to Plum Creek’s plan so that it can be rubber stamped by the Commission. The staff that is working on tailoring the Concept Plan for Plum Creek works in the office occupied by Paine and others. “We aren’t leaving until the LURC staff who made the recommendations can adequately justify their actions. Many Mainers believe their process has been undemocratic and corrupt… LURC’s decision flies in the face of thousands of Mainers who have expressed serious concerns about the Concept Plan.” said Meg Gilmartin, another of the women locked down.

Maine Earth First! has been critical of the plan from the beginning, but this is the first time people from that group have committed civil disobedience to express their concerns. LURC will meet on Wed. October 1st to present its final version of the plan to Plum Creek who will then have ten days to accept or reject the plan. Members of Maine Earth First! are pledging continued resistance to the plan as it moves forward in the coming months. Gilmartin said, “We are completely dedicated to doing what LURC has refused to do: protecting a way of life, safeguarding biodiversity, promoting climate stability and preserving the culture that makes the Moosehead Lake Region so unique and so wonderful. This is just the beginning.”

Maine Earth First! is an all volunteer movement dedicated to protecting the long term climate stability of the planet, maximizing biodiversity, and maintaining the rural way of life and culture of Maine. No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth!

Plum Creek proposes to rezone 20,000 acres, for development of high-end resorts and second homes as part of its Moosehead Lake Concept Plan. The plan includes 90,000 acres of conservation easements to satisfy the Land Use Regulatory Commission’s (LURC) requirement for a conservation balance. An additional 266,000 acres worth of development rights on Plum Creek land will be sold to The Nature Conservancy and The Appalachian Mountain Club for $35 million. This conservation is being hailed by many as an unprecedented opportunity to protect a large tract of land in Northern Maine, however, the conservation easements only prevent further development. They still allow ecologically destructive practices such as gravel mining, spreading of sewage sludge, commercial water extraction, industry defined “sustainable forestry,” road building and the erection of power-lines.

A contentious component of the Concept Plan is Plum Creek’s development visions for Lily Bay on the undeveloped eastern shore of Moosehead Lake. This area is natural habitat for the endangered Canada Lynx and abuts the highly valued and utilized Lily Bay State Park. Plum Creek wishes to build a resort that can accommodate over 700 units, a marina and golf course. Plum Creek’s lead attorney, Severin Beliveau told LURC that “Lily Bay is the keystone to this plan. Without Lily Bay there is no plan.” However, over 1700 citizens have written to LURC expressing a different view, opposing any development in this area (just six have written LURC in favor of Lily Bay development). LURC is prepeared to approve the Concept Plan, including Lily Bay development and discard this clear public outcry against Plum Creek’s proposed ecological destruction of the Moosehead Region.