Page 223 – Respect existence or expect resistance!

Peaceful Protesters Lock their Bodies to Dominion Power Plant

15 September 2008
Protesters From Across the Country Join Wise County VA Residents to Oppose Power Plant’s Impact on Environment and Health, and to Demand a Clean Energy Future

At 6:00am this morning around 50 peaceful protesters entered the construction site of Dominion Virginia’s Wise County coal-fired power plant. Almost twenty protesters locked their bodies to eight large steel drums, two of which have operational solar panels affixed to the top that illuminated a banner reading “renewable jobs to renew Appalachia.” In addition to those locked to the construction site, over 25 protesters from across the country convened in front of the plant singing and holding a 10’x30′ banner, which said “we demand a clean energy future.”

In this event—the first protest at Dominion’s $1.8 billion new coal-fired power plant—local Wise County residents have joined hands with those fighting mountaintop removal coal and climate change from Tennessee to California. Those young and old, from cities and from rural communities have come together because the construction of this 585-megawatt power plant not only poses a massive risk to the health of Appalachians, but it also stands in stark opposition to the national move to a clean energy economy.

“Coal is in our blood but we’re realizing it’s also in our lungs and in our drinking water,” said Hannah Morgan, Wise County landowner and one of those locked to the construction site. “We are here because now is the time to take greater action as individuals, a community, and a country to create a sustainable future and stop the destruction of our homeplace.”

“I’m here from Coal River, WV to support my fellow Appalachians in our shared struggle to end coal industry abuses,” said Bo Webb, resident of Coal River, WV and member of Coal River Mountain Watch. “We are not going to continue to stand idly by and watch our children be robbed of their right to clean air and clean water. This is no longer an Appalachian problem, it’s an American problem.”

With very few jobs going to local residents for construction or long-term plant operation and without any means to capture its carbon dioxide pollution, the Dominion plant represents a remarkably bad deal for Virginia. “With all the billions of dollars that have rolled out of Appalachia in the last 5 years, it should look like Dubai but instead it looks like Guatemala,” said Jane Branham, Wise County resident and nurse. “My dad was a coal miner. As he says, ‘it’s not the same as it used to be—there’s no profit in coal for the people here anymore there’s only devastation.'”

This event comes on the heels of Dominion’s groundbreaking ceremony for the plant on August 14 and continues almost two years of opposition to the project. Nearly 45,000 Virginians have signed a petition against the construction of the plant, three lawsuits were recently filed challenging the state’s approval of the plant as its permits fail to adequately control emissions of hazardous toxins, such as mercury, which can cause severe neurological deficits in developing fetuses and young children.

“Embracing clean energy is not a sacrifice, it is an opportunity,” said Rebecca Tarbotton of Rainforest Action Network, a California group that is pressuring Bank of America and Citi, leading financiers of Dominion, to stop funding coal plants and to start investing in clean energy. “This Dominion protest is part of a rapidly growing movement of people across the country who are willing to put their bodies on the line to ensure a clean energy future.”

Opponents to the plant believe Virginia should be leading the country in renewable energy; Virginia’s skilled labor force could be at the forefront of the burgeoning green jobs movement. Leaving Appalachia’s mountains intact could support a 2,000 megawatt wind farm, almost four times the amount of energy generated by this plant.

The plant, if constructed, will process largely mountain top removal coal, creating an even bigger incentive for the destructive practice that decimates historic mountains and contaminates drinking water. Wise County has already had 25% of its historic mountain ranges destroyed forever to mountaintop removal mining.

/For more information or for photos and b-roll, please contact Nell Greenberg, 276-337-3198./

http://www.wiseupdominion.org
http://www.blueridgeef.com

11th October day of action against surveillance – Freedom not Fear + ANPR news for car drivers

Call to mass action Saturday 11th October against the surveillance state in solidarity with activists around the world http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/content/view/242/144/

A broad movement of campaigners and organizations is calling on everybody to join action against excessive surveillance by governments and businesses. On 11 October 2008, concerned people in many countries will take to the streets, the motto being “Freedom not fear 2008”. Peaceful and creative action, from protest marches to parties, will take place in many capital cities.

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Surveillance mania is spreading. Governments and businesses register, monitor and control our behaviour ever more thoroughly. No matter what we do, who we phone and talk to, where we go, whom we are friends with, what our interests are, which groups we participate in – “big brother” government and “little brothers” in business know it more and more thoroughly. The resulting lack of privacy and confidentiality is putting at risk the freedom of confession, the freedom of speech as well as the work of doctors, helplines, lawyers and journalists.

The manifold agenda of security sector reform encompasses the convergence of police, intelligence agencies and the military, threatening to melt down the division and balance of powers. Using methods of mass surveillance, the borderless cooperation of the military, intelligence services and police authorities is leading towards the construction of “Fortresses” in Europe and on other continents, directed against refugees and different-looking people but also affecting, for example, political activists, the poor and under-priviledged, and sports fans.

People who constantly feel watched and under surveillance cannot freely and courageously stand up for their rights and for a just society. Mass surveillance is thereby threatening the fabric of a democratic and open society. Mass surveillance is also endangering the work and commitment of civil society organizations.

Surveillance, distrust and fear are gradually transforming our society into one of uncritical consumers who have “nothing to hide” and – in a vain attempt to achieve total security – are prepared to give up their freedoms. We do not want to live in such a society!

We believe the respect for our privacy to be an important part of our human dignity. A free and open society cannot exist without unconditionally private spaces and communications.

The increasing electronic registration and surveillance of the entire population does not make us any safer from crime, costs millions of Euros and puts the privacy of innocent citizens at risk. Under the reign of fear and blind actionism, targeted and sustained security measures fall by the wayside, as well as tackling peoples’ actual daily problems such as unemployment and poverty.

In order to protest against security mania and excessive surveillance we will take to the streets in capital cities in many countries on 11 October 2008. We call on everybody to join our peaceful protest. Politicians are to see that we are willing to take to the streets for the protection of our liberties!

There are plans for a demo with music and noise at New Scotland Yard. Are others elsewhere up for doing demos elsewhere in the UK at other police stations?

Wiki for info and discussion re London / UK actions
at http://wiki.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/Freedom_Not_Fear_2008/London
and http://wiki.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/Diskussion:Freedom_Not_Fear_2008/London

It would be good to have a conversation about this as we need to get something good started. October 11th Vid-Flyer http://www.ecln.org

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Vehicle spy-cam data to be held for five years

Authorities will store details of car journeys surveilled by the new national Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system for five years, the Home Office has revealed.

Senior police officer had said the data on millions of vehicles would only be kept for two years, the Guardian reports. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is examining a complaint by Privacy International over the extended retention period. The privacy advocacy group described it as “unnecessary and disproportionate”.

The ICO said: “Prolonged retention would need to be clearly justified based on continuing value not on the mere chance it may come in useful.”

The ANPR system, headquartered in Hendon, north London, will be fully operational in the new year. Half of English and Welsh police are already supplying it with data from their upgraded CCTV networks.

Forces are being encouraged to “fully and strategically exploit” its potential for tracking suspects and vehicles by the Association of Chief Police Officers. It’s envisaged that ANPR will be used as part of “mainstream policing”, ranging from clamping down on uninsured drivers to counter-terror operations.

Campaigners have called for the government to more clearly define which other agencies will be allowed to interrogate the database and for what reasons.

Son of Shell to Sea hunger striker assaulted and arrested at Glengad beach

13.09.2008
Today at midday around 50 local and national Shell to Sea campaigners attempted to reclaim Glengad beach, Special Area of Conservation, from Shell. Despite Shell’s commitment to allow public access to the beach, for the past two months the beach has been closed to the public while preparatory pipeline work is ongoing.

When campaigners attempted to exercise their right to public access to the beach they were met by Garda violence. Four people were arrested, including hunger striker Maura Harringotn’s son. Ms. Harrington’s son was treated particularly brutally by the Gardai. Four Gardai knelt on his back, pushed his face into the sand for several minutes and twisted his arms behind his back.

One witness to the arrests stated, “There were over 50 people participating in the demonstration and out of all these the Gardai clearly singled out Maura Harrington’s son. They called him by name and then assaulted him. It was no co incidence that it was Maura’s son that was so violently arrested.”

All who were arrested are currently being held in Belmullet Garda station.

At the time of writing Maura Harrington, Shell to Sea, is into her fifth day of a hunger strike which she began on Tue 9th August at approximately 6pm when Shell’s pipe-laying ship the Solitaire arrived in Broadhaven Bay, Erris, Co Mayo.

Maura is clear that her hunger strike will end in one of two ways.

1) Written confirmation that the Solitaire has left Irish territorial waters.
2) Her death.

Rossport Update on 11th September 2008 & solidarity action in Brighton & upcoming action in London

An update on the situation as of this morning in occupied Erris

After a truly momentous day in Erris yesterday,things are much calmer this morning.
The Solitaire has been confirmed to be stationery in Killybegs Co Donegal.

An update on the situation as of this morning in occupied Erris

After a truly momentous day in Erris yesterday,things are much calmer this morning.
The Solitaire has been confirmed to be stationery in Killybegs Co Donegal.

Police presence in the area is still very heavy this morning although the general atmosphere (aside from at the compound gates) is slightly less tense. Maura Harrington continues her courageous hunger strike at the compound gates with round the clock solidarity from both locals and the camp.

It is still not clear how exactly the Solitaire sustained the damage to its “stinger”
The stinger is DEFINITELY slightly damaged in one section however this reporter can confirm that it was not so damaged on Tuesday night when it arrived in Broadhaven Bay and that conditions all throughout Tuesday night were absolutely calm both at land and on sea (remembering that the Solitaire can operate in extremely heavy seas unhindered due to its size).

The cause of the damage is a heavily speculated upon matter and I will not add to other than the fact that AllSeas Ltd may be contractually relieved from its obligations under a damge clause in the contract.

More from yesterday

Lock-on protest

The 5 people who locked on in atrocious conditions for 6 and a half hours from 5.30am to midday and blocked the road were all released without charge from Belmullet Garda Station. 4 were held for 6 and a half hours and 1 was released after 4 hours. They report that they were treated well in Garda custody and that their needs were attended to correctly.

Up to 15 people were in attendance in solidarity at one point or another during the day, Gardai refused to allow any to stay inside the walls of the (public) station,including a solicitor who is part of the protests. The lock-on participants are all in good form today and proud of their actions and a good day for the campaign.

Pat O’Donnell and son
Pat O’Donnell and son as has been previously reported were again arrested yesterday morning to prevent them exercising their legal entitlement to fish the waters of Broadhaven Bay. The pair were again arrested under the “blank cheque” that is Section 8 of the Public Order Act 1994.

This was the second time the pair were arrested in 24 hours and released without charge,a spurious use and flagrant abuse of the law A possible route to stem this behaviour would be to seek an injunction in the High Court to prevent the Gardai from using the law in this way,this however is a very rare achievement and is unlikely to be heard.

Maura Harrington’s hungerstrike
Maura continued courageously with her refusal to eat until the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters. She has been giving interviews to media at intervals and has been chatting with supporters when the police are at a safe distance. Gardai were,at 4am on Wednesday morning ,revving their engines extremely loudly right in front of Maura’s car in order to disturb her sleep as much as possible. Supporters have maintained a constant presence since the beginning of the action at 5pm Tuesday.
The hunger strike continues

SOLITAIRE
We do not know whether or not the Solitaire will return. We remain on high alert.

All solidarity in whatever form and wherever is needed and appreciated.

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10th September:

Five Rossport Solidarity campers have locked on to a bridge about 100m from the gates of the Shell compound in Glengad. The campers have been locked on since 4:30am – 5am. Gardaí have refused to call the fire brigade, but have put a makeshift wee tent over the protestors, and have cut a drain in the side of the road to allow lodging rain on the road to drain off.

Two fishing boat skippers (plus crews) have been arrested after Gardaí boarded the vessels as they approached the Solitaire at anchor in Broadhaven Bay. Local on-the-scene reports say that Pat ‘the Chief’ O’Donnell and his son Jonathan are among those arrested. Gardaí are alleging public order offences (I expect to hear they’ll all be released without charges soon). Gardaí are preventing access now to the compound gates, where Maura Harrington remains in her car and on hunger strike. Gardaí are using the lock-on action as a pretext for stopping public movement along that stretch of road.There is only one protestor keeping watch on Maura with a camera, but supporters can get close to both of them through the fields nearby. Internet connection has returned to the Camp office, since about an hour before this posting.

Welcome to Ireland 2008 – Shell’s little police state!

Get up to Mayo now and confront their violent thieving plans!

Pat O’Donnell and his son Jonathan were AGAIN arrested this morning as they were attempting to to exercise their legal right to be a sea.

The lock-on continues to block the road from the Belmullet side and the police have set up a road-block form the other side of the compund (Pollathomais side)

The 2-3 mile area in between is a pen where the police are preventing people from walking (although people are accessing the road,and Maura,through the fields.

The Police are attempting to begin the cutting of the pipes that are being used in the lock-on,this could take quite some time as they are extremely thick.

The lock-on participants are lying in puddles of water at this stage as the rain continues to lash down in Erris.

A constant vigil was kept at Mauras side all ngith with at least 5 people there at all times to ensure the cops didnt try anything.

The Solitaire is stationery at its anchor location and there is no activity on the compound at Glengad.

It must be underlined that the arrests of Pat O’Donnell and his comrades are TOTALLY spurious ,a bullshit application of Section 8 of the Public Order Act 1994 to keep the Chief and his fishermen colleagues off the waters.

An injunction is being sought to prevent further spurious arrests.

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Two activists are currently occupying the roof of the Shell petrol garage on Preston Road, Brighton in solidarity with the communities resisting the Corrib gas pipeline development in Rossport, Ireland. This action is in response to an urgent call out made by the Rossport solidarity camp due to the presence of the pipe laying vessel, the Solitaire, in Broadhaven bay and the imminent commencement of the building of the pipeline.

The ship that is to build the pipeline is booked for the next two weeks. If Shell is able to follow its timetable to bring the pipeline into land, this will create massive problems for any resistance to the project in the future. Shell will be creating ‘facts on the ground’ which will essentially make it easier to push through a decision on the land route, which local residents and campaigners have been fighting against. If work is prevented at this time, it is unlikely that the ship will be able to return for at least two years as it has already been booked up.

Since 2005 there has been massive resistance, including a strong campaign of civil disobedience, from the local community, around Ireland and beyond.

Update – 4:30pm

The two protesters came down sometime after 3-30 and were immediately arrested following an accusation by the manager (a really nasty piece of work) of criminal damage to the roof. Quite how she knew this without looking can be for the courts to decide (can’t wait). They are now in Hollingbury Custody suite.

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Rossport Solidarity Action
12 noon Monday 15th Sep
Allseas UK offices,7 Albemarle St, Westminster London WIS 4HQ

Allseas owns the Solitaire which tried to lay the gas pipe in Broadhaven Bay, Mayo last Tuesday. It has been damaged and may return to Holland. A local Woman is on hunger strike until it leaves Irish waters and we in the UK have been asked to demonstrate at the Allseas offices in support of Maura. The offices previously advertised on this website cannot be confirmed as the Allseas offices so we are going to their registered address in Westminster. Please show solidarity to the people of Erris if you can.

MAOIST REBELS ATTACK PHILIPPINE BIOFUEL PLANTATION

September 11 2008 –
Maoist-led guerrillas raided a state-owned plantation used for biofuel production in the central Philippines, the first attack on an alternative energy investment, an army official said on Thursday.

The rebels left leaflets denouncing the operations of a facility producing biofuels from cassava and jatropha, a drought-resistant plant, which competes for crops with food production in the mainly agricultural Southeast Asian nation.

Communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels stormed a jatropha plantation on Negros island on Tuesday, burning equipment and stopping workers from hauling lumber, Colonel Cesar Yano, a brigade commander on Negros, told reporters.

“The workers were not harmed,” Yano said.

The rebels oppose the use of food for energy purposes, targeting the 2-billion peso ($42 million) ethanol project because it would plant jatropha trees instead of sugarcane and rice, the traditional staple, Yano said.

Jatropha is considered to be one of the most promising sources of biofuels.

The 10-hectare jatropha plantation in Tamlang valley also sits on what was a rebel stronghold before troops drove the NPA guerrillas deeper into the mountains.

The biofuel plantation is a joint venture between the government and Tamlang Valley Agri Development Corp, a company formed by a local alcohol firm and a political clan related to the finance secretary.

The government has a 35 percent stake in the plantation. There was no immediate reaction from the owners.

The Philippines has been promoting the cultivation of crops suited for biofuels to lessen its dependence on costly imported crude oil.

The country imports nearly all of its crude oil needs.

The rebels have stepped up attacks on Negros after an army battalion was removed from the island a month ago and was sent to reinforce troops fighting Muslim rebels on the southern island of Mindanao, officials said.

Manila has been battling Maoist-led guerrillas active mostly in the main island of Luzon and in the central Philippines for nearly 40 years in a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people and stunted investment in the resource-rich country.

The rebels target mines, plantations, logging and telephone companies to scare foreign investors and raise funds.

Aldermaston Big Blockade October 27 & Oct. 4th: “No Missile Defence at Menwith Hill & Derby Trident 22nd September

Help disrupt illegal work on WMD at Britain’s nuclear bomb factory

In 2006/7, Faslane 365 saw well over 1000 arrests during a year-long blockade of the Trident submarine base in Scotland . Last Easter, AWE Aldermaston saw its biggest demonstration in two decades as 5000 people surrounded the base to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Aldermaston march. Trident Ploughshares now invite you to a major blockade of the Berkshire nuke factory, where billions of pounds are currently being spent developing new warhead facilities that will scupper nuclear disarmament for another 50 years. Help us uphold international law by blockading this factory of death in what promises to be a colourful celebration of life and people power. There is a role for everyone. This event is supported by CND.

For further details, see:
http://blockawe.blogspot.com
and
http://www.tridentploughshares.org

Trident Ploughshares is a campaign to disarm the UK Trident nuclear weapons system in a non-violent, open, peaceful and fully accountable manner.

“Non-violence is stronger than any weapon. If humanity does not end the atom bomb I do not think the human species can last.” – Gandhi, speaking on the day of his assassination

—

There will be a weekend workshop of Trident Ploughshares nonviolence training, focussing on preparation for the October 27 Aldermaston Big Blockade at Walthamstow Friend’s Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road, off Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4QU on Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st September.

The full weekend is primarily for people thinking of becoming members of Trident Ploughshares and making an ongoing commitment. People just wishing to prepare for the blockade are welcome to attend for the full weekend, but may also choose to attend on the SATURDAY ONLY.
There is no charge for the workshop, but participants are asked to contribute towards expenses if they are able to.

Contact Alison to register and for more details:
E-mail: alison.crane [at] ntlworld.com
Tel: 01785 611 768 or 0845 4588 362 or 07886 972 319

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Show your strength of feeling against American Missile Defense by coming to Menwith Hill near Harrogate. This US system, which Brown quietly said yes to in 2007, is making huge waves in Eastern Europe: Poland has agreed to missiles and the Czech Republic, despite a majority of its people against, has agreed to the US radar component for MD. Russia is already comparing these plans to the Cuban Missile Crisis…

CAAB holds an annual July 4th protest: Independence FROM America, and an autumn protest: Keep Space for Peace week. We also have weekly protests on Tuesday nights and have clocked up hundreds of arrests over the years!

START = This time we start in Kettlesing Layby HG3 2LP (opposite the Black Bull on the A59). TIME = 12 noon til 5-ish.

*** SO WHOSE COMING TO THIS IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATION ? (APART FROM LOTS OF PEOPLE !!!)

Musicians = * Lion Sound * Local group * Karl Dallas * Ylem www.myspace.com/ylemfolk * Monkey Wrenchers * Peace Artistes www.peaceartistes.org.uk

Speakers = Colin Challen (Labour MP Morley and Rothwell)

Rebecca Johnson (Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy)

Food = Lunch O’Lils

…….and much more

Have fun! Bring your friends!

http://www.caab.org.uk/

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trident nuclear protest rolls royce raynesway derby 10.am 22/9/08

hope you’ll join us bring musical instruments or circus acts welcome a611 derby ring road nuclear plant demo

monthly anti nuclear .demo 10.am monday 22/9/18 hope you’ll all come rolls royce make parts for trident nuclear weapons 4 mass destruction used in wars this is illegal ..any person wishing to come to this worthwhile cause are more than welcome .we need musicians circus acts .anti nuclear banners, rolls royce keep uranium titaniun and many more substances connected with the manufacture of weapons off mass destruction .we believe also the swans on the river at rear are carrying radio active traces from cooling process from reactors i live a mile away .my fishponds loose oxygen through acid rain either from celanese chemical plant or rolls royce .the area surrounding these to plants have the highest leukemia deaths in the uk .why ..its not uncommon for me to find wildlife dying in this ares why i myself feed all wildlife .i boast the most birds in my garden in area .then next minute they die ..defra claim it is legal for these industries to poison animals / to stop them getting in to what they produce .celanese make cigarette tips .which help kill man any way .so why kill wildlife ..when the things they go in destroy life anyway .money money money and wealth .any person travelling .can get off the train at spondon station .1 mile away and get picked up /or even derby station . i’ve a 7 seater .or if travelling by car .park in my private lane out of police view ill run you down postcode de21 7bs .email tigger1946@fsmail.net .or 07727226032

Coal Protest Hits the Cardiff Hilton

Merthyr Tydfil residents and climate change campaigners staged disruptive protests at the Cardiff Hilton today during the AGM of the UK Coal Authority.

10th September 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – NO EMBARGO

Phone: 07775 654 500
Email contact: media@thecoalhole.org

Merthyr Tydfil residents and climate change campaigners staged disruptive protests at the Cardiff Hilton today during the AGM of the UK Coal Authority.

10th September 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – NO EMBARGO

Phone: 07775 654 500
Email contact: media@thecoalhole.org

Coal Protest Hits the Cardiff Hilton

Merthyr Tydfil residents and climate change campaigners staged disruptive protests at the Cardiff Hilton today during the AGM of the UK Coal Authority.

Three campaigners scaled the main entrance of the luxury hotel and hung a banner reading “Coal: Leave it in the Ground”, while others inside the conference challenged coal industry delegates on their industry’s record of environmental damage.
During the industry body’s “environmental awards” presentation, local residents affected by the Ffos-y-Fran opencast mining scheme interrupted proceedings to present developers Miller Argent with their own award – the “Community Award for Global Climate Crimes”.

“I wanted to make clear to James Poyner of Miller Argent the misery he is bringing to our community,” said Merthyr Tydfil resident Alyson Austin. “The Ffos-y-Fran mine is a two hundred metre deep hole, only thirty-five metres from our houses, and the coal they are digging out is causing dangerous climate change. We are disgusted that local democracy has been ignored, and Miller Argent has not been challenged by the Welsh Assembly, despite their promises to us to take environmental issues seriously.”

The UK Coal Authority is a government-funded body tasked with promoting and supporting the UK coal industry. Their AGM features sessions on expanding opencast mining, lengthening the lifespan of aging power stations, and a range of other controversial activities carried out by the industry, which has faced widespread opposition over the past year to its plans for a new generation of coal-fired power stations, and ongoing expansion of opencast mining across the country.

“Taxpayer-funded bodies like the Government’s Coal Authority should not be allowed to collude with big companies to cause disaster for local communities across the country, and disaster for the planet,” said Swansea resident and environmental campaigner James Bryant, speaking outside the Hilton. “At a time when climate change and rising fossil fuel prices are top of the political agenda, it seems amazing that the coal industry can still have cosy meetings about how great business is with no mention of the bigger picture.”

INTERVIEWS: Interviews are available with the protesters, in both Welsh and English

PHOTOS: Professional, high-resolution images and high-quality video are available of the protest

Undercurrents filmed the direct action..watch our report here

‘Leave it in the ground’ national meeting on 11 and 12 October in Manchester

Announcement – ‘Leave it in the ground’ national meeting

Climate change is the biggest threat facing us, and burning coal is the biggest historical cause of climate change. Every day more coal is burned, yet industry and government seem intent on burning even more.

Announcement – ‘Leave it in the ground’ national meeting

‘Leave it in the ground’ is the slogan of a new network for groups taking action opposing new coal developments in the UK, including the 30+ planned opencast sites and seven new coal-fired power stations. Added to those already operating, and the coal import and transport facilities, these projects represent a massive threat to our ability to cut greenhouse gas emissions to safe levels, and would be a disaster for the climate as well as for local areas.

The first ‘Leave it in the ground’ meeting will be held at the Yard Theatre, 41 Old Birley
Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5RF, on 11 and 12 October.

The network plans to be a way for groups to share skills and experience in different areas and to encourage collaboration on common goals. It is a loose network of equals, and is not affiliated to any political party or NGO.

The proposed agenda for this meeting includes:

Saturday 11th

§ Introduction to the UK coal industry
§ Updates on opposition to coal developments in the UK, including the campaigns against the Ffos-y-Fran (near Merthyr Tydfil) and Lodge House (Derbyshire) opencast sites, the 2008 Climate Camp and the proposed Kingsnorth coal-fired power station blockade.
§ Discussing climate change solutions, including the importance of a socially just transition to a low-carbon economy.
§ Thinking about how our network will function, its decision-making structure, name and communications
§ Planning initial events and strategy for the network
§ Regional networking between groups

Sunday 12th

§ Media training
§ Introduction to direct action planning
§ Further discussions on climate change, climate justice and international networking

If you can only make one day of the meeting, please try to come on Saturday. We will aim to start at 10:00 and to finish by 18:00 to allow for travel. The meeting will free, lunch and evening meal on Saturday and lunch on Sunday will be available for donations.

If you would like to attend, please register by emailing info@leaveitintheground.org.uk, with ‘meeting’ in the subject line, stating how many of your group wish to attend, any special dietary or access requirements and whether you want accommodation for Saturday night. Free accommodation will probably be ‘crashpad’ only, but we can provide details of nearby hotels etc.

For those travelling from far off, we will operate a ‘pool fare’ system to even out the costs of travel. The venue is about ten minutes walk from Manchester Oxford Road station, and is served by number 54 and 86 buses, with many others serving the nearby Stretford road. More details on the GMPTE website.

The Solitaire arrives in Broadhaven Bay

9.9.2008
The world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, The Solitaire, arrived off the coast of Mayo, Ireland, this evening. The Solitaire is installing the offshore section of the Corrib Gas pipeline for Shell. The ship is supported by a number of Shell support craft, the Irish Police Water Unit and part of the Irish Navy.Stiff opposition is expected, with a local school teacher already on hunger strike. Hundreds of police officers are in the area, and the main road to the beach has been closed.

Local people have been alarmed to see so many police officers, and sinister figures in green rainjackets, who may be police (although the Irish Police, the Garda Siochána, usually wear blue) or could be Shell security or even members of the Irish Army.

Internet access in the area near the Shell compound has been cut off, and the main road to the beach has been blocked.

Opposition to the pipe laying operation consists of a number off environmental and political activists based in the Solidarity Camp, local fishermen who are worried about contamination of the waters they depend on, and many local people who are concerned that the offshore section of the Shell scheme is being put in place while no planning permission exists for the onshore section.

A local school principal has vowed to refuse food until the ship leaves the area. She has parked her car in front of the Shell compound. A fisherman from nearby Porturlin who refused to move his crab gear from the path of the Solitaire has been arrested.

In 2005 a number of local people were jailed for 94 days for opposing the Shell project as it was then configured.

Since then, the project has been dogged by controversy, with many arrests, court cases, injuries, complaints to the Garda Complaints Board and Ombudsman, and political activity both in and outside the Dáil.

In recent weeks there have been 29 separate arrests in thee area around Glengad beach, where the pipe is due to make landfall.

Shell spokespeople have claimed that the project has not been affected by the protests. They say that recent delays to the project have been caused by severe weather.

Some newspapers have claimed that the project, which is being carried out by a consortium of companies including Statoil from Norway and Marathon Oil from Texas in the United States, will benefit the country, even though all of the natural gas will belong to the Corrib partners and no royalty will be charged. There is no contractual obligation for Shell, the scheme’s major shareholder and operator, to sell any of the gas to Bord Gáis Éireann, and so the resource will be sold to the highest bidder.

The will be no financial benefit to Irish consumers from the Corrib gas field.

Environmentalists have warned that the onshore section of the scheme, which includes a huge refinery being constructed nine kilometers inland at Bellanaboy, will be expanded and used to process gas from other fields off the west coast in the the future. They also say that Shell will use the precedent of an onshore refinery to strong arm their way into installing similar schemes in other places around the world.

The Irish government, including Green Party Ministers of the Environment and Natural Resources, has backed Shell’s scheme. Last month the Garda released figures showing that 11 million euro had been spent policing the project since 2006, more than half the amount the force spent on fighting organised crime.

Activists on the ground in Mayo have asked for assistance. Those not in a position to travel to Mayo can hold solidarity protests (this article could be used as the basis for leaflets) at the Irish embassy or Shell petrol stations. Green Party politicians in Britain may have some influence over their counterparts in the Irish Green Party.

Shell can only hold onto the rented Solitaire for a limited period of time and all efforts to hinder its progress will seriously damage Shell’s plans. ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly.

The choppy waters of Broadhaven Bay will hopefully aid us in our actions but we need you too!

Come to Erris!

Contact: email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com & phone 0851141170
Train + ferry from £21 from most cities www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/

Or take action at home

http://www.allseas.com/uk
Allseas UK Limited
Address: Knyvett House The Causeway
City: Staines, Middlesex
Postcode: TW18 3BA
Telephone: +44 1784 898038
Fax: +44 1784 898030
(owners of the Solitaire)

Irish Embassy and Shell HQ London
Shell garages across the country.

For more info see indymedia.ie/mayo

Rossport latest & solidarity actions (Berlin, London

Shell to Sea activists board the Solitaire
8.09.2008
This afternoon three Shell to Sea activists, one carrying the Tricolour, boarded the Solitaire to hand deliver a letter of protest to the Captain of the ship following his failure to respond to previous communication .

The three men were part of a crew of five Shell to Sea activists in four vessels (James Connolly, Jim Larkin, Bobby Sands and Geronimo), who paddled out to the Solitaire in Donegal Bay this morning.

Representing the views of many from the communities affected by the Corrib gas project, the letter asks the Captain of the Solitaire to reconsider his, and the ship’s, participation in the development.

The Captain was also invited to Rossport Solidarity camp for dinner to give him the opportunity to meet with the local community affected by the Corrib gas project and to hear their concerns.

Today’s boarding is just one of many recent marine based actions carried out by Shell to Sea . Campaigners have vowed to prevent the Solitaire from carrying out pipeline work in Broadhaven Bay.

Protestor John O Connell at Killybegs stated, “Resistance to the Corrib gas project will continue. New marine activists are joining us every day and if necessary we will blockade both Killybegs Harbor and Broadhaven Bay to stop vessels involved in the work. There is no consent for Shell’s project and it will not be completed.”

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On Sunday 7th September, the doors of the Irish Embassy in Berlin were glued shut and graffiti was left saying “Shell Out of Rossport” and “No Pipeline”. This action was taken in solidarity with those fighting the laying of the pipeline in Rossport and those fighting the destruction of life by governments and corporations everywhere.

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Rythms of Resistance are going to play outside the Irish embassy at 3.30 this
Wednesday (10th) in support of our friends in Mayo. If you can come along to 17 Grosvenor Place,
London, SW1X 7HR, it would be great.