UK Newswire Archive
Exhibition shows the forgotten refugees of the Sahara
15-06-2010 13:23
Pr: Africa House Evicted For Demolition By French Authorities In Calais
15-06-2010 12:30
this is the press release sent yesterday. it recieved a total column inch coverage of zero. they had previously announced the eviction date for the previous wednesday. large numbers of activists came. arguably, predictably they did not come on that day. To avoid any press coverage they came during lunch time, no-one around, no resistance, nothing the world seems to be interested in.Take Back Parliament SW Meeting
15-06-2010 12:22
@ Hamilton House, Stokes CroftTake Back Parliament is the UK's largest campaign for electoral reform and is a broad coalition of campaign groups. This meeting is to develop a strategy for Bristol and the South West to ensure the need for electoral reform stays at the top of the agenda. Sign up at the address below, come down and get involved.
www.takebackparliament.com
Refugee Week In Calais ?
15-06-2010 12:22
While Bristol Celebrates Refugee Week, French Riot Police evict and start to demolish the home of many migrants in Calais. . .African migrants were left homeless after the French Police this morning evicted an abandoned warehouse in Calais that was home to around 80 African migrants from Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. The eviction had been pre-announced in yesterday’s local newspapers for 13:00 today. Most of the migrants had therefore left the building when the police arrived. The police have sealed off the building and have placed a chemical toilet outside for the workers who will carry out the demolition. It is believed that the warehouse will be demolished later this month, along with half a dozen other empty buildings on the same street, including one home, next door to “Africa House”, which belongs to French citizens.
Calais Migrant Solidarity activists (1) are however currently trying to help re-house the African migrants in defiance of both the ban on shelter in Calais and the anti-solidarity laws in France (2).
The French police, working with the UK government, have escalated their attempts to drive migrants out of the French port town through systematic harassment, of which home demolitions is just one tactic (3) (4) (5).
CMS activist Kirsty Johnson said “it is shocking to see in Calais the similarities in state policies and actions of those used against European Jews in the 1930s, which are now supposedly assumed to be found repugnant.”
Many migrants in Calais do not have anywhere to go. Kirsty Johnson described: “Some of the other communities who are routinely harassed by the police here include unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan, Palestinians from Gaza (6), and Iranian migrants. Many have travelled for years to get here, risking their lives, in order to find a home. They have lost everything.”
Sammy Umal-Haram from Darfur said, “the police chase us every day, but they don’t understand why we are here. All across Europe there are borders that are killing many people who are trying to cross from escaping violence and poverty. Many of us have travelled for years, and many are children. Where can we go? This is not a life. (7)” Mohammed, 18, Darfur “Everyday police come, take people to prison and mistreat us. Soemtimes they say to me “You are black, you are shit. You need to leave France.”
Claire Braude continued, “Life on the streets of Calais is the unseen reality of the policies of the French, British and European Union governments that exclude desperate non-EU migrants from accessing the very opportunity that was created out of the historical exploitation of non-European labour and resources.“
However, Jacques Anciot, present at the eviction, said: “They have been met with resistance at every turn. Calais Migrant Solidarity has had a constant presence on the ground since June last year working in solidarity with the different migrant communities and resisting police activity. We demand freedom of movement for all, and the right to stay.”
NOTES
(1) Calais Migrant Solidarity is a network of activists from across Europe that has been working on the ground every single day in Calais since June 2009, following the No Borders Camp. We provide practical solidarity to all migrants in Calais, and we are responsible for opening the well publicised Kronstad Hangar in February, which was violently shut down by the police. We are trying to communicate the effects of European Immigration policy in Calais, as well as work with migrants to help resist raids, organise protests, provide basic medical assistance, advice, space, English language lessons and friendship.
(2) It is well publicised that France has a law called the ‘offence of solidarity’ which applies to all migrants without papers and caries a harsh 5 year maximum sentence. The French government states that it does not use these laws against activists, but instead against people smugglers. However, a French legal association “Gisti” is documenting instances of often hefty prosecution of individuals who have helped migrants without papers with issues such as housing.
http://www.gisti.org/spip.php?article1399
(3) The process of demolishing migrant homes began publically last September with the large scale demolition of the Pashtun ‘jungle’, which saw 278 Afghans being detained, of which over half were unaccompanied minors.
(4) Police regularly slash migrant tents and blankets, ransack homes, destroy property, and assault migrants. In the last few weeks’ police have kicked prayer spaces, thrown Quarans, drawn fascist symbols on the walls, and made monkey noises at migrants.
There are other reports from migrants of police putting chemicals into drinking water and suspected sleeping-pill substances being put into food served while in detention.
(5) It is believed that a building lying in ruins about 400 meters along the same road from Africa House, which is currently home to Arabic speaking migrants, will be the next home to be demolished.
(6) The Israeli killing of least 9 activists in international waters off the coast of Gaza has once again put the spotlight onto the hellish conditions suffered by Palestinians in Gaza, with the Israeli government denying many vital supplies to reach Gaza.
(7) 6 Darfurian Sudanese have recently been convicted in the French court of law for failing to identify themselves. They were unable to understand the court proceedings as there are 136 languages spoken in Sudan. Around thirty activists from a range of campaigns across northern France attended the trial. The Sudanese are currently in prison at Longuenesse.
Hereford Heckler 14 out now...
15-06-2010 10:19
The June/July issue of the Hereford Heckler is now out...Full article | 3 additions | 18 comments
Nazi EDL attack Palestine Peace Protesters on Sat 12 June 2010
15-06-2010 10:07
15 EDL members attacked a Palestine Solidarity Campaign stall and peace vigil in solidarity with Palestine.Climate 9 trial begins in Aberdeen
15-06-2010 08:46
San Antonio Park Police Frame-Up Attempt
15-06-2010 01:42
Will monetary reform avert economic disaster?
15-06-2010 00:22
This is a reform that could prevent a future financial crisis, clear the national debt, and restart the economy.Making our broken financial system serve the people. It cures the sickness in our economy and financial system by tackling the root cause of the problem, rather than just the symptoms.
It would make the 'inevitable' cuts in public services completely unnecessary, reduce the tax burden by up to 30% and allow us to clear the national debt. It takes control over the UK's money supply out of the hands of the commercial banking sector and restores it to the state, where it can be used to benefit the economy, rather than providing a £200 billion annual subsidy to the banking sector.
http://www.bankofenglandact.co.uk/
http://www.moneyreformparty.org.uk/
57 minutes long
with: Bob Welham, David Cameron, Marina Morris, Voxpops, Martin Summers and Tony Gosling
ANAIRC’s campaign against Nicaragua Sugar on CKD
14-06-2010 23:03
Henry Beteta, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, stated last April that up to three people die each year of chronic kidney failure in Nicaragua.Behind The Scenes at Parliament Square's Democracy Village
14-06-2010 22:58
Have you passed by the Houses of Parliament recently? If so, you may have noticed that the number of “residents” in the Square has sky-rocketed. Want to know who they are? What their placards claim? How long they’ll be there? We recently dropped in on the inhabitants of the “Democracy Village” to have a chat about their causes and plight. Here’s what we found out.Last Hours radical book sale
14-06-2010 22:07
Last Hours is making space for new stock and clearing out some end of stock titles.We are selling these for dirt cheap so take a look. Only snag is there is only one of each copy so get in there whilst you can! They won't last long.
Full article | 2 additions | 2 comments
Campaigners Challenge War Celebration
14-06-2010 21:44
Local protested dropped a banner from Kings College and protested in front of Kings College with banners calling for and end to the war. They faced hostile responses from some of those lining the streets as well as the local EDL group. Banners with 'End the War - Bring them Home' and "If any question why we died, tell them because our fathers lied" (Kipling) were held high.
New Forest Gardening/Farming/Nut Growing Forum on Riseup! Wiki
14-06-2010 21:38
Hi. This has been set up with open access in mind for people interested in this innovative and exciting way of cultivation and growth for useful plants and wildlife benefits.Dalai Lama’s 75th birthday: Tibet festival in the Park
14-06-2010 21:30
On Saturday 3rd July, the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park (next to the Imperial War Museum and very near to the Tibetan Peace Garden that was opened by the Dalai Lama in 1999) will be buzzing with musicians, entertainers and performers from Tibet and around the world along with an array of Tibetan and other stalls, Tibetan food and more.Parliament Square, Friday 11th June 2010
14-06-2010 20:39
Not going to Glasto?
14-06-2010 20:33
...then come to the allotment!We usually meet on the 3rd Saturday of the month, but we've had to cancel that workday this month and meet on the 4th Saturday instead
Royate Hill Community Orchard and Kebele Allotment
slightly irregular bimonthly workday
Saturday 26th June
11am - 4pm (clean up usually starts around 3:30pm)
more info: https://we.riseup.net/kebelepermaculture or http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/692342
map: http://tinyurl.com/ydkwxsk (plot number 20)
Gardening tools and gloves provided
Bring your own lunch and snacks to share...we'll brew the tea!
No experience required, just enthusiasm
There is quite a bit to do, maintaining the vegetable beds and keeping the space under the trees as weed free as possible...
we are also engaged in an ongoing war against bindweed and hope to be burning some...
Hope to see you there!
Palestine Today 06 14 2010
14-06-2010 19:57
Open Afternoon
14-06-2010 19:22
FREE open afternoon at Amitabha Buddhist Centre. Discover the great wisdom and compassion of Buddha, and enjoy the many delights on offer.Come and join us for a fun packed afternoon. We will be running free meditation taster sessions and lots of stalls including craft, bake and gift stalls, BBQ, a children's stall, and Theeeko the clown will be up to his antics once more. The World Peace Cafe will also be open as usual serving delicious savouries, mouth watering cakes and all with a warm friendly smile. 2 - 6pm.