UK Newswire Archive
Students occupy Tory HQ against university fees
10-11-2010 18:37
Not content with taking over the streets, students take over Conservative Party Headquartersstudent cuts demo - pics from parliament square
10-11-2010 18:22
tens of thousands of students marched through london today in protest against the cuts. at various times, a hundred or more joined sit-down protests in front of parliament, slowing the march to a trickle. later hundreds stormed the tory communications hq at millbank.
as tens of thousands of students marched past westminster, police attempted to keep a line of clear road between the march and parliament. one by one barriers got loosened. i saw one student carted off quite violently by police after he moved one of the barriers.
however, eventually the inevitable happened, and with a combination of a sit-down protest, and more gaps appearing in the fencing, soon the march took over the whole road. police then stopped all pedestrian traffic on the pavement in front of parliament, and filled the area with police to prevent an incursion.
however, students didn't seem too interested in remaining in the square and as many drifted from the sit-ins as joined.
some attempted to approach the libdem hq in the back streets, but were forced back by truncheon-wielding riot cops.
later, millbank hq was stormed, but this correspondent had another appointment so missed the big story of the day.
Stokes Croft’s Free Shop and The Emporium up in Court.. Film and Report [1]
10-11-2010 18:22
Nothing comes for Free?Today was the first court hearing for 35 and 37 Stokes Croft, or the Free Shop and the Emporium. Empty for decades, the occupation of the buildings by squatters in the last two and a half years has brought about a massive rejuvenation of the crumbling buildings – so badly maintained by their absentee landowner that the council placed them within section 54, the at risk register, (used for graded buildings so badly neglected that they are need urgent renovation) they also initiated a compulsory purchase order to force a sale by the owner.
/div> Emporium writes: Today was the first court hearing for 35 and 37 Stokes Croft, or the Free Shop and the Emporium. Empty for decades, the occupation of the buildings by squatters in the last two and a half years has brought about a massive rejuvenation of the crumbling buildings – so badly maintained by their absentee landowner that the council placed them within section 54, the at risk register, (used for graded buildings so badly neglected that they are need urgent renovation) they also initiated a compulsory purchase order to force a sale by the owner.
In the last couple years of their occupation, these derelict buildings have had a massive amount of work poured into them. Both shop fronts were entirely built from scratch. The collapsing floors, the hole-ridden roofs, the frontage and structure of both buildings has been maintained and rebuilt through a massive effort on the part of a large group of people. With this transformation has come a complete change of purpose, from derelict empty eyesores to local resources.
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For two years, The Emporium has been a not-for-profit events space, where grass roots projects or individuals who might normally have had difficulty in holding an event, be that an exhibition, film night, discussion group or skill-share, can do so, free of charge and not for personal profit. This has stood against the commodification of performance, art and gatherings that has accompanied Bristol’s rise as Britain’s ‘street art capital’ and the festival scene. Next door, the Free Shop has become an invaluable local resource, with a massive amount of clothing, books and household supplies all available for nothing, to anyone who needs them.Many in the area do, so much so that social services are now referring people to the ‘shop’ for their needs. As the ‘welfare system’ crumbles around us, the Freeshop has shown that communal support networks can offer alternatives to state support – we can provide for ourselves, sharing resources, information and support.
But today, with no effort made to negotiate with the groups occupying both buildings, the owners – a company based entirely in Hong Kong, who have made absolutely no attempt at any form of use, upkeep or repair to either building in their seventeen years of ownership, and who have had no clear interest from anyone in buying the building – began eviction proceedings in the county court, utterly ignoring the occupiers offer to negotiate and reach a mutual agreement to leave voluntarily.
Proceedings have now been adjourned to a further hearing in December, after the judge allowed for the possibility of viable arguments against the owners claim of possession. As the government – backed by the corporate media - launches its drive to ‘shut the door to squatters once and for all’, preparing perhaps for an attempt to criminalise trespass, the case of these buildings has demonstrated that squatters are often a key part of their communities, that the rejuvenation and use of otherwise empty buildings that squatting represents is widespread and important –and still legal, necessary and free.
The groups involved will be garnering support for their cause in the run up to the next court hearing, and attempting to reach an agreement with the owners that will allow the Freeshop and The Emporium to continue, rather than the buildings inevitably to lie empty and useless once more…
So come down to the Freeshop, open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2-5pm, and check http://www.emporium37.wordpress.com to find out what’s going on at the Emporium.
There is a meeting on the 12/11/10 at the Freeshop at 6pm to find out more and how you can get involved.
Freeskilling next week - 16 November - Introduction to Shamanism
10-11-2010 18:22
7pm Better Food Company, Sevier Street, St Werburghs, BristolKat Demeter will tell us about how the principles of Shamanic practices can attune us to the Powers and Energies of Life, in a way understood by our Ancestors and still woven into the daily lives of many Indigenous Peoples.
Please bring a small item that has meaning for you, eg feather, stone, crystal, picture. Please bring another small item to be given away, eg chocolate, feather, home made bread, crystal etc.
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER PROGRAM
23 November Russian, French & Welsh Conversation
Want to say a few words in Russian? Or French? Or Welsh? Meet our trio of linguists and try out some words and phrases in small, informal groups. With Rachel Miller, Charlotte Rimaud and Bryn Davies
30 November How to be Successful in Life
Identify what success means to you and how you can achieve more of it in your life. The session will look at what it is to be successful and how to get there. With James Hodgkinson
7 December Conscious Communication – How to say what we really want
Look at how we speak and listen based on what we feel and need. Learn how to adapt our language patterns to communicate more honestly, effectively and connectedly. Works immediately! With Laurel Pyne
14 December Laughing through Christmas
Need a safety valve this Christmas? Want to get ready with good strong laughter muscles? Want to enjoy the seasonal festivities? If so, this session has your name on it. With Joe Hoare
Freeskilling be taking a break over Christmas and resuming on 4 January 2011. To share your skill, please contact the Freeskilling team at freeskilling@gmail.com
Palestine Today 11 10 2010
10-11-2010 17:36
Calais solidarity benefit, London 13/11/10
10-11-2010 16:42
From Afghanistan, Africa, and all over the world come people looking for anew life in England. Stuck across the channel in Calais, they are met with
brutal repression organised by the French and British states. Police
beat, search, and arrest anyone without official "papers" ... burn tents,
smash cooking equipment, spray chemicals in bedding and water supplies.
This border kills.
Jimmy Mubenga not forgotten in Oxford
10-11-2010 16:30
Student protesters rush Tory HQ in Westminster
10-11-2010 16:22
we want Cameron & CleggTodays mass higher education student & staff protest in London has been attended by many thousands of students, including from Bristol.
Largely peaceful, there have been recent clashes in the last hour or so, with students burning placards, and also invading the ground floor of the Tory party's Westminster HQ. A visit was also paid to the LibDem bunker, where the liars of the LibDem's are no doubt counting their 30 pieces of silver.
There's a recent BBC report here with footage, showing the doors at Tory HQ being rushed: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822
We students and staff now need to build up our actions with occupations, strikes, refusal of work and exams, targetting of the MP's who have lied to us, and the Uni Vice-chancellors creaming the money off our fees.
Lets get back to our localities and get stuck in. We need to be visiting school students at years 9 and above to invlove them in actions to protect their futures.
http://anticuts.com/
Stokes Croft’s Free Shop and The Emporium up in Court.. Film and Report
10-11-2010 15:22
Nothing comes for Free?Today was the first court hearing for 35 and 37 Stokes Croft, or the Free Shop and the Emporium. Empty for decades, the occupation of the buildings by squatters in the last two and a half years has brought about a massive rejuvenation of the crumbling buildings – so badly maintained by their absentee landowner that the council placed them within section 54, the at risk register, (used for graded buildings so badly neglected that they are need urgent renovation) they also initiated a compulsory purchase order to force a sale by the owner.
In the last couple years of their occupation, these derelict buildings have had a massive amount of work poured into them. Both shop fronts were entirely built from scratch. The collapsing floors, the hole-ridden roofs, the frontage and structure of both buildings has been maintained and rebuilt through a massive effort on the part of a large group of people. With this transformation has come a complete change of purpose, from derelict empty eyesores to local resources.
For two years, The Emporium has been a not-for-profit events space, where grass roots projects or individuals who might normally have had difficulty in holding an event, be that an exhibition, film night, discussion group or skill-share, can do so, free of charge and not for personal profit. This has stood against the commodification of performance, art and gatherings that has accompanied Bristol’s rise as Britain’s ‘street art capital’ and the festival scene. Next door, the Free Shop has become an invaluable local resource, with a massive amount of clothing, books and household supplies all available for nothing, to anyone who needs them.Many in the area do, so much so that social services are now referring people to the ‘shop’ for their needs. As the ‘welfare system’ crumbles around us, the Freeshop has shown that communal support networks can offer alternatives to state support – we can provide for ourselves, sharing resources, information and support.
But today, with no effort made to negotiate with the groups occupying both buildings, the owners – a company based entirely in Hong Kong, who have made absolutely no attempt at any form of use, upkeep or repair to either building in their seventeen years of ownership, and who have had no clear interest from anyone in buying the building – began eviction proceedings in the county court, utterly ignoring the occupiers offer to negotiate and reach a mutual agreement to leave voluntarily.
Proceedings have now been adjourned to a further hearing in December, after the judge allowed for the possibility of viable arguments against the owners claim of possession. As the government – backed by the corporate media - launches its drive to ‘shut the door to squatters once and for all’, preparing perhaps for an attempt to criminalise trespass, the case of these buildings has demonstrated that squatters are often a key part of their communities, that the rejuvenation and use of otherwise empty buildings that squatting represents is widespread and important –and still legal, necessary and free.
The groups involved will be garnering support for their cause in the run up to the next court hearing, and attempting to reach an agreement with the owners that will allow the Freeshop and The Emporium to continue, rather than the buildings inevitably to lie empty and useless once more…
So come down to the Freeshop, open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2-5pm, and check http://www.emporium37.wordpress.com to find out what’s going on at the Emporium.
Day of Action for Shaker Aamer, Brit left to rot in Guantanamo - Sat 11 Dec
10-11-2010 14:16
SAVE SHAKER AAMER, SHUT GUANTANAMO AND BAGRAMBritish Resident Shaker Aamer has been held without charge or trial for over eight years in Guantanamo in the harshest of conditions. All the other UK Guantanamo detainees have now returned home. They have all suffered years of cruel and inhuman treatment as victims of the US policy of abduction, rendition to torture and indefinite detention in the so-called “war on terror.” Despite President Obama’s executive order to close Guantanamo by January 2010, many detainees, including Shaker, are still being held there without hope of an end to their ordeal. Meanwhile, the CIA prison at Bagram , Afghanistan , is the new Guantanamo . Hundreds of detainees are locked away, tortured and abused in absolute denial of all their human rights. They have been silenced but it is up to us to demand an end to their detention and torture.
On Saturday 11 December 2010 there will be a day of action for Shaker Aamer, and calling for the closure of Guantanamo, Bagram and other secret US prisons and an end to the US practices of "extraordinary rendition" and indefinite detention without charge or trial in the name of the so-called "war on terror". A demo, public meeting and film showing are already planned in Battersea, south London, home to Shaker's British wife and children, the youngest of whom he has never met.
US prepares permanent Iraq occupation
10-11-2010 14:05
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates signaled Tuesday that the US is preparing to scrap a 2011 deadline for withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq, setting the stage for a permanent military occupation of the oil-rich country.French police infiltrated protests against Sarkozy austerity program
10-11-2010 14:01
During the recent strike wave in France against the Nicolas Sarkozy government’s austerity measures and pension “reform”, demonstrators observed police infiltrating several contingents and carrying out a variety of provocative actions. The police have very conspicuously decided not to deny that they infiltrated the demonstrations.The Stew of Corruption
10-11-2010 13:34
British democracy has lost its meaning. The political and economic system has come to serve the interests of a tiny elite, vastly wealthier than the run of the population, operating through corporate control. The state itself exists to serve the interests of these corporations, guided by a political class largely devoid of ideological belief and preoccupied with building their own careers and securing their own finances.Racism, Religion, and the American and UK Armed Forces Decision to use DU
10-11-2010 13:11
Racism, Religion, and the American and UK Armed Forces Decision to use Uranium Munitions in their Wars in Iraq, the Balkans, and AfghanistanWhile there has been much debate about the wars in Iraq, the Balkans, and
Afghanistan, the most important aspect of those conflicts, the clearly
racist, and religiously motivated decision by the American and UK armed
forces to use depleted uranium, and non-depleted uranium munitions which
have irradiated those 3 mostly Muslim, or large minority Muslim places with
enough inhalable radioactive material to kill millions of people, is rarely
mentioned in the major media, which ought to regard the nuclear wars that
the American and UK armed forces have fought over the last 19 years, as the
biggest scandal of modern times, because there is concrete scientific proof
that those wars could kill more civilians than the Holocaust, as I will now
explain.
Tens of Thousands Protest Education Cuts
10-11-2010 12:22
Tens of thousands of people are protesting against education cuts in a national demonstration called by UCU and NUS
For updates see Tumblewire | Liveblog | #demo2010 twitter | demo2010 website
More soon...
Heterosexual couple denied equality
10-11-2010 11:40
Heterosexual couple denied equalityCivil partnership ban defied, but licence refused
‘Equal Love’ campaign opposes exclusion of straight couples
Animal Aid Campaigns Trailer
10-11-2010 11:23
Animal Aid Campaigns TrailerThe "taxing the rich would bring in little money" lie
10-11-2010 10:37
Far from being an empty political gesture, a wealth tax on the rich would reap great dividendsG20: A Threat to Peoples’ Economic and Political Rights!
10-11-2010 10:05
My first CASTOR – "Everything I hate about this country and this system"
10-11-2010 09:44
A report about my experiences at my first participation in a protest against a CASTOR shipment