UK Newswire Archive
Revealing Grasses on Indymedia
14-01-2011 15:05
Dos & Dont of using Indymedia to expose infiltrators / informers.#Netrootsuk : Digital differences or common cause?
14-01-2011 12:22
Held: Saturday 8th January, TUC Congress House, London. Around 550 attending.
"The idea behind the original Netroots Nation, and behind Netroots UK is to leverage social media and other tools for political action" - NetrootsUK website
For a large number of people at the event this obviously meant to leverage social media to put the Labour Party back in power. First we fight the cuts, then we break the coalition, and then we put Labour is back in power, and all is well in the world again.
The event made much of the recent student demonstrations and occupations as well as the UKuncut protests, with these being held up as innovative examples of new networked organising that the left needs to learn from. However there are inherent contradictions here. On the one hand we talk about the power of this technology to bypass structured organisations, to change balances of power and to change methods of organising, and then on the other hand people are talking about promoting the Labour party through utilising these tools. It seemed at times as if there were several different conferences running alongside each other.
I'm not saying the whole event was a cynical attempt to capture some of the trendy momentum by headlining ukuncut and the student protests, but at times it felt like it (and others thought so too).
Throughout the day there were several themes that came up again and again and using new tools to bypass traditional structures was certainly one of them. Another important one was the influence of participant narrative and personal testimony and the need to tell emotional stories as a tactic in exposing and campaigning against the cuts. Similarly, mapping this on a geographic and local level was also seen as key, helping to illustrate the effects of the savage cuts in an easy to understand, direct and locally relevant way, and therefore encouraging local resistance. The newly launched False Economy website was promoted to be a key tool in this approach.
Aggregation was also quite a hot topic in several of the sessions, with people saying more of this approach was needed. The Blogging in 2011: building an infrastructure for the left session mentioned aggregators labour2 and tigmoo, and with Labour List planning further development and others with their eye on the top reference website positions, I'm sure there'll be some major development around this during 2011. Sadly the session really didn't address its title topic and served more as an interesting bloggers surgery.
By way of a random detour, the only tory at the event Tim Montgomerie (Conservative Home) said the biggest threat to what Netrootsuk is trying to do will come from extremists attaching themselves to the anti-cuts movement, and that the left has to be really zealous in rooting out these people. Donnacha DeLong, Vice President of the NUJ replied that the smashing of the Whitehall police van etc during the student demonstrations was not the work of organised extremists or 'the anarchists', but simply young kids angry at having the EMA taken away from them. He went on to say that this year more strikes are coming and that there will be more social unrest on the streets, and that some of it will be violent. Ending he urged more bloggers to join the NUJ in order to ensure representation and pointed out how the NUJ had defended and campaigned around bloggers, journalists and photographers targeted by the police, including Indymedia when police had seized their servers hosting citizen media websites. Tim from Political Dynamite made an interesting point where he said the best example of solidarity he had seen in 2010 was when the police forced the closure of the fitwatch website (hosted on a corporate platform) over content related to the student protests. In response, the offending content was mirrored across over 100 websites and blogs as radical techs recovered the site and set it up again on a new independent secure server.
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In the morning I attended the "Turning online activity into offline activity" session which put Jessica Riches (from UCLoccupation / twitter) alongside Teddy Goff from Blue State Digital - the firm responsible for much of the digital campaigning around the Barrack Obama victory. The session was put together and chaired by Alex Smith who co-ordinates new media for Ed Miliband (and is a former editor of LabourList). Alex kicked things off by asking the direct question of how can we harness these techniques to directly support the election of the Labour Party.
Talking about the successful use of online video by the Obama campaign, Teddy Goff emphasisied the need to ensure the appearance of honesty and integrity and noted the use of low-fi and amateur styles to sometimes ensure this. Teddy said that out of well over one thousand videos produced by the campaign one of the best feedbacks came around the state campaign update videos, where party workers told the poll facts straight, instead of glossing over with upbeat party rhetoric, and made direct requests for people to take specific actions, thus involving people in a real way. Later Alex showed his Ed Miliband campaign youtube video 'Be part of the change', of which he said he was very proud. Tragically for Alex, one of the student protestors said he thought the video was truly terrible. The same student also noted how an important factor in the university occupations was that they used concensus and participatory decision making to organise. Coincidently, when Sue Macmillan (former head of new media for Labour Party) was asked later in the afternoon if internet video was the 'next big thing', she said didn't think so, but that if you are doing video, it's got to be funny.
Jessica Riches had started the session talking about how important twitter rapidly became to the UCL occupation, providing a channel for rapid communication, far faster than waiting for someone to update a blog, or waiting for someone to check their email. She said at the start they hadn't realised how important it would be in reporting news and mobilising quickly, but their tactic of updating tweets almost as often as possible, replying to all followers and supporters, directly hassling celebrities for support, and calling for assistance and solidarity when needed proved to be very successful. With several people administering the account using CoTweet they used twitter to "make the room bigger" during meetings whilst the conversations with suporters and many of the up to 50 other occupations became a way of seeing that they were part of a movement.
Later I asked Jessica how important was it that they'd had a common space to work from in the form of the occupied UCL university rooms, given the obsession with pervasive 3G connectivity and handheld devices enabling distributed engagement. She agreed that it had been crucial to forging solidarity and direction within those occupying the space, that the experience had changed the way people relate to each other, and that it was also important as a base for the reporting of what actualy happened at the demonstrations. I'd asked the question thinking about how Indymedia had in the past set up temporary alternative media centres to co-ordinate grass roots coverage of large demonstrations and wondering if there was anything that could be learnt from their ten years of experience doing this sort of thing.
It occured to me that both the student protests and the Obama victories were success stories waiting to happen, they were certainly helped and enabled via the use of social media, but there was a pre-existing groundswell of support for these causes, and people on the ground ready to work hard to make sure they happened. The original Netroots Nation movement in the US had the simple objective of mobilising support to place Barrack Obama in the Whitehouse in what has become a textbook campaign - but as was pointed out several times, we're not in the same situation here at all.
The other repeated theme of the day was the need for pluralism and tolerance (aka unity) which comically sat alongside the odd shout of 'sectarian', when someone dared to criticise the record of our last Labour government. It was said at the start of the event that we cannot create a unified leadership that agrees with everything we want, and that we need to embrace the differing priorities that people campaigning against the cuts will have - and this is of course true. Many people at the event however weren't interested in having a leadership, although they were interested in discussing the pros and cons as well as dangers in evolving more permanent structures for continuing to organise against the cuts, as in the lunchtime discusion "The student fightback - a new type of networked movement?" led by UCL occupiers Guy Aitchison and Aaron Peters.
Another distinct element at the event were the supporters of the mysociety.org stable and similar projects - believing in the power of opening up data to assist in campaigning, rekindling interest in how democracy works, or rather doesn't, and trying to hold our leaders to account with facts. This contrasts slightly with those who say we will not be able to fight the cuts with facts - obviously we need both approaches. Also present as partners were people from 38degrees and Avaaz, both organisations which mobilise political action via the web.
I was surprised and heartened that over 35 people signed up to the internet security session run by Chris Coltrane [update apparently around 50 turned up to it]. I didn't attend, but did see a flyer for Tech tools for activists which covers some of the same ground. You can see a video of the workshop here (and the text of his UKuncut one here).
Of course the format of the conference also reflected this dichotomy between organising styles and approaches. Half of it was like some party conference, so we had to sit through 3hrs of mostly podium plodding plenary with only 3 hours of time dedicated to two slots of more interesting side meetings or workshops. We could have easily ditched three quarters of the plenary sessions and actually had more time for skill sharing, discussion and plotting (although many did take advantage of this time by getting on with networking outside of the main hall). We didn't need pleas on the importance of fighting the cuts from the upper end of the political class, or lengthy explanations of the possible impacts of the cuts, although the explanations of poll data and the dangers of continually trying to mobilise the same group of people was a useful insight. We could also have used some more participatory methods for structuring some of the sessions. The organising left behind Netrootsuk really does have a lot to learn about this stuff. Although the free booze and networking time at the end was good!
There was a ton of other good stuff going on and some practical discussions where people were learning a lot - an event that brings together so many passionate and talented people can only be applauded.
A quick mention should be given to the presentation by Ari Rabin-Havt (of Media Matters) on the dangers of Murdoch controlled media (Fox news in particular) in the light of the NewsCorp bid for BSkyB, (see video). It wasn't news to me, and probably didn't warrant a plenary, but for those that don't know about this stuff it was a good introduction. Stella Creasy MP also made the point about the importance of "perpetual engagement" and participation as opposed to the standard (cynical?) political tactic of "perpetual campaigning".
All in all, some of the differences reminded me of the Horizontals versus Verticals debate around the European Social Forum (2) event in London in 2004. Ok we weren't talking about a bunch of trotskyists here, but some of the issues are similar, especially the use of technology to enable more non-heirarchical methods of organising. In 2004 the hard left seemed terrified of the ability of web technologies and tools to open up debate and participation. Seven years later and maybe mass adoption of internet tools can really help us bypass the worst of the vertical limitations and spread a more participatory form of politics whilst fighting against the cuts and the ideologies behind them.
Don't get me wrong, most often the online is not a substitute for offline organising, but it can support, promote, amplify and involve. The motto of Poptel, the old pioneering ISP coop seems to sum it up well for me "Connect, Inform, Empower".
Next stop, the Network X gathering in Manchester this weekend. Which means I miss the Arts against Cuts weekend and the Green and Black Cross meeting.
Netrootsuk reports - see:
From online to offline: lessons from Netroots UK
http://www.policestate.co.uk/articles/107
Other good write ups:
http://studenttheory.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/lessons-from-netrootsuk
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/netroots-uk-new-wine-into-old-bottles
http://politicaldynamite.com/2011/01/lessons-from-the-netroots
http://www.donmilligan.net/OFF_THE_CUFF.html
http://kieronam.net/?p=75
http://luna17activist.blogspot.com/2011/01/netroots-uk-and-limits-of-online.html
http://thethirdestate.net/2011/01/netroots-elitism-and-old-fashioned-activism
List of reports:
http://www.netrootsuk.org/2011/01/netroots-uk-first-reports
http://www.nextleft.org/2011/01/there-will-be-more-than-one-alternative.html
Song for Bradley Manning
14-01-2011 11:22
David Rovics has written a 'Song for Bradley Manning', the GI accused of being the source of the Wikileaks' Cablegate scandal, and a poorly recorded version is already on Youtube. He is trying to raise funds to record it professionally, since he gives his music away for free. The lyrics are excellent and the public just aren't exposed to enough decent protest songs, certainly none about Wikileaks. He is also about to tour Europe again.Global Open DID work for E.ON
14-01-2011 10:59
Global Open Ltd, which has links with exposed undercover copper Mark Kennedy, was used by E.ON to moniotor protest groups.An oppressor’s bus lane brings only more misery at Qalandia
14-01-2011 07:51
Crossing Qalandia to get from the Palestinian West Bank in to Palestinian East Jerusalem is normally just a boring and pointless delay combined with an unpleasant interaction with a soldier. But the new bus lane gives Israel's private security contractors a chance to really have some fun. Acting out as if they were on a beach playing volleyball, they defend Israel valiantly from grandmothers and children.Protesters Tell New York Business to Stop Providing Israel’s Lethal Tear Gas
14-01-2011 04:29
New York, NY, January 11 – Thirty-five protesters gathered during the lunch hour today outside the midtown Manhattan offices of Point Lookout Capital Partners, a New York firm that facilitates investment in Combined Systems Inc. (CSI). CSI, based in Pennsylvania, sells tear gas to the Israeli army that the Israeli army has then used to kill and seriously injure a number of unarmed protesters in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including on January 1, 36-year-old Jawaher Abu Rahmah from the village of Bil’in.
Dave Lippman from Adalah-NY explained, “The Israeli military is using tear gas manufactured by CSI and financed through Point Lookout Capital as a weapon to crush the growing unarmed protest movement against Israel’s illegal confiscation of Palestinian land for Israeli settlements. We as US taxpayers are paying for some of the tear gas that Israel is shooting at Palestinian, Israeli and American protesters. The US government needs to stop providing this deadly aid, and CSI and Point Lookout need to end their complicity in Israel’s violent repression of legitimate protest.”
The Case Simon Bromma
14-01-2011 03:31
On the 12th of December 2010 a police spy of the Landeskriminalamt (police authority of the federal state) was uncovered. He had infiltrated the left-wing scene in Heidelberg in southwest Germany. The cover name of the spy was “Simon Brenner”. His real name is Simon Bromma. According to his cover story, “Brenner” came from Bad Säckingen. In fact, Bromma is from Radolfzell at Lake Constance.
The case "Simon Brenner":
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/world/2010/12/470949.html
Dialect - Save the Trees! The History of Our Forests
14-01-2011 03:30
plus The World This Week with Julian ParryDialect is a weekly Bristol (UK) podcast produced by volunteers. This current affairs and arts magazine programme is recorded at our Queen's Square studios and posted for download every week on Thursday evening/Friday morning. Want to volunteer? Volunteering Bristol, Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol. BS1 4GB Tel: 0117 989 7733. Listen on air: 93.2 FM (BCFM), Sundays at 12 noon. Or listen live on the internet at http://www.bcfm.org.uk/
00:00-00:58 Intro
00:58-08:50 Martin Mausley? Story Teller
08:50-12:39 Tony Gosling
12:39-29:28 Forest of Dean feature
29:28-32:36 Tony Orlando & Dawn: Tie a yellow ribbon
32:36-42:56 Robert Louis Stephenson letters
42:56-47:23 The World this week with Julian Parry
47:23-56:00 Jeff SPark's What's on guide and Song of the Week
56:00-56:35 Outro
56:35-59:30 Clint Eastwood: I talk to the trees
Tunisia: The Strength of Disobedience
14-01-2011 02:38
This is a piece from a Tunisian exile in Paris on the recent uprising of the people of Tunisia against the Dictatorship of Ben Ali.Critical Mass report plus some useful advice
14-01-2011 01:22
Cyclists present in last year's new year's eve Critical Mass think that what happened to one of the massers in the early hours of the 1st of January would count as attempted murder, with repeated attempts to ram him and then run him over, according to Critical Mass mailing list contributions.
As he was heading home on his own, he was chased by a car with one of its doors opened. The open car door was the passenger trying to also get another cyclist.
Although the poilice and ambulance were soon on the scene the police appear to be doing nothing.
Critical Mass is a monthly ride that happens in many cities in the world. It is not organised by any individual but in London it has started at about 7pm every last Friday of the month for the past 15-odd years.
The last Critical Mass of 2010 saw just under 100 cyclists at peak (which usually happens about half an hour into the ride---how do they manage that?).
The ride was very unusual, but it got a very good reception from the people in the street. However, there were again many aggressive car drivers. There were also an unusually large number of motorists playing games with the lives of cyclists on the mass that evening and it was noticed that the standard of driving plummet (even more than
normal).
There was also lots of hustle from the cops and the Druid Cycles tricycle was not allowed anywhere near Trafalgar Square. It turned out to be a nightmare at the end, as I was harrassed by one specific police inspector.
It was also Drive Like An Idiot Week, as one CM regular found out later on as he was cycling home, minding his own business, only to be rear-ended and almost driven over by a hit-and-run motorist driving around with the passenger door of his car wide open. Police and ambulance were summoned. Back wheel badly damaged, rider fortunately on the mend.
The incident happened at about 2am on New Years Day near City Road. A group who had attended the Mass and then gone to the pub were cycling home when one car rammed one of them. Although the cyclist recieved head injuries it appears that the police officers who attended afterwards are not interested in doing anything.
One who did not see the incident as attempted murder sincerely believes the driver would have continued trying to drive over the rammed cyclist if his companions hadn't caught up and got in front of the car.
CM London websites:
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
http://criticalmass.org.uk
Useful tips:
BEFORE YOU ARE EVER IN AN ACCIDENT
-Save your local police station number in your phone and know your route in case you have to call your own ambulance or police
IF YOU ARE HIT BY A CAR
- First and foremost get a MINIMUM of TWO independent witnesses. Get their names and phone numbers. Ask them for a business card if possible. If they don't have a card, make small talk, ask what they do for a living or if they live in the neighbourhood. DO NOT just hand that over to the cops. Write the details down separately and give that to the cops. KEEP DETAILS SAFE.
Why: The cops and crown prosecution rely heavily on witness statements. They are also very good at losing them or 'forgetting to follow up. If the case goes to court, it will likely be up to a year before the trial. That is a very long time to allow the cops to lose stuff. Also, London's a transient city, by the time the case goes to trial one of your witnesses could have easily moved to another country, or moved house, or gotten another number. Having the business card and knowing what they do for a living can be very useful for the cops and you to track them down.
-Take a look around. Write down every CCTV camera you can see. Make a note of whether it's privately owned (banks, night clubs, etc) or whether it's city-owed. On your report, make a list of these.
Why: In our case when I asked if the cops checked CCTV footage, they replied "We weren't told there were any". By that time it was too late for them to be checked.
-[From Regulator:]You should use the Data Protection Act rather than the Freedom of Information Act to apply for CCTV footage. You should make a data subject access request under Section 7(1) of the DPA. The Information Commissioner's Office provide a template for requests. The CCTV Code of Practice outlines an organisation's responsibilities for disclosure in section 19.2 (page 15). Also, you should use the Data Protection Act (not the Freedom of Information Act which does not apply) to access case details from the police. However, the police can withhold information in certain circumstances.
-Please also note that a standard private owned CCTV camera's data is deleted every 30 days. You do not have much time to get a copy of it, neither do the cops. If you are able, go to the private business, bring a blank DVD and explain that you need their help and a copy of you "getting hit by a car", etc..
AT THE SCENE
- Don't just get the registration of the car, try to get the driver's license/home address, etc.
- Don't discuss what happened with the driver. Politely say that you'd rather wait for the cops to sort things out. Make it light but forceful.
-If the driver offers you money on the spot to solve the problem understand that the exchange of money can be looked at as a contract. Don't expect anything else from that point on from the cops or the driver. What you walk away with in your hand is all you should count on.
- If you go to the police station. This is VERY important. Second guess the desk officer regarding whether or not you've been given the right forms.
If you were hit purposefully/with intent/due to gross negligence/through anger or aggression- This is a CRIMINAL offence. You need to be filing on the CRIMINAL Offence form.
If it was a traffic ACCIDENT then you need to be filing a TRAFFIC Offence form.
Why: The forms go to two completely different groups of officers. If a traffic accident is looked at by a criminal cop, they tend to push it aside because they investigate criminal offences, and it won't fulfill their criminal requirements. And vice versa. HOWEVER, station cops may hear "I was hit by a car" and just assume it was a traffic incident. If the driver hit you PURPOSEFULLY it is likely to be a criminal incident and you need to push it to be looked at like this.
- If cops come to the scene, make a note of the "Investigating Officer's" name and badge number. Casually encourage proper note-taking. Point out (as above) whether you believe the incident to be traffic or criminal.
Why: S/he is responsible, more than anyone else, for whether or not your case is handled properly. Befriend them.
- If you report the incident at a station, you will have to fill out TWO different sets of very similar forms. The first time at the station and the second time about 6 weeks later. This 2nd set is what the cops send out to you and what they send to the CP. This 2nd set is VERY IMPORTANT. The Crown Prosecution is who decides whether or not a case is going to go to court and what the correct charges will be. Treat this 2nd form as if you've never told your story before. Get out those business cards, rewrite the witness information, and the list of CCTV cameras. Include the investigating officer by name and badge number to show you are to be taken seriously. Include anything of importance that s/he said at the time, anything the witnesses said to you, and anything the driver did afterwards.
- Remember! The driver could have a very different story than you do. This is where the strength of your case relies strongly on your witnesses.
- If there was damages to your property be thankful! This is the only way you can take a driver to civil court (if need be). This is also the only likely way you will get help from lawyers. It sucks, but money/property talks. Injustice doesn't mean a whole lot. Make notes of each part of your bike that was damages, supply receipts or store information proving how much it is worth. Take photographs of the damage AND take it to a bike shop and ask them to appraise/explain the damage in writing. Include any time spent off work/lost wages, etc..
- DO NOT RIDE YOUR BICYCLE AWAY FROM THE SCENE!!! If the cops/driver see this they may not understand that it was indeed still damaged. While your down tube is dented and therefore your frame is worthless, they may not understand that you risked it and still rode it home. If the next day you wake up sore from neck to toes they may not understand why the adrenaline you felt when you were hit allowed you to ride a bike.
-TAKE A PHOTO OF THE DRIVER AND OF VARIOUS ANGLES OF THE ACCIDENT - Your phone camera will do. The driver may later say it wasn't him driving.
ARE YOU HURT?
- If you are hurt, don't be a tough guy. Go to the hospital/your GP. Get a letter from them explaining your injuries. While a good case of road rash may not be life-threatening it may make you unable to ride/walk/work properly. This is important to note. If you get a later infection or later bone/muscle problems it will make it trickier to prove.
- If you have adreneline pumping through your veins you may not realize you are injured - go to the hospital.
- If you have a scrapped up knee, you are injured, go to the hospital.
- I have straight forwardly been told by the police to go to the hospital if there is any injury at all. Tell the doctor that you will be taking the case to court and could s/he please take detailed notes.
- I have also been told by the cops to take pictures once the swelling/bruising sets in, in other words when it looks really bad. The cops want to punish people, they need evidence to do this.
-Above all, BE PERSISTENT! Make one day a week, 'call the cops day'. Check in on your case. The cops "stretch the truth" and are lazy/very busy. Don't believe anything they say like "we're working on it" or "we'll call you". You do the leg work. If one officer doesn't help you ask for his/her superior. Call them by their name and be polite.
Don't ask questions like "Could you check into that?" Instead say things like "When you check into that will you call me with a follow up?" Then when they say "Yeah, sure.." Push further (but politely) with statements like "And when can I expect to hear from you?" Remember cops have been drilled/brain washed to work in a 'fill in the boxes, dot the I's sort of way',they rely on a chain of command to know what's right or wrong. So if they are a good cop, reward them. Thank them for their help. Be very nice. Bow down to their wise moves. If they are a bad cop, admonish them, point out that you are not happy with the way they are "serving" you. Ask to speak to a superior. Again politely.
If a cop says they'll have to call somebody else or somebody else is in charge of something, get that person's name and contact information. Call them. Tell them who told you to call them.
If a cop blames you for ANYTHING (i.e. wrong forms, not calling, shouldn't have been riding so fast/without a helmet) remind them that it is not their job to blame the victim but their job to assist them.
DO NOT GET ANGRY/RAISE YOUR VOICE/SWEAR. Cops rely on winding you up. The second you yell or use a swear word they have a legal right not to have to talk to you. Also, psychologically you are undermining their sense of authority which is all they have. This doesn't do you any good. Continue to remind them that they have the "power" to assist you. Not all cops wanted to become police officers for the power trip, some actually, in the back of their brain, honestly wanted to help out society. Appeal to that part of their brain. Put them in your shoes, "I'm sure you can understand why I'm so frustrated", etc.
[b]Keep a folder containing:
reference details (numbers, officer names, etc)
witnesses details
driver's details
photographs of your bike and black eyes
officer names (every one you ever speak to)
dates and times you made phone calls. Write a quick note of what was discussed each time.
Any other places you complained/talked to (see below)
There are people out there who can help:
Road Peace - A non-profit that deals with road-user's rights.
Your MP - They may want to silently watch the case, but they are there to assist you.
Contact Cycle Aid 01772 250871 "Cycle Aid are personal injury solicitors specialising in cycle injury and accident claims. We will act for you on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis giving cutting-edge legal advice to help you make a claim for compensation. We have been involved in many substantial claims involving head injuries, shoulder injuries, spinal injuries, facial injuries, back injuries, knee injuries and other bicycle accident claims"
IF THE COPS ARE ABUSIVE, NEGLIGENT, INCAPABLE OF DOING THEIR JOB:
Look, it's easy to get disheartened and give up when the cops don't help you, but if you don't do something about this you make it harder for the next one of us in your shoes.
Please complain!!
You can do this easily and online. The two complaints commitees are duty-bound to, at least, investigate. Plus it's a record of shittiness done by cops.
To complain go here:
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/
https://secure.met.police.uk/complaints/
If the driver was a "professional" driver complain to their profession's headquarters.
TfL if it's a bus
Public Carriage Office if it's a black cab.
The link to make an online complaint against a black cab is here: https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/pco/taxi.aspx
I have never not gotten a reply from complaining to TfL.
If they are driving a company van/car get the details of their company and complain to the boss.
If you would like to sue in civil court you want to go to this page to start with. You can only sue for money, not emotion or injustice. So for things like a fucked up bike or time off work due to the accident. If you have already accepted an insurance pay out then you may not be eligible to sue so check with a solicitor before accepting any compensation if you think you may like to take the case further.
http://www.lfgss.com/thread4213.html
US Government Spy Infiltrated Antiwar Groups Before FBI Raids
13-01-2011 21:56
There are major new developments in the case of the peace activists targeted by FBI raids last September. Lawyers for the activists in Minnesota and St. Paul have learned a government agent infiltrated their group and conducted extensive spying. Going by the name "Karen Sullivan," the agent began attending organizing meetings of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee in the lead-up to the Republican National Convention. Sullivan then took an active role in the group, chairing meetings, handling bookkeeping, and communicating with dozens of other organizations. Anti-War Committee activist Jess Sundin spoke to Democracy Now! on Wednesday.Bash the Bankers - Cardiff Protest
13-01-2011 21:10
SCRAP THE BOSSES' BONUSESRAGE AGAINST THE BANKERS
CARDIFF PROTEST THIS SATURDAY
ASSEMBLE 11AM
OUTSIDE BARCLAYS ON QUEEN STREET
Democracy Dead in Oxford City...
13-01-2011 21:06
The Labour administration running Oxford City Council has stopped yet another way of interacting with the general public. Lack of accountability and transparency is becoming a trademark for them, as they ignore the largest ever petition in the city's history, councillors refuse to talk to their voters, and now this...Obama's Arizona Speech - Reality Check
13-01-2011 21:03
Portsmouth Anti-cuts March This Saturday
13-01-2011 20:32
Tunisia on the brink of revolution
13-01-2011 19:33
TUNISIA is tonight on the brink of revolution, as the people rise up against poverty, corruption and repression.Anonymous protest for freedom of information
13-01-2011 19:20
Not much info on what's happening, but here's a couple of links with protest sites for the 15th and the callout videoMarch on parliament-London 19th Jan - finally a huge protest is happening again
13-01-2011 18:50
The scum in parliament are debating taking even more money from the poor - in this case scrapping EMASolidarity demo for the Thessaloniki 4 – London friday 14.01.11
13-01-2011 18:36
14:00 Friday January 14, 2011
Greek Embassy, London
1A Holland Park,
London W11 3TP
Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate, Central Line