UK Newswire Archive
Anti-nuclear campaigners set for weekend of seaside action
18-04-2011 11:55
The annual beach camp beside the nuclear power station in Suffolk, England, now into its third year, will have added significance this year due to the unfolding disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan, and because it marks 25 years since the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe in the Ukraine. (2)
Mitie offices attacked in Hartcliffe
18-04-2011 09:33
15-20 windows smashed at Mitie offices in Hartcliffe.BP Protest Flashmob at Tate Modern
18-04-2011 01:24
BP sponsorship protest at tate modern, see http://london.indymedia.org/articles/8748
Tahrir
18-04-2011 01:24
The sound of Revolution!!! and Celebration!!!
Tahrir Square Cairo kicks off and the Mubarak regime is swept from power!
A shining example of people power
Project Work - the original workfare scheme
18-04-2011 00:03
A group for those who have experienced Project Work in MedwayBP sponsorship protest at tate modern
17-04-2011 23:22
more than a hundred acitvists took part in a sleep-in flashmob at tate modern this afternoon in protest at the the gallery's continued assocation with world eco-criminal 'british petroleum'.
despite the presence of several police, and security carrying out baggage searches at the south bank tate modern museum today, dozens of activists staged a succesful protest to highlight BP's attempt to repair its tarnished global image by sponsoring cultural spaces and events across the UK.
at exactly 2.15, at various points throughout every floor of the galleries, more than a hundred people simultaneously laid down, mostly covered with sheets and mock BP logos, put on BP-sponsored blindfolds, and 'fell asleep'. after four minutes, their BP-sponsored alarm clocks went off, filling the space with sound, and signifying a 'wake-up call' to tell tate to liberate itself from BP's dirty oil money.
at the same time, outside the gallery, two bamboo tripods were erected and activists strung banners between them, set up a bicycle sound system, and waited for people to emerge from the buidling.
for the next hour, speakers took the mic, and drew crowds of passers-by on a glorious sunny afternoon on the south bank.
an indigenous activist from the canadian province of north alberta spoke about how, while BP is busy pushing its public relations offensive to repair the enormous reputational damage caused by the mexico gulf disaster, they are also quietly continuing their 'sunrise project' in canada, a vast tar sands extraction programme which will cover a huge area of pristine boreal forest, threatening caribou herds with extinction and causing ecological havoc. we heard how the project has begun without BP consulting with local communities, thus violating indigenous treaty rights. the work has created serious safety concerns, with several steam blowouts already documented.
an activist from lousiana told how her family had fished for generations, but that the fishing community was now decimated by the BP gulf disaster. she was angry that, while fishing boats had been subject to draconian regulations and fishermen had been imprisoned for minor violations, BP executives had gotten away with the disaster without criminal charges or investigations, and her life and the lives of whole communities around her had been destroyed by the oil, the clean-up chemicals, and the devastated eco-system.
BP has announced it will also resume operations in the mexican gulf in july.
www.artnotoil.org.uk/bpweekofaction
www.no-tar-sands.org
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.ienearth.org/tarsands.html
Accusations against the global sex industry
17-04-2011 22:59
I want to give my support to the accusations against the global sex industry. Indeed I observe from my place in the work against sexist violence that the sex industry is guilty of overwhelming overpowering that is dominating our government, our community and our selves.The ‘Golden Years” cry of defiance
17-04-2011 20:22
It was Wednesday 13th April at a pre-arranged hour. The sound of song and short speeches filled South London, hundreds of people gathering to say ‘NO' to the closure of the Golden Years Day Centre.
People began arriving at midday from all around the city, in groups large and small or simply in pairs. They were headed for the front of the Phoenix Building, from where Lambeth Social Services is run.
They came radiant with energy and determination, overcoming the pains in their bones, the inevitable fatigue, the long distances and the debilitations of old age. In some cases, the journey even involved wheelchairs.
But they came. They brought placards, musical instruments and brightly coloured clothing. Above all they brought determination to demonstrate against the attitude of indifference shown by those with the power to change their fortunes. Against the lack of understanding and abandonment shown by those in whose hands their fate lay, Lambeth Social Services.
Those we would classify strictly as pensioners were perhaps not many, 20, 30 or even 40.. The number was irrelevant however. For we can be certain that alongside them were great numbers of boys and girls, teenagers, men and women, grandchildren, children, parents ... dozens if not hundreds.
These various generations of people owed their very existences to this older generation. And now they were demanding in no uncertain terms that their age, their rights and their centre be respected.
The Golden Years Day Centre has been running for more than 20 years, serving London's community of elderly Latin Americans. It carries out a unique service, facing continual challenges of inadequate facilities, funding and an uncertain future. Its fate is now in the hands of Lambeth Social Services.
The centre has enabled dozens of elderly Latin Americans to build lives with the care and attention they need. Its definitive closure would put these lives at risk, yet this does not seem to have been considered by many.
The protest essentially took the whole street over and continued for several hours. Over and over they repeated as one their demands, demonstrators and the council's ‘targets' chanting alongside each other... We heard the voice of Genoveva, the centre's most ‘senior' senior citizen. Also Fernando Vergara's, artist, long-term centre member and husband of Amada Silva, Golden Year's founder and coordinator. They and other centre members were there, each contributing what time and energy they could to the protest.
But this represented, more strikingly, a coming together of allies, individuals and organisations there to express their collective solidarity with Golden Years. This was no chance gathering, some having worked since the beginning and weeks before to ensure that Golden Years was not alone. Some joined the cause the day before, some on that very same day to lend a few hours support. There were those who travelled in from the city's outskirts and those, best of all, who came down from Phoenix Building itself. In this little party of defiance, protest and solidarity, the voices of those experienced in demonstrations uniting with those experienced in life. There were speeches, slogans, placards the length and breadth of the pavement, smiling singing artists.. A beautifully conspiratorial demonstration of solidarity and joy.
At this time of writing, Lambeth Social Services has been in contact with Amada Silva. There are several options on the table but nothing is assured. Promises may be held, maybe not, but they will need to realistically take account of the centre's logistical and financial needs.
The decision to organise this protest as part of the campaign against the closure was the initiative of Golden Years members. They have been supported since the beginning by various groups and organisations however. This includes The Prisma - The Multicultural Paper, Latin American Coalition Against the Cuts (COLACOR), Lambeth Save Our Services, Lambeth Pensioners Group and All Aged Pensioners. Joining the campaign later was the Latin American Migrant Association (LAMA) and other British and Latin American groups set up to fight the cuts, as well as varied private individuals..
For more information, contact latinamgyc@btconnect.com, lagydc@yahoo.co.uk, telephone 020 7793 0469, postal address 1-29 Cancell Road, London, SW9 6HN.
Images saying more than words ever can, The Prisma has reproduced part of this story. Visual record obtained from the participants of this ‘action'.
Time is certainly running out. ‘Compassion' for minorities, the handicapped, or those outside the capitalist system does not even cross the current government's mind. So why should they pay any attention to a group of pensioners, pensioners from Latin American? Immigrants from a region with an alien language and cultural roots, who have struggled falling between the categories of ‘legal' and ‘illegal' and continue to. To be elderly, immigrant and Latin American.. in a time of crisis!
Web address:
http://www.theprisma.co.uk/2011/04/10/13th-april-%E2%80%98los-anos-dorados%E2%80%99-will-%E2%80%9Coccupy%E2%80%9D-the-lss/
http://www.theprisma.co.uk/2011/03/28/the-golden-years-and-their-final-battle/
(Translated by Andrew Edwards - Email: andrewedwards89@hotmail.com)
London Mayday 2011 - A celebration of our strength // Anarchist Public Assembly
17-04-2011 19:45
Zapatista Solidarity in Glasgow
17-04-2011 19:36
Screening of Health and Solidarity (25 min.)- The twinning of Zapatista Solidarity Groups in Scotland with the Zapatista Autonomous Municipality '16th February' in Chiapas, Mexico.
+ Latest Video Message from an indigenous community in struggle in Chiapas
Followed by Glasgow Chiapas Solidarity Group organising meeting
Flash Mob Photos
17-04-2011 18:55
Couple of photo sets from today are here:Dissident Island Radio 15 April - ready for download
17-04-2011 18:53
World Day for Animals in Laboratories 2011
17-04-2011 17:23
weather distributed Nuclear Fallout
17-04-2011 17:22
If we are going to be saddled with these dangers, shouldn't we have operations in place on a global level for these avoidable dangers. There is clearly a lack of output from the governments of the world, on this global danger and, the inevitable cost to the tax payer for the aid of the chemical brothers.Two UK activists send a report back from the front
17-04-2011 15:22
In the city of Misrata, the only city in the West of Libya not under control of Gaddafi’s forces, the situation is desperate. The whole of the city is besieged with no escape except by Mediterranean Sea, its only lifeline.
To come to the city and listen to its sounds is confusing to anyone with any preconception of war. The sound of bird song and the call to prayer from the minarets is accompanied by the new music of Misrata; gunfire and the sound of explosions. The story of war is one of confusion, any attempt to understand it seems to be ultimately futile. Every day that goes by in this city is a crime against humanity. The world cannot allow this siege to continue if it does not want to see a repeat of Sarajevo. Virtually nowhere in this city is safe, schools, hospitals and mosques have all been targeted by RPGs, SPGs and mortar attack, bread lines in the city have also been targeted and snipers hold the centre of the city hostage. There is no option left for the people of Misrata but defend themselves from annihilation.
The rules of war do not apply here, there is no exit strategy and no escape route, the motto of the people in Libya is “victory or death”. This is not a war of two sides, but a civilian population held captive by a well equipped military force. 42 years of dictatorship at the hands of Gaddafi has taught them the alternative to defense, if his military forces overrun this city it means nothing but certain death for everyone.
The organization for the defense of the city is manned only by civilians. Roadblocks on the streets constructed from scrap metal and sand, are controlled by the ‘Shabab’, the youth armed only with smalls arms and some only with Molotov Cocktails, to defend themselves against the possibility of invasion by tanks.
Today [13th April] on Tripoli Street, the epicentre of the city’s fighting that has now become a sniper alley, we met the rebels desperately trying to rid their home of threat. A number of Gaddafi snipers have taken up positions here, shooting at anything that moves. On a corner the rebel’s red, black and green flag flies, ridden with bullet holes it has become a surrogate target when humans are not available. At the position, we met ordinary people, teachers, engineers and students . They were eating chocolates captured from Gaddafi forces. “They eat sweets and drink Pepsi and bring us nothing but guns!” one fighter shouts. Most had never handled a gun before the insurrection started, they did not wish for this fight. While the Gaddafi forces indiscriminately shell the city, the rebels tell us that they cannot use all of the weapons that they have at their disposal.
”We have some weapons we have taken from the Gaddafi militias, like SPGs” says Muhamed Agila, a Misrata resident, “but we will not use them, it is not safe, people live here, this is our home we don’t want to destroy our home. We don’t want to hurt the people. They [Gaddafi's forces] don’t care what they use. You can see the destruction everywhere.”
Even a cursory tour of the city demonstrates the extent of the destruction here. In the western area of the city cleared a few days ago, almost every building bore the scars of mortar attacks and gunfire. However, buildings can be rebuilt, human life cannot.
Yesterday, we visited the city’s hospitals and spoke with a number of doctors who explained the impact that the fighting is having on the city. Tens of people die every day here under bombardment from Gaddafi’s forces most are injured by shrapnel from tanks, mortars and bullets.
Children are suffering in this siege with 20 children killed in Misrata alone, the youngest victim aged only nine months. We saw with our own eyes the body of a three year old girl shot through the head by one of Gaddafi’s bullets. Her father, a doctor working in one of the city’s hospitals had been kidnapped only a day earlier. Grenade rounds lie unexploded around the streets and children have been finding them and picking them up to play with.
The tactic of kidnapping and abduction is commonly practiced against the civilian population. One worker at the hospital had collected the names of 30 civilians from just one small area of the city, Zawiat al-Majohb, that have been removed from their homes and disappeared. The figures for the rest of the city are not known, but they are estimated to be around 2000. No one knows of their whereabouts.
As medical teams here struggle to save the lives of those caught in this conflict they also come under fire. Ambulances come under regular fire from troops, with snipers aiming for the petrol tanks in attempts to blow them up. We met one young driver from the Red Crescent, who was shot in the arm, he was lucky, with many of his colleagues having been killed.
Other than the hundreds of cases of people suffering from bullet and shrapnel wounds from snipers and shelling, a psychologist in one of the city’s hospitals tells us of other damage being inflicted by the conflict. The captive civilians are suffering numerous psychological disorders including insomnia, acute psychosis and epilepsy as well as psychosomatic disorders including diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.
The people of Misrata remain defiant in the midst of this chaos. At the candle lit vigil for two young men killed in yesterday’s fighting the whole of Zawiat al-Majohb’s population turns out to chant in a show of unity surrounding the two shrouded bodies in coffins. The people here do not have any clear ideological or political aspirations. The two most common chants, “Free Libya, Gaddafi has to go” in Arabic, along with cries of “Allahu Akbar”, “God is great” would encompass their principal motivations. The people here are religious, but they look more to western democracy for their political influence than to political Islam and Al-Qaeda. In Benghazi, people make their calls to NATO help them win their fight. For now, the people of Misrata must rely on their own resolve and faith to defend themselves as NATO seem to sleep while the people here cannot.
BNP exposed as liars - Scottish BNP leaflets full of lies
17-04-2011 13:34
The ever odious BNP stoop to a new low.Their Scottish elelction leaflets not only jumpon the anti-Islam bandwagon much favoured by far-right wankers like the EDL etc. but are also full of lies and have been exposed as such.