UK Newswire Archive
From Bristol With Love 10
28-10-2011 14:51
From Bristol with Love is a showcase for local music, local news and new forms of local thinkingAnarchists Burn Car Show Room
28-10-2011 14:05
Recently Anarcho's in Cambridge destroyed a car sales business in furtherance of teh social war taking place around the globe. Following text taken from Cambridges News website.Out Of The Squats And Into The Streets
28-10-2011 13:42
Edinburgh Council votes to defer privatisation decision
28-10-2011 12:55
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As anti privatisation demonstrators packed into the building, City of Edinburgh councillors voted on 27 October to defer a decision on the privatisation of refuse collection and environmental services until November. “We need to be there in even greater numbers next time to make sure the councillors don't gift our services to Enterprise – a notorious company with a track record of mass sackings, health and safety breaches and incompetence” said a demonstrator. The decision day meeting will be held at 10am on thursday 24 November.
Occupy Bradford
28-10-2011 12:55
Early this afternoon a couple of dozen activists began to set up an occupation in Bradford in front of the town hall.
The occupation is ongoing, and needs your support.
Get on down there with your body, your tent, and thermos.
Updates and photos to follow.
Siteworkers and OccupyLSX blockade Blackfriars
28-10-2011 12:55
Early on Wed 26th up to 400 workers and supporters blockaded Blackfriars building site in the latest direct action aimed at fighting a massive 30% paycut and new contracts that sacrifice safety. With support from different trade unions and protestors from Occupy London's two camps, they took the road and marched to Cannon Street station construction site.
A massive banner reading "All Power To The Sparks" was hung from the construction site as protesting workers joined with site workers on the scaffolding. See utube Video
A major national day of action has been called in London for 9th November [2] with plans to shut down several high profile construction sites. The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) has also called a national demonstration in London "Defend Education - Fight Privitisation" on the 9th with the financial centre of the City of London as the target. NCAFC said they "stand 100% behind the sparks, and want to work with electricians to make sure that the protests converge".
See also Wed 19th Blocakde Report
http://www.jibelectrician.blogspot.com
http://union-news.co.uk/tag/sparks/
Balfour Beatty, who run the Blackfriars construction project, are not only the driving force behind the 35% pay cut and withdrawal from the JIB National Agreement. They are also one of the main culprits in the blacklisting of construction workers for taking part in trade union activities. Other employers are Bailey Building Services, Tommy Clarke, Crown House Technologies, Gratte Brothers, SES and Spie Matthew Hall.
UK Uncut high court legal action re Goldman Sachs
28-10-2011 12:55
When activists start talking about court cases, evidence, expert witnesses and meetings with lawyers, it generally means that either they or their friends will be going through a tough and stressful time. Too often it is those people willing to stick their necks out to fight injustice that are dragged through the courts. But not always. Criminal damage to us doesn’t always mean supergluing yourself to Topshop, we believe it is criminal for public servants to act unlawfully, especially when these acts reflect a greed and self-interest that damage us all.
UK Uncut Legal Action is a new, spin-off project, separate to- but inspired by- UK Uncut and their fight for an alternative to the cuts. UK Uncut have shown that the cuts are a political choice, not an economic necessity and that this choice is driven by the interests of big business, the finance sector and wealthy individuals, not caring for people.
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/introducing-uk-uncut-legal-action
Today, UK Uncut Legal Action has announced that it is threatening a legal challenge in the High Court over HMRC’s ‘sweetheart’ tax deal with the investment bank giant, Goldman Sachs. The crux of the matter appears to be that back in the 1990s, Goldman Sachs didn’t want people to know just how much money their bankers were being paid, and they allegedly didn’t fancy paying all of their National Insurance contributions. Reportedly, they set up a new company in the British Virgin Islands, and bought into a scheme called Employment Beneficiary Trusts. It wasn’t until 2005, after much legal wrangling, the courts declared that these Trusts were tax avoiding schemes, and it was time to pay back £30 million that they’d saved through using these schemes.
But Goldman Sachs didn’t feel like paying back the £30 million and fought tooth and nail in the courts against reimbursing the public purse. Time ticked on, and it wasn’t until 2010 that a judge threw out the claim from the Bank that their true employer was in the British Virgin Islands. Goldman Sachs’s debt to society now stood at the £30 million, plus £10 million in interest.
Goldman Sachs baulked at paying back what they owed, and so in late 2010, it’s been said in the press that they did what any self-respecting wannabe tax dodger does; they wined and dined Dave Harnett, HMRC’s top tax man. By the end of the brandy and cigars, it was all sorted. Goldman Sachs would pay back the original £30 mil and Dave would forget about the £10 million interest. Who needs it? You can’t buy many books, nurses or school meals with it anyway.
As the secret ‘sweetheart’ deal came to light, it all got a bit embarrassing in the press and in parliament. Dave Hartnett suggested to a Select Committee that it was a junior official’s error because of a misinterpretation of the law. According to the Guardian this month, HMRC sources privately confirm that £10m of taxpayers’ money was thrown away because of a “technical mistake” by an unidentified official, junior to Hartnett, who misinterpreted the law.
As anyone who has had any dealings with HMRC will know, there are procedures, policies and forms of many, many pages that must be filled in, in the right order and by the right date. We can’t buy Dave Hartnett a couple of cocktails and he’ll look the other way when it comes to our tax returns or National Insurance contributions.
This is at the heart of our legal action. We are saying that if was a genuine mistake, then it can be rectified and the money paid back. And being the reasonable people that we are, we have given them a couple of weeks to do so. If not though, we will see them in court, as we believe that this handshake agreement is unlawful because, reportedly, Dave didn’t follow HMRC’s own procedures. So if it’s not quashed, Dave’s dodgy deal could land him in the dock.
Daily Mail admits OLSX "speak for England"
28-10-2011 12:21
After a week of dirty tricks against Occupy London Stock Exchange protests, The Daily Mail have finally (albeit grudgingly) admitted OLSX protestors "speak for England", because "the majority of people... would almost certainly agree that the authorities are much to blame for not prosecuting any of the bankers whose reckless and sometimes illegal actions led to the wrecking of western economies and the destruction of millions of livelihoods".Call Call UoB Guild of Students to complain suspension of the VP Education
28-10-2011 12:15
We are calling on individuals to call the Guild Today 28/10/1011, between 9-5 to complain about the undemocratic suspension of an elected representative and demand his re-instatement.
Halloween-inspired protest greets World Bank chief in Manila
28-10-2011 08:37
Housing should be a right not a privilege
28-10-2011 02:14
The Squatting Network of Brighton respond to the possible criminalisation of squatting, to be discussed in Parliament on the coming Monday. We're angry and obviously concerned that the government have sneaked this clause into an unrelated bill, and hence wish to inform the masses of this potentially enormous miscarriage of justice. Excuse our formal language but it is our press release!Characters I've met during Cuts & Occupy Campaigns
27-10-2011 20:55
On a lighter note ....
These are some of the characters I've met during the anti-cuts & occupy campaigns around Nottingham in recent times.
Collected piccies from previous postings around these issues.
Links to previous posting .... via these Nottingham features
Nottingham is occupied [1st Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2079
Nottingham Occupation Continues [2nd Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2100
Occupy Notttingham: Moved but still in occupation [3rd Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2116
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Nottingham Occupation continues: Thursday Day 13
27-10-2011 18:55
Thursday 27 October 2011
The occupation of the Market Square, continues ......
A short set of rather damp pictures!
Even though the weather has turned a bit grim of late, windy and sometimes heavy rain, cold at night ... the occupation in Market Square continues ......
I think those holding out against the elements for these issue, need to be congratulated for their commitments and deserve help and support from us.
Please drop by and offer your time, help, donations of food, bedding, waterproofing, warm clothing ...... oh, a bit of love.
The story so far ........
Nottingham is occupied [Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2079
Nottingham Occupy 1 The March
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2085
Nottingham Occupy 2 The Rally
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2086
Nottingham Occupy 3 Uncut Tour
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2090
Nottingham Occupy 4 Market Square
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2095
Nottingham Occupy @ Market Square Day 2 Sunday
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2096
Nottingham Occupation continues: Wednesday Day 5
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2103
Nottingham Market Square continues occupied, Day 7
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2110
Nottingham Occupation continues: Saturday Day 8
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2114
Nottingham Indymedia have now added a further feature with more links ......
Nottingham Occupation Continues [2nd Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2100
Occupy Notttingham: Moved but still in occupation [3rd Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2116
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Dale Farm: Report from the front line
27-10-2011 16:59
Wednesday 02 November 2011, 19:30The Space Project 37-38 Mabgate Green, Leeds
Activists and Residents from Dale Farm report back from the front line in the antifascist struggle.
Advisory Service for Squatters fund raiser
27-10-2011 16:55
A great evening!
Thanks to everyone who helped organise, and attended last saturdays fund rasier for the advisory service for squatters, the evening went smoothly, with a lovely vibe and some excellent tunes.
We raised 220 quid for the ASS!
LSX Occupation: What is this Machine?
27-10-2011 16:09
Glasgow comes together on George Square
27-10-2011 14:55
Saturday was a good day. No rain, some sunshine, and 500 people on George Square to celebrate one week of Occupy Glasgow!
Report on the London camps
27-10-2011 14:55
Dispite the rain over night the two camps in London are holding strong and continue to function well. Yesterday's Telegraph story about all the tents being empty is clearly untrue and can be seen by any quick visit to either sites, as the occupants get up and start eating breakfast in the camp kitchen. Keep reading ...
People are talking about the fact that St Paul's Cathedral is talking about taking legal action to evict the protesters that even though there is no grounds on Health and Safety or Fire Risk that they used as the reason that the Catherdral was closed down last week. As St Paul's is run by the City of London Corporation it would be them that take the action, which is likely to be a long process.
In the evening there was the first publication to come out of the camp called: Occupied Times, a twelve page A4 newssheet with interviews and comment from those around the occupation. 2000 copies were printed and handed out around St Paul's square to passing onlookers, creating a buzz, and some good copy. This was something that was really needed as there is an expectation that you must be on Twitter or other such corporate tools to hear what is actually going on, at last a genuine voice from the streets. People involved in the paper indicated that it would be a weekly publication with next weeks being bigger and better.
Banksy Apparently gave a gift to the Occupy London movement outside St Paul’s Cathedral to show support for their protest against the greed and corruption of the corporations. A Monopoly Board with Rich Uncle Pennybags looking for a handout.
Upcoming this week at the occupations:
Thursday 27th October: 7.30am – The Finsbury Square campus of Occupy’s Tent City University is planning a ‘teach out’ at a secret venue early Thursday morning, marking the 25th anniversary of Big Bang deregulation. Bring a book and a flask of tea.
Thursday 27th October: 9.30am – Independent health and safety auditors invited by OccupyLSX will inspect the camp at Saint Paul’s
Friday 28th October: 2pm – Monopoly bike ride starting from St Paul’s.
In other occupations round the world:
Occupy Oakland evicted violently
On Tuesday 25th October; police violently raided the Occupy Oakland encampment in California. This first video shows a protester, an Iraq Veteran, getting hit in the face with a tear gas canister. When other protesters came to the aid of the victim, this video shows clearly an Oakland police officer throwing concussion grenades at the people who come to the aid of the person who was hit in the face with the hot, dangerous tear gas canister.
See: http://occupywallst.org/
Or if you dont mind being tracked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=player_embedded