UK Promoted Newswire Archive
Royal Holloway Occupation Continues!
24-11-2010 23:34
The Royal Holloway Anti Cuts Alliance are still occupying the picture gallery corridor of Founder’s buildingThousands Protest Against Cuts To Education
24-11-2010 23:22
University of Bristol Union OccupiedReport And Photos From Student Anti Cuts Demo
Today somewhere between 2000-4000 students, teachers and lecturers protested in central Bristol, meaning that the protest was probably the best attended Bristolian demonstration since the anti-war protests of 2002. Having congregated outside Bristol University's Senate House to hear union reps give short speeches at 12:30, the protest moved down to Clifton triangle, past the Wills Memorial building and down Park St, which was filled by protesters, the majority of whom were aged between 14 and 20. At the bottom of Park St the march was blocked from entering the centre by a police cordon, and so most of the march went back up Park St where protesters were hemmed in on all sides by police cordons. In spite of this, large groups managed to break out, including those who went to the Bristol University Student Union building and have occupied the building In sum the demo was well attended by young people, many of whom have never been on a protest before. There was a general sense of anger and hostility towards the ConDem coalition and in particular the cuts to the EMA and the proposals to triple university fees while completely withdrawing state funding from the arts, humanities and social sciences. Many students brought home made banners with a diverse range of slogans from 'Think Now Before Its Too Expensive,' and 'Thought is Not a Commodity' to 'Browne is Shit' and 'Tory Scum'.
Full Article and Photos | Occupation of University of Bristol Union | Activist Hospitalised by Cops at Bristol Student Demo | Police Not Displaying Numbers on Today's Demo | Today's Student Demo | Bristol University Students Union Under Occupation
Blogs of Occupations - add yours to the list
24-11-2010 23:22
Here are a few of the blogs from this weeks occupations which took place across the UK
The students have put up their demands and each occupation can be followed at length.
We will add as you send them in.
London:
UCL: http://ucloccupation.wordpress.com
SOAS: http://soasoccupation2010.wordpress.com/
Royal Holloway: http://rhacc.wordpress.com/
UK:
OXFORD: http://occupiedoxford.org
Manchester: http://mmuoccupation.wordpress.com/
List of Universities Occupied:
Strathclyde
Oxford
Edinburgh
Warwick
Sheffield
Essex
Cardiff
Bristol
Birmingham
Plymouth
UCL
Leeds
UWE
SOAS
Royal Holloway
Birmingham City
UEL
Manchester Met
Ratcliffe Trial Day 3 - Prosecution case continues
24-11-2010 22:23
23 November 2010 Nottingham Crown Court
Barrister for the prosecution, Miss Felicity Gerry continued to outline their case.
Taking the jury further into the huge bundle of paper they'd been given to consider, she spent much time on the press release that had already been prepared ahead of the action intended.
She points out the press release notes describe the actions intended. They include element such as peaceful protest, trespass, the intent of climbing structures and securing access. Notes about the Ratcliffe power stations operations. Then there was another section drawing attention to the issues the then Energy Secretary Ed Milliband MP, who was considering an application for the construction of another coal-fired power station by E-on at that time.
Notes suggested that the protesters had researched issues for several months before their arrest to ensure the health and safety of themselves and others before engaging in the action. Further, to minimize power disruptions.
By reading out the press release, almost in its entirety to the court, I was struck in thinking that this was perhaps doing a lot of the defences work for them! I formed the impression of the great amount of care, consideration and research that had been put into the whole project. But i think the motive here is clearly to demonstrate the amount of premeditation and possible conspiracy that the prosecution aledge had taken place.
Miss Gerry continued onto the question & answers leaflet that had also be found at the school. She again seemed to me to be suggesting that the depth of research, thought-out consequences, again demonstrated the premeditation and a conspiracy.
Another leaflet was introduced titled: 'Important notice for people working at Ratcliffe Power Station' intended to provide an explanation to workers about the action. On then to a media contact list prepared with the contact and phone number of a number of TV and newspaper journalist and newsrooms.
Further into the bundle, she introduces an assortment of papers, some torn up and reassembled by the police, found within various rooms in the Iona School. A flip chart paper and a couple of other bits and bobs. All describing aspects of the proposed action, amounting in fact, to an operational plan.
Miss Gerry spent some time describing the operation of a flow chart. Its object was to lay out what to do on arrival at the plant if challenged by worker or security / or not challenged. The arrangement of people into 'task groups' and how to proceed when confronted with a variety of obstacles.
The presence of 'what to do if' and arrest advice papers suggested that they intended to engage in illegal activities. Another note discovered referred to a company called Veggies "Please supply high calorific high density durable foods" individually packed but sometimes would be available for sharing. Food bags were discovered with days of the week written on them.
Great emphasis was put of another leaflet titled: Ecological Show Stoppers. Street theatre, Sunday 12th April 2009 Iona School, Sneinton, Nottingham.
After lunch we continue with a oh so long listing of equipment. The back bench of the court has a large array of exhibits in plastic bags, all carefully presented by a court officer resplendent in blue sterile gloves. Unnecessary I thought, when holding ropes , bits of metals and wood which are all contained in plastic. But, me thinks, it all gives an air of crime, danger, presentation etc.
Although not absolutely everything seized, Miss Gerry tells the court that it is a sample to give a flavor of the materials involved. She has the court officer display to the jury:
D-locks
Cycle steel rope locks
Climbing ropes, clips and harnesses [a variety of all-sorts]
Hard hats, masks and ear-defenders
A roll-able metal climbing ladder
'Lock-on' tubes [constructed from fire extinguisher casings, a steel tubes encased in concrete
Police photographs then presented in the bundle showing:
A hired gas detector
Steel device with handles to block a door
Assortment of power tools inc. cutting equipment, drills etc
Miss Gerry suggests that all this equipment would enable the defendants to carry out their stated aims to shut down the power station for a week.
Banners of varying sizes including the words:
For climate justice
2000 tons of carbon saved
Coal = Climate Disaster
No more coal
A sketch was also found showing how to hang a banner with ropes and weighting down with sandbags.
Crumbs! Today was very much about lists. Lists of papers, equipment & kit, personal items, sleeping bags, bedding etc etc etc etc ..... we are now onto vehicle. Hired from a variety of companies and locations.
An assortment of receipts for kit, tools, fuel, maps and routes.
It then took a while for her to describe the number of mobile telephones and an assortment of sim cards. Also some radio equipment. They were found in various places about the school and on people present there. All were unregistered and recently purchased. Effort was made in then explaining some of suggested links between them and numbers that had called each other.
We all adjourn until 10.30am tomorrow.
the case continues etc ........
+++
Ratcliffe Trial Day 2 - Prosecution’s Opening
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/702
Ratcliffe conspiracy to trespass trial opens today
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/693
Ratcliffe Conspiracy Trial Begins [feature]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/701
http://ratcliffeontrial.org/blog
____________________________________________
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>
Cardiff Uni Occupation CONTINUES: Public Statement
24-11-2010 21:54
Cardiff University Students will continue Occupying Large Shandon Lecture Theatre in the Main Building of Cardiff University over night. The decision was taken by consensus by the ~50 students present at 9.45, shortly before the deadline to leave set by the University Management (10pm).Sheffield Students Demo
24-11-2010 21:34
The Kids Are United – Against Cameron & Clegg!Tory Party HQ Nottingham Closed for Business Today
24-11-2010 21:25
Wednesday 24th November 2010,
The Conservative Party HQ was closed for business today.
The large gates to the compound where the offices are located at King Edward Court were locked shut. A note on the gate informed us that offices were shut today, but without any further explaination. Another note says that if you needed access to the offices of the Crown Prosecution Service CPS, then need to contact them. Windows remained broken and boarded up after a previous incident last week. There was also a police presence watching out for any eventualities.
So, what's going on? Well there was a nationally advertised student walk out today. They were clearly worried about further direct action by students and others on the issues of fees, cuts to public service, and all the rest ......
Me thinks that the Conservative Party are nervous about the publics reaction to these issues.
earlier: .......
Last Thursday, damage was done to the Conservative Party Nottingham Office.
Obviously as a protest against the governments cuts to welfare, public service, care etc etc .... [oooops sorry, I meant the governments public spending review].
Some windows had been smashed along the wall in King Edward Street and there were some painted messages including "Fight the cuts" and "Tory Scum".
Windows have now been boarded up, awaiting the glaziers. This is the latest expression of peoples anger at these proposals. There have been other examples around the city including County Hall and a firm of baliffs offices.
In a statement, they said: "We did this because we believe in acting autonomously with the rage in our hearts. And we did this in solidarity with those arrested for being at Millbank, and all people who are getting fucked over by the cuts and capitalism on a daily basis."
So, there you have it. I think you can only imagine this becoming a continuing trend!
Conservative Party Office
1 King Edward Court,
Nottingham
NG1 1EW
Smashed Windows & Graffiti @ Conservative Offices
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/677
Statement on these events at: at:
Tory offices in Nottingham smashed
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/676
and earlier .....
Fuck austerity! Fight the cuts!
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/525
Baliff Bashing
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/604
and ......
Details of forecoming events at:
Notts Save Our Services | Defending jobs, services, welfare ...
http://nottssos.org.uk
____________________________________________
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>
Edinburgh University occupied by anti-cuts protesters
24-11-2010 21:24
At 1pm over 300 students gathered in Bristo Square, Edinburgh, to begin a day of protest in resistance to cuts and fees; meanwhile, 50 workers and benefit claimants were holding a demonstration outside Edinburgh's A4E offices.
Uni of Manchester Roscoe Building Occupation
24-11-2010 21:20
A press statement released by the occupants of the University of Manchester Roscoe building.Newcastle University Occupied!
24-11-2010 20:43
Newcastle University Occupied!Occupation at University of Bristol Union
24-11-2010 20:22
Thousands of university, college and school students, lecturers, teachers and community groups have taken part in a march and demonstration in central Bristol against education cuts. A group of students has now occupied the University of Bristol’s Union Building, holding a People’s Assembly.At midday, crowds gathered at Senate House to hear speakers, including an ‘open mic’ session where members of the crowd spoke about their reasons for joining the protest and views on the future of higher education. Many of those addressing the crowds were from local schools and colleges, and voiced their concerns about measures that are transforming the role of the university from a space for critical thought and creativity to a simple training institute. They felt they are faced with policies which do not appreciate the value of the arts, humanities and social sciences and which are redefining education as a market regulated commodity. A student speaker said:
‘it’s great to finally see some proper debate emerging on higher education in Bristol. We are here to develop a common voice against those who impose these policies on us’
At around 2.30 a group of students occupied the Anson Rooms in the Students Union building, holding a People’s Assembly to make voices heard that have not been represented by the Student Union reps. The group says they are committed to a positive, constructive rhetoric with concrete policy implications for our university and for higher education. They feel let down by the Students’ Union which denied them a forum for proper debate. One of the occupiers said: ‘the University here and the national bodies which represent it, such as the Russell Group have been too conciliatory in their relations with the coalition government. They have accepted the current austerity measures as an inevitability and have done very little to oppose them despite the significant changes they herald.’
The group says it stands in solidarity with all those who turned out for the protest today and opposes any sort of victimisation of any individuals by the media and by police. The group has expressed their views as follows:
1. We wish to express our solidarity with everybody affected by the education cuts including but not limited to university staff, current school and university students
2. We also wish to express our solidarity with all those affected by the austerity measures
3. We call for a union which represents the interests of all students and we demand an Emergency General Meeting
4. We demand that the plans for cuts are made public and we demand the University’s plans for spending to be made public; we demand an open book policy
5. We demand the vice chancellor take a stance against any education cuts
6. We should be allowed to continue learning in this occupied space with free access to come and go as we please
7. We condemn heavy-handed policing tactics which damaged the peoples’ protest
8. We demand no disciplinary repercussions for those involved in the protest
University of Sheffield Occupies!
24-11-2010 20:01
Sheffield University has been occupied by students opposed to the increase in tuition fees and education cuts.Support the occupation against Higher Fees and Public Sector Cuts!
Come and join us in Hicks Building LT 5 & 6.
Interview with an anarchist student occupier at Sheffield University
24-11-2010 19:25
Interview conducted today (24th November) with a student currently involved in the occupation of the Hicks Building at Sheffield University as part of the national wave of actions against education cuts.Report And Photos From Student Anti Cuts Demo
24-11-2010 19:22
Report And Photos From Student Anti Cuts DemoToday somewhere between 2000-4000 students, teachers and lecturers protested in central Bristol, meaning that the protest was probably the best attended Bristolian demonstration since the anti-war protests of 2002. Having congregated outside Bristol University's Senate House to hear union reps give short speeches at 12:30, the protest moved down to Clifton triangle, past the Wills Memorial building and down Park St, which was filled by protesters, the majority of whom were aged between 14 and 20. At the bottom of Park St the march was blocked from entering the centre by a police cordon, and so most of the march went back up Park St where protesters were hemmed in on all sides by police cordons.
In spite of this, large groups managed to break out, including those who went to the Bristol University Student Union building and have occupied the building. Near the intersection of Park St and Park Row about three small fireworks were set off, injuring no-one and doing no damage to anything. However already this is what mainstream media reports have decided to focus on. Small groups of protesters continued to give police the run a round for several hours this afternoon.
In sum the demo was well attended by young people, many of whom have never been on a protest before. There was a general sense of anger and hostility towards the ConDem coalition and in particular the cuts to the EMA and the proposals to triple university fees while completely withdrawing state funding from the arts, humanities and social sciences. Many students brought home made banners with a diverse range of slogans from 'Think Now Before Its Too Expensive,' and 'Thought is Not a Commodity' to 'Browne is Shit' and 'Tory Scum'.
Full article | 1 addition | 2 comments
Cardiff Students demo/occupation
24-11-2010 18:43
Police Not Displaying Numbers on Today's Demo
24-11-2010 18:25
Despite having being repeatedly told that it is illegal for police officers to cover up their officer numbers when dealing with public dmeonstrations, notably after Climate Camp at Kingsnorth and then the G20 demo in London last year, it seems that some coppers still don't want to comply and make themselves identifiable.Despite having being repeatedly told that it is illegal for police officers to cover up their officer numbers when dealing with public dmeonstrations, notably after Climate Camp at Kingsnorth and then the G20 demo in London last year, it seems that some coppers still don't want to comply and make themselves identifiable.
While most the coppers who were out preventing several thousand school and university students from entering the town centre today had their numbers on display here's some evidence that the practice of covering up numbers is still practiced by some officers.
This is done so that officers are able to act in a violent and unlawful manner without being identifiable by their victims. The police have repeatedly reassured the public that this practice no longer happens. It would appear that this is not true.
Bristol University Students Union under occupation!
24-11-2010 18:25
Around 100-200 students have occupied the University of Bristol Students Union on Queens Road following the large student protest in Bristol today. They have tents and supplies inside the building and are willing to stay 'as long as possible'. They are currently in a meeting to discuss further action/statements/aims/demands.*will update with further news
Around 100-200 students have occupied the University of Bristol Students Union on Queens Road following the large student protest in Bristol today. They have tents and supplies inside the building and are willing to stay 'as long as possible'. They are currently in a meeting to discuss further action/statements/aims/demands.
*will update with further news
Full article | 1 addition | 2 comments
Brighton student protests
24-11-2010 18:21
Local news estimating at least 1500 people