Nottinghamshire Feature Archive

In the early hours of 17th January 2009, during Israel's 'Operation Cast Lead' offensive against Gaza, six people broke in to the EDO/ITT weapons components factory in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and, allegedly, caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the production line.

The EDO decommissioners’ court case finally kicked off at the start of June. EDO CEO Paul Hill has been extensively cross-examined about his company's arms deals and one of the defendants has already been acquitted after no evidence was produced to prosecute her. A solidarity demo has been organised to take place outside Hove Crown Court on the day of the verdict - expected to be some time next week.

In Nottingham, anti-arms trade activists showed solidarity with the EDO decommissioners by targeting the Radford premises of EMICS, a company involved in the global arms trade. The gates were chained shut and graffiti saying "SMASH EMICS" was sprayed on the walls.

Newswire: EMICS offices in Nottingham targeted | EDO decommissioners trial update and verdict date demo | EDO Decommissioners Round 2. | Smashingly good start at Decommissioners trial.

Previous feature: Hammer Time: The EDO Decommissioners go on trial

Links: Smash EDO | Support the EDO decommissioners | UK Smash EDO Newswire

On Tuesday June 22nd, ConDem Chancellor George Osborne revealed the contents of the "emergency budget." As expected, this included a pay freeze for public sector workers (except the lowest paid) along with cuts in housing benefit and an increase in VAT.

The SWP-initiated Right to Work campaign called for protests across the country against the budget. These were supported by Unison and, locally, by the Nottinghamshire and Mansfield Trades Council. Trade unionists and others demonstrated outside the Council House from 5.30pm. There were also protests by the PCS (the civil service union) at lunchtime.

On the newswire: Budget protest: Nottingham | No Austerity Budget: Market Square Protest

Previous features: Action against cuts in Nottingham | Protests against county council cuts | Nottingham City Council workers protest job cuts | Credit Crunch Hits Nottingham

Links: Right to Work | Notts Indymedia workers movement topic page

Protests continue against the construction of an animal lab at the University of Leicester. Activists have targetted various companies involved in the construction, including Willmott Dixon. On Monday June 7, activists held a protest outside the WD's headquarters in Coleshill, Birmingham. One campaigner chained himself to a bench and began a 3 day hunger strike.

The campaign was established following the university's announcement that it was going to be building a new animal lab on Lancaster Place. Whilst the university claims that "vital" research will be carried out at the facility, campaigners content that the new lab "is squandering money away from potentially life-saving research which is accurate and does not involve abusing animals."

On the newswire: Activist completes 3 day hunger strike outside WD office | Activist begins hunger strike protest at Willmott Dixon | Hunger striker to protest WD Coleshill | Pressure continued on Willmott Dixon in Coleshill

Previous feature: Proposed Leicester animal lab attracts protests

Links: Stop the Leicester Animal Lab | National Anti-Vivisection Alliance | Notts Indymedia animal liberation newswire

A local campaign group is fighting UK Coal's plans for an opencast mine near Measham in North West Leicestershire. The Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG) oppose the company's plans for a mile long mine and the extraction of 1.25m tonnes of coal over 4 1/2 years.

UK Coal are already failing to meet requirements to restore a site in nearby Ashby de la Zouch to agricultural land and MOPG fear that this will happen again.

It is thought that coal mined at Minorca would be used to fuel Ratcliffe on Soar power station in Nottinghamshire. The mined coal would fuel the power station for only 65 days.

Newswire: UK Coal to gain unwelcome publicity at a Leicestershire County Council meeting | 400 have now signed the Minorca Petition | Pensioners to deliver message about Minorca | Leicestershire County Council: Please make a Decision!!

Previous features: Nottingham is not stupid | Protests continue at Shipley open cast site | Coal On Hold - Derbyshire Coal Mine Site Occupied | New Old Coal for Notts

Links: Minorca Opencast Protest Group | Campaign resources | Notts Against New Coal

Publishing has been disabled here, please visit our new site: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk

It is nearly 5 years since the launch of the Notts Indymedia website. A lot of developments in internet media have happened since then. We're keen to keep developing the site and making sure you, the users, can get the most out of it. As such, we switched to our new Nottingham Indymedia website on 1st July. We think that it's easier to use and has better features than the current site. Why not check it out and post your news and events. We'd love to find out what you think so we can keep improving it.

On June 5-6, the Sumac Centre hosted the "first ever Vegan Beer Festival". Vegans and vegetarians are wary of real ales as they often use isinglass, derived from the swim bladders of fish, to make it less cloudy. This inspired a number of local vegans to organise the real ale festival as a way of demonstrating that there is an alternative.

The Saturday was a gloriously warm day and the event was well attended, with the alcohol flowing within minutes of the official opening at 12 noon. There were a range of beers available to try, along with several ciders and perrys. Interest was so great that the beer ran out on Saturday.

On the newswire: Vegan real ale festival | Sumac Vegan Beer Festival Saturday 5th June and Sunday 6th June

Links: Vegan Beer Festival | Nottingham Animal Rights | Nottingham CAMRA

Over 100 people gathered in Market Square on Friday June 4 to protest the killing of 9 aid workers by Israeli armed forces at the end of May. A rally was held and people marched around the square chanting. The protest's official demands included the end of Israel's blockade of Gaza, an arms embargo on Israel and government backing for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

This protest followed on from a more spontaneous demonstration the day after the killings. Demonstrators held placards aloft during a concert that was taking place in the market square.

Israel's action against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla has had particular resonance in Nottingham because a Nottingham Trent University student, Tauqir 'Tox' Sharif, was onboard the stormed flotilla ship. After some days in an Israeli prison he is due to be back in Nottingham this week.

On the newswire: Gaza flotilla demo: Nottingham | Emergency demo against Israeli piracy on the high seas | Gaza Solidarity in Nottingham

National feature: Israel kills 10+ on Free Gaza Flotilla taking aid to Gaza

Previous features: Nottingham university occupied in solidarity with Gaza | Gaza: Weekend of Protest Across the Midlands | Nottingham Responds to Gaza Massacre

Links: Free Gaza Movement | Palestine Solidarity Campaign | Notts Indymedia Palestine topic page

The BNP have announced that their annual Red, White & Blue festival (RWB) will not be taking place this year. Anti-fascists, who have protested the festival over the past 2 years, are claiming this as a victory.

According to Amber Valley BNP organiser, Lewis Allsebrook, the BNP will be trying to hold a number of smaller events across the region instead of holding one big festival. Dissidents within the BNP are claiming that the this is because few members are interested in buying tickets for this year's event.

The festival has taken place on farmland near Codnor, Derbyshire since 2007. Last year over 1,000 anti-fascists and locals marched against the festival and in 2009 militant anti-fascists attempted to block roads leading to the site. In addition, the farmer who hosts the RWB, the festival organisers and even toilets companies have been targeted for direct action. RWB host Alan Warner has cited the attacks on his property as a reason to give up hosting the event.

Newswire: Anti-fascist pressure shuts down BNP festival | BNP's Red White and Blue Festival Cancelled. | RWB farm gets a late night visit

Previous features: Anti-fascists challenge BNP's return to Derbyshire | Protests greet BNP "festival" | Anti-fascists Prepare to Stop BNP "Festival" | BNP Withdraw Festival Licence Application in the Face of Protests

The JB Spray squat in Radford, Nottingham is under threat of eviction. The occupiers, who have been in the building since May 2009, have been served with notice of a court date for 3rd June. The landlord is intending to gain a possession order and make homeless the many people who have been living in the building for over a year. The occupiers have stated that they intend to resist any attempts to evict them and are asking people to support them.

The former lace factory, which was empty and unused for many years, has been occupied and used for social and community purposes a number of times in the past. On previous occasions squatters were evicted quickly. This is the first time that people have been able to settle and make a proper home in the building.

Those wanting to help with resistance to the closure of this free space should call 07817493824 or email jbspray[at]hotmail.co.uk.

Newswire: JB SPRAY Squat, Nottingham Under Threat of Eviction | Squatters in the JB Spray Building, prevent water company from cutting them off | J.B. Spray: Squat Lobster's First Event

Previous features: Squatters Retake Nottingham's JB Spray Factory | Spring Into Action Now! | J B Spray Building Occupied / Evicted / Reoccupied

Links: Advisory Service for Squatters

On May 20th at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court, anti-arms-trade activist Kirk Jackson was found guilty of aggravated trespass for his part in a protest that shut down an arms company for a day. Jackson was given a twelve month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £350 court costs.

The charge arose from a February 18th protest at the Nottingham warehouse of international arms company Heckler & Koch. Before dawn, four activists locked themselves to the gates, preventing employees from entering, while Mr Jackson and another activist climbed onto the roof and displayed banners accusing the company of "arming repressive regimes".

Newswire: Nottingham anti-arms-trade activist convicted | Nottingham anti-arms-trade campaigner on trial

Previous feature: Direct action shuts down H&K

Links: Shut Down H&K | Notts Anti-Militarism | Notts Indymedia Anti-militarism newswire

On Sunday night, the distribution centre of the Rolls Royce factory in Derby was targeted by "autonomous individuals against the war machine." The gates of the plant, which makes components for Trident anti-nuclear submarines, were D-locked and the walls were covered in graffiti stating "Rolls Royce profits from the war machine" and "Fuck Rolls Royce".

According to the group's communique, "The war machine puts profit and power over the lives of people, companies like Rolls Royce are part of this. The war machine exemplifies the ways in which the rich and powerful oppress and dispossess the majority of people, destroying homes and communities, enforcing migration, and irrevocably harming land bases."

This is by no means the first time that Rolls Royce's Derby plant has been the target of anti-militarist action. Last summer, some land near the factory was squatted for a peace camp and blockaders disrupted the facility for 5 hours in 2008. There have been several other blockades over the years.

Newswire: Rolls Royce targeted

Previous features: Peace camp established at Raynesway, Derby | Raynesway Blockaders in Court | Trident Activists Blockade Rolls Royce in Derby | Protesters take action at Derby nuclear plant | Derbyshire police go over the top again

Links: Anti-Militarist Network | Power Through Wind Not Weapons | Notts Anti-Militarism | Trident Ploughshares | Notts Indymedia anti-militarism newswire

The recent weeks have seen a flurry of anti-fascist activity, in response to a concerted election campaign by the fascist British National Party (BNP). The Derbyshire farm that hosts the party's Red, White & Blue festival was targeted for sabotage and a new edition of the local anti-fascist newsheet 'Burnt Flag' was released. There are also plans to re-dedicate the local memorial to International Brigade volunteers who fought Franco's fascists in Spain.

The BNP will be bitterly disappointed that after spending so much money and effort they failed to get even close to winning a seat in Parliament and lost many councillors. They seemed to have difficulty finding local candidates for many Notts seats and had to bring in Rachel Hill and James North from Melton to stand in Mansfield and Sherwood and Michael Shore from Hinckley to stand in Broxtowe.

Newswire: RWB farm gets a late night visit | Burnt Flag (antifascist newsheet): Spring Issue | BNP electoral performance in the East Midlands | Re-dedication of anti-fascist memorial | BNP announce candidate in Mansfield

Previous features: National Front humiliated in Derbyshire | BNP difficulties in Notts | Anti-fascists challenge BNP's return to Derbyshire