Nottinghamshire Social Struggles Newswire Archive

On Tuesday 6th May, people had initially met on the corner of Abbey Bridge and the road leading to Lenton Lane. Then, arriving together, about 60-70 people gathered at the UK headquarters of Heckler & Koch, based within the Easter Park Industrial Estate on Lenton Lane, Nottingham,

The BNP are planning on holding this year's Red White and Blue festival on land owned by party member Alan Warner in Denby, Derbyshire as they did last year. They have sought a premises licence from Amber Valley Borough Council for the sale of alcohol and the playing of music. The public consultation on this licence ended today.

Several concerned organisations, including Nottinghamshire Stop the BNP, lodged objections to this application, making a point of keeping to the limited terms imposed by licensing legislation. These objections, however, have been rejected, ostensibly because the organisations are not located within the affected area. Even where groups have been able to point to members living within the Amber Valley area, there objections have been rejected on the same basis. Notts Stop the BNP are currently investigating the possibility of appealing the council's decision. In the meantime, the objection they made is being placed in the public domain so that people can make their own judgements about the case it makes.

Regardless of the outcome of any appeals, the licence application will have to be considered by the council. Although the date of this meeting is currently unknown, the Stop the Red White and Blue campaign are already mobilising for a picket and encouraging those opposed to the BNP to join us.

From 12noon on Saturday 3rd May, Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group again organizied a MayDay march and rally at the Brewhouse Yard Gardens, near the Castle, Nottingham. With a samba band upfront, a march went to the Market Square. Once arond town and then returned to Brewhouse Yard,

From 12noon on Saturday 3rd May, Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group again organizied a MayDay march and rally at the Brewhouse Yard Gardens, near the Castle, Nottingham. With a samba band upfront, a march went to the Market Square. Once arond town and then returned to Brewhouse Yard,

Nottingham's annual Mayday march and rally took place on Saturday May 3.

The deadline for objections to the BNPs "Red White & Blue" summer festival is THURS MAY 7TH. Everyone is encouraged to object to a license being granted to this fascist rally, being held in rural Derbyshire from 15-17 August.

In recent years Mayday in Nottingham has once again become a major celebration with the march from the Brewhouse Yard already something of a tradition. As successful as these demonstrations have been, they have taken place on the nearest weekend to May 1st, with little happening on the day itself. This year, the Mayday Organising Committee (an off-shoot of the Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group) felt that something should be done to mark the day itself and decided to organise a rally addressed by local asylum seeker Amdani Juma and former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg.

On April 24 teachers, further education lecturers and civil servants took part in national strike action against the public sector pay freeze.

According to Nottingham City Council's own estimates, Thursday's teachers' strike will close one third of the authority's schools.

On Sunday 11th May [starting at 9am] there will be a 'sponsored walk' to help raise money for people affected by HIV / AIDS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

On Friday (April 18) there was a demo on the Council House steps next to the right lion, Market Square from 12.30-2pm. The demo was being timed to coincide with a similar event outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in London organised by Action for South Africa (ACTSA).

...you get criticised by Jon Collins.

On April 24, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) will hold the first national teachers strike in more than twenty years. Angry at a below inflation pay award, NUT members across the country have voted for industrial action at a ratio of four to one.

With real terms pay cuts being the in thing in the public sector right now, civil servants in the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and further education lecturers in the University and College Union (UCU) have also voted to strike on the same day.

In Nottingham there will be a march from The Forest Recreation Ground at 10am, with a rally at the Congregation Hall, Castle Gate at 11am. Speakers will include Martin Sleath (Unison - who aren't striking), Mary Pope (PCS), Helen Bowler (UCU) and Liam Conway (NUT).

To give some insight into why teachers are striking, I interviewed Liam Conway, the Joint Secretary of Notts NUT and began by asking him what his impressive sounding title actually entails.

The Victoria Baths campaign are organising a Save Victoria Baths Fun Day on Saturday 31 May at the Victoria Leisure Centre and in Sneinton Market place.

The following is an attempt at a non comprehensive summary of the actions, demonstrations, gatherings and various initiatives that happen during the days of action for squats and autonomous spaces. The summary was created from reports on the IMC UK newswire and english language reports posted to the April2008 website.

Note: A more comprehensive summary now exists on the April2008 website..

The new squat, which has been occupied as part of the weekend of action for free culture and squatted autonomous spaces has been successfully taken. The place is listed grade II building, but is uncared for, decrepit and in much need of renovations. Squatters having moved in, were yesterday and today, doing much tidying, fixing, washing, sweeping and preparing.

The new squat, which has been occupied as part of the weekend of action for free culture and squatted autonomous spaces has been successfully taken. The place is listed grade II building, but is uncared for, decrepit and in much need of renovations. Squatters having moved in, were today doing much tidying, fixing, washing, sweeping and preparing.

On the 11th and 12th of April, there is a call out for days of action on squatting - raising awareness and celebrating autonomous spaces. This weekend in Nottingham, we will open a squatted space and put on events.

For all of April, an exhibition of photographs will be on display at the Sumac Centre, Nottingham. This work by photographers Guy Smallman and Paul Mattsson cover many aspects of this events, from the laughs and peaceful moments to the full on aggression displayed by law enforcement at such events. Please go and see this exhibition.

Zimbabwe’s elections have not resulted in a fair decision since the day of voting. An MDC activist, granted asylum and living in Nottingham has offered his speculation on this stalemate.