World Globalisation Newswire Archive

Images from the climate camp press conference, Saturday 26th July 2008.
The climate camp will move this weekend from its location at Heathrow Airport to a new location - Kingsnorth power station in Medway, Kent. This conference aimed to examine the ongoing situation at Heathrow and bring different groups such as Camp for Climate Action, local campaign groups HACAN and NoTRAG), and Greenpeace to discuss a broad strategy against expansion.

DAN JAKOPOVICH delves into the rich states' record on HIV/Aids.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricastin_Nuclear_Power_Center

In July of 2008, 18,000 liters (4,755 Gallons) of Uranium solution containing natural uranium were accidentally released. Due to cleaning and repair work the containment system for a uranium solution holding tank was not functional when the tank filled. The inflow exceeded the tank's capacity and 30 cubic meters of Uranium solution leaked with 18 cubic meters spilled to the ground. Testing found elevated uranium levels in the nearby Gaffière and Lauzon rivers. The liquid that escaped to the ground contained about 75kg of unenriched uranium which is toxic as a heavy metal while possessing only slight radioactivity. Estimates for the releases were initially higher, up to 360kg of natural uranium, but revised downward later. [3]

French authorities have banned the use of water from the Gaffière and Lauzon for drinking and watering of crops. Swimming, water sports and fishing were also banned.

This incident has been classified as Level 1 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

Saving Iceland, July 21st 2008
Press Release
GRUNDARTANGI – Today 20 activists from Saving Iceland blockaded the single supply road to Century Aluminum’s smelter on Hvalfjordur and Elkem – Icelandic Alloys steel factory. They have chained themselves to each other using arm tubes to form a human blockade as well as using tripod for the first time in Icelandic history.

At what age do you think your working future is planned out for you? If you are conscience of the impact civilization has on our lives, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that the answer is: "from birth".

The 4th Saving Iceland action camp has now begun in a beautiful threatened geothermal valley beside Hellisheiðisvirkjun in the Hengill area, where it will target the expansion of the geothermal power station for the Grundartangi plant and other Southwestern heavy industry projects.

A huge thank you to those who are currently translating a polish version and helped with the Italian version below.

[Media G8way | Gipfelsoli Infogroup]

Press release, July 15th 2008

* Lawyers criticize judges
* Week of action in Genoa

After nine hours the "Bolzaneto trial" against 45 members of police, jail staff and doctors ended yesterday evening in Genoa. The accused persons were under investigation for the misuse of authority, constraint, abuse, intimidation, and falsification of evidence. 300 demonstrators were arrested during the protests against the G8, most of whom were brought to police barracks that were being used as temporary jails.

My inbox has been overflowing with love and best wishes to the planet from all sorts of people recently — one of them is no less than Tony Blair, that great peacekeeper (1), climate saviour (2) and lover of human rights (3) is pushing his big plan (yes, another one) to return the planet to its former health. It’s called “Breaking The Climate Deadlock” and you can read the latest report here [ http://www.theclimategroup.org/assets/resources/BTCDJune08Report.Fin.pdf] (4).

Washington has no interest in the imposition of a privatization program on Iran, as an "alternative" to an all out war. In fact quite the opposite. There are indications that the Bush adminstration's main objective is to stall the privatization program.

Joint Statement on the 34th G8 Summit in Toyako, Hokkaido, Japan

Last Friday, July 4th, a group of activists occupied the building where the Japanese Embassy was located on a 6th floor, in Lisbon - Portugal. Holding a 6 metres where it read “G8 at the table, One Planet starving”, with the objective of exposing the real consequences of the anti-democratic neo-liberal policies of the G8, and their fake recipes for the current world crisis: food, climactic and social..

The G8 summit will be held from July 7 to 9 of this year, at Toya-ko lake in Hokkaido (Japan). In solidarity with the worldwide plan of actions held against the kind of globalization promoted by G8 and the repression of Japanese police against activists, an action also took place in Reykjavik yesterday (5th July).

A Matter Of Scale is a book to help humanity survive the mess civilization has got it into. It is like no other book in its huge scope and the levels over which the problems and solutions are addressed. And, unlike almost any other book, it is free, because having people read the book is far more important than making money...

Below is the statement of more than 100 international, regional, national, and local organizations and individuals, challenging the G8 governments to acknowledge their responsibility for the food and climate crises and the continuing problem of debt, and take decisive action to:

Date for trial set for Cambridge protester. Support appreciated!

To "celebrate" American Independence Day, the LGC took a break from its weekly vigil (we did that too!) and went to the park next the Embassy and held a freedom picnic and debate on what freedom, if it exists, means to us all now? Feel free to add any extra thoughts below...

Activists and organizers are asking local groups and individuals to call, e-mail, visit and protest at Japanese embassies over the unjust arrests, detentions, deportations, and repression occurring around counter-G8 mobilization in Japan.

Only by identifying the source of a problem can we ever hope to remedy it.

No Borders ... World Development Movement ... Bicycle Sound Systems ... Hillbilly Music