UK Social Struggles Newswire Archive
REVOLUTION: Can Egyptians revolt?
28-01-2011 23:45
Anonymous Press Release January 28th 2011
28-01-2011 17:19
LRT presents … 'The True Cost of Coal'.
28-01-2011 15:49
DATE - Thursday 10th Feb, 2011.TIME - 7.30pm (bar after the presentation).
LOCATION - London Action Resource Centre - 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 1ES.
london old street shell garage blockade last night
28-01-2011 15:15
Student Debt: the solution is non-payment
28-01-2011 14:10
As the government seeks to shackle the new generation of students with new levels of debt slavery, this personal account shows what happens if you Just Say No.Egyptian day of action becomes revolution
28-01-2011 13:32
Overnight dissidents have been arrested. The state has forcibly downed the mobile phone and internet networks. Info on today's events is therefore reliant on corporate media reporters present at the scene. Currently it seems mass groups around the country are overpowering rubber-bullet wielding cops and seizing state infrastructure. Expect the fall of the government.Help stop a massacre in Egypt
28-01-2011 09:49
At least six protesters in Egypt have already been killed in the recent protests, many more injured. Today is going to be the biggest day of protests yet.Will Mohamed ElBaradei be the next president of Egypt ?
28-01-2011 09:08
- Will Mohamed ElBaradei the next president of Egypt ?- Was the wikileaks leaks on Midle East programmed and with a purpose ?
- Does the new US administration, wants to get rid of the old dictators in Middle East , including Mahmoud Abbas? (showing to Israel who is the boss)
- Does the realease yesterday of the PA documents (that nail Abbas) from Al Jazirra was just a coincidence ?
http://garizo.blogspot.com/2011/01/will-mohamed-elbaradei-be-next.html
london old street shell garage blockade last night
28-01-2011 01:38
after the remains of the irish government gave approval last week for the shell high-pressure gas pipeline and refinery in county mayo, activists have been staging blockades, actions and protests against shell in solidarity with the residents and activists of rossport. in london, tonight's garage blockade was also called as a memorial to long-time climate activist val jones, who lost a long struggle against a debilitating disease just one year ago.
last week, the irish government gave final approval for the shell high pressure raw gas pipeline which is being built in a beautiful area of county mayo in north-west ireland. shell is intending to use the pipeline to pump ashore unrefined gas to an onshore refinery.
the "corrib" gas field was initially discovered in 1996, and after exploratory drilling, the project began in earnest in 2003 when shell purchased an area of forest land from the irish forestry agency, and they began building the refinery in 2005.
1200 local residents are directly affected by the site and the pipeline and the overwhelming majority are against the project in its current form and do not believe that alternatives have been properly considered.
over the years, there has been a strong resistance movement against the current project, and after an injunction was instituted in 2005 to prevent residents from obstructing the construction of the pipeline, 5 men from rossport were imprisoned for ignoring the injuction and trying to protect their own land.
shell continued to build the pipeline and also to flout health and safety guidelines and building consents. while local drinking water regularly showed aluminium levels that were way outside safety limits, shell actually had to dismantle 3km of pipeline after ministry officials discovered serious breaches.
the 'rossport 5' were relased after a three month long campaign of civil disobedience, direct actions, and worldwide protests and solidarity actions, but the gardai (irish police force) grew more violent in their treatment of protestors.
in november 2006, many locals were injured in police baton charges to break a blockade. the gardai boasted of their 'no arrest' tactics, and continued their campaign of intimidation, injuring locals in baton charges, and attacking protestors who were trying to stop the illegal construction of shell portacabins on their own land.
as the pipeline was laid in broadhaven bay, protestors regularly took to the water, and many were arrested in various actions at sea.
the operation was held up for a year after pipe-laying equipment became damaged, and the resistance has continued strongly since then, despite many arrests. the project is now due to open in 2012 or 2013, several years behind schedule. as well as legal oppression, there was a parallel campaign of unlawful intimidation, with the gardai taking knives to protestors' inflatable boats, and masked men attacking campaigners and even hospitalising one local activist in the middle of the night.
the campaign focusses on the fact that the pipeline is an experimental project, untried elswhere in the world, with raw unprocessed gas carried at extremely high pressure, first under the sea-bed, and then in a pipeline across a peat bog known for its instability. the gas will include a corrosive mixture of chemicals, but will not contain the tell-tale gas odour which is added at the refinery. the pipeline cuts across an area of amazing scenic beauty and which is a world-recognised area of specific scientific interest. waste water from the refinery will flow into carrowmore lake, a source of water supplying 10,000 people. water samples have already shown massively increased and illegal levels of aluminium.
after last week's announcement by the government, which incidentally now comprises only three cabinet ministers, as the rest have resigned over the economic turmoil, local resistance groups have called for a week of solidarity protests against shell, and in london this evening, the old street shell garage was closed down by activists from 'london rising tide' and samba-activists 'rhythms of resistance'.
tonight's blockade was also a memorial to shell activist and long-time 'rhythms of resistance' member, val jones, who lost a long and hard-fought struggle against motor neurone disease just one year ago. among her many talents, val was an accomplished banner-maker, and her huge "danger - keep out - shell hell in operation" banner has featured prominently in many actions, including tonight's.
the old street garage is a very busy one, normally with several vehicles filling up or queueing throughout a typical weekday evening. the activists took over its forecourt at about 7.30 this evening, unfurling val's huge banner, as well as a "shell devastates communities" banner brought over by rossport activists, and a simple "closed" banner across the main entrance. meanwhile the samba band attracted attention and lifted spirits, while hundreds of leaflets were handed out to passers-by.
the leaflets highlighted other issues as well as rossport: the devastating tar sands developments in alberta, canada; the continuing environmental destruction of the niger delta, along with corruption, human rights abuses, and of course the murder of activist ken saro-wiwa; and finally the connection to runaway climate change.
garage staff called police, who turned up with four cars and a van after about 25 minutes. after taking stock of the protest, they invoked 'obstruction of the highway' and threatened arrest if activists continued to block the access to the garage.
ironically, just as activists moved away from the entrance, a delivery tanker turned up and staff put out bollards while the delivery was made, rather taking the wind out of the police operation. indeed, activists helped get the message of the bollards across by once again holding the 'closed' banner across the entrance, this time apparently not causing an obstruction. police used a modern polaroid type camera to photograph the protestors before withdrawing, leaving just one car to keep an eye on things.
by chance, comedy activist mark thomas then walked past, on his way from a fund-raising gig. he was delighted to have stumbled on the protest and wished them well. he was particularly amused by the timely arrival of the tanker and disappeared off into the night with a happy smirk on his face.
as the garage reopened, the two police who had been left on guard once again insisted that the entrance be cleared, and after some slow-motion compliance, the protestors reached a decision to finish the action and leave together.
if you want to know more about rossport, see www.shelltosea.com
for tar sands info, see www.no-tar-sands.org
for info on the niger delta, see remembersarowiwa.com
london rising tide can be found at londonrisingtide.org.uk
and rhythms of resistance have a website at www.rhythmsofresistance.co.uk
Are We Witnessing the Start of a Global Revolution?
27-01-2011 19:50
"Understand that the “War on Terror” is a complete lie, a concoction meant to obscure the imperial attack on the worldwide insurrection of the people’s revolt the imperialist ruling class knew would be coming. Of course 911 was a false flag attack perpetrated largely by imperialism to serve as a defense against this revolt. But before that the outlines of this “defense of the system” was likely behind the crash of a jumbo jet in the ocean when an Egyptian pilot, with no record of radical ideas, supposedly crash dived a fully loaded passenger plane shouting, “God is great.” One can review and study these manipulations and begin to see the strategy and heartless efforts being waged by our rulers in a desperate attempt to maintain our world in bondage. The U.S. will claim to be defending democracy and human welfare while attempting to utterly crush both."Riot police encircle the Law School in Athens now..!!!
27-01-2011 19:22
Riot police encircle the Law School in Athens in apparent preparation for a raid as migrant hunger strikers vow to stay – constant updatesAt this momentOpen Letter From ANONYMOUS To The UK Government
27-01-2011 19:04
5 Arrested In UK For Anonymous Cyber-Actions
27-01-2011 14:45
Scotland Yard has arrested five people under the Computer Misuse Act as part of its investigation into alleged attacks by the Anonymous hacking collective.Canada Hiding Tunisia's Ben Ali Family 'Big Fish' Billionaire?
27-01-2011 08:19
Indications are that family members of the Tunisian dictator, including billionaire, Belhassen Trabelsi are in hiding in Canada. Authorities there seem unwilling to arrest the fugitives despite Interpol warrants. Tunisians in Canada are alarmed and concerned. Protests are planned in the Canadian capital next Wednesday.Edinburgh Shell garage shut in solidarity with Rossport Solidarity Camp
27-01-2011 04:01
Last night people shut down the Shell petrol station on Comiston Road, Edinburgh. This action was taken in solidarity with the people of Rossport, Mayo, Ireland, who have been struggling against Shells gas plans in their community for over a decade. The action was also taken in soldidarity with the people of the Niger Delta who are suffering under Shells brutal corporate imperialism.Recap-Remembering WHY we are here....
26-01-2011 21:30
A short recap as to what its all about-a reminder of how much the tory scum are laughing at us, and why we should carry on being FU*!ING ANGRY.The PA is and arm of Imperialism/Zionism
26-01-2011 18:50
"The Palestine Papers reveal that Fatah was obsessed with maintaining political supremacy over Hamas, with Israel’s cooperation, especially following the 2006 electoral victory of the Islamist movement. Documents obtained by Al Jazeera also show the extent to which the Palestinian Authority cracked down on Hamas institutions to weaken the group and strengthen its own relationship with Israel."Everyday is Troll Atos Day
26-01-2011 18:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49sMJQVuqPA You win a Crisis Loan, just pop down to the DSS to claim it and say we sent you.*
Anonymous Press Statement : Operation Egypt
26-01-2011 17:24
Three People Killed In Clashes Between Police And Protestors In The Capital Of Albania
26-01-2011 16:29
Three people were killed and dozens more injured in clashes between police and protesters at an anti-government rally in the Albanian capital of Tirana on Friday, January 21. It was reported by Agence France-Presse .