UK UK Newswire Archive
The Crude Awakening - more info and new video
25-09-2010 10:11
One month to go!
Check out this awesome new video to get inspired: www.crudeawakening.org.uk/node/9
Please copy and paste this and email it to lists and people you think would be interested.
Crude Awakening are sending out weekly newsletters that will also be posted on indymedia - please help to spread the word.
Newsletter 2
1. Meet-up time
We'll be meeting at 10 AM in central London - so book your coach and train tickets to London now! If you are in the North you can contact manchester@climatecamp.org.uk if you want a ticket for a space on a coach. If you need to stay over in London on Friday night, plan to stay with a friend if you can; if you can't email london@climatecamp.org.uk and we will be happy to help out. This is an all-day event, so if you're traveling from out of town, you should also plan to stay over on Saturday night.
Blocs and meeting points will be announced in next week's newsletter, along with details for how to sign up to the text alert system that will be used to communicate vital information on the day. So watch this space...
2. What to expect on the day
People will gather at several meeting points in central London. We'll leave these initial meeting points immediately, so being on time is important. Messages will be passed on by text message and from person to person. We'll be on the move - indoors and out - throughout the day, and you should be prepared with warm and waterproof clothes, food and water. You will spend the day with a thousand others - some your closest friends, many you've never met before - who all believe that oil's time is up, and it's our job to give it the boot.
Although there are ten possible targets, at some point during the day we will all wind up together in one place to switch off oil. Get ready to occupy, blockade, build, reclaim...
This is a mass action to disrupt the oil industry. To do that successfully, we're trying something new, and keeping the target under wraps - which aims to allow us to beat the police to our final destination, and create a space where people can take effective action.
With the mystery target, there are some things that can be made clear in advance, and others that can't. We know where we're meeting, but not where we'll end up. We know what we need to bring, but not exactly what it will be used for. Expect the unexpected, and be prepared for it: sun, wind and rain; sitting-in and out-running; occupying and pushing; holding space and breaking boundaries.
3. Upcoming events
Email us your event and we'll include it in next week's newsletter!
LONDON
- 23 September. Climate Action Film Night, London Action Resource Centre, Whitechapel, 7.30PM. Two short films of recent actions against BP and Shell, plus Petropolis. Followed by a brainstorming session on taking direct action against the oil industry in London - including all the latest info on the Crude Awakening. Details: www.londonrisingtide.org.uk/node/451
- 29 September, 7PM. London planning meeting to coordinate London organising and outreach. Venue TBC.
- 1 October. Catapult Party. Benefit gig and warm-up for the Crude Awakening. 9PM till late. Secret party venue, sign-up here to get details by text nearer the time: http://tiny.cc/thenightbefore. More info: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=151003711600590&ref=mf
- 2-3 October. London planning extravaganza, open to all. Organised by London Climate Camp. Two days of workshops, prop-making, affinity group forming, plotting and planning. More info: London@climatecamp.org.uk. Plus the London Rabble Rouser - a mass outdoor team game, warming us up for the big day - time and venue TBC.
- 2-3 October. Stilt making workshop for the stilt block. 10 AM - 6 PM. A skill share weekend to build stilts and learn how to walk on them. It's free and lunch is included. More info and RSVP: stilt.bloc@gmail.com
MANCHESTER
27 September - 4 October. Workshops Week at Manchester Student Union. Direct action and legal observer training, know your rights, running a campaign group, dealing with the media and more.
30 September. Cool Runnings. Catch up on what happened at this year's awesome Climate Camp before skilling up for action in the run up to The Crude Awakening. Learn how to run in between, through and round police lines. And finished off with a top reggaeu night at Manchester Metropolitan University.
9 October. Public ‘dis'order training. 12 noon - 6PM. Manchester Students Union. Prepare for the Crude Awakening by doing your own action! Learn why and how to do mass direct action with workshops and affinity group building.
More info on Manchester events:
http://manchestercampaignscollective.wordpress.com/calender/
4. Make it Happen!
This is a mass action and we need masses of people to make it work. The most important way to get involved now and help make this action a success is to spread the word, and get together with others to start planning for the day.
- Tell your mates about the Crude Awakening and book your travel to London if necessary
- Email the call-out far and wide: crudeawakening.org.uk/node/14
- Join the Facebook page and invite your friends to it:http://bit.ly/c6S0kg
- Follow the Crude Awakening on Twitter: twitter.com/crudeawake
- Come to one of the build-up events. Want to do more? Get in touch with the organisers and help publicise the event crudeawakening.org.uk/node/5
- Raise and discuss the action at your local group meeting - we can send a speaker if you like, email a request to crudeawakening2010@gmail.com
- Form an affinity group if you're not already part of one, or start plotting with them if you are! Info on affinity groups:
5. Website revamp
Check out our newly designed website, with new info going up every day, and a fast-growing collection of videos to get you all fired up for the big day.
Sign-up for text and email alerts coming soon.
That's all for this week!
What is the real meaning of Cameron's "Big Society" idea?
25-09-2010 10:10
Public meeting7.30pm Wednesday 29th September
@ Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street.
Speaker: Martin Upchurch (Professor of International Employment Relations, Middlesex University)
David Cameron has talked much about his desire to introduce a Big Society and to attack Big Government. This open meeting will discuss and analyse the ideology behind Cameron and what he really means by the Big Society.
The attack on public services has been dressed up by both Cameron and Clegg as necessary to reduce deficit spending. Yet hidden behind this blatant attempt at class war on the poor, the newly unemployed, and the
vulnerable is a set of ideas aimed to privatise whole sections of services that are vital for a decent society. In its place the Coalition seeks to isolate working class communities by stripping them of support services and relying solely on privately provided and voluntary services reminiscient.
Tory Councillor Abuses His Power to Silence Critics
25-09-2010 08:53
Tory Councillor Richard Stay of Caddington (a small village near Luton Bedfordshire) who is also Deputy Leader of the newly formed Central Bedfordshire Council was instrumental in getting two of his constituents arrested and house searched with computers taken away, citing he was harassed by two residents. 12 Police officers were used in this operation - what you might call over the top policing.SOLIDARITY TO OUR ANARCHISTS COMRADES IN CHILI FROM LONDON ACTFORFREEDOMNOW!
25-09-2010 02:31
Nottingham Animals Rights stuff
25-09-2010 02:29
A belated rundown ofthis fortnight's activities.
Friday 23 Sept. Shark Fin Soup demo at Mandarin Restaurant, bottom of Hockley.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1803
Saturday 24: Nottm AR Street Stall. Meet 12.30 at the Lions, or call 07703 031667. Possible anti-slaughter leafleting at Food Festival.
Also: Veggies at Agrofuels demo in Dorset - save rainforests and urangutans from intensive palm oil trade.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1774
Wed 29: Vegan Free Food GiveAway outside Nottm Trent University Arkwright Building, Shakespeare St.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1400
Prep and possible cookery skillshare Tuesday. To help call 07824 398642 or email nottsfreefood[+at+]googlemail.com
Wed 29: Derby Animal Rights Meeting:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1777
Thurs 30th + Tues 5th: Brinsley Animal Rescue workday.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1562
Fri 1st Oct: Greyhound Racing demo. 6.30 at the Nottingham track.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1535
Also: 11th-17th October - Lush greyhound action campaign at their Nottingham store. Contact them (or Nottm AR) to help and show support.
Sat 2nd Oct: Farmed Animal Rally in London.
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1712
Sunday 3rd: Conservative Party Conference.
9.28 train from Nottm to Derby; change for Birmingham.
A Friday afternoon to be arranged: demo at Harlan/Sera, animal breeders for vivisection near Loughborough.
Hunt Sabbing every Saturday and other times.
See http://nottinghamhuntsabs.weebly.com/
Fur in back in season. Please check for places selling real fur. Send details, even if you are not sure, so others can double check. See http://www.furfreenotts.weebly.com/
10 YEARS OF INTIFADA! 10 YEARS RESISTING ZIONISM!
25-09-2010 00:03
Join the demonstration outside Marks & Spencer,458 Oxford Street, Marble Arch, London W1
Saturday 25 September 12-3pm
The CTC once again betrays Cuban workers
24-09-2010 22:47
CUTZ: this week in Bristol ...
24-09-2010 22:15
Another packed week in Cutsville UK[Some links deleted due to spambot]
First up, the one I forgot last week. South West Tourism, the regional tourist board funded by the South West Regional Development Agency is being axed on 31 March 2011. The number of job losses is not yet clear.
http://www.bristol247.com/2010/09/14/who-will-promote-b...-now/
Unison seem to be reading this even if noone else is. On Wednesday they started making a fuss about the 25% cut in planning officers proposed by Bristol City Council (pictured) we reported last week.
Also continued from last week ... Word arrives that 16 of the 20 staff made redundant at a Bristol Connexions office were part-time working mums. If that's not sex discrimination what is?
Apparently one plan circulating around the Environment Agency, due to move 1,000 staff intoan upmarket, designer new HQ at Cabot House, College Green, Bristol imminently, is a proposal that they only meet their statutory duties in the future and ditch the rest of their work. The number of redundancies this entails is unclear but could easily reach 30% plus. Will they be needing a new expensive state-of-the-art HQ for 1,000 staff?
A director at Bath and North East Somerset Council who has been paid £1.2m over the past five years has received a pay increase of £22,000 per year.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-11376533
Bristol City Council are moving to cut redundancy payments for their staff at the end of this month as they start making 1,000 of their staff redundant over the next year or so. They are also cutting pay protection for any staff who get redeployed.
Yet another senior management reorganisation is in the offing at Bristol City Council barely two years after the last effort to "streamline management", which resulted in an extra 22 senior managerial posts being in place by October of last year. The latest management wheeze is contained in a report presented by the Chief Executive to the council's Human Resources committee today in which any new senior management grades and salaries are conveniently omitted as they have not yet been received from the "external job evaluation consultant".
A Freedom of Information request reveals more evidence of senior management featherbedding at Bristol City Council. It seems the former 'Strategic Leader' Neighbourhoods, Graham Sim, was handed a pay rise last month and promoted to Deputy Chief Executive on the basis of an informal chat with his friend and colleague, the Chief Executive. Sim is now responsible for communications and marketing at the council, disciplines in which he has no apparent skills, qualifications or experience. Not that he needed to meet criteria from a person specification like any other job applicant at Bristol City Council has to.
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/deputy_chief_exec...14074
While Bristol City Council managers sort out their improved personal remuneration packages and luxury homes, those relying on them for vital income and services are being ignored and abandoned. Time2share, a charity working with children with disabilities and their families, has had to send a desperate letter to the Evening Post in an effort to get the council to listen. "Organisations and the families they support will need clear information from councils about what services and funding are at risk to enable us to plan for an uncertain future," they say. At present they're not getting this as Bristol City Council makes plans in secret instead.
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Cuts-affect/article....html
One way for council's to raise funds in the age of austerity is to come over all green and raise parking charges. Bristol City Council are doing exactly this and increasing on-street parking and car parking charges by anything between 10% and 66%. Of course, the majority of people targeted by these rises have either stagnant or decreased wages to look forward to.
People find public services are worse if you cut them reports the BBC. A survey by Bristol Older People's Forum found four out of five people in sheltered accommodation said the service had worsened since Bristol city council cut residential wardens two years ago.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-11385728
And also according to the BBC, Bristol City Council has spent £700k on their effort to host matches at the 2018 World Cup. This seems a low estimate of costs as it includes only £13k in wages - enough to pay a very lowly admin assistant for a year. Are all the other staff involved working for free in their spare time?
Bristol City, Bath & North-East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils have scrapped plans for nearly 38,000 homes that will cost these areas around £340 million in government incentives at a time when budgets are being brutally cut and funding restricted.
Thousands might be losing their jobs but Bristol City Council still managed to find £10,400 to put towards a total budget of £36,500 for an 'artwork' to celebrate the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion! The artwork consists of 50 tents stuck on College Green for the week and culminated today with Stephen Williams MP discussing community cohesion over lunch. That's the poverty box ticked then.
Being made redundant? Problems at work? Boss acting the twat? Contact Bristol IWW, the union where you do it so it gets done. bristoliww@riseup.net or Tel: 07506 592180
Got any news about cuts in Bristol, Bath or beyond? Send your stories, gossip and informed speculation to Cutz, the brashest and best cuts news in the west: bristol_citizens@yahoo.co.uk
Anti-Badger Cull demo EXETER WED 29TH SEPT
24-09-2010 22:11
Anti-badger Cull demonstration @Exeter Livestock Centre hosted by National Beef Association on Wednesday 29th Sept, time tbc.Abdul Aziz Arrested
24-09-2010 20:00
Abdula Aziz was arrested this morning and is being sent to a detention centreAbdul Aziz - the gentleman from Afghanistan who features in the Bristol Bike project short film has been arrested and is being threatened with being returned to Afghanistan against his wishes and despite his fears that he will be tracked down and executed by the Taliban if he returns.
Abdul Aziz - the gentleman from Afghanistan who features in the Bristol Bike project short film - is being threatened with being returned to Afghanistan against his wishes and despite his fears that he will be tracked down and executed by the Taliban if he returns. He phoned me this morning from Southmead Police Station, having been arrested early this morning by UK Border Police. He has just had his second appeal for asylum refused but had an appointment to see his solicitors to start a fresh claim next week. He is now likely to be sent to a detention centre close to Heathrow this evening or tomorrow.
Aziz has the support of local MP Kerry McCarthy who has intervened and we have set up an online petition to raise support for him - It really can make a difference! We must not lose Aziz – he is a great spokesperson for peace in Afghanistan, interprets for Bristol refugee Rights regularly and is a fantastic volunteer at the Bristol Bike Project. Please sign and encourage others to do so...
http://www.petitiononline.com/A1359943/petition.html
If you have not yet seen the The Bristol Bike Project short film, in which Abdul Aziz talks about his past and fears of being sent back to Afghanistan, please watch the short film here:
http://vimeo.com/groups/6916/videos/9469007
many thanks in advance for your time and support.
BP: The Unfinished Crimes and Plunder of Anglo-American Imperialism
24-09-2010 18:35
Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq’s discourse at the UN Security Council session in October 1951 was one of the most tragic utterances of a country that was being raped and pillaged and striving to retain its dignity:
"It went without saying that as long as the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company had a monopoly over this source of national wealth, the government and people of Iran could not enjoy political independence. Despite its business façade, this company is to be considered as the modern counterpart of the old British East India Company, which in a short span of time extended its control over India. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company had an annual income exceeding that of the Iranian government; its foreign trade was larger than ours; it intervened actively in the internal affairs of the country, and grossly interfered in our elections to the Majlis and the formation of cabinets, and thus conducting themselves in a manner calculated to wring the greatest profits from resources which it owned and controlled. By a complex conspiratorial network within the country, by widespread corruption of government ministries, and the illegal support to native journalists and politicians, it had in fact created a State within a State. Little by little it sapped the independence of the Iranian nation."
Even as the Iran of today and its democratically elected government face the threat of physical liquidation by the combined forces of Zionism and imperialism, the struggles and aspirations of this great humanist and architect of freedom will remain, to all who strive for justice and decency, forever green.
Notts resident takes on the Pope
24-09-2010 17:57
The Pope's state visit to the UK generated a huge amount of controversy. Protesters rallied in London on Saturday 18th September to express their anger at his promotion of reactionary values within the Church. Among them was "Cardinal Ratzarsse von Flashern" who made a pilgrimage from Nottingham in defence of secularism.
On the newswire: Cardinal Ratzarsse von Flashern interview | Pilgrimage to London to see the Pope
The demonstration attracted as many as 20,000 people. National Catholic Register conceded, "Even though the pope’s supporters clearly outnumbered his critics, this was nevertheless easily the largest public protest Benedict XVI has ever faced on one of his foreign trips, and one of the largest protests against a pope in modern history."
Zimbabwe – Music For All Fund-raiser
24-09-2010 17:55
Fidelis Mherembi, master of mbira & marimba, invites you to join him & friends for an evening of music, readings, film and mirth! Fidelis is fundraising for Music For All – the pioneering music project he's launching in Zimbabwe.Enjoy a great night of music – and help Zimbabwe's Matirige school to buy instruments! 80% of the pupils are orphans – and Music For All uses the power of music to bring hope & healing into their lives. Suggested donation of £10 or more. Booking essential on 0117 924 4512 or info@pieriancentre.com
Saturday 2nd October, 7.30pm
The Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8SA
Freeskilling - Tues 28 Sept - Freestyle Rhyming
24-09-2010 17:55
Better Food Company, Sevier Street, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9QS.Hi,
Next week's freeskilling is Freestyle Rhyming,
here's a note about the timing -
7 o'clock, for a 9 o'clock end,
Paul Farrow's offerred his skill to lend.
28th September
is the date to remember,
Better Food Company
is the place to be!
Sorry that was a rubbish rhyming attempt. Anyway, come along next Tuesday to discover the art of freestyle rhyme and how to do it - plus a host of interactive games to get you rhyming.
FREESKILLING – OCTOBER 2010
5 October Public Speaking Tricks of the Trade
Learn how to prepare and deliver an inspirational and engaging talk or presentation - whether to 5 or 100 people! With Claire Milne
12 October Meditations for Inner & Outer Peace
Learn the basics of how to meditate, how to apply meditation to solving our human problems and finding the lasting happiness that we long for. With Kelsan Chonden
19 October Car Sharing
Set up and manage a car share with your own car, limit your car use and share running costs. Understand the logistics, pit falls, benefits and responsibilities. There will be a car-share match making service during the evening where you could find your perfect partner. With car sharers Sarah Pugh, Hannah Fearnley & Adele Watt.
26 October Bach Flower Remedies for Pets
Learn more about the Bach Flower Remedies and how you can use them to help your pets with emotional problems such as fear of fireworks, anxieties, bullying, grief, and re-homing. With holistic vet Holly Mash
If you have any skills you would like to learn, skills you could share, or if you would like to help organise freeskilling events, please get in touch. You can email freeskilling@gmail.com or talk to one of the freeskilling team at the next freeskilling evening you go to.
This Week In Palestine Week 38 September 15-21
24-09-2010 17:28
This past week between 174 and 253 trucks entered the Gaza Strip daily.This past week nine mortar shells were fired into Israeli territory, eight on one day. Some of them contained phosphorus. In response, the Israeli Air Force attacked terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.
An aid convoy organized by Viva Palestina left for the Gaza Strip. It is currently in France and from expects go to Italy, Turkey, Greece and Syria. From the Syrian port of Latakia it expects to sail to the port of El Arish. It expects to be joined by convoys from Middle East countries. The convoy will drive overland from El Arish and enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing.
This Week in Palestine week 38 2010
24-09-2010 17:27
Wickham Labs Demonstrations and March
24-09-2010 17:15
It's been a terrible year for Wickham labs, so please come along tomorrow and make it that little bit worse. Meet 12noon Mill House Car Park Wickham, Hampshire"Peak Everything...And then?"
24-09-2010 16:00
Monday, September 27th at the Tobacco Factory - Ian Page. 7.45 for 8pm"Peak Everything...And then?"
We often see statements such as " we are about to run out of ..., the world is going to collapse!", from the well thought out warnings of "Limits to Growth" and Hubbert, to less credible shock horror journalistic material. What is the real situation? Is there any way of finding out? And if we are running out is that the end of our civilisation or is there a future? Will recycling solve our problems?
This talk offers some structure for discussing this topic rationally, and has a stab at a positive direction for a post extractive world.
Ian Page gave a great talk last year on Peak Oil - this covers his latest research and, having had a preview of the content, is not to be missed!
Directions: http://www.sciencecafe.co.uk/tobaccofactory.htm
What’s the Blogging Story?
24-09-2010 16:00
Who can you trust when new media meets old?On October 22nd, a group of prominent journalists and bloggers will come together at the Watershed to discuss the ways in which blogs and the mainstream media interact and influence each other.
On October 22nd, a group of prominent journalists and bloggers will come together at Bristol's Watershed to discuss the ways in which blogs and the mainstream media interact and influence each other.
The event, which is organised by UWE and Bristol National Union of Journalists, will feature contributions from Roy Greenslade (The Guardian), Donnacha DeLong (NUJ), Sunny Hundal (Liberal Conspiracy) and Brooke Magnanti (Belle de Jour). The panel will discuss many of the most pressing issues surrounding new media and the news, including who you can trust, the relationship between traditional journalism skills and push-button publishing, and the effects on the professional when everyone become a potential reporter.
Tickets for the panel event are available from the Watershed website, priced £7 (£5 concessions and NUJ members).
The panel event will be followed up with a pair of workshops discussing accountability in the blogosphere and blogs as journalism at the Pervasive Media Studio, Anchor Road, Bristol.
"Working Class Peoples Bloc WILL disrupt the Conservative Party Conference!"
24-09-2010 13:46
Unauthorised Working Class Bloc march in face of police repression and promises to disrupt the Conservative Party Conference.