UK UK Newswire Archive
Occupy Sheffield Moving Forwards Parade
09-02-2012 12:29
https://occupywiki.org.uk/wiki/Sheffield/Map ) for a Cabaret from 5pm onwards.
Hedging Our Bets on the Black Bloc: The Impotence of Mere Liberalism
09-02-2012 09:14
Chris Hedges has written some of the most insightful analysis of the U.S. war machine in recent years. His 2009 book The Empire of Illusion was an exploration of how exhibition has eclipsed truth and meaningful connection in American society. His acknowledgment of the ease in which one can buy into such spectacles is a small part of why it was so odd to read his article on Truthdig attacking both anarchists and black bloc tactics entitled “The Cancer in Occupy.”
#occupyoil upper st shell garage closed tonight
09-02-2012 02:55
in the third london action today, the upper street shell garage in islington was closed by activists for over an hour. while a samba band played, loads of leaflets were handed out. many passing motorists hooted support and cyclists often cheered.
click on image for larger version. 'some rights reserved' - free for credited non-commercial use, otherwise contact author for permission
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this was the third london action under the #occupyoil banner today, following on from this morning's blockade of a garage in belgravia, and a small protest outside the nigerian high commission at midday.
as per a recent action, police seemed to have gained intelligence about this site, or maybe made a good guess (as it has been the target of previous actions for many years). either way, they were clearly not sure of the time, and perhaps jittery about the possible scale of the "occupyoil" movement (which claimed to be about to close down every garage in london), they stationed a police van nearby from 10.30 this morning.
the van was still there this evening, and activists gathered in a pub several hundred yards away near highbury and islington station. again, either through covert surveillance or a lucky guess, the police arrived outside the pub, with a vanload parked up outside, as well as two FIT team cars buzzing around nearby.
so the activists, around 20 people, set off on a little walkabout, and as they went the wrong way down a one way street, FIT officers followed on foot while the van drove round. however, despite a circuitous route, the activists couldn't shake off the surveillance (hard for a large group of people carrying banners and drums). so, finally emerging from a side road opposite the petrol station, they were greeted by a row of officers across the front of the garage. sergeant "driver" (no conflict of interest there) informed the protestors that they would be arrested for 'aggravated trespass' should they attempt to blockade the forecourt, but that they could continue their protest on the pavement outside.
but soon after the samba band had started up and the banners were unfurled, the station staff emerged from their shop, placed bollards across the entrance and closed the garage, stating they'd been told to do so by management, and so providing the required result for the action anyway.
comedy activist charlie veitch happened to pass by on a bus, and he dropped by with his megaphone for a few minutes adding a comic twist to the proceedings.
news of the action spread quickly via the internet, and squatting activists came up from their latest city repossession/occupation to swell numbers a little.
comedian and comedy writer paul whitehouse was among the many passers-by who were handed leaflets.
due to the cold weather, a few people having to leave, and the late start to the action, the protestors decided to finish together and leave together as a group, after managing to close the garage for business for about an hour and twenty minutes in total.
the police operation today raises some serious questions about their role in protecting shell. at least one van full of police was stationed in upper street for more than eight hours before the action. two FIT teams were deployed during the evening. once the action began, there were a further three vans of police parked up with engines running near the garage.
so who is paying for all this? is it the public, in which case, in times of austerity and serious crime, is this a sensible use of resources? or is it shell, in which case is this another example of police being privately hired? (as per the recently broken story about virgin).
is it reasonable anyway, whoever is paying, for the police to spend so much energy protecting the commercial interests of such a dodgy company? the past and proposed actions against shell are not dangerous, never violent, and wholly legitimate. they succeed in closing single outlets for a period of a few hours at a time, and are a symbolic attack on a multi-national corporation that made a profit of more than £18 billion last year - that's £35,000 per minute!
shell has been implicated in irish government corruption over its rossport oil pipeline and refinery.
they are up to their necks in controversy over their tar sands extraction, facing an international law court case for trashing indigenous lands in canada, a project that scientists claim could in itself lead directly to several degrees of climate change.
their oil spills around the world devastate lands. new arctic drilling has already led to spills in virgin territories in canada and alaska. leaks from the sakhalin refinery in east russia threaten the breeding grounds of pacific grey whales. in the niger delta, the devastation is incredible, with oil spills equivalent in size of the BP deepwater horizon spill occuring EACH YEAR for the past few years.
it is surely indefensible then that the authorities spend so much energy on pre-emptive and oppressive policing of anti-shell actions.
presumably, they will be putting on a huge security operation to avoid any disruption of the business meeting tomorrow evening in west london with special guests, the managing director of shell nigeria and the nigerian energy minister.
for more info on shell campaigning, see www.risingtide.org.uk and www.shelltosea.com
No Borders Convergence: final details & programme
09-02-2012 01:21
The No Borders Convergence, on next week (13-18 February), is a week of discussion and action to bring together all those fighting for free movement and against border controls
The Invention of Ancient Israel, the Silencing of Palestinian History
09-02-2012 00:24
Nottingham Solidarity Network
08-02-2012 22:55
Unpaid wages? Denied deposit? Unsafe workplace? Refused repairs?
Don’t let bosses and landlords use and abuse you!
We are a network of working people and tenants who work to defend ourselves through direct action and mutual support. Nottingham Solidarity Network will help you get back stolen wages and deposits, get repairs made, and stop evictions.
We are a collection of Nottingham residents who have lived in the city for a number of years. We are all volunteers and anybody who wishes to show solidarity is able to join us. Each of us at some time has suffered from unjust treatment by employers, landlords, or other wealthy people who hold power over our lives.
We’ve learned from experience that the only way we’ll be treated fairly, equally, and with dignity is by being prepared to stand up to such people and defend our rights. It’s hard to do this alone. That’s why we’ve come together, and we’re seeking out other local people with similar problems who feel the same way. Together we can find ways of dealing with abusive bosses, greedy landlords, and those who would deny us, our friends, families, neighbors and co-workers the right to a decent life.
To become involved or to let us know of a problem at your workplace or with a landlord, contact us! You can…… come to actions such as picketing a boss, visiting a landlord, or whatever it takes.… volunteer to do work such as gathering information or distributing flyers, and come to our meetings.
… organise by meeting with, educating, and mobilizing fellow workers and tenants to participate.
To sign up to our mailing list click here.
Call or text 0742363631681
Anne Perry's World War I ...Echoes Still In Afghanistan
08-02-2012 21:53
Anne Perry''s book Shoulder The Sky and others of her over 60 books are understated litanies of the suffering of World War I, written without preaching or opining. They serve as a mirror for the atrocities of present wars. Perry lives on the Eastern coast of Scotland.Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
Fracking - The Rest of the Story
08-02-2012 19:58
Beware the Agent Procrastinateur...
08-02-2012 19:30
#occupyoil noon protest at nigerian commission
08-02-2012 18:55
as part of today's #occupyoil actions, a small group of protestors braved the freezing temperatures and held up #occupyoil logos outside the nigerian high commission in northumberland avenue. they leafletted passers-by and protested for about an hour.
the action followed on from this morning's blockade at the main belgravia shell petrol station and is part of a national day of action against shell that saw garage closures in petersborough and liverpool. there may be further actions before the day is out, so follow the occupyoil hashtag for breaking news.
with the bitterly cold conditions (for unaccustomed londoners at least), the turn-out was poor, and the protest (originally planned as a noise demo) was quite low-key. however, the anonymous-shell logo attracted interest and leaflets were handed out to passers-by and to visitors to the commission highlighting some of the issues of concern to activists.
these include shell's corrupt association with the nigerian government, and their continued destruction of the niger delta. it seems that nothing much has progressed since the murder of ken saro-wiwa and eight other delta activists 25 years ago, as amnesty international recently highlighted brutal police attacks on niger delta human rights activists.
by protesting at the commission today, activists added to the pressure on shell, and contributed to the variety of actions. the 'we are everywhere' anonymous logo is particularly resonant and reminds shell that disruption can occur at any time in protest at their rotten record in human rights, environmentalism, and climate change.
two constables were posted at the door to the commission, and a nearby van full of police kept watch, joined briefly by forward intelligence officers.
for more info on shell campaigning, see www.risingtide.org.uk and www.shelltosea.com
for updates on today's actions follow #occupyoil
CALAIS squat eviction: phone blockade call out!
08-02-2012 18:38
Africa House is threatened with imminent eviction AGAIN. This time they are doing it in the middle of winter when it is totally freezing outside. This is a call out for a phone blockade of the owners, a so-called 'social housing organisation', who are kicking 60+ people out on to the street.
Modern serfdom for the workers, endless money-printing and gold as the ultimate
08-02-2012 17:19
Assuming that we've read some of our previous "big picture" posts, you probably know that gold has a "special role" to play in today's situation - it is no accident that it's exchange rate vs the dollar and all the other fiat currencies of the world has been rising for the last 10 years or so.Lancaster University --- FLUX ---- guerilla art action
08-02-2012 16:13
Students at Lancaster University staged a guerrilla art action today, handing out spray paint cans, chalk and markers to re-decordate parts of campus. Improvised poetry readings and talk of a megaphone abound.Letter from a U.S. jail from Catholic Worker Frank Cordaro - Occupy Des Moines
08-02-2012 15:54
WHOSE JAILS? OUR JAILS!by Frank Cordaro, February 2, 2012
It was bound to happen sooner or later. A person can't keep collecting trespassing convictions, get fined plus court costs and refuse to pay any fines before a judge will eventually send you to jail. My arrest at the state capitol Sunday night was my fifth
An Open Invitation to Occupy Brighton's first Public Meeting of 2012
08-02-2012 15:04
Date: Saturday, 18th February, 7:00 - 9.30pm
Palestine Today 02 08 2012
08-02-2012 14:48
Fitwatch to support fellow domestic extremists outside High Court on Thursday
08-02-2012 14:28
Fitwatchers will be joining fellow domestic extremists at the High Court on Thursday when anti arms trade campaigner, John Catt will be bringing a judicial review against the domestic extremist units for holding data on him.Callout for Legal Observers – London Training & Pre-brief 6.30PM Tuesday 14 Febr
08-02-2012 14:23
Urgent callout for legal observers to monitor and deter police and bailiff misconduct during a number of forced evictions which may be perpetrated against Traveller, Gypsy and Roma people in the next few weeks.