UK UK Newswire Archive
No Bounds magazine launch party!
08-06-2012 13:34
http://www.facebook.com/events/140352499422308/?ref=ts http://www.nobounds.org/
English Community Opposition to Opencast Mining
08-06-2012 12:55
This, the 1st press release from the Loose Anti Opencast Network list 12 sites in England where there has been expressions of interest about opencast for coal on the site. The press release also indicates why this will be a continuing 'itch' in the English planning system as up to 97% of the surface mineable coal in England is located within 500m of where people live. England unlike Scotland or Wales does not operate a system where policy normally prohibits mining is such circumstances.
THE LOOSE ANTI OPEN-CAST NETWORK
‘THE ITCH THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY – COMMUNITY OPPOSITION TO OPENCAST MINE APPLICATIONS IN ENGLAND’ PR 2012-1 8/6/12
Today, the Loose Anti-Opencast Network publishes its first review on the number of opencast sites under active consideration at present in England. A previous review on Current and Potential English Opencast Sites was published early in 2011 by The Minorca Opencast Protest Group, in support of Andrew Bridgen’s Private Member’s ‘500m Buffer Zone’ Bill, so this review can be seen as the first stage of updating that information.
However it is timely. Whilst public attention has been focused on problems associated with ‘fracking’ for Shale Gas as the new energy issue, Coal Operators in England including relatively new big operators such as Hargreaves Services, have been quietly clocking up new expressions of interest and actual applications. The current estimate is that the 11of the 12 sites listed here indicate that over 7m tonnes of coal extraction by opencast methods are actively under consideration in England at present. Below is a list of current sites under consideration.
There is also evidence that a further site is under active consideration as well in Walsall. It is mentioned here, but a separate note will be published on the background to this site as it is located in an Enterprise Zone and any development will be governed by a Local Development Order and not by the planning rules that apply to the other sites.
Opencast Coal is the itch that will not go away in the planning system as long as sites can be proposed that come so close to where people live. The evidence of this is here. Of the 12 sites included here (and there is no claim that this is an exhaustive list) evidence already exists that 10 of them have provoked opposition to the plans. This is inevitable, as the evidence produced by MOPG in favour of the need for a 500m Buffer Zone between such sites and where people live shows. Reproducing figures first published by Coal Pro, the industry body promoting coal mining in Britain, it showed that of the estimated reserves of 516m tonnes of surface minable coal, between 250m and 500m tonnes of coal or between 48 and 97% of known surface mine coal reserves in England, would be sterilised if such a measure was passed. (1)
This list also hides the extent to which the announcement that sites are under consideration have an impact on local communities. For example, those living close to the Bradley site in Co Durham have now been waiting for a decision on this application since 2007, whilst those near the Halton Lea Gate site in Northumberland are opposing the third application in two years. Lastly those close to the George Farm site in Derbyshire not only have to contend with this site, but live in close proximity to the Lodge House Surface Mine site. Plans to work this site were first proposed in 2004 leading to permission being granted in 2008, followed by the site being extended in 2011. All have suffered from degrees of planning blight during this time as even the hint of a proposal has a negative effect on local house prices. However, what people fear most is the consequence of planning permission being granted, leading to people finding that they live in close proximity to an industrial site working for 12 hours a day during the working week, with all its associated noise, dust and increased local heavy traffic movements. Until people in England enjoy the same degree of protection as those living in Scotland and Wales enjoy, where the planning policy guidelines do include the provision of a 500m Buffer Zone, the itch will continue to irritate.
THE SITES CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION
The way to read each entry (except for the James Bridge Copper Foundry site) is as follows:
Site Name, Location, Planning Authority, Position in the Planning System (either Scoping Inquiry, Application Submitted) and the name of the Applicant.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->BIRKLANDS, (nr .Marley Hill, Gateshead), (Gateshead) (Application) (Hall Construction Services)
‘Opencast, the threat returns’ (local action group) (no date)
Not a news story, but an on line petition that can be signed to show opposition to open casting at this proposed 275,000 tonne site. See
http://www.savebirklands.org.uk/
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->BRADLEY (nr. Consett) (Co Durham) (Judicial Review) (UK Coal)
The latest news I have on this site is that the Planning Inspectorate has yet to make a decision on whether it will defend its decision to reject UK Coal’s Application to extract 556,000 tonnes of coal after a Public Inquiry.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->DEARNE LEA, WEST CLAYTON (S.E.of Huddersfield) (Kirklees Council) (Application) (George Harrison Ltd)
‘Bretton Hall plans at risk?’ (Wakefield Express, 2/6/12)
Wakefield Council is opposing plans submitted to Kirklees Council to extract 190,000 tonnes of coal and 90,000 tonnes of fireclay. This is because of its potential to have a negative impact on the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at Bretton Hall. See
http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local/more-wakefield-news/bretton-hall-plan-at-risk-1-4609727
For more details on the Application go to:
http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/application_search/detail.aspx?id=2012/91131
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->FERNEYBEDS, WIDDRINGTON STATION (8 miles NW of Ashington) (Northumberland County Council) (Scoping Inquiry) (Banks Group) ‘Updated plans for proposed Ferneybeds surface mine going on show at public exhibition’, (Banks Group Web Site, 23/4/12) ‘Revised plans for Widdrington go on show’, (The Journal, 24/4/12) Revised plans for this 750,000 tonne site go on display. See http://www.banksgroup.co.uk/updated-plans-for-proposed-ferneybeds-surface-mine-going-on-show-at-public-exhibition/ and http://www.journallive.co.uk/northumberland-sites/widdrington-northumberland/widdrington-and-lynemouth-news/2012/04/24/revised-plans-for-widdrington-mine-to-go-on-show-61634-30828047/<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->GEORGE FARM (nr. Smalley, Derbyshire) (Derbyshire County Council) (Application) (LEM Resources)
‘Smalley still fighting against Open Casting’ (Coal Action Scotland, 30/5/12)
A report posted on the Coal Action Scotland web site on the continuing campaign by the Smalley Action Group to prevent a 2nd local opencast mine from opening in close proximity to the Lodge House site. This would be for 400,000 tonnes See
http://coalaction.org.uk/?p=716
For more details on the Application and the possibility to make a comment go to:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->HALTON LEA GATE (c 5 miles SW of Haltwhistle) (Northumberland County Council) (Public Inquiry) (HM Developments)
‘New Halton Lea Gate Public Inquiry Begins’, (The Journal, 16/5/12)
Local residents are fighting to oppose the 3rd application in two years for a 140,000 tonne site. The Inquiry, which began on May 15th, is expected to last for 3 weeks. See
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->HILLTOP PROJECT (nr. Clay Cross, Derbyshire) (Derbyshire County Council) ( Scoping Inquiry) (Provectus Remediation)
‘Hundreds turn out at Clay Cross open casting exhibition’, (Derbyshire Times, 31/5/12)
Report on the Hilltop Project Exhibitions held on 29-30/5, as Provectus Remediation gauge reaction to its plans to mine 175,000 tonnes of coal. See
To keep in touch with the protest campaign, go to
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->HOODSCLOSE Whittonstall (Northumberland County Council) (Application) (UK Coal)
UK Coal hopes to extract 2.2m tonnes of coal and 500,000 tonnes of fireclay over a seven year period. The Scoping Inquiry state began soon after August 2009 with an application following in 2010. This is still a live application. You can find further information and make a make a comment here:
You can also contact the Whittonstall Action Group here:
http://www.whittonstallactiongroup.co.uk/who.php
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->THE JAMES BRIDGE COPPER FOUNDRY / PHOENIX 10 (Walsall) (Walsall Metropolitan Council / Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership) (Expression of Interest) (Homes and Community Agency / Parkhill Estates).
This site has a complex history which will be the subject of a separate note. This is a relatively small site, 35 acres situated on land which is heavily contaminated, near residential areas between junctions 9 and 10 of the M6 in The Black Country. In February 2011 Walsall Council issued a press release ‘Major scheme set to start’, (Walsall Council, 22/2/11) which stated that a total of £18m was to be invested in the site, £12m by Parkhill Estates who were about to drill on the site. Meanwhile it was revealed, due to the diligence of a local blogger, The Mushroom, that open casting for coal could happen here, as this could fund the remediation and restoration of the site. (Coal not Oysters 21/2/11)
Subsequently Walsall Council have used new powers to create a Local Development Order, (LDO) a new planning device which covers the Darleston half of The Black Country Enterprise Zone, an area which contains this site. This allows Walsall Council to devise its own planning system covering this area in order to operate a ‘business friendly’ planning system once the LDO is approved. However, the Order, which was approved by Walsall Council in April 2012 specifically states that if any mineral extraction is proposed, then the controls existing under the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act would apply. (Black Country Enterprise Zone – Local Development Order, Walsall Council Cabinet Meeting, 4/4/12).
At the time of writing more questions have now been put to Walsall Council covering a range of issues from the expected tonnage of coal reserve on the site to who is to be consulted if the site is developed.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->i) <!--[endif]-->‘Major scheme set to start’, (Walsall Council, 22/2/1)
Walsall Council’s announcement that test drilling to examine the state of the ground is due to take place. No mention of drilling to see if surface mine coal is there. See
http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/news/major_scheme_set_to_start.htm
<!--[if !supportLists]-->ii) <!--[endif]-->The Mushroom’s Blogs on The James Bridge Foundry Site
‘Coal not Oysters’, (21/2/11)
The first bit of public news about the possibility of open casing on the James Bridge Copper Foundry site @
http://thisistherealwalsall.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/coal-not-oysters.html
This is the first of 15 blogs on this issue by The Mushroom which appear over the next year and reveal more information about the site.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->iii) <!--[endif]--> Black Country Enterprise Zone – Local Development Order, ( Walsall Council Cabinet Meeting 4/4/12)
Details of the Local Development Order – 78 pages long. Appendix iii contains responses to points made by consultees. The Environment Agency sort clarification about the rules to be applied for any mineral extraction in the Enterprise Zone:
“Particularly, we note that under Schedule 2 (item 8) it states that ground reclamation works including mineral extraction, landfilling and waste deposition are not permitted under the Order. We assume this means these activities are still subject to the regular planning controls under the 1990 Town and Country planning Act. This is especially valid for the works we are involved with for the land now known as Phoenix 10 (the former IMI site.”
Walsall Council’s comment in reply was:
“It is confirmed that, activities not permitted by virtue of the Order will still be subject to the regular controls under the Town and Country Planning Act
1990.” (Reference ,p 68 -69 of the Order and p 21-22 of Appendix iii) “
http://www2.walsall.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=11530
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->SHORTWOOD FARM (Trowell, nr Nottigham, Nottinghamshire) (Application) (UK Coal)
‘Villagers turn out to oppose mining plan’, (Ripley and Heanor News, 29/5/12)
Report on a 2nd Public Meeting held in Awsworth Parish Hall to oppose UK Coal’s application to mine 1.25m tonnes of coal organised by Awsworth Parish Council and Anna Soubry MP. See
http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/news/local/villagers-turn-out-to-oppose-mining-plan-1-4598150
To send a letter opposing this application, go to:
http://www.trowell.org.uk/shortwood-open-cast-mining-application-letter-writing-campaign/
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->MARLEY HILL RECLAMATION (Sunnyside, Gateshead (Co Durham also affected), (Scoping Enquiry) (UK Coal)
‘UK Coal Holds Public Exhibition at Marley Hill in Gateshead to Gauge Opinion on Opencast Mine’, (Sky, Tyne and Wear, 30/5/12) (Pre Scoping), UK Coal).
Report on a recent Public Exhibition on the above possible proposal for a c1m tonne site. Cllr Jonathan Wallace, (Wickham and Sth Sunnyside), voiced some opposition. See
http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/21608
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->WELL HILL FARM, STANNINGTON (nr Morpeth) (Northumberland County Council) (Application) (Hargreaves Services)
‘Hargreaves looks to open surface mines in the North East’ (Hargreaves Web Site, 15/2/12)
Hargreaves has submitted plans for its first English Opencast site. It plans to extract 130,000 tonnes of coal. See
However the application is meeting some opposition as reported in the Morpeth Herald. See
‘Opencast bid next to exclusive estate’ (Morpeth Herald, 13/10/11)
For more information on this application and the possibility of making a comment go to
© List compiled by Steve Leary for The Loose Anti-Opencast Network
References
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1) <!--[endif]-->All the information about the background to the ‘500m Buffer Zone’ Bill can be found here @
http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/measham/andrew-bridgens-500m-buffer-zone.html
The figures about the proximity of surface mine coal reserves to where people live can be found in Briefing Note 5 ‘Climate Change and the 500m Buffer Zone Bill, p3, available through the above link.
The Loose Anti-Opencast Network (LAON) has been in existence since 2009. It functions as a medium through to oppose open cast mine applications, through which any person / group can communicate ideas, information, requests for information and possibly concerted actions if we find a target. In addition feel free to invite any other person / group who oppose opencast mining applications, to join the network so that it grows. At present LAON links individuals and groups in N Ireland, Northumberland, Co Durham, Leeds, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Walsall.
If you have information about any other prospective opencast site in England then please send your information to infoatlaon@yahoo.com
Enquiries about LAON can be sent to infoatlaon@yahoo.com
Current Opposition to Opencast Mine Applications in England
08-06-2012 12:16
This, the 1st press release from the Loose Anti Opencast Network list 12 sites in England where there has been expressions of interest about opencast for coal on the site. The press release also indicates why this will be a continuing 'itch' in the English planning system as up to 97% of the surface mineable coal in England is located within 500m of where people live. England unlike Scotland or Wales does not operate a system where policy normally prohibits mining is such circumstances.Support John Bowden - Day of Action - June 11th
08-06-2012 11:27
http://leedsabc.org/another-attempt-to-sabotage-john-bowdens-parole-by-prison-hired-social-worker/ , http://leedsabc.org/update-from-john-bowden-about-lies-written-by-prison-hired-social -worker-2/ , http://leedsabc.org/support-for-john-bowden/ , http://leedsabc.org/corrupt-social-workers-attempt-to-rid-themselves-of-prisoner-john-bowden/ , http://leedsabc.org/end-lies-and-corruption-in-edinburgh-criminal-justice- services/ , http://leedsabc.org/lying-prison-social-worker-invited-to-audition-for-pinocchio/, http://leedsabc.org/lying-prison-social-worker-has-future-career-prospects-dashed/, http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/496835.html, http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/496617/html, http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/496784.html,
FemCells Women-Only Gig Tonight!
08-06-2012 11:09
Public meeting against the EDL
08-06-2012 06:55
It won't end well for the EDL...
Demonstrations on Armed Forces Day?
07-06-2012 21:17
the creeping militarisation of Britain through Armed Forces day. a soldier in an illegal and immoral war is not a heroIsrael: “this country belongs to us, to the white man”
07-06-2012 19:00
Recent anti-immigrant racist extemism in Israel only serves to demonstrate that a strictly jewish state will never exist in peace.Finsbury Square have to June 15th to appeal
07-06-2012 18:55
*** Update 7 June: The Finsbury Square occupation has been granted a stay of execution until Friday 15 June to lodge an appeal. ***
The potential forceful eviction of the Occupy London Finsbury Square camp is expected to happen in the early hours in the next few days, with residents choosing to mark the eviction with peaceful resistance. The potential eviction follows Justice Hickinbottom ruling on Friday at the High Court that Islington Borough Council has the right to repossess the public space post Jubilee Bank Holiday.
Finsbury Square eviction
The potential forceful eviction of the Occupy London Finsbury Square camp is expected to happen in the early hours in the next few days, with residents choosing to mark the eviction with peaceful resistance. The potential eviction follows Justice Hickinbottom ruling on Friday at the High Court that Islington Borough Council has the right to repossess the public space post Jubilee Bank Holiday.
Tom McCarthy, a resident at Finsbury Square said: “This camp makes a political statement about our society. Since Occupy opened the camp on 21 October, it has become a home and community for many homeless people, for whom the system has failed. In evicting this community, Islington Council – who have helped to re-home some people that have ticked certain boxes – are potentially leaving some people in a much worse position than they are already in. “We ask Islington Council to not go down the same route at the City of London Corporation – cleansing the City of homeless people is not the way forward. Helping to find real solutions is.”
Pop down, show support, bring supplies (food, bedding, cleaning stuff etc)
Whatever happens in terms of the eviction, residents plan to continue occupying.
Tamils protest the visit of Sri Lanka's President
07-06-2012 18:55
Thousands of Tamil protestors marched yesterday against the visit of the the President of Sri Lanka, visible to the Queen before lunching with the genocidal Mahinda Rajapaksa along with other heads of commonwealth states at Marlborough House in Central London. The spontaneous protestors later gathered in front of Park Lane Hilton Hotel where Rajapaksa was staying. The Queen passed human rights protestors on her way and she was joined by more than 70 guests, including Prime Minister David Cameron and leaders across the association of nations, as they arrived to angry scenes.
The chants of the demonstrators echoed around the forecourt as guests arrived, The Independent further said. Around 8,000 protestors were seen outside Marlborough House and earlier at Mansion House, which was hired by Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) for the Commonwealth Economic Forum.
While leaving the Hotel on Wednesday evening, Rajapaksa’s car had to face a rain of eggs coming from the angry protestors.
Earlier in the noon, he was welcomed with a big jeer from the crowd. His car arrived at the scene at Marlborough House bereft of the Lion Flag, for security reasons.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, hosted along with his wife by the Queen, is leaving for Rome to meet The Pope, news sources said. The Sinhala Catholic Archbishop in Colombo, Cardinal Malcom Ranjit is close to Rajapaksa and is a defender of his regime.
Rajapaksa was invited to deliver the keynote address of the Diamond Jubilee Commonwealth Economic Forum organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) on Wednesday. But in the last minute the CBC “after careful consideration,” cancelled his address and the session itself, fearing mass protests from Eezham Tamils in London.
Reporting on the cancellation on Wednesday, The Guardian said the tickets to the event were costing 795 pounds plus tax for each.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said it had agreed to guarantee the president's security but the CBC had "decided it was not in their interest to stage the event" because of the extent of the policing required and the likely disruption to the City of London, The Guardian reported.
The Guardian simplified the anger of Eezham Tamils in London as resulting from cases of torture and rape of Tamil asylum seekers forcefully returned to Colombo by the UK government and said that the UK government is coming under increasing pressure to revisit its policy about deportation.
But, contrary to what sections of articulating diaspora Tamils interested only in ‘negotiating’ and not leading a struggle say, the Eezham Tamils are angry at the continuation of the very State of British colonial legacy in the island and they are particularly angry with those who conduct business over genocide and criminalise States all over the world, political observers in London said.
The demonstrators in London burnt the Sri Lankan Constitution along with the effigy of Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of the Marlborough House.
The Queen ‘appeared to fleetingly shake hands’ with him in receiving guests at the reception, both The Independent and The Guardian reports said on Her Majesty receiving Rajapaksa.
The head of the Commonwealth of Nations has become a captive of the so-called International Community of Establishments, said old-generation Eezham Tamils, who recollected the scene of the Queen removing her gloves and shaking hands with her teacher, C. Suntheralingam, even when the then Prime Minister of Ceylon, Sir John Kotelawala, was waiting to receive her in the parliament house at Galle Face in Colombo in 1953.
According to The Guardian, Rajapaksa was seated on the table directly to the Queen's left with Babli Sharma, wife of the Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma an Indian national; the Namibian president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, and his wife; and New Zealand' prime minister, John Key, and his wife.
Palestine Place & Anti G4S Demo
07-06-2012 17:45
FemCells Women-Only Gig Tomorrow!
07-06-2012 13:13
Will Brendan Barnett’s Lies Take Him To Wembley?
07-06-2012 11:54
http://leedsabc.org/another-attempt-to-sabotage-john-bowdens-parole-by-prison-hired-social-worker/ , http://leedsabc.org/update-from-john-bowden-about-lies-written-by-prison-hired-social -worker-2/ , http://leedsabc.org/support-for-john-bowden/ , http://leedsabc.org/corrupt-social-workers-attempt-to-rid-themselves-of-prisoner-john-bowden/ , http://leedsabc.org/end-lies-and-corruption-in-edinburgh-criminal-justice- services/ , http://leedsabc.org/lying-prison-social-worker-invited-to-audition-for-pinocchio/, http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/496617/html Previous Pinocchio posts:
http://leedsabc.org/lying-prison-social-worker-invited-to-audition-for-pinocchio/, http://leedsabc.org/lying-prison-social-worker-has-future-career-prospects-dashed/
Queen made to view protest before dining with Rajapaksa
07-06-2012 11:51
Sickened by Muslim Council of Britain's Letter to the Queen
07-06-2012 07:16
http://mswithacause.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/sickened-by-muslim-council-of-britains.html
Video Highlights: Frank Barat, International Law and Palestine
07-06-2012 01:56
Highlights from the 6th June meeting at Palestine Place, a reclaimed building in central London hosting 2 weeks of events for Palestine.These highlights are taken from the Palestine and International Law talk given by Israeli-born solicitor and founder of Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights Daniel Machover and Frank Barat of the Russell Tribunal
Sussex Police and the Green Party heap praise on Smash EDO
07-06-2012 01:09
Love, peace and mutual understanding spread throughout BrightonIsraeli group Boycott From Within endorse Smash EDO
06-06-2012 23:05
Boycott from Within have endorsed Smash EDO and the summer of resistance.News from Palestine Place
06-06-2012 20:55
Palestine Place is now up and running in our Grays Inn home and has hosted a wide range of events, seeing in excess of 150 people over the weekend. A succesful footbal action through the streets of London in support of Hunger striker Mahmoud Sarsak happened yesterday (for more details see http://palestineplace.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/mahmoud-sarsak-demo-in-pictures/) and our event tonight on International law and Palestine, with free Palestinian food on offer for all visitors was attended by more than fifty people. We are still in need of lots of tat, and ideas so get down here if you fancy it. Tomorrow Palestine Place has pledged it's support for a coalition of protest against notorius security company G4S
TOMORROW: Palestine Place to join coalition of protesters opposing notorious security giant G4S
Where: London Stock Exchange, Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7LS
When: 12.30PM onwards
Contact: Zaneta on 07927 189671 or Hilary 07756 977167 or phone 07448 613383
This Thursday (June 7) a coalition of protestors will demonstrate against the private security company G4S as its Annual General Meeting takes place, calling for an end to the firm’s involvement in human rights abuses around the world.
The multinational security firm – which lost its contract to deport people from the UK last September after 773 complaints of abuse were made against it – will be opposed in the heart of the City by a number of networks collectively involved in organising a lively protest to voice disgust at the company’s record.
Palestine Place, a newly reclaimed space in central London hosting two weeks of workshops and discussions in support of Palestine, has endorsed the demonstration because of G4S’s involvement in human rights abuses in occupied Palestine.
G4S is contracted to provide equipment to the Israeli prisons in which Palestinian political prisoners, including child prisoners, are illegally held. More than 1,600 Palestinian political prisoners recently held a mass hunger strike and several remain on hunger strike.
Activists have produced an alternative annual report detailing G4S’s record including the death of Jimmy Mubenga, its running of prisons, probation services and welfare services in Britain.
Despite its abysmal record, G4S was recently awarded contracts to provide security for the Olympic Games, house asylum seekers in South Yorkshire and to take over parts of 10 UK police forces.
Ends
== Notes for editors ==
*More information on G4S’s involvement in deporting asylum seekers, profiting from Israeli apartheid and more, please see ‘Many Reasons to Stop G4S’ http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=4343
*Palestinian political prisoners have been – and are – on hunger strike in protest against appalling conditions, barbaric interrogation techniques and being held without charge or trial under Israel’s system of administrative detention.
*Jimmy Mubenga was an Angolan asylum seeker who died after being ‘restrained’ by G4S guards during deportation from the UK. More info: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/jimmy-mubenga
* The protest has been endorsed by the following groups: Boycott Israel Network, Corporate Watch, Croydon Migrant Solidarity, Defend the Right to Protest, Friends of al-Aqsa, International Federation of Iraqi Refugees, Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, No Borders London, No One is Illegal, Palestine Place, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group, Stop Deportation Network, Yorkshire Region Plus No to G4S Campaign
*Palestine Place is a newly reclaimed space in central London hosting two weeks of workshops, discussion and action in support of Palestine. It is located at 24 Gray’s Inn Road, WC1X 8HP.
WEBSITE: palestineplace.wordpress.com
FACEBOOK: Palestine Place
TWITTER: @palestineplace
EMAIL: palestineplace@riseup.net