A road protest camp called 'Camp Bling' has been setup in essex. No, it's not a flash back to the mid-ninties, it's happening right now!
Southend based anti-roads campaigners Parklife have started a long term tree sit recently discovered East Saxon king's burial site in order to oppose, and ultimately to stop the controversial F5 road scheme. In what might be the first protest of its type, an urban tree camp is being constructed and occupied in the very heart of town. 'Camp Bling' - named after the recently discovered 'Prince of Prittlewell,' or 'King of Bling' - is located above the site of the burial, and strategically in the middle of the route of the proposed road.

Speaking directly from the new camp, long term Southend resident Anthony Bailey said, 'We are taking the first steps to build a long term protest site, to influence the Department for Transport to reject funding the significant cash shortfall of £7.74m for the road, and ultimately to stop the destruction that it will bring to our town.'

The scheme requires the felling of 113 trees, and the use of 3000m2 of public open space, including the important heritage burial site.

During a public consultation held by the local authority. More than 20,000 signatures were submitted by local residents and groups against the road - compared to just 16 responses in favour.

In August, the group occupied the Lobby of the Department for Transport offices in London to bring pressure on them to refuse funding for the scheme which has already seen projected costs more than tripled from the original figure of £3.5m, agreed in December 2000.

Southend Council Leader Anna Waite was dismissed the protests saying, "this sort of thing has never had influence in the past, and it is not going to influence us. It will just make it a more expensive and protracted exercise."

Well, some people would disagree and say that anti-roads camps were instrumental in forcing the government to abandon the vast majority of it's road building schemes toward the end of the ninties. The question is whether ParkLife can save Priory Park and the saxon kings burial site this time.

Shaun, a local resident and one of those encamped at the site said, "This is our time to take action, and we hope that we inspire others to join us here."

Anyone wishing to do so can find the camp at Priory Crescent next to the railway line. It's the Liverpool Street line with the closest station being Prittlewell. Apparently from there you just follow the leaves. Their phone number is 07817 182394.

for more info see  http://www.savepriorypark.org/

(source:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324880.html)


Last Friday (30th sept), a large mound of sand and turf was dumped infront of baffled security guards at Shell's HQ on the south bank. Simultaniously, banners were hung reading "danger - keep out - shell hell in operation", "stop shell hell in nw ireland now" and "free the rossport 5"

The action was aimed at highlighting the situation in the remote
conservation area of outstanding natural beauty in Rossport in the north west of Ireland where Shell are trying to build a gas pipeline and massive onshore refinery. Campaigners say that Shell will create an environmental disaster zone with serious public health and safety implications, poisoning the area, endangering residents and further adding to climate change.

Compulsory acquisition orders gave Shell the legal right to utilise
farmers land for the new pipeline and the high court passed injunctions to preventing protest by those directly effected. As a result, five residents (including a 65 year old ex-teacher) were jailed for contempt of court until they either purged their contempt and allowed shell access, or until Shell droped the injunctions.

Amazingly Shell did just that - the injunctions were withdrawn while the banners still hung infront of the Shell building in London. A rally in support of the imprisoned five which had been planned for saturday turned into a victory celebration. The men have vowed to continue to fight Shells plans, as have their supporters.

For more information see  http://www.freetherossportfive.com

(source:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/09/324727.html)


Last week we heard about the struggles of the George Fox six who were in court defending themselves against charges of agrevated tresspass for handing out leaflets in their own university campus during a "Corporate Venturing" Conference. In his summary the judge said that he disagreed with the University managements claim that holding banners, blowing whistles and handing out leafletts was 'intimidation'. However, he said that the action had been 'disruption' and found the six guilty of aggrevated trespass. All the students were given a two year conditional discharge and no fine, but they do have to pay court costs ammounting to £300 each.

After the judgement an angry crowd of students, academic staff and local gathered outside the court in an impromtu rally. They expressed outrage over the decision to criminalise student protest and now vowed to step up their fight against corporate power corrupting freedom at Lancaster University.

(source:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/09/324737.html)

Over 600 were detained under the Terrorism Act during the Labour party conference last week. Protester against the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, vocal OAPs and conference delegates were all detained by police under legislation allegedly designed to combat violent fanatics and bombers. None of them were suspected of terrorist links or activities and no-one was charged under the terrorism laws. Instead they experienced delays, harresment, humiliation and intimidation under Section
44 stop-and-search power provided by the 2000 Terrorism Act.

However, to some extent the attempts stiffle dissent back fired when Walter Wolfgang, an 82-year-old Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, was thrown out of the conference hall after shouting 'nonsense' during a speech by Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. When he tried to get back in, he was detained under Section 44 and questioned by police. The incident turned into public relations disaster and the party quicly later apologised, repeatedly.
However the Home Office hasn't been so quick to apologise for the
heavy-handed policing and misuse of the terrorism act.

A spokesman insisted: "Stop and search under Section 44 is an important tool in the on-going fight against terrorism. The powers help to deter terrorist activity by creating a hostile environment for terrorists."

That's all very well but it appears to also be being used to deter
democracy and dissent.

(source:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324931.html)

Last friday police raided in brothel in Birmingham and rescued 19 women who had been forced into prostitution and held against their will behind locked doors and an electric fence. Now these women need rescuing yet again. At least six of the women are once again behind locked doors and an electric fence, this time in the governments Yarl's Wood detention centre where they face imminent deportation.

Campaigners are calling on people to voice their digusted at the
authorities callous treatment of these women by contacting Harriet Harman, Charles Clarke MP (Home Secretary), and Tony McNulty (Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality)

(source:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324948.html)


Finally, another story which we are likely to hear a lot more about.
During the monthly critical mass bike ride which has been taking place in London for over 11 years, police handed out leaflets saying that the event is now being considered an illegal procession and that inf future it's participants would risk arrest. This is shocked and outraged many who see the ride as part of London's culture and an important and enjoyable social gathering.

On lists and discussion forums online, there has been much talked about making next months ride the biggest yet, although it is unlikely to come close to last months ride in Budapest which attracted almost 30,000 riders!

Regulars of London's ride are concerned that the police are following the lead of the New York Police Department which has been trying hard to crush the will of the cities cyclists since the Republican Nation Convention late last year. Last months ride saw 23 people arrested for 'riding without a permit'.

Whether the threat issued by the Metropolitan Police has any legal
validity remains to be seen and can only realy be tested in court. Is
critical mass a procession and if so, what implication does that have on other social activities?