The Dump Veolia Campaign lead a demonstration outside the Natural History Museum on 23rd October 2010 to protest against Veolia's sponsorship of the Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

Veolia still holds shares in the Jerusalem Light Railway project which the UN Human Rights Council has declared is a "clear violation of international law", despite the recent announcement that it was selling its shares to Egged. The tram line runs across stolen Palestinian land connecting illegal Israel settlements and West Jerusalem thereby helping consolidating the occupation.

Veolia also runs bus services to the settlements on roads Palestinians are barred from using despite the fact that they are built on their land.

Veolia's shameful crimes in Palestine also include the Tovlan landfill site it operates in the occupied Jordan Valley where it helps Israel dump its toxic waste on to Palestinian land next to the Palestinian village of Abu Ajaj.

The demonstration was a great success, in particular its 'alternate exhibition' caught the interest of members of the public, leading to information exchanging one-to-one encounters. The leaflets being given out were a great hit with hundreds being distributed, courtesy of West London PSC who designed them - colourful eye catching postcard size with the facts clearly shown.

The only negative was the policing. Unlike the last time (April) when we picketed the main entrance on Cromwell Road, this time the police wouldn't allow us anywhere near the main entrance and insisted on penning us on the other side of the busy road, hidden away and out of sight behind road works, traffic islands, and the constant stream of buses. The only option was to demonstrate at the side entrance to the museum on Exhibition Road which was outside the bounds of the police order. Exhibition Road, being the entrance to two other museums proved to be a great spot for engaging with the public. The police didn't seem very happy with our decision and tried to hinder us by insisting we were not allowed to use the railing to display our 'alternate exhibition' - we had to 'carry' the exhibition. Again this worked to our advantage as it meant that there was always someone there to explain and engage with inquisitive members of the public eyeing the exhibits.

For Video and photo report see:
 http://www.inminds.co.uk/article.php?id=10479