UK Newswire Archive
Network X Gathering updated details
20-12-2010 18:40
Some thoughts about wikileaks
20-12-2010 17:14
The other night, I was thinking about, well if I was the head of the CIA, or the NSA or the president of the world or whatever, what would I do about wikileaks.More info on Hyson Green CCTV
20-12-2010 16:23
A confusing message from the City Council's Traffic Management department reveals more about the proposed CCTV camera installation:
"Thank you for your letter expressing your concerns about the installation of a CCTV camera at the junction of Alfreton Road and Bobbers Mill Road.
It is intended that the camera is to be installed for traffic monitoring purposes. The proposed camera is of the same type as that of many other traffic cameras located throughout the city at strategic junctions on the road network. The traffic cameras are rarely used for the recording of images unless there is another use for them in their location, at the current time the Authority is enforcing both bus lanes and some parking restrictions, through the use of CCTV.
The Camera itself is capable of rotation throughout 360 degrees, it is sited near to an important road junction where 4 roads meet – Alfreton Road, Bobbers Mill Bridge, Radford Boulevard and Gregory Boulevard – the camera will provide images from an area where the existing traffic camera network has no coverage. We will be able to monitor traffic flow in this busy area and the Authority can then intervene with the traffic signals to maximise the flow of traffic through the junction. This will minimise the traffics impact in the neighbourhood. In addition the camera will have a clear view of the pedestrian crossing nearby.
Any personal data collected through enforcement activities from the City’s traffic camera network is controlled by the City Council under its Data Protection policy which is published on the website."
So the "traffic cameras are rarely used for the recording of images" (in which case why bother with them) "unless there is another use for them in their location". So they are used for anything but traffic management? This is nonsense. It also begs the question of what the other uses for the cameras are. Do traffic management cameras get turned into "anti-social behaviour monitoring" cameras or "anti-terrorism" cameras when requested?
In the next paragraph the proposed camera has become an actual camera. This should give you some idea about how much impact residents concerns will have on the scheme. It seems that not only the purpose of the camera but also its location is unclear. In the original letter it was implied that the camera would monitor the junction between Bobbers Mill Road, Alfreton Road and Churchfield Street. Now it will be keeping an eye on the much bigger junction between Radford Boulevard, Alfreton Road and Gregory Boulevard.
I can't help being reminded of the infamous "Ring of Steel" that West Midlands police wanted to put around Muslim neighbourhoods in Birmingham. The proposed Nottingham camera is at a busy junction with a mosque on it at the heart of the Bobbers Mill area, which has a large Muslim population. It is also a major route in and out of Hyson Green and Forest Fields, which also have large Muslim and immigrant populations. I wonder what reassurances the City Council have for concerned locals that they won't be using this camera to monitor who is coming in and out of these areas? I wonder what kind of access to their data the police will have?
Even if this is an unfounded fear, I wonder whether the camera will have any role in directing the Council's CPOs and other busybodies? Perhaps people in the area will have their bins monitored to make sure they take them in. The Traffic Management departments statement is very unreassuring and makes it seem likely that there will be function creep.
If you are also concerned about the proliferation of CCTV cameras in the area and want proper answers from the Council, I recommend writing to the relevant department.
USA/Sweden: Curiosities Abound in Assange Case
20-12-2010 15:46
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-pilger-swedes-are-smearing-him-and-encouraging-the-us-2164320.html 20/12 london protest called by EDL; destructive political rumour-frenzy!!!
20-12-2010 15:28
An explanation of what went wrong with the 20th of december london protest and what implications this might have for future protests...7 Year snitch: Flash the activist is a secret cop
20-12-2010 15:23
A police officer spent seven years undercover living as a hippie and environmental activist to infiltrate peaceful protest groups
He drank with them, he climbed with them, he even seemed to love them and was loved in return. But Mark “Flash” Stone was living a double life as perhaps the most deeply embedded undercover police officer in Britain.
Questions are being asked this weekend as to what the police officer achieved in seven years, living at the taxpayers’ expense as a hippie and environmental activist. He infiltrated protest groups that were mainly peaceful in nature, moved in with them and travelled to Iceland and all over Europe.
His double existence ended when friends discovered documents showing his true identity, leaving a trail of emotional wreckage and a sense of bewilderment that the authorities should invest so much time for a seemingly modest reward.
Stone — real name Mark Kennedy — was among 114 people arrested last year on the eve of a planned invasion of a power station. The aim was to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire for a week, preventing the release of 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide from one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in Europe.
He drove the car on the initial reconnaissance and even hired a 7½-ton truck for the main event. But charges against him were dropped, leaving 20 others to be convicted last week of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass.
With his long hair, tattoos and body piercings, nobody suspected that their comrade in saving the planet was a detective. But Stone is thought to be a member of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), a secret unit known as “the Hairies” because officers can wear their hair as they please.
According to one former member, only married officers are accepted into the unit, as they are less likely to “go native” if they have families to return to.
Called “Flash” because he had more money than other activists, Stone became a familiar face in Nottingham, hanging about at the Sumac centre, a vegan cafe and social club for people concerned with human and animal rights, the environment and pacifism. He lived with activists in the city.
His former friends say he was vehemently anti-police, a pose slightly at odds with a community more inclined to organise workshops on what they perceive as “bad policing” than to fight about it.
For the takeover of the power station, the protesters drew up health-and-safety plans and a rule that there would be no violence. They were to stop the conveyor carrying coal into the boilers, climb the 653ft chimney and unfurl protest banners.
The workers would be given leaflets reassuring them that jobs could be created by greener energy, while costlier but cleaner gas-fired stations would come on line to supply the National Grid, keeping the nation’s lights on.
Eon, the owner of the station, knew about the action five days beforehand and could have sought an injunction. Instead, the protesters were allowed to assemble and were then arrested.
Stone was unmasked as a suspected police officer 18 months later, just before the trial. Confronted by six friends with paperwork showing his real name, he admitted being in the Metropolitan police. The six published a short account of his confession in the green media, to general disbelief.
“Look at the bloke,” said one activist. “What did they do, send him from Hendon [police training centre] to spend five years smoking rollies and living in a tent? It boggles the mind that he’s spent so long doing basically f***-all, expending so much effort in terms of debate, slow, dull legwork and campaigning — and still be thinking, ‘Aha, fooling these oh-so-dangerous activists brilliantly’.”
Last week two police forces confirmed Stone’s status to The Sunday Times. “The individual is a Met officer,” said Nottinghamshire police. “He’s an undercover officer,” said the Metropolitan police. “We can’t say more.”
Scotland Yard refused requests for information about the SDS, a unit of the Met with a remit to prevent disorder. It was set up in 1968 after violence at anti-Vietnam war protests.
An insight into its methods came this year, when an SDS officer from the 1990s described his work. For four years the officer, Peter Daley, spent one day a week with his wife and family and six as a hate-filled Trotskyist on the wrong side of a riot shield. He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and won an out-of-court settlement.
Stone has disappeared from Nottingham, leaving friends in shock. One said: “Whatever else Mark is, I do believe he had genuine feelings for those he had meaningful relationships with in the last seven years.”
The friend added: “I don’t believe he could be with such beautiful, wonderful people and not feel love.”
The protesters will be sentenced next month.
Sunday Times: Tim Rayment & Jonathan Leake 19th Dec 2010
Protest at Horse Show's links with the arms trade
20-12-2010 14:24
Cuts Watch #10
20-12-2010 14:23
Even with Christmas only just over the horizon, the cuts have continued over the last week, with the announcement of the funding settlement for local councils hitting Nottingham particularly hard. Even Cuts Watch has been cutback, this week's edition arriving late and in a slimmed down version. "Normal" service may or may not resume after the holiday period.
Advice
Advice bureau to cut spending, Newark Advertiser
Newark and District Citizens’ Advice Bureau has announced plans to cut its spending in light of expected county council cuts.
Campaign against cuts, Newark Advertiser
Staff at Ollerton Citizens’ Advice Bureau have launched a petition against funding cuts that would affect the services it provides.
Council Grants
Nottingham City Council expects to lose £100 million in Government funding, Nottingham Post
NOTTINGHAM City Council's leadership expects to lose £100 million in Government money over the next three years.
Nottingham City Council set to lose £30 million and Notts County Council £15 million, Nottingham Post
NOTTINGHAM City Council will see an 8.4% reduction in its Government grants next year, meaning it loses out on £29.5 million. The following year, in 2012/13 it will lose a further £13 million, which is a 4.17% cut.
Councils facing 9.9% core funding cut, BBC Nottingham
Councils in England are to face cuts of almost 10% next year in their core central government funding.
Notts councils claim Government cuts are worse than expected, Nottingham Post
COUNCIL officers were working late into last night to work out how much money they would receive from the Government over the next two years. But both Notts County and Nottingham City councils claim the cuts are worse than they expected.
Nottingham City Council faces 16.5% cuts in Government funding, Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council is facing a 16.5% cut in Government funding - equating to around £60m in real terms - after the Government announced its settlement for councils.
Bassetlaw Council faces £1.4 million cut in its Government funding, Retford Times
TOUGH times lie ahead say Bassetlaw Council finance chiefs but they feel they are prepared to absorb a £1.4 million cut in its Government grant next year.
Are we really 'all in it together' as the Chancellor claims?, Nottingham Post
SO, we have been told by George Osborne that we are all in it together. We have been told by David Cameron that frontline services won't be affected by reductions. And we have been told by Nick Clegg that he will rebalance the economy from south to north.
Courts
Newark Magistrates' Court to close, Newark Advertiser
Newark Magistrates' and County courts will be closed, the Government announced this afternoon.
Battle to save town magistrates' court from closure is lost, Newark Advertiser
THE fight to keep Retford Magistrates' Court open has been lost with this week's closure announcement from the Ministry of Justice.
Education
Protests against cuts to Education Maintenance Allowance take place across Nottingham, Nottingham Post
A SERIES of protests against the government's decision to scrap education grants for sixth formers have taken place across Notts.
Fire Service
Fire cuts may see Nottinghamshire stations close, BBC Nottingham
Three retained fire stations in Nottinghamshire may close as part of cost-cutting measures.
Jobs to go in Notts fire service following Government cuts announcement, Nottingham Post
MORE than an eighth of jobs are expected to be axed at the Notts Fire and Rescue Service.
Fire stations to close, Newark Advertiser
The Advertiser understands that Nottinghamshire Fire Authority will today announce the closure of three retained fire stations in Nottinghamshire and the axing of their crews.
Plans to close town fire station refuted, but cover could be reduced, Retford Times
THE county's fire service insists there are no plans to shut Retford Fire Station but said the town's cover could be reduced as it ends a year of looking at re-organisation.
Gedling School
Gedling MP Vernon Coaker writes plea to county cabinet over The Gedling School, Nottingham Post
GEDLING MP Vernon Coaker has written to each member of Notts County Council's cabinet asking them to reject plans to close The Gedling School.
Save Gedling School rally at County Hall, Nottingham Indymedia
On Wednesday 15th December, supporters of the Gedling School held a demonstration outside County Hall to protest plans to close the school.
Council goes ahead with Gedling School closure consultation, Nottingham Post
COUNCILLORS have agreed to push ahead with a consultation on the closure of Gedling School to address a surplus of pupil places in Gedling borough.
Protesters will fight on in battle to save Gedling School, Notingham Post
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to prove Gedling School should remain open, despite plans to close it.
Secondary school places in Gedling, Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet has taken the decision to consult with the parents, pupils, staff and governors of schools, and the wider community, across Gedling district about a range of options for managing secondary school places and quality of education in the area.
Nottingham City Council
Upset over changes to Newstead Abbey's opening days, Nottingham Post
CUTS could see Newstead Abbey closed to the public except on Sundays.
Community centres join forces over council cuts, Nottingham Post
LEADERS of community centres are joining forces over the issues of council cuts, isolation of the centres and what they claim is a lack of support from the city council.
City residents on benefits to lose leisure centre discount, Nottingham Post
NOTTINGHAM residents on some benefits will no longer receive 50 per cent discount on leisure services provided by the city council.
It's the Brand That Matters..., NCC LOLs
Another one from Cllr 'Trembling' Trimble. He's authorised a contract with 'Large Creative Ltd' to do the branding for Nottingham's leisure centres. Not sure what that actually involves but it sounds less important than, say, not cutting a couple of youth worker posts or improving the actual facilities.
Those Proposed Terms and Conditions in Full, NCC LOLs
Have been sent a copy of the recent NCC Bulletin telling staff about proposed changes to their terms and conditions.
Nottinghamshire County Council
Lights switch-off delayed, Newark Advertiser
A scheme that would have made Bingham one of the first areas to have its street lights switched off overnight to save money has been delayed.
Pensioners face extra care home charges, Worksop Guardian
THE leader of the Labour opposition at Notts County Council has blasted plans to increase care home charges by up to £200 A WEEK.
Increase in cost of council's care charges are branded 'a disgrace', Retford Times
PLANS by the county council to increase some of its care charges have been branded a "disgrace" by opposition members.
Framework supporters to hand 1,000 letters in to County Hall opposing budget cuts, Nottingham Post
AROUND 1,000 letters will be handed in to Notts County Council today by supporters of homeless charity Framework.
Delay likely for Sherwood Forest visitor centre, BBC Nottingham
Plans for a new £5.2m visitor centre at Sherwood Forest are likely to be delayed for about five years, according to the county council.
Visitor centre delayed and temporary housing could be hit, Nottingham Post
COUNCILLORS will discuss Notts County Council's budget plans at a cabinet meeting tomorrow.
Other Councils
Council refutes 'privatisation' claim, Newark Advertiser
Conservative councillors have refuted claims restructuring plans are a move towards privatisation.
Kelham Hall restructure approved, Newark Advertiser
http://newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Kelham-Hall-restructure-approved
Radical plans to change the way Newark and Sherwood District Council works have been approved.
No change planned on tax demand, Newark Advertiser
The amount of council tax households pay to Southwell Town Council is set to stay the same for the next financial year.
Police
County police force 'will cut staff numbers' following £10.3m budget shortfall, Retford Times
THE county's police force says it is 'inevitable' there will be a reduction in officer and staff numbers after discovering it will face a £10.3m budget shortfall.
Statement from Nottinghamshire Police Authority and Nottinghamshire Police, Notts Police Authority
The Government has revealed the provisional details of Police Funding for the two financial years from April 2011.
Nottinghamshire Police workforce change, Rushcliffe Borough Council
Nottinghamshire Police Authority has backed plans by Nottinghamshire Police to reshape the force in response to reductions in its funding over the coming years.
Private Sector
Building giants go bust, Hucknall Dispatch
HUCKNALL has been rocked by bombshell news that one of its most historic companies, Bodill Construction, has gone bust.
#UKuncut
Tax protesters to target city shops, Nottingham Post
CAMPAIGNERS will be protesting in Nottingham city centre today against companies they claim are avoiding tax.
High street stores hit in day of action over corporate tax avoidance, Guardian
Security stepped up as activists in 55 cities and towns across the UK target businesses on busiest shopping day of the year
Halifax Tax-Dodgers Action Report
20-12-2010 13:23
Report from Halifax Sat 18th protest at Topshop...
Smash EDO wishes Paul Hills a merry Christmas
20-12-2010 13:13
EDO/ITT is a manufacturer of weapon release components to the UK, US and Israel. They are based in Home Farm Road BrightonCampaigners support Amnesty International's new call for an independent investig
20-12-2010 12:46
Arms trade - Unnecessary, unwanted, unaffordable
20-12-2010 12:22
While UK Uncut target the high Streets around the country anti arms campaigners continue to call for BAE to answer for their crimes that have cost the UK BILLIONS.As regular readers will know BAE have offices in north Bristol and have been the target for protestors in the past.
BAE Systems, New Filton House, PO Box 5, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7QW,
BAE happy to deal arms for profit when what the world really needs is their expertise, know how and machinery to develop equipment that can generate local, renewable electricity. Electricity that does not require the burning of fossil fuels or nuclear power to generate.
The following is an extract from their website:
Corporate Responsibility
BAE Systems recognises its responsibilities to the people it employs, its customers and suppliers, its shareholders, the wider community and to the environment.
We are a well-managed, responsible and ethical company and are determined to be widely recognised for our world-class technology, the skills of our people and the seriousness with which we take our corporate responsibilities.
We are proud of the role we play as one of the leaders in the defence sector and as part of this we recognise our specific responsibility to understand the concerns of others. We aim through this website and our corporate reporting to provide information and demonstrate through our performance that BAE Systems is both a responsible corporate citizen and a responsible defence company.
(At this point take a pause while people stop themselves from laughing and in some cases pick themselves off of the floor.)
Arms giant BAE will appear at Southwark Crown Court today to seal a controversial plea bargain with the Serious Fraud Office.
The firm has long been dogged by allegations of corruption, bribery and fraud.
In 2006 then-prime minister Tony Blair ordered the plug to be pulled on an SFO investigation into the multibillion pound Saudi Al-Yamamah fighter jet deal, ostensibly following pressure from the Saudi regime.
This most recent case centres on a deal struck by the company's representatives with the SFO over BAE dealings with Tanzania, the Czech Republic, Romania and South Africa where it was alleged that ministers and regimes had been bribed by the firm to secure lucrative contracts.
Under the deal BAE pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of having made "accounting errors" and agreed to be fined £30 million in exchange for bribery and corruption charges being dropped.
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and the Cornerhouse unsuccessfully sought a judicial review of the SFO deal, arguing that it let BAE off the hook and limited the potential for further prosecutions.
CAAT supporters are to stage a demonstration outside the courthouse in protest at the signing off of the deal.
CAAT spokeswoman Kaye Stearman said: "Some people will see the BAE guilty plea and fine as a punishment, but that's far from the truth. BAE is admitting only to accounting errors, not to corruption charges.
"Even if BAE is ordered to pay the full £30 million fine, it is still peanuts in their reckoning and far less than the real costs paid by the people of Tanzania, one of the world's poorest countries."
Militarism and Economic Crisis - War Profiteers' News
20-12-2010 11:33
http://wri-irg.org/epublish/19/409 It was between 9/11 and the ensuing war against international terrorism (in Afghanistan and Iraq) initiated by the USA, with the help of the majority of European countries, that the already sizeable military spending of the USA’s allied countries began to increase significantly. In this regard, the USA has spent $1100 billion. In Europe spending has not gone so far. However, these defence budgets have increased above their national GDPs, with an annual average 5% increase.
The not-so-great Bristol land grab
20-12-2010 11:22
Cabinet agrees Area Green Space PlansThe City Council's Cabinet last Thursday set out its final decisions for how
it will take forward the Area Green Space Plans in the city.
The Cabinet agreed that the following sites are not sold for
redevelopment:
- Embleton Road CPG
- Higham Street open space
- St Judes CPG
- Bushey Park YMCA
- Craydon Road Open Space (North)
- Kings Head Park
- Okebourne Road
- St Anne's Park
- Wellington Hill
That decision should be deferred in respect of the following sites:
(P = part of site)
- Crow Lane open space (P)
- Lockleaze open space (P)
- Muller Road Rec (Downend Farm) (P)
- Briery Leaze open space (P)
- Plummers Hill (P)
That a decision be deferred on the following sites to agree the split
between recognising the need for space for older people and young
people:
- Gill Avenue
- Delabere Avenue
That it be agreed that the following sites are sold for development:
- Allison Avenue
- Bath Road (3 lamps) (P)
- Belroyal Avenue
- Billand Close (Sherrin Way)
- Bonville Road open space
- Bracey Drive open space
- Brentry Hill
- Broomhill Park
- Broomhill Road/Emery Road
- Burnbush Close
- Craydon Road Triangle
- Fonthill Park
- Furber Road
- Gillebank Close
- Gladstone Street CPG
- Hazelbury Road open space (P)
- Huntingham Road/Keble Avenue
- Ladman Road and Bagnall Road
- Ladman Road and bus terminus
- Longcross Woodland (P)
- Moorend gardens
- Moorgrove (P)
- Newbridge Road open space (P)
- Portway tip/Daisy Field (P)
- Salcombe Road (P)
- Sturminster Close (P)
- Terrell Gardens
- Trym Valley (P)
- Valley Walk (North) (Blackthorn Close) (P)
- Valley Walk (South) (Rear of Urmstone) (P)
- Willmott Park - South (P)
- Withywood Park (Paybridge Road) (P)
Special Conditions
- Abingdon Road open space (Ridgeway playing fields) - the first
consideration should be the expansion/relocation of an existing school.
- Begbrook Drive open space - the first consideration should be
the expansion/relocation of an existing school
- Arnall Drive open space (south) - provision for play facilities
on the site
- Duchess Way open space - disposal subject to mitigation
measures
- Lodge Hill open space - Neighbourhood Partnership to advise
Cabinet of choice for land use: either disposal and green space or
allotments and green space
- Elderberry Walk - the footprint of disposal to be reduced - the
preference is for housing on this and connected sites
- Snowdon Road open space - local co-ordinated plan to be in place
at the time of any disposal
The following sites be approved for sale for disposal: it should be
noted that disposal might not in fact take place as new information has
come to light regarding flood risk which requires further work or
clarification before any development plans can be taken forward:
Arnall Drive (North - Crow Lane) (P)
Cook Street open space
Dovercourt Road open space (P)
Henacre open space (P)
Land at rear of Merrimans Drive (P)
Maple Close
Napier Square Park
Tranmere Road
Willmott Park (North) (P)
Further note - re Victory Park - adjacent council owned grazing land is
of good environmental and amenity value and, although not technically
covered by area green space plans, should be retained and safeguards put
in place that hedgerows onto neighbouring sites are to protected.
-------------------
And So It Begins: Police repression of anti cuts & fees campaigners
20-12-2010 11:22
At 5am on Saturday 18th December the home of UWE Student and Anti-cuts & Fees campaigner Paul Saville was raided by police.He was arrested on suspicion of affray and conspiracy to commit affray.
Paul, who was involved in the recent UWE occupation was held for 12 hours. His computer, mobile phone and note books have all been seized.
This is only the start, police repression of anti-cuts activists will only increase in the coming months. Anyone involved in the campaign is a potential target of repression but particularly those individuals and groups openly active in mobilising and organising.
After the October 23rd demo the two people arrested we questioned by a Detective constable, not what normally happens when arrested for a minor offence. The DC asked them question related to active anarchist groups in the area and showed them photographs on individuals they believe are active in the socialist/anarchist movement that they wanted information on. Of course their response was No comment to everything.
We urge everyone to take appropriate steps to keep themselves safe and protect any information you may not want falling into the wrong hands. Take time to swat up on security both on demos and using computers and the internet.
Heres a tip that came straight from a cop: When you delete files on your PC all it does is give permission to the hard drive to write over the space if needed. If it is not overwritten then the information can still be retrieved. Once files are deleted, clear the recyling box then load a large file (a film for example) onto the hard drive and copy it until the space is full, then wipe that file. It does take time but there are programmes on the net that can do this for you.
Don't let the bastards win, stay safe & stay active.
In Solidarity,
Bristol AFed
How THEY Plan to Break Manning to Get Assange! How WE plan to Stop THEM
20-12-2010 08:08
In truth, over the last 7 months the anti-war movement has failed itsmost significant political prisoner. We are 10 years into this war,
we should have learnt something about nonviolent resistance and the
culture of solidarity that throughout human history has sustained such
resistance.
Two more milestones for Animal Rights Zone (ARZone).
20-12-2010 03:13
International abolitionist animal rights social network, Animal Rights Zone, is one year old on 21st December 2010 - and has also just reached 1500 registered members.Tax dodgers shut down again
20-12-2010 02:14
Guantanamo: Unreported Detainee Deaths
20-12-2010 00:47
Tax Avoidance Action Round-Up
20-12-2010 00:22
All over the UK, people have been taking action against companies who have been exposed as tax dodgers.