UK Newswire Archive
Against Civilization
16-01-2011 19:42
400 march against the cuts in Portsmouth
16-01-2011 19:36
Former London leader returns
16-01-2011 18:22
Former EDL- London Division senior member Mr Harman returns to the fold but in which role is still unconfirmed.Kennedy and Nick Stern
16-01-2011 18:11
Who is Nick Stern? He holds the copyright of a picture taken when Kennedy was undercover and also the recent pictures where he looks a bit more like a copper.reward offered for info on Kennedy
16-01-2011 17:53
In the light of claims made in the Mail on Sunday by "Nark" Kennedy about the cleanliness of activists, we want to turn the spotlight onto Kennedy's record in this area - and we're offering a reward!More objections to allotment changes
16-01-2011 17:23
Nottingham City Council is planning to impose sweeping changes to how their allotment tenancies are handled and, most importantly, how much people are expected to pay for allotments. Allotment owners are objecting to these changes on a number of grounds and we want to highlight some of these to others who may be thinking of objecting.
The proposals are set out in 4 sections: A - Using your plot, B - Ending your tenancy and the role of NCC, C - Rents & D - Plot allocation.
As we see it, there are problems with each section of the new guidelines.
Section A proposes that maintenance of hedges and gates, previously the responsibility of the landlord (NCC) will now be transferred to the plot owners. Owners will be expected to keep hedges to 1.5m in height themselves. For those who have substantial hedges and no access to the appropriate equipment this will be very difficult.
Section B would make it possible for NCC to pursue the tenant for costs if they do not leave their plot in good condition. There is no definition of what "good condition" constitutes and this could be open to abuse by Council officials to make money. No provision is made for people who inherited plots with rubbish, asbestos and other problems.
Section C - The percentage increase in rent (180%) and water charge (150%) far exceed the rate of inflation and come as NCC relieve themselves of some maintenance duties to the allotments (e.g. hedges, gates). This is completely unacceptable. It is contradiction to NCC's supposed respect for diversity of allotment holders as it actively discriminates against those on low incomes. If a 25% discount for those of limited means was considered necessary on the current ground rent rate of 7p/sqm then surely it is a farce to consider the new discounted rate of 16p/sqm any kind of 'discount' at all. These changes encourage a gentrification of the allotments by the replacement of those on low incomes (who benefit most from a plot of land) by those who are wealthier and whose need for an allotment is not as great.
Section D - It does not seem reasonable to introduce new rules to make it harder for organisations and community groups to rent allotments. These groups can provide allotment space for more people than individually rented plots. They provide easier access to allotment holding for those who are not ready to take on their own plot. Collectively owned plots also allow the passing on of expertise and knowledge to new people. It is unlikely that there are many groups who want to own allotments and it makes sense to prioritise these over individuals as they enable access to allotments for more people.
The net effect of the proposed changes would be to make it harder for community groups and individuals on low incomes to rent an allotment whilst opening up access to middle class people who have a lesser need for an allotment. Meanwhile the regulations regarding allotment use are being made very prescriptive, meaning that it will be easier for NCC to get rid of existing tenants whilst keeping their money. This is totally unacceptable and amounts to a gentrification of the allotments of Nottingham.
Contact details for the NPOIU
16-01-2011 17:06
Am putting this up as there is a lot of interest in the NPOIU.This information is from 2002.
Solidarity attack! Bristol
16-01-2011 16:43
Early hours of saturday morning security and surveillance van set on fire in solidarity with members of conspiracy cells of fire group who face trial in Greece on monday the 17th.Tunisia: 23 years of autocratic rule
16-01-2011 14:28
Boris Johnson Approved Controversial UKCMRI Lab
16-01-2011 14:22
Boris Johnson has approved the highly controversial UKCMRI bioresearch laboratory project proposed for central London, with very little national media attention. The application fell into the height category requiring it to be referred to the Mayor. More information below........
After Camden Council approval by eight councillors, Boris Johnson has now approved the highly controversial UKCMRI laboratory plans. The application fell into the height category requiring it to be referred to the Mayor of London. According to the announcement report in the Greater London Authority website Boris Johnson was "content to sign off approval".
However, a Science and Technology Committee Parliamentary Inquiry into UKCMRI is due to take place - link here to details: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/science-and-technology-committee/news/111118---new-inquiry-announced/
BACKGROUND: The plan to build this enormous laboratory complex in central London, alongside St Pancras International Station has received very little national media attention. The government has offered £220 million of public money towards this centre planned to handle "Biosafety Level 3" extremely dangerous pathogens in 79,000 square metres of building, eight storeys above ground and four storeys below ground, on 3.6 acres of land behind the British Library, at a time of brutal cutbacks to important government department budgets and public services. Link here to more information on Indymedia London website.
The plans were approved by a majority of the councillors on the voting panel at a Camden Council Committee meeting on 16th December, 2010. Link here to more information on Indymedia London website.
Green Audit report serously flawed
16-01-2011 13:22
A recent Green Audit report commissioned by Stop Hinkley has alledged that there is 10 tonnes of enriched uranium on the Hinkley Point C site. The study is serously flawed. The results for Th-234 and U-235 are both near the limits of detection and are not acurate enough to measure the isotopic ratio of uranium. You would expect a Professor to know better
Mark Kennedy is planning to sue the state
16-01-2011 11:19
Sources close to exposed undercover police officer PC Mark Stone have revealed that he is currently laying the ground work to bring a case against his former employers for neglecting their duty of care towards his mental and physical wellbeing.Wiki-No-Leaks
16-01-2011 11:01
An article on the Observer web this morning reveals Swiss banking whistleblower docs will not be made public by WikileaksNotts students protest EMA cuts
16-01-2011 10:23
Notts students have come back from their Christmas break ready for action. This time it’s the turn of students in Further Education who are angry about the Con-Dem decision to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
On Thursday, students walked out of their schools and colleges before marching to the Conservative Party offices in King Edward Court where they tried to get the attention of party workers. One student was arrested for criminal damage but was later released with a fixed penalty notice. Students marched to the police station to call for his release. A second protest was held on Saturday in the Market Square.
Newswire: Nottingham Students Protest Against Scrapping EMA | Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Demo | Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Detained | Nttm Students another Protest Against ScrappingEMA
Previous features: Nottingham students protest cuts | Notts Occupation Ends; Resistance Continues
Meeting in the Market Square Nottingham at 3.00pm on Tuesday 11th January, School and College Student gathered to protest at the Scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance. Students had earlier walked out at 2.00pm.
Nottingham Students Protested against scrapping the Educational Maintenance Allowance. I understand that the government plan to do this in September this year.
A rally was held in the square, before a tour round the block to take in the usual suspects like Vodafone and Boots, with much shouting of “pay your Taxes etc”.
Later, folks headed off to the Conservative HQ Offices at:
Conservative Party Office
1 King Edward Court,
Nottingham
NG1 1EW
For those that don’t know.
They weren’t expected and the gates to the compound there were open. People banged on the door, rang the bell etc, to try and get someone to talk about the issue. There was no answer :-) It was noted that there was a painting of Margret Thatcher, adorning the foyer causing many remarks! Many folks at other office windows were smiling and seeming to enjoy the demo as a spectacle.
The situation was good humored until one young lad was detained for, I think criminal damage, although i saw none. Folks then returned there to demand his release. Police were called and it is believed he was taken to Bridewell police Station, leaving via another entrance.
Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Demo
Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Detained
Demo then went back through town, visiting another Vodafone store, and having a bit of a sit-in.
+++++
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a means-tested allowance of between £10 and £30, paid to 16- to 19-year-olds who stay on in education.
Rolled out nationally in September 2004, EMA is intended to help with the cost of books, travel, equipment or anything useful to the continuation of learning. It’s paid straight into the pupil’s bank account, not their parents or their college, giving them independence and forcing them to take charge of a small weekly budget. The payments are under the condition that they attend classes regularly. If the pupil works hard or achieves good grades, there is the opportunity to earn bonuses.
EMA is available to 16-19 year olds who come from low income families and whose household’s net income is below £30,000 pa. There is an additional grant for those students from families household income is up to and below £20,000 pa. EMA currently exists all across the UK although the administering of it is devolved to the regional parliaments of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Wrexham marks Gulf War anniversary
16-01-2011 09:31
Queer Theory and Anarchism
16-01-2011 09:24
Today's episode of Liberation Frequency features an interview with Jamie Heckert on the intersections between queer and anarchist theories. Jamie Heckert is a prolific independent scholar and researcher in sexualities. Deric Shannon interviewed him when he was in Edinburgh in March 2010 for the Political Studies Association conference.
(listener's note: scholarly but very accessible and important stuff)
21 minutes
Mark Stone gives his first interview to the Mail on Sunday
15-01-2011 23:05
Mark Kennedy new pics
15-01-2011 22:42
Kennedy/Stone talks to Mail on Sunday
15-01-2011 22:42
Kennedy/Stone interviewed by the Mail on SundayThe Case to Close Temple Cowley Pools is Crumbling...
15-01-2011 22:03
We are getting more and more information, mostly forcing it out of the council via Freedom of Information requests, that refutes all the arguments they have used to push forward with their scheme to close TCP.
