UK Newswire Archive
JB Spray Squat in Dire Straits
06-04-2012 12:55
Recent days have been fairly traumatic for the residents and supporters of the JB Spray factory Squat after a local organisation decided they wanted to use the space. The future of the beautiful building, which has been a long term home for many, is now uncertain.
At around 8pm on Monday 2nd April, one of the residents of the JB Spray returned to their home to find it had came under attack. As one of the residents went to let another in through the outer gate, 8 unknown people emerged from the garage at the back of the yard and 7 more appeared on the street. They had tools such as hammers, sledge-hammers and axes. Due to the fact that one of the residents was letting another in at this moment, the doors were open, which allowed this group access to the building. Not much was said but the menace of the situation spoke volumes to the two residents who experienced this initial situation. They left as soon as they could to go find help from friends and fellow squatters.
Meanwhile, some of this unknown group of people entered the building and started looking around in the dark, starting on the ground floor and working their way up, looking around in people's rooms and in the communal areas. They did not take anything. Whilst inside they encountered more residents in the darkness. Again there was not much communication. Some were putting on a lot of front. There was one guy who was a bit older than the rest, perhaps in his mid to late forties, who spoke to one of the residents, asking their name and suggesting that they would be going away now and coming back at a later time. During the time that they were inside, two more residents returned home to find this large group of people on their doorstep.
The group (about 15 people all told) then melted off into the night, some in a white van. Soon after they left a group of friends and supporters, many of whom were ex-residents and current squatters from other squats arrived on the scene. Almost immediately after arriving, the same white van pulled up outside and drove slowly past then stopped and reversed back. All they said of note was "What are you doing here?" to which the reply was "We live here." to which they replied "We'll see about that..." before they drove off. Efforts were immediately focused on barricading in the yard to make it more difficult, or at least noisy, in the circumstance that the group returned.
The residents and those supporters who could stay over that night maintained a nervous vigilance with a strong undercurrent of fear about what might occur during the night. As it went, nothing else happened that night. There was a feeling during the night and the next morning that the people who had turned up would probably not attempt to do anything during the normal working hours of the day, as there is a busy building site opposite the squat. As well many people were assuming, or at least hoping, that whatever the group of people had come for, they had been deterred by the fact that there were actually people living in what could appear, without much investigation, to be an empty building.
This turned out to be more of a hope than a reality because at around midday on Tuesday 3rd April the attcking group turned up again in force and with tools including hammers, sledge-hammers, axes. This time there was no open door for them so instead they smashed and hacked their way in through two large old double doors that are not in day to day use. The residents just about managed to get a message out, but it was very unclear what the situation was. When fellow squatters and friends arrived outside the situation remained very unclear. They found the gate open as well as the in-use front door, but could not see anyone. While continuing to scout out the perimeter, one of the residents hung out the third-floor window and shouted down repeatedly to "come back later" and that "everything is fine". Not convinced the people outside continued to wait, and while doing so a man walked past on the phone and carrying a bicycle lock. As he walked past it became clear he was talking on the phone to his people who were inside the building. It was this man, in his mid to late forties, that had spoken to and left an impression on one of the residents the night before. We asked him what was going on, to which he replied very calmly that they would be leaving soon and that he would come and explain shortly. We followed him to the gate which he quickly closed and locked with his bicycle lock. Another person was in the yard who came to the fence to talk to us. He was not giving much away except to make out like he knew the people who lived there and that we were the ones who were not welcome. When we persisted in asking him what was going on he eventually said, in a half-joking way, that we would "have to talk to the manager." At this point one of the residents came out and again said "everything is ok" and to "come back later." The resident seemed nervous and it was strange that he would only repeat the same couple of things. At this point the people outside realised that they might be making the situation less safe for the residents inside. Feeling powerless to act and worried about making the situation worse they decided to leave for the time being.
Soon after they left the police arrived in numbers. It is unclear as to who called them, though the assumption is it was some of the builders working on the building opposite. It definitely was not any of the residents or supporters of the Spray. The organised group who had invaded the Spray came outside to meet the police and about five people were arrested. The residents were told they would be "allowed to stay." (Too right, obviously, as it would have been an illegal eviction. It is not the police's prerogative due to the fact it is a civil matter and, besides, there is no current possession order on the building.)
Supporters returned to their friend's squatted home while the police were there but were not allowed in as it was a crime scene and they were waiting for the Crime Scene Investigation team. On the way over we spoke to a resident on the phone and it turns out this attack had been an attempt to start a weed growing operation in the building. It was also discovered that one of the residents had been hit round the head with a hammer and had been taken by paramedics to hospital. All in all the unknown group came across as a very confident but also quite amateur group. The fact they chose a building which was people's home and that they chose to break in during working hours when there is a busy building site opposite are both very bold but seemingly poorly informed decisions.
There is now a lot of uncertainty about what will become of the JB Spray. While the police were on the scene we also saw the well known (from previous eviction attempts) manager and employees of Portable Buildings Limited, who are representatives of the owners of the building. This incident will certainly have brought the building back to the forefront of their minds, and given them a good idea of exactly how many people live there and what the security is like. Though the police were very well behaved, their presence is always a worrying one. The association of them "being on our side" is potentially very damaging and a fallacy because we know for a fact that tomorrow they will be against us, whether its their prerogative or not.
ITALY The Fascist diplomat does not lose his job
06-04-2012 11:39
Anti Fur Action - Post Flannels Your Body Hair
06-04-2012 11:31
Holland&Barrett picket to stop workfare in Catford
06-04-2012 10:55
As part of the national day of action against workfare and the IWA days of action, South London SolFed picketed the health food shop; Holland & Barrett along with 20 other locals in solidarity with a day of action around the country. This was a protest against workfare and the way the government is forcing people into work for no or little pay.
A heavy security presence in Lewisham Shopping Centre was outwitted when protesters moved down the road to Catford where a noisy demonstration began outside the local Holland & Barrett. The store closed as 20+ SLSF and comrades chanted, sang and dished out leaflets. Many people passing supported the need to take action against forced labour, particularly in a borough which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
After an hour the store was partially opened but few customers entered. Protesters vowed to keep coming back until Holland & Barrett reject workfare in all it’s insidious forms and pay their staff a proper wage.
See also:
"Communication Workers Union HQ picketed in protest against workfare at Royal Mail" on SolFed site
Red salute to Comrade Godfrey Cremer, 1943-2012
06-04-2012 10:34
The local Gazette has also published a tribute: Ealing mourns its champion of racial equality
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2012/04/04/ealing-mourns-its-champion-of-racial-equality-64767-30693975/
Animal Rights Zone's "Vegan Buddies" Programme Launch.
06-04-2012 09:17
Stop the evictions of asylum seekers: Glasgow protest Thurs 12 April
05-04-2012 22:38
Stop the evictionsNo deportations
End destitution now
Rally and protest
Red Road / Petershill Rd
Thursday 12 April 5.00 – 7.00pm
Granting of injunctions by the High Court
05-04-2012 18:55
Response from Save Leyton Marsh to yesterdays injunction and todays eviction order.
We are disappointed with the injunctions granted today and yesterday, especially as so many questions remain unanswered including why work has been allowed to continue despite the discovery of asbestos and other health and safety hazards on site. However, we are relieved that the judge has upheld our right to peacefully protest, enabling us to display banners and continue to run our website.
It must be pointed out that any camp on Leyton Marsh is there with the support of local people unlike the basketball facility. Unlike the construction, the tents do not cause long-term damage to the site nor prevent people from accessing the land. Around 70% of Porter's Field Meadow is inaccessible due the construction but this was not considered in the judgement against a small number of people camped in tents who after all are there to protect and not destroy the land.
We welcome the support of our local councillors including Ian Rathbone who said: " the ODA have broken the law, and they realise they've got caught out, I just think they are rude and arrogant walking over local people."
We are disappointed that the ODA resorted to allegations of harrassment, intimidation and even assault throughout the hearing in order to support the injunction application. If there is any sound basis for these assertions they should have been reported to the police and investigated, which has never happened despite their frequent presence on site. In reality relations with the contractors at Leyton Marsh have been friendly with many expressing support for our cause, one even saying "this is the greenest space I have ever worked on. I think it's a shame".
We will continue to campaign to save our marsh, to protect the marsh habitat and safeguard the health and safety of all despite the legal threats against us.
The Scoundrel #3
05-04-2012 16:55
It must be Spring cleaning time at The Scoundrel HQ because I’ve decided to say “Fuck it” to the usual format and have a good old rant instead. The April edition is an attempt to start critical analysis of anarchist efforts and suggest possible avenues for the future. Why do our efforts never come even close to disturbing business as usual? Why do anarchists persist in the same old failed methods time and time again? What would genuinely pro-revolutionary anarchists do? Answers on a postcard, please, or maybe in a submission for this website or May’s edition…
For the third issue of The Scoundrel it's time to do something different. Having worked out a formula that could be run with forever, it's time to break up the pattern and develop something new.
For this issue The Scoundrel will be examining the local anarchist milieu and running a critical comb through the findings. This will not be pleasant for some and The Scoundrel expects accusations of uncomradely behaviour, defamation and pessimism to be winging their way here soon.
The aim is not to ‘have a go' or to find some measure of purity that no one could ever live up to, but simply to be honest about the effectiveness of what goes on and to initiate critical debate.
The Scoundrel welcomes responses to this issue and will be using future issues and the blog as spaces to develop new theory and critical reflection.
'Save our NHS' rally - this Saturday, 7th April, Bristol!
05-04-2012 16:55
Join us this Saturday in the centre of Bristol for a protest and march against the privatisation of the NHS!
Join us this Saturday in the centre of Bristol for a protest and march against the privatisation of the NHS!
Recently, in Lansleys own words, the NHS has made efficiency savings of £8billion! The NHS has halved cancer screening turnaround times, massively reduced morbidity regarding heart disease, and improved access to dentistry. Lansley says this is about patient choice, but we believe choice can be given to patients without the need for privatisation. We don't need privatisation, we need to reinvest that money into frontline services where it's needed. Of course, this is what he says he's doing, but we think this Bill will lead to a two tier healthcare system, at a greater cost to the poorer people of society, much like America. Research has shown that if you look after the health of the poorest of society, EVERYBODY benefits, this is in your interest!
Meet us at the fountains, 13:00, bring your whistles, megaphones and make some noise about how passionate you are for these important life-saving services! There is also a theme for those that wish to dress up - resusitation!! Bring your scrubs, lab coats and wheelchairs. The protest may march at some point, to be announced.
You can see the flyer here: http://www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SAVEOURNHS.pdf
Further about the cuts here: http://www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk/
AND a great article about what we can do next here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/02/fight-for-the-nhs
These protests are NOT just about NHS pensions, they are about fighting for our right to a universal healthcare system, one of the best and efficient in the world. We cannot let this go!
SOCPA zone repealed?
05-04-2012 12:06
The Met just told me that the SOCPA zone has been repealedGFEST 2012 Open call for artists announced
05-04-2012 10:47
We are looking for submissions from artists and organisations, with a particular focus on collaboration across art form, age and cultural backgrounds. The festival accepts submissions in three categories: films, visual arts and performance.The deadline for submissions is Friday 29 June 2012.
Submissions are accepted on: www.gaywisefestival.org.uk
Gunter Grass Addresses Israel's Nuclear Threat
05-04-2012 10:46
Writer, poet, playwright, sculptor, artist, and Nobel laureate Grass is regarded as Germany's most celebrated author. Awarded the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy said his "frolicsome black fables portray the forgotten face of history." It credited his first novel, "The Tin Drum," with restoring honor to German literature "after decades of linguistic and moral destruction." It "comes to grips with the enormous task of reviewing contemporary history by recalling the disavowed and the forgotten: the victims, losers and lies that people wanted to forget because they had once believed in them." Published in 1959, "The Tin Drum" became one of the most admired and revealing allegories of guilt and complicity. He once said he "believe(d) it....a good thing that a writer does not sit on the side of the victors." He also called Germany a psychologically damaged society.EDO gets new Paveway IV contract – We need to step up our resistance
05-04-2012 08:34
The MoD has awarded Raytheon a new £60 million contract to replenish supplies of Paveway IV guided bombs to the British Army. EDO MBM (a unit of US arms dealers ITT Exelis) will manufacture the umbilical interconnect system and containers in Brighton. Paveway IV bombs have been used in Afghanistan and Libya and an earlier model of the Paveway was used in Iraq.The MoD claims that this will sustain hundreds of jobs at the factories concerned (see
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-17597889).
1954's inaugural Bilderberg meeting held in SS Field Marshal Model's wartime HQ
04-04-2012 23:44
Squatting is still legal
04-04-2012 22:03
It will remain legal in non-residential properties, but a new law is going through the final farcical stages of parliamentary approval that is meant to make squatting in residential property a crime. The law still needs royal assent and a timetable to come into force, and its effect is not so simple. The wording leaves some space for argument, and there will be human rights challenges.F M Esfandiary, Iranian vegetarian, and his description of a Lamb's Slaughter
04-04-2012 20:11
Esfandiary has left his body but his words live on onthis plane
Energy Relapse and Recovery
04-04-2012 19:11
77y old retired pharmacist suicide at Syntagma Square, Athens GR
04-04-2012 17:52
Today a 77 year old retired man committed suicide in Syntagma square, Greece. He left a letter before he shot himself. Bellow is the link with the picture and a rough translation of the letter.