UK Promoted Newswire Archive
more pics and report from coryton oil refinery
17-10-2010 00:22
several hundred activists managed to blockade the oil refinery near stanford-le-hope for several hours this afternoon. they stopped more than 50 tankers during the course of their protest. police were caught off guard by the elaborate and brilliantly organised strategies of the groups involved, and the event passed off with no arrests.
the 'crude awakening' event had been publicised in the usual circles, and people were invited to join one of three blocks meeting on saturday morning at euston, victoria, and waterloo. each block had a theme, but the actual target or targets of the protest were kept vague and anonymous, with only the suggestion that people come with charged oyster cards, some food and drink, and some clothing appropriate for a whole day out on the streets.
despite the unknown aspect of the demos, hundreds of people were mobilised to turn up, and police FIT officers trailed the groups through the tube system to fenchurch street, and then onto an overland train to essex.
on those trains, huge laundry bags appeared full of 'goodie bags' which contained cords, cleats, and arm tubes for locking on, along with legal info and masks. also, finally, people were told where they were going and what the target was.
coryton oil refinery, owned by petroplus, is the UK's busiest, supplying oil products to petrol stations, airports and businesses throughout the south east. the protest aimed to blockade the refinery and stop all deliveries from the plant.
the refinery is serviced by a dual-carriageway road, and by the time the first hundred or more protestors were getting off the train at stanford-le-hope, 12 women had already locked themselves on to two immobilised vehicles and police had closed down the road and were turning back tankers.
there were a few scuffles as the activists made their way across fields and public footpaths, but the police were generally outnumbered, and soon the amazing 'monkey' tripods were up across the carriageway, people were arm-locked around and between them, banners were hoisted, and the game was over.
a second similar blockade sealed the refinery off completely, and just as police numbers increased and there was some concern they might move in, another couple of hundred activists appeared through the fields (just off a second delayed train). they were accompanied by 'rhythms of resistance' samba band, some stilt walkers and two bicycle sound systems.
fitwatch were busy obstructing police cameras, and there was also a 'laundry' changing area with free clothes where people could transform their look if they wished to further confound identification.
from then on it was really just a street party. after negotiation with the police, workers from the plant were allowed to drive through a side gap, on the proviso that police stay well back, which they did.
decisions were made by concensus throughout the afternoon, and by that process it was decided the first lock-on would stop at 5pm, and then the two blockades joined together, dismantled, cleared rubbish, and then set off back to the station. by then, all the essex police deployed and did something useful managing the traffic as hundreds of protestors entered stanford to get trains back to london.
at fenchurch street, two police photography teams were hard at work, with some fitwatchers trying to obstruct their view, but the gates were opened so not all fares were paid, and many of the climate activists went on to an after-party near aldgate.
there were no reports of any arrests.
Crude Awakening
16-10-2010 23:22
Some quick rushes of the actions at the entrance to Shell's Coryton refinery near Stanford, Essex. The largest oil refinery in Britain was shut down for most of the working day as activists disrupted the oil distribution network.
pics of crude awakening oil refinery blockade
16-10-2010 17:22
Amazing action today with hundreds of people blockading shell's coryton oil refinery.
More at www.crudeawakening.org.uk
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Some photos from Crude Awakening, Essex
16-10-2010 14:22
Some quick photos from the blockade of Shell's oil refinery at Coryton near Stanford, Essex.
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SMASH EDO: ITT's Hammertime Reportage
15-10-2010 23:04
On 13th October 2010 hundreds of antimilitarists converged in Brighton for a mass siege of EDO. ITT's Hammertime, named after the hammers used to smash EDO/ITT by the decommissioners, was aimed at closing EDO down for the day.If you were nicked at ITT's Hammertime and want support email
smashedo@riseup.net. For emotional and trauma support call 07980387900 "Taking on EDO with Octogenarian Quaker John and the New Kids on the Black Bloc
15-10-2010 17:30
***Slideshow from "Hammertime" EDO/ITT Brighton
http://www.demotix.com/news/473932/smash-edo-protest-ends-mass-arrests-brighton Bristol Students Protest BAE Systems at Careers Fair
15-10-2010 17:22
A group of students from Bristol university staged a protest against BAE systems at the university careers fair this Wednesday (13th October). BAE systems is one of the biggest arms companies in the world, and is well known for having sold arms to oppressive regimes such as Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, as well as having been fined millions for corruption. While a group stood outside with banners, speaking with and leafleting potential employees, a second group staged a 'die in' in front of BAE's stand. They were evicted by university security pretty quickly, but not before many students had seen the action, and hopefully were challenged to question BAEs ethics, and whether a 'career in killing' is really something they want.A group of students from Bristol university staged a protest against BAE systems at the university careers fair this Wednesday (13th October). BAE systems is one of the biggest arms companies in the world, and is well known for having sold arms to oppressive regimes such as Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, as well as having been fined millions for corruption. While a group stood outside with banners, speaking with and leafleting potential employees, a second group staged a 'die in' in front of BAE's stand. They were evicted by university security pretty quickly, but not before many students had seen the action, and hopefully were challenged to question BAEs ethics, and whether a 'career in killing' is really something they want.
Photos are copyright Tristan Martin (not me!) - please ask permission to re-use
Say no to voluntary deportations Zimbabwe
15-10-2010 10:50
Around the Campaigns Friday 15th October 2010Asylum blow for Precious Mhango and her mother Florence
The mother and daughter, who have lived in Britain for seven years, have previously spent several spells in Dungavel detention centre in North Lanarkshire and Yarl's Wood in Bedforshire and were granted a last-minute reprieve last November while sitting on a plane at Heathrow airport about to take them Malawi.
The family's advocate argued their case at a 20-minute hearing in London on Wednesday but Lord Justice Sullivan dismissed their claims, denying them a chance to appeal the Home Office's decision to deport them.
Full story:
Newscotsman.com, 15th October 2010
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/campaigns/florenceprecious.html Fuck austerity! Fight the cuts!
14-10-2010 16:25
Militants attacked Nottinghamshire County Hall in West Bridgford last night. "Fuck austerity!" and "Fight the cuts!" were painted on walls and £10,000 of damage was done to windows. In an anonymous communique published on Indymedia, they claim that they will "continue to attack in solidarity with all those who are abused by goverments and banks in the name of capitalism".
According to the Nottingham Post, the Tory leader of Notts County Council, Kay Cutts, described the action as "absolutely disgraceful". She didn't comment on the planned £72m cuts to adult social care over the next 4 years that the Council unveiled today.
It doesn't seem to be a view shared by all of her staff. Some were seen taking photos of the graffiti this morning.
The plan to make enormous cuts to adult social care will involve "helping people stay in their homes" i.e. denying them residential care, cutting funding for sheltered housing and women's refuges and making it even harder to qualify for a personal budget. It will be harder to find out what you are still entitled to - the welfare rights service will also be axed. Despite all of the politicians' rhetoric, these cuts are going to hit precisely the most vulnerable groups in society.
Those responsible for the County Hall action said that theirs was "a small gesture" which was part of a larger refusal of "the way things are". "The system is killing us and we must fight back."
County Hall Attacked
14-10-2010 11:38
The Nottinghamshire County Hall was attacked last night with hammers and graffiti. Messages of "Fight the Cuts" and "Fuck Austerity" were left on the walls of the entrance facing the trent, whilst several windows were smashed.Coal trucks locked out at Mainshill!
13-10-2010 16:40
This morning people locked the haulage gate of Mainshill Open Cast Site on the B7078 with a d-lock preventing coal trucks entering the site and transporting coal to the Ravenstruther Rail Head.The Unimaginable: My Night of Violence at the Hands of the Belgian Police.
13-10-2010 10:37
Democracy in Europe is under threat of a police force that feels entitled to police thoughts and use violence, while being fully confident that it can act with impunity. Marianne Maeckelbergh, assistant professor at Leiden University went through a horrowing first hand experience.Full article | 1 addition | 5 comments
Smash EDO's ITT Hammertime Time Line
13-10-2010 09:07
17.00 - Police claim "more than 20" were arrested to prevent a breach of the peace. A photographer who was held in a kettle for 20 minutes, claims that he saw at least 35 arrested from the kettle.
14.10 - People kettled on Lewes Road. A number of arrests have taken place. Police claim arrests are to "prevent a breach of the peace in a Residential Area". Argus claims that those who refuse to identify themselves are being arrested.
12.40 - A protestor says police horses were used to force marchers off the Lewes Road. A group of about 30 protestors has been kettled near Moulescombe Station and is being marched away, possibly towards the 'designated' area. Another group of around 35 is said to be marching towards the City Centre.
Full article | 1 addition | 2 comments
Images from Sheffield Free School
12-10-2010 21:50
Palestine Today 10 12 2010
12-10-2010 17:26
Rising Tide Banner Drop, Avonmouth
12-10-2010 17:22
Avonmouth targeted for international day of climate action
Bridgeovertoubledclimate writes: This morning activists from Bristol and Bath Rising Tide dropped a banner reading 'Import Coal: Export Poverty' from Avonmouth bridge near the docks, as part of a global week of action for climate and environmental justice.
The Royal Portbury Docks contains one of the largest coal import terminals in the UK. There are currently plans to build several new coal power stations in the UK, and 71% of coal used in Britain is imported.
Tracy Jones from Rising Tide said “Fossil fuel extraction devastates communities, from villages destroyed by floods in Pakistan to land grabs in Colombia, and is being resisted around the world. The failure of the Copenhagen climate summit shows that governments have their hands in the pockets of corporations and cannot be trusted. It's up to ordinary people to take direct action to stop climate chaos.”
October 12 – 16 is the Global Minga in Defence of Mother Earth, an international week of action for climate and environmental justice called by indigenous peoples from the Americas, social movements and allies around the world. Further actions are happening in London this Saturday at the Crude Awakening (4), which people from Bristol will be attending.
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Avonmouth targeted for international day of climate action
12-10-2010 09:19
banner reading 'IMPORT CO2AL: EXPORT POVERTY' from Avonmouth bridge near
the docks, as part of a global week of action for climate and
environmental justice
Calais No Borders: how to organise a secret festival
12-10-2010 07:31
report of the Festival Without Borders in calais this septemberPalestine Today 10 11 2010
11-10-2010 18:55
pics and report from yesterday's democracy rally
10-10-2010 17:27
up to 100 people attended the democracy rally in london yesterday afternoon. as boris was suddenly using trafalgar square, the rally moved to the much more convivial st james park, where speakers spoke, musicians played, people's assemblies discussed, and bridges got built. at the end of the afternoon, some of the attendees marched to parliament square and later reclaimed the grass and took down some fences.
the democracy rally had been planned and advertised for many weeks. organisers were told by the GLA that no events were planned for yesterday's date, and at such short notice, a booking would be unlikely.
while the democracy rally team refused to comply with restrictions and legislation governing the use of trafalgar square, they were open about what they were planning. against all odds, with only ten days to go, the GLA suddenly announced an 'african weekender', and on the day they laid on lots of security, and a system of barricaded entrances, to stop any democracy rally from occuring.
still, the rally folk were prepared, with a huge hard-to-miss 'info point' banner and no shortage of volunteers to redirect people, and after some preliminaries on the charles I island south of nelson's collumn, the rally moved into st james' park, where it's presence officially broke several park bye-laws.
people came and went during the afternoon, and at times there were up to a hundred involved. under the autumn leaves of majestic horse chestnut trees, they listened to speakers including mafeez mosaddeq ahmed, (author of 'a user's guide to the crisis of civilisation, and how to save it'), pheonix (from democracy village), john armstrong (land tax campaigner) and peter tatchell (human rights activist), among many others.
there were also a few spiritual moments, including a circle of held hands and a few minutes of the universal 'om' chant, which seemed much better suited to the glorious park than it would have been in trafalgar square.
the rally then split off into several smaller zones for discussion, including 'peace' (the largest), 'economy', 'climate and environment' and 'justice'. this model of people's assemblies worked well, when after an hour everyone reconvened and spokespersons summed up for the crowd what each group had discussed and proposed.
park police occasionally passed by, but it was clear the assembly was going to be tolerated, even when a sound system arrived and several performers, including maya and radfax, sang and played.
as the sun began to fade, food was shared and then a proposal was made to march to parliament square and join another group ('united against injustice') campaigning against a new and very unjust 'joint enterprise' law, which was designed to convict individuals who encourage others to commit crime on their behalf, but has led to various miscarriages of justice and unsafe convictions in very serious cases.
there, what with the two crowds, along with brian haw's ten-year campaign, and the peace strike campaign, this began to look like real democracy.
the only thing spoiling the show was of course the huge fence all around parliament square to prevent any protests from "stopping ordinary members of the public from enjoying the square", by, er, preventing everyone from using the square except for a group of 24-hour security guards who sit around all day every day at taxpayer's expense.
and so, some original villagers, and some new rally attendees, decided to challenge the fence and reclaim the square. (full report at http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/5649)
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