UK Promoted Newswire Archive
Breaking news: Ahava shop in London occupied again.
22-11-2010 12:54
Ratcliffe on Trial - Day 1 - the trial begins
22-11-2010 12:23
A year and a half after being pre-emptively arrested alongside more than 100 other people, 20 climate change activists will begin a month-long trial today.
Supporters gathered outside Nottingham Crown Court holding signs which read, "I would stop emissions too".
Anyone in the Nottingham area who would like to meet the defendants or help out can come along to the SUMAC centre (NG7 6HX) each evening after the trial at 7pm for dinner at People's Kitchen.
The arrests were thought to be the biggest ever pre-emptive arrest of environmental activists. The defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Trespass for planning to safely shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station for a week and in doing so stopping 150,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted. While they admit the intent, they maintain that they are not guilty of of a crime.
The defence will show that the activists acted out of necessity, to prevent death and serious injury. According to official sources, 300,000 people per year already lose their lives due to the effects of climate change and half a billion are at "extreme risk". (http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/publications/v.php?id=9668)
Rebecca Quinn, 32, who was one of those arrested in April but later had the charges dropped, said, "Climate Change is hitting those least responsible for it the hardest. Low-lying island nations are already seeing salt water encroach on their farm land, and in recent years we have seen an increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Coal is the dirtiest method of electricity generation, and must be stopped. To avoid a climate crisis, we must put people before profit. In the face of government apathy and the failure of the Copenhagen conference, it is ordinary people taking direct action who are desperately trying to avoid a bleak future of flooding, drought, crop failure and water shortages."
James Hansen, the high profile scientist who is the Head of NASA's Goddard Institute, is one of the many expert witnesses who will testify during the trial at Nottingham Crown Court. The leading climatologist will guide the jury through the complexities of climate science and explain how coal burning is jeopardizing the lives of millions.
Caroline Lucas MP, Leader of the Green Party will give expert evidence about the failure to achieve action on climate change domestically and within the EU parliament through more conventional political means. It will be argued that the defendants had no alternative but to physically stop the power station emitting CO2, having exhausted other channels such as lobbying, campaigning, and attending marches.
The defendants are a diverse mix of people of varying ages from 21 to 45. Living across the UK, they work in teaching, science, computing, and many other areas. 114 people were originally arrested on 13th April 2009, but most subsequently had their charges dropped.
For regular updates on the trial see http://ratcliffeontrial.org/blog/
This Week in Palestine Week 46 2010
19-11-2010 18:49
Welcome To Campsfield House (Oxford)
19-11-2010 17:51
Just outside Oxford, near Kidlington, is what the authorities call "Campsfield House". The name is misleading. Campsfield is not a house; it is a prison.Article taken from Issue 1 of The Ox-Fly - Oxford's radical newsletter:
http://theoarc.org.uk/oxfly.pdf http://theoarc.org.uk/oxfly_hires.pdf http://theoarc.org.uk/oxfly.txt
Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Protest
18-11-2010 21:34
Palestine Today 11 18 2010
18-11-2010 16:42
Full article | 2 additions | 11 comments
Protest at the Queen's visit to the Rotherham Death Park
18-11-2010 15:08
Tory offices in Nottingham smashed
18-11-2010 11:26
The Tory offices in Nottingham were last night visited by individuals who hate Tory scum. We smashed some windows, painted some messages including "Fight the cuts" and "Tory Scum".
We did this because we are sick of politicians attacking common people on behalf of the rich. Politicians who have no idea what the lives of common people consist of, and should have no control over their our lives.
We did this because we believe in acting autonomously with the rage in our hearts. And we did this in solidarity with those arrested for being at Millbank, and all people who are getting fucked over by the cuts and capitalism on a daily basis.
Solidarity with the r29 in Norwich
18-11-2010 01:47
We did some graffiti in support of the ratcliffe 29Climate Change brought to you by Shell
18-11-2010 00:58
Stuart Parkinson: Arms Conversion for a Low Carbon Economy
18-11-2010 00:01
Full article | 2 additions | 3 comments
Are top Lib Dems too yellow to come to Oxford, say chicken protesters
17-11-2010 20:31
Palestine Today 11 17 2010
17-11-2010 16:22
"We're Back" - http://www.fitwatch.org.uk back online
17-11-2010 02:14
Thanks to the metropolitan police for giving us such huge publicity and making us even stronger. See you on the streets..
Protest against the UKBA Clearance of 600 Refugee Families
16-11-2010 17:10
Palestine Today 11 16 2010
16-11-2010 16:17
Sussex Uni is in occupation
16-11-2010 10:36
About 200 students went into occupation an hour ago at SussexUniversity
Last Fitwatch post before the site was suspended
16-11-2010 03:23
Whilst we strongly suspect it was our advice to student protesters which led to the Met police contacting our host to suspend our site, this was the last article posted on the site.Ratcliffe Power Station Court Case Court Reporting
16-11-2010 01:26
Ahead of the coming Ratcliffe Trial, I thought it helpful to remind all of the last Ratcliffe trial involving the defence of 'necessity' or 'duress of circumstances
The trial held at Nottingham Magistrates Court from 14 – 16th January 2008
11 defendants go on trial charged with 'aggravated trespass' an offence under section 69 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. In that they trespassed and then disrupted people engaged in a lawful activity.
Judgement delivered on 25th February 2008.
These are my collected notes, assorted coverage and the judgement.