Activists from Rising Tide called for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st. "They would have us believe that we can escape climate change with techno-fixes, market mechanisms and offset schemes - all technocratic acrobatics that distract us from the truth: the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground."
In Nottingham, over 30 people under the banner of Eastside Climate Action blockaded energy company E.ON's offices on Mount Street. People covered in green paint to represent E.ON's greenwash, locked onto the front entrance to the call centre offices and stood in front of other entrances preventing hundreds of workers from getting to work. Two people who were locked onto the front entrance were arrested and later in the afternoon the police entered and searched their homes in search for 'evidence' in relation to their arrest. Both were charged with public order offences and are to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on April 14th.
Audio: Fossil Fools Blockade E.On Offices in Nottingham (an audio piece) | Abuse from E-On Staff
Photos: Pictures 1 | Pictures 2 | Pictures from EOn protest | Surveillance and Specialist Equipment
Also on the newswire: Police Searches Houses After Arrests At E.On Blockade | Eastside Climate Action blockade E-on workers as part of Fossil Fools Day | Fossil Fools Day - April 1st | Direct Action in Nottingham this Spring | Notts Indymedia Climate Chaos Topic Page
UK Indymedia feature: Fossil Fools Take On Fossil Fuels
Previous features: Convictions For Activists - Climate Criminals Walk Free | 'Clean' Coal On Trial | Climate Activists Bring Powerstation Operations To A Halt
Links: Camp for Climate Action | Climate IMC | Eastside Climate Action | E.ON | Fossil Fools Day | Network for Climate Action | Rising Tide
At 7:30, 30 people blockaded the entrances to E.ON's offices on Mount St, Nottingham City Centre. People covered in green paint to represent E.ON's greenwash, locked onto the front entrance to E.ON's office and stood in front of other entrances preventing E-on workers from getting to work. After negotiation it was agreed with police that people would unlock themselves at 10am and be allowed to leave. However, a few minutes before the deadline, the police arrested two people who were locked onto the front entrance.
At E.ON's offices, Bob Castle said "We are here today because despite E.ON publicly claiming green credentials, it is trying to build a new generation of coal fired power stations. It is trying to build the first new coal fired power station in the UK in 50 years, at Kingsnorth in Kent, and wishes to continue its expansion with a new power staion at High Marnham in Nottinghamshire. We are here to tell E.ON that they will not suceed and the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Coal is the dirtiest Fossil Fool and to build new coal power stations in the face of climate change is collective suicide."
Groups who took action as part of Fossil Fools Day in the UK included Eastside Climate Action, Rising Tide, the Camp for Climate Action, World Development Movement, People and Planet, the Network for Climate Action and Earth First!
While Eastside Climate Action were visiting E.ON in Nottingham, other groups around the UK were in Parliament Square (where People and Planet built a coal power station complete with 12ft cooling towers), Porsche HQ in London (where a public apology was issued on behalf of Porsche), the Department for Enterprise, Business and Regulatory Reform (where WDM held the world’s first laugh-in over plans for new coal at Kingsnorth) and Manchester City Centre (where a parade toured the city’s biggest fossil fools).
"We are taking action to prevent the fossil fuel industry from destroying our future," said Bob Castle from Eastside Climate Action. "Vested interests in business and government are bent on pursuing economic growth at all costs. We need to shrink, not protect, the fossil fuel economy if we are to survive climate change."
Eon Staff Dance Drink and Sing as Pensioners Shiver
28.07.2008 15:49
Whilst millions shiver in the cold or are faced to make the decision to either
eat or heat, Eon PLC , one of the countries biggest energy suppliers is spending
vast amounts of money on a boozy conference in Blackpool for over 1000 employees
including all of its Home Energy Consultants who are based all over the country.
The conference held in Blackpool in January is the second conference to be held,
last year they held it at Skegness, another conference is planned again next
year at Blackpool.
The event took place in January of this year, on the same day the Ferry sank
off Blackpool, however if you speak to staff at the Norbeck Castle hotel, they
will be able to tell you about this booze fuelled conference which lasted until
2.00am on the Friday morning.
I do not have any pictures of the two men in question dressed in drag and in
stockings on stage, however I do have their names and a picture of them both
from the conference programme, of which I still have including the free gifts
and stick of Eon rock.
Just to give you a brief outline, the conference saw senior managers perform a
stage in a play called the Unbeatable's,' in this the two managers entertained staff dressed in drag as strippers/dancers in female costume to the tune of Hey Big Spender and the stripper tune.
Please bear in mind all of this took place during winter when pensioners and
people on low wages were struggling to make ends meets and had the choice of
either eating or staying warm.
Meanwhile Eon Mangers were having a great time on stage, entertaining getting
drunk and handing out gifts and money, which included a limited edition ipod
shuffle, expensive aftershave or perfume for every employee who attended plus a
special stick of eon rock.
There was a lavish three course meal plus free drinks vouchers and free wine,
plus vasts amounts of money given out as rewards
I have pictures of the official programme of these characters and the following
descriptions
We have a senior Manager taking on the role of 'Andy Gas Pipe
Pescatori described as a Cunningly Sadistic member of the British Gas mob
Nat Baby Face Gambino an out of control psychotic killer from
the N Power Mob
The head of the Acquisitions and Nursery Department performed as
gangland Boss Big Lee Castellano, with other managers taking on the roles as
'mobster colleague Indian Garry, the 'Gent Marini, Angel Santerielli, Baby Face
Gambino, Big Pete Vallerio and many more
I think it should have been called Unbelievable not Unbeatable's
We find in the first scene how 'Vijay Numbers Zambino' tells Big Lee
Castellanon they lost 400,000 accounts in 2007 due to competitors lowering
prices.
I was put up at the £84 a night Imperial Hotel, with many others, exactly how
much this conference cost is unknown, but it must exceed the fuel bills of many
pensioners around the country.
These people have to pay their bills on time and did get an option to look under
a chair to find a symbol and win £100, which may very well have paid the bill
for them
Adrian Hardy
e-mail:
Adrianrichard40@aol.com