UK Indymedia

Transition and activism: a response

30-05-2011 22:27

This post is a response to Charlotte DuCann’s beautiful and heartfelt post over on the Transition Norwich blog arguing that Transition needs to more explicitly embrace activism. It is wonderful to see, whether through that blog, through Transition Voice, or through the emerging social reporting project, new voices coming through in the Transition blogosphere. Charlotte speaks powerfully to the split that some of those engaged in Transition feel, that they almost need to keep their activism ‘in the closet’ in order to remain engaged. She states that she sees her post as a ‘working document’, and invites reflections, so here are a few of mine.

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From Hiroshima to Fukushima

30-05-2011 12:40

From COMMUNIST LEFT review of International Communist Party

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The Pipe

27-05-2011 15:31

Showings of the Pipe in Scotland

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Stop New Nuclear. Blockade of Hinkley Point on 3 October 2011

27-05-2011 15:06

Stop the next generation of nuclear power stations with a blockade at Hinkley Point. Join us at Hinkley on 3 October 2011.

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Stalls at Redditch Green Fair 2011

27-05-2011 01:11

The 6th annual, independent Redditch Green Fair takes place on Sat 4th June, in and around St Stephens Church, in the heart of the town centre. The following stallholders have confirmed so far. There's space left for many more stalls, so please get in touch if you're interested.

http://www.redditchgreenfair.org.uk

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Shell Belmullet office shut down again -join the continuous protests!

25-05-2011 20:49

Shell's Belmullet office was once again shut down by protesters to highlight the ongoing concerns by local residents and supporters about Shell's proposed Corrib gas project. This morning (wed 25th may) the blockade began at 7.30am and for 2 1/2 hours protesters were able to stop Shell workers entering the building. IRMS arrived around10am to end the blockade.

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The appeal of climate activists

24-05-2011 18:07

Twenty activists, many of them with long links to Oxford, have launched an appeal to challenge their convictions of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass.

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Nick Clegg in Sheffield on 27th May!

23-05-2011 13:21

Public Meeting with Nick Clegg: The Big Climate Connection

27th May 2011 at 6.00 pm for 6:30 prompt start

The location is a secret and ID is needed to get in, can we call this a Police State yet?

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Rossport solidarity campers pull down Shell's fences

22-05-2011 14:00

Today at mid-day members of rossport solidarity camp walked onto shell land,
destroyed fences, and were forced to leave by violent IRMS security guards in the ongoing dispute over the corrib gas field.

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Fracking Myths Richard Heinberg

19-05-2011 05:59

After speaking in place of climate denier Exxon CEO, Richard Heinberg sticks a pin in the fracking natural gas bubble. No it won't save the climate from coal. In fact, fracked gas may be as dirty as coal, counting fugitive methane emissions. Heinberg interview, followed by speech except by David Hughes of Post Carbon Institute on the realities of natural gas production.

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Climate Capitalism

19-05-2011 05:45

"Climate Capitalism" book by founder of Natural Capitalism, Hunter Lovins. Launch speech by co-author Professor Boyd Cohen. A new business approach to climate change. Pokes some Sacred Cows, loaded with real-world details.

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Belmullet Shell offices shut down by campaigners.

17-05-2011 22:36

In response to Shell's AGM today in The Hague and London, the Shell to Sea campaign have shut down the Belmullet Shell office in protest against the on-going controversial Corrib Gas project. Shell will attempt to begin construction on the high pressure raw gas pipeline shortly despite a legal challenge by An Taisce and two local residents.

We call on all shareholders to disinvest.

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Activists block Grangemouth docks port to stop Forth Energy’s mad biomass plans

17-05-2011 06:43

Members of Action Against Agrofuels blocked the two sole access roads to Grangemouth docks yesterday, in protest over Forth Energy’s plans to build a biomass (wood) burning power station at the docks. The company, which is co-owned by Forth Ports, plans to build four large biomass power stations across Scotland [1]. Activists blocked off traffic to the entire port and fuel tankers were at a standstill. Seven protesters were arrested.

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Sheffield incinerator waste burning plan

16-05-2011 11:52

The Veolia planning application to import waste to Sheffield to burn goes to Planning Committee next Monday - 2pm at the Town Hall. There should be some coverage in the Star tomorrow. The Green Party objection is outlined below for information. Obviously a presence at the meeting to outline objections will help the case against.

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Climate Camp happened and it was great

16-05-2011 07:27

Climate Camp has traditionally offered three things – it showcases sustainable living, it offers a programme of radical education and throughout there is a commitment to undertaking effective non-violent direct action.

Climate Camp Lewes certainly did this well. A local camp with a local focus, the response has been positive to the point of an embedded, local-driven occupation being a realistic legacy.

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FUKUSHIMA Poison Released

12-05-2011 17:27

According to the mainstream media, the nuclear accident is all over. Just the opposite is happening. Historic high levels of radioactivity. Reactor 1 totally melted down. Mega radiation released again. Unconfirmed rumors of another reactor fire. What we need to know. Summary of all latest news.

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Just Do It - World Premier - June the 9th - Sheffield

11-05-2011 17:05

Just Do It will be premiering at Sheffield Doc Fest on Thursday June the 9th at 6:35pm

http://bit.ly/jJ6ryI

Don't miss out on the World Premier of this groundbreaking doc, book your tickets here

http://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/justdoitqanda

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Leeds trip to the Rossport Solidarity Camp

11-05-2011 16:09

Account of a visit to the Rossport Solidarity Camp in Ireland by six campaigners from Leeds

Last week, six of us from Leeds sorted out a van, picked up a marquee, and headed to the Rossport Solidarity Camp in western Ireland. And had a great time working and playing hard. Rossport is a campaign supporting a local community based around Broadhaven Bay fight a refinery and pipeline being put in through Shell in an area where outstanding natural beauty is a phrase that does not do the place full justice. The pipeline, being put through a bog and the land of local farmers, will put people's lives at risk and threaten the local ecology.

The camp has moved to a field at Aghoos, opposite the latest bit of ground where Shell are laying the next stage of pipe to bring the gas inland to the Bellinaboy refinery - semi-mothballed because of the huge delays the campaigns by the local and the camp have been imposing. We spent the first half of the week helping set it up the new camp so it would be ready for the mini-festival at the weekend. We built grey-water systems and benders, put up marquees and cooked for the masses, gave massages to the wonderful locals and helped with the bar.

A few of us had been to Rossport before so it was great to catch up with old friends. Given how friendly people were it was very easy to make many new ones as well. There was, refreshingly, a large amount of politics forming part of the general life on camp, both in action and disussion. It would be the first to say that it is far from perfect, but it is a good place to learn from.

At the weekend, 30 people walked over to the Shell compound and lifted up all the bog mats which had been put down to allow heavy machinery to move across and put in boreholes. For over an hour all you could hear was the steady thud of them being systematically lifted and rolled out of the reach of the machines. The police could do nothing, and security was outnumbered. Other actions happened as well. See the account, pictures (of action and camp) and video of action at

http://www.wsm.ie/c/shell-bog-road-rossport-solidarity-camp

While we were there, there was also a ceremony for the new boat of Pat O'Donnells - another bit of local defiance against the power of Shell. His last one having been deliberately sunk by armed, masked men following his determined resistance.

We also send our solidarity and best wishes to those who did the lock-on to the compound -

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/99686

The mixture of action and discussion, of friendship and partying worked really well; we all had a wicked time and were sorry to leave. Some of us will be back. We encourage everyone to go if they get a chance - the camp is open all the time on a beautiful site surrounded by amazing mountains. From 4-6th June it his hosting a Party Against The Pipe - for more details see the website at

http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/content/party-against-pipe-festival-june-bank-holiday-4-6th

With luck, there will be a public event in Leeds this month to talk more about the campaign. Keep your eyes posted.

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Activists to target Lib Dems in outrage at backtracking on climate

11-05-2011 15:57

Activists outraged at the possibility of the government backtracking on crucial climate commitments will gather outside the Lib Dem HQ ahead of a critical Cabinet committee meeting at 8am on Monday. They will then move on to demonstrate outside Downing Street at 8.45. Particular anger will be directed at Vince Cable who has been reported as opposing the crucial recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change, set up by the groundbreaking Climate Act to determine short term carbon emissions budgets.

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Redditch Green Fair 2011 - Sat 4th June

09-05-2011 20:57

The Redditch Green Fair, now in it's 6th year, is the biggest eco event for miles around. As always, we're looking for more stallholders, attractions and entertainment to help make this the biggest and best event yet!

http://www.redditchgreenfair.org.uk