UK UK Newswire Archive
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Shut Down Guantanamo and Bagram! Afghan War 10th anniv. demo, 7 Oct, 6-7pm
21-09-2011 10:12
Friday 7 October: 6-7pm: Shut Down Guantánamo and Bagram! demonstration – Afghan War 10th Anniversary SpecialUS Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE (nearest tube: Bond Street / Marble Arch)
Friday 7th October 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the start of the war in Afghanistan. Ten years on, thousands of civilians have died and many more face the threat of death through strikes by US unmanned drone attacks. The end of the war seems no closer.
Friday 23rd: Solidarity with Dale Farm, High Court, the Strand, 11.30am
21-09-2011 10:02
Ahava’s last day
21-09-2011 09:35
This is the end result of the London campaign to expose Ahava, which has been found to be complicit in Israeli violations of international law.
Lib Dem conference protester remanded in custody after banner drop
21-09-2011 08:56
The three men remanded in custody for three days over the weekend, after a banner drop at the Liberal Democrat conference, appeared in court on Monday. The men were remanded as their membership of an “organization” showed that they could not be trusted not to cause danger to the public.
At court all three men pleaded not guilty denying entirely that they caused danger to road users. Even the prosecution accepted in court that “no damage or injury was caused.” Two of the men were bailed on the condition that they do not enter Birmingham City Centre but the other one – a 22 year old from Fleet in Hampshire – was refused bail on the grounds of a previous conviction for aggravated trespass, as well as his continuing trial for the peaceful occupation of the Fortnum and Mason shop on March 26th of this year. He has been sent to prison awaiting a review of his bail.
re: Dispatches - The Fight For Dale Farm
21-09-2011 08:47
I've lost count of the amount of times I’ve heard the words “there's one law for you fucking gypo's and another law for the rest of us”. Indeed, when you are raised a Gypsy you often come face to face with many disgruntled locals who are not exactly happy that you have just set up home on their most precious playing field. I find it somewhat ironic that these are often the same people who produced a brood of overweight, xbox addicted children who have never used (and will never miss) a playing field in their lives, but I digress. The unauthorised use of these playing fields, village greens, car parks etc. by Gypsies and Travellers fuels a hostile response from locals who feel Gypsies and Travellers are given 'special treatment' by the government and indeed this was voiced several times by angry resident's throughout last night's Dispatches.End war on freedom of media in Bangladesh
21-09-2011 08:09
Basil Fernando: Director for Policy and Programme Development of Asian Human Rights Commission commenting on the present situations of Bangladeshi media freedom said “For a democratic government it is essential to facilitate a free platform of discussion and one of the important instruments of that platform is a free media, which is free from censorship. A free media signifies the right of free speech and promoting respect for differences of opinions in public discussion. Without a free media a democracy is blind, deaf and dumb which are lead towards violence not justice and peace. The Bangladesh government has totally lost the characteristic of democratic government.Birmingham For The Alternative, TUC, Right to Work Demo,18th September
21-09-2011 04:19
Urgent: Fracking Demo Imperial Hotel Blackpool Wed
20-09-2011 22:55
URGENT: Fracking company Cuadrilla Resources will announce the findings from some of its Lancashire test sites tomorrow (Weds 21 September) at 11am at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool. Local people are organising a demonstration outside the hotel at 11am – get there if you can.
Callout at http://frack-off.org.uk/urgent-demonstration-outside-imperial-hotel-blackpool-21st-september-as-cuadrilla-announce-test-results/
Website: http://frack-off.org.uk/
PRESS RELEASE: National Anti-Fracking Network tells Cuadrilla Resources to “Frack Off”
On Wednesday, as Cuadrilla Resources call a press conference to announce the results of their drilling for shale gas in Lancashire, the national anti-fracking network, Frack Off, demands an end to hydraulic fracturing for shale gas or “fracking” in the UK.
In the United States fracking has caused a huge catalogue of problems including poisoning of water supplies, serious air pollution and even earthquakes [1]. Academics in the UK have called for a ban on fracking [2] and local people in areas of the UK where it is proposed are extremely concerned [3].
Due to the impermeable nature of the shale rock the process is very different from conventional gas drilling, requiring that a huge number of wells are drilled across a wide area. It will result in a massive industrialisation of the countryside, with huge numbers of drilling pads, wells and pipelines[4].
Cuadrilla Resources are driving the push for the exploitation of shale gas in the UK, and their PR strategy is to concentrate debate on the small number of test wells they are drilling now, and divert attention away from the hundreds that would follow if they were to go into full scale production [5].
Despite claims to the contrary, fracking is completely unregulated. The Environment Agency does not consider fracking to be an activity that requires a permit and therefore there is no monitoring or oversight of it of any kind [6].
A perfect example of this is the controversy over the two earthquakes that occurred during the fracking of their first well at Preese Hall near Blackpool [7]. Cuadrilla announced that they would suspend fracking while a report was written involving the British Geological Survey, but in fact Cuadrilla are writing that report not an independent body [8].
Aiden Attewill from Frack Off said “Fracking is just scraping the bottom of the fossil fuel barrel. From the tar sands in Canada to Coal Bed Methane in Australia we are seeing more and more destructive forms of fossil fuel extraction all over the world, we need to stop putting off these problems and really address issues of resource depletion and climate change.”
Last weekend there was a protest camp and march to Cuadrilla’s drilling site in Hesketh Banks, Preston [9] [Pictures attached]. The local anti-fracking group, Ribble Estuary Against Fracking, said “It’s not farming, it’s not sustainable, it’s an unregulated fossil fuel industry, we were not consulted and we don’t want it”.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
[1] http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/732908/uk_urged_to_ban_controversial_fracking_gasextraction.html
[2] http://www.co-operative.coop/PageFiles/344773080/The-Co-operative-Shale-Gas-Report-120111.pdf
[3] http://reafg.blogspot.com/
[4] http://frack-off.org.uk/
[5] http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/232908
[6] http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/732908/uk_urged_to_ban_controversial_fracking_gasextraction.html
[7] http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jun/01/blackpool-earthquake-tremors-gas-drilling
[8] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/small-earthquake-in-blackpool-major-shock-for-uks-energy-policy-2291597.html
Petition In defense of Belarus imprisoned anarchists
20-09-2011 21:23
The last European dictator is now trading people's freedom for loans from the west. He has now set 24 political prisoners free. Please find below links to the petition to liberate Belorussian anarchists.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/in-defense-of-belarus-imprisoned-anarchists.html
Moving Planet Edinburgh -- A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuel
20-09-2011 20:55
At noon on Saturday September 24th, hundreds of people will be on the move from City Chambers down the Royal Mile to Holyrood - marching, cycling and skating to call for a move beyond fossil fuels and unsustainable biomass.
We have a dream: towards a Euro-Mediterranean social strike
20-09-2011 20:00
Translated by Mick O’Broin, the Provisional University
The original Spanish language version is available here:
http://madrilonia.org/?p=4802 Zambians riot against pro-business regime
20-09-2011 18:46
RIOTING has broken out in Zambia against suspected vote rigging by the corrupt regime.Welsh Miners: Four More Victims of the Profit System
20-09-2011 15:48
Admin of Anti PC Johnson Facebook Group Prosecuted
20-09-2011 14:55
Peter Haywood, one of the admins for the Facebook group criticising PC Simon Johnson ends up in court.
In a demonstration of the double standards in the courts and the current hysteria around social media, Peter Haywood has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months and 150 hours of community service. He also has an electronic tag.
In comparison, PC Johnson received a 6 month conditional discharge and kept his job. He was responsible for two police dogs being cooked alive when he left them in his car in the sun. He blamed his mental health problems for forgetting about them.
The comments to the Post article are quite interesting in places, including a few 'they're only dogs' ones. One person claims to be the other group administrator and highlights some of the antics of the support Facebook group.
Police Reform And Social Responsibility Act 2011
20-09-2011 14:55
* ALERT * ALERT * ALERT *
New legislation that will prohibit the right to 24hr on-going protest at Parliament Square.
On September 15th the 'Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill' passed through Parliament and was granted ROYAL ASSENT. This means that it has now become law.
Clause 3 of this new law relates specifically to demonstrations in and around Parliament Square.It states that protest will not now be allowed to cover a 24hour period and be on-going. You will not be allowed any articles associated with being able to maintain an on-going presence. Articles to include tents, sleeping bags, and structures. It could presumably include umbrellas and stools if they think you intend to stay. These artiicles can be confiscated if you do not move on.
What the Act does not make clear is the harm it is trying to address. What is the justification for such severe and harsh restrictions?
Originally it was proposed that if a person defied this new restriction then an 'On the Spot' injunction could be imposed with no court hearing. Also just as alarming, non- police staff, not in unifirm could could confiscate articles associated with a persons protest. The Bill was ammended and at the moment the final Act has not been printed, as I am aware. Things might have improved, though this would seem unlikely.
This Act will be open to legal challenge and it is important that people are aware of this legislation. It is not mentioned in the mainstream press and the public at large will be unaware that our great country has slid further down the slippery slope towards more oppression and control.
WHEN A COUNRTY WAGES IMMORAL, ILLEGAL, ON_GOING CORPORATE WARS FOR YEARS, (with no end in sight) PROTESTERS HAVE A DUTY TO REFLECT THIS INJUSTICE AND DEMAND THEY STOP!
The legislation was rushed through during the Summer reccess.
The immediate threat to the present on-going Parliament Square Protests, is the up and comong High Court Injunction being brought by Westminster City Council for 'Obstruction of the Highway' This should start sometime in October. Keep alert to further postings,
With thanks,
Peace Strike
Parliament Square
07907 233 861
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/policereformandsocialresponsibility.html
Media Lens: The Golden Rule Of State Violence
20-09-2011 14:15
"Terrorism Is What They Do; Counterterrorism Is What We Do"Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
[Amsterdam, NL] Days of action against the squatting ban, 29th Sep - 2nd Oct
20-09-2011 13:05
Days of action against the squatting ban / Actiedagen tegen het kraakverbod
29 September - 2 October
Amsterdam
Fight The Power - London + Manchester Demos!!!
20-09-2011 12:18
2nd Oct, 12 noon, Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4JR
Defend Education, Fight Privatisation - NATIONAL DEMO
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172700659466128
Solidarity with Michael & Lillian Lyons in their Resistance to the War on Afghan
20-09-2011 11:49
British Navy Medic Michael Lyons refused to deploy to Afghanistan and is serving 7 months detention at Colchester Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)Dale Farm: keep stinging them in the pocket
20-09-2011 10:51
Money money money, it's always the most effective resource upon which to mount a campaign. Basildon Council has £18m with which to evict its travellers from Dale Farm, land which they bought, developed and then applied for retrospective planning permission for (a tactic pioneered and made commonplace by tesco). Ongoing legal battles, physical confrontation, blockading and any other tactics available are coming together to make this as financially crippling a mission for the Basildon Council as possible.
