UK Promoted Newswire Archive
1pm police block march in whitehall
24-11-2010 14:22
1pm Police have blocked the march from entering Parliament square. There are lines of police blocking the whole width of whitehall, backed up by at least 7 police vans. Behind are at least 15 mounted officers outside Parliament. At the back of the march more police are following. Blocking the march with riot police in Whitehall is only going to lead to trouble...
13.10 attempt to break police line at bottom of whitehall. police pushing march back. police van in middle of crowd graffed and windows cracked.
Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
Police van smashed near Parliment, crowd kettled -Student demo
24-11-2010 13:42
Quick report from outside Parliament- National Student Walk-Out Demo, Londonlondon: behold ye sacrificial van!
24-11-2010 13:24
Once again sky news focuses on a police van stuck in a sea of protesters, this time in Westminster. It is all to easy to place such a tempting target, covered in slurs denigrating our porcine friends (the animals, not the type of authoritarian commonly called 'pig') as a choice target for the inevitable scrum of state photographers. The price paid at Euston, for the N30 was heavy. MASK UP IF YOU'RE GONNA RIOT! Why aren't the poilice defending their property??? Why is it in the middle of the road, not near any government building? Clearly they don't want their pretty buildings blackened by smoke from burning hydrocarbons.Pictures of the march at Trafalgar Square
24-11-2010 13:22
The march has passed Trafalgar Square and is heading for Whitehall
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Pics of students gathering at ULU
24-11-2010 12:22
first pics of students gathering. people have now left and are on the way to second base.
yeah, i want rich parents too...
Royal Holloway Sit-in Continues!
24-11-2010 10:03
Following the failure of management to meet demands, occupation at Royal Holloway is still ongoingOccupation at Birmingham
24-11-2010 08:42
Despite some difficulty from security guards preventing many of our students getting in more than 30 birmingham students are currently in occupation of the aston webb building the site of the prime ministerial debates. this is a copy of our written statement.Ratcliffe Trial Day 2 - Prosecution’s Opening
24-11-2010 00:23
23 November 2010 Nottingham Crown Court
After yesterdays administrations and argument, today started with the jury being introduced to the prosecutions main elements of the case.
The indictment reads:
The Queen V 20x names. are charged as follows:
Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Trespass, Contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
That .. between the 1st day of January 2009 and the 15th day of April 2009 conspired together and with others unknown to commit aggravated trespass.
Opening for the Prosecution, Miss Felicity Gerry invited the jury to write down "conspiracy, trespass, disruption, lawful activity". Suggesting that if they find the defendants to have done this, then they are guilty of offence.
During the Easter weekend on 13th April 2009, 114 people were gathered together at the Iona School, Sneinton, Nottingham to plan and engage in a conspiracy to trespass at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
Executing search warrants, Nottinghamshire Police mounted a major action Operation Aeroscope. Resulting in the arrest of all present. People had travelled from all over the country. Documents recovered at the scene showed there was an agreed plan. To drive to the Ratcliffe power station, to climb the plant there and to display banners. Thus they would disrupt the 'lawful activity' of the plant, it was hoped, for a week. The crown claim the planned disruption was plainly a conspiracy. The police had recovered a press release prepared in advance demonstrating the intention of the defendants involved in this conspiracy. Other documents found referred to food and supplies for the weeks occupation.
At this time the [then] Secretary of State for Energy Ed Milliband had application on his deck from companies wishing to build another power station.
This group had no intention of engaging in a democratic discussion on these issues and thus became involved in unreasonable direct action. The press release included journalist contact list, thus to derive the maximum possible publicity for their actions. Further, other document were found to be distributed to workers on the site to explain the groups actions in restricting to power stations operations.
The crown claim it is admitted by all, what their motives and intentions were. specialist equipment seized included
10 vehicles
D-lock and steel rope cycle locks
climbing ropes and slings
heavy duty plastic carriers for food supplies etc
hard hats, Hi-vis vests
face masks
ladders
power tools
rucksacks
4x banners
Miss Gerry was critical saying defendant should address their remarks to MP's on not in direct action with banners. Legal briefing were also discovered at the school, showing they knew they were committing crime. All defendants admit to being there. There is no dispute between the parties.
Many believe the burning of fossil fuel is putting the planet in jeopardy. Bu that is not what the trial is about. It's about what is a reasonable way to express their beliefs. When arrested, they didn't say that, but largely remained silent.
During her opening speech to the jury Miss Gerry kept eluding to the thought that direct action might be more fun than democracy. There are many ways to disagree with policy.
“Is it really necessary to close down a power station when there are so many democratic means available?” – referencing a political process that has allowed the first member of the Green Party to become a Member of Parliament. 'Was it more fun' she asked, to plan this action or to vote for Zac Goldsmith? Did the defendants do all this, because they didn’t have a Glastonbury ticket?
At this point – a member of jury passed a note with three questions to the Judge. The prosecution finished their opening and the Judge left it to the Defence Counsel to answer.
Opening for the defence barrister, Edward Rees QC said: “Zac Goldsmith? Man Utd? Glastonbury? What is the relevance of these?” asked the Jury. The Mr Rees answered that there was none!!
The Defence referred back to the Prosecution’s 'fighting talk'. I won’t go as far to say that the Prosecution’s remarks about the defendants were offensive – but to allege that the defendants don’t engage with the democratic process is not the case.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar was responsible for over 9 million tonnes of CO2 in 2007 and that this amount continues to rise. Don't worry ... politicians and energy companies have it all in hand.
They haven't. The defendants believe authorities were failing to deal with the issue. In their view there was inadequacy in the processes of dealing with climate change. It is agreed the the protesters had a well ordered plan, suggesting that during the period of the planned occupation 150,000 tons of CO2 emissions would have been prevented.
The issue here is whether what they planned and intended to do, was in fact a crime.. The test is that action was reasonable in all the circumstances. The jury are not to be asked to decide on competing climate change facts themselves. As a matter of law, looking at what the defendants believed to be reasonably true.
There are matters such as tipping points that we simply don't know the facts. The defendant wish to err on the side of caution on these matters. There is in fact, a ‘democratic deficit’ in any action on climate change. Looking at the test of reasonableness, it was necessary to act. In fact it might be considered that the discharge of CO2 is itself a crime. The defence of necessity [duress of circumstances] is about preventing a greater damage. It is not for the defendants to prove that they were reasonable, but for the crown to prove it was not.
Starting with the prosecution evidence, Miss Gerry takes the jury through the contents the bundle they had each been given. It contained assorted papers, plans, photographs, vehicle routes and catering arrangements. A special mention of a company called 'Veggies' that had been contacted, asking for high calorific foods to be supplied.
She then went on to give a 10 min very basic description of the technical operation of a coal-fired power station and how it produces electricity.
She then called the first witness. Mr Raymond Henry Smith. At that time, he was plant manager of the Ratcliffe power station, employed by E-on. He said he was called by police at 3am on 13th April 2009 to say that a police operation had prevented the arrives of the demonstrators at the plant. Asked if they had arrived, what would the effect have been? He said the plant may have operated at reduced power or shut down, This was the decision of the plant or duty manager on what to do in the circumstances.
Beginning his questioning, defence barrister, Edward Rees QC asks if the plant was in fact offline at that time. Mr Smith said it was. He was questioned about E-on company decisions in its operations regarding market conditions, system demands, price of coal, all trying to elicit the idea that it was largely profit considerations in the companies operations. Mr Smith said he couldn't answer as he was not qualified in these aspects. Mr Rees keeps suggesting that he does in fact know about such market conditions. E-on also owns a number of gas turbine stations, and it was commercial considerations for the company to consider on which to operate for its best economy. Its coal or gas stations could thus maintain supply as it likes. Mr Rees does get Mr Smith to agree that it is largely market conditions dictating its operations and profitability but within current legislation.
Then questioned about carbon capture. It was suggested to him that E-on had pulled out of competition stating that it was not profitable. In fact 30 of the most polluting stations, half were located in the UK. But Mr Smith doesn't know. He also wouldn't say if he or the company believes that CO2 emission result in the effect of global warming.
Ratcliffe built in 1968 / 42 years old. But £ millions have been invested to improve efficiency. However Ratcliffe emissions had continued to rise. Mr Smith says that although efficiency has improved, more generation does result in still greater emissions.
Mr Smith said he had previously been aware at least 5 days before the activist planned actions. But he didn't know if an injunction had been sought. The witness stands down
For the prosecution again Miss Gerry introduces a video shot by police after all the defendant had been removed and the building had been searched. Now in daylight, we were shown room after room with some outside shots to give a sense of place and to demonstrate the buildings layout. the jury had a map, correlating to the references on the video. The place looked well disheveled and I thought, were trying to show mess, damage and a lack of care of the building. A door hanging off the hinges, holes in walls and doors etc. Papers and property were displayed. I have to say that it was one of the most boring videos I've seen in a while! Some of the jury yawned ... the judges' eyes seemed to me to get heavier.
After this view, I found it hugely encouraging when the jury passed a note to the judge. When read out, they asked was the mess and damage to the door building etc caused by the protesters, or, the police during the conduct of the operation. Prosecution agreed that yes, it was the police!!
She then went onto photos in the bundle, of food supplies in vehicles, more equipment, sleeping bags etc.
the case continues etc ........
+++
Ratcliffe Conspiracy Trial Begins [feature]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/701
Ratcliffe conspiracy to trespass trial opens today
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/693
http://ratcliffeontrial.org/blog
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Royal Holloway Have Occupied
23-11-2010 18:59
Palestine Today 11 23 2010
23-11-2010 17:21
Ahava: Occupation #5 – 22 November 2010
23-11-2010 09:53
"Giuseppe Conlon House" - a Catholic Worker Project Opens in London!
23-11-2010 05:07
Report from the opening of Giuseppe Conlon House - a London Catholic Worker Project offering hospitality to destitute refugees and nonviolent resistance to the war machine.More reports and photos can be found here:
http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/6078 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/98254#comment275535
angry crowd at haringey council meeting tonight
23-11-2010 00:22
an angry crowd of 50 to 100 people braved the cold tonight to picket a haringey council meeting at wood green civic centre in protest at proposed cuts on public services in the area.
the protest called on councillors to reject privatisation, reject and refuse to implement the cuts, or to resign on principle.
haringey council has already had £17 million central funding frozen or axed, and has announced it is facing cuts of £100 million over three years, with £50 million next year alone.
they have also announced their intention to privatise tottenham and wood green cemeteries and enfield crematorium.
the cuts will have devastating effects on public services and jobs, hitting the vulnerable, the young, and the voluntary sector hardest.
tonight's protest was small but noisy, and was organised and attended by several haringey activist groups.
councils throughout the country are facing similar protests outside town halls on a regular basis, and last week, a lewisham council meeting was closed down by an invasion of angry voters. (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/468161.html)
Israeli settlment company Ahava shut down again
22-11-2010 21:22
Pro-Palestinian activists blockade the Covent Garden store of dead sea beauty product company Ahava over their complicity in the Israeli occupation and colonisation of Palestine.
Israeli cosmetics purveyor Ahava's central London store was today occupied and closed by pro-Palestinian campaigners. Activists entered the shop just before 11am and locked their arms into plastic tubing enclosed in a concrete filled barrel to prevent their removal from the shop.
Police were called and arrived after 10 minutes. Realising the could not remove the protestors themselves they called on a specialist 'cutting team' to break through the concrete barrel, who managed to remove the activists at 2pm. The activists were then who were then arrested on suspicions of aggravated trespass.
The day was largely peaceful save for ugly scenes at the shop whilst the blockade was established, with one customer racially abusing a Muslim pro-Palestinian activist for the duration of the time, shouting "All Muslims are scum" at her.
Today's action was part of a broader campaign against the company, who operate from the illegal Israeli West Bank settlement of Mitzpe Shalem. Demonstrations have taken place in 13 world cities, in London alone a regular picket of the shop has been ongoing since March and four previous blockades have taken place, with prosecutions for the first three collapsing. This weekend evidence was heard about Ahava's illegal practices at the Russell Tribunal on Palestine.
The next picket of the shop will take place on Saturday 27th November, between 12 and 2 pm.
Action against cuts continues in Notts
22-11-2010 19:23
Resistance to the age of austerity has continued in Nottingham. On Wednesday night/Thursday morning, vandals struck at Conservative Party offices Nottingham, breaking windows and scrawling graffiti. On Saturday, more than 1,000 people marched from the Forest Recreation Ground to Market Square in a protest organised by Notts Save Our Services.
On the newswire: 1100 march in Nottingham against austerity | Notts Save Our Services Demo 2 The Speeches etc | Notts Save Our Services Demo 1 The March | Notts SOS Demo November 20th | Smashed Windows & Graffiti @ Conservative Offices | Tory offices in Nottingham smashed | Anti-cuts demo November 20th
A statement was posted on Indymedia on Thursday, claiming responsibility for the vandalism. This stated that the attack was "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." This is the latest in a wave of incidents of anti-cuts political vandalism in Nottingham. Previous targets have included County Hall and local bailiffs. According to local rag the Post, there was also a similar incident at the offices a week earlier.
Saturday's demonstration was the first major protest organised by Notts Save Our Services and comes only 7 weeks after its launch. Organisers claim 1,100 people were in attendance, with the numbers swelled by opponents of the closure of Gedling School.
The campaign against the cuts continues. There is the national student walk out against fees on Wednesday, supported by students at Nottingham University, a march in support of Gedling School on Thursday and a "protest against corporate tax evasions" planned for early December. In January, Notts SOS plan to hold a conference to work out a wider strategy.
Ratcliffe conspiracy to trespass trial opens today
22-11-2010 17:23
18 months after 114 people were initially arrested at the Iona School in Sneinton, 20 climate change activists have begun a month-long trial today. They were originally arrested on 13th April 2009.
On Monday 22 November 2010, they have appeared to answer charge at Nottingham Crown Court: that they conspired together to cause aggrevated trespass at the Radcliffe Power Station. The trial is expected to last 4 weeks.
On Monday 22 November 2010, they have appeared to answer charge at Nottingham Crown Court: that they conspired together to cause aggrevated trespass at the Radcliffe Power Station. The trial is expected to last 4 weeks.
Mass Arrest of 114 Climate Activists in Raid in Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/427471.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/427496.html
Today has largely been taken up with agreeing a timetable for the progress of the case. Arguement about whether legal representatives are to visit the Ratcliffe site. The defence would like to, to get a 'feel for the location'. The prosecution thinks this un-neccesary, since no one was arrested there. E-on didn't want to co-operate with this visit, health and safety implications etc ... The swearing in of the jury has also now been completed. Opening statement from counsel will begin tomorrow.
>> Statement from their blog:
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
>>
Notes from the previous trial held at Nottingham Magistrates Court from 14 – 16th January 2008
Ratcliffe Power Station : Court Case Reporting
[addionally, this post contains some collected links to past coverage of the issues surrounding the Ratcliffe Power Station and concern about its operations]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/zines/670
http://ratcliffeontrial.org
the trial continues etc.........
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Palestine Today 11 22 2010
22-11-2010 16:41
london catholic workers new project opened yesterday
22-11-2010 16:22
london catholic workers are part of a worldwide radical catholic movement started nearly 80 years ago in america. they have set up nearly 200 houses of hospitality for the poor, the homeless, and the dispossessed, mostly in america, but spreading into european and other countries too. yesterday saw the official opening of another house in east london.
yesterday's opening of the of the 'guiseppe conlon house' was attended by around 200 people including a wide mix of refugees, advocates, punks, hippies, vicars, activists, lawyers, squatters, academics, muslims, christians, atheists, buddhists, musicians, locals and internationals. the internationals introduced themselves in a welcoming ceremony with representatives from outer hebrides to japan, kosovo to france, and sweden to uganda among many others.
the house has already been functioning as a refuge for undocumented refugees and others in need of shelter and support, but the main building (originally a methodist church, then taken over by catholics and more recently disused for two years) has now been officially opened both as a continuing shelter and as a community facility.
the new centre is named after guiseppe conlon, who was the father of gerry conlon, who at the age of 21 was one of the four irish men wrongly convicted for the guildford bombings in the early seventies. despite no connection to the IRA, and sound alibis for gerry and one of the others, it took until 1989 for human rights lawyer gareth peirce to finally get them released, and another 16 years until the british government offered an apology when for political reasons tony blair made a surprisingly unreserved statement.
gerry was beaten in police custody until he made false confessions implicating completely innocent members of his family, and as a result guiseppe, an ex-marine, was arrested in london where he was trying to find a solicitor for his son. he was not a well man, and died, a convict, in prison in 1980. his widow sarah was charged £3500 to fly his body home, and the home office billed her for his repatriation - his body was flown back and forth four times as the press shamed him, before he finally rested
he was the only one from the guildford four, birmingham six, and maguire seven, who didn't live to be vindicated and see his freedom. his treatment remains a terrible blot in the dark history of irish repression.
the catholic worker communities, as well as offering shelter to people suffering injustice and violence, are also pro-active in seeking out and confronting the roots of those injustices. catholic workers have been involved in acts of challenging civil disobedience, and one of the organisers at the new centre was imprisoned for 13 months in the US for taking a hammer to a B-52 bomber. the hammer was returned on his release and was later used against BAe in the UK, returned once more, and used again in a recent ploughshares action.
after an opening welcome ceremony and a song from irish singer/songwriter joe black, the human rights lawyer gareth peirce took the stage to wish the project well and to movingly describe her experience of the lies and corruption around the guildford four and gerry conlon's family, the maguires, and guiseppe.
after more music from local duo, lovers electric, ciaron o'reilly spoke more about the project and the difficulties he has faced as an anarchist catholic - untrusted by the left as a catholic and untrusted by the catholic establishment due to his anarchist way of doing things and his past incarcerations in various nations round the world for acts of non-violent civil disobedience.
poet stephen hancock then provided some excellent conscious and political verse, before angolan journalist, rosario miranda, spoke about the campaign for justice for jimmy mubenga. jimmy was the man who during a forced deportation was killed at the hands of GS4 security aboard a passenger flight to angola. passengers, though concerned by the blood, his screams for help, and the violence of the guards, were either too intimidated or too disempowered to intervene. rosario compared the media attention some woman got for putting a cat in a bin - the cat survived, the woman was hounded, she lost her job, she was prosecuted and she was villified. in contrast, the GS4 officers remain in work, no-one was prosecuted, and the newspapers have forgotten the matter. he asked poignantly whether the cat was more precious than a black man?
joe black, who travelled from dublin then provided a full set of songs, including a special one written to celibrate the opening and to commemorate guiseppe conlon, and finally local singer raz ended the formal entertainment.
before and after the timetabled events, there was a huge spread of donated food and drink, and more entertainment from the 'bow creek ramblers string band'.
the guiseppe conlon house intends to continue its work with homeless refugees, and to act as a hub for non-violent resistance to the war machine.
for more information, including news of the current campaign to close down the "army shop" recruiting centre in a shopping mall in dalston, see the london catholic worker website.
Fighting the squatting ban (Netherlands)
22-11-2010 13:59
