Skip to content or view mobile version

Home | Mobile | Editorial | Mission | Privacy | About | Contact | Help | Security | Support

A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

UK Newswire Archive

Full article | 3 comments

The Lonmin Massacre: Expose on what really happened

30-08-2012 04:38

This is from the mainstream media in South Africa but it gives a very good account of what actually happened.

Full article | 1 comment

Sheffield Queer Fringe Event First Meeting

29-08-2012 19:49

6pm Wednesday 5th September, Kelham Island Tavern

Full article

WWW: World Wild Web

29-08-2012 15:51

Acquitaine from Borders series
Featuring: Paula Crutchlow & Helen Varley Jamieson, Andy Deck, Mary Flanagan, Genetic Moo, Dominic Smith, and Sarah Waterson

To be alive is to be wild. And we humans have a will that shapes the world with language, song, lust, labour and play. The artists in this exhibition work and play with living organisms and technical things, systems and language, to explore how our relation to the natural world is changing.

Full article | 1 comment

AZ KNOCK OUT: Day 3, Wednesday - Email Blockade

29-08-2012 07:37

ASTRAZENECA KNOCK OUT 27th-31st AUGUST
Huntingdon Life Sciences is Europe's largest and most exposed animal testing laboratory. They kill 500 animals every day. AstraZeneca is one of HLS' top customers and pays them to torture animals in cruel and unnecessary experiments.

Full article

Paralympian join Disabled activists to target Atos

28-08-2012 22:55

Former gold-medal winning Paralympian to join UK Uncut and Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) at ‘The Closing Atos Ceremony’. The two groups have vowed to shut down Atos’ HQ at Triton Square in Central London during the Paralympic Games; promising direct action, creative protest and ‘plenty of surprises’. The action will be taking place on Friday 31st August at 12:45pm.

Tara Flood, a gold-winning former Paralympian [3] has come out in support of the campaign against Atos, saying: 

“It is a shocking irony that Atos is a main sponsor of London 2012 whilst destroying disabled people’s lives on behalf of the government.”

‘The Closing Atos Ceremony’ is the culmination of a week of protests organised by disabled activists targeting Paralympic sponsor Atos. The week of action, dubbed the ‘Atos Games’, will also include protests at Atos centres around the country [4], and disabled activists will be delivering a coffin full of messages to Atos from people affected by their much criticised Work Capability Assessments (WCA). 

Atos have come under fierce scrutiny for their handling of the Department of Work and Pensions £100 million a year contract, assessing whether claimants for incapacity benefits are ‘fit for work’. Last year 1,100 claimants died while under compulsory work-related activity for benefit [5]; and a number of those found ‘fit for work’ and left without income have committed or attempted suicide [6]. A recent episode of Dispatches [7] revealed Atos staff being pressured into unfairly declaring people ‘fit for work’ in order to fulfil targets. 

The British Medical Association [8], disabled groups, and MPs [9] have all demanded the work capability assessments end with immediate effect. The High Court also recently granted permission for two disabled people to bring a claim for judicial review against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, challenging the operation of the WCA [10].

Paddy Murphy, a spokesperson from DPAC said:

‘By sponsoring the Paralympics, ATOS is trying to give the impression of supporting disabled people. Don't be fooled. They receive hundreds of millions of pounds while many disabled people are being forced to live in abject poverty because of their decisions. This is just another opportunity for them to ‘cash-in’. But we aren't going to let them off the hook. We will make sure everyone knows what they are about.

We are challenging Atos in the courts, in parliament, online, on the streets and now at the Paralympics. The work capability assessment must end now.’

Lisa Cunningham, a UK Uncut activist said:

‘People directly affected by Atos assessments are making their anger and fear heard through an act of creative and disruptive civil disobedience. UK Uncut will be joining them to demand an end to Atos’ inhumane tests. The Government's cuts are killing the economy, and in the case of the cuts to welfare enforced by Atos, they are killing people. 

We’re not against the Paralympics. We are against the hypocrisy of Atos’ involvement, when they may soon be removing disability benefits from the people winning medals for Britain.’

ENDS

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes to editors:

Disabled people who have undergone Atos’ WCA are available to talk to the media, please contact the UK Uncut media phone for details. 

Please contact UK Uncut or DPAC for more details about other events and actions during the week.

[1] UK Uncut is a grassroots anti-cuts direct action network, well-known for targeting corporate tax avoidance: ukuncut.org.uk

[2] DPAC is a volunteer campaign network of and for disabled people campaigning for equality and human rights for all disabled people: dpac.uk.net/about

[3] After representing GB at three Paralympic Games, Tara retired from competitive swimming in 1992 when she achieved a World Record in 50m Breaststroke at the Barcelona Games – a record that still stands. Tara will be available to speak to media at the event on Friday, and at another on Monday 27 August, please contact DPAC for details.

[4] http://ukuncut.org.uk/actions

[5] http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2012/04/32-die-a-week-after-failing-in.html

[6] http://poultonblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/03/people-are-choosing-suicide-to-escape-poverty-is-this-the-states-final-solution.html

[7] http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/britain-on-the-sick-reporter-feature

[8] http://bma.org.uk/news-views-analysis/news/2012/june/scrap-work-capability-assessment-doctors-demand

[9] http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/295

[10] http://atosvictimsgroup.co.uk/2012/07/26/judicial-review-of-work-capability-assessment-granted/

Full article

Report and Photos From Today’s DPAC Demonstration in Birmingham

28-08-2012 22:39

Around 20 people demonstrated today outside the ATOS assessment centre in Birmingham as part of a week of action  http://www.dpac.uk.net/2012/08/latest-information-on-atos-games-week/ protesting the Working Capability Assessment (WCA) which is run by ATOS for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and is supposed to assess whether someone on disability benefits is fit for work, but has come under large amounts of criticism for failing to do that – and in the process punishing many disabled people by pushing them off disability benefits onto unemployment benefits and workfare.The week of action is taking place during the Paralympics because ATOS are one of the main sponsors.  http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-wins-gold-medal-1283031 Their core business is as an IT outsourcing company, but like Capita and Serco they have moved into taking all government outsourcing contracts. The contract to run the WCA is £100m/year – and we pay an additional £50m each year  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/28/atos-3bn-government-contracts-paralympics?newsfeed=true for the appeals process to correct the huge number of people that ATOS declare fit for work who go through the appeal process and have the decision reversed – a process that can take over a year.

Full article | 1 comment

Squatting sleepover! Homeless but not helpless!

28-08-2012 21:28

Last night of legal squatting sleepover and meal 7pm, this Thursday (30th of august), get directions to find us here.  http://www.bthag.co.uk/how-to-find-us/

Full article | 9 comments

Anti-Fascists 2-0 BNP, Sunderland.

28-08-2012 18:55

Local anti Fascists outnumber the British National Party's national call out demonstration in Pallion, Sunderland. 

On the 25th August 2012, the British National Party announced it was holding a second protest outside the Subway outlet in Pallion, Sunderland. A counter demonstration by anti-Fascists in the area was also organised. Around thirty anti-Fascists assembled near the Subway at 12pm. 

 

The first comedic moment of the day was made by the Police officer present saying "Alright, so who's the leader here?": there was no leader. Then he followed this by saying "You've picked a good day for it", of course it was the BNP who had chose this day to demonstrate. We arrived outside the Subway around 12.15 and there was not a Fascist in sight, beside the lonely, shadowy figure of a BNP member who skulked around the corner wondering what do with the number of anti-fascists demonstrating against them.

 

Eventually at 1pm, the main body of the BNP's national call out had gathered with just about eighteen people present, and because of the antifascist presence they could only demonstrate on the corner of the street near to their target outside the Kwik-Tan shop. 

 

Tanning themselves, the first 10 minutes of their appearance was met by a anti-fascist comrade sneakily snatching one of the BNP's placards and smashing it up putting the placard in the bin. 

 

After a short time,by 3pm the BNP decided the tanning shop was too much to endure and began to pack up and leave for home. It was 1-0 for the anti-Fascists!

 

Further hilarity ensured when it was reported afterwards that the BNP 'truth truck' had crashed into the St Peters Metro bridge. 2-0 !

 

No pasaran.



Full article | 2 comments

By-elections, broken promises and direct democracy

28-08-2012 16:28

For those seeking creative social change we propose that effective citizen-led governance, direct democracy, should be introduced for local and central politics. New legislation at Westminster will be needed -- a broad, strong movement could force the weakened coalition government to offer reform.

Full article | 8 comments

Israeli court finds that Rachel Corrie's death was a 'regrettable accident'

28-08-2012 13:50

The judge in a civil case in Haifa over the death of Rachel Corrie, a US Palestine solidarity activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer while trying to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes in 2003, has ruled that the Israeli state is not culpable.

Full article

Diamond Jubilee Of Queen Of Diamonds And The Great Poverty Of Little Britain

28-08-2012 11:55

“Without a pang of self-awareness, the British government
is spending millions of pounds of taxpayer money that
they assert they do not have on a nationwide party along
with all other Commonwealth countries around the globe.
No expense has been spared to honour the Queen, who is
in reality the pampered head of an anachronistic
institution that has symbolized aristocratic elitism,
oppression and privilege since its inception.”
A reader of the Toronto Star on 6 June 2012.

In February 2012, a senior advisor was quoted as saying the Queen set two guidelines for the planning of her Diamond Jubilee: the use of public funds should be minimised, with most of the expenses, apart from security, being paid by private individuals and sponsors, and people should not “be forced to celebrate.” The wish of the Queen was emphasised.
Such announcements never happen by accident. They are, in this case, part of a long-planned programme designed to maximise the advantage of modern media and at the same time to maintain a maximum of that benefit that Walter Bagehot retained essential for the preservation of the British monarchy when he wrote: “Its mystery is its life. We must not let in daylight upon magic.” He wrote this in The English Constitution, dated 1867, the same year in which the Reform Act of 1867 was enacted and that Bagehot considered nothing but calamitous. What ? Allow a parliamentary vote to the unskilled labouring class ?!

Full article | 4 comments

AZ KNOCK OUT: Day 2 Tuesday - Phone Blockade

28-08-2012 11:25

ASTRAZENECA KNOCK OUT 27th-31st AUGUST
DAY 2: Tuesday - PHONE BLOCKADE

Full article | 1 comment

RMT 48hr Metro Cleaners strike video.

28-08-2012 10:24

Metro cleaners recently went on a 48hr strike over low pay conditions in Newcastle.

Full article | 7 comments

Britain’s Socialist Workers Party & Socialist Party back extradition of Assange

27-08-2012 21:34

Britain’s largest pseudo-left groups have lined up behind the demand that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be extradited to Sweden.

Full article | 2 comments

Direct action against olympic sponsor in Bristol

27-08-2012 20:55

LLoyds TSB on Church Road, St. George, Bristol was attacked on the night after the closing ceremony of the olympics.

(Sports commentator) "Well they may not have trained very hard or long for this one, but this team is looking good! They've set their sights on a good result tonight.You can just see the focus and determination in their eyes, even if you won't ever see their faces. They're used to working as a team and doing what has to be done. They know how to relax under pressure and they understand they are part of something much bigger, willing and proud to take up the baton from those who have gone before them. And they're off! The crowds go wild as the anti olympics event hits it's stride here in Bristol. Well, that all happened so quick! And yes, it's a new personal best for this team and it's not just a record that was broken this evening. Olympic sponsor Lloyds TSB on Church Road in St. George had all big windows smashed by the shotput event and the quickest spraypaint on record will certainly leave it's mark! "Going for gold" indeed! See how fast the team pulled away, leaving the pack behind them and positively bolting away! Inspirational! And here's what the team had to say":


With small actions like this we continue a long and proud story of anti olympic struggle. We stand alongside all who have seen through the carefully manufactured image of "the games" and chosen to resist. We took this action the day after the closing ceremony to show that our struggle hasn't finished. We send solidarity to all who are prepared to to go the distance in resistance.

Full article

Join the London protest on 31 August against the Lonmin massacre!

27-08-2012 20:13

The Partisan Defence Committee and the Spartacist League are joining a protest against the 16 August massacre of 34 striking South African miners at the Lonmin Platinum-run Marikana mine northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. We say:

Protest massacre of South African strikers!
Free jailed miners – drop all charges!
Victory to the striking miners!

When: Friday 31 August at 10.00am
Where: Outside the Oval in Kennington, London, where the England v South Africa cricket match is taking place (nearest Tube: Oval on the Northern Line)

Full article

Simon Kirby MP Exposed

27-08-2012 20:02

David Joe Neilson Independent anti-corruption Candidate Crime Commissioner for Sussex Police. Who has said that he would be releasing details of and cases of corruption within Sussex during his campain. He has make formal compliant to John Lyon CB - Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over his MP Simon Kirby

Full article

Glenda Jackson MP condemned by her constituents for social cleansing remarks

27-08-2012 18:47

Counihan Family
Residents of the South Kilburn Estate in London have voted to picket their MP Glenda Jackson in protest at her remarks to a local family who have been made homeless by Brent Council – that they should move to Wales. The protest in support of the Counihan family will take place at a public meeting at Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Rd, London NW6 2JH at 6pm on Wednesday 29th August.

Full article | 1 comment

Crime Commissioner For Sussex Police

27-08-2012 18:24

Today David Joe Neilson Independent Candidate Crime Commissioner for Sussex Police. Announced that he will not take the £85,000.00 per year.
Upcoming Coverage
View and post events
Upcoming Events UK
24th October, London: 2015 London Anarchist Bookfair
2nd - 8th November: Wrexham, Wales, UK & Everywhere: Week of Action Against the North Wales Prison & the Prison Industrial Complex. Cymraeg: Wythnos o Weithredu yn Erbyn Carchar Gogledd Cymru

Ongoing UK
Every Tuesday 6pm-8pm, Yorkshire: Demo/vigil at NSA/NRO Menwith Hill US Spy Base More info: CAAB.

Every Tuesday, UK & worldwide: Counter Terror Tuesdays. Call the US Embassy nearest to you to protest Obama's Terror Tuesdays. More info here

Every day, London: Vigil for Julian Assange outside Ecuadorian Embassy

Parliament Sq Protest: see topic page
Ongoing Global
Rossport, Ireland: see topic page
Israel-Palestine: Israel Indymedia | Palestine Indymedia
Oaxaca: Chiapas Indymedia
Regions
All Regions
Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World
Other Local IMCs
Bristol/South West
Nottingham
Scotland
Social Media
You can follow @ukindymedia on indy.im and Twitter. We are working on a Twitter policy. We do not use Facebook, and advise you not to either.
Support Us
We need help paying the bills for hosting this site, please consider supporting us financially.
Other Media Projects
Schnews
Dissident Island Radio
Corporate Watch
Media Lens
VisionOnTV
Earth First! Action Update
Earth First! Action Reports
Topics
All Topics
Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista
Major Reports
NATO 2014
G8 2013
Workfare
2011 Census Resistance
Occupy Everywhere
August Riots
Dale Farm
J30 Strike
Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands
G20 London Summit
University Occupations for Gaza
Guantanamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
COP15 Climate Summit 2009
Carmel Agrexco
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Stop Sequani
Stop RWB
Climate Camp 2008
Oaxaca Uprising
Rossport Solidarity
Smash EDO
SOCPA
Past Major Reports
Encrypted Page
You are viewing this page using an encrypted connection. If you bookmark this page or send its address in an email you might want to use the un-encrypted address of this page.
If you recieved a warning about an untrusted root certificate please install the CAcert root certificate, for more information see the security page.