Manchester Feature Archive

Mass blockade at Menwith Hill US base, Friday March 19th

IMC Leeds Bradford, 19-03-2004 12:00

On Friday March 19th Yorkshire CND held a mass non-violent blockade at the key US military base Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK. They blocked 3 gates completely causing tailbacks for hours and massively disturbing the shift change-over. Menwith Hill felt compelled to issue a statement which is amazing since they never, ever speak to anyone.

"BLOCK THE BASE" started in freezing driving rain by 5am in the morning with protesters who had stayed in Leeds overnight blockading the base. Many protesters were met by police waiting for them. Yet they managed to block all four gates, many locking into place. Throughout the morning the protest was joined by more people.

The shift change, between 5.30 and 7.30, was a traffic jam. Police had moved pretty fast to try and clear two gates. Reports were they were pretty brutal with dangerous use of cutting equipment. Yorkshire CND said that despite liason some of the police behaved disgracefully and there were definite cases of extreme excessive force and violence. They want as much information and pictures as possible from anyone that was there to collect evidence. [more in article]. By 7am most of the protesters at gate one had been removed and were waiting wet and cold to be arrested. In all 30 people were arrested. Others gates were still blocked. Protesters were still arriving and demonstrating all around the base.

SeeTimeline of events
Reports and Photos: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ]

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Democracy? It's a Gas!

imc mcr, 15-02-2004 12:52

American company Canatxx Gas Storage have submitted an application to Lancashire County Council to store two million tonnes of gas at extremely high pressures under the Wyre Estuary. In a Kafkaesque twist, Wyre Borough Councillors find that they cannot represent the views of the population who elected them.

The plan is to store the gas in caverns in the salt deposits, pumping water down bore holes to dissolve the salt and discharging it into the Irish sea 2.3 km off Rossall school. The gas will be stored in up to twenty caverns each of which will be the size of the London Eye.

According to Thornton Action Group the area is a designated SSSI and damage would be caused to the salt marsh habitat and the bird life on the mud flats. Local councillors have been told by the council they must voice no open support or objection to the proposal prior to the application hearing by Lancashire County Council in March.

Full Story | Thornton Action Group | Wyre Borough Councillors Gagged | Canatxx Scandal

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Manchester Student Dies as Soldier is Arrested

imc mcr, 22-01-2004 19:20

13-01-2004: Tom Hurndall has died. A Vigil took place on Wed 14. Background information here and website.

On New Year's Day the Israeli sniper who shot activist Tom Hurndall brain dead was arrested. The army leadership has now admitted that its initial accusations of Tom being armoured and in camouflage, as well as its claim that the soldier was returning Palestinian fire, were lies.

Tom, a Manchester photography student, was shot in Rafah (Gaza, Palestine) in April last year while pulling away children out of the way of a tank.

[ Tribute to Tom Hurndall][Maps of the Wall] [Palestine IMC] [Israel IMC]
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Nine Ladies Possession Court Order Obtained

road alert, 22-01-2004 14:51

Nine Ladies Anti-Quarry Protest Camp, Derbyshire, Possession Court Order obtained Thursday 22/01/2004, papers served Friday 23/01/2004 - eviction now imminent!

Press release from the protestors: Eco Warriors send profits warning to Marshalls Plc - 6th February 2004 | Collection in Sheffield City Centre raises £75

Background: If Quarrying goes ahead, a 100m deep scar will blight a beautiful, and well loved landscape, to produce profit from the sale of building materials. The protest camp has been protecting the site since 1999 (history of the struggle). People are needed urgently to help with defences, and resist the eviction. Report and list of things needed at 9 Ladies.

Images: Photos (12 large images) | Nine Ladies Photo Gallery | Arial view of the site

Audio: Interview (mp3) and transcript

Video: rtsp://www.piratetv.net/archive/ptvaltmedia/nineladiesmix.rm | Download the video, real format

Nine Ladies web forum | Nine Ladies offical website (not updated since august 2003)

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Bayer Targetted in Widnes

imc uk, 05-01-2004 20:36

On Thursday 11th December half a dozen Lancastrians made their way to a pesticide manufacturing site in Widnes to protest against Bayer's involvement in GM crops. Some of them entered the building, whilst others help up banners, made lots of noise and leafletted the staff car park. Work was disrupted for two and a half hours, as staff locked themselves into their offices and site security barricaded the gates against the protestors. People inside the building eventually got to discuss Bayer's GM involvement with the site manager and demanded that Bayer pull out of GM now.

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Freedom from Nightmare in Iraq

imc mcr, 01-01-2004 20:39

Anjool Malde, 28.12.2003

Manchester University student Urslaan Khan made the headlines earlier this month, arrested in Iraq on suspicion of trying to join a group fighting coalition troops. An inquisitive individual with a philosophical outlook on life, he finally returned safely to the United Kingdom for the Christmas vacation, able to give his side of the story.

On a break from studies at Egypt’s University of Alexandria, he had initially travelled to Jordan at the start of a planned pilgrimage to find the Saudi embassy closed. “So I considered Iraq as an alternative and took a £7 coach down there. I was there for tourism”, he calmly says. “I wanted to see how the people of Iraq were coping with the new situation.”

An interview with Urslaan Khan

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Asahi Glass Protesters Harassed by Police

Mcr IMC, 01-01-2004 00:00

Thornton, Lancaster, 22.11.2003. An Asahi Glass, demonstration that had been arranged with the Lancashire Police as under the terms of a court injunction (see www.shac.net) was harassed today by around 25 police officers.

The Lancaster Animal Rights Group, (LARG) which arranged the demonstration, was first spied upon by police officers from behind their unmarked police car door. Their attempt to photograph the protesters was spotted and thwarted (by holding plackards in their way).

According to LARG, Ashashi Glass are a customer of Huntingdon Life Sciences who pay to have 8 week old beagle puppies tortured.

First hand report in full

Later in December some smart manouvering by Fleetwood Animal Right's Alliance meant their protest went ahead unhindered by a court injunction or police and bailiffs.

Full report

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Buy Nothing Day

various, 04-12-2003 01:25

Since its launch twelve years ago, Buy Nothing Day has grown into a worldwide celebration of consumer awareness and simple living. Observed about a month before Christmas, the West's busiest shopping period of the year, the campaign has sparked debate and raised awareness of our consumerist culture.

As part of international day of action 'Buy Nothing Day', actions took place in various places in the uk and other parts of the world:

• London: GAP clothing outlets will remain closed, one for each shopping day of the week.
• Manchester: A stretch of JCDeceaux street advertsisements along the A6 in Salford were redectorated to re-enforce the advertisers' messages. Also, a number of 'Whirl Mart' actions took place.
• Sheffield: A shopping centre was visited by people who just wanted to have a good time in this pleasant community area.
• Sussex: University students disabled as many of the banking facilities on campus as possible.
• Birmingham: A Santa Parade, exorting people to "Buy More, Be Happy" and "Work! Spend! Don't think!" took to the streets.
• Prague, activists from Slovakian Food not Bombs gave the cashiers symbolic red tulips.
• Paris (French report): Actions against the advertising aggression and against cops. Pub panels were covered and advertising posters were decorated. [Report (fr) | Photos]
• Poland actions [Photos]
• New York: Reverend Billy and the Church Of Stop Shopping Busted on Buy Nothing Day. [Photos]

Background information: Buy Nothing Day UK | Adbusters | Diesel subvertising [1 | 2], Global Indymedia | Video
| Screenable Vid of Anti-Diesel Action

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Buy Nothing Day strikes again

gen, 25-11-2003 14:55

Saturday 29th November is Buy Nothing Day in the UK.

The DoSummat group organised a day of festivities in Manchester including subvertising, shop stopping, outdoor workshops and a procession. Check out one of the Huge Subverts done here.

For inspiration take a look at this BND video , these anti-Diesel subverts or the Subvertise.org website .

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Bush Toppled by Peace Campaigners

IMC mcr, 18-11-2003 11:53

The state visit of George Bush has been greeted with an outbreak of anti-Bush sentiment in and around Greater Manchester.

On the 9th November an effigy of the US President was symbolically toppled from Stoodley Pike, a famous local hill top landmark and a monument to peace in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, creating a dramatic representation of the chasm existing between a just peace and George W Bush’s policy of war.

Chester held its own welcoming committee for the President un-elect, complete with a seven foot papier-mâché statue of Bush and a list of 20 indictments against the man. The two hundred person crowd cheered as the statue was toppled before Chester’s town hall at the end of the hour long protest.

In Manchester, as Bush was being entertained in Buckingham Palace, there were pickets of Esso Petrol stations, a lunchtime rally in the Peace gardens and more than 2,000 went on a teatime march.
Pictures[ 1 | 2 ]

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Video on Food Co-ops

undercurrents video training workshop, 28-10-2003 14:07

Video - Food Co-ops are the way to go!

Co-ops are important as they empower workers to take control of their daily lives and provide services for there larger communities.

broadband - screening copy - video/x-ms-wmv 2.7M

Radical Routes - help co-ops

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McDonalds Empire Collapses - the evidence

Not Donald, 25-10-2003 18:16

NotDonald's Street Cafe opened outside a branch of everybodies least favourite 'food' outlet on Oxford Road, Manchester, 18th October.

Free veggie burgers, with a selection of condiments and salad in a wholemeal bun were distributed to passing Mancunians, as the envoys of Ronalds evil empire could only look on in despair.

Says 'antimac', "The funny thing was people really didnt wanna take the free food at first, they looked very suspicious and asked if it was meat, or if it was lentels, but after a queue formed, loads of people started wanting them! How british is that!"

Story, pix and videos
Ronald gets hassled by the cops [ pictures]

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Iranian Refugee Sets Fire to Himself

paster, 06-09-2003 22:00

Israfil Shiri has died after five days of terrible suffering in Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit Manchester.

On Thursday 27th August Israfil Shiri, a destitute young Iranian man poured petrol over his body and set fire to himself in the offices of Refugee Action in Manchester. He suffered burns to 80% of his body. He had told his friends he would do it to prove that this government cares more about animals than people fleeing torture and persecution.

"If they cut off all my benefits, prevent me from working and make me homeless, I too will commit suicide". These were the words of another Iranian asylum seeker who, along with 30 other people, attended a meeting on Monday to discuss last Thursday's tragedy and how we can prevent it from happening again.

Israfil Shiri, 30, who has been on life support at Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit following the suicide attempt at the Manchester offices of Refugee Action last week, died early on the morning of the third September.

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Nine Ladies Under Threat

C Trouble, 11-08-2003 15:10

The area around the ancient sacred site of Nine Ladies Stone Circle, a place of outstanding natural beauty, is under threat by the quarrying companies Stancliffe Stone and Marshalls PLC. The Nine Ladies protest camp has succesfully managed to stop the companies quarrying for the last 4 years, but the end of August is a crucial time and help and support is much needed.

Read more | 2 comments >>

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Earth First! Summer Gathering 2003

Leeds IMC / EF!SG contents collective, 28-07-2003 18:17

Earth First! are hosting their annual Summer Gathering between August 13-17 on a beautiful site 'somewhere' in North Yorkshire.

The Gathering provides a much-needed space for all those involved in direct action in Britain, Europe and the rest of the world - and for all those who want to be involved in direct action - to meet and talk about what’s been going on and what we’re going to do next.

Ten years on from the first EF! Gathering, some are questioning the usefulness of the Earth First! network which is seen by some as a social club and as not expressing many peoples politics. Many people are saying change is needed.

In response to recent years' events, the content, workshops and discussions of this year's Gathering have been organised so that everything is up for discussion.

For constant updates on venue, events, directions and appeals, see the Summer Gathering website

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JCB blazed in Hulme Housing Outrage

imc, 27-07-2003 22:00

A property developer, who plans to build on the Loretto College Playing Fields, got a visit from upset local people early on Tuesday 29th July. Around 25 mature trees on the playing fields have recently been destroyed and a large JCB digger has started ground works.

Local people despair at the useless politicians who get voted in for 3-5 years, then enclose green spaces, close swimming baths and sell off schools and playing fields. These are all sold to private developers, who are only there to make money for their shareholders, not our local community.

People broke into the large digger using cutters and doused the cab, electronics and computer in paraffin. Then standing back, threw in the spark. Damage has been estimated at up to £100,000.

To prevent this kind of action happening again on a nearby piece of land local residents have set up an email group Reclaim the Fields

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Not just Bricks in the Wall - Manchester builds Solidarity with Palestine

no prisons, 15-07-2003 21:02

Manchester shoppers came face to face with the apartheid West Bank style on Saturday 12 July, when over 200 local activists demonstrated the impact of the huge Security Wall being built by the Israeli Government on Palestinian land.

Building their own wall across Albert Square from cardboard boxes the WALL DOWN! demonstration raised public awareness about the construction of the Security Wall.

Bigger than the Berlin Wall, the planned barrier is 370miles long, 25feet high and 12feet wide. It is being built on the Palestinian side of the 'Green Line' - the armistice line created after the 1967 war, which divides Israel and the Occupied Territories.

There are more photographs of that action here - Video 56k | Photos | High bandwidth Video

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New Road Scheme Planned

footpath runner, 14-07-2003 19:39

The Highways Agency has advertised an £85m early contractor involvement road project in Derbyshire, known as the A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle bypass and A628/A616 route restraint measures scheme. The work will require approximately 14 structures, including a 200m-long tunnel section associated junctions, earthworks, accommodation works and environmental mitigation. Full story Read more >>

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Baku pipeline protest - AMEC Warrington blockaded

fear is the mindkiller, 11-07-2003 15:35

Early Morning a group of people from the Earth First! and Rising Tide Baku campaigns closed off the entrance to AMEC House in Warrington, Cheshire in protest against the construction company's role in the proposed Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline.

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Indymedia European Newsreal #6 - now out

ian, 27-06-2003 22:00

The latest version of the Indymedia European Newsreal is now out. Beyondtv.org in Manchester are distributing the ENR6 for English language screeners. VHS's and CDroms are available or you can download and watch these films online.

As well as a selection of anti-war films, there are features about the Faslane big blockade, the Yesmen, the commercialisation of dutch education and critical mass - italian style. Read more | 2 comments >>

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