uk.indymedia.org Wales features
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/features.rss
Indymedia news from and relating to Wales.IMC UKOpen Content License, http://www.opencontent.org2017-05-02T00:55:41+00:00UK Indymedia : 1999 - 2016
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2017/04/525966.html
<p>Open publishing was disabled on this site in mid-July 2016 as there was a very low volume of original grass roots news reports from activists being posted and the collective running the site was dwindling as people were working on other things. From 1st May 2017 this site is a static archive and will no longer be updated.</p><p>The history of UK Indymedia is somewhat documented under the <a href="/en/topics/indymedia/">Indymedia topic</a> but the full history is yet to be written and perhaps never will be... but this archive will remain available.</p><p>See you in the streets!</p>2017-04-28T20:19+02:002017-04-28T20:19:00+00:00BirminghamCambridgeIndymediaLiverpoolLondonOxfordSheffieldSouth CoastUKWalesWorldIMC UKenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8Build gardens not prisons
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2015/09/521502.html
<p>The <a href="http://cape-campaign.org">campaign against a new mega-prison</a> being built near Wrexham got a boost recently when the <a href="http://reclaimthefields.org.uk">Reclaim the Fields network</a> held <a href="/en/2015/08/521399.html">an action camp</a> nearby.</p><p>The Reclaim the Fields International Action Camp, attended by 100-150 people, ran from <a href="/en/2015/09/521507.html">28th August to the 2nd September 2015</a> and was hosted by <a href="http://www.frackfreewrexham.org.uk/the-camp/">a local anti-fracking site</a>. Workshops explored <a href="/en/2015/08/521400.html">the links between land struggles, prison abolition and other issues</a> including gender, animal liberation and freedom of movement.</p><p>People held evening noise demos at three prisons in the region in solidarity with those inside, leafletted the local town, and <a href="/en/2015/09/521437.html">picketed several companies involved in the mega-prison</a>. Finally <a href="http://www.wrexham.com/news/protesters-target-site-of-wrexham-super-prison-99301.html">a blockade of the construction site</a> held up lorries <a href="http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/campaigners-stage-protest-wrexham-super-9969102">for over 4 hours</a> without any arrests.</p><p>As anyone with experience of them knows, prisons are abusive places used to control and threaten people, particularly those of us who are working class, people of colour, or disobedient. We need justice processes based on strong, vibrant communities, not more prisons and cops harming our communities.</p><p>The new prison would be the biggest in the UK, and the second biggest in Europe. It aims to open in 2017 and would give the State enough cages to lock up an extra 2100 people.</p><p>Meanwhile, Robert King of the Angola 3 will give <a href="/en/2015/08/521401.html">a talk on struggle and revolution in the US prison system</a>, on Wed 16 Sep in Dundee.</p><p><a href="http://cape-campaign.org">Community Action on Prison Expansion</a> | <a href="http://reclaimthefields.org.uk">Reclaim the Fields UK</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/gardensnotcages">Gardens not Cages</a> | <a href="http://frackfreewrexham.org.uk">Frack Free Wrexham</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/BCPC2">Borras Community Protection Camp</a></p>2015-09-08T18:53+02:002015-09-08T18:53:00+00:00FrackingPromotedRepressionSocial StrugglesUKWalesanonenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8Maximus: Same Circus, Different Clowns
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2015/03/519698.html
<p>On Monday 2nd of March 2015, there were demonstrations in over 30 towns and cities around the UK (plus Toronto) against Maximus, the US based health insurance corporation that has taken over the contract from the French IT Company Atos to administer the Work Capability Assessment on behalf of the Department Of Work And Pensions. Atos announced its exit from the contract in early 2014 following an intense period of direct action against the company by groups such as <a href="http://dpac.uk.net/">Disabled People Against the Cuts</a>.</p><p>The day of action was timed to coincide with the first working day of the new contract, with the spotlight turned on Maximus as well as the continued use of Work Capability Assessments and the life-threatening consequences of the ongoing government attacks on the sick and disabled.</p><p>In central London, to the chorus of <a href="http://youtu.be/cW0Zr8lsJ3Q">"David Cameron is a W*****" (YouTube)</a> activists from DPAC hit the streets, taking direct action to block traffic and at one stage bringing traffic to a standstill on Victoria Street in the shadow of Big Ben.</p><p>The demonstrations across the UK on the streets were complemented with an online Twitter campaign using the hashtags #Maximarse and #ScrapWCA, the latter trending for a number of hours. This gave the opportunity for those unable (including through sickness and disability) to make it to demonstrations to vent their anger and frustation around the Work Capability Assessment and at a government hell-bent on targeting the sick and disabled.</p><p><strong>On the Newswire:</strong> <a href="/en/2015/03/519688.html">Maximarse is more than a farce</a> | <a href="/en/2015/03/519686.html">Mental Health Resistance Network Statement</a> | <a href="/en/2015/03/519667.html">Wrexham joins National Day of Protest Against WCA & Maximus</a></p><p><strong>Other links:</strong> <a href="https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/huge-success-for-campaigners-as-rage-against-maximus-explodes-onto-the-streets-across-the-uk/">Johnny Void</a> | <strong>Video:</strong> <a href="http://youtu.be/j93_Dp0j0LE">Maximarse the Movie (YouTube)</a></p>2015-03-05T23:42+02:002015-03-05T23:42:00+00:00BirminghamCambridgeHealthLiverpoolLondonOxfordPublic sector cutsRepressionSheffieldSouth CoastUKWalessolidarity collectiveenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8Stop NATO Cymru Week of Action / Wythnos o Weithredu Stop NATO
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2014/07/517414.html
<p>A week of action against the NATO summit. / Wythos o weithredu yn erbyn Uwchgynhadledd NATO.</p><p>This year NATO will have their next summit at Celtic Manor Resort, in Newport, south Wales. In early September 2014, “world leaders” – all directly responsible for untold death, illegal torture flights, and wars fought purely to protect Western business interests and resource supply routes – will gather on the edge of this historic Welsh city. Many people from Newport, Cardiff, Bristol and beyond, will oppose the summit and use a diversity of tactics against it. We, an anti-capitalist, anti-militarist network in South Wales, plan to facilitate mobilisations and provide space for workshops, skill-shares and social events. We are organising without leaders as we do not agree with bosses or bombs.</p><p>For timetable, see the full article.</p><p><strong>On the newswire:</strong> <a href="/en/2014/08/517790.html">No Borders/Stop NATO day of action</a> | <a href="/en/2014/08/517780.html">Round up of Week of Action events</a> | <a href="/en/2014/08/517785.html">Stop NATO action against securitisation & policing</a> | <a href="/en/2014/08/517713.html">AFIACH benefit compilation</a> | <a href="/en/2014/08/517711.html">NATO CopWatch</a> | <a href="/en/2014/07/517412.html">Day of Action Against Militarism</a> | <a href="/en/2014/07/517357.html">16-17 Aug, National Convergence, Blackpool</a> | <a href="/en/2014/07/517272.html">Police Harassment in Merthyr</a></p><p><strong>Other links:</strong> <a href="http://www.network23.org/stopnatocymru">Stop Nato Cymru</a> | <a href="http://www.anarchistaction.net">Anarchist Action Network</a></p>2014-07-31T18:04+02:002014-07-31T18:04:00+00:00Anti-militarismGlobalisationNATO 2014UKWalesWorldStop NATO Cymru and Anarchist Action NetworkenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8Newport Rising: Festival of Radical Change
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2014/05/516786.html
<p><strong>26 May - 1 June, Newport.</strong></p><p>Organised by Anarchist Action Network, Stop NATO Cymru and South Wales Anarchists, the festival runs all week at 95-96 Commercial Street, Newport NP20 1LU. <em>Sharing ideas and skills, celebrating resistance & organising to win.</em> All welcome. Workshops and skill shares all week, free cafe all day and free meal every evening.</p><p>The NATO Summit comes to Newport at the beginning of September. Come along this week and prepare for the Stop NATO week of action 30 August - 5 September and take part in some of the many talks, sessions and workshops. Something for everyone! All welcome (except cops and mainstream journalists, who will be asked to stay outside). The venue is an alcohol & drug free space.</p><p>If you can only manage one day and want to get clued up on NATO and what's planned for August & September, come along on Sunday:<br/><strong>Sunday 1 June. 4pm: Talk - Resisting the NATO Summit. 6.30pm: Meeting to build resistance against the NATO Summit.</strong></p><p><strong>On the newswire</strong>: <a href="/en/2014/05/516832.html">Protest & Street Theatre</a> | <a href="/en/2014/05/516816.html">Banner drops</a> | <a href="/en/2014/05/516793.html">Photos from Newport Rising</a> | <a href="/en/2014/05/516547.html">Anarchists Shut Cardiff Barclays</a> | <a href="/en/2014/04/516285.html">Anarchist Travelling Circus Presents Newport Rising</a> | <a href="/en/2014/04/516249.html">Protest the NATO Summit</a> | <a href="/en/2014/03/515973.html">Antimilitarists Block NATO Conference</a> | <a href="/en/2014/03/515700.html">NATO Uncut Call-out</a> | <a href="/en/2014/01/514865.html">Stop NATO Cymru Statement</a></p><p><strong>Other links</strong>: <a href="https://network23.org/stopnatocymru/">Stop Nato Cymru</a> | <a href="https://www.anarchistaction.net/">anarchistaction.net</a> | <a href="http://www.nonatonewport.org/">No Nato Newport</a> | <a href="http://notonatowalk.org.uk/">The Long March on Newport</a></p>2014-05-28T10:53+02:002014-05-28T10:53:00+00:00Anti-militarismFree SpacesNATO 2014PromotedSocial StrugglesUKWalesWorldimc in walesenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8New squatting law starts to crumble - Keep squatting!
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2013/11/513676.html
<p><strong>Section 144 of LASPO may prove unenforceable in practice</strong></p><p>Resistance to s.144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) 2012 that outlaws squatting in residential buildings is growing. Ultimately, the law may prove unworkable and unenforceable. There have been a number of successful prosecutions under the new law, including the widely publicised conviction and imprisonment of 21 year old Alex Haigh who came to London looking for work and stayed in an unoccupied housing association flat. He pleaded guilty, but it has since become clear that where a not guilty plea is entered by defendant, it may be difficult if not impossible for the prosecution to prove the charge. After some notable acquittals, we have a better idea about the obstacles facing hapless prosecutors and some of the ways in which well-informed residential squatters might go about successfully defending themselves in court. Read on.</p><p><strong>On the newswire:</strong> <a href="en/2013/11/513607.html">Brighton acquittals 1</a> | <a href="/en/2013/11/513431.html">Brighton acquittals 2</a> | <a href="/en/2013/11/513573.html">Moelfre acquittal</a> | <a href="/en/2013/10/513386.html">Squatting as protest in Southwark</a> | <a href="/en/2012/11/502796.html">Mike Weatherley is a coward case</a> | <a href="/en/2012/10/500768.html?c=on">Alex Haigh conviction</a> | <a href="/en/2012/10/501096.html">Henry: Bristol's first victim of squatting criminalisation</a><br/><strong>Other links:</strong> <a href="https://network23.org/squatterslegalnetwork">Squatters Legal Network</a> | <a href="http://www.squatter.org.uk/">Advisory Service for Squatters</a> | <a href="https://rooftopresistance.squat.net">Rooftop Resistance</a> | <a href="http://www.squashcampaign.org/">SQUASH</a></p>2013-11-11T22:31+02:002013-11-11T22:31:00+00:00LondonPolicingSocial StrugglesSouth CoastUKWalesimc-uk & housing warenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8Gaza solidarity
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2012/11/503149.html
<p>Israel launched a new offensive on the people of Gaza last week which claimed the lives of 162 Palestinians. Four Israeli civilians and one soldier have also died as a result of retaliatory rocket attacks.</p><p><a href="http://www.dci-palestine.org/documents/children make-approximately-23-percent-fatalities-gaza">As of 20th November 23% of Palestinian casualties were children.</a> The youngest victim of the recent Israeli aggression is 11-month-old Omar Al Mashharrawi.</p><p><a href=" https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Iq4XZx9Vj0BDIiWzlHi2mUS0VUOn_t-prgtGGCzatQw/mobilebasic?pli=1">Hundreds of solidarity demonstrations have been held globally</a> and a <a href=" http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=99&Content_ID=2892">national demonstration is planned in London on Saturday 24th November</a>. On Friday 16th November <a href="/en/regions/birmingham/2012/11/502930.html">a demonstration was held in Birmingham</a> and another is planned for Thursday 22nd <a href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2012/11/503102.html">outside the BBC offices</a> to protest biased reporting. In Brighton on Saturday 17th November activists <a href="/en/2012/11/502916.html?c=on#c289499">locked on to the Ecostream store</a>, a shop owned by an Israeli company that has its main manufacturing facility in the West Bank settlement of Mishor Adumim. Later on a hundred strong crowd marched to the store and held a noisy demonstration outside the shop. On Monday 19th a <a href="/en/2012/11/502929.html">phone and twitter blockade</a> of the company was held.</p><p>The same day in Wrexham activists <a href="/en/2012/11/502946.html">picketed Barclays Bank</a> in protest at Barclays investments in companies supplying weapons to Israel.</p><p>On Tuesday 20th a group of solidarity activists <a href="/en/2012/11/503087.html">occupied G4S</a> headquarters over the company's contracts with the Israeli prison service as well as providing equipment and services to Israeli military checkpoints and maintaining contracts with businesses working in Israel's settlements.</p><p>The 'Don't Dance with Israeli Apartheid' campaign held <a href=" http://www.boycottisraelnetwork.net/?p=1837">demonstrations against London performances of the Israeli state sponsored Batsheva dance troupe at Sadlers Wells</a> on the 19th-21st November as part of a coordinated international campaign. There were also protests <a href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2012/11/502808.html">both inside and outside of the Birmingham performances at the Hippodrome</a> on the 14-15th November coinciding with the start of the latest Gaza massacre.</p><p>Palestinians in the West Bank have also been demonstrating in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Gaza, only to be met with typical Israeli oppression. On Saturday, 31-year-old Rushdi Tamimi was shot by an IDF soldier at a protest in the village of Nabi Saleh. He died of his wounds in hospital on Monday around the time news surfaced that Hamdi Mohammad Jawwad Al-Falah, 22, was killed after being shot four times during a demonstration in the Bir al-Mahjar neighborhood in western Hebron. A baby also died in hospital on Monday after an Israeli tear gas canister landed in his bedroom in Qalandia refugee camp.</p><p>A ceasefire was reached on Wednesday 21st of November. However, the conflict is likely to continue if Israel does not end its siege of Gaza and attempts to control the Gazan economy. The need for solidarity with the people of Palestine struggling against Israeli militarism, apartheid and occupation has never been greater.</p><p><strong>Upcoming events</strong>: Thursday 22nd November - Gaza solidarity demo in Brighton at the Old Steine at 5pm and Die In on the BBC Steps at the Mailbox in Birmingham 6pm-7pm| <a href="http://www.boycottisraelnetwork.net/?p=1882">23rd/24th November - Don't Dance with Israeli apartheid demos in Plymouth</a>| Hebden Bridge Gaza solidarity demo - meet at the Central Intersection at 5pm| <a href="http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=99&Content_ID=2892">24th November - Mass Gaza Solidarity demo in London</a>| Sunday 25th - Demo at Ecostream, Western Rd, Brighton, 1-3pm</p>2012-11-22T11:34+02:002012-11-22T11:34:00+00:00Anti-militarismBirminghamLondonPalestineSouth CoastUKWalesWorldenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8Anarchist movement grows in Cardiff after month of resistance
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2012/10/502079.html
<p>The month began with the <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711041">successful eviction resistance</a> of the squatted social centre <a href="http://welcometogremlinalley.wordpress.com">Gremlin Alley</a> on October 4th, when bailiffs turned up faced with a barricaded building and a supportive crowd outside, eventually realising they had no hope of gaining access. The gremlins occupying the centre <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711041?&condense_comments=false#comment57112">spent the rest of the day</a> having a black bloc style party on the roof, while supporters partied to a <a href="http://soundcloud.com/inconsiderateparking">local band</a> who turned up to play, and cops kept their distance but remained present for most of the day. A <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711053">communique</a> followed the next day, expressing solidarity with imprisoned squatter <a href="http://www.schnews.org.uk/stories/Haigh-Stacked/">Alex Haigh</a> and the <a href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/10/500921.html">Cuts Cafe crew</a> in London who were raided by <span class="caps">TSG</span> on the same evening. A <a href="http://welcometogremlinalley.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/cyfathrebiad-fideo-gan-y-gremlins-video-communique-from-the-gremlins/">video commmunique</a> was then released the following week, in English and Welsh, explaining the reason for resisting, as well as expressing general disgust for the state and the increased criminalisation of homeless.</p><p>After a busy two weeks improving barricades by gremlins and supporters, the first attempt to deport the <a href="http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/3271991-save-fariman-saleh-and-her-two-children">Saleh family</a> occured on Thursday 18th, with their home being <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1NXwTOnzp8">raided by UKBA officers</a> and two activists being arrested for obstruction. While solidarity was shown for the activists at Cardiff Bay police station, others made an attempt to block the detainees coach on the motorway sliproad, followed by a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveSalehFamily/posts/395054117233056">successful communications blockade</a> of Egypt Air’s telephone lines and their facebook page. The family avoided deportation that day due to a security mix-up, and were instead taken to Cedars detention centre in West Sussex. By the morning, Friday 18th, <span class="caps">UKBA</span> offices in Cardiff had its windows smashed – no doubt in response to the attempted deportation, signifying <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711390">more resistance to come</a>.</p><p><strong>Related articles:</strong> <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711041">Gremlin Alley EVICTION RESISTANCE happening now</a> (<a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711041?&condense_comments=false#comment57112">UPDATE - 3pm</a>) | <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711053">Communique :: The Gremlins are still resisting in Cardiff</a> | <a href="http://welcometogremlinalley.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/cyfathrebiad-fideo-gan-y-gremlins-video-communique-from-the-gremlins/">Video Communique from the Gremlins</a> | <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711390">Timeline of anti-deportation resistance in support of the Saleh family</a> | <a href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/10/501766.html">Shroukie’s family LATEST: coach blocked for 5 hours, fingers crossed ...</a> | <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711433">Prisoner Art Tour Launch Night This Friday in Cardiff</a> | <a href="http://abccardiff.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/legal-training-evening-red-black-umbrella/">Legal Training Evening @ Red & Black Umbrella</a> | <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711435">Red & Black Umbrella 1 Year Anniversary Halloween Bash + Gig!</a></p><p><strong>Links:</strong> <a href="http://welcometogremlinalley.wordpress.com">Gremlin Alley Social Centre</a> | <a href="http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/saleh-family-action-report-and-update/">No Borders South Wales on Saleh Family</a> | <a href="http://ncadc.org.uk/blog/2012/10/instead-of-protection-the-saleh-familys-ordeal-continued-in-the-uk/">NCADC on Saleh Family</a> | <a href="http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/3271991-save-fariman-saleh-and-her-two-children">Save Mrs S and Her Two Children @ 38 Degrees</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveSalehFamily/">Save the Saleh Family</a> | <a href="http://abccardiff.wordpress.com">Cardiff Anarchist Black Cross</a> | <a href="http://abccardiff.wordpress.com/defendant-solidarity/">Cardiff Defendant Solidarity</a> | <a href="http://redandblackumbrella.squat.net/">Red & Black Umbrella</a></p>2012-10-31T23:29+02:002012-10-31T23:29:00+00:00Social StrugglesUKWalesIMC UK FeaturesenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8WISE Up for Bradley Manning. Call-out for solidarity
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/wales/2011/04/477983.html
<p><em>This feature summarises Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English (WISE) solidarity efforts for Bradley Manning to date and is a call-out for anti-war activists and all those who believe in civil liberties and freedom of expression to take up Manning's cause and build a solidarity movement that can't be ignored.</em></p><p>Accused WikiLeaks whistleblower and US army intelligence analyst <a href="http://www.bradleymanning.org/">Bradley Manning</a> has been held for almost a year since being arrested in Iraq after allegedly releasing confidential documents and video footage to WikiLeaks, including the <a href="http://collateralmurder.com/">Collateral Murder</a> video, which shows unarmed civilians including two Reuters journalists being killed in an unprovoked US Apache helicopter attack in Iraq. The charges against him now include <a href="http://firedoglake.com/2011/03/02/badley-manning-charged-with-aiding-the-enemy/">aiding the enemy</a> which carries a possible <a href="/en/2011/03/475033.html">death sentence</a>. He was held at Quantico Marine Brig for months under <a href="/en/2011/03/475374.html">conditions of torture</a>, apparently in a so far failed effort by the US authorities to get him to <a href="/en/2010/12/471057.html">deliver Julian Assange</a> who could then be extradited to the US. Under such sustained ill treatment, there have been serious concerns for Manning's <a href="/en/2010/12/471214.html">mental and physical health</a>. Mid-April, after months of public outcry over his torture, he was <a href="http://www.bradleymanning.org/news/why-was-pfc-manning-moved-to-fort-leavenworth">moved to Fort Leavenworth</a> in Kansas with the authorities claiming improved conditions of detention, since when Barack Obama has seen fit to declare him guilty <a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Bradley-Manning-Excep-by-Kevin-Zeese-110425-129.html">1</a> | <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/04/23/manning/index.html">2</a>. Why bother waiting for the show trial?</p><p>Read <a href="/en/2011/04/477983.html">full article</a> for background, analysis and all previous newswire links.</p>2011-04-27T10:22+02:002011-04-27T10:22:00+00:00Anti-militarismRepressionTerror WarUKWalesWISE UpenTexttext/html; charset=UTF-8