G20 Resistance

The G20 at London's Excel centre on the 2nd of April. The G20, the twenty most industrialised nations met with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation to discuss keeping the rich- rich and the poor- poor and the continuing wholesale destruction of our planet.

Some of us went to London where they ran convergence and crash spaces.

Financial fools day April 1st action at the carbon trading exchange:

2000 protesters set up a Camp for Climate Action in the middle of the Square Mile, closing a major road for 12 hours. The Camp was located outside the European Climate Exchange on Bishopsgate, to protest against the G20's plans to use deeply flawed carbon trading mechanisms to tackle climate change.

As planned, hundreds of protesters “swooped” from all over the City at 12.30pm and set up tents, bunting and bicycles in order to reclaim a large portion of the financial district. Throughout the day there was a programme of workshops on themes such as the absurdity of carbon trading, the history of social movements and alternative economic models, whilst pedal powered sound systems and live bands provided entertainment, a kitchen provided hundreds of meals and a farmers market gave away organic vegetables.

Photos of the camp: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk
Film of the State reaction after 12 hours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJRi7YR1bU

In a desperate attempt to maintain their control over our world, the bastards have allocated $750bn (taken from tax payers) to the IMF. This money can be borrowed by governments in return for things like privatising our water or allowing open cast mining. It would then be paid back by things like closing hospitals.

See the G20 meltdown or climate camp websites for further info.
ToonclimateACTION!

Update: There was a further demo outside Pilgrim Street Police Station, Newcastle, in response to the murder of Ian Tomlinson (which the CPS has attempted but failed to cover up; see the Channel 4 news video here: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1184614595?bctid=20486) and various serious assaults by paramilitary cops during the G20.

Climate Camp Scotland

What's happening:

We're going to set up camp somewhere around the Firth of Forth, a part of the central belt of Scotland littered with power stations, corporate HQs, gas and oil refineries, open cast coal mines, a nuclear power station and a cement factory. We want you to join us to hold the people and systems responsible for climate change and ecocide to account.

The camp will focus on helping groups of people to take action against a whole range of targets. If you're coming with a group of friends that's great – we'll help you choose targets and actions, and if you're coming alone there will be plenty of opportunity to meet other people and work out a plan.

The camp will have as low an ecological impact as possible so expect compost toilets, grey water systems and micro-renewable energy. There will be kitchens providing three meals a day so there's no need to bring any food or cooking equipment. There will be workshops, skill-shares and much more.

How to get there:

The location of the site will be announced just before the start of the camp – check the website (climatecampscotland.org.uk) or phone the info number which will be available shortly before the 3rd for directions to the camp. If you're coming by public transport get yourself to Edinburgh Waverley or Glasgow Central train stations and be prepared to travel – info-points will tell you the train station to get to and how to get there. There will be shuttle buses from the nearest train station to the camp.

What to bring:

A tent, sleeping bag and carry mat and anything else you'd take camping. Be prepared for rain and sun. But most importantly, bring all of your friends!

What not to bring:

Pen-knives – the cops love using them as an excuse to harass us so let's not let them.

If you want more information or to get in touch, go to climatecampscotland.org.uk or email us on climatecampscotland@riseup.net

See you there!

Climate Camp Scotland
e-mail: climatecampscotland@riseup.net
Homepage: http://climatecampscotland.org.uk/

The Age of Stupid

Friday 17th April 7:30 p.m. Star & Shadow
The Age of Stupid is the new film from director Franny Armstrong (McLibel) and producer John Battsek (One Day In September). Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at "old" footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? To be followed by music in the bar.
www.ageofstupid.net

High Court take on Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign

Stop Stansted Expansion are considering whether to appeal after losing a High Court battle to block the decision to expand Stansted Airport. They challenged the legality of plans for an additional 10 million passengers a year to use the existing runway. A judge rejected the fact that bastard Government ministers are guilty of steamrollering the plans through without considering the additional millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases which would be emitted or the noise pollution local residents are threatened with.

Put People First

March 28 London
The TUC is taking part in a major event to put pressure on world leaders at the G20 summit. The Put People First - March for Jobs, Justice and Climate will take place on Saturday 28th March before the summit. On 28th March thousands will march through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20, ahead of their 2nd April summit on the global financial crisis. Even before the banking collapse, the world suffered poverty, inequality and the threat of climate chaos. The world has followed a financial model that has created an economy fuelled by ever-increasing debt, both financial and environmental. Our future depends on creating an economy based on fair distribution of wealth, decent jobs for all and a low carbon future. There can be no going back to business as usual.
North East Shop Stewards Network coach £30 waged, £10 unwaged
To reserve tickets call Tony 0771 994 6814
or email: nessnsec@googlemail.com

This is the Saturday before the G20; why not stay for Climate Camp on the 1st?
Important G20 update from the Camp for Climate Action:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/424123.html

G20 London Protests + Events List + Locations Map
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/424939.html

North East Open Cast Action Meeting

Halton-Lea-Gate
11am - Walk around the area
1pm to 3pm - Meeting - All against open cast welcome
The newly re-formed North East Open Cast Action Group has its first meeting this Saturday in the threatened village of Halton-le-Gate near Haltwhistle. The new group is made up of members from north east communities threatend with opencasting or suffering from it as well as environmental campaigners from across the region. It aims to give support and advice to residents concerned with the rash of opencast applications in Durham and Northumberland as well as offering practical support and linking local groups in with national networks. Further meetings will be hosted in different locations so that all members get a chance to visit the variety of areas under threat.
http://northeastopencast.tk/

Nowtopia

Author Chris Carlsson presents his provocative new book, examining a new politics of work that has emerged outside of the traditional constraints of wage-labor. It's a Talk and Slide-show with discussion following the 50-minute presentation.
Sun 12 Apr 4.30 Star & Shadow

Chris is one of the founders of Critical Mass and Processed World Magazine

Critical Mass

Critical Mass is a world wide movement protesting for cyclists rights.
5pm Friday 27th March Haymarket

Star & Shadow Cinema:

Wednesday 25th March
7:30 p.m. - Film: CO-OPERATIVE FILM FESTIVAL: Cooperatives as an alternative economic order
2 films: Electrification of Pignon and Tsunami.

Thursday 26th March
7:30 p.m. - Film: CO-OPERATIVE FILM FESTIVAL: Youth and Futures
Co-operative Film Makers / UK / 120 min’s with interval 120 minutes of 6 minute shorts, all films made by groups of young people in co-operative youth groups.

Friday 27th March
6:00 p.m. - Film: The 2nd Newcastle Bike Festival: Ayamye (2004)
A documentary which considers the effects that the lack of reliable transport has on rural Ghania but also about how the solutions to such problems aren't nearly as complicated as one might expect. More Info
8:00 p.m. - Film: The 2nd Newcastle Bike Festival: A boy, a girl and a bike (1949)
Filmed around Hebdon Bridge, Yorkshire this is a amiable romantic comedy about a 'love triangle between a working class woman, a man from a cycle club and a middle class motor fanatic.

Keep Tyne & Wear Metro Public Campaign

RMT sets ballot timetable over privatisation threat to Metro jobs
A strike ballot of more than 250 RMT members employed by Nexus at Tyne and Wear Metro will be concluded by March 30. The union is urging members to vote for action in a dispute over the threat to jobs, pensions and conditions posed by moves to privatise the network’s operations. Bob Crow said: “Tyne and Wear’s transport executive is threatening to put the Metro’s operations into private hands but it has failed to provide us with the assurances we need that our members’ futures will be secure. We hope that even at this late stage Nexus will see sense and drop its completely unnecessary tendering process, but we have already learned the bitter lesson that rail workers, like service and safety, come a poor second when profit is involved. We have spent the last dozen years resisting attacks on rail workers’ jobs, pensions and conditions that are the direct result of privatisation, and without firm assurances from Nexus we have no option but to ballot for action to secure them.”
www.rmt.org.uk

G20

Climate Camp in London's Square Mile, April 1 2009

The G20 meeting is coming up fast, as are our plans to shut down carbon markets and be camping in London's Square Mile as the 20 heads of state arrive.

Call out:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20
Facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225
Postcard:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/files/G20PostcardB_4onA4.pdf
Important G20 update from the Camp for Climate Action:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/424123.html