Mainshill Wood Occupied

The Deputy Sheriff has served Mainshill Solidarity Camp with an order to leave or be removed by force: The camp is still there though.
Please go there if you can. There are arrestable, non-arrestable, tree sitting, underground and on the ground roles. Please come and film or photograph the impressive defences. The camp is wheel chair and child friendly.
All against open casting welcome.
Transport is available. Site phone: 07806 926040

BBC News
Scottish TV

Lord Home; son of the Tory Prime Minister; who claims to be the "landowner"; is being investigated in Britain's biggest fraud case involving Coutts; part of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Rossport Fishing Boat Sunk

Actions against dredging work

At 2am this morning, Pat O'Donnell's boat the 'Iona Isle' was boarded by four masked men and sunk out at sea, near where Mr. O'Donnell lays his fishing pots off Erris, North Mayo. Mr. O'Donnell and crewman Martin McDonnell were attacked and held down by some of the men, while others went below deck, where they proceeded to sink the boat. Both local men have been taken to Castlebar General Hospital, where they are recovering.

This action has been taken due to Mr. O'Donnell's vocal opposition to Shell's Corrib Gas project. He is a local fisherman who whose family has fished Broadhaven Bay for generations. Mr. O'Donnell is against the destruction of the Bay and his livelihood by Shell, and has been assaulted by Shell security and Gardaí on a number of previous occasions.
This development follows a sinister pattern of attacks on high profile opponents of the Corrib gas project. In April, local farmer Willie Corduff was severely beaten while protesting against Shell's return to Glengad. On that occasion, Shell's private security force - Integrated Risk Management Services (IRMS) - initially refused to comment on the situation, but later claimed responsibility for a watered-down version of events. IRMS have been accused of brutality on a number of occasions in relation to their work in Mayo, with 'YouTube' video exhibiting their behaviour. Another campaigner suffered ligament damage at the hands of IRMS last week while protesting. Shell's work in the Niger Delta has also been in the public mind this week with a huge settlement in favour of the Ogoni 9 at a court in New York.

Addition from Private Eye: "NEW documents have emerged showing the British government and Shell colluded with senior figures in the Nigerian military junta against activist Ken Saro-Wiwa in the early 1990s. Secret papers show intelligence collusion between the British high commission and Shell, and between Shell and our former dictator Sani Abacha."

In a separate incident, six people have been arrested during an attempt to board dredgers working in Broadhaven Bay (see photo), while two others will also appear before Westport District Court this morning in relation to arrests at a protest which blocked trucks from entering Shell's Glengad compound for over an hour.
Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington said: “Will Shell stop at nothing to stamp down on the protest here in Mayo? This attack on Pat and Martin and their boat is nothing short of disgusting, and could easily have been even more dangerous, as there were problems with their life raft and neither man can swim . Those opposing the project are now in fear of their lives.”

Car System Expanding

The Tyne Rivers Trust (who are funded by Tyne Tunnel PFI!) are objecting to plans to proceed with dredging work during the peak run of migratory fish on England's most important Salmon river. They intend to suction dredge, disturbing highly contaminated silts from 100 years of heavy industry, then place a concrete car tunnel. There is already a car tunnel and a bike tunnel; their intention is to attract more cars. The Environment Agency are expected to rubber stamp the timing of the dredging in order to save Tyne Tunnel PFI money. In Private Finance Initiatives (PFI's), losses are paid off by the Treasury, while the profits go to rich bastards in the private sector. Dredging is proposed for September and October 2009.

Tyne Rivers Trust Letter (PDF)

Tyne Tunnel PFI

Green Public Transport Attacked

Private sector bosses are cutting 7000 jobs and maintenance work as well as charging extortionate fares.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

“While the train operators are jacking up fares by as much as 11 per cent, thousands of rail worker jobs are on the line and up to a third of this year’s essential renewals programme is being deferred. The companies are protecting their profits while those who run the services and who keep the tracks safe face the prospect of being dumped on the dole queue.

“It is critical for the future of the rail industry that the government intervene now to stop the jobs massacre and to call to account the private companies who have bled billions in profits and subsidies out of the British taxpayer.”

John McDonnell MP, RMT Parliamentary Group Convenor, said today:

"We have seen the franchise system collapse around the government's ears and now we are in crisis. The government is in a position now where the money isn't actually there any more to subsidise these companies.

"The companies have been milking the system and the government has been complicit in that. We now need an integrated, publicly-owned and accountable people's railway where passengers and workers have a real voice"

Poster

RMT Website

Newcastle Climate Action Meeting

Star and Shadow
7:30pm Tuesday 2nd June
Scotland Climate Camp
and anything else people feel is relevant

Coal Caravan

Saturday 2nd May - Sunday 3rd May - Dipton Community Centre, A692
Monday 4th May - Cambois Miners Institute, Blyth

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

BBC: Back to the Black Stuff?

Twenty five years after the miners' strike, is coal about to make a comeback in the North East?

RWE NPower take on anti Blyth Power Station Activists

Banks Group take on anti Open Cast Activists Dave Guy of the NUM and Karen Anderson of the Pont Valley Network

Coal Caravan

Saturday 2nd May - Cycling to the North East. Event introducing the caravan and showing slides from the trip so far. All welcome to stay in Dipton Community Centre.
Sunday 3rd May - walk around a couple of the proposed sites.
Monday 4th May - Newcastle event
http://sounddevastation.co.uk/coalcaravan/index.htm

Climate Camp un- Welcome's the G20

Climate Camp hits the City of London on April Fools Day, the eve of the G20 leaders' London Summit. Join us!
Climate camp 2009 /// Stopping carbon markets /// Because nature doesn't do bailouts.
First the city traders speculated with our homes, jobs and money – with
disastrous results. Now they are speculating with our climate and the very
future of life on earth – and once again our governments are cheering them on.

By creating a brain-bending system of carbon pollution licenses, fossil fuel companies and trading firms have found a way to keep on churning out global warming gases and to reap huge windfall profits at the same time.
Meanwhile, the UK government is justifying a third runway at Heathrow and a coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth by saying that these new “carbon trading” schemes will magically make all their emissions vanish.

They are handing control of our climate over to the same people and systems that caused the financial collapse. All the workable and fair alternatives aren't getting a look-in

We need to stop this foolishness.

We've camped against the Heathrow runway, we've camped against the Kingsnorth coal power station. Now its time to camp against the over-arching problem: absolute faith in unfettered markets and endless economic growth. On April 1st the G20 leaders arrive in London. At a time of climate crisis their response to the market meltdown is emergency loans to car manufacturers, increased spending to encourage consumption, and bailouts for the very people who got us into this mess - just the thing that will make the climate crisis worse.

Don’t let them get away with it: join our camp in the Square Mile! Gather at noon, April 1st, at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, action plans and ideas...let’s imagine another world.

Don't let the financial and fossil fools make the rules!

for updates, details on back-up plans, and moreinformation, visit us again at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

To get involved, come to our planning meeting on Saturday February 14th in London (arrive at the library houuse, 52 Knatchbull, at 1 pm for a 1:30 start) or come to the gathering on March the 6th/7th in Nottingham.

Email g20 [@] climatecamp.org.uk for more information.

Join the announcements list, the facebook page and event.

Please post this link, paste this text, and otherwise spread the word!

Help celebrate Fossil Fools Day and Financial Fools Day

The Paris Declaration
We won't pay for your crises - it is time for change!

More than 150 representatives of trade unions, farmers' movements, global justice groups, environmental groups, development groups, migrants' groups, faith-based groups, women's groups, the have-not movements, student and youth groups, and anti-poverty groups from all over Europe gathered on the 10th and 11th of January 2009 in Paris to analyse collectively the current crises, to develop joint strategies and to discuss joint demands and alternatives in response to these crises.

As the financial and the economic crises intensify, millions of women and men are losing their jobs, houses and livelihoods. Tens of millions more are forecast to join the 1.4 billion people already living in extreme poverty. The crises worsen the social, ecological, cultural and political situation of the majority of people on our planet.

Despite the evident and foreseeable failure of the current economic model, world leaders are responding by trying to preserve the system that is responsible for the crises. Governments have been quick to bail out bankers, corporate share holders and their financial backers with hundreds of billions in public money. To solve the problem, they put into place bankers and heads of corporations: the same actors that created the crises. The workers, the jobless, the poor - all those affected have received no help in their daily struggle to make ends meet, and to cap it all, they are now supposed to pay the bill.

Governments' proposals to deal with the unfolding economic crisis do not address the other dimensions of the crisis we face today – global justice, food, climate and energy – and with it the need to transform the economic system towards one that allows us to satisfy the basic needs of all people, to implement all human rights and to restore and preserve the ecological basis of life on our planet. It is time for change!

We can build a system that works for people and the environment, a system to serve the needs of the many, a system based on the principles of public benefit, global equity, justice, environmental sustainability and democratic control.

As a first step, immediate measures must be implemented to address the social impacts on people, whilst supporting the ecological conversion of the economy.

We call upon all social movements in Europe to engage in a process of change. To start with, we call upon movements

- to engage in the mass mobilisation for the central demonstration in London on the 28th of March 2009 ahead of the G20 meeting, or to take to the streets in their own countries that same day to make their voices heard. 20 governments cannot decide on the future of the global financial system and economy.

- to undertake a day of action in the week of the G20 meeting, preferably on the 1st of April (Financial Fools' Day) all across the world, exposing unaccountable financial power and promoting democratic control of finance.

This meeting is a further step in a long-term process of building spaces for European networks to meet. Recognising and drawing on previous and future mobilisations of social movements and civil society organizations in Europe and all over the world, it builds on ongoing efforts developed at the European Social Forum and elsewhere, aimed at realizing a democratic and socially and environmentally sustainable Europe. We commit to intensify cooperation and communication among our networks and organisations with the aim of building capacity for sustained mobilisation and the development of joint alternatives. We are committed to supporting and encouraging all people to have their voices heard in reshaping their societies.

We will meet again on the 18th and 19th of April 2009 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in order to develop the next steps of mobilisation and strategies towards change. We call upon all social movements and social organisations to join this process.

North East Open Cast Conference