Climate Change for Trade Unionists

Saturday 19 September 10amClimate Outreach and Information Network Flier

Climate change and the green new deal
During the workshop, you'll work in groups around the big ideas for the future.
• What is climate change and why is it the next big issue for trade unionists?
• What kind of policies should trade unionists be fighting for?
• How do we keep jobs in industries that are high energy?
• What are the benefits of a low carbon society?
• Is climate change about social justice?

Saturday 19 September
10- 4pm
Brunswick Methodsit Church,
Brunswick Place,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7BJ
All welcome
Refreshments available

PCS is hosting a workshop created specially for trade unionists by the Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN), working with Ruskin College. COIN is the leader in the field of communicating climate change. Ruskin College is recognised nationally for its track record of education for trade unionists.
To register call the PCS Northern regional office on 0191 222 0330. Places are limited so let us know as soon as possible if you want to attend.

Crisis is Business as Usual

The struggle at Vestas is the tip of the iceberg.

The UK government has given £52.8m to coal bosses to extend a range of mines around Britain, while the Guardian report that they have given only £2.3m to Marine Renewables.

The world's armed forces use 25% of the world's aviation fuel, 42 million tons per year.
The arms trade uses 30% of the world's aluminium.
The US military alone is the world's largest oil consumer. It emits more toxins than the top 5 chemical companies combined; half the world's CFC and two thirds of the world's CFC-113.

"With its never-ending emphasis on production and profit, and its indifference to environment, transnational corporate capitalism appears determined to stand outside nature. The driving goal of the giant investment firms is to convert natural materials into commodities and commodities into profits, transforming living nature into vast accumulations of dead capital."
Michael Parenti

The IMechE say we will be able to build artificial trees in ten years but do not advocate any immediate action such as re-foresting land currently used for meat production with proper trees.

"Government policies and economic and political inequalities, rather than human fertility, are the major causes of forest destruction, through the promotion of coffee and other export crops; colonial tax policies that stimulate migration and land clearing; and privatization of common lands for extractive concessions."
James Oldham

Share of energy from renewable sources in final consumption of energy (according to the House of Lords!)

Belgium 2.2%
Bulgaria 9.4%
The Czech Republic 6.1%
Denmark 17.0%
Germany 5.8%
Estonia 18.0%
Ireland 3.1%
Greece 6.9%
Spain 8.7%
France 10.3%
Italy 5.2%
Cyprus 2.9%
Latvia 34.9%
Lithuania 15.0%
Luxembourg 0.9%
Hungary 4.3%
Malta 0.0%
The Netherlands 2.4%
Austria 23.3%
Poland 7.2%
Portugal 20.5%
Romania 17.8%
Slovenia 16.0%
The Slovak Republic 6.7%
Finland 28.5%
Sweden 39.8%
United Kingdom 1.3%

Organising Meeting

Tuesday 18th August 7pm
Newcastle Climate Action
Organising Meeting
Free Trade Inn
Workers Climate Action North East
Organising Meeting
Wednesday 19th August 5pm
Centre Against Unemployment - Cloth Market

UK Coal: Newts and Owls will be "dealt with"

"The inclusion of particular species do not confer value... The temporary loss of these species from the site, which are mainly considered to be common and widespread, will need to be weighed up above the benefits of the development... In order to compensate for the loss of a potential barn owl nest and roost site at least four barn owl boxes will be erected in peripheral parts of the site. (Refer to Barn Owl Trust Advice Leaflets.)"

UK Coal Ltd
Bradley Surface Mine Scheme
Supplementary Ecological Information

Earth First! Summer Gathering

Ecological Direct Action without Compromise!
Earth First! Summer Gathering
18th -24th Aug 2009, Cumbria

The site is in the Lake District, Cumbria. The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp. The exact location will be announced the week before the gathering so that it doesn't turn into a festival.

Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we're standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

Join us for 5 days (19th - 23rd) of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically. It's run without leaders by everyone who comes along, so come prepared to chip in!

Workshops, skill sharing and planning action, plus low-impact living without leaders.

Meet and share skills with others who care. Plan actions and campaigns. Have fun. We've got over 80 workshops, planning, strategy and 'Where Next' sessions planned, get in touch if you want to offer a workshop!

Contact email: summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

In Defiance of Capitalism. In Defence of LIfe.

Drax coal supply sabotaged, again
Anonymous activists have successfully sabotaged the Glentaggart opencast coal mine in South Lanarkshire. The unknown individual/s have disabled the conveyor belt that moves coal from the mine to Ravenstruther rail terminal from where the coal is sent to Drax power station in Yorkshire.


Scotland Climate Camp is at Mainshill Solidarity Camp
Train to Lanark - Cycle or get a lift to the camp -07553 215473

Scotland Climate Camp Info Night
Tuesday 26th July
Star and Shadow Cinema
8pm













Vestas Wind Turbine Factory Occupation - RMT TV
Campaign Against Climate Change / Save Vestas Public Meeting - A worker from the factory will speak
Friday 31st July, 6.30pm - Bridges Room, Gateshead Civic Centre - Poster
Facebook

Climate Camp at the Factory Gate
Coach to Southampton - Ferry to Cowes (£7) - Bus to Newport
http://savevestas.wordpress.com/

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.