[risingtide] CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 78, APRIL 2008

Rising Tide info at risingtide.org.uk
Wed Apr 9 16:59:01 CEST 2008


CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 78, APRIL 2008
Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK: info at risingtide.org.uk
To receive this News Sheet monthly, email news-subscribe at risingtide.org.uk
with the subject line 'subscribe' (without the quotes).

CONTENTS:

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UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
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1) DIRECT ACTION TRAINING - NATIONWIDE, 2008
2) BIOFOOLS DAY - NATIONWIDE, 15.4.08
3) NETWORK FOR CLIMATE ACTION MEETING - SHEFFIELD, 19.4.08
4) "REFUSE TO PAY" ON THE TRAIN TO LONDON - 20.4.08
5) PEOPLE AND PLANET PROTEST – E.ON HQ, WARWICK 23.4.08
6) ‘CLIMATE 4 CHANGE’ ART EXHIBITION & EVENTS - LONDON, APRIL 2008
7) ‘I BIKE MCR’ FESTIVAL - MANCHESTER, APRIL 2008
8) ‘MAYDAY! MAYDAY! INVASION OF THE CLIMATE SNATCHERS’ - EVERYWHERE, 1.5.08
9) CLIMATE ACTION THAT BITES! - EVERYWHERE, 3.6.08
10) NO RUNWAY 3 AT HEATHROW DEMO - 31.5.08
11) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION INVITATION - 3-11.8.08
12) SHORT COURSES AT CAT - WALES, SPRING 2008

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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
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1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY - 1.4.08 AND CONTINUING...
2) STOP CLIMATE CHAOS WEEK OF ACTION! - NATIONWIDE, 30.3.08-5.4.08
3) ACTIVISTS ‘MUNG BEAN’ 44 4x4 FOOLS - MARCH-APRIL 2008
4) FLASHMOB SUCCESS AND T5 SHAMBLES - 27.3.08
5) BRINGING THE PIPE BACK TO SHELL! - LONDON, 16-17.3.08
6) SQUEAK IN THE TUNNEL! - TARA IRELAND, MARCH 2008
7) ACTION AT WORLD BIOFUELS MARKET - BRUSSELS 14.3.08
8) SHELL SHUT UP IN NOTTINGHAM - 7.3.08
9) CLIMATE CAMP COMES TO LEEDS - 29.2.08
10) CIA TAKE TO THE TREES - AUSTRALIA, 29.2.08
11) URANIUM DRILLING BLOCKADE - SWEDEN, 2008
12) TAT COLLECTIVE - UK, 2008
13) EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK - MARCH 2008
14) PERMACULTURE ASSOCIATION EBULLETIN - MARCH 2008
15) WDM WEBSITE - PHULBARI, BANGLADESH 2008
16) ‘WHAT BETTER TIME?’ NEWSSHEET - MARCH 2008
17) INFORMATION FOR ACTION WEBSITE - 2008
18) ECOLOGICAL PUBLISHING PROJECT WEBSITE - 2008
19) NEWBURY VIDEO ARCHIVE - 2008

UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
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1) DIRECT ACTION TRAINING - NATIONWIDE, 2008
Want to brush direct action skills? Want a direct action training for your
group? Need a trainer or help in organising it? Want to advertise it to
lots of people? Get in touch with training at networkforclimateaction.org.uk
and we can put you in touch with experienced activists who are happy
to provide training. We can also put up info about upcoming trainings.
http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk

2) BIOFOOLS DAY - NATIONWIDE, 15.4.08
On 15th April mandatory biofuel blending will be introduced across the UK.
 There will be nationwide protests, including one outside Downing Street,
London at 6pm, organised by Biofuelwatch and the Campaign Against Climate
Change.  Please contact info at biofuelwatch.org.uk if you are organising a
local event and would like it advertised, or if you would like any further
information.
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/actionsapr08.php
The Edinburgh Agrofuel Action group are planning a protest:
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20461

3) NETWORK FOR CLIMATE ACTION MEETING - SHEFFIELD, 19.4.08
"Climate Action Movement Building"
10am - 5pm at Friends Meeting House Sheffield.
Are you involved in local climate action or would you like to be? Climate
Chaos is getting real and we need to act now - You are invited to a day of
networking, skill-sharing and organising! How is the movement doing? How
does it best move forwards? Donation of £2-3 towards the cost of the room.
Please contact if you are planning to attend and if you need
accommodation, so they can get an idea of numbers. Email;
contact at networkforclimateaction.org.uk

4) "REFUSE TO PAY" ON THE TRAIN TO LONDON - 20.4.08
Refuse to Pay: Take Action Against Soaring Train Prices
We are urging people to board trains into the central London terminals and
converge at around 1pm, having refused to pay for the overpriced tickets.
You do not have to be a student to take part in this action, and all are
encouraged to join in. As well as tackling public transport head on, it
also offers a positive example of how people can take empowering direct
action against climate change.
http://www.studentclimateproject.org.uk/drupal/

5) PEOPLE AND PLANET PROTEST – E.ON HQ, WARWICK 23.4.08
E.ON is building the new coal power station at Kingsnorth in Kent. The
protest will be at its national headquarters, which are in the Westwood
Business Park next to Warwick University. For more info go to:
http://peopleandplanet.org/nonewcoal#direct

7) ‘CLIMATE 4 CHANGE’ ART EXHIBITION & EVENTS - LONDON, APRIL 2008
Exhibition runs until the end of April at The Old Mercedes Showroom,
opposite Camden Arts Centre, 341 Finchley Road, NW3 6ET. No entry after
midnight.
For details see; http://www.circlecommunity.org/ or ring; 07946 457908

8) ‘I BIKE MCR’ FESTIVAL - MANCHESTER, APRIL 2008
‘I Bike MCR ‘is a grassroots festival organised voluntarily by a group of
cyclists  that want to promote cycling and bike related activities no
matter how crazy they may seem! See;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20483

9) MAYDAY MAYDAY! INVASION OF THE CLIMATE SNATCHERS - EVERYWHERE, 1.5.08
1st May 2008 - A Day of Climate Action, everywhere!
As climate change rises up the political agenda, a huge number of
techno-fixes are forming a new economic sector: from biofuels to nuclear
power, carbon trading to hydrogen fuel cells, dumping urine in the ocean
to carbon capture and storage. Everywhere corporations are seeking the
elusive elixir which allows us to continue business as usual. All of these
technologies are a distraction from the real solution to the problems we
face: a massive reduction in our consumption and the end to economic
growth. On May 1st, International Workers Day, let’s challenge these false
solutions to climate chaos and show the real solution: far-reaching social
change, and reduction in consumption.
http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/mayday.html
http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk/

10) CLIMATE ACTION THAT BITES! - EVERYWHERE, 3.6.08
The food we eat contributes up to a third of the emissions poisoning the
planet. It's time for a detox! Local organic food, growing your own,
veganism, permaculture, food security, humanitarian issues, agrofuels,
transport campaigning, GM food ... make the links on climate change ...
take action on the 3rd of June toward a low-carbon diet!
http://www.daysofclimateaction.org.uk/food.html

11) NO RUNWAY 3 DEMO - LONDON, 31.5.08
(Please note change of date to that previously announced)
Join a Spring Carnival of Resistance to Airport Expansion! We can stop a
third runway at Heathrow and the runaway growth in aviation! Tell the
government to get real on climate change and prevent a climate
catastrophe! Start time 12 noon. Probable assembly point Hatton Cross
(tube). There will be a carnival-style march to a festival-style event at
Sipson village. More details;
http://www.campaigncc.org/heathrow.shtml

12) CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION INVITATION - 3-11.8.08
You are invited to Kingsnorth coal-fired Power Station, Kent, UK, for 9
days of
Low-impact living and education / High-impact direct action!
Late July: Heathrow event and travel to Kingsnorth. Details soon...
Sunday August 3th: Camp set up - we'll all make the camp happen together.
Monday August 4th-10th: Workshops, networking and action training.
Wednesday August 6th: Day of Action against Agrofuels!
Saturday August 9th: Day of Mass Action against Kingsnorth!
Monday August 11th: Help return the camping field back to nature.
See you there!
www.climatecamp.org.uk

13) SHORT COURSES AT CAT - WALES, SPRING 2008
>From willow craft to converting your engine and solar thermal heating;
http://www2.cat.org.uk/shortcourses/

----------------------------------------------
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
----------------------------------------------
1) FOSSIL FOOLS DAY - 1.4.08 AND CONTINUING...
‘Fossil Fools Day saw massive protest throughout the UK and across the
world. From blockades to climate clowns, from banners to theatre; we
showed we are not giving up without a fight, a dance and a game of
football

The UK saw 35 actions in 20 cities with 44 arrests - A major gas terminal
in Bacton, Norfolk was blockaded and Ffos-y-fran open cast coal mine was
shut down in Wales. We took on the climate fools at petrol stations,
travel agents, RBS, npower, E.ON, Norwich Union, Hummer, Land Rover,
Porsche, Kingsnorth, McDonalds, and we laughed at John Hutton. We took to
the streets in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hastings, Hull, Lancaster,
Leamington Spa, London,  Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich,
Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Swindon, Worthing and
Wrexham...
Then, on the April 3rd, the coal-fired power station in Aberthaw, Wales
was blockaded in a solidarity action with the Ffos-y-fran crew... and on
the 4th, West-Midlands climate activists joined the occupation of
Ffos-y-fran!
In the USA, targets included banks and the oil, gas and coal industries.
Protesters in North Carolina D-locked themselves to bulldozers to stop
work at a new coal plant, while the Billionaires For Dirty Energy
blockaded Citibank in New York. There were also protests in Australia, New
Zealand and South Africa with banners, parades and polar bears. Fossil
Fools Day brought a great surge of action from around the world - we are
getting stronger!’
For pictures, videos and reports from UK and around the world, check out
http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org/category/front-page/
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/273
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395361.html
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20420

2) STOP CLIMATE CHAOS WEEK OF ACTION! - NATIONWIDE, 30.3.08-5.4.08
There have been nationwide events during this Week of Action designed to
pile pressure on MPs to pledge support for a 'Climate Bill with Bite'.
Having won its first demand (annual milestones for progress towards carbon
reduction targets) SCC is demanding that the Bill targets at least an 80%
cut in UK carbon emissions by 2050 and includes emissions from
international aviation and shipping. There were events nationwide - in
Newquay, Cornwall a masked Gordon Brown enjoyed himself playing by the sea
with his little paper aeroplane!
www.icount.org.uk

3) ACTIVISTS ‘MUNG BEAN’ 44 4x4 FOOLS - MARCH-APRIL 2008
Activists in Edinburgh claim responsibility for 'disarming' 44 4x4s and
sports cars over the last two months, stating that they are fighting
climate change.
The saboteurs say they have targeted the 4x4s to raise awareness about
these highly fuel inefficient vehicles and the disastrous effects they
have upon our climate, and more generally about the relationship between
wealth and climate change.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20395
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395240.html

4) FLASHMOB SUCCESS AND T5 SHAMBLES - 27.3.08
Heathrow's Terminal 5 opening day was a complete shambles, by mid
afternoon the much vaunted, computerised, luggage system was shut down and
dozens of flights had been cancelled. However, the 11am Flashmob went
ahead without a hitch!
10.59, and the International Arrivals area was a predictable dull grey.
11.00, it turned red as hundreds of activists stripped off their outer
layers to reveal 'Stop Airport Expansion' T-shirts. For video footage see
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/t5-flash-mob-residents-arms
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/flash-mob-visits-terminal-5

5) BRINGING THE PIPE BACK TO SHELL! - LONDON, 16-17.3.08
Gluaiseacht members along with Shell to Sea campaigners, friends and
British supporters took part in lively actions over the weekend of St
Patrick in London. A 20 metre pipeline was paraded to Shell's HQ and
outside an investors meeting. In a solidarity action two petrol stations
were D-locked shut for several hours.
http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1727
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20375
Bristol Rising Tide also held a solidarity demo at a local Shell petrol
station on St. Patrick’s day.  ‘Many cars changed their minds about
filling up when seeing us and we gave out 500 leaflets to generally
supportive and encouraging rush hour traffic. We even had Irish music and
a little leprechaun!’

6) SQUEAK IN THE TUNNEL! - TARA IRELAND, MARCH 2008
The Protectors at Rath Lugh have been digging tunnels! Squeak stayed
underground for three days and as a result of her action, she secured
agreement from the National Roads Authority (NRA) that construction work
at the site would be postponed until April 17th. There have also been dawn
raids, eviction alerts and arrests. For more info. and details of how to
get there to help see;
Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp Website: http://www.tarapixie.net/
or Save Tara: http://www.savetara.com/

7) ACTION AT WORLD BIOFUELS MARKET - BRUSSELS 14.3.08
The activist groups Agrofools and Rhythms of Resistance attempted to block
all 7 sets of entrance doors and 2 gates to the World Biofuels Market in
Brussels. All but one set were successfully shut. The action ended after 3
hours with three people arrested, and later released.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20362

8) SHELL SHUT UP IN NOTTINGHAM - 7.3.08
A group of seven Nottingham student activists successfully disrupted a
Shell recruitment event. The activists employed varying tactics; some went
for a highly effective "Yes Men" style approach, others wore anti-Shell
clothing, some distributed leaflets about the corporation and still others
opted for outright, heated debates with the rather disheartened and
dispirited Shell employees.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20329

9) CLIMATE CAMP COMES TO LEEDS - 29.2.08
Residents from flood stricken areas of Yorkshire and Humberside blockaded
the Government Office in Leeds to protest at its continued promotion of
airport expansion. Inspired by last year’s camp for climate action at
Heathrow, the protesters from Hull, South Yorkshire and the Calder Valley
used pop-up tents to set up camp outside the main entrance.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=blogs/2008/03/1/climate-camp-flood-victims-blockade-government-office-leeds

10) CIA TAKE TO THE TREES - AUSTRALIA, 29.2.08
The group of Concerned Independent Activists (CIA) have occupied a tree
platform in bushland at College Grove in Bunbury, Western Australia, to
delay destruction of the forest. For more see;
http://www.freewebs.com/swec_wa/index.htm
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20468

11) URANIUM DRILLING BLOCKADE - SWEDEN, 2008
Appeal for international solidarity for Nianfors Uranium drilling
blockade, Sweden.
Swedish activists have set up camp and a blockade to prevent test drilling
going ahead. The weather conditions this time of year are tough, some
nights the temperature reaches -20 and the snowfall can be up to 30cm
deep, but people dress heavily and the camaraderie is wonderful, so the
spirit is strong. However they need all the support they can get!
See; www.nianfors.nu/engvers.html
Online Petition; http://www.nianfors.nu/engjustnu.html

12) AT COLLECTIVE - UK, 2008
New collective - commonly known as 'activist tat collective - aims to help
grassroots events. They are currently compiling a list of equipment,
skills and spaces that people have and wish to see used for the benefit of
other groups engaged in radical social change.
If you do have any equipment, skills or storage on offer then please fill
in their survey at http://tinyurl.com/3bl8ny
You can also contact them directly. For more background info, please see
below.
Email: atcoop at atcoop.org.uk
Web: www.atcoop.org.uk
Tel: 0845 217 8997

13) EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK - MARCH 2008
They're in there for us out here - Please write!
Spirit of Freedom news sheet;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/20363

14) PERMACULTURE ASSOCIATION EBULLETIN - MARCH 2008
Renewables, food, Big Blether, direct action, how to build a house for
£4,000...
It's all in the Permaculture Association newsletter.
To subscribe: http://www.permaculture.org.uk/ebulletin.php

15) WORLD DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT WEBSITE - PHULBARI, BANGLADESH 2008
Global Coal Management (GCM), a UK company, is planning an open-cast
mining project near Phulbari in north-west Bangladesh. The mine would be
huge: 450 million tonnes of coal over 30 years. (For comparison, the
Ffos-y-fran open cast coal mine in South Wales will extract 10.8 million
tonnes, over 17 years.)
More than 40,000 people face resettlement, and thousands more are at risk
from a reduced or contaminated water supply. The loss of land also
threatens to decrease food security in the area. This mine is opposed by
local people as it will have devastating impacts for generations to come.
One protest ended in the death of three people.
To find out more about this Barclays' sponsored scheme see;
http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/others/bangladeshmine/index.htm

16) ‘WHAT BETTER TIME?’ NEWSSHEET - MARCH 2008
The third edition of Scottish Climate Activists newsheet, ‘What Better
Time?’, is out now. Read online at; http://whatbettertime.livejournal.com/

17) INFORMATION FOR ACTION WEBSITE - 2008
Environmental website from Australia with some fun links and an automated
lobbying service.
http://www.informaction.org/

18) ECOLOGICAL PUBLISHING PROJECT WEBSITE - 2008
A new website which seeks to give a 'deep green' analysis of the world as
well as provide resources for all those fighting to protect it.
http://www.ecological-sustainability.info/

19) NEWBURY VIDEO ARCHIVE - 2008
Newbury Bypass video archive (& other protest gems)
Nearly 3 hours of neatly collated video from the Newbury Bypass evictions
in the winter of 1996. See; http://www.kinokast.net/newbury.html
There is also footage of various environmental protests, London Critical
Masses, G8 and much more. See; www.kinokast.net






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