[risingtide] CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 85
Rising Tide
info at risingtide.org.uk
Thu Jan 22 16:08:37 CET 2009
CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 85, December/January 2008/2009
Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK.
To receive this News Sheet monthly, send an email to news-subscribe at
risingtide.org.uk with the subject line 'subscribe' (without the quotes
and replace at with @).
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UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
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1. Camp for Climate Action Gathering, 31.01.09-01.02.09
2. Earth First! Winter Moot, 6-8.02.09
3. Mobilising for the COP, 13-15.03.09
4. Do It Yourself! Course, 22-27.03.09
5. Fossil Fools Day 2009, 01.04.09
6. Coal Caravan, April 2009
7. Earth Activist Training, 11-26.07.09
8. Nonviolence for a Change Training, Jan-Dec 2009
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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
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1. Case collapses against E.On blockaders, 14.01.09
2. Heathrows third runway gets the go-ahead and activists respond,
January 2009
3. Plane Stupid shut down Stansted Airport, 08-12.08
4. 48 hours of action against E.on and new coal, 28-29.11.08
5. Scottish coal rail terminal shut down, 15.12.08
6. E.ON forced to abandon recruitment tour, November 2008
7. Kelsterback Forest Occupation (Frankfurt Airport), ongoing
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS:
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1) Camp for Climate Action New Year Gathering, 31.01.09 01.02.09
2008 saw the biggest Climate Camp to date and the most incredible array of
direct action against climate change on record. But what does 2009 hold in
store? Regardless of whether youve been to a climate camp, all are
welcome to come along to this exciting weekend gathering. We will be
asking ourselves whether there should be another big summer event and, if
so, what it should be. Already there have been many possibilities raised,
ranging from another rural camp to a singular day of action. Other ideas
include an urban convergence or a climate caravan. The gathering will also
provide a forum to talk http://climatecamp.org.uk/?q=node/468
2) Earth First! Winter Moot, 6-8.02.09
The Earth First! Winter Moot is a weekend to reflect on where we are as a
radical ecologist movement and on where we are going. The moot will be
about discussing strategy, strengthening the EF! network, security and
communications, and action planning. A session is also reserved for
discussing a UK mobilisation for the UN climate conference in Copenhagen
late 2009. The moot will be held in Brighton (t.b.c.). Please check the
website nearer to the time for further details and email any items you
would like to add an item to the agenda to moot2009 at earthfirst.org.uk.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/21557
3) Mobilising for the COP, 13-15.03.09
The UN Climate Conference of Parties number 15 is set to take place in
Copenhagen on the 30th of November 2009, and it will be the biggest
climate summit ever to have taken place. More than 12,000 delegates -
business leaders, politicians, diplomats and lobbyists - are going to be
discussing an international treaty to replace the failed Kyoto Protocol.
Tens of thousands of activists and protesters will be making their way to
Copenhagen for this major event. In September 2008 people from more than
23 countries met in Copenhagen and agreed on a Call to Action, calling for
people to start mobilizing and to carry out actions locally as well as
coming to Copenhagen for mass actions.
Another international planning meeting will take place in March
(13th-15th) 2009 where the concepts and strategy for action will be
discussed. http://climateaction09.org/
4) Do It Yourself! 22-27.03.09
A course exploring tools for empowerment and grassroots social change, at
the Findhorn Foundation
Can we manage our own lives and communities at the grassroots rather than
retreating into fear, blame and stereotypes or looking to others to solve
the problems? Many people believe that the answers to the
big questions lie in community empowerment, bottom up organising. This
course provides a chance to become confident using a range of techniques
designed to this end and to clarify our visions for the potential of these
approaches. We will also put aside time to deal with the emotions and
doubts raised and include a range of short films and contemporary case
studies.
The main aims of the course are to share with participants tools,
knowledges, and initiatives which can be used to empower themselves and
their communities, and inspire positive social change, based on
co-operation and solidarity. The course will draw on the book DO IT
YOUSELF A Handbook for Changing Our World edited by TRAPESE (see
handbookforchange.org) Email for more info: trapese at riseup.net
5) Fossil Fools Day 2009, 01.04.09
Just in case you missed the news Fossil Fools Day is back! On April 1st,
join the global day of resistance and pull a prank that packs a punch.
Call-out now available on the website, so help spread the word. If you
would like leaflets and/or posters send us an email and well post you
some info at risingtide.org.uk
www.risingtide.org.uk/fossilfoolsday2009
6) Coal Caravan, 17.04.09 04.05.09
The fabulous climate caravan lives on. This time we will be the COAL
CARAVAN, walking and cycling between the sites for proposed open cast
mines and new power stations in the Midlands, Yorkshire and North East. On
our route we'll be talking to local people, organising bicycled power
films and events, holding public discussions and displays, and linking
groups from different areas to help strengthen isolated campaigns.
Precise details of the route are to be confirmed, but put the dates in
your diary now! Meet up Friday 17th April (W. Midlands), to start our
journey on Saturday 18th. The Caravan will end two and a half weeks later
with a grand finale on Bank Holiday Monday (4th May).
The caravan itself will not involve direct action (although we may offer
training, if local groups so request).
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/21915
/caravan at climatecamp.org.uk.
7) Earth Activist Training, 11-26.07.09
Learn the skills to transform a piece of land, a community, and our
political and economic systems. Spend two weeks in rural Devon learning:
Nature and wilderness awareness, Diversity in ecosystems and social
movements, Solutions that exist: alternative energy; organic farming;
natural building; bioremediation & restoration, Soil and woodland ecology
and much, much more
On completion participants will receive a permaculture design
certificate. The course will be held at Landmatters Permaculture
Cooperative in Devon. Costs: £200 - £650 sliding scale according to
income. http://www.landmatters.org.uk / earthactivisttraining at riseup.net
8) Nonviolence for a Change Training, 2009
Turning the Tide will offer monthly workshops in nonviolent methods and
strategies for social change. You can participate as a member
of the year-group (committing to all eleven sessions) or only come to
those workshops which interest you.
http://www.turning-the-tide.org
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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
----------------
1) Case collapses against E.On blockaders, 14.01.09
Two environmentalists, arrested following a blockade of E.On's Nottingham
offices on Fossil Fools Day 2008, had the case against them dismissed on
Wednesday 14th January. The case collapsed after it emerged that the
prosecution had offered no evidence to support the charge of aggravated
trespass. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were found to have been
negligent in their administration of the case and were ordered to pay the
defence's costs.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419126.html
2) Heathrows third runway gets the go-ahead and activists respond,
January 2009
Both Heathrow and Manchester airports were targeted Monday 12th January
with the domestic departure lounges of both airports simultaneously
occupied by protesters. In London over 500 people defied airport bylaws by
staging a sit-down dinner, forcing airport operator BAA to close 18
check-in desks. In Manchester police used powers under Section 14 of the
Public Order Act to contain up to 100 protesters on the ground floor of
Terminal 3, with one arrest.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace revealed that a plot of land within the proposed
expansion site had been purchased in an attempt to delay the construction.
When the announcement came on Thursday 15th, 'climate suffragettes'
smashed the windows of the Department of Transport
(http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418697.html) and on Saturday 17th
Jan, 500 flash mobbed at Heathrows terminal 5.
For all the details, pictures, videos and more visit -
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418105.html
3) Plane Stupid shut down Stansted Airport, 08-12.08
50 activists from Plane Stupid shut down Stansted Airport by camping on
the runway and surrounding themselves with fortified security fencing.
Plane Stupid announced We are genuinely grateful for the level of support
from people who have agreed with us that desperate times call for
desperate measures. We have used this action to ask for everyone to
'please, do something'. We hope that all those that have expressed support
for today's action will now think about what they are going to do to
ensure the survival of our planet and people on it.
http://www.planestupid.com/?q=content/plane-stupid-shuts-stansted-airport
4) 48 hours of action against E.on and new coal, 28-29.11.08
The 48 hours of action was a great first shot across the bows. E.On were
rattled, local and national media took an interest, resources were
gathered and are now ready to go, a new website is now up and running
(http://www.e-onf-off.org.uk/), a list of targets has been compiled and
E.on know that if they try to build a new coal fired power station at
Kingsnorth then they will face a barrage of direct action - both towards
their daily operations and their supply chain. E.on be warned. Actions
took place in: London, Brighton, Bristol, Norwich, Coventry, Nottingham &
Coventry and at Kingsnorth itself. http://risingtide.org.uk/node/309
Plus, Green Banksy invades Kingsnorth during the 48 hours: An
unidentified group allegedly penetrated Kingsnorth security and switched
off almost 500 megawatts of generating capacity, cutting almost 2% off the
nations power supply for about four hours.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414463.html
5) Scottish coal rail terminal shut down, 15.12.08
30 campaigners from Coal Action Scotland together with local residents
peacefully blockaded the entrance to the Scottish Coal-operated
Ravenstruther coal rail terminal in South Lanarkshire for 8 hours. The
protestors were acting to oppose the five open cast coal mines that
deliver coal to the rail terminal and in resistance to the thirteen new
open cast coal mines due to open in Scotland. Protestors erected and
scaled a 15ft scaffolding tripod, blocking trucks from entering the
terminal. Others locked themselves by their necks to a conveyor belt and a
bulldozer, preventing coal stockpiles from being loaded onto trains. An
estimated 6,380 tonnes of coal were stopped from being transported from
the coal mines to power stations, preventing the equivalent to 11,675.4
tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.
http://coalactionedinburgh.wordpress.com/
6) E.ON forced to abandon recruitment tour, November 2008
Anti-coal protests at graduate careers fairs around the UK forced E.ON to
cancel its recruitment tour. The energy company, which is planning to
build a new coal power station at Kingsnorth, Kent, saw seventeen of its
careers events disrupted. This was a co-ordinated national effort from
students involved in People & Planet, the Coal Action Network, and the
Camp for Climate Action. Leaflets, banners, fancy dress, conversations
with attendees and eye-catching stunts were used to embarrass E.ON and
dissuade graduates from joining the company. The Royal Bank of Scotland,
one of E.ONs main financial backers, were also targeted at the fairs over
their role in providing loans to build the proposed new power station.
http://leaveitintheground.org.uk/?p=185
7) Kelsterback Forest Occupation (Frankfurt Airport), ongoing
Resist Frankfurt Airport Expansion - defend the forest camp. After
Heathrow, Frankfurt is the largest airport in Europe. Fraport (the company
running the airport) and the German government are trying to build a new
runway, to massively increase flights. To build the new runway, Fraport
need to clear 250,000 m2 of protected forest. For seven months, activists
have been squatting the forest, building tree platforms and floating rafts
to resist attempts to chop down the forest. January 2009 is bringing
threat of eviction - and they need all the help they can get.
http://waldbesetzung.blogsport.de/english-information/ or
http://waldbesetzung.blogsport.de/photos/
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Rising Tide UK,
c/o 62 Fieldgate Street,
London E1 1ES
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.artnotoil.org.uk
www.fossilfoolsday.org
Tel: 07708 794665
See also the Camp for Climate Action (www.climatecamp.org.uk), Network for
Climate Action (www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk) and Climate Indymedia
(www.climateimc.org)
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