CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 72, OCTOBER 2007 (please disregard previous impostor!)
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) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION VS. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
2) PROTEST AT EUROPE’S LARGEST BIOFUEL CONFERENCE – 17.10.07 NEWARK
3) CAMP FOR HOPE AT STAVERTON AIRPORT – 20/21.10.07 GLOUCESTERSHIRE
4) SAVE SWALLOWS WOOD – OCTOBER 2007 UPDATE
5) NATIONAL CLIMATE CAMP ACTION PLANNING MEETING – 3-4.11.07 OXFORD
6) CLIMATE CAMPS – 2008 GERMANY AND WORLDWIDE!
7) TARA UPDATE ( AND ROUTE WALKS ) – 25.9.07 IRELAND
8) CRITICAL MASS UPDATES – NATIONWIDE
9) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE FILM NIGHTS – AUTUMN 2007
10) TEMPORARY AUTONOMOUS ART – OCT ’07, EDINBURGH & MANCHESTER
11) WRITE IN DEFENCE OF ISOLATED PERUVIAN TRIBES – 17.9.07
12) STUDENT CLIMATE PROJECT LAUNCH GATHERING – OXFORD, 30.11-2.12.07
13) COIN & OXFORDSHIRE CLIMATEXCHANGE SPEAKER SERIES, OCT-DEC
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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
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1) ROSSPORT SOLIDARITY DEMOS – 14.9.07 LEEDS, LONDON, BRISTOL, READING, MADRID & IRELAND
2) DIRECT ACTION IN BRISTOL – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
3) WHY CARBON TRADING ISN’T WORKING – ARTICLES 2006/7
4) GAGGED! SOUTH WALES ANARCHIST NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2007
5) FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS SHELLS ARCTIC DRILLING – 14.9.07
6) BANK PULLS SAKHALIN-2 FUNDING – 15.8.07
7) “FLOOD SUMMIT” AT AIRPORT – 3.9.07 DONCASTER, YORKS.
8) COAL ACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA – 2/3.9.07
9) GLOBAL ACTIONS AGAINST HEAVY INDUSTRY – 12.9.07
10) GREEK DIRECT ACTION – SEPTEMBER 2007
11) CRITICAL MASS AND CARFREE DAY IN BRUSSELS – 24.9.07
12) ART NOT OIL 2007 GALLERY HITS 50
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UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
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1) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION AGAINST ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
RBS, the self-described ‘Oil and Gas Bank’ and second-largest bank in Europe is the leading financier of climate change. From West Africa to the Ecuadorian rainforest, from the North Sea to the Middle East, RBS loans play a key role in forcing open the new carbon frontier. The thirty oil and gas finance deals RBS signed between 2001 and 2006 locked us all into 655 million tonnes of emissions over the next 15 years – more than the UK’s current annual emissions total! On 15th October, get together with your local group, build on connections made at the Camp, reach out to others in your area and confront RBS with your own chosen style of creative direct action. To find your nearest RBS branch or office: www.rbs.co.uk/microsites/general/branch_locator/step1.asp Download Platform’s report ‘The Oil and Gas Bank’: www.carbonweb.org/documents/Oil_&_Gas_Bank.pdf For help with planning effective actions: www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk One such action is being planned in conjunction with West Cornwall Friends of the Earth; Outside Royal Bank of Scotland, Green St (off Lemon Quay), Truro, 12 noon, Mon 15th Oct. Contact RTUK for others.
2) PROTEST AT EUROPE’S LARGEST BIOFUEL CONFERENCE – 17.10.07 NEWARK
Outside Europe’s largest biofuel Industry conference at Newark Show ground, Nottinghamshire. ( Meet 2pm ) Participants of the conference include BP, Virgin and D1 Oils. The biofuel industry is implicated in large-scale deforestation, high greenhouse gas emissions, human rights abuses, dispossession of local communities, and rising food prices. Please come along with banners, placards or suitable costumes. For more information, including transport, contact info[at]biofuelwatch.org.uk. To find out more about the impacts of large-scale biofuels, see; www.biofuelwatch.org.uk
3) CAMP FOR HOPE AT STAVERTON AIRPORT – 20/21.10.07 GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Inspired by the Camp for Climate Action, activists and local residents are organising a camp to protest the expansion of Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton. “Camp Hope” will take place at a secret location near the airport on the 20/21 October, and will include workshops and peaceful protest. Location to be announced on website on the evening of 19th October. www.myspace.com/campofhope http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5124
4) SAVE SWALLOWS WOOD – OCTOBER 2007 UPDATE
A lot has been happening in the last few weeks, including the inaugural Glossop Critical Mass. Also, there are two URGENT letter actions that they need your help with. They should only take a few minutes of your time. www.saveswallowswood.org.uk
5) NATIONAL CLIMATE CAMP ACTION PLANNING MEETING – 3-4.11.07 OXFORD
The Climate Camp didn’t stop climate change – but it’s part of a growing social movement that can! Come and take the next steps forward at the upcoming UK-wide meeting on Nov 3-4 in Oxford. Everyone is welcome, whether you came to the camp, or were simply inspired by it. www.climatecamp.org.uk
6) CLIMATE CAMPS – 2008 GERMANY AND WORLDWIDE!
Following the model established by the Camp for Climate Action in the UK, plans are afoot for a Climate-Action Camp in Germany in 2008. This will include knowledge exchange (in workshops), self-organised living that minimises the ecological footprint, networking and direct action. There are plans for similar camps to be set up next year in several countries. watch this space…
www.climatecamp.org.uk
http://www.klimacamp.org/
7) TARA UPDATE ( AND ROUTE WALKS ) – 25.9.07 IRELAND
They would desperately like to see more people and supplies on site! There is currently just a small group of people trying to stop work all over the Tara Skryne valley. However, on Monday September 24th, thirty brave cultural conservationists donned face paints and headed off on a route walk from the Rath Lugh direct action camp. This was such a success ( destruction stopped, no arrests ) that they have decided to do it every Monday – Be at the Tara Solidarity Vigil camp on the hill by 9.30 am or at Rath Lugh by 10.00am. Route walk report; http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5132
www.tarapixie.net
www.savetara.com
www.circlecommunity.org
For recent videos & photos of protests see; http://livevideo.com/tarapixie
8) CRITICAL MASS UPDATES – NATIONWIDE
For info. and updates check; http://www.urban75.com/Action/critical.html
9) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE FILM NIGHTS – AUTUMN 2007
Including “Reclaim Power” 19.10.07 at 7pm followed by discussion with Rising Tide representative. http://plymouthenvironmentcentre.org.uk/events.php#film-nights
10) TEMPORARY AUTONOMOUS ART SHOWS – OCTOBER 2007 EDINBURGH & MANCHESTER
Edinburgh 10th-14th October Manchester 24th-28th October For further info. check; http://www.randomartists.org/
11) WRITE IN DEFENCE OF ISOLATED PERUVIAN TRIBES – 17.9.07
Two companies planning to explore for oil in Peruvian rainforest have revealed their sensitive plans to ‘communicate’ with the previously uncontacted inhabitants using megaphones! In the past, oil company workers in the Amazon region have been killed by isolated Indians. Despite this risk to their own workers, and the equal danger of spreading fatal diseases to the Indians, the companies – Barrett Resources of the US and Repsol YPF of Spain – have refused to suspend their plans.
http://www.survival-international.org/news/2502
You can help by writing a letter;
http://www.survival-international.org/actnow/letters/isolatedindians
12) STUDENT CLIMATE PROJECT LAUNCH GATHERING – OXFORD, 30.11-2.12.07
‘The Student Climate Project came out of discussions at the 2007 Climate Camp, and seeks bring together students to take collective action against the root causes of climate change. It will also develop ways to build the student movement and deal with climate change issues in the education system. The project is non-hierarchical and based on consensus decision making, and the Launch Gathering is the perfect opportunity to get involved, share your ideas and plan for action. See www.studentclimateproject.org.uk
13) COIN & OXFORDSHIRE CLIMATEXCHANGE SPEAKER SERIES, OCT-DEC ‘07
8.10.07: ‘The Power of Community -_How Cuba Survived Peak Oil’
10.10.07: COIN will be running its new 3-hour high-speed course, ‘Climate Change Condensed’ at The Old Library above the Vaults in Radcliffe Square. 24.10.07: George Marshall launches his new book ‘Carbon Detox: your step-by-step guide to getting real about climate change’ Wesley Memorial Church – 7pm – £3/£2 concs.
3.11.07: Step It Up
7.11.07: George Monbiot – ‘Climate Change – a global injustice’ Wesley Memorial Church – 8.00pm – £5/£3 concs.
12.11.07: Ann Pettifor _ ‘Is there a green movement in Britain today?’ Wesley Memorial Church – 7pm – £3/£2 concs.
22.11.07: ‘Growing local in a changing climate: impacts and adaptations on allotments’ – an event in association with the Oxford Allotment Federation Oxford Town Hall, 7pm _ free
29.11.07: Rob Hopkins – ‘Planning for Life After Oil – the Transition Concept’. Find out how to inspire and plan energy descent in your town Friends Meeting House – 7pm – £3/£2 concs.
Other events to look out for:
* COIN & Oxfordshire ClimateXChange will be running an Oxfordshire Ecohouse Open Day on the weekend of the 24th and 25th of November; coinet.org.uk, www.ecovation.org.uk
* Oxfordshire ClimateXChange is running a range of events throughout * 8.12.07 is the National Climate March and Global Day of Action. See www.campaigncc.org for details
* January 2008: Transition City Oxford will be holding an Open Space meeting to get the ball rolling in the local area – if you are keen to get involved, email mim@coinet.org.uk and see www.transitiontowns.org for futher info about the Transition Towns concept www.coinet.org.uk
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RECENT HAPPENINGS:
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1) ROSSPORT SOLIDARITY DEMOS – 14.9.07 LEEDS, LONDON, BRISTOL, READING, MADRID & IRELAND
There were a series of demonstrations held in solidarity with the day of action against Shell’s plans for a gas pipeline & refinery in Mayo, Ireland. In Rossport itself over 150 people occupied the refinery site. Bristol Rising Tide held a solidarity demo at a Shell Garage in Eastville, Bristol with leaflets and banners.
For more details about the various actions check;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5090
http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1&type=page
2) DIRECT ACTION IN BRISTOL – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
Activists in Bristol have been busy. Parts of three golf courses have been dug up and the message “decadent waste of water” sprayed near a club house. A mobile phone mast has been sabotaged. A non-passenger line which transports cars and fossil fuel to the Midlands was cut three quarters of the way through in two places and marked with high visibility paint. A warning banner reading: “Stop: Trees on line” was fixed across the line several hundred yards in front of this. Also, within the last 6 months, the front tyres of forty 4x4s have been punctured in and around Bristol. Finally, a “corporate entertainment” company called 4-Play, which provides off road driving for 4x4s in the south west, has had vehicles spray painted with “4-play – blow-job the planet”.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5050
3) WHY CARBON TRADING ISN’T WORKING – ARTICLES 2006/7
An excellent series of articles on why the neoliberal approach to climate change isn’t working can be found at;
http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/subject/climate/
4) GAGGED! ANARCHIST NEWSLETTER – SOUTH WALES, SEPT 2007
Download the PDF here;
Alternatively you can read it here;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5052
5) FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS SHELLS ARCTIC DRILLING – 14.9.07
A federal court has denied Shell’s latest request to lift an order blocking the company’s Arctic Ocean drilling. This ruling likely dooms the Dutch oil giant’s drilling plans, at least for this year. http://www.pacificenvironment.org/
6) BANK PULLS SAKHALIN-2 FUNDING – 15.8.07
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has decided to pull its funding for the $20-plus billion Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas project, located in Russia’s Far East. Since January, EBRD and the Sakhalin Energy shareholders (Gazprom, Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi) have held talks over the project’s finance. EBRD cut off discussions in favour of financing other projects, such as those that promote sustainable energy. http://www.pacificenvironment.org/
7) PROTEST AS RDA HOLDS “FLOOD SUMMIT” AT AIRPORT – 3.9.07 DONCASTER, YORKS.
Yorkshire Forward (Regional Development Agency) held an outrageous “Flood Summit” at Finningley airport. Local people visited with pop-up tents and banners to leaflet the conference’s participants and hold alternative workshops highlighting the link between aviation growth and worsening climate change. The conference was intended to congratulate the RDA on their response to the recent floods. The choice of venue shows just how out of touch with reality these half-wits are. http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5021
8) COAL ACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA – 2/3.9.07
On the 2nd September, twelve Greenpeace activists were arrested at the world’s biggest coal port at Newcastle, 160km north of Sydney, after painting the message “Australia Pushing Export Coal” on the side of a coal ship and unfurling a large banner in Chinese calling on China to be cautious of John Howard and George Bush’s attempts to sabotage Kyoto. The protest comes at the start of the 2007 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum meeting being hosted by Australia. http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/media/releases/climate-change/apec-coal-protest The following day activists locked themselves on to a coal conveyor belt, forcing the shut-down of a generator and halving production from Victoria’s biggest coal fired power station. http://www.realactiononclimatechange.blogspot.com/
9) GLOBAL ACTIONS AGAINST HEAVY INDUSTRY – 12.9.07
People in South Africa, Iceland, Trinidad, Denmark and America held a series of coordinated protests against heavy industrialisation. This is the first event of a new and growing global movement that began at the 2007 Saving Iceland protest camp in Ã-lfus, Iceland. http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5067 A UK activist living in Iceland and involved with the protests there, has been threatened with deportation for being: “a threat to ‘public order and security’ and ‘fundamental societal values’. http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5117
10) GREEK DIRECT ACTION – SEPTEMBER 2007
For direct action news from Greece, check; http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/
11) CRITICAL MASS AND CARFREE DAY IN BRUSSELS – 24.9.07
For details and some great pics see; http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/381930.html
12) ART NOT OIL 2007 GALLERY HITS 50 and over 1500 hits.
Take a look and send in your own work: www.artnotoil.org.uk
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