News in Brief - Resisting
Anti-nuclear activists protest as nuke submarine arrives at Faslane
Campaigners from Helensburgh CND and Trident Ploughshares held a banner reading "Disarm the Seas" on the Rhu Spit as the first nuclear-powered Astute-Class submarine sailed through the Rhu narrows on the west coast of Scotland on 20th November. Rainbow peace flags and a colourful CND banner fluttered to greet the new hunter-killer submarine, HMS Astute, as it sailed into the Faslane naval base for the first time.
Link: www.tridentploughshares.org/article1582
Smash EDO campaigners target Barclays
Brighton's Smash EDO has launched a new campaign against Barclays, with a first picket at the bank's Brighton branch on North Street on 28th November. Pickets also took place in Wrexham and Falmouth, while in Cambridge anonymous activists wrote “Barclays – £7bn invested in arms trade” in six foot letters above their local branch. The group is calling for autonomous actions against Barclays Bank to force it to cease providing 'market maker' services on the NYSE stock exchange for ITT Corporation, which owns Brighton-based arms manufacturer EDO MBM/ITT.
Link: www.smashedo.org.uk/target-barclays.html
Action report: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/442430.html Highgate Rabbit Farm blackmail trial A man is currently facing trial at Lincolnshire Crown Court for burglary, blackmail and interfering with the contractual relations of an animal testing laboratory (SOCPA 145). The charges arose from a liberation of 129 rabbits from the farm on January 7th 2008. The blackmail charge relates to graffiti sprayed at the farm saying “Close down or we'll close you down”. Police are eager to widen the interpretation of blackmail in order to use it against campaigners who call for the closure of a business after the conviction of the SHAC 7 (see www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3191). See Corporate Watch's previous report on this, and another, Highgate trial at www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3385 Link: www.smashedo.org.uk/target-barclays.html
Campaigners protest against Languedoc-Rousillon due to Agrexco links As part of an international day of action against the Languedoc-Rousillon regional council in France, Palestine solidarity campaigners picketed the Maison Languedoc-Rousillon offices in London, Milan, Brussels and Montpelier on 21st November in protest at the council's plans to build facilities for Carmel-Agrexco in the French harbour of Sete. Link: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/442075.html
or: www.protection-palestine.org/spip.php?article8021
Birmingham students protest against 'corporate education' Students and staff at the University of Birmingham held a protest last month against the university management's decision to put business before education. The new vice-chancellor had recently announced plans for heavy 'disinvestment' (management speak for sacking workers) across the university, with up to 200 jobs expected to go. The university is also in the process of trying to force through a plan to close the Department of Sociology, which will lead to the loss of 16 further jobs. The wider goal appears to be turning the university into a consultancy service for government and business. Link: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2009/11/442073.html
Anti-vivisection protest at Bradford University Twelve anti-vivisection campaigners held a noisy and visible demo at the University of Bradford on 20th November, following exposure of animal abuse inside their laboratory. Link: http://academicabuse.wordpress.com
Action report: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/442430.html Highgate Rabbit Farm blackmail trial A man is currently facing trial at Lincolnshire Crown Court for burglary, blackmail and interfering with the contractual relations of an animal testing laboratory (SOCPA 145). The charges arose from a liberation of 129 rabbits from the farm on January 7th 2008. The blackmail charge relates to graffiti sprayed at the farm saying “Close down or we'll close you down”. Police are eager to widen the interpretation of blackmail in order to use it against campaigners who call for the closure of a business after the conviction of the SHAC 7 (see www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3191). See Corporate Watch's previous report on this, and another, Highgate trial at www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3385 Link: www.smashedo.org.uk/target-barclays.html
Campaigners protest against Languedoc-Rousillon due to Agrexco links As part of an international day of action against the Languedoc-Rousillon regional council in France, Palestine solidarity campaigners picketed the Maison Languedoc-Rousillon offices in London, Milan, Brussels and Montpelier on 21st November in protest at the council's plans to build facilities for Carmel-Agrexco in the French harbour of Sete. Link: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/442075.html
or: www.protection-palestine.org/spip.php?article8021
Birmingham students protest against 'corporate education' Students and staff at the University of Birmingham held a protest last month against the university management's decision to put business before education. The new vice-chancellor had recently announced plans for heavy 'disinvestment' (management speak for sacking workers) across the university, with up to 200 jobs expected to go. The university is also in the process of trying to force through a plan to close the Department of Sociology, which will lead to the loss of 16 further jobs. The wider goal appears to be turning the university into a consultancy service for government and business. Link: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2009/11/442073.html
Anti-vivisection protest at Bradford University Twelve anti-vivisection campaigners held a noisy and visible demo at the University of Bradford on 20th November, following exposure of animal abuse inside their laboratory. Link: http://academicabuse.wordpress.com