News in Brief – Resisting
- Climate change activists found guilty in Ratcliffe trial
- EDO blockaded again in Brighton
- Edinburgh council rejects Veolia's attempt to take over public services
- Camp Constant in response to Dale Farm eviction Climate change activists found guilty in Ratcliffe trial 20 climate change activists who planned to shut down one of Britain's most polluting power stations were found guilty of 'conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass' today. The activists were among 114 people arrested in a dawn raid on Easter Monday last year at a school in Nottingham, in the biggest pre-emptive arrest in British history. The activists openly accepted they wanted to force the plant owners, E.ON, to safely shut down the power station for a week, in an effort to stop 150,000 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere. They did, however, maintain they were not guilty of a crime because they were acting out of necessity due to the lack of an adequate response to climate change by corporations and politicians. All defendants are required to return to court at 12noon on Friday, 17th December. Link: http://climatecamp.org.uk
Defendants' statement: http://ratcliffeontrial.org/2010/12/statement-from-the-defendants/
EDO blockaded again in Brighton Anti-arms trade activists have, once again, blockaded the EDO/ITT weapons factory in Brighton by locking themselves to the gates early on Tuesday, 14th December. The action was taken in protest against the company's supply of arms components used by the US military against civilians in Afghanistan. EDO is has a contract, worth US$5 million, for supplying weapons umbilical connectors to the US air force A-10 and F-16 aircraft, which are being used in war crimes against the people of Afghanistan. A statement from the Smash EDO group said the action was to "show EDO that wherever in the world they profit from death and misery, we'll be here in Brighton to fight back." Surprisingly, no arrests were made and protesters eventually left at their own leisure. Link: http://smashedo.org.uk
Edinburgh council rejects Veolia's attempt to take over public services A recent council report has indicated that Veolia is no longer being considered for any contracts in Edinburgh, despite having been short-listed to take over environmental services contracts, including refuse collection and street cleaning. Campaigners, including the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), had been demanding that Veolia is excluded from council contracts due to the company's profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestine. The French multinational provides waste and transport services to illegal Israeli settlements. It has already lost many lucrative contracts across Europe due to sustained protest over its complicity in Israel's war crimes. Link: http://scottishpsc.org.uk
The council report: http://cpol.edinburgh.gov.uk/getdoc_ext.asp?DocId=147959
Camp Constant in response to Dale Farm eviction Preparations are ongoing to set up a protest camp at Dale Farm, the largest Traveller site in the UK, as soon as the Basildon district council signals it is finally calling in the bailiffs of Constant & Co. The eviction operation, which may involve bulldozers and riot police, is expected to cost a staggering £13 million. Police have recently asked home secretary Teresa May for special funding to cover the planned eviction. Tory leader Tony Ball told Basildon council last week he would 'clear' all unauthorized Travellers from the district by spring if the government gives him the money. Dale Farm families are asking supporters to go and stay with them when the eviction operation is announced. Link: http://dalefarm.wordpress.com
Background: www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3454
- EDO blockaded again in Brighton
- Edinburgh council rejects Veolia's attempt to take over public services
- Camp Constant in response to Dale Farm eviction Climate change activists found guilty in Ratcliffe trial 20 climate change activists who planned to shut down one of Britain's most polluting power stations were found guilty of 'conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass' today. The activists were among 114 people arrested in a dawn raid on Easter Monday last year at a school in Nottingham, in the biggest pre-emptive arrest in British history. The activists openly accepted they wanted to force the plant owners, E.ON, to safely shut down the power station for a week, in an effort to stop 150,000 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere. They did, however, maintain they were not guilty of a crime because they were acting out of necessity due to the lack of an adequate response to climate change by corporations and politicians. All defendants are required to return to court at 12noon on Friday, 17th December. Link: http://climatecamp.org.uk
Defendants' statement: http://ratcliffeontrial.org/2010/12/statement-from-the-defendants/
EDO blockaded again in Brighton Anti-arms trade activists have, once again, blockaded the EDO/ITT weapons factory in Brighton by locking themselves to the gates early on Tuesday, 14th December. The action was taken in protest against the company's supply of arms components used by the US military against civilians in Afghanistan. EDO is has a contract, worth US$5 million, for supplying weapons umbilical connectors to the US air force A-10 and F-16 aircraft, which are being used in war crimes against the people of Afghanistan. A statement from the Smash EDO group said the action was to "show EDO that wherever in the world they profit from death and misery, we'll be here in Brighton to fight back." Surprisingly, no arrests were made and protesters eventually left at their own leisure. Link: http://smashedo.org.uk
Edinburgh council rejects Veolia's attempt to take over public services A recent council report has indicated that Veolia is no longer being considered for any contracts in Edinburgh, despite having been short-listed to take over environmental services contracts, including refuse collection and street cleaning. Campaigners, including the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), had been demanding that Veolia is excluded from council contracts due to the company's profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestine. The French multinational provides waste and transport services to illegal Israeli settlements. It has already lost many lucrative contracts across Europe due to sustained protest over its complicity in Israel's war crimes. Link: http://scottishpsc.org.uk
The council report: http://cpol.edinburgh.gov.uk/getdoc_ext.asp?DocId=147959
Camp Constant in response to Dale Farm eviction Preparations are ongoing to set up a protest camp at Dale Farm, the largest Traveller site in the UK, as soon as the Basildon district council signals it is finally calling in the bailiffs of Constant & Co. The eviction operation, which may involve bulldozers and riot police, is expected to cost a staggering £13 million. Police have recently asked home secretary Teresa May for special funding to cover the planned eviction. Tory leader Tony Ball told Basildon council last week he would 'clear' all unauthorized Travellers from the district by spring if the government gives him the money. Dale Farm families are asking supporters to go and stay with them when the eviction operation is announced. Link: http://dalefarm.wordpress.com
Background: www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3454