Earth First!

November 2007

Action Update
A quarterly round-up of ecological and other direct action from around Britain and beyond
Heathrow Express train to a song and a 
Royal Bank of Scotland Climate Protests rant, activists gave 'pollution awards' to 
saw a roof top protest and  Edinburgh RBS  branches, a group of 5 
roving   pranksters   left  held a demo in Leamington, cash­points 
signs   reading   ‘This  were stickered with anti­RBS stickers in 
Company is Out of Order’  Leicester   and   leaflets   were   stuck   on 
on   15   RBS   and   Natwest  lamp posts in Altrincham!
cash machines. For more action reports and photos visit
In   Manchester   banners  www.risingtide.org.uk
read   'Climate   Change: 
RBS Makes It Happen' and  Bio-fury
'No   Pipeline!   Green 
Energy Not Gas'. BP Executive pied as Europe's
In Norwich a  branch and  largest BioFuels event disrupted:
offices   were   locked   shut  On   the   morning   of   17   October   15 
overnight   and   prevented  climate   change   activists   from   protest 
from   opening   whilst  group Food Not Fuel entered the BioFuel 
On   15th  October,   over  32   actions  took  activists   leafleted   waiting   staff   and  Expo  & Conference taking place at the 
place   against   the   Royal   Bank   of  customers. Newark Showground and took over the 
Scotland, a major backer of the aviation  A   Birmingham   NatWest   branch   was  keynote speech. Oliver Mace, CEO of BP 
industry  and   the   world's  self­described  flooded by thirty students, some dressed  Fuels,   the   lead   sponsors  of   the   event 
‘Oil and Gas Bank’. in boiler suits and carrying oil pipelines,  received a vegan cream pie in the face. 
From Edinburgh to Cornwall, blockades,  others dressed as bankers.  Another campaigner was D­locked to the 
sabotage   and   street   theatre   targeted  In Aberystwyth climate refugees queued  podium and various alarms were placed 
headquarters and local branches. There  outside a branch to beg for a home loan. around the room. The hall was emptied 
were  too  many   actions  to  list  here,   so  The main Cardiff branch was closed for  and talks were cancelled. There were no 
we've   picked   just   a   few:   in   Bristol  3   hours   after   20   activists   entered  the  arrests,  though  some  returned  later   to 
homeless   polar   bears   locked­on   using  building and caused disruption. gatecrash the press briefing. 
suitcases   filled   with   concrete.  The   6½  Students did protest performance trying  This  action   was   followed  by   a   second 
hour  blockade  prevented  vehicles  from  to 'open accounts' in St. Andrew's town  wave of protest as Biofuels Watch turned 
entering the RBS corporate office where  centre,   a   travelling   bard   treated  up with large banners and leaflets in the 
over 500  staff work. In London RBS HQ  passengers   on   the   RBS   sponsored  afternoon – much to the consternation of 
the conference organisers.
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The Action Update brings you a quarterly collection of news and updates 
on ecological direct action from the UK and beyond. You can pick up copies 
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distributing yourself email us at actionupdate@earthfirst.org.uk
This  time  we've not included  a  contacts list,  but  we'd  like  to next 
time.   So   drop   us   a   line   by   10   January   if   you'd   like   your   group's 
details included. 
The next issue will be out in February, so if you've got news to share about 
your campaigns and actions send us your articles (150 words maximum) to 
actionupdate@earthfirst.org.uk  or post them straight onto our website: 
www.earthfirst.org.uk.  Oliver Mace, CEO of BP Fuels, just pied

www.earthfirst.org.uk
 Food or fuel? (Bio-fury contd.) year.   Aung   Sun   Suu   Kyi,   the   elected 
News In Brief The conference promoted biofuels as the  leader   of   the   Burmese   government 
sustainable solution to the energy crisis  under   house   arrest,   said:   “Total   has 
Critical Mass and   climate  change.   The   activists   sent  become   the   main   supporter   of   the 
the message that large­scale biofuels are  military regime”. Total's operations have 
There   are   currently   Critical   Mass 
greenwash  and   companies  such   as   BP  reportedly been marked by human rights 
bike rides in many major cities. For 
are ignoring its negative impacts on the  abuses including forced labour. 
more details check
www.urban75.com/Action/critical.html  environment. 'Biofuels are not providing 
the   solution   to   our   climate   crisis.   The  Die-ins and blockades in London
First Glossop Critical Mass only solution to climate change is an end  London  saw  several  die­ins  and  demos 
to   economic   growth   and   a   drastic  outside   Total's   offices   informing   office 
Road  Alert Glossop held Glossop's 
reduction in energy use.' workers on what Total is really up to.
first   Critical   Mass   on   14   Sept   in  On 17 Oct workers were confronted with 
opposition   to   the   proposed  Agrofuels   (fuels   produced   from 
intensively grown crops such as soya and  a "dead" body in a body bag, along with 
Mottram­Tintwistle bypass. banners, placards and leaflets. 
corn)   result   in   the   deforestation   of 
tropical   rainforests   and   burning   of 
peatlands   which   massively   increase 
carbon   in   the   atmosphere.   When   the 
energy  used   to   grow  and   produce  the 
fuels  are  included  in  the  balance,  they 
use  more   energy  than   oil   based  fuels. 
Agrofuels also cause  food insecurity by 
Protest saves tree - for now reducing  land   available   to   grow   food 
On 31 July Manchester residents on  and increasing food  prices,  resulting in 
their way to work climbed into the  large scale land dispossession in Africa, 
branches of a 100­year­old tree and  Asia and South  America. Food or fuel? 
won   it   a   temporary  reprieve   from  Surely no contest?! 
being chopped down.
Blockade of D1 Oils
Enough -no supermarket 18   October:   protesters   from   No 
Lancaster   residents   occupied   land  Agrofuels UK blockaded D1 oils refinery 
being sold off to a supermarket on 8  and   offices    to   raise   awareness  of   the 
Oct.   Angry   at   sneaky   deals   being  detrimental   impact   of   agrofuels.   The 
struck with developers they held the  On   16   Oct   3   activists   succeeded   in 
protest was  timed to coincide with  the  shutting   down   a   busy   Total   garage  at 
land for 24 hours before protesting  national Biofuels Conference in Newark. 
outside a council meeting. Marylebone St by turning off the power, 
18 protesters chained the 3 gates to the  d­locking hoses  and  locking themselves 
refinery shut and 2 protesters D­locked  together.  On 18 Oct the garage was shut 
Shell oil plans halted themselves   to   the   gates.   No   vehicles 
21 July, Alaska: Shell plans to drill  again, while a protest was held outside.
were able to enter or leave the site and 
exploratory oil wells in the Beaufort  all work appeared to have been stopped.  Total blockade in Bradford
Sea were halted by the US Court of  Banners were tied over the gates reading  On 2 Oct both entrances to the forecourt 
Appeals.   The   proposed  wells   were  "No   Agrofuels”,   “Land   4   People”,   and  of   Bradford  Total   garage  were  blocked 
sited in the middle of the bowhead  "Climate Change Profiteers". for 1½ hours. Holding a banner reading 
whale migration corridor.  More info: www.biofuelwatch.org.uk 'Totalitarian Oil ­ Fuelling Oppression in 
14   Sept:   a   federal   court   denied 
Burma',   they   leafleted   and   spoke   to 
Shell's   request   to   lift   an   order 
blocking the company's Arctic Ocean  Free Burma Protests passers­by   and   motorists.  
Most drivers were supportive and chose 
drilling.www.pacificenvironment.org Protests   all   over   the   country   have 
not   to   try   and   cross   the   blockade. 
targeted   Total   Oil   to   highlight   the 
Pipeline plans shelved www.bradfordcampaigners.co.nr 
company's role in propping up one of the 
Plans to build a gas pipeline through  world's most brutal regimes and to call  Oxford
the   Amazon   rainforest,   from   the  on   Total   to   stop   funding   the   Burmese 
Also on 2 Oct activists in Oxford tried to 
Caribbean to Brazil have "cooled off"  junta. Total is in a joint venture with the 
block access at a Total garage but were 
after local protests were backed by  Burmese dictatorship in the Yadana gas 
moved   to   one   side   by   cops.     A   large 
75,765 protest emails. project,   which   earns   the   regime 
banner sent out a clear  message about 
www.rainforestportal.org hundreds   of   millions   of   dollars   every 
Total’s support of the Burmese junta and 
Bank pulls funding many drivers changed their minds about 
The   European   Bank   of  buying   from   Total.   On   6   Oct   a   Total 
Reconstruction   and   Development  garage was blockaded succesfully.
(EBRD) pulled funding for the $20­
Cardiff
plus   billion   Sakhalin­2   liquefied 
Garages were blockaded and shut down 
natural   gas   project   in   Russia   in 
for   3hours   on   10   Oct   and   again   for 
favour  of  funding more  sustainable 
2hours on 14 Oct.
projects.
For more action reports see
www.pacificenvironment.org www.totaloutofburma.blogspot.com
 floods' on 3 September and decided the 
Domestic Flights best place to hold it was... at an airport.  News in Brief
Blocked in Manchester The 'summit' was attended by prominent 
climate criminals such as the  Secretary  Mystery callers at quarry
of State for Business and the Minister for  Unknown   saboteurs  paid  a   visit  to 
Competitiveness. Barnstable   quarry   aggregate 
Meanwhile  people   gathered   outside   to  industries. All electric cables in the 
leaflet participants and discuss the real  building   were   cut,   a   truck   and 
issues and causes of  flooding, including  offices   damaged   and   'Earth   First'! 
aviation. written across a white board. 

Brecon The Law Spirit of Freedom Newsletter

24 August saw the Brecon Beacons gas  August edition now out ­ produced 
pipeline   works  sabotaged   during   a  by   the   Earth   Liberation   Prisoners 
night   of   covert   action.   It’s   the   latest  Support Network, it contains contact 
Passengers   trying   to   check   in   for  details   for   activists   imprisoned 
domestic  flights   at   Manchester  Airport  effort   in   the   campaign   to   fight   the 
around the world.
on   8   October   were   blocked   by   seven  building of a high pressure gas pipeline 
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk
people   with   lock­ons.   The   would­be  across   southern   Wales.   A   small   crew 
fliers also received leaflets about climate  bypassed   security   and,   equipped   with 
Toolkit for Climate Action
change and rail timetables. just a wrecking bar, immobilised eleven 
Get   your   free   copy   from 
Banners   reading   'Manchester   City  earth   working   machines   including 
contact@networkforclimateaction.or
Council...supporting  climate   chaos'  and  tippers and excavators, and the pipeline 
g.uk or view online at
'Domestic   flights   cost   the   Earth'  itself. Protesters say they badly damaged 
www.networkforclimateaction.
highlighted   the   hypocrisy   of   the  engines and hydraulics on the machines. 
org.uk
Council's     'Green   City'   initiative  while  www.fightthepipe.co.uk
The  toolkit  hopes  to   inspire  action 
they   own   55%  of  Manchester  airport  .  and contains heaps of resources:
No arrests were made.
Dawn Raid on Coal ideas  for  action,  facts   and   science, 
fliers, graphics, contacts, and more.
Busy in Bristol Power Plant
On   8   October  Greenpeace   campaigners  Camberwell squat evicted
In August and September golf courses, a  The   Camberwell   Squatted   Centre 
mobile phone mast, a goods railway and  entered   Kingsnorth  power   plant   which 
could  be  the  site  of   Britain's   first  new  was unexpectedly evicted  at 4.30am 
4x4s have been hit in Bristol. on   30   August.   Bailiffs   and   cops 
Parts of 3 golf courses were dug up and  coal­fired   station   for   20   years.   Some 
chained   themselves   to   coal   conveyor  climbed   through   a   window   and 
the  message  'Decadent  waste  of  water'  surprised the occupants.
sprayed  near   one   of   the   club   houses. belts   while   others   loaded   up   with 
provisions and started to scale the smoke  Residents got a few hours to move 
A mobile phone mast was sabotaged.  out  and  managed to  rescue  almost 
A   non­passenger   railway   line   that  stack. They aimed to take the plant off 
the Grid and called on the government  all the gear in the building.
transports   cars   and   fossil   fuel   to   the 
Midlands was also sabotaged. The track  to reject the proposals for the site.
Free cake in Oxford
was   cut   three   quarters   of   the   way  On 10  and 15 September people in 
through in two places and marked with  Sowing the Seeds of Oxford   set   up   'Costa   Nothing' 
high  visibility  paint.  A   warning  banner  outside  a   Costa   coffee   shop.   They 
reading: 'Stop: Trees on line' was fixed  Resistance in Reading handed   out   free   tea,   coffee   and 
across the line and a pile of wood was  On 17 Sept Cow Lane allotment holders  cakes   and   'Gentrification   is   crap' 
placed   across   the   line   next   to   the  in Reading began action against plans to  leaflets.  Thinking  of   making  this  a 
damaged part. bulldoze the site to make way for a new  regular event, the group are asking 
Over   the   last   6   months   fourty4x4s   in  road. When surveyors arrived to gather  for   anyone   interested   in   getting 
Bristol   have   had   both   front   tyres  information  for   the   new   road   design,  involved to email
punctured.   A   'corporate  entertainment'  allotment   holders  quickly   mobilised   to  dizzydaisy@riseup.net 
company   called   4­Play,   which  provides  greet   and   dismiss   the   surveyors.   One 
off­road  driving  for   4x4s   in   the   South  landscape architect then turned up but  EDO house visit
West, had vehicles spray painted '4­Play ­  was also quickly dismissed. 18   Sept   ­   Paul   Hills   is   Managing 
blow­job the planet'. Allotment holders put a banner over the  director of EDO MBM ­ a Brighton 
entrance and handed out 500 leaflets to  based  arms  company.   Posters  were 
Irony Dies in Yorkshire motorists. The group also made it clear  put up around his house informing 
that   they   will   fight   to   save   their  his   neighbours   of   his  complicity  in 
Morons from the Regional Development  mass   murder   in   Iraq   and 
allotments, and that companies involved 
Agency,   Yorkshire   Forward   put   on   a  Afghanistan and to call the police if 
would   not   be   immune   from   action. 
'flood summit' to 'learn lessons from the  they see him. 
www.cowlane.org.uk

Early morning raid at squat

Earth First! website www.earthfirst.org.uk 16 Oct 4am: police illegally evicted 
squatters   from   a   new   squat   on 
Read and post your action reports!  Plus links and image galleries. Franklin road, Brighton.
 International News
entrance   for   1½   hours,   protesting 
Australia: Coal Power Station Shut Down against Alcan's easy access to electricity 
while  30%   of   South  Africans  have   no 
On 3 September activists shut 
access to electricity at all. 
down   power   generation   at 
In   Iceland   people   protested   outside 
the Loy Yang power station in 
government  offices  and  gathered  along 
Victoria   for   five   hours   as   a 
the next proposed dam route. Later the 
protest   against   inaction   on 
Icelandic   Minister  for  the  Environment 
climate   change   by   the 
was   visited   at   her   home   and   politely 
Australian Government.
asked   to   'stop   talking   shit   on   green 
Activists from Real Action on 
issues.'
Climate   Change   entered  the 
In Denmark a demo was held outside the 
power   station   at   5am   and 
Icelandic   embassy   and   Australian 
locked   themselves   on   to   a 
residents   continued   to   fight   Alcoa's 
coal   conveyor   and   an 
mining plans through the courts.
overburden   conveyor   belt. 
 www.savingiceland.org
This forced the shut­down of 
the   600MW   generator, 
halving   production   from  Mung beans vs. 4x4s
Victoria's   biggest   coal   fired   power  Bands of people calling themselves The 
station.  Loy   Yang   supplies   30%   of   the 
state's   power.   The   electricity   price   in 
Norwegian Whaler Indians   of   the   Concrete   Jungle   are 
targeting   the   tyres   of   4x4s   across 
Victoria rose to $63/MWh because of the  Scuttled Sweden.  Armed  with  mung  beans  and 
action   and   is   expected   to   cost   the  gravel the group has deflated the tyres 
Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands: on the evening 
operators   thousands   of   dollars   in   lost  of over 1000 4x4s since June.
of 30 August unknown persons sank the 
production.  Police   Search   and   Rescue  Despite   the   fury   of   4x4   owners,   the 
Willassen Senior ­ an outlaw Norwegian 
squad   were  forced  to   cut   the   activists  group   has   generally   got   a   positive 
whaling vessel. An undercover video of a 
free from the conveyor belts. response and only one Indian has been 
Norwegian   whale   hunt,   taken   in   May 
This   action   came   just   one   day   after  caught so far.
2005,   shows   how   the   now   sunken 
Greenpeace  activists   painted   'Australia  To disarm the 4x4s the cap of the tyre's 
whaling  ship  pursued   a   piked  (minke) 
Pushing  Export  Coal'   on   the   side  of   a  valve  is  unscrewed,   a  mung  bean  or  a 
whale in choppy conditions. The whale 
coal ship at Newcastle near Sidney. This  grain of gravel is inserted, and the valve 
was harpooned and subsequently riddled 
is  the world's largest coal port  and set  is screwed back on the tyre. The bean or 
with bullets from a high­powered rifle. It 
for   major   expansion   to   double   it's  gravel   pushes   down   the   peg   in   the 
spent   15   minutes   diving,   resurfacing, 
capacity. middle of the valve, gently releasing the 
and   rolling   about   on   the   surface   in 
The   protests  came   at   the   start   of   the  air.   The  whole   manoeuvre  takes   about 
extreme   agony   before   it   finally 
2007   APEC   (Asia   Pacific   Economic  10 seconds, after which follows the long 
succumbed to the attack and died.
Cooperation)  meeting  being  hosted  by  sound   of   the   air   gushing  out.   A   letter 
The   Willassen   Senior   is   the   fifth 
Australian Prime Minister John Howard. explaining the action to the owner is left 
Norwegian vessel to come under attack 
www.realactiononclimatechange.blogspo on the windscreen. 
for illegal whaling activities since 1992. 
t.com A   copy   of   the  letter  to  4x4   owners  as 
The list to date includes: the Nybraena ­ 
scuttled   dockside   in   1992   (Lofoten  well   as   action   reports   are   available   in 
Strike-Bike Islands); the Senet ­ Scuttled dockside in  English   on   the   web   log.   The   Indians 
1994 (Fredricksberg, Norway); the Elin­ hope   that   repeated   deflation   will 
A   bicycle   factory   in  Toril  ­   Severely  damaged  in   1997;   the  develop from a slight annoyance into a 
Nordhausen,  Morild ­ Sunk in 1998. real obstacle for driving 4x4s.
Germany   has   been  www.seashepherd.org http://asfaltsdjungelnsindianer.wordpress.
occupied by 135 of its 
workers  since  1   July,  com
and is now run collectively and without  Global Actions Against
bosses.   Bought   by   asset   strippers   in 
December 2006, it  was due to  be shut  Heavy Industry Swedish Climax
down with production moved overseas. Newly   formed  climate  activist  network 
On 12 September people in South Africa, 
The   workers   are   now   manufacturing  Climax  has been busy targeting climate 
Iceland,   Trinidad,   Denmark   and 
their  own   'strike­bike'.   After   a   call­out  criminals   in   Sweden.   In   a   series   of 
Australia   co­ordinated   protests   against 
for   solidarity   they   have   been  blockades in spring and summer traffic 
heavy   industrialisation.   The   protests 
overwhelmed  with   orders,   enough   to  was   stopped   on   the   runway   of 
focused   on   the   aluminium   industry   – 
keep  them  in   business  for   quite   some  Stockholm   airport,   on   a   major   road 
especially Alcan/Rio Tinto and Alcoa. In 
time.  bridge   and   on   a   central   road   in 
South   Africa,   250   people   marched   on 
www.strike­bike.de Stockholm   city   centre.   Another   action 
Alcan's   headquarters   and   blocked   the 
saw   the   entrance   of   a   travel   agency 
blocked   with   sand   –   highlighting   the  and two days of direct action including a 
effects   of   global   warming   in   South 
Rossport Shell to Sea lock   down   in   front   of   the   PacifiCorp 
Africa. Sweden's major newspaper found  Despite   eviction   threats   against   the  building in Portland, to demand that the 
its greenwash tactics exposed as activists  Rossport   Solidarity   Camp,   Ireland   the  company   shut   down   the   four   dams   it 
unloaded coal outside their entrance and  campaign against Shell's plans for a gas  operates on the Klamath river and stop 
proceeded  to   sweep  it   under  a   carpet.  pipeline and refinery carries on. developing coal fired power plants. 
The paper promotes carbon offsetting as  14   September   saw   protests   in   Leeds,  At   the   South   East   Convergence   for 
a solution to climate change. London,   Bristol,   Reading   and   Madrid,  Climate   Action   in   Asheville,   activists 
www.klimatet.org (in Swedish) whilst in Rossport itself over 150 people  took   direct   action   against   Bank   of 
occupied the refinery site. America   regarding   their   many 
The   solidarity   camp   that   has   been  investments   in   climate   injustice.   They 
GM Crop Trashing providing  a   base   for  activists  has  now  locked­on  and  blockaded   the   entrance. 
17   August:   Movimento   Verde   Eufemia  been   served   with   a   notice   to   quit   by  www.risingtidenorthamerica.org
targeted   the   first   genetically   modified  Mayo   County   Council.   The   camp   has 
crop in the  Algarve region of  Portugal.  been flooded with friendly offers of help 
Mowers  destroyed  1   hectare  of  the  50  and   several  houses  are   being  repaired 
Digger Diving at Tara
hectare genetically modified corn field in  ready for moving into. The camp will be 
less than 20 minutes. On arrival of the  dismantled over winter, but actions will 
police   the   mowers   dispersed   into   the  continue.
parade   on   the   road,   leaving   the   cops  Meanwhile   on   3   August   a   group   of 
unable   to   do   anything   except   direct  campaigners from Norfolk paid a visit to 
traffic. http://eufemia.ecobytes.net Shell's   processing   plant   at   Bacton   to 
show their solidarity with Rossport.
Having it!
Across   Germany   night   time   gardeners 
have destroyed dozens of large scale GM 
Saving Iceland
fields this summer, including GM barley,  Saving   Iceland   is   an   international 
potatoes   and   maize.   An   agricultural  campaign to prevent Iceland's wilderness 
research station had its windows broken  from   being   turned   into   a   series   of 
and was attacked with chemicals. monolithic   power   stations   to   power 
A  mass action saw hundreds  of people  aluminium  smelters   ­   one   of   the   most 
converge   for   a   weekend   of   action  polluting, energy intensive industries in 
training   and   affinity   group   forming,  the world.
followed   by   a   public   rally   and   march  After   a   busy   summer   of   actions   the 
past   several   fields   of   illegally   planted  Saving   Iceland   protest   camp   has   now 
Monsanto   GM   maize.   Over   50   crop  been   wound   up.   Actions   are   however  A   campaign  to   stop   the   proposed  M3 
trashers jumped through police lines and  continuing, for details check the website. motorway   in   Ireland   is   gathering 
disappeared into the fields. In the largest  24   July:   protesters   closed   access   to  momentum. The M3 route cuts through 
field   (69   hectares)   busy   gardeners  RioTinto’s smelter in South­West Iceland,  the Tara valley, heart of Ireland's ancient 
managed to destroy 5 hectares within a  by   using  arm­tubes   and  climbing  onto  heritage. In June the EU told Ireland to 
couple  of   hours.  GM   maize  cobs   were  cranes on the smelter site. The blockade  stop construction and is now taking the 
secured  for   future   court   cases   against  was   in   opposition  to   the   expansion  of  Irish government to court. Meanwhile a 
Monsanto's  illegal  plantings.  62  people  aluminium smelters in the region. small but strong protest camp has been 
were arrested on the day – campaigners  26   July:   blockades  close   two   roads  to  the   starting  point   for   plenty   of   direct 
plan  to turn the court cases into a  big  Hellisheidi   Power   Station.   Activists  action to stop illegal construction work.
public debate on GM.  locked on to vehicles and one climbed a  August  and  September  saw  a   series  of 
www.gendreck­weg.de crane   and   unfurled  a   gigantic  banner:  route walks attended by up to 30 people. 
'Stop producing energy for weapons'. Work was stopped by people repeatedly 
30 July: ELF saboteurs struck at Smurfit  occupying   construction  machinery   and 
Kappa, a plastics factory owned by Rio  blockading access to historical sites.
Tinto   Alcan   in   Chelmsford,   Essex.  The  The   camp   needs   food,   financial   and 
gates were locked shut, office doors and  moral  support,  plus  equipment  such  as 
loading bays sabotaged with glue and a  tarps   and   mobile   phones.  They   would 
message   left   painted   on   the   wall.  desperately like to see more people and 
Vehicles were sabotaged.  supplies on site
www.savingiceland.org
Route walk and Digger Diving
Every Monday at Rath Lugh camp 10am.
Convergence for Climate
Action, USA. How to get there
Transport Links £16 National Express to 
Just  prior  to the  UK Camp for Climate  Dublin or £26 Rail and sail from Euston 
Action,   Rising   Tide   North   America  London. Then  €7 Bus to Tara Cross 20­
hosted two Climate  Convergences. 25 minutes walk from Tara Vigil camp.
Over 400 people gathered for the West  Vigil  Camp  00353(0) 861758557,  Rath 
Coast Convergence for Climate Action in  Lugh Action camp 00353(0) 867372983
Angry bee­keeper secures GM evidence Washington. There were 100 workshops  www.tarapixie.net, www.savetara.com
 Camp for Climate Action
spotted outside Bristol airport on top of  Heathrow  in   protest  at   the   damage  to 
Camping at Heathrow the Monument  to Progress. The clearly  the   climate   caused   by   unnecessarily 
For  the second year running the Camp  agitated creature was attempting to swat  flying food around the world. 
for   Climate   Action   brought  together   a  planes  out   of   the   sky   as   some  sort   of 
burgeoning  network  of  people  wanting  protest against climate chaos. Carmel Agrexco protest
to   tackle   the   root   causes   of   climate  18   Aug:   60   people   occupied   Carmel 
change. Over 1500 people came to the  Hoax march Agrexco's   Heathrow   warehouse   in 
camp for 10 days of low­impact living,  15   Aug:  80   people  went   to   support  a  Hayes, where produce is air freighted in 
education, networking, strategising, and  local   demo   against   airport   expansion.  from   territories   occupied   by   Israel, 
direct action. The 2007 camp was near  This turned out to be a police set­up as  highlighting the issues of food miles and 
Heathrow  Airport   and   highlighted   the  the were promptly kettled and taken to  the unjust  and unlawful distribution of 
lunacy   of   the   government's   airport  near the airport. natural resources in the Middle East.
expansion plans, targeted industry giants 
profiting   from   the   climate   crisis,   and  Private jets blockaded Solidarity with Nippon workers
raised awareness of the need to fly less. 16   Aug:   Farnborough   and   Biggin   Hill  18 Aug: Campers join picket in support 
For   info   and   contacts   for   getting  airports, both exclusively used by private  of   strike   down   the   road   at   Nippon 
involved in climate action: executive  jets,   were  blockaded  by   two  Express,   where   workers   were   fighting 
www.climatecamp.org.uk teams  of  climate  activists  in  disgust  at  against a new work regime and pay cuts.
www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk the   obscenity   of   the   super­rich   using 
www.risingtide.org.uk planes as a taxi service. 24 hours of action: 19-20 Aug
Kids and parents marched together with 
Clown walk-about local   residents  to  Sipson  Village,  along 
Action Round-up 16 Aug: clowns went walk­about with a  with RinkyDink Sound system, a funeral 
wheelie bin. Don't ask why! procession   and   a   'monstrous   plane' 
Banner drops in Oxford and figure. Later on people marked out the 
Edinburgh Department for Transport boundary of the proposed third runway.
28   July:   Oxford   climate   activists  At   Sizewell   A   and   B   nuclear   power 
dropped  a   banner   from   Carfax   Tower  stations   five   protesters   stopped   traffic 
promoting the Camp for Climate Action.  with a concrete lock­on. A banner read: 
25   people   handed   out   flyers   for   the  'Nuclear   power   is   not   the   answer   to 
camp and built an ark to accommodate  climate chaos.' 
the earth's 7 billion people. BP's   essential   role   in   the   aviation 
3 Aug: Edinburgh activists dropped a 16  industry  was   highlighted   when   twelve 
metre   long   banner   from   the   Crags   to  protesters superglued themselves to the 
promote the Climate Camp. The banner  entrance at BP headquarters. 
read 'This planet has no emergency exits' Lord  Soley,   chairman  of   the   Heathrow 
Forward   campaign.   was   visited   by   a 
17   Aug:  ctivists   superglued  themselves 
Sleazy-Jet and Fry-in-air to the front doors of the Department for 
battalion of clowns who marked out the 
10 Aug: a spoof demo at Bristol Airport  site of the Fourth Runway in his garden.
Transport's   London   headquarters.   A 
attracted   lots   of   media   attention   and  Five   'drowned'   figures   floated   in 
tourist spontaneously joined the protest 
public support as Sleazy­jet and Fry­in­ Trafalgar  Square  fountains  to   highlight 
by glueing himself to the doors too.
air dropped by.  the   link   between   flying   and   climate 
Travel agencies closed chaos.
Winging it 17 Aug: the doors of six London travel  Meanwhile in Oxford protesters dressed 
13 Aug: Activists set up a climate camp  agencies   were   chained   shut   and  as red herrings occupied Climate Care, a 
on   the  wing  of  an   Airbus  A380  on   its  plastered with signs saying 'Closed, gone  Carbon offset company, highlighing that 
way to be assembled in France, pledging  to the Climate Camp.'  carbon offsets are an ineffective con.
to stay until government ministers come  At   the   same   time   the   office   of   the 
up with a 'safe' aviation policy. XL airlines blockaded Carbon Neutral Company in London was 
17 Aug: ten people occupied the office  leafleted by 10 people.
The Four Horsemen of   private   charter  company   XL,   which 
14   Aug:   four   drivers   from   Meltdown  has a contract with the Home Office to 
Chauffeur   Agency   waited   patiently   for  deport rejected asylum seekers, exposing 
their clients at Heathrow's Arrivals gate. the connection between climate change 
The  clients  didn't  turn   up,  presumably  and forced migration. The company has 
they were delayed ­ but their arrival is  now stopped doing deportation flights!
inevitable. Mrs D. Eath, Mr. F. A. Mine, 
Mr. P. E. Stilence, and Mrs. War. Kids' blockade
18   Aug:   children   and   their   parents 
Gorilla spotted at Bristol airport blockaded  the  World  Freight   Centre  at 
15   Aug:   an   endangered   gorilla   was 
 and   leaving  a   couple   of   banners  as   a 
Lakenheath Lock-on memento of their visit. www.dsei.org
Anti­war  campaigners  caused   hours  of 
disruption after they locked themselves 
to lamp posts outside the main gates of  No Borders Camp
RAF   Lakenheath   in   Suffolk.   The   CND 
campaigners had joined hands with each 
other   before   their   arms   were   covered 
with concrete and further encased with 
special   tubing.   They   were   cut   out   by 
police   after   4   hours   and   arrested   for 
Eighteen protesters occupied the London 
obstructing the highway. 
office   of   the   owners   of   Leeds   airport, 
The  demonstration  aimed  to   mark  the 
Bridgepoint   Capital   to   protest   against 
sixth anniversary of bombing operations 
expansion plans.
in Afghanistan. 
BAA   headquarters   were   blockaded 
overnight by hundreds of people. When 
protesters   arrived   at   BAA   on   Sunday  DSEi Arms Fair
afternoon   the   police   responded   by  The Gatwick No Border Camp took place 
DSEi   (Defence   Systems   &   Equipment 
sending  in   the  riot  squad.  Despite  this  from 20 to 23 September in West Sussex, 
International) is the world's largest arms 
people settled in for a night on BAA's car  as   part   of   a   campaign  against  a   new 
fair which is held every two years at the 
park with shelters and wheelbarrow full  immigration   detention   centre   that   is 
ExCeL Centre in London's Docklands. As 
of   treats.   BAA   bosses   didn't   take   any  being   built   at   Gatwick   Airport.   There 
in previous years, it was the focus of a 
chances and left the offices closed on the  were a number of actions:
concerted campaign. 
next day. anti­deportation   campaigners   'paid   a 
Actions   kicked   off   on   11   Sept   shortly 
visit'   to   Virgin   Holidays,   Richard 
after 7.30am  when the security cordon 
Branson's   Tour   Operator   business   in 
around DSEi arms fair was breached by 
Crawley   town   centre.   They   were 
20   people  running   into   the   car   park. 
protesting   at   Virgin's   involvement   in 
Later a  solidarity blockade  of BAE took 
forced  deportations  of   rejected  asylum 
place   in  Manchester.   About   80   people 
seekers  to  unsafe  countries.   The  Home 
joined   a  CAAT   march   and   rally,   and 
Office   regularly   book   Virgin   Atlantic 
about   50   cyclists   arrived   at   Customs 
flights  to   countries  such   as   Nigeria   to 
House DLR station from a critical mass 
forcibly remove people from the UK. 
style ride that left Bank tube station mid­
A   dozen   activists   blockaded   the   main 
morning. Two people were arrested after 
gate of Group  4's offices  near Crawley. 
'rivers   of   blood'  were  poured  onto  the 
Late on Sunday evening, the perishable  Banners were hung  on  the  gate  saying 
ramparts of the Arms Fair venue.
food   section   of   the   BA   World   Cargo  'no more racist prisons' and 'no borders. 
depot was blockaded for about four and  Group   4   runs   Dungavel   dentention 
a half hours by eight protesters locked to  centre   and   forms   a   key   part   of   the 
each other. This caused not only a huge  deportation  process  of   sending  asylum 
queue   of   lorries   loaded   with   exotic  seekers back to the countries where they 
frozen  foods,   but   also   helped  to   draw  may   face   war,   torture   and   death. 
away a large number of cops from the  noborderslondon@riseup.net
BAA headquarters stand­off. 
Solidarity actions took place around the  Animal Rights
country   including   banner   drops   in 
Cardiff and Tyneside as well as leafleting  Space Hijackers  managed to get a tank 
Gathering
at Norwich Airport, in Lancaster and in  and sound system to the main entrance  The   U.K.   animal   rights   gathering  was 
Newcastle. of ExCeL, after diverting the police with  held in Kent from 28th to 30th Sept. There 
a  decoy   tank.   They   auctioned   off  the  were   excellent   workshops   as   well   as 
Harmondsworth tank and invited the 200 strong crowd to  discussions   about   increasing   links 
21   Aug:   30   people   on   their   way   to  a party against the arms fair to let the  between Animal Rights and the growing 
Harmondsworth  Immigration  Detention  fair's   delegates  know   what   they   think  movement around Climate Change. 
Centre were penned by police into a car  about their murderous business. The gathering was policed provocatively, 
park   invisible   to   the   road.   The   action  At   6.30am   on   7   Sept   a   small   group  with   a   warrant   enforced   raid   on   the 
was   to   highlight   the   link   between  locked shut the gates of Norwich based  Sunday. Despite this people enjoyed the 
detention   centres   and   climate   change,  arms   manufacturer  MSI.   A   low   loader  weekend,  returning  to   campaigns  with 
and  to   show  solidarity  to  those  inside,  lorry   which   arrived,   it   is   believed,   to  new enthusiasm. 
detained for committing no crime.  transport  equipment  to   the   DSEi   arms  The   gathering   ended   looking   towards 
fair was also locked on to by an activist  the SHAC march in Huntingdon on 10th 
Stansted airport demo after   it   forced   its   way   through   the  November, with calls for as many people 
21 Aug: protesters leafleted at Stansted  barricade already set up.  as   possible   to   attend   the   march, 
airport and attached the slogan 'Climate  Another  small   group  entered   from  the  especially with police threats to try and 
Change Kills' to a wall in protest at both  rear of the compound and inspected the  limit the numbers to 500.
aviation and airport expansion. facility, taking photos, climbing on roofs 
www.climatecamp.org.uk
 Welly   over   Faslane.   The   Games 
Faslane 365 concluded   with   a   magnificent   Tug   o’  What is Earth First?
Peace, blocking the gate to the base.
Earth  First!  stands   for   the   use   of 
SOCRAP! direct   action   and   non­hierarchical 
4 September: 3 women from the ‘Faslane  organisation to confront, stop  and 
365   Serious   Organised   Crime  eventually   reverse   the   forces 
Investigation   and   Prevention   Team’  responsible   for   the   destruction   of 
entered  the  Faslane   high  security  area.  the Earth and its inhabitants. 
Just hours later 3 more peace protesters 
It   is   not   a   cohesive   group   or 
breached security at one of the oil depot 
campaign but a convenient banner 
gates of  the Faslane nuclear  submarine 
base,   entering   on   bicycles.   All   six 
for   people   who   share   similar 
protesters   were   arrested   under   the  philosophies to work under.
On   1   October   600   people   shut   down 
Serious Organised Crime and Police Act  In the UK people have been using 
Faslane nuclear submarine base to mark 
(SOCRAP),   which  is   increasingly  being  the   Earth   First!   banner   for   direct 
a year of blockades and protests against 
used   to   prevent   peaceful   protests   at  action since the early 90s – directly 
Britain's   nuclear   weapons.   Protesters 
sensitive sites, including nuclear bases. confronting   and   stopping   road 
from   across   the   UK   and   Europe   shut 
down   road   access   at   both   gates   from  building,   the   quarrying   of   coal, 
Post 365
7am  onwards.   By   10.30am  Strathclyde  rock and peat, freeing our fields of 
Bradford   blockaders   were   having   it 
police   had   arrested   an   estimated   100  genetically   modified   crops, 
again on 2 October. A banner announced 
protesters,   but   as   fast   as   they   were  protesting   against   climate 
'Faslane 366 ­ to be continued'. With six 
removed more were taking their place.  blockaders   superglued  and   handcuffed  criminals, fighting corporate power 
Fun   on   the   day   included   sit­down  together bang in the middle of the road  and much, much more.
blockades, lock­ons and a tripod. In the  the police were not pleased.  If   you   believe   action   speaks 
afternoon   performances   roused   the  www.faslane365.org, 0845 45 88 365
crowd   into  spontaneous   merry   making  louder   than   words,   then   Earth 
whilst numerous 'GOAT' (Golden Oldies  First! is for you. To find out more, 
Against  Trident)   were  carried  away   by  Smash EDO Camp including how to get involved go to 
police. A grand finale ensued for a mass  our website: www.earthfirst.org.uk
From 27 to 30 August, Smash EDO held 
circling of the gate and the band Seize  an action camp in Brighton with the aim 
the Day made a final lock on  attempt. in   to   start   their   day,   after   protesters 
of holding creative direct action against  secured all entrances into the factory.
Since Faslane 365’s campaign started on  the  arms  trade  and  a  forum  to  discuss 
1   October   2006,   thousands   of   people  www.smashedo.org.uk
the anti­arms trade movement. Early on 
have blockaded the base, and more than  police   forcibly   moved   in   and   removed 
950   have   been   arrested,  giving   many  the   camp's   infrastructure   using   a  Teachers Take To Trees
people a first experience of direct action  nineteenth   century   by­law.   Despite 
and  keeping  the  nuclear  issue  high  on  For six months teachers have squatted a 
police   repression   most   campers 
the Scottish political agenda.  sports  ground   in   Wembley,   London,  to 
remained   put,   new   provisions   were 
protest   against   a   privatised   City 
brought in, and activists maintained the 
Toss the Caber at Faslane camp whilst carrying out a series of daily 
Academy school being built on the site.
31   July:   folks   from   Assynt   (North   of  The council threatened to evict them so 
actions including rooftop protests, bikes 
Scotland)   were   arrested   after   a   fun  on 7 Aug teachers took to the trees. The 
against   bomb   factories   and   demos 
afternoon   of   Faslane   Highland   Games.  next day  a loud protest on the ground 
outside EDO MBM.  and   from  the   trees  warned  people   off 
The  Games  included  all   the  traditional 
Actions are continuing all the time: on  sending their kids to a City Academy to 
competitions,  such   as   Toss   the   Caber, 
10   October   Paul   Hills,   Managing  be trained for corporate jobs .
Putt the Haggis and an Egg and Spoon 
Director of EDO was forced to smash the 
Race plus some special events including  www.tentcityoccupation.co.uk
window of his own factory to let workers 

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