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INS and out | Shackle it all about | Crap Arrest of the Week | No Morales | Positive SchNEWS | War Briefs | Green Washout | SchNEWS in Brief | Inside SchNEWS | ...and finally... |

INS AND OUT

Shackle it all about

Back in Britain, the much maligned Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (see SchNEWS 331) has been taking to the streets. The Act gives the government the power to lock up any foreigner they reckon is a terrorist, without a trial. So far 13 people have had that privilege. In a statement to Amnesty International some of the detainees said: “Our lives and our families’ lives have been destroyed and we see no hope in sight.” One of those held is a Palestinian father of five who was granted refugee status as a torture victim and diagnosed as suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. This week he went on hunger strike to protest being held 13 months without charge.

Under the Terrorism Act 2000 (see SchNEWS 268), around 200 people have been arrested, many under the catch-all Section 57 which reads: “A person commits an offence if he possesses an article in circumstances which give rise to a reasonable suspicion that his possession is for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation, or instigation of an act of terrorism.”

Journalist Faisal Bodi points out, “For all the hysterical headlines warning of a bin Laden in our backyard, the reality is a picture of political repression of Muslims that is starting to resemble the experience of Northern Ireland’s Catholics throughout the Troubles.” Remember the old Prevention Of Terrorism Act - targetted at the IRA? 5,000 mainly Irish were arrested, but less than 7% were charged let alone convicted.

*To read the full transcript of the excellent Indymedia article we used, visit: http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=46183&group=webcast
*For more about the Patriot Act: http://zmag.org/ZMag/Articles/dec01kaminski.htm
*Get hold of the Autumn 2002 “borders” issue of greenpepper mag: CIA office, Overtoom 301, 1054 HW, Amsterdam, Netherlands http://squat.net/cia/gp/greenpepper.htm
*Another good site on US government repression: http://www.zmag.org/repression_watch.htm

Crap Arrest of the Week

For interviewing a vampire victim
Malawi cops arrested a radio journalist cos his interviewee claimed to be attacked by a vampire. The authorities are a bit touchy about the subject as local rumours have it that the government colludes with vampires to fill up the blood banks. After his court appearance, the journalist said, “My sojourn in jail has reinforced my resolve to unearth issues authorities would otherwise prefer buried.”

No Morales

Since last Monday (13th) many parts of Bolivia have been brought to a standstill as people have taken to the streets and blockaded major highways as part of a mobilisation against the government. The demands of the wide range of protesters are vast but include defending their rights to oil, gas, and coca, the return of privatised industries to the people, the fair redistribution of land, and the rejection of Bolivia joining the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas). The government has responded to the situation with extreme aggression and clashes between protesters and police have left at least 5 people dead and an estimated 800 people arrested. Business leaders this week complained that the blockades had so far cost them at least $7.6 million and urged the government to do all they could to ensure that the export economy doesn’t suffer.
Last June, the popular socialist party ‘Movement toward Socialism’ (MAS) came second in the Bolivian elections and it’s leader, Evo Morales, came close to becoming the country’s President. After the elections, MAS decided to take its fight against the destruction of coca plants and the neo-liberal policies of the government from the streets into the corridors of power. But by early December, when the Bolivian National Congress approved the entrance of U.S. troops into Bolivia to destroy coca crops as part of the US’s ‘War Against Drugs,’ the MAS decided they’d had enough of banging their heads against a brick wall and began to mobilise for the mass street protests which now cripple the country.

The growing of coca is part of Bolivian indigenous culture. The leaves are used by local farmers for tea, chewing and medicinal purposes. But the USA was so unimpressed with Evo Morales’ support for the coca farmers that they tried to intervene in last year’s elections by warning people that if they voted for him it would endanger future US aid to the country. http://bolivia.indymedia.org (in Spanish) www.narconews.com/Issue27/article586.html

** ‘Desire for Change: Women on the Frontline of Global Resistance’ is a new book of interviews, stories and first hand accounts of women involved in various campaigns, projects, and direct actions all over the world. To order a copy email: pgabolivia@yahoo.co.uk or call 0207 3779088.

Positive SchNEWS

In the past 100 years we have lost 97% of our vegetable varieties in the U.K. alone. Just 3 corporations control a quarter of the world’s entire seed market – the same corporations that are trying to force us all to eat their genetically modified greens.

So what can you do about it? Get along to Seedy Sunday on 2 Feb and take part in a community seed swap happening at the Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove. Along with talks on everything from saving your own seeds to genetics, there will be a mini farmers market, community allotment groups, tool sharpening, composting, café, creche and more. 11am-5pm, £1, children Free. 01273 622671 seedysunday2003@yahoo.co.uk

* There’s a Seedy Saturday community seed swap happening on 8th Feb at the Octagon Cafe, Inkerman Street, Llanelli, Wales 11am- 3pm. seedysaturdayllanelli@hotmail.com
* Recommended reading ‘Fatal Harvest – The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture’ edited by Andrew Kimbrell (Island Press 2002) Essays from 40 leading environmentalists taking an unprecedented look at America’s destructive farming practices and offering positive solutions in support of a new vision of farming. Stunning photography! www.FatalHarvest.org

War Briefs

• There were massive anti-war demonstrations across the world on Saturday from Turkey to Pakistan to Japan to Antarctica! The biggest were in Washington DC, with 300,000 people, and in San Francisco with 200,000. In the UK, 2000 people travelled to Dublin and on to Shannon airport to protest the military use of the airport and to oppose the war. A permanent peace camp has now been set up outside the airport www.shannonpeacecamp.org
  
• Also on Saturday, 70 people were nicked blockading the Northwood Military HQ. Five protestors locked arms into a giant pair of purple Y-fronts decorated with a “War is pants” slogan.
• The Minister for War, Geoff Hoon, will be at Lambeth Town Hall, Acre Lane / Brixton Hill SW2 (Brixton tube) on Monday (27) at 6pm and would love to meet you all!
• ‘No War for Oil’, Tuesday 4th Feb. Call for protests at UK petrol stations—support the day of action with leafleting, vigils, street theatre, and other nonviolent direct action. If you organise a protest send details to info@risingtide.org.uk and to the action page of the Target Oil Coalition website www.targetoil.com www.risingtide.org.uk
• ‘Beyond TV’ are putting together a new cd rom on direct action against war with video pieces, photos, rants, music, artwork or any inspiring, relevant material. The cds will be copied and distributed freely around the world so get involved! www.beyondtv.org ibanez_nauta@yahoo.com
• Corporate Watch newsletter issue 11/12 is out & packed with info on corporations that profit from war. £1 plus 43p SAE to Corporate Watch, 16b Cherwell Street, Oxford OX4 1BG
• Get down to a Mass Weapons Inspection at RAF Fairford on 26th Jan - info@gwi.org.uk Several coaches organised, see SchNEWS Party & Protest

Green Washout

It seems the £20m BP spent on its fashionable green image (SchNEWS 276) was a total waste. In late 2000, BP jumped aboard the gravytrain of ethical investing by publicly acknowledging the dangers of global warming in the misguided hope they would avoid being the target of environmental protests. BP plastered its website with transparent concern for social issues, but since then its shameful working practices don’t live up to its laughable rebranding as caring and progressive.

Even though the £20mil is peanuts compared to the billions BP spends yearly on fossil fuel exploration, it was still a waste of money as BP just can’t quite seem to back up their eco-friendly, pro-worker image with action. Alaskan authorities have only just started looking at introducing regulations after a well at BP’s Prudhoe Bay site exploded, causing an oil spill and maiming native Alaskan worker Don Shugak for life. BP later admitted to opening the well “without adequate safeguards.” Three months later an accident at the same site killed welder Rodney Rost. Despite their worker-friendly propaganda, BP actively fought against tightening safety procedures after the accident, saying “a rule to protect workers wasn’t necessary”.

On Tuesday, Hendersons Global Investments was first in the queue of ‘socially responsible investors’ to dump £millions worth of shares because of their activities in Alaska. On the same day, ISIS Fund Management made BP squirm by asking the board if “Problems are repeated worldwide, not just in Alaska?

And has health and safety been compromised by aggressive high production targets and cost cutting?” Union rep Robert Brian suffered years of harassment for criticising BP’s health and safety procedures but when he publicly announced that the well explosion was avoidable, BP harassed him so aggressively that he has filed a complaint against them with the US Dept of Labour. Now that’s what we call a caring, progressive company!

SchNEWS in brief

• Critical Mass bike ride this Sunday (26) meet 2pm Hunter Square, by the Tron Kirk, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. www.mutualaid.org
• Reclaim The Future II next Sat (1 Feb) in London with workshops, cabaret, comedy, political cinema & café from 3pm. Kids space in the afternoon, Party till late. £2 in afternoon, £5/3 after 7pm, help still needed: reclaimthefuture2003@yahoo.co.uk or 07931 560 569. Check uk.indymedia.org from noon on the day for details of venue.
• Mayday 2003 workshop Sunday 8th Feb 2pm. Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X.
• Following a visit from SHAC East Midlands and hundreds of phone calls, faxes and emails, White Rose have withdrawn their services to Huntingdon Life Sciences. White Rose are a specialist incineration company who dispose of hazardous waste and until yesterday the bodies of animals murdered at HLS! Who’s the only place willing to dispose of the evidence now? Cambridge Pet Crematorium! Contact the crematorium at freepost CB947, Royston, Herts SG8 7BR. Tel: 01763 208 295, Fax: 01763 208 885 mail@cpc-net.co.uk 2.
• ‘The Summit’ a film which looks behind last year’s Earth Summit in Johannesburg, and ‘Zapatista’ a film which gives a first hand account of the Zapatista struggles in Mexico, are two new videos now available at Cultureshop. www.cultureshop.org
• If you fancy a laugh get a copy of ‘Now That’s What I Call Marxist’ nowmarxist@yahoo.co.uk
• Space Invaders: Festival of Arts and Resistance at the old TA building (next to B&Q), Lewes Road, Brighton (23/1-2/2) ‘A non-stop celebration of underground DIY culture.’ Get involved 07952 512533 speakerpeople@hotmail.com. Timetable at www.partyvibe.com/brighton23

Inside SchNEWS

Dave Blenkinsop, an animal rights activist who is currently serving 4½ years, was sentenced to another 5½ this week for planting incendiary devices under lorries belonging to an abattoir. His sentences are to run consecutively so he is now serving a ten year prison sentence. He’d appreciate letters of support. Dave Blenkinsop, EM7899, HMP Bullingdon, Patrick Haugh Road, Arncott, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX6 0PZ

...and finally...

Ever thought, “Shit, I wish I’d been at that riot, taking back control of the city of London and pelting the riot cops with eggs and rotten fruit?” Well today is your lucky day! The newly formed London Riot Re-enactment Society is offering folks the chance to take part in the many famous riots of London, past and present. From the Peasant Revolt of 1381, to the Gin Riots of 1743, to the more up-to-date riots of Brixton (1981, 1996, 2000), the poll tax (1990), and of course J18 in 1999, the society will re-enact them all. One of the advantages of riot re-enactment is that while trying to be as historically accurate as possible, you can decide which parts of the riot to keep in and which to skip out. For example, while re-enacting the riot of November 30th 1999, members of the society can decide to set fire to the police van but skip the part where everyone had to stand around for hours surrounded by riot cops without a toilet! The Society hopes that after a bit of practice, members will be able to form a Rapid Re-enactment Force which re-enacts riots immediately after they’ve happened (or even AS they happen), causing things to spiral out of control! To join send an email to: anathematician@yahoo.co.uk or visit http://c8.com/anathematician/

Disclaimer
SchNEWS warns all readers when you're having a bit of ins and out don't get the prayer rug pulled out from underneath you. Honest.

SchNEWS Annuals

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