Home | 15th March 1996 | Issue 65

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER UNCOMPROMISING...

SchNEWS
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WE SAY...

The heat is on... voices of dissent are silenced and groups targeted. Two years ago alternative lifestyles were criminalised with the Criminal Justice Act, this year the Asylum seekers get the rap, and soon the viciousness will extend to the unemployed with the introduction of the JobSeekers Allowance and Work-for-your-dole-Fare.

Who next, we wonder?

Out of this pressures arises a resilience, an imagination and flair that constantly attracts the attention of the public and media.

But... how do groups direct that public support from the side-lines to the front-line? Thousands rally against the Newbury Bypass but only a few hundred stay for the direct action. Locals were short on the ground when the forces of destruction descended upon Selar Farm in Wales to pave way for an open-cast monster. The Green Party Conference cries, claps and cheers the SchLIVE tour but groups still tell us to write to our MP. Are we too wild? Too wacky? Too ignorant? Arrogant?

So this is a plea- judging by our mail we expect most SchNEWS readers are pretty much on the case - but what about your friends, your mum, dads, grand dads and grannies...? You don't have to have dreads and a wench coat to care about the world in which you want to live.

At Shoreham, it was only people's direct experience that changed their views. So read these words, then treat them as an incentive to get involved and see with your own eyes what's happening to Britain in the '90's...it's up to us.

Justice? and Conscious Cinema are running an activist 'Media Training Day' on Sat 23rd March from 10.30am-4pm. Practical work-shops will include media training and an over-view the way we deal with the media. Call the office if you're coming! Food available

SQUATTERS ESTATE AGENTS

Early Friday morning saw 25 of us successfully stopping the bailiffs from entering and evicting Justice's? Squatters Estate Agents. After successfully opening the shop for a further few days the estate agent's doors were finally shut on Tuesday morning - due to a syndrome known as Activist Bum Out, and a common desire to Reclaim Our Lives! With still no sign of the bailiffs on Tuesday (allegedly a 30 strong force pulled in from around the county had been mobilised) we decided to tidy tip, recycle the empties, barricade the building and leave via the upstairs window. When the bailiffs, the police and the media went in at 8:00pm that night they were forced to break their way in. One reporter said that he was impressed by the way the building had been cleaned up. The Squatters Estate Agency is now well boarded up with a metal bar securing the doors and windows. Are they nervous?

But that's not the end. Justice? have had a list of empty properties for over a year - we intend to continue this service with squatting advice for an hour a week - if you have a room that we can use for this purpose and haven't been scared off by the Evening Anus bullshit - give us a ring: 01273 685913

*An international e-mail Squatlink has been set up to link up all the squatting groups - to get on the list send an e-mail address to 'pepe@iww.org.'

NEWBURY HOTS UP

There were more full-on evictions at Newbury this week, as the Go-Tan and Kennet camps were attacked. The scab climbers used to evict people from the trees got quite a surprise at Go-tan when they were confronted by a team of Sheffield activist climbers who were none too happy about the bad name they were giving the profession. A 3 hour battle ensued, with one bailiff being tied to a tree!

On Wednesday it was Kennet's turn for another over the top eviction. Rudely awoken at 4.30 am to the sight of police in inflatables and climbers wading the swamp after a mysterious flood the night before! Walkways were cut as they were in use, leaving two people hanging precariously 40 feet above the ground on a single, frayed polyprop line that was nearly cut. As SchNEWS went to press, by Thursday afternoon, Were had been 17 arrests, and there was one net and one treehouse left on this Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Third Battle 01635 45544

Finally, there have been a couple of cases of people with warrants for previous convictions getting nicked at Newbury, and being held inside on remand. The SchNEWS would never advise its readers to lie to the Police, but if you are wanted for something and you think you might get nicked at Newbury, perhaps it would be an idea to change your name (it's free to do it by deed poll if you're on the dole! Hello Mr Red Earth)

* Please get involved in more pro-active actions which are proving to be very effective. Ring Ian at the Reclaim The Streets office on 0171 249 9114. He's willing to facilitate different groups with equipment, briefings, reckies - give 'em a bell and get on the case and in their Newbury face.

BIG HOLE

Court hearings have begun over last December's Whatley Quarry action when 55 people were arrested. So far everyone charged for aggravated trespass has been found guilty and fined up to £370. It cost ARC/Hanson £300,000.

The Quarry is one of the largest in Europe - 290 acres, a mile long and 100 metres deep. But that's not enough for Arc/Hanson who want to double its size, cutting into the Mendip Hills and threatening Bath's hot springs.

And all this for some pebbles? Well roadstone actually, sold at £3 per tonne, often destined for road schemes we all know and love.

So was the action worth it? Construction News reckons "The high-profile raid by environmental activists at Whatley Quarry will send shivers down the spine of most in the construction industry. ... The lesson learnt from the roads protests is that it is folly to dismiss the claims of the environmentalists as ill-informed claptrap."

If you can help those charged a bust fund is being set up, and will rather appropriately (or inappropriately, depending on your angle!) be named "Sponsor a Criminal"! Details to follow...

BIG HOLE II!

Despite the full-on eviction of Selar Farm a couple of weeks ago, plans are underway to establish another camp on the land of the proposed largest open cast mine in the country (at 880 acres the hole will be visible from the moon!) Workers are needed urgently. Bailiffs and security again moved in on Wednesday and trashed more trees - so the initial camp might be on private land for the time being. 01639 720 884

BIG HIT!

Oop North in Manchester ex-security guards fed up with low pay and crap treatment by Kennedy's, (the firm involved in the recent eviction of the Daisy Nook Camp) have been getting revenge. Ex-guards have been visiting the new compound site, smashing it up and one of 'em knocked out his old boss! A new camp has been established helping to hinder work on the M66 which is now two and a half months behind schedule! Ring 0161 248 9268 for info.

BIG STINK!

Last Saturday, people from all walks of life were called to witness the trial of the motor car. The charge it had to defend was of "destroying peop1e and nature, and being a non-sustainable means of mass transport".

The event, at York Castle, included representatives from both ends of the scale, from motor traders and road builders, to environmentalists and community groups. When asked how it pleaded, the car maintained it's right to silence, implying guilt under Section 34 of the CJA. No one would stand in its defence and after attack from the ALF, a Luddite and Henry Ford, the car was found guilty.

York Castle incidentally is the site of the hanging of 14 Luddites in 1812. The Luddites sought to protect their skills and livelihoods from the thieving clutches of pioneer industrialists. Luddite demonstrations were carefully organised complex social events aimed at highlighting unfairness and achieving justice. SchNEWS is not in favour of the death penalty, but in this case we can make an exception. HANG THE CAR BY ITS EXHAUST PIPE UNTIL IT'S VERY, VERY DEAD!

BIG T.E.N.

The TEN scheme introduces more than 12,000 kilometres of new motorways as part of a European transport infra-structure.

March 30th could see the biggest protest against the Trans European Networks (TEN) with local actions around Europe. Groups have a chance to show their resistance against the destruction of transport systems. Actions include Critical Masses, NYDA, proposed route walks, exhibitions, workshops, street theatre, parties and concerts. Get your info pack from A SEED Europe Office, PO Box 92066, 1090 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Inside SchNEWS

On 21st February the prison population of England and Wales reached an all-time high of 53,000. Forcing the Prison Service to declare a 'state of emergency' in 46 prisons. which will have to find space for up to 10% more prisoners each year.

* Three prison officers from Perth prison were found guilty of assaulting prisoner David Francome in June last year by holding him down and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head, body and legs. Ian Jack, Darren Munro and Drew Campbell were convicted largely because another screw, Christopher Long, gave evidence against them. Sentencing them to 200 hours community service each, the judge made clear whose side he was on, when he stated that he was not sending them to gaol because of their previous good character and because 'the prisoner was a trouble-maker and the injuries he received were not serious.'

SATPAL RAM is serving a life sentence for murder after defending himself against a racist attack. Since the rejection of his appeal in December 1995, he has been subjected to continual harassment. First at Full Sutton, where he was put on punishment for a string of petty and trumped-up reasons; then at Long Lartin, where the authorities repeatedly demanded he submit to strip-searches conducted in the most intrusive and humiliating manner possible. When Satpal refused to squat during these searches he was sent to the block.

He said "I have been in solitary confinement for approximately 2 weeks now, in a cell 8 x 7ft with no access to toilet or washing facilities. Legal paperwork or personal property and have been denied phone calls to family, friends and solicitor because I refused to squat during a strip search."

Satpal needs support now more than ever. Send letters and cards to Satpal Ram (E94164), HMP Bristol, Cambridge Road, Horfield, Bristol,BS78PS. Free Satpal Campaign, 101 Villa Rd., Handsworth 0121 507 1618

SchNEWS in Brief

Boycotts work! Bordeaux wine industries said last week it had been severely hit by boycotts over French nuclear testing - which would take several years to recover. They whinged "The scrapping from wine lists, the cancelling of orders and the postponement of sales promotions have had serious consequences": Nothing compared to the consequences to the people of the South Pacific...

*** Anyone see the arrest of Jeff Sedgley at the Brighton Reclaim The Streets? Please ring Justice? Carrying a bugle he was wearing a red kids helmet, with a green visor, grey, green and yellow cardigan, blue dungarees and a green rucksack!

*** SchLIVE! National Tour starts on 1st May. Want to run the stall, read or gopher? Phone office, purleeaase!

*** Brighton Police have a new top cop! Darren Balkham, 24 year old former estate agent (not squatting!) has been awarded the Baton of Honour for being tops on a probationary course. Balkham said that he "liked dealing with the public and wanted to put it to better use:' Owww!!!

*** Broken Bars, a new mag for prisoners, aims to encourage support and contact with prisoners and offer an overview of the prison system. Copies 35p from Box 25, 82 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5BB.

*** Construction of 300 commuter houses on Brewery Fields, Eithinog, Bangor, is imminent. It will be resisted by direct action and local support. Call 01248 600 286

*** The Spring edition of Squall - the mag for sorted itinerants - is Out NOW! Send £2.20 + SAE to PO Box 8959, London, N12 5HW

*** The 56A Info shop has set up a bike library - fill in a form, give 'em a deposit of £5, use the bike for a week, return the bike and get your fiver back. Easy!

big crap arrests

Road builders wreck our countryside, billboards tell us to buy crap - but try making a difference to how your town looks without official permission and you get hammered big time. This week Simon Sutherland got sent down forfive years for daubing graffiti in his home town of Sheffield. Just like squatters, poor people and all us other undesirables it just isn't done to let us take control over anything, including the look of our town. As one of Simon's slogans put it. "In a society based on image, greed, selfishness - we are the few who have broken the chains by exposing our art by any means necessary". Nice one Simon.

animal crackers

Some 9 months since live animal exports from Shoreham ceased, and the police operation against those who protested against it continues. Immediately after returning home from hospital following a major operation, an ex-Shoreham protestors house was raided, searched and she was then arrested on a surprise, surprise, conspiracy charge, relating to events of over a year ago. Her solicitors appealed that her healing process would suffer with the stress, the police reluctantly conducted a de-arrest, promising to re-arrest her a fortnight later! Further representation by the solicitor resulted in an agreement to surrender her to a local police station in 4 weeks time. She was told she must 'expect to be in the station for at least sixteen hours, probably longer'. Could this harassment have anything to do with the fact that she is a defence witness for an-other protester held on remand at Holloway for over a year now for the same alleged crime?

And Finally

Crap political stand of the week has surely got to go to Elio Botta of Rome. The former comedian and actor created the "Rebirth Movement" - a one-man pressure group for people living on the streets. Botta hoped to gather enough support from other homeless people to run for parliament in the April 21 election. The launch was in Santa Maria in Trastevere Square, near where he lives on the street, saying he wanted to draw attention to social issues during the campaign. The party's emblem is a stick with a bundle of belongings attached, which he called the archetypal symbol of homelessness. The bearded Botta who gave his age as "around 37", brought none of the trappings usually found at party launches, such a glossy literature and campaign aides - he appeared alone equipped only with a tattered, spiral-bound notebook!

"Given that I'm the leader of a political movement., my only appeal is for someone to lend me a mobile telephone until after the election," he said. None of the reporters present obliged. Sad really!!!

Disclaimer

The SchNEWS warns all readers not to attend any illegal gatherings or take part in any criminal activities. Always stay within the law. In fact please just sit in, watch TV and go on endless Xmas shopping sprees filling your home and lives with endless consumer crap. you will then feel content. Honest.

Subscribe! Keep SchNEWS free! Just send 1st class stamps leg 20 for 20 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?). Mark 'Original' if you plan to copy: SchNEWS c/o on-the-fiddle PO Box 2600 Brighton East Sussex BN2 2DX. Tel: (01273) 685913.

Next Justice meeting Wednesday 20th March, 7:30pm, Brighton Unemployed Centre, off Carlton Hill.at the squatting estate agency.

SchNEWS is free to all prisoners - just send us your address

SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 0EF, England
Phone/Fax: +44 (0)1273 685913
email: schnews@brighton.co.uk

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