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STAY IN BED! PHONE IN SICK ON JUNE 18TH

Issue 214, Friday 4th June 1999

Carn'ival, n.

1. An explosion of freedom involving laughter, mockery, dancing, masquerade and revelry 2. Occupation of the streets in which the symbols and ideals of authority are subverted 3. You cannot watch carnival, you take part.

"Banks and financial houses being urged by the City of London Police to tighten security" … "shadowy organisations" with plans "to bring Britain's financial centre to a standstill" What's going on?

In August last year a call to action was buzzed around the world to any groups and individuals who recognised that, "the global capitalist system, based on the exploitation of people and the planet for the profit of a few, is at the root of all our social and ecological troubles".

June 18th was the day picked for international action - the day when the world's seven most industrialised countries and Russia (G8) will meet in Koln, Germany. On their agenda will be more economic growth, more free trade and more power for corporations(for a low down on why these things are bad read previous SchNEWS 1-213)

Last year the G8 met in May in Birmingham. Their meeting was intended to pass unnoticed and unopposed but across the globe people rose up in opposition. 30 Reclaim the Streets parties took place in over 20 countries, whilst 200,000 protested in Hydrabad, India and 50,000 landless peasants and unemployed workers took to the streets in Brasilia.

This year's party and protests promise to be even bigger and more effective.

From radical ecologists in Zimbabwe, Poland, Israel and Portugal, the Auto-workers in Canada, the North Sumatra Peasant's Union, the Bangladesh Garment Worker's Union, the Fisherfolk's Union in India and the Independant Unionists of Austria, the unemployed of France, indigenous groups fighting oil companies in Nigeria and Peasant groups in Senegal areall gonna take part in the day's events.

Groups involved are based in each continent, so as the Earth spins and the sun rises on June 18th, actions will start in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, through Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, moving on to simultaneous actions in Senegal and Nigeria in concert with many European states from Czech Republic to Ireland and Italy to Greece, with June 18th finishing with events in almost 20 U.S. cities together with actions in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Uruguay.

"The roar of profit and plunder will be replaced by the sounds and rhythms of party and pleasure as a massive carnival of resistance snakes its way through the square mile." Reclaim The Streets

In the UK people are targeting the City of London, because as a June 18th flyer explains

"If a road or dam is built or an eco-system destroyed it is because an investment has been made in the City. Whether it's factories closing in Liverpool or sweatshops opening in Jakarta, it is because the City is making millions from the misery it creates."

And that's getting the powers that be all hot under the collar. As an article in the The Sunday Telegraph explained, "City insiders say the police are taking the protest threat seriously and expect to see at least 10,000 demonstrators take to the streets. One insider close to the discussions said that the police are even concerned about reports of a huge surge in the sales of second-hand suits in Oxfam and other Charity shops … the feeling is that the City could face considerable disruption."

See ya there!

Here's a quick run down on some of the events taking place in the City on the 18th.

• 7:30am Critical Mass
  Huge cycle action to jam the City streets - bring your bike! Meet West Smithfield, EC1, (near City Thameslink)

• 10 am Picket of Reed Employment Agency
  87 Moorgate, EC2 - resisting "New Deal" harassment of Claimants. Haringey Solidarity Group
  Tel: 0181 374 5027

• 10:30am Animal Abuse is as Transnational as Capital
  Meet Farringdon tube to demonstrate against the City's role in animal abuse.
  Tel: 0171 278 3068

• 11am Anti-McDonalds picket
  Meet Liverpool Street McDonalds.
  Tel: 0171 713 1269

• 11am Global Chain Reaction
  Human chain around Whitehall. Bring banners + whistles.

• 12 noon Carnival Against Capital
  A Reclaim the Streets style carnival and parade through the City. Bring things to make music and noise with, radios, food to share, banners etc… Consider dressing as a City worker or a cycle courier. Meet Liverpool Street Station.
  Tel: 0171 281 4621

• 1:30pm Association of Autonomous Astronauts
  Protest against the militarisation of space. Assemble Green Park Tube

• 4:00pm Picket of Aroma
  McDonalds brought the Aroma café chain earlier this year. Meet Bishopsgate entrance of Liverpool Street BR Station
  Tel: 0171 713 1269

• 7:00pm EuroBunk
  Meet at Waterloo International for the 19:27 Eurostar to Brussels, for an overnight stay in Brussels (accommodation provided - bring a sleeping bag), then meet with Belgian and French activists to catch the 08:25 train to Cologne at 10:57 in time for a huge demo against the G8 summit.
  E-mail: eurobunk01@hotmail.com

• Campaign Against Arms Trade
  Will be taking action against an arms trade related financial institution. Bring smart clothes and D-locks. They will also be co-ordinating a "Bread Not Bombs" free food distribution on the day. Give them a ring if you wanna help cook.
  Tel: 0171 281 0297

• Protest against Vodaphone
  The multi-billion pound company who recently managed to twist the arms of (ie bribe) Lib Dem councillors to build a giant HQ on a greenfield site north of the town, close to surprise, surprise, the new bypass. Meet 8 am Newbury train station

Legal info: If you are arrested on the day call 0171 837 7557. If the line has been blocked call Bindmans and Co. 0171 833 4433. A defendants and witnesses meeting will be held on June 19th in Marchmont Community Center, 62, Marchmont Street, WC1. Nearest tube: Russell Square

Squaring up to the Square Mile - a rough guide to the City. Send a SAE (31p) to June 18 info, Box E, 111 Magdalen Rd., Oxford, OX4 1RQ

For more info about actions happening in the UK and the rest of the world visit: http://www.j18.org/ Transport to the City leaves Brighton 9am on June 18th. Tickets are available from Brighton Peace and Environment Center. £4 each. If people want to guarantee a place in the transport get yer tickets now.

Global street Party Glasgow Friday 18th June. Meet 1pm at Kelvinbridge or Kinning Park undergrounds.

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CRAP ARREST OF THE WEEK

At Kingston train station after last Monday's Fair some guy asked to use the station loos but was refused by station staff as it was deemed 'too late' to unlock it even though there were 4 staff on duty and they'd just let somebody else use it. The passenger shouted that he was diabetic but the staff started pushing him around and lashing out with their fists. Within minutes 3 patrol cars and a van turned up spewing out 8 officers. Behind the waiting room amid shouts and screams the old bill restrained and removed the not-so-happy customer. Are privatised train companies taking the piss or what?

• Did you see this man get arrested? Do you know who he is ring the SchNEWS miscarriages of justice hotline NOW

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CARAVAN CREW

About 500 farmers from S.Asia are on a whistle-stop tour of Europe as part of the Inter- Continental Caravan, against globalisation, free trade and corporate rule. For many women, like Kumud, joining the caravan meant leaving their homes, family and village for the first time.

During the tour, they plan to hassle the World Trade Organisation , the European Commission in Brussels and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, before converging at the G-8 summit in Cologne, Germany.

Last weekend some of them came to the UK and got involved in a genetic crop-squat in Essex. The site was turned into an organic, permaculture garden with an info centre focusing on the global dangers of genetic engineering.

Lapshanka Upadia, a Caravan delegate rejected claims made by the Nuffield Council that biotech companies have a "moral imperative" to experiment with the world's ecosystems in an effort to feed the world . He said, "The farmers of India can produce more than enough food for the whole country."

So who are the 'moral' people behind the Nuffield Council's 'independent' report that reckon genetic food will help to feed the world? Er, reputable authorities such as the Department of Trade and Industry and many of the biotech companies. Oh, nearly forgot, Nuffield is also funded partly by Wellcome Trust, strong supporters of biotech research.

• The Caravanners are ending their jaunt of Europe with a Laugh Parade outside the G8 summit on June 18th.
• The Caravan crew were also part of the 35,000 crowd gathered in Cologne last weekend to protest about the EU summit.
• Genetic Engineering, Food, and Our Environment: A Brief Guide by Luke Anderson, £3.95 from Green Books, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EB http://www.greenbooks.co.uk/

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NOTHING TO CROW ABOUT

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THE ELECTORAL KOOL-AID ACID TEST

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SCHNEWS IN (WELL) BRIEF

• What with the publication of CJ Stone's new book 'Last of the Hippies' are even the organisers of the Earth Spirit festie taking the hint? Dave Morris of McLibel fame was there to give his view of multinationals, then later after a debate about Kosova one man is invited back next time to talk about class struggle!
• Talking of Kosovo, there's a public meeting next Wednesday 9th at Cock Tavern, Between Euston and Kings Cross 7.15 pm
• Next Demo against Hillgrove cat visiection Farm, Sat. 12th June 12 noon, Dry Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire. 0121 6326460
• Demo/support for 10 arrested in 'mini Reclaim The Streets', Mon 7th June, 10.30am Manchester Magistrates Court. 0161 226 6814
• Save Our World Festival. Brockwell Park, Lambeth, Sun 20 June Three music stages and an interactive and performance area. Tel: 0171 6400 492
• Reclaim The Streets Party! Sat 12 June 1999, Newcastle upon Tyne - Meet Monument Metro or Central station, 1pm Tel 07091135047

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TIANANMEN: TEN YEARS ON

Ten years ago today, the Chinese government staged a full scale massacre of peaceful protesters occupying Tiananmen square killing thousands of people, followed by intense repression throughout the country; arresting and beating thousands and throwing many into jail for such heinous crimes as egg-throwing. The carnage and injustice is widely remembered, but what happened to the ordinary folk, the students and workers, who dared to speak out for democracy? Beijing signed a UN covenant last October, raising hopes of a human-rights thaw. Not a chance. Latest events show that there is still zero tolerance of individual expression which may be construed as a threat to Communist Party rule. At least 241 Tiananmen prisoners are still incarcerated in squalid conditions in China's prisons experiencing a continued denial by the Chinese government of basic human rights. People who just threw eggs are still serving sentences of up to 20 years. Many others still inside were jailed simply for making speeches, putting up posters, or writing pamphlets. Their sentences range from ten years to life.

Others have been locked up in mental institutions. A Chinese textbook on criminal investigation, published for the police, lists "writing reactionary letters or posters" among symptoms of illness. Most people are unaware of the continuing plight of the dissidents as the majority of cases go unreported and often relatives can't find out where they 're being held. China denies the existence of political prisoners, stating that everyone has been sentenced according to law. This does not account for those sent to the detention camps by " administrative decision" without a trial.Following a depressingly similar pattern the Chinese authorities were in full-on control freak mode yesterday as the nation celebrated the Qing Ming festival in which families honour their dead. Human rights campaigners were detained in a security sweep aimed at preventing protests in the run-up to the 10th anniversary Tiananmen. In Hangzhou, a group of activists were detained by police when they tried to lay flowers for victims of the 1989 massacre, being warned to cease such political(!) activities. The square, in the heart of Beijing, has been fenced off since the end of last year and will remain closed -conveniently - for renovation work until after the June 4 anniversary.

Support the prisoners. Contact Amnesty International 0171 413 5500

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INSIDE SCHNEWS

"While out with my baby daughter (then aged just six weeks) and a family friend, I was attacked by 15 drunken students… hit over the head with a glass bottle, punched, kicked and cut with a knife. I was chased 150 yards and received a number of substantial injuries including a broken nose and cheek, broken ribs, a number of open wounds to my head, face and hands, and cuts and bruises covering my entire body, but in the course of the struggle, to stop myself being stabbed, I managed to gain possession of the knife produced by one of the attackers and five of the students were injured with it. Despite the fact that every single independent witness formed the clear view that I was the person being attacked I was the only person arrested. After spending over a year on remand, and following a trial characterised by… every dirty trick in the book I was convicted on 2 counts of GBH and received a sentence of 12 years imprisonment."

My own 20 odd year history of revolutionary anarchism frequently brought me to the attention of the police. It may be no co-incidence that the Special Branch Detective Inspector involved in my arrest in Dover in 1980 on an explosion charge was in charge of the police station in Sheffield which dealt with my prosecution 14 years later. Following the Pomona Incident(the attack took place outside the Pomona Pub) they really pulled out all the stops to secure my conviction and a lengthy prison sentence."

June 8th is an international day of action in solidarity of Mark. In the UK there will be pickets outside Sheffield Crown Court 12.30 - 2.30 pm and the Star newspaper, York St. 3.30 - 5pm in protest at the papers campaign of lies against Mark.

Public meeting at the SADACAA Centre, 48 The Wicker, Sheffield 7.30 pm speakers include Paddy Hill of the Birmingham 6.

Contact Justice for Mark Barnsley c/o 145-149 Cardigan Rd., Leeds, LS6 iLJ email snide@globalnet.co.uk

Write letters of support (recorded delivery to make sure they get there) Mark Barnsley WA2897, HMP Full Sutton, York, YO41 1PS

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AND FINALLY

So say the Association of Autonomous Astronauts, a global network of those who 'want to build their own spaceships and leave this society behind'. And so they're organising the Festival of Independent and Community-Based Space Exploration, in 'London, Earth'. Those of you wondering what community based space exploration is, come to the Intergalactic Conference, where you can hear lectures on 'the everythingisation of stuff' and catch some Extraterrestrial Cinema; play three-sided football; take part in the 'debate of the millennium'- (that's Star Trek vs Babylon 5 of course)and protest against Spaceship Licensing Laws and the militarisation of space. For the practically minded, there's training on how to build your own rocket, star navigation, low level gravity practice and astral projection. If you haven't lost your nut after all this, you'll probably manage it at the All-Night Rave in Space (venue TBA!) at the end of the week, which promises to make stumbling around the M25 at 3am look like a walk in the park.Contact: AAA 0181 9859981 web: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/infoc/

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DISCLAIMER

P.S Oi! Wanna survive the new millenium? Well buy our new book. Issues 151-200 and a whole lot more.£7.20 inc. p&p from the usual address.

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