Home | 8th December 1995 | Issue 52

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

WHATLEY QUARRY?!

EARTH FIRST! 60 NICKED IN SUPERQUARRY SHUTDOWN!

Each morning one lorry a minute leaves Whatley Quarry fully laden with rocks for road-building... Twyford Down, Solsbury Hill, Newbury... but it's been strangely quiet since Monday.

"I couldn't believe the size of the place,it stretched on forever, the air was full of evil dust and the machinery we headed for was so massive when lit up it looked like a deserted city!"

Five days ago - it's 3.30 am. Bagpipes wake 500 activists. 5.30 am: site invaded from all directions.

Earth First!'s national day of direct action was to shut Whatley Quarry in Somerset for the day - one of the biggest quarries in Europe, supplying stone for much of this government's destructive road-building programme. Amey Roadstone Corporation (owned by Hansons) now want to double it in size - making a hole visible from the moon and swallowing two thirds of the Mendip Hills. It also threatens the local water supply including the source of Bath Spa.

"The action was a total success before the day began, there was nobody manning the office or machinery! All CCIV surveillance cameras were quickly taken out of action. There were people up every crane, on top of offices, up lights, up chimneys!

"The pumps at the bottom of the Quarry were stopped. A section of railway line mysteriously disappeared-the line, as far as Westbury, had to be checked due to pixies on the track. One of the main conveyor belts, which had been mysteriously trashed due to a stray fire extinguisher, made an excellent trampoline!"

With 500 on the action and only 80 security the protestors numbers were too great to control. Yesterday SchNEWS phoned Whatley to find out whether they had reopened the quarry- and to get a figure on the cost of the action. A spokeswoman said she "was not in a position to comment". Estimates have been given at a cost of over quarter of a million.

* If you were nicked and don't know what to do ring South Somerset EF! 01935 825074

* If you have a video or photographic evidence of police or security or site crew violence, please write to 'Evidence' at Justice? office. If you were assaulted and think someone filmed it/photographed it contact same address with details.

*lf you're having trouble getting to a court appearance, hand yourself in to a police station, inform the desk clerk that you have to appear in court tomorrow morning or whatever - and they are legally obligated to drive you to your court appearance!

* If your case is adjourned make an application to the Clerk of Court for fares to be paid.

Meanwhile a few miles down the road. The Kings Hill Collective own four acres of former pasture land near the village of East Pennard, overlooking the Glastonbury festival site. Living in benders and cultivating their own food there low-impact development is hardly a blot on the landscape. However, local Councillors turned down their planning application for their experiment in sustainable living and instead issued an enforcement notice. A public enquiry was held in November until proceedings were adjourned and Environment Secretary John Gummer, called the application in.... Will he doing the same about the expansion of Whatley?

A SchLETTER...

Dear SchNEWS,

We see that you published Shell's free phone number last week but omitted to mention their freepost address. Wouldn't it be a shame if Shell had to pay for bricks, stones, rubbish and even shit being sent to them - Shell Smart. Freepost 437, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 6ZZ

Also, a new craze of fly-by paint throwers are targeting Shell stations. Pots of red paint are being thrown at Shell garages to remind them that people will not forget that they have Nigerian blood on their hands.

Seemingly these people don't hang around to get caught but keep running to the next one. Shell stations are all over the place, but so are paint throwers; garages have cameras so they wear different clothes than usual, a mask and are very quick.

We felt we had to report these two disgusting matters so you could warn SchNEWS readers not to get involved in this new craze. it may be addictive..."

FIREBOMBED!

In the sad tradition of fire-bombing road protest sites, comes the latest attack. On Saturday night two benders at the No M66 campaign site in Manchester we're fire-bombed. No-one was hurt, no-one was arrested and the police remain 'indifferent'. This is not the first tinie these tactics have been used against protestors.

Back in the early days of Twyford, the watch tower and the Hawthorn fence were burned down. A security guard was sacked, but not charged.

* In Nov 93 the Chestnut Tree and a tent at the M11 site were the target of a firebomb. Two men got a year apiece but campaigners say that the two were only on the fringes - the ringleaders were allegedly from contractors, Squibb and Davis.

* In Newbury two men are appearing in court on Dec 12th to answer charges of arson with intent, when a family sleeping in their coach we're firebombed.

* Both the Manchester and Newbury camps are on red alert and need your support Ring 0161 628 4727 and 01635 723 750

DIRECT OR WOT?

Justice? Direct Action Conference takes place tomorrow (Sat 9th) @ the old Bingo Hall on North st, nr the Clock Tower. Starts 12 noon. Tel: (01273) 329926 .

** STOP PRESS... Or Does it? Clickety Click, Section 6. Police at the door, Number Four. Number two, What to do? Number three, Ring the phone tree!

SchNEWS reader

lssues 1-50 plus 60 pages of cartoons. Only £3.99 p&p free! Chqs payable to Justice? SchNEWS from address on the back

French Connection

Is France 'avin it.or what? Schools, post offices, banks and newspapers shut down by strikes; transport crippled as trains, airports, the metro and motorways are brought to a standstill by strikes and direct action; hospital, gas, electricity and other public services running on an emergency-only basis; millions of people taking part in massive demonstrations throughout the country saying Non! to the government's plans to slash pensions and welfare benefits.

Direct action has shaken France to its foundations forcing the government to admit that it may have to give in to the protestors if the actions continue to grow. As even the police refise to hand out parking fines and threaten strike action Prime minister Alain Juppe has said that if two million take to the streets - and that's not far of f- he will be forced to resign.

So what's it all about? It's basically the same old story - politicians representing the rich and big business telling everyone else to tighten their belt to make the economy 'healthy' again. As Europe heads towards one currency all the different countries involved are being forced to cut back on social services and wages to make themselves 'healthy' enough to join. The French government has proposed a crash course in Thatcher-style cuts so that the French economy can make the 'necessary adjustments' to make itself 'healthy' enough for monetary union.

Now you might think that an economy that pays decent pensions, provides reasonable social services and doesn't create mass unemployment is healthier than one that doesn't - but then you're a SchNEWS reader and part of a tiny minority of troublemakers. The problem facing France's prime minister Alain Juppe is that the French version of this small minority of troublemakers has turned out to be several million strong and is quite seriously threatening to bring down the government.

The French have a long tradition of effective direct action against corrupt rulers - they chopped quite a few of their heads off during the first modern revolution - the French revolution of 1789. The strikes and demonstrations taking place now have strong echoes of 'Les Events' of May 1968 when the government was nearly toppled by actions very similar to those of today. The recent French nuclear tests have met strong opposition from most French people (as well as the rest of the world, with the exception for the British government). The hypocrisy of a government that can spend millions of pounds on nuclear tests but cannot 'afford' decent social services is not lost on the people taking to the streets of France in their millions.

Christelle, SchNEWS's correspondent in Paris, reports: "The strikes have being going on for 12 days now and are still growing - there is tremendous solidarity between people. Everyone is fed up with cuts in social welfare and that is why so many people are demonstrating and going on strike. There is a big detarmination to win because we will all lose a lot if the government are allowed to cut welfare in the way they wang'.

If nothing else, what is now going on in France is an ebject lesson in how protest against injustice can quickly spread and law and order break down when people stand up to the politicians - a lesson all of us can take heart from.

Vive La France!

PHARMAGEDDON!

The US government has quietly taken legal possession of the genetic code of a living tribesman in a third world country. US PATENT NUMBER: 5,397,696 was awarded to the US Dept of Heath and Human Services for the DNA of a man from the remote Hagahai people in the North of Papua New Guinea, the first secured by a government over the genes of a foreign national. The government will be making millions of pounds from drugs derived from the genes of poor people without giving them a share in the patents. Over in Munich they are drafting the terms of a patent concerning a mouse which has been genetically-engineered to develop cancer, which if passed would mean that man can claim some life as an 'invention' rather than a 'product of nature'. Before the European vote, Greenpeace sent Members of the European Parliament this heavenly message: "In the beginning the Lord created the heavens and the Earth and all therein! But Scientists said: 'Let the seas be populated by fish containing human, mouse and rat genes' / And HOECHST and MONSANTO said: "Let the land produce plants and trees bearing fruit containing bacteria and virus genes / And CIBA GEIGY said: 'Let the corn grow containing scorpion genes / And ZENICA made all kinds of fruit and vegetables and they did not rot / By the seventh day the world of the Lord had been undone and the companies saw they had recreated life for their own ends / And the Parliament of Angels blessed the Seventh Day and made all life patentable."

SchNEWS In Long

The Football Supporters Association have set up a legal network of over 60 friendly solicitors to support harassed fans and monitor police abuse (increasingly using the CJA) 0151 737-2385

*** Getting lashed up is the latest tactic in the campaign against the Skye bridge. A new beer appropriately named EXTORTION Ale will help pay fines and legal costs of over 600 people who have refused to pay tolls on the bridge. PS Thanks to the government for helping to fund the brewery!

*** More shenanigans north of the border - the ancient Callanish stones (as old as the Pyramids) on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides are soon to be forever lost to the god of Tarmac. Help needed, contact Heather: (01343) 850 225

*** Everyone at the SchNEWS is saying a sad good-bye to Road Alert! who closed their offices on Thursday basically because they're all knackered. The Complete Anti-Road Protester however is still being produced....

*** Live animal exports switched to Poole this week while the berth at Dover is being repaired. Police outnumbered activists as they managed to hold up the shipments, but not turn them back. It is thought that after Saturday the trade will resume at Dover, but if Poole proves to be a viable alternative, it may continue there indefinitely. Two protestors were arrested on the first day and they have been ordered to stay away from the area. Speaking to one of those arrested, SchNEWS was told that there are still only 40 protestors at the port and many more are neaded if the 2 shipments a day are to be stopped.

*** Meanwhile, everyone's favourites Richard and Judy held a poll regarditig the current BSE ('Mad-Cows" disease) scare: do you trust the Government when they tell you that there is nothing to fear from eating beef? The results... Yes 9% No 91%. Do we detect a lack of faith in our Government??!!

*** Seven road protestors in Kent are the first people in the country to be found guilty under the "rave sections" of the Criminal Justice Act. The seven included one girl who was so pissed that she couldn't possibly have heard any police instructions to leave the area!

Party and Protest

MON 11th Dole workers are still on strike! But how long will it last? And how can you help? Meet strikers and Claimants at Brighton Unemployed Centre, 6 Tilbury Place, Brighton 01273 671213

WEDS 13th. Rally for Bath's homeless. 5.30pm outside Bath Abbey.

THUR 14th Picket of Tottenham JobCentre who introducing a trial run on the JobSeekers Allowance 0181 802 9804

FRI 15th Christmas Party at the King's Cross Women's Centre, 71 Tonbridge St., London, WC1. The Centre is fighting an eviction order by new multi-millionaire landlords, Community Housing Association, who want to charge a commercial rent because it cannot afford to "subsidise" the centre. The poor old landlords only have assets of over £172 million! Go to the party and help fight the evictions 0171 837 7509

TUE 19th Lobby of Parliament. The Government is proposing to cut all welfare benefits to most asylum-seekers, increase internal immigration controls and introduce a so-called 'safe' country of origin list. 1 pm Committee Room 14, (St. Stephen's entrance)

FRI 22nd Winter Solstice (starts getting lighter 2 minutes a day from here on folks.)

SAT 23rd Free Gorsedd of the bards of Caei Abyri - Alban Arthan 01582 405137

TUE 26th Boxing Day Anti-Hunt demo Hunt Sabs Association 0115 959 0357 (plus someone really nice's birthday)

WED 27th 50th anniversary of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)

WEDS 3rd/4th Jan Appeal against first CJA 'prohibited assembly' convictions at Stonehenge beanfield anniversary. 9.30am, Salisbury Crown Court.

and Finally

TAKE ME HIGHER! The Association of Autonomous Astronauts (AAA), whose motto is 'only those that attempt the impossible will achieve the absurd', are currently researching the potential of raves in space and creating music for dancing in zero gravity. Smart thinking - but just because space parties weren't made illegal in the CJA doesn't mean that it won't be in the new CJA Michael Howard has promised us. Let's hope the government hasn't heard about the AAA's plans - or else the police will be wanting more than boring old helicopters to carry out their duty of defending us from fun. Subscribe - send four first class stamps to Escape From Gravity, Inner City AAA, BM Jed, London, WC1N 3XX. Donations to the space program are gratefully received.

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