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Story Links: Save The Wales | Crap Arrest Of The Week | Avon It Large | SchNEWS 12th Birthday Party | Oil? Er, No Tar | Refuse-Nicked | Party & Protest | Affirmitive Action | Yahoo Serious | ...and finally...

SAVE THE WALES

BOYO-COTT OF 120 MILE GAS PIPELINE SCHEME IGNITES

In Wales this week protesters have squatted a construction site for a monster natural gas pipeline near the village of Trebanos. All work was stopped and, at the time of writing (Thursday), the demonstrators remain and no work has taken place. Better still they’ve been welcomed by the landowner whose fields the pipeline was being built through! Ira Wynne Jones says she gave the National Grid permission to build, but now feels that she was tricked into it. Ira says she was told it would be a small operation, like the mains pipe she previously had run through her land. In fact it turned out to be 4 feet in diameter, and the building operation leaves a swathe of destruction the width of a motorway. The pipeline goes all the way from Milford Haven to Tirley in Gloucestershire – 120 miles of destruction! One section cuts through the Brecon Beacons national park.

The DTI reckons that the UK currently needs gas for about 40% of its energy needs and claim that the pipeline, which will cost £700 million, is necessary to cope with increasing national demand for natural gas. But protesters argue that the money should be spent on renewables and increasing energy efficiency. The recent Stern report points out that gas distribution is the single most carbon intensive sector of the economy and accounts for a huge proportion of our emissions. Just to keep things stable we need a 90% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, but creating the infrastructure for continued fossil fuel dependency goes in exactly the opposite direction.

As well as being an ecological dead-end, the pipeline has also steamrollered over communities. The consultation process was a joke. 3 cm square adverts were placed in local newspapers. Less observant locals who missed the ads often found out only when the diggers started arriving at the bottom of their gardens. Safety concerns have been ignored. The pipeline is at mega-pressure, and a leak would be catastrophic. The area around Trebanos is prone to land-slip, and it is so unstable that villagers are not allowed to have mains gas supplied! Locals fear another industry induced disaster like the one 30 years ago at nearby Aberfan, when a landslide buried a school full of children and 144 perished.

Protesters arrived on Sunday and were put up in a tumbledown barn in a customary welsh drizzle. At 5 am on Monday they stormed the site before workers arrived and climbed up cranes, stood on top of machinery and even went into the pipeline itself, posting Section 6 notices around the place, in order to claim squatter’s rights. For the whole day the site was occupied, work was prevented and several protesters spent the night in the pipeline. Local supporters came to the barnyard camp, bringing beer, food and even a large white sofa to put next to the fire. All gratefully received!

The police initially treated the matter as a civil dispute, and claimed they were just there to ensure everyone’s safety and stop any crimes being committed. Which made everyone feel very safe indeed. But then on Tuesday cops decided to threaten the landowner with a £60,000 fine and arrest unless she agreed to write a letter demanding that the protesters should leave the building site. Facing such a threat Ira agreed, but stressed that she continues to welcome protesters who want to stay at the campsite on her land. The protesters immediately sent out a press release declaring their intent to stay.

DRAGON’S DEN

Cops then announced that they’d be evicting the building site at 8 am Wednesday morning. They didn’t manage it though. Maybe they were put off by the mud, or maybe the thought of dragging protesters out of a 300 metre-long section of pipe buried in a hillside just didn’t float their boat. Either way, the demonstrators are still there and more are expected to arrive on the weekend.

More people are needed immediately!

Work can only go on for a few more weeks before winter weather makes construction of the pipeline impossible. And opposition to the pipeline is emerging all along its 120 mile length. Starting at Milford Haven, where two massive terminals will receive the gas in massive supertankers, a group called Safe Haven campaigns against the development, recently launching a legal challenge to the development. When activists heard about the camp at Trebanos, they were inspired to go and set up their own camp near Milford Haven early on Thursday morning. They’ve pitched a tent on a public footpath, which runs right through a half-finished section of pipeline. Because they are on public land, police have so far been powerless to act against them, and work has had to stop there too!

They want more people who are up for coming and spending time at the camp, and especially people who can spend a night there, so they can have a well-deserved rest. The Milford Haven camp contact is 07752 698489.

* For directions to the campsite near Trebanos from Cardiff check out: www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_results.jsp?displaymap=true#map

* Press contact at Trebanos, and general information line is (Jan on) 07973 619183

* One local man drives back from work in Cardiff at 5pm every day and is happy to give lifts to anyone heading up there. His number is 07973 619183.

* To keep informed about what is going on at the two camps now, keep an eye on Indymedia in coming weeks. Or better still go down there and see with your own eyes!

Crap Arrest Of The Week

For trying to uphold the law...

The fox hunting season is back on, despite being illegal since the Hunting Act 2004. Last week on the Heaselands Estate in West Sussex, the Crawley & Horsham Hunt were illegally digging out a badger sett which the desperate fox had run into. After hunt monitors called the police, they in turn called the RSPCA due to the presence of badgers, but when the hunt monitors approached to enquire why the Hunt weren’t all being nicked – they themselves were nicked – to ‘Prevent a Breach of the Peace’. They were released two hours later without charge, while the fox was eventually dug out and shot. For more see www.huntsabs.org.uk

AVON IT LARGE

The Kebele social centre in Easton, Bristol, began as a squatted centre in the mid-nineties, successfully resisting eviction (See SchNEWS 176) and was then purchased and turned into a housing co-op and ‘kulture project’. This year the mortgage was paid off, and the volunteer-run centre has been re-energised and is calling out for more people to get involved. Kebele runs its Sunday vegan cafes every week, plus bike workshops, an infoshop, free library, films showings, activist meetings... for listings of events (see www.kebelecoop.org/events.html). Currently help is also needed to help with major roof repairs, and revamping the cafe space. If your campaign/group wants to meet there, or you are up for helping drop in at 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6JY, tel 0117 939 9469 www.kebelecoop.org

* Kebele is celebrating its 11th birthday party on 8th December with bands, dj’s, cabaret and cafe at the Black Swan, Stapleton Rd, Easton, 10pm-late, £5.

** Bristle Issue 23 is out! Bristol’s quality quarterly anarchist magazine has a new issue out, with a theme this time of ‘Nationalism & Identity’. Visit www.bristle.org.uk to see where it’s distributed around Bristol, or get yours by sending a cheque for £1.50 payable to ‘Bristle’ to Kebele’s address (see above).

OIL? ER, NO TAR

The eleventh anniversary of Ken Saro Wiwa’s death (See SchNEWS 49) was marked with a series of protests around the world. Shell stations were blockaded across the UK, as demonstrators forced both Big Oil and the public to wake up to the environmental costs being paid for cheap oil. Garages in London, Edinburgh, Reading, Newcastle were all blockaded, and a noisy protest was held outside the Shell sponsored ‘Wildlife photographer of the year’ exhibition in London’s Natural History Museum.

However, when protesters in Nottingham blockaded Shell, one motorist was particularly unsympathetic to the demonstrators’ cause. In an impromptu solidarity action (unfortunately with Shell), and displaying a similar attitude as the oil merchants in Nigeria, he decided that if an environmental campaigner stood between him and his petrol addiction, then what was needed was a little ‘violent direct action’ of his own. Obviously desperate to burn more fuel in his 4x4, he deliberately ran over a protester, accelerating into him and knocking him down, driving over his leg. When confronted, he got an iron bar from his car and began threatening protesters, saying (stupidly enough in front of a video camera) “Bring him back here, I’ll drive over him again.”

As the protester was being taken to hospital with serious crush injuries, police turned up. Acting with a restraint surprising to demonstrators, they didn’t arrest the assailant or confiscate either of his weapons of assault. Instead they took the drivers details and said that they would deal with it in due course. To date, he has not been charged with any crime.

Meanwhile actions against Shell continue worldwide. In Nigeria, a country which continues to bear the brunt of Shell’s scorched earth policies toward oil extraction, affected locals have upped the ante in their fight. Having already been subject to attacks and invasions by locals and armed militants, as well as kidnappings of foreign oil workers, a Royal Dutch Shell logistics base in Nun River, Bayelsa, was attacked by armed militants in speedboats on Wednesday. Although the attack was repelled by the Nigerian military, there is an ominous sense that this oil rich region of West Africa may become the ‘new Middle East’.

As climate scientists are becoming increasingly panicky, warning us that we may already be passed the point of no return, political chaos and instability continues to follow the control of oil. The solution seems obvious to anyone who can see beyond the profits of the next financial quarter. Rather than pump more and more of the black stuff year on year to satisfy global capital, we need to cut back on our reckless consumption and switch to known usable and sustainable alternatives – er, hang on a minute, I think we might have said this before...

* The Rossport campaign against Shell in Ireland continues (See SchNEWS 564) www.shelltosea.com

REFUSE-NICKED

How do you fancy being forced to join the army? Submitting yourself to an strict bullying authoritarian regime of control you can’t so much as raise an eyebrow at, let alone question, and be forced to use extreme violence against people you don’t know, for reasons you don’t believe? No?! That would make you a conscientious objector, like Mehmet Tarhan from Turkey who was imprisoned following his arrest in April of last year (See SchNEWS 523). The gay anarchist (you can just imagine how well that goes down in Turkey) was released this March after an appeal court overturned his conviction, on the grounds that any likely sentence would be less than he had already served. But the military had other ideas. Their cunning argument is that as he was obliged to repeat his refusals to join the killing machine, he can now effectively be tried repeatedly for the same offence!

Despite a bit of tough finger wagging from the UN and European Court of Human Rights over previous cases such as that of Osman Murat Ülke, the prosecution goes on. Last month the Sivas Military Court sentenced Mehmet to 10 months for “insistent insubordination in front of his unit” on 10 April 2005, and to 18 months for a further act of disobedience two months later. Mehmet, however, did not remain to be convinced that he’d get an impartial trail with the military playing judge, jury and prosecutor and no-showed. Now he faces additional charges for being a ‘deserter’! Mehmet’s case is not unique and War Resistors International are asking for calls and letters of protests – more details at www.wri-irg.org/news/alerts/msg00068.html

* 1st December marks international Prisoners For Peace Day. This year’s theme is supporting peace and human rights in Russia, particularly topical following the the recent murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya and the de-registration of many foreign NGOs in the country. See www.wri-irg.org/from-off.htm for more.

Party & Protest

• NOVEMBER 18 - Day of Action for Primates. Around 10,000 primates are experimented on across Europe each year, a third in British labs. There is a national call-out from Animal Aid for actions and stalls to raise awareness. Email kate@animalaid.co.uk or see www.animalaid.org.uk
• 19 - The Advisory Service for Squatters are looking for more volunteers and is putting on a basic legal training day and giving advice. 2-5pm at ASS, Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. Phone 020 3216 0099, email advice@squatter.org.uk web www.squatter.org.uk
• 22 - Protest against Caterpillar’s complicity in Israeli war crimes. 5.30pm at Grosvenor Hotel, London, as Caterpillar’s Vice President comes to town. For more email thewallmustfall@riseup.net
• 23rd - marks the 2000th day (and night!) of Brian Haw’s vigil outside parliament (See SchNEWS 566). Show ‘im you care by gathering from 5.30 - 7.30pm to mark his extraordinary achievements. For more, or to donate see www.parliament-square.org.uk
• 24 - Mauritian Embassy Demo against the country’s primate trade, where monkeys are farmed or caught in Mauritius to die in UK vivisection labs. Meet 11am Gloucester Rd Tube Station, London. Call 0845 337 2964, email southeastanimalaction@yahoo.co.uk
• 25 - Buy Nothing Day www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd
• 25 - Defy-ID National Gathering, Sumac Centre, Nottingham – to organise resistance to ID Cards and the National ID Register. From 11am onwards. Food and accommodation – but email before. www.nottingham-defy-id.org.uk/gathering
• 26 - Anniversary demo at Campsfield Refugees Detention Centre. Close All 174 Detention Centres No Fortress Europe! At Campsfield IRC main gates, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford. 12pm – 2pm. For more info email bmackeith@aol.com tel 07791 744260
• 26 - Bilston Glen Protest Camp free cafe. 7 miles south of Edinburgh. Free food and tea from 12pm, plus cinema and info-stall. For map and info see www.bilstonglen-abs.org.uk Site mobile - 07753 280009
• STOP PRESS Joseph Harris, the first medical researcher to be convicted under new SOCPA laws (see SchNEWS 565) has been moved to HMP Lewes (write to prisoner no. TN5728). The cancer research scientist was nicked for campaigning against suppliers to Huntington Life Sciences. See www.myspace.com/supportdrjoe

AFFIRMITIVE ACTION

Ever since African countries gained their independence, the West has been struggling to find ways to keep the profits rolling. In the good old days it was so much easier to plunder! Outfits like the WTO (Western Take-over Organisation) have been busier than ever opening up those markets, so when Hanniford Schmidt from the WTO offered to give a lecture on “full private stewardry of labour” – profit-hungry business types flocked to this week’s Wharton Africa Business Forum shindig in Philadelphia to listen.

He explained how successfully transport, power, water, traditional knowledge, and even the human genome have all made the move towards corporate ownership, so why not workers? Corporations are only interested in their employees’ productivity during working hours, but if they were to completely own them, it would be more profitable to provide healthcare and support 24/7, to keep them productive for the longer. Free trade is, he said, “about the freedom to buy and sell anything - even people.”

As Schmidt admitted that this idea was tantamount to slavery - but at least it was compassionate slavery! - delegates listened intently and appreciatively for 75 minutes to the capitalist wet dream, without realising it was also a total blag.

Having gained notoriety for posing as officials from the real World Trade Organisation and giving lectures on a range of topics, such as the recycling of human waste into burgers for the poor, the Yes Men had struck again! “Small-time criminals impersonate honest people in order to steal their money” say the activists, “And honest people impersonate big-time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them!” Lots more at www.theyesmen.org

YAHOO SERIOUS

The National Union of Journalists is calling for a complete boycott of all Yahoo! products and services in protest at its repeated collusion with the Chinese authorities. Yahoo provided info to the Chinese authorities that helped identify and prosecute several journalists and activist writers. Shi Tao was sentenced to 10 years in prison for forwarding a government email to the foreign press and the conviction was only possible because Yahoo was so ready and willing to trade any ethical or moral considerations for ‘access to markets’ and juicy extra profits. For more see www.booyahoo.blogspot.com

* Why not try Scroogle - the not-for-profit site that strips Google or Yahoo (your choice!) of all the ads and commercial hits, and returns only nourishing, information-laden weblinks for you and keeps your identify anonymous. Cast a fresh net at www.scroogle.org

...and finally...

Proving that they don’t make ‘em like they used to, there’s been shock in Europe recently as Euro bank notes have been literally been disintegrating in peoples hands. Talk about a crumbling currency. Quick to deny shoddy workmanship, German police pointed the finger at the obvious culprits: crystal meth snorters. Apparently, sulphates used in the production of the drug can form sulphuric acid when mixed with human sweat, they say, causing banknotes to corrode (That’s right, blame the druggies again!)

Given the love of the money-hungry for full-ego-boosting uppers (presumably to keep them smashed and numb to any guilt arising from a sober examination of their pointless, empty lives), and with any number of published reports showing around 90% of notes are already contaminated with cocaine, the authorities had better start get the boffins working on some sniff-resistant moolah!

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