NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND

The workers occupation of the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight (see SchNEWS 686) came to an end last Friday with the remaining six workers leaving minutes before the bailiffs moved in, two by abseiling down the factory wall, one by leaping 30 feet from the balcony and the other three using the more conventional method of walking out the door. The camp outside the factory continues however, and the last week has seen nationwide acts of solidarity.

According to a SchNEWS reporter at the scene, the camp continues to grow despite the eviction, as does local support. A handful of workers remain at the camp with the environment and union activists. Elsewhere on the island, the rooftop protest of the Vestas site in East Cowes continues but is due to end today (14th) after 11 days and nights up on the roof. Far from giving up though, the protesters plan to head straight for the constituency office of Conservative MP Andrew Turner, whose nimbyism in opposing construction of a wind farm on the Isle of Wight contributed to the withdrawal of Vestas from British production.

Here on the mainland, things kicked off on Monday (10th) with a joint action by Climate Rush and The Yes Men, who welcomed home Peter “I’m a kindly pussycat” Mandelson from his holiday in Corfu by chaining themselves to the gates of his Regent’s Park home. Following on from this, Wednesday (12th) saw a national day of solidarity with protests all over the country including Nottingham, Oxford, Cardiff, and Brighton.

With the campaign still growing nationwide, it’s not too late to get involved, see http://savevestas.wordpress.com/ for details of what’s going on in your area.