Home | 24th May 1996 | Issue 75

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER BUG CRUNCHIN...

SchNEWS

BUGGER OFF!

"M15...infiltrate organisations, people's jobs and lives. They operate almost like a cancer, infiltrating and destroying trust and security between people. [Home Secretary Michael] Howard is putting the building blocks in place for an East German-style Stasi-like force where half the population finishes up spying on the other half"
- Ex-Chief Constable John Alderson

What if we told you secret police will soon get the legal right to gain entry into your home or business premises, look through your personal property, burgle, install cameras, tap phones, put in surveillance equipment and bugging devices without you ever having committed a crime? What if we told you that you will never know who these people are or why they were there? That unless charged with being one of a "large number of people pursuing a common purpose" you will probably never know that such nosey parkers had been in your home? And if you do end up in court, these people will be screened from view as they present evidence against you - and you won't even be allowed to cross-examine these faceless scary monsters?

"There's no need for MI5 to break in - I'm not ashamed of anything I do. Tell 'em to knock on the door; I'll get the kettle on."
- a weathered road protester

SECURITY ALERT! Are you one of "a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose"?

No come back...no accountability...only the Security Services minister, the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister need ever know why they picked on you.

Sounds like a mad Orwellian plot? Welcome to the Security Services Bill, already passed through the Commons and due to be presented - all two pages of it - in the Lords on 10th June. MI5's role, until now, was to protect national security against espionage, terrorism and subversion, safeguarding the "economic well-being of the UK". The new powers extend their responsibilities from looking into the activities of terrorists and drug barons to targeting "large numbers of people pursuing a common purpose".

Like Who?

When a movement fans the flames of discontent, and becomes too vocal, too active or too successful, they become threatening in the eyes of the state, and the rules change. Back in 1917 the US/Australian militant union 'The Wobblies' were declared illegal after 10 years of direct action and class war. Offices were raided and printing presses were seized. Dozens were arrested, and many activists deported. In 1985 the Black ecological activists MOVE were firebombed by Pennsylvania state police in an effort to curb their activities. It was CND's turn later in the 80's.

Now it's animal rights activists getting trumped up conspiracy charges and anti-road protesters being filmed, documented and often arrested... But don't worry dear reader, a spokesperson from ARNI (Animal Rights National Index) said: "the ordinary protester has nothing to fear - the people we are interested in are extremists who use criminal tactics or commit public order offences to achieve their ends."

So is every single person nicked at live animal export demonstrations under public order offences for such crap arrests as throwing orange peel or sweet wrappers at a lorry, or hitting a copper with a woolly hat (all true) now on the police computer as extremists? MI5 provides security advice to Government, commerce and industries whose products are of critical 'national economic or civil importance'. Anyone that challenges road-building or the transport industry could be in bother. In fact, the new laws seem almost targeted for Phase 2 at Newbury when construction gets underway, and the protesters join together in their effort to prevent the bypass being built.

And there's more... New police powers coming your way in November to allow police the same powers being granted to MI5. SchNEWS will get the kettle on.

Summer Solstice?

Wanna wear out yer shoes? Why not walk to Stonehenge! A hippy told SchNEWS: "No Glastonbury this year so we're making our own festival and it's going to be FREE!! There will be two groups going, one from Battersea Park at 3pm (after an Anarchist's Picnic) on Saturday 1st June, the other posse leaves from Brighton's West Pier during the drumming session on Sunday 2nd June".

The London crew are walking a canal route - with barge in tow. Brighton pilgrims will be, allegedly, "taking it easy and camping in beauty spots where ley-lines meet."

The walkers plan to have a festie and march on Stonehenge to watch "the Midsummer Sunrise strike a magical shadow from the Heel Stone into the central vulva of stones as Sun and Earth meet in symbolic elemental union." Sound sexy? Meet at the drumming by the West Pier on Sundays if you're interested or call Mystic Smeg 01273 685913.

small press

Small Press Fair during Hackney Anarchy Week (24th May - 2nd June) on Bank Holiday Monday 11am - 6pm at St. Barnabus Hall, 109 Homerton High St., London, E9. freee! Checkout DiY print-creations by the underground's finest. Detaits of Anarchy week: BMActive, London WC1N 3XX Email: anarchy@phreak.intermedia.co.uk.

Party On?

Hot on the heels of Home Office guidelines which include advising long dance events to have adequate breaks with no music (!) comes the Noise Bill.

This is currendy being discussed in the House of Lords and could become law in the next six months. "The Bill creates a new offence in respect of noise emitted from dwellings at night which exceeds a permitted level as measured by an approved device". Night time means between 11 pm and 7 am. Noise level means 35 decibels. A warning will be given, and if this is ignored there's a maximum fine of £1,000 and local council officers can enter premises and then seize any equipment which seems to have been used "in the emission of the noise". While consistently noisy neighbours can drive you round the bend, the new laws have been called a Victor Meldrew's Charter.

"I don't believe it!"

Why can't people have the odd party in their homes? Or better still why don't the authorities leave us alone to party in out of the way disused parts of the country?

Meanwhile summer's here (allegedly - go away rain) and the festival fun has begun. However, some of the more major events seem little more than glorified open-air concerts. Whereas the free festival was a chance to party free from the restrictions of rip-off clubs, dumb-shit security and money-mad promoters, the money-men have moved in to make a killing. As Festival Eye told SchNEWS: "The last few years' tightening up of party laws have particularly hit free festivals and raves while the demand for outdoor events have continued to rise. Some promoters have started to charge excessive prices for tickets. Phoenix Festivals have been criticised as an event with a Glastonbury level price tag but failed to deliver anything like the sort of entertainment found at the Pilton event." So this month's party and protest festival guide isn't what it used to be; it may cost you a fortune (jump the fence), but there's still fun to be had. Free parties do still happen; you just have to keep your ears peeled and ear to the ground.

If you need to make a bit of dosh, contact Festival Eye who are offering 100 copies of the new issue at half price. Alternatively get a copy for £2+SAE from BCM 200, London WC1N 3XX

Get clued-up on the legalities of free parties with Advance Party's "Sound Advice". SAE to PO Box 3290, London, NW2 3UJ 0181 450 6929

Dance Information Network dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of party goers 0171 729 5255

Buskers in Scotland beware. You're the next ones to be targeted by Glasgow officials who say they - along with street performers and preachers - are just too damned loud.The noise police will serve notice if they continue to persist in ther 'noise pollution.' That's rich, coming from a council that's given the go ahead for a 10 lane motorway thru' the south side of the city! That'll be really fucking quiet, won't it?

Party & Protest!

June 1st Stokey Punx Picnic 2pm at Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, London, N16

Aberystwyth Summer Fete inc. Zion Train + Tragic 01686 440668

1-3 Sustainable Europe Tour in Glasgow music, art, workshops, culture, politics, exhibitions, street theatre, perfomance art + concerts 0141 423 0213

6-11 Swansea Music Festival Doo The Moog etc.

6-12 Dance + Yogi in Dartmoor 0117 9422847

7-9 African drumming weekend in the Coltswolds 01452 812983

Leominster Fringe Festival 01568 610060

8th Gay Pride West 0117 951 1076

Fleadh Festival Finsbury Park, London

Strawberry Fair Midsummer Common, Cambridge FREE!

Reclaim The Streets in Leicester, Victoria Park next to Pavilion 1pm

8-16 Green Future Survival Base Camp Kent 01836 337245

12-18 Earth First! activists' gathering somewhere in Wales (NOT a festival but a chance to meet like-minded folk, learn new campaigning skills etc.) 0171 249 9114

14 Techno Gods (£15) Sanctuary, Milton Keynes 01865 742118

14-16 Trash Trident! Party & Protest at Faslane Peace Camp, Scotlad CND 0171 700 2393

Gower Festival West Glamorgan 01792 850803

Keith Festival Grampian 01542 810222

14-22 African Oye! Merseyside club sessions + free gigs 0151 708 6344

14-23 Unicorn Solstice Camp 01256 893369

15-16 Leamington Peace Festival 01926 421830

15-23 Stonehenge People's Free Festival (if no site available, we have it on good faith that it's at Royal Ascot on 18-21st)

21 *** Summer Solstice ***

21 Church in the Field Summer Solstice - somewhere in the South East 01908 665124

21-23 Solstice Healing Camp 01458 831485

21-24 Druid Camp Blacklands Lake Wilts

22 Sundance Park, Norwich 01953 488150

22-23 S.T.E Collective, Southampton. Hampshire 01703 225612

23rd Mass vegetarian rally + picnic top nosh-up! 0181 681 8884

Camden Green Fair in, er, Camden

28-30 Bracknell Festival including Chumbawumba, Ian Dury, Back To The Planet 01344 484123

28-30 African drumming weekend II in the Coltswolds 01452 812983

Spreadeagle Beer Festival Hereford (need more bands) 01432 272205

Dream Dance + Swetlodge (is this Dime Bar heaven?) 01638 741 280

28-1 JULY Robin's Greenwood Gang Solstice Moon + Seaspirit Camp ("this makes sense if u know them") 0117 954 2273

YEAH, MAN...

Why is there such a hash shortage? Apparently, the US has given an aid package to Morocco in agreement that they try to stem the flow of puff out of the country. Time to be self sufficient and grow our own? Call CHIC 0171 613 5166

Inside SchNEWS

Peace Campaigners celebrated a "symbolic victory" last Friday when Kate Witham was given 140 hours community service plus £100 costs after causing £21,504 of damage by daubing "Peace, Truth, Justice and Freedom" at Menwith Hill Spy Base in Yorkshire - the largest US spy-base in the world. She pleaded not guilty using the 'lawful excuse argument' saying Menwith Hill, run by the United States National Security Agency, was breaking international law by intercepting communications.

18-28 Amazon Women's Festival at the peace camp outside Menwith Hill 01943 468593

As seen in SchNEWS 66, back in March Gloucester musician Michael Marlow was stuck inside for a year for producing a grow-yer-own dope manual. The second printing of his book is Out in Amsterdam on 15th June - it's available for about a tenner: Tricameral Sinsemilla Drugs Peace Institute, Peace House, Spuistraat 2, Amsterdam 15563 10001, Holland.

Michael told SchNEWS: "Would-be purchasers in the UK should be warned however that should my appeal fail, possession of the book here will still constitute a crime; one that will give Mr. Plod his excuse to ransack houses and severely curtail one's well-being or feel-good factor if set-ups are discovered."

Support prisoners! - write to: Michael Marlow, MK 2057, HMP Blakenhurst, Hewell Lane, Redditch, Worcs B97 6QS

and finally...

The final day of perhaps one of the most ridiculous trials this year is on Thursday June 6th 9.45am at Brighton Magistrates Court, the culmination of Brighton coppers "Operation Eagle" - their bid to stop the monthly Critical Mass cycle rides round town. So it's OK for cars to clog up and pollute our town every day of the year, but when bike riders get together to create a car-free safe space for a couple of hours - without police permission - they get the full works. Video surveillance, undercover cops - even a police helicopter! In January 4 people got nicked for "obstructing the highway", got bail conditions banning them from taking part in any illegal demo in the country and had their bikes taken as evidence! Not content with this the police then applied for a destruction order.

Under the CJA 1988 the court has the power to deprive a person of property if it has been used or if it is intended to be used to commit an offence! Do motorists who commit driving offences have their cars confiscated and destroyed? Turn up and support those in court - even better then turn up and celebrate a year of Brighton Critical Mass on June 1st 12.30 pm St. Peters Church for the Critical Mass Birthday Party! and see a new contraption - a bicycle drumming float:

(WISH LIST bike parts, wood, large coach bolts, paint any colour. Will collect. Alan 01273 685913)

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.

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Next Justice? meeting: Henry Law 'The Price of Vacant land is Unemployment' - Land right & use @ Brighton Unemployed Centre off Carlton Hill WED 29th May

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SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 0EF, England
Phone: +44 (0)1273 685913
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