BACK ON THE FRACK
For the second time in a month, anti-fracking campaigners have targeted the proposed fracking site in Hesketh Bank, Lancashire. Rising Tide activists from Bristol made the long journey up north with their bikes and have stormed the rig, climbing on to drilling equipment and halting works. As SchNEWS goes to press the three plucky protesters are settling down in hammocks and warm clothes for a night atop the rig in 4 degree temperatures. A man and a woman were arrested on site, on suspicion of aggravated trespass and are now in custody. A banner drop was made from the drill, only to ripped down by a Cuadrilla cherry picker - but those on the rig have vowed to stay for as long as possible to disrupt operations.
See http://www.frack-off.org.uk, www.risingtide.org.uk/bristol, and https://twitter.com/#!/BrisRisingTide for more info.
.....
In America, the fracking issue remains top of the climate agenda, and has become a symbol of people vs. corporations in many ways. Over 100 cities and numerous states have banned any fracking operations until more research into the damaging effects of the process have been done.
.....
Not one to be left out of the latest energy extraction fad, no matter how polluting, is China. In a recent government announcement, the country has pledged to employ the technique as part of an effort to reach an output of 450 million tons of oil and natural gas by 2030, a 62% increase on 2010.
Greek anarchists re-appropriate supermarket goods off the shelves into the hands of pensioners.
Forty hunt sabs from around the south-east headed up to get on the case of the notorious Old Surrey and Burstow hunt near Tandridge in Surrey this Saturday (3rd). They were met with a heavy-handed police response - two arrests and the seizure of the South Down's groups vehicle.
Wednesday's N30 strikes saw 2 million public sector workers striking and hundreds of thousands marching in Britain's streets all over the country, marking the biggest strike in a generation.
After Brighton University students waited until the coast was clear the N30 campus lockdown to occupy in protest in solidarity with the public sector workers, against the increase in fees and the fact that the VC made noises in opposition to the White Paper to please students and staff - and then signed a public letter to the government in support of fee increases. The uni is also targeted for their lack of transparency regarding links to dodgy private companies.
The Department for Transport was blockaded by fifty Greenpeace activists and two immobilised cars on Monday (28th) to protest the UK government's determination to stick a spanner in the upcoming EU vote on tar sands
The Bigger Society Social Club opened its doors to the public of Lenton, Nottingham on Monday (28th) morning only to have them kicked in and closed a few hours later.
Occupy LSX took a third space in London last week as a group from the camp liberated an abandoned three storey complex of four interlinked office blocks in Hackney.
Imports of oil from tar sands - the dirtiest, most expensive and most bat-shit crazy form of oil extraction around - looks like it may face a possible EU ban soon. That is unless unless Lewes MP Norman Baker can scupper it.
Tweets by @SchNEWS