Stop the Murder, Stop the Hate, Close Down the Group of Eight!
9 Jun 2013
StopG8 have organised a week of action in London from 8th to 15th June, ahead of the UK G8 summit. Tuesday June 11th will be the big day, The #J11 Carnival Against Capitalism mass action will start at 12 noon on Tuesday June 11th, the meet-up points will be:North: Oxford Circus.South: Piccadilly Circus.The action will finish with a ?street party? at 5:30pm, the location will be announced on the day.Other links:Stop G8 | Resist 2013 UK G8 Summit |Stop G8 on Twitter | They Owe Us

Bradley Manning’s Trial begins 3 June. Call-out for solidarity everywhere
27 May 2013
The trial in the Court Martial of Welsh-American WikiLeaks Whistleblower Bradley Manning is finally scheduled to begin on Monday 3 June 2013 at Fort Meade, Maryland, US after an unprecedented three years of pre-trial detention. The mistreatment of Bradley Manning in prison including almost a year of torture by the US authorities that was condemned by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has to be seen in the context of the vast, ‘secret’ Grand Jury conspiracy and espionage investigation into WikiLeaks and the pressure that must have been exerted on Brad in a sustained but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to persuade him to testify against Julian Assange, who the US authorities very badly want to get their hands on.Read or listen to Bradley Manning’s statement to the court (extracts below) and his chat logs to see why he felt that the information he found himself in possession of should be shared with the world and what he hoped might happen as a result of risking his life and liberty to do this.There are 22 charges against Brad include ‘Aiding the Enemy’ that potentially carries the death penalty although the prosecution has said it will not seek this sentence. Brad has already pled guilty to 10 lesser charges that could themselves result in a 20 year jail term and the government has accepted his lesser plea on just one count but not on any of the other lesser charges, for which it will still bring evidence. During the final pre-trial hearing on 21 May, Judge Lind announced that portions of the trial dealing with 24 witnesses, including US Ambassadors, will be held in closed session, with redacted transcripts provided afterwards.The US, aided and abetted by Britain, is pursuing a permanent ‘War on Terror’ and continues its project of creating and escalating conflict around the globe at terrible cost to human life. The significance of the anti-war actions of Bradley Manning and Julian Assange can be judged by reference to the zeal with which both are being persecuted by the US authorities and the extent to which they have been variously misrepresented, vilified, smeared, ridiculed or ignored in the mainstream media. As anti-war activists or war resisters, they deserve our support and solidarity.Join existing or create your own solidarity actions on Saturday 1 June and throughout Brad’s trial, expected to last into August unless there’s an early plea deal. 1 June solidarity is currently planned for London and Cardiff.Previous features: December 2012 (Torture hearing) | April 2011 (Call-out for solidarity)On the newswire (recent): Brad’s in jail for us, We’re on the streets for him | 1 June call-out for Cardiff | Vivienne Westwood supports Brad | London solidarity in run-up to trial | Solidarity at Chester May Day | Downloadable flyers for 1 June | London solidarity/Report from Fort Meade | Brad nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (again) | Wrexham solidarity on 1000th day of detentionOther links: bradleymanning.org | wiseupaction.info | veteransforpeace.org.uk | refusingtokill.net | Alexa O’Brien’s searchable database of all available legal documents | iam.bradleymanning.org

Anti-capitalists gear up for G8 protests
8 May 2013
Anti-capitalists have been gearing up for the protests against the G8 Summit with Mayday actions across the country. The focus was on Primark and other businesses profiting from the global slave labour system which led to the death of 700 people in Bangladesh. There were angry protests in central London, Hackney, Lewisham, Birmingham, Brighton and Bristol, with the clear message going out that the disaster was not an accident but the inevitable consequence of the callous capitalist system. Stop G8 is holding another organising meeting in London on May 25 and May 26, before the big week of action in the capital from June 10 to June 14, featuring the #J11 Carnival Against Capitalism.On the Newswire: Mayday protest in central London | Mayday protest in Glasgow | Mayday protests in Birmingham, Hackney and Lewisham | Mayday protest in Bristol | Mayday protest in Brighton | Squatted social centre in Lewes | Guillotine in Worthing | Oxford Stop G8 meeting | Call-out for J11 | Call-out for week of action Other links: Stop G8 | Resist 2013 UK G8 Summit | Stop G8 on Twitter | They Owe Us

Rossport Solidarity Camp Week of Action 21st-30th June 2013
23 Apr 2013
RAGE AGAINST THE BORING MACHINECome to act in solidarity with the campaign in Mayo against Shell?s Corrib Gas Project. For over 12 years, the local community have been resisting Shell’s plans to force through a high pressure raw gas pipeline and inland refinery. Local people have gone through all possible channels to fight the project.Let down by the Government; many have been beaten, imprisoned and feel under siege by the security and police. However people continue to protest in order to protect their families, livelihoods and resources. Currently Shell are attempting to tunnel under an EU ‘protected’ estuary with their tunnel boring machine but they are experiencing major construction problems. If they are having difficulties without protests, imagine how much havoc a little more disruption will cause. Rossport is the frontline of the resistance to ?Extreme Energy? extraction in Ireland.Hot on the heels of the anti-G8 protests, we warmly invite old and new faces to come join us for a week of action against Shell’s disastrous project.If you are new to taking action don?t worry – all kinds of skills and roles are needed during the week of action and you will be able to play a role that you are comfortable with. If you know the area and have ideas for action – get prepared and come with an affinity group if possible.Links to newswire articles: Shell to Sea campaigner speaking in Bristol, Leeds & Manchester this week | Digger diving | In memory of Ogoni 9 | Community protests at Shell’s profit announcement | Trucks blockadedOther links: Rossport Solidarity Camp | Shell to Sea | Mayo topic on indymedia.ie | Rossport Camp Gathering on Facebook | Rossport Solidarity YouTube Video

Cuts Meeting at Birmingham Council House Blockaded
2 Mar 2013
On the morning of Tuesday 26th February at 7:30am a group of Save Birmingham activists blockaded the entrance to the Council House underground car park. Later that day the annual budget meeting would take place where over 100m worth of cuts would be voted through. Save Birmingham, who had previously occupied the balcony of the Council House in the lead up to the budget meeting, along with other anti-cuts groups had called for a public blockade of the Council House at 11:00am to prevent the councillors from entering the building and voting through the cuts. When 11:00 arrived the car park blockaders were joined by hundreds of people from around Birmingham angry at the way the cuts are being undemocratically forced onto the city by the council. Soon all major entrances to the Council House had been blockaded just in time for the councillors to start arriving. Police tried to break up and force councillors through but eventually resorted to sneaking councillors into the Council House via secret doors in the Art Museum which is connected to the Council House. When the meeting finally got under-way activists twice managed to gain entry to the building to disrupt the meeting.On the Newswire: Video of Blockaded: Birmingham Council House cuts meeting | Council House Blockaded | Photos from Birmingham Council House blockade | More photos of Council House Blockade | Council Have Voted Through 102m Cuts ? Blockade & Demonstration Is Not The End | It?s Time To Shut The City Down ? Day Of Action Against Council Cuts | Save Birmingham – Blockade the Council HousePrevious features: Anti-Cuts protesters occupy Birmingham Council HouseLinks: Save Birmingham

Eileen House opened by Self-Organised London as new social space
23 Feb 2013
Self-Organised London Social Space has now been opened in a squatted office building near Elephant and Castle.Eileen House on 80-94 Newington Causeway, a 1960s office building, has now been empty for years. Its redevelopment has been subject to a protracted and contested debate between Southwark Council, Oakmayne developers, local residents, the famous nightclub ?Ministry of Sound? (located opposite Eileen House) and ? the mayor of London (see PDF). After numerous months of haggling and bureaucratic warfare, it?s time to reclaim Eileen house for the public and the interests of the Elephant?s residents!On Tuesday night, 19th February, a number of social centre collectives squatted Eileen House as a direct action against gentrification. As a selforganised London Social Space, we want to propose & exchange ideas for radical alternatives, serving the needs of the many vibrant and organic communities around E&C!For this reason we will put on a number of events, talks, discussions, film screenings, music nights and much more for the first week (see below). All residents and Londoners are more than welcome to pop in for a cuppa, discuss matters, attend our events or just have a good chat! During this first week we are really happy for people to come mby, have a look around the building and maybe give us a hand with setting up the space, while on the long run, the opening times will be from Wednesdays till Sundays, 2-10 pm.Links: Self-Organised London Social Space | Crews:Library Street London | No Shoes No Roots | DIY space for LondonFrom the newswire:Fight gentrification! Reclaim regeneration! For self-organised spaces… | Siege of The Elephant | first protest on london shard viewing platform | News from the Library Street Social Centre | Southwark Council leaks it’s own Confidential Regeneration Agreement

Secret City: Oxford Screening + Q+A
17 Feb 2013
Celebrating two years of regular film screenings at OARC, East Oxford Community Centre, Oxford Indymedia presents the new independent film Secret City, on Sunday 3rd March from 7pm. For this Oxford Premier, we are pleased to be joined by film makers Lee Salter and Michael Chanan, who will be presenting the film and doing a Q&A session afterwards.The City of London is an anomaly in UK democracy. With just 7,000 permanent residents and the lowest car ownership in the country, its own police force, its arcane system of self-government with its Lord Mayor, Livery Companies and Alderman, businesses that have the right to vote and it?s direct accountability to the Crown rather than Parliament, the City houses the one of the Globe’s key financial centres and the Inns of Court, the heart of the UK?s legal system. The City is the place where banks, brokers, insurers and other money-makers enjoy their unimpeded ascendancy.The Occupy LSX movement, which arose in 2011, once again drew public attention to the unprecedented political and financial status the City enjoys; largely unchanged since William the Conqueror’s time. Secret City will take us on a tour of key City locations by an Occupy activist, Liam Taylor and delve into the history and mystery of the UK’s most powerful centre.The night will be held downstairs in the bar where Catweazel Club is normally held, so there will be refreshments on tap and in bottle for the night. Come along and watch the film and celebrate two years of screenings with Oxford Indymedia.Article about first year of screenings | oarcfilms web site | Secret City trailer (links to external site) | screening flyer

Anti-Cuts protesters occupy Birmingham Council House
6 Feb 2013
At 1:30pm on Monday 4th February a group of 20 protesters from the Save Birmingham campaign walked into the Council House and occupied the balcony overlooking Victoria Square. The group had previously sent two letters to every councillor in Birmingham the last letter with over 200 signatures but with no response from the council. The Save Birmingham campaign has been steadily growing over the past few months, from rooms packed full of people opposed to the proposed cuts at several of the councils own consultations to a meeting of 175 people called by Communities Against the Cuts to organise a grass roots movement to fight back against the cuts. This led to the day of action on the 4th, the day the Labour Group who have a majority on the Council had a private meeting to agree on the 625m cuts to Birmingham which will be voted through at the budget meeting on 26th February. The day started with a small silent protest in Victoria Square outside the Council House, which was followed by the occupation of the Council House later in the afternoon. The balcony occupation lasted five hours and ended after more than 200 anti-cuts activists arrived in Victoria Square after marching from the Bullring.On the Newswire: Save Birmingham March on the Council House – Don’t let them vote through the cuts | Birmingham Council House Occupied | Photos from yesterdays Birmingham Council House Occupation and Demonstration | Birmingham Council House Balcony protestLinks: Save Birmingham

SchNEWS: Battle of Bexhill
23 Dec 2012
Update! A week of direct action against Bexhill link road.?We were caught out and a lot of damage has been done ? but people have been amazing and now we’ve have a set of established tree defences and work has stopped for the day at least. We really need support and all the usual wish-list stuff, tools, tarps, ropes etc. So come and give us a Christmas visit? – Combe Haven DefenderMaps of the planned road (scroll down!) – the camp is at Adams FarmAnti-road protestors in Bexhill were ambushed by an early start to the tree felling on the controversial Bexhill-Hastings link road this week, but they rallied and a week of constant direct action has put a spanner in the works, with no work reported today (Saturday 22nd). Work wasn’t expected to begin until early January but as soon as East Sussex County Council acquired the land (by compulsory purchase) the chainsaw gangs were set to work.From the newswire: Hastings/|Bexhill anti-road camp needs you! | Help Needed Immediately | Anti-road campaigners high in trees at Bexhill and are prepared to stay | Brighton: Emergency meeting | Second Battle of Hastings: Day One… Protestors 10, Road builders 0 | Protestors Take To Trees To Stop Chainsaws

Bradley Manning Takes the Stand: 11 days of Testimony on Abuse at Quantico
13 Dec 2012
Accused WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning, the young American military intelligence analyst with Welsh and Irish roots, gave evidence in person for the first time at Fort Meade, Maryland in a hearing on the Defence’s Article 13 unlawful pretrial punishment motion. The court sat for eleven days between 27 November and 11 December to hear the case that Brad was subject to unlawful pretrial punishment at Quantico brig where he was held for nine months before being transferred to less punitive conditions at Fort Leavenworth in April 2011. Brad’s mistreatment at Quantico has already been condemned by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez. On the strength of evidence of mistreatment, the Defence is calling for all 22 charges Bradley Manning faces in connection with the biggest anti-war whistleblowing act in history to be dropped or, failing that, for any sentence imposed if he is convicted to be substantially reduced. Judgment has been reserved and the ruling of military judge Denise Lind is unlikely before January.Bradley Manning has been held in pretrial detention for two and a half years, unprecedented in US military history, and this is the first time that his own account of his treatment in detention has been heard in the courtroom or anywhere. Brad’s testimony has been brought out into the public domain from the courtroom primarily by the dedicated independent journalists who have been covering this latest hearing as well as all previous hearings. Despite, or perhaps because of the huge importance of this case, it has largely been ignored by the mainstream media who were keen enough at the time to publish the documents and cables Brad’s charged with leaking. The next hearing, dealing with a number of motions, will run from 8-11 January 2013 and the trial is expected to begin in March. This primer by Kevin Gosztola explains the background to the hearing.On the newswire – Notes from the courtroom: 11 Dec | 10 Dec | 7 Dec | 6 Dec | 5 Dec | 1-2 Dec | 30 Nov | 29 Nov | 27-29 Nov | London vigil: 27 Nov Report | Call-out | Previous feature: April 2011This feature has been compiled from the sources listed in the posts above. Read the full article for a summary of the hearing and links to articles by independent journalists and supporters of Bradley Manning.

Day of action against Workfare and Starbucks
11 Dec 2012
Saturday 8th December saw two separate days of action happening across the country. The first was the start of a week of action against the governments Workfare scheme. Workfare replaces jobs and undermines wages, this can be seen by Superdrug in Brighton not hiring any Christmas temps because they have free labour from the job centre. The Work Programme actually reduces your chances of finding a job, whilst the Mandatory Work Activity has had no effect on unemployment levels. Since 3rd December, disabled people can now be sent on time unlimited workfare placements. If they say no, their benefits will be cut to 28/week indefinitely. Unemployed people who refuse can have their job seekers allowance cut for up to 3 years.The second day of action was against Starbucks tax avoidance. Starbucks have not paid any corporation tax in the past 3 years, and only 8.6m in the 14 years they?ve been trading in this country. Costa Coffee, whose turnover last year was 377m, just 21m less than Starbucks paid 15m in corporation tax.On the newswire: Workfare?s Christmas Bonus For The Bosses | 100 people at #Sheffield @ukuncut #Starbucks Action | UK Uncut protest against tax dodgers Starbucks | Anti-Austerity Protest, Manchester Report and Pics | small determined workfare demo in holloway, london yesterday | islington starbucks ukuncut actions yesterday – report & pics 1 of 2 | islington starbucks ukuncut actions yesterday – report & pics 2 of 2 | Bath Anti-Starbucks Demo | Boycott Workfare day of action | Anti-Workfare Pickets Glasgow Report | Boycott Workfare Video | Starbucks action in Cambridge by UK UncutPrevious Features: Workfare: Enslave us and we’ll shut you down!Links: Boycott Workfare | UK Uncut

Oxford peace activists to visit Afghanistan
11 Dec 2012
Two women from Oxford are amongst a group of peace activists visiting Afghanistan this month. The delegation aim to spend time meeting and making links with ordinary Afghans, and then raise awareness back in the UK of what they discover."We are traveling as friends and equals of the Afghans we will be visiting, not to fix Afghanistan but to fix UK perspectives on Afghanistan" -Mary, one of the group.Nine years ago another local peace activist, Paul, moved to Afghanistan to work with the UN, and sent a series of personal reports, providing a revealing first-hand account of life there.UK Peace Activists Visit Afghanistan | Oxford Man in AfghanistanAfghan Youth Peace Volunteers | Global Days Of Listening | RAWA

Capitalist Crisis Creates "shortfall in waste" in Sheffield.
5 Dec 2012
Sheffielders have been diligently sorting their waste for recycling for many years. The idea is to reduce waste going to Landfill and Incineration. As a reward for all their diligence Sheffielders will now have to put up with Veolia importing even more waste from further afield to an Incinerator built in the heart of their City.

Gaza solidarity
22 Nov 2012
Israel launched a new offensive on the people of Gaza last week which claimed the lives of 162 Palestinians. Four Israeli civilians and one soldier have also died as a result of retaliatory rocket attacks.As of 20th November 23% of Palestinian casualties were children. The youngest victim of the recent Israeli aggression is 11-month-old Omar Al Mashharrawi.Hundreds of solidarity demonstrations have been held globally and a national demonstration is planned in London on Saturday 24th November. On Friday 16th November a demonstration was held in Birmingham and another is planned for Thursday 22nd outside the BBC offices to protest biased reporting. In Brighton on Saturday 17th November activists locked on to the Ecostream store, a shop owned by an Israeli company that has its main manufacturing facility in the West Bank settlement of Mishor Adumim. Later on a hundred strong crowd marched to the store and held a noisy demonstration outside the shop. On Monday 19th a phone and twitter blockade of the company was held.The same day in Wrexham activists picketed Barclays Bank in protest at Barclays investments in companies supplying weapons to Israel.On Tuesday 20th a group of solidarity activists occupied G4S headquarters over the company’s contracts with the Israeli prison service as well as providing equipment and services to Israeli military checkpoints and maintaining contracts with businesses working in Israel’s settlements.The ‘Don’t Dance with Israeli Apartheid’ campaign held demonstrations against London performances of the Israeli state sponsored Batsheva dance troupe at Sadlers Wells on the 19th-21st November as part of a coordinated international campaign. There were also protests both inside and outside of the Birmingham performances at the Hippodrome on the 14-15th November coinciding with the start of the latest Gaza massacre.Palestinians in the West Bank have also been demonstrating in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Gaza, only to be met with typical Israeli oppression. On Saturday, 31-year-old Rushdi Tamimi was shot by an IDF soldier at a protest in the village of Nabi Saleh. He died of his wounds in hospital on Monday around the time news surfaced that Hamdi Mohammad Jawwad Al-Falah, 22, was killed after being shot four times during a demonstration in the Bir al-Mahjar neighborhood in western Hebron. A baby also died in hospital on Monday after an Israeli tear gas canister landed in his bedroom in Qalandia refugee camp.A ceasefire was reached on Wednesday 21st of November. However, the conflict is likely to continue if Israel does not end its siege of Gaza and attempts to control the Gazan economy. The need for solidarity with the people of Palestine struggling against Israeli militarism, apartheid and occupation has never been greater.Upcoming events: Thursday 22nd November – Gaza solidarity demo in Brighton at the Old Steine at 5pm and Die In on the BBC Steps at the Mailbox in Birmingham 6pm-7pm| 23rd/24th November – Don’t Dance with Israeli apartheid demos in Plymouth| 24th November – Mass Gaza Solidarity demo in London| Sunday 25th – Demo at Ecostream, Western Rd, Brighton, 1-3pm

Anarchist movement grows in Cardiff after month of resistance
31 Oct 2012
The month began with the successful eviction resistance of the squatted social centre Gremlin Alley on October 4th, when bailiffs turned up faced with a barricaded building and a supportive crowd outside, eventually realising they had no hope of gaining access. The gremlins occupying the centre spent the rest of the day having a black bloc style party on the roof, while supporters partied to a local band who turned up to play, and cops kept their distance but remained present for most of the day. A communique followed the next day, expressing solidarity with imprisoned squatter Alex Haigh and the Cuts Cafe crew in London who were raided by TSG on the same evening. A video commmunique was then released the following week, in English and Welsh, explaining the reason for resisting, as well as expressing general disgust for the state and the increased criminalisation of homeless.After a busy two weeks improving barricades by gremlins and supporters, the first attempt to deport the Saleh family occured on Thursday 18th, with their home being raided by UKBA officers and two activists being arrested for obstruction. While solidarity was shown for the activists at Cardiff Bay police station, others made an attempt to block the detainees coach on the motorway sliproad, followed by a successful communications blockade of Egypt Air?s telephone lines and their facebook page. Fortunately, the family avoided the deportation due to a security mix-up, and were instead taken to Cedars detention centre in West Sussex. By the morning, Friday 18th, UKBA offices in Cardiff had its windows smashed ? no doubt in response to the attempted deportation, signifying more resistance to come.Related articles: Gremlin Alley EVICTION RESISTANCE happening now (UPDATE - 3pm) | Communique :: The Gremlins are still resisting in Cardiff | Video Communique from the Gremlins | Timeline of anti-deportation resistance in support of the Saleh family | Shroukie?s family LATEST: coach blocked for 5 hours, fingers crossed … | Prisoner Art Tour Launch Night This Friday in Cardiff | Legal Training Evening Red & Black Umbrella</a> | <a href="http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/711435">Red & Black Umbrella 1 Year Anniversary Halloween Bash + Gig!</a></p><p><strong>Links:</strong> <a href="http://welcometogremlinalley.wordpress.com">Gremlin Alley Social Centre</a> | <a href="http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/3271991-save-fariman-saleh-and-her-two-children">Save Mrs S and Her Two Children 38 Degrees | Save the Saleh Family | Cardiff Anarchist Black Cross | Cardiff Defendant Solidarity | Red & Black Umbrella

October 20th Anti-Austerity Demonstration
24 Oct 2012
Saturday?s October 20th "March for a future that works" demonstration organised by the TUC saw over 150,000 out on the streets of London to protest the government’s cuts and austerity measures. It’s been almost a year since the TUC leadership tried to look like they were actively opposing the cuts and well over a year since the last big demo. The organisers sent out a somewhat mixed message by first calling for a general strike but then allowing Ed Miliband a platform to announce he’ll carry on cutting where the Tories leave off if elected.The demonstration also saw hundreds of black bloc and Boycott Workfare activists target Oxford Street stores that use workfare and tax avoidance, whilst DPAC activists successfully blockaded Park Lane.On the Newswire: October 20: The view from Oxford Circus | #Oct20 150,000 on TUC demo PHOTOS | unions cuts march and london anti-workfare actions – pics & report | Oct20: we got work to do … | March For A Future That WorksPrevious Features: SchNEWS: One Strike and You’re Out? | "You Can Shove Your Rubber Bullets Up Your Arse!": ‘Total Policing’ of N9 Demos | Anti-cuts protesters take over London | March 26th – All out against the cuts

Plebs protest at Conservative Party Conference
11 Oct 2012
The Conservative Party Conference came to Birmingham this week and was met with almost daily protests from angry plebs. But whilst the protests where going on outside, inside the class warfare was turned up a notch after it was announced that a further 10billion will be cut from welfare and that the government plan on scrapping workers rights in exchange for offering them "shares" by their employer. These rights such as protection from unlawful dismissal, flexible working time and maternity leave have been won by workers struggling hard over the past 100 years for a decent standard of living. To add salt to the wound, the announcement delivered by George Osborne came with the Orwellian Doublespeak "workers of the world unite". Well if that?s what he wants ?On the Newswire: Welcome The Tories To Birmingham | Lobby Tory Conference re Ballymurphy Massacre | Picket the Bigots – Tory Party Conference | Badger Cull Tory Conference | Hunt Saboteurs protest against badger cull at Tory Party Conference | Remploy Demonstration At Tory Party Conference ? 8:30am Wednesday | Tory Conference Demo | Badger Cull Campaigners to Target Conservative Party Conference | Sacked Remploy Workers Demonstrate For Their Jobs

Week of Action to Ground the Drones
1 Oct 2012
To coincide with International Keep Space for Peace Week (from 6th – 13th October) the Drone Campaign Network is calling a week of action on the growing use of drones.While over seventy countries now possess drones, so far only the UK, the US and Israel are known to have used armed drones. The UK has launched over 300 drones strikes in Afghanistan but there is little public information about these strikes. Israel regularly launches drone attacks in Gaza and the US has been using drones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. It is suspected, but not confirmed that US drones have also undertaken strikes in Mali and Philippines this year.Protests against the growing use of drones have taken place in Pakistan and Yemen and protests have been growing in the UK and the US over the past year. [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]On the newswire: Ground the Drones Week of Action announcement | Drones Week of Action events listings | The faceless face of military drones at Menwith Hill: 9 October | Veterans for Peace action at General Atomics | Terrorist drones come to Lincolnshire ? drones peace walk | Drones and Thrones ? A London DiaryLinks: Drone Campaign Network | Drone Wars UK | TBIJ Covert War on Terror

Campaigners mobilising to fight ‘hundreds of new roads’
25 Sep 2012
Campaigners are hoping to kick-start opposition to ‘hundreds of new roads’ with actions in Twyford Down and Hastings this weekend.Government and local councils are planning to spend billions of pounds on dozens of new roads over the next few years, and new ‘growth’ funds and devolved spending powers for local councils threaten to add hundreds more disastrous projects to this list.In the 1990s, what was in effect a popular uprising [ 1 | 2 | 3 ] brought Tory plans for ?the greatest road-building programme since the Romans? to a screeching halt.Could this weekend’s actions be the beginning of a new upsurge of anti-roads protests?On the newswire: Local residents camp & rally against Bexhill-Hastings link road | Twyford anniversary action | Stop the Road! Rally & Camp | Parking the car ? for good | Bikes alive bike blockade at King’s Cross | Video of Bikes Alive! Protest | Climate Rush give cake to Sustrans | ‘bikes alive’ action at kings x tomorrow | No to Road Building | Tenth anniversary of the siege of Wanstonia M11 link rd | Pics from Arundel 2nd bypass protest march Links: Combe Haven Defenders | Hastings Alliance | Campaign for Better Transport | Bicycology

Homeless campaigners squat council house
30 Aug 2012
Birmingham Tenants & Homeless Action Group have occupied an abandoned council house with the intention of handing it over to a homeless person. They’ve contacted the council and demanded that they put the property back into use as low cost social housing and then do the same with the other nearly 12,000 empty properties around the city. Otherwise they have said that despite changes to the law on squatting they will continue with occupations of the other empty properties with the intention of handing them over to the homeless. With 11,924 empty properties, the highest rate of homelessness in the country and an estimate by city planners that Birmingham is currently short of 11,000 affordable homes, putting the abandoned houses back into use is the only logical stepPrevious Features: Birmingham’s Homeless CrisesOn the newswire: Tenants & Homeless seize abandoned council house | Birmingham Tenants & Homeless Action Group – What we are doing | Squatting sleepover! Homeless but not helpless! | Police arresting homeless in Birmingham | First eviction protest for B.E.R.N | VIDEO Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network first eviction protest | Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network meeting | Food not Bombs every Sunday at Holloway Circus | VIDEO FNB in Victoria SquareLinks: Birmingham Tenants & Homeless Action Group | Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network | Birmingham Food not Bombs

Birmingham’s Homeless Crises
17 Aug 2012
Birmingham has the highest rate of homelessness in the country and the West Midlands the highest rate of any region outside of London. With hostels and housing services struggling to keep up with the demand for shelter and support due to average funding cuts of 15% and the loss of 1 in 10 staff the people most in need of support, often with mental illness or substance abuse are not getting the help they need. On top of this the government has forced though a law to make squatting residential properties illegal (despite Birmingham having 11,924 empty homes) meaning there is currently a real homeless crisis in Birmingham that could get a lot worse. Especially if the 34,000 people in Birmingham who claim housing benefit find they cannot afford to pay the rent as Housing Benefit is slowly replaced by Local Housing Allowance and cuts to child tax credits go ahead. On the Newswire: Brum FnB at the Birmingham Social Centre | First eviction protest for B.E.R.N | BERN BABY BERN fundraiser for Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network | Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network meeting | Food is a right not a privilege ? statement of solidarity | Food not Bombs every Sunday at Holloway Circus | Birmingham Food Not Bombs is backVideos: Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network first eviction protest | FNB in Victoria SquareLinks: Brum Food not Bombs | Birmingham Eviction Resistance Network

Police arrest 182 at Olympics critical mass in London
5 Aug 2012
While the London 2012 Olympic open ceremony was underway on Friday 27th July, there was a massive police and military operation underway, which included the use of CS gas, to contain and eventually arrest 182 London critical mass cyclists. The cyclists were held in a police kettle for two hours, handcuffed in buses for three hours and held in a police cell from six hours to two days. Out of 182 cyclists, only 3 have been charged with any offence. However, all have bail conditions imposed on them until September 18th 2012 restricting their freedom to move, assemble, associate and live their lives.A petition for justice for the 182 has been launched with the following demands:All bail conditions should be dischargedAll data including DNA, fingerprint, addresses etc taken from those cyclists should be removed from all paper and comupter records of police & other agencies.An independent review of the police behaviour on Friday 27th July should be conducted as a matter of urgency.Articles: Olympic critical mass – report and pics | Arrests in Critical Mass during Olympics ceremony | Mass Arrest | Critcal mass | SchNEWS: Mass Arrest of the Week

Citizens’ Weapons Inspectors lock-on outside EDO MBM
18 Jul 2012
On Monday 16th July 2012 Smash EDO held a Citizen’s Weapons Inspection’ of EDO. Kent, Sussex and Hampshire Police used new Police Liaison Officers and a steel wall against demonstrators.Despite this, activists dressed in white suits managed to breach the police cordon and hang banners outside the factory gates and close down the industrial estate by locking-on to the police cordon. On Sunday 15th July Smash EDO hosted a gathering against the G8, launching a new network. There will be a workshop to plan action against the G8 at Earth First and the next gathering will be 22nd September in Birmingham.Links: Smash EDO| FITwatch| Mainstream media coverageFrom the Newswire: Call to kettle the police at Smash EDO’s Citizen’s Weapons Inspection| Pics| Update| Future Smash EDO events

Pebble Mill Social Centre
13 Jul 2012
The Pebble Mill social centre is the latest squatted social centre project by the Birmingham Social Centre collective. Last year the group made up of local squatters and activists took over the Whit Marley, an unused factory in Stirchley and reclaimed it for the local community.The Pebble Mill Social Club was part of the BBC Pebble Mill studios site in Edgbaston, Birmingham and has been left empty for 8 years. The building has now been reclaimed and hosts regular events.Update 14/07/12: Pebble Mill Social Centre EvictedNewswire: Birmingham Social Centre is back | Brum FnB at the Birmingham Social Centre | Garden day @ Brum Social Centre ? This Saturday 12pm onwards | Pebble Mill Social Centre survives flash flooding | Support The Spanish Miners Benefit – Fri 13th JulyPrevious social centres in Birmingham: Why are we in the Whit Marley? | The Cottage Occupied Social Centre | Birmingham Social Centre Reclaimed for CommunityLinks: Brum Social Centre

Call to kettle the police at Smash EDO’s Citizen’s Weapons Inspection
13 Jul 2012
At 1pm on Monday 16th July a group of concerned citizens from Brighton and beyond will be attempting to inspect the EDO MBM factory in Moulsecoomb to further highlight the factory?s complicity in the murder of innocent civilians around the world.It has long been known that this local company has links with illegal and immoral arms deals and Smash EDO intend to hold them to account. In January 2009 six activists broke in and successfully decommissioned the factory and then waited to be arrested by the police. At their later trial a jury found that their actions were entirely legal as they were acting to prevent war crimes against civilians in Gaza.This mass action is part of an ongoing ‘Summer of Resistance’ which has seen almost daily actions by protesters against the factory in May and June and which will continue until the end of July.Demonstrators will converge at the Level at 1pm.A call has been made to FITwatchers to kettle the police and to sabotage their new tactic of using Police Liaison Officers to pacify the crowd.The day before the demo anti-capitalists will be converging in Brighton for a day of plotting and scheming against the 2013 G8, to be held in the UKLinks: Smash EDO | FITwatchLocal Contacts for the Weapons Inspection: London: hammertimelondon@dsei.org | Bristol: smashedobristol@riseup.net | Manchester: manchesteragainstmilitarism@gmail.com | Swansea: d@undercurrents.org