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»Situation in the Congo is worsening as deportations continue29 Mar 2007On Wednesday March 28th, people gathered on the Market Square to protest continued deportations to the Democratic Republic of Congo. After a while the protesters walked across town to Bridewell Police Station (next to the Magistrates Court) and made their feeling know about government policies. The Home Office plans to deport more Congolese people from the UK in spite of evidence that it is not only still unsafe for them to return but that the situation is worsening. In Leicester over 60 turned out in a demonstration. Other cities where protests happened simultaneously were London, Glasgow, Newcastle and Manchester.In March a United Nations report described the situation there as ‘deteriorating’. The Bishop of Winchester objected recently in the Lords to government claims that the country was now safe, noting that every independent organisation with first-hand experience finds ministerial assurances of safety “simply incredible”. He said that the Country Guidance Case on March 28th, at which the situation could be re-evaluated by the government, “will hear fresh evidence of ill-treatment, torture and rape of returned refugees, both at the airport and at associated holding centres”. Asylum seekers in Nottingham need your help in putting pressure on the government to admit that its deportation policy is wrong.From the newswire: Nottingham demo against deportations to Congo (photos) | Nottingham (and Leicester) demos against deportations to Congo (photos) | Stop Deportation to the CongoUK Indymedia: Dozens Deported to DR Congo (feature article) | Migration topic pageLinks: No Borders Nottingham | Notts Refugee Forum | National Coalition of Anti-Deportation CampaignsPrevious articles: Anti-Deportation Protest at Nottingham Magistrates Court | Nottingham Police Station :: Forced Deportations Continue | Occupation at Labour Party Offices for East Midlands
Whitechapel Knees Up against Starbucks28 Mar 2007On Saturday 24th March, the London’s collective of Anarchitects called Space Hijackers invited the Whitechapel local community to a ‘East End Knees Up’ against the fact that the corporate chain Starbucks recentlty opened a new store in the area. Starbucks has a long history of undercutting and closing down local independent cafes, of treating their staff badly, and their coffee growers even worse.The tea party in “defense of our area, and to show off the lovely culture we have” lasted for about 4 hours. At 1pm a small crowd turned up outside Starbucks to set up a stall and a sound system, and to give out maps of the area which listed alternative local places to buy coffee and keep money within the local community. From then on, many local people that just came across to it joined in for a hot drink or a plate of hot food provided by the group Food Not Bombs. Police eventually stepped in and threatened to arrest those gathering around the stall for obstruction of the highway, although no one was finally arrested.Photos: 1 | 2 | 3Related Links: Space Hijackers’ Projects Archive | Starbucks – The Faulty Logo | I Hate Starbucks
Kick Israeli Apartheid Out of Football25 Mar 2007On Saturday, 24th March, England played Israel in a Euro 2008 qualifying match. A group of activists picketed the Football Association in Soho Square calling for a Sporting boycott of Apartheid Israel [Newswire Report].Prevous boycott actions and campaigns include:Agrexco: 1 | 2 | video | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Text of Letter to Carmel Agrexco | Apartheid and Agrexco in the Jordan Valley | War on Want’s Report – Profiting from the OccupationCaterpillar: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Caterkiller Shutdown | Jewish Voice for Peace – Rachel Corrie (1978-2003) | CaterkillerSupermarket protests: Marks and Spencers Stencilled | Repression of M&S ProtestersAcademic boycott: AUT Boycott | NAFTHE Boycott | CUPE Ontario | COSATU (South Africa).Links: Boycott Israeli Goods | ISM Palestine | Palestine Solidarity Campaign | Stop the Wall in Palestine
Our Square Isn’t It?25 Mar 2007” I went to the Playhouse Theatre, where the Lantern Parade was due to assemble from Wellington Circus. This was a really colourful event with thousands taking part. Giant puppets, youth arts, drummers, samba band and a fire show. Folks paraded from there, down Maid Marian Way, and into the square. The usual suspects there included the Sheriff of Nottingham, Lord Mayor, assorted troups of King John’s Army, oh, and Robin Hood, & Maid Marian on a wire, bobbing about above the crowds. Fireworks from the roof of the council House, with guys on rotating wheels. A windmill decked with fireworks, and the crowd ohh’d and ahhh’d as yet another lot of fireworks, went off, from the Castle. Event finished at about 9pm. Now, I ask you. What other country in the world, puts on a main event of celebration in its public space, and closes down in the early evening? “” It’s lovely to have the Market Square finally finished, isn’t it? Now we can start to use it again; as a great hang out, somewhere to sit around with our friends in the sun, but the question is … Is it really our Square, or not? The council has its own agenda for the Square. It wants it kept clear of pretty much everyone except shoppers and commercial outfits. It tells us it’s employing Community Protection Officers for our safety, but all they seem to do is kick people off the steps when we try to meet by the Lions. Just try gathering there in any numbers at the moment. The point seems to be to keep away young people and anyone whose face doesn’t fit. “Articles: £7.2m to vote Labour? | Market Square Opening Events : Saturday Pix 1 | Market Square Opening Events : Saturday Pix 2 | Market Square Opening Events : Construction & Preparation | Reclaim Slab Square (March 24) | Reclaim Our City! – leaflet text for Nottingham’s Market Square reopening night | Vote for band to open new market squareLinks: ‘Reclaim Our City’ Leaflet (PDF) | Wikipedia on the Old Market Square | Old Market Square Events (city council website) | Another Market Square site
Sticking Together For Peace22 Mar 2007This morning Bradford students took part in one of the most daring and creative acts of civil disobedience ever seen at Faslane Naval base. Ten of them superglued themselves together outside the North Gate whilst another four chained themselves together outside the South Gate, effectively shutting the base.It was one of the longest-lasting blockades since Faslane 365 started their year-long campaign of blockades, and is believed to be the first time activists have glued themselves together.The students from Bradford and Leeds universities and a lecturer went to the base after the government voted to renew the UK’s Trident system.Earlier in the week Bradford students went to visit the university’s careers department to invite the royal navy to join them in this blockade. They sadly declined.See also the original newswire post with more photos.
Hands Off Iraqi Oil21 Mar 2007Amidst the daily violence suffered by Iraqis, oil companies and the US and UK governments are planning to secure long-term control over Iraqi oil. Accounting for 10% of the world total and 95% of government revenue, the stakes for oil companies and the Iraqi people are incredibly high.
New Squatted Centre In Camberwell20 Mar 2007“We fix, we build!! Occupied against speculation, against gentrification”A group of local south londoners have opened up a building in Camberwell, and are fixing it up to run it as a social space. It aims to be a centre open to the local community, and right now lots of work is going on fixing and repairing the space so to open it with regular events, including a caffe every Friday and film nights every Wednesday.The Camberwell Squatted Centre is at:192 Warham St, off Camberwell New RdCamberwell SE5Buses: 36, 436 – Tube: Oval [Map]Related Links: IMC-UK ‘Free Spaces’ Topic Page | UK Social Centres Network | Wikipedia on Social Centres | Advisory Service For Squatters | Wombles’ Social Centres Pages
Illegal Tree Felling By Developers at Garden Festival Site20 Mar 2007Langtree Mclean, the developers who want to build on the old garden festival site, have cut down more than 1000 trees already – they don’t have planning permission yet and they don’t own the site yet! If they get their way, the site will be almost completely clear-felled.They are destroying semi-mature trees, including oaks, from the original plantings for the Garden Festival in the early 1980s. The tree-felling is also devastating for the birdlife established on the site, as birds commence their breeding activities at this time of year.Indymedia articles:15/3/2007 – Large-Scale Tree Felling at the Old Garden Festival Site 12/10/2005 – Developers present their plans for festival site
Protest against ID cards in Brighton!19 Mar 2007SUSSEX opponents of ID cards are to hold a demonstration in Brighton on a national day of action on Monday March 26. Supporters of Brighton NO2ID will be gathering in Churchill Square from 5pm and are urging like-minded people to join them.Said a spokesman: “Although Brighton itself will not have an ID card centre – (we will have to travel to Hastings or Crawley to have our civil liberties abused) that doesn’t mean our protest is going to be any less vocal.
Murdering Medical Careers – and the future of the NHS?19 Mar 2007For the second time in two weeks, a day of action was organised to protest against attacks on the NHS. But this time, it was doctors and their families, demonstrating against a government-imposed program called “MMC: modernising medical careers” that is meant to shorten the length of training and increase the quality of service provision. Instead, it is being described as a “disaster” that will decrease experience, decrease education, decrease career opportunities, worsen patient care, destroy research opportunities and disempower doctors and patients alike. Medics of all types, not generally noted for their militancy, are up in arms, with a number of independent websites such as Remedy UK, Mums4medics, MMC-360 and Mangling Medical Careers all coming online in recent weeks and around 12,000 people taking to the streets of London on Saturday [report, pics: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 and video]. To find out more about the background, read MMC: an explanation for patients [parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]. Other sites of interest include the MTAS debacle, as witnessed by the junior doctors of the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, and various artistes of the blogosphere such as Dr. Rant, Professor Scrub and Junior Doc. Maybe there will be an NHS in 10 years time, after all.
York Vikings go berserk over Trident18 Mar 2007A twelve strong group from York, dressed as Vikings, have successfully blockaded both entrances to the Faslane nuclear submarine base. The coordinated action completely closed the base for half an hour this morning. Four men and eight women were arrested in the peaceful protest.
Protest at Kidnap Centre16 Mar 2007The Congo Support Network held a demonstration on 13 March 2007 at Dallas Court Reporting Centre, Salford Quays, in opposition to the recent and continuing deportations of Congolese asylum seekers to war-torn DRCongo. It was attended by over 100 Congolese and Libyan refugees and supporters. To begin with everyone assembled in the road opposite the main entrance to Dallas Court before marching round to the back, where kidnapped asylum seekers are snuck out in blue vans to detention centres. Soon after, the crowd assembled at the entrance and the demonstartors held a banner completely across the doors. The entrance to Dallas Court was then blockaded by the brave protesters, before being forced back by the police. The refugees chanted: ‘SHUT DOWN DALLAS COURT!’ and ‘NO DEPORTATIONS!’ throughout, along with many chants and songs in French. At around 1:30pm news emerged that Rosetta, a female Congolese asylum seeker who had had to ‘report’, had been kidnapped at Dallas Court while the protest was happening! In solidarity, the protesters announced that they would extend their protest and stay until Rosetta was released. They chanted for the next 2 hours and the atmosphere was electric. At one point the police attempted to arrest a Congolese man. As he was dragged off towards the police van the crowd swarmed around and dragged him from their grasp. Full report
Resistance and Riot in Campsfield16 Mar 2007Early in the morning of 14 March, an Algerian detainee held in Campsfield immigration prison in Oxfordshire forcefully resisted an attempted ‘removal’ by the immigration authorities. Fellow detainees then tried to intervene in solidarity and a riot soon spread in the detention centre, with facilities smashed and set on fires. 2 detainees and 7 staff were taken into hospital, all suffering smoke inhalation [see reports and updates]. In addition to emergency services, Tornado units (riot squads) from the Prison Service were deployed to deal with the ‘disturbances’. According to a written ministerial statement by Immigration minister Liam Byrne, 60 of the detainees at Campsfield House have been transferred to other parts of the Home Office detention estate, but other detainees have remained at the centre, which holds up to 200 detainees and was operating at near full capacity at the time of the riot.Links: Campaign to Close Campsfield | National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns | UK NoBorders groups
Whatever They Vote, Trident is Still Wrong!15 Mar 2007Activists across the country denounced Britain’s Trident as illegal and immoral, and called for disarmament of the country’s weapons of mass destruction, as the Commons set to vote on the government’s plans to renew the ballistic missile submarine-based nuclear deterrent.In Scotland, activists attempted to occupy the roof of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Whilst 4 were arrested before they could reach the roof, a lone activist managed to reach the canopy over the front of the building. He unfurled a banner reading, “WHATEVER THEY VOTE TRIDENT IS STILL WRONG”. A large contingent of students from Universities of Stirling and Edinburgh also inflated a life-size bin bag Trident, bearing the words “Block the Bomb”, at Faslane gate [photos]. The action resulted in four arrests.In London, 9 activists from Block the Builders and the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign) blockaded Parliament Square, as the Trident replacement debate began in Parliament, using a model of a Trident Missile and concrete-filled bins. The nine were charged with “obstruction of the highway” and “participating in an unauthorised demonstration” (SOCPA) and will appear at Horseferry Road magistrates court on 27 March [photos: 1 | 2 video: 1]. Later in the day, hundreds of people descended on Parliament Square for a rally, called by CND, and a “fish on bicycles” themed Critical Mass bike ride [photos: 1 | 2].The previous day had seen Greenpeace activists scale a large floating crane moored next to Parliament and hang a banner suggesting that our prime minister is rather keen on WMD [photo].An anti-Trident rally was held in Bradford in the evening, with several speakers all calling for a vote against renewing Trident [photos]. In Plymouth, activists from several groups staged a day-long protest outside the naval base. Plenty of media coverage was generated, and there was a great amount of encouraging toots, beeps and thumbs-up from passing motorists [photos]Meanwhile, around a hundred Nottingham residents are busy planning a trip to Faslane. The group will aim to prevent access and disrupt the base over a two day period, 31 March to 1 April. There will be a “Troops Out – No Trident” march in Oxford next Saturday, 17 March, to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war. Block the Builders have also called a blockade of AWE Aldermaston (Britain’s WMD factory) for 19 March.
Nottingham and Slavery – A Hidden History15 Mar 2007As Britain continues the 2007 celebration of ‘Abolition 200’, the legal end of Britain’s official involvement in trans-Atlantic slave trading, and with most eyes on the main slave trade ports like Bristol and Liverpool, our local councils seem quite unconcerned about direct or indirect involvement with the profits of slavery in Notts and East Midlands, and seem happy just to leave local churches to do the soul searching. Let’s ask some questions…An easy example of Notts involvement in slavery is the well-known Mellish family, whose name is probably best associated in local minds with a Nottingham school. The family is known to have had involvement with ownership and official dealings with plantation estates in the West Indies in the 18th century. Even a cursory look at the Mellish family online archive record reveals inheritance of slave plantation estate property from the governor of the Bahamas (John Tinker), and we can read about William Mellish’s official dealings with plantation monies in Jamaica as Receiver General for the Customs & Excise (he was also MP for Retford).Links: The Mellish and Buchanan Families of Blyth and Hodsock – A Brief History | The Nottingham Sparrow, Nottingham AF | ‘Slavery – the Hidden History’, Bristol Radical History Group
Yorkshire Anti-Trident Actions13 Mar 2007With the Government making a decision on replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system, Yorkshire activists have been busy having their say.Demonstrators from all across the country, including York, made their way to London for a national demonstration on February 24th. The vote date was then announced as being March 14th, and so activity was stepped up a gear with Leeds Quakers joining a larger group of Quakers, including four from York, in a blockade of Faslane on March 3rd/4th/5th.About 40 people held a Meeting for Worship outside Faslane nuclear base. After this 10 Friends were arrested whilst upholding Peace Testimony by non-violently blocking the road. All protesters were subsequently released with the usual warning letters.Then on March 11th/12th Leeds University sent a small group up to Faslane. But despite these small numbers and the wet weather, a very visible presence was maintained on both days.On the day of the vote, a number of actions were called for across the country, including a rally in Bradford and a benefit gig in York. The Bradford rally saw the samba band play, the usual speeches from politicians and then sitting around watching the results of the vote on the big screen.A group of around 50 campaigning Vikings from York plan on visiting Faslane on March 18th and welcome more people to join them. The group will include residents and students alike. One Viking described the planned blockade as a “peaceful and playful act of resistance”.
Amnesty makes noise over 5 years Guantanamo10 Mar 2007The University of Nottingham’s Amnesty International Society’s held a protest against the continuing human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay. On Saturday the 10th of March folks protested against the continuing human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay.It is now over five years since the first detainees were transferred to the detention camp and despite widespread international condemnation, hundreds of people from more than 30 nationalities remain there: without charge and with little hope of obtaining a fair trial. Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, joined in the protest about half way through.Audio: Interview 1 | Interview 2Photo: Close Guantanamo Bay [Please] Photoreport | Slideshow (avi/19M)Links: Amnesty International Society | Amnesty International | The National Guantanamo Coalition | UK Feature article: Tackle the Shackles, Close Guantanamo | Other articles: Sheffield G8 Events: Guantanamo Bay orange jump suits | The Road to Guantánamo
The Vortex Occupied Social Centre Evicted7 Mar 2007Early in the morning of March 6th, high court bailiffs and police moved in to evict the Vortex Occupied Social Centre. The old Jazz bar on Stoke Newington Church Street, North London, had been occupied since the beginning of the year and had been open for numerous and varied community events [ 1 | 2 | 3 ]. A demonstration against the eviction has been called for Saturday, 10 March, 11am – 1pm, at the entrance to Abney Park Cemetary, Church Street, N16.An International Women’s Day event, due to take place at the Vortex on March 8th from midday, is still happening, same time and day, but will be at a different location in the area (check the calendar for announcements or phone 079 5078 1893 for updates).
‘Defend the NHS’ National Day of Action5 Mar 2007Saturday, 3rd March, saw a national day of action to defend the National Health Service (NHS), called by NHS Together, an alliance of health service unions and staff associations together with the TUC. Demonstrations and rallies took place across the country, in Birmingham, Cambridge, Hackney (London), Leeds, Preston, Sheffield and other places. The aim of the protests, according to the organisers, was “to send a powerful message in celebration and defence of the NHS” against more cuts and privatisation. Almost three quarters of NHS trusts in the UK are reported last year that financial deficits are forcing them to make massive cutbacks; wards are being closed down, hospitals shut and jobs cut. Billions are going into ‘restructuring’ the service along market lines, with millions going on management consultants and financial advisers and millions more, in massive PFI payments, to shareholders and bankers.Reports and pics: Defend the NHS Day: Sheffield Demonstration [photos] | Demo against the privatization of the NHS in Preston | Hackney Save NHS Demo | Leeds General Infirmary For Sale!Previous Indymedia Features: Is Britain ready to defend its NHS? | The NHS in Crisis | Sheffield Children’s Hospital: Save Ward S2 | Local Trusts Take Scalpel To NHS | Indymedia UK’s Health topic pageLinks: NHS Together | Keep Our NHS Public
Eviction of Danish Social Centre Fuels Anger Across Europe28 Feb 2007The occupied house in Copenhagen, Denmark named ‘Ungdomshuset’ has functioned as a very important political and social cultural centre since 1982. It had been involved in a long political and legal battle for its existance. But yesterday morning at around 7am Danish police made an end to this by entering the roof of the building using a helicopter and start an unannouced full scale eviction. Riot-police sealed off nearby streets quickly and attacked the building using teargas. As the whole area was closed off, so documenting the action and police-behaviour was difficult. Some witnesses say that teargas and police violence was plentiful, although the eviction happened swiftly and according to police in a �relatively calm manner�.At the moment everything is but calm. Over 1000 people are reported to be back onto the streets last night and (burning) barricades blocked off some major roads in the city. Over 160 people have been reported to have been arrested, including 17 of non-danish nationality. Some people have been admitted to hospital. Riots have continued throughout the day and night and solidarity actions spontaniosly broke out in cities across europe: Berlin (300+), K�ln, Hamburg (700+), M�nchen, Karlsruhe, G�ttingen, Frankfurt, Bremen (300+), Magdeburg, Hannover, Vienna, Heidelberg, Gothenburg, Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm (100+), Flensburg, G�ttingen, Marburg, Potsdam and Leipzig. Over the next few days many more demonstrations and actions are planned and Danish activists have called for people to make Saturday 3rd March an international day of action. Danish police have started to draft in re-inforcements from all over the country and many more activists are set to arrive in the capital in the coming days.An action has been annouced to take place at the Danish Embassy in London on Friday 2nd March.Links: Indymedia Denmark | Indymedia Germany | modkraft.dk | German Blog | UK Indymedia timelineArticles: Ungdomshuset evicted – Protests everywhere! | Pics of the brutal eviction of Ungdomshuset, Denmark | Police evicts social centre ‘Ungdomshuset’ in Copenhagen | Ungdomshuset Solidarity Demo Friday London
Bradford Climate Criminals Reproached26 Feb 2007On Wednesday evening, a number of concerned Leeds and Bradford residents decided to draw attention to the activities of a number of climate criminals in Bradford city centre. Advertisements for damaging air flights were modified to tell the truth; that flying is the fastest growing cause of climate change, the “single greatest threat to human-kind” according to the government’s chief scientist.
Everything But The Incendiary25 Feb 2007The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) has been active throughout the UK, since the 1980s, and operates globally today. Individuals campaigning for animal rights have liberated thousands of animals, and have caused millions of pounds worth of damage to those who profit through their suffering. Everything But the Incendiary is a celebration of all these individuals.Through different events, installations and information this exhibition at Manchester’s basement social centre will provide people with a space to discuss issues connected with animal rights, share skills, and promote direct action in the endless struggle to help those who are defenceless in the face of corporate greed, and in the name of so-called ‘science’.Full article
Dozens Deported to DR Congo24 Feb 2007Over 40 DR Congolese nationals, including 19 children, were forcibly ‘removed’ on Monday (26 February, 2007) on a charter flight run by XL Airways. The rejected asylum seekers had been snatched and detained by the immigration authorities over the last few days, despite various NGO’s, including the UN ‘peacekeeping mission’, reporting that, once again, the human rights situation in DR Congo is deteriorating.Protesters tried to stop the removals by locking themselves to the gates of Tinsley House detention centre, Crawley, where the deportees where incarcerated. A protest at the Home Office in London was called by the Congo Support Project and supported by Fight Racism, Fight Imperialism!, LSE FRFI society, NCADC, Unity Centre Glasgow, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees and London NoBorders.On Wednesday, 21 February, over a hundred asylum seekers and supporters, mostly of African origin, held a lively protest outside the Home Office Reporting Centre in Glasgow. On Friday, No Borders Brighton protested and did a banner-drop at the main office of XL in Crawley, West Sussex, to highlight their involvement and making profits from deportations. In Leeds, over 70 members of the DR Congolese community, including groups from Huddersfiled and Kirklees, gathered at the Home Office reporting centre on Kirkstall Road to call for a stop to the planned removals. A solidarity march, Organised by: African Community Association in the North East (ACANE), took place in Middlesbrough on Sunday, 25th February.
Tens of Thousands Say ‘NO to Trident, NO to War’21 Feb 2007Called by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, in conjunction with Stop the War Coalition and the British Muslim Initiative, tens of thousands marched in London on 24 February, 2007, to protest against the Trident and against the imperial wars in the Middle East, including Iraq and the looming one on Iran. People were there to express their opposition to militarism, the ‘war on terror’ and demand justice for Palestine. Scotland for Peace’s “Bin the Bomb Roadshow” also ran between 16 and 24 February, culminating in a march and rally on 24 February in Glasgow.Reports and photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | audioThere was a small autonomous block on the demo, but was apparently the focus of most of the policing and ‘intelligence gathering’ (see this Met leaflet).Links: Trident Vote Day | CND | Stop the War Coalition | Block the Builders | Greenpeace | Trident Ploughshares | Faslane 365 | Background: BASIC | Acronym | Indymedia UK’s Faslane topic page
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