Argentinian film makers screen Indymedia film in Nottingham
3 Oct 2006
Argentinian film makers including director Andres Ingoglia will visit Nottingham next week as part of the european tour of their film “i”. The film is a meditation on the relationship between media and power as it is manifested by the worlds largest all volunteer network of media activists: ‘Indymedia’. The feature-length documentary follows the first year of a small collective in Buenos Aires as it struggles amidst assassinations, a collapsing economy, and a whirlwind of political upheaval.The film will be screened as a one-off in Nottingham at the Sumac Centre on Thursday 12th October, where the film’s director will introduce the film and answer questions. Food will be served from 6pm and the film starts at 7.30pm at the Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, Nottingham. During its UK tour the film is also screened in London, Brighton, Glasgow and Edinburgh.Links: “i” The Film website | Schedule UK and Europe tour | Film reviews | Argentina Indymedia | Video Indymedia | Wikipedia on Indymedia | Notts Indymedia ‘Video Stuff…’

Thanks to police – for not coming
3 Oct 2006
THANK YOU Sussex Police, for not turning up at our protest! That was the message from Titnore Woods protesters in Worthing, following Saturday’s protest mass walk to the tree camp, first set up on May 28.

PigBrother show comes to Oxford
3 Oct 2006
Internationally, police officers who mutilate or kill people on duty usually get off scot-free, often without the cases even making the news. The Swiss internet site PigBrother.info exposes such cases and the police weapons involved. Though often labelled “less lethal” and portrayed as “harmless”, many have proved to be fatal; others have been banned for use in war by e.g. the Geneva Convention yet still frequently used by policeforces worldwide. In a multimedia live show, Soulless and Anger (the makers of PigBrother.info) present typical cases including weapons, injuries and favourite police excuses from the UK, Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, USA and Switzerland. The show takes place on 9th October, 8pm at East Oxford Community Centre. Despite the heavy going topic and its technical aspects, the show is presented in an easy to understand and concise way, and Soulless & Anger also focus on the funnier aspects of several Police Operations making the Officers involved look only too human. They demonstrate how persistent work in this area can make a difference, forcing the police and the official media to at least sometimes act more by the book or even abolish some weapons or tactics. PigBrother.info

Is Britain ready to defend its NHS?
2 Oct 2006
The National Health Service is in a huge crisis. Crisis can be an over-used word, but in the case of the NHS it’s difficult to get across the scale of the problem without using it. Three quarters of the NHS trusts in the UK are reporting that financial deficits are forcing them to make cutbacks. Massive cutbacks that is. Wards are closed down, hospitals shut and jobs cut around the country. Billions are going to restructure the NHS along market lines, with millions going on management consultants and financial advisors, and millions more in massive PFI payments to shareholders and bankers. In one example venture capitalists have pocketed an extra £81m million in profits from the £220 million PFI scheme to build the Norfolk and Norwich hospital. Billions more are being diverted into a new, expanding private network of profit-seeking ‘Treatment Centres’, which are paid at enhanced rates, and select out the profitable treatments and patients, leaving the unprofitable behind in the NHS.Over the last few months unions, patients, activists and campaigners have hit back in a wave of protest to halt the NHS reforms around the country. Thousands of people took part in public meetings around the country: [1] [2] [3] [4]. Protestors took to the streets in

No One Is Illegal! International Day of Action on Migrant Rights
1 Oct 2006
“For Freedom of Movement and the Right to Stay”Saturday October 7th 2006 will see a march through London calling on migrants, asylum seekers and their friends, families and colleagues to act together against the criminalization of migrants and the denial of their rights; with the intention to build a transnational movement to change conditions for the better.

“Warning to distributors” makes activist leafletting impossible!
1 Oct 2006
Nottingham City Council have brought in sweeping new laws that will seriously affect the distribution of free activist literature in and around the city centre. Once again – as with fly posting – laws apparently designed to tackle the unbridled activities of commercial promoters are going to have a serious affect on activism and other legitimate exercise of free speech. In certain areas (which are sure to expand as time goes on, and already include the City Centre), free printed material may only be given out with permission and a bought permit from the council.

Campaign Against CCTV Camera Surveillance in Balsall Heath
30 Sep 2006
Following the street protest on 23 July, 2006, on Birchwood Road in Birmingham [pics], where angry residents expressed their opposition to the installation of a CCTV camera on their road without any consultation with residents, there have been ongoing activities to demand the removal of the camera and extended the protest to other CCTV cameras in the city.An anti-CCTV information leaflet was distributed to all residents shortly after the protest, then a petition was put together demanding the removal of the CCTV camera. Every house on Birchwood and Alder roads was called upon twice. Those who have been active against the camera were surprised at the number of residents opposed to the camera and their very good reasons for doing so. Almost everybody was dissatisfied that they had not been consulted about the camera going up. Moreover, activists are now trying to expose the businesses behind it.CCTV protest | Anti CCTV placards and banner | CCTV Protest in Balsall Heath Continues

BNP Action in Loughborough
29 Sep 2006
Get out to stop the BNP! Campaign to stop the BNP in forthcoming Loughborough Shelthorpe Ward by-election *****Important leafleting this Sunday 1st October ***** Assemble 11am outside McDonalds on Ling Road/Shelthorpe Road roundabout Leicester Unite Against Fascism are calling a day of action to leaflet Loughborough Shelthorpe Ward against the fascist British National Party this Sunday. The fascist British National Party(BNP) are standing in the election on Thursday 5th October in Loughborough Shelthorpe Ward. Shelthorpe is a largely white working class estate in Loughborough and the BNP have been campaigning on the issue of a recently opened East Midlands regional immigration reporting centre. The seat is a two councillor seat and both seats were won at the last election by the Labour Party. There are fears that a low turnout may provide opportunities for the fascists. The fascist BNP is relying on a low turnout in order to get elected. The vast majority of people in Shelthorpe oppose the fascist BNP and can use their vote to stop the BNP.

Protesters occupy runway at East Midlands Airport
23 Sep 2006
A group of 21 protesters have breached security at East Midlands Airport this morning (24th Sep 0755am) and occupied one of the operational taxi-runways. The group ‘Plane Stupid’ says it ‘wants to see airport expansion plans scrapped, a tax on aviation fuel and plane tickets, and an end to short haul flights.’The group has occupied the runway by being chained to each other and have set up tents saying ‘Climate Camp 2’. Baptist minister Malcolm Carroll is taking part in the action and is leading a memorial service for the victims of the effects of climate change. Spokesman Joss Garman of the group says: ‘an estimated 150.000 people die of the effects of climate change each year, that’s the equivelant of a 9-11 every week.’At midday armed police, dog units, firebrigade and helicopter were present and it was expected they would start clearing the runway. Unlike the what the BBC have been reporting, most flights leaving have the airport have been suspended.More updates to follow…Links: Plane Stupid website | PLANE STUPID Newsletter #4 | East Midlands Airport (EMA) website

Massive victory for anti-incinerator campaign in Nottingham
19 Sep 2006
Today the Development Control Committee of Nottingham City Council unanimous agreed on rejecting the application to expand Eastcroft Incinerator, which burns most of Nottingham’s waste. At the moment 150.000 tonnes of waste goes through the incinerator owned by waste giant Waste Recycling Group (WRG) each year. The expansion would bring in waste from neighbouring counties and bring capacity up to 250.000 tonnes.Local residents who for the last year have campaigned under the banner of NAIL (Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill) are now celebrating this massive victory. Owner WRG could appeal the decision, but the council stands a strong case that they seem to be willing to defend. Aside from stopping the expansion, NAIL is continuing its struggle to close down the facility and campaign for better management of waste and recycling facilities in the city.Video: The NAIL film (10 min. various formats) | NAIL Slideshow (avi 9M)Audio: NAIL Public meeting and debate (1hr 20mins – 32kbs, 19Mb) | You can’t do that here! NAIL banner drop (mp3 911K)Photo: Photos from the incinerator protest at Council House before the voteLinks: NAIL Website | View planning application | Nottingham Friends of the Earth | The Mischief Makers | Notts Indymedia health topic page | Wikipedia on IncinerationPrevious feature articles: Planning Officer Recommends Rejections of Incinerator Expansion | Council backs off from incinerator expansion decision | Incinerator Public Meeting – Public Bodies pull out! | Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill campaigners hand in petition | Planning Officer insists on wider public consultation for incinerator expansion | Campaigners meet Environment Agency over incinerator | Sneinton’s Rubbish Day Out 1 – The Days Events | NAIL campaign ‘banner drop’ at Sneinton Boulevard | NAIL campaign hammers on… | The air that we breathe…

Nottingham Asylum-Seekers will be Heard
18 Sep 2006
The situation faced by Asylum-Seekers in the UK is enough to make you realise we live in an insane society. In the East Midlands a centralised HO reporting building has been set up in the small town of Loughbrough, twenty miles from the towns where most A-Ss actually live. The new centre is like Fort Knox. Its barred windows and security checkpoints make it clear that if they don’t want you to get out, you won’t. Many from Nottingham have been told to attend Nottingham with no indication of whether they can claim the fare back. Little or no information has been given about how to get to Loughborough, when the switch would be made, and how to get more information about it. One of the first asylum seekers to be transferred to the new office was told to sign on the fifth of every month! What if it’s a weekend? Who would invent such a system except an idiot; or a sadist trying to prevent A-S having any identity except one of dependency on the system.

Peace Camp Set to Defy Ban
18 Sep 2006
“We think it’s because it’s the Labour conference and they don’t want us going and voicing our opinions” Rose Gentle, Military Families Against the War“They have got every right to protest, and I think we will find they will protest. Whoever is responsible for this are idiots.” Walter WolfgangA protest group is planning to defy a ban on setting up a peace camp in Albert Square imposed on them by Manchester City Council. Military Families Against the War – an organization of relatives to members of the Armed Services opposed to the war in Iraq – will be pitching camp outside the town hall in the run up to the Labour Party Conference. Come Saturday the camp will be joined by thousands of people protesting against the continuing military occupation of Iraq and British foreign policy in the Middle East.The Council claim the ban is in place for ‘logistical’ and ‘health and safety’ reasons, a claim that is strongly disputed by MFAW, who say the council is merely doing the bidding of the Labour Party. A further claim that there were ‘security issues’ with the camp have been denied by GM Police.The conference is set to meet a high level of dissent this September. Aside from the peace camp a march and rally has been called by the Stop the War Coalition on Saturday 23rd. Also on the menu, welfare rights group, Coalition Against the Welfare Reform Bill, are planning a demonstration and lobby on Monday 25th in reaction to the punitive approach towards disabled welfare claimants outlined in the bill.Military Families to Defy Ban [ 1 | | Demonstrate Against Welfare Reform Bill [ 1 | 2 ] 2 ] | Military Families Against the War | Stop the War Coalition

Support Your Local Firefighters!
17 Sep 2006
Local firefighters are currently on strike against £3.5 million worth of cuts to essential services. Merseyside is without much of its cover, since the Territorial Army are currently in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kazakhstan, supporting Blair’s oil wars. However, this is not the firefighters’ fault, and they are only striking to prevent cuts that would leave Liverpool city centre with less fire engines than we currently have, and at least one hundred less firefighters. If the government pulled out of any Middle Eastern country, they could invest the money in more fire engines, and lots of other positive things!Liverpool Indymedia reports: Mersey Firefighters to Fight Service Cuts | Ex-Firefighters To Stand With Bosses On Cuts Agenda? | Breathtaking Hypocrisy of Mersey Fire Authority | Firefighters to Strike Over Cuts | Area Commander Dan Stephens Betrays Merseysiders | Fire Scab Scandal | Eight Day Strike For Liverpool Lives | Day 1 of Mersey Fire Strike: Great Show of Solidarity | Day 2 of Mersey Fire Strike: Authority Calls On “Fantasy firefighters” | Day 3 of Mersey Fire Strike: FBU’s Skarratts Blinks First | Day 4 of Mersey Fire Strike: More ‘Negotiating’ Amid Allegations | Day 5 of Mersey Fire Strike: Talks Break Down | Day 6 of Mersey Fire Strike: “We are not getting anywhere.” | Day 7 of Mersey Fire Strike: More Delaying Tactics By Authority | Day 8 of Mersey Fire Strike: Scale of Cuts Confirmed | Day 9 of Mersey Fire Strike: FBU publish alternative cuts plan | Day 10 of Mersey Fire Strike: Yet More Strike Dates Promised | Day 11 of Mersey Fire Strike: Desperate Authority Makes False Accusations | Day 12 of Mersey Fire Strike: Massive March and Rally in Liverpool | Day 13 of Mersey Fire Strike: Negotiations Continue Following Rally | Day 16 of Mersey Fire Strike: Authority Claims “positive and constructive” Talks

Hundreds demonstrate in Leeds against Zimbabwean deportations
14 Sep 2006
Zimbabweans from across the UK today led a huge demonstration in Leeds against the resumption of deportations of refused asylum seekers back to Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe. The protest, called by the Zimbabwe Refugee Community Organisation with the backing of the Refugee Council (Yorkshire and Humberside) and campaign group Leeds No Borders began outside Leeds Central Library at 12pm and was addressed by among others Mafungasei Maikokera, one of the famous Yarls Wood hunger strikers who resisted deportation on a plane bound for Harare. Hundreds of people then spontaneously marched into the main shopping precinct to the sound of samba and song.The demonstration was called in response to a legal ruling in August that ‘refused’ asylum seekers no longer automatically face persecution if returned to Zimbabwe – despite the UK government’s own very public condemnation of human rights abuses by the Mugagbe regime. These Zimbabweans now face the possibility of imminent deportation. Only last Wednesday in Zimbabwe, the country’s main trade union leader was arrested by police for attempting to hold a demonstration which the government had earlier banned. Wellington Chibebe was beaten with batons and rifle butts as the police arrested him and 15 others. Zimbabweans are not alone – the Home Office has recently stepped up its efforts to forcibly remove asylum seekers en masse back to Iraq and Afghanistan.Read: Demo call out | Report of Original Ruling, October 2005 | Recent legal ruling, August 2006, & Report | Refugee Council briefing | Zimbabwe Situation | Amnesty International Country Overview | Satellite images of Mugabe’s community destruction schemeLinks: Coalition to Stop Deportations to Iraq | International Federation of Iraqi Refugees | National Coalition of Anti- Deportation Campaigns | Noborders UK communication channels | No Borders | Asylum Policy.info | Barbed Wire Britain | Peter Tatchell

The NHS is on its knees. Get on your feet to save it!
12 Sep 2006
Defend the NHS! March and rally – Sat 23rd Sept – 11am Forest Recreation Ground (assemble 10am) Nottingham.This year the East Midlands faces 5,000 job losses (with 1,200 to go in Nottingham), £200 million worth of cuts, the sale of NHS Logistics, hospital ward closures, a review of NHS Direct and Patient Transport Services, and operations undertaken by private health firms run solely for the profit of shareholders. We say it’s time the Government stepped in to stop thee cuts and end privatisation of our local NHS. Join us!Links: Unison website | Download flyer | UK Indymedia health topic page | NHS England | Download ‘Nottingham Trade Union Solidarity – Issue 5’

11th September 2001, Five Years On
11 Sep 2006
Five years after 9/11, a large number of protests, screenings, concerts and meetings were held across the US (New York: 1 | 2 | SF Bay Area: 1 | 2 | Los Angeles: 1 | 2) to demand the truth about the events of September 11th 2001 and the subsequent “War on Terror” and the imperial invasion of key countries in the oil-rich Middle East. In the UK over 100 truth protestors gathered outside the US Embasy in London to oppose the official conspiracy theory, photos: 1 | 2.The attacks of September 11th 2001 have been used, on both sides of the Atlantic, to justify a spectrum of attacks on civil liberties and illegal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 9/11 Truth Movement fears that until the lies are exposed the attack will continue to be used to justify perpetual war, with the next one possibly being with Iran and/or Syria, and further attacks on dissent and freedoms at home. In the UK post-9/11, steps down the road to a police state have included terror raids, shoot to kill, detention without trial, torture training, profiling, rendition and a host of other Orwellian “Big Brother” proposals like ID cards.The 9/11 Truth Movement has received varied responses from Indymedia, ranging from feature articles condemning conspiracy theorists (NYC) to dedicated 9/11 topics and feature articles asking why the network is ignoring the call for a 9.11 investigation (Portland). In the months following the attack UK-IMC carried many articles questioning the official story and analysing what the attacks would mean for the anti-capitalist left (for example: 9/11: A Desperate Provocation By U.S. Capitalism), but in the years following the attack an ad-hoc policy of hiding all articles questioning 9/11 was adopted. This has now changed, the 9/11 Truth Movement is gradually gaining recognition as a legitimate, albeit still controversial, part of the broad global justice movement.Read on for more on the events of 11th September 2001, the 9/11 Truth Movement and a look at one of the big answered questions, what happened to World Trade Centre Building 7?

Planning Officer Recommends Rejections of Incinerator Expansion
10 Sep 2006
Today the Planning Officer made public the report and recommendations on the proposed expansion of Nottingham’s controversial waste incinerator. The report recommends rejection!! Today the Planning Officer made public his report and recommendations into the plans to expand Eastcroft incinerator. This report will go to the Development Control Committee on the 20th September, when the report will be considered and the application voted on. The Planning Officer is recommending that the Committee REFUSE PERMISSION on several grounds, mainly in that the proposals go against the City’s plans for the River Side development and concerns on the commutative effect on emissions on people living near by.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital: Save Ward S2
9 Sep 2006
Protestors took to the streets of Sheffield on Saturday 9th September in response to Ward S2 in Sheffield Children’s Hospital being threatened with closure.S2 is a specialist childrens ear, nose and throat ward and its closure is part of a £3 million cuts package for the Hospital, which is just a fraction of the 3 year £100 million cuts package for the NHS in Sheffield. Hospital unions are objecting to cuts which include not filling vacancies and workers’ hours being cut.These cuts are not an isolated incident, in July there was a protest against privatisation on the 58th anniversary of the founding of the NHS. The Government’s ongoing underfunding, cuts and privatisation of the National Health Service have also been covered by Cambridge and Liverpool IMCs.