You are Cordially Invited to Next To Nowhere!
4 Sep 2007
At 7pm on Saturday 15th September, the door will be unlocked at Next To Nowhere in Bold Street, and Liverpool’s new social centre will be ‘officially’ opened, although there probably won’t be any mayors or fancy ribbons. What there will be is a week-long programme of events to celebrate the space, starting with a party and ending with a film night. It’s been nearly two years in the planning, but Next To Nowhere is finally ready!

Indymedia Oaxaca Tour In The UK, Second Stage
3 Sep 2007
A second round of Indymedia Oaxaca infonite in the UK is starting, focussing on the experiences and struggless the people of Oaxaca’s rebellion. The tour will begin in Cardiff at the PAD social centre on the 9th where it will also visit people who are fighting the Breacon Beacons gas pipeline. In London it will take part in the Disarm DSEi mobilisations, as well as a planned infonite at the LARC on the 12th. Then it will visit Liverpool on the 16th to join in the celebration of the new social centre Next To Nowhere, the Common Ground Community Garden in Reading on the 18th, and it will end at the No Border Camp in Gatwick on the 21st. There will be talks and discussions with our compaero from Indymedia Oaxaca as well as the presentation of ‘True To My Pledge’, a video made by MALDEOJOTV to rise funds in support of the women made widows in Oaxaca due to state repression.Click at the Full article link for background information, and see IMC-UK Oaxaca topic page for reports on the Oaxaca Uprising.

DIY V3 Wind Turbine Workshop
3 Sep 2007
DIY V3 Wind Turbine WorkshopV3 Power build small wind turbines and run courses teaching people how to make their own turbines. They put a couple up at various events, to inspire folks to get involved with such alternatives.The turbines they build are ‘axial flux’ turbines with a 2.4 metre blade in diameter and typically sit on top of a 10 metre guyed mast. They are mostly made from recycled materialsBy running courses where people can learn how to build, install and maintain their own turbine they offer people and communities the chance to release themselves from reliance on the national grid while making a real difference to the climate change problem. So, get involvedPictures: [ Wind Turbine Workshop 1 ] | [ Wind Turbine Workshop 2 ] | Spring into Action :: Build your own wind turbine workshop | Sounds on the Downs – Wind Turbine Set-upLinks: V3 Power | Hugh Piggott – Scoraig Wind | Construction of Permanent magnet generator’ (PMG). [pdf] | Wind rotor blade construction [pdf] | Small Wind Systems for Battery Charging [pdf] | Fieldlines ‘Expert’discussion board [lodsa help here] | British Wind Energy Association | Wind power – Wikipedia | Centre for Alternative Technology | Engineers Without Borders [International NGO for engineering students] |

You are Cordially Invited to Next To Nowhere!
31 Aug 2007
At 7pm on Saturday 15th September, the door will be unlocked at Next To Nowhere in Bold Street, and Liverpool’s new social centre will be ‘officially’ opened, although there probably won’t be any mayors or fancy ribbons. What there will be is a week-long programme of events to celebrate the space, starting with a party and ending with a film night. It’s been nearly two years in the planning, but Next To Nowhere is finally ready!

Camp for Climate Action – East Anglia Round up
26 Aug 2007
While the Camp for Climate Action (full Indymedia coverage) was going on next to Heathrow, campaigners have not been slacking in East Anglia. There have been protests at Norwich Airport and Stansted Airport, while it is has been reported that Cambridge Airport is seeing rapid growth in use by executive jets – over 3000 per year. And away from the airports, Friday started with a blockade of the Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk where a group of five people locked on in the entrance of Sizewell nuclear power station and unfurled a banner reading ‘nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos’Many activists from Cambridge were at the camp, including some supergluing themselves to the Department for Transport, while others found themselves held as terrorists when they clearly weren’t or photographed by police while using the toilet.

Temporary Victory for DR Congo Refugees
25 Aug 2007
A High Court judge has ordered the halt of all deportations to the Democratic Republic of Congo pending a ‘country guidance’ hearing for the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in September. The news was a reason for much rejoicing among DRC communities across the country, both inside and outside detention. Campaigners said the Home Office has, once again, missed a chance to get rid of as many Congolese asylum seekers as possible before the guidance appeal is determined in their favour. However, sources said the Home Office are still going ahead with the charter flight, filling it with DRC nationals who have not claimed asylum.A number of Congolese detainees had received ‘removal directions’ for the 30th August. Last February, 21 children and 17 adults were forcibly deported to DR Congo on a charter flight operated by XL.Eight coordinated protests have been called by Congolese communities and the Congo Support Project for August 28th in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Middlesborough, Newcastle and Nottingham. Meanwhile, charter airline XL has threatened the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) with legal action after the latter published a message saying XL might be operating the 30th August deportation flight.Related: Dozens deported to DR Congo | UK-wide Day of Action Against Deportations to DR Congo

Smash EDO Action Camp: Shut down the Brighton bomb builders
24 Aug 2007
From 27 to 30 August, Smash EDO held an action camp in the Wild Park, close to Mouslecoomb Station in Brighton. The camp aimed to be a time to hold creative direct actions against the arms trade and a forum to discuss the anti-arms trade movement, but on Tuesday afternoon police forcibly moved in and removed the camp’s infrastructure using a nineteenth century by-law. Despite police repression most campers remained put, new provisions were brought in, and activists maintained the camp whilst carrying out a series of daily actions:Timeline of Events: Monday 27th: Opening and vigil (pix) Tuesday 28th Morning: Rooftop protest | Afternoon: Police threaten camp | Tents standoff at smashEDO Camp | Camp still resisting and actions will continue! | Bikes against bomb factoriesWednesday 29th: Camp continues despite police repression | Demo at EDO 8am [Report] | Action Update at 6pmThursday 30th: Actions continue as camp draws to a closeFriday 31st: Final action from the camp outside EDO MBM in MoulescombeReports Still Coming In: Barricade Building and Attempt to Breach EDO’s Security Press Releases: Anti Arms Trade Campaigner Plan Action Camp | Smash EDO Camp Continues Despite Police Eviction AttemptDetails of the camp | Directions to the campSchnews Report: Tents Stand Off

Save Pegah Emambakhsh from British Prison and Iranian Lashes
23 Aug 2007
An international campaign to prevent the UK government deporting Pegah Emambakhsh to Iran, where she fears persecution, for being a lesbian, has so far succeeded in getting her deportation delayed.Pegah sought asylum in the UK in 2005, her claim failed despite appeals, and she was arrested in Sheffield on Monday 13th August and is being detained in Yarlswood detention centre.Her case has been taken up by the Iranian Queer Organization, who have said: “If she is going to be returned to Iran, there is much of possibility that she, due to her sexual orientation and her past life in Iran, will be sentenced to death, or, in a most optimistic view, be prosecuted and tortured in some of the ways that are all common among Iran’s religious officials when having made the decision to chastise the so called ‘corrupted’ citizens.”.The global anti-deportation campaign, which has included approaches to the British ambassador in Rome and the Deputy Consul General in San Francisco has resulted in her case getting coverage in the local media, the Iranian media and the gay press around the world. She now has excellent legal representation and support from Outrage!.Articles: Urgent help needed to save the life of Pegah Emambakhsh | Appeal for the life of Pegah Emambakhsh | Pegah Emambakhsh Must Stay | British Ambassador promises: “We will not deport Pegah Emambakhsh” | Who wants Pegah?s Blood? | Urgent! – Save Pegah From Death. Don’t Alow That Pegah Goes Up On The Airplane | Lesbian facing Deportation to Iran needs your Support | URGENT: Don’t Deport Pegah Emambakhsh

Bridgepoint Capital (owners of Leeds airport) Offices in London Disrupted
22 Aug 2007
A group of 18 climate change campaigners from the Camp for Climate Action briefly occupied the offices of Bridgepoint Capital in Warwick Street in London on Monday morning. Bridgepoint Capital, a private equity firm, bought Leeds Bradford Airport in April and is pressing for further expansion.A banner reading “Yorkshire’s Flooding You Daft Pudding!” was unfurled and Yorkshire puddings handed out to management. A statement was also read out to management and the offices covered in stickers. The brief occupation lasted for 30 minutes before the campaigners left. There were no arrests and indeed there were no police in attendance at the action.See also photos and the text of the declaration.

Day 7: Climate Camp’s 24 Hours of Action Spreads Throughout England
19 Aug 2007
The Climate Camp’s second Day of Action has seen a flurry of direct actions throughout England. Whilst the 24h blockade of BAA headquarters in Heathrow continued overnight and into the afternoon, a series of protests have taken place in diferent parts of the country. The day started with a blockade of the Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk. At the same time a group of activists super-glued themselves to various entrances of the BP head offices in St James Sq in central London. An hour later a group of people occupied the offices of a carbon offset company called ‘Climate Care’ in Oxford, whilst work was disrupted at the London offices of Bridge Point Capital, the owners of Leeds airport. Another action took place at the fountains of London’s Trafalgar Square. See the timeline below for detailed reports of the day’s actions:18.14pm A CIRCA batallion of ten clowns are marking out the site of a 4th runway in the garden of Lord Soley, chairman of the Heathrow Forward campaign. The action ended at 7pm when the clowns left the scene unhindered.16.10pm The march back to the camp from the BAA blockade has just arrived at the climate camp to huge cheers and rounds of applause. They were followed by mounted police horses and around 10 van loads of police. The blockade of BAA was in place for well over 24hrs.01.30pm The blockade at Sizewell is still in place with no police cutting team present, the protesters have decided to leave and are on their way home without arrest.10.40am All the people locked on at BP’s headquarters have now been removed, although police are still blocking the entrances to the building. Meanwhile there are still 100 people or more outside the BAA offices at Heathrow.09.30am In Oxford, people dressed as red herrings are currently occupying the offices of a carbon offset company called ‘Climate Care’ which has British Airways as one of it’s many climate criminal partners. Another red herring action is taking place in London with ten people leafleting at the Carbon Neutral company. Also in London, offices belonging to Bridge Point Capital, the owners of Leeds airport, were briefly visited by 18 people. Work was disrupted and the office stickered, then everyone left before the cops arrived.08.35am Twelve climate camp protesters have super-glued themselves to various entrances of the BP head offices in St James Sq in central London.08.00am A group of five people have locked on in the entrance of Sizewell nuclear power station and unfurled a banner reading ‘nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos’.Press releases: Carbon Offset Companies targeted by Climate Camp Activists and the camp’s press release summarising 24 hours of actionFor up-to-the-minute climate camp reports and breaking news, check the Indymedia UK News Ticker. You can also get it as SMS alerts or listen to it by phoning the Blasted Campers info line on 0207 043 3783.Daily round-ups are on the UK Indymedia Climate Camp page. Links: Camp For Climate Action website | workshops | bust card | directions 1, 2

Day 6: Climate Camp’s 24 Hours of Direct Action
18 Aug 2007
Midday Sunday saw the start of Climate Camp’s 24 hours of mass action.12.30am The blockade of the World Cargo depot ends, protesters have been cut out and have called in from police stations. 10.45pm The seven-strong support team from the World Cargo depot blockade have been made to leave and are on their way back to site. Those locked on have been arrested but it’s not clear at this time if they have yet been removed.9.10pm The BA World Cargo terminal shed is being blockaded by 8 people in lock on tubes forming a circle [press release|photos]. They have seven people present in support. Meanwhile Bicycology have delivered food to the 250+ people sheltering under tarps outside BAA. There is music and a party atmosphere despite the rain [later reports|audio].8.15pm Bicycology has just left the camp with trailers full of food, cake and treats for those planning on camping at BAA tonight. Around 80 people are currently at the BAA offices planning to stay overnight.8.00pm The police cordons around both groups of protesters at BAA HQ have now dispersed. Some people are now returning to camp whilst others are trying to join the larger block to camp overnight.7.30pm About one hour ago people dropped a banner reading ‘Plane Suicide’ on Colnbrook Bypass motorway bridge over the M25. The banner overlooks the traffic going northbound, some of which will exit off towards the aiport.7.20pm The smaller group penned in at BAA is negotiating to be moved with the bigger group on the other side of the building. People are preparing to stay for the night at BAA - cooking equipment is being sorted and a cooking rota is being organised.6.20pm Kids blockade arrives at BAA with bicycle soundsystem and placed in kettle. Meanwhile some some people are returning in dribs and drabs to camp. People are free to come and go as usual via the Sipson Lane gate. All others are blocked. Legal team are confirming 5 arrests so far and more reports of injuries are coming in.5.00pm Riot police are blocking the footpath exit, southeast of the camp. They are not letting people out but they are letting people in. A line of people has been formed in front of them with their hands up on the air.4.00pm A man superglued himself to a security vehicle at the Heathrow business academy. He was unstuck and arrested. Meanwhile the majority of the kids block are heading towards the BAA offices along the A4 with others returning to the camp. The atmosphere is good, the march looks really colorful and people are singing.3.30pm Around 250 people are being confined by police behind the BAA offices. The building itself is now protected by a ring of police. Small groups of people keep coming to the area of BAA building. In the BAA carpark another small group are “praying” with the BAA monks! Another 200-300 people from the Kids block are headed towards the BAA offices.3.15pm Around 100 protesters have reached BAA and are holding a banner reading ‘Social Change Not Lifestyle Change’. Lots of mainstream media are present.3.00pm 200-300 people left the camp from the south side and fanned out into smaller groups. TSG, police in riot gear and mounted police are there. One protester has reportedly been injured by a police horse. Police have broken down a fence to enable mounted police to enter and are being aggressive. 100 people were penned in but have since returned to the camp, others made it further towards BAA.1.00pm 3 teenage girls are on the roof of the Heathrow Business Academy, very close to BAA headquaters. They have unrolled a banner that reads Make Planes History12.00 noon At least three large groups of several hundred people each have marched out of the camp from both exits towards the various targets of their actions. Children, parents and supporters are on one family-friendly march, one group is marking out the proposed third runway, while another has left from the south end of the camp and fanned out into smaller groups to foil police efforts to keep them in.Also on the newswire: Video 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Photos: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | Reports: 1 | Press Releases: Press release from Climate Camp Media: Police attack protesters | Activists Deny Smear by General Manager of Carmel AgrexcoFor up-to-the-minute climate camp reports and breaking news, check the Indymedia UK News Ticker. You can also get it as SMS alerts or listen to it by phoning the Blasted Campers info line on 0207 043 3783.Daily round-ups are on the UK Indymedia Climate Camp page. Links: Camp For Climate Action website | workshops | bust card | directions 1, 2

Day 5: Climate Camp Prepares For Mass Action
17 Aug 2007
Saturday at the Climate Camp is mainly dedicated to a series of meetings and workshops related to the preparations for Sunday and Monday’s days of action, but this has not stopped people from continuing with a series of descentralised actions:15:00 – Children and their parents from around the UK gathered at Heathrow’s World Freight Centre to blockade its access road. Around 15 people took part in the blockade which was taken over by others from the Camp For Climate Action after 45 minutes. No one has been arrested so far and police, FIT team as well as BAA security are present at the scene. The blockaders unrolled a banner reading ‘Enjoy Local Food’ to highlight the effects to climate change that flying food around the world causes. See photo report for more.11.30 – About 30 campers from the camp brought a banner (and about 20 police!) to a picket of striking cargo workers at the Nippon Express Heathrow depot. The workers are out on strike against changes that would see them working 25% longer hours for no extra pay. Climate campers have been keen to show their support and have visited the picket line throughout the current 48-hour stoppage, which ends at 6am Sunday. Read article and call out for more.11.00 – A group of around 40 activists from the camp have occupied Carmel Agrexco, the 50 % Israeli state owned exporter/ distributor of Illegal settlement produce from the West Bank. The company’s offices were trashed and the action ended with five arrests [Update] See Press Release and end-of-action update for more info.On the newswire: Pictures Of Children Blockade At World Freight Centre | 40 Climate camp Activists occupy Carmel Agrexco | Cargo-Striker and Climate-Camper Solidarity | Carmel Agrexco update – depot closed for 3 hours! | Seize the day and sikhs @ climate campFor up-to-the-minute climate camp reports and breaking news, check the Indymedia UK News Ticker. You can also get it as SMS alerts or listen to it by phoning the ‘Blasted Campers’ info line on 0207 043 3783.Daily round-ups are on the UK Indymedia Climate Camp page. Links: Camp For Climate Action website | workshops | bust card | directions 1, 2

Day 4: Dept of Transport Blockaded – XL Airways Occupied
16 Aug 2007
Friday 17th August: 16:30: Ten activists have occupied XL Airways offices in Crawley. One person is locked on inside the offices, a banner reads “Cheap Flights – Cheap Lives?” refering to links between the aviation industry and climate change, and XL’s role in deporting people and children to the Congo on behalf of the home office. More updates on the ticker.8.15am: At least ten climate change campaigners have blockaded the Department of Transport headquarters in London this morning. Several have superglued themselves to the revolving doors and other doors have been chained shut. Staff inside the Marsham Street building were seen giving thumbs up to the protestors who called themselves Climate Camp supporters. Two more protestors were on the porch roof with a banner reading “No Airport Expansion”. Eventualy after around two hours the activists were removed and arrested. [See Press Release | Pictures | More Pics]The camp has been having a lot of visitors throughout the day. The local scouts group came to learn about the camp for their environment badges and someone posted photos of yesterday’s visit by the local primary school which will be demolished if the third runway is to go ahead. Many local Sipson residents also visited the camp this morning to express continued support and solidarity and exchange experiences.On the newswire: Climate Camper Arrested Under Terrorism Act | Climate Camp Photo Portraits | Heathrow Primary School visits Camp | Detention Centres Near Heathrow | FitWatch faceup to FIT | Video: Climate Camp Clown AroundFor up-to-the-minute climate camp reports and breaking news, check the Indymedia UK News Ticker. You can also get it as SMS alerts or listen to it by phoning the ‘Blasted Campers’ info line on 0207 043 3783.Daily round-ups are on the UK Indymedia Climate Camp page. Links: Camp For Climate Action website | workshops | bust card | directions 1, 2

Day 3: Private Airports Blockaded
16 Aug 2007
At 7am two independent groups of campaigners from the Camp for Climate Action stopped carbon-intensive private jets fom operating at two airports in the south east. Executive flights at Biggin Hill and Farnborough airports have been brought to a standstill by climate activists concerned at the huge growth in the use of private jets by business people. At Biggin Hill Airport the activists D-locked themselves to the gates of the airports. 10 people were then arrested. The blockade lasted for just under 4 hours.24 people took part in the blockade at Farnborough Airport with 9 people locked onto lock-on devices across the access road. After an hour the aiport staff opened up an emergancy crash exit to allow the gathered business people in. Meanwhile protesters handed out leaflets to staff, passengers and locals. Jets were delayed and after 2 hours a second emergency exit was opened. By this point the police warned people they would be arrested and it was decided to return to the camp. Although no one was arrested, the police did seize lock-on devices.On the newswire: Business flights blockaded by climate activists | Video Interview with Farnborough Airport Blockaders | Bristol Airport Stunt | | Audio Interviews from Camp | Renewable energy at Camp – photos report and videos | Camp under Surveillance | Happy Days Thursday Pics and Report

Day 2: Low-Impact Living At The Climate Camp
14 Aug 2007
Wednesday August 15th After an early alert – around 9am a large Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) skirted the East perimeter, with an even larger group of Climate Campers responding by blocking the FIT cameras view – the camp got off to a productive start:After the site coordination meeting at 9:30am, the workshops kicked off, covering a wide range of topics including low-tech sanitation, nuclear power, climate change and global justice, decentralised energy, aviation and climate change, introduction to permaculture, and movement building. Read a report about the ‘Wales LNG pipeline’ workshop. Indymedia facilities are on-site, the entire campsite has wi-fi, powered by wind generators and solar arrays. Indymedia workshops have been going on since early morning, including open publishing, writing, reporting, and digital photography. The site is now wheelchair-accessible. Campers fitted up kitchens and installed a ‘grey water’ system, 4 wind generators provide power. New neighbourhoods, like the West Midlands neighbourhood are being built. [pics]Climate activists from the US and New Zealand, including the Convergence for Climate Action, the US social forum, the East Coast USA climate camp, The Yes Men, The Earth First! Journal, Rising Tide, have sent empowering messages in solidarity [video 1 2].At 4pm, about 80 people left camp to participate in a local march against the airport expansion, but were held up by police, penned in and lead toward the perimeter of the airport – almost into the area covered by the BAA injunction. On the way, the police decided to block the A4 to lead the pen across it. Two hours later, the group headed back to the camp in heavy rain. One person was arrested for ‘obstructing a police officer’ (a FIT photographer) [report 1, 2, 3 | pics 1, 2]. More info on the ticker.Camp website | workshops | bust card | directions | corporate media archives 1, 2

Day 1: Climate Camp now open
13 Aug 2007
Tuesday, August 14. After two days of setting up, the 2007 Camp For Climate Action is now open. After a press conference and an opening meeting, the first round of workshops took place in a field between Sipson and Harlington near Heathrow airport. [Workshop audio (Mark Lynas, Airportwatch/Hacan)]The evening saw a brief police incursion. Around 7.30pm, approximately thirty police, backed by officers in riot gear, entered the camp without warning in an attempt to raid it. With their hands in the air, protesters formed a human barrier and blocked the police, before peacefully escorting them off the site [video | report 1, 2 | pics]. A woman superglued herself to the gate to prevent police enforcement [pics, video]. At 8.30pm, all was quiet.Read a personal report of the day or check the up-to-the-minute Indymedia UK Ticker. You can also get it as SMS alerts or listen to it by phoning the ‘Blasted Campers’ info line on 0207 043 3783. Daily round-ups are on the indymedia climate camp page.Camp website | workshops | bust card | directions | corporate media archives 1, 2

Climate Camp prepares for opening
12 Aug 2007
Monday, August 13. More than 300 people continued to set up this years Camp For Climate Action in a field between Sipson and Harlington near Heathrow airport to prepare for a week of „low impact living and high impact direct action”. After BAAs failed injunction, the authorities tried to make this as difficult as possible using anti-terrorist legislation. Climate campers and local residents responded with resourcefulness and determination [rap].Some police entered the site at 7.30 am. Soon, each of them was accompanied by people from the legal support team acting as minders. The police blocked the only road to the camp at both ends and searched and filmed arriving campers. Resulting traffic jams affected both campers and residents. Until late afternoon, vehicles were not allowed on site. The police installed a large tele microphone at the gate and erected floodlights, so that the camp is lit at night.„Food and sanitation supplies were halted – everything had to be unloaded at the roadblock and carried or dragged to the site – half a mile away. Families – kids crying at the roadside – were forced to abandon their vehicles and carry their possessions, often in several trips, to the camp“.Nevertheless, the camp is taking shape. People pulled together to get equipment off cars, into wheelbarrows and wheelie bins and into the camp. Large numbers of corporate journalists parked outside the camp were watching. Local residents, many of whom are opposed to the Heathrow airport extension, offered food and drinks to stranded campers, or help in transporting goods to the camp.

Climate Camp has begun
10 Aug 2007
Late Saturday night, a field close to Heathrow airport site was occupied by about 100 people, the first wave of setting up the 2007 Camp For Climate Action. Twin double decker tripods were quickly erected and despite being just 800 metres from BAA’s head office, it took the police two hours to find the site. There have been reports of two arrests and police copying data from mobile phones during searches.There are now several hundred people on site and the camp taking shape. Police have been searching people and preventing access to the site on and off but in the last few hours this seems to have solidified into a state of siege with police refusing to let vehicles with power, water or toilet facilities onto the site.Meanwhile, local residents celebrated “the place we call home” in the community arts and history project “our place”.Read full article for directions and press release.Links: videos of morning and afternoon | Camp website | workshops | bust card | campers info line 0207 043 3783

26 escape from Campsfield
10 Aug 2007
Around 10:30pm on Saturday, August 4th, a riot broke out in Campsfield House, Oxfordshire, leading to 26 migrants escaping the immigration prison. 15 have since been recaptured, while the rest are still on the run. It followed a yard protest on Tuesday night against the appalling conditions inside the detention centre, which is run by American company GEO, and the discriminatory decisions of Newport immigration court, which is used for bail hearings and appeals involving Campsfield detainees. A hunger strike was started on Wednesday but was put on hold pending a meeting with Home Office representatives on Friday. A further yard protest on Friday night was held as the meeting failed to meet the prisoners’ demands. Three solidarity demos were held on Tuesday midday at Campsfield House, Lindholme (Doncaster) and the Communication House (London) [reports: 1 | 2 | 3 ]. Last week, a revolt in a detention centre in Bari, Italy, led to at least 35 migrants escaping. Three weeks ago, 69 Tamil detainees in 5 detention centres, including Campsfield, went on hunger strike against a Home Office decision to deport them back to Sri Lanka [appeal]. Many are still on hunger strike while two Sri Lankan detainees in Harmondswoth, near Heathrow, have been on hunger strike for almost a month (see also Immigration detention: Unworkable). Links: Campaign to Close Campsfield | No Borders UK

We are all 129a!
7 Aug 2007
Four German activists have been arrested on suspicion of being members or supporters of an alleged ‘terrorist organisation’ [lawyers’ press release]. The German federal police suspect that Militante Gruppe (MG or Militant Group) was behind several arson attacks against police and army vehicles since the group surfaced in 2001 [Federal Prosecution’s press release]. The direct actions are said to have included an attack on German federal police vehicles to protest against their involvement in immigration deportations and another in response to the G8 raids earlier this year. If found guilty, the four could face up to 10 years in prison. Another three men have been accused but not arrested.A number of solidarity actions have already taken place, including a demo in Berlin last Wednesday (August 1st) and another at the prison where the four are held on Sunday (August 5th). A Germany-wide protest against police repression is planned for September 15th [call], while many solidarity protests and actions are expected throughout the world.For more information, check this new solidarity blog [en] and Indymedia Germany.

Two Days of Action Against the Arms Trade
6 Aug 2007
Following a call-out from Disarm DSEi, a wave of autonomous actions against the arms trade took place around the UK over the weekend of 28-30 July, 2007. Actions included a protest at Heckler & Koch’s small arms factory in Nottingham; visits to arms manufacturer Raytheon and mercenary company Erinys in London and to arms factory EDO MBM in Brighton; an Anti-DSEi stall in Brick Lane, East London, to raise funds for the Space Hijackers to ‘buy a tank’; and protests at the MOD Defence Export Services Organisation and the adjacent armed forces recruitment centre.But this is just the beginning; activists are flexing their muscles ready to take on the world’s largest arms fair when it returns to the Excel Centre in East London on 11th-14th September. For further information, see www.dsei.org.Links: Disarm DSEi | Space Hijackers | Smash EDO | CAAT | London CAAT

26 migrants escape immigration prison in Oxford
5 Aug 2007
Around 10:30pm on Saturday, July 4th, a riot broke out in Campsfield House, Oxfordshire, leading to 26 migrant escaping the immigration prison. 12 have since been recaptured, while the rest are still on the run. It followed a yard protest on Tuesday night against the appalling conditions inside the detention centre, which is run by American company GEO, and the discriminatory decisions of Newport immigration court, which is used for bail hearings and appeals involving Campsfield detainees. A hunger strike was started on Wednesday but was put on hold pending a meeting with Home Office representatives on Friday. A further yard protest on Friday night was held as the meeting failed to meet the prisoners’ demands. Three solidarity demos have been called for Tuesday midday at Campsfield House, Lindholme (Doncaster) and Communication House (London).Last week, a revolt in a detention centre in Bari, Italy, led to at least 35 migrants escaping. Three weeks ago, 69 Tamil detainees in 5 detention centres, including Campsfield, went on hunger strike against a Home Office decision to deport them back to Sri Lanka [appeal]. Many are still on hunger strike while two Sri Lankan detainees in Harmondswoth, near Heathrow, have been on hunger strike for almost a month (see also Immigration detention: Unworkable).Links: Campaign to Close Campsfield | No Borders UK

A Planning Disaster
2 Aug 2007
Campaigners representing “Planning Disaster” [1], a coalition of Britain’s leading environment organisations, today drew up a spoof planning notice for a new nuclear power station to be developed on the current site of Nottingham Forest Football Club. The action was to highlight the Government’s proposed changes to the planning system.The current planning system allows people to be part of the decision making process. They can have their say on proposals for major developments such as new roads or nuclear power stations. But reforms proposed in the Government’s White Paper on planning will remove the public’s democratic right to challenge projects at public inquiry. Planning decisions will also be taken out of the hands of accountable politicians and handed over to an unelected, unaccountable new body called the Infrastructure Planning Commission.Links: Planning Disaster Coalition | Nottingham FOE | Planning for a Sustainable Future: White Paper: website or PDF | House of Commons debate on the issue on 21 May 2007

Climate Camp Preparations In Full Swing
1 Aug 2007
Not distracted by the injuction BAA have threatened with, the preperations for the Camp For Climate Action are in full swing. Activists recently met with locals from around Heathrow to find a warm welcome in a community fed up with BAA’s lies over an ever expansing airport. The High Court in London was the scenery of some funny encounters today as BAA put forward their case for an injunction they served individuals from certain anti-airport groups earlier last week. The whole thing seemed poorly prepared. Read reports: (1) (2)And as things currently look, it won’t have any effect on the actual camp at all. A spokesperson for the Camp For Climate Action said: ‘This injunction is totally irrelevant to us. We won’t be intimidated or bullied. The camp is going ahead!’. Meanwhile, in this article, UK Indymedia looks back on an inspiring year packed with climate action goodness…Links: Camp For Climate Action | Location Of The Camp | British Airport Authority | Plane Stupid | Airportwatch | Climate Camp 2007 topic page

FIT for what purpose?
27 Jul 2007
“Teams of 12 specially trained officers will form a Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) who, operating in uniform, will seek to build a “rapport” with “street activists” so that people “likely to provoke disorder can be identified early in an event”The FIT first surfaced in the early 1990s, as part of the Public Order Intelligence Unit (CO11), a section of the Public Order Branch of the Metropolitan Police. They were initially targeted at football fans but were soon extended to cover a wide variety of political events, and their tactics have more recently been used in town centres as part of the “community policing” strategy. Sometimes they are deployed outside of the Metropolitan area, as at the G8 in Scotland for example, and most UK police forces now have officers trained in their methods.