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News in brief
THE WAY THINGS ARE AT BNRR
The protest against Kvaerner’s Birmingham Northern Relief Road is proving difficult, as evictions have been taking place almost as soon as camps are set up. In addition to bailiffs, it is said that police and farmers have evicted at the mere sight of a spade. Not very welcoming really. At the time of writing, most of the tree-troops have withdrawn to revise battle plans.
However, there is still time to implement action, as the main destruction is due to take place at the beginning of next year, so anyone with ideas, enthusiasm or supportive messages, please call 07970 347068.
BIKE RIDE FOR BURMA
On September 9th the Burma Campaign held a carnival-style freedom ride in support of the pro-democracy movement. Burma is currently controlled by a military regime, despite a National League for Democracy landslide in the 1990 election. Their leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for six years, and is currently gaining world-wide support in her call for trade sanctions.
For more info contact: The Burma Campaign, 0171 281 7377.
Write a letter expressing your disgust at Premier Oil’s continued involvement in Burma, to Mr Charles Jamieson, Chief Executive, Premier Oil Ltd., 23 Lower Belgrave St, London SW1 0NR.
FREE RACHEL GOLDWYN
Human rights campaigner Rachel Goldwyn – who was just about to start a new job at Corporate Watch – has been sentenced to seven years in jail after singing a pro-democracy song in Burma (Myanmar). An appeal is expected soon. You can show your support by writing to her in jail: Rachel Goldwyn, Insein Prison, Yangon, Myanmar – and remember that letters will be read by prison guards first. Please also write polite letters to the Burmese Ambassador: His Excellency Ambassador of Myanmar, Embassy of the Union of Myanmar, 19a Charles Street, London W1X 8ER.
ARTHURS WOOD ON STANDBY
In spite of continued campaigning, and protests on the day including banners hung from both the Manchester City Council building and the courthouse, it was ruled that the evictions of Arthur’s and Cedar Woods could go ahead. The woods, owned by the National Trust, would get in the way of radar for Manchester’s second runway. Cedar Wood has now been evicted, and police and bailiffs moved in to Arthur’s Wood on 21st September. At the time of writing people were needed urgently to defend the camp. Email: pixi@redbricks.org.uk
Camp mobiles: 07974 803 732/ 07974 281 577.
MONSANTO HAUNTS NORWAY
Norwegian authorities are collectively compiling a lawsuit against the former manufacturers of PCBs (chemical insulators for electrical equipment) which were sold by a subsidiary of Monsanto. The products were soon found to concentrate in the food chain and were withdrawn. However, the damage was already done: the clean up costs for Norway’s harbours and fjords alone come to £1.1 billion. In Norway, if it can be proved that producers knowingly sold an environmentally hazardous product, then that company can be forced to pay. The lawsuit will be the first attempt to gain compensation for PCB pollution.
NATWEST FUNDS ANIMAL CRUELTY
Animal rights activists have launched a campaign against NatWest Bank. Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), was recently rescued by a £24.5 million loan from NatWest. HLS had its license suspended by the Home Office when pictures of their employees abusing animals were shown on Channel 4 (see CW 5/6). Protesters intend to hold NatWest responsible for supporting this horrendous treatment of animals. A national boycott is planned, aiming to show the strength of public feeling about animal cruelty.
Write to Animal Protector, PO Box 155, Manchester M60 1FT or tel. 07931 586826
WORLD HERITAGE SITE OIL RIG?
For the first time in 69 years, the inhabitants of St Kilda, off the Scottish coast, have re-convened the island's ancient parliament. The villagers have joined forces with Greenpeace to stop planned oil projects near the island, in which 30 companies plan to develop vast tracts of the sea bed. The British government, for whom oil expansion is worth billions, has shown total indifference to the vigorous opposition, forcing the villagers to turn to UNESCO. Like the Great Barrier Reef, St Kilda is a World Heritage Site, housing 400,000 pairs of sea birds, and is one of the world's most diverse ecosystems. Contact stkilda@greenpeace.org
CAT TAKES IT TO EUROPE
Communities Against Toxics have been fighting their campaign against toxic incineration and other forms of dangerous waste dumping at the European policy level. They have taken the struggle to the EC decision makers by lobbying Brussels, as well as continuing to provide information, legal advice, and support to local communities protecting their environments. They also still produce their most informative publication TOXCAT, available for £2. See Contacts.
ZAPATISTA SUPPORT
As the Mexican government continues its offensive against the Zapatista villages in Chiapas, causing thousands of people to flee their homes, an action against the Nestle factory in Newcastle took place in solidarity with the Zapatistas’ struggle. Nestle is a major player in the food sector in Mexico, and is planning further investments in Chiapas. Two protesters climbed onto the roof of the Nestle factory in Fawdon, Newcastle, and hung a banner reading ‘NESTLE - OUT OF MEXICO’- at the same time the entrance was blockaded with a banner that read, ‘Solidarity Is Strength’.
More info on further solidarity actions in UK: Chiapas Link, PO Box 1TA, Newcastle NE99 1TA. chiapaslink@yahoo.com
OILWATCH EUROPE UPDATE
Oilwatch has launched a new e-mail list dedicated to the social and environmental impacts of the oil and gas industries activities in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. The aim of the list is to create contacts between different organisations and individuals concerned with these issues, paving the way for more concrete projects. To join the oilwatch-neftegaz list, send a message to: majordomo@ouderaarden.nl whilst leaving the subject line empty. Write in the message body “subscribe oilwatch-neftegaz”. Then send the message and you’re on the list!
SUBVERTISE!
A new radical arts website and network is inviting contributions from creative campaigners. The web-site aims to document, promote and inspire the new art-form of the millennium - subvertising. Subvertising takes familiar corporate iconography and twists it in new subversive directions. The web-site will act as a shared gallery of @nti-copyright graphics, billboards, poetry, stickers and flyers. It will also include a huge list of contacts for artistic campaigners worldwide. The site is due to be launched in the near future, and all ideas are welcome. www.subvertise.org
Please get in touch: Email (files smaller than 200k only): counterfeet@excite.com Fax: 0870 0521602 Post: Counterfeet, c/o Box G, 101 Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RG, England.
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