Shell action in Solidarity with Rossport glasgow UK -Three BP petrol stations shutdown in Birmingham UK

 

Earth First! | 16.02.2011 

Today three BP petrol stations in the Quinton, Longbridge and Selly Park areas of Birmingham were shutdown.

The action was taken in response to BP's involvement in the Canadian Tar Sands, the role it played in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and more recently the joint venture with Russian energy firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf. The deal will result in the exploration of 125,000 square kilometers in three areas known as EPNZ 1, 2 and 3 located on the Russian Arctic continental shelf in the South Kara Sea. The deal will also see an Arctic technology center established in Russia which will develop technologies and engineering practices to make Arctic oil extraction easier. [1]

The pumps were all shut off after the safety switches were pushed up into the off position and a metal rod then inserted into the switch handle which was used to wrench it off, making it difficult to switch back on again. The doors were sprayed with the words "Climate Criminals"

One activist said "BP cannot be allowed to continue to destroy our planet for corporate greed. We will continue to fight back against them, and all other corporations that put profit before planet and people"


[1]  http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7066710

Earth First!

 

 

FROM:      http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/02/474259.html

Rossport solidarity glasgow | 16.02.2011 

Services were distrupted at the Shell garage on Alexandra Parade in Glasgow in solidarity with the approval of Shell's gas pipeline in Rossport, Ireland and to raise awareness about the crimes against humanity committed by Shell around the world.

The Shell garage on Alexandra Parade saw a group of activists with banners reading "Crack your pipe habit," "free Rossport," and "Shell to Hell" disrupting services for the afternoon with many drivers being turned away from the petrol station or choosing to go elsewhere themselves. The group gave leaflets to drivers entering the garage and passers by which highlighted Shell's plans to bring at least 1 trillion cubic feet of high-pressure gas from west coast County Mayo and pump it 9km inland through an inhabited area, risking people's lives.

The action was carried out in solidarity with the people of Rossport, whose lives are threatened by the high pressure pipeline which would go through their community to bring money to one of the most damaging companies in the world. Whilst the people of Ireland are being crippled by the cuts in public services, the corrupt government is giving away the country's natural resources to a company well known for environmental damage, disastrous accidents and human rights abuses. The action was also done to highlight other atrocities committed against people and the environment by Shell, such as the Niger Delta and the tar sands in Canada.

People around the world are resisting by defending their communities and environment against Shell.

Rossport solidarity glasgow

EDL coach company targetted (UK)

from   http://325.nostate.net/?p=1670

4 February 2011
Andrews of Tideswell buses taken out over English Defence League connection (EDL are English nationalists/fascists/’patriots’).
“Last night activists struck at Andrews of Tideswell. This bus company is a known supplier of coaches to the EDL. Eight coaches had their tires slashed, rendering them inoperable for todays protest. This will not be the last such action and we call on others to take up action. The EDL are a distraction from the real challenges facing people, they feed upon the racist, xenophobic culture of the likes of the Daily Mail, promoting a divisive culture of fear. For this reason we took action to stop them.”
angry up north
-
Andrews of Tideswell Ltd
Anchor Garage,
Tideswell, Buxton
Derbyshire, SK17 8RB
Telephone – 01298 871222
Fax: 01298 872412
info@andrews-of-tideswell.co.uk
www.andrews-of-tideswell.co.uk
Paul Duncan Andrew
Tel: 01298 871 657
Robert Brian Andrew
Tel: 01298 872 063

Coach company promises not to transport fascists ever again Last year Corporate Watch revealed that one of the coach companies used to transport English Defence League (EDL) scum to rallies in Bradford and Leicester was Andrew's of Tideswell (see  http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3833). The company has since been targeted by anti-fascist activists, who apparently slashed the tires of eight of its coaches and vowed that "this will not be the last such action" (see  http://325.nostate.net/?tag=andrews-of-tideswell-buses). Corporate Watch has subsequently received an email claiming to be from the company, although the email address ( aot2011@hotmail.co.uk) does not appear to be its official one. In the email, the "family-run, non-political company" claim they were not aware they were carrying EDL supporters and that they will not be carrying "any passengers to protests in the future." Below is the full text of the email.

Subject: RE ACTIVISTS ATTACK ON ANDREW'S OF TIDESWELL BUSES

Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 18:17:48 +0000

From: Andrews of Tideswell

RE ACTIVISTS ATTACK ON ANDREW'S OF TIDESWELL BUSES

***REPLY FROM ANDREW'S OF TIDESWELL*** - *** PLEASE READ ***

Prior to August 2010 we had never carried out such work for EDL or any similar organisations. The day before the protest in Bradford we were asked by a third party organiser to cover a park and ride for a church convention because a company had let them down. _WE DID NOT KNOW_ until we arrived in Bradford what was happening by which time it was too late - if we had known we _WOULD NOT_ have taken on this type of work. _IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME AND LAST TIME_ and we sustained thousands of pounds of damage to our vehicles in Bradford.

We are a _FAMILY OWNED & RUN, NON-POLITICAL COMPANY_ - our normal work consists of carrying elderly passengers on holidays and school children to and from school and on school trips.

Our coaches were dangerously damaged on Friday 4^th February 2011 – The damage could have caused the death of innocent children or elderly people.

We HAD NOT PLANNED to carry any passengers to the protest in Luton AND WE _WILL NOT_ we be carrying any passengers to protests in the future. _PLEASE URGENTLY PASS THIS INFORMATION TO ALL CONCERNED AS WE DO NOT WISH TO BE INVOLVED OR WRONGLY TARGETED_

Nottingham Probation Services Attacked (UK)

19 January 2010

“In the earlier hours of Wednesday morning the Nottingham Probation Services Office on Derby Road was attacked. Four of it’s vehicles had their paint stripped, tyres slashed and locks glued shut. All the doors to the building were also glued.

This was just a gesture, a middle finger flicked up at the prison system. To that system we say Fuck your attempts to control our lives, fuck you for imprisoning our comrades, and fuck your surveillance because we will not be stopped from having these moments. These moments where the industrial prison complex, the culture of domination and capitalism can not stop us from responding with anger and disgust at the world that has been created.

This action is done in solidarity with all prisoners. We do not differentiate between those who have been imprisoned for their political beliefs and those who are imprisoned because they were not born into a position of wealth and power. This action was for those who have spent their lives having their actions criminalized by the elite, and it is for those anarchist prisoners around the world who aim to destroy the elite.”

London UK - Solidarity attack on Barclays Bank, Dulwich

    FROM www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/01/472295.html

17 January 2011 - Solidarity attack. Barclays Bank, Dulwich, London got a visit early this morning just after midnight - a gift - can of petrol - left at the entrance - in flames - a small attack on the banking system - in solidarity to the Greek comrades in court today 17 January for the start of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire trial.

midnight express

Arson of security vehicle in solidarity with Conspiracy of Cells of Fire in Bristol (UK)

15 January 2011

“Early hours of saturday morning security and surveillance van set on fire in solidarity with members of conspiracy cells of fire group who face trial in Greece on monday the 17th.”


Solidarity with Cells of Fire

Barclays cash machine sabotaged in Solidarity with the victims of EDO/ITT in Brighton U.K.

This week a Barclays cashpoint in Brighton was sabotaged in solidarity with the victims of ITT Corporation. ITT is EDO MBM's parent company. ITT and EDO supply components to Israel for the F16. In the last fortnight Israel has escalated F16 attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Barclays provide market maker services to ITT, without which they could not function on the NYSE. It is also the largest global investor in the arms trade. Target Barclays until they cease providing financial services to ITT.

Dissident

night of sabotage in bristol U.K.

we are warming up...


early on January 10th, as anarchists with revolutionary intent we continued in the trajectory that our horror and disgust at the society we find ourselves engulfed by demands.

as a result - bailiff and debt collecting firm Revenue on Bonnville Road, windows all down one side of the building smashed (despite regular security patrol close by).
- O2 repeater tower secluded behind a nearby industrial estate, lock cut from the gate with boltcroppers then a tyre filled with rags wedged through the biggest bunch of cables(rags also tied around the cables) and doused with paraffin and ignited with a birthday candle wick to torch the whole thing.
- Brislington police station, paintstripper used to damage the bodywork of three squadcars and one mobile c.c.t.v unit and windows put out (inside their fenced vehicle compound).
- HSBC bank on the main Bath Road, front windows shot out.


as the country lurches further into the certainty of even more clearcut class attacks on the poor by the rich, we would predict a certain rise in the use of a variety of tools and tactics by the exploited and excluded in return in this social war that some still desperately try to bury their heads from as it rages before their eyes. for us, while we respect a diversity of tactics based on participants ability and on results not dogma, a meaningful struggle against the state, capitalism and the prison-based society it produces and represents must be defined by complete and permenant conflict with the ruling order rather than demands or dialogue. now is not the time and never has been for us to waste time and breath caught up in the politics of representitives or leftists/activists wishing us to wittle away our time in petty politics rather than seeking to expand our relationships of utter revolt with each other. we seek only to find those who wish to conspire with us for a fight that will take us beyond everything we know of this world, to realise a libertarian autonomous society through collective destruction of the present one.


these actions of sabotage are simple and achieve these aims directly. in many areas there are targets, it is simply impossible for them to be all defended at once by our enemies so we take our time and strike at will. the allseeing eye still has blindspots it would seem. when struggling against the network of technological repression, police - communications infastructure - bailiffs - banks all pose very real and attackable faces to the not so invisible machine.


the fight continues.

17th DEcember ANTIFA Poland Benefit Night @ Arsenal Squat LOndon 8pm u.k.

The battle against the far right in Poland is becoming more and more
intense . During the last few years Anti-fascist movement in Poland have
achieved big progress and managed to become something more than just
simply a street force opposing fascist scum in Polish cities. We
organise gigs, meetings, demonstrations, we publish a paper and print
tons of Anti-fascist propaganda like stickers and posters. Unfortunately
our enemies don't sleep. In certain cities level of nazi activity is
growing and its in turn resisted hard by commited local Anti-fascist
groups. Due to our successes militants face increasing level of state
repression as police is finally catching up with our progress and doing
it often with great enthusiasm.
For years we managed to be successful largely due to big international
support from our comrades around the world. We continuously need help in
order to carry on our struggle against often overwhelming odds. Every
penny we get helps to improve our effectiveness by enabling us to spread
our message wide with printed materials, strike fascist scum even harder
and provide good legal help for all comrades facing repression as a
result of their actions.

If you think you can help, contact us at: barbarians@riseup.net

Our Rules of Engagement:

- fighting fascism under any disguise and in every part of life: point
that is sef-explanatory. Doesn't matter if they are nazi skinheads,
"elite" from blood&honour, Polish fascists such as NOP or ONR, pagan
shitheads from Niklot or other kind of right wing, homophobic and racist
scum they are all our enemy and a target.

- against any sort of discrimination: while fighting groups representing
those ideas, discrimination should be also confronted in our own
circles.

- ideological and physical confrontation: it means fighting on two
levels. Fascists can never win control over streets, thats why physical
confrontation is inevitable and neccessary, but its a mistake to
concentrate only on this, forgetting about ideological struggle.
Fascisms breeds often where no body gave better alternatives for the
people and thats why they turned towards far right ideology. Countering
their propaganda is as important as physical struggle.

- ABSOLUTELY NO CO-OPERATION police and secret services: this
institutions are always our enemy and we cannot be fooled when they are
arresting nazis, because next day it can be us. 100% ACAB!

- No co-operation with political parties: for them anti-fascism is only
a fashionable slogan, bandwagon on which they can jump to get more
influence. When shit hits the fan, they are nowhere around.

- Authoritarian left is not an ally: all sorts of Lenin followers,
communists and pro-state socialists never were and never will be on our
side. For them anti-fascism is a disguise in struggle for power and from
the history we can learn how communist's allies end up when they are no
longer needed.

- no activity of fascists can stay without reaction: you will leave them
once, they will keep coming... - every group acts in full autonomy,
without structures from above: there is no central committee, every
antifa group acts as it sees fit, following only general rules.

- defense of our own people from the repression: militant anti-fascism
is not a game. Lots of our activities might break the law and you should
bear in mind legal consequences. Every person taking part in actions
must know, that he/she has all sort of help and unconditional solidarity
guaranteed.

On violence against the police U.K.

10 12 2010 by a participant in the Parliament Square demonstrations
The condemnations are as predictable as they are boring.  The public-school educated Sun hacks, who write like some coked up parodies of proletarian semi-literacy, refer to “louts” and “hooligans”.  The Daily Mail complains about someone urinating against Churchill’s statue, and the Telegraph is dismayed that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were “attacked”.  Probably by a “baying mob”.  Meanwhile, someone in a moustache on The Guardian talks about how, no doubt, this will provide a “distraction” from the “real issues”, whose repetition ad nauseam presumably has some intrinsic value for the solemn liberal contingent.

I can’t even be bothered to look up the precise terms of the condemnation this time.  It’s always the same.  A dash of the royal family, veneration for some long dead racist, shakes of the head from the banal but well intentioned.  Is anyone still listening?  Haven’t we read all this before?
The NUS and UCU are of course, for “peaceful protest”.  What is the effective record of “peaceful protest”?  How does social change happen?  Is it always peaceful?  Are kettles acceptable, and is it reasonable to try and break them?  Such questions are politely neither asked nor answered: that would be politics – we’re just about protecting our reputations.  Thanks.
One of the oddest, least remarked upon, features of contemporary capitalism is the way it systematically enlists all its main functionaries in talking nonsense on a day to day basis.  The police don’t really believe that the “kettle” is a necessary response to violence.

It seemed more to be motivated by traditional aims of kettling that are rarely stated: to demoralise protesters so much that they are dissuaded from taking part again, and to exhaust them physically so that they go home quietly (not that there was any need for the latter by this stage of the night). While queueing to leave Parliament Square, a woman next to me jokingly told a police officer that if they let us go, she would promise that this would be her last demonstration. The officer replied, “That’s the point.”

OK.  Now we know that.  They know that.  We know they know we know that.  But, of course, they can’t say it, officially, in public.  That’s against the rules.  It’s like the “have you ever taken any illegal drugs” question on a job application form.  No one expects you to answer truthfully: it’s a test, the real content of which is: “are you a fucking idiot?”  No?  Well go right ahead them.  As long as you can play the game, it’s all ok.
Another recent example: Wikileaks cables shows that the US finds the obsequious grovelling of Conservative politicians “humorous”.  But of course, Atlanticist politicians on both sides leap to say how important “the special relationship” really is to America.  Of course they do.  It’s the same rules we learned at school: deny everything, keep looking straight ahead and there’s nothing anyone can do.
We all have our own stories from last night, no doubt.  A girl had a clump of her hair pulled out.  A 20 year old is in hospital, having had to have life-saving brain surgery, amongst 43 hospitalised protestors.  I’m sure it says somewhere that “there will be an investigation”.  (Tomlinson, cough, Menezes, cough, etc. cough.)  “My 19-year-old sister was forced to the floor by police when caught in a crowd and when attempting to get up was punched in the face by a male officer. She is sporting a black eye this morning” says one.  Another: “a guy running away from police along Whitehall getting being unable to run further because of a stray barrier. Before he could jump over, two police charged into him with their shields and repeatedly hit him with their shields, against the barrier.”
Fair-minded people are against “disproportionate”, “provocative”, or “brutal” policing; and presumably in favour of a polite push and shove.  This is an appealing message (and it may make sense to accentuate it to the cameras), but is more or less a fiction.  Of course, there are incidents here and there where we can say that particular police could have been less brutal.  But if the direct action we defend has any content at all, it must mean we supported, and support, concrete attempts to stop the law being passed, up to, including, and beyond the invasion of parliament – and we are in support of people trying as hard as possible to do that.   And it is a fiction that the police could have tolerated that, or that preventing it could ever have been done gently.  If it could have been, we wouldn’t have really been trying.  If the police hadn’t been at parliament square last night, and if they hadn’t been prepared to act brutally, parliament would have been stormed, and legislation to triple top-up fees and abolish EMA would not have been passed. The brutality of the police is not incidental to the nature of the state, it is essential to it.
So you have to pick: the state, and horse charges against children who object to having their pockets robbed; or against the state (which means: against capitalism, for social revolution); and against the police too; brutal or otherwise.   Polite fudges are polite – but more or less part of the continuous stream of liquid nonsense which constitutes the news media.
Next time, we should bring masks to give out.  Just like on the Gaza demos in 2009, too many young people are going to get arrested because their faces appear on police footage – and in the photographs of the numerous “independent” photojournalists who sell images to the right-wing press, many of whom should arguably be looked on as police evidence gatherers.
Someone has to say it: mass violence against the police is necessary as part of any social struggle.  We wish it wasn’t but it is.  The reason is simple: the police defend the state unconditionally, the state defends capital unconditionally, and capital attacks us without remorse – or even a second thought.  Reasonable liberals yearn for a compromise: but the state isn’t listening.  Neither should protestors.
When Charles and Camilla were ambushed, or a fence was thrown at police, or a crowd broke the thin blue line: those were good things, and we support the people doing it.  They are by no means sufficient, nor are they particularly helpful as isolated acts.  What is important is that they establish the movement on new terrain.  They represent the conscious willingness to defy and confront state authority, and state power.  And that is the beginning of everything hopeful

FROM::.http://thecommune.co.uk/2010/12/10/on-violence-against-the-police/

Machinery sabotaged at Huntington Lane SMS

Generating equipment sabotaged at Huntington Lane SMS




According to reports, several pieces of generator machinery were sabotaged at the Huntington Lane coal mining site in the past week.


Coal is one of the most destructive energy sources and is being mined from a site in the heart of Shropshire's beautiful countryside, despite continued protests against the mining.

Solidarity to Giannis Dimitrakis from london u.k.

....

On the 6th of december of 2010 ids the court of appeals for our comrade giannis dimitrakis for a bank robbery in 2006. In the early hours of the 6th we attacked a halifax bank on kilburn high road with paint bombs and wrote FREEDOM TO G.DIMITRAKIS on the front window. this is just a small token of solidarity to our comrade. we would also like to salute all the comrades in greece and all over the world in and out of prison that choose the path of attack against the system. SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON FIRE TO THE PRISONS this is just the beginning... black spiders in the london web


black spiders

Lewisham's democracy

Labour's Lewisham Council votes Mayor Bullock's cuts in behind closed doors, and defends the vote by riot police.

pic courtesy of guido tallman









 
At first, it seemed like a small turnout at the demo called by Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance (LACA). The police were expecting decent numbers, and were there to contain a repeat of what happened a couple of weeks ago when the protesters forced the meeting to adjourn. This time we were going to be in the public gallery with a maximum of 40 people.
As I was queueing up for the search and pat down, the 150/200 strong march from Goldsmiths arrived. Speeches were held and all seemed to be going according to time-worn liberal traditions, until a masked protester appeared on the roof of the Town Hall with a banner saying: ‘Commons not Cuts’. They were letting people in 5 by 5 and sending them up in the lift. When it was our turn the security guard said:
‘Believe me, I want to be here as much as you.’
‘No, you don’t understand, we do want to be here.’
As we are waiting in the lobby to be sent up, the crowd charges the door shouting: ‘Let us in!’. The door opens and police tumble in backwards, dancing with protesters. About 20 of us are in. The police scramble to push us out or detain us. I jump in to de-arrest someone and get punched in the face. The security guards are out of control. There are several bloody faces. The glass at the front of the building cracks from the commotion outside. Someone sets of a smoke bomb. We try and board the lift, but the police and guards yank us out. We are trapped in the lobby. CID arrive – it is stalemate – no one is going in or out for the time being. A second smoke bomb is set off and the fire alarm starts. The guards get rid of this one as well. The people from the gallery are sent down and yanked out of the stairwell – they either end up in our group or ejected through the front. The officers draw their batons and tasers – their pupils are dilated. We start shouting: ‘Don’t do what you did to Ian Tomlinson!’ That stops them in their tracks. We call out the numbers of the most violent ones. One by one we get shoved down the stairs and out the back. I get thrown backwards and break my fall by dragging a couple of cops down.
Once outside a group leaves singing: ‘Harry Roberts is our friend, is our friend, is our friend. Harry Roberts is our friend, he kills coppers.’ We make our way to the front, where riot police has arrived with shields, horses and dogs. About 10 vans have blocked the South Circular. ITV is there. There are more charges to the front door. I hear that the meeting has been adjourned. CID target one of the protesters and after attempt to stop them, manage to arrest him. The crowd slowly disperses. We hit the pub.
About an hour after the meeting was adjourned, the cuts vote took place behind closed doors (so much for democracy!). It was 36 for, 3 against, 11 abstentions. All Labour councillors voted in favour of the cuts, the Tory and Green councillors voted against, and the Lib Dems abstained. There is seamless progression from what happened outside Lewisham Town Hall to what happened inside. A council, whose members were elected to serve the people, totally betrayed them by acting on the orders of an unelected ConDem junta which has no legitimacy and even less, a mandate for the most vicious cuts we have seen this side of the 1930's. The people gathered outside to protest and assert their right of witness. The answer was riot shields, horses, dogs and brutuality to bring home the will of the bond markets to municipal politics.
LACA:
http://lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com/

Lewisham – Fighting The Cuts U.K.

On Monday night Lewisham council was preparing to vote on a package of budget cuts of 60million. A few of us WAGs, decided to leave the cozy comforts of East London and head south to show our solidarity with the anti-cuts campaign. The cuts are going to hit childcare, libraries and jobs, to name just a few. The Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance states these cuts are “an ideological attack on our welfare services. The poor are being made to pay for a financial crisis, which was caused by greed for profit” and this true for all the cuts that are going to be hitting around the country on all levels of government.

When we got down there, we joined a large group of a few of hundred people outside the steps of the Town Hall. There was a large mixture of ages and a politically diverse crowd. Goldsmiths students had marched down from their university, and of course the SWP and a ratbag crew of local anarchists were there. It was brilliant that the Goldsmiths students had marched down, I hope this is the start of students being part of the larger anti-cuts campaign and there being more solidarity between everyone facing these cuts.
There was the usual guy with a loud howler saying something that I couldn’t quite make out and people trying to get me to sign another bloody petition. Then there was word that although the council had said that 30 people were going to be allowed in to sit in the public gallery they had changed their mind. There were people already positioned near the doors to be let in and as we were told that we weren’t actually going to be allowed in there was a surge of people towards the doors. A handy door holding maneuver meant that people were able to storm the building.

Once people had fought past the frankly pathetic security and police presence to gain access to the building there was an occupation of the reception area of the town hall. There was a smashed window and further damage to the reception, with the forty or so people scrapping with the police and security and coming out on top. Flares were going off, fire alarms set off, and the coppers totally lost control. Despite the filth trying to grab people out of the crowd they were unable to arrest anyone inside the building, such was the strength of the solidarity within. There were numerous de-arrests and more than one security guard was sporting a bloody lip by the end of the battle. It was inspiring to see people standing side by side and fighting the cops, not letting comrades get nicked and really causing them some grief.

Those of us who were stuck outside were then subjected to some rather enthusiastic and quite funny (when we were taking the piss out of them) plod. They weren’t shy in pushing, hitting and yelling at people who were actually just standing around. I’m pretty sure that riot shields are not supposed to be used sideways into people’s heads. Isn’t that saying “respect your elders”, not “push your elders down the stairs”, which the coppers seemed to get great excitement from doing. The resulting scuffle which started with the police being heavy handed was a great way to get some frustration out. But as usual the policing was completely over the top and unnecessary. Some of the crowd started off talking to the police about how they should be on our side because of the cuts to police budget, which didn’t go down very well. The guy who kept telling the coppers to form a union and go on strike only got a wack over the head as a response. After they started acting heavy handed, the chants then turned to “I hope your jobs get cut” and no one was trying to talk to them anymore.
The indignation of the cops when you push back was quite laughable, as their voices get rather high pitched. The cop who kept telling the others to grab hold of each others bums provided hours of fun, and I’m sure will continue to do so.
All in all and great night, and really set the bar for the rest of the anti- cuts movement. With the tube strike today, the student demonstration tommorrow  and this fantasic action tonight, there is a real buzz about the anti-cuts movement – long may it continue! There should be people at every council meeting making sure that the people in power know that we will not be taking these stupid and unnecessary cuts lying down.

Poster inspired by Millbank...

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Education Revolt: Solidarity Statement

bristol U.K.

See Below

We, the individuals and groups listed below, offer our solidarity and support for the action(s) taken earlier this week and the continuing occupations in Bristol and across the country.

The raising of Tuition fees, the cutting of Housing Benefit, Legal Aid and many other Social Benefits will cause hurt to many across the social spectrum. Mainstream Politicians and Media are already attempting to segregate and split an as yet unformalised, genuine coalition of the aggrieved.

One way to counter this attempt at division is if we refuse to criticise or condemn differing tactics, even if we privately disagree with them, and offer support to those arrested, suspended from university, or their jobs due to action taken.

Whilst many of the undersigned have doubts about the role of “The State” in our lives, we don’t seek to monopolise or take over protests to use as our own platform. Rather, we commit to engaging in spaces of protest and dissent as a means to debate and decide our common future(s).

We also call on those trade union members who are unhappy with their leaderships’ inaction on the cuts to engage with and support these protests which are currently the most vocal and visible challenge to the ConDem coalition.

Bristol No Borders

Bristol Anarchist Black Cross

Cave Street Factory (Social Centre)

Bristol Anarchist Federation

(Other Groups are currently considering the statement)

whitehall riots spreading through central london 24 nov.

STUDENTS and schoolchildren all across the UK rose up against neoliberal plans to raise university fees and slash education funding.

There were angry scenes in central London, where police blocked marchers from reaching Parliament Square and then 'kettled' thousands of youngsters for six hours.

But more impressive still was the news of walkouts, protests and occupations come in from cities and towns all over the country.

Indymedia reports that occupations, teach-ins and walkouts have been reported at places including the University of Kent, Birmingham, Loughborough, Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Essex, Hastings, Winchester, Dursley, Leominster, Bradford, Warwick.

There was also action in Newcastle (reports 1 and 2), Durham, Bristol (reports 1, 2 and 3), Leeds, Cardiff, London - [ULU], [Royal Holloway] [SOAS] [Roehampton] - Glasgow, Plymouth, Sheffield (reports 1, 2, 3, 4), Brighton, Oxford (reports 1 and 2), Nottingham, Manchester and many more...

Says the report: "By Wednesday afternoon, a large demonstration in London included around 3000 people kettled in Whitehall between two police lines (with around 2000 in the surrounding area), a police van smashed and many street fires keeping people warm.

"More trouble was reported in Bristol, Cambridge and Manchester (4 arrests reported).

"In Oxford, students and civilians occupied the iconic Radcliffe Camera, and are calling for supporters to join them. Reports indicate the occupiers are enjoying themselves, having managed to bring in a sound system!
"Many of the occupiers, including those in Cardiff, have announced their intention to remain in occupation until their demands have been met.
"Cops in Bristol were spotted on duty without their numbers displayed, which we'd been assured would never happen again."
Another day of action is being called for Tuedsay November 30.

fitting graffito on the warroom revolution!


Quick report from outside Parliament- National Student Walk-Out Demo, London

13:32 - Large crowd - Many many thousands of young (and not so-young people), outside Parliament, right now the police have blocked all the people inside a cordon/ 'kettle'. Cops are not letting anyone leave at present. A police van was smashed and attacked when it was stuck in the crowd. The cops are trying to arrest/attack anyone who is masked up, but now it is getting better and the people are more strong. there is a sound-system, dancing, lots of whistles, shouting slogans, good atmosphere.

on the run - street news

The Radcliffe Camera of the Bodleian library, oxford, has been occupied

A student  Students across the UK are taking direct action against the double whammy of 300% tuition fee rises and huge cuts in higher education funding.

80 students occupy Warwick university

80 people are currently occupying the conference hall in Warwick art centre, on Warwick University campus

More people, apparently now including union sabbatical officers (belatedly) and supportive lecturers are outside the room being blocked from entering by security. Security are being heavy handed: three guards and one police officer (PC8532) earlier grabbed one student by force and tried to drag him away and arrest him (after others showed solidarity and de-arrested him they said "we will see you later").

Students are determined to hold the space -- we will set up a true "free university" with workshops, talks, films etc. to show them how it's done. We are currently drawing up a full statement. The occupation is entirely non-violent, and we will not obstruct lectures (there are no lectures in the room today but wil be tomorrow) -- but we will not let them take our university off us.

warwick student

Great news!

Make sure you barricade yourselves in properly this time.

Solidarity!  

Millbank Fire: Lessons from Millbank PDF (UK)

Reposted flyer circulating on the internet and in paper form:

“Leaflet to be printed and circulated should you like the taste of it. Breaks down into three parts: Cuts are not an issue…(an article about resisting capitalism and not getting stuck on resisting the cuts) / Keeping It Real (advice for those new to doing stuff) and Some Lessons From Millbank (4 practical lessons to be learned and put into effect everywhere). Please circulate through your networks, should you wish. “
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Cuts are not an issue…
Although the impact of the cuts have yet to hit us hard, in recent months loads of local anti-cuts campaigns have sprung up to try and work together to resist the austerity the State wants to impose upon us. But it seemed like the fairly spontaneous attack on the Tory HQ at Millbank on the 10th November Demo-lition seemed to really light a fire under people’s anger about the cuts. Everyone was talking about Millbank. It seemed like this moment had ruptured the political silence that had been accompanying the collapse of the economic bubble in 2007.
But when people talk about fighting ‘the cuts’, it sometimes seems like it’s just a new political ‘issue’. But it isn’t. It’s much more essential than that. Issues are things like opposing nuclear power or being against animal testing. But the cuts are not the same thing. They cannot be resisted in the same way. The reason the cuts are being made all across health, housing, education and so on is to maintain the profits that can no longer be made from a busted economic housing bubble and the bonkers levels of individual debt (credit cards, loans mortgages etc). Now the profits to be made are going to come from squeezing the living standards of a large section of the population. The cuts are not being made because the economic system hasn’t worked, they are being made because that’s exactly how the economic system does work. It never stops trying to screw us for more and more of what we have had to fight to maintain over the centuries. The cuts are about how politics works at a systemic level, about our everyday lives and how we live and not just party politics or campaign issues. The Tories make the cuts with relish but if Labour had been elected to power they would be making just the same level of cuts to maintain the same level of profits for the same rich people.
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We’re all pretty fucked…
It’s not just cuts in education and upping the fees that’s the problem. The problem is that the cuts in general mean we’re all pretty fucked. Whether you’re a student in a F.E college or University, whether you’re a working single-mum, whether you’re self-employed, whether you’re unemployed, whether you’re working a precarious temp job, whether you working a good job in the public sector. The depth of the cuts means most people are going to become worse-off.
There are differing trains of thought that link the cuts to ‘The Crisis’ or ‘The Deficit’ or ‘The Tories’ but for many there is a much more simple truth – it’s just called ‘Life as normal’. The rich have been getting successively richer in this country and the poor have been getting poorer. If the cuts are setting out to re-float a busted economy of over-inflated debt and speculation by taking more and more from the poorer section of the population, well, it’s just more of the same for most people. Poverty, crap jobs, insecurity, health problems – well, that’s just how we’ve been living anyway. But do you feel like politicians will sort it out for you? Do you feel like if you keep your head down and work hard, you’ll be okay? Do you feel scared? Had enough of that shit yet?
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No Escape, Time to Break it
Mass unemployment is coming and the accompanying disciplining of those unwilling to work for shit wages or for free. The promise of a good job and good life after University is an illusion. The system’s guaranteed to be there but the jobs aren’t. Most college leavers and graduates will join the 600 Euro generation alongside their counterparts in France, Italy or Greece. It’s no wonder that those countries have seen huge levels of militancy and great new tactics of resistance as they have already been suffering the harsh realities of the imposition of austerity. It seemed like a little bit of that European fire was finally burning at Millbank last week when the ante was finally upped. That resistance has to remain at that level – always collective and open, always going beyond the polite and useless limits set up by political parties and unions, always ready to occupy, block, to strike, to walk out, to be adventurous and to be excessive! Anything is else is just more of the same shit. Who needs it?
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Block The Economy!
Here follows an Excerpt from a statement read out at the General Assembly of students at the University of Rennes, France, 25 October 2010
“Nowadays, audacious experiments of the 2006 movement exist as the basic modes of militant actions in the struggle against the current government. In Rennes, the department stores are targeted in every demonstration. The Marseilles strikers paralyse the harbour and add to their city the beat of the movement. The train drivers are also on the front line, and the lorry drivers have joined the movement. We know that in order to win, we must be able to counteract the government strategies of waiting for the deterioration of the fightback and techniques of intimidation. This can particularly be seen in the increase in the police violence.
What is needed now is the spreading of the tactic – the economic blockade - to intensify the fightback with a means that is accessible to all and to disrupt them in a far more certain manner than the peaceful demonstrations and rallys which have absolutely no effect. Being ready to move quickly, of being able to gather as quickly as possible in one point to constitute a mass that can not be flushed out, as well as spreading to block the city at ten different places at the same time, this will be our tactic. The question of which are the priority targets for the blockade seems already solved: roads, train stations, department stores, distribution centres. Of interest are any blockades which contribute to the spreading of the situation. Let’s think about tourism which constitutes one of the main profitable economic sectors of the City fancy hotels and restaurants, big cultural shows, luxury stores – the list is endless.”
Millbank has now helpfully polarised the debates but there is something worth remembering from the day – it was a fairly easy victory! The next few years will not see our victories so easily come by but this should not make us forget the joy, collectivity and solidarity of that day. Those who think they can now step in and try to control our anger via negotiation or undermine us through party politicking – we will push them aside because this movement belongs to us all.
STRIKE> OCCUPY> BLOCK THE ECONOMY> TAKE BACK OUR LIVES!!
No Ifs, No Buts, Capitalism Sucks!!
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KEEPING IT REAL
Keep safe. Maintain open communication with people you trust. Know your surroundings and your friends. Act together!
Try to rely on argument and intelligence. Slogans are a staple for all sorts of political factions and usually very boring. They alienate many more people than they win over. Be smart, be funny, be approachable. Have a laugh.
Don’t get isolated. You’re surrounded by people who are angry and sad about what’s going on, but they keep quiet most of the time. So talk to people, find out how they feel about the situation – and what they might like to do. There are a thousand reasons for fighting back (and reasons not to, as well.)
Have confidence in your judgement. Don’t be afraid to back out of a situation which you no longer agree with. Things move quickly, can get out of control. Maintaining a critical stance is never a bad thing. A good group is a collection of individuals working together.
Consider the possibility that political activity could be a condition of happiness. Be wary of ways of acting that only feel like a burden – and ways of discussing which feel like placing a burden on others. They don’t often go anywhere pleasant. Although, you fight, it’s important to enjoy yourselves because real life is what we are fighting for…
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Some Lessons From Millbank
MASK UP!
The lessons of Millbank (and the past) should be obvious – if you’re gonna go for it then mask up or FACE PRISON! It’s that simple!! By masking up, we mean covering your whole face and not just your chin! And stay masked up too because cops and journalists never stop taking photos!! Even if you’re not gonna for it, the more who mask up the better for everyone. We have to encourage people via Internet, leaflets and by word of mouth on demos to MASK UP. How many photos of people going nutso without any face covering have you seen? Spreading a culture of masking up means that we are taking our actions seriously – support one and another!!
PHOTOGRAPHERS
A serious lesson is that we have to stop news photographers taking pics or videos of people doing stuff. They are basically putting people’s liberty at risk! They must be told to fuck off, be blocked and moved away from the any actions. If, after being told to move, they refuse they should be physically confronted (in whatever way seems fit). The pics they take could put you in jail! But, it’s just as bad all the people who take also photos and post them on Facebook, blogs etc. doing the cops jobs for them. The cops trawl these sites to try and identify people. Be conscious of your actions! Don’t photograph people doing stuff!
KEEP MOVING!
Don’t fixate on a confrontation with the cops if you’re outnumbered. Move onto the next thing! Find your own actions, targets, streets to occupy. The cops have to wait for orders to act. They move slow. We should keep it lively and keep it mobile! If the cops block us one way, then let’s find another way! In this way, we avoid pointless set-pieces and we avoid getting rounded up in police kettles.
SOUND SYSTEM and MUSIC
12 Volt battery Sound System on bikes or pushcarts are amazing ways to move large blocks of people fast! They also make a demo or riot more like a party! They inspire us to come together around the sounds and to keep moving! We need more sound systems on demos!! And we need more drum bands and freestyle MC’s on the megaphones because a riot is like a festival!!
———————————-
Keep safe on the 24th!
Millbank Fire

York Students Arrested U.K.

Anti Cuts Action PARTY! BRISTOL U.K.

bristol  by An Anarchist Against The Cuts

The A.C.A.B Sound system presents a benefit for radical anti cuts action:

Rat Face (HipHop)
The Directors (Punk)

Abnormality (tribe of frog)
Mark (dub revolution)
Missfit (Kebele Sound)

This saturday the old motercycle shop ('frowning motercycle), 27 stokes croft.
9pm-3am, (bands on from 9.30! don't miss out), £3 suggested donation.
(noone refused entry due to lack of funds).

Fuck the cuts, Smash the system.

Related Link: http://anticutsaction.wordpress.com/

The Metropolitan Police have launched Operation Malone in a bid to trace those responsible for the violence and vandalism and 61 arrests have been made so far.

Here's hoping there's a spontaneous jail break in York this evening...

Further details here  http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8675269.Two_men_arrested_in_York_over_student_fees_riots/

Repressive aftermath of Student Riots, London (UK)

UPDATE : http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/ back online!




Resisting the Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT)- the cops who harass protesters
Following contact from New Scotland Yard, the Fitwatch website and domain name (www.fitwatch.org.uk) have been suspended for a minimum of twelve months for “attempting to pervert the course of justice”.
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Last Post on Fitwatch before closure:
The remarkable and brilliant student action at Millbank has produced some predictable frothing at the mouth from the establishment and right wing press. Cameron has called for the ‘full weight of the law’ to fall on those who had caused tens of thousands of pounds of damage to the expensive decor at Tory party HQ. Responsibility is being placed on ‘a violent faction’, after the march was ‘infiltrated’ by anarchists.
There are an encouraging number of initiatives to show solidarity with the arrested students – something that is vital if they are to avoid the sort of punitive ‘deterrent’ sentences handed out to the Gaza demonstrators. A legal support group has been established and the National Campaign against Cuts and Fees has started a support campaign. Goldsmiths lecturers union has publicly commended the students for a ‘magnificent demonstration’ .
This is all much needed, as the establishment is clearly on the march with this one. The Torygraph has published an irresponsible and frenzied ‘shop-a-student’ piece and the Met are clearly under pressure to produce ‘results’ after what they have admitted was a policing ‘embarrassment’.
51 people have been arrested so far, and the police have claimed they took the details of a further 250 people in the kettle using powers under the Police Reform Act. There may be more arrests to come.
Students who are worried should consider taking the following actions:
If you have been arrested, or had your details taken – contact the legal support campaign. As a group you can support each other, and mount a coherent campaign.
If you fear you may be arrested as a result of identification by CCTV, FIT or press photography;
DONT panic. Press photos are not necessarily conclusive evidence, and just because the police have a photo of you doesn’t mean they know who you are.
DONT hand yourself in. The police often use the psychological pressure of knowing they have your picture to persuade you to ‘come forward’. Unless you have a very pressing reason to do otherwise, let them come and find you, if they know who you are.
DO get rid of your clothes. There is no chance of suggesting the bloke in the video is not you if the clothes he is wearing have been found in your wardrobe. Get rid of ALL clothes you were wearing at the demo, including YOUR SHOES, your bag, and any distinctive jewellery you were wearing at the time. Yes, this is difficult, especially if it is your only warm coat or decent pair of boots. But it will be harder still if finding these clothes in your flat gets you convicted of violent disorder.

DONT assume that because you can identify yourself in a video, a judge will be able to as well. ‘That isn’t me’ has got many a person off before now.
DO keep away from other demos for a while. The police will be on the look-out at other demos, especially student ones, for people they have put on their ‘wanted’ list. Keep a low profile.
DO think about changing your appearance. Perhaps now is a good time for a make-over. Get a haircut and colour, grow a beard, wear glasses. It isn’t a guarantee, but may help throw them off the scent.
DO keep your house clean. Get rid of spray cans, demo related stuff, and dodgy texts / photos on your phone. Don’t make life easy for them by having drugs, weapons or anything illegal in the house.
DO get the name and number of a good lawyer you can call if things go badly. The support group has the names of recommended lawyers on their site. Take a bit of time to read up on your rights in custody, especially the benefits of not commenting in interview.
DO be careful who you speak about this to. Admit your involvement in criminal damage / disorder ONLY to people you really trust.

DO try and control the nerves and panic. Waiting for a knock on the door is stressful in the extreme, but you need to find a way to get on with business as normal.
Otherwise you’ll be serving the sentence before you are even arrested.
FUCK THE POLICE PASS IT ON PLEASE
—
Blog was suspended on request of Acting Detective Inspector Will Hodgeson from CO11 as part of Operation Malone
More information and new web address to follow soon.
This is an attempt to silence criticism of policing and repression and must not be tolerated.
Fitwatch Archive – e-mail: info(at)fitwatch.org
See UK IMC for more details.

Prisoner support letter-writing night and hot prisoners

Bristol ABC prisoner support group returns this month to Kebele social centre for November’s public letters to prisoners night.

Wednesday 10 November, from 7 to 9pm at 14 Robertson Rd, Bristol BS5 6JY. Hot drinks available, bring snacks to share please.

Once again we will have lists of prisoners here and abroad who welcome support. We will provide paper, cards and envelopes. We ask you to provide the letter writing muscle, along with donations for stamps if you can. This is an informal event with lots of time for questions and discussion about what we do and why. To find out more in advance have a look at our blog and especially the article Why Prisoner Support

This month some of the prisoners we think need additional support include:

The recently sentenced animal rights prisoners known as the SHAC6, and not least Nicole Vosper who has deep roots in the south west (and may be out on parole soonish after 18 months on remand).

Jock Palfreeman in Bulgaria has another day in court for his appeal on 11 November. It probably wont be his last court day, and the judgement will take the judge 2 to 3 months to deliver, so keep pressure on the Bulgarian state - info here.

The elderly and sick anarchist Alfredo Bonanno, along with Christos Stratigopoulos, go to trial in Greece on 22 November. Meanwhile despite more Greek comrades are being arrested and harassed by the repressive Greek cops and state, struggles there continue. More info here.

Lynne Stewart in the USA is a radical human rights lawayer imprisoned for allegedly helping terrorists, whose sentence has recently been increased from 2 to 10 years. Lynne is a 71 year old cancer sufferer and needs support.

Lastly Thomas Meyer-Falk in Germany, having survived 11 years in isolation upto 2007, is demanding a parole hearing, which he should have got 3 years ago.

There are of course plenty more.