check out last videos on my YouTube . filming the mission
VW Beetle Mission : heading out of Nottingham
Friend Nick has just renovated this beetle. Passed MOT etc. So he wanted to take us out for a spin with the roof down. Out from Nottingham and around the countryside for a bit.
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‘Spannered’ : A book from www.spanneredbooks.com
‘Spannered’ tells the story of one huge party weekend in 90’s Bristol, dragging the reader from squatted warehouses to dodgy pubs, confused front-rooms and everywhere in-between. It’s a story about being part of a crew, about friendship and dancing, and about the power of music to move us on a fundamental level.
There are 12 exclusive B&W illustrations from Bristol street and fine artists, and it is available in paperback or ebook formats.
It’s been described as:
“A vivid and lucid account of the urban squat party experience from the inside… this is the real deal… Like a pumped up and glorious U.K. version of Hunter S. Thompson’s ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’… At times hilarious, occasionally scary, this little novella captures succinctly the feelings of spirited rebelliousness, euphoric tenderness, and crazed abandon of the underground party scene” (Chris Liberator),
“…an intense and accurate portrayal of the free party scene in the UK in the mid-90’s and contains some of the best depictions of raves that I’ve ever read…” (Freepartypeople.wordpress.com),
and
“…Its evocative descriptions will echo with anybody who has been to free parties anywhere or anytime then or since. It’s all there – the highs, the lows, the intense friendships, the casualties, the transformation of some derelict zone into a temporary playground. And of course the music…” (history-is-made-at-night.blogspot.com)
You can find sample chapters, examples of the twelve B&W illustrations, and more at www.spanneredbooks.com, and you can buy it from a range of radical bookshops (www.spanneredbooks.com/stockists) or direct from the publishers (www.spanneredbooks.com/shop).
http://instagr.am/p/MYP86csbKl/
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Testing posting to blog through wordpress app from samsung galaxy s3 …. with a picture
Posted from WordPress for Android
Jason Parkinson, NUJ member who took the case to the Court of Appeal said: “This ruling to overturn the Crown Court’s decision to grant the Dale Farm production order sends a very clear message to all police forces that these wide-ranging fishing trips will not be accepted by the UK courts and that we will not be forced into to role of unwilling agents of the state. We are not there as evidence gatherers to fill police intelligence databases with hours of material on activists or protestors, we are journalists and we are there to report the news and keep the public informed.
“In the last 18 months, every time one of these orders have been served it has put journalists in greater danger while trying to report on public order situations. I know this because I have been threatened and assaulted by people claiming my material will be used by the police. I am very happy to see Judge Moses has recognised the impact these orders have had on the safety and impartiality of all journalists and has made sure any future production order applications must take this into account, as was clearly not the case this time round.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vkuf9C05Bc]
‘Nottingham Shorts’ A project, conducted with the Stonesoup Project, Nottingham
Testing: This is the .AVI version 335Mb
A full resolution .AVI video exported from Premiere.
Selecting File > export movie. I choose Xvid MPEG-4codec
Video Size: 1280x72HD
Video Rate: 24fps
Audio Codec 48kbps 44KHz stereo
Compression value 4
Nottingham Street Scenes CCTV Freerunner Tram Market Square
Dear everyone: at last: I would like to announce that I’ve finished [most of] on my shiny new “ONE EYE ON THE ROAD” site. This for the older ones here was known as the greennet site, but it’s been down for years. Months of work …. and it’s back. Check it out at: http://digitaljournalist.eu/OnTheRoad
This sub-site, contains the text and pictures from the period around the early 1970’s to the late 1990′s. The years in which my tribe developed the gatherings around the country that became the Free Festival Circuit. ’New Age Travellers’, assorted hippies, punks, urbanites , festival goers and general people then found themselves labelled as the ‘Peace Convoy’. Quite central to this life was the gathering for the summer solstice at Stonehenge. [some say Glastonbury as well]. The authorities watching some of these developments with some alarm, became increasingly belligerent and attacked these gathering with some violence. One of the more famous examples was the attack on the Peace Convoy by 1600 policemen from 5 police forces on the Wiltshire / Hampshire border. It became known as the Battle of the Beanfield and it will never ….. I say never be forgot by many of us. The following few years got increasingly unpleasent with the force and application of increasingly oppressive law … leading to the Public Order Act 1986.
All seemed lost and many were dispersed and many other going abroad, to Europe and beyond. But I think the ‘scene’ got another boost when a new musical style based on repetitive beats became popular. The free party scene didn’t just arrive, it was adapted and build on the free festival and traveller scene of the years before. Thousands again were able to get together culminating in events like Lechlade and Castlemorton Common in Worcestershire. The Tory party of the time then thought that yet more laws were required and the CJA, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 was then enacted. It seemed as though only the mega-commercial pop concerts were what’s left for our attendance, if you could afford it that is!
Yet again, people retained a spirit for action, and the wish to have concern for the planet, a new environmentalism, joined with some of the more hedonistic pursuits and events like the Reclaim the Streets started to appear in many cities across the country.
Events that concern me have progressed yet further, but this is about were this ‘historical’ piece of work will finish. I will not add to it here. Although I have reformatted these pages and ‘polished’ it a bit, all I’m trying to do is re-display something that many of the older ones amongst us, tell me that they’ve missed since it hadn’t been there.
All the above is a brief summery of what’s its all about. Please proceed through the site, read some of the history and thoughts from those times ….. oh and see a shed load of pictures that will make some a bit nostalgic for some of the finest time they had in their lives.
http://digitaljournalist.eu/OnTheRoad
Booom Shanka!!!! …….. ali ali ali !!!!!
Mornin’ campers …. Am sorry for my recent absence and communications here …… I have had my head down, polishing some major web developments on what I have to offer. It has taken a lot to do … but hope you find it useful and entertaining. Some might like to know that I’ll be shortly announcing the re-vamping of the website ‘One Eye on the Road, that used to be hosted at GreenNet. But in the meantime, I announce the launch of my MEGA-Graffiti works at http://foto8.eu/ Do take a peek!
The Refectory, of Carlton Road, Nottingham
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A268Y6hyM-o]
Golden Wonder Security in Scunthorpe
here is a fine example of ignorance, demonstrated by an undertrained officious security guard, in dealing with a photographer, taking pictures in a public place.
http://eyetube.me/play.php?vid=413
Less and less hope.
Any passing security industry operatives,might like to read some professional guidance.
British Security Industry Association Photography Photography and Hostile Reconnaissance
To celebrate the 100 days mark …. I thought it would be a good time to collate the coverage so far.
Occupation Camp in Nottingham is part of a global network of occupy camps, to protest at governments cuts. Critical of growing inequalities. Anti-globalisation, anti-capitalist and in favour of helping to bring about fairness in society.
Occupy ‘Collected’ Indymedia Links at: http://wp.me/p8CiF-rE
Flickr photoset at: http://tinyurl.com/8yyq3mn
Thought I.d check out my live posting from mobile still works. Haven”t used it for while. if se up ok, this should post on my blog …… Then out to twitter and facebook……
so, in short, just checking.
Nottingham Occupy Links [the first 100 days]
Original statement on 15th October 2011:
Nottingham’s Market Square was occupied by a gathering of people aiming to show that we will no longer tolerate the corporate greed and Government corruption that threatens our way of life and everything we work for”. They camped overnight and are intending to stay as long as they can. The occupation is part of a worldwide movement of occupations that began on 15th Oct. The occupation showed solidarity with youths from the Jarrow March 2011 who rallied in Nottingham yesterday as part of their journey to London to demand decent employment.
Marchers and supporters assembled on the Forest Rec at 12.30 and marched to the Market Square where a rally was held. It is the 75th anniversary of the original Jarrow Crusade, which an attempt to raise awareness of the intense poverty and unemployment in the North East. The marchers are demanding a number of major policy changes by the government to improve the lives of young people and give them a better future.
They are making the following demands:
A massive government scheme to create jobs which are socially useful and apprenticeships which offer guaranteed jobs at the end – both paying at least the minimum wage, with no youth exemptions.
The immediate reinstatement of EMA payments, expanding them to be available to all 16-19 year olds.
The immediate re-opening of all youth services that have been closed, including reinstating sacked staff.
The scrapping of ‘workfare’ schemes – benefits should be based on need not forced slave labour.
A massive building programme of environmentally sound, cheap social housing.
On arrival in the Market Square, it was occupied by a gathering of people aiming to “to show that we will no longer tolerate the corporate greed and Government corruption that threatens our way of life and everything we work for”.
On arrival, there was an event were many speakers expressing their concerns. Notts Uncut also did a tour of the usual tax-dodging suspects.
They camped overnight and are intending to stay as long as they can. The occupation is part of a worldwide movement of occupations that began on 15th Oct. The occupation showed solidarity with youths from the Jarrow March 2011 who rallied in Nottingham on Saturday as part of their journey to London to demand decent employment.
Occupy Nottingham Statement:
Part of a global movement in solidarity with other occupations across the globe.
We aim to occupy the Market Square Area of Nottingham from Saturday 15th October 2011 as part of an ongoing non-violent/peaceful demonstration.
Broadly speaking, we aim to show that we will no longer tolerate the corporate greed and Government corruption that threatens our way of life and everything we work for.
Currently our government strips away our civil liberties and public services, all in the name of greater profit for banks & corporations who exert far too much influence and control over our supposed leaders.
We want to encourage and inspire people to work together towards a fairer society for all, rather than the current system where the rich few get richer and the rest of us get left behind.
Ways you can help
Join us in our occupation
Tell friends and family about the movement
Donate food, water, clothing, blankets, tents, anything that will make our stay more comfortable – winter is coming! [See wishlist below]
Film us, take photos, question us – share the info with the world (the media certainly won’t)
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @OccupyNotts & OCCUPY Nottingham for Global Change
Nottingham Indymedia Photo-Articles
Nottingham is occupied [Feature]
Nottingham Occupy 3 Uncut Tour
Nottingham Occupy 4 Market Square
Nottingham Occupy @ Market Square Day 2 Sunday
Nottingham Occupation Continues [2nd Feature]
Nottingham Occupation continues: Wednesday Day 5
Nottingham Market Square continues occupied, Day 7
Nottingham Occupation continues: Saturday Day 8
Nottingham Occupy: Moved but still in occupation [3rd Feature]
Nottingham Occupation continues: Thursday Day 13
Nottingham Characters I’ve met during Cuts & Occupy Campaigns
Nottingham Occupation: Saturday Day 15
Nottingham Occupation: Tuesday Day 18
Nottingham Occupy: Still there [4th Feature]
Nottingham Occupy: 4th week & onwards ….
Nottingham Cheese for nought! at the Occupation
Nottingham Occupy Notts Camp: selection from 5th week
UK SchNEWS: “You can’t evict an idea” [UK Feature]
Nottingham Defiant in Silence ‘Stand In’ at Speakers Corner
Nottingham Student Photographer’s material taken by police
Nottingham Occupy : No plans for eviction. Yet. [5th Feature]
Nottingham Occupation camp gets fenced in
Nottingham Occupy Camp now surrounded by Winter Wonderland
Nottingham Student photographer interviews on tape still held
Nottingham N30 Occupation – Events in Nottingham
Nottingham N30 Prof. Samir Amin @ Occupy – Events in Nottingham
Nottingham Student photographer hassled by Notts Police [Feature]
Nottingham Media Student gets his seized tape back
Nottingham Notts Occupation: 7th Week and beyond
Nottingham Occupy Notts Camp Sticks it out, starting week 9
Nottingham Occupy: Two months in [6th Feature]
Nottingham Occupy: Still going strong over Xmas
Nottingham Occupy: Xmas and New Year in Market Sq [7th Feature]
Nottingham Indymedia: Review of 2011
Nottingham Occupation Camp now at day 86
Occupy Nottingham: 100 days and counting [8th Feature]
Coverage to 100 days [since 15 October 2011]
Thought I’d check out if my live posting from mobile still works. Haven’t used it for while. So, checking if still set up ok, this should post on my blog …… Then out to twitter and facebook……
So, in short, just checking.
Have added more links to my …
‘Collected’ Indymedia Articles page at: http://foto8.eu
Have prepared a new page on these issues at:
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2189
In spite of assorted agreements with the police, officers continue to be obstructive to photogaphy in the street.
Although the trend of photographers getting hassle go’s up and down over time, It has always been thus!
The object of this page is to strengthen your knowledge regarding issues surrounding photography, both in ‘actions’ and subjects in a public place. In situations whether your photographing an action / demonstration, or people and buildings in the High Street …. it has become quite problematic and increasingly so. I think 4 main issues have a bearing here.
Policeman and assorted officers don’t want to be photographed, it might show some wrong-doing.
People involved in direct action, a photograph might be evidence against an individual breaking the law.
The notion that some believe people have a right of privacy in a public place.
The threat of terrorism and a photographer might be conducting ‘hostile reconissence’.
So, I think to start with, and since we are dealing with those interested in the sort of subjects Indymedia visitors might be interested to know about ….. I should say the first consideration is:
IS IT LIKELY THAT A PICTURE I TAKE, WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE ANYONE?
I struggle with this all the time and it is central in my mind when photographing activities. It might be argued that it is safer just to take pictures on your holiday and leave a camera at home otherwise. I don’t agree.
Those of us who are serious about this media have a more positive motive.
Firstly, we sometimes moan about the lack of coverage, issues that concern us don’t get in the main stream media, or, when they do are monstered and rubbished.
Many of us have been involved in the ‘alternative media’ in a variety of forms to try and fill this gap. It is a prime objective of the Indymedia Network Project. Should people not have photographed, filmed, recorded or written about events themselves in recent years, vast chunks of history would not have been told or known about. For future activities, I think it is important to show what has been possible in the past. Our coverage should be inspiring to others in the future. Not just the near future either, photographers both professional and casual contribute to our ‘social history’. I want my ‘tribes’ included in this knowledge.
Secondly, having said I don’t want to provide evidence to prosecute anyone ….. I do have ‘form’ for providing picture to defend people wrongly accused. In fact, this is where I started during my festival and traveller days. Authorities and policemen in particular are given training in the aspects of how to give authorititive evidence in court. Many times have I seen this ‘blown out of the water’ by a witness giving evidence and showing a series of photographs or video demonstrating the officer lying through his teeth. It’s not only photographs of course, you should make written notes of times, date, places. [who, what, were and when]. Voice recording equipment is much cheaper and available now, dictaphones, mobile phones and the like can be used covertly or obvertly.
Now, bearing all the above in mind, you have to be aware of the pressures there are now, when photographing your interests in a public place. As far as I know, there are only two offences that are committed where you can be properly arrested. It is an offence to take photographs or collect information, likely to be of use in terrorism ‘hostile reconissence’ and you are not permitted to take an indecent photograph of a child.
As devices to try and prevent you, the police have been know to threaten:
Harrasment, causing alarm and distress.
Obstruction [obstructing and officer in the execution of his duties].
Seizing equipment and media that might assist in the investigation of crime. [PACE 1984].
Stop and Searches under sections 44 and now 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000
Collecting info on police for terrorism purposes [Sect58a Terrorism Act 2000]
The Sect 58a is still one of the most dangerous, since it is in so many peoples mind, that it is an offence to photograph policemen. IT IS NOT. The Metropolitan Police, Photography advice [below] makes it quite clear that this is not true [unless you are a terrorist of course]. They have to have resonable suspicion that you are.
Now, on to some advice. It is simple. You can photograph largely what you like in a public place, with a couple of exceptions that I’ve described. BUT, it is complicated in understanding the speaded of guidelines and advices that are now published. The more serious you are about being confident in your photography, the more of this lot you’d want to read. For the casual snapper, the first few links should help.
Please visit: Photography Advice and Guidance
Friday 18th – Sat 19th February Nottingham City Centre
‘Light Night’ performance, projections, installations and events
At various place around town, St. Peters Gate, Market Square, Castle ,Hockley etc. there was a range of performance, street arts, lights & projections, installations and stuff going on.
Councillor David Trimble Said: “The event was a huge success and attracted thousands of people who created a great carnival atmosphere. It was pleasing to see families and visitors enjoying themselves as they discovered different attractions across the city that they perhaps never knew existed.”
It’s a shame though that things were to stop too early in the evening. Think it would have been great to have been out to the pub or club, and see some of this going on much later.http://www.mynottingham.gov.uk/lightnight
My personal favorites of the night
The Dukes Box http://www.thedukesbox.com
The Sonic Manipulator http://www.sonicmanipulator.com
……
and … another couple of videos of these actshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaXLRtZcHHohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To1ahfr8VLI
4.30pm. Market Square, Nottingham
Nottingham students again protested against scrapping the Educational Maintenance Allowance. I understand that the government plan to do this in September this year.
Another rally was held in the square, before a short walk around the Square and nearby streets.
After Tuesdays and Saturdays demo, today, I noticed that police were wandering about next to branches of all the usual destinations: Top Shop, Boots, Vodafone and there was a massed turnout of security at entrances to the Victoria Centre.
This was organised to coincide with a Commons vote on EMA. Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) were introduced by Labour to encourage young people from deprived backgrounds to stay in education and training after the age of 16. However the government won by a majority of 59 votes.
Labour loses vote to stop scrapping of EMA grants
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12228466
+++++
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a means-tested allowance of between £10 and £30, paid to 16- to 19-year-olds who stay on in education.
Rolled out nationally in September 2004, EMA is intended to help with the cost of books, travel, equipment or anything useful to the continuation of learning. It’s paid straight into the pupil’s bank account, not their parents or their college, giving them independence and forcing them to take charge of a small weekly budget. The payments are under the condition that they attend classes regularly. If the pupil works hard or achieves good grades, there is the opportunity to earn bonuses.
EMA is available to 16-19 year olds who come from low income families and whose household’s net income is below £30,000 pa. There is an additional grant for those students from families household income is up to and below £20,000 pa. EMA currently exists all across the UK although the administering of it is devolved to the regional parliaments of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
+++
On Saturday January 15, 2011 …. they did it all again
2011 Nottingham Students another Protest Against Scrapping EMA
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/887
Earlier in the week [Tuesday 11th January] student had walked out of college and protested in the Market Square and Conservative HQ
Students Protest Against Scrapping EMA
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/875
Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Demo
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/tumbles/877
Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Detained
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/tumbles/878
Save EMA
http://saveema.co.uk
Nottingham Students Against Fees and Cuts!
http://nsafc.wordpress.com
Notts Save Our Services
Defending jobs, services, welfare & education against cuts in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
http://nottssos.org.uk
Smashed Windows & Graffiti @ Conservative Offices
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/677
2010 Notts Save Our Services Demo 1 The March
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/694
2010 Anti Cuts, Corporate Tax & Student Fees Demo [Video]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/videos/832
18th January Nottingham Crown Court [Day 17]
From the first trial the previous 18 of the 20 defendant had already been sentenced on the 10th January.
The remaining 2 had to appear at Court 5, Nottingham Crown Court today.
The story so far ….. At the conclusion of the trial on the 14th December 2010, all 20 defendants were found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Trespass.
They were arrested in April 2009 during the biggest pre-emptive arrest in UK history. The 114 people were detained at Iona School, Sneinton, where they were involved in planning an operation to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station for a week. The facts were not disputed. Giving evidence, this was clearly there intention and that they were equipped to do it. The defence of necessity was employed in that they were acting to prevent a greater harm; death and serious injury to others as a direct consequence of climate changes bought about by the burning of fossil fuels, most notably coal.
His Honour Judge Teare had deferred sentencing until today [18 January 2011] for the remaining 2 defendants.
Miss Gerry for the prosecution said that these defendants did have a number of previous convictions for offences relating to social and environmental matters. She read out the previous for them that involved protests at Heathrow, Kingsnorth, Sizewell, Didcot, RAF Northwood and Downing Street.
She reminded the Judge she had asked for prosecution costs of £5,000 costs against each defendant. Further she applied for a deprivation order under:
Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 [sect 143]
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/6/section/143
Judge Teare turns to thoughts of sentencing. To start with, he said he was quite cross with Mr Edward Rees, the lead defence barrister [not present at this court], in that he had mislead the court to believe that a suspended sentence could not be given for a prison sentence of three months or less. He should have behaved better for a QC. This is the maximum penalty for this offence. It is in fact for sentences of less than six months that could be suspended! He said if he had realised this, a couple of the earlier defendants would have had suspended sentences. He has looked further into this, and if minded, he could revisit sentencing for those within 28 days, but he is not going to.
With regard to these defendants, Judge Teare says that each have had many previous appearances and he says I am now considering suspended sentences. Ms Elliot in mitigation says that if that is so, these two fall below the level of others given lesser sentences at the last date.
Turning to references, Ms Elliot says that both have glowing references from the Director of Greenpeace, both being staff members there. It was not however, a ‘Greenpeace action’. Both have been very active in raising public awareness on issues around climate change.
Ms Elliot reminds the Judge of his comments on sentencing the other defendants:
“I have read a great deal about all of you since the trial concluded. There is not one of you who cannot provide glowing references from peers or professionals. And, if I may select, some of the adjectives that recur throughout they are these: honest, sincere, conscientious, intelligent, committed, dedicated and caring. You are all decent men and women with a genuine concern for others, and in particular for the survival of planet Earth in something resembling its present form. I have no doubt that each of you acted with the highest possible motives. And that is an extremely important consideration”.
Sarah Elliot, compared the defendants behaviour and high principles unfavourably with police methods. She told the Judge that their honourable and decent motives perhaps might be contrasted with what we now know about the long-term deployment of undercover police officers, one of whom acted on the ‘extreme boundary of legality’, if not decency, if the reports of agitation and so on across Europe are to be believed. The deployment of that officer has been concealed from the defendants by the crown in these proceedings. Such evidence might have had an influence on the trial.
His Honour Judge Jonathan Teare, referring to the undercover police officer said that he is going to disappoint the media by making NO COMMENT on PC Mark Kennedy, other than to say that he played absolutely no part in the trial. He says I have no knowledge of him apart from the fact that he hired a vehicle as part of these events. All matters pertaining to his involvement are alleged and unproved at this stage. I guess a fair few of the journos present were hoping for a few more juicy titbits about him.
On sentencing, the Judge says he’s not going to reiterate all of his comments from the last trial, other than that both are both clearly motivated and come with the highest references. As with a couple of others, I was considering giving you both suspended sentences in the light of your previous convictions, but as already said, Mr Rees had mislead me. It is thus unfair to treat you differently now. He gives community service orders to do unpaid work within 12 months one for 90 hours and the other 80 hours. Although they were both employed, because of their low income, there was no order on costs.
Returning to the deprivation order on the kit defence barrister Ms Elliot tried to argue that quite expensive climbing gear, a truck load of sleeping bags etc … were a little outside of the normal articles involved in crime such as knives, guns, drugs, crowbar etc. Judge said that he was minded to grant a deprivation order, since the articles were bought for this crime. Defence counters asking that rather than confiscation and destruction, perhaps defendant might be allowed to sign a disclaimer and the articles might be given to a charity? Eventually, after several more exchanges, the judge asked both side to try to come to some agreement themselves on all the property included in both trials and those not charged, and to let him know, for ‘rubber-stamping’, by the 18th March.
She said the extensive list of personal items also including Kennedy’s BlackBerry phone, complete with a secret police tracking device. She say this was mentioned in the reports in the Daily Mail. The Judge remarked that: “That is a newspaper which does not cross my table.” Chuckle went round the courtroom 🙂
Defendants and their solicitor had all voiced concerns on how little the Judge had been told about PC Kennedy’s undercover work and his likely contribution to the evidence before the court.
One of the defendants, who is head of media for Greenpeace, said on the steps of Nottingham crown court that the only people who now faced jail over the Ratcliffe protest were police officers. He accused them of withholding a tape made by Kennedy which is now the subject of a disclosure application to the CPS.
He said: “Kennedy played no part in our trial because he did not come up in evidence. Those who knew that he was a police officer, and knew the significance of that explosive tape, did not tell us, and, now we know, significantly, did not tell the judge.”
“Very serious allegations have been raised which throw into doubt the safety of our conviction, and there is possibly a miscarriage of justice. I don’t think any of us, when we were arrested, would have thought that a possible scenario at the end of this would be that the only people who face jail sentences are police officers for suppressing evidence.”
Speaking on the court steps after the trial:
Last 2x defendants from 1st Ratcliffe Trial Statements- Nottm Crown Court [Video]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/tumbles/898
Mike Schwarz Solicitor Statements on Trial & Kennedy – Nottm Crown Court [Video]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/tumbles/899
+++
Tash Report PDF on the Trial Progress: Ratcliffe Crown Court Case Nov 2010 – Jan 2011
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/system/file_upload/2011/01/08/72/ratcliffe_crown_court_case__nov_2010__no_names.pdf
Earlier Indymedia daily coverage of the progress of this trial
with the daily links:
Ratcliffe Trial Day 16 – Return for Sentencing
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/847
http://ratcliffeontrial.org
Students Protest Against Scrapping Educational Maintenance Allowance EMA.
Meeting in the Market Square Nottingham at 12.00pm on Saturday 15th January, School and College Student gathered to protest at the Scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance. “nd demo this week, last being on Tuesday 11th January.
Nottingham students again protested against scrapping the Educational Maintenance Allowance. I understand that the government plan to do this in September this year.
A rally was held in the square, before a short walk to Vodafone, with much shouting of “pay your Taxes etc”.
After Tuesdays demo, today, I noticed that police were wandering about next to branches of all the usual destinations: Top Shop, Boots, Vodafone …. Oh and Tory HQ
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a means-tested allowance of between £10 and £30, paid to 16- to 19-year-olds who stay on in education.
Rolled out nationally in September 2004, EMA is intended to help with the cost of books, travel, equipment or anything useful to the continuation of learning. It’s paid straight into the pupil’s bank account, not their parents or their college, giving them independence and forcing them to take charge of a small weekly budget. The payments are under the condition that they attend classes regularly. If the pupil works hard or achieves good grades, there is the opportunity to earn bonuses.
EMA is available to 16-19 year olds who come from low income families and whose household’s net income is below £30,000 pa. There is an additional grant for those students from families household income is up to and below £20,000 pa. EMA currently exists all across the UK although the administering of it is devolved to the regional parliaments of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
+++
Earlier in the week [Tuesday 11th January] student had walked out of college and protested in the Market Square and Conservative HQ
Students Protest Against Scrapping EMA
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/875
Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Demo
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/tumbles/877
Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Detained
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/tumbles/878
Save EMA
http://saveema.co.uk
Nottingham Students Against Fees and Cuts!
http://nsafc.wordpress.com
Notts Save Our Services
Defending jobs, services, welfare & education against cuts in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
http://nottssos.org.uk
Smashed Windows & Graffiti @ Conservative Offices
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/677
2010 Notts Save Our Services Demo 1 The March
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/694
2010 Anti Cuts, Corporate Tax & Student Fees Demo [Video]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/videos/832
Tash on YouTube
