Alan Lodge's Blog

On the afternoon of Saturday 16th June, climate campaigners glued themselves to the doors of the short-haul East Midlands airport to draw attention to the environmental impacts of flying as part of a European day of action on short-haul flights called by pressure group Airport Watch.

Two men from climate action group, Plane Stupid, have caused disruption by supergluing themselves to the passenger entrances to the airport. Supporters are there handing out leaflets to airport customers encouraging them not to fly next time, and a banner carried by helium-filled balloons was also released in the departure lounge bearing the slogan ‘Let’s fry’.

Photos: Climate activists glued to doors at East Midlands Airport: 1 | 2

Links:
Plane Stupid |
Airport Watch |
East Side Climate Action |
Climate Camp |
Green Economics- Climate and aviation campaign |
BBC NEWS UK Politics Living under a sky of sound |
Open Skies |
Hacan ClearSkies |
Climate activist ‘super-glued to door’ of lastminute.com |
The year of Aviation |
Nottingham Plane Stupid group formed |
Nottingham East Midlands Airport – Watch this Airspace! |
Protesters occupy runway at East Midlands Airport |
Protestors shut down Nottingham East Midlands airport: Earth First Action report

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNv9plVOLAE]

Today’s day of action was called to illustrate that short-haul flights are unnecessary and unsustainable and that short haul journeys can easily be taken by train or bus which are both over ten times less polluting. Demonstrations and protests have been happening throughout the day at airports across the UK and Europe, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Southampton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and others.

Aviation is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide. In the UK, emissions from aviation more than doubled in ten years. In May the government quoted the figure of 13% as aviation’s contribution to UK climate impacts. If you include flights to and from the UK by UK citizens (the government excludes the former), the sector now contributes about 18.5% of the climate-changing emissions for which this country is responsible.

Nottingham protestor, Alex Harvey, said, “Binge-flying is choking the planet. Airport expansion would lock us into increased greenhouse gas emissions and undo all our other efforts to reduce emissions. It’s just not an option. Yet that’s exactly what is planned for airports like East Midlands which only serve destinations easily reachable by more sustainable public transport alternatives.’

Photos: Climate activists glued to doors at East Midlands Airport: 1 | 2

Last year twenty-five activists from Plane Stupid blockaded a taxi-runway at the same airport.

Last night, spent a long time in front of my computers, searching for more info, on “Orichalcum & The Deviant”, “TIP Records” and “Flying Rhino”. Some of my current favourite electronic tunes. I have never been any good at learning the language of ‘style’ of electronic music. One man’s progressive house, or goa’n trance, is not the same as what someone else means but the term. In classical or rock modes … it was frequently possible to say sommat like, similar to a Paul Rogers vocal, has some spacy keyboards work like Pink Floyd, or, exhuberant horns, Beethoven style.

You get the picture, like descripion of a style by comparison with another well-known producer. For the last 15 years, I have just simply been at sea on how to express my taste.

So, I have to learn a particular act, or record lable, and go and search for that, missing so much else that might have interested me otherwise……

Anyway ….. coming to the point. While doing this, I came across this individual, making his own music. I don’t mean your standard DJ, mixing and re-producing other peoples records. I mean original production of his own sound.

Tom Cosm is from Christchurch, Canterbury District of New Zealand. Specifically Flock Hill Station with its spectacular scenery. [puts the Peak District here, in the shade].

I am sure there are a fair few like him. But I was struck to discover that the chap had done a few video ‘lecture’ pieces on YouTube, to explain himself and his arts.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNM-3QFq9fA”>

These were just a sample of his work, check check out the rest of his series at his YouTube site at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmcosm

http://www.cosm.co.nz

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire

Indymedia folks have been beavering away to bring you Indymedia content, direct to your mobile. Clearly, a ‘full framed’ Indymedia page will not fit on your mobile, so, content is divided into features or newswire. This is true for the world site, UK, and here in Nottinghamshire.

Because you generally pay for mobile internet by the Mb, it is good that this system strips out pictures, audio and video, thus delivering pages of only a few Kb.

So, from right there in the street, you can view the latest info. Further, you will be able to upload your stories, via your mobile, to our ‘publish your news’ page. And, if your up for it, can also upload pictures if your doing it with a cameraphone.

Tul Bahadur Pun VC won the Victoria Cross fighting for Britain in the 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles. He is 1 of only 12 living recipients of this country’s highest award for valour. However, the British Government refused 84 year-old Mr Pun VC’s application to settle in the UK, to seek urgently needed medical treatment, on the grounds that Mr Pun VC “failed to demonstrate strong ties with the UK”.

After a massive campaign by the British public and supporters from all around the world, the UK Government eventually bowed to the weight of public pressure and on 1 June 2007 finally allowed the Gurkha war hero the right to live in Britain. The decision was made on the same facts that were before the officials at the British Embassy in Nepal, who had banned Mr Pun VC from Britain. Nothing had changed, save for the overwhelming and heartfelt statements for Mr Pun VC and his fellow Gurkhas made by ordinary members of the public.

Shortly after the Government announcement, Mr Pun VC was woken from his sleep at his home in Pokhara, Nepal, to be told the news that the British public had won him back his right to stay in Britain. Mr Pun VC said “I am as happy as the day I won the Victoria Cross. I would like to thank the British public, particularly my brothers and sisters in the British Armed Forces, for supporting the Gurkhas and me. I am deeply touched”. Mr Pun VC’s full Press Statement

This is Mr Pun’s full citation, which was formally published in the London Gazette, on 1944-11-07 reads as follows:-

“The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to :- No. 10119 Rifleman Tullbahadur (sic) Pun, 6th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army. In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the Railway Bridge at Mogaung. Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left of it. So intense was this cross fire that both the leading platoons of ‘B’ Company, one of which was Rifleman Tulbahadur (sic) Pun’s, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his Section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the Section commander and one other man. The Section commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur (sic) Pun and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur (sic) Pun then seized the Bren Gun, and firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position alone, in the face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire, directed straight at him. With the dawn coming up behind him, he presented a perfect target to the Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground, ankle deep in mud, through shell holes and over fallen trees. Despite these overwhelming odds, he reached the Red House and closed with the Japanese occupants. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective. His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and beyond praise.”

This citation was read out in full on the BBC Radio 4 PM program with Eddie Mare on Thurday 31st May at about 17.30. The message board of the program was rammed. The BBC received more calls in a short space of time than for quite a while. Some of the messages read out on air the following day simply pointed out that such sacrifice, excepted him from “demonstrate strong ties with the UK”. Many admitted to crying at home or in thier cars on the way home from work.

I was one of them.

In common with 22,000 others, I signed the 10 Downing Street online petition expressing my disgust at such a crass decision.

Just how unfeeling is it possible for a government to be. He is 84 for god sake and simply asking for a little consideration.

One listener wrote in to ask if the Gurka had paid enough National Insurance Contributions for NHS treatment. He, of course, was a TWAT! The man has paid so much more.

http://www.vchero.co.uk

wikipedia entry

YouTube: Tul Bahadur Pun VC Winner of Victoria Cross

Central photo and movie database means it’s a fair cop
Andrew Charlesworth, vnunet.com 01 Jun 2007

Europeans will soon be encouraged to use cameraphones to photograph and video criminal activity to send directly to a national police database.

Dutch technology consultancy Waleli has developed MMS-witness, a system which enables citizens to send photographs or movies to a central police database as part of an emergency call.

Once viewed, the photographs or video can be sent to beat officers to increase the chances of a successful arrest or kept as evidence in further investigations.

The concept is in its very early stages. Waleli has conducted a few experiments with police in Rotterdam and is to approach forces in Sweden in conjunction with Ericsson, Waleli chief executive Siete Hamminga told vnunet.com.

Initially the system will be used to allow police and officers from other agencies, for example transport workers, to file pictures and video. But the system has yet to be opened up to the public.

MMS-witness is likely to be piloted regionally with a national roll-out once the service has been proved.

However, there are some major issues which need to be resolved before MMS-witness can be used by the public.

These include dealing with false reports and very large volumes of reports, for example in the event of a terrorist attack when hundreds of people might send in photographs or video footage of the same incident.

“We asked the police about [false reports] and they were less concerned than we were,” said Hamminga. “They are used to dealing with spoof emergency calls and anonymous reports.”

MMS-witness can be configured to ignore anonymous messages, he added.

Waleli has yet to approach police forces in the UK but expects the system to arouse plenty of interest.

Britain is already one of the most watched societies in the world with one CCTV camera for every 14 people. Britons are caught on camera an average of once every five minutes.

A survey in November 2006 conducted by YouGov on behalf of NTL Telewest (now Virgin Media) found that 80 per cent of Britons were in favour of using CCTV to fight street crime.

According to market researchers at Gartner, there are 295 million cameraphones in circulation worldwide, so Waleli’s system could significantly increase the number of “digital witnesses”.

“People see a crime committed and are increasingly deterred from intervening in case they become a victim too,” Hamminga told vnunet.com. “This will enable them to do something without putting themselves in danger.”

One rising crime that MMS-witness is unlikely to reduce is the theft of mobile phones, unless someone else is around with a cameraphone to film the theft, of course.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2191246/record-crime-camera-phones

Since the original incident, I have been back and forth to Nottingham Magistrates Court over a dozen time [like 12 dates so far and we’re not there yet]. All this as they all try to get their ‘ducks-in-a-row’. I am charged with ‘Obstruction of a Constable’.

There is some discussion earlier on the background to all this, but put simply, I was taking photographs of an armed police operation, in a public place. Because the case is ongoing, [bloody hell, like for 15 months so far, with months to go 🙁 ], I can’t tell to more about it till after the trial.

The National Union of Journalist [NUJ], both the national organisation and the local branch, have been of much assistance to me in all this, and I want to thank them for holding my hand, through this whole laughable process. Cheers chaps.

Collected links about it all:

Photographer is arrested taking pictures of police
Press Gazette
Thursday, 6 April 2006
By Dominic Ponsford

Met sets new press guidelines
British Journal of Photography
Date: 5 April 2006

Press V the police: case adjourned
British Journal of Photography
Date: 10 May 2006

Defend the Nottingham One!
NUJ Freelance May 2006

NUJ backs photographer in press freedom case
National Union of Journalists

Journalists and police draw up new crime scene guidelines
Hold the Front Page

My terrorism act
Guardian [Friday April 28, 2006]

Guardian – Keep power and sewage plants secret, media told

Date set for photographer police ‘obstruction’ trial

Photographer faces trial for snapping police
Press Gazette

British Journal of Photography: Police guidelines adopted
Date: 30 May 2007
Guidelines designed to help improve relations between the police and press photographers will be rolled out nationwide in the next few months, but already sceptics are voicing concerns that they will have little effect.

British Journal of Photography: Watching the detectives
Date: 30 May 2007
Katie Scott, News Editor.

These links provide some of the background to my own legal adventures with Nottinghamshire Police, after agreeing these guidelines!

Nottingham photographer arrested by armed officers

Date set for photographer ‘obstruction’ trial for snapping armed police

Further to the consultation by the home office about yet more restrictions.

Home Office Consultation Papers 1

Home Office Consultation Papers 2

Government ministers and police chiefs are demanding new powers to allow the police to stop and search people in the streets if they suspect them of terrorism. These powers echo the notorious “sus laws” of the 1970s.

‘I took a picture of Tower Bridge and was arrested for terrorism’

Photographers’ vital role is being curtailed by privacy obsession

Warning: privacy law could jeopardise the iconic news pictures of the future

hello campers.
The Royal Air Force has landed with a large Display in Market Square, Nottingham.

They have come, complete with some shiny red toys like a BA Hawk jet fighter.

Liverpool Ploughshares Acquittal

Peace activists have smashing time with genocidal aircraft

Five arrested after BAE break-in

The ‘trainer’ jet the UK loves to hawk

Hawks and Doves

Royal Air Force recruitment will hope to do a roaring trade in getting more to take the Queen’s shilling.

You can see how they do this. The younger the better. The sense of excitement, skiing, basketball, rock-climbing and playing Rambo with large guns. All designed to make you feel invincible. I have always thought that this approach lacks responsibility, don’t you?

I little bird tells me, that recruitment is well down these last couple of years, since UK Armed Services are not just being used for the national defence, but to keep interfering in foreign parts, where they’re not wanted.

All appears to be a big military showdown ! Perhaps those passin’ would like to make their views known.

http://www.raf.mod.uk

http://www.raf.mod.uk/currentoperations

I have just leant my Olympus OM-2 ‘film camera’, to a friend who wants to learn a little more about photography. Rather than some little digital ‘point-n-shoot, I thought this would be a better introduction.

I made this set of links, just for him. But I might as well copy them to you here as well.

Olympus OM2 – index [5 pages].htm

Olympus OM2 – Instruction Manual [9 pages]

Olympus OM2 – map.htm

Olympus OM2 – mapom2.pdf

Olympus OM2 – spec.htm

Olympus OM2 – specom2.pdf

ONE EYE ON THE ROAD – Tash’s Blog! nov 2002

ONE EYE ON THE ROAD – Tash’s Blog! Olympus Kit

Don McCullin – Unreasonable Behaviour Front Cover

Today’s issue has a couple of articles about the guidelines, police etc …. both of which feature me.

here is what they say:

>>>>

Title: Watching the detectives
Date: 30 May 2007

‘If you get to the officers, they know about the guidelines and will bend over backwards to accommodate you. But the rank and file just don’t seem to like the media’. These are the words of seasoned press photographer and British Press Photographers Association honcho Jeff Moore.

It has been a momentous battle for photographic and journalistic bodies to agree the guidelines they believe are needed to improve relations between the press pack and the police. And now it looks as if the guidelines, which have already been adopted in London, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, are to be made available across the country.

But what’s the point of printing out thousands of booklets and handing them to police officers if they are ignored when the heat is on? After the July 2005 London bombings, press photographers claimed that they were denied access to scenes with cordons set up so far away that they could not get their shots.

Photographers also complain that they are preventing from capturing far less cateclysmic events as well. Both Alan Lodge and Andy Handley were told to stop photographing incidents on their local beat, and when they pointed out their rights, were arrested and their kit confiscated. With the support of the NUJ, Handley has received an apology. But Moore says many photographers, when facing this sort of obstruction, don’t want to cause problems. ‘Most photographers don’t complain, but they should. You have to take the police officer’s number then make a formal complaint, otherwise things won’t change’.

Things are changing, but education is needed amongst police officers. The guidelines should be explained to police cadets, and the prejudice that the press are intrusive pests banished. As Moore says simply: ‘We need to get across to the police that we are not trying to stitch them up’.

Katie Scott, News Editor.

http://www.bjphoto.co.uk/public/showPage.html?page=448758

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Title: Police guidelines adopted
Date: 30 May 2007

Guidelines designed to help improve relations between the police and press photographers will be rolled out nationwide in the next few months, but already sceptics are voicing concerns that they will have little effect.

The guidelines were first set out in a landmark agreement between key press organisations – including the National Union of Journalists, the Chartered Institute of Journalists and the British Press Photographers Association (BPPA) – and the press bureau at New Scotland Yard early in 2006 (BJP, 05 April, 2006). The decision to pen the guidelines was as a result of worsening relations between the press and police, notably during the London bombings of July 2005, when press photographers complained of ‘gratuitous obstruction’.

In response, and after months of negotiations, the Metropolitan Police Force adopted a nine-point ‘best practice’ guide to working with media personnel, though it stopped short of making them part of the force’s operational orders. Police forces in Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire have both already adopted their own guidelines, however, after further negotiations, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has now agreed that the guidelines will be rolled out across the country.

ACPO spokeswoman Lisa Vasco told BJP: ‘We are hoping to get the guidelines out to all forces nationwide in the next couple of months. It will then be up to the separate forces to decide what they do with the guidelines once they get them.’

John Toner, freelance organiser at the National Union of Journalists, was instrumental in the talks and is confident that they will have a positive impact how police officers handle press photographers. ‘I have been in negotiations with ACPO for eight months. It has now told me that the roll-out will happen and I hope it will have an effect nationwide’.

Lack of knowledge
However, others are sceptical. BPPA spokesman Jeff Moore, who is also a freelance press photographer, said that his experiences in London would suggest that the guidelines are not always effective. ‘Some police officers, even if they know what the media guidelines are, don’t take any notice of them. The guidelines have been with the Met for nearly a year now but if you deal with the average police officer, they don’t seem to know about them.’

Meanwhile, in Nottingham, press photographer Alan Lodge made his tenth court appearance on 11 May to fight a charge of obstructing a police officer. Lodge was arrested on 18 March 2006 while attempting to photograph an incident on Alfred Street in Nottingham (BJP, 05 April).

He alleges that he was asked to stop photographing by an officer on the scene, but refused, producing his press card and pointing to the police/press guidelines. The police claim that Lodge next became ‘aggressive’ and arrested him for assault on a police officer. He was next ‘de-arrested’ for this offence but, after asking for his camera kit back, was then charged with breach of the peace – a charge that was later altered to obstruction of a police officer.

A trial was set for 17 October 2006, but adjourned because the contents of the photographer’s memory card had been requested as evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service by the photographer’s defence team, and weren’t made available in time. Lodge’s next court appearance was 02 March, when his case was again adjourned. At this time, NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear told BJP: ‘Alan had a perfect right to photograph in a public place a matter of clear public interest. If the court takes away that right then all of us will suffer as it will have a chilling effect on the exercise of press freedom. The court should throw these ludicrous charges out and make a clear statement about the rights of press photographers.’

Following similar circumstances in Milton Keynes, a press photographer of 30 years has received a formal apology from the local police force and had a obstruction caution rescinded. Andy Handley, a photographer for the MK News, was handcuffed and arrested after trying to take a photo of a road traffic accident on 12 September, 2006. It was reported at the time that Handley was taken to a police station, photographed, fingerprinted and DNA tested before being held in Central Milton Keynes Police cells. His case was taken up by the NUJ.

http://www.bjphoto.co.uk/public/showPage.html?page=448744

onwards and upwards ………..

Previous links to the original incident, and issues about it all …..

Arrested for taking pictures! [again]

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE
GUIDELINES FOR THE POLICE AND MEDIA AT INCIDENTS

Another ‘armed’ turnout’ of Nottinghamshire Police. [another false alarm]

Gun Crime and Police response – Collected Links

Spring in Action [Climate Week] in Nottingham

Climate Issues, Collected picture set

Climate Issues, Collected picture set

* * * *

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/PACE-Review

Tony McNulty MP Minister of State for Crime Reduction, Policing, Community Safety and Counter Terrorism today (14 March 2007) announced the commencement of a public consultation exercise to look at the potential to Review PACE.

The public consultation exercise will run until 31 May 2007. The aim of the Review is to ask stakeholders, practitioners and the public for ideas and proposals which will:

* provide police and other relevant agencies with appropriate and proportionate powers to tackle crime
* remove barriers enabling more effective targeting of criminals
* remove unnecessary bureaucracy
* free up more time for police officers to take up operational duties outside the police station
* remove areas of complexity and providing clearer, more accessible powers for both practitioners and public, and importantly
* promote the needs of victims and witnesses.

Responses and suggestions can be submitted by e-mail to pacereview@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk, using the response template or in free
text.

Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984: Consultation Paper

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/operational-policing/PACE-review

This is scary, I mean it and say again, this is scary! I am against terrorism as much as the next man. BUT, I don’t think the way to combat it, is by creating a police state.

The annual Green Festival, was held in the Arboretum on Sunday 27th May, between 12 – 5pm.

There were various stalls, information and assorted bands and acts on the bandstand. It rained ….. then it rained a bit more. But in spite of the bank holiday weather, a couple of hundred folks attended showing their great british pluk under such conditions. Oh and did I meantion it rained ……

There was still a smile to be seen, now and again, at the event. A highlight for me was the industial scale bubble machine. I was quite supprised that the bubbles survived under such heavy rain.

Perhaps there is a university physicist out there, that can explain why the bubbles didn’t get blatted? I just wondered really.

BBC News on Tour in Nottingham The ‘BBC News and Sport on Tour’ is taking place at events around the UK this summer. From Thursday 24 May to Sunday 27 May the tour is in Nottingham, in our shiney new Market Square.

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/05/371493.html

They say this is your chance to have a go at reading the news on television or radio in our special studios. You can also try at some of the technical roles involved in getting programmes on air and check out some of the interactive services the BBC has to offer.

your chance to:

* have a go at reading the news and sport on television or radio
* present a weather bulletin
* be a sound or vision mixer or operate a camera or autocue
* check out some of the latest interactive services and gadgets
* create a website story about yourself
* have a go at some sports commentary, with a BBC commentator to help you
* tell us about news stories you think we should cover
* take a tour of the BBC News, Sport, Weather and Newsround websites
* meet BBC staff and ask us questions about what we do
* find out more about the BBC and its history

So, I had a go at mixing the sound for East Midland Today. I was useless, and no good at all 🙁
Think i’ll stick with photography thanks!

Our new Sheriff of Nottingham had a go at presenting the weather.

Although this is a BBC promotion tour, and that it does give an opportunity to play with some toys …… I think one of the main main values for people is it provides some direct contact with the ‘straight media’. It is an objective of the the tour to get feedback from listeners and viewers of its output. I think concerned folks should go and ask them about their coverage of many of the issues that we feel to be under-represented. Please go and tell them about you concerns.

News & Sport On Tour – Nottingham
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/6540891.stm

BBC News and Sport on Tour
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6385621.stm

My additions to the blog have been more than erratic this last year. I know!

Much of my photography has recently been added to the Indymedia network, and since starting, Nottingham Indymedia http://nottinghamshire.indymedia.org.uk I have prepared a ‘collected posts’ page at:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/Indymedia_bookmarks.htm

Please check ’em out to see what I’ve been up to lately ….

However, my other excuse is that on migrating this blog from old to the new google service, I lost all my archive links. The help dept were of no use at all. Months went by while I asked various technical people, and still no luck.

So, with a few spare hours just now, I have solved it myself. [more by luck, than judgement], but hey, IT WORKS again.

So, this post is to explain to anyone out there, and to test posting to the blog again.

However did people manage without the interweb and it difficulties …….

Nottingham’s Critical Mass Bike Ride now starts from a NEW Meeting Point in the Market Square. This change is for everyone who rides a bike in Nottingham and wants to take part.

Critical Mass is a monthly bike ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road. With no set routes and no leaders, it’s simply a bunch of people enjoying clean healthy transport. In addition to all of the worthwhile issues that Critical Mass highlights, it’s a great way to meet people and perhaps do a bit of networking to promote other campaigns.

It’s never more than a couple of hours. Bring bright clothing, lights, horns, bells, NOISE and FRIENDS. Hopefully fun to be at. A celebration of the alternatives to the existing ‘car culture’.

The next one is Friday 30th March from Market Square, Nottingham (Last Friday of every month). Gather at 5.30pm to depart at 5.45pm. Let’s get on our bikes and make this, the simplest of actions, happen.

See you there ……….

Check out my photos from yesterdays event at:

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/02/363222.html

‘Skins’ :: New series starting next week on Channel4’s E4. First in the series is on Thirsday 25 January 2007 at 10:00pm

The Latest Extended Party Trailer

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From the creators of Shameless comes a new show ‘Skins’ – premiering on E4 at 10pm on Thursday January 25th.

Skins is focused around the lives of a group of teenage mates in Bristol. Look out for Nicholas Hoult (About A Boy) in his first major TV role and a host of new talent.

What makes Skins so unique is that E4 have given everyone the opportunity to contribute to the show. You can see some of the best short films, music, logo designs and fashion designs at www.e4.com/skins. Also watch out for the winners to be announced very soon!

Don’t forget to join the skins community at www.e4.com/skins. As a member you will receive a weekly email giving you advance news about the show and freebies every week, including music downloads, merchandise and much more! You’ll also be the first to hear how you can contribute to the show in the future.

Show Website: www.e4.com/skins

MySpace Page: MySpace – Skins

As you see from a few days ago, I submitted a picture of what I was doing at 5pm on the 5th December. BBC Radio 4’s PM program then put thousands of them on their blog. He is what I sent in ……. >>

My picture on the BBC PM blog at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/pm/galleries/845/158/#gallery845

with the Radio4 PM blog gallery 21 at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/pm/galleries/845

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldjudgmt/jd131206/lapor-1.htm

Curent mainstream reportage below:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1971168,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704
http://www.adfero.co.uk/news/news/crime/anti-war-protestors-win-demo-case-$460929.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/6174801.stm

Indymedia:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358267.html

LAW LORDS RULE TO PROTECT FREEDOM TO PROTEST

Anti-war protestors are today celebrating a ruling by the House of Lords that police acted unlawfully in turning them away from a demonstration and detaining them on their coaches for 2½ hours without arrests, violating their right to freedom of speech and assembly and freedom from arbitrary detention.

The police had argued, at the hearing in October, that they were in fact protecting the protestors’ right to life, by preventing 120 of them from reaching protests at RAF Fairford (Gloucestershire). The officer in charge of policing the protests stated that, since the US military had reserved the right to use “deadly force” in the event of an intrusion into the base, “had a member of the public been killed or injured by one of the armed personnel guarding the B52 aircraft…the political consequences would have been extremely damaging to the coalition partners”. Helen Wickham, a coach passenger, said: “I think it is deeply worrying that Gloucestershire police, confronted with the possibility of US troops shooting unarmed protestors, chose to defend the US use of lethal force over our right to protest. I wonder if there was pressure on them to do so.”

The protestors have always maintained that the actions of the police were both unlawful and unreasonable. Many have doubts about the legality of searches which took nearly two hours and included the seizure of a Frisbee and a bag of toy soldiers. It was only once the passengers had reboarded the coaches after being searched that they were told they would not be allowed to continue to the demonstrations. The forced return, a 2 ½ hour journey back to London, was made without toilet breaks and under a heavy police escort “to prevent a breach of the peace.”

The ruling was welcomed as a clarification of a draconian power which Parliament has never debated or sanctioned and which many protestors feel is used inappropriately to stifle dissent.

Giving judgment, Lord Bingham said the case had “raised[d] important questions on the right of the private citizen to demonstrate against government policy and the powers of the police to curtail exercise of that right.”

They had done so wholly unlawfully in this case, their Lordships held, because the Human Rights Act had brought about “a constitutional shift” creating for the first time a right to protest which the common law had previously been “reluctant and hesitant” to acknowledge (para 34 of the ruling). Freedom of expression was “an essential foundation of democratic society” (para 36) and there had been no reason to restrict it in this case. Rejecting the police’s argument that suspicions about some of the coach passengers entitled them to turn back everyone, Lord Bingham commented:

“There was no reason (other than her refusal to give her name, which however irritating to the police was entirely lawful) to view the claimant as other than a committed, peaceful demonstrator. It was wholly disproportionate to restrict her exercise of her rights under articles 10 and 11 because she was in the company of others some of whom might, at some time in the future, breach the peace.”

This ruling will impact significantly on policing of future demonstrations and will have implications for the Austin/Saxby May Day 2001 cases against the Metropolitan Police to be heard early next year. On Mayday 2001, police detained thousands in Oxford Circus for seven hours to “prevent a breach of peace”.

Jane Laporte, the claimant in the case, was determined that the police’s actions should not go unchecked. She said today:

“The willingness of the police to bow to political pressure, by stifling dissent and arbitrarily detaining protestors in this way, brings the role of the police as facilitators of peaceful protest in to question. They should, as the judgement found, be the facilitators not suppressors of peaceful protest. I am delighted the House of Lords has said their actions were completely unlawful and a human rights breach.”

Jesse Schust, a passenger and legal observer on the coaches, said: “It is particularly ironic that the police violated our human rights by detaining us, when we sought to demonstrate against an illegal war that has devastated Iraq and left over 100,000 dead.”

John Halford, a public law and human rights specialist at Bindman and Partners, represented the campaigners. He said today:

“The House of Lords judgement is a wake up call for democracy. Under this government we have seen a sad and steady erosion of the rights that underpin democracy: those to express dissent and to do so collectively with others in public. The Lords have given a principled judgement on where the line should and must be drawn: peaceful protest can only be prevented in the most extreme circumstances which are very far from this. These campaigners wanted to protest lawfully against an unlawful war. The Lords have unhesitatingly said they had that right.”

For more information on Fairford Coach Action, phone Jane Laporte on 07817 483 167 or Jesse Schust on 07814 587 361 or e-mail press@fairfordcoachaction.org.uk

http://www.fairfordcoachaction.org.uk
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Notes for Journalists

1. Fairford Coach Action is the name of the group of more than 90 passengers who have collectively decided to pursue a Judicial Review case against the police’s actions on 22nd March 2003. Full background information is available on the website. Visit the site for links to the full judgement, related web articles, statements of support, and testimonial statements from coach passengers. http://www.fairfordcoachaction.org.uk

2. On 22nd March 2003, three days after the start of the US/UK war on Iraq, a demonstration organised by the Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors (GWI), attracted over 3,000 protestors to the airbase. Groups travelled to Fairford from 37 locations across the UK. American B-52 planes flew from RAF Fairford airbase to bomb Baghdad (see http://www.fairfordpeacewatch.com/ ) and Fairford was the site of excessive policing during the war on Iraq. (Within 52 days (from 6 March 2003), police conducted over 2000 anti-terror searches in the vicinity.) GWI, Berkshire CIA and Liberty issued a dossier showing how stop and search powers of the Terrorism Act 2000 were misused by police. For the report “Casualty of War – 8 weeks of counter-terrorism in rural England” see http://www.gwi.org.uk and http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk The Government estimated the added cost of policing RAF Fairford was £6.9 million. The airbase continues to be upgraded for use by US Stealth (B2) Bombers, greatly expanding the US capacity to “invisibly” deploy tactical nuclear weapons anywhere in the world within hours. Further info at http://www.gwi.org.uk and http://www.atkinsglobal.com/skills/design/sectors/aviationdefence/jfsiraffairford

3. The Appellant in the case is The Queen on the application of Jane Laporte. The respondent or main defendant is The Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary. The two interested parties are the Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police and the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.

4. The solicitor representing the case, John Halford, can be contacted at Bindman & Partners on 020 7833 4433. Also representing are Michael Fordham of Blackstone Chambers and Ben Emmerson QC of Matrix Chambers.

5. The committee of five Law Lords who heard and ruled on the case are: Lord Bingham of Cornhill (Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary), Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, Lord Carswell, Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, and Lord Mance.

6 Liberty made a submission to the House of Lords, supporting the passengers’ case. The Fairford coach case is listed in Amnesty International’s report: Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty International’s Concerns in the Region, January-June 2004, and was mentioned in Liberty’s dossier on the policing at RAF Fairford. Other supporters include Ken Livingstone, David Drew MP (Stroud), Lynne Jones MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, and Mark Thomas (see www.fairfordcoachaction.org.uk press for quotes).

7. Interviews with passengers from the coaches can be arranged (please enquire – see contact details above). Dramatic, high-quality, digital video footage and photographs are also available. To use this footage, contact Catherine Bonnici of Journeyman Films ( catherine@journeyman.co.uk Tel: 020 8941 9994 Fax: 020 8941 9899).
This is a press release about today’s ruling by the law lords.

8. Professional photos of the coach detention are available. Guy Smallman was one of several accredited journalists who were on the coaches. He has a selection of pictures from the day. Contact Guy Smallman 07956 429 059 with enquiries. (These photos are in a suitable format to be wired directly to the picture desk).

9. The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force in October 2000. It requires the police and other public authorities to avoid breaching key European Convention Human Rights Articles save where legislation makes this impossible. Amongst the key rights are Article 5 (deprivation of liberty must be justified in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law and on one of the five grounds listed in paragraph (1) of the Article), Article 10 (freedom of speech and expression) and Article 11 (freedom of assembly).

10. At common law a constable may arrest a person without warrant whom he or she reasonably believes will commit a breach of the peace in the immediate future, even though at the time of the arrest such person has not committed any breach. This power is subject to a number of strict restrictions, however: the belief must relate to an act or threatened act harming any person or, in his presence, his property, or which puts a person in fear of such harm; the belief must relate to the likely actions of the particular individual or individuals against whom the power is used; and when the particular individual is acting lawfully at the time the power is used, the threat of his committing a breach of the peace must be sufficiently real and imminent to justify the use of such a draconian power.

coach passenger
home Homepage: http://www.fairfordcoachaction.org.uk

The Law Lords have made judgement today that has wide inplications ….

Victory for anti-war protesters

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6174801.stm

Campaigners have won a legal battle to prove their rights to protest were violated when police stopped them from attending an anti-war demonstration.
About 120 Iraq war protesters were held on coaches by police near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in March 2003.

The High Court and Court of Appeal had already ruled police acted unlawfully in holding protesters on the coaches.

But on Wednesday Law Lords ruled police did violate the right to freedom of expression and lawful assembly.

This overturned a previous High Court ruling that police did not violate the protesters’ rights in this respect.

Five Law Lords also dismissed a cross-appeal by the police against the “unlawful” decision to hold protesters on the coaches.

Peace campaigner Jane Laporte, under whose name the case was brought, said: “I am absolutely overjoyed.

“The Lords have confirmed that freedom to protest is something that should be treasured in this country and police don’t have the right to take it away.”

Gloucestershire Police said it was “disappointed” with the decision, which it accepted, and added that officers acted in “good faith”.

It also expressed “regret” for any inconvenience and said it would now review its policies.

“Policing in [such] scenarios is difficult and complex, with competing rights and responsibilities having to be assessed and acted upon in real time by operational commanders,” said a spokesman.

“Intelligence pointed to the potential for further disorder at the base and it was against this background that the decision was made to stop and turn back the three coaches travelling to RAF Fairford from London.”

Lord Bingham said: “It was entirely reasonable to suppose that some of those on board the coaches might wish to cause damage and injury to the base, and to enter the base with a view to causing further damage and injury.

“It was not reasonable to suppose that even these passengers simply wanted a violent confrontation with the police, which they could have had in the lay-by.

“Nor was it reasonable to anticipate an outburst of disorder on arrival of these passengers in the assembly area or during the procession to the base.”

The Lords ruled the police actions were unlawful because they were not prescribed by law and were disproportionate.

Alex Gask, legal officer for human rights group Liberty, which had intervened as an interested party in the appeal, said: “Nothing less than our freedom of speech was at stake in this case.

“Unmerited concerns (on the part of the police) about some future breach of the peace cannot justify the denial of this fundamental right.”

Ben Emmerson QC, representing the protesters, told the Law Lords that it was a fundamental right in Britain for citizens to gather to demonstrate peacefully on matters of public interest.

He said it was the responsibility of the police to maintain public order “in a manner which fully respects the rights of those who wish to demonstrate peacefully”.

Police who authorised two coach-loads of protesters to be stopped and passengers searched while being detained – and then escorted back to London – had breached that right, he said.

Police lawyers had argued that rather than interfering with passengers’ human rights, they were upholding them by protecting their lives, which would have been put at risk if they had broken into the air base.