Alan Lodge's Blog

Independent Media Centre UK Press Release 26.01.2009

For immediate release
Indymedia Server Raided by UK Police
Issued by: IMC UK Press Group

ON 22 January 2009, KENT POLICE seized an INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTRE server hosted by MANCHESTER-based company, UK GRID, in relation to a comment published on the news web site.

The raid in which the server was seized is an attack on free speech and independent journalism in the UK, and especially on the grassroots open-publishing platform that is Indymedia.

In the morning of the 22nd, KENT POLICE emailed Indymedia UK requesting that personal information about Justice Neil Butterfield, the judge overseeing the STOP HUNTINGDON ANIMAL CRUELTY (SHAC) trial, be removed from a comment to a report published on the Indymedia website and that details of the poster be retained.

Indymedia UK volunteers had already removed the information from the report in line with the project’s own privacy policy. Indymedia UK was unable to comply with Kent Police’s request to retain data relating to poster. As an open publishing project, Indymedia UK does not keep logs of the server activity.

Nevertheless, Police seized the machine which was handed over by the management of UK Grid. No search warrant was shown.

The loss of a server represents serious damage to the Indymedia infrastructure in the UK.

Several websites including the global Indymedia documentation project, the new website of Indymedia London, la Soja Mata (an anti-GM soya campaign focusing on South American development), Transition Sheffield and a Canadian campaign against the 2010 olympics were affected.

Background:

The present case is not the first time that Indymedia servers were seized in the UK. Shortly before the opening of the European Social Forum in 2004 in London, a main Indymedia server was seized from the hosting company Rackspace in an operation which involved an Italian Judge, an American District Court and the FBI.

In 2005, the server of Indymedia Bristol was seized under a search warrant. One Indymedia Bristol volunteer was arrested on suspicion of incitement to criminal damage, but was never charged.

As in previous cases, Indymedia UK stayed online this time. This was possible due to a system of ‘mirrors’, which was set up to protect the technical infrastructure of the alternative media project. Despite the resource intensive interruptions caused by server seizures, the independent media activists continue to provide a platform for “news straight from the streets”.

Contact:  Imc-uk-contact@lists.indymedia.org

Further information:

2009 Indymedia Server seizure, Indymedia UK

Info Page: Indymedia UK server seizure 2009

Summary of the Responses to the 2004 Indymedia Server Seizure by Electronic Frontier Foundation

Responses to the 2004 Indymedia Server Seizure, Indymedia UK

About the 2005 Bristol Indymedia Server Seizure, Indymedia UK

Since there have been a number of ‘CCTV events in Nottingham recently [reports on the Notts newswire and features], I thought I’d take this opportunity to show you some of my more recent work on the subject, describing some of the technological advances that are proceeding apace.

Back in March 2006, I showed you some of what it all looked like then. “Surveillance of Nottingham City Centre”
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/335022.html

Earlier, in December 2005, I went on a walk-about with Artist and designer Jez Noond of Nottingham Trent University. He has produced a complex map of Nottingham city centre CCTV charting the different networks in use and the extent of coverage. It shows their overlap of fields of view and how they triangulate almost any position in Nottingham city centre.
Short Sharp Shots: A Tour of CCTV in Nottingham City Centre. http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/12/329575.html

Nottingham city centre is one of the most heavily surveyed places on the face of the earth, outside of London. All in aid of ‘crime reduction policies’ they say.

All in aid of ‘crime reduction policies’ they say. Newham in East London is still streets ahead though [i think] with its system that involves the Mandrake Facial Recognition System. They have been testbeding it for a few years now. All very expensive of course, which means I think, a displacement of crime to other areas. Not as advertised, ‘crime reduction’ when measured ‘in total’.

Face Recognition – More than you think!
http://www.morethanyouthink.com/security/mandrake.html

In addition to the ‘civic’ and police cameras, there are of course, loads of cameras outside of shops, bars, transport termini, mobile on the buses, trains and trams. As compression and bandwith advances, the internet will allow the combining of ALL of the sources, to the various control rooms. All this before I even get round to telling you about the ID card Database. http://www.nottingham-defy-id.org.uk and the convergence of those technologies with CCTV in the street. Scary eh?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousveillance

Inverse surveillance, sometimes known by the neologism “hierarchical sousveillance” (“seeing from below” hierarchically), refers to the recording or monitoring of real or apparent authority figures by others, particularly those who are generally the subject of surveillance. Steve Mann, who coined the term, describes it as “watchful vigilance from underneath”. (The term stems from the contrasting French words sur, meaning “above”, and sous, meaning “below”, i.e. “surveillance” denotes the “eye-in-the-sky” watching from above, whereas “sousveillance” denotes bring the camera or other means of observation down to human level.)

The more general concept of sousveillance goes beyond just inverse surveillance and the associated 20th Century political “us versus them” framework for citizens to photograph police, shoppers to photograph shopkeepers, or passengers to photograph taxicab drivers. Just in case THey do something wrong, you understand …..

You can view the output of some cameras. A camera is mounted [just to the left of centre], on the freeze above the Council House overlooking all of the Market Square.

The council makes a low-res image available on their itsnottingham.info webpage at:

Old Market Square Webcam http://www.itsnottingham.info/NOTTM_CAMERA_OMS.jpg

Also, Nottingham Travelwise ‘traffic cameras’ can be viewed at: http://www.itsnottingham.info/mapping/cctv.asp

…. unless of course, there is anything interesting going on, when they are likely to be turned off 🙂

Some of my earlier work on the subject:

Surveillance of Nottingham City Centre
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/335022.html

Nottinghamshire Police Surveillance Vehicles and Evidence Gathering
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/320469.html

Prime Minister visits Nottingham University :: Surveillance Operations
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331596.html

Nottingham Fossil Fools Blockade E.On Offices Surveillance and Specialist Equipment
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/04/395429.html

Surveillance at Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398414.html

CPO’s with HeadCam, at protests against deportation of Amdani Juma
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/06/400142.html

CCTV ‘Treasure Hunt’ around Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419329.html

Nottingham PCSO Watch – Office of Community Sousveillance
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419347.html

Watching the watchers in Nottingham [Feature]
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/01/419530.html

In December 2005, I went on a walk-about with Artist and designer Jez Noond of Nottingham Trent University. He has produced a complex map of Nottingham city centre CCTV charting the different networks in use and the extent of coverage. It shows their overlap of fields of view and how they triangulate almost any position in Nottingham city centre.
Short Sharp Shots: A Tour of CCTV in Nottingham City Centre
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/12/329575.html

*****

Surveillance Camera Players
http://www.notbored.org/the-scp.html

Nottingham Defy-ID Active resistance against UK ID cards and the National Identity Register
http://www.nottingham-defy-id.org.uk

Privacy International ‘Big Brother Awards’
http://www.gn.apc.org/tash/big_brother.htm

I say be afraid, be very afraid ……

A power station engineer had written to me, after I had made these are the postings:

Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station Still Steams Ahead
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/12/414383.html

Nottingham’s part of 48 hours of nationwide action against E.ON
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/11/413951.html

thus prompted this exchange:

Subject: Ratcliffe Power Station.
Good Morning Alan,

Just reading the article on Ratcliffe and the protestors, saying the enviroment is getting too hot.

I have worked on Power Stations for over 25 years, I have seen dramatic changes to power stations over the last 7 or 8 years, with regards to enviroment status, many millions have been spent to bring them in line with the legal specifications, to maintain these regulated emissions they mix Biomass fuels with the coal to provide cleaner emissions.

With regards to the world getting hotter! I believe that this is a cycle of the natural earths elements, I assume that we could possibly accelerate this in some respect, so what do we do, do we go Nuclear? it is difficult to state exactly the harm all working generated machinery does and the power sources which drive our day to day living.

I would like to hear your veiws on power stations?

So, then I replied ……..

—–Original Message—–
From: Alan Lodge [mailto:tash@indymedia.org]
Sent: 01 December 2008 12:23
Subject: RE: Ratcliffe Power Station.

hello,

thank you for your note.

I am a photographer, who has covered these issues for a little while now. Of course, I’m not only reporting on these issue, but have formed my own opinions.

Many people are concerned at the lack of progress made by governments and companies in combating emissions,  chemical pollutants, CO2 and heat. The  timescale some think might be more urgent than authorities seem to currently acknowledge, which means that concerned citizens have to take a pace forward and engage in actions that ‘stand in the way of the machine’ or, raise everyone else’s awareness on the nature and urgency of the situations in front of us.

Of course it might be as you say that we are seeing some ‘natural cycles’ in the world.  There have been many before.  But then again, it might be otherwise, that human activities when taken together with these cycles, might be enough to finish us [or other parts of flora & fauna] off.  Might! Who knows. But by the time one side or the other is ‘proved’ to be correct, irreparable damages might have already taken place, with no route back. The famous tipping point! Thus, I think many with concerns on this issue would favour the precautionary approach thinking that we cannot go on like we are.  No, not nuclear of course.  The heritage this guarantees for future generations is clearly going to be as grim [or grimmer] as any legacy of climate changes that we leave to them.  Biomass / fuels are also  problematic, since again authorities and companies appear to lack social responsibility in the balances they create between the need for land to grow fuels or food.

I wonder if you could comment with you wide experience of engineering in power stations, if you think your skills and the money to maintains these technologies, might be better placed with renewables?  Sustainable technologies, systems that you can just hypothesise as working for a large period of time, without running out of scares resources. Of course, they are not up to the job yet.  But that is surely down to the levels of experience, expertise and invention. But also, the very minor percentages of budgets to make progress with such developments, oh and a planning system to better accommodate them.

On the other side of the equation from generation is consumption and conservation. The pace of home insulation, better development in industrial process and transport changes required are lamentable.  There is most probably going to have to be a change in society that we may also have accept that we are simply going to have to make do with less!  Shocker, what like a lot of the rest of the populations of the world.

I thank you for writing to me, and now you have my 6 pence worth, but Iwould like you to add your thoughts as a comment to my Indymedia posting at:

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/413951.html

At the bottom of the text there, you will see a link “Submit an addition or make a quick comment on this article”.  this opens another page, fill in the boxes and contribute.  I personally think it would be nice if you would, and for you then to engage with those that might also comment there.  Please do it.

Very best

A couple of days later, the Committee on Climate Change report was published earlier in the  month.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent body established under the Climate Change Act to advise the Government on setting carbon budgets, and to report to Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The the CCC’s report: Building a low-carbon economy – the UK’s contribution to tackling climate change is published today, and can be downloaded from:

http://www.theccc.org.uk/reports

In the press release, they summarize by saying:

They recommend a minimum 34% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, with a 42% cut if a global deal is achieved.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) today urged the Government to commit unilaterally to reducing emissions of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the UK by at least 34% in 2020 relative to 1990 levels (21% relative to 2005). This should be increased to 42% relative to 1990 (31% relative to 2005) once a global deal to reduce emissions is achieved. The CCC says meeting these targets is necessary to contain the threat of climate change. Building a low-carbon economy, the CCC’s first report sets out the analysis underpinning these recommendations and the proposed level of the first three carbon budgets covering the periods 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22. The budgets are a worldwide first, designed under the Climate Change Act, which also establishes the CCC as an independent advisory body to Government. The report sets out how the budgets can be met by using existing technologies, and by putting in place a range of policies to move to a low-carbon economy:

* Moving away from using fossil fuels towards using cleaner forms of generating electricity and heat including greater use of renewables (wind power, biomass heat and heat pumps), nuclear and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS);

* By using energy more efficiently in our homes and office buildings and in industry, through better insulation, use of more energy efficient appliances and through reducing waste by turning lights off, shutting down computers and using air conditioning less;

* By reducing transport emissions, developing electric cars, improving the carbon efficiency of engines, developing use of sustainable bio-fuels, better journey planning and more use of public transport.

* Through purchasing offset credits (e.g. Clean Development Mechanism) to meet the 42% target, but not the 34% target.

These significant reductions can be achieved without harming the UK’s economy and at a cost less than 1% of GDP in 2020. In other words, an economy that might grow by 30% in the period to 2020, would instead grow by 29%. The CCC advises that this is a price worth paying, given the long-term costs of inaction on climate change.

Chair of the CCC Lord Turner said: “Climate change poses a grave threat to human welfare, the environment and the economy. We need to act now, in the UK and as part of a global agreement, to significantly reduce our emissions. It is not too late to tackle climate change, but it will be unless the world takes action soon, and the developed countries need to lead the way with strong commitments and strong delivery against the budgets. The budgets we have proposed are achievable given available and developing technologies, and provided the policies in place are implemented and where necessary reinforced. The reductions required can be achieved at a very low cost to our economy: the cost of not achieving the reductions, at national and global level, will be far greater”.

http://hmccc.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/LaunchPressRelease01.12.08.pdf

Committee on Climate Change (CCC)  http://www.theccc.org.uk

Now, many of us still think that the report still allows for larger temperature changes over the near future period, than is probable healthy. However, companies like E-on are not going to like it one bit, probably they will still lable the reports as too draconian.

E-on doesn’t appear to have digested the report yet, since just before posting this, I have checked to see if they had made a press release at:  http://www.eon-uk.com

They haven’t yet, but think we should hang on their every word, when they do.

Onwards and upwards.

• Kent force admits no officers hurt by protests
• £5.9m police operation ‘colossal waste of money’

When climate camp protesters descended on the site of the Kingsnorth power station for a week-long summer demonstration, the scale of the police operation to cope with them was enormous.

Police were accused of using aggressive tactics, confiscating everything from toilet rolls and board games to generators and hammers. But ministers justified what they called the “proportionate” £5.9m cost of the operation, pointing out that 70 officers had been injured in the course of their duties.

But data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act puts a rather different slant on the nature of those injuries, disclosing that not one was sustained in clashes with demonstrators.

Papers acquired by the Liberal Democrats via Freedom of Information requests show that the 1,500 officers policing the Kingsnorth climate camp near the Medway estuary in Kent, suffered only 12 reportable injuries during the protest during August.

The Home Office has now admitted that the protesters had not been responsible for any injuries. In a three-line written answer to a parliamentary question, the Home Office minister Vernon Coaker wrote to the Lib Dem justice spokesman, David Howarth, saying: “Kent police have informed the Home Office that there were no recorded injuries sustained as a result of direct contact with the protesters.”

Only four of the 12 reportable injuries involved any contact with protesters at all and all were at the lowest level of seriousness with no further action taken.

The other injuries reported included “stung on finger by possible wasp”; “officer injured sitting in car”; and “officer succumbed to sun and heat”. One officer cut his arm on a fence when climbing over it, another cut his finger while mending a car, and one “used leg to open door and next day had pain in lower back”.

A separate breakdown of the 33 patients treated by the police tactical medicine unit at the climate camp shows that three officers had succumbed to heat exhaustion, three had toothache, six were bitten by insects, and others had diarrhoea, had cut their finger or had headaches.

Coaker claimed in a parliamentary debate in September that the police had acted “appropriately and proportionately”, despite hundreds of complaints over unnecessarily heavy policing and calls for an investigation of police conduct by MPs, MEPs, councillors and members of the public.

Norman Baker, the Lib Dem MP for Lewes, who had called previously for an investigation of police tactics, said: “I personally witnessed unnecessarily aggressive policing, unprovoked violence against peaceful protesters, an extraordinary number of police on site, and tactics such as confiscating toilet rolls, board games and clown costumes from what I saw to be peaceful demonstrators.”

The list of items deemed potentially dangerous by police and seized from protesters included glue, marker pens, board games, cushions, carpet, wood, paint, and scissors as well as bicycle locks which could have been used to lock protesters to fences. Police also seized anything that could have been used to set up camp, including spades and duct tape, generators and hammers and nails.

Howarth said: “That the minister could defend as ‘proportionate’ a £5.9m policing operation in which there was not a single injury to police officers caused by the protesters beggars belief. The threat posed by environmental direct action is being systematically overblown by both the government and the police.

“I hope the government and the police will now stop trying to portray peaceful protesters as somehow equivalent to terrorists or violent extremists. In light of this new evidence, one has to ask, were climate campers so heavily policed because they posed any genuine threat of violence, or because they posed a challenge to government policy?”

Nick Thorpe, a spokesman for the climate camp, said: “Policing of peaceful protest has become increasingly heavy-handed. We saw thousands of officers swarming around a legal camp in a colossal waste of public money. The police and the government claimed there was a ‘violent minority’ of protesters but this Home Office admission reveals this as a complete fiction.”
Coal controversy

Kingsnorth, a power station built 45 years ago on the Medway estuary in Kent can burn oil as well as coal. Two years ago its owner, the energy company E.ON UK, announced plans to build two “cleaner coal units” there. The new plants are the focus of protest for climate-change activists who believe the development will discharge carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases at too high a level. The Kingsnorth development will involve the first purpose-built, coal-fired power stations in the UK since completion of the Drax station in Yorkshire in 1986. E.ON claims the majority of the local population favours the project, and says a carbon capture and storage system “could eventually see 90% of its emissions captured and stored underground”. The company insists its port facilities on the Hoo peninsula and its own fleet of colliers will let it easily import low-sulphur coal. The new plants are meant to be operational in 2012. Of Kingsnorth, Greenpeace says: “[It will] emit the same amount of CO2 as the 30 least polluting countries in the world combined, and destroy any chance we have of persuading China and India to stop building coal plants.”
Owen Bowcott

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/15/kingsnorth-climate-change-environment-police

I don’t really do christmas. I think the idea is so bankrupt.

All hail the lord god of shopping and greed etc……..

A slightly older idea is that of paying some attention to the seasons and celestial events.

With this in mind, I wish all a Happy Solstice !!

winter solstice this year being at:

12.04 GMT on 21st december

For a better understanding of what goes on, please check out:

http://www.archaeoastronomy.com

As for christmas, well, i think some greeks have an idea:

>>>>
In Athens, rioters torched the capital’s massive Christmas tree in central Syntagma Square. As the hooded youths moved on, some protesters posed for photos in front of the blaze, and others sang the Greek version of “O Christmas Tree.”
>>>>

Demos continue [December] at Heckler & Koch weapons HQ in Nottingham

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414750.html

In spite of the cold, raining and windy conditions, at 4pm on Monday 8th December, people had gathered at the gates to the UK headquarters of Heckler & Koch, based within the Easter Park Industrial Estate on Lenton Lane, Nottingham.

One would have thought that a city infamous for its gun crime would be a poor location for a warehouse full of guns. Not according to H&K, who do great business equipping war-mongers on any side.

Proud owners of H&K weaponry include the brutal militias of Darfur – the Janjaweed. Funnily enough, despite the outcry against the massacres in Darfur, they obviously weren’t quite bad enough to stop selling weapons to the perpetrators. Even a recent arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against a senior Sudanese politician accused of selling H&K weapons to the Janjaweed hasn’t seemed to stem the flow of H&K guns to a militia accused by everyone including the US of committing genocide. (H&K guns also fill the arsenals of the US Dept of Homeland Security, US Navy Seals & the FBI amongst others).

H&K have a ‘strategic partnership’ with the world’s largest mercenary company Blackwater. H&K supply the guns to the Iraqi and Afghan puppet governments, and Blackwater provide the training.

There was a plan for H&K to produce special edition ‘Blackwater’ weapons – complete with the Blackwater logo on them. However, after Blackwater made the headlines for killing 17 innocent Iraqis (not the first time that Blackwater have killed innocent Iraqis, but the first time that it made the news in a major way), the plan was shelved.

Interestingly, local media also came under pressure; Trent FM, who had shown some enthusiasm about reporting these demos, received a word in their ear from both H&K’s press office as well as the police, warning hacks that it would be ‘irresponsible’ to publish the fact that H&K has a warehouse full of weapons in Nottingham, as it may prompt criminals to try and steal them.

In response the campaigners pointed out to the radio station that H&K’s address was published at Company House, as well as in several business directories. About the radio station being leaned on, the campaigners said that “If the security policy of H&K and Notts police relies on no-one finding out the company’s location, then clearly it is they who are irresponsible, not our campaign and not the media. A large warehouse stocked with high-power assault rifles and submachine guns with inadequate security to prevent a robbery is clearly a significant danger to the public, and publicising such a danger is very much in the public interest.”

The H&K warehouse, located at Easter Park, Lenton Lane, Nottingham, is next to the ‘Trent Vineyard’, an evangelist church that held the funeral of Danielle Beccan, a 14 year old girl who was killed in a drive-by shooting. At her funeral service the then mayor of Nottingham said, “Guns have no place at all in our community – not in Nottingham, not in my city nor any other city in Britain.”

One campaigner said: “The arms trade relies on secrecy. Most people abhor the idea of factories and warehouse making and selling weapons around the world, and arms companies know this. By lifting the lid on the business, anti-arms protesters can make a put the pressure on the government/corporate killing machine to stop killing for profit.” [schNews]

As you can see from the front board, Unit 3 is simply ‘let’. One feels that they might just be a little embarrassed about their presence on the Easter Park Estate. Previous occupants had been the Royal Small Arms Factory. Even during wartime, they had a sign on the gate, saying who they were! Another example might be British Aerospace Works at Filton, Bristol. Again, they say who they are on the gate. This lot still remain shy of folks knowing of their activities. In my opinion, lights need to be shone into dark corners .

To highlight the link between the arms trade and refugees, Shut Down H&K and No Borders Nottingham held a demonstration on Saturday 29th November at 12:30 on Market Square in Nottingham called “FULL CIRCLE – from weapons to wars to refugees”.

Full Circle Demo: From weapons to wars to refugees. Market Sq. Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/12/414055.html

SchNews Report:
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news658.htm

There was a good turnout, in spite of the freezing weather. Leaflets handed out, drums banged, speeches made. and banners displayed. Further, to highlight their concerns, some folks held a “die-in” to help illustrate their worries for the violence attributed to the arms trade and its consequences.

……..

Shut Down Heckler & Koch Campaign

Heckler & Koch

earlier events:

Demos continue at Heckler & Koch weapons HQ in Nottingham
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/412769.html

Further Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons HQ in Nottingham : Pix 1
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/410821.html

Further Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons HQ in Nottingham : Pix 2
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/410842.html

Another Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403399.html

Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398393.html

Surveillance at Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398414.html

Protest at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham : Pictures
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/07/376847.html

‘Die-In’ at Nottingham University to protest at un-ethical investments
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340171.html

Nottingham University Student Die-In :: to protest at un-ethical investments
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/365708.html

******

RüstungsInformationsBüro

Informationen zu Waffenproduktion und Rüstungsexporten

Auch im Dezember: “Shut Down H&K” in Nottingham

Am vergangenen Montag, 8. Dezember 2008, haben britische AktivistInnen der Kampagne “Shut Down Heckler & Koch Nottingham” ihren allmonatlichen Protest vor der H&K-Niederlassung in der mittelenglischen Stadt Nottingham abgehalten. Dabei präsentierten sie als Zeichen der internationalen Solidarität auch ein Plakat mit dem Logo des Deutschen Aktionsnetzes Kleinwaffen Stoppen (DAKS).

Minderjährige Rekruten

“Shut Down Heckler & Koch” in Nottingham by Roman Deckert

Translation from the newsletter of the German Action Network to Stop Small Arms (DAKS), 11/2008

On October 14th, 2008, activists of „Nottingham against Militarism and the Arms Trade” in the Mid-Eastern English city protested against the British subsidiary of the German small arms producer Heckler & Koch (H&K). About forty protesters staged a colourful demonstration at the gate of the industrial Eastern Park to demand: „Shut Down H&K”.
The Campaign „Notts Anti-Militarism” has been organising such protests for more than a year and is doing so now on a monthly basis. The presence of H&K in Nottingham causes particular outrage since the city is notorious for its high rate of gun crimes. It is all the more grotesque that the peaceful demonstrators are frequently confronted by a massive number of police equipped with H&K weapons. The activists react to the photo-surveillance that the „security forces” exercise by publishing photographs of the police observers on the internet.

free festival that has been happening for last 6 years the Free-kuency-Fesival what happens in june for the summer solstice in portugal. Any djs, live acts shows ECT Please contact:

freekuencyfestival@hotmail.com or tol3sam@hotmail.com

Any one with ideas or any help is needed here for this festival live bands,shows,circus,any kind of schools,live acts ETC So please any one wish to perform or Participate please contact us on the email address above. Anyone willing to participate must understand that this is a FREE FESTIVAL so all input must be for FREE Thanks!!! PS: Sorry but This festival is NOT A TEKNIVAL its an FREE ALTERNATIVE CULTURE FESTIVAL but dont worry there will be always one or two big dance areas.

http://www.myspace.com/freekuencyfestival

http://www.myspace.com/tol3sam

On Thursday 23rd October, I attended the Nottingham Crown Court to hear the appeal against conviction of Henry Twigger.

On the 6th April 2008, Henry had initially painted graffiti on the Army Careers Office at the Victoria Centre, in Milton Street, Nottingham. He did so while wearing a hi-vis vest and was unmasked.

His choice of slogans included “War 4 Oil” & “Terrorists join here” on the front of the building in red paint. Since the place was last painted and decorated, CCTV equipment had been prominently installed and is capable of viewing the entire frontage. Having finished the job, and a policeman already dispatched to look into it; our hero greets the constable with a pot of red paint and a brush and invites him to view the handywork. He is arrested for criminal damage and dragged off in chains to the Bridewell Police Station.

Now, from the outset here, it is obvious that he done it, and he wasn’t sorry. Henry, a former Territorial Army Soldier says his objective was to warn the passing public and new recruits in particular about the illegal nature of the current military adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the 17th July Henry was before the beak at Nottingham Magistrates Court, were he was found guilty of Criminal Damage and sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge. Additionally, Henry had been directed to pay £200 compensation for the damage done to the Recruitment Office. At the time, he said he wouldn’t be paying because: “I don’t give money to terrorist organisations” 🙂

Stop the War Activist in Nottingham Magistrates Court
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/404021.html

Thursday’s hearing was about appealing this conviction. Appearing before Recorder WJH Harbage QC in the Crown Courts. Henry’s main plan was to point to the ‘lawful excuse’ provided for in 5.2.B. of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. http://tinyurl.com/56m264

The idea, as it is contained within a number of pieces of law, is to claim necessity or committing a crime to prevent a greater one. [see Kingsnorth & Ratcliffe power station cases] . Further, a person / fireman smashing down a door in order save a person from burning building, should not be convicted of criminal damage to the door. He said, “in this case, preventing a much greater crime that of illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Further the misleading information given by recruiting offices to recruits”.

He was a bit handicapped from the start, being unrepresented. He had a witness that he proposed to call for expert views but the first part of the case was about the ineligibility of him to be an ‘expert witness’. Also, they had not submitted a report to the court 7 days before as required. He was not academic or professionally qualified. However, as Henry points out, there are few in this field that are. Mr Chris Coverdale from the Campaign to Make Wars History had turned out to assist Henry, but his evidence was disallowed.

Henry outlines his case to the court: In a civilised society the citizen has a duty to make a public stand and to bring to attention of the public, the crimes and war crimes of genocide and murder. These crimes are committed by the government, ministers and officers. By their actions, whether they know it or not, they are in support of these heinous crimes. His citizens duty was thus to inform recruits of these matters. He did so in full view and with no intention to hide his actions. Henry goes on to tell the court of magnitude of deaths and injuries sustained. A few times during his explanation, the judge holds his speech, informs him the witness box is not a soapbox, and calls him back to the criminal damages act!

Mr Timothy Achurch for the prosecution questions if this was in fact an action designed to inform the public, or, simply straight vandalism. He fails to see how the paint and graffiti are necessary in the protection of property.

In judgement, Recorder Harbage dismisses the appeal.

There is no lawful excuse in his actions. He agrees with Mr Achurch that he fails to see how the paint and graffiti are necessary in the protection of property. Further, he states that the wars are not wars of aggression.

He does not doubt his sincerity but Henry Twiggers actions were not within the defence provided for with section 5.2.B of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. There simply was not the immediate need, say described in the example of breaking down a door to rescue from fire. His actions were far more removed and there was no lawful excuse. It was in fact, he said, no more than a publicity stunt. Appeal dismissed.

Mr Achurch asks for £335 costs. Judge orders cost paid within 28 days and that the original magistrates courts sentence of 12 months conditional discharge stands. There was of course the original £200 compensation to clean off his handwork. Henry says he still can’t pay that because it ‘aids and abets’ the system he’s protesting about.

Treaty between the United States and other Powers providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/imt/kbpact.htm

Kellogg-Briand Pact: an international treaty providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellogg-Briand_Pact

The Campaign to Make Wars History
http://www.makewarshistory.org.uk

On visiting this afternoon, we asked staff about the rumours that we had heard about closure. It turns out it had been an intense week at the Chase Neighbourhood Centre in St.Anns.

Much of the good works being conducted there are drawing to a close. Over 30 redundancies, notified at very short notice. Some paid positions and many volunteers. It is uncertain how this came to be, but we hope to provide a little more in-depth reporting of the background to this situation shortly. In the meantime however, suffice to say that urgent help is asked for and needed. It is an iconic building, there in the centre of the community at Robin Hood Chase.

One of the first projects down was the Youth Inclusion Project. An inspiration to those challenged by education, lack of employment opportunities and lack of self-esteem.

Awat Aziz from St.Ann’s said: “I joined the YIP in 2003 and learned how to make cloths, which lead to a voluntary job at Urban Fashion http://www.urbanfashionhouse.co.uk. “I’m running my own business now making tee-shirts. Before I went to the YIP I didn’t know anything about fashion, but now I am able to make my own clothes. I also learned computing”.

Some went on from the advantages that such projects give them, to become a mentor to help and inspire other youngsters. It is obvious when this happens that the whole community can only benefit. It is apparent the projects like YIP are so important in engaging with young people when they have more limited educational opportunities and if they have been excluded.

In addition to youth projects, it is the whole community who are about to suffer with this loss. Mother and baby groups, social groups where people can gather and share their experience, isolation for many is about to get more extreme. There is / was a large computing suite, this being so useful to get folks more skilled and hence employable. It seems such community provision has been so much more effective than anything the job centre had been able to offer to the unemployed.

In an area of deprivation, it was great to see efforts of so many people to engage and assist each other in life in general. A sense of community, ownership and sharing of problems and assets obviously follows from such a space.

I am sure that the lack of funding and support being offered to such community enterprises is very shortsighted and will inevitably result alienation, increased health costs, social exclusions in many forms and in increased policing costs. Thus in due time, you can expect demand for increasing funding from those authorities to cope with the fallout.

This is just one project in just one estate in one city. With the financial stuff the news is currently full of, I think we may expect this story to be repeated widely. Hold on to your hat, things are falling apart.

A slide show I made showing some of the artwork there:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TXbrivtLeiA

*****

More info from:

The Case Neighbourhood Centre
Robin Hood Chase
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG3 4EZ

Tel: 0115 950 6867

Building Info: http://www.segalselfbuild.co.uk/projects/chase.html

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After the Gen Sec of the NUJ, Jeremy dear wrote to the Home Sec …. and she replied saying policeman could restrict photography under some circumstances, I made freedom of information act enquiries of all uk police forces. I have collated them all since application in July and needless to say, I’m disappointed with the spread of responses.

Collected, they weigh in as 10.4Mb in a .PDF I guess anyone wanting this, or there local individual force reply, email me and will send you.

Further to this, the British Journal of Photography will be doing a splash about all this in the next issue [next Wednesday]. There is however, now an online ‘interim’ item at:

Exclusive: UK police forces unaware of agreed press guidelines

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=821193

Have sent London headless house the collected .PDF replies. Also given to my local Nottingham branch, after raising all this again on Monday.

I’d done this lot, in the light of the Home Secretaries letter stating: “Smith confirmed that there are no legal restrictions on the work that photographers and journalists can do in public, but added that local chief constables were allowed to restrict or monitor photography in certain circumstances.”

With this in mind, I made a further set of Freedom of Information Act enquiries of all police forces. My object was firstly to test this and to enquire of those individual police forces, the restrictions the Home Sec describes. But secondly, I think the differences in the replies, the lack of consistency, is just as large as before the guidelines were more widely adopted. I think they illustrate the need for a more proactive response in their dissemination. I hope this research strengths our case for action. Jeremy will be meeting Vernon Coaker, the shiny new home office minister, after the latest reshuffle.

I think in a democratic society like ours (??) the more senior police managers can only agree with us, that it is not an offence to take photographs in a public place and to pursue stories of public interest. Hence, I guess, we will find little opposition in agreeing the guidance with them. You will know that the real problems begin with the lower ranks.

Since my own arrest for obstruction, my adventures continue with a situation at least once a week.

You may know that on the Nottinghamshire Police Guidelines cover, it says: “Guidelines for police and media at incidents”.

On several occasions, I have been told that, “ah mate, no, it’s not an incident, it’s a scene!!”. For this to have happened several times, clearly there have been some watchroom conversations about it all, and to think up devices. Then, at a couple of criminal justice events, I found myself in conversation with middle rank Inspectors and Chief Inspectors who knew nothing of the issue of these guidelines locally. They were to have been widely distributed within the force after agreement.

A more common reaction though, when police are trying to prevent pictures being taken or I’m being hassled about my presence, is simply to push them back at me, without reading them or acknowledgement. Thus to plead continued ignorance of their provisions. Basically they just don’t care. Down here on the street, nothing has changed, all is the same as ever.

There is now another level of policing, non-warranted officers, wardens etc …. I have to say that they are even less clued-up, than the average policemen and these can be even more officious, and lack understanding of their powers.

John Toner was interviewed for this piece, you might find interesting:

http://current.com/items/88856223_you_can_t_picture_this

Since they do lack such understanding, I have asked locally if the wardens have been issued with the guidelines. I have been told that it was not relevant to do so and was not appropriate. Well, in the light of experience, I think it is.

You may also know that when we negotiated the Nottinghamshire Guidelines locally, I had made freedom of information act enquiries of all police forces, asking about their treatment of photographers at situations. It was the differences of reply that leads us to suppose that national guidance is required.

I think experience has shown though, that even if all is taken nationally, there is no consequence for them being ignored by police, and so they are. They do not form part of police operational orders. I know only to well of what happens to us if we are accused of breaking these guidance’s, we get arrested and convicted. I understand Roy Mincoff , Legal Officer with the NUJ was taking steps to see if these guidelines provisions could be included in the police and criminal evidence act. As far as I can see, this is the only way that the police will respect them, that if by ignoring them, that they break the law themselves.

In a written answer to Conservative Shadow Attorney General Domininc Grieve, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday [14th October 2008] stated that new guidance would be issued to police in November regarding s.44 searches of photographers:-

Terrorism: Stop and Search
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has given to the police on the exercise of their power under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to stop and search those taking photographs in public places. [219421
]acqui Smith: Guidance on stop and search powers under section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 was issued by the Home Office in Home Office Circular 038/2004 on 1 July 2004 covering the authorisations for the use of the power.
Operational guidance on the use of section 44 stop and search powers was issued by the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers in 2006.
Following a commitment given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in October 2007, the operational guidance issued to the police on section 44 is currently being reviewed by the Home Office, the police, community groups and other stakeholders. The National Police Improvement Agency will issue revised guidance to all police forces in November. This will cover the taking of photographs in public places, although the general position is that there is no legal restriction on photography in such places.

Riseup Radio is a community based podcast from Nottingham, UK. Reports on stuff that didn’t make other local media, music from local artists and bands and chatting about stuff that matters. We’re currently working on a monthly show, downloadable from the first day of each month. Download, listen, distribute, comment and contribute!

New shows are published on the 1st day of every month.

Like with most of the media we’re involved with here …. it is produced by a bunch of people involved in their community, concerned about issues, and trying to get and improve skills to be effective as they go along…….

In addition to the monthly podcast, you may also know of the series of ‘Sumac Debates’ that they have been recorded. The second of which will be on Mon 20 Oct @ 7.00pm.

If you think this work is worthwhile and you would like to contribute, Riseup Radio folks will be holding a ‘Skillshare’ session at the Sumac Centre on Saturday 1st November. 11.00am – 5.00pm >  It is hoped to get more technically competent, to include a wider variety of folks and thus cover more issues effectivly.  Please come.

I offer these notes – you might find helpful as a general sketch.

I think the notes might also help in adding more audio to Indymedia Newswire Reports. We don’t have to save it all up for a monthly show. Sometimes it is helpful to be more immediate as with any newswire item.

************

Riseup Radio :: Some thoughts and considerations on use, progress and ambitions.

Competence in making a set of recordings and then, the editing and producing a ‘show’ from them.

* Intro

For some years now, there have been a few groups producing podcasts here in Nottingham.  NotinNottingham [1], Leftlion [2], etc have been making shows that are primarily entertainments, based on the local music scene, social matters, gigs and youth based issues, providing the main subject matter. Student orgs and bands etc have also found the format useful and entertaining. A common factor though is that they are mostly devoid of an issue based content.

I first suggested the notion of a podcast, presented and contributed to from people concerned with the ‘issues’ we regularly deal with. At the ‘ASBO’ community squat in Radford, I found many of the issues of concern, regularly being discussed in the course of normal conversation, but not formally in interview, as this would have scared many off. Further, there was a music room with a variety of instruments, both electronic and acoustic, and a number of computers with audio software already installed.

The notion appeared strange to many, that their private conversations would be interesting to anyone else, further, people then stressed about what format, questions and the intensity of material to be discussed. You see when you are surrounded by people already involved in ‘stuff’, it becomes harder to think of a casual listener actually being interested in what your saying. However, I have heard a number of formats now from around the UK and quite a few yanks as well, where a group of friends / activists simply converse with each other on a range of issues, perhaps someone might have entered the room with a few bullet-points on paper and thus to facilitate and bring the conversation back to the point, now and again:-)

A microphone placed in the centre of the room when in a ‘social situation’ is soon forgotten. Perhaps if a little flush that week, the occasional crate of beer brought in might help.  It is thus obvious that people who are generally intimidated by the idea of interview soon ‘open out / up’ and have as much to say as others. The object is to get material out in the community so that these conversations become infectious and that they are continued in other social settings.  It is from these further discussions that we might then expect ‘action’ to take place and yet more people involved.

I personally, and over time, think I have learned more from friends and social sets in such conversations than I have from formal discussion on a range of issues. I think it is a great method to educate and inform and if someone occasionally strums a guitar, plays a flute, piano, bongo or triangle every so often, then great.

* Mic

Technically this might be more difficult to accomplish than planting a mic in front of someone and dealing with a ‘single source’.  Care would need to be taken in ‘equalising’ levels from various parts of the room. Also, it probable that with these conversational methods, you would end up with yards of material. There is no doubt that it is harder work to edit down, than the more formal interview. But I do like the impression of spontaneity that can be achieved.  It is then to be decided if it would be appropriate to ‘stream’ it live, to add more sound inputs to create a mix, or, to spend time cutting and re-editing to produce a show of a specific length. This of course could also be live, or, more commonly produced as a podcast MP3.

* Style

At the moment Riseup Radio is presented as a monthly 1 Hour + show, prepared for the first of the month. Additional ‘special shows’ have been prepared on separate issues aside from the main routine.  Depending on the number of events and people involved, it might be that more regular 30 min shows or weekly 20 minute ones might be more appropriate.  Basically, assessments need to be made as to what is less work for most effect and what people want to do.

The format Riseup Radio is currently produced in is a number of issues are selected either from individual’s preferences or an assessment made of the current issues going past on the Indymedia Newswire.  A roving reporter then sets out to interview folks who have to do with the issue. You might also consider asking people, generally, on their reaction to issues, they not directly connected with.  In both these circumstances, it is quite important to ask ‘open questions’ Say: “what do you think of the price of tomatoes”? As opposed to the more closed: “Isn’t it awful how expensive tomatoes are? The later ‘closed’ question is likely to result in just a yes or no answer.  The object is thus to get the interviewee to tell you more about ‘it’ and to expand, rather than imposing the interviewers thoughts on it all. With a number of interviews ‘bagged’,  back at base it is defiantly easier to produce a coherent show than the ‘social setup’ I described above.

* Tech

In both cases, a bit of practice is required in getting a recording of reasonable volume. Most equipment records to auto-levels.  Thus the only adjustment possible is to position the mic so as to get the main speakers heard clearly. If there is background noise, say on a demo, traffic on the street, or, it’s windy outside, you have to place the mic closer to the subject, but too close and you can hear puffs of breath and this is as bad.  If it is windy, then some mics have a ‘foam cover’.  Failing this a woolly glove finger or sock does seem to take the wind noise out, while still admitting sound. These are the most elementary precaution to take since to the listener, it really is so distracting and they will loose the sense of what’s being said.

Having got these ‘raw’ recordings, usually on a digital device, they are copied onto a computer. It is however, sometimes forgotten that you can plug a mic directly in the sound card of a PC or laptop, and using the really basic software like “Sound Recorder” supplied with Windows operating system, you can make perfectly good recordings.

Sometimes files are either copied / converted as large .WAV files or the more compressed MP3.  A routine of cutting pasting and editing can then be done in programs such as Soundforge, Nero, Audacity and others.

Having got a selection of ‘elements’, you need nothing more than use the same software to lay them end-to-end, speech and music in the order you decided and save to a resultant file. This is then a ‘show’. Quite good enough for some.

A more polished refinement is by the use of software like Ableton Live, Cubase etc. These enable you take the same elements but to overlap and mix them together to give a better sense of continuity.  It is a really steep learning curve to use these programs but like most software, you might only need to know how to perform a few regular routines to get some serviceable results. The programs allow you to ‘export’ an MP3 at different bit rates. This is a representation of the amount of quality available on the recording as balanced against the file size required to achieve it. Bare in mind what is it for! Is it for streaming, a link from a website, or upload to an existing setup like Indymedia? Will your average listener have a fast or very slow connection to the interweb? Is there a maximum file size beyond which it won’t fit?  For Indymedia on individual postings it’s 20Mb for example.

For a guide on quality for your exported MP3, you might be guided thus:

320 – 256 KBPS is CD quality
128 KBPS is like FM Radio
64 – 55 KBPS is similar to AM Radio

KBPS = kilobits per second.

* Mobiles & telephones

Without realising it, most people carry a recording device around with them most of the time. The mobile cell phone.  These, and the network providers they are connected to, are many and varied in their capabilities and you need to practice and talk to your network to see what is possible.

With your basic mobile you can sometimes select that you want to make a ‘memo’. This will then record a short note, directly on your phone. Some providers allow you to make a memo to your voicemail answerphone. A main problem is that many phones only allow you to record in their very compress ‘proprietary’ format, most commonly .aac .aif & .amr [3] . While a bit scary at first, I found that by starting from the phone manufactures website, you can frequently find their own software to convert these to the more usual .mp3 or .wav.

Some sites do already accept these mobile files and it is particularly useful in transmitting live, from the street or demo. It is currently a deficiency in Indymedia that the system does not recognise these files, but we are on the case!

You might also discover that you can assign your own number on a speed-dial. Hence, when you ring yourself up by simply pressing one button, you’re engaged! However, in many setups, being engaged means you are put straight through to your voicemail.  This of course, could be very useful in making covert recordings.

If in the course of your day, a policeman, security guard, company goon, bus conductor …  whatever, exceeds their authority or is rude to you, it might make suitable material [and evidence] for your show. Officers on finding a phone on you, do not instantly think of them being recorders / recording. In the past, I have been at some risk of violence, when an officer has discovered recording equipment on me, and realised what he has just said to me. Nowadays though, If they realise that information has already been transmitted, then they are out of their depth.

For an inspiring example check out what a sixteen year-old in London, managed to do.  The recording he made cost the officer his job [4] .  I was impressed.

Also, don’t forget the ordinary telephone. You can buy a telephone recorder, which is just a mic on a suction cup, which you stick on the back of the receiver and a jack you just plug into a recorder.  Don’t do it, they’re crap!  Much better are the ones that you plug into the telephone wall socket directly, [the phone itself then being plugged into the back of this socket].  Again, these generally have a 3.5mm jack output, and again can be plugged into any recording device, or the mic socket of your computer.  Telephone interviews are under represented on many reports [outside of the mainstream media] and I would like to see more folks give it a go. Very green – saves on travelling costs 🙂

* Rules

I guess there are not many ‘rules’ of composition of what makes a show more listenable. [well, not any that I know about anyway]. The test is do you get the info across to your audience in a concise and entertaining way? The best way of checking this is to just do it! Then, listen to friends opinions that you’ve practiced on, and wider audience reaction and amend what you do next time. To be a perfectionist stops so many people even starting.  It is so much better to give something a go and learn on the job.

Next step is to get an audience. Eventually you’ll want to know about subscribing to RSS feeds and the like, but all that is for another paper. …….

____________

Notes

[4]  Racist abuse PC could be sacked within weeks – Independent 20 May 2005
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/racist-abuse-pc-could-be-sacked-within-weeks-491318.html
Met race row after arrest recording –Guardian 20 May 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/may/20/race.ukcrime

*****

Riseup! Radio
e-mail: riseupradio@indymedia.org
Homepage: http://riseupradio.wordpress.com

Nottinghamshire Indymedia    http://notts.indymedia.org.uk

UK Indymedia             http://www.indymedia.org.uk

Skillshare sessions will be held at: Sumac Centre.
245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham, NG7 6HX
Ph: 0845 458 9595 / 0115 960 8254 http://www.sumac.org.uk

Sorry for the lack of postings lately, so much to do, so little time 🙂

But you’ll see have still been active on stuff

Please check out my ‘Collected’ Indymedia Postings at:

http://tinyurl.com/ynttvo

Photographer, Terence Eden gets stopped and searched under s44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Waterloo station, and makes a movie of this ‘security theatre’ whilst it’s happening.Terence Eden gets stopped and searched under s44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Waterloo station, and makes a movie of this ‘security theatre’ whilst it’s happening.

Eden was not taking photos prior to being searched, and police did not object to him videoing the search, so this incident does not qualify as an incursion into photo rights. However it’w worth viewing for an insight into the sheer pointless banality of these routine and arbitrary searches, backed up nonetheless by the threat of arrest for non-compliance.

http://www.qik.com/video/203590

I have just uploaded a large ‘best edit’ set of pictures of the Glastonbury Festival 2008

The set can be seen on my Flickr Pages at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tash/sets/72157606887128689

My son Sam, living out in Portugal, has posted a video on YouTube.  It shows something of the event they held, earlier in the summer.

Love the police idea of a warning 🙂 “please go home , you can be here no more”

Everyone one around, just ignored them and carried on.

He must learn to hold the camera still though.  It made me feel a bit giddy.

[youtube=http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=HmVYiI-6kCk]

An outsider’s view of the daily life of a group of hardcore environmental protesters.

Curious about direct political action, and eager to discover the personalities behind the banners, the filmmakers set up home among the trees. They follow a protest against Wales’ LNG pipeline – from unimpressive beginnings to its dramatic end.

Check out this video on Current TV at:

http://current.com/items/89120214_living_with_anarchists

When Murphy the garden gnome disappeared from Eve Stuart-Kelso’s garden in Gloucester, she feared she might never see him again.

But seven months later he was back, complete with a photo album detailing his extraordinary global odyssey. Steve Knibbs reports.

BBC Video clip http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7556244.stm

Photo Galery  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7556182.stm

Gnome in ocean off Thailand

E.ON’s replica of the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station has been occupied by one inch tall climate change campaigners. The drama unfolded at the Legoland park in Windsor – sponsored by E.ON – where the Lego Kingsnorth is given pride of place next to Big Ben and Canary Wharf.

[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ykkJJWgOu8A]

The Lego campaigners struck as hundreds of people gather at this year’s Climate Camp to protest the planned new coal plant at Kingsnorth in Kent.

The six campaigners appeared at the top of the construction at around 11am this morning, before unveiling a banner saying STOP CLIMATE CHANGE down the length of the tower. Lego police are in attendance at the foot of the tower, along with a Lego police helicopter.

E.ON proudly announced the construction of Britain’s newest coal-fired station at Legoland in 2006. The German utility giant is Britain’s single biggest greenhouse gas polluter. The company is aiming to have Kingsnorth 2 built by 2012. Despite claims that the new plant will be more efficient, it is estimated that it will emit 8.4 million tonnes of climate changing pollutants every year, compared to the 8.7 million tonnes the existing plant releases annually, and nowhere near the 80% reductions needed to combat global warming.

Neither the campaigners nor the police would comment, because they’re made of Lego and therefore can’t talk.