Alan Lodge's Blog

Support is vital over the next couple of days. 07050 656410

http://mysite.freeserve.com/sherwood_camp

Newgroup: of the latest news http://groups.msn.com/SherwoodForestSupportersGroup

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http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/285188.html

Bellway Homes are attempting to destroy a group of ancient trees and a natural meadowland to build what campaigners say is an unnecessary road junction. The area is supposedly guarded by a Tree Protection Order as it possesses a 300 year old beech tree, yet the council are refusing to take any action against the developers.

Local campaigners and residents at Mansfield Woodhouse’s tree houses’ and tunnels were visited by the Sherriff on Tuesday 10th February and informed that an eviction of the protest camp would be taking place imminently.

Welsh Bailiffs came on site with a warrant conducting a health and safety review of the site. They said they would be returning imminently with a professional tunnel team and climbers.

Campaigners hope they can delay the destruction long enough for action to be taken in the courts. On Saturday the small numbers present were boosted by a call for support which mobilised enough people to foil what they say was an illegal eviction attempt (report). The campaigers say they desparately need more people in site to help build defences, and to stay over night so numbers are at a maximum when the bailiffs move in. It seems likely it will happen very soon.

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http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/285168.html

From: Cookie Sent: 10/02/2004 15:45 – WELSH BALIFS have just been on site – They have done a safety meeting (we r relieved to that it seems it is going to be done properly) We need more defences put up URGENTLY if we are going to hold the site.

It IS worth holding the site as we can get to court now and stop damage to the trees once the eviction starts

We have confirmation that an illegal eviction HAD been planned for Sat and we DID avert it with the numbers that turned up

THIS IS IT – COME NOW OR SAY GOODBYE TO THIS SPECIAL BIT OF SHERWOOD FORREST

Previous posts:

From: Cookie Sent: 08/02/2004 23:22

OK peebs – story so far

60+ yellow coats in vacinity, some on Bellway property, some in disused railway carpark.

Machinery arrived day b4

ambulance and security etc.

called for assistence – MANY came

Site was buzzing and vans passing up and down constently.

Police were informed that we believed an illegal eviction was due to kick off. Police turned up and confronted security.

From: anon sent 7/02/2004 23:00

We believe we have possibly put them off an illegal ‘jump us’ style eviction. Who knows, all we know is it didnt happen. We are staying in defences and all ready for the off. Many security and yellow coats about – some work IS being done to railway – but not using all the people milling about by any means.

Due to phone problems (coincedence?) we have a new setup – calls to – 07050 656410 will get you through

I don’t believe this was a false alarm – but we are still here – still alot of security action about

Undersheriff and bulldozers near site now (7th Feb 11pm). People desperately needed on site and to offer support. More information: 07050 656410 Please phone this number if you need a lift to site or if you can offer lifts. Read more for important update! (8/2/2004)

John Vidal, environment editor

Saturday February 14, 2004

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1148059,00.html

One of Britain’s most historic landscapes is about to become the scene of a passionate encounter between conservationists, local communities and industry as protesters start to flock to a small valley in the Peak District national park.

At stake are the long abandoned Endcliffe and Lees Cross quarries at Stanton Lees in Derbyshire. Overgrown with ash, birch and beech trees on steeply sloping land leading up to the bronze age Nine Sisters stone circle ancient monument on the moor above, they have been worked for many centuries on a small scale to provide local stone. But they are about to be massively expanded to provide 3.2m tonnes of some of the most sought-after sandstone in Britain.

Before work can start, however, a battle of the intensity of the road protests at Twyford Down and Newbury in the 1990s looks inevitable. The 32-acre site has been occupied for four years by protesters who have already built more than 25 tree houses and dug a com plex of deep tunnels and defences in stone cavities. After a high court case last week, which gave the Stancliffe Stone company permission to evict them, they expect hundreds of people to join them.

There is also local anger that the landowner, Lord Edward Manners, of Haddon Hall, near Bakewell, stands to make many millions of pounds from the development, which will inevitably disturb the serenity of the 3,500-year-old standing stones which attract 40,000 people a year.

Under the contract, seen by the Guardian, Lord Manners’ Haddon estate will be paid rent of about £20,000 a year plus royalties of up to £4 a tonne of the soft, pinky-grey stone.

Yesterday the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) condemned the proposed new workings, which will come to within 200 yards of the stand ing stones, and said that a precedent would be set which could lead to more than 100 other dormant quarries in English national parks being reopened.

“This has national implications. It cannot be right that a permission issued in 1952 gives a company the right to destroy this hillside in the national park when if they applied today they would be refused out of hand,” said Andy Tickle.

When the first national parks were being set up in the early 1950s, quarry operators and landowners rushed to establish development rights. The government, anxious to push legislation through, caved in and gave them, in many cases, open-ended planning permissions which have been fought ever since. At least 100 of these old mineral extraction planning permissions still threaten English parks.

The protesters, many of whom are veterans of road camp evictions in the 1990s, were more direct. “The company is bloody-minded and stupid,” said Danny “Fiver”. “This is the most destructive thing you can do, yet it is in a national park. The authorities have failed to protect it. We are here to help defend it.”

Malcolm Dixon, former keyboard player with Captain Sensible, said: “We are still digging. We’re set up to hold out for several months. We have enough food stashes to stay that long or more. We ain’t going and it’s going to cost millions to get us out.”

The protesters, many of them from Derbyshire and Yorkshire, say they have been welcomed by the locals who have given them food, building materials and cash.

“We are not against quarrying but object to it being done in the national park on the scale envisaged. This will be 10 times bigger than all the quarrying that has been done here in 3,500 years,” said “Floaty” Sarah.

But their camp, which has its own postcode and is recognised by the local authority, has had a history of serious accidents which has led the company to call for the camp to be closed. Three protesters have died over the past four years. One person fell over a cliff, another died after a fire and a third fell into a river.

Yesterday the company defended its plans, saying it intended to restore the quarries even as it dug out the stone. “We’ve done noise and dust studies and looked at the impact on traffic and we believe it will have no discernible impact on the local communities. The effect will be minimal,” said Brian Wallace, managing director of Stancliffe Stone.

“We’ve consulted widely and explained the issues. We have adapted our plans to take account of their concerns. But we need this quarry as a reserve for when our other [nearby] quarry is worked out in a few years. Sixty-eight jobs are at risk,” he said.

John Bull, chairman of Peak District national park authority’s planning committee said legal advice was being sought. “This is a very sensitive site and we have said that we do not want it worked. But the quarries already have permission to reopen. It’s not in our power to refuse permission. Our role is to set the conditions for working the site appropriately.”

Yesterday the company admitted it was in talks about a possible land swap which would allow them to mine an equivalent amount of similar stone in a less sensitive area. “We’re open-minded but there is no point swapping one piece of land for another with no value,” said Mr Wallace.

http://rts.gn.apc.org/oil

Saturday 14 February, 3 o’clock prompt at the Eros statue, Picadilly Circus in the heart of London

Together we can… build the biggest ever human love bomb!

We are O-I-L. We are Operation Infinite Love

because we are… One In Love

Come and help build it. We need your help We are all the components of this great love machine Let’s start building it now. Are you more frightened of a massive group hug, or of the words “love bomb”?

To SOLVE our and the world’s problems and to EVOLVE as a humane race LOVE must be at the heart of our REVOLUTIONS

Meanwhile in San Francisco (and www.cheesebikini.com!)

http://rts.gn.apc.org/oil

contact: info@o-i-l.org

The BNP are holding a demonstration outside the NUJ headquarters, Headland House on Monday the 16th of February.

The alleged reason is to protest the poor media coverage of the death of a white youth in oldham, allegedly at the hands of Asian youth. The real reason of course is to use the opportunity – in the run up to the coming elections – to pose as the defenders of white people from so called Asian and Black thugs supposedly running amok murdering all white people – while the media and police do nothing. This of course if a lie designed to stir up prejudice. i.e. “the media and police are not defending white people, join/support the BNP and you will be safe bla bla bla…”

This seems like a pretty sophisticated approach as they are unlikely to turn up with daggers, bricks and balaclavas to do in Headland House in day light in the presence of the police and the media (which they would have invited for photo opps). The police say about a hundred BNP people are expected. Presumably they will be on the otherside of the road while the police line up in front of the NUJ pavement.

It is proposed that we hold a counter demo to show our opposition to the BNP. I suggest we meet outside WHSmiths at Kings Cross, at 12pm, which is half an hour before the Fascists are due to arrive at Headland House. We can then go up to Headland House together.

I have not been able to get in touch with the ANL and Unity Against Fascism, but I left a message with Unity Against Fascism, saying we would meet up at 12pm.

Please pass this information on and try and get as many people to Kings Cross at 12pm on Monday. It is very important that we send a clear message to the BNP that they are not welcome, and we will not allow our union to be intimidated and our members in this way.

http://www.nuj.org.uk

Sherwood Forest Protest Camp is also in urgent need of help.

Bailiffs have been on site recently and eviction seems imminent. “Security” forces had planned an illegal eviction but were thwarted when extra people and the cops turned up.

Bellway, the property developers, want to turn these magnificent woods into sawdust and build almost 300 poor-quality overpriced houses there instead.

A 300-year old beech tree is at the heart of the forest and serves as the HQ of the Protest Camp. Massive local support has been apparent since the camp was established 6 months ago. Meanwhile,

60-odd security, an ambulance (!) and cutting machinery have been hovering near the area, waiting to go in for the kill.

Support is vital over the next couple of days. 07050 656410

http://mysite.freeserve.com/sherwood_camp

If you can’t get down to the woods, you might want to phone Bellway on 0116 2727000 to tell them what you think, POLITELY of course!!

Have asked them, how i put a pay link on my webpage, so this is my first test ….

Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal.

Many folks say that they really like my work, find it useful and support me. I hope that some might support me with some funds, to keep going, Thanks.

Copy, sign and send on if you agree. gwen@aophoto.co.uk

To follow is a letter which is be sent to the European Commission from the International Federation of Journalists and in which we would like include as many creators signatures as possible:

“An Open Letter to the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Europe”

“Having regard to the spread of digital technology and to the increasing globalisation in the information society, we, the undersigned organisations representing creators in all the media throughout Europe, urge the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Europe to implement in every sphere of your activity the spirit and the letter of Article 151.4 of the Amsterdam Treaty , requiring an awareness of and support for the intellectual and cultural wealth of the European Union. Such, we believe, can only be achieved by a recognition of the fundamental role that creators play in the media industries, which now provide 6% of European GDP and employment for millions throughout the Member States in bringing the fruit of their skills and imagination before the public.

The development of intellectual property legislation in the European Union has contributed exceptionally to the promotion of innovation, diversity and creativity. Intellectual property protection for all creative talent in the media and the entertainment sector therefore needs to be fully acknowledged as an essential guarantee for the quality of the cultural industry.

Today the diverse and valuable expression of the European culture suffers under the threat of corporate homogenisation and by the widespread misuse of new technology. Business interests tend to give priority to profitability over cultural considerations and often seem to look out for markets in countries with the lowest level of protection of creators’ intellectual property rights. This has been and still frequently is the case in neighbouring countries, many of whom are now about to join the European Union.

Creators are always the weaker bargaining party and it is essential that they are able to decide for themselves how their work may be used and by whom.

Our European lawmakers have to ensure that all creators receive an equitable share of the profits that others make by exploiting their works. Only by continuing to support creators in their struggle to promote creative diversity and to demand the respect of their moral and economic rights can you truly ensure freedom of creation and of expression. This is the only way to guarantee a genuine choice for the consumer and a future to the enduring European contribution to global culture.

We therefore urge you to support the European intellectual and cultural identity, by resisting any attempt to weaken or diminish the intellectual property protection of the works of all creators. Brussels, 10th February 2004”

The Amsterdam treaty referred to was signed in 1999 and refers to the European Community , the article referred to (151.4) states:

“The Community shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under other provisions of this Treaty, in particular in order to respect and to promote the diversity of its cultures.”

If you are happy for your signature to be attached to this letter please-mail me directly with your consent.

Regards

Gwen

Gwen Thomas

Executive Director

Business & Legal Affairs

The Association of Photographers Ltd

81 Leonard Street

London EC2A 4QS

T: +44 (0)20 7739 6669 F: +44 (0)20 7739 8707

gwen@aophoto.co.uk

Started out across Strines Moor. On to Black Tor, wandered around in the area. Then struck south to the Salt Cellar.

The weatherman promised a sunny day. he was wrong. But least it didn’t rain.

Piccys on my FotoBlog at : http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=47032

map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=419610&y=389350&z=3&sv=419500,389500&st=4&ar=Y&dn=859

Had a wander up Stapleford Hill this morning, because i felt like it 🙂 There is one of the few trig points that I’ve seen near a city. And Guess what, its vandalised. Even some spraying, on the Hemlock Stone itself.

On my PhotBlog at: http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=46429

Legend has it that the Hemlock Stone was hurled at Lenton Priory, some four miles west of the stone, by the Devil. This tale of the Devil or some mischievous force hurling a stone and missing its mark occurs throughout the folk-literature of Europe. It is generally accepted that such legends reflect conflict between the early christian Church and their pagan contemporaries. The tale is more often than not associated with prehistoric sites like the large monoliths or standing stones erected by neolithic and bronze age man. Such stones were the centre of pagan worship well into the christian era.

map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=450125&y=338615&z=3&sv=450125,338615&st=4&ar=Y&dn=859

Me, I’m simply aghast!!

For supplying drugs…

That’s not a crap arrest of the week we hear you shout! But this one is the crappiest of crap arrests. 15-yr-old Brandon Kivi, a pupil at Caney Creek High School, Texas, was questioned by the cops after his school reported him for… lending his girlfriend his asthma inhaler when she was having an attack!!

Although both pupils use the same type of inhaler, the school reckoned this was supplying drugs and therefore a violation of its zero-tolerance anti-drug policy. No charges were brought, but the school still

expelled Kivi, who, along with his girlfriend, will be home educated from now on.

I’m just speechless.

Date: 28/02/2004

Event Costs: £20 (£15 conc) in advance; £25 on door

http://www.redeye.org.uk/redeye/eventsdetail.asp?uvarEventID=212

Redeye is delighted to announce its 2004 symposium, the centrepiece of its spring programme, on February 28th in Manchester.

The Symposium is called ‘NoPhoto: Privacy, Permission and Personal Space in Photography – a practical guide for photographers.’ It investigates the various pressures photographers are under not to take photographs, such as spin, rights protection, legal controls, jobsworths and simple over-cautiousness. It looks at whether any of these constraints are reasonable, and if not, what you can do about it. There are presentations from photographers who work in this area, including Alison Jackson, author of ‘Private’ and director of ‘Doubletake’; a Q&A session with a specialist lawyer; workshops, debate, stands and information.

If anyone has ever asked you not to take a photo, then you need to come.

http://www.redeye.org.uk/redeye/pdf/RedeyeSpring04.pdf

Have been asked by BBC TV Ch4 ‘Timeshift’ program, for a listing of what I thought were the main points of interest, regarding the lifestyle I describe around the rest of this site.

Here it is.

Motives: to look for alternatives to ‘modern life’.

Thoughts of sustainability, damage of modern society to environment.

Thoughts of the Hopi Indian prophecies. To, ‘tread lightly on the land’.

Nomadism Vs Settlement and agriculture. Farmers Vs Hunter-gatherers.

A tension, back to the stone age. City life, disconnected from ‘reality’, Psychologists talk of alienation.

We try to combat this with changes to lifestyle.

So, ‘ways of being,’ sustainability psychology, sustainable environment.

Simply experiments in life.

Wanting to live and associate with those that you want to, not neighbours you hate / or hate you 🙂

None of this is an easy alternative or ‘dropping-out’.

It is very ‘front-line’, dropping right in it !!

1. Windsor / festival Land-rights [peoples free festival august bank holiday] 1972 – 4.

Development from the Hyde Park Diggers, London Squatting Movement. Early free festivals, Fun.

Thames Valley Police Attack in August 1974.

2 .Stonehenge [now the new Peoples Free Festival [summer solstice]

superseded Windsor 1972-4 – 1984

‘Annual General’ meeting, when the rest of the calendar of events, got made up and discussed.

[some say one reason for the opposition to the Stonehenge festival was because of the risk of interference with the deployment of the Cruise Missile convoys from Greenham and Molesworth. Cruisewatch]

3. Greenham Common. RAF station for deployment of Cruise Missiles. Media invention of the ‘Peace Convoy’. Travelled there from Stonehenge. Plug into the existing peace camp.June1982.

4. Molesworth Peace Camp RAF station for deployment of Cruise Missiles. up to Feb 1985.

Field Marshal Hesltine and evictions

5. Battle of the Beanfield. Operation Solstice. Hants / wilts border. Legal cloak of High Court Injunction. 1st June 1985

6. Stoney Cross. Operation Daybreak. Re-run of the previous year, across 7 counties, much stress, but with less violence [police watched with much media interest]. Medieval Brigands speech. Setting for Section 39 Public Order Act 1986. [enacted April 1987]. Now Criminal Trespass. “If three people bring 12 vehicle on land, for the common purpose of residing there, then they commit and offence”.

7. Free Parties 1988 onward. section 39 was about ‘common purpose of residing’ What If they don’t stay long enough for the criminal trespass to take effect, but move after a night. Hence now a nocturnal activity.

8. Caslemorton Common. 1992 [and four similar events within weeks in that area]. Michael .Howard [bless him], now thinks of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Operation Snapshot, vast increase in Surveillance. Strengthen POA 86, and now include music style, repetitive beats etc…

9. Enviro protests: Twyford , Newbury, Birmingham Roads, Manchester Airport etc

10. Traveller and modern trav / ravers / free party person, now leave country in large numbers 1995. European countries enact similar laws, to offset people reason to leave UK >>

11. Reclaim The Streets [RTS] in cities invented, to out-manoeuvre rural road blocks. and still be able to gather. 1996 onwards

12. Anti-social behaviour Act 2003. + ‘Gathering’ of more than two. Terrorism Act 2000

Have previously told you of this convoy of misc hippies and travellers, leaving Southern Europe, to truck on down the coast of West Africa.

http://www.memenet.de/tour_eng.html

from Almeria-Spain to St. Louis-Senegal.

Just been sent these links to show something of thier progress.

http://keyabou.free.fr/afriktouractionsr.htm

and here with a road map : http://keyabou.free.fr/afriktourjournal.htm

They Say:

I don’t have the words in english to tell u what summer it was for us…

sorry !!! I hope fotoz will speak for me 🙂 ziah.

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My son, Sam, has lived in Orgiva, Southern Spain for a while. He and some friends charged of to Morocco, recently, ahead of some of this convoy.

I made a website for him, that is worth checking out, for what’s going on there.

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

“Thought a few peeps might be interested in this – either helping with the planning, or just turning up to party on the night.

Went on the last one and had an absolute blast: hundreds of people taking over a train for a party round the circle line for a couple of laps; loads of decorations, mirror balls, streamers, etc. Commuters were greeted and offered a selection of drinks (with appropriate mixers, of course!) and

nibbles and most joined in the party-spirit, though there were still the odd couple who refused to make eye-contact, therefore this wasn’t really happening…

There was a small sound system in one carriage, which ran some speakers through to another one, too; I was part of the samba band, who had the last carriage, although everyone was joining in with the percussion – about 600 people showed-up. There was even naked pole-dancing, haha.

A bit situationist maybe, but hey – that ain’t necessarily a bad thing…”

Anyway, details below and the Space Hijackers site is here –

www.spacehijackers.co.uk

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Circle Line Party 3 planning meeting

Back by public demand!

Due to conversations with previous CLP planners, and general excitement, it has been decided that it is high time to bust open London Undergrounds codes of conduct once again and reclaim our public transport system.

Incase anyone has forgotten or been living in a vacuum, we have previously held two ‘Underground’ parties on London Transports Circle Line tube. The first in 1999 with around 150 atendees, the second in 2003 with around 600 party goers!

Click below for the report of the last one:

http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk/html/projects/circle2/party.html

The manifesto for the last party was simple, and something that still stands:

To create an expression of freedom, a protest against the oppressive, repressive, war mongering policies of greedy white men that want to rule the world. An attempt to promote DIY culture in an age of rampant consumerism. A space for interaction between people, away from the clutches of Capitalism, and two fingers up at the constant clampdown on civil liberties and un-commodified fun.

THIS IS NOT JUST OUR PARTY, EVERYONE ON THE TRAIN IS WELCOME AND INVITED.

NO-ONE SHOULD FEEL LEFT OUT OR SCARED, OFFER DRINKS, OFFER SWEETS, GIVE A

WINK AND A SMILE!

The last one was so much work, that our little planning group was exhausted by the end of it, the next one is going to be even bigger, and we are going to need fresh ideas to keep one step ahead.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING PLAN FOR A CLP3? WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BREAKING LAWS JUST FINDING GAPS BETWEEN THEM.

MEET: 6.30PM SUNDAY 8TH FEB THE ANGEL PUB, ST GILES HIGH STREET, LONDON

click here for a map

http://www.STREEtmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=529951&y=181275&z=1&sv=529750,181250&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

Of course if you are not in the UK do not let this stop you, get together a crew, organise a party in your local public transport system! Use the agents database on our website, search out like minded troublemakers and have fun.

WORLD RECLAIM YOUR TRANSPORT DAY!

Have just finished this NUJ course, up in Barnsley. Twas very interesting and informative. Mainly for ‘staffers’ in the union, but it was useful for us freelance types also.

Am writing to invite you to take part in a course that will teach you, and any of your colleagues who may be interested, the basic skills of being an NUJ rep. It is happening at the Northern College, near Barnsley, on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 of February.

http://www.northern.ac.uk

As an interested member of the NUJ I think you will find the course very useful. If you have been on other courses it is still worth doing the basic reps programme.

The union will pay for accommodation, food, course, and travel costs.

One of the most beneficial things about attending an NUJ course is that you meet other union members who are dealing with the same issues as you every day.

If the union is recognised in your workplace you should receive paid time off to attend. Freelances, PRs, and members in non-recognised workplaces are also welcome to attend.

The Northern College is set in beautiful countryside and specialises in adult and trade union education.

NUJ Training Courses http://www.nujtraining.org.uk

For More Information Visit: http://www.blockthebase.org.uk

DATE: Friday 19th March. TIME: 12:30pm Onwards.

AIMS OF THE BLOCKADE: “Their will be a demonstration for those who do not wish to take part in direct action, as well as food, music, speeches, stalls, workshops, & more to keep you entertained. The main

blockade will aim to shut down or disrupt Menwith Hill for as long as possible using non-violent direct action. We will stop traffic from entering or leaving the site (except in emergencies). In doing so we aim

to raise awareness of the workings of the base & its role in espionage, war-fighting & star wars, & highlight the fact that this country has a number of US bases on its soil, none of which are accountable to British people.”

BLOCK THE BASE: Organised By Yorkshire CND. To Contact Them: 22 Edmund Street, Bradford, BD5 0BH. Tel: 01274 730795 – Fax: 01274 414413

Email: info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk

Web: http://www.yorkshirecnd.org.uk

DIRECTIONS: NSA Menwith Hill is 8 miles from Harrogate on the A59 going West. Coming out of Harrogate on the A59 there are signs to RAF Menwith Hill. You will eventually see big white ‘golfballs’. As you near NSA Menwith Hill there is a pub called ‘Black Bull’ on your right. Just past the pub turn right into Cold Coates Lane (there is a sign post to RAF Menwith Hill). The police will direct you from there.

MENWITH HILL ROAD MAP BELOW:

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=420000&Y=450000&scale=200000

BACKGROUND: “The Menwith Hill spy base, in North Yorkshire, is run by the National Security Agency (NSA) of the U.S. The NSA was set up by Presidential decree in 1952 without debate in the U.S Congress. It is an integral part of U.S Star Wars plans, & Menwith Hill’s ongoing expansion means it is able to transmit & receive communications & images from space. This will help US Space Command in its mission to see & hear everything on the planet & enable laser weapons to be able to reach anywhere on the earth within a target of about six feet.

Menwith Hill is listening. International telecommunications, including private telephone calls, faxes & e-mails are intercepted from around the world. In 1997 a European Parliament report made it clear civil

liberties are threatened by the NSA at Menwith Hill. Information collected goes directly to Fort Meade, Maryland in the U.S. The British government is given selected information on a ‘need-to-know’ basis via

GCHQ, Cheltenham, who also have some employees working at Menwith Hill.”

Related Links:

http://www.caab.org.uk

http://www.tridentploughshares.org

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1135879,00.html

As the drug is downgraded, police crack down on internet vendors offering supplies by post

David McCandless

Saturday January 31, 2004

The Guardian

It will arrive next day by registered delivery in an unassuming padded envelope, promises the blurb on the British website. Inside, vacuum-sealed, will be 7.5g of AK47 – high-grade Cannabis sativa. “Very strong nice smoke,” gushes the sales copy on the site. “Back by popular demand.”

On Thursday British drug law underwent its most radical shakeup for decades when cannabis was downgraded to class C. Although simple possession is unlikely to lead to prosecution in most cases, the drug remains illegal and dealing or possession with intent to supply will carry a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

But a Guardian investigation has established that at least five large-scale online cannabis vendors are operating in this country, in competition with more established Dutch sites. As a result, the drug has never been so easy to buy online.

Electronic payment systems, anonymity and ease of-use have led to a boom in illegal web weed outlets. For an increasing number of dealers and users, the internet is now the first port of call for buying and selling cannabis.

The British sites vary in sophistication and scale. Some are glossy and graphic-designed, brazenly selling their wares to all comers. Others are just simple login pages, with passwords for regular customers only.

All offer a selection of cannabis rarely seen outside Amsterdam coffee shops: potent connoisseur varieties including Jack Herer, Charas, and Ketama Gold. Some are so strong they require health warnings. “Caution!” reads the description for super-strong hashish Black Ice available from one retailer. “Extremely experienced smokers only, please.”

Each of the sites boasts levels of technological sophistication more associated with mainstream 21st century e-commerce outfits such as Amazon or eBay. Most sites support “one click” ordering and secure digital payment systems such as Paypal and its smaller rival, nochex.com. Minimum orders are typically 7g (0.25oz), maximum 28g. Many are open from 9am until 5pm weekdays and provide customer service via email. Orders placed before 1pm are guaranteed to arrive the next day. They can even be tracked via the Royal Mail website.

The product arrives fresh, potent and perfectly weighed. The prices are not cheap – around £50 for a quarter of an ounce on average – but web forums have been full of customers praising the merchandise.

There are now the first signs of a crackdown by the authorities. On December 22, in the first operation of its kind, police from the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit raided one of the leading cannabis e-tailers after a five-month investigation. The site – which before the raid had the internet address www.pepespage.net – had been active for around 18 months. A picture of the cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew, smoking a large joint, adorned the homepage.

The police estimate that the site generated more than £500,000 in revenues. They made three arrests and confiscated several computers in Herefordshire and Sussex.

“All the investigation team have been amazed by the amount of activity that these sites have had and the quantity of orders placed via the internet,” said an investigating officer, Matt Cornish of the Herefordshire police.

This sudden show of force has sent ripples through an already fearful market. Since the bust, several leading sites have shut down. One, similar in scale to Pepe’s, has taken an extended Christmas break. A promise on its homepage to “reopen fully on December 29” has not been honoured. Forums are swollen with pot smokers bemoaning the loss of their suppliers.

Given the scale and openness of the industry, few seem surprised that the crackdown has been launched.

“Advertising a website in that way, they were asking for it. I would never do that,” said Hermes the Hash Trader, a Dutch online dealer with a large customer base in Britain.

Hermes, in his late 20s, is one of several dealers who operate out of email addresses to minimise their chances of being caught.

The former trader and funds administrator has been running his e-business for six months. “I spent months, not to mention thousands of euros, establishing a network of contacts,” he said.

His downloadable menu offers 50 varieties of grass and hash. Prices range from £15 to £75 for an eighth of an ounce. The minimum order is £50.

But he confesses to being dogged by constant worries about being busted. “Generally I do enjoy it,” he said.

“It’s a good job, and usually fun, but it has its downside. It can get very stressful at times.”

Customs’ seizures are also a constant bugbear. He estimates that one in 50 of his deliveries is intercepted en route to Britain. He does offer refunds for lost orders but only to customers who supply a digital scan of the official Customs and Excise 271 form received if controlled drugs are discovered in your mail.

Most of his customers come from word of mouth and referrals. Most traders are hard to find and prefer it that way.

Websites are hidden from search engines like Google. Most experts agree that the given the scale and anonymity of the internet, the online drug trade is unstoppable.

“The government is going to learn what the music industry is learning. The net is a wall-buster,” the technology journalist and former Wired magazine columnist Jon Katz has said.

“It’s not policeable. There are not enough cops in the world to monitor all the communications and digital commerce that’s going on.”

Forensic experts of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit are examining the computers seized in December for electronic evidence, including the names and email addresses of customers. The unit would not comment on whether this would lead to arrests of those who had used the service.

Most buyers, however, are not put off by the risk of potential intercepted mail or arrest.

“My source got busted but I definitely would buy from an online supplier again,” said Sam, 31, a video technician who ordered nearly two ounces from one retailer last year. “I haven’t found a new source yet, but I’m looking.”

The police insist the downgrading of cannabis to class C will not change their attitude to online cannabis retailers.

“We will target any site engaged in the wholesale supply of controlled drugs,” they say. “This is one of our key priorities.”

The dealers, however, are hoping it will signal an upturn in business. “There’s a fair chance the trade will mushroom when the laws relax,” Hermes said. “My plans are to expand until I reach full capacity.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1135879,00.html

This is getting so much worse. Zillions of mails from Nigeria [in particular], promising free money, all clearly scams by the local gangsters.

But, not engaging with these chaps is not enough. The volume of them is simply getting oppressive. It amounts to a ‘denial of service’. Bloody hooligans!

I tried writing a simple request for info, from the Nigerian High Commission. No courtesy of a reply of course, but though I would try the correct way of complaint before I go to stage two 🙂

I’ve just sent the first batch of several hundred spam mails, sent to me, forwarded on to them. Just me doing this, wont change much, but if all gave it a go .. .. .. I imagine they’ll get cross.

* * * * * *

Nigerian High Commissioner

London

UK.

chancery@nigeriahighcommissionuk.com

Subj: spam mail from Nigeria

Sir

As you may know, span [unsolicited email] is an international problem, and needs to be dealt with by international treaties, to most effective.

Like everyone else, I get my fair share.

However, over this last year, over 90% of such mail, arriving in my mail box, is from people in Nigeria, asking me to engage in non-existent business proposals. They usual involve the laundering of ex-presidents money etc.

To have your country so over represented in this annoying practice, may perhaps be considered my many, to be indicative of a lack of care, by your government, in its business reputation.

I guess there are millions of us in this situation, but as time goes by, the volume is increasing. You may gather, so is the annoyance of those receiving all this.

I don’t suppose that there is an easy answer, but I would ask what, if anything at all, is being done to deal with the situation.

I know little of your country, but, I think you’ll agree that your reputation international is being harmed by this plague.

I have many contacts in the UK, both friends and business, and ALL report the same situation, so it is not as if I am just an unlucky recipient. The police also say the same.

A simple request to you for information. What is being done?

If you doubt the volume of the problem I report to you, perhaps I may start to forward examples, to so demonstrate, rather than just delete by the hundred, as I currently do.

I trust I may hear from you shortly.

Very best

Alan Lodge

* * * * * *

Nigerian Emails africanscam.co.uk http://www.africanscam.co.uk and ….

http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com further, http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/419.htm

This is from this week SchNews.

I think this a bloody sickening, but fear, and expect, there to be much more like it. Bastards!!!

Travel Sickness

People being kicked off land which they own and then having their dwellings burned out?! We must be talking about Palestine, here…

Er, no – Essex.

On Monday, a travellers’ site at Meadowlands near Chelmsford was evicted, with four arrests, forcing 30 people off land they own and had been on since 2001. To do the dirty work, Chelmsford Council brought in self-proclaimed ‘gypsy and squatter eviction specialists’ Constant And Co, who had to get past earth banks, barricades and ditches, plus the travellers and supporters in order to clear the site. Constant were determined not to lose two

in a row after travellers in Bulkington near Coventry successfully defended their self-owned site several weeks before, giving the 150 residents a much-needed reprieve.

When the bailiffs took the site in Meadowlands on Monday, it was agreed after negotiations that the ten caravans still there were to be taken by Constant to another site at Epsom. This never happened, however. Instead, by the end of the following day, several caravans had been burned out on the nearby roadside where Constant had left them after briefly towing them away from the original site. A witness with a camera who visited on Tuesday to

see the smoldering ruins of peoples’ homes was intimidated by Constant staff, who claimed that the caravans were torched – by the travellers themselves! – at 3am on Monday night. A supporter who stayed in one of the caravans on Monday night contradicted this ridiculous claim. Now travellers are trying to get a straight answer from the Chelmsford Council as to why Constant never delivered the caravans to the Epsom site. It makes us at SchNEWS

wonder… we know Constant And Co are the ‘gypsy and squatter eviction specialists’, now we’d like to know who the covert arson specialists are!

To compensate the travellers for the inconvenience of being made homeless, Chelmsford Council set up a “homeless office” in nearby Great Waltham at the parish hall, but omitted to tell the travellers the facility was available, and anyway there was a roadblock stopping them getting there. A few travellers were then sent to the Silverwood motel in Essex, but after only two nights, and during mid winter snowfall, they were being forced to provide ID, proof of income, and proof of links to Meadowlands, for the privilege of continuing their stay. There is also a chance that the council will exercise their legal right to repossess the land to pay for the eviction, which cost £100,000. The site is conveniently worth £90,000.

Now, we know that it’s the middle of winter and all that, but Meadowlands could have been saved if there’d been more support at the eviction. This was not a one-off event – counties up and down the country have long-held campaigns to rid their area of travellers, whether they be Romany, or so-called ‘new age’. For instance two self-owned sites near Epping – Hamlet Hill and Paynes Lane – are under threat of eviction and urgently need help.

Trouble also looms for the traveller-owned Dale Farm near Basildon – home to over 1,000! – which is a virtual village with established gardens and dwellings (albeit without planning

permission). The local Tory MP is soon to meet Tory Tony himself to seek extra powers to enforce an eviction. Travellers in Totnes wrote to us recently about being forced onto an ‘authorised’ council site next to a busy road.

Travellers are struggling for the right to live on land – even when they own it – yet countless developments and roads get rubber stamped all the time on public land. Contact the following groups to find out how you can help travellers resisting eviction in your area:

* National Travellers Action Group 01767689736

* Romani Congress 2004 www.lafn.org/~romanokongreso

* For recent history of travellers in Britain see http://tash.gn.apc.org/

* For more info on Meadowlands 01206 523528 or ustiben.5@ntlworld.com

* Please don’t pester Constant And Co, who are doing a great job of ethnically cleansing Britain!Constant And Co

the direct link, for those interested is:

http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/content/report/index.htm