RATCLIFFE ON TRIAL ‘SHOW OF SOLIDARITY’
9am, 22nd November
Outside Nottingham Crown Court
Next Monday 20 activists begin their long awaited trial. Accused of conspiring to shut down Ratcliffe on Soar power station, they don’t deny this was their intention. However they are pleading Not Guilty on the grounds that they planned to act to prevent loss of life and serious injury caused by climate change.
With the trial due to begin Monday morning, we are asking supporters from far and wide to congregate outside the Crown Court at 9am for a Show of Solidarity before the trial gets underway. You don’t need to bring anything but yourselves, and we will be inviting you to hold banners reading “I’d Stop Emissions Too”.
We ask for a calm presence that doesn’t disrupt the trial. But the more attendees the better. This is the culmination of an exhausting 18 month process for the defendants, who face a maximum sentence of three months in prison. A big show of support would make their day.
Get booking your travel, or organise a mini-bus with your local group. For more information, email info@ratcliffeontrial.org
See you next Monday,
Ratcliffe on Trial campaign support group
PS: Join the Facebook Event: http://on.fb.me/92y0Yx
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THE INSTANT INFO BOARD: PRINT IT OUT, STICK IT UP
A few of the Ratcliffe on Trial supporters have been hard at work over the last few days, putting together an “instant info board”. This 8-page document explains, briefly, the various different aspects of the trial, the context, the necessity defence and how to help. We’d love it if supporters around the country could print it out and stick it up in your local social centre, students union, workplace or anywhere else you can think of. Thanks!
Download it here:
http://ratcliffeontrial.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ratcliffeontrial.pdf
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MANCHESTER AIRPORT ON TRIAL
In May 2010, seventeen people staged a protest/direct action at Manchester Airport, temporarily shutting it down. They did this to stop some of the 5 million tonnes of carbon emissions that the airport is responsible for annually and in opposition to plans to destroy local homes and biodiversity spots to expand the World Freight Centre.
Mission:
17 people are now facing two trials as a result of this action. 11 people will be tried for ‘obstruction of the highway’ in Dec 2010. The remaining 6 will face a trial in early 2011.
Please
-Email statements of support to manchesterairportontrial@gmail.com
-Like the Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/92b4jo
-www.manchesterairportontrial.org/
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Update:
On 25 November 2010, the Copenhagen District Court found Stine Gry Jonassen and Tannie Nyboe guilty in charges of being organisers and instigators of violence and vandalism. The incident took place on 16th of December at Bella Centre last year during the climate summit in Copenhagen. The two women were sentenced to four months of probation. One out of three judges disagreed with the verdict and thought the women were innocent of all charges.
Stine Gry and Tannie Nyboe both acted as spokespersons for the Global Network “Climate Justice Action” (CJA).
During the Cop15 last year, CJA organised several non-violent civil
disobedience protests, including the “Reclaim Power – Push for Climate Justice” rally on 16th of December. The two women were both the public faces of the movement and they are now found guilty in charges of being organisers and instigators of violence and riots. They are both deeply shocked by the outcome of the trial and are now considering an appeal.
More: http://www.climatecollective.org/post/151
CLIMATE DEFENCE IS NOT AN OFFENCE!