CLIMATE ACTION NEWS SHEET 72, OCTOBER 2007

Compiled and sent out by Rising Tide UK: info at risingtide.org.uk
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CONTENTS:
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UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION VS. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
2) SAVE SWALLOWS WOOD – OCTOBER 2007 UPDATE
3) NATIONAL CLIMATE CAMP ACTION PLANNING MEETING – 3-4.11.07 OXFORD
4) CLIMATE CAMPS – 2008 GERMANY AND WORLDWIDE!
5) TARA UPDATE – 22.9.07 IRELAND
6) CRITICAL MASS UPDATES – NATIONWIDE
7) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE FILM NIGHTS – AUTUMN 2007
8) TEMPORARY AUTONOMOUS ART – OCT ’07, EDINBURGH & MANCHESTER
9) WRITE IN DEFENCE OF ISOLATED PERUVIAN TRIBES – 17.9.07
10) STUDENT CLIMATE PROJECT LAUNCH GATHERING – OXFORD, 30.11-2.12.07

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-
1) ROSSPORT SOLIDARITY DEMOS – 14.9.07 LEEDS, LONDON, BRISTOL, READING,
MADRID & IRELAND
2) DIRECT ACTION IN BRISTOL – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
3) WHY CARBON TRADING ISN’T WORKING – ARTICLES 2006/7
4) GAGGED! SOUTH WALES ANARCHIST NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2007
5) FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS SHELLS ARCTIC DRILLING – 14.9.07
6) BANK PULLS SAKHALIN-2 FUNDING – 15.8.07
7) "FLOOD SUMMIT" AT AIRPORT – 3.9.07 DONCASTER, YORKS.
8) COAL ACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA – 2/3.9.07
9) GLOBAL ACTIONS AGAINST HEAVY INDUSTRY – 12.9.07
10) GREEK DIRECT ACTION – SEPTEMBER 2007
11) CRITICAL MASS AND CARFREE DAY IN BRUSSELS – 24.9.07
12) ART NOT OIL 2007 GALLERY HITS 50

———————————————-
UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS:
———————————————-
1) NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTION AGAINST ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – 15.10.07
RBS, the self-described ‘Oil and Gas Bank’ and second-largest bank in
Europe is the leading financier of climate change. From West Africa to the
Ecuadorian rainforest, from the North Sea to the Middle East, RBS loans
play a key role in forcing open the new carbon frontier. The thirty oil
and gas finance deals RBS signed between 2001 and 2006 locked us all into
655 million tonnes of emissions over the next 15 years – more than the
UK’s current annual emissions total!
On 15th October, get together with your local group, build on connections
made at the Camp, reach out to others in your area and confront RBS with
your own chosen style of creative direct action.

To find your nearest RBS branch or office:
www.rbs.co.uk/microsites/general/branch_locator/step1.asp
Download Platform’s report ‘The Oil and Gas Bank’:
www.carbonweb.org/documents/Oil_&_Gas_Bank.pdf
For help with planning effective actions: www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk

One such action is being planned in conjunction with West Cornwall Friends
of the Earth; Outside Royal Bank of Scotland, Green St (off Lemon Quay),
Truro,
12 noon, Mon 15th Oct. Contact RTUK for others.

2) SAVE SWALLOWS WOOD – OCTOBER 2007 UPDATE
A lot has been happening in the last few weeks, including the inaugural
Glossop Critical Mass. Also, there are two URGENT letter actions that they
need your help with. They should only take a few minutes of your time.
www.saveswallowswood.org.uk

3) NATIONAL CLIMATE CAMP ACTION PLANNING MEETING – 3-4.11.07 OXFORD
The Climate Camp didn’t stop climate change – but it’s part of a growing
social movement that can! Come and take the next steps forward at the
upcoming UK-wide meeting on Nov 3-4 in Oxford. Everyone is welcome,
whether you came to the camp, or were simply inspired by it.
www.climatecamp.org.uk

4) CLIMATE CAMPS – 2008 GERMANY AND WORLDWIDE!
Following the model established by the Camp for Climate Action in the UK,
plans are afoot for a Climate-Action Camp in Germany in 2008. This will
include knowledge exchange (in workshops), self-organised living that
minimises the ecological footprint, networking and direct action. There
are plans for similar camps to be set up next year in several countries.
watch this space…
www.climatecamp.org.uk

http://www.klimacamp.org/

5) TARA UPDATE – 22.9.07 IRELAND
They are desperate for more people and supplies on site. There are
currently just 20 people trying to stop work all over the Tara Skryne
valley.
www.tarapixie.net
www.savetara.com
www.circlecommunity.org
For recent videos & photos of protests see;
http://livevideo.com/tarapixie

6) CRITICAL MASS UPDATES – NATIONWIDE
For info. and updates check;
http://www.urban75.com/Action/critical.html

7) PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENT CENTRE FILM NIGHTS – AUTUMN 2007
Including "Reclaim Power" 19.10.07 at 7pm followed by discussion with
Rising Tide representative.

http://plymouthenvironmentcentre.org.uk/events.php#film-nights

8) TEMPORARY AUTONOMOUS ART SHOWS – OCTOBER 2007 EDINBURGH & MANCHESTER
Edinburgh 10th-14th October
Manchester 24th-28th October
For further info. check;
http://www.randomartists.org/

9) WRITE IN DEFENCE OF ISOLATED PERUVIAN TRIBES – 17.9.07
Two companies planning to explore for oil in Peruvian rainforest have
revealed their sensitive plans to ‘communicate’ with the previously
uncontacted inhabitants using megaphones! In the past, oil company workers
in the Amazon region have been killed by isolated Indians. Despite this
risk to their own workers, and the equal danger of spreading fatal
diseases to the Indians, the companies – Barrett Resources of the US and
Repsol YPF of Spain – have refused to suspend their plans.
http://www.survival-international.org/news/2502
You can help by writing a letter;
http://www.survival-international.org/actnow/letters/isolatedindians

10) STUDENT CLIMATE PROJECT LAUNCH GATHERING – OXFORD, 30.11-2.12.07

‘The Student Climate Project came out of discussions at the 2007 Climate
Camp, and
seeks bring together students to take collective action against the root
causes of
Climate Change. It will also develop ways to build the student movement
and deal
with Climate Change issues in the education system. The project is
non-hierarchical
and based on consensus decision making, and the Launch Gathering is the
perfect
opportunity to get involved, share your ideas and plan for action. See
www.studentclimateproject.org.uk’

———————————————-
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
———————————————-

1) ROSSPORT SOLIDARITY DEMOS – 14.9.07 LEEDS, LONDON, BRISTOL, READING,
MADRID & IRELAND
There were a series of demonstrations held in solidarity with the day of
action against Shell’s plans for a gas pipeline & refinery in Mayo,
Ireland.
In Rossport itself over 150 people occupied the refinery site.
Bristol Rising Tide held a solidarity demo at a Shell Garage in Eastville,
Bristol with leaflets and banners.
For more details about the various actions check;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5090
http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1&type=page

2) DIRECT ACTION IN BRISTOL – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
Activists in Bristol have been busy. Parts of three golf courses have been
dug up and the message "decadent waste of water" sprayed near a club
house. A mobile phone mast has been sabotaged. A non-passenger line which
transports cars and fossil fuel to the Midlands was cut three quarters of
the way through in two places and marked with high visibility paint. A
warning banner reading: "Stop: Trees on line" was fixed across the line
several hundred yards in front of this.
Also, within the last 6 months, the front tyres of forty 4x4s have been
punctured in and around Bristol.
Finally, a "corporate entertainment" company called 4-Play, which provides
off road driving for 4x4s in the south west, has had vehicles spray
painted with

"4-play – blow-job the planet".
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5050

3) WHY CARBON TRADING ISN’T WORKING – ARTICLES 2006/7
An excellent series of articles on why the neoliberal approach to climate
change isn’t working can be found at;
http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/subject/climate/

4) GAGGED! ANARCHIST NEWSLETTER – SOUTH WALES, SEPT 2007
Download the PDF here;
https://lists.riseup.net/www/d_read/gagged/gagged19.pdf
Alternatively you can read it here;
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5052

5) FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS SHELLS ARCTIC DRILLING – 14.9.07
A federal court has denied Shell’s latest request to lift an order
blocking the company’s Arctic Ocean drilling. This ruling likely dooms the
Dutch oil giant’s drilling plans, at least for this year.
http://www.pacificenvironment.org/

6) BANK PULLS SAKHALIN-2 FUNDING – 15.8.07
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has decided to pull
its funding for the $20-plus billion Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas
project, located in Russia’s Far East.
Since January, EBRD and the Sakhalin Energy shareholders (Gazprom, Royal
Dutch Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi) have held talks over the project’s
finance. EBRD cut off discussions in favour of financing other projects,
such as those that promote sustainable energy.
http://www.pacificenvironment.org/

7) PROTEST AS RDA HOLDS "FLOOD SUMMIT" AT AIRPORT – 3.9.07 DONCASTER, YORKS.
Yorkshire Forward (Regional Development Agency) held an outrageous "Flood
Summit" at Finningley airport. Local people visited with pop-up tents and
banners to leaflet the conference’s participants and hold alternative
workshops highlighting the link between aviation growth and worsening
climate change.
The conference was intended to congratulate the RDA on their response to
the recent floods. The choice of venue shows just how out of touch with
reality these half-wits are.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5021

8) COAL ACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA – 2/3.9.07
On the 2nd September, twelve Greenpeace activists were arrested at the
world’s biggest coal port at Newcastle, 160km north of Sydney, after
painting the message "Australia Pushing Export Coal" on the side of a coal
ship and unfurling a large banner in Chinese calling on China to be
cautious of John Howard and George Bush’s attempts to sabotage Kyoto. The
protest comes at the start of the 2007 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation) forum meeting being hosted by Australia.
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/media/releases/climate-change/apec-coal-protest
The following day activists locked themselves on to a coal conveyor belt,
forcing the shut-down of a generator and halving production from
Victoria’s biggest coal fired power station.
http://www.realactiononclimatechange.blogspot.com/

9) GLOBAL ACTIONS AGAINST HEAVY INDUSTRY – 12.9.07
People in South Africa, Iceland, Trinidad, Denmark and America held a
series of coordinated protests against heavy industrialisation. This is
the first event of a new and growing global movement that began at the
2007 Saving Iceland protest camp in Ölfus, Iceland.
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5067

10) GREEK DIRECT ACTION – SEPTEMBER 2007
For direct action news from Greece, check;
http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/

11) CRITICAL MASS AND CARFREE DAY IN BRUSSELS – 24.9.07
For details and some great pics see;
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/381930.html

12) ART NOT OIL 2007 GALLERY HITS 50

and over 1500 hits. Take a look and send in your own work:
www.artnotoil.org.uk