Albert Pizango arrested

Albert Pizango, the leader of Aidesep, the indigenous network in the Peruvian Amazon, spent a year in exile after a government militia massacred local people protesting at Amazon destruction.


This week he returned to Peru after a year in Nicaragua and was arrested yesterday.


He is accused of formenting violence. When the violence occurred in Bagua, it involved the Peruvian authorities first shooting and killing over a hundred protesters. And Pizango was hundreds of miles away in Lima.




Aidesep have done a wonderful job preventing the Amazon from being taken by oil and gas companies. Because they protect the environment, they face imprisonment and death.


Please protest.....letter to Peruvian President Alan Garcia here. (the link is in spanish but you can write in English and use google translate if you need to!)


For background please look here




And please spread the word, if you care about your planet the most effective thing you can do is to support Aidesep.

CLIMATE DEFENCE IS NOT AN OFFENCE

CLIMATE DEFENCE IS NOT AN OFFENCE

Why the Legal System needs to Change to Protect People and not the Polluters

Speakers include top human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce, Civil Rights and Anti Racist Activist Suresh Grover with more to be announced

www.climate9.com

Thursday June 3^rd, 6.30-8.30pm The Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS University, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG.

The evening will feature top civil rights and climate justice advocates and lawyers, speakers from the Climate9 Defence Committee, details of the case from the lawyers, discussion on direct action and using the courts to call for real justice and a chance to meet the activists

Speakers Include (So far):

Gareth Peirce: Leading Human Rights Lawyer and Civil Rights Champion currently protecting the young Manchester men from torture abroad. In a career of more than 30 years, she has appeared for, among others, the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six and the families of the victims of the Marchioness river boat disaster.

Suresh Grover: Leading Civil Rights and Anti - Racist Activist and founding member of The Monitoring Group: leading exponent of family led empowerment and justice campaigns in the UK. Over the past 25 years TMG have many led campaigns to help families including those of Blair Peach, Kuldip Singh Sekon, Ricky Reel, Micheal Menson, Stephen Lawrence, Zahid Mubarek and Victoria Climbie.

Matthew Todd: Editor of Attitude, Britain’s best selling gay magazine, and advocate for diverse action on runaway climate change.

John Stewart: The Independent’s ‘Britain's leading environmentalist' and spokesman for campaign group AirportWatch

Liz Hosken: Advocate for social and ecological justice, Liz co-founded and is Director of the Gaia Foundation, working with a global network of pioneers and visionaries.

Jenny Griffiths: “Climate Defence to Protect the Public Health” from the Climate and Health Council.

Dr. Geoff Meaden: Principal Geography Lecturer and key witness at the well-renowned ‘Kingsnorth6’ climate trial.

The Climate9 Defendants: Josie Hanson, Jimmy Kerr,  Bill Boggia, Dan Glass, Tilly Gifford, Mila Karwowska, Jonny Agnew, Mark Andrews, Kate Mackay

The Climate9 Family Spokesperson and defendants

Other speakers include: spokesperson for ‘Nottingham 114’: The UK’s first pre-emptive arrest charge on people before any laws are broken to protect the planet.

About the Climate9

The Climate9 Defence Committee are a wide group of organisations and individuals who support the actions of anti-aviation campaigners who took direct actionagainst airport expansion in Aberdeen in March 2009. These 9 activists now face a court case which could get them years in prison. We believe that the Climate9should be rewarded for their actions and not punished. If you agree that climate change is an urgent threat which is already costing lives and destroying ecosystems that support us, and that those in power need a radical wake-up call, please join us to stand up for those who are doing just that. We need as many statements of support as possible. Write one for yourself or your organisation now.

Solidarity with the Climate9

“One of the big issues of the 21^st century is undoubtedly that of climate change. Not only its implications for human existence but also for global justice. I support the work of those engaged in bringing light to shine on this matter of paramount importance for our future. I offer my solidarity to the Climate 9 defence committee in their struggle for justice”. Linton Kwesi Johnson

"Civilisation has never progressed by squatting in its comfort zone. The great human breakthroughs have always been led by small clusters of brave individuals taking costly stands. History will be the ultimate court of opinion that will judge the climate protestors. In so doing, may its hand not be forced to judge our wider British society too harshly." Professor Alastair McIntosh, Centre for Human Ecology.

“Whatever the price we have to pay for speaking the truth, the Climate9 are publicly prepared to do so, to try and bring justice for those detrimentally affected by climate change. This is supposed to be a democratic country and we can participate in political activity. The Climate9 will not uphold increasing state and police repression and camouflage the war that is climate injustice. All over the world people demanding climate justice have complained to the magistrates about magistrates, complained to the judges about judges and complained to the politicians about politicians. It's time we did something for ourselves. Whatever happens to us, the Climate9 trial is an opportunity to spread the need for urgent action and to challenge the authorities with pride and confidence.” Dan Glass, Climate9 defendant

“The action taken by this group of individuals against airport expansion in Scotland reminds us how far from grasping some of the concerns that citizens share over the environmental and social impacts of such developments both here and abroad.” Maria Adebowale, Director of Capacity Global

Climate9 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=124560430906665&ref=mf

If you would like a stall please contact info@climate9.com Tel 075351 47478

Partner Organisations:

AirportWatch Scotland is a not-for-profit umbrella movement bringing together national environmental organisations, local communities, and individual environmentalists. We aim to campaign against airport expansion, particularly on the grounds of climate change and noise.

Plane Stupid is a network of grassroots groups that take non violent direct action against aviation expansion.

Climate Camp is a collective organising the camps for climate action, an international grassroots movement of action on climate change.

So We Stand is an emerging grassroots movement of people who consciously work for empowering social change to develop multiracial politics and self defence strategies for environmental and climate justice.

Gaia Foundation is celebrating 25 years of working with individuals organisations and networks, in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe, to regenerate healthy ecosystems, enhance traditional knowledge and practices for land, seed, food and water sovereignty, and to strengthen community self-governance. This enables communities to become more resilient to climate change and related challenges.

Platform London. PLATFORM’s work it is driven by a commitment to social and ecological justice, and is carried out in an interdisciplinary manner, combining the skills of research and analysis, creative writing and performance, listening and dialogue.

The Monitoring Group is working towards the eradication of racism, bigotry and religious hatred and their adverse impact on victims and their communities. We are committed to a pluralistic society where human rights are intrinsic and paramount and where cultural social and political diversity is valued.

Capacity Global believes that everyone has the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. Any action, item or process infringing on this right can be described as environmental injustice. We work specifically with people and communities in urban areas, who suffer most from environmental injustice, to ensure their voices get heard and fight environmental injustice to create opportunities for environmental justice

No more Academies, No 'Free' Schools

No more Academies, No 'Free' Schools




The Coalition government is rushing through its Academies Bill this Wednesday, 26thMay.


It will open the way for Swedish style 'Free' schools.


It will allow 'Outstanding' schools to become Academies, and prevent Local Authorities standing in the way.


This is a huge attack on the State Education system.


Join the Anti Academies Alliance protest this Wednesday, 1pm, College Green, opposite Parliament.


Please let the Anti Academies Alliance office know if you can come –office@antiacademies.org.uk, 07528 201 697


Please forward this message far and wide.

summary of actions agreed for developing the fight against the cuts and building for the Convention of the Left in Manchester this September (before/during Labour Conference).

Dear Convention of the Left supporter



The following is a 



I hope that this is helpful to people locally and that you are able to
circulate, publicise, participate and contribute (including financially ! -
see website for more details).



In any case, thanks for your support and looking forward to seeing you in
September - best of luck in your own anti-cuts actions locally and
nationally.



John N

On behalf of Convention of the Left





1. We agree to encourage and participate fully with as many others in anti
cuts campaigning locally and nationally.



Following the positive reporting from the Labour Representation Committee
(LRC) meeting at the weekend - at which Convention supporters were welcomed
and contributed strongly:



a) In particular we agree to take up the proposal for a local anti cuts
alliance (possible title "Protest Against Cuts Together" - or PACT - could
stand for several other things!) and to take this proposal to all other
organisations we are involved with - trade union branches, community
organisations, political parties, individuals - with a view to a public
meeting to be arranged probably in the week following the budget (understood
to be June 22nd). This to include Labour members/councillors who may be
willing to fight the Tory cuts - we should pressure anyone on the left of
Labour, or even Liberal, towards anti cuts campaigning.



b) We agree to pass this proposal on to the Right to Work conference in
London on Saturday May 22nd similarly, with a view to supporting local
action(s ) on June 22nd itself (exact format to be decided in discussion
between people - possible "CSI" of the RBS was raised; that is, as Michael
Moore in his film "Capitalism: A Love Story" - on tv this weekend - where he
surrounded the bank with a police tape and tried to do citizens arrests of
bank executives; or further "pots and pans" demonstrations at the banks).





2. We agree to developing ideas and explanations about the crisis, for
publication in short leaflets, on websites, or otherwise.



a) This may include explaining the Tories strategy (pretend to examine the
books, make cuts for 2 years, then relax a little so that they can say
"happy times are here again"), the money that the banks now hold (which is
our money, and the banks are "our" banks!), the reality that the wealth
exists in society to pay for our public services (and the welfare state was
built at a time of much bigger "deficit").



b) It should also demonstrate the breadth of "cuts" - not just hospitals and
schools but also benefits and pensions, women will feel the brunt,
campaigning needs to be more community based and not just traditional places
- so that we are showing we are fighting the cuts but also why it is not
necessary to make the cuts and where the immoral money is being spent
(trident, tax evasion by the rich, banks themselves - though no longer ID
cards, third runways and detention of children in immigration centres....!)
- this is an ideological onslaught as well as a financial one, as migrants
and those seeking benefits will be blamed for the crisis and we need to
oppose this too.



c) Also we can use the economics made simple material provided by Andrew F
(LEAP) from the last Convention event in February.







3. We may want to consider the issue of proportional representation, as it
is recognised that there is much ignorance about this, especially in terms
of details of different systems, not all of which are necessarily more
democratic. This is not so immediate however.



[circulate options for information]





4. We agree to the Convention of the Left holding events before/during
Labour Party Conference in Manchester this September (also possibly fringe
at TUC beforehand, to build up for these)



This means we will have (some or more of) :



* Friday 24th Sept evening, Friends Meeting House - possible international
speakers/ rally



* Saturday 25th Sept all day, Friends Meeting House (may be able to go into
evening as well) - bring left groups and anti cuts campaigns together from
around the country, also NB aspect from other countries (eg Irish protests)



* Sunday 26th Sept - possible public activity during the day (LP members
arrive)

and LRC (Labour Representation Committee) meeting in Friends Meeting House
in the evening (to be part of the overall programme for the weekend/week)



Tuesday (or Wednesday) evening, possibly in Peoples History Museum -
Question Time event (or similar, as last time) - need confirmation from
possible participants for this.





* Further planning to take place at regular Convention meetings between now
and then. (Manchester, third Monday of the month - see website for details)



* Urgent need for everyone to circulate and let people know about the dates.




* Registration availability to be on website as soon as possible.



* everyone contact their own organisations about support for this. So far
LRC, Respect, SWP have indicated their support, thank you. Everyone else to
look to their own organisations to do likewise - not just political
participation but also financial donations - either see website for donation
form or let John N know.

LIBERATE TATE COMMUNIQUE #1 MAY 2010

Dear Tate


Happy Birthday. We wish we could celebrate with you. But we can’t.


As we write, your corporate sponsor BP is creating the largest oil painting in the world, inspired by profit margins and a culture that puts money in front of life, its shadowy stain shimmers across the Gulf of Mexico. A toxic tide that turns thriving ecosystems into deserts and deprives cultures of their way of life, it is one of the world’s greatest works of corporate art, a work that reeks of death and speaks of our society’s failure of imagination.


Every day Tate scrubs clean BP’s public image with the detergent of cool progressive culture. But there is nothing innovative or cutting edge about a company that knowingly feeds our addiction to fossil fuels despite a climate crisis, a company whose greed has killed twenty-one employees in just over a year, a company that continues to invest in the cancer-causing climate crimes of tar sands in Alberta, Canada.


By placing the words BP and Art together, the destructive and obsolete nature of the fossil fuel industry is masked, and crimes against the future are given a slick and stainless sheen.


Every time we step inside the museum Tate makes us complicit with these acts, acts that will one day seem as archaic as the slave trade, as anachronistic as public executions Every time Nicholas Serota is asked how a museum that prides itself on dealing with climate change can be funded by an oil company he responds that there are no plans to abandon BP sponsorship (anything to do with having an ex-CEO of BP chair Tate’s board of trustees?).


When art activist group The Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination (Labofii) were invited to run a workshop on art and civil disobedience, they were told by curators that they could not take any action against Tate and its sponsors and the workshop was policed by the curators to make sure the artists produced work “commensurate with the Tate’s mission". In March 2010, Tate Modern ran an eco symposium, “Rising to the Climate Change Challenge: Artists and Scientists Imagine Tomorrow’s World”, on the same day that Tate Britain was celebrating twenty years of BP sponsorship with one of its ‘BP Saturdays’ Incensed by this censorship and hypocrisy, participants in the symposium called for a vote: 80% of the audience agreed that BP sponsorship should be dropped by 2012.


So today we offer you a birthday present, a gift to liberate Tate from its old-fashioned fossil fuel addiction – a gift for the future. Beginning during your 10th anniversary party and continuing until you drop the sponsorship deal, we will be commissioning a series of art interventions in Tate buildings across the country. Already commissioned are Art Action collective, with a birthday surprise at this weekend’s No Soul For Sale event, and The Invisible Committee, who will infiltrate every corner of Tate across the country in the coming months.


We invite artists to join us and act to liberate Tate. Free art from oil.


www.twitter.com/liberatetate

LONDON MEP DEMANDS REFERENDUM ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

**NEWS RELEASE**

From the office of Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London Immediate release: May 14th, 2010


LONDON MEP DEMANDS REFERENDUM ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION


Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London, will echo calls for a fairer voting system at a mass rally demanding David Cameron and Nick Clegg hold a referendum on proportional representation in London on Saturday.


The Take Back Parliament [1] demonstration in Parliament Square, which is expected to attract thousands of supporters, will send a clear message to the Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition government that plans for a referendum on Alternative Vote do not go far enough, and only a system of real PR will satisfy the need to empower voters.


Jean, who will be one of the key speakers at the event, said: “Once again, this election demonstrated the fundamental flaws of the disproportionate first-past-the-post system. It was an election fought at the marginal seats, where the majority of voters were disempowered, and as a result we got a government that did not reflect how the electorate voted.


“This must not happen again. The next General Election must be under a fair voting system. People must be free to vote positively – for what they really want. That would be real political change.Yes a referendum on electoral reform is a step in the right direction but we need to go further, we need a system in which every vote has equal power and equal value and we can only achieve that through true proportional representation.”


ENDS


For more information please contact:
Kate Sole, Media Officer
Tel: 020 7407 6280
Email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk  
http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk


Notes to Editors:


[1] Take Back Parliament brings together a coalition of different groups and
organisations in the call for fair votes. They include POWER2010, Unlock
Democracy. Electoral Reform Society and Vote for a Change.


Take Back Parliament is not aligned to any political party - instead it
seeks a fair voting system so that all parties have representation in
Parliament according to the number of votes they receive.


For more information visit: http://www.takebackparliament.com/


Jean Lambert is one of eight MEPs representing London and one of two UK
Green representatives in the European Parliament. Jean was first elected
Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999
European elections and was re-elected in 2009.










Published and promoted by Tracy Dighton-Brown for the Green Party of England & Wales, both at 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ.


User Subscribed as: yrrumuk@yahoo.co.uk

BRIGHTON WORKERS SPEAK OUT

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 at 19:30 - 21:30

in the Auditorium,Brighthelm Centre

North Road (corner of Queens Rd),5 mins from Brighton station

SPEAKERS -
SUSSEX UCU (currently striking for jobs)
BRIGHTON RMT (currently balloting for jobs)
NUT (currently boycotting the SATS tests)
BRIGHTON AND HOVE UNISON (meeting organisers)
CAROLINE LUCAS MP FOR BRIGHTON PAVILION

plus Brighton Benefits Campaign, & Greek activist

With the Tories now in office and promising attacks on jobs and services not seen  since the 1930s,Brighton and Hove unison is hosting this public meeting. Its aim is to bring together all those prepared to support trade unionists at the frontline of resisting the coming Tory onslaught.

* We need to prepare now to give whatever support we can to each other as our working conditions,pay,jobs,and services are attacked over the next year.
* We need to strengthen networks of support so that no group of workers is left to resist the cuts alone.
* We can also ask local political representatives, including Caroline Lucas, what they are going to do to help us.


Our last meetings were a great success with 60-70 hearing GMB reps from the bin depot,the RMT,Unite at Edwards Engineering,Sussex UCU and the FBU put their case. As with previous meetings,there will be plenty of time to organise solidarity with existing stikers - particularly BA cabin crew.

It will also be a good opportunity to meet informally with local union activists,including the growing local trades council who are supporting this meeting.

-- 

Pip Tindall
Brighton & Hove Green Party
Brighton Workers Solidarity Group
http://brightonworkerssolidarity.wordpress.com/
Brighton Benefits Campaign
http://brightonbenefitscampaign.wordpress.com/

Middlesex University Occupation

Open letter to Middlesex staff, faculty, and students

Posted on  7 May 2010 by greiffen

Dear Middlesex University staff, faculty, and students,


We are writing to clarify our intentions and the purpose behind occupying The  Mansion Building at Middlesex University.


Last week we were shocked at the news that the administration intends to  close the Philosophy Department, including the world-renowned post-graduate  programmes. While saving the philosophy department is our primary aim, we  realize that this specific closure is evidence of a much broader trend in higher  education. We want to be absolutely clear that we are doing this not out of  self-interest, but to advocate for you, the students, faculty and staff of  Middlesex University, as well all of those who care about the future of  humanities in the UK.


As Terry Eagleton put it at a teach-in at Kings College London in March, what  we are currently experiencing is a move towards a model of “education for the  economy versus education for society.” The university administrations are using  the current financial crisis as an excuse to restructure their institutions,  opting to close or severely cap any programmes that are not sufficiently  “economically viable” according to their criteria. With a slew of cuts and  redundancies, our universities are in danger of becoming vocational training  centers that churn out a highly skilled, yet intellectually and culturally  impoverished work force.


Here at Middlesex, the History department was closed in 2006. Now it is  Philosophy and Sonic Arts. With the plans to close Trent Park and Cat Hill, it  is realistic to anticipate more closures in the humanities. We are here to  communicate that your jobs, your studies are not safe. We are here to  communicate that we will not take these closures lying down.


Our protest and occupation is peaceful. The administration has called the  police out to Trent Park twice; both times they left within a half hour, having  decided that no laws were being broken and their presence was not necessary. The  occupation has not interrupted the studies of any students and we encourage you,  whether you are officially tied to Middlesex or not, to join or visit us here.  This is an open, safe space and everyone will be warmly welcomed. We are  organizing various cultural, political and academic events over the weekend. You  are all invited to participate. Information about this can be found at: savemdxphil.com.


Universities are not businesses, and education is not a commodity – it is a  human right and a public service.  Education did not cause this crisis, and must  not be sacrificed to pay for it.  Anonymous messages of support continue to come  in from staff and we stand united against management’s program of slash and  burn.


In solidarity,


The Occupation

FIGHT THE REAL BENEFIT SCROUNGERS!

The Government claims that it is spending £5 billion on ‘helping the unemployed’ during the recession, but this money isn’t being used to create new jobs. Instead is being used as handouts to New Labour’s business friends through the ‘Flexible New Deal’, the government’s flagship scheme for the long term unemployed which came into effect in October 2009.   Everyone who has been unemployed for over a year will now be forced to take part in this scheme or lose their benefits. They will be on this scheme for a year. After 6 months they will have to take part in one month of working 40 hours a week for their benefits. This is a significant attack on the minimum wage as it means claimants will be working for £1.60 an hour.


Across the country private companies have been given lucrative contracts to make the unemployed jump through hoops and compete for non-existent jobs. In Brighton the Flexible New Deal is being run by Maximus, Skills Training UK Ltd and Careers Development Group. Apart from the people employed by these companies the privately run schemes will not create any new jobs nor do they offer any funding or training to help the unemployed find work. Instead their aims are profit driven – they must get the unemployed into any crap job as soon as possible because their payments are based on results.


The Flexible New Deal isn’t just an attack on the unemployed however, it is also an attack on those in work. Forcing more people to compete for the scarce jobs on offer creates downward pressure on wages. This is what Britain’s flexible labour market means – a race to the bottom in wages & conditions.


Brighton Benefits Campaign is fighting back against these attacks & has launched a campaign against the Flexible New Deal.  Our next picket against the companies involved will be on Wednesday 12 May. Join us!


On June 16th we will be taking part in the National Day of Action against the Flexible New Deal & Workfare. More details to come.
--
Pip Tindall
Brighton & Hove Green Party
Brighton Workers Solidarity Group
http://brightonworkerssolidarity.wordpress.com/
Brighton Benefits Campaign
http://brightonbenefitscampaign.wordpress.com/
_______________________________________________

News from Cochabamba

BRENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Thursday 13 May 7.30pm

Baldwin Studio, Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR

Report-back from the People’s World Conference on Climate Change and
the Rights of Mother Earth, Cochabamba, Bolivia, 20 – 22 April

Thousands of activists from around the world took part in the People’s World Conference on Climate Change called by President Evo Morales of Bolivia after the failure of the Copenhagen talks. The conference brought together scientists, trade unionists, NGO’s and social movements to look for ways to build an alternative grassroots movement to protect the planet and fight for climate justice.

Mary Brodbin from Campaign Against Climate Change and Brent trade unionist Roger Cox took part and will report on what it achieved.

ALL WELCOME

UCU meeting to oppose closure of Kilburn College

Saturday, 1 May 2010


Last night's meeting about the closure of Kilburn College was crowded, angry and militant. Lecturers, students and local residents came together to denouce the closure plans and put forward ideas for active resistance. The main political party candidates for Hampstead and Kilburn spoke platitudes from the platform and soon disappeared.


Speaking from the floor, Peter Murry, an ex-lecturer at Kilburn and a council candidate for  the Brent Kilburn ward spoke passionately of this attack on local people who face challenges such as learning English and getting into employment. He outlined how further education could transform their lives and said that the removal of their access to education was a crime. He supported calls for non-violent direct action and remarked that such tactics were a proud Green Party tradition. He called for further education colleges to be brought back under local authority control.


Bea Campbell, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, spoke about how further education had improved her parents' life chances and suggested that another dimension to the campaign should be a legal route.  She urged the campaign to seek legal assistance to use the recent Equalities legislation to show that the community had not been properly consulted on the proposals, (now a statutory requirement).


Students from the ethnic minority communites spoke movingly of their attachment to their local college and the difference it had made and was making in their lives. There were accounts of the shock they had felt when the announcement was made and their feelings of being completed disregarded by the college governors.


A large number of people, including Green Party members, volunteered to be part of a delegation to the college governors, to try and persuade then to reverse their decision.


Originally Posted by MARTIN FRANCIS at 11:25 AM mayady