Platform release briefing on oil sponsorship of the arts
Tate is throwing a gala event in order to celebrate 20 years of BP; sponsorship next week, a leaked invitation seen by campaign group; Platform reveals [1].
The party comes at a time when BP's battered reputation as a result of the; Gulf of Mexico spill is creating a public relations disaster for Tate; through its association with the oil company [2].
A group of artists calling themselves The Good Crude Britannia, who want; Tate to cut its ties with BP, will picket Monday night's event [3].
Artists have also come together to speak out against oil industry sponsorship of the arts in "Licence to Spill", a new briefing being launched by Platform today [4].
These developments come amid signs that BP sponsorship is a growing source of controversy amongst Tate trustees and staff. Tate's five- year sponsorship deal with BP is up for renewal in spring 2011, and sources
within Tate have suggested that the controversial issue of BP's sponsorship will be on the agenda for the first time at the upcoming trustees' meeting in July.
In recent weeks there has been an unprecedented wave of public actions against oil industry sponsorship of the arts. Last month, Liberate Tate disrupted Tate Modern's 10th anniversary celebrations. This week, Rising Tide and Art Not Oil targeted the BP Portrait Award ceremony at the National Portrait Gallery and Greenpeace mounted an alternative exhibition to coincide with the private view [5].
Jane Trowell of Platform said: "BP is trying to repair its tarnished reputation and buy our approval by associating itself with culturally important institutions like Tate. The financial support provided by BP creates a perception of it being a cuddly corporate entity, and aims to distract us from the devastating environmental and social impacts of its global operations. Public outrage over the Deepwater Horizon spill is creating a moment for change. We hope that, as happened with the tobacco industry, it will soon come to be seen as socially unacceptable for cultural institutions to accept funding from Big Oil".
Electronic artist and composer Matthew Herbert said: "It is absurd that Tate should be sponsored by a company that is as irresponsible and polluting as BP. Day one of any critical art theory course would dissect
> the logo of BP and show it to be the most cynical and barefaced piece of modern visual corporate propaganda. Why is Tate so keen to have it attached to its proud collection of modern art? At a time when urgent action is required to slow consumption of fossil fuels, oil companies should not be allowed to advertise or sponsor anything at all. It's time to cut the oily tentacles that BP and Shell have wrapped around our most prestigious cultural institutions".
The new Platform briefing brings together artists' statements about oil industry sponsorship and provides a critique of its cultural, political and environmental impacts.
For interviews and more information:
Platform: 0207 403 3738 or 07790 430 620 / info@platformlondon.org We can put you in touch with artists quoted in the Licence to Spill briefing.
www.platformlondon.org
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The invitation can be seen at: http://www.platformlondon.org/carbonweb/documents/summerparty.pdf
2. The 20-year relationship between Tate and BP has seen increasingly close ties develop between the gallery and BP. Ex-BP Chief Executive Lord John Browne is currently the chair of the Tate board of trustees.
3. The Good Crude Britannia is a national artists' campaign against BP sponsorship of Tate. We are calling all concerned artists to either sign the petition and/or support the 'campaign' which is to be launched on Monday 28th June 2010 at Tate Britain's Summer Party, 7-9pm.
4. The briefing is available at: > http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=381&parent=39
Platform works across disciplines for social and ecological justice. It combines the transformatory power of art with the tangible goals of campaigning, the rigour of in-depth research with the vision to promote alternative futures.
5. See: Liberate Tate: http://twitter.com/liberatetate ; Video of the action: http://vimeo.com/12664991
Rising Tide: www.risingtide.org.uk Excellent video of the action at National Petroleum Gallery on 22.6.10: ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-adx5mS2klA
Artists prepare for BP protest at Tate Britain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/24/artists-bp-protest-tate
Art Not Oil: www.artnotoil.org.uk
Greenpeace: www.greenpeace.org.uk
Saturday 26 June 2010
Thursday 24 June 2010
BUDGET DAY DEMO IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE
photo by Alan Wheatley
On Budget Day (22/6/2010) Green party members joined Stop The War, CND and others in anti budget demos, here Joseph Healy (Green Left secretary and GP rep on the Stop The War committee), speaks to demonstrators.
NB there are rumours that the peace camp in Parliament Square may be evicted soon.
Friday 18 June 2010
petition to protect whales
Dear friends,
The international vote that could legalize commercial whale hunting is just days away. 650,000 of us have signed the petition to protect whales, and an Avaaz team is on the ground to make sure we're heard -- let's super-charge this campaign by hitting 1 million signatures! Add your name and then forward this message:
 |
In one week, the International Whaling Commission will hold its final vote on a proposal to legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in a generation.
The outcome rests on whose voices are heard most clearly in the final hours: the pro-whaling lobby -- or the world's people?
More than 650,000 of us have signed the petition to protect whales -- it's time to reach 1 million! At the whale summit in Morocco, an Avaaz team is setting up billboards, front-page newspaper ads, and a giant, constantly-updating petition counter -- all to ensure that delegates, from the moment they step off the plane until they cast their votes, will see from our explosive numbers that the world will not accept legal whale slaughter. Click to sign, and forward this email to everyone:
The outcome rests on whose voices are heard most clearly in the final hours: the pro-whaling lobby -- or the world's people?
More than 650,000 of us have signed the petition to protect whales -- it's time to reach 1 million! At the whale summit in Morocco, an Avaaz team is setting up billboards, front-page newspaper ads, and a giant, constantly-updating petition counter -- all to ensure that delegates, from the moment they step off the plane until they cast their votes, will see from our explosive numbers that the world will not accept legal whale slaughter. Click to sign, and forward this email to everyone:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_last_push/?vl
Thanks to the worldwide outcry, many governments have already pledged to oppose the proposal. Each time the Avaaz whale petition added 100,000 signatures, it was sent again to the IWC and key governments -- some, like New Zealand, thanked all of us who had signed on.
But pressure from the other side has been relentless. Now other governments, especially in Europe and Latin America, may abstain... or even support the proposal. The vote could go either way.
Citizen pressure is our best hope. After all, it was an explosive worldwide social movement in the 1980s that led to the commercial whaling ban we're now trying to protect. As the International Whaling Commission meets in Morocco -- starting this Thursday, the 17th, with the crucial vote less than a week away -- let's make sure the world's voices are there to greet them:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_last_push/?vl
After the global ban was first implemented on commercial whaling, the number of whales killed each year plummeted from 38,000 per year to just a couple of thousand. It's a testament to the power of humanity to move forward. As we move to confront the other crises of the modern age, let's cherish this legacy of progress -- by joining together now to protect our majestic and intelligent neighbors on this fragile planet.
With hope,
Ben, Ben M, Maria Paz, Ricken, Benjamin, David, Graziela, Luis, and the whole Avaaz team
P.S.: Despite the ban, Japan, Norway, and Iceland have continued whaling -- and are now pushing to make the IWC proposal as lenient as possible. Expecting permission to catch more whales than ever, Japan is reportedly planning to buy its largest whaling ship yet. Click here to sign the petition against commercial whaling!
SOURCES:
IWC Voting on Whale Hunting Moratorium Next Week
http://goo.gl/7m0y
"IWC whaling proposal 'offensive'", New Zealand Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10640398
"Flights, girls and cash buy Japan whaling votes" - a new exposé by the Times of London
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7149086.ece
The other side: IWC Chairman defends whaling proposal
http://www.avaaz.org/commercial_whaling_support
"Nations Push To Develop New Whale-based Products" - anticipating the end of the whaling ban, whaling nations planning whale-based products including golf balls and detergent
http://goo.gl/aoH1
-------------------------------
Donate to this campaign! Avaaz's work on whales, like all its campaigns, is funded entirely by donations -- we receive no money from governments or corporations. Support the billboards and stunts at the whale summit -- click here to make a secure contribution!
Thursday 17 June 2010
Demonstrate Against Likely Closure of Refugee and Migrant Justice – Defend Legal Aid
David Cameron’s claims to value the work of charities rings very hollow indeed.
RMJ (formerly the Refugee Legal Centre) was founded in 1992 and in the last year alone has helped over 11,000 people. Closure would mean that many thousands of vulnerable people will be left without legal representation. Many will face being returned to countries where they face persecution and their lives are in danger.
So far the Ministry of Justice has declined to help RMJ. UNITE is calling for RMJ to be saved and for proper Legal Aid funding to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society have real access to justice.
Cuts in public spending are affecting the poorest people right across our society. But these people did not cause the economic crisis and should not be made to pay for it.
UNITE, the union that represents RMJ’s 340 staff, has called a demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice at 4pm on Friday 18th June 2010. Please join us.
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London SW1H 9AJ
Tubes: St James’s Park and Westminster
For further details, please contact Rachael Maskell, Unite National
Officer, Community and Non Profit Sector: 07768 693933
RMJ (formerly the Refugee Legal Centre) was founded in 1992 and in the last year alone has helped over 11,000 people. Closure would mean that many thousands of vulnerable people will be left without legal representation. Many will face being returned to countries where they face persecution and their lives are in danger.
So far the Ministry of Justice has declined to help RMJ. UNITE is calling for RMJ to be saved and for proper Legal Aid funding to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society have real access to justice.
Cuts in public spending are affecting the poorest people right across our society. But these people did not cause the economic crisis and should not be made to pay for it.
UNITE, the union that represents RMJ’s 340 staff, has called a demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice at 4pm on Friday 18th June 2010. Please join us.
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London SW1H 9AJ
Tubes: St James’s Park and Westminster
For further details, please contact Rachael Maskell, Unite National
Officer, Community and Non Profit Sector: 07768 693933
PROTEST ON BUDGET DAY – CUT THE WAR, SCRAP TRIDENT, BRING THE TROOPS HOME
4.30pm - 6.30, Parliament Square Tuesday June 22nd.
Called by Stop the War and CND
The government is claiming a consensus for the need for massive cutbacks to our public services. Almost no-one in public life is calling for serious cuts in the war budget - a measure that would be hugely popular. Stop the War and CND are organising a protest outside next Tuesday’s budget debate.
The current annual expenditure on Afghanistan is nearly £4 billion, enough to build 200 new secondary schools. Scrapping Trident would save £70 billion, more than the total amount the government wants to
cut from the deficit in the next five years. Meanwhile the approach of the 300th British military death in Afghanistan is testimony to the terrible human cost of the war.
Join us on budget day and protest as the 300th British death approaches and we demand 'Cut the war, Scrap Trident, Troops out of Afghanistan'.
Called by Stop the War and CND
The government is claiming a consensus for the need for massive cutbacks to our public services. Almost no-one in public life is calling for serious cuts in the war budget - a measure that would be hugely popular. Stop the War and CND are organising a protest outside next Tuesday’s budget debate.
The current annual expenditure on Afghanistan is nearly £4 billion, enough to build 200 new secondary schools. Scrapping Trident would save £70 billion, more than the total amount the government wants to
cut from the deficit in the next five years. Meanwhile the approach of the 300th British military death in Afghanistan is testimony to the terrible human cost of the war.
Join us on budget day and protest as the 300th British death approaches and we demand 'Cut the war, Scrap Trident, Troops out of Afghanistan'.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
50 MW biofuel power station at Avonmouth.
W4B has appealed the decision by Bristol City Council in February to refuse planning permission for their 50 MW biofuel power station at Avonmouth.
The appeal will be considered by a planning inspector in August. Whether or not you objected to the planning application, you can send in comments to the inspector - now possible up to the start of the public hearing, 10 August.
Palm Oil and Jatropha Oil are to be used. The volume of fuel used each year in this single power station will be roughly the same as the volume of palm oil currently going into UK transport biodiesel.
Full details of how to submit comments and background information at:
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/w4bmay2010.php
The appeal will be considered by a planning inspector in August. Whether or not you objected to the planning application, you can send in comments to the inspector - now possible up to the start of the public hearing, 10 August.
Palm Oil and Jatropha Oil are to be used. The volume of fuel used each year in this single power station will be roughly the same as the volume of palm oil currently going into UK transport biodiesel.
Full details of how to submit comments and background information at:
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/w4bmay2010.php
Friday 11 June 2010
Gandhi Foundation public AGM: Salma Yaqoob and Felix Padel.
TO GREEN LEFT
You are warmly invited to attend the Gandhi Foundation public AGM in East London on Saturday 10th July, 2pm - 4.30pm. We have two great speakers: Salma Yaqoob and Felix Padel.
Felix Padel is an anthropologist and campaigner for peace, justice and human rights. Felix has spent many years working in East India and will talk about the current military / corporate threat to village communities there, which is sparking Maoist rebellion, and which he has described as "a classic resource war".
Salma Yaqoob is leader of the Respect Party, a Birmingham City Councillor, and an activist in the Stop The War coalition. She is also a qualified psychotherapist and spokesperson for Birmingham Central Mosque. Salma will tell her personal story about why she got involved in the peace and justice movement.
Details:
Speakers: Salma Yaqoob and Felix Padel
When: Saturday 10th July, 2pm – 4.30pm
Where: Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3 3HJ, UK
Nearest Tube: Bromley-by-Bow
Entrance: free, but a £3 donation is suggested
Enquiries: contact@gandhifoundation.org, 0845 313 8419
You are warmly invited to attend the Gandhi Foundation public AGM in East London on Saturday 10th July, 2pm - 4.30pm. We have two great speakers: Salma Yaqoob and Felix Padel.
Felix Padel is an anthropologist and campaigner for peace, justice and human rights. Felix has spent many years working in East India and will talk about the current military / corporate threat to village communities there, which is sparking Maoist rebellion, and which he has described as "a classic resource war".
Salma Yaqoob is leader of the Respect Party, a Birmingham City Councillor, and an activist in the Stop The War coalition. She is also a qualified psychotherapist and spokesperson for Birmingham Central Mosque. Salma will tell her personal story about why she got involved in the peace and justice movement.
Details:
Speakers: Salma Yaqoob and Felix Padel
When: Saturday 10th July, 2pm – 4.30pm
Where: Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3 3HJ, UK
Nearest Tube: Bromley-by-Bow
Entrance: free, but a £3 donation is suggested
Enquiries: contact@gandhifoundation.org, 0845 313 8419
Sunday 6 June 2010
UCU Congress warn skills gap will hamper low carbon economy and cost Britain jobs and contracts
1 June 2010
Delegates at the UCU annual Congress in Manchester today called on the new coalition government to close the environmental skills gap in the UK or risk shattering any chance of a low carbon economy.
The Congress also heard that the country would miss out on lucrative contracts to deliver green programmes if it did not act fast to close the gap.As part of a debate on the environment delegates heard from Angie Birtill from South Thames College who warned that the skills gap between what we know and what we need to know about the low carbon economy was one of the biggest obstacles to its successful delivery.
In December, 2009, it was claimed that government action meant that 500,000 jobs would be created around the clean energy sector. However, many of the projects being introduced are going to overseas firms because the skills and manufacturing base does not exist in the UK.
Delegates heard that the problem is being compounded by the cuts being imposed on the further and higher education sector. Because it is difficult for institutions to adapt their programmes to meet the green skills challenge at a time of such uncertainty.
Angie Birtill said:'There is a huge gap in knowledge and skills and what is needed to deliver a low carbon economy. The current UK workforce is not equipped to take advantage of the opportunities presented by any future growth in 'green jobs'. After all these years of talking about sustainable development policies it is nothing short of scandalous.'
Graham Petersen, UCU environment co-ordinator, said: 'If the UK is going to offer the hope of employment to 16-24 year olds this is not the time to cut back on budgets. There is huge potential to train apprentices in renewable energy skills, yet college construction departments are being cut back and staff threatened with redundancy.'
Full details of UCU Congress can be found at: UCU Congress 2010 This release covers motion 97.
The Jewish boat to Gaza is sailing soon
The Jewish boat to Gaza is sailing soon
Press release, June 4, 2010
In a harbour in the Mediterranean (we're not yet disclosing which one) a small vessel is waiting for a special mission. She will be sailing to Gaza. In order to avoid sabotage, the exact date and name of the port of departure will be announced only shortly before her launch.
"Our purpose is to call an end to the siege of Gaza, to this illegal collective punishment of the whole civilian population. Our boat is small, so our donations can only be symbolic: we are taking school bags, filled with donations from German school children, musical instruments and art materials. For the medical services we are taking essential medicines and small medical equipment, and for the fishermen we are taking nets and tackle. We are liaising with the medical, educational and mental health services in Gaza..
''In attacking the Freedom Flotilla, Israel has once again demonstrated to the world a heinous brutality. But I know that there are very many Israelis who compassionately and bravely campaign for a just peace. As broadcasting journalists from mainstream television programmes are accompanying our boat, Israel will have a great chance to show the world that there is another way, a way of courage not fear, a way of hope not hate'', says Edith Lutz, one of the organizers and passenger on the ''Jewish boat''.
The ''Jüdische Stimme'' (Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Near East), along with her friends of EJJP (European Jews for a Just Peace in the Near East) and Jews for Justice For Palestinians (UK) are sending a call to the leaders of the world to help Israel find her way back to reason, a sense of humanity and a life without fear. ''Jewish Voices'' expects the political leaders of Israel and the world to guarantee a safe passage for the small vessel to Gaza, thus helping to form a bridge towards peace.
Contacts:
Edith Lutz, EJJP-Germany +15204519740
Kate Leiterer, EJJP- Germany +1629660472472
Glyn Secker, Jews for Justice For Palestinians (UK)
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