10,000 at anti tar sands demo..Obama out golfing

As many as ten thousand demonstrators gathered in Washington today, joining hands to encircle the White House in a human chain. They called on President

Obama to live up to his campaign promises and NOT approve a pipeline to shunt some of the dirtiest oil in the world into America’s heartland.

For months, it had appeared that the Keystone XL pipeline was a done deal. But the pressure appears to be paying off, and just this week President Obama appeared to be backing off, saying he would do what’s best for the economy, but also what’s best for the health of the American people.

The pipeline is a $7 billion project that would carry oil derived from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada – some of the dirtiest oil there is – all the way across the heart of America down to gulf refineries in Texas. The threat has united an incredible range of opposition, from NASA scientist/climate activist James Hansen to the Republican-majority Nebraska State Legislature. (See: Why we should block the Keystone Tar Sands Pipeline – Sen. Bernie Sanders)

.The State Department is supposed to give its final recommendation by December 31, and prior to this week it looked like Obama might try to hide behind that State Department process to let approval slide through. But this week he “took ownership” of the process. “Only a day ago the President’s press secretary said the State Department would make the call,” noted Bill McKibben, climate activist and founder of 350.org. “Now, it’s very good to see the President taking full ownership of this decision and indicating that the environment will be the top priority going forward.”

Obama was playing golf for most of today’s demonstration.

What can you do?

You can go to TarSandsAction.org to get plugged into the fight to stop the Keystone pipeline.
Head over to OccupyTogether.org to find out more about joining the 99%.

Like what you just read? Like us on Facebook for more updates!

More on tar sands and the fight to prevent the Keystone XL pipeline:

Source: Red Green & Blue (http://s.tt/13K7c)

Visit the Occupied Bank..Ocupat un Banc!

Why have we OCCUPIED a bank?
These are the ultimate expression of capitalism, one of the clearest signals that may be taking profits from the suffering of the majority of the population
Every day, in Spain there are approximately 300 evictions, where banks tend to be those responsible for the evictions of families for non-payment of mortgages. In Barcelona there are thousands of people homeless or living in extreme poverty. On the other hand, just in our neighborhood there are 800 empty flats, and as many other sites continues beyond the residents in the neighborhood.

Per què hem ocupat un banc?
Aquests són la màxima expressió del capitalisme, sent una de les senyals més evidents el fet que puguin estar traient beneficis del patiment de la majoria de la població. Cada dia a l’Estat espanyol hi ha aproximadament uns 300 desnonaments, on els bancs acostumen a ser els responsables dels desnonaments de les famílies per impagament de les hipoteques. A Barcelona hi ha milers de persones sense casa o vivint en extrema pobresa. Com a contrapartida, només en el nostre barri hi ha uns 800 pisos buits, i com a tants altres llocs es segueix fent fora els veïns i veïnes del barri.

What are we doing?
Gradually the activities and workshops are being made (kind of guitar, vegan eatery, etc.). Or are being started (salsa classes, Jiu-Jitsu, etc..), Many people have passed to fix the space or bring things that could be used (tables, food, books, etc.).. Come and find out what equipment is needed, what activities are being organised or simply to collaborate with the project in the bank and drop a question.

Què estem fent?
Poc a poc són més les activitats i tallers que s’estan realitzant (classe de guitarra, sopadors, etc.) o que estan en procés de començar (classes de salsa, jiu-jitsu, etc.), com molta és la gent que s’ha passat a arreglar l’espai o a portar coses que poguessin servir (taules, menjar, llibres, etc.). Si vols saber què material fa falta, quines activitats s’estan fent o simplement per col·laborar amb el projecte passa’t pel banc i pregunta.

If there is the eviction of the bank:
Concentration-time in front of the space.
-Demonstration at 20pm the same day in Revolution Square.
We can be found every day from 17h to 22h or 19h every Thursday at the assembly space.

Si es produís el desallotjament del banc:
-Concentració en el moment davant de l’espai.
-Manifestació a les 20h del mateix dia a plaça Revolució.

Ens pots trobar cada dia de 17h a 22h o cada dijous a les 19h a l’assemblea de l’espai.
VINE I PARTICIPA!ALLIBERANT ESPAIS, CONSTRUÏNT ALTERNATIVES!

oThursday 10: 19pm meeting space. If you have any activity or part of the project, this is your time.ogle Translation

Wednesday 9: Sopador vegan (20h) + Season Video (21h): “End VIC: resist or die”

“Franklin Lopez Movie which examines addiction to violence and the systematic exploitation of the environment that dominates the culture” civilized “West. Based on the books “Endgame” by Derrick Jensen in which the author asks: If your land is invaded by aliens who are destroying forests, poisoning the air and water, and contaminate crops, resist the occupation? “

MORE INFO…AGENDA CLICK here

http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/433822/index.php

Barcelona castle an Occupied Social Center

Long abandoned in 2000 the castle returned to build life as a squatted social center, soon evicted and left alone again into oblivion. Today we have liberated it..we have taken back the castle, and now open to create a meeting space, creation, culture, policy debate and dissent against speculation, and capitalism. We open call to come to build with us your passionate projects…

Desde hace un siglo el castillo encima de la montañas de les planes ha permanecido en desuso, abandonado y detoriorandose, pasando de propietario en propietario sin ninguna intencion visible ya que se inicio como sanatorio nunca llego a ser completado. Durante la guerra civil fue utilizado por la resistencia antifascista como hospital, donde tambien estubo internado George Orwell.

For a century the castle above the mountains of Les Planes has been in disuse, abandoned and detoriorating, from one owner to another without any visible intention as it was started as a sanatorium never to become complete. During the Civil Warit was used by the anti-fascist resistance as a hospital, where George Orwell was also interned.

Luego en el 2000 volvió tender vida como centro social okupado y desalojado para solo volver ser dejado en el olvido. Hoy dia lo hemos vuelto a liberar! hemos tomado el castillo, y ahora lo abrimos para crear un espacio de encuentro, de creacion, de cultura, de debate y politica de disidencia contra la especulacion, y el capitalismo. Hacemos un llamamiento abierto para venir a construir junto a nosotros; tus projectos, ven a pasiar, a conocer.

FROM Indymedia Barcelona..Google Transalation

http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/433756/index.php

Greeks resistance gets referendum.. The 1% in a Panic

Stock markets will be crashing through the floor tomorrow.

The Bankers will be selling out and buying gold

Politicians will be going apoplectic.

Because the heroic Greek resistance has triumphed again! The millions on the streets is finally paying off

Greece’s government is holding an emergency meeting following a day of turmoil and international pressure triggered by PM George Papandreou’s shock announcement of a referendum on the proposed EU bailout.

Most likely the Referendum will be defeated ( if it’s not cancelled) and the whole SAVE CAPITALISM deal will fall apart.

And this on top of winning a promise to CANCEL 50% of Greek debts.

These are some of the latest cuts…Further cuts in public sector wages and many bonuses scrapped…Some 30,000 public sector workers suspended,. …Wages cut to 60% and face lay off after a year…Wage bargaining suspended…Monthly pensions above 1,000 euros to be cut 20% above that threshold…Other cuts in pensions and lump-sum retirement pay…Tax-free threshold lowered to 5,000 euros a year from 8,000

City Permaculture..how to Get Stuck In..

Ten of the best…ways to get stuck into urban gardening

Growing your own fruit and vegetables doesn’t have to involve huge amounts of space. As Hannah Corr explains, there are plenty of short cuts for city dwellers who want to get

The recession and the resulting squeeze on living standards have little to recommend them except in one respect. Thanks to a combination of rising food prices and greater environmental awareness, the last few years have seen interest in DIY food production skyrocket. According to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA], one in three of us now grows fruit and vegetables at home. And why not? Not only can you ensure that what you grow is totally organic, you also avoid the human rights issues surrounding commercial vegetable production and slash food miles to almost zero. In short, DIY vegetables are not only good for you; they’re excellent for the planet to boot. What’s more, say DEFRA, DIY veg production is winning new converts every day with many of the new recruits coming from urban – and even inner city – backgrounds.

Sebastian Mayfield, co-founder of London based grower’s network, Food Up Front, was forced to think creatively after spending four years on an allotment waiting list and never making it higher than 22nd. ‘I began looking for an alternative closer to home’ he says. ‘And then it dawned on me while lying in the bath one day: why don’t we make better use of the space we already have?’ And he’s not alone. People are looking to their balconies, windowsills and lawns as potential places to produce food, which means that even the residents of inner city areas can try their hand at grow your own. Here’s how to get started.

Make the most of your windowsill
According to the National Trust, there are over 600 acres of growing space on windowsills across the UK, which makes them the perfect place to start for the space starved urban dweller. The easiest ’ledge veg’ to grow are spinach, rocket, lettuce and herbs, all of which thrive in small tubs and can be grown from seed….

Try a grow bag
Container gardening is the commonest – and most practical – way to grow food in the city. Pots can be placed almost anywhere, are easily moved, simple to reach when you want to start picking and excellent value for money – you can get even the pots for free by recycling catering tubs….

Use your walls
Finding extra space for veg means looking at wall space as well as what you can squeeze onto your balcony. There are plenty of varieties that are happy to twine around a trellis and still produce an abundant crop….

Grow your own fruit
Approximately 60 per of orchards have been lost since the 1950s, according to the Orchard Network, All you need is an underused corner of the garden and you could be producing apples, pears, plums, quinces, cherries, apricots or peaches within a year….

Invest in raised beds
Swap your clematis for carrots by converting your garden borders into vegetable plots….

Adopt a chicken
If you’re blessed with a reasonable sized garden, adopting a couple of hens not only means a daily supply of fresh eggs but also free help with your garden….

Put a Hive on your Roof Although relatively simple, there are many intricacies to keeping bees so get some advice from the British Bee Keeping Association before getting started. Oh, and you get delicious honey too. …

Get a Greenhouse Vegetables that thrive in a greenhouse include tender crops such as aubergines, cucumbers, chillies, tomatoes or more exotic plants like melons and sweet potatoes….

Convert urban wasteland
While inner city land is scarce and at a premium, you might be lucky enough to come across a pocket of derelict land that can be converted into an organic paradise. Along with the fun to be had during an hour or two of seed bombing, community gardening provides security against volatile food prices and gives you truly local produce. The Cuban ‘Organoponico’ model has inspired many organisations…

Get on the waiting list for an allotment
Thanks to increased interest in home vegetable production, allotments have become like gold dust. The average waiting list is three years (or 40 for an unlucky few in central London)….

READ MUCH MORE HERE (with thanks!) http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/gardening/1110208/ten_of_the_bestways_to_get_stuck_into_urban_gardening.html

Awesome resistance by US Occupyers

Occupy Denver is still going strong..IN THE SNOW with 2 people hospitalised with hypothermia.

Occupy San Diego got wiped out at 3am, most arrested and tents trashed..then the judge ordered everyone freed

and the camp resumed..but no tents.

Occupy Oakland got a military style attack, lots of arrests and injuries.the a big march for Scott Olson, who was shot in the head

with a baton round from 5 feet.

Occupy Wall St had their generator and fuel confiscated with an early blizzard approaching….

Seems the movement is still growing… needs YOUR support if there’s one near you!

Here’s a mine of current info via the excellent PlanetSave blog with thanks. Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/13Ew3)

More on Occupy Wall Street:

Source: Red Green & Blue (http://s.tt/13EdV)

Occupy Rome: stupid violence or the birth of a new anger?

by italycalling|

One week after the now (in)famous Roman 15th October that ended up on worldwide headlines as “the only protest of the Occupy movement that ended in violence and riots”, and here we all are reading and writing about it. At the end of the protests 70 people had been injured, and 12 arrested during the riots in Piazza San Giovanni. All of the arrestees are young and have no previous criminal record, like the ones arrested for the events of December 14 last year (all consequently released without charge). The following days several social centres and private houses were raided by the police (in search of black hooded sweaters, no doubt). Some MPs suggested the re-introduction of anti-terrorism laws that haven’t been used in Italy since the 70s. Rome’s Mayor banned any demonstration in central Rome for a whole month, excluding sit-ins (cos they look nice, I suppose, you know, it’s good for the tourists)…………

The media, politicians and pacifists, right and left, started howling merrily together for revenge and prison. In reality the violent resistance was localized , didn’t attack innocents, and was largely provoked by violent police .. (Comment by blogger)

….Some of the more “socially aware” articles were all about how the violent protesters “ruined the day”, stealing it from the peaceful protesters and turning it into their own battle with the police. A lot of the protesters have also been writing on their blogs and networks. Some were very scared and pissed off about getting caught up in a situation they didn’t want to be in; others were disappointed and critical of the behaviour of some of the protesters; some others were happy about the resistance in Piazza San Giovanni, and the birth of a new, angry generation….

….Most of the Italian public seems to think the Black Bloc is either made of a) random vandals, possibly neofascist; b) anarchists; c) police infiltrators (or a mix of the 3, pick your own flavour!). It does seem very plausible indeed, looking at pictures and videos, that a significant number of infiltrators were there. They are very easily recognisable, because even the most expensive intelligence training could never teach them how to dress like “proper” Black Bloc. I don’t find it surprising, and I really don’t understand why people still do…remember the piece I wrote for Cossiga’s death, remember that strategy?

Back to the same devastating debate that split the Genoa Social Forum and the movement after the G8: violence vs non-violence. There would be so much to say about this that I, or nobody else for that matter, couldn’t summarise in a blog’s article. If I may, I’d like to suggest the reading of this little illuminating book: “How non-violence protects the State” by Peter Gelderloos.

Here’s part of a comment from the Wu Ming blog post

…”I’ve already written it here on other occasions. The catastrophe has already happened. And before being political and economic, it was cultural. Whoever holds things close to their ‘heart’ (ha!) must multiply spaces like this one – precious not just for the content, but especially for their methods, attitude, pedagogy (it sounds like a swear word). Places that invite confrontation, discussion, personal growth and sharing. And conflict, fuck. Even ours, especially ours. And not just on the web. Actually, conflicts are needed especially outside. They are too scarce still.

But things are moving. October 15 is in the past already. We need a new vocabulary – emotional and political. A new generation won’t be enough to take on the task. But we could be proud to be the ones who started it. Occupy everything. Take care.”