A few years back I travelled down to Basildon in Essex. I got in a taxi and asked to be taken to Dale Farm on Cray’s Hill. The court case was raging at the time, tensions were high in the local community and when we got to the end of the track up to the site, I was told “this is as far as I go.”
I don’t know what I was expecting as I walked up to the spit of land which has for many years been the focal point for some of the national presses’ worst bigotry and hatred. I’d only seen photos taken from afar, blurry shots by snappers eager to show the squalid conditions Those People were living in.
And in fairness, when I got there a lot of rubbish was lying around, in piles of black bin bags or drifting around the fences and hedgerows. Basildon Council doesn’t do rubbish clearing on illegal sites. But the actual plots? They ranged from the spotless to the scruffy – pretty much as you’d expect on any estate in Britain. There were a fair few dogs around as well, usually off the leash, but they were friendly and looked well-fed. And of course there were a lot of caravans.
But what might be surprising to the critics is the number of actual houses. Fully plumbed-in, connected homes built on land they paid for and set up in exactly the manner which has been touted as the “solution” to the Traveller “problem” since way back when.
If the 1-in-6 African-American kids with asthma could just hold their breath until 2013, they should be fine.
In his latest attack on the environment, President Barack Obama today announced that he is directing the EPA to withdraw standardsthat would have cut smog pollution from automobiles, power plants, and refineries. Obama might want to consider that wheezing kids, no jobs, and caving to Big Oil do not a reelection make.
The standards Obama blocked could have saved up to 120,000 lives by 2020, and slashed tens of thousands of children’s asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. The environmental justice organization Green for All summed it up when it tweeted (referring to Obama’s delaying action on ozone until at least 2013, when he may be out of office):
More broadly, by blocking the smog standards, Obama is jettisoning one of the few remaining major job creation programs he can create without Congress. Notwithstanding oil industry propaganda, the EPA’s analysis shows that the smog rules would have created a whopping $17 billion in economic benefits — everything from health care savings from avoided asthma attacks to job creation in American-made pollution controls. Continue reading “Obama allows poison air massacre for Big Oil”
Comença la Universitat Indignada 15M! Fruit de la feinada i la il·lusió d’onze Assemblees de Barri i de veïnes i veïns de tota Barcelona neix la Universitat Indignada d’Estiu. El proper dimecres 31 a les 18h s’inaugurarà a la Plaça Catalunya amb una presentació del projecte de la Universitat. Seguirà a la presentació, a les 18h15, la xerrada “El més violent és el rescat de Grècia” amb la participació Vicenç Navarro, Miren Etxezarreta, Ada Colau. I tancarà l’acte, a les 20h15, u
El Divendres 2 de Setembre des de la PUHC (Plataforma d ‘Usuaris i Hospitals Catalans) es convoca una acció unitària a Barcelona de tot Catalunya, una Marxa d’Usuaris i Sanitaris en contra de les Retallades. La Comissió de Salut d’AcampadaBCN i diferents Assemblees de barris i pobles donen suport a la iniciativa. Les retallades a Sanitat les pateixen les/els pacients i també les plantilles dels hospitals i CAPs. Hem de seguir demostrant al carrer que no estem d’acord amb les retallades. Amb la Salut no s’hi juga! Per aquest divendres, hi ha confirmades 3 marxes simultànies en direcció a les oficines del…
La nueva Ordenanza de Convivencia Ciudadana obliga a pedir autorización previa para dibujar en el suelo, cantar, bailar, tocar instrumentos, sacudir el mantel desde el balcón o regar los tiestos. No solo el PP pero también el PSOE votaron en favor. Hasta sacudir el mantel o la alfombra desde el balcón o regar los tiestos si el alcalde lo considera “molesto para los vecinos”. Asimismo, no se puede tomar vino en un parque, pelearse, gritar, “ni darse un masaje, jugar a las cartas o tumbarse en un banco
El municipio madrileño de Guadalix de la Sierra, de 2.500 habitantes y gobernado por el PP, se ha convertido en el primero del que se tenga noticia en España en cambiar sus ordenanzas para impedir la celebración de asambleas populares y acampadas de protesta en la calle tras la irrupción del Movimiento 15-M. No solo ambas actividades están desde hoy prohibidas en este pueblo de la sierra, famoso por acoger el rodaje de Bienvenido, Mister Marshall y la casa de Gran Hermano, sino que se invita a los vecinos a denunciar a quienes lo hagan. El texto contempla un amplio régimen de sanciones desde los 750 euros para infracciones leves, 1.500 para las graves y hasta 3.000 para las muy graves.
-“se prohíbe la práctica de juegos en el espacio público que por su naturaleza puedan causar molestias”, reza el texto, que en concreto pone fin a “acrobacias y juegos de habilidad con motos, bicicletas, patines o monopatines fuera de las áreas destinadas a tal efecto”-, dibujar en el suelo -“por tanto, se prohíbe la rayuela”-, hacer graffitis, colocar carteles o pegatinas, lanzar octavillas, cantar, bailar, tocar instrumentos… “.
The occupiers of the ZAD were facing court last week as the authorities began the eviction process against the anti-airport community. The ZAD -Zone d’Aménagement Differé (dubbed the Zone A Defendre by the activists) is an area of 6 square miles in the French countryside near Nantes due to be flattened in order to make way for a new international airport, high-speed train and motorway (see SchNEWS 750).
Activists held a demonstration of 300 people outside the court last Monday 17th August. The court cases were postponed until September 6th and 15th which allows more time to plan and prepare for eviction attempts……..
This environmentally catastrophic project is inevitably sold to us with the full green wash package, claiming to be ‘the first airport to have a positive energy balance …with the aim of preserving the natural state of the site and protected natural spaces’. The specifics of how they actually plan to do this seemingly impossible task are, unsurprisingly, no-where to be seen.
The corporate face of this is Vinci, an international transport infrastructure company, amongst other things, that also claim to have built France’s first ‘eco-motorway’. They own many of France’s motorways so they are the people who profit every time anyone drives on one of their paege (toll) roads.
Anti-airport activists have taken advantage of this, however, by creating a popular and effective action. They hold the barrier of a pay point open allowing people to travel for free. All drivers get a flyer about what Vinci are up to and many donate money thus raising funds for the campaign whilst at the same time denting the pocket of Vinci.
Activists from the ZAD have made a call out for people to come and get involved and help create ideas for actions and strategies against the forthcoming eviction. Their eviction wish list includes scaffolding, steel cables, barbed wire, nets, fencing, metal cutters / pliers, rope, banner material, fire extinguishers, saws, hammers, nails, gas masks, goggles, helmets, pallets, welding materials, megaphones, paint, blankets, bicycles, monsters…
How to get there: The ZAD is north of Nantes, near the towns of Notre-Dame des Landes and Vigneux Grandchamp des Fontaines. It is made up of many different squats but the best place to head first is les Planchettes, the welcome centre (someone will be there to welcome everyday between 12-2pm) which is on the D28. It’s a big farmhouse with big banners hanging above it.
If you can’t make it to France, Vinci also have their fingers in many pies in the UK including motorway and airport construction as well as offices across Britain which can be visited.
* For more info visit zad.nadir.org or keep an eye on Nantes Indymedia. Email zad@riseup.net
CALLOUT AS EVERYONE GEARS UP FOR IMMINANT EVICTION ATTEMPT
As the eviction date for Dale Farm is only a matter of
irish travellers to be evicted from their own land
hours away, Basildon Council has announced that it will take the draconian step of cutting off all water and electricity to the site once the eviction notice period expires on midnight 31st August. This will leave sick, elderly, young, and pregnant residents without access to water or electricity. Amnesty International have condemned the removal of vital water and electricity in these circumstances, and asked their supporters to put pressure on the council to cease this serious violation of human rights.
An injunction has been sought in consideration of two residents who are dependent upon a constant electricity supply for nebulisers, without access to which their lives are placed in serious jeopardy.
Also, notices have gone up along Oak Road, adjacent to Dale Farm, saying that the road will be closed to all but residents from Friday, Sept. 2nd. Both ends of Oak Road will be blocked (blocking access via both Hardings Elm Road and Gardiners Lane North). Additionally, the lay by on the southern end of Oak Lane (leading on to the A127; by the white ‘Basildon onion’ water tower) will be blocked.
There will be a no stop zone on the footpaths on the A127 between A176 at Billericay and A132 at Wickford. Residents are feeling under siege, with children asking how many more nights they are going to be able to sleep in their beds. Dale Farm is a big site, so it should be possible to find routes in, but be advised that after Sept. 1, it will be harder to get in, and likely impossible to get vehicles in.
* For more on what to expect at the eviction see SchNEWS 738
CAMP CONSTANT: On Saturday, 27th August, join the launch of a solidarity and resistance camp for supporters of the Dale Farm community. Details of the current state of play, the roadblocks and the ‘Big Weekend’s’ programme of practical eviction resistance workshops, training for legal observers and human rights monitors, music, films, media sessions, sleeping arrangements and more at: http://dalefarm.wordpress.com
The last remaining legal barrier between the eviction of 86 families from their homes at Dale Farm has now fallen. The emergency injunction we sought, which would have delayed the planned eviction, has not been granted. This means that, from midnight tonight, the bailiffs can come at any time. The homes of the Dale Farm families are at risk.
Now is the time to make your stand with in solidarity with Dale Farm.
Please come down to Camp Constant – the more people we have, the more powerful our message and the more we can support the residents to resist the eviction.
We will also be demonstrating: TELL EVERYONE: Sat, 10th Sept, 1pm, see here for more information and email: savedalefarm@gmail.com to add your group’s support to the list…
This weekend at Dale Farm (in addition to site construction and other activities):
On Saturday, Sept 3rd, noon: Jewish Solidarity visit — it’s important that cultures with a shared history of oppression support each other when our fundamental human rights face being breached. That is why this Saturday, Jewish rabbis, citizens and activists will be on a special blockade in support of residents at Dale Farm.
There is a workshop, on Sunday Sept. 4th, 2pm: Freedom of Movement and the Right to Stay! This is the rallying cry for Roma, Gypsies and Travellers and of migrants throughout the world. A common thread of persecution, of forbidden lands, eviction and deportation connect the struggles for migrant rights and the rights of Gypsies and Travellers. These realities have met dramatically in the crack-down and deportations of Roma people from France and Italy. Come to the Workshop organised by No One Is Illegal and London No Borders including a speaker who is an activist in Amnesty International’s campaign against the persecution of Roma in Europe.
If you can’t come down, you can help in other ways:
– spread the word on Twitter (@letdalefarmlive) on Facebook (search ‘Dale Farm Solidarity’)
– talk about it to your friends
– comment online – all the newspapers are carrying the story on their websites and the majority of online comments are negative
– donate: http://dalefarm.wordpress.com/donate/
The Free 