UK Indymedia - South CoastSouthCoast Indymedia

29-10-2008 20:40 | 4 additions | 1 comment

Solidarity Actions in the West Bank, Gaza and the UK

On 29th October 2008, the 60th anniversary of massacres in the Palestinian villages of Safsaf, al-Dawayima and Kafr Qasim, British activists were aboard the Dignity which sailed into Gaza. The boat which set sail from Cyprus the day before, was the second succesful attempt by the Free Gaza Movement to break the siege of Gaza, which has been imposed since last year. Carrying a contingent of doctors and medicines ,including cough mixtures which are no longer available in Gaza, the activists are set to meet up with fellow activists who have been in Gaza since the first sailing in August 2008.

In the West Bank, a delegation from the Brighton Tubas Region Friendship and Solidarity Group had arrived in the Tubas Region of the Occupied West Bank a week earlier. Reports sent home from the delegation record incidents such as attacks by Settlers, continued land theft, and enforced water shortages. The group which aims to highlight Israeli war crimes against Palestinians in the region, raise awareness about life under occupation and create practical solidarity links between grassroots organisations in Brighton and Tubas region, is currently assisting with the olive harvest at the village of Al Masra.

28-10-2008 17:59

Brighton group Joins Olive Harvest Campaign in Palestine

A delegation of eight people from Brighton arrived in the Tubas region of occupied Palestine last week. The delegation is part of the project by the Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group. The group's aims are to highlight Israeli war crimes against Palestinians in the region, raise awareness about life under occupation and create practical solidarity links between grassroots organisations in Brighton and Tubas region. Members of the delegation are currently visiting the threatened village of Al Masra to assist them with their olive harvest.

On Tuesday 28th the group was attacked by a group of Israeli settlers who proceeded to steal olives from the farmers the group was accompanying. One of the settlers was the same man who had murdered a teenage boy in the village earlier this year.

Delegation Report Back Meeting at 7pm at the Friends Meeting House, Ship St, Brighton

Reports from the Brighton Tubas Group: One Day the Chains Must be Broken| IDF shoot man in El Far'a refugee camp| Land Confiscation in Atoof | Living in the Shadow of Al Hamra | Struggle for Survival in Al Hadidya | Ethnic Cleansing in Al Farisiya| Military repression in Atoof | Said Lataba – After 31 Years in Prison, Sends A Message of Peace and Humanity| Makhool; After Hadidya we are Next

Press Releases from the Brighton-Tubas Solidarity Group:Brighton Delegation Arrives in Palestine|Sussex University Students make Links with Palestinians Under Occupation|Brighton Delegation joins Olive Harvest in Al Masra| Brighton-Tubas delegation and Palestinian farmers attacked by Israeli settlers|

Links: Jordan Valley Solidarity| Palestine Solidarity Campaign | International Solidarity Movement in Palestine | Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign | Stop the Wall in Palestine

15-10-2008 10:12

Anti-Arms Protesters Shut ITT

A mass protest against Brighton-based arms manufacturers EDO MBM/ITT took place on 15 October, 2008. Organised by the Smash EDO campaign, the event was called Shut ITT! and was the third such demonstration this year. Last June, Brighton saw the Carnival Against the Arms Trade, organised by Smash EDO too.

As the 400-strong march was prevented by police from reaching the EDO factory, 40 bottles of red paint were thrown over the back fence by a group of protesters who split off. The 'bomb factory' was reportedly shut down for the day. At least 10 people were arrested and some injured from police violence, including a photographer.

Reports: Full timeline | Press releases: 1 | 2 | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |5 |6
More: FITwatchers perspective | Message from Smash EDO

08-10-2008 08:26

Brighton bomb factory clash ahead

A SHOW of strength by the police is expected by anti-war protesters gathering in Brighton on Wednesday October 15.

A mass demo against the South Coast city's weapons factory, EDO-MBM/ITT, is being staged and after the success of the last one, cops are thought to be planning a hardline approach.

Since 2001 over a million people have been killed worldwide by the US-UK War of Terror. EDO MBM/ITT supply weapons components for the US-UK war machine. Smash EDO has been campaigning for four and a half years to close down EDO.

The movement is growing - in June this year over 600 people came from around the country to the ‘Carnival Against the Arms Trade’. The Carnival managed to reach the Brighton bomb factory despite police attempts to stop it!

07-10-2008 14:16 | 1 addition

Shut ITT!

Every bomb that is dropped and every bullet that is fired in the name of this war of terror has to be made somewhere and wherever that is it can be resisted...

The movement against EDO MBM/ITT is growing, in June this year over 600 people came from around the country to the ‘Carnival Against the Arms Trade’. The Carnival managed to reach the Brighton bomb factory despite police attempts to corral the march

On October 15th Smash EDO are planning another mass demonstration against the Brighton bomb builders [Press Release]

Resources: Webpage for the Shut ITT Demonstration - Info on accomodation and transport | Open Letter to Sussex Police| Campaigners say Shut ITT | More Info about the Smash EDO Campaign (pdf) | Info about the Merger with ITT (pdf)

28-09-2008 05:58 | 4 additions | 5 comments

Carmel-Agrexco shut down as part of 'Boycott Israeli Goods' week of action

Human rights activists shut down the Carmel-Agrexco depot in Hayes, Middlesex, for 12 hours on 28 September, 2008, as part of a week of action called by the Boycott Israeli Goods campaign. Both gates to the depot were blocked, with four protesters locking themselves inside a cage blocking one gate, while another was D-locked to the other. At least 14 trucks were prevented from entering the premises during the day. One protester was arrested for 'obstruction of the highway'.

The day before, at about 3:30am, activists with tipper trucks had dumped builders rubble across both gates of the depot. Protests against the sale of Israeli produce from occupied Palestinian land also took place outside supermarkets around the country, which account for 60% of Carmel-Agrexco's total exports.

Previous Actions: Carmel Agrexco's Depot Shut Down in Commemoration of the Nakba | Fortress Carmel Agrexco breached by Peace Activists | Video - Carmel Agrexco protest during Camp for Climate Action | Weekend of Action Against Carmel Agrexco | Activists Blockade Carmel-Agrexco's UK Headquarters for the Third Time | International Actions against Israeli Apartheid

Further reading: Text of letter to Carmel-Agrexco | Report on Carmel's involvement in the Jordan Valley | War on Want's report: Profiting from the Occupation

Links: Palestine Solidarity Campaign | The Big Campaign

30-08-2008 15:55

Starbucks leaves bitter taste in Brighton

FRAPPACINOS, that flipping ‘Friends’ sofa or how about smartening the street up? These are some of the top arguments in favour of the latest shiny, corporate addition to this city.

Starbucks, yes, shitty Starbucks! A scummy company no question about it.

A corporate vulture in fact, guilty of a friendly lil business practice known as cannibalisation where sister stores are opened to feed and compete with each others custom, slowly squeezing the local cafes out – there are worryingly now five SBs in this city alone and SB’s HQ have stated they plan to roll out another 100 stores in our lucky country this year; supplying coffee to Guantanamo Bay (to pour over the inmates no doubt); and of course, lovely homogenisation. One day we’ll all wake up to find out that blessed Brighton has overnight turned into one big shiny soulless commercialised consumer’s wet dream.

10-08-2008 11:00 | 6 additions | 14 comments

Climate Camp - Quick Links

Latest news: SMS text alerts | IMC UK Climate Camp 2008 topic | up-to-date timeline

Coverage: Climate Camp Radio | VisionOnTV daily news shows | Envirospeak uploads and ongoing discussion.

Links: Camp for Climate Action website | Network for Climate Action | Days of Climate Action

28-07-2008 17:21

Activists Take Over Incinerator Site

'Stop Incineration Now!' protestors demonstrated their in the early hours of the 21st July fury now after on the highly controversial incinerator plant had begun.

Activists took over the site of the proposed new incinerator plant in Newhaven. They entered the premises under the cover of darkness last night in an organised attempt at non-violent direct action, after resistance through democratic means failed them. Several protestors formed a barricade by superglue-ing themselves to the road in an attempt to prevent vehicle access, whilst on the site itself, other members of the group 'locked-on' to machinery in order to halt further activity. They claim to be exercising their democratic right to protest non-violently in a last-ditch attempt to promote their concerns about the consequences of incinerators on public health and safety. Read more >>

23-07-2008 08:34 | 1 addition | 1 comment

Justice demanded as Binyam turns 30

Protesters gathered outside Downing Street on Thursday, 24th July, to hold a 'Birthday Party' for Britain's last Guantamo Detainee, Binyam Mohamed [Reports and pics 1 | 2 | 3]. The event was the culmination of a week long vigil which took place outside the US Embassy.