1. Reclaim the Streets unveils ‘terror’ campaign
2. GM protestors blockade Sainsbury's
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For those people who are unfamiliar with British humour, this is what we Call quirky - the pictures on the web (links below) together with the statement should clarify the actions. Reclaim the Streets is a non hierarchical coalition for direct action, who are often credited with major London street parties, J18, guerrilla gardening in Parliament Sq. last Mayday and the ability to get more police out in riot gear than previously thought possible.
For the 30 or so activists that protested on Monday, there were at least 6 vans worth of police visible at all times.
RECLAIM THE STREETS UNVEILS 'TERROR' CAMPAIGN
Statement read to the press outside the Houses of Parliament
'This action is taking place because today, as the Terrorism Act comes into force, political dissent has been redefined as terrorism. We wanted to show you a real terrorist cell, so we are returning these genetically modified timebombs here, to expose those who are causing a physical risk to the health and safety of the public - contradicting the very act of parliament they intend to use against us.
In Canada, the Royal Society - the leading scientific body of that country- has warned that GM foods could pose "serious risks to human health, of extensive, irremediable disruption for the natural ecosystems, or of serious diminution of biodiversity". It declared that a key testing standard used in Britain to assess GM food should be abandoned as it offers inadequate protection to health. Yet a three year European moratorium on commercial planting has now been ended, destroyed with the active support of the government against the wishes of the public.
We have already seen the interests of the oil industry put before the reality of climate change. Now the profits of the biotech industry are being given priority over nature. The biotech industry is attempting to claim the creation of life itself as another new market to be exploited.
The Terrorism Act is designed to stop people taking direct action, to make us all powerless in the face of government and business. The severity of sentencing under this new act will not persuade the public to accept GE nor will it suddenly make them blind to social and environmental injustice. The people working towards social and ecological justice, in defense of their lives, their communities and their environment will not be stopped by this legislation. It will only reaffirm the determination of an already audacious global movement to reclaim the world as a common treasury for all.' <http://www.uk.indymedia.org/>www.uk.indymedia.org.
press release
On Monday 19th February, as the Terrorism Act 2000 came into force, Reclaim the Streets announced a campaign of direct action involving the widespread destruction of capitalist profits, shocking headlines, love, peace and the further development of an already audacious global movement to reclaim the world as a common treasury for all.
After a series of co-ordinated, autonomous actions in Central London on Monday morning, activists will gather in Parliament Square at 3.30pm, to deliver a (transgenic) time bomb to Parliament.
Activists from Reclaim the Streets and other campaigning groups are taking action to demonstrate that those working towards social and environmental justice will not be deterred by this Act.Ã This crude attempt to bully the public cannot hope to suppress the actions any of us may take to protect ourselves, our communities and our planet from corporate interests.
Diversity Equality Freedom
Reclaim the Streets
Notes to the Editor
1. On Monday morning, a series of actions saw the co-ordinated delivery of 'terrorist' parcels (bouquets of oilseed rape or canola, from a UK GM trial site) to Ministers and civil servants at 10, Downing St, New Scotland Yard, the Home Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of the Environment and the Department of Trade and Industry. Statues of public heroes were awarded sashes of honour bearing the legend 'Terrorist'. Photos will be available via www.uk.indymedia.org.
Activists, lawyers and members of the public from the Networkà against the Terrorism Act (NATTA) leafleted the Home Office and New Scotland Yard as employees arrived for work this morning. http://go.to/ta2000
2.What?
The Home Secretary will have the right to proscribe organisations, which implicates members, people present at meetings addressed by members and even those wearing clothing suggesting support for such organisations, facing up to ten years in prison.
Even support for an overseas organisation arbitrarily deemed terrorist will now be criminalised.
The new definition recasts as terrorists not only Nelson Mandela and the ANC but also those who campaigned for his freedom in this country. Other newly defined terrorists would include the veal crate protestors, the Greenham women, Suffragettes, Swampy, crop pullers from the anti genetics campaign, the Chartists, Wat Tyler and the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
The first section of the Act states:
. 1. - (1) In this Act "terrorism" means the use or threat of action where-
(a) the action falls within subsection (2),
(b) the use or threat is designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and
(c) the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.
(2) Action falls within this subsection if it-
(a) involves serious violence against a person,
(b) involves serious damage to property,
(c) endangers a person's life, other than that of the person committing the action,
(d) creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public, or
(e) is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system.
(3) The use or threat of action falling within subsection (2) which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism whether or not subsection (1)(b) is satisfied.
Press packs come with a cartoon and a DIY guide, if you too are confused about what this all means.
3. As well as increasing participation by the public in direct action events in the UK and Europe, there were over 60 mass actions and demonstrations around the world last year, against globalisation and social and ecological injustice.
For further information on the issues: http://go.to/ta2000
For coverage and photos of the action www.uk.indymedia.org.
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2. Anti GM protestors blockade Sainsbury's depots
Press release
22/02/01
This morning at approximately 10:30am protestors have begun blockading Sainsbury's regional distribution centres [1] around the country, preventing them from supplying Sainsbury's supermarkets with GM-fed animal produce. [2]
The protestors are targeting Sainsbury's because of their failure to follow recent moves by other supermarket chains [3] in announcing a date by which all own-brand meat, dairy, egg, and fish products will be from animals raised on a GM free diet [4].
The protestors have used various means of blockading, including climbing on top of lorries, and using bicycle locks to secure themselves to lorries and gates, with banners and costumes to highlight the issue to Sainsbury's workers.
Notes to Editors:
1. So far, reports of at least four seperate actions have been received. For progress reports and footage of the blockades:
Tel: 0207 6900626 GEN for updates Via GEN (blockade at Elstree Way, Borehamwood WD6 1SN)
Tel: 07796 430 141 (blockade at Basingstoke depot)
Tel: 07710 482201 (blockade in Midlands area depot)
2. Regional Distribution Centres (RDC's) operate on a "just in time" basis to local stores.
3. 75% of the worlds GM crop acreage is grown to feed animals that then enters the food chain via meat, dairy, egg and fish products. Although most supermarkets have removed GE as direct ingredients, little attention has been paid to animal feed entering the food chain via eggs, dairy, meat and fish. 67% of people in a recent independent poll said that they were opposed to farm animals being fed GM crops.
4. Iceland was the first UK supermarket to outlaw GE animal feed in its ownbrand products. ASDA, Tesco, and Marks and Spencers have recently given dates by which own brand produce will be GM free. Sainsbury's has yet to do so.
5. GM-fed animal produce is currently not labelled as such.
6. This year for the first time since the introduction of GE, acreage looks set to decrease compared to last year. After the Starlink scandal in USA, Bosnia recently refused 40,000 tonnes of GE maize which was sent as aid by the USA. Sainbury's is a major UK supermarket chain.
Video footage from one of the actions is available via Zoe Broughton 07779 268832
Stills pictures are available from a freelance photographer - contact GEN 020 7690 0626
For a detailed briefing on the issue of GE animal feed
http://www.gm-info.org.uk/gm-info/briefings/intro.html