features archive | newswire | publish | links | about

Industrialised World Intransigence on CO2 emissions dooms Climate Negotiations

Africa abandons Barcelona's pre COP15 climate talks - Anger in the streets at rich nations inaction. Copenhagen Climate Treaty appears doomed - delays likely. Delay is not an option, delay kills.

This week (Nov 2 - 6) the Barcelona International Climate Change Talks are happening, five days of formal negotiations, in the lead up to COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009. Already Barcelona has seen a Manifestation in Barcelona streets - "The climate is not for sale" (Youtube vid | report), Outdoor film screening in city streets of Age of Stupid, TckTckTck wake up call for climate talks, Greenpeace banner drop (Youtube), Anarchist night greeting, Africa boycott U.N. climate talks (Grist report), Evening Water Lobby group targeted, and the Main entrance shut down by activists.

Conservation organisations have warned that the Copenhagen climate treaty threatens to subsidise the destruction of the world's remaining rainforests instead of financing their protection. In Indonesia Greenpeace established a Climate Defenders Camp to preserve Rainforest peatlands (Youtube Video). On October 24, 2009 people in 181 countries came together through 350.org calling for carbon emissions to be capped at 350ppm. It was the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history, at over 5200 events around the world, many of them reported on the Indymedia Network. (Photos)

See also: Barcelona IMC | Indymedia Ireland | Climate IMC
Climate Code Red: the Case for a Sustainability Emergency | Carbon Equity

Opposition to EDL Rally in Leeds, UK

On 31st October 2009 in City Square, Leeds, the English Defence League held a rally. The EDL is a nationalist, islamophobic organisation formed earlier this year and is widely viewed as racist.

A counter-demonstration was organised by Unite Against Fascism (UAF). Participants described it variously as being dull, jubilant and tightly controlled. Meanwhile, other anti-EDL groups attempted to confront EDL directly. Reports suggest that at least two large groups attempted to reach EDL to confront them at City Square, but were turned back towards the UAF rally by police (see time-line for first-hand accounts).

Reports from the area around City Square were that most of the EDL supporters didn't go into their pen. Some were held between police lines and others regrouped on Boar Lane, before being brought back to the railway station by the police. Another group of EDL marched around the Albion Street area and responded violently when challenged about their inflammatory chanting.

BusinessEurope conference disturbed by climate activists

This morning (28th october) around 9:00am dozens of costumed activists have blocked all access to the Charlemagne Building in Brussels, next to the Commission’s HQ, where Business Europe, the EU lobby of bosses and industrialists, is supposed to hold their conference on Copenhagen and climate change and hear Barroso self-congratulate himself on green capitalism. Belgian activists retort: Our Climate Ain’t None of Your Business!

[press release(En/Fr) | report (fr) | fotos | 1 2 3 | Climate IMC report | Climate Justice Action]

Squatting ban in the Netherlands approaching

For the last three years a ban on squatting has been in preparation in Dutch politics. A new act that is to ban squatting in the Netherlands has passed through parliament on October 15th. Squatting empty houses that have been empty for over a year is currently still legal in the Netherlands. The new act, an initiative by the Christian Democrats, the Christian Union and the conservative opposition party VVD, is to make squatting a felony punishable by at least one year and up to three years of prison when refusing to evict. Despite strong critique from the High Court, the union of city councils and even the Amsterdam police force, the christian/rightwing majority in The Hague is pushing this law through.

Venezuela: Demarcation without land, criminalization and death for indigenous struggle

Struggle:
Old man Antonio used to say that the struggle is like a circle.
One can start anywhere.
But it never ends.
-Subcomandante Marcos

This past October 12 what we have been denouncing for a long time as the ethnocide and ethno-devouring strategy of the current State-government of Venezuela took place: Chavez’s ministerial team came to award so-called title deeds to three indigenous Yukpa communities in the Sierra of Perija, with the pretense to finish the process of land demarcation in the habitat belonging to these people. It is noteworthy the absence of President Chavez in an event long awaited in the Sierra since the year 2002, when, by constitutional mandate, the State was supposed to finalize the process of land demarcation in all the indigenous territories in the country. Instead, an enormous deployment of soldiers blanketed the event, supposedly for the security of the ministers (Interior and Justice, Indigenous People’s, among other functionaries present), and who, at the slightest sign of protest by those communities not favored by the event, went immediately into action to repress their demands. It was, in the end, an event by which the Yukpa had to forcefully accept the receipt of NOTHING.

Puerto Rico: Paro Nacional del Pueblo

- CMI-Puerto Rico

Más de 150,000 personas marcharon el día del Paro Nacional contra las políticas neoliberales del gobierno de Luis Fortuño y los ricos. Hoy por hoy el país se prepara para organizar la Huelga General.

Como parte de las actividades programadas para el día del Paro Nacional del 15 de octubre, hubo dos grandes concentraciones: la de la coalición Todo Puerto Rico Por Puerto Rico comandada por el liderato de la Coalición Sindical compuesta de sucursales de uniones burocráticas estadounidenses, y la del Frente Amplio de Solidaridad y Lucha comandado por la UTIER. Pero en el Expreso Las Américas, en el área del elevado que pasa por encima de la Ave. Roosevelt, se dio una tercera concentración de manera improvisada.

Ver foto reportaje

Además- Del Paro Nacional a la Huelga General (Foto reportaje de las marchas y concentración)

Solidaridad en Nueva York- Foto reportaje y Comunicado | Video de manifestación

Videos- Marcha en la Milla de oro y concentración en la Ave. Roosevelt | Tensión en el Expreso Las Américas | Entrevistas en el Expreso bloqueado | FMPR dice Presente en el Paro Nacional

Costa Rica: Popular March, For Dignity in the South

On Tuesday, October 6th, two years after the Fraud that decided the approval of the Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., a Popular March for Dignity in the Southern Region of Costa Rica was held. More than 150 activists marched from the entrance of the Indigenous Territory of Térraba, towards the center of the county of Buenos Aires. One step after another, they covered 13 kilometers in total. Different communities from all over the South face struggles against the expansion of pineapple plantations, the building of Diquís Hydroelectric Project, an international airport that would be built on the land of “Finca 9”, the plans to develop marinas and industrial tuna farms in Golfo Dulce and in favor of the Indigenous Autonomy Bill.

South Africa's Shackdwellers Under Violent Attack

DURBAN — On Saturday, September 26, about 40 heavily armed men ambushed a meeting of the Kennedy Road Development Committee of Abahlali baseMjondolo, South Africa's shack dwellers’ movement. The men were apparently shouting, “the AmaMpondo are taking over Kennedy. Kennedy is for the amaZulu!” The ensuing violence has resulted in between two and eight deaths, and hundreds of homes burned. As of Sunday night only leaders of Abahlali baseMjondolo have been jailed --- many of whom are members of the movement's security team and some of the youth who were not present at the time of the attack. Many have fled the settlement and people's homes are being destroyed, including the home of Abahlali President, S'bu Zikode.

It is clear that the attacks have been on political and ethnic grounds, and there is growing concern regarding the involvement of local authorities including the police, ANC, and ward council. The violence appears to be a planned attempt to break this peaceful and democratic movement. Please read and sign a petition demanding an end to the violence.

More Info: Sept29 Press Release from Durban Action Against Xenophobia | Sept28 Video & Story from Media Mobilizing Project | Sept 27 statement from Abahlali baseMjondolo | | | UPDATES: South Africa’s Poor Targeted by Evictions, Attacks in Advance of 2010 World Cup from Democracy Now! | Armed Guards and Checkpoints As Repression Continues in Durban South Africa from MMP

Massive popular resistance as Micheletti dictatorship revives 1980's death squad

The Micheletti dictatorship in Honduras, which prominently includes 1980's death squad "Battalion 3-16" [1] [2] members Billy Joya [1] [2], Nelson Willy Mejía Mejía [1] [2] and Napoleón Nassar Herrera [1] [2], has suspended human rights since the 28 June 2009 coup d'etat, has "disappeared" at least three people, has extrajudicially executed nearly ten people, and has detained hundreds of people [1] (es) | [2] (en) (es) | [3] (en) (es). Despite this, unprecedented grassroots protests have culminated in the arrival on Tuesday 11 August 2009 in Tegucigalpa of over 70,000 (es) demonstrators and of thousands of others in San Pedro Sula, coordinating through the Front against the coup d'etat. The Front's 19th Communique states that unless the Micheletti regime resigns within the next few days and restores Zelaya to the presidency, then the Front will further extend massive civil disobedience actions (es) that have already paralysed the economy and will file for national and international criminal proceedings against those responsible for the extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations.

The mainstream Western media have with very few exceptions failed to report the participation of the Battalion 3-16 death squad in the Micheletti de facto government, they have not reported on "disappearances", they have severely underreported the number of extrajudicial executions, and they have almost entirely hidden the unresolved context of the 1980's death squads. The Zelaya government also contained death squad members (es), which CODEH and other Honduran local human rights organisations objected to. The Obama-Clinton-Lula so-called "Arias" plan has glaringly omitted any mention of whether or not it proposes to exclude death squad members from any "negotiated" coalition government.

PHOTOS: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
INDEPENDENT MEDIA: IMC Honduras | Front against the coup d'etat | Revistazo | Honduras Resists (en)+(es)
RADIO: Radio Liberada mirrors: [1] - [2] - [3] | Radio Es Lo Demenos | Association of Radios and Participating Programs of El Salvador
HUMAN RIGHTS NGOs: CIPRODEH | CODEH | COFADEH | COMUN/Honduras Laboral
SUPPORT GROUPS: Quixote Center | SOA Watch | Via Campesina | Honduras Resists! (support group)
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS SUMMARIES: COFADEH, 15 July (es) | FIDH and many others, 6 August, preliminary (en) (es) final | Quixote Center (en), 7 August (es)

Please smile, all is going ok!

From July 6th L’aquila is hosting the most cynical G8 summit in the history.

Even if works at Maddalena (the first site) were already started, Berlusconi Government cleverly decided to exploit the “Earthquake emergency” situation, moving the whole G8 organization to an area close to L’Aquila, a town which was hurt by a strong earthquake on 6 April 2009. “Opportunities and advantages” of G8 are still unclear. Even the G8 organization has been highly criticized. But Berlusconi government does not care. And on the last day of the summit still release optimistic declaration, while all over the world there is an harsh critic. The government is trying to avoid any possible protest, putting forward the emergency state to keep the population quiet and stop any kind of demonstration. The only “Emergency state” in a town where the population still live in campsites, is due to the protest, and spending 500 millions euro stolen from L’Aquila reconstruction to rearrange the buildings of “Guardia di Finanza” (Finance Police) station which will host the meeting, is not a problem.

In spite of cynicism and government manipulations, this G8 has been marked by protests and initiative both in Aquila, where people is still protesting against the help given for the earthquake, and in the whole Italian territory.

Picture from L'Aquila - Corteo Last Ladies | Coverage from Italy IMC

features archive | newswire | publish | links | about

Check out the archive of past featured stories

About these featured stores: The stories highlighted on this page in the center column are published by the www-features working group. We encourage you to get involved or suggest a story to feature. Interested in getting your imc coverage listed in the upcoming events section?

Syndication: Features RSS | Features RSS with content

(c) Independent Media Center. All content is free for reprint and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere, for non-commercial use, unless otherwise noted by author.

UPCOMING IMC COVERAGE

For more upcoming actions, please check local IMCs.

CHOOSE A NEWSWIRE:
  LOCAL FEATURES
  OPEN PUBLISHING

CHOOSE A NEWSWIRE:

en	Fort Hood Massacre: A Brief History of American Violence It’s hard to pinpoint what’s the most shocking thing about Major Malik Nadal Has... 07-11-2009 02:09 DC
pt	Honduras, Acordo fracassa e a luta continua. GOLPE DENTRO DO GOLPE... 07-11-2009 00:37 CMI Brasil
pt	Primeira reunião para barrar o aumento da tarifa de ônibus em São Paulo AUMENTO DE TARIFA... 06-11-2009 23:07 CMI Brasil
	Mumia Abu-Jamal faces new execution threat Pennsylvania prosecutors, twice rejected in their efforts to impose the death pe... 06-11-2009 21:07 United States
	FMPR vs Ley 7 Federación de Maestros anuncia Plan de Lucha contra la Ley 7... 06-11-2009 20:09 Puerto Rico
	Educación En Medio de Protestas se Aprueba la LGE... 06-11-2009 19:09 santiago
es	Iguales derechos iguales oportunidades para todxs 06-11-2009 19:09 Argentina
	Sobre la detención de vecino de Andalgala "Es una lucha por la vida de todos los vecinos y contra la contaminación..."... 06-11-2009 19:09 Argentina
en	Sleep-Out on Boston Common Continues Despite Police [Boston, MA] Scores of college students and community members gathered on Boston... 06-11-2009 19:08 Boston
en	The Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza Strip The great similarities between the fascist policies of the Israeli government in... 06-11-2009 19:07 Romania
	From the Newswire Nyoongar Elders fear quarry work will destroy sacred sites in the Darling Range... 06-11-2009 18:39 Perth
en	Rochester Calls for New Independent Civilian Review Board After October 7th Police Riot On October 7th , during a march down Main St. commemorating the 8th year of the ... 06-11-2009 18:07 Rochester
	Convocan a una conferencia de prensa en el Hotel Bauen a las 18hs Policias hieren al hijo de Nestor Segovia, delegado de la línea C... 06-11-2009 16:09 Argentina
	La lucha globaliza cada día: Justice and Dignity For Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and Fong Lee Paramilitary repression and police brutality continue unabated on both sides of ... 06-11-2009 15:07 United States
	Este sábado en el Espacio del Cid (Capital Federal) Lanzamiento público del Canal 4 "Antena Negra"... 06-11-2009 14:39 Argentina
en	Oil companies left with egg on their faces Both BP and Shell had their flagship recruitment events at the Randolph Hotel hi... 06-11-2009 11:39 United Kingdom
en	AN EVENING WITH MAX RAMEAU OF TAKE BACK THE LAND! November 13, 6-8p, Smith Memorial Union Hall, PSU Max Rameau is the founder of t... 06-11-2009 11:38 Portland
	"Мастерская" - фильм о минском сквоте Фильм “Мастерская”Описание:Фильм “Мастерская” – это результат обработки своеобра... 06-11-2009 11:37 Belarus
es	Contra el abuso policial Definen estrategias colectivas de resistencia y lucha... 06-11-2009 07:39 Argentina
en	RVTV/SOU Censorship In the october 30, 2009 Ashland Daily Tidings is an article regarding a decision... 06-11-2009 04:09 Rogue Valley
en	Charles County Sheriffs Shoot, Kill Unarmed Cornelius Maurice Warren Half a Mile from his Home On October 2, 2009 at 3:25 in the afternoon, Officers Eric C. Leukhardt, Stephen... 06-11-2009 00:09 DC
en	Teachers and Students Disagree With Rhee's Reduction In Force Students from School Without Walls Attend Pro-Teacher Rally... 06-11-2009 00:09 DC
en	Remembrance conflict Symbolised by the wearing of a red poppy, every year at this time there is a bri... 05-11-2009 23:39 United Kingdom
	"Мастерская" - фильм о минском сквоте Фильм “Мастерская”Описание:Фильм “Мастерская” – это результат обработки своеобра... 05-11-2009 23:07 Belarus
	"Мастерская" - фильм о минском сквоте Фильм “Мастерская”Описание:Фильм “Мастерская” – это результат обработки своеобра... 05-11-2009 22:07 Belarus
	Rainbow Theatre Kicks Off Their 16th Season Rainbow Theatre, the only multicultural theatre arts troupe in the UC system, wi... 05-11-2009 20:38 Santa Cruz, CA
	Twelve Arrested by Homeland Security in Pelosi's Office Fifteen people occupied the San Francisco office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Nove... 05-11-2009 20:09 San Francisco Bay Area
	Big Stone II Coal Plant Finally Dead The last remaining partners in the construction of the Big Stone II coal-fired p... 05-11-2009 18:37 United States
en	11 Organizations Demand Mets Cancel Citi Field Fundraiser for Israeli Settlers Eleven organizations from the US, Palestine and Israel have called on baseball’s... 05-11-2009 17:08 NYC
	24PalJusticia Desaparecidos del Palacio de Justicia... 05-11-2009 15:09 Colombia

RSS