UK Indymedia - South CoastSouthCoast Indymedia

01-07-2008 15:18 | 10 comments

No Salute to Israel, 60 Years of Apartheid is Nothing to Celebrate

Today, a series of non-violent protest actions disrupted the 'Salute to Israel' parade. The parade celebrated 60 years since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Activists wished to remind the public that since its inception, Israel has been maintained through the constant oppression of the Palestinian people, in particular through ethnic cleansing.

The 'Salute to Israel' parade was a shameful show of support to a government engaged in war crimes. Sponsors included the Jewish National Fund, an organisation deeply involved in the colonisation of Palestinian land as well in anti-Palestinian discrimination within Israel. Activists wish to stress that the British government's authorisation, protection and support of this event is entirely unacceptable.

En route, the parade was greeted by activists with red dye on their hands to symbolise the blood of Palestinians killed by the Israeli government. In Trafalgar Square, both fountains were turned red after activists poured dye into the water and a Palestinian flag was unfurled at the entrance of the National Gallery. An activist climbed up a big screen which had to be turned off for most of the event. Also, another group attempted to get onto the roof of the National Gallery in order to unfurl a banner but were arrested in the process.

Police responded by making a series of ridiculous arrests, assaulting and detaining a woman for singing anti-zionist songs and deploying Forward Intelligence Teams to monitor and follow those attending the counter demonstrations.

Several Counter demonstrations were held by Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Action Palestine and Friends of Al Aqsa while Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others drove three double decker buses draped with Palestinian flags and black balloons around the square and Rhythms of Resistance tried to drown out the Pro-Zionist hip hop gig.

23-06-2008 13:35 | 2 additions | 6 comments

Carmel Agrexco's Depot Shut Down in Commemoration of the Nakba

In the early hours of Saturday morning, activists occupied and shut-down the HQ and only UK freight warehouse of Carmel Agrexco - Israel's largest agricultural exporter from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The occupation held for over 6 hours until they were forcibly removed at 12 noon.

During the occupation over 10 loading trucks intended for the warehouse were sent away. British supermarkets - accounting for 60% of Carmel-Agrexco's total exports - had some of their orders affected. The Israeli government has a 50% stake in the company. Exports include flowers, avocados and herbs grown in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Newswire: Israeli Owned Agrexco Warehouse Shut Down | Carmel occupied! Israeli settlement exporter shut down| Video of Police Forcibly removing Activists but Failing to Make Arrests

Previous Actions: 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 | ISM London | ISM Palestine

15-06-2008 09:32 | 1 comment

Stop the Deportation of 'Tara Aryan'

Tara Aryan is an Iranian refugee to the UK who converted to Christianity last year. The home office is trying to deport her to Iran. If they are sucessful she could face imprisonment or death for 'abandoning Islam'.

Tara has lived in Brighton for two years before being detained at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre. She was scheduled to be deported on Friday 13th June on a BMI flight from Heathrow. She was transferred to the airport but the removal was deferred after a judicial review was lodged by her solicitor. Tara is now detained again at Yarl's Wood.

Resources: Online Petition to grant Tara asylum

Links: Brighton Voices in Exile - See this site for updates on Tara's case

Media Coverage The Argus (Brighton) Christian Convert Could Face Death | The Argus - Final Plea by Woman Facing Iran Deportation

04-06-2008 11:47 | 21 additions | 30 comments

Timeline - SmashEDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade

The SmashEDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade was held in Brighton on Wednesday 4th June. Over 500 people marched from The Level to the EDO/ITT factory in Moulescombe. Police plans to contain everyone in a pen outside a neighbouring unit were foiled, and protestors managed to get to the factory. The factory gates were mysteriously opened, and a police van attempted to block the entrance to the EDO/ITT car park but protestors seized the opportunity to enter the car park and vent their rage against the arms company. A few arrests were reported.

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Video [1] | More videos | FIT watch Video
Arrests updates: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Smash EDO Press Releases: 10 Still in Custody over EDO Protest | Death of Marie Vesco | All Arrested Released Without Charge | Post Carnival Message from Smash EDO

28-05-2008 23:36 | 1 addition | 3 comments

Smash EDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade

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...

On the 4th June, Smash EDO, a campaign group aiming to shut down EDO MBM, a Brighton based arms manufacturer, will be holding a Carnival Against the Arms Trade aiming to highlight the level of public opposition to the factory and be an oppurtunity to take creative direct action against the arms trade.

The Carnival will include live music, a critical mass and with a unifying theme of red. Smash EDO are calling for activists to come from around the country to join the carnival and help close down EDO.

Resources: Flyer for the Critical Mass | Webpage for the carnival - Info on accomodation and transport | Press Release for the Carnival | More Info about the Smash EDO Campaign (pdf) | Info about the Merger with ITT (pdf)

Links: Smash EDO | EDO MBM | Smash EDO Indymedia topic page

13-05-2008 19:45

Camp Titnore birthday protest

CAMP TITNORE, the eco-protest site near Worthing, West Sussex, celebrated its second birthday on Saturday May 24.

To mark the occasion, a 'party' was held on the steps of Worthing Town Hall in Chapel Road.

Alongside the usual placards and banners were party hats and home-made birthday cakes, as supporters posed for press photos, gave three cheers to the eco-activists who have been protecting our countryside since May 2006 and gave a rendition of 'Happy Birthday to You', as between six and nine police watched on at a distance. There was even a spot of tree climbing.

One campaigner said: "The campaign has, of course, being going a lot more than two years, but the extraordinary achievement of those who have kept alive a continued presence in the woods since May 2006 just cannot be over-emphasised."

Less cheerful news was that Tesco's plans for its massive expansion on the West Durrington site have now been given outline planning permission by Worthing Borough Council.

16-04-2008 11:01

Brighton Tubas Solidarity Group Visit to Palestine

A delegation of seven 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.

Press Releases from the Brighton-Tubas Solidarity Group: Education and Resistance in Occupied Palestine | Palestinian Village Denied Water and Threatened with Demolition

23-03-2008 20:01 | 3 additions | 27 comments

On the Verge - The Film They Tried to Ban

Police have intervened across the country to censor 'On the Verge' an independent documentary about the Smash EDO campaign to shut down the Brighton's weapons manufacturer EDO MBM. So far establishments in Southampton, Chichester, Bath and Oxford as well as Brighton have come under police pressure to cancel film showings. In Brighton police intervened to prevent a showing at the Duke of York's Cinema, just one hour prior to the scheduled premiere.

Using activist, police and CCTV footage plus interviews with those involved in the campaign, 'On The Verge' tells the story of one of the most persistent and imaginative campaigns to emerge out of the UK's anti-war movement and direct action scene. See trailers of the film here(mpg) and here (wmv). A torrent file of the film has also been created. To download a copy of the film and to know how to use bittorrent click here.

Spokesman for the production company SchMovies, Steven Bishop said "I am extremely disappointed but not entirely surprised by the police's action. There may be issues with certification but as we're not charging for entry this shouldn't be an issue. If the police really had problems over the certificate they could have approached us at a much earlier stage. Our film although focussing mainly on the rights and wrongs of protest shows a number of examples of questionable police behaviour – Perhaps this is why they left their move so late"

Meanwhile the "On the Verge" Screening Tour continues. Confirmed upcoming dates are:
24th March - Oxford. OARC
25th March - Bath. Friends' Meeting Place
18th April - Glasgow. - the Carnival Arts Center
19th April - Aberdeen. - Aberdeen University
21st April - London. - London Action Resource Center Tour's page for the latest information on screenings.

17-02-2008 14:23

Stunning victory for wildcat strikers

AN AMAZING victory has been notched up by wildcat strikers in Brighton.

After two days on "illegal" strike, refuse workers at Brighton's Hollingdean Depot have won their fight against management bullying.

The striking bin staff had been complaining about management bullying after staff refused to double their workload due to lack of vehicles and under-staffing.

As part of what workers called management's "bully tactics", four refuse workers had been moved onto different crews sparking anger amongst the depot and leading to the wildcat action.

The GMB union had advised members to go back to work and only strike under official conditions.

16-02-2008 18:22 | 1 comment

International Actions against Israeli Apartheid

The period leading up to Valentine’s day saw actions against Israeli apartheid taking place in the USA, England and Belgium. A week of action had been called against the import of Israeli flowers for Valentine’s Day. The call to action was against Carmel-Agrexco, the 50% state owned Israeli export company, and in support of a boycott of apartheid Israel.

On Friday 9th February Belgian activists blocked trucks at Agrexco’s depot in Liege, On Monday in Hayes, Middlesex, Activists blocked the entrances and exits of Agrexco’s UK headquarters. Some activists opted for another Valentine’s day target, the Israeli diamond trade: In London Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods picketed Lev Leviev’s new store while activists from Adalah in the US targeted Levievs’ New York branch. Leviev, an international diamond merchant, is responsible for developing illegal settlements on Palestinian land near the West Bank Villages of Bil In and Jayouss. His New York store has been targeted for several months by anti-apartheid activists.

Reports: Report of the Belgian Carmel-Agrexco action | Photos| Videos - 1 2 3 4 5 | Report of the London Carmel-Agrexco Action - 1 2

Previous: Original call to action against Agrexco | Previous Actions against Carmel-Agrexco 1 2 3 4 | London Pickett of Lev Leviev’s Store (+ Video) | Report of the US Picket (+ Video | Pictures)

Links: More info on the campaign against Leviev so far

South Coast Feature Archive >>

01-07-2008 15:18 | 10 comments

No Salute to Israel, 60 Years of Apartheid is Nothing to Celebrate

23-06-2008 13:35 | 2 additions | 6 comments

Carmel Agrexco's Depot Shut Down in Commemoration of the Nakba

15-06-2008 09:32 | 1 comment

Stop the Deportation of 'Tara Aryan'

04-06-2008 11:47 | 21 additions | 30 comments

Timeline - SmashEDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade

28-05-2008 23:36 | 1 addition | 3 comments

Smash EDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade

13-05-2008 19:45

Camp Titnore birthday protest

16-04-2008 11:01

Brighton Tubas Solidarity Group Visit to Palestine

23-03-2008 20:01 | 3 additions | 27 comments

On the Verge - The Film They Tried to Ban

17-02-2008 14:23

Stunning victory for wildcat strikers

16-02-2008 18:22 | 1 comment

International Actions against Israeli Apartheid

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