Wednesday, 7 October 2009

517 YEARS OF RESISTANCE



For Life and Mother Earth!

12th October is an international day of protest in solidarity with indigenous people and against global warming - a "Global mobilisation for Mother Earth"

Come and join us to support the "Minga" of indigenous resistance called by the Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indigenas (CAOI). We support the struggle of Latin American native peoples and protest against the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and agro-fuels.

NO TO EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS!

The European Union (EU) plans to open up the Andean region’s services, natural resources and biodiversity to even greater despoliation by pushing through Free Trade Agreements that favour multinational corporations. The deals made behind closed doors by the governments of Colombia and Peru are a threat to Andean integration. The EU is trying to isolate the progressive governments of Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Alongside them are the indigenous peoples and their organisations who were never consulted over the negotiation process. Indigenous peoples do not recognise the EU agreements because they will destroy ancestral territorial rights and collective knowledge. The UK government is particularly responsible for this policy - the former EU Trade Commissioner was Peter Mandelson who has been replaced by another Labour politician, Baroness Cathy Ashton.

FOOD NOT FUEL!

The UK government is diverting renewable energy subsidies to subsidise power stations that use agro-fuels. While the UK's last but one factory producing wind turbines has closed and solar energy firms

are struggling, vast "renewable energy" funding is going to agro-fuels which actually make global warming worse and threat food security around the world. In Colombia the cultivation of African Palm for agro-fuels is linked with displacement and violence, while destroying biodiversity and the fertility of the soil.

INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE - VIVA LA MINGA!

The indigenous people have had enough; they will not put up with false promises, lies and trickery any more. They are out on the streets fighting: to "liberate Mother Earth" from the destructive alliance between multinational corporations and local elites, and for a dignified future for their children and their communities. They are a moral force rising from below to reclaim what is justly theirs, life itself.

Bolivia Solidarity Campaign · Colombia Solidarity Campaign · Hands Off Venezuela ·

Latin American Workers Association · Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK ·

Polo Democrático (UK) · Rock around the Blockade

P&p Coordinadora Latino-Americana c/o PO Box 8446, London N17

MEETING POINTS



4:45 Colombian Embassy 3 Hans Crescent SW1 (Knightsbridge tube)

5:30 Peruvian Embassy 52 Sloane Street SW1

5:50 Spanish Embassy Chesham Place SW1

6:30 UK Foreign Office Parliament Street SW1 (Westminster tube)

7pm Department for Energy and Climate Change 3 Whitehall Place SW1 – where we will join the Agro-fuels don’t ROC(k)! demonstration against renewable energy subsidies for Agro-fuels called by the Campaign against Climate Change, Biofuelwatch and Food Not Fuel.

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Film from Autumn Conference 2009; Just Transition

Film from Autumn Conference 2009 shot by Richard Scrase with interviews and clips from the Just Transition Plenary featuring Caroline Lucas, Chris Baugh (PCS) and Chris Rapley (Director, Science Museum), at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlByCztK3Y8.

We are hoping to post more footage of this event here soon.

Battersea and Wandsworth TUC launch the Red/Green Unity Network. 12 October 7.30pm

Inspired by the unity that developed as a result of the Vestas dispute between red and green activists – this group aims to unify these activists to campaign for positive change.

PCS Union HQ, 160 Falcon rd, Clapham Junction; (you have to come in through the back entrance) http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/about_pcs/contact_pcs/index.cfm

12th October from 7:30pm.
Speakers include;

Chris Baugh, the PCS Assistant General Secretary.
Paul Hampton, Labour Research Department.
Teresa Delaney, Green Party & Green Left Equal ops rep

AgroFuel is Uncuel

Demonstration 'Agrofuels don't Roc(k)' against
agrofuel subsidies:

Monday, 12th October, 6.30 pm

Outside the Department for Energy and Climate Change, 3 Whitehall Place,
London

Called by Campaign Against Climate Change, Biofuelwatch and Food not Fuel
(London)

There will also be a photo opportunity for media between 12.30 and 1.30 pm
at the same place on 12th October. If you are able to go along to that,
too, that would be great.

Campaign Launched To Free LSE Student Trapped In Gaza

Friday, 02 October 2009
Campaign Launched To Free LSE Student Trapped In Gaza
(acknowledgements to James Caspell)

Students and alumni of the London School of Economics have started a campaign to allow a student, Othman Sakallah, to be able to leave Gaza and continue his studies at the university.

Othman was successful in applying to the university to study a postgraduate course at LSE in the coming academic year. His application was assisted by the Palestine Solidarity Initiative, which itself was founded by alumni and former governors of the School.

However, a combination of the ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza and the effects of the massacre undertaken by the Israeli military last Winter has left Othman and his family homeless, with little hope of him independently obtaining the financial and diplomatic assistance required to exit to travel to Britain.

The arbitrary Israeli border controls penning over a million civilians into the Gaza Strip, coupled by the economic siege will prevent Othman from raising the funds to ever take up his degree without outside assistance. These problems have been compounded by the recent demolition of his family’s home by the Israeli military.

As a result, Othman has personally written to LSE Director, Howard Davies, in an effort to secure their assistance. So far Davies is yet to reply.

In the past, LSE’s governing body, the LSE Council stated that, “It is not the practice of the School to take political positions, unless its own policies and practices are at issue.” Students and alumni are therefore hopeful that given the Israeli Occupation is now directly affecting one of its own offer holders, it will look to assist Othman in any way possible.

As a result, a broad based campaign is being built to bring pressure on the School to waive Othman’s tuition fees, provide him with a basic living allowance and facilitate his exit from imprisonment in Gaza.

This is not the first time that the LSE’s attention has been drawn to grave need for defending the Palestinian right to education.

The LSESU has been mandated to provide support for the Palestinian Right To Education Campaign by popular student vote and last year around 40 students staged a successful occupation of a lecture theatre, demanding that the LSE support provide more support for Palestinian students. As a result, the waiver of application fees for all Palestinians living under Israeli occupation was agreed, along with material assistance and a commitment to facilitate Palestine-specific scholarships.



A spokesperson for the Palestine Society at LSE stated: “Students will do all we can to secure the necessary assistance for Othman from the School. Students have consistently demonstrated solidarity with the people of Palestine, and we expect the School to meet our expectations to allow Othman to continue his studies.”



James Caspell a co-founder of the Palestine Solidarity Initiative, and a former governor and student at the LSE, added, “Othman’s story is simply tragic and is a direct result of the systematic oppression and racism of the Israeli Occupation. There are millions of Palestinians like him, but in this case LSE has a direct responsibility to provide all the assistance necessary for one of their students to continue his education. This is not a time to feel sorry, but a time to demonstrate solidarity, which it is in the clear interests and ability of LSE to do.”

Aled Dilwyn Fisher, General Secretary of the LSE Students' Union, also fully backs the campaign, stating, "Students from around the globe look to advance their education at LSE and nothing should stand in the way of their ability, especially not a cruel and unjustifiable siege, or the crippling effects of a brutal war."

"International pressure has been brought to bare before, as in the case of those students who were released to pursue their Fulbright scholarships in the US. LSE and other supporters of human rights and justice must stand up again against the oppressive actions of the Israeli government, and for the numerous students denied their education across the world".

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

1. The Palestine Solidarity Initiative facilitates solidarity with Palestinian students and empowers those who are systematically denied of opportunities to fulfil their academic potential. PSI provides a mechanism for people to assist Palestinians by encouraging and supporting their application to the vast array of Masters degree programmes on offer in the UK. For more information visit: http://www.palestinesolidarity.org

CLIMATE TEACH-INS AT UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES [please circulate]

The Campaign against Climate Change plans to facilitate teach-ins on climate at universities and colleges around the country this autumn. A NATIONAL MEETING for university staff and students interested in organising these teach-ins will be held in London from 2pm to 4.30 pm on Saturday 10 October, in Room G50 at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Malet Street.

Teach-ins are not business as usual. But we face a crucial moment for the future of the planet when world leaders meet this December in Copenhagen to discuss a new climate treaty. The evidence is mounting that we must act quickly and boldly.

What happens during a teach in is that a department, a school, or a whole university decide to concentrate on climate for a day. They still use the timetabled rooms. But instead of normal teaching, they run lectures and seminars on climate change, using the expertise of staff and visiting speakers. So geography teachers would approach the topic in one way, history teachers in another, and drama teachers in yet another. Students also organise speakers and workshops.

The best way to begin organising the teachins is probably for a small group of staff and students meeting together in each university or college. The support of staff unions will be crucial, and UCU may need to negotiate with management. It is likely that most staff will want to participate, and that some senior managers will be supportive. Where management cannot be moved, staff and students might have to make alternative arrangements.

The possibilities for lectures, seminars, and workshops are vast. The Campaign would, however, encourage people to pay attention to the need to act quickly and boldly, green jobs, and the prospects for a global treaty at the Copenhagen talks.

For further information please contact

Julie Filer [whoevaur@hotmail.com and 07843694006]

or Chris Walker [chris.walker@campaigncc.org and 07963055050]

or Jonathan Neale [findjonathan@hotmail.com and 07913-904646]

Monday, 5 October 2009

UCU environment conference November 25th

The UCU environment conference will be held on Wednesday, November 25th at UCU Head Office. There are 70 places available so please make an early application to avoid disappointment. Travel expenses and lunch will be provided. To register, please go to:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/environment2009



Further information will follow but the current outline is:

10.30am Opening Address
10.40am Panel of speakers from UCU, COIN, PCS,NUT and CWU on Climate Solidarity
11.15am Questions and answers
11.40am Break
12.00 noon Workshops on building climate solidarity
1.00 pm Lunch
2.00pm Panel of speakers from HEFCE, AoC, NUS, and the 10:10 project
3.25pm Workshop reports to the panel
Break
3.45pm Speaker from the Vestas occupation & Speaker on the ‘Countdown to Copenhagen’
4.00pm Closing comments



Regards



Janet Pantland

Equality Administrator

University and College Union

Carlow Street

London NW1 7LH

Tel: 020 7756 2539



Latest News: Registrations are now open for the Annual Equality Conferences. Further information available at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2669