Dublin students demo rows with cops and attacks Dept of Finance
| 03.11.2010 19:11 |
Riot police attacked students in Dublin today with dogs, armoured vehicles and horses after the students protesting against government cuts occupied the Department of Finance and threw eggs at the Dail.
Upwards of thirty students occupied the Department of Finance in the centre of Dublin with a couple of hundred supporting them in the streets outside.
Another larger group of students was reported outside the Dail throwing cans & bottles at it. Several students seem to be injured in the suppression of the protest.
Tens of thousands of students are demonstrating as part of the USI protests against plans to introduce fees, these students carrying out the occupation appear to have broken away from the main demonstration which is taking place around the corner in Merrion square. Student members of the WSM, eirigi and the SWP are at the scene. (pic via indymedia.ie )
It has been reported that eggs were thrown at the building and that four Gardai horses soon arrived on the scene. Thousands of students had marched from Parnell Square to Merrion Square, where they were to addressed by student leaders, among them Union of Students in Ireland President Gary Redmond.
The registration fee is expected to rise to 2500 euro, a rise of 1000 euro. USI says this will force thousands of students will be forced to drop-out.
Shockingly USI distanced itself after the Gardai attack on the protest not from the police violence but from the student occupation, with a statement that said "USI is saddened by the actions of a small minority of people who staged a sit-in protest at the Dept of Finance, shortly after the USI protest march today. This anti-social behaviour was completely separate from USI’s demo." The statement did not say what, if any, mandate they had to issue condemnations of their members and will be likely to raise a considerable outcry at USI congress this year. It reflects a long pattern of conservative USI leaders being elected in quiet periods who get left behind as student militancy sweeps past them
A WSM reporter at the scene said that "The numbers outside the Department are still growing as people come up from the other at the Dail. There are now maybe four hundred on Baggot Row. The Dail was egged and bottled by a breakaway march of about a thousand, many of whom are here now. The Department is also being egged." Inside the Dail, Ciaran Cannon reported on Twitter that empty bottles, cans, several eggs and a sliced pan had been thrown.
Further updates came in from our three reports on the spot as follows
"Some of the crowd outside are now trying to push through the doors to get into the Department, a line of Gardai are trying to push them back" (14.35)
"Riot vans are being brought up, students are now throwing eggs at these" (15.05)
Horses used against protest in Dublin"Line of horse cops trying to clear the streets, totally surrounded by sitting students now. Well over five hundred on the street, can't see more. Line of cops in front of the building too" (15.12)
"Riot cops have now formed a line, there is a sit down protest in progress in front of them. The students occupying the building have been got out, kicking. " (15.15) - this cut off with the word people, see below
"At least three students have been injured. Cops are hitting people on the head with batons" (15:24)
"Seems gardai are gaining upper hand, crowd dispersing, someone put up a free beer poster"(Johnny Fallon at 15.26 on Twitter)
"They batoned lines of people, dragged away a lot of people but at least some were just thrown outside the cordon rather than arrested. Now they're forcing people away with a line of riot police. At least one person was injured in the eviction. Sorry for the last text, was getting smacked" (15.28)
"Riot cops, horses and a dog have forced everyone back down towards Stephen's Green. Still at least a hundred people facing off with the line of police on Stephen's Green, they are being run back. We have just been charged by horses" (15.40)
"About three hundred folk outside the dail, just leaving now. Things seem to be quieting down now. Reports of some arrests, unsure on that point" (16.00)
Reports on offical state media (RTE) published an hour after these clashes were first reported here on wsm.ie reported the deployment of mounted Gardai and armoured vehicles and that "Violent scenes are continuing between a large number of riot police, gardaí and students. Some students have bloody noses and one student has been carried away, possibly unconscious." but went on to claim that "Some students have expressed deep upset at the outbreak of violence."
In advance of the protest Free Education for Everyone (FEE) had issued a call to meet up to form a Socialist bloc at The Ambassador Theatre. FEE said defeating the cuts "will only happen if students like you get involved." and describes itself as "an active campaign against fees and youth unemployment that strives to organise second and third level students right across the country. It is currently organised in UCD, Trinity, Maynooth, NUIG, UCC and UL. FEE has organised a series of protests, blockades and occupations against fees. FEE members are actively involved in their Students’ Unions as well as building FEE.We are aiming to build a mass movement that can defeat fees and education cuts. "
This morning the Taoiseach refused to say in the Dáil if third-level fees would be introduced or capitation fees increased in Budget. Brian Cowen said it was imperative that all areas would be considered for reductions and no area could be ringfenced or immune to cuts.
The last major student march was in 2008 when 15,000 people demonstrated and this led to the promise not to reintroduce fees. USI are saying 25,000 have marched today while Gardai claim there are 12 to 15 thousand on the streets.
Homepage: http://www.wsm.ie/c/students-storm-department-finance-dubin
http://www.wsm.ie/c/students-storm-department-finance-dubin
---------------------------------
STUDENTS OCCUPY GOLDSMITHS UNIVERSITY LONDON
STUDENTS angry at a rise in tuition fees have occupied one of their university buildings and plan to stage an all-night protest.
Around 50 students marched into the Deptford Town Hall building, part of Goldsmiths University, with banners saying ‘They say cut back, we say fight back’.
Earlier today, Universities Minister David Willetts announced that universities in England would be able to charge up to £9,000 per year.
A lot of the annual fee rise, up from £3,290, will replace funding that was cut in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Goldsmiths Student Union campaigns officer James Haywood said the protestors planned to stay in the building, which contains senior management offices, all night.
Mr Haywood said: “It’s not just about the tuition fees. It’s about the cuts.
“Senior management has made it clear they support the increase in fees. They’re refusing to join our campaign.”
http://savegoldsmiths.tumblr.com/
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/467368.html
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FRANCE ...MORE STRIKES AGAINST AUSTERITY
"The political bankruptcy of the existing parties and organizations is a historic challenge to the working class. In struggling to bring down Sarkozy’s government and block implementation of social cuts, the goal cannot be to bring to power a PS government. They must fight to build a workers’ government carrying out socialist policies, as part of an international struggle against capitalism in Europe and worldwide.
The WSWS has called on workers and youth to create their own committees of action to coordinate their struggles, independent of the unions and bourgeois “left” parties. Readers in France are invited to contact the WSWS to help build a party in France to lead the fight for this perspective."
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France: More strikes, opposition to social austerity
3 November 2010
Continuing strikes in the airline sector and calls for student resistance to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension-cutting law, after the defeat of the oil strike last week, pose more sharply than ever the need for an open and conscious political struggle against the government.
With his disregard for popular opposition—most prominently the oil strike by port, refinery and transport workers, some of whom struck for over a month—Sarkozy has made clear that he intends to push through the cuts, come what may.
Backed by the “left” parties, the unions have called off the oil strikes and made no move to protest police strike-breaking, despite polls showing 65 percent support for continuing strikes against the cuts. The pension cutting bill was officially voted into law last week and is now being submitted for a constitutional review.
Working class opposition has run into a wall of resistance from the state and the entire political establishment.
Significant sections of workers and students are continuing strike action. Air France pilots and flight attendants will strike from November 5 to November 8 against cuts in their benefits packages arising from the Bill on Financing Social Security in 2011 (PLFSS 2011).
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/467341.html
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TUBE STRIKE IN LONDON
Tube unions branded Transport for London "barefaced liars" after its management attempted to claim minimum disruption during today's 24-hour strike.
London Underground services were crippled by strike action called by the RMT and TSSA over safety-critical job cuts.
All 11 of the capital's Tube lines were hit by the walkout, the latest in a series of strikes over plans by TFL to axe up to 2,000 jobs including 800 station staff.
The mood on the picket lines was one of determination, RMT London regional organiser Steve Hedley told the Star.
"There are less stations open today and less trains running, so from our point of view it's all going very well," he said.
"The response from commuters has been very positive. The commuters are not stupid. They know what this is about - job cuts and safety."
Transport for London claimed that more than 40 per cent of Tube trains were operating yesterday morning despite the strike.
But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Rather than resorting to bare-faced lies about what everyone out there in London knows to be the truth about the disruption to services, TfL should face up to the reality that today's action has actually been the most successful to date and get the message that the time has come to stop cutting and start talking."
Mr Crow also condemned attempts by management to brush the union's well-founded safety concerns under the carpet.
He said: "The attempt to belittle and denigrate our members and to play down the safety issues at the heart of this dispute has definitely hardened our resolve and that is shown in the magnificent support across the network for the action today."
Speaking at a joint press conference today, both unions said they did not want to disrupt the holiday season with more strike action.
A fourth strike is planned for Monday November 29 but TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said: "Although our members will make the final decision, I will not be urging them to take any action during the festive season.
"Our argument is not with Londoners and the travelling public, our argument is with Boris Johnson. We do not want to disrupt families during Christmas or the New Year."
-------------------------------------------
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Dockyard shut by anti-nuke activists
Dockyard shut by anti-nuke activists
Monday 01 November 2010
Anti-nuclear campaigners successfully blockaded all entrances to a Plymouth dockyard today.
They were protesting at the role the site plays in maintaining Trident nuclear submarines.
Up to 150 people from England, Wales, Scotland and Switzerland peacefully occupied parts of the Devonport Dockyard from 6am - preventing traffic from entering and leaving for three hours.
Eleven of the activists - some of whom had locked themselves together - were arrested by Ministry of Defence police who patrol nuclear establishments across Britain.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/467165.html
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FBU members hold second strike as bosses keep up sacking threat
Monday 01 November 2010
London firefighters defied sacking notices and the imposition of a new shift system today in the first of two planned strikes this week
London firefighters defied sacking notices and the imposition of a new shift system today in the first of two planned strikes this week.
Bringing fire stations to a halt all over the capital, Fire Brigades Union members set up picket lines across the city, including in Bow, Stratford and Shoreditch.
The eight-hour strike started at 10am today after the London Fire Authority failed to withdraw sacking notices for their entire workforce in London firefighters.
FBU officials said that the London Fire Authority plans to re-employ firefighters on inferior contracts, including the imposition of shift changes.
Despite fire chiefs' attacks in the media, several motorists could be seen honking their horns in support of striking firefighters in east London.
Tower Hamlets branch secretary Chris Boag pointed out that if the threat of mass sackings were withdrawn, the union would halt the strike immediately.
"They are seeking to impose new conditions of service which will not benefit us or the community," he said.
"We are prepared to make changes to improve efficiency but not with a gun to our head.
"Their plans will reduce night cover leading to a closure of stations and statistically more people die in fires at night."
Mr Boag also criticised the use of private contractor AssetCo, which owns all red fire engines in London, to help break the strike.
He said the company's approach was "like someone walking down the street, eyes closed and picking five people at random to be firefighters for the day."
Mr Boag added that London Fire Authority chief Brian Coleman was "politically motivated" in his call for firefighters to be sacked.
Fire chiefs have accused some firefighters of being resistant to change due to having second jobs.
Stratford firefighter Nick Sadler defended their right to have second jobs because of the comparatively low pay they receive.
"No one does this job for the money. I get £1,800 take-home pay a month. I do it because I love it and to serve the community.
"If I didn't have a second job, I would not be able to afford a house locally."
johnm@peoples-press.com
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Brixton in London Anti-Cuts March & Vodafone Protest
The march and rally that took place in Brixton to protest about the imminent cuts in social spending attracted around 200 local people. At midday the rally started at the Brixton Oval, where representatives from Lambeth Save Our Services, Lambeth Pensioners Group, the local branches of UNISON, GMB, NUT and UCU unions, and workers from the Lambeth One O'clock Clubs gave speeches about how the imposed cuts will be afecting the local sercvices. Then, a rather ritualistic march started around central Brixton and into the market area. It wasn't exactly an expression of anger as seen in other parts of Europe, but it may, at least, represent the start of a local mobilisation.
Once the march ended, and as part of a UK-wide campaign, a group of people made its way to the Vodafone store right next to Brixton tube station to protest against the company's avoidance of a £6bn tax bill, effectively shutting it down for most of the afternoon
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5842
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21 VODAFONE STORES SHUT IN ANTI-CUTS ACTION
30th october: around 100 people gathered at Speakers Corner before splitting into groups to target Vodafone stores. It didn't take long with the first store closing with the arrival of the protestors and by half twelve all three stores on Oxford St were shut down [report 2, 3] So far we've heard 5 in total are closed, including Brixton [report]. It's a similar story in other places where stores were closed ahead of planned direct action and protests or when demonstrators arrived.
In Glasgow people started early with the store in Buchanan St. Other shut downs include two in York, two in Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Hastings, Oxford [2] and two in Brighton where police made several arrests.
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5834
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SPOOKED RIOT POLICE FORCED TO RETREAT AS 600 YOUTHS CLASH WITH THEM IN CENTRAL LONDON
CONFRONTATION BETWEEN YOUTH AND RIOT POLICE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT
A rave party in the heart of central London continued throughout the Sunday after hundreds of revellers took over a disused eight-storey building on Saturday 30 October
Police arrested eight people after a stand-off with riot police on Saturday night, when bricks and bottles were thrown and a number of buildings and vehicles were damaged.
Some party-goers had claimed the police, who at first attempted to stop them accessing the building, were overly aggressive.
Organisers said in the face of the economic crisis, unemployment and homelessness, raves like this, which were common in the late 1980s, were likely to see a resurgence. Scumoeen: The Squat Monster's Ball was organised by word of mouth and on Facebook, with the location disclosed via a secret telephone number on Saturday night.
On Sunday morning the party was still going strong, with hundreds of revellers spilling out onto New Oxford Street between High Holborn and Museum Road and deafening techno music pumping out into the surrounding streets.
About a dozen officers stood watch on nearby corners, while the crowd, aged between about 18 and 35, emerged into the sunlight.
Several police officers were hurt on Saturday night after bottles were thrown during clashes with a crowd of up to 500 people. Police car were set alight.
The officers called for backup after being "rushed" by the crowd with dozens of riot squad officers from the force's Territorial Support Group arriving on the scene. Bricks and bottles were thrown and at one point the crowd charged police with a wheelie bin.
The injuries to police officers were described as "minor stuff" with one suffering non-serious cuts to the head. A woman in her 30s suffered a cut face, while a man in his 20s needed treatment for intoxication.
Monday 01 November 2010
Anti-nuclear campaigners successfully blockaded all entrances to a Plymouth dockyard today.
They were protesting at the role the site plays in maintaining Trident nuclear submarines.
Up to 150 people from England, Wales, Scotland and Switzerland peacefully occupied parts of the Devonport Dockyard from 6am - preventing traffic from entering and leaving for three hours.
Eleven of the activists - some of whom had locked themselves together - were arrested by Ministry of Defence police who patrol nuclear establishments across Britain.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/467165.html
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FBU members hold second strike as bosses keep up sacking threat
Monday 01 November 2010
London firefighters defied sacking notices and the imposition of a new shift system today in the first of two planned strikes this week
London firefighters defied sacking notices and the imposition of a new shift system today in the first of two planned strikes this week.
Bringing fire stations to a halt all over the capital, Fire Brigades Union members set up picket lines across the city, including in Bow, Stratford and Shoreditch.
The eight-hour strike started at 10am today after the London Fire Authority failed to withdraw sacking notices for their entire workforce in London firefighters.
FBU officials said that the London Fire Authority plans to re-employ firefighters on inferior contracts, including the imposition of shift changes.
Despite fire chiefs' attacks in the media, several motorists could be seen honking their horns in support of striking firefighters in east London.
Tower Hamlets branch secretary Chris Boag pointed out that if the threat of mass sackings were withdrawn, the union would halt the strike immediately.
"They are seeking to impose new conditions of service which will not benefit us or the community," he said.
"We are prepared to make changes to improve efficiency but not with a gun to our head.
"Their plans will reduce night cover leading to a closure of stations and statistically more people die in fires at night."
Mr Boag also criticised the use of private contractor AssetCo, which owns all red fire engines in London, to help break the strike.
He said the company's approach was "like someone walking down the street, eyes closed and picking five people at random to be firefighters for the day."
Mr Boag added that London Fire Authority chief Brian Coleman was "politically motivated" in his call for firefighters to be sacked.
Fire chiefs have accused some firefighters of being resistant to change due to having second jobs.
Stratford firefighter Nick Sadler defended their right to have second jobs because of the comparatively low pay they receive.
"No one does this job for the money. I get £1,800 take-home pay a month. I do it because I love it and to serve the community.
"If I didn't have a second job, I would not be able to afford a house locally."
johnm@peoples-press.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Brixton in London Anti-Cuts March & Vodafone Protest
The march and rally that took place in Brixton to protest about the imminent cuts in social spending attracted around 200 local people. At midday the rally started at the Brixton Oval, where representatives from Lambeth Save Our Services, Lambeth Pensioners Group, the local branches of UNISON, GMB, NUT and UCU unions, and workers from the Lambeth One O'clock Clubs gave speeches about how the imposed cuts will be afecting the local sercvices. Then, a rather ritualistic march started around central Brixton and into the market area. It wasn't exactly an expression of anger as seen in other parts of Europe, but it may, at least, represent the start of a local mobilisation.
Once the march ended, and as part of a UK-wide campaign, a group of people made its way to the Vodafone store right next to Brixton tube station to protest against the company's avoidance of a £6bn tax bill, effectively shutting it down for most of the afternoon
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5842
---------------------------------------------------------------------
21 VODAFONE STORES SHUT IN ANTI-CUTS ACTION
30th october: around 100 people gathered at Speakers Corner before splitting into groups to target Vodafone stores. It didn't take long with the first store closing with the arrival of the protestors and by half twelve all three stores on Oxford St were shut down [report 2, 3] So far we've heard 5 in total are closed, including Brixton [report]. It's a similar story in other places where stores were closed ahead of planned direct action and protests or when demonstrators arrived.
In Glasgow people started early with the store in Buchanan St. Other shut downs include two in York, two in Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Hastings, Oxford [2] and two in Brighton where police made several arrests.
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5834
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPOOKED RIOT POLICE FORCED TO RETREAT AS 600 YOUTHS CLASH WITH THEM IN CENTRAL LONDON
CONFRONTATION BETWEEN YOUTH AND RIOT POLICE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT
A rave party in the heart of central London continued throughout the Sunday after hundreds of revellers took over a disused eight-storey building on Saturday 30 October
Police arrested eight people after a stand-off with riot police on Saturday night, when bricks and bottles were thrown and a number of buildings and vehicles were damaged.
Some party-goers had claimed the police, who at first attempted to stop them accessing the building, were overly aggressive.
Organisers said in the face of the economic crisis, unemployment and homelessness, raves like this, which were common in the late 1980s, were likely to see a resurgence. Scumoeen: The Squat Monster's Ball was organised by word of mouth and on Facebook, with the location disclosed via a secret telephone number on Saturday night.
On Sunday morning the party was still going strong, with hundreds of revellers spilling out onto New Oxford Street between High Holborn and Museum Road and deafening techno music pumping out into the surrounding streets.
About a dozen officers stood watch on nearby corners, while the crowd, aged between about 18 and 35, emerged into the sunlight.
Several police officers were hurt on Saturday night after bottles were thrown during clashes with a crowd of up to 500 people. Police car were set alight.
The officers called for backup after being "rushed" by the crowd with dozens of riot squad officers from the force's Territorial Support Group arriving on the scene. Bricks and bottles were thrown and at one point the crowd charged police with a wheelie bin.
The injuries to police officers were described as "minor stuff" with one suffering non-serious cuts to the head. A woman in her 30s suffered a cut face, while a man in his 20s needed treatment for intoxication.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
FRANCE ON STRIKE
About 1,500 petrol stations in France have run dry or are about to close as fuel supplies are hit by strikes over government pension reforms, officials say.
A blockade of oil refineries has lasted a week and the body that supplies most supermarkets says one in four petrol stations is affected.
Continue reading the main story
Related stories
* In pictures: Protests intensify
* Eurostar services to Brussels hit
* France's bitter war over pensions
President Nicolas Sarkozy has called a crisis cabinet to protect supplies.
He told reporters that the reforms were "essential" and would be carried out.
The exact number of France's 12,000 petrol stations affected by the strikes is unclear, but oil company Exxon Mobil has described the situation as "critical".
A spokeswoman said that anyone looking for diesel around Paris or in the western area of Nantes would face problems.
Severe shortages have been reported in Brittany in north-west France and the International Energy Agency says that France has begun tapping into its emergency oil reserves.
Workers at France's 12 oil refineries have been on strike for a week and entrances to many of the country's fuel distribution depots have been blocked.
Continue reading the main story
At the scene
image of Christian Fraser Christian Fraser BBC News, Paris
These could be the defining few days of Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency.
He was elected to fix the economy and the pension reform bill is the key element of his reform programme. If it sinks, so does his credibility.
Wherever you look around the country the crisis is growing and all the momentum is behind the unions.
All the signs are that things are deteriorating by the hour. And, on top of it all, problems have been reported in suburbs of Paris.
Police fired tear gas in two areas of the city on Monday, Nanterre and Combs-La-Ville, where massed youths had vandalised bus stops and set fire to cars.
Riot police are on orders to be careful not to antagonise an already volatile situation.
Panic-buying was blamed for a 50% increase in fuel sales last week.
The head of the Leclerc chain of supermarkets, Michel Edouard Leclerc, warned that at the current rate his company's petrol stations would be empty within two to three days if the blockade of refineries remained and fuel imports were paralysed.
Go-slow
Strike action against the government's reform plans is being ramped up, with lorry drivers starting the week by staging a go-slow on motorways around several major cities including Paris, Lille and Lyon.
A further day of strikes is scheduled for Tuesday, on the eve of a key Senate vote on the pensions bill.
Half of all flights to and from Paris's Orly airport and one in three flights at other airports are being cancelled, according to aviation officials.
Airport operator ADP said there were already some delays at the capital's largest airport, Charles De Gaulle, on Monday because of strikes by oil workers.
Street protests have been planned in a number of cities and disruption is also expected on public transport and in schools.
The government wants to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 and the full state pension age from 65 to 67.
Burning cars
There were already demonstrations outside 261 schools on Monday, which the education ministry said had been blockaded.
In the western suburb of Nanterre in Paris, dozens of students clashed with riot police who fired rubber bullets.
Shop windows were reported broken in the Saint-Denis suburb, where education officials said more than half the areas secondary schools had been blockaded.
In Lyon, several cars were burned and one teacher whose car was badly damaged by fire complained: "They want to fight [against the pension reform]. OK, but they have to understand the meaning of what they are doing".
In other developments:
* Outside the Grandpuits refinery, east of Paris, strikers burned tyres in defiance of a government order that the facility should be reopened.
* In some cities, such as Toulouse (south-west) or Saint-Etienne (centre), public transport depots were blocked on Monday morning, preventing buses and tramways from operating for several hours.
* Rail traffic was being disrupted with one in two fast TGV trains running, and one in three normal-speed trains running.
* Although the Eurostar train service between Paris and London is normal, there is no Eurostar service between Brussels and London on Monday due to a strike in Belgium.
* A key fuel pipeline that supplies the two airports in Paris has been restored, but the civil aviation authority is warning airlines operating at Charles de Gaulle to arrive with enough fuel to make the return journeys.
Crisis cabinet
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered key ministers to form a crisis cabinet with the role of ensuring the continuity of fuel supplies.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
The government is in control. There will be no blockade for companies, no blockade for transport and no blockade for road users”
End Quote Christian Estrosi Industry Minister
Three departments are being charged with coordinating the state's services to maintain the supply: the interior and economy ministries as well as the energy and environment department.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon has insisted he will not allow the refinery strikes to hit the French economy.
Several other figures have said the country is not at risk of fuel shortages.
"The government is in control," Industry Minister Christian Estrosi told French radio on Monday.
"There will be no blockade for companies, no blockade for transport and no blockade for road users."
The head of the French Petrol Industries Association, Jean-Louis Schilansky, has said fuel shortages are not yet at crisis point.
"If the lorry drivers go on strike, if people block the refineries, then we will have a very big problem. But we're not at that stage yet," he said.
France has a strategic fuel reserve which holds up to three months of supplies, the government says.
Public support
Continue reading the main story
Pension protest numbers
* Saturday 16 October: 825,000 (police) - 2.5 million - 3 million (unions)
* Tuesday 12 October: 1.2 million - 3.5 million
* Saturday 2 October: 899.000 - 3 million
* Thursday 23 September: 997,000 - 3 million
* Tuesday 7 September: 1.2 million - 2.7 million
According to the latest opinion polls, more than 70% of French people continue to support strike action.
On Saturday, a fifth day of protests brought 825,000 people on to the streets, police said, although unions put the figure at 2.5 million to three million.
The pension reforms have already been approved by the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.
The upper house, the Senate, has endorsed the key articles on raising the retirement age, and is due to vote on the full text on Wednesday.
Krop
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/466262.html
A blockade of oil refineries has lasted a week and the body that supplies most supermarkets says one in four petrol stations is affected.
Continue reading the main story
Related stories
* In pictures: Protests intensify
* Eurostar services to Brussels hit
* France's bitter war over pensions
President Nicolas Sarkozy has called a crisis cabinet to protect supplies.
He told reporters that the reforms were "essential" and would be carried out.
The exact number of France's 12,000 petrol stations affected by the strikes is unclear, but oil company Exxon Mobil has described the situation as "critical".
A spokeswoman said that anyone looking for diesel around Paris or in the western area of Nantes would face problems.
Severe shortages have been reported in Brittany in north-west France and the International Energy Agency says that France has begun tapping into its emergency oil reserves.
Workers at France's 12 oil refineries have been on strike for a week and entrances to many of the country's fuel distribution depots have been blocked.
Continue reading the main story
At the scene
image of Christian Fraser Christian Fraser BBC News, Paris
These could be the defining few days of Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency.
He was elected to fix the economy and the pension reform bill is the key element of his reform programme. If it sinks, so does his credibility.
Wherever you look around the country the crisis is growing and all the momentum is behind the unions.
All the signs are that things are deteriorating by the hour. And, on top of it all, problems have been reported in suburbs of Paris.
Police fired tear gas in two areas of the city on Monday, Nanterre and Combs-La-Ville, where massed youths had vandalised bus stops and set fire to cars.
Riot police are on orders to be careful not to antagonise an already volatile situation.
Panic-buying was blamed for a 50% increase in fuel sales last week.
The head of the Leclerc chain of supermarkets, Michel Edouard Leclerc, warned that at the current rate his company's petrol stations would be empty within two to three days if the blockade of refineries remained and fuel imports were paralysed.
Go-slow
Strike action against the government's reform plans is being ramped up, with lorry drivers starting the week by staging a go-slow on motorways around several major cities including Paris, Lille and Lyon.
A further day of strikes is scheduled for Tuesday, on the eve of a key Senate vote on the pensions bill.
Half of all flights to and from Paris's Orly airport and one in three flights at other airports are being cancelled, according to aviation officials.
Airport operator ADP said there were already some delays at the capital's largest airport, Charles De Gaulle, on Monday because of strikes by oil workers.
Street protests have been planned in a number of cities and disruption is also expected on public transport and in schools.
The government wants to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 and the full state pension age from 65 to 67.
Burning cars
There were already demonstrations outside 261 schools on Monday, which the education ministry said had been blockaded.
In the western suburb of Nanterre in Paris, dozens of students clashed with riot police who fired rubber bullets.
Shop windows were reported broken in the Saint-Denis suburb, where education officials said more than half the areas secondary schools had been blockaded.
In Lyon, several cars were burned and one teacher whose car was badly damaged by fire complained: "They want to fight [against the pension reform]. OK, but they have to understand the meaning of what they are doing".
In other developments:
* Outside the Grandpuits refinery, east of Paris, strikers burned tyres in defiance of a government order that the facility should be reopened.
* In some cities, such as Toulouse (south-west) or Saint-Etienne (centre), public transport depots were blocked on Monday morning, preventing buses and tramways from operating for several hours.
* Rail traffic was being disrupted with one in two fast TGV trains running, and one in three normal-speed trains running.
* Although the Eurostar train service between Paris and London is normal, there is no Eurostar service between Brussels and London on Monday due to a strike in Belgium.
* A key fuel pipeline that supplies the two airports in Paris has been restored, but the civil aviation authority is warning airlines operating at Charles de Gaulle to arrive with enough fuel to make the return journeys.
Crisis cabinet
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered key ministers to form a crisis cabinet with the role of ensuring the continuity of fuel supplies.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
The government is in control. There will be no blockade for companies, no blockade for transport and no blockade for road users”
End Quote Christian Estrosi Industry Minister
Three departments are being charged with coordinating the state's services to maintain the supply: the interior and economy ministries as well as the energy and environment department.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon has insisted he will not allow the refinery strikes to hit the French economy.
Several other figures have said the country is not at risk of fuel shortages.
"The government is in control," Industry Minister Christian Estrosi told French radio on Monday.
"There will be no blockade for companies, no blockade for transport and no blockade for road users."
The head of the French Petrol Industries Association, Jean-Louis Schilansky, has said fuel shortages are not yet at crisis point.
"If the lorry drivers go on strike, if people block the refineries, then we will have a very big problem. But we're not at that stage yet," he said.
France has a strategic fuel reserve which holds up to three months of supplies, the government says.
Public support
Continue reading the main story
Pension protest numbers
* Saturday 16 October: 825,000 (police) - 2.5 million - 3 million (unions)
* Tuesday 12 October: 1.2 million - 3.5 million
* Saturday 2 October: 899.000 - 3 million
* Thursday 23 September: 997,000 - 3 million
* Tuesday 7 September: 1.2 million - 2.7 million
According to the latest opinion polls, more than 70% of French people continue to support strike action.
On Saturday, a fifth day of protests brought 825,000 people on to the streets, police said, although unions put the figure at 2.5 million to three million.
The pension reforms have already been approved by the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.
The upper house, the Senate, has endorsed the key articles on raising the retirement age, and is due to vote on the full text on Wednesday.
Krop
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/466262.html
Monday, 18 October 2010
Activists blockade road to oil refinery
Sunday 17 October 2010
Hundreds of demonstrators blockaded the road to the Coryton oil refinery in Essex on Saturday preventing more than 50 oil tankers getting to and from the site.
The protesters, who barricaded the road leading to the refinery near Stanford-le-Hope, said they had stopped 375,000 gallons of fuel from leaving the depot, which they accuse of exacerbating climate change.
Police were forced to close the road after 12 female protesters handcuffed themselves to vehicles parked to deliberately block the way for fuel tankers.
Hundreds more demonstrators travelled from London to join the Crude Awakening protest and set up another blockade close to the entrance of the Shell Haven Oils Site on the same road.
A number of them clambered up man-made wooden tripods and many wore white boiler suits.
The demonstration, which was supported by a number of action groups including Camp for Climate Action and Plane Stupid, is part of a global week of action against the fossil fuel industry.
Activist Julie Allen said: "We've come here to the source of the problem, to put our bodies in the way of the relentless flow of oil to say: 'No more.'
"If we're to have a hope of tackling climate change we need to find a way to get over oil. It won't happen overnight, but we can and must move beyond oil."
Another demonstrator, Terri Orchard, said: "We don't have a hope of tackling climate change if we don't find a way to start moving beyond oil.
"Oil companies are devastating local environments, trampling the rights of local communities and pushing us over the edge to catastrophic climate change.
"We are here at the source of the problem at the UK's busiest oil refinery to stop the flow of oil to London.
"We're here to put a spanner in the works of the relentless flow of oil. This place, this whole industry, must become a thing of the past."
The protesters remained on the road for more than seven hours before they decided to leave, a spokeswoman for Crude Awakening said.
There were minor scuffles between officers and activists but Essex police described it as "a peaceful protest."
A spokesman said: "There have been no incidents during the protest and no arrests have been made."
see photos
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5717
(Morning Star online)
Hundreds of demonstrators blockaded the road to the Coryton oil refinery in Essex on Saturday preventing more than 50 oil tankers getting to and from the site.
The protesters, who barricaded the road leading to the refinery near Stanford-le-Hope, said they had stopped 375,000 gallons of fuel from leaving the depot, which they accuse of exacerbating climate change.
Police were forced to close the road after 12 female protesters handcuffed themselves to vehicles parked to deliberately block the way for fuel tankers.
Hundreds more demonstrators travelled from London to join the Crude Awakening protest and set up another blockade close to the entrance of the Shell Haven Oils Site on the same road.
A number of them clambered up man-made wooden tripods and many wore white boiler suits.
The demonstration, which was supported by a number of action groups including Camp for Climate Action and Plane Stupid, is part of a global week of action against the fossil fuel industry.
Activist Julie Allen said: "We've come here to the source of the problem, to put our bodies in the way of the relentless flow of oil to say: 'No more.'
"If we're to have a hope of tackling climate change we need to find a way to get over oil. It won't happen overnight, but we can and must move beyond oil."
Another demonstrator, Terri Orchard, said: "We don't have a hope of tackling climate change if we don't find a way to start moving beyond oil.
"Oil companies are devastating local environments, trampling the rights of local communities and pushing us over the edge to catastrophic climate change.
"We are here at the source of the problem at the UK's busiest oil refinery to stop the flow of oil to London.
"We're here to put a spanner in the works of the relentless flow of oil. This place, this whole industry, must become a thing of the past."
The protesters remained on the road for more than seven hours before they decided to leave, a spokeswoman for Crude Awakening said.
There were minor scuffles between officers and activists but Essex police described it as "a peaceful protest."
A spokesman said: "There have been no incidents during the protest and no arrests have been made."
see photos
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/5717
(Morning Star online)
Friday, 15 October 2010
SMASH EDO 2010
Smash EDO protest ends with mass arrests in BrightonMedia Summary
SEE FULL PHOTO REPORT
http://www.demotix.com/news/473932/smash-edo-protest-ends-mass-arrests-brighton
The protest at EDO MBM/ITT, a top ten U.S. defence contractor, aimed to shut the factory down for the day. Hundreds of police ensured that no one got near the facility and ended the day with mass arrests. Brighton, United Kingdom, 13/10/2010.
The company manufactures the Zero Retention Force Arming unit for the VER-2, vertical ejection bomb racks used in Israeli F16 fighter jets and has been a key player in the development of Raytheon's Paveway guided bomb programme.
Smash EDO protesters want to see the factory shut down. In 2009 the 'decomissioners' broke into the building causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the production line with hammers. Today's protest was dubbed 'ITT's Hammertime' to commemorate their actions - they claimed in their defence they were acting to prevent war crimes and sixteen months later they were found not guilty.
According to The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, brought into UK law by the ICC Act 2001, it is an offense for any UK resident to be involved with war crimes or any war of aggression anywhere in the world.
The police had a cordon for an 'official' protest outside the entrance to the industrial estate on Home Farm Road where the facility is based. Protesters gathered as usual at the Moulsecoomb Wild Park Cafe. The police had kettled in a group of around 20 at the entrance to the park. They were then escorted to the rest of the protesters and asked to go to the protest site on the entrance of Home Farm Road.
Section 14 was in operation at the protest site and trying to get the protesters to go there was a pointless waste of time and resources. People split in all directions through the woods to get to the back of the factory but were met with a strong police presence. Most managed to get away as about 20 were kettled in the middle of the field behind the facility. A banner also used as a defence mechanism to keep police back was torn away by overcharged officers and ruthlessly ripped apart. A few arrests were made at this point also.
Eventually the police escorted the group back out to the beginning of Home Farm Road. Some people had made their way downtown and were brought back up Lewes Road in a moving cordon to the protest site whilst the majority were kettled in on Lewes road and Selsfield drive. After much time, police snatch squads began to take people out of the kettle one by one, arresting them whilst taking photographic evidence, names and addresses. By the end 53 people were arrested.
Two photographers not involved in the protest in anyway at all, there to document the proceedings of the day were arrested as they were prevented from leaving the kettle. Technically they were doing nothing illegal by photographing in a public place but the police demanded press passes which they did not have. A legal observer, there to document the activities of the police for the safety and wellbeing of the protesters was also arrested.
SEE FULL PHOTO REPORT
http://www.demotix.com/news/473932/smash-edo-protest-ends-mass-arrests-brighton
The protest at EDO MBM/ITT, a top ten U.S. defence contractor, aimed to shut the factory down for the day. Hundreds of police ensured that no one got near the facility and ended the day with mass arrests. Brighton, United Kingdom, 13/10/2010.
The company manufactures the Zero Retention Force Arming unit for the VER-2, vertical ejection bomb racks used in Israeli F16 fighter jets and has been a key player in the development of Raytheon's Paveway guided bomb programme.
Smash EDO protesters want to see the factory shut down. In 2009 the 'decomissioners' broke into the building causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the production line with hammers. Today's protest was dubbed 'ITT's Hammertime' to commemorate their actions - they claimed in their defence they were acting to prevent war crimes and sixteen months later they were found not guilty.
According to The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, brought into UK law by the ICC Act 2001, it is an offense for any UK resident to be involved with war crimes or any war of aggression anywhere in the world.
The police had a cordon for an 'official' protest outside the entrance to the industrial estate on Home Farm Road where the facility is based. Protesters gathered as usual at the Moulsecoomb Wild Park Cafe. The police had kettled in a group of around 20 at the entrance to the park. They were then escorted to the rest of the protesters and asked to go to the protest site on the entrance of Home Farm Road.
Section 14 was in operation at the protest site and trying to get the protesters to go there was a pointless waste of time and resources. People split in all directions through the woods to get to the back of the factory but were met with a strong police presence. Most managed to get away as about 20 were kettled in the middle of the field behind the facility. A banner also used as a defence mechanism to keep police back was torn away by overcharged officers and ruthlessly ripped apart. A few arrests were made at this point also.
Eventually the police escorted the group back out to the beginning of Home Farm Road. Some people had made their way downtown and were brought back up Lewes Road in a moving cordon to the protest site whilst the majority were kettled in on Lewes road and Selsfield drive. After much time, police snatch squads began to take people out of the kettle one by one, arresting them whilst taking photographic evidence, names and addresses. By the end 53 people were arrested.
Two photographers not involved in the protest in anyway at all, there to document the proceedings of the day were arrested as they were prevented from leaving the kettle. Technically they were doing nothing illegal by photographing in a public place but the police demanded press passes which they did not have. A legal observer, there to document the activities of the police for the safety and wellbeing of the protesters was also arrested.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
MAYDAY 2010 in Greece, photo report
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1161175
Monday, 7 December 2009
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