NED LUDD'S NEWS

 NottFIN 6
2nd March '98
Free/Donations

Nottingham's Front Line News

Act Now ! Then send your words to Nottingham Free Information Network
c/o The Rainbow Centre, 180 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3HW or email veggies@innotts.co.uk

CONTENTS

Items marked * also appeared in the previous issue.
CITY WILDLIFE AREA TO BE DESTROYED! HILLGROVE CONFRONTATION

The Embankment in Ilkeston Road is one of the cities most important wildlife sites-but it has no legal protection.
The site, Canning Circus Meadow, is one of the few places that cowslips and the Nottingham Crocus grow in the city. It is also a valuable green space on the outskirts of the city centre.
Architects Grogan Culling have applied to build 38 two bedroomed flats with underground car parking and a pub/restaurant on the site.They say they will put the wild flowers in a flower bed, this is not a substitute for a diverse natural meadow. The application is being made on behalf of Orchard Holdings.
For more details contact Nottingham Wildlife Trust on 958 8242. Contact the architects Grogan Culling at 2 Commerce Square, The Lace Market, Tel: 950 7313
and the developers Orchard Holdings on 01623 626662
Tell them what you think about them trashing our city. Remember, "the Earth is not dying it is being killed and the people that are killing it have names and addresses."

Sunday 22nd around 600 protesters gathered at Hillgrove farm near Oxford. Farmer Brown of Hillgrove breeds 1000 cats for vivisection. Protesters of all ages and backgrounds gathered to demonstrate against the breeding of cats for torture, where they were met by nearly 300 riot police, dogs, mounted police, and a police helicopter. The majority of the protest was peaceful. Fences were pulled down by some demonstrators to try and get through to liberate the cats, and police used "snatch squads" to arrest some activists. After the main demonstration at the farm died down protesters marched through the nearby town of Whitney. At the end of the march protesters were charged by police horses and severel more arrests were made. At the same time another demonstration against nearby Park Farm occured. One van of protesters that turned up for this demo were rammed by a police van, tearing off the side door. All six occupants of the van were arrested. Despite these instances it was the best demo so far with lots of local support. The next demonstration at Hillgrove will be for "World Day for Laboratory Animals" on Saturday 18th of April, for transport details from Notts contact Notts ARC (see diary page.)

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DERBY TREE CAMP

At 7.00 am 21st Feb a tree camp was established in the Bass Recreation Park, Derby to save it from being developed.
Bass recreation ground is a public open space and the Mill Fleam is a grade one wildlife site. The City Council intend to put a road across it!! The Cock Pitt island is being replaced by a new roundabout built on the Bass Rec and across the Mill Fleam.
The Cock Pitt is currently being redeveloped as a multi-story car park to serve a private shopping centre to be built up on the present Bus Station. A new smaller Bus Station is planned to infringe upon the River Gardens. Did you know that there are approximately 250 trees threatened by this development?
Local activists are climbing some of these trees to oppose the land loss of our park. This precious inner city Green Space was donated to Derby Folk by Michael Thomas Bass in 1876, land was added in the early 1970's.
The trees on the park and by the Mill Fleam improve our air and enhance the city - a roundabout will be detrimental to both.
Bass Rec ground is the last large open space in the City Centre, despite being neglected and cut off, it's still lovely.
***PLEASE *** The group desperately need clothing; water containers; food; ropes; prussuik loops; karabiners; banner materials; MORE PEOPLE ; legal help; moral support etc. etc. etc.
If you wish to protest peacefully against the development please come along to Bass Rec. or ring Dorothy Skrytek on 01332 727237 or email (for now!) tims@bear.demon.co.uk.

DiY POOL PROTESTS

Nottingham City Council proposes to close Northern Baths in Bulwell from July 1st.
The council has suggested that a local community group run the pool, but as there will be no extra money and residents are paying council tax for facilities, protesters have rejected this idea.
The protests against the proposed closure, which will effect eight local schools, continue. This is not just about Northern Baths, the City Council are trying to find £9.5m in buget cuts, your local pool could be next. Local libraries were saved by people voicing their disapproval and taking the message to the council, other facilities can be defended too. For more info and details of future protests contact "Smokey" Bass on; 9162215.
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GOOD 'ARMLESS FUN? The World Is Our Picket Line Nottingham's Chocking!
Circus Harlequin came to town last week at the Japanese water garden, just off the A52. We went along to remind its audience that the tigers, camels and other animals in it's "Russian" Act, live in captivity in chains or tiny cages on the backs of lorries.
The circus didn't exactly seem to be a great hit with the people of Nottingham, with a miserable trickle of cars arriving for the "entertainment", most of whom took one of our "Circus Madness" leaflets. It appears that at last people are deciding that animal circuses are a relic of a bygone era. Circus Harlequin will hopefully soon realise that the public no longer wants to be entertained with animal suffering.
Last weeks incident of one of Chipperfield circuses workers losing his arm to a captive tiger (reportedly the same tiger used to advertise Esso's highly dubious activities), illustrated once more the stupidity of forcing wild animals to endure the terrible stress, frustration and cruelty of life in the circus.
Concerned citizens of Nottingham are Also known to have removed illegal flyposters advertising the event.
For more information on the campaign to stop the use of animals in circuses, contact Nottm ARC, who will be showing the 'Circus Madness' investigation at their next meeting on 5th April; or Animal Defenders, 261 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 9712. Tel: 0181 846 9777.
E-mail: navs@cygnet.co.uk
Web:
http://www.cygnet.co.uk/navs 		For 2 1/4 years the Liverpool dockers & their families withstood all the state could throw at them. They held together, strengthening their own communities. They travelled the country & the world bringing something very special to all they encountered - a sense of what solidarity can really mean & a glimpse into the future in which working people have real power over their lives.
They showed that we don't have to stand back and allow governments & employers to destroy our jobs & communities. Their lives have been transformed through their struggle & they have transformed our lives too. In fighting to preserve their jobs & their union they have been fighting for us all. They have shown us how to fight. We have a great deal to thank them for. KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
A benefit is to be held for the Magnet Strikers - 350 workers on strike for 17 months after being sacked for asking for a pay rise; Hillingdon Strikers - hospital cleaners now in their third year of strike after rejecting a 20% pay cut; Critchley Labels workers who have now been on strike for 1 year and Torside Workers - 70 Liverpool dockers sacked over 2 years ago, who will receive NO money at all from the settlement of the strike. Friday 20th March, 8pm at the Italian Community Centre, Sherwood Rise. 		Yes, we're still ranting about Nottingham's traffic "problems" and probably will be until the Council actually takes some action. For those of you who'd like to try to speed the process up a bit, there are two events coming up. LOCAL TRANSPORT DAY is on Saturday 7th march. We're kicking off with an action to bring attention to the un-sustainability of the love affair with the car. Meet at 9.00am in the car park of the "Rose and Crown" on Derby Road. If that seems like a bit of an un-civilised hour to anyone, then come along to St. Peter's Gate at 11.30, where they'll be an info. stall, leafleting and the chance to vote on any action you'd like to see the Council take. We'll be delivering the result to the Council offices.
GREEN TRANSPORT WEEK starts Saturday 13th June. We need jugglers, musicians, face painters, fire breathers, street performers and LOTS of help, to make it a week that can't be ignored. So if you want to get involved come along to the planning meeting on Monday 16th March 7.30pm at the Rainbow Centre or contact Kate on 978 0842.
To support Anti-Kar Kulture antics contact Notts EF! (see diary); for local strategic campaigning contact Transport 2000 on 922 7582 and/or Katherine at Nottm FoE on 943 6897 (eves).
Every day in the UK 25 people die from pollution and 15 die on the roads.

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Your FiN Needs You!
Calling all artists, cartoonists, poets, article writers: We know you're out there!
Notts FIN desperately needs your views, rants, poems and pictures. We've got space to advertise free parties, gigs, and any other events for you. All you have to do is send your stuff to us at Rainbow, or give us a ring. Couldn't be easier could it? And for those of you who would like to swizzle in the collective editor's chair, then come along to the editorial meetings, drink black coffee and feel self-important.
We think that Notts FIN can have a vital part to play in providing the information that the authorities neglect to provide us with. There can't be action for change without information. BUT Notts FIN can only keep going with your help, and you've got to have more talent than us, so get scribbling!

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SPIRIT OF FREEDOM

 		It is vital that as a movement we support our prisoners, especially as more and more of us are locked up with longer sentences as we become more effective in the struggle for Earth, Animal, and Human Liberation. Writing a simple letter or simple card to a prisoner can make the world of difference. It can help stop them feeling isolated while they are inside, after all prisons are designed to isolate people from their families and communities. If we keep in contact with prisoners to show support we can go a long way to break down that isolation.
When sending a letter to a prisoner don't forget that all mail is read by prison staff, so don't say anything that could get anyone into trouble. If you don't get a reply from a prisoner, don't worry, it doesn't mean that your letter or card hasn't been appreciated. There may be lots of reasons, for example a limit to how many letters a prisoner is allowed to send or stamps he/she is allowed to recieve, therefore it is only normal that the prisoner will want to write to their nearest and dearest first. Don't worry that you have nothing to say in a letter or that the person will find it 'boring'. Prison is most of all an incredibly boring place to be and any contact with an individual/group or any kind of news will be welcomed. Don't worry about what you'll write to a prisoner, remember they are just ordinary people like yourself. And if inspiration fails, a short note on a colourful or beautiful postcard will brighten up a cell wall.
You can recieve addresses of prisoners from "Spirit of Freedom" at
Earth Liberation Prisoners, BM HEAL, London WCIN 3XX.
By e-mail from; cornerstone@gn.apc.org
On line at: http://www.geocities.com/Rainforest/3081/t1.html
or better still write a letter over a cuppa in the "Rainbow canteen" addresses, paper and envelopes provided.

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Gathering Visions, Gathering Strength.

From the 3rd-5th of April there will be a gathering to bring together direct activists across movements and generations to explore social change and how we can do it! This gathering in Manchester is designed:
- to be a unique opportunity for activists from different backgrounds to gather and share ideas.
- to explore issues around campaigning for social change, including the role and application of nonviolence.
- to help us learn and share practical direct action skills, tactics and experiences.
- to build links between movements, challenge assumptions, and benefit from the diversity of people and opinions.
If you are involved with animal rights, environment, peace, workers rights, human rights (including civil liberties, development and the third world, refugees, asylum, disability rights, gay and lesbian rights, housing and squatting, women's liberation, or other issues, your participation would be valuable to you and others.
Contact Gathering Visions, c/o Cath at CND, One World Centre, 6 Mount St, Manchester. M2 5NS.
Tel; 0161 8348301 Fax; 0161 834 8187
e-mail; gmdcnd@gn.apc.org.
by the 20th of March;
or contact other attending from Nottm c/o The Rainbow Centre. ==============================================================================

DiY DORIS

THE LOW ROAD

Hey up me ducks, well last month we looked at DiY Media. This month we're going to look at DiY Housing.
In Britain there are thousands of people homeless, and we can all find ourselves without somewhere to stay now and again. There are around 864,000 empty homes in Britain, many of them held empty by property speculators. Squatting is still legal necessary and free. Besides housing the homeless, squatted buildings can also provide venues for parties, cafes, and community projects. If anyone tells you that squatting is illegal they are wrong! With a few exceptions, if you can get into an empty building without doing any damage, and can secure it, you can make it your home. The 1994 CJA made some changes to the law but these are mainly to do with evictions.
Basically;
- Find a place that doesn't look too smart and is owned by the council or a housing association.
- Get in quietly without doing damage.
- Secure all the entrances and change the lock on the entrance that you are using.
- Check the water, gas and electricity are on or can be turned on; sign on for gas and electricity straight away.
- Make sure that someone is in all the time, especially during the day, at least until the owner or council officials visit.
- If the police, owners or council officials come round don't open the door, but tell them through the letter box that this is now your home and you are not going to leave until the owners get a possesion order to evict you.
- You will almost certainly be evicted eventually, perhaps very quickly, but you have the same rights as other householders: the right to privacy, rubbish collection, postal delivery, social security and essential services like water and gas.
- You have limited protection from eviction under SECTION 6 of the Criminal Law Act 1977. Someone illegally evicting you could get 6 months in prison and/or a £5000 fine.
For more info get the "Squatters Handbook" 10th Edition for £1.30 from The Advisory Service for Squatters, 2 St Paul's Rd, London. N1 2QN. (or Mushroom Bookshop) ISBN: 0-9507769-3-9. For Quick Advice ring their help line on 0171 359 8814. 2-6pm Mon- Fri.
What can they do to you?
Whatever they want.
They can set you up, bust you,
they can break your fingers,
burn your brain with electricity,
blur you with drugs 'till you
can't walk, can't remember.
They can take away your children,
wall up your lover; they can do
anything you can't stop them doing.
How can you stop them?
Alone you can fight, you can refuse.
You can take what revenge you can
but they roll right over you.
But two people fighting
back to back can cut through a mob
a snake-dancing fire can break a cordon,
termites can bring down a mansion.
Two people can keep each other sane,
can give support, conviction,
love, massage, hope, sex.
Three people are a delegation
a cell, a wedge.
With four you can play games
and start a collective.
With six you can rent a whole house
have pie for dinner with no seconds
and make your own music.
Thirteen makes a circle,
a hundred fill a hall.
A thousand have solidarity and your
own newsletter; ten thousand
community and your own papers;
a hundred thousand, a network
of communities;
a million our own world.
It goes one at a time.
It starts when you care to act.
It starts when you do it again
after they say no.
It starts when you say we
and know who you mean;
and each day you mean
one more.

Marge Piercy.

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PARANOIA

A global electronic spy network that can eavesdrop on every telephone, e-mail and telex communication around the world has been officially acknowledged in a recent European Commission report, 'Assessing the Technologies of Political Control'.
The report contains details of American controlled spy stations on British soil, including Menwith Hill, that "routinely and indescriminately" monitors countless phone, fax and e-mail messages. It confirms that the citizens of Britain and other European states are subject to an intensity of surveillance far in excess of that imagined by most parliaments. For more than a decade former agents of US, British, Canadian and New Zealand national security agencies have claimed that the monitoring of electronic communications has become endemic throughout the world. Rumours have circulated that new technologies have been developed which have the capability to search most of the world's telex, fax and e-mail networks for "keywords". You have been warned.

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Back by popular demand

ARES BAR

(Vegan Mars Bars)
Uncle Stevies recipe column
The Hard Way:
NOUGAT
2/3 Cup of Soya Milk
3 oz. Soya Marg. (Co-Op or wholefood shop)
8 oz. Sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla Essence
2 oz. Wheatgerm, preferably ground in spice grinder.
4 oz. dried Soya Milk
Put the milk, marge and sugar into a thick saucepan and heat, without stirring, on a low heat until it bubbles all over. Keep at this heat for 2 min (if you have a sugar thermometer, it should be 2350 F./112.80 C.) Cool. Add the vanilla essence and the wheatgerm. Add the dried soya milk and beat till creamy. Pour into a tray roughly the size of 12 mars bars and freeze for an hour.
TOFFEE
4 oz. Sugar
4 oz. Soya Marge (Again, Co-Op is best.)
150 ml Soya cream
1 tbsp Golden Syrup
Put everything in a thick bottomed saucepan and heat on a low heat till it bubbles all over. Keep at this temperature for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour the toffee over the nougat and freeze for another hour. Cut into mars bar size pieces and re-freeze until the toffee is solid (this can take a couple of days.) Melt 400g of vegan chocolate in a microwave if you have one (3 minutes full power for 100g) or place into a bowl above a saucepan of boiling water till melted. Coat the bars with chocolate and place onto a greased tray. Re-freeze.
The Easy Way:
Buy one from Veggies at the Rainbow Centre or at many good demos!
The vegan Mars Bar issue spreads; it has come to our attention that there is now a Veganize a Mars Bar campaign by people sick of Fry's Chocolate Creams. VAM is campaigning for Mars to make a vegan Mars Bar using pea protein and real chocolate, so gentic manipulation and cruelty free. they are asking for donations, words of support, soundbite worthy quotes to VAM (Veganize A Mars campaign), Scotland the Green, Via Garve, Highlands. IV23 2SE. FAX; 01854 655292. e-mail;
scotgreen@veganvillage.co.uk

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Rainbow and Veggies Robbed!

On Saturday the 7th of Feb the Rainbow Canteen, Rainbow Shop, and Veggies were robbed to the tune of over £400. The building was locked up and the money was missing - also missing was volunteer Paul Foot, who we hear is now in Portugal. Rainbow are keen to hear from him for any information he can offer.
Meanwhile Rainbow is now desperately skint, so if anyone has any spare cash or can organise us a benefit you would be supporting a valuable local project that needs help.

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Flyposter Frenzy!

Nottingham Council have announced a clampdown on flyposting, as it makes main routes into the city look unsightly. Instead they want flyposters only on designated, provided sites. Renegade flyposters will be nicked. How can it be criminal to provide information?
Yes there are a lot of flyposters in Nottingham, but most of these are commercial advertisements. If only designated sites are to be used, political and public information posters will be covered over every few days with repetitive record adverts and commercial gigs.
If the councils plan is to work, then there would have to be separate boards for commercial posters, and for non-profit posters, in visible public places.
But should it work in the first place? Are flyposters more offensive than car adverts sanitising a killing machine, or Nestle claiming to have a soul? Should only rich multinationals be allowed to poster their propaganda over Nottingham?

The flyposters also highlight the number of boarded up properties in our city, buildings that could be revitalised, used by the community, house the homeless etc. The problem in Nottingham is commercial advertising. DIY posters can be artistic, subversive, informative, inspiring, and beneficial to the community, unlike the parasitic multinationals adverts. Target the commercials and carry on flyposting!

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MAI Day, MAI Day!

This coming week the details of the MAI- Multilateral Agreement on Investment are to be finalised. Not a sexy topic I know, but the MAI will make any campaigning to change the law on animal, earth or human rights in the U.K., pointless. No more "Buy Local" campaigns-foreign investors won't have to employ local people. They won't have to keep to our environmental standards or standards of animal welfare. Multinationals will have more authority and freedom to act than local or national governments, and will not be accountable to anyone other than their share holders-their only motive profit. Non-governmental organisations-so far more than 600 from 67 countries have united to oppose it- warn that the MAI will make your vote irrelevant. Considering we only get one every four years, how secure does your future feel...
Find out more from: The World Development Movement, 25 Beehive Place, London, SW9 7QR. tel: 0171 737 6215. www.oneworld.org/wdm/
For action advice contact; Corporate Watch Box E, 111 Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RQ.
mail@corporatewatch.i-way.co.uk
http://www.oneworld.org/cw
(web access free at libraries)

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DiY Doris MEDIA Article from last issue.

Dear Readers,
I have had several people write to me saying that they are having nagging doubts that T.V. culture, McWage slavery, and corporate manipulation may not hold the answers to their dreams and desires. Not to worry m'ducks, help is at hand. Over the next few months I'll introduce you to the joys of DiY housing, transport, music, democracy, economics and resistance. Remember; "We are far more possible than their most powerful imaginings." This issue, a topical subject; DiY media:
Did you know that just five companies own at least 85% of UK newspaper sales (News International, Mirror Group, Associated Press, United Papers and the Telegraph)? With that ownership comes censorship, in the form of owners with their own political agendas. Many people wondered why it was only after Maxwell's death that he was revealed to be such a crook. The answer is simple; Censorship thanks to deep pockets and libel laws.
What goes for the printed media, also goes for the T.V.- a realm into which transnational corporations such as Murdoch's News Corps (which owns News International) are increasingly making inroads, on top of his B Sky B satellite channel. Murdoch seems set to achieve a 25% share of the U.K. digital T.V. market.
Thankfully there is another way-DiY media. The long tradition of "free media" has been blossoming once again. As the T.V. becomes increasingly restricted in the range of information it transmits, so alternative "channels" have been opened up- the radical video news groups such as Undercurrents, Small world and Conscious Cinema (available through Rainbow). Likewise in the print media with regular newspapers such as Squall, the weekly freebie SchNews and your own Ned Ludd . The internet is now a very effective tool for distributing information between international groups, and is being used extensively.
"The underground media is produced by activists-bored of not being given a platform we create our own, bored of being misquoted, we quote each other, bored of going on actions and then rushing home and finding the news either disregarding us, or distorting our deeds and words." (Jamie- Small World Media) Write your own newsletters, flypost your dreams. Or better still get involved with Ned Ludd, send us your art, your articles, or come to the editorial workshops. See ya, and good luck!

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GOVERNMENT PULLS PLUG ON G M CROP.

Tuesday 10th February 1998
Friends of the Earth scored another campaign victory today, with news that the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) has decided to put a stop on the biotech industry's plan to grow the first genetically engineered crop in the UK. MAFF sources have confirmed to FOE that the ministry will not now progress an application for a genetically engineered oilseed rape variety developed by Belgium company Plant Genetics Systems (PGS). The variety was designed to be resistant to a herbicide made by agro-chemical giant Hoescht who own PGS. Use of the genetically engineered plant would allow more intensive spraying of the herbicide, which would threaten wildlife and could help create herbicide resistant "superweeds". Oilseed rape is a major ingredient in staple foods such as margarine and cooking oil.
MAFF's decision follows a moratorium by the French Government, announced on 27th November last year, on herbicide resistant oilseed and sugar beet "until scientific studies show there is no risk to the environment and a public debate has been conducted". PGS oilseeds require both seed listing in the UK and marketing approval before they can be grown commercially in the European Union.
In December the Government's wildlife agencies, including English Nature, joined Friends of the Earth in calling for a moratorium on herbicide-resistant crops, at least until the Ministry of Agriculture has finished its own research in three years time.
Adrian Bebb, biotechnology campaigner for Friends of the Earth said: "This is a serious blow for the biotech industry, who have been rushing to get their new inventions into our food chain before anyone noticed.
There are serious concerns that these new food crops may have irreversible environmental consequences and the Government should be congratulated for stopping these first crops before the damage is done."
Friends of the Earth, 26-28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ
Tel: 0171 490 1555 ; Fax: 0171 490 0881
E-mail: info-request@foe.co.uk URL: http://www.foe.co.uk/

* http://www.innotts.co.uk/~rainbow/veggies/ *

* STOP PRESS : Nott FiN now online at *
* http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4111/ned.html *
* for frontline news from Nottinghams Campaigners *

* Animal Rights Calendar online at *
* http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/arc/veggies/ *
* or by email in .TXT or .PM5 format *

* Animals Contacts Directory online at *
* http://www.innotts.co.uk/~rainbow/veggies/acdirect.htm *

* McLIBEL TRIAL VICTORY *
* The campaign continues ... *
* Details: http://www.mcspotlight.org/ *

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