"Whilst there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields" - Tolstoy

Nottingham Info : Elsewhere : Nowhere

We've been civil; It's time to get disobedient!

See See http://uk.indymedia.org for independent info on actions in the uk.

• Join protests and direct actions to stop war.

• The conflict in Iraq has been presented in the media as a purely human catastrophe. Other animals have been largely ignored. There is no reason to remain silent in the face of the interlinked abuses of all animals - including humans. Until we get rid of cruelty - all cruelty - we will never end animal abuse. We need to stop being abusers, full stop - not just pick and choose our victims. If the world was vegan and we still waged wars we would not have won our cause. The risk we run is that our circle of cruelty rather than compassion will continue to spread and destroy the world that all creatures inhabit.

• Disclaimer: Please don't do anything to stop the indiscriminate killing of men, women, children and animals unless it is specifically authorised by unanimous agreement of the international community.

No War For Oil

• Farming animals for food wastes a lot of energy. Animals are food and energy factories in reverse - most of the nutritional and energy value of what they eat is used by their bodily functions. It takes about 10kg of prime vegetable protein to produce 1kg of meat protein. Oil-based fertilisers are needed to produce crops fed to intensively reared animals. By burning fossel fuel for unnecessary industrialisation world-wide, the human race is causing a change in climate which, if unchecked, will make life on this planet unsustainable.

  
  

• To get a picture of the scale of the oil trade in Nottingham, you should visit the Colwick Oil Depot photo /map here.

  
  

Prevent water wars

• Not satisfied with overconsumption of the world's oil supplies, the affluent west exports its wasteful practices to hungry countries. Factory farming systems are being promoted in hot, dry areas, competing with people for limited water supplies. 200 - 250 gallons of water are required to produce a pound of rice, but between 2,500 to 6,000 gallons are used to produce a pound of meat. Future conflicts are predicted for control of water supplies, whilst inappropriate mega-dam projects benefit western construction companies, whilst displacing local peoples.

Info from Movement for Compassionate Living - see www.MCLveganway.org.uk

Send contributions of rice to Tony Blair, 10 Downing St, London SW1A 1AA.

Tell Blair & Bush that their terrorism will only make more enemies.

On February 15th Veggies Crew rose to the challenge of feeding 1000 of those travelling to London from Nottingham. Food was co-ordinated for 20 (out of 24) coaches departing from 4 different locations, including 3 from Hyson Green / Forest Fields, which left from the Sumac Centre.

This was probably our biggest ant-war catering operation since the heady days of the 1980's when we catered on Nottingham CND's TRAIN to London. During that same period, we also catered in 6 inches of February snow at Molesworth and at the 'Reclaim Chilwell' direct action (events which were co-ordinated out of offices at the Rainbow Centre, the former home of Veggies).

Demo report from Squall website (and much other stop the war news)..

An amazing feat of indy photo journalism has been put together by Nottingham based photogapher, Tash. To check out his galleries and slide shows from London, Feb 15th and Nottingham, March 8th [click here].

Saturday 8th March : Despite the wet & windy weather Veggies turn out as Nottingham Marches Against War in probably the biggest protest seen in Nottingham since the days of the Miners Strike.

Read the report from Nottingham Evening Post website

Saturday 15th March : Chetwynd Barracks

It has been the focus of several local actions, including the regional/national action on the 15th March at the Toton Main Gate, Swiney Way, Toton, (with catering by Veggies)

This multimap view includes a photo of the base and a route planner, centred on the Toton Gate. You can zoom out to see more of the surrounding roads. There is another main gate on Chetwynd Road on the Chilwell side of the base.

For future reference: Chetwynd buses: 33/33a/c run from Victoria Centre, via Angel Row & thru Beeston Station, which is adjacent to Beeston Square; 5b from Broadmarsh, via Friar Lane off Market Square, thru to Chilwell Depot Corner. Both services run roughly on the hour & every half hour during the day including saturday.

Peaceful, Creative Direct Action Against Menwith Hill, the largest US spybase in the world; operating as US sovereign terrortory (sic) and playing a crucial role in the war on Iraq and a key element in the expansion of the 'Star Wars' project.

Indirect Report received by email:

"I met some of the Nottingham contingent to Menwith Hill after I got back from London, and heard of a good turn out numbering more than 1000. There was some fence damage and digging under. Police response was fairly hands-off but there was still 6 arrests, according to those present, including one from Nottingham." (nb after staying over in Manchester, he arrived back the next day).

For more info see www.now-peace.org.uk and Yorkshire CND . Photo of the base and a route planner.

INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA DAY - From report from Yorkshire CND

About 400 people came from all over the country - north, south, east and west to the Gatecrasher's Ball at the American base at Menwith Hill calling for Independence FROM America. It was a very good day. The weather was kind - blue skies and sunshine. People rose to the occasion and came dressed in wonderful costumes including beautiful, imaginative ball gowns and masks (some men included!) and top hats and tails.

There was a wonderful line up of artists - musicians and poets which was hosted by Mark Thomas who also spoke in his unique way - a combination of humour and political satire. Food was provided by Veggies.