A spontanious sit-in inside the Birmingham City-Centre Vodafone Shop took place during People & Planet’s Shared Planet event last weekend.

Protestors called on the Government to force Vodafone to pay up over claims that the company is getting away with 6bn of tax evasion.

You can read more at IndyMedia Birmingham.

THE DITCH DIRTY DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN

Following on from Summer Gathering, we’ve had a couple of really productive skype chats about how best to carry on the fight against the financing of climate change within the People & Planet network*. This is still really early days, so there’s loads of opportunities for you to feed in your thoughts about what the campaign should look like next year. Without office support, it’s really important that we all get involved to make this campaign a success. To find out more, share your ideas and be part of it, join the next skype chat at 4pm Thursday 5 August (add alys.rhiannon.mumford and she’ll call you in).

CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION 2010 - BREAK THE BANK!

One really important event for the DDD campaign is bound to be this year’s climate camp. It’s being held in Edinburgh, the home of RBS and so it’s really important that we have a massive presence there. The camp will be running from 19-25 August (at the same time as the RBS-sponsored Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and is an amazing opportunity to take mass action, meet loads of like-minded people and get inspired for a new year of campaigning.

ABOUT THE CAMP

The Camp for Climate Action is a grassroots movement taking direct action against the root causes of climate change. After mobilising and helping stop the proposed third runway at Heathrow and a new coal firedpower station at Kingsnorth, we’re growing into a mass movement to reclaim our future from government and profit-hungry corporations.

This year we’re targeting the Royal Bank of Scotland, and their global headquarters in Edinburgh.

The Camp for Climate Action is made up of people like you - check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk to find out how to get involved.

WHY COME?

There’s going to be chances throughout the camp to discuss how to take the DDD campaign further on your campus, meet other P&Pers from all over the UK, take part in some amazing direct action (only if you want to though!) and basically have a brilliant time in the beautiful city of Edinburgh (you can even take in a couple of shows at the festival if you have time…!)

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Loads of P&Pers will be at the camp and will be ready and waiting to help anyone who’s up for coming.  We can give you travel advice, meet you from transport hubs, give directions and offer local advice, and be some friendly faces to camp with.  Contact pandacomms@gmail.com and join the People & Planet at Climate Camp facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=121594357886467) if you’re planning on coming to get a heads up.  A mobile number will also be given out closer to the date.

Itinerary:

* Occupy and set up the basecamp: 19–20 August
* Four days of training and direct action: 21–24 August
* Day of action against RBS: 23 August
* Return basecamp to nature: 25 August

BE A SWOOPER

Edinburgh Uni P&P invites all P&Pers to come to Edinburgh before the camp is set to help take the site and organise media, making things, planning, and generally anything needed.  Accommodation is no problem if you think you’re up for it, contact pandacomms@gmail.com.

*to find out more about the Ditch Dirty Development campaign and how RBS is driving climate change, check out http://peopleandplanet.org/ditchdirtydevelopment

The Climate9 defence committee will be launching their campaign for support and solidarity on Thursday 20th May 6.30-8pm at WordPoweClimate9 ‘Climate Defence Is Not An Offence’ Posterr Bookshop, 43-45  West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh. The evening will feature speakers from the Climate9 Defence Committee, details of the case from the lawyers, discussion on direct action and using the courts to call for real justice, a chance to meet the activists and climate-action bingo! You are invited to RSVP ASAP to info@climate9.com Tel 075351 47478 and check out our newly launched website on http://www.climate9.com.

If you have a website then please put our link to your site (feel free to use any information below on the website), speak to the media and if you have a blog then get blogging and send this link far and wide.

The Climate9 Defence Committee are a wide group of organisations and individuals who support the actions of anti-aviation campaigners who took direct action against airport expansion in Aberdeen in March 2009. These 9 activists now face a court case which could get them years in prison.

They need all the help and public support that they can get to challenge the values of a legal system which too often undermines, rather than supporting, the integrity and health of the Earth; and lets the real criminals go free while persecuting those brave enough to speak out for justice and future generations.

We believe that the Climate9 should be rewarded for their actions and not punished. If you agree that climate change is an urgent threat which is already costing lives and destroying ecosystems that support us, and that those in power need a radical wake-up call, please join us to stand up for those who are doing just that. We need as many statements of support as possible. Write one for yourself or your organisation now.

And don’t stop there. Organise events and actions relevant to you and your community on climate change and in support of the Climate9. If you want a supporter of the Climate9 or one of the defendants to come email us and use the attention of the trial to highlight the need for necessary action to stop irreversible climate change in your community.

“Civilisation has never progressed by squatting in its comfort zone. The great human breakthroughs have always been led by small clusters of brave individuals taking costly stands. History will be the ultimate court of opinion that will judge the climate protestors. In so doing, may its hand not be forced to judge our wider British society too harshly.” Professor Alastair McIntosh, Centre for Human Ecology.

‘Whatever the price we have to pay for speaking the truth, the Climate9 are publicly prepared to do so, to try and bring justice for those detrimentally affected by climate change. This is supposed to be a democratic country and we can participate in political activity. The Climate9 will not uphold increasing state and police repression and camouflage the war that is climate injustice. All over the world people demanding climate justice have complained to the magistrates about magistrates, complained to the judges about judges and complained to the politicians about politicians. It’s time we did something for ourselves. Whatever happens to us, the Climate9 trial is an opportunity to spread the need for urgent action and to challenge the authorities with pride and confidence.’ Dan Glass, Climate9 defendant

‘I am really proud of my daughter Kate and what she is doing.  It takes courage to make a stand and to take direct action.  It is so so important to look after and respect the planet – our stay on this planet is a very brief one but the impact we have is greater than we have the capacity to imagine. I am glad that Kate is passionate about a sustainable future and willing to do something about it.’ Anne Mackay – mother of Kate

Your support is deeply appreciated. We hope to see you there, or hear from you soon!

The Climate9 Defence Committee
xxx

People & Planet joined by scores of others at the RBS Week of Action

In 2007 People & Planet and Platform launched a campaign for the Royal Bank of Scotland to stop funding fossil fuel extraction and “ditch dirty development”, with groups across the country putting on talks, asking difficult questions at careers fairs, protesting at branches. Various activists including those from the Rising Tide network held a day of action that autumn hitting local press, plastering cash machines, and shutting down several branches. Back then, climate denial was a still valid currency for the bank and that familiar green-wash sheen was only just being cooked up.

Within months they has closed their website “www.oilandgasbank.com”, changed their stance on global warming, signs went up in their branches proclaiming their sustainable policies, and careers fair staff were given lines to say to respond to criticism.

The campaign gathered steam at the 2008 RBS AGM, as Student Unions started changing bank accounts, removing RBS advertising from their premises, and calling for disinvestment.

When the Government bailed out the bank in late 2008 they asked no questions about their investments, and Westminster MPs, prompted by constituent People & Planet and World Development Movement members, started to ask why Government money was going into a bank that was directly eroding Government policies. The UK Treasury was now under the spotlight. A legal challenge was launched about their takeover with backing from Leigh Day & Co solicitors, and during the aftermath of the G20 meeting in London, Pandas made national news “cleaning up” the 2009 AGM, and later the Treasury during the London Climate Camp.

By then, the primarily public owned bank had poured billions into coal and tar sands exploitation, and the campaign was growing. The World Development Movement, Platform and People & Planet were still asking questions about front-line fossil fuel extraction, but Amnesty International was also was calling on the bank to own up to investing in companies causing human rights abuses, and Friends of the Earth Scotland wanted an explanation for its links with companies like Conoco Phillips, poisoning First Nation communities in Canada.

This week, standing together with indigenous people of Athabasca, that coalition has become a truly powerful force for change.

Everyone can be proud of their part in this campaign which has taken finance from being a disregarded industry into the spotlight as a true root cause of social and environmental injustice. We look to the summer, with a Climate Camp focused on the bank’s activities, with eager anticipation. This aint over yet.

Time to snap into action people!  This from People & Planet (original story here):

People & Planet and the World Development Movement have called a week of action to stop RBS-NatWest financing dirty fossil fuels. The week takes place from Saturday 24 April – Saturday 1 May 2010. Sign up to take part now

We own 84% of RBS-NatWest, the UK’s biggest backer of tar-sands ‘blood oil’. Just 8 days before the expected General Election, RBS holds its Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh on 28 April 2010. People & Planet will be there! We hope you’ll join in at your local branches and online.

The biggest thing new MPs can do on climate change is stop RBS using public money to finance fossil fuel extraction. Our money should be financing a clean energy future and green jobs, not tar sands devastation.

Tar what?

Canada’s tar sands are made up of thick, dirty oil. Extraction threatens an area of crucial forest the size of England and Wales and will produce enough carbon to cause runaway climate chaos. It is also poisoning the water of local indigenous (or First Nation) Canadians, who have seen deaths from rare cancersto the tune of $2.5 billion since the 2008 Government bail-out. spiral, and their forest lands destroyed. RBS has blood oil on its hands – it has backed tar sands companies

We’ll be joined throughout the week by First Nations activists from the Indigenous Environmental Movement

Take action

You can take part in the week of action in loads of ways, from demonstrating outside your local branch of RBS-Natwest, to e-actions, blogging, letter-writing and Facebook & Twitter action. We will also be hosting a number of Skype calls throughout April, so that P&P groups arranging stunts can stay in touch and share ideas. Here are two ways to get involved:

1) Sign up by filling out the form and let us know what you can do to help

2) Sign up to the Facebook event – and invite your friends to join

3) Find out about an RBS action near you, come to the Alternative AGM in Edinburgh, or the protest in London.

• Email list and skype chats
• Has worked well in the past when there has been a point or person of contact for past. Worked well for both the of city Climate Camps- knowing that you are going to be able to find people is important especially if you are new

• Hard to engage on the email list if you are new and can be hard keep up to date with discussions
• Has been difficult to attract new members; difficult to do direct action with people don’t know

• Panda socials and training events- means you could meet other Panda’s face to face before an action, also use these events as a platform to do other actions. Would need to be regional events, possibility of including this more in Regional training days with NVDA training/ action planning and discussion included in the event. (I guess a future problem could be impact of Forum taking up time at Regional gatherings?)
• Another idea was having a more accessible forum to have discussions on, were previous posts were easier to find and keep track of. Crab Grass, wiki and google groups were mentioned, if anyone wants to set it up. Problem of whether or not non-involved members would check it?

• reach out to new people
• improve communicattion
• plan and take action.

Non students can attend this session too!

What’s more we will be having a dinner on Saturday night to discuss potential PANDA action dates and targets.

Viva la PANDA

Two activists Emma Hughes and myself (Alex Wood) were arrested and charged with aggravated trespass. Today, Tuesday 12th January they were found guilty by Westminster Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a £400 fine (including Court fees of £200).

There were many costs beside the fine for the action and any contributions, no matter how small, towards these would be greatly  received.

If you can spare any money please contact Alex or Emma:

alex@mdwassoc.co.uk
mob. 07986016402

emma.hughes@actionaid.org
mob. 07801140192

Also join the facebook group.

The action was taken during the Copenhagen climate conference which failed to come up with a deal. The ICC are the biggest lobbying group at the climate conferences. They describe themselves as the voice of business and believe that free trade, carbon markets and voluntary measures provide the best conditions for addressing climate change. The ICC was set up for the 1992 Rio Earth summit and have relentlessly lobbied to prevent effective action on climate change. The ICC are one of the biggest barriers to a just and effective climate deal. The activists took action highlight this in the hope that the future conference might not be wrecked by the ICC.

Thank you for reading,

Alex & Emma

The People & Planet Panda had much to be sad about, but he didn't sit on his bottom for long.

Panda is the People & Planet Associated Network for Direct Action.  We are members of the People & Planet network taking direct action to end world poverty, promote human rights, and defend the environment.  Since 2007 we have taken part in actions shutting down nuclear weapons bases, cleaning up the Treasury, and spilling oil at the Royal Bank of Scotland.  What is more, we now have a website!

To find out more or to get in touch, you can email pandacomms@hushmail.com, befriend us on Facebook, stalk us on Twitter, or flick through our archives on this site.

Happy direct actioning!

The ICC are the biggest lobbying group at the climate conference. They describe themselves as the voice of business and believe that free trade, carbon markets and voluntary measures provide the best conditions for addressing climate change.

The activists, who sealed the entrance to the ICC with a banner reading ‘ICC: International Climate Criminals’, are critical of the organisation’s approach to tackling climate change.

Sylvie Winn, 23, who protested as part of the Climate Camp said, “The ICC have relentlessly argued for less regulation and less tax as well as unproven mechanisms such as carbon capture storage and cap and trade. Even US Congressman Rick Boucher admitted cap and trade strengthens the case for utilities to continue coal use. Anything which promotes coal isn’t a solution but a dangerous distraction.”

According to the World Health Organisation 150,000 people die every year year due to climate change, and this will increase sharply if carbon emissions are not cut. Leaders from rich and poor nations are gathered in Copenhagen at the moment to discuss how to avert climate catastrophe. Thousands of business lobbyists are also at the negotiations with representatives from almost every industry including Exxon Mobil, BP and Shell.

Leon James, 24, who superglued himself to the ICC, commented, “The businesses that the ICC represents stand to make billions from the carbon racket. We believe that we should be putting people before profits. We want strong caps, solid laws, and climate taxes on business, The very thing the ICC are fighting against. Let’s not let them steal our future.”

More at:
http://climatethieves.blip.tv
www.flickr.com/photos/climatethieves

Notes

1. In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate change runs out. To keep the process on line there is a need for a new climate protocol. At the conference in Copenhagen 2009 the parties of the UNFCC meet for the last time on government level before the agreement needs to be renewed.

2.The ICC states on its website that “as the world business organization that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) firmly believes that economic growth and open trade provide the best conditions in which to address key environmental challenges such as climate change.”
http://www.iccwbo.org/uploadedFiles/ICC/policy/environment/Statements/213_76%20policy%20statement%20COP15.pdf

3. The Camp for Climate Camp is part of the international grassroots network Climate Justice Action. Climate Camp will be camped in Trafalgar Square through-out the conference. They will be taking action all fortnight both in the UK and Copenhagen.