Climate Collective News

Global Warming as a Threat to Earth

Human activity is changing the global climate through emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, which artificially warm the earth’s atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels is largely to blame. The impacts of climate change on people and nature are far reaching and are already being felt. The challenge of our time The average global temperature has increased by 0.74°C. Humans are further changing the climate by their actions, especially through emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) which artificially warms the earth’s atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels is largely to blame. Climate change will increasingly cause storms, droughts, floods and fires and have a severe impact on food production, water availability and ecosystems such as forests and wetlands. A major concern is how rapid climate change will magnify existing environmental stresses and contribute to food insecurity, conflict over resources, and loss of livelihood for millions of people. Certain regions will be worse affected than others. Global warming is expected to be greatest over land and at high northern latitudes. The Arctic, Sub Saharan Africa, small islands and the big river deltas of Asia will be most seriously affected. Those least responsible for global emissions, the poor and vulnerable in developing countries, are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts. It is a global responsibility to help these people adapt. The world has a wide range of solutions that will help combat climate change. Protecting and better managing our natural resources is a cost-effective and efficient way to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions while we make the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon world in the coming decades. Natural resources can also help us adapt to the impacts of climate change we are already facing. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass up. Some facts Sea levels rose 20 cm last century • Glaciers, snow cover and sea ice are all declining • We are experiencing more heat?waves, droughts and extreme rainfall and more intense tropical cyclones • Global temperature could rise by as much as 6.4°C by the end of the century • Up to 30% of plant and animal species could go extinct if the global temperature increase exceeds 1.5-2.5°C. • Arctic sea ice could disappear altogether during the summer by the second half of this century. • Crop yields in tropical zones could significantly decrease with even a modest (1-2°C) temperature increase. • One in six countries in the world faces food shortages each year because of severe droughts that could become semi-permanent under climate change. • The overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing up to 20% of global GDP each year, while the costs of action now can be limited to around 1% of global GDP each year. In line with these problems, Liberia as a nation is part of the global village and she should join the rest of the world in combating global warming, we are appareling to industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and to give substantial funding for developing countries to build a sustainable energy capacity, to adapt to the inevitable consequences of global warming, and to stop deforestation to help preserve our beloved earth.

Olkiluoto Blockade and Nuclear Camp in Finland!

Swedish and Finnish below

Olkiluoto Blockade Sat 11 Aug and Nuclear Camp 6-13 Aug, 2012 in Finland!

From uranium mining to nuclear waste storage, nuclear power poses a health risk to current and future generations alike. We refuse to be part of this costly and dangerous experiment which mainly serves the interests of big industry. We therefore demand a nuclear power phase-out.

On August 11, people are going to block the roads to Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Eurajoki. Previous years have seen people blocking the roads using banners, drumming, performances and non-violent direct action.

You can join the demonstration in any way you like, with no obligation to participate in civil disobedience. Make sure not to bring with you anything that could be classed as a weapon. No alcohol or drugs in the demonstration. Everyone is asked to refrain from any form of violence, sexism, racism and provocations.

This year the action day is preceded by an international anti-nuclear camp, held at a local farmhouse. The camp program includes practical and informative workshops, such as the current situation of Japan's nuclear disaster and introducing the movement against mining in Finland. The guest speakers, documentaries and workshops during the week will illustrate the international anti-nuclear movement and provide skills and tools for local campaigning.

There will be a special program for children, and babysitting help available. As well as yummy vegan food, sauna, crafting, live bands and sharing struggles for a nuclear free future!

Welcome!

See full program here http://olkiluotoblockade2012.wordpress.com/english/

You will get driving instructions upon signing up.

Ask more from the info number: + 358 40 461 9154

Recommended prices:

Whole camp 7 days: 30-60 EUR Includes three meals per day, program and basic accommodation in tents/indoors

Alternatively 1 day: 5-8EUR 1 meal: 3-5EUR Children under 10 years for free.

Shared rides:

We also recommend to take your own car/bike/minibus to the camp and demonstration. If you need a ride or can offer one, notify us at: olkiluotoblockade@riseup.net

From Tampere: a minibus leaves to the camp on Monday Aug 6 at 18.00 and on Friday 10 Aug at 12:00. You can reserve seats at olkiluotoblockade@riseup.net

From Helsinki: The Union of Conscientious Objectors organises a bus on Friday Aug 10, starting at 11.30. from Rauhanasema, the Peace Station in Pasila. Reserve seats at toimisto@akl-web.fi or by calling +358 (0)40 836 27 86.

More info on the bus from Helsinki: http://akl-web.fi/tapahtumat/olkiluotoblockade2012

From Turku this same bus leaves on Aug 10 at 14.00 in front of the Railway station. Reserve seats from toimisto@akl-web.fi or call +358 (0)40 836 27 86 More info: http://akl-web.fi/tapahtumat/olkiluotoblockade2012

Olkiluoto Blockade lö 11.8. och Kärn- lägret från 6 till 13.8. 2012*

Kärnenergi, allt från uranbrytning till kärnavfalls-lagring hotar såväl nulevande som kommande generationers liv och hälsa. Vi vill inte vara delaktiga i dyra och farliga experiment som enbart uppfyller industrins behov. Därför kräver vi en kontrollerad avveckling av kärnkraften.

Lördagen den 11 Augusti stängs vägarna som leder till Olkiluoto kärnkraftverk för en dag. Detta är nu tredje året då detta sker med banderoller, trummor, performansser och fredligt civil olydnad.

Alla kan deltaga i demonstrationen som de vill, med eller utan civil olydnad. Demonstrationen är alkohon och drogfri, och det är bäst att lämna allt som kan klassas som vapen hemma. Vi undviker också alla former av våld, sexism, rasism, och provokationer.

I år föregås demonstrationen av ett internationellt läger met temat kärnkraft. Lägret hålls på en gård i närheten av Olkiluoto Kärnkraftverk, och på programmet står workshops, föreläsningar och diskussioner av olika slag. Vi kommer bl.a. Att få bekanta oss med tillståndet i Japan efter fukushima, och gräva ner oss i den finländska gruv-industrin.

Det finns också program för barnen. Utöver detta blir det bastu, byggande, god(vegansk)mat, musik- och naturligtvis: gemensamt motstånd för en kärnkraftsfri framtid!

Välkommen!

Mer detaljerat program: http://olkiluotoblockade2012.wordpress.com/english/

Anmälan till lägret: olbcamp@riseup.net I samband med anmälningen får ni en vägbeskrivning till lägerområdet Ifall ni har några frågor, info tel: 040 4619154 (+358 40 4619154)

Rekommenderade avgifter:

hela lägret, 7 dagar 30-60 e, inkluderar tre måltidet om dagen, program och inkvartering i tältä/inomhus

Alternativt: 1 dag: 5-8 e 1 måltid: 3-5e Barn under 10 år gratis

Gemensam Transport:

Behov och tillgång av platser för samåkning kan meddelas till: olkiluotoblockade@riseup.net

Från Tammerfors kor en minibus till lägret måndag 6.8. kl.18:00 och fredag 10.8. kl. 12:00 Platser kan bokas via olkiluotoblockade@riseup.net

Från Helsingfors kör vapenvägrarförbundets buss fre 10.8. klockan 11.30. Avfärd från Fredsstationen, Loktorget 3 (nära Böle tågstation) Platser kan bokas via toimisto@akl-web.fi eller genom att ringa 040 8362786. Mer information: http://akl-web.fi/tapahtumat/olkiluotoblockade2012

Buss från Åbo 10.8.kl. 14 vid järnvägstationen. Platser kan bokas via toimisto@akl-web.fi eller genom 040 8362786 Mer information: http://akl-web.fi/tpahtumat/olkiluotoblockade2012

Olkiluoto Blockade la 11.8. ja Ydin-leiri 6.-13.8.12 !

Ydinvoima aina uraanin louhinnasta ydinjätehautoihin uhkaa nykyisten ja tulevien sukupolvien elämää ja terveyttä. Emme halua olla osa teollisuuden tarpeita täyttäviä, kalliita ja vaarallisia kokeiluja. Siksi vaadimme ydinvoiman hallittua alasajoa nyt.

Lauantaina 11. elokuuta suljetaan Olkiluodon ydinvoimalaan johtavat tiet päivän ajaksi. Teitä on suljettu aikaisempina vuosina banderollein, rummuttaen, performanssein ja myös rauhanomaisen kansalaistottelemattomuuden keinoin.

Mielenosoitukseen voi liittyä kukin haluamallaan tavalla, myös ilman osallistumista kansalaistottelemattomuuteen. Aseiksi luokiteltavat varusteet on syytä jättää kotiin. Mielenosoitus on päihteetön. Kaikenlaista väkivaltaa, seksismiä, rasismia ja provosointia vältetään.

Tänä vuonna tapahtumaa edeltää myös kansainvälinen Ydin- leiri. Läheisellä maatilalla järjestetään toiminnallisia ja tietopainotteisia työpajoja. Luvassa on mm. tuore katsaus Japanin ydinonnettomuuteen ja kaivosliikkeeseen Suomessa. Viikon aikana nähtävät puhujat, elokuvat ja työpajat avaavat ydinvoimateollisuuden vastaista maailmanlaajuista liikettä ja antavat välineitä paikallisiin kamppailuihin.

Lapsille on ohjelmaa ja hoitoapua leiripäivinä. Lisäksi saunomista, rakentelua, vegaaniruokaa, bändejä, ja tietenkin jaettua vastarintaa ydinvoimavapaan tulevaisuuden puolesta!

Tervetuloa!

Tarkempi ohjelma: http://olkiluotoblockade2012.wordpress.com/ydin-leirin-ohjelma/

Ilmoittautumiset leirille osoitteeseen olbcamp@riseup.net Ajo-ohjeet leirille ilmoittautuessa Kysymyksiin vastaa myös infopuhelin: 040 46 19 154

Suositushinnat:

koko leiri 7 vrk 30-60e sisältää kolme ateriaa päivässä, ohjelman ja majoituksen teltoissa/sisätiloissa

vaihtoehtoisesti: 1 vrk: 5-8 e 1 ateria: 3-5 e Alle 10v lapset ilmaiseksi

Yhteiskuljetukset:

Myös omia kyytejä leirille ja mielenosoitukseen suositellaan. Kyytejä lähimmiltä asemilta, Raumalta ja Harjavallalta järjestetään. Kyytitarpeesta ja vapaista paikoista voi ilmoittaa: olkiluotoblockade@riseup.net

Tampereelta lähtee minibussi leirille ma 6.8. klo 18 sekä pe 10.8. klo 12:00. paikkoja voi varata osoitteesta olkiluotoblockade@riseup.net

Helsingistä lähtee aseistakieltäytyjäliiton bussikuljetus pe 10.8. klo 11.30. Rauhanasemalta. Paikkoja voi varata toimisto@akl-web.fi ja soittamalla numeroon 0408362786 lisätiedot Helsingin bussista: http://akl-web.fi/tapahtumat/olkiluotoblockade2012

Turusta lähtee bussikuljetus 10.8. klo 14 Rautatieaseman edestä. Paikkoja voi varata toimisto@akl-web.fi ja soittamalla numeroon 0408362786 lisätiedot: http://akl-web.fi/tapahtumat/olkiluotoblockade2012

Til alle klimademonstranter - en opfordring fra BødeBanken

Var du en af dem der blev præventivt anholdt under klimatopmødet i 2009 og har fået tilkendt erstatning? Så vil BødeBanken gerne opfordre til at du donere en del af erstatningen til initiativet. Læs mere om Bødebanken på www.boedebanken.dk og send meget gerne denne opfordring videre til dine egne netværk.

Solidariske hilsner fra Bødebanken

Kære Klimademonstrant

Vi skriver til dig fordi du er en blandt mange der netop har fået medhold i jeres klage over politiets præventve anholdelser under Klimatopmødet i København i december 2009. Først og fremmest vil vi gerne sige tillykke med domsudfaldet! Derudover vil vi gerne opfordre dig til at donere en del af din erstatning til den nystartede forening ”BødeBanken – organiseret solidaritet”.

Som du sikkert ved, blev tæt ved 2000 mennesker administrativt frihedsberøvet fuldkommen uden grund i forbindelse med de forskellige demonstrationer og protester under klimatopmødet sidste år. Ud af dem har fere hundrede klaget over tilbageholdelsen. Samtlige klager over frihedsberøvelser blev i 2011 behandlet i byretten i en retssag, der forløb over fere måneder med utallige retsmøder. Her gav byretten medhold i samtlige klager og tilkendte alle klagere erstatning. Denne afgørelse blev anket af politiet og er derfor nu blevet behandlet i landsretten. I landsretten er det nu blevet stadfæstet at politiets ageren i december 2009 var ulovlig og at samtlige klagere har ret til erstatning.

Afgørelsen har enorm betydning af fere grunde. Samtidig med at sætte begrænsninger for politiets magtbeføjelser slår den en gang for alle fast, at retten til at demonstrere og bruge sin grundlovssikrede ytrings- og forsamlingsfrihed stadig står ved magt.

Hvad er BødeBanken?

Bødebanken er en nystartet forening der officielt går i luften d. 3 marts 2011. Foreningen har til formål at støtte politisk engagement og aktivisme på den udenomsparlamentariske venstrefløj, ved at skabe en platorm for, at vi kollektivt kan hæfte for retslige konsekvenser i forbindelse med politisk arbejde. BødeBanken er dermed et opgør med tendensen til, at retslige og økonomiske konsekvenser af politisk arbejde ofte bliver et individuelt problem.

BødeBanken er startet som en reaktion mod de mange og store bøder, som vi mener er blevet en alt for almindelig og accepteret del af det at være politisk aktiv. Ved kollektivt at hæfte for retslige konsekvenser af politisk arbejde håber vi at gøre det muligt for alle at engagere sig i politiske aktiviteter uden at skulle bremses af deres økonomiske situation. Foreningen fungerer ved at medlemmer betaler et månedligt kontingent på mellem 30-60 kr, afhængig af indkomst. Derudover opfordrer vi medlemmer eller andre der får tilkendt erstatning i klagesager til at donere en del af deres erstatning til foreningen. Gennem foreningen får medlemmer dækket bøder og andre opkrævninger fra politiet der er resultatet af politisk arbejde. Bøder og andre opkrævninger op til 2.500 kr. dækkes automatisk. Større bøder dækkes i det omfang foreningen har økonomi til det og beror på en vurdering af de enkelte sager.

BødeBanken støtter projekter og aktiviteter der har et venstreorienteret sigte og som IKKE:

• Kan opfattes som sexistiske, racistiske, homofobiske/heterosexistiske eller på anden måde diskriminerende

• Har til formål at fremme og/eller promovere et parlamentarisk part

• Støtter op om eller fremmer en kapitalistisk dagsorden

Derudover støtter BødeBanken ikke bøder og retslige efterspil i forbindelse med graffiti, tyveri eller trafikforseelser, medmindre der er tale om handlinger der er direkte relateret til anden politisk aktivitet og har et tydeligt politisk budskab.

Hvorfor vi syntes du skal donere en del af din erstatning?

Vi mener at erstatningssager som den i lige har været igennem, er ekstremt vigtige som protest mod de stadig bredere beføjelser politiet får. Samtidig mener vi det er vigtigt at handle solidarisk og støtte hinanden også omkring den juridiske del af vores allesammens politiske arbejde. Vi opfordrer dig derfor til at donere halvdelen eller et andet valgfrit beløb af din erstatning til Bødebanken. BødeBanken går først officielt i luften d. 3.marts, men for at kunne komme i gang, har vi brug for startkapital. Derfor opfordrer vi til at du donere penge til foreningen allerede nu, for at sikre at foreningen kan komme op at stå.

Hvis ikke du vil støtte Bødebanken opfordrer vi stadig til at du donere en del af din erstatning til andre grupper der arbejder med juridisk støtte og retshjælp eller solidaritetsgrupper der støtter og hjælper fængslede hvis uheldet er ude. Her tænker vi især på Retshjælpen RUSK og ABC. Juridisk retshjælp er vigtigt for at vi fortsat tør gå på gaden og protestere. Retssagen omkring de præventive anholdelser er et glimrende eksempel på dette. Uden en dedikeret gruppe af frivillige der behandlede de mange klager, var denne retssag måske aldrig blevet til noget. Retssystemet er en kompliceret størrelse og det er derfor vigtigt at der eksisterer grupper, der kan hjælpe den enkelte med at forstå det juridiske system og give gratis støtte hvis behovet opstår. Samtidig vil vi gerne understrege vigtigheden af solidaritetsgrupper, der støtter og hjælper fængslede. Solidaritet til fængslede er en meget konkret og praktisk håndsrækning der er med til at få dagligdagen til at fungere indenfor murene.

Endnu engang tillykke med sejren

Solidariske hilsner BødeBanken

Du kan læse mere om BødeBanken på: www.boedebanken.dk eller kontakte os på: boedebanken@gmail.com

Donationer kan indbetales på BødeBankens konto:

Reg. nr.: 5361 Kontonr.: 0246738

Danish National Court rules mass arrest to be illegal!

The Danish police broke the law when they detained thousands of climate protesters on December the 12th and four other dates during the COP15 in Copenhagen. The National Court of Denmark confirms the ruling of the City Court of Copenhagen and declares all five mass-arrests during the COP15 illegal .

In addition the court ruled that article of the European human rights convention was violated on December the 12th as the police degraded and mistreatted the arestees. Thus compensation of up to 9000 Danish Kroner should still be awarded to the ones who filed complaints in due time. All in all the Danish police will be handing out compensations in the millions.

Anyone who were preemptively arrested during the Climate Summit in Copenhagen in 2009, but never complained, should contact the Danish legal group RUSK. Then there might be a possibility to get compensation as well, even though you were not part of the lawsuit. Email kontakt@rusklaw.org (please specify name, address, nationality, and date, place and time of the arrest).

The Climate Collective strongly opposes Mark Kennedy coming to Denmark

Mark Kennedy, the English undercover cop who was exposed last year, is coming to Denmark during the CPH DOX documentary film festival. He is invited to speak in connection to the screening of a documentary telling his story.

The Climate Collective strongly opposes that Mark Kennedy gives a talk at the festival or for that matter that he makes any appearance in Denmark at all. Having spent years infiltrating English climate activists, Mark Kennedyis to many a symbol of the massive repression activists have experienced the last couple of years.

Using undercover cops is a huge democratic problem undermining peoples’ right to act politically. That the English police uses undercover cops to such an extent is in itself shocking, but the fact that Mark Kennedy and probably many of his colleagues have been collaborating with the Danish police clearly shows how far Danish police is willing to go in the use of undemocratic methods in order to prevent political activism.

The festival argues that it is important to discuss the methods used by the state to obtain information about political activities. However, the Climate Collective argues that showing a film, which only tells one side of the story, namely the story of Mark Kennedy who since his exposure will do anything to clean his reputation, does not invite for a fair discussion. Moreover asking the same person to speak after the screening gives a platform to someone that has been lying and betraying people who considered him their friend, and who should not have another chance to explain himself. In fact the whole film project stinks of a person without morals or conscience trying to make money on the pain he has caused on others.

It is an insult to the many people whose lives Mark Kennedy has done his best to ruin that he is made to feel welcome (back) to Denmark. In respect for our Danish and English comrades who have been the victims of Mark Kennedy's lies and betrayal we strongly urge the CPH DOX festival to cancel his appearance and the screening of the film. Below is a letter sent to the film festival by English friends.

As people who are involved in UK environmental activism and who came into contact with Mark Kennedy, we were disappointed to hear that he would be speaking in person at the Copenhagen Film Festival in November, accompanying a screening of the documentary Undercover Cop.

Having lost his lucrative career as an undercover police officer, Mark Kennedy decided to do anything to maximize his income. He hired notorious publicity agent Max Clifford who helped him sell his story to the media - an agent more usually known for clients like reality TV stars or people who have sex with footballers.

In his media appearances Kennedy has continually lied about both his police career and his life as an activist. He has contradicted himself on numerous occasions in interviews.

Clifford secured Kennedy a large fee for this documentary, irrespective of the quality of its content. Having spent many years lying, and now seems unable to know what truth is any more. His unreliability means that neither his police colleagues nor activist comrades wanted anything to do with the making of this film. It is a shame that a well-respected film festival has been compromised by a documentary with such a dubious basis.

The long term existence of Kennedy as an undercover police officer in our movement has caused extreme emotional and psychological distress to the people who counted him as a friend, or in some cases as a partner. Some of the people who had sexual relations with Kennedy feel that his use of sex as a means of ingratiating himself within the community in order to obtain information was essentially state-sponsored sexual abuse.

After all the damage that he has inflicted on so many people’s lives, it is morally repugnant that he is now building a career based on exploiting the damage that he has caused. It is unacceptable for him to profit from this while at the same time many people are still picking up the pieces of their lives that were shattered by his lies. You are intending to give this man a platform, and presumably you intend to financially reward him for going over the details of how he intentionally damaged the lives of those around him. We ask you to reconsider your actions.

For information about the screening: href="http://www.cphdox.dk/d/film.lasso?ser=1676&s=2011112&e=1

If you want to send a letter to the festival, they can be contacted at: info@cphdox.dk

STOP CASTOR!

I den sidste weekend i November vil den europæiske atomindustri igen forsøge at rulle Castor transporten med dens giftige, radioaktive affald fra La Hague, Frankrig til Gorleben, Tyskland.

Siden den første Castor transport er en massiv folkelig modstand opstået og bare sidste år var tusindvis med til at underminere Castoren togskinner og stoppe transport gennem fysiske blokader.

Igen i år vil lokale og internationale sætte en stopper for industriens og politikernes giftigt-grønne energi! Vil du være med?

En gruppe aktivister vil holde et info-møde på torsdag, d. 10 November, i Ungdomshuset kl. 20.00 for at organisere og mobilisere til dette års protester - kom frisk!

Bussen vil forlade Torsdag eller Fredag den sidste weekend i November og komme tilbage sent Mandag og tidligt Tirsdag. Fundraising er i gang for at gøre bussen overkommelig for mennesker. Hvis du ved du ønsker at komme på bussen og ønsker at sikre sig en plads, eller hvis du ønsker mere information, skriv til: castordk2011@riseup.net

Mere info:

http://www.castor2011.org/ http://www.castor-schottern.net/ https://www.gorleben-castor.de/index.php

STOP CASTOR!

In the last weekend of November, the nuclear industry of Europe will run the last of the hazardous Castor transports of nuclear waste from La Hague in France to Gorleben in Germany.

For the full life of the transports there have been massive popular protests and last year saw tens of thousands of people - locals and internationals alike - trying to undermine the train tracks used by the Castor train and to block the transport with their bodies.

Last year a bus of activists from Denmark went there to help our German friends and to show the nuclear industry and Governments of EU with profits on their mind that nuclear is neither sustainable nor wanted.. Want to join the protests this year?

A group of activists will hold an info-meeting on Thursday the 10th of November at Ungdomshuset at 20.00 to organize and mobilize for this year's protest.

A bus is being organized from Copenhagen to support the local resistance in Gorleben and have a good weekend of actions. - join us!

The bus will leave either Thursday or Friday the last weekend of November and return late on Monday or early Tuesday. Fundraising is underway to make the bus affordable for people. If you know you want to come on the bus and want to secure a seat, or if you want more information, write to: castordk2011@riseup.net

More info:

http://www.castor2011.org/ http://www.castor-schottern.net/ https://www.gorleben-castor.de/index.php

Climate collective condemns police criminalization of demonstrations

The desperate attempt by Danish police to justify their illegal arrests of thousands of people during the climate summit in 2009 is an attack on the right to protest and a breach of justice.

Nearly 2000 people were preemptively arrested during the Climate Summit COP15 in December 2009. 250 people complained about the preemptive arrests and the behavior of the police. The court agreed with the protestors that all mass arrests during the summit were illegal and held that the protestors had the right to compensation. The police appealed the verdict and are now trying to justify their actions two years ago by investigation the background of all the people arrested.

The climate collective believes that Danish Police are turning the justice process on it’s head. It is inappropriate and dangerous for a police force to arrest someone without a reason, and then to search peoples private lives and backgrounds for something to justify that arrest.

More troubleing still is the ’evidence’ of supposed wrongdoings that they have presented from claimants backgrounds. What the police are presenting in court is any contact the claimants have had with the police, from biking without lights to being a police liasons during demonstrations. They have also used private details such as facebook activities and facebook friendships.

The idea that minor past infringements or facebook friendship circles could justify arresting someone is ludicrous. But the criminalization of past involvement in demonstrations is a direct attact on the right to protest. The fact that police are attempting to build a case around this so called evidence exposes the negative view Danish police hold of demonstrations.

The climate collective believes that right to protest is an important part of any democracy. We condemn the police actions and hope that the court upholds the cliaments right to due compensation.

More information:

http://politiken.dk/debat/ECE1420499/politiets-staedighed-er-et-udtryk-for-kollektiv-daarlig-samvittighed/

http://politiken.dk/politik/ECE1417758/enhedslisten-kalder-politi-registrering-skraemmende/

http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE1417609/demonstranter-og-deres-bekendte-granskes-af-politiet/

http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE1418044/sf-leder-vil-have-forklaring-paa-politiets-undersoegelse-af-masseanholdte/

http://politiken.dk/debat/ledere/ECE1418535/jagt-paa-demonstranter-er-helt-ude-af-proportioner/

http://www.information.dk/281645

http://arbejderen.dk/content/tisse-p-et-fortov

http://arbejderen.dk/artikel/2011-10-11/facebook-slagsm-l-i-landsretten

http://arbejderen.dk/artikel/2011-10-11/glemte-lygter-i-2005-anholdt-fire-r-efter

Fredspris til klimaaktivister

Kilde: modkraft.dk

Tannie Nyboe og Stine Gry Jonassen, der begge fik fængelsdomme for deres rolle under COP15, er blevet tildelt fredsfestivallens Hæderspris for deres indsats for klimaet.

»Hvis statsmagten stiller to klimaaktivister til ansvar for en hel bevægelse, må svaret være, at vi står samlet til ansvar!«

Det var begrundelsen for at tildele de volddømte arrangører af en af COP15s mange demonstrationer, Tannie Nyboe og Stine Gry Jonassen, årets FredsGris.

Det skete på Fredsfestivallen, der traditionen tro blev afholdt på Karens Minde i Sydhavnen i København lørdag den 10. september.

Med uddelingen af prisen følger Fredsfestivallen dermed forsvarsadvokat Thorkild Høyer opfordring.

Stine Gry Jonassen og Tannie Nyboe fra Climate Justice Action er blevet idømt fire måneders fængsel – heraft to måneder ubetinget. Foto: Mark Knudsen/Monsun.

– De burde have en pris for deres civil courage og deltagelse i debatten om klima. Det er flot at holde så stort et arrangement uden nogen form for personskade, udtalte han umiddelbart efter at de to kvinder var blevet idømt fængselsstraffe for deres rolle i demonstrationen.

»Voldsdømt for en fredelig demonstration«

Østre Landsret afgjorde onsdag den 1. juni, at de to aktivister, som var talspersoner for klimanetværket Climate Justice Action, skal to måneder i fængsel, samt to måneders betinget fængsel med en prøvetid på et år.

Det er en skærpelse af sidste års dom i byretten, hvor de tblev idømt fire måneders betinget fængsel for deres rolle i demonstrationen »Reclaim Power – Push for Climate Justice« den 16. december 2009 nær Bella Center.

En dom som forsvarsadvokaten kalder »meget uheldig«.

– Det var en fredelig demonstration uden spark, slag eller flaskekast. Derfor er det en meget kedeligt dom. Hvorfor skal man lave en fredelig demonstration fremover, hvis man alligevel får dom for vold? Så kan man jo lige så godt give den hele armen, sgade han dengang til Modkraft.

Med prisen følger 6000 kr. som et bidrag til omkostningerne ved Tannie Nyboe og Stine Gry Jonassens retssager.

Support initiatives for Stine and Tannie

After the second level of court has sentenced guilty Stine and Tannie, the two have received an impressively high court cost bill. Climate Collective has stated from the beginning that we all shouted push and invited everyone to [help raising money] (http://www.climatecollective.org/en/take-action/donate/) for our common expenses. In the coming weeks, smaller and bigger events are being planned, in order to express solidarity and raise the funds needed to pay the bills.

As of now, two support bars have been planned, both in the Café Under Konstruktion (Folkets Hus, Stengade 50, Copenhagen N). The first one will take place on Thursday, September 1st, from 18:00 to 24:00, and the second one on Friday, September 30th.

Come by and bring your friends and rich uncles, to get a beer or a tea and support us in this fight!

Moreover, parties and other initiatives will be organized, so stay tuned for more info!

Call for solidarity with the convicted CJA spokespersons

On the 1st of June 2011 the High Court of Denmark sentenced Tannie Nyboe and Stine Gry Jonassen two months of prison and two months of suspended prison (one year of probation) for their involvement in the non-violent civil disobedient mass action Reclaim Power – Pushing for Climate Justice that took place on the 16th of December 2009 during the COP15 in Copenhagen (i.e., the 15th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

The purpose of the action, which was mobilised by the global network Climate Justice Action (CJA), was to hold a popular assembly which challenged the legitimacy of the official COP negotiations. Protesters from outside and critical accredited participants from inside were to create a platform for the people and groups mostly affected by climate change, whose voices were (and still are) not being listened to in the official COP negotiations (See this video for a summary of the action).

Acting as Danish spokesperson for the CJA in the period leading up to the COP15, speaking with Danish media and the police about the purpose of the action and its non-violent action codex, Tannie and Stine Gry were asked to facilitate communication on the sound truck during the Reclaim Power action. This led to them being arrested and held personally responsible for the action. The main evidence used against them was that they allegedly shouted “push” from the sound truck during the demonstration, along with thousands of other protesters.

On the 25th of November 2010 the Copenhagen District Court found Tannie and Stine Gry guilty in planning and instigating violence against the police (§119), serious disturbance of public peace and order (§134a), trespassing (§264) and vandalism (§291). They received a four months suspended prison sentence with one year of probation (for more on this, see summary of first court case and a list of international media coverage).

Not satisfied with the sentence, the police decided to appeal to the High Court of Denmark. Although this resulted in the fourth charge of vandalism (§291) being dropped, the appeal also resulted in Tannie and Stine Gry receiving a stiffer sentence than before, so that they now face two months of prison and two months of suspended prison with one year of probation (The Guardian, 2 June 2011). In addition to this Tannie and Stine Gry face high court costs, possibly up to 30.000 Euros or more.

But WE ALL SHOUTED PUSH and we all pushed together for climate justice the 16th of December 2009!

In holding two individuals responsible for a whole movement's collective decision-making and collective protests, Tannie and Stine Gry's verdict violates and undermines fundamental principles of social movement politics. The case clearly demonstrates how societal structures in “democratic countries” like Denmark scare people from protesting and organizing politically, killing off critical voices that dare to stand forward in the media.

What we are witnessing is a violation of the freedom of speech and our right to assembly, in other words a tactic of repression aimed at silencing social movements. For people to not be afraid to speak out in the future we need to show solidarity with individuals who are targets of political repression. It is thus of fundamental importance that there is a collective response of solidarity with Tannie and Stine Gry.

We cannot change the prison sentence; Tannie and Stine Gry will pay for the action of a whole movement by having their bodies locked behind prison walls for two months minimum. However, we can do something to cover the court costs collectively, therefore the Climate Collective encourages individuals, groups, collectives and organisations that were involved in the CJA mobilisation leading up to the COP15, and/or that participated in the Reclaim Power action on the 16th of December 2009, and others that wish to show solidarity with Tannie and Stine Gry, to help covering our common court expenses.

This can be done in a variety of ways: individuals can for instance contribute with their salary earned from one day of work, groups and collectives can make support dinners or parties, more established NGOs are encouraged to donate money to the cause from their funds. These ideas are not exhaustive and activists are encouraged to think creatively and contribute in whatever ways they can and feel like.

Please help us raise money for court expenses

Stine and Tannie sentenced guilty

It has finished today Stine and Tannie's court case that had been appealed to the second level of court. The two CJA spokespersons have been sentenced to two months jail plus two months probation, and to pay the costs of court.

Climate Collective underlines once again its indignation for this attempt of holding two people responsible for the actions of a movement, and expresses its strongest solidarity to Stine and Tannie.

New trial against Stine and Tannie has started

With the beginning of the new trial, Climate Collective expresses once again its solidarity and support to the climate activists Stine and Tannie that are facing charges in relation to the 'Reclaim Power! Pushing for Climate Justice' action that took place during the protests against COP15 in 2009. Stine and Tannie acted as spokespersons for the Climate Justice Action (CJA) network, communicating and explaining the Reclaim Power! action to the media. Reclaim Power was built and planned on consensus in open, international meetings that took place before and during COP15 in Copenhagen. Climate Collective finds it outrageous that two activists are made responsible for the actions of an entire movement.

After being sentenced to four months on probation, yesterday the appeal case started at the second court level. Climate Collective support Stine and Tannie's position and demand once again for all charges to be dropped. The trial will continue until mid next week and it is not yet clear when a final verdict will be announced. Updates on the court case will be posted on climatecollective.org in the coming days.

More info on the previous court case can be found at these links: link1 link2

Stine and Tannie's court case

To our friends and comrades

As many of you already know, [Stine and Tannie's court case] (http://www.climatecollective.org/post/151) was appealed last December, and a new round of trial dates is around the corner.

No single person can be held responsible for the actions of a movement, decided and planned on consensus! We have said this endless times last year and we will keep saying it until Stine and Tannie are freed of all charges. Climate Collective is in a period of restructuring and is discussing future projects, which is why the website has been mostly silent in recent times. However, we will give updates on the court case as it moves along.

Drop the charges!

Nordic Climate Action Camp Support bar & people's kitchen

Friday, March 18th in Cafè Under Konstuktion from 20:00 to 2:00

Climatecamp2010 aimed at stopping Shells destructive drillings for fossil gas in Skåne. We don't need more fossil fuel or multinational corporations making profit on destroying the planet. This is why Climatecamp2010 tried to stop Shell's test drillings in the area through direct action to tell them that they are not welcome neither in Skåne nor anywhere else. One person was picked out by police during a blockade of a Shell station and has recently been convicted of vandalism, disturbance of public order and violently resisting arrest.

No one should stand alone with the legal consequences of collective action - Come and show solidarity, drink a beer and take a dance with your friends!

Nordic Climate Action Camp Support bar & people's kitchen

Friday the 18th of March from 20.00 until 02.00 in Cafe under Konstruktion

Klimacamp2010 forsøgte at sætte en stopper for Shells destruktive fossilgas boringer i Skåne. Vi har ikke brug for flere fossile brændsler eller multinationale firmaer der skaber profit på at smadre planeten. Derfor valgte Klimacamp2010 gennem direkte aktion at forsøge at stoppe Shells prøveboringer i området og fortælle Shell at de ikke er velkomne hverken i Skåne eller nogen andre steder. En person blev plukket ud af politiet under en blokade af en Shell station og er fornyelig blevet dømt for hærværk, forstyrrelse af den offentlige ro og orden og voldeligt at modsætte sig anholdelse.

Ingen skal stå alene med retslige konsekvenser fra kollektive aktioner - Kom og vis din solidaritet, drik en øl og tag en sving om med dine venner!

Ny sang om politi og overvågning under Klimatopmødet

Per Vers og Brother Grimm har lavet denne sang om overvågning og politiet, der tydeligt er inspireret af Klimatopmødet og filmen "En klima-krimi".

Hør den her:

Listen here

Download hele Per Vers gratis album her: www.per.tv

Redegørelse om politiets chikane mod COP15 aktivister

Klimakollektivet har udfærdiget en redegørelse om politiets omfattende og systematiske chikane mod den aktivistiske klimaopposition op til og under Klimatopmødet i København 2009.

Denne redegørelse er nu blevet sendt til Justitsminister Lars Barfoed og Folketingets retsudvalg, som bedes forholde sig til forløbet set fra den anden side. Der er en række ting, som justitsministeren bør vide! For knippelsuppe til journalisterne var desværre bare et ud af mange eksempler på politiets overgreb mod demokratiet op til og under Klimatopmødet:

*Politiske anholdelser * intimiderende besøg på privatadresser * registrering og kropsvisitationer på offentlige sovesteder * trusler mod enkeltpersoner * vold og tåregas mod internationalt aftenarrangement * falske løfter og proformasamarbejde * misinformation om ”trusselsniveauet” fra politiledelsen til menige betjente og offentligheden * efterrationaliseringer for at miskreditere aktivister og demonstrationer * målrettet beslaglæggelse af kommunikationsmidler og anholdelse af talspersoner m.m.

Folketingets Retsudvalg må forholde sig til politiets metoder, som til forveksling minder om politisk undertrykkelse. Fortielserne om de spirende politistatsmetoder må erstattes af en reel debat på baggrund af et realistisk billede af politiets rolle i dagens Danmark.

[Læs redegørelsen i sin fulde længde her] (http://www.climatecollective.org/media/uploads/groupmedia/1/Redegørelse til Folketingets Retsudvalg.pdf)

UK: Activists found guilty in Ratcliffe coal climate trial

Press release: Activists found guilty in Ratcliffe coal climate trial

Twenty climate activists who planned to shut down one of Britain’s most polluting power stations for a week were found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass today.

The activists were among 114 people arrested in a dawn raid on Easter Monday last year in a widely criticised policing operation that saw officers smashing their way into a school in Nottingham. It was the biggest pre-emptive arrest in British history. Twenty of those arrested faced a crown court trial which opened last month and ended today. The activists openly accepted they wanted to force plant owners Eon to safely shut down the power station for a week in an effort to stop 150,000 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere – but they said they weren’t guilty of a crime because they were acting out necessity due to the lack of an adequate response to climate change by corporations and politicians. This comes as the 16th UN Climate Change talks end in Cancun, where once again governments have failed to build a legally binding strategy to cut emissions.

Speaking after the verdict one of the defendants, Clare Whitney, said:

“During this trial we have heard from people on the front line of our changing climate, and from a company that is still burning the most dirty form of fossil fuel for their economic benefit. These worlds are not compatible. Taking action is not an issue of moral righteousness but an act of self-defence. If we’re to stand a chance of avoiding irreversible climate change we’ve got to realise that to bring about a better world we’ll need to do it ourselves.”

Defendant Chris Kitchen said

“We are in solidarity with all those around the world fighting for climate and social justice. Together we need to stop the root causes of climate change, we need to stop profit being put before people. It’s big business and politicians are that are the real criminals and we will not stand by as we are robbed of our future.”

Dan Glass, another defendant in the case, said:

“This ruling won’t stop emissions. But the huge support we have received from the people of Nottingham and internationally, does demonstrate that public opinion is increasingly turning against the liberties that governments are taking with our future.”

The court had earlier heard that a team of protesters would have pressed the emergency stop buttons on the coal conveyors which feed the boilers, while another team would have climbed the inside of the chimney before abseiling into the flues to prevent the plant re-opening for a week, saving 150,000 tonnes of CO2. Six defendants took to the witness stand. One, Ben Stewart, told the jury: “we did this to save human lives. I can’t tell you if the lives we would have saved would have been my relatives or your relatives, but they would have been somebody’s relatives.” All defendants spoke of huge amount of community engagement they have carried out to raise the issue of action on climate change, whilst still seeing emissions continuing to rise unabated.

The defendants also called a number of internationally renowned expert witnesses. They included Professor James Hansen, acclaimed as the world’s leading climate scientist. He told the jury: “It doesn’t surprise me that young people are angry when they know that politicians are lying to them.” When challenged by the judge as to the measurable effects of the defendants’ proposed action, Hansen noted that the action could have prevented one, if not more, species from becoming extinct. Dr Ian Roberts, Professor of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Medicine detailed to the court the real and imminent threat to health posed by climate change, saying we risk a ‘generational genocide’ as we ‘sleep walk into a nightmare’. Dr Roberts told the court that at least 150,000 people a year were dying as a result of man-made climate change.

Former local MP Alan Simpson also appeared as a witness for the defence. In his written testimony he said: ‘Climate Change protestors are in my view absolutely right to argue that we cannot continue with a ‘business as usual’ approach to UK carbon emissions without threatening the very prospects of existence for future generations.’ Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP told the court politicians had failed in their duty to protect the public from climate change.

For more, contact +44 (0)7834324840

Notes:

The conspiracy to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in April 2009 is different from the [Great Climate Swoop of October 2009] (http://climatecamp.org.uk/actions/climate-swoop-2009)

Statement from the defendants

As the UN climate talks finish in Cancun, and fail once again to come up with any legally binding framework to reduce emissions, the British legal system is still upholding business as usual. This can’t continue. Burning coal has no future.

We are twenty of the 114 who were targets of the biggest pre-emptive arrest in UK history, as part of the increasing drive to stifle real action on climate change. We planned not only to stop carbon emissions from Ratcliffe but to be part of a much wider movement for global social justice. Dealing with climate change means looking at its root causes and we need to question why the profits of corporations such as e.on are being prioritised over people on the front line of our changing climate and the protection of our children’s futures.

In the 3 weeks we’ve been on trial over 17,000 people have died from the effects of climate change, species have continued to disappear and a few energy CEOs have continued to line their pockets. It’s the poorest and most vulnerable communities, those least responsible for this crisis, who are being hit the hardest.

Taking action on climate change is not an act of moral righteousness, but of self-defence. History is full of ordinary people who have acted to protect their fundamental rights and we need a strong movement of people doing just that. We want to reiterate our support for everyone fighting for climate justice.

International headlines

BBC

Copenhagen police detained climate protesters illegally

The Guardian

Danish police ordered to pay protesters compensation for 'illegal' arrests

Washington Post

Danish police ordered to pay over summit arrests

The Swedish Wire

Police illegally arrested 250 climate protesters

AP

Danish police to pay over summit arrests

Reuters

Danish court rules climate summit arrests illegal

Politiken

Mass COP15 arrests deemed illegal
Justice minister to explain police incitement