What's happening?

On the 1^st April, 2012, hundreds of people will peacefully occupy Newcastle harbour and prevent the passage of coal ships. This will be the seventh action of its kind in Newcastle. In March 2011 (and many times before), we have successfully stopped all ship movements in the harbour for the entire day. There'll be plenty happening on the shore too, so please come along and show your support. Some kayaks will be available to borrow, but please BYO kayak or creative floating vessel if you can! Good food will be available by donation.

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Activists are occupying a farmhouse close to Hinkley Point nuclear power station, to stop EDF Energy trashing land for a planned new nuclear power station; and are calling for more people to join them. Anti-nuclear campaigners have been joined by members of Seize the Day as the first residents of Edf-Off Cottage which is on the 400-acre site earmarked for two new mega-reactors. Following an occupation of trees last week, the campaign against Hinkley C power station being built on fragile coastal land has now moved to a nearby farmhouse.

The Energy "White" Paper outlines the Government's plans to further expand fossil fuel extraction (both domestically and for exports) at the expense of renewables.

In sum, it has the black fingerprints of the coal industry all over it and does not reflect what Australians want our energy future to look like. 

Please tell Martin Ferguson to scrap it and write a new Energy White Paper that outlines a pathway towards renewable energy.

Visit blackfingerprints.org.au to find a template letter, which you can submit as is, modify or rewrite entirely.

Every voice counts!

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The Upper Street Shell garage in Islington was closed by activists for over an hour. while a samba band played, loads of leaflets were handed out. many passing motorists hooted support and cyclists often cheered.

This was the third London action under the #occupyoil banner on the day, following on from a morning blockade of a garage in Belgravia, and a small protest outside the Nigerian High Commission at midday.

This is an important opportunity to show community opposition to the destruction posed by coal expansion in the Hunter Valley. Please help promote this event and bring your friends and family along!

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We believe that the war for resources that has plagued us for many years, is forcing us to the point of near destruction. The pursuit of oil and minerals in Africa by the 1% has resulted in millions being murdered, raped or displaced.

Africa is plagued with civil war, poverty and starvation. The Middle East is at the point of all out war. The ruling elites are on the verge of attacking Iran. The global economy is eating itself alive. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, since 1997, 8 million people have lost their lives in a civil war, manipulated by those who would seek to gain the most from this resource rich country. The African people, in Nigeria, the DRC, Libya, Uganda and elsewhere, will pay dearly for the materialism of the West.

in many years of independent reporting, i've often seen situations where police have caused larger disruption than a handfull of protestors, closing roads, sometimes closing down businesses, and sometimes massively amplifying the power of the protestors alone (not that that's their intention). however, this evening was, i think, the first time that they so completely did the job of the activists for them, that the campaigners could sit in a nice warm pub and toast the met, instead of standing around in the cold themselves.

News from our friends at Stop New Nuclear (for more info check out http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk/).

FUKUSHIMA: The biggest industrial disaster in history. Japan, has been brought to its knees by the ongoing events at Fukushima.

The reactors that went into meltdown in March have now melted through the foundations and 40 years of accumulated nuclear waste is emitting vast amounts of radiation, contaminating the land, sea and air. In desperation, the Japanese government is transporting and burning radioactive rubble all over Japan and exporting highly contaminated food as “aid” to developing countries. Men, women and children are living in highly radioactive areas but they are not being evacuated as they should be. This intense radiation exposure has very serious health consequences for these people.