June 18
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About June 18 But Were Afraid To Ask
Your Earth First! Action Update Souvenir Guide
Erm, what IS June 18th?
It’s a day of “protest, action and carnival in financial centres across the globe”, recognising that “capitalism is at the heart of our ecological and social problems” In the UK we are targeting the City of London.
What is the City of London?
It's not the whole of London, but the financial centre which is about 4 square milles. For a map, check out the website on www.j18.org !
I don’t live near London. Do I have to go all that way to get involved beforehand?
No you don’t. Many local groups are having meetings, organising actions, support and providing transport for the day:
Bristol - Kebele - 0117 9399469
Brighton - SDEF! - 01273 698192 - brightonj18@lycosmail.com
Hull - Hull on Earth - c/o PO Box 43, Hull, HU1 1AA
Lancaster - J18 group - lancaster-j18@joymail.com
Leeds - Leeds EF! - 0113 2629365
Liverpool - L’pool EF! - 0151 7271611
Liverpool - Resistance & Liberty Hall - 0151 7269752 - resistance@dial.pipex.com
Manchester - J18 group - 0161 2266814
Newcastle TAPP - c/o PO Box 1TA Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 1TA
Norfolk - Norfolk EF! - 01603 629482
Nottingham - Notts EF! - 0115 9585666
Oxford - Corporate Watch - 01865 791391
Sheffield - J18 group - 0114 2584405
Stoke on Trent - Planet Sound Community arts - PSound414@aol.com
Sunderland - J18 Group - 0191 5529232
Winchester - J18 Group - 01962 889409 - a.wallice@wkac.ac.uk
Scotland
Edinburgh - Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh... - 0113 5576242 - ace@punk.org.uk
Glasgow - Faslane Peacecamp - 01436 820901
Wales
Cardiff - J18 group - efmaxmania@hotmail.com
I think economic inequality is hideous, but my main focus is animal rights/genetics/arms trade. Is June 18th about these things?
YES! As London Animal Action state “animal abuse is as transnational as capital” and that goes for genetics and the arms trade and everything else too. For specific focus info/leaflets etc:
animal rights: 0171 2783068 - laa@globalnet.co.uk
genetics: 0181 3749516 - genetics@gn.apc.org
arms trade: (+44) 0171 2810297 - admin@caat.demon.co.uk
I’ve already booked my holiday abroad. Does this mean I’ll miss out on bringing down global capitalism?
No, not if your holiday is in one of the (to-date) 30 or more countries that are involved in June 18th actions. Check out the website www.j18.org for international contacts, get international leaflets from London RTS or subscribe to the international j18 email list.
send an email to listproc@gn.apc.org with : subscribe
J18DISCUSSION your email address.
My mate/grandmother/cat has another action on June 18th and can’t make it. She feels very left out. Are there any goodies I can give her?
Oh yes. Nobody has to go away empty handed. She can decorate nearby walls with flyposters and stickers, watch the promotional video with her activist group and there are general leaflets available from local groups and from Corporate Watch and London RTS. AND DON’T HESITATE TO PRODUCE YOUR OWN!!!
For stickers and posters: London RTS 0171 2814621
For resource packs (inc. a guide to the city with map and timetable) j18info/ Corporate Watch 01865 791391
For video: free IF showing to groups and at meetings. send jiffy bag with enough stamps (in UK 83p) to RTS: PO Box 9656, London N4 4JY.
For real people to do talks/workshops: see local groups or RTS
Might we not get in trouble with the law with all this?
The Legal Defence & Monitoring Group will be monitoring on June 18th with Legal Observers on the streets (more of which are desperately needed!), providing a 24hr phone support line on the 18th & 19th and organising a defendants meeting on the 19th. Support of those arrested will be unconditional. As this is a global event it is important to offer solidarity to those on other shores as well as in our own prisons and courts. Although there will be legal observers on the streets, it is still our individual and collective responsibility to look out for each other’s liberty and well-being, e.g de-arresting people. Also local groups have often organised their own legal support and defendants group, so check this out. This is really important, so get involved! Ring 0181 3745027 for more details.
My group hasn’t organised an action. Is there any point coming?
YES!! Firstly, there’s still plenty of time to get something together. For information for action order your resource pack from J18Info at Corporate Watch. 01865 791391. But even if you don’t have an action planned, there is to be a massive Reclaim the Streets carnival at 12 noon, meeting at Liverpool St Station.
I can’t cope with the heavy traffic on the j18discussion email list - I'm an asthmatic. Does that mean i can’t keep in touch via cyberspace?
Not any more! There is the j18 London email list which is much lighter and free from the pollutions of debate into ‘pork monopolies in China’ and the like. This can be subscribed to by sending an email to listproc@envirolink.org with SUBSCRIBE J18-london [your email address]
Is there anywhere safe I can lock up my bike? Or is the City full of ruffians?
Why not bring it with you? There is a critical mass at the ungodly hour of 7am to spread goodwill amongst car-commuters. Meet West Smithfield, EC1 (near City Thameslink & Farringdon rail stations)
Can someone record the Archers for me?
You’ll have to sort that out yourself I'm afraid but talking of radio... there is an internet radio project planned so send any programming you would like to see aired: rants, skits, music, events etc to:
capitalism sux! Box 6, Greenleaf, 82 Colston St, Bristol, BS1 5BB
(preferably digital - DAT, CD, MD but tapes will do)
email: capitalismsux@hotmail.com tel: 07788 491899
Is it true that the City of London is difficult to get into? And are there special police powers within the square mile?
Unfortunately yes. The eight major access points to the City are now policed by officers and an extensive closed circuit television system, monitored 24 hours a day at the control room at Wood Street police building. Each entry point also houses two cameras, recording the occupants and registration number of the vehicle. The registration number is then fed via an automatic number plate reader to three police databases to check their validity. From point of entry, a lost or stolen vehicle can be identified within four seconds.
With a heightened security alert, the City of London Police have the authority to organise random armed road blocks where specially trained armed officers will stop and search vehicles. In the event of an emergency, police may also set up pedestrian cordons in the City.
To prevent disruption to financial and business activities, "business continuity teams" are allowed through the cordon to carry on work, equipped with safety clothing and equipment.
For this purpose, the Corporation of London keeps a database of key personnel. Companies with CCTV are encouraged to share cameras with neighbouring organisations and the police. As of May 1997, there are 1280 cameras in operation here.
There are 850 or more Police officers, and about 350 civilian support officers, active in the Square Mile. Currently the City is divided into two territorial divisions, Snow Hill and Bishopsgate. Both these stations are fully operational and open 24 hours a day. The City of London Police force's headquarters is at Old Jewry. The Specialist Crime and Operational Support departments operate from the Wood Street police building.
Thanks to this high police surveillance, dodgy looking characters are likely to be stopped at the borders on June 18th, whereas those who look like they work in the City stand more chance of getting in.
Since my wages were cut I have been unable to afford the rent on my London flat. This means I have nowhere to stay the night before.Can you help?
If you need somewhere to stay on the 17th or on the 18th or both then fill in this handy form and return it to: J18 info, Box E, 111 Magdalen Rd, Oxford OX4 1RQ. [Breakfast not included.]
Accommodation needed for .......... people, coming from..................................... For June 17th June 18th Both (please ring)
We would like to stay together in groups of............................
(obviously smaller groups are easier to house but affinity groups that want to be together can be accommodated)
Contact name/number/details where we can confirm it’s sorted:
.................................
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