News In Brief
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On 7th May, under a blanket of gray haze, drivers from more than 10 unions drive slowly, clogging downtown Hong Kong traffic to demand more government help for them to cut air pollution. The nearly 30 protesters, in about 20 taxis, trucks, minibuses and tour buses, took about an hour to drive 2.8 miles through the business district, slowing the late morning traffic.
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Primal Seeds have produced a complete list of all GE test sites for this Spring. It includes farm scale and small scale trials, plus grid refs, addresses and info on crops being tested this will be regularly updated on the website http://www.primalseeds.org/testsite.htm. If anyone can help with addresses of remaining sites get in touch.
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On 7th May, after an organic picnic, 200 people in Franc-Waret, South Belgium, walked joyfully to Monsanto's experimental farm where they entered the fields and destroyed several parcels of maize and canola while a rock band played on a truck behind.
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On May 19, hundreds of Indonesians protested against nine factories in Surabaya, accusing them of dumping toxic waste in a nearby river - the main water supply. They blocked over 8,000 workers from entering the factories, which produce detergent, colouring products etc.. Hundreds of riot police stood by.
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On the same day, over a thousand workers from PT Freeport were blocked from their office by a group of 50. They were protesting the mining company's environmental record, notably at its massive Grasberg copper and gold mine in Irian Jaya.
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Action against the Toll Motorway (ATOM) are planning a series of picnics on the route of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road, beginning on Saturday July 1st. A high turnout would boost the campaign and show Midland Expressway and the Highways Agency that protesters still mean business. There'll be football, cricket, music and all the usual banners etc. Contact: AtoM 07818 687742.
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Solidari@s con Itoiz held an international gathering in the Basque Country over the 12 - 14 May in protest at the destructive and illegal Itoiz dam project and in solidarity with the eight solidari@s who are facing nearly five years in prison for their part in the action which stopped the project for eight months. People came from all over Europe to take part in a demonstration and a weekend of events, learning more about each others common struggles and our links across the globe. The SOS Itoiz tour of Europe will come to its conclusion soon - messages of solidarity can be sent to solidia.
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On 5th May, the 4th anniversary of the Pure Genius land occupation , a peaceful pavement protest took place at the site entrance. This was a protest at the Wandsworth council's go-ahead for five new tower blocks, as if any more were needed.