Lambeth’s attempts to close Carnegie library at 6pm tonight have been thwarted by a peaceful occupation by campaigners who are opposed to the council’s crazed ‘book-ish gyms’ scheme.
A press release by the library campaigners explained the action:
Carnegie library users thwart Lambeth council closure plans
Lambeth council had planned to lock the doors of Carnegie Library to the public at 6.00.pm on Thursday night. Instead library users refused to leave and vowed to keep the library in the hands of the community.
A spokesperson for the stay-in protesters said “This is not Lambeth Council’s library to close after 110 years, it belongs to the locality. We are staying here to publicise just what Lambeth’s Labour council is doing to our local libraries – ripping the heart out of them to turn them into unwanted gyms.”
Protesters have already festooned the Carnegie library with posters and banners showing the community will resist shutting our library. The aim is to turn the user controlled Carnegie library into a beacon of resistance to library cuts and closures across Lambeth and the country.
Here’s some photos taken up to the announcement of the occupation at 6pm, when the 110-year old library was due to close for good.
Fwd: Forward - can you get anyone down to needs support - this is estate in roehampton- Alton parents have occupied their children's Activity Centre in Ellisfield Drive. Please visit, publicise and support. Contact Zahra Ali 07897509890. Norman MacLean, Wands Anti-Austerity
Image copyrightEPAImage captionThe protests were the biggest in Hungary for two years
Tens of thousands of people joined striking Hungarian teachers in the capital Budapest to demonstrate against the government's education policies.
It was the biggest anti-government rally for two years.
The protesters are demanding an end to the centralisation of education, more curriculum choice for schools, better conditions for teachers and fairer pay.
The latest opinion poll suggests strong support for the teachers, even among voters of the governing Fidesz party.
The government, in power since 2010, has pledged to address some of the teachers' main concerns, including the centralisation question and increased bureaucracy.
Image copyrightEPAImage captionProtesters argue that the government's reforms over-centralise the education system, making it more bureaucraticImage copyrightEPAImage captionThe protesters say they will hold another one-hour demonstration on 30 March if their demands are not met
Head teacher Istvan Pukli told a crowd outside parliament that the strikes would continue until "this government understands that it cannot go against the country".
He urged "everyone who is interested in the future of their children'" to support the protests.
Another one-hour demonstration is planned for 30 March unless the government makes concessions.
The last time such large numbers of people took to the streets of Budapest was inNovember 2014 when scores of protesters denounced Prime Minister Viktor Orban for allegedly employing corrupt officials and being too close to Russia.
Image copyrightThinkstockImage captionHundreds of libraries have closed across the UK
Almost 8,000 jobs in UK libraries have disappeared in six years, about a quarter of the overall total, an investigation by the BBC has revealed.
Over the same period, some 15,500 volunteers have been recruited and 343 libraries have closed, leading to fears over the future of the profession.
Children's author Alan Gibbons said the public library service faced the "greatest crisis in its history".
The government said it funded the roll-out of wi-fi to help libraries adapt.
The BBC has compiled data from 207 authorities responsible for running libraries through the Freedom of Information Act. Our analysis shows:
Some 343 libraries closed. Of those, 132 were mobile services, while 207 were based in buildings (and there were four others, such as home delivery services)
The number of closures in England is higher than the government's official estimate of 110 buildings shut
A further 111 closures are planned this year
The number of paid staff in libraries fell from 31,977 in 2010 to 24,044 now, a drop of 7,933 (25%) for the 182 libraries that provided comparable data
A further 174 libraries have been transferred to community groups, while 50 have been handed to external organisations to run. In some areas, such as Lincolnshire and Surrey, the move has led to legal challenges and protests from residents.
Regulatory cooperation under the proposed EU-US trade deal (TTIP) will strengthen corporate lobbyists’ hand in attacking public interest legislation and curb the power of elected politicians according to a report released today.
David Cameron’s compassionate Conservatism was declared “dead on arrival” today after figures showed a sharp rise in homeless families.
The number of people forced to live in emergency B&B accommodation and hostels has increased by 103% since the Tories came to power in 2010.
And the number of homeless households rose from 41,780 in 2009 to 56,500 last year – an increase of 35%.
The number of homeless is up 35% since 2010
The Department for Communities figures also showed a rise in the number of homeless families with children, up 42% in the last five years to 41,020, and disabled homeless which was up 39% since 2010.
The number living in temporary accommodation rose to 69,140 in December 2015 – 14% higher than in 2014 and a staggering 103% higher than in 2010.
Labour’s shadow Housing minister John Healey said the figures showed Mr Cameron’s compassionate Conservatism was “dead on arrival.”
Dollis Valley Resist squatted Community Centre grand opening ! Come over from 2PM on for free coffee/tea/cake and activist projects against gentrification - 35 Dollis Valley Way, near High Barnet station, quite far away but damn worth the ride
A leading charity has blamed “short-sighted welfare cuts and a severe housing shortage” for soaring levels of homelessness in England, after new official figures revealed that the number of homeless households has risen by 33 percent in the last five years.
Official government statistics show the number of families accepted as homeless by councils has increased by 42 percent over the last five years, while the total number of homeless households increased by 33 percent to 56,500 over the same period.
Image via @FrackOff – Another US Fracking Company is to pay out millions in compensation 24/03/2016 Full link: http://frack-off.org.uk/social-media-post/thousands-of-cases-of-fracking-related-water-contamination-across-the-u-s/
By Kam Sandhu @KamBass
There has been a distinct lack of debate on fracking, with the government using means to bypass usual protections and permissions to push aggresively ahead with this controversial energy source. Wherever you sit on the debate, the following points highlight that the fracking industry and government is unconcerned with widespread public opposition, and will undermine and override laws to plough ahead with it’s aim to establish shale gas within a decade. Despite this (ab)use of power, local fracking campaigns and communities continue to fight their corner. You can listen to our recent podcast on the successes of FrackFree Lancs here.
Ignoring or bypassing requirements for public consultation
In January 2014, Ministers ‘rushed through’ legislation so that homeowners would no longer need to be individually notified when companies decided to frack under their homes.
It was a Lords committee that ruled the policy had not been “adequately thought through”and was not given the appropriate scrutiny nor consultation.
In fact, the government only had a consultation process of 6 weeks – half the time needed according to the government’s own guidelines for ‘new and contentious’ policies such as fracking.
Following this, planning ministers ‘laid’ the order for the changes on December 20, while MPs were on Christmas holiday, with the policy enacted a week after their return on 13 January, leaving ‘scant opportunity’ for scrutiny.
The Hive Dalston, on Kingsland Road. Image: Google Streetview.
Nestled among the trendy bars and restaurants of Hackney’s Kingsland Road lies an ugly, unassuming office block. Despite its looming facade you could be forgiven for missing it entirely.
And yet inside, late on a Thursday night, the four-story building is a throng of activity. Its occupants are not overzealous executives, but members of a local community group.
The Hive Dalston – Human Interest Versatile Environment – was set up to transform the block, which until last May lay empty for eight years. Founder Gee Sinah persuaded the building’s developer to allow the space to be temporarily used for free: “We opened about three weeks later on a budget of £250, with everything either made out of pallets or carried up the stairs – stuff that was either donated or found.”
It has since hosted a wide array of events: from gigs to charity fundraisers, dance performances and language classes – even two tribal ceremonies. Besides a main stage, the space now boasts a cafe, art gallery, training facilities and a recording studio. The Hive also hosts start-ups and social enterprises.
Hi folks time for a Tribal regathering,really hope we will see you at the Evolution cabaret this Friday, March 25th 7pm-2am at the Hive Dalston 260 Kingsland Rd E8 4 DG,(Dalston Kingsland overland turn right 10 min walk,as Haggerston is closed buses 67,149,242,243 stop outside) we have an amazing night of top festival DJs, belly dance bands, magicians and musicians.Multi media projections,chill out space,time for Solutions theme.
Fancy dress for time travel.
A night not to be missed check evolution cabaret time for solutions on Facebook
The Hive Dalston is pleased to invite you to a free screening of the critically acclaimed film RETURN TO HOMS, which follows the stories of two young Syrian men as their country descends into civil war. The film will be followed by a small discussion with Abdulaziz Almashi, cofounder of the Syria Solidarity Campaign. When: Tue 22 March 2016 at 8pm. Where: The Hive Dalston, 260-264 Kingsland Rd, London, E8 4DG (Closest station Haggerston). NETWORK IT!!
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Our clients include: Age UK, The BBC, Diageo, London School of Economics, NHS South Central Trust, Save the Children, Tesla, Wates Group.
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