The man who changed Iceland - the message for Greece.

The people of Iceland removed their government,put some leaders in prison,fought corruption,kicked out the IMF and wrote off the false debt loans that the central banking system had imposed on them.
This Revolution in Iceland has been very under reported in the main stream media,they wouldn't want it catching on.do some research check the Iceland revolution much is to be learned from these brave people.

Barbara visits Runnymede Eco village and gives elders support

Saturday at the Runnymede Eco village we have discussions on land rights and civil liberties at the Runnymede memorial around 1pm. Afterwards there are a variety of workshops on Permaculture,wild food foraging,Long house creation and any skill anyone wants to share.With some acoustic music in the evening ,bring an instrument.
This week there was a family atmosphere with children and older folk visiting to see the garden and longhouse, as well as a tour of the massive empty Runnymede  campus.
Barbara an elder who lives nearby gave the place a thumbs up and wished us luck in the campaign for disused land to grow food and create low impact homes.
We discussed over tea in the longhouse the War years campaign to 'dig in for victory',and the need to reduce shipping in food from across the world with air miles of pollution ,when we could be growing locally.
It was good to see 3 generations together at the village.Some women who had been camped at St pauls occupy london also said they would come and camp for 2 weeks.Its good to see the campaign growing.
Help and support needed especially from experienced activists.Bring what u expect to find:tent bowl spoon,tools,weather proofs,torch,climbing gear,rope and of course cake to the frontline.
Dig in for victory we hope to see many more campers as the weather improves.
NOW is the time to stand up for your land rights.
www.diggers2012.wordpress.com

Squatting law update as of July 11th 2012

Squatting law update as of July 11th 2012

1. Don't panic, Squatting is not illegal yet. Section 6 rights still apply.
2. You're not alone; there are thousands (estimated 20-50,000} squatters in residential properties; this will make the new law very hard to enforce and potentially unworkable.
3. In Holland, anti squatting legislation was successfully challenged under the European Human Rights Legislation. In the UK, legal experts are already building a case to challenge this legislation.
4. In the governments consultation, 96% of people said they didn't want any criminalisaation including the Metropolitan Police, Judges and the Law Society. Criminalising squatting in residential properties is not popular legislation, it has and will continue to come under attack from all sections of society.
5. The police and bailiffs may act as if the law has already come into force. It has not. If police/bailiffs attempt to unlawfully evict, threaten legal action, take their details and contact ASS in relation to making a complaint.
6. The commencement order has not been made, meaning we don't know yet when the law will take effect although we can expect it will be sometime around September.
7. The new law: Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Section 144 Offence of squatting in a residential building The new law makes it a crime where:
• You trespass in a residential building, and
• You entered the building as a trespasser (rather than e.g. by invitation), and
• You know or ‘ought to know’ that you are a trespasser, and
• You are living in the building or intend to live there (for any length of time)
It is not a crime to remain in a building after the end of a lease or licence, even if you leave and re-enter the building.
The law only applies to 'residential buildings.' A building is “residential” if it is designed or adapted, before the time of entry, for use as a place to live - in other words if commercial premises are squatted and turned into residential premises by the squatter, the law won't apply.
It is not clear whether a residential part of a pub (for example) would therefore count as a “building” but it would be safest not to live in that bit (just use it for other things)."
Penalty - If convicted of this offence by the court, the maximum penalty is
imprisonment for 51 weeks or a fine not more than £5,000 or both a fine and imprisonment. Police powers - Police can enter and search squatted premises to arrest a person for squatting.

Be prepared for when this legislation comes into force. We need to work as a community to fight this. This law will be resisted all the way. Together, we will show this law is unworkable by building networks of solidarity, having regular meetings, meals, socials, football games, parties. Turning up to eviction resistances, networking with other housing groups and local communities.
Tell SQUASH and ASS and other groups about positive squatting case studies, illegal evictions by police and bailiffs and other information that would be useful for media and court cases. Filming can help.
Timeline: In May the Queen gave Royal Assent, therefore law is now on the statute books; the law is not in force until a commencement date has been set.
From now onwards guidance will be written for the police and other authorities on how to put the law into practice. There may be opportunities to influence this guidance. There will also be the possibility of challenges to the legality of the new law and any guidance. When the law comes into effect these challenges will have to be continued and stepped up. We will start to understand better how the law will work in practice and so be able to develop better strategies to work around it."
September onwards: Prosecution cases will start to define how these cases are handled by the courts, eg setting precedents, punishments, evidence. There may be opportunities to repeal Section 144 of LASPO.

For more and updated info check
1) SQUASH – Squatters Action for Secure Homes www.squashcampaign.org
Provide positive case studies and support when dealing with the media.
2) Advisory Service for Squatters (A.S.S) www.squatter.org.uk
Legal and practical advice and support, including help with court papers and dealing with illegal evictions.
3)Squatters Legal Network sln@aktivix Assisting with legal cases, arrestee support
4) Squatters Eviction Resistance Network: evictionresistance@squat.net 07591 415860 Support and advice before, during and after an eviction attempt.


The government said that it would not bring in any new laws to unnecessarily criminalise people, yet they are criminalising the homeless in the middle of a housing crisis, which makes this law unjust and unworkable. The whole process has completely bypassed any kind of democracy. It will cost the government an estimated £790 million in the first 5 years to implement even though the aim was to cut Legal Aid expenditure by £350 million a year. This new law will be difficult to interpret and enforce, taking up massive amounts of police time.
Whatever they say, squatting will stay!

After 800 years, the barons are back in control of Britain - Excellent article in the Guardian by George Monbiot

King John, surrounded by English barons, ratifying the Magna Carta at Runnymede. Photograph: Time Life Pictures/Getty Image http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/16/barons-in-control-of-britain?CMP=twt_fd Hounded by police and bailiffs, evicted wherever they stopped, they did not mean to settle here. They had walked out of London to occupy disused farmland on the Queen's estates surrounding Windsor Castle. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that didn't work out very well. But after several days of pursuit, they landed two fields away from the place where modern democracy is commonly supposed to have been born. At first this group of mostly young, dispossessed people, who (after the 17th century revolutionaries) call themselves Diggers 2012, camped on the old rugby pitch of Brunel University's Runnymede campus. It's a weed-choked complex of grand old buildings and modern halls of residence, whose mildewed curtains flap in the wind behind open windows, all mysteriously abandoned as if struck by a plague or a neutron bomb. The diggers were evicted again, and moved down the hill into the woods behind the campus – pressed, as if by the ineluctable force of history, ever closer to the symbolic spot. From the meeting house they have built and their cluster of tents, you can see across the meadows to where the Magna Carta was sealed almost 800 years ago. Their aim is simple: to remove themselves from the corporate economy, to house themselves, grow food and build a community on abandoned land. Implementation is less simple. Soon after I arrived, on a sodden day last week, an enforcer working for the company which now owns the land came slithering through the mud in his suit and patent leather shoes with a posse of police, to serve papers. Already the crops the settlers had planted had been destroyed once; the day after my visit they were destroyed again. But the repeated destruction, removals and arrests have not deterred them. As one of their number, Gareth Newnham, told me: "If we go to prison we'll just come back … I'm not saying that this is the only way. But at least we're creating an opportunity for young people to step out of the system." To be young in the post-industrial nations today is to be excluded. Excluded from the comforts enjoyed by preceding generations; excluded from jobs; excluded from hopes of a better world; excluded from self-ownership. Those with degrees are owned by the banks before they leave college. Housing benefit is being choked off. Landlords now demand rents so high that only those with the better jobs can pay. Work has been sliced up and outsourced into a series of mindless repetitive tasks, whose practitioners are interchangeable. Through globalisation and standardisation, through unemployment and the erosion of collective bargaining and employment laws, big business now asserts a control over its workforce almost unprecedented in the age of universal suffrage. The promise the old hold out to the young is a lifetime of rent, debt and insecurity. A rentier class holds the nation's children to ransom. Faced with these conditions, who can blame people for seeking an alternative? But the alternatives have also been shut down: you are excluded yet you cannot opt out. The land – even disused land – is guarded as fiercely as the rest of the economy. Its ownership is scarcely less concentrated than it was when the Magna Carta was written. But today there is no Charter of the Forest (the document appended to the Magna Carta in 1217, granting the common people rights to use the royal estates). As Simon Moore, an articulate, well-read 27-year-old, explained, "those who control the land have enjoyed massive economic and political privileges. The relationship between land and democracy is a strong one, which is not widely understood." As we sat in the wooden house the diggers have built, listening to the rain dripping from the eaves, the latest attempt to reform the House of Lords was collapsing in parliament. Almost 800 years after the Magna Carta was approved, unrepresentative power of the kind familiar to King John and his barons still holds sway. Even in the House of Commons, most seats are pocket boroughs, controlled by those who fund the major parties and establish the limits of political action. Through such ancient powers, our illegitimate rulers sustain a system of ancient injustices, which curtail alternatives and lock the poor into rent and debt. This spring, the government dropped a clause into an unrelated bill so late that it could not be properly scrutinised by the House of Commons, criminalising the squatting of abandoned residential buildings. The House of Lords, among whom the landowning class is still well-represented, approved the measure. Thousands of people who have solved their own housing crises will now be evicted, just as housing benefit payments are being cut back. I remember a political postcard from the early 1990s titled "Britain in 2020", which depicted the police rounding up some scruffy-looking people with the words, "you're under arrest for not owning or renting property". It was funny then; it's less funny today. The young men and women camping at Runnymede are trying to revive a different tradition, largely forgotten in the new age of robber barons. They are seeking, in the words of the Diggers of 1649, to make "the Earth a common treasury for all … not one lording over another, but all looking upon each other as equals in the creation". The tradition of resistance, the assertion of independence from the laws devised to protect the landlords' ill-gotten property, long pre-date and long post-date the Magna Carta. But today they scarcely feature in national consciousness. I set off in lashing rain to catch a train home from Egham, on the other side of the hill. As I walked into the town, I found the pavements packed with people. The rain bounced off their umbrellas, forming a silver mist. The front passed and the sun came out, and a few minutes later everyone began to cheer and wave their flags as the Olympic torch was carried down the road. The sense of common purpose was tangible, the readiness for sacrifice (in the form of a thorough soaking) just as evident. Half of what we need is here already. Now how do we recruit it to the fight for democracy? Twitter: @GeorgeMonbiot

This is Our Time - Costas Douzinas at the 12M Tent City University St pauls London

A message from the Greek uprising.From the taking of 60 public squares that gave the people a chance to meet in the open and have discussionsand debates.That raised the curent situation and how we create a better future out of the crisis we find ourselves in.The European spring under way,the recent mass demos around the world from Germany to Canada and Mexico show the people are on the move ,filling the streets and demanding change in the unsustainable and undemocratic corporate system that has eroded our civil liberties and democratic rights.

Squattastic meeting today.Resist the new laws criminalising the homless and squatters.

Headed to squattastic today 2-6pm calling all squatters and supporters to resist the new homeless/squatter criminalisation laws. http://www.squattastic.blogspot.co.uk/

Diggers Camp Eviction Resisted Epic Bambuser Video

A great day resisting the 3rd eviction attempt.The baliff turned up with 3 yellow jacketed security and the 3 on site security carrying an axe to demolish the Saxon replica longhouse.Escorted by 2 police.After a prolonged delaying tactic of doing the washing up one brave digger climbed into the rafters.Shortly followed by another climbing through the trees into the cross beams. This tactic led to a 2 hour stand off with the inexperienced bailiff and security being told they could not knock down the structure with people on it and they would have to get more 'troops' and a professional climbing team.The police stood by and watched bemusedly occasionaly asking us to come down. Once they mentioned 'breach of the peace' but were told in no uncertain terms 3 times,we are very peacefull people there is NO breach of the peace here.After a couple of hours of frontline comedy banter and a few singings of the Diggers song.The forces of yellow beat a hasty retreat around 7.30pm 3 hours after they arrived.The forces of babylon do not like trying to evict after dark and we descended to make tea and contnue coooking dinner. Viva the resistance dig in for victory you Cant kill the spirit.The bailiff said they would take up to 2 weeks to add a criminal sanction on to what is still a civil dispute betweeen the landowner and the Diggers. Together we are challenging the monopoly of the land owning 1% and the banksters who are holding the country to ransom.(£465 billion they got while we have all our public services,community centres,hospitals,schools cut) The camp reminds me of some of the hey days of the road protest movement of the 90's that helped in some way to seed the 'Climate camp' and 'Occupy Movements' Land distribution and growing food locally is a key point in the quest for sustainability and a peacefull future.As we are in the age of peek oil we need to Dig in for victory as in the war years ,grow locally rather than shipping food from round the planet. As a Kenyan woman put it at the Copenhagen Climate Summit: we want food sovereignty in our own country. Land and freedom. Hope to see you soon at Runnymede a place that has inspired the world,from the days of the Magna Carta to the present day.It is a place for people to gather and demand that our in-alienable rights are upheld.That arbitrary and unjust laws are not enforced.(Ref new criminalising homless/squatting in residential buildings being attempted to be enforced from September)This draconian law will be resisted in many ways. Keep networking 'other worlds are possible'. Come visit more info at www.diggers2012.wordpress.com facebook 'make the waste land grow' or 'diggers 2012' twitter @freetheland or #diggers2012 More bambuser videos viewable below link above.

Sunday at Runnymede Eco village check this Bambuser link for latest videos.

NEWSFLASH DIGGERS face eviction within 24 hours time to go down and support the ongoing action to Reclaim the disused land to grow food and create low impact homes. Sunday at Runnymede Eco village check this Bambuser link for latest videos.

http://occupynewsnetwork.co.uk/ For the latest from the folks at Occupy,seems to have its finger on the pulse with reports coming in from across the world from Saudi Arabia to Spain from Windsor to Bahrain. Dont hate the media be the media as we say at Indymedia. 95% of our mainstream media oulets are owned by just 5 mega companies.Its very important to search far and wide across the net to try and get a balanced view in these times of media manipulation,lies and propaganda.It will be intresting to see the Occupy News Network evolve,get involved send in articles become a citizen journalist for your area.Keep networking for a brighter future.

Solution Zone...Phoenix Interviews Trevor Baylis Inventor of the wind up radio

Back in 2010 a very early proto type,Solutions Zone TV trial interview with the incredible Trevor Baylis Inventor of the wind up radio,wind up computer and supporter of many new inventors.
This incredible man has a long history,he used to be a circus performer and escapologist.Performing the famous Houdini trick of escaping from a straight jacket and chains while suspended upside down in a glass water cabinet.
He has featured on many TV shows,we spent a very intresting afternoon at his home on Eel Pie Island,discussing inventions and Solutions.He even offered us a space at his place for a Solutions Zone studio space to do interviews,with a backdrop of the Thames.
Eel pie island was very famous in the 60s and 70s as a home for the alternative movement,many famous bands such as the Rolling Stones played there. NB Apologies for the rough edit.

Mexico Now - "The largest public protests, rallies and demonstrations that the world has ever seen are happening right now - with almost no media coverage.

"The largest public protests, rallies and demonstrations that the world has ever seen are happening right now - with almost no media coverage. Not only is ... there a blackout on these events in the media, but YouTube is frequently removing footage of these mass rallies and events when requested to do so by governments: 'Google, the owner of YouTube, has complied with the majority of requests from governments, particularly in the United States and the UK, not only to remove YouTube videos, but also specific web search terms and thousands of “data requests”." Apparently these are protests against 'stolen elections' More info as we get it. Indymedia Mexico for spanish speakers needs translation.http://mexico.indymedia.org/

Thom Yorke (Radiohead) & Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack) @ The Bank of Ideas - UBS Xmas party

Happy days,this was an awesome event.Of the many parties we have helped to put on over the last 2 decades,this was one of the best examples of a party with a purpose. It was very hectic in the days before the event.It was organised on a need to know basis 'Top Secret'.There was even a possibility that Top stars such as members of 'Pink Floyd 'would come to play with Massive attack and Radio Head on the roof. There were concerns over health and safety for this ,Previous publicly announced Tom Yorke gigs had attracted over 3,000 people and grid locked the area.Eventually it was decided to do the gig in the cleared out basement,to avoid some safety concerns and having to hold off the Police at the doors while the gig was on the roof broadcasting to London.Some of the original vision had been to re create the Beatles playing on top of a New York Sky scraper type event. I got to escort Tom York into the building with his 'minder' and we chatted with him and Rob from Massive attack as we went aroungd the reclaimed UBS bank building.Both Rob and Tom were very supportive of The Occupy and protest movement and mentioned they would be up for Future gigs.After the basement party we went to the roof to record an interview  that would be used on a fundraising album for Occupy. Tom and Rob rooftop Interview

Simon in early days organising circle at Democracy Village,explains getting our messages out.

Early days organising circle at Parliament Square Democracy Village,Simon explains anyone can get there message out by writing up a sign or banner.This was later to be seen on a massive scale in the Occupy movement in over a thousand cities with people writing up sayings and messages on paper or cardboard and holding them up to social and mainstream media.This occupation for Peace Justice and Freedom in the heart of the British so called 'democratic system' helped to inspire and seed many other protests across the world.
The Spanish 15M movement said they were directly inspired by the London Tent protestors.Also in some way this occupation may have been seen and given ideas to the tent occupation of Tahrir square and the Arab Spring.
The worlds media came through Parliament square to hear many different opinions and voices.Helping to raise awareness and build the case against the UK and US illegal wars of aggression for resources in the Middle East.Although some of the British media was very scathing,the International media were regular visitors.After many years of A-B marches the Democracy Village DV was a visible and constant reminder for over 3 months that the majority of the British people were unhappy with the Wars.

Diggers2012: Making Longhouse Walls (06/07/12)

Remember this sat 7th July is an Open day at Runnymede eco village. More info http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/join-us-in-runnymede-this-saturday/

Join us in Runnymede this Saturday! by True Levellers Join us this Saturday 7th July in Runnymede for lively open discussion, picnic and woodcraft workshops.

This Saturday marks one month since we left Syon Lane Community Allotment in West London, heading out beyond the M25 to ‘make the waste lands grow’. Since then we have setup camp in the disused forest at the ex-Brunel university, Runnymede Campus (which has been empty for 6 years since being bought by developers). Join us this Saturday 7th July in Runnymede for lively open discussion, picnic and woodcraft workshops. To celebrate this landmark, we are organising some activities for this Saturday which we invite you to come and join in with. From 1 p.m - 2 p.m we will be holding a ‘land rights and civil liberties’ open discussion and picnic at the Magna Carta memorial, Runnymede. For directions to the monument, click here: http://ww2.runnymede.gov.uk/leisure/tourism/magna_dir.asp From 2.30 p.m – 5.30 p.m we will be holding a series of workshops at the Runnymede eco-village (10 minutes walk from the Magna Carta monument). Workshops will include: wattle and daub wall making for our timber frame long house, cob oven making, wild food identification and more. http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/join-us-in-runnymede-this-saturday/

Landshare | Community spreads like wildfire| channel4

Brazil tribes occupy contentious dam site - Features - Al Jazeera English

Brazil tribes occupy contentious dam site - Features - Al Jazeera English

Squattastic Sun 15th July Organise and Resist

Squattastic Sun 15th July Organise and Resist http://www.squattastic.blogspot.co.uk/ Time to gather and organise against the implementation in september of the new anti squatting laws.These laws are unjust,undemocratic unfair arbitrary and we will make them un workable. Just as in Holland the anti squatting law was challenged and defeated under The European convention on Human Rights,there will also be a challenge in this country. This squattastic will be a chance to organise and build networks of resistance. This government has atttacked so many groups with their austerity measures,the ranks of the squatters and dispossessed are swelling,fueling the coming uprising. This new law will be unworkable, if we unite and organise. Viva the resistance,keep networking,defend our ancient rights to shelter,you cant kill the spirit.

Twitter Under Attack: New York Fights Social Media Privacy to Prosecute Occupy Protester

Yesterday, judge Mathew A. Sciarrino Jr., from Manhattan’s criminal court, ruled that the company Twitter Inc. would have to hand over three months of tweets posted by an Occupy Wall Street protester, Malcolm Harris. The ruling was decided after Twitter entered into a court battle with prosecutors that demanded the company hand over the messages. Harris is being prosecuted after a pro-Occupy protest, which took place on October 1on Brooklyn Bridge, resulted in hundreds of prosecutions for disorderly conduct. http://www.policymic.com/articles/10646/twitter-under-attack-new-york-fights-social-media-privacy-to-prosecute-occupy-protester

Birmingham Social Centre

http://brumsocialcentre.com/about/ New Social Centre opens in old Pebble Mill Studios Birmingham

Move Your Money UK - The banking collapse continues its time to http://www.moveyourmoney.org.uk/

With the unfolding latest saga of the banking crisis,the collapsing unethical fractional reserve banking system.Its time to move your money to more sustainable places.Check the website http://www.moveyourmoney.org.uk/ For easy guides to moving that money energy in the direction of a better sustainable and ethical future.

Diggers Discussion at Runnymede Magna Carta Memorial: Saturday 30th June, 2012

http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/diggers-discussion-at-runnymede-magna-carta-memorial-saturday-30th-june/

Permaculture Behind Greening the Desert with Geoff Lawton full 8:40min clip

Pacific Calling Partnership - we must ACT NOW

Zoe from New Internationalist explains Kelp Farming and Bio Char major e...

Brian Keen Land is Life and Indigenous exhibition at Copenhagen Climate...

Phoenix Solutions Zone TV Copenhagen

Humanity 2012 - a 5th of November promo !

The Rockefellers, The FDA & The Cancer Industry

Diggers Discussion at Runnymede Magna Carta Memorial Saturday 30th June 2012

Diggers Discussion at Runnymede Magna Carta Memorial Saturday 30th June 2012 There was a discussion on civil liberties and land rights, how we achieve these and put them into action in the 21st century. We said we would make a sign saying 'Diggers Discussion on Land Rights and Liberties all welcome', as over 50 people passed through the Magna Carta Memorial during the discussion, and many looked as though they would join in if encouraged. We also suggested that people bring picnic food to share at the Saturday discussions. We are aiming to meet every/most Saturdays at 1pm at the Magna Carta memorial, Runnymede for discussion but it was recommended that people call the Diggers phone on Friday (or text) to check that people will be present from the camp, so that after discussion those that wanted to could be guided to wherever the latest camp or ecovillage was. This is a long term Land Rights campaign. Forward planning towards the weekend event beginning Friday August 31st 2012 as well as strategic planning to build over the next three years towards 2015 and creating a massive event for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta (which has inspired 'democracy' and civil rights across the world), especially as our civil rights have been massively eroded in the last 10 years by the war of terror and the governments recent criminalisation of homelessness and trespass with the new anti-sqautting law that they will be attempting to implement from September onwards. This law is arbitrary and unjust and has led to discussions about us collectively creating a new charter of liberties towards the 2015 anniversary. Networking was discussed, improving the current www.diggers2012.wordpress.com website, and networking of Twitter @freetheland and #diggers2012 and Facebook group 'Make the Wasteland Grow' and the new Facebook page 'Diggers 2012'. the email :diggers2012@yahoo.co.uk, and improving our email list and database. Also join the diggers@lists.riseup.net Also, building over the next two months towards an event on the weekend of Friday August 31st about land and liberty around Runnymede. We are looking for a West London support base squat to help the campaign, there was also discussion of linking with the wider Occupy movement to set up Occupy land groups linked to Occupy city groups. Diggers Freedom discussion all welcome. As the economic situation gets worse, more people will join this movement. As the authorities are increasingly trying to criminalise trespass we reach out to more support from other groups such as the wider activist movement, climate groups, permaculturealists, the Ramblers, Woodcraft folk, Forest school etc. A Hackney walk was suggested, linking with youth groups and walking up the Lee valley into the countryside. Land and Freedom walks, North, East, South and West, going out of London, to be organised. Suggestion to organise groups of 100 activists and city youth to walk out of the city and create wild camps in an organised trespass. Creating links to Wolfing groups, which is front-line Woofing (Willing Workers on Organic farms). Staines Anarchists (who have provided solidarity) have made links to several groups, including Surrey Anti capitalists, Thames Valley Solfed, Guildford Huntsabs and more. To keep up communication with and to link more with groups such as Indymedia, The Land is Ours, Climate Camp groups, Scout groups and Forest School. There was talk of setting up Radical Forest School of London Youth, to come to the woods and build timber frame houses, cob houses, earth ovens, and to teach foraging and planting skills. Instilling an idea of Diggers style camps The book 'Who Owns Britain' by Kevin Cahill is an important reference of who really owns the country, the top landowners such as the 1%, Forestry Commission, MOD, the Church, The Crown etc. There was talk of a London discussion event. We talked about setting up video and film group to get the message out, creating a new leaflet towards the Friday August 31st event. Increasing our links to Grow Heathrow. There was talk on 'the fortress of law', protecting the land ownership of the 1%. For example the injunctions writs and 'contempt of court ' for camping we were served with the other day could have led to six months in prison. Apparently the government is again planning to have a massive forestry sell-off, this was massively opposed last time and we must link to groups and network and support action against this. If some of these camps are evicted then we need to build up more resistance, we need to choose our ground well with good research and scouting. There was discussion on creation of a New Charter of Liberties. We expect that over the months the camp may move many times. We also discussed being nomadic and moving before court orders, or sometimes when negative energies build up deciding to move. While obviously we are looking for a longer term ecovillage site. There has been discussion with the authorities and messages passed to the Crown Estate requesting communication , that all we require is disused land and to be able to get on with our ecovillage project. There was discussion on continuing the mission to set up sustainable low impact eco villages around the area including on the Crown Estate. Linking with groups such as the Ramblers to do an action similar to the Kinder scout mass trespass in the 1930s.,onto enclosed, disused land around the crown estate. We want to put out more information on the old and Ancient land laws/lores such as Celtic and Breton law, or indigenous peoples such as the Native Americans' attitude to groups sharing or taking care of the land for future generations. Also raising awareness of the recent 'declaration of Mother Earth rights' at the Bolivia Earth Summit. It was pointed out we are dealing with a thousand years land empire that will resist any change to the unsustainable system. In 1649 50+ Diggers camps with hundreds of people each containing many ex civil war soldiers were destroyed by the authorities yet their vision carries on to inspire us in the 21st century. We must be prepared for a long-term campaign to recognise land rights in this country and internationally. We must also recognise the link between the Diggers and squatters rights and the new laws which seek to criminalise trespass and the homeless (the LASPO Anti squatting/cut legal aid law)as some of the final enclosure acts. These laws will be challenged under the European convention on Human Rights. It has been questioned whether these acts may be unlawful and they will be challenged and resisted in many ways. Someone pointed out and more research is needed into the idea that these so called statute laws are of themselves unlawful. Change is cumulative and will take time and many actions. It was pointed out that for change to come many may be arrested,some people will go to prison and that people internationally and in this country have laid down their lives for the cause of land rights. The number of people joining the movement will increase as the economic situation turns from bad to worse. With the welfare state being dismantled and people being forced to partake in Workfare schemes for the corporations for below minimum wage or nothing. Create a banner saying 'We don't want workfare we want land share'. More research into our ancient rights. Reference the code of Malmutius (land shared out with early Britons). Learning our history/herstory and being able to argue our rights/put forth our rights from the Forest Charter and the Magna Carta. The Norman law of 1066-1200 caused uprising and civil war that led to the reaffirming of our ancient rights with the Magna Carta and Forest Charter. Despite some modern legal claims, these rights are still in effect as they were made by the people as a sovereign body. The people granted sovereign rights to their leaders temporarily but ultimately retain those sovereign rights. End notes: it was suggested to make a 5 minute promotional video with our request for disused land for ecovillages to grow food, linking to Occupy livestream. Filming in bambuser to livestream directly. Building links to Occupy groups worldwide, to create Occupy Land, Diggers, Land rights groups worldwide, e.g. Occupy Farm etc etc. Network www.diggers2012.wordpress.com Twitter @freetheland and #diggers2012 and Facebook group 'Make the Wasteland Grow' and the new Facebook page 'Diggers 2012'. the email :diggers2012@yahoo.co.uk

Young indignant and ready to invent the future -- Official trailer 2012 Year of Resistance

Take Back the Land Action

For more Info http://takebacktheland.org.uk/

Simon digger reviews the disused land campaign

Diggers 2012 move off Runnymede campus

Diggers2012: Two Week Anniversary At Runnymede

An update on the progress of the Diggers2012 land action that started on 9th June. See http://diggers2012.wordpress.com for more information and feel free to visit or join! Its two weeks today since we, a ragged band, moved into the gardens surrounding the old, disused Brunel University Runnymede Campus. In the past it was a thriving university campus where sciences, design and technology, theatre and sport were taught and enjoyed until the site was sold to private property developers in 2007. For over five years it has remained largely vacant and disused (with the occassional film shoot or police dog training taking place in the buildings). For more info on the site please visit: http://runnymedecampus.com/history Around the buildings we discovered acres of woodlands interspersed with fields and overgrown lawns. It is beautiful and on a hill with views overlooking Runnymede and the river Thames. The following article has great pictures and more info. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/497516.html

Diggers 2012 views of massive empty Runnymede Campus

A walk around the Runnymede campus empty for 5 years, unused and wasted resource one of the nearly 1 million empty buildings in the uk. Over 500 student flats lay empty while the homeless (now criminalised under new laws,due to be put into effect in Sept. ) freeze on the cold concrete streets .We want solutions not criminalisation.Homes not Jails,Dis used Land for Eco villages.Reclaim the Land Dig in for Victory Occupy and resist.U cant kill the Spirit.http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/

Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

Rio+20 Officially it's the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, but everyone is just calling it Rio+20. That is, twenty years after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Over June 20-22, world leaders (or, in many cases national environmental heads) are getting together in Rio to "focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development." Lots of links to good articles and many perspectives on Rio plus 20 Earth Summit. http://www.treehugger.com/tag/rio20/

The Power of Sitting: "Unplugged" Desk Harvests Your Energy for Electricity

Incredible energy of the future gathered from office desk and plants.These are the kinds of Solutions we need to support and network for a pollution free future. http://www.treehugger.com/eco-friendly-furniture/unplugged-desk-harvests-energy-eddi-tornberg.html

2012 The Mayan Word - Excellent documentary by Mel Gunessana of Undercurrents,on the 2012 prophecies from the mouths of the Mayans themselves.This groundbreaking work reveals Indigenous wisdom that the international commentators are not listening to.The Film is downloadable from the website,please organise a film showing in your area.

www.2012mayanword.org Download film and organise a film showing.

Squatters and tenants action weds 27th june

Squatters and tennants unite. Direct action tomorrow. Weds 27th june.Meeting at Vauxhall tube. Exit 2 8.30am
Together we are the resistance
From the eviction resistance network call 07591 415860 or txt them to be added to txt list for actions events and eviction resistance. email: evictionresistance@squat.net

FORUM: Squatting is just not going to go away

FORUM: Squatting is just not going to go away
Great old article in the Camden new Journal on some of the history and  positive sides of squatting,aiming to counter some of the tidal wave of lies and mirepresentation by the mainstream media.

WE ARE ALL ONE - Protests erupt across the world

The World is Telling Us WE ARE ALL ONE, Protests erupt across the Globe calling for a Peacefull fairer,Just and sustainable society.

Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth

http://occupyrioplus20.net/other-peoples-initiatives/universal-declaration-on-the-rights-of-mother-earth/ This Declaration was created at the Bolivia Earth Summit,helped by the Indigenous President of Bolivia Evo Morales,lets hope in time it will be adopted across the world.

Activists Criticize Rio+20 Declaration at Summit’s Close

Activists Criticize Rio+20 Declaration at Summit’s Close The U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, has concluded in Brazil. Over the weekend, negotiators unveiled an agreement that sets new development goals and lays the groundwork for future talks. Rio+20 Secretary-General Sha Zukang hailed the pact as a success. Sha Zukang: "You laid out the groundbreaking guidelines for applying green economy policies as a useful tool in advancing sustainable development and ending poverty. You agreed to strengthen the environmental pillar of sustainable development by enhancing UNEP. You decided that we need a high-level political forum to address the three pillars of sustainable development in an integrated way." Many groups working on environmental and poverty issues have criticized the Rio+20 agreement for being too weak. Iain Keith of AVAAZ and Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace International had harsh criticism of the summit as it came to a close. Iain Keith: "What has happened in Rio is weak language with no timelines for these polluter payments. We are here today demonstrating the fact that the wealth and the power of big oil, coal and gas speaks louder than people here at the Rio summit." Kumi Naidoo: "I think that it is criminal that we have close to a hundred heads of state who have come here and do not spend even one hour in negotiations with each other. That the whole process was left to civil servants and diplomats to actually negotiate an agreement with no effort by heads of state to actually say, 'It is not good enough, we need more ambition and so.'"

The Foundry Old st has been squatted by Occupy London crew

Reports coming in of the famous alternative venue The Foundry,which has held many gigs and supported many causes over the years has been squatted by some of the Occupy London crew who were at Finsbury Square.They may be in court soon so get down and show your support,help it last longer or plan the next Occupy squat space.Keep networking viva the resistance.

Rio earth summit+ 20

http://occupyrioplus20.net/ Check for info from Occupy movement demands to the Rio plus 20 earth summit.

Gathering this saturday 23rd June at Magna Carta monument, Runnymede at 1 p.m.

Gathering this saturday at Magna Carta monument, Runnymede at 1 p.m. We'll be playing music, having a picnic and walking up to the eco village on the hill. Bring a tent and sleeping bag if you want to stay. Call 07963 475 195 if you have any questions or check www.diggers2012.wordpress.com

Parliament Square Occupation calls for people's assemblies - the tent occupation of Parliament square was an inspiration to the Spanish 15M movement which helped to set up the take the squares action days that seeded the Occupy Movement.Never doubt that direct action by a small number of people can send ripples across the world.Phoenix explains how at the Copenhagen climate summit, Indigenous movement and Campesinas called for peoples assemblies to spring up Globally within 2 years the Occupy movement had General (peoples ) Assemblies in over a thousand cities.

Mark Barret at Democracy Village calling for Global reclaim the commons movement

Introduction to people's assembly democracy village -frrom the phoenix archive of direct action from the frontlines of Britain. more to be added soon.Democracy village was a Peoples assembly on Parliament square to protest against the illegal Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.It lasted around 3 months and raised a massive amount of awareness about the unpopular wars at the time.

Refused entry to parliament to lobby on new squat law

Excellent photos and article on Diggers meet at Magna Carta memorial on Demotix
http://www.demotix.com/news/1281879/runnymede-diggers-call-freedom-london

Diggers meeting this sat June 16th at Runnymede

This sat 16th 1pm meeting at the Magna Carta memorial Runnymede near Windsor. More info map contacts etc at http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/

Reclaim The Streets UK documentary- Tales from back in the day to inspire the next generation of activists,keep networking You cant kill the spirit.Reclaim the Streets ,Reclaim the Land

Carnival of dirt today big reclaim the streets style party later

Hey today Carnival Of Dirt happening today. Highlighting the criminal activities of mining & extractions companies. Lots of Indigenous speakers talking about their experiences. Then at 6pm meet outside Embankment & then go somewhere for a massive street party!! The sound system is big!! Bring your friends:))) xxxhttp://www.carnivalofdirt, http://www.facebook.com/carnivalofdirt - twitter, http://www.twitter.com/

Piers Corbyn on Elgin ave in the 1970s Part 2 on the church,corruption in housing system,GLC,barricades and re-housing victory.New squat laws in Sept. Resistance 1 eviction 2 new squats slogan.

Elgin ave squatters history Piers Corbyn !970s occupier of Elgin ave on squatting life,community,barricades and the Clash

Elgin ave anti cuts college part 1.NEWSFLASH The Anti Cuts College has been evicted! Approximately 20 students and activists were forcibly evicted by bailiffs and security in a surprise dawn raid. One naked protester locked herself in one of the classrooms and wasn't found for hours by the security team. Vive Le Resistance!!! The local community gave their full support to the student occupation of the college and were inspired by our work there. They are now pushing the owner to open up the building again for community use as a free college. We have now occupied a gigantic university in a secret location. NO SURRENDER!!! NO GOVERNMENT CUTS!! WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN!!!

Occupy London Finsbury square camp evicted

http://occupylsx.org/ At 1am this morning, 14th June 2012, over a dozen police vans raced down City Road, towards Finsbury Square. Accompanied by two or three coaches of bailiffs in orange jackets. They quickly formed a line round the site and dragged thoose asleep out of their tents. Some being aware of the police coming climbed into the barricade built over three of the wooden pallet houses, with one masked protester at the top of a tree in the square. Soon enough people walked out favoring a non violent exit, after many hours the human figure in the tree climbed down. The bailiffs set up two lines of metal fencing around the pavement surrounding the area. Most stayed on the pavement watching the place be destroyed, then some to a grotty homeless shelter the council had liaised with, and some to a new site in Shoreditch Park.

Latest from Windsor Diggers

This Earth divided we will make whole, so it can be a common treasury for all. Featured Latest from Windsor Diggers by nettleship www.diggers2012.wordpress.com Despite things not quite working out as planned at the weekend with the hay-field incident, the rain, and one arrest for breach of an Olympic ASBO(!), the camp is alive and well with a small group of dedicated Diggers in the woodland near Runnymede (the birthplace of our supposed Democracy) on Cooper’s Hill in Surrey. The police did continue to follow us and have been present with torches and harassment but Royal Holloway University who own the specific piece of land on which the camp is currently situated have not yet attempted to serve court papers, so for now we are staying put and ignoring any attempts at intimidation. We invite everybody to join us, especially those who have become dispossessed due to the unequal and cruel nature of our system of crises. There is a map of our location below. You can call or text the site phone 07963 475 195 for more information. Directions to the camp: If walking up the mud track from Egham town look out for the orange cones on your left – these mark the point at which to enter the woods and you’ll see the camp. The nearest train station is Egham,about 25 mins walk. If you want to get nearer the camp by public transport you can get on the Slough bus from Egham town and get off at the stop before the top of Priest Hill, Englefield Green. That saves you a walk up a steep hill and is ten mins from the camp. (click to enlarge) The group will be camped at this spot until Saturday 16th June. On Saturday at 1pm we will have a meetup at the Magna Carta Monument to discuss freedom, democracy and of course plans for the future. Please bring camping equipment – tent, sleeping bag, cup, supplies etc… if you wish to join the camp. Whilst scouting around the area we have discovered ample disused land on which to grow food and communities. The site for the community is a secret for the moment. more info www.diggers2012.wordpress.com

Latest News from the frontlines

News flash - Simon Digger arrested again a second time for returning to Runnymede camp and breaking his Draconian ASBO,which says he cannot be on any land in britain without the permission of the owner. He is in court in west London today updates as we get them.However there is still a diggers camp atRoyal Holloway college land just behind the Magna Carta memorial.see www.diggers2012.wordpress.com for location map Finsbury square Occupy London Camp is on eviction alert today. @occupyLSXSOS says Police vans showing up at camp eviction is happening tonight come down and show support.Apparently the court appeal has been denied. The Old Lambeth fire station near Oval tuber is also due for a big eviction resistance this fri 15th. 9am Party and sleepover thursday night.This is a big one .Together we are the resistance network it. Carnival of Dirt goes off this fri 15th http://www.carnivalofdirt.org/ Also Stonehenge free festival 2012 is coming up with a gathering near the the stones around Summer Solstice. The Elgin Ave Anti cuts college was evicted yesterday video and photos from the college posted soon and finally the Diggers 2012 group is calling for a General Assembly this sat 16th at 1pm at the Magna Carta memorial Runnymede address www.diggers2012.wordpress.com bring people,tents,tarps food,bowl and spoon and be prepared to take a new eco village site.The diggers also request led lights and boots. The Magna Carta monument is a very historically important place where the beginning of some our our ancient rights that had been ignored by the Norman robber barons were begun to be restored,the beginning of our unwritten constitution was created in the Magna Carta (the great Charter) The ctreation of the Magna Carta was a protest against the unjust and arbitary acts of the king and the law at the time.It seems these unjust and arbitary times have come again with the new laws to imprison the homeless and squatters coming into force around Sept its time for the the Rebels to gather at Runnymede again and demand a fair just and sustainable future.

Ravens Island squatted Eco-Conference Centre on River Thames - Phoeni...

The Times: Occupy London's Bank of Ideas

Off Grid Living @ The Bank Of Ideas

Simon Digger released after 1 day inside to return to Runnymeade in defiance of Draconian ASBO barring him from any land in Britain without the owners permission

Report from the court room on the ridiculous ravings of the landowning monopoly magistrates. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/497031.html Runnymeade Rebels in the woods behind Magna Carta memorial off Coopers Hill lane windsor.Reinforcements welcome especially good folk,hot food water,dry clothes,tarps and morale boosters,cake etc.Visit ASAP tel 07963 475195 http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/events/388997621152693/ http://london.indymedia.org/events/12282 https://twitter.com/#!/freetheland This saturday is Magna Carta day the anniversary of the signing of the document that reaffirmed some of our ancient rights. The new Diggers are calling for a General Assembly gathering at 1 pm at the Runnymeade Memorial Runnymeade near Windsor to discuss among other things our access to land to grow food and live on ,and the return of many of our rights.More info soon.

Diggers arrested by Crown agents of Land monopoly

Free Simon Simon Digger a very peacefull and inspiring man,who was on the Diggers 2012 mission to set up an eco-village on crown land in Windsor had been arrested under the terms of a Previous Olympic ASBO which means he can be arrested and imprisoned for up to 5 years for entering ANY land in Britain without the permission of the owner. All this for peacefully aiming to highlight the land situation,where 1% owns 70% of the Land in this country. The peacefull and simple objective was to get dis-used land to be used to grow food and to live on.More info on the following Indymedia report http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/496992.html and also the website http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/ Reclaim the Land keep networking you cant kill the Spirit Update breaking news the Diggers 2012 group is still camped in the woods above Runnymeade and there has been talk of calling a General Assembly there on this Sat as it is Magna Carta day. Simon the Digger is in court today at Guildford and faces possibly up to 5 years inprison for challenging the undemocratic tyrants monopoly on land use in this country.When the fundamental issue of land ownership by the 1% is peacefully challenged we suddenly see the mailed fist of the feudal system move to crush the peaceful attempts at dialogue and discussion.Especially with the new laws on squatting, criminalising the homeless and dispossessed that may start to come into effect around Sept,now more than ever we need to question this draconian law and the unfair distribution of land in this country.There is enough disused land in the Uk to grow food for twice our population with no need to unsustainably,ship and fly food in from many other continents,as peak oil begins to bite,the sense of this argument will be vindicated. Stay tuned for more info from the freedom trail,see you in Runnymeade to demand our rights and take them back as our ancestors did hundreds of years ago.Diggers mobiles 07963 475195,07905 283114 network it needs people,transport,tents food and networking in it,stand up diggers all ,to Runnymeade for freedom and land.

Diggers camp at Runnymeade historic place of the magna carta after full day of adventure, check longer story at
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/12379

Walk to Windsor Eco village begins

Walk to Windsor crown estate Eco village begins. Injunction has been served but we believe we have the right to use the disused land to grow food and live on. Reclaim the land

Protests Turn Into Occupations Throughout Egypt - The Revolution will be RE-Mobilized.the crys of Freedom fill the streets of Cairo

Charlie Veitch Interviews Phoenix of Occupy London - on bank of ideas roof

Occupy London Documentary Opening- Great shots of St Pauls,street demos,Finsbury square,bank of ideas and the Occupied Justice Courthouse

School Of Ideas February 11th_2012. shows school full of potential and ideas/actions.

Occupy: From Bank of Ideas to School of Ideas

Earth Times- updates on a great green blog

http://www.earthtimes.org/ A very intresing blog with a wide variety of articles on our current eco situation,green gadgets,species extinction,forest protection,solutions,news from the oceans and skies above.

'Leak it all!' Anonymous calls for Fight Club-style 'Project Mayhem-2012'

http://www.rt.com/news/anonymous-leaks-fight-club-057/ Anonymous are set to activate the dormant cells of a global 'Fight Club’ to battle corruption by calling on supporters to leak a massive cache of state and corporate secrets for the world to see. ­“Imagine you purchase a USB drive. Imagine you take it to your work place. Imagine you collect evidence of illegality and corruption. Imagine together we expose all lies. Imagine we leak it all.” https://twitter.com/anonops http://search.mibbit.com/channels/AnonOps http://www.youtube.com/user/AnonOps

Carnival of Dirt to hit London 15 June

http://www.carnivalofdirt.org/ If you scratch the surface of any transnational mining or extraction corporation, you will find the same abhorrent, filthy behaviour. The billionaires behind this trade, make their fortunes at the cost of human rights abuses, labour rights violations, poisoning of the environment and dwindling water resources, forced acquisition of lands with empty promises of adequate housing and employment, evading millions in taxes, corrupting governments, thriving in conflict zones and turning peoples against each other. Financial institutions like the London Stock Exchange and the London Metal Exchange and governments turn a blind eye to these abuses and fail to punish for these crimes in the majority world or even legislate against them adequately. Carnival Of Dirt celebrates all those fighting this injustice and remembers those who have suffered for doing so.

Occupy London resistance is fertile.Headed East and West

Finsbury Square eviction delayed by an appeal,**** Update 7 June – The Finsbury Square occupation has been granted a stay of execution until Friday 15 June to lodge an appeal. Pop down, show support, bring supplies (food, bedding, cleaning stuff etc)More updates http://occupylsx.org/ Pilgrimage for Justice starts Thursday 7 June – London,Heads East to Canterbury mor info http://www.occupyfaith.org.uk/ As a thrust to the west is carried out by the True Levellers to occupy land to the west of London in Windsor a new eco village to be set up. http://diggers2012.wordpress.com/ Also news Occupy benefit album Folk the Banks album out now – Pay what you can afford,http://www.occupationrecords.com/ Carnival of Dirt reminiscent of June 18th (J18)actions in the city of London. the Carnival of Dirt will occur on June 15th,members of Occupy London have joined up with an unprecedented coalition of activist groups across the world to address the criminal behaviour of mining and extraction corporations. more info here.http://www.carnivalofdirt.org/ and Finally the occupied college at 129 Elgin Ave,Maida Vale tube, is due for possible eviction the morning of friday 8th June and is calling for barricading and bailiff resistance network it.Followed by a weekend of fun and games network it.viva the resistance

Mark Thomas at Bank of Ideas

mark thomas at bank of ideas from tel aversion on Vimeo.

Mark Thomas at the Occupy London Bank of Ideas..Click on this box to view video. ..watch it absolutely hilarious gig,with mark putting out many good ideas on our current economic and environmental situation.We were very busy this day as the UBS lawyers had just given us an injunction to leave immediately.However we managed to launch an appeal during Marks gig and he very kindly agreed to be named as a defendant.The case eventually lasted around 3 months during which over 415 workshops were held,many talks,meetings ,general assemblies,actions and cinema showings were organised.This was Occupy London movement,working groups and squatting team working together to create an incredible community project whose ideas spread across the country and the world.

Solutions Zone - Voices of Copenhagen 2009

Solutions Zone TV expedition to the Copenhagen Climate Summit 2009 Ashort edit from nearly 70 interviews with the many people and organisations who travelled from around the world to discuss solutions and actions for the current environmental emergency we find ourselves in....more edits soon.
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School Of Ideas Community Meeting-draft edit

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ENERGY NEWS Germany Sets New Solar Record

ENERGY NEWS Germany Sets New Solar Record By Meeting Nearly Half of Country’s Weekend Power Demand Read more: Germany Sets New Solar Record By Meeting Nearly Half of Country's Weekend Power Demand | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1JrPxs/inhabitat.com/germany-sets-new-solar-record-by-meeting-nearly-half-of-countrys-weekend-power-demand/

The Dispossessed - 'Access to Land and Resources'

Excellent cartoon animation from the Crisis of Civilisation film. By Dean Puckett (Kew Bridge Eco village and Democracy Village Parliament Square Peace camp. Watch film at http://crisisofcivilization.com/

Solutions Zone TV- Early interview at Occupy London Bank of Ideas

WE ARE ALL ONE

Squatters Eviction Resistance Network

Squatters Eviction Resistance Network: evictionresistance@squat.net 07591 415860 Support and advice before, during and after an eviction attempt. We re really interested in producing our own media raising awareness of the following issues *Evictions due to benefit cuts, rent increases and the Olympics. *Rising levels of homelessness despite there being 700,000 empty properties in the UK *Privatisation of social housing and lack of investment *Poor regulation of unscrupulous landlords *The criminalisation of squatting under clause 136 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishing of Offenders Bill 2012 *Increased vulnerability of private tenants and squatters *The demonisation of social housing tenants, people receiving LANDLORD benefit and squatters The idea is to encourage people and organisations to submit articles or reports or case studies that highlight these issues. We, the Eviction Resistance Network, are currently writing our article about the criminalisation of squatting in residential properties and how this will leave both squatters and private tenants extremely vulnerable in the middle of a housing crisis. Perhaps someone who works with people in social housing who are facing eviction due to benefit caps could submit an article about that? And someone who has had the unpleasant experience of a naughty landlord could submit an article about that? We would like the publication to be similar in size to a regular newspaper and perhaps around 4 or 5 double sized pages. We would like to distribute it at tube stations during the morning rush hour as an alternative to the Metro. We are looking at printing costs and funding at the moment so can update about that later. Also, at the last housing for the 99 percent meeting, there was an agreement to do some direct action. We think this publication could promote and get more people involved in that too. So? What are peoples thoughts? Would anyone like to submit an article? Is anyone good with Graphic Design? It would be great to have as many people as possible involved in this project, lets make it happen. Also, please forward this email on to anyone who might be interested. Love and resistance,

Relaunch of Solutions Zone TV ...coming shortly. After returning from Brazilian forests last year (2011) the main message that came back from meditations with Mother Earth ,were that ,we as a human race need to focus on the Solutions. We as a species are focussed on the problems,bad news travels fast,war,death,murder and now for the sport. So the Solutions Zone was born a culmination of 20 years of environmental action,campaigning networking and research. Solutions Zone TV will present a wide range of solutions that can help rebalance and repair our damaged earth eco system. A lot of time last year energy was diverted into the save squatting campaign. Now is the time to refocus on Solutions,for all our future generations sakes.Keep networking.The following are some web links to the beginning Solutions Zone Project. http://solutionszonetv.wordpress.com/ Youtube channel :Solutionszonetv http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lC7gyNx5yY Facebook group:Solutionszonetv : http://www.facebook.com/groups/solutionszonetv/

Declaration from the dispossessed- Windsor eco vill

Declaration from the dispossessed- True Levellers -Windsor eco village. On June 09th a group of dispossessed people will be walking from Syon Lane Community Allotment in Isleworth, West London to Windsor. Our aim is to start a community on a piece of disused land on the Crown Estate. We have written the following declaration to express our intentions. For more info on the project, please visit: www.diggers2012.wordpress.com This Earth divided we will make whole, so it can be a common treasury for all. A declaration from the dispossessed by True Levellers We: peaceful people, declare our intention to go and cultivate the disused land of this island; to build dwellings and live together in common by the sweat of our brows. We have one call: every person in this country and the world should have the right to live on the disused land, to grow food and to build a shelter. This right should apply whether you have money or not. We say that no country can be considered free, until this right is available to all. With our current system in crisis we need a radically different way of growing our communities. We call on the government and all landowners to let those who are willing, make good use of the disused land. Land that is currently held from us by force. By our actions, we seek to show how we can live without destroying the planet or ourselves. Free from the yoke of debt and rent, our labors can be directed to the benefit of all. Though we may be oppressed for our actions, we will strive to remain peaceful. But we are committed to our cause and will not cease from our efforts until we have achieved our goal. 20th May 2012. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/06/496633.html

Brighton Squatters Convergence last week ish

Brighton Squatters Convergence last week ish Report will appear here soon meanwhile here is a rough draft of a leaflet to clarify some of what is going on in the changes in squatters law ting. Defend our Rights - Squatting law update as of 25th May 2012 1. Don't panic, Squatting is not illegal yet. Section 6 rights still apply. 2. You're not alone; there are thousands (estimated 20-500,00} squatters in residential properties; this will make the new law very hard to enforce and potentially unworkable. 3. Private tenants and those in social housing are also vulnerable under the laws; many groups are forming in response to the new legislation – both squat and not. Squatters are not alone in this time of housing insecurity. 4. In Holland, anti squatting legislation was successfully challenged under the European human rights legislation. People still need to be taken to court to be evicted. In the UK, legal experts are already building a case to challenge this legislation in the European Court of Human Right – under right to family life (Article 8) 5. In the government consultation, 96% of people who replied said don't criminalise squatting including the Metropolitcan Poloce, Judges and the Law society. Criminalising squatting in residential properties is not popular legislation, it has and will continue to come under attack from all sectors of society. 6.The police and bailiffs may act as if the law has already come into force. It has not. Inform them of this and refer them to the contacts at the end of this leaflet if further clarification is needed. 7. The commencement order has not been made, meaning we don't know yet when the law will take effect although we can predict it will be sometime around September. 8. The new law: Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Section 144 Offence of squatting in a residential building The new law makes it a crime where: You trespass in a residential building, and You entered the building as a trespasser (rather than e.g. by invitation), and You know or ‘ought to know’ that you are a trespasser, and You are living in the building or intend to live there (for any length of time) It is not a crime to remain in a building after the end of a lease or licence, even if you leave and re-enter the building. The law only applies to 'residential buildings.' A building is “residential” if it is designed or adapted, before the time of entry, for use as a place to live - in other words if commercial premises are squatted and turned into residential premises by the squatter, the law won't apply. Its still legal to squat empty unused commercial buildings,eg :factories,shops,churches,community centres,warehouses,pubs,land for eco villages,etc. derelict/unused space. Penalty - If convicted of this offence by the court, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 51 weeks or a fine not more than £5,000 or both a fine and imprisonment. Police powers - Police can enter and search squatted premises to arrest a person for squatting. Be prepared for when this legislation comes into force. We need to work as a community to fight this together. This law will be resisted all the way. Together, we will show this law is unworkableby building networks of solidarity, having regular meetings, meals, socials, football games,parties. Turning up to eviction resistances, networking with other housing groups and local communities Tell SQUASH and other groups about positive squatting case studies, illegal evictions by police and bailiffs and other information that would be useful for media and court cases. Filming can help. Timeline: May – Queen gave Royal Assent, therefore law is now on the statute books; the law is not in force until a consultation has been conducted. May-September: consultation period when the government will consult local authorities, police, and housing and affected groups to inform them and assess the impacts of the new law. During this period the law and its implementation will be clarified. September onwards: Prosecution cases will start to define how these cases are handled by the courts, eg setting precedents, punishments, evidence. There may be opportunities to repeal Section 136 of LASPO. For more and updated info check 1) SQUASH – Squatters Action for secure Homes www.squashcampaign.org Provide positive case studies and support when dealing with the media. 2) Advisory Service for Squatters (A.S.S) www.squatter.org.uk Help with court proceedings, illegal evictions 3)Squatters Legal Network sln@aktivix Assisting with legal cases, arrestee support 4) Squatters Eviction Resistance Network: evictionresistance@squat.net 07591 415860 Support and advice before, during and after an eviction attempt. The government said that it would not bring in any new laws to unnecessarily criminalise people, yet they are criminalising the homeless in the middle of a housing crisis, which makes this law unjust and unworkable. The whole process has completely bypassed any kind of democracy. It will cost the government an estimated £790 million in the first 5 years to implement even though the aim was to cut Legal Aid expenditure by £350 million a year. This new law will be difficult to interpret and enforce, taking up massive amounts of police time. Whatever they say, squatting will stay!

Usefull websites for Occupy Movement

Some Usefull websites for Occupy Movement Keep Networking the Resistance Occupybritain.co.uk http://occupii.org/ https://occupywiki.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page http://occupydesign.org.uk/ http://occupylsx.org/ http://www.occupythehoodchicago.org/ Exciting action coming in from occupy the hoods across the USA,foreclosure resistance. Also soon info posts on the student uprisings in Canada and the recent Blockuppy Frankfurt. Some of the inspiration to keep this blog updated more is from the increasing censorship of occupy actions by FB,there is an amazing amount of actions,events and many land reclaims going on but this is increasingly being ignored or censored by the main stream media and facebook. As the uprising across the Globe gathers pace it is more than ever for us to build our own communications networks.Dont hate the media ,be the media check www.indymedia.org.uk for regular updates and actions from the protest movement in the UK and worldwide. We shall overgrow reclaim the land

palestine place squat succesfully resisted illegal eviction

palestine place squat succesfully resisted illegal eviction yesterday,build the resistance networks to the new tyrranical squat laws http://palestineplace.wordpress.com/

Occupy London invites you to its Occupy Democracy event

This Jubilee weekend, at noon on Sunday 3 June by the steps of St Paul’s, Occupy London invites you to its Occupy Democracy event.http://occupylsx.org/

this is good reminder of what occupy is achieving

this is good reminder of what occupy is achieving,great reminders we are more powerfull than they can possibly imagine http://www.whatthefuckhasoccupydone.com/

Occupy land Windsor eco village sat 9th june 2012

Saturday, 9 June 2012 11:00 Syon Lane Community Allotment, adjacent to Platform 1, Syon Lane Station, Rothbury Gardens, Isleworth, Middlesex, Stand Up Ye Diggers All! On Saturday 09th June, we will be walking from Syon Lane Community Allotment in West London to Windsor. We will be camping for one night on the route. Our aim is to start a community on a piece of disused land on the Crown Estate. We plan to grow our own food, make shelters and live sustainably: to show an alternative to our system of crisis. We call for the right for everyone to be able to use the disused land to live on, free the yoke of debt and rent. If you share our vision, and you are willing to work to achieve it, we welcome you to join us. Meetup details: Meet at Syon Lane Community Allotment on Sat 09th June from 11 a.m. We will be departing at 1 p.m sharp. Bring camping equipment, warm clothing, mug, bowl, spoon and a torch. Also please bring seeds and any useful equipment if you can. Should you wish to meet us in Windsor, or at some other point along the journey, please call the numbers below on the day. If you would like to know more about this project, please visit: www.diggers2012.wordpress.com or email diggers2012@yahoo.co.uk Alternatively you can call or text the following numbers: 07963 475 195 / 07905 283 114 to find out more. Meetup Location: Syon Lane Community Allotment. Map link: http://g.co/maps/ga6mn Meetup date: Sat 09th June. Meetup time: 11 a.m Departure time: 1 p.m Arrival time in Windsor: Sun 10th June before 12 Noon.