Royal Mint building in Tower Hill squatted - Rabble #olsx @occupynn

Royal Mint building in Tower Hill squatted - Rabble

Royal Mint building in Tower Hill squatted

  DECEMBER 29, 2015NEWS

Via Freedom News

Yesterday squatters occupied a former Royal Mint building in Tower Hill in protest against homelessness, empty buildings and the ongoing criminalisation of squatting.

The building on Royal Mint Court was converted into offices in 1980, when the Royal Mint completed its move to Llantrisant in Wales. At its height, the building symbolised the monetary power of the City of London and, as its occupiers point out, has become to represent the vast inequality it once had a part in producing.

The autonomous group of squatters come from different backgrounds and past projects but definitely agree on one thing: that stopping homelessness means abolishing the capitalist system. By occupying, they want to communicate the contradiction between the Royal Mint and what it represents and the lives of ordinary people. Wealth is wealth because it excludes the majority of us.

The squatters want to use the space to organise against homelessness and the power of the rich. Banners and posters there range from anti-gentrification campaigns, such as the former Aylesbury council-estate occupation, evictions and Section 144 – the 2012 criminalisation of residential squatting.

Despite housing many homeless people during this “crisis”, squatting contradicts the nonsense of private property and has therefore suffered continuous attempts to legislate it away – or stamp it out with force. From Tory Grant Shapps to the Labour council in Tower Hamlets, the state response is violent and quickening in pace. Security companies, such as Gallowglass, or such upmarket bailiffs as County Enforcement Group and Evict UK have become the default response from owners and local authorities alike.

Squatting is no solution to the “housing crisis” but reveals the myth of this crisis – that there are too few buildings for all of us – and shows its reality as purposeful class warfare. The Royal Mint squatters know this as well as anyone. Since the beginning of their occupation, private security guards have been employed to monitor and intimidate. Despite the repression, the building is secure and its new occupants are optimistic about its future. One thing is for sure: squatting has stayed despite what the politicians said in 2012 – and is still causing havoc for the wealthy elite.

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Squatters Take Over London's Former Royal Mint | The Daily Caller #olsx @occupynn

Squatters Take Over London's Former Royal Mint | The Daily Caller

Squatters took over the former Royal Mint in London Tuesday, unfurling banners and voicing their concerns about global warming, homelessness and the alleged pay gap between the rich and the poor.

The squatters affixed placards and signs reading “system change not climate change” and “104,000 homeless children at Christmas” across the face of the Johnson Smirke building, the site of the U.K.’s nearly 220-year-old former Royal Mint.

“We all need to live in a more sustainable way,” one of the squatters, Pete Phoenix, said according to The Guardian. “The way financial systems work is not conducive to protecting the planet. There is a complex of four huge buildings here. They could be used to provide accommodation for hundreds of homeless people. We could turn this place into an environmental solutions centre.”

While another squatter said, “We want to highlight the fraudulent nature of the banks with this protest and find some solutions to homelessness. The state is not helping homeless people so we would urge those who need a roof over their heads to do what we did – find commercial buildings where the windows have been left open and walk in.”

Read more:  http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/29/activists-squat-at-site-of-londons-former-royal-mint-to-protest-global-warming/#ixzz3vv6dNY4a

Morning Star Security targets New Year’s squat #olsx @occupynn

Morning Star :: Security targets New Year’s squat

Activists cry foul as police and heavies besiege Royal Mint

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HOMELESS people were left without a shelter for New Year’s Eve when police and private security besieged a squat at the old Royal Mint building yesterday.

 

Activists hoping to house rough sleepers for the New Year had occupied the former coin manufacturing site next to the Tower of London on Tuesday afternoon. 

 

But bailiffs arrived at the scene a few hours after squatters hung banners from the windows, forcing dozens of local homeless people to turn back as they arrived.

 

Many hoped to find the Royal Mint open for shelter, food and friendly company over the festive season. 

 

“We need common sense use of our resources. We want solutions to this false housing crisis,” occupier Pete Phoenix told the Star. 

 

The building was sold by the government in April for £75 million to a private company based in the British Virgin Islands. 

 

Mr Phoenix said that, with over a million empty buildings in Britain, the fact that there were people sleeping rough was a travesty. 

 

“We bailed out the banks, you know. All this government has done is criminalise the most vulnerable people — people who have to squat, who are homeless.

 

“It’s false austerity. It’s just about transferring assets from the people to private hands.”

 

Four of the many buildings in the mint complex were originally occupied, but by Wednesday morning only 15 people were left in the main site after what activists called “illegal evictions” took place through the night. 

 

Outside Tower Hill Tube station a homeless man who wished not to be named said he had tried to get into the squat but quickly left as he saw the security dog units. 

 

He added: “They’re right next to MI5 you know, it doesn’t look good to have [an occupied building] next door. I hope they stay as long as they can.”

 

US property company CBRE is responsible for the former mint’s management and has advised occupiers that the building could contain asbestos.

Former Royal Mint Building occupied by squatters in protest against homelessness London Evening Standard #olsx @occupynn #protest #housingcrisis #directaction #homesforall

Former Royal Mint Building occupied by squatters in protest against homelessness | London | News | London Evening Standard

Squatters have occupied the historic former Royal Mint Building in the City in a protest against homelessness. 

The group of 20 anti-capitalists, some of whom were pictured hanging out of windows wearing 'V for Vendetta' masks, set up camp in the grade II-listed Johnson Smirke Building on Sunday evening. 

Footage from inside the squat, which was narrated by one of the protesters, showed a man wearing an anti-capitalist mask.

The man in the clip said: "[There are] acres of empty space while people freeze to death on the streets.

Occupied: the outside of the building

"It's absolutely unbelievable. What a waste of space."

Pete Phoenix, 45, from Camden Mothership which is one of four organisations occupying the building, told the Daily Mail: "There are 104,000 homeless children in this country which is completely unacceptable when there are 1.5 million empty buildings in the UK.

"We want an end to homelessness - we want these buildings to be used. Ordinary Londoners are now being priced out of London. Even people on good wages are unable to buy."

The Royal Mint no longer uses the Johnson Smirke building, near the Tower of London, having relocated to Lombard Street in 2000.

Squatters occupy Royal Mint site to protest against homelessness | World news | The Guardian #olsx @occupynn #housingcrisis #protest

Squatters occupy Royal Mint site to protest against homelessness | World news | The Guardian



Squatters have occupied part of the former Royal Mint building opposite the Tower of London to protest against issues including climate change, homelessness and the widening gap between rich and poor.

The activists, who comprise various groups from across the capital, unfurled banners on Tuesday that read “system change not climate change” and “104,000 homeless children at Christmas”, as they took over part of the grade II-listed Johnson Smirke building, which was built in 1807.

The Royal Mint housing/environment protest occupation for homes for All in 2016 ,system change not climate change,will end today #olsx @occupynn

The Royal Mint housing/environment protest occupation for homes for All in 2016 ,system change not climate change,will end today.Judge Marsh granted a possession order not accepting this was a housing protest,but an attempted rave and security costs would have risen from £34,000/day to over £250,000 over new year.how many homeless people could this money help,or how many environmental/community solutions centres set up.We will be evicted/leave in less than 2 hours.Photo opportunity with the magnificent 7 last occupiers around 3-3.30 pm out front of royal mint ring 07769791387 phoenix for interview or we can write an article.

Diary of an activist day 4 in the big motherhouse occupation of the royal mint #olsx @occupynn #housingcrisis #protest

Diary of an activist day 4 in the big motherhouse occupation of the royal mint

It has been a long day with as usual not enough sleep we have been seiged in now for a few days yet have been managing to get people and food in a variety of ways.Big up the night time ninjas.

We were served court papers this afternoon at 3 o'clock for a court date tomorrow at 10:30 AM they have given us less the required 48 hours  notice for this case which is very unreasonable.

They are claiming that we have coming here early to do a rave,when in fact it is very clear from the numerous media articles that this is a housing protest. 

Raising awareness of the 105,000 children classified as homeless in temporary commendation over Christmas (Shelter figures ) while 1.5 million empty buildings in the UK sit unused this is totally unacceptable state of affairs.

The housing crisis is a lie,there are nearly 1,000,000 empty residential buildings in the UK and half that many residential non-residential buildings. 

The rent and housing prices are being falsely inflated to such a state that even ordinary Londoners on good wages can now not afford to rent or buy somewhere.

It seems that people aren't as bothered when things are hard for the travellers,The squatters ,homeless or the trade unions which are currently having their rights removed. 

But now middle England and people on good wages are feeling the bite of the austerity robbery programme.

The property market,bank inflated money printing machine that is falsely forcing up property prices to turn homes into land banking,buy to leave properties.

A home is no longer a home it is just an investment piggybank for someone within an offshore tax haven,tax avoiding money to invest in the overinflated property market that is no longer fit for purpose.

Many people,skills talents and projects are leaving London because they cannot afford inflated rates of rent and property prices.

 Even in New York and Berlin they have rent controls.

A  performing friend told me recently that his rent on A one bedroom flat in London was around £250 a week, he had moved to Berlin and the same one bedroom flat as well as his transport costs were £50 a week. 

He said that the London International School of performing arts had actually moved from London to Berlin because the institution and its students could no longer afford to live in London.

There was a meeting a couple of months ago at the GLA which was discussing and complaining that so much culture arts music and theatre ideas and projects were leaving London to move to other cities on the continent or around the world,why was this?

 One of my friends who went to the meeting said its because you have criminalised residential squatting and because you are closing down so  many grassroots venues like the five bars in Soho including the 12 bar.

It is out of these grassroots places that so much of our arts music and culture has come,many of the bands as many performers and artists,have come through Squats and Grassroots venues.

We need a major rethink we need a fundamental system change before our present short term system of recklessly consuming the planet and wasting resources brings us to the edge of catastrophic climate disaster.The floods in the north of England Are just the tip of the iceberg and Our government has a similar attitude from Housing to Climate Change.

We need to take action whereever we are to change the system to a more sustainable cooperative and create a future that looks after people and planet.

Night night tired phoenix

Ps hit the donate button top right funds needed to keep the phone on and operations for a better future rolling one love and abundance phoenix

Royal Mint housing protest occupation RMC LH Co. Limited and RM Site Management Ltd vs Persons unknown and Phoenix at Court 5 Rolls Building Fetter Lane Building 7, 10.30am Thurs 31st Dec.(tomorrow) please come and support historic case who are these Virgin Island Tax Avoidance companies with links to the Osborne and Cameron families.network it Homes for all.System Change not Climate change #olsx @occupynn #protest #housingcrisis

Royal Mint housing protest occupation RMC LH Co. Limited and RM Site Management Ltd vs Persons unknown and Phoenix at Court 5 Rolls Building Fetter Lane Building 7, 10.30am Thurs 31st Dec.(tomorrow) please come and support historic case who are these Virgin Island Tax Avoidance companies with links to the Osborne and Cameron families.network it Homes for all.System Change not Climate change

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/former-royal-mint-building-occupied-by-squatters-in-protest-against-homelessness-a3145881.html

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/former-royal-mint-building-occupied-by-squatters-in-protest-against-homelessness-a3145881.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/29/squatters-occupy-royal-mint-site-to-protest-against-homelessness

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/29/squatters-occupy-royal-mint-site-to-protest-against-homelessness

Royal Minted rooftop activist diary food to the frontline #olsx @occupynn

Royal Mint occupation guided Tour 2 #olsx @occupynn

Inside the Royal Mint Occupation guide tour #olsx @occupynn

Royal Mint occupation day 3 at big Mother House #olsx @occupynn

#cop21paris images phoenix keep networking #olsx @occupynn

Diary of an activist The Royal Minted some thoughts....photos

Diary of an activist

 it's late I'm tired we're sieged in the Royal Mint.near Tower bridge ancient place of our  ancestors, of gathering for spring equinox for the people of these islands .

Strange feeling being seiged into a building.Denied food where it should be a right to come and go from a  building  lawfully and legally occupied.

 Going to get up early tomorrow to finish the guardian comment is free article.

 Lack of sleep on these things is usual,know that we are creating waves for a better future.

A future where everyone has a home where We live in a more sustainable way with the ecosystem which we are apart.

It has been an adventure the last few days it has been a mission. 

Part of the ongoing battle to raise awareness of the need for homes, for shelter is a basic human right we should continue the fight until we have a home or are free to roam.

Just had my fifth Face book account closed down this happens when you put out too much environmental social or political information, it's one the reasons I started this blog originally.

Knowing they could not shut it down so I still have a voice.
This is the voice of the voiceless a voice for the homeless, the dispossessed.

Voice for those who do not have tongues to speak for the animals and all the other beings who share our ecosystem with us.

we are consuming this planet at a rate of three planets are current rates of consumption we need system change not climate change.

Time to rearrange create the change within ,start the change without.
Time to rearrange create the change within start the change without,time for action create a new situation,reclaim the power reclaim the love comes from above and below from within and without, spread the love all about.

Keep networking one love Phoenix relentless networker for people and planet.

Ps sounds like mark and the county bailiffs are going to get charged for illegal eviction and assault for unlawfully dragging people out of the other building today.

Watch this space 

Royal Mint occupation some photos report soon #olsx @occupynn

Royal mint under seige by County enforcement bailiffs. Numbers needed asap for squatter defiance of bullshit tactics. Bring ur crew and a brew for some end of 2015 squat resistance! Royal mint st, e3, entrance in front o Tower of london. 18.16 #olsx @occupynn

  Royal mint under seige by County enforcement bailiffs. Numbers needed asap for squatter defiance of  bullshit tactics.  Bring ur crew and a brew for some end of 2015 squat resistance!  Royal mint st, e3, entrance  in front o

Tower of london. 18.16

Open mic at Sequoia Culture hub (FB page) 28th dec 12noon -11pm network it #olsx @occupynn

Open mic mon 28th dec 12pm-4 PM workshops,street market/kitchen free presents,bring things for free shop,music 4-11pm .at Sequoia Culture Hub (FB page for more info) 1277 high rd n20 9hs Totteridge n whetstone tube your invited to come jam and plan for 2016 by Phoenix Rub Barnet Bohemians and Camden Mothership crew network it

Jah warrior - Babylon shall fall