A-Infos (en) SchNEWS 408/409, Friday 6th June, 2003

[Jo Makepeace <webmaster@schnews.org.uk>]

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WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER STIRRED NOT SHAKEN - SchNEWS
 > G8 MY HAMSTER
"For us, the only division worth talking about is that between the
people of the world and the masters of death andexploitation.
The only 'ring-leaders' that need to be exposed,
isolated, and removed from their position of menace to
society are George Bush, Vladimir Putin, Tony Blair, Silvio
Berlusconi. Our determination to disrupt their yearly
feasts of power is matched only by our contempt for that other
handful of losers in suits who, instead of fighting for
the starving millions of the global South, came to Evian in order to
kiss the hands of the torturers." - Lausanne Solidarity Declaration.

Evian famous for its bottled water was instead busy last week
bottling bullshit, as the leaders of the G8 summit meet
to squabble over the spoils of war. Yet another conference for the
new rulers of the world to be wined and dined,
protected by thousands of armed police from the bottled-up emotions
of the people they supposedly represent.

The US/UK invasion of Iraq has revealed big divisions between the
main power blocks, all of them desperate to maintain
their flagging economies by enforcing control over other parts of the
world. The main reason for the invasion was that
the US needed to secure military control of Middle East oil to
prevent other power blocks getting their hands on it.

It's no surprise that Russia and France, countries that traded most
with Saddam's Iraq, were the countries that opposed the US
invasion.

Despite the spin doctors telling us that the G8 wanted to help the
poor there was no discussion of affordable drugs
for an African continent held to ransom by money-crazed
multinationals. The massive subsidies to western agriculture
that seriously harm Majority World farmers were still in place by the
end. George W. wanted to talk about terrorism and Weapons of
Mass Destruction (except his own) so that's what they talked about.

Bush's obsession with other people's terrorism distracts his own
population from the falling dollar as the US economy
nosedives. While growing numbers of people in the US suffer, Bush and
his gang are building up their military might as
their chosen way of maintaining dominance. Even though some European
leaders like to portray the US as brutal and
Europe as civilised, the truth is that the world economy is shaping
up much like it has always done - rival
capitalists ready to wage to war for their own interests, carving up
the world's resources. And the G8 is the dinner table.

EVIAN FOR A RIOT?

The anti-G8 protests kicked-off on Friday with a march of 4,000
winding its way round Geneva's international
institutions. It started at the headquarters of the World Trade
Organisation where protesters pulled the gates off and
threw bangers into the courtyard. Tear gas was fired outside the
headquarters of the International Organisation of
Migration responsible for forceful deportations in a world where the
free movement of money (but not people) is a
religion. Meanwhile in the French suburb of Geneva, the French
Socialist party decided to hold a counter conference
about globalisation - which the local French told SchNEWS was like
Neo-Labour trying to tell you they were against the
corporate takeover of hospitals. The conference got surrounded,
barricaded and attacked by a mixture of locals and
protesters throwing stones inside while undercover cops inside threw
tear gas out.

Sunday was the day of the main blockades and demonstrations, with
about 100,000 people taking part across three towns
in two countries. There were three camps, the idea being to stop the
roads that led to the conference. In Geneva three
bridges were occupied by one camp. Later on, the city saw the
smashing of bank windows and other corporate symbols.

The streets of Geneva became a graffiti artists' dream with slogans
in all languages adorning the boarded up shops. In
Lausanne the pink and silver marched out first, decorating the police
with glitter and stars, followed by the Black
Bloc who were somewhat less polite. The locals cheered them on as
they headed for the red zone, which contained the
hotels of the ever-so precious delegates. Meanwhile on Lake Geneva
delegates were crossing by ferry, as the roads to
Evian were not safe to open. A crew of new age pirates on rafts and
pedal boats tried to cross the lake to sink the
summit and would have made it if it wasn't not for those pesky
police. Then, of course, the protesters had to pay the
price for delaying the summit for hours. In Lausanne, police with
tanks, guns and gas had herded demonstrators back to
their council-provided, out-of-town campsite by mid-morning where
hundreds of them were illegally detained and held.

The police were as brutal and arbitrary as protesters have come to
expect. A British protester, Martin Shaw, was
seriously injured during an action blocking a road to the summit.
While hanging from a bridge on a rope stretched
across the highway police turned up and cut the rope. He fell 20
metres and suffered injuries to his back and legs. On
Monday a march with yet more extremists - this time calling for water
to be available for everyone, were surrounded by
riot police who began escalating the situation dramatically. One
protester described it as: "being put in a kettle and
boiled". Surrounded on all sides the police shot rubber bullets into
the crowd. Thousands of German 'police' in
unmarked, military uniforms joined in, stopping, searching and
shouting instructions in German at locals along the
lakefront. French speaking Geneva, in not-so-neutral Switzerland,
didn't take kindly to this German military invasion.

By the evening thousands of locals were chanting, "police off our
streets", only to be met with water cannons, tear
gas and plastic bullets. Local youth were soon masked up and took to
the streets. Dozens were injured in clashes with
the police.

One of the main local organisers said "We have to question their
actions. They are using indiscriminate force against
peaceful protesters and attempting to criminalise the whole
movement."

In the much-attacked global justice movement, local forums and
alliances of creative, committed groups rooted in
communities are working together, supporting each other and forming
the basis of a growing movement against
capitalism. It's a movement that celebrates diversity, taking
strength from the rich variety of people involved.

Inevitably politicians, the media and some monolithic sects try to
dictate how to protest and fragment people by
condemning anyone involved in property damage or self-defence. But as
one protester put it: "One illusion that needs
to be dispelled right now is the ritual separation between 'good' and
'bad' protesters, manufactured yet again by the
corporate media. All the blockade actions had the clear objective of
obstructing the arrival of G8 delegates. Whether
this is done through a sit-in, a street party or symbolic assaults on
corporate property we have (a) common goal."

For more on the protests: www.indymedia.org/g8/

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Crap Arrest of the Week

For being into Heavy Metal!
14 'devil worshippers' in Morocco received jail sentences ranging
from three months to one year for 'undermining the
Muslim faith' and 'possessing objects contrary to good morals'. Nine
of the men, belonged to local heavy metal bands
and the rest were fans. Among the objects exhibited in court to show
they were in league with the devil was a black
T-shirt with heavy metal symbols on it. This prompted the judge to
comment that 'normal people go to concerts in a
suit and tie'.

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Genetically Mobilised

Have your say over whether the government should allow the commercial
planting of genetically modified crops in UK,
you can register your opinions via the website
www.gmpublicdebate.org, or phone 020 7261 8528 for a paper form. It
is worth putting in yer tuppence worth, even if the government will
be
more likely to listen to their multi-million pound
big business chums who want to monopolise the food chain.

There are a series of public consultaion meetings in June: 7 Holiday
Inn, Taunton (2pm). ** 9 Kings Hall, Belfast
(2pm). ** 9 Shire Hall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, (1.30pm) ** 11
Quality Hotel, Glasgow (6pm). * *13 Pavilions,
Harrogate, (Yorkshire Showground, 2pm). ** 17 Awelon Hall, Ruthin,
Denbighshire (7.30pm). ** 18 Church House, Llanfair
Town Hall, Denbighshire (7.30pm).
Interesting to see there are no meetings in areas where most GM crops
will be grown! More information about the flawed
and biased governement "consultation" :
www.genewatch.org/Debate/Debate.htm

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Autonomista Tour!

Over the last year an incredible wave of social protest and action
has engulfed Argentina. In the midst of a severe
economic crisis people are improving their own lives without bosses
and politicians: over 200 factories are under
workers control, over 300 cooperatives have been formed by unemployed
people, countless neighbourhood associations
formed and many other autonomous popular initiatives. Two women from
the Piquetera (Unemployed Worker Movement) along
with a full length puppet show are touring the UK about these
inspiring grassroots organisations for global economic
justice and social change. www.autonomista.org

June: 16 Brighton 6pm, Cowley Club, 12 London Road. 18 Guildford 19
London 7pm, London Action Resource Centre, 62
Fieldgate St. 21 Durham Durham University part of the North East
Social Forum www.dur.ac.uk/durham.socialforum/NESF 23
Manchester TBC 25 Hebden Bridge 7.30pm The Trades Club. July: 1
Glasgow 7:30pm, Alexander Thompson Hotel, 320 Argyle
St. 2 Edinburgh 7.30pm Forest art space/café, Westport. 3 Edinburgh
7.30pm, CWU, 15 Brunswick Street. 5 Lancaster 8.30
pm, Lancaster Gregson Centre, Moor Lane 7 Bradford 7pm, 1in12 Club,
21-23 Albion St. Leeds (8) Liverpool (9) Cardiff
(11) and Belfast & Dublin.

For more details, venues and times see www.londonarc.org or ring 020
7377 9088

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4th July, Party for Independence from the USA

You are cordially invited to the Gatecrasher's Ball, Menwith Hill Spy
Base, North York Moors. Put on a party mask and
wear your best tuxedo or ball gown. Bring food, a bottle of bubbly,
party poppers, ladders, etc.

For your entertainment there will be sound systems, samba, bands and
speakers including comedian Mark Thomas.

Menwith is America's leading spy base outside the US and played a
crucial role in both Gulf wars. It is also central
to plans for the "Star Wars" National Missile Defence programme.

Transport from Brighton - tickets from Community Base, Queens Road
and Cowley Club, London Road.

More information: 01943 466405 www.caab.org.uk

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NEW SchNEWS ANNUAL OUT FOR GLASTONBURY

A new SchNEWS annual is out soon. This year it is a collection of our
stuff since April 2002 - which means that it's
heavily focussed on direct action against the war in Iraq. Read about
all the stuff that the 'meeja' didn't cover -
like the repeated direct action against military bases in England,
around Europe and elsewhere. Add to that articles
about Palestine, Argentina and the usual range of piss-taking
cartoons, subverts graphics, photos and more.

We're taking advanced orders now - to help us pay the printer - and
you'll be posted one as soon as we get back from
Glastonbury (and when we sober up). Copies will be available at
Glastonbury and many summer events after that. If you
can distribute a box in your area get in contact. Copies of SchNEWS
Of The World (Annual 2002) - still a cracking read
- is available at Strawberry Fair for a cut down price of £5.

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Information and Entertainment

Keep up to date with what's happening with our Party and Protest
guide on the web. www.schnews.org.uk/pap/guide.htm
and submit your events. And here's some more useful resources...

** Festival Eye. £3.50 (postal order/cheque to Festival Eye) plus an
A4 addressed envelope from BCM 2002, London, WC1N

3XX. www.festivaleye.com

** Guilfin's Something For the Weekend - a weekly info-burst, keeping
you up to date with the latest festival, party,

gigs dates, and all the upcoming campaigns. www.guilfin.net

** Free parties: check out www.partyvibe.com/freeparties.htm

** www.protest.net reports actions around the world

** Animal Rights Calendar - www.veggies.org.uk/calendar, or in
ARCNEWS, 0845 458 0146

** Indymedia for latest reports of protest and news you won't see on
TV. www.uk.indymedia.org

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S.W.A.B. Squad

Summer's here and despite the best efforts of the authorities free
parties are still happening up and down the
country. While people were dishing out a fortune during the last Bank
Holiday to go to Homelands to see "superstars
DJ's... the internationalist elite" a few thousand were partying for
free at an 'illegal rave' in Leominster, Herefordshire.

Avon and Somerset cops however are promising there'll be no free fun
for those unable to afford a ticket for
Glastonbury: "Local police are working to identify likely sites for
illegal raves. The police have particular powers
to deal with these events and will use them in accordance with the
Human Rights Law." The enlightened Smeatharpe
Parish Magazine has also promised that steps have been taken to
prevent a repeat of last years festival , when several
thousand "unwashed drug-addicts and criminals" partied on the old
airfield near Honiton, Devon. Infact if ever there
was a perfect site to put on a free party it is here. Miles from the
nearest village, lots of space and hard standing

- the last time SchNEWS went there, half the village told the cops to
get lost and then turned up to enjoy the festie
themselves!

Corporate cocksuckers like the Mean Kiddie Fiddler have been busy
over the years moving in on the dance scene (and now
Glastonbury) - which is great if you like overpriced water, being
spied on by cops, big fences and dumb shit bouncers.

Infact SchNEWS can't wait for their "Tribal Gathering" anniversary
bash in a ready made dirty warehouse in Manchester
for £30 to relive the old aciieeed house days.

Meanwhile people going to this years V festivals can look forward to
having to provide swab samples from their hands
to see if they've taken drugs. A small, sensitive detector will pick
up microscopic traces of drugs in four seconds
and flash green, amber or red to show whether or not they're a drug
crazed maniac. It's voluntary but anyone refusing
to take part will no doubt be searched.

Free festie info: www.guilfin.net/extra/freeparties.php

Read why Mean Fiddler are such tossers
www.urban75.com/Rave/raverant.html

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SchNEWS in brief

** Evolving Minds - new Undercurrents video offering a radical
perspective on alternatives to the mental health
system, exploring shamanism, nutrition, psychotherapy, meditation and
protests against mental health legislation.

Available from Organic Shamanic, Brighton (£6.50) and Undercurrents
01865 203661 (£8 including UK p&p)

www.undercurrents.org

** Don't Back Down! detailed manual of how to take direct action and
avoid the consequences. Published by the
Revolution Now Press & Distro of 808, 14th Street, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0P8 Donations.

** Congrats to Squall, the online broadsheet of radical journalism,
on reaching their 10th birthday. Here's to ten
more. www.squall.co.uk

** If you want a giggle then SchNEWS recommends you get yerself the
latest copy of 'Now That's What I Call Marxist.'
Send an SAE to SchNEWS Towers or check out
www.worldsocialism.org/spgb

** 'Fanning the Flames' is the new guide from Campaign Against Arms
Trade - giving the low down on the UK's weapons
sales to conflict zones around the world. For copies call 020 7281
0297 www.caat.org.uk

** SchWOOPS! Last week we reported that President Mobutu of Congo was
assassinated in 1996. He was in fact overthrown
when Rwandan and Ugandan forces (with US support) invaded the country
in October of that year, forcing him to flee.

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DU Unto Others...

Last Thursday was the second International Day of Action Against
Depleted Uranium (DU). Actions included die-ins at
test sites and people in chemical suits in town centres handing out
leaflets. Some people were nicked in Tuscon, USA,
for warning people about the health effects of DU ammo at an army
recruiting centre.

In London protestors were warned by cops that they could be nicked
for displaying a poster of a deformed new born baby
because they were obscene images! Er, exactly. Dropping DU bombs is
obscene, but then we don't want to upset the commuters do we?

DU is quite simply a nuclear weapon and already troops have started
reporting symptoms of Gulf War syndrome. According
to Dr Chris Busby, a nuclear physicist and Gulf war veterans'
representative, this is probably caused by the massive
amounts of depleted uranium weaponry used in the recent war on Iraq
(see SchNEWS 406). While the neurological effects
of Gulf War syndrome are most likely caused by vaccinations and
anti-gas pills. Genetic effects such as chromosomal,
immune system damage and cancer are caused by radiation. Dr Busby
said "The Government is turning a blind eye to the
problem... If they acknowledge that depleted uranium munitions cause
horrendous problems for civilians and for their
own troops, they'll have to withdraw those weapons from service."

Campaign Against Depleted Uranium. 0161 273 8293 www.cadu.org.uk

* In Afghanistan high levels of uranium have been found in the urine
of Afghan civilians, 400 to 2000% above normal
levels. Civilians in Kabul have reported pains in joints, back/kidney
pain, muscle weakness, memory problems and
confusion and disorientation. Many of these symptoms are found in
Gulf War and Balkans veterans and civilians. Those
exposed to the bombing report symptoms of flu-type illnesses,
bleeding, runny noses and blood-stained mucous. The
report by the Uranium Medical Research Centre says that it has not
detected depleted uranium, but that the military
may have used other sources of uranium (still toxic and radioactive)
thanks to their new cave busting bombs. Of the
contamination the report says "These levels of uranium internal
contamination are considered medically significant.

They point to a potential public health disaster for Afghanistan if
corroborated by on-going studies of a wider
population and bombsites." So much for liberation.

Read the report at www.umrc.net/AfghanistanOEF.asp

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Childs Play

With confirmation that US and British military forces in Iraq used
cluster bombs in built-up areas, the extent of the
continuing danger to civilians of death or injury from unexploded
bombs and bomblets is coming to light. Children are
particularly threatened as they scavenge for firewood or for metal
components of shells to sell.

There are reckoned to be up to 10,000 unexploded bombs and mines
littering Iraq, and with the onset of the hot season
the situation is made even more dangerous, as the heat alone can
cause them to explode. Paul Hannon, editor of the

Landmine Monitor Report explains ".they are designed to destroy heavy
armour.When they explode near people, they can
injure or kill anyone in a 150m area. One cluster bomb contains
between 200 and 300 tiny bomblets, and they often do
not all immediately explode. Most people do not recognise the danger
of them."

Two weeks ago, six Iraqi children were killed and another ten injured
trying to dismantle an unexploded bomb.
Christian Aid emergency officer Dominic Nutt says: "This is happening
every day, it doesn't always get reported
officially." www.landmineaction.org

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Macedraconian

For the past two weeks seven hundred Kosovo Romani, Ashkaelia and
Egyptian refugees have been stuck on the Macedonian
border, huddling together on a bare plateau, without tents, blankets
or fuel while Macedonian border officials stop
them from entering Greece. This is in violation of the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, which
states: "Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his
own."

The refugees arrived at the Macedonian town of Medzitlija, near the
Greek border, after their camp in Skopje was
closed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
The camp had provided them with 'surrogate
protection' since their escape from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in
1999, which claimed 80,000 Roma victims. The UNHCR,
gradually withdrew basic services including schooling, medical
provision and food aid, then closed the camp at the end
of March. They advised the refugees to seek alternative settled
accommodation, or else their temporary status would
not be renewed and their presence in Macedonia would be considered
illegal.

Doctors are warning that, denied proper shelter, food, water and
medical care, deaths could occur at any time among
the refugees, which include 270 children and ten pregnant women. The
Macedonian Helsinki Committee has urged Prime
Minister Branko Crvenkovki to wave a visa agreement and give priority
to the right of the refugees to leave the
country. However, despite appeals, the border remains closed.

To email your objections to Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka
Mitreva go to: www.romanetwork.org/protest2.htm

More information at: www.lafn.org/~romanokongreso and
www.oneworld.net

* Refugee Week runs from 16-22 June. For details of actions see
www.ncadc.org.uk

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Inside SchNEWS

There are lots of trials coming up for people nicked during anti- war
protests and they would love your support.

On June 20th a British court will have to decide for the first time
whether the Iraq war was legal. This is because
various people who were nicked at Fairford airbase, will argue that
they had a "lawful excuse" for commiting criminal
damage at the airbase where bombers were bring loaded up to drop
bombs on the people of Iraq.

* The trial of over 20 people charged with highway obstruction at a
mass blockade of Britain's military HQ at
Northwood takes place on 17th June at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates
Court. Support welcome, phone 020 7937 0561.

* Four people from Pitstop Ploughshares who disarmed a US warplane,
at Shannon airport in Ireland are in court on the
24th June. www.ploughsharesireland.org

* Danish grandmother Ulla Roder is on trial later this month after
disarming a Tornado jet. She is currently on remand
after breaking into RAF Leuchars in Fife and smashing up the jet,
causing over £1 million worth of damage www.free-ulla.org

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...and finally...

Forget terrorism, poverty, disease and capitalism, according to the
King of Swaziland the cause of all the world's
troubles is women wearing trousers. In a state radio sermon the
absolute monarch complained that human rights were an
"abomination before God" and that "The Bible says curse be unto a
woman who wears pants, and those who wear their
husband's clothes. That is why the world is in such a state today."

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For Your Eyes Only Disclaimer
SchNEWS warns all conspiracy theorists SchNEWS is produced by
intelligent rogues not rogue Intelligence. Honest. (More
secret messages next week, M.)

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SchNEWS Of The World - issues 301-350 for £7!! Past books are goin'
cheap... SchNEWSround issues 51-100 - SOLD OUT;

SchNEWS annual issues 101-150 - going for £3!! Survival Handbook
issues 151-200 - also at £3; SchQUALL issues 201-250

- almost sold out - £7; Yearbook 2001 issues 251-300 - bargain £5.
Add £1.50 p&p for each book, cheques to Justice?

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@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute!

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