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06-01-2009 18:16: Breaking news 42 killed as Israel bombs school in Dozens killed in strikes on UN schools in Gaza

02-01-2009 19:14 | 1 comment

Gaza protests across the South

EMERGENCY protests were held across the South of England on Saturday against Israel's horrific attack on the Palestinians of Gaza.

Hundreds took to the streets in both Brighton and Portsmouth as anger mounts over the growing death toll and indifference of western capitalist states like the UK.

In Brighton a huge protest of several hundred people staged a rally and then set off on an 'unauthorised' march from Churchill Square to the Palace Pier and back, with banners, spirited chants and leaflets getting the message across to shoppers, drivers and residents.

And in Portsmouth about 300 protesters showed up at Guildhall Square to voice their anger.

A rally was held with several speakers, two of them Palestinians, followed by a march through the city center to a Tesco's store where leaflets were distributed to shoppers.

Smaller events were also held in Hastings and Tunbridge Wells, on top of the big march in London.

With Israel's tanks now rolling into Gaza, the fury and size of the protests across the world can only increase in days and weeks to come.

The whole world is watching while Gaza burns and implodes under the might of Israel's military machine. On all major news outlets the charred remains and scattered bodies are a graphic reality TV horror show, right down to the shrouded bundles of what was once 5 little girls who sought safety in a mosque only to be incinerated in a direct hit.

The collective punishment of civilians is a war crime.

14-12-2008 08:54 | 1 comment

Titnore Woods battle goes on!

DETERMINED eco-protesters in Worthing are facing up to the hardest challenge yet in their two and a half year occupation of threatened woodland.

The freezing temperatures and stormy conditions mean life is currently no picnic for the hardy protesters camped out in Titnore Woods, West Durrington, in a last-ditch bid to try and stop a new housing estate and Tesco megastore from being built over green fields and ancient woodland.

And grateful local supporters are organising a pre-Christmas stall in the town centre to bring festive cheer to the tree-house dwellers, who moved onto the site back in May 2006.

They will be collecting provisions for the protesters under the title "A Hamper for a Camper" at Holder's Corner, Montague Street, Worthing, on Saturday December 20, from 11am.

23-11-2008 07:38

Victory for Brighton Starbucks protesters?

THE CONTROVERSIAL Starbucks cafe in Brighton, which has been the subject of a longstanding campaign, may now be forced to close. The report has come from the BBC and, although protesters are not counting their chickens yet, the signs are encouraging.

The most recent big protest in St James St was on Saturday November 29. It marked the sixth month anniversary of the cafe opening without plannimg permission and against the wishes of lots of local residents and traders.

29-10-2008 20:40 | 4 additions | 1 comment

Solidarity Actions in the West Bank, Gaza and the UK

On 29th October 2008, the 60th anniversary of massacres in the Palestinian villages of Safsaf, al-Dawayima and Kafr Qasim, British activists were aboard the Dignity which sailed into Gaza. The boat which set sail from Cyprus the day before, was the second succesful attempt by the Free Gaza Movement to break the siege of Gaza, which has been imposed since last year. Carrying a contingent of doctors and medicines ,including cough mixtures which are no longer available in Gaza, the activists are set to meet up with fellow activists who have been in Gaza since the first sailing in August 2008.

In the West Bank, a delegation from the Brighton Tubas Region Friendship and Solidarity Group had arrived in the Tubas Region of the Occupied West Bank a week earlier. Reports sent home from the delegation record incidents such as attacks by Settlers, continued land theft, and enforced water shortages. The group which aims to highlight Israeli war crimes against Palestinians in the region, raise awareness about life under occupation and create practical solidarity links between grassroots organisations in Brighton and Tubas region, is currently assisting with the olive harvest at the village of Al Masra.

28-10-2008 17:59

Brighton group Joins Olive Harvest Campaign in Palestine

A delegation of eight people from Brighton arrived in the Tubas region of occupied Palestine last week. The delegation is part of the project by the Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group. The group's aims are to highlight Israeli war crimes against Palestinians in the region, raise awareness about life under occupation and create practical solidarity links between grassroots organisations in Brighton and Tubas region. Members of the delegation are currently visiting the threatened village of Al Masra to assist them with their olive harvest.

On Tuesday 28th the group was attacked by a group of Israeli settlers who proceeded to steal olives from the farmers the group was accompanying. One of the settlers was the same man who had murdered a teenage boy in the village earlier this year.

Delegation Report Back Meeting at 7pm at the Friends Meeting House, Ship St, Brighton

Reports from the Brighton Tubas Group: One Day the Chains Must be Broken| IDF shoot man in El Far'a refugee camp| Land Confiscation in Atoof | Living in the Shadow of Al Hamra | Struggle for Survival in Al Hadidya | Ethnic Cleansing in Al Farisiya| Military repression in Atoof | Said Lataba – After 31 Years in Prison, Sends A Message of Peace and Humanity| Makhool; After Hadidya we are Next

Press Releases from the Brighton-Tubas Solidarity Group:Brighton Delegation Arrives in Palestine|Sussex University Students make Links with Palestinians Under Occupation|Brighton Delegation joins Olive Harvest in Al Masra| Brighton-Tubas delegation and Palestinian farmers attacked by Israeli settlers|

Links: Jordan Valley Solidarity| Palestine Solidarity Campaign | International Solidarity Movement in Palestine | Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign | Stop the Wall in Palestine

15-10-2008 10:12

Anti-Arms Protesters Shut ITT

A mass protest against Brighton-based arms manufacturers EDO MBM/ITT took place on 15 October, 2008. Organised by the Smash EDO campaign, the event was called Shut ITT! and was the third such demonstration this year. Last June, Brighton saw the Carnival Against the Arms Trade, organised by Smash EDO too.

As the 400-strong march was prevented by police from reaching the EDO factory, 40 bottles of red paint were thrown over the back fence by a group of protesters who split off. The 'bomb factory' was reportedly shut down for the day. At least 10 people were arrested and some injured from police violence, including a photographer.

Reports: Full timeline | Press releases: 1 | 2 | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |5 |6
More: FITwatchers perspective | Message from Smash EDO

08-10-2008 08:26

Brighton bomb factory clash ahead

A SHOW of strength by the police is expected by anti-war protesters gathering in Brighton on Wednesday October 15.

A mass demo against the South Coast city's weapons factory, EDO-MBM/ITT, is being staged and after the success of the last one, cops are thought to be planning a hardline approach.

Since 2001 over a million people have been killed worldwide by the US-UK War of Terror. EDO MBM/ITT supply weapons components for the US-UK war machine. Smash EDO has been campaigning for four and a half years to close down EDO.

The movement is growing - in June this year over 600 people came from around the country to the ‘Carnival Against the Arms Trade’. The Carnival managed to reach the Brighton bomb factory despite police attempts to stop it!

07-10-2008 14:16 | 1 addition

Shut ITT!

Every bomb that is dropped and every bullet that is fired in the name of this war of terror has to be made somewhere and wherever that is it can be resisted...

The movement against EDO MBM/ITT is growing, in June this year over 600 people came from around the country to the ‘Carnival Against the Arms Trade’. The Carnival managed to reach the Brighton bomb factory despite police attempts to corral the march

On October 15th Smash EDO are planning another mass demonstration against the Brighton bomb builders [Press Release]

Resources: Webpage for the Shut ITT Demonstration - Info on accomodation and transport | Open Letter to Sussex Police| Campaigners say Shut ITT | More Info about the Smash EDO Campaign (pdf) | Info about the Merger with ITT (pdf)

28-09-2008 05:58 | 4 additions | 5 comments

Carmel-Agrexco shut down as part of 'Boycott Israeli Goods' week of action

Human rights activists shut down the Carmel-Agrexco depot in Hayes, Middlesex, for 12 hours on 28 September, 2008, as part of a week of action called by the Boycott Israeli Goods campaign. Both gates to the depot were blocked, with four protesters locking themselves inside a cage blocking one gate, while another was D-locked to the other. At least 14 trucks were prevented from entering the premises during the day. One protester was arrested for 'obstruction of the highway'.

The day before, at about 3:30am, activists with tipper trucks had dumped builders rubble across both gates of the depot. Protests against the sale of Israeli produce from occupied Palestinian land also took place outside supermarkets around the country, which account for 60% of Carmel-Agrexco's total exports.

Previous Actions: Carmel Agrexco's Depot Shut Down in Commemoration of the Nakba | Fortress Carmel Agrexco breached by Peace Activists | Video - Carmel Agrexco protest during Camp for Climate Action | Weekend of Action Against Carmel Agrexco | Activists Blockade Carmel-Agrexco's UK Headquarters for the Third Time | International Actions against Israeli Apartheid

Further reading: Text of letter to Carmel-Agrexco | Report on Carmel's involvement in the Jordan Valley | War on Want's report: Profiting from the Occupation

Links: Palestine Solidarity Campaign | The Big Campaign

30-08-2008 15:55

Starbucks leaves bitter taste in Brighton

FRAPPACINOS, that flipping ‘Friends’ sofa or how about smartening the street up? These are some of the top arguments in favour of the latest shiny, corporate addition to this city.

Starbucks, yes, shitty Starbucks! A scummy company no question about it.

A corporate vulture in fact, guilty of a friendly lil business practice known as cannibalisation where sister stores are opened to feed and compete with each others custom, slowly squeezing the local cafes out – there are worryingly now five SBs in this city alone and SB’s HQ have stated they plan to roll out another 100 stores in our lucky country this year; supplying coffee to Guantanamo Bay (to pour over the inmates no doubt); and of course, lovely homogenisation. One day we’ll all wake up to find out that blessed Brighton has overnight turned into one big shiny soulless commercialised consumer’s wet dream.

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