send in your links for non-governmental organisations: links at badgerpromotions.co.uk Alternative Living / Environment / Other / Politics / Campaigns / Animal Rights / Drugs / Cannabis Campaign......... Alternative Living: International Communities Directory http://www.ic.org Diggers and Dreanmers: Guide to Communal living in Britain. http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/ see also entry for Gwerin Housing Association on Diggers and Dreamers site Some examples of communities in the UK http://www.cohousing.co.uk/ http://www.canonfromecourt.org.uk/ http://www.frankleigh.com/ Tinkers Bubble, Somerset, UK http://www.tlio.demon.co.uk/tinkers.htm Contact: Tinker's Bubble, Little Norton, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, TA14 6TE Tel: 01935 881975 Eco Villages UK http://www.ecovillages.org/uk/network/ The Land Is Ours http://www.tlio.org.uk/ Global Ecovillage Network http://gen.ecovillage.org/index.html Pranksters & Political Comedians: Mark Thomas (as in 'Mark Thomas Comedy Product') www.channel4.com/news/microsites/M/mark_thomas/ (official Channel 4 site) or, alternatively: www.mtcp.co.uk/ Chris Morris (Social Satirist, creator of Brass Eye and The Day Today - no offical website) www.cookdandbombd.co.uk www.rethink.demon.co.uk/laugh Howard Stern (US Radio Shock-Jock - no official website) www.koam.com www.eonline.com/On/Howard www.animaux.net/stern Michael Moore (US political satirist and film-maker. Directed Bowling for Columbine) Official Site: www.michaelmoore.com or visit the site of his film company www.dogeatdogfilms.com Marcel Duchamp (Artist, enfant terrible of the Dadaist art movement) www.marcelduchamp.net www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/duchamp_marcel.html www.understandingduchamp.com Cosey Fanni Tutti (British feminist artist and activist. Founder member of controversial, experimental, band, The Throbbing Gristle) www.coseyfannitutti.com The Mongrel Collective (London-based group of political satirists and artists) www.mongrelx.com Space Hi-jackers http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk/ Politics: Stop The War - National Demo April 12th The next national demo will take place on 12th April, rallying before the march at 12 noon in central London. Coaches are being booked right now. For details or to book tickets, phone: 0791 9430059 or 0794 9028362. Birmingham Stop the War Coalition c/o Birmingham Trades Council 168 Corporation Street B4 6TF Chair: Salma Yaqoob Vice-Chair: Dougla Jewell Tel: 07949 028362 website: www.birminghamstopthewar.org email: Birmingham_Stop_The_War@hotmail.com Bush Posters http://www.bushposters.com Noam Chomsky: http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/ http://monkeyfist.com:8080/ChomskyArchive http://www.noamchomsky.com/ Anarchist Federation http://burn.ucsd.edu/~acf/ or Anarchist Federation 84B, Whitechapel High Street London, E1 7QX Tel: 07946 214590 Website: www.afed.org.uk E-mail: anarchistfederation@bigfoot.com Bilderberg http://www.bilderberg.org/ 'Under the Pavement' New Anarchist Radio Show broadcasting on South Manchester's ALL FM 96.9 (Every 4 weeks, Tuesday, 10pm-Midnight) Details: 'Under the Pavement' ALL FM 96.9 6 Newton Avenue Longsight, Manchester M12 4EW Website: www.underthepavement.org Disrupt the "Transforming Defence" Conference Visit: www.disobedience.org.uk Foil The Base Demonstration Demo at Menwith Hill Spy Base Tel: 07905 913139 www.now-peace.org.uk Reclaim the Bases Weekend of protest at mitlitary bases across the UK www.reclaimthebases.org.uk Really Big Blockade Faslane Naval Base, Scotland (Trident). Tel: 0141 4231222 www.banthebomb.org Campaigns: Our Rights McSpotlight http://www.mcspotlight.org Make Trade Fair http://www.maketradefair.com Stop Esso http://www.stopesso.org LEONARD PELTIER NORTHWEST LEONARD PELTIER SUPPORT NETWORK TACOMA OFFICE P.O. BOX 5464 TACOMA, WA 98415-0464 E-MAIL: NatAimer@aol.com or bayou@blarg.net B.I.G Campaign (Boycott Israeli Goods) Box BM PSA London WCIN 3XX Email: big@palestinecampaign.org OR The B.I.G Campaign in Scotland Email: rossinjoppa@aol.com http://www.boycottisrael.co.uk. THE JUSTICE LOBBY Joint Undertaking for Social Transformation, Individual & Community Empowerment P.O. Box 55070 Pittsburgh, PA 15207 Justicelobby@cs.com M.O.J.O. Miscarriages of Justice Organisation 52 Outmore rd Sheldon Birmingham B33 OXL (uk+44) 0121 789 8443 0207 689 1817 0141 649 6524 mojonational@aol.com No Platform Anti-fascist Network BM BOX 5827 London WC1M 3XX http://nav.to/noplatform Waste Connect The most comprehensive environmental information website. Helps put you in touch with local organsiations who will recycle anything from fridges and computers to car batterries garden soil and mobile phones. Surfers Against Sewage Wheal kitty Workshops St Agnes Cornwall TR5 ORD 0845 458 3001 info@sas.org.uk http://www.sas.org.uk BM Mayday London WC1N 3XX 07786 716 335 http://www.ourmayday.org.uk londonmayday@yahoo.co.uk festivalofalternatives@yahoo.com Thames Water have set up a website associated with Water Aid and will donate 100,000 pounds (which will provide safe drinking water for Life to 6,000 people in Africa and Asia) if they have 2,000,000 visitors to the site in the next 12 weeks. It only takes a few seconds to visit the site and click on the 'Click Here" message at: http://www.givewater.org/ Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Group Network c/o BM BOx 2407 London WC1N 3XX http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk Animal Rights: Green Meadow Animal Sanctuary Quarry Farm Great Moor Pattingham Wolverhampton 01902 701743 info@greenmeadow.org.uk http://www.greenmeadow.org.uk Hunt Sabs: East Devon Sabs PO BOX 129 Plymouth PL1 1RY sabs@devoneast.freeserve.co.uk http://www.devoneast.freeserve.co.uk Save The Shamrock Monkeys Po Box 3090 Brighton BN1 3QU 07020 936956 Stop Huntington Cruelty PO BOX 381 Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL50 1YN info@shac.u-net.com http://www.welcome.to/shac Stop Quintiles Animal tests PO BOX 127 Kidderminster Worcs DY10 3UZ 01562 745778 ARCNEWS PO BOX 339 Wolverhampton WV10 7BZ 01902 711935 Save the New Church Guineapigs PO BOX 74 Evesham Worcestershire WR11 5WF 01902 564734 http://www.guineapigs.org.uk Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty PO BOX 381 Cheltenham Glos 0845 458 0630 ALF Supporters Group BCM 1160 LOndon WCIN 3XX 1003021616@compuserve.com Vegan Prisoners Support Group PO BOX 194 Enfield Middx EN1 3HD 0208292 8325 hvpc@vpsg.freeserve.co.uk Vegetarian Guides ltd PO BOX 2284 London W1A 5UH England http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk Animal Free Footwear Freerangers 9b Marquis court Low Prudhoe Northumberland NE42 6PJ T: 01661 831781 E: 01661 831781 W: www.freerangers.co.uk The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust 10 Queensferry Street Edinburgh EH2 $PG T: 0131 2256039 E: marchigtrust@marchigawt.org Free rangers Marchig Animal Welfare Trust Drugs: Cosmic Mushrooms-www.geosites.com/tokyo/towers/4274 Deoxy-www.deoxy.org Fray-www.fray.com High Times-www.hightimes.com Hyperreal-www.hyperreal.com Lycaeum-www.lycaeum.org Nicholus Saunders-www.ecstasy.org Terrance McKenna-www.levity.com/eschaton/hyperborea.html Timothy Leary-www.interverse.com/leary Tripping Out-www.techno.org/trippingout Cannabis Campaign: Cannabis Campaign Guide and Books Legalise Cannabis Alliance C.L.C.I.A. Cures not Wars Erics Kitchen Howard Marks Schmoo Connection Transform Cannabis Cannabis American Cannabis Society 420 Station Pukka Seeds: http://www.ganja.co.uk Cannabis Campaigning Organisations Birmingham I.C.C. Co-ordinator Osborne Douglas 8 Florence Road Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7DD 0121 242 3615 Cannabis Campaign: Festival office, Brixton 0207 7373044 p.free@yesmate.com • Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association (CLCIA), 63 Peacock Street, Norwich, NR 3 17B. Phone: 01603 625 780. E mail: steve@mtxnet.co.uk Web: http://www.ukcia.org.uk - National network of affiliated groups. Excellent website resources, also educational leaflets, eyecatching stickers etc. • Legalise Cannabis Alliance, PO Box 198, Norwich, NR2 2DH . Tel: 01603 442215. Website: http://www.lca-uk.org - Officially established political party which is putting up candidates in elections with surprising success - especially in putting pressure on the other parties to change their wishy washy policies. Go to website to read and endorse their policies. Publish 'CANNABIS: LEGALISE AND UTILISE: A MANIFESTO AND INFORMATION DOCUMENT 2000' (ISBN 0-9535693-1-4) Price 5.00. To order on line go to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0953569314/webbooks05 • International Cannabis Coalition (UK), PO Box 2243, London, W1A 1YF, UK. Voice: 020 7637 7467. Fax: 0870 0548646. E Mail: may2001@schmoo.co.uk Web: http://www.cannabiscoalition.org National & international coalition which coordinates the annual Cannabis March & Festival in London as part of an international day of action on cannabis. Aims to unite those who support an end to cannabis prohibition worldwide. Now planning third consecutive event: Sat May 5th 2001. Last year (May 6th 2000) saw similar events on over 80 cities worldwide. • Cannabis In Avalon. (CIA) PO Box 2223, Glastonbury, UB6 9RD. Phone: 01458 833 236. Mobile: 0966 396 444. Various educational projects plus activities including 'guerilla' planting. Currently organising 'Free Cannabis in the Park', "high noon", 30th Sep, Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, London to mark 71 years of prohibition. • Legalise Cannabis Campaign Scotland. PO Box 12758, Edinburgh, EH8 9YP. Phone: 0131 667 6488. Email: stuey@easynet.co.uk Website: http://www.thepulse.co.uk/lcc.scotland Campaigning in Scotland. • Church of the Sacred Herb. 01603 625780. Spiritual cannabis users campaigning for human rights. Other Campaigning organisations supporting end to cannabis prohibition • Green Party Drugs Group. 73 Brailsford Road, London SW2 2TB. Phone: 020 8671 5936 http://www.greenparty.org.uk/drugs . Email: greenpartydrugsgroup@gn.apc.org - The Green Party recently changed their policy to one supporting regulated legalisation of cannabis and other drugs. The Drugs Group, as part of the Green Party, works in all areas of drug related politics but is particularly active in the cannabis movement and festival. Send email for the Green Party drug use policy. Green Party Drugs Group. 1a Waterlow Road, London, N19 5NJ. Phone: 0181 671 5936 Email: shane@gn.apc.org - The Green Party recently changed their policy to one supporting full legalisation of cannabis. The Drugs Group, as part of the Green Party, works in all areas of drug politics but is particularly active in the cannabis movement. • Transform. PO Box 59, 82 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5BB. Phone: 0117 939 8052. Fax: 0117 939 4425. http://www.transform.org.uk E mail: DannyKushlick@compuserve.com - Calls for the legalisation of all drugs including cannabis whose legalisation they see as being the first step towards a workable drugs policy. • Campaign Against Narcotic Abuse Because of Ignorance in Society (CANABIS), Haz Manor, 1-2 Bramingham Lane, Streatley, nr Luton, Beds , LU3 3NL. Phone: 01582 750727. Fax: 01582 583031. E mail: exoduscollective@csi.com - Masterminded by the 'Exodus Collective' in Luton, 'Canabis' is concerned that backward thinking on cannabis is holding back progress in preventing and healing the ravages of drug abuse in society. • Family Council on Drug Awareness Europe, c/o Rosa Munda, 12490 Vila du tarn, Aveyron, France. Tel/Fax : +00 33 5 65 62 57 40. FCDA is an educational organisation originating in America with numerous branches in the States. FCDA, Europe, is autonomous associate. They recently released a report, Cannabis: the facts, human rights and the law, which calls on governments to "Abolish their Prohibitions, regulations and restrictions on Cannabis, to put an end to this tyranny and to redress all the injustices perpetrated there under." •Highlife Magazine Editor: Rob Tuinstra, PO Box 6024, 1005 EA Amsterdam. •Dordtse Weedcup: Binnenalevest 159/165, 3311AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. jangrow@hotmail.com. Organises an annual Dordtse Weedcup boat trip with live music. McLibel Support Campaign / London Greenpeace 5 Caledonian Rd, London, N1 9DX, UK. Tel/Fax +44-(0)171 713 1269 Email: mclibel@globalnet.co.uk Internet info:www.mcspotlight.org Statement (Updated May 2000) WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM McLIBEL ? Around the world there is a war being waged on society by a powerful minority who seek to control and use other people, animals and the planet in order to make profits for themselves. But many around the world are fighting back, for ecological sustainability and for freedom for all people and animals. Increasingly companies are turning to the courts to suppress this dissent and opposition. But the thousands of people around the world who participated in the McLibel battle have demonstrated that when people are organised and defiant these corporations do not succeed in getting everything their own way, and that court cases can instead be used as an opportunity to draw the issues to the attention of many more people. In September 1990 McDonald's issued libel writs in order to suppress the distribution (at that time in the thousands) of London Greenpeace anti-McDonald's leaflets, and with the wider aim of frightening off and silencing all other critics of the company. Instead the leafletting has mushroomed since the writs were served and there is a much greater public awareness of what McDonald's really represents - for us it is a symbol of a whole system geared to ruthless exploitation and profit. The 'McSpotlight' Internet site, with over 75 million 'hits' in its first 3 1/2 years, has enabled campaigners, researchers, journalists and interested people world-wide to have immediate access to a huge range of anti-McDonald's material and news. This victory in defiance of McDonalds' threats demonstrates the power that ordinary people have when they believe in themselves and fight back against the powerful institutions who currently control our lives and the planet. The company had predicted that the case would last '3-4 weeks', but instead it was turned into an extensive public tribunal in which corporate 'McWorld' was put on trial. McDonald's spent an estimated £10 million as against a defence total of £35,000 raised from public donations. Despite all the cards being stacked against them, and the vast amount of work involved, it was an amazing and empowering experience for the defendants (and for others too). People rallied round to help out in all kinds of practical ways: as witnesses; helping with admin; giving legal advice; sending copies of press cuttings & company documents, money and even just messages of support. The defendants were determined to be seen as fighters rather than passive 'victims'. Representing themselves in such a huge trial was exhausting but was also the most rewarding aspect of the trial, giving them the opportunity to challenge corporate propaganda head on, bring out previously secret information about the company and put forward an alternative world view. Critics of McDonald's and of the food industry in general were completely vindicated by the evidence, the judge making some damning major findings against the company's core business practices. Following this McDonald's capitulated by abandoning all efforts to get costs, damages or an injunction to stop the leafleting (which had been their primary aim). But none of this would have been effective without the actions of thousands of ordinary people continuing to distribute leaflets, ensuring that the public heard the other side of the story to that spun by McDonald's. The McLibel Support Campaign was set up by volunteers to galvanise public interest and support, to help with legal finances and practical tasks, but amazingly for most of the time it was run from an office in someone's bedroom. Despite this it succeeded in ensuring that the private and often seemingly obscure legal battle in the courtroom became a public issue fought and won in the court of public opinion and on the street. Regular supporters' mailouts, hundreds of e-mailings and numerous international 'Days of Action' were organised to ensure the public got to hear about the issues. Although the media (establishment and alternative) were consistently contacted and given reports of what was going on, the capitalist media largely trivialised or ignored the case, focussing on the personal side rather than the real issues. The campaign, with varying success, also made links with residents' associations opposing plans for new McDonald's stores, gave encouragement to kids wanting to circulate anti-Ronald leaflets, and made contacts with disgruntled employees. So, despite being up against one of the most successful propaganda organisations in the world, campaigners were able to throw the company so much on the defensive that after the trial their usual sophisticated PR was reduced to an embarrassed silence on the subject. The courts were also shown to be powerless in the face of mass defiance. DIY VICTORY This was a real DIY victory, echoing other recent movements defying legal suppression - e.g. over issues of free speech, rights to organise and demonstrate, and to party, Poll Tax, environmental and animal rights direct actions, occupations of empty homes and buildings, and workers' struggles. We can all benefit from those movements which have gone before, giving us the perspective and strength to be able to fight and win current battles and ultimately, the long war for a better world. Social inequalities and controls, and conflict and environmental destruction are serious and growing problems, so public discontent and opposition is bound to increase - as will our contact with the courts. Rather than be intimidated by repression, we should see it as a sign of our success and be even more determined to fight back. We need to create a new society by taking direct control of our lives, workplaces, streets, neighbourhoods and land. Together ordinary people can reclaim our world, currently based on the greed and power of a minority, and create an anarchist society based on strong and free communities, the sharing of precious resources and respect for all life. ANTI-McDONALD'S CAMPAIGN NEWS The 15th annual Worldwide Anti-McDonald's Day was on Saturday October 16th [UN World Food Day] - a protest against the promotion of junk food, the unethical targeting of children, exploitation of workers, animal cruelty, damage to the environment and the global domination of corporations over our lives. There were hundreds of local protests on or around Oct 16th all over the world - so far we've heard of 425 protests and pickets in 345 towns in 23 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA. On Friday 15th Oct there was also a day of action vs McDonald's all over France called by the farmers of Confederation Paysanne against economic globalisation. This followed contacts with us in London about the global day of action. As part of the global protests, there were also some events on Oct 12th - an annual day of solidarity with McDonald's workers. This stems from the death by electrocution at work of crew member Mark Hopkins, Manchester UK on Oct 12th 1992. In the UK we heard about protests outside stores in: Rotherham, Doncaster, London, Nottingham, Oxford, Aberdeen, Newport, Rochdale, Depford, St Albans, Waterlooville, Ilford, Nottingham, Bracknell, Wolverhampton, Southend on Sea, Gloucester, Burton on Trent, Cambridge, Chichester, Bognor Regis, Matlock, Buxton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leeds, Halifax, Hereford, Brighton, Birmingham, Southampton. Over 3 million leaflets have now been handed out in the UK alone since 1990 (when the McDonald's Corporation served libel writs aiming to suppress the London Greenpeace leafletting campaign) and it is now distributed worldwide - we have copies in 27 languages. WHY NOT ORGANISE PICKETS IN YOUR TOWN THIS YEAR? As well as the mass distribution of leaflets by thousands of local activists, the global campaign against McDonald's has continued to grow this year - there have been millions of hits to 'McSpotlight', many determined residents' campaigns against new stores [including currently a 500+day continuous residents' occupation of a site of a planned new store near Kingston, South London], mass anti-McDonald's protests by french farmers, a crew unionisation success in a store in Canada (for the first time in the North American continent) and general bad publicity for the Corporation as a result of the McLibel case. McLIBEL LEGAL UPDATE In March last year the McLibel Appeal resulted in further important victories for campaigners. The Defendants lodged a petition to the House of Lords, and having been refused an Appeal last month they intend to go to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the UK's oppressive libel laws. Helen and Dave, representing themselves, are seeking to defend the public's right to criticise companies whose business practices affect people's lives, health and environment, arguing that multinational corporations should no longer be able to sue for libel. They will also argue that publishing material about matters of public importance and interest should be protected by 'qualified privilege' - a point related to the matters currently being heard by the House of Lords in the libel case of the former Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds vs The Sunday Times. Helen and Dave also seek an end to unfair and oppressive defamation laws and procedures. But most importantly for McDonald's they are seeking leave to argue that, having now won the bulk of the issues in dispute with the fast-food corporation, they should have won the case outright. After a controversial 314 day trial ending in June 1997, in which the defendants had been denied Legal Aid and their right to a jury trial, Mr Justice Bell ruled that: McDonald's marketing has "pretended to a positive nutritional benefit which their food (high in fat & salt etc) did not match"; that McDonald's "exploit children" with their advertising strategy; are "culpably responsible for animal cruelty"; and "pay low wages, helping to depress wages in the catering trade." Significantly McDonald's did not appeal over these damning rulings against their core business practices, stating that the Judge was 'correct in his conclusions'! [McDonald's written submissions 5.1.99]. The McLibel 2 failed to convince the judge on all issues, however, and so appealed. On March 31st the Court of Appeal added to those damning findings, after a 23-day hearing earlier this year. Lord Justices Pill, May and Keane ruled that it was fair comment to say that McDonald's employees worldwide "do badly in terms of pay and conditions", and true that "if one eats enough McDonald's food, one's diet may well become high in fat etc., with the very real risk of heart disease.'" But despite these further findings the Appeal Court only reduced Mr Justice Bell's original award of £60,000 pounds damages to McDonald's (who'd spent an estimated £10m on the case) by £20,000. The defendants believe, and will argue that it is an outrage that McDonald's has been awarded any damages at all in the light of all the serious findings made against the company and the fact that no sanctions have been taken against them. In September 1998 Helen and Dave launched proceedings against the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, claiming damages for misfeasance in public office, breach of confidence and breach of their right to privacy. Their claim results from actions of police officers, including Special Branch officers, which came to light as a result of the McLibel trial. Police officers had passed private and in some cases false information about the McLibel 2 (and some other protestors), including their home addresses, to McDonald's and to private investigators hired by McDonald's to infiltrate London Greenpeace. During the trial Sid Nicholson, McDonald's Head of Security and a former Met Chief Superintendent, stated from the witness box that McDonald's security department were 'all ex-policemen' and if he ever wanted to know information about protestors he would go to his contacts in the police. This collusion between the police and a multinational corporation against members of the public exposes the political role of the police in ensuring the wheels of big business keep turning. STOP PRESS - The Met caved in in June 2000, and paid out #5000 to each of the McLibel 2. OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: In October 1999 in the USA, People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) launched a nationwide billboard poster campaign attacking Ronald McDonald's as 'The US No 1 Serial Killer' (in response they said to the McLibel verdict), with pictures of slaughtered chickens and cows. When their UK branch publicised their intent to do the same in England they were told by the regulatory authorities that they would be banned. Last year for the first time PETA joined the international anti-McDonald's protests on October 16th. In the UK Peta were told these adverts would be banned. To expose the hypocracy of the advertising industry, and in the light of the McLibel ruling that McDonald's exploit children, the McLibel Support Campaign is calling on the public to send in letters to the Independent Television Commission calling for a ban on all McDonald's advertising to children. A 'standard letter' is available, or do your own. Legal action against the ITC to achieve this is now being considered. In solidarity, McLibel Support Campaign Further details of the case, the campaign, or London Greenpeace from 'McSpotlight' - available on CD-Rom. Also available: 'McLibel: Burger Culture On Trial' (Pan Books, Macmillian press, £5.99) and the superb documentary 'McLibel: Two Worlds Collide' (53 mins - from One Off Productions, 0171 692 4997) To subscribe to the McLibel announcements email list: <listproc@envirolink.org>: ‘subscribe mclibel [your-name]’. For discussion try McSpotlight Debating Room: http://www.mcspotlight.org/debate/ |