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Indymedia Journalists Targeted in Ecuador, Five Arrested

Ecuadorian police detained five journalists associated with Ecuador Indymedia late Tuesday night, May 6th. Four of the five were released from custody on Wednesday afternoon. The government says that the four activists were detained because of their relationship with the fifth detainee, Ecuadorian resident and Colombian national Antonio Alcívar.

The government at first refused to issue a statement on the matter or inform the detainees of the reason for their arrests. The Regional Foundation for Assistance in Human Rights (INREDH) noted that this was a violation of the detainees' constitutional right to be clearly informed of the reason for their detention along with the identities of those who ordered and carried out the arrests.

CMI Ecuador: Comunicadores de Indymedia Ecuador víctimas de arresto arbitrario || URGENTE: SOLIDARIDAD CON COMUNICADORES INDEPE || Comunicado detención comunicadores de Indymedia Ecuador víctimas de arresto arbitrario || Periodistas populares fueron liberados (más información) || CMI Brasil: Comunicadores independentes são vítimas de prisão arbitrária || Upside Down World

May Day 2008 Parades

Since 2001, Euro May Day Parades on the 1st of May have spread all around Europe.

The May Day Parade is a transnational march which expresses the common will to fight the precarity of work and the criminalization of migrants, to make the daily struggles of the precarious visible. Every year hundred thousands of people protest against the precarity of work and life in a context where worktime can be expanded with no limits, and where migrant workers are the most precarious of all workers. This year, the EuroMayDay network called for a joined parade in Aachen, where, on the same day, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel received the Charlemagne prize. Referring to Charlemagne as the founder of Western culture, it honours people for their contribution to European unificaton. In Hamburg, one thousand nazis tried to recuperate the MayDay, ten thousands antifa met there and cancelled the nazi demo in the most violent riots in Hamburg since 80's. In Milano, there was 100.000 people in the euromayday parade [ video ].

In US, tens of thousands marched and held demonstrations on Thursday 1st of may, calling for an end to war and dignity for immigrants and workers. Dockworkers on the west coast defied their union bosses and staged a one day strike against the war, effectively shutting down all port activity [ pics ]. High school and university students staged walkouts in Venice and San Francisco. Protesters also called out unjust military recruiting and defended public housing.

In New-Zealand, near Blenheim, ploughshares penetrate Waihopai base and deflate satellite dome.

MayDay Parades and Immigrant marches were held all around the world:

Triqui community radio announcers murdered in Oaxaca

Bulletin of the Center for Community Support Working Together (Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos “CACTUS”)

Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala, Oaxaca--Around the community of Llano Juárez in the Triqui zone, two announcers for the Community Radio of the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala "The voice that breaks the silence" were ambushed and murdered. In the attack, four other persons were hurt, among them two minors by age.

RELATED: Two announcers killed | Interview with Radio Bemba

strong>IN ENGLISH: Indybay: Community Radio Producers Murdered in Mexico | Boston Indymedia: Two Radio Reporters Murdered in Oaxaca | Indymedia.UK: Murder, Corruption and Illegal Logging in Oaxaca | | | Background from Cleveland IMC: Triqui Peoples in Oaxaca Take Over and Narco News The Triquis Inaugurate Their New Autonomous Municipality

Decentralized Days of Action for Squats and Autonomous Spaces

Activists across Europe and beyond have dubbed Friday 11th and Saturday 12th April 2008 as days of action for squats and autonomous spaces. Following a meeting in the autonomous space 'Les Tanneries' in Dijon last year, there was a call out for two days of decentralised actions in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture.

The aim of the days of action is to develop interconnections and solidarity between squats and autonomous spaces and help create more visibility for them as a european/global political movement. Public actions are planned in the Austria, Belarusia, Czech Republic, Danmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden and other places.

In Copenhagen things have already kicked off with an advance action in support of creating a new Ungdomshuset 'Youth House' took place with 5000 people taking part in a demo followed by a massive street party. In the UK, new squats have already been opened in Leeds City Centre, Nottingham, and London. Further advaned actions took place in Amsterdam (nl) (pl) (en), Hamburg (de) and Innsbruck (de). One goal for the weekend of action is to "inspire and empower people" who have previously been unfamiliar with squatting. Discussing campaigns and sharing knowledge and skills we can support one another and be empowered ourselves, as well as drawing in new people by creating a vibrant and exciting place to be.

Throughout the weekend there will be independent media coverage of actions, video and radio reports from around Europe.

Links: April2008 website (multilingual) | Agenda | wiki | Indymedia UK feature | at.indymedia.org feature | Indymedia.nl feature | Indymedia Danmark features

Audio streams Open-Radio (multilingual) | Radiojukebox (de/en) | Radio Bronka (ca/es) | more radio (playlist)

Violent Repression At NATO Summit in Romania

At approximately 12:30pm on 2nd April hundreds of Romanian police violently raided a convergence center in Bucharest, the country's capital. The convergence space was set up to facilitate an anti-NATO gathering and was legally rented. It is reported that during the raid at least two protesters were hospitalized. Various reports state people are badly beaten while in custody and even while taken to hospital. Numerous people are reported to be seriously injured and some have been refused medical assistance while in custody.

It is estimated that 46 people have been arrested. No demonstration or action had happened before the raid and all the arrests were made inside the convergence center. Police officers were masked and reportedly very aggressive towards journalists trying to access the scene. The convergence center is located near the center of Bucharest, which is hosting a NATO summit that just got underway today. It is estimated that up to 27,000 police officers, military, snipers and secret police are 'guarding' the city. The security alert code yellow has been announced, meaning that all demonstrations are forbidden in the whole city amongst other restrictive laws.

Indymedia articles: Riot police storms convergence centre at Bucharest anti- NATO protests | Massive Repression during the NATO Summit in Romania | Anti-NATO Convergence Centre in Bucharest attacked by Anti-Terror Police | Breaking News: Mass Arrests during NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania | Mass Arrest of demonstrators in Bucharest | Anti NATO activists faced police brutality

Other media: Massive Repression during the NATO Summit in Romania | Videos of the raid on the convergence centre | Photos of mass arrests | Info for anyone going to Romania | Solidarity demo in Berlin | Protests at police stations | Bucharest Declaration | Solidarity from Vienna, Bern, Berlin, Skopje, Kopenhagen

Sacred Shrine of shamans threatened by real estate speculation in Brasilia, Brazil

In Brasília the local administration wants to build a luxurious neighborhood, called Northwest, in a place where indigenous groups of different ethnicities, like Fulni-ô/Thapuwia, Tuxá, Cariri-Xocó, had live for more than 30 years. The place is also the last area of Cerrado in the city, a native vegetation from the central part of Brasil. It´s a environmental sanctuary of great importance for the regional rivers and at the same time is also a place where indigenous from diferent parts of the country can stay while travelling trough Brasilia.

The financial interests are huge and defended by those who were supposed to take care of a healty environmental and for cultural diversity, instead of being spokesman of the private interests that wants to destroy the Shamans Sanctuary, the indigenous and the environment. The governor José Roberto Arruda was involved in scandals in the Congress a few years ago and the vice governor Paulo Octávio, a senator, owner of the biggest land company, owner of a TV station and also owner of the Brasilia newspaper (Citizen Kaine), wants to destroy this history, using state propaganda that the Northwest Sector will be an ecological neighborhood, a model of modernity and progress when in fact it's a prove of the intolerance, prejudice and racism of the capitalist development that destroy the nature and victimizes native and black people, and all those who opposes this mega project.

According to the governor Arruda: "There some people who believe we should not built the Northeast Sector so the indigenous could live there. Of course that is not my opnion". This neighborhood is destinated to the upper class, it's expected to be the most expensive area in Brazil and one of the most in the world. Each meter is going to cost 6 thousand reais (around 2.500 dollars). The area will shelter around 100 thousand people, and 150 thousand cars, which will demage even more a city that sofers with the heat season. Also the water sources from the Parana Basin and the Amazonica Basin can be contaminated in the process. There is no reason to go ahead with this project, according with IBGE (Geography and Statistic Institute) there is more than 53 thousand dwelling that are not occupied in the city. The supposed demand of habitation of the upper class is in fact a demand of capital flow, that is proved by the strong real state especulation of coorporations and government in the federal capital of Brasil.

::Read More::

Images:: Local Pictures | Protests in BNDES (Development Bank)1 and 2 | Protest in IBAMA (Environmental Agency) 1 - 2 - 3

Video:: Toré - Celebration and Resistance in the Central Highlands

For more information check out Indymedia Brasil and Shamans Sanctuary

Fossil Fools Take On Fossil Fuels

Rising Tide called for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st. People responded by targetting various aspects of the fossil fuel industry. In the UK, offices were targetted, banners dropped and protests held. In Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, protesters halted work at one of the biggest open-cast coal mines in Europe, with the intention to remain on the site for several days. Read reports: [1] [2]. Activists also blockaded the UK's largest off shore gas terminal at Bacton in Norfolk and prevented construction workers from entering the site. Read reports: [1] [2]. On 3rd April activists succesfully blockaded Aberthaw power station in Wales, causing huge traffic tailbacks. Read reports: [1] [2]. In Scotland the tyres of 4x4's were deflated and foolish action took place in Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Nottingham, an office of energy giant E.ON was successfully blockaded. Two people were arrested and their homes raided and searched by police. Read report + audio. Read full reports: UK Indymedia, Notts Indymedia and Scotland Indymedia.

In the US, activists stopped bulldozers at the contruction site of Cliffside coal-fired power plant, Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after locking themselves to construction equipment, police arrived on the scene and used pain compliance holds and tazers to force them to unlock themselves. Read report. In Boston, Massachusetts, four activists locked themselves to the front entrance of a Bank of America branch and were arrested. They were protesting the bank's funding of coal and energy companies. Read report. Two people were arrested in New York City after locking themselves to the front door of Citibank's headquarters, protesting at the companies' "socially irresponsible investment strategy, which includes funding environmentally damaging industries". See report and photos. Other protests were reported in Houston, Denver, Berkeley, Portland, Maine and Worcester. Read full reports: US Indymedia.

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), 3 people were arrested at a Fossil Fools Day protest in Otautahi/Christchurch. One report speak of "blatant police harassment, prosecution of activists, with no possible justification for arrests and brutality." A group of climate change activists also presented Air New Zealand with New Zealand's first ever 'Fossil Fool' award. The company was chosen for the award because of their recent eco-branding program which "attempts to give their customers the impression that damage to the climate due to air travel can can be offset". Read report. Read full reports: Aotearoa Indymedia.

Other action roundups: Fossil Fools Day website | Rising Tide UK action roundup

Links: Climate IMC | Camp for Climate Action | Rising Tide Australia | Rising Tide North America | Rising Tide UK

Brutal detentions of sleeping activists in Słupsk after anti-missile shield protests

Early morning, Sunday 30 March 2008, the day after protests against the US anti-missile missiles (en) (pl) to be placed in Słupsk, Poland, about 23-25 activists were detained (pl) (en) in Słupsk, mainly from Toruń but also from Szczecin and Poznań. It appears that the police raided a private home while people were sleeping and that the human rights activists were brutally treated and beaten. Police used tear gas and one person has a broken hand. Please telephone to the police station in Słupsk at 3 maja Street +48 59 848 0545 and to the police command +48 59 848 0100. The police allege that the intervention was due to disturbance of the peace at night. There are also charges of assaulting a police officer.

• PHOTOS: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
• ANTI-SHIELD PROTESTS:March 29-30: Stop the Shield! | Słupsk, Poland [1] [2] [3] [4] | Czech
• ANTI-NATO 2-4 April 2008: Anti-NATO Bucharest | Romania
  
  

1000 activists close down NATO

About 1,000 people from 17 European countries went to the NATO headquarters in Brussels on the 23rd of March to take part in the international non-violent action NATO GAME OVER. 5 years after the start of the Iraq war and 10 days before the Bucharest NATO summit, peace activists from all over Europe demonstrate that preventing war starts in Europe.

TIMELINE: | Photos 1, 2, 3, 4 | Video 1, 2

NEXT ACTIONS: March 29-30: Stop the Shield! | Słupsk, Poland [1] [2] [3] [4] | Czech
April 2-4: Anti-NATO Bucharest | Romania

Five Years Too Many!! the US anti-war movement steps it up

On the 5th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, anti-war protesters across the United States stepped up actions of civil disobedience to make their voices heard. From Washington, DC to San Francisco to Boston, hundreds of people were arrested while blockading streets; targeting federal buildings, corporate headquarters and military recruitment stations; and participating in walkouts. Thousands more participated in vigils and support demonstrations. See Below for Roundup of Actions.

These actions followed what is probably most significant and underreported anti-war action in the last 5-years — the Iraq Veterans Against the War's "Winter Soldier" hearings. For four days in Washington, DC, former US military who were in Iraq and Afghanistan testified about US war crimes in the two wars and dramatically condemned the Bush administration and Pentagon for starting the wars. "Winter Soldier" hearings were first held in 1971 in DC by the Vietnam Veterans Against The War and were pivotal in bringing the Vietnam War to an end. This year's hearings were broadcast live on the internet and they were seen by the public at many locations organized by anti-war activists in multiple states; however, the IVAW Winter Soldier was largely ignored by most corporate media. Coverage from Washington DC | NYC | Boston | Rustbelt Radio | Indybay | Baltimore

The last few weeks also saw scattered nationwide protests against the war on International Women's Day. These mass actions follow a year of innovation in the anti-war movement, including the successful targeting of military recruitment centers, corporations and war shipment operations in port cities; as well as the continual gathering of thousands of weekly and monthly peace vigils nationwide (see Eagle Rock, CA, Washington County, OR).

The latest poll in March showed that 65% of Americans are opposed to the war in Iraq, yet coverage of the anti-war movement by corporate media has continued to decline. Organizers and independent media workers are working to counter that silence. A statement released by students in Portland, OR, reads: "We as students also believe that anti-war efforts have been too moderate and passive to make a difference." Related: The Warmongers Fear US: PR and 5 Years Too Many in Iraq | Iraq Winter Soldier Hearings: Victory for Independent Media | The Indypendent's Anti-War Issue

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