Housing Struggles World Wide

Very near Myatts Fields and not far from Laughborough Junction station, the Library House stands right behind Minet Library (and it looks like it used to be part of the library services but left empty?).

It is run by a group of local south londoners that are currently fixing it up and already dreaming and preparing events. It aims to be an open house for the local community, and right now lots of work is going on, specially to sort out the electricity.

Report on the occupation Opening Announcement

Breaking News: Wembley Sports Ground Re-Occupied. Support Needed | Grass Roots Alliance for Social Spaces (GRASS) Call Out | Eviction Postponed for Wembley Sports Ground; New Threats.

The Wembley 'Tent City' Occupation located on Wembley Park Sports Ground, was opposed to the plans for a privatised Wembley Park Academy school to be built on one of the few remaining green areas accessible to the local community for sports training. The campaign is in keeping with the wave of resistance [more] to new school academies up and down the country. The Wembley Ark Academy is an American and British educational charity sponsored and run by a group of millionaire merchant bankers and currency speculators, led by french/swiss and multimillionaire Arpad Busson. The Ark Academy is estimated to cost around £30 million of public money yet it would be privately run.

The re-establishment of the 'Tent City' started on the 30th of June, following last year's permanent occupation of the site that lasted six months, and which saw tree houses being built. The site was then only vacated when the protestors won a year’s extension on the lease. Wembley teachers and their local supporters argue that after more than two years of campaigning to keep the community sports grounds out of the private sector, they are now not going to give in without a fight, as the building of the planned Wembley Academy is part of Brent council's drive to privatise schools, turning education into a profit making business instead of a basic human right beyond the 'logic' of the market.

On Tuesday 15th July Brent Council representatives sought a court order for the immediate eviction of the site, but by the afternoon around 50 local people had turned up to show support, and the eviction didn't take place. On Wednesday 16th, teachers and local people continued the occupation despite renewed threats of forced eviction and possible arrests. They took permanent positions on the roofs of the building next to the sports grounds, with at least one protestor locking on to the main mast. By then it was generally expected that the final eviction attempt would happen soon and 'by surprise, probably in the early morning, and so they renewed their call for urgent solidarity and for people to go up there and show their support. On the early morning of Friday 18th, the teachers and their supporters' expectations came true when specialised bailiffs turned up at 6.30am and finally removed the last protestor resisting on the roof, who had the support of the crowd that had gathered at the site's gate [Report and Video]

Reports and Photos of the Occupation: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Protestors Video Interviews and Coverage: 1 | 2

The G8 2008 took place in Hokkaido, Japan, from July 7th to July 9th. As in the past years, people from all over the world protested against this summit and the capitalist system it represents [Pics] both in Japan and in many places around the globe.

On Saturday the 5th of July, the International Day of Action Against the G8,there were protests worldwide against this year's G8 Summit, including London. A picket outside the Japanese embassy took place on Friday the 4th, and for Saturday the 5th, and despite previous harassment by the Metropolitan police, a London Fete Against the G8 was called by London No Borders and other groups to demonstrate in solidarity with the protests in Japan, for the Freedom of Movement, and against Fortress Europe. The Day of Action around the UK Borders Agency started with a Critical Mass bike ride from Brixton to Croydon, the nerve centre of the Home Office's UK Border Agency, where several protests unfolded.
Report | Photos 1 and 2 | Video

From Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th, further days of action and blockades continued around the Summit location next to the Lake Toya in Hokkaido [Videos 1 | 2 | 3 | Timeline (en)] The Japanese 'No! G8 Legal Team' issued an international call for further solidarity actions during the week of Summit blockades [Second Call]. In London, a daily NO!G8 cafe was organised at the Bowl Court Social Centre to coincide with the G8 mobilisations, showing daily footage from Japan, screening films, presentations and discussions.

Check the Ticker, the G8MediaNetworkTV and IMC-Japan [Timeline] for updates of worldwide actions and protests.

Today, a series of non-violent protest actions disrupted the 'Salute to Israel' parade. The parade celebrated 60 years since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Activists wished to remind the public that since its inception, Israel has been maintained through the constant oppression of the Palestinian people, in particular through ethnic cleansing.

The 'Salute to Israel' parade was a shameful show of support to a government engaged in war crimes. Sponsors included the Jewish National Fund, an organisation deeply involved in the colonisation of Palestinian land as well in anti-Palestinian discrimination within Israel. Activists wish to stress that the British government's authorisation, protection and support of this event is entirely unacceptable.

En route, the parade was greeted by activists with red dye on their hands to symbolise the blood of Palestinians killed by the Israeli government. In Trafalgar Square, both fountains were turned red after activists poured dye into the water and a Palestinian flag was unfurled at the entrance of the National Gallery. An activist climbed up a big screen which had to be turned off for most of the event. Also, another group attempted to get onto the roof of the National Gallery in order to unfurl a banner but were arrested in the process.

Police responded by making a series of ridiculous arrests, assaulting and detaining a woman for singing anti-zionist songs and deploying Forward Intelligence Teams to monitor and follow those attending the counter demonstrations.

Several Counter demonstrations were held by Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Action Palestine and Friends of Al Aqsa while Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others drove three double decker buses draped with Palestinian flags and black balloons around the square and Rhythms of Resistance tried to drown out the Pro-Zionist hip hop gig.

Newswire Posts Action Reports and photos of fountains and screen Climber | Report and Photos|
Press Releases Autonomous Actions For Palestine Disrupt Zionist Parade| 60 Years of Israeli War Crimes - Nothing To Celebrate |
Links Israel at 60 Protest Site| Palestine Solidarity Campaign | Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign | Jews for Justice for Palestinians | Action Palestine| Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods | Friends of Al Aqsa | Palestine-UK Twinning Network |
Corporate Media Coverage of the Protests Al Jazeera Report |
Video Buses and Critical Mass | Woman assaulted by police for Singing|

In the early hours of Saturday morning, activists occupied and shut-down the HQ and only UK freight warehouse of Carmel Agrexco - Israel's largest agricultural exporter from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The occupation held for over 6 hours until they were forcibly removed at 12 noon.

During the occupation over 10 loading trucks intended for the warehouse were sent away. British supermarkets - accounting for 60% of Carmel-Agrexco's total exports - had some of their orders affected. The Israeli government has a 50% stake in the company. Exports include flowers, avocados and herbs grown in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Newswire: Israeli Owned Agrexco Warehouse Shut Down | Carmel occupied! Israeli settlement exporter shut down| Video of Police Forcibly removing Activists but Failing to Make Arrests

Previous Actions: 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 | ISM London | ISM Palestine

We are in the middle of two crises, the climate crisis and the economic crisis. Although we we seem to treat them as separate, it can be argued that they are completely entangled. Tackling one without tackling the other is impossible and fruitless, but the connections are complex and shifting. To intervene effectively, we need to look carefully at how we think about time and change, and how we relate to markets and the state. But first, let's look at how the economic crisis arose and draw some link between this history and the problematics of climate politics.

Other aspects of economic crisis: Leeds | Liverpool | Public services cuts | Evictions | Factory Occupations

Sunday 29th January
12 noon, Meet outside Boots, Wood Green High Road (next to Shopping City), N22

* No more deaths from hypothermia
* Reduce fuel bills now
* No to cut-offs
* Expose energy companies profit scandal
* Yes to renewable energy – Phase out fossil fuel dependency to prevent climate catastrophe

We will be calling on all shops, pubs and public buildings to welcome those who wish to get warm. Come and join us – don’t sit in the cold alone.

Part of nationwide weekend of action, see below for details.

Organised by Haringey Solidarity Group, supported by Haringey Alliance for Public Services, and Haringey Housing Action Group.

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Nationwide Fuel Poverty Action Weekend of Winter Warm-ups

Friday, January 27th – Monday, January 30th

http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com

It’s January. It’s freezing. Christmas emptied the coffers and now the bills are starting to bite. As the Big Six energy companies rake in profits of 700% and the government freezes the fuel allowance, it’s time to tell the Big Six and the government that we’ve had enough!

Fuel poverty is a public issue, not a private pain. One in four families in the UK is shivering, out of sight, behind closed doors. The government and energy companies may want to keep it this way, but we say this can’t go on.

In the UK, six companies are deciding how 99% of our energy is sourced, produced and priced. Under this monopoly, we have no say in these decisions, despite them having a major effect on our health and our climate.

On the last weekend of January, Fuel Poverty Action will be heating things up!

We’re calling for people to come out of their cold homes and into the warm offices of the Big Six: E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern, Centrica (British Gas), and Npower.

We can also warm-up at the town halls and housing associations, which are putting profit and cuts before people’s welfare.

Bearing flasks of tea and our own experiences of landlords that won’t listen, unaffordable bills, tuition fees, and debts, as well as cuts in services, benefits and working conditions, our winter warm-ups will be taking place wherever cuts are biting and warm spaces look inviting.

This is a call to anti-cuts groups, local youth and pensioner organisations, and anyone suffering in the cold this winter because they can’t afford the heating. So get organising in your communities to make this happen.

We can find ways forward, collectively, by making ourselves heard by the government and the energy companies. But what do we demand? Some things are clear: Decent shelter and warmth are a right, not a privilege. We should all have well insulated, warm homes and affordable bills that don’t make us choose between eating and heating. But how do we achieve this? What alternatives are there to a corporate controlled energy industry? How do we shift to sustainable, renewable energy? As we Warm-up we’ll be discussing these important questions and forming a plan to achieve it, come and join us!

Stop shivering in silence, let’s warm-up together!

Details of local actions will be announced on the website ( http://fuelpovertyaction.wordpress.com/) and on Twitter (@FuelPovAction).

The January actions are just the beginning! Fuel Poverty Action is a group of the Climate Justice Collective, which is planning a mass action in late April / May. If you and your group want to get more involved, come to a planning meeting on Saturday, February 18th, 2011 in Oxford. Look out for an email or check the CJC website for more info closer to the time: http://climatejusticecollective.wordpress.com

27 January 2012
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

The Interim Eviction Order Against the Shallcross Occupation has been Set Aside

The interim eviction order granted by the Durban High Court to evict residents of Shallcross (Ekuphumeleleni, Inkanyezi Housing Project) was set aside this morning. The High Court has ordered the eThekwini Municipality to stop any further eviction of residents pending the 24th of February 2012 on which date this matter has to return in court. In the meantime the evicted residents have returned to their homes for the second time.

Abahlali wishes to express its disappointment at the fact that the attorneys that South African Nation Civic Organization (SANCO) has promised its members in the area since December did not pitch up in court. This was despite insistence of the SANCO leadership last night that they have lawyers which mislead the community. However Abahlali wish to thank its Legal Team - Nichols Attorneys with the support of SERI - for being able to represent the residents and for doing such a good job.

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Left Wing Organisations and Libertarian Grassroots Unions Call for an International Day of Action

march31.net

During an international meeting in December 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, several left wing organisations and grassroots unions from Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria and Germany decided to launch a joint effort against capitalist reforms under the current crisis. On march 31st, there will be a “European Day of Action against Capitalism”, with simultaneous demonstrations in those countries, labeled “M31″. Groups from other countries are likely to join in, as networking continues. Protests will be directed against neoliberal and undemocratic impositions by the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The anticapitalist organisations involved want to send a clear signal against further austerity measures, mainly propelled by Germany, and on the backs of workers, the unemployed, students and migrants.

We protest against nationalist propaganda targeting wageworkers in Southern European countries, and against the EU’s military bulkheading on its borders. Alternatively, organisers of M31 call for transnational solidarity and self-organisation of those affected by further cuts, privatization and capitalist exploitation.

Up to now, there is no effective transnational solidarity between workers, unions, the unemployed and migrants. If we want this to change, we’ll have to do it ourselves.

The international day of action in spring preludes a forthcoming European initiative of left wing organisations and grassroots unions, preparing further protests throughout 2012. We invite other emancipatory unions and organisations to join M31. Please take note of our Call for Action on www.march31.net. We’ll be happy to answer any request or proposal.

Let’s get started!

The government just issued a decree which in the name of public health, attacks to the regular soup kitchens organised by political groups that cook and offer food to the increasing mumber of homeless (reaching 20,000 in Athens only).  Homelss people though are not the only ones depending on these soup kicthens, but plenty more neo-poor who cannot afford to buy food depend on them. The Secretary of Public Health named Dimopoulos issued a decree stating that only formal agencies can offer food for free in public these are the church, the municipalities and NGOs any other such effort has to be approved by the authorities.

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale will be joining a climate change expedition to the Antarctica this weekend.
The expedition, called Destination: Reality 2012, aimed to resolve doubts about the seriousness of climate change and the crisis facing the world, the Human Settlements Department said on Thursday.
The team was convened by Climate Reality project founder and chairperson and former US Vice President Al Gore. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres, the President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and the Turner Foundation chairperson Ted Turner also formed part of the team.
The 116-strong group would depart for the Antarctica from Ushuaia in Chile aboard the National Geographic Explorer on the January 29 and return February 5.
In a letter to expedition members, Gore said he was last in the Antarctica in 1988 and was looking forward to learning from the world scientists and a “very select group of extraordinary individuals” as they developed and shared new ways to confront and solve the climate change crisis.
“Ashore in Antarctica, we will explore its many natural wonders and observe, first hand, the dramatic impacts of climate change on the continent, and learn about what they mean for the world as a whole,” he wrote.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile would be acting Human Settlements Minister during this period.
- Engineering News

A woman who spoke up against her ward councillor in Khayelitsha’s RR Section on community radio station last week, had her shack destroyed in retaliation by a group of residents on Monday.
Police arrested 13 people on Tuesday in connection with the incident. Each was released on R500 bail, after a brief appearance in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were charged with malicious damage to property.
The residents were believed to have destroyed Mandisa Selane’s shack after she accused ward 89 councillor, Monde Nqulwana, of favouritism when it came to moving people out of RR informal settlement and into housing in Mfuleni.
Outside court yesterday about 100 residents from RR pooled money to bail out the accused.
One of the residents accused Selani of being “a witch” and told fellow residents that they must prevent her from returning to live in RR section.
SANCO committee member, Vuyani Mbhutye, said the conflict between Selane and other residents began when the Eyethu electrification project began.
Mbhutye said 70 people were moved out of RR Section to Mfuleni in order to make room for Eskom to erect poles.
“Mandisa was not one of those people, (but) instead of speaking with us and the councillor, she accused him of taking sides.”
He said residents then asked her to leave and when she refused to, they broke down her house.
Selane, a mother of three children, said she was one of the people who were supposed to have been moved but the ward councillor chose people he favoured and she was left behind.
“My mistake was to go to the media with it.”
She said after she spoke on radio Zibonele, Nqulwana called a community meeting which she attended.
Nqulwana informed gathered residents of the statements she made on air and the residents turned against her.
After another meeting on Friday last week she was told she had three days to leave the area.
“On Monday I heard them toyi-toying. I was feeding my children.When I went out the house to check, the residents had spades and hammers. They told me I know why they are here. I told one guy I haven’t got a place to stay but he grabbed and pushed me. I ran away. I left the children there.”
She went to the police station and they came to rescue her children.
She said Nqulwana was with the mob that destroyed her house.
However, Nqulwana denies he was there, but said he was aware that Selane was told to leave on Friday last week and had made a statement to the police.
The case was postponed until March. - West Cape News

The Blikkiesdorp ward councillor has never set foot in the area.
Khayalethu Makeleni, who is also responsible for Delft and the surrounding area (Ward 106), admitted on Tuesday that he had not visited Blikkiesdorp since he was elected in May.
On Tuesday, more than 100 residents marched to Makeleni’s offices at Delft South Library. Protesters carried posters that read: “I refuse to die in a blik (tin), we want houses” and “Down with the Blikke”.
They also complained that Makeleni had never been to see them. When asked if this was true, he conceded, saying: “Yes, I haven’t been there.” He went on to say: “They are not wrong. I do understand where they are coming from. I will meet with them on Thursday to discuss the way forward.
“As a councillor, I am not involved in housing and don’t deal with these issues directly. I usually have meetings with the Blikkiesdorp committee and convey their concerns to the whole ward. We inform the relevant departments.
“In this instance, residents are complaining about rubbish not being cleared. I will inform the cleansing department and pressurise them to deal (with the matter).”
He added that it was unfair that residents were made to stay in a temporary relocation area for several years without eventually receiving houses.
Residents handed over a memorandum to Makeleni, posing 11 questions which they felt they had the “right to ask”.
Among these were: “What is the possibility of getting houses in the near future under you Mr Councillor?” and “Why have you never been in Blikkiesdorp since being elected?” Blikkiesdorp community leader Beverley Jacobs pleaded with Makeleni to assist residents. “About 100 children don’t attend school. Parents don’t have money for registration fees so principals sent them back. This leads to crime,” she said.
Jacobs also said bushes needed to be cut because four bodies were found dumped there over the festive season.
Makeleni said he was unaware of the deaths.
According to Blikkiesdorp4Hope chairman Jerome Daniels, residents noticed at the weekend that trenches were being dug beyond the Blikkiesdorp boundaries. The organisation was started by members of the community to fight for adequate housing.
“If more trenches are being dug and pipes lie in the ground, it tells us that more structures are going to be erected. It was stated in court that there should not be more than 1 500 structures. There are already close to 2 000. This is supposed to be temporary, but some are here for five or six years,” said Daniels. The frustrated residents then filled the trenches with dirt and ripped pipes out.
Daniels also said there were about 20 000 people in Blikkiesdorp and nearly 12 000 were children. “Overcrowding is causing disease outbreak in Blikkiesdorp, especially among children. One child is already in hospital with TB. The rule is four families to one toilet, but we have more than 20 families using one toilet. People dump their rubbish everywhere and sewerage drains are blocked. All this while the council only cleans once a week,” he said.
As a result of the blocked drains, streams of waste water ran from outside toilets leaving a foul stench between homes.
The mayoral committee member for human settlements, Ernest Sonnenberg, said they didn’t always have time to convey messages to the community should they require emergency relief. He said if residents were concerned with the performance of their ward councillor, they should contact the Speaker’s office. 
- Cape Times

Occupy Sheffield attended a High Court hearing this morning, defending the Cathedral’s attempt to obtain a possession order to evict the camp. The Judge decided that this was not a straightforward matter of trespass and the case should be heard in full at a later date.

Do you want to get involve with a Grassroot organization fighting for the human right to housing?
Join the Chicago Anti Eviction Campaign tonight!
What:Chicago Anti Eviction Campaign weekly meeting
When:Thursday jan 26 6:30 pm
Where: 1401 e 75th street chicago illinois,60619.
Why: Housing is a Human Right we not going without a fight
Who: Tenants,Activists,Organizers,Homeowners,Lawyers,and you!

Banking On Vacancy: Homelessness and Real Estate Speculation
Picture the Homeless and Hunter College Release Unprecedented Report
That Reveals the Extent of Vacant Property in NYC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26th, 2012

Contact: Adrian Antonio Paling or
Kendall Jackman, Housing Campaign Leader

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Shallcross: The Tyres are Burning

Yesterday 120 families were violently evicted from incompletely built and then
abandoned RDP houses in Shallcross. They had occupied these houses after people
with papers to show that they had been given houses were left in shacks as
their houses were corruptly given to others who were paying for them. Eight of
the 120 families are AbM members.

Last night the evicted families reoccupied the houses. Now the police are back.
The tyres are burning. The media are urged to rush to the scene.

Contact:

Lucia: 084 635 0293
Lungi: 078 622 6999

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Greek original

On Saturday, January 21 we placed an inflammatory device in a pawn shop on Ragavi Street, in Gizi (Athens). It was a symbolic response to the spread of these contemporary black-marketeers in the neighbourhoods of Athens, who, taking advantage of the condition of generalised poverty attempt to loot our fellow humans who are struggling to survive.

The appearance of the black-marketeers is an outcome of the attack enforcing popular impoverishment; it is yet another aspect of the charging-ahead of the state and capital as part of the even more intense sucking of social wealth. Against the gangs of loan sharks and the violent attempts of our impoverishment, we must raise social solidarity and social class violence.

Betting on the Super Bowl!? I'm shocked, I'm shocked.

The New York Times offers a peek into the scads of money at stake in the football game pitting the New York Giants vs. the New England Patriots. And a few tidbits on the World Series and the NCAA tourney.

But, hey, is all this gambling part of the informal economy or the formal? Are the big winners paying tax on those earnings?

Occupy Liverpool Eviction Threat