Friday, September 30, 2005

England – Animal Liberation Front (ALF) members firebombed the home of Paul Blackburn, executive at Glaxosmithkline, a firm which conducts cruel experiments on animals with Huntingdon Life Sciences. Another firebomb attack targeted Oxford University, because of their efforts to build an animal testing facility on their campus. In accordance with the ALF's guidelines, both buildings were empty and no life was harmed. The Oxford Arson Squad cell claimed responsibility for the university attack in a communique which threatened the school. “You cannot build the South Parks Lab without incurring massive losses." It went on: "If we have to destroy every bit of property you own we will, in order to stop you inflicting your profit driven cruelties on defenseless creatures."

Thursday, September 29, 2005



Marseille, France - Striking French union workers hijacked the cargo/passenger vessel Pascal Paoli following days of violent clashes at the port. Some 50 black-clad military commandos boarded the ship via helicopter and overcame the unarmed workers. The unrest broke out Monday morning when word got out that the state owned the National Corsica Mediterranean Company was likely to be sold to private investment firm Butler Capital Partners.


Seattle, Washington, U.S. - Christopher McIntosh, 23, pleaded guilty in federal court to arson charges for his role in a January 20th, 2003 arson attack on a Seattle McDonald's. Christopher plead guilty as part of an agreement in which he will be sentenced to ten years in prison rather than facing a 30 year minimum if found guilty of terrorism charges. The action which resulted in $5,000 in damages was claimed on behalf of the Earth and Animal Liberation Fronts and was done in support of "our furry brothers." Four major Earth Liberation Front attacks in Washington state in the past two years have prompted the Building Industry Association of Washington, the state's homebuilders lobby, and the FBI to offer a $100,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of others who have committed actions on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005



Melilla, Spanish Territory, North Africa – Hundreds of desperate African immigrants made an attempt to illegally cross the Moroccan Spanish border in mass. The immigrants used hundreds of homemade ladders to scale fences and cell phones to coordinate with supports on the Spanish side of the border. Spanish Guardia Civil police responded with heavy handed riot control tactics to repel most of the immigrants. At least 100 Africans successfully made it across and were being questioned by Spanish authorities. The international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders criticized both Spanish and Moroccan security forces for using excessive violence which left dozens injured.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Agra, India - Prisoners in the Agra city jail attacked guards and destroyed prison property during a riot sparked by the deaths of two inmates. One inmate committed suicide after being systematically beaten and humiliated for not being able to pay bribes to wardens and another died in a hospital after also also being beaten severely by guards. Authorities fired waring shots to regain order.


Gulf of Mexico - Dolphins trained to kill by the U.S. Navy and armed with "toxic dart" guns may be on the loose in the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Katrina damaged their coastal compound. The Navy has refused to confirm that any dolphins they trained may be missing but have been actively trying to retrieve missing dolphins since the storm. The Navy has helped to recover a number of dolphins that escaped from the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi, all of which they housed and examined before returning to the oceanarium.

Thursday, September 22, 2005



Delmas, South Africa - Police fired rubber bullets at protesters who are calling on the government to improve sanitation conditions in the town as they suffer through a typhoid epidemic. Residents believe that the use of buckets and latrines contaminated the water supply and sparked the outbreak. So far 4 people have died but hundreds are sick. The demonstrators had surrounded a government building where several officials where trapped until the police assault.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005



Todds Road, Trinidad - The poor residents of Todds Road, in Central Trinidad, built burning barricades to block roads and demanded that the government provide them with basic services. The village is rurally located and lacks services such as pipe borne water and regular road maintenance. The demonstration got the attention of politicians who promised to "resolve their concerns" about road maintenance.


Bronx, New York, U.S. - Nearly 1/3 of all 4,600 students from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx blocked traffic and marched almost two miles to the borough's Department of Education offices, to protest new regulations which require students to pass through metal detectors before entering the school and barred them from leaving campus during lunch. The metal detectors were installed as a way to deal with violence which is reported to be almost five percent higher at DeWitt Clinton than the citywide average. Students countered that most of the fights that occurred on school grounds happened outside where individuals would not be subject to searches.

Monday was the first day students were forced to submit to metal detector searches which caused an hour long delay. Many of the students who attended the protest said that the school was treating them like prisoners. Despite those concerns some student representatives were granted a meeting with administrators where they negotiated for a promise of more metal detectors to ease delays on entering the building. Students returned to classes with a wait and see attitude.
Lagos, Nigeria - Prisoners rioted and burned down part of the Ikoyi Prison, including the governor's office and a records room. The uprising began as a protest when officials decided to transfer a number of the inmates to another prison. Journalists heard at least 21 shots fired inside the compound before police ordered them to leave the area. As they did so ambulances approached the prison, although a prison spokesperson assured that there were "no casualties."

Tuesday, September 20, 2005


A British soldier abandons his tank after being hit by firebombs

Basra, Iraq - A British force of more than 10 tanks with helicopter backup attacked and destroyed the Basra central jail freeing two alleged British secret commandos who were captive there. Approximately 150 other prisoners were able two also escape during the attack. The two Britons were arrested by Iraqi police in a civilian car packed with explosives after they shot at civilians and an Iraqi police station, while wearing Arab style dress. One police officer died and another was injured as a result.

The British Government tried to cover up the action by saying that the two had been released after negotiations. Some had speculated that the British and American forces have been trying to exploit tribal and ethnic differences in order to maintain control of the region, and that the two operatives who were captured were working towards that end. Angry Iraqis attacked the tanks with stones and molotov cocktails forcing one tank to be abandoned before the prison was demolished.

Sunday, September 18, 2005


Fascist militants stand tough behind police lines

Athens, Greece - Greek fascists rely on police protection for their Euro-Fest 2005 rally. Anarchists engaged police in running street battles into the night.

Saturday, September 17, 2005



Willamette National Forest, Oregon - Environmental activists, from the group Guardians of the McKenzie Watershed, have come under fire in the past week. On multiple occasions groups of loggers have fired on tree sitters while shouting abuse, in the Sten timber sale. Last Saturday a hostile logging supporter used a high-powered compound bow to shoot a number of tri-tipped hunting arrows, one of which struck a forest defender in the hand. On September 14, US Forest Service Law Enforcement and Lane Co. Sheriffs evicted two of three tree-sits. More recently loggers accompanied by police felled trees in the vicinity of the re-occupied tree platform and arrested a videographer and one observer.


Incheon, South Korea - Thousands of anti-American protesters clashed with police as they attempted to raze a 16-foot bronze likeness of the American General, Douglas MacArthur. The statue was erected at the end of the Korean War in 1953. After the war 32,500 U.S. soldiers and scores of bases remained in South Korea. The demonstrators want all American forces to leave Korea and take the memorials to their generals with them.

Friday, September 16, 2005



Global - Newly published research by scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the National Center for Atmospheric Research say that the number hurricanes in the past 15 years is more than twice what it was in the previous 15 year period, and that global warming trends have caused the jump. They say that storms, in the North Atlantic in particular, will continue to become more numerous and longer-lasting. Their newly published research records a direct correlation between sea surface temperature and hurricane intensity.


Salonica, Greece - About a thousand anarchists gathered outside the Annual International Economic Exhibition, where Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis was speaking, and proceeded to set fire to several banks and the governing party’s offices. Police attempts to disperse the riots led to street fighting which lasted into the night. Video
Rome, Italy - A small bomb exploded in the mail room of a Carabinieri paramilitary police barracks killing one soldier and wounding another. No one has claimed responsibility yet, but some suspect that the anarchist Cooperative of Hand-Made Fire and Related Items (‘Cooperativa Artigiana Fuoco e Affini’ in Italian) or a similar group are responsible, as they have used letter bombs in the past to target police in Italy.

Thursday, September 15, 2005


David Segal

New York, New York, U.S. - 20 year old anarchist, David Segal plead guilty to felony "malicious mischief" in federal court Wednesday morning in relation to a January 31, 2005 attempt to burn down a Bronx military recruiting station. In return for the plea the prosecutor gave a sentencing recommendation of 10-16 months.

The judge is not required to abide by the recommendation and could sentence David to 10 years in prison, but David's attorney, Martin Stolar, president of the New York chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, believes that the sentence would adhere to the prosecutor's guidelines. Additionally, the judge could break up the sentence between jail time and home confinement.

David will have to wait until his December 16th sentencing date to know for sure. Until then he will be looking for a new job in the area of Litchfield, Connecticut, where he has been living with his parents since they posted a $15,000 cash bond to secure his release following his arrest. David is required to be employed as a condition of his release and would like to find an apprenticeship as a carpenter. He is also looking for people interested in caring for some of his eight guinea pigs while he is incarcerated. In a statement David thanked his supporters for "all the support and care you've all shown already. It means so fucking much."

David also expressed remorse that Brendan Walsh, who was convicted for a 2003 arson attempt on a recruitment center near Binghamton, NY, didn't receive an equally lenient sentence as the one that was recommended for David. Brendan was sentenced to five years behind bars, after which he faces three years of supervision.

Their cases are very similar. Both were 19 years old at the time of their crimes, and both acted alone, driven by their opposition to the ongoing war in Iraq. David however was fortunate enough to have a supportive community, in New York City, who were able to bring his case to the attention of Martin Stolar, a prominent civil rights attorney, who was interested in taking the case. Unfortunately, Brendan's case received little notice and support, leaving him with a poor defense lawyer who allowed him to plead guilty without an offer of leniency. David is asking that people interested in supporting him also consider offering support to Brendan as well.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005



Louisiana, U.S. - Anarchist mutual aid groups like May Day DC, Food Not Bombs and many more caravaned from throughout the country to support the survivors of hurricane Katrina. Like when New York City's Twin Towers were struck down and anarchist squatters and aid workers were some of the first on the scene to help find survivors, anarchists have been setting up relief centers in affected areas and providing food, medicine, transportation, and other support. The government relief effort is so disorganized that "the military, FEMA, and the Red Cross are sending people needing help over to a tent set up by anarchists" according to one aid worker. Another in the community of Algiers reports that a renegade National Guard group procured supplies from FEMA and delivered them to anarchist aid workers. Anarchists are providing more than food, water, and medicine. A group from New York City called The Emergence Broadcasting System) is headed to New Orleans with computers, satellite phones, and generators which they'll use to set up mobile info-points where residents can access the Internet, e-mail and make phone calls to friends and family. A low powered pirate radio FM station has already hit the airwaves and is helping to keep people informed.

Monday, September 12, 2005



West Old Town, Maine, U.S. - Members of the Earth Liberation Front vandalized at least a dozen large machines at the West Old Town Landfill, which is one of New England's worst polluters. Last winter ownership of the landfill was transferred from the Georgia-Pacific timber company to state hands, in a behind closed doors deal which resulted in the expansion of the site and a sweet deal for Georgia-Pacific and Casella Waste Systems who now run the site. The machines had their ignitions ripped out, or superglue poured into them, tires were slashed, two buildings and many vehicles were spray painted, and the fuel in the equipments' tanks may have been tampered with. Officials say the damage will cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

Sunday, September 11, 2005



Santiago, Chile - Masked anarchist demonstrators clashed with police near the University of Chile's social science building in a protest commemorating the Pinochet dictatorship. Police, who were attacked with molotov cocktails, choked the campus with teargas and unsuccessfully pursued protesters through the school. Confrontations also broke out in a cemetery where a memorial was held for the victims of Pinochet's reign of terror. Fighting spread to working class neighborhoods where some of the 10,000 police, who were deployed, fired live ammunition at demonstrators killing one 16 year old boy. September 11 is remembered as the day General Augusto Pinochet staged a successful C.I.A. backed right-wing coup d'etat in 1973. Each year since the dictatorship ended in 1990 anti-fascists have marked the anniversary by holding demonstrations.


Kathmandu, Nepal - A number of people were injured and at least 100 arrested when police broke up anti-monarchy protests in central Kathmandu. Riot police used fire hoses, teargas, and truncheons to disperse demonstrators who have called for King Gyanendra to step down. The king seized power in a coup last February with claims that only he could crush the Maoist insurgency which dominates much of the countryside.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - Philadelphia prison guards disrupted traffic, to protest a new disciplinary code that affects them, unaware of the irony. A representative of the the correction officer's union said that the city implemented the new policy in violation of their collective bargaining agreement.

Thursday, September 08, 2005



New York, New York, U.S. - Carr Securities released a statement saying that it had withdrawn from working with the animal-testing company Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) after animal liberation graffiti appeared on a New York yacht club associated with the company. It may have also been the reason the New York Stock Exchange dramatically balked on listing shares of the company only minutes before it was due to begin trading. HLS was forced to quit the London stock market and the NYSE in 2000 after animal rights protesters targeted shareholders and market makers. In North Wales the managing director of Llanberis company Euro/DPC had his car and garage vandalized because his company supplies HLS.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005


Peak Oil
  • Nigeria - Unions in Nigeria are trying to avert another nation-wide general strike by holding a series of large rallies in order to pressure the government to recall a recent 30 percent increase in fuel prices . If the government refuses to respond to the protests by October 3rd the unions are expected to call for workers to stay home until their demands are met. A general strike last year forced the government to lower prices after only three days at a time when crude oil cost about $38 a barrel; now the price is about $66 a barrel. The price of fuel was also raised in India which sparked strong criticism by left-wing parties.
  • New Brunswick, Canada - Hundreds of trucks slowed traffic in a number of locations along the Trans-Canada Highway and asked motorists to sign petitions calling for the government to help lower fuel prices. The action was part of a three day planned protest organized by the little-known Truckers and Drivers Association of North America. More than 3,000 miles away, south of the border, log truckers held a rally in Corvallis, Oregon and more protests have been planned in Monticello, Indiana.
  • France - Truckers in eastern and southern France blockaded several wholesale gas depots in opposition to rising fuel costs. The demonstrations were planned by UNOSTRA, the truckers' association to target strategic locations in order to gain support from workers in agriculture and taxi drivers who are also affected by high gas prices.