EYFA News 12.07

EYFA NETWORK NEWS! DECEMBER 2007

EYFA newsletter is a tool to spread information on campaigns, actions,
meetings and convergence happening around Europe and beyond. Info is
forwarded to our network e-list and to network partners and contacts.
Please send us info eyfa@eyfa.org if you have news to be spread.

NOTE: After the summer we started with thematic newsletters and
archiving these on our website. You can find this newsletter at
http://eyfa.org/newsletter/on_overconsumerism (See also here our
September and November Newsletters). Or you can check out the version
below (without 'hyperlinks'):
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.on Over-Consumerism

(Buy Nothing) Christmas greetings from the EYFA office! As another
'biggest ever' Christmas forcefully approaches, and Santa's Sleigh seems
to have been replaced by giant container ships from China bringing
tonnes of throwaway pleasures, the December newsletter is about
over-consumerism.

**Contents
1. An Introduction...
2. Buy Nothing Day, 24th November 2007
3. Advertising
4. Over-packaging
5. A bitter taste
6. True Cost...
7. ...True Price
8. Buy Nothing Christmas
9. Further Links
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1. An introduction...
Consumerism is the achievement of personal happiness from the purchasing
of material possessions and consumption. However, the truth is that
consumerism is a pattern of behaviour that supports exploitation of
people, destroys the environment, badly affects personal health, and
decreases leisure time, creativity and critical thinking. Consumerism is
an expression of capitalism, which tries to turn everything in life into
objects and services that are sold for the purpose of generating profit
- commercialization, where the value of everything, including such
intangible things as happiness, health and beauty become measured in
commercial and materialistic terms. Consumerism is driven by the
commercialization and consumer capitalism that manipulates consumer
demand in a deliberate and coordinated way through mass-marketing that
results in an overload of information and confusion about what you
really need and spreads misinformation about consumer goods and
services. In this issue we would like to point out some of the examples
of anti-consumerism activities in Europe and give you a hint of what's
behind consumerism.
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2. Buy Nothing Day
The start of the Christmas over-shopping season, the most intense
consumer period of the year, was marked at the end of November by Buy
Nothing Day, with a slogan SHOP LESS - LIVE MORE.
In pre-industrialist times, "shopping" did not exist and consumerism was
based on necessity, though necessity in a different way to how we see it
today. Nowadays, we buy things we don't really need and won't use. Now,
what we believe to 'need' can also cover products to make our busy lives
survivable and pleasant; energy guzzling labour saving devices,
over-packaged convenience food, and so-called retail therapy. These
short-term solutions are a direct cause of a long-term problem. What we
need, in terms of making environmentally correct choices, can be a
confusing issue. Simply replacing all our household utilities and goods
with ethical or energy-saving alternatives can not only cause extra
consumerism, but create more waste from disposing of working objects.
Despite it's title, Buy Nothing Day carries a longer term message of
responsible consumerism. By not shopping for one day, we can realize the
unnecessary time we use, recognize it in the future, and make changes to
spend our time doing other things (whilst saving resources and money).
www.buynothingday.co.uk (also contains international links)

In Berlin,and many other cities, Zombie Shoppers challenged the 'real'
shoppers' perception of themselves. See a video of the action here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1521762928736825634

In the UK, Fat Cats spread promises of future happiness, and Space
Hijackers went into stores to spread publicize false offers. More
information about these actions, and more, can be found here:
http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/17851
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3. Advertising
Advertising is becoming more and more aggressive and impossible to
escape. At this time of year, it is directly aimed at the young,
encouraging the feeling of 'want' rather than 'need' at an early age.
Companies employ so-called trend researchers (or cool-hunters) to help
them design their next product range. In recent years, these companies
have noticed that revolution can be very profitable. With anti-
globalisation being one hot topic, the big companies have discovered
they can cash in on the movement working against them by advertising
their products as subversive and rebellious against issues.
[Tired of advertisements, trends, misinterpretation, misuse and abuse of
space and culture? Keep on spoofing, do it yourself, share, recycle,
cycle, reclaim, rewrite, redraw, redo, redesign, reprogram, hijack...]

A 'chase the logo' game is available on the Space Hijackers web-site,
www.spacehijackers.co.uk/html/games/logo.html, though we should warn
you... rushing to follow the brands can only result in a quick end for a
lot of sheep! More games on www.spacehijackers.co.uk/html/games.html
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4. Over-packaging – The Plastic Battle
Friends of the Earth have just announced the winners of their 'One
Minute with Meaning' short film competition with the theme of 'how we
use our planet like there is a tomorrow'. The chosen film looked at the
issue of over-packaging, which (along with the obvious drain on
resources) is designed to encourage impulse buying, and is undeniably
responsible for the resultant additional waste. The film shows the
inaccessibility, pointlessness and sheer excessiveness of packaging
designed with only quantity of sales in mind.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJaI-Ohggd4
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5. A bitter taste
Today’s consumption is undermining the environmental resource base and
exacerbates inequalities. Sandwiches wrapped in aluminium foil –
devastated landscapes in the north of Brazil. Meat between the bread –
comes from animals fed on soy that caused social and environmental
desertification in Argentina and Paraguay. The water – needed for meat
breeding per animal per day is ten times what a normal Indian family use
in one day. In the current industrialized system, for every kilo of red
meat, poultry, eggs, and milk produced – farm fields lose couple of
kilos of irreplaceable top soil. Cheap chocolate in Europe – made of
cacao picked by (often slave) child labour on cocoa plantations on the
Ivory Coast. Bananas from Latin America and the Caribbean – associated
with rainforest and community destruction. But meat, chocolate and
bananas are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of examples of negative
effects of the current consumption patters. A lot of the food produced
in poorer countries are grown not to feed local people and meet their
demands, but to be exported to cities around the world, especially in
Europe and North America. This leaves rural communities in poverty and
degrades their environment. If knowing all this results in a bitter
taste - Eat vegan, local, unpackaged, and organic!

Check: www.pig8soy.org
A chocolate link: http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery
A banana link: www.chiquitakills.org/
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6.True cost...
It is obvious that there is no such thing as a low cost- the price is
paid for a bargain somewhere along the production line. Exploitation of
workers, toxic or non-recyclable materials, and miles of trans-
portation may lower the cost to consumers, but the injustice and
consequences they cause come at a much higher non-retail price. Not to
mention that if quantity produced exceeds demand (as often happens),
though shop prices fall further, much goes to waste.

Campaigners from the Clean Clothes Campaign and India Committee of the
Netherlands trying to expose the exploitation of workers at the Fibres
and Fabrics International (FFI) jeans factory in India now face an
international arrest warrant,together with the director of their
Internet service provider. Dutch Jeans company G-Star was the last
remaining customer of FFI until they finally gave in to public protest
on the 6th December and withdrew their contract. However, the gagging
order and arrest warrant on campaigners remains, preventing the truth
about labour practices from becoming public. See for more info on this
case www.cleanclothes.org
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7. ...True price
Post-purchase damage can be ignored just as easily as pre-retail
exploitation. Though worth of items usually go down after purchase and
use, the Adbusters project 'True cost economics' looks at how the retail
prices of commonly used good and services would be affected if they
included consequential damage caused by things such as transit hours,
taxes and insurance claims.
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/truecosteconomics/true_cost.html

With current exchange rates against the dollar being so favourable to
Europeans, the amount of trans-Atlantic flights being made in the name
of Christmas shopping will surely rise... and the levels of our ocean
will follow. On the Global Footprint Network web page, the statistics of
our pressure on the earth are made visualized in graphs. Our global
footprint is already larger than the planet itself, and with growing
consumerism being at the root of the majority, if not all of our
environmental problems, it is set to grow at an increasingly alarming
rate until we can not survive at all.
www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=global_footprint
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8. Buy Nothing Christmas
Christmas is at the height of all consumerist badness; paper use for
cards and wrapping goes up by 25%, demand for cheap products fuels
unethical labour standards in factories, travel and transit involved in
shopping produces even more fumes and pollution, and products are likely
to be over-packaged to emphasize size and expense. Buy Nothing Christmas
is a campaign which challenges people to reconsider the importance of
money and superfluous spending. Though it may come as a shock to
so-called 'traditionalists' who see the extravagance as an essential
part of festivities, Buy Nothing Christmas does not propose to eliminate
the joy of giving, or (because it is originally a Christian-founded
campaign,) to ignore the festival. The idea is merely to look at
alternatives to the media-encouraged greed; more truly beneficial or
homemade gifts, thinking of different ways of packaging, and avoiding
the lazy 'who cares, it's Christmas' attitude to waste.

Links for a Buy Nothing Christmas:
http://makewealthhistory.org/2007/11/30/buy-nothing-christmas/
www.buynothingchristmas.org/
www.sendacowgifts.org.uk

The Dutch website dierenindecember.nl draws attention to the easily
forgotten increased use of animal products at this time of year. Part of
the CIWF - Compassion in World Farming- they draw attention to the link
between cruel farming practices, and demand for larger quantities of
cheap meat. See www.dierenindecember.nl (Dutch) or www.ciwf.org (English)
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9. Further recommended links (Please send us more!!):

Czech:
Co znamená Freegan? - http://freegan.info/?page=czech

Dutch:
“Solidaire Economie” - www.economischegroei.net
www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/1174/30
www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/1293/30/

English:
Space Hijackers- www.spacehijackers.co.uk
People and Planet- www.peopleandplanet.org
Overcoming Consumerism - www.verdant.net
Solidarity Economy - www.turbulence.org.uk/solidarityeconom.html

Finnish
Kaventajat - www.kaventajat.fi

French:
L'association Résistance à l'Agression Publicitaire -
www.antipub.org/
Brigade anti-publicitaire - www.bap.propagande.org/
®TMark - www.rtmark.com/homefr.html
La Décroissance - www.ladecroissance.net/

Portuguese:
Freeganismo (Portuguese)- http://freegan.info/?page=Portugues

Slovene:
lovek, ZBUDI SE! -
www.zbudise.net/blog/2007/11/akcija-dan-brez-nakupov/

Spanish
Qué es un freegan? - http://freegan.info/?page=Espa%F1ol
YOMANGO - www.yomango.net/
®TMark Empresarios del desorden - www.rtmark.com/homesp.html


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Published electronically by EYFA.
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Support for squat in Helsinki

hi again. our little solidarity demo is tomorrow, koningsplein 10.00 in
the morning.
xx boile




DEMO IN AMSTERDAM OP DONDERDAG 22-11

De beste en de enige gekraakte sociale centrum in Helsinki heeft je
steun nodig! Kom en laat je solidariteit zien bij de Finse consulaat;
haal je zwartgeklede kont uit je bed op donderdag 22-11 and ontmoet ons
op Koningsplein om 10.00 uur. Vodka en sauna voor iedereen als het pand
gelegaliseerd wordt!

The best and only squatted social centre in Helsinki needs your support!
Come show your solidarity at the Finnish consulate; drag your black
clothed asses out of bed on Thursday 22-11 and meet us at Koningsplein
at 10.00. Vodka and sauna for everyone when it gets legalised!

The Amsterdam Squatters for Elimäenkatu

Lets support squat in Helsinki

hi friends,

do you have anything to do on thursday morning? if not, start the day in
a demo to give support to the best and only squatted social center in
Helsinki. There has been a campaign to get a social centre in helsinki
and this building was squatted in the summer, after a whole summer of
squattings that all were evicted. This time there has been some promises
from the city to keep the house. The city council will decide on
thursday and there will be a demonstration in helsinki 16. They are
asking for international support. Thus we'll make a small action in
front of the finnish consulate which is near leidseplein, on
Leidsegracht 19. It is open from 10 to 12. I would go there at 10.00.
(Then I can still go to our office meeting almost on time, and maybe you
also need to go somewhere)

let me know if you want to
-come to the consulate at 10 (or is 11 better)
-help write something to hand out to the consulate
-help write a letter to the helsinki city council tomorrow (like the
danish did:http://www.q-olio.net/valtaus/?q=node/104)
-have ideas of how to make it more interesting (slogans, props, messages)

Amanda and me will brainstorm and make a banner tomorrow after 18 in the
Eigenaardig so welcome there. and we'd put the call-out on the internet
tomorrow, with the time and meeting place.

hope you can come,
They need to keep this house, otherwise the rest of helsinki squatters
will move to Amsterdam..and my dear city will be left to idiots

xxxX,
soile

here's their website
http://www.q-olio.net/valtaus/?q=taxonomy/term/1


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Helsinki occupied social centre - call for solidarity 22 November

8 November 2007:

On November 22nd the City of Helsinki is going to make a decision if they
will legalize our squat. It is likely that the decision is going to be
negative, but our struggle can change that.

We appeal to all of our friends across Europe to act in our support
against the conservative and right wing politics that are being pushed
through by the officials of the City of Helsinki. Find an embassy of
Finland close to you, arrange a demo, send us regards, do what ever you
please but now is the moment we need your support.

We are very grateful for the support we received before, from Malmo,
Copenhagen and other places. One month ago we made them back of with
their plan to evict us. Now we find ourselves in the same situation
where we face risk of eviction, but also see a possibility of legalizing
our social centre. Stakes are higher this time, because we think now
city can't postpone their decision. Now we need help even more urgently
from our friends in struggle.

In Helsinki we are going to arrange a demonstration November 22nd and
you are totally welcome to come here to support us. We have
accommodation for you here, so please inform us if you re coming, to:
sosiaalikeskushki@gmail.com. We are not giving up!

+++

from Elimäenkatu 15, 3 November 2007:

Dear friends of the social centre movement, in Europe and beyond! Thank
you for your responses to our call for solidarity in defence of the
Elimäenkatu 15 squat in the Helsinki district of Vallila, Finland.
Negotiations between the users and occupiers of the house and (through the
city authorities) the owner of the house, insurance company Etera, were
threatening to end up in a deadlock and call for eviction this Thursday,
the 25th of October.

A study called for by city authorities claimed that the house is in too
poor condition to be used, and that it can not be repaired for less than
100 000 euro. This false claim was to be used as a reason to evict the
building, a 3-floor house that previously served as a bar and office space
and was squatted and turned into an occupied social centre in August 2007.

As of today, the city authorities decided to not process the issue in
their meeting, but rather delay any decision until the 22nd of November.
This may mean more time for the squatters to present their plan for how to
manage the space, and hopefully win a more permanent position.

However, the owners’ original threat to call for an eviction unless a
negotiated conclusion is reached during the month of October remains. We
hope the risk of negative publicity and actions will keep them from
carrying out their threat, but will only know after further negotiations.

Please stay tuned to the process. We feel that there have been concrete
achievements and a strengthening of our position, especially thanks to the
struggle together with the comrades in Copenhagen, last month and last
year. We wish you luck in your battles, and look forward to standing by
your side in the future. And please be ready to act again also on our
behalf if there is need. We may now have a week more, or a month more, or
a year. But at some point also we will come under the attack of capital.
Until then, and especially then, you are welcome to visit us in Helsinki!

Yours,
the squatters of E 15
http://www.q-olio.net/valtaus/?q=node/102

EYFA news 12.11.07

EYFA NETWORK NEWS! November 2007

EYFA newsletter is a tool to spread information on campaigns, actions,
meetings and convergence happening around Europe and beyond. Info is
forwarded to our network e-list and to network partners and contacts.
Please send us info if you have news to be spread.

NOTE: We have started after the summer with thematic newsletters and
archiving these on our website. You can find this newsletter (with loads
more 'hyperlinks') at http://eyfa.org/newsletter/on_borders (See also
here our September Newsletter on GMO's). Or you can check out the
version below (without all these 'hyperlinks'):
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. on Borders

While putting this newsletter together tents are still being set up on
both sides of the US/Mexico border. It's the third NoBorder Camp this
year after Camps in the Ukraine in August and UK in September. And for
today November 10 - on the 18th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin
Wall – actions will be mounted against border regimes in Mexico,
Guatemala, the United States, Canada, Israel and Palestine.
See Campamento Contra Las Fronteras http://noborderscamp.org/

**Contents
1. NoBorder Camps - intro
2. NoBorder Camp Ukraine – last August
3. NoBorder Camp UK – last September
4. European Police Congress 29th-30th, Berlin
5. Youth Crossing Borders – last August
6. Be a refugee
7. MigMap
8. Fortress Europe's death toll
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1. NoBorder Camps - intro

NoBorder Camps came up by the end of the 90s organized by a network of
groups struggling for the freedom ofmovement for all and an end to all
migration controls; calling fora radical movement against the system of
control, dividing us into citizens and non-citizens; demanding the end
of the border regime for everyone, including ourselves, to enable us to
live another way, without fear, racism and nationalism.
A space was created to gather and meet, discuss, make actions and create
connections. At first in countries that found themselves on the edges of
Fortress Europe – Poland, Romania, Spain and Italy – but in 2002
Strassbourg had a camp with a couple of thousand participants. This camp
turned out to be of great importance for the G8 protest camp Vaaag that
followed the year after in Evian, France: How to set up an infra-
structure that accommodates thousands of people, that is run non-
hierarchically, and that is a base for direct actions. After a break of
a couple of years the NoBorder Camps are back with camps this year in
Ukraine, UK and US/Mexico.
See overview early NoBorder Camps on http://www.noborder.org/
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2. NoBorder Camp Ukraine – August 11-20 2007

Organizing a NoBorder Camp is a challenge that not only deals with set-
ting up a large camp but also with the context of the nearby physical
border and the migrantphobic surroundings. The NoBorder Camp in Ukraine
was located at the eastern border region Transcarpathia. With the
enlargement of the EU, and shifting of borders, Transcarpathia became
one of the main routes for international migration. This region is known
for its unique blend of cultures and traditions and has a history build
on migration. But under EU pressure National migration policies changed
and the border regime harshened. State and popular media's use of
xenophobic rhetorics has created tension among the ancestors of migrants
and new-comers. One of the main aims of the Camp was therefore to do
outreach and spread counter-information.

The NoBorder Camp was attended by 300 activists from approximately 20
countries and also hosted a regional Food Not Bombs Gathering. A lot of
activists from the region, at first unfamiliar with NoBorder activism,
later joined the actions against the nearby detention center and
immigration offices. Besides the actions also a No Border festival was
organized in the nearby city Uzhgorod which attracted a lot of local
people with concerts, films and seminars. Borders, however, also came up
within the settings of the camp with an invisible border apparent
between the Russian and English speaking participants.

callout:
http://www.thatsaninterestingpoint.org.ua/noborders2007/callout_eng.html
EU pressure:
http://www.plotki.net/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=443&Itemid=31
action report: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/378802.html

(See also an extensive report in Abolishing The Borders From Below-
magazine issue #30, Oct.'07)
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3. NoBorder Camp UK – September 19-24 2007

It took some time to find a nice field to put the camp up. Police were
harassing local farmers not to host the camp on their lands. Eventually
one farmer did not give in and the camp was still located near one ofits
targets - the new detention center Brook House that is being build at
the Gatwick Airport. The UK had a summer of several protest camps - e.g.
Climatecamp . Still some 200 activists gathered at the NoBorder Camp to
discuss the situation in the UK and Europe, to exchange information and
tactics and to do actions. The participants were predominantly from the
UK and the Camp was of great importance for the growing UK NoBorder net-
work.

Two years of No Borders UK
It was before the G8 2005 in Scotland that initiatives started to
network around the issues of Freedom Of Movement in the UK again. A Make
Borders History demo took place in Glasgow during the 2005 G8 summit in
Scotland, calling at several institutions and companies involved in the
Border Regime. During the following year, No Borders groups were set up
all over the country, in London, Brighton, Cardiff, Nottingham, Leeds
and other cities. Regular demonstrations targeted immigration reporting
centers and as well as detention centers.

The year 2006 saw the first UK-wide No Borders Gathering in London and
exactly one year later, another gathering was held in Glasgow. The
initiatives naturally had different focal points, from fighting against
dawn raids, anti-deportation actions (e.g. in Leeds ), campaigning
against the point-based system, to solidarity with migrant workers (e.g.
justice for cleaners) and, of course, demonstrations at immigration
prisons. In Glasgow, people started Unity, a union of by and for asylum
seekers. In London, Harmondsworth became another focus of protests as
well as building up practical support for detainees. The October 7th
Network organized a demonstration in London as part of the Transnational
Day Of Action for migrants' rights. However, when the Home Office
disclosed plans to build a new immigration prison at Gatwick, the new
Brook House became a focus for the whole network.

check out http://noborders.org.uk/
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4. European Police Congress- January 29-30 2008, Berlin

The “European Police Congress” is a forum where politicians, police
authorities, intelligence services, the military and the security
industry meet to discuss the implementation of new measures for
prosecution. Big topic on their agenda is the policing of borders. Not
only is there the ambition to strengthen the walls of the fortress but
also to increase the control of people inside the walls. A Campaign was
initiated, demonstrations are being planned and actions in the making.
Against a “Global Security Architecture”, for more security-critical
behaviour!

check out http://info.gipfelsoli.org/Multilanguage/English/4393.html
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5. Youth Crossing Borders - August 4-19 2007, Aljezur, Portugal

EYFA organized a 14 days exchange in Aljezur that brought together
young activists from old and new EU member states to disscuss, compare
and enrich their different perspectives on migration issues. The topics
ranged from 'Environmental refugees' to 'Detention in the Netherlands.'
The participants came from countries and groups like Albania(Mjaft),
Romania(Kommunitas), Serbia(Stanipani), Montenegro(PlagusM), Croatia
(YPGD), Italy(la libellula), Portugal(Edsime) and The Netherlands(EYFA).
See http://eyfa.org/meetings/migration
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6. Be a Refugee

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) produced a
video game that 'let's you experience what it's like to be a refugee.'
Games are the way to communicate to a generation stuck with their heads
in the box, they must have thought. The game is called 'Against all
odds' and is odd indeed. http://www.playagainstallodds.com/
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7. MigMap – governing migration

MigMap is a 'Virtual Cartography of European Migration Policies' – it's
a map! Trying to get a grip on the European policy field of migration is
a horror. This map leads you along the different actors, institutions,
the discourses, the places and the practices.
http://www.transitmigration.org/migmap/
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8. Fortress Europe's death toll

Fortress Europe is tracking the numbers of people dying along the
borders of Europe. Their October 2007 Report report mentions that at
least 296 migrants and refugees have died trying to reach European Union
that month. More than 200 people were reported to be missing off Canary
Islands, in Spain, 51 migrants died in the Strait of Sicily and Calabria
(south of Italy) and 33 others were drowned in the Aegean sea, between
Turkey and Greece. At least 1,343 migrants have already died since the
beginning of the year. http://fortresseurope.blogspot.com/
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see for more links
http://eyfa.org/newsletter/on_borders

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Published electronically by EYFA.

EYFA News (next one)

EYFA newsletter is a tool to spread information on campaigns, actions,
meetings and convergence happening around Europe and beyond. Info is
forwarded to our network e-list and to network partners and contacts.
Please send us info if you have news to be spread.

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
. on GMOs
EYFA's summer was busy, with time spent in Portugal implementing
projects, like the annual gathering Ecotopia and also an exchange about
Migration. At the same time in Portugal, a campaign against Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs) brought this issue into the forefront of
Portuguese public and political debate. So we thought it would be a good
moment to focus our newsletter on the issue of GMOs. We hope this
highlights the campaigns and initiatives gaining momentum around Europe,
which attempt to educate about the dangerous development and use of GMO
agricultural models.
Read on, and please support these campaigns and struggles and spread the
information through your networks.
eyfa office


**Contents
1. Do you live in a GMO-free zone?
2. Defending a GMO-free zone in Portugal
3. La Soja Mata - Soy Kills
4. FOE's European Anti-GMO Campaign
5. “Say no to genetic engineering” Greenpeace's campaign
6. GM Watch .org
7. Links to campaigns in Europe


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1. Do you live in a GMO free zone?

What is a GMO? A GMO is a “genetically modified organism” (also called
“genetically engineered”): a plant, animal, or microorganism whose
genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the
same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics
that it does not have naturally. For example, genes from a fish have
been placed in strawberries and tomatoes.
GMOs have negatively affected biodiversity, the environment, farmers and
consumers around the world, while multinational companies such as
Cargill and Monsanto who created and patented GMOs gained more economic
and political power through the introduction of GMOs into our food
systems and the environment. A number of campaigns have been raising
awareness about the social and environmental injustice caused by GMOs.
These campaigns are also trying to stop further expansion of GMOs.
And maybe there is something you can do to help. Have a look at the list
of anti-GMO campaigns at the end of this newsletter. But first check if
you live in a GMO-free zone – have a look at
www.gmo-free-europe.org

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
2. Defending a GMO-free zone in Portugal

On 17th of August 2007, “Movimento Verde Eufémia” did a direct action
against the first GM-corn field in the GMO-free Zone of the Algarve [see
http://genet.iskra.net/en/portugal ] The action was publicly announced
and cameras were waiting. In the action less than 1 hectare of GM corn
was symbolically mowed by a group of activists. [ more about the action
on indymedia:
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/379708.html
The action was first of this kind in Portugal and it provoked a
discussion on presence of GMOs in Portugal and put the spotlight on GMO
related issues. There was also quite a lot of media spin (as expected)
from mainstream media, and varying political disapproval by current
government and other political parties. Movimento Verde Eufémia is under
a lot of pressure and legal intimidation, and calls out for a support
and the creation of international solidarity network. If you are active
in GMO campaigning or know groups who are, or would simply like to help,
please contact verde.eufemia@hush.com

Visit their website http://eufemia.ecobytes.net
or for those who do not speak Portuguese, please see
http://eufemia.ecobytes.net/category/english/
and have a look at anti-GMO in Portugal www.stopogm.net

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
3. About La Soja Mata - Soy Kills

There is a campaign and website, "La Soja Mata" or "Soy Kills", which
provides information about the direct impacts of large scale
monocultures, specifically GM-soy, on people's lives and the
environment. La Soja Mata aims to support campaigns against such
dangerous monocultures and the soy model, which rely heavily on
"RoundupRead" or GMO crops. La Soja Mata makes information about these
issues and international campaigns accessible.
The public in 'consumer countries' have by now been extensively informed
that the advance of soy plantations causes massive destruction of
ecosystems, such as rainforests and savannahs, in countries like
Argentina and Brazil. However, the scale and speed with which land is
taken over by the production of these crops, driven by a growing demand,
is making many more victims: local communities are driven out, farmers
loose their crops because of intensive use of the herbicide Roundup on
RoundupReady (GMO) soy, and this also causes health problems on a scale
that many do not realise. In addition, soils degrade and water levels go
down, deforestation changes regional climate patterns. Soy plantations
do not generate jobs, so there is a continuous flow of people migrating
to the city slums or abroad. If people disappear, so does the market for
many other small scale economic activities. Small scale agriculture
harbours both agricultural and natural biodiversity - moncultures don't.
Resistance in producer countries is growing. La Soja Mata provides
information in English, and hopefully other languages, about campaigns
carried by farmers, landless people, rural and urban communities,
against the take over of their surroundings by (RoundupReady - GMO) soy
plantations.
www.lasojamata.org

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
4. Friends of the Earth - European GMO Campaign and Biotechnology Programme

Friends of the Earth's European GMO Campaign is working to safeguard
GMO-free agriculture and to ensure that European citizens have the right
to choose GMO-free food. To achieve this, Friends of the Earth's
national groups across Europe are working together to:
* actively lobby at EU and national level to strengthen GMO legislation;
* promote the creation of GMO free zones;
* increase public awareness and participation in decision-making about
GMOs, and help ensure that consumers can exercise their right to choose
about GM crops and food;
* research information and propose policy solutions.
The Friends of the Earth Europe website has many links to new
developments with European legislation about GMOs, new publications and
links to press releases and actions.
www.foeeurope.org/GMOs/Index.htm
See also www.tomatotour.org

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
5. Say no to genetic engineering

”Say no to genetic engineering” is a campaign against GMOs by
Greenpeace. Have a look at their webpage, which provides examples and
gives a background information on issues related to GM contamination and
other threats:
www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
6. GM Watch
www.gmwatch.org

A website with information and news on GMO related issues around the
world. To stay updated subscribe to gmwatch's newsletter
www.gmwatch.org/sub.asp
[Another useful site is www.gmo-compass.org]

--- -- -- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- --- - --- -- --- -- - - --- -- - --
7. Links to anti-GM campaigns and activities in Europe:
[sends us more links!]


BULGARIA:
www.zazemiata.org/gmo

CROATIA:
www.zelena-akcija.hr/ge

DENMARK:
www.toft.dk/gendebat
www.noah.dk/gentek/gtforside.html

FINLAND:
www.bioturva.org
www.gmovapaa.fi

FRANCE:
www.infogm.org
www.confederationpaysanne.fr

GERMANY:
www.biopiraterie.de
www.gen-ethisches-netzwerk.de

ICELAND:
www.erfdabreytt.net

ITALY:
www.rfb.it

MACEDONIA:
www.ekosvest.com.mk

PORTUGAL:
www.stopogm.net

POLAND:
www.icppc.pl

ROMANIA:
http://omg.ngo.ro
www.greenpeace.ro

SPAIN:
www.transgenicsfora.org

SWEDEN:
www.gmofri.se

THE NETHERLANDS:
http://www.aseed.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=176&Itemid=162

UK:
www.geneticsaction.org.uk



* * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * *
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Lets meet together !!! on groen front (earth first ) gathering

GroenFront! Gathering 2007 - Culemborg
GroenFront! Nederland en Belgie - 07.08.2007 17:32

Ook dit jaar zal er weer een grote GroenFront! gathering zijn. De gathering is het jaarlijks trefpunt van radicale eco-activisten uit Nederland en Belgie. Dit jaar zal het circus neerstrijken in het mooie buitengebied van Culemborg. De nieuwe Krimp-campagne van GroenFront! zal deze gathering centraal staan, maar ook de andere campagnes zullen uiteraard ruimschoots aan bod komen.


"Werk aan het Spoel"

De gehele gathering zal klimaatneutraal zijn. We willen uiteraard zelf het goed voorbeeld geven en laten zien dat het allemaal best mogelijk is. Dit betekent wel dat je geen volledig verzorgd pension moet verwachtten, maar een leuke en gezellige bijeenkomst waar iedereen af en toe de handen uit de mouwen moet steken. Vele handen maken licht werk....

Programma
Het programma is onderverdeeld in een 3-tal thema's: "Actievaardigheden en GroenFront!", "Krimp-campagne" en "DIY-mogelijkheden"

De linkjes achter de programma-onderdelen verwijzen naar meer inhoudelijk informatie over dat specifieke onderwerp, maar dus niet naar concrete uitleg over die workshop. Toch geeft het hopelijk alvast een beeld over de inhoud van die workshop.

Sommige workshops zijn nog onder voorbehoud. Zodra er meer duidelijkheid over is, zal dat uiteraard z.s.m. gepubliceerd worden.


Actievaardigheden en GroenFront!
* IJsland-campagne [Meer]
* Schinveld-campage [Meer]
* Entenwoud-campagne [Meer]

* Ambachtelijk lock-ons maken
* Lock-ons en beton [Meer]
* Opzetten van een campagne
* Onderzoek doen voor campagnes en acties [Meer]
* Media-interview
* Media-strategie
* Actievoeren voor beginners
* EarthFirst! en GroenFront! voor beginners [Meer]
* Computerveiligheid [Meer]
* Clowns [Meer]
* Klimmen en boomhutten bouwen [Meer]
* Traumaverwerking voor activisten
* Prisonersupport [Meer]

Krimp-campagne
* Waarom biofuels niet duurzaam zijn [Meer]
* De nut en noodzaak van economische krimp (ovb) [Meer]
* 5 Steenkolencentrales in Nederland ? [Meer]
* Krimpen of verzuipen (campagne introductie) [Meer]
* De effecten van klimaatverandering (ovb)[Meer]
* De aanstaande energiecrisis, peak fossil fuels [Meer]
* Duurzame energie nader bekeken

* Campagnes ondersteunen in het zuiden/ hot spots
* Uraniummijnen in Australie(ovb)
* Forest-campagne in Australie(ovb)

DIY-mogelijkheden
* Klimaatneutraal kraken in de praktijk
* DIY zonnecellen aanleggen
* Fietsgenerator
* Fietswasmachine
* DIY biodiesel maken
* Permacultuur

Bij programma-onderdelen van "DIY-mogelijkheden" betreft het soms geen workshop, maar een presentatie en/of tentoonstelling.


Kinderprogramma
De GroenFront-activisten van de toekomst zijn ook dit jaar weer welkom, maar we gaan er vanuit dat ouders zelf meehelpen. Meer informatie over het kinderprogramma volgt z.s.m. Geef het alsjeblieft wel van te voren aan als je kinderen mee neemt, zodat er met de planning rekening mee gehouden. Alvast bedankt daarvoor!

Green Anarchy Bibliotheek
Dit jaar zal er weer een flinke collectie boeken over (groen) anarchisme en eco-activisme zijn. Ter lering en inspiratie. Naast deze bibliotheek is er ook een uitgebreide boeken en merchandise-stand

Filmprogramma
Ook al zal er uiteraard een filmprogramma zijn. Laat je verrassen door Hollywood blockbusters en Underground actiefilms. Alles uiteraard samenhangend met de onderwerpen op deze gathering. Op het programma onder meer Energy at the Cross Roads, Our Daily Bread, en een videocompilatie van 10 jaar GroenFront!


Kom ook!
De Gathering begint op vrijdag 24 augustus, vanaf 18:00. Het programma loopt door tot zondagavond. Uiteraard kun je tot maandag blijven, zodat je rustig de tijd heb om je spullen weer in te pakken.

Er zijn in Culemborg geen grote slaapruimtes aanwezig. Wel is er alle ruimte voor veel tentjes. Dus vergeet niet om je tent (en slaapzak e.d.) mee te nemen! Vergeet je dit wel, dan kun je hopelijk onder een droge sterrenhemel slapen.

Eten en dergelijk zal verzorgd worden (6,50 per dag, bio en vegan). Voor enkele andere overige kosten zal een kleine donatie gevraagd worden aan alle deelnemers.


Locatie en adres
De GroenFront! Gathering is te gast bij de krakers van een fort op de Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie: "Het Werk aan het Spoel". Dit fort ligt ten westen van Culemborg aan de Lek. Het werk (naam voor een klein fort) wordt doorsneden door de Goilberdingerdijk tussen Culemborg en Everdingen. Werk aan het Spoel maakt deel uit van de Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie en diende ter beveiliging van de waaiersluis die de watertoevoer voor de inundatie ten oosten van de Diefdijk regelde. De oudste delen van het werk dateren van 1794. De waaiersluis is in 1978 gesloopt.

Het fort is uniek vanwege zijn ligging. Met aan de ene kant uitzicht op de Lek, omzoomd door de Goilberdingerwaard en aan de andere kant de grote nieuwbouwwijk Parijsch. Werk aan het Spoel behoort tot het meest gave deel van de waterlinie dat, aan de overkant van de Lek, het linielandschap bij Tull en ?t Waal en voorts de forten Honswijk en Everdingen omvat.

[Lees meer over de geschiedenis van "Het Werk aan het Spoel"]

Het Werk aan het Spoel
Goilberdingendijk 40 (noordzijde)
Culemborg [Kaartje]


Opgeven
Graag willen we een beetje duidelijkheid hebben over hoeveel mensen we kunnen verwachten. Dit vanwege bijvoorbeeld het verzorgen van het eten en drinken. Hierom vragen we of je je van te voren even wilt aanmelden via 2007 (at) groenfront (punt) nl. Alvast bedankt!


No Dogs, No Masters, No Nazi's
Journalisten, aanhangers van extreem rechts en politie (incl. inlichtingendiensten) zijn niet welkom. Indien jullie toch komen, maak je kans om een volledig verzorgde plons in de Lek.

En helaas: honden zijn ook niet welkom. Ze kunnen niet worden toegelaten tot het terrein.

E-Mail: 2007 (at) groenfront (punt) nl Website: http://www.groenfront.be

NIce !!

"Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind"