News
Martinique revolt grows, airport invaded
October 11th: France declares curfew as second overseas territory erupts with protests over failing services and high cost of living ~ From Contre Attaque ~ A brand new gendarmerie barracks was completely burned down in Martinique on October 9, and yesterday the island’s airport that was invaded by protesters, preventing planes from landing.
Activists target ten Allianz offices over Elbit links
October 8th: Red paint and “Drop Elbit” graffiti sprayed in coordinated actions against insurance firm ~ Cristina Sykes ~ Palestine Action says its activists have paint-targeted 10 offices of Allianz, the world’s largest insurance firm, to demand the company stop insuring and investing in Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.
Russia: Thirteen people imprisoned for anti-war sabotage
October 7th: Those convicted of arson were sentenced to terms ranging from 8.5 to 23 years ~ Sean Patterson ~ As reported by Solidarity Zone, on October 2 the Second Eastern District Military Court in Chita (far eastern Russia) sentenced thirteen young men to prison for acts of “sabotage and terrorism”.
Clapton fans expelled for “offensive” banners
October 5th: The militant reputation that precedes Clapton CFC fans caused Brentford security to sweat ~ Yann Dey-Helle, from Dialectik Football ~ On September 29, the Clapton CFC women’s team – which plays in the 6th tier – travelled to Brentford for a championship match.
France imprisons activist Enric Duran after twelve years of exile
October 1st: The “Robin Hood” of banks, who gave half a million euros in un-returned loans to social projects, was jailed under a more recent accusation of e-commerce fraud ~ Esther Fayos, Directa ~ Catalan activist Enric Duran is on trial in Nanterre, France, having been imprisoned preventively in the Osny-Pontoise penitentiary centre, 40 kilometres from Paris,
Rallies for Suiza 6: “Syndicalism is not a crime!”
September 29th: Activists sentenced to prison in Spain for campaign against workplace, equating public economic pressure with criminal coercion ~ Cristina Sykes ~ Workers’ groups yesterday (28 Sep) showed their solidarity with the six union activists from Gijon, Spain, who face prison for their campaign against La Suiza pastry shop.
Marseille: Kayak flotilla blocks cruise ships
September 26th: Against mass tourism, pollution and capitalism, piracy is never over ~ from Contre Attaque ~ On Saturday, September 21, 12 kayaks blocked access to the port of Marseille; three cruise ships and a ferry were blocked for hours by the flotilla, off the southern French coast.
Viktar ‘Mao’ Žarkievič (1973-2024) — Belarusian punk legend
September 24th: The frontman of Hate To State and Chaliera died less than two years after a stint of political imprisonment ~ from Naša Niva ~ Viktar became interested in punk as a teenager, during the Soviet era.
Storm Boris: Violent weather will only become more serious
September 19th: Drought and heatwave in southern Europe, rotten summer in northern France, and deluge in central Europe as climate change takes its toll ~ from Contre Attacque ~ Accumulations of 150mm of rain in a few hours over central Europe represent more than 3 months of average precipitation in Paris.
Arms industry met with UK government “1.64 times a day” — report
September 18th: BAE system had more meetings with ministers and Prime Ministers than any private company in 2009-2019, say anti-war groups, exposing lucrative ‘revolving door’ in arms procurement ~ Kit Dimou ~ Government and arms companies run an ‘open plan office’, says a new report on the depth of the arms industry’s influence in UK government.
