UK: Stop HS2 news – Jellytot imprisoned

By: sisulscz - September 25th, 2022  Filed under: Communique

We are appalled that today our JellyTot has been sentenced to 268 days in prison for breach of a HS2 injunction.

The alleged breach was the 47 day occupation of a tunnel under Bluebell Woods Protection camp in Staffordshire – an occupation that was to protect the forest from needless destruction by HS2.

Many of you will know JellyTot, who has been campaigning tirelessly against HS2 since 2019.

Whilst we applaud JellyTot for his selfless acts and for standing up against the ecodical, corporate machine that is HS2, the Judiciary has once again acted to protect and defend the interests of private companies, as they continue to destroy life on earth.

With this news, we ask anyone who can to donate to this fundraiser that is providing vital support to those imprisoned by HS2.

These funds have been vital in preparing JellyTot for prison, and making sure he was well supported in court. Further funds will go directly towards supporting JellyTot inside – including paying for commissary, phone calls and emails.

We will continue to support and stand in solidarity with JellyTot and will let you know how you can get in touch with him soon.
#justiceforjellytot

Activists Against HS2 Prisoner Support Fund– This fund has been set up to support Anti-HS2 Activists who HS2 are trying to send to prison.

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Wendover (UK): Eviction begins on anti HS2 fortress in Buckinghamshire

By: sisulscz - October 13th, 2021  Filed under: Communique

Wendover Active Resistance camp, part of the ongoing direct action campaign against white elephant and eco-atrocity HS2, was surrounded by around a hundred bailiffs, HS2 security and specialist eviction teams in the early hours of Sunday morning (10th October). The defenders are well dug in but would really appreciate ground support outside the perimeter. The eviction is expected to take at least a fortnight.

The site on the A413 ( just outside the village postcode HP22 6PN) was first squatted two years ago. In that time activists have constructed a network of tunnels, treehouses and lock ons. Local opinion is firmly against the HS2, which smashes through this scenic part of the true blue Chilterns, ploughing through local beauty spots and wrecking aquifers.
[Read More]

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London: Last tunneller is out!

By: sisulscz - March 1st, 2021  Filed under: Communique

After 31 days underground, Bradley was the last person to leave the tunnels under Euston Square Gardens, set up to resist the construction of HS2.

Their statement today [1 march]:

So in the morning I have my police interview at 10:00 as when I was arrested after exiting the Euston Square Gardens tunnels on Friday 26th I couldn’t be processed or kept in the cells. After not sleeping for the last 10 days I was underground, being severely malnourished and dehydrated on top of having an invisible disability I was subsequently unable to walk or hold up my upper body and head so deemed not in a fit state to be left alone in a cell.

I was discharged to my friends who have been caring for me since. They are the most amazing friends anyone could ever be blessed with and slowly I am building back my strength. I can now walk aided although body is shaking 24/7 and I’ve slept a bit even if broken sleep still very exhausted but am doing much better. Thank you for all the love and support and I will keep you all updated with what happens with police and court.

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London: Harvil Road Protection Camp eviction alert

By: sisulscz - February 13th, 2021  Filed under: Communique

Urgent update: Harvil Road Protection Camp, Colne valley, Greater London (StopHS2) being evicted now. [13 Feb 11:00] As the anti-HS2 protestors dig in for a 17th night in tunnels Euston, central London… 25 miles west, Harvil Road protection camp in the Colne valley, Greater London is under siege. Harvil road where the on ground opposition to HS2 all began 3.5 years ago, for long the only outpost of resistance to HS2, might breath its last breath tonight.
The National Eviction Team arrived en masse at midnight threatening arrests if protestors high up in the trees in hammocks did not immediately get down. Protestors at the protection camp have said the NET’s forceful and aggressive arrival in the dead of night has put the physical safety of the protestors in jeapordy. Some have been forcefully removed and thrown into the freezing subzero night, others have had police chase them through fields for over a mile.
The camp, once situated in a green and verdant landscape is now surrounded by mile after mile of building site and endless floodlights at night. Protestors currently on the ground at the camp are expecting much more to come especially in the early hours of the morning and have put a call out for support.

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London: Euston tunnel resistance update

By: sisulscz - February 1st, 2021  Filed under: Announcement

Heading into day six, the Battle for Euston continues. Following the eviction of the above ground Stop HS2 camp, nine people remain inside tunnels below Euston Square in central London, resisting eviction by HS2. HS2 want to evict the camp and destroy the small park to build a temporary taxi rank. The trees have not been chopped down yet because they only got people out of the trees yesterday. The tower known as Buckingham Pallets was dismantled on Saturday. After the taxi rank moves again, the plan will no doubt be to build a shitty expensive cafe and plant a new tree to show green credentials.

The tunnellers are in contact with the outside world and report that Hs2 workers have showered them with dirt and liquid mud, whilst the group supposed to be responsible for their safety are pumping in oxygen which may weaken the tunnel walls. A legal challenge has been launched to ensure the eviction follows legal procedure. There’s been quite a lot of mainstream media coverage so far and most of it is bullshit. The latest thing is that the papers are excited that Swampy, the veteran 1990s road protestor is in the tunnels with his son. He said “We’ve been here five days and they haven’t even cracked the ground to the ground-shaft yet. I reckon we’ll be here for five weeks, or until the pubs are open.” Activist reporting seems to be mainly on fakebook and twatter. Squats are offering support to evicted activists if they aren’t Extinction Rebellion.

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Wendover (UK): Jones Hill Woods under attack

By: sisulscz - October 1st, 2020  Filed under: News

News from the StopHS2 Jones Hill Woods protection camp eviction today. This morning at 5:30 am circa 40 National Eviction Team officers, working for HS2 & the government, supported by police, entered the woods. Their intention was to clear the camp to enable mass tree felling. Whilst 2 protestors were removed quickly by excessive force, many more protestors occupy multiple treehouses across the site. This ancient woodland has been a protest camp site for over half a year 6 months & is one of 20 ancient woodlands #HS2 is targeting this month. This woodland represents just one of 108 woodlands that are due to be impacted during Phase 1 construction of HS2. Jones Hill Wood also represents the cultural loss that will be caused by this large scale industrial development.
[Read More]

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UK: Stop HS2 and Extinction Rebellion

By: sisulscz - September 20th, 2020  Filed under: Communique

Extinction Rebellion have finally decided to refrain from trying to take over control of the STOP HS2 protection camps between London and Birmingham, and instead they are offering to HELP the front line activists who actually live there, and to LEARN direct action from them, according to unconfirmed reports from the camps.
Some of the eco-warriors at the Harvil road and Denham camps in Colne Valley near Uxbridge invited Extinction Rebellion to join them at the protest sites last year, and HS2 Rebellion was the name that was eventually chosen to be used by the new recruits. Unfortunately a power struggle developed fairly soon, with HS2 Rebellion apparently insisting that they controlled some kind of hierarchy and were in fact the “leaders” of the climate movement, and all the protesters were obliged to take orders from them.

Extinction Rebellion released a statement about how HS2 Rebellion was becoming the umbrella organisation for all the protection camps and they listed their “criteria and values” which they claimed all the activists had to agree to and abide by. This was regardless of the fact that the eco-warriors had originally started the camps with the Green Party four years before XR came along to attempt to take them over and control them.
HS2 Rebellion started their own fundraiser with £32,000 being donated for the Colne Valley protest by more than 1000 people. The fundraiser stated that the money would be distributed to all the protection camps, but HS2 Rebellion refused to share anything with camps that did not agree to join Extinction Rebellion and obey their rules.
Two camps which agreed to join Extinction Rebellion and obey them were given £16,000 between them, but the Harvil road and Denham camps at Colne Valley near Uxbridge which remained autonomous and independent got absolutely nothing.
The STOP HS2 organisation which started the local residents protest campaign in their own local communities against the high speed rail link 13 years ago asked for financial support but HS2 Rebellion did not want to help them so they also received nothing.
[Read More]

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UK: Poors Piece camp eviction alert

By: sisulscz - September 19th, 2020  Filed under: Announcement

On Monday the 21st of Monday 28th September, Poors Piece Conservation area will be facing eviction… they have amazing structures & homely straw houses. This ancient woodlands was a life saving project years ago to give wood and timber to the locals who at the time were financially deprived. The land now is conserved by a local called Clive, who is very supportive of the group who are their to protect all life within from HS2.

If you can join those there to protect this land, please do!

This Stop HS2 camp is at Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, MK18 2HH, UK

UPDATE Monday 28th!!

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An update from the No TAV campaign and thoughts on its relevance for Stop HS2

By: sisulscz - September 18th, 2020  Filed under: essay

The No TAV campaign in northern Italy has been fighting an expensive, unneeded and corrupt high speed railway link for over three decades. The proposed mafia-linked freight train service from Turin to Lyon has been repeatedly exposed for its fantastical predictions and is slated by local people who see no reason to leave their homes for a white elephant. If you are already thinking about the similarities to HS2 here in England then you are in the right place. I will start by giving a very brief history of No TAV, then an update on recent events. In the second half, I will concentrate on what the Stop HS2 movement can learn from No TAV.

For those who have never heard of the No TAV movement, it is a campaign born thirty odd years ago to resist the construction of a 270 kilometre long high speed railway (Treno di Alta Velocita) between Turin (in Italy) and Lyon (in France). There is widespread opposition on both French and Italian soil, since the railway is a corrupt scheme proposing to transport freight based on fantasy figures and the people who live along the route see no benefit (the train won’t be stopping there). They argue that the already existing railway infrastructure should be improved instead. The resistance is greatest in the breathtakingly beautiful Val di Susa (Susa Valley), which stretches from Turin to the Alps for fifty kilometres. In summer, the valley is bright with colours, the blue sky and green grass bisected by the snow on the mountains. It has a unique environment, since one side sees the sun and the other does not. The train line would rip straight through it before entering a tunnel of 57.5 kilometres to France. This tunnel would be longer than the Chunnel and in fact would just squeeze in as the longest rail tunnel in the world, if it ever gets built. Local people are concerned that drilling into the mountains will disturb uranium and asbestos deposts, that mafia construction will lead to health hazards and that the overall economic case for TAV no longer stands up.
[Read More]

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UK: Stop HS2 new camp at Euston station in London

By: sisulscz - September 1st, 2020  Filed under: News

A brand new structure here at Euston Square Garden has been occupied by Martin, 19, who’s gone from 2 years homeless to protection camp, church steps to tree top. (See picture)

Who’s joining us? You are invited to bring & pitch a tent/hammock at Euston Square Gardens or at one of the other camps in Denham, Buckinghamshire or Warwickshire (previously on S!N)

Enjoy connecting with nature, swim in the Colne Valley river next to Denham camp whilst helping us hold the sites to StopHS2 or head to the newest camp in front of Euston station …

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UK: Stop HS2 camps roundup 17-23 August

By: sisulscz - August 31st, 2020  Filed under: News

Tree protectors at Denham Country Park this week were greeted on Monday morning by the sights and sounds of beautiful trees being thrown into a wood chipper by HS2 workers. Trees are one of the best ways to combat the climate crisis and yet our Government is consistently viewing them as disposable inconveniences. To reach Johnson’s 2050 target to become net zero, the Woodland Trust states that we simply need more trees and to “increase the UK’s woodland cover from its pitiful 13% to at least 17%.” Cutting down one of our best defenses seems counter-productive in this fight against climate change.

HS2 Rebels also face problems instigated by HS2 workers and the police on a regular basis, for peacefully protesting and occupying these forests.This week down at Denham, HS2 workers and security began to prevent tree protectors from using their entrance and exit to the camp, stopping them from accessing water and only allowing them through once the police were called. No explanation was given. “Courage against corporations” is one of HS2 Rebellion’s mottos and it is clear to see that corporations are standing in the way between eco-activists and a greener planet. Let’s hope our protectors continue to be full of courage as they fight against HS2 in weeks to come, especially since felling is only set to increase throughout the Autumn months.
[Read More]

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UK: Tales from the Trees & Tracks

By: sisulscz - August 13th, 2020  Filed under: Communique

Hello, I am @mushrooni and I travelled down from West Yorkshire on the train to Crackley Protection Camp. Ironically I took the planned HS2 route from the north to Birmingham…
So I brought a tent and initially planned to stay for a couple days but it has nearly been a month now!

I joined this campaign to engage with others and take action against HS2. Obviously I’m here to protect and stand up for the trees, birds, bats and wildlife that are being ripped apart and killed, though it’s much bigger than this – it’s about the whole capitalistic project and the system that HS2 is part of and represents. Protectors have been mistreated, harmed and put in really serious situations – the National Eviction Team, HS2 security and police departments are getting away with their dirty work.
I have never felt so much kindness, generosity and openness from strangers as I have done being involved in these communities. I’ve realised how important it is to be around like minded people, working towards the same goal and how necessary it is to be able to stand up to what is wrong.
[Read More]

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