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MARS ATTACK!
Cafe One, the home of
whatsonuk, social enterprise was boarded up today by Mars Pension
Trustees & its agent Jones Lang Lasalle. The staff of whatson
watched in amazement while they were boarded-in. Despite the
intimidation the staff of whatson have been carrying on producing the
monthly. Members of staff got caught up including Setsu Adachi &
her new born baby Seki Adachi, just fourteen weeks old. It seems
Mars has taken the law in to their own hands.
Five ways shopping centre in Birmingham, UK has been the base of Cafe
One, the UK's first fair-trade venue, which regularly hosted meetings,
club nights & social events including People and Planet, Oxfam,
Amnesty International, Open Beats, Ethical Trades Soc, Stop the War,
Student Societies, providing a free space for film showing, DJs, live
bands and charity fundraising events.
Nearly nine years ago cafe One was founded by whatsOnuk, a progressive
media network. WhatsOn normally reports the abuse of power by corporate
but by doing so its has put itself in the front line of corporate
intimidation.
Both Cafe One & whatsOnuk are objecting at the underhanded practice
of Mars and Jones Lang Lasalle, claiming that they are being shut out
without consideration for the future of small business. No planning
permission has been given yet to the owners Mars, and whatsOn feels
victim of corporate dirty tricks. Members of whatsOn are asking for the
right to remain until end of May when they can relocate properly.
'To defend our rights, we're asking for everyone's support, after all
what’s happened to us is a reflection of the current situation across
UK. This can not be allowed to happen in our world.' Sam Alim
City MP, councilors from Labour, Lib-dem & Respect, churches,
residents & community groups are all giving their full support with
over 1000 signatures already collected. Meantime Mars Chocolate &
Mars Petition Trustees has refused to accept the petition and declined
to comment.
28.04.08
Watch This Space!
11-12 April 2008 are the Europe-wide Days of Action for Free and Autonomous
paces, with a weekend of demonstration, direct action, public
information, workshops and parties in defence of free spaces and for an
alternative popular culture across the world. Through these two days
groups in all major European cities want to help create more visibility
of community centres, free spaces and squats as a global political
movement, developing networks and solidarity with a worldwide call for
decentralised and autonomous actions of all kinds. W april2008.squat.net
10.04.08
Global warning
EU member states may see no
reason to go to the next major emitters meeting (MEM) in the US next
year if no agreement is made at the current climate change conference
in Bali. The United States, Canada and Japan all oppose the setting of
limits on greenhouse gas emissions, which is a principle
environmentalists see as setting a very basic commitment to positive
change. The Bali talks continue until Friday, it remains to be seen if
any progress will be made.
14.12.07
Oil be back
An oil spill in the North Sea
on Wednesday has resulted in 3840 cubic meters off the coast of Norway.
This is the second largest spill in Norwegian history. Vegar Stokset, a
spokesman for StatoilHydro who are responsible for the action
commented: "It is a significant amount and we are taking it seriously".
Under the 'polluter pays' principle, corporate 'responsibility' will be
relied upon to deal with the mess.
13.12.07
Bog off
A 55 year old man has spent
four days trapped in a bowling club toilets after the door handle
broke. David Leggat, of the Kittybrewster and Woodside Bowling Club in
Aberdeen had no food, or mobile and had to sustain himself by using hot
water for warmth and drinking from the tap. He was rescued by an
incredulous cleaning lady on Monday. And you thought your weekend was
shit.
11.12.07
It’s a cold, cold Christmas
One in three children in this
country live in poverty, a third of whom do not have access to winter
clothes or basic toys according to a report published by a professor at
the University of York. Despite promises from Labour to end child
poverty by 2020, the figure stands at 2.8 million. Gordon Brown was
forced to admit, “a great deal more needs to be done”.
7.12.07
FREE FUN FOR XMAS!
In conjunction with Skype to
celebrate the release of the 3Skypephone, whatsOn presents the 'Top Ten
Free Things To Do Over Xmas!' as featured on BBC Merseyside, BBC
Newcastle, BBC Oxford, BBC Gloucestershire, BBC Kent, BBC Solent, BBC
Cambridgeshire, BBC Southern Counties, Star 107.5, Northsound 2,
Sovereign Radio and more! Check the essential Xmas and New Year
listings of exciting free activities nationwide HERE!>>
6.12.07
Fast track justice
A police officer who used to
be chair of roads policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers
has been fined £350 after being caught on camera going at over 90 in a
60mph zone. Meredydd Hughes (who is the chief constable of South
Yorkshire) didn’t bother to show up before magistrates, but let his
lawyer pass on part of his public salary to the Crown on his behalf.
6.12.07
Blow to peace
An Afghan woman in her 30s
has been killed in a suicide-bombing which she carried out near an army
checkpoint in Peshawar, Pakistan. Although there has been a spate of
suicide attacks in the region in the last few months, for which the
Taleban has been blamed, this is the first by a woman since 2000. Such
fervent female support for the Taleban seems to undermine the
coalition's presentation of their invasion of Afghanistan as a
liberation for women.
5.12.07
One man, one vote
A constitutional referendum
in Venezuela was rejected by popular ballot yesterday. The proposed
changes to the constitution included the abolition of political term
limits and placing the president in charge of administering the
country's international reserves. Such steps were obviously intended to
strengthen President Chávez’s control of the Venezuela, although they
were tempered by proposed reduction of working hours and increased
public control over “direct of indirect social property”. Chávez seems
keen to promote democracy as a gift to his citizens, rather than their
right.
4.12.07
Digging for fire
52 miners have been injured
in an explosion in a coal mine in Donetsk, Ukraine. Yesterday's blast
adds to the Ukrane's abysmal mining safety record. Last year in the
Donetsk region alone there were 200 deaths in mines. Wealthy countries
like the UK continue to rely on cheaply produced goods and resources in
the knowledge that more 'relaxed' attitudes towards worker welfare
elsewhere make for savings over here.
3.12.07
