Oxford Feature Archive

The sun is shining, the mood is festive, come and celebrate the Cowley Road Carnival!

As part of the Cowley Road Carnival, Oxford indymedia set up its first public live outdoor indymedia centre! It's behind the Zodiac, together with the Hammer and Tongue poetry slam space. It's open to everyone, there are computers to upload pictures and post articles, come and use the media centre!

All day, Oxford Indymedia will offer live reports and pictures from the carnival. Follow the links below, they will be continuously updated with more pictures and reports!

Report | Pictures [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] | Indymedia centre report and pictures

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Latest roundup of news reports from Indymedia Oxford.

Cyclist Killed in Bus Collision
On May 26th, a student from St Catherine's College was tragically killed in a bus collision while cycling on Cowley Road, Oxford.
report

OCSET Update
On May 28th, an eviction order was passed in court for Sunset Cottages. Here are details of the owner's demolition and 'development' plans for the historic building and lovely garden.

Rafah Protest in Oxford
On Saturday 22 May a protest was held in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, against the actions of the Israeli Defence Force in Rafah.
report

P10K Palestine Initiative
An Oxford activist has been in Palestine helping to set up an initiative to bring 10,000 people to Palestine in September, which if supported can make a great difference to the peace initative.
more information

Update on Blackwood and the Sheriff-Egg Saga
A number of Oxford activists have been heavily involved in the camps at Blackwoods in Wales protesting the destruction of the forest for a new road. Here is an update on the alleged sheriff egging and the situation there.
report

Demonstration Against Testing on Primates
On May 17th, ten Oxford actvists travelled to Leicester to confront the Director of the Medical Research Council about the testing carried out on two primates in Oxford.
report

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Here's the second of our weekly digests of last week's posts

OCSET is re-born!
On 18th May Oxford's social centre moved to a beautiful new location
Report and pictures

Hunt saboteur wins case against the police
On 11th May a Reading hunt sab won a £5,500 pay out from Wiltshire police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment Report

Caterkillar wins "Homewrecker of the Year" award
On 12th May bulldozer manufacturer Caterpillar was presented with the first annual Homewrecker of the Year Award, for its outstanding contribution to the fields of home demolition, collective punishment, land theft and ethnic cleansing. However, company reps were strangely modest about their towering achievements in helping to build Israel's apartheid wall and destroying Palestinian homes, and refused the award.
Report and pictures | Follow-up action

Free the Oxford Two Demo May 15th
A protest demanded the release of two rhesus macaque monkeys tortured for 15 years in Oxford University's Department of Experimental Psychology. Paranoia was rife among university authorities.
Report on hysteria and background

Afghanistan: Pessimism and Torture
Another insightful report from our regular correspondent Paul.
Report and pictures

The Wall Must Fall!
Oxford people joined the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demo in Trafalgar Square on May 15th.
Photos and report

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The Oxford Indymedia collective has decided to start writing a weekly round-up feature every Wednesday, summarizing the news of the week posted in the newswire. Hope you will enjoy! :-)

OCSET still alive!
After being evicted from its previous location, OCSET has temporarily moved to 47 Cowley Road and transformed this dreary dump into a magic cave! The project is still very much alive!
Art pictures from the two OCSETs: [1] [2] | Reports: [1] [2]

BAE talk disrupted
Students protested Tuesday (May 4th) at a careers talk given by Ian Macdiarmid of BAE Systems, over his company’s support for repressive and murderous regimes.
Report | Report and pictures

Chinese PM met by protesters
The Chinese Prime Minister was greeted by a banner, tibetan prayer flags and leaflets when he came to look at the Oxford Chemistry lab on May 10th. One protestor attempted to run out in front of the cars as they drove in, but was brutally jumped on by the police almost right away.
Report

Another GM victory!
Monsanto dropped plans for GM wheat, partly because of consumer resistance. Many Oxford activists are involved in the anti-GM campaign; well done!
Report

No Oxford animal lab!
The campaign against the building of a new vivisection lab in Oxford University and for the release of two rhesus macaque monkeys that had brain surgeries is very much active. Get involved!
Reports: [1] [2]

Follow the Oxford Indymedia calendar for announcements of events and meetings!

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Campaigners fighting the closure of their local maternity units (in Malmesbury and Devizes) got a small concession when the consultation period was recently extended.

The local PCT (Primary Care Trust) wants to close the units - which are said to offer sensitive, one-to-one care and support - to save money, in spite of local opposition (a petition against the closures attracted 10000 signatures).

"I received the most wonderful care and support postnatally at Malmesbury. I cannot emphasise enough what a difference this made to my recovery from a difficult birth and the bond that I made with my new baby. I went there as a frightened, exhausted wreck and came out 3 days later a happy, confident new mother."
(quote from a survey)

Campaigners are now hoping this latest development is a sign that the PCT may be on the defensive.

[ Full Report ] | Previous Campaign Reports: [ 1 | 2 ] | [ Save Malmesbury Maternity Unit website ]

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On 10th April, 50 young people set out on the 40 mile march to Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment. The march, organised by Youth & Student CND, was to protest against Britain's nuclear weapons.

The first day saw a short rally in Bonn Square, with speakers including Gawain Little (national committee, Y&S CND), the Rev. David Platt (Christian CND) and David and Rene Gill (Oxford CND), who had taken part in the very first march to Aldermaston in 1958.

Despite the overcast sky, spirits were high and we marched along St Aldates and out of Oxford, 15 miles to Wallingford.

The second day's march was from Wallingford to Reading, where we were received by the Reading Quakers. The march from London also arrived in Reading in the evening and we were able to share food and tales of sore feet!

Monday began with a gathering at Broad St, Reading, where around 200 people awaited the London march. By the time the procession left Burghfield, there were around 1000 people marching. The atmosphere was tremendous, with people tired, but proud of the distance they'd marched and eager to make their protest heard.

Well done to everyone who marched - let's make it even better next year!

Reports [1] [2] | Youth Student CND

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The first cafe night at the OCSET (new oxford social centre, 220 Cowley Road) took place last night, April 13. Organised as the first of what will be many such evenings, yesterday's cooking affinity group produced mountains of tasty vegan and vegetarian food for the 30-40 people who showed up to complete the friendly and cheerful atmosphere.

We sat at candlelit tables and drank from crystal wine glasses to enjoy the two-course meal [pictures]. One such happy table sat on the pavement outside, giving passers-by an opportunity to see the positive purpose of the OCSET space. Children and pets felt very welcome. Diners contributed a small donation and/or helped to cook, serve and clean.

OCSET is intended as an open space for organising events, of which the cafe is just one, and welcomes everyone's planning and ideas. More cafe evenings are set as groups come together to run them; the next one will be on Tuesday, 20th April, 7:00pm. Skip TESCO, eat at OCSET!

Open Office Invitation!

Also, an office and meeting room for free community use is to be opened at OCSET. We hope to be able to connect ADSL (broadband fast internet connection) soon. To get the office kitted up, what we need now is donations of gear (CPUs, accessories, etc, etc); just drop it in at OCSET.

Oxford indymedia will be running the office space for now, so if any community group would like to use it for a meeting, just contact us by e-mail at imc-oxford [at] lists.indymedia.org, or contact OCSET directly at oxsocial [at] linuxmail.org .

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OCSET, the new Oxford Social Centre is now at 220 Cowley Road. Come along!

The office space that has been created in the new oxford social centre is still mainly empty at the moment. It would be perfect for grassroots activist groups looking for a place to meet, etc., and as a space to organise workshops, training, etc. We hope loads of groups will feel able to use OCSET.

The main meeting area would be excellent for workshops, social events, screenings, cultural and artistic activities, etc. Workshops for kids after school or dancing lessons and meetings can be held there too. Other ideas include an alternative library, an infopoint for activism, and many more - it's open to anyone who wants to get involved! Just drop in and arrange a time; there's a calendar on the wall. Bring your own ideas!

Events planned this week:
See the above calendar or the one on the wall in OCSET.

People there need loads of things but mainly more people! Also computers and tools to fix things, sofas to sit on, sofabeds, big cooking pots, plates, cups, food and carpets and bookshelves and the books to go on them. People at OCSET can be reached by email on oxsocial [at] linuxmail.org .

Use the space or lose the space!

Reports: [1] [2] | Pictures: [1] | OCSET (Oxford Social Centre) website: http://free.hostdepartment.com/o/oxsocial/ | General info about squats: Advisory Service for Squatters

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Bayer have withdrawn the only GM crop with (partial) commercial approval. They blame government regulation and caution for holding up the crop which is now technologically and economically obsolete. However it has taken five years to get just one crop this far, which has been the result of the delays caused by the many crop trashings, lobbying, blockades, research and not a little consumer pressure.

When a government announces commercialisation of a GM crop, and then three weeks later, the very large multinational company responsible withdraws it from commercialisation, it would be a fair assumption that someone, somewhere, has put a spanner in the works.
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Update: 29th March: The Campaign Continues! There are still around 50 trees to be defended, and there are still camps, tree houses being built, and actions taking place - read Blackwood Protest Continues and Status Report. Contractors Costain will also be holding a public meeting to address concerns and answer questions from local residents regarding the Sirhowy Enterprise Way, at 7pm, on Tuesday, March 30, at the Costain's site office, Cwm Philkins, Oakdale.

Early in the morning on Tuesday 23rd March, around 70 Police, Bailiffs and specialist climbers and tunnellers began evicting the tree camps at Blackwood in South Wales - where locals have been campaigning against a new road for over a decade [Pics]. Around 10 people were arrested as they resisted in the trees, on walkways, in nets and in a tunnel, some after breaching cordons. At Camp Kerry, one brave activist still remained at the end of the day, and was able to climb down without being arrested. Most of the trees were destroyed, but campaigners say they will continue to resist.

See Report and Pictures | 1 | 2
Also see collected reports (and pics): Bristol | UK

Evictions continued throughout Wednesday as Bailiffs cut people out of lock-ons and most of the remaining trees were destroyed. Some campaigners remain camped on private land next to the road route and are determined to continue opposing the road scheme. See Report | 2 | 3

Meanwhile in London an attempted eviction was also taking place in Kentish Town. At mid morning bailiffs arrived at several flats that have been home to a group of squatters for some months. Some of the occupiers took to the roof, whilst a crowd of around 100 people gathered in the road in front of the building.

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Last Friday, work on the Sirhowy Enterprise Way (aka Blackwood Bypass) was completely stopped by protesters when their numbers were boosted by a group of about 14 activists from Oxford who had travelled down for the day.

This is a road which will run through what was once a beautiful wood - now a lot of it has been trashed. Among those set to benefit are arms companies and MoD contractors.

Meanwhile, in Oxford, on Sunday 21st, Oxford Indymedia and undercurrents will be having another of their regular film screenings - 'a road to ruin' - about the resistance to the Newbury bypass.

[ full report | latest blackwood UK IMC feature | Corporate Watch | roadalert ]

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Oxford Students launched Fairtrade Fortnight in the city today by spelling out the words 'Make It Fair' outside the Radcliffe Camera. Organised by the Oxford Students Fairtrade Coaltion, over 45 students gathered to spell out the Fairtrade message in a big way.

Fairtrade Fortnight is a national fortnight of promotion for 'Fairtrade'. The Fairtrade mark is celebrating its 10th Aniversary this year. There are a wealth of events taking place across Oxford for Fairtrade Fortnight, all open to everyone (not just students), see Fairtrade Fortnight In Oxford or http://www.oxfordfairtrade.org.uk for more information.

Report and pictures | Fairtrade Fortnight events | Oxford Students Fairtrade Coalition

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On Sunday February 22nd, between 80 and 90 people, many of them new to Indymedia and Undercurrents, turned up to the first of a new series of monthly Oxford Indymedia / Undercurrents screenings. The Fourth World War by Big Noise Productions was very well received, while the Dissent! network in Oxford was sucessfully launched. There was loads of food (thanks for popcorn, soup and loads of cake and chocolates and bread and so on), the bar was good too, and a stall gave people the opportunity to learn about local campaigns and groups, Dissent!, alternative medias like Indymedia and Schnews and the We Are Everywhere project. All that made this social event a complete success.

To start with there were announcements, then John introduced Dissent! and explained that the network is horizontal and to organise direct action, especially against the looming G8 summit. A brief presentation of Oxford Indymedia was also given.

The first screening was a brilliantly edited film about the Oxford folks who managed to close the House of Commons for 10 minutes after the Hutton report came out. It was very empowering.

Then came The Fourth World War. Wow. The film jumped from country to country describing injustice and showing how ordinary people will not put up with it anymore. Footage from Argentina showed thousands chanting "The other is me" and the white hand meaning basta. The footage of Chiapas where the Zapatistas began was moving because it showed how even the poorest campesinos had finally had enough and were so brave they confronted an army post and closed it! The soldiers just refused to use their guns. Lots of other footage of, for instance, Buenos Aires, showed police firing tear gas, but protesters demonstrating against the International Misery Fund grabbed tear gas canisters and lobbed them back at the riot police. Memorably one protester used his hollow drum to cover a gas canister. Palestine - well, what can one say. The horror of seeing footage of Jenin again; the little girl with the wrecked arm; wrecked blessed bodies; wailing families; total injustice. The Zapatista Caravan was shown having reached the Zocalo in 2001 where thousands and thousands protested to no avail (except that they have ignited protest throughout the world!). Iraq was shown too, of course with the Apeman's voice mouthing obscenities like "we must protect the people of Iraq and the oilfields". Quebec, London, New York and Korea were featured and Genoa 2001 too with startling footage of Carlo Guiuliani - the film was dedicated to him and Rachel and Tom among others. Finally back to Buenos Aires where the chant was "Ahora eres nosotros".

Can we win the Fourth World War? Having seen the film, you know, I think we're in with a chance. WE ARE EVERYWHERE!

The next Indymedia / Undercurrents screening will be announced in the Oxford Indymedia calendar. If you want to help organise these screenings, come to the next Oxford Indymedia meeting (see the calendar) or join the imc-oxford discussion list.

Report and Pictures

More links: Dissent! A Network of Resistance Against the G8 | The Fourth World War | We Are Everywhere | Subcomandante Marcos on the fourth world war

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Nine members of the public decided to use Prime Minister's Question Time today to question directly Tony Blair on the important issues of the occupation of Iraq, and the real reasons that the United Kingdom went to war. Refusing to be silent on hearing the Prime Minister's evasions on these important issues, each stood up and made one simple demand: "No more whitewashes, Tony!"

The Oxford residents are all furious at Parliament's inability to hold the Government to account over its war, which resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 Iraqi civilians, and the subsequent occupation which has killed thousands more Iraqis, as well as hundreds of American and British soldiers. The protestors were keen to point out that the war on Iraq, as well as the occupation, was illegal under international law, regardless of the presence or absence of weapons of mass destruction.

The disrupted speech came several hours after demonstrators dressed as judges poured white paint over downing street's gates in a protest against the government's persistant clearing of itself of any wrong-doing.

Press Release | Report | Solidarity statement and "heckling guide"

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Update (2:30pm): The occupiers of the Exam Schools have decided to end the occupation at 4 pm, by marching together to the University Offices and handing in a statement of demands and principles to the Vice-Chancllor. You won't be breaking any University statutes if you join the march...so please come along and show your support for the people who have risked being fined and disciplined for their opposition to fees.

Update (27 January 10:30am): Examination School is still occupied by students. Many students left this morning to join the protest in London, while others stayed in Examination School. The University decided to cancel all lectures for today. Students emailed all lecturers and asked them to go ahead with their lectures anyway, but the ones who came were refused entry by the security guards. However the students organized an alternative lecture about top-up fees that will take place at 11am. The next student meeting in Examination School is at 1pm. Join the occupation!

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At 4h30pm on Monday 26 January around 50 students of Oxford University, Brookes University and Ruskin College occupied the Examination School of Oxford University in protest to the top-up fees and to fees in total. They demand that the University opposes the government top-up fees bill. They also demand that the University reverses its stance of support for fees as there is strong evidence that many in Oxford also support full privatisation of the University.

Many other students joined the occupation later (there was more than 100 students around midnight), and the occupation is still going on overnight, especially after Tony Benn visited in solidarity! Anyone can come and go. The University may decide to cancel lectures tomorrow morning, but students encourage lecturers to give their lectures anyway. Students also decided to host their own teach-ins, with students presenting the case against top-up fees and the marketisation of education. Others will join the protest in London to express the viewpoint of Oxford students. Everyone is welcome to the teach-ins in the Examination School, and the more people is in occupation the more scope there will be for discussion and debate. Everyone who turns up will have an equal say in what is decided to do and how to proceed... come along and make your contribution!

Reports: [1] [2] | Reports and pictures: [1] [2] | Video | Solidarity statement from German students

Parliament backs fees - by 5 votes | Student pays fees in pound coins

OSAN (Oxford Student Activist Network) | OUSU (Oxford University Student Union)

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An Oxford citizen has left in September for Afghanistan, where he is now a United Nations volunteer. He reports about the deterioration of security, the lack of democracy, the American control of Afghanistan and the UN incompetency. As British politicians talk about how democracy is being supported and security is maintained in Afghanistan, this personal point of view from inside the UN, from someone on the ground in Afghanistan is very interesting and disturbing.

Here are his reports:

• Afghanistan: Optimism, Fragile Peace and Foreign Agendas (03/04/2004) - with pictures
• No good news from Afghanistan (23/03/2004)
• Afghanistan Diary (08/03/2004)
• Afghanistan: 500 women march to register (22/01/2004) - with pictures
• Afghanistan: elections in the North... (17/01/2004) - with pictures
• Down the bunker in Afghanistan for the second time (12/01/2004)
• Down the bunker for the first time (12/01/2004)
• Afghan diary (29/11/2003) - with pictures
• Don't believe Bush on Afghanistan (20/11/2003) - with pictures
• Afghanistan from inside the UN (16/11/2003) - with pictures
• Oxford man in Afghanistan (12/10/2003)

For more information about the state of affairs in Afghanistan after the war, visit this feature from Cambridge IndyMedia.

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On 15th December 2003 a District Judge in Weymouth, Dorset found four anti-GM activists guilty of aggravated trespass for attaching themselves to tractors. The activists were attempting to prevent the sowing of a trial of GM maize near Weymouth in May 2002.

This marks the end of a drawn-out and contradictory legal process which saw all four activists cleared of aggravated trespass by the same District Judge in March 2003. The Crown Prosectution Service (CPS) appealed and had the verdict overturned by two High Court Judges who ordered a retrial, with instructions that the defendants should be found guilty. The four now face prison for refusal to pay the punitive costs.

Full Report | video | audio | earlier verdict one two | background history | Pink Castle website

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A demonstration to close the Campsfield Detention Centre took place on Saturday 29th November at noon. The so-called "Campsfield House" is a large complex of buildings located near Kidlington, 6 miles from Oxford. The fences and barbed wire that surround it actually uncover the very nature of the place - a detention centre for people who committed no crime, but are still denied their basic rights.

From 150 to 300 people turned up and demonstrated to close Campsfield now. An Oxford and London based samba band sent its rhythms to give moral support to the detainees, while speakers from very different backgrounds talked to an equally heterogenous crowd. At 2 pm the crowd moved to Oxford, where the demonstration continued in Broad Street, the samba band music attracting a big crowd. Both in Campsfield and Oxford there was a heavy and intimidating police presence, which seemed totally unjustified given the peaceful and colourful nature of the protest.

Meanwhile, three banners mysterisouly appeared snagged high on the perimeter fence the night before, on the 28th. Stating "No One is Illegal", "No Deportations" and "No Detentions", these banners were clearly visible to detainees inside providing much needed morale boost for the asylum seekers.

[Report on the demo and background information on Campsfield] [Report and picture] [Report and pictures of the banners] [Campaign to Close Campsfield]

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On the evening of November 20th, around 2000 people turned out to give Dubya the two-fingered salute in Oxford city centre.

Reports: [1] [2] | [Pictures and report]
Click Read more for a detailed report and lots of pictures.

Other actions in Oxford or by Oxford activists:

• Die-in and staged wedding between Bush and Blair [pictures]
• "Bush Free Zone" banner hang in London [report and press release] [pictures]

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On the 9th of November, as part of the international day of protest and action against Israel's 'security wall', protesters in Oxford (wearing huge white cardboard boxes on their heads) attempted to give the local weekend shoppers a glimpse of life in occupied Palestine.

People gave leaflets, talked to people and shouted slogans. The 'wall' was seen making its way through the Westgate and Clarendon shopping centres - to the annoyance of security guards, culminating by a walk down Cornmarket and a visit to Marks and Spencer's. Finally, a 'checkpoint' was built on a nearby (pedestrianised) street, until the 'soldier' announced he was taking the 'prisoners' into custody and the wall was taken apart and dumped in a nearby bin. If only the real thing was as easily dealt with...

[Report | Photos]

[Stop the Wall] | [Palestine Campaign] | [Wall that breaks Rafah's heart]

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