[Onthebarricades] Eco-protests - climate change, GM etc

[Andy]

*  AUSTRIA:  Steamroller protest at US embassy over GM corn
*  BRAZIL:  Protesters trash GM crops
*  US:  Hundreds turn out to support Annapolis carbon emissions bill
*  US:  Protest at Discovery Communications over lack of environmental 
coverage
*  AUSTRALIA:  Opening of parliament greeted by eco-activists
*  UK:  Greenpeace coal protest at cricket ground
*  GREECE:  Solidarity protests over arrest of eco-warrior
*  NEW ZEALAND:  Peaceful protest not peaceful, says cop; Greenpeace stop 
coal ship
*  WALES:  Climate change protesters stop work at mine, target power station
*  CANADA:  Huge eco-protest encircles parliament
*  US:  Protests for and against tree-sitter at Berkeley - protests BP 
deals, Native American remains, nuke links
*  AUSTRALIA:  Climate change banner drop at station


Publicly Archived at Global Resistance: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance


http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hx5MGeZS5mZB9NwL_bsCwnZ_Q9wA

Steamroller protest outside US embassy in Vienna over GM corn
Mar 20, 2008
VIENNA (AFP) - Around 30 environmental activists used a steamroller to crush 
corn outside the US embassy in Vienna Thursday to protest alleged US 
pressure on Austria to accept genetically modified corn.
"Greenpeace is protesting the Bush administration's threat to impose 
prohibitive taxes on Austrian imports if Vienna continues to forbid 
genetically modified products," one of the activists said at the rally.
The United States "is violating our sovereign right to use only products 
free of genetically modified organisms, because the majority of Americans 
strictly reject foods that contain GMOs," he added.
The Austrian branch of the environmental group called on US diplomats 
working in Vienna Thursday to prevent the imposition of import taxes.
Greenpeace Austria said the US government was currently preparing a black 
list of products that would be subject to
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Brazilian_protesters_destroy_GM_crops_group_999.html

Brazilian protesters destroy GM crops: group

by Staff Writers
Sao Paulo (AFP) March 7, 2008

Around 300 women rural residents in Brazil burst into a property owned by 
the US company Monsanto and destroyed a plant nursery and crops containing 
genetically modified corn, their organization said.

The women were protesting what they saw as environmental damage by the 
crops. They trashed the plants within 30 minutes and left before police 
arrived at the site in the southern state of Sao Paulo, a member of the 
Landless Workers' Movement, Igor Foride, told AFP. The Brazilian government 
had "caved in to pressure from agrobusinesses" by recently allowing tinkered 
crops to be grown in the country, he said. In Brasilia, a protest by another 
400 women from an umbrella group, Via Campesina (the Rural Way), was held in 
front of the Swiss embassy against Syngenta, a Swiss company that is selling 
genetically modified seeds in Brazil. The demonstrators called attention to 
an October 2007 incident in which private guards working for Syngenta killed 
a protester taking part in an occupation of land owned by the company. Via 
Campesina said in a statement that "no scientific studies exist that 
guarantee that genetically! modified
crops won't have negative effects on human health and on nature." It added 
that on Tuesday, another 900 of its members had entered a property owned by 
the Swedish-Finnish paper giant Stora Enso and ripped out non-modified 
eucalyptus saplings they claimed were illegally planted.


http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news624.htm

Whilst the spectre of genetically modified foods occasionally rears it's 
deformed head here in Europe (see SchNEWS 583), the GM companies are trying 
to get a bigger share of the food market in the global south, but like in 
Europe they are getting a kicking by the majority of the population who are 
opposed to their Frankenstein food.
Last November we recently reported how a Brazilian anti-GM campaigner was 
murdered at a Syngenta GM crop trial in Paraná, Brazil, after security 
forces opened fire on the Via Campesina (The International Peasants 
Movement) camp at the experimental farm (See SchNEWS 610).
Deadly force has not been enough to stop the resistance however, which has 
been continuing with increasing intensity. Last week in Brasilia, a protest 
by 400 women from Via Campesina was held in front of the Swiss embassy 
against Syngenta, (a Swiss company). Via Campesina summed up their position 
by releasing a statement saying that, "no scientific studies exist that 
guarantee that genetically modified crops won't have negative effects on 
human health and on nature."
Meanwhile, also last week around 300 rural women residents from the state of 
Sao Paulo burst into a property owned by Monsanto and destroyed a plant 
nursery and crops containing genetically modified corn. They were in and out 
in half an hour and long gone by the time cops arrived on the scene.
There was also an action the previous week when another 900 members of Via 
Campesina broke into a facility owned by the Swedish-Finnish paper giant 
Stora Enso and ripped out non-modified eucalyptus saplings they claimed were 
illegally planted. It's good to know that wherever they ply their evil 
trade, there's no hiding place for the GM corporations.
* See also www.viacampesina.org
* To keep up to date on British GM resistance, see www.mutatoes.org

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/blog/2008/01/global_warming_protest_snowed.html

Global warming protest frosted with snow

It snowed, but they still came.  A heavy snowfall blanketed a global warming 
protest outside the State House in Annapolis this morning, but it did not 
dampen the shouts of about 400 activists who urged lawmakers to pass the 
nation's toughest greenhouse gas control law.
As supporters waved signs, chanted and banged drums, 18 legislators walked 
down a symbolic green carpet to sign up as co-sponsors to a bill that would 
mandate that all businesses in Maryland cut emissions of global warming 
pollution by 25 percent by 2020 and 90 percent by 2050.
"We are going to pass this bill this year," said State Sen. Paul Pinsky, a 
Democrat from Prince
George's County and chairman of the senate's environmental matters 
subcommittee. "We are
not going to rest, we are not going to stop....We are going to keep going 
until we pass this
bill."

Pinsky and co-author Del. Kumar Barve, the house Democratic leader, proposed 
a similar
but unsuccessful Global Warming Solutions Act last year. It would have 
created a
system of financial rewards and punishments (known as a "cap and trade" 
system) to force all businesses to reduce their emissions.
The Maryland legislature over the last two year has approved more limited 
cuts in carbon dioxide pollution from coal-fired power plants and cars. 
Together, these add up to an expected 25 percent reduction.
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Constellation Energy and many Republicans 
oppose the 90 percent mandate, saying such aggressive regulation could 
cripple the states economy if
other states don't have such limits.
"It would be harmful for employment," said Senate Republican Leader David R. 
Brinkley.
"We have a conscientious business community, and nobody wants to contribute 
to pollution,
but these guys are intent on making Maryland uncompetitive."
Rob Gould, a spokesman for Constellation Energy, the state's biggest owner 
of power plants, said federal or international regulation of greenhouse 
gases makes more sense.  And he suggested that power shortages could result 
from excessive state regulation.  "Constellation Energy is very supportive 
of federal and international regulation. Our concern with last year's bill 
was that it limited the ability to trade to sources inside Maryland. Given 
that the only way to reduce CO2 from non-nuclear power plants is to run 
those plants less, our concern remains that a single small state like 
Maryland cannot meet these aggressive targets without reliability impacts 
occurring."
The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that would set up a national 
system of greenhouse gas reductions through a "cap and trade" system.  But 
the Bush administration has opposed any mandatory limits in part because 
China, India and other economic competitors of the U.S. have refused to 
impose cuts.
California has approved a law with an 80 percent reduction by midcentury, 
and Maryland's law
is modelled after this proposal. The bill would order state agencies to come 
up with a variety of regulations to increase energy efficiency, encourage 
mass transit, discourage the burning of fossil fuels and boost clean energy.
After last year's bill failed, Gov. Martin OMalley appointed a climate 
change advisory commission that recommend that the state adopt a 
California-style program and cut greenhouse
gases by 90 percent by 2050.  A spokeswoman for O'Malley, Christine Hansen, 
wouldn't say this evening whether the governor would support the 
Pinsky/Barve legislation, but said he is going to look "very seriously" at 
the bill. "The governor knows that we need to work to address global climate 
change," Hansen said.
Many of the protesters who endured the cold to chant "Stop Global Warming!" 
said they
didn't think the snowfall conflicted with their message.  Davey Roegner, a 
22 year old student at the University of Maryland College Park, beat on an 
African Djembe drum to rev up the crowd. He said the snow was a "gift" to 
remind eveyone about how rarely Maryland has been blanketed with beautiful 
white in recent years as temperatures have increased.
"It's only the second snow of the year, which is very sad," said Rogner, 
from Silver Spring. "Global warming is the most important issue of our 
generation. The state of Maryland should be taking a leadership role in it, 
because of our vulerability with all our shoreline."
Barve said the snow was a good sign: "At least we have weather appropriate 
for winter time, finally."
The 18 legislators who "walked the green carpet" to co-sponsor the "Global 
Warming Solutions Act" included: Senators Frosh, Rosapepe and Pinsky; and 
Delegates Hecht, Nathan-Pulliam, Cardin, Stein, Bobo, Barve, Carr, 
Waldstreicher, Manno, Mizeur, Barnes, Kullen, Anderson, Neimann and Ramirez.

Claire Douglass, Maryland driector of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 
told the cheering crowd: "Maryland is the third most vulnerable state in the 
nation to sea level rise.  With over 3,100 miles of coastline, it is our job 
to protect it."
Dr. Cindy Parker of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health said:  "I'm a 
physician, why am I here for a rally for an environmental bill?  It's not an 
environmental bill, that's why. It's a health bill.  This is the biggest 
threat to our health of anything going on right now, and anything we expect 
this century. We have to pass this bill for our health and for the health of 
everybody in the world and our children and their children."
Ted Rouse, an owner of the Baltimore-based development firm Struever 
Brothers Eccles and Rouse, and a leader of the Chesapeake Sustainable 
Business Alliance, said: "You can make a profit while looking after the 
planet. There is opportunity in this bill for business. So business supports 
this bill as well."
Reached by phone, a spokesman for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce 
disagreed. Will Burns, director of communications for the chamber, said 
Maryland should not impose restrictions that companies in Virginia, 
Pennsylvania and other regional states don't face.
"With an issue like this, its best not to act unilaterally. It's best to act 
regionally, so that you're not stepping out on your own," said Burns. "Our 
economy is not like California's...You certainly would put Maryland at a 
disadvantage when it takes such radical action alone."
A nonpartisan analysis of last year's proposal, by the Maryland Department 
of Legislative Services, said the law would impose new regulations on "all 
businesses, small and large" across the state.  "Accordingly, costs could 
increase significantly, but any such increase cannot be reliability 
calculated at this time."
(Note: this story was featured on the Drudge Report soon after it went 
online this evening, and so many of the comments you'll see below are from 
readers who came to this blog from that web page).
-------------------------------------------------------

 http://blog.washingtonpost.com/washbizblog/2008/02/a_protest_at_discovery_1.htmlA Protest at DiscoveryIt's a nine-day protest, organized by a man who gives his name as just"Lee," against Silver Spring-based Discovery Communications. His issue, asexplained on his Web site, is that he believes that the shows that Discoveryairs don't help the environment. The protest was scheduled to go from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. Feb. 15-23, which he admits "seems a bit long." But, the organizersays, he wants to make sure Discovery takes the protest seriously.He's also run an ad in the Express, owned by The Washington Post Co.And on Flickr, "chip py the photo guy" says the organizer was paying people$10 an hour to demonstrate. He posts a photograph of a man he claims wantedto be paid after it started raining.http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/brumby-to-set-new-agenda-despite-protest/2008/02/04/1202090323405.html[.]Today's opening of Parliament will also be marked by a protest rally on thesteps of the house by groups opposed to a range of Government water andenvironmental policies.These include the imminent dredging of Port Phillip Bay to deepen shippingchannels, and the plans to build a $3 billion water desalination plant nearWonthaggi and a $750 million pipeline to enable water to be sent from thenorth of the state to Melbourne.Protest leaders will tell the crowd they are fed up with Mr Brumby's"contempt" of their views.But Mr Brumby yesterday said the infrastructure projects were vital tosecure Victoria's continued economic prosperity, and rejected suggestionsthe Government had not consulted widely enough.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7230386.stmGreenpeace protest over coal useEnvironmental activists have staged a protest outside Lord's cricket groundat the start of a conference on coal.The Greenpeace activists were protesting about government plans to build acoal-fired power station at Kingsnorth, near Rochester, Kent.The group claims the station would emit eight million tonnes of carbondioxide a year.Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks is to give a speech at the north-west Londoncricket ground on Wednesday.Greenpeace claimed up to 40 people took part in the protest in London butthe Metropolitan Police said there were about 20 demonstrators.FORWARDED MESSAGE (from Greece)There were some environmental actions on 24/2(http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/2008/02/environmental-actions-athens-patras.html)In spite of some police attention, no one was arrested. Todaythough, a candidate for the municipal board in Pefkonas, Athens, wasattacked by truck drivers, while taking photos of the privatization worksagainst the Pefkonas forest.---------------------------------------------------------------From: greekelp at yahoo.grA Solidarity March was organised in Thessaloniki, onVaggelis Botzatzis' case. He is detained in Komotini juridicial prisonaccused for: burning two power company cars protesting the pillage againstthe nature, and the workers that died in the workplace, a bank arson againstcapitalism and in favor of anarchists detained for bank robbery, and anarson at a french brand car yard, that is said to be in solidarity to theyouth revolts, but no communique was sent. Vaggelis was arrested in hishouse on day after the last arson under the "anti"terrorist law, since asecurity guard claims he recognised his car. Vaggelis doesn't accept theaccusations and states he was framed up. Some more info on the march at:http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/2008/02/few-actions-during-solidarity-march.htmlif anyone needs any further information on this case, send me an email.Therewere also some environmental actions on 24/2(http://directactiongr.blogspot.com/2008/02/environmental-actions-athens-patras.html )In spite of some police attention, no one was arrested. Todaythough, a candidate for the municipal board in Pefkonas, Athens, wasattacked by truck drivers, while taking photos of the privatization worksagainst the Pefkonas forest.Earth Liberation Prisoners Support! -Greecehttp://greekelp.blogspot.comhttp://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1316907/1656779Greenpeace protest ties up resourcesMar 26, 2008 6:14 AMChristchurch police say they are disappointed a Greenpeace protest tied upmany emergency resources.Six Greenpeace protesters were arrested after they blocked the coal shipHellenic Sea from leaving Lyttelton harbour.They used the Greenpeace flagship The Rainbow Warrior to block the cargoship, while protesters used ropes to climb the side of the vessel.Police say 30 officers were fully involved at the scene for up to threehours. They say that left the Christchurch central city under-resourced anda traffic officer forced to attend a brawl without back-up was assaulted.However Christchurch police are reassuring the public that they have theresources to cope with incidents like the Greenpeace protest. SeniorSergeant Peter Laloli says they are angry at Greenpeace for wasting theirtime and the protest, along with normal police activity, meant inner-citypolice resources were tied up.Greenpeace rejects culpabilityThe protesters are refusing to accept any blame for the assault. Campaigndirector Carman Gravatt says it's a shame but it is not their faultsomething happened while police resources were tied up.She says Greenpeace has a long history of being non-violent and she cannotunderstand why that many officers were needed. She says they were also veryclear with police about what they were doing and it's absurd to think it istheir fault something else happened.There were tense scenes when the protesters tried to stall the shipment ofcoal to Europe.Greenpeace says it is a message to the government to get tough on climatechange and spokesman Simon Boxer says New Zealand has very little time toact before the situation gets out of control."Greenpeace is using the Rainbow Warrior and climbers to prevent this coalshipment from leaving Lyttelton," says Boxer.It is the first time the iconic Greenpeace boat has been used to blockadeanother ship in New Zealand waters and the police reacted quickly.Thirty officers stormed both vessels, attempting to get rid of protestersand to get the Rainbow Warrior to move.A Spanish protester was bolted to the anchor chain of the peace vessel andsix people were eventually arrested, three for obstruction and three forunlawfully getting onto a boat. More charges could be laid.The blockade by Greenpeace was a political move."It seems to be the only way, especially in an election year, to getpoliticians to listen," says Boxer.Greenpeace is calling for the government "to wake up and smell the carbon"and to seriously address the issues of climate change."We're bringing to attention that fact that in this country the politicians,especially the government, are not doing enough on climate change. There area lot of words but not enough action," says Boxer.But their action was thwarted and the coal shipment, which belongs to SolidEnergy, set sail.Greenpeace is keeping quiet on the possibility of future protests. TheRainbow Warrior is currently on a nationwide tour.Gravatt will not say what they have planned but she says it is a big tourfor them, and because climate change is a key issue they will be doing allthey can to raise awareness.Gravatt says there has been a positive response to Greenpeace's actions.http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1662680Coal ship protest "beyond peaceful"Mar 26, 2008 6:46 PMAnnoyed police are calling the action of Greenpeace protesters who boarded acoal ship in Lyttelton Harbour risky, beyond peaceful and a waste ofvaluable resources.Six Greenpeace protesters were arrested after they blocked the coal shipHellenic Sea from leaving the harbour.They used the Greenpeace flagship The Rainbow Warrior to block the cargoship, while protesters used ropes to climb the side of the vessel.The protest action was aimed at stopping coal exports and embarrassing thegovernment over climate change, but it also annoyed the police."When they actually go and climb on board a ship and try and prevent it fromleaving, that definitely goes beyond the realms and my definition of apeaceful protest," says Andy McGregor acting district commander.Thirty officers were diverted from other work in what according to policewas a waste of resources."They may've been community constables, investigative staff, beat sectionstaff. And we also called in some staff from days off," says McGregor.Greenpeace say its not their fault."I think having as many out there as that is a bit over-kill. But the policeare the ones that chose to send that many officers out there," says JoMcVeagh of Greenpeace.But McGregor says police don't know what would have happened if they didn'thave 30 officers at the protest.What is known is that coal prices are increasing and the protest hasn't madeany difference."We're not proposing to ban the export of coal. It wouldn't reduce worldemissions because whoever is buying that coal would just buy it fromsomebody else," says David Parker, Climate Change Minister.His view does not go down well with the Green Party."New Zealand talks about being carbon neutral but actually we're mining moreand more coal every year and exporting to other countries where emissionsare just as bad as they would be here," says Jeanette Fitzsimons of theGreen Party.Its an issue that is not going away."We are drawing alot of media attention to what we're doing. But it's forthe right reason," says McVeagh.That is not how Solid Energy sees it. Coal production is likely to increasenext year, with the State Owned Enterprise saying it fuels New Zealand'seconomy and brings big money from overseas. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/04/01/climate-change-protest-halts-mine-work-91466-20701008/Climate change protest 'halts mine work'Apr 1 2008 icWalesDEMONSTRATORS today claimed to have stopped work at an open-cast coal minein a protest about climate change.The protesters chained themselves to excavation machinery at the site on theoutskirts of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, as well as blocking one of themain entrances.The group said it was highlighting the "hypocrisy" of Government claims thatministers were taking climate change seriously.The demonstrators pointed out that coal has the biggest impact on climatechange of any fuel and claims that local residents had been opposed to theopen-cast mine for many years.The action coincided with Fossil Fools Day, which saw protests across theworld aimed at highlighting the threat to the environment.http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/04/04/protest-sees-13-arrested-91466-20719046/Protest sees 13 arrestedApr 4 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales EchoPOLICE arrested 13 climate change protesters who tried to disrupt work atWales' biggest power station.Campaigners from the Bristol Rising Tide pressure group blocked roads andchained themselves together outside coal-fired Aberthaw power station nearBarry yesterday to show their opposition to the use of non-renewable energysources.One, named only as Ciara, said: "The burning of coal at Aberthaw and the newpower stations across the UK such as Kingsnorth will only exacerbate theproblems of climate chaos."People need to know that the government is hell-bent on returning us to thedark age of fossil fuel."But in effect the protesters harmed their own objectives by interruptingwork on new environmentally-friendly technology being installed at the powerstation, it has been claimed.A power station spokesman said: "We have to keep some coal-fired powerstations to keep the lights on."We are building a carbon capture and storage test plant at Aberthaw tocapture CO2 from emissions and store them."Aberthaw is at the centre of trying to improve burning coal. It is amassive investor in cleaner gas."Station manager Clive Smith said: "We've been able to keep the powerflowing."He added the protest had interrupted work to install the technology toreduce sulphur emissions, described as "a £100m project that has been goingon for some time".Friends of the Earth Cymru Barry and Vale group co-ordinator Keith Stockdaleclaimed the blockade came after attempts to use "official channels" forobjection had proved ineffective.He added: "This power station is the biggest generator of CO2 in Wales andis intending to emit more of the climate-changing gas."With its new plant fitted its present emissions of seven million tonnes ayear is expected to increase to 10 million tonnes or more."He went on: "We find the authorities are exempting Aberthaw from making realefforts to reduce their coal emissions."The plans to use wood-fuel instead of 300,000 tonnes of coal are hardlyprogressing."Earlier this week protesters demonstrated at Ffos y Fran opencast mine inMerthyr Tydfil.A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "Of the 13 people arrested, five werecharged with aggravated trespass and eight were cautioned."The five people who were charged will appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Courton Wednesday, April 16, and during that time they are not allowed to enterthe Vale of Glamorgan or go within 500 yards of any power station."ben.glaze at mediawales.co.ukhttp://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=64ae3caf-4c3e-41d0-b8a0-aa4728aebde1&k=65134Huge environmental protest encircles Victoria legislatureJudith Lavoie, Victoria Times ColonistPublished: Saturday, March 29, 2008VICTORIA -- There was a unique dance Saturday as about 1,300 chantingprotesters shuffled their feet and stretched out their arms to hold hands asthey encircled the legislature.Then came the victory yell as the human chain extended twice around thebuildings in the biggest environmental protest since Clayoquot Sound rallies15 years ago.For Ken Wu, Western Canada Wilderness Committee campaign director, who waskeeping his fingers crossed for 1,000 participants, it was a moment oftriumph.View Larger ImageEnvironmentalists and forestry workers marched on the legislature to demandprotection for B.C.'s old-growth forests and a ban on raw log exports.The turnout should show the provincial government that the fate of forestsand forest jobs can bring out committed crowds more than any other issue, hesaid."For the vast majority of British Columbians it's a no-brainer that weshould save the remaining old-growth forests on Vancouver Island and theLower Mainland and protect forestry jobs by ensuring a sustainablesecond-growth logging industry and banning raw log exports," Wu said.The numbers received a boost from about 100 Crofton and Harmac millworkers,members of the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada."It's an issue for working communities," said Mark Noonan, who has worked atpulp mills for 32 years.Log exports should be stopped and companies should use local resources toprovide local jobs, he said."The companies were given the land to provide jobs for communities. Theydidn't buy it," he said, referring to a 2003 government decision that logsno longer had to be processed at mills in the area where they wereharvested.The government is only harming itself, said Wilfred Phillips from Harmac."People are losing jobs and they're taking away jobs with wages like mine,at $72,000 a year, and people end up earning minimum wage. They can'tsupport their own government budget on that."Valerie Langer of environmental group ForestEthics, who spoke to protesters,admitted a sense of deja vu. Langer, a former activist with Friends ofClayoquot Sound, was a leader of the Clayoquot protests."It was a really good feeling. This was not an angry crowd, it was a crowdthat had a real sense of power. These are people who are willing to work,"she said."To me it's a sign of a growing, active movement that we haven't seen for along time."The forest industry is going through tough times and everyone is looking foranswers, Langer added."Perhaps hearing what the solutions could be, from a building movement ofunusual allies, could shift government," she said.University of Victoria students Alex Sherman and Andrew Liss, accompanied byBuck, a rottweiler/shepherd cross, were at the rally because they believegovernment has to change its forest policy."I think people need to be more involved," Sherman said.Despite a cloudburst, people lined up to sign a petition asking thegovernment for timelines to phase out old-growth logging on Vancouver Islandand the Lower Mainland, sustainable logging of second-growth, a ban on rawlog exports and help in redeveloping mills to take smaller logs."We need to do this for the climate, for endangered species, for forestryjobs, for the coastal tourism industry, for our salmon streams and for ourquality of life. Let's hope government sees the light soon," Wu said.Forests Minister Rich Coleman could not be contacted Saturday.http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8579250By Kristin Bender, Staff WriterArticle Launched: 03/14/2008BERKELEY _ He called himself Fresh, but a group called StudentsAgainst Hippies in Trees said his routine for protesting variousuniversity policies was getting stale.Seventeen days after protester Michael Schuck _ aka Fresh _ climbedinto an oak just north of Sather Gate on the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley campus, tree-sit opponents mobbed the treeFriday calling for Schuck to follow the rules for public discourseand get out of the tree.The 23-year-old Schuck finally did come down and was cited by policefor illegally lodging and trespassing and released, a universityspokesman said Friday.He said he came down from his perch because anti-tree sit people andhis supporters debated the issues he was promoting peacefully andrespectfully.``I felt like my mission had been accomplished,'' Schuck said afterbeing released from police custody. ``I went up there to raiseawareness and start dialogue on campus.''Schuck climbed into the tree near Sproul Plaza on Feb. 25, protestingthe university's deals with BP and Dow Chemical, the housing of13,000 Native American remains on campus and UC's involvement withnuclear weapons. Schuck, who is not a student, was also calling forthe democratization of the UC Board of Regents.No one opposed Schuck's right to his opinion or his protest of campuspolicies. But for some, living in a tree didn't seem like thesensible way to make a point.``He has the right to protest but climbing a random tree on campusseems like the wrong way of going about it,'' said sophomore ScottNightingale, who was at the rally Friday.Calum Wright is one of the students who launched Students AgainstHippies in Trees on the social networking site Facebook.com.``It's not a normal thing to do, to go up a tree and live there inaid of so many causes,'' said Wright, a freshman. ``He doesn't haveone specific thing he's trying to change. It's a joke. It started offas the trees then it moved to bones then nuclear weapons then anti-BPand now it's anti-regents. I mean, make up your mind.''A few days after Schuck went into the tree, campus police put up ametal barricade around the tree and stationed officers there.On Friday morning campus police used a cherry picker to try andremove Schuck from the tree. They confiscated some of his belongingsbut he defied them by moving higher in the oak.Student Tyler Brandt said all the police presence was a waste ofuniversity money.``We are here to illustrate that (Schuck) does not have the supportof the student body and I think it's ridiculous that (the university)is wasting all this money on this.''But Schuck said his two weeks living in a tree with little more thana blue sleeping bag, water, and a small amount of food that wascovertly lifted to him, was well worth it.``(Today) started with some heated argument but then went to adialogue circle and that is exactly what I hoped to achieve,'' he said.The rally at the tree started about noon Friday when Students AgainstHippies in Trees squared off with Friends of Fresh.``We students are here to support the positions Fresh hasarticulated, such as democratizing the UC Regents and canceling theBP contract and releasing the 13,000 Native American remains held atthe Phoebe Hearst museum,'' said Matthew Taylor, a fifth year peaceand conflict studies major. ``Fresh is raising awareness among thestudents.''Taylor said he didn't mind that the opposing group wanted theirvoices heard. But did object to the Internet postings on Facebook.comthat were ``filled with hate speech,'' he said.``Instead of angry confrontation, let's have a dialogue,'' he said.In fact, that is exactly what happened. After a short screaming matchbetween the two sides, people sat down on the cement below the treeand started a ``dialogue circle.''About an hour later Schuck climbed down from the tree and was cartedoff by university police. He received a citation that mandates thathe appear in court next month.That's OK, he said.``(Living in a tree) was amazing, it was beautiful,'' he said. ``Imet so many people and got to connect with people who really want toinspire change.''His supporters called Friday a success as well.``Today was a huge success," UC Berkeley junior Jessica Schley said."Today was the day that we can move forward with this movement todemocratize the Regents of the University of California. We want todo it because we believe students are not being acknowledged in theirneeds.''Neither side became violent and no arrests were made at the rally.Schuck's tree sit is over but the one near Memorial Stadiumcontinues. Since December 2006, a group of people have been living intrees in an oak grove near the football stadium to protest UCBerkeley's plan to build a $125 million sports training center on the grove.Eight to 10 people continue to live and sleep in those trees. A courtinjunction is preventing any construction on the grove site. Plansare tied up by lawsuits, which will continue to be heard in a Haywardcourt on Thursday.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/31/2150789.htmFlinders Street GM ProtestPosted Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:20am AEDTGreenpeace hung the banner at Flinders Street Railway Station in MelbourneJanuary 31, 2008 (ABC TV)Map: Melbourne 3000Greenpeace has hung a banner under the Flinders Street Railway Stationclocks in central Melbourne, to protest against genetically engineeredfoods.The Victorian Government will lift a ban on genetically modified crops atthe end of next month.The protest has been timed to coincide with today's meeting of healthministers in Melbourne.Campaigner Rebecca Hubbard says Genetically Engineered foods threaten publichealth, the environment and the economy."We're asking Premier Brumby to reverse his decision and extend themoratorium on GE crops for another five years and introduce liabilitylegislation that protects farmers and consumers from unwanted GEcontamination," she said.Victoria Police say the Greenpeace protesters did not have permission toclimb onto the roof of the station.A spokeswoman says if the two protesters do not comply with requests to comedown, members of the Search and Rescue Unit will climb up and remove them.