[Cc-webedit] [mediateam] blog entry: vestas blockade

[Jon Leighton]

A few thoughts on this:

* Thanks Richard for proposing this and generally being quite on it with
the blog.

* I'd like to put something about vestas up, but I think it ought to be
original content (perhaps about climate camp's involvement). At the
least the editors of the save vestas blog need to be asked about it -
don't know if that has happened?

* I think for now the process of individuals having blog post ideas and
proposing it on the list is working okay. I think we could have 24 hours
as a recommended time for comments? Nobody has so far objected to
anything so fiercely that a proposed post hasn't happened.

* However, I think it's very important that the website group email list
(https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/cc-webedit) is CC'd into
these proposals. I think the media team's involvement in the blog is
great and was especially useful during the camp, but people have raised
concerns previously about making sure posts aren't too focussed about
"the message" all the time.

Cheers,
Jon

On Thu, 2009-09-10 at 18:42 +0000, Murray wrote:
> hi richard,
> 
> this looks great - happy for it to go up, but if you could add a link
> into the save vestas wordpress or similar so people who don;t know
> what vestas is can find out would be pretty essential.
> 
> as for having the vestas campaign on the website i think its probably
> worth checking with process maybe as i think that officially speaking
> theres just a working group with a really limited remit so not sure we
> could call it one of our campaigns. which is obviously pretty silly as
> we've got a whole camp down there, but process is process.
> 
> cheers.
> m
> 
> > Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:44:37 +0100
> > From: richard.braude at googlemail.com
> > To: mediateam at lists.riseup.net
> > CC: website at climatecamp.org.uk
> > Subject: [mediateam] blog entry: vestas blockade
> > 
> > Hey team,
> > 
> > here's a suggestion for a blog post, adapted from the Savevestas
> blog
> >
> http://savevestas.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/blockade-makes-vestas-think-twice-about-moving-its-blades-report-of-friday-4-september/
> > 
> > we don't really have a process for blog posts atm, but if there are
> a
> > few 'yeahs' can we go with it? I think it would be a good way of
> > supporting climate campers hard at work on the island.
> > 
> > also, I feel it would be a good idea to get a Vestas Solidarity page
> > up on the website, under 'Next Actions' as an Ongoing Action (like
> > E.ON F.OFF). This would help us network information about campers
> > helping with the actions. thoughts?
> > 
> > cheers
> > r.
> > __________________
> > 
> > Blockade success!
> > 
> > Interview this with an activist outside Vestas, Newport, Isle of
> > Wight, about the blockade on Friday 4 September, which prevented
> > Vestas taking the remaining blades from the factory.
> > 
> > What happened last Friday?
> > I would say 25-30 supporters from the mainland were present at the
> > Marine Gate for the blockade on Friday; plus the hard core of the
> > workers. A few other Islanders – certainly a few people walking
> their
> > dogs along the cycle path took an interest! We were gathered from
> > about 7am. We made a new banner which says ‘Whose factory?’ and hung
> > it up by the jetty.
> > 
> > A lot of the camp that was on the roundabout has moved to the Marine
> > Gate which is where the blades go out from the factory to the River
> > Medina. At our meeting in the evening we decided to maintain both
> > camps, on the roundabout in front of the factory and at the back by
> > the Marine Gate.
> > 
> > Four blades were removed by barge from the factory at Venture Quays,
> > East Cowes, possibly a mould for making blades. We have definitely
> > stopped them from removing the blades from Newport, because they had
> > sent two barges, one can take about 6 blades, the other 4 blades.
> Our
> > thinking is that, seeing the size of the mobilisation today, Vestas
> > decided not to come to Newport. We tested our systems for getting
> > information and on today’s evidence that was spot on.
> > 
> > There was a good meeting. We discussed moving the whole camp to the
> > Marine Gate but decided to keep a presence at both, partly for
> > symbolic value. The main kitchen is at the front, but we will soon
> > have a stove for the Marine Gate camp too.
> > 
> > What are the next steps in the campaign?
> > We are writing a press release this evening announcing the launch
> > proper of the blockade, which began today and showed it is
> effective.
> > We are calling on people to come and join the blockade. If anyone
> > wants to confirm that they are coming, they could text one of us:
> for
> > now, try Ed 07775 763750 or Bob 07843 945005.
> > 
> > These were not special tides that made Vestas act on Friday.
> > Basically, the barges could come any day, twice a day. It has been
> > normal practice in the past for the barges to come and collect
> blades
> > during the night. The only things that can affect whether the barges
> > come are our presence and the wind – they don’t move the blades when
> > it’s windy.
> > 
> > Was there more security about today?
> > There were noticeably more police, including a police patrol boat on
> > the River Medina, with a big camera. Having said that, we were
> > clearly, 10-15 of us, milling about by the jetty – which I think is
> > out of bounds – and no one did anything.
> > 
> > Gurit [a neighbouring factory] security were complaining to the
> police
> > about us using a hole in the fence near their factory as a shortcut
> to
> > the Marine Gate, but the police are not taking their side in that.
> > 
> > Has the normal routine been disrupted today by the need to blockade?
> > No, the picketing of the workers going in to clean up the factory
> went
> > ahead in the morning; and the activities that the workers do on
> > Saturdays around the Isle of Wight are continuing.
> > 
> > We have plans ready for when the barges do come. I won’t say
> anything
> > about that, but only say that we are satisfied that our plans are in
> > place.
> 
> 
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