“Refugee Week is important because it reminds us that refugees are not just statistics to be used and abused, they are living, breathing people. I am British, I was born here and I have no intention of leaving here, so I want to create a society here where compassion is built into our culture, in this society we will be so aware of the world around us that we will not need a Refugee Week. Until then this is how we do it". Benjamin Zephaniah, Poet. There will be many events taking place in Bristol during the week, including the Celebrating Sanctuary art event running from Sat 17th - Sun 25th. Nick Thomas writes: A mix of personal experience and artistic inspiration runs through these responses to “Sanctuary”. It’s a big issue viewed through the deep, but delicate lens of the human heart. And it has attracted impressive contributors, working in a dazzling variety of forms and media. It is this eclecticism that has led us to describe it as an Art Event rather than a conventional exhibition. Full Article & Times | More Bristol Refugee Week Events

Get Involved. The next meeting of Bristol Indymedia is a social event and we welcome friends, supporters, colleagues and those interested in getting involved with the Indymedia movement to come along. Monday 19th June 2006, 8pm at the Hillgrove pub, off Dove St, Kingdown. Also See...

(Image left: The countries of the Horn of Africa, where 15 million people are affected by the worst drought in decades, are a major source of the world's refugees.) New Drop In Centre - umbrella writes: An umbrella group - Holding Refugees and Human Rights in Mind - has set up a drop-in centre, with the help of the Unitarian Church in Brunswick Square, St Paul's. This is particularly useful for Asylum Seekers whose claims have been refused, and who have NO access to public funds, no money to live on, and no right to look for a paid job. The drop-in is open on Wednesdays, 10.00 am to 4.00, and provides tea, coffee, people to talk to, lunch (from noon till 2:00pm) ... Please let others know about this service. Full Article

| Bristol Events: (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | Legal Advice: www.asylumaid.org.uk | www.asylumlaw.org | More Links: www.asylumsupport.info | www.barbedwirebritain.org.uk | www.defend-asylum.org | www.ncadc.org.uk | www.noii.org.uk | www.refugeecouncil.org.uk | www.refugeeweek.org.uk | Local News: Celebrating Sanctuary art event | New Drop In Service Available | Nazi BNP member sacked in Plymouth | Bristol Indymedia Statement on N9S's 'Visit'

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On Thursday 8th June the police arrived to evict the Art Squat, then left to deal with the bomb scare in Broadmead, Jay writes: At around 2.30 on Thursday afternoon, an angry looking sergeant walked through the doors bellowing right you lot..you’ve got half an hour. Get out! Various laws and rights were quickly explained to the baffled looking sergeant whose uninformed response was...you're not here to tell me. I’m here to tell you! I don’t want to have to arrest you all so get out. Voices raised, people got animated, and more police were called, 3 cars, two vans and 5 police on horses...Somebody from the police made the wise decision of getting another officer with better social and diplomacy skills to negotiate with artists and organisers...Just as negotiators had managed to stretch the initial half hour demand to get out to a few hour's to get out, and, some might say by divine intervention... Full Article

artonoma writes: Bristol Insurgent Art welcomes all artistic contributions throughout the exhibition and for any of the events on the line up: Wednesday: Come help create the space. Thursday: Exhibition open from midday, films all all day and film night from 7pm featuring shorts by from local artists. Friday: Exhibition all day and caberet night in the evening from 7pm. Saturday: Random perfomances all day, caopeira, breakdancing, DIY art workshops, face painting, biggles recycles, waky races, create your own outfit and childrens' recyled outfit making workshop for the junk sculpture fashion show at 7.30pm ...and much much more featuring the random artists of London who invented the term "temporary autonomous art exhibition" inspired by Hakim Bey's concept of "Temporary autonomous zones". Many squatted art exhibitions happen accross Europe, its time we had more in the UK ... Come down to the warehouse next to the reclamation yard on Cumberland Road, Spike Island across just across the river from the arnolfini to chack it out, be inspired and take part! Full Article

| Temporary Autonomus Art Exhibition - NOW OPEN! | Police abandon illegal eviction | Front of Art Squat Flyer | www.bristolinsurgentart.co.uk | Also See: Bomb in broadmead, Bombs in Iraq | Autonomous Social Centres |

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Tesco made £70 profit every second last year

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Updated (6th June) -'Tesco reported pre-tax profits of more than £2bn. Even though each employee generates an average of £95,000 worth of sales each year, no spare cash is left to pay workers during their tea breaks. Whilst the eight men who run Tesco earned £26m between them last year (2005 figures), Tesco have fought tooth and nail against the minimum wage. A 16 year old worker on such a rate would have to work for over 90 years to earn Sir Terry’s £3m annual salary ... Luckily for Tesco, competition laws classify convenience stores as a separate sector to supermarkets. Monopolies (includes 2006 figures) used to be recognised and prevented when a company controlled 25% of the market, but with their Metro stores, Tesco controls over one third of the country’s grocery business.' (Image right; Tree-top protests against new Tesco development at Shepton Mallet, March 2006)

Gloucester Road resident writes: On a site tucked behind the existing Somerfield there are plans for a new "food store for Bishopston", as the PR company who is promoting the development call it. The food store is in fact a planned Tescos with 180 car parking spaces. In additon the the recently opened Tesco express and Sainsburys local a little further down the road, the new supermarket would inevitably put great pressure on local food stores and other businesses that have served the local community so well for many years (not to mention the increased traffic congestion!). Full Article

| New Supermarket on Gloucester Road | Recent Actions & Articles: shepton mallet evicted... | shepton mallet still going | day of action at shepton mallet | Shepton Mallet Eviction Alert | Tree Protest Camp established at Shepton Mallet, Somerset. People needed | Also See: www.tescopoly.org.uk | Tescopoly - 'Schnews' Article | Joanna Blythman interview, author: 'The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets' |

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Demonstration Against Repression. Saturday 10th June, 7:30pm.
Meet outside Bank Tube Station, on the corner of Princes Street and Threadneedle Street, London.

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non writes: In the last few weeks and months there has been a dramatic increase of state repression of social movements. From everywhere on earth we are hearing stories of beatings, imprisonment, torture, sexual abuse, raids, arrests and other violence against those who resist political, social and economic domination of their lives and destruction of their planet. From environmental activists in the USA, adherents of the 'Other Campaign' in Mexico and student protesters in occupied West Papua, to migrants and peace activists in the UK, gay and lesbian activists in Russia and anarchists all across Europe, everywhere on earth there are examples of this. Full Article

BRISTOL CONTEXT - MH writes: The Easton Cowgirls & Boys recently returned from a solidarity trip to Mexico where they took part in solidarity sports events and social activities. A few of the party are still there, whilst of course events in mexico are moving on fast with both repression & resistance. Kiptik, the Bristol based solidarity group recently hosted a film night at the Cube highlighting these events. Other Bristolians also recently took part in a protest at the mexican consulate in London ... Bristol's peace campaigners are subject to the new laws introducing military bases as 'designated areas', which increases dramtically the likelihood of any protesters breaching the perimters of bases of going to prison. And of course, charges were recently dropped against Bristol's last (known) G8 defendant, where the location of the G8 summit itself was a very large 'designated area'. Full Comment. (Image above; from the Kiptik murals collection. Kiptik means strength in Tzeltal, the language of the biggest indigenous group in Chiapas, Mexico.)

Please see, and post your events to, the Bristol IMC Calendar for more related events | Anti-Repression Demo, London 10th June 7:30PM | Transport: Interactive Map of London Transport System | 'Radical Red' Bristol Van For Hire (Not For Profit) | Other Articles: Local global or global local? | Help Us With a Book About Indymedia |

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50% Ticket Price Increase This Year - 22nd & 23rd July

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Updated (5th June) - Considering the strength of opinion given in the comments section in response to the below article, if you haven't done so already, you may wish to register your views directly on the Ashton Court Festival website. Feedback Form. You should know that providing an email is the only requirement of filling out the online form, which you may also object to. If so, give a false one.

Bristol Born writes: Our once proud and free, community festival has been stolen and is being sold back to us at over inflated prices. What was once Europe's largest free festival, The Bristol Community Festival at Ashton Court has been stolen, privatised and now rebranded as the Orange(tm) Ashton Court Festival. After the theft of our free festival came the fences and 4x4's full of private security thugs designed to extract and maximise the profit from the event...

This year ticket prices have increased by 50%, up from £6 per day to £9 and access to a new exclusive VIP area will cost £75. Bristol doesn't do 'exclusive VIP' ... I'd like to suggest an 'unofficial' community festival to take place this year on the outside of the separation barrier with accoustic musicians, community arts volunteers, jugglers, fireshows, face painting, food and drink to share and non-corporate good fun all round. How about it? Full Article

| Ashton Court festival stolen from the community of Bristol | Previous Discussion | www.ashtoncourtfestival.com | www.adbusters.org | Other Recent Articles: 39 Steps...June 1st - 4th | Going for Gold! | Stonehenge 2006 : The Summer Solstice Celebration | Also See: Bristol Indymedia - Nearly As Many Hits As Evening Post - Publish Your News!

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Presented by Bristol Colombia Solidarity Campaign, Bristol Indymedia are this month pleased to show 'Empire in the Andes: The War on the Poor'. Supported by a cast of short films including a short about the kids project, 'Casa Taller' - where some of the proceeds from tonight will be going. Mon 5th June @ Cube Cinema, Dove St South, Kingsdown. Cube Cinema Map. Doors open 7.30pm, film starts 8pm. £2/3 though nobody turned away for lack of funds. Full Article

Get Involved: Following on from our next film night, our next meeting is a social event and we welcome friends, supporters, colleagues and those interested in getting involved with the Indymedia movement to come along - Monday, 19th June 2006 8pm at the Hillgrove pub, Off Dove St, Kingsdown. Also See...

UPDATED - extra writes: In addition to the film night on Mon 5th June, Colombia Solidarity Campaign are also holding a talk on Wed 7th June @7pm, Kuumba Arts Centre, 20-23 Hepburn Rd, St Pauls, Bristol. Members of Proceso de Comunidades Negras (PCN) are to visit Bristol as part of a European tour. They want the world to know of the violence and injustice suffered by Colombia's poor majority, especially black and indigenous peoples, of their resistance and of their determination to achieve social justice and protect the natural environment. More Info

Plan Colombia was originally conceived during the Clinton administration, in co-ordination with the then President of Colombia, Pastrana. It has since been carried forward by their neo-con replacements, Bush and Uribe. Superficially, Plan Colombia has been prosecuted under the pretext of a 'War On Drugs'. This rhetoric masks a protracted civil war, which the drug trade helps to finance on all sides, at all levels. US military aid to Colombia looks set to continue at a strong pace of around 1/2 billion dollars per year in the years to come.

Local Actions: Coca Cola stand accused of complicity in the assassination of 8 Sinaltrainal trade union leaders in Colombia. (26/04/06) NUS Rejects the Coca-Cola Boycott demanded by Bristol Uni Students | (09/01/06) universities ban Coca-Cola due to alleged links with paramilitaries | (19/03/05) Misrepresentations Of The Throwing Of Paint At Vice-President Francisco | (18/03/05) Inaccuracies in article 'a state terrorist's response to democracy' | (16/03/05) ...or a state terrorist response to democratic protest | (16/03/05) Protests at Colombian Vice President's Bristol Talk |

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'On 3rd and 4th March 2003, fourteen B52 bombers from USAF 23rd Bomb Squadron 'Barons' arrived at RAF/USAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, to prepare for the aerial bombing of Iraq, which began on the 20th March 2003. On April 24th 2003, after 142 flights and 54 days, they left.' Fairford Press Releases: 04/03/03 to 07/09/03 At the time, hundreds, and then thousands of people demontrated the base. Others broke in and attempted to damage, or damaged property with the aim of preventing the 'illegal' invasion from U.K soil. Just over 3 years later, as Iran now pulls into the line of fire, anarchist606 writes: The huge U$ airbase at Fairford, Gloucester has apparently been ruled out of the planning for an attack on Iran because of "...the UK’s opposition to military action against Tehran" – the article is not clear if this opposition is the government ... or could it be that they fear the popular protest? Certainly during the Iraq war the base (pictured below) saw massive protests and it was clear the state was getting worried! Full Article

While this may be good news to many, Diego Garcia, a tiny military island (pictured above) in the middle of the Indian Ocean, may instead by used. from someone else writes: It seems the US has to have formal permission (under existing agreements under which the US operates at UK bases) from the British government to deploy from ANY UK owned base ... It would be an idea for everyone to write to MP's pointing this out and asking them to demand answers from the Blair cabal regards what permission they have or might grant the U.S with regard to D.G. Blair can't claim he isn't participating if he sanctions the use of Diego Garcia. The same could be said of Menwith Hill and Croughton who will deal with the intel and communications for any attack. Now would be a good time to start writing.... Full Comment

| Fairford Ruled out of 'Operation Bomb Iran into Democracy' | 'The main plan calls for a rolling, five-day bombing campaign against 400 key targets in Iran, including 24 nuclear related sites ... and Revolutionary Guard headquarters.' US spells out plan to bomb Iran | Archives: (02/04/06) What Happened About Your House Of Lords / Fairford Case? | (24/02/06) 'Fairford 5' and 'Marchwood 14' in the High Courts... | (14/01/05) Should We Be Thinking More Strategically? | (01/07/04) The State Is Nervous - "Don't Mention Iraq" Foreign Office Spokesman Warns Court |

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LATEST UPDATE (26th May) - no2id supporter writes: There are just a few days of our renew for freedom campaign left. Now is the time to encourage friends and family to renew their passport for almost half the predicted cost of the forthcoming ID card/passport and without compulsory fingerprinting, iris scanning and entry on to the National Identity Register ... Please if you can spare a few moments spread the word ... £51 spent renewing your passport could prove to be one of the wisest investments you and your family ever make in their privacy and freedom. It's that simple. Full article

Dave Gould writes: Those righteous dudes at No2ID have organised the "Renew for Freedom" campaign so that the free people of Britain can avoid the Government's insane plan to create a dossier of personal information on every citizen to be available for any future government who wants to persecute them. If you renew this month, you can: Avoid being forced to attend an interview, Avoid being fingerprinted like a criminal, Avoid giving up your national insurance & driving license numbers to prevent your tax/income/benefits status and international/car journeys (courtesy of ANPR) being connected to the ID Big Brother database ... Bristol No2ID are organising FreedomAid, an eclectic music gig to help spread the word to Bristolians. FreedomAid is featuring: Paul Bradley from The Organelles, The Grumpy Man DJs, Mephisto's Island and Chris Beckett. Saturday May 27th, The White Bear, top of St Michael's Hill, £3. Full article

| www.renewforfreedom.org | www.bristol-no2id.org.uk | "Not too late to 'Renew for Freedom!" | "Renew for Freedom" from Big Brother mass-surveillance | Archives: (23/09/05) The Government's big brother road show came to Bristol but was met with a forceful group of protesters. No2ID Action | More UK Actions (11/10/05) Freedom to Protest? |

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