Campaigner regards the Sell-off deal in 1999 as unlawful and fights on...

A Tenant writes; Independent Complaint Reveiwer finds District Auditors actions amount to maladminisration and a serious conflict of interest whilst the Information Commission decides senior B&NES; Council officers unlawfully disclosed an individuals confidential personal data to the Audit Commission. A housing campaigner who has notched up a string of victories over officialdom has won a ruling against the spending watchdog he asked to investigate council spending. Over the years, housing tenant Alexander Johnston has launched complaint after complaint against Bath and North East Somerset Council, his landlord Somer, and now the Audit Commission... Full article. (Image: Housing - Occupation of 87 Ashley Road, Bristol from November 2008)

| Theres Something Rotten In The State Of B&NES; | Related Articles: Squatting is NOT illegal. Presentation at Trinity Police station this Friday 11am. | Tenants begin liberation from Council landlord | 2008's Plans That Never Came | One Week One & Resistance Continues... |

How To Contribute Articles - A Brief Guide | Publish an Article/Event | Help Guide | Calendar | Donate | Indycycle | Get Involved! |

Huge March in Bristol, Action at Marks & Spencers and Protest spreads to Frome and Cornwall

As the violence in Gaza continues and the protest in London is hemmed in by police, the South West also sees intensified protests as Frome and Falmouth join other cities protesting the conflict.

In Bristol, Ed Hill writes; Hundreds from the Muslim Community, joined by trade-unionist, other faith groups, and anti-was campaigners, to march through Bristol...Imam Assad Ali Shah of St Marks Road Mosque, said “Muslims of Bristol condemn all forms of terrorism be it by individuals or States. We condemn the imprisonment, starvation, and mass slaughter of innocent children, men and women of Gaza in Palestine. We are very saddened by the deafening silence of influential states in this regard. Bristolians are requested to join hands of unity in a peaceful march to request leaders of our nations to intervene to stop the cruelty to the Palestinians immediately"...Full article.

While at Marks & Spencer, around 30 people took part in a protest regarding the company's support of the Israeli State. bristol free gaza writes; As the rockets reign down on the Palestinian people, those of us who has been watching in horror and angry of the images and reports of the massacre of (predominantly) the civillian population, decided to take some action. 30 people entered the store and filled their trolleys with food, much of from "Israeli" (read occupied territories) origin. We then went to the check out, but instead of paying a few people started to inform the saturday shoppers loudly about the links between m & s and Israel and the on going bloodshed. Full article.

| Hundreds from Muslim community and supporters march in Bristol for Gaza | Bristol- Gaza Marks & Spencers solidarity action | Other Links: Muslim column censored by Evening Post days b4 Gaza bombing | Updated! Gaza Crisis - Bristol's Muslims March | UK IMC Feature on Gaza | Bristol PSC Email List |

How To Contribute Articles - A Brief Guide | Publish an Article/Event | Help Guide | Calendar | Donate | Indycycle | Get Involved! |

Protests continue as the violence escalates.

Dates for protests have been added including a march by Bristol's Muslim community. Ed Hill writes; Friday 9th January - Bristol Demo. We are all invited to join the Muslim Community march and protest. March from Easton to Central Bristol. Assemble 2pm Stapleton Road (by the Railway Bridge) Full article - Also see UK IMC Feature on Gaza to get the national picture.

Tony Notgoz writes: While we were marching through Bristol on Saturday, 3rd January 2009, Gordon Brown was in Europe secretly asking for tacit support for the American veto, a veto that gave Israel more time to slaughter Palestinians living in Gaza. And all the time Gordon Brown was telling the world that he was calling for a halt to this atrocious Israeli offensive. Full article.

Also, info@bristolstopwar writes: Every night since the air attacks on Gaza started there have been vigils on the Centre (opposite the Hippodrome) with people coming from all over the city. Help us make the vigil on MONDAY 5th JANUARY the largest yet. Meet from 5pm on the Centre. Then every night this week at the same time. Full article.

Ed Hill wrote: News of the Israeli air strikes against Gaza are horrendous. Reports of hundreds killed and many more hundreds injured are truly shocking. However, the worst aspect is the failure of western Governments, including our own, to condemn Israel for its hugely disproportionate attack not to mention its ongoing breeches of International law in its treatment of Gaza and the Palestinians.

| UK IMC Feature on Gaza | Summary of Gaza protests and events | Emergency Vigil For Gaza | Bristolians, Gordon Brown spat on our call for a cease-fire in Gaza | Free Palestine - National Demonstration– Saturday 10th January | Related Links: | Bristol PSC Email List | New Years Day at Raytheon Rooftop Protest | Updated! Christmas at Raytheon |

How To Contribute Articles - A Brief Guide | Publish an Article/Event | Help Guide | Calendar | Donate | Indycycle | Get Involved! |

Following 'Shoe Protest' at George Bush, Bristol Protesters wave Shoes and Dig In for Stay over Christmas and New Year

Updated! Ed Hill updates us on the ongoing protest; Supporters rallied at the Raytheon office building in Bristol and passed up a seasonal fare on the end of a rope. Christmas music blared out across the sterile corporate landscape – provided by linking a radio to a megaphone. The protesters, wearing Santa hats and coats, enjoyed their dinner sitting on a balcony on the side of the Raytheon building. Full article.

Following the famous throwing of shoes at Gorge Bush, a group of Bristolians stages their own 'show protest'. Ed Hill writes; Approximately thirty supporters rallied near the Raytheon building, waving banners and chanting anti-war slogans. Many were also waving shoes in protest against the war in Iraq. They included anti-arms-trade campaigners from the local area, members of the Bristol Stop-The-War coalition, plus supporters from the Smash-EDO campaign in Brighton and from across the country. Three vehicles, a dozen police officers, plus several private security guards tried to stop the protest getting near the building or passing up food, water, or supplies to the rooftop. One protester said - “We’re delighted to see how the support for this protest is building. While so many other people are busy with shopping and consumerism, what's more important than stopping war, obstructing the arms trade, and upholding international law against the likes of Raytheon?” The protesters plan to stay indefinitely, including over the Christmas period and into the New Year to protest Bristol’s involvement in the arms trade. They are currently equipping themselves with Santa hats & coats plus a Christmas tree with tinsel and flashing lights. Supporters plan to rally again on Christmas day to support the rooftop protest. Full article.

| Rooftop protest defies Raytheon with Christmas dinner | Recent photos | Updated! Bristol Arms Maker Under Siege| From Bristol to the children of Fallujah | Related Links: Smash Raytheon Blog | www.stopclustermunitions.org |

How To Contribute Articles - A Brief Guide | Publish an Article/Event | Help Guide | Calendar | Donate | Indycycle | Get Involved! |