Issue # 2

 
 | Faceless Corporations | Animals| Nigen | Vivisection | Events Review| Other Issues |
 

These articles are taken from Issue #2 of Direct Action Against Apathy published in 1997

Where does the real power lie? It no longer rests solely with the governments. Many transnationals are now larger countries. In fact Shell, the world’s second largest corporation, is currently bigger than 146 countries - owning 400 million acres of land. Just 10 multinationals control virtually all of the world’s food chain; 4 control 90% of the world’s corn, wheat, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, pineapples and forest produce - the dangers of which are highlighted with the recent introduction of genetically engineered soya. Scared? You should be…
 

The daunting reality is that this power comes without social or ethical responsibility, and is often wielded without constraint - these monoliths are potentially ungovernable. Take for example the transnational corporation Shell. This oil giant, in its greed-fuelled quest for profits, has totally devastated Ogoniland - its people and their environment. They have courted the corrupt Nigerian regime by conducting arms deals on their behalf. Nigerian troops sent in to violently crack down on Ogoni unrest in 1993, disembarked from Shell helicopters and speedboats. Ken Saro-Wiwa, embarrassed the government by his peaceful protests that were being reported world-wide, was sentenced to death in a farcical kangaroo court and hanged with 8 colleagues. Now 19 other people are threatened with the same fate. Shell’s only answer to this controversy was to bring in publicity experts to help the Nigerian regime contain the PR fallout.

More recently they have included a ‘commitment to human rights and sustainable development’ in their statement of business principles. This is of course a further public relations wheeze, not worth the paper it was written on. Almost as disgusting was their attempt to redeem themselves by boasting of the schools, hospitals and community projects they have initiated. A bit too little, too late, after robbing the Ogoniland of its vast riches and spilling over 1 million barrels of oil over the land. Other Shell ‘follies’ have included the Brent Spar fiasco and their protests over the introduction of lead-free petrol.

Another example - the Business Round Table (BRT) made up of 200 members, including representatives of 42 out of the top 50 corporations, 7 of the 8 largest commercial banks and 9 of the 11 largest utilities. Membership is limited to ‘white males, over 50, whose salaries are at least 170 times the US average.’ All but 4 of BRT’s 200 representatives sit on the North America Free Trade Association. This is a body that makes policy decisions, affecting millions of lives but all in the interests of the corporations. In 1993/4, NAFTA with the help of BRT officials, pushed through a deal between the US and Mexico, opening up the Mexican market. The social cost of this venture resulted in 2.2 million Mexicans losing their jobs, a 10 million increase of those living in ‘extreme poverty’, and the country itself having to export 23% more of its food.

A more recent example of corporational exploitation is the exposure of the company making footballs with a Manchester United endorsement, using child labour to stitch the footballs at the rate of 6p an hour. Other scandals in the past have included many clothing chain stores.

The list of very powerful and very deadly corporations and transnationals is endless: Rio Tinto Zinc - a company that mines copper without rregard for the environment or its indigenous people; McDonald’s - need I explain!? See Issue#1; Nestle - notorious baby killer due to aggressive marketing ‘western style’ to developing countries; Gillette - only recently stopped its horrific testing on animals; Boots recently sold off its pharmaceutical branch that tested on animals (making a packet in the process); Coca-Cola - total world domination!; British Aerospace - involved in Indonesian arms trade that resulted in many civilian deaths; BP - responsible for stoking up a civil war in Colombia with its oil find; Barclays, General Motors, AT&T - all involved in the trend of ‘downsizing’ which is responsible for the loss of millions of jobs; Unilever, Glaxo - two horrific vivisectors; ICI, World Trade Organisation, ERT, Exxon, Hanson, HSBC - the list goes on…

Perhaps more frightening than the aforementioned list is the public’s ignorance and apathy towards these bastards. The easy cop-out is to claim that the companies are too big, you wouldn’t know where the stuff you’re buying comes from, it’s not possible to be totally ethical etc. But with Fair Trade organisations, health food shops, local business and sacrificing what are basically luxuries, there is no reason to fund these companies. Do you really need McDonald’s, Burger King’s, KFC’s junk food; Nestle’s coffee, chocolate bars or cereals; Shell or BP’s oil or their franchiser’s garages? With planned boycotts, careful buying, ethical shopping can be easy.

A boycott is the only lever against a transnational. It won’t move their multi-billion profits, but it will affect their image. There is a magazine available - the ethical shopper’s guide - that informs the reader of recent corporation bon-mots. Taking it one step further, pickets and protests are an effective method of drawing attention to the exploits of the company. Contact Green Action for more info.

Having read this article, if you just turn the page, think it’s hopeless and there’s nothing you can do about it, then the corporation’s have already won…
 

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Ok so you’ve taken the time out to read this. My statement on animals, so obviously you’re bored? Which in reality is such a futile task. And I guess you’re wondering what I can say about this subject that hasn’t already been said? Well to be truthful...not a lot really. So if you’re a happy lentil munching vegetarian or vegan (people hater - as us animal rights people are so affectionately known!!) then go and read a copy of bunny huggers monthly, so I can attempt to cure the rest of our cultured society into joining our hordes of uncontented, free conscious individuals. Well bugger off then, go on.

Animals have had a bit of a rough trip so far. Born headfirst, brought up ankle deep you could say. And for many years scientists have been trying to convince us, upon a theory of evolution, which in reality (sorry Christians!) seems the most likely way our race was brought into existence. So caught now by this small technicality, we the human race, in our own cultured way of course eat out ancestors! Yet it’s still a hard thing to picture. Passing great old uncle Albert around the table on a Sunday afternoon may seem a bit surreal. Yet it seems it’s true, yeah truth really is stranger than fiction.

Then we have such fun as bloodsports, no not rugby, not boxing either. No, people horses and dogs chasing a fox around a field. Seems perfectly sensible to you does it? Well my mind cannot concede to such things. If we really want bloodsports so badly, if we are so hungry for blood, if we wish to see a helpless creature ripped apart, why don’t we just let two hippies lose in Bangor car park on a Sunday night, inevitably to be chased by a horde of jocks and nearly killed. No it doesn’t seem so fun now does it (you sicko!) The blood wasted as red as our own. Although if anyone manages to capture it on video I’m sure I could find a market for it, on the hush hush of course!

Animal testing is another problem, which when faced is a waste of time. Multitudes of creatures bred and sold into slavery then death! Much the same as the meat trade you could say. Yet experiments have the luxury of severe pain and suffering before death. Most people would consider themselves liberated on this issue. Yet Gillette, Kimberly Clarke and Calvin Kline continue testing to name but a few. So I’m afraid shopping at the Body Shop is not enough. And I guess your compassionate shopping list grows even smaller by the second? I think if the human race is not prepared to vivisect its own then why? Why? I ask do we consider it safe to test our products on those weaker than ourselves? It seems we are the bullies of existence.

So I reach my conclusion? Yet the arguments are ongoing perpetually. I have not bored you with the facts, yet tried to give you some semi-balance, an insight to the pain that is caused daily by our race. I’m not demanding that you eat lentils, and become a bunny hugger like me. All I want is for you to stop and think about what we as a race cause?

Cause if you give a fuck, then others might give a fuck. Then we could begin attempting to solve these problems. But alas it seems too many continue to believe that it’s survival of the fittest and we’re winning...    John Graham

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NIGEN’s application to convert the present coal-fired Belfast West power station to burn municipal waste has caused outrage in environmental and business circles and has lead to a Public Inquiry that lasted three weeks. The proposal has raised other issues about the dissemination of information to the public and effective waste management disposal systems. Had it not being for objections from environmental groups like Belfast Friends of the Earth in the first place, the public would not have been given the opportunity to voice their concerns. It’s a vicious circle. If the public aren’t aware of issues due to a lack of information, they can’t object. If they don’t object the government take it as a clear go ahead signal. Not only is there a lack of information but also existing information is not very accessible.

Belfast City Council is the body that will decide whether to grant the waste disposal contract. It is amazing to think that the Department of the Environment could even consider a proposal for an incinerator that will clearly exacerbate the city’s pollution problems.

Belfast already has very poor air quality and is the most polluted city in Britain. Our present level of dioxin emission - the most toxic substance known to man - is ten times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommended maximum. Why is there such apparent hypocrisy in the DoE’s environmental policy? A twenty-five year contract for an incinerator that needs 220,000 tonnes of waste a year to remain viable is ridiculous. If targets are not fulfilled the possibility of importing waste from other countries will become a reality.

European Union Research has shown that recycling is the most cost effective and environmentally friendly waste disposal option. It also reduces the need for raw materials. Incineration by comparison is an expensive inefficient health risk.

Ignorance and lack of information has ensured that people don’t utilise the minimal recycling facilities available. As a result 97% of N. Ireland’s waste goes directly to landfill sites. This is an extremely wasteful and hazardous practise that destroys the environment. It is easy to see how attractive NIGEN’s energy creating, waste reduction proposal must seem.

The arguments for the incinerator are weak and profit driven. Promises of job creation and energy creation are deceptive. The reality is that recycling projects would create nearly four times as many jobs. Incineration is an efficient means of generating electricity.  Only 23% of the potential energy in waste ends up as electricity. NIGEN are applying to produce only 0.5% of N. Ireland’s electricity.

Incineration does not dispose of all waste. Only 45% of the total volume of waste is reduced. For every three tonnes of rubbish burned, one tonne of toxic ash is produced. An annual 220,000 tonnes of rubbish burned would produce over 70,000 tonnes of toxic ash that has to be built on purpose built landfill sites. Last year pollution levels exceeded government standards on 122 days of the year. How can we be certain that NIGEN will adhere to UK and EU safety standards when they are already being broken on 122 days of the year with scant regard for the consequences?

Incineration only indulges the continued habits of a throwaway consumerist society. We need to educate and inform people about waste disposal. We need a sustainable waste management strategy that will reduce the amount of waste produced, re-use and recycle what is possible, and dispose of the remainder by landfill.

As the profits come rolling in, NIGEN will be the only ones to benefit. The people of Belfast and surrounding areas will suffer the side effects for years to come. We need to realise that we have to put people before profits, no matter what the financial cost. Tina

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The animal rights issue and in particular vivisection has generated considerable controversy and concern since the antivivisection movement was funded in 1875. An emotive issue which has divided people on the question whether animals should be tested on or not. Those in favour of vivisection have grounded their arguments in the belief that all animal testing is beneficial to humans, whether it be to try out new drugs, cosmetics and household detergents or research into diseases and cancers. The argument that animal testing is necessary is nothing but a myth.

The fact is thousands of cats, sheep, rats; rabbits, beagles, greyhounds, pigs, etc. endure unnecessary pain, torture and death every year. They are deliberately poisoned, blinded, electrocuted, burned, brain damages and scalded. Crude surgery is performed without painkillers or anaesthetic. This is all carried out to make us beautiful, to make our homes clean and hygienic, and to treat us for illnesses brought on by our western meat-eating lifestyle.

Over 3 million animals are used in UK laboratory experiments every year. In N. Ireland this figure is about 20,000. Many of these animals are bred especially for experimentation and others come from animal pounds. The key areas where animal experimentation takes place in N. Ireland are in Queens University, the Department of Agriculture at New Forge Lane, the Pig Testing Station in Antrim, Veterinary Research Labs in Stormont and Belfast City Hospital.

The fact is animal testing has no grounding in medical research and for two logical and rational reasons which everyone seems to conveniently forget about. Animals are not humans. They are a different species. All animals (including humans) feel pain and need food and water to survive, beyond that our differences are vast. Animal metabolisms operate in a different way to humans. This is evidenced by the fact that the various chemical properties of drugs or cosmetics affect animals differently to humans. This is due to physiological differences in their absorption, distribution, metabolism, response to and elimination of drugs. Goats can eat vast quantities of arsenic. Penicillin, a beneficial drug for humans, kills guinea pigs. Similarly aspirin, which is safe for human consumption, can prove fatal for cats.

Thousands of other drugs like this exist, as there safety of fatality for animals cannot be extrapolated to humans. Figures from the leading drug company Ciba-Geigy show that 95% of drugs passed safe after animal tests fail in trials with healthy human volunteers. Drug companies, in an attempt to gain millions in profit, launch thousands of new drugs on the market every year. Many of these drugs are totally unnecessary. If anything they are detrimental to our health and have resulted in inflicting disease themselves. Clioquinol, an anti-diarrhoeal drug caused 30,000 cases of blindness in Japan alone and thousands of deaths worldwide. It was even responsible for actually causing a new disease.

The list of drugs which have caused horrific damage to humans is endless, while purporting to be all ‘safety tested’ on animals. The most notorious being Thalidomide - a sedative given to pregnant women that caused about 10,000 birth defects worldwide. In fact drugs prescribed in Britain are suspected of causing over 19,000 adverse effects annually. Most of which can be traced back to the use of medical drugs, food additives, cosmetics and other chemicals in our   environment.

You don’t need to be a scientist to know that things do not add up. What’s the point of testing animals with drugs when their bodies will obviously react differently to them than humans? Why make innocent animals endure needless suffering and pain all in the name of ‘medical research.’ They are not the only ones who suffer as people bear the brunt of hazardous chemicals and drugs. In fact it is all nothing more than fraudulent multinationalism.

Research grants for vivisectors, and substantial profit for drug companies, animal breeders and equipment suppliers has blinded the eyes of many. We hail these vivisectors as demi-gods in their ability to find ‘cures’ for cancers and disease. In fact they only exasperate the problem. Research into disease and cancer provides the most misguided approval of animal testing. Taxpayers and local charities fund these experiments in which they have absolutely no say. The very nature of these experiments invalidates the research.

Disease and cancer in humans is spontaneous and natural occurring. In the laboratory situation disease is induced artificially. Drugs and chemicals are introduced to animals that cause cancerous tumours or mimic the effects of disease. This artificial situation can never be the same as real human conditions and symptoms. It is obvious to any rational human being that artificial induced disease is not the same as the real thing.

Cures and treatments for cancers and disease have come about through proper medical and scientific research on human cell and tissue cultures and subsequently in strictly controlled clinical trials with humans. These are the best means of studying, treating and preventing human illness. Animal testing has accomplished nothing in this field. It has only resulted in squandering valuable amounts of time, money and resources that could be invested in proper human based studies.

Animal testing does nothing to further the fight to save people’s lives from cancer and disease. It is merely a fraudulent game played by many multinational drug companies in an attempt to earn millions of pounds at the expense of both animals and humans. Their claim that animal experimentation is necessary for safety reasons is invalid and misleading. Animal testing still remains a reality because it provides legal defence for drug manufacturers against any adverse effects caused by the drugs they pedal to us.

No wonder a wall of secrecy surrounds all animal experimentation. No information is available about what goes on right under our noses. If there’s nothing to hide, why is it all carried out behind closed doors and away from public scrutiny?

The reason is simple. If the real facts were made available, a public outrage would ensue and it would mean financially ruin for those with a vested interest. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Animal testing will remain a reality until it is exposed as a sham and a fraud. It can only be done so by people’s willingness to listen to the truth and act on their beliefs. It’s about time people stood up for their rights, if you don’t nobody will do it for you, and those people who think they own the world will go on taking liberties with our lives. Tina

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There has been lots of stuff happening in Belfast since the last issue. It’s great to see such a hive of activity. It’s great to see people standing up for their rights and that they’re not willing to except any old shit that’s thrown at them. Recent protests and events include:

INTERNATIONAL VICTORY DAY OF ACTION AGAINST MCDONALDS - DONEGALL PLACE, BELFAST 21-06-97

The Day of Action was to celebrate the result of the Mclibel Trial (at bloody last!) Usual turn out for this demo organised by Belfast Animal Rights (as always!!) Loads of people around too and it was nice to notice an increased awareness by the public. A few cheeky protesters leafleted inside McD’s and in the toilets until being escorted out by the staff!! When you’re handing out leaflets people do actually say ‘about time someone stood up to them’ or ‘good luck’ or ‘I’d never go in there’. And talking to people you notice that they actually had heard about the trial and were influenced by the evidence that had come out No matter what the judge or the press said, McDonald’s definitely lost - remember it cost them 10 million quid, a heck of a lot of bad publicity, and stirred up a lot of solidarity and support against the McDonald’s war machine, not to mention the fact that some ruling went in favour of the Mclibel 2 (Due to time restrictions we have to postpone a more in-depth article on the verdict until the next issue.....) Congratulations to Dave Morris and Helen Steel for enduring so much bullshit throughout the trial (not to mention the so-called British Justice System). The battle is not over yet as the Mclibel 2 are going to the European court. It can only get McD’s in even deeper shit!! Tina

GREEN ACTION DEMO ON BOARD THE HSS 21-06-97

Well not exactly. Two of us went over to the Green Gathering in Scotland and seeing as it was World Victory Day against McDonald’s and there’s a MCD on the boat we decided to protest. We just handed out leaflets and it wasn’t very much bloody fun. It’s a bit intimidating doing any kind of demo or protest when there are only 2 of you. Most of the people on the boat (with a few notable exceptions) weren’t very interested in what we had to say. But were happy to be cogs in the corporate death merchant wheels. Not surprising, as the boat is one of the most commercialised piles of shite I’ve ever set foot on. I’m going to swim next time!!! Darren

ANTI-VIVISECTION INFORMATION DAY - CORNMARKET, BELFAST 26-04-97

The Sat after World Lab Day quite a lot of people turned up to help out at Belfast Animal Rights Info Day. There was some drama with people dressed up as vivisectors and dog and rabbit suits been vivisected in the bandstand. This was accompanied by animals’ screams that came from the soundtrack of Hidden Crimes. A lot of people dressed up in lab coats and gave out leaflets to passing shoppers. I was surprised about how much genuine interest and concern there was from people I spoke to on the day (see Tina’s article on the subject.) People were shocked to hear about by the cruel practice that is going on all around them. Some people seem to think that leafleting is not very effective and information days are not very romantic or hardcore acts by environmentalists or animal rights activists. I believe however that the dissemination of information is the most important aspect in the struggle for environmental and social justice. With more days like this people will hopefully open their eyes and ask questions about what is going on around them. Darren

CRITICAL MASS , CITY CENTRE 29-03-97...26-04-97...31-05-97...28-06-97

Not a bad turnout for Easter Saturday about 25-30ish. It was a cool sunny lazy type Sat and everything was going well. We encountered a few aggressive motorists including a Mr Whippy who tried to run us over on the Dublin Rd and a bloke with too much testosterone who threatened ‘to box my ears.’ Also towards the end of the cycle we were pulled over by the RUC. They told us we would have to cycle in single file as we were obstructing the traffic and there had been several complaints. We explained that we were the traffic and were moving and therefore were not obstructing it. We also pointed out that we were doing nothing illegal. Needless to say we got the old we are the police, do as we say or else in return...

However since this the turnout has flopped, critical has become an all too operative word with only 11 or 12 people turning up. It’s still been good though, but we’re gonna have to get numbers up if we’re gonna still continue to do battle with evil killer cars in the city. April’s CM was good and typical and May’s critical mass was a wet one, but despite the rain it turned into a marathon CM around the city. One motorist even physically punched a cyclist on the arm as the driver forced his way through.

June’s CM came early on the 11th June to be incorporated into National Bike Week. Also the Belfast Carnival happened the same day as when CM usual is, and the streets were closed off to traffic anyway. I guess you could say it was kinda like a reclaim the streets! Last Sat of very month, 12 noon from city hall, no excuses now you hear.  Darren

NATIONAL BIKE WEEK - 8/15-06-97

For National Bike Week the CM crew decided to celebrate with something a little bit different...a fancy dress wedding on bicycles!!! The wedding on Sat 8th June of Daisy Wheeler to Ray Leigh heralded the beginning of National Bike week in N. Ireland. It took place in front of city and none other than the very Rev O Lution performed the ceremony. Distinguished guests and celebrities in attendance included Una Cycle, Dina Mo, And Pierce D Tyre. The Rev O Lution in his service made reference to the indiscreet DoE officials who park all day in the city tax free; who have said that all cyclist should be shot; that cycling is too dangerous to encourage; that dangerous and intimidating road signs are regrettable. He also drew reference to Belfast’s pollution standards; the winding down of the cycling proficiency tests for schools; and the rising fatalities top cyclists in N. Ireland. The rev hoped that the light of Daisy and Ray’s love would shine upon the people of Belfast to abandon their evil car ways of pollution and embrace the beautiful and peaceful bicycle!! The happy couple and guests cycled off into the        sunset (well not quite!) Well we did cycle around City Hall, up Royal Ave, through Cornmarket (oops, well there should be cycle lanes there!) and Shaftesbury Square, followed by a refreshing cycle through botanic gardens. In the process we made lots of noise, and caused quite a few smiles on faces. It was a notable difference to the usual angry response from drivers, however one cyclist was pelted with an apple on Botanic Avenue. National Bike Week is Europe’s biggest pro-cycling event, and celebrations continued throughout the week. Other activities included; a sponsored cycle in aid of Amnesty International’s Refugee Campaign on Sun 8th June, which was followed by a barbecue. On wed 11th June there was a Lakeside Cycle Ride in Craigavon to celebrate the opening of the first section of the National Cycle Network. On Sun 15th June, there was a fancy dress cycle from Botanic Gardens to the newly traffic calmed Holylands area. Some lucky thing also won a brand new mountain.  Darren/Tina

PRIDE DANDER - BELFAST CITY CENTRE 21-06-97

Busy day this what with the McDonald’s Victory Day of Action in the morning, PRIDE in the afternoon, and a CFSB gig in the evening, fun, fun, fun. The Parliament was the location for the start of the parade. An excellent sight as loads of people were dressed up in mad colourful costumes and brilliant face paint designs. The atmosphere was pretty cool as you could sense the excitement of everyone there (maybe everyone was drunk??!!!!!!) There was an amazing happy feeling and you really did feel liberated no matter if you’re gay/lesbian/bisexual/straight. It was easy to feel proud of your sexuality as boys and girlies danced to samba, disco and whatever else that was happening up the front, that we couldn’t hear down the back!! Everyone looked beautiful, and it was great that you couldn’t tell the boys from the girls, make up or not (as it should be.) The crowd down Royal Ave, Donegal Sq and beyond seemed to be well amused by it all - although some people were visible wide mouthed, a few elderly and young kids were a bit confused!! I guess they’d never seen so many colours in their life before - yeah right! I reckon it was that juggling bloke (or maybe he wasn’t a bloke!!) wearing a long tailed coat and suspenders!! The Spice Girls even turned up! An excellent looking drag queen vamped about in enormous silver platform high hell boot things, with a mad flouncy yellow/green net dress thing, who looked like something out of Priscilla. When the parade was all over everyone headed back to the Parliament for cheap drink and boogying. A brilliant fun afternoon, roll on next year. Missed the ball that night due to band commitments elsewhere - see review! Tina

BELFAST CARNIVAL - BELFAST CITY CENTRE/WATERFRONT 28-06-97

This was a grand bit of fun all together. With all the bad publicity and arguing over what streets who can walk down, (see next issue for a report on this aspect of N. Ireland) everybody seems to forget that there’s loadsa people out there who are just out to party. Being in the parade I couldn’t see most of it, but from where I was it looked pretty damn good.  Loads of people turned out to watch the parade going down Botanic Ave, Dublin Road city centre and on to the Waterfront When we eventually got to the Waterfront it was great to see all shapes and sizes with amazing costumes and floats. What with open air music, a food fest, loads of drink and nice weather everyone was in party mood and the atmosphere was pretty exciting. Some amazing samba music made this carnival pretty memorable. Topped off with a cool fire display in the water and fireworks, everyone seemed very happy at the end of the night. It’s a pity that the mainstream media only like to focus on the negative aspects of this nice city and blatantly ignore something as vibrant, exciting and full of positive energy as this colourful spectacle... Darren

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