 |
 |
If you have a spare 5 mins.... -----Original Message----- From: Kate Tansley To: [log in to unmask] Sent: 17/05/2001 15:57 Subject: [mayday2000] Fwd: [McLibel] McLibel Crisis - Send Protest Emails Today >From: [log in to unmask] >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: [McLibel] McLibel Crisis - Send Protest Emails Today >Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 12:17:13 +0100 > >17/05/01 > >URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION - please send on to other lists.. > > >McLibel Crisis As Defendant And Office Fight Eviction Threat On Tuesday. > >Please send solidarity/protest emails TODAY to the leader of Haringey >Council calling on them to suspend the eviction: >[log in to unmask] > > > >McLibel Support Campaign c/o London Greenpeace 5 Caledonian >Rd, London, N1 9DX, UK. Tel/Fax +44-(020) 7713 1269 >[log in to unmask] www.mcspotlight.org > >ACTION CALL - SUMMARY 17th May 2001 > >McLIBEL CRISIS AS DEFENDANT AND LEGAL OFFICE FIGHT EVICTION >NEXT TUESDAY - in the middle of the European case against British >government > >International Messages Of Protest And Support Being Urgently >Sought (see below) > >The long-running McLibel case entered a new phase today. The >McLibel legal office is run from the home in North London of >McLibel defendant Dave Morris. But he is now fighting an imminent >threat by Haringey Council to evict him and his son Charlie, aged 12, along >with the McLibel office on Tuesday 22nd May. The council, who >have a statutory duty to house Mr Morris and Charlie, have said >they can only offer 'Bed and Breakfast' accommodation and to put >all their belongings into sealed storage. They have lived there >since Charlie was born. They are determined to stay and have >mounted a campaign, backed by their local residents' association, >to get the council to suspend the eviction. > >This crisis comes at a bad time. The McLibel defendants, >Helen Steel and Dave Morris, who without legal aid defended >themselves against the $40 billion dollar McDonald's Corporation >in the longest trial in English history, are currently in the >middle of an application against the British Government at the >European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. They are arguing >that unfair and oppressive English defamation laws contravene the >European Convention on Human Rights. > >On May 2nd they served their full submissions and are >currently awaiting for an interim decision from the European >Court. If, as expected, it is ruled in the next few weeks that >the applicants' case is admissable then the British Government is >expected to mount a strong defence of its notoriously >controversial libel laws. There will follow further complex >submissions from both sides. > > * * * * * > >In 1993, after the defendants unsuccessfully applied to the >European Court to overturn the British Government's denial of >legal aid in defamation cases, the McLibel legal office was set >up in a tiny room in Mr Morris's home. Inside are 40,000 pages of >court documents, 20,000 pages of trial transcripts, a >photocopier, computer and a wide range of research and >administration material to conduct the case. Mr Morris's >co-defendant, Helen Steel, lives in one room in a shared house >nearby. Many of her own files are in storage and so the McLibel >legal office is absolutely essential for the conduct of their >case. Any forced closure of the office would make it impossible >for them to fight the European case adequately. > >Mr Morris has lodged an '11th hour' application at Edmonton >County Court - 10am on Monday 21st - to suspend the eviction. >This will be done if the council agree to it. He has written to >the Leader of the Council, Cllr George Meehan, explaining the >whole situation and demanding that he agree to the suspension. >Protests are planned at Cllr Meehan's surgery on Saturday, >10.30am. An 'anti-eviction party' is planned for Tuesday at 10am >when the bailiffs are due. Mr Morris is calling for international >support in his efforts to protect his family and the McLibel >legal office. >----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- > >Dave Morris issued a statement this week: ' All over the world people have >to fight to defend our families and our homes, and our ability to campaign >for a better society. Our solidarity is our strength. Join with me and my >son to demand that our eviction be suspended - negotiate a sensible >agreement: a new tenancy at 380, or rehousing on the Tower Gardens estate. >Also, we must end the scandal of bed and breakfast accommodation while >there >are 100,000 homes in london left empty - decent homes for all! ' > > >* Please write to leader of the Council, Cllr George Meehan >at the Civic Centre, N22 (and send us a copy of your letter). >Email: [log in to unmask] > >* Protest on Saturday 19th >May, 10.15am outside Cllr George Meehan's surgery, George >Lansbury Hse, Progress Way, N22 Media welcome. > >* Come to an all-day anti-eviction party at 380 Lordship Lane on Tuesday >22nd >May (bailiffs due 10am). Media welcome. ' > > > > >---- the McLibel mailing list ---- > >McDonald's, McLibel, multinationals >http://www.mcspotlight.org > >get on: send blank mail to [log in to unmask] >get off: send blank mail to [log in to unmask] >help: send blank mail to [log in to unmask] >human: send meaningful email to [log in to unmask] >submit: send stuff to [log in to unmask] > ________________________________________________________________________ _ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/