Last week, an article entitled, ‘Radicalisation at universities or radicalisation by universities?’ by University of Nottingham academic Rod Thornton was published, shedding more light on the case of the “Nottingham Two”. This article has now been removed from the website of the British International Studies Association (BISA) allegedly under pressure from the University, who have also now sus…

May 1st has been marked as a celebration on international working class movements for over a century. Nottingham held a march and rally, starting at Victoria Park in Sneinton on April 30th. Elsewhere in the East Midlands, Derby held its annual commemoration of the Silk Mill lockout on April 30th and Chesterfield held a Mayday march and rally on Monday May 2nd.

On the newswire: Chesterfield M…

An extensive paper on the case of the Nottingham Two has been published by University of Nottingham academic, Rod Thornton. Pieced together from heavily redacted Freedom of Information requests, Rizwaan Sabir’s Data Protection Access requests and even meetings with Special Branch officers, it paints a damning picture of the University’s management. Entitled Radicalisation at universities o…

On 1st May 2011 Indymedia UK will give birth to two new projects. The Indymedia UK website will be archived, it will stay were it is now, but you won’t be able to publish news. In its place there will be two distinct projects: Mayday will provide a non-regional site with open publishing and Be The Media will present the best of radical news across the regions, including Bristol, Northern, Not…

With security forces in Bahrain attacking protesters and dragging doctors from their beds, it has emerged that Nottingham-based arms company Heckler & Koch has supplied 13 000 rounds of small arms ammunition to Bahrain. The ammo was for H&K rifles and submachine guns, which have been used by Bahraini police against the democracy movement in the last few weeks.

It has recently emerged that the daycare service at Hayward House is to terminate on September 1st. This has generated considerable anger amongst service users, volunteers and staff. A campaign has sprung up in response, generating impressive media coverage and attracting a wide range of support in a limited period.

Upcoming Event: Save Hayward House Daycare Campaign Meeting, 7pm, Monday 16th…

Recent weeks have seen a surge of local activity in defence of the NHS. Campaigners are opposed to cutbacks hitting the health service, as elsewhere, but also about proposed “reforms” of the NHS which critics claim will lead to widespread privatisation and a much reduced service.

Upcoming event: Save our NHS: Kill the Bill, April 21st, 7pm, The Mechanics, North Sherwood St.

On the newswire:

Following protests, vintage clothing and fancy dress outlet Celias on Derby road has decided to no longer sell real fur. Campaigners welcomed the move as “yet another clear message to the fur trade that animal cruelty has no place on our high streets.”

On the newswire: Celias Decides To Stop Selling Fur | Anti-fur Activists Target Derby Road Horror Shop

Previous features: Another victory …

Last week saw a huge array of anti-cuts actions beginning on Saturday 19th March with a UK Uncut action which saw Barclays Bank and a number of shops targetted. On Tuesday UCU members went on strike in defence of pensions. On Wednesday a protest was held in the Market Square against the budget. Thursday saw a second day of UCU strike action, this time around pay and conditions with a rally in …

The repression of pro-democracy protests in countries such as Libya and Bahrain has refocused attention on the arms trade. The issue was even covered by the BBC’s One Show which did a report on arms dealers in Nottingham. This included a section on Lenton-based Heckler & Koch.

On the newswire: One Show reports on Notts arms companies | Nottingham arms company linked to Gaddafi | Demos contin…

On March 26th, Notts residents will join hundreds of thousands of people from across the country to protest against the government’s austerity drive.

Our friends at Indymedia London will be covering the protests. On the day you can:

• Text sms news updates direct to the website on 07943 103 736
• Call in breaking news reports to 07929 469 640
• Visit a mobile friendly version of the website at…

Tuesday March 8th 2011 was the centenary of International Women’s Day. A series of events were held to mark this anniversary including an anti-cuts protest, a public meeting on the impact of cuts on women and a women’s history walk.

On the newswire: Nottingham Women’s History Walk | Int’l Women’s Day: Public Meeting | Int’l Women’s Day: Protest | International Women’s Day Protest…

On Monday March 7th, Nottingham City Council met to set its budget, slashing millions of pounds from vital services. Local anti-cuts campaigners rallied against this, holding protests on the previous Saturday and the day itself. They occupied the viewing galleries, holding up the meeting for an hour and later disrupted a BBC interview with council leader Jon Collins.

On the newswire: Nottm Cit…

Nottingham City Council are planning to cut tens of millions from their spending in the year from April 2011. They will meet to set this budget on Monday March 7th. Notts Save Our Services (SOS) are calling on them not to adopt their cuts budget.

Actions:

• Saturday March 5th – Notts SOS Rally, Market Square, 12.30pm
• Monday March 7th – Protest outside the council’s budget meeting, Marke…

On Saturday 26th February, campaigners from Notts Uncut occupied Natwest Bank on Market Square and established “the big society reading room”. Protesters remained in the bank for around 2 hours before management decided to close early. The protest was part of a national day of action organised by UK Uncut against Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) who own Natwest. After Natwest, campaigners visited…

A Nottinghamshire businessman has been implicated in an international arms trafficking racket. Guy Tinsley, director of Cotgrave-based Easy Tiger International, was recorded in a series of taped phone conversations arranging the illegal import of AK-47 magazines into the US.

On Thursday 24th February, Unison members at Nottinghamshire County Council were out on strike against £150 million budget cuts. The strike was timed to coincide with the council meeting where the budget was to be set. The union also organised a march across Trent Bridge and a rally in front of County Hall.

Nottinghamshire is the first council in the UK to experience strike action in respon…

Across the Middle East and North Africa, people have risen up to try to overthrow their undemocratic governments, and these uprisings have been met with state-sponsored violence and repression. Now Notts Anti-Militarism can reveal that several of these repressive regimes have been armed by a company with an international sales office in Nottingham: Heckler & Koch.

Protests in Egypt have ended nearly 30 years rule by President Hosni Mubarak. The movement has inspired people across the world, with solidarity protests held in many cities, including Nottingham.



On the newswire: Demo to celebrate resignation of Mubarak | Nottingham Anti-Mubarak Demo | Support Demo for People of Egypt | Nottingham Supports Egyptian Revolution!

The Mark Kennedy case has thrown the world of police and private spying on activists into the spotlight. One of the many revelations about Kennedy is that he can be linked to private spying company Global Open. Kennedy worked as a consultant for them and set up his own company, Tokra, using the address of Global Open director Heather Millgate.

Nottingham Indymedia can reveal that a second sp…

Nottingham Indymedia has always strived to provide anonymous publishing. In the corporate dominated world of the internet, collecting information on site users is the norm. We think that Indymedia should allow users to decide how much information they reveal about themselves rather than storing data on site users. Due to the controversy generated by the publication of details about monitoring IP a…

Notts students have come back from their Christmas break ready for action. This time it’s the turn of students in Further Education who are angry about the Con-Dem decision to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

On Thursday, students walked out of their schools and colleges before marching to the Conservative Party offices in King Edward Court where they tried to get the atten…

The Met Police are facing serious questions and the threat of an investigation into the role of one of their undercover officers. PC Mark Kennedy infiltrated activist groups between 2003-2009. On Monday, the second trial relating to planned action at Ratcliffe on Soar power station collapsed after the prosecution offered no evidence. This is believed to be an attempt to conceal the extent of …

On Wednesday 5th January, the defendants in the Ratcliffe Trial were sentenced. The judge spoke highly of the defendants describing them as ""honest, sincere, conscientious, intelligent, committed, dedicated, caring"." Five were given community orders ranging from 18 to 90 hours to be carried out within 12 months. The remaining thirteen all received conditional discharges ranging from 18 months to…

The beginning of 2011 offers an opportunty to look back over 2010 and review how much the local activist movement has achieved. Last year has not always been easy, but in compiling a review of what has gone on, it is surprising just how much has gone on. Hopefully, this should provide a strong base for moving forward into 2011.

Previous features: Notts Indymedia: review of 2009

Council plans to develop the road junction between Alfreton Road, Bobbers Mill Road and Churchfield Road include the installation of CCTV. The council's explanation of and justification for the scheme have been described by a Notttingham Indymedia reader as "confusing."

On the newswire: More info on Hyson Green CCTV | More CCTV slipped into Nottingham

Previous features: Campaign against CCTV in…

After a 3 week trial and 3 days of deliberation for the jury, 20 climate activists were found guilty of conspiring to commit aggravated trespass today. The defendants were amongst 114 activists arrested at a Nottingham school in April 2009, on the verge of taking action to shut down the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. Over the course of the trial the jury heard evidence from a raft of expert…

On Friday 3rd December, the students occupying the Great Hall at the University of Nottingham agreed to leave, in return for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor. This is not the end of the campaign and on Saturday, students protested in the Market Square, joining up with other local anti-cuts campaigners.

On the newswire: Action on fees and education cuts in Nottingham | Billy Bragg "I don't B…

Week 2 of the Ratcliffe Trial saw the defence open their case, giving some of the defendants an opportunity to explain why they took the actions they did. Among the witnesses called was NASA scientist James Hansen, former MP for Notttingham South Alan Simpson and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.

The Manchester Airport Trial will begin next week, with 11 defendants facing charges of obstruction of t…

As part of a second day of action against fees and cuts, students at Nottingham University have occupied The Great Hall in The Trent Building on University Park. Occupiers are encouraging to supporters to visit them. Donations of food, bedding etc are welcome.

A third day of action is planned for Saturday 4th December (note this was originally planned for Sunday, but has been brought forward).

L…