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This weekend, around 100 people arrived from around the UK to a lovely squatted building in Leeds for a squat network gathering. Our presence was bold with a banner across the side of the place reading 'There is a lot of 'money' (crossed out, inserted 'people') in this building'. A blank agenda on the wall was gradually filled with interesting discussion/workshop ideas, and most of them took place in the sunshine outside! I did not stay until the very end of the gathering, so there might be a need for additions to this report. Here is a summary of some of the significant outcomes from each discussion.

Bali and beyond- what to DO in 2008 Manchester Climate Forum Tuesday, February 12, 2008 7:15pm - 9:15pm Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester  manchesterclimateforum@googlemail.com First half will be info about the climate negotiations in Bali. Deepak Rughani of Biofuelwatch, who attended the Bali talks, will tell us about what went right, what went wrong... Second half will be dynamic and participatory: what's coming in Manchester. What's needed? How do we get it?

Around 20 activists, some dressed as wolves in sheep’s clothing, visited the D1 Oil refinery in Bromborough on the Wirral, on 2nd February 2008. They were there to highlight the dangerous consequences of large-scale bio-fuel production for the climate and for people worldwide.

Hussein Al-Alak is Chairman of the Iraq Solidarity Campaign.

Activists are proposing the reformation of the northern network or setting up a completely new one. Either way it cannot succeed without your help! In order to form a new regional group we need your input and ideas, as well as your help.

No Borders Groups from across the country will be gathering to discuss strategy and tactics in order to oppose the repression of migrants and refugees.

The following is a chronological list of FREE/cheap/fundraising events self-organised by Greater Manchester’s LGBTQI Community, which everyone is welcome to attend:

OPEN MEDIA in Association with UMSU Unite Against Fascism Society will be showing Young, Nazi and Proud (2002) This Monday, February 11, 730pm-10pm

Between 21 February and 7 March 2008, Che Guevara’s closest comrade from Cuba will be touring Britain, speaking at meetings organised by the campaign group Rock Around the Blockade.

After a 5 year campaign to seek asylum in the UK, the Pakistan journalist Mansoor Hassan, now living in Manchester, has been given permission to stay in the UK.

The Fur-Free Leeds campaign have just received confirmation that Ryan Vintage have removed all real fur from sale and a statement has been issued.

The case of the Cuban Five, one of the Top 25 Censored Stories of 2006-2007 in:  http://www.projectcensored.org

The DoH refuses to acknowledge extensive evidence that the side effects of fluoridation can be so severe that, were it to be classified as a medicinal product (as EC law demands) then it would instantly be withdrawn from the market. In attempting to remedy a small number of defects in a few children's teeth, this 'remedy' will actually cause damage to all of the teeth of half of the children drinking this quack medicne.

Every Monday at the University of Manchester student union a free documentary is shown. The event is open to the public, encourages discussion, and attempts to cover topics that are not always done justice in the mainstream media. The event is coordinated by the Openmedia forum, email  openmedia@umsu.manchester.ac.uk for more. On Monday 4th February, Manchester NoBorders hosted the event and over seventy people attended. The evening began with a few short clips relating to migration and resistance, then followed the docudrama 'Ghosts' and it ended with some news on the NoBorders network, plus informal discussion. We showed;

The Iraq Solidarity Campaign has repeatedly warned both Iraqi and Western governments about the growth of poverty in Iraq

An Israeli army spokesman said there had been disorder at the protest and that several demonstrators who were briefly detained were subsequently released.

The youth and the rest of the inhabitants of Villiers-le-Bel in the Paris northern suburbs had good reason not to believe what the authorities asserted as the cause of death of the young boys Larami and Moushin at the end of November, killed in a collision with a police car.

There is a candlelit demo on Saturday 22nd at Cricket, Mathew Street 1-3pm in support of animal welfare and human rights/civil liberties, in particular to support a fellow activist from Bolton who was recently found guilty of section 5 for photographing police officers for evidence gathering purposes during an incident at Cricket and fined £500. What happened to me this week only further strengthens the need for as many people as possible to attend and stand up against the oppressive behaviour of the police who seem hellbent on stifling legal protest. I really feel that this campaign is becoming as much about defending what little right to protest we are still 'allowed' as much as Cricket selling fur. It would be great if people could bring placards highlighting the human rights aspect of the demo.

Save the Woodhead Tunnel have organised a demonstration to further our campaign. DATE: Saturday, 12th January 2008 TIME: 1.00 p.m. until 3.00 p.m. PLACE: Woodhead tunnel, Western entrance (map link below) Speakers (to be confirmed) plus Samba bands. All we need now is clement weather!

The recent Cuban decision to sign the International Pact on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Civil and Political Rights is a clear example of the island's conduct when it is not subjected to external pressures...