Dump Veolia Protest at the Natural History Museum, London
inminds 28 October 2010
The Dump Veolia Campaign lead a demonstration outside the Natural History Museum on 23rd October 2010 to protest against Veolia's sponsorship of the Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum.
Veolia still holds shares in the Jerusalem Light Railway project which the UN Human Rights Council has declared is a "clear violation of international law", despite the recent announcement that it was selling its shares to Egged. The tram line runs across stolen Palestinian land connecting illegal Israel settlements and West Jerusalem thereby helping consolidating the occupation.
Veolia also runs bus services to the settlements on roads barred until recently to West Bank Palestinians despite the fact that the roads run through the West Bank.
Veolia's shameful crimes in Palestine also include the Tovlan landfill site it operates in the occupied Jordan Valley where it helps Israel dump its toxic waste on to Palestinian land next to the Palestinian village of Abu Ajaj.
The demonstration was a great success, in particular its 'alternate exhibition' caught the interest of members of the public, leading to information exchanging one-to-one encounters. The leaflets being given out were a great hit with hundreds being distributed, courtesy of West London PSC who designed them - colourful eye catching postcard size with the facts clearly shown.
The only negative was the policing. Unlike the last time (April) when we picketed the main entrance on Cromwell Road, this time the police wouldn't allow us anywhere near the main entrance and insisted on penning us on the other side of the busy road, hidden away and out of sight behind road works, traffic islands, and the constant stream of buses. The only option was to demonstrate at the side entrance to the museum on Exhibition Road which was outside the bounds of the police order. Exhibition Road, being the entrance to two other museums proved to be a great spot for engaging with the public. The police didn't seem very happy with our decision and tried to hinder us by insisting we were not allowed to use the railing to display our 'alternate exhibition' - we had to 'carry' the exhibition. Again this worked to our advantage as it meant that there was always someone there to explain and engage with inquisitive members of the public eyeing the exhibits.
VIDEO
Watch the video, it includes interview with Angus Geddes of the Dump Veolia Campaign.
PHOTOS
Protesting Veolia's sponsorship of the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Outside the Natural History Museum, Exhibition Road
Hundreds of information postacrds of Veolia were handed out on the day.
Veolia Environment - a multinational that directly profits from Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian Land..
There was a lot of interest from the public in the 'Veolia alternate exhibition' showing how Veolia is contributing to the suffering of the Palestinians.
Calling for a boycott of Veolia whilst it colludes with Israel in its war crimes
Protest outside the Natural History Museum (Exhibition Road entrance)
Veolia sponsored "Wildlife Photographer Of the Year Exhibition" poster visible behind the protesters 'alternate exhibition'
Veolia is sponsoring the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Protesting the Natural History Museum's acceptance of sponsorship from Veolia for its Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
The Alternative Exhibition exposed Veolia's role in the suffering of the Palestinians.
Placard explains how Veolia helps Israel consolidate the settlements, and also how many councils in the UK through their contracts with Veolia are also helping Israel grab more Palestinian land.
Photo gallery showing Veolia's shameful crimes in Palestine starting with the Tovlan landfill site it operates in the occupied Jordan Valley where it helps Israel dump its toxic waste on to Palestinian land next to the Palestinian village of Abu Ajaj.
Many school children visiting the Museum during their half-term holiday took interest in the 'alternate exhibition' and some were heard questioning their parents why the Palestinians were left suffering and who was Veolia?
Veolia must stop supporting Israel's illegal settlements..
Veolia must stop supporting Israel's illegal settlements
Boycott Veolia - Complicit in Israeli war crimes
Veolia Environment - a multinational that directly profits from Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian Land..
Boycott Veolia: complicit in Israeli War Crimes
Outside the Natural History Museum, Exhibition Road
"1763 in the Ohio river valley you got Lord Jeffrey Amherst committing to written order an instruction to his subordinate Henry Bouquet, having been defeated by Pontiac Ottawa confederacy in the field. The order essentially says that they have been defeated militarily and is therefore necessary for Amherst forces to request a peace, to sue for peace from Pontiacs people. He instructs Bouquet to convene a parlay with the Indian leadership for that purpose. And as is the custom, as is common courtesy among native populations as was known to the Brits at that time, it would be necessary for those who requested the council to give gifts to those requested to attend. Make those gifts, Amherst says, items taken from a smallpox infirmary in order, I'm going to quote directly now, this isn't a paraphrase: 'in order that we may extirpate this execrable race'. Now key is on this last word, had he said that we might eradicate the opposing combatants, their military capacity, their warriors.. what ever term he wanted to use, it would have been biological warefare. But he didn't say anything about that, he said the 'race'. His intent was to use biological means, to use disease, quite explicitly so, to eradicate an entire population group. And Bouquet was also kind enough to commit to writing in his response the next day, I have done as instructed, dispersing three blankets, two handkerchiefs and sundry other items, hopefully, he says, they will have the desired result. They did.. the lowest estimate of the number of people who died of smallpox as a result of that little gesture of friendship and goodwill is a 100,000!"