HS2 tunnel protest will be first of many, says activist
February 13, 2021, 12:32 pm

HS2 tunnel protest will be first of many, says activist

Lachlan Sandford, 20, known as Lazer, spent 12 days in secret tunnels under Euston Square Gardens in central London.

Lazer Sandford says subterranean tactics are likely to feature in new wave of climate emergency protests

An environmental activist who spent 12 days in a tunnel network underneath Euston Square Gardens in central London says the protest is likely to be the first of a new wave against the climate emergency using subterranean tactics.

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian in his first interview since leaving the tunnel network on 6 February, Lachlan Sandford, 20, known as Lazer, said the protest to raise awareness about the environmental destruction that activists believe the high-speed rail link HS2 will cause would not be a one-off.

He highlighted the construction of a second, smaller tunnel at Highbury Corner, also in central London, from where protesters were evicted after a few hours.

As you can see from the recent Highbury Corner eviction, this tunnel is just a start,” said Sandford. “There are countless people I know who will do what it takes to stop HS2.”

Phase 2a of HS2 connecting the West Midlands and Crewe received royal assent in parliament on 11 February.

Sandford’s actions in the tunnel hit the headlines after he was locked to a complex steel and concrete device, which activists underground referred to as “a concrete cake”. It consisted of a metal safe encased in concrete, with more concrete inside, and Sandford locked to an “arm tube”. He also had a lock on his ankle.

“It was an incredibly uncomfortable and painful thing to endure,” he said. “But nothing like the pain and discomfort that the climate and ecological energy is bringing and other people around the world are already feeling.”

There are seven of the original nine activists left in the tunnel, including Sandford’s sister Blue Sandford, 18, Dan Hooper, known as Swampy, 47, and Swampy’s 16-year-old son, Rory.

The plan was for Sandford to be the first to leave, but a 17-year-old activist left the tunnel the evening before because she was feeling unwell.

“That was my job from the start, to be the person holding the down shaft and protecting the entrance to the tunnels at the bottom. We were thinking it would only take them three days to get to me but actually it took them 11,” he said.

As supporters followed news updates on the lengthy process of removing Sandford from the “lock on” – he was locked on for 30 hours and it took the bailiffs 25 hours to extract him from it – they expected the bailiffs to bring him up from the tunnel.

However, he grabbed the lock-on after he was released and ran back into the tunnel, evading capture by the bailiffs.

He said the decision to do that was not premeditated. “That was spur of the moment,” he said. “I escaped back into the tunnels for a rest. I was pleased I got a chance to say goodbye to Blue and the others properly.”

Bailiffs clear the HS2 protest camp near Euston station.

He said he negotiated lights and other essentials for the tunnellers before leaving the tunnel voluntarily. HS2 says it provided lights but not other essentials.

The time Sandford spent in the tunnel is far from his first brush with activism. His father, Roc Sandford, is a Scottish laird who lives off grid on the small Hebridean island of Gometra, pursuing a carbon-neutral way of life. He has also been active in XR Youth.

“With my sister Blue and others, we chained ourselves across the entrance to a fracking conference a couple of years ago,” said Sandford. “I think it was hard for Blue to lose me from the tunnel community. I love them all dearly and I’m looking forward to when I see them again.

“The HS2 bailiffs are hardcore. They are being fairly heavy with us and it’s pretty extreme, but nothing like what is coming if we don’t get our voices heard. People of my age are not being given a choice because the government isn’t doing what’s needed and that’s when I started protesting more. We need to figure out how to get more MPs to back the climate and ecological emergency bill, there’s about 100 so far, so get on to your MP, and get them to scrap HS2 as well.”

Roc Sandford said of his two children involved in the tunnel protest: “I’m so proud of them, they are standing up for what they believe in. But they shouldn’t have to, it’s too much for young shoulders like theirs to carry. We all need to help them.”

One of the first things Sandford did after leaving the tunnel was get some falafel from his favourite place in west London. But the rigours of life underground have not deterred him from environmental activism.

“I can’t divulge any of my future plans for tactical reasons, but I’m nowhere near finished with protesting,” he said.

source: Diane Taylor

Levant

U-turn on public sector payment cap ‘will benefit millions’ Covid bike and walking schemes do not delay ambulances, trusts say

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.