Four arrested over trading carbon credits

London & Leicester UK
Four people were arrested in early morning raids on 20 May 2010 by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers investigating a £38 million suspected VAT fraud. The alleged fraud involved the trading 'carbon credits' which are emission allowances.

The fraudulent companies allegedly purchased carbon credits from overseas VAT free sources and then sold them on to businesses in the UK at a VAT inclusive price. The VAT charged by the fraudulent companies was never paid to HMRC.

News Distribution Service

DeConstruction Training Program

USA
DeConstruct Training Sessions DeConstruct teaches construction skills while providing an alternative way to take down buildings. Adults and youths learn real world construction skills while working side by side with trade professionals. Attendees are taught an alternative way to take down buildings and will learn emerging deconstruction technology and LEED certification protocols.

The National Center for Craftsmanship

Chinese artists protest over demolition

Beijing, China
It has been reported that about twenty Chinese artists including outspoken activist Ai Weiwei have protested in central Beijing over the demolition of an art zone in the east of the capital. Chinese land seizes are widely acknowledged to involve corrupt officials keen to secure real estate profits.

An investigation has been launched into nine assaults when the artists tried to prevent dozens of masked men from destroying their studios. These assaults were allegedly carried out early Monday 'by thugs hired by local authorities' to force out the artists who believe that their land contracts are still valid.

AFP

Bangladesh school made from the earth

Trudrapur Dinajpur, Bangladesh
Hand-built in four months by architects, local craftsmen, pupils, parents and teachers, this primary school in rudrapur, a village in north west bangladesh, uses traditional methods and materials of construction but adapts them in new ways. The traditional local materials are bamboo for constructions and earth for walls and foundations, straw for the roofs and jute rope for lashing constructions. Earthbound materials such as loam and straw are combined with lighter elements like bamboo sticks and nylon lashing to create a environmentally sustainable foundation.

The architects, Anna Aeringer from Austria and Eike Roswag from Germany, made every effort to engage the skills of local craftsmen, helping them refine processes and learn new techniques that they could then use to improve the general standard of rural housing.



designboom

US National Trust promotes salvage

Galveston, Texas USA
Galveston's many hurricanes proved too much for one couple house, as it fell into disrepair they donated it to Galveston Historical Foundation if they would agree to move it of their land. Rather than demolishing the house the foundation has transported it in its entirety to the back yard of its Sealy Garage. Thanks to funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The cottage will be restored before serving as an annex to the foundation’s architectural salvage warehouse, which sells historic architectural elements, including windows, doors and shutters, to the island community.


Above: The 108-year-old commissary cottage arrives at its new home — the Galveston Historical Foundation warehouse at 23rd Street. The house was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike. [photo. Galveston County Daily News]

Galveston County Daily News

Tiffany window will be sold to fund homeless shelter

Boston, MA USA

A dwindling church congregation has voted to sell its valuable, stained-glass Tiffany window so it can keep its homeless shelter open. In November, the membership of the First Baptist Church in Brattleboro, Vermont voted 20 to four to sell the Tiffany work, which depicts St John the Divine, and is signed by Tiffany Studios.


The Art Newspaper

Two protected buildings to be demolished

Ennistymon, Co. Clare Ireland - CLARE COUNTY Council is planning to demolish two of the best-known and most photographed buildings in Ennistymon to provide space for a roundabout to alleviate traffic congestion. Both of the adjoining Linnane's buildings are protected, and have original shopfronts and thick Liscannor slate roofs. Other options to ease the traffic have been ruled out because they have been deemed too expensive. The council are currently liaising with with the heritage division of the Department of the Environment, the Arts Council, the Heritage Council and An Taisce.

Save Ennistymon Heritage group; the group set up to to save Blakes Corner has been running concerts to raise funds for its campaign and they are currently collecting signatures for a public petition against the plan.



Irish Times

Photo's of North Russian Architecture

Above: Richard Davies will be publishing a book on wooden Russian church later this year [copyright Richard Davies].

Independent Photographers Gallery, Battle UK
Richard Davies has a keen interest in architecture and has been photographing wooden churches in the Russian North since 2002. His interest was initially sparked by the Russian artist, stage designer and illustrator Ivan Bilibin who traveled to the Vologda Province in the North of Russia in 1902 to photograph the wooden churches. Mr Davies was interested to see how these churches had withstood the ravages of Commmunism.

"Many churches do still exist and recently work has started on the restoration of a few but most are in a perilous state and will not survive for many more years," said Mr Davies. Since February 2006 he has travelled with the writer Matilda Moreton. As a Russian speaker her interviews with local people, historians and other experts has given them a deeper understanding of the churches place in the community together with insights into the lives of the people they have met. Together they have put on an exhibition at the Schusev State Museum of Architecture in Moscow, which was greatly received and it is hoped that it would attract the attention of those who could ensure the survival of these extraordinary buildings.

A selection Mr Davies photographs are currently being exhibited at the Independent Photographers Gallery in Battle, East Sussex until January 16th 2010.


Above: photo. copyright Richard Davies


Above: photo. copyright Richard Davies


Above: photo. copyright Richard Davies

Richard Davies

The Independent Photographers Gallery

Granville County, USA - Habitat for Humanity's Restore in Granville County offer this message

Habitat for Humanity