1. Germany, International Call out for solidarity with Rigaer
94 - Dispatches from occupied Rigaer94 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Greece, Solidarity with the struggle of the workers of
self-managed indu and "Robin Wood" By A.P.O. (gr) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. Victory of Priama akcia union in a wage theft conflict with
CATO Agency by Slovak section of the International Workers
Association (ASF-IWA/AIT) (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. Britain, Class War is organising march on Boris Johnson’s
house in Islington @ 8pm Friday July 15 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group MACG: Statement on
Australian Election - ELECTIONS ARE NOT THE ANSWER
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
6. Britain, solfed: Statement on the EU Referendum
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
7. afed.cz: existence summer issue #3 on the TTIP
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
8. Catalunia, Election Time: 26J of the Brexit By Embat (ca)
[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Germany, International Call out for solidarity with Rigaer
94 - Dispatches from occupied Rigaer94 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
It has now been over a week since our doors were first cut off, cops and security intruded
into our housing project, installing themselves in our stairways and other previously
collective spaces. From then, the speedy and aggressive eviction and destruction of the
ground level of our home began. Our social space, the Kadterschmiede, along with our
workshop, laundry, attic and garden were stripped of all recognition in clouds of dust and
mortar, while rubbish skips were filled with our belongings and collective histories. ----
Our rebellious, emancapatory project has been overrun by empty headed lackeys in uniform
and we are pissed – not the least because we are used to better company than this. Whether
these unwelcome wardens wear uniforms issued by the state or private security companies
makes little difference to us.
They both show their petty allegiance to the logic of domination
and control not only via their presence but also through daily acts of
physical violence, harrassment, degrading comments and leers – not only
directed towards us, but our visitors, friends and neighbours including
young children. The police have set up a restricted area, closing off the
entrance to the building and its surrounds, with anyone wanting to enter
their home or visit us having to pass a gaunlet of beefed up aggressive
cops and security, often needing to present identification. This process
can take hours.
Further it has just been exposed that the police have been recording the
details and compiling a database of people that have been identified
coming into the house. At least part of this list has been passed on to
and published by organised Nazi groups.
The pretext of this eviction is that the owner John Richard Dewhurst, a
taxation lawyer, millionaire mega investor with companies implicated in
the Panama papers, and previously an attorney for the South African
Supreme court during the apartheid era, wishes to house refugees in these
spaces. If of course they can pay market rate rent in the newly renovated
spaces, an amount too high for most people and above what refugee housing
organisations can afford to fund. The irony of this claim doesn't bypass
us.
The clear instrumentalization of refugees as an excuse to attack a space
that has shown political and practical solidarity with refugees and other
people in precarious positions does not surprise us. For those in the most
precarious positions are frequently pitched against each other under this
current system that is set up to exploit us for the benefit of people like
Dewhurst. To add salt to the wound, in this violent and invasive process
three refugees who had found a home with us in the 94, can now no longer
live here for fear of extra repression and police stress. The state and
its most wealthy have once again moved to destroy safer solidarity spaces
for those in our community who's struggles intensify on a daily basis.
The area around Rigaerstrasse has been heavily gentrified in the past
decade and skyrocketing rents have seen many residents pushed out,
displaced and evicted in order to make room for new developments. These
are unaffordable to most existing long term residents but bring in more
profit for investors. As part of a larger neighbourhood coalition of
projects and individuals we have struggled against this process of
gentrification, fighting to keep our neighbourhood a place for all, not
just the rich. Over the past year or so we have seen the relationships of
warmth and solidarity between people in our neighbourhood growing and
people increasingly sharing daily life. Neighbours from both the projects
and private living spaces have met and organised on the streets, in our
garden and at the peoples kitchen in Kadterschmiede.
We understand the aggressive, overbloated attack on our collective spaces
as part of the wider repressive conditions under capitalism. Conditions
that see all elements of collective life and resistance attacked,
commodified, co-opted and as a last resort destroyed and replaced by more
controllable and consumptable forms of life. We also recognize the power
of collective spaces, campaigns, actions and initiatives in the face of
the increasing pressure placed on all of us under a rotten and collapsing
system that tightens the noose around all of our necks as it slowly drowns
under the weight of it's own bloated corpse. It is clear to us that the
effectiveness and potentiality of these liberatory collective forms,
including our own project, poses an increasing threat to this system and
all those who benefit from it.
We will continue to fight for all projects, initiatives and spaces that
provide space and opportunities to experiment with alternative ways of
living under these shitful conditions, across all divisive borders imposed
from above.
We invite you to join us in expressing our resistance and rage.
Your solidarity however expressed gives us strength and warms our hearts,
See you in the streets!
Yours in struggle, R94
------------------------------
Message: 2
Greece, Solidarity with the struggle of the workers of
self-managed indu and "Robin Wood" By A.P.O. (gr) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Four years ago unpaid laborers of indu not obeyed the dictates of the state and capital
and chose the path of struggle, occupying the factory worked. Today, this fight continues
and this time connected with another project inspired by protagmatiko Triptych of INDU ''
self-self-self-organization ", the factory occupied Homeland Imathia," Robin Wood ". The
factory workers surpassing the limits of bureaucratic unionism operated with direct
democratic procedures and the only body responsible for making decisions is the general
assembly of the factory where all workers are equal. ---- The busted people of the state
and the bosses gripped to collapse the whole of society, imposing barbarity of new
economic measures, crashing the social and class struggles from below. The inactivity and
inability to massification of resistors give touch the sovereignty of the state and
capital intensify class exploitation, voting for new anti-social and anti-labor
polynomoschedia, like insurance and prerequisites of the third memorandum.
In this context of generalized crisis, the two plants together with their solidarity
initiatives call Caravan Struggle and Solidarity which will start from Thessaloniki and
will be in Athens, in front of the Ministry of Labour to claim what belongs to us.
All the previous period's employees busy indu faced continuous attempts of repression,
isolation and assimilation of their race. SYRIZA as an opposition fostered the hope trade
in order to use the social and class struggles and draw political goodwill from them.
Specifically with regard to the whispering occupied indust its institutional "solutions"
moving on the outskirts of the match. Today as government attempts to cheat workers of
indu voting for a six-month suspension of the auctions, which had stopped the same
militant solidarity movement, breaking procedures within courtrooms. Fraud-ending
suspension SYRIZA now why workers and solidarity thrown without illusions to a new race,
beginning the demonstration in labor ministry in Athens on July 1.
We understand this struggle as part of wider social and class struggles and champion the
seizure of the means of production to social self-management. To this end, we support the
establishment of base unions and their struggles from below as another bulwark to
capitalist restructuring. Only the total subversion of the state and capitalism, social
expropriation of wealth that we ourselves produce and sucks a caste of rulers, the
organization from the bottom of the social and class counter-attack, the revolution for a
new common ownership society, solidarity, freedom can vindicate the desires and the real
social needs of the oppressed and exploited of the world. Until the overthrow of the world
of the state and capital, the global social revolution, anarchy and libertarian communism.
We participate - we support the mobilization of workers in struggle
the indu and "Robin Wood"
Friday, July 1 concentration in the Ministry of Labour
Anarchist POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
- Federation Syllogikotiton-
apo.squathost.com
------------------------------
Message: 3
Victory of Priama akcia union in a wage theft conflict with
CATO Agency by Slovak section of the International Workers
Association (ASF-IWA/AIT) (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
In the first half of May 2016 Priama akcia entered a wage theft conflict against CATO
Agency after we had been contacted by Martin asking for help with his unpaid wages. It
took less than a month of activities and here is the good news – the company paid up. Our
protest and direct action tactics proved effective once again. We would like to thank to
everyone who spread information about the conflict and showed support to Martin. ----
REASON OF THE CONFLICT - UNPAID WAGES ---- Martin worked for CATO Agency as an unloader of
animal food for Royal Canin between July 2015 and March 2016. Since November 2015, he also
worked as a products promoter. Most of his wages came late which was in contradiction with
the contract and § 129 of the Labour Code. In March 2016, he decided that he wouldn’t
tolerate such business practices anymore and contacted Priama akcia union.
Since the money wasn’t paid up by the company director Veronika Šmihulová Kašpar by the
end of April (and she was claiming without providing any evidence that he had allegedly
caused some damage) we decided to act.
OUR ACTIONS
On 1st May, we visited the headquarters of the company in Košice, which is at the same
time a home address of the company managing directors. No-one opened the door, but we left
a demand letter in the mailbox.
CATO Agency was given 7 days to pay up. They didn’t meet the deadline, so on Friday 13th
May, we published an article announcing that we are entering a conflict with CATO Agency
to make them pay the unlawfully withheld wage. Almost immediately a lawyer and the company
director Šmihulová Kašpar called Martin. They exchanged information about hours worked,
which confirmed that CATO Agency owed Martin 190 €. The boss claimed that she had paid
everything, but this was not true.
As the money wasn’t paid, on 24th May we published a template of a protest e-mail and an
e-form that people could use to tell the company what they think about their practices.
First, e-mails were sent mostly by people in Slovakia, but then the conflict took on an
international dimension and information appeared in Slovak and English on various websites
and Facebook.
Šmihulová Kašpar was also responsible for PR and marketing of the international film
festival Art Film Fest in Košice, so we contacted the organizers of the festival one after
another and asked them for a statement regarding their cooperation with a person that runs
business in Slovakia in such a way.
Soon after, we reminded in Košice again them that we are still here. On 1st June, there
was a fashion show promoting new Art Film Fest costumes. The guests, media and festival
partners received information about the practices of the managing director in front of the
hotel in which this event took place.
AND MONEY WAS PAID
We didn’t have to carry on with our next planned activities. One week after the last
action, Martin received 175 €. He considered the payment of this amount satisfactory and
decided the campaign could end.
However, regardless of whether CATO Agency would have paid the remaining 15 € or not, we
decided to inform them that this amount is still missing. We knew that the boss didn’t
want to pay Martin for one taxi ride (5 €) although she had promised to pay, as well as
for two hours (10 €) worked at a promo event for Royal Canin (the request to stay for two
more hours had come from the representative of that company). We sent the boss an e-mail
in which we described these sums and were curious how she would respond.
The next day a response came, in which, however, there was an unclear answer, so we sent a
reminder a couple of days later. Only then did the company director make herself clear.
She informed Martin that she required the actual taxi receipt (a scan was not enough) and
that the remaining two hours simply would not be paid because the employer never demanded
anything like this from him. (It would be quite interesting to see the accounting between
CATO Agency and Royal Canin and how these two hours were recognised…)
CATO AGENCY PRACTICES
During the conflict we found several irregularities on the side of CATO Agency. However,
we know only about one worker who worked for this company, and therefore can’t generalize.
However, we think that potential CATO Agency workers should pay attention to the following:
Late wage payments. Money was paid after the period specified in § 129 of the Labour Code.
Non-payment of wages. This was the root cause of the conflict. The managing director lied
when she claimed that she had paid everything. We believe that Martin was able to get his
wages only thanks to the involvement of Priama akcia union and supporters.
Evidence of worked hours. It turned out that it was difficult for CATO Agency to provide
complete evidence. On the contrary, Martin was able to recreate a precise work schedule
for each month thanks to e-mail and SMS communication with the boss. Thus, he could easily
dispute the evidence provided by her. However, he didn’t know that the two extra hours at
a promo event, which were not confirmed, would become such a big deal.
A contract not in line with legal requirements. Neither the scope, nor the place of
employment was duly specified in the student work contract.
Is CATO Agency a temporary work agency? The company has the word “agency” in its name but
according to the Business Register, there is nothing in its scope of business which would
authorize it to act as an agent providing workers to other companies. Despite this, Martin
worked for another company (Royal Canin) at the premises of a third company (building and
gardening material stores) and followed not only the instructions of the managing director
of CATO Agency, but also of the Royal Canin representative.
In connection with this case, we recommend being careful in the summer season when signing
temporary contracts and working for different companies. As for student contracts in
general, we dealt with them in a special publication Ideš na brigádu? Skúsenosti a tipy,
ako so sebou nenechat zametat (in Slovak
http://www.priamaakcia.sk/Ides-na-brigadu-Skusenosti-a-tipy-ako-so-sebou-nenechat-zametat----brozura.html)
where we provided reports from discontented workers and tips on what to do in case of
problems.
MARTIN’S POINT OF VIEW
When we met Martin he didn’t have a clear idea about what a potential conflict would
require. We gave him all the information about Priama akcia union and explained that if he
was willing to enter a conflict and be active, he would have our support. Also, we shared
our experience from another conflict which was won in January 2016.
It was interesting to see how similarly bosses behave towards workers not only when they
are not willing to pay but also in situations when they find themselves in conflict with
our union (the most common reactions include denial, sidetracking and, of course,
intimidation). We utilized the experience not only to prepare a strategy, but also to
provide support in uncomfortable moments. On the other hand, we have to say that Martin
stood his ground and was able to respond to unforeseen situations very well. Our tactics
proved successful once again. Yet, we were curious how Martin viewed this case, so we
asked him a few questions.
What did this conflict teach you? What experiences will you take into your further life?
It convinced me about the strength of direct action as a form of struggle. In my case I
got the wages paid but I think I could generalize and say that various social problems can
be solved by similar forms of pressure. I can’t imagine that I would have succeeded in the
conflict so quickly, or at all, without Priama akcia. Also, the conflict helped me to
learn how to handle different situations without being nervous. After all, I didn’t have
any such experience before.
What was the most important thing in the conflict for you?
It was the support from people. I knew I wasn’t alone in it. When we were in Košice
handing over the letter with the demand to pay the wages, I didn’t expect that there would
be so many people willing to selflessly support me. Also, I felt support from friends and
the people I know, but that was more or less moral support.
What advice would you offer to someone with a similar problem?
I would advise all the people with such a problem to not be afraid. I realize that
sometimes it is easier to turn a blind eye to injustice, even when it affects you
personally. I know that people in general are afraid of standing up to those who in a
superior position. It took some time to decide if it was worthwhile for me to start an
open conflict, but the support that I felt throughout the whole conflict and the
successful result convinced me that I made the right decision.
THANK YOU!
Activists in Košice were very helpful in this conflict and played a key part, because they
were involved in two very important direct actions (handing over the demand letter and the
protest in front of the hotel). We had a positive response from Eastern Slovakia in
general also in the form of protest e-mails and regardless of town, region or country we
would like to thank everyone who found the time to send e-mail. It is an important and at
the same time the easiest part of every conflict and, most probably, we will need such
support in the future.
In this conflict we could once again rely on individuals and organizations from abroad,
mostly (but not only) from the International Workers’ Association (IWA/AIT) – ZSP
(Poland), NSF (Norway), KRAS (Russia), ASF (Australia), SP (Portugal), SF (UK), Solis
(Czech), FAU (Germany), WSA (USA), AW (UK), plus other people from the UK, USA and Spain.
Thank you!
Worker’s solidarity union Priama akcia
Slovak section of the International Workers Association (IWA/AIT)
http://www.priamaakcia.sk/Victory-of-Priama-akcia-union-in-a-wage-theft-conflict-with-CATO-Agency-.html
------------------------------
Message: 4
Britain, Class War is organising march on Boris Johnson’s
house in Islington @ 8pm Friday July 15 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Johnson will have a seat in the new Tory cabinet so till then a relentless and unremitting
pursuit will be in order............. On July 15th CLASS WAR is organising an evening
action moving from THE ANGEL ISLINGTON to JOHNSON'S house - a 5 minute walk. ---- From
response so far this will be by far the biggest action CW has ever taken. We are proud to
put our name to it. We invoke the spirit of the London Mob. We have no demands to make. We
want to get rid of you and your class. ---- Join us. ---- UPDATED 1 JULY 2016: Boris
Johnson accepts there are too many knives in his cuntish back, and thus he is not the man
of the moment. But watch out, the game is not finished yet… ---- Gather at ANGEL TUBE at
8pm on Friday July 15th to march to nearby Johnson’s house. When surrounded we will sing
‘LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE’ IN OUR THOUSANDS.
Bring pitchforks, flaming torches and INCANDESCENT ANGER! Followed by THE DEFENESTRATION
OF JOHNSON
http://www.classwarparty.org.uk/march-boris-house-islington-8pm/#more-8298
------------------------------
Message: 5
Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group MACG: Statement on
Australian Election - ELECTIONS ARE NOT THE ANSWER
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
On the impending Federal election in Australia: ---- The Australian Federal election
campaign grinds on, with most people being heartily sick of the whole thing. Neither the
Liberals nor Labor are trusted by most voters and the major parties are horrified at the
drift of voters to minor parties of all stripes. Anarchists have something to say about
this, something deeper than just advising people about voting. We say if you’re looking to
fix the problems in society, Parliament is the wrong place. ---- Real power in a
capitalist society doesn’t reside in Parliament, but in the boardrooms of the major
companies, in the editorial rooms of the mainstream media, in the officers’ mess of the
military, in the courts and in the offices of top public service mandarins. Even if a
government reflecting the electorate’s opinions came to office, it would be hamstrung by
the power of society’s real rulers. It would be unable to implement its program and the
results of its legislation would be contrary to expectations. There is no Parliamentary
road to a just society.
And what’s on offer anyway? Exhibit One is the Liberal Party, the open mouthpiece of Big
Business and advocate for capitalism itself. Its actions of the last few years speak for
themselves – the Liberal politicians replaced Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull purely
because they needed a better salesperson.
Exhibit Two is the Labor Party. This cowardly bunch is far more committed to occupying the
Treasury benches than standing up for their supporters. They want to govern capitalism far
more than they want to change it. Over time, they have become the neo-liberals they once
denounced, because capitalism demands a neo-liberal policy framework. If they have the
misfortune to win office it will be their allotted task to kick Labor voters where it
hurts, all the while arguing that the Libs would kick harder. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Exhibit Three is The Greens. If this mob ever offered a real alternative to the major
parties, they gave that up the day they decided to tackle global warming by putting a
price on carbon. Their intention to tackle climate change is not in doubt, but they ignore
the way carbon pricing would make working class people pay – and how this would drive
workers into the arms of climate deniers and the coal mining bosses. Their carbon price
flows from their belief that a just and sustainable capitalism is possible. Greens members
are not advised to go shopping for used cars on their own.
Let’s leave aside the assorted Right Wing Nut Jobs (pausing only to note that they range
from religious bigots to bona fide Fascists) and the plethora of middle-of-the-road to
mildly progressive single issue groups – listing them would send readers to sleep. Their
grievances and causes, to the extent to which they are legitimate, will bog down in direct
proportion to their significance to the operations of capitalism. If it would stop the
rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, it would have Buckley’s chance of being
implemented. Finally, the Nick Xenophon Team presents a moderate image even while they
peddle protectionism and uphold Australia’s imperialist military build-up.
What about the various Socialist parties running in selected electorates and some Senate
races? No, there’s still no Parliamentary road for them. While it’s no crime to enter
Parliament in order to oppose every capitalist government consistently, refusing them
confidence and blocking attacks on the working class, the campaign necessary to get there
is a massive waste of time and effort. Any opponent of capitalism would get a better
reward for their efforts by building a working class movement in workplaces and
communities, rather than entering a forum where the rules are rigged against us.
Whoever wins this election will find a global economy which is stagnating and threatening
to spin completely out of control, while international events are both breaking up the
European Union and building towards a conflict between the United States and China.
Parliament, necessarily focused on the national arena, cannot solve these questions. Under
pressure from uncontrollable global events, it will inevitably attack the working class to
solve the problems of capitalism in Australia. Removing the capitalists from power is
necessary, but Lucy Parsons was right when she said:
“Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth”
WORKERS’ REVOLUTION IS THE ANSWER
https://melbacg.wordpress.com/2016/07/01/elections-are-not-the-answer/
------------------------------
Message: 6
Britain, solfed: Statement on the EU Referendum
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Manchester Solidarity Federation rejects both the ‘leave’ and ‘remain’ options presented
in the EU referendum and are especially appalled by the overt racism and xenophobia that
accompanied the campaign to leave the EU. This was a referendum brought about by the
Tories simply to appease their racist right wing and prevent defections to UKIP prior to
last year’s general election. ---- The vote to leave the EU was, at least partly, based on
the growing resentment of immigrants and refugees, who are being blamed for the failings
of capitalism. Whole immigrant communities have been consistently targeted over the years
by the fascist right and the nationalist tabloid press, being blamed for everything that’s
wrong with this country. We are already witnessing the results of this poisonous rhetoric
as racist attacks against immigrants and British-born non-white people have accelerated
across the country since the referendum.
We reject the claims that the vote to leave the EU will improve our lives, as the brutal
attacks on the working class over the last forty years have been a direct consequence of
the crisis ridden nature of capitalism. The vote to leave changes nothing. The crisis
within capitalism will continue along with the austerity that makes ordinary people,
instead of the rich, pay the price for capitalism’s failings.
But rejecting the vote to leave does not mean that we favour rejoining the EU at a future
date or that we endorse any of the ‘remain’ campaign’s ideals. The idea that being in the
EU somehow protected us from the worst aspects of UK capitalism is simply ridiculous. Over
the last forty years we have faced brutal capitalist attacks that have decimated whole
areas of the country, have destroyed communities and have widened the gap between the rich
and the poor, and this all took place while we were still a member of the EU.
Not only does the EU not guarantee us a better future but on the contrary, it has proven
time and again to be the driving force towards a more austere and unjust society. We’ve
all witnessed how Fortress Europe has led thousands of refugees to their deaths, many of
them children, and we’ve come to realise what the European dream of a working class looks
like as its treatment of the Greek people testifies. The EU is a brutal capitalist
institution, run in the interest of the elites, and we would never fight to preserve it in
any shape or form. As an anarchosyndicalist organisation, we aim to destroy capitalism and
all its institutions, and that includes the EU.
As a revolutionary union, we firmly believe that the answers to the increasing problems we
face in our daily lives do not lie with putting our trust in politicians, whether they are
based in Europe or in Britain. Politicians’ only real interest is in their own kind and in
the capitalist system whose interests they represent.
Nor do we buy into the false hopes that the so called ‘progressive’ leftist politicians
are trying to sell in the midst of the referendum’s aftermath. We’ve been around long
enough to know that no matter what politicians claim to represent, they cannot escape the
system that feeds them, and sooner or later, the working class will end up at the
receiving end of even more austerity, job losses, privatisations and wage cuts.
Manchester Solidarity Federation believes that any improvements to our lives can only come
about when we organise ourselves and fight back in our communities. And that is what we
will continue to do as an organisation, aiming to bring people together in the struggle
against the bosses and capitalism.
http://www.solfed.org.uk/manchester/statement-on-the-eu-referendum
------------------------------
Message: 7
afed.cz: existence summer issue #3 on the TTIP
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
In the summer issue of the Existence magazine we decided to focus on TTIP – The
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. This secretly prepared agreement between
the United States and the European Union we perceive as one of the major attacks of the
business and corporation world against the common people on both sides of the Atlantic.
---- Negotiating this treaty itself denies even the small part offered by bourgeois
democracy in decisive processes. Neoliberal capitalism is almost absolutely hegemonic,
therefore it has no more reasons to regard the will of people on its way to its interests.
For the architects of global business relationships the people are mere consumers who can
be offered anything, and people resources in production and depreciated working positions.
TTIP is supposed to help corporations to protect their investments, to disregard the
environment and the lives of the working people who will lose most of their rights which
they had to fight hard for during the past two hundred years.
Besides the issues caused by TTIP we also pursue the related Investor-state dispute
settlement – ISDS, the relation between TTIP and the national borders, but also the
opposition to the agreement in Europe. We mention the topic in an interview with the
social geographer Michal Kohout who emigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia with his
family as a child and now he works at University of California. He is also answering
questions regarding his work, American primary election or his impressions from his stay
in the Czech Republic. We also look into the imprint of the alterglobalization movement on
the Czech activist environment. On the background of this local story we follow the global
attempts of the world’s economic elites to enforce their interests.
From the up-to-date affairs we deal especially with the protests again xenophobia carried
out by individuals to be found both in Neo-Nazi circles and the presidential chair; the
fight for the autonomous social centre Klinika, and solidary campaign to support the
anarchists prosecuted by the police in fabricated trials. An article about the social
riots in France brings interesting foreign news.
We also commemorate several anniversaries. Voltairine de Cleyre’s portrait commemorates
150th anniversary of her birth. We decided to celebrate Johann Most’s 170th anniversary of
his birth and 110th anniversary of his death with his renowned antireligious text. And
also there is the 80th anniversary of the Spanish Social Revolution.
Download PDF http://afed.cz/casopisy/existence/Existence_3_2016.pdf
For the first time, we publish Existence also in e-book format, namely EPUB and MOBI.
We'll be happy for any feedback, especially for notes on readability, technical problems etc.
http://www.afed.cz/text/6467/existence-3-2016
------------------------------
Message: 8
Catalunia, Election Time: 26J of the Brexit By Embat (ca)
[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
The political situation in Europe is heating up lately due to several unexpected election
results by the neoliberal establishment. S'eternitza economic crisis, it becomes chronic,
with other feeds crisis and this has political consequences as the high volatility
affecting the entire European continent. We live in a time of rise of so-called "populist"
who dragged the vote of the masses as we have seen in the Austrian elections (with good
results Neofascism) or Italian (with the mayor of Rome won by Movimento 5 Stelle) and even
the American campaign (with the election of Donald Trump as a candidate of the republican
party). This situation is becoming usual because we live in fright scare each
parliamentary election. The latest examples are the UK and Spain, of which we will make a
brief analysis.
The 'Brexit'
On 23 June the UK voted to leave the European Union. The 'shock' has been tremendous and
the political consequences are yet to be studied fully. So far, Prime Minister Cameron had
to resign, and expected new independence referendum in Scotland and Northern Ireland who
voted mostly in favor of remaining in the EU against the English and Welsh, supporters
leave it.
Labour committed the great historical error to be in favor of 'Brexit' for years (at least
a substantial part of Labour), and when the campaign to defend the permanence in Europe.
The error has been uppercase, as the campaign to leave the EU was in the hands of the
extreme right and the sector Eurosceptic Conservative Party, which use immigration and
refugees as an argument. The Neofascism across Europe celebrated the victory as their own
'Brexit' and demand new referendum to their respective states (Netherlands, France,
Denmark, Austria ...).
In this respect are the working classes (the lower income, older rural dismantled the
industrial areas) that have voted to leave it. European neoliberalism blame their
situation. They have already experienced the destruction of its industrial communities in
the eighties and now think that leaving the EU can stop the power of the City of London
and euroburocràcia Brussels. In a globalized world the demand for political and economic
sovereignty appears again on the political agenda.
It is no coincidence that right-wing vote in classes in Austria and 'Brexit' in England.
Is a direct result of the abandonment of history left its program of social welfare
(socialist and labor) and social transformation (communists and environmentalists): The
Left became liberals and now pay dearly. Meanwhile, the extreme right is slowly taking its
place and left, react and return to defend Social programs (or social-liberal), arrive
late or have to wait at least as evidenced by the Spanish elections.
A Embat we are clear that any project of social transformation happens inevitably to break
with the European Union. The European economic and political context, and serves only the
interests exlusivament neoliberal elites of Europe, which aim to subject the people of the
world financial hegemony in all areas. The loss of sovereignty of the people is directly
proportional to the advancement of this social model. Therefore, to overcome its
contradictions, we must break with the political organizations that support it. The debate
should not be about refugees and migration policies but about the recovery of sovereignty
and social rights and if the left does not become a protagonist in this wave breaking,
this space will be occupied by the extreme right, which makes the anti-EU point of prime
importance in the political agenda.
General elections
After a long election year We thought that might supplant the PSOE to force the government
to build a truly "left" change that in practice today is social-liberal (or capitalism
with "a human face "). The polls gave to understand that this possibility was very
plausible that the two parties could form a government alternative to the Popular Party.
The result has been disappointing and urns We have supported the Popular Party has
achieved better results than in December, recovering votes Citizens, which has fallen. We
can not do the famous "sorpasso" and the PSOE has resisted with force. We can for these
elections are a political defeat, despite having five million votes.
As we could verify these elections, cultural hegemony is not changed in two years. It
takes more years of work ant to achieve political change and cultural scale. This owes
much to the great capacity of the parties demonstrated "System 78" (including PP and PSOE,
PNV but CDC) Drag the vote of older people. These people are generally loyal to their
party reference whatever happens. Neither corruption scandals or crisis or unemployment
have impacted millions of people support the major parties. But they are not in favor of
anything that makes its ruling party. Many people are very critical, and yet voted to not
win another.
In Spain we see that a large part of the Popular Party support comes from people who do
not want a government of Unidos Podemos (UP). The consensus, the "common sense" rooted is
that a government such as PP, liberal and "moderate" (yes, many people consider the PP as
a moderate), you can remove Spain from the crisis and a government of UP may cause
economic disaster. Corruption happens to be a lesser evil, a price to pay for the liberal
system works. The electoral map gives us a predominance of the Popular Party in rural
areas and among the elderly, a predominance of the PSOE in industrial and mining areas and
in the south of Spain, and victories can and its confluence of many municipalities Euskal
Herria and Catalonia and between urban young people, repeating the dynamics of the general
election in December.
In the case of Catalonia this 26J can be read as a double break with the model of '78: a
part of the votes were key in independence and a key part of further profound social
change. These two views were represented respectively by the ERC and 26J can share and
summarize the direction that took the popular struggles in our country: the sovereign
process and social issues. And these two visions defeated the party of the bourgeoisie
Catalan, CDC, which indicates the public support the paradigm shifts that represent these
parties - though insufficient and incomplete in our opinion.
One last note about: the election has won the PP, but the turnout was 69% of the census
(65% for the CAC). It is important to note that abstention is a sign of lack of confidence
in the electoral system can not be underestimated. There is much talk 15M and the window
of opportunity opened by the elections and the emergence of can, but even so, the
abstention rate remains almost the same electoral cycles prior to 15M. The crisis of
representation still alive and latent, therefore.
The abstention discredit speaks of separation from structural causes and are not being
given a distance causing these population segments regarding the debates that move in the
field of electoral political scene. We also speak on the assumption that the entry to the
institutions left behind much of the population.
The elections, to some extent, help us to see how far we're to understand as a society
that things do not change only with political parties . Moreover, we believe that they
should not be the epicenter of the action and change .
The effect can
We began to accumulate forces thanks to his appearance in the mainstream media just the
day after the Marches Dignity 22M (22 March 2014). Marches had reached one million people
gathered in the streets of Madrid. Were equipped with a fairly advanced program
vindictive. But in the European elections can break everything stopped and drifts towards
the election campaign. In addition, we had nearly two years in a row dating stations. We
can and its confluences were able to collect the remains of the 15M movement and give
electoral projection. But instead of building a popular movement, helped to clear the
streets waiting for good electoral gains do not reach.
If We came to stay there, says Errejón still must fit the last drop of more than a million
votes. As some of the figures, such as purses, as they claim, they must return to work
from the street to change hegemonies, coinciding with whom we are in favor of working from
the grassroots movements. Hegemony could not be changed from TV sets, as many people can
you think of a victory a triumph of chaos. This was the reason for the profound shift in
the center of the party in recent months. Each statement was addressed to attract and
reassure a fearful electorate, which we have seen have failed, leaving leftist identities
and important parts of your program other time.
One of the main lessons was that citizens 15M seats, has power - power of the people. So
the key was empowering. Where is this empowerment? What is left of those days? Delegate
all the work to change the political forces related? If so, to what extent is not
incurring the dynamics of transition and therefore repeating mistakes?
conclusions
We find a clear fact: there are regions in Europe with a strong national identity
(Catalonia, the Basque Country, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Corsica, Brittany ...) lately
are becoming an obstacle to the victory of the Neofascism once a liberal electoral support
"light" or a return to social democracy. Keep in mind this situation, because we do not
have a pan-European project that engresqui left the classes and change the dynamics
defeatist that is brought to an inexorable triumph of the extreme right.
Also, as a counterpoint to the above argument, we can see that there are centralizing
nationalisms deeply hostile to the idea of decentralization (either independence or
federalism). There is little catalanophobia between the Spanish classes. This causes that
have no electoral cost spying and invent evidence against those responsible for the 9N.
This is Spain irreformable ERC says that in order to attract We share the idea of a
unilateral Independence Referendum. But not without reason. If everyone fully understands
Scotland hold a new referendum for independence from a UK has taken a decision in his
opinion wrong, because they Catalonia or the Basque country to hold other referenda from a
mainly supporting Spain PP matter what happens? We want to share (ECP) in Catalonia opted
for sovereignty Process trying to wean CDC or prefer to replace the PSC and little else?
In the last elections ECP and ERC have exceeded CDC which may influence the process.
In anticipation of a possible European leftist movement, continental building a new
European identity akin to the popular classes would not be surprising that stateless
nations are the last refuge of the struggle against neoliberalism unifying Europe,
although paradoxically have liberal governments (Scottish National Party, Together for Si,
the Basque Nationalist Party). It is in these areas where more likely to be accepted the
idea of popular sovereignty with the globalization of capital. At the end of the story
independence is built on social improvements: independence should no longer be a simple
end in itself but a means of social improvement really .
How do we change this dynamic since our forces?
Returning to our little reality from Embat have said many times that we want to become a
great popular movement political and social actors in general scale. Without this new
actor working classes and social movements will be represented orphans who obey our own
interests. On the contrary, if we do not build this strong and independent popular
movement, and if we act descoordinadament each turn, there will always be political
parties that try to represent us and make us dance to their rhythm.
In France a large social war is raging since March. On the one hand imposing the socialist
government's policy and austericidi cuts and the other a powerful trade union and social
movement that refuses to be defeated. Every week delivered important battles of this war.
This is a very positive model of autonomous popular movement with its own agenda. If you
win would likely be installed in the European imagination an alternative to the extreme
right. The class struggle and the defense of sovereignty and freedoms are now key in
building the new subject of change .
The social movements in Catalonia must be mature enough to cope and move forward in our
struggle, because only in this way can become a strong nation with the capacity to promote
our interests through people power. The cultural hegemony the right to build this power
will fight the popular street , in every town and every neighborhood. No shortcuts
electoral seek to achieve social majority in favor of social change. Only the people saved
the town.
Attack , 27 June 2016
http://embat.info/temps-electoral-del-brexit-al-26j/
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