Today's Topics:
1. Palestine-Israel, The Tsumud/persistence of 13 years of
joint struggle will continue as long as it takes* (it)
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. France, Alternative Libertaire AL Septembre - History: 80
years ago, the Spanish revolution under the sign of libertarian
communism (fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. wsm.ie: We March today to Demand Change - We have a world to
Change - leaflet for March for Choice 2016 leaflet
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. fda-ifa: Shengal Women's Assembly holds the 2nd Conference
SHENGAL - ANF (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. solfed uk, manchester - Laibaz picket restaurants Bolton
wage theft report - 24/9 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
6. afed.cz: Rojava - Kurds in the struggle for freedom and
against ISIS [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
It is not because the Jews rule US... It is because Israel play an essential part in the
Imperial struggle between US and Russia. Though the oil is less important to US economy it
is still important to its partners. The western empire elite came to Peres ceremony
because Israel helped to return Egypt to US sphere of influence. Protected Jordan from
being taken by pro Russian Syria, Pushed Syria out of Lebanon for a while... and supply
important services all over the world. Thus, the struggle against Israel apartheid is
going to be much harder than the abolishing of it in Southern Africa. However, we have
here the joint non armed struggle, the tens of thousands international activists who come
here to participate and return home with the torch of struggle. The Israeli Jews who
participate every week in the joint struggle refute the "anti-Semitism" false claims.
Bil'in 26-8-16 Friday demo, another Link in the twelfth year chain. 9 Israelis, and 10
internationals joined the Bil'iners in one of the quietest demonstrations. This time like
in most demos of the last year the Israeli forces waited for us near Bassem (Fil) memorial
- blocking our way to the freed lands and the new separation wall. We marched from the
village waving flags and chanting till we arrived there. As usually they declared the area
as a forbidden closed military zone... but let us march up to were they were standing in a
line without demanding us to retreat, threatening with arrests or forcing us to retreat.
after a long while we started to retreat to the village.
https://www.facebook.com/haytham.alkhateeb/videos/10209059052086444/
https://www.facebook.com/iyad.burnat/posts/1401338516547174
https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.b.yaseen/posts/994471370652195
https://www.facebook.com/anatllanat/posts/946579395451290
https://www.facebook.com/Mohammed.Yasin.photography/posts/743454585793906
https://www.facebook.com/rani.fatah/posts/10210242887371754
2-9-16 This Friday was another sample of the Israeli state forces new policy. While we
were converging at the west margin of the village, the state force which were with their
Jeeps at their usual location near the route of the old separation fence just drove away,
like two weeks ago, in a kind of invitation of us to march up to the gate in the new
separation wall. This time, 8 Israelis, and about 10 internationals joined the Bil'iner in
a march.... but to ours choice of location - the wall near the Abu Lamun park, southern to
the gate.
As usual we chanted and held flags all the way to the wall. The frustrated Israeli forces
who waited for us at the gate lost patience and came to us for the usual harassment:
declaring a closed military zone, demanded us to return to the village and threatening
with arrests. As we were tired from the long march in the hot whether, we did not defy
them for long and returned to the village.
https://www.facebook.com/hamde.a.rahma/posts/1744678559135847
https://www.facebook.com/anatllanat/posts/952401491535747
https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.b.yaseen/posts/999949313437734
https://www.facebook.com/haytham.alkhateeb/posts/10209121795294985
Bil'in - 9-9-16, The day we were afraid of have come today. from the beginning 11 years
and a half ago we contemplated what we would do if the Israeli state forces will fail to
come to confront us and to disperse the demo.
Today, we marched from the village to the new separation wall - 5 Israelis, 8
internationals and about 20 Bil'iners. The Israeli state forces refrain from coming to the
route of the dismantled separation fence, they refrained from harassing us when we reached
the wall near the Abu Lamun Oaks orchard. Nothing happened when we marched along the wall
up to the gate in it... and nothing happened when we knocked on the metal gate in the
wall. Nothing happened even when two kids threw stones to the other side of the wall - no
one was there.
https://www.facebook.com/haytham.alkhateeb/videos/10209183317392999/
https://www.facebook.com/iyad.burnat/posts/1415706518443707
https://www.facebook.com/rani.fatah/posts/10210378247435671
https://www.facebook.com/anatllanat/posts/958348137607749
https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.b.yaseen/posts/1005655942867071
https://www.facebook.com/drrateb.aburahmah/posts/10210510157293150
16-9-16 6 Israelis with the anarchists against the wall initiative with dozens of
internationals joined the local activists in the 601st Friday demo at the second half of
the twelfth year of struggle in Bil'in against the separation fence, settlers, and
occupation. Like in the previous week the Israeli forces were not seen around... After
Marching and chanting all the way to the wall' and along it to the closed gate, a kind of
happening started there: youngsters climbed the wall and put the Palestinian flag on it.
Few soldiers appeared for a short time but disappeared after stones were thrown on them.
After prolonged banging on the wall, we returned to the villages - tired but most satisfied.
https://www.facebook.com/drrateb.aburahmah/posts/10210510157293150
https://www.facebook.com/haytham.alkhateeb/videos/10209243377814472/
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1011041108995221
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1011040902328575
https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.b.yaseen/posts/1011042548995077?ref=notif
https://www.facebook.com/Mohammed.Yasin.photography/posts/753760304763334
22-9-16 Bil'in, Another calm Friday demo. 5 Israelis with the AAtW, 6 internationals, and
20 Bil'iners participated in the weekly demo against the separation wall, the settlers,
and the occupation. While we were converging to the demo the Israeli soldiers Expelled the
settlers youth from the area behind the wall to prevent any confrontation... and then hide
behind the wall. Part of us marched from the village and other drove to the Abu Lamun oak
orchard were we marched together to the near by wall and walked along it up to the gate in
the wall. There we had a kind of party - knocking on the gate and more. As the challenged
soldiers failed to appear, we remained there for only half an hour before returning to the
village. The state forces revenge will come as usual in nights rides on homes of activists
at the following nights.
https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.b.yaseen/posts/1016088141823851
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1016087038490628
https://www.facebook.com/rani.fatah/posts/10210504168143610
https://www.facebook.com/rani.fatah/posts/10210503375203787
https://www.facebook.com/haytham.alkhateeb/videos/10209282820440513/
30-9-16, 9 Israelis with the AAtW initiative, 10 internationals and youth from
neighbourhood village joined two dozen village activists in the Friday demo against the
settlers and the occupation. After converging in the Abu Lamun oak orchard near the
separation wall we marched chanting to the gate in the wall. There comrades started to
knock on the gate in the wall as in the previous demos. This time, after a long while, the
state forces opened the gate and started to harass the demonstrators - detaining,
threatening with arrests, checking IDs... and cars - both near the gate and along the way
to the village.
"At today's protest in Bil'in, Israeli occupation forces attacked the some 50
demonstrators, arresting two shabab from the nearby village of Kharbata and Bil'in
villager; Abd Fatah."
After a while and lot of threats to participants for arrests in the future, the detainees
and the car were released while the ID of the Israeli "stayed arrested".
https://www.facebook.com/haytham.alkhateeb/videos/10209360782629519/
https://www.facebook.com/abdallah.aburahma.3/posts/1134286979990944
https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.b.yaseen/posts/1021572834608715
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1021571291275536
https://www.facebook.com/drrateb.aburahmah/posts/10210640353067963
https://www.facebook.com/anatllanat/posts/975409822568247
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=773364
Ni'ilin
08/26/2016
israelpnm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8WLtc1p5VA
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154512561422500
9.9.2016 israelpnm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhPrz2nz3Yw
16-9-16 https://www.facebook.com/muhamed.ameera/posts/1168156936590039
israelpnm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltx1klIrSAM
David Reeb https://youtu.be/lJ433AXlZeE
https://antinarrativeblog.com/2016/09/17/%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-nilin-16-9-2016/
http://imemc.org/article/dozens-march-in-bilins-weekly-nonviolent-protest/
22-9-16 https://www.facebook.com/muhamed.ameera/posts/1175139205891812
israelpnm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqPwAa5z8tY
https://antinarrativeblog.com/2016/09/24/%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-nilin-23-9-2016/
30-9-16 https://www.facebook.com/muhamed.ameera/posts/1182912368447829
israelpnm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OMBVIl-F5k
KAFR QADDUM
Friday 26-8-16 Long and dangerous event today with strong clashes, tear gas, sound bombs,
rubber bullets and "regular" bullets... but luckily nobody got seriously hurt.
https://www.facebook.com/annalisa.portioli/posts/10208156282557149
https://www.facebook.com/annalisa.portioli/posts/10208156131993385
23-9-16
https://www.facebook.com/AlMasira.KufurKaddom/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1264558146899569
30-9-16
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1271807689507948.1073742078.271405776214816&type=3
Don't say we did not know 515
In February, 2016, the IDF destroyed most of the homes in the Palestinian village of
Al Maksar (near the Hamra checkpoint) in the Jordan valley. At that time the army sealed
all but one of the entrances to the villages.
On Thursday, August 18th, 2016, the army sealed the remaining entrance to the
village. A number of herds remained outside of the village, as was a water tank that
serves them.
Are more demolitions planned?
---- ---- ----
On Thursday, August 18th, 2016, government representatives accompanied by police
demolished homes of Bedouin in the Negev: In Um Mashash on Route 25, the floor of a home;
in Al Sadir, near Ar'ara, a structure; in Um Batin, east of Omer, a structure. They once
again demolished the village of al-Alarib.
In Az-Zarnug, on Route 25, coerced by government representatives and police, people
demolished their own home.
Don't say we did not know #516
In the early 1950s, the Bedouins of Umm El Kheir were expelled from the Arad region (in
Israel) to the West Bank. After their expulsion they bought land in the south Hebron hill
region, and established their village. In 1981 Israel founded the settlement Carmel next
to their village. For some years now they have been suffering from repeated demolitions of
their houses.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Israeli soldiers arrived at their village yet again and
demolished three houses. 26 people were made homeless.
This is the 3rd demolition in 2016 alone.
------------------------------------------------------
·
Don't say we did not know #517
Before the devastation of home demolition, demolition orders are first issued.
On Saturday, 27th August, 2016, Jerusalem municipal workers, escorted by police and
soldiers, went to the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan (annexed to Jerusalem) and
handed out demolition orders for four homes and a fence. At the village’s protest tent,
they ordered renovation work being carried out on the floor to stop.
It would appear that the handing out of demolition orders takes precedence over Sabbath,
and is permitted.
~~~~~~
On Monday, 29th August, 2016, government representatives, escorted by police, demolished
dams -- that accumulate valley water in order to allow watermelons to be grown in the
Spring - in the Bedouin village Rakhme, near Yeruham in the Negev.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't say we did not know #518
On Saturday evening, 10th September, 2016, a settler ran over a 5-year-old Palestinian
girl, killing her, when he drove on the northern exit of the settlement Efrat, which is
actually an internal road belonging to the Palestinian town Al Khadr, now in use by
settlers, Efrat having expanded right up to the homes of Al Khadr.
Palestinians claim that previously that settler has threatened to kill them.
----------------------------------------------------------
Don’t Say We Didn’t Know 519
For years the Palestinians of Burin village, south of Nablus, have been suffering
harassment at the hands of settlers from Yitzhar and Beracha, backed by the Israeli army.
On Monday, September 5, 2016, settlers entered the edge of Burin (Area B) with a tractor
from the direction of Beracha settlement, escorted by soldiers, and began to plough a
4-dunam plot of land. Villagers arriving on the spot chased them away.
On Thursday, September 15, 2016, a fire broke out in a Burin grazing area. Soldiers
and settlers prevented a local fire fighter truck from approaching and quenching the fire.
Children of the village confronted them. The soldiers chased the children into the village
and detained two of them. The settlers set fire to olive and almond trees in a plot
belonging to the village. The soldiers put out the fire.
---- ---- ----
On Monday, September 19, 2016, government agents escorted by police demolished Bedouin
houses in the Negev - three houses in Za’arura, west of Fur’a. They also demolished Al
Araqib yet again. Eight Bedouin demolished their own houses, under threat that the State
would do so if they wouldn’t, and charge them the expenses.
Questions and queries: amosg@shefayim.org.il
======================================================================
* From my blog at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com
See there previous reports about the joint struggles the Anarchists Against the Wall take
part in.
See also: Stories from the year 2100 - 50 years after the revolution
http://awalls.org http://ilan.shalif.com/anarchy/glimpses/glimpses.html
http://ilan.shalif.com/anarchy/glimpses/glimpses-it.html
http://ilan.shalif.com/anarchy/glimpses/glimpses-heb.html
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2016 10:37:18 +0300
From: a-infos-en@ainfos.ca
To: en <a-infos-en@ainfos.ca>
Subject: (en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL Septembre - History:
80 years ago, the Spanish revolution under the sign of libertarian
communism (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
Message-ID: <mailman.43.1475307405.2705.a-infos-en@ainfos.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"; Format="flowed"
It was during the Spanish Revolution of 1936 libertarian affect closest utopia that
generations of activists had worn every day. While Spain was plunged into a bloody civil
war, a result of the military coup (pronunciamiento), exceptional self-management
experience is emerging. An almost unique example in the history of the international labor
movement. ---- As soon as the pronunciamiento triggered by General Francisco Franco, 18
July 1936, the resistance is organized. It is primarily the result of unions and
revolutionary organizations. The government of the Frente Popular, elected in February
1936, is powerless before the coup. Aragon, in the Levant, in a part of Castile and
especially in Catalonia, the "nationalist" armies are routed only by the mobilization of
the working class, predominantly organized within the CNT[1].
Popular self-management and workers' canteens
Historian Agustin Guillamon in his book Barricades in Barcelona - 1936-1937, wrote: "
After the state monopoly of violence destroyed, because the army had been defeated in the
street and that the proletariat was armed, began a revolutionary situation which imposed
its violence, its power, its order: the power of a working class army. "
A social and economic revolution then spreads, with more or less intensity, changing the
social structure of these regions as a model of egalitarian and anti-authoritarian
society, fundamentally opposed to the "barracks communism" set up in Stalin's USSR where
the GPU, the purges and gulags were definitely killed every revolutionary ideal.
Remembering the advice of the Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin, that " a hungry
revolutionary people will always thank you for any demagogic adventurer" revolutionaries
set to work in the early hours of the uprising for organize the distribution of essential
goods. In all districts, all cities and towns, are established for the purpose of
organizations called "supply committees." The first communal canteens host hundreds of
workers. In Barcelona, they are former palaces, previously occupied by the Catalan
bourgeoisie and foreign, which are transformed into huge soup kitchens. The big hotels are
sometimes requisitioned for other purposes, as noted by a member of the CGT-SR, sister
organization of the CNT witnessed this amazing fact: "The NTC has dislodged the proponents
of great wealth who starved since time workers, transforming these luxurious buildings in
the houses of the people. All large hotel is just a memory; it is in this box with
spacious accommodations that big bourgeois tired of doing nothing is offered only that
luxury, with 100 pesetas per day. Today is the hotel workers and free. " [2]
On 28 July 1936, the Catalan CNT estimates the complete general strike. The military coup
was dammed. The economic machine starts working again, but this time under the leadership
of the workers and the workers themselves. From July 23, the first factories
collectivization measures take place in Barcelona: water services, energy, lighting,
workshops of railways, the metal sector.
Subsequently, other companies are in turn collectivized, pubs, hairdressers, film
workshops ... Taking the example of a tannery in the suburbs of Barcelona, a French
syndicalist wrote: "The factory occupies 700 working men and women. Salaries were raised
as in all industries. The single wage does not exist yet, but the next wage earners of the
meeting must discuss. When a worker is injured or ill: it affects 75% of his salary;
before he touched anything, Spain with no social insurance. The work week is 36 hours
without loss of pay. This is how the tannery Mollet each workshop appoints its delegates
are among seventeen. These are seventeen men and women who together form the factory
committee to work organization. A factory council and the director are appointed by the
general meeting of the workers. Both bodies meet whenever required there. Each of these
committees is revocable. " [3]
The salary issue is central. First, there is attempt to remove the money and wage labor. A
French libertarian stops, in this regard, the example of the free town of Fraga in Aragon:
"After a stay of two days in Lleida, we leave. We must reach Fraga, big farming community
of 8500 inhabitants. After a hearty visit to the resort, we gather at the headquarters of
the Fulani of the committee. The first information that we are given is that the money
does not circulate; Money is deleted; money, medium of exchange and capitalist power, no
longer applies. A family book replaces, on which are inscribed all foodstuffs and other
goods necessary for life. The booklet serves to control and does not allow a resident more
food than another, all are equal. The people's committee is elected by the general
assembly of the population. " [4]
If these cash Removal experiences are part of life in farming communities of Aragon, which
dominates the influence of the CNT, the central libertarian must deal in the industry with
the UGT, the socialist union. It then heads towards a compromise CNT-UGT and therefore the
practice of single or family wage spreads.
"Women of Aragon no longer weep winter"
In the countryside, the people fought against the caciques (local leaders), the feudal
landlords, tax officials, moneylenders, leaves the hands of the peasants of large tracts
of land they covered after centuries of spoliation. As the city is the urgency of the
situation that stimulated collectivization.
The agrarian collectivism is also the consequence of decades of anarchist propaganda in
the countryside. Activists and homeless activists were touring from village to village,
providing books ( between campesinos of the Italian anarchist Errico Malatesta or The
Conquest of Bread Peter Kropotkin) and magazines of the CNT (such as Revista blanca)
processing agricultural issues.
From 1933 are also consistently highlighted examples of collectivization now rampant.
Although these collective common experiences are generally short, repression shooting down
quickly on the village people, they are works of propaganda. José Peirats in Spanish
Anarchists - 1936 Revolution and struggles always gives us the kind of testimony
collectivist peasants, published in the libertarian press of the time: "Here, there are
neither poor nor rich, or social problems or unemployed workers. Here, we share fairly and
production together, working, we live peaceful and happy. "
On 19 July 1936, the unionized workers of the CNT and UGT are developing rapidly
"revolutionary committees" to organize the first land seizures that are immediately
shared. The invasion of much of Andalusia by Franco's armies prevents massive
collectivization in this region. Other regions have large scale collectivisations
phenomena. But it is especially in Catalonia and Aragon in the collectivization of
experiences will be the most numerous and especially the most complete.
A French anarcho-syndicalist evokes the avant-garde of the collectivization:
"In the countryside around Barcelona and Catalonia, collectivization followed its normal
course at the same rate as factories, completely reorganizing work by grouping all small
properties in a wide radius.
In each department, a "culture committee" is made responsible for organizing the work, the
selection of seeds and seedlings; this committee, appointed general meeting of farmers
consists of delegates from areas. They divided into groups and each zone each group a
responsible comrade is responsible for assigning work. They are as well organized as in
industry.
[...]In Aragon, the achievements are greater than the influence of libertarian communism,
because in addition to the organization of joint work, the money disappeared as a means of
exchange to make way for book producer, giving the right to all that is necessary for
human life, according to the possibilities of the anarchist commune.
We we explain the mechanism of trade. It is organized in nature, between the villages
having removed the money. With the cities where money remains, the exchange takes place on
the basis of existing courses and the supply is effected by purchasing routed over the
villages that perform distribution to residents on presentation of the consumer book.
This system gives full satisfaction to interested parties. This is the first time we did
we say that women do not cry Aragon winter. Indeed, once the product of the harvest was
insufficient to pay the debts to the "caciques" and clergy. The Aragonese defend their
conquests to the death if need be, but they can not go back. For them the past is quite
dead " [5]
Exceeding the old social classes
Important given that collectivization of land: it lies in a voluntary act of
interested-es. The Spanish revolution in the country is, in this respect, not comparable
with the Russian Revolution and the bloody episode of "dekulakization" in the late 1920s
called peasants "individualistic", most small tenants , are choosing to live on the
margins of communities. Their choice is respected by the "collectivist" that keep them
with opportunities to exchange products. But as noted by the French activist mentioned
earlier, these small owners do not stay indifferent to the benefits of the collective
work: pooling of land but also of poultry, livestock, fertilizer, seed and harvest . And
it is not uncommon for "some early refractory had later joined the collective organization."
Another reality lies in overcoming the old social classes. While many former bosses have
chosen to join the armed Franco, others accept the new social order. A French libertarian
gives the example of a farming community in the suburbs of Barcelona where a worker and
his former boss are now together in a common effort: "The technical committee of
agriculture is composed of five workers and four former bosses . All bosses have agreed
collectivization; there has been more reluctance among workers who believed lose
something. A story is told by a former boss who is part of the Technical Committee with a
fellow worker who had worked with him. In 1931, during a strike, the two employees today
were somewhat boxed. One was boss, another worker, and the former boss who tells us that
tells us that the fear of a new battle no longer exists, operating its like not existing.
" [6]
In the same article, the author emphasizes the role of anti-fascist columns in the
multiplication of these collectivist experiences: "Everywhere where are the militia of the
Durruti Column, the same life system is organized. "
Gradually, as the militiamen and militia, mainly the CNT and the POUM, free the villages
from the grip Franco, the same debate is taking place between supporters of
collectivization and supporters of land fragmentation. And as shown in the Ken Loach film
Land and Freedom, they and are invited es by the villagers to give their opinion on the
issue. These revolutionary activists es experienced no shortage of convincing audiences,
already tempted by the collectivist way, the interests of the pooling of land.
"Proud to finally work for themselves"
After his trip to Spain, Pierre Besnard, French syndicalist and secretary of the CGT-SR,
said: "I saw all men at work in the fields, women and children in the villages, working
men and women going to work happy, proud to finally work for themselves. The joy was
painted on their seriousness and serious undoubtedly faces, but no trace of worry. They
knew that something had changed and they were going to a better future.[...]A great
experience is hatching. " [7]
The Spanish revolution, is, undoubtedly, one of the most accomplished examples in both its
economic and social realities in scope. Frank Mintz, historian and author of
Self-management and anarcho-syndicalism - Analysis and criticism of Spain (1931-1990),
estimated that 1.838 million people lived under the collectivist regime Spanish es
revolutionaries.
Jeremiah Berthuin (AL Gard)
[1]See "In 1910, the birth of the CNT" in G No. 200 of December 2010.
[2]The union Combat, No. 170, August 21, 1936.
[3]The union Combat, No. 169, August 14, 1936.
[4]The union Combat, No. 196, February 19, 1937.
[5]The union Combat, No. 192, January 23, 1937.
[6]The union Combat, No. 189, January 1, 1937.
[7]The union Combat, No. 175, October 25, 1936.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Histoire-Il-y-a-80-ans-la
------------------------------
Message: 3
We march today to demand change. So much is wrong in our country and our world. People are
denied their Bodily Autonomy or endure Direct Provision racism. Some struggle to find
decent work or keep a roof over their heads. Meanwhile, our media is dominated by one
super rich villain. Beyond this island, the news is worse. Oil companies are driving us
into climate disaster. ---- Europe's border controls have killed over 15,000 people, many
eeing the wars our governments created in the Middle-East. Clearly, we face a system
designed to ensure the rule of the most privileged 0.1% of the population, an elite who
divide and rule the rest of us. We join the many people resisting these policies and
ghting for real change. ---- Every now and then a victory is won in one area, although
often riven with compromises and incomplete. Winning the Marriage Equality referendum was
one such example, forcing the suspension of Water Charges another. But, particularly on
the global level, our struggle can feel like an impossible whack-a-mole game: for every
victory that is won another thirty bad moles pop up elsewhere. We need a movement that
listens to and involves all those who are exploited, oppressed and unfree. We need to
create a society where the whack-a-mole game ends because we are all liberated.
The Workers Solidarity Movement (WSM) is our contribution to building that struggle. We
draw on the rich tradition of anarchism to build a movement that values grassroots action
and learning over the top-down competition for power.
People have demonstrated their power
Those who rule from above - the bosses, politicians and media - tell us a very simple lie.
The lie is that if we vote for them, at election time then they will do what we want. In
reality, once the elections are over, the elites do as they will and the rest of us must
either suffer or resist. Remember the politicians who joined the anti-water tax movement,
promising not to introduce them when running for election and then breaking their promise
once elected? But we stopped them anyway. Not ‘we' as in any particular group, but ‘we' as
in the movement of communities that emerged all over the country to blockade water meter
installers and spread the message of mass non-payment. The establishment tried hard to
break our movement using threats, bribes and Garda repression, but they were still
defeated. The lesson is clear. Our real power is not at the ballot box but in the streets,
organising together.
Why do elections have so little impact? The last election saw a lot of independents and
self-described radical parties elected. In reality, this has translated into nothing apart
from the occasional TD giving the government a bollocking in the Dáil. We laugh with
everyone else when government ministers dget in their seats and look uncomfortable. But
the reality is that this entertainment changes nothing.
This is not a flaw in the system. This is how elections are intended to work. The point
is to give us a false sense of control. After each election, rather than recognising that
the system doesn't work as we want it, we blame the failure on the people currently in
power and vote instead for a new lot of leaders. The result is a political system where
the parties in power regularly change hands without anything else changing very much at
all. Every now and again a new party appears that promises not to compromise. But, as
happened with the Workers Party and the Green Party here or with Syriza in Greece, these
parties are quickly house-trained to play the same game as everyone else.
The political movement we need to build is not a party that joins the game and gets into
government at some future election. We need an entirely different system based on
democratic assemblies to replace the old system of parliaments all together.
The water charges movement has shown we can force change by organising together, and that
massive and widespread organisation doesn't even have to happen under a single banner.
It's not a question of getting behind a particular party or leader, but believing in
ourselves. Many groups used collective decision-making and direct action to resist water
charges.
These same methods can be used to run the country and indeed the world. We need to build
democratic assemblies in every community and workplace and take their running into the
hands of the people living or working there. Alongside this we need to develop effective
ways of coordinating these assemblies and of making decisions at the level of districts,
cities, the island and indeed the planet. We have no interest in telling you to vote for
us so that we can get into power. We want to work with you to build a movement that will
end their systems of power.
Examples of how the world could work
A. Transformation in Spain
The largest anarchist experiment in building a free society to date took place 80 years
ago in Spain. At the time of the Civil War in 1936, as many as two million workers were
members of the anarchist trade union, the CNT. For the first year of the civil war they
started a profound revolution on the land and also in the cities, in particular Barcelona.
The English writer George Orwell, arriving in Barcelona six months into that process,
described how "The Anarchists were still in virtual control of Catalonia and the
revolution was still in full swing... when one came straight from England the aspect of
Barcelona was something startling and overwhelming. It was the first time that I had ever
been in a town where the working class was in the saddle. Practically every building of
any size had been seized by the workers and was draped with red flags or with the red and
black flag of the Anarchists;...The revolutionary posters were everywhere, flaming from
the walls in clean reds and blues that made the few remaining advertisements look like
daubs of mud.
"Down the Ramblas, the wide central artery of the town where crowds of people streamed
constantly to and fro, the loud-speakers were bellowing revolutionary songs all day and
far into the night. And it was the aspect of the crowds that was the queerest thing of
all. In outward appearance it was a town in which the wealthy classes had practically
ceased to exist. Except for a small number of women and foreigners there were no
‘well-dressed' people at all. Practically everyone wore rough working-class clothes, or
blue overalls or some variant of militia uniform. All this was queer and moving. There was
much in this that I did not understand, in some ways I did not not even like it, but I
recognized it immediately as a state of affairs worth fighting for."
Orwell was describing Barcelona where the major industries, including transport, had been
taken over by the workers and run through workplace assemblies and mandated, recallable
delegates. Some 3,000 enterprises were collectivised in this way. Services under workers'
self- management rapidly improved. Elsewhere in the agricultural province of Aragon, over
300,000 people took part in working the land in common by forming 400 collectives.
Revolutionary Spain was defeated by fascism, a process that saw brutal repression in which
tens of thousands were murdered. However, it demonstrated that the power we have when we
come together to protest can also be used to create an entirely new society, without
politicians or bosses.
Find out more at http://www.wsm.ie/spanish-revolution
B. Rojava
Perhaps the bravest experiment in building a free society is that happening right now in
Rojava, the area of northern Syria with a large Kurdish population. There, a network of
thousands of community-based assemblies and some 4,000 co-operatives are working to create
a society built on principles of gender equality, environmentalism and direct democracy.
There is a vicious civil war in Syria, and what is called the ‘Rojava Revolution' has had
to defend itself against brutal attacks from ISIS on the one hand, and the Turkish state
on the other.
The militia units that defend Rojava include the autonomous women's YPJ, while behind the
front there is the Asayish, a police force of sorts that aims to give all citizens 6 weeks
training as a route to eliminating the need for any distinct police force at all. Their
current training includes feminist theory and non-violent conflict resolution before they
gain access to weapons.
The Rojava revolution is surrounded by enemies: the Turkish state, the Assad regime and
ISIS. Much of the region is also economically deprived and the people are divided by
religion and ethnic background. If such a transformative revolution can be attempted amid
such seemingly impossible conditions, how much easier should it be here?
More information http://www.wsm.ie/rojava
C. The Anarchist Alternative
Many people have come to associate the left with political parties in search of power. In
the mild form, they demand your vote at election time. In extreme forms, they produce the
horrible abuses of the Soviet Union or ‘communist' China. But even in the mild form
encountered in Ireland, the top-down party model very often produces aloof politicians who
see the rest of us as foot soldiers to be controlled and ordered around.
When the socialist movement was born there was an enormous argument between these top-down
socialists and another sort, the anarchists. The anarchists argued that seeking state
power would corrupt the left and that the process would select the worst people amongst
our ranks, those most inclined to seek power for themselves whatever the cost. Anarchists
maintained this argument, which was proved correct by the revolutions of the 20th century
in Russia, China and elsewhere, and by those various left governments elected on socialist
promises, only to become indistinguishable from the old ruling class.
Anarchists propose an alternative. We argue that we, the working class, have to organise
ourselves through the sort of assemblies and councils described here. And it is not enough
to fight capitalist exploitation but ignore the many other oppressions that people
struggle against. All manifestations of oppression have to be opposed in the here and now.
The WSM exists to promote this vision of a free society and to help organise resistance
and transformation today.
If this makes sense to you, we'd love to work with you. You can register your interest at
www.wsm.ie/user/register
For more on anarchism, see http://www.wsm.ie/basic-anarchism
PDF of our March for Choice leaflet to download, print out and distribute
http://www.wsm.ie/sites/default/files/MarchforChoiceLeaflet2016.pdf
http://www.wsm.ie/c/demand-world-change-leaflet-march-choice2016
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Message: 4
Shengal Women's Assembly held the 2nd Conference with the participation of hundreds of
delegates and guests. ---- The conference was attended by Kongra-Star members from Rojava
Kurdistan, Newroz Camp, YJA-STAR guerrillas defending Êzidî people in Mount Shengal, women
from Shengal, journalists from Europe and Koma Civaken Kürdistan (Kurdistan Communities
Union, KCK) Co-Presidency Council Member Sozdar Avesta. ---- The conference which was
participated by around 300 delegates began with one minute's silence in memory of those
martyred in freedom struggle. ---- Speaking here, KCK Co-Presidency Council Member Sozdar
Avesta condemned all those responsible for the massacre and displacement of Êzidî people,
and saluted Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, PKK movement, YJS (Shengal Women's
Units), Êzidî Women's Assembly, all the guests attending the conference, and all the
martyrs who fell mounting resistance against massacres and genocides.
Avesta pointed out that they were holding the conference with the ultimate goal of
rescuing the women enslaved by ISIS, adding: "We will free those women at the soonest
time. We owe to them and we are giving a struggle to liberate those women who are enslaved
at the hands of ISIS but are with us in heart and spirit."
Avesta said the 2nd Shengal Women's Assembly Conference was aimed at not only evaluating
the annual activities of the Assembly and the current situation of Shengal women but also
re-organising the Êzidî women and rendering them stronger and more organised.
Avesta put emphasis on the importance of carrying on the struggle in order for the return
of displaced Êzidî people, liberation of the enslaved women and ensuring their
self-defense once they are back home. She stressed that: "Those who caused the Êzidî
people to suffer the 74th genocide in their history are afraid of the unity of Shengal
people and the struggle of Shengal women, for which reason they want to break the will of
Shengal people and women. They want to enslave Shengal women and render them unable to
resist atrocity and repression. With this genocide, they want to drive them apart from
their land, culture and history. The struggle given by Êzidî women against all these is a
sacred one. Êzidî people were massacred, suffered a genocide, suppressed, burned and
tortured dozens of times but they never gave up on their cause, language, culture and
history. They never bowed down the head against atrocity and cruelty."
Addressing Êzidî women, Avesta continued as follows: "You, women of Ezidxan, are not
alone. Your revolution takes its roots from 40 years of struggle, labour of Leader Apo and
women, women's formation of an army and party. You are a part of this labour. We need to
protect and embrace the enslaved and displaced women. We need to strengthen our unity and
avenge the massacred Êzidî women. I reiterate that martyrs are immortal, that the struggle
of Shengal women will triumph and that the freedom struggle will develop under the
leadership of free women."
Messages of PAJK, KJK, Efrin Êzidî Women's Assembly and Êzidî Women's Assembly in Europe
were read out after Avesta's speech. Activity report was also read out and approved, and a
committee for the organisation of women was established.
https://fda-ifa.org/shengal-womens-assembly-holds-the-2nd-conference/
------------------------------
Message: 5
Manchester Solidarity Federation carried out a successful picket outside Laibaz restaurant
in Bolton on Saturday 24th September. The picket was part of the campaign Manchester SF is
organising against the owner of the restaurant who owes ex-employees thousands of pounds
in unpaid wages. The picket was a real success with a number of people who had planned to
eat at the restaurant refusing to cross the picket line. Throughout the picket we had
people stopping to offer support with several people sharing their experiences of being
mistreated at work. We also collected details of one person who wanted to get involved in
the campaign. The local newspaper took pictures of the picket and interviewed one of the
ex-employees. Several members of Manchester IWW joined the picket to add their support to
the campaign.
Besides the picket, the campaign has included a number of successful phone blockades as
well as postering and leafleting events around Bolton. A number of demand letters have
been sent to the owner of Laibaz, Sunar Alom, who continues to refuse to enter
negotiations. Manchester Solfed is determined to escalate the campaign in the coming weeks
if the owner doesn't change his stance towards the just demands of the campaign. The
workers involved would once again like to thank everybody for the tremendous support. The
fact that so many people from around the country have supported the campaign has been a
real boost and has made us more determined than ever to force the owner to repay the wages
he has stolen.
http://www.solfed.org.uk/manchester/laibaz-picket-report-249
------------------------------
Message: 6
We invite the public to a lecture by two young people from the Czech Republic who are
fighting against the Islamic state in Syria. ---- Storytelling Margaret Všelichová and
Mirka Farkas escorted copyrighted photographs, who went to northern Syria, to stand
alongside Kurdish militia YPJ and YPG attack the Islamic state and defend Rojava! He
rojava not only resisted, but now inflicts ISIS one defeat after another, and frees your
neighbors. Liberated Rojava becomes hope for the entire Middle East, not only a successful
defense against ISIS, but also the ongoing revolution based on the emancipation of women,
social and economic autonomy. Margaret and rate well organized material aid to people
affected by the hardships of war in Syria directly, find out how you can help. ---- After
the lecture will be given space and discuss your questions.
FB event:[www.facebook.com/events/1883131905240290/]
Date & Time:
Thursday, 29 September, 2016 - 19:00
Category: bar/cafediscussion/presentationexhibition
Price: free
email: safed@risuep.net
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