Anarchic update news all over the world - 5.10.2018

Today's Topics:

   
1.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL Alsace - Red flag on the
      cathedral, November 6 in Strasbourg (fr, it, pt)[machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
  
 2.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL #286 - Nicaragua: Ortega,
      from popular power to liberal business (fr, it, pt)[machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
3.  wsm.ie: Claire Byrne Live and the anarchist menace
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
4.  Britain, afed: UBEREATS LEAVES A BAD TASTE 
     (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
5.  Greece, vogliamo tutto: Patience, disappointment,
      individualism and cannibalism pave the way for barbarity and it
      is the road that tells us every power [machine translation]
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
6.  anarkismo.net: Devrimci Anarsist Faaliyet: "The state's
      project of eliminating revolutionary opposition hasn't finished
      yet" by Paddy Rua (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
7.  Greece, Announcement of the self-managed space "On the Face"
      by dwarf APO [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


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Message: 1






Strasbourg 1918-2018: the Red Flag from the past to the future. Die rote Fahne von der 
Vergangenheit in die Zukunft ---- In November 1918 the red flag floated a few days on the 
spire of Strasbourg Cathedral. ---- The city lived under the authority of a council of 
soldiers and workers created following the return of sailors from Alsace-Lorraine who 
participated in the mutiny of the German imperial fleet. ---- On November 10 the 
proclamation of the decay of the imperial power was followed by that of the social 
republic. But the accelerated arrival of French troops on November 22 put an end to the 
revolutionary experience. ---- Today and in the future the red flag represents the banner 
of those who want to conquer social justice jointly in our country and internationally.
Read also: " Red flag on Strasbourg Cathedral " in Alternative Libertaire of November 2008.
Tuesday, November 6 from 14h to 23h at Aubette, 31 place Kleber

2 pm - 5 pm Historical Conference on the November 1918 Revolution
17h - 19h Itinerant event linking the places of activity of the workers 'and soldiers' 
councils
7 pm Inauguration of the Franco-German historical exhibition
20:00 International trade union meeting with Philippe Martinez, General Secretary of the 
CGT and Michaël Rudolf, Head of the DGB of the Länder of Hesse and Thuringia
The event will be hosted by the PTK (Prolet Tanz Klub).

The inauguration and the meeting will be accompanied by the following artists: Daniel 
Muringer, Liselotte Hamm, Jean Marie Hummel and Peter Kuehn

The following organizations support and participate in this action Red Flag: FSU, 
Solidarity, PCF, NPA, POID, Libertarian Alternative, PCOF

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Strasbourg-Il-y-a-100-ans-le-drapeau-rouge-flottait-sur-la-cathedrale

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Message: 2






In the 1980s, Ortega ruled the country in a popular and progressive way. But since 2007, 
his clan has gradually adopted the institutions in a clearly neoliberal perspective. ---- 
At the head of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel Ortega governed 
Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 with a vision of popular and progressive power in a country 
ravaged by civil war. In 1990, during the presidential elections, although the majority of 
the population then support the FSLN, the weariness of the civil war between the 
Sandinista government and the Contras-Revolutionaries, then funded by the United States, 
as well as the rejection of the service Mandatory military are right Ortega, who against 
all odds, loses the presidential election.
Returning to power in 2007, Ortega wants to be a candidate for his succession in 2011. The 
Nicaraguan constitution does not allow more than two presidential terms he must obtain a 
majority that he does not have in the Assembly (Nicaraguan Senate) in to modify it. He 
made a deal with former right-wing president Arnoldo Alemán of the Liberal 
Constitutionalist Party (PLC), then imprisoned for corruption during his reign 
(1997-2002). Ortega negotiates the release of Alemán in exchange for support from the PLC. 
Alemán is not only released but also presidential candidate of 2011 and at the same time 
the Constitutional Court authorizes Ortega to stand for a third term. After these 
negotiations with a right-wing criminal, it becomes clear that Ortega is not afraid to use 
his power and state entities for his personal benefit. Since then, he has pursued a policy 
of total centralization of power in which all state officials must be loyal to him if they 
want to keep their posts. Several examples can be cited: the obligation for public 
officials to participate in Party events such as demonstrations in support of the 
government or, more recently, the prohibition to participate in demonstrations or even to 
approve them publicly. More than 130 doctors and 40 professors from the Universidad 
Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) have been fired. It is with this strategy of 
manipulation and concentration of power that Ortega is " he has pursued a policy of total 
centralization of power in which all state officials must be loyal to him if they want to 
keep their posts. Several examples can be cited: the obligation for public officials to 
participate in Party events such as demonstrations in support of the government or, more 
recently, the prohibition to participate in demonstrations or even to approve them 
publicly. More than 130 doctors and 40 professors from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma 
de Nicaragua (UNAN) have been fired. It is with this strategy of manipulation and 
concentration of power that Ortega is " he has pursued a policy of total centralization of 
power in which all state officials must be loyal to him if they want to keep their posts. 
Several examples can be cited: the obligation for public officials to participate in Party 
events such as demonstrations in support of the government or, more recently, the 
prohibition to participate in demonstrations or even to approve them publicly. More than 
130 doctors and 40 professors from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) 
have been fired. It is with this strategy of manipulation and concentration of power that 
Ortega is " the obligation for public officials to participate in Party events such as 
demonstrations in support of the government or, more recently, the ban on participating in 
demonstrations or even publicly endorsing them. More than 130 doctors and 40 professors 
from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) have been fired. It is with 
this strategy of manipulation and concentration of power that Ortega is " the obligation 
for public officials to participate in Party events such as demonstrations in support of 
the government or, more recently, the ban on participating in demonstrations or even 
publicly endorsing them. More than 130 doctors and 40 professors from the Universidad 
Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) have been fired. It is with this strategy of 
manipulation and concentration of power that Ortega is "  reelected   "in 2011, then in 
2016 with his wife, Rosario Murillo, as vice president.

A betrayal of Sandinism
 From the economic point of view, it's not better. In 2007, Ortega received tremendous 
support from Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to meet Nicaragua's oil needs. He takes the 
opportunity to enrich himself and his family and to control the country. Venezuelan aid 
was never administered by the state but by the private company Albanisa, whose subsidiary 
Petronic, which supplies oil, is owned by the Ortega-Murillo family. One of their sons, 
Laureano Ortega, is the director of the Pro-Nicaragua Agency, which was responsible for 
managing the $ 50 million investment for the construction of the Nicaragua Canal, a 
project that has never started and was very much disputed by the peasants. These funds 
have enabled the Ortega-Murillo family to create a whole series of private companies and 
to become owners of the main media including television channels and radios. Ortega has 
developed relationships with the business community, creating free zones and offering 
major concessions provided that these people never intervene in politics. Ortega controls 
all state institutions, justice and the police. The economic interests of the 
Ortega-Murillo family, and the conduct of a completely neo-liberal policy backed by the 
IMF are proof of a betrayal of Sandinism and all those who fought for the revolution. It 
is for this reason that many former fighters of the revolution and former leaders of the 
FSLN, like Dora Maria Téllez or even General Ortega's elder brother, General Humberto 
Ortega, criticize the president for his lackluster, un-socialist, violent and centralized 
policies. Ortega's slogan "  Nicaragua socialist, Christian and solidarity   "is an empty 
message. His government is not socialist and even less popular and progressive, it is more 
like a neoliberal oligarchy.

Pavel Bautista

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Nicaragua-Ortega-du-pouvoir-populaire-a-l-affairisme-liberal

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Message: 3






We missed this last week. ---- -Quote-  ---- Claire Byrne:[Take Back the City]"have 
pledged to train up volunteers on how to occupy vacant buildings across the country. We 
have them here tonight, we're going to talk to them in a minute but first of all I want to 
come to you, councillor Paddy Smyth because you believe this group are anarchists, is that 
right?" ---- Cllr Paddy Smyth (FG): "Well, they're disobeying court orders, they're taking 
possession of property that isn't theirs, and effectively if we don't have property 
rights, we don't have ownership rights in this country, we do have anarchy, so, yes."[1] 
---- -End quote- ---- Yet another reference to 'anarchists' by state and corporate media. 
Why are they going out of their way to try to associate the housing movement in general, 
and the 'Take Back the City - Dublin' grouping in particular, with us scary anarchists?

Well, the right wing, who engineered the housing crisis and are profiting from it, are 
trying to spread the idea that it's not Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil you should be afraid of, 
it's those 'anarchists' you should really worry about. Note that there isn't any 
discussion about what anarchists are or what we want or believe. Instead, they mention 
anarchists often enough to get the word itself into the viewers head but they don't talk 
about us in detail.

The media are hoping to prepare the ground for the next time a group of Gardaí assault 
housing protesters so that they can say something along the lines of "Oh, but those people 
are those anarchists we've been hearing about for weeks. Of course the police will have to 
maintain order if there are anarchists involved in the protest/occupation/march.". This 
level of hostile media attention directed towards anarchists pales in comparison to the 
faeces flinging hysteria that gripped the Irish media around the May Day 2004 but it 
should still be noted and examined.

Obviously, anyone who has worked with anarchists during the water charges campaign or the 
repeal campaign will know that we're grand to work with, we just argue against using 
elections to local or national state bodies as a method of winning improvements to our 
society and standard of living.

Anarchists argue that direct action like blocking water meter installation, non-payment of 
water charges and all the pro-choice campaign work that prepared the way for the repeal of 
the 8th amendment are far more effective methods of achieving our goals than lobbying 
politicians. And this argument is absolutely true. Direct action got the goods in both of 
those recent campaigns and many more besides.

So the next time you hear Claire Byrne or Ivan Yates mention 'anarchists', just know that 
they're trying to frighten people away from the kind of effective direct action that 
anarchists do indeed promote. Don't allow the mouthpieces of the capitalist class and 
their state to get you worried about anarchists. Remember, we'll be campaigning alongside 
you, our communities, our trade unions and our class on everything from housing, to 
pro-choice work and workers rights, so that we can have a decent society to live in, in 
spite of the best efforts of the right wing.

Source of quote:
[1]
RTE - Claire Byrne Live
Monday 17th September 2018.
Video timestamp: 01:00
Link: https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/claire-byrne-live-30003252/10937824/

https://wsm.ie/c/claire-byrne-live-and-anarchist-menace

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Message: 4






The following article is from an AF member and UberEats delivery rider (also called 
driver) who took part in the recent spontaneous industrial action in London following the 
decision of Uber to reduce massively the pay rates per ‘drop' for food deliveries on 19th 
September 2018. This action has become necessary to fight a race to the bottom for food 
courier wages, all while the business owners are using the profits to support buy-outs and 
consolidation of the industry overall. The serious response from workers is to organise 
more effectively and coordinate at a national level, with a strike now planned for 4th 
October. The planned action on this day coincides with a national strike of the fast food 
industry. Furthermore, Uber taxi drivers are poised to show solidarity.

"Working as a delivery driver for UberEats is not easy. You have to pay for your fuel, 
insurance, motorbike or moped repairs, and even pay for the Uber bags and jackets you 
wear. If we try to save money on insurance, then we aren't covered for some accidents, 
meaning not working for days after. Every time we get on our motorbikes, we are risking 
our lives. When it's snowing or raining, it's nice and convenient to have food delivered 
to your door. It's so practical. But remember that there is a driver who has to face those 
conditions, and we don't do it for fun, we do it for the pay."

"Of all the precarious jobs around, UberEats was the one that paid the most. In London, 
drivers got anywhere from £5 to £7 per delivery. The ‘base payment' was £5.33 per 
delivery, less 20% Uber fee; so the minimum a driver would get per delivery was £4.26. 
However, often you get a ‘boost', when Uber multiplies the payment to 1.1x (that is, 10% 
more) or even up to 1.5x (50% more). Uber adds these boosts when they need more drivers, 
usually at peak times or during bad weather."

"On Wednesday 19th of September, Uber cut down the base payment to £3.50 taking the 
minimum down to £2.60 after Uber cut is taken out. There was even one case of a driver who 
received £2.22 for a delivery, as you can see in the picture (mobile phone screenshots 
below). It's getting much harder to live in London. Rent is going up and up. The vast 
majority of the drivers in London are migrant workers and living as an immigrant is 
especially hard. In most cases you have to pay the rent every two weeks. There is no 
stability and it's constant work. You can make a lot, but you spend a lot, just to pay for 
the basics. For some drivers it is even harder, because they rent their Uber account from 
someone else, who charges for this."

"After the ‘drop' pay reduction, it's been impossible to keep working while receiving so 
little - we ain't slaves. On that Wednesday, chaos started to spread, and many drivers 
went on strike. On the following day, there were pickets in many places and the idea of 
protesting in front of the Uber main office, in Aldgate, was being spread. About 300 
drivers went there, not counting all the others picketing elsewhere. After a few hours, 
the police said that it was not legal to stay there any longer, so the drivers went on a 
convoy to the Parliament square, which generated a lot of traffic disruption. The protest 
hit the news because of this."

"The strike and that protest were spontaneous. There were many WhatsApp groups, divided 
into nationalities and areas, but there was no coordination, so, it was quite chaotic. On 
the next day, Friday, only 50 drivers went to protest in front of Uber main office. By the 
evening, all pickets were gone. On Saturday, everyone was already back to work, angry and 
frustrated."

"Since then, Uber has maintained boosts to at least 1.3x (30% more than the new base), so 
the drivers are not suffering as much as they did on the Wednesday and Thursday. But it is 
still less than before. What really scares the drivers is that we know that Uber can drop 
boosts at any time, and we know Uber will do it in a few weeks. It will be impossible to 
work if there is no boost."

"What is outrageous is that Uber has no reason to cut pay, other than pure greed. UberEats 
just announced that started negotiations to buy Deliveroo for £1.5 billion. If UberEats 
wasn't profiteering from the drivers, it would not be in a condition to buy Deliveroo. For 
the drivers, this means that there is no way out. Deliveroo already used to pay less than 
Uber, before the payment cut. But, now, most likely working for Deliveroo will result in 
the same outrageous small amount that Uber is now forcing on the drivers."

"On the 19th, 20th and 21st, the strikes were disorganised. Many drivers didn't join. The 
main complaint from the drivers was that there was no one to represent them, no one to 
talk to the press, bearing in mind that most drivers don't speak English very well. So 
they felt weak. However, from the weekend after, some drivers and activists started to 
organise. The Industrial Workers of the World took the lead and is now organising a 
national strike of couriers on the 4th of October! The IWW's form of syndicalism allows it 
to work with non-members, similar also to how the Solidarity Federation does it, and has 
become the public face of the action. The requirement to become a member makes sense for 
unions, but we still need more modern ways to deal with spontaneous strikes. If a union 
needs to take weeks to vote, then it cannot support the drivers in such a crucial moment. 
In fact, the IWGB already organises couriers in London but was not able to support the 
drivers at short notice, although many IWGB members are helping to organise the strike on 
the 4th, which was put forward by the IWW."

"Most of the organisation is still done through WhatsApp, but now things are better 
organised. It isn't just a bunch of loose groups. There is a connection between all of 
them, even at the national level. The strike now is not only of UberEat drivers, but also 
of Deliveroo drivers. The amounts that these two companies pay to the drivers vary from 
city to city, so the specific demands may vary. In London, the UberEats drivers will 
demand £5 minimum per delivery, after Uber 20% fee, plus £1 per extra mile. There will now 
be strikes in Glasgow, Cardiff, Plymouth, Bristol, Newcastle and London, and rallies in 
many other cities. The choice to strike on the 4th October is because some McDonald's, 
Wetherspoons and TGI Fridays workers are also going on strike, demanding a salary of £10 
per hour, organised by the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU)."

"We know Uber won't be defeated so easily, and further actions will be necessary. But this 
seems to be promising. It has taken a lot of work to organise the strike on the 4th. 
Drivers are organising by themselves, and together with true activists. Some people spend 
too much time and energy worshipping Corbyn. I haven't seen anyone from Momentum on the 
streets helping us to organise the drivers. If we are successful, certainly other 
organisations might try to claim they were responsible for it. But the drivers know that 
this national strike is only becoming a reality because of the hard work done by IWW, 
members of IWGB (in London), and unaligned activists."

"The strike will be this Thursday, on 4th of October. We'll strike from 5pm to 9pm. In 
London, at 5:30pm, the drivers will protest in front of the Uber main office, in Aldagte. 
For more information, including details on the actions in each city, access IWW website: 
https://iww.org.uk/news/iww-couriers-network-why-we-strike/

Read another article about UberEats action on libcom.org

http://afed.org.uk/ubereats-leaves-a-bad-taste/

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Message: 5





Within a global landscape that compose the war, the economic and military interventions, 
the exacerbation of intra-capitalist antagonisms for world control and hegemony, the 
plunder of the natural environment and the human societies, it is now more understandable 
than ever, that impoverishment , our complete submission and extermination are the 
prerequisites for the perpetuation of the system. The only future that capitalism and 
every state form of organization have to offer is destruction and death. ---- Warfare on 
various parts of the globe, and especially on Syrian territory, are not a single conflict, 
it is the condensation of intricate competition for global control and hegemony.In Syria, 
the two major US powers are involved, with their ally the EU. (a member of which is also 
the Greek state) and Russia, as well as regional powers such as Turkey, Iran and Saudi 
Arabia, who want the largest possible portion of the world reappearance. And if the US 
(Nato-EU) and the world over the last few years, they seem to be experiencing (for various 
reasons) vibrations in their omnipotence, which has made it the main enemy of Russia to 
believe that power correlations can change to its advantage.

At the same time, the change in geopolitical power relations determines the movements and 
alliances of a number of states, more or less powerful, aiming at more power and wealth. 
This also shows us what is happening in the southeastern Mediterranean against the 
background of the AOZ. (Exclusive Economic Zones), where the Greek state has concluded 
agreements with Israel, Egypt and Cyprus, among other things, for the exploitation of the 
energy deposits in the south of the island, while at the same time through its alliances 
it seeks to strengthen its position both in the wider region, as well as in the Turkish 
state, in this always "competitive neighbourhood". In this direction, the Greek state, as 
a member of NATO, provides everything that is required to strengthen existing US-NATO 
military bases (Souda, Araxos) and settle new ones, such as the city of Larissa or 
Alexandroupolis.

Against this backdrop, the Macedonian issue was reopened due to the intended enlargement 
of the EU and NATO, two supranational mechanisms of economic and military 
enforcement.Greece is already a member of these two mechanisms and Macedonia is seeking 
its membership. Through the negotiation, the name of both states aims to achieve more 
favorable terms and to strengthen their position towards each other in their future 
alliance with NATO and the EU. At the same time, decisive for the situation and the 
restart of the "Macedonian issue" are the aspirations of both the Greek capital for 
further expansion to the neighboring country as well as the Greek state for the protection 
and promotion of its economic interests and hegemony in the wider region iochi. While we 
must not forget the role of the Turkish state, which is trying to promote its own plans 
both in the Balkans and the Middle East. That is, the matter was reopened to serve the 
economic, military and political interests of the sovereigns. This is why nationalisms are 
being stimulated on both sides of the border and polarization is being created.

At the same time, inside Greece, the Syriza-Anel government has successfully undertaken 
the continuation of the attack on the bottom while maintaining and consolidating 
nationalist ideology. The left-wing management has gone through the third memorandum, the 
recapitalization of banks, the blocking of savings to protect the banks, the reduction of 
pensions, the increase in retirement margins, the Sunday labor in the trade, the 
electronic auctions and seizures houses of first residence, the privatization of public 
property.And while celebrating the "end of the memorandum" (ie celebrating their 
application to the antenna), he hasten to announce pre-electoral benefits to the voters, 
leaving the core of laws and ministerial decisions intact through which the widespread 
social oppression continues. At the same time, control and repression are intensified 
through the use of state-of-the-art electronic systems, the creation of a DNA bank, the 
installation of cameras in every corner, the control of financial transactions, the 
limitation of the legal protest, the recording of travels through the electronic 
electronic identity, the militarization of repression, the widening of 'anti' terrorist 
legislation,

All of this, of course, in the name of national unity, which implies sacrifices and 
patience for the recovery of the economy to come up with racist rhetoric, the terrorism 
that leads to the targeting of the weakest social groups. We understand, therefore, that 
when more and more authoritarian laws are being constantly enforced, which are constantly 
exacerbating the impoverishment, control, exploitation, exclusion, and leading 
increasingly social parts to marginalization, the state attempts to disorient us by trying 
to reconcile exploiters and exploit under the imaginary community of the nation and 
convince us that the enemy is national rather than class.And this treaty serves every 
aspiring political administrator, from the government to the fascists, as they all aim to 
create a dignified, controlled, frightened and obedient community that faithfully follows 
the above commandments and applies the authoritative plans. So, on the one hand, the 
rulers exploit the nationalist rallies as a lever of pressure in the negotiations, 
intensify the patriotic rhetoric by "fishing" votes in the blurring waters of nationalism 
and at the same time rallying their "democratic" audience, while on the other side all 
right and fascists use them to rally under the patriotism,

The Macedonian was the reason for activating all the conservative reflexes of a large 
piece of Greek society, while the nationalist rallies were the right ground for all 
fascist marshes to emerge.Participants in the rallies were found side by side with 
far-right party members, neo-Nazis, military, church and many other graphic presenters of 
the far-right group, strengthening and socializing the doctrine of PATRIS-RELIGION-FAMILY, 
nationalism dressed in the pale shroud of patriotism and fascist strikes. Thus, the right 
treaty was created from above to bring about nationalism, racism and social cannibalism. 
Fascist troops as loyal servers and devotees of the "divide and reign" devoted themselves 
to space and, through nationalistic massacres, assaulted, always with the back of the 
police, in places of resistance and freedom (ESC school, arson of occupation of 
Libertatia, occupied theater Embros, occupation of a former PIKA). Eventually, the rallies 
functioned as a symphony orchestra where the mob-depot of patriot voters, sprays, 
christian-latin, macedonian, and apolitic fanatics mastered the nationalist crescendo and 
strike line, the first violins, the golden dawn neo-nazis, the fascist hooligans. 
Undoubtedly, the great winner of the rallies was and is fascism that demonstrated hegemony 
by wearing a mantle of patriotism.

Fascism is an integral part of the pylon composed of rulers and "democratic bows", judges, 
cops. He acts as the most faithful servant of the capital both in parliament (8 hours 
abolition, measures in favor of shipowners ...) and on the streets (strike mechanisms, 
employers' unions ...). It is an indispensable tool of power against "intruders" (attacks 
on roofs, immigrants, anyone who does not fit into their obsession). It is the long hand 
of the repression and the inter-state mechanism that every state Leviathan needs to 
terrorize, control and neutralize those who question the status quo(attacks on social 
struggles, fighters). The fascists are genuine representatives of the hypocritical 
bourgeois-democratic regime (they sell "humanized" humanity to the channels in the midst 
of a disaster, while members plummet to the burnt).

Samuel Johnson once said: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the rogue". We say today: "the 
more you steal life, so they feed you with nation and race." The dilemma that has to be 
put on everyone and all is: I will be with the authority that speaks of patriotic 
responsibility and calls for national cohesion or I will be with the racing and subversive 
part of society. Because the enemy is not national, it is class.That is why our struggle 
is against their state, capital and their fascist reserves. Our struggle is anti-fascist 
and counter-institutional. It is not carried out in parliaments-in party offices-in court 
rooms because there is fossilism being raised there and supported by capital as the weapon 
for imposing upon oppressors and exploiters. Our struggle takes place in the streets, 
schools and schools, workplaces, squares and stadiums, organized by the oppressed ones 
themselves and carried out with the weapons they choose for solidarity and equality, 
self-organized and anti-hierarchical.Our struggle is internationalist, against homelands 
and borders, against nationalism, intolerance. Our struggle is against the exploitation 
and oppression of man by man, for a world of equality, solidarity, justice and freedom.

Communities of struggle between natives and immigrants against nationalism, fascism, 
intolerance and war, for the overthrow of state and capitalist barbarity, for the social 
revolution, for anarchy and communism.

https://vogliamotutto.espivblogs.net/2018/10/02/i-ypomoni-i-apogoiteysi-o-atomismos-kai-o-kanivalismos-stronoyn-ton-dromo-pros-tin-varvarotita-kai-einai-o-dromos-poy-mas-ypodeiknyei-kathe-exoysia/#more-1960

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Message: 6





As repression keeps mounting in Turkey amidst a generalised economic crisis, we had the 
chance of discussing with a member of Devrimci Anarsist Faaliyet (DAF), a Turkish 
anarchist organisation, the current situation under Ergogan and its implications in the 
ongoing Syrian conflict and the new balance of power which is being created out of this 
civil war. Their perspectives are of interest to militants everywhere in the Globe. ---- 
1. Since the half-hearted attempt at a coup against Erdogan in 2016, his policy has become 
more aggressive internally and externally. What do you think are the main manifestations 
of this policy and their consequences? ---- The coup became a crucial stage for Erdogan 
and his AKP party, especially by enabling a "state of emergency" which was declared in the 
name of eliminating the "enemies" inside many state institutions. The ongoing war between 
FETO (which is a religious group and had many members in society and important positions 
in institutions, from high courts to the military, and said to have organised the coup 
attempt) and AKP evolved to legitimate repression by the latter after the coup attempt. 
Erdogan took advantage of this situation (being the leader of a party which was intended 
to be deprived of political power by the coup). "Being an elected leader" baptised him 
with the holy spirit of democracy during the coup ruckus. He and his party had been 
elected in the general elections and the "enemies of democracy" tried to kill him and 
tried to take control of the state in an undemocratic way!

During the coup ruckus and after, the propaganda of "democracy" played an important role 
in convincing every group (even the main opposition party) and individual of AKP's 
"legitimate" political existence. Every authoritarian step taken by the government (and, 
indeed, the government is Erdogan) has been taken in the name of democracy. The 
"democratic" victory of Erdogan against the military coup helped him change the regime 
(now a presidential regime) and got all the legislative, executive and judicial power.

Erdogan and his party's "illusion of democracy" plan enables them to have political power. 
With this legitimated political stage they have declared an "undemocratic" state of 
emergency. During this process, they held one election and one referendum. A referendum 
for changing the system of election for parliament/president... So think about the 
so-called democracy of the elections! It wasn't a surprise that they got all they wished 
from the elections. This part of the whole process is important, because they tried to 
present themselves as being democratic for domestic and foreign politics. So every step by 
Erdogan and his party was guaranteed politically.

In this democratically guaranteed political process, a big wave of repression has occurred 
for the people and organisations on the opposition side. Many people and organisations 
have experienced the repressive face of the state of emergency. Many people have been sent 
to prison without any judicial justification, according to the wish of the "president" and 
for the sake of the "nation". Many organisation have been closed down, banned; many of 
them faced with punishments... So the state of emergency helped them eliminate social 
opposition. In fact, they targeted revolutionary people and organisations more than FETO.

And the so-called opposition just focused on the elections, through which they thought 
there was a chance to beat Erdogan in a democratic way. This option was very naive, and 
helped legitimate Erdogan and his party more.

These aggressive politics from the president encouraged fascist and conservative 
mobilisations in society. The fascist and Islamist organisations or groups tried to punish 
people or groups whom they saw as an "enemy to the nation and religion". State supported 
para-military groups even occurred.

Beneath these domestic repressive steps, they use the same aggressive strategies in 
foreign politics. During the state of emergency period they have attacked and invaded some 
parts of Rojava.

2. The country, in the mean time, is facing a dramatic economic crisis and there are no 
signs of it getting any better. What is the impact of this crisis on ordinary Turkish people?

It is obvious that everyday it is getting harder to keep up with the crisis. The last 
figure for the poverty limit which was declared by a worker union confederation was around 
5500 lira and the hunger limit around 1800 lira, whereas the minimum wage was around 1500 
lira before the crisis. The rise in prices is affecting any good necessary for human need.

Actually, before the "dollar crisis", the economic condition was also bad. We are talking 
about an economy which has been tried to be re-structured by the president and the 
government. Since the AKP's economic corruption was uncovered in the ongoing war with FETO 
4 years before, Erdogan (especially his family members figured out in this corruption) and 
his party tried to organise the economy again. The biggest companies in different sectors 
in the capitalist economy were replaced with other companies. Sometimes the state assigns 
state trustees to big companies, sometimes the bosses of these companies are forced to 
sell their companies at low prices to other bosses who somehow have a direct link with 
AKP. So Erdogan and his party are creating a new type of capitalism pioneered by the state.

The economic relations with states like Russia, Iran etc. have also direct links with this 
new economic strategy. The new economic deals between these states, or the state companies 
of these states, on one hand are a good way for eliminating the old figures of capitalism 
which are not suitable and sometimes oppose Erdogan's new strategies and it is an 
opportunity for enabling the new figures. On the other hand, it is a tool to keep money 
flowing by hiding the economic crisis and maintaining benefits from the economic crisis 
for the companies.
The constant changing in foreign relations is making the economy more open to any 
influence. The dollar crisis is just a consequence of this policy.

In spite of the economic crisis, a social reaction to the crisis hasn't appeared yet. The 
main reason for this immobility is the political repression guaranteed by the presidential 
regime. Any kind of protest is forbidden de facto, and it is easy to arrest people or 
close down organisations with a "terrorist" decree. For example, last week a protest of 
construction workers for Istanbul's 3rd airport was forbidden. 600 workers were taken into 
custody by a police operation under the pretext of being a "terrorist strike organising 
with the help of foreign powers", 13 of them were sent to prison.

So in such a totalitarian regime things are not going in the way of Marxist belief. The 
Marxist analysis of the situation is just focusing on the role of the companies which are 
raising the prices and trying to benefit from the crisis. The role of the state has to be 
assessed and try to build up strategies to struggle against the state.

The bad conditions of the people are getting worse. The self-organised efforts of the 
people in such conditions of economic crisis in different geographies are becoming more 
important models day-by-day, which we see as a way to keep up with the crisis and try to 
organise in society. It is an important lively solution which must be carried out through 
a political organised struggle.

3. The relationship with the US is at an all-time low, with an ongoing trade war, a 
diplomatic stand off in relation to a US citizen arrested in Turkey and tensions within 
NATO in relation to the Kurdish and Syria... how do you think this crisis will impact the 
course of the Erdogan authoritarian project?

The foreign politics of the Turkish State are unstable. This is the state's foreign 
strategy. A few years ago the tension between Russia had been forgotten, but a war with 
Russia was nearly caused by shooting down a Russian combat plane in Syria. But now, one of 
the biggest allies in the region seems to be Russia.

This strategy is not a sui generis example for the Turkish State. The ally states are 
becoming an enemy, and the enemies are becoming allies. The long-term strategies are 
replaced with short-term strategies in international relations. This is the trend of new 
politics worldwide.

Now, it seems like the interests of the Turkish, Russian and Iranian (also Esad, who was 
the Turkish state's biggest enemy once upon a time) states in Rojava and Syria have 
intersections. And these intersections probably have something to do with the hatred of 
Kurdish political existence in Rojava. It is obvious neither Esad nor Erdogan want Kurdish 
political existence in Rojava. And more, it seems like economic deals on gas and oil 
pipelines between these states are being prepared.

But, as I mentioned, the strategies are being maintained in short-term periods. It would 
not be so surprising if, a few months from now, a big partnership appeared between the US 
and Turkish States. Erdogan and Trump could have similar populist conversions.

4. The US seems to have a very contradictory position in relation to Syria: on the one 
hand, it supports the SDF, which ignites the tensions with Turkey, and on the other hand, 
it is bent on defending the Al Qaeda Idlib pocket, which objectively strengthens Turkey. 
He is playing, seemingly, both cards at the same time. What is your view on this policy 
and how will it affect the outcome of the bloody Syrian war?

All the actors in the Syrian War have the same kinds of strategies. All actors in the 
geography knew that it is a place in the Middle East and every step has many outcomes.

It is not just the US playing both cards at the same time. It is a way to be in the game. 
Despite the cold relations with the US, Erdogan is mentioning "possible support" if a step 
is made by the US for Idlib. The changing position of Saudi Arabia, Qatar's support for 
Turkey, the Russia-Iran-Syria alliance, the US-EU pact... All the agreements between these 
states, from economics to politics, are alterable. For instance, social mobilisation in 
Iraq can change any strategy in Syria.

These strategies of the states keep the conflicts in these regions raging, and the bloody 
wars in these regions keep the bloody murderers like Erdogan, Esad, Trump or Putin in the 
power. The main strategy of all is built on this; keeping the power.

5. Do you think the attack on Afrin and the defence of the jihadists in Idlib seem like an 
attempt to annex those territories permanently from Syria as part of a neo-Ottomanist project?

This could be the propaganda of these strategies inside Turkey. The increasing neo-Ottoman 
discourse has obvious reflections in the changing nationalist character in Turkey. But 
that geography is not a region in which the centenary nationalist or religious projects 
can have a chance to appear. It is not suitable for strategies that depend on agreement 
with other political or economic powers in the region.

6. Do you think the US support of the SDF is threatening to turn them into a proxy army 
for the US, affecting their autonomy project and having an impact on the revolutionary 
credentials of the Kurdish liberation movement?

US silence on the attacks by the Turkish state have shown that the so-called alliance is 
not an alliance relationship at some times. This is a reality and the Kurdish Freedom 
Movement has stated this reality many times. So it means, far from being a proxy army, the 
US or Russia can discard the Kurdish Freedom Movement for a strategy.

The important thing is that the Kurdish Freedom Movement didn't start this resistance of 
existence with the sponsorship of the US or Russia. There is the will of the people who 
are living there and they are struggling against statist and capitalist strategies in the 
land.

These kind of risks must be talked about with the will of the people there. The strategies 
of the revolutionary actors must be criticised with the knowledge of the revolutionaries 
who are still struggling there. This is more constructive criticism. Otherwise, it is a 
criticism which has nothing to do with the reality of the region and just wants to make a 
reduction.

And of course, the risks of the strategies must make the revolutionary actors more aware 
of different issues and more open to criticisms which are in favour of the Rojava 
Revolution and revolutionary character of Rojava.

While we are discussing the revolutionary character of Rojava, generally we forget to 
debate. I think this debate is just as important as criticism of SDF and US relations. We 
have to debate the role of the "revolutionary" or "anti-imperialist" combatants in Esad's 
regime's fronts. There are many organisations from different parts of the world which are 
fighting with Russian/USSR motivation.

7. Not so long ago, the anarchists in Turkey were getting to feel Erdogan's repressive 
policies as your paper Meydan was being persecuted... has the situation changed for you, 
and what do you think is the future for a libertarian alternative in Turkey?

As mentioned before the political repression is getting higher day-by-day. The state of 
emergency hasn't been lifted, it has been transformed into another form with the 
presidentship regime. The state's project of eliminating revolutionary opposition hasn't 
finished yet. Now, economic crisis is another repression. On the other hand, we are faced 
with the state's new nationalist-religious culture. It is a part of creating a new society.

So the thing that we are trying to do are;

* Socialising another form of politics. During the state of emergency, opposition just 
focused on an electoral solution. It is important to socialise another type of politics 
which does not consider elections as a solution. Politics which focuses on elections 
clearly pacifies society and creates blocks to social mobilizations against political, 
economic and social problems. During this period, we tried to be in the streets, react to 
the nationalist and repressive policies of the state and make propaganda for anarchism.

* Finding practical solutions to economic crisis. Economic crisis is not just a situation 
that has to be analyzed. It is important to talk about ways of prevention. It is clear 
that we must demolish capitalism. But the need for self-organised economic models appear 
in such times of crisis. The many experiences around the whole world in such times are 
important examples to create ours. During this period, we are trying to create alternative 
economies and socialising the need to create lively links between repressed peoples.

* Socializing our culture based on sharing and solidarity. All the political and economic 
repression by the state and capitalists are being legitimated with the help of religious 
and nationalist propaganda from the media to education. It is important to socialize our 
culture based on sharing and solidarity against this. With the social activities and our 
social centers trying to socialize a new culture against the culture of capitalism and state.

Political and economic crises are hard periods, but it is important to keep up our 
struggle in these circumstances.The situation that we are in is not just related to our 
geography. All the economic, political and social strategies of the capitalists and states 
are targeting the repressed of the whole world. We call this period "terrorocracy" which 
is being led by figures like Erdogan, Putin, Esad, Trump, Maduro... We need solidarity 
more than ever as the repressed peoples in whole world. And we need nothing more than a 
social revolution.

https://www.anarkismo.net/article/31150

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Message: 7





AUTHENTIC SPACE "ON THE FACE" ---- 5 years in the streets of fighting resistance, social 
self-organization and class solidarity ---- "Anarchism is the teaching of freedom. Where 
there is exploitation, where there is power, where there is centralization, where man is 
guarded over another person, where commandments are given and there is obedience there is 
no freedom. The destruction of all Principles, all the privileges of all institutions of 
property and slavery can only be realized through the free community spirit. The society 
of free people. This is Communism, solidarity between the equal in freedom, this is 
Anarchy! " ---- A few words about space ... ---- The self-managed "on the face" was formed 
by anarchists and anarchists in the fall of 2013. From the very first moment of its 
operation, we sought to act  as a reference point for the wider anarchist and libertarian 
movement as a political and social venue for meeting, , political fermentation and 
collective self-education.

During these five years a number of events, discussions , presentations, festivals, etc. 
have been organized . with the aim of highlighting the wealth of anarchist, 
anti-authoritarian and libertarian perceptions and the diffusion of anarchist precepts in 
society at a time when government propaganda is at the expense of those who resist 
self-organization and from the bottom dominates, while racism, social cannibalism and 
racism are increasingly emerging as choices of a society in crisis. Against the culture of 
lifestyle anarchism and the hooliganization of political action, we promote a different 
revolutionary culture and consciousness, that of collectivization, political and 
theoretical search, the preservation of social and class memory, processes that are 
particularly important to us in the direction of wider reconstruction radical and 
anarchist movement.

At the same time, we championed the mobilizations to expel the golden dawn fascists when 
they had the bad idea of transferring their offices to our neighborhood, and eventually we 
managed to close them with the valuable contribution of comrades, neighbors and 
solidarity. Also, various groups of bullies have targeted us because of our political 
status and our unwavering position, with the result of accepting attacks that we have, 
first and foremost, repulsed, by defending collectively, fellow and solidarity with our 
political processes, our comrades, our places, and our struggles, against those who live 
in them, wherever they come from.

Today, the site continues to function thanks to the presence and presence of a significant 
core of people who participated in its foundation (mainly the anarchist group "dwarf 
horse" and some other comrades), but also because of the valuable contribution and active 
participation of new comrades and comrades with whom we met on the streets of the race.

As anarchists and anarchists, we have no illusions about landscaping and reforming the 
existing stifling reality, and we are turning against their state, capital, and 
mechanisms, recognizing that they are the main responsible for perpetuating the oppressive 
and exploitative relationships that generate poverty and impoverishment , social and class 
inequalities and the looting of the natural world. In short, in today's barbarity we do 
not aspire to create oases of freedom but to enrich our struggle with another tool, with 
an open space for anyone and anyone who wishes to resist, organize and produce answers to 
the multiple questions posed by everyday exploitation and oppression, A place for those 
who turn their backs into the world of sovereigns and shape the conditions for social 
revolution, anarchy and libertarian communism.
_________________________________________________

             * In the area that is definitely  open every Tuesday from 19.00-22.00,  there 
is a  lending library, a reading room, a self-managed cafe, and a bookstore of cinematic 
books.  At the same time, you will find forms of the anarchist / anti-authoritarian 
movement, but also of those struggling self-organized from the bottom.

             ** In disorderly moments  , events, screenings, debates, and a host of 
political and cultural activities are  being communicated in time to printed and 
electronic media.

SELF-ORGANIZATION-COLLECTION-SOLIDARITY-RESISTANCE

ORGANIZATION AND RACE FOR SOCIAL RESPONSE, ANARCHY AND FREEDOM COMMEMORATION

Self-organized "On the Face"

  Patreon 87, Patras

https://ipposd.wordpress.com/2018/10/01

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