Anarchic update news all over the future - 11.12.2018

Today's Topics:

   
1.  zabalaza.net: South Africa's polluting giants: it's about
      profits and class (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
2.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL #289 - Violence against
      women: Record mobilization in France (fr, it, pt)[machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
3.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL #289 - Retreats: Will they
      be reduced by one third ? (fr, it, pt)[machine translation]
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
4.  Britain, Class War CW INFANTALIST DEPT - A PLAN
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
5.  Greece, from the December 6th demonstration in Patras by
      dirty horse (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
6.  anarkismo.net - Movie Review: 'Shoplifters' (2018) by LAMA -
      AWSM (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
7.  Britain, AFED, THEIR BREXIT, OUR LIVES AND OUR PLANET
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


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Message: 1





When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, South Africa falls within the 15 biggest 
polluters in the world. But there is also a class dimension when it comes to pinning down 
which sections of society are responsible for air pollution - the major polluters in South 
Africa are the ruling class (capitalists, politicians and top state bureaucrats) and their 
state and corporations (including state corporations), continuing an economy based on 
cheap black labour, mining and externalising costs. State-backed"empowerment" firms - for 
Afrikaners from 1948, and blacks from 1994 - are deeply involved. ---- South Africa's 
polluting giants: it's about profits and class ---- Shawn Hattingh (ZACF) ---- When it 
comes to greenhouse gas emissions, South Africa falls within the 15 biggest polluters in 
the world: ---- · In 2015 alone, South Africa emitted 427 million metric tons of carbon 
dioxide (CO2)
· As such, South Africa as a country is a major contributor to global warming - although 
it is not quite in the league of China, the USA and India
· Air pollution in some parts of South Africa, such as the Mpumalanga Highveld, is so bad 
that millions of people suffer from diseases caused by air pollution, including skin 
rashes, heart disease, asthma and lung cancer
· In fact, it is estimated tha between 2 200 and 2 700 people in South Africa die 
prematurely every year as a result of being exposed to high levels of air pollution
· But there is also a class dimension when it comes to pinning down which sections of 
society are responsible for
air pollution - not all people contribute equally to air pollution
· When pollution is looked at in conjunction with class, it becomes very clear who the 
major polluters in South
Africa are; and it is not the working class

The polluting class
· The reality is that the ruling class (capitalists, politicians and top state 
bureaucrats) and their state and corporations are responsible for the vast majority of 
greenhouse gas emissions - including CO2 emissions - in South Africa
· The biggest 80 companies operating in South Africa account for over 60% of all air pollution

Two of the biggest polluters amongst these companies are[state-owned]Eskom 
and[privatised]Sasol

· Sasol's Secunda plant, which is a coal-to-fuel plant, is the largest single emitter of 
CO2 in the world. Sasol as a group emits over 60 million metric tons of CO2 per year.

Eskom, however, is by far the biggest polluter in the country
· 90% of the electricity Eskom generates comes from coal and in particular lowgrade coal 
that creates heavy pollution
when burned
· Eskom emits well over 200 million metric tons of CO2 a year
· Over 77% of the electricity generated by Eskom through low-grade coal is used by mining, 
commerce, manufacturing and agricultural enterprises - with less than 20% being consumed 
by domestic/residential users

But it is not just CO2 that is emitted by the likes of Sasol and Eskom -other poisonous 
gasses, including
sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and mercury are pumped out by these companies

Profits and pollution
· Under capitalism and the market system major polluters like Eskom and Sasol externalise 
the costs of pollution by dumping it into the air
· Therefore, because they don't have to pay for the pollution they make, Eskom and Sasol's 
profits are subsidised and
the costs of pollution - including bad health - are externalised onto people
· Having the ability to dump pollution and externalise any costs also means that companies 
like Sasol and Eskom
don't have any incentive to use cleaner energy
· So it pays companies to pollute and pollution and profits are very directly connected

Pollution and the structure of the South African economy
· The major defining features of South African capitalism, and what has made manufacturing 
and especially mining traditionally so profitable, are cheap labour and extremely cheap 
electricity
· Colonialism and apartheid were tied to capitalism and, through oppression and racism, a 
black working class
was created as a source of very cheap labour, and hence high profit, for capitalists (the 
tiny group of people
that own the means of production) in South Africa

But cheap electricity also played a huge role in ensuring the profitability of South 
African capitalism
· In fact, the state nationalised private electricity companies - such as the Victoria 
Falls Power Company
- in 1948 in order to provide giant companies, including Anglo American, with the cheapest 
electricity in the
world
· To do so Eskom has used low-grade coal, often supplied to it by the very companies 
receiving cheap and even
subsidised electricity, such as Anglo American, because it was the cheapest way to produce 
electricity
· Thus capitalism in South Africa and the use of low-grade heavily polluting coal to 
generate the cheapest possible
electricity have been and are tied together

If air pollution is to be addressed in South Africa, therefore, the structure of the 
economy will also have to be changed, as it is the structure of capitalism in the country 
that drives the use of cheap low-grade coal -
and hence massive air pollution - by companies like Sasol, Eskom and ArcelorMittal

Empowerment has a long dirty history
· Eskom has not only used low-grade polluting coal as its main source of electricity to 
benefit giant companies at
the expense of the working class and its health; it also gas also has a long history of 
promoting aspirant sections of the ruling class through ‘empowerment' and their link to 
low-grade coal

During apartheid, Eskom was used as a means of Afrikaner economic empowerment
· Most of the low-grade coal mines were owned by Afrikaner capitalists -English capital 
already had a monopoly over mines with better quality coal
· To assist these Afrikaner capitalists Eskom focused on building power stations that 
generated electricity through burning low-grade and heavily polluting coal. It favoured 
purchasing this low quality coal from operations, such as Gencor, owned by Afrikaner 
capitalists

Today and since 1994, Eskom now plays a key role in elite black economic empowerment
· Most black economic empowerment companies in the coal industry - like Afrikaner 
empowerment companies in the past - are concentrated around low-grade coal mines
· Eskom today supports these initiatives through purchasing low-grade coal from 
corporations with shares owned
by a black elite, including Patrice Motsepe and Cyril Ramaphosa
· Thus the focus on low-grade coal by Eskom is also linked to a history of furthering the 
profits and class interests of an elite with political connections to the state

As with apartheid, it is the working class that pays the consequences

https://zabalaza.net/2018/12/06/south-africas-polluting-giants-its-about-profits-and-class/#more-5660

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Message: 2




The demonstration of November 24 was a real success with the number of protesters and the 
inventiveness of the processions. But chanting anger is not enough. We must continue to 
fight violence against women in every way and wherever we are. ---- November 24 will 
undeniably be a milestone in the visibility of the fight against violence against women 
(although the media have chosen to focus on yellow vests, though fewer). The number of 
protesters (and also protesters), the vitality and the inventiveness of the processions 
will have shown a real dynamic highlighting the desire to end this violence. ---- Thus, 
between 50,000 and 80,000 people marched in about fifty cities. A figure so far never 
reached ! For a certain number of women (especially young people), it was the first 
participation in an event. This shows that the call was heard beyond the traditional 
ca¬dres. But to welcome these figures can not suffice. It is now a question of going 
beyond and continuing the daily struggle.

Demonstration against sexist and sexual violence in Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
It must be remembered: a woman dies every three days under the blows of her companion or 
ex-companion ; 225,000 women are victims of domestic violence ; there are 93,000 rapes or 
attempted rapes each year (on major) and no less than 550,000 sexual assaults. These scary 
figures are certainly underestimated, even though victimization surveys are becoming 
increasingly reliable.

Even though gender-based and sexual violence is legally defined and criminally wrongful, 
few women cross the threshold of the police station for fear of reprisals, not being heard 
or believed. Also afraid to be judged. And how could it be otherwise when the aggressors 
put in place strategies that allow them to act with complete impunity under the complicit 
or blind eyes of the witnesses ?

Do not let anything pass
Scanning his anger is not enough. It is every day that we must act and react, individually 
but especially collectively when possible. Intervene when a woman is harassed on the 
street. Interpose when a woman is touched by public transport. Open it when coworkers make 
sexist jokes in the workplace. React when you hear the neighbor screaming or the blows 
raining in the apartment next door.

Even if one can take a critical look at the organization and communication methods of the 
collective All (which failed to maintain a broad consensus especially around the issue of 
prostitution), it is clear that the demonstrations were a success. However, attempts to 
de-politicize the debate, to make invisible the organizations that were part of it (the 
instructions were given not to bring flags or balloons), can sow doubts about the future 
of this movement and the intentions of its organizers. Alternative Libertaire has made the 
choice to appear as such in Paris in a common procession of libertarian feminists with our 
comrades of the CGA. For our part, we continue to fight violence against women by all 
means (training, education, self-defense, interventions, debates ...) and wherever we are. 
This goes hand in hand with the fight against all oppression and all systems of domination.

Gaëlle (AL Saint-Denis)

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Violence-faites-aux-femmes-Record-de-mobilisation-en-France

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Message: 3





During the presidential campaign, Macron had trumpeted the principle that he wanted to 
reshape the pension system: " One euro contributed will give the same rights for all. The 
formula may seem right ... seen from a distance. It actually refers to a system that is 
most unequal: the retreat by points. ---- This will be one of the social storms of the 
year 2019. According to the calculations of the CGT, the application of calculation " 
points " to the current pension system would spend a pension currently from 1 600 euros to 
... 1,000 euros. [1]Where does this prognosis come from ? From the extrapolation of a 
known reality: in fact, the point calculation already exists for supplementary pensions.
Remember that the French pension system is now composed of three floors. The 1 st floor is 
the basic plan, provided by the pension insurance according to the principle of 
distribution, and suffered all government attacks for twenty-five years. The 2 th floor, 
is that of supplementary pensions (AGIRC ARRCO) co-managed by unions and employers. The 3 
th floor, it is the pension called " additional " optional under the private insurance 
supervision, funded, encouraged by various government neoliberal PS-UMP-LRM.

Let us therefore on the 2 th floor. For his supplementary pension, an employee accumulates 
points according to his salary. The crux of the problem is that the value of the point 
fluctuates each year depending on life expectancy, the number of assets, or even the rate 
of growth. It is only at the time of retirement that the amount of the supplementary 
pension is known. In addition, it is calculated over the entire career, unlike the basic 
pension, calculated on the best 25 years (in the private) or the last six months (in the 
public). Employees who have had periods of unemployment, part-time work, long sick leave, 
parental leave, etc. are therefore penalized. And of course, women are over-criminalized.

Today, the basic scheme partially offsets the periods not worked. With a point 
calculation, it would be over. There would only be a number of points accumulated. It's 
silly, mean, accountant.

As usual, government communication says the essentials are preserved: the age of departure 
at age 62 and the pay-as-you-go system, whereby retiree pensions are financed by assets. 
But this age will become more and more theoretical: we can leave at age 62 yes, but with a 
shabby pension ! Employees who have the means will pay for additional pensions, and the 
private insurance sector will be the big winner of this policy.

To leave at 62, with a shabby pension
The management of this system is ideal for the Liberals, since it switches to automatic 
piloting: the amount of pensions is indexed to the accumulation of contributions ; 
political choices fade behind technocracy.

But the goal of the government is twofold. Following the reforms of 2003 and 2010, the 
basic plan found profit in 2017 and 2018. In fact, the pensions have fallen so much that 
there are now too many contributions in the caisses ... That's no problem is the 
opportunity to remove contributions ! We will wait until the old-age insurance is again in 
deficit to, again, crying on " the hole of the Sécu " and lower pensions ... This is what 
we call a vicious circle.

The vicious circle
In 2018, Macron abolished employee contributions for health insurance and unemployment 
insurance, replacing them with a tax increase, that of the generalized social contribution 
(CSG). In 2019, new exemptions are planned: for example, there will be no more employers' 
contributions to wages at the Smic level.

In other words, we are told that there is no more money to finance pensions, but in 
reality we always give more benefits to employers, who almost no longer finance social 
protection. On October 10, the government met with the unions and put two projects on the 
table: the decline in the full-rate retirement age to 63 ; the point calculation. A bit 
feverish, he however preferred to present his reform after the European elections of May 
2019. By then, he will apply the same method of negotiation as in Holland: the " social 
partners " - trade unions and employers - must start from agreement ... within the 
framework of what the government prescribes.

The scenario is therefore almost played. The ambitions of the government are indeed 
similar to those of the CFDT. In 2017, it endorsed, with the GSC, the CFTC and the 
employers, the reduction of the full-rate retirement age from 62 to 63 for supplementary 
pensions, on the pretext that it was the only solution for to " save " them !

A simple principle: it is our work that creates wealth, it is the employers who monopolize 
it. We must return to a system of solidarity financed exclusively by social security 
contributions, cancel all employer exemptions, increase wages and pensions, and achieve 
full employment through the reduction and distribution of working time.

What to claim ?
Finally, we must return to the " workers ' management " of the pension system, as in 1945. 
It is up to the workers to decide on their orientations, through their trade union 
organizations: the State and the employers. do not have to grab our dues ! We produce them 
by our work, let's fight to keep them in control !

Grégoire (AL Orleans)

What they are already costing us
the tax credit competitiveness and the liability pact, created by Holland = 35 billion 
euros per year
Exemptions from employers' contributions = 25 billion euros
the hidden work (thus without contributions) = 6 billion euros
What they expect to save on our backs
a strict application of the calculation by points = an average pension to 900 euros 
instead of 1400 euros to the ladle = 100 billion euros saved by the employers
decline in age of departure from 62 to 63 years = about 10 billion euros
Claims for better pensions
full employment = 73 billion euros more for pension funds
equal pay for women and men = 10 billion euros more for pension funds
300 euros salary increase for all and all = 2 billion euros more for pension funds

[1] CGT Regional Union Île-de-France, " Pensions: Solutions for progress exist ", November 
13, 2018.

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Retraites-Seront-elles-reduites-d-un-tiers

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Message: 4






Lacking the power to establish workers councils next tuesday or even to ruck with the cops 
CW is calling for this united action campaign next Tuesday 1pm onwards
A COUNTRYWIDE SING-A-LONG TO 'YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF CUNTS' - EITHER WITH YOUR NEW WORDS OR 
OURS - AT 1PM
PUT THEWORD OUT TO MEET IN A PUB/KAFF.OUTSIDE/TOWN CENTRE......AND SING ON THE HOUR ALL 
DAY........SEND US DETAILS OF WHERE YOUR MEETING AND FILM ON THE DAY
ALTOGEHRR NOW......


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Message: 5





FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SPONTANEOUS EXERCISE IN THE ORGANIZED AND CONTINUOUS SOCIETY 
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSE ---- The December 2008 uprising demonstrates that social upheaval is 
feasible, that social and class counter-attack - in contrast to integration, resignation 
and personalization - is the only realistic prospect of victory for the exploited and the 
oppressed. The December uprising is currently living as a social project, not for its 
repetition, but for overcoming it by the struggling ones themselves in the prospect of the 
social revolution. ---- The spontaneous, temporary, and disorganized outbursts of our 
righteous anger are not enough to open the road to the social revolution. Political, 
social and class self-organization of the oppressed themselves is required for the design, 
development and continuity of the struggle. It is necessary for the contestants to put 
obstacles in the assimilation efforts and attempts at manipulating, scolding, mediating 
social and class resistances. With our weapon of solidarity, we strive to organize, 
interconnect, meet and continue the struggles from below to create new fronts for the 
spread of conflict with every aspect of state and capitalist barbarism.

Our utopia does not stop at the outbreak of spontaneous insurrection. It is not justified 
by anything less than the social revolution, the universal overthrow of the state and 
capitalism, and the building of a new class society of equality, solidarity and freedom.

FOR ANARCHY AND FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION!

https://ipposd.wordpress.com/

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Message: 6





This is a short review of the movie[English title]'Shoplifters'. It is a film that 
examines aspects of the underbelly of contemporary Japanese society. ---- In Japan working 
hard and consuming are powerful ideals. ‘Shoplifters' (‘Shoplifting Family' is the 
original title) is an award winning movie that attacks the foundations of such thinking in 
the framework of a subtle and moving family portrait. ---- The opening scene introduces us 
to Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky) and his fresh faced pre-teen son Shota (Jyo Kairi) as two 
of the titular thieves about to steal from a store. A weaker movie would apply 
conversation, voiceover or explanatory captions at this point. Here we have the highly 
capable Director Hirokazu Kore-eda who knows film is fundamentally a visual medium. We can 
see from the gestures and body language alone that this is something the two are 
habituated to. The other understated aspect of this is the choice of products they glom, 
indicating character motivation. They aren't taking high priced fancy stuff, but food to 
survive. Though later we see there's also a degree of self-delusion and half-baked 
justification for some of their choices. The biggest being the kidnapping of a four year 
old girl Juri (Sasaki Miyu) they happen upon on the way home. We hear her parents having a 
major domestic dispute. This makes it evident the girl isn't wanted and since Osamu and 
his family aren't asking for a ransom, it can't really be kidnapping, can it?!

How many of us would act that way? Not many, but Kore-eda pulls off a masterful technique 
of showing events entirely from the hermetically sealed perspective of the shoplifters 
themselves. Somehow we are pulled into understanding their view, since there are no other 
major characters throughout the movie. Yes it's a bit manipulative but it works and isn't 
the same as excusing it, since he mitigates this by showing morally grey areas throughout. 
For example, Osamu is callously exploited as a day labourer on a building site. He is 
injured and of course receives no compensation. While recuperating he justifies the theft 
of expensive fishing rods by saying selling them will cover expenses for the month while 
he is recovering. You could argue that in the circumstances there is some justification 
for this. Though it comes at the price of involving their newest charge in the theft in a 
small but crucial moment, thus inducting a true innocent into their way of approaching the 
world. Later he and Shota are seen fishing with the rods. They haven't been sold after 
all. This isn't really ‘Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to 
fish etc'. It is more symbolic of the short term rationale a long-term thief uses to 
excuse his actions.

In addition to the pater familias and son, we are introduced to his tough wife Nobuyo 
(Ando Sakura). There is also the sly Grandmother (Kiki Kirin) who exploits the emotions of 
distant relatives to extort money to supplement her pension. It may not be right in some 
ways, but she is an old woman doing what she needs to in a system where welfare barely 
covers basics. Rounding off the group is sister Aki (Matsuoka Mayu) who performs behind a 
mirror at a sex show. She fumbles for a real connection with another human being but is 
cheated by circumstances, an example of the way the director emblematically holds a mirror 
up to society itself.

It is clear none of the characters are working in a way that mainstream society would 
condone. Nevertheless, Kore-eda shows through tightly focused interactions that these 
people have feelings and are making choices that may not always be noble, but are 
definitely human. They lie and steal but also show solidarity. They feel joy in simple 
things such as fireworks and going to the beach, they laugh, love (both emotionally and 
physically), eat and die. Most significantly of all, as the closely observed contact 
between the characters plays out, we are forced to address the hypocrisy of a society that 
talks about the importance of ‘family' yet allows the sort of physical abuse and neglect 
Juri receives. In contrast, the supposed misfits look after her and each other. It's a 
society that can sometimes provide materially as long as you play by the rules, go to 
school and sell yourself to the corporation, but has lost its heart.

Towards the end of the movie some of the oddities of the familial situation Osamu and 
associates have woven, are unravelled. Grace notes and allusions earlier in the story are 
teased out and amplified. Just when we think we understand the situation Kore-eda has 
shown us, he takes the story to another level. The details of this are best left for a 
viewing rather than being spoilt. It is enough to say that the denouemont is well worth 
it, with the acting of Ando being a particular strength.

Kore-eda has crafted a beautifully realised indictment of contemporary society as it 
operates in an advanced capitalist economy. The acting is superbly naturalistic, the 
camera work spare and all the more effective for that, the actions of the characters are 
muddled and grey as in real life and the movie doesn't look for easy answers. Best of all, 
it pays re-watching to be fully appreciated. Steal a view today.

Related Link: http://awsm.nz/2018/12/05/movie-review-shoplifters-2018/

https://www.anarkismo.net/article/31218

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Message: 7





Was there ever a better time to show that our political system is not just unfair and 
dangerous, but also nonsensical. It’s bad enough that Capitalism puts profit before 
people, but our economic future – our ability to live and thrive – is being determined by 
bureaucrats who are making things up as they go along, and lawyers who tell them whether 
they can get away with it. You know you have gone ‘through the looking glass’ when 
something like this is offered in all seriousness as helping you understand the situation 
as it stood last weekend. ---- Video Player 
http://afed.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Peston-video-clip-from-TV-screen-Brexit-vote-options.mp4?_=1
And that was before the vote on Tuesday 11th December got cancelled because everyone was 
set to vote against ‘The Deal’. (Yes, they can do that  – cancel a vote if they think they 
are going to lose). Theresa May says she is going to renegotiate with Europe what she was 
absolutely adamant could not under any circumstances be renegotiated and was absolutely 
the best ‘Deal’ she could possibly get.

Confusion and disorientation is at the heart of Brexit, and we are starting to accept it 
as normal. If you ask an anarchist how they hope to get to a free and equal society, 
they’d probably say, “I wouldn’t start from here” and be both joking and serious. It isn’t 
the fault of anarchists that we get further and further from a situation where working 
class people can live and thrive freely. We just have to keep it in the front of our minds 
and as a clearly articulated part of our longer-term analysis.

So, what now? To the centrist, Remainer Right and Left – those who don’t actually relish 
the possibility of an economic catastrophe, with the rebirth of England (specifically 
England) from the ashes – the prospect of a second referendum is also a problem. 
Grass-roots democracy within an electoral system clearly doesn’t work, if a referendum 
result can be so easily thrown in the dustbin. The response to there even being another 
referendum, never mind the outcome, shows working class people what the elite really think 
of us.

But this realisation isn’t fostering working class unity, when the class is so divided 
over questions of labour, migration and national autonomy along the lines of Left and 
Right. A major problem with both Brexit and Remain positions is that they are producing 
cross-class alliances. Some workers seem to be willing to embrace the possibilities 
offered by the catastrophist elite, as worth it in the long run. And these include some of 
the left too, hoping for a socialist Brexit; through the looking class again. Other 
left-wing workers and unions are agreeing with industry bosses, who in general oppose 
Brexit. A second referendum just demonstrates to many that democracy is a joke, but one 
increasingly common answer to this is increased authoritarianism and further 
discrimination and hostility towards people who are already marginalised.

On the other hand, a ‘People’s Vote’ is the only avenue that gives working people any 
agency at all during the current deliberations. And there is certainly an anarchist case 
for voting just as there was first time around, especially if it includes the possibility 
of remaining. A Remain vote, not a soft Brexit, is less of a threat to our 
internationalism. Liberal-minded people want free movement of people ‘within reason’. But 
new government commitments to EU people living here don’t reassure EU people living here, 
even those who have never claimed benefits and have paid taxes, bought houses, have 
children who speak only English, and even those married to British people. Everything is 
changing ever five minutes, and any of several likely new Tory Party leaders might roll 
back what has just been promised. Also, there are more activists in Britain who are EU 
citizens than ever. We have to protect them as we always have tried to protect non-EU 
international comrades, not just because we are internationalists but because they are 
also our comrades, friends and families.

The prospect of a general election is also dire. Labour might be on something of a high 
internally as it gloats at the state the government is in. But Labour are pro-Brexit too 
and at the end of the day this still means ‘British jobs for British workers’. As ever, 
anarchists cannot seriously think that a vote for the supposed ‘Left’ is anything other 
than handing our decision-making power to friends of Capitalism.

Finally, what of the possibility of Brexit simply dying a death? The lawyers and civil 
servants said from the start that it wouldn’t and couldn’t work in the way we were told it 
could, not for ideological reasons but it is simply too complicated to get out of the EU. 
The Brexiteers have a point about the EU undermining British sovereignty (if that’s what 
you like). No Brexit will certainly make people trust politicians even less. But will it 
inspire them towards a better world, or a more reactionary one, given the options and the 
weakness of anarchism?

But the real reason why we are further than ever from an anarchist society is that Brexit 
is a diversion from some ultimately far more important issues. One is climate change; as 
it is, the Remain or Brexit projects only have a couple of generations to run anyway 
before it’s too late to stop global warming. So where is the environment debate within the 
Brexit debate? Nowhere. It’s as though the future within Europe and the World is being 
thought about with a different part of our brains. Unlike the politicians of the harder 
Left and Right, we have to act with our minds on the future of the planet and its people 
as well as the immediate and medium-term gains and losses which at present dominate the 
political discourse.

Brexit can only worsen a situation where people in Britain live and die without shelter or 
warmth, without the care that they need, dependant on food banks, missing school as 
children because they can’t afford sanitary towels, not being able to live as the gender 
they should because of the economic cost of transitioning, or any other of the hardships 
we have come to accept as normal, but which are actually social crime. Things will get 
worse before they get better, Brexit or no Brexit. It threatens medical and food supplies. 
We actually are at that point. Anarchists will rightly spend more time addressing these 
issues than they do thinking about Brexit, and the work will be even harder after it takes 
place.

As I said, you wouldn’t start from here. But we are where we are. Whatever the outcome of 
Brexit, we’ll continue to fight political and legal restrictions to where people can and 
can’t go, what they can do there, and how they will support themselves. But we also have 
to force a reversal of climate change in every strategy we undertake, by whatever means we 
can, if we have any chance at a better World.

So, we have to work on many levels for a World around which the global working class can 
unite, survive and change for the better, in the medium and long term. Is there a version 
of Brexit that gets us closer to that? Let us know.

http://afed.org.uk/their-brexit-our-lives-and-our-planet/

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