Anarchic update news all over the world - 12-12-2018

Today's Topics:

   
1.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL - policy, Trade unionists,
      ecologists and libertarians in the yellow vests movement: four
      issues (fr, it, pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
2.  Britain, Brighton Solfed: Fox and Sons Estate Agents (of
      Sequence UK) latest response to our ongoing campaign:
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
3.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL #289 - Popular movement,
      Libertarian communists and yellow vests (fr, it, pt)[machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
4.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL Montreui - Yellow Vests:
      Is an Anti-Capitalist Turn Possible ? in Montreuil on December
      11th (fr, it, pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
5.  anarchist communist group ACG: Russian anti-fascists under
      attack: Solidarity demo - 19 January 2019 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
6.  anarchist communist group ACG: Should you consider joining
      the ACG? (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1






Orientation resulting from the exceptional conference of Alternative Libertaire of 
December 6, 2018 ---- The day of December 4 showed the panic of power: it gives ground, 
contradicts itself, crack. What are his options ? A cabinet reshuffle ? A few weeks after 
the previous one, it would only be comical. A dissolution of the National Assembly ? This 
is the great hope of the parliamentary opposition. This would be a false solution because, 
as in May 1968, this would only lead to burying the movement under institutional legality. 
The obstinacy "  right in his boots  " ? We will then continue to increase the balance of 
power, until the power gives way. ---- The police are suppressing everything, the number 
of imprisoned, wounded and mutilated is growing. The more illegitimate a power feels, the 
stronger it hits.

The general amnesty of arrested protesters must become a demand for the solidarity of the 
movement.

The movement of the yellow vests is, fundamentally, a revolt against the expensive life. 
Even if we denounce racist positions that are expressed locally, the motivations of those 
who fight are above all social. This is expressed by claims that are sometimes confusing, 
but this is what happens in any spontaneous popular movement. It should also be noted that 
the question of the price of fuel is now no longer at the center: what stands out is the 
denunciation of precarious growth, it is the denunciation of contempt. In this struggle, 
it is our social camp that mobilizes and the challenge for the revolutionaries is to 
popularize proposals and orientations that challenge the law of money and bosses.

Paris, 1 st  December 2018
Photo: Filou
First challenge: to
make prevail a
social orientation even revolutionary
The movement of the yellow vests expresses a global rejection of the current system, of 
its social and territorial inequalities, of the Macron government, identified with the 
dictatorship of the possessing classes. Behind this global rejection, which is shared by 
the whole movement, concrete demands are sometimes very diverse, ranging from false 
nationalist and anti-taxistic solutions to claims for tax justice (reinstatement of the 
wealth tax, taxation of aircraft kerosene, etc.). .) and the restoration of local public 
services.

Logically, each political force tries to propose a way for the movement: the right and the 
extreme right want to limit it to a Poujadist and xenophobic swamp ; the reformist left 
supports progressive demands and calls for early elections ; the revolutionary left, of 
which AL, seeks to connect the "  fed up of the system  " with a clearly anticapitalist 
and ecologist awareness.

Should we shout "  Macron resignation  " ? If the President of the Republic resigned, it 
would certainly be a historic event: the street would have brought down power. However, 
this can not be an end in itself, since the system that produced Macron would remain in 
place. The question is to change the whole society, and that's what we have to hammer.

Marginalize the employers, the right and the extreme right in this popular movement is the 
first issue in this movement, and it concerns all forces left and far left.

Paris, 1 st  December 2018
Photo: Filou
Second issue:
reconciling social protest
and the ecological imperative
It must be clear: the ecological transition is a necessity. Global warming threatens human 
civilization with a catastrophe. World oil production is doomed to decline. The model of 
the centrality of the individual car and long distances between home and work is therefore 
condemned to term. We must therefore accompany this decline. But not by doing the " 
punitive ecology  " that strangles workers forced to consume fuel.

The reconquest of public transport and local public services, methodically dismantled for 
decades, must become a central slogan. The people must be given access to basic resources 
and services, without having to pay them for perpetual, tedious and ruinous journeys.

Combining social revolt and ecologist aims is the second issue in this movement, and it 
concerns all those who are aware of the urgency of the climate issue.

Paris, 1 st  December 2018
Photo: Filou
Third issue:
facing
the government and the bosses
After the failure of the 2016 and 2017 strikes against Labor laws, this popular revolt 
that uses direct means of action to be heard - including economic blockages - opens up a 
formidable opportunity for trade unionism to fight (CGT, SUD-Solidaires , etc.).

The opportunity to find the path of action, to provide logistics and know-how to organize 
the blockages, and to propose a social orientation and solidarity. The opportunity 
especially to add forces in the battle and consolidate its class base, the call to strike, 
including the reconquest of public services gradually demolished for thirty years. The 
opportunity, finally, to affirm that the real social opposition is not institutional and 
parliamentary: it is played in the street, in the direct action, and will be the work of 
the proletariat in all its diversity.

The strike and the blocking of the economy are the best way both to back down power and to 
expose the extreme right, which will be reluctant to harm the interests of French capitalism.

The general strike, if it succeeds, will be the means to win the victory. it is the moment 
or never to popularize this idea.

Suffice to say that the reluctance that has prevailed so far on the side of the 
Confederation CGT is catastrophic. It is to be hoped that the action of Union Syndicale 
Solidaires and the most combative CGT federations will move the lines as early as 8 
December, and then during the inter-professional mobilization of 14 December.

To bring about this convergence between a spontaneous popular revolt and the organized 
labor movement is the third issue in this movement, and it concerns all the trade 
unionists involved in the struggle.

Paris, 1 st  December 2018
Photo: Filou
Fourth issue:
that the movement
is structured to progress
This is the ransom of the lack of structuring: if the yellow vests do not have a team of 
spokespersons mandated and controlled by the base, others will do in their place. The 
media will select some "  big mouths  " telegenic and will reserve the microphone. The 
government will try to choose a handful of "  representatives  " tailored for negotiations 
without legitimacy.

But can the yellow vests and they have, at the national level, a representative 
spokesperson team ? At this point, difficult to say.

General states of the movement ? Why not. But especially not a high mass government " 
Grenelle  " to lull everyone into a "  dialogue  " tagged. States-General yes, if they are 
self-organized and independent, and serve to build, in the face of state power, a popular 
power.

However, this will not be possible until the movement is structured locally, with general 
assemblies in each locality. This is what LA activists are encouraging where they are 
doing. The speaking, the collective reflection, the constructive exchanges are the surest 
way to elaborate together coherent claims, even to have an equalitarian charter (neither 
sexism, nor racism, nor homophobia ...).

Crystallize an anti-capitalist, basist and self-managing trend in yellow jackets, based on 
self-organization, this is the fourth issue in this movement, and it concerns the 
libertarian communists in the first place.

Melun, November 17, 2018.
Photo: Filou

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Syndicalistes-ecologistes-et-libertaires-dans-le-mouvement-des-gilets-jaunes

------------------------------

Message: 2






In support of a group of tenants demanding compensation after they were made homeless, has 
been to send through a load of spam emails. We think they might be rattled... ---- What it 
also shows is Fox & Sons' true feelings about tenants; they're not interested in their 
concerns, they just want their money. These tenants have dared to fight back, so Fox & 
Sons have resorted to tactics of intimidation, calling the police on the pickets, and to 
reputation damage management - getting a cadre of landlords to write glowing reviews about 
how great they are at ripping tenants off. ---- Perhaps you'd like to send Fox & Sons an 
email of your own, letting them know that you support these tenants in their campaign. You 
can contact them at: ---- kemptownlet@fox-and-sons.co.uk ---- or on 01273 620841 to 
express your support.

Remember that you can also alert prospective tenants to the dangers of renting with Fox & 
Sons by leaving a review at: https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m1!4b1!4m7!3m6!1s0x487585bb...

Finally, join us at tomorrow at the Fox & Sons Kemptown picket: Saturday 8th December, 
11.45am, meeting outside the Sidewinder pub, to tell them to pay compensation for 
cancelled accommodation!

------------------------------

Message: 3






The yellow vests: it was impossible for Libertarian Alternative to simply comment from the 
outside, even to despise this revolt of the " peripheral France ". Certainly, far from us 
the naivety to believe that " everything that moves is red ": this movement against the 
dear life is a carrier of many contradictions. It is nonetheless a popular uprising, 
practicing direct action, and expressing real social distress. AL activists went there to 
carry an anti-capitalist message, or to share their know-how in terms of 
self-organization. With contrasting experiences: sometimes disappointing, sometimes 
encouraging. Some stories and testimonials. ---- AL Commission Committee ---- Read also: 
---- Editorial: " The thickness of the revolts " , in Alternative libertaire of December 
2018 ---- " Gas, gas, rents, food, electricity ... Stupefy ! » AL leaflet of 12 November 2018
" Yellow vests: Anger is there, what now ? " AL release of 20 November 2018
DIJON: MIXED AMBIENCE
In Côte-d'Or, the movement of November 17 would have gathered 7,000 people, including 
6,000 in Dijon. AL comrades went to the blocks with circumspection, as the news channels 
had highlighted, about yellow vests, officials RN (ex-FN), Debout France and other LR. 
However, on the spot, the reality was quite contrasted.

There were of course FN electors, but also FI and abstainers. Some blue-white-red flags, 
but not as much as expected. In places, at crossroads, it was very tense: several 
motorists tried to force the dams, at the risk of injuring yellow vests. Politically, very 
little content, few slogans, more misogynistic and homophobic than what can be heard in a 
union demonstration ( " Macron resignation ", " Macron motherfucker ", " Macron goes back 
to fuck your old instead of nict your people " ). Many discovered what a demonstration 
was, the whole thing was extremely disorganized.

Roughly speaking, it is a revolt of people who suffer, who want to shout their anger and 
who are fed up with the " despising Macron " . Young people (as much as more than in the 
union demonstrations), old men, women, men ; all predominantly white. Libertarian 
activists of the left or extreme right were not very visible. Absolute discretion of the 
cops: we were able to block the roads, the ring road, go on a wild march and even invade 
the railways without any police reaction.

LISIEUX: AT THE GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE
In Lisieux (Calvados), the day of November 17 was the starting point for a week of action. 
In terms of economic impact, the activity zones on the outskirts of the city were totally 
blocked during the first three days, and more intermittently thereafter[...]. Monday 19 
still, more than 200 road have been stopped all day, including those of SCA Normande 
(logistics platform of Leclerc hypermarkets). Most of the drivers were in a state of mind 
of " stuck volunteers ". Arrested in single file on a lane, some mingled with yellow vests.

The blockades were attacked by mobile guards late Monday afternoon with tear gas ; the 
firefighters extinguished the tire and pallet fires, and finally a load cleared the 
taxiways. The face-to-face lasted several hours and there were at least two injuries on 
the yellow vests. It had been fifteen or twenty years since we had seen this type of 
police intervention in Lisieux. After the departure of the mobile guards, the roundabout 
Zac L'Esperance, the largest in the area, was again invested and partially blocked all 
night. The next day, at 7 o'clock in the morning, return of the rooms and release.

Nevertheless, during the day, between 50 and 100 people took turns for a filtering dam. 
Around 18:30, the roundabout located at the other end of the zone was in turn blocked, 
with soon 200 yellow vests.[...]The speeches of the blockers are in general not very 
politicized, but essentially social: we do not complain only about the increase of the 
fuel but of all the taxes and the low incomes, the difficulty to make ends meet, anxiety 
for future generations ... The fachos are actually drowned in the crowd.

PARIS: DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE TRACT AL
On Saturday, 24 November, a group of AL comrades took part in distributing the " Frozen " 
Federal Flyer in the demo. The prefecture had cordoned off the vicinity of the Elysee with 
riot trucks, mobile gendarmes, etc. The police tried to disperse the crowd with water 
cannon and tear gas canisters. Overall, the clashes were limited to a small portion of the 
Champs-Élysées where a few barricades were erected.

The 2,000 to 3,000 yellow vests present - for many non-Francilians - were not coordinated 
at all and advanced in affinity groups. No organization flag, but tricolor flags, 
Corsican, Norman, Breton, Catalan ... The Marseillaise was sung here and there, which is 
not surprising in a popular apolitical movement, where it is the only hymn that most 
people know. As for the main slogans, they were chanted on stadium tunes.

Little political content: " Macron resignation " or " dissolution of the Assembly " , as 
well as a mixture of criticism of big business, " Rothschild who pulls the strings " 
(anti-Semitic conspiracy), too many officials, politicians who have betrayed and put their 
pockets in, etc. No overt racist rhetoric, but talk of ordinary homophobia and sexism (to 
mock Brigitte Macron).

In this public far from being acquired in advance, the distribution of leaflets AL was 
nevertheless very well received and allowed to initiate discussions. Mistrust of anything 
related to politics has generally been defused since it was explained that (a) LA does not 
run for election ; b) the libertarians consider that the elected representatives represent 
only themselves ; c) the yellow vests are in fact politics when they claim the resignation 
of Macron.

Other coordinated groups included: trainers in orange SUD-Rail vests with some NPA 
students ; a group of IFs carrying the sticker " Rends the ISF first ", with François 
Ruffin surrounded by bodyguards ; OL activists ; a dozen people from the UL-CGT Vendôme, 
wearing yellow vest and CGT badge, and saying they were disappointed by the timid attitude 
of the confederation ; accustomed to clashes with the cops. And finally, a procession of 
about fifty fachos, including some known heads. Their Marseillaise was resumed but, 
isolated, they did not train the people behind them.

In conclusion, it was worthwhile to intervene: many read what was being distributed and 
were finally happy to debate. This popular revolt gives the opportunity to the 
revolutionaries to reach people who are not very politicized, whose speech is certainly 
confused, but with an undeniable class dimension, angry at the rulers and bosses.

NANTES: A STRUCTURE THAT IS LOOKING FOR
AL comrades were present on 17 November on the main roundabout blocked north of Nantes, 
with a hundred people permanently, plus teams who regularly go to filter dams or free 
parking nearby. Public very popular, very white, a lot of women, rather family atmosphere 
good child. A lot of employees of the private sector (joiner, mechanic, temporary worker, 
electrical technician, medical secretary ...). Between people, not very political 
discussions between people, but very practical: what blocks ? Why ? Filtering or not ?

That same morning, the gathering of yellow vests attracted 1,000 people near the Beaujoire 
stadium. The AL flyer was very well received: it was the only one available, and everyone 
was asking for it ! Unsuspecting discussions with the revolutionaries present. The common 
cement was really: " Life is too expensive, we can not finish the month, it is more 
possible. " But as soon as we spoke to strike or convergence with colleagues in the boxes, 
it went under.

In the afternoon, several gatherings revealed the latent disorganization of a movement 
devoid of any collective moment of decision. Some people wearing orange vests and calling 
themselves " mediators " tried to structure, but they were visibly too inexperienced, and 
rather aroused the mistrust of blockers.

At the prefecture, a hundred yellow vests met one of two feminist demonstrations. 
Autonomous started a wild demonstration with about 80 people.

In the evening, back at the roundabout, the situation had degenerated: a lot of alcoholic 
people including some downright unmanageable. Result: 300 bullets stolen in the solidarity 
fund and finally the camp burned a little later in the evening ...

Apart from this typical disorganization, AL comrades have had interesting discussions with 
people determined enough to spend their weekend on a greyish roundabout. It says a lot 
about their anger and a form of social distress. It seems essential to invest in it, to 
give a hand, to propose AG structured discussion times to get out of the current pitfalls. 
Apart from AL, LO, L'Sparkle and some autonomous, we did not cross in the Nantes movement 
any and no usual activist. It seems dangerous to leave people so angry with so little 
support from union and / or politically organized workers.

FOUGÈRES: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MAKES PROGRESS
In this city of 20,000 people in Ille-et-Vilaine, there were, on November 17, 13 blocking 
points (all roundabout access points to the city and service stations), with about 1,500 
people. The blockades persisted the following days with 150 to 300 people mobilized, each 
roundabout self-managing. After Monday, November 19, some people tried to proclaim 
themselves leaders and we began to feel the possible presence of fachos. A certain 
breathlessness was felt with the lifting of the roundabout jams on Tuesday night, even if 
toll free shares took over on Wednesday in Vitré.

This moment of flutter, with the fed up self-proclaimed leaders and other big mouths, gave 
rise to the desire to put everything flat to better structure. It was at this moment that 
the role of the self-managers present on the blockages proved to be decisive. The AL 
group, present since the beginning, proposed the organization of a general assembly (AG) 
of the yellow vests.

Preparatory meetings for a GA therefore took place at the local self-managed Les Oiseaux 
de la tempête, with about fifteen people. People have instead trusted the libertarians' 
experience of direct democracy.

The GA finally gathered 200 people and as much on the live broadcast. During this session, 
AL comrades rather held a role of facilitators (management of speeches, etc.) in the 
gallery, which did not prevent a good political progress of the debate. For an hour and a 
half, we evaluated the tracks to continue. Two commissions were set up - action and 
communication - and a working group worked on national demands (reinstatement of the 
solidarity tax on wealth, for example) and local (free transport, development of public 
transport networks. ..). A " charter of yellow vests Was voted (no violence, no racist 
...). The claims and the charter were proposed by people who, until then, had never met in 
militant circles. The next evening, a demonstration of 350 people took place.

People were generally pleased with their first GA experience, defend it and want to extend 
it. The speed with which people outside our militant culture have appropriated its tools 
while it was their first movement, their first AG, their first demonstration, is impressive !

Apart from AL, the local left began by turning their back on this spontaneous 
mobilization, while it regrouped many workers, workers, precarious ... This initial 
disregard could have been expensive, because the RN (ex -FN), he immediately tried to 
recover the movement. It is likely that we will see the local left change their minds now 
and start getting closer.

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Communistes-libertaires-et-gilets-jaunes

------------------------------

Message: 4






At the bar Mojito's, 20, Rue du Capitaine-Dreyfus, Montreuil, Tuesday, December 11 from 
20h to 23h. ---- A cocktail party organized by Alternative libertaire Montreuil ---- The 
movement of yellow vests is a popular revolt whose political coloration depends on local 
contexts. The worst is next to the best, which is not surprising given the current 
political context. ---- But to believe that the far right could monopolize a popular 
struggle of magnitude would be an incredible admission of weakness. Many more numerically, 
union, associative and political forces should be able to propose a political 
clarification of this revolt. ---- What to say, what to do, what to propose ?: we will 
debate during this cocktail-debate. ---- 
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Gilets-jaunes-un-tournant-anticapitaliste-est-il-possible-a-Montreuil-le-11

------------------------------

Message: 5






Russian anti-fascists and anarchists are being arrested, framed and tortured in a brutal 
wave of repression which has put eleven Russian anti-fascists behind bars, facing 
obviously fabricated charges which could see them jailed for five to twenty years each. 
---- The repression began in autumn 2017 when six anti-fascists were arrested in Penza and 
had weapons and explosives planted on them. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) 
tortured the anti-fascists in the pre-trial detention facility by electrocuting them, 
beating them and hanging them upside down. While torturing them, security chiefs forced 
the activists to memorise the testimony the FSB wanted them to give: that they were part 
of a fictional terrorist group called ‘The Network'.
Two more anti-fascists were arrested in St. Petersburg at the end of January 2018 and were 
also beaten, electrocuted and forced to incriminate themselves by saying they were members 
of ‘The Network'. A third person was accused in St. Petersburg and two more from Penza 
have also been arrested for supposed involvement in this make-believe organisation. The 
FSB claims that the detainees planned to arrange explosions during the presidential 
elections and the World Cup to "further destabilise the political situation in the country".

After knowledge of the fabricated court cases and horrific torture became widespread, 
solidarity actions started to take place, but this led to more repression. Some Russian 
activists who took part were detained, electrocuted and had criminal proceedings started 
against them - just for expressing solidarity.

This repression of anti-fascists comes at a time when the Russian state are working with 
gangs of far-right thugs to repress the whole of civil society. One poignant example of 
this happened ten years ago, two Russian anti-fascists, journalist Anastasia Baburova and 
lawyer Stanislav Markelov, were murdered by fascists in broad daylight on 19 January. 
Every year, Russian anarchists and anti-fascists gather to remember them.

On Saturday 19 January 2019 we are calling for everybody opposed to racism, xenophobia, 
fascism and the upsurge of far-right populism sweeping the world to join us on the streets 
to express our solidarity with Russian anti-fascists. The demonstration will start at the 
Cable Street mural near Shadwell station, east London and will feature speakers and a rally.

This demonstration is supported by:

Anarchist Communist Group
Feminist Fightback
London Anti-fascists
Plan C LDN

Please email london19jan(at)riseup.net to add your organisation to the list of supporters.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1954513344639049/

For more information on the ‘Network' case, see:

KIDNAPPING, ELECTROCUTING, B

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2018/12/07/russian-anti-fascists-under-attack-solidarity-demo-19-january-2019/

------------------------------

Message: 6






We are being exploited. Our environment is burning, and parliamentary politics offers us 
no hope of change or relief. ---- But what can we do about it? ---- On our own, nothing. 
As individuals we are practically helpless. This is why capitalist society is organised in 
such a way as to undermine any attempt at cooperation and mutual aid between ordinary 
people. ---- But collectively the working class is not only the biggest part of society 
but it is also the one with the skills needed to produce the things we need to live and 
essential services for survival. Bosses, on the other hand, only have the skills needed to 
exploit and rob us, while politicians have the skills to fool people. ---- If the working 
class was to organise along the right set of principles and ideals, then there is no 
reason why working people shouldn't be able to create a free and equal society, without 
the need for bosses and politicians. Those principles we are talking about are anarchist 
communist principles and the Anarchist Communist Group are dedicated to spreading them.

The failure of anarchist communist ideas to make progress in this time of ongoing crisis 
is, in the main, due to part due to years of working class defeat, de-politicisation and 
demoralisation. But in part, it is also down to a lack of organisation by anarchists. As 
much as the working class united can remake society, revolutionary anarchists united with 
anarchist communist ideas can only have greater influence within the working class.

Anarchists together can not only multiply the reach of our propaganda and influence within 
other active and more class conscious sections of the working class, but we also benefit 
collectively from our individual strengths and experience. It is meaningless to call 
oneself an anarchist if we do not work to spread anarchist ideas and apply anarchist 
principles, and the best way to do this is within an anarchist organisation.

The Anarchist Communist Group (ACG) is a revolutionary anarchist communist organisation 
made up of local groups and individuals who seek a complete transformation of society, and 
the creation of anarchist communism.

We are a young organisation, less than a year old, but we are active in the struggle 
against capitalist exploitation and the abuses of the state and we fight or a free 
communist society.

If you think we that you might be interested in joining the ACG, have look at our aims and 
principles, then get in touch at the link below:

Aims and principles: www.anarchistcommunism.org/aims-and-principles/

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2018/12/08/should-you-consider-joining-the-acg/

------------------------------