Today's Topics:
1. Australia, Book Review from Rebel Worker Vol.37 No.2 (225)
Aug.-Sept: A Beautiful Idea: History of the Freedom Press
Anarchists by Rob Ray (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Coletivo Anarquista Luta de Classe: IGHT AND ORGANIZATION: 8
YEARS OF CABN! (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. CNT-AIT: The anarchist arabic virtual library "black cat" is
back on internet (ca, fr) (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. Czech, afed: A3: Music with opinion [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. asr anarshism: Self-organized squat of immigrant anarchists
in Greece [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
British Anarchism: From Class Struggle to ‘Looney Left' ---- The most significant evidence
of the so called anarchist movement in the UK many may have noticed recently, courtesy of
sections of the corporate media is the "media stunt" protest by the Class War Group
against Boris Johnson then Frontrunner for the Tory leadership (now Tory leader)outside
his girl friend's home in late June. The wasting of limited resources and personnel on
such pointless stunts highlights how the UK British anarchist milieu has moved from an
important factor in the labour movement such as during the years of the Syndicalist
upsurge and strike wave movement focusing particularly in the mining, transport and
engineering sectors in the periods 1910 to 1914 and around the end of WWI. At these times
it was interwoven with the wider syndicalist movement and a significant threat to the
ruling class. In sharp contrast to today where it's confined mostly to the fringes of the
Looney Left. Apart from such stunts other symptoms of this demise and degeneration in
recent years is the engulfing with collective hysteria of many so called anarchist
conferences, Book Fairs and Festivals by the bizarre exhibitionist antics of deranged
Feminists and other identity politics ‘nut jobs' whose ‘performances' meet rapturous
applause. Other manifestations are the proliferation of the navel gazing identity
politics and Stalinist legacy informed hypocritical ‘political correctness displays' such
as ‘Safe Spaces Policies' and assorted women's, queer, black, crimson and brindle
‘identity spaces' in various Anarcho groupings and their centres. Certain to alienate
militant workers outside the Leftist Milieu. This is not beautiful!!!
Whilst work place oriented outfits copy on a micro level various aspects of the Corporate
Unions aligned with the TUC (Trade Union Congress) and the Labour Party. Playing at
activoid superheroes/lobbyists/pseudo social workers. Revealing grossly simplistic notions
of how to build an alternative syndicalist/grass roots controlled industrial union
movement and an abysmal level of theoretical and historical research, bereft of extensive
industrial experience. Failing to focus on strategic industrial sectors such as transport
industries, which could tackle the challenge of the employer offensive with its neoliberal
agenda and help generate strike waves and so facilitate transitional steps toward
establishing mass syndicalist unionism. Other groupings are drawn into aping and
competing with the Trot groups in regard to recruiting students to play at childish
"numbers games" by pandering to all manner of identity politics informed rubbish,
symbolic environmental protests and other issues fashionable in the middle class/student
leftist milieu.
This disarray and degeneration of the contemporary British anarchist milieu highlights
the success of the bourgeois cultural, educational, media apparatuses and agencies of the
USA "Deep State" such as the CIA in undermining potential revolutionary opponents through
the promotion of identity politics, its largely middle class/student social base renowned
for ‘oppression mongering and guilt tripping' and the impact of the Stalinist/Trotskyist
legacy.(1)
The book under review throws important light on these problems besetting the British
Anarcho milieu contributing to its marginalisation by focusing on the history of the
Freedom Press Group. It examines a series of historical phases and the key personalities
active in the group at these times. This Group has been an important node of this milieu
and so called anarchist movement and longest running such grouping/newspaper in the UK.
The volume concludes with some short biographies of key figures in the history of the
Freedom Group.
1886-1895 Victorian anarchism
The author locates the origins of the commencement of the publishing of Freedom in Oct.
1886 to an anarchist current in middle class socialist groupings at that time such as the
Fabian Society and the Social Democratic Federation. The most important militants being
Charlotte Wilson who was involved in the radical wing of the Fabians and played a
critical role in the launching of the paper and was subsequently its editor and
publisher/chief financier until 1896. The other key figure and editor being Alfred Marsh,
an ex-member of the Social Democratic Federation.
1895-1927 Ossulton Street
This address was the head quarters of the Freedom group during this period. In this
section the author looks at the difficulties of the Freedom Group faced during the Boer
War due to their antimilitarism such as jingoist harassment and in WWI, when its members
and HQ were targeted by the State. Prominent in the group were Thomas Keel, Alfred Marsh
and John Turner. Whilst from 1910 to 1914 associated with the global rise of syndicalism,
Freedom launched the agitational paper ‘Voice of Labour' edited by John Turner, a shop
assistants union official. However focusing on direct action instigated by official
structures, not by the grass roots. Whilst the group and the anarchist milieu in the post
WWI period was hard hit by the rise of Leninism/Stalinism associated with the Communist
Party financed heavily by ‘Moscow Gold' and workers illusions in the outcome of the
Russian Revolution and post war economic slump.
1928-1945 The wilderness and World War II
In this section, the key figures focused upon are Thomas Keel, Vernon Richards,
M.L.Berneri, Tom Brown, George Cores and Albert Meltzer. The author looks at the
disconnected aspect of the history of the Group and paper at this time associated with a
number of papers which have been linked to the Freedom heritage. The Spanish
Revolution/Civil War of 1936-1939 where the anarcho-syndicalist CNT (National
Confederation of Labour) played a prominent role particularly contributed to a revival of
British anarchism and its publications. These papers included: Freedom Bulletin
1929-1932; Freedom (New Series)1929-1936, Spain and the World 1936-1938, Revolt! War
Commentary 1939-1945 and ‘Workers in Uniform' bulletin 1940-1944. During WWII the paper
was the organ of the Anarchist Federation of Britain (AFB) and still had some
revolutionary orientation encouraging revolts/mutinies amongst the workers in uniform and
publishing the clandestine AFB bulletin in the military, resulting in its editors facing
State repression and prison sentences in 1944-45. However, according to veteran
anarcho-syndicalist militant Albert Meltzer, quoted by the author, the 1940's saw a middle
class hijacking of the Freedom grouping associated with an influx of those involved in
the Peace movement including many conscientious objectors. Illustrative of this middle
class takeover/ultra liberal drift was the Freedom editors refusal in these years to allow
a page of industrial of news from Scotland, which was the major base of the movement with
significant working class support.(2) Culminating in a split leading to the publication of
Direct Action by syndicalists hostile to the hijacking. It was to become the organ of the
Anarchist Federation of Britain (AFB) and from 1950, renamed as the Syndicalist Workers
Federation.
1945-1969 Rebuilding the movement
The author shows that some of the key people in the group in this period were Vernon
Richards ‘the proprietor', M.L. Berneri, Philip Sansom, John Hewetson and John Rety,
mostly middle class elements. Whilst the Jan. 1960 Freedom Reader Survey - showed the
three largest constituencies were individualists, philosophic and pacifist. With letters
pages being a total bedlam with an individualist pacifist lean. The second reader survey
in 1993 confirmed this trend. 87% of readers were professional or retired. The author
sees no problem with the ultra liberal orientation such as Freedom group's championing
various ultra liberal causes in the 1950's which today have become accepted parts of
bourgeois society such as lifestyle issues, identity politics, various civil rights, etc.
Failing to realise that the focus of a genuine anarchist group should not be attempts to
perfect dimensions of bourgeois society but its overthrow.
However the author shows in the 1940's and 1950's Freedom continued some focus on the
class struggle, but increasingly became drawn in an ultra liberal direction. At this time
the paper had not put on its front cover and inside pages the kind of exotic rubbish which
would feature in the 1980's. The most important offshoot in this period was Anarchy
magazine edited by Colin Ward published from 1961 to late 1970. It had an "ultra liberal"
slant and according to its major critic Albert Meltzer espoused a pacifist anarchism
which would help capitalism out of its difficulties via proposing various reforms. Colin
Ward, an architect was another middle class element drawn into the Freedom group through
the peace movement. The author is critical of Vernon Richards the owner (since toward the
end of WWII) and major financier of the set up in regard to wasting much money and
resources producing many virtually unreadable editions of Freedom with an ultra-liberal
orientation shared by the Anarchy journal and in the case of The Raven, an academic
orientation. However, he doesn't see this squandering of resources stopping any revived
class struggle oriented anarchist current. Failing to recognise how Freedom and allied
publications with an increasing ultra-liberal orientation facilitated confusion in the
anarchist milieu in the Anglo World in the 50's onward. This confusion together with the
student/middle class social base contributed to the dysfunctional nature of the revived
Anarchist Federation of Britain in the 60's (a hopeless ‘talk shop'), which the author
shows Freedom was its unofficial ‘organ' and the later blooming of many identity politics
informed "poisonous weeds" in the anarcho milieu in the UK and elsewhere. Certainly with
the continuing stranglehold of Labourism, Stalinism via the Communist Party and later in
the 1970's Trotskyism on the British labour movement, even with much more resources, any
syndicalist industrial organising is likely to be marginalised. Until after the fall of
the Berlin Wall.
1970-1980 Out in the cold
In this period the author shows some prominent editors were Mary Canipa, Jack Robinson
and Philip Sansom. The paper particularly focused on the side show of the squatting
movement in the mid 1970's and the Persons Unknown case involving state repression of
anarchists. Whilst being critical of the anarchist urban guerilla group ‘The Angry
Brigade' Freedom was targeted by the media, for being associated with it. As it was the
most important so called anarchist institution in that period in the UK.
1980-2001 The long goodbye
Some of the most prominent figures in this phase were Vernon Richards and Stu Stuart. The
author shows that during this period Freedom championed and reported extensively on the
1981 Brixton Riots and much activoid spectacular antics such as the Stop The City
protests of 1983-84 with 3,000 people rallying at London Stock Exchange, J18 Carnival
Against Capitalism on June 18th 1999 as part of an international protest against German
G8 Summit. These actions were precursors of the "Anti-Globalisation" movement. Another off
shoot was the "The Raven" journal edited by Heiner Becker and published from 1987 to 2003.
It was very much aimed at the academic milieu with most copies being unsold. A further
significant offshoot was ‘Green Anarchist' published from 1984, focusing on environmental
guerilla/elitest protest activity and was heavily repressed by police raids in the late
1990's. Absurdly the author defends one of the more outrageous front covers (see page 183)
in the 1980's on the basis that newsagents, etc were engaging in censorship by refusing to
sell it. Completely oblivious to the terrible impression this sort of rubbish gives to
militant workers outside the leftist milieu of anarchism. In this phase Freedom was
notorious for its hostile comments about the British Miners in their Strike against the
Thatcher Govt. in 1984-85.
2001-2018 Third Millennium
The author shows that Freedom during this period extensively covered the Anti-Globalist
movement which emerged internationally associated with G8, G20 and WTO Summit hoping and
was frequently reported upon and was uncritically supported by the paper. The outcome of
this wave of mass spectacular protests, has not been any challenging or curtailing of the
global employer offensive. In fact the ruling classes in the UK and elsewhere have taken
advantage of these symbolic protests to facilitate the Neo-Liberal "Strong State" in its
various dimensions such as more aggressive policing, increasing numbers of CCTV's, and
ever more restrictions on civil liberties, etc. The author appears oblivious to this
outcome. Some key figures at this time in the group were Toby Crowe and the author who was
editor from 2003. According to the author the involvement of Crowe led to a re-orientation
of the paper toward class struggle anarchism - associated with Anarcho-Syndicalism and
Anarcho-Communism and overtures to the ‘federations' to become involved in the paper.
Whilst some members of the Anarchist Youth Network which had formed out of the
Anti-Globalist movement became involved in the paper.
The impression given by the author of the Freedom editorial/production groups over this
and previous periods is one of mostly dilettantes going through some "radical" phase and
incapable of any serious long range work relevant to the workers control/revolutionary
project. Falling out over ‘storms in a tea cup' and hair splitting. Tellingly one of the
supposedly more serious class struggle oriented editors, Toby Crowe went on to become an
Anglican Church Priest!
The author mentions that at the 2009 Anarchist Book Fair, the Freedom editorial group
presented a proposal for it to become a non-sectarian paper for all national federations
e.g. Solidarity Federation, Anarchist Federation, etc and for Black Flag(anarchist
magazine) to become a pan movement theoretical magazine. These papers could be sold at
book stalls and demos and supplemented by Local Free Sheets. The problem with this
proposal is that it fails to take account of the mostly middle class/student social base
of these groups and in ability to pursue long range industrial organising in strategic
sectors and the influence of the sect building, stemming from the Stalinist/Trotskyist
legacy and corporate unionism upon them.
From Middle Class Leftist Sub-cultural ‘Dark Abyss' to Class Struggle?
A more appropriate proposal particularly with the disarray and declining influence of
Marxist Leninist groups on the industrial front since the 1990's, would be the launching
of a grass roots syndicalist paper in the transport industries which could provide regular
industrial news to a revived Freedom (perhaps re-named as ‘Direct Action'). Still of
critical importance despite the emergence of driverless vehicles. This initiative would
inspire militant workers in other key sectors and together with intensive
"outside-the-job" assistance could lead to the launching of similar papers and the
crystallisation of associated networks in these industries also feeding copy into it.
Freedom could apart from helping develop readers' circles and networks in other
industries could also provide a forum for debate amongst militant workers regarding
industrial organising and strategy, whilst contributing to the theoretical and
historical/strategic development of key militants. In this context, the ‘federations'
which are currently effectively sects and dysfunctional regarding serious strategic
industrial organising could dissolve into a ‘catalytic' network providing this "outside
the job" organisation. Its key militants assisted by a periphery of the less committed but
capable of some consistent work, must be prepared for the bank rolling when required, the
inevitable terrible hard yards, going through ‘hell and high water' with the handling of
crises, which such an initiative must involve. Aware of the stern gaze of history upon
them if they stuff up.
With the launching of strike waves, turning the tide against the employer offensive,
transitional steps toward mass syndicalist industrial unionism would occur. In the context
of locals of the new union movement, unemployed members could link up with employed and
working class community struggles pursued. Whilst syndicalist transport workers could
assist syndicalist union organising drives in less strategic sectors. Breaking out of the
current encirclement of the corporate/bureaucratic unions of the TUC. In this process mass
distribution networks and readership would develop for the paper. Whilst the basis would
develop for financing full time staff and infrastructure allowing moves toward weekly and
daily frequency. Maybe then a ‘Beautiful Idea" can become closer to reality!
In conclusion, the author does a good job providing a sketch of various phases and
prominent militants in the history of the Freedom Press Group. However he fails to
recognise sufficiently the serious negative impact of the Group's drift toward ultra
liberalism due to its middle class leftist hijacking for the UK and international
anarchist and syndicalist milieus in the post WWII period.
Mark McGuire
Notes:
(1) See ‘Report on the Workers Control Conference' for a discussion of these layers
experience of contemporary capitalism in the archive section www.rebelworker.org and
'Gloria Steinem, the CIA and the Women's Movement' on the internet regarding the role of
the the US 'Deep State' and the CIA's Operation 'Chaos' in promoting identity politics.
(2) See ‘Interviews on the History of Anarchism in Scotland' in Library Section of libcom.org
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Message: 2
From Parana we salute the Black Flag Anarchist Collective for the 8 years of struggle and
organization in the state of Santa Catarina! ---- From Paraná we salute the companions and
companions of the Coletivo Anarquista Bandeira Negra for the 8 years of fighting and
organization in the state of Santa ---- In August 2019, the Anarchist Black Flag
Collective (CABN) celebrates 8 years of existence. Since the foundation, we have sought,
day by day, to build, from the base and on the left, fairer, more dignified and
egalitarian days. Where our lives are not driven by greed, insecurity, profit and
inequality. But for ethics, companionship, solidarity, resistance and the search for
Popular Power!
CABN is a specific anarchist organization in Santa Catarina, part of the Brazilian
Anarchist Coordination (CAB), which defends social anarchism, in direct contact with
popular struggles.
The black flag, the historical symbol of anarchism, represents the denial of flags of
countries and electoral parties. None of this unites us but true human solidarity in the
struggle against exploitation and domination in pursuit of libertarian socialism.
Long live the CABN! Long live Anarchism!
Only fighting changes life! Popular Power, now!
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Message: 3
We are pleased to inform you that the Anarchist Arabic Library "The Black Cat" has
returned to the Internet.
In this virtual library, you can download brochures and texts dealing with anarchism in
Arabic.
Other texts are under preparation and all the good wills that want to participate,
especially for translation, are welcome!
http://blog.cnt-ait.info/category/SOLIDARITE-INTERNATIONALE/ARABE-ARABIC/BCL
For any contact: contact@cnt-ait.info
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Message: 4
Summer festivals are not necessarily just about fun. Music can also be a good bearer of a
positive message. Download, print and distribute the August issue of the A3 wall paper!
---- Summer is the time of festivals. And not just the most commercially versatile. Some
ten years ago, May Day opened the May Day in Prague on Císarská louka. It was organized by
the Anti-Fascist Action and other anti-authoritarian groups, of course without any
sponsors, state subsidies or patronage of any party. And for free. Or for a voluntary
contribution if you wanted to support the event. The consensus, independence, cooperation,
volunteering and clear message of opinion had a clear result - a super program packed with
domestic and foreign performers, lectures and discussions, and participation of several
thousand years, which increased with each new year.
Even today, however, a domestic activist-peasant who, due to work and domestic duties
during the year only gets into a side village, relatively enough options and can take in
the summer from the western end to Moravia. For example, the renowned July independent DIY
HC / Fluff fest punched this year, but again had an excellent lecture tent. Another
attraction was the weekend ZLO fest vol in August at Brno, and in September will be the
mother of Prague and its fourth annual anti-fascist music festival Riot Over River with
voluntary admission.
Moreover, there is an interesting trend. For example, when they unfolded a Nazi stand at
this year's Brutal Assault, which also featured portraits of Adolf Hitler, the organizers
ran quickly with them. And at one point, metal lovers and fans of this festival were
discussing quite seriously that the traditional Antify booth has nothing to do there,
because it is already politics. This year, however, one of them commented: "Clear signal.
Follow your leader. "And another example: even in those semi-commercial festivals with
security and pseudocharity, for example, People in Need, such as Mighty Sounds, still
perform political bands. And the organizers announce them boldly diplomatically, and they
can say that "the main role in Los Fastidios music is played primarily by texts focusing
on social issues, anti-fascism, freedom or animal rights "or that" Mono & Nikitama is an
activist band that clearly defines against hate, ultra-right and fascism "in their lyrics.
At the Moscow Dead Brigade, they said they were the most so-called independent band in the
EU with a "progressive social message against racism, discrimination and war".
There are many artists in the Czech Republic and abroad who understand that music is not
just fun, at best a means of escaping social frustration. It is characterized by anorexia
from Monday morning, when the stereotype of toil starts to meet the needs of those above.
Music can also be a wonderful bearer of the message. That is why many of the lyrics of
progressively thinking bands are so political in effect. And it doesn't matter whether
they name the causes of evil in a straightforward way, condemning capitalism, racism,
homophobia, or sexism, or telling personal stories influenced by this crap and struggling
with it. And of course, who wants to listen only to the complaints and political agitators
... It is also necessary to mix with a proper portion of entertainment, links to a close
community of friends and even a common consumption of alcohol (pity only,
Fortunately, the times when the cultural line was marked by the emerging capitalism,
preferring self-reliance and leveling culture to the lowest possible level in order to
find the widest possible audience. Perhaps there is also a time when, in the post-November
times, the underground prominents, by mythizing themselves and elevating themselves to
moral authority, almost forgot the possibility of social criticism of the existing
situation. From this, some blind people still claim that even after thirty years, when the
country is headed by a billionaire from the unscrupulous development of these decades, the
Communists are responsible for everything. It's time to start talking and singing about
problems, naming things with real names and aiming for the right goals. If the musicians
at the festivals can excite others for the idea of freedom and equality and help them
reject discriminatory prejudices and hierarchy, then just a bunch.
A3 (August 2019) for download HERE . http://www.afed.cz/A3/A3-2019-08.pdf
https://www.afed.cz/text/7020/a3-hudba-s-nazorem
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Message: 5
Every Tuesday from 6pm Greek time: Squat General Meeting
Wednesday 4 pm: Meeting of Feminists and LGBTs
In the self-organized squad of migrant anarchists to the address (Tsamadou 19, exarchia)
Every Tuesday at 20:00: general assembly of the squad of immigrant anarchists
Wednesday at 19:00: assembly of Feminists and LGBTQIA +
Squatted steki of immigrant anarchists (Tsamadou 19, exarchia, Athens, Greece)
https://asranarshism.com/1398/05/18/anarchism-185/
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