#Worldwide #Information #Blogger #LucSchrijvers: #Update: #anarchist #news and #information from all over the #world - 5.02.2020

Today's Topics:

   
1.  Holland, vrije bond: Five-year jubilee Bungehuis occupation
      VBA film night (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
2.  AFED, organise magazine: Help! I've been called a
      transphobe! | Reading List (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
3.  Britain, wessex solidarity: PRESS RELEASE: Major NHS Trust
      forced to terminate use of private contractors
     (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
4.  US, black rose fed: Our Best of 2019: Readings for Popular
      Power (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
  
 5.  Rojava, Internationalist Commune Newsletter #16 (ca, de, it)
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
6.  France, Union Communiste Libertaire AL #301 - Culture, Read:
      When Berneri deciphered the "actor" Mussoloni(fr, it, pt)[machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


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

Message: 1






2019 was the year of the demonstration. 2020 will be the year of the uprising. That's why we're not only looking forward to this film night
with the Vrije Bond Amsterdam, but also look back on previous protests to see what we can learn from them for the future. We pay special
attention to the student protests. We will watch Street Politics 101 and have a discussion with veterans of the student protests, but also
with the new generation of demonstrators. ---- We will hold a somewhat special performance of the film evening to mark the fifth anniversary
of the Bungehuis occupation. We will also try to learn from this history and talk about new protests, such as the occupation of the P.C.
Hoofthuis in 2018. What can we learn from each other for years to come where an even more repressive state and further deterioration of
social services threaten? How can we work together towards more freedom and solidarity?

https://www.vrijebond.org/vijfjarig-jubileum-bungehuisbezetting-filmavond-vba/

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

Message: 2






So you have been called a Transphobe. ---- Maybe even a TERF! Hot words have been exchanged. ---- It's easy to get defensive, dig in, camp
up and not take any shit from these "woke idiots" on the internet. Yeah you could do that. ---- Mind you, you could also have a read and
trying to understand some of what they are trying to tell you. So here is a reading list of links to help you digest all this new
information outside of an angry twitter thread. They range from the scientific and cultural to news pieces and infromational statistics.
---- No one can make you read these, no one can force you to develop your understanding of the world around you, only you can take the step
to be a person capable of educating themselves and changing their opinion based on new information. I truly hope you are able to do this and
begin you journey to better understanding this whole trans thing.

It's worth noting as well that the arguments transphobes usually utilise are laden with a scientific reductionism and pseudo scientific
jibberish. Very much like climate change denialism, these links are often presented as an obvious truth. They are used to make you feel like
a victim, a defender of the obvious against a self indulgent enemy who are trying to make you change everything you know to be true. The
right wing call this "Cultural Marxism", the left wing tend to call it "the PC Brigade" or "IdPol". Tho woefully inaccurate in their usage
these terms are often used as a "dog whistle" for horrendous bigotry, racism and misogyny.

Subsequently when you've shared a seemingly righteous link defending women from predatory men or something, someone has got pissed off at
you, cussed you out and spewed out all this angry rage you've been warned about.

The thing is, whether wittingly or not, you've contributed to a hostile environment which literally kills people. Overwhelming it kills
women, and of them, women from the black and minority ethnic communities are over represented.

This reading list is here to provide you with a easily accessable source of information to cleanse that rot from your head. A tool to
educate yourself with and hopefully return to being a person who uses their political voice for compassion and solidarity. ?

Peter Ó Maille

- This is a living document and is subject to change and addition, feel free to suggest new links -

- This list is partially based on a version I was sent as a email, I assume it is online and would appreciate a link to it -

SCIENTIFIC LINKS:

American Psychological Association (APA)
Answers to Your Questions About Transgender People, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression
www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender

AP News
Sciences Says: Sex and Gender Aren't the Same
www.apnews.com/2a67da6515aa48e68e56cd97817b097a?
Skeletal Studies Show Sex, Like Gender, Exists Along A Spectrum
www.blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2018/11/16/evolution-human-body-skeleton-sex-gender

Disrupting Dinner Parties
Take the Red Pill: The Truth Behind the Biology of Sex
www.disruptingdinnerparties.com/2014/09/29/take-the-red-pill-sex-determination

Harvard University
Between the (Gender) Lines: The Science of Transgender Identity
www.sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2016/gender-lines-science-transgender-identity

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Suicide and Suicidal Behavior Among Transgender Persons
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5178031/

National Geographic
How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender
www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/how-science-helps-us-understand-gender-identity

NY Times
Anatomy Does Not Determine Gender, Experts Say
www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/health/transgender-trump-biology.html

Scientific American
Beyond XX and XY: The Extraordinary Complexity of Sex Determination
www.scientificamerican.com/article/beyond-xx-and-xy-the-extraordinary-complexity-of-sex-determination

Stop Using Phony Science to Justify Transphobia
www.blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/stop-using-phony-science-to-justify-transphobia

The New Science of Sex and Gender
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-new-science-of-sex-and-gender

Where Transgender is No Longer a Diagnosis
www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-transgender-is-no-longer-a-diagnosis

UCLA
Challenging Gender Identity: Biologists Say Gender Expands Across A Spectrum, Rather Than Simply Boy And Girl
www.socgen.ucla.edu/2015/03/01/challenging-gender-identity-biologists-say-gender-expands-across-a-spectrum-rather-than-simply-boy-and-girl

World Health Organization (WHO)
Gender and Genetics
www.who.int/genomics/gender/en

Genetic Components of Sex and Gender
www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html

Medline Plus Encyclopedia
Intersex
www.medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001669.htm

CULTURAL LINKS:

Aljazeera
‘Mahu' demonstrate Hawaii's shifting attitudes toward LGBT life
www.america.aljazeera.com/articles/2016/1/9/mahu-hawaii-gender-LGBT-acceptance.html

Buyu Afrika
The Ashtime of Ethiopia
www.buyuafrika.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/the-ashtime-of-ethiopia/amp

Culture Trip
A Brief History of Thailand's Transgender Community
www.theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/a-brief-history-of-thailands-transgender-community

Fa'afafines: The Third Gender in Samoa
www.theculturetrip.com/pacific/samoa/articles/fa-afafines-the-third-gender

Life Outside the Binary: Meet Mexico's Muxe Community Celebrating Genderqueerness
www.theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/a-brief-history-of-muxe-mexicos-third-gender/

The Guardian
Early men and women were equal, say scientists
www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/14/early-men-women-equal-scientists

In the Philippines they think about gender differently. We could too
www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/03/in-the-philippines-they-think-about-gender-differently-we-could-too

Nature and sex redefined - we have never been binary
www.theguardian.com/science/the-h-word/2015/feb/19/nature-sex-redefined-we-have-never-been-binary

Indian Country Today
Two Spirits, One Heart, Five Genders
www.newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/api/amp/indiancountrytoday/archive/two-spirits-one-heart-five-genders-9UH_xnbfVEWQHWkjNn0rQQ

Jewniverse
The 8 Genders of the Talmud
www.jta.org/jewniverse/2015/the-6-genders-of-the-talmud

Medium
Brian Whitaker
Transgender Issues in the Middle East
www.medium.com/@Brian_Whit/transgender-issues-in-the-middle-east-9f40d0559afa

Mallory Moore
Ground rules for trans/transantagonistic discourse
www.medium.com/@Chican3ry/ground-rules-for-trans-transantagonistic-discourse-286ffbc94c14

The New York Times
When Japan Had a Third Gender
www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/arts/design/when-japan-had-a-third-gender.html

Non Binary Wiki
Gender-variant identities worldwide
www.nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Gender-variant_identities_worldwide

Sapiens
India's Third Gender Rises Again
www.sapiens.org/body/hijra-india-third-gender

The Singapore LGBT encyclopaedia Wiki
Gender in Bugis society
www.the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.wikia.org/wiki/Gender_in_Bugis_society

Well.com
The Third Gender in Ancient Egypt
www.people.well.com/user/aquarius/egypt.htm

Wikipedia
Ardhanarishvara
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardhanarishvara

Hermaphroditus
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphroditus

List of of murdered transgender people
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unlawfully_killed_transgender_people

VIDEOS
ABC
You Can't Ask That: Intersex people answer ‘What is Intersex?'
https://youtu.be/lFre9a0wEPE

Additionals

Transgender hate crimes recorded by police go up 81%
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48756370?fbclid=IwAR3sFY3LFRpRbsyycMBu8ikTzNkO4rq7YKFlj_zidXjJUdynXs4Lr8rVSBs

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/stop-using-phony-science-to-justify-transphobia/https://slate.com/technology/2018/11/sex-binary-gender-neither-exist.html

https://massivesci.com/articles/sex-gender-intersex-transgender-identity-discrimination-title-ix/

https://www.nature.com/news/sex-redefined-1.16943

http://www.isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex

https://dallasvoice.com/say-their-names-trans-women-murdered-in-2019/

Why Sex Is Not Binary
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/opinion/sex-biology-binary.html

http://organisemagazine.org.uk/2020/01/30/help-ive-been-called-a-transphobe-reading-list/

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

Message: 3






United Voices of the World Union ---- For immediate release ---- 30th January 2020 ---- Major NHS Trust forced to terminate use of private
contractors ---- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has been forced to directly employ a thousand cleaners, caterers and porters
outsourced to Sodexo ---- The decision made by the Trust's Board on January 29th brings an end to decades of outsourcing to private
contractors ---- This is the first time an NHS Trust has been forced by strike action to end the outsourcing of a group of workers ---- The
migrant workforce is represented by the trade union United Voices of the World ---- Workers at St. Mary's Hospital are celebrating a
historic victory today after Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust announced it would in-house the entirety of its cleaners, caterers and
porters within the next 2 months. Several hundred workers, outsourced for over 3 decades to global giants such as Sodexo and ISS across 5
hospitals belonging to Imperial Trust, will now enjoy the same pay and terms and conditions as NHS staff. The announcement marks the end of
a three month long industrial dispute between the Trust and trade union United Voices of the World (UVW).

Petros Elia, the organiser of the strikes and UVW co-founder said the following: "Today marks a huge victory not just for these brave
workers, but for all outsourced workers in the NHS. Our members were told they would never win this fight, but with the full backing of UVW
and mass picketing, blockades and occupations they've won against all odds. This victory sets a historic precedent which we hope other
workers will follow in demanding an end to outsourcing across the NHS."

Petros continued, "this is also a victory for patients. Study after study shows hospitals that outsource their ancillary staff have higher
incidences of infections, including MRSA, and patient complaints are higher when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness. Cutting out profit
hungry contractors will allow the Trust to put patient health and safety first."

Loretta, a worker who was instrumental in organising her colleagues, said: "In November our strikes forced them[the Trust]to pay us the
London Living Wage, it meant we got an extra several hundred pounds a month, but it wasn't enough. We thought, "why shouldn't we be paid
like all other NHS workers?" and we kept on fighting for full equality. Now I won't have to choose between paying my rent and protecting my
health. Striking was not an easy thing to do, but we've proven that by sticking together, and by having the support of the amazing union
UVW, that workers can win for themselves and patients up and down the country."

-Ends-

For more quotes, photos and any other enquiries contact:

Kane Shaw, Editorial Lead - Campaign Communications, tel. 07950 927798 email. kane@uvwunion.org.uk
Petros Elia, Lead Organiser - tel. 07884 553443 - email. petros@uvwunion.org.uk
Gabrielle Jeliazkov, Editorial Lead - Campaign Communications, tel. 07761 542653, gabrielle@uvwunion.org.uk
See also https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/stmarysworkers

Previous strike dates:

28th, 29th and 31st of October
11th, 12th and 13th of November
25th, 26th, 27th of November
Outsourcing and the NHS

The outsourcing of cleaning, catering and portering services have been outlawed by all devolved governments since the early to late 2000s.

Link to our report on site here

About the dispute

Prior to winning an unconditional commitment from the Trust to increase their pay from national minimum wage to the (now old) London Living
Wage of £10.55 per hour - secured after their third day of strike action - the workers did not receive occupational sick pay, annual leave
allowance or pension contributions above the statutory minimum. The victory means that the workers will receive hugely improved T&Cs and an
extra £6,000 - £10,000 per year compared to their former pay on the national minimum wage; with those previously on £6.16 per hour receiving
an 83% pay rise to £11.31per hour and those on £8.21 per hour a 57% pay rise to £12.92.

United Voices of the World (UVW) is a London-based trade union with 3000 members and around 200 joining every month. The majority of its
members work in low-paid jobs and are migrants predominantly from Latin America and the Caribbean - with a growing number from Asia and
Africa. In 2016, the union organised the largest cleaners strike in UK history and became the first trade union to force a UK university
(the LSE) to bring the entirety of its outsourced cleaners in-house. It also organised one of the longest strikes in the history of the City
of London, lasting 61 consecutive days. UVW also represents workers in the legal sector, charity sector, cultural sector, architectural
sector, and sex workers too - all of whom are fighting against low pay, unpaid work and overwork.

https://wessexsolidarity.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/press-release-major-nhs-trust-forced-to-terminate-use-of-private-contractors/

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

Message: 4






In a world where everything seems to change in the blink of an eye and all that is solid melts into air almost as quickly, reflection can be
a radical act. With this in mind we reviewed our blog content for 2019 to select twelve key statements and articles providing lessons and
examples that we hope to take into 2020. ---- -Black Rose/Rosa Negra Social Media Team ---- Los Angeles performance of "Un violador en tu
camino." ---- 1. Viral Chilean Feminist Anthem Hits the US: "Un Violador En Tu Camino" ---- The Chilean feminist anthem "Un Violador En Tu
Camino" (A Rapist in Your Way) has spread across Latin America and the globe, including the U.S. This piece presents three personal accounts
of performances in U.S. cities. ---- 2. Bolivia: Commentary on the Coup Underway ---- Shortly after the coup in Bolivia, a Black Rose/Rosa
Negra comrade and Latin American historian from Chile offered a brief commentary on the situation.

3. Statement: One Month Since the Popular Revolt in Chile

An analysis of the Chilean uprising based on a collaboration between Black Rose/Rosa Negra, Solidaridad (Chile), and Acción Socialista
Libertaria (Argentina):

"The current tasks, agenda, and emancipatory perspective must be those visions and demands put forward by working people in the streets,
workplaces, schools and universities. Organizing and supporting the growth of popular neighborhood assemblies independent from political
parties allows the grassroots blossoming of debates to initiate and build a program of demands in the short, medium, and long-term."

4. Wildcat Strike Launched by UC Santa Cruz Grad Student Workers

Striking graduate student worker Cameron A. writes: "This was the reality that I walked into when I accepted an offer to join a graduate
program at UC Santa Cruz. Assuring myself that my conditions couldn't be any more dire than those I had faced throughout my many years
working in the service industries of Los Angeles and the Bay Area - I soon came to the realization that I was completely mistaken."

5. Anarcha-Feminism: To Destroy Domination in All Forms

It is often said that history is a weapon but it also serves as a reflection of the past through which we make better sense of the present.
Julia Tenenbaum's narrative provides a much needed overview of anarchist feminism which emerged as a distinct current from the larger
radicalization of the 1960s and 70s period. (Originally published in Perspectives)

6. Green Power: Strong Movements to Face the Climate Crisis

Seattle, WA based Arthur Pye talks on It's Going Down podcast providing a survey of the ecological crisis, various responses on the left,
and above all stresses that building popular power outside of the constraints of institutional forces is what will push the dramatic changes
necessary to address climate change.

7. Means and Ends: The Anarchist Critique of Seizing Power

Guest contributor and our favorite YouTube blogger Anarchopac writes: "The anarchist critique of seizing state power is often caricatured as
being based on an abstract moral opposition to the state that ignores the harsh realities we are currently facing. Upon carefully reading
historical anarchist authors, however, one discovers that the real reason why they argued that revolutionaries should not seize existing
state power was because it was impractical for achieving their goals."

8. Climbing The Ladder: Brown Politicians Will Not Save Us

Much needed words from Ella Mendoza: "From the very beginning of this political race, I knew none of the smiling faces in suits cared about
my existence, and why would they? Sinema getting sworn in with the Constitution instead of a religious text may have been a huzzah moment
for atheists worldwide, but to me, it was a reminder that no matter how friendly and feminist this "new system" might become, I was still
subject to its laws. Laws that have declared my body illegal, my actions unforgivable. It doesn't matter how old I was when I crossed the
border, or how the actions of this country have had an impact on my homeland, how these very actions started the chain of events that led to
me immigrating here. In this world of neoliberal feminism, we worship laws and we follow them."

9. Lessons From Latin American Feminism - Video Presentation

In this video presentation recorded at the 2018 Boston Anarchist Bookfair, Bree Busk and Romina Akemi discuss the global implications of the
current upsurge of feminist activity in Latin America with a focus on Chile and Argentina. The presentation expands on many of the topics
discussed in Bree Busk's "Chile's Feminists Inspire a New Era of Social Struggle" published by ROAR Magazine, which is a summation of the
longer piece "A Feminist Movements to End Capitalism, Part I" published here.

10. The Warmth Fund: Solidarity Response to Extreme Cold in Chicago

"Chicago anarchists took to the streets and started organizing immediately to ensure that folks who didn't have permanent shelter could at
least get a ride to one of the warming shelters set up around the city overnight. With funds raised through a paypal pool raising over
$6,000 in five days, supplies were distributed across the city, from Roger's Park to Hyde Park and in between."

11. Concentration Camps: The Imperial Legacy of Migrant Detention

A contribution to the debate over Trump's policy of terror directed towards migrants and the appropriate use of the term "concentration
camp." The authors make the case for why it's important to place what's happening today within the context of U.S and colonial history.

12. The State of Labor: Beyond Unions, But Not Without Them

Released on May 1st, International Workers Day, the Black Rose/Rosa Negra Labor Sector Committee offers it's collective reflection on the
current state of the U.S. labor movement - both their optimism around recent strikes and stressing the need to transform the labor movement
towards its revolutionary potential. The Labor Sector Committee of Black Rose/Rosa Negra works to coordinate common strategy within labor
struggles.

https://blackrosefed.org/tenant-organizing-when-rent-is-not-main-issue/

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

Message: 5





Dear friends and comrades, ---- Once again more than two months have passed since we published our last newsletter. A lot has happened
during this time. For many days, thousands of people have resisted the Turkish occupation in Rojava and thousands worldwide have expressed
their solidarity and connection with the revolution and the build-up of a free society. ---- In the following, we want to share with you
some of the publications of the Internationalist Commune, of Make Rojava Green Again, and of the campaign RiseUp4Rojava. And we want to
commemorate the friends who gave their lives in the resistance against Turkish fascism, especially our friend and comrade Sehid Andok Cotkar
and Ceren Günes. In our struggle they live on! They are the heroes of our time.
# Current Political Situation
In order to take the right steps in our work, we must constantly analyse and evaluate the current political and military situation. This is
the only way to keep the big picture in mind. After all, the situation in Rojava and Turkey's intervention can only be understood in the
context of developments in the entire Middle East. In this context, we published a series of analyses about imperialist plans, diplomatic
games and the revolutionary resistance against the Turkish invasion of Rojava.

With the tactical withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the situation between the cities of Serekaniye, Gire Spi, Ain Issa and Til
Temer has changed once again. The phase of the war - with intensive bombings by the Turkish Air Force in many places, massive ground
offensives and battles lasting for days - has changed into a phase of war of low intensity. However, this will not be permanent. We must
continue to be ready to defend the revolution.

# Resistance against Turkish Fascism at the Front Line in Rojava

In the resistance of the self-defence forces and the population of cities like Serekaniye, Gire Spi, Ain Issa and Til Temir,
internationalists have also taken their place. One internationalist shared her feelings and experiences from the city of Serekaniye in a
letter to us, emphasising the importance of the many actions that have taken place around the world.

In a joint video, internationalists from rojava made calls to join the resistance, both in Rojava in the civil structures of the democratic
self-government, and all over the world. After all, the struggle in Rojava today is between two systems; between a democratic society on the
one hand, and the state, patriarchy and capitalism on the other. This struggle is about the future of humanity.

The Internationalist Commune reported about the defense of the revolution in its #ResistanceDiaries. From the first day of the attacks,
activists of the Commune documented the social resistance, but also the crimes of the Turkish state.

# The Women* Revolution

As internationalists, we attend educations in which society prepares itself to defend the revolution. Women* play a special role here. In a
short article, we report about our experiences from a visit to an education of women*, who learn to defend themselves.

# Make Rojava Green Again - In Times of War

Much of the ecological work in Rojava and the Democratic Federation as a whole could not be continued due to the attack of fascist Turkey.
In times of war, the resources are needed in other places. Nevertheless, the campaign has played an important role in the defence of the
revolution.

Many climate activists asked us what all of us can do to support the resistance in North-East Syria. With the experiences of life and
resistance in Rojava, we answered this big and important question.

And part of this support of solidarity and commonality in the struggle for climate justice and against the war was shown on 29th November,
the day of the 4th Global Climate Strike.

# "An International of Hope"

The struggle in Rojava and in Kurdistan is a common struggle of many movements and people worldwide. And a special one of these struggles is
the resistance of the Zapatista movement in Mexico. On the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the resistance in Chiapas, our fallen friend
and comrade S. Bager wrote a message to his friends fighting in Chiapas in which, among other things, it says: "Your struggle and our
struggles are one, indivisible, part of a global revolution, which in this sense is a cultural revolution: the struggle for a different way
of life."

On their trip to Rojava, two Gilets Jaunes activists talk about their goals, and what they associate with the revolution in Rojava.

# The War is a War of Media

The war in Kurdistan is always also a war for public opinion. We call it special war when the media already anticipates the failure of the
revolution, demoralises the people, thus destroying their spirit of resistance and of hope. Therefore, we want to share some pages with you,
where you can get information in different languages about the developments in Rojava, Kurdistan and the defense of the revolution in Europe.

ANF https://anfenglishmobile.com

Rojava Information Center https://rojavainformationcenter.com/

RiseUp4Rojava https://riseup4rojava.org

Women Defend Rojava https://womendefendrojava.net

Internationalist Commune https://internationalistcommune.com/

# RiseUp4Rojava

The RiseUp4Rojava campaign has become an important reference point for many people who feel connected to the Rojava revolution and who
defend its achievements. Especially in the past months of the fierce attacks on Rojava, the campaign made the global solidarity with the
revolution visible and united the democratic forces against Turkish fascism and the occupation of Rojava. With the first day of the war of
aggression, hundreds of actions started all over the world. It was impossible to document and record them all, but we documented the first 6
weeks of resistance.
And thousands of people followed the call of RiseUp4Rojava for the global day of resistance for Rojava under the motto: "The revolution in
North-East Syria will win, fascism will be crushed!

# Supporting the Internationalist Commune

We, as the Internationalist Commune with members from many regions of the world, see ourselves as part of the worldwide democratic,
ecological and feminist movement. In this sense, we also invite everyone to become a part of the work of the Internationalist Commune and to
support the work here.
After all, we do not want to have to use the scarce resources of the democratic self-administration, but we want to be part of the
international solidarity and to carry our work financially ourselves.

We would like to thank all those who contributed with their donations, translations, transcriptions and much more to the success of the work
of the Internationalist Commune and of Make Rojava Green Again.

Revolutionary greetings,

Internationalist Commune of Rojava
and Make Rojava Green Again
January 2020

https://internationalistcommune.com/newsletter-16/

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

Message: 6






The publication of Camillo Berneri's previously unpublished writings in French is very good news, both because the work of this philosopher
and militant Italian libertarian communist is little known, and because his analyzes question the current era as much as the years of
Mussolinian fascism. ---- It is from a factual angle that Berner's observations provide the most insight. On reading these writings, many
similarities appear between facts, characters, media processes past and present. Berneri saw in "Mussolini[...]a great politician in so far
as he is a great actor" . He acutely described the theatrical and gestural mechanisms which the duke used and abused. Mussolini somehow
assumed this role of clerk, charged with incensing and disseminating the attributes of power. He played this role and identified himself
with it during solemn ceremonies meticulously orchestrated by him. Before the war, Italy had known "openpicks, adventurers, vulgar
opportunists.""Mussolini, however, managed to rise to the national level, where others had confined themselves to the local. This change of
scale signified fascism: "there were grand spectacle ceremonies[but]they did not have the frequency and staging of post-war ones" . Berneri
described very well this mechanism which irrigated both the great ceremonies and the daily life of the duce, offering a sanctifying
coherence of the chief. This movement was certainly not possible without the support of Italian capitalism.

With this reissue by Miguel Chueca, this book subjects an uncompromising criticism to an anthology of postures and writings to the glory of
Mussolini. All the great rhetorical figures are analyzed: the cult of man, the glorification of work, of the fatherland and above all the
omnipresent image of the chief. It was D'Annunzio who built the embryonic and demiurgic forms of the spectacular future of fascism. The
grandiloquence and splendor offered to the eyes in fact concealed the poverty of the content. Everything is served with persuasiveness as
the arguments are so poor. Oratory art was to fascinate by resting on postures and decorum. "In March 1919, Mussolini had no program to
present at the first beam congress." Mussolini began"At the head of his small army, but he soon led him to deny his origins[...], He led him
to pay the industrial and agrarian plutocracy."

Berneri considered that "thewhole Italian situation led to the dictatorship, determined the different phases of fascism.[...]To believe that
all this was the product of the will and the intelligence of only one man is childish." Mussolini "was only the main author of a whole
policy of crushing the working forces." Let us beware that history repeats itself! Nowadays too, there is no shortage of "open-minded,
adventurous and vulgar opportunists" .

Let Camillo Berneri leave the honor of the conclusion: "Comedy is always dramatized. What will be the disaster?"

D. Sureau (UCL Angers)

Camillo Berneri, Against Fascism , Selected Texts (1923-1937), edition established by Miguel Chueca, Agone, August 2019, 384 pages, 22 euros.

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Lire-Quand-Berneri-dechiffrait-l-acteur-Mussoloni

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