Road blockades Eswatini-style, during anti-monarchy protests rocking the country.
For causing traffic jams Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion are regularlyattacked in the mass media for inconveniencing ordinary hard working people. Thisis pretty ironic given who these critics are and the aims of these movements.---- We would not deny that the above mentioned groups are generally "middleclass", but often their critics are politicians and police chiefs who make thelives of the poor a living hell. It has been pointed out that by blocking roads,Insulate Britain are preventing people from getting to hospital, which could evenresult in deaths. While we would not agree with blocking an ambulance, beyondthat, traffic jams are already an ordinary part of life. It also pales incomparison to deaths due to the underfunding and mismanagement of the NHS.The demands of these movements would also benefit the poorest in our society. Theeffects of climate change will be disproportionately felt by the working classwho will lack the money and power to easily adapt. It will be our neighbourhoodsthat disproportionately flood, just as it is already our streets that have theworst air pollution. On the other hand, money and lives would be saved if everyhouse was insulated.Road blockades have a long tradition as part of the workers' movement. Back inthe 1984-1985 Miners' Strike, motorways were blocked; earlier this yearelectricians also blocked roads in an unofficial dispute. Around the world,wherever mass struggles take place, you're likely to find ordinary peopleblocking roads. Whether it's health workers fighting for wage increases inArgentina, Gilet Jaunes opposing a fuel tax in France or metalworkers in Spainfighting to protect their working conditions, it is a widely accepted tactic.Most people support transport strikes despite the inconvenience, so why notclimate campaigners?Road blockades are an effective tactic precisely because they are disruptive,crucially hitting profit rates, the primary concern of the government. Anyone canparticipate in them, and they can be used to bolster other struggles. If weaccept this demonisation of the tactic, then we will be limiting how we canrespond when we need to fight back. If we cheer on heavy sentences for thoseactivists currently in court, the precedent will stand for all future road blockades.https://liverpoolanarchist.wordpress.com/2021/12/06/road-blockades-and-the-working-class/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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