Today's Topics:
1. Workers Solidarity Movement (Ireland): Obituart - Bob
Kavanagh (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Germany, the platform: Looking back on a year of building
the platform and announcing our local structures (de) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
Ireland's activist community was left in deep shock as news spread of Bob Kavanagh's sudden and untimely death. Bob is remembered as both a
committed political activist, a very talented musician, a great friend and loyal comrade. ---- Many of us got to know Bob from the pivotal
role he played in the long running Shell to Sea campaign from 2005 onwards. The campaign which pitched a rural community against a global
oil company took place in Erris in western Mayo. Bob was one of the first who took the decision to move to Erris to stand with the local
community against Shell. Those involved in the campaign will always remember Bob's political dedication which was offset by an often needed
wry sense of humour on picket lines on cold Mayo mornings.
A founding member of the Rossport Solidarity Camp he worked tirelessly with the people of Erris to build a democratic community based
campaign to resist the onshore refinery at Ballinaboy. While the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the project, it was
successful in adding large costs for Shell, and arguably made it less likely for other companies to consider similar projects worthwhile.
Modest by nature Bob never appreciated his influence both within in the Shell to Sea campaign or the impact his activism had on wider Irish
politics. Anti-fracking campaigners, who successfully prevented the introduction of fracking in Ireland built on the experiences of the
Shell campaigners. Indeed the political networks built in those years of struggle have had been mobilised successfully in other spheres,
most recently in the Repeal campaign. Bob was also a dedidated, committed and active anti-fascist unwilling to tolerate racism or fascism in
any guise, something that also came across through his music.
Following his involvement in Shell2Sea, Bob moved to Cork and joined WSM in mid-2008. He was an active branch member for a number of years,
helping to organise public meetings and to write for the paper, Workers Solidarity. For a number of years he was a member of the editorial
committee. In terms of anarchist ideas he was close to the the ‘class-struggle' tradition. He was someone who lived his politics. Writing on
class in 2008 he outlined his vision of successful political activity 'Our experience of working cooperatively under capitalism prepares us
to take control, and victories in our everyday struggles to improve working and living conditions teach us confidence'.
Between 2009 to 2012 he was particularly involved with the founding and running of Solidarity Books, the anarchist led bookshop and meeting
space located on Douglas Street in Cork. In June 2010 he spoke at the Victoria Hotel, Cork at a WSM public meeting 'Ireland Can't Afford
Capitalism - Why We Need a Revolution'. This event saw WSM posit system change as an alternative to the option of electing a new set of
politicians to the Dail who would simply ‘manage austerity' for the IMF and the Troika. A large crowd turned up to meeting and the speakers'
contributions were met with rapturous applause.
Other WSM members who worked with Bob during this period speak of his ‘quiet resolve and commitment' around the issues of the day and the
need to resist austerity. ‘A really reliable comrade', was how another described him. In 2011, Bob was instrumental in helping start a
Galway Branch of WSM. Although he ended his full membership of the WSM the next year he remained committed to anarchist ideas and played a
part over the next number of years in a range of campaigns including the successful anti-water tax campaign, the Marriage Equality
Referendum and Repeal 8th/ Together 4 Yes.
Music was one of the great loves of Bob's life. His interests were wide and varied - everthing from hardcore punk to jazz caught his
attention. This said he had a special love for ska and Oi!
He played with a range of bands: The Dogboy Conspiracy, Fuktifino, Riastradh, Only Fumes and Corpses, Section 4, Good Time Fun Boys, The
Jollars, The Maori John Wayne, The Hacklers to name a few. In recent years he played with The Hacklers who toured regularly in Europe and
the UK and were working on a new album. He was also played with The Jollars who performed occasional gigs in Ireland and Europe. Musically
he was difficult to pin down but he was probably closest to the punk tradition. Although he disagreed with the use of the term punk, he
loved the music. Musicians who played with Bob mention in particular ‘his amazing bass playing' and it will probably be as a bassist that he
will be remembered by those who heard him play. However, he also was an accomplished guitarist and often sang with the bands he played in.
Occasionally, and at the most unexpected moments, he was also known to whip out the clarinet.
He is greatly missed.
facebook.com/andrewnflood/posts/10159309606898378
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Message: 2
Exactly 1 year after the start of the initiative for a third anarchist federation in German-speaking countries, we can look back on an
eventful and successful year of development. ---- 01/01/2019 as the start of an ambitious project ... ---- We started this year with a broad
and full-bodied approach to organizing - full of uncertainty due to the low prevalence of platformism in German-speaking countries, but with
a lot of hope that our initiative will succeed. In the beginning there were overwhelming reactions to our initiative. Whole days spent
answering e-mails, which was not made easier by the collapse of our e-mail inbox. Days full of congratulations and motivated comrades who
were happy about our initiative; an initiative that many had longed for in one way or another...
... followed by days of great travel
After the joy and the spirit of optimism, the phase of long journeys began. We drove thousands of kilometers through our region in endless
hours: to meet like-minded people in thinking, acting and feeling; exciting, but sometimes always the same, leading discussions; explaining;
answering the critical questions of the movement and interested parties. We have already briefly reported on parts of our trips online. We
will provide an evaluation of the entire event trip at a suitable point. In the end, there were a total of 31 events in 2019 in all
directions of Germany and 2 events in Switzerland. For the most part, we were invited by curious groups or individuals, We initiated or
organized comparatively few events ourselves. Another indication of the broad interest within the anarchist movement in our organizational
approach. But we have not only traveled around the world for public lectures. We often visited various comrades and groups in connection
with lectures. On the one hand for general networking, but above all to meet those who want to be actively involved in our organization.
Find yourself, agree, lay the theoretical and structural foundations - days of organizing
Along with our trips has grown our organization. A growth which was very strong compared to the start of our initiative and which will lay
the foundation for our future foundation of the Federation. However, it must still be clear that we are of course not a huge organization.
We could not build on the basis of existing group structures, but essentially also had to rebuild all of our local structures. We have
managed to build an ambitious organization that consists of capable, motivated comrades who do a lot to achieve our vision of a third
anarchist federation. At the same time, we were unable to establish such a federation within a year. We just need more time to not
communicate something half-baked in public. We want to implement our goal sensibly.
What we want to tell you, however, are our existing local structures:
There are currently dp groups in the following cities and regions:
* Berlin - berlin.die Plattform.org - the platform Berlin
* Ruhr area - ruhr.die Plattform.org - The platform Ruhr - https://twitter.com/RuhrDie
* Rostock region - rostock.die Plattform.org
* Trier
(more local social media channels will follow)
Another group is under construction in Leipzig.
In addition to a few individual members (including in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg), we currently have various expansion options that are
still open to us.
Die Einzelmitglieder, welche aus Städten kommen, in denen wir noch nicht die Stärke haben eine Lokalgruppe zu formen, sind in einer
überregionalen Gruppe föderiert. So ist ein effektives Agieren in der Plattform auch für Genoss*innen möglich, die in ihrer Stadt oder
Region bisher alleine sind. Wir freuen uns sehr, wenn ihr an dieser Stelle die neuen öffentlichen Kanäle unserer Lokalstrukturen verfolgt,
liked und verbreitet. Wir freuen uns auch weiterhin über neue Gesichter in unserer Organisation. Egal ob du aus dem hintersten Dorf oder
Berlin kommst - wir werden nach Kräften versuchen überall eine anarchistische Perspektive nach unseren Grundsätzen aufzubauen. Melde dich
also gerne bei uns!
Stronger and broader, we have been working on our theoretical and structural foundations for at least half a year. An intensive process that
deals with the analysis of our society and our visions of another world. On the other hand, this primarily affects (infra) structural areas
of our organization. Of course, there is always a lot going on in discussions. After all, we are not afraid to bring up disagreements
between us on the table and to discuss them openly. It is all the better to see that everyone has a common interest in a solidary discourse
that aims to advance collectively.
After the foundation comes the practice - days of struggle
Of course, in parallel to the process of building up, we started the first activities in the inclined scene public and outside of it in
social struggles with little intensity: For example, on May 1, 2019, on global climate strikes, on solidarity with Rojava and on a local
level also to others Issues such as solidarity with the class struggles in Iran and the struggles in France. However, we are aware that
these activities will continue to be limited and will continue to do so unless we have laid our own organizational foundation and, above
all, have not defined our goals and strategies in social struggle. This is one of the tasks that we have committed to in 2020: the targeted
preparation for participation within the social movements.
We see our main strategy in the insertion into the social movements and this will also constitute the largest part of our organizational
work. At the same time, we will continue to participate in the discourse within the anarchist movement, as we did in 2019. Here we were able
to publish four articles or interviews (thanks again to the editors) in Direct Action, Contraste, Graswurzelrevolution and in revolt:
magazin. At the same time, we also participated to a small extent in scene mobilizations, such as acting against Nazi parades. We will also
continue to expand our materials. In 2019, we distributed tens of thousands of stickers, business cards, brochures and posters in the
German-speaking area and beyond. In the future, we will also produce more materials that should reach and appeal to people across a
left-wing scene. The collective interference as our organ of publication in order to bring platformistic content into the anarchist, radical
left and emancipatory movement will continue to be preserved and expanded. We also have other publication ideas. So at a later date we will
also publish our basic content in the most appealing form possible. We also have other publication ideas. So at a later date we will also
publish our basic content in the most appealing form possible. We also have other publication ideas. So at a later date we will also publish
our basic content in the most appealing form possible.
At this point we want to respond to the justified criticism that we are stuck in a scene bubble with our previous work. We are still in the
process of building up our organization. In this phase, a different public relations strategy is needed than when the development phase has
been completed. In the construction phase, our focus is on the anarchist movement and, moreover, interested left-wing radicals. We hope to
be able to reach and inspire the people within the movement who are close to our organizational approach and who share a common content. The
(also personnel) structure of our organization forms the basis for being able to fight effectively within the social movements. In 2020, we
will continue to focus on the anarchist movement towards acting in social struggles and outside of scene politics. Anarchist "propaganda"
will occupy an important but subordinate place in our practice.
International exchange with other platformist and especifist organizations as well as anarchist-feminist and communist is particularly
important to us. In addition to studying texts, analyzes and recorded experiences, we hope that this will enrich our own theory and
practice. Some international contacts within and outside Europe have already been closed. And there have also been several very exciting
international meetings and discussions. At this point, a hug to all international comrades who have given us such a warm welcome in the
platformist community.
What remains - what comes? Days of Hope
If we look back this year, there are many beautiful memories, confirmation, consolidation and development of our organizational approach,
many new friends and comrades who enrich our lives. And above all, the unbroken hope and motivation for building an organization remains,
which gives us the opportunity to master the big tasks ahead of us.
What's coming in 2020?
A third anarchist federation in the German-speaking area; an expansion of the anarchist infrastructure and options for action; as well as a
new dynamic of the anarchist movement in the social struggles. We will not achieve the social revolution in 2020 either. But even if the
time seems to be getting tight with everything that dark clouds are gathering above us, at the end of the coming year we will be standing
with an organization of the struggle that deserves its name and that has the perspective in itself carries a real allied force to be within
the wage-dependent class.
So then - this is not the end of the story - roll up your sleeves and tackle it! Ahead of the social revolution!
https://www.dieplattform.org/2020/01/01/rueckblick-auf-ein-jahr-aufbau-der-plattform-und-verkuendung-unserer-lokalstrukturen/
facebook.com/DPlattform/posts/481503835896670
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