RESISTANCE. 2:28 am / 02 November 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Categories: Anarchism
Posts tagged solidarity
OUR WEAPON – GLOBAL SOLIDARITY. 2:37 am / 30 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Across the globe state's do their damnedest to repress any attempt by the people to organise to protect themselves against the onslaught of corporate greed. The state's function is to act as population controller to allow the corporate greed machine to plunder and pillage the earth in the name of profit. Corporatism is global, we need our solidarity to be global.
Please take a moment to send off your message here.And then please spread the word to your fellow trade union members.In additon, please take a moment to learn more about the case of Kenyan trade union leader Francis Atwoli who was recently fined about £3,000 because he refused to call off a strike (two years earlier!) defending jobs in the Kenyan tea industry from mechanisation. Trade unions outside Kenya are trying to help raise the money to cover this fine and his legal costs. Learn more here.Thanks -- and please forward on this email!
Eric Lee
Categories: Anarchism
CORPORATE FASCISM. 2:04 am / 30 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Categories: Anarchism
THE BOTTLED WASP. 1:41 am / 29 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Under the economic system that we at present just about survive in, there are an unlimited number of causes that we feel we should support, some physically and some financially. Sadly we can't support them all, so making choices is something we have to do. Due to the ever increasing number of people that the state locks up, in an ever increasing privatised prison system, prisoner support is one field that can always do with greater support and solidarity.
Anarchist Black cross (ABC) works constantly and tirelessly to support those who find themselves caged by the state. There are numerous local ABC groups where you can get involved in simple and not too time consuming means of offering a window to the outside world to those isolated from that world. Letter/card writing, prison visits, small gifts, financial, publicity for certain cases, etc. Without getting too involved and something that will only take a few minutes and a fiver, you could order the new ABC prisoner support 2013 pocket diary, The Bottled Wasp.
It will be available from November cost £5 and will only take minutes of your time to obtain, but the money will go a long way in bring support to those individuals caught up in the state's maze of a penal system.
Categories: Anarchism
UP-THE-ANTI. 9:41 am / 28 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
From Up-the-Anti:
Since the financial crisis broke we have seen a rising tide of protest, revolutions and resistance. One of the driving forces of these movements has been a desire to change the future: to reject the idea that we have no future outside of the logic of never ending austerity, declining living standards and the loss of public services to private profiteers.
Up the Anti is a one day conference to think about and discuss how we lay claim to the future that we want and deserve. It will host an eclectic mix of sessions, ranging from in-depth seminars and debates to participatory, facilitated discussions and workshops. There are many questions we need to ask, including:
- Is there an alternative to capitalism? What might it look like?
- How do we win popular support for new radical projects?
- What can we learn from the social struggles and new movements in Europe?
- And how do we overcome divisions within left and radical movements?
What next after the Occupy protests?
We called the event ‘Up the Anti’ because we all agree that we need to build a bigger movement against social oppression and capitalism. But we are not just against things, we also want to reclaim the future from those in power who seem intent on dragging us towards austerity, growing social inequality and environmental destruction.
The conference will be held in London at Queen Mary university, not far from Mile End and Stepney Green underground stations.
But the day is not just all workshops and seminars, we also have time for a gig at Queen Mary Student Union with comedy, music and DJs. Highlights include the up and coming radical comedian Chris Coltrane and the critically acclaimed blues guitarist Sean Taylor.
UP THE ANTI is a genuine movement event put on by a plurality of groups, websites, publishing houses, and networks. It is sponsored by New Left Project, Ceasefire, Occupied Times, Anticapitalist Initiative, Platypus and Globalise Resistance.
Categories: Anarchism
STRONGER TOGETHER. 5:05 am / 28 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
We all know that winter in Scotland means choices, choices between eating or heating. Winter in this country, because of the climate and "fuel poverty" brings with it misery and death, while the energy companies fatten their shareholders with bigger profits. There are ways and means of fighting the leeches that own the energy companies.
This from SNIFFER:
"Jam the gas meters or Stronger Together?Direct action on fuel poverty in Europe campaign ‘Samen Sterker’ or "Stronger Together" reports that thousands of people in Belgium and Netherlands have organised collectively against the power companies and won great deals.But here in the UK EDF Fuel prices for residential customers are to hike up by 10.8% from December 7, 2012 sending the average dual fuel bill to £1,251. Scottish Gas and Scottish Power will be more than this by up to £23. And we already know that means misery and death.Excess winter mortality statistics from the UK Office for National Statistics estimated there were 25,700 Excess Winter Deaths (WHO) in England and Wales in 2011, 3.4% higher in the North East. Scotland’s winter statistics at 2,450 are like the UK’s low temperature related deaths, not exclusively hypothermia but cerebrovascular disease and heart disease, pneumonia, stroke and respiratory diseases.Belgium and Netherlands have taken direct action on fuel bills by collective switching. Their groups of 10,000 people prepared to switch en-mass to a new supplier this means that these suppliers offer a decent price in order to get them as new clients. They have a trusted third party who's actually doing all the leg work, setting up the switch system so that it is minimal effort for us. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have benefited and on average saved some 200-250 euros a year.Earlier this year the UK consumer organisation Which? organised the firstcollective switch in the UK. Almost 40,000 people took part, with average savings of £223 a year.A pilot scheme is running in Cornwall, and South Lakeland District Council in Cumbria is finalising the first local authority project in the UK. Other local councils may follow suit soon.Let’s do it in Scotland."
Start to organise your own "energy switch" group in your own area, join the group nearest you and hit the energy companies with a mass switch deal and get the best price. Start today before the Scottish weather really bites.
SOLIDARITY WINS BATTLES. 11:31 am / 10 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
The world is our battlefield, solidarity is our weapon. It is a weapon that can't be beaten. People power will change the world.
This from LabourStart:
A month ago, I wrote to tell you about Said Elhairech, leader of the dockers union in Morocco. Said was arrested in June on unfounded charges relating to "national security". You responded in your thousands -- to be precise, 5,657 of you sent off messages of protest as part of a world-wide campaign coordinated by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). And last week we learned that Said has been released and all serious charges against him have been dropped. (Full details here.)
And last week, I wrote to you about the case of IUF representative and human rights activist Yacine Zaid, in neighboring Algeria, who had been abducted by unidentified men. I asked you to support the IUF's global campaign to get Yacine released. Over 11,000 of you responded and the result was immediate: the Algerian authorities decided his crime was "insulting a police officer"; he was fined the equivalent of 100 Euros and let go. (Full details here.)
Yacine and Said, who are both outstanding leaders of independent trade unions in their countries, are now free men thanks to the efforts of thousands of trade unionists around the world.
This is therefore an opportunity to remind you of seven things you can do right now to keep up the momentum, and to help us build a global network of activists who can be mobilized at a moment's notice in cases like these.
If you have the time, please do all seven. But if you can do even one of these things, you'll be helping.
1. See which other campaigns are still live and show your support. Workers in Guatemala, Pakistan, Swaziland, Turkey and Zimbabwe need our help today. Click here to see the five current campaigns we're running.
2. The fastest way to learn about new campaigns like these is by following LabourStart on Twitter,
3. You can also show your support for the campaigns by liking LabourStart on Facebook.
4. Encourage your fellow trade union members to sign up to our mailing list.
5. Make a secure online donation to LabourStart to allow us to continue with our campaigning work. Does your union support LabourStart? Find out and encourage your union to donate as well.
6. Get your union to show a list of live LabourStart campaigns on its website. Full details are here,
Finally, spread the word to your fellow trade unionists -- pass on this message!
Thank you very much!
Eric Lee
A month ago, I wrote to tell you about Said Elhairech, leader of the dockers union in Morocco. Said was arrested in June on unfounded charges relating to "national security". You responded in your thousands -- to be precise, 5,657 of you sent off messages of protest as part of a world-wide campaign coordinated by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). And last week we learned that Said has been released and all serious charges against him have been dropped. (Full details here.)
And last week, I wrote to you about the case of IUF representative and human rights activist Yacine Zaid, in neighboring Algeria, who had been abducted by unidentified men. I asked you to support the IUF's global campaign to get Yacine released. Over 11,000 of you responded and the result was immediate: the Algerian authorities decided his crime was "insulting a police officer"; he was fined the equivalent of 100 Euros and let go. (Full details here.)
Yacine and Said, who are both outstanding leaders of independent trade unions in their countries, are now free men thanks to the efforts of thousands of trade unionists around the world.
This is therefore an opportunity to remind you of seven things you can do right now to keep up the momentum, and to help us build a global network of activists who can be mobilized at a moment's notice in cases like these.
If you have the time, please do all seven. But if you can do even one of these things, you'll be helping.
1. See which other campaigns are still live and show your support. Workers in Guatemala, Pakistan, Swaziland, Turkey and Zimbabwe need our help today. Click here to see the five current campaigns we're running.
2. The fastest way to learn about new campaigns like these is by following LabourStart on Twitter,
3. You can also show your support for the campaigns by liking LabourStart on Facebook.
4. Encourage your fellow trade union members to sign up to our mailing list.
5. Make a secure online donation to LabourStart to allow us to continue with our campaigning work. Does your union support LabourStart? Find out and encourage your union to donate as well.
6. Get your union to show a list of live LabourStart campaigns on its website. Full details are here,
Finally, spread the word to your fellow trade unionists -- pass on this message!
Thank you very much!
Eric Lee
Categories: Anarchism
SOLIDARITY MEANS SUCCESS. 1:03 pm / 09 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Solidarity and mass action does get results, a word of thanks from the IUF.
THANKS to all the organizations and individuals who participated in the campaign in support of Yacine's release by sending over 11,000 messages in response to our appeals. Your immediate and unreserved response helped lead to the release of Yacine. We must now be vigilant to ensure that he remains free and secure and that the right to organize is respected all over the world!See Yacine sentenced but free
Ron Oswald
IUF General Secretary
Categories: Anarchism
Everyone will need to have a Solidarity Network 5:13 pm / 28 September 2012 by star*fox, at UTOPIA or: BUST
A mutual support network, open to workers both employed and unemployed, active and retired. We use collective direct action to fight employers and landlords who are pocketing our wages, refusing repairs, stealing deposits, or otherwise cheating or abusing one or more of us.
How to get in touch:
www.seasol.net/contact
info@seasol.net
(206) 350 – 8650
I am becoming more powerful
than any lawyer or any judge…
human.
STAFF TIPS GOING ASTRAY. 12:01 pm / 18 September 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
The over the top opulence that our herd of pampered parasites live, is only possible by an army of low paid individuals trying to earn their bread. No matter how luxurious the lives of the parasites, those that manage this obscenity, still try to fiddle the workers out of their legitimate rights. To them greed is seen as a necessary prerequisite to their way of life and subservience a necessary prerequisite for the workers.
Guests at the Hilton Conrad Rangali Islands Resort in Maldives pay 1,000 dollars a night to stay in luxury villas located on two private islands, where they can choose from "seven world class restaurants including the world's first all-glass undersea restaurant serving contemporary cuisine". "For the ultimate dining experience" guests can order a private beach dinner with their own chef and waiter. But conditions are less than luxurious for the workers who serve them.
Last year, some 350 workers held a peaceful work stoppage to highlight their longstanding demand for a clear reckoning of the service charge which makes up a crucial l part of their pay. Management responded by terminating union supporters - and refuses to comply with a court order ordering the resort to reinstate them.Click here to send a message calling on Hilton management to reinstate these 22 workers who stood up for their rights and recognize their union!
Ron Oswald
General Secretary, IUF
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF)
8, rampe du Pont-Rouge
1213 Petit Lancy, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 793 22 33
Fax: +41 22 793 22 38
web-site: www.iuf.org
Categories: Anarchism