‘Autonomy’ Archives
Riseup financial update
Tuesday, September 6th, 2016
The news is not good
We hate to be bad news birds, but we need to tell you that Riseup will run out of money next month. We had a number of unexpected hardware failures, lower-than-expected regular donations, and a record year of new Riseup users which puts more financial pressure on us than ever before.
We need your help to keep things going this year, so we are starting a campaign to ask Riseup users to give us just one dollar!
Can you give us a dollar? There are a lot of easy ways to do it:
https://riseup.net/donate (more…)
Tags: Counter-info, Riseup, teh internets
Posted in Autonomy
Solidarity Funds Appeal for Forever21 Workers (Philippines)
Sunday, September 4th, 2016
Image above is a photo of Forever21 garment factory workers on their two year long boycott of the said company. Presently Forever21 is seeking to investigate who is agitating and identify the struggling workers and campaigners to harass and sue them. Despite this the workers are not scared and will not back down. Help spread this appeal and the previous article in solidarity to their fight. Strike, sabotage, boycott, flames to corporate leeches.
Six Forever21 workers (three which has their employment ended) is currently on an on-going court case against Forever21. Please help cover:
1. Court expenses.
2. Personal necessities to those who’s currently finding new work which wont have them paid for a month or two.
3. Medical expenses for the father of one of our folks who’s currently confined in the hospital and don’t have healthcare to cover cost as Forever21 denied them this benefit.
https://www.youcaring.com/6-forever21-workers-in-the-philippines-627366
Tags: Forever21, International Solidarity, Philippines
Posted in Autonomy
Urgent call to stop Turkish massacres in Rojava and Northern Syria by the Kurdish Women’s Relation Office (Iraq)
Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
On 24 August 2016 Turkish Special Forces together with elements of the so-called Free Syrian Army started a cross-border offensive against the Northern Syrian town of Jarablus. According to official statements by both, Turkish officials and representatives of the FSA, target of this offensive is Islamic State as well as Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG).
It was clear from the start that only Kurds would be targeted. During the last 5 days not a single confrontation took place between Turkish/FSA forces and ISIS. But from the beginning YPG and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – the most effective forces on ground against ISIS – are being attacked by Turkish state forces.
The first day of the ‘Euphrates Shield’ operation, what Turkish officials have called an ‘assault on Islamic State and YPG terrorists’ as result of Turkish shelling of Kurdish majority neighborhoods in the east and west of Jarablus, at least 49 civilians have been killed. (more…)
Tags: Iraq, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Kurdish Struggle, Kurdistan, Lions of Rojava, People's Defence Units (Y.P.G.), REPAK Kurdish Women's Relation Office, Repression, Rojava, Syria, Turkey, War
Posted in Autonomy
Report on women freed from ISIS in the area of Minbiç and on the situation of refugees (Rojava, Syria)
Thursday, August 18th, 2016
For more than 2 months there is a hard war going on in the area of Minbiç. Minbiç is a very strategic for the control over Rojava; it connects Turkey with the headquarters of ISIS, Raqqa. This area is important for the protection of Rojava and the democratic autonomy in Rojava. To be able to create a federal Syria where people of all ethnicities and religions can live in peace together, the liberation of the area of Minbiç is very important. In Rojava since four years a system of democratic autonomy exists. This model is an alternative to wars and instability in the Middle East. It offers the opportunity that all people can live together based on equality, freedom of women, ecology and democracy.
It is a well-known secret that Turkey supports ISIS and will do anything not to lose control in this area. If the area of Minbiç is freed of ISIS, it will open the road to connect the three cantons, which is a nightmare and opposed to the politics and objectives of Turkey. ISIS and Turkey are not only connected by political and economic interests; they are quite close in ideology and practices as well. Because this area is so important for the control in the Middle-East all hegemonic powers are present in this war. There are conflicting interests between the hegemonic powers which impacts and intensifies this war. It is possible to conceive the war in Syria and in Kurdistan as a third world war, where it is the main aim to imply a new division in the Middle East. (more…)
Tags: Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), KJA - Congress of Free Women, Kurdistan, Lions of Rojava, Minbic, Minbij, People's Defence Units (Y.P.G.), Raqqa, Repression, Rojava, Syria, Turkey, War, Women's Defense Units (YPJ)
Posted in Autonomy
War against ISIS/Daesh: Respect to the fallen fighter Jordan Mactaggart of YPG (Rojava, Syria)
Saturday, August 13th, 2016
Remembering Sehid Ciwan Firat (Jordan Mactaggart)
Nom de guerre: Ciwan Firat
Real name: Jordan Mactaggart
Name of mother: Malissa
Name of father: Robert
Birthplace: Colorado / USA
Place and date of martyrdom: Minbic, 3. August 2016
I met Heval Ciwan for the first time when were waiting to cross the border into Rojava in spring 2014. He was a shy young anarchist from the US who sat in the corner of our hut, not really engaging with the rest of us and constantly writing in his journal. Quite frankly, at the time most of us were concerned that he wasn`t cut out for war but within a couple of weeks he proved all of us wrong. Soon after finishing his training he joined Tabur Soran, a unit notorious for being in every fight possible. In one of his first contacts with the enemy he got shot in the leg and due to some unfortunate circumstances he was left in the field when his unit withdrew. Heval Ciwan put on his tourniquite on and crawled back to friendly lines the entire night. Amongst the foreign fighters in Rojava this story became a legend, until today people talk about `the American kid that got shot in the leg and crawled out all night`. (more…)
Tags: Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Jordan Mactaggart (Heval Ciwan), Kurdistan, Lions of Rojava, Minbic, Minbij, People's Defence Units (Y.P.G.), Rojava, War
Posted in Autonomy
International call to boycott ‘Forever21’ by its call center workers (Philippines)
Sunday, August 7th, 2016
Forever21 has a long history of labour lawsuits (aside from gender and discrimination, copyright violations) filed against them by their own employees. In early June this year, six employees (from an initial dozen holding meetings) from its outsourced call center in the Philippines have finally decided to take the necessary steps to hold the company accountable for its unfair labour practices.
History speaks for itself—these are the same old practices that Forever21 has already been sued for: exploitative scheduling practices where employees are made to work overtime (unannounced or announced two minutes before the end of their shifts), where anyone who refuses are threatened to be fined for insubordination; delaying lunches and breaks due to staff shortages and eventually shortening the allotted lunch time from an hour to 45 minutes; delayed salary; unfiled paperwork for employee dependents’ medical benefits; threats and harassment towards employees who speak up (sometimes resulting in termination). (more…)
Tags: Forever21, International Solidarity, Philippines
Posted in Autonomy
Berlin: Black July – Text and actions against the social peace (Germany)
Thursday, August 4th, 2016
While the situation in the rebellious Northern Part of Friedrichshain is calming down for the moment and we find time to build Rigaer 94 back up again, the social war around us is continuing with its normal intensity. We received news about the state attacks on people and squats in Thessaloniki. Here and there we are fighting against the social democracy and confront the social war with polymorphous struggle. Whether in the black july or in our daily local conflicts, we are involved in a common fight that gains power in its mutuality.
In this very moment, the greek state seems to be striking out with a general attack against autonomous structures. In Thessaloniki and in other cities, self-organized structures of migrants are especially becoming more and more endangered. While fullfilling its function as a manager of migration-streams, the state attacks those who try to move, self-determined, through a world of exploitation and oppression and who won‘t bow to it‘s authority.
Three occupied houses in Thessaloniki were affected and over a hundred people arrested. One person was killed during the eviction [Correction received: one day after the three evictions, a young migrant woman died due to medical negligence at one of the state’s detention facilities in Thessaloniki.]. In Athens, squats which are being used by migrants are also threatened with eviction. The goal is to create an atmosphere of fear, while oppressing those who are self-organising and attacking the authority of the state. (more…)
Tags: Analysis, Arson, Berlin, Black July, Fuck the Law, Fuck the Nations - Squat the World, Fuck the Police, Germany, Rigaer 94, Rigaerstrasse, Riots, Squatting
Posted in Autonomy
War against ISIS/Daesh: Declaration of the International Freedom Battalion of Rojava about the terrorist attack in Nice (France)
Thursday, August 4th, 2016
The International Freedom Battalion is an armed group consisting of leftist foreign fighters fighting alongside the People’s Protection Units in the Syrian Civil War in support of the Rojava Revolution and against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Tags: France, International Freedom Battalion, International Solidarity, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Kurdistan, Lions of Rojava, Nice, People's Defence Units (Y.P.G.), Rojava, Syria, The Misery of Islam, War
Posted in Autonomy
War against ISIS/Daesh: Respect to the fallen fighter Levi J. Shirley of YPG (Rojava, Syria)
Saturday, July 23rd, 2016
The Rojava revolution became a revolution for humanity which attracted the attention of the world with the valiance of the resistance of YPG, YPJ and the people of Rojava. One of them was our comrade Agir Servan, of US origin.
Heval Agir Şervan (LEVI JONATHAN SHIRLEY) came to Rojava in February 2015 and joined the YPG. Hevale Agir took part in the Martyr Rubar Qamislo Operation, always in the most advanced front. After the liberation of the Kezwane Mountains he went back to his homeland. In January 2016, Heval Agir came back to Rojava to the YPG and rejoined the revolution in the defence of the Kobani and Cizire cantons. After that, he joined the Martyr Abu Leyla Operation for the liberation of Minbij.
Heval Agir was known for his discipline and sense of responsibility. His style and personality were a source of strength, motivation, and morale for his friends. In the fight, Heval Agir was known and respected as a brave and altruistic person. (more…)
Tags: Heval Agir (Levi Shirley), Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Kubani, Kurdistan, Lions of Rojava, Martyr Abu Leyla Operation, Minbij, Operation Commander Rubar Qamishlo, People's Defence Units (Y.P.G.), Rojava, Syria, Til Tamar, USA, War
Posted in Autonomy
Urgent call about the situation of civilians in the area of Minbij (Kurdistan, Syria)
Monday, July 18th, 2016
An urgent call for the United Nations, the government of the United States and the public opinion.
A call for attention and support of the people’s council of Minbiç to the United Nations (27 June 2016).
The objective of this report of the people’s council of Minbiç is to describe the situation of the people in the area of Minbiç, located in the north of Syria which finds itself since 32 days in a heavy war situation and to describe which support is needed to eliminate the sufferings of the people. At the same time this report is a call for support to the United Nations.
The people who live in the areas controlled by ISIS since four years, experience a high intensity of violence. The difficulties the people face, because of the usurpation of the economic resources and the spaces of vital needs, continue. The applied embargo in Rojava affects the whole population in Rojava.
The people in the war region of Minbiç who have been forced to leave their houses and livelihoods are in the first instance in an urgent need of support of food and health-care and of all humanitarian aid. Until now this support has been provided by the people’s council of Minbiç, which has restricted means and the support doesn’t suffice. There are still thousands of people who haven’t been reached and whose needs are not known. There is a shortage of clean water in the region. Dirty water, rotten food, insufficient nutrition and bad housing conditions are the cause of illnesses and the fast expansion of illnesses. (more…)
Tags: Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Kubani, Kurdistan, Minbij, Rojava, Syria, The people’s council of Minbiç, War
Posted in Autonomy
Berlin: Map of Solidarity with Rigaer 94 (Germany)
Sunday, July 17th, 2016
There’s a huge map of solidarity actions for the partly evicted Rigaer 94 with many pictures and links:
https://linksunten.indymedia.org/image/184540.png
Tags: Berlin, Eviction, Germany, Rigaer 94, Rigaerstrasse
Posted in Autonomy
Report: Burst the dreams of investors – Defend Rigaer 94 (Germany)
Tuesday, July 12th, 2016
Before the demonstration the media and lots of politicians were nervous and expected a violent event on top of almost three weeks of actions in solidarity with Rigaer 94. For that they ordered 1800 cops from different parts of Germany.
The demonstration started almost on time at 21:15 at Wismarplatz in Friedrichshain with about 6000 people, after a manifestation of 45 minutes took place, where the speaker read some writings about the situation in the neighborhood these days. The first two lines were built by civil cops in yellow vests and after some cop cars before the real demonstration was visible. In the front they were holding lot’s of banners and signs. In the end it looked still organized and seemed to be a big beautiful black block.
When the demonstration reached Frankfurter Allee, the first big street, two cop cars were attacked with stones. People were showing their solidarity with fireworks and banner from the rooftop. (more…)
Tags: Berlin, Demo, Eviction, Fuck the Police, Germany, Rigaer 94, Rigaerstrasse, Riot
Posted in Autonomy
YPG International – Official information portal for the Rojava Revolution (Kurdistan, Syria)
Friday, July 8th, 2016
Hello friends, comrades, supporters, revolutionaries,
we are glad to present you our new homepage
https://ypginternational.blackblogs.org
YPG International is an official information portal for the Rojava Revolution and People’s Defense Units (YPG) made by YPG. We provide first hand information for everyone who is interested in our struggle, in people’s revolution of Rojava, in Kurdistan and in a democratic Syria. YPG International is the international path to the Rojava Revolution, the official path to support YPG in Rojava.
YPG strives for a democratic, ecologic, and anti-patriarchal system of self-organisation; it takes its power from the people and fight for the people. We struggle to defend the dignity of being a human when there is no one around to defend it and to create an ethico-political society in order to realize ideals of equality, justice, freedom, and self-determination. We wage a war against all forms of fascism and capitalist hegemony that try to enslave the peoples and destroy the nature. We get our inspiration from the philosophy of Abdullah Ocalan whose ideas have become a torch in the jungle of oppression for the poor and the downtrodden; not only in Kurdistan but also in all around the world.
YPG is more than a military force. It is a revolutionary organization that protects the transformation towards the ethico-political society against its external and internal enemies in accordance with the principles of democratic confederalism. So its fundamental mission is to defend the people and the Rojava Revolution. (more…)
Tags: Counter-info, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Kurdistan, Lions of Rojava, Middle East, People's Defence Units (Y.P.G.), Rojava, Syria, War, Women's Defense Units (YPJ), YPG International
Posted in Autonomy
Call for a Black July, plus a chronology of actions in solidarity with Rigaer 94 (Germany)
Friday, July 8th, 2016
We appreciate the call for a Black July from Rigaer 94. Many comrades in a lot of countries followed the call for a Black December of Nikos Romanos (Greek Prisoner) . It’s not just about the Rigaer 94 that people now connect and think about strategies, attack different enemies of our freedom and struggle against the cops and the system.
Especially in Germany the fight against the system was weak the last years. People were not able to combine their fights and actions without dissociating from others. The question of violence was not discussed anymore and the alliances got wider and more in accordance to the system. Now there is a house that struggles without compromises, maybe their attitude impressed some of us, some still think that they should have brought their house themselves and could be “free” now. But the sign they send, saying that they keep their status and fight, now shows it’s effect on a lot of us. It’s a window that opens up for a short time that we should use to stand together. A moment when we are fucking angry and use our strength to go on the streets and take them back!
Thanks to all of you who used the concept of Tag X to show your solidarity with the Rigaer 94 and their ideas!
For a Black July
Let us feel the heat coming from our hearts to the streets every night
(more…)
Tags: Arson, Berlin, Black July, Fuck the Police, Germany, Rigaer 94, Rigaerstrasse, Sabotage
Posted in Autonomy
Berlin: Rigaer 94 Action Day 05.07.16 (Germany)
Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
Each day is Day X until we got Kadterschmiede back
…and until the existence of Kanal, Linie, Potse/Drugstore, M99 is no longer threatened.
The list of projects in Berlin facing eviction is long. The pressure on alternative living spaces and other places where me can meet up, exchange our ideas and develop alternatives is constantly increasing. So is our anger. We’re pissed off.
On June 22nd cops broke into R94 at 7:30am without prior notice. They were sent by a politician acting on the demands of a former Apartheid attorney. In the following process of eviction they destroyed most of Kadterschmiede, the yard and the ground floor and threw out everything that was left. Since then the rest of the house is under siege by security and cops.
The people living in R94 have been assaulted verbally, physically and sexually by the besiegers. They have lost any kind of privacy and are facing random controls when entering their home. People without papers who had been living in the house so they don’t have to face the dehumanizing situations in the Lager (=official refugee camps) before the attack had to rashly leave their homes and have been unable to return. (more…)
Tags: Berlin, Eviction, Fuck the Police, Germany, Rigaer 94, Rigaerstrasse
Posted in Autonomy