Tagged: Cuts
Politicians vs Bristol – Fight The Cuts
Think it should be none of the above? Then join us in the streets this Saturday & Tuesday!
The fight against cuts has been a long and tough one, but we can’t afford to let up. Not when peoples’ livelihoods, well-being, and very lives depend on it. It won’t end with the upcoming protests (see below for details). In fact, it will need to step up a gear in the months afterwards, if it is to have any impact.
The government in Westminster continues to demand cuts to essential services, still telling the same old lie that it is for ‘the sake of the economy’ or to lower the national debt. The reality of the past seven years says otherwise. Councillors across the country have spoken about being ‘anti-austerity’, but so far have only put their careers and the easy life first, passing on the cuts, regardless of which party they belong to.
In reality, these cuts are an attack on working class and vulnerable people across the country. It’s about giving less of the wealth that we produced to us – whether we receive it in our wage packets, our benefits, or our access to state services – and giving more of it to the few at the top. Privatisation goes hand-in-hand with this, creating yet more profit for the millionaires, and it’s all the easier to implement when services are already stretched to breaking point.
So, what can we do about it?
First off, join the protests ! Continue reading
Why the government keep making cuts, and why we need to stop them
Protest against council cuts Nov 2016
Austerity (or cuts as most of us think of it) is a hard pill to swallow. Services are closed or run into the ground with ‘efficiency savings’, jobs are lost, and benefits cut. Still, it’s a necessary cure right? Us ordinary folk can’t continue to have luxuries like care for the elderly. The state needs every penny to help pay off the national debt. You know, that one that got built up by bailing out the bankers. After all, those bankers need to maintain the bare necessities of life, like their multi-million pound salaries and private yachts.
Surely after six years it must be working? Well… Continue reading
Discussion: Where next for the anti cuts movement?
Our discussion on anarchists and the future of the anti cuts movement will take place 7pm Tuesday 17th of November at Hydra books
We recommend reading the following two articles, although its not required! Anyone looking to fight the cuts or learn more is welcome, whether or not you consider yourself an Anarchist.
Poking a Future Monarch with a Stick
A critical analysis of the anti-cuts movements against the ConDem coalition written by a Bristol AFed member.
A Storm is Coming
An article from one of our friends in SolFed about why the anti-cuts movement is about to kick off again Continue reading
Anarchy in Pontypool
Anarchist contingent (three on the right) who were amongst the 10 or so people who gathered to picket the Tuesday morning council meeting
During the excellent Cardiff Anarchist Bookfair we had a chance to meet up with Terry, a long time Anarchist Federation member who lives in Pontypool. He was busy organising a protest against cuts to local services planned by the County Council. We agreed to join him, before we realised it’d mean a 6am train to Pontypool & New Inn!
Not deterred (too much) by the early start a couple of us made it along last Tuesday to support Terry and others who were picketing the council meeting and distributing leaflets to councilors, council workers and passers-by.
We headed into the council chambers with an anticuts banner and anarchist flags. Later whilst being escorted out of the building we were asked how we’d managed to get these (apparently contraband) items inside, never under-estimate the power of confidently walking through the front door! Continue reading
No excuses for being bored this weekend!
Four actions in under 24 hours this Friday & Saturday!
Things kick off (as in start that is, not, you know, kick off) with the Anti-Police harassment demonstration 6.30pm, Assembling at Newton Park, Old Market going to Trinity Police Station (MAP) Bring noise, banners, lanterns etc.
A little later in the evening some of us will be taking the short walk to the central fire station to support the FBU members who are staging a four hour strike as part of their fight to prevent the raising of their retirement age.
On Saturday at 12.30pm, the ‘Save Our City’ coalition of anticuts groupings in Bristol are organising a demo against George Ferguson and his plan to cut 1000 jobs, they’re making it a personal and will be protesting outside the Tobacco Factory bar/cafe that he owns and uses as his central bristol base. Facebook Event.
Finally, just down the road from the anti cuts demonstration over in East Street, our friends at Sol Fed have organised a picket of Santander beginning at 2.30pm. This is part of an international campaign of solidarity with a CNT member in Spain who was fired from his job at Santander for union organising, facebook event!
Hope to see you in the streets, let us know if you attend all four and we might give you a cookie.
Love & Rage,
Bristol Anarchist Federation
Great solidarity action by the unions in Spain! S O L I D A R I T Y
Read more on the real democracy blog…
Read about previous actions that have taken place in Spain & Greece here
Bristol 1st of May Group
Members of Bristol Anarchist Federation have been getting involved in Bristol 1st of May Group a loose group of anarchists, leftists and assorted trouble makers coming together make sure May Day doesn’t go unnoticed in Bristol! Check out the call out.
There are already events planned, and we are meeting again on Thursday (12th of April) 7.30pm, upstairs at the Stag & Hounds on oldmarket, more revolutionarys, rebels, workers, students and other members of the feral underclasses welcome!
