Today's Topics:
1. France, Alternative Libertaire - Motion of Coordination
Federal of AL adopted at in January 2015 -- Critical Support
libertarian communists to the Kurdish revolutionary left (fr, it,
pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. France, Alternative Libertaire AL #256 (Dec) - Mediacoop:
"There is a real economic interest to companies that will exploit
these mines" (fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. Motion of the Federal Coordination of Alternative Libertaire
AL of October 2015 On the law of "fight against the prostitution
system". (fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. Info newsletter Alternative Libertaire - Alsace No. 54 -
Against hatred and death, proclaim life! - January 2016 (fr)
[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. France, Alternative Libertaire AL #256 (Dec) - Québec:
Sisterhood, feminism and anti-fascism (fr, it, pt) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
Text object: This text aims to verify afterwards, to confirm and validate collectively
spontaneously adopted by the Federal Secretariat line, the newspaper commission and the
commission web AL with regard to the struggle of the Kurdish Left since September 2014. We
So again not develop fully the arguments developed in Alternative Libertaire in November
2014 on the Federal website (Kurdistan folder). ---- We will limit ourselves to a summary
of the political line that we offer to the federation on the subject. ---- Three policy
---- 1. Kurdish revolutionary left, we hear all the associated organizations in the
Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), which the PKK (Turkey) and the PYD (Syria) are the two
reference parties. ---- 2. Today, the Kurdish revolutionary left is one of the few
political forces to propose, on the Middle East, a project of socialist society,
environmentalist, antipatriarchal and, somehow, secular.
3. It not only defends the project company, but it has, to some extent, the means of its
policy, with armed militia and control of much of the Rojava (Rojava).
4. Given its budgetary dependence à-vis the Damascus regime, the revolutionary process
Rojava can be called social revolution. However, it is a political revolution based on an
anti-patriarchal, with self-management and popular achievements which aims to establish a
dual power which may suggest the Zapatista experience.
5. This political revolution led by the Kurdish Left called critical support from the
libertarian communists. Critical because we need to point, but understanding with
sincerity, the dangers threatening the socialist alternative and self-management, may
represent: - * an imperialist danger, the interested neutrality of Damascus and the
interested support of the Arab coalition -américaine during the Second Battle Kobanî can
undermine, eventually, political independence of the Kurdish left. - * Authoritarian
threat: the PKK and the PYD always conceived as party guides. The cult leader Abdullah
Öcalan is one aspect, but more fundamental is the question of the rule that preserves the
military leadership on the civil movement, and that the party retains the popular power.
From this point of view, the evolution of the situation in Rojava must be closely monitored.
6. Taking into account all these parameters, Alternative Libertaire
provides critical support to the Kurdish revolutionary left;
is to support, study and report on the political revolution in Rojava;
calls for the withdrawal of the PKK from the list of terrorist organizations;
demands the truth and the end of state secret about the assassination in Paris, January 9,
2013, of Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez Sakine Cans?z.
7. To do this, Alternative Libertaire acts within the National Coordination Kurdistan
solidarity, solidarity of collective Rojava Anarchists, and with the entire international
network Anarkismo.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Motion-de-CF-Soutien-critique-des
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Message: 2
Mediacoop is a new Scop Auvergne. It aims to disseminate on its website documentaries and
articles that provide more detailed information than the mass media. After his first
documentary, which is set in a day care writing workshop with SDF Clermont-Ferrand,
MediaCoop is currently conducting a documentary about the re-opening of mines in France.
Aware of the environmental impacts of mining drifts (or extractivism) without limits or
controls, we decided to ask them about their research. ---- How did you come to work on
reopening of mines? ---- In national meetings free media in Meymac (Corrèze) that took
place last July, we met with the group Stop Mines 23. They told us of a project to open a
gold mine in Creuse and invited us in No Land Mines Festival. We met the activists of the
collective and farmers who refuse mining on their lands.
The topic has challenged us, but we tried to start our work without a priori actually is
consumed in France many ores mined in countries of the third world, often in appalling
conditions. We considered that, after all, extract ore in France, this might be an
opportunity to do things more healthily. As in our research, we decided to adopt a truly
committed angle: own mines do not exist.
Why reopen the mines in France?
In 2013, Arnaud Montebourg launched the idea to reopen the mines. The idea was to revive
the industry, to obtain autonomy from our mineral needs. Add to that the side made in
France so dear to Montebourg. It is then that Macron has taken over arguing particularly
on the aspect of "clean" of these mines.
This was followed by the granting of PER (exclusive research license) in forty places in
France in Creuse, in Ariège, in Britain and elsewhere, but also in primary forests of
Guyana. One reason for the mines stop was the lack of profitability: the mineral prices
were low and the labor required numerous. Today prices have risen and the work is much
more mechanized. So there is a real economic interest to companies that will exploit these
mines. In contrast, benefits to the community are low; eg for 1 kilo of gold extracted
(30,000 euros at current prices), only 70 euros will be donated to the State. Moreover
once the mine operation is complete, it is the State which is in charge of clean-up work.
Which commodities sought?
For now we only investigated on gold extraction projects and tungsten. Gold is mainly used
to make jewelry, shiny, and ingots. The share "useful", reserved for the industry is very
low. Tungsten is a very hard ore. It is used particularly in the armaments industry (tank
armor). Or, more comical, to strengthen mining drills heads. Full circle. Ariege, Salau
mine, closed in 1986 and reopened the project, tungsten mined for export to Russia.
What are the problems that these mines pose?
Problems relating to health and environmental impacts. This is one of the presence of
asbestos in the mine Salau which led to its closure. Many miners fell ill. Asbestos is
contained in the rock and it seems impossible not to release extracting tungsten. Also
sterile (extractions waste) are polluted; not a blade of grass grows around. Processing
tungsten products are chemicals which everyone ignores the composition: we know that it is
blue, that's pretty much it.
In addition, two-thirds of the available ore were extracted before it closed. If it is
estimated reopening its operations to five years. Is it worth the shot to continue to
destroy this site for a short period? The gold mine Salsigne near Carcassone, closed in
2004. Today, it is prohibited for growers to sell fruit and vegetables produced in the
Orbiel valley and children to play with Snails and earth, because of arsenic pollution!
The irony is that most of the places affected by these projects are wonderful places and
classified Natura 2000.
Who are the companies that buy these exploration permits?
The two main companies are obtained PER Variscan Mines (Australia) and Cominor (Canada).
These are fairly small companies. They are funded mainly by multinationals who see the
interest of advancing masked: it is not we hear about them during anti-extractive
struggles. Practices and Variscan Cominor are at best dubious. They ask for PER including
in places where there is little ore for more money from their funders. Variscan France is
managed by Michel Bonnemaison, also owns the E-mining company. It supports the work of
geologists at the University of Orleans. These geologists are then commissioned to look
for spots "favorable" and give credit to Variscan to its funders and the state.
How do the local people?
Variscan and Cominor adopt a division strategy. They stigmatize "anti-primitivists all"
(to diagram) and insist on the revitalization of the territory: three covered over at the
inn the corner of employment, benefits to the community. In rural areas it does not need
more to bring out the old quarrels, stories of the neighborhood, and everything
crystallizes around the mining project. Opponents of Salau mine face a strong hostility of
the pro-mining and public meetings were stormy. In the Creuse, the collective Stop Mines
23 was formed around a core of young ecologists fairly politicized. They are fun and
educational activities on the market. It works a lot, but so far they have received
relatively little support for politicized militant networks Limousin.
When will the documentary?
The hope is for the month of March. In any case it will be good for spring 2016. Meanwhile
Episode 0 is available on our website and in particular the festival speaks No Land Mines.
Interview by Eric (AL Auvergne)
Sites to see: www.mediacoop.fr, www.stopmines23.fr
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?MediaCoop-Il-y-a-un-veritable
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Message: 3
On the issue of prostitution, Alternative Libertaire is clearly abolitionist, as it has
again reminded the feminist text adopted at its congress in May 2015. ---- Today, the
evolution of the legislative context, which tends towards a prohibition of "resort to
buying sex acts" drives us to clarify our educational position of men in gender-sensitive
reporting. ---- Changing legislative context ---- The June 12, 2015, the bill to "fight
against the prostitution system" was passed at second reading by the National Assembly.
---- The parliamentary shuttle lasted more than eighteen months, because of significant
differences of opinion. The Assembly would prohibit "use the purchase of sexual acts" and
repeal the crime of solicitation; conversely, the Senate wanted to preserve the
tranquility of johns and maintain hunting prostitutes.
The Assembly has prevailed, and the law should be adopted before the end of 2015. As
usual, the implementing decrees will wait probably still a year or two and decide the true
scope of the law .
The main points of the law
The law includes "information about the realities of prostitution and the dangers of the
commodification of the body" in the education program for gender equality from the
college. There, it seems important to point out that capitalism imposes the
commodification of the body of workers / Artists as a whole. The terms of the law are
therefore not accurate. It would be better to talk about the commodification of the body
as a worker and commodification of sexuality as a prostitute.
It provides for measures to aid the exit of prostitution, including by guaranteeing
securities of temporary residence to those who start rehabilitation proceedings with
recognized associations - which requires budgetary allocations which, in times of
austerity, are unlikely.
It abolished the odious "crime of passive soliciting" introduced in 2003 by the Internal
Security Act (LSI) wanted by Nicolas Sarkozy. This offense, punishable by two months'
imprisonment and a fine of 3,750 euros, was delinquent prostitutes and encouraged police
persecution against them, with the blessing of governments seeking to make them invisible.
It stresses the responsibility of "clients" in the existence of the prostitution system,
by imposing prohibits "use the purchase of sexual acts." The men caught in the act will be
fined and will have to follow a "awareness course ".
What to think?
The violation incurred (1,500 euros maximum) is highly questionable for two reasons.
First, it is unequal: trivial for a DSK, very high for others. Second, the amount is
incongruous in view of the scale of fines [1].
The law does not say what will happen the "awareness training". According to the means
used, it may be a vain civic moral lesson or a real educational process. Abroad, the
United States and Sweden, for example, it has been successful when it has been entrusted
to survivors of prostitution who undertake to reveal the sordid backdrop of a supposedly
libertine [ 2].
Most important however, is the symbolic value of the forbidden, the blow that door
patriarchy, both in its traditional version in its liberal version, by repealing the
"freedom" of others to monetize sexuality. In countries such as Sweden, Norway or Iceland,
where this forbidden to consume prostitution was established, it has had positive effects:
In terms of the mass of forced prostitutes (in France, 85% of the workforce [3]), it has
discouraged the "market" and has driven investors - trafficking networks, pimps, brothel
keepers and hotels password - which is mechanically driven down the number of women
"upright" (kidnapped and raped in "training house") to be placed on the sidewalk or in the
window [4].
As for the small number of independent prostitutes (in France, 15% of the workforce), it
has certainly dried up much of the clientele but by placing the clients experiencing guilt
and insecurity, it has strengthened the position prostitutes merchant in the report and,
in some cases, raised prices of the passes [5].
It thinks that Alternative Libertaire
This bill could have positive aspects on two points:
for the positive impact that the ban could have on the mentality of men;
to the negative impact it can have on the business of trafficking networks.
However, whatever the speech of PS government, its austerity policy develops unemployment
and job insecurity, worsening poverty, undermining social protection, and is therefore
succeed the prostitution market. While its closed border policy has the same effect by
nourishing hiding in immigration.
That is why this law will be powerless to abolish the system of prostitution itself.
To do this will require firstly reducing poverty through collective struggles to ensure:
the right to housing;
the right to an income for everyone (even if that access to the RSA for the under 25 years);
freedom of movement of migrant.es (which, because of the forced underground, are an ideal
prey for pimps);
educating men and women to gender-sensitive reporting in an empowerment perspective by
women. (education which helps to monetize the forbidden sexuality of others);
support to associations accompanying persons wishing to leave prostitution.
[1] For comparison: the abandonment of a wreck vehicle is also liable to a fine of 1,500
euros; sound aggression to disturb the tranquility of others is itself punishable by a
year in prison and 15,000 euros fine.
[2] "Norma Hotaling, initiator of an awareness program" clients "of prostitution in the
United States," in Prostitution and Society in June 1999.
[3] Richard Poulin (eds.), Prostitution, embodied globalization Syllepse, 2005, p. 18.
[4] Claudine Legardinier and Said Bouamama, Customers prostitution. The Survey, Presses de
la Renaissance, 2006.
[5] Doan Bui, "Prostitution: Stockholm, the city where the customer is invisible,"
L'Observateur, 1 December 2013.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Motion-de-CF-Loi-de-lutte-contre
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Message: 4
The terrorist attacks committed by killers Daech service on November 13 in Paris aroused
legitimate emotion in people. They also provoked political reactions particularly unworthy
or dangerous. Taking advantage of the emotion, the government has initiated an ominous
march towards an authoritarian and belligerent regime in order intimating us to choose
between terrorists and him! ---- Neither Islamic state ... ---- The populations of the
Near and Middle East have numerous legitimate grounds to feed resentments against Western
powers (Europe and USA). They are largely responsible for the state of underdevelopment of
their country, confined to the role of suppliers of agricultural products and raw
materials, particularly oil. Since the end of World War II, these powers have not stopped
supporting tyrannical regimes in their pay and provide support to the State of Israel,
which oppresses the Palestinian people and violated international law for almost half a
century.
In more recent way, their interventions as illegitimate pretexts, including Iraq, are
responsible for the political chaos and impoverishment that are hundreds of thousands of
victims. After other Islamist movements (Al Qaeda, etc.), Daech feeds these resentments.
Yet his actions are indefensible. His vision of the medieval world assimilated in the same
block of "crusaders" or "infidel" Western populations and their governments, by shifting
the first responsibility of policies pursued by the latter. The oppression and massacres
suffered by the populations of occupied territories Daech are despicable. This tyranny is
no better than the actions of the Western powers which it claims to oppose.
... Or National Front ...
The National Front and, more broadly, the far right looking to enjoy the reprobation
aroused by the attacks in Paris to stir up their visceral hatred of those they call
"immigrants" non populations from Europe, even established in France and French
longstanding overwhelmingly. Their target also includes recently arrived refugees from the
Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Suspected of evil intentions all, including being
accomplices Daech, even though many of them fleeing the atrocities of the terrorists,
"immigrants" are subject to a demagogic outbidding delusional: supervision, confinement ,
expulsion, or even put to death ... All the most irrational hate speech are good to pose
as defenders of France attacked. In this sense, these far-right movements are the exact
counterpart of Western Daech.
... Or Sarkhollande!
With the almost unanimous the 'political class' support, the government responded to these
attacks by civil liberties restriction measures: state of emergency decree, an extension
of this state for three months, a ban on demonstrations public highway (including that
held in Paris as part of the COP 21), multiplication of arrests and police custody, wide
opportunities for prefects to attack simple suspicious person can oppose government
measures, etc. Not since the war in Algeria and the 2005 riots, civil liberties are
restricted is found also in France. Intended to reassure the population, these measures
are simply ineffective in the fight against the risks of highly probable future attacks.
Moreover, they were mainly used against the activists ecologists. They also enable our
leaders, past and present, to be harmless in the processes that led to the current
situation. They seek to silence all criticism and disputes, yet more and more numerous, to
their neoliberal policies (wage and fiscal austerity, deregulation of labor law, massive
subsidies to employers) and their disastrous social effects (higher unemployment and
precariousness, growing social inequalities in all areas). These will also eventually
justify arbitrary police, racist drifts more and more frequent and violent attacks against
mosques and businesses owned by Muslims or alleged such.
So what ?
We require that:
the restoration of civil liberties throughout the French territory and for all the people
who live there;
legal action against all those who are guilty of words and acts intended to spread or
worsen xenophobic hatred 'immigrants' and refugees;
the suspension of diplomatic and commercial relations between France and the Gulf
monarchies, who financially support Daech; and with the State of Israel as long as he will
not submit to the resolutions of the UN Security Council and that it will not recognize
the right of existence of a Palestinian state;
the end of the collaboration of France and the EU with Turkey, which represses and "traps"
the migrants on its territory on behalf of the EU, and can quietly continue his
against-insurgency policy chasing and murdering civilians party members of the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK), the only organization in reducing DAECH Syria.
We propose:
to prevent mistrust and fear settled, the constitution of collectives in the workplace and
life, to discuss and combat these problems;
the establishment of local and national coordination in the fight against xenophobia,
racism, the FN and others;
support for progressive and revolutionary struggles of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and elsewhere
http://alsace.alternativelibertaire.org/spip.php?article770
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Message: 5
Sisterhood ("sisterhood" in French) is a Montreal-sex feminist collective of which, for
five years, campaigning for the militant anti-fascist milieu particularly gender-neutral
space. ---- AL: How the collective was it created, in what context and on what findings?
---- The Sisterhood is a Montreal-sex group that was formed there about five years ago at
the initiative of a few girls in the radical militant anti-fascist milieu, but also from
the movements against-cultural (punk, skin, hardcore, hip hop, etc.) connected thereto. At
the time, the main finding was that although the middle advocated equality and solidarity
among all and all, it was admitted that there was still sexism. For example, we were often
relegated to secondary roles, if not downright set aside in certain actions or tasks.
Sexist jokes and judgments physically or women's sexuality were common, and women's issues
were generally addressed bit. On the other hand, we could benefit from the experience of
older activists and / or experienced, who had managed to get a place and we had bequeathed
a certain force.
The group has built gradually, over the experiences. At that time, there was this idea
that it was the girls to make their way without taking into account the real difficulties
that also included. Sometimes we felt we were given the responsibility for our own fate,
because we were not quite fonceuses not involved enough, not enough claimants, etc. It was
decided to impose itself by organizing together. "Do not release me, I'll take care" has
become a kind of slogan for us.
There also were many reactions to our organizational structure, single-sex. Some,
especially the guys do not understand our desire to organize this way, accusing us of
dividing the movement. Guys were disappointed to be "excluded" from our group because they
wanted to advocate on our side. Some have also told us that we were a social club that
spent her time gossiping, which shows the seriousness they accorded to our political
approach. Today, our single-sex is much better accepted and we have seen several positive
changes in the attitudes of our comrades.
Which lines have evolved past five years?
Rereading our writing and remembering our beginnings, we see how we evolved. At first, one
might say that one is not bad theorized. Although we already proclaim radical feminists,
we were not very worn on major intellectual discussions.
For us, the practice has often come before theory; we started to certain topics or ask
questions over the life situations (domestic violence, compared to the queer movement
against political violence, etc.). On some issues, we still do not have "official"
position because for us it's kind of against-productive extensively discuss issues on
which we do not intend to act in the short term. Then we could say that organize
themselves to us more aware of patriarchal oppression.
For example, we realized that there was much competition between girls created by the need
to make its own place in a male environment. We also took a lot of strength together,
enabling us to better respond to situations of injustice: thus we have denounced sexual
assaults that occurred in our communities, and implemented strategies to improve the
situation. Moreover, we do not claim that this is the result of our group only, but it
seems that the presence of women in the medium increased. While we remain a peer group, we
are more political than before. However, we can say that in five years, despite some
changes, we stayed pretty true to our original objectives. Although it was not always
easy, we continued our work in our environment and are cons-cultures that are associated,
as "macho" as they are, because that is what makes the essence of our group.
On intersectionality, which sometimes even raises questions in France, this is part of
your theoretical basis?
We fully endorse the concept of intersectionality, which means for us the importance of
understanding how the different oppressions feed and reinforce.
We have great admiration for women who are trying or have tried in the past to create
alliances between different struggles, be it black feminists who thought the issue of
"race" and gender relations, women unionists who highlighted the overlap between class and
gender, etc.
In a revolutionary perspective, we must think how our global struggle and ensure that it
is inclusive for all. In short, we can not, as a radical feminist, fighting for own mouth.
That said, this is easier said than done. If we have been quite active in the
anti-capitalist struggles and the struggles around work, we must admit that apart rather
symbolic support, we have not yet managed to create strong alliances with other groups
dominated es. That is why we must continue to ask these questions and consider our
privileges as white women, heterosexual or not disabled, etc.
You realize workshops on environment activist sexism, how's it going?
It's going pretty well. It is certain that people who attend have, in general, sensitivity
to our demands. As we try to have a more popular approach, our workshops are quite
accessible, which often gives rise to interesting exchanges. It is the fact of organizing
themselves into single-sex which has allowed us to gain confidence in us and then to be
able to organize these workshops. Besides, we conducted a series of conferences in France
and Germany, during the European tour of our comrades of sedition Action band last winter.
We noticed that everywhere, it is almost the same conclusions that come back,
demonstrating that women's oppression is a constant reality.
Interview by Clemence (AL Paris North East)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Quebec-Sisterhood-feminisme-et
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