Today's Topics:
1. France, Alternative Libertaire AL n° spécial - Ferns
standing: A self-management spark (fr, it, pt) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - feminism, Prostitution:
surviving against soc'-dems (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - popular celebration in
Fougeres, August 27 (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. asf-iwa.org.au: Poland, ZSP Sees Victory for Proper Working
Conditions at Vegan Restaurant (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
In rural areas and small cities, standing Nights were able to find an audience and play a
catalytic role. Example Fougeres. ---- Ferns, old industrial city of 20,000 inhabitants
and inhabitants 50 km from Rennes, is one of the localities where Night Stand could
flourish. Bringing in its early days, twenty participants and participants each week, the
event still attracted about 140 in late June for a projection Thanks Boss. The movie
theater was twice too small to hold all these people! ---- In April, during the first
meeting, the issue of labor law was soon complemented by a review of representative
democracy and a reappropriation of political issues (education, security, emergency,
ecology ...). ---- If the issue of labor law could sometimes be evaded, it is also because
the space has been invested, in part, by those excluded from work, or too insecure to live
the fight in a company. This finding is, in a sense, reassuring the people furthest from
employment that can not fit in a traditional activism, including union, reinventing
struggle spaces.
Sustaining these places public debate
However, avoid the question of the social struggle in favor of a democratic experiment is
to ignore the links between work and the organization of society. Also, Fern Stand has
asked about ways to strengthen the mobilization, while experimenting direct democracy. In
Lannion (Côtes d'Armor), Night stand organized economic blockades, becoming a place of
organization of the fight. In some localities, the night deboutistes were able to shake a
little too low to spur trade unions, only the agitation.
The main limitation of Night Stand is the turnover. Sustaining these places of public
debate, propose concrete actions while allowing a political career are major issues. The
junction between a self-determination to the fight and territorial autonomy is allowing,
in Fougeres, to overcome this difficulty in part. Like other ferns standing tied theory to
practice (distribution of leaflets, film projection ...) to more easily integrate new
people without having to repeat some zero debate with each new deadline.
Night stand can be questionable in many respects, but the collective will to reclaim
public space and democracy worth the pitfalls that these initiatives can always meet.
AL Ferns
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Fougeres-debout-Une-etincelle
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Message: 2
"About love left for prostitution" is the title of the "open letter" that former
prostitutes were sent to the Socialist Youth (Die Linke) in Bremen, rallied to the defense
of the free market the "sex work." A slap. ---- In April 2016, the Youth Party
néoréformiste Left Party in Bremen, issued a statement entitled "Solidarity with sex
workers. No to the new law on the protection of prostitutes. Not paternalism and
heteronomy in the industry of sex. " Vexed by arguments of culpable naivety Huschke Mau
were told on behalf of the group of survivors Sisters eV ---- The German position on
prostitution is significantly different from the French situation: ---- in 2002, the law
has made prostitution (which was not illegal) a profession like any other with the related
rights of employees or entrepreneurs;
brothels are legal if they comply with labor law [ 1 ];
result: the number of prostitutes has increased in fifteen, 400,000 (against 20,000 to
40,000 in France [ 2 ]);
a status of "sex worker" of sex was established in accordance with the wishes of the lobby
pro- "free prostitution" ... but only fifty people (0.000125%) have adopted [ 3 ];
taking advantage of the legalization of the market, mafia networks have proliferated
forced prostitution and trafficking. As for the number of johns ( "clients") uninhibited,
it has increased significantly.
Nevertheless, it is useful to read this open letter in France, where the pro-prostitution
lobby groups argue incessantly for market opening and a status of "sex worker". And where
part of the radical libertarian left confused or sexual freedom and priced rape.
The full text in French
The original German text
The text in English
ABOUT THE LOVE
OF THE LEFT
FOR PROSTITUTION.
OPEN LETTER TO WOMEN
WHO ARE OUT
I am a former "sex worker" as you call us; I read your proposal, and I would like to tell
you exactly what I think of 'solidarity' you offer us in this document. [...]
I really appreciated that you take a stand against "heteronomy" power of others on our
lives. Unfortunately, reading this proposal, I had to go to the evidence that you had not
realized that the "other" who has power over people who are in prostitution is the
Prostitute, in the sense that feature is inherent in the system: he wants sex, I do not
really want to, I just need the money so I consent to this heteronomy coercion. It's as
simple as that.
You write:
Although sex work has long been established as a commercial service in our society and it
is considered legal in the German Federal Republic since 2002, sex workers remain severely
stigmatized in their private and professional lives.
I'm just stunned that you describe the act of prostitution as a "profession" and "service."
Sex is the most intimate sphere of the human being. Can we at least keep it, please, or do
we let each part of ourselves be completely commodified and marketed? Since when the left
she championed the sale of any human desire? You call the service of sex, as if it were
possible to separate the self, the body of the person; as if you could simply peel, put it
in a nice little box on the counter of a shop, and then a guy shows up, hands me 50 euros
and leaves with the sexual service.
Is that how you imagine it? Really?
The FKK Paradise
is one of many brothels installed in Saarland. Working decomplexing its French customer,
their website promises "up to twenty girls of all nationalities ready to receive you in an
oriental ambience for a relaxing and fun shared."
You even talk about "poor working conditions"; do you really believe that the violence we
have suffered and which so many of us are still suffering are somehow improved if we are
given a nice "workplace", as you say?
"Working conditions"? But what are you talking about?
Under what conditions the violence we inflict she is prostituting acceptable to you? Or
the simply you see as violence, ignoring what you say persons out of prostitution and
researchers trauma?
68% of all prostitutes suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and that besides
depression, substance abuse, and disorders of borderline patients and psychosis. Do you
think these things are merely the result of "poor working conditions"?
Each of the women who came out I know describes her experiences in prostitution as sexual
violence. That we have tolerated this sexual violence or have been forced to do so does
not transform into a profession!
And then you go about stigma, saying that we should not be stigmatisé.es. I agree with you
on this, but I must emphasize that this is not the stigma that rape us, kill us and
attacks us. These are the johns. Unfortunately, you draw the wrong conclusions from the
requirement that prostitutes are not stigmatized.
You write:
This [stigma] is expressed in a lack of recognition of their profession.
To be clear, what you ask is essentially that violence against prostituted women become
normal. You want it to become a job. You want violence becomes acceptable.
In short, you are fighting for the right of women to qualify job suffering sexual
violence. Or better: You're fighting for the right of men to violence to women and to
minimize the violence, calling it "work."
Another thing I do not understand is your speech on "sex work as a personal choice."
All prostituted women I know have 'chosen' prostitution because they saw no other option.
How do you interpret this as a personal choice? Is it because I can choose, in
prostitution between only do oral sex with a condom (and lose my income because of
"personal choice" of all women in southern Europe) and just take all these cocks in the
mouth without any protection, because it is the norm? All a personal choice!
Our problem is not the "lack of recognition of the profession," our problem is the
"profession" itself! Nine out of ten prostitutes would leave immediately if they could.
What the hell is your sales pitch on the recognition of profession?
All your manifesto gives the impression of having been written by the pro-prostitution
lobby, and it does seem to be the case. [...] If your next project on racism, will you see
neo-Nazis? [...]
Then you write:
Thus, elements of the left have repeatedly called for a "total abolition of prostitution"
or progressive so-called "Swedish model", saying that sex work / prostitution is the
ultimate expression of patriarchy.
Let me clarify that: because this sentence gives the impression that you do not believe
that prostitution is an expression of patriarchy. If it is not, what is it then? Why 98%
of all prostitutes they are women and almost 100% of johns, men? But do not tell that it
is because we live in a patriarchal system?
Then you say:
Yes, sex work is currently done in the context of patriarchy, which means that the issue
of voluntariness is unfortunately always difficult to disentangle.
So, prostitution also takes place outside of patriarchy? Seriously? And what conclusions
do you draw from it is difficult to answer the "question of voluntariness"? [...]
then:
However, the feminist response can not be to adopt a paternalistic approach and try to
tell the sex workers what a decent life should look like.
I'm dying to know where you go for that. People who see prostitution as destructive and
inhuman are not patronizing: they and express solidarity with us. And that's exactly what
you could do with a little practice.
this stupid idea that anyone who recognizes prostitution as harmful is kind of
conservative moralist trying to lecture it is necessary that you stop back to "fallen women."
Recognizing the suffering and misery of prostitution and declare that it constitutes
violence is not to lecture; it means seeing the real conditions and show where prostitutes
live and respect and attention to those who suffer inside and prostitution because of it.
[...]
But if you advocate the decriminalization of Prostitute (I think we all agree that we
should never criminalize the prostitute), then this is equivalent to giving a speech as
"Women affected by domestic violence are stigmatized. To free them from this stigma, we
will decriminalize violence abuser. In this way, women will have nothing of which to be
ashamed. "Are you able to understand at least part of it? [...]
then:
Those who want to outlaw sex workers by choice criminalize entire industry and forced it
underground, where no protection can be given to them.
In order to be better protected, sex workers need more self-determination and social and
legal recognition of their profession.
Only in this way and being recognized as workers and that they can organize themselves
publicly as part of the working class and assert their own interests, better working
conditions and social security.
A ban sex work or the criminalization of clients (as in Sweden) would contribute to make
the work of invisible and less safe sex.
The Artemis brothel in Berlin
The biggest "Eros Center" in Germany opened in 2005, on the occasion of the World Cup
football. In April 2016, the two bosses "honest and respectable" of the institution of the
sex industry were indicted for tax fraud, illegal work and human trafficking . The free
market facilitates sexual slavery.
And yet revoici the fairytale underground. Please please go and read some texts explaining
the Swedish model, which criminalizes the Prostitute and decriminalize prostitute. And
read reviews of this law, where it has been applied in Norway for example.
No, prostitution does not correspond to an amount of actions cast in bronze. Yes it can be
decreased.
No, the Swedish model does not deliver in hiding. Yes, the view of a society on women
turns when one sex can not buy another.
No, we do not need "recognition as a profession," we need that prostitution be recognized
as a violence.
And no, we're not part of the working class, we are first and foremost people injured by
sexual abuse through prostitution! We will organize not part of the working class, but in
associations of victims and survivors [...].
We do not need you to organize us or talking about us; we organize ourselves, thank you.
then:
Those who actually advocate an emancipated society must also advocate for physical and
sexual self-determination.
Prostitution is the exact opposite of sexual self-determination. Part wants sex, the other
not. The money is supposed to bridge the gap. Prostitution has nothing to do with the
physical and sexual self-determination because everything I do, the Prostitute decides;
this is the situation of heteronomy.
I'm incredibly tired of all your talk of sexual liberation when you mention in the same
breath prostitution as a path to this release. We do not train in this speech; we will not
let ourselves exploit that way! Make your own sexual liberation, but you will not be
allowed to use makeup and violence committed against us to get there.
Also, I'd like to see you do a little research; you quickly discover that forced
prostitution and prostitution can not be considered separately, as you prefer to.
On the one hand, the lines between the two are blurred, and secondly there will never be
enough women who do it "voluntarily"; a large percentage of them will always be forced to
meet the demand. This means that you may not want prostitution without agreeing with
forced prostitution; one does not exist without the other.
And by the way, if you support the complete decriminalization and legalization of
prostitution, you support the market principle as the only regulatory factor, which means
the demand increases, the supply grows, demand is growing even more because men now
consider perfectly normal to be a Prostitute, supply continues to grow, and so on. It's an
upward spiral.
See if you wait to see the capitalist value from women like merchandise, you wonder if
you've ever read anything about the basic mechanisms of capitalism?
then:
The intention behind our decision to focus on these workers and sex workers currently
experience restrictions of their physical self-determination, their health and their
rights in their professional life of workers sex workers, people who have made a conscious
and deliberate choice to deliver sexual and erotic services.
Oh, and what proportion of these people? One in ten at the most. And that on which you
want to align yourself to determine the factors affecting the situation of all women
prostitutes in Germany? You do not care about the rest of us, or what? [...]
You certainly do not listen to 90% of prostitutes in the country who are migrants [...].
The vast majority of prostitutes are not brothel owners, high class escorts, domineering;
the majority of them do not even speak German! How can you be so ignorant.es?
"The grief of a mother," work by artist Namibian Findano Shikonda. As in France, more than
80% of prostitutes in Germany are "imported" by trafficking networks.
Prostitution is classist and racist, or why do you think we can find so many Aboriginal
women in other countries, and many Roma women in Germany? How do you explain that? [...]
At least once a week here at Sisters eV, we receive a visit from a woman who came out of
the industry (not to mention those who contact us because they are still trying to get
out!) It tells us that if it took that long to break his silence, it is because everything
the company said, is that it is a profession and that it's working and it's a job; c
eastern joyful sex work - and therefore all the injuries she suffered in prostitution
indicated that it is she who must have a problem.
And that is precisely the political climate created by the people like you. All your
speech trapped in silence women who have left prostitution. I too was speechless for years
due to texts like yours - because when you're a prostitute and you read something like
that, you do not even know where to start.
Prostitution is sexist, racist and classist, and you, you come after listening brothel
owners and escort agencies, and you want to talk about sexual liberation? And you call
that be left? You can not talk seriously.
There can never be to develop as comfortably as possible a sexist system, classist and
racist as prostitution. Who do you hope to put up with this? Such a system should be
abolished.
You must understand that support women in prostitution is not the same as supporting the
prostitution system! This system must be reversed and not institutionalized and better
"recognized as a profession"! The only thing I find praiseworthy in your document is the
accuracy with which it constitutes a faithful copy-pasted arguments lobby of pimps (
"proxos" in English). Nice work, indeed.
Seriously, is this what looks like your solidarity?
Shame on you and no thank you!
Huschke Mau (@huschkemau)
Signed on behalf of women Sisters eV that came out of prostitution:
Annalena, woman out of prostitution
Sonja, woman out of prostitution
Sandra, woman out of prostitution
Sunna, woman out of prostitution
Nadia, woman out of prostitution
Andra woman out of prostitution
Esther Martina, woman out of prostitution
Eva, woman out of prostitution
[ 1 ] Read about the report of Vice, "In the German brothel offering" at will "formulas .
[ 2 ] Parliamentary Survey 2013
[ 3 ] "The legalization of prostitution in Germany is challenged" , Le Monde, November 7, 2013
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Prostitution-survivantes-vs-soc
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Message: 3
Alternative Libertaire 35 North invites you to the first People's Party to support the
social movement in Fougeres, from noon on the sports field of the Rue de Laval, near the
Juliette Drouet cultural center. ---- For several months, many people have mobilized
against the Labour Law. To support financially Alternative Libertaire is organizing a
festival. ---- Half of the funds raised will be dedicated to support the social movement.
The other half will be used to implement other initiatives of the same type as this
festival to multiply the areas of political exchanges and meetings in Fougeres. ----
Leaflet download ---- This will also be the occasion to protest against the decree all
antimendicité of the town of Ferns. ---- Below the leaflet produced by the inhabitants and
Ferns inhabitants supported by Alternative Libertaire and the CNT.
The Ferns mayor took the 21/07 to 30/09 an order prohibiting panhandling downtown. He
surfed an isolated act of violence to make a decision as assumed political and commercial.
An order is not justified by proof of an actual threat to public order, a single act may
itself constitute such a risk.
Also, the town hall justifies its order by appointing an abusive occupation of public
property. But these are orders that are illegal since they hinder the freedom of movement
on public roads, that of the park there and use.
Tract protest against the decree antimendicité
An appeal before most of these orders are canceled by their generality and their
disproportion.
This type of decision is unacceptable because it considers that begging can be exercised
in the hidden places of the city. The poor have their place as everyone in the city
center. It's not for people who beg but the need to address poverty itself.
If the town of Fougeres fears for tourism, the image of a town chasing the poor far from
the centers seems one of the worst, and we will have to, as this order will be valid to
inform the men residents and tourists.
In addition, this order echoes the safe all the will of the town of Ferns, who also opted
for surveillance camera (very expensive) in the city from January.
These measures amounted men residents against each other, pointing to the good and the bad.
Residents and men residents of Ferns we consider this order as illegal and called for a
rally Wednesday, August 3 at 18:30 in front of the town hall for ferns arrested the mayor,
as well as a rally and leaflet distribution to denounce the decree and challenge this
decision Thursday, August 4 at 20h before the Ferns Castle.
Contact AL Fougeres:
fougeres@alternativelibertaire.org
FB page
Page FB https://www.facebook.com/Alternative-Libertaire-Foug%C3%A8res-106531876422370/?fref=ts
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Fete-populaire-a-Fougeres-le-27
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Message: 4
http://zsp.net.pl/zsp-sees-victory-proper-working-conditions-vegan-restaurant At the end
of March 2016, ZSP Wroclaw started actions at a vegan restaurant in that city. Workers
alarmed that there were numerous violations of workers rights: working with no contracts,
working on falsified contracts, unpaid overtime, lack of Social Security payments and
numerous health and safety violations. ---- The union approached the owner of the
restaurant, who was known as a member of the "alternative scene" about these problems, but
he instead acted very arrogantly and agressively. So the union started to publicize these
problems and picket the restaurant. The owner harrassed the protestors, taking films of
them, etc. A list of problems and demands were published.
The campaign lasted over one month, causing a lot of discussion amongst clients. Then in
June, the Labour lnspectorate checked the conditions there and confirmed all of the
accusations made by workers and former workers. They issued various orders and
recommendations to the owner concerning hiring people on legal contracts, keeping records
of working hours, paying Social Security and fixing the health and safety conditions. With
these findings, any present or former workers can demand everything owed to them and the
establishment of a labour relationship.
The ZSP had given the boss ample opportunity to pay up and rectify the situation. However,
he is one of a long line of "left" [sic] capitalists who think that their workers don't
have any rights and who exploit people, especially from the "alternative scene" by acting
as if giving people a job is a personal favor.
The consequences for this boss can be dire as he is now facing various penalties from the
state and numerous lawsuits. Surely this will wind up being more costly than settling with
the workers.
The comrades of ZSP in the meanwhile have again drawn attention to the problems which are
pervasive in that branch. They have shown that by taking action, the conditions in a
workplace can be changed and people do not have to accept this exploitation.
http://asf-iwa.org.au/
http://zsp.net.pl/zsp-sees-victory-proper-working-conditions-vegan-restaurant
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