Anarchistic update news all over the world - 25 October 2016

Today's Topics:

   
1.  Greece, ese: Red and Black support about Abd Elasalam Ahmed
      Eldanf (gr) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
2.  SUF: Invitation to 12th Nov protests against Nordic
      Resistance Movement demo in Stockholm (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
3.  Greece, Libertarian Thessaloniki Initiative: Concentration
      courts Thes / victory against the auction of indu (gr) [machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
4.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL October - international,
      Syria: In the heart of the imperialist melee (fr, it, pt)
      [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
5.  Britain, afed: ORGANISE! MAGAZINE ISSUE #87 WINTER 2016 -
      Contents + Editorial (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
6.  France, Alternative Libertaire AL October - Call: In the
      future the struggle unionism (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
7.  Greece,  the auction of VIO.ME. By A.P.O. (gr) [machine
      translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
8.  awsm.nz: A Sound Action (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
9.  anarkismo.net: International Campaign for the Freedom of
      Rafael Braga/Campaña Internacional por la Libertad de Rafael
      Braga by farj (pt) (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


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Message: 1




At dawn Thursday 15/09/2016 in Piacenza, Italy, the company bosses of GLS/SEAM murdered 
the Egyptian laborer Abd Elsalam Ahmed Eldanf who participated in the picket line of the 
strike. ---- He was a member of the USB(Trade Union Association of Base-Italy) and father 
of five children. ---- The ruthless employers, with the support of the Italian government 
violated labor rights...to death. They did not hesitate to order one of the truck drivers 
to move menacingly with his track against the striking workers, trying to break the picket 
line. The result of this action was Abd Elsalam Ahmed Eldanf to be struck and killed. The 
Police was present all the time and watched in apathy the murderous attack. ---- We 
denounce and condemn the murderous act of the employer Company GLS. ---- We denounce the 
murderous attacks of any employer against the struggling proletarians.

We are against the murderers of our class: the employers, the governments, the states and 
their repressive forces that support and serve the bloody profit of Capitalists.
We stand in solidarity with the class struggle of the workers of GLS/SEAM company and in 
solidarity with the USB labor syndicate.
We participate and support each class and social struggle of opressed proletarians.
Punish the murderous employers.
Counterattack with class and social struggles, against the scum of the Capital and their 
servants.

ese.inter@gmail.com
international@cnt-f.org;
international@ozzip.pl
sekretariatet@sac.se
solidarity@iww.org
soliobrerainternacional@gmail.com
sp-internacional@cgt.org.es
????????: Abd Elsalam Ahmed Eldanf, Anarchosyndicalism, ESE, Red and Black Coordination, USB

https://ese.espivblogs.net/2016/10/22/22-10-16/

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Message: 2



Alerta! ---- The nazis of the NMR has applied to hold a demonstration on the 12th of 
november. This is most likely a follow up of their May Day-rally in Borlänge. ---- The 
nazis of the NMR has a long history of violence, with their latest murder taking place in 
Finland, when Jimi Karttunen died as a result of being assaulted by the nazis. ---- The 
nazis are killers, and theyre trying to use our streets to spread their message. Of 
course, we can't let them do that without resistance. ---- We hereby invite you to join 
the counter-demonstration in Stockholm the 12th of November. ---- The network We are 
Dalarna are going to arrange a place where you can stay over the night for Friday-Saturday 
(11-12th) and for Saturday - Sunday (12-13th). There will be toilets and showers 
avaliable, and there will also be places to lock your stuff up during the conter demo.If 
you have any questions, we would gladly answer them.

You can message we are dalarna through wearedalarna[@]gmail.com, or message us encrypted 
through IK[@]suf.cc. You can find our PGP-key below this text.

No Pasaran!

/The international committée of the Syndicalist Youth Federation, SUF.

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Message: 3



In winter 2015 the Solidarity movement in indu managed to block the auction of the land 
where the plant is located katileimmeno self. The plot comes again auctioned Thursday 
20/10. All / s there to prevent another attack attempt in indust.
Cop, JUDGES, BOSSES, minion OF ERGODOSIAS HEAR THE GOOD
The indu BE LEFT IN HANDS WORKING
Concentration courts Thes / victory against the auction of indu
THURSDAY 20/10 11:00
Libertarian INITIATIVE THESSALONIKI (member of ANARCHIKIS FEDERATION)

https://libertasalonica.wordpress.com

------------------------------

Message: 4



Syrian civil war has become, for most part, the scene of an indirect confrontation between 
foreign powers. Russia, USA, Iran, Turkey, France, oil monarchies ... Who wants what? And 
Rojava in? decryption and test hypotheses. ---- For the third time this year, Syria has 
seen the failure in September of attempted truce sponsored by Russia and the United 
States. Failure mainly due to the multiplication, in the civil war, armed forces with 
conflicting objectives, shifting alliances with uncertain sponsorships. Difficult to 
enforce a cease-fire under these conditions. More than ever, however, Moscow and 
Washington appear to be the duo without which nothing can be done in Syria. To the great 
annoyance of others ingérentes powers - Iran, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia ... - kept away 
from Russian-American councils, or invited to unnecessary multilateral conferences, such 
as Lausanne October 15[1].

This is mainly because of foreign intervention that the 2011 revolution erupted, in 2012, 
into civil war. In this melee of imperialism, each pursues objectives, makes paris, tests 
its partners and competitors ... Meanwhile, the civilian population hostage to this cruel 
game, fleeing by the thousands.

What does Russia

Above all, Moscow wants to preserve Syria into its orbit. This country, ally since 1971, 
hosts the only relay of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Tartous. But keep Syria 
does not necessarily mean keeping Assad. After five years of massacres, everyone knows 
that the dictator will never again have the authority to rule over the whole country. The 
ideal would be to get negotiations and a compromise between Assad and the opposition not 
jihadist. Then a transition that would last a year or two, to a national unity government 
sponsored by Moscow ... and stripped of undermining Assad. We imagine very well end his 
days in comfortable exile in Russia or Iran. This compromise would isolate and break up 
the jihadists strengths - Daech and Fatah al Cham front (ex-front Al Nosra, linked to Al 
Qaeda) - who thrive on the chaos.

cc Russian Presidential Press and Information Office

But there are several obstacles to this scenario: first, Assad may prove stubborn and to 
resist his ouster, sabotage a possible peace process; secondly, cities and rebel brigades 
who endured the last five years the explosive barrels and chemical attack, hardly budge on 
the starting Assad; third, in the field (including Aleppo) much of the rebel brigades need 
to take, the alliance with Fatah al Cham front, and they are not ready to give it up for 
very hypothetical peace negotiations.

What would the United States

Washington has never made the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad a priority. When François 
Hollande wanted to attack Damascus in September 2013 Obama refused to follow him. Since 
summer 2014, is even clearer: the priority is the destruction of the Islamic State and, to 
a lesser extent, that of Fatah al-Sham. To that extent, the Russian scenario of a 
transition including Assad is accepted by the United States since March 2015.

cc US Navy photo - United States Department of Defense

The obstacles to this scenario are however such that in diplomatic circles-uniens states, 
another possibility is sometimes mentioned: the country's partition into a Kurdish, a 
"Arabistan" and "Alaouistan" - three ethno-religious entities each would, of necessity, 
the protectorate of a foreign power. This scenario however is so dangerous - it would 
initiate a general questioning of the borders in the Middle East - no neighbor wants it. 
Foil to the word of "partition" Americans prefer therefore that of "federalization"[2]- a 
warped federalism as subject to an imperialist strategy.

It wants Turkey

In Ankara, the overthrow of Assad is no longer a priority, and the partition of the 
country - which would lead to an autonomous Kurdistan - is excluded. Since the battle of 
Ayn al-Arab, the end of 2014, the main concern is for Erdogan to curb the Kurdish dissent 
in Turkey, and hinder the emergence of Rojava. It is for this purpose with the green light 
from Moscow and Washington, the Turkish army invaded a portion of Syrian territory to stem 
the Kurdish militias in the east of the Euphrates.

The "buffer zone" under its control now serves as a rear base for rebels subsidized by 
Ankara and continues to house the support channels to Daech[3].

DC Voice of America News: Henry Ridgwell
Refugee camps could also be implemented[4]. These refugees that Turkey retains on its soil 
are the best way to pressure the European Union.

By dint of being singled out as the main support Daech Erdogan nevertheless had to 
distance Daech but avoid a complete break for fear of reprisals on Turkish soil, where the 
jihadist networks are present.

What Iran wants

Priority Tehran is both maintaining the current Syrian regime, its only ally in the Arab 
world to Saudi Arabia, and the destruction of Daech. Without Syria maintained in the 
integrity of its borders, Iran would lose its territorial junction with the chief agent in 
the region, the Lebanese Hezbollah. And Daech which considers heretics worthy of death, 
directly threatens the Shiite populations in Iraq and Alawites in Syria, which Tehran 
claims to be the protector. Thousands of Iranian troops and Shiite militiamen paid by 
Tehran are deployed in Iraq and Syria to cope.

That want to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar

The oil monarchies, which reject any partition of the country, would the departure of 
Assad and have vexed the reluctance of Washington on this. In financing and arming rebel 
forces, including Fatah al Cham forehead, they nevertheless exert pressure on the US ally.

Between 2011 and 2013, of pious donations from businessmen and Gulf princes also fueled 
Daech[5], before the government will put a stop - too late, the monster had grown in 
stature and acquired the means to self-financing.

Saudi Arabia fears now jihadist attacks on its soil - three were perpetrated in July. 
Syria and Yemen are the main theaters of indirect war between the Sunni and Shiite Iran 
block but less resolved, the oil monarchies have not yet dared to commit ground troops.

That want France, Britain, Belgium ...

The priority of Paris, Brussels and London is to stem the flow of refugees and eradicate 
Daech the starting Assad is clearly receded into the background. From the beginning of the 
Civil War, the French and British services have actively supported the armed opposition. 
The Franco-British interventionism culminated in September 2013 with the preparation - 
aborted - an attack against Damascus.

Then the focus shifted on Daech, first in Iraq, then Syria. Chammal The operation, 
conducted by the French army, is ramping up, with considerable air forces - including the 
aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle - far ahead of other EU states engaged in the coalition 
(Country -Bas, Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark).

What hope the Kurdish left

The priority of the Syrian PYD is to consolidate the autonomy of Rojava, taking full 
advantage of the leeway given to it by events: weakening of Damascus, material aid from 
Washington and Moscow, Tehran neutrality, benevolence of Paris and London. Since October 
2015, YPG-YPJ militias formed with Syriac and Arabic brigades, Syrian Democratic Forces 
(SDS). In addition to its military capabilities, the alternative policy carried by the 
Kurdish left is a real vis-à-vis asset of local people and its international supporters.

In late August, when the Turkish intervention in Syria, Russians and Americans have 
publicly distanced themselves from the SDS[6]... then continued to help without excessive 
discretion[7]. This attitude is probably to hold a candle to both Kurds and Kurdish 
Erdogan ... The left has not been surprised by the duplicity of its occasional allies; 
this is in any case a useful reminder of the need for it to remain entirely independent in 
its objectives, which comes as using it accepts.

Feneeq News

The political difficulty for activists and Kurdish activists is to claim a federalization 
of Syria without being considered "unpatriotic" harbingers of a partition of the country. 
The PYD therefore always takes care to specify that its proposed "democratic 
confederalism" is consistent with the preservation of a united Syria. Turkey, however, 
will do everything to prevent this scenario, and Westerners will not want to upset Ankara 
on this point; secondly, there is a consensus between Assad and his opposition to exclude 
the PYD peace negotiations, and Moscow and Tehran will not force his hand on this.

What would the regime in Damascus

Partition or maintaining the integrity of the country, what interests the regime is 
primarily securing the Alaouistan. And for Assad and his clan, securing his power or, 
failing that, of his property. But the "reconquest" claimed the entire territory seems 
totally unrealistic. Not taking more than the will of Moscow and Tehran, the regime has a 
narrow margin of maneuver.

Guillaume Davranche (AL Montreuil), with Cem Akbalik (Kurdish libertarian socialist)

[1]"The Lausanne meeting on Syria ends without clash but advanced" , Letemps.ch, October 
15, 2016

[2]Henry Kissinger, "A Path Out of the Middle East Collapse" , Wall Street Journal, 
October 16, 2015.

[3]Until then, Washington and Moscow opposed a Turkish intervention. Why have endorsed in
August 2016? In exchange for stopping the Turkish support to Daech? In exchange for an 
easing to Bashar?

[4]Fehim Tastekin, "  Is Turkey falling into Syrian icts own trap?  " Al Monitor, 
September 1, 2016.

[5]The Saudi and Qatari States themselves been involved in the funding? It is in private's 
assertion the US State Department in August 2014 in an email from Hillary Clinton unveiled 
by Wikileaks.

[6]"Remarks With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a Press Availability", Geneva, 
26 August 2016 ( on the website of the US State Department ).

[7]"Turkey: Erdogan accuses Washington of having delivered weapons to the Syrian Kurds' 
Lesoir.be, September 23, 2016

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Syrie-Au-coeur-de-la-melee

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Message: 5



The Winter 1997 issue of Organise!, the AF's 30th anniversary issue #87, will be out at 
the London Anarchist bookfair later this month. Contents and editorial are below. Buy 
online from Active Distribution and AK Press and at many radical bookshops and social 
centres. Alternatively get in touch here and arrange to obtain a copy directly (price for 
this with packing and postage is £3.50 for UK orders, £4 within EU or £4.50 rest of the 
world). ---- Organising for Resistance: Grass roots struggles show the way! ---- Contents 
---- Editorial: No State Solution ---- Undercover Cops Within the Social Movements ---- It 
is Time We Discussed Abolishing the Police ---- On Vigilante Justice and the Need for 
Social Movements ---- Modern Totalitarianism ---- The State and Revolution ---- 90th 
anniversary of the 1926 General Strike in Britain ---- 80th anniversary of the 1936 
Spanish Revolution

60th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution ---- Anarchists and Brexit
Brexit and the Exploitation of the Working Classes
The Congress of the International of Anarchist Federations
Globalisation and Exploitation - Thoughts in the aftermath of the IFA Congress
The Anarchist Federation: 30 years on
Culture Feature - Georges Navel
Book Review - Social-Democracy and Anarchism
Book Review - We Do Not Fear Anarchy, We Invoke It


Editorial - No State Solution

The Brexit vote has ushered in a period of increased instability and turmoil, aggravating 
the problems we already had: low wages, poor working conditions and job insecurity, high 
rents, social cleansing and homelessness, racism and xenophobia. Politicians are unable to 
deal with any of this, desperately trying to gain credibility as they struggle with each 
other for power. But most people have no real confidence in any of them, including the 
people's ‘saviour' Jeremy Corbyn. As anarchists, we know that the problem lies beyond 
individual politicians and their policies; the root of the problem is based in the nature 
of the State itself.

The State's role is to support capitalism and will never willingly do anything that goes 
against the interests of capital. It cannot be captured or reformed. Instead, we believe 
that the only hope is to build a mass working class movement of people who not only resist 
the attacks, but create alternative structures that are based on self-organisation and a 
vision of a completely different society.

This issue of Organise! covers a variety of different topics but underlying them all is 
the idea that our fightback must come from our own efforts and that the State is actually 
an obstacle to social change. We look at key anniversaries: the General Strike, the 
Spanish Revolution and the Hungarian uprising. In each the State played a negative role. 
In the articles on Brexit, we argue that we don't want the EU State nor the British state. 
We also show the alternatives to the nation state. We highlight the role of the police as 
an arm of the State and show how people are fighting back against police repression. The 
review in this issue deals with the debate between anarchists and Marxists, on whether you 
can capture the State or not.

In addition, we report on the 10th Congress of our international - the International of 
Anarchist Federations - and publish articles from our sister federation in Italy on Brexit 
and from Greece on the State.

Finally, we mark our own anniversary - 30 years of the Anarchist Federation.

https://afed.org.uk/organise-magazine-issue-87-winter-2016/

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Message: 6



struggle trade unionists who have worn the call "It blocks all! "For more than four months 
does not intend to stop there. Faced with fighting ahead, the challenge today is to 
transform the test by building a sustainable network. ---- After a first fairly 
comprehensive review of the text published in mid-July[1], the team of activists who 
animate the call "It blocks all! "Has bet to start a new beginning of September," There is 
still fighting! "(See box), calling for the establishment of an inter-control network with 
a first constituent meeting on 15 October. This is of course ambitious. ---- Already in 
2010, calls for trade union general strike carried the seed idea of being "the tool of 
union renewed debate at the base"[2]. But they ultimately more used to "weigh" on the 
internal debates of the trade unions involved in the strike (CGT included) to concretely 
establish links laying the foundation for further consolidation. It is different now 
calling "It blocks all! "With its local versions and discussion method in the structures, 
with regular positions throughout the movement, organizing a national meeting, a rally, 
the provision of equipment[3]...

Be useful tools for union

Certainly there can be a different assessment. If you think (caricaturing to the extreme) 
that you need is: 1) denounce the "traitors union-way" to release energy channeled a base 
that would dream that a general strike, or 2) build a "red fraction" dedicated to the 
conquest of the union apparatus ... then it is certain that the call "it blocks all! "May 
have seemed disappointing.

But if we think we have an immense work of rebuilding a land of unionism that "speaks" to 
the entire labor camp, that advances the organization and class consciousness, if we think 
our union structures have everything to gain share their practices for more and better 
mobilize, to sweep sectarianism, develop horizontal inter-union solidarity ... so the idea 
to build a network for it is not stupid.

The call "is blocking everything! "Even if not necessarily focused as much as we would 
like, nevertheless touched a real union base and taken by thousands of activists, by whole 
union teams and different organizations. He opened a space, perhaps even stammering but 
can afford to propel such a network. Not only is it possible today, but we expect that it 
will be useful tomorrow to strengthen our union tools.

Théo Rival (AL Orléans)

It is still fighting! Call "They block all" to fight an inter-network!

We are trade unionists affilié.es to different organizations (CGT, Solidaires, CNT-SW CNT, 
FSU, FO, LAB, Peasant Confederation ...). Together we retrouvé.es in the call "It blocks 
all! ". Since March, we have brought the proposals in meetings, in our structures, with 
our friends, our colleagues. We have helped mobilize broad and determined for the 
withdrawal of the law "work", and to popularize the aim of blocking the economy. We are 
still fighting for the repeal of this law. So far we have everyone, and regardless of our 
union, had difficulties to anchor the strike in our professional sectors, to expand, to 
spend the necessary extension and generalization of the strike. We continue to believe 
that this is a decisive instrument to build a balance of power able to repel the attacks 
of the state and employers. We continue to believe that trade union structures must 
continue to reflect on the barriers to action and commitment of salarié.es well as union 
practices that perpetuate them.

The call "is blocking everything! "Was intended wearer of the requirement to take the 
offensive, after years of defending the achievements constantly attacked by successive 
governments. The conclusion is that our struggle remained too defensive for now, not 
enough imaginative. And we still think that to give the desire to fight, we must also 
fight "for" progressive alternatives. This is why the call "It blocks all! "Proposed to 
bring the claim weekly work 32 hours without flexibility or loss of pay, bold perspective, 
contravenes the times as it carries concrete expectations of immediate improvement 
struggles for working conditions, wages and against job insecurity and unemployment. It is 
also an example of unifying common demand as several union organizations and salarié.es 
concerning both the private and public sector, unemployed workers, etc.

Today we propose to overcome the form call of "It blocks all! ". This is the balance that 
was fired in July after four months of fighting. The concrete implementation of the call 
are requested, so one could imagine "the emergence of a permanent network of control 
unionists, supported on real local collectives, whose form as the name would find but 
would aim to exceed form "call" to be able to concrete initiatives and field. (...) A 
network of collective struggle unionists could (...) organize meetings, regional and 
national trainings, campaigns themselves ... ". We therefore call, broadly, any and all 
trade unionists who think that such a network or group would be useful to build, now, with us.

Such a tool would not replace our respective organizations: we are friendly and respectful 
federalism of our organizations, rhythms and democratic structures of our time. Simply, we 
believe conduct debates, activities, open and plural, would help to reinvigorate the 
struggle unionism in all its diversity. This unit Inter win to incarnate from the base: 
this is what we propose to do exist. For this, we organize Saturday, October 15, at the 
labor exchange in Paris Varlin room, first constitutive meeting of this common tool. See 
you there, and many many, always fighting!

Animation collective appeal "is blocking everything! "1 September 2016

[1]"It blocks all? A first assessment "text July 12, 2016, online on the website 
www.onbloquetout.org .

[2]See the contribution "The will of a field unit" in Part surrender editions of AL, 2011.

[3]See the dossier "Back on a hot spring" in G No. 263.

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Appel-De-l-avenir-du-syndicalisme

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Message: 7



On 12.02.2013 unpaid (since 2011) Employees of the Industrial Mining took the decision to 
ignore the requirements of the state and capital and chose the path of struggle, going to 
occupy the factory. Key pillars upon which constructed the project of VIO.ME from day one, 
is the triple-self-self-self-organization. Workers exceeded the established institution t 
th unionism and direct democratic procedures applied in a manner making any decision while 
eliminating any economic power (equal remuneration). The decisions taken at the general 
assembly process of workers in which all members have equal status. From the very first 
moment of the plant, a solidarity network created by the workers collectives and 
individuals and their struggle was linked to similar operations in Europe, Argentina, 
Turkey and Spain.

The judiciary initially condemned the Philip family and the operation of most busy factory 
continued until the parent company Filkeram and Philip family manage through the backdoor 
to fail the VIO.ME ..

Last year launched the sale-auction of land Filkeram process including the plot of VIO.ME 
.. But the movement's forces gave answer and were in the front line against the cops and 
judges. So we managed to cancel auctions, but now come back to the bosses to take what 
rightfully belongs to the workers. At a time that the state and capital together in 
tandem, showing the most fierce of face to the auctions of a 'residence, attempted again 
the sale of land VIO.ME .. What you may not realize the any kind of rulers that 
apergazontai to suck the social wealth, is that the social and labor requirements are not 
negotiable. Our struggle is not simply aimed at survival, a struggle for life and dignity. 
It is a struggle for a world without masters and slaves. And be sure that our forces will 
be there where necessary to bring here in this world. The world of equality, solidarity 
and freedom.

ALL / ALL THURSDAY 20/10/2016 11:00 a.m. to court to defend VIO.ME.

Cop JUDGES HEAR THE GOOD
The VIO.ME. BE LEFT IN HANDS WORKING

Collegiality for Social anarchism Black & Red
Member of Anarchist Organisation -The Policy. S.-

http://apo.squathost.com/

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Message: 8



For over a month members of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) in Texas, USA have 
been on strike. This happened after a year of ongoing negotiations between the musicians 
and management. The final straw was the insistence by bosses that the musicians accept pay 
reductions of between 2.5-7% following salary cuts in 2010 of over 13%. ---- An initial 
reaction to the strike even from those normally sympathetic to workers taking such action 
could be "Why should I support a bunch of well-educated and highly skilled people who only 
cater to the tastes of the ‘cultured' middle classes anyway?" It's true orchestral 
musicians aren't suffering the same levels of deprivation as some sections of the working 
population, but in reality the former are hardly living it up large either. One anonymous 
member of the FWSO explained her circumstances this way:

"The proposed cuts of 2016 for the FWSO may seem inconsequential by itself. Someone really 
can live on $50,000/year in North Texas in 2017, right? Perhaps they can. These days my 
salary covers all of my financial obligations, but I LIVE on what I make outside the 
symphony. So, perhaps that question is just too simplistic. When the Fort Worth household 
median income in 2014 was $59,530, my FWSO salary was almost $5,000 below that. A 2017 
salary of $50,000 only widens the gap.

How do these proposed additional cuts affect me? How do I, a hard-working individual who 
financially helps my children and parents, manage to get ahead on $50,000/year? I live and 
work day-to-day. I am proud of what I have accomplished, but my story is not an unusual 
one. I am not alone with the financial realities I have faced. And I would make the same 
decisions if I had it to do it over again. In the end though, I guess people just have 
different views on how much $5,000 really is to a person." (Quoted at Slippedisc.com 18/9/16)

The FWSO musicians have made great effort to reach out to the wider community. Prior to 
the strike itself, they would hold ‘meet and greet' sessions with the audience and also 
leafletted them to explain their positions. Since the strike they have given music for 
free on picket lines and when fundraising for the strike. There have been rallies in 
support of the strikers and encouragingly they have been joined on the picket lines by 
members of the youth orchestra,other musicians and members of the community.

The difficulties being encountered by the FWSO musicians are in no way unique to them, 
their peers elsewhere have also encountered cuts, concert cancellations and even orchestra 
closures. For example members of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra had measures inflicted 
upon them that amounted to a 10% cut in order to service the deficit they were 
experiencing. Musicians also struck in Detroit in 2010 and there were lockouts in Atlanta 
and Minnesota in 2012 and 2014. Since this particular strike broke out, musicians in 
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia followed suit by walking out on similar grounds to those in 
Fort Worth.

The election of the President is only weeks away. The choice of mainstream candidates is 
between a crony of Wall Street bankers or a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic millionaire. 
With those options the bosses can feel secure that things will go their way overall. In 
such a climate, working people in the broadest sense of the term, will have to look for 
whatever successes we can find wherever we can find them. The FWSO musician's possible 
future victory could be one small glimmer of hope and inspiration for everyone who only 
has their labour to sell and therefore isn't part of the small minority in power. As 
progressive classical music educator Jose Abreu has argued in general, "Music has to be 
recognized as an agent of social development, in the highest sense because it transmits 
the highest values - solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. And it has the ability to 
unite an entire community, and to express sublime feelings"

http://www.awsm.nz/2016/10/23/a-sound-action/

------------------------------

Message: 9



The Campaign for the Freedom of Rafael Braga makes a call for collectives, movements and 
popular organizations all over the world to join us in the International Campaign for the 
Freedom of Rafael Braga. ---- One of the main issued raised by the Campaign is the 
motivation behind the arrest of Rafael Braga. He was arrested and condemened in 2013 even 
without being a protester. He was arrested because he is Black and poor. Because he is not 
an activist, no mobilizations were made at the time and he was tried and condemned very 
quickly. Even after his sentencing, the mobilization around his case never achieved the 
level of the mobilizations around the case of other arrests of militants in 2013 and 2014. 
Rafael is a symbol of the penal selectivity and structural racism of the justice system of 
Brazil.

We are making a call so that in November 2016, activities can be organized all over Brazil 
and abroad aiming to publicize the case of Rafael Braga and to debate themes like racism, 
genocide of Black people and people of color, mass incarceration, penal selectivity, 
prison abolition struggle etc. The activities can be cultural events, rallies, debates, 
paintings, stencil, propaganda, speeches and others. We ask for the groups and individuals 
that organize something to send us details about it through the FORM so that we can 
publicize it and build a calendar with the events. Besides the activities, it is also 
possible to support the Campaign by sending us pictures with signs supporting Rafael Braga 
or solidarity notes signed by collectives and groups.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1595980740696256/

Rafael is a young poor Black man that until June 2013 used to work picking up material for 
recycling on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Downtown. He used to sleep on the streets and 
only sometimes go back home, in favela Vila Cruzeiro, so that he would save up the 
transportation money. However, on June 20th, his routine changed.

On that day, the biggest of the demonstrations that were happening at the time against the 
raise of the bus fare took place. In the end of the demonstration, at Lapa, Rafael, at the 
time 25 years old, was arrested when he was arriving in an abandoned house where he used 
to sleep sometimes. He didn't participate in the demonstration and was carrying two 
plastic bottles, one with bleach and one with disinfectant. At the police station, the 
cops that arrested him presented the bottles opened and with clothes. He was charged for 
carrying explosive material that would be Molotov cocktails. He was sentenced to 5 years 
and 2 months. On December 1st, 2015, he got out of jail on probation with an ankle monitor.

Back to Cascatinha, Vila Cruzeiro, with his family, on January 12th 2016, he went to buy 
breakfast in the morning as asked by Dona Adriana, his mother, and on the way he was 
stopped by the cops. They said that he was involved with drug dealers and were demanding 
information and that he said that he was a criminal. He was beat up on the way of the 
police station. The cops also threatened to rape him if he didn't assumed participation on 
drug trafficking. The cops forged a flagrant kit with 0.6g of marijuana, 9.3g of cocaine 
and a firecracker. So, since January, Rafael Braga faces charges of drug trafficking, 
trafficking association and trafficking collaboration.

One of the main issued raised by the Campaign is the motivation behind the arrest of 
Rafael Braga. He was arrested and condemened in 2013 even without being a protester. He 
was arrested because he is Black and poor. Because he is not an activist, no mobilizations 
were made at the time and he was tried and condemned very quickly. Even after his 
sentencing, the mobilization around his case never achieved the level of the mobilizations 
around the case of other arrests of militants in 2013 and 2014. Rafael is a symbol of the 
penal selectivity and structural racism of the justice system of Brazil. The most recent 
arrest reinforces this point of view. Living in a militarized area, Rafael was stopped and 
charged of drug trafficking. The flagrant kit forged by the cops is often used by the 
police in favelas. The war on Blacks camouflaged of war on drugs keeps on making new 
victims every day, exterminating Black people and sustaining mass incarceration.

Free Rafael Braga!

http://www.anarkismo.net/article/29701

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