Today's Topics:
1. [Israel] In Tel Aviv, anarchists act in solidarity with
activists arrested in Belarus, By ANA (pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. France, Alternative Libertaire AL #270 - Book Review, "The
Muslim Factory": a design flaw (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. Britain, CLASS WAR setting up COMMUNITY DEFENCE FORCE
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - Discussion-debate, Let's
discuss ... direct democracy!: # 1 The French Revolution, March
26 in Paris by AL Montreuil (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. Greece, Videos about recent anti-fascist mobilisations By
A.P.O. (gr) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
6. anarkismo.net: Statement on the Schmidt Case and Proposed
Commission of Inquiry by Anarkismo network
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
7. France, Alternative Libertaire AL #270 - Police Violence:
Walk for Justice and Dignity (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
8. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - Gesticulated conference,
"Work less to win more", on April 4 and 5 in Nantes by AL Nantes
(fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
9. fda-ifa: Soli aktion for the freedom of the political
prisoners in Belarus on the 25th of March Dortmund by ag dortmund
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
10. freedomnews.org.uk: Russia: Alexi Navalny is no "honest
guardian" against Kremlin oppression, anarchists warn
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
11. wsm.ie: Intersectionality - A Basic Primer (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
Israeli anarchists held a demonstration of solidarity in front of the Belarusian Embassy.
---- The site of the anarcho-communist organization "Ahdut" ("Unity") says: ---- "Over 300
protesters have been detained over the last two weeks in Belarus protesting against"
social parasite law ". Of these, more than 50 anarchists. Today, March 24, a picket line
was in front of the Belarussian embassy in Tel Aviv in solidarity with the prisoners and
to support the people of Belarus in the struggle against the dictatorial regime of
Aleksandr Lukashenko. Freedom for all political prisoners! Unity is our strength. " ----
Related Items: ---- Https://newsnavers.nob
logs.org/post/2017/03/24/finland-anarchists-organize-solidary-protest-on-south-of-bielorrussia-in-helsinque/
Https://noticiasanarquistas.noblogs.org/post/ 2017/03/22 /
poland-protest-in-krakow-in-solidarity-with-the-anarchists-detained-in-Belarus /
Anarchist-ana news agency
------------------------------
Message: 2
The Muslim Factory is a short essay that attempts to find culprits to the shift of the
political object of the "Maghrebian worker" towards the "young Muslim of the suburbs". He
attacks violently, among others, Alternative libertarian. Attempt to focus. ---- Nedjib
Sidi Moussa's book, La Fabrique du musulman [1], is an "essay on the confessionalization
and racialization of the social question", but it reflects a gloomy and pessimistic view
of the state of the anti-racist struggle. If many of the facts and declarations cited by
Sidi Moussa are right and deserve to be questioned or even denounced, the whole book is
unilaterally dependent. He falls into the same caricatured excesses as those he denounces.
---- Criticism of theories of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP, the main Trotskyist
Revolutionary Party UK), according to which Islam is the religion of the exploited, but is
generally just short[2]. Not a word about the animation role held by the SWP during the
monsters in England against the war in Iraq and the constitution of the electoral alliance
Respect in the wake of the mobilizations against the government of Blair.
I had first contested this unprincipled alliance with the petty bourgeoisie on the
occasion of a central committee of the LCR. In this story, it was not the religious nature
of the SWP allies that posed a problem but their class reality. After some impressive
electoral successes, the coalition will shatter and a major crisis will open in the SWP ...
Amalgams against reflection
Aiming at the association Maman all equal, the author tries the execution by indicating
that Houria Bouteldja would be the spokesperson. But can this be enough to answer the
stupid fact of the exclusion of mothers who wear a veil to accompany school trips? He does
not tell us whether these exclusions were racist and / or islamophobic, which he evidently
rejects as the Trojan horse of the reactionary Islamists.
The book abounds with quotations from the Party of the Natives of the Republic (PIR),
perfectly criticable, even unbearable. But for good measure, it would have been useful to
say that subjects of indispensable reflections were introduced into the public debate in
France thanks to the PIR around the specific discriminations that target young Muslims or
supposedly such of our suburbs.
Mothers fight against the prohibition to accompany school outings (circular Chatel, 2012-2014)
Secondly, it is all too easy to amalgamate those who quickly moved away from the PIR with
the later statements of Houria Bouteldja. And it is unfair to ignore the creation of the
initiative , which attempts to raise the question of discrimination in terms of state
policy and a class point of view, and where LA activists Investigations.
Finally, it is hardly serious to delegitimize the concept of "political anti-racism" by a
pirouette, stating that all anti-racisms are political, whereas anti-racist politics is
constructed precisely against the "moral" anti-racism that attempts to depoliticize this
anti- Fighting.
To facilitate the demonstration, the author engages in all sorts of amalgams, but also in
the very police method of making you an accomplice of the book of X because you signed a
petition or participated in a colloquium where X was Present. Sidi Moussa uses this very
Stalinist concept of the "objective accomplice". A great conspiracy, therefore, links the
radical Islamists, the small patrons of halal communalism, the racists and the
"islamo-leftists" who are its main target, not afraid to take up the confused concept that
the revolutionary camp should leave to the " far right.
March for Justice
and Dignity ,
March 19 in Paris
Beyond these weaknesses, it is the angle of attack of the book that is erroneous. While he
proposes to return to the fundamentals of class struggle and historical materialism, Sidi
Moussa proposes a completely politicized reading, in which twelve apostles of
"islamo-leftism" would be responsible for the collapse of consciousness Class and the
effacement of the Maghrebian worker for the benefit of the young Muslim. How to believe in
this fairy tale?
The question is of course the opposite: how the collapse of class consciousness has
allowed the emergence of reactionary forces backed by religion and caused the errors of
some currents always eager to find the new revolutionary subject. In the 1970s, the
Maghreb worker was already, for some, this new subject, the "French" working class being
disqualified for his Stalinist-reformist apathy in the eyes of certain currents of the
Left ... but that, The author has no memory of it!
Maghreb workers of the Pennaroya factory in Lyon on strike with the CFDT, in 1972.
Cc Michel Leclercq
Return of the religious in the enterprises
For there is a reality: the return of the religious in the enterprises (where the classes
are in struggle) via the immigration of Muslim culture and its children. And a delicate
question that has no simple answer: how can we gain to the social revolution that fraction
of the proletariat, even though the class consciousness has retreated into the proletariat
as a whole?
Lutte Ouvrière, for example, in a recent and highly commented article of his review La
Lutte de classe, poses as an uncompromising defender of the struggle against
religions,[3]whereas in automobile factories where the organization is Implanted, she
accompanied the claims on the prayer rooms ...[4]
Sidi Moussa uses against AL the writings of an activist who has resigned for at least two
years to remain a very minority in his positions. The method is once again fragile ... Let
us be honest, AL as all the organizations of the labor movement has been divided on these
debates (veil, religion, Islamophobia ...).
In accordance with its principles, it sought to find the points of compromise, with a text
adopted by a majority majority during its 2015 congress, "The anti-racist struggle is a
social struggle" - but this is only moderately of interest to our author.
Short excerpt:
The term islamophobia is now widely used in the media and tends to trivialize, and it
would be futile to carry out a rearguard fight to impose another.
It must, however, be used with caution, for it carries ambiguities which some religious
seek to play: that of silencing anti-religious criticism in the name of anti-racism; To
see in any racist act an anti-religious act; To summarize, that of enclosing a category of
the population in a religious identity.
We must therefore be vigilant, and limit the use of the word "Islamophobia" to the proven
cases of stigmatization of the Muslim minority (without distinction of skin color). The
rest of the time, we will classically talk about racism.
We will criticize all religions, without sparing any. This critique will obviously take
into account the specificities of each religious oppression and the specific alienation
strategies of each religion and system of superstition.
Jean-Yves (AL 93-Center)
[1]Nedjib Sidi Moussa, The Muslim Factory , Paris, Libertalia, 2017.
[2]Read on this subject: "Extreme left:" Unity of action "with the Islamists? " ,
Libertarian Alternative, May 2004.
[3]"The trap of the" fight against Islamophobia " , The Class Struggle No. 181, February 2017.
[4]As has long been the case with the CGT trade union movement. Read on this subject René
Mouriaux and Catherine Wihtol De Wenden, "French syndicalism and Islam" , Revue française
de science politique, 1987.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Critique-Contre-le-racisme-restons
------------------------------
Message: 3
Class War work with groups facing eviction or demolition...we aim to show tenants they can
rely on support long before demolition happens so they have confidence o resist.
Here's CW getting mutual support from NEW ERA ESTATE residents at POOR DOORS after we had
supported them
https://www.facebook.com/ClassWarOfficial/photos/a.1482413525309603.1073741828.1482412238643065/1846765538874398/?type=3
------------------------------
Message: 4
In order to breathe a little in this electoral period when politics seems to be reduced to
the choice of the next President of the Republic, the Collective Alternative libertarian
Paris Nord-Est is organizing a cycle of formations / debates on direct democracy. ---- We
chose to rewind the story and come back to a few moments that served as references. ----
We shall begin with a training on the French Revolution to speak of the first modern
popular forms of democracy, effaced from the collective memory by the myth of a "bourgeois
revolution". ---- The aim is not to propose an encyclopedic conference on the French
Revolution, but rather to make a general presentation of the facts to shed light on our
political project today. Do not hesitate to pass this invitation around you!
PARIS
Sunday, March 26, from 3 pm to 6 pm
at the AL local office
92 rue d'Aubervilliers (Paris 19e)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/local/cache-vignettes/L508xH302/arton4323-b29cc.jpg
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Discutons-democratie-directe-1-La
------------------------------
Message: 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBKieOZqJPs ---- STATE AND CAPITALISM breeds fascism - NOR
inch EARTH IN SOCIETIES PARASTATE raids ---- As Anarchist Political Organization, part of
the anarchist-antiauthoritarian movement, we were together with collectives and partners
in the concentrations across the state and the fascist assault battalions of the Golden
Dawn in the trial of the case of standing "Antipnoia" -in the context of the "trial of the
Golden Dawn "- where the June 2008, a murderous attack with knives of assault battalion
injuring both partners. ---- The mobilization of public antikratika, anti-capitalist and
anti-fascist characteristics, claimed and obtained from the first day the Court of Appeal
to establish the dynamic kinematics presence inside and outside the courts against the
government plans. Plans aimed at imposing the presence of an assault battalion of the
Golden Dawn in the Court of Appeal place under the protection of riot police. The
political aim of this design is both timeless use of neo-Nazis as a direct threat to the
world of struggle and secondly the affirmation of state sovereignty in the public space.
(...)
Today where the far-right and fascist aspect of modern totalitarianism, the most extreme
manifestation of the exploitative state and capital cluster expands under the "Fortress
Europe", the isolation of the fascists and clash with them in every part of the social
field more important . From Western and Central Europe to the Balkans, the emergence of
the fascists in the streets, their overt association with the deep state and its
usefulness to the imposition of the regime's choices prove the necessity vigilance against
the para-fascist groups.
Demonstrate the necessity of organization of struggle and political establishment, social
and class struggle fronts in a confrontation that the outcome will be decisive for the
evolution of the games against the imposition of modern totalitarianism. In this context
as A.P.O. participate in the public call of the anarchist antiauthoritarian standing
"Antipnoia" and participated in the anti-fascist demonstration in the center of Sofia
after an international call who had comrades from Bulgaria to strengthen the
anti-state-antifascist struggle and international solidarity.
Against repressive and shadowy terror, the state enforcement tools and world bosses, only
the world of struggle and the organized presence of the movement can serve as a basis for
the establishment of social and class self-defense. As a springboard for social and class
counter-attack that will pass over the para neo-Nazis and their patrons, to build a
society of equality, solidarity and freedom, the world of Anarchy and Communism Elefthriakou.
Sofia and Oreokastro till Ioannina and Athens ... fascism crimped in the streets of the
world race
Anarchic political organization-FEDERATION collectivity
apo.squathost.com - anpolorg@gmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 6
In our last statement on the Michael Schmidt case and accusations by journalists Alexander
Reid Ross and Joshua Stephens that he is a fascist and white nationalist that attempted to
infiltrate the anarchist movement, we said that the Anarkismo network had decided "to call
for a commission of enquiry to investigate more closely both the accusations and the
defence, and to make recommendations to the broader anarchist movement based on their
findings". ---- Regrettably it has been over a year since we announced our intention to
convene a commission of inquiry and it has not yet materialised. ---- While we have
recently started making progress once again on the call for a commission and will continue
to work towards finalizing our proposal and framework, however, we have also had enough
time now to debate aspects of the case both within and between some of the organisations
in the network.
New developments and information concerning the case have also come to our attention that
must be addressed immediately.
Statement on the Schmidt Case and Proposed Commission of Inquiry
In our last statement on the Michael Schmidt case and accusations by journalists Alexander
Reid Ross and Joshua Stephens that he is a fascist and white nationalist that attempted to
infiltrate the anarchist movement, we said that the Anarkismo network had decided "to call
for a commission of enquiry to investigate more closely both the accusations and the
defence, and to make recommendations to the broader anarchist movement based on their
findings".
One of the reasons for doing so was because we felt it was difficult for us as a network
"to draw definitive conclusions about this case based on the evidence provided so far by
both sides[...]because to do so would require translating all the material, accusations
and defence, into numerous languages in order to allow debate in each organisation, with
organisations then debating each other through their delegates to the Anarkismo network".
A process we knew would be "impossible to carry out with our current capacity[...]without
sacrificing other daily activities".
We therefore felt that an international "commission of inquiry" or "ethics commission"
that would "include members of other tendencies and non-affiliated anarchists in order to
avoid partiality" and that would be able to evaluate all the relevant evidence and
information, without first having to translate it all into numerous languages, and then
present its findings and recommendations to the broader anarchist movement would be a more
efficient process while still adhering to democratic and federalist principles. This was
because we wanted to resolve the matter without delay because "the accusations against
Schmidt are extremely serious and we take the issue of fighting racism and white supremacy
as high priority".
But, regrettably, it has been over a year since we announced our intention to convene a
commission of inquiry and it has not yet materialised.
While we have recently started making progress once again on the call for a commission and
will continue to work towards finalizing our proposal and framework, however, we have also
had enough time now to debate aspects of the case both within and between some of the
organisations in the network. These debates have not been extensive but they have exposed
some common concerns. We can not deny, for example, the fact that Schmidt has been unable
to provide convincing explanations for some of the evidence and allegations against him
(the meaning of his tattoos, for example), that there are gaps in his defense and that he
has been evasive or dismissive. While we stand by what we said previously that "Both sides
must be given a fair chance to have their say" as a matter of principle - a criticism we
still have with the way AK Press handled the accusations - we also note that what Schmidt
has chosen to say so far in his defense has been unconvincing.
New developments and information concerning the case have also come to our attention that
must be addressed immediately.
We were recently informed by our comrades at the Institute for Anarchist Theory and
History (ITHA-IATH) that they had received a letter from Michael Schmidt in which he
confessed to having been influenced by right-wing positions and racist arguments while
maintaining his "anarchist" public persona and relations with the left; and that he
concealed this from the broader anarchist movement, including from Anarkismo and its
associated organisations and militants. ITHA has since put out a statement which provides
a more detailed outline of Schmidt's letter. At our request ITHA has also sent the letter
to Anarkismo and we will supply it to the commission when or if it takes place.
However, as he has now admitted to at least some of the allegations against him there is
no need to examine and weigh up the evidence and defense to know that he is guilty of
holding and expressing some racist and reactionary beliefs and ideas completely in
opposition to the anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-imperialist and internationalist
principles cherished by Anarkismo. We fully reject and distance ourselves from any and all
of the racist and reactionary statements, ideas or activities Schmidt is responsible for -
regardless of their alleged motivations. He has admitted to deliberately concealing this
from us and to deliberately frustrating previous investigations into these and similar
allegations in the past. This is not ethical or acceptable behavior to us and we have
decided to cut all ties and not to have future relations with Michael Schmidt. He has been
informed of this decision and that we will not interact with him further. In his letter we
also note that Schmidt has admitted to the "lesser" accusation of having been influenced
by noxious racist and rightwing ideas but he has not admitted to the very serious
accusation of trying to infiltrate the anarchist movement. It is up to the commission to
investigate and determine whether he is also guilty of the "greater charge" of being an
infiltrator but this will not affect our decision to cut ties with him based on what he
has already admitted to.
These new developments not withstanding we still believe the proposed commission of
inquiry has a necessary and important role to play and we will continue to pursue it.
There are several important reasons for this. While at least some of the accusations
against Schmidt have been proven to be true by his own admission, we noted in our previous
statement that the methods of the accusers "raised an internal debate about how we deal
with such situations"; that we "cannot ignore that the methods used by the accusers -
especially the lack of a criteria for minimum of justice - could be used one day in an
unjustified accusation against any one of us in order to defame a militant, an
organisation or a whole movement", and that; "the way we deal with the current situation
will have consequences for similar situations in the future".
The promised process of working "internally to figure out the commission's composition,
the parameters of what decisions are within its range and on the questions of how we
define justice and ethics in a way that does not reproduce the modus operandi of
mainstream society[...]in order to propose a methodological and ethical framework for this
commission" has been longer and more difficult than we anticipated - and we are not yet
finished. But it is not something we can rush or circumvent because "if this commission
has no clear criteria, it will end up adopting, as a result of a dynamic of social
pressure, those of the movement in general. And unfortunately, we cannot say that the
criteria of ethics and justice today in our milieu are the best." Developing proposals for
a framework and criteria of ethics and justice for the commission, translating,
circulating, discussing in our organisations, submitting and incorporating feedback in as
participatory and democratic a manner as possible has taken much time and energy, which we
have had to balance with the many other demands and commitments of our organisations and
struggles.
We have now finalized a proposal for a framework for the ethics commission and a statement
on convening it which has been accepted by some of our organisations and is still being
discussed by others. After that we will allow some time to incorporate any amendments
arising from this round of consultation before publishing the statement convening the
commission and extending the invitations to participate. The purpose of this commission,
as before, will be to analyse the whole case, including Schmidt's partial confession and
give a final verdict - taking into consideration the now known fact that we have no doubt
he adopted rightwing positions concomitant to his anarchist ones - particularly as regards
relations to him from now on as well as developing some general procedure on how to treat
similar cases in the future.
Whilst we have cut ties and distanced ourselves from Schmidt now because of his confession
we recommend to him that he makes himself available to provide documents and information
and answer questions for the commission in the interests of resolving any unsolved issues.
Any such correspondence or cooperation will be done directly with Schmidt by the
commission itself and not through Anarkismo. We similarly appeal to all implicated or
affected parties to cooperate with the commission as requested. As we have said in the
framework under discussion, "The proposed commission is not intended to decide or
pronounce on whether Schmidt or anyone else involved in or implicated by the case is
anarchist or not. It is not about punishing or exonerating anyone. It is about breaking
the mentality within the anarchist movement of ‘giving medals to who is really an
anarchist', or to who exposes someone as not being an anarchist. It is about establishing
whether people's conduct and the way it has been dealt with generally have been
constructive, consistent with anarchist values and principles and congruent with our
vision of non-hierarchical social transformation. It is about setting a precedent and
drawing lessons from the experience to help us as a movement deal with similar cases in
the future in a mature and constructive way consistent with our goals and principles".
We will make a final verdict after the commission has been concluded and publish another
statement taking its findings and recommendations into account.
The Anarkismo network
March 2017
Related Link: http://Anarkismo.net
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/30115
------------------------------
Message: 7
On Sunday, March 19, a march for justice and dignity will start from Place de la Nation in
Paris. Called by the families of the victims of police crimes, this march is another
opportunity to recall the need for a unitary and determined response to racism and state
violence. ---- Amine Bentounsi, Lamine Dieng, Rémi Fraisse, Adama Traoré, Ali Ziri ... and
so many others. "One a month. It is on average the number of fathers, brothers and sons
that we lose because of the brutality of the forces of order " : it is by these words that
the appeal of families of victims to March of 19 March. The text of this appeal (which AL
signed) subsequently convokes all the reasons for marching for justice and dignity: to
face the state of emergency, to denounce the war to the migrants, Migrants and refugees,
to refuse the state racism and the police violence which strike down the populations of
the working-class districts as well as the social movement - Zadists, demonstrators and
demonstrators, embastillé unionists, etc.,
As the march organized by the MAFED in October 2015[2], the Walk of March 19 is called by
the first and first concerné.es, and it is important because self-organization progresses
and it ensures that Words such as claims are not confiscated[3].
Building an anti-racist and social front
The rape of Theo Luhaka, which occurred after the publication of the appeal, has led to
rallies and demonstrations everywhere, high school students and pupils have beaten the
pavement by thousands to denounce this heinous crime, and the March 19 march now appears
as The next appointment for all. In several cities, buses are advertised.
In order to broaden the spectrum of the calling organizations to the maximum, a shorter,
four-point text was drafted, which in particular led to the joining of Attac or
Solidaires. An anti-colonialist appeal was added. Lastly, a forum "Syndicalists, we march
March 19"[4], recalls the importance of linking anti-racism and social issues.
All these initiatives announce an important mobilization and this is the essential point.
For the challenge in the coming months is to build an anti-racist and social front. As the
aforementioned forum reminds us: "If discrimination is not reduced to social domination,
it is articulated to reinforce it. Social and anti-racist fights, far from being
antagonistic, must nourish each other. "
On this road, there is still much to go, but the March of March 19 is an unavoidable step.
Theo Rival (AL Orléans)
[1]The text of appeal can be consulted on the blog "Marche 19 mars" hosted by Mediapart.
[2]See "What Happens with the March for Dignity," LA Communiqué, November 1, 2015.
[3]Read « What anti-racist struggles in France? "In Alternative Libertarian, October 2016.
[4]This forum is also published on Mediapart (Blog "To those who organize").
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Violences-policieres-Marchons-pour
------------------------------
Message: 8
This conference evokes the potential for collective action embodied in "labor law": the
process of continuous historical advance of the collective ownership of workers against
the lucrative ownership of capital, symbolized in social protection, Pass for
"charges"[reservation required!] ---- Alternative Libertaire Nantes invites you to the
gesticulated conference of Franck Lepage and Gael Tanguy: "Work less to earn more". The
entrance will be 10 euros (7 euros in reduced price) in order to pay the organization and
the gesticulants. The reduced rate applies to people with low incomes. There will be no
verification, it is a conscious participation. Reservations are made by email to
nantes@alternativelibertaire.org (Please specify the day of your reservation)
*** COMPLETE: contact us for waiting list ***
Wage is not the "price" of a work (right version), but a "scale" imposed by the struggle
(left version), ie a balance of forces by which we oblige an owner To pay also free labor
to others other than us (pensions, unemployment, sickness ... and soon why not the youth?
Via a universal salary that would deliver us from the subordinate job market)?
NANTES
on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th April at 7pm
Salle Bretagne
23 Rue Villebois Mareuil - Tram 3, stop Poitou
The event for the conference gesticulated on social networks, to join and broadcast!
The page of Alternative Libertaire Nantes on social networks
The issue of pensions is not financial (there is no problem of financing pensions) but
ideological because it is the pensions that are making visible that the salary can also
pay for free time without any danger for The economy. It is therefore a question of
capital destroying all forms of social protection from 1945 (social security, retirement,
collective agreements, etc.). To resist it, trade unions are needed, that is to say, first
and foremost, trade unionists! Reinventing trade unionism is the only way.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Travaillez-moins-pour-gagner-plus
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Message: 9
The biggest protests in years took place in dictatorial Belarus. They were caused by a new
law, forcing every who has not been working for at least 6 months in one year to pay a
"tax". With this "tax" of 180 €, the government wants to finance healthcare and education.
The average income in Belarus is 200-300 €. Because of the protests, the dictator
Lukaschenko promised to suspend this "tax" for another year. Still the protests are going
on. It is not only about this new law, it is about the dismissal of Lukaschenko. The
government took over 160 journalists, anarchists, politicians of the opposition and
demonstrantors in custody or imposed a fine on them. Every day more people are facing
repression. ---- The protests were not initiated by political parties, but by normal
people. All demonstrations were declared as illegal by the regime, yet the people do not
ask for permission; they take the streets.
The anarchist movement is very important in this: it is the best organized group, often
leading the demonstrations. Therefore our companions are at the focus of attention and
repression. On the 15th of march, about 40 people of the anarchistic movement were beaten
up and taken away by police forces during a demonstration in Minsk. Those who have not
been caught on the demonstration have been caught at their homes. At the moment over 25
anarchists are sentenced to 5-15 days of prison to keep them away from further demonstrations.
Today, the 25th of march, a great demonstration will take place in the capital of Belarus.
You are not alone. All over the world freedom-loving people feverishly await the fall of
Lukaschenko and his regime. Anti-national solidarity with all fighting people in Belarus,
freedom for the prisoners!
If you want to support our anarchists brothers and sisters in Belarus facing repression,
you can make a donation to Anarchist Black Cross:
anarchistische Gruppe Dortmund, 25. März 2017
https://fda-ifa.org/soliaktion-fuer-die-freiheit-der-politischen-gefangenen-in-belarus-am-25-maerz-dortmund/
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Message: 10
As liberal "centrist" protests against corruption in Russia kick off nationwide today, led
by lawyer and political figure Alexi Navalny, Russian anarcho-syndicalist group KRAS-AIT
argues that for the country's poor, his "responsible" free-market vision offers no
respite: ---- Opposition politician Navalny (pictured above), posing as an honest guardian
of the people's interests, has called on the population of Russia to take to the streets
in protest against corruption and embezzlement by top State officials. This pretender to
power, who has accused our current rulers of carving up a cake baked with the sweat and
blood of ordinary workers, asserts that "because of the corruption around us we see
poverty and ruin." ---- Yes, we have every reason to be dissatisfied with the
socio-economic policies being pursued by the current regime of oligarchs, the plutocrats.
The gap between the richest and the poorest in Russia breaks all world records. At a time
when 40% of the population barely has enough money for food and about 70% of the
population earns less than the so-called average wage, the rich are bathed in the most
unimaginable luxury. Last year alone, despite the so-called "crisis" - or rather, because
of it - the number of Russian dollar millionaires grew by 10%. Authorities complain about
a lack of money in the budget and on this pretext plan to further reduce spending on
health, education and social benefits, while raising taxes on consumers and hiking the
retirement age. In this case, any proposals aimed at encouraging the rich to share a
little bit of their loot from the common people is immediately and irrevocably met with
hostility.
All this is true.
But those who call on us to protest against the "corruption" say not a word about how they
intend to change the socio-economic policies of the current regime. Even a meager
reduction of the yawning gap that separates rich and poor in Russia is not included in
their plans and intentions. They did not raise the question of a change in ownership
structure, which for most of them, as well as for any other adherents of capitalism, is
"sacred and inviolable."
The current political opposition are as ardent a set of supporters of the "free market" as
the powers that be. Low wages, cuts in social spending, the arbitrariness of employers,
brutal exploitation and lack of rights for employees - all these principles are equally
dear to the heart of the opposition as they are to today's rulers.
Our poverty does not stem from the "corruption" which Navalny and co criticise. This
opposition is outraged that officials, in their opinion, rake too much from the Treasury,
patronise related businesses and encourage the owners of enterprises, firms and banks to
pay them bribes and kickbacks. But what do we, doctors and workers, teachers and the
unemployed, students and pensioners, care how those who force us to work our whole lives
for their benefit divide the spoils of what they've stolen from us? It is we, not they,
entrepreneurs and bankers who create all the wealth while receiving from them these
pitiful pennies, often enough only to die of hunger.
Our troubles are not generated by the fact that someone with political and economic power
shares it or does not with other masters. Our anguish is the result of the existing social
system. The point is not to merely replace one bad person with other rulers. It is
necessary to radically change the whole current policy. In other words, to change the system.
Navalny and his supporters are the least suitable for this purpose. An entrepreneur,
exploiting the labour of employees; a political adventurer who was expelled from his own
nationalist Liberal Party; who in 2006 held the neo-fascist Russian March, a preacher of
rabid chauvinism; an unconditional supporter of capitalism. The man himself belongs to the
camp of the gentlemen, even if it is their currently "offended" faction. He is no better
than our current rulers, and does not offer anything in return for his tyranny.
Police break up the Russian March in St Petersburg on November 4th, 2006
Our requirements today must not become empty and meaningless phrases about
"anti-corruption" in the hope some other "honest" bureaucrats will be able to carry out
the mythical and impossible task to create a "clean and fair" capitalism. It does not
matter what clique will form the government - we want to live better.
There must be new demands
We demand real freedom, of association, for rallies, strikes and trade union activity!
We demand an end to anti-social policies: of low wages and systematic reduction of real
incomes for the general population, the destruction of social security, the
commercialisation of education and health care, privatisation, and permanent increases in
prices!
We demand an end to "economic reforms" which more and more help entrepreneurs, bankers and
bureaucrats get richer while ordinary people poorer. All these measures must be
discontinued immediately!
We demand cancellation of the infamous law against "extremism" to stop the arbitrariness
of overt and covert police. People need rights, not repression and extortion! Our towns
and villages must be for residents, not officials!
We don't need "fair elections" in which different brands of politician are merely fighting
over who will skin us next. We need a decent life!
We demand:
An increase of pay rates to average European levels
Automatic wage increases in line with rising prices
A six-hour day and five-day working week, without cutting wages
Paid leave for a period of not less than one month and paid sick days for all workers
Reduce and freeze the prices of basic goods and services
A prohibition on dismissals without the consent of the staff
Free medical care, education, urban transport and housing services
We do not believe that representative democracy and its elections, presidents, governments
and Dumas will be able to solve our problems. They do not have the right to decide and
speak for us. Only when the system of general government comes direct from where we live,
work and study, can we all become masters of their own destiny.
A group of activists of the Russian section of the IWA
https://freedomnews.org.uk/russia-alexi-navalny-is-no-honest-guardian-against-kremlin-oppression-anarchists-warn/
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Message: 11
The WSM's politics are fundamentally intersectional. ‘Intersectionality' is a fancy word
for some rather basic ideas. You can think of it as ‘overlap-ism' instead. There are three
main points, 1) that each person needs to be seen as a whole, 2) that no power system
exists in isolation, and 3) that all forms of oppression and exploitation should be
uprooted at the same time. ---- The first point refers to the fact that real people aren't
cartoons. We are each complicated and multi-dimensional. For instance, a person is not
just ‘working class'. They also have a gender. In general, life for a working class woman
will be significantly different than for a working class man, not only because a woman is
oppressed by sexism but because class itself is experienced differently.
This leads to the second point. Being precise, there is no such thing as ‘gender' as a
free floating thing. As a practical example, note how wealthy women can afford to travel
to England for abortions but poor women often cannot. We can see here the effect of class
and gender ‘intersecting' or overlapping. Notice how this examples shows both that gender
is different depending on class, but also that class is different depending on gender (cis
male workers won't have this problem).
The third point says two things: that single issue politics don't work, and that no
struggle is the ‘most important' or primary struggle. The most common case of single issue
politics on the left is socialists stating that we must focus on the ‘class struggle'
because capitalism, which tramples on all working class people, is our real priority. The
reality is that, as described above, class doesn't exist in isolation, people aren't
one-dimensional. There is no cartoon worker. In practice, putting a priority on class at
the expense of struggles against specific oppressions like patriarchy and racism means
side-lining those oppressed people in favour of what is usually the straight, white,
settled, cisgender, male citizen. Saying that capitalism is the ‘most important' raises
the question of ‘most important for whom?'.
Furthermore, the idea that capitalism can be overthrown without being part of a broader
movement against oppression is false. For example, how are the working class to succeed if
over half of them (women and non-binary people) are being repressed? All power systems are
linked, or overlap.
Considering all of the above, it's clear that waiting to overthrow these oppressions
‘after the Revolution' won't do. We must wear them away in the present.
The same goes for liberals who are in favour of an ‘intersectionality' which doesn't
involve overthrowing capitalism. It is the flipside of the above. Capitalism functions to
support and spread queerphobia, ableism, sexism, racism, etc.
The following diagram loosely illustrates this idea of power systems ‘intersecting' by
showing circles overlapping. Every real person has, for example, a nationality (or absence
of), gender (or absence of), class, race, sexual orientation, and ability. These all come
together, or intersect, to make up the whole person. Trying to eliminate one of these
things from the picture will lead to inaccuracy.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/intersectionality-basic-primer
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