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» Anarchic update news all over the world - 10 June 2017
Anarchic update news all over the world - 10 June 2017
Today's Topics:
1. France, Alternative Libertaire - history, Self-management in
libertarian Spain of 1936 by AL Nancy (fr, it, pt) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. US, black rose fed: Lorenzo Komboa Ervin: Why I Am An
Anarchist (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. Britain, freedom news: Brighton gearing up for the
post-election fight (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. Ppland, rozbrat: Freedom Fighters #9 - report [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - 13 th Congress (Nantes,
3-5 June 2017) -- Balance Sheet of Alternative Libertaire
2015-2017 (fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
June 9th at 7 pm, at the MJC des Trois-Maisons, 12, rue de Fontenoy, Nancy. ---- The CCAN,
the CNT Interco 54 and the AL 54 organize a conference of Franck Mintz on Friday 9 June at
7 pm at the former school of the MJC of the Three Houses (12 rue de Fontenoy in Nancy)
Libertarian self - management during the Spanish Revolution of 1936. ---- A documentary
screening will introduce the conference, which will be followed by a debate and then the
opening of an exhibition with a Spanish hostel. ---- Facebook event ----
https://www.facebook.com/events/1068072673292768/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%22263%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?L-autogestion-dans-l-Espagne-libertaire-de-1936
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Message: 2
Lorenzo Komboa Ervin is a former member of the Black Panther Party and wrote the seminal
text "Anarchism and the Black Revolution" while incarcerated as a political prisoner. This
is an excerpt from the sections "Why I Became and Anarchist" and "What I Believe" and the
full text can be found in Black Anarchism: A Reader published by Black Rose/Rosa Negra
Anarchist Federation. ---- By Lorenzo Komboa Ervin ---- In the 1960s I was part of a
number of Black revolutionary movements, including the Black Panther Party, which I feel
partially failed because of the authoritarian leadership style of Huey P. Newton, Bobby
Seale and others on the Central Committee. This is not a recrimination against those
individuals, but many errors were made because the national leadership was too divorced
from the chapters in cities all over the country, and therefore engaged in "commandism" or
forced work dictated by leaders. But many contradictions were also set up because of the
structure of the organization as a Marxist-Leninist group. There was not a lot of
inner-party democracy, and when contradictions came up, it was the leaders who decided on
their resolution, not the members. Purges became commonplace, and many good people were
expelled from the group simply because they disagreed with the leadership.
Because of the over-importance of central leadership, the national organisation was
ultimately liquidated entirely, packed up and shipped back to Oakland, California. Of
course, many errors were made because the BPP was a young organisation and was under
intense attack by the state. I do not want to imply that the internal errors were the
primary contradictions that destroyed the BPP. The police attacks on it did that, but, if
it were better and more democratically organised, it may have weathered the storm. So this
is no mindless criticism or backstabbing attack. I loved the party. And, anyway, not
myself or anyone else who critique the party with hindsight, will ever take away from the
tremendous role that the BPP played in the Black Liberation movement of the 1960s. But we
must look at a full picture of out organisations from that period, so that we do not
repeat the same errors.
I think my brief period in the Panthers was very important because it taught me about the
limits of - and even the bankruptcy of - leadership in a revolutionary movement. It was
not a question of a personality defect on behalf of particular leader, but rather a
realisation that many times leaders have one agenda, followers have another.
I also learned this lesson during my association with the African People's Socialist Party
during the 1980s. When I had gotten out of the joint I had met Omali Yeshitela while I was
confined in Leavenworth (KS.) federal pen, when he was invited to our annual Black
Solidarity Bay festivities in 1979. This association continued when they formed the Black
prisoners' organisation, the African National Prison Organisation shortly thereafter. ANPO
was definitely a good support organisation, and along with News and Letters Committees the
Kentucky branch of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression, and the
Social revolutionary Anarchist Federation (now defunct), they wrote letters and made phone
calls to have me hospitalised after I had been infected with Tuberculosis, which saved my
life. But the group folded when the proposed coalition of founding organisations collapsed
due to sectarianism
After I got out of prison, I lost contact with them as they had moved from Louisville to
the West Coast. It was not until 1987 that I once again contacted them when we were having
a mass demonstration against police brutality in my hometown. They were invited and came
to the demo, along with ANPO and several left-wing forces, and for two years off and on, I
had an association with them. But I felt APSP politically was always an authoritarian
organisation, and even though was never a member, I became more and more uncomfortable
with their organisational policies In the Summer Of 1988, I went to Oakland, California to
attend an "organisers' school"?, but I also wanted to satisfy myself about the internal
workings of the group. For six weeks, I worked with them out of their national
headquarters in the local community. I was able to determine for myself about internal
matters and also abort the politics of the group itself. I found out that about a whole
history of purges, factional fights, and the "one man" dictatorial leadership style of the
Party. While in Oakland, I was asked to attend a meeting in Philadelphia that Fall to
re-establish ANPO.
I attended the Philly meeting, but was very concerned when I was automatically placed as
part of a "slate"? to be officers of the ANPO group, without any real democratic
discussion among the proposed membership, or allowing others to put themselves forward as
potential candidates. I was in fact made the highest-ranking officer in the group.
Although I still believe that there should be a mass political prisoners' movement and
especially a Black prisoners' movement, I became convinced that this was not it. I believe
that it will take a true coalition of forces in the Black and progressive movements to
build a mass base of support. I got to feeling that these folks just wanted to push the
party and its politics, rather than free prisoners, and so I just dropped out and haven't
dealt with them since. I was very disillusioned and depressed when I learned the truth. I
won't be used by anybody - not for long.
The early stages of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was a contrast in many
ways to any Black freedom group to come before or after. Part of the SNCC activists were
middle class college intellectuals, with a small number of working class grassroots
activists, but they developed a working style that was very anti-authoritarian and was
unique to the Civil rights movement. Instead of bringing in a national leader to lead
local struggles, like Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. and his group, the Southern Christian
Leadership Council, was wont to do, SNCC sent in field organisers to work with the local
people and develop indigenous leadership and help organise, but not take over local
struggles. They placed their faith in the ability of the people to determine an agenda
which would best serve them and lead themselves to obtain their goals rather than being
inspired or told what to do by a leader SNCC itself had no strong leaders, even though it
had persons in decision-making authority, but they were accountable to membership boards
and the community in a way no other group in the civil rights movement was.
SNCC was also a secular organisation, in contrast to SCLC, which was formed by Black
preachers and had co-opted their style of organising from the Black church, with a
religious authority figure who gave orders to the troops. Today most political
commentators or historians still do not want to give full credit to the effectiveness of
SNCC, but many of the most powerful and successful struggles of the Civil rights movement
were initiated and won by SNCC, including most of the voting rights struggles and the
Mississippi phase of the freedom movement. I learned a lot about internal democracy by
being a part of SNCC, how it could make or break an organisation, and how it had so much
to do with the morale of the members. Everyone was given an opportunity to participate in
decision-making, and felt part of a great historical mission, which would change their
lives forever. They were right. Even though SNCC gave some lifelong lessons to all of us
involved, even if it was destroyed by the rich and their own, who resorted to an
authoritarian style in later years.
I also began to have a rethinking process after I was forced to leave de U.S. and go to
Cuba, Czechoslovakia and other countries in the "Socialist bloc"?, as it was called then.
It was clear that these countries were essentially police states, even though they had
brought many significant reforms and material advances to their peoples over what had
existed before. I observed also that racism existed in those countries, along with the
denial of basic democratic rights and poverty on a scale I would not have thought
possible. I also saw a great deal of corruption by the Communist Party leaders and State
administrators, who were well off, while the workers were mere wage slaves. I thought to
myself, "there has to be a better way!". There is. It is Anarchism, which I started to
read about when I was captured in East Germany and had heard more about when I was
eventually thrown into prison in the United States.
Prison is a place where one continually thinks about his other past life, including the
examination of new or contrary ideas, I began to think about what I had seen in the Black
movement, along with my mistreatment in Cuba, my capture and escape in Czechoslovakia, and
my final capture in East Germany. I replayed all this over and over in my head. I was
first introduced to Anarchism in 1969, immediately after I was brought back to the U.S.
and was placed in the federal lockup in New York City, where I met Martin Sostre. Sostre
told me about how to survive in prison, the importance of fighting for prisoners'
democratic rights, and about Anarchism. This short course in Anarchism did not stick
however, even though I greatly respected Sostre personally, because I did not understand
the theoretical concepts.
Finally around 1973, after I had been locked up for about three years, I started receiving
Anarchist literature and correspondence from Anarchists who had heard about my case. This
began my slow metamorphosis to a confirmed Anarchist, and in fact it was not until a few
years later that I came over. During the late 1970s, I was adopted by Anarchist Black
Cross-England and also by a Dutch Anarchist group called HAPOTOC (Help A Prisoner Oppose
Torture Organising Committee) which organised an instrumental defence campaign. This
proved crucial in ultimately getting people all over the world to write the U. S.
government to demand my release.
I wrote a succession of articles for the Anarchist press, and was a member of the Social
Revolutionary Anarchist Federation, the IWW, and a number of other Anarchist groups in the
U.S. and around the world. But I became disheartened by the Anarchist movement's failure
to fight white supremacy and its lack of class struggle politics. So, in 1979, I wrote a
pamphlet called Anarchism and the Black Revolution, to act as a guide to the discussion of
these matters by our movement. Finally, in 1983, I was released from prison, after having
served almost 15 years.
For all these years, the pamphlet influenced a number of Anarchists who were opposed to
racism and also wanted a more class struggle-oriented approach than the movement then
afforded. Meanwhile I had fallen away from the Anarchist movement in disgust, and it was
not until 1992 when I was working in my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as an
anti-racist community organiser, that I ran into an Anarchist named John Johnson and once
again made contact. He gave me an issue of Love and Rage newspaper, and as a result, I
contacted Chris Day of Love and Rage, and comrades in WSA in New York. The rest, as they
say, is history. I have been back with a vengeance ever since.
All of a sudden, I see there are now others in the movement who understand the workings of
white supremacy and they have encouraged me to rewrite this pamphlet I have gratefully
done so. Why am I an Anarchist? I have an alternative vision for the revolutionary
process. There is a better way. Let us get on with it!
What I Believe
All anarchists do not believe in the same things. There are differences and the field is
broad enough that those differences can coexist and be respected. So I don't know what
others believe, I just know what I believe in and I will spell out it simply, but thoroughly.
I believe in Black liberation, so I am a Black revolutionary. I believe that Black people
are oppressed both as workers and a distinct nationality, and will only be freed by a
Black revolution, which is an intrinsic part of a Social revolution. I believe that Blacks
and other oppressed nationalities must have their own agenda, distinct world-view, and
organisations of struggle, even though they may decide to work with white workers.
I believe in the destruction of the world Capitalist System, so I am an anti-imperialist.
As long as Capitalism is alive on the planet, there will be exploitation, oppression and
nation-states. Capitalism is responsible for the major world wars, numerous brush wars,
and millions of people starving for the profit motive of the rich countries in the West.
I believe in racial justice, so I am an anti-racist. The Capitalist system was and is
maintained by enslavement and colonial oppression of the African people, and before there
will be a social revolution white supremacy must be defeated. I also believe that Africans
in America are colonised and exist as an internal colonial of the U.S, white mother
country. I believe that white workers must give up their privileged status, their "white
identity"?, and must support racially oppressed workers in their fights for equality and
national liberation. Freedom cannot be bought by enslaving and exploiting others.
I believe in social justice and economic equality, so I am a Libertarian Socialist. I
believe that society and all parties responsible for its production should share the
economic products of labour. I do not believe in Capitalism or the state, and believe they
both should be overthrown and abolished I accept the economic critique of Marxism, but not
its model for political organising. I accept the anti-authoritarian critique of Anarchism,
but not its rejection of the class struggle.
I believe in workers control of society and industry, so I am an Anarcho-Syndicalist.
Anarchist Syndicalism is revolutionary labour unionism, where direct action tactics are
used to fight Capitalism and take over industry I believe that the factory committees,
workers' councils and other labour organisations should be the workplaces, and should take
control from the Capitalists after a direct action campaign of sabotage, strikes,
sit-downs, factory occupations and other actions.
I do not believe in government, and so I am an Anarchist. I believe that government is one
of the worst forms of modem oppression, is the source of war and economic oppression, and
must be overthrown. Anarchism means that we will have more democracy, social equality, and
economic prosperity. I oppose all forms of oppression found in modem society: patriarchy,
white supremacy, Capitalism, State Communism, religious dictates, gay discrimination, etc.
https://blackrosefed.org/wp-content/cache/page_enhanced/blackrosefed.org//komboa-why-i-am-an-anarchist//_index.html_gzip
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Message: 3
With the general election just days away, libertarian-leaning groups in Brighton are
getting ready to resist what comes next - whoever's in charge. ---- Organisers with
Solidarity Federation, Plan C and the IWGB have jointly organised a Critical Mass bike
ride for Friday June 9th to kick off their own manifesto: "Whatever the result, the daily
organising continues!" The ride, which is open to all, will start 8pm at The Level,
Brighton and aims to unite "workers, renters and students together fighting for a future
beyond the Tories." ---- Politically, the collaboration is an interesting one as it brings
together anarcho-syndicalists, autonomist-inspired movement builders and a grassroots
union originally linked to the IWW for an official joint project, something which until
recent years would have been potentially difficult to organise.
The collaboration is just part of a broader uptick in Brighton's radical circles, which
have historically been influential in the city particularly in anti-war activism, student
direct action and grassroots labour organising.
On June 18th, an Anti-Raids Revival meetup is being held at progressive hub the Cowley
Club, on 12 London Road. The joint training and public discussion is aiming to
reinvigorate an anti-raids network locally and will include talks by London's anti-raids
activists, who have been relatively successful in organising rapid responses to raids by
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
And more broadly, there has been the founding of Left Hook, a radical sport and training
group specialising in self-defence classes. The group said:
Over the past few decades we have seen sport become dominated by big money, with the soul
sucked out of it. We want to reclaim it back for ourselves. We've seen a growing left-wing
football scene with teams like Clapton FC, Whitehawk FC, Eastbourne Town FC etc. and we've
taken inspiration from our comrades on the continent who run antifascist and anarchist
boxing clubs, from Madrid to Warsaw.
As the political climate in Britain and across the world becomes more hostile, with an
increase of racist attacks and the far-right becoming more confident, we see the need to
organize ourselves not just politically but also physically.
https://freedomnews.org.uk/brighton-gearing-up-for-the-post-election-fight/
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Message: 4
On weekend, 27-28.05.2017 9th edition of Freedom Fighters. Another time summer edition
took place on Rozbrat. We were supported with the ring by No Defeats crew from Wroclaw (by
the way, we invite you for their tournament on 17.06!). Audience was numerous like always,
noone left hungry or thirsty:). This year 7 fights took place, 1 grappling and 6 K-1
Rules. Fighters from abroad and from Poznan's clubs attended. We were happy to have 1
junior fight, just like a year ago. Grappling match ended up with effective choke, and 2
other fights during the event didn't need the judges. Luckily (not like last year) noone
was hurt and our medical crew wasn't busy. No fighter suffered any major injury. Friendly
atmosphere lasted till late night, first because KSW event watched on the screen, where
freak fights and high-level fights were seen, and after because of the party (LOW
Collective) and a fireplace.
Second day of the event belonged to Peter Irving who came to support us for the 4th time.
Peter was a referee during the league and day after has coached 3 hour muay thai seminar.
More than 20 adepts were mastering the sport that is fairly called a queen of the rings.
The seminar was about controlling the balance which is neccesary to gain points in muay
thai bouts. Trainees were practising both in distance and clinch fighting. In the
afternoon Peter known also as a tattoo artist made few benefit tattoos in support of
Freedom Fighters innitiative that apart of being a league and series of seminars is also a
free gym.
As organisers we'd like to thank everyone that supported the event - mostly fighters who
stepped in a ring, spontaneous audience, judges, medical crew, No Defeats, chefs, Djs and
Djanes, announcer and Peter Irving. See you next time!
http://www.rozbrat.org/informacje/poznan/4537-freedom-fighters-9-relacja
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Message: 5
The past two years were mainly marked by the social movement against Labor law in the
spring of 2016 and by the refusal of security hardening under cover of anti-terrorism.
---- The increasingly decentralized AL federation has made progress in its ability to
assist AL (CAL) collectives in organizing action. In addition to an increased placement of
the Alternative Libertarian monthly, she was able to be responsive enough to distribute
intervention materials that CAL had immediate need (stickers, leaflets, posters), and run
campaigns based on Social networks. ---- It is impossible to enumerate all the actions and
manifestations to which AL participated, from Brussels to Toulouse, from Rennes to
Marseille during these two years. The general trends which characterize this activity will
be considered here.
Business and social movement
Sur le front de la résistance au capitalisme, AL a activement participé à la préparation
de la journée de grève interprofessionnelle du 9 avril 2015, avec une campagne virale,
l'édition d'un autocollant et la production d'un contenu critique sur la façon de
mobiliser. Rebelote avec le soutien aux syndicalistes d'Air France traînés en justice pour
l'affaire de la «chemise arrachée», et avec ceux de Goodyear, lors des rassemblements de
Paris et d'Amiens.
But it is of course the struggle against the El Khomri law that mobilized the most from
February to September 2016. The organization has, on this occasion, endeavored to " walk
on its two legs ", with both A capacity for political intervention (posters, stickers,
leaflets, communiqués, etc.), and activists in social and trade union movements. On the
union front, several LA militants have played a role in boosting the call for " blocking
everything", drawing the contours of a trade union network of struggle. The collective
experience of events was mainly summarized in the AL 2016 summer dossier.
Against safe hardening
After the attack on Charlie hebdo in January 2015, AL had refused to play the game of the
ephemeral " national unity " behind the French government.
After the attacks in Paris in November 2015, Brussels in March 2016 and Nice in July 2016,
AL maintained this line, reaffirming that the militarist and imperialist escalation would
not in any way get out of the jihadist gear. Only social responses in Europe and aid to
the progressive forces in the Middle East can defuse the jihadist threat here, and
disintegrate it there.
From November 2015, AL participated in various prohibited demonstrations, braving the
state of emergency, and contributed in particular to the animation of the unitary
framework " Stop the state of emergency" which organized the demonstrations of January
30 And 12 March 2016.
International Solidarity
The war in Syria, the ravages of jihadism, the refugee crisis, the struggle of the Kurdish
left and the fascination of Turkey have marked AL's international activity over the past
two years.
AL defended the reception of refugees on European soil on the one hand, arguing in favor
of freedom of movement and installation, demonstrating that " invasion " was a myth, and
on the other hand participating in Public demonstrations in support of refugees.
Locally, concrete support actions were also initiated, notably in Douai and Paris, where
the federal premises of AL helped to logistics a wild encampment rue d'Aubervilliers. AL
also distributed material (stickers, posters) produced on the issue by the Libertarian
Antifascist Campaign (Claf).
The organization also increased its support for the revolutionary experience of Rojava and
its cooperation with the Kurdish left. Numerous study articles in the monthly magazine,
public meetings, support for the Kobanê feminist reconstruction project, edition of a
support tee-shirt, participation in solidarity demonstrations in France ... Without
abandoning a necessary critical reserve Well accepted by our Kurdish comrades.
In Turkey itself, the Anarchist Revolutionary Action (DAF), in solidarity with the Kurdish
left and struggling against the fascism of the country, was able to benefit from financial
support (14,000 euros) collected by the francophone libertarian movement.
As for Greece, Alternative libertarian has relayed the action of the anarcho-syndicalists
of Rocinante, in fight against the payment of the debt that imprisons the country, and
against the treason of the Syriza government.
Finally, AL has relayed the campaign for the release of Alexander Koltchenko, a Ukrainian
anarchist kidnapped and imprisoned by the Russian services, organizing several protest
rallies in front of Russian diplomatic representations in France.
The bulletin of the international commission and the articles of the monthly Alternative
libertarian show that our international activity extends well beyond the examples cited.
It would become even more effective by making the Commission the common tool for all our
international initiatives and by appointing at least one committee correspondent in each CAL.
In addition, during this mandate, AL will take the means of reflection and decisions
concerning the structuring and development of our current internationally ; Which includes
a review of our investment in the Anarkismo network, shared perspectives on its future,
and how to implement the internationalism we are calling for.
Against racism
The last two years have been marked by an aggravation and disinhibition of racism, mainly
directed against the Rrom minority and the Muslim minority or supposedly such.
In this context, and in particular during the anti-burkini outbreak of August 2016, AL
constantly advocated respect for freedom of conscience and denounced the violation by the
public authorities of the freedom of worship guaranteed by the law of 1905 on secularism.
In the fight against the state of emergency, then against the Labor Act, the organization
systematically denounced the repression against the social movement and the impunity of
racist crime committed by the police in the working-class neighborhoods. With Adama Traoré
and Théo Luhaka having been the most publicized in 2016-2017.
As regards support for the action of racialized associations, AL welcomed the success of
the March for Dignity of 31 October 2015, which confirmed the now pre-eminent role of
these associations in anti-racist mobilizations. The organization supported the
commemoration by the Jewish and Revolutionary Jewish group of the 10 years of the
assassination of Ilan Halimi. AL was not able to establish relations with Asian
associations after the murder of Chaolin Zhang in Aubervilliers in August 2016.
In terms of unitary work, AL joined forces with the Call Against Racialization Policies
and the Manifesto for Political Anti-Racism, in the framework of the May 2015 and October
2016 Fora ATMF, the FUIQP, the UJFP, the Fasti, the CRI, the Gisti, the Cran ...
On the ecological front
The last two years were mainly marked by the fight against the airport project at
Notre-Dame-des-Landes (44), opposition to the nuclear burying project at Bure (55) and
mobilization to denounce The mascarade of the Cop21.
In the Loire-Atlantique region, AL was one of all the demonstrations against the ubucco
project of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, sometimes with regional or even national reinforcement.
The AL Federation published a poster, which was extensively pasted at the time of the June
2016 referendum.
The organization had decided to make the Climate Summit in Paris in December 2015 a time
of political mobilization to underline the fundamental responsibility of capitalism in
global warming. A lot of material had been produced (articles in the monthly, four-page
pamphlet, leaflets, poster, stickers) and a national ascent was planned for the November
29 demonstration. The attacks of 13 November and the state of emergency have changed the
situation. AL was able to speak at the " alternative summit " of 5-6 December in
Montreuil, but the planned blocking action had to be canceled due to security measures. On
the other hand, the organization braved the ban on demonstrating on 29 November, at the
cost of a few dozen custody.
On the feminist front
Apart from the usual participation in the March 8th days, AL's feminist activity over the
last two years was mainly marked by the launch of the campaign against violence against
women in the fall of 2016.
As for the Cop21, a pack of complete material (special folder in the monthly, poster,
stickers, leaflets, video) was produced by the federation. The CALs made November 25 a
highlight, and organized public meetings to politicize this issue of violence against women.
On the cultural front
In early 2016, the organization decided to start a small campaign around the 80th
anniversary of the Spanish Revolution, based on the traveling exhibition carried out by
the CGT-E. A poster and a special issue in Alternative Libertarian of July-August 2016
were also planned, but mobilization against the El Khomri law has hampered these projects.
Nevertheless, a number of LACs organized events around the 80th anniversary of July 36,
but with no federal material at their disposal.
Outside of the AL framework, in 2015-2016, several tours of the book Too young to die took
place, which helped to rediscover revolutionary syndicalism. Whenever they wished, the
CALs were able to organize or be associated with these tours.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Bilan-d-Alternative-libertaire-2015-2017
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