VIEWS POSHES FIGHT BACK

s we go to press, over 30,000 faxed letters condemning each instance postal workers are on wildcat of wildcat strikes, but a number of A strike. This strike has rapidly local officials have been seen on picket spread across the country in a short lines, and the Royal Mail claim that the period of time. This dispute is mainly CWU has been orchestrating escalation over terms and conditions, after the of the strike behind the scenes. One Communication Worker’s Union’s thing that is dear is that postal workers (CWU) ballot over national strike across the country are clearly unhappy action was lost the Royal Mail with their working conditions and it is management have tried to press ahead really important that we show with ‘modernisation’ of the service. solidarity with them and support their ‘Modernisation' of course being struggle. destruction of the union, wage cuts and In attempts to discourage and slashing up to 30,000 jobs. intimidate strikers senior Royal Mail Walkouts began after the suspension staff have asked management at sorting of sixteen drivers in West London who offices to film and photograph picket refused to deliver mail door to door, lines and meetings. There have even but have now spread to much of the been cases of bosses hiring ‘bouncers' country with most sorting offices closed to try and physically intimidate pickets. across the capital and in many other In some areas Dairy bosses have offered towns, around 15 of Britain’s 73 postal Ithe services of milkmen as scab labour. areas are closed because o f wildcat Because the strike’s unofficial there action. Sorting offices in O xford isn't any strike pay, so it try to get Service Centre walked out when they noticed dow n ro your local picket line to show managers try to trick them into sorting solidarity, and set up a collection at. mail destined for their striking your workplace, neighbourhood or counterparts in London. Scottish postal university. To find out where your Mond.iv to Frida workers are set to joining the strike nearest sorting office is call 08457 soon, as many posties are deciding to 223344 and ask for ‘Royal Mail*. will be able ro benefit from the uprurn stop being picked off one by one, one Jim M. number of workers taking ‘sickies’ has five thousand or more workplaces were hit by actions every year. in militancy. The Socialist Workers' sorting office at a rime and face up to The situation with the strike is changing rapidly risen. Taking a day off sick when you Party (SWP) dominated Socialist management head-on, together. so to Keep in touch with the latest are not is as much a form of action as Very few workers are currently Alliance has organised a Convention of The CWU is currently negotiating developments see www.enrager.net/newswire an overtime ban. It should be noted involved in disputes, although the number is rising. It is also sobering to the trade union left for 7th February in with the Royal Mail management to try though that sickness levels amongst note that in the private sector just one London. Topics for discussion include and resolve the dispute and have been • The workplace is a battlefield between workers have grown also because of in five workers belong to a union. Even ‘who should we vote for at the next accused by Adam Crozier (Royal Mail workers and bosses for control. Control genuine ill health (including stress) as where there are disputes workers cross election?’ and ‘what should we do Chief Executive) of encouraging the over who determines wages and condi­ bosses have tried to squeeze more and picket lines. There is a job to be done abour political funds’. This is clearly unofficial strikes. The Royal Mail have tions. Control over how and when people more out of their workforces. arguing for solidarity and building the another crude attempt ro take union been seeking legal advice to try and work. Sometimes workers have the In 2002 some 1.3 million days were confidence of workers. members money and channel it into the prosecute the CWU under anti-union upper hand, more recently bosses have. lost through official strike action. In To be more positive though it does Socialist Alliance. laws, this will probably the laws most The onslaught on worker’s pension 1972 nearly 24 million were. The actual number of disputes taking place seem that the spirit of revolt is building Anarchists do not see strikes as an significant test since the Royal Mail rights is one recent example of this. Of amongst some workers, which could opportunity to sell papers or recruit successfully challenged the CWU’s right course even when the bosses have the is under two hundred (i.e. a handful of and should help, lay the foundations people. Our solidarity is genuine but we to hold strikes without ballots in 1990. upper hand workers still find ways major disputes make up most of the for increased class-consciousness. cannot leave the field dear for the likes Officially the CWU has attempted to around subverting procedures and days lost). During the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, three thousand, four thousand, The authoritarian left senses that they of the SWP. distance itself from the dispute and has rules. While strike levels have fallen, the DOWN THE TUBE BUSH IN LONDON n 17th October a Piccadilly line strike action against the bosses’ poor eorge Bush will be in London from Unknown Soldier at Westminster will be a full report of Bush's visit in underground train crashed, while safety policies. 19th to 21st November. This is the Abbey. There’s supposed to be a big Freedom in a few weeks’ time. less than 36 hours later a train A leaked report today showed that banquet for him at the City of London’s John Stephenson O Tube bosses were told six months ago first state visit since Woodrow derailed at Camden. Later three G Wilson’s in 1918 - Reagan’s wasn’t a Guildhall. And it’s rumoured he’ll be thousand more people were stranded that safety measures were inadequate state visit despite his staying in Windsor attending the Police Review Gala Just some of the special events taking place to on the Victoria Line and had to be and ultrasonic equipment was needed Castle. In normal times, the red carpet Awards Dinner on 20th November. mark Bush's visit evacuated. to detect broken rails - the cause of the would be rolled out for Bush and he’d Many people are fuming that Bush is • Wednesday 19th November: Alternative Several people were injured in these Piccadilly crash. The report also coming to town. Where their anger State Procession, 11am in Jubilee Gardens showed bosses knew there are nearly enjoy all the trimmings the British incidents - which, along with a crash on the South Bank, London (nearest tube establishment can think of. These are finds expression is so far uncertain: but on the Central line several months ago, eight thousand faults in the system. But just as the STWC’s 15th February Waterloo). of course for private companies profits not normal times! coincidcntally followed the privatisa­ • Wednesday 19th November. March to the Unlike Bush's Australian junket, he demonstration was massive despite it tion of large sections of the Underground will always come first, and the safety of won’t be addressing the Houses of being organised by a self-seeking cabal US consulate at 6pm from Charlotte Square. network. workers and users last. of authoritarians, so their 20th Edinburgh. We must support the strikes of the Parliament. He won’t get a ride in a The maintenance of the lines was • Thursday 20th November: Stop Bush Demo, coach down the Mall with Liz Windsor, November demonstration may well sold off to two corporations - Metronet London Underground workers, which attract larger numbers than the CND, meet 2pm in Malet Street London, and are for the safety of all of us, in any the Queen. Fears of Labour MPs walking and Tube Lines. SWP and their lackeys expect. march to Hyde Park. way that we can, and we should work out scuppered the first; concerns about After the Camden crash tube drivers Many years ago, Richard Nixon, • 25th November Resist Bush I protest for a safe public transport system, unseemly Demonstrations put paid to 8lafccd an im prom ptu go-slow, reducing then Vice President, was nearly lynched against the state visit meet at Montague democratically controlled by its users the latter. Little has thus far been given their speed to just ten miles per hour in Place in Worthing from 4pm. followed by away about Bush’s itinerary. He’s on a visit to Venezuela. Will a more and workers. some areas to ensure safety. The RM T fatal encounter happen to Bush? There Burning Bush event. Alex Allison supposed to visit the Tomb of the will also be balloting for Christmas Free dom 8th November 2003 2 Home and away

FREEDOM Volume 64 Number 21 Hunger strike continues when she was arrested at about 4.15pm emanding their release, five The decision for the hunger strike right registered in the Penal Code, is on Mayday. Her trial takes place in Anarchism of the seven protesters was caused by the attitude of the considered in Diavata to constitute a November. Anarchists work towards a society of arrested during the demos judicial authorities that regard the disciplinary offence with an unofficial A legal observer from LDMG was mutual aid and voluntary co-operation. against the HU Summit last accused as already guilty, thereby penalty of denying the hunger strikers arrested at DSFi on 10th September, We reject all government and economic June in Thessaloniki, are grossly violating the principle of communication with their intimate whilst a man was attacked by the repression. continuing their hunger ‘assumed innocence’. Moreover, the people. This inhuman treatment police. The legal observer has been Freedom Press is an independent strike. They are Suleiman decision on their pre-imprisonment, as explicitly constitutes not only a charged with assaulting a police officer. anarchist publisher. Resides this Dakduk (Castro), who has been on well as the overruling of requests for violation of one of the most elementary She was arrested at the entrance to the D their release, arc solely based on a rights of the prisoners, but an insult to newspaper, which comes out every two hunger strike for over forty days, Simon alley by Ivy Road and Butchers Road. weeks, we produce hooks on all aspects Chapman (UK), Fernando Perez, and generalising verdict about their our legal civilisation as a whole. We also need to contact the man who of anarchist theory and practice. Carlos Martin, who’ve all been on ‘dangerousness’ and the possibility of Thessaloniki Prisoners Support Group was assaulted. In our building in Whitechapel we hunger strike since 5th October, and them committing punishable acts if Contact [email protected] or If you can help with any of the above, run Britain’s biggest anarchist Spiros Tsitsas who’s been without food released. It is however obvious that write to them at Box 11, 84b Whitechapel High please email or write to us, and please bookshop and host a social centre and since 7th October. Recently, Spiros what in reality is keeping them Street, London El 7QX try and include as much detail as you meeting space, the Autonomy Club. Tsitsas was transferred for a few hours imprisoned is the already in June can. We will then pass the information We're currently developing open-access to the hospital to be given first aid due apparent need for an ‘exemplary Witnesses needed on to solicitors. The information you IT provision for activists to use. to arterial pressure disorders and after punishment’ of the arrested protesters. LDMG (Legal Defence and Monitoring provide may prevent someone being Our aim is to explain anarchism suffering successive fainting shocks. On Additionally to these tactics, there is Group) are urgently seeking witnesses more widely and to show that human the whole, the health situation of the also the special status of detention the to arrests at both Mayday in London sent to prison. freedom can only thrive when the hunger strikers is worsening by the day hunger strikers are receiving in the and DSEi in September. One woman Contact LDMG, c/o BM Haven, London WC1N institutions of state and capital have and their permanent transfer to the Diavata judicial prison of Thessaloniki. keen to trace witnesses was with the 3XX or email [email protected] been abolished. hospital is a matter of days. Hunger strike, while an unalienable Samba band in Pall Mall/Haymarket, Also see ww2.phreak.co.uk/ldmg/index.php

Changes Readers will have noticed further changes in the last rwo issues of Freedom, in LISTINGS addition to those which accompanied the redesign in September. These reflect Birmingham 5th November to 24th December Leo Call 0709 2348726 or email monde- Newcastle changing personnel, and hence changing 16th November Gatecrash the CBI Baxendale exhibition at The Cartoon [email protected] 15th November Rally against priorities, within the editorial group. Two Conference, 6pm at the ICC. Contact Art Trust Museum, 7-13 The 19th November Anarchists versus the occupation of Iraq and Bush’s visit to of the editors from the last few years [email protected] or call 07973 Brunswick Centre, Bernard Street WC1, AWL, discussion and debate from these shores. Meet 12 noon at art currently reducing their commitment 697430. See www.wmanarchists.org and on 11th November at 6.30pm Leo 7.30pm at University of London Union, Monument for rally with speakers, in order to move on to other projects, Baxendale with give a talk. For details Malet Street I music and entertainment white rwo of trs are )öifuhğ the group as i Brîğnton call M l f 7271 /172* zoth November Picke^neroTic^^ f 19th November Manufacturing new editors to repiace them. I 8th November What Future for 8th November Is there such a thing as Review gala awards dinner at Merchant I Consent: Noam Chomsky and the We consider the primary function of Palestine: Road Map or Apartheid? ethical journalism? talk by Pat Stannard, Taylors Hall, Threadneedle Street in the media, showing at the Side Cinema Freedom to be anarchist propaganda. public meeting from 1pm to 5pm, Sallis from 7.30pm at The Epicentre, West I City from 6pm. Called by Class War (near the Crown Posada pub on Dean As well as being a paper for people Bennery Theatre, Brighton University Street, Leytonstone E l l . All welcome. 25th to 29th November Drop Bush Not Street on the quayside), 7pm. See within the movement to read, it should 9th November Joe Strummer See www.newsfromnowhere.info or call Bombs tour, direct action organised by www.sidecinema.com represent the whole of that movement Remembrance Sunday at Concorde 2, 020 8555 5248 Food Not Bombs will be in London at 3rd December My Feminism, showing to people outside, who are trying to find Madeira Drive, 2pm to midnight. 8th November Smart Bombs Dumb Use Your Loaf, 227 Deptford High at the Side Cinema (near the Crown out about anarchism. We think the paper Organised by Attila the Stockbroker Wars, one-day conference examining Street, SE8 Posada pub on Dean Street on the should be based firmly on class struggle 13th November Political comic Rob changing conditions of war and peace 28th November London Anarchist quayside), 7pm. See www.sidecinema.com anarchism, but also give respect to other Newman talks about The Fountain at in the age of global terrorism, at the Forum lecture on Bakunin and Chaos 22nd December Dance for Peace and tendencies within anarchist thought. the Centre of the World, from 6pm at Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, Theory, speaker Justin Hooper Jackson, Solidarity benefit at Rutherford Hall, Freedom is, and will remain, a The Cowley Club Bookshop, 12 London WC1. For further info email from 8pm to 10pm at Conway Hall, University of Northumbria from 8pm. fortnightly newspaper, and we welcome London Road. Tel 01273 696104 [email protected] Red Lion Square, Holborn Entry £7/£4/£3 submissions, but due to the constraints 20th November Political cartoonist 10th November Emergency meeting by 29th November London Mayday 2004 of space we can’t promise to publish Polyp talks about Big Bad World, from Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers, Conference, 1pm to 5pm in Room 3a, Oxfordshire everything we receive. We’d like to 6pm at The Cowley Club Bookshop, 12 6.30pm at Camden Town Hall, Judd University of London Union, Malet 29th November Tenth anniversary of encourage anyone who’s interested in London Road. Tel 01273 696104 Street, to discuss Home Office’s latest Street. See www.ourmayday.org.uk demo at Campsfield refugee detention writing more contemplative or longer 27th November How to do a zine, talk proposals for further tightening up of 12th December Gay and Lesbian centre, Langford Lane, Kidlington, articles than we can usually print to and workshop from 6pm at The asylum policy. Humanist Association talk on Federico from 12 noon to 2pm at main gates, consider submitting them to our comrades Cowley Club Bookshop, 12 London 10th November to 24th December Billy Garcia Lorca, 7.30pm at Conway Hall, with guest speakers and music. Bike at Black Flag magazine for publication Road. Tel 01273 696104 Childish exhibition We Are All Phonies Red Lion Square, Holborn ride for Freedom, meet 10am at there. You can contact them at Black at The Aquarium, 10 Woburn Walk, Every Wednesday the LARC Library Martyr’s Memorial, St Giles, Oxford, Flag, BM Hurricane, London WC1N Edinburgh W C1. See wwrw.aquariumgallery.co.uk will be open from 1pm at 62 Fieldgate and cycle to join demo.There’s also an 3XX or email [email protected] 8th November Pilger’s new film or call 020 2387 8417. Street, El. Oxford town centre protest, meet 3pm Freedom editorial group Breaking the Silence: Truth and Lies in 11th November Conference on asylum in Broad Street. For more details contact [email protected] the War on Terror, part of anti-war seekers and human rights at The Great Manchester 01865 5 5 8 1 4 5 or 0 1 9 9 3 703394. See double bill, plus film about school Hall, King’s College, The Strand, WC2 8th November Immigration Laws: They www.closecampsfield.org.uk protests, Old Enough to Know Better. from 9.30am onwards. Further info Disable Us! conference at Le Meridien, Submissions Starts 12.30pm at Edinburgh from 020 7593 0043 or 020 7608 7305. Victoria Sc Albert Hotel, Water Street, Swansea Contributions are wanted for a new Filmhouse, tel 0131 228 2688 1 1th November Haringey Solidarity Castlefield, organised by Greater 22nd November Beyond TV, annual youth culture based magazine aiming to Group discussion evening, Opposing ID Manchester Coalition of Disabled video activist festival at Swansea Leeds draw Jinks between underground hip- Cards, 7pm to 9pm at Phoenix People (GMCDP). Details from Environment Centre, Pier Street. For hop and punk scenes and class struggle 8th November On the anniversary of Millennium Centre, West Green Road [email protected] further info call 01792 455900, email anarchist politics. the fall of the Berlin Wall, members of (entrance in Vincent Road) or 0161 273 5155 or 07968 56060 [email protected] or see www. The deadline for submissions will be Leeds Coalition Against War wilJ 13th November Galileo’s Finger: the 11th November Has the Human Rights undercurrents.org/beyondtv/index.htm Wednesday 31st December. You can demonstrate in graphic form what extraordinary simplicity of everything, Act of October 2000 cntrenched email us at almostsoberfrriseup.ner or should happen to the wall erected by South Place Ethical Society lecture with refugee protection in domestic law and Worthing b) post to Almost Sober magazine, PO the Israeli government between Israel speaker Prof Peter Atkins from 7.30pm policy in Britain? conference. For more 8th November Resist Bush! Protest Box 375, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, and the Occupied Territories. The event at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, info contact NCADC, I Delaunays against state visit at Montague Place GU21 2X1.. will take place at 12 noon on Briggate Hoi born. Sec www.ethicalsoc.org.uk or Road, Manchester M8 4QS, call 0121 from 4pm, followed by a Burning Bush in Leeds city centre. For more info sec call 020 7242 8037/4 554 6947, email [email protected] event. www.togetherforpeace.co.uk 14th November London Anarchist or see www.ncadc.org.uk 12th November Worthing Green Social Forum symposium Fascism and Anti* 6th December T he Fifth Manchester from 8pm at Barney s cafe/bar, Portland Next issue London 1‘ascism, from 8pm to I Opm at Conway Radical Book fair from I lam to 5 pm at Road I ne next issue will be dated 22nd 30th October to 29th November No Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Berwick Street, 25th November Worthing Again>t War Nu*cfoher and the Ust day for copy Gods, No Masters (viva anarchy) 15th November What Future for the Ancoats. If you'd like to run a stall, meeting upstairs at Down view pub *'»ll be Thursday I ith November. You exhibition of ten artists at Freedom Palestine-lsraeli Conflict? discussion discussion or workshop contact (opp West Worthing station i, ' 4 Spin, can send articles to us by snail mail or Press, 84b Whitechapel High Street, FI w ıth Ghada K arıni, 1 lam at French [email protected]. For ink» with Tom Mickey on The World Order at Freedoi;iO,py

ndustrial correspondents on national being pushed around and are prepared newspapers have had a pretty easy job to fight back. Commenting on the postal Iof it in recent years, often having very dispute a postie on a picket line in little to write about. The story went like London said “management wants to this — conflict at work was a thing of the crush the union as they impose changes past. Where unions existed, partnership to terms and conditions on us.** The was the order of the day. Strikes were postal workers union the CWU has said fast becoming a dim memory, particularly that its members feel “cheated, bullied wildcat ones. This was of course rubbish. and resentful” about the way managers The story now has to be rewritten. have treated them. It seems likely that the number of days Workers are prepared to stand their lost to strikes this year will beat 2002's ground. They are finding out that so- twelve year high of 1.3 million. The called modernisation means nothing steady increase in industrial action, more than profits for the bosses and reported in previous issues of Freedom, harder work for staff, not to mention continues apace. Strikes are looming or job losses. have taken place in the civil service, This is something the firefighters' amongst Heathrow airport baggage union, the FBU, knows all about. Last handlers, in Britain’s nuclear industry, week they responded angrily to manage­ in Scottish nursery schools, amongst ment’s attempts to withhold pay rises Aerospace workers in Belfast and on the due this week. The pay rises are part of London Underground. The last couple of the package fire fighters reluctantly weeks have also, of course, seen 30,000- agreed following their bitter nine-month plus postal workers take wildcat action. dispute. Bosses are arguing that the TTiis action was initially triggered by workers have nor delivered so-called rhe suspension o f a driver in London. modernisation and so are planning to Angry: postal workers picket a sorting office In London hold back on the money. The FBJJ have producing result*. Heathrow Express demanded payment. One official said, secretary Heather Wakefield rather than 1.3% in the Home Office as ‘derisory’. then followed by a slow decline as the hâs been forced to recognise rail union “we expect the employers’ to honour the demanding that the employers bump up Union negotiator Jeremy Gautrey has Tories under Thatcher used unemploy­ ASLEF for full bargaining over pay and deal in full.” This comes at a time when pay has let management off the hook said “with inflation running at almost ment and employment laws to attack conditions following a one-day strike rank and file workers in stations are saying “I don’t think any of us believe it 3% , council tax rising and national worker rights. Blair; who once boasted reported in a previous edition of Freedom. concerned about the effect of the reform (the shortfall) will be done in one hit.” insurance contributions going up, a cost rhat Brirain had rhe most restrictive The growing number of disputes shows package, the second part of which the Unison could learn a thing or two from of living increase of 1.3% comes as a employment laws in Europe, kept the a new confidence amongst workers, FBU is expected to have accepted by the the public service union PCS which is slap in rhe face.” Union members are screws tight. It looks though as if worker particularly in response to management time Freedom goes to press. sending ballot papers to its 100,000 expected to reject the pay offers. militancy is on the up again. Anarchists attempts to change ways of working. Pay remains an important issue fuelling members working in the Home Office A glance at the history of industrial should do all they can to show solidarity GMB and Amicus members working at disputes. Council staff’s pay has risen by and Department for Works and Pensions action in Britain shows it comes and goes for workers in dispute as well as helping Seilafield are due to walk out following 2.8% per year compared to an average (DWP) in a dispute over pay. The union in waves as the power between workers organise in their own workplaces. a successful ballot over working practices. 3.4% increase in the last ten years. Sadly has described the government’s offer of and bosses ebbs and flows. The 1970s Anarchist Workers Network Quite simply workers are fed up with faced with this shortfall Unison’s national around 2.6 per cent in the DWP and just saw a high point in militancy, this was www.awn.org.uk On the picket line

he second regular roundup of voted on their first industrial action in Moray, Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and • On Sunday 2nd November, members pay campaign for £6 an hour in the UK industrial action, strikes, thirty years over a long-running pay Galloway, Stirling, the Borders and of the Transport and General Workers that was initiated by M W R in occupations, ballots and direct dispute. Some 1,700 GMB and Amicus Orkney are involved. Union working for two companies run Birmingham. actionT in the workplace from 16th members were to strike to equalise pay by Swissport walked out for 48 hours. As the news spreads through the October to 2nd November, brought to between different grades of staff. • Workers at troubled Belfast aerospace They work as baggage handlers and workforce we face the strange prospect you by the Anarchist Workers Network company Bombardier Shorts begin check-in staff for 21 airlines including of negotiating directly with McDonalds and strikewatchUK. • Bus drivers in North Ireland began a industrial action on the weekend of the Aer Lingus, El Al, Malaysian and for the first time ever. How will we get series of one-day-strikes over pay. The 1 st November. As Freedom goes to Singapore Airlines. The union said them to talk to us? Well, they will have Strikes strikes will affect Ulsterbus and Citybus press, T& G and Amicus members - many of its members have received no no choice when we turn up on their • Ninety thousand postal and council services, and about 180,000 passengers. 4,000 out of the 5,500-strong pay rise for eighteen months. doorsteps. We have addresses and are workers launched a one-day strike over workforce, were due to start an not afraid to go door knocking ... after London weighting allowances. The • Seven hundred bus drivers crippled overtime ban. • Eight hundred mint (coin manufactur­ all, it seems to work for the Jehovah's industrial action in London disrupted the public transport in Newcastle and ing) workers at the plant in Llantrisant, Witnesses! mail deliveries, schools and refuse Tyneside with a strike following the • Two one-day strikes were staged by South Wales, return after walkout. The To publicise the pay campaign and collection. rejection of a new pay deal from workers at the Yeovil-based helicopter union Amicus says its members will generally raise the profile of the The following day 120 Transport and Stagecoach. The company believes manufacturers Westland last week after stop work one day a fortnight until resistance, we have recently printed General Workers Union members around three hundred routes would be union members rejected a new pay offer. they get an increased pay offer. thousands of stickers to give away to struck against 63 proposed job losses at haired, affecting around 150,000 More strikes are planned for November anyone in the UK who can stick 'em up Jmerscrvc. interserve is a private passenger journeys. and December. Around four hundred Campaigns on or around their local McDonalds. It company which carries out housing staff from the Westland Transmissions After a period when McDonalds you live in the UK, just send an addressed repairs and maintenance on behalf of • In Dundee nursery nurses struck for site and a further 860 technical staff Workers Resistance (M W R) had seemed I envelope stamped to the value ot £1.20 the council. It is thought that the vast one week closing down 13 nurseries from the bargaining unit of Westland a bit lost with a number of people to our address below, and we will also majority of their 424 colleagues refused and 22 nursery classes across the city. Helicopters were due to walk out on leaving rhe job or the organisation, it enclose free campaign leaflets and an to cross the picket lines and also They join the rolling programme of Wednesday and Friday. Unfortunately, looks like things are on the up again as introduction to McDonalds Workers downed tools. industrial action by nursery nurses in although the Transmissions workers in the last few days several new Resistance. Scotland. Five thousand nurses in walked out, the technical staff decided workers have indicated they would like Contact MWR, c/o 17 West Montgomery Place. • Nuclear strike shut down Sella field workplaces across hast, North and to postpone their strike, despite 85% of to become involved. One ot the things Edinburgh, EH T 5HA, email [email protected] or Atomi< Power Plant when workers South Ayrshire, Perth, Argyll and Bute, them voting in favour of the action. that is rejuvenating the resistance is the see www.mwr.otg.uk 4 FromJom 8th Novwnbor 200 Britain

How was it for you? Annual anarchist bookfair ... biggest ever ... huge success ... over three thousand people ... largest anarchist event in the world ...

I here’s something about a of years old crap, but why do anarchists successful anarchist bookfair have to do the same. It’s not just the that brings abour feelings of lack of creativity, the lack of anything bitter disappointment and new, but the feeling of sticking to this depression. All those sordid code. Nothing new to say is just a death. little tables with smug little All those pictures of cats with their vendors peddling their brains exposed are just our equivalent absolute crap. Okay, so it's a flea-market of the anti-abortionists. And there is for the sartorial I y challenged but why something essentially dodgy about do we have to revel in it: “you may not basing a liberation movement on living like my stuff, bur that’s because you things other than ourselves. Another lack my insight . .. ” Yeah, right. fox saved while another dog on a string Because something is badly written, gets trampled by the bookfaic. We even designed and printed doesn’t make it finance ourselves like a religion with puree. It just makes it badly written, just under half of the cost of the designed and printed. Something to say bookfair financed by passing the needs presentation, and a good cover collection plate/bucket. doesn’t make a book the spawn of And at what point did it become so McDonald’s. We produce our crappy obligatory to be so joyless. My revolution little product and feel good. Perhaps we was about lack of constraints and a real put it on the free table untainted by freedom, not a code that marks people. commercialism. And then nobody reads All black clothes, plus two, spell it, and it's thrown away at the end of Krondsradr, plus one, that sausage roll, the day. We make tackiness into a go back to Go. Even though a lot of revolutionary virtue. what passes for anarchism (and the We’re not a political movement; we’re bookfair) is getting laid, wasted or a religious one peddling a morality and pissed, it’s done with a spirit of lifestyle. An insular little sect priding masochism. irself on its purity and exclusiveness. And this flea market that is the Meetings were booked and held on the British Anarchist movement. Is this our basis of “oh well, 1 suppose we better vision of an alternative society? Is this do something.” If people couldn’t see what we want to put forward as our the ’inner beauty’ of what was being statement of intent? Truth is, if I bring provided (meetings or printed) then that a non-anarchist to the Bookfair, I’m was down to the ‘consumers’ lack of embarrassed. People are curious; they Luckily anarchist realise this. What We can hand out leaflets to each other, white males with father/authority issues knowledge/cliches. There was no sense of hear we’re a growing force. And then they want is to move back to the suck on our brown food and bicker in rather than an alternative vision of reaching out to people, of trying to make they come along to something less confines of Conway Hall and have our usual contented way. society. We’ve got too big; we’re in a connection, of having something to say. interesting and less attractive than an the old mini-Bookfair with just the Because we don’t have anything new danger of getting bigger. It’s scary. It’s I suppose Christians have some justifi­ Essex car boot sale, populated by selected few. Where everyone you meet to say, and we don’t want to say it well. time to downsize. cation for peddling the same thousands people from the 1980s. you know. We want to be a collection of young Martin News in Brief Cop jamboree University, voted last week by 201 to thirty years. Lambeth Council is now at the protests against the DSEi arms Farben, which during World War Two Class War are calling a picket of the 65 in favour of direct action in protest attempting to evict fourteen houses fair in London’s Docklands this was involved in concentration camp Police Review Gala Awards Dinner, at the rising cost of living in the college. from it. On October 24th a large September. slave labour and nerve gas manufacture. being held on Thursday 20th November. More than 120 students are now presence of concerned citizens scared This was not unexpected: the Act’s At the moment Bayer Cropscience is For the past eleven years these jamborees taking part in a rent strike. Rents have off the bailiffs, and it was feared they provisions allow the police to search pushing hard for GM crops to be have taken place with no opposition. risen by almost 30% since an earlier would return at the end of October. On who they like, when they like, without grown commercially, out of the eleven This year; as the hyenas and jackals rent strike in 1999. The students feel 30th and 31st October, residents were any reason. It has emerged that this potential crops that could be grown, gather to fete themselves, join the academic staff are enjoying unnecessary on alert, building barricades and power had been in force in London nine are owned by Bayer, this could be demonstration outside - sec London privileges while students suffer the erecting a scaffolding tower. Police were since February 2001. S.44 effectively as early as Spring 2004. Bayer are listings for details. consequences. Most students at King’s seen circling the area, but the bailiffs revives the infamous ‘sus’ laws, but currently being targeted by a national This year's banquet sees David Blunkett are committed to widening access to didn’t turn up - so for now St Agnes removing the need for suspicion, civil umbrella group calling itself ’Stop join police from the ACPO, the Cambridge University. Place lives on! However the bailiffs rights group Liberty intend to appeal Bayer's GM Crops!’ This group has Superintendents’ Association and Police The high cost of living is a huge could still turn up at any time so against the decision. pledged uto make GM crops Federation. These second-rate sordid barrier to applications and comes on anarchists nearby must be ready to economically unviable for Bayer," and imitation Oscars provide their winners top of the cost of tuition fees and these people’s homes - as we all should Stop Bayer’s GM Crops! have said they will be targeting Bayer with three grand to traipse abroad and proposed top-up fees. try to do in our own communities. Bayer Cropscience was formed in 2002 “until it pulls out of GM food." investigate policing in other countries. If you want to get involved in setting up a For updates, and to listen to their web-radio when the German pharmaceutical and A noise demo has been organised to Oornc along as Class War present their student anti-capitalist network click on station log onto www.stagnesplace.org chemical company, Hayer AG, bought take place outside Bayer’s Nevtburs own alternative police awards. www.anarchi6tyouth.net out Aventis Cropscience. Awntis H( } on Thursday 13th November Terrorism Act used lawfully Cropscience was heavily involved in the lasting all day, starting at I Oam. For Student rent strike St Agnes Place eviction On 31st October, the High Court decided genetic engineering of food as well as more details see the excellent website Students at King\ College, Cambridge, St Agnes Place is South London's oldest that the Metropolitan Filth had been the agrochemical business. Bayer AC* is www.stopbayergm.orK It you can’t fojvt started a rent strike. Students at I squatted street, housing a community acting lawfully when they searched such a dodgy company that it has trade make (he demo there is a whole lot the college, which is parr of Cambridge I which has been in existence for nearly people under S.44 of the Terrorism Act marked smack, and was part ot K î I more that you can dot Freedom 8th November 2003 International Liberty and livelihood Workers march as new forms of self organisation develop in Brazil, according to the Anarchist Federation of Gaucha (FAG)

w k i march from G nvuti (Menopofaun area) eo Forto I Alegnt, in detetKr of the I the same dramas as tj Emergeno Fronts for Work I The CRPs, besides aJ and Housing for about 2.510 I direct struggle for imi uncnpkntd families. Thu { through the direct pa march was organaod and carried out by ] people in all decision! die Committees of Popular Resistance I by day those values t! |CW*i), the National Movement of | build: solidarity, mutt ai respect, Garbage Reclaimers (MNCR) and the i and direct pam opaooa. direct dl Movement of Unemployed Workers I direct action. and an end ro gc (MTD). I apathy and disunity. How? Thj The currem governor of the State, 1 what we call 'regular activities Germane Rigotto (PMDB) and his I residents participate directly in government had cancelled the project o1 i activities, and from there, they carry]_ the Frentes Emerpmciais dc Trahalho I in practice the new values. The regular which had been e o o in 2 0 0 0 by these I activities vary in accordance with the movements, and which were otgamted I situation: child recreation, educational in workgroup* (coopersrives, assoctatiorh) I support, adult literacy, community food ^trofınjf 200J and 2 0 0 2 to g iv e support I JraUs, community radio, popular festivals ro hundred* of families- The demaotii I and parties, etc. The important thing u i j a creau in the CRJP. a regular group, that I exercises solidarity and struggle and ••""^wwmffoyedfa m m . t that little by little can influence others. • food subsidy of 80 Reatai • avaîlabılirv of microcredit for work I The Movement of Garbage Reclaimers projects. I This movement exists at a national level, Organised m these mo vements, m which I and here in the Metropolitan Area the the FAG directly participates in the I bases of the mobilised ‘catadores’ (the CRPs and m the MNCR, workers and I garbage reclaimers) are under our unemployed workers are setting up I influence. Both tn the State and throughout bakeries, clothing groups, community Brazil itself there exist several other forces I organised spectrum of the oppressed I movements converge for only one objec* mess halls, recycling exchanges, and I active in this movement, with the greatest I classes that are connected even remotely I rive: the direct struggle for their needs. Foderaçâ Anarquista Gaucha have been strengthening their recycling I influence being that of the Arttcuiaçİ de with the question of direct struggle is I Therefore, amid many difficulties, For more information oonidot tfte FAG at associations, etc. Once financing is I Eaquerda. The movement is organised looking for relations and united work. I conflicts and small victories, we continue fag.ttamac0tMTa.com.ttf or «me to o postal obtained, we will guarantee the support through nuclei. Each recycling hangar Our objective is. in the long term, to form 1 to build our strategy in practice, Saude I 5036 CEP 90040 970. Porto A&g?e. and the viability of these projects, that or warehouse of materia b can form a a front of the oppressed, where several I e Anarquiat I See mm. Iaf.fg3.nat are, in the opinion of the FAG, rearguards nucleus of the movement. for the popular struggle. Yes, because Today, there is also a state organisation as we all know, ‘an empty bag will not that articulates the movement, and a stand up’, and the people need to win 1 federal organisation, that articulates it work and income to have more and on a national level. This movement has more vitality in order to move forward been growing day by day, together with International news in brief in the struggle. We don't want economic I poverty and the casualisation of labour. structures simply to win a few pennies We have been active in this area since Serbia April 2001, Canadian anarchist jaggi attacks on US forces now average over and then we will all be happy. We have I 1995, and the MNCR today is also the More than 13,000 Serbian doctors Singh’s jury trial in Quebec City will thirty per day, according to the BBC'. never believed in this for a moment. fruit of our efforts. One of the fights went on strike for a 40% pay increase. I begin on 19th January 2004. He is Argentina Economic structures are needed to that we took part in was the one to They had already been working to rule facing a penalty of up to two years in The MoYimienro de Trabajadores feed and to give a minimum of dignity obtain public resources to sustain the for a month. prison if convicted, though if found Desocupado (Movement of Unemployed to those families who struggle in the work structures of the ‘catadores\ who guilty a sentence of several months is Workers) Anıbal Veron (MTDAV) social movements, and starting from were not subsidised by the State or by Poland more likely. Jaggi has issued an appeal for announced they were holding a meeting that to go on struggling. local government, that left the workers People from FA-Krakow {part of the Polish with President Kirchner concerning At the end of this march, the governor ‘to decide’ to do a service that is, in Anarchist Federanon) participated in a assistance from the anarchist move­ reports of an end to benefits for the endorsed our list of demands. However, J effect, a public service and that helps to picket organised by single parents ment. If you can help in any way, please get in touch by e-mail at both unemployed and the formation of an so far the only thing that has arrived save the budgets of the municipal (mostly women) against the government's jaggisingh2003&yahoo.ca and at anti-piquetera brigade. Moves to was a miserable basket of basic goods district for recycling, since the ‘catadores’ plan to cut the funds for single parents. jaggi&taoxa. Also, if you can send him criminalise social protest also appear to that didn’t last even two weeks. do it practically for free. Therefore, we The government argues that it's trying any money towards his legal coats, be in the agenda in Argentina. Therefore, our fight goes on, pressing I struggle to obtain subsidies for this to ‘decentralise* social services and bring it ‘closer to the people', by placing email him I The MTDAV are pressing the Argentine the government through marches, occu work from the State and the municipal government to hold a thorough investiga­ pations, etc, while at the same rime the J authorities, to be administered direcdy the cost of social services on the local government. The local government of Iraq tion into the massacre of 26th June CRPs have been growing reasonably ( by the 'catadores’. course doesn't have funds for it, so in Thirteen American servicemen were 2002. They further demand a special welJ in the peripheral areas of Porto Both the CRPs and the MNCR look fact it's a way of liquidating the service. killed and more than twenty wounded benefit payment at the end of the year Alegre and the metropolitan area. The to strengthen from below four basic The police have pressed charges against in an attack on a US military Chinook to all those in receipt of unemployment struggle lo r work is without a doubt principles: class solidarity, class some of the women, claiming the helicopter. It has taken the heaviest toll benefit; strong investment in production central axis to mobilise this social independence, grassroots democracy demonstration was illegal. on US personnel since the fall of projects; an affordable housing plan for movement, the residents of the city and direct action. the unemployed; and a review by the Our policy is to try ro connect these Saddam in April. Villagers collected outskirts. employment minster Tomada of plans movements to each other and to all the Canada pieces of wreckage as souvenirs and Almost three years after the large inhabitants of nearby Falluja rejoiced in to end unemployment benefits - and a The committees of popular resistance other struggle movements, like the protests against the Summit of the the streets. Iraqi resistance to the guarantee by the government that these The CRPs are organisations of the MTD, the unions, neighbourhood Americas and FTAA in Quebec City in occupation continues to intensify, as payments continue. residents of the urban periphery where associations, schools, etc. The whole 6 Freedom 8th November 20< Editorial I Commentary

igrant labour is essential oppression and ecocide aren’t their A subsequent exchange of letters in based on a political decision or a high* to the economy. So runs Primitive fault, they’re simply the inevitable Anarchy magazine saw one editor of level general analysis (for instance, of the ‘best’ argument the I was disappointed by the first Green result of ‘mass society’. Green Anarchist justify this sick, rhe world system and the nature of left can now manage in and Black Bulletin (Freedom, 25th Rather than seeing power originating authoritarian nonsense as “unmediated J class power). The choice to fight against support of immigration j October). This isn’t because I’m against in socio-economic relationships, it’s resistance” conducted “under conditions I others for scarce resources is also open, and migrant rights. It Freedom covering ecological issues, far rooted in ‘the machine’. Ironically, this of extreme repression”. Which makes and most white workers choose this was put again by Steve from it. A regular column on green issues is the mirror image of Engels’s argument you ask, ‘resistance’ to what exactly? approach in relation to immigrants. Pope in rhe Guardian last week (28th would benefit the paper immensely. in On Authority. For him, technology Working people? Are they the enemy? This is because they think they’re October).M Refugees may be vilified by Anarchism and ecology are intertwined meant that freedom was impossible Well, given Moore’s comments about entitled to them whereas immigrants politicians and “a British public and any relevant form of anarchism must during production. He wanted to keep the mass of people internalising aren’t, or because they know that if it convinced that ... immigrants are be rooted in an ecological perspective. technology and dump autonomy. obedience, perhaps they are. comes to a fight in the present political robbing the benefit system and taking But I have reservations about the Primitivists want to dump technology, As I said above, no anarchist can talk context, they and not the immigrants their jobs from under their noses,” he bulletin. It says it will be a ‘primirivist’ suggesting that the bulletin’s comments about ‘any’ means of ‘resistance and would come out on top. The struggles said. But “the fact is that Western column, so excluding most forms of • on workers’ control being ‘workers’ insurgency’ being valid. Libertarian Paul and I both want can’t, therefore, economies need cheap migrant labour.” ecological anarchism from the start. To self-exploitation’ have more in common ends require libertarian means. Perhaps come about as a result of his proposed It’s a grim fact that ‘they’re welcome suggest that anarcho-primitivism is ‘green with classical Marxism than with I’m reading too much into the reprinting strategy, but only on the basis of a here because they're cheap’ is what anarchism’ is blinkered, sectarian and classical anarchism. of Moore’s article, but given its original transformative challenge (not merely an passes for anti-racist argument these false. This, in rum, doesn’t fill me with This isn’t the only convergence with place of publication - Green Anarchist appeal) to what white workers think days. Yet to tell immigrant workers confidence that the column will have Marxism. Primitivism seems to share - it suggests a fatal unwillingness to and do. they’re ‘good for rhe economy’ because anything positive to say about eco- with Leninism an objectivist vision of learn from the mistakes of the past and I disagree with Paul about difference their illegal status means they work for anarchism or, indeed, anarchism itself. social change. For Leninists, it’s the an equal unwillingness to develop and identity, because it strikes me that poverty wages fails on two counts. It I know it’s early days, but to start off economic crisis that puts ‘socialism’ anarcho-primitivist theory to avoid the an alternative movement, constructed offers them nothing and it doesn't by attacking other anarchists for being (that is, state capitalism) on the agenda. authoritarian pitfalls Green Anarchist around ‘what we have in common’, reassure a working class concerned about ‘reformist’ and by proclaiming that it’s Similarly, for the primitivists it’s (again) so helpfully and unintentionally founders when the fight for freedom being undercut in rhe labour marker. a case of ‘anarcho-primitivism versus when ‘civilisation collapses’ through ‘its exposed. and/or welfare comes up against things After 1945, around thirty miJlion anarchism’ doesn’t bode well for the own volition’. Perhaps this is because Perhaps future Green and Black ‘we’ don’t. How, for instance, can a fight people entered Western European to future. they know the mass of people view Bulletins will address the issues I’ve raised, for disability rights, or in defence of the meet the new demand for labour. This In the article the Wildfire Collective their utopia with horror, quite rightly. while opening themselves up to contribu- j nomadic and pastoral peoples of West followed the switch to mass production, present, the late John Moore says, for After all, Moore doesn’t explain how tions from other kinds of eco-anarchists. Papua, or against sweatshops, or for an increased division of labour, shift example, that ‘classical anarchism’ rhe UK could feed nearly sixty million I hope so, but let’s wait and see. tolerance for the psychologically different, work and piece work. Capital has always simply wants to ‘rework* modern people by primitivist (hunting and lain McKay or against the economic plunder of the demanded immigration policies to suit society and “remove its worst abuses gathering) means. ‘Third World’ be fought on the basis of its needs. The deterritorialisarion of and oppressions” leaving “99% of life Nor should we forget that one of the ‘what we have in common’? capiral which followed its head-on ... unchanged.” So the ‘worst abuses editors of Green Anarchist has said he’d It’s the elite Are we to ignore these issues or clashes with the European working class and oppressions’ of capitalism account prefer ‘mass starvation’ to ‘mass govern­ There’s a gap in the logic of Paul Maguire’s dismiss them as divisive middle class just showed that its needs had changed. for just 1% of life? This sounds like a ment’, that is, existing - ‘mass’ - society. reply to my letter about asylum-seekers fads? Somewhere along the line, If it’s to roam the world to find the comment the apologists for capitalism Perhaps this explains why, according to (Commentary, 25th October). He admits freedom necessarily exceeds fixity and cheapesr labour, capital needs it to be would make. Moore, primitivism doesn’t “seek to ... that many workers oppose immigration, sameness, and necessitates a politics of static. Unemployment and underemploy­ Moore also has little trust in the win converts”. Why bother, when society yet he claims these workers are neither I difference. Anarchist homogeneity is a ment in the ‘Third World’ was the pre­ creative abilities of the bulk of the will collapse and people won’t have a stupid nor racist. If they’re nor stupid, I contradiction in terms. condition for the exploitation of migrant population. He seems to think that choice? The idea of anarchism being they must know that immigrants are I I’m not advocating a 'simple celebration labour in the postwar period, but now people who’d gone to the trouble of created from below, by the conscious fleeing worse living conditions rhan I o f difference’, and I find it difficult to capital needs the poor o f the world to smashing the state and kicking the desires of the oppressed tor freedom their own and that deportation often I see now Deleuze,Guattari and ’Spivak stay put and be exploited at home. This bosses out would stop there, leaving and justice is completely missing. means torture or death. Yet, if they’re can be accused of ‘simp\e’ anything — explains (the bit the left doesn’t get) the industry and technology unchanged; What of Moore’s comments that not stupid, if they know all this and quite the opposite, in fact! I wish these anti-immigration policies pursued so that workers would continue doing the civilisation may, perhaps, collapse they still oppose immigration, they must authors would write a bit more fervently by the Labour government. same sort of work, in the same way, “through our own efforts” and that surely be racist! If somebody opposes accessibly, but there’s something to be Some elements of capital still need using the same methods as before. But only “widespread refusal ... can abolish immigration, she or he is necessarily said for the view that a politics of low-paid illegal workers, but the greater all anarchists agree that it isn’t enough civilisation”? He doesn’t explain how stupid, racist or both. difference as conceived by them can’t in demand is for the fettering of labour to get rid of the boss. This is just a this can be achieved if he’s not seeking This isn’t to say it’s all their fault. any way be understood from within the mobility. In other words, to argue that necessary first step! ‘converts’ (that is, if you’re not Someone who receives a substandard confines of the system’s ideologies. immigrants are ‘good for the economy’ Of course ‘classical anarchists’ doubt convincing people of your ideas). education, who reads The Sun and who Certainly it has little in common with misses the point and reduces the left to that workers who use technology and But as he argues that ‘daily life’ is has never been encouraged to think for the liberal multiculturalism Paul righdy endorsing the super-exploitation of a work in industry would leave either marked by “internalised patterns of her or himself, is under a lot of pressure opposes. Situationism, autonomism and section of the working class. What’s good unchanged (see Kropotkin’s Conquest obedience,” he implies that, by ‘our’ in to be stupid and racist. Working class deep ecology are closer parallels to for the economy isn’t necessarily good of Bread). Actually they want to liberate ‘our own efforts’, he means primitivists illusions aren’t surprising, given the what I have in mind. for those exploited within it. the technology they use from the - far from the classical anarchist idea of context - the surprise is rather the few Since the working class is mostly Faced with the free movement of distorting influences of capitalism, just a revolt by the people. He talks of who manage to attain critical awareness subsumed within ruling class ideologies capital, it’s crucial that working class as they want to liberate themselves. ‘communities of resistance’, yet he in spite of the context. and discourses, how can a radical organisations fight for labour’s freedom This will take time and it will be an doesn’t root them in the workplace or So it’s no shock that many anarchists politics not be politics ‘from the outside’ of movement and give concrete support imperfect process (but primirivists seem the neighbourhood, hence in practical and dissidents are based in colleges. of this class, even if it aims to convince to anti-deportation campaigns. Yet on to be impatient, subscribing to what concerns of most people. Students are simply more likely than and mobilise them? When I write of its own this isn’t enough. Kropotkin rightly dismissed as a harmful The Wildfire Collective concurs, uneducated inner-city estate residents to figurative nomadism, I’m suggesting Capital clearly intends to play sections fallacy - the idea of a one-day revolution). dismissing “workers’ councils, com­ develop the critical abilities necessary to that the working class needs to become of the working class off against each Moore simply distorts the ideas of mittees” out of hand while, apparently, understand and adopt radical ideas. Even in a sense ‘outside’ what it is today in other, switching production from country ‘classical anarchism’ in his assertions. subscribing to Moore’s idea of ‘inter­ those anarchists and leftists who live on order to become in any sense ‘our class’ to country and using illegal labour to On a different issue, looking at the dependent’ communities. How such estates and work in crap jobs have mostly for anarchists. undercut wages. So it’s vital that we arguments in the Green and Black communities would communicate, entered this section of the working class Workers must undergo a qualitative build solidarity across borders and fight Bulletin I’m struck by how vague never mind work together, without ‘from outside’, by way of a university change in their identity before they can for rhe extension of full employment ‘anarcho-primitivism’ is. For example, federal organisations is left unasked, education. become a revolutionary force. This rights, the minimum wage and the right Moore says that the “kind of world never mind unanswered. The idea of ‘shared experience’ is requires an intensive leamingAinleaming to work legally to immigrant workers. envisaged by anarcho-primitivism is one Dismissing the mass of the population misleading. What Paul refers to as process, not a reassertion of a pre­ To reduce rhe anti-racist argument to unprecedented in human experience" (the working class) as an agent of change ‘shared’ needs are actually similar or formed collective identity. Hence, I ‘they’re good for the economy’ just and that “there are no hard-and-fast leaves primitivism with two options. It homogenous needs. They aren’t suggest that we start ‘outside’ the existing serves to rubber-stamp the exploitation rules” in getting there. In other words, can either wait for the ‘inevitable necessarily ‘shared’ in the sense of working class in order to pull this class o f both immigrant and host-country we don’t know what we want nor how collapse of civilisation’ (and while away giving rise to collective or reciprocal ‘outside’ itself, so it can become what it workers at the hands of those we’re to get there! the hours slagging off other anarchists relations. If two people both need a isn’t and thereby achieve something supposed to oppose. Even worse, he says, “there can’t be as reformist) or it can embrace eco- house, they can unite to build two incommensurable with its present any limits on the forms of resistance vanguardism and celebrate any form of houses or to lobby the housing authority conception of the world. and insurgency that might develop.” ‘resistance’ which may bring the to do so. Or they can find a house and A.R. Whatever happened to the anarchist glorious day forward. fight each other over who gets it. There’s See editorial, left Quiz answers principle that means shape the ends? In This reached its logical conclusion nothing in the simple fact of similar 3. /hr jifw u K ambassador to China. j other words, there are ‘limits’ on some years back, when Green Anarchist needs that decides the question one way Ifoblily humourist f-ftone Slim. tactics, as some tactics aren’t and never magazine supported the actions and or the other as to which they will, or | Still confused? He m they should get the APEC can be libertarian. More on this below. tfgjcnted ideas of rhe (non-anarchist) Unabomber should, do. As a newcomer to anarchist ideas, 1 feel nHMfjr icrtNi by ııuM'inoöti>Mtuj(i Incidenrly, I can't help thinking that and published an article saying that the I hope, as Paul does, that white I can reply to Peter Gibson's letter M.'cf'ij'U’Gjuf.'S, mCMKuAft the internet, all this talk of ‘civilisation’ lets the Oklahoma bombers had “the righr idea. workers, black workers and immigrants without any danger of representing ‘the ctnimitnutky < pw | anti-capitalist ruling class off the hook, for both our The pity was that they did not blast any can unite and fight for improved anarchist establishment’ (Commentary, and rhe planet’s problems. Instead, more government offices ... The Tokyo services. But such a struggle isn’t a simple I 25th October). 1*11 try to speak plain. 4. J* vm dv vehicle far I970i ft HI. corned y blaine is laid at the feet of ‘technology’ sarin cult had the right idea. The pity was or logical outcome of the existence of I he state is a concept, but this is a long Ciwifl wiikh poked fun at the I and ‘mass society'. So the capitalist that in testing the gas a year prior to similar needs. 1 he choice to co-operate wav from saying 'the state doesn't exist’. HfUfmxMi of «om? 'terotMUutunaf'. I class can rest easy ~ injustice, authority, the attack they gave themselves away.” rather than compete is an ethical choice, I P « « « 8 How many of those brought up on the Beano realised the serious intent behind some of its best-known characters, asks Pirate Ray

I eo Baxendale was for many I adventures. She's described as a street- I years a comic art stalwart. fighting woman by Baxendale himself. Minnie, Plum and Bash Street Her main enemies are ‘boys', headteachers, .f ' UR 50, currently showing at careers advisers and, most of all, her London's Cartoon Art Trust omnipresent dad. Most of her escapades Museum, is a fifty-year retro­ end up with her in general mayhem. spective of the cartoonist’s The Bash Street Kids, everyone’s work. Beginning his career as a freelancefavourite school rebels, are shown in artist for the Beano, he’d send his black their various attempts to outwit their Land white drawings from Preston to teachers and the authorities, with Dundee, where staff artists at D.C. varying degrees of success. A leading Thompsons would add watercolour, character in the gang was apparently ready for letterpress publication. His based on Richmal Crompton’s first creation was Little Plum, in April ‘William’, who wanted to be a pirate 1953, followed in rapid succession by when he grew up. Baxendale used this Minnie the Minx that September and and, by the simple expedient of • the Bash Street Kids in October. drawing a skull and crossbones on his Baxendale insists that the overriding jumper, Death’s-Head Danny was bom philosophy behind his art is to “overcome (haven’t I seen him with other pirates the impersonality of large-scale capitalist and a samba band on recent demos?). commodity production by putting inro Some space is given over to Baxendale’s (his] drawings an intensity of passion own explanations of his work. He that would make each printed copy of elaborates his ideas thus: “art can be the Beano personal to the child." As a seductive to the practitioner and result of this spiral of “more passion, overwhelm the spectator, and it has more response’' artistry, he helped the been variously used in history to comic's circulation rise from 400,000 in buttress systems of controlling power From 1969 he began to suffer from Strike of 1984-85. This shows several four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are 1953 to two million by 1960. or, conrrawise, to engage in struggle swollen knuckles and to need drawing characters doing their bit to run down redirected to the World Bank president’s Several of the early cartoon strips against it.” Clearly he chose the second glasses. He attributes this to the ever- the coal stocks under the ominous front lawn. Again, quite apt given the appear in this exhibition having been course himself, and he explains why. increasing workload demanded by the approach of the police. recent shenanigans in Cancun and else­ saved from fading by digital copying . “The engine of history for artists has I corporate entities. They also forced From 1990, Baby Basil appeared in where. Leo Baxendale also tells us that from originals which have to be kept in been economi^need liim, during the inr*> a seven- . the Guardian and baxendale was able his cartoons have provided “a lifelong the dark.. These include early appearances possibility to intervene in history, to be year copyright battle for control of his to give freer rein to his political ideas companion of comedy1' to walk beside by Little Plum, a native American who a player, to use art and comedy to work. O f this period he writes, “intense for an adult audience. He used the him and to “nudge against the straight tended to cause havoc inadvertently and engage in struggle, if intent and drawing requires all of the organism: opportunity to poke fun at a variety of and narrow land to] warn o f perils to who raised cowardice and treachery to circumstance come sweetly together.” the faculties of the mind and body social attitudes. In one series, three-year- avoid - in particular, the quack high arts in order to survive. The middle part of the exhibition working as one, but the artist’s nervous old Basil opines that “boys don’t cry,” prescription of how things should be.” One glorious full-page rendering from shows that, from May 1960, with Little system takes the brunt.” only to be castigated by his older friend There’s much in this small gem o f an 1956 shows him in full flight, being Plum extended to a double page and an The last section of Minnie, Plum and Cynthia for indulging in “biological exhibition to inspire anarchists and chased by his tribe’s arch-enemies, The increased workload, what Baxendale Bash Street UR 50 concentrates on determinist theory” brought on by kids radicals of all hues. Bears. In hot pursuit, they sport a variety describes as a ‘stiffness’ crept into his Baxendale’s work from the Willy the being “marmalised by ideology”. These Minnie, Plum and Bash Street UR 50 is at the of WMDs, such as Elefunt Guns and drawing style. The cartoons begin to Kid era. It features numerous examples strips ran until 1992 when Baxendale Cartoon Art Trust Museum (CAT), 7-13 Bearzookas, and carrying a flag crying show a sharper line than the more of line-drawn characters such as Spotty had to end them, again due to workload Brunswick Centre, Bernard Street London ‘hone)’’ which they’d obtained from an rounded ones found previously. The Dick and, particularly, Baby Basil. It (though he continued to produce work WC1, until 24th December. Tel 020 7278 itinerant arms dealer (shades of DSEi artist himself also suffered a bout of includes a wonderful set piece drawn elsewhere). 7172. Leo Baxendale will be talking at CAT, here). pneumonia at the beginning of 1961, for the Women Against Pit Closures The final exhibit is his poem, written 6.30pm on 11th November (tickets £5). Similarly with Minnie the Minx’s which further affected his work. * book, Deep Digs, during the Miners’ specially for the exhibition. In this, the His own website is at www.reaper.co.uk BOOKS

Wildcat: anarchists against couldn’t be correct. The ‘revolting pussycat’ has a way of Iraq, Regime Unchanged describes the But what does that matter when you bombs Clark: Well, it’s our old friend being sniffing out the unpleasant truths behind mendacity and political manoeuvring know, to paraphrase the words of your cartoons by Donald Rooum econom ical, isn’t it? every political situation, from the vital that allowed Bush and Blair to launch best buddy, that what you’re doing is Freedom Press, £3 Defence Counsel: With the truth? role of the arms trade in protecting their assault. right? Clark: With the actualite. There was Bribsh jobs to the equally significant need Mil analyses the options for meaningful Toby Crowe My current library book is a volume of nothing misleading or dishonest to for ill-rewarded illegal immigrants to change in the country (unlikely - “Wash­ Regime Unchanged is available from Freedom the diaries of the late Tory MP and make a formal or introductory do the really important, but underpaid, ington and London had no intention of j for £10.99 (add £1.10 postage in the UK, Minister of Trade, Alan Clark. His comment that the Iraqis would be using jobs the British scorn, but depend upon. forcing a real ‘regime change’ on Iraq £2.20 elsewhere) diaries are bestsellers and they expose, the current orders for general The Wildcat is an anarchist heroine! and, when the regime dissolved ... the devastatingly, the futility of politics; the engineering purposes. All I didn’t say C.W. US and UK attempted to rebuild |irj”). way the Civil Service ensures that nothing was ‘and for making munitions’. Wildcat: anarchists against bombs is available There are just two hopeful signs in an FREEDOM happens to change the way the machinery This scrap of dialogue from real life from Freedom for £3 (postage free in the UK, otherwise grim situation. The first is the of government works; the way politicians could have been lifted from the add £1 elsewhere). extent to which protests nearly undid ANARCHIST BOOKSHOP love the chauffeur-driven, top-hotel and discussions between Donald Rooum’s plans for an invasion, at least on this & AUTONOMY CLUB all-expenses-paid lifestyle; the rivalry, not truth-seeking cat and her academic side of the Atlantic (something else Mil I between, but within the political parties. friend, the long-legged ibis in Wildcat Regime Unchanged chronicles in some depth). The second, 84b Whitechapel High Street I was pulled up sharp by one story Anarchists against Bombs. by Milan Rai purchased at vast human (which means London E l 7QX that Clark tells with pride. As different i Amazingly, this is the sixth o f his Pluto, £10.99 Iraqi and civilian) cost, is that Bush’s tel/fax 020 7247 9249 department$ o f government don't Wildcat volumes (all published by current travails render any imminent consult each other, one was prosecuting Freedom Press, publishers of this “Soon Iraqis will see the great compassion attack on the Iraq’s neighbours unlikely. OPENING HOURS a firm for exporting war material to newspaper). Thi6, in turn, implies that of the US,” George Bush promised But never mind, Georgie Baby. Mon to Sat 10.30am to 6pm iraq, while another had given approval. Donald must have settled down once a earlier this year. Iraqis are still waiting, There’s another Asian dictator who’s Thurs 10.30am to 8pm The trial collapsed when defence fortnight for about 25 years to persuade like everybody else, and on the evidence currently riding roughshod over human You can also use our mall order service counsel suggested th at Clark’s his cast of characters to be sharp and of Mil Rai’s new book, we might have rights, and in an oil-rich country to Send payment with order statement that material for Iraq was sardonic, from an anarchist standpoint, another long wait to come. The postwar hoot. The only difference is that the (cheques payable to Freedom Press) ‘for general engineering purposes’ about the world they, and we, inhabit. sequel to the same author's War Plan president of Kazakhstan is pro-western. I Call us If you need further details overthrown along with capitalism and *u *A rr Commentary we could all live in anarchy. So, arc you Weyhee-hev.V The newTory leader Hasn't be promised to move Not at all!! He says "1 will lead rhi s page 6 ^ still confused? Labour in for another tei is ; Mr Poll Tax ÎÎ Tory policy to the political party from it a centre”, and m n h w ı t i n i f T/lMtı A İ a ır I\I suggest that conceptual models help Rob Rodgers us understand and get a grasp of very real phenomena. To use a scientific example - electricity can't be seen, smelt, Mutual respect tasted, touched or heard. We know it I I can understand why Nick Heath exists because of its effects. We use might not like my pamphlet. Revolution descriptions of these effects to build a or Reformism (Review, 27th September). model. In rum die model aids our under­ But I would hope he’d try to be just a standing, crucially, of how we can use little bit objective. The fact is that electricity for our own benefit. syndicalism was at an impasse, even The state is no different. Capitalist before the First World War. By the 1920s society is ordered, governed, maintained it needed to adapt to the realities of the and defended by various systems. twentieth century, which were Fordism the ideological centre of ^ i don't knew Ri$ht, Its like ^ We don’t care who wins. Collecrively these are referred to as the (mass consumerism) and social reform. the Conservative Party is i$ m erit t n a k beetlewresding.il but it sftm to watch. state. To challenge capitalism is to The Merrheim-Jouhaux CGT was an about midway between provoke its defences, the law, police, attempt to adapt that failed. The CGT Thatcher and Genghis Khan !• ■V M army and so on. In their activity, failed by becoming ever more moderate, anarchists understand this very well. until it ended up little different from You couldn't be an effective anarchist the social democratic trade unions. The without this understanding. Knowing revolutionaries, on the other hand, the state is necessary to defeating it and continued as though it was still 1890, overthrowing capitalism. and they became hardly more than a The state isn’t a collection of individuals sect. In my opinion, certain of the any more than the army is a collection reformists’ ideas, such as building a of individuals. Its continued existence is broad populist coalition, promoting due to its link with society/capitalism. cooperatives and mutualist social services, It’s the expression and embodiment of had merit and might have formed a terms of the need for violence. As to society. The police, as the state’s repressive the ruling class. It represents their interests partial basis for a renewal of syndicalism, ‘moralism’, I’m not sure what Johnny A sideways look arm, will reflect this. and nothing more. had other conditions been different. means. Anarchism is nothing if it isn’t a Since the showing of The Secret But we should care simply because It only acts collectively. It ignores the Nick objects to the CGT Economic moral philosophy. Policeman last month (a television racism is wrong. It s an expression of needs of individuals and denies freedom. Plan being characterised as ‘Proudhonist’. Amorey Gethin exposure of prejudice within northern I power and an abuse of it. The United It has nothing to do with ‘beliefs’, Well, that’s not my invention but the English police forces), Chief Constables, I Friends and Families Campaign, who individual or collective. The state is viewpoint of historians Eugene Saposs politicians, the media and all the Queen’s marched on 25th October, demand and Jean Bancal. Argue with them, not New models about the ‘haves’ defending themselves men have been queuing up to denounce justice for loved ones who have died in against the ‘have-nots’. It’s ‘held together me. As for my reducing anarchism to Written papers and balanced discussion police racism. Well, blow me down, the police custody. Many (though not all) Proudhon, I’ve never denied the value by a single ideology’, capitalism. If you have their place, but other ways of police are racist. I’d never have guessed! were black. You’re certainly far more don’t believe this, look at the law. Why of Bakunin or Kropotkin and their demonstrating and investigating political Fortunately, arch-bigot David Blunkett likely to encounter the police or the does a murderer get a lesser sentence developments of Proudhon’s thought and social ideas may have certain was on hand to conform to his stereo­ criminal justice system if you’re not than an arsonist? It’s because arsonists (Mutual Aid, in my opinion, is one of advantages. Computer models of social type. It was all the fault of the BBC for white, just as you’re more likely to be a damage property. Now, who has the greatest anarchist writings). interactions, with their rules, assumptions ‘creating’ the news that there were racist victim of crime. property ... ? But I do think that anarchist commun­ and variables clearly accessible, may allow coppers, he said. His civil servants even In all the clamour about the Once you accept this truth the rest ism is a very unlikely basis on which to people to get a feeling for the patterns tried to get the programme stopped. programme, there was one glimmer of falls into place. The state has nothing unite people. What’s needed is a broader of behaviour that may follow from a set And some coppers have threatened to how our society has changed. I remember to do with genetics, because capitalism concept - one with which ordinary people of ideas and how changing some of these boycott Crimewatch, which is a bit rich The Sun, twenty years ago incorrigibly isn’t genetic. Within capitalism there’s a have some familiarity. This broader elements may change the behaviour. given that the programme’s one big PR racist and full of bile about any anti- ruling class, but it isn’t static - it changes concept is mutualism. These models don’t necessarily prove exercise for the police. Meanwhile the racist i/ıırunve. J read it after The -.constantly. The owners of British wealth Larry Gambone or disprove social theories, bur they could undercover reporter who posed as a Secrer Policeman and its condemnaticyı . are ever changing, only their class ?ngag^peoplewn*T"3T£?!’f 1 fflPFfWRfd in Wppef stîfi Fât^scnarçps;tnotfgfi'it’s or these racist scumbags was m ore remains constant. Class is their social reading lots of text, who aren’t familiar hard to see how they'll stick against his forthright than G\unkett’s. But of ’ group’s particular relationship with Moral position with ideological or academic terminology. obvious public interest defence. course, the same paper carries the production. They own it. Once again, in Johnny M ’s piece (‘Words And then, of course, provide a point for Blunkett did later admit that the establishment line on refugees and The stare represents this class, nor we use’, 11th October) we see anarchist further discussion and writing. racism was ‘horrendous’. His solution: immigrants and succours people like individuals, and is therefore also a violence defended by abstract generalisa­ Computer strategy games provide a new training programmes to root out Blunkett. Such a long way to go.. constant. Let’s put it simply, Peter: when tions. Johnny says that “ruling out a similar experience, although more goal- racists. But when the Labour Party’s Svartfrosk the Stuart or Tudor bloodlines fell was robust defence o f ourselves is to give driven. There are many variations on the rhetoric over asylum-seekers matches it the end of the monarchy? Power in away a tactical advantage to the other ‘Kingdom’-rype game, based on running the BNP’s, you can imagine how well society isn’t genetic. side which, as all experience shows, a state, empire, planet and so on. For this training is going to work, particularly I confess I’m confused by the suggestion they’re sure to exploit.” instance, the more troops garrisoning a on people who already think dressing Words we use that we have “little or no ability to What exactly does a ‘robust defence’ region, the less likely the population up in used bed-linen is a fun way to POWER control our destinies”. The complete involve? In practice, what is this tactical may be to rebel. The essence of playing spend their time. This is a concept to which anarchists opposite is true. Humanity survived advantage and how is it exploited? Does such a game is to divine its hidden rules It’s also clear that, while Chief have had an ambivalent relationship, and conquered the planet because it it mean that the police, for instance, and to exploit this knowledge. Constables have been quick to condemn particularly when they’ve not clearly used technology to its advantage. We will prevent anarchists wrecking a Essentially, anarchist theorists should their employees, there’s barely a squeak distinguished their critique of state power broke free from the animal world military installation? The police will be able to show that, given an acceptable from the rank and file. The Police from their analysis of power in general. precisely because we controlled our stop them any way. But what you can set of human characteristics and a Federation said the racists were wrong, Capitalists are more powerful than us destiny. We’ll win real freedom by be sure of is that the ‘robust defence’ realistic environment, a model society but itself had a go at the BBC for not in three ways. Because they’re richer, controlling our destiny. will give a propaganda advantage to the without a hierarchical leadership should handing over its evidence sooner, where they can realise more of their aims than Finally “most people don’t live as other side. be able to from orderly and sustainable presumably it would be buried after us. Because they’re employers, they can anarchists” - true. But an anarchist’s Certainly the main acts of violence relationships with each other and the investigations by, er, the police. compel us ro realise their aims for them job isn’r to live in any particular way, are committed by governments. Are environment. People disputing their The coppers’ union went on to add (but only as a class: nothing forces us to neither in uniformity or uniform. An anarchists therefore to overcome theories should be able to change the that the “quality of training that officers work for them as individuals). Because anarchist’s job is to challenge, agitate government exploitation by adopting model to reflect their different ideas receive on issues of equality and diversity they have power already, they can gain and fight for individual freedom. the same methods? We’re never given and compare the results. is unsatisfactory. This must change and yet more through controlling the state. Through this fight the state can be an explanation in concrete practical Tavis Reddick expand to encompass wider training on To abolish power, the realisation of all strands of equality and diversity.” Is desired aims, isn’t possible. Our political it just me, or have they been infected programme is about taking power for with the same management-guru ourselves, rather than allowing it to be bollocks as every other public body? exercised at our expense. 1I SUBSCRIPTION RATES I Back in the ’80s, things were a lot Johnny M. i inland ouuidc oursidc Europe SUBSCRIPTION FORM Europe Europe (airmail clearer. The Police Federation defended i surface airmail only) i I _ on television the right of its members to Send to Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London El 7QX I Freedom (24 issues) half price for 12 issues call people ‘nigger’. A comrade from | Claimants 10.00 - - Tower Hamlets Direct Action Movement The quiz C J Please start a NEW subscription to Freedom for issues i Regular 14.00 22.00 34.00 24.00 actually got off a charge of insulting a 1. On 15th March 1933, who did three İ Institutions 22.00 30.00 40.00 40.00 I black policeman by calling him a traitor Korean anarchists, Paek Chung-kee, Q j Please RENEW my subscription to Freedom for issues I J Bundle subs for Freedom after arguing in court that, as coppers Won Sim-chang and Lee Gang-hyon, LJİ I enclose a donation j 24 issues, UK only: 2 copies £18 were racists, what he said must be true. try to assassinate in Shanghai? : 3 copies £24 Whether the magistrate who agreed did 2. Who said, “you can’t have boss and 1 enclose £ ...... payment (cheques payable to Freedom Press please) I j : 4 copies £30 so because he shared an analysis of brains at the same time. Get rid of I racism within the ranks of the police one of them”? Name ...... J Sale or return terms are available. For larger I was always a moot point. { bundles or for bundles outside UK, please 3. At the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum I Do we care that there are racist police, in October, what did business Address...... | enquire. I when we’re against almost everything consultant Robert L ees advocate | Giro account number .58 294 6905 the police do any way? 1 have to say doing to improve capitalists' image? All prices are in £ sterling that we should care. Not because we 4. What was the looting Popular I I Postcode | imagine that racism will go away Front? j FREEDOM fortnightly ISSN 0016 0504 I without some major transformation in Arttuvrs on thigf 6

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