IM C IM Prescott’s smelly regions Death toll hits 100,000 The Power of Nightmares Top ten lightbulb changes IN9IVC WW page 3 page 4 page 7 page 8 NEVER MIND THE BALLOTS

ears shit in the woods; the pope is an ultra-rightwing big-business indeed Catholic; Genghis Khan theocracy as its preferred ruler. Yet it is Bwas more than a little right-wing clear that the other 49% are considered and a tosser is in the Whitehouse, irrelevant. Not only are ‘liberals’ writes Iain McKay. demonised by the right, which You can lose more jobs than any expresses utter hatred and contempt for President since the Great Depression. them, the Bush Junta quickly talked of You can preside over millions of its new ‘mandate’ given by having a families losing their health care. You staggering 1% more voters than the can take away working people’s over­ losers. Given the radical right-wing time payments. You can impose a tax agenda they imposed after stealing the cut which benefits the already ultra-rich election in 2000 (and without a popular elite (‘my base’ as he famously admitted). majority) we can only expect one thing You can lose all three Presidential — even more of the same but supersized. debate. You can smear someone who Perhaps it will be argued that the fought in the war your dad’s contacts economic and military messes will now got you out of. You can start an have to cleared up by those who caused unnecessary war based on lies that them. But that is doubtful. Bush’s killed 1,100, mostly working class, wealthy supporters are not affected by troops as well as countless Iraqis while the war or unemployment. It will be wasting $200 billion and increasing theordinary Bush voters who will face the risk of terrorism. You can fail to live up draft and poverty — along with those to your promise to ‘smoke out* Osama who rejected him at the ballot box. The Bin Laden (and get your cronies to only people to really benefit, other than proclaim his latest video as a^gift’). You the elite and the Christian can poison the environment by under­ fundamentalists, are the satirists. They mining or not enforcing environmental will have lots of material to work with. regulations. You can turn a substantial Civil liberties will be further eroded. budget surplus into a gigantic deficit. Abortion rights will disappear in most, You can let 9/11 happen and then fight if not all, states and women’s the creation of the 9/11 Commission, reproductive rights will become resist speaking to them and then do not property of the state. The chasm act on their recommendations. You can between the ultra-wealthy and the rest value faith over science. You can refuse (which has been growing since the to speak with the press or the public 1980s) will increase, cementing and can only let supporters into your plutocracy as the proper name for the election rallies ... and you win the American system. The merging of popular vote by several million votes. church and state will continue, as will Welcome to George Bush’s America, military spending. Social security will Perhaps we can draw some comfort as bad as possible for the non-elite. because he had ‘Massachusetts values’, where the majority of voters have just be privatised and the tax system that Bush supporters are pretty much According to exit polls, 22% of the Christian right states had higher announced to the entire planet that they ‘reformed’ to place the burden on the ignorant of the facts. Indeed, they hold voters stated that ‘moral issues’ was the divorce rates than Massachusetts (which are fine with all this. It’s an important working class even more, with workers opinions about Bush and the world key issue. In other words, most Bush has the lowest divorce rate in America). announcement, particularly for Islamic facing (yet again) stagnating wages, significantly at odds with reality and votes considered this their key issue. What explains the contradiction? terrorists whose propaganda has just longer hours and job insecurity. And, while faith is a powerful thing, it Morals which, for example, apparently Simply, by ‘moral issues’ or ‘family been confirmed. But this is unfair. Only who knows, perhaps the draft will be cannot hold back reality indefinitely. tolerate unnecessary wars which kill over values* it is meant ‘know your place in 51% of American voters (representing introduced to secure the colonisation of Particularly when they have elected a 100,000 and are justified by lies and the social hierarchy’. It also means around 30% of possible voters) chose Iraq and, depending, to invade Iran. leader whose policies make that reality spin. Yet even as Kerry was demonised ^ page 3, column 4 OUR HOMES OUR WAY

he Labour government is continuing housing only directly benefits working has been siphoned off to finance housing need to collectively push forward our the police arrived, called by the Council. its campaign to privatise council class people and so is not a political benefits. This is the poor paying for the own demands. The campaign is starting to have an housing. Deputy Prime Minister priority. Yet a very high percentage of poorest. effect. Recently, at the Labour Party T council residents of working age As anarchists, we believe decent housing Meeting disrupted Conference, government housing policy John Prescott is now proposing that council housing ownership should be contribute to the economy through for all is a basic human right and we Haringey (North London) tenants and was overwhelmingly rejected by handed over to Arms Length their labour and still they continuously should not have to be going cap in hand other local residents recently disrupted delegates in favour of stock retention Management Organisations (ALMOs). see their rights for decent homes for what is due to us. Under the current a Council meeting when the Labour and direct investment in council Rents and tenancy agreements would disregarded. system we will have to be creative and council wouldn’t listen to their delegation. housing. But we can’t sit back and wait no longer be set by the council. This It is obvious that the last twenty years struggle in solidarity to find new ways They were angry because the council | for politicians, we need to organise ourselves. One option that we need to complete privatisation is what of under investment has led to a backlog in order to improve our living standards. would not hold a full ballot on the pursue is the ‘rent strike’, but this will campaigners have been arguing that of repairs and renovations. Failure to Direct action is one way that can future ownership and management of take strong determination, solidarity, ALMOs were always about. build new social housing has created bring about change for those affected council homes. Protesters inside the Wood good organisation and a lot of hard, For the majority of people living in homelessness and forced people into the by substandard housing and sociable Green Civic Centre held up council’s grassroots work. council housing, their need for a decent private sector where rents arc much communities. It means getting directly procedures for 40 minutes by demanding they be given the right to have their voice Taken from Solidarity, newsletter of North and orae and community continues to be higher. In addition, in the past few years involved: organising or joining tenants heard. The protesters left peacefully when East London Solidarity Federation. overlooked by the government. Social £13 billion from council tenants’ rent and residents meetings. As tenants, we Freedom loxn November 2004 Home and away FREEDOM Volume 65 Number 22 News from the inside Freedom for prisoners vegetarian food, and solidarity activities Horseferry, has quit - after being accused information liable to ‘incite’ others to Anarchism As many of you may know, Freedom in the Latin American libertarian move­ of paying for sex with rent boys. commit ‘criminal damage’. Selwood Anarchists work towards a society of provides free subscriptions to anyone in ments. Recently Esteban was arrested in Judge Roger Davies resigned after described the magazine as “The most mutual aid and voluntary co-operation. prison. If you have friends or family in H o f, Germany, for being ‘illegal’. Now spending the last year on leave, which contemptuous document I have ever We reject all government and economic prison, or regularly write to a prisoner, he is in Hof deportation prison, where must have been a chore on his £90,000 seen in my entire career.” What about repression. if they are interested we will be happy the German State wants to keep him a year wage. Due to his early retirement, the kiddy porn he’d been looking at?!? Freedom Press is an independent to send them a free sample issue or sub. locked up for two months before not only has the investigation which (source: SchNEWS) anarchist publisher. Besides this If you are a prisoner yourself we can deporting him. Currently his comrades would have brought out the sordid newspaper, which comes out every two provide subs to any of your fellow are doing everything possible to gain his details been conveniently stopped, but Campaign Against Prison Slavery weeks, we produce books on all aspects inmates if they wish. Please also feel freedom, or at least shorten the time he he’s also still in line for an index-linked pickets of anarchist theory and practice. free to write to us with any news about spends in prison before his deportation. pension worth £45,000 a yean Add to Pickets of the stores of high-street retailer In our building in Whitechapel we run your imprisonment, developments in They are calling for solidarity actions in that a lump sum award of just over Wilkinson, who use forced prison Britain’s biggest anarchist bookshop and your case, requests for penpals or support of him, and for people to write £100,000 and he’s got himself a nice labour to pack their goods, continue. host a social centre and meeting space, anything else! letters of support: Esteban Sierra, JVA little pension deal worth around a Recently, Brighton ABC held two more the Autonomy Club. We’re currently Hof, Stelzenhofstr. 30, 95032 Hof, million quid. pickets of the company’s Worthing developing open-access IT provision for Begofia Pombo da Silva released Germany. Davies was due to try more protesters store, and plan to do more soon. There activists to use. Begona Pombo da Silva, one of the nicked in May 2003. One of those he have also been recent pickets of Wilko Our aim is to explain anarchism more Aachen Foui; and sister of Gabriel Polish solidarity night in Bradford bailed, a young Brighton man, said “I branches in Wales, Yorkshire, and the widely and to show that human freedom Pombo da Silva, has been provisonally On Saturday 20th November there will was expecting him to come down hard North East. For more information see can only thrive when the institutions of released by the German authorities. She be a Polish solidarity night at the 1 in on me but he just smiled at me over his www.againstprisonslavery.com state and capital have been abolished. is still accused of taking part in several 12 Club in Bradford. The event is to glasses; in hindsight I find that quite Freedom’s editors wish to present a robberies, but a lack of evidence led to raise much-needed funds for Bialystok worrying.” broad range of anarchist thought, and her release on bail. A trial is expected ABC and Anti-Fa. There will be Polish It seems Davies has done very well, as such the views expressed in the paper to take place in February 2005. In the food, music, and of course vodka, as relying on the old boy network to clean are those of the individual contributors meantime Gabriel, Jose, and Bart need well as a speaker from Bialystok ABC up after his indiscretions with the young and not necessarily those of the editorial support. For more information see and Anti-Fa, Poland’s second finest boy network. collective. www.brightonabc.org.uk export, Soja. Tickets cost £3 and the This comes only four months after event starts at 7.30pm. another judge, David Selwood, was Solidarity with Esteban Sierra allowed to keep his pension after being Angel Alley Esteban Sierra is an anarcho-punk activist, Another judge, another pervert convicted of downloading child pom. Come to the Anarchist Bookfair on originally from Columbia, involved in A Judge who happily sent May Day In 1997 Selwood sent three editors of Saturday 27th November at ULU on the Insurgente Records label, often protesters to prison, confirming his Green Anarchist magazine to prison, after Malet Street, London. Freedom will be doing ‘peoples kitchens’ providing reputation as the Hanging Judge of they were found guilty of publishing there all day, from 10am to 7pm with stalk for the bookshop and newspaper — please email us if you can lend a hand. We’re also co-hosting a meeting with Black Flag called Anarchist Media: Use it or lose it from 4pm to 5pm in LISTINGS room 3C, so why not come to that too? The Freedom Hacklab has finally Bristol talks, video and discussion, 7.30 pm Class War Federation Freedom been opened by the London Hacklabs Every Sunday the Kebele Kafe from Minster Rooms, Ilminster (behind the Class struggle anarchist group 84b Whitechapel High Street, London Collective. Free computer and internet 6.30pm, 14 Robertson Road, Easton. Dolphin Pub) £2. For info call 01460 PO Box 467, London E8 3QX E l 7Q X access is available every Saturday For info call 0117 9399469 53165 or see www.southsomerset www.classwaruk.org www.freedompress.org.uk during the bookshop’s regular opening peace.infoaaion.org.uk Dissent Kebele hours, with donations welcome! Some London A network o f resistance against the G8 14 Robertson Road, Easton, Bristol weeks it will be open on weekdays too. 27th November Anarchist Bookfair at International www.dissent.org.uk BS5 6JY See www.hacklab.org.uk ULU, Malet Street, WC1 from 10am to 26th December International Pizza Earth First! www.kebele.org 7pm. See www.anarchistbookfair.org Punk Day, so mark this day in your Ecological direct action network Lancaster. Resource Centre (LaRC) 28th November ‘Robert E. Grant, the calendar to practise the ancient arts of www.earthfirst.org.uk The Basement, 78a Penny Street, Donations man who told Darwin the theory of mutual aid, voluntary association and, Industrial Workers of the World Lancaster GG, £10; JS, £10; FS, £50; DR, £10. evolution’, a lecture by Donald Rooum of course, vegan pizza making Revolutionary D1Y union www.eco-action.org/lancaster Our tocal ooc-off donations since August at the Ethical Society Library, Conway workshops. See www.eroding.org.uk/ PO Box 74, Brighton, BN1 4ZQ London Action Resource Centre amount to £555 and, with standing Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1, at 11am. pizzapunx.htm www.iww.org.uk (LARC) orders at £550pa, that makes a grand 6th July 2005 Global Day of Action at Solidarity Federation 62 Fieldgate Street, London El total of £1,105 - well on the way to Newcastle the opening day of the G8 Summit Anarcho-syndicalist organisation www.londonlarc.org our aim of £5,000 by next August - so 1 lth December Projectile preview at the www.agp.org or www.dissent.org.uk PO Box 469, Preston PR1 8FX The Rampart please keep sending in those donations I Side Cinema (see also below) www.solfed.org.uk 7a Rampart Street, London El and bankers* orders so we can keep I lth to 13th February 2005 Projectile: Nationwide groups For details of smaller and local groups SUMAC Centre going, expand and eventually challenge I anarchist festival of film and ideas, Anarchist Federation see www.enrager.net/britain 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham the corporate media! I exploring rhe past, present, and future Network o f anarchist-communists NG7 6HX ] of anarchism, and featuring rare and Box 2, 84b Whitechapel High Street, Social Centres www.veggies.org.uk/rainbow/ I radical films, music, entertainment, London El 7QX Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh lin l2 Club Contact details talks and discussions. Projectile also at www.afed.org.uk (ACE) 21-23 Albion Street, Bradford, West Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel High anarchist bookfair in Landon on 27th Aniifa 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh Yorkshire, BD1 2LY Street, London El 7QX November. See www.projectile.org.uk Militant anti-fascist organisation www.autonomous.org.uk www. 1 in 12.com Tel/fax: 020 7247 9249 Box 36, 84b Whitechapel High Street, The Cowley Club 56a Infoshop www.freedom press .org. uk Somerset London El 7QX 12 London Road, Brighton BN1 4JA 56 Crampton Street, London SE17 Enquiries: info&freedompress.org.uk 23rd N ovember ( )pen meeting with www.antifa.org.uk www.cowleyclub.org.uk www.safetycat.org/5 6a Copy/Letters: copy^9freedomprefes«org.uk Subscriptions: sub4&freedofnpres6.org.uk Circulation; circ#freedompress.org.uk Freedom Press Distribution: distro9freedompress.org. uk morgcnmuflclS (ML ° WHoiHe ill cme jg wm w se ? LOW ALCOHOL LAfleRToR, Next issue AMCfltCAI'J *£ ‘ Contributions are wanted for future Freedoms. The next issue will be dated 27th November 2004 and the last day to get your copy to us will be Thursday 18th November (see contact details above for where to send your letters/articles). If you are interested in writing regularly for Freedom we want to hear from you! You can get lsy*s ’zine from Freedom for £1 (plus 60p p&p inland, £1.20 elsewhere). ‘Morgenmuffel reminiscing’ continues in our next issue. Freedom 13th November 2004 3 News

STRIKEWATCH

Laing workers fight contrick On the morning of Friday 5th November, Prescott's regions stink workers for construction giant, Laing O’Rourke at the Channel Tunnel Rail Link held a sit-in strike in protest of their trade unions reps being barred As residents of the North East emphatically reject an from the site. One hundred and fifty workers refused to return to work until GMB Union reps Assembly, what next for devolution, asks Rob Ray were allowed onto the site. Management backed down and gave in to the workers* demand to allow union reps on site. roposals to introduce a series of direct connection to their constituent Workers at sites across Britain have new regional assemblies have been parts, and less incentive than local been harassed by bosses to sign a new P all but scrapped after a referendum councils to fight measures such as large- contract (rebranded ‘contrick* by workers) in the North East saw a 78% No vote. scale building projects and changes to which will see the basic rate o f pay An attempt to wrest powers away the health service. halved., cuts of £20 per day for holiday from both central government and local Theoretically, the subject is still open, pay, bonuses paid at the discretion of councils, regional assemblies are the as the Bill passing Regional Assemblies management and a period of 40 days brainchild of John Prescott. only requires one Yes vote in one of the notice given for days off. People were Under half of the North Eastern eight regions listed to go to the told they’ll be sacked if they don’t sign electorate turned out to vote, suggesting Commons. But the scale of the defeat the new contract. Construction union that public disdain for the idea may be has largely dissuaded central UCAAT has told them to sign it. even more overwhelming than figures government from trying again. Unsurprisingly, most staff are refusing suggest. Yes campaigners for the new The eight regions would be East representation by UCAAT. political bodies tried to convince voters Midlands, East, North East, North Steve Cross, from the joint sites com- that it would ‘transform* the North East, West, South East, South West, West mitree, said that in forcing management but were drowned out by the No camp, Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber. to back down, the workers had won who argued it would waste money and Referendums are still currently the first victory in what could be a long make no meaningful headway. planned for the North West and dispute. According to the government’s public Yorkshire, but it is thought these will policy document, Regional Assemblies now be dropped. The incident has C iv il servants strike over jobs would have taken control of housing, severely damaged Prescott, whose Over 200,000 -civil servants went on strike land usage, transport policy, health and failure to get his department more on Friday 5th November over govern­ culture. Their funding - £500million in influence has severely weakened him. ment plans to cut as many as 100,000 the case of the North East — would No votes were strongest on the jobs. The strike closed museums and have been entirely reliant on Prescott’s outskirts of the region, seemingly disrupted f&hcentrcs, driving tests, consent. He would, as Secretary of reflecting a distrust of centralised benefit o&ke* and Customs. State, Kave had further powers to offer authority rather than the politician’s it i» estimated some 90%ot Inland extra grants in to encourage the new explanation that people don’t think a Revenue staff in Northern Ireland were political body’s co-operation. regional assembly would have enough cnr on strike, while only eight out of Effectively, this would have given influence. 140 of staff in the Department for Work Prescott near-direct control over several It is expected that Prescott and Blair and Pensions call centre in Liverpool areas of policy where local councils are will return to the drawing board, with turned up for work. Around 1 >200 currently defying him. commentators predicting a return to workers attended a protest march in Regional Assemblies would have little Unitary Authorities. London, which ended in a rally at Westminster Cathedral HaJL Elsewhere, driving examiners and staff for the Royal Paries also joined in on the strike. Never mind the ballots Mark Serworka, general secretary of ^ page 1 the Public and Commercial Services year”). This highlights the problem union (PCS) and part of the so-called curtail (or ban) any lifestyle they with statist democracy. Democracy is 4Awkward $quads of trade union leaders In brief disagree with or consider evil. In other undemocratic, little more than an said: *Ti»e strike has demonstrated the words, the ‘values’ rooted in obedience, elected dictatorship. Only a system strength of feeling among civil servants I Journalism doesn't pay Press freedom conformity and a fear of the different based on self-management can ensure who are prepared to stand up m defence 1 Regional reporters are being urged to Cuba has been listed as the second and a family based on patriarchy rather that people have a meaningful say in of public service*... We hope that the protest over wages this month, as their worst place for press freedom in the than the love between equals. the decisions that affect them. government will take note and begin to pay is among the worst in Britain for world, according to a world index Ironically it is the logic of the Economically, this means replacing the listen.” Gordon Brown said die protect professional work. compiled by Reporters Without capitalism which undermines loyalty semi-feudalism of capitalism with would not affect the government’s Mew research from the National Borders. and permanence and promotes a set of workers’ control. Politically, it means decision. Union of journalists (NUJ) has shown, Ahead of only North Korea, Cuba values that is destructive of family life. replacing the centralised, top-down that barely a quarter of journalists earn falls behind China, Laos, Iran and By voting for ‘moral issues’ or ‘family state with a decentralised, bottom-up Social workers march the same or more than the average Syria. The UK came 28th, with RWB values’ over the last few decades, the federation of communes. Similarly, Liverpool city centre saw a march of professional wage of £35,766, and citing Northern Irish paramilitaries as Christian right have done most to Bush shows that the majority is not 400 people m support o$ striking social nearly half earn less rhea the national rhe major contributing factor to our destroy them. Ultimately, though, this always right. Why should SI % of the WGfkem (see Freedom, 30th October). average salary of £26,151, poor score. was not about ‘morals’ (in whatever populate dictate to the other 49% , The strike, which has hern going on for The increasingly militant attitude of Although interesting in that it shows sense) but rather power and the fear particularly when the former want to eleven weeks but has received very te le NUJ unionises comes as the regional graphically the inability of State that oppressed classes, sexes, races and impose an authoritarian regime. In an press attention from local media? is not press struggle* to maintain m profit Socialism in Cuba to allow autonomy sexualities are freeing themselves from anarchist system, those communes a dispute about pay. margin* in the face of declining sale* ~ of thought, the index fails to equally the social hierarchy which places (rich) which wanted to live free would simply The workers are lighting cuts in staff prompting industry-wide attacks on represent corporate influence. white men at the top. Bush urges secede. Those who wanted to impose and reorganisation and the culture of working conditions. Whereas State Socialism has a very ‘unity*. When someone in power says their way of life (‘family values’) would buftyiflg from semor management, which Staff at Manchester Evening News easily measured effect on press freedom that, it translates as ‘do as we tell you1. be able to impose it on themselves and is thought to go right to the heart of (MEN) caved in to demands from -■ censorship is directly imposed * the The fact that Kerry lost in Ohio, no one else. Liverpool city council. employers that they increase their hours impact of corporate news media owners which had seen 232,000 jobs evaporate There is a pressing need to build an at the last moment last week, having and advertisers on press output is much and 114,000 people lose their health anti-parliamentary movement that can Spanish raifworkers strike initially struck for two days. more difficult to quantify. insurance during the Bush years, is stop them - as well as any other would- Kaiiworker* for the Spanish company MEN, part of the Left-wing Guardian in conventional indexing it would be incredible, be rulers, whether right, left or centre - ftcafc'AVL have gone on strike, against group, have brought out a series of difficult to catch every instance where But it is Bush who has been elected to and build the new world in the process. poor working conditions. The strike is different editions, forcing existing staff Rupert Murdoch (for example) sends the Presidency (for the first time), That means opposing the false values of predicted to be a very long* bitter and to work evenings and weekend* with an internal memo to his editors telling apparently fairly (although the role of the righr by showing the possibility of a hard fought one and the striking threats oyer jobs and pay. them to run with a certain angle on any the company providing voting machines movement inspired by the values of raxlworkers are requesting protest The scrapping of union agreements m given story, Equally it woukl be almost cannot be dismissed given that it liberty, equality and solidarity. It means emails* solidarity emails and financial the '90s has led to journalists losing impossible to pick out every example of contributes to the Republicans and its going beyond party allegiances and tomributions. p ay faster th a n any other professional a regional newspaper self-censoring head said in 2003 that he was building a social movement based on a taato yxKjfci be tent to press office at group. material about an important advertising ^committed to helping Ohio deliver its shared social position, love of liberty How ironic. client. electoral votes to the president next and visions of a decent society. News

Mission accomplished? The death toll in Iraq passes the 100,000 mark, but it’s all good for business, argues lain McKay

et’s recap. It has been proven colonial powers). It has caused immense conclusively that Saddam not ‘ suffering and death. It has not made only did not have Weapons of Iraq, never mind the world, safer. The Mass Destruction, he did not Bush Junta and its poodle have been al- have WMD programmes. It Qaeda’s best recruiting agent for ages has been proven conclusively (foreign fighters in Iraq have been that he had no links with 9/11 reported as joining Iran, one of two the or al-Qaeda. So much for the initialremaining lies ‘axis of evil’ states, in andL excuses for the war. What of the last preferring Bush). Nearly 400 tons of one, the one tacked on when the public explosives have been looted in Iraq simply refused to believe the others: the after US troops failed to secure them in so-called ‘moral’ case for war. their push for Baghdad. Given that this Given its hypocrisy, it was easy to site, A1 Qaqaa, had been listed by the dismiss. The long practice of US-UK CIA as a WMD site, this lack of support for dictators like Saddam concern shows how worried the Bush suggested that it was nonsense and Junta was about the truth of their own subsequent events have proven this to pre-invasion propaganda. And let’s not be the case. Now the real human costs forget that many of the nuclear facilities of the war are becoming known. were stripped bare too. According to The Lancet, the respected So, thanks to Bush, the most powerful British medical journal, the invasion high explosives in the world are now in forces (mainly the US air force) killed at hands of unknowns along nuclear related least 100,000 Iraqi civilians (most material. And the Bush Junta’s defence? reportedly killed being women and Well, it is to ignore all the evidence and children). This is significantly higher than blame either the Iraqi’s (or the Russians!) the Bush Junta’s first appointed ruler, some democratic election.” and left behind nearly 200 American previous estimates, based on media who spirited it away before (or during!) General Jay Garnery promised elections Garner was quickly replaced. His ‘experts’ to make sure its stays that way. reports, of up to 16,000. Little wonder the war or the troops on the ground (an in 90 days. But 90 days is not enough successor, Paul Bremer, installed himself Corporate America (particularly Bush’s the US forces announced that it would interesting take on ‘support our troops’). time to privatise a nation’s oil industry in Saddam’s old palace and cancelled supporters) was laughing all the way to not bother counting the numbers it Bush’s ineptitude and lying really does nor redraft its trade and tax laws. the scheduled meeting of Iraq’s tribal the bank. Mission Accomplished. killed — during and after the invasion. know few bounds. Annex D of the Plan Garner was leaders called to plan national elections Eighteen months later, US and UK So where does that leave the ‘moral’ So what was the real reason for this handed three months before the and appointed the entire government troops are still killing and being killed case for the war? Given that it is often war? An insight can be gleaned from a invasion stated lays out a strict 360-day himself. National elections would have to ensure that taxes, property rights alleged that Saddam’s regime killed recent report (‘Adventure Capitalism’, schedule for the free-market makeover to wait until 2005. More than enough and regulations are determined by US 300,000 civilians, this means that the www.gregpalast.com) by investigative of Iraq and so elections would have to time to lock in the laws, regulations capitalists, not the Iraqi people. Over US-UK have killed a third as many reporter Greg Palast (author of the wait. Palast quotes corporate lobbyist and irreversible sales of assets required 100,000 dead Iraqis? Over 1,000 dead, Iraqi civilians in a year and a half as excellent book ‘The Best Democracy Grover Norquist explaining that “the by the Economy Plan to make Iraq a free mostly poor, US and UK soldiers? Merely Saddam did in nearly a quarter of a Money Can Buy*). right to trade, property rights, these market paradise. Bremer issued exactly collateral damage in the pursuit of century. Even the 300,000 figure is Palast acquired a 101-page US State things are not to be determined by 100 orders to remade Iraq in its image imperialist interest. unconfirmed as, so far; only 5,000 or so Department document, entitled Moving persons have been found in the mass the Iraqi Economy from Recovery to graves Blair used to justify his war (graves, Growth, which was part of a larger incidentally, which date back to when under-wraps program called The Iraq Saddam was an ally to the US and UK Strategy. This plan for ‘liberated’ Iraq or to after the first Gulf War when the US was to completely rewrite its “policies, preferred him to a popular uprising). All laws and regulations.” The plan, which Maldives: a silent rebellion of which is hardly very moral, no matter had obviously been begun years before how you look at it or try to spin it. the war, aimed to impose a new regime hen you mention the Maldives to Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) which safeguard public property.” Pro-democracy The Lancet report is based on extensive of low taxes on big business, and quick someone, it is usually followed as of late has become more militant activists disagreed. “The entire reformist household survey research in Iraq in sales of “all state enterprises” to foreign W by wishes to go on holiday there. with aspirations of overthrowing the movement is in jail. They have not September of 2004 and, significantly, operators. It also included a program On the surface the small archipelago government, with some elements of the violated any law”, asserts Latheef, a excludes data from Fallujah (this was for toughening the target nation’s state looks like paradise, but away from party considering armed. dissident activist based in Colombo. because it might have skewed the copyright laws while removing tariffs the travel brochures, there is a despotic Since 1988 Gayoom’s regime has been Curiously Gayoom was still re-elected nationwide averages as it has been and slashing taxes. In other words, it dictator with an autocratic government under threat - initially from Sri Lankan in a referendum by a margin of 90%, subject to so much US violence - it is wanted to reshape Iraq as a neo-liberal’s where government oppression has caused mercenaries, which Indian commandos although his opponents claim this was being bombed now to soften it up for a and corporate lobbyist’s wet-dream. many to rise up against the state with put an end to, and later from its own due to the fear of the repression which future attack). While the methodology Blair, of course, insisted that the war calls for democracy and more liberty. people. Government repression was always results from a strong anti- of the study is strong and is the standard had nothing to do with Iraq’s oil (which Pirst off some background on the stepped up, and in January 2000 it was government vote. used in such circumstances (and was used explains why US troops managed to Maldives: it is a small country with a found that political opponents who stood The country continues to be in a state in Bosnia and Kosovo), it does involve secure the Oil Ministry and not weapons population of 318,000, its capital is Male. in the previous election in November of civil unrest and an official state of extrapolating from a small number and sites like A1 Qaqaa). The plan belies The Islamic nation is a post-colonial 1999 were illegally detained and had emergency remains in place following so could be incorrect. However, there this as it, to quote Palast, “leaves outpost of the British Empire. The current been tortured. While this attracted token anti-government riots in August of this can be little doubt that the numbers nothing to chance - or to the Iraqis” and head of state, and longest-reigning leader condemnation from the ‘international year. The regime was still reeling from killed are in the tens of thousands states that Iraq would have to “privatise” in Asia, is President Maumoon Abdul community’ no action was taken. this blow when many pro-government rather than around the ten thousand its “oil and supporting industries.” Now Gayoom who has been in power since In 2003 Amnesty International accused activists switched sides and now it appears formally believed. given that Iraq was meant to become a 1978. Maldivian presidents are chosen the Maldives government of political Gayoom could come toppling down. But So, in summary, the war has confirmed democracy, how was the Bush Junta in a yes-no referendum after voters are oppression, torture, arbitrary arrests and what would come next? No one can be the arguments of the anti-war movement. going to get this plan through when presented with a single candidate unfair trials. Later that year in September sure, but if the MDP manage to assume It was not about WMD or 9/11. It had few, if any, Iraqis would have voted for chosen by the Majlis (Parliament). The riots broke out across Male which leadership of the resistance movement it nothing to do with democracy or freedom it? Simple - do not allow them to vote president appoints the entire judiciary where sparked by the deaths of four will be another liberal state with a (after all, 18 months in and the Iraqi until it is a done deal. and the cabinet, leaving a State virtually prisoners. Many prominent opponents mixed economy unless the people can people are still occupied and have a Hence the delay in elections and the under the control of one person. The of the government were arrested. Gayoom find their own way to freedom. puppet regime appointed by the ruling occupation. Few remember now that main opposition is the liberal-capitalist claimed the protesters were arrested “to Chris Strafford Freedom 13th November 2004 5 Feature British anarchism We conclude our two-part interview on the impact of the great miners' strike on the anarchist movement

en Franks is a lecturer in Leninism became increasingly Social and Political synonymous with the revolutionary left Philosophy at the Crichton as a whole at the expense of more Campus of the University heterodox socialist movements. Class of Glasgow in Dumfries. struggle anarchism, which was He is the author of the antagonistic to this centralised form of forthcoming book Rebel organisation, gradually lost its influence Alliances: The means and ends of in the wider workers’ movement. For contemporary anarchism (Dark Star decades the surviving class struggle and AK Press). anarchist tradition, with severely reduced numbers, resources and From the 1960s until the strike you confidence, was reduced to tail-ending argue that British anarchism was Leninist actions, criticising from the dominated by ‘liberal3 anarchists rather sidelines. than class based anarchism. What is Even the language of class struggle ‘liberal’ anarchism and how did it come became identified with authoritarian to dominate the movement? What was socialism and the apologists for the impact o f its domination? totalitarian regimes. As Glen Rhys so By liberal anarchism I mean the anarchism memorably put it at the time: “The that develops from individualism. This more talk of class struggle the more division between ‘liberal* and ‘class Stalinist.” So it is understandable, though struggle’ anarchisms, dates back to the I believe jnistaken, for anarchists to nineteenth century. For instance in have completely abandoned class 1S85 Peter Kropotkin was asked by analysis and taken up the terminology Henry Seymour to work on Seymour’s of individualism, which at least individualist anarchist paper, but the presented itself as anti-authoritarian. partnership only lasted one issue as the area of disagreement between anarchist You suggest that there is a direct link communism and individualism was so between forms o f action undertaken by great. A year later Kropotkin set up his the miners and the growth o f what has own paper - Freedom. become known as the anti-globalisation There is no single factor responsible movement. You also believe that this for the decline of class struggle helped put anarchism centre stage in anarchism from its high points in the protests like the anti-roads campaigns Orgreave, 18th June 1984 late nineteenth and early twentieth o f the early 1990s. Can you explain? centuries to its nadir by the early There is a link, but it is quite a government’s ‘official’ figures. The that the battle against capitalism environmentalists, anarchists and 1980s: although the role of Leninism circuitous one, rather than one which is switch of production from relatively extended beyond the location of the revelry-raisers, the links between RTS does seem to be important in the directly linear that is to say it is not a safe British mines (an increase in safety workplace. The miners and the state and London Underground workers and fluctuating fortunes of class struggle matter of mechanistic cause-and-effect. standards that had come about through both identified the control of the roads even Earth First! and the NUM co­ anarchism. I am not, for instance suggesting that previous miners’ struggles) to the more as a site of conflict between commodity operating together in anti-open cast Prior to the Bolshevik Revolution the we can jump from a fairly localised lethal operations in Eastern Europe and transfer and resistance. The pickets’ mines campaigns, this is an area which revolutionary movement in Britain was (that is to say mostly British-based) the Far East can be considered a form movements were increasingly subject to is underdeveloped, and might provide diverse and fluid, with socialists of all industrial dispute straight to the more of mass slaughter sponsored by the state control, whilst the miners exciting opportunities. stripes often working together co­ geographically dispersed anti­ Conservative Party. It is this struggle attempted to obstruct coal movements There have been insufficient links operatively, for instance in strike globalisation movements. But there are against ever-worsening labour by blocking roads. The battle over the between workplace struggles and other support, in assisting refugees or in acts ways in which the dispute, certainly in conditions through global trade that roads, the function they serve and who areas in which those which dominating of solidarity (the Malatesta Release the British context, affected libertarian has been one of the rallying points of controls them became a feature of the power exercise control. If one of the Committee for instance). Class struggle movements, which in turn helped shape the anti-globalisation movement. major environmental and Reclaim the problems of syndicalist anarchism has anarchism was an important feature of the anti-globalisation movements. Third the strike was co-ordinated by Streets protests of the 1990s. been the pre-eminence given to the this revolutionary milieu. It was the If we think of some of the main the strikers and their families, not by Finally, despite the defeat of the workplace as the primary site for victory of the Bolshevik forces that gave features of the Miners’ Strike we can Arthur Scargill, despite the news miners’ campaign, the determination of revolutionary activity, then one of the Lenin and his particular version of see echoes that were later resonant in coverage of the dispute at the time. It their struggle and the large allegiances weaknesses of non-syndicalist class Marxist strategy incredible power anti-globalisation and environment was the pickets and their families and that were built up in support still struggle anarchism has been the low within revolutionary circles. He used battles a decade or two later. First, the friends that created networks of provide inspiring images of resistance. priority given to issues arising from the this success as validation of his Miners’ Strike was a fight against the support between them, and the groups These are still recycled in radical workplace, where, regrettably we tend methods. Lenin also had access to imposition of neo-liberal economic of supporters from outside the pit magazines today, see for instance Earth to spend so much of our life whilst Russia’s financial reserve (the infamous governance onto whole communities towns. These were often international First!’s Do or Die! and Class War’s awake (or in my case semi-conscious). 2004 calendar. ‘Moscow Gold’) to encourage other enforced by new laws that permitted too, with support coming from across Although I acknowledge the present the globe and involving many different revolutionaries to conform to his vicious application of state force efforts of the Anarchist Workers A number o f people including you have approved model. Revolutionary against settled communities. Second, identities, including the Black Trade Network, and in the past groups like Unions in South Africa, to gay and believed that links would be formed socialist groups were amassed into a the success of Thatcher’s government in the Trade Union Network of Anarchists lesbian groups in South London. These between industrial disputes and other Second International with Lenin’s plan breaking the strike was down in part to and the various occupational sections in links of solidarity cannot be predicted issues. While the Liverpool Dockers Class War (Class WarCW providing the political blueprint. Those the greatly developed international in advance, just as the anti­ dispute showed that such links are postal workers, health workers, etc.), groupings that remained outside were trading relations, such that coal from globalisation movement was made up possible there seems to have been no and also the syndicalists like Solidarity harshly criticised by Lenin, as his Chile and Poland (and now China) was of shifting alliances and networks of sustained growth in broad based social Federation (and the IWW) to rectify the political formula required only one able to replace lost domestic coal diverse groups, who on certain issues campaigns. Do you agreef situation - but none, to my knowledge, Communist Party for each country. As stocks. The cheapness of fuel was to be can find common ground and thus Again these broad generalisations are so far has made significant impact. I John Quail puts it in The Slow Burning measured solely in terms of capital create new forms of struggle, which problematic, but I tend to agree with guess I’m as guilty as many in this Fuse, those outside of the Communist costs, not the more important have been previously unpredictable. you. Although there have been a regard [the AWN has in fact recently Party, such as the anarchists, in Lenin’s consideration of human life. Around six A fourth feature, which was to have number of examples like the Liverpool folded - editors]. terms, “were not just wrong but thousand miners a year die a year, in resonance into the 1990s was the way Dockers involvement with radical ^ page 7, column 1 ioumer-rrvnl i ifi r»n a rv ” China, according to the Communist « Freedom 13th November 2004 Editorial Commentary

narchists were amongst the one empire battling against another for are considered at all) as the unthinking, as regular or well-known. first to recognise the benefits Miners ever, or until the human race destroys unengaged bunch of misfits that their Now I know that there may be a lot of the web as a means of A couple of comments on the first part itself. detractors are all to ready to dub them. of resistance to such a proposal. It would communication, propaganda, of the interview with Ben Franks about If we continue to ignore the psycho­ Alfred Todd involve some organisations working organisation and information. the miners’ strike of 1984/5 and its logical causes of the present disastrous more closely together and dropping Well before authoritarian relationship with anarchism (30th state of the world I fear that any action, some of the minor differences between left groups had a presence October). ‘direct’ or otherwise, can only add to Want ads them. For example, the SolFed and AF in cyber space anarchists were there Of course Freedom supported the strike the mess. Hey punx, do you want to part with would have to stop being divided over Aarranging and promoting demonstrations editorially, and Freedom Press also gave Francis Ellingham your old records/tapes/’zines or shirts? whether a (non-existent) syndicalist like 'Mayday through the web. Type practical help to the strikers. A group of I’ll pay you good prices for good union would be better than a (non­ ‘anarchist’ into Google and you’ll get miners from Blythe, Northumberland, condition items. existent) workplace resistance group 283,000 results, compared to 188,000 came to London seeking funds to support On religion Contact Clint on 07780 634884, and concentrate on what unites them for ‘Marxist’. Given how prevalent the their families, and set up a stall on the With Hindu fascism and religious [email protected] or visit (i.e. revolutionary anarchism). It would internet is in the life of many people today street outside Whitechapel Art Gallery. fundamentalism on the rampage in India, Aldgate Press. mean an outward looking attitude it has probably played a significant role They were not anarchists, but Freedom supporting the creation of a nuclear rather than the (often self-destructive) in raising the profile of anarchism and Press took the opportunity to support state and free market capitalism; with We’re looking for short (preferably inward looking mentality we, as a attracting people to our ideas in recent the strike in a practical way by supplying the Christian evangelist George Bush on under two thousand words) histories movement, sometimes express. It would times. them with accommodation. Freedom the rampage in his ‘war on terrorism’, of radical events, strikes, revolutions, mean, basically, creating a media for The internet is in fact particularly Press had three rooms (the building was affirming that he has God on his side in wars, etc., from a libertarian/working the movement we could have (and should suited to anarchism. Open, democratic, then shared with Aldgate Press). We his defence of ‘freedom and democracy’ class point of view for a people’s have). And it would mean objectively participatory, non hierarchical and cleared one of the rooms for use of the (i.e. global capitalism and US hegemony); history web site. looking at the movement as it is now generally out of the control of the state miners, who used it throughout the with another well known Christian, the Contact [email protected] or write to and seeing where it is wasting energy (although as the recent seizure of strike period to store the jumble they sanctimonious Tony Blair giving support us at enrager.net d o Freedom, 84b and resources in needless duplication. Indymedia’s server and the attack on collected for sale, and to sleep in. They to such corporate interests home and Whitechapel High Street, London Of course, this could be part of a wider the US based Raise the Fist site shows had free use of our telephone, which abroad; and, finally, with Islamic E l 7Q X. gathering of forces. The creation of a not completely immune from the state’s increased our telephone bill fourfold. fundamentalists thinking they have single anarchist federation to support attention). After the strike was defeated they went divine authority to oppress women and Rilindje Fara e Mire Bibliotek Projekt this unified media would make sense. So far so good but is the web becoming home and we never heard from them to murder homosexuals and unbelievers, (RLP) is a radical non-profit free This would involve creating a more a problem for us? I think it might be. again, not even a thank-you postcard, do we really need the pious Alfred Todd reference library in Tirana, Albania. If inclusive AF which drops some of its For some anarchists though posting on but that was never the point. preaching to us atheists about ‘tolerance’ readers would like to donate any controversial positions and language the web is becoming a substitute for At the the there was a regrettable split and on the virtues of religion? Religious radical printed matter, videos, CDs, (for example, who cares if it’s called a engaging with real politics. Go on any in the British anarchist movement, beliefs and rituals may offer ‘consolation’ etc., this would greatly help our union or a workplace assembly if it is anarchist discussion board and you will between the supporters of Freedom Press and spiritual ‘redemption’ to some people, project. We have no PC or internet for direct action and self-management?). read post after post after post. You will and associates of the late Albert Meltzer but since time immemorial religion has access so we feel very isolated. The opening of the SolFed’s Industrial notice that some people seem to spend [this dispute is now long over - editors], always given divine sanction to political Contact RLP(A)2, Postfach 256, CH- Networks to all rebel workers rather most of their day posting - it’s almost A historian, who relied on Meltzer and elites and tyrants, to all systems of 4142 Muenchenstein, Switzerland. than just SolFed members would also like an addiction. Some of the stuff company as sources, would find no inequality, and to all forms of oppression Roman A. Dogan for RLP-Albania make sense (and this would be the IWA that’s posted is rubbish, egotistic or self mention of our practical aid to the and exploitation - and still does. affiliate in the UK). That would complete indulgent (sometimes all three), a fair striking miners. I trust Ben Franks will Brian Morris I’ve been in communication with a united media. amount though is decent and some very take the opportunity to set the record Manchester AF about starting a In a nutshell, I think we should be good. Whatever the quality though it is straight in his forthcoming book. Having followed some of the correspond­ Federation here in Sheffield. We are practicing more mutual aid then we clear that there are plenty of anarchists The distinction between ‘individualist ence on anarchists’ attitudes to religion hoping to set up a meeting to discuss have been. If we do, I think we would spending a fair amount of their time on anarchism’ and ‘class-struggle anarchism’ (Richard Griffin, Terry, et al), I wish how to build here in Sheffield. reap the Benefits in terms of both a the web. Why is it that some people spend is largely a matter of words. All anarchists some of the antipathy had been better Contact [email protected] healthy and respected anarchist media hours posting but won’t bother writing agree that the purpose of society is to thought through. for more info. and a more dynamic and growing for the main anarchist newspaper? increase individual opportunities, that I consider that the main function of movement. Needless to say, those who Couldn’t some of those frenetic posters the chief beneficiaries of increased religion was originally - and for many think this is a good idea should plough give up a Little "of their time and help opportunities would be those who have still is - to help people manage their Anarchist media on and start the ball rolling. out? It seems odd that in less than a fewest opportunities in this society, and distress at the most difficult aspects of ^ page 8 There will be a meeting at the bookfair year 14,500 articles by 800 odd people that it is good for slaves and wage-slaves the human condition, from which none However looking at the other journals on this subject so please come along have been posted an enrager.net but the to rebel. of us are exempt. we could have, we are sorely lacking. We and discuss the points I have raised. Or movements main publications are Mistrust arises from the use of Even the most fortunate of us will have three magazines (Direct Action, perhaps we can discuss it in the pages struggling. ‘individualism’ and ‘class struggle’ in suffer pain and infirmity, and the death Organise! and Black Flag) all of which of Freedom. What happens next is in This wouldn’t matter so much if the other contexts. Self-styled individualist of people close to us. Our own death is do roughly the same thing. That is a your hands. web had replaced paper based sources anarchists are suspected of embracing also certain. In this, we are in no more needless duplication. Why have three There will be a meeting at the of information and propaganda but it the creeds of Thatcherism and ‘anarcho- favoured a condition than our earliest magazines with three editorial teams bookfair on this subject so please come has not. Despite early predictions capitalism’. Self-styled class struggle ancestors. when one magazine could be used to along and discuss the points I have people still like to read books, papers anarchists used to be suspected of There is very early evidence of the complement Freedom with more in depth raised. Or perhaps we can discuss it in and magazines, but as a movement we believing that Stalin was infallible, and dead being systematically buried facing articles and analysis? By combining into the pages of Freedom. What happens are struggling to produce and support are now suspected of embracing more the direction of the rising sun. It is one journal, we could increase its size, next is in your hands. these. recent variants of Marxist-Leninism. It convincing evidence of a people reaching print run, regularity and pool of Here’s another thing - the internet might save energy if anarchists were to towards an idea of the continuity, or available articles and people willing to H There's oneDIY spacelntfielUKi VU where yoti.ran.get-zipes like;. isn't real life. It is not a substitute for drop the secondary labels. rebirth, of that which they could not read and sell it. While I would prefer f?^SIug&iLettuce,PraffiReExistince, meeting people, organising activities in Donald Rooum bear to lose for all time. So, some sort the title of any such journal to be Black t Maximum Rock n Roll.Heartattadk,' local communities or whatever. For of ritual symbolism has been with us Flag, I’ve aware that Direct Action is and R.fiB.. jrfaac homlabkteliKei^^H the most regular of the existing magazines Broken Rekids, Active, Skuld/ Havoc, some people though J suspect posting for aeons. | Malarie, Flat Earth artd Mdraflmd3§JS on discussion lists has become their ‘Direct’ action Any critic who expects to be taken and it would be more sensible to build books from AKjPttos9. Freedom, Rebel Pr^ss, andmany othefs! idea of being active when in fact it can Your editorial on the Duelfer Report seriously on a significant aspect of on that success. be a distraction. The movement will (16th October) ends with these words: human behaviour or belief needs to As well as a single quarterly (or even The 56@ Itfoshop P v\ /'{ only grow and develop through human “Ultimately, to end imperialism we show some understanding of its monthly!) magazine, we could also do 56A Crampton St, S E v A * ^ function in the lives of those humans with a yearly (or more frequent) journal Elephant'& Castle, London V ' . J contact with real people not someone need to end the system which generates Open tmirt^Frl and Sat aftebioons« A! who glories under a clever assumed it: capitalism ... Only by direct action involved. It is difficult to take seriously along the lines of the old 'Cienfuegos WWW.safetycat.org/56i/ ^ web name. and solidarity in our workplaces and anyone — professed anarchist or Anarchist Press Review’, As well as The web’s a great tool and anarchists communities can we do that.” otherwise - who does not have a reprinting the best of anarchist writing are great at using it. The sheer volume Surely it isn’t only capitalism that proper regard for the universal human (both from home aud abroad) in the of stuff that is posted on sites like generates imperialism? There were condition, and the ways in which previous year, it could be the home of enrager.net though makes it hard empires long before the modern people have sought to cope with it. longer pieces on theory and history Quiz answers though to see the wood for the trees: capitalist system emerged after the professing anarchism being, perhaps, (whether classic reprints or new yeah their may be something important break up of feudalism. Even if we end one of them. material). This could be called Black 1. New Hampshire. It was originally said by buried away there about international capitalism, then, there’s no guarantee If the idea of an egalitarian, non* Flag (no surprises therel). American revolutionary war general John solidarity but I can’t be bothered to that imperialism will end with it. hierarchical society is to spread wide Then there is the pressing need for a Stark. plough through a plethora of posts Don't you think that both imperialism enough to mean anything in the world, free sheet for handing out at demos and 2. He replied that if she didn't shut up, about some ones favourite books and and capitalism may have the same root professed anarchists are going to have elsewhere. Free sheets are essential means someone else would be appointed as what they’d do if they won the lottery cause - rhe ambition to be top dog? to make common cause with a wider of getting our ideas across to people Lenin's widow. to find it. The urge to be or to identify oneself circle of humanity than their own hole- who then may be interested in getting 3. Ken Livingstone, currently elected Mayor I’m not suggesting we throw the baby with something great? ‘Great Britain* In-corncr coterie. In order to do so they involved in the movement. A free sheet of London. Formerly an elected MP and out with the bath water. It’s about for example? will need to acquire sufficient philo­ which is regularly produced and distri­ elected leader of the GLC. No change balance. Sure use the web but decide As long as people are conditioned to sophical depth to allow them to relate buted widely would raise interest in our there, then. whether the time you are spending on it regard this ambition us a great virtue, (o the common humanity of other human ideas immensely, Somerhing along the 4. He was sent, along with Stuart Christie, is really worth it. What else could you how can there be universal solidarity? beings as they find them. lines of the AF’s Resistance would be as a delegate from Britain, after a If they cannot manage that, anarchists be doing? Writing an article for Surely there can only be the limited the obvious choice, particularly as none nationwide anarchist conference in Freedom perhaps? solidarity of one class, one nation, or may increasingly be regarded (if they of the other federation’s free sheets are Liverpool. REVIEW BBC 2’s fascinating The Power of Nightmares documentaries offer nothing new, argues Tom Jennings

dam Curtis’s basic insight in media age. Further, given that the The Power of Nightmares ‘politics of fear’ require the routine is that similar moral exaggeration of threat, it was refreshing philosophies - decrying the to hear it stressed that the propaganda moral degeneracy of must not be swallowed by the elites - consumerism and the and that it’s the leader’s job to persuade godless absolutism of State us of ‘great myths’ in order for society communism - underpin the politics of to survive (and, coincidentally, for the Aboth neoconservatism (Bush, Reagan, elites to flourish). So much for the Thatcher, etc.) and radical Islam. ‘integrity’ of Bush, Blair and power Collaborating to repel the USSR from politics in general. Afghanistan, each interpreted success - In most respects, however, The Power including the collapse of the Soviet bloc of Nightmares was fatally selective, over B as down to them. Their divergent simplistic and tendentious. Clues were fortunes since have turned them into liberally (and literally) scattered through­ protagonists in the ‘W ar on Terror’. out in assertions about what ‘we’ do, Now that their promises of better lives ‘they’ think and ‘everyone’ believes - are no longer believed, the political constantly generalising its narrow focus elites can only offer protection against and universalising the positions of its evil, with society uniting in fear and comfortable Western middle class sanctioning whatever measures are primary audience. This is bourgeois fantasised to ameliorate it. N ot only the liberalism’s history as a ‘battle of big ideas’ elusive WMDs, but also Al-Qaeda, don’t at its cleverest and most interesting. But actually exist. Hot stuff for mainstream its ideology - like the forms of governance television (if that’s any recommendation). it inspires - is constitutionally unable The main strength of the series was its (in all senses) to acknowledge that the visual style and structure. Profoundly control and disposition of resources are enriching a rather dry narrative by central to political change. Thus neo­ weaving together archive news footage conservatism is best seen as the political with exccrpts from popular culture, this wing of neoliberalism, which demands editing technique parallels the form in that corporate market imperatives bound contempt for ‘the mass’ - felt by critique, The Power of Nightmares practice - both in internal functioning which information is encountered and operate" unhindered whether this be in liberal elitists as much as Marxist spontaneously reproduces the common­ and as by far the most conducive assimilated by ordinary people in the North America and Europe, the Latin intellectuals and their Leninist dictator­ place institutional process of presenting political environment. The Power of dictatorships, the thin veneer of secular ships, along with adherents of other an extremely narrow range of ‘loyal Nightmares could not make even this Islamic democracies or the modernised regressive fundamentalist religions. Its opposition’ as the only conceivable simple observation without exposing its barbarisms in Saudi, Iran, China and main claim to originality (in the title) alternatives. Curtis’ previous BBC2 bankrupt idealist premises. (f r e e d o m requires amnesia towards thousands of Eastern Europe. A hell on earth of series, The Century of the Self (2003), Curtis insists that ‘ideas shape history’. ANARCHIST BOOKSHOP increasing poverty, misery and suffering years-worth of the political mobilisations was very enlightening on the history of Why then did he have to, so artfully for billions of human bodies is all that of nightmares: the Crusades, Spanish PR and advertising campaigns, and and artificially, hermetically seal off 84b Whitechapel High Street neoliberalism can deliver, along with Inquisition, witchhunts; Stalinism and could hardly avoid some of the analysis these particular ideas from all their London E l 7QX lives wasted on trivial consumption in a McCarthyism; Nazism and racial of capitalism missing-in-action in The material, as well as ideological, context? shrinking proportion of ‘First World’ essentialism; nationalism, myths of Power of Nightmares. Better still, the On the surface, because he wants to tel/tax 020 7247 9249 populations. The series merely reproduces foreign contamination and cultural racism forthcoming feature-length film The present himself as so much more clever an alternative nightmare of cynical (or even primitivist ecology, political Corporation* understands its subject as liberal and knowledgeable than us poor OPENING HOURS reactionary pessimism. correctness and identity fundamentalism). exhibiting all the traits characteristic of mugs - and the BBC wouldn’t have Tuesday to Saturday Even in terms of ideas and idealism, The emphasis on fantasy, lies and psychopathy if observed in individuals. gone for the more accurate title: ‘A pair The Power of Nightmares was dishonest. mystification was at least thought- Of course, even the best of liberal of Right scares’. from 12 noon to 6pm Many influential twentieth century provoking in terms of how they get psychology is just as partial and www.tomjennings.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk critiques of Western popular culture away with it - not only in sidestepping compromised an interpretive tool as its Ymi cm alto um our stall order service were ignored, from Freudianism to the popular resistance, but in engineering philosophy — shown here in a voiceover * (Canada 2004, directed by Jennifer Abbott or ontor books online via our wobtlto. Frankfurt School to Christopher Lasch the appearance of collusion via voting musing that corporations ‘seek their and Mark Achbar - the latter responsible for www.freedompress.org.uk (The Culture of Narcissism), as was the and consumerism. Unfortunately, in narcissistic reflection’ in fascism. More the Chomsky documentary Manufacturing overwhelming tradition of tasteful class- cutting off the entire spectrum of pertinent is their commitment to it in Consent).

British anarchism

K page 5 breaking out, especially for those the workplace, at the football ground How do you assess the current state o funconnected to the region, the or in the arts, shopping or detention British anarchism? advantage is that as a result, it is also centres. It is about attempting to I MAG I NATION I hope you won’t think I’m being much harder for repressive powers to creatively redistribute power; generate disingenuous if 1 dodge this question. monitor and control. exciting and exhilarating ways of living, U N LEASH ED It's just that I don’t think there is an The rise of social centres (despite which in turn lead to further acts of overarching position in which any their potential for recuperation) seems liberation. This is not dismiss formal single person (or grouping) can judge an invigorating development. In tlie anarchist groups, indeed one of their anything as diverse and ever-changing multiform versions I’ve visited and main functions is to encourage the as anarchism in Britain. I'd be a bit used, from the more stable, semi- transmission of the organisational and dubious of anyone who claims to be in legitimate enterprises like the excellent tactical methods. The spread of these formal groups into geographical regions THE ANARCHIST such a position of judgement. In 1 in 12 (Bradford) to the transitory or parts of civil society where addition, the days of sustained mass squatted properties like the Okasional BOOK FAIR 2004 anarchism has largely been ahsenr mobilisations in single uniform parties, cafes (Manchester), they bring together would indicate a form of progress. So rather than coalitions over particular a range of community activists, the relatively new groups set up in issues, are (in Western capitalist environmentalists, cultural provocateurs areas not traditionally associated with countries) probably gone. The and provide amenities and points of anarchism, such as Hereford* and technological changes in the nature of access to those who do not identify as Bishop Auckland, could be considered work, such as the dispersal of anarchists. Anarchism is more than just about an advance. production have made mass SATURDAY 27 NOVEMB manufacturing centres rare in the UK, those who have identified themselves as ULU. MALET STREET, L * See ltttpi/ZflUB-blackenecl.ner/o USA, etc., so although it is harder to ‘anarchists’. It is about people taking www.mirchlstbookfal for details of Hereford AF. •pot when localised resistance is on hierarchical authority, whether in The Top Ten * * Anarchist media Half the Moproblem- lberc'z rtoge. But as the population increases, Jtoptnhlem. Altdmi Continuing our new series of reader- The next issue of Black Flag may be the world s people fe fflw s ife caused the unfair therr might be an absolute for everybody written lists, this issue we can divulge last one. This is not due to lack of are underfed distribution o f wealth. shortage in a few years' time. 1 eacsrt6 tetw0}X$m. the our Top Ten favourite Anarchist interest in the magazine. It is due to the and Socialist ‘Lightbulb’ Jokes. fact that the existing editorial collective, for pressing personal reasons, cannot 7. How many anarchists does it take to give it the time and energy required to change a lightbulb? maintain it. This should come as no None. The lighrbulb must change itself. surprise. It has gone from being quarterly All anarchists can do is help the process to being annual in the last few years. of self-change. Editorials have stressed the need for 2. How many anarcho-primitivists does people to get involved on some level, with it take to change a light bulb ? little success. Here I repeat that call. Thirteen: One to write a piece about how This lack of participation is, I fear, a Jto problem. (jiofat So you'll be coming on the AtoCttW* telephones oppress us. One to do a dance common problem with anarchist journals And agricultural land will demo against the unfair to the light god. Three to sacrifice a hill and papers. While many people are happy have less area as sea level cau sed by itto frf distribution of wealth ?? r. goat to the light god. One to critique the to consume a product (in the shape of a rises with global warming. bu&utffoM tfveL diffkU A ladder. One to smash the ladder. Two to paper or journal) and complain about build a fire underneath so they can see what it does or does not carry, fewer UOUAnONM. DRUGS what they’re doing. And three to engage seem to be willing to get involved in in ritual warfare with the authoritarian actually producing them. Which is a vanguardist bastard who was delegated shame, as without people willing to to call the electrician. contribute in some way (such as writing, / / distributing, selling, etc.) then the work a g -Z flM ii 2 3. How many Bakuninists does it take is simply handed to a few people who, to change a lightbulb? sooner or later, either get burnt out or One, but he must be Slavic - the inability find they cannot continue to do it. to form a strong government in Slavic This should not be the case as this history is proof that the Slavs are innately consumerist mentality is totally against decided that the two policemen, one free people, whereas the Germanic people what anarchism stands for. Anarchism A sideways look since promoted, had unlawfully killed Blast from flta are inherently autocratic. stands for mutual aid, participation, It looked for a while the other week as Harry Stanley. The Crown Prosecution 4. How many Trotskyists does it take ‘doing it yourself’. That should mean if a major menace was going to be taken Service will look at whether to charge the Past?53®^ to change a lightbulb? that anarchists should get involved in off the streets of London. Coppers from them (for the third time, don’t hold From Freedom of 26th November 1955, on the Only one, but they’ll swear the light glows their media, whether it is selling it on the SO 19 armed unit began a strike in your breath) and the officers were Pope's earlier Illness: brighter than if a Stalinist had changed it. demos or getting it into shops, writing protest at a couple of their members suspended. It has now been confirmed by the Vatican reports on what they are doing or being held to account for shooting a The reaction of the police was Press Office that the Pope saw a vision 5. How many middle-class dogmatic contributing articles on current events man carrying a table leg. A jury had outrageous. At least 20 officers from of Christ during his illness last December. Marxist-Leninists does it take to change or anarchist theory and history. Yet this returned a verdict of unlawful killing the Metropolitan Police specialist It appears, however, that the visit of Jesus a lightbulb? is not done as often as it should. I know on the coppers, leaving their bosses in weapons unit, SO I 9, have refused to was premature, because although the That’s a contradiction in terms - middle- that at times over the last year, Freedom the Met little option but to suspend carry their weapons in solidarity with Pope recited “In the hour of my death class workers can’t be proletarians, editors have noted a lack of copy (this them. This provoked outrage amongst their suspended colleagues and a hundred call me,” Jesus had not really come to therefore can’t be Marxist-Leninists. situation has improved) and a lack of their comrades who were disappointed others have asked to ‘voluntarily “take him away, but rather to comfort That’s clearly a sign of petty bourgeois help in doing the ‘boring’ administrative that their right to shoot had been withdraw’ from firearms duty. him, and, we think, to give him the revisionism! tasks necessary to distribute the paper curtailed. Though I imagine many of Now it’s fair to say that I support certainty that his hour had not come.” 6. How many anarchist-individualists or maintain the bookshop. As far as this paper’s readers will be sleeping nearly all industrial disputes, but this For this who might think that His does it take to change a lightbulb? Black Flag goes, we get better responses sounder in our beds knowing that they’re one is a piss-take. These coppers are Holiness was delirious in the crisis of One. from comrades in other countries for armed only with truncheons, CS gas effectively demanding the right to kill his illness, the Vatican press statement articles than in the UK. and their charming personalities. with impunity. Considering that the says that “The Holy Father is absolutely 7. How many Che Guevaras does it Yes, I know that the movement is not The gullible media was full of shock police have killed with impunity (Blair positive he saw Jesus. was not a dream: take to change a lightbulb? made up of ‘professional revolutionaries’ stories about how dangerous it would Peach, the miners strike, Cynthia ]arrett he was fully awake and lucid in that Just one but at the risk of sounding and does not have full-timers. And it’s a be if we didn’t have armed police on the and so many more) they are clearly moment.” ridiculous, I have to say that true light good job that is the case - we are (usually) capital’s streets. What would happen if used to getting away with it. Having bulb changers are guided by intense normal people trying to make the world a terrorist flew a plane into Canary Wharf lost in the court, they are trying to feelings of love. better and long may it remain so. But or blew up a train? Hmmm, armed cops intimidate victims’ families from 8. How many Pacifists does it take to correlated with this is the necessity of an weren’t exactly a deterrent in Madrid demanding the truth. 58,941,293 change a lightbulb? increased sense of personal responsibility. or New York, were they? Nor do they Now, in a normal industrial dispute Americans who voted for Bush None. Pacifists couldn’t change anything The simple fact is that without active stop gun crime. So what are they for? management are hostile, to put it even if they tried. participation our media will die. Harry Stanley, a 51-year old grandfather mildly. In this one, the next Met 234,086,278 So the question is, if you like Black had been having treatment for colon commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, wrote that 9. How many members o f Chumbawamba Flag and want to see it keep going cancer. He was unable to bend because he would “stand by” the officers and Americans who didn’t vote for Bush does it take to change a lightbulb? consider getting involved in it. You don’t his stomach was tender. On 22nd that it should be forces, not individual (source: CIA fact book population figures) Only one, but it doesn’t really matter need to be a writer, we just need people September 1999 he met his brothers to police, who take the blame for these since the music press will give them a willing to do the many tasks required get a tableleg repaired. He stopped in a incidents. He said that tackling gun bad review anyway. to produce and distribute any journal. pub, from which someone called the crime meant “fighting fire with fire”. The quiz 10. How many Proudhonists does it take police saying that an armed Irishman But this wasn’t tackling gun crime, it 1. Which US state has the motto ‘Live to change a lightbulb? The Future had just left. Shortly afterwards, as he was confronting an infirm 51 year old. Free or Die’? Three: One to change the lightbulb, one Of course, keeping Black Flag going was approaching his home, he was Now, a ‘strike’ where your manage­ 2. What was Stalin’s response when to declare that all lightbulb changers must does not address the wider subject of killed by two armed police because they ment agree with you and put pressure Nadezhda Krupskaya, Lenin’s widow, be equal and another to say that there what the anarchist media should be mistook a table leg in a plastic bag for on a government in thrall to the right criticised his actions? are ‘inferior races of lightbulb changers’ doing. I think it could do a lot better. a gun. wing press, is likely to be won. Even as 3. Who wrote a book called ‘If Voting and that female light bulb changers do One good sign is that Freedom has At the inquest in 2002, the notoriously I write this some deal is being stitched Changed Anything They’d Abolish It’? not deserve the same equality as male become, at long last, a proper anarchist police-friendly coroner Stephan Chan up which will see armed police, no 4. How did Paris *68 leader Dany light bulb changers. paper. Having a regular, good quality, didn’t allow the jury to consider a matter how reckless of lives, get Cohn-Bendit get to the International newspaper is a boon to the movement verdict of unlawful killing. The jury immunity from prosecution. Now why Anarchist Congress in Carrara in For future lists, please send in your ideas and and it’s a resource we should ensure returned an open verdict. Here began is it that workers who deserve to win 1968, when the ‘official’ movement contributions to our Copy address on page 2, continues and grows. his family’s fight for justice. Last month never get the same response? wanted to exclude him? or contribute on www.enrager.net/forums ^ page 6, column 4 it finally came, when a coroners court Svartfrosk Answers on page 6 SUBSCRIPTION FORM SUBSCRIPTION RATES r ~ 6 * < ~ inland Europe outside BANKERS ORDER FORM outside Europe Europe i Send to Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E l 7QX (surface) (airmail) Please return to Freedom, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E l 7QX ■ Freedom (24 Issues) half price for 12 Issues i □ Please start a NEW subscription to Freedom for..... issues j To the manager (your bank) Claimants 16.00 - - - Regular 20.00 29.00 0 Please RENEW my subscription to Freedom for..... issues 29.00 41.00 Bank name. 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