80 pH A N A R C H I S T NEWS AND VIEWS
www.froodomprofts.orft.uk 5 MAY 2 0 9 7 Private Equity’s rise and pall Freeport workers fight back Anarchist seeds in the snow Exclusive social centres g u id d INSIDE ►► page 3 page 4 page 5 p a g e s ASDA: PART OF WAL-MART SPY RING ollowing mi admission front US stewards in the GMB have been supermarket giant Wal-Mart that expressing increasing unease over. Fthe company ho* employed aomc Gaudie explained, “They have cameras of its estimated 400 Investigators to everywhere, They have cashless snack spy on groups who stand against them, machines where they give you a card enquiries by Vnwdiva have uncovered and can monitor what you buy and a similar story at UK subsidiary Asda. how long you are spending buying it. During the most recent major conflict They have recently brought in ‘RF Pick*, between Asda and on outside body* a where they have co-ordinates of where dispute between the company and the everything is and feed it through to you GMB led to bug detectors being deployed via a headset. They can monitor every by unionists during negotiations to avoid thing their workers do. They even surveillance by managers. track the 10% discount cards - they The clash, which last year saw n major have tried to sack people for giving conflict over whether Asda would them to family. recognise the unionisation of its ware **1 was in tt meeting of over 40 shop house sector, was one of the most stewards from around the country and acrimonious of 2006 and saw Asda it's all the same. They have brought the attempt to oust GMB from all of their new systems out at the depots. People buildings. Feelings ran high particularly are being turned more and more into in the Northwest. automatons, and people feel they are Eddie Gaudie of the GMB union said: being asked to do too much. Wc hnvr had creftawtu im a uumbei ol sites where rooms might be hugged, nnfl both through tachographs (which there were strong enough concerns that monitor speed, distance travelled, and people bought bug detection equipment . rest periods| and GPS |satellite) tracking. A couple of limes they did buy//, so we Under this ‘VEMIS’ system, if the were very suspicious. driver is oversew ing the vehicle they “When there was an adjournment and will be brought in. It is another covert we were discussing, there were concerns way of monitoring the drivers.” that when they were coming back in There arc fears that this level of some of their conversations were so information being held on the work close to what was being said in the force could lead to the ousting of low-performing staff - a process he having the wrong attitude, something views at work, mdiudir^r%§& break it was uncanny*M potentially troublesome workers. In a calls “removing the red”. which historically has been used to fraternisation* rule, ^ m c a w k r While evidence is yet to emerge of March speech, Asda*s chief ‘People The implication is that some of the help remove organisers. discovered that some of 4 9 9 the company using private detectives, Director* David Smith suggested the formidable surveillance equipment being Its parent company Walmart, the investigators, many m x& i aaeaesh s m high-tech methods of surveillance arc company should not only “hire on installed - entirely legally - could bea ultimate controller of Asda's attitude to the FBI and CIA, sad bees at mv & becoming standard practice across the attitude, not on skill”, but should use powerful means for the company to the workplace, have notoriously used investigate and assess dbt Awar company, something which shop every means in its disposal to oust divest itself of anyone it thinks of as investigators to enforce its puritanical activist shareholdersm ih c m o p an r POINTS ON YOUR FREEDOM i SQUAT MAYDAY!
he government hat announced a job offer, low skilled, students and r die time o f writing, the Squatted agreed so alkmr she u g o a o n s& eesar UK population change* timetable for the introduction of a temporary workers. Social Centre in Camberwell, for sax wntwfhr hoi reasons zm&r Nat Inward migration new 'pointi-baaed’ system for The plan will go through in stages, London, is being threatened with farfanamMc «o Acreicfaea, wwirimk T 2001/2______171,800 A immigration. being fully implemented by 2009. eviction. dcdtdtdso o le asip cnanr*. I he system, baaed on the Australian The single plan will replace a myriad 2002/3 153,400 Papers have been served and the They jnr grrereg wiprnhii .a drarw r and Canadian models, would give free of different procedures which have 2003/4 151.000 collective was taken to court on 1st for the ihrNrwg, iw peiu ^v -s m o g oo' entry to the rich, icirntitu and doctora grown up throughout the course of 2004/8 ______223,000 May - yes, Mayday - by the owner* ofeviction far a wfrir,, As rite wrmwfrrik while barring anyone without a •peulk recent migratory movements, which Nat grow th" the building. the space u. bossg uh«3 -as i m d as job to go to unit*** they are (mm the tlw government say will make 2001/2 208,200 The squatted centre only opened m possible* earn-mg o n mads m loreBy European Union, and demanding a decision»tti*king clearer and easier for 2002/3 232,100 March, in an old cafe. it had been program of events -‘TOr ana* e c financial bond from those with empty since last yeat; with no electric evicted* sooner or b a te * e m m immigrant* to understand. 2003/4 280,600 temporary work. However the empliasis on bringing and water pouring from ripped out sing datua? and cx&aar .smwramrr mso? 2004/6 375,100 ( here will be five 'tiara' within the in the wealthy and highly skilled has pipes, damp and dark, The place has for a* long as the agorae m wader o w Total growth 2001*06 ljOBS.OOO point* scheme within which people angered international NGOl, who say been done up, painted, plumbed, control. And then we will aceagar applying to work in the UK would lie it will speed up the movement of big electrified, and turned into a somewhere else!” categorised: highly *killedf skilled with money out of poor nations and ’ Office of National Statistics communal space tor use as a cafe, ban The building is also avaikofefc io r increase the ‘brain drain1 which has * ‘ Births against deaths plus migration meeting space and much more. It is other folk* to use, local or whenoaac. seen 50% of uni varsity dr vel educated run by a collective of people living “So drop in, check the place uoc 42re African nationals leave for the exploitative gangs taking large sums of fairly locally, some of whom are in the it whik itk there. I N N OO16-OA04 Northern liemisphrrc within five years money from workers in situations words o f one collective member, “Free space is fragile and hard to of graduation. amounting to indentured servitude, in Gypsy Lee, “long time South London hnd/hold in London. Help us keep this At the bottom end of the scale, site exchange for bypassing the controls. troublemakers and some more recent one as long as possible.” emphasis on only allowing worker* The new rules look likely to reverse arrivals”. into the country if they are from the ‘trickle-down* effect which The owners of the building and the For more information ring the Cambemeli V0l 6H Europe or have a job to go to is currently see* a large movement of neighbouring ones want to knock Social Centre on 07962 469758. chew w* No 09 tluuiglu likely to rnggei u massive money from short-term workers In the them down and build yet more over the website at 56a.org.uk/warham.htinl or jncraiia in people trafficking, with NS page 6, column 8 priced flats. The owners originally emaflbtacfcfrogietphabetthfeaus.tik 2 Freedom 5tri May 2007 Home and away
BAE adm its spying EH BA£ Systems have admitted paying a private investigation agency to gather information on activists and groups including Campaign Against Arms Trade Around the world (CAAT). BAE paid £2,500 per month ro LigneDeux Associates, whose agent CANADA: Striking First Ontario Credit body the ITUC has presented direct sack protested outside the company attended by over 80,000 people. The Paul Mercer passed information about Union workers have no regrets after they evidence of collusion between Colombia’s offices before moving to Roissy airport 1,600 workers are being represented CAAT to BAE’s Director of Security, occupied the company’s East Mountain notorious DAS Security Agency and where they protested at the Lufthansa by the UGT (general workers anion) Mike McGinry. branch and padlocked the doors to try paramilitary death squads in the check-in desks, Lufthansa is the former and the workers’ commission. They BAE insist that they expected Paul to get the financial institution back to murder of at least seven trade unionists owner of LSG. have complained that as the owners Mercer to operate within the law, but the bargaining table. since the early 1990s. are in America negotiations are he has now admitted providing them Hamilton police smashed the glass on The DAS- (or ‘Administrative IRAQ: A new report by Amnesty difficult. However the owners must with a legally privileged document a door to gain entry to the Queensdale Security Department’) is under the International has highlighted a rise in care abour their assets in Spain and internal to CAAT. This document and Upper Sherman Avenue branch to direct authority of Colombian President the number of people executed in Iraq the workers control those, with total concerned the impending judicial review end the occupation an hour after it Alvaro Uribe Velez, and has recently by the new democratic government, closure planned it is unlikely that even of the Serious Fraud Office decision to began at 3pm on 19th April. been the focus of similar revelations making it the fourth most prolific (soon to be former) management would end an inquiry into BAE’s arms deals About 70 members of Local 343 of which have rocked Colombia’s official killer in the world. stand in their way. wirh Saudi Arabia. the Canadian Office and Professional political establishment. Under the government of Saddam The owners are planning to move | | i | Employees Union (COPE)' have been on An investigation by the Attorney Hussein, die death penalty was applicable production to Poland, to take advantage Derail Gatwick express strike for six months over such issues as General’s Office (‘Fiscalia’) has revealed for a wide range of offences and was of lower labour costs. Certain they’re just not locking up sick pay, benefits and language protecting that the DAS apparatus has long been used extensively. enough foreign migrants, the Home full-time positions. Negotiators from pursuing a policy of secret monitoring Following the US-led invasion of Iraq, WORLD: The International Olympic Office - soon to be split into die far more the two sides met Tuesday but there and observation of legitimate trade union the death penalty was suspended in Committee has received a UN Environ sinister sounding Justice and Security was no resolution. activities and in particular of union June 2003, but was reinstated by the mental Award for its work building departments - are planning to build yet Valery Gavey, who worked in the leaders. The new evidence includes the Iraqi Interim Government in August enormous, bloated sports arenas which another detention centre, this time credit union’s head office above the provision to die investigation of a list 2004. Since then, more than 270 people have required the forcible clearance^ handily located away from prying eyes, branch, said the firm had pushed the of 22 union leaders and one union have been sentenced to death and at large areas of London, Beijing and actually inside Garwick airport’s fence. workers into such a drastic move. Ten advisor, who had been specifically least 100 people have been reported Barcelona among others. The whole immigration system is managers were in the branch, and identified by detectives from the National executed. The IQC accepted the Champion of orientated to the removal of migrants, though they were told they could leave, Intelligence Directorate. Seven of those During 2004, no executions were the Earth Special Award from the United whether they seek asylum or not. Of the none did. There were no customers inside on the list were killed following their reported; at least three men were Nations Environment Programme 2,966 places currently available in the when the strikers padlocked the doors. identification by the Directorate. executed in 2005. There was a rapid (UNEP) as a recognition of the IOC’s Immigration Detention Estate, 2,065 are “We’ve tried everything,” said Gavey,- ITUC Human and Trade Union Rights rise in executions in 2006 with ar least work in the environmental field. in ''Removal Centres’ (privately-run who was greeted with hugs, losses and :, Director Janek/Kuczldewicz called on 65 people, including at least two women, A UN representative said: “We have prisons in all. but name) with a further cheers when she walked out of the branch the international communiry to step up reported to have been executed by asked them to place the bar veiy high, 588 places in-Removal Prisons (managed and into the arms of other strikers and pressure on thp -Colombian authorities hanging. These figures place Iraq and are challenging them with strict by the Prison Service). about 70 supporters from other unions, joproperiyuOTe^gate-die more.than among the countries with the highest criteria to be respected.” The new centre, recently given approval such as the 2,000 killings of trade unionists, over numbers of executions reported in 2006. The Olympics in Beijing saw die from Crawley City Counolywill have Canadian Auto Workers. destruction of huge swathes of residential ' pteces'for over 400 more migrant?: ^Firsr"ontanoxsreai^am55^r«wenr areas and the displacement of 1.4- - and chief executive officer John Lahey million people during the constucnoc Anti-road arre sts said he wax disappointed. FRANCE: LSG^Cate-Gourmet workers*: SPAIN: Workers at the General Motors process. In the upcoming London Eight people were arrested during a threatened with dismissal as the manage snbcontracton Delphi, in Puerto Real Olympics, a large section of Hackney protest against work to widen a COLOMBIA: In an explqsiyenjew’mpprt ment attempt to wind the company up have gone on strike in protest at the Marshes, of the few remaining green stretch of the M l motorway in South submitted tQltfie International Labour' tdemoHstea'ted on 4th April. planned closure of the factory. habitats in the city, is to be concreted Yndcshire. Organisation (ILO), international union -Manvi.of:A'e8'x3«workers faring the -A march earlier this, month was over as part, of the building works. The group of Climate Camp activists had tried to stop work on the M l : widening scheme between junctions 31 and 32 by locking themselves to machinery. Three women and five men were P r io n new s arrested on suspicion of committing public order offences and later released against a legitimate prisoner support on bail. John Bowden’s and ABC not. The murder victim, Joan Albert Trish and Sue: Suzanne Taylor, TM7154, HM? organisation. To characterise the ABC Campaigner Lucy Wainwrighr said, . John Bowden is a long-term prison was found: dead -in the hallway of her Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, M£13LU- ,as ‘para-militaryf 'or ’eco-terroristi is "Tony Blair has claimed that the resister who has spent most of his life home, having been killed in the: early Teresa Portwine, TM7153, HMP Cookham quite simply the basest of lies, and government is taking climate change behind bars, including^ years of a hours of 16th December 2001. Hall Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME13LU. seriously but billions of pounds of 'Life’ sentence. After being moved to something that needs to be strongly bad been out drinking with friends in ’ taxpayers’ money is now being wasted ■‘open’ conditions last yean and being challenged. The' visit Stillman refers to Ipswich and had an alibi. for most New anim al rig h ts prisoner on a scheme that will do nothing CO let out for fortnightly home-leaves, the was a visit to John by two members of the night and early morning, accept- ' Wayne Bunch has been sentenced to 13 ease congestion but will increase indications were that John would be Brighton ABC, the period between?S-.30am and months for sending two "abusive and emissions.* : released on licence this June. In the Please write urgently to The Parole 6.15am. The prosecution contended threatening’ letters to employees of past rite weapons John has faced are Board for England and Wales, Grenadier that after driving to a house to drop a the Hall family, who bred guinea-pig* " Sefectfpfi (he boots and fists of prison guards, House, 99*105 Horseferry Road, London friend off in Ipswich, Flail then drove for vivisection, Wayne was convicted Workers at the ^electron Cwmcarn years of isolation, constant transfers, SW1P 2DD, England, fax; 020 7217 to Cape! St Mary and parked his car after his DNA was matched to envelopes factory m South Wales have staged a treatment often amounting to torture. Oil#, You can e-mail the Chairman of dose to Mrs Albert’S home. At his trial, used to send the letters in July 2003. sit-in upon the arrival of the company’s Now, as John should be preparing for the Parole Board, Duncan Nichol at die jury was told fingerprints, footprints Please send letters of support to: Wayne . European Vice Presidenr. release, he faces the lies and calumnies [email protected] and DNA evidence found at the murder Bunch, VB7189, HMP Birmingham, Winson The company announced at the end of a right-wing prison social-worker. In a further development, John Bowden scene did not march Flail’s. But detectives Green Road, Birmingham, BIS 4AS. .of March that-ir would dote the factory This individual, Matt Stillman, is has now been returned to ‘closed believed fibres from black trousers m South Wales, making 150 pcoplc .attempting to block John ’s release by conditions'. He is in urgent need of found at the scene, in his car and in a Police antifascist dragnet red un da n t, many having worked there highlighting his contain with the solidarity, and we urge all readers of cupboard at his parentis home, tied him Police in Pctcrshcld have launched a tor more than 25 years. Selectron has Anarchist Black Cross, and vilifying ir Freedom to send him a card or letter, to the murder This is disputed by Hall’s person-hunt tq capture whoever is already reduced the workforce from as a terrorist organisation. enclosing a few stamps or a postal family, who say he never wore such responsible for the current wave of ' 706 in the past five years, and. sept many ' In an official reporr, dared 12th order (either left blank or made payable trousers and was wearing blue ones on anti-BNP activity in the town. According contracts overseas including one last March 2007, Stillman states: “Bowden to ’The Governor’) if at all- possible- the night of the murder. co Petertfield Today, during the Easter year to Singapore. has written for a self-proclaimed John Bowden. 6729 , HMP Qenoctui, King O'Muir bank holiday weekend “shops and businesses throughout the town anarchist webs!te called ABC Brighton, Boao, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, FK10 3AD. Mark Taylor discovered small stickers on their Plymouth indy? . and says he supports many of their Mark Taylor, recently sentenced to a property with a message denouncing An initiative has begun to put together ideals and actions- A review of this | Doubts raised in murder case Draconian four years for organising the BNP and an image of a Nazi an Indy media group in Plymouth. website firings into question the nature New evidence has raised doubts about animal rights demonstrations, is still swastika”- PC Duncan Gordon of the A volunteer said: “J have abour ten of dus group. The members of this group the conviction of an Ipswich man, jailed not getting a proper vegan diet at Heady under-worked Pctcrsneld police people already interested, but we need appear to be primarily eco-terrorists or tor murder in 2003. The key evidence Belmarsh, a prison which refuses to said Aar anyone with any finonaarioB more ro get dungs off the ground. If para-military members involved in what against Hall was fibres linking him to recognise the Vegan Prisoners Support anyone is interested preferably email they see as battles against political che crime scene, but Dr Peter Bull, a Group. should contact them. "Technically nr is : me at tullo ffiimselhtPhoamil.com. 1 systems-and principles.' This statement lead mg forensic scientist, round that if Letters or support to Mark ac MarkTaytoc linering,” he said “Ir seems so be anti- wapt io ger chingirgoing.ASAP so if ' is quite clearly not only an attack on they had been worn by the killer, who TT6636, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, BNP and them'sure going to be some you are ttB*reucd please contact me John Bowden, bur a vicious smear, entered through a broken window, they Thaniesmead, London, SE28 0UB. people who are offended by it." soon!” without any foundation whatsoever should have contained glass but did Also please don’t forget Mark's co-defendants compiled by Mark Barnsley Rob Ray looks at the recent manoeuvrings of Private Equity and asks what relevance its growth may have
■ n scenes remmixent of the '80c pre However the rise of the ‘club buyout’ I stock market crisis, » major row has in (he last 4-5 years, where several major ■ blown up o ver the attempted Private funds buy in to reach for larger targets, Equity takeovers ,of high-street grants has recently seen some of the biggest §atnsbury°s .and Boots.. companies in the world targeted. While unions .and some sectors o f ,Salisbury's and Boots are just the tip the Ealb.ojn patty haye attached what of a very large iceberg. Other major [they see as a rapacious reawakening of buyouts in the last few years have asset-stripping for the monthlies, Private included the AA, Debenhams, and the Equity groups have hailed it .as perhaps largest yet, TXU for $44.5bn. the next step in providing greater The sector has grown at a stunning efficiency through competition. pace, nearly doubling from $112.5bn private Equity takeovers occur when invested in 2004 to $215bn invested management teams hoy out publicly last year, and an estimated $400bn Jis.ted companies and take them off the war-chest for further buyouts. One in Stock market as private entities. The five workers in the UK are now under most (Common use of this system for the control of some form of private profit stems from the ’70s when business equity. tycoons developed 'the flip’, where a Unions have launched an attack on management team takes over a company, the sector following a brutal fight at aggressively attacks wages and jobs to the AA, where unionists accused the ‘cut away fat5, then sells back to the buyers of gutting the business by selling market in a three to fiye year cycle. buildings and then leasing them back, The flip is achieved through what is outsourcing personnel and where that known as a ‘leveraged buyout’ where wasn’t possible, simply cutting staff so the massive funds needed to take over roadside coverage was compromised. large companles-are loaned by AfeBebenhamS: (h e jnmpanv has and investors, and secumawitntneassets' posted its third profit warning after of the company being bought out. being taken public, as the company The practice reached its zenith in the struggles to shrug off underinvestment ’80s when major takeovers were and cuts. Unions are accusing Private attempted by firms later labelled ‘the Equity of continuing the same cycle of asset strippers’, for their practice of the ’80s. EUROPE’S LEECH-LORDS AND LADIES: 1. UK chair of Barclays Private Equity Tom Lamb; 2 .3i chair Baroness taking healthy companies, selling their Private Equity, and much of the H o g g (ex-Independent editor and public policy advisor to Blair); 3. Dominique Senequier, Chief Executive assets, firing much of the workforce business press, say otherwise. Quoting O fficer of AXA Private Equity; 4. Ronald Cohen, chief exec of Apax Partners; 5 Guy Hands, Terra Firma chief and then selling back a shell to the a report by the Nottingham University executive; 6. CVC chair Mike Sm ith (we were unable to find a picture o f Smith, who is notoriously publicity-shy, public markets. centre for buyout research, they point but his company is the one which bought out the AA, Debenhams and the com m ercial rights of Formula One). The Private Equity market died down to evidence that while initial cuts do take in the ’90s, as mega-mergers placed many place, it is a precursor to expansion by employment comes from, or what form after the flip is finished. One in eight sector is a clear and present danger to of the big players beyond the reach of the leaner companies that emerge. it takes. It also fails to say where the firms go to the wall. workers, as a model which diverts even major private equity groups and However the centre, which was initial cuts take place, or to mention the The union drive looks set to be a massive assets away from wages and confidence dimmed in the risks of founded by Barclay’s Private Equity effect of asset sales. It does mention the flash in the pan, demanding only that employment towards the ultra-rich, investing during an economic downturn. Ltd., does not mention where this new bankruptcy rate of leveraged buyouts private equity be taxed more. But the and produces nothing. TUG plead for union deals Solfed conference
ew figures showing a continued unionism is adapting to the market. bureaucrats that they should want t the end of April the Solidarity Workers’ Initiative was formed at the fall in union membership, However the increase in female to get further into bed with the Federation (Solfed) held its conference itself. In addition the launch N particularly in the south, have membership is relative, as it declined employers. A national conference. One of the of a network for SF students/youth is prompted a call for radical changes by 0.2% compared to much faster “This is one of the reasons that attendees, Keith, reports: planned for later in the year. from TUC chief Brendan Barber - he male losses. their membership is dwindling. It was good to see old comrades and Network members were brimming wants bosses to volunteer to unionise Barber said unions were “running Workers feel an appalling cynicism new faces from all of SF’s locals, as with ideas about what can be done their workplaces. hard” to keep membership stable, and when it comes to the unions. Where well as to have talked with observers today, instead of awaiting some Following years of decline as union that growth was a priority. He said: I work, colleagues respect the local from the Spanish CNT, Italian USI and spontaneous emergence of an alterna militancy has died, and the rise of a “The continuing success of unionised rep and the branch officials. When it from the IWA secretariat based in the tive to Labour betrayal and TUC whole new generation to whom union companies such as Tesco, shows that comes to the union bosses though, Serbian section, the ASI. An official reformism. There was an understand membership is an anachronism - in employers have nothing to fear from they have nothing but contempt. We observer from the Anarchist Federation ing that the theory and practice of the Eastern and South-eastern region constructive relations with unions.” don’t believe chat it is possible to was also present. solidarity, mutual aid and direct membership for 16-24 year old males The deal Barber refers to, between reform or capture them. At the Grizzled veterans and newcomers democracy have to be implemented now, was so low it couid not be accurately Tesco and Usdaw, has been heavily same time we know that union alike brought informed comment as a means to win current disputes, as measured - 6.6 million unionists criticised for undermining union meetings do provide a point of and fresh ideas; differences of well as to build the organisations of equals half pre-Thatcher levels. independence, and has infamously contact and a place where we can opinion were honestly aired, before the future. The 0.6% fall nationally is the seen the union support attacks on sick discuss activity. consensus was reached on a range of As anarchism rests upon organisation largest since 1998, and follows a pay rights rather than take on their “We always try to express the morions. we must do more, and use more series of high-profile disputes which major backer. need to extend and spread the The most important debates innovative methods, to get our ideas saw union bosses capitulate to It sees Tesco hand out recruitment struggle beyond the confines that surrounded our industrial strategy, across and to stress the importance of government and private sector leaflets to new employees, help wirh the union bureaucrats set. This move, which aims to build networks of like- membership, structure and co pressure over wages, privatisation of recruitment drives and provide help to getting even closer to the bosses will minded militants in their respective ordination. To those anarchists outside services and pensions. union reps. make this even harder. It will weaken sectors, as a step towards the forma of national organisations, we ask: How in response to the findings, the TUC Bob is a member of the Anarchist militancy and strengthen capital. We tion of anarcho-syndicalist unions. is the new society to be built? How is praised its member unions for slowing Federation, which claims unions are must oppose it.” The Education Workers’ Network is the new economy to be created and the rate of decline and pointed to by their nature part of the management up and running with a new issue of run? It will take sustained organisation evidence of increasing female structure over workforces. He said: Also see comment, from Tony of the IWW, on Education Worker now available. and planning. Serious about anarchism? membership as an example of how “It’s absolutely typical of the TUC page 6. Meanwhile the Health and Care Join the Solidarity Federation. y News
Papuanratrikgand win
Despite nepr-pivil war in Papua New Guinea, workers have other priorities! fin d sfS a m Urouhart
orkers employed by mining ’ muiunauonal-Ijreeport Mcl^ofiaircJ rupiah offered to Grasberg workers, Win the Indonesian province of West Papua struck from ISrh to 21sr 3 .6 million. Pigome also threatened to April, gaining a lOO^^ ^ ^ e ^gn^easg’ j :^BtiWi9W>toejMa4rf^^^B®dfith. <|3g^ among oth^-coi^es^oi^5S •' |mdfe:if''Aeir’ d^hW ds^^^|piaS|KAi- Six thousand workers at Gras berg, although in the face of military and the world’s second largest copper and gold mine, siowed production - resulting in estima ted losses of S11.32 million for the New Orleans based company. struck at Grasberg itself, Tongoi Papua also organised protests in the regional the main -group: iBVoIvdd spectacular.increase. They could have and Freeport representatives, where increased it years ago, but they think only how to profit themselves.” vehicles, 200 police and soldiers armed The settlement will result in an increase in the wages of the lowest paid . workers arthetnineto^SMl; per mondu ^■^ztowsvaiy 'l&ngordlzpLi^^riaci liiitfaiiy ife. I ’fttkfiH rahM-Wemandsicffiaigg.^age ipereasesj better pensions, worker representation Despite the intense military and non of Papuans on the workforce of strike when their calls for talks with ■Hy/jnrine. ■ iqif yrtifair and discriminatory l Out of the 9,000 employees at Grasberg, only 3,000 are Papuan, was reported against those taking part, giving rise to charges of discrimination an internal Freeport memorandum was around the Grasberg mine. in March, while indigenous protesters ‘challenging’ conditions for mining p. leaked to the Reuters news agency on the companies. Mines have been working people. Freeport officials have only Goro nickel project since its inception, pa:^S3^%^^r?e^^n'dEag their said that they will begin a feasability executives described the strike as the world. Zambian workers struck in ! yi" *?ar; leaver this year; children could have and bank accounts. Scott Kennedy, ccusations of nepotism towards the appointm ents o&lRobin Cleveland and returns arc due in April. The IRS . been provided with free health the World Bank President, Paul •TSeyiu Kellems, also Bush administration flsaernal hievenue Service) will for Nonviolence (in Santa Cruz) and ©staffers; They ;obtained cop;aide positions Ktake in something close to 52 trillion Iraq war and the national debt could this yean almost 40% m which will go have been halved. According to spring meetings in Washington. Three of the top five outside inter- to the military according to the Pamela >. ha ving his sal ary red uced in this The Bank is facing an increased crisis natiOual appointments during ’Wolfowitr’s National Priorities Project. Specifically director at the National Priorities According to Benri, here are people ■ re® thel were ^hior-pohricalappointees 27% of all taxable income will go ro •* Projca, rwenry rimes more is being who j ust don’t influence on appointments and pay rises. S^ight^iuggovethin^ts who tove current military spending; 9% towards spenr on hbtf nwljrajcy than an jneetisg Syyjjsjp at all; they never fill in the A Bush administration ^RShit^eif)Q$ rhe’’" bgcked- US policy in Iraq, paying off debt from pair wars and Americans’ basic needs. forms, they don’t file income tax Iraq wati Wolfowiu’s move ro the Bank- r ^olfpw itz has come, under additional 3% for •veterans4, These are the . Ruth Bcnn, Coordinator of the returns and stay out of the system in 2005 was viewed with concern by ; fire appointment of Bank general highest rates since World War Two. . National War Tax Resistance o f ^ e y aiahyi- ■ ^ e s^ le o u n c fl ;Amna Palcio, and Bank’s. Bui there is practical opposition; taxh . ^oewdinariny fyimwnrw taxable income or not. Encouraging. The disclosure of his role in securing Managing Director Juan Da.boub. resistors nationwide plan no withhold how she refuses to pay: '1 fill out the ^f^^:enaaE;repen.dy leaked to; the press part or all of their taxes in protest aj tax form and show the balance due. I ,•' In another deveiopsnegF-oh!^ ••• the White House and a $60k pay rise the war on iaoj. - aorualiy do pay into Social Securiry, ^ - carried recently in these pages and •» from $132,660 to Si93,000 - has jj^^dtSoeS s^-fiBhly planning” firomthe |! and t «a-»r«, a>)H jy a) tiA yfc. with relev an t to the Asda spy story in only increased dissatisfaction. Riza, paid country assistance proposal for for what the Iraq war has cost, .frdnral inno^* pty rhar ? t ‘Anarchist seeds beneath the snow' misses out some major libertarian writers, but provides an excellent background, finds Richard Alexander ■ irstly some words of some small involvement with Spain clarification. Of the eleven and the World and the Sacco and I featured authors, only six Vanzetti defence. I can be properly counted as (One looks forward to reading anarchists: Edward David Goodway’s forthcoming edition ( Carpenter, Oscar Wilde, John of the Powys-Goldman letters!) That Cowper Powys, Herbert said, I’m not sure I shall be tackling I Read, Alex Comfort and Colin Ward. his lengthy novels, and his more Of the other three, George Orwell philosophical works are not top of my never described himself as an must-get list. 4 anarchist, Aldous Huxley and Other than Powys, lam sure most Christopher Pallis are at best readers of papers such asFreedom, ‘anarchistic’, and E.P. Thompson and will be aware of the other authors, William Morris were very much although I suspect that people such as 1Marxists, albeit of the libertarian Herbert Read are considered rather / shade. The sub-title is therefore out-of-fashion these days, and even necessary to show the wider scope of Alex Comfort is little read (even if his the book. picture books on sex remain very Secondly, although these are the popular). Aldous Huxley’s novels, featured authors, the book is not apart from the obvious Brave N ew I exclusively about them. You will also W orld and possibly Island are rarely find substantial discussion of writers read and Herbert Read’s work on art such as Nicolas Walter; Eric Gill, has been superceded, whilst his George Woodcock and Peter Marshall, advocacy of Education through Art, Carole Pateman and April Carter with whilst essentially libertarian, seems to walk-on parts for many others, which stand little chance in these days of ' help to situate the work of the main national curricula, testing, league writing an introduction to Tom Bell’s David Goodway summarises the fact that most have produced little authors and describe the political and tables and the like. Christopher Pallis Wilde without Whitewash manuscript. contributions each writer makes to an explicitly political prose works. social context in which the authors (or, Maurice Brintou as, many wilt ■ Powys (and Gyltimanj pro vine the link overall anarchist politics: from Equally one might have liked more worked. know him) I’ve discussed elsewhere, between the late Victorian writers and Carpenter; how the simplification or mention o fBrian Morns|wnona^™ Thirdly, this is not an account of a comes across as the most ‘engaged’ those who came to prominence after life and sexual liberation can effect written extensively on anthropology movement or of the activists within it. writer in ‘industrial’ terms, whereas the First World War. Herbert Read radical social change; from Read, the from an anarchist perspective, plus his It is a study of writers first and Colin Ward’s contribution to the was involved in support work for the need for liberation to begin in the works on Bakunin and Kropotkin. A.S foremost, with a detailed discussion of national debate over housing, Spanish anarchists with Emma classroom; Huxley brings Neill might also have been worth their written works, albeit from a transport and planning issues is Goldman and became involved with decentralisation, alternative technology further discussion, but his works are political (indeed explicitly anarchist) second-to-none. Oscar Wilde has been the Freedom Press Group. (he was an early advocate of solar already covered by existing books on perspective. And as such this book successfully rehabilitated by Stephen Elsewhere Aldous Huxley had the power), and the yoga of love. libertarian eduction. provides readers with a valuable and Fry (amongst others) but it is useful to pleasure of being Eric Blair’s (George Comfort contributes his emphasis on And I suspect some people might be entertaining guide to the written have a reminder of his overt politics, Orwell) teacher at Eton for a while, disobedience and personal expecting Guy Aldred to put in an works of those authors. yet his contemporary Edward later serving on the editorial board of responsibility (and I’d add his work on appearance too. However at 400 pages Of the main authors discussed, I was Carpenter, an equally outspoken R ealist, a journal of scientific sexuality and ‘human nature’); Pallis the book is plenty long enough for already familial; to varying degrees, person on sexual and political matters, humanism, with, amongst others his demystification of power and most readers (and at the limit as far as with the work of most of them, seems to languish in near obscurity, Herbert Read. The main organisation decision making (and his debunking of publishers are concerned!). Cramming though I wouldn’t claim to have read lacking, perhaps, Wilde’s notoriety, however, that brought people together Bolshevism) and Ward’s contention more authors in would only have the complete works of any of them. charm and wit. was the Solidaridad Internacional that anarchism is, if you like, how diluted the existing material, to its One author, John Cowper Powys, was What is quite fascinating are the Antifascista (SLA), which Emma people naturally organise their lives, detriment. new to me in this context. I had been connections between the various Goldman formed in London in alongside and despite the authoritarian Some of the material may be aware of him as a writer but never writers discussed. For example, December 1937. Huxley was power structures that attempt to familiar to readers, as certain chapters grasped his political position, although William Morris knew Edward approached to participate but control and constrain them, and I’d are revised versions of works that have this was very much at the Carpenter Oscar Wilde knew William although supportive, had recently add his insistence that people are fully appeared elsewhere, in particular in ‘contemplative, spiritual’ end of the Morris and attended Socialist League moved to the USA and felt unable to capable of individually and collectively David Goodway’s introductions to the anarchist spectrum. Having said which meetings at Hammersmith, whereas take an active part. However John able to determine housing, planning works of some of the authors featured. he knew Emma Goldman and had John Cowper Powys was interested in Cowper Powys, Herbert Read and and transport issues in a non- The text is complemented by an George Orwell all became involved. authoritarian way. extensive, if not exhaustive, In 1945 Orwell became involved Finally John Cowper Powys adds his bibliography, which should provide with the Freedom Defence Committee life-philosophy, his simple art of more than enough books for readers (originally formed in 1944 as the everyday living and self-liberation in to chase up if they find their interest in Freedom Press Defence Committee to the here and now. There are other a particular author stimulated by the defend the editors of War common themes, the total opposition text. C om m entary who were being charged to war, and in many cases violence, David Goodway has written an with attempting to subvert members of and also, in many cases the working exceedingly accessible book, which I the armed forces), whilst Colin Ward for social change without the can commend to anyone interested in had, by then, joined the Freedom Press revolutionary myth that sustains much the strand of anarchism (or left Group, with Alex Comfort ‘class struggle’ anarchism, (although libertarianism) he has picked out for contributing articles to the paper and some might argue that it is a necessary discussion. As for the pricing, well I l writing a couple of pamphlets. Which and enabling ‘myth’.) understand that these days the leaves us with Chris Pallis. Pallis was There is, of course, much more in paperback price is the going rate for never involved with Freedom Press but this dense and well-written book. The academic books - one wonders who other members of Solidarity, such as male bias reflects the male bias of the pays out for the hardback editions! As Ken Weller and Nicolas Walter, were subject matter, but perhaps more could ever your friendly local public library involved with the Committee of 100, be said of writers such as Ethel will assist those of us who find the the direct action anti-nuclear weapons Mannin, or the libertarian influenced price, even of the paperback, group, alongside Freedom Press group feminists of the second wave of excessive. stalwarts Alex Comfort and Herbert feminism. As with any such book, one Richard Alexander Read, and Nicolas Walter later became could quibble over who has been Anarchist Seeds Beneath the Snow: Left- involved with Freedom itself. included and who excluded. For libertarian Thought and British Writers from So a fine thread can connect all the example, one might query the William Morris to Colin Ward by David writers, but do they end up producing omission of contemporary poets or Goodway, Liverpool University Press, £20 a coherent set of political positions? novelists, but I presume this is due the (hardback edition £50) 6 Freedom 5th May 20C3 Com m entary their different ways and Bob is only decline in recent years is precisely this I ([email protected] ). A great being honest, modest and, some would partnership agenda. We can see how Please remember that one meeting say realistic, about his organisation’s unions are becoming crippled by it, does not constitute a successful FREEDOM reactionary intentions. In the same way even the not only in the UK, but also all over I collective. We have had well attended Volume 68 Number 09 British trade unions with their size the world. meetings at the book fair and no one tradition and resources merely delegate social It is also obvious from some recent attended any follow-up meetings. So, Though some may accuse Bob change to the Labour Party legislators. campaigns, such as Unite! in New please do not assume that someone else Anarchism (Freedom-, 24th March 2007) of It’s all about tactics and no strategy Zealand, that the only wav to build will get involved. If you want B lack Anarchists work towards a society of making a little go a long way in the can be seen. strong campaigns is to do away with Flag to continue then please come mutual aid and voluntary co-operation. same way that they charge the This issue of British resistance and this pretence to working with along to the meeting or contact us. We reject government, and all forms Northern Anarchist Network with protest politics was discussed at the employers in partnership. I see this of exploitation and domination. doing the same thing, he does last meeting of the Northern Anarchist slowing of union decline as a result of Freedom Press is an independent demonstrate the dilemma we face on Network (NAN) this March. At the some unions beginning to cotton on anarchist publisher; founded in 1886, the British left. The title of his NAN this British tradition was to the fact that partnership simply Besides this newspaper; which comes interview, ‘Organising for Resistance’, contrasted with the Spanish anarchist doesn’t work. It only ever benefits the REEDOM out every two weeks, we produce books sums up what we in this country are and anarcho-syndicalist movement in bosses. IRCHIST BOOKSHOP x>n all aspects of anarchist theory and up against better than any carefully Spain in the 1930s. The main barrier to growth, I g p Whitechapel High Stre^l practice- see our website for a full list. argued critique. It was argued that there was a believe, aside from an increasingly London El 7QX In our building in East London we run It shows, without any sign of qualitative difference between the complex, fluid and decentred global Britain’s biggest anarchist bookshop embarrassment, that others, in this historic Spanish revolutionary trade capitalist system (which is never going tel/Fax 020 7247 9249 S and host the Autonomy Club meeting case the State and bosses, are setting unions of the CNT and the British left to be helpful!), is the fact that unions OPENING HOURS I room and the Freedom Hacklab open- the agenda and the Anarchist resistance movement, which couldn’t have turned their backs on the very aOcess IT space. Federation (AF) are reacting against it carry out a general strike in 1926 tried-and-tested qualities they know Monday to Satnliay ~ ;;@ur aim is to explain anarchism by forming glorified protest groups with any degree of conviction. get the goods. It is an indisputable JiPm 12 noon to 6pm more widely and to show that people against the proposed introduction of The Spanish left and the CNT had a fact of history that rank and file can work together and use direct ID cards in England and the strategy for social transformation, power, leadership accountability, and $ siibp is staffed by volunteers and action to practically improve our lives ministrations of Royal Dutch Shell agreed at the Saragossa conference of militancy are key aspects of any the opening hours are subject to 3 and build a better world. PLC at Rossport in Ireland. 1936 when a framework was worked successful union. ange so H’s a good Idea to freedorrCsedixors wish to present a Ten years ago when I edited the out independent of political parties or The union bureaucracies simply to check we’re ope«u ,«J broad range of anarchist thought, and essays of Geoffrey Ostergaard in the the State. Based on these Saragossa cannot afford to make wet, liberal You can also use our mail order service US 'sudh die views expressed in the paper . The Tradition o f Workers " Control for conference decisions Anthony Beevor, requests to businesses as ‘representatives’ * order books online via our website are those of: the individual contributors Freedom Press, I ventured a quote the military historian, writes (2006) of of the membership and expect freedompress.org.ii and not ofthe , from E.P. Thompson on this defensive the situation in Barcelona in July 1936: members to take them seriously. This editonaLcOlie A Sideways Look! Vote thoughts ------'Anarchists? j/wbavealltbetombs. ftirbom bs n They deter attacks what idiot lomb«rd me - who a r c you jo in s to Uboatej/wsoiagtc promote peace on the Free Work) by My local anarchist group meets in a You are expected to turn out to vote with «hi» out-of-date 4 throw 3 bom b a t ? ? toroua bomb at? ? ^andsecurity. J die Soviet Union. _^ nub. It is far from satisfactory. It has on 3rd May. By this seemingly straight J to be a quiet pub so there is room to forward act you will tacitly endorse a m meet discreetly and without being sham democracy and are unlikely to w r w t H K m disturbed. Sadly, there are generally change anything really important. reasons why quiet pubs are quiet. Bad Voting alone does not a democracy been, too smoky, bad atmosphere. Aside make. It crucially depends on which from that, it also means that our particular issues you are allowed to f \ / VV meetings are not particularly attractive vote for, or not. for people for whom pubs are not Why is our democracy a sham? traditional. I don't think there’s a direct Democracy is supposed to be ‘rule by relationship between the pub venue and the People’ but there are huge areas in m our membership being solely white men, the UK system of government where Britain needs manufacturing txfUSto to military Nbtoue.IheAidhx)$et I Ubatbappeosi( No problem. We just increase the but it would be wrong to imagine there’s the People have absolutely no say at exports. And die only tfftatcfsbips and paid fee pays less than one twelfth TbirdttatU pujportionof arms exports paid no link at all. all, such as foreign policy and defence. manufactures we export toBritish taapagers o f the interest payments tobtsare for by British taxpayers through j Renting office space is not an option They also cannot influence by voting these days are armaments. thmshtvusassuL on armaments debts, j^aocdlcd?? ^ Export Credit Guarantees. either, unfortunately, as we just cannot the decisions of global organisations afford it. And the sort of social spaces which may have a profound effect on that used to exist - community centres the lives of UK citizens, such as the G8 and so on - are much more rigorously and the WTO. Much the same applies controlled. Many explicidy exclude to multi-national corporations and political groups of any stripe from quangos operating within the UK. meeting, or cost a fortune. The other So what are you allowed to vote alternative is to meet in a cafe or for? A strictly limited set of policies restaurant, but this can be distracting, contained in a party manifesto, mere and cost even more. promises which may or may not be And even the pubs are disappearing. honoured during the next term of 'Without doing any serious research I office before you are permitted to vote can think of more than twenty watering again. Those who abstain from voting with physical or intellectual property w holes that have disappeared in my area may not be able to bring about a rights, or is given by any human Listings in the last fifteen years. Most have been proper democracy in the immediate classified as a terrorist or protestor by 3rd to 7th May Festival of Fools five- 18th May Save Tirnore Woods benefit turned into flats, with a few becoming future but at least they will have the a government branch. 3) A robot must day street festival, with mime, acrobats, to raise funds for the protest camp and restaurants. It’s hardly surprising that satisfaction of knowing they are not protect its own existence as long as clowns, circus acts and more on the campaign near Worthing to stop a a pub that takes a few grand a week is. helping to perpetuate a downright lie. such protection does not conflict with streets of Belfast, call 028 90236007 or shopping and housing development on gj worth a lot more to its owners as real (Taken from an lndymedia editorial. Trie the First or Second Law, excepting see foolsfestival.com woodland, from 7pm to 11pm at The estate. Where the ethnic mix of an bookworm columnist is away.) instances where national security is at 7th May Mayday Meltdown, featuring Rooms, Western Road, St Leonards, area changes it can also spell the end stake where all laws may be cabaret, workshops, street party, one minute from Warrior Square station, for neighbourhood boozers. They may suspended.” volleyball, soundsystems, bands, cafe, email [email protected] or i not be exactly welcoming in the first He switched off his dictaphone and guerilla gardening, info, discussions, see protectourwoodland.co.uk for info place to incomers. And in some areas Imagine if... smile to himself. “Welcome to the cinema and much more, from 12 noon 18th to 20th May Projectile, a festival radical Muslims have threatened pubs Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Science, future, Asimov.” He muttered. until midnight, donation (proceeds of anarchist film, culture and ideas at directly. looked over a new report on Robotics. going to Palestine Circus), at the Asbo Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle- Don’t SUBSCRIPTION FORM JPPIDINOORDEirFlmM Subscription rates ig S ^ to fteedom Press;:^U> Whitechapel High Street, London El TqX? 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For bank u se only You can now subscribe online at •Please pay this sum fetTtyjedoBYFflSSraccoUnt wWW.freedornpress.oig.uk .Postcode. -Alliarice.&Eeiqest^^ pic, ■ FREEDOM fortnightly ISSN 0016 rynond ter Frwdam Press, fl4b wmtechtipal High Street, tendon 61 7QX, PnnteB | Croat Britain by Aldgale frees, London El run M SS ____i— DO NOT USE FOR FLYPOSTING Camberwell Squatted Centre Nautia have a housing co-op which SOCIAL RESOURCE 192 Warham Street they have offered for exhibitions/gigs off Camberwell New Road etc., on these lists but are looking to CENTRES CENTRES London SE5 set up a dedicated social centre 07982 469755 1 in 12 Club Blackcurrent Centre [email protected] 21 Albion Street 24 St Michael’s Avenue www.56a.org.uk/warham.html Bradford Northampton BOOKSHOPS B D 1 2 L Y NN1 4JQ RampART 01274 734160 01604 633203 15-17 Rampart Street Bookm arks clubm ail@ lin 12.com www.blackcurrentcentre.org.uk Whitechapel 1 B loom sbury Street www. lin 12.go-iegend.net London London Lancaster Re-source E l 2LA W C1B 3QE 56@ Infoshop Centre (LaRC) rampart@mutualaid.org 020 7637 1848 56 Crampton Street The Basement anything and everything [email protected] London 78a Penny Street www.bookmarks.uk.com S E 1 7 3 A E Lancaster Stepney Squatted Social Centre [email protected] L A llX N . Dame Coiet House Broken Arrow www.56a.org.uk 01524 383 012 Ben Johnson Road 13 Leigham Hall Parade [email protected] London Streatham High Road ACE (Autonomous Centre of www.eco-action.org/lancaster E 1 3 N H London Edinburgh) [email protected] (webmaster) SW 16 1DR 17 W est Montgomery Place LARC (London Action 020 8769 9777 Edinburgh Resource Centre) www.brokenarrow-headshop.com EH 7 5 HA 62 Fieldgate Street 0131557 6242 Whitechapel UNHOMED Freedom [email protected] London 84b Whitechapel High Street www.autonomous.org.uk E l 1 6 3 CENTRES London 020 7377 9088 The Basement Social Centre [email protected] A-Spire - Squat Autonomous Zone 020 7247 9249 24 Lever Street www.iondonlarc.org/ Leeds [email protected] M anchester [email protected] www.freedompress.org.uk M l m z MERCi www.a-spire.org.uk also the Autonomy Club meeting 01612371332 BridgeipMill room, hacklab and anarchist book [email protected] fe^ 6esw ick Street v Birmingham Social Centre p u blishers trap://thebasementclearerchannel. Anco Disclaim er Please note, this is not a list of buildings which are part of the Social Cenve Network, but a directory of politically progressive collectives and institutions which it may be useful for the network, its supporters and its patrons to talk to and stay in touch with - Rob Ray, Freedom Press