RESISTANCE anarchist paper No. 137

Dec/Jan 2011/12 Free/Donation

Anarchists Join with Sparks and Students in London on 9 November

At 7am on the morning of 9 November, sparks (striking electricians), students and their supporters includ- ing anarchists took the streets outside the Pinnacle Building site before marching to the Cannon Street construction site. The protesters refused to be stopped by police and pushed through police lines. Eventu- ally they reached Cannon Street at around 9am. The protesters were not going to be intimidated by the police and were angry, active and clearly visible.

Continued on page 2 2 paper of the anarchist federation …Continued from front page The students were out in force The sparks have already taken their The main change from last year’s against tuition fees and cuts and own actions across the country student demos was the tactics of privatisation of education for univer- against the top six construction com- the police, following the embar- sities, colleges and schools, as well panies who want to pay the workers rassment of recent demonstrations as the government’s draconian and 35% lower wages and to worsen con- when in many cases fit and youth- savage assault on the welfare system ditions at work. Many of these work- ful protestors simply out ran the in this country. The government’s ers are in the UNITE trade union but police and vented their anger on attack on young people is not just the workers have done these actions government property. This time the by age but by class and it amounts independently and even against the police were eager to intimidate and to one of the biggest generational wishes of UNITE. repress the movement as much as possible. At the front of the march After a tour of the building sites, the there was a line of police whose sparks visited St Paul’s where the job it was to keep the march at a Occupy London protest camp was slow pace; police on horseback fol- based. lowed the march along its route and every road to the side of route was Earlier speakers at the sparks demo blocked by steel barriers, sandbags urged people to join the student and cops in full riot gear. Although betrayals in peacetime history. march. The sparks travelled to the the attempt to join the two national Shard construction site and Black- demos failed, it goes to show that The scrapping of the EMA will lead friars, but were then kettled by the many people do see the connection students away from further educa- police to prevent them joining the between all the attacks on the work- tion and their prospects of getting student march. Anarchists made an ing class and they do intend to link a job and paying into a pension impressive and supportive presence struggles to better combat the ruling scheme grow more and more re- at the both the sparks and the stu- class. mote. dent marches. Erosion of Workers’ Rights On the 8th and 9th of October the amongst many, many others. press releases, translation and how Rebellious Media Conference was to make the most of social media held in London bringing together ac- The first day of the conference took networks. These provided attendees tivists, independent news organisa- place at the Institute of Education with the opportunity to meet other tions and world renowned academ- (UCL) kicking off with Chomsky’s talk producers of radical media and to ics for discussions on how radical to a full Logan Hall. Chomsky spoke exchange ideas and experiences and independent media can make its at length of the Occupy Wall Street in open forums. The conference voice heard in an industry dominat- movement that was at that time was then wrapped up with closing ed by mainstream, corporate media sweeping across the US, criticising speeches from a panel that included outlets. The conference - organised its reformist nature and calling on Noam Chomsky and Michael Albert by Peace News, Ceasefire, NUJ, Red the demonstrators to radicalise their with the latter calling for greater Pepper, Undercurrents and visionOn- demands through a deeper analyse mutual aid between radical media tv - attracted such speakers as Noam of the power structures that the elite organisations. Chomsky, John Pilger, Michael Albert use to maintain their dominance. and Greg Philo. Talks were scheduled for the entire The conference was well summed day across the institute on a variety up, however, by Becky Hogge, who Alongside the numerous talks and of topics with grassroots, radical after being asked how the confer- forums that took place over the two short films being screened at lunch- ence could have been “more radical” days, attendees had the opportunity time. stated that what mattered was not to pick up various anarchist publica- what had been said over the course tions with stalls from the likes of The second day saw the conference of the weekend but what each one Freedom Press, SchNews and New move to Friends House with focus of those present did once the confer- Internationalist and learn more turning to the more practical aspects ence had finished. about the work of organisations such of producing radical media with as Corporate Watch and Ceasefire seminars on photography, writing paper of the anarchist federation 3 Direct Action Gets the Goods Laura, who was working at the South London Solidarity Federation trivial matter. With the prospect of Hartley pub in South London, had and mobilised friends and family to going round in circles with managers her contract terminated after she support her that they paid around or time consuming legal proceed- refused to work because she hadn’t half the money she was owed. After ings, it is easy to let them win. But been paid for 6 weeks, that is over phone calls, emails and the threat of by taking direct action together with £700 she had to live without since a picket the pub boss caved in and our workmates, friends and family mid-September. The employers paid the full amount. we can improve our working had numerous opportunities to pay and had broken many promises, This is a situation many of us find ignored calls, not replied to emails ourselves in at some point at work. and sent her round in circles passing Not being paid for shifts or long responsibility amongst themselves. periods of time is such a common It was only after Laura contacted occurrence that it is often seen as a Atos Festive Month of Actions With thousands to face homeless- schemes, will leave them unable march of disabled people and sup- ness in the New Year due to housing to properly care for their children. porters has taken place, protests benefit cuts, the harassment and People with life-threatening condi- have been held outside the Daily further impoverishment of hundreds tions or mental health problems will Mail, A4e offices and other workfare of thousands of disabled people be terrified that their upcoming Atos providers and online activity about due to punitive ‘assessments’, the assessment, notoriously flawed as benefit issues has exploded. Still the continued persecution of people on it is, will further strip them of vital Tory Government pushes ahead, sickness benefits, soaring unemploy- benefits. with their Lib Dem lap dogs never far ment and forced labour in the name ahead. of Workfare, a truly Victorian Christ- Tens of thousands of low-waged mas is on the cards for millions of us. families are about to be socially We need more than ever to increase cleansed from city centres due to the pressure and fight these attacks housing benefit cuts whilst unem- on our most basic needs and very ployed people face the prospect of survival. Organise and help spread being forced to work full time and the word now, please list all local ac- still survive on just a few pounds a tions, protests below and we will do day. The Welfare Reform Bill will see our best to help promote and sup- millions of disabled people forced port all events as well as list them into a similar, if not identical, testing here. regime for the new Personal Inde- Whilst Atos CEO and disability denier pendence Payment that has tragi- Alternatively why not gather up Keith Wilman tucks into his organic cally led to suicides amongst people your friends and turn up to spread Christmas turkey or multi-millionaire already forced to undertake Atos’ seasonal cheer at your local Atos poverty pimp Emma Harrison of A4e Work Capability Assessments. unannounced and then tell us about hangs tinsel in her tax-payer funded it afterwards. Everyone loves a sur- stately home, millions of disabled, For the last year disabled people, prise guest at Christmas! low paid, unemployed or sick people claimant activists and supporters are facing a future of poverty, wors- have been protesting against the London ening health and homelessness. inhumane treatment being inflicted 16th December – 2pm Parents will be spending Christmas on already vulnerable people. Scores Triton Square, London NW1 terrified that the new demands of of protests have been held outside A Real Victorian Christmas Party and conditionality for benefits, such as (and sometimes inside) the offices Picnic at Triton Square forcing single mothers into workfare of Atos ‘Healthcare’, the largest ever 4 paper of the anarchist federation Power to the People: Electricity Workers Say no to Austerity Greek electricity company workers have taken a militant stand against the government’s latest wave of austerity measures. Members of GENOP-DEI, the union of the Public Power Corporation, occupied the building issuing electricity discon- nection orders for households that have failed to pay their bills.

As of a few weeks ago, the latest bills now include the latest property tax imposed by the government, typi- cally including hundreds of Euros per property, making payment for thousands a non-option. This is in addition to the spiralling energy power station in Northern Greece. tionally been a display of anarchist costs, job losses and declining wages These actions are a part of escalating influence, involved over fifty thou- since the crisis, leading many to rely resistance to the newest austerity sand people this year with many on wood burners for their heat over deal. Transport workers have been- marching behind both a new slogan, the winter months. Members of the holding stoppages against staff cuts “then with tanks, now with banks” union had already cut power to the while pharmacies were also closed (in reference to the tanks that were Health Ministry during the preceding in Athens this past month to pro- used to crush the student uprising week. test the failure of health insurers to during the military Junta) as well as settle debts. Struggles are ongoing the resurrection of an old one (from The response of the newly formed amongst students and education the Civil War), “when the people are national unity government was swift, workers (see last month’s Resist- confronted with the threat of tyr- with riot police raiding the offices ance). anny, they either chose the chains or and arresting fifteen workers. The guns”. Unions are expected to hold struggle, however, continues and in The November 17th commemora- another general strike at the begin- response GENOP-DEI has called a 48- tion march, an event that has tradi- ning of this month. hour strike. Workers also occupied a Sparks take their message to the boss’s front door On 23 November 200 sparks and allowed through and the crowd got that they can take the message to supporters gathered outside Kings back on the move. Sixty electricians the employers front door literally.” Cross station in London for a short then occupied the head office of demonstration outside one of the the Gratte Brothers, the smallest of gates of the Crossrail site. Police the seven companies pulling out of arrived issued with tazers and after the JIB, for an hour. The doors were some speeches the crowd moved chained and the police had to resort round to the back of the station to bolt cutters to remove the electri- where the street was blocked. After cians. One of the sparks had this ten minutes or so the crowd then to say: “Cops got in through a fire blocked the road outside The Guard- exit but could not throw us out. No ian’s offices. An ambulance was arrests all peaceful. Sparks showed paper of the anarchist federation 5 Getting Ready to Strike So this is my first strike ever and pressure on strikers to reveal they’re It’s obvious to me there is explicit it’s been an interesting experience striking and to stop taking sick leave. and wide ranging dissatisfaction and observing the dynamics between But equally going by conversations will to resist these measures (I’m management, workforce and unison I’ve had there doesn’t seem to be losing 25% of my pension, retiring 3 in the build up. We’ve had a couple much of push from middle manage- years later and paying an extra £250 of pensions’ briefings, which were ment and other staff to implement a year and I’m one of the better commendably open to everyone or comply with this. So be interest- one’s off in this) but it’s atomised irrespective of union membership, ing to see whether this gets pushed and. Sadly I can’t see anyway round however only at one location out of in the run up to the strike. Unison this other than slow and patient 100s. The union also sent an email seems either unwilling or unable to building of confidence and explicit out claiming the membership were resist these moves. requesting that we don’t have picket lines because they’re, “old fash- Speaking to people in my work- ioned” and instead have a rally in place there’s obvious support for town. I sent them an arsey email and the strike, if scepticism that it will there seems now be a move to have achieve its aims (which I share). But a large picket at a central location also it’s obvious we’re working with i.e. the local hospital followed by a a workforce that except for a minor- rally. I’ve said I’d rather build for a ity of older members have little or picket in my own workplace as it’s a no experience of industrial action, explanations of why solidarity is chance to engage and they’ve given (me included!). I’ve been asked if we important etc. me their blessing to do that. Wheth- get paid for being on strike, people Within my department my boss er this is genuine lack of militancy saying they can’t strike because they is striking, as our two members from the workforce or an attempt to didn’t receive a ballot and people of staff. The other two have said funnel dissent into a harmless rally saying they can’t strike because they they’re not going to cross picket or both I couldn’t say at this stage. haven’t got a pension. Fairly basic lines. I’ve taken this as a green light stuff but something that we must to try and persuade the 110 mem- As stated above there’s been a deal with if we’re to organise. bers of bank staff we have to not concerted push from above to put come in. This is fun. Quantitative Easing - Creating Money for Rich People Here’s a funny thing – the Royal College of Nurses predict that 26,000 nurses are currently losing their jobs as a result of public service cuts. At Whipps Cross Hospital east London, staff has been asked to work a day for free because the hospital is in so much debt. At the Tory conference, Old Etonians George Osborne and David Cam- eron repeated ad nauseum that there’s no money, no money for schools, for elderly care, for the NHS, for coun- cils, even for the armed forces. At the same time as they tell us that we have to make the cuts, the government (more accurately the Bank of England) is spending a whopping £270 billion. This is new money the government has created. In the old days they would have printed it. Today it is done electronically. What is the purpose of this quantitative easing? Will it be used to keep the libraries open? Will it be used to stop NHS waiting lists growing? Will our public sector transport system get a well-needed cash injection? No. This money won’t be heading into the real economy. Instead, the government will be shoving it towards the City of London to buy up bonds. The theory is that this will keep interest rates low, make credit more easily available and stimulate the economy. Does it work? No. Interest rates are already at a historic low. A recent independent review of the last round of quantitative easing (QE) launched by Gordon Brown found that the only people who benefited were City firms. Although QE is described as ‘new’ it isn’t. This is just a new version of monetarism. Monetarism didn’t work in the 1980s and isn’t working now. 6 paper of the anarchist federation Greece. Down with the Stalinists and Bureaucrats! This article is about the 48-hour were made between the KKE and order policing by the KKE and general strike demonstrations other left parties’ or groupuscules’ the professional police with the of 19-20 October in Greece. It unionists so that each was alloted approval of most of the left and comments on the change of the a special place near the parliament leftist organisations and unions is police doctrine towards a “softer accepting KKE’s hegemony. They the visible part (in the streets) of management of demonstrations” later supported fully KKE in its de- a deal for a national unity govern- and the role of the Stalinists in nunciation of the ‘anarcho-fascists’, ment, but it certainly revealed very “self-policing” the protests. This is a translation of an article written by TPTG (Ta Paidia Tis Galarias – ” The children of the gallery”). TPTG are an anti-authoritarian com- munist group from Athens who see communism not as a political ideology or dogma, but as a prac- tical necessity stemming from the concrete, daily struggles of the proletariat within and against it.

We all experienced the nightmare that the Greek stalinists in co- operation with other leftist trade unionists and the cops created during the 48-hour strike in Greece on October 19 and 20 and some comrades in the anti-authoritarian milieu are badly wounded. We refer to the policing role of the KKE members: they were stationed in military formation in the area around the parliament, armed with helmets and sticks, facing the ‘parastatals’ etc, namely all those dramatically that the capitalist demonstrators with the riot squads who were not part of the deal, not state has a lot of left-wing reserves behind them, preventing anyone willing to accept it and tried to as well as alternative police meth- from approaching, even asking for break their cordons. ods against us, as we argued in our reporters’ identities and attacking two letters* on the progress of our fiercely later those in the crowd As the capitalist attack deepens, enemies. Have a look at this ex- who defied their cordons. this Greek style of ‘self-policing’ tract we translated from an article of ‘problematic’ crowd events in yesterday’s Eleftherotypia, a lib- As the clashes started, the riot has signalled the comeback with eral newspaper of wide circulation: squads came for their protection a vengeance of the left political attacking people with chemicals parties and the left unionist bu- “It is obvious that attempts are and flash-bang grenades evacuat- reaucracy against a proletarian being made at readapting the ing the area. It was revealed later crowd that had managed to escape doctrine of the security forces’ that the stalinists had made an their mortal embrace last June in involvement in the social reactions, agreement with the police so as the squares movement (albeit in a which will escalate continuously. A to be allowed to police the demo very contradictory way). We can’t society that suffers badly from the themselves. According to our say whether this concerted public- economic measures cannot be information, similar agreements paper of the anarchist federation 7 beaten up by the forces of repres- Although any police involvement ago, when the offensive doctrine sion which have not found or do might have had even worse con- was applied for the regaining of not want to find a way to isolate sequences. In any case this tactic the streets, according to the offi- those who regard violence as an is likely to be applied again after cial announcement that had been end in itself. consultations have been made. made then.

The events of recent days, if In this critical period it was clear The murder of student Al. Grigo- not marked by the death of the that Chr. Papoutsis [TN: Minister of ropoulos had repercussions on the 53-year-old PAME trade unionist, Public Order, or in the neo-orwelli- police as they were delegitimised could be seen as a sign of an effec- an language of PASOK government, in huge parts of the society, i.e. tive change of the police doctrine Minister of Citizen Protection] they were marginalized socially towards a softer management of wished for a softer administration and professionally. There is an demonstrations. at all levels of the Staff and not attempt now by the Ministry of only at the leadership. That is why Citizen Protection to reverse this Indeed, in those two days that po- he transfered hardline officers that disturbance of professional self- lice were fully in a transitory phase he thought they were damaging image and behaviour, in the worst in terms of its leadership team, the the image of the police due to the period in decades, as the economic risk was double. Initially, the appa- behaviour of policemen who had crisis is ruining people and cracks ratus was led for two days by those available since changes in leader- ship were announced simultane- ously with the big demonstrations. And even with the participation of Christofareizis C., who was recalled from retirement, the designer of the MAT [TN: the riot squad] in the ’90s, whose name was associated with the attack against pensioners out of Maximou [TN: the Presiden- tial Mansion] in 1995. The other change observed was the return of the doctrine of self-control and inconspicuous granting of power to organized unions to self-guard the demonstrations. seriously injured protesters and in social cohesion are increasing.” professional journalists in recent [TN: It is not surprising then that What happened on Thursday with months, during demonstrations. some riot squads were telling the PAME guarding its demo not only Obviously, for reasons of balance, demonstrators that they were in a defensive but also in an offen- the minister also hired an experi- there for their protection!] (Greek sive way at the Unknown Soldier enced veteran and put him in the Police: softly-softly is the new doc- monument was the beginning of position of the operation consult- trine, Eleftherotypia, 23/11/2011) a new tactic which gives room for ant. self-regulation to the demonstra- However, the struggle against the tors that will have the first say in For over a year, the minister has cops of all colours and their diverse the prevention of the intrusion of been talking about a lack of de- methods as well as against the troublemakers in the body of the mocracy in the security forces and capitalist attack on the working mobilizations. And this is risky, has threatened that he will not class goes on! because the incredible violence be- hesitate to attack some structures, tween protesters, while the police units and commanders. Certainly TPTG was discreetly absent, could have these commanders were appointed www.tptg.gr had more serious consequences. by the same government two years 8 paper of the anarchist federation New Riot Statistics Revealed New and more comprehensive sta- white people in poverty in Britain meals. tistics about the riots in August have is far higher than the percentage of been recently released by the gov- white people in poverty it’s clear The people who really caused the ernment. These new statistics reveal that the colour of somebody’s skin riots of August cannot be found in some of the lies about the riots that has nothing to do with whether they the working class communities of politicians and right wing commen- riot or not. Capitalism, on the other Tottenham, Hackney and Brixton. tators have been spreading. hand, has everything to do with it. Instead, you will find the most vio- lent and mindless members of our society in Parliament, in the CEO of- fices of banks and the police station at the end of the street.

Glasgow Anarchist Fair Saturday 10th December 2011, 11am – 11pm Kinning Park Complex 43 Cornwall Street G41 1BA Next to Kinning Park Under- ground Station With workshops and stalls to browse during the day, and a social with films in the even- ing this will be a stimulating day The first and maybe most disgust- The other lie that was quickly de- for everyone interested in what ing lie that the statistics have swept stroyed by the recent statistics is Anarchism means in 21st Century Glasgow. aside is the assertion that the vio- the one propagated by politicians in lent aspects of the riots were di- particular who claimed that organ- Discussions rectly connected to peoples ethnic ised criminal gangs played a pivotal backgrounds and that members or even a leading role in the riots. Introduction to Anarchism, Anarchist Strategy in the Commu- of ethnic minorities (particularly Part of the implication of this was nity and Workplace, Ben Franks black people) are somehow more that what was needed to solve the (author of “Rebel Alliances: The prone to crime than others. In fact problem was tougher policing of Means and Ends of Contempo- the statistics showed that there poorer communities. rary British Anarchisms”) Direct Action: Going Beyond the Ques- was almost a fifty-fifty split when it tion of Violence , Libertarian came to the number of white people The statistics, however, reveal that Education, Racism. charged and people of ethnic minor- this is complete rubbish; only 13% of ity groups charged. Overall 45% of those charged were gang members. Radical Independent Bookfair, Anarchist Federation, Coal Action those charged were white, 46% were Although three quarters of those Scotland, Glasgow Social Cen- black, 7% were Asian and 5% were brought to court had previous cau- tre, Solidarity Federation, Unity, labelled as “other”. tions or convictions, this is a result Vegan Soc of the fact that the riots occurred If your group/campaign wants to Now, a committed personal racist mainly in some of the most poverty have a stall please let us know. still might argue that the percent- stricken areas of the country. age of people from ethnic minority Kids Space groups who were charged is still The statistics show that many of the Please contact us as soon as pos- larger in proportion than the per- people in the riots were trapped in sible if you wish to use the kids centage of the population that is not poverty, that 35% of those charged space. white, but when you consider that were receiving unemployment these riots were partly motivated by benefits and 42% of young people Contact [email protected] poverty and the percentage of non- charged were claiming free school paper of the anarchist federation 9 A Council Worker’s Perspective on Disability Cuts I arrive at my Bristol City Council time must be for someone who has office with a knot in my stomach. An example: an elderly woman I am no other social contact all day. As 15 What assessing tells me how happy she is minutes gets knocked off her sup- service will I have to take away from with her carer who visits each morn- port plan gone is time to chat and someone today? ing for 45 minutes. “I wouldn’t have time to relax her frail body in the anyone to chat with if it wasn’t for bath. Her home instead becomes My work is to meet people who be- her. We chat about the headlines part of the morning rush hour, as cause of where they are on the dis/ and stuff like that. It’s lovely. I’d like underpaid carers from over-profiting ability spectrum find parts of daily her to come more often”. care agencies rush in, around and living more tricky and to put in place out. support they might need, such as Trapped into selling my time and support with personal care, eating humanity in return for a wage, I tell This is a glimpse of her suffering and drinking, accessing the com- her between gritted angry teeth that caused by £1500 being cut from my munity. Or rather, I used to. With while she and I both know she needs department’s budget. That leaves £7.3million cut from Bristol’s Health more than 45 minutes worth of so- another £7,298 500 worth of suffer- and Social Care budget, there is a cial contact a day, her *eligible need ing to be accounted for across the large and growing gap between the *could be met with a 30 minute visit. city. I encourage those who see how support people need and want and cuts and privatisation are affecting what Bristol City Council says they Sadness passes between us. I can people to speak out, or to find a can have. barely imagine how important this mate and speak out even louder. Rebels with a Cause On the 8th and 9th of October the Rebellious Media Conference was held in London bringing together activ- ists, independent news organisations and world renowned academics for discussions on how radical and independent media can make its voice heard in an industry dominated by mainstream, corporate media out- lets. The conference - organised by Peace News, Ceasefire, NUJ, Red Pepper, Undercurrents and visionOntv - attracted such speakers as Noam Chomsky, John Pilger, Michael Albert and Greg Philo.

Alongside the numerous talks and forums that took place over the two days, attendees had the opportunity to pick up various anarchist publications with stalls from the likes of Freedom Press, SchNews and New Inter- nationalist and learn more about the work of organisations such as Corporate Watch and Ceasefire amongst many, many others.

The first day of the conference took place at the Institute of Education (UCL) kicking off with Chomsky’s talk to a full Logan Hall. Chomsky spoke at length of the Occupy Wall Street movement that was at that time sweeping across the US, criticising its reformist nature and calling on the demonstrators to radicalise their demands through a deeper analyse of the power structures that the elite use to maintain their dominance. Talks were scheduled for the entire day across the institute on a variety of topics with grassroots, radical short films being screened at lunchtime.

The second day saw the conference move to Friends House with focus turning to the more practical aspects of producing radical media with seminars on photography, writing press releases, translation and how to make the most of social media networks. These provided attendees with the opportunity to meet other producers of radical media and to exchange ideas and experiences in open forums. The conference was then wrapped up with closing speeches from a panel that included Noam Chomsky and Michael Albert with the latter calling for greater mutual aid between radical media organisations.

The conference was well summed up, however, by Becky Hogge, who after being asked how the conference could have been “more radical” stated that what mattered was not what had been said over the course of the weekend but what each one of those present did once the conference had finished. 10 paper of the anarchist federation Bank of Ideas Opens Occupy London took over a huge The occupied building was then re- includes 5-29 Sun Street, 5-17 Crown abandoned office block in the bor- opened as the `Bank of Ideas.’ Sarah Place, 8-16 Earl Street and 54 Wilson ough of Hackney belonging to the Layler of Occupy London added: Street. investment bank UBS in a move “The Bank of Ideas will host a full it describes as a `public reposses- sion.’ A dozen activists from Occupy London gained access to the building and secured it.

The multimillion-pound complex, which has been empty for several years, is the group’s third space and its first building, adding to its two camps at St Paul’s Courtyard – near the London Stock Exchange in the heart of the City – and at Finsbury Square.

Occupy London supporters Jack Holburn said: “Whilst over 9,000 families were kicked out of their homes in the last three months for failing to keep up mortgage pay- ments – mostly due to the recession caused by the banks – UBS and other events programme where people UBS Bank, which describes itself as financial giants are sitting on massive will be able to trade in creativity a `premier global financial services abandoned properties.” rather than cash. We will also make firm offering wealth management, space available for those that have investment banking, asset manage- “As banks repossess families’ homes, lost their nurseries, community ment and business banking services’ empty bank property needs to be centres and youth clubs to savage was the subject of a $60bn bailout repossessed by the public. Yesterday Government spending cuts.” from the Swiss government in 2008 we learned that the Government has after piling up the biggest losses of failed to create public value out of The complex is owned by Sun Street any European lender from the global banking failure.” Properties Ltd, a wholly-owned credit crisis. Since that time, the subsidiary of UBS. The property bank has cut thousands of jobs. Prisoner Support Please write to these class struggle and HMP Highpoint Sheerness anti-fascist prisoners incarcerated for their Stradishall Kent ME12 4AY resistance. Stamps can be sent to prisoners Newmarket so mention the amount you have included. Suffolk CR8 9YG Ravinder Gill A5770CE Anti-Fascist Actions Sean Cregan HMP Wayland A5769CE Griston In June 2011 six anti-fascists were fitted-up HMP Coldingley Thetford on charges of Conspiracy to Cause Violent Shaftesbury Road Norfolk IP25 6RL Disorder and sent to jail for between 15 Bisley and 21 months. Thomas Blak has now been Surrey GU24 9EX Austen Jackson released but was deported to his home A5729CE country of Denmark. Phil De Souza HMP Stocken A5766CE Stocken Hall Road Andy Baker HMP Elmley Sretton A5768CE Eastchurch Nr Oakham LE15 7RD Continued on page 11 paper of the anarchist federation 11

Anti cuts demos Heathfield Road Zenon Mitchell-Kotsakis Omar Ibrahim has been sentenced for 18 Wandsworth A6970CH months for violent disorder during the London HMP YOI Portland London anti-cuts demonstration on March SW18 3HS 104 The Grove 26th 2011. Easton Student Demos Portland You can read his ‘Anti-Cuts Prisoner Blog’ James Heslip was sentenced on October Dorset DTS IDL bangedupforprotesting 5th 2011 to 12 months for violent disorder during the November 2010 student Millbank Matt Robinson Omar Ibrahim protest and occupation. Write him care of Sentenced to 12 months for violent disorder A0253CH London Anarchist Black Cross during the November 2010 student demon- HMP Wandsworth c/o Freedom Bookshop stration and occupation at Millbank. Heathfield Road 84b Whitechapel Matt Robinson London SW18 3HS High Street A5988AZ London E1 7QX HMP Wandsworth Joseph Binney is on remand for alleged Heathfield Road violent disorder during the London anti-cuts Benjamin Sunderland Wandsworth demonstration on March 26th 2011. Serving a 12 month sentence for violent London SW18 3HS Joseph Binney disorder during the November 2010 student A5569CH protests. For more info on writing to prisoners: check HMP Wandsworth Benjamin Sunderland these Anarchist Black Cross websites: Heathfield Road A6968CH Brighton ABC London SW18 3HS HMP YOI Portland http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/ 104 The Grove Bristol ABC Harry Webb Easton http://bristolabc.wordpress.com/ Serving a 12 month sentence for violent dis- Portland Leeds ABC order during the March 26th 2011 anti-cuts Dorset DTS IDL http://leedsabc.org/ demonstration despite having been violently London ABC attacked by the police. Zenon Mitchell-Kotsakis https://network23.org/londonabc/ Harry Webb Inside for violent disorder during the No- A4895CG vember 2010 demonstration and occupation HMP Wandsworth at Millbank. False Wage Claim

The Daily Mirror ran an article on 10 prostitution. ed by 2 years and then by 52 weeks October by Jeremy Armstrong stat- Now, the £70m might be fresh infor- = £673,000 per week in wages paid ing that mation but the £9.60 figure comes out. Which amounts to £673,000 “Prisoners have been paid more than from a 2007 Prison Service survey divided by the prison population £70million over the past two years of wages which in fact does not take of 84,800 = £7.94 a week average – some of them for doing nothing. full account of all prisoners, includ- wage. Armstrong cannot even get Murderers, rapists and robbers pick ing those that have made them- the prison population record high up an average £9.60 a week to graft selves “available to work” but are right; it was 87,673 at the start of behind bars, with a guaranteed banged up 23 hours a day in a local October. £2.50 just for making themselves prison where the only work is a very “available to work”.” limited number of cleaning, cooking This is an edited version of an article and laundry jobs. written by the Campaign Against Of course, for media hacks like Arm- Prison Slavery (CAPS). strong, it’s always murderers, rapists A quick back of a fag packet calcu- and robbers but not fine-defaulters, lation shows that this £70m could Look at the CAPS website for more expense-fiddling MPs, those with clearly not amount to an average news and analysis on work and ex- serious drug addiction and mental wage of £9.60. Taking an average ploitation in British prisons. health problems or those found prison population of 84,800, for guilty of victimless crimes such as the last two financial years (April www.againstprisonslavery.org/ Continued on page 11 public order offences, soliticiting and 2009-April 2011) £70,000,000 divid- Liked Resistance? Joining the Try Organise rganise! is the Anarchist Anarchist Federation OFederation’s theoretical and historical magazine. It is The AF was founded as the Anarchist Communist Federation 25 published in order to develop years ago. We describe ourselves as anarchist communists and anarchist communist ideas. It revolutionary class struggle anarchists, and operate as a mem- aims to give a clear anarchist bership organisation. The AF now numbers well over a hundred viewpoint on contemporary members in England, Wales and Scotland, and organises federally issues, and initiate debates on as local groups plus individuals. As well as their local group activi- areas not normally covered in ties, members meet up to four times a year at our annual conference and delegate meetings agitational journals. plus self-education events and a summer camp. You can order or subscribe online at www.afed.org.uk, or We are involved in all manner of social struggles and to support these we produce practical get in touch with your local propaganda and theoretical texts including a magazine Organise!, regular agitational bulletin- Re AF group for a copy. sistance and a growing series of pamphlets. We also write for Black Flag and Freedom. Members are encouraged to get involved with any activity they wish to and to develop themselves practi- Subscriptions cally and politically. We collectively run a website and blog, and local groups also run their own Organise single issue (includ- blogs and publish local bulletins and pamphlets. ing postage and packing): £3.50 UK/£4.00 EU /£4.50 Some of our members also meet as women’s and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, rest of world Queer) caucuses. In recent years we have been involved in organising a number of regional Annual subscription to -Or bookfairs. ganise! (two issues, saving a The AF is a member of the International of Anarchist Federations (IAF-IFA) where we meet and pound a year or 50p an issue): £6 UK/£7 EU /£8 rest of world organise with its other member federations. We also engage in other international correspond- Resistance subscription (10 ence and solidarity efforts. issues per year, to cover post- We encourage those who agree with our aims and principles to join, and welcome other enquir- age and packing) is: ies. Visit our website www.afed.org.uk for more information. For membership enquiries For UK addresses only:£8.00 Anywhere in Europe: £15.00 email [email protected]. For other enquiries email [email protected] Rest of World: £20.00

ANARCHIST FEDERATION LOCAL GROUPS & CONTACTS Liverpool AF (including Merseyside) he Anarchist Federation is an ultimately overthrow capitalism. Scotland/Alba c/o News From Nowhere Bookshop organisation of class struggle As the capitalist system rules the T [email protected] 96 anarchists (based in Britain and whole world it’s destruction must http://scotlandaf.wordpress.com/ Bold Street Ireland, but with many contacts be complete and world wide. We Liverpool L1. overseas) which aims to abolish reject attempts to reform it such Edinburgh & the Lothians [email protected] [email protected] Capitalism and all oppression to as working through parliament London AF create a free and equal society. and national liberation move- Glasgow BM ANARFED, London, WC1N 3XX, This is Anarchist Communism. ments (like the IRA) as they fail to [email protected] England, UK We see today’s society as being challenge capitalism itself. Unions [email protected] divided into two main opposing also work as a part of the capital- Striling [email protected] Manchester AF classes: the ruling class which ist system, so although workers [email protected] controls all the power and wealth, struggle within them, they will be http://www.af-north.org/ and the working class which the unable to bring about capitalism’s Wales/Cymru rulers exploit to maintain this. By destruction unless they go beyond cardiff @afed.org.uk Newcastle AF (including Tyneside) racism, sexism and other forms of these limits. [email protected] Anarchist Federation, PO Box ITA, Newcastle oppression, as well as war and en- Organisation is vital if we’re to Upon Tyne, NE99 1TA vironmental destruction the rulers beat the bosses, so we work for a England [email protected] weaken and divide us. Only the di- united anarchist movement and Brighton AF (including Lewes) rect action of working class peo- are affiliated to the International [email protected] Nottingham AF (including Nott’s) ple can defeat these attacks and of Anarchist Federations. Box AF c/o The Sumac Centre Bristol AF 245 Gladstone Street [email protected] Nottingham http://bristolaf.wordpress.com/ NG7 6HX NATIONAL CONTACT [email protected] East Kent AF [email protected] http://www.afed.org.uk/nottingham/ Web: www.afed.org.uk [email protected] [email protected] Lancashire AF Sheffield AF England & main national/interna- Resistance editors [email protected] [email protected] tional email address Resistance, BM ANARFED, London, http://thefargatespeaker.wordpress. WC1N 3XX Leicester AF com/ [email protected] Write to: BM ANARFED, London, [email protected] Surrey and Hants AF WC1N 3XX, England, UK. Leeds AF [email protected] International of Anarchist Federa [email protected] email: [email protected] tions: http://yorks-afed.org Worcester AF [email protected] Organise! editors http://i-f-a.org/ Lincoln AF [email protected] York AF Organise!, BM ANARFED, London, [email protected] WC1N 3XX