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winter 2017 anarchist journal free/donation

Pic: Manchester Activist Network bricks & class warfare self-organised centres and squats vs the collapsing social compact

also inside this issue labour’s grey dawn s radical unions rise smash IPP! the sparrow’s nest > eclipse phase: anarchist RPG climate model scamming £ economy mythbuster

PLUS THE FREEDOM ANNUAL REPORT 2 Anarchism and Corbyn’s Labour a rethink about labour

For most of the last 40 years it has been problems with power in all its forms — ways of working and usually leave shortly quite simple making anarchist arguments and it will be interesting if Corbyn ever after. This does not just fall from the sky against the political system. There has succeeds in his aim of devolving some — bureaucrats are motivated by career barely been a cigarette paper’s difference powers away from Westminster, likely opportunities and nothing burnishes a CV between the main parties as both rushed to be anathema to a centralising Labour like a successful reorganisation. to embrace the neo-liberal consensus that Party. Anyone new coming to this, without sees the role of the State as guaranteeing Nationalisation is seen as a panacea the experiences that have formed other good conditions for business. And always by the left. While it is a logical step to try bureaucrats, will inevitably look to what taking the side of capital over labour in and bring some sense to our fragmented their colleagues suggest so as to fit in. any dispute. Even people far removed railways and cash-cow utilities, the The “good” people get captured by the from any sort of anarchist or communist idea that it is somehow a good thing system, which would tend to support politics make the same observation. independent of how it is operated is a classical anarchist view that it is the Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader ridiculous. At no point have any of system itself which is of the Labour Party and subsequent its cheerleaders suggested the the problem. reinforcement as leader after the General idea of nationalisation under Svartfrosk Election has changed that. I am personally workers’ control. sceptical that he can deliver very much Who will be in charge of what he has promised, but I am not of a nationalised alone in finding it refreshing that a now utility or railway? The mainstream political figure has addressed government. Who has issues that I hold dear, such as housing kept public sector and workers’ rights. To use a phrase workers’ pay frozen from Chomsky, Corbyn has committed for eight years? The to “widening the floor of the cage.” The government. The experience of Syriza in Greece ought Birmingham refuse strike to make Corbyn’s cheerleaders take was about a local council, pause, though to their credit, Corbyn Labour-run, trying to force and McDonnell do seem to have thought through a significant pay about this quite a lot. Nor is there any cut. It was not alone — teaching getting away from the fact that there is an assistants in Labour-run Durham have awful lot wrong with our society. been fighting a long campaign against But none of this is an anarchist response. massive cuts in pay. This sort of thing What do we say now that the easy “they’re seemed to get a lot more traffic when it all the same” line is not possible? It’s quite was being done by the Greens in Brighton, tempting to either fall back on the usual I wonder why? refusal to engage with politicians or be The Left imagines that the State can swept up in the momentum of a mild, fairly be captured and used to overturn the principled socialist leader suddenly being policies of the last 40 years, that all it very popular — at least among certain takes is different personnel at the top. parts of the country. Neither actually help. This ignores the class nature of the We need to revisit what is distinct about bureaucracy. Once senior managers anarchism: we are opposed to Capital and in public services are in position, they the State. We should be talking about our always bring in reorganisations and new

For people interested in this sort of thing, the main typefaces are Langdon, Alfa Slab One and Centabel Book. Dingbat symbols are taken from 1910 issues of Emma Goldman’s Mother Earth magazine. Kindly printed by Aldgate Press Anarchism and Corbyn’s Labour 3

Enthusiasm becomes votes fodder, solving little the myth of momentum

There is no doubt that Momentum helped a Labour-run council for example? Well winning. Class War led a small campaign secure Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership just ask housing campaigners in London. against the idea of ‘poor doors’ a few in the 2017 general election. It utilised and Momentum is nowhere to be seen. They years back and gained a great deal of combined online tools with traditional will do nothing to damage the party. This publicity on the issue. Politics is not about campaigning to ensure people knocking also exposes another myth of Momentum. size, it’s about what you do and the ways on doors in marginal constituencies. That, This is the myth that they are doing in which you do it. Small groups matter with the aid of a manifesto which actually something extraordinary in grassroots and they need help. Structure matters. As contained policies, enabled Labour to campaigns. They are not. If anything anarchists we should reject Momentum avoid an electoral disaster. they are just a well organised group of simply on the basis of how it organises, Long gone are the newspaper reports professional activists. Think of the Socialist let alone its dodgy politics. about this group of infiltrators threatening Workers Party actually doing stuff other On the election we need to bear in to deselect any MP who disagrees with than just selling papers. That’s Momentum. mind that in every election across the Corbyn. Since the group became a much They decide what to campaign on (it has democratic world there are usually around more top down organisation over the to be in Labour’s interests), then they turn 30% of the population that don’t vote. course of the last year, so the critical up and campaign (regardless of what is These non-voters tend to be the poorest newspaper articles have stopped. The already happening on the ground). people in society. Their apathy is really reorganisation of Momentum was seen as Professional activists can be a menace. anything but. They are just getting on with solving the issue of the Trotskyists. What’s Good activists resist taking leadership life but perhaps more importantly there left is a social democratic leadership and positions in local campaigns they are not isn’t normally much on offer for them to scores of trade unionists ready to act as affected by themselves. They keep their make a rational choice between competing voting fodder for internal Labour battles. distance so that they can offer advice to parties. In 2017 the Labour manifesto was Anarchists have reacted in various ways those that are directly involved. This is not nowhere near as radical as the press made to the rise of Corbyn and Momentum. the way Momentum activists behave. A out. It didn’t send Alistair Campbell and Many had continued to refuse to engage Plan C article written after the Momentum Tony Blair crying into the polling booths to with electoral politics. Some have decided conference, The World Transformed reluctantly vote Labour. They trotted along to hold their nose and vote, in the hope (wonderfully shortened, and without quite happily to support it. The talk wasn’t of getting rid of the Tories, and some irony, to TWT) sets out how some people of breakaway parties anymore. This was others have got involved with actively see Momentum as a game changer. The simply social democratic policies, albeit supporting Momentum and Labour. This article proclaims that “standing ‘outside’ on the left of social democracy. There was is understandable but utterly wrong. It’s of the movements influenced by Corbyn’s more than enough in there for the liberals understandable because much of the ascension to the top of the LP really in the Labour Party to support it. campaigning they are involved with is doesn’t cut the mustard.” Unfortunately The myths of Momentum could end about changing the material circumstances it doesn’t elaborate on what cutting the up with people being swallowed into of the majority for the better. As anarchists mustard actually means in this context but a structure which is only interested we stand for socialism and it’s perfectly it does explain that it is “warm under the ultimately at getting Labour into power. reasonable to want to help campaigns that wings of a dragon.” The author goes on The risk is that activists will be diverted appear to be socialist. to claim that “there is no other game that into battles that only ultimately help that The myth of Momentum is that on a day could build a mass movement at present.” party. They could, in the process, result to day basis it is a socialist campaigning That is absolutely the case. We need to in other grassroots campaigns being group, rather than simply a group aiming consider what the point of such a mass trampled on, ignored, subverted and to get Labour into power. The amount movement would be though. People controlled by professional activists. There of people flocking to it in hope of those seem obsessed with the size of political is no mass movement worth having unless material differences is drawing others in. activity, rather than the efficacy of it is free from the shackles of parliamentary The problem with that is the very whatever they’re doing. The Focus E15 politics. Freedom and socialism has to be nature of Momentum as a top-down Mothers weren’t a massive group but our aim and we simply can’t have both by organisation. What happens when you gained some success. The United Voices going down the parliamentary road. want to campaign for something against of the World are a small union but keep Jon Bigger 4 Trade unionism amid tuc decline, uk’s radical unions grow

The Trades Union Congress is facing a decline in membership that many within the organisation are recognising as a crisis. At the same time more radical unions are not only growing but actively winning time and again. What do they offer that the TUC doesn’t? The TUC’s membership crisis is a generational one. Of those currently in work, the generation with the highest density of union members is edging towards retirement. Those following on behind them, currently around the middle of their working lives, are only marginally less likely to be union members — but they’re getting older. When we look at those just starting their working lives, however, the drop in density is stark. In essence, when older trade unionists retire there’s nobody coming in behind them. The next generation of workers simply isn’t unionised and the membership crisis is set to come to a head in about 15 years. Under the TUC umbrella this has provoked reactions ranging from denial to panic. However, even when they acknowledge the problem that doesn’t mean the answer is necessarily useful. Seeing a TUC blog suggest that “instead of saying ‘let’s stand in solidarity together’ we might say ‘unions are your best way to get ahead at work’” tells you all you need to know about how wrong-headed the direction they’re heading in is. But while the TUC is looking at “three new models” to “engage” young workers, ready to run a “full pilot” of what they Pic: Steve Eason, Flickr view as the best in 2018, something far more crucial and exciting is happening. Workers are getting organised in the most nowhere. The actual reason for the decline predictable one day strikes to follow precarious sectors of the economy and is in the retreat to the public sector and more par for the course. making enormous gains. other traditional strongholds of union By contrast the efforts of unions such The traditional unions aren’t declining membership such as manufacturing, as the Industrial Workers of the World because young people don’t think they’re dismissing the gig economy, the service (IWW), Independent Workers of Great hip, or because the next generation is sector and so on as “impossible to Britain (IWGB) and United Voices of the riddled with individualists looking for organise” and so hardly worth the time. World (UVW) are truly inspiring. These career advancement, willing to accept One recent honourable exception to unions have proudly staked a claim to the any affront from zero hours to unpaid that rule is the “McStrike” by the Bakers impossible to organise, and over the past overtime to do so. That kind of line only Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU). couple of years there has been a marked serves to accept the narrative of 21st But in TUC terms this is an aberration, growth in their numbers. century capitalism and justify a service- with stale parliamentary lobbies over Cleaners and security guards in places provider unionism which is clearly going the public sector pay freeze and the such as the University of London, cycle Trade unionism 5 amid tuc decline, uk’s radical unions grow

couriers, private hire drivers, restaurant organising which works and yields results staff and more have quickly established remains the same: talk face-to-face, themselves as the militant edge of the agitate over issues that workers actually organised working class in Britain, far care about, pick winnable battles and use Who’s ahead of the sabre-rattling “awkward direct action to win them so that workers squad” of the TUC. can realise their own collective power, doing What’s important is that this militancy escalate as more workers get involved. isn’t just defined by taking strike action. In theory, that’s trade unionism 101. But The civil service union PCS took more even if a union has an organising model in what strike days than many other unions from theory, in practice it doesn’t sit well with Industrial Workers of the World 2010 to 2014 as it lost, in succession, the bureaucracy’s need to sustain itself iww.org.uk disputes over pensions, pay and attacks and retain its handle on power at all costs. Founded in the US in 1905, the on terms and conditions. But these low Democracy and autonomy for members syndicalist union currently lists 14 paid, precarious workers are actively and branches, too, are obstacles to this. active branches around Britain, winning. The Living Wage, outsourced As workers, the prospect of a new making it the most geographically workers getting the same conditions as in- generation not being organised should diverse of the base unions. house staff such as occupational sick pay worry us. The attacks we’re currently Particularly active in places such and holidays, the reinstatement of sacked facing are the result of a ruling class as Bristol and Sheffield, it has a reps, the list goes on. seeking to kick us when we’re down; solid organising background and A key factor in this is the tactics, of they perceive the union movement as excellent international contacts. course. Strikes which are called to inflict weak enough to allow them to roll back economic damage rather than as mere the gains of previous decades, and Independent Workers of Great protests are the linchpin of a wider they’re not wrong. With a crunch in union Britain arsenal which has included occupations, membership, there can be no doubt that iwgb.org.uk blockades, marches and demonstrations they’ll see the opportunity to stick the Originally organised as an far more loud and vibrant than veterans boot in further. offshoot of the IWW, IWGB of dreary TUC-organised trudges across But as anarchists, we have an answer. has made its bones working big cities may be familiar with. But these It’s the same answer as it always has been with precarious and migrant tactics are effective because they’re — organising democratically from the workforces across London, backed by effective grassroots organising ground up and using direct action — but particularly in universities, and and vibrant rank-and-file democracy. the size of the movement putting it into recently made a big splash by You don’t have to be an anarchist to practice is growing. facing off against controversial realise that the approach of the TUC unions Unions like IWW, IWGB and UVW taxi app service Uber over its is completely antithetical to this. The are doing so in the workplace, and treatment of staff. extreme examples are the open hostility though they’re worthy of an article all of full time officials to lay members taking on their own it’s worth mentioning that Solidarity Federation any initiative and doing things without tenants and claimants groups as well as solfed.org.uk their say-so and unions actively purging organisations like Sisters Uncut are doing Doesn’t have official workplace activists for having unpalatable politics. similarly excellent work in communities. branches as it is not a registered More mundane is how live issues are The importance of all this is that it’s union, but maintains a strong stripped away from members to disappear not just a more effective way of making presence in Brighton and active into “negotiations in confidence” and stale and defending real gains in the present. Locals in half a dozen cities campaign tactics imposed upon workers Combined with an anti-state and anti- nationwide. from above. Trade union politics are as capitalist perspective, it’s the movement weary and soul destroying as the most we need to build if we’re going to shape United Voices of the World toxic office politics and any seasoned our own future as well. uvwunion.org.uk rep with an ounce of sense has long since Strong presence with migrant been disillusioned and embittered by the workers in London, fighting whole thing. casualisation and for the Living In the 21st century, how we organise Wage. Recently backed the has to evolve. We have more ways than Ferrari Two in their wage fight ever to communicate with our fellow against H R Owen. workers, and they can be a great asset if used effectively. But the core principles of 6 Imprisonment for Public Protection endless nightmare: the scandal of ipp victims

There are currently around 4,000 people thousands of prisoners are being held in more people (and get them to make held in UK prisons on Imprisonment for sentences that far exceed their original companies big profits in their in-prison Public Protection (IPP) sentences. The tariff. Unsurprisingly, this means that IPP workshops in the process...). sentences were introduced by then- prisoners are far more likely to become Underneath all these figures are peoples’ Home Secretary David Blunkett, as part of addicted to drugs and to self-harm— a lives. What follows is a letter from Ian a raft of New Labour measures seeking to vicious cycle that prevents parole being Hartley, an IPP prisoner who’s partner, criminalise people. The parole conditions made — and to commit suicide. Joanne, who has fought tirelessly for his for IPP sentences are far harsher than for What’s worse is that IPP sentences have release. We are incredibly grateful for their most other sentences, and often require been abolished. Blunkett acknowledges permission to print them. prisoners to undertake numerous mental the deep injustice of what has happened Public visibility of IPP injustice is health courses. to IPP prisoners. Yet nothing has been slowly growing, but needs so much more With the introduction of austerity done to secure their release. Indeed, solidarity. If you’d like to get involved, in the slimming down of these courses the government has railroaded plans to any way, you can find more information, (which had already begun under New expand prisons - supposedly to deal with and contact details, at smashipp.noflag. Labour) accelerated drastically. The the ‘overcrowding’ crisis. Rather than org.uk — we’re constantly struggling to net effect is that, unable to complete look at getting people out of prison, our keep our capacity up and every bit of the activities that would grant parole, government is instead trying to imprison support is needed. letter from prisoner ian hartley I’ve spent a lot of time in prisons since 1989 due to my own selfish ways. The sentences I never really gave a thought to — they was like water off a duck’s back to put it bluntly (sad really) I was in boarding schools from the age of five years old. But I’ve always known when I was getting out. Then in 2006 I was sentenced to three years IPP, 17 days took off. I didn’t have a clue what had happened and I wasn’t the only one. The sentencing judge Mr Slinger didn’t understand either because three days later I was called back to court so it could be explained what the sentence meant. as I’m not broken like she wants me to that I’d threatened to use drugs if i went Coming on 12 years later back broken be. Seven years ago the probation was in Cat D, that I would use drugs and that I I’m still here wandering the violent drug- supporting me for residential rehab. Then was trying to manipulate my release to a fueled wings not knowing when and if I’m that support was withdrawn for attempting rehab (what a crock of shit). She claims ever going to get out, It’s an environment I to smuggle drugs 18 months before — my she wanted me in Cat D. wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. fault I fully accept that. Me and probation I lapsed, I went and spoke to officers In my opinion they don’t have a clue argued and are still arguing to this day. and asked for help. I was moved to what’s going on in prison (on the wings) Last year with no help whatsoever I a “drug-free” wing (no such thing in or how to handle IPP prisoners. I’ve had gained funding from Preston adult social prison) where I was giving negative a big problem with substances since the services and a placement in residential urine samples. Five or six weeks later my age of eight or nine. I have had clean rehab, but in fact the probation inside and probation officer came up to see me and times but I’ve also had a problem on this outside were not supportive and dead explained that I looked really well and she sentence. I hate waking up in the morning against it and they let the parole board didn’t expect it really because she had and can’t wait to go asleep at night, when know, very much so. But 100% supportive been told about my lapse. On that visit sleep does come that is. of Category D (open prison). When I she started to talk about my childhood My probation officer commented that explained to the probation it would be and was saying stuff like “what answers for someone who has been in prison as a matter of when and not if I lapsed into do you want from your mum. You need long as I have I’m headstrong. I took that drugs in Cat D, she wrote in her report to let it go, you’re not gonna get answers Imprisonment for Public Protection 7 endless nightmare: the scandal of ipp victims

door opens you’ve got to put that mask on so you yourself don’t become a victim of the violence that happens every day on the wings. Last year us cleaners on the wing sorted some bullies out and they were moved off the wing the screws praised us. I went into Cat D after that when I came back. I got put on a condemned little dingy wing. Lo and behold the bullies were on there. I didn’t see it coming I just woke up in a pool of blood, I hadn’t even put my property in my cell. Three days later a screw said “fucking hell, when did that happen.” I said three days ago, she said “there’s nothing in the observation book.” I knocked a visit back with my family because I didn’t want to frighten them — my mum and sister were sat in the visiting room but I wouldn’t come out my pad. I asked to be moved off the wing but was left on because I wouldn’t name names. But what I did say was you lot (screws) know about the bullying incident that went on on E wing and you’ve put me on the same wing as the bullies. I was still left on the wing, I was only moved back to E wing after Joanne phoned in demanding I be moved. Prison is a jungle, the worst ever and 80% Ian Hartley with family and, left, supporters protest for his freedom of the screws are spectators of their own choice — they get a rush from it. I filled an own interest Relocation Risk Assessment to your questions.” Then she started to manager and that was the first ever time form (Violence Reduction Form). I didn’t tell me about her childhood and how she I’ve seen her one-to-one, it’s always been name anybody, the screw came up to was brought up by her father and not her with the offender supervisor. me and said you need to give us names. mother, how strict he was and things like If I wasn’t so headstrong I would have This was outside another inmate’s cell — that. Then about her own children and took my own life long ago. I don’t live, I he saw and heard everything. I told the how they were disciplined (beaten). exist in this life. And drugs have been my screw to get away from me. It was like he She said: “but I accept it’s nothing like coping mechanism since a very early age. was trying to create a situation Incident or you was Ian, but it was a different era, you Thinking about how my family and Joanne’s whatever you want to call it. need to let it go Ian.” She started to talk about would feel and deal with it has kept me Nobody knows what this environment Joanne’s ex-husband who sexually assaulted alive because I wouldn’t want to put them is like unless you live or work here, no her and how I would have to sit in a room through that sort of thing. This sentence is wonder people are killing themselves, with him and Joanne and social services over killing so many people within themselves. cutting themselves or drugging themselves the kids, then ended the visit. It left me with There are so many times I’ve put myself up. I might be headstrong but I honestly a big head fuck, I feel she pulled me in and in segregation for five or six months at a don’t know how long I can keep going like duped me with her patter about herself. time. How can the powers that be expect this, I need emotion, love, compassion. I That night I lapsed. The screws walked you to change when every time that cell get that every week on a visit that’s it, the in my pad, saw I was under the influence rest is dark and scary, sorry for rabbiting and found a bit of drugs on the side. They on but that’s what it’s like to walk in a handcuffed me and put me in the block prisoner’s shoes, that’s just a snippet then sent me back to closed conditions of what goes on, slashings every other the next day. Was that her test? I’ve had day, people beat with table legs, broom her for over three years as my offender handles, stabbings — it’s no holds barred. 8 Homelessness and the housing crisis lessons of CORNERHOUSE

The Cornerhouse is a former theatre in these were goals before the festival, so in of Salford) Beth Knowles (Lead to ending Manchester squatted from January to my eyes it was a great success. rough sleeping, Labour Council), Ivan August 2017 by self-organised homeless It has taught us a lot more about Lewis MP, and finally Andrew Burnham people linked to the Manchester Activist squatting, particularly when you have (Gtr Manchester Mayor). We had been Network. This is their story. a group of around 40 people. There is told that meetings were being arranged a need for different types of squats: with the Mayor and his team, that Beth, As the final pieces of our belongings, Residential, Activist, Arts and Healing are Ivan and Paul were coming to visit the donations and clothes were brought out all very different places to live in, however squat to see what we did. of the infamous Cornerhouse it was time they are essential for any group who We attended the meetings, stayed for Manchester Activist Network to reflect wish to be active and create intentional calm, talked passionately but articulately back on six months of occupation. From communities to allow the various mix of and tried to engage the people with the the Loose Space festival and surviving three people, personalities and energy to have power. Where did this leave us? With a eviction attempts, to the rough sleepers the space in which to flourish and be broken promise that we would be told we housed and three other squats opened productive to the whole. the week of eviction to enable us to get over that time, this had been a busy, and at Homelessness will never end. We some of the more vulnerable members to times stressful but productive period that are not the people to end it and no-one a new squat, so they were not left to walk none of us will ever forget. should look to us in that way, however, the street. That we would be granted a The biggest thing that came out of the there is a need for us in this city right private meeting with Mayor Burnham, and Cornerhouse was a reaffirmation of the now. There are many who publicly don’t an ignored request from us to postpone need for solidarity when we are faced with endorse us, yet behind close doors any eviction until we had the meetings big issues. In order to fully tackle rough recognise that we provide a service that to give us the best chance to prepare our sleeping and stop the rise in homelessness is lacking at the moment across the UK, arguments and points of view. we all need to be prepared to give a little not just Manchester. We can as a city end For me the trust will never be rebuilt and of ourselves. Not money, but from inside rough sleeping though and this is what we this is the same for many of us, personally of us. We need constructive dialogues, we put our energy into at the Cornerhouse. it will change the way in which I organise need to drop the egos, forget about the It is not easy. Dealing with issues that around issues for the remainder of my life. “company line,” reflect on what we put our are the causes of homelessness range To wrap things up, the last six months energies into and how we can change as from drug addition, alcoholism, abuse, have been a whirlwind of situations, individuals. Only then can we better the youth homelessness, mental illness and the people, buildings, friends, new ideologies systemic problem that is homelessness. disabled; the list goes on, it is very draining and much to ponder. We must however Our experience of the Cornerhouse on those individuals that take on mentoring not let our personal stories take the starts with Loose Space, a five-week roles, and for people around them as they limelight. This is about ALL of us. You, festival we held. It was a double-edged try to rebuild their lives. We firmly believe me, the rough sleeper, the abused child, sword. It did exactly what we hoped it now, more than ever, what we did at the the struggling mum, the mentally ill, to would; bring artists and the community Cornerhouse was the right thing to do, and the lonely migrant. This is not just about together with activists, and enable a we will continue to do this. Our community homelessness either, it is about helping sharing of ideologies and effort. However of squats grows, and will resolutely put people learn that the time has come for this came at a cost to many of us personally pressure on the council and the associated a new paradigm. The old one has run its as it tested our bonds of friendship and bodies in Manchester by taking high-profile course, capitalism only fully works for the ideology, and was physically and mentally council buildings and iconic structures in haves, not the have nots. It only serves a draining. I think we would all agree though Manchester. Just as rough sleeping doesn’t small proportion of the global population that it had more positives than negatives. stop overnight, neither will we. and not the many. So now is the time for We are still here solid as a group, at time of Finally, one part of the experience has us to put aside our individual activism writing have three squats and have brought left a bitter taste in the mouth for many issues, come together as one and make in new faces who have given additional of us. Dealing with politicians. We had a change happen. This is the only campaign energy in areas we did not have access to running dialogue with Andrew Lightfoot and it goes on, we only hope that you will before, like film, social media, arts/crafts, (CEO, Combined Authority), Mike start with us today. healing, contact through the MMU and Wright (Strategic Lead for Homelessness, Nick Napier fundraising for three worthy charities. All of Combined Authority) Paul Dennett (Mayor facebook.com/MancActivists Homelessness and the housing crisis 9

your home is at risk...

Social housing is under attack from the blocks are unsafe and it is attempting find it difficult to come together and act privatisation, gentrification, and straight up to decant residents to repair the blocks. in defence of their homes. Tenants with neglect. Thousands of people have found However people are still in dire circumstances no resources are up against multi-million out they live in unsafe blocks which they as there is not enough alternative housing pound developments. Some campaigns had previously been told passed safety available so Ledbury tenants have to “bid” for were starting from scratch in an emergency tests. Others are fighting privatisation flats that come up, which will impact on the with very little pre-existing organisation on and demolition. This article gives a short thousands of people already on the waiting the estate. After decades of badmouthing roundup of some struggles going on list, and tenants have spoken out about of council tenants and working class people around social housing in London. having to “compete against my neighbours.” in general, some people feel that nothing In Haringey the council plans to transfer The gas has been cut off because of the can be changed, or don’t want to see £2 billion of council owned land to a private risk of a gas explosion, but residents are not themselves as council tenants, or believe that company, LendLease. This land includes able to use electric heaters as the supply anything that gets them off the estate must the Broadwater Farm and Northumberland cannot take the increased load so people be an improvement. Long working hours and Park estates, home to thousands of people, are suffering in the cold. The tenants have poverty leave people with little energy for plus a library and school. There have organised a campaign, Ledbury Action, going to meetings and flyposting in the rain. been many allegations against Lendlease and are organising weekly protests. However the different estate campaigns including issues of safety. Where tenants are managing to bring a lot of people will be rehoused, and on what kind of together and give each other confidence. tenancies, has not been spelled out. Throughout the summer people were talking The campaign against the transfer has to each other from estate to estate and been very active and has held several lively sharing advice and information about safety demonstrations in Haringey, but a difficulty Tanner Point in Plaistow is one of many concerns and issues. There are co-ordination is that many tenants do not know about blocks where people discovered they were groups such as Radical Housing Network the plans or believe they will have better living in a tower covered in flammable and different campaign groups support each housing after the redevelopment. Long term material, and would be going on living in other in lots of ways. Council tenants are also neglect of estates can mean people don’t it until the cladding could be removed. working with private tenants groups such as feel enthusiastic about fighting privatisation A march in August in Newham, calling at Digs and the Renters Power Project. and are in favour of “change” even though it various affected blocks, heard a woman The destruction of social housing means may work out badly for them. describe how she kept the bath full of higher rents, more insecurity, worse housing Many blocks failed the more stringent water with blankets beside it so she could conditions and working class people safety tests after the Grenfell fire in wrap herself and her child in wet blankets relegated to the corners and edges of the Kensington but have people still living in if there was a fire. People are having to live city. Although we are up against powerful them who are now in a state of uncertainty in a constant state of stress and anxiety. developers and unaccountable councils, and stress. The four tower blocks in At the same time Grenfell tenants are still and the task at hand feels daunting and Ledbury Estate, Peckham, which are built being housed in hotel rooms and temporary overwhelming, a lot of the problem is our using the same design as Ronan Point, the accommodation. Some have been forced to feelings of isolation and powerlessness, Newham tower block that collapsed in go to food banks and have also experienced and those are more fragile than they appear. 1968, have cracks in the outer walls that abuse and hate mail directed at them after Talking to neighbours and sharing support you can see daylight through. media misreporting of the “luxury flats” they is something we can all do. What can feel After years of complaints from residents were supposedly being given. like concrete walls keeping us apart are which had been brushed aside, Grenfell There are many difficulties in organising sometimes only glass, and can be smashed. finally forced Southwark council to accept in defence of council housing. People Malone 10 Homelessness and the housing crisis elites’ squawking offers nothing to homeless

Recently the National Audit Office (NAO) published a study which was of surprise to no-one — notwithstanding the blustering pretend humbug of neoliberals and Tories — showing that welfare cuts cause homelessness to rise. In reporting it for a 2017 audience the BBC duly pottered up to a government spokesperson for “fair comment,” and were told by a presumably straight-faced PR weasel that they are “investing £550 million to address the issue.” This context-free and highly conditional “we’re bunging money at it” line is, of course, one of the standard slate of PR responses all governments try when the horrible consequences of their inhumanity get an airing on national television. Other tried and tested smokescreens involve telling us they’re “disappointed” in the people making these reports, as though a naughty schoolchild has been caught writing rude words on the class whiteboard. Or talking about some noble-sounding piece of legislation which actually offers very little positive change — in this case, the “Homelessness Reduction Act,” which nominally requires councils to help all eligible applicants rather than just those with a priority need but of course will be neutered by workarounds as councils have no extra Mixed Responses His chatter will be all about the impact real or ongoing resources to do so. When a representative of the big council of cuts to council allowances, a lack of The numbers aren’t really anything and charity institutions responds to a power at local level, the impossibility of we don’t know already. In seven years question from a BBC journalist about the satisfying both Ministers’ demands and there has been a 60% rise in households policies of a government department constituents’ needs. He won’t of course, living in temporary accommodation, overseen by a Tory Minister, there is, most talk about systemic corruption and graft. including 120,540 children. That number likely, no point at which an agenda isn’t Or about dodgy development deals is extraordinarily generous to the being satisfied for a middle to upper-class stitched up by councils of all political hues, government, as it excludes many staying figure making assumptions about people where luxury housing and gentrification with family because they have nowhere they don’t really understand. are not so quietly encouraged because else to go, or who have fallen through The BBC reporter is looking for a snappy they bring in far better rates for the the cracks of the system, or simply don’t narrative — Council vs Commons. Charity coffers. Or about the measures taken qualify for “emergency” rooms. vs Tory. Nice neat quotes from authoritative to push rough sleepers out of sight and Around 4,000-4,500 rough sleepers figures who know the requirements in out of mind, park benches that can’t be were counted last autumn and noted in the studio. At some point, if they find slept on, fines for begging. Shunt those the same study — almost certainly a gross someone photogenic, a case study may homeless out to less powerful regions and underestimate, given the difficulty of be forthcoming about how miserable we can drive the problem elsewhere, they doing comprehensive research on people someone is — the great unwashed aren’t don’t say (but do). who are by their very nature living beyond really suitable to pontificate on the Daily The charity … well let us just see where or actively avoiding the easy notice of Politics live, of course. their money comes from. Who it goes to. bored researchers wandering around The Local Government Association Follow the green paper road until we see town centres. Nevertheless, that snapshot chappie meanwhile is pitching for his the shine of those clutched pearls in the represented a 134% increase since 2010. council chiefs against Westminster. soft hands of their filthy rich executives. Homelessness and the housing crisis 11 elites’ squawking offers nothing to homeless

Late capitalism is homelessness. For places or if unsure of Britain’s complex there to be a rich there must be a poor. laws and technicalities they sleep outside until the winter rolls around. They The rights and wrongs band together in little groups of mutual When Westminster complains that it can’t solidarity against the night, and hustle for raise cash for housing or homelessness, the chance of a roof and a locked door. it’s half right. The logics of managing We The People have never “owned” capitalism are limiting. Even a left Labour most of the land in this system, and government can’t solve the basic problem progressively fewer own any of it, for it of higher taxation resulting in capital flight, has been seized by those most aggressive the pressure of globalised production hoarders of profit — wealth multiplied or the problems brought by massive through ownership. And those space borrowing — eventually it must bow to parasites leveraging their advantages to the needs of “responsible management.” make yet more advantages cannot be When local government complains done away with by capitalism, their greed it’s being stymied by Westminster it’s is protected in its core and heart. thus also half right — pressure journeys We do collectively have the potential downwards from the peak. But such to take it back however — those 200,000 councils are also expected to “manage homes that have sat empty for more than responsibly” using their own bespoke six months, the luxury pads held over taxation and their interests are therefore simply because the wealthy have nothing skewed towards the groups they get most else to do with their cash than buy another of their resources from — businesses, concrete asset, the homes and flats that homeowners. Certainly not from the are gouged monthly for fat rent cheques. homeless, regarded on council balance The numbers, skills and productive sheets as little more than a drain. power are there to not just tinker around When charities complain … well they the edges of a fundamentally unfair always complain. That’s what they’re system but to remake it, throwing off there for, as long as they don’t question the nets that are cobwebs for the rich Pic: Nick Rowland core capitalist principles (they’re legally and steel chains for the poor. It has been bound not to). It’s certainly not their role done before with rent strikes and mass “The government must give more,” these however to make themselves redundant, squatting campaigns. It is done today in scions of wealth cry, as they pick up another or to pass all the money to the poor. An occupations, eviction resistances and bung to deal with the problem at rock- irony is that the Tories say State handouts solidarity with tent sleepers. In fights bottom prices, another contract to deal reduce people’s self-reliance, but a Rees- against the mismanagement of residential damage to the poor they “champion” via Mogg is always there to boast about blocks and assertions of tenants’ rights to workfare or migration stitch-ups. There are the British impulse to charity, a form of control their own homes. none so scathing of the Worthy Institutions aid requiring people to publicly define The war against capitalists’ lust to as those who have to live with them, none themselves as incapable of self-reliance. dominate everything and everywhere so cynical of their intent than those who The State-charity network as a whole cannot be won by letting the rich arbitrate work on the shop floors for penny-pinched acts simply as another cycle in the our destiny based on endless studies wages and are told “but this is a charity” reproduction of capitalism. A 2011 they’ve commissioned which remind us when they complain. Sixty percent of study found that more than 15,000 all about symptoms we already see and donations on admin. Millions sat unspent. charity bosses earn over £60,000 a year refuse point blank to address root causes. But please, “don’t give money to beggars.” in this country, and 55 pick up more It must, and eventually will, come from The “solutions” these people peddle than £250,000 a year to “direct” the below. are self-serving. They stumble around the management of people whose lives they nests of institutional power, endlessly couldn’t possibly understand. These are screaming at each other about the the thoroughly insulated decision-makers. foulness below because they can’t admit that it’s part and parcel of the edifice they On collective self-reliance have built. Homelessness isn’t just a result Meanwhile the homeless themselves try as of poor policy in the management of State best they can to find their own solutions. and capital, it’s business as usual. They squat, they apply for limited hostel 12 The Sparrow’s Nest Archive saving anarchism’s past

Based in Nottingham, the Sparrow’s Nest is the catalogue entries to make it easier for various others, are funded entirely by a key archiving project for the literature of people with particular interests to search. small donations from individuals, and the British anarchist movement. Freedom As well as this, we hold hundreds from the Anarchist Federation and talks to the collective. of books and radical papers relating to Solidarity Federation for our work for struggles in our area, working closely with them, and would like to involve other Could you say a bit about how you got the People’s Histreh project in Nottingham. people who get what we are doing. started and what sort of things you collect? We would like to be able to open more We started in 2007 after visits to libraries and What have been some of your most regularly and do more outreach work. archives in Europe which have emerged important additions? And your favourites? Most of all, we want to work with people out of the “social anarchist” tradition. The most important would be those who are pursuing their research projects. We wanted to establish something of which are uniquely preserved, such as We have realised that people often simply a high standard in Britain for historians internal documents relating to some of don’t know just how much is actually of anarchism, activists and anyone just the groups above. We are particularly possible and how much we have to offer. interested in finding out more. We started fond of the archive of the Syndicalist We would also like people with specific with our own private archives and the Workers’ Federation because of how knowledge to help us curate and interpret works of key anarchist thinkers, and built seriously it took the preservation of its our holdings, e.g. contributing to the data from there helped by generous donations own internal documents. stored in the catalogue as they are working and cost-price purchases from Freedom, Other favourites would include what with the documents. People have also AK, Active Distro, Kate Sharpley and other appears to be an original of issue one used documents for art exhibitions and anarchist publishers. We now curate the of a key anarcho-punk fanzine, Kill Your even found old protest songs to inspire archives of the Anarchist Federation and Pet Puppy, which we will digitise soon. whistling choir compositions. Solidarity Federation and their previous We will always be very attached to incarnations. Large parts of our collections Issue 38 (1964) of Anarchy, which took What next? have been entrusted to us by people in the Nottingham as its theme and connects In 2018 we are organising more events movement who have often spent years us to local legend, the late Ray Gosling (meetings, talks, discussions as well as or decades building up collections and (who gave a notorious lecture at the displays) given that it will not only be approached us to look after them properly Nest), and which we which put back into our tenth anniversary, but also the other and make them accessible. circulation in the city by reproducing it. anniversary of big historic events, so we We have almost complete runs of want to organise events e.g. regarding publications by important historical What’s involved in the digital archive critical interpretations of suffrage (1918, groups/papers such as Anarchy, you’re building, what are you prioritising? 1928), or the events and repercussions Organisation of Revolutionary There are already a couple of thousand of the movements of 1968. So, please Anarchists, Freedom, Class War and documents available online in our join our mailing list to find out more, Black Flag, and left-communist groups Digital Library. We prioritise things and even better, offer to come and give such as Solidarity, Subversion, Wildcat, which are unique and unpublished, not a talk and give us an excuse to display Workers Playtime and Careless Talk. digitised elsewhere, which we use as lots of related materials. We also have thousands of pamphlets, part of our own personal research, and There is something else of importance little-known journals, etc.; snapshots of which are falling to bits. We are always to say about anarchist archives. Projects what anarchists have been thinking and happy to be led in our digitisation like ours aren’t just set up by book getting up to since the 1940s. We hold efforts by the requests of visitors. Much nerds or people avid about anarchist significant collections of publications of our Digital Library has been built up history and ideas (although we are all of which flourished in the late 1970s and after someone was doing some research these things!). The point is to provide a 1980s, such as punk fanzines and the and we digitised items for them. platform for the contribution of ideas, papers of local anarchist groups. examples and experiences to the future. These sorts of materials are available How is the project organised? To help our movement access materials to anyone in our public archive. We also We are a small collective of five or six which it can use to shape the future. carefully “keyword” items and annotate people with support and advice from thesparrowsnest.org.uk

Other physical archives: Kate Sharpley Library (US & Britain), Bishopsgate Library (London), International Institute of Social History (Amsterdam, probably the largest collection in the world) | Online: libcom.org, Anarchy Archives, Do or Die archive, indymedia.org.uk Social centres 13 welcome to partisan

Manchester has been struggling along without a stable radical social centre since 2007, when The Basement was ruined by flooding. So when Partisan Collective announced they had secured space for progressive events and projects it caused quite a stir. Below, collective member Madeline FJ writes about their efforts so far.

The first public meeting for Partisan Collec- tive took place in February 2016 in the city’s Northern Quarter venue and Gulliver’s pub. There was a large response and the first few months were spent by members figuring out what Partisan was going to be. A web- site and social media pages were set up almost immediately to publicise it and at- tract people who would want to contribute. The website made it clear that it would use Leeds’ Wharf Chambers and DIY Space For London to help model itself on. After monthly meetings and a sustained effort to find an appropriate space, a temporary space was found. Working an event) to go ahead. They tend to deal committed to building a lift and a ramp as with an organisation called 3space, a non- with the day-to-day running of the space soon as possible. The space was opened profit urban agency which works with and can also approve new co-op members. before this could be built in order to corporates, government and developers The group communicates through a tool generate funds to allow this to happen. to maximise under-utilised or surplus called Slack, which can be accessed through Accessibility is also maintained in that commercial property, Partisan ran a a smartphone, tablet or computer. Different there are no rules, spoken or unspoken, temporary space for four months from channels for different working groups are set about who you have to be in order to get June to September 2016. It was used up on this. Within the collective there are a involved. There are new people joining all for activist meetings, panel discussions, few working groups including accountability the time, a testament to how welcoming music events, art exhibitions and more. and accessibility, bar and café, community an environment it is. It was a great opportunity to see how outreach, events, finance and fundraising, We’ve found that it’s essential to Partisan came to life in a physical space media, podcasts and sound, which maintain a strong social media presence. and to test how it would be co-ordinated. effectively divides the labour. Anyone can Being in Manchester, it’s been relatively During this time, the collective’s internal get involved in these at any time. easy to reach out and find progressive structure was also organised. The internal In July 2017, after 18 months of searching, people to get involved. But using the structure is as democratic as possible whilst Partisan secured a permanent space on Internet definitely helped. also ensuring that things get done. There is Cheetham Hill Road in the northern part of In summary, not only has Partisan a collective and a co-op. The collective is the city centre, very close to Manchester Collective been a brilliant initiative for a anyone that is signed up as a (paying or non- Victoria station. Partisan occupies the first collectively owned and accessible space paying) member and does regular things floor (as a social space) and a basement for the arts and activism, it has created an like attending meetings and occasional (for gigs) of a listed building. uplifting sense of community between like- volunteering (not that that is compulsory). There have been great efforts to make minded people who have a shared goal for The co-op is made up of a handful of people Partisan accessible both physically and progress. Let’s hope it continues well into who put in four hours a week of work into socially. Since the space is across both a the future and that it inspires others to take Partisan and have to approve decisions first floor and basement, it’s not yet fully similar actions in their own communities. made by the collective for something (e.g. accessible. However, we remain 100% partisancollective.net 14 Role play gaming: Eclipse Phase

For all that “nerd culture” has become hegemonic on our screens, role play games (RPGs) have remained on the fringes of that success with Dungeons and Dragons being the only truly famous example, known for its geekiness. But today’s RPGs encompass far more, spanning everything from horror and the Old West to sci-fi. In that latter category sits Eclipse Phase. By turns utopian and dystopian, it explores themes of transhumanism, AI singularity and post-Earth scenarios. Woven into its fabric is a complex tale about an anarchist-led fight for autonomy against corporate oligarchy. Since its award-winning launch in 2009 EP, as fans know it, has spawned a 404-page introductory work, dozens of subsidiary stories and an astonishingly dense lore. Rob Ray interviewed EP co-creator Rob Boyle for the upcoming launch of their second edition, which drew no fewer than 13,000 backers on Kickstarter and raised £142,000 — quintupling their target.

Given the radical and political nature of EP were you taken by surprise that the RPG community proved so enthusiastic? Not necessarily, there’s a large portion of the RPG community that swings left, and quite a few that are interested in games as a way to explore sociological or political issues, especially in “indie RPG” circles. We’ve definitely attracted some attention for our openly political nature, but it’s mostly been positive. There’s a heavy right-libertarian streak in transhumanist circles, and we draw some of that crowd, so we occasionally get some flak for portraying anarchism positively. JUST A PHASE? That said, I think Eclipse Phase was well- timed with its initial release, following a wave of great transhuman fiction (Stross, If I had to highlight my specific The use of extravagant homebrew high tech MacLeod, Sterling, Morgan, etc.). It’s hard influences I would say Murray in anarchist zones places them as main foil to break ground with sci-fi games, but we Bookchin, for his approaches towards to the hypercorps. Was that intended as a hit the point where cyberpunk was too confederalism, technology, and social hub of story creation? synonymous with reality — it was time ecology, and probably the entire German Definitely, we wanted to illustrate for the next thing. autonomist/antifa movement, for its both the dangers of technology used non-dogmatic approach to synthesising for control but also the possible How would you say anarchist theory has radical ideas. Anarchist science writer uses for liberation. So we detail how had an influence over the project? Any Brian Martin probably impacted some nanofabrication tech can create an theorists and thinkers in particular? of my views on scientific responsibility. almost post-scarcity situation where I first identified as an anarcho- Overall, politically, I think my ideas have people are liberated from basic needs communist back in high school in the been strongly shaped by the Sojourner and how mesh networking, AI assistants, 1980s, and through the ’90s and beyond Truth Organisation, active in the ’70s-80s, and real-time online polling can facilitate I was heavily involved with anarchist who have had a larger impact than I think more cooperative and consensus-based publishing and organising projects. EP most modern anarchists realise. I should organisational models. And, frankly, we co-creator Brian Cross also identifies as probably also give a shout out to James wanted to show how capitalism aims to an anarchist, and he has a background Hughes and George Dvorsky, who helped perpetuate cycles of work and bondage as a sociology professor. We obviously shape and cohere the technoprogressive so elites can hoard wealth and power, injected a lot of our outlook. side of transhuman politics. even when it’s entirely unnecessary. Role play gaming : Eclipse Phase 15

Could you run through your thinking corporate technology, gone rogue, and and sometimes having it forced upon around the anarchists being portrayed? taken advantage of a space exploration them by the game director, we definitely I think we’re all well aware of the resource rush to establish their own create a situation where players often difficulties of social revolution. For EP, we autonomous zones and then open have to think about the ramifications of looked at the likelihood of future space sourcing the tech. body dysmorphia, and so put them in a expansion and resource exploitation and In EP we’ve assumed that self- spot where they have to think about what saw an opportunity there for autonomists improving artificial super-intelligences transgender people feel on a daily basis. to establish their own presence outside are more likely to appear before super- We’ve gotten some attention from of capitalist control. The vast distances intelligent augmented humans, so that’s transgender sociologist Katherine Cross and time scale of space travel make it been made the primary threat. for that (she is contributing to Eclipse challenging to exercise dominance over Phase’s second edition). remote outposts and the technologies What did you hope for in the use of available make it possible for autonomists disposable bodies (sleeves) and a Have you got any tasty teasers for what’s in to establish self-reliant colonies. So they “humanity” essentially uploaded onto the store for the autonomists? were able to thrive without interference. web as a core feature of storytelling? We have received some criticism that And, of course, they are an attractive Well the main element here was to explore our depiction of autonomist space is safe haven for refugees, escaped that sort of functioning immortality. For sometimes “too utopian,” so in the future indentures, and others sick of corporate RPGs character death is a pretty big deal, we’ll be focusing a bit more on some of exploitation. The Fall of Earth in the and many game directors will avoid it so the problems that might arise within a setting (during a war with self-aware as not to upset players who have invested transhuman anarchist society, which is I AIs) helped to boost their populations, lots of time and emotional energy into think a good exercise for us as radicals. and also threw the forces of capitalism their characters. into disarray. By the time new capitalist So for many players the option to n A longer version of this article is available powers had arisen, the autonomists come back after you die is quite novel, at freedomnews.org.uk were entrenched and a significant even if there are repercussions in the counter-power. Capitalist expansion form of lost memories or remembering hasn’t grown to the point where the two your death (depending on how your are forced into direct conflict yet. backup was restored). This of course has Regarding human augmentation, how has EP some interesting effects on gameplay — tended to handle the threat that in the future, it is not uncommon for PCs to sacrifice a heavily upgraded, functionally-immortal themselves for others, for example. elite might eventually simply out-tech us? The secondary aspect was to really dive We’ve taken the view that technology into the idea of switching bodies. While empowers everyone, not just the for gaming purposes this means you get ruling elites. Yes, the elites have more to treat your body as customisable gear, resources and gain early access, but the whole idea of literally becoming a there are several mechanisms countering new person, with a potentially different that. First is the cyberpunk maxim that sex, ethnicity, or number of limbs — or the street makes its own uses for things, possibly a synthetic, virtual, or nonhuman meaning that even technology deployed body — is a really great storytelling for purposes of control is often subverted exercise. There is just so much you can and repurposed. do with that. Second is that hierarchical systems of control are slow and cumbersome You mention in the first edition that use in relation to agile and flexible of sleeves has the effect of essentially decentralised systems, which is why eliminating sex (indeed most biological social-media-coordinated uprisings attributes) as a discriminatory factor. Has have led to toppled regimes and 4th- this had any interesting feedbacks? gen guerrilla warfare networks are able Yes, prejudicial notions become all to mix it up with the world’s advanced the more quaint when people can take militaries. And even as technology whatever form they want. My personal advances, we see that hierarchical sense is that with other games, you often systems are riddled with vulnerabilities. have players (usually men) who simply And even as the elites develop always stick with the same gender advanced technologies, it’s important to (usually male) when making characters. remember that they do not have access With EP, players are much more willing to it first — the scientists, engineers, to take on characters with different programmers, and other workers that gender, sex, or other characteristics, and make it do. So in Eclipse Phase we had a to then repeatedly change that as they number of elements who have taken this go. By putting it out there in the forefront, 16 Neoliberalism and climate models of climate chaos A technical look at neoliberal crisis dogmas

The creed of neoliberalism redefines Working group One labour, land and the climate. It’s politically The role of the IPCC’s Working Group dominant and reinforces capitalism’s One is to assess on a “comprehensive, demand that Earth’s climate be construed objective and transparent basis — the as part of nature as an external object scientific, technical and socio-economic — a computer-modelled system. The information for the risk of human induced neoliberal state builds upon this concept climate change, its impacts and options and engineers it into rentable, marketable for adaptation and mitigation.” units, transforming the meaning of This quote highlights an objectivity “climate” and its relationship to capital. requirement, both in the assessment of The neoliberalist “climate” sees humans scientific information as well as in the as transcending nature and nature as information itself. It suggests that objectivity belonging to us. The concrete ways in in assessment of the science in climate which it has externalised the climate have modelling can help us to understand the provided materials for innovations such biases involved when looking at the risk as climate rent and climate commodities. of human-induced climate change and its By regarding our climate as a chaotic but impact on adaptation/mitigation strategies. ultimately modellable form (technically In short the objective assessment of the termed as “global coupled models,” or science should be able to influence policy GCMs), pollution has been made abstract, decision making and the desiratum is that with compensations and equivalences science and its assessment in Working Group put in service to override local barriers to One are both apt and objective policies. extraction, production and circulation. The group guidance note further advises that even with mathematical methods to Pic: Ted McGrath What created the neoliberal climate? determine uncertainties, its statements still Modelling experts have updated older require the use of expert judgment. So the in the uncertainty estimate, but that nature/society, fact/value, science/policy physically-based sciences need a subjective expert judgment is used throughout. dichotomies into a single system/context process (expert judgment) to provide a This in turn shows that the whole of the dualism linked to capitalist production comprehensive uncertainty statement to, science involved in climate modelling can management. Shaped by the rise of for example, assess the range of projected be seen as subjective and not objective. computing, climatology went through global mean temperature increases for a Treating the planet as a system amenable a revolution. GCMs produced a climate particular emissions scenario. to management has still presented nature system as well as an external context, or The challenge here is to arrive at an as a-historical, something predictable social system, into which everything — uncertainty range from a synthesis of the and controllable. The systems approach political decisions, individual preferences, available information. Expert judgment represented a new way to help neoliberals class struggle, ideologies — was placed. is part of the end of the synthesis of an address all social issues through price But the new system/context dichotomy, uncertainty range. It is important to discovery. This is how the neoliberal “climate” like the older nature/science one, is plagued realise that though expert judgment is a became integrated with the economy. with contradictions. subjective process, in the eyes of the IPCC A working example is from the most it is the that judgement which provides an Effects recent report from the Intergovernmental increase in objectivity via their “expertise.” These political mechanics cannot be Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which One can therefore consider the need of anything but trouble. As we have seen was formed in 1988 in order to make regular objective science to be upheld by expert the science/policy process models for assessments on climate change. These judgment on the standard model as optimising climate change, so-called truth studies include the scientific basis for prescribed by the IPCC. However there is machines, culminate in contradiction. climate change, its impacts and future risks no formal available procedure specified in Thus the economist’s view of and aim to articulate potential adaptation the guidance note. As a consequence the climate comes into conflict with that of and mitigation to policy makers. In effect subjectivity in the process may override climatologists. However the onset of the IPCC endorses a conception of science- any increase in objectivity. chaotic outcomes (New Orleans, Puerto based policy. Its fifth report (IPCCAR5) is Frigg et al show that the subjectivity in Rico) paved the way for new waves of its most contemporary to date. climate modelling does not only happen disaster capitalism: creative destruction. Climate/ The joys of travel 17 models of climate chaos

Environmental policy in the neoliberal era sees the value of nature as dependent on applications of economic/ecological expertise to an external non-human entity, rather than as the historical interactions of commoners and commons.

What is wrong? From an ecological Marxist, indigenous Pic: Mark Robinson or feminist perspective, neoliberal natures look more like an elaboration of their industrial forbears rather than an alternative. Practices of treating the learning from climate not as a neutral backdrop to human activities but as an integral part of many moral/political orders tend to be ignored. Furthermore political action, now our travels relegated to a rudimentary interface between the two structures and mainstream climate I love being an anarchist. Why? Because bookstores in London, the antifascist politics, becomes a matter of border controls whatever bigger city you go to, you’re gyms in Athens. between nature and society and not about bound to find a liberated space inhabited It’s truly incredible what we can come up questioning them. New rents, commodities by your siblings-in-arms. It’s like you’re with, and to every problem that the elites and markets which help define the neoliberal part of a big family — always bickering, and capitalism confront us with, the radically climate are constructed and maintained but when the worst comes to worst free are quick to find a creative solution. overwhelmingly through the expanded you always have each other’s backs. With the means of oppression globalising, activities of the State and international And you can rely on the fact that if you’re our resistance has to follow the same agencies. In keeping with neoliberal tenets, stranded in strange territory, there is development. the new climate is built in ways that help always someone who will share a beer and We have to connect with each other State and corporate actors evade much of local knowledge with you, and if you’re in and learn about things that already exist in the burden of social problems that markets need of it, a couch. You’re family, after all. our own environment, and those that are are now advertised as cheaply solving. But despite all of us sharing the same yet to come. Union busting, to name one general goals — liberation, solidarity and example, is rampant in the US, and elites What can be done? all that — you can find different ways of in Germany and the UK are going heads The very understanding of neoliberal working towards them wherever you go. If over heels to apply the same tactics here. climate requires a point of resistance. To you cross a national border and meet with We need more connection between understand is to resist neoliberalism and its the anarchists there, you will find that they activist communities, locally and globally. forerunner capitalisms. As Larry Lohmann have entirely other methods of abolishing International — or rather antinational — puts it in Neoliberalism’s Climate: “Putting that border than your own group might. conferences and actions are something in perspective the neoliberal claim that It makes sense, of course. Different we cannot leave to our enemies only. Let’s it can provide alternative, cheaper ways environments require different tactics. spend some of our funds on sending each of preserving and stabilising a singular But on my travels I saw some things other greeting cards of love and rage, so timeless non-human climate “needed by that might work just as well in Cologne that when global capitalism attempts to humanity entails listening to indigenous, as they do in Belfast or Barcelona — we crush us, we have the united power of peasant, labour, feminist and commons simply hadn’t thought of them before! anarchists everywhere to fight back. movements with the experience to perceive The things we can learn from each From Europe to South America to the classicism, racism and neo-colonialism other are almost infinite. Ask the Asia and everywhere else — we are the inherent in such construals of nature.” libertarios of Barcelona Sants about Antinationale! Uzma Malik resisting eviction and how to connect La Maupin with a working-class neighbourhood. Ask Sinistra Anticapitalista in Italy about how to work against the housing crisis. Learn about the squatting hotlines in Brescia, syndicated strike action in Paris, the newspapers in Madrid, the radical 18 Economics Mind the gap!

The 2017 snap election was notable for of the privatised utilities have increased The Tories have no ideas and are many things, not least the Tory party itself far faster — the average gas bill by 73%, simply, at best, offering watered-down proclaiming that its policies have not electricity by 72%, and water by 41%. It versions of ideas first raised by Labour. worked. Well, it did not quite say that — the has become so bad that, after denouncing That the opposition are setting the agenda problems it admitted existed seemed to the energy-cap proposed by Ed Miliband is significant: “There is no alternative” have no cause, they just were. No mention as Marxist madness, the Tories recently convinces fewer and fewer, particularly of who was in office for the past seven years embraced it — much to the horror of as it meant a new form of feudalism. nor whose ideology had dominated the company bosses. Invoking the 1970s will not counteract a political landscape since 1979. As for water, consumers are paying life-experience of being ripped-off daily Yet, at the same time, the Tories were around £2.3 billion more a year in water in the world the Tories have created. keen to portray the dangers of a Labour and sewerage bills to the privatised We are faced with the gap between victory that would undermine “our strong companies than if they had remained rhetoric and reality. This system of economy,” “prosperity” and “strong in state ownership and almost all the economic contradictions will continue economic fundamentals.” How can you industry’s post-tax income is paid out in until such time as we end it, by our own have that when increasing numbers of dividends, while capital expenditure is efforts. The task is to convince people people are finding it harder to make ends financed by borrowings (now standing at that they need to act for themselves, to meet or joining the “just-about-managing” £42bn when there was no debt burden at fight for what they need by their own is left unasked, never mind unanswered. the time of privatisation). direct action and solidarity. The economy exists, surely, to ensure So the gap increases between product More — we must raise libertarian people’s needs are meet? Not under and pay, between profits and people. alternatives to both private and State capitalism — hence the contradictions in Property is theft is still true — how else capitalism: instead of privatisation/ the Tory campaign, contradictions which can the many enrich the few? nationalisation, we must urge reflect the nature of capitalism itself. The Tories are caught by the socialisation rather than replacing The Tory mantra that being in work as contradictions of capitalism, stuck in the boss with the bureaucrat (or vice the best way out of poverty rings hollow the gap between reality and rhetoric. versa); water companies owned by their when used to answer the question of why Capitalism is not freedom as it is based consumers and run by their workers; so many people in work are in poverty on despotism in production — the worker railways under workers’ control with (child poverty has been steadily increasing sells their liberty and labour to the boss strong links to passenger associations; since 2010, with two-thirds of poor children who, in return for ordering them around, solving the housing crisis must go beyond in working families). Britain was unique keeps the product of that toil. Property is replacing the private landlord with a amongst developed nations for having monopolised by the few and so any “free State official, tenants must control their economic growth but falling real wages agreement” in such circumstances will homes collectively and individually; (wages fell almost 10% in 2007-14). benefit the stronger party — as shown co-operatives should be favoured over Wages, moreover, have not risen in line by neo-liberalism. And as inequality capitalist firms in both production and with productivity so far this century, yet rises, social mobility stagnates alongside consumption… marginal productivity theory is still taught in wages. The biggest gap remains, as ever, that universities as if it explained the real world. Some kind-hearted liberals proclaim all between what is and what could be. We Ironically, as the economy was forced, this as examples of “market failure” but are a rich country which could provide by State intervention, to more closely no: it is how capitalism is meant to work. well-being for all but the distribution of approximate the economics textbooks That the resulting inequality undermines wealth and power is so dysfunctional by means of anti-union laws, so the link society and the economy is just one of even the Tories have to pay lip-service between productivity and wages ended. many contradictions facing capitalism. to doing something about it. The answer The share of wages in UK GDP has fallen Little wonder May and Hammond have to the social question remains, as ever, in from a peak of 76.2% in 1975 to 65.8% in been left defending the abstract notion our hands and not in those of politicians, 2015, which is the real fear underlying all the of a “free market” capitalist economy — regardless of how nice or radical they talk of Labour taking us “back to the 1970s.” mere months after proclaiming that they seem. The answer lies in whether we The impact of Thatcherism can also be did “not believe in untrammelled free remain content to let others act on our seen outside of production. While average markets” — in the face of an opposition behalf or whether we take control of our pay packets increased by 19% in nominal which simply seeks to save capitalism fates. rather than real terms since 2006, the bills from itself. Iain McKay Freedom Report 19 freedom 2017 report

In common with much of the rest of the Bookshop Financially we’re looking, on a small world, it seems, Freedom had an intense People may notice fewer familiar faces scale, pretty healthy with stocks of 2017 with a major fundraising drive which around at the moment, as several old everything current and enough left over was launched this time last year, extensive hands have left, prompting a look at how for entirely new works which we have personnel changes and what has become we work and keep the place running. planned for 2018. a root and branch reorganising of how we The good news is that we’ve had a work. number of new people come forward Media over the last couple of months and have We brought out two free journals in 2017 The Big Rebuild been cooking up some big plans for what with the help of Aldgate Press, one for In 2016 the Freedom building at 84b to do with the space. May 1st and one for the Bookfair. It’s Whitechapel High St was hit with a very We remain self-sustaining and have a project we’d like to expand on, but scary-looking estimate for works needing expanded our range of books considerably. distribution and energy remain, as ever, doing, particularly on the roof and outer We’re looking for volunteers to come the major factors. We’re always open to walls, totalling £40,000. After a fraught forward with more suggestions and have help and contributions, and you can get debate over the future of the space, the started an “adopt a shelf” initiative so in touch at the address below. various building users agreed to launch a people who really know their stuff can Online meanwhile we’ve managed fundraiser aiming to pick up £13,000 for help us maintain our status as the best to maintain a daily newswire over at initial vital works. anarchist bookshop in Whitechapel. freedomnews.org.uk and have been We formally launched it last October, slowly building a reputation for covering and cannot express our gratitude enough Publishing anarchist stories you’re not likely to find to the anarchist community, which in a It’s been a year of updating, expanding elsewhere. year where many anarchist causes were and republishing as we’ve brought out We’re very nearly there with a major in need came through magnificently — three titles for 2017 — Anarchism & The overhaul of the site which should we’re now in a position to start Year One State, The Slow Burning Fuse and deep make it much more accessible, and are works and are looking for people with ecology and anarchism. welcoming a new editor. building expertise to help manage the Each represents an important There’s plently of room for writers, project (please do get in touch via shop@ contribution to anarchist theory and more editors and people to commission freedompress.org.uk if you have that sort history from different eras, and we’ve content and we’re committed to building of experience, we’d love to hear from gone the extra mile to expand, update the site into a go-to platform for the you). and explain each one. movement in Britain and beyond.

how freedom works Freedom consists of both a collective The Building Group engaged in publishing and book selling, Consists of organisations which have and a building which houses several rooms within 84b. The Group covers progressive groups: business rates, utilities etc, and acts as a aBOUT US forum for discussion on works needing First established in 1886 by Charlotte Wil- The Freedom Collective doing and ideas for actitvities. Members son as a voice for the anarchist tradition, Currently an all-volunteer, non-profit include Freedom, the Advisory Service Freedom has published more or less er- association consisting of three working for Squatters, Corporate Watch, Haven ratically ever since, making it the oldest groups who work in the Freedom Distribution, SolFed, AFed and the such organisation in the English-speaking Bookshop, on freedomnews.org.uk and National Bargee Travellers Association. world. in the publishing of related books and Alongside our own extensive back journals. Some mandated roles exist The Friends of Freedom catalogue we stock thousands of within the collective, but all decisions Set up in 1982, the Friends are a books, papers and pamphlets, as well are made via monthly meetings working dormant company holding the building as the latest magazines, periodicals on the basis of consensus where in trust for Freedom Press and the and newsletters from all the major possible, free vote if not. wider movement. anarchist and radical groups. contacts: [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected] out now www.freedompress.org.uk John Quail’s History of the british anarchists A superbly researched history of the early movement, running from its emergence in the 1870s through to its first major downturn in the 1930s. Quail’s story is one of utopias created in imagination and half-realised in practice, of individual fights and movements for freedom and selfexpression — a story still being written today. Now expanded with biographies by Nick Heath, timeline, full index and even photos of some of the famous figures who appear in the book.

ISBN: 978-1-904491-27-9 404 pages £13 also from freedom press... DEEP ECOLOGY & ANARCHISM WHY WORK? byvarious authors by various authors Provocative collection of essays A thoughtful historic contribution to what Freedom Press, 2017 by writers from the 19th century has belatedly become that most mainstream ISBN: 978-1-904491-28-6 through to today, dissecting work, of questions — how do we save ourselves b&w, 140 pp its form under capitalism and the from the havoc we’re wreaking on our own rrp: £6.50 possibilities for a society producing living environment? for needs, rather than mere avarice. Why do some of us still slog until we drop in an age of vast automated Freedom Press, 2016 CLASS STRUGGLE AND MENTAL HEALTH production, while others starve for ISBN: 978-1-904491-25-5 by LIBCOM.ORG CONTRIBUTORS “lack of work?” Where is the leisure society that was promised? B&W, 184 PP rrp: £7 Libcom’s helpful collection brings together Freedom Press, 2015 accounts from anarchists around the globe ISBN: 978-1-904491-24-8 For our catalogue of Freedom titles check out about what it means to suffer from mental b&w, 40 pp freedompress.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ illness and what we, as individuals and a rrp: £4 movement, can do about it. Catalogue-web.pdf

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