Published by Organise!, 40 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7FF On June 8, the Euro Cup opened in a massive scale, there are cuts in social where many workers are not Warsaw. The city was full of football fans, services and exorbitant price increases - all organized and are beaten with media, police, military police and in the name of „austerity‟. defeatism in a country with conciliatory unions, is creating more protestors. Our comrades from ZSP also pointed out and more social problems. Femen, the anarcho-syndicalist ZSP and the that the general contractor which built the Tenants Defense Committee organised National Stadium in Warsaw had just A guillotine was produced and the Spectacle protests against the politics of the Euro. The declared bankruptcy. Leaving “a whole line demonstrators declared that if the ZSP and Tenants Defence Committee of subcontractors and workers” who have politicians continue protecting the interests protested about the huge amounts of money not been paid. of the rich and elites, at the expense of spent on the Euro. Who will benefit? Well, working people, they might have to use it: These workers: unsurprisingly, UEFA (tax exempt in Poland) Instead of more social cuts, the only along with a few businesses. Almost 26 threatened to block the opening of thing we want cut are the heads of the Euro, but didn't. The workers at billion Euro has been spent on this spectacle the government. and working people are footing the bill. the stadium for the Euro, who are Children go hungry as the city privatises being cheated and receive less money The protestors described the city: school cafeterias, schools and nurseries have than promised, threatened to strike - as one big Potemkin village, been closed, the poor are being evicted on but didn't. This sort of situation, decorated for the games and trying to hide its misery. And this misery is growing all the time. The Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN also staged a topless protest against the Euro 2012 championship in front of Warsaw's National Stadium. Within minutes, all four protesters, armed with fire extinguishers, were arrested.

Top right: ZSP and the FEMEN is opposed to Euro 2012 because of Tenants Defense the fears that the tournament will lead to an Committe picket the increase in prostitution in Poland and the opening of the Euro Ukraine, where the Cup is being co-hosted 2012. (for more on FEMEN see pages 7-10). Background photo: As capitalism continues to bite, our „betters‟ flegs and bunting with the rest of them. Not The Queen‟s Jubilee is a sickening advertising for the Members of the ZSP and the Tenants Euro 2012 on derelict Defense Committee joined protests at the have been treating us to a series of to mention the copious amounts of alcohol celebration of privilege, a hangover of housing in Warsaw. police station holding the FEMEN activists to expensive spectacles to distract us from our required to wash it all down. Besides we all feudalism in a time when capitalism is Bottom left: FEMEN had a good aul blow out for Ireland‟s wee reducing many of us below the position of demand their release. increasing misery. protest the opening of stint in Euro 2012 now didn‟t we. wage slaves to that of slaves plain and The Titanic centenary, the London Olympics, simple. While the poor and ill in our society the European Championship and the red, And yet some still have the temerity to raise are demonised as scroungers and frauds white and blue flag waving „pageantry‟ of their voices to declare „Capitalism has no this woman and her family actually are Always Crusaders the Queens Jubilee continue to bombard our clothes‟. real benefits scroungers (see pg 3). senses giving „national pride‟ a boost while Always Antifa the rich get on with the business of robbing While Sinn Fein wax lyrical about equality The Olympics have witnessed London, a city us blind. we see no equality. While Jackie McDonald marred by huge levels of inequality, turned asks us all to turn a blind eye to sectarian At the match where north Belfast team beat Derry City for the all into a police state with missiles installed on For those who prefer their patriotic commemorations we see no end to Ireland cup local Crusaders fans unveiled a banner behind the top of apartments by the MoD (see pg 3). distractions in different colours there is even sectarianism. nets reading Always Crusaders - Always Antifa. some sort of „cross community‟ element to all Behind the carefully choreographed „feel- Welcomed by the fans the response from some other anti-fascist this. The Olympic flame was paraded The truth is that all these celebrations, good factor‟ we find ourselves on the side football supporters was perplexing to say the least. Many through Dublin. The Titanic‟s heritage circuses and spectacles are a very thin veil of the begrudgers who aren‟t buying in. seemed a little upset that the Crues fans had an antifa on display. belongs to us all. Ach, and sure, anti- for the real nature of what is going on. We don‟t want to piss on anyone‟s excuse Something was perhaps unsettling their view of their opponents in monarchical sentiment is off the agenda for Behind the hype, the glitz, the ‟titanic for a piss-up but we really aren‟t feeling north Belfast‟s „prod‟ team as fascists. even dyed in the wool republicans as thinkers‟, titanic restaurant awards, the real too good. From the Levellers point of view the waving of fascist flags at Deputy First Minister McGuinness rises to the story of the Titanic is one of wage slavery, Crues matches in the past is something that should make an antifa challenge of welcoming the „foreign‟ Queen exploitation and murder on a massive scale The pretty colours, big screens, proud presence all the more welcome. for the sake of peace. So everyone can just (see pg 12). It is a disaster that provides a heritage, royality, tradition nor pomp can Confusion, which can come across as deliberate, of the Northern settle down, get back to all the pomp, chilling insight into the nature of capitalism. distract us from our very real circumstance. Ireland flag with a „fascist‟ flag helps no-one in the struggle ceremony, nice distracting bright lights, One hundred years later fuck all has against fascism and nationalism of all stripes. changed. Jason Brannigan Millions ‘One Push Organise! And Youth Fight For Jobs Contacts

Anger In Organise! From Penury’ Take Action Against Slave Labour 40 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7FF Challenging the coalition governments worker at Boots was not too impressed. [email protected] assertion that people are better off in work Dublin She repeatedly threatened the picket with Anarchists for Choice research (commissioned by the Guardian) police and told us we had best be on our has found that 2.2m children are living in [email protected] way “before they got here”. households on “economic cliff-edge”. At Sick ‘Pro-Life’ The cops did arrive, checked out the picket Revolutionary Anarcha-Feminist There are close to 7 million working-age and as there was nothing illegal about the Advertising Group (RAG) adults are living in extreme financial stress protest refused to move us on. The PO Box 10785, Dublin 1. “one small push from penury” despite being previously gobby security guard chose to http://ragdublin.blogspot.com in employment and largely independent of skulk red-faced in the shop after that. Campaign benefits. Solidarity Federation Under the guise of „helping the unemployed Unlike the „middle-classes‟ these 3.6m British section of the anarcho- back into work‟ the government is rolling out Youth Defence have provoked anger with not being representative of women‟s syndicalist IWA households in Britain have little or no various workfare schemes that will provide savings, no equity in their homes: their new „pro-life‟ advertising campaign. feelings following a termination, and only PO Box 17773, London, SE8 4WX free labour for their rich corporate serving to increase the shame and stigma and struggle at the end of each month friends. Many charities and even trade The bill board adverts they have paid to [email protected] surrounding the issue of abortion. to feed themselves and their children unions – who should know better – have plaster all over the city claim “abortion Workers Solidarity Movement adequately. been hoodwinked into supporting these tears her life apart” and that, despite the Stephanie Lord said they had received: (Irish Platformist Group) schemes. evidence to the contrary, there is “always Unable to cope on their current incomes, A number of angry and offended PO Box 1528, Dublin 8. a better answer”. with no assets to fall back on, they are left emails about these billboards. [email protected] vulnerable to “something as simple as an The republic‟s advertising standards www.wsm.ie unexpectedly large fuel bill”. agency has been flooded with complaints Some of the emails are from women who have had abortions themselves Alliance for Choice about the hundreds of posters on bill Contrary to the notions of the work and and who object to the message the Abortion Rights Group in Northern pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, the On 19th of May Organise! And Youth Fight boards, bus stops, buses and trams across For Jobs picketed Holland and Barrett and the city. In an effort to increase the billboards convey. These billboards do Ireland findings prove that getting a job does not not speak for them. For a woman who Boots to oppose the use of free labour by stigma faced by women in Ireland http://allianceforchoiceni.org ensure your children are not brought up in has had ast this every day, it’s just poverty. both companies. considering, or having had, an abortion Choice Ireland they have produced two styles of poster. horrible. The research has brough to light the Across the UK Holland and Barrett have Abortion rights action group in the One showing the face of a distraught Youth Defence plan to cover the whole of existence of what has been called “the new been using free labour to cut their staff Republic of Ireland young woman and the other a foetus the Republic in these offensive and mis- working class - except the work they do no costs. The picket was part of a day of [email protected] sucking its thumb, both are emblazoned informed posters. We have a photo below longer pays”. Having a job is no protection action against the company called by with the same slogan. of just what should be done with this http:choiceireland.org against homelessness and destitution despite SolFed (the British section of the anarcho- garbage just as soon as it is spotted! the spin from Cameron of a „fair‟ society in syndicalist IWA). As long as this practice is Choice Ireland have criticised the ads for Just Books Collective which „work pays‟. Austerity measures have continued pickets will continue to turn away Distributing radical books since 1978 created a new generation of working poor, customers from their stores across the UK. now developing a community and struggling with debt and fearful that they Afterwards Organise! joined the Youth Fight labour education programme called could lose the jobs they do have. For Jobs picket of Boots on Donegall Place. ‘Just Learning’ Another report, by Oxfam, has found that The picket was to expose the rolling out of 40 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7FF more people in poverty are working than a scheme across Britain and Ireland which Email: [email protected] are unemployed. The amount of people will give young people the „opportunity‟ to work 9-4 every day for two weeks and Libcom working and claiming housing benefit has Libertarian communist online double since 2005. The report also found receive only their dole money. Boots will not even pay for travel or any other expenses. “You’d better be going before the police get here”. resource with forums, library and that more and more working people were The cops came, we stayed, the security guard turning to charities to help them make ends Both pickets were well received by the global news disappeared. http://libcom.org meet. public, however the underpaid security Seomra Spraoi the right to strike is a choice, and in Dublin Social Centre Low paid to be punished for taking future benefit claimants will have to 10 Belvedere Court, Dublin 1. pay the price for that choice, as under http://www.seomraspraoi.org universal credit, we no longer will. Industrial Action Shell to Sea Campaign to move Shell’s gas In an attack on the rights of the most strike action. Duncan Smith pipeline offshore from County Mayo vulnerable workers to defend themselves intends to take that away, http://www.shelltosea.com Iain Duncan Smith plans to take money off pushing those forced to take us for taking industrial action. action in defence of services, Solidarity Books The new Universal Credit model of benefit terms and conditions, and jobs 43 Douglas Street, Cork. payments, part of a massive overhaul of the into greater poverty. http://www.solidaritybooks.org/ benefits system, includes plans to restrict This is a blatant attack on the about/ payments to those who take industrial right to strike and organise. Email: [email protected] Struggles for better pay will see action. Warzone Collective Presently, workers who earn under £13,000 workers put into even greater financial hardship than at The Centre, Little Victoria Street, are able to claim Working Tax Credit Belfast (WTC) to top up their wages, workers can present. Thankfully some people have been taking direct action against the offensive and costly claim WTC against the first 10 days of Duncan Smith reckons that: Striking for a “living wage” and we‟ll stop your benefits - advertising campaign being conducted across the Republic by Youth Defence www.warzonecollective.com thats the message to the working poor from Ian Duncan Smith Email: [email protected] Department of Work and Pensions Slaving for Attempt to Gag Union Her Majesty

The PCS poster campaign is a response Unpaid jobseekers were bussed in hundreds to what the union says is an insensitive of miles to work with-out pay on the royal management propaganda campaign river pageant during jubilee celebrations in aimed at people who take time off sick. London. Fran Heathcote, president of the PCS Thirty unpaid jobseekers and another 50 on DWP group, said „apprentice wages‟ were bussed from Bristol, Bath and Plymouth and made to This is as an attack on the union’s sleep under London Bridge before working independence. on the river „pageant‟ as part of the The posters are no different in government‟s Work Programme. The content to those we’ve used „apprentice wages‟ were £2.80 per hour! before and we can see no Two jobseekers, who did not want to be justification for them being identified in case they lost their benefits, banned. told the Guardian that they had to camp under London Bridge the night before the Separately, PCS is to hold a consultative pageant. They had to change in public, had ballot on 25th June among some of its no access to toilets for 24 hours, and were members in government call centres in a taken to a swampy campsite outside London campaign over working conditions. Managers in government call centres have after working a 14-hour shift in the pouring been taking down union posters (pictured) rain on the banks of the Thames. that expose the brutal way workers are told to treat people on benefits. As the £12m river spectacle of a 1,000- boat flotilla and members of the Royal Claiming the notices were offensive and an family sailed by stewards „employed‟ by incitement to take industrial action Duncan the security firm Close Protection UK, were Smith‟s lackeys in the Department of Work given plastic see-through ponchos and high- and Pensions (DWP) have been tearing the visibility jackets for protection against the posters down. rain. The PCS posters were on union notice One woman, after being picked up in with boards and highlight the real experiences other jobseekers in Bristol at 11pm on the of workers in DWP call centres – including Saturday and arrived in London at 3am on one who was told off for wishing an Sunday: unemployed person “good luck” (pictured, below). We all got off the coach and we were stranded on the side of the road for While the posters do refer to the number of 20 minutes until they came back and callers who threaten suicide because of cuts told us all to follow them. We to disability benefits they do not mention followed them under London Bridge industrial action. and that's where they told us to camp out for the night … It was raining and London freezing. Told to get their heads down on the cold, wet concrete under London Bridge they Olympics were woken again at 5.30am. While the men changed under the bridge a female Its not just all great mums and big screens in steward said: city centres across the UK, its also about They had told the ladies we were forced relocation of working-class and getting ready in a minibus around the Traveller communities, military manoeuvres corner and I went to the minibus and and the installation of missile across London. they had failed to open it so it was Working conditions during building work locked. I waited around to find have been criticised, the London someone to unlock it, and all of the Development Association has cleared out other girls were coming down trying to local residents using Compulsory Purchase get ready and no one was bothering Orders and moved Travellers onto “leftover to come down to unlock [it], so some space” at Hackney Marshes. of us, including me, were getting Clays Lane residents were moved out while undressed in public in the freezing cold businesses being relocated got their legal and rain. expenses paid. Residents got no such She said: assistance. „Redevelopment‟ has meant that London was supposed to be a nice local residents have lost green space and experience, but they left us in the rain. free sporting facilities as it is this land that They couldn't give a crap … No one is has been sold off to be developed. supposed to be treated like that, [working] for free. I don't want to be The military have installed missiles across Missiles over London - installed by the MOD for the the city on top of flats and apartment Olympics. treated where I have to sleep under a blocks. bridge and wait for food. In industrial action reminiscent of the Austurias revolt of 1934 miners have been taking on austerity and the Spanish state in the region. Austurias Around 8,000 miners have been involved in ongoing strikes, occupations, militant protests and a general strike on June 18th, after the government announced cuts to subsidies for the region‟s coal mines. In Revolt There are around 40 mines in the country, mainly in the north, where they provide vital jobs in an increasingly depressed economy. The end of the subsidy will effectively mean the end of those jobs, as Spanish coal prices will increase beyond those of cheaper imported coal. The strikers view winning the strike as essential to their livelihoods and the survival of their communities.

images from libcom.org Titanic’s Hidden History

Workmen on one of Titanic’s huge propeller shafts. At the far right a worker has been painted out of this photo. Was he one of those who died during the Titanic’s construction?

First Class went down with the ship while less than a third of the children from Third Class survived. While men in First Class had a lower survival rate than women compared to men from other classes, they did remarkably well. At the time when most of the lifeboats Construction of the slipways for the Titanic and Olympic from the First Class decks were launching, it was not certain among the passengers that Powerful symbols of progress, capitalist course board Second Class deck lifeboats. the Titanic was doomed, and many of the success, opulence, and modernity, the Titanic First Class passengers had easy access to men from First Class who could have gone and Olympic were launched in Belfast in the lifeboats while those in steerage aboard a lifeboat (those on the starboard Top left: a masked miner fires a catapult at police lines while a barricade burns 1911 and 1912. Both represented a passengers had not. side) decided to remain behind. in the background. Beneath text: miners equipped with fireworks and a make- shift rocket-launcher. Below this: Miners firing rockets at police lines. Left and showcase of capitalism at the start of the All 30 of the ships engineers and electrical 20th century. Both were built, to satisfy the The steerage passengers who did survive above: armed cops have a heavy presence in the region. Top right: banner at a did so only by scrambling for the last of the engineers died. They stayed below decks miners mass assembly reads ‘If our children go hungry yours will shed blood’. dreams of the wealthy, by men who had until almost the end trying to keep the ship hard working conditions and hard lives. lifeboats that were launched or by jumping Right: striking miners help an old woman pass a burning barricade. Below: over board and climbing onto boats that afloat and the electrical system working. workers remain defiant behind a burning barricade. Injury was commonplace, disease was had already been launched. caused by many of the construction Only lifeboat 14, not a "First Class" techniques and materials used. During the Steerage passengers were separated, by lifeboat, went back to try and rescue construction of the Titanic 8 lost their lives. law, from other passengers with lockable people after the Titanic went under. It was gates! There were many reports of gates only able to pick up three or four Of course the Titanic became the most being locked and passengers being passengers from the water. famous of the two and the most infamous stopped from getting above decks by maritime disaster in history when the armed guards. The and the Current unsinkable ship sank after hitting an iceberg Annie Kelly, an Irish third class passenger, ‘Crisis’ on 14th of April 1912. said that the stewards did not wake the steerage passengers with an alarm but also It is tempting to compare the sinking of the A Harrowing Insight Into Capitalism told worried Third Class passengers who Titanic with the current financial „crisis‟. came up to the deck to go back down as However it does not provide a very good From inception to its tragic sinking the story there was no danger. analogy. of the Titanic provides a harrowing insight For a start, capitalism has not hit any into capitalism. The open class bigotry of After the lifeboats had gone Colonel metaphorical iceberg. The ship is not the times were reflected in the design of the Archibald Gracie witnessed a "mass of sinking. It is most definitely afloat, with its ship, the access to lifeboats and ultimately humanity" pouring onto the boat deck from wealthy passengers swanning about steerage. in the fatalities themselves. enjoying ever increasing wealth and The available lifeboats were launched from opulence at everyone else‟s expense. ? the First Class decks first, Second Class What is happening globally with the decks second, while no lifeboats were While much is made of heroic myths about capitalist system today is more like the rich dedicated to the Third Class. women and children first over half of the chucking half the crew overboard. The other Half the lifeboats, and all of the first six women in Third Class died. Who was half, told there is indeed a crisis, must work launched, contained only passengers from considered a child was also dependent on twice as hard to „keep the ship from First Class, plus crew members to do the class. 14 year old Lucile Carter in First Class sinking‟. In the meantime Third Class are work. Although no one but First Class was considered a child, but 14 year old starved below decks, to be dragged up passengers could board a First Class deck Annie McGowan in steerage was only to be forced to work for the wealthy lifeboat, First Class passengers could of considered to be an adult. Only one child in onboard for free. How to Break Workfare Conference - Brighton, 26 May Which Queen do May 26 saw the National “How Do We Break Workfare” conference in Brighton organised you want? by Brighton Benefits Campaign, with attendees from groups across the country. The one day conference saw a variety of discussions and workshops on the various work for your benefits schemes about the UK (for more on the various schemes - http://www.solfed.org.uk/? q=unwaged-workers/factsheet-5-kinds-of-workfare), with subjects including direct action against workfare, the political context of workfare and fighting workfare in trade unions. Solfed had strongly supported the conference, seeing it as an important step in our current campaign against workfare.

At the conclusion, a number of important decisions were made, including the launch of a national network against workfare (see- http://www.boycottworkfare.org), a National week of action against workfare (http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1154) and a call for a na- Its been reduced to a choice between a tional boycott of Holland and Barrett, following on from Solidarity Federation’s campaign mythical „celtic‟ warrior goddess or Lizzie against the company. Windsor. Despite McGuinness‟ handshake Queens visit to Northern Ireland did not go We see these as important steps in building a nationwide working class movement against without protest. Unfortunately the protests workfare, and found much agreement to our firm belief that workfare needs to be fought on were not anti-monarchist and did not have a class basis, as an attack against all workers, rather than being seen as a moralistic, charity any hope of uniting working class based issue affecting only claimants. At the workshop on the political context of workfare – communities across the north in opposition to run by Brighton solfed – there was general consensus with our presentation, which argued an institution that is reactionary, privileged that the introduction of workfare in the UK was part of a government led attempt to realign and symbolic of wealth and inequality. the labour market, and further promote the UK as a place with a “flexible” low-wage work- Irish nationalists staged a visual protest on the side of Black‟s Mountain with the slogan force, and try prevent the creation of a long term layer of “work refusers” as a result of the “Eriu is our Queen” and displaying a huge current mass unemployment. tricolour. Outraged by the sight of the huge tricolour and 'anti-monarch who is visiting' The day served to give us renewed hope in the ongoing campaign, but has also reaffirmed protest a group of loyalists trekked up the our belief that if we are to defeat workfare, we need to grow the current political campaigns hill to remove it. A hardy bunch of and passive opposition to workfare schemes into a genuine class movement against it. 'republicans' resolved to defend the huge flag and a claim that some mythical warrior Asda hit by anti-workfare picket in Liverpool deity is their queen. At least one republican guarding the On Saturday 16th June, members of Liverpool Solidarity Federation, along with members of the Anarchist Federation and local unaffiliated display was taken to hospital after being activists, held a picket of the Asda store on Smithdown Road in Wavertree as part of a series of actions to protest against and to raise aware- beaten by the gang of loyalists. Hundreds of Irish nationalists gathered on the ness of Asda’s use of workfare. mountain that evening. One nationalist veteran said The picket began at the main entrance, at the opposite end of the store to Smithdown Road. This entrance gets the most foot traffic as the the call has gone out to republicans trolleys and car park are adjacent. We began to hand out leaflets and engage with customers. Security and management stood in the doorway across the city to restore the visual of the store but did not challenge us. After no more than five minutes, two police cars and full van arrived and officers immediately sur- protest on the mountain even if it rounded the picket and began hassling individual picketers, ordering some to remove masks and hoods. Hours after Cameron announced his latest argued we had voted for them to represent means clashing with loyalists from the attack on young people there were protests us not to implement cuts. And if they don‟t nearby Springmartin housing estate. After being challenged on this and being unable to justify the order, the police tried a different tactic and began to read section 14. The picket at Stormont against the introduction of the watch out we may vote for someone else, As anti-monarchists it is saddening that stood its ground and refused to move, continuing to hand out leaflets and engage with the public. The sergeant who appeared to be in charge, Welfare Reform Bill. anyone, just not them! protests against the Queens visit are simply number 1524, was particularly aggressive with the younger members of the picket. After a half-hour standoff with the police and a police call While members of the PCS Union took The faith our union bureaucrats continue to protests against the fact that she is the „British‟ Queen. In the context of the wee for more vans, the decision was taken to move the picket very slowly to the Smithdown Road entrance. The 50-yard walk took around 15 industrial action NIC-ICTU and the Welfare place in our politicians is staggering and minutes and was followed closely by the police, who felt it their duty to hassle us all the way. Reform Group held a protest at the steps of betrays a deep misunderstanding of the north this becomes an attack on a symbol of Stormont. Members of Organise! were nature of „representative‟ democracy. „Our‟ Britishness that a sizeable amount of the present alongside trade unionists from MLAs are not there to defend anyone‟s class population see as an attack on them. The The picket set up on Smithdown Road, still with a reasonably heavy police presence, and again began to hand out leaflets and engage with NIPSA, GMB, UNISON, Unite, PCS, the interests apart from those of the rich. lefty cheerleaders of Irish nationalism are customers and passers-by. Shortly after we set up, officer 1524 again began to hassle the younger picketers, getting into the face of one com- keen to point out the „radical‟ nature of Irish rade and actually offering to meet him for a fight when he was off duty. The young lad stood his ground with the support of other picketers Belfast and District Trade Union Council, NIC-ICTU are busy trying to convince the ICTU Youth and women‟s groups such as the republicanism. There is nothing radical in it - and the officer eventually backed down and moved away. While we were closely watched on Smithdown Road, the police now began to keep Assembly they can have a „useful‟ role in from Sinn Fein to the various „dissident‟ Women‟s Resource and Development partnership with our rulers. The only role a distance and we were able to spread the anti-workfare message unmolested. Agency and Footprints Women‟s Group. groups there is no revolutionary or class that will be tolerated (one they are actually based opposition to monarchism. This is a Overall, the day was a huge success, with a 20-strong picket getting its message across and re- Cameron‟s latest announcement threatens to very capable of) is one of lapdog. clash of nationalisms plain and simple. All rob under 25 years olds of housing benefit. We need to move beyond empty protests the more disheartening at a time when fusing to be intimidated by the police. Hundreds of leaflets were handed out and conversations It is an attack that has further angered and photo calls. As long as there is no real working class people and communities are held with several members of the public, all of whom were receptive and sympathetic to the More Grants Axed many working class people and which will resistance capitalism will continue its all out on the receiving end of a all out class war cause. increase homelessness - with fatal class war against workers, claimants and with benefits to the poor being cut while the From next year the Department of consequences. the sick. royals remain the biggest welfare recipients As part of our rolling programme of actions, next Saturday we return to Liverpool City Centre. Education and Learning will stop paying Unfortunately the protest was little more One friendly member of the CPI welcomed in these islands. Make sure you join us, and help reiterate our message that workfare is an attack on the working £1,810 on behalf of every student from than a photo opportunity for NIC-ICTU and us to the protest with a greeting of “hello class and cannot be accepted. Northern Ireland who have chosen to study some opportunistic MLAs who implement cuts losers”. Funny? Not when we are all going in the Republic. Stormont seem to be intent with one hand while getting away with to continue to be losers while we follow on punishing students for choosing to study holding union banners in the other. failed „strategies‟ and failed unions that in the south and will replace these „grants‟, which cover the annual college registration Patricia McKeown had the politicians make up ICTU. quaking in their boots no doubt when she fee, with loans. The protest was in response to a claim that We Won’t Pay the Indian Foreign Ministry accused women from former Soviet countries of going to Frack Off! work in India as prostitutes. Four women Twice For Floods from Femen stormed the building, waving the Indian flag proclaiming “Ukranian You may find yourself questioning women are not prostitutes” and shouting why there is such a strong “kiss my ass”. Oksana was facing jail again opposition to Fracking wherever it only days after her release from a Moscow is introduced globally, and it‟s with prison. Jailed for trying to steal (while very good reason. Fracking is topless) the ballot box that contained Putin‟s linked to cases of water vote, during the 4th March Presidential contamination and health problems election, she was imprisoned for 2 weeks in local inhabitants with illnesses ranging from cancer to Liaisons in and banned from Russia for life. the brain. Fracking causes massive Together with Anna and Sasha Shevchenko, Carbon dioxide and Methane Oksana is one of the founding members of emissions, with Methane being the I hadn't heard of Femen until Derry The movement was founded in 2008, in Femen. After many discussions on Marxism, more potent greenhouse gas. Anarchists posted an image and link on Kiev, by Anna Hustol, and two other women, feminism and the position of women in Recent flooding in Belfast, Dunmurry, Lisburn facebook to a topless blonde woman, with after hearing stories of Ukranian women Ukrainian society the women decided they With reports from bodies such as and Bangor saw hundreds of homes „Fuck Euro 2012‟ painted on her belly, duped by false promises of a better life would not follow the usual route of The Environmental Protection damaged, flooded with sewage, roads tackling the UEFA cup off its podium. The abroad. Many of these women ended up marriage but that they would instead try to Agency in the US and the Tyndall were put out of action, and cars destroyed . woman was immediately tackled and the victims of sex trafficking. Femen was set change society. Anna Hutsol told German Report in Britain, why do our Thousands more homes were hit with power trailed off herself but not before creating a up to challenge the subservient role of magazine Spiegel that when they began Politicians not place an immediate cuts. media storm due to her action. women in Ukranian society. Anna is an the movement she was 21 and had just ban on Fracking? Well it‟s because economist with a background in theatre, started reading August Bebel, the founder they are desperate to continue with which Femen certainly put to good use. At of the social democratic workers‟ movement providing the Capitalists anything Northern Ireland Water received over 2,800 calls about localised flooding. 28 Anna is slightly older than most of in Germany. Bebel had introduced a bill on they need to make a profit in Femen‟s topless activists, most of whom are equal rights for women to the German return for what will be very few Emergency services received nearly 1,000 call outs. university students and former students parliament at the end of the 19th century. jobs, despite the propaganda from aged between 18 and 24. These activists Looking at her own life and the lives of Tamboran et al that they will number about 30 and are a minority of the women around her Anna concluded that supply 100s upon 100s of jobs! In a blatant attempt to force water charges groups membership - estimated at around nothing had changed and began With the crisis of unemployment back onto the political agenda the Alliance 300. organising. and no real solutions coming from Party have demanded we „get real‟ about our Politicians, they‟ll use anything how our water service is funded. Other The group has opposed prostitution, sexism, They started a group called New Ethics that to take the heat off. The jobs issue parties are skirting around the issue fearful human trafficking, attacks on abortion organised discussion groups and organising is one that will be a very potent of a backlash. So they should be - successful rights. They have also protested political protests at the university. This group was to issue for the anti fracking campaign campaigning by groups like the We Won‟t corruption, internet pornography, become Femen. From the start Anna knew to deal with, but one that must be Pay Campaign against water charges has international marriage agencies, the World she: Economic Forum, the Euro 2012 (co-hosted surpassed if we are to win. saw their defeat repeatedly over the years. ...didn’t want us to mutate into a by Poland and the Ukraine this year) and typical feminist organisation. I didn’t Despite the efforts of groups like The group have generated huge publicity the lack of public toilets in Kiev. The group Water charges will simply heap increased want an organisation in which the Fermanagh Fracking Awareness for their campaigns by staging topless have also protested against politicians such poverty upon the misery of the working- women talk, talk, talk, while years Network (FFAN) and Belfast Not protests. Making headlines around the as Putin and former Italian Prime Minister Anti-fracking campaigners at Stormont class communities worst effected by the go by and nothing happens. We For $hale, Stormont has been world by baring their breasts against Silvio Berlusconi. They have refused to largely unresponsive to the demands for a flooding. The „debate‟ on water charges has have brought more extremism into Tyler McNally updates the Leveller on the been re-opened. It is essential that the prostitution, corruption and exploitation. support protests at the prison conditions ban, after a whole year since this became Regarded by some as a new generation of faced by former Ukranian Prime Minister the women’s movement. campaign against fracking in the north. sewage system in the north is upgraded but an issue, a motion has passed calling for a feminism are Femen simply providing Yulia Tymoshenko. They regard Tymoshenko Femen‟s first protest was in the summer of working-class people cannot be made to moratorium which has been ignored by the images for a sex obsessed media? as part of a ruling class clique of oligarchs 2008. Dressed theatrically as prostitutes Executive, an executive with vested interests pay for this. It is simply not true that there is In Ireland, we are familiar with attempts by at war with each other. they held up signs and shouted “Ukraine in having Fracking go ahead in the North. not money available to upgrade our water According to their facebook page: Companies to exploit natural resources at isn‟t a brothel”. They created a scandal and DETI Minister Arlene Foster‟s husband owns and sewerage system. Accusing the Ukranian government of the expense of both people and planet, Our God is woman, our mission is also attracted a lot of media coverage. In 54 acres of land in an area of West moving to legalise prostitution prior to the with the issue of Lignite mining in the North protest, our weapons are bare August 2009 they staged their first topless Fermanagh sought by Fracking Companies, The message is clear „we won‟t pay‟ and we Euro 2012 the group asked the government and the infamous struggle against Shell in breasts! demonstration in Kiev‟s main shopping she is set to financially benefit from can and will organise mass opposition if and UEFA to create a social program Rossport being very good examples. Now street, to protest against internet allowing the process to go ahead whilst They state that among their goals are: devoted to the problem of sex tourism and however, we face a new and potentially proposals to implement this charge are pornography. other parties on the Executive make loud prostitution in Ukraine; to inform football more dangerous threat in the form of forced back onto the political agenda. to shake women in Ukraine, making noises outside but when push comes to shove fans that prostitution is illegal in Ukraine; Hydraulic Fracturing (or Fracking as its them socially active; to organize in prove unable to perform. 2017 a women's revolution. and to take additional steps to fight against frequently referred to as). prostitution and sex tourism. For the anti fracking campaign to succeed, Fracking is a process in which water mixed the groups need to mobilise the communities Their activities have saw some Femen with sand and chemicals is blasted into and prepare them for the fight ahead. members spending time in jail and being Shale rock formations underground to cause Whilst Direct Action isn‟t a sole winning harassed, beaten and kidnapped by the it to fracture releasing the Shale Gas tactic to a campaign, it can‟t be ruled out police. Particularly since the election of trapped within it. It‟s been used widespread and if Stormont continues to ignore the will President Viktor Yanukovych in 2010. There across the US and has been fought against of the campaign; a case could develop have also been cases taken against them vigorously by people in communities where when local communities use direct action to for „hooliganism‟ and „desecration of state it is been used, in some places this resistance fight against the installations. These must be symbols‟. has led to Fracking being banned as it has backed and brought forward as part of a been in Vermont. Bans are also currently in Oksana Shachko, a 24 year old Femen place in Bulgaria and France as well as strategy to beat fracking. activist, was sentenced to 5 years for taking Moratoriums (temporary bans) in South part in a topless protest during which she Femen activists protesting at the World Economic told the Indian ambassador to kiss her ass. Will this hammer and half naked body be able to Africa and elsewhere. Forum meeting in Davos at the start of this year smash patriarchy? Namazie, an Iranian women‟s rights Certainly the issues they seek to address campaigner and French feminists. The are very real issues. Issues that perpetuated protest was covered by over 40 journalists. by patriarchal society and capitalism. In a free society the sight of topless women Femen and their supporters believe that should be no more out of the ordinary, no they are using their naked breasts as more controversial, than the sight of topless „weapons‟ and contributing to feminism. Many of their critics feel they are men. Are Femen trying to „normalise „ things and enable women to go topless without the reinforcing sexism, pornography and the associated sexualisation? I think not, their objectification of women. protest thrive off the media attention A recent protest against prostitution in the generated by the fact that bared breasts Swedish fan area during the Euro was lost are not „normal‟. Since then Femen have regularly protested on fans. Initially drunk male football fans cheered on what they thought was a As an anarcho-syndicalist I also have other 'topless', and have staged erotic street concerns. The actions of Femen contribute to spontaneous tabletop strip. Cheers turned to theatre (that they have called rallies) the demonization of prostitutes and demand boos and one of the women was grabbed building of the Cabinet of Ministers, at that it is kept illegal, they demand that the by the arm and trailed off a table by a Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the Turkish embassy state keep prostitution, and drive it further, Swedish football fan. Security then moved in Ukraine and in front of the Iranian underground. Would it not be better to in and physically removed the two women embassy to oppose the expected execution have decriminalised prostitution with some from the zone and handed them over to of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. levels of protection for the women involved? police. One fan told the media he thought EMMA, a German feminist magazine the point of the protest had not got through Do we deny prostitutes the right to organise as fellow workers? This of course applies carried a supportive article on Femen as a direct result of the tactics used. written by feminist and anti-pornography only to adult prostitutes who have not been campaigner Alice Schwarzer. A bitter Femen‟s justification of its methods has been trafficked. that: opponent of media depictions of female Femen also relies on stunts as opposed to A Femen activist poses for the Nude Photo Revo- nudity Schwarzer claims: This is the only way to be heard in this building working class self organisation. An lutionaries Calender. The calendar was created country. If we staged simple protests by Canadian feminist Maryam Namazie in sup- The Femen women are catching the issue that is reflected in their desire to port of Egyptian atheist, student and blogger boomerang in mid-air and throwing it with banners, then our claims would become a political party and to: Aliaa Magda Elmahdy who posted a nude photo not have been noticed. back. The bare breast, which would build up the image of Ukraine, the of herself to protest „violence, racism, sexism, normally objectify them, becomes a It is a justification they stand by, despite the country with great opportunities for sexual harassment and hypocrisy‟. weapon for them. They use it to attract lack of impact on the fans the stunt in the women. attention, and to deliver their message Swedish zone certainly gained media There can be no emancipation for women to men, namely their protest against attention across the world. the exposure of women! Against on the basis of stunts, and little meaningful prostitution! Against trafficking in Femen as a movement leave me with more change in the sphere of party politics, women! I think that’s a good thing. questions than answers. Are Femen simply without the destruction of patriarchy and about shameless self promotion? And if they capitalism. Femen many have drawn Femen were also brought to France by are does it matter? In their own terms they important attention to the causes they Safia Lebdi, a founding member of the have certainly proven that the media will promote and campaign around but real women‟s rights organisation Not Whores, provide greater coverage to protests change demands organisation. Stunts may Not Submissive to bring media attention for featuring bare breasts. Are they wrong to have a part to play but working class men a campaign for the „rights‟ of Muslim use this to their advantage? and women must organise in their women. The women wore burkas that they communities and workplaces to bring about tore off to reveal naked torsos with slogans More importantly are Femen sex positive/ like Naked War, and I am a woman not an body positive feminists or do they reinforce A truly revolutionary transformation of object. Alongside Femen were Maryam the objectification of women? society.