Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 1

£1 www.freedompress.org.uk Vol 72 No 14 • 16 JULY 2011 POWER, CORRUPTION AND LIES The death of a tabloid tells LENS CAP CRASS LOVING ALIENS it all

On Sunday 10th July the last edition of the News of the World, the long-standing popular Sunday tabloid, rolled off the presses after being unceremoniously closed down by its proprietor, the global media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, following revelations about the illegal phone hacking of crime victims, film stars and political figures, and various other criminal activities within the organisation. Some 200 reporters and editors left the building having been given 90 days notice, saddened y et unapologetic about the role the paper had played over the years – a paper that glorified in salacious gossip, revealing the indiscretions of politicians, sports personalities and minor celebrities. It presented news in a startled, sanctimonious and reactionary way beloved of the right wing media. Its stock in trade was exposing the famous, often orchestrated by the paper itself, either taking drugs, offering sexual services or doing illegal deals in the gloom of anonymous hotel rooms. But beyond the filth and the fury News of the You can’t keep a good anarcho-punk band down. This year’s crop of crop circles, widely believed to World was a massive propaganda machine be the work of extra terrestrials trying to communicate with us, have appeared just before the on behalf of the ruling class. It reinforced bigoted racist and reactionary ideas and, summer solstice around the ancient sites of Stonehenge, and it seems our outer space chums love along with its sister paper The Sun, it was a the sound of blaring guitars and searing anti-authority lyrics. A Crass crop circle? Sell outs! page 38 WAR RESISTER JAILED 8 The young navy medic who refused to pick casualties of the conflict being overwhelmingly INSIDE up his rifle and train to use it has been civilians and children, he applied to be Deaths in custody page 2 sentenced to seven months detention for recognised a conscientious objector. disobeying a lawful order. Leading Medical On the first day of the course he was given Comrades jailed page 4 Assistant Michael Lyons joined the Royal the order to ‘draw a weapon and begin rifle Navy in 2005 as a medic and in 2010 he training’. He refused, explaining that he was Greetings from Mayo! page 7 applied for a discharge as a conscientious a conscientious objector and could not objector, an application supported by his follow the order because of his ethical and Svartfrosk column page 10 Commanding Officer, but was rejected. While moral beliefs. his appeal was pending, he was sen t on an At the court martial Lyons argued that the Anti-racism world cup page 12 advanced rifle training course as a pre- order to commence weapon training had been deployment training for Afghanistan. unlawful, as he was still appealing the rejection Reviews pages 14 and 15 Initially Lyons was prepared to serve in of his conscientious objection application, Afghanistan as a medic, under the Geneva and he should have been assigned to non- ISSN 0016-0504 Convention medics are non-combatants and combatant duties. are only allowed hand guns for self-defence Despite his conviction Lyons unrepentant: and to protect their patients, but after “There haven’t been many conscientious researching the conditions in the war zone objectors in the navy but I’m proud of what 9 770016 050009 and hearing first hand testimony about the I’ve done.” Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 2

2 Freedom • 16th July 2011 NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF LENS CAP CARRY ON CABBIE

COUNCILS: As predicted in Freedom a few months ago, local authorities across the country are adopting a policy of sacking all its employees and rehiring them only if they agree to a pay cut. The latest is Tory controlled Shropshire who have sacked its 6,500 employees and agreed to re-employ them on a lower rate. The process known as ‘dismissal and re-engagement’ was first introduced in Birmingh am and now has set the template for all other councils to follow in cost- cutting measures.

POLITICS: For those who still think the Labour Party could somehow represent the interests of the working class again (if they ever did), another gem from the corridors of power. West Ham Labour MP Lyn Brown wants to employ a researcher on an unpaid basis replacing a previous salaried worker. Ever the hypocrite, it was Brown who supported the call for “a living wage for Black taxi cab drivers having been staging go slow protests in Nottingham over the councils introduction all”. She also claimed parliamentary of new parking regulations issuing fines to drivers who stop in places other than the approved taxi ranks. expenses on a rented flat despite living less Cabbies have been snaking around the city centre in long processions to highlight the absurdity of 411 than 10 miles from Westminster. registered black cabs and only 201 bays. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a convoy. POLITICS (2): The claim that the Tories are the party of the family is just as spurious as Labour claiming to the party of the workers. Further proof, if needed, comes from a Police free to kill new report by the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for equality between women and Friends and family of Kingsley Burrell, a 29 were deprived of contact with Burrell while men, that shows that George Osborne’s year old father who recently died in suspicious he was held in detention and say he was programme of tax rises and benefit cuts circumstances while in the custody of the beaten twice by police once on the way to will mean lone female parents will lose an police, gathered in Birmingham city centre the mental health unit in front of his son average of 8.5% of their income, couples on Saturday 2nd July and marched with a and then, crucially, when he was being with children will lose 6.5%, while childless crowd of over 1,000 people to West Midlands transferred to the hospital unit. He had couples will lose just 2.5% of their income police headquarters (pictured below) in an severe injuries and was put on a life support by 2015. angry protest calling for justice and to demand machine before dying of as yet unknown the police be held accountable, once again, causes. SURVEILLANCE: The British government for their le thal actions. There has been a recent spate of deaths in is ranked in the top four when it comes to Mr Burrell was arrested by officers after an police custody. The most widely reported is snooping on its citizens, according to the ‘incident’ in Icknield Port Road, Ladywood, that of Smiley Culture, a music star from the biggest internet search engine Google. The at around 1.30pm on Sunday 27th March. 1980s who apparently stabbed himself to website recently published its transparency He was detained under the Mental Health death in his own kitchen while police were report that revealed law enforcement officials Act and held at the Mary Seacole Mental in attendance to arrest him. There were no and government agencies made 1,162 Health Unit, where it’s reported he suffered other witnesses to the incident apart from separate requests for data and personal a “serious medical condition” and after police. The was also the case of Demetre information on internet users from the officers were called he was transferred to the Fraser who died in the custody of West company in just six months. In terms of data mental health facility at Queen Elizabeth Midlands police some days following the per head of population only Singapore Hospital where he died the following day on death of Kingsley Burrell. He was residing in asked for private data on individuals more Thursday 31st March. Birmingham as part of his bail conditions frequently than the UK. The cause of death has yet to be established for assaulting his girlfriend, who later and so far no other details have been released withdrew the charge. West Midlands Police CORRUPTION: More bent coppers are by the police about the incident. The family visited Demetre for what should have been a facing criminal proceedings for their actions. say Burrell had no previous history of mental simple routine tag check. The official version Eight ex-police officers who fabricated health issues and in fact it was he who initially of events is that he committed suicide by evidence against three innocent men following called the police for help after he feared for jumping from the eleventh floor of the high- the murder of prostitute Lynette White in his safety from a gang who were intimidating rise block where he was staying temporarily. Cardiff in 1988 are currently standing trial him and his five-year-old son. The family Again there were no independent witnesses for perverting the course of justice. The to the incident. three innocent men had to serve two years According to figures by the campaign prison before being freed on appeal after group Inquest, there has been 937 deaths in fresh DNA evidence led to the real murderer. police custody since 1990, and despite many The trial involves at least two senior ranking inquests returning a verdict of unlawful officers and is expected to last at least killing not one police has ever been eight months. successfully prosecuted for causing their deaths. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 3

Freedom • 16th July 2011 3 NEWS

Left, Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks meet for crisis talks; right, the last issue comes off the press. A Wapping goodbye

Because we regard both the liberal and withdrawing their support. Sure. Papers like Local anarchists on the end of right-wing press in a similar light, and News of the World have been profiting off because the former often fails spectacularly of other people’s misery for years, and all it the News of the World in appealing to our sense of humour and fun, took was the impossibly disrespectful invasion some of us even had a strange fascination of a murder victim’s privacy for sponsors to Anarchists have a complex, sometimes with the low-brow tabloid institutions with decide that maybe they don’t want to be incoherent approach to the media. While which we are all familiar. The Standard associated with this. So the decision is made much discussion since the student movement always gets a read and Fox News is great from the other end of London – if not the last year has focussed on the role of ‘violence’ for a laugh. ‘Hospitalised copper’ certainly planet – to sever ties. in securing press coverage, truth be told we represented a détournement of the Sun’s For those of us in Tower Hamlets, however, couldn’t care less what they publish about page 3, but then again Class War didn’t pick the fact that their offices are located right in us. Smug, careerist liberal shits will happily a broadsheet format. And frankly, if you our own backyard is an insult of incredible tell you how successful the non-violent offered me a copy of the Sun or the proportions. Over the years, Murdoch and actions on June 30th were in capturing the Independent I’m not sure which I would Co have shown that they have nothing but media’s attention. How anyone could count choose – more entertaining to sit back and contempt f or migrant communities and “DEFY THE STRIKE BULLIES” as a win is watch as the media machine reaches ethnic minorities, benefit recipients, the beyond us, but more importantly they have unprecedented new heights of perversity. working class, and generally the sort of failed to captivate anyone’s imagination. This time, however, it seems like Murdoch people which have made this area what it is Ultimately, our goal as Anarchists remains may have well and truly overstepped the line today. the complete and utter replacement of the with actions that are beyond obscene. As of On Friday 8th July, members of ALARM mainstream press, and with the emergence this writing, numerous reports are coming in set out for the Wapping plant, some of whom of increasingly sophisticated forms of social that many if not most of the companies were old enough to remember when it first media this seems more realistic now than which provide advertising revenue to News opened. This time around, we still want a ever in the past. International are now either reviewing or news of the world which is owned and

Power, corruption and lies

7page 1 bastion of ruling class ideology sieved through Cameron and his wife. What isn’t disputed The real story lies in laying bare the relation- the frivolous dazzle of Fleet Street gossip. is that Andy Coulson, ex-editor of News of ship between the press, and the police and The News of the World represented the the World, became David Cameron’s director prime minister. These aren’t simply marriages public face of an institutional power. It’s not by of communications when the Tory leader of convenience but endemic features of how the accident that the press is defined historically took power. What isn’t disputed is that the political elite organise and protect themselves. as the fourth estate (after the church, the state, Tory government are in the process of Regardless of any more revelations to come, and the people), but it is the three modern authorising Murdoch’s complete takeover of what remains transparent is that those in examples of institutional power – the Murdoch BskyB, giving News International the power operate outside the conditions of public empire, government ministers, more specifically monopoly on pay-for-view broadcasting in consent. Speculation about the future of David Cameron, and the Met police – that have this country. What isn’t in dispute is that the Murdoch’s empire is rife but the day-to-day been caught colluding together in reinforcing News of the World paid police for privileged concerns of ordinary people remain unchanged. their positions of political influence. information with the full knowledge and With a government in crisis, a police force What isn’t disputed is that the ex-editor of cons ent of Brooks and Coulson, and that without credibility and one of the key the News of the World, and now the chief high ranking officers within the Met covered ‘manufacturers of consent’ in turmoil, now executive of Murdoch’s News International, up any investigation to the activity and sat is the time we start looking to go on the Rebekah Brooks is a personal friend of David on incriminating evidence. political offensive. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 4

4 Freedom • 16th July 2011 ANALYSIS Comrades jailed Seven protestors have been jailed in the last couple of weeks in London and it is likely that more will follow soon

Obviously they deserve our support and also we must do everything possible to avoid others being imprisoned.

Welling On 28th March 2009 a number of people travelled to Welling in south-east London to protest against a Blood & Honour gig at the Duchess of Edinburgh Pub. On their way back there was a fight between some of the protestors and fascists on the platform of Welling train station. This led to 23 people being arrested in total and 22 charged with conspiracy to commit Violent Disorder. This was too many to fit into one court room so the case was split in two, with the first 11 people going to trial on 6th June. Just in case comment in detail on the evidence or the sentences will, of course, depend upon a you’re wondering whether there were any consequences for anti-fascist protests and clear and close analysis of the events in probl ems having fascists and anti-fascists on the wider issue of conspiracy just yet. question and the activity and individual trial together, don’t worry! None of the circumstances of each defendant. As we have fascists were arrested or charged. March 26th endeavoured to set out in this case, political On Tuesday 28th June, on the 17th day of Francis Fernie was jailed for 12 months at motivation can play no part.” From this we the trial and after 13 hours of deliberation, Kingston Crown Court for Violent Disorder think that the ‘starting point’ for Millbank, the Jury returned verdicts. Four people were on the 7th July. He is only the second person 9th December and 26th March will be convicted by eleven-to-one majority and to be sentenced for section 2 of the public similar to the Gaza 10th January 2009 three by ten-to-two. Four were sentenced order act out of over 30 charged from the demonst ration, i.e two years three months immediately to 21 months, three are awaiting student protests and March 26 th demo. for participants who came to protest reports, two are on remand and on e is on When Edward Wollard was sentenced to 32 peacefully but were ‘caught up’ in the events bail and will be sentenced in August. Months on 11th January for dropping a fire of the day. Four people have been acquitted and we extinguisher from the roof of Millbank, we wish them all the best in suing the police warned (Freedom issue 7202, 29th January, Stop press which they mightily deserve not only for page 11, ‘32 reasons not to plead guilty’) Rhys Gray received a eight-week curfew on having the worry of a court case hanging that a guilty plea would not enable people to a tag and has to pay £2,400 compensation over them for more than two years but also avoid imprisonment for violent disorder for criminal damage to a set of traffic lights in one case being unable to work as a nurse however trivial the circumstances. Francis and a window in Parliament Square on 9th because of comments by the police on his threw two sticks on the 26th March causing December. criminal record check. no damage or injury. When his photo was Of the 34 people who were arrested on The second trial will start on 12th put out he handed himself in and made a the London demonstration of 30th June, 18 September. Obviously this means we cannot full confession in interview. He had no have been charged with various offences. previous convictions and, having just Good luck to all of them. Possessing items finished his A-levels, was working with with intent to cause criminal damage is learning impaired adults prior to taking up a potentially a very serious charge carrying a place at university this autumn. Judge 10 year maximum, but we don’t think the Nicholas Price noted all this and said he was art student allegedly with a paint filled water giving a much lighter sentence than he was pistol should be packing her toothbrush just originally thinking of, but quoted Lord yet. Justice Thomas in the case of Alhaddad Legal Defence and Monitoring Group (appeals against sentence from the Gaza demonstrations in 2008/9). He said “In our Prisoners judgment, anyone who engages in violence All currently held at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, PO Box of this kind must go into custody. They 757, Du Cane Road, London W12 0AE. cannot be dealt with by community • Andy Baker A5728CE sentences. The protection of the public and • Thomas Blak A5728CE of the police demands that the serious • Sean Cregan A5769CE offence of violent disorder on this scale, to • Phil De Souza A5766CE which each pleaded guilty, is marked by a • Ravinder Gill A5770CE custodial sentence. The length of custodial • Austin Jackson A5729CE Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 5

Freedom • 16th July 2011 5 COMMENT NEWS IN BRIEF

CRIME: Convicted criminal Paul White, better known as Lord Harrington, who is Obituary currently serving a nine month prison sentence after being found guilty of illegally of Bob and his comrades after that. He and claiming £13,379 in parliamentary expenses, Bob Miller 1953-2011 they passed through Solidarity and then is still receiving his allowance of £11,500 were involved in the founding of the Wildcat as county councillor despite not being able Over the last few years I have penned a group and then of the Subversion group which to represent his Essex constituents due to number of biographies and obituaries of produced a journal of the same name. being banged up. Who says it’s one law for anarchist militants. One of the most In February 1988 I was handing out a them… poignant of these was a piece I had to write leaflet produced by the Anarchist Communist on the Spanish militant Luis Andres Edo Federation aimed at the large demonstration ROYALTY: The Queen, not wanting to be whom I had known personally whilst living in Manchester called to combat Section 28 seen to be out of step with the rest of in Paris in the early 1970s. But nothing (a significant attack by the Thatcher govern - population, has embraced the government’s compares to the painful task of writing this ment on gay people). Bob was at the demo austerity measures with gusto cutting back remembrance of a comrade I have known with the Subversion comrades and they liked on ‘non essentials’ to the royal household. for forty years. our leaflet. Contact was established and we One ‘non-essential’ it seems are staff wages I first met Bob Miller in 1973 or 1974. got around to organising a series of joint with the introduction of a pay freeze for He participated in a libertarian communist day schools around the country. With the all royal employees. At the same time the group within the Socialist Party of Great demise of Subversion Bob joined the ACF in government has given over a greater slice Britain. This group contacted the London 1998 with a couple of other ex-members of of the profits of the Crown Estate to the group of the Organisation of Revolutionary Subversion and we began to work closely Queen’s personal fortune. God bless you Anarchists of which I was a member and we over the next decade. ma’am. began to have discussions. They had wanted Bob was an enthusiast of cheap pamphlets to orient the Party more to the workers’ and and he was instrumental in developing a RAIL: Steve Hedley, RMT London regional social struggles that were in full swing at this whole range of Anarchist Federation pamphlets. organiser and occasional Freedom contributor time. Just after the 1972 SPGB conference In addition he was a dynamic activist within won his court appeal against his conviction they began publishing a magazine called the Manchester AF group and was involved for assaulting a scab manager at a tube Libertarian Communism and ORA comrades in many local activities. The tefstimony o station during a strike. Despite three gave some support in terms of resources, I many who were influenced by Bob over the independent witnesses corroborating Steve’s seem to remember. People outside the Party years can be found on internet boards like version of events and no witnesses against, contributed to the magazine. They and other Urban 75 and libcom and they stand as a the judge convicted the trade union militant SPGB members were expelled or left in support fine tribute to both his influence and in the lower courts. On ap peal however not long after. I remember Bob coming round importance. the conviction was overturned and the case to the North London flat I shared with two Bob had many fine qualities, chief of which thrown out, in no small part to the police other ORA members for discussions, always were his generosity and hospitality and his not submitting vital CCTV footage evidence lively and sometimes heated, and in retrospect desire to make libertarian communist ideas to the courts. I have to admit Bob was more accurate on accessible; he was always welcoming to new some of the finer points of analysis than we comrades, he was almost always reasonable FOOTBALL: A Crystal Palace fan has were! and always attempted to act in a non-sectarian spoken out about being attacked by police The expelled group linked up with other way to other libertarians, and he rarely lost for simply being a football fan. Tommy SPGB dissidents who had been expelled at the his temper during political encounters. He and Meyers was handcuffed and held on the same time and eventually a group emerged I sometimes had disagree ments, but they were ground at Reading train station while a called Social Revolution. We organised joint like the quarrels of brothers, and I always police dog was set on him, causing severe day schools with them and with Solidarity at had great respect and admiration for his injuries. The medical student was asked the Centro Iberico in North London, and there political longevity and his continuing optimism what he thought of the police: “They’re were high expectations of a merger between about social change. cruel, inhumane, barbaric and brutal. The ORA and Social Revolution. However this He is a great loss to the Anarchist Federation only trouble I witnessed that day was was not to be and Social Revolution then and to the movement in general. I miss him caused by the bullying police thugs who completed a merger with the libertarian very much. think they can do what they want and get socialist organisation Solidarity. I lost track Nick Heath away with it.”

INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES: Records revealing the full extent of British involve- ment in the Spanish Civil War have been made public for the first time to mark the 75th anniver sary of the outbreak of the war. They show that more volunteers than previously thought, almost double, left Britain to join the International Brigades fighting in Spain. Thousands of men and women were inspired by their political beliefs to defend the Second Spanish Republic against a military uprising. It names more than 4,000 volunteers who left Britain for the frontline in Spain as well as a roll of honour of those killed in action. They were among the first of their generation to take up arms in the fight against Fascism. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 6

6 Freedom • 16th July 2011 INTERNATIONAL NEWS IN BRIEF LENS CAP DUTCH COURAGE

CANADA: Prince William and Kate Middleton were on the receiving end of popular opinion as they toured the ‘Common - wealth’. No sooner had they arrived in Montréal on an official visit than they were met with an angry protest. Demonstrators held up placards denouncing the couple as ‘parasites’ and hecklers invited the pair to go home. Other protests in Québec followed, where the Royals have not returned since protesters booed the Queen and turned their backs on her in 1964.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Antifa and Romany groups joined forces in Prerov to confront fascists who met in the town for a provocative demonstration against the gypsy minority population. Some 200 nationalists attended a rally and march organised by the far-right Workers’ Party of Social Justice (DSSS), intended to stir up racial tensions in the area. Police in Amsterdam went on the rampage closing down squats, including anarchist and political social Antifa groups mobilised to oppose the fascist centres, in a sweep of the city enforcing the recent harsh anti-squatting laws. They were met with fierce party who have been linked to the fire- bombing of a Roma family home in Vítkov. resistance from the Schijnheilig political centre near Leidseplein, where a prolonged stand-off between P˘rerov was the scene of violent street riot police and squatters ended with over 120 arrests. clashes between extremists and Roma in April 2009.

EGYPT: There were riots on the streets of Cairo as a judge ordered the release of 10 ‘This is the people’s resistance’ police officers who have been charged with killing protesters during the country’s The NO TAV movement in Italy is still raging nearby town of Venaria, a riot police vehicle uprising. A ngry mobs burned police cars after a week of intense fighting between police on its way to the site ran over and killed an and attacked government buildings as and protesters over the high speed rail link elderly woman ‘by mistake’. The response tensions increase over the handling of the through the mountain regions of northern from locals and activists was to get out on legal proceedings. More than 845 people Italy. On 26th June protests were organised the streets again on a nationally organised were killed by government forces during by NO TAV (No to the High Speed Train), a demonstration on 3rd July. This time locals the massive social uprising against the state movement based in the Susa Valley in came prepared and it is understood over 200 at the beginning of the year, but so far Piedmont that opposes the creation of the police were injured in the confrontations only one policeman has been convicted for new high speed trans-Europe railway line. that took place. using deadly violence. The line is part of an EU backed project that At a press conference the following Monday will directly link the Ukraine with France organisers remained defiant “It wasn’t the GREECE: Members of Greece’s anti-riot and has seen the transfer of public money to Black Block; it was just people, and the squad purchased more than 900,0 00 Euros a consortium of private companies including majority of them locals. We came prepared worth of tear gas canisters and chemical FIAT and Benetton and others who after with helmets and masks after what happened grenades the day after the massive anti- construction, would be allowed to set up and on the 27th June, but we came with bare austerity protests. Tear gas became the run their own private rail service in competition hands. After the police started attacking us weapon of choice by the police to control with the state railways. with teargas, stones and water jets, we defended crowds during the mass rally in Syntagma During a crowded torchlight march in the ourselves in any way we could. We couldn’t Square, opposite the parliament building in early hours of 27th June over 2,000 police do anything else” Athens. Police used more than 2,200 tear attacked the demonstration using tear gas and The protest camp remains and there is gas canisters and stun grenades during the water cannons, destroying the makeshift camp talk of setting up an international camp in demonstration. The new order of noxious and assaulting anybody in the area. In the August. chemicals is said to include some 10,000 items.

ICELAND: Former punk, comedian and anarchist Jón Gnarr – who is as happy Notes from the US quoting Crass as he is Bakunin – has become the unlikely mayor of Reykjavík. American public life seems at times to be built elected, she will insist that creationism be The comedy actor formed a political party on a series of facts – none of which is true! taught in schools; she vigorously opposes with former Sugarcubes musician Einar Take Minnesota congresswoman Michele abortion. For this leading politician, as the called the Best Party which managed to win Bachmann’s recently announced candidacy for country experiences some of the most severe the 2010 municipal elections in Reykjavík the Republican 2012 presidential nomination. weather in living memory, climate change is gaining six out of 15 seats on the City Not only did she commit several gaffes on a hoax. Council. What started as a parody of television in the days before her much-heralded Her part of the country is not unfamiliar Ice landic politics (their manifesto included announcement, mis-stating historical facts with such piercing int ellect, though: in late free towels in all swimming pools, a polar (for example, that the country’s Founding June Wisconsin became the latest state to ban bear for Reykjavík zoo, all kinds of things Fathers fought hard to end slavery). But her funding for the group Planned Parenthood for weaklings) has become a full time job. platform is also constructed on the dogma and its nine clinics state-wide. Never out of of the Christian right… she advises that, if page 78 Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 7

Freedom • 16th July 2011 7 INTERNATIONAL Greetings from Mayo! Rossport gears up for the next big fight against Shell

The farming community of Rossport, County Mayo, has put together a calendar of events and action as they continue to fight the might of oil giants Shell who want to build a gas pipeline through their community. Residents of the small farming village on the west coast of Ireland have been battling Shell who have been given the rights by the Irish government to lay a high pressure, odourless, raw gas pipeline straight from the Corrib gas field through the village and across farmland. Its construction will have a monumental impact on the environment as well as dangerous health and safety risks for the local community. This is an experimental project by Shell which has never been tried before anywhere in the world, and even their own analysis reports admit there is a real risk of leakage local community in their fight against Shell. After that there will be a monthly Day of of toxic substances, polluting the land and, The camp infrastructure is set up seasonally Action until they have successfully halted the being odourless and undetectable in the air, at strategic points of opposition to Shell, and plans. poisoning the local population, as well as a is run on the principles of non-hierarchical As one local put it: “Shell’s Corrib Gas risk of combustion and outbreaks of fire. In organisation, collective decision making and Project is already a decade late and three a corrupt deal the Irish government gave individual accountability, with a disciplined times over budget – impressive for a rural permission for the construction to go ahead work ethic. It has attracted many hundreds community fighting one of the biggest without any proper consultation and without of activists, environmentalists and anarchists multinationals in the world!” informing local residents, who unanimously over the years, many who continue to be opposed the proposition. Despite this, land actively involved including Workers Solidarity Freedom will keep its readers informed of the dates was purchased to facilitate the pipeline’s Movement. of the actions. The next direct action training is on construction to the inland refinery. This July Rossport Solidarity Camp is 23rd July, which will be held at the camp and The Shell to Sea campaign against the gearing up for a summer of intense activity various other places across Ireland. Anarchists and pipeline has been ongoing now for more than on the expectation that Shell will be radicals worldwide are encouraged to visit and get five years, developing into an international implementing its next stage of construction. involved. campaign, and a permanent protest camp. There will be a massive day of action when Contact [email protected] or phone At the invitation of the local community, the work resumes on the pipeline, which aims to 0851141170. Rossport Solidarity Camp was set up in June frustrate, disrupt and stop Shell as much as Camp website: http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/ 2005 and played a big role in supporting the possible with continuous daily protests. Campaign website: http://www.shelltosea.com/ Notes from the US Israel an ‘apartheid’

7page 6 state the headlines for long for his anti-union, are either exaggerated and/or fabricated, it anti-justice antics, Wisconsin Governor Scott also became obvious that Obama rejected the An official complaint to the South Africa’s Walker approved the cuts – ostensibly as part views of senior lawyers at the Pentagon and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) by of a bill slashing public spending. Other states the Department of Justice when he decided the South African Jewish Board of Deputies seeking to take the same reactionary steps that he had the legal authority to continue his that a radio advert calling for a boycott of now include Nebraska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, aggression without congressional authorisation Israel and comparing Israel to Apartheid Oklahoma and North Carolina. A federal after 60 days… under the War Powers Act South Africa is “untrue, not supported by any judge in Indiana, though, has issued an of 1973, Obama should have terminated or evidence… and contains a lie which amounts injunction against a state law there that would scaled back the mission after 20th May. to false propaganda” was dismissed by ASA block Plan ned Parenthood from taking part Congressperson Mike Turner (Ohio) mean - who found in favour of the SA Artists Against in Medicaid. Then earlier in June a conservative while revealed that NATO commander US Apartheid who made the advert. member of the Wisconsin state Supreme Admiral Samuel Locklear has confirmed to The ASA noted that extensive evidence was Court (Justice David Prosser) apparently tried him that the United States and NATO forces submitted in favour of the case including physically to choke a fellow justice (Ann are actively trying to assassinate Libyan “reports by a UN Special Rapporteur on the Walsh Bradley) during an argument. leader Col Muammar Gaddafi in defiance of Occupied Palestinian Territories as well as a the United Nations authorisation. Still that’s copy of the International Court of Justice Libya not really what it’s about: a group of American [ruling] concerning the [Israeli Separation] As evidence emerged in the last week of June drilling companies that includes Halliburton wall in Jerusalem”. Another submission was suggesting that some of the stories of atrocities stands to make tens of billions of dollars in the 2009 South African government Human by the Libyan élite which were used as an Iraq under new oil deals. Sciences Research Council report that found excuse for the recent war on that country Louis Further Israel guilty of the crime of apartheid. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 8

8 Freedom • 16th July 2011 FEAT URE Peter Kropotkin and Radical Env

gratitude that he radiated. Part one of a two part article This break from traditions and norms are a critical aspect of modern anarchist thought. examining Kropotkin’s influence The anarchist conception of freedom is very heavily situated upon radical noftions o of the ecological movement individualism that does not “bend before any authority except that of reason,”2 and Next to Mikhail Bakunin, Peter Kropotkin is nihilism also views life as ultimately the most famous and important of anarchist meaningless, without a higher purpose or theorists, and was one of the first to advocate meaning to life. If one were then to hold a the theory known as Anarchist Communism. nihilistic conception of the world, things His lifelong love of science and nature led such as societal norms and traditions, as him to develop his political theory which he well as religious doctrines would lose much saw as the most sensible, and perhaps more of their relevance. importantly, the most natural form of social Another conceptual aspect of Kropotkin’s and political organisation. In developing thinking is that of our natural ability as what he thought to be the most natural humans to rebel. Kropotkin’s fellow Russian means of human organisation, in terms of anarchist Mikhail Bakunin writes: “Yes, our studying human needs and the most rational first ancestors, our Adams and our Eves, and equitable means of satisfying them, he were, if not gorillas, very near relatives of laid out some of the basic ideas that would gorillas, omnivorous, intelligent and later be developed into the philosophy of ferocious beasts, endowed in a higher degree Social Ecology, as well as other schools of than the animals of any other species with ecological thought. two precious faculties – the power to think I will try to demon strate how the tactics and the desire to rebel.”3 that Kropotkin developed in his time working In this quote, Bakunin reveals elements within the anarchist movement have come to that would become absolutely paramount in be used by radical environmental groups, often Kropotkin’s thinking, and the theories he called ‘eco-terrorists.’ Apart from detailing develops: the concept of evolution (of which the tactical methods which eco-terrorist groups more will be said shortly), and combining have inherited from Kropotkin, I will also our natural capacities for intellect with our attempt to show how Kropotkin’s philosophi - natural desire to rebel. In Bakunin’s view, cal writings on anarchism and evolutionary humans are essentially animals. We are not theory have come to be incredibly influential some entity distinct or outside of nature, but within the environmental community. In instead we are in n ature. We make up one doing this I hope to show the theoretical portion of the ecosystem, and while Bakunin framework that eco-terrorist groups are was not thinking as complex about this working in, because I believe it is essential to issue, Kropotkin develops it further, and the understand the development of these theories environmentalist groups that will be into the modern period as a way of both discussed later will grab a hold of this as a understanding, and addressing the issues we central theme in their respective evolve, and now here you are with a paper face as a global community today. philosophies. in your hands reading about it. Kropotkin To begin, however, we must start by laying For Bakunin and Kropotkin then, rebellion saw revolutions in just the same way: a out some of the concepts that went into is something that comes as naturally to us as possibly violent event which ultimately Kropotkin’s thinking in order to grasp a a species as breathing and thinking. Or, would bring about some sort of progress. better understanding of his overall philosophy. better yet, our natural capacity for rebellion – This shows the very dialectical way of Firstly, there is the influence that nihilism had which is for Bakunin and Kropotkin the thinking which guided Kropotkin upon him. Kropotkin wrote of the nihilists: rebellion towards freedom – is the evolutionary throughout his life. “The life of civilised people is full of little product of our natural capacity for thinking. One last critical aspect of Kropotkin’s conventional lies. Persons who hate each We naturally want to rebel against the status thought, before we move on to his political other, meeting in the street, make their faces quo towards complete freedom, which for theory, is the theory of evolution. Kropotkin radiant with a happy smile; the nihilist Bakunin and Kropotkin is anarchism. wrote a work, Mutual Aid: a Factor of remained unmoved, and smiled only for those This natural tendency of rebellion Evolution, and in the work he states: “Mutual whom he was really glad to meet.”1 towards freedom obviously implies a very Aid would be considered, not only as an The first sentence of this quote alone progressive view of history. Kropotkin, argument in favour of a pre-human origin of describes perfectly the nihilist view of society: however, would extend this to claim that moral instincts, but also as a law of Nature whatever is accepted, reject; a perfect recipe every occurrence in nature is naturally a and a factor of evolution.4 This mention of for a rebel such as Kropotkin. It also, progressive occurrence, such as is found in mutual aid being the fundamental factor of however, shows an incredible display of dialectical materialism. Let me explain: moral instincts is crucial to Kropotkin’s ethical honesty. A nihilist would say one should not sixty-five million years ago, an asteroid and practical arguments for anarchism. In a sugar coat something simply because it is the crashed just off the coast of the Yucatan political pamphlet published in 1909, entitled societal norm to do so. One should instead Peninsula of modern day Mexico. This Anarchist Morality, Kropotkin asserts: “The do i t because one generally feels that that is event heralded the end of the dinosaurs, as feeling of solidarity is the leading characteristic the appropriate action to take. This level of well as seventy percent of all the life forms of all animals living in society.5 He goes on honesty can also be seen in examples of on earth at the time. S o, as cataclysmic as to say: “Thousands of similar facts might be Kropotkin’s life, as even his harshest critics this event was, it provided for the quoted, whole books might be written, to could not deny the amount of honesty and conditions necessary for mammals to show how identical are the conceptions of Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 9

Freedom • 16th July 2011 9 FEATURE nvironmentalism

good and evil amongst men and the other view, humans are animals, ultimately no by these ideas. For a more complete view of animals.”6 different than any other on the planet, and his ideas I would strongly suggest delving George Woodcock writes in an introduction given his argument for mutual aid in the into his body of works on the subject such to the Kropotkin anthology, Evolution and evolutionary process; he argues that, i f given as: The Conquest of Bread, Fields, Factories, Environment: “Kropotkin considered that the chance, humans would naturally order and Workshops, Mutual Aid: a Factor of the application of evolutionary theories to the society in this way. So, it is in fact unnatural, Evolution, as well as the anthology development of human societies provided a in Kropotkin’s view, for humans to subjugate Anarchism: A Collection of Revolutionary basis in reality as well as in science for his one another and instead are capable of Writings. ideal of a liberated society.”7 This view that incredible amounts of empathy and aid. Trent Trepanier science and technology can play a prominent Given Marx’s claim that history has been role in liberating society is a concept that one of class struggles, where one class utilises Footnotes will be returned to with the introduction of the state apparatus to oppress opposing 1 Peter Kropotkin, Memoirs of a Revolutionist, Murray Bookchin and his theory of Social classes, Kropotkin argues that if humans are page 298. Ecology, but for now we move to his ever able to take control of the means of 2 Ibid. page 297. political theory. production, they will have no need for the 3 Mikhail Bakunin, God and the State, page 9. Kropotkin writes of anarchist communism state. Here, Kropotkin and other anarchists 4 Peter Kropotkin, Mutual Aid: a Factor in as “a synthesis of the two chief aims pursued differ from Marxists in one crucial aspect: Evolution, page 4. by humanity since the dawn of its history – tactics. Marxists believe the state should be 5 Peter Kropotkin, Anarchism: a Collection of economic freedom and political freedom.”8 seized in the revolution and utilised to bring Revolutionary Writings, page 95. Quoted from He goes on to claim: “We are communists. about communism, and anarchists believe it Anarchist Morality. But our communism is not that of the should be destroyed in the very process of 6 Ibid. page 90. authoritarian school: it is anarchist communism, the revolution. The goal is the same but the 7 Pe ter Kropotkin, Evolution and Environment, communism without government, free strategies are vastly different. page 12. communism.”9 I have attempted to elucidate briefly the 8 Peter Kropotkin, Anarchism: a Collection of Kropotkin’s work, Mutual Aid, is critical theoretical aspects of Kropotkin’s thinking, Revolutionary Writings, page 61. Quoted from for understanding why he felt humans could and next issue I will illustrate how radical Anarchist Communism. carry out this type of society. In Kropotkin’s environmental groups have been influenced 9 Ibid, page 61. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 10

10 Freedom • 16th July 2011 COMMENT ABOUT FREEDOM ANGEL ALLEY A sideways look by SVARTFROSK While we are by no means despondent there been a subdued air with several of About twenty five years ago, Hooligan Press the Masons, was jailed in 2000 for trying to our comrades and friends jailed over the put out a pamphlet called Written in Flames, plant cocaine in a custody battle. last couple of weeks. The eviction of our its subtitle was We name the British Ruling There have been five failed prosecutions near neighbours the Offmarket social Class. In the years since, the idea of for the murder so far, the most recent in centre on 7th July is also lamentable as industrialists and financiers living among us March brought public attention to Rees’s they did a great job promoting radical pulling the strings has been stretched by relationship with the News of the World. politics in Hackney. Hopefully they will be globalisation, such that a large local employer There is no doubt that there was significant up and running with a new venue very will respond to movements on Wall Street police corruption in South London at the time, soon. more than the streets outside their plant. as it was not long after that Stephen Lawrence Meantime Angel Alley c ontinues to be a Some people have even suggested there is was murdered and the investigation botched hive of activity with meetings most nights no such thing as a British ruling class any by detectives connected to drug baron Clifford and a vibrant art launch last Thursday. more, that it is a global phenomenon. The Norris, father of one of the accused. Events coming up include a performance events at News International have shown When Brooks talked to shocked News of from singer songwriter Cosmo on Saturday that it is not as far gone as we might have the World staff the day af ter the Murdochs 23rd July at 2pm, hope you can make it. supposed, and, unusually, we can see cracks announced it would close, she hinted that Some comrades will have noticed changes among the British ruling class. worse was to come. Worse than hacking into to the product side of the website which Rupert Murdoch has been a figure of hate the phones of murder victims and their we hope will make it eaisier to purchase for the left since his full-on support for relatives, or soldiers killed in Afghanistan or stuff. So be quick! One day we may run Thatcher, culminating in Wapping and the Iraq? I can only speculate, but I suspect that out of copies of the Raven. smashing of the print unions. No British the murder of Danny Morgan will be in the On the strategic development front a politician with any realistic hope of power mix somehow. The sacked staff feel they are group of us have been looking at the has dared to challenge him. His family are being punished for something others did. It’s future of the paper and ways to improve surrounded by people from the world of the same old story – those at the top are circulation. More on this in our next issue, politics. New Labour fixer Peter Mandelson protected while those at the bottom get but we can say now that there will be a is good friends with Elizabeth Murdoch. Her shafted. And if anyone from the top is going meeting at the London Anarchist Bookfair husband Matthew Freud is friends with both to suffer, it will be working class boy made to discuss the role of Freedom within the Cameron and Osborne. Cameron goes horse- good Andy Coulson. You have to wonder movement. riding with Rebekah Brooks, chief executive what Brooks has on the Murdochs. of News International and former edfitor o I think there will be more revelations and the News of the World. Blair’s closest aide, they will hurt Murdoch and his company. SUBSCRIPTIONS Anji Hunter, is married to Adam Boulton, It’s amazing that the government still think This is issue is vol 72 no 14, so if the Sky’s chief political correspondent. If there is they can push through his purchase of BSkyB. number above your name on the address a British ruling class, as opposed to a global The gap left by the News of the World will label is 7214 or less, then your subscription one, the Murdochs are at the centre of it. be filled by other red tops, not anything with is now due for renewal. You’ll find a Murdoch has never publicly backed the better politics. The week before it happened, renewal form on page 16 of this issue or losing side in a general election. News International registered domain names you can subscribe online at freedompress. It is likely that the story of the fall of the for The Sun on Sunday. org.uk/news/subscribe or, if you don’t want News of the World began nearly twenty five But at present we are just spectators in a to worry in the future about remembering years ago in a south London pub car park. spat among our rulers. There are no changes to renew your Freedom subscription, ask A private detective, Danny Morgan, was killed to the underlying structure of society. But a us to send you a standing order form by with an axe. He ran Southern Investigations hint of how different things could be was emailing [email protected] or you with his business partner Jonathan Rees. when sub-editors on The Sun walked out, can write to us at ‘Subscriptions’, Freedom Rees, who ran a corrupt network of police briefly, in support of their colleagues on the Press, 84b Whitechapel High Street, officers he’d met through his membership of News of the World. London E1 7QX.

CONTACT DETAILS Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX Tel/fax: 020 7247 9249 www.freedompress.org.uk Enquiries: [email protected] Copy/Letters: [email protected] Subscriptions: [email protected] Bookshop: [email protected] Freedom Press Distribution (for trade book orders): [email protected]

NEXT ISSUE The next issue will be dated 30th July 2011 and the last day to get copy to us for that issue will be Thursday 21st July. You can send your articles to us by email to copy@ freedompress.org.uk or by post addressed to ‘The Editors’, Freedom, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 11

Freedom • 16th July 2011 11 FEEDBACK

looked to cut wages to its entire manual work - Herefordshire Council, whilst paying its Too far left force including road workers, street cleaners top boss more than the prime minister, look My copy arrived two days after the closing and gardeners. only at the balance sheet and see a school as date for copy. Faced with the pay cut, along with a unprofitable, taking in no account of its I want to respond to page 13 of this [18th substantial change to working patterns, the social value. June] edition. Dave Douglass, is otherwise a refuse collectors of Edinburgh organised a We support the efforts of Dilwyn’s people fine man, but one would think that his article work-to-rule and operated an overtime ban. in keeping their school open, but it is also on the relaunch of a Bolshevist banner could Now, after almost two years of struggle, the vital that we continue to resist every closure. have been politely re-directed to The Morning workers feel it’s time to step up the action, Hereford Heckler #20, downloadable from their Star. If not that, then perhaps a warning with threats coming from the council that website: http://herefordheckler.wordpress.com could been placed on the front cover. 100 workers could be made redundant. Marxists are long practised in varnishing The latest move from the council has been to their own history with heavy dollops of integrate trade and domestic waste, massively lacquer. And Douglass’s article is a prime increasing the workload on the workforce Ken Keating RIP example of this practice. Where did Marx without any increase in pay, whilst laying off Just received sad news from Sean Keating ever indicate that “the withering away of the over 20 temporary staff only to replace them from Salford: “RIP Ken Keating, 24/01/38 – state” was meant to be “in terms of days” with private contractors. Having been let 28/06/11, Legend, Friend, Father, Granddad. following the revolution? down by Unite at every turn and facing more My dad Loved by many, hated by authority Douglass’s article invites anarchists to threats to their workload and working but respected by all. Safe journey to mum attend a ceremony to celebrate a banner conditions, Edinburgh’s refuse collectors are old timer.” x with a huge mug-shot of Lenin prominently turning increasingly to self-organisation. Ken was the prime mover in Ordsall Class displayed. There’s even a hammer and sickle The June/July issue of Resistance #133 is a special War in the 1990s and i think it would be and the infamous red star in attendance. austerity issue of Anarchist Federation’s free safe to say none of us had ever seen the likes Symbols that carry the stench of murder, newssheet. http://afed.org.uk/ of Ordsall Class War! There are others who corruption and tyranny. knew Ken far better than me and i hope to Our Anarchist ancestors must be turning be publishing their thoughts when they are in their mass graves. The last time Anarchist ready. In the meantime best wishes to Sean Flags were to fly in the Soviet Union was at Heckling Hereford and family. Kropotkin’s funeral in 1921. Many of the Long before posh toff David Cameron was Here’s an account from Practical History mourners were Anarchists who had been going on about his ‘big society’, anarchists of Ordsall Class War in July 1992: “On the imprisoned by the Bolsheviks. Lenin agreed were making the argument that you don’t Ordsall Estate in Salford (near Manchester), to release them, for the day, only after major need the government and state to run society, in the space of several days in the first week a ppeals from foreign radical groups. In the ordinary people can do it for themselves. And of July, fires were started at a council meantime, Lenin’s secret police, the CHEKA, so it is that, after a long battle with Hereford - neighbourhood office, a housing office, a was expanding hand over fist. shire Council, Dilwyn residents have decided careers office, a Department of Health The notion that we should enter into to run their village school themselves. office, a MacDonald’s restaurant, and ‘debate’ is not only insulting to the Anarchists Last year council bosses decided that Dilwyn several other buildings. Shots were fired at who contributed their lives to the Russian Pri mary School was ‘unsustainable’ and police vehicles and a petrol bomb thrown at Revolution, it is asking us to take part in would have to close despite various rescue a police station. Also in Salford, eight people proliferating a great lie. plans including linking with St Mary’s High in balaclavas attacked a police car that they Peter Good School in Lugwardine. The local community had lured into an ambush by setting off an are now working on plans for a free school alarm. Local youths complained of police run by volunteers. violence, with one saying: ‘There’s people As we’ve said previously, schools are an who can’t pay for electricity. And they’re at Scottish defiance important hub of village life and even more so home in bed, in the dark, and the door’s The resistance of Edinburgh’s refuse workers for a small village like Dilwyn. At a time when kicked in and all they can see is big torches continues amid fresh offensives from the city rural communities are being decimated by the coming up the stairs and the Bill [the police] council. The dispute between the workers dwindling agricultural industry and multi- is saying Stay where you are or you’ll get and the city council over proposed changes national companies sucking trade in to the your heads blown off’.” to working patterns, along with a significant towns and cities, it is vital that we do whatever Ian Bone wage cuts, started in 2009 as the city council it takes to preserve these communities. http://ianbone.wo rdpress.com/ Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 12

12 Freedom • 16th July 2011 GETTING ACTIVE PRISON NEWS Three weeks after Venezuelan security forces stormed the El Rodeo prison complex near Caracas, ending a five-day siege in the El Rodeo I section, the battle to retake the smaller El Rodeo II [see previous Prison News column, 2nd July] continues to rage. We know that around 1,200 prisoners remain inside the single prison block and are refusing to surrender to the thousands of heavily armed security personnel surrounding them. Beyond that the picture remains confused, not least because the siege has been caught up in the unending battle between the Chavez govern- ment and his opponents who control large parts of the media. The former is blaming ● This year’s Anti-Racism World Cup will drop the charges against all the protesters. the media for playing up the crisis and are take place, as it did last year, at Donegal A further 17 defendants are due to enter claiming that the opposition is manipulating Celtic FC in West Belfast from 22nd to 24th pleas on 25th July, and the other 109 cases the prison gangs that effectively run most July. Last year’s tournament involved over are under review. “We expect there may be Venezuelan prisons and who they blame 500 local people and 100 international guests a significant reduction in the number of out - for provoking the initial riot; whilst the as teams travelled from across the world to standing cases,” a CPS spokesman said, opposition are criticising the government play against teams from various ethnic minority bringing doubts on the legitimacy and legality over their impotence in not ending the groups and from local communities in of the arrests in the first place. siege and general mismanagement of the Belfast and across Ireland. This year the What has been made clear in court by the country’s prisons. organisers intend to bring more teams to the defendants barristers is the nature of the So, on one hand the authorities have tried city, including for the first time a Palestinian arrests being political rather than criminal, to play down their problems: claiming that youth team, and hopef ully making it the with evidence that the whole operation an largest anti-racist event in Ireland. intelligence gathering exercise. only two soldiers and one prisoner have Contact the support group by sending an email to died as a direct result of the military The tournament was established in 2007 by local activists in conjunction with inter- [email protected] or visit the website operation and, whilst there is still no official national friends and comrades and launched http://fortnum145.org/ death toll, that four more have since died by the late Bob Doyle who was a veteran of through infighting and one through diabetic the Spanish civil war. ● Basildon Council has served eviction complications (the local media claim that Also as part of the weekend of events there’s notices on the families at Dale Farm and as at least seven prisoners have died, some a special discussion on the history of Anti- of 27th August Camp Constant will be in from exposure to the massive amounts of Fascist Action – as told in the Freedom Press operation. On Monday 4th July, some 90 teargas fired into the prison). Running publication, Beating the Fascists. families at Dale Farm, the UK’s largest counter to this has been the claim that the If your organisation would like to become part of the Traveller community, were given until vast majority of the siege prisoners are in ARWC contact [email protected] or visit the midnight on 31st August to abandon their fact being held hostage by 60 gang members website: http://www.antiracismworldcup.net/ homes, or face their entire community being armed with AK-47 assault rif les and even a bulldozed. 50mm anti-aircraft gun, who are refusing ● An official campaign, Fortnum 145, has Basildon Council have set aside over to surrender because they fear being been set up to support the protesters £18m for the eviction battle, which could transferred to other prisons where they arrested during the occupation of Fortnum last three weeks. It will be the biggest might be killed by rival gangs. & Mason as part of the UK Uncut tax clearance of its kind, involving the ploughing Much is also being made of the large avoidance action on the 26th March TUC up of 54 separate plots which were created arsenal of weapons uncovered in El Rodeo demonstration in central London. Activists out of a former concrete scrap-yard, which I, with claims of up to 60 rifles and hand- charged with aggravated trespass were in was purchased by the Travellers ten years guns, hand grenades and thousands of court on 5th July where it is understood 13 ago. The campaign to defend Dale Farm rounds of ammunition, along with large will be put forward for trial in November. starts now and a call out has gone out for finds of mobile phones and drugs. The They all entered a plea of not guilty. support and solidarity for a traveller directors of both prisons have been Already all the youth cases have been community under threat. arrested on drug and arms trafficking dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service Email [email protected] charges. (CPS), provoking calls from solicitors to Website http://dalefarm.wordpress.com/ On the prisoners’ side, they have been without water and electricity since the siege began and their food supplies are running out. Attempts by officially appointed intermediaries to get food and water into the prison were vetoed by the police, provoking clashes with prisoners’ families who have been standing vigil outside since the siege began. Add to that the fact that prisoners entering the prison’s courtyard, waving white flags and with hands above their heads and attempting to surrender, have been shot at and it appears that there is no clear plan on how to end the siege – it looks increasingly likely that it will only do so in a bloodbath. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 13

Freedom • 16th July 2011 13 HISTORY Behind the Spanish barricades A brief introduction to the Spanish revolution

The 19th of July marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Revolution. For a brief time, capitalism and the State were replaced by solidarity, mutual aid and respect for others. Workers and peasants, who were deeply influenced by anarchist ideas, ran society collectively and gained control over their lives, industry and land. A central part of the revolution was the struggle against a fascist attempt to take over Spain. We remember both the magnificent triumphs and tragedies of the Spanish revolution and attempt to learn from our comrades’ mistakes. Anarchist and syndicalist ideas had deep roots among Spanish peasants and workers. militias were set up independently from the and an extra 50 million passengers were In 1911, a massive revolutionary trade union State, workers seized control of their work - transported. Surplus income was used to federation, the CNT (National Confederation places and peasants seized the land. improve transport services and produce of Labour) was formed. It had two aims; There were many triumphs of the revolution, weapons for defence of the revolution. With first, to fight the bosses with mass action in although we are only able to consider a few the capitalist profit motive gone, safety the daily struggle and, second, to make an of the Spanish workers’ and peasants’ victories became much more important and the anarchist revolution by organising the workers here. These included the general take over of number of accidents were reduced. and the poor to seize back the land, factories the land and factories. In the early stag es of the revolution, the and mines. Small peasants and farm workers faced armed forces of the state had effectively The CNT led many militant and successful extremely harsh conditions in Spain. collapsed. In their place, the trade unions and struggles against the bosses and the govern - Starvation and repression were a part of their left-wing organisations set about organising ment. By 1936 it was the biggest union in daily lives and, as a result, anarchism was the armed workers and peasants into militias. Spain, with nearly two million members. But particularly strong in the countryside. During Overall, there were 150,000 volunteers the CNT was always democratic and, the revolution, as many as seven million willing to fight where they were needed. The despite its giant size, never had more than peasants and farm workers set up voluntary vast majority were members of the CNT. All one paid official. collectives in the anti-fascist regions. After officers were elected by the rank-and-file The Anarchists did not restrict themselves landowners fled, a village assembly was held. and had no special privileges. to the workplace. They also organised an If a decision to collectivise was taken, all the The revolution showed that workers, anarchist political group to work within the land, tools and animals were pooled together peasants and the poor could create a new unions (the FAI) and organised rent boycotts for the use of the entire collective. Teams world without bosses or a government. It in poor areas. The CNT itself included were formed to look after the various areas showed that anarchist ideas and methods working peasants, farm workers and the of work, while a committee was elected to (such as building revolutionary unions) could unemployed. It even organised workers’ co-ordinate the overall running of the work. Yet despite all this, the revolution was schools! collective. Each collective had regular general defeated. By 1939, the fascists had won the In July 1936, fascists led by General Franco meetings in which all members participated. civil war and crushed the working-class and and backed by the rich and the Church, tried Individuals who did not want to join the peasants with a brutal dictatorship. to seize power in Spain. The elected govern - collectives were not forced to. They were Why did this happen? The revolution was ment (the Popular Front coalition of left-wing given enough land to farm on, but were defeated partly because of the strength of parties) was unable and unwilling to deal forbidden to hire labourers to work this the fascists. They were backed by the rich, with the fascists. It even tried to strike a deal land. Most ‘individualists’ eventually joined fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. with the fascists by appointing a right- the collectives when they saw how successful The CNT also made mistakes. It aimed winger as Prime Minister. Why? Because they were. for maximum anti-fascist unity and joined they would rather compromise with the Anarchism inspired massive transformations the Popular Front alliance, which included right wing and protect their wealth and in industry. Workers seized control over political parties from government and pro- power than arm the workers and the poor their workplaces, and directly controlled capitalist forces. This required the CNT to for self-defence. production by themselves and for the benefit make many compromises in its revolutionary Fortunately, the workers and the peasants of the Spanish workers and peasants. The programme. It also gave the Popula r Front did not wait around for the government to tram system in Barcelona provided a shining government an opportunity to undermine act. The CNT declared a general strike and example of just how much better things can and destroy the anarchist collectives and the organised armed resistance to the attempted be done under direct workers’ control. On workers militias, with the Communist Party take-over. Other unions and left-wing groups 24th July 1936, the tram crews got together playing a leading role in these attacks at the followed the CNT’s lead. and decided to run the whole system them- behest of Stalinist Russia. In this way the people were able to stop selves. Within five days, 700 trams were in Nevertheless, anarchists had proved that the fascists in two-thirds of Spain. It soon service instead of the usual 600. Wages were ideas, which look good in the pages of theory became apparent to these workers and equalised and working conditions improved, books, look even better on the canvas of life. peasants that this was not just a war against with free medical care provided for workers. fascists, but the beginning of a revolution! Everyone benefited from the trams being Article courtesy of our comrades from Workers Anarchist influence was everywhere, workers’ under workers’ control. Fares were reduced Solidarity Movement Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 14

14 Freedom • 16th July 2011 REVIEWS WHAT’S ON FILM JULY n 16th Zero Carbon Britain, Nationwide Day of Action to promote the goal of a Hair Zero Carbon Britain by 2030. Organise in Milos Forman, 1979 your town or region, a cycle ride, a rally, a carnival, a fair… nationwide, for details/ As part of their ‘Alternative Musicals’ season, ideas email [email protected] FACT* have shown a number of rarely seen or see http://www.campaigncc.org/zcbday. gems from various parts of the globe. n 20th All Star Comedy Fundraiser for No Tonight’s offering, the final picture of the Sweat, in support of workers’ rights world - season, was Hair, a Hollywood film based wide, featuring Josie Long, Stewart Lee, on the Broadway musical. Shappi Khorsandi, Robin Ince, Andy The film follows Claude Bukowski, played Zaltzman, Simon Munnery and lots of friends by John Savage, as he goes to New York for at The Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon the first time. He has two days to kill before Street, London, WC1H 0AH from 7.30pm joining up to protect his country in Vietnam. to 10.30pm, see www.nosweat.org.uk During this time he meets a group of hippies n 28th to 1st August Peace News Summer who aggregate around a leader figure, Berger, Gathering, this hothouse of creativity will who is played by Treat Williams. The word be at Crabapple Community, Berrington Hall, ‘hippy’ is now used as an insult, and even Berrington, Shropshire, SY5 6HA, for when the film was made, in 1979, they had The film’s many songs are rarely more than details see http://peacenewscamp.info. clearly become a caricature, a symbol of two minutes long; some are very good, most something lost. It is this lost hope which is are very catchy and almost all are frankly AUGUST explored in this film. hilarious. They openly take on, but brazenly n 10 to 15th Earth First! Summer Gathering, These characters are clearly meant to be refuse to explore, many issues that remain workshops, skill sharing and planning interpreted as hippies, with long flowing hair, taboo thirty years later – sexuality, race, class. action, plus low-impact living without flares and tie-dye clothing. They take drugs, It is all part of an exhilarating journey leaders, meet people, learn skills, take action. are unashamedly open with their sexuality, through the morality of 1979 America, where Anarchist Teapot will provide vegan food and laugh at others for being ‘uptight’ when the characters treat the taboos in the same for £5 a day, location in East Anglia (to be they don’t understand their morality. way the film does; not as issues, but as announced, see website), price £20-30 to Hippies, yes, but not at all politically aware. games, or objects of mockery. cover costs, for further details email When trying to convince Claude not to go to The real story is not in the issues or the [email protected] or see Vietnam, there is no mention of peace, of taboos, but in what the characters can do www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk. exploitation of American soldiers from poor with these games, whether they can take n 21st London Vegan Festival, with many backgrounds to furthe r the cause of the rich responsibility for each other at the same stallholders, nutrition information and an who would never dream of giving up their time as enjoying the freedoms they think array of interesting talks and workshops, lives, of indiscriminate killing of native they enjoy, and for which they exalt Kensington Town Hall, London, W8 7NX Vietnamese, of colonialism. The best they can themselves over their less enlightened from 11am until 8pm, adm £2, email come up with is, ‘Well if the boot was on the compatriots. [email protected] or see other foot, I wouldn’t do it for you.’ There are echoes of other films that www.vegancampaigns.org.uk/festival for Nor are they non-conformist. Claude explore the late 1960s and early 1970s here, more info. actually spends one acid trip dreaming of such as Easy Rider and Shampoo. The latter n 20th Little London Fields free green marrying a rich girl. And unlike Bonnie and made its point by explicit reference to the festival from 12 noon until 9pm at London Clyde, they are not glamourous in their election of Reagan in 1981, whereas this Fields, Hackney E8 3RH, for further criminal ity. At one point they need some film uses Vietnam as its political anchor. The details see www.littlelondonfields.co.uk. money, so Berger tries to con some rich thrust with all of them was not to reminisce n 26th The Outdoor Skillshare 2011, join people. He proves comically inept at this, and of what might have been, of the potential of us in beautiful rural South Lanarkshire for so where does he turn? To his mum. that ‘great’ period, but actually to mourn a weekend of skillsharing and workshops The picture painted therefore is not of what was lost. The final scene reminds one about outdoor life and resistance techniques – hippies as a revolutionary left, or of a group of Warren Beatty in Shampoo, watching learn new skills, meet new people and that is inspirational in any way, except ruefully as Julie Christie drives off into the share your experiences with others in perhaps its Caligula-like disregard for sunset with the man with the money, or of South Lanarkshire, Scotland, for details anything except immediate desires. This is Peter Fonda in Easy Rider whispering email [email protected] or see a group of children, skipping their way wistfully, ‘We blew it, man.’ http://outdoorskillshare.noflag.org.uk/ thr ough life with no care for anyone else. Well, they blew it. What will we do? At one point Claude asks Berger, ‘What did Doctor Magiot SEPTEMBER you do that for?’ Berger’s unfazed response n 13th Disarm DSEi Day of Action, the is like his manifesto, ‘What do you mean, * Hair was shown recenlty at FACT (Foundation for world’s largest arms fair, taking place at man? Because it was fun.’ Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool. the ExCeL exhibition centre in London’s Docklands from 13th to 16th, exists so that arms buyers and sellers can come QUIZ ANSWERS together, network and make deals, see www.dsei.org for details of action. 1. They felt that their island was being taken thousands of pilgrims to Rome. It was n 21st Reclaim The Fields in solidarity with over by “haughty, unpleasant strangers” as here tha t Dante witnessed the priests at the people of Rosia Montana, a village in financial services captured the government the main pilgrim centres literally raking the Apuseni Mountains in Romania, under of the tax haven. the money off the altars. threat of being des troyed by a gold mining 2. Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed 1300 a year 3. Bill Clinton. Well, Kissinger should project in the name of profit, for details of Jubilee (the first Holy Year) and granted know? email [email protected] or plenary indulgences (the remission of 4. The biography of Ammon Hennacy, a see www.reclaimthefields.org. temporal punishment in Purgatory). The Christian anarchist, wobbly and Catholic sale of these indulgences brought tens of Worker who died in 1970. Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 15

Freedom • 16th July 2011 15 REVIEWS Acts of propaganda Rich Cross on a new autobiography that is both enjoyably Crass and revealingly Ignorant

Steve Ignorant, one of the founder members of the anarchist punk band Crass, wrote, recorded, toured and performed with the band throughout the eight intense years of its existence in the turbulent times of early Thatcherism. Although the role of singer was shared amongst many of the musicians in the band, Ignorant’s signature vocal style did so much to define Crass’s unmistakable and innovative (though since much copied) early sound. More than twenty-five years on from the winding up of that band, Ignorant has

authored an autobiography recounting his Truntby Photo life before, during and after his time as a member of Crass. The result, The Rest is Propaganda, is an engaging and revealing read, offering numerous fresh insights into the ‘Crass story’, and a very personal Crass in 1984, Pete Wright (bass), Steve Ignorant (vocals), N.A.Palmer (guitar). coming-of-age tale which brings alive the era of Ignorant’s own childhood and members over the re-releasing of the band’s something of a ‘revisionist’ historian of adolescence. back catalogue on CD) shapes his account anarcho-punk. Ignorant is keen to stress the Throughout the band’s life (and in the of the group’s work and worth. It’s safe to multiple shortcomings of the do-it-yourself quarter-century since) Crass were routinely speculate that, had this book been written (DIY) ethic, highlighting the chasm which labelled as ‘middle-class hippies’; as refugees 10–15 years ago, some of the arguments put could so often separate the aim from the from the counter-culture of an earlier era; forward here, about the practice of anarcho- reality. He recounts numerous instances of and as privileged interlopers in the punk punk in particular, might have been somewhat shambolic gigs, incompetent event organisers arena. Ignorant’s life story punches holes different. and miserable touring experiences. This through those perpetual allegations. He The title of Ignorant’s book comes from might challenge an over-romantic, sanitised describes his childhood in Dagenham and the mouth of the anti-hero of Alan Sillitoe’s and problem-free history of punk DIY, but his sometimes troubled family life; the classic ‘kitchen-sink’ tale Saturday Night and there is a real imbalance here. It is a shame stultifying atmosphere which surrounded Sunday Morning. Factory worker Arthur that Ignorant struggles to re call an equal him; and the debilitating lack of aspiration Seaton declares, in his defiance to the world: number of successful examples of which appeared to imprison and limit so “I’m out for a good time – all the rest is collaborative anarchist effort; while the many of those in his immediate world. The propaganda”. This choice is revealing, memories of bad food, broken promises and early 1970s in the UK, as seen through emphasising how far Ignorant is keen to chaotic delivery loom so large. Ignorant has young Ignorant’s eyes, is a recognisably grim restyle his former self as an ‘angry young the least time for what he sees as the and constricting place in which the arrival of man’ rather than as a strident, furrow- ‘wilfully restrictive’ internal culture of something as culturally challenging as ‘punk browed anarchist. anarcho-punk and its reluctance to celebrate rock’ is long overdue. The story of how his In that respect, The Rest is Propaganda is the idea of good, honest ‘fun’ (something life experiences led Ignorant to discover Dial a very different sort of autobiography to that Ignorant has been anxious to House and to forge a long-term alliance that penned by Crass co-founder Rimbaud reprioritise in his post-Crass life). with Penny Rimbaud, creating the persona in the late 1990s. While Rimbaud is By definition, autobiography can only of ‘Steve Ignorant’ in the process, makes for gloriously unrepentant about the ambitions provide glimpses of the wider world through some compelling reading. of anarcho-punk, Ignorant is far more a personal prism, but one of the most striking There is an honest sense of self-effacement circumspect. Indeed, Ignorant is keen to set things about Propaganda is just how little as Ignorant recounts how he was swept up some distance between his account and the politics features: both that of the political in the tidal wave which surrounded Crass narrowly ‘heroic’ history of the band that he context of the time, and of the anarchist and which swept them into the limelight. He believes others have constructed. One of the response to it. The focus is on Ignorant’s does not attempt to downplay his sense of things which Shibboleth and Propaganda input into ‘Crass the band’ (the next tour, the unconstrained excitement at the way that share is a sense of the relentless intensity next release) rather than on anarcho-punk the world was opening up to him personally of Crass’s work – as the band’s popularity ‘the moveme nt’. In large part this reflects throughout this. Ignorant comes across as a grew it risked becoming an all-consuming Ignorant’s interest in representing himself as sincere, committed and honourable bloke. commitment. Ignorant began to resent this that discontented and rebellious young man It is hard to overlook, however, how much enforced selflessness and became determined rather than as an anarchist militant with a Ignorant’s current concern to justify his to reassert his own personal priorities after Big A. This omission is frustrating and risks actions in taking Crass songs out on tour (and Crass finished. devaluing the political contribution which his frustrations with the con flict amongst ex- For several years now, he has become page 168 Freedom 7214_Freedom 11/07/2011 22:47 Page 16

Review ticket prices, and selling band merchandise, some of his dates have been picketed by punks THE QUIZ 7page 15 protesting that his actions betray the legacy Ignorant himself brought to bear on Crass’s of Crass. Most of those in the boisterous, 1. John Christensen formed the Tax Justice work and which he shared joint responsibility excitable audiences at these gigs appear to Network after an encounter with Jersey for. disagree. Ignorant pledges that, following a residents. What was their complaint? In recent years, the former unity of ex- final show in London in November, he will 2. What is the origin of the term ‘raking it Crass members has publicly unravelled. That draw a line under the Crass experience, and in’? schism is unlikely to be resolved any time move on to new projects. He might find less 3. According to Henry Kissinger, who didn’t soon – especially as the band’s CDs are now closure th an he expects. Debates about the have the moral fibre to be a mass being re-released in the face of opposition merits of anarcho-punk are likely to pursue murderer? from some former members. There has never Ignorant long after he settles into being an 4. What was the Book of Ammon? been any prospect of Crass reforming, and angry older man. Ignorant’s curre nt tour appears to offer the Answers on page 14 final opportunity to see the band’s anarchist Rich Cross is research and writing a book on the anthems performed live by any of the ‘original history of British anarcho-punk for AK Press. The Anarchist Quiz Book compiled by Martin Howard, artists’. These shows have not been without with illustrations by Paul Peta rd, £5 (post free) from controversy. With Ignorant mainly playing Steve Ignorant (with Steve Pottinger), The Rest is freedompress.org.uk or from our bookshop at 84b commercial venues, charging standard rock Propaganda, London: Southern Records, 2010. Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX.

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