Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 contents

Direct Action is published by Solidarity Federation, British sec- Inside this issue: tion of the International Workers Association (IWA). 4: Dreaming in the Downturn - will state intervention DA is edited and laid out by the herald a new dawn for social democrats? DA Collective, and printed by Clydeside Press. 6: Japanese Lesson Views stated in these pages are not necessarily those of the Direct 7: Shameful Scenes as BNP Gather in Liverpool Action Collective or the Solidarity Federation. 10: Self-Organising in Mental Health We do not publish contributors’ 14: Have your Say - anti-capitalist feminist conference / names. Please contact us if you reforming parliament? / address unknown want to know more. 15: DIY Politics - solidarity between community, workplace and Subscriptions social movements (for 4 issues ) 16: Anarcha-Feminism or Death! - the relevance of anar Supporters – £10 chism and feminism today Basic – £5 (Europe – £10; 18: Recessive Tendencies - a tale of boom, bust and that rest of the world – £15) old devil called capitalism cheques payable to ‘Direct Action’ – return to: 20: Workers Control, not Controlled Workers - the case DA, PO Box 29, S.W.D.O., for libertarian socialism and workers control Manchester, M15 5HW. 23: International - italy / greece / colombia To contribute 25: 50 Years of Fidelismo - global focus on cuba If you would like to help out or 30: Reviews - realizing hope / a century of writing on the iww / contribute articles or photos, work is entirely voluntary. demanding the impossible / chris wood We welcome articles of between 250 and 1,500 words on industrial, 32: The Curse of Oil - a closer look at oil dependence social/community and international issues; on working class history; 35: Contacts Directory and on anar- chist/anarchosyndicalist theory and history. Articles may be sent as hard copy, on a disk or by email, and can Aims of the Solidarity Federation only be returned if accompanied by a request (and SAE if appropri- he Solidarity Federation is an organi- which arise from our oppression. We recog- ate). sation of workers which seeks to nise that not all oppression is economic, but Tdestroy capitalism and the state. can be based on gender, race, sexuality, or Capitalism because it exploits, oppresses anything our rulers find useful. Unless we Contact us and kills people, and wrecks the environ- organise in this way, politicians – some DA Collective, PO Box 29, South ment for profit worldwide. The state claiming to be revolutionary – will be able to West PDO, Manchester, M15 5HW because it can only maintain hierarchy and exploit us for their own ends. 07 984 675 281 privelege for the classes who control it and their servants; it cannot be used to fight the The Solidarity Federation consists of locals [email protected] oppression and exploitation that are the which support the formation of future revo- consequences of hierarchy and source of lutionary unions and are centres for working Bulk Orders privilege. In their place we want a society class struggle on a local level. Our activities AK Distribution, PO Box 12766, based on workers’ self-management, soli- are based on direct action – action by work- Edinburgh, EH8 9YE, Scotland darity, mutual aid and libertarian commu- ers ourselves, not through intermediaries nism. like politicians or union officials – our deci- 0131 555 5165 sions are made through participation of the [email protected] That society can only be achieved by work- membership. We welcome all working peo- www.akuk.com ing class organisation based on the same ple who agree with our aims and principles, principles – revolutionary unions. These are and who will spread propaganda for social or direct from the DA Collective not Trades Unions only concerned with revolution and revolutionary unions. We ‘bread and butter’ issues like pay and con- recognise that the class struggle is world- ISSN 0261-8753 ditions. Revolutionary unions are means for wide, and are affiliated to the International working people to organise and fight all the Workers Association, whose ‘Principles of issues – both in the workplace and outside – Revolutionary Unionism’ we share. 2 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 editorial Climate Change & Economic Crisis

HE CURRENT ECONOMIC warnings of increased costs, and has laced it with various sweeten- crisis is entirely a threats to move out of Europe have ers in the face of pleas about hard Tproduct of capitalism easily persuaded servile politicians times from the biggest polluters. to water down the original propos- These trading schemes like ETS itself, spawned by the inher- als. have already come in for much crit- ent instability of “boom and icism – see, for example, contribu- bust”, the signature of an The pact has three main aims, all to tions at www.thecornerhouse. insane and immoral system be met by the year 2020 – to cut org.uk/subject/climate – for, among of organising society. But Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions other things, reducing the buying even in the best of the boom by 20% (compared to 1990 levels); to and selling of permits to pollute to times crisis has never been cut Europe’s energy consumption yet another means of making prof- by 20%; to raise the share of renew- it. What’s more, the expanded too far removed from the able energy to 20% of Europe’s scheme widens the scope for profi- relentless exploitation of total energy production. teering. From 2013 companies in resources, both human and Predictably, EU politicians have processing industries like steel, natural, in the mad pursuit hailed this as an ambitious agree- cement, and many others, will get of profit for the rich and ment which will lead the way for- their permits for free while many powerful. That this system ward to a new worldwide agree- central European (coal based) ener- ment to replace the Kyoto protocol gy producers will get theirs at a has brought us to the brink at UN negotiations to be held in huge discount. While the nominal of disastrous climate change Copenhagen later this year. As cost of permits is expected to be is now beyond doubt. usual, the politicians are pulling passed on the consumers, these the wool over our eyes. companies will ludicrously be In the face of climate change, big allowed to pocket a handsome wind- business prefers to fiddle while the In the race to cut Europe’s green- fall running to many billions of world threatens to burn. However, house gas emissions the centre- euros. the economic climate is only exac- piece is to be the expansion from erbating the situation. A prime 2013 of the existing European As an example of to the rest of the example of this is the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). world the effect is predictable and Union pact on climate change con- Since its inception in 2005 this ETS Copenhagen is likely to be another cluded in December last year. has hardly set the world alight…! round of political backsliding Corporate predictions of job losses, But now the December agreement played to the tune of corporate greed.

The present economic crisis confirms there are no real capitalist solu- tions to capitalist prob- lems, on temporary fixes – the scuppering of Brown’s fantasy to end- ing “boom and bust” is yet one more proof of that. Alarmingly, the cap- italist response to climate change shows few real signs of being any differ- ent. Instead, in the tradi- tion of crises, past and present, paying for the climate crisis will fall dis- proportionately on us, the international work- ing class, rather than be allowed to threaten cor- porate profits. 3 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 economic crisis Dreaming in will state intervention herald a

Y, MY…HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED. FOR THIRTY ing spree is aimed at eliminating years the free market could do no wrong, then poverty rather than saving capital- suddenly all change and it’s state intervention ism. It’s as if the very same Labour that’s now the one true faith. Even our own leadership, which was quite M relaxed about the filthy rich and steadfast leader, Mr Brown, has undergone a St Paul-like about growing inequality, has now conversion. Now Mr Prudence is to be found strutting his suddenly found its social con- Keynesian stuff all over the world stage, championing the science. This is nonsense. Labour idea of state intervention on a grand scale. How easy our doesn’t give a toss about the poor. politicians glide from one set of principles to another, hard- Since 1997 they have allowed mil- ly pausing to adjust their moral compasses. lions to languish in grinding pover- ty and did nothing. All we heard off As for the social democratic left, Keynesian project was, after all, them for a decade was the same old they truly feel their time has come. designed to save capitalism from mantra that there is no alternative. The Guardian is now stuffed with its own destructive nature. Its aim It is only when capitalism is threat- articles paying homage to the new never was, and never will be, to ened that suddenly billions are con- god that is Keynesian economics. undermine the capitalist system. jured up from nowhere to save the The new social democratic dawn is Quite the contrary. whole system from going down the upon us and a land of egalitarian toilet. milk and honey beckons. The dark The over excited liberal left would days of New Labour have now have it that the current state spend- So let’s not be fooled by all the crap passed and the next election will see the state interventionist forces of good do bat- tle against the dwin- dling power of the evil free market Tories.

not finished

But what are the rest of us, back here on planet Earth, to make of it all? Are the right wing free marketeers finished? Well, not so fast. Those of us not so carried away with the results of the US elections should pause for thought before proclaiming the New Jerusalem. We should not be fooled into thinking that Keynesian eco- nomics is somehow “left wing”. The whole 4 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 economic crisis the Downturn new dawn for social democrats? that we are somehow witnessing to be paid for. And it will not be the measures currently being taken to the end of the Thatcherite free rich that’s doing the paying. Taxes bail out capitalism work or fail market era. All that is going on is a will increase for the majority, while with the economy sinking into change of tactics. The British state the rich get off scot free. That is depression. What we can say with is not in the business of disman- why such eminent socialist bodies certainty is that the future well tling the free market at the expense as the CBI and the Institute of being of the working class does not of the rich and in favour of the Directors are backing the massive lie in the state intervening on our poor. The state is not spending bil- increase in public spending. They behalf. The social democratic left lions of our money to undermine know full well that once the crisis dreams of a world in which the the free market but rather to save has passed it will be back to the paternalistic state intervenes it. Yes, this may involve chan- business of making vast profits as against capitalism in the interests nelling money to the less well off usual. of the working class…let them but this has little to do with con- dream on. As workers we should cerns about poverty. It is part of a That is not to say that at the other ignore such fantasies and concen- wider strategy aimed at boosting side of the crisis things are going trate on organising and con- demand as quickly as possible dur- to look exactly the same. We may fronting both capitalism and its ing the current crisis. see far greater regulation of the partner in crime, the capitalist financial sector. However, we state. saving the system should not be conned into think- NEW PAMPHLET The role of the social democratic ********** ********** ing that this some- from Manchester SolFed state is to support capitalism. The how represents the individual capitalist may look no forces of progress further than how much profit there limiting the power is to be made. The state, however, of capitalism to has to look at the system as a whole exploit. Far from it; and how best to protect it. This it is the power of may involve temporarily limiting the state limiting profit in order to save the system one sector of capi- from itself. That is the role played talism to protect by Keynesian economics. When the system as a capitalism drops itself in the shit, whole. This is in the state intervenes by pouring in full keeping with money and imposing greater regu- the state’s role lation. Once the danger is past then under capitalism. market forces are let off the leash The state is there to until the next crisis hits. look beyond short term profit and That is what Labour is up to now. It individual capital- has nothing to do with creating a ist interests, to more egalitarian society. The very intervene when idea is laughable. Labour has necessary in order already made it clear that once cap- to support, shape italism has been pulled out of the and protect capital- crap the current spending spree ism as a system. will come to an end and market forces will once again rule. State What happens next to obtain a free copy, just send an A5 stamped spending will be reined in and cuts addressed envelope to: is hard to deter- Manchester SolFed, PO Box 29, South West DO, to services imposed. It is then that mine. It all depends Manchester, M15 5HW. the current spending will all have on whether the 5 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 economic crisis Japanese Lesson

HE WORLD’S POLITICAL bad debt in the country’s banking economies today. For example, elites are looking just a system. In an attempt to prevent Japan had no government debt and Tlittle jaundiced now that the economy slipping into a defla- a high level of private saving, the free market god is proving tionary spiral the Japanese govern- which made it far easier to stave off to be a touch fallible. The ment blew unprecedented amounts deflation by boosting government days of free market tri- of public money on public works. It and consumer spending. However, umphalism are long gone as also brought forward measures that by far the biggest difference was our shell shocked leaders try boosted consumer spending by 10%. that the Japanese crisis occurred at to prevent the world economy Neither measure worked and a time when the rest of capitalism sliding into prolonged depres- throughout the 1990s the Japanese was booming, which ensured that sion. With free market solu- economy could only average an the economy was able to keep afloat tions now dead, the big ques- annual growth rate of less than 1%, through exports. tion is whether the so called lost decade. or not massive Given the differences, perhaps the government only glimmer of light to be action will be gained from poring enough to avoid over the runes of an economic the Japanese experi- meltdown. ence is that the gov- ernment was able to And there is more stave off a full bad news for those blown depression by who find it just a lit- spending huge tle worrying that, amounts of money. with the failure of It may well be the the markets, we are case that the incom- now being asked to prehensible rely on politicians to amounts of money pull us out of the eco- being spent now nomic shit. History will prevent a 1930s tells us that when it type depression and comes to governments that we will only throwing ever larger face a prolonged amounts of money at capitalism to period of recession. save it from collapse, the record is Not surprisingly the trauma of the not great. During the depression of Japanese economy is being studied Whatever happens we can say two the 1930s the US government threw by the great and good in the hope things with certainty. The arrogant just about everything but the that lessons learned will help get us stupidity of Gordon Brown in kitchen sink at the economy to lit- out of the current crisis. The big claiming that Labour had cured tle avail. Despite the massive hope is that by responding far more capitalist boom and bust now looks amounts of money injected, the US quickly to the crisis government more than just a tad silly. economy remained stubbornly intervention will be far more effec- Capitalism is inherently unstable stuck in depression mode. It took tive than it proved in Japan. and boom will always be followed the horror of the Second World War by bust. The other certainty is that to get the world economy moving This may well be the case. The no matter what happens it will be again. Japanese government at the time the working class that will pay the were firmly stuck in the free mar- price of capitalism’s failings. There is a more recent example of ket “do nothing” approach and Whether it be depression or reces- government intervention aimed at delayed intervening until the econo- sion it will be us who pay the cost economic stimulation, which again my was well and truly stuck in the through higher unemployment and ended in failure. In the 1990s the deflationary crap. On the other falling living standards. And tragi- Japanese economy went through its hand the Japanese economy faced cally it will be the low paid and very own credit crunch which, like the crisis with many advantages casualised workers who will end up now, was caused by a build up of not enyojed by other capitalist suffering the most.

6 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 Shameful Scenes as BNP Gather in Liverpool

N NOVEMBER 22ND, THIRTEEN BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY for being present, told us that the members were arrested in Liverpool city centre for demonstration had been a magnifi- distributing racist material. The pamphlet in ques- cent victory and that, as the BNP Otion was a BNP “report”, purporting to be about were not going to turn up, the event “hate crimes against white people”. It begins with a nause- was now over. Then he left, and ating denunciation of racism by BNP chair and Holocaust many demonstrators drifted away. denier, Nick Griffin, which is followed by a welter of lies and scare stories about foreign workers, asylum seekers and How odd, then, that that was the Black and Asian communities in this country. It is designed very moment at which the police to produce fear and hatred amongst white voters, and to escorted around 100 BNP scum into drive them into the arms of the BNP. position at the other end of Church St. The sequence of events could In the week following the arrests, uting the same material which had not have favoured the BNP more if the BNP condemned the incident as triggered the arrests the previous McFadden had been liaising with an attack on “civil liberties”. They week. The anti-fascist protest had the police about the scope and tim- called on supporters to gather in been called by Unite Against ing of the protest and when to dis- Liverpool the following Saturday to Fascism and by the Merseyside perse the anti-fascists. condemn this outrageous assault Coalition Against Racism and on their right to peddle racist filth. Fascism, two alliances of moderate Well…the fact that he had actually The choice of Liverpool for this anti-BNP campaigners. After an been liaising with the police about upsurge in BNP activity is linked hour or so of standing around and the scope and timing of the protest less to the defence of free speech chanting, the rally was addressed and when to disperse the anti-fas- (threatened by what the BNP curi- by the local MCARF spokesperson cists tells us that what we are deal- ously calls the “fascist” Labour gov- and TUC bureaucrat, Alec ing with in McFadden is a ernment), and is more to do with McFadden. He thanked everyone reformist trade union bureau- >>> Griffin’s challenge for the North West seat in the next European elections. Meantime, Merseyside Police “consulted” the Crown Prosecution Service and was told that the thirteen should be released without charge, which they duly were. The BNP also got permission to hold their leafleting in Liverpool.

counterdemo

Anti-racists used the intervening week to mobilise a counter-demon- stration. On the day, around 200 turned out for a rally against the BNP at the top of Church Street in the city centre. The BNP’s event was at the other end of the same street. More police were deployed to corral the anti-fascists than to observe the BNP, who were distrib- 7 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 crat who, despite attacks on his with the rest of the inadequates herded by police home and his person by the BNP, who were trying to poison the cannot be trusted, is scared to minds of the people of Liverpool. News of the BNP being escorted to death of independent working class Police were seen directing black Lime St. Station was followed by action and is more concerned with people away from the leafletters. anti-fascists again being blocked in his career and his respectability “Freedom of speech” for the BNP by police, this time back at the top than with organising effective oppo- apparently means that black end of Church St. Two Labour city sition to racism and fascism. It Scousers can’t walk the streets of councillors were spotted in the shows us the danger of leaving their own city on a Saturday after- vicinity and were accosted by anti- anti-fascism in the hands of those noon because permission has been fascists, asking how the BNP had who will connive with the police to given for an event at which their been allowed to occupy the main allow the BNP to go about its busi- passing by might constitute a shopping thoroughfare while those ness without fear. “threat to public order”. opposed to racism and fascism were being herded around by polluting the city police. Neither, unsurprising- ly, could give a coherent Thankfully, some anti-fas- answer. The BNP held a rally cists had been unwilling to on St. George’s Hall steps en go home at McFadden’s bid- route to the station while ding, and had lingered, sus- anti-fascists were still pecting that they had not penned in by police. The witnessed a magnificent vic- rank and file did not know it was taking place. Had Mr. McFadden and Mr. Bennett been told of this event, which the law demands should be pre-arranged, by their partners in negotiation, Merseyside Police?

BNP scum gather in Liverpool

At this point, another self- selected “leader” of the official anti-fascist move- ment, Weyman Bennett, UAF spokesperson and SWP central committee apparatchik, announced tory at all, but rather sensing that to the crowd that we the BNP were still polluting their should march back up Church city. Scouts quickly ascertained St, thereby leaving the BNP unhin- While it was desperately sad that Nazi scum were encamped at dered. After being shouted down by to see a large BNP presence in our the very centre of Liverpool’s shop- the anti-fascists, he reappeared city, there were some positives. ping area, not half a mile away, this briefly to tell us that he had negoti- There was pretty general condem- time protected by the police. ated “five more minutes” with the nation of McFadden, Bennett and Frantic phone calls brought anti- police on our behalf. More abuse the handling of the protest amongst fascist numbers up as protests flew. The police seemed to tire of the crowd. People will in future be began at the police cordon around the whole business of negotiation much less inclined to take at face the BNP contingent. Shameful at that point, and lines of cops value what they are told by these scenes then followed. Police pre- pushed us all back up the road any- two, or to accept their leadership of vented anti-fascists from moving way, taking the opportunity to the anti-fascist struggle. In addi- around the streets while BNP lumi- detach and surround the more tion, the day’s events did bring out naries like Griffin and Richard vociferous section of the anti-fas- many old faces – some were veter- Barnbrook, the party’s London cists and to box them into shop ans of Anti-Fascist Action in the Assembly member, freely mingled doorways. 1980s and ‘90s who had in the past 8 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 prevented BNP and NF scum from make the links already, implicitly defeat fascism, politically, organisa- operating here and who are clearly understanding where racism can tionally and physically in Liverpool still keen. There were also many lead. If the term became firmly and elsewhere must intensify now. new faces there – younger people linked in the public mind with the obviously willing to stand up to fas- BNP, it would prove fatal to a party anti-fascism cism. Another thing – the BNP trying to market itself as a turnout was small, considering the respectable organisation that Let us re-learn an old lesson from publicity generated by the week’s shares the concerns of many white the events of November 29th in events. Those who wandered voters. At the moment, the leader- Liverpool. The leadership of mod- through their ranks noted that ship is keen to marginalise the erate anti-racist groups and the there were few Scouse accents to be bonehead foot soldiers who sus- labour movement are not going to heard, and that some there had tained the party in the past, but challenge or stop the BNP. We need come from as far away as Tyneside. they are still present and active. a more militant organisation to do A northern mobilisation of the Whatever the case, we have to make that. In the 1980s and ’90s, Anti- BNP had only unearthed 100 bigots sure that our charges against the Fascist Action served this role, willing to show their faces. We still BNP stick. allowing anarchists and serious outnumber them without really try- ing, so there is potential there. The Another thing other good thing was the response became apparent on of the public. The BNP contingent November 29th. This remained static in size throughout. is going to be a long People did not join them and many struggle. The BNP is made their opposition clear. Young already more suc- Asians spontaneously joined the cessful in electoral anti-fascist protest. The street was terms than either strewn with discarded BNP leaflets. Several passers by, young and police protect the nazis old, independently mentioned Hitler’s anti-fascists from the left to co-oper- bombing of Liverpool ate in a shared policy of giving “no during the war, and platform” to fascism. Direct action cited this as a reason was used most effectively to prevent not to support the the BNP gaining a toehold in our BNP. A group of lads communities then. Alas, AFA is no asked what was going more and BNP support has risen to on at the cordon. alarming levels. There is a direct When told that the action oriented anti-fascist move- BNP were in town, one ment in Britain, in the form of said scornfully “BNP – Antifa, which shares the “no plat- British Nazi Party”. form” ethos (antifa.org.uk). This is Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts or the a young organisation that is still to hitler worshippers later National Front. The North achieve a national presence and has West will inevitably be a focus for not yet mobilised numbers on the There is a school of thought that sustained BNP activity in general scale that AFA did. This state of believes it is inaccurate and sim- and as Griffin’s Euro campaign pro- affairs has meant that the field is plistic to equate the BNP with the gresses. In any case, the economic still clear for reformists and com- Nazis, that not everyone in the turmoil which confronts us will be promisers of McFadden’s ilk to party is a raving anti-Semite or a grist to the BNP mill, allowing keep anti-fascism “safe” and at the closet Hitler-worshipper, and that them to link the crisis and its margins, while the BNP make the these facts will damage the anti-fas- effects with everything from “inter- running. cist argument. It is certainly true national finance” (code for Jews that history never repeats itself amongst BNP insiders) to asylum Direct Action would welcome a and that the next far right dema- seekers. The current “leadership” debate on the way forward for mili- gogue will not have a toothbrush of the local anti-racist movement tant anti-fascism in this country. moustache and a lank fringe. Yet showed its fitness for purpose on the evocation of the Nazis is a that Saturday and the BNP reaped Thanks to Liverpool Indymedia for potent weapon. Some people clearly the benefits. The real struggle to images used with this article. 9 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 Self-Organising

EPTEMBER SAW THE FIRST BRISTOL take place, mental health workers and serv- Anarchist Bookfair for many years. ice users have as much, if not more, that Stalls, activities and workshops were unites them as separates them. There is a Sorganised and hosted by a variety of need for service users and workers to collabo- groups. South West SF, organised a workshop rate to address not only individual care to discuss the still relatively taboo subject of needs but also collective issues. mental health. Specifically, it was concerned with examples and methods of mental health The presumed starting point for the talk and users and workers organising themselves to discussion was that the present economic sys- resist and/or compensate for a system that tem can and does have a significant detri- treats and contains mental ill health in a mental effect on the mental health of individ- fashion that is often distressing and damag- uals, families (or other networks) and com- ing for those concerned. South West SF munities. The topic was introduced firstly by argued that, although many user-worker a service user and secondly by a mental relationships are restricted and damaged by health worker. Outlines of these introduc- the oppressive system in which interactions tions are provided below.

ne of the most important received. Empowerment was meant changes in the mental to form the basis of good mental Service Ohealth field in the last 25 health practice by professionals but years has been the emergence of many have remained ignorant of the service users’ / survivors‘ the existence and demands of the Users’ movement. The movement is user movement. diverse and has many dimensions including self help and mutual sup- The loss of hospital beds has Self- port, advocacy, training and politi- removed the opportunity of a safe cal campaigning. The movement refuge and community care has campaigns around issues such as: increased public concern about compulsory treatment; the Mental danger and risk. This has resulted Organisation Health Act 1983; anti-stigma issues; in the extension of compulsory prejudice and discrimination; and treatment in the community. The the medical model in psychiatry, stigma of institutionalisation has including drug treatments and been replaced by the stigma of dan- electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). ger resulting in fear, discrimina- tion, isolation and marginalisation. history Statistics show that you stand twice the chance of being killed by The development of the large the police (100 per year) than you mental hospital system is now do by someone with mental health seen to have failed users, largely problems (50 per year). However as a result of institutionalisa- there are about 4,500 suicides a tion, lack of funding and the year and this is the biggest cause of dominance of the medical model death among 10-24 year olds. combined with repressive regimes. the movement

Major changes in the 1980s have In 1974 a group of users formed the seen the development of care in first mental patients union which the community and the care pro- developed a class focused opposi- gramme approach which was tion to the psychiatric system and meant to give users the opportu- formed an alliance with women’s nity to influence the care they groups, black groups, prisoners 10 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 in Mental Health rights groups, etc. This was fol- quilliser addiction, self harm, lowed by the formation of PROMPT eating disorders, manic depres- (Promotion of Rights of Mental sion, hearing voices, etc. SURG Patients) and CAPO (Campaign (Service User Reference Group) Against Psychiatric Abuse) in the is made up of reps from service early 1980s. user groups from this region.

In 1986 the Survivors Speak Out Other parts of the country Conference formed the first nation- have seen the development of al network for individuals and survivor led crisis projects, groups involved in action. safe houses and therapeutic communities. Many of these In 1987 a Charter of Needs and groups started to develop Demands was drawn up, while advocacy projects and have been Mind Link was set up as a network involved in policy making decisions crimination in employment, hous- of survivors working within MIND. within mental health trusts and the ing, etc; in particular an end to neg- training of workers. Some are ative stereotyping and for inclusion In 1990 Hearing Voices began to involved in user-led research. and acceptance. hold meetings with the aim of set- However, a long campaign for a safe ting up self help groups. house in Bristol has failed Demands on Services: These to be taken seriously. include respect and dignity, infor- mation, choice of treatment options A lot of work has gone into including alternatives to drug ther- challenging stereotyping in apy, non-judgemental listening, the media and the develop- advocacy, the honouring of advance ment of literature, film and directives. art from a user perspective. For instance, reading a per- debates in the movement sonal account by someone who also has suffered a cri- The rights of users to be involved sis can be far more thera- in the development of services is peutic than being given a enshrined in law, However, since diagnosis by a psychia- the movement is very diverse this trist. Examples include has led to debates around issues work by William Styron, such as tokenism, payment, full Andrew Solomon, and time survivor consultants and rep- Elizabeth Wurtzel which resentation. Activists are some- deal with their experi- times accused of not representing ences of depression. Mad users and are often patronised. Pride organises a celebra- However, most are aware of the tion each year. diversity of users” experiences and try to represent them fully. This From 1990 onwards many groups Recently over 200 people attended a may mean attempting to represent across the country began to seri- conference for survivors as profes- people in secure units as well as ously challenge practices in the sionals working in mental health people with mild depression and mental health services. In Bristol services. Perhaps the most impor- anxiety who may have only limited these organisations now include tant part of the movement is self contact with a GP. Bristol Survivors Network; Patients help and mutual support provided Council, Southmead and North by the groups. At present there are Black people are over represented Bristol User Network (SUN), about 300 groups nationally. in the mental health service and Depression Alliance, Sensation the service is institutionally racist. (working with Black users). Other Demands on Society: These In response, black people have groups are associated with tran- include equality and an end to dis sometimes found it necessary to 11 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 develop their own organisa- nformation relating to mental tions. Women are sometimes health workers organising the victim of sexism and abuse Mental Health Ithemselves to address political by users and staff and have con- concerns is hard to come by and cerns that sometimes are not examples appear rare. However, the recognised by the user move- Workers’ following sketches out some such ment. Until recently, sexuality attempts over the past 25 years. itself was subject to psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Work- Self- 1986 – Launch of Asylum maga- ing class people, women and zine: This followed a visit to the UK minority groups are more likely by mental health workers from to enter the mental health sys- Organisation Trieste, Italy. At that time the ASY- tem as are gay people, migrants, LUM San Giovanni in Trieste com- ethnic minorities and people prised of “apartments for clients, with learning difficulties. art studios, space for film and the- atre and perpetual discussion of achievements and what more could be done to human- challenges ise mental health services. There were co-operatives and a restaurant In a society, which sees people in town as well as small friendly with mental health problems as units with a few beds for short stay a burden, the continuing growth during crises as well as facilities to of the user’s movement is an sit together, to eat and to chat and achievement in itself providing to see the mental health workers. evidence of the skills, creativity Mental health workers in the UK and persistence of a devalued were attracted by the argument group. Pioneering approaches that the total ambience of every- have emerged for the treatment one’s life is of central importance of psychosis and self harm as a to their mentality. The Italian work- result of pressure from user-led ers in Trieste had realised that networks. Traditional psychi- much that is therapeutic comes atric practices are being chal- from the arts, from sharing good lenged with a large body of writ- things, from eating, drinking and ten work available to profession- laughing together”. The aim of the als. Advocacy services are being Asylum magazine was, and contin- developed in some areas, but ues to be, to argue and struggle for funding is a major problem a system based on the best exam- ples of mental health care. Wide scale prejudice still exists within society in general. The 1994 – Founding of the challenge is to widen the focus Psychology, Politics, Resistance of the movement to tackle soci- (PPR) Group: PPR describes itself ety’s negative attitudes while as a “network of people – both psy- still trying to change the mental chologists & non-psychologists – health services. who are prepared to oppose the abusive acts of psychology. This Although users are involved in means challenging the ideas within the development of their own psychology that lead to oppressive care plans, mental health profes- practices, supporting those at the sionals still have a huge amount receiving end and using psychologi- of power over any individual cal knowledge positively to help entering the service. Managers those engaged in struggles for may consult with users and social justice”. invite them on to their commit- tees, but they will set the agenda PPR held “network festivals” bring- and retain the power. Develop- ing together groups and individuals ing links between users and already campaigning. sympathetic mental health workers may be one way to chal- 1999 – First meeting of the lenge this power. Critical Psychiatry Network 12 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009

(CPN), aka “the Bradford clinicians and academics”. In 2004 with the view to eventually estab- Group”: CPN provided “a network it held an international conference lishing a healthcare union. to develop a critique of the contem- in association with the Asylum porary psychiatric system”. Group and Manchester University something to think about... in order to create “a space to speak The network “is influenced by criti- and produce new knowledge rather We would like to look at practical cal philosophical and political theo- than simply listen and be subjected ways in which users and mental ries, and it has three elements. It to the psy-complex.” health workers can develop links challenges the dominance of clini- and work together. We recognise cal neuroscience in psychiatry (but reformist trade unions the importance of both sides con- does not exclude it); it introduces a tinuing to work within their own strong ethical perspective on psy- Most unionised mental health organisations and maintaining chiatric knowledge and practice; it workers are organised within their autonomy. Some users may be politicises mental health issues. reformist unions such as UNISON wary of working with mental Critical psychiatry is deeply scepti- and Unite. They concern them- health workers because of the dan- cal about the reductionist claims of selves mainly with issues relating gers of reproducing the power rela- neuroscience to explain psychosis to pay and conditions and the tionships which exist inside the and other forms of emotional dis- amount of political discussion at service. On the other hand, some tress. [CPN workers may be is]...sceptical about wary of meeting up the claims of the with users outside of pharmaceutical their working hours industry for the role for reasons to do psychotropic drugs with risk and confi- in the ‘treatment’ of dentiality. However, psychiatric condi- we would like to pro- tions.” pose the develop- ment of forums The CPN describes where interested their beliefs as fol- individuals and lows: groups can meet to Like other psychia- discuss working trists we use drugs, together to challenge but we see them as the power relations having a minor role which are integral to in the resolution of the existing mental psychosis or depres- Manchester mental health workers during the Karen Reissmann dispute health system. sion. We attach greater importance to dealing with branch level is minimal. There social factors, such as unemploy- have been some disputes and cam- Websites / further info ment, bad housing, poverty, stigma paigns around NHS privatisation and social isolation. Most people (e.g. the recent Karen Reissmann Asylum Magazine – Psych- who use psychiatric services regard dispute – see DA41) but little if any ology, Politics, Resistance – these factors as more important discernible discussion or joint Paranoia Network – than drugs. We reject the medical action with service users. www.asylumonline.net model in psychiatry and prefer a social model, which we find more anarcho-syndicalist networks Critical Psychiatry Network appropriate in a multi-cultural soci- – www.critpsynet.freeuk.com ety characterised by deep inequali- Anarcho-syndicalism in Britain is ties. relatively small yet those involved Solidarity Federation – argue for workers and service users Health & Care Workers In particular the group has been to organise amongst and across Initiative – concerned with proposals for com- themselves. Politics and economics www.solfed.org.uk – c/o The pulsory treatment in the communi- are not seen as mutually exclusive Blackcurrent Centre, 24 St ty. and are considered the concern of those affected, not of elected repre- Michael’s Avenue, 2003 – Launch of Paranoia sentatives. Health and social care Northampton, NN1 4JQ – Network: The network brought workers in the anarcho-syndicalist northamp- together “ideas from users and sur- Solidarity Federation are in the [email protected] vivors of services as well as from process of setting up a network 13 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 HAVE Reforming YOUR Parliament? Dear DA, Surely in the 21st century SAY Parliament needs to be reformed. After all how many of our MPs went to private school and univer- sity? It doesn’t sound like our Parliament is full of commoners. Anti-Capitalist Feminist A Parlia-ment full of commoners will mean more varied debate and Conference not for self-interest. Dear Comrades, to challenge women’s oppression Yours faithfully, SH. and exploitation. We want to We are feminists who have come fight for the rights of all women - REPLY: As far as the kind of together from a number of groups and that includes the rights of sex social change that we envisage to organise an event on Saturday workers and ‘illegal’ migrants. is concerned, whether or not 14 February 2009. We are excited parliament is reformable is a and energised by the current We organise using non-hierarchi- side issue. Parlia-ments, the resurgence in feminist activism in cal, consensus-based decision parties and politicians that the UK, but we think that the kind making. We recognise the power infest them, along with other of feminist movement we build structures that exist among us, hierarchical bodies like the and the kind of politics it has, based on the inequalities of our reformist unions, have the matter. society, which amplify some voices power to make decisions over and marginalise others, and we We are committed to an anti-capi- our heads without having to ac- will actively work to confront talist feminism which sees the count for their actions. Against them. Decisions are taken at interconnections between all this, we see direct action as the monthly meetings, which are open struggles against oppressions and way forward for our class – that to feminists of all genders. There’s against capitalism, and we want to is, in the words of our Aims (on also the option to work build an event that creates an p.2), “action by workers our- autonomously in self-defined open space to discuss this and selves, not through intermedi- groups (e.g. women-only). We develop our ideas. But we don’t aries like politicians and union respect the fact that women have a want to just talk about our politics officials”. diversity of experience and we see – we want to fight to actually this as positive in that it enables change the material conditions of us to learn from each other. women’s lives, to fight misogyny and our own exploitation, and to Key issues on which we want to Subscribe to involve as many women and men organise include…  as possible in the campaigns that supporting sub (enclose £10) Defending and extending repro-  basic sub (enclose £5) will be at the centre of this event. ductive freedom.  rush me free information We want the joint event to provide Opposing rape and sexual abuse. about DA and SolFed us with a forum to come together,  Europe (enclose £10) participate in open debate, develop Fighting racism and immigration  rest of the world (enclose £15) strategies to work towards our controls. common Building solidarity between aims, net- women workers. Name...... work, make Challenging all forms of hetero- alliances and Address...... sexism and increasing our free- inspire each dom of sexual expression...... other to build a Struggles against capitalist ...... exploitation. strong and cheques, etc. payable to: active femi- In Sisterhood and Solidarity, ‘Direct Action’ nist move- return to: DA, PO Box 29, South anticapitalistfeminists@ ment. We West DO, Manchester, M15 5HW need to unite lists.riseup.net 14 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009

Want to comment on solidarity between community, anything you’ve read DIY Politics: workplace & social movements in DA? HERE IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION in struggle. During the epic Liverpool Want to bring any- that anarcho-syndicalists aren’t Dockers dispute in the 1990s, the environ- thing to DA readers’ Tremotely interested in anything mental group Reclaim the Streets showed unconnected with workplace struggle. the way by proactively building support attention? This is, to put it very mildly, rubbish! and solidarity for the strikers. Just email us at: Without practicing solidarity, mutual aid and organisation outside, as well as The process of struggle, in our communi- da@direct- inside, our workplaces, we could never ties and workplaces, is vital in sharing action.org.uk change society for the better. ideas, raising awareness and building con- fidence. Winning reforms today is only a or write to us at: One of the enduring plus points of mutual part of the longer term trajectory towards PO Box 29, S.W. DO, aid and voluntary cooperation is that peo- a better society. We should never underes- Manchester, ple practice them daily in every act of timate the strength of solidarity, but also kindness, unselfishness and community heed lessons of the past. Not so long ago a M15 5HW. spirit. Looking out for one another or popular campaign of mass resistance sharing our skills, time and resources go a defeated Thatcher’s hated poll tax. Since long way in reversing the selfish dog-eat- then, the state has hit us with more taxes, Address dog individualism that our rulers love. from congestion charges to VAT on virtu- This spirit is also reflected in the growing ally everything. Although we won the poll Unknown popularity of DIY politics. tax battle we haven’t won the war…yet. Dear DA, The squatting movement offers but one In this war, we anarcho-syndicalists work example of people facing similar problems towards organising mass assemblies in the joining together to help each other out. workplace and community. Electoral poli- I have just read When many are now finding their homes tics, vanguard parties and corporate trade “Address Unknown” and repossessed by the forces of darkness, unions have failed us. Our class needs its can endorse the review- squatting, a (legal) form of direct action own organisations built on direct demo- er’s comments [see and a practical solution to homelessness, cratic principles; organisations that offer DA44]. This is indeed a will again rise in popularity. After all, maximum control and accountability; little gem of a book, a there are many perfectly good properties organisations that do not diffuse our telling indictment of the standing empty while the government demands or divert us up fruitless blind creeping pervasiveness allows people to be turfed out on the street. alleys like supporting the Labour party. of prejudice and oppres- sion. Many other social movements are on the We may be on the cusp of an important rise – from those fighting climate change time in history as governments stand In solidarity, RE and globalisation to those opposing NHS impotent in the face of recession and cor- privatisation, state surveillance, gender porations continue devouring the planet in inequalities, deportations and the far the name of profit. The ever present spec- right. Disability rights groups demand tre of global capital that hangs like a dark respect as equals, not charity. Social cen- cloud over us all is not infallible. Sure, rev- tres in many towns and cities, offer space olutionary change will not happen to meet and socialise away from the cen- overnight, but by organising together, in tres of rabid commercialisation. Groups our workplaces and outside, a better world donate like the London and Edinburgh Coalitions can, and will, be ours. Against Poverty organise against attacks on our living standards. Anarcho-syndicalists do not just focus on those in paid employment. Anarcho-syndi- We aim to keep All these movements need to snowball and calists fully support and participate in DA at £1.50, to forge greater links, not least with workers many forms of community organising, keep the basic arguing for the building of residents’ asso- sub rate at £5 and The Advisory Service for Squatters, set ciations and radical community groups to up in 1975, produces a Squatters’ build working class power in the communi- wish to thank Handbook (13th edition forthcoming) ty, using tactics such as rent strikes to gain donors and sup- detailing the practicalities of squatting: improvement in conditions. Anarcho-syndi- porters for help- ASS, Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High calists also believe in the organisation of ing to make the Street, London, E1 7QX the unemployed, domestic carers, students and other unwaged groups... magazine good tel: 0845 644 5814 value for money from Anarcho-Syndicalism – An www. squatter.org.uk Introduction, libcom.org.uk 15 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 ideas for change Winter 2009 ideas for change Anarcha-Feminism or Death! the relevance of anarchism and feminism today

sation process imbues women with Pay Unit found that even in OR all intents and purposes, feminism and the whole honour killings, genital mutilation, issue of women’s liberation appear to have quietly but rape, domestic violence, low pay, behavioural attributes befitting the 2007, women are paid 17% conspicuously slipped off the political agenda in these sexual trafficking and so on. But roles they are required to under- less than men. But this fig- F perhaps it would be more helpful to take in class society. The feminist ure does not factor in part difficult times. Even within “radical” left circles, opposi- tion to women’s subjugation now amounts to little more than a look at the roots of our oppression Ann Oakley made the useful dis- time and casual jobs – the few tokenistic murmurings about the need for abortion rights – roots which are so often over- tinction between sex and gender ones which are usually first and equal pay. Years of supposed progress and struggle for looked by the party hacks and liber- roles. The sex role is a biological to go in a recession – equality, it seems, have actually done precious little to improve al apologists who, for all their fan- one – only women can give birth, meaning that the actual women’s lot. To quote one well worn statistic, women put in ciful rhetoric, have achieved pre- for example. The gender role, how- disparity is far higher. two-thirds of the world’s working hours; receive 10% of the cious little in real terms of advanc- ever, is socially ascribed and paral- When women do suc- world’s income and own less than 1% of the world’s property. ing our cause. lels closely with the respective ceed in the macho tasks that women and men fulfil to world of business, they So what is to be done? economic oppression, combined the gruesome twosome keep the economy ticking over. do so only by being as with an anarchist focus on trans- Oakley noted how cross-cultural cutthroat, aggressive A socialist awareness of the prima- forming all power-based relation- Patriarchy – the domination of studies revealed wide variations and competitive as their cy of capitalism as the source of ships, still holds our best and only women by men – as any revolution- between both male and female male counterparts – thus making hope for liberation. Simply, ary worth their salt will tell you, behavioural patterns, but observed a mockery of the genetic determin- anything less than a direct predates capitalism. Closely tied to how these were commonly present- ists’ argument. attack upon all the conditions patriarchy is the stifling ignorance ed as being caused by biological of our lives is not enough. and unquestioning bigotry of estab- rather than social factors. Notably, But women are not just manipulat- lished religion. For aeons this grue- authoritarian societies place vastly ed to enable their exploitation as claimed to advocate Across the world, in develop- some twosome has denied women’s greater value on masculine traits workers and housewives. They are on our behalf, ing and advanced industri- basic right to sexual freedom and like aggressiveness, competitive- actively targeted by capitalist became nothing alised nations alike, women reduced them to possessions of ness and domination. advertising as consumers of fash- more than mouth- continue to be oppressed, their (dominant) menfolk. The ion, beauty and vanity products. As pieces for the exploited and abused en emergence of industrial capitalism working for free women, we are assiduously subject- establishment. masse. In every case, the com- only saw women’s domestic oppres- ed to impossible images: images of Likewise, those women who have mon denominator at play is an sion continue, shackled by econom- One obvious role that women’s artificially airbrushed “perfection” climbed the ladders of power have abuse of power – whether that ic dependence to the male bread- socialisation prepares them for is that consumer capitalism wants us proved invaluable to the ruling be social, economic or inter- winner. that of housewife. The duties that to aspire to at all costs. Under capi- class in perpetuating our subjuga- personal. We could quote hor- women undertake as housewives in talism women have also become tion. rifying statistics galore about Throughout their lives, the sociali- the daily grind of the modern objects and commodities for mens’ nuclear family is not only central to consumption – as sex workers, soft- anarcha-feminist revolution the reproduction of the human porn models or scantily clad “Women are consumed by men who treat them as sex race, but also the capitalist econo- appendages to sell male orientated The need for us to challenge domi- my. By giving birth and nurturing products from lads mags to motor- nation and power in all its manifes- objects; they are consumed by their children (whom present and future workers, women bikes. Is it any wonder that so tations, remains as pressing now they have produced!) when they buy the role of super directly contribute to the profits of many of us suffer from low self- as it has ever been. We ignore the mother; they are consumed by authoritarian hus- capital. But while the worker esteem? lessons of the past at our peril. Our receives a fraction of the wealth emancipation will not be achieved bands who expect them to be willing servants; and they create, the housewife gets For all the talk of “liberation”, by us submitting to the compromis- they are consumed by bosses who bring them in and nothing. She works for free. decades of struggle and universal es of hierarchies, parties or out of the labour force and who extract a maximum of suffrage have done little for most bureaucracies. We must regroup At times when capitalism requires working class women, save a few and refocus. We must fight along- labour for a minimum of pay….They are consumed by them to do so, women are needed minor concessions in employment side, not against, men to smash cap- men who buy their bodies on the street. They are con- not only to carry out their tradi- and reproductive rights. As women, italism. We must do so as equals sumed by church and state, who expect them to pro- tional domestic roles, but also to our disempowerment is lasting tes- and if that means organising inde- duce the next generation for the glory of god and bolster the workforce. Typically tament to our continued oppression pendently as well, then so be it. Our country.” women’s socialisation sees them by capitalism, patriarchy, church time has come. This time we must 1952: women are still struggling in 2009 for “succeed” in caring, casual and and state. The media savvy femi- make our own anarcha-feminist equality in spite of the Equal Pay Act of 1970 Carol Ehrlich: Socialism, Anarchism and Feminism unskilled professions. The Equal nists of the 1960s and 70s who revolution. 16 17 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 ideas for change

Capitalist Contradictions: the Evidence

s the global economy At the start of this recession, energy bosses announce plunges deeper into multi-million pound profits, while consumers are hit with Acrisis, people every- Recessive Tendencies huge price rises and fuel poverty. where are facing home Northern Rock, bailed out by taxpayers’ money, rewards repossessions, unemployment, a tale of boom, bust and that old devil called capitalism the public by repossessing homes on a grand scale; mean- pay cuts and rising prices. The while, homelessness rises as the government allows thou- very same governments that for sheer labour of the workforce. Profits production”. More goods are pro- tive potential to enable everyone Marx’s lack of insight into power sands of properties to stand empty. decades extolled the virtues of arise from capitalists stealing a pro- duced than can be sold, leading to on the planet to have a decent as a self-perpetuating end in itself As banks are effectively nationalised, elsewhere publicly unfettered market forces, have portion of that wealth. The difference firms going bust and workers being standard of living, this is not in remains a disastrous oversight. owned assets are incrementally privatised. between the value of the products or laid off. In the ensuing uncertainty, the interests of the ruling class. The actions of various self-pro- committed the ultimate U-turn Corporate executives are awarded inflation busting rises as services provided by the workers, and the economy retracts as consumers Only a very different system – claimed leftist vanguards in by promising billions of tax- workers are told to accept what amount to pay cuts. payers’ money for bailing out the amount they are actually paid, have less to spend, banks refuse to socialism – could make this an power has wrought immeasurable stacks up as “surplus value” profit lend and investment is cut. Inflation actuality. Marx recognised that damage to the credibility of The use of low paid casual labour is widespread, and both ailing financial institutions. for the capitalist. The owners of and prices both go up. Smaller firms the ruling class would not give up socialist ideas. This fact in itself unemployment and work related deaths continue to rise. This, they argued, was neces- industry are only able to maintain (or banks) go bust, or are absorbed by their positions willingly – a popu- does not negate the need for Across the world, rising food prices have resulted in riots sary to avert a complete eco- this exploitative relationship, argued bigger ones who then monopolise the lar revolution followed by a peri- sweeping social change, but only and thousands going hungry even though there is more nomic meltdown on the scale of Marx and his anarchist contempo- market. The banking and airline od of “dictatorship of the prole- underlines why libertarian than enough food produced globally to go round. the 1930s. But before the full raries, because government protects industries provide us with recent tariat” was therefore necessary to approaches and organisational Wars are being fought over declining oil supplies, when horror of crisis unfolded, some their interests. This is achieved by a examples of this. implement socialism and prevent forms are so critical. global warming indicators tell us to invest in renewables or speculators and hedge fund combination of what the 1960s the capitalist ruling class from face climate chaos. regaining power. According to First and foremost, libertarians managers, who gam- Greenhouse gas production, the primary cause of global bled on the chaos big Marx, socialism and workers’ do not eschew organisation – only self-management would eventual- authoritarian organisation. In warming, continues to rise despite Kyoto and Bali. style, have pocketed the ly prevail, and the state would contrast to authoritarians, they The US furthers its imperialist ambitions not just by occu- cash and disappeared become obsolete and “wither aim for real (direct) democracy, pying Iraq and Afghanistan, but also with sorties into merrily off into the away”. These latter points are self-activity and solidarity. Pakistan and Syria; in response, incresingly marginalised sunset. highly contentious, and underline Libertarian organisation is based groups turn to religious fanaticism and acts of terror. a clear distinction which emerged on free federations built from the As NATO expands into Eastern Europe, we are again We are told that this latest between two traditions within bottom up rather than from the reminded that a mere fraction of global military spending financial crisis was caused Xinhua/Photoshott socialist thought – the authoritar- top down. Further, libertarians could easily eradicate world poverty. by a combination of mount- ian tradition and the anarchist or oppose all relationships based on ing unserviceable debt, libertarian tradition. power – not just class ones – and There’s a shift towards centralisation of political and eco- greedy bankers and the collapse of American “democ- seek to establish the building nomic power within a small number of largely unaccount- the American sub-prime mortgage rat”, Walter a bad case of the trots blocks of the new society within able transnational corporations and financial institutions market. But this is only half the Lippman, referred to the here and now. Crucially, as the (like the IMF). story. As many are coming to realise, as “manufactured The failure of subsequent revolu- IWA put it, the emancipation of As world financial markets have become deregulated, cycles of boom and bust are part and consent” and, failing tions to implement socialism the workers is the task of the growing capital speculation and increasing destabilisation parcel of capitalism itself. this, the threat of or resulted because the authoritari- workers themselves – not of self- has resulted. actual use of force. David Wimsett/UPPA/Photoshot an/centralist tendencies – advo- appointed leaders, parties or The deployment of state surveillance under the guise of marx was (partly) right cated by the likes of Stalin, intermediaries. Socialism, as “the war against terror” is broadening all the time; attacks Marx examined the Lenin, Trotsky and Mao – experience bears out, cannot be on unions and the right to assemble and protest continue. Fundamentally, as Marx pointed out, tendency of capitalism to move In order to get out of the resulting achieved ascendancy. But in prac- built using capitalist or authori- Social inequality is growing both between and within capitalism is awash with contradic- through cycles of boom and slump. slump, unnecessary productive capac- tice these only resulted in dicta- tarian methods and organisation- nations; even within relatively wealthy economies such as tions. In Das Kapital (1867) he noted He noted that capitalism is based ity has to be wiped out. Unsold goods torship of the party, state run al structures. Britain, massive disparities in life expectancy and health how a small minority (the bour- around the production of commodi- are either bought up cheaply or com- capitalism and another form of exist that are closely linked to social class. geoisie) own and control the means of ties for the market. Production is not pletely written off, as investment will class rule – as libertarians such Nevertheless, despite these objec- production – the factories, fields and linked to peoples’ needs, but with the not start if overproduction still as Bakunin and Malatesta cor- tions, Marx’s writings continue to The production and sale of commodities upon which con- workshops. The vast majority of the sole expectation of making profit. exists. Profit rates have to be rectly predicted they would. offer a germane explanation for sumer capitalism’s economic growth is based, is decimat- population (the proletariat), on the Profit levels are dependent on the rul- increased by cutting wages and inter- Countless (thriving) movements the relentless cycle of boom and ing the earth’s natural resources at a horrific rate, even other hand, have to sell their labour ing class holding down wages, erod- est rates. Each slump thereby pro- based on libertarian principles bust which afflicts capitalism. taking recession into account. in order to survive. As capitalism has ing working conditions and investing vides the conditions for future eco- were brutally crushed by alleged The misery wreaked by economic Capitalism homogenises and commodifies our leisure; it evolved, these basic class distinctions in technologies to increase productiv- nomic boom, followed inevitably by workers’ states for being “counter competition and the greed of a rests on power, competition and alienation, it spawns have become more complex, but have ity. yet another slump. This permanent revolutionary”. Of these, few can be seen all around us crime, violence and repression, and it supports racism, not disappeared. state of insecurity is the natural Kronstadt (1921), Hungary (1956) today. And the many contradic- sexism, nationalism and tribalism. Nevertheless, competition between cycle of capitalism and also a trigger and Spain (1936-7) are perhaps the tions capitalism presents – from Now, as in the 19th century, wealth in rival capitalists to produce more for war between competing states. most widely documented while poverty to global warming – may In short, capitalism is rotten to the core, as are all govern- society is created not by speculators, goods to realise ever greater profits, Castro’s Cuba (see page 25) is yet provide the mechanisms for ments, ideologies and social relationships founded upon financiers or bankers, but by the eventually results in a “crisis of over- Although workers have the produc- another case in point. its downfall. prejudice, exploitation and power. 18 19 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 ideas for change Winter 2009 ideas for change Workers Control, not Controlled Workers the case for libertarian socialism & workers control

uch work carried out in today’s society is boring, this way, production is directly har- account, a factory administered by This is not to say, however, that the intelligentsia to justify their superi- useless and stressful, affording workers little in the monised and attuned to the needs of constant mass votes would be neither institutionalised division of labour or status and earnings. Capitalism efficient nor at all a pleasant place to way of genuine autonomy or self-determination. consumers, taking full account of under capitalism will remain intact also bestows unduly large rewards M the wider social and environmental work in. – far from it. on its unproductive money makers, Further, the forces of capitalist industry are profli- bureaucrats and administrators, gate in the use of our time, talents and natural creativity, mak- costs of any such undertakings. Many observers while domestic workers, carers and ing us mere minions to the machinery of profit. This wasteful- Workers’ self-management means have noted how community minded volunteers ness is compounded during times of recession when unemploy- the end of hierarchical and authori- capitalism has enjoy little or no recognition or ment levels soar. Under capitalism, workers are typically paid tarian modes of production to be given rise to an financial return for their efforts. far less than the true value of their labours, while the owners of replaced by free agreement, collec- insidious cul- For these reasons, while we capital grow ever richer by creaming off the surplus value in tive decision making, direct democ- ture of profes- embrace the division of work to the form of profit. Mass poverty and social inequality are other racy and social equality. Syndicates sional elitism, maximise productive efficiency, we by-products of the profit economy, sanctioned in the final – that is, voluntary associations conferring bitterly oppose the division of analysis by the institutions of government. Moreover, capitalist responsible for managing and undue status labour. It would be impossible to production as a whole is damaging to the environment and organising work – would form the upon academic completely eradicate the division of leads to wars between nation states over resources, territory bedrock of the new co-operative rather than labour overnight, but with equal and markets. As the economy spirals ever deeper into crisis, order. But although libertarian practical skills. pay and coordinated work rotation, increasing numbers are questioning the very legitimacy of the socialism abolishes the dichotomy Those at the knowledge can be shared and skills current global economic order. Here we outline the case for between order givers and order tak- lower end of the developed. This promotes a propri- not pyramid of pro- etary interest for workers in their replacing capitalist wage labour with libertarian communism ers, self-management does mean that all decisions are made by every- duction are con- sphere of work and, with greater (or anarchism) and direct workers control. one. As GDH Cole explains: demned to carry autonomy and control, puts an end The term “workers control” refers ism, these activities would be organ- A mass vote on a matter only under- out rote, mun- to the arduous, meaningless, and to the collective worker ownership, ised and discharged for the general stood by a few experts would be a dane tasks for alienated labour so prevalent under control and management of all well being of society, rather than to manifest absurdity, and, even if the much of their the current system. The responsible aspects of production and distribu- maximise the power and profits of element of technique is left out of working lives, deployment of technology will also tion in both industry and agricul- the controlling minority. In with little or no render many mundane tasks a thing ture. Under libertarian socialism, scope for intel- of the past. free democratic workers assem- lectual or profes- blies, councils and federations “You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous The distinction is often made by lib- sional advancement. “Brain work” Economic cooperation and the com- would perform all the functions ertarians between a person who is on the other hand, tends to be the mon ownership of social capital work, chances are you’ll end up being boring and monoto- an previously reserved for the owners, authority (because of their spe- preserve of a small band of highly- would eliminate competition for managers and financiers. However, nous. Work is a much better explanation for the creeping cialist skills and knowledge) and a qualified professionals, with the survival, resource wars and the in in stark contrast to under capital cretinisation all around us than even such significant person who is authority. While remainder of other jobs filling the “expand or die” dynamic of the cap- we reject the latter we respect the void somewhere in between. Over italist market. Production “from moronising mechanisms as television and education. former. That some decision making time, this hierarchy has naturally each according to ability to each People who are regimented all their lives, handed to work has to be delegated need not lead to reproduced itself and is used by the according to need” ensures equity of from school and bracketed by the family in the beginning hierarchy, because ultimate control access to and the nursing home in the end, are habituated to hierar- rests with the worker/community “If workers’ management of production does not transform councils as a whole, who would have work into a joyful activity, free time into a marvellous expe- chy and psychologically enslaved. Their aptitude for auton- the final say in determining what omy is so atrophied that their fear of freedom is among types of decisions could be safely rience, and the workplace into a community, then they their few rationally grounded phobias. Their obedience delegated. To put this in more prac- remain merely formal structures, in fact class structures. tical terms, the decision to commis- They perpetuate the limitations of the proletariat as the training at work carries over into the families they start, sion, let’s say, a civil engineering thus reproducing the system in more ways than one, and project, would lie with a federal product of bourgeois social conditions. Indeed, no move- into politics, culture and everything else. Once you drain assembly, but the logistics of carry- ment that raises the demand for workers councils can be ing the project through would regarded as revolutionary unless it tries to promote sweep- the vitality from people at work, they’ll submit to hierarchy remain with the responsible syndi- and expertise in everything. They’re used to it.” cates. These syndicates would ing transformations in the environment of the workplace.” Bob Black remain fully accountable to the fed- eration by periodically reporting Murray Bookchin back on the progress of the project. 20 21 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 ideas for change resources, unlike at present where tive/distributive tasks cannot be end in itself, but the means to satis- the ability to pay can literally deter- carried out or administered effi- fy our wider human needs, wants mine if you live or die. Our organic ciently. The worldwide postal and and desires. need to live, eat, belong, contribute telecommunications systems of the and create will ensure that the present operate largely without cen- To those who remain unconvinced wheels of production will keep on tral control. In future, the activities that such a programme is nothing turning. But work but utopian wishful activities that are thinking, the experi- socially damaging or ence of the Spanish have little or no real Civil War (1936-9) value, of which capi- shows otherwise. In talism has many, the words of Sam would be phased out. Dolgoff: It can be concluded ...millions of people that this would result took large segments of in less waste, less the economy into their bureaucracy and own hands, collec- shorter working tivised them, adminis- hours all round. Once tered them, even abol- our basic needs have ished money and lived been met (ie. food, by communistic prin- warmth, shelter, ciples of work and transport, communi- distribution – all of cation, healthcare this in the midst of a etc.), the decision to terrible civil war, yet produce luxury items without producing the would have to be chaos or even serious made collectively and dislocations that were prioritised according- and still are predicted ly. Our tendency to by authoritarian succumb to alienated forms of contributing to such large scale ’radicals’. Indeed in many collec- pleasure such as mass con- undertakings would be overseen tivised areas the efficiency with sumerism, designed to keep the cap- and organised directly by the work- which enterprise worked by far italist economy afloat at cost to both ers’ syndicates delegated by the exceeded that of a comparable one in ourselves and the environment, will regional federations to ensuring nationalised or private sectors. vastly diminish. In their place, we their smooth running. will enjoy the contentment associat- Against a backdrop of military ed with genuinely creative, fulfilling So how do we get from A to B? The assaults by the fascists and sabotage self-managed activity. involvement of workers in revolu- by Stalinists, against all odds, some tionary syndicates within capital- 8 million people participated in this Direct workers control also makes ism is intended to accustom them to revolutionary social project – a proj- for ongoing social transformation making decisions (something which ect which shows that ideas of work- and enables productive forces to hierarchical society robs them of) ers control and libertarian social- constantly readapt to the changing and also to build confidence, ism retain enduring and practical aspirations and needs of society at through class struggle, to finally relevance in an age where disillu- large. As Tom Brown argued: transcend wage labour and assume sion with chaotic capitalis and state the syndicalist mode of organisation control of the means of life them- “socialist” repression reigns is extremely elastic, therein lies its selves. By deploying instantly supreme. chief strength, and the regional con- recallable, mandated dele- federations can be formed, modified, gates derived directly “Anarchism aims to strip labour of its added to or reformed according to from the “shop floor”, the local conditions or circumstances. horizontal structure of deadening, dulling aspect, of its gloom the new social order can and compulsion. It aims to make work Workers’ control entails decentrali- be implemented in the sation and rejects the Leninist cen- present. Moreover, the an instrument of joy, of strength, of trally planned economy with its principle of “building colour of real harmony, so that the inbuilt tendency to degenerate into the new society in the poorest sort of man should find in authoritarian state capitalism, shell of the old” must which has absolutely nothing to do also be applied outside work both recreation and hope.” with socialism. However, this does the workplace, for pro- not mean that larger scale produc- duction must not be an Emma Goldman

22 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 international Italy Fighting Neoliberal Reforms in Education ince October last year, stu- cause the loss of 83,000 jobs “cuts”; students disrupted events at dents from all over Italy have the Rome Film Festival and ban- Sbeen involved in a wide num- There is also a racial element to the ners have displayed with slogans ber of protests against new laws new reforms with “bridge classes” such as: “No more deaths because which are aiming to introduce being established for the children of of public expenditure cuts: shame neoliberal reforms in both schools immigrants, separate from Italian on you!” which refers to an incident and universities. These new laws, students. These had previ- in a high school near law 133 and law 169, Turin when a roof col- have been put forward lapsed and killed a 17 by minister of educa- year old student. tion Mariastella Gelmini who is aim- In light of the eco- ing to balance the gov- nomic crisis the move- ernment’s books ment has now taken through cutting public up the slogan “We will expenditure in educa- not pay for this crisis” tion. The main thrust and have dubbed of the new laws are: themselves “the wave”. This is intend- cuts to the public ed to draw compar- expenditure reserved isons between the for universities government’s appar- totalling 1,500,000,000 ent lack of funds for Euros in five years; education and, on the reduction in the num- other hand, their ber of university willingness to bail teachers (50% in the out the irresponsible medium-to-long term) bankers and bureau- which will also lead to crats who are behind the impossibility of the current reces- research activities; sion. Along the same lines, December 12th the nature of the uni- saw a general strike versity will be trans- called by the General formed – universities Confederation of will lose their public Italian workers nature which will lead ously been put forward (CGIL) in response to to a situation where they will be by the Lega Nord, a right wing the state of the economy. This saw divided into first or second class nationalist party which has also the closing of postal services institutions depending on the supported the Berlusconi govern- nationwide, transport services, air- expenditure power of the respective ment’s recent attacks on the Roma ports in several cities and many region; therefore, the opportunity people in Italy. automobile manufacturers, in some of studying in university will not of which strikers were joined by be ensured any more for low In response to these attacks, par- members of other unions. Tens of income students; ents, teachers, staff and students thousands marched in Rome while closure of the SSSIS (School for the from primary school to university 200,000 workers rallied in Bologna, Specialization of Teachers) justi- level have staged a number of imag- 30,000 in Turin, 50,000 in Milan, fied only on the basis of saving on inative protests. High schools and 40,000 in Naples, 10,000 in Genoa public expenditure; along the same universities have been occupied and many more gathered elsewhere lines, primary schools will have and lessons have been taking place to demand higher wages, better just one all-purpose teacher per outdoors; the wearing of plasters pensions, more labour rights and class with unions expecting this to has become a symbolic sign of the lower unemployment. 23 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 international Greece After the Tear Gas he cowardly police murder of unemployment levels have soared to form autonomous assemblies 15 year old Alexandros to 70% among the 18-25s; 1 in 5 and bridge the gap between disaf- TGrigoropoulos in Athens on Greeks live in poverty, and low pay fected youth and workers. Despite December 6th was the catalyst for and high prices run in parallel. To the predict-able statist lies about a days of rioting, protests and occu- top it all, neo-liberal reforms and small band of “anarchist agitators” pations. Although these have now austerity measures have com- behind the unrest, even sections of largely died down, the country pounded a biting recession. the disillusioned middle class remains on a knife edge. warmed to the cause. TV and radio After the rioting subsided, schools, stations across the country have Greece has a turbulent history, universities and council buildings been occupied in response to media being ruled between 1967 and 1974 remained occupied. A general distortions. by a US-backed mili- strike took place tary dictatorship – a during the revolt. With the tear gas having dispersed, regime brought down Days later, in a it remains to be seen if the simmer- by a mass rebellion move to counteract ing discontent can morph into inspired by students union bureaucrats something more productive and at Athens distancing their tangible, or if the moribund forces Polytechnic in 1973. members from the of the old left will again recuperate revolt, a group the struggle for their own ends. In the run up to the called the General recent shooting, the Assembly of Excerpt from General Assembly of country was rocked Insurgent Workers Insurgent Workers banner: by a series of high- occupied the profile scandals offices of the From labour “accidents” to murders implicating the gov- General Confeder- in cold blood, state and capital kill. ernment, church and ation of Greek No persecution, immediate release of judiciary. Wanton Workers in the arrested! GENERAL STRIKE, police brutality and Athens. There workers self-organisation will Alexandros Grigoropoulos racism are rife; have been moves become the bosses’ grave. Colombia Repression Continues

he Colombian state’s policy of murdering Polo Democrático UK and Colombia Solidarity trade unionists, indigenous people and Campaign, were joined by the Solidarity Tsocial movement activists continues Federation / IWA, the Latin American Workers unabated in 2009. In London, the Colombian Association and Hands Off Venezuela. The embassy sees frequent pickets protesting sugar cane cutters have since won a major vic- against these abuses. The photograph here tory in December bringing pay increases and shows a picket on October 23rd last year, which improvements in terms and conditions – fur- was specifically in solidarity with sugar cane ther info: cutters, striking public sector unions and the http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/ indigenous Minga people. The organisers, view/1625/.

24 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 global focus Cuba: 50 Years of Fidelismo

ANUARY 1ST MARKED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLIGHT ing the context for the Castroist of dictator Fulgencio Batista from the Caribbean anti-imperialist struggle. island of Cuba and the initiation of what is now Jcommonly referred to as a communist regime under This only tells one part of the story the direction of Fidel Castro. Nowadays, of course, the though, since Spanish colonial reins have been passed to Raúl, Fidel’s younger brother, but authority on the island had been the socialist rhetoric has not weakened in the intervening steadily undermined by civil 50 years. Much has been made of the Castro dynasty’s perse- unrest, originally instigated by cution of political dissidents, homosexuals and other non- black slaves in revolt and then con- conformists and many readers will find themselves irritated tinued by a labour movement initi- by the inaccuracy of the oft quoted Fidelist “socialist para- ated by Spanish anarchist exiles. dise” in press coverage of the regime’s jubilee celebrations. Indeed, such was the influence of anarchist labour organisers in Of course, that the Castro bothers giance that he main- identify themselves as socialist is tained long enough to sufficient for them to be considered eradicate authentic thus – equally by the US State class struggle in Cuba. Department (who have enforced a trade embargo against the island spanish- almost since Fidel’s accession to american war power) and the international left, for whom Fidel was (and continues From Columbus’ maid- to be) a kind of folk hero, a two fin- en voyage to the ger salute to those arrogant gringos Americas until the who sit only 90 miles to the north. momentous events of Both sides of the divide claim that January 1959, Cuba to support Fidel (whatever that was an occupied terri- means in real terms) is to support tory, subservient to the socialism and oppose US-led capi- economic and political talism and, for this reason, the dictums of first Spain logic follows, it is the duty of every and then the USA. In revolutionary to “support” an 1898, the two imperial “anti-imperialist” Cuba despite its powers actually con- obvious shortcomings. However, trived to fight a war on even a cursory glance at Cuban his- Cuban soil over pos- tory demonstrates how Fidel was session of the territo- distant from the social upheaval of ry, resulting in an 1950s Cuba and was massaged and American victory and moulded into the post-revolution- the island’s integra- ary leader by various American tion as an American lobbies, mostly due to his avowed satellite for the ensu- allegiance to their interests, an alle- ing 60 years and creat- WpN/UPPA/Photoshot 25 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 global focus: cuba

1890s Cuba that José Martí, a jour- the incipient Cuban government ed to gradually dismantle its anar- nalist and writer turned pro-inde- but only served to inspire 20 years chist methods. This marked an era pendence leader, focused many of of avid organising and striking, of CNOC negotiation with the his efforts in building links with especially amongst workers in the Machado government while the Cuban anarchist movement in tobacco factories, railways and Machado’s goons attacked and an attempt to convince them that sugar mills. Central to workers’ assassinated striking workers. the removal of the Spanish was struggles in this period were the However, workers’ struggles contin- integral to social revolution. concepts of direct democracy and a ued and when a series of strikes in 1933 were united by an anarchist In the end, Martí’s over- World Pictures/Photoshot led strike committee, it mush- tures were sufficiently flat- roomed out of CNOC control into a tering that a large majori- national insurrection which even- ty of the Cuban anarchist tually toppled the tyrannical movement abandoned Machado. labour struggles in order to join Martí in his upris- strike breaking ing of 1895, and militated for workers and peasants It is in 1933 that Fulgencio Batista to do the same. As the emerges from a military coup as uprising floundered, Martí Cuban leader. Batista managed to promptly launched an maintain his hold on power in apparently suicidal battle Cuba right up until 1959, partially charge in order to ensure via a succession of lackeys he his legacy as Cuba’s appointed as President who report- biggest national hero – ed to him, and partially via a sort of even more popular than reformism which relied on media- Fidel. The many ordinary tion between the various factions Cubans who died alongside within Cuban politics. Batista was him in his quest for power especially reliant on the support of were not afforded such the Communist Party, granting reverie. them control over the new Cuban labour federation, the CTC, and Eventually, the Cuban positions within the government in insurgency garnered US exchange for the Communists’ aid support, leading to the sub- in breaking strikes such as the gen- sequent Spanish-American eral strike of 1935. War of 1898 as previously mentioned, but Cubans monument to Jose Martí Meanwhile, the reforms of the were soon to unmask the Cuban Constitution of 1940 encour- superficial nature of Martí’s prom- rejection of electoralism, while aged a variety of political parties to ises of post-colonial freedom as vic- anarchist ideas also permeated the oppose Batista and his cronies with torious American troops occupied creation of the first Cuban union more vigour, and in this decade, a the island until 1902 in order to federation, the CNOC, in 1924. young Fidel Castro graduated from guarantee the smooth transition of the politically volatile Havana Cuban sugar and cigar factories The election of General Gerardo University with a law degree. Fidel from Spanish to American hands. Machado in 1925 coincided with a soon started to climb through the Cuban workers found themselves period of repression against anar- ranks of the main opposition party, with new masters rather than no chist groupings in the assertive the reformist Orthodox Party, masters. labour movement and also the cre- which was gaining popularity ation of the Moscow directed through the exposés of governmen- class struggle Cuban Communist Party. A purge tal corruption by its leader, followed, with the General Eduardo Chibás, on his weekly Meanwhile, also in 1902, anarchist Secretary of the CNOC being radio show. By 1951, it was being organisers returned to the more thrown into the sea by persons tipped to win the next election, but fruitful task of class struggle, initi- unknown to be eaten by sharks, and Chibás bizarrely shot and killed ating Cuba’s first ever general by 1931, the growing Communist himself live on air, leaving the strike amongst Havana tobacco Party had managed to seize control party moribund. Fidel, a protégé of workers. The strike was crushed by of the federation and they proceed- Chibás, was present in the studio at 26 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 global focus: cuba the moment of the shooting and resulted in Communist support for communist. He told Matthews that accompanied him to hospital. Batista’s 1952 coup, although the he was fighting for “an end to the Party was not rewarded, as Batista dictatorship” and a return to the Nevertheless, Fidel had earned a sought to appease Washington 1940 Constitution, and Matthews reputation for himself as an elo- instead. surmised that he was “democratic quent nationalist and critic of US and therefore anti-communist”. His intervention in Cuban affairs and In the aftermath of Fidel’s reported obvious charisma was also empha- planned to stand for parliament in death in 1956, an awkward power sised in photographs of him in mil- the 1952 elections, only for Batista struggle ensued between the dis- itary fatigues, with cigar and beard, to stage another coup against the credited Batista and his various an image that has come to repre- independent minded President Prío Havana based opponents, including sent the uniform of the left wing Socarras and cancel them immedi- an increasingly assertive move- revolutionary. ately beforehand. Fidel deplored his ment based out of Havana disrespect for parliamentary University. However, in January fidel’s anti-communism democracy and led a small band on 1957, through his contacts and sup- an adventurist attack on the porters from his days as a Havana The interview was a huge PR suc- Moncada Barracks in Santiago, politician – people such as the cess for both parties. Matthews, eastern Cuba. The attack was a President of Bacardí Rum, the for- now convinced of Fidel’s cause, massive failure and led to 60 insur- mer head of the Cuban national became an unofficial advisor to the gent deaths, yet with international bank and a smattering of Catholic US State Department on Cuban fingers being wagged at Batista, he leaders – Fidel was able to organise issues. Moreover, the interview spared both Castro brothers long the visit of New York Times jour- placed Fidel as the leading figure in imprisonment. Once liberated, the nalist Herbert Matthews to the the Cuban opposition in American putschists fled to Mexico where, Sierra Maestra. Matthews was a eyes, despite his relative irrele- influenced by both his brother Raúl famous and trusted liberal media vance as the leader of a band of 30 and his new acquaintance, Che personality in the US, and the men in the sierra, lacking equip- Guevara, Fidel formed the 26th of scoop of reporting Fidel’s contin- ment, training and support. The July Movement (M26J) with the ued existence, as well as Matthews’ influence of American media over intention of returning to Cuba and breathless account of illegally Cuba was starkly demonstrated fighting a guerrilla war against evading Batista’s security forces en when smuggled copies of the New Batista. route, made front page news three York Times arrived in Havana’s cafés, causing the huge losses meteoric rise of Fidel’s public pro- In 1956, the 82 men of various file, and positing nationalities in the M26J landed on him as a viable and a deserted beach in the east of the safe alternative to island on the now legendary Batista that the frac- Granma boat. Almost immediately, tured oppositional the poorly equipped rebels suffered forces in Cuba’s rul- huge losses following a skirmish ing class could unite with the Cuban military. Batista behind. For the subsequently declared that Fidel many malcontents had been killed, yet Fidel, Raúl and with Batista’s cor- Che were amongst the 20 odd sur- ruption and reck- vivors who managed to regroup and lessness, Fidel’s retreat deep into the thick forests of anti-communist pro- the Sierra Maestra. nouncements amounted to a guar- Meanwhile, the last 10 years had antee of private seen a succession of attacks on property and a labour organising. The new anar- Fidel & Matthews during the infamous NYT interview in the promise to curb Sierra Maestra chist labour federation had been class struggle. crippled by governmental manipu- days in a row. Fidel used the oppor- lation, and the anti-Bolshevik senti- tunity to depict himself as a However, while many figures in the ments of Prío had led to him ban- romantic idealist in the vein of urban bourgeoisie started to cosy ning the new incarnation of the Robin Hood, as well as dispelling up to the M26J, Cuba as a whole Communist Party, the PSP. This Batista’s slurs against him as a started to experience an escalation 27 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 global focus: cuba in working class resistance to volatile Havana practically on the Capitol Hill recognised Fidel as the Batista. In 1957 university students stroke of midnight as 1958 became new Cuban head of state. launched an unsuccessful attempt 1959. His probable motivations were to assassinate the President in his a loss of his most loyal advocates in currying favour offices, resulting in their leader, the armed forces due to the desta- José Antonio Echeverría, being bilising effect of civil unrest, Of course, in reality, even after the shot dead by palace guards. against which he had emerged as a removal of Batista, Fidel’s passage Echeverría had been sitting on top caudillo leader a quarter of a centu- to power was more drawn out. of a militant student body but his ry earlier. His last act was to Having nominated the liberal mind- ill-conceived methods killed 35 stu- appoint his successor as command- ed bourgeois dissident Manuel dents and effectively culled any er of the armed forces, who prompt- Urrutia as President of a Provision- moves towards organising the stu- ly surrendered the entire nation to al Government Fidel, himself dents against Batista. From thence Fidel, who had already claimed the Prime Minister, embarked on a tour onwards, students resorted to iso- province of Oriente as his own to New York City, where he further lated bombings and other such ter- jurisdiction, and told the guerrilla curried favour with the American roristic acts intended to catalyse a leader that the entire Cuban armed media – playing basketball in more general anti-Batista struggle. forces were now at his disposal. Harlem, eating a hotdog and Indeed, the entire country found Subsequently, as the Batista impressing on then Vice-President itself subject to a succession of regime’s chosen recipient of their Richard Nixon that he was not a bomb attacks which were later surrender Fidel, the eloquent, communist. accredited to anti-Batista senti- romantic Robin Hood that ment, most of which had little con- Matthews had sold to the West – the However, Fidel, like Batista before nection to Fidel and his resurgent image that the left still paints of him, was also aware of the power of guerrilla movement. him – became the apparent victor, the Cuban Communist Party, as one the flipside to the vanquished by one weak, liberal minded minis- sceptical ters in the Provision- al Government Fidel, spurred on by resigned over dis- his popularity in the agreements concern- US and, by proxy, in ing the implementa- Cuba, had seized a sec- tion of the 1940 tion of the Sierra Constitution (only Maestra as his own imposed in part), “autonomous zone” multi-party elections and was rumoured to (which never hap- be planning to seize pened) and the prolif- Santiago, the nearest eration of Moscow- major city in the backed Communists Oriente province. from the PSP within Outside of Oriente, the Provisional however, Cubans were Government, who largely sceptical about within months forced his intentions. In Urrutia’s resignation. Escambray province, a His replacement was separate rebel militia Osvaldo Dorticós seized control of the Torrado, a wealthy key city of Cienfuegos member of the PSP. (site of a failed insur- In 1961, the M26J rection the previous merged with the PSP year), while the con- and renamed itself tinued bomb attacks, the Cuban which had now Communist Party, become nationwide, with Che Guevara with Fidel as its flew in the face of General Secretary. Batista’s emphasis on maintaining Batista that the international law and order. media would need. Only seven days With all its internal wrangling and after Batista’s military planes left jockeying for position, the Eventually, Batista fled a very Havana International Airport, Provisional Government risked los- 28 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 global focus: cuba ing control of a rapidly advancing more human face as capital came to voices and eventually banned all social revolution that was occur- be administered by the state. Social non-state affiliated labour organisa- ring in the near power vacuum that programmes were prioritised over tions and even the right to strike, was Cuba in the period immediate- free market economics, but the leading to many voices drawing the ly following the 1959 Revolution, class structure and the relationship comparison with the corporativist and therefore enacted some reforms of power were not removed, and devouring of the Italian workers’ in order to head off more serious neither were many batistiano stal- movement by Mussolini’s fascist social changes. Rent and electricity warts (at least two Communist state almost 40 years earlier. prices were slashed by the nascent Party ministers in Fidel’s Pro- ruling caste, who also finally signed visional Government were actually anarchists imprisoned into law land reforms promised by veterans of the 1952 coup). Batista 20 years previously. Fidel Resistance to this counter-revolu- personally oversaw a succession of Simultaneous to what has been tion led to imprisonment, and modernisation projects, many of referred to as the second Cuban many Cuban anarchists did find which had been started or at least revolution of 1959-1961, Fidel et al themselves alongside homosexuals drawn up by and right wing dissi- Batista. The much dents on the infa- vaunted nationali- mous Cuban labour sations of foreign camps. Fortunately, businesses that most militants were took place in 1960 able to flee to the and 1961 were United States, where motivated original- the Cuban ly by a desire to Libertarian claim profits for Movement in Exile the Cuban state was formed, and con- which historically tinues to this day. had left the island, but ultimately Meanwhile, the Fidel et al became Castro dynasty embroiled in a appears to have with- game of tit for tat stood its post-Fidel with the offended Museum of the Revolution: anti-aircraft gun supposedly used to repel the 1961 Bay of cosmetic reforms and Eisenhower admin- Pigs invasion with the official red and black colours of the Movimiento de 26 de Julio. continues almost istration, resulting unchecked in in Fidel’s infamous declaration of also instigated the hounding of Havana. Cubans are forced to resort socialism in 1961 and the subse- Cuba’s notoriously militant and to the black market for fundamen- quent alliance with the USSR. independent workforce as it tal foodstuffs while the state relies attempted to assert itself once more on tourism to resuscitate its shift of focus in the new political climate. starved economy. The Cuban work- Workers’ and peasants’ coopera- ing class, denied even the right of In the areas in which Fidel’s regime tives had sprung up through the immigration, as well as the legal did manage to materially benefit length and breadth of the island – means with which to defend itself the Cuban people, it was mainly in shoe workshops, on newly creat- against state capital’s attacks, has due to the replacement of corrupt ed rice fields and in the tobacco fac- developed something of a stoic sur- batistiano managers with non- tories of Pinar del Río. Yet they all vival instinct and defiant humour, skimming fidelista apparatchiks found themselves subsumed under while international handwringers (although that’s not to indicate that the centralised control of the state bemoan the state’s inhumane treat- Fidel’s regime has been without run National Institute of Agrarian ment of its discontents. corruption), and the piecemeal Reform and its communist bureau- reforms thrown to the Cuban peo- crats, who concerned themselves The Cuban experience stands as ple in order to gain their favour and with enacting further Batista empirical evidence of the folly of a stem the tidal wave of families flee- designed reforms. The Cuban union popular revolution being accredited ing the country. The revolution did movement, barely recovered from to one man and his clique, as well reverberate in Havana’s corridors Batista’s repression, was “provi- as providing a means of distin- of power in the sense that it insti- sionally” hijacked by unelected guishing between the empty prom- gated a shift in focus in the ruling Communist Party leaders, who ises of anti-imperialism as opposed class’ politics. Hegemony took on a promptly purged all independent to genuine class struggle activity. 29 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 reviews Realizing Hope A Century of Writing Life beyond Capitalism on the IWW Michael Albert – Zed Books 2006 – 208 pages – Steve Kellerman – Boston £14.99 – ISBN: 978-1842777213 IWW 2007 – 38 pages – $5.00

ichael Albert is per- both marxism and anarchism This bibliography of books on the haps most renowned (and their derivatives) in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Mfor his acclaimed expo- contemporary world. The coun- is the most complete work of its sort by sition of participatory econom- terproductive and dysfunctional a considerable ics in Parecon and Moving elements of each tradition are margin. It is Forward. In Realising Hope, his convincingly dismissed, while divided into most recent work, he transcends the more useful tendencies are four sections – the primarily economic frame- discerned to good effect. The net general works work of participatory econom- result forms a fresh, but never- (books exclu- ics, and thoughtfully applies the theless pragmatic vision of a sively about principles of better world. the IWW); biog- equity, diver- raphical works; sity, justice In sum, this publi- miscellaneous and self-man- cation deserves to works with agement to be extensively some bearing wider read, debated and on the IWW; domains of recognised, not and writings human organ- only for the invalu- by IWW members. The appendix on the isation, inter- able contribution IWW in fiction is so extensive relative action and it makes to our to what has been available in the past as experience. understanding of to constitute virtually an original work. today’s society, This well con- but also of how a Available for $5 a copy from: IWW structed text future beyond Literature Dept., PO Box 42777, critically eval- capitalism can be Philadelphia, PA 19101 ($2 shipping for uates the theo- envisioned, con- first item, 50¢ each additional item). For retical tenets structed and bulk orders contact Boston IWW, PO and practical practically Box 391724, Cambridge, MA 02139 (50% application of realised. discount on orders of six or more). Demanding the Impossible A History of Anarchism (updated edition) Peter Marshall – Fontana Press 2008 – 784 pages – £14.99 – ISBN: 978-0006862451 avigating the broad “river of ures, such as Nietzsche, Camus, anarchy”, from Taoism to situa- Gandhi, Foucault and Chomsky. No Ntionism, from Ranters to punk other book on anarchism covers so rockers, from individualists to commu- much so incisively. nists, from anarcho-syndicalists to anarcha-feminists, Demanding the In this updated edition, a new epilogue Impossible is an authoritative and live- examines the recent developments in ly study of what is to many a widely theory and practice, including ’post- misunderstood subject. It explores the anarchism’ and ’anarcho-primitivism’ key anarchist concepts of freedom and as well as the broader contribution to equality, authority and power, society the peace, green and global justice and the state and investigates the suc- movements. cesses and failures of anarchist move- ments throughout the world. It covers Described by the Observer as “the book not only the classic anarchist thinkers, Johnny Rotten ought to have read”, such as Godwin, Proudhon, Bakunin, this indispensable work fully warrants Kropotkin, Reclus and Emma the critical acclaim it so richly Goldman, but also other libertarian fig- deserves. 30 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 reviews Chris Wood – Dulwich, 19th December 2008

HRIS WOOD IS A RARE damn system. I knew then it was He also sang a song, a truly power- thing indeed, an artic- going to be a great night. He fol- ful song, about Jean Charles de Culate English folk lowed with plenty of other gems, Menezes. I twigged about one verse such as the stripped down “sexy lit- in, but the clues got stronger as the singer with moving songs tle folk song” “Cold Haily Rainy song went on detailing an every day and an approach that takes Night” that he has performed in an journey that turned into tragedy. on many of the ills of the in-yer-face version with The When it finished, there was a modern world from a radi- Imagined Village. momentary pause as people took in cal perspective. the strength of the story they’d just Other highlights included “The been told, its power and tragedy. I was fortunate enough to have Cottager’s Reply”, a Cotswold poem The hush was broken by tremen- been given a double album of his set to music, with updated prices, dous applause, unusual for the first two CDs, The Lark Descending and as the poet tells some rich folk hearing of a song. I think Wood’s Trespasser. These are both fine down from London why he won’t real strength is the way he allows records that examine what it means sell his smallholding. “Walk this the songs to speak for themselves to be English in a much more sensi- World” stakes a claim to music as and in his clarity of voice. tive way than the likes of Billy belonging to those who sing it, and Bragg, mixing contemporary songs use it to mark the seasons and the That’s not to say his between song with traditional, with a slight changes of our lives. “True North” banter isn’t good; it’s funny and emphasis on Wood’s home in Kent. is about the peasant poet John warm and sharply political. It Clare, who really was a peasant, shouldn’t need pointing out that He began his set with a song called and was declared insane at the time our ancestors in these islands “The Grand Correction”. Without of the enclosures. As Wood said, would have been burning things any fanfare, it starts with the nar- “most English audiences know down faced with some of the non- rator taking some basic steps to more about the Highland clear- sense the ruling class do. dealing with the current economic ances than they do about the theft crisis, such as planting an allot- of our common land”. There’s a He played his best known song, ment and eating pigeons. It ends reason why English history is “One in a Million”, a retelling of advocating overthrowing the whole taught as kings, queens and the sec- the traditional folk motif of finding ond world war, and he knows it. a lost ring inside a fish, set in a chip shop in Whitstable. He ended with his atheist spiritual, “Come Down Jehovah”, drawing on sacred music to mark out the sacred in everyday life.

I’m an internationalist, but I’m also English. Wood’s work is a reminder that Englishness is a contested idea and that there is a history we can learn from, if only we can find it.

Let’s go back to a time when there was no ‘England’ and there were no ‘English’. A class of people came along and decided they wanted to rule over this place and these peo- ple but before they could rule over somewhere they needed to give it a name. And before they could gov- ern the people who lived there they had to give them a name too. ‘England’ and ‘the English’ were a necessary construction for a gov- erning class and remain so to this day.” (From Chris Wood’s website) 31 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 a closer look Oil Be Damned why global capital, state power and oil dependence is a recipe for disaster

F MONEY makes the reluctance of the oil majors to Exxon Mobil, BP-TNK and Shell are world go round, oil sure invest heavily in developing renew- now the world’s second, third and comes a very close sec- able energy sources. fourth biggest corporations respec- tively. ond. With surging I artifical scarcity worldwide demand, upward Oil, as a commodity, is traded on price trends (despite recent With the price of a barrel of oil the global markets by speculators falls) and dwindling having peaked in the region of $140 with a vested interest in buying low reserves concentrated mainly last year, all of us have felt the and selling high, thus pushing up in US-unfriendly states, this pinch both at the petrol pump and prices which are then duly passed priceless fossil fuel has with our domestic gas bills – the on to the consumer. Estimates sug- latter having doubled since 2000. gest that as much as 60% of today’s become a major magnet for But other more complex forces than oil prices are down to sheer specu- conflict, instability and (oil producing cartel) OPEC are lation. As prices are driven ever power politics. Most recently, increasingly bearing on global oil higher, and demand also increases this has been borne out by prices. True to form, market forces (as at the present), there will come the imperialist forays by have conspired to massively and a time when it becomes too expen- Russia into the Caucasus, artificially inflate prices. The delib- sive for oil based capitalism to erate limitation of refinement afford. At that point we enter a and by the US in Iraq and capacity, for example, greatly exac- slump until such time as demand Afghanistan. The slavish erbates scarcity when in reality and prices fall significantly. and unwavering pursuit of there is a glut of (unwanted) oil as the catalyst to econom- Iranian crude At the end of 2003, BP estimated ic growth also remains there to be reserves of some 1.1 the principal cause of trillion barrels of oil, unevenly distributed around the globe. Of global warming, with these, Saudi Arabia holds about energy related emissions 25%, and Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and set to double by 2050. Abu Dhabi nearly 40%. Outside of the Middle East, the 2 largest Across the industrialised world, reserves are in Venezuela oil forms the lifeblood of the (6.8%) and Russia (6%). economy, not only for the petrol However, global consumption of which fuels transport and oil is also very uneven. The US industry, or the energy that heats our homes, but also for products as diverse as PCs and pesticides. Many scientific oil just waiting to be observers predict that sometime processed. In the last 30 around 2010 we will hit “peak oil”. years, US oil consump- Peak oil refers to that point when tion has increased by supplies of this finite resource, in some 35%, with no new the face of growing demand, falls refineries built to reflect into irreversible decline. It is pre- this growing demand. cisely this fear – and the prospect of This bottleneck has wholesale economic collapse – that enabled the likes of oil the oil industry vigorously exploits giant Exxon Mobil to to realise massive profits and to return profits of $14.83 cajole governments into pursuing billion in the third quar- their blinkered policies. Sustaining ter of last year alone. Oil profit levels may also explain the means big bucks. In fact, 32 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 a closer look consumes over 25%, whilst produc- Halliburton. That global The true cost of petroleum is inher- ing only 9.2%, making it the most capital acts without ently too expensive to sustain. From heavily import dependent nation in morals should come as the social, political and human costs the world. The Middle East mean- no surprise, as should of finding cheap labour and land, to while, consumes 5.9%, while the not the securing of the Asia-Pacific nations (Australia, Iraqi oilfields as the the environmental costs of extracting China, India and Japan) import the first action after the and burning a non-renewable, toxic greatest percentage of their 28.8% 2003 invasion. With US fuel, and the destruction caused by share of global oil consumption. foreign policy indelibly war and militarism – the price we pay focussed on the Middle a bizarre alliance? East, the supply and for an economy saturated with oil is control of oil has more than any of us can afford. The US’s dependence is of particu- emerged as the prime lar significance here, spawning fuel not only for the www.ecologycenter.org some seemingly bizarre alliances. economy, but also for Of these, the House of Saud and war and terrorism. House of Bush cabal may seem the er trigger prompting major price most odd. Most of the 9/11 hijack- Oil transportation is a precarious hikes. ers originated from Saudi Arabia, a task. The impact of a major terror- nation which remains a hotbed of ist attack on one of the global oil The realisation of the EU’s depend- anti-western Islamic fundamental- shipping routes (such as the Gulf of ence on Russian oil and gas ism and maintains a hard-line in Aden, the Strait of Hormuz or explains Gordon Brown’s current Sharia law. With Saudi’s 4,000 Strait of Malacca), or on princes living lives of (US funded) a refining facility like unparalleled luxury, their impover- Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia, ished people endure a torturous, was simulated in 2005 by inhumane justice system con- oil industry and defence demned by Amnesty International experts. Their conclu- and Human Rights Watch alike. sions, based on predict- Iraq is another case in point. When ed disruption to the outgoing US Vice-President Dick world economy, painted Cheney was CEO of oil company a doomsday scenario of Halliburton, the Chicago Tribune epic proportions. In reported that he did almost $24 bil- 2005 a US State sub- lion in business with Saddam Hussein. In September this year, a former colleague of enthusiasm for a new Caspian Sea Cheney’s pleaded gas pipeline to effectively circum- guilty to funnelling vent the Kremlin’s ability to hold millions of dollars in Britain to energy ransom. The bribes to secure Caspian region is riven with sepa- lucrative oil contracts ratist conflicts, and the need to con- in Nigeria for trol import routes via Chechnya explains Russia’s unwillingness to grant independence to the Chechen state. The events in Georgia last August are also indicative of Russia’s desire to preserve its inter- ests. Amidst the howls of indigna- committee reported that tion from the West, the siting of US sabotage of Iraqi oil pipe- military hardware in Poland and lines had cost some $10 the proposed assimilation of billion in lost revenues, Georgia into NATO may yet prompt despite protection being a the re-emergence of a new Cold high priority. The mere War. Thinking ahead, Russia has suggestion of supply dis- claimed parts of the Arctic, and ruption – whether caused American Senators are also eyeing by accident, war or terror- drilling in the region as a means to ism – is, of course, anoth- fashion an escape from the impend- 33 Direct Action www.direct-action.org.uk Winter 2009 a closer look ing energy “crisis”. As an up and oil extraction. Here, in the Niger truth, it is the combined forces of coming oil dependent superpower delta, it is well documented that the big business and the state which China will also be a major player in oil industry has extensively degrad- have led us into this horrific quag- the grand scheme of things. ed the eco-system and severely con- mire. Only by looking beyond these taminated water supplies. Tribal afflicted powers, can we realistical- disastrous direction people in the Amazon are currently ly hope to get ourselves out of this struggling against a Peruvian gov- mess. Critical to our struggle is On the subject of China, the dra- ernmen decree opening up their raising awareness and promoting matic ecological toll inflicted by the lands for oil and gas extraction. solidarity and constructive social global oil curse cannot be underes- Moreover, from the Arctic to the action between workers, local com- timated. China is rich in coal, but Amazon, the corporate quest for munities, and environmentalists, in poor in oil. Craving a domestic oil black gold is systematically other words unity in struggle source to sustain econimic growth, destroying rapidly diminishing nat- against our common enemies. China has built a huge refinery ural wildernesses. capable of converting Ultimately, the prob- coal into synthetic oil. lems we all face – The “tar sands” in from global warm- Alberta, Canada, form ing, to war, to fuel another potential source poverty – are caused of oil. But converting tar by capitalism. sands and coal into Creating a system of something resembling self-managed produc- useful oil is massively tion by workers, for polluting – far more so workers which is than conventional refin- organised federally ing. It is of tremendous and is fully account- irony that melting gla- able to the communi- ciers in the likes of ties it serves, is an Alaska and Greenland – essential starting caused primarily by the point in deconstruct- burning of fossil fuels – ing the profit driven, have opened up previous- oil obsessed econo- ly inaccessible oil fields. my. But since, in the While these new sources words of one indus- may last well into the future, this The oil industry is also notorious try expert, “it is hardly conceivable ruinous trend leads in only one for its appalling treatment of work- that the world could function with- direction. A global temperature rise ers, victimisation and failure to out oil”, it would be naive to sug- of at least 3ºC by 2050, forecast by recognise unions. Yet it is those gest this transformation will be a the Intergovernmental Panel on very workers and their communi- simple overnight process. However, Climate Change, will cause ties that hold the key to reversing in the face of the evidence, the drought, famine, extreme weather the apparently suicidal road to ruin urgency for change cannot be and flooding, leading to millions of paved by politicians and oil barons. underestimated. The requirement climate refugees and inevitable ter- for a coordinated global transition ritorial conflicts. The refining of beyond big business to clean, renewable energy sources tar sands and coal, as substitutes and the phasing out of oil depend- for scarcer, less accessible forms of While many environmentalists ence is clear. Far reaching energy oil, will only hasten this process. overlook the pivotal role played by efficiency measures and lower con- workers in making the change to a sumption lifestyles are also vital. But the legacy of oil addiction does world based on greener, renewable Such moves, and the replacement of not end there. In countries like alternatives to oil, groups such as production for profit by production Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, oil “Just Transition” in the US form for need, will negate the capacity wealth and corporate intervention an exciting and necessary develop- for conflict and environmental contrive to shore up corrupt, des- ment. Amidst calls for action on cli- damage, and also ensure that we potic regimes. In turn, this delivers mate change – a call yet to be fully can all enjoy equitable access to only internal repression, decreased embraced by British unions – the sustainable energy supplies on an self-sufficiency and abject poverty movement seeks to unite workers indefinite basis. for the vast majority. In 1995 Ken and communities affected by oil Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni peo- exploitation. The danger, of course, Without prompt and radical action, ple were framed and executed by is that this may become just anoth- however, our future and that of our the Nigerian state for fighting the er watered down, reformist attempt children continues to look uncer- devastation of their homeland by to petition those in power when, in tain to say the least. 34 Direct Action www.solfed.org.uk Winter 2009 contacts

SolFed-IWA contacts

National contact point: PO Box 29, South West DO, International Workers’ Association: IWA-AIT Secretariat, Manchester, M15 5HW; 07 984 675 281; Poštanski Pretinac 6, 11077 Beograd, Serbia; +38 (0)1 63 [email protected]; www.solfed.org.uk. 26 37 75; [email protected]; www.iwa-ait.org.

|locals Michael Avenue, Northampton, NN1 4JQ; northamptonsf@ solfed.org.uk. Brighton: c/o SF National contact point; North & East London: PO Box 1681, London, N8 7LE; [email protected]. [email protected]. Edinburgh: c/o 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh, Preston: PO Box 469, Preston, PR1 8XF; 07 707 256 682; EH7 5HA; 07 896 621 313; [email protected]. [email protected]. Liverpool: c/o News From Nowhere, 96 Bold Street, South London: PO Box 17773, London, SE8 4WX; Liverpool, L1 4HY; [email protected]. 07 956 446 162; [email protected]; Manchester: PO Box 29, South West DO, Manchester, M15 southlondonsf.org.uk. 5HW; 07 984 675 281; [email protected]; South West: c/o SF National contact point; mail list: [email protected]. [email protected]. Northampton: c/o The Blackcurrent Centre, 24 St West Yorkshire: PO Box 75, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8WB; [email protected]. |other local contacts Milton Keynes: c/o Northampton SolFed Bolton: c/o Manchester SolFed Scarborough: c/o West Yorkshire SolFed Coventry & West Midlands: c/o Northampton SolFed Sheffield: c/o West Yorkshire SolFed Ipswich: c/o N&E London SolFed South Hertfordshire: PO Box 493, St Albans, AL1 5TW |other contacts & information ‘A History of Anarcho-Syndicalism’: 24 pamphlets Catalyst (freesheet): c/o South London SolFed; downloadable free from www.selfed.org.uk. [email protected]. SolFed Industrial Strategy / The Stuff Your Boss Does Education Workers’ Network: c/o News From Nowhere, Not Want You To Know: leaflets available online at 96 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HY; [email protected]; www.solfed.org.uk; bundles from the SolFed national con- www.ewn.org.uk; email list: [email protected]. tact point for free/donation. Health & Care Workers Initiative: c/o Northampton Manchester SolFed Public Meetings: 7.30pm every 2nd SolFed. Tuesday of the month, Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, off Kowtowtonone: freesheet from West Yorkshire SolFed. Cross Street, Manchester. Western Approaches: freesheet from South West SolFed. February 10th: Nationalisation vs. Socialisation SelfEd: c/o Preston SolFed; [email protected]; March 10th: Social Movements (provisional) www.selfed.org.uk. April 14th: Economic Crisis (provisional)

|friends & neighbours London Coalition Against Poverty: 07 932 241 737; [email protected]; 56a Infoshop: Bookshop, records, library, archive, [email protected]. social/meeting space; 56a Crampton St, London, SE17 National Shop Stewards Network: 3AE; open Thur 2-8, Fri 3-7, Sat 2-6. http://www.shopstewards.net/. AK Press: Anarchist publisher/distributor; PO Box 12766, Organise!: Working Class Resistance freesheet/info; PO Edinburgh, EH8 9YE; 0131 555 265; Box 505, Belfast, BT12 6BQ. [email protected]; www.akuk.com. Radical Healthcare Workers: Freedom: Anarchist fortnightly; 84b Whitechapel High St, http://radicalhealthcareworkers.wordpress.com/. London, E1 7QX; www.freedompress.org.uk. Resistance: Anarchist Federation freesheet; c/o 84b Kate Sharpley Library: full catalogue - BM Hurricane, Whitechapel High St, London, E1 7QX; www.afed.org.uk. London, WC1N 3XX; www.katesharpleylibrary.net. ToxCat: Exposing polluters, pollution and cover-ups; £2 www.libcom.org: online news and resources from PO Box 29, Ellesmere Port, CH66 3TX.

35