[email protected] ·. grenzeloosfb: borderless.nl.org · .www.grenzeloos.org Published in the Netherlands · Published . inMay the 2013 Netherlands . Number · October 3 2012 · Number 1. EditorialEditorial Eurocrisis Netherlands increase in private debt, facilitated by lower real interest rates due to TheRushing centre into the high inflation. These two ‘solutions’ were Orwell’s farm StrugglesAnother Dutch in the southbank nationalized need blocked with the onset of the On Friday 1 February, the SNS bank was nationalized by the Dutch government to prevent it from goingfinancial bankrupt. crisisThe Dutch as northerngovernment capital cannot hold continues to announce austerity measure after austerity measure, yet it was suddenly capable of finding 4.9 billion Euros to save a bank – again! ‘Save the banks!’, ‘Save stopped investing in the south the euro!’. Those have been he results of the Dutch national – Alex de Jong enterprise. The new managing receives state support. and‘market financial mechanisms’. institutions Left beganto the mantras of European internationaldirector will ‘earn’ solidarity half a million How SNS came into financial elections in September deleveragingthemselves, theseand banksrefusing would to governments for some time The nationalization of SNS cost a year. problems is typical of the provide credit. The impact on the now.came And as anow surprise lightning to many. has the result of contradictions that be in serious problems, possibly T 3.8 billion Euros, with the state The political response to the speculative bubble that burst in populationeven facing has bankruptcy. been devastating But since Together the right-wing, free-market accumulated during this same struck twice. Out of the blue, economic crisis that broke out in 2008. Before the crisis, SNS bought VVD and the Labour party (PvdA) providing another 1.1 billion in period of growth. Things were andthey is are exacerbated considered by ‘too cuts big to tosocial fail’ Cyprus became an insula non loans and 5 billion in guarantees. 2008, that is more or less shared the real estate fund ‘Bouwfonds capturedgrata. 52% Within of the one vote. day, The a results ‘bail- not as wonderful as they appeared welfarethey receive made government under supportprevious – The bank had come into problems among the right-wing and center- Property Finance’, becoming one meaning that, in the last instance, it haveout’ been plan portrayed was proposed, as a ‘return voted left wing parties, is to prop up inof thesethe major economies: funders ofgrowth the sector. was neoliberal reforms. because of its investments in isThe the crisisDutch in people the south that of guarantee Europe, to theagainst centre’ and foranother Dutch plan politics was real estate. ‘If the state hadn’t the same structures that caused notThe bankaccompanied easily lent bylarge a sumsbetter to conceived. First the idea was to therefore,the solvency cannot of these be banks.explained This after ten years in which traditional intervened, it was certain the bank the crisis in the first place. Dutch distributionreal estate companiesof wealth, as growthrather guarantee allows these banks to governingtax everyone’s parties savings,declined thenwhile to would go bankrupt. That is why PM Mark Rutte (of the right-wing inequalityin the sector increased seemed markedly.limitless. as an inherent weakness in the tax the richer ones. Such a ‘bank borrow money against very low new parties made significant gains, the state chose a means of last VDD party) declared the problems NeoliberalAfter the beginningreforms resulted of the incrisis, the southerninterest rates economies since orlenders a flaw can in suchheist’ as the is left-wing rather new Socialist in EU tactics, Party resort; complete nationalization with the SNS bank as being down privatisationreal estate profits of public declined services and and it the character of their citizens. but nonetheless it complements be confident they will get their (SP) and the far-right PVV of Geert of the bank’, finance minster to ‘mismanagement’, as if the abecame decline clear in the that living at least conditions part of Rather,money itback. must beThe understoodcorporate the interventions in the South Jeroen Dijsselbloem (Labour looming bankruptcy was not part this money would not come back. Wilders.of EuropeThis time, (Malta however, beware!), the big for most of the population. aswatchdog, a consequence Stichting of theOnderzoek way in winners were again the parties of the Party) declared. Ultimately, of a systematic pattern. Already DeindustrialisationThe SNS management of the chosesouthern to whichMultinationale the eurozone Ondernemingen, was built and which aim at devaluing the euro this means that the state merely two other major Dutch banks have keep this information secret. so-calledinternally political in each centre. country. In the economies, more pronounced incalculated recognition that of thethis fact effectively that the finances the bank: the government been nationalized in 2008, Fortis The intervention of the Dutch means that the banks are receiving Butcase the of elections Cyprus dothe not depositors indicate Nederland and ABN-AMRO. thanstate inin thethe bankingnorth, was sector offset shows by northern countries have profited has no intentions of running the the development of other sectors, froman indirect the structuralsubsidy of betweeninequalities 4.1 an endare payingto political directly polarization. to keep the bank other than as a commercial Another major bank, ING, also the hollowness of rhetoric about currency afloat while in other such as tourism and housing builtand 12.3into billionit. The Euros creation a year of from the The VVD moved even further to the public purse. the countriesright, combining the people free-market are made construction, which primarily eurozone in the late 1990s was a to pay indirectly as wages and The story of SNS shows fundamentalism with anti-immigrant offer seasonal and precarious short-termthe problem ‘solution’ is tolarger the inherent than rhetoricsocial that resources attracted are a large downsized. number employment. contradictions of capitalist growth, In itself, taxing the rich is mere individuals and their of votes from the far right. The PvdA, Inflation in the south has also which‘mismanagement’ were temporarily of the repressed bank’s indicative of the power of but have now reappeared even on thepolitical other hand,will, promisedshowing fairerit is consistently been much higher than finances. With the returns from policiespossible than thoseto make of the theprevious right in the north. This, combined with morethe realviolently. estate sector being so governmentpay. However, and protection several Cypriotof the deindustrialization, resulted in a profitableIn Europe, beforethe struggle 2008, for it a made mostparliament vulnerable members’groups in didsociety. not sociallygood economic just way sense out of for the SNS crisis to Manyhesitate people tovoted warn PvdA their to blockrich In Europe, the isgive also out a largestruggle credits. against As the those real the returnrelatives of VVDahead Prime of Minister,time to institutionsestate sector of theran EU into that problems, continue however, it was inevitable that part Markwithdraw Rutte. their money. Of struggle for a to insist on austerity regardless course this one-time measure is of this money would not, in fact, Ironically, by forming a coalition socially just way out ofreturn. its effects on the people. withvery the VVD,different the from PvdA the will on-going return However, this does not mean a austerity policies in the rest of of the crisis is also a Now that the SNS bank is Rutte to the office of PM. However, returnnationalized to nationalistic and the Dutch projects people or the South. The overhaul of the Photo: Madrid, 25th May 2012 struggle against EU the defense of patriotic interests the contradictorylabor relations promises taking place of bothfor a guarantee its stability, it should partiescouple and ofthe years opposing now has motives created Alex Merlo fight. The Greeks have suffered the institutions that insist againstbe us whooutsiders. determine In thethe north,banks of continuingtheir supporters social declinewill make and eptember 15, 2012, may have worst austerity in Europe and living asfunctioning; in the south, it should local be elites the Dutchhave cooperationwith this disbelief, more difficult anger, despair than marked a turning point in the standards have fallen dramatically on austerity. becomepeople immenselywho are richcompensated through ever andand resignationPvdA voters for are millions likely toof history of Europe. Hundreds in a short span of time. As in other loss of competitiveness relative thenot European the bank projectmanagers and with have their the S mostself-enriching interest in maintainingbonuses – thesethis be disappointedpeople. Unfortunately to see their the party EU of thousands of people gathered countries, the mobilisations are a to northern economies, which should be our demand. That way, facilitatingintervention the invery Cyprus, right-wing in which in the main squares of Portugal response to the anger and despair continued to produce industrial anti-democratic institutions, while Dutch minister of Finance thewe working may finally class shouldersbe able the to put policies they hoped to stop. in a massive mobilization the brought on by the crisis and goods cheaply. The result was public finances to public use: the AsDijsselbloem the Euro-crisis of thecontinues, Labour scale of which has not been seen crushing austerity. negative trade balances, as the costs. Party plays an important role as construction of affordable housing Dutch society will be increasingly there since the revolution and fall This stormy political weather southern countries imported more wouldIf we behope a good to find starting a progressive point. hit bypresident the declining of the Eurogroup, economy doesand of the dictatorship in 1974. The in southern Europe contrasts than they exported – again, the solution to this crisis, and to create not stop at the ‘bank heist’; a a more equitable and fair society, subsequentmemorandum austerity has policies.been proposed Will mobilisations came in protest sharply with the calm situation opposite of the north. Normally, Labourand succeedvoted inby selling the austerityCypriot ofRefugees the latest inround Amsterdam of austerity in the north. The effects of the such imbalances would trigger we must build a mass international as theparliament. only option The or will directives progressive are imposed on the country by the crisis are now starting to affect the currency devaluationsWhat to is correct bo movement.rderless This movement? must forcesalmost succeed identical in building to the a popularones to ‘Troika’“Power (EC, ECB, undivided” and IMF) people in northern Europe who the deficits, but in the eurozone, be based on the solidarity of oppositionthe ‘PIGS’: to it? This the will public be a crucialsector including– Karolina a further Agnieszka 7% reduction Dobosz are seeing major cuts in social thisborderless is not an option. is a radical The imbalance bimonthly workerspaper written in all incountries. English Nowfor n on-that questionis to in thebe comingdownsized, period. salaries inRefugees wages. inWhat the Netherlandswas decisive organized programmes. two protests Still, against to many an inabsurd the wasDutch therefore speakers compensated interested forin Dutchby the progressive people of politics.southern It Europe provides are and pensions reduced, the immigrantabout this eventpolicy was which that makes it forced them north, illegal things and deprives seem tothem be ofunder basic annews influx and commentaryof finance from capital an anti-capitalist from rising in struggle, perspective we onmust Dutch join consumption tax increased and rights. These refugees have been denied asylum status but are not able to politics and on events and social them.struggles Let inthe the achievement Netherlands of and the the government to withdraw the control and there have not been thearound north, thewhich world. conveniently gave Dutchof course elections: liberalization results of state goplan. home, The meaningstructural that reforms they beingare trapped the largein an impossiblemobilisations and thatunlivable are the northern countries an outlet for Portuguese people be an example companies and cuts in welfare, situationimposed withoutacross rightssouthern or services.Europe Inbecoming The Hague common a protest in directed the south. at the theirborderless surplus capital, is written and a anddramatic published to us by all. a collection of Dutch and ogether, PvdA and VVD won non-Dutch activists living in Amsterdam. We consider ourselves so- healthcare and education. governmentthus suffered was their held first in front defeat of the – TheHouse general of Representatives. opinion in the That north day, Despitea majority the ofinitial 79 seats anger in theof cialists, feminists and ecologists and we seek anti-capitalist solutions onthe March first, 13th,hopefully, the parliament of many. discussedis that the the the crisis issue in ofthe refugees. south is The a the 150-seatCypriots parliament. about the Thisthreat is government remained adamant in its anti-immigrant policy. Ten days later to the many economic and ecological crises facing working people T Social struggles are on the rise in problem of the southern economies unusualto their in Dutchsavings, politics. the real Typically threat a demonstration took place in Amsterdam - this time addressing Dutch worldwide. We oppose capitalism, a political-economic system that coalitionsmaterialized require somewhat three or morelater. society.other countries Thousands in southern of people Europe and many or evendifferent the organizationsresult of some joined sort ofthe is based on exploitationWhat isand borderlesswhose increasingly frequent? crises are partiesImplementing to have a majority.in Cyprus Despite the protestas well. on In the Spain, Museumplein. the Indignados defect in ‘natural character’ of the borderlessdevastating iscommunities a radical bimonthly around the paper globe. written We oppose in English all attacks for non- on earlysame predictions measures of largeas ingains Spain the movementThis large initiated manifestation a new forround the rightsMediterranean of refugees people. was theMany result are of Dutchthe civil speakers and human interested rights in of Dutchcitizens, progressive immigrants, politics. workers, It provides and mi- Socialistand Greece,Party (SP) with failed all to gainthe manyof struggles weeks withof preparation its call to and“Take smaller beginning actions. to Until question now, whether the refugees the newsnorities and both commentary inside and from outside an theanti-capitalist Netherlands. perspective We stand inon solidar Dutch- anysocial new seats,repercussions, remaining atseems 15. arethe stayingCongress” in the so-calledon September ‘Refugee EUChurch’, would a churchbe better building off without that was politicsity with and all peopleon events engaged and social in the strugglesstruggle againstin the Netherlandsexploitation and oppression PvdAidiotic. succeeded Neoliberal in attracting dogma many has not25. usedThe anymore.action mobilisedSeveral times, tens thethese refugees lagging reached economies agreements and their with around the world. completely taken over it seems progressive voters who feared theof ownersthousands to prolongand was their answered stay. The shaky refugees, political together scenes. with allies, have borderlessborderless is is written a supplement and published to our by asister collection magazine, of Dutch Grenzeloos, and non- Eurozone policy-making. With workedwith fierce hard to makerepression the building by liveable the In andthe to keepsouth, their Europe shelter. is Dutchpublished activists by SAP, living the in Dutch Amsterdam. section We of theconsider Fourth ourselves International. socialists, thattunnel VVD visionwould againprecision become the authorities.However, theSpaniards Dutch authoritiesare also refuseincreasingly to change seen theirtoo as policies. a source Theof feminists and ecologists and we seek anti-capitalist solutions to theEU largest policies party. areA shiftaccelerating towards refugees know that their power relies on self-organization and solidarity. rightwing economic policies by the calling for the removal of the problems. In Spain, as elsewhere, the many economic and ecological crises facing working people the dissolution of the gains of The approach of the Dutch government is to try and break up the group worldwide. We oppose capitalism,Join a us! political-economic system that Greensdecades-long proved unpopularstruggles for with social its withgovernment vague promises that has betrayedto ‘reconsider’ the membership the status of in some the EUrefugees was oncewhile electoral programme on which associated with progress and isIf basedyou areon exploitationinterested in and what whose we increasinglydo, feel free frequent to contact crises us are at supporters,welfare withand laborthe party rights. dropping This ignoring others. At the end of 2012 the refugees were ejected from [email protected] and to like our facebook page (/ it was elected and embraced the welfare. After integrating into devastating communities around the globe. We oppose all attacks to processfour seats. has many The losersconservative and few the asylum center in Amsterdam Osdorp. They had to split into two onborderless.nl). the civil and We human appreciate rights commentsof citizens, on immigrants, our articles, workers, proposals and or CDA,winners. once And the let’s most not forgetpowerful that groups,austerity one pushed staying by thein AmsterdamTroika. andthe theeurozone, other going many to Thecountries Hague. minoritiescontributions both for inside our next and issue, outside and theinteresting Netherlands. events Weto add stand to ourin party,the EUlost was8 seatsformed falling on the to basis an TheIn authorities Greece, another in The general Hague strike offered experienced only help to high individuals, rates of economic not to the solidarityagenda! with all people engaged in the struggle against exploitation of certain national economies group. But the refugees know that they have to stand together to draw historic low of thirteen. The right- on September 26, showed that growth (much higher than the north) andWe oppressionmeet regularly to discuss current political issues, our involvement wing,being anti-immigrant more equal PVVthan wasothers, the attentionelections to there their case.have Thenot determinationcalmed and, withof the the refugees help of has EU put funding, pressure enabling them to prolong such binorderless social movements is a supplement and how toto put our our sister ideas magazine, into practice. Grenzeloos, If you are biggest loser, dropping from 24 to onnerves the government and brutal andrepression created hassympathy improved for their their cause– infrastructures. but to win, the disastrous policies. pressure needs to be increased. publishedinterested by you SAP, are thewelcome! Dutch section of the Fourth International. 15 seats. not destroyed the willingness to The current crisis, however, is Venezuela Venezuela: between radicalising What’s going on? 01 May 19:00 International Worker’s Day revolution and defending it Demonstration at Beursplein. Meeting (20:00) at Brakke Grond, Nes 45. 07 May 20:00 Kraakspreekuur Oost: Squatting information Do you need a house or do you hate speculation and exploitation? Every Tuesday 20.00-21.30 (followed by a open bar). Pretoriusstraat 43, Free 12 May 19:00 Borderless Reading Group: “Race, Nation, Class” by E. Balibar and I. Wallerstein. We meet every other Sunday for a collective vegetarian dinner and to discuss a chapter of the book. This Sunday we will read the 10th Chapter, “From Class Struggle to Classless Struggle?” by Balibar. E-mail us at [email protected] for more information and confirmation. 12 May Spanish Indignados: Two year’s of struggle Information day organised by the 15-M Assembly in Amsterdam (details to be confirmed) 15 May 20:30 (Doors open 20:00) Play: PRISON? Written and Performed by Charlie Ryder In October 1993 Charlie Ryder took part in a demonstration to shut – Antonio Carmona upon the Bolivarian revolution. of right wing forces after Chavez’ down the BNP headquarters in Welling, south-east London. This Maduro won the elections death just five weeks before the developed into a serious riot,he was arrested and after a two year Following the April 14th promising to deepen the 14 year- elections, as well as a prevalent wait was sent to prison for 16 months.This is a true story which elections in Venezuela, whereby old Bolivarian revolutionary reaction to increased blackouts, is creatively told using a variety of theatrical devices including interim socialist president Nicolas process that was initiated by the food shortages and inflation puppetry, masks, physical theatre and dance. Maduro won just over 50% of the late President Hugo Chavez, lifting generally. Maduro’s programme is OCCII, Amstelveenseweg 134. Donations votes, oppositional forces headed millions out of poverty (already centred around his Grand Mission by Henrique Capriles Radonski reduced by 75%), improving of Efficiency or Nothing (Gran 27 May 20:00 were mobilised throughout the health, educational standards, and Misión de Eficiencia o Nada), Real World Economics: Why flexibility does not country inciting riots and the countering US imperialist efforts which promises to eliminate work burning of community health via Latin American and Caribbean the remaining elements of the The Dutch government wants to go one step further by deregulating centres, leading to the death of at integration. Chavez’ programme bourgeois bureaucracy inherited lay offs. During the ongoing economic crisis, flexibilization of the least seven civilians. was the first in the region to reject from the institutions of the 4th labour market is seen as a way to produce growth. Labour would While the Union of South neoliberal policies imposed by Republic (which came to an end in become cheaper and economic growth will follow. The claims of American Nations (UNASUR) international financial institutions, 2000 after Constitutional reforms neoliberal economists and policy makers are challenged by reality recognised Maduro’s victory, the such as the International Monetary were carried out by popular and by critical social scientists. United States and the European Fund, and concretise real demand). CREA Theater, Nieuwe Achtergracht 170, € 5 -, students free Union called on Venezuela to alternatives. In response to the violence that recount the votes. Venezuela’s “The new phase of the has been committed by extreme 05 June 15:00 mostly electronic polling system, Bolivarian revolution depends right forces, Maduro stated that Lecture: What’s New about the ‘New India’? called the “best in the world” on strengthening efficiency and the revolutionary process must be Capital and Class after Liberalization by former US-president Jimmy popular power”, Maduro stated radicalised and defended. As in 22nd Wertheim Lecture by Prof. Carol Upadhya. Organized by The Carter in 2012, automatically whilst waiting for the polls to previous stages of the Bolivarian Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), the verifies 54% of the votes. No other close last Sunday. revolution, the decisive factor Graduate School for Social Sciences (GSSS) and the International country to date has developed such Continued support for the will lie with the capacity of the Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS). Registration via [email protected] or an advanced procedure. Bolivarian process, however, popular masses to mobilise and telephone +31 (0) 20 525 2262. Maduro and the PSUV declared will depend on the capability self-organise. New neighbourhood Nina van Leer Hall, Allard Pierson Museum, Oude Turfmarkt 127 that Capriles and his MUD party’s of the PSUV and pro-Chavez Committees for the Defence of refusal to recognise the socialist forces to promote participatory the Revolution and Peace are 03 - 09 August victory was part of an attempt to democracy whilst maintaining currently being set up throughout International Revolutionnary Youth Camp destabilise the country and thereby Organised by the Fourth International, this is the biggest gathering economic growth. Unlike the the country, along with popular of revolutionnary youth in the world. Full with activists invite intervention by Western October 2012 elections, whereby militias that are being mobilised from all around the world, the program includes lots of debates, forces. The course of action taken Chavez beat Capriles with an to protect the health clinics and educationals, workshops, and of course party! Contact borderless by the Venezuelan government in 11% margin, Maduro won by just schools that were set up by the for more information. response to the violence will most 1.7% . This can be explained by communities themselves through likely have a long lasting impact both a heightened mobilisation the famous Misiones. Greece Book review Modern day slavery Understanding oppressions Greek agriculture has depended conditions at Manolada. ‘The – Marijke Colle Afro-Americans in the US is on the cheap labor of documented criminal act in Manolada ... In the first part of the carried out without any concern and undocumented migrant shows the tragic results of labor book, Arruzza describes for the specific oppression workers for many years. On April exploitation, combined with a the growth of the workers of black women in the black 17, hundreds of migrant farm lack of control [by the government movement and of the feminist community. workers, mostly Bangladeshi, on labor inspectorate]’, a GSEE movement. She describes how We have analysed the a strawberry plantation in Nea statement said. ‘In Manolada, the complex relations between specific oppression of women Manolada, about 260km west of and particularly in the strawberry the two evolved. She takes but we did not find a way Athens, demanded wages they had plantations, a sort of state within into account the historical to overcome it. What is not been paid for six a state has been context of those struggles but more, women activists have months. According created.’ The neo- is not afraid of criticizing the internalised the traditional to workers, they Nazi Golden Dawn Marxist, the feminist and also gender roles. Women activists were promised 22 party condemned the the psychoanalytical projects. are afraid of taking initiatives euros per day. shooting while at the For instance, on the on their own because, even At least one of same time calling difficulties encountered by unconsciously, man continue their supervisors for the deportation Alexandra Kollontaï in the to discriminate women and opened fire with a of migrants. The Bolshevik Party, she shows undermine women’s self shotgun, wounding shooting of migrant that the successful revolution confidence. almost 30, several of workers represents a did not automatically abolish Her conclusion is that them seriously. After the shooting, serious escalation in the upsurge the oppression of women, activists should be aware the three foremen disappeared. of violence against migrants to neither in society as a whole, of these internalised social Ignoring the longstanding which Golden Dawn contributes nor at the level of the political structures in order to overcome exploitation of migrant workers in words and deeds. organisations nor in the them. It is the complex totality and the many cases of state- Such violence is ignored, personal lives of women. Dangerous liaisons: The of different oppressions that violence against undocumented even tolerated, by the Greek After the historical part, marriages and divorces of should be analysed in order to workers, a government and European governments and the book focuses on current combine the different struggles spokesperson hypocritically weakens the popular resistance examples and problems such Marxism and feminism against all of them. denounced the shooting as against the austerity agenda. as the dominant position by Cinzia Arruzza Her conclusion is: “The ‘foreign to Greek ethics’. One of In the Netherlands, the LiDL of white males in the U.S. 2013, IIRE point is not whether class the country’s main labor unions, supermarkets are among the working class whereby the Paperback 156 pages comes before gender or gender GSEE, accused the government stores selling strawberries from fight against racism by male before class”. of failing to properly investigate Manolada.