UK UK Newswire Archive
Palestine Today 02 16 2011
16-02-2011 16:14
Preparing for anti-cuts protests on 26th of March
16-02-2011 15:22
Preparing for anti-cuts protests on 26th of March - a personal rallying call
I'm an individual. I belong to and represent no organisation. I have no authority and don't want it. This is just commentary, suggestion, a discussion starter. I'm an individual who has been to many protests and have often been left questioning their effectiveness. We need effective protest right now and that's what this is about. It is also about taking things further than the TUC will want to take things in March.
First some basics. What do I mean by effective protest and why take things further than the TUC will take it? The major parties, in common with most Western countries, have in the last few decades given up on any social principles (if they had any) in favour of becoming more 'business-friendly' – ie. The only people they really represent is those who already have money. The Labour party is less openly nasty about it, but much of what the Tories are doing ('modernising' the NHS for example) are built on the 'reforms' of New Labour. Labour will not give back what the Tories are stealing. There is no organised force to make them do it, while the 'business community' is very organised in getting what they want. We have to understand that this is not about getting 'nicer' people into power, but about changing the power dynamics to force them to follow different rules.
What this means is that the purpose of protest should not be persuasion – or not persuading the government anyway. Persuading other people, yes, but the government? They understand power, not persuasion, and will justify whatever they are forced to do. Furthermore, trying to build a better world through lobbying for government policy changes is a losing proposition. You can make some temporary gains, but those who hold the reigns of power will always take them back in the long run - if you let them. That is why we are now gradually losing the welfare state and other things we thought we had forever. I think we need to understand that there is no fundamental decency or altruism we can count on within the political system to stop undermining our quality of life once they have gone so far. Humans might have those qualities but the machinery of government and the economy does not.
So 'protest' needs to be about (a) undermining the real power and perceived legitimacy of the government and (b) trying to build alternative and more democratic powers between ourselves that will enable us to challenge the government, or at least hold it in check. The second of these is a long term project and I won't say much about it here, except I wish it were happening more quickly.
The first also needs to be cranked up a gear, and I think we can do something about that more easily in the short term. Marching from A to B with the TUC does not undermine government power/legitimacy, but nor, frankly, does the kind of untargetted street demonstrations I have been involved in from the early 2000s 'anti-capitalist' demonstrations to the recent NCAFC-called demonstration in January 2011.
In particular I've noticed a tendency for people to call demonstrations, suggest that people can pick their own targets, and that 'all sorts of things will be happening', and then we go on the demonstration and everyone ends up either following 'the route' or wandering the streets in an untargetted way – which causes some minor disruption, but nowhere near as much as we could.
I want to suggest that people get together with their groups/friends, starting today, right now, and start planning to do their own thing for the March march. There seems to be too much assuming that other people will start doing some cool stuff and then you can join in. And mostly it doesn't happen. For individuals it is difficult to do anything about this, but if you are in any kind of group with a few people you trust, I want to ask you to stop assuming that other people will plan the cool actions, and to stop hoping it will happen 'spontaneously' on the day, and just start planning it yourself. If you are in a local anti-cuts group, or a university group, trade union branch or some other group, you have more power to take action than if you were were alone. It might be actions your group can take separate from a main march, it might be actions you can take embedded in a main march, it might be something you can get other people to join in with once you start (take a megaphone or sound system to rally people round you) but please start planning now. If not you, who else?
I think it's worth thinking about the targets a bit. There are symbolic/publicity targets, which will attract attention and make a point. But we have to really bother the government and their business friends if we are to have any chance of changing the power dynamics – so more interesting are disruptive targets, such as blocking major roads or transport hubs – because these cannot be ignored. And perhaps more interesting than these are economic targets, which is about hitting them where it really hurts: preventing the making of money, the money that isn't for us, because those who make it control the politicians who now want to reduce the tax 'burden' on businesses by eliminating our public services. This is an artificial division of targets of course – you can easily think of more types of targets – my division is just to help think about targets strategically.
So here are some examples of such targets, and if you like the targets, then work from this list for the March demo. Please plan something, or nothing will happen. This list isn't to tell people what to do, but it is a plea for a bit more planning so that we can do a bit better than aimlessly wandering the streets causing only minor disruption. Please do work from it as a starting point if you are searching for ideas yourself.
++BBC Television Centre in White City (symbolic/publicity) – for constantly repeating government propaganda that the cuts are necessary
++CBI - 'The Voice of Business', Centrepoint Tower, New Oxford St (symbolic/publicity)
++Lib Dem headquarters/offices, HQ at SW1P 3NB (symbolic if you think breaking the coalition a good interim goal)
++Elephant and Castle roundabout (disruptive)
++Euston Road, a major arterial road through central London (disruptive) – NB police will try to move you on if you stop in a road but walking along it seems to be more tolerated
++St Pancras International Station, a business-oriented transport hub (disruptive/economic)
++Topshop/Boots/Other high street tax dodgers (symbolic/economic)
++Supermarkets – tax dodgers and lobbyists of government, have smaller stores throughout central London (symbolic/economic)
++The City, but not weekends or bank holidays so not much point in March (but the major economic target for future protests) - particularly major Conservative Party funders like ++Bloomberg Tradebook Europe EC2A 1PQ.
Finally, we have to accept that the TUC isn't going to like what some of us do. History shows that as a bureacratic entity they have to protect both their 'respectability' and their money. So they can't push things further than the protest 'allowed' within the anti-protest laws instituted by the Conservatives and Labour. They couldn't support the General Strike in the 1930s and some of their number in the Stop the War Coalition could not take the anti-war movement further when it was clear that A to B marches weren't working. Their positions within legitimate and respectable structures forbid it. But, almost by definition, you cannot challenge the power of government while remaining respectable. We simply have to thank the TUC for their ability to mobilise many people, and then take things further when they will not.
In conclusion, I hope we will all start planning now for the March demonstration and the protests that will come after, and not assume that someone else will plan the actions. I hope we can create concrete plans with considered targets. If you are part of any organised group or just a group of friends you trust, I hope you'll start planning now – and may all your plans come to fruition.
Metro promotes social cleansing
16-02-2011 14:59
The Metro has published a letter from one of its readers calling squatters 'rats', 'scum' and 'subhumans' and suggests allowing property owners to electrify their property to keep squatters out. We know where the irresponsible promotion of this kind of language leads - to social cleansing, crackdowns and probably the Tories criminalising squatting.Undersea nuke stations!
16-02-2011 14:25
Another mad corporate idea springs up it seems, this time nuclear power stations under the Channel!The 'Big Society' and Class Struggle
16-02-2011 14:10
Indecorous and Free! Womyn's protests in Italy
16-02-2011 13:22
In this latest phase of widespread political and economic crisis, the subject of sexuality has become crucial. In this context the role of women is once again determined and exploited by those in power, within an old traditional ideological perspective. We’ve surely needed a women’s mobilisation against the government and its PM for some time now, and not just because of the sexual scandals.UK Uncut 'Big Society Bail-In' starts this Saturday @Barclays
16-02-2011 13:08
CairoRising: report back from the Egyptian revolution 22 Feb, Brighton
16-02-2011 13:00
Report back meeting from CairoRising, February 22 at 7.30pm. The Cowley Club, 12London Road, Brighton
beware the Nuclear Rennaisance in doncaster
16-02-2011 11:46
PROTEST AGAINST THE 'Nuclear Rennaissance' eventThis thurs 17th at Doncaster Racecourse 9am onwards
Shir Hever speaking tour: The Political Economy of Israel's Occupation
16-02-2011 11:33
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign SPEAKING TOUR. Thu 17 Feb – Thu 3 Mar 2011.Major Victory: Japanese whalers suspend Antarctic hunt
16-02-2011 10:47
Japanese whalers have suspended their Antarctic hunt, citing harassment by environmentalists, and are considering ending their annual mission early, a fisheries agency official says.Angry protest follows second death in Bahrain
16-02-2011 10:14
Thousands of Bahrainis demonstrated against the government after a second protester died in clashes with police on Tuesday 15 February. The protests in a country, which saw deadly unrest in the 1990s, prompted Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to voice concern about next month's Grand Prix, which opens the new Formula One season.A self-written history of Mandela Park: Kwanele! Enough!
16-02-2011 09:59
The following is a self-written history by our movement. After a lot of deliberation with our members, we came up with this document as a way of explaining how we have come to say Kwanele! Please use this document in order to better understand our struggle…
Acting to avoid more deaths of cyclists
16-02-2011 09:22
A small demonstration was held on Monday the 14th of February 2011 on the issue of cyclists killed on the road.
The demonstration was attended by supporters of road safety charity Brake and friends and family of cyclists killed on the raod like Eilidh Cairns and Marie Vesco among others.
To raise media awareness about the issue of High Goods Vehicles, HGVs, and the campaign 'See Me Save Me', there was a truck parked at Hyde Park Corner from 11:30am. A drawing next to the lorry indicated the "blind spot" area. Police officers were instructing anyone who would listen to stay away from such area, especially at traffic lights, even if that meant to disobey the "highway code". They also reminded us that the markings on the road, some of which indicate cyclists to place themselves exactly where drivers can not see them, are not law and that one must put their own safety first.
The very tolerant English Defence League (by Latuff)
16-02-2011 07:03
Charnwood Campaign Against the Cuts meeting on 21 February
16-02-2011 05:38
Charnwood Campaign Against the Cuts is planning to escalate its protests in Loughborough through a series of meetings.
Nottingham Solidarity with Egyptian Revolution
15-02-2011 22:23
Protests in Egypt have ended nearly 30 years rule by President Hosni Mubarak. The movement has inspired people across the world, with solidarity protests held in many cities, including Nottingham.
On the newswire: Demo to celebrate resignation of Mubarak | Nottingham Anti-Mubarak Demo | Support Demo for People of Egypt | Nottingham Supports Egyptian Revolution!
According to the Post, on Tuesday 1st February, a silent protest was held at the University of Nottingham on Tuesday, attended by around 200 people who had relatives in Egypt.
On Friday 4th February, Nottingham Stop the War Coalition organised an “emergency protest” in support of anti-Mubarak demonstrators in Egypt in front of the Council House. This was attended by almost 100 people and protesters
On Sunday 6th February, the Notts UK Uncut group organised a demonstration against Vodafone as part of it’s ongoing campaign against tax dodging companies. More recently, Vodafone had closed down its network in Egypt at the behest of the authorities and allegedly sent out pro-regime text messages. Campaigners linked the demands that Vodafone pay its tax and that it stop supporting the Mubarak regime. This demonstration was covered by local BBC news (available to view on YouTube).
On Friday 18th, Nottingham Stop the War called another demonstration. This was initially called in response to Mubarak’s speech the previous evening when he had seemingly refused to stand down, but by the time protesters converged at 5pm Mubarak had left for Sharm El Sheikh and resigned as president. The protest became instead a celebration, although speakers were keen to point out that the revolution would not be successful until the apparatus of terror which had maintained Mubarak in power was removed. Simply changing the faces at the top wasn’t enough.
Fight Back! A Reader on the Winter of Protest
15-02-2011 22:22
Published today, Fight Back! features reports, analysis, images, reflections and overviews on the UK's winter of protests, and the start of a movement against fees and cuts.
From a 15-year-old UK Uncut activist to a rebel Lib Dem peer, via kettled students and forward-thinking commentary - Fight Back! captures both the spirit and arguments of revolt, bringing together the best reportage and analysis of an extraordinary political moment.
Sections include: The Demonstrations, The Occupations, The Under-19s, The Universities, The Establishment, The Trade Unions, The Aesthetics, The Generations, and Overviews
Contributors: Guy Aitchison, Anthony Barnett, Rosemary Bechler, Tasha Bell, Joanna Biggs, Ben Braithwaite, Sophie Burge, James Butler, Felix Cohen, Tony Curzon Price, Jesse Darling, Siraj Datoo, Rowenna Davies, Genevieve Dawson, Keith Ewing, Alan Finlayson, Cailean Gallagher, Ryan Gallagher, Jeremy Gilbert, Asher Goldman, Tom Griffin, Dan Hancox, Johann Hari, Adam Harper, Gerry Hassan, Owen Hatherley, Oliver Huitson, Peter Johnson, Markus Malarkey, Ben Martin, Anna Mason, Maeve McKeown, Len McLuskey, Jonathan Moses, Anthony Painter, Nick Pearce, Laurie Penny, Aaron Peters, Rory Rowan, Paul Sagar, Trevor Smith, John Stuttle, Niki Seth-Smith, Daniel Trilling, Oliver Wainwright.
(it's available as scribd doc atm but full pdf will be up on the site tmrw). A print version will be available in March.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/ourkingdom/fight-back-reader-on-winter-of-protest