UK UK Newswire Archive
UG#555 - Homo Systematicus (Machines of Loving Grace & The World of Conspiracio)
30-06-2011 11:41
Fashion Show to Fight Human Trafficking and Support Fair Trade
30-06-2011 11:36
trafalgar sq occupation - arrests & eviction
30-06-2011 10:55
the 9th peaceful anti-cuts occupation in trafalgar square began last night. during the evening there were six arrests and plenty of intimidation. this morning couple of dozen protestors were evicted by a police operation involving 150 officers. they were also told a section 60 is in force today J30.
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at 6.30 yesterday evening, the anti-cuts occupation began in trafalgar square, with around 20 activists setting up a small marquee, and a ring of tents at the bottom of the steps near the olympic clock display.
as they have peacefully occupied this area on eight previous occasions, and as they had checked with the GLA that the square was not being used until friday morning, by which time they had pledged to peacefully leave, they did not expect any problems.
however, after a couple of hours, the heritage wardens, who had been filming them, were joined by police, and one of the protestors was targetted to be read the bye-laws. it was explained first by a heritage warden that he was in breach of the bye-laws and if he refused to leave he would have to submit his name and address for possible action against him. the police then added that if he didn't submit his details he would be arrested and taken to the station until he did so.
two grey suited GLA personnel seemed to be in charge of the operation, one of them continuously talking, perhaps to legal advisors, on the phone, and liaising with his wardens and the police.
the occupation group had a concensus meeting and agreed a principle of non-co-operation while leaving individuals to make their own decisions if targetted. the first arrest duly took place, and the activists was walked to the van and taken to charing cross station. there, he soon gave his details, and was allowed to leave, returning to the camp immediately.
after a while the heritage wardens approached another person and the same ritual was enacted. this time, the activist refused to walk with police and was then dragged to the next waiting van. he too returned after giving his details.
the third arrest was made all the more comical, pointless and surreal, due to the fact that the activists wore his 'v for vendetta' anonymous mask throughout the whole proceedings. the arrest was filmed, and appears to be unlawful because the police did not read him his rights, nor explain to him why he was being arrested, despite repeated requests on camera. apparently he kept his mask on throughout the encounter, eventually giving up his details and being allowed back to the square, mask intact.
the whole process occurred three more times, with the targets chosen perhaps arbitrarily or perhaps because wardens recognised them as regulars from previous occupations. also by about 11pm, a loose ring of 30 police were surrounding the camp at a distance in the square, and around half a dozen police vans littered the pavements, including a large prisoner transporter. a little before midnight they were also joined by a van of tsg riot police, and it looked like an eviction might be under consideration.
without explanation though, the police then withdrew, leaving just a few observing the occupation, and the night passed peacefully.
at around 7am this morning, they camp was again addressed by police, who told them that the area was needed to begin setting up for tomorrow's 'canada day' celebrations and that they were therefore required to leave, and would be evicted if necessary.
slowly the camp organised itself, and by 8.30 they were near the end of a concensus meeting at which they had made the decision to peacefully leave, when they were completely surrounded by more than 100 police, and they then packed up and were escorted out of the square.
the 'anonymous' mask wearer was told to remove his face covering this morning, informed that there was a section 60 in force throughout the day. are the police expecting to cause trouble with the public sector unions i wonder?
j30 Critical Mass
30-06-2011 10:32
Watch live broadcasts from a Nokia Phone all over London, from the point of view of a cyclist!Contaminated Bayer site houses get green light despite 'health risks'
30-06-2011 10:22
Preliminary report of strike impact in N.E. Leeds
30-06-2011 09:55
I went out for a bike ride at about 8 AM and came home at 9.30 AM. This is what I saw.
The first thing I noticed was that road traffic was much lighter than usual at this time of the morning. On roads near schools that are usually choked by people doing the school run at this time of day, there were hardly any cars. The main arterial routes into Leeds (Roundhay Road, Eastely Road, Harrogate Road, Wetherby Road and Chapeltown Road) had light traffic where I'd usually see queues of slow-moving vehicles at this time of day.
I visited a few schools to see whether there were any pickets but found none - perhaps there had been earlier, but at the time of my visits there was little sign of disruption, apart from the reduced traffic.
- Davd Young Community Academy, Seacroft Estate: I saw a police van leaving as I approached, and some men with armfuls of newspapers leaving by car. Students were entering the high-security compound as usual and ancillary workers were entering unchallenged. The staff car-park appeared full.
- Roundhay School: No pickets, car park looked full.
- Kerr Mackie Primary School, Roundhay: No pickets, but the number of mums chatting outside the gate was much less than usual.
- Gledhow Primary School, Brackenwood Estate: No pickets, car park about three-quarters full.
In summary, the strike is clearly having a major impact as judged by the level of traffic around schools and there is far less commuting going on than usual. However there isn't an obvious political presence outside any of the schools that I visited - perhaps I missed them, or perhaps people have withdrawn their labour unobtrusively for whatever reason. I'll be trying to find out later, but meanwhile if you know more, please leave an addition below.
Greece:Either we smash them, or they will smash us
30-06-2011 08:55
There is no other perspective for the people, but only the uncompromising and unitarian struggle against the common enemy: The big Capital and the pimps who serve it.
The society that will come through the imposition of the Medium-term economic plan that the IMF, the EU Comission and the bankers want to impose upon Greece will be a real hell, even for those who currently believe that will slightly tide over (middle bourgeois, middle managers, integrated in the system). Especially for those who even today do not cope or are already below the poverty level.
Labour relations have now lost the sense of protecting the workers and turned to legitimize the oppression by the employers. Everyone will live with the threat of unemployment and increasingly easily we will take down our pants when "the needs require it". With the implementation of the flexibility rules, the boundaries between unemployment and employment are vague and unspecific.
Poverty (meaning the failure to meet basic needs) will hit more than 50% of the people. This will cause an increase in crime and release of morals. Thefts, robberies, kidnappings, drugs, prostitution, gambling and mafia organizations will dissolve the social fabric. Even the more moderate sections of society will beg for "more police" repression and cutting rights.
Life will lose its value. The criminal and fascist terrorism will be deployed in the deep state and will be nourished from the plutocracy to protect the islets of the rich. The fence for the immigrants will be the fence for the poors. The poor, the unemployed, the homeless and those who dare to rebel will be the new target of the sub-humans.
When it will be really difficult to rally the people under "national needs" they will not hesitate to cause wars, massive fascist terrorism, and of course a paradigmatic pogrom against the "internal enemy".
This is generally the image of the society that they plan and it will not be original. It is a copy of the consequences that occurred when these or similar "economic shock therapies" are applied.
There is no other perspective for the people, but only the uncompromising and unitarian struggle against the common enemy: The big Capital and the pimps who serve it.
If this battle is not given now, if we do not resist now to the terrorist sirens of bankruptcy and armored tanks, the society will enter a black hole that will throw all of us a few centuries back. Now we can still resist peacefully. When the State of Darkness will be consolidated, then it will take a lot of blood and too much time to make a few glimmers of freedom reappear.
Let's not squander this last opportunity that we have now to defend Freedom, Justice, Democracy and Popular Sovereignty.
ALL IN THE STREETS! ALL IN THE STRUGGLE!
ALL FOR THE VICTORY!
THEY WILL NOT PASS!
Strike gets public support across London
30-06-2011 08:55
Across the capital most schools, colleges and local authority staff join 750.000 UK workers on a one day strike to warn the govenment and capital to stay away from their pensions and wages. Pickets were established early this morning in every corner of London being fed with home made food by UK Uncut's 'Big Society breakfast'. Everyone out to show solidarity.
Critical Mass will also be touring the picket lines in support this morning starting out at Burgess Park near Elephant and Castle. A mass trade union march will be starting at 11am, meeting at Lincoln Inn Fields, on which there will be a J30 Strikers’ Assembly Bloc. The main march will end at Westminster Central Hall at 1pm where there is a call for a People's Assembly
More reports and thoughts as they come in.
There are People’s Assemblies called for that will have no leaders, so every voice counts, ensuring equality for all. Occupying streets and city squares is a natural expression of our power: real democracy now. One such Strikers’ Assembly will congregate near Westminster Central Hall at 1pm. Find them under the “People’s Assembly” banner.
Critical Mass will set off from Elephant and Castle at 8am for a fun packed glide around the capital supporting pickets and engaging with the public.
UK Uncut are supporting with a day of action stating; "The protests will highlight that the strikes by the unions are another form of direct action against the cuts being taken by people in towns and cities across the country. It’s predicted that strike action will grow rapidly towards the autumn and UK Uncut are vowing to support and build on the strike action with more direct action protest against tax avoiders and the banking system. The government are making everyone else pay for a crisis caused by the bankers. They’ve targeted students, pensioners, people with disabilities, the unemployed, NHS workers and patients, and now they are attacking teachers and other civil servants."
The PCS union states: "We have continually argued that if the £120 billion that is ‘lost’ evaded or avoided in tax every year was collected, there would be no economic crisis. That argument can now be heard across the trade unions and campaigning groups like UK Uncut have become one of the most popular movements in Britain." This is why the unions are saying enough is enough and walking out.
Further info: June 30th website | UK Uncut | Afed statement on the strikes | The Commune on the march
Other Union statements of action: NUT (National Union of Teachers) | UCU (Universitiy and College Union) | PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) | ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers)
UK Uncut feed the strikers
30-06-2011 08:55
Uk Uncut activists cooking full English for striking workers outside HMRC building Euston Tower.
Responding to the call out on the UK Uncut site "Picket lines will form on the morning of the 30th. Join those on strike, bring them a mug of tea and a breakfast butty, and show them that we’re all in it together against the government." activists will be out in force today bring sustinance in solidarity.
Brighton Thurs 7pm-9pm - Iraq Veteran & former U.S. anti-war prisoner speak out!
30-06-2011 08:33
Iraq combat veteran/ former member of the S.A.S. Ben Griffin and former federal prisoner of the United States Ciaron O'Reilly will address a public meeting at the Friends Meeting House, Ship St. in Brighton Thursday June 30th. 7pm-9pmSheffield Trades Council March and Rally Tomorrow
29-06-2011 23:20
Sheffield Trades Council March and Rally 12 noon Peace Gardens/City Hall June 30thA statement on Greece from the International Communist Current
29-06-2011 22:55
For the defence of the Greek proletariat’s living and working conditions against the attack of International capital !
The proletariat must avoid getting drawn into parliamentary games and instead rebuild its own independent class organisations!
Reflections on the Edinburgh Unite the Resistance Public Meeting on the 28th: Preparing for a Protracted Battle
29-06-2011 22:55
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that on the 30th of June, 4 major unions are planning to go on strike over plans to slash public sector pension packages. This includes the National Union of Teachers, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the University and College Union, and the Public and Commercial Services, and will involve around 750 000 people. In Scotland, this strike is more limited, involving the Public and Commercial Services Union which comprises about 20 000 civil servants. Wanting to know more, I found myself at Edinburgh’s Unite the Resistance Meeting, called by the Right to Work campaign last night.
Rape, Mercenaries, And Bloodbaths On The Scale Of Yemen?
29-06-2011 22:35
The Media Blank Amnesty's Failure To Find Evidence In Libya
In the Independent on June 24, Patrick Cockburn reported a vital development countering official propaganda on Libya:
'Human rights organisations have cast doubt on claims of mass rape and other abuses perpetrated by forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, which have been widely used to justify Nato's war in Libya.
'Nato leaders, opposition groups and the media have produced a stream of stories since the start of the insurrection on 15 February, claiming the Gaddafi regime has ordered mass rapes, used foreign mercenaries and employed helicopters against civilian protesters.'
Amnesty and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have checked the claims and found flat zero evidence.
Bristol Indymedia And Bristol Animal Rights Collective Presents Bold Native
29-06-2011 21:55
Monday 4th July, 8pm, 3/4 but nobody refused for lack of funds - At Cube Cinema"..an amazing and informative experience..." beforeitsnews.com
Monday 4th July, 8pm, entry £3, £4 but nobody refused for lack of funds - At Cube Cinema
Bold Native is a fiction feature film. Charlie Cranehill, an animal liberator wanted by the United States government for domestic terrorism, emerges from the underground to coordinate a nationwide action as his estranged CEO father tries to find him before the FBI does. The film simultaneously follows a young woman who works for an animal welfare organization fighting within the system to establish more humane treatment of farmed animals. From abolitionists to welfarists, Bold Native takes on the issue of modern animal use and exploitation from several angles within the context of a road movie adventure story.
Film will be introduced by Bristol Animal Rights Collective more info here
http://boldnative.com/
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/bold-native-trailer/
Bath Bomb #39 finally out
29-06-2011 21:55
Featuring cuts, strikes, Euro aggro, eco-devestation and not even a single apology for being late... like, reallly late... yep, it's Bath's irregular monthly black n white freesheet muckrag