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RUGRATS launch at Reading University

rasputin | 04.10.2006 13:19 | Ecology | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Oxford

Ever had the feeling that all politician’s are liars? Maybe when they tell you that thousands of pounds of debt just for getting an education is a good thing, or that it really was about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Ever thought that capitalism sucks, making the rich richer and screwing everyone else? Ever felt like staying in bed instead of going to work?

Cos lets face it, most jobs are as boring and pointless as the next, just making more money for the boss, while you’re making minimum wage! Ever felt the desire to just scream “Enough!” and fight to take our world back and run it a bit better, fairer and free-er, without bosses and politicians controlling our lives, without capitalism bleeding everything dry and without police and armies who’s main role is defending this load of bollocks? If you’ve ever felt anything like this, or you just want to see a better world (but dont fancy the chances of anyone doing it for us), then maybe you're a RUGRAT!
RUGRATS (Reading University Group Resisting Attacks Through Struggle – yeh we admit it, we thought of the name and then fitted the words around it!) is a new Society at Reading University, set up by students who felt there was no group or union on campus prepared to fight for the destruction of capitalism, for equality for everyone in their own way, for freedom from economic, social and political domination and for our ability to control our own lives and communities through cooperation, solidarity and direct democracy, instead of violence and competition. And we aint gonna wait for it to be handed to us on a plate - this is about DIY politics, getting stuck in and fixing our world ourselves. This is about direct-action!
We want to resist capitalism in our daily lives, solving our problems in the process, be it the closure of university departments due to ‘lack of funding’ whilst other departments – the ones which attract corporate cash – are expanded, the firing of University workers to 'cut costs', the low-availability of decent housing for students (and everyone else!) whilst University properties stand empty or the low-paid, un-fulfilling and insecure jobs we are often forced to accept. We aso stand in solidarity with all humanity and nature under attack by capitalism. For example, taking direct-action to stop the systems of power and profit destroying our planet, whilst working together at the grassroots to create ecological, self-managed, egalitarian ways of living. Or defending and fighting alongside the most oppressed groups in global society. Or resisting the illegal wars waged against the people of Iraq and Afghanistan (and the British and American soldiers) who have suffered brutal disregard for human life and dignity, by capitalist states and insurgent wannabe rulers, all to create a new 're-development' market for US/UK corporations, to pass money from ordinary people in Baghdad to rich people in London and Washington and to get control of the last few barrels of oil on earth.
If you feel anything like we do, please sign your name (we need 30 signatures to qualify as an official society - though we will stay active eitherway), get in contact with us at  studentsarerevolting@hotmail.co.uk and come along and meet us at Mojo’s Bar in the Student Union at 7pm on Tuesday 10th October for a few drinks and a chat about how to move forwards.

rasputin
- e-mail: studentsarerevolting@hotmail.co.uk