UK Newswire Archive
London Campaign Against Arms Trade at the Baby Show
24-10-2010 15:05
Audio: Their Crisis and Ours
24-10-2010 14:22
Their crisis and ours - A discussion about financial capitalism
Despite incessant reference to the 'economic crisis', for many it is still unclear what exactly is meant by the term 'crisis' or how and why it happened, let alone what it means for anarchists. This session will begin with an accessible introduction to the financial crisis, followed by a discussion of the political implications of government programmes of 'privatizing profit and nationalising risk', what the impact on communities and workplaces will be and how we can organize locally against austerity.
imc-london note: we don't have amazing recording gear so the audio isn't that great, but we've attempted to clean it up as much as possible. The discussion participants were unfortunately mumbling and it wasn't possible to pump up the discussion enough to be audible.
County Hall anti-cuts protest
24-10-2010 13:24
On Thursday October 21st, Notts County Unison organised a demonstration at County Hall, West Bridgford against the cuts advocated by the Tort-led authority. Coming the day after the Coalition Government's "Comprehensive Spending Review," the event attracted around 500 people, a mixture of council workers, service users, campaigners and local residents.
It was a clear day, but cold. This didn't seem to have put people off. This is the third union-organised protest at County Hall in a year and certainly the largest. (The previous demonstrations were in November and February.)
There were a wide array of speakers who condemned the agenda of the aptly-named Kay Cutts and the parallel national attack on public services and welfare being waged by the national government. Speakers included Alan Rhodes (leader of the Labour Group on the county council), Jean Thorpe (Nottingham City Unison), Hugo Blanco (Peruvian activist) and speakers from the CWU and a range of service user groups.
Alan Rhodes, keen to jump on any bandwagon now he's been ousted from power (see also the controversy around the International Brigades memorial), has already spoken at an anti-cuts meeting organised by the Trades Council. At County Hall he committed himself and the Labour Group to supporting the campaign. The decision to follow him with Jean Thorpe was an inspired one as it allowed her to counterpoint Rhodes' claims with the actions of the Labour-led city council. Over the river, the council recently attempted to use the single status arrangements to shaft school support staff (ironically - given the initiative's basis in the Equal Pay Act - a predominantly female workforce). She also noted that councillors in the city intend to implement government-mandated cuts without putting up a fight.
The speaker from the CWU (whose name I forget) noted that the Coalition Government intended to privatise the Royal Mail, a policy pursued but dropped by New Labour and committed his union to supporting any industrial action by council workers. Blanco went even further in his contextualisation of the local struggle, in a speech which mentioned struggles against capitalism across Latin America.
There were speeches by a number of service user groups, but I didn't catch names and all the speeches were translated into British Sign Language. It is to be hoped that the relationships built between workers and these groups can be built on.
A number of speakers spoke positively about recent protests, strikes and blockades in France. Quite how we are to get from the current apathy in the UK to that level was not discussed. The recent attack on County Hall, arguably one of the closest actions to those in France was not mentioned by anybody.
So far the only action organised by Unison against the cuts agenda has been three static demonstrations and a limited work-to-rule. Much of this timidity reputedly can be traced to regional officers who had their own political agendas opposed to militant action in the run-up to the General Election. It is to be hoped that bureaucratic manipulation can be avoided or defeated as we move forward. A sizable demo is a good start, but it is only the very beginning. There is a long and difficult fight ahead.
£220 Million Offered By Government For UKCMRI Lab
24-10-2010 13:22
At a time of brutal public services cutbacks, the government has offered £220 million towards the highly controversial UKCMRI bioresearch laboratory proposed for central London.
At a time of brutal public services cutbacks, the government has offered £220 million towards the highly controversial UKCMRI massive bioresearch laboratory project proposed for alongside St Pancras International Station, central London. The government "will" as stated in the comprehensive spending review, 20th October, "invest £220 million in the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation at St Pancras". A planning application has been registered with Camden Council and objections/comments may still be accepted until 29th October, 2010 - link to planning application here: http://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer17/PLComments.aspx?pk=246856 and guide to the planning application on Indymedia London website at https://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/5633
SHAC Solidarity demos
24-10-2010 12:41
To show solidarity with those being sentenced tommorrow and to demonstrate our disgust at the most recent infiltration of our movements please read below200 EDL in Gloucester Arms pub - London
24-10-2010 12:24
Approx 200 EDL have been spotted in the Gloucester arms pub off Gloucester Road.New Group: Taunton Vegan & Vegetarians
24-10-2010 12:22
Taunton Vegans and Veggies are the only Veg*n group in Taunton. The group was set up after the success of a Vegan Food Fayre in April 2010, realising there was a lot of like minded people in the area looking to do more for their community, with no previous means of getting together. So here we are!If you see us about, come and say hello, we don't bite and we certainly won't preach. We're simply about showing you all that healthy, cruelty free food need not be a pile of leaves, but can be a vast array of mouth watering goodness!
We have a monthly meeting at Mambos 7pm on the first wednesday of each month. If you're curious and want to find out more, just pop along, grab a pint and join in! We're happy to help with any questions you might have!
In the meantime, enjoy the site (it's all new so there'll be lots of additions coming) and don't forget to check out our recipe of the month!
Want to say hello? Drop us a line via the contact page or look us up via the medium of Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001623852358
Xmas Vegan Food & Info Stall
24-10-2010 12:22
Taunton Vegans & Veggies will be hitting Taunton with some awesome vegan food in the build up for crimbo....4th December, Taunton. Times and exact location to be confirmed soon!
Taunton Vegans and Veggies are the only Veg*n group in Taunton. The group was set up after the success of a Vegan Food Fayre in April 2010, realising there was a lot of like minded people in the area looking to do more for their community,with no previous means of getting together. So here we are!
If you see us about, come and say hello, we don't bite and we certainly won't preach. We're simply about showing you all that healthy, cruelty free food need not be a pile of leaves, but can be a vast array of mouth watering goodness!
We have a monthly meeting at Mambos 7pm on the first wednesday of each month. If you're curious and want to find out more, just pop along, grab a pint and join in! We're happy to help with any questions you might have!
In the meantime, enjoy the site (it's all new so there'll be lots of additions coming) and don't forget to check out our recipe of the month!
Want to say hello? Drop us a line via the contact page or look us up via the medium of Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001623852358
Peace means a homecoming for Sri Lanka's Muslims
24-10-2010 10:44
Exactly 20 years ago, the Tigers violently expelled almost all of northern Sri Lanka's Muslims. They fled into internal exile in the south. But with the war now over, a few are trying to return home. The BBC's Charles Haviland reports from north-west Sri Lanka.STUC Government Cuts Demo Photos
24-10-2010 10:23
STUC demo, Edinburgh 23rd October 2010 - photos of the demo can be seen at www.flickr.com/jpwood
Trading Corruption
24-10-2010 10:16
Financial Trading: why you NEVER win in general by trading any financial instruments.President Ahmadinejad galvanizes Lebanon's Palestinians
24-10-2010 08:10
Norwich Rallies Against The Cuts
24-10-2010 07:25
Manchester Marches Against The Cuts
23-10-2010 20:23
A short rally organised by the TUC at the Peace Garden in St Petrs Square was followed by a rally and march from the BBC building on Oxford Road through the city centre.
Cops loose the plot at Anti-cuts Alliance demo
23-10-2010 20:22
700 attend anti-cuts alliance demo to show their anger at Tory attacks on services and the working classBristols castle park was awash with colour this morning as hundreds gathered to protest against the cuts. Trade unions were represented including PCS, Unison, CWU, GMB and NUT along with a more radical side from The IWW, Anarchist Federation, Class War, Bristol Resistance and the Solidarity Federation.
Despite the weather the crowd were in good spirits and fine voice the IWW had printed out song sheets and a contingent from Youth Fight for jobs kept the chants coming think and fast.
Unfortunately even though the demo was supposed to be self stewarded the cops could not help but get stuck in. No sooner has the front of the Anarchist contingent left castle park when the police made their move, attempting to snatch a banner displaying the slogan "Fuck The Cuts, Smash The State".
Their attempt failed as the anarchists and other marchers ploughed in to save their banner and protect their comrades, the cops only succeeded in getting our backs up and getting some abuse in return.
Nearer the centre the cops had another go at snatching the banner and again they failed, this time with some injuries to protesters who got caught up in this unprovoked attack on our right to legally protest.
We finally reached the rally point at college green and began to relax. Some comrades were walking over to the AFed banner near the council building when they were approached by Police, one was told to take his mask off under section 60, another was told he had to give his details under section 50 because he was suspected on anti-social behavior (aka holding a banner saying fuck on it - which he never did).
At this point the anarchist contingent came along to give their support, the cops panicked and radioed for mounted police to back them up, pushing and shoving ensued and two people were arrested. More protesters split from the rally and showed their support for those arrested. Severely outnumbered and with their lines broken the cops were forced right back out of the green and past the cathedral.
With the police on the back foot we had the wind taken out of our sails as increasing numbers of socialist types began to get in the way and get people to stop pushing forward and go back the the rally.
After this the demo split up, and around 20 or so people headed up the Trinity road police station to show their solidarity with those arrested. Both were released on police bail after five hours in custody.
As the cuts take hold demos like this will become more common and more angry. Protesters who refuse to show solidarity and actively look to break our ranks will cause the demise of the anti-cuts movement. The violent attacks from the Police also show what we can expect as things turn increasingly nasty.
SOLIDARITY MEANS ATTACK
FIGHT THE CUTS
SMASH THE STATE!
Bristol Anarchist Federation
Translation of two leaflets about current struggles in France
23-10-2010 20:05
Translation of two leaflets about current struggles in France from Internationalist Proletarianschesterfield against incineratoin great victory
23-10-2010 19:01
Chavez to Assad: We should speed up the birth of a new world order
23-10-2010 18:42
