UK Newswire Archive
'Dog meat' on sale in Nottm, Birmingham and other cities
03-11-2010 17:23
http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/636
Vive La Resistance! France and the Fight Back
03-11-2010 17:22
With a speaker from New Anti-Capitalist Party from France.Friday 12th November 7:30pm Easton Community Centre
Organised by the Right to Work Campaign
Across the world there are attacks against the working class. The people of France are leading the fight back. Students and workers are demonstrating against “austerity”. The trade unions have called general strikes. The New Anticapitalist Party in France has been at the centre of this resistance. The Right to Work campaign has called a meeting to show solidarity with the French people, and to discuss how to bring the struggle to Britain
Medialens: WikiLeaks - The Smear and the Denial - Part 1 - The Smear
03-11-2010 15:17
“Journalists don't like WikiLeaks”, Hugo Rifkind notes in The Times, but “the people who comment online under articles do... Maybe you've noticed, and been wondering why. I certainly have.” (Hugo Rifkind Notebook, ‘Remind me. It's the red one I mustn't press, right?,’ The Times, October 26, 2010)Rifkind is right. The internet has revealed a chasm separating the corporate media from readers and viewers. Previously, the divide was hidden by the simple fact that Rifkind’s journalists - described accurately by Peter Wilby as the “unskilled middle class” (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/dec/10/comment.pressandpublishing) - monopolised the means of mass communication. Dissent was restricted to a few lonely lines on the letter’s page, if that. Readers were free to vote with their notes and coins, of course. But in reality, when it comes to the mainstream media, the public has always been free to choose any colour it likes, so long as it’s corporate ‘black’. The internet is beginning to offer some brighter colours.
France: More strikes, opposition to social austerity
03-11-2010 14:23
"The political bankruptcy of the existing parties and organizations is a historic challenge to the working class. In struggling to bring down Sarkozy’s government and block implementation of social cuts, the goal cannot be to bring to power a PS government. They must fight to build a workers’ government carrying out socialist policies, as part of an international struggle against capitalism in Europe and worldwide.The WSWS has called on workers and youth to create their own committees of action to coordinate their struggles, independent of the unions and bourgeois “left” parties. Readers in France are invited to contact the WSWS to help build a party in France to lead the fight for this perspective."
Bookfair 2010 - Dr. Richard Barbrook
03-11-2010 13:22
Does the word 'Revolution' have any meaning anymore? Is their any point to political writing? and was the last british election actually a coup-de-tet by the civil service?
This and other questions are put to Dr. Richard Barbrook, winner of the 2008 Marshall McLuhan Prize for 'Outstanding Book in the Field of Media Ecology' and a University of Westminster lecturer.
He begins by discussing Guy Debord's 'The Game of War', as a way to think about politics, and maybe a way of improving how we practice politics better.
Anarchist and Working class bookfair in Newcastle, Sat 6th Nov
03-11-2010 13:08
Sat Nov 6th 2010 - The Worlds First Ever(!) Anarchist and Working Class Bookfairin Newcastle coincides with the BBC Radio 3 FREE THINKING festival this weekend.
Bookfair 2010 - Interview with Fitwatch
03-11-2010 10:22
Due to evidence that the police forces have been gathering unprecedented amounts of intelligence on indivuduals at demonstrations and actions (1), FITWatch, here interviewed during the 28th Anarchist Bookfair, are asking people to make requests under the data protection act for any information the police may be holding on them, to try and assertaiin more fully, the type of information the police are gathering, and how they are using it. Please watch this video, or get in touch with FITWatch directly for more information on how you can help.
Bookfair2010 - Audio_simon chapman/Thessaloniki 4
03-11-2010 09:22
Simon Chapman, 30, from Basildon, Essex, was arrested, beaten and tortured, and accused of throwing Molotov cocktails during an anti-capitalism protest in Greece in 2003.
London Indymedia and Dissident Island caught up with him at he 2010 Anarchist Bookfair to talk about his hunger strike during his time detained, his torture and beatings at the hands of the Greek police, and his long legal battle and appeals.
The London Thessaloniki Solidarity Group was formed in 2003 soon after the arrests at the EU summit demonstrations in Thessaloniki.
Rewind - Truth and Reconciliation film [1]
03-11-2010 08:22
Is a rainbow nation possible in Bristol?Saint Stephen’s Reconciliation Laboratory presents the award-winning film, Rewind, followed by a talk and workshop.
“I wish this news could just rewind,” says one woman giving testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Directed by Liza Key, Rewind documents the making of the cantata created for the 10th anniversary of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
REwind: Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony was composed by Philip Miller, who used sound fragments from the Commission’s recorded testimonies – including gasps, moans and sighs.
The film Rewind uses interviews of the victims’ families and survivors who featured in the cantata.
Harrowing yet beautiful, the film also includes landscape, public broadcasts, news and secret service archive.
The film is followed by a talk by Admore Tshuma, the political journalist from southern Africa, just returned from interviewing victims of the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Admore Tshuma says:
“The killing in April of white supremacist Eugene Terre’Blanche by his black labourers was widely reported. But black farm workers are also being killed by white farmers with an Afrikaans section calling for a breakaway state. Is the rainbow nation disappearing? Is the Mandela magic doomed?”
Reconciliation Laboratory organiser, David Mowat, says:
“It is part of Saint Stephen’s work to bring reconciliation through the arts and music. After screening the film in the church, we will hear Admore Tshuma’s stimulating talk. As Bristol’s late-medieval quayside parish church, Saint Stephen’s witnessed the launch of slaving vessels and grew wealthy through merchants’ donations.
Through its current arts programme, Saint Stephen’s is making an artistic response to its slaving legacy.”
The Reconciliation Reredos - a major new art work at the east end of Saint Stephen’s to be unveiled in January 2011 – is intended to help start the healing process.
Screened at Saint Stephen’s courtesy of the Afrika Eye festival, the film was shown at the Watershed on 30 October followed by a panel discussion.
David Mowat explains:
“We will follow on from the Watershed discussion, deepening insights into the nature of reconciliation in a world ever reluctant to pay real reparations to the victims of oppression. Bristol, trying to heal after its long legacy of slavery, is a privileged city in a globalised world that is still bringing home the benefits of the exploitation of others.
So, we ask: can we build a ‘rainbow nation’ in Bristol?”
The event is second of the Reconciliation Laboratories held at Saint Stephen’s this autumn. The first brought together supporters of Israel and Palestine around the recently published book, Crossing Qalandiya.
The third event on 17 November 7.30pm brings together Jews, Christians and Muslims enquiring into what reconciliation means in their respective faiths.
Tickets £5 on the door – light refreshments available
Rewind - Truth and Reconciliation film
03-11-2010 07:22
Is a rainbow nation possible in Bristol?Saint Stephen’s Reconciliation Laboratory presents the award-winning film, Rewind, followed by a talk and workshop on Sunday 7 November at 7.30pm.
“I wish this news could just rewind,” says one woman giving testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Directed by Liza Key, Rewind documents the making of the cantata created for the 10th anniversary of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
REwind: Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony was composed by Philip Miller, who used sound fragments from the Commission’s recorded testimonies – including gasps, moans and sighs.
The film Rewind uses interviews of the victims’ families and survivors who featured in the cantata.
Harrowing yet beautiful, the film also includes landscape, public broadcasts, news and secret service archive as well as the Market Theatre performance of REwind, and world-renowned mezzo soprano, Sibongile Khumalo.
The film is followed by a talk by Admore Tshuma, the political journalist from southern Africa. A Wingate scholar at the University of Bristol, a lecturer and reconciliation researcher, he has met Nelson Mandela and other African leaders. He has just returned from interviewing victims of the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Admore Tshuma says: “The killing in April of white supremacist Eugene Terre’Blanche by his black labourers was widely reported. But black farm workers are also being killed by white farmers with an Afrikaans section calling for a breakaway state. Is the rainbow nation disappearing? Is the Mandela magic doomed?”
Chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission listened to 21,000 victims and 7,000 perpetrators. Its proceedings were televised to the nation, conceived as a way to end apartheid in South Africa.
Likewise, the Reconciliation Reredos - a major new art work at the east end of Saint Stephen’s to be unveiled in January 2011 – is intended to help start the healing process through establishing Saint Stephen’s as the place of the city’s reconciliation.
Reconciliation Laboratory organiser, David Mowat, says: “It is part of Saint Stephen’s work to bring reconciliation through the arts and music. After screening the film in the church, we will hear Admore Tshuma’s stimulating talk. As Bristol’s late-medieval quayside parish church, Saint Stephen’s witnessed the launch of slaving vessels and grew wealthy through merchants’ donations. Through its current arts programme, Saint Stephen’s is making an artistic response to this legacy.”
Shown at Saint Stephen’s courtesy of the Afrika Eye festival, the film was shown at the Watershed on 30 October followed by a panel discussion. Saint Stephen’s continues the discussion.
David Mowat explains: “We will follow on from the Watershed discussion, deepening insights into the nature of reconciliation in a world ever reluctant to pay real reparations to the victims of oppression. Bristol, trying to heal after its long legacy of slavery, is a privileged city in a globalised world that is still bringing home the benefits of the exploitation of others. So, we ask: can we build a ‘rainbow nation’ in Bristol?”
The event is second of the Reconciliation Laboratories held at Saint Stephen’s this autumn. The first brought together supporters of Israel and Palestine around the recently published book, Crossing Qalandiya.
The third event on 17 November 7.30pm brings together Jews, Christians and Muslims enquiring into what reconciliation means in their respective faiths.
An exhibition of Saint Stephen’s history currently at Bristol Central Library in October will be displayed in the church in November.
Contact: David Mowat, Reconciliation Laboratory organiser
M: 0780 436 3170
E: bigbromoATyahoo.co.uk
Sunday 7 November 2010 7.30pm
Tickets £5 on the door – light refreshments available
Bookfair 2010 - Activist Trauma Support
03-11-2010 03:38
"Trauma work is part of resistance. A lot of people drop out, disappear, stop being active, feel excluded because of their fear or because they are suffering from post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). Even after obvious incidents like the Diaz school in Genoa, there was no emotional support set up for the victims. A lot them suffered more from the emotional consequences than the physical injuries.
If we want to be effective as a movement, and create sustainable activism, we need to be able to support each other. If we know we will be supported afterwards and we are aware of what can happen to us emotionally in consequence to police brutality, we will be able to feel more secure and prepared in our actions."
Bookfair 2010 - Milan Rai, Peace News, Int.
03-11-2010 03:38
Milan Rai, a British peace campaigner best known for being arrested on 25 October 2005 next to a London war memorial, the Cenotaph, for refusing to cease reading aloud the names of civilians by then killed in Iraq in the course of Britain's most recent war, alongside fellow activist Maya Evans.
He is a writer and anti-war activist, and most recently, has taken on the role as editor for Peace News.
Here Milan discusses the current stand-off between the West and Iran, the media manipulation of the news from Iran, and why we as anarchists and activists, have to support the democracy movement in Iran.
Framework "flash mob"
02-11-2010 22:29
On Tuesday 2nd November, opponents of funding cuts to Framework organised a "flash mob" in the Market Square.
Framework is a Nottingham-based "homelessness charity providing housing, support, training, care and resettlement services."When the council announced proposed cuts, Framework were particularly badly hit. The council is planning to cut between £10-15m from its "Supporting People" programme over the next four years. The charity had expected £6.6m next year, a £1m cut, but is now waiting on further details of how much it will lose. Jobs will almost inevitably go at the charity which relies on the programme for 65% of its income.
Framework note that the local cuts are particulalry severe, "Government funding to the Supporting People budget, which funds work with vulnerable people in England, has been reduced by 12% over the next four years; Nottinghamshire County Council is consulting on reductions in the SP budget of between 43% and 67% in that period."
The issue attracted particular attention when John Leighton, a manager at Framework, challenged David Cameron about it during his recent visit to Nottingham. The Prime Minister promised to have his housing minister Grant Shapps look into it.
Aware of all these issues, I had heard about the Market Square "flash mob" on the Notts SOS website and turned up, not quite sure what to expect. Wikipedia defines a flash mob as "a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse." This might have given me some warning - because the website certainly hadn't - that the organisers expected us all to lie on the floor.
There was a sizable crowd already formed by the time I arrived, just before the published start time of 6pm. Organisers, some in fluorescent jackets were distributing leaflets and - for reasons I still don't fully understand - glow sticks. There were people talking through a megaphone, who I couldn't hear properly, presumably telling us why we were there. There wasn't an obvious media presence, but there were video cameras, presumably used to record the event.
Obviously most of the other people there had be forewarned about the lying on the floor and came prepared with waterproof sheets and/or roll mats. Several people, were overeager and sat down early, but the organisers tried to coordinate everybody. People spread out and at a pre-ordained time, we all lay down. Except those of us who just crouched.
After 3 minutes, somebody announced it was all over and after a brief round of applause and cheering, everybody drifted off, as if nothing had ever happened. A strange demonstration, but mercifully short. I have no idea if this can be deemed a success, certainly I can't see Kay Cutts losing any sleep over it. Nevertheless, the turnout wasn't bad and there's plenty of scope to build on it.
EDINBURGH: Shut down tax-dodging vodaphone
02-11-2010 22:28
Part of the nationwide action to shut down the tax dodging Vodaphone, who evaded £6bn in taxes, while our public services are being cut to the bone.
Borehole Drilling Machine sabotaged in solidarity with The Happendon Wood Action Camp
02-11-2010 22:27
Extensive damage has been caused to a mobile vertical borehole drilling machine at the proposed Glentaggart East open cast coal mine in South Lanarkshire. This action, taken during the night of the 29th of October, was carried out anonymously by those acting in solidarity with The Happendon Wood Action Camp (THWAC), and in support of the residents of the Douglas Valley.
December 2008 – Documentaries for the greek revolt
02-11-2010 22:27
December 2008 – Documentaries for the greek revolt
The murder by the police of Alexis Grigoropoulos (a 15 years old student) was the spark that set fire to the greek society.
A new bogeyman for Halloween - multiculturalism
02-11-2010 22:27
The ancient festival of Halloween - Oidhche Shamhna - is another relic of our Gaelic past. Literally, it is 'the night before Samhain' and 'An t-Samhain' in modern Gaelic simply means November. It was thought that on the night between the death of summer and onset of winter that the door between our world and the netherworld opened. This allowed spirits to pass between both worlds. In Scotland, young men would impersonate the dead by blackening their faces or by wearing masks, sometimes made of animal hide, and carry a 'samhnag' or neep lantern.
General Peace Strike Saturday 20th November
02-11-2010 22:20
A call for non-violent direct action to close down Westminster and Whitehall from 20th November onwards. This peaceful action will take place after the 'Stop The War' demonstration called for that day.