UK Newswire Archive
Anti-cuts Action: Target the Tax Todgers
15-12-2010 22:22
After successfully closing Vodafone in October and November we turn our anger towards other Tax dodgers, particularly Phillip Green and His Arcadia group (info ww.ukuncut.org.uk). The Arcadia group has a number of outlets so lets make some noise.This is a call out to the students, workers & unemployed of Bristol.
This Saturday 18th December - One of the busiest shopping days of the
year.
Anti-cuts Action against corporate Tax Dodgers in Bristol as part of a
national day of action called by UKUncut.
We will meet at the Band Stand in Castle Park at 1pm before commencing a
rolling picket of Bristol's High Street Tax Dodgers.
Invite as many people as possible, if possible we could split into two
groups.
This Action is called by Bristol Anarchist Federation but the demo is
going to be non-sectarian so all groups and individuals are welcome,
however we ask you to take the opportunity to promote only the anti-cuts
message rather than promoting your particular brand of politics. Please
bring propaganda, posters, banners and placards, loudhailers, whistles,
horns and drums.
For more information on the national day of action and resources to print http://www.ukuncut.wordpress.com
We are aware another action is happening earlier in the day but this should just mean more people working to shut these places down.
See you on the day,
In Solidarity,
Bristol Afed
http://bristolaf.wordpress.com
http://anticutsaction.wordpress.com
EDL come out as pro-police/ pro-Tory/ anti-student Loyalist mob
15-12-2010 21:53
Tommy Robinson / Yaxley-Lennon in Peterbrough on Saturday statingDPAC disabled peoples protest today - report
15-12-2010 21:22
a group of disabled people and supporters braved the cold drizzle this afternoon to launch the 'disabled people against cuts' (DPAC) movement to raise awareness, and to lobby and protest against the coalition government's attack on disabled people.
with disabled people feeling particularly vulnerable to local council cuts and coalition government slashing of provision, DPAC is hoping to build a network to fight the cuts at every level.
their organisers point out that disabled people are being targetted unfairly and that some may even lose their lives in the onslaught.
currently, nearly a third of all disabled people live below the official poverty line, with a quarter of families with disabled children unable to afford heating. a tenth of all disabled women have incomes under £31pw, and men £51pw under current benefits or earned income.
and yet, the government intends to slash the number of claimants on disability living allowance by 20%, although the fraud rate is estimated to be a mere 0.5%. it also intends to remove the mobility allowance from people in care homes, slashing their income by 66% and further isolating them.
new 'work capability assessments' (criticised widely by groups such as citizens advice bureau, disability charities and other disabled people's organisations) will force many people onto the lower job seekers allowance despite their needs. the private company carrying out these assessments will earn £100 million per year.
as if all this wasn't enough, the new rules for housing benefits will also attack disabled people disproportionately, forcing many into smaller and cheaper accommodation away from friends and family, and indiscriminately reducing housing benefit by 10% after 12 months unemployed for whatever reason!
apart from all these direct attacks, social service departments will of course be under pressure with widespread forecasts of 25% budget cuts. already, in some areas, support for shopping, cooking or cleaning is being withdrawn, and charges of £50 per week being raised for just a few hours home care a week. the 'independent living fund' is also under threat of closure.
finally of course, there are nationwide increases which will hit the disabled and poor hardest, like the linking of benefits to the consumer price index, the VAT increase to 20%, and the deregulation of rail fares with huge price hikes expected.
during the nazi rise in germany, disabled people were targetted, even to the extent of nazi propaganda describing the disabled as 'genetically ill people who cost the community money'. now, that propoganda machine is alive and well in modern britain, and disabled people will also inevitably die here as a result.
the protest was not authorised, and the GLA tried to ban it over concerns of health and safety due to a misunderstanding about a donkey (which turned out to be a papier mache model). police, including plain clothes, community support officers, and "heritage wardens" (boris's private thugs in the square) all hassled the protestors at various times.
DPAC is committed to raising awareness, networking, and fighting back against this government and its cuts.
they are constructing a website but in the meantime have a blog at http://disabledpeopleprotest.wordpress.com/
more information from linda burnip : linda_burnip (At) yahoo DOT co DOT uk
australian embassy protest over assange - report
15-12-2010 20:24
on monday afternoon a group of protestors delivered a letter at the australian embassy calling for the australian government to support its citizen, julian assange. after being removed by armed police and riot police, the vigil continued peacefully outside the embassy.
at around 5pm on monday, the protest group occupied the foyer of the australian embassy to read out and deliver their letter of support for julian assange. the letter was signed by many people including john pilger, peter thatchell, and ciaron o'reilly. media were quickly forced out of the building, and then armed diplomatic police and several vans of riot police turned up for the small peaceful group.
the front doors of the embassy were closed, but the group continued its vigil outside with speeches and music, after constructing a small shrine in front of the embassy linking other issues to the assange case. there were images of civilians murdered in the afghan war (which australia supports), as well as photographs of assange, bradley manning (the US corporal currently jailed for leaking documents to wikileaks), and shaker aamer (the british citizen who has spent eight years in guantanamo bay without charge, and who was tortured in the presence of british operatives).
the letter accuses the australian government of a dereliction of duty to their citizen assange, through inflammatory and prejudicial comments by the australian PM, through a lack of concern for assange's fair treatement, and through a willingness to allow american politicians to make death threats against australian citizens without challenge.
the protest was called and organised by 'london catholic workers', who are an anarchist catholic group of peace activists who believe in non-violent direct action to prevent war-crimes.
there is a film of the evening on youtube
the full text of the letter and signatories are copied below:
High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Australia House
Strand,
London WC2B 4LA
Dear Mr Dauth,
We Australians, here in London and from further afield, ask you to convey our urgent and emphatic request to the Gillard Government to do its utmost to defend Julian Assange’s human rights and the free and lawful operation of Wikileaks.
Australians around the world watch with grave concern as an Australian citizen is vilified by his own Prime Minister and Attorney-General, experienced lawyers whose words display a shocking disregard for the human right to the presumption of innocence, and risk prejudicing any legal proceedings Mr Assange may face.
We welcome the Government’s subsequent assurance that Mr Assange’s passport will not be cancelled and that your embassy will afford him “all appropriate consular assistance.”
We learn from an Australian Government website[1] that the High Commission has a duty to ensure Mr Assange “is treated no less favourably than local citizens detained for similar offences.” UK citizens, of course, enjoy the protection of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee their right to freedom of expression, presumption of innocence and fair trial. That is, UK citizens enjoy a significantly higher degree of legal protection than do Australians, and the Australian High Commission must ensure Mr Assange’s treatment by UK authorities accords with those more stringent standards.
May we remind all consular staff and the Australian Government that Mr Assange “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”[2] and to do so “without interference by public authority.”[3]
Further, Mr Assange has a human and legal right to be “presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law” and to be given a fair trial.[4]
As you must know well, it is unlawful under s104 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 for anyone intentionally or recklessly to cause death or serious harm[5] to an Australian citizen outside
Australia. And yet the Australian Government has voiced no objection to the death threats levelled against Mr Assange by high-profile US citizens and others.[7]
In light of the above, we, the undersigned:
1. Ask that Ms Gillard publicly and unequivocally withdraw her statement alleging illegal conduct on Mr Assange’s part, explain to the public why it was wrong for her to say that, and to apologise to Mr Assange.
2. Call on the Gillard Government to robustly defend Mr Assange both at home and abroad and to respect and defend his right to receive information and impart information freely, without interference by any public authority.
3. Ask the Attorney-General to initiate investigations into threats of violence against Mr Assange by persons in the United States and Canada, including Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, in violation of Australian law.
4. Urge the Gillard Government to oppose strenuously any application to have Mr Assange extradited to the United States, because it is unlikely he would receive a fair trial there.
We thank you for your attention to these matters of fundamental importance to a free and democratic society.
[1] ‘Consular services: Arrested, detained and jailed overseas’ (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/faq.html)
[2] Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (emphasis added). The same is stated more fully in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Australia is a party, and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which also applies to Mr Assange.
[3] ECHR, Art. 10(1)
[4] ECHR, Art. 6 and elsewhere
[5] Including “harm to a person’s mental health (whether temporary or permanent) [including] psychological harm to the person;” and conduct that “endangers, or is likely to endanger, a person’s life” (s146)
[7] See http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/41914.html
Sincerely, your compatriots,
* Present signatories of the (attached) Letter to the High Commisioner
Letter from "Australians for the Immediate Release of Julian Assange" to the Australian High Commissioner attached to this press release.
John Pilger (from Sydney, Australia) http://www.johnpilger.com/
Peter Tatchell, (from Melbourne, Australia) London based, Human Rights Activist
http://www.petertatchell.net/
Michael Dutton, (from Brisbane, Australia) Professor of Politics, Goldsmiths University of London.
Deborah Kessler, (from Brisbane, Australia) Concerned Citizen.
Ciaron O'Reilly, (from Brisbane, Australian), London Catholic Worker/ Ploughshares.
http://www.londoncatholicworker.org/
Eden Boucher, (from Adelaide, Australia) Musician "Lovers Electric".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovers_Electric
David Turley, (from Adelaide, Australia), Musician "Lovers Electric".
Sharon Turley, (from Adelaide, Australia) Classical Musician.
David Warburton (from Adelaide, Australia), Coffee Brewster
Saul Newman, teaches Political Theory at Goldsmiths, University of London.
John Hutnyk, (from Melbourne, Australia) Professor of Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths University of London.
Peter Thomas (from Rockhampton, Queensland) teaches History of Political Thought at Brunel University, London.
Maria Albrecht, (from Melbourne, Australia) Catholic Worker Farmhouse
http://www.thecatholicworkerfarm.org/
Olivia Ball (from Melbourne, Australia) Author
Eric Snowball (from Sydney, Australia) Social Worker.
Errol O'Neill (from Brisbane, Australia) Actor.
Mary Kelly (from Brisbane,Australia) Trade Unionist.
Dan O'Neill (from Brisbane, Australia) Scholar.
Dr Linnell Secomb (from Melbourne, Australia) Head of Department of Social, Political and Cultural Studies, University of Greenwich
Errin Collins, (from Lithgow, Australia) Occupational Therapist
Eric Snowball (from Sydney, Australia) Social Worker.
Rik (from Sydney, Australia), Sound Engineer.
Nick Gill (from Perth, Australia) Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bristol
Cut the crap: The cuts as profit opportunities
15-12-2010 20:18
The Con-Dem coalition government has started to roll out its austerity package and introduce cuts worth £83bn over the next four years, which will hit the poorest hardest and open doors for big business to reap the benefits. But people are fighting back. Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed extraordinary and inspiring protests across the UK. Many of these have had an anti-corporate focus, targeting big businesses that are eager to profit from the cuts and have the government’s ear in policy formation. Here is some information on some of them.Prisons for rent
15-12-2010 20:17
As the coalition government announced its plans to 'reform' the prison and rehabilitation services, private companies were greasing their palms for fat contracts in the new market. Meanwhile, private security giant G4S has been preparing to build new custody cells that it will rent (literally) to the police.Desperate to stop the "truth telling
15-12-2010 19:15
"The imperialists of the world are desperate to stop the "truth telling" of wikileaks. To do so they have thrown away the cover of respect of "freedom of speech" in particular and "support of democratic principals" in general. They are naked now in their hatred of democracy.Organize, resist, do all that you can to protect these true heros from attack. Most importantly, aid them in their efforts to reveal the truths that just may "set us free."
Uninvisible Rally
15-12-2010 19:15
The day after…update on student protests
15-12-2010 18:47
The mother of all demonstrations-central London 29th April 2011
15-12-2010 18:39
Everyone to the streets of London on the new bank holiday!More proof of USA TORTURE
15-12-2010 18:10
Reminiscient of NAZI experiments on prisoners, it has been exposed that the USA has extensively experimented with pharmecuticals on prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.FULL STORY at:
http://www.truth-out.org/controversial-drug-given-all-guantanamo-detainees-amounted-pharmacologic-waterboarding6558
RIGHT NOW IN GREECE
15-12-2010 17:38
Parody from the western Mass Media....Palestine Today 12 15 2010
15-12-2010 17:33
Successful gathering including blockade at huntington lane protest site
15-12-2010 15:53
The gathering at the shropshire anti-coal site at huntington lane went ahead last weekend, including a day-long blockade of the quarry site on Saturday. Much skillsharing and defense building also went ahead during the action-packed gathering.POSTER: some considerations when working in shared spaces
15-12-2010 15:24
poster to print out and put up in our shared spacesThis is poster compiled by Bristol Anarcha-Feminists and Bristol Me Confronting Patriarchy. Please share and print out. If anyone would like to discuss it further or come and find out what we talk about and get up to, please come to one of our meetings...
bristol men confronting patriarchy (meet fridays 6pm @ the factory, 28 portland square, st pauls)- bmcp@riseup.net
bristol anarcha feminists (meet thursdays 8pm @ the smiling chair, stokes croft)- bristolanarchafem@riseup.net
Below is a list of questions to consider when interacting in our communities and autonomous spaces. Although hierarchical and patriarchal behaviour is present in many of our relations, this list is focussed primarily on how we organise and work together. Whilst immediate practical tasks can seem disproportionately important, our goal of creating a strong community based on mutual aid and solidarity should always guide our behaviour in the moment. The following questions are intended to help us achieve this...
We’re aware that certain elements within the anarchist movement will feel the need to criticize this, if so then why not come along to one of our meetings to discuss it…
bristol men confronting patriarchy (meet fridays 6pm @ the factory)- bmcp@riseup.net
bristol anarcha feminists (meet thursdays 8pm @ the smiling chair)- bristolanarchafem@riseup.net
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE HIGH QUALITY IMAGE FOR PRINTING FROM ZINE LIBRARY
The Inevitability Of Brutality
15-12-2010 15:17
WikiLeaks reveals the dirty diplomacy of climate change
15-12-2010 15:14
As the proceedings of the climate change summit concluded last weekend in Cancun, Mexico, recently released secret diplomatic cables cast renewed light on the shadowy nature of international climate change negotiations.Anonymous brings down swedish prosecutor's website
15-12-2010 14:23
Following the news that swedish prosecutors will appeal bail, Julian Assange was remanded just 2 hours after being granted bail on the condition he surrender his passport, submit to an electronic tag, follow a curfew and not try to buy international travel tickets.Kebele Kitchen All-Stars Fine Festive Feast
15-12-2010 14:22
The winter is upon us, that day beginning with C is just around the corner......So why not come and join us for a gigantic roast dinner on Sunday 19th December at Kebele? There will be lots of food, mulled wine and plenty of good company.
£3... bargain. Dinner from 6.30pm at Kebele, 14 Robertson Road, Easton. BS5 6JY.
Also happening will be the Library Collective's big book sale from 1-8pm, so you can eat and browse at your leisure.
www.kebelecoop.org
ex minister Hatzidakis after he was attacked from demonstrators
15-12-2010 14:00
