Manchester Social Struggles Newswire Archive

Activist Training - G8 Preparation

sinisterpenguin, 17-06-2005 11:15

The lovely lovely people from Liverpool Social Forum have organised an activist training day in preparation for the G8 protests in Scotland. Everyone is welcome to share and learn The Crown (the pub) upstairs, Liverpool City Centre, Wednesday 22nd June from 6.30PM (don’t worry if you are forced to turn up late). Read more | 2 comments >>

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Short stories from yesterday's G8 protests

Sheff IMCer, 16-06-2005 08:30

Several short stories from yesterdays G8 protests in Sheffield. Read more | 6 comments >>

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benefit dinner for the rebels against italian repression

bella, 14-06-2005 15:15

benefit dinner for italian prisoners Read more | 1 comment >>

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14/6/05 2012 show comes to manchester

seeds, 14-06-2005 14:23

come on and party @ Jabez clegg, 2 Portsmouth St, Manchester, M13 9GB
9pm-midnight Read more >>

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More problems for builder planning asbestos factory housing development?

Save Spodden Valley, 09-06-2005 00:25

Rochdale Councillors vote unanimously against Countryside Properties and MMC Estates road closure:

In their bid to build over 600 homes and a children’s nursery on the site of the world’s largest asbestos textile factory, Countryside Properties and MMC Estates have just run into more problems:
Read more >>

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Defend the Right to Prostest - EDO 8 Arrests Update

EDOPhobic-Manchester, 03-06-2005 12:29

8 people were arrested as police displayed vicious brutality at the first demo since the waterdown injuction was passed ouside the EDO arms factory in Brighton. EDO produces bomb releases mechanisms for fighter jets used to bomb Iraq. Read more >>

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Spodden Valley: Crushed Asbestos factory- are locals praying for more rain?

Save Spodden Valley, 01-06-2005 11:37

With the onset of summer and the possibility of hot, dry weather, official concern has been raised about large piles of crushed rubble on the site of the former Turner Brothers asbestos factory in the Spodden Valley, Rochdale. Read more >>

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Kiss It!

Kiss It! Team, 30-05-2005 17:59

...A rally call to all survivors, users and refusers of the psychiatric system, friends and allies! Demonstrate your disgust at the use of oppressive force in psychiatry! 14th July, 1 pm, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester! Read more | 1 comment >>

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REBEL MUSIC NIGHT!!!

Rock Around The Blockade, 26-05-2005 20:06

A night of musical fundraising for Cuban youth. Read more | 4 comments >>

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Countryside Properties. Asbestos criticisms voiced in Parliament...

Save Spodden Valley, 25-05-2005 13:10

In an unprecedented move, asbestos victims and asbestos environmental concerns have just been made the subject of a Maiden Speech in Parliament.

The controversial planning application for 600 houses at the former Turner & Newall Asbestos factory in the Spodden Valley was addressed in the maiden speech of Rochdale’s new MP Paul Rowen.

Here are some of the excerpts: (as reported at:  http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/News/news.asp?ID=624 )
Read more >>

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Carlisle Calling

mark, 24-05-2005 11:36

There will be a Public meeting about the G8 in Carlisle this Friday Read more >>

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City of Culture becomes City of Slavery with the help of the YMCA

Clarence Carlos, 18-05-2005 15:52

The Home Office have now ratcheted up the ante by re-introducing slavery through the form of 'voluntary service for people who have failed the Asylum System and needing subsistence and accommodation' with the assistance of the National YMCA Organisation.

Liverpool YMCA is going to be the first voluntary sector agency to collude with the Home Office in the immigration slavery scheme introduced by section 10 of the 2004 legislation.

While Liverpool is parading on its City Of Culture, 2008 Status (more like Culture of Capital, Here & Now), it would be worthwhile stating historical fact - Liverpool was home to the Slave Trade - and now in 2005, Liverpool could and may well become home to the New City Of Slavery.

The YMCA and the Home Office have called for a 'Closed Door' Meeting to be held at Liverpool City Councils Millenium House on Tuesday 24 May 2005 from 12:40 - 14:40hrs.

The aim of this meeting from what I can gather, is to 'embrace community dialogue' - through restricting the meeting to just a few (highly-paid & self-anointed) NGOs (whose own sources of revenue are probably paid for by the Home Office...)

The question is, can real community dialogue be achieved like this?

The meeting was posted on the SmartGroups Liverpool asylum seeker and refugee support group:

 http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm?gid=1256290&messageid=2609

----Section 4 Support - 'Voluntary Service'

>> There is a consultation meeting with the YMCA and
>> the Home Office about this on 24th May - 12.40 - 2.40
>> at Millenium House in Liverpool.

As you can see this is the only outside knowledge of this meeting.

I contacted the Liverpool YMCA today which people believe to be the site of the Pilot Scheme, and the Office Administrator has denied any knowledge of the meeting, but said that, "if it's not Liverpool then it might be Chester which will do it."

If the meeting is being held within Council premises, can Trade Unionists based within Millenium House please make and take action with regards to this?

UNISON, and other Unions the call-out for you is here.

Individuals with a conscience, please make your views heard on this subject.

The following links are related to this meeting:

YMCA slave labour scheme

Section 4 Support - 'Voluntary Service'

There is a consultation meeting with the YMCA and the Home Office
about this on 24th May - 12.40 - 2.40 at Millenium House in Liverpool.

 http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1256290&messageid=2602

IND has announced that YMCA England will be running a pilot exercise for Section 10 of the Asylum & Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act in Liverpool.

Word document:

 http://www.asylumpolicy.info/mayiapnews.doc

YMCA England Statement following meeting with Church Action on Poverty, Boaz Trust and Churches Commission on Racial Justice

Word document:

 http://www.asylumpolicy.info/ymcastatement.doc

It is important that no-one allows this 'Pilot' to get off the ground.

While the YMCA may or could agree to the scheme, it can only be made unworkable if YMCA Staff take a stand on this issue - strike action, refuse on moral grounds, refuse on Health & Safety issues (will the refugees be given proper H&S training?)

Or perhaps I could 'release' the person out, if I saw a refugee doing what I called anything like 'labour'?

Or maybe, the homeless people within the YMCAs will start "getting refugees to do their 'dirty-work'", or cause deep divisions within already dis-enfranchised communities?

If this doesn't happen here, it could happen near YOU.

Maybe meet up at The Egg, Tuesday 24/05, 11:30am?

Anyone into it?

Banners, drums, trumpets, anything to make a party & noise.

Can the 'Outside Media' meaning The Echo/BBC do something on it? Read more | 2 comments >>

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The Power Of Performance

Paul J. Burgess, 16-05-2005 10:41

The Power of Performance
"There is too much to learn from Acting, to keep it the sole reserve of Actors"

The link between Psychology and Drama is a barely visible, hugely underestimated and very powerful human resource. Augusto Boal knew this and developed exercises with this link in mind. Though they were still firmly rooted in the theatre, the psychological benefits cannot be ignored. Read more >>

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Anniversary is woodland destruction - their answer is to ban public access!!!

Save Spodden Valley, 14-05-2005 22:31

This Sunday 15th May at 2pm Spodden Valley campaigners are to meet at the concrete blocks on Dell Rd/Woodlands Rd in the Spodden Valley, Rochdale.

Thieaim is to walk the short distacnce on the public path ans cycle path of Woodlands Rd to where woodland was destroyed a year ago to the day.

To find out more about the environmental corporate vandalism that happened on 15/16th May 2004 go to

www.Spodden-Valley.co.uk/beforeandafter.htm

This might be the last chance to people may have to walk and cycle there for years…
Read more >>

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Mental Health is a Human Rights Issue

Kiss it! team, 12-05-2005 22:30

Kiss it! is campaigning against the inhumanity of current psychiatric practices prevalent throughout the Mental 'Health' System. Join us to demonstrate in a peaceful, humourous demonstration at 1pm on Thursday 14th July 2005, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester (site of the original Manchester Asylum!) Read more | 4 comments >>

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FFS! (Fit For Struggle)

Squatticus, 11-05-2005 11:59

Would you like to be a bit fitter, and improve your endurance and alertness in the anti-capitalist struggle? Read more >>

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All you ever wanted to know about G8

sheffield dissent, 08-05-2005 14:44

On Sunday 15th May Sheffield Dissent invites you to learn more about the upcoming G8 summits (15th to 17th June in Sheffield and 6th to 8th July in Gleaneagles, Scotland) in a day of information, workshops and laughter... Read more >>

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Who Stole The Poll? Jack's Back With 20,000 Postal Votes In His Sack

Postal Pete, 06-05-2005 10:31

From dodgy dossiers to dodgy ballots...

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, has been re-elected with a reduced majority amid warnings of widespread electoral fraud in his Blackburn constituency.

At a public meeting in the town's cathedral, the Liberal Democrat and Conservative candidates accused the Foreign Secretary's supporters of rigging ballots to keep Labour in power. Read more | 5 comments >>

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Spoof Newspaper - The Hate Mail

www.makebordershistory.org, 05-05-2005 16:39

The Hate Mail. You are being lied to about asylum seekers. This Spoof newspaper is aimed at those sympathetic to the issues facing refugees but who need more info to help them become active in this area. Read more >>

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They KNEW about the exposed asbestos in the Spodden Valley?!

Save Spodden Valley, 04-05-2005 20:39

The Save Spodden Valley campaign has seen a letter dated 10th September 2004 sent to the owners of the TBA site confirming exposed asbestos in the Spodden Valley. Until late February 2005, Countryside Properties appeared adamant that there was no exposed asbestos on the land owned by MMC Developments Ltd/ Rathbone Jersey Ltd. Read more | 3 comments >>

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