No Borders Camp 2010 in Brussels kicks off this Saturday (25th) til the 3rd October, so get yourself to the continent to make a start on creating a world where no one is illegal. Among the objectives of the camp are the denouncing of European migration policy; showing the links between this policy and the structures of capitalism and repression; the blocking of Brussels' deportation system and the organisation of an autonomous safe space for the voices of migrants and activists to be heard.
On the Newswire: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
In SchNEWS:1Links:www.noborderbxl.eu.org
Where will it be?
The camp plans to take space at TOUR&TAXIS, a complex in the heart of Brussels with green areas and buildings usually used for conferences and events. There's plenty of room for upwards of 1,000 people and finding it is pretty easy once you're in the city, check out the travel advice on the website. There's also an anarchopedia website to find travelling partners or arrange liftshares. A decentralised info point will be set up at Gésu, an abandoned monastery which is squatted by around 130 people: from there you can find out what's going on at the camp.
How does it all work?
Different working groups have been responsible for different aspects of the camp and will continue to do so on site, although all decision are made by consensus. The program group co-ordinates proposals for workshops and affinity group actions, and sets locations and times for activities during the camp; the finance group and logistics group take care of money and materials. Support will be provided by the legal and medical teams. There is a dedicated Big Demo working group which is organising the mass action on the 2nd October but self-organised and autonomous actions are actively welcomed during the week too, with the mobilisation group on hand to help you out. The process group will be going round making sure that every proposal is running smoothly and nothing gets forgotten. Food will be cooked on site and organised by the kitchen team. Participation in these working groups is open to everyone at the camp.
A general assembly will be held every morning during the camp for decisions to be made, issues to be raised, and for briefings from the different working groups to be given. Workshops will also run throughout the week with a different theme each day: European migration policy, detention & deportations, capitalism & migration, the struggle of migrants, and the militarisation of borders, all culminating in the mass demo day on the 2nd, then debrief the day after. There will be photo exhibitions and a cinema showing informative films while other spaces in the city will host debates, gigs and cabaret. Download the preliminary program here.
There is a general policy of no photos or filming on site, even for campers. Journalists will be allowed into the area at allotted times, will be escorted, and if you're in shot, you'll be asked for your permission before they take any pictures or film. A dedicated media team will be taking care of this.
What do I need?
Whatever camping gear will make you comfy, and if you're happy to leave stuff like tents and sleeping bags behind at the camp after you leave, it will go to migrants and activists who are camping out permanently in Calais and Brussels and desperately need it.
The logistics group also have a long wishlist of tat and equipment which you can find on the website, so have a read through before you leave in case you happen to be the one who has 300m of plumbing hose lying around in your back garden.
And the coppers?
Generally aren't that bad, and the legal team will be on hand, but there are a few things to watch out for..
Belgian police like to break cameras so although its not forbidden to film them or take pictures, make sure you're doing it out of arms reach.
It's an offence to cover your face with masks, scarves or make-up in Brussels so be prepared to get arrested and have a fine slapped on you if you can't overcome your shyness.
Obviously don't bring anything that can be considered a weapon (even instructions for an oragami crowbar) and if they find drugs on you (even cannabis) they'll arrest and/or fine you.
The Belgian police do use pepper spray, horses and sometimes water cannons for 'riot control'.
If you're a foreigner, the police can hold you for a maximum of 24 hours without charge. The clock starts from the moment they grab you – not when you get to the police station or are put in a van.
You don't have to give your name at any point during your Belgian custodial experience, but if you don't, it's likely you'll be held for the maximum possible time while they try and find out who you are. Staying anonymous won't stop you from getting charged and sentenced if the police are determined to follow through on an arrest.
As they arrest you they have to tell you what it's for, and if you are released without charge, you'll be asked to sign a register that details who the arresting officer was, why they took you into custody, and the times of your arrest and release. If the details aren't complete or you don't think they're right, don't sign it.
If they do charge you, and haven't released you after 24hrs, it mean that a judge has issued an arrest warrant and a trial will follow. The police can hold you like this for up to 5 days, and you only get the right to a lawyer once the arrest warrant has been issued.
As standard, keep schtum and decline to answer any questions or make any statements, and don't sign a written statement or 'proces verbaal' (PV) as its known in Belgium.
You have the normal rights to a translator, food and hygiene supplies and medical aid.
If they try and deport you at any point, they'll have to get you to sign a deportation order. Don't do it. You're protected as an EU citizen so tell them you're appealing on the basis of EU law.
See the camp legal guide here.
Anything else?
Spread the word and get channel-hopping. Feel free to keep SchNEWS updated on how its going via the comments on this article on our website, or by email: mail@schnews.org.uk.
Also in SchNEWS 740: Rewrite His-Tory - Angry at the cuts? The new government? Capitalism in general? Head down to Brum to take it out on the Tory party conference. | All Mex'd Up - Besieged Mexican autonomous community San Juan Copala evacuated after outbreak of paramilitary violence | Running Ham-Mock - Shenanigans-a-plenty in a week's round-up from Rossport | Stockholme Syndrome - Swedes hit the streets after electoral success of far-right party | Good Chap on Trial - British protester stitched up by Greek police after anti-EU protests in 2003 set to appeal eight-year jail sentence. | SchNEWS in Brief - EDL flash mobs hit the North East while new Wildkatz squatted social centre set to open near Brighton. | And Finally - Colombian drugs parrot doing bird after police raid
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Hide the following 14 comments
mass arrests and time line of events
29.09.2010 16:55
Today (Wednesday) the big trade union march against the austerity cuts. The anti-capitalist bloc with many noborder campers got at the very start attacked by riot cops with mass arrests and some serious injuries. Many people didn't even make it to the meeting point for the demo as they were preventively arrested on their way (remember Copenhagen?).
This afternoon also a successful, but short, blockade of the Security & Defense Agenda. The SDA was hosting a round table on 'Fine-tuning EU border security'. Keynote speakers were the executive director of Frontex and the director of IOM (!).
See:
The police arrested 42 people at the blockade.
... and last night another pixie action with Serco's windows painted and smashed.
Total of arrestees of today is unclear - between 200 and 350 ppl. Police have confirmed that everyone is administratively arrested which means no charges will follow and they will be held for a maximum of 12/24 hours (depending on carrying ID or no ID). First people have been released already.
The camp is still growing with approx. 600 people present now. Come and join us !!
London NoBorders
No Borders Clowns are Capitalist Lackeys
02.10.2010 14:20
But I guess that makes sense cos the No Borders kiddies are sons and daughters of the rich playing at politics until they settle down in nice professional middle class jobs that won't be effected by cheap labour from the 3rd world taking away your jobs.
Londoner
actually londoner
02.10.2010 20:19
suicide causer
Free Market in Labour means lower wages
02.10.2010 23:21
The more workers that chase the jobs available, the lower the wages.
Fact: the capitalist class likes lower wages, because it means higher profits
Fact: the capitalist class likes masses of cheap labour because it causes the working class to fight each other for the jobs available and because so many are scrabbling for the jobs available that means they can pay less.
So they are currently complaining at the UK govt's cap on non EU labour.
It's only the fury from the middle and working class at more cheap labour pouring into the UK that stops the govt obeying the complaints from the capitalist class and allowing more qualified workers from non EU countries.
No Borders fights for the cause of the capitalist class, wanting more workers here, causing lower wages for the rest of us.
Londoner
@londoner
03.10.2010 18:11
opening borders doesn't take away jobs from anyone. it just means that people from poor nations get to have a go at getting jobs in rich nations. the number of jobs out there stays the same. unless you think that only british workers should be able to get british jobs (whatever the fuck that means) then you won't have any rational objection to this. unless you think that only people with the luck of having been born in the rich capitalist states should be able to get jobs in those same states then you shouldn't care.
you can't blame migrants for the decline in pay and conditions. it is the fault of capitalist bosses only - migrants don't get a say. if you are worried about pay and conditions i suggest you organise in your workplace (preferably in collaboration with migrants rather than trying to compete with them).
internationalist
cultural destruction
06.10.2010 03:41
lts pretty much self evident that if you bring in mass numbers of immigrants your culture is going to be changed irrespective of where the immigrants are from. My personal view - l like the 'british' culture of old, its quite unique and has much to commend it. Historically mass movements of population have always occured as a consequence of some kind of disaster. Nothing much has changed there - immigrants are obviously still voting with their feet. Generally the countries that are producing large numbers of immigrants are the same countries youd describe as failed states. By allowing failed states to export their problem populations youre allowing these states to continue to be badly run and oppress their peoples - by accepting their populations you provide a kind of pressure relief valve. But nothing changes in these countries, things dont improve for those who cant escape.
We need to stop pandering to these failed states and isolate them, no more mr nice guy.
flubber
@flubber - Cultural evolution
08.10.2010 12:46
I wonder if you can point to a time when cultures didn't change? Sometimes slowly, and sometimes quickly. Sometimes die to external factors, sometimes internal factors. But they have always changed. Otherwise we would still be in the trees picking nits off each other (or perhaps even in the oceans as single cell organisms).
"l like the 'british' culture of old"
Obviously you are entitled to your view. But which British culture are you alluding to? Many of the cultures that we subsumed into the 'British' culture were not so happy - the Welsh, Scots, and Cornish spring to mind, but I think there are many others. You conservative (small c) viewpoint would seem to suggest that the should have been allowed to conserve their culture. BTW - was one of the British values you seem so keen on tolerance?
"Historically mass movements of population have always occured as a consequence of some kind of disaster."
Like global capitalism run buy the rich 'west' exploiting other parts of the world?
"Generally the countries that are producing large numbers of immigrants are the same countries youd describe as failed states"
Like the UK from mid-1960s to 1990?
"no more mr nice guy"
Illegal wars, exporting our dirty industries, exploiting their natural resources, trade wars and unfair terms of trade, running unethical medical experiments on them - once we stop this, we may have a claim to be 'Mr Nice', but it doesn't look like we are moving that way at the moment.
John Smith
Go Fuck Yourself!!
09.10.2010 01:30
No Borders, No Nations, Fuck Deportations
NBxx
No Borders
You fuck yourself
09.10.2010 20:05
Arrogant fucking twat. What makes you think you are the expert and right about everything. Just cause you disagree doesn't make you right. The majority of people are concerned about immigration levels, so fuck off you minority fuck.
What gives the right? Well fucking laws that have been around longer than you have.
People have had borders for 1000s of years - who the fuck do you think you are to act like GOD and tell people what they can and can't do with their territory. Most animal's evolution is based on terroritoial protection because it works. I'm sick and tired of idealists trying to wipe of millions of years of successful evolution.
>> Without the state we have no culture, no identity?
Yes, because if you opens the borders then people WILL come in their 10s of millions and we won't be living in such a nice country called England anymore. It will become a 3rd world shit hole. Imagine if the UK was the only place to have no-borders? How fucked up would that be.
>> Go tell that to the Darfurians who have seen their families being burnt and raped in front of their eyes, or the Palestinians who live under constant brutal occupation, or the Afghanis who have had their homes, schools and hospitals blown to pieces by the Taliban and NATO. Go and spend some time in Calais and tell those people, those children that they should go home because they will damage your precious British culture.
Not my problem and not fucking interested. Why the fuck should i go to calais, they know they arn't welcome here. Why don't they stay in fucking France?
>> If you want to side with the state, and its machines of violence, humiliation, expulsion, detention, cruelty, inhumanity and death then go ahead, but for the rest of us we don't just want 'open borders', we want no borders.
A tiny, tiny minority that is a statistical nothing.
>> We are growing as a movement and we are being taken seriously
You're dreaming.
Check out the unbeleivable repression in Brussels or Calais.
Why!?!?!?! I live in England not fucking France.
>> No Borders, No Nations, Fuck Deportations
Leave things exactly as they are except stop paying to do France's job for them.
No no-borders. You want to live somewhere with no-borders? Then fuck off to the artic you fucking idealist benefit scrounging cunt.
borders
Calm down ladies
09.10.2010 20:21
I would be interested to hear the NB scenario: what would happen if we went for no borders?
How do you answer the suggestion that a rich country suddenly allowing entry to the entire world would lead to loads of people in desperate poverty coming in? They'd be daft not to!
There wouldnt suddenly be millions of extra jobs, so would we still pay the dole? If so, how? What about housing?
It's a bit harder than Fuck this and No that, but otherwise the whole campaign just seems a bit juvenile....
Bufton Tufton
analysis / back to drawing board
09.10.2010 22:02
1. UK becomes only place in the world to have "no borders"
2. Incentive. People from poorer countries seek a better life in the UK by the tens of millions.
3. They keep coming until life here is no better than life there (Ie. no more incentive).
Natural conclusion: the UK will become the lowest common denominator in world shitness. If there is any country worse than the UK, then the people will move here.
Additional:
1. There will be limitations on the number of jobs. With millions more people for employers to choose from, wages will drop to minimum wage. Only the most hard working / smart / able people will be the lucky ones, meaning that the average job-seeker will not find a job as they requirements will rise. Poorly educated people will suffer the hardest trying to compete against a dustman with a degree.
2. The millions of unemployed will need benefits. Who will pay for them? You?
Theres not enough money. And not very fair on the hard working taxpayers.
3. Unlikely to get a majority vote for "no borders". because of 2. Will have to enforce it via somekind of fascist dictatorship.
3. Unemployment leads to a rise in crime unless it is a very, very generous benefit level. FACT
4. These 3rd countries where people are raped in front of their families. The rapists will move here and so we will have the same problems.
5. Presumably, along with no-borders we will have a no extradition treaties. This will mean that every dodgy scoundrel from across the globe will come to the UK as a safe haven.
dumb and dumber
to the chauvinist dumbasses
10.10.2010 00:22
>1. UK becomes only place in the world to have "no borders"
----Er, what? Your first point is telling of your parochial mentality. At what point did No Borders ever say that we aim for the exclusive removal of British migration controls?
>2. Incentive. People from poorer countries seek a better life in the UK by the tens of millions.
-----And? So the fuck what. No Borders doesn't distingush between the various motives for migration.
>Natural conclusion: the UK will become the lowest common denominator in world shitness. If >there is any country worse than the UK, then the people will move here.
---- Yep, and maybe its time we levelled the playing field a little. Screwing over countries for centuries and continuing to do so to the present day doesn't come without any repurcussions. Get used to it. Our standard of living is the direct result of the theft of resources overseas. Do you think you have the right to fill your tank with Nigerian oil, whilst maintaining the 'right' to prevent Nigerians from coming here and enjoying the same standard of living? Try surviving in the UK without all the commodities we've expropriated from abroad - the natural materials to make and fuel transportation, our food, our clothes...
>1. There will be limitations on the number of jobs. With millions more people for employers to
>choose from, wages will drop to minimum wage. Only the most hard working / smart / able >people will be the lucky ones, meaning that the average job-seeker will not find a job as they >requirements will rise. Poorly educated people will suffer the hardest trying to compete against a >dustman with a degree.
>2. The millions of unemployed will need benefits. Who will pay for them? You?
>Theres not enough money. And not very fair on the hard working taxpayers.
---- Finally exposing the capitalist system for the unsustainable and irrational madness that it is...Its only a matter of time before it collapses once and for all
...Anyway, go back to your edl forums, we've heard it all before
No Borderer
OK
10.10.2010 16:34
So, the same points apply - where would the jobs come from? Housing? Do you just advocate a free-for-all, or would you try and protect weak from criminal, etc.? If so, which bit of the economy would still pay for the dole, welfare, etc.
I'm sure you have thought it all through!
Oh, and if you could explain your thoughts without calling me a neo-nazi, EDL, fascist, etc, etc., etc., I'd be awfully grateful....
BufTuf
foolish and naive
10.10.2010 20:12
Rather, answers in the same way a politician will answer: misdirecting, strawman and throws in personal insults to boot. Still doesn't answer the points.
>>>>>----Er, what? Your first point is telling of your parochial mentality. At what point did No Borders ever say that we aim for the exclusive removal of British migration controls?
With the slogan "No borders / no nations". And your minions bleating like the sheep in Animal Farm about no borders - get rid of all borders - let people go where they want. The people in calais trying to get everyone into the UK. Seems pretty obvious to me what you want even if you don't know it yourself.
>>>>Natural conclusion: the UK will become the lowest common denominator in world shitness. If >there is any country worse than the UK, then the people will move here.
---- Yep, and maybe its time we levelled the playing field a little.
So you admit the UK will become a 3rd world shit hole and you actually don't mind if it does. Brilliant - well you lost my vote then. And most of the people who are resident citizens here.
>>>>Screwing over countries for centuries and continuing to do so to the present day doesn't come without any repurcussions. Get used to it.
Why? Only if we are stupid enough to let it happen, which you seem to be intent on.
>>>> Our standard of living is the direct result of the theft of resources overseas. Do you think you have the right to fill your tank with Nigerian oil, whilst maintaining the 'right' to prevent Nigerians from coming here and enjoying the same standard of living?
Yes. Because they weren't doing anything with it in the first place anyway!!! The only reason the oil is out of the ground is because we had the ability to do so. If it wasnt for us, it would still be there so it isn't like we're deprived them of it.
---- Finally exposing the capitalist system for the unsustainable and irrational madness that it is...Its only a matter of time before it collapses once and for all
Answer the fucking point numbnuts. Who will pay all the benefits? You kind of people said the capitalist system was collapsing when there was the big correction. Smart people like myself ignored that scaremongering and bought into the markets. You said it would all crumble and it was a doomsday of capitalism. Meanwhile, I bought Apple at $116 and now its nearly $300 ! I think my ability to predict things about the capitalist system is has a much better track record than yours.
...Anyway, go back to your edl forums, we've heard it all before
No. You go to their forums.
dumb and dumber