Time for action

Massive demonstrations against the war erupted around the world on February the 15th, not least in Britain and Ireland.
As well as large demonstrations in Dublin and Belfast there was the biggest demonstration in Scottish history in Glasgow (see inside reports) and the biggest demonstration in Shetland history, 600 people in Lerwick.
The demonstration in London smashed all records, pulling out over one and a half million people – many who had never attended a demonstration before. These protests proved that mass apathy is beginning to evaporate. Many demonstrators were clearly against the war full stop, however, the red herring of not waging war without a new UN resolution was touted throughout the demonstration by some.
The immense size of the demonstration made it difficult to coordinate, but many anarchists, including the Anarchist Federation, Walthamstow Anarchist Group and Class War formed a bloc. Thousands of anti-war resistance special editions were eagerly taken by demonstrators. The previous evening, the route of the march had been decorated with Anarchist Federation posters, stickers and graffiti against the war.
It was a cheering sight to see so many on the streets, but Blair and Bush seem determined to pursue the war despite world wide mass opposition. That is why it is vital to move the action against the war from mass parades to mass direct action. We should not be taken in either by the myth of non-violent direct action. Many of the actions may well involve no violence (at least on the part of those carrying them out!) but we should not impose restrictions on ourselves. On demonstrations in Greece and San Francisco large anarchist blocs broke off from the main protest, taking things a step further by attacking embassies and government buildings.
We must stop the war by as many means as necessary. This will involve actions at military bases (like at Shannon – see report in previous resistance and at Fairford – see inside), petrol stations and motorways. It will also involve strikes by workers and sabotage. It will involve an appeal to those actually fighting the war to mutiny and desert. It will involve transport workers refusing to move military supplies and forces. The capitalist class have got much to gain from this war. They won’t stop it without a fight.

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SCOTLAND AGAINST WAR

Around 70,000+ people took to the streets of Glasgow on the 15th, a turnout the biggest since the days of the anti-poll tax struggle. The climax of the march was at the SECC exhibition centre hosting the Scottish Labour party conference. Blair decided to leave early to miss meeting any of his critics.
Unfortunately no symbolic direct actions were attempted, although obviously there were many in the crowd who will be ready to take direct action against the war effort in future. Present were libertarian contingents from Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and elsewhere with many banners and flags. Tens of thousands of the resistance anti-war special and Scottish Anarchist leaflet brought the message “Fight the Rich not their wars” to a an enthusiastic audience.
Contact the Anarchist Federation – Alba (Scotland) by Email:
 af-alba@hushmail.com


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DEDICATION

We’re dedicating this issue of resistance to Michael McLaughlin, a member of the Anarchist Federation in Glasgow and a computer technician who has tragically died at the age of 34. His death is a blow to the AF in Scotland and Michael will be missed by comrades there and in other parts of Britain. Wreaths from AF-Alba and AF London were sent to his funeral on the 8th February in Donegal.

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ON THE FRONTLINE

Before we get to our usual roundup of workplace resistance, we’d just like to mention that in the week that Lord Denning received a £22,000 pay rise, a survey revealed that 63% of workers earn less than the average wage of £460 – and that these same workers (that’s me and you) also work in more dangerous and dirty conditions for longer hours. Never mind, at least “the class war’s over” isn’t it Tony?
A few new disputes apart from the usual rumblings on the trains/postal service sprung up this past month. As predicted, 3,500 workers at the Peugeot factory in Coventry walked out on Feb 13th and plan to do so again in early March. The stoppage which cost the company millions of pounds was in protest at a pay-offer below the industry recognized norm – despite the fact that Peugeot recently announced an increase in profits of 9%.
400 workers have also been out on strike at the Special Metals Wiggin plant in Hereford, again over a paltry pay offer( 1%!) – a seven day strike began on 19th February. Council workers in the same town are also involved in a long running dispute with the Council (five years of negotiations) that could lead to redundancies amongst the 3,500 strong workforce. Council workers have also voted for strike action in Southampton over similar budget proposals.
Yet another dispute on the trains – this time over train companies failure to restore guards’ safety duties to their rule books, putting the trains safety as risk – 5,000 workers are being balloted for strike action which would affect 18 companies and virtually shut the rail network.
In Europe, the EU is trying to bring back old-school casualisation on the docks - proposed legislation would force ports to open internal services to competition, including quayside loading and unloading operations, warehousing and rail services. Meaning all port workers being forced to work for new and separate companies for less pay, or more than 2,000 job losses with new companies bringing in their own workforces – and we’ve all seen the impressive results of this policy on the railways haven’t we? UK workers travelled to Brussels to take part in a massive international demonstration towards the end of February. This has the potential to be a massively important dispute over the coming months.
Also in Brussels, workers held the manager of the steel company Cockerill Sambre hostage for 24 hours after he refused to reconsider company plans to close the factory.

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CELEBRITY PRAT OF THE MONTH

“For stability in the region there needs to be a stable Iraq so, reluctantly, if the US go, we have to go with them 100 per cent.” Peter Stringfellow

Peter Stringfellow, ageing procurer of tender, nubile female flesh, epitome of everything crass, lewd, demeaning and licentious in this the 21st century of accumulated western cultural values; lapdancing club entrepreneur (a concept he imported from America) speaks out in favour of bombing into oblivion the blameless population of Iraq. All in the name of “stability for the region”.
We wonder has the mullet headed debauchee not heard of that other, far more destabilizing aggressor in the middle east, Ariel Sharon of Israel, fomenter-in-chief of the biggest threat to world peace through US backed military subjection of the Palestinian peoples? Probably not.
When the fossilised cavorting Casanova troubles to exercise that tiny part of his brain (we know he doesn’t have one we’re trying to be kind!) not intent on the ravaging of girls young enough to be his grand-daughters, this great illuminator of contemporary wisdom upon world affairs might reflect on how ironic it is that the cradle of civilisation as we know it is about to be wiped off the face of the earth by the most vulgar and tasteless society that has ever existed. Reluctantly, of course…

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AIRBASE STORMED

Sun 23 Feb a crowd of about 600 people march for an hour from the village of Fairford to the US Air Force base outside it.
Most of the crowd gathered outside the main gates and after a few minutes the gates were being shaken. More people rushed forward, ropes were attached to the gates and they were ripped open. The crowd surged through them into police lines. After about 40 minutes of scuffling the cops regained control of the gate but members of the roving crowd had gained access to the base at other points. Ten arrests were made for aggravated trespass, criminal damage and theft.
If we are serious about stopping the war we need more demonstrations like this, targeting armed forces bases with direct action, not by an elite few but on a large scale. If there had been a few thousand people at Fairford the police wouldn't have been able to keep the crowd out, which is why we need to make the next demonstration on March 22 even larger and more effective. For details visit: www.gwi.org.uk

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IRISH ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION

February 15th saw the largest demonstration in Dublin since the 1970’s. Approximately 150,000 people gathered at the Garden of Remembrance to demonstrate their outrage at the upcoming war with Iraq. The use of the Garden of Remembrance as a meeting point was not unusual, though the sheer mass of numbers gathered all around Parnell Square and spilling out onto O’Connell Street was evidence of the massive popular disapproval in Ireland at the incipient escalation of hostilities against Iraq and in particular, of the use of Shannon airport as a refuelling depot for the US military in transit.
At a meeting of the Grassroots Gathering hours beforehand, it was agreed that direct action at Shannon, which has proven so successful in isolation over recent months, must now mobilise vastly greater numbers if it is to have an real impact on stopping the military build up at the airport. Thousands of protesters, participating in a mass direct action at Shannon, and intent on breaching the wired perimeter at the airport, is the only way that we can achieve our ultimate goals. Unless the Gardai (Irish police) are prepared for a bloodbath of epic proportions, our collective strength should protect us from physical assault, and hopefully from mass arrest.
We need the growth of local anti-war groups engaging in direct action against companies like Top Oil who provide the aviation fuel at Shannon. Why? Because actions can be mounted for those unable to make Shannon for geographic reasons, and because the concept of direct action can be localised. A Top Oil boycott meanwhile would really help to forge the link between the militarisation of Shannon and one of the main reasons for this war in the first place: oil.
Most importantly, we must build on the tidal wave of protest that flowed through our towns and cities last weekend.
It is essential that a support network be created for those activists who will end up under lock and key.
Contact the Dublin based Anarchist Support c/o PO Box 3355, Dublin 7 Ireland.  anarsuppdublin@hotmail.com

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ANARCHIST ACTIVITIES

• Surrey Anarchist Group have been busy spreading anarchist ideas, putting up anti-war posters and stickers and doing lots of graffiti. Recently as well as going to anti-war demonstrations in London and Fairford they attended a local demonstration and handed out lots of anarchist publications.
They meet every other Tuesday in Guildford. Visit: ww.surreyanarchy.org.uk or write to: SAG, PO Box 375, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, GU21 2XL.

• Hereford Anarchists have changed their name to Herefordshire Anarchist Group. Issue 4 of ”Rebel Bull” is now out. Email:  info@herefordanarchists.cjb.net or write to: HAG, PO Box 7, Pontypool, Gwent, NP4 8YB.

• “Under the pavement” is a new
radio show broadcasting on Tuesdays from 10pm until midnight every four weeks on South Manchester’s ALL FM 96.9 community radio station. Tune in to what anarchist presenter David claims is: “A diverse programme of radical and progressive activity.”
Details: Under the pavement,
ALL FM 96.9, 6 Newton Ave, Longsight, Manchester, M12 4EW. Visit: www.underthepavement.org
• Manchester Anarchist Federation have produced a new range of stickers. Write to: AF, PO Box 127, Oldham, OL4 3FE or visit: www.af-north.org

• Recently 20 anti-war activists occupied the Labour Party national recruitment office in Tyneside. Two pretended to want to join the party and the rest covered the camera on the door and ran in.
A group went upstairs to try and get a banner out of the window and another group stayed on the ground floor. A third group stayed outside. The staff were a bit radgy at first, the receptionist trying to stop people from putting a banner out the window by saying the window had to be kept shut for the central heating! Downstairs managed it, upstairs failed to get through an internal door to the windows. The cops came but realised that they could do nothing to get people out, so the protesters hung about until the media turned up. The staff inside were pretty agro at first and many of them seemed to think that they were “non-political”, and that the target was not legitimate, though it was national Labour Party office and most of the workers there were Labour Party members. The occupation ended after about two hours, to a paparazzi-like reception from the media. More info at:  http://tyneside.sdf-eu.org/stopthewar/

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NO GODS, NO MASTERS!

The efforts of the Universal Church for the Kingdom of God (UCKG) to put down roots in the London Borough of Waltham Forest are being successfully hampered by local residents including members of the Walthamstow Anarchist Group (WAG). The church purchasing and closing down the borough’s last cinema in order to hold their showbiz style services there has infuriated the local community. The UCKG itself is really nothing more than a money making racket owned by a Brazilian multi-millionaire media mogul. Most of their money comes from Pastors conning worshippers to give substantial sums of money to the church in order to receive the blessing of the good Lord.
While some campaigners have concentrated their efforts on getting local politicians behind them WAG have provided a more street level opposition, in keeping with anarchist methods. One member of the group said “Basically, the UCKG is a business. If its bosses think they can’t make any money here in Walthamstow then they’ll naturally sell up and leave. We intend to deprive them of their source of income by depriving them of a congregation willing to part with their money.”
WAG have been counter-leafleting church recruitment drives as well as using their publication “The Underdog” to keep the local community informed of the churches real aims. Links have been made with existing groups that have been working to reopen the cinema such as Residents Associations and a local film society. A public meeting is being held on 5th March. WAG are interested in linking up with community groups elsewhere resisting the UCKG, who are currently attempting to expand in the UK. Contact WAG on 07810 288 889 or visit www.walthamstowanarchy.org.uk

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A RIGHT ROYAL VISIT

It’s not everyday you get a member of the Royal Family visiting your place of residence and it’s not usual for a council official accompanied by a police sergeant to call at your flat a few days before, asking whether you are planning to hold a demonstration.
“Actually I wasn’t going to – but I might just hang a ‘Stuff the Monarchy’ banner and a black flag outside the window!” After a brief dialogue that included the antics of the Duchess of Sutherland and selected quotes from Marx’s “Capital” (Bloody legislation against the expropriated from the end of the 15th century, etc.) they departed!
So why was Princess Anne visiting our sixties style tower block? Well, the local council were celebrating the fact that they have actually done some repairs to the property by revealing a plaque, laying on a buffet and by planting a tree! A publicity stunt to hide the fact that millions of pounds need to be spent on the housing stock within the borough to bring it up to standard, with many houses being boarded up due to lack of maintenance!
Obviously, as a rent and council tax payer I found it perverse that a member of a privileged elite whose leisured aristocratic lifestyle depends on the public purse was invited along to the “celebrations”! After all, the tenants provided the funds for the council to carry out repairs and for Princess Anne to live in luxury!
In the event the Royal Princess with her bodyguards and various sycophantic council “suits” visited and was directed to the “show flat” (kept empty) but did not visit any of the residents homes. I suppose she wasn’t interested to see how the other half live or what it’s like trying to live on poverty wages or the dole.
Some of the residents used her visit to highlight defects with their flats such as damp, and inadequate heaters. As the council had just announced that they were putting up the council tax by 19% some people went further. “Fuck Royalty” stickers were put up by a member of the Anarchist Federation and a press release was sent out. Requests for the press release to be put on the tenant’s notice board had been denied by the council!
The news came that the local health centre in Pont-y-pwl (a valuable community resource) was covered in paint by some vandals! Guess who got the blame? The local anarchist rightly denied any involvement but was charged with putting up “Fuck Royalty” stickers and is due in court in the near future: Messages of support and donations to help with legal costs to: Terry Banfield, c/o PO Box 7, Pont-y-pwl, Gwent, NP4 8YB, Cymru.

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INSIDE INFORMATION

Campaign against prison slavery
The launch meeting of the Campaign Against Prison Slavery was held in Leeds on 1st February.
Labour is compulsory for all prisoners in British jails. Those failing to work face punishment including a reduction in status (under the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme prisoners are divided into 3 status levels - Basic, Standard and Enhanced) Its nice to see they even have a class system inside!
Prisoners are paid a pittance for what they do - one example given at the meeting was of prisoners receiving 9 quid for a 30 hour week. As great restrictions are now placed on what can be sent in to prisoners, this money will be spent virtually entirely in the prison shop (run by Aramark) where prices do not exactly compare to your local Tesco.
With prisoners offering such cheap labour, more and more companies are looking to make profits at their expense. Whilst this in itself is immoral and exploitative, it ultimately effects all working class people - why should an employer pay you 300 quid a week, when he can a prisoner less than a tenth of that? Why should an employer have to tip-toe around your legal rights when he can get the prison service to force a prisoner to be obedient?
Direct action has already been successfully used in the UK against companies using prison labour – Hepworths Plumbers in Doncaster withdrew after their premises were occupied by demonstrators. Most companies are very shy about letting their staff and customers know of their involvement in these practices. These companies are in for a shock.
Sunday 5 April will see a national day of action against prison slavery. Get out and do something in your community. The main focus of demonstrations will be Wilkinson’s, just one of the many firms profiting from prison slavery.

To get involved with the campaign Email:  againstprisonslavery@mail.com Tel: 07944 522001, or write to:
Campaign Against Prison Slavery
Cardigan Centre, 145-149 Cardigan
Street, Leeds LS6 1LJ.

US anarchists need support
Rob Thaxton and Brian McCarvil are in the Disciplinary Segregation Unit of the US Oregon State Penitentiary. They are Anarchist prisoners being singled out for repression due to their beliefs.

Letters of support are needed to be written on their behalf. The timeline is now - until they are out of the hole. Letters should be sent to:
Rebecca Prinslow, Inspector General, ODOC Central Administration Office, 2575 Center Street, NE, Salem OR 97301-4667, USA or Email:  rebecca.prinslow@state.or.us

A sample letter is at: www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos11108.html
Send copies of all text messages and ODOC responses to APLAN for their records at:  weneversleep@ziplip.com or by post to: Anarchist Prisoners’ Legal Aid Network, 818 SW 3rd Ave PMB 354 Portland, OR 97204, USA.

More info is available at: www.defenestrator.org/roblosricos/index.html

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Subvert and resist

Take precautions when going on demonstrations and don’t take cameras, booze or drugs. If you’re nicked give your name and address then say ‘no comment’ to any other questions.


MARCH: 1 – Stop the war protest assemble at War Memorial, Brighton at 1pm for a Sussex Action for Peace. Tel: 07815 983 022/01273 706 820 Visit: www.safp.org.uk
8 – Manchester Demo Against the War. Meet at 1pm in Whitworth Park, and march to the city centre Tel: 0161 273 8283 Visit: www.gmdcnd.org.uk
8 – International Women’s day Anti-War March. Assemble 10.30 Parliament Square and March up Whitehall. Tel: 020 7482 2496 Visit:  http://womenstrike8m.server101.com
10 – Disrupt the “Transforming defence” conference. Meet 8am, 10 St James Street, London SW1. Bring banners, flags, whistles & drums. Visit: www.disobedience.org.uk
15 – Disgrace the base demo against war in Iraq. Organised by Portsmouth Resistance march to the dockyard meet at 2.00pm at St Marys Church, Fratton
22 – National demonstration outside Fairford USAF base. Fairford is where B-2 bombers will be flying out from to bomb Iraq. Email:  james@venables.plus.com
22 – Foil the Base - national action at Menwith Hill Spy Base. Tel: 07905 913 139 or Visit: www.now-peace.org.uk
APRIL: 5-6 – Reclaim the Bases A weekend of protest and direct action at military bases across the UK. Visit: www.reclaimthebases.org.uk
22 – Really Big Blockade, Faslane naval base, Scotland. Help close down Britain’s Trident base. Tel: 0141 423 1222 Visit: www.banthebomb.org


MAY

Mark Barnsley Speaking Tour - prisoners survival and prison support - contact the campaign to help and organise an event in your town/city. Mark Barnsley c/o JfMB, PO Box 381, Huddersfield, HD1 3XX, England.  markbarnsley@mail.com Tel. 07944 522001


Join the resistance

The Anarchist Federation is an organisation of class struggle anarchists aiming to
abolish capitalism and all oppression to
create a free and equal society. This is
Anarchist Communism.
We see today’s society as being divided into two main opposing classes: the ruling class which controls all the power and wealth, and the working class which the rulers exploit to maintain this. By racism, sexism and other forms of oppression, as well as war and environmental destruction the rulers weaken and divide us. Only the direct action of working class people can defeat these attacks and ultimately overthrow capitalism.
As the capitalist system rules the whole world, its destruction must be complete and world wide. We reject attempts to reform it, such as working through parliament and
national liberation movements, as they fail to challenge capitalism itself. Unions also work as a part of the capitalist system, so although workers struggle within them they will be unable to bring about capitalism’s destruction unless they go beyond these limits.
Organisation is vital if we’re to beat
the bosses, so we work for a united
anarchist movement and are affiliated to the International of Anarchist Federations.
The Anarchist Federation has members across Britain and Ireland fighting for the kind of world outlined above. Contact us at:

Anarchist Federation,
84B, Whitechapel High Street,
London, E1 7QX. Tel: 07946 214 590
Visit: www.afed.org.uk
Email:  anarchistfederation@bigfoot.com