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NATIONAL DEMO - London, Weds 21 Nov - #Demo2012

F**k the Trolls | 23.08.2012 00:01 | Education | Public sector cuts | Workers' Movements

National Union of Everyone, Solidarity Action
London, Weds 21 Nov 2012 - #Demo2012
 http://educationactivistnetwork.wordpress.com/
 educationactivist@gmail.com




The National Union of Students (NUS) has announced the date for its national demonstration against education cuts, tuition fee rises and student debt - 21st Nov 2012. EVERYONE has been and is being robbed by bank-bailouts, by austerity and privatisation, so EVERYONE should join this action. The NUS demo comes only four weeks after the massive 20 Oct TUC demonstration. We need to make sure the TUC demo is a launch pad for further action in the run-up to Nov 21. We need to learn from the protest movements in Quebec and Chile. We need to think positive, plan for the long-haul, and keep up the pressure for as long as it takes for the tax-criminals who planned austerity to starting losing their bottle.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euiwm8jxckQ

Student bloc at #oct20 -  http://www.facebook.com/events/386522028066490/

#Demo2012 National -  http://www.facebook.com/events/259158454193672/
#Demo2012 Bradford -  http://www.facebook.com/events/240514556067543/
#Demo2012 Sheffield -  http://www.facebook.com/events/257880867650831/
#Demo2012 March on Parliament -  http://www.facebook.com/events/391729244200710/

______________________________________________

SUGGESTIONS FOR NOV 21 - Have fun, but don't get kettled! Keep moving, stay alert, keep turning round, keep looking over your shoulders and over people's heads to see what the cops are up to nearby, in the distance and especially behind you. If you see the cops forming a line near or behind you move quickly to avoid being kettled, and don't be shy - shout LOUDLY to get people moving if you see a police line forming. Be constantly aware that some cops are very savvy and will sneak-up when crowds are distracted, so keep looking over your shoulders, especially when you see or hear something exciting that attracts your attention (on 24 Nov 2010 hundreds of kettled demonstrators missed an escape through street maintenance works, because they were distracted by the activity and noise around the police bait van and weren't searching-out weaknesses in police lines). If the cops try to usher you into a gap in their lines, it might be a kettle - don't go through unless you can definitely see a clear exit on the other side.

Take cameras and film the cops to discourage police violence and to record evidence of arrests and assaults. Point cameras at cops faces at every available opportunity (even when you're not actually filming). If you see someone arrested, constantly film the cops shoulder ID numbers and faces, shout out their ID numbers and don't stop hassling them - it doesn't always work but on many occasions this has led to protestors being released in-situ. If you post images or videos of arrests or of active disruption on-line, blur or edit-out any images or audio that could be used to identify and victimise protestors from their faces or voices. Brightly coloured home-made banners draw the attention of press photographers and TV, but what the media really love are images of violence, so beware of trolls and agent-provocateurs, online and on the streets. The State has been using agent-provocateurs to justify repression since Home Office plant George Edwards set-up the Cato Street Conspiracy in 1820, and they're definitely still doing it -

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_Street_Conspiracy

______________________________________________

 http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/essex-students-union-press-release.pdf

For an Autumn of Resistance

The National Union of Students (NUS) has announced the date for its national demonstration against education cuts, tuition fee rises and student debt as November, 21st 2012. The demonstration was called on the back of a substantial vote at April national conference that fed off the mood, both in the room and within the movement: students want to take on the government over its Further and Higher education policy and over austerity.

A lot has changed since the last national demonstration organised by the NUS back in November 2010. That ‘hot autumn’ gave the trade union movement the confidence to march half a million strong in March that subsequent year, and strike over 2 million strong in November of the same year. The reciprocal relationship that students and the trade unions have must be the thread that runs through our preparations for the upcoming term.

To merely approach this November as a ‘re-run’ would be a cruel parody of the rage and anger that was shown on that demonstration back in November 2010. The vital experiences of both Chile and Quebec have shown how far students can go. In Quebec, a proposed raise to tuition fees has led to an explosion of student militancy which has seen over 100 days of education strikes and campus shutdowns. For our student movement, the bar has been raised.

In 2010, the students alone brought the Government to within twenty-one votes of defeat and showed that only a few months into their term, there was a visible and angry section of the British youth that were totally opposed to the Coalition. But since 2010, the trade union movement has stepped onto the streets and onto picket lines to show that same opposition to the Coalition government. That is why students’ unions and the NUS should be a part of the TUC October 20th protest, ‘For a Future that Works’.

We cannot wait for the new term to begin before unions start the preparations for this autumn. The work must start now to book coaches and form organising committees for the autumn demonstrations on our on our campuses. Our Unions need to be central to cultivating a culture of resistance on our campuses.

We know that a one off protest will not be enough to win – to do that, we need to fuse our movement to the trade unions, building ever stronger links, as students did when they joined picket lines and rallies on November 30th, 2011. We will need to work with unofficial grassroots organisations to organise and reach those who traditionally are left behind by NUS. We will need days of action, in the lead up to November 21st, to cultivate that resistance and set in motion the process that can make sure that Education is not the defining debate in the 2015 election, but the defining grievance that leads to our movement bringing down the Government.

Quoted from Nathan Bolton (University of Essex Students Union)

F**k the Trolls

Comments

Hide the following 13 comments

Cuts have now gone through!

23.08.2012 09:51

The education cuts and fees have now gone through! This protest is therefore pointless!

End pointless protests.


I'm down for revolution

23.08.2012 10:21

but thousands of domesticated workers who are happy to carry their nice colourful signs and have the police lead and dictate where the fucking march goes will not do anything -. police say stop, majority of crowd says 'oh yes sir, sorry sir'.

People are too comfortable with their little engineered lives they've been allowed to have.

i hope you all prove me wrong


Responses to the above

23.08.2012 14:35


To commenter 1 -
I never understand the mentality (shared by many, inclusing activists) that once something has been passed into law, we have lost and should stop fighting - to me, that is the time to start fighting.
It is easy for a politician to pass a law, even in the face of mass opposition. What is much harder is implementing that decision in the face of mass opposition. We need to shift our focus away from attacking policy when it is an abstract notion and towards attacking it when it is a reality which depends on obedience to be implemented.

To commenter 2 -
I may sound scathing, but I would genuinley like your response to this.
I am an anarchist, an education worker and a union member. Due to large parts of my family choosing to attand the last TUC demo (not to mention the fact that me getting nicked would jepordise my job), I chose to march with my union, rather than any militant bloc. For many in my family, it was an empowering experience, and the first demo they had been on. When we arrived at Hyde park, we were greeted by a lone anarchist on a megaphone, loudly slagging off EVERYONE who was not smashing stuff, calling them 'sheep' and 'TUC puppets' etc. I had a quiet chat with him, but he wouldn't shut up, so I got pissed off and confronted him (for a hard-man revolutionary, he actually ran pretty fast!).
Anyway, my point is, what would you like those people to be doing? Many have really good reasons why they can't engage in property damage. I'm as bored of innefective A-B marches as you, but will slagging off the participants really encourage them to think outside of that box, or will it make them think 'wow, anarchists are wankers, i'm sticking to my lovely A-B march, where no-one has slagged me off or called me a sheep'?
Making more militant demos/workplaces/workers requires a dialogue, an understanding of peoples situations or limitations and a willingness to engage and discuss. It also requires anarchists not being seen as 'the other' (something we can be remarkably good at portraying ourselves as), and i'm also sure that slagging people off will not encourage them over to our cause.
So, my questions are, how would you like everyone on that demo to behave, and what are you going to do to help make the necassary ideological shif that you wish to see in the other marchers a reality?

Town End Boy


2.

23.08.2012 16:30

I never proclaimed myself to be of any ideology.

You can dress up appropriate re-actions to the actions taken by other beings as 'militancy' all you want. That shows domestication my friend. It does not escape the factual evidence of what has been done to all who believe in the organized gang, known as the government. You're family has been robbed by these people. Literally. These rich people and their even richer banker friends. Politicians and bankers are one in the same thing. - "Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who makes its laws"

The futures of all the generations of kids to come have been stolen and placed into an imaginary debt prison, as the debt is simply too big to EVER pay back. The orchestrators of this financial system know that. The average person does not. This is the problem, and perhaps the reason that an appropriate response has not yet been given by 'the people'.

I do not wish to encourage anyone to behave in any specific manner, I just feel anger at the fact that the television and all this fake reality and culture that's been sculpted for the exact purpose of domesticating people to the extent where they cannot formulate the correct reactions to the actions taken against them, is completely working. And they see it as relaxing.

I just hope people turn off their televisions.

i'll keep on dreamin


@Town End Boy

24.08.2012 06:07

why would one lone anarchist in the company of hundreds of thousands of trade unionists make your family members feel less "empowered" on their first march? Your repsonse to his actions says more about your anarchism, i think, than his.

did your trade unionist family members feel "empowered" when they listened to the labour party leader give a speech about the labour party - the party who did not repeal one anti-trade union legislation in its 15 years in office?

you don't remember the "militancy" (smashing stuff up) of the miners strike, the wapping dispute, the poll tax march do you? Working class people (not polite middle class trade unionists) are far more able and effective at being "militant" than any angry young revolutionary with a red and black flag.

"education worker" - smug arsed teacher. Get to fuck

bobby dazzler


response...

24.08.2012 11:11

I'll pick this crap response apart point by point -

"why would one lone anarchist in the company of hundreds of thousands of trade unionists make your family members feel less "empowered" on their first march? Your repsonse to his actions says more about your anarchism, i think, than his."

I think your response says more about you than me. My presence in the 'mainstream' march was because I enjoy spending time with my family, not because I thought i'm important enough to 'empower' them on my own

"did your trade unionist family members feel "empowered" when they listened to the labour party leader give a speech about the labour party - the party who did not repeal one anti-trade union legislation in its 15 years in office?"

No, my family, like most on the march, have no faith in the labour party, and infact, fucked off to the pub rather than listen to the boring speeches. On the way back, however, they did win over a large number of people on our coach by praising the ritz smashers etc. They supported it, just wern't in a position to do it themselves.

"you don't remember the "militancy" (smashing stuff up) of the miners strike, the wapping dispute, the poll tax march do you? Working class people (not polite middle class trade unionists) are far more able and effective at being "militant" than any angry young revolutionary with a red and black flag."

I agree, and if you read my first post, you'll notice that I ask the original poster how we can start a process of returning to this militancy - something I think we should be working hard towards. However, as I also said to the original poster, I don't think slagging off large swathes of the demo is the way to go. I think you've confused me with the poster who I responded to.

""education worker" - smug arsed teacher. Get to fuck"

Yes, I am a teacher. I use the term 'education worker' because I see my contribution to education as being as valid as all other education workers (excluding management), so don't like putting up unnecassary barriers between myself and other workers.

It is interesting though, that, I tried to start a serious discussion with the angry 'fuck the TUC sheep' element about practical ways to radicalise fellow workers rather than just insulting them, and instead of any practical suggestions, I've just recieved the same angry, incoherant, predjudiced response (based on a huge amount of assumption) that was levelled at the marchers.

I think i've seen this before, particularly in squatty, lifestyley anarchists. They actually don't want to radicalise anyone else, coz then who would they feel superior to? It seems more about showing off your own hardcore revolutionary credentials than actually starting a meaningful dialogue or action that could win widespread support.

Town End Boy


did you not read me?

24.08.2012 17:26

A practical way to mobilize the sheep would be getting them to turn off their propaganda drip-feed.

You show obvious disdaine towards these 'squatty' anarchist types. And I bet most likely see some value in tv and probably watch it?

This is the problem. People will NEVER become 'militant' or be able to decode, see and react apprpriately to the various assaults that is being launched against them.

People are destined to be catalouged, drugged up sheep, all carrying their iphones (tracking devices) round with them 24/7.

Turn off the fucking tv!

am i right?


As suspected

24.08.2012 22:04

So, as i suspected, there's no way to change the 'sheep', meaning that you will forever have someone to look down your nose at.

I've suspected for a while that some activists are more interested in being superior to the average person than in creating a large, combative movement

Town End Boy


well

25.08.2012 08:57

The fact that these 'sheep' you speak of couldn't give a shit about pretty much anything but their own little sad manafactured lives. The fact that the average sheep can't philosophically think and debate about relevant issues. They like things like big brother, eastenders, the olympics, the fucking jubilee, they feel safer when they're being watched by a million and one cameras, they willingly give their consent to an organized gang to have complete monopoly of force and violence. They pay taxes to fund illegal wars, which they themselves know fine fucking well are against humanity and morally wrong.

You can try and make it seem like we're being condescendant as much as you like, it still doesn't change a thing about these 'sheep' you speak of. They're still mind numb zombies who've had their brain functions changed via the thing they spend so much time with. I'm not joking.

A feeling of superiority doesn't come into it, but I can only speak for myself obviously. The fact that I and many, many others can decode and understand the goings on of society in a more down to earth manner does not make us superior. It might make you feel less?

shep r guna b shep


What a joke!

25.08.2012 10:44

The bile above shows me that the poster has nothing to do with working class people and only lives in his/her (I suspect his) activist ghetto.

Most of the people I know are not revolutionary anarchists, for sure. But, they are also highly critical of ALL government, disgusted by the cuts and in favour of most of building a society not too far off what we want.

However, after a long day at work (feel free to ask if you don't understand what 'work' is), being ground down by some shit boss (and often fighting back in small ways like stealing from work, pulling sickies, covering for mates while they do the same etc), a bit of telly helps - that doesn't make someone an idiot or sheep - I watch telly after work and i'm an active revolutionary.

The people that you have so much disdain for are not the idiots you assume them to be - they can 'decode' society as well as you (although i'm sure your private school education helps acgieve this quicker than the plebs), it's just many people are so ground down and hopeless, not to mention having direct concerns such as feeding kids/paying bills to worry about that the longer term aim of building a decent society is not often a priority.

Also, many people would leap at the chance to create a better world, but the movements that can help find these solutions are either too small, or activley hostile to working class people to be able to provide any ideas or examples of how a fairer society can be built.

Once again, it does come down to a superiority complex, because if it didn't, you would surely be attempting to engage with these people to try and pull them in a more anarchist/radical direction. Instead, you just like sitting down and slagging them off.

Town End Boy


private education? activist ghettos?!?

25.08.2012 11:16

Laughable.

"However, after a long day at work (feel free to ask if you don't understand what 'work' is), being ground down by some shit boss (and often fighting back in small ways like stealing from work, pulling sickies, covering for mates while they do the same etc), a bit of telly helps - that doesn't make someone an idiot or sheep - I watch telly after work and i'm an active revolutionary.

really?

Active revolutionary? you sound to be a slave.

I know what you mean about people being hopeless, but it is the very reality they create for themselves which enforces this mentality. They want things they don't need (talking about the 2.4, privately educating, tv slurping, government worshipping types) so they become tax cows and allow their children to be educated by someone else. The state spends more time with the average persons child now than the parent.

You obviously do not understand where television came from. Or what it's purpose is for that matter.

Find out who literally wrote the book 'Propaganda' and you'll be on better standing.

privately educated activist ghetto dwelling person


comments

25.08.2012 11:22

>> So, as i suspected, there's no way to change the 'sheep', meaning that you will forever have someone to look down your nose at.

The common theme, is that theses 'squatty anarchists' who are so much superior than everyone else, need someone else to blame for their lack of ability to look after themselves in society. They call for the state to be dismantled, yet they are the ones who seem to need it most.


>> The fact that these 'sheep' you speak of couldn't give a shit about pretty much anything but their own little sad manafactured lives.
As opposed to being interested in you sad life? Why!? Yes, i'm more interested in my life than yours. Sue me.

>> The fact that the average sheep can't philosophically think and debate about relevant issues.
Pfffff.. You are not more qualified or superior. You just THINK you are. Yet, it appears to all be bullshit because you fail to be able to look after yourself without help from the state.

>> They like things like big brother, eastenders, the olympics, the fucking jubilee, they feel safer when they're being watched by a million and one cameras, they willingly give their consent to an organized gang to have complete monopoly of force and violence. They pay taxes to fund illegal wars, which they themselves know fine fucking well are against humanity and morally wrong.

Yeah whatever. I can't even remember the last time I even saw a policeman so I have no idea what you are talking about. You probably spend all your time being radical and smashing stuff up then yeah you are going to rub shoulders with the police. Me - i got a life and don't even see them let alone have contact with them. So, you are full of shit. It has to be at least 10 years since a policeman spoke to me.


>> You can try and make it seem like we're being condescendant as much as you like, it still doesn't change a thing about these 'sheep' you speak of. They're still mind numb zombies who've had their brain functions changed via the thing they spend so much time with. I'm not joking.

You are speaking about yourself. You really think you are on the ball, yet you are a tiny minority who 'doesn't get it'. At some point you will get it when like every other young radical/student/anarchist before you. Thats why there all very few old ones, because they grow up and stop acting like children in mens bodies. I predict when you are 40, you will look back on your young days, and think "god, i was a knob"..... like everyone does.


>> A feeling of superiority doesn't come into it, but I can only speak for myself obviously. The fact that I and many, many others can decode and understand the goings on of society in a more down to earth manner does not make us superior. It might make you feel less?

In your opinion. Personally, i think you aint got a clue what is happening in society. As you will get older, your radical thoughts will start to look foolish to you. You are basically still a child growing up. Thats why there arn't many older people doing what you do, its because they've grown up. Young people are traditionally known for thinking they know everything. The proof that they don't is that they change their viewpoint and think back about how much of a dick they were.



>> The bile above shows me that the poster has nothing to do with working class people and only lives in his/her (I suspect his) activist ghetto.
Yep.


>> Most of the people I know are not revolutionary anarchists, for sure. But, they are also highly critical of ALL government, disgusted by the cuts and in favour of most of building a society not too far off what we want.
Normal people. People always want better and more. Thats human nature. Its doesn't matter how good society is, people will want more and more.

>> However, after a long day at work (feel free to ask if you don't understand what 'work' is), being ground down by some shit boss (and often fighting back in small ways like stealing from work, pulling sickies, covering for mates while they do the same etc), a bit of telly helps - that doesn't make someone an idiot or sheep - I watch telly after work and i'm an active revolutionary.

Depends what you watch ;)


>> The people that you have so much disdain for are not the idiots you assume them to be - they can 'decode' society as well as you (although i'm sure your private school education helps acgieve this quicker than the plebs),

You are failing to point out that the guy is an idealist. He aint happy with society, so has completely written it off as being all bad. He won't accept anything other than his own distorted ideal. Anything else, must be fought against. He is unable to integrate into a society made up of all flavours of people. He can only integrate with his own kind.


>> Once again, it does come down to a superiority complex, because if it didn't, you would surely be attempting to engage with these people to try and pull them in a more anarchist/radical direction. Instead, you just like sitting down and slagging them off.

Idealists think everyone is an idiot except people who think like themselves. They have no concept that all people are different and that we have to get along regardless. Hitler was a idealist..... only his way would can't. Nothing else was good enough

drowned little sheep


multiple groundless assertions

25.08.2012 11:52

implying that because someone sees society differently and is not happy with it means that that person must obviously just spend his/her days going round smashing things. you're ridiculous.

keep watching tv and paying you're £145 a year to do so.

And as this conversation has digressed, I bid you farewell my slave friend.

hd sky +


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