Your Diary Dates.

      As usual, our friends at ACE in Edinburgh have come up with another very interesting array of events. So mark your diary and if you are in or around Edinburgh on these dates do drop in.

From ACE:

WOMENS HEALTH PROJECTS AND AUTONOMOUS HEALTH CARE IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO

6pm Monday 12th December

At Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh

     Join us for a talk and discussion on Womens Health Projects and Zapatista autonomous health care in Chiapas, Mexico. Lisa Sanderson-Fox, who worked in the Zapatista Autonomous Zones of Chiapas from 2000-2004 and has made numerous trips since, will be speaking about community health worker projects with an emphasis on Women's health. Community Health Workers are an essential part of insuring dignified health care in remote indigenous communities. Come hear stories and participate in a discussion about the role of international solidarity in developing sustainable health care access in revolutionary Mayan commmunities of Chiapas.Lisa has worked with Community Health Workers in Chiapas since 2000, providing trainings for hundreds of people and accompanying multiple clinics in the process of developing autonomous health services appropriate for their communities and culture.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1866286753657961/

Organised, in conjunction with ACE, by Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity

Group

- edinchiapas@yahoo.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/Edinchiapas/

Followed by talk and discussion on Detroit:

DETROIT: FUTURE CITY?

8pm Monday 12th December

At Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh.

Join us for a talk and discussion on Detroit: Future City?

       The US city of Detroit had a population in the region of 1.8 million in the 1950s but automation and the flight of big business, particularly in the automotive industry, led to massive redundancies, foreclosures and the displacement of millions. The population now stands at less than 700,000, the lowest it has been for a century. In the midst of this neo-liberal catastrophe and the associated withdrawal of public services, residents have banded together to create their own solutions including food networks, community safety patrols, free schools and neighbourhood housing projects. However, these pioneering Detroiters are faced with an onslaught of further privatisation, dissolution of democratic control of local government, the removal collective bargaining and raids on pension funds. These competing models of the 'future city' will have ramifications not just in the US but worldwide. Sarah Coffey, a longtime Detroit resident, community organiser and a co-founder of the Midnight Special Law Collective has been closely involved with autonomous communities in the city.

Event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1384551531585461/

Organised by ACE

ACE MONTHLY MEETING

Tuesday 13 December 6pm

All welcome

     We hope all groups involved with ACE will send at least one delegate The monthly meetings are now the second Tuesday each month at 6pm

EDINBURGH COALITION AGAINST POVERTY WORKING SESSION

Thursday 15 December 6pm - 8pm

Updating our website, writing new articles, leaflets etc

All interested very welcome

ECAP www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk

EDINBURGH COALITION AGAINST POVERTY TRAINING

Friday 16 December 11am - 1pm/1.30pm

Informal training for supporting people over benefits problems

At ACE No experience necessary - all interested very welcome

THE BLACK PANTHERS IN LONDON

Talk and discussion at ACE with Carlus Hudson

Saturday 17 December 7pm

        The Black Panthers are one of the most pivotal organisations in the histories of radicalism and anti-racism in the United States, and their ideas have had an enormous impact on activists who have come after them. Far less famous, but by no means less significant, was the Black Panther Movement in Britain. Active in the late 60s and early 70s, its history touches on the fight within the anti-racist movement in Britain between its liberal and radical wings, and the internationalisation of struggles against colonialism, neo-colonialism and the Vietnam War. Focusing on the Black Panthers based in London, this talk will tell their story before delving deeper into the development of the movement’s culture and organisational models. The talk will examine the Black Panthers from the perspective of intersectional anarchism, and show its shortcomings in terms of gender, class, and political hierarchy. Carlus Hudson is a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth researching student anti-racism in the UK in the 1970s'

Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place EH7 5HA

ACE is open Sats 12-4pm, Tues 12-3pm, Thursday 6 - 8pm

     Advice and solidarity on benefits, debt, housing etc on Tuesdays. The Info Shop, Scottish Radical Library and free broadband available all 3 days. Open monthly meetings second Tuesday of the month, 6pm at ACE 0131 557 6242 ace@autonomous.org.uk

www.autonomous.org.uk On Facebook To receive more frequent notifications of ACE events and other news of interest email mike92@riseup.net with header SUBSCRIBE ACE TALK LIST

Ace mailing list

ace@lists.noflag.org.uk

http://lists.noflag.org.uk/listinfo/ace

http://www.autonomous.org.uk

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The State Always Tries To Crush Resistance.

Solidarity doesn't recognise borders, resistance knows no frontiers.

An Appeal from US Palestinian Community Network:

ALL OUT FOR DETROIT
To Defend Rasmea Odeh

         Rasmea Odeh, Palestinian community leader and icon, begins her trial on June 10th. Despite months of Rasmea Defense Committee organizing in Chicago and across the nation, the U.S. government refuses to drop its case against Rasmea, who they are alleging lied on an immigration application she filled out 20 years ago.

       If found guilty, she could face up to ten years in federal prison, an immediate revocation of her citizenship, and then deportation from the United States.

NOT UNDER OUR WATCH!

        The charge against Rasmea is nothing but another political attack by the U.S. government, meant to defame and criminalize another Palestinian, Arab and Muslim leader who has dedicated her life to the empowerment of her people, as well as to intimidate and repress entire communities that are organizing for justice and liberation.

         We know Rasmea never lied about any part of her life. She was brutally tortured into a confession by the Israelis 45 years ago, and now the U.S. is trying to brutalize her once again. After giving so much of her life to others, Rasmea now needs our support. We have already received statements of support from over 100 organizations and more than 3,000 people have signed the online petition for Rasmea. Now, we have to show our presence in the court rom.

That is why we are putting out the call: All Out for Detroit!

        Join us on June 10th in Detroit, Michigan, for the beginning of Rasmea's trial. We will pack the courtroom and rally outside every day of the trial to show the broad support Rasmea has across all communities.

Locations and times are still to be announced, but regularly updated information will be found at:

www.stopfbi.net
www.uspcn.org

You can also reach the Rasmea Defense Committee directly at cppr@aaan.org.

I SUPPORT RASMEA ACTION PLAN:

1) Sign the petition to drop the charges:
http://www.iacenter.org/rasmeaodehpetition/

2) Send statements of support and solidarity to cppr@aaan.org

3) Like Drop the Charges Against Rasmea on Facebook and Tweet using #justice4rasmea.

4) Send us your pictures holding up the following message: "I am _____ and I SUPPORT RASMEA." (Fill in the blank with a self-identifier - your name, occupation , or any other description. Examples: "I am a youth organizer and I support Rasmea!" or "I am a supporter of Palestinian Human Rights and I support Rasmea!" Hold the sign up, snap a selfie, and send it to cppr@aaan.org. Then make it your Facebook/Twitter/Google profile picture! Remember, we may use your image in publications or informational pamphlets either online or in distributed hard copies.)

DONATE: To help support Rasmea's defense fund, go to http://stopfbi.net/donate. You must also send an email to cppr@aaan.org, noting the amount and its designation to Rasmea in order for the funds to be allocated correctly.

If you want your donation to be tax deductible, the donation must be in the amount of $100 or more and you must pay by check to "NLG Foundation" with "Rasmea defense fund" on the memo line.

Please mail these checks to:
Arab American Action Network
ATTN: Rasmea Defense Fund
3148 W. 63rd Street, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60629

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

We Should All Be Practicing Anarchism.

        America as a nation is in a state of terminal decline, it's infrastructure is rotting on a daily basis, and there is no money in the kitty to sort it out. Cities and towns are struggling just to stay out of bankruptcy, Detroit didn't manage, and other cities are facing the same fate. Shops and supermarkets close, teachers and other professionals, leave for greener pastures, you have to leave town to find a dentist, and unemployment climbs. Though from our babbling brook of bullshit, the mainstream media, you never get a hint of the collapse, it is all about growth and corporate dividends. An article in The Economic Collapse, highlights some of the problems 

Detroit

     Unfortunately, it is probably appropriate that our infrastructure is decaying because we are decaying in just about every other way that it is possible for a society to decay. We are decaying economically, politically, mentally, emotionally, physically, morally and spiritually. We are a complete and total mess. So why shouldn't what is happening to our infrastructure on the outside match what is happening to us as a nation on the inside?
      And sadly, we simply do not have the money that we need for infrastructure because of all the debt that we have piled up. The federal government, our state governments and our local governments are all struggling to stay afloat in an ocean of red ink, and unfortunately that means that spending on infrastructure is likely to be cut even more in the years ahead.
       So get used to rotting, crumbling, decaying infrastructure. What you see out there right now is only just the beginning.

Read the full article HERE:

        Of course I believe that we here in the UK are in the same mess, our roads are rated close to Third World standard, our education system just about matches that. So what should we be doing? Well according to John Zerzan, we should be practicing anarchism while we still have some leeway to try and get it right, make adjustments, and work things out, rather than wait for the inevitable collapse and be forced to get on with it, without any margin for error. Sounds like good common sense to me.

This from Anarchist News:

Camden

     Governor Chris Christie has essentially forced Camden, an unprepared community, to experiment with anarchism. Which is awfully irresponsible.  When I interviewed political theorist John Zerzan for this article about anarchism—written in response to the shrill and ridiculous things people were saying about anarchists and anarchism after the May Day 2012 protests—he argued that we should all be thinking about and practicing modes of anarchism right now so we'll have, in his words, "a soft landing" when the shit hits the fan.

     The slow-motion catastrophes of late capitalism and climate change, he and others argue, guarantee that Americans will be living in anarchic circumstances sooner or later, and we have a choice—we can practice and experiment with anarchism now (despite the risks) while we're still bad at it but have some wiggle room for failure.

     Or we can wait until it's too late and we're forced, en masse and with no practice, to live beyond the state. Once things have gotten that bad, it might look like Camden—on Christmas.

Read the full article HERE:

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Electron Club Open Day, Glasgow.

Open day as in open

December 1st., 12 noon to 4pm.

CCA is at 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

     The Electron club is a space at the CCA that is home to a whole variety of people and ideas. Started as a computer/electronics/artist Open Source software lab it soon expanded into many areas of cultural diversity and many have little to do with computers. You are just as likely to bump into a Wobblie as you are a computer hacker. If you are an artist, techie, nerd, or your bag is community activism or you are just interested in life, come and take a look. We are open to the public. Anyone can join. Its free.

Who will be there:

OPEN STREET MAP DEMO
     There numerous mappers in and around Glasgow with a wealth of knowledge and from a variety backgrounds and ages. Come and ind out what mapping is about and start mapping the world.

GLASGOW SCIENCE FAIR
      Is about getting folk young and old interested in science. Come and play with their robot, Knex, Arduino and other science tech stuff. "Lego Mindstorms Challenge - Help explore how to programme Mindstorms robots to follow commands and navigate its way around our obstacle course. Bring Lego to life in this fun introduction to programming and robotics."

SPIRIT OF REVOLT
     The Spirit of Revolt is a group based in Glasgow who are attempting to collect as much material as possible from grass-roots campaigns in working class struggle, in and around the Glasgow/Clydeside area. An archival collection of working class history. Find out about this very important project for the city. We will be screening a film made at the SOR exhibition at the Mitchell library

COMMON GOOD AWARENESS PROJECT
      CGAP was set up to create awareness of Scotland's Common Good Fund, a whole bunch of assets, art galleries, schools, town halls, parks, that are publicly owned. Many of these assets have disappeared, have been lost or stolen over the years due to a lack of awareness that they even exist and maladministration by those whose duty is to protect the fund for the benefit of the public. Find out more and about the common good and the Farmhouse Trust, a Common Good project in Govan to create a independent resource centre whilst experiment with off grid technology eco building and gardening along the way.

GLASGOW TO DETROIT
     A second chance to see a shorter version of Glasgow to Detroit if you missed the Kinningpark screening. Here we will be discussing specific ideas from Detroit activists mentioned in the film to examine the situation in Glasgow/Scotland around growing.

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD
      Founded in 1905, the IWW is open to all workers. Don’t let the “industrial” part fool you. Our members include teachers, cleaners, social workers, retail workers, construction workers, bartenders, and computer programmers. Only bosses are not allowed to join.


SPIRIT OF REVOLT film shot at exhibition Q&A after 2:00
GLASGOW TO DETROIT Screening and discussion on organising around growing 3:00

More info from:   bob@citystrolls.com

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Do It Ourselves.

       Detroit is bankrupt, so that opens the doors for the leeches and parasites to jump in and grab all public assets at bargain basement prices. The collapse of the city authorities ability to function because of massive debt, run up by spivs/conmen and corruption, is also an opportunity for the people of Detroit. As the city authorities step back from supplying services, the people, with their usual resilience and ingenuity, can step forward and organise those services themselves. That is happening on various levels in the city.

This from TSW:

 

      “I have connected with a few other individuals who are interested in founding a free school in alignment with meeting the unique needs of each individual child involved while honoring their autonomy and curiosity,” bringing up the idea of “unschooling” in a group setting. In addition, Testa told TSW that a dispute resolution and mediation service would inspire her as well, looking towards solving community problems through a win/win situation and not a punishment/reward model – calling that the status quo.

Read the full article HERE:

          Also across the city people are organising in different ways for example starting "city farms" and growing their own food and distribution system see annarky's Glasgow2Detroit "away-ye-grow"

Visit ann arky's home.

GLASGOW2DETROIT TRAILER.

        Some time back I posted the film, “away ye grow,” made by a bunch of Glasgow people who went to Detroit to see how that city was responding to the usual capitalist crisis of devastatingly high unemployment. Both cities had similarities, both had been industrial giants and in both cases the industry just got up and left, leaving the customary capitalist aftermath of poverty and deprivation. Some of you may have been put off by the fact that it was an hour long movie, though worth every minute of time spent viewing, so here is a wee trailer to whet your appetite.

 

Glasgow2Detroit Trailer from Away Ye Grow on Vimeo.

ann arky's home.

GLASGOW2DETROIT -AWAY YE GROW.

        Glasgow and Detroit are cities with similar backgrounds. Both were large industrial cities, Glasgow known for its shipbuilding and steam locomotive manufacturing, Detroit for its cars and steel works. Both saw their industries collapse and move elsewhere, in both cases the citizens had to adapt and dramatically change their way of life. With the collapse came poverty and high unemployment. However, in both cities the citizens are resilient and creative and have gone about surviving with imagination. Recently a group of Glasgow's urban gardeners went to Detroit to see how their counterparts had survived and developed their city farms.

        Those interviewed were, Paul Weertz, Malik Yakini, Gloria Lowe, Grace Lee Boggs, Ian Sharp, Gordon Barnes, Moira McCaig.

ann arky's home.

TOMORROW'S WORLD???

     

     Trying to come to understand the full effects of the public school millionaires' slash and burn tactics is difficult, as we have never before seen such vicious cuts to the welfare of the people of this country. We can turn to those outside the government who have the time and the finances to study these things and see what they have to say. One such group is the Institute of Fiscal Studies, and they have just recently release one of their reports on this matter.

       A recent Institute of Fiscal Studies report, commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Trust, throws up a very alarming picture of the damage likely to be done by the “austerity cuts” being inflicted on the people of this country by the public school millionaire cabal. According to the report, the slash and burn policies of this bunch of public school thugs, will see the first increase in absolute child poverty for some 15 years. The report states that due to the tax changes alone, introduced by this government there will be a further 200,000 children dropped into penury, plus a further 200,000 working age adults by 2012/13. The governments cuts to housing benefit alone will push a further 100,000 children into poverty.

       According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies report, over the next three years incomes are set to stagnate, this allied to deep welfare cuts, will see an increase in relative poverty of 800,000 children and working age adults plus a rise of 900,000 in absolute poverty for the same group.

      Chris Goulden, poverty policy manager at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, stated, “It is a reversal of fortune for the poor. The coalition have said that the increases in child tax credits will help but that's sticking plaster,"

        When it comes to cuts to council budgets, we can expect a further set of circumstances that will impact on our lives. We can look across the Atlantic to see how that might affect our way of life. In Detroit, the city is having to make cuts and has planned to cut off city services, including road repairs, police patrols, street lighting and garbage collection in 20% of the city. I wonder how they decide which 20% gets hit.
         In Philadelphia, if you call out the police to the scene of an accident you can be hit with a bill, in some cases $300.

        These are just a few of the little surprises that are waiting for us down the road a bit. Unless we can take control of our own lives and control the society we live, in rather than leave it all to a bunch of public school millionaire thugs. It is your life, why let them control and destroy it, so that their friends in the banking casinos can continue to live the life of unearned luxury.

 

 
ann arky's home.