Glasgow??

So you know Glasgow? Well, do you!!

Glasgow, the name.

        Glasgow can trace it history back to at least the 4th century, it was at that time a certain St. Ninian stopped by the Molendinar Burn, where the Cathedral is today, and consecrated a piece of land there as a Christian burial ground. Some hundred years or so later a St. Kentigern brought the body of a holy man Fergus to be buried at the St Ninian spot. St Kentigern stayed and set up a Christian community in the area. He later became known as St Mungo patron saint of Glasgow.

        The name 'Glasgow' has gone through considerable changes over the centuries. The earliest Charters refer to the city as 'Glaschu', while the earliest seals give several different spellings. In the seal of 1180 the spelling is 'Glesgu', and the seal of 1325 it is 'Glagu'. In 1297 the Earl of Warrenne and Surry to the English King refers to 'Glasgeu' in another letter from the same Earl it becomes 'Glascu'. In a letter from Hugh de Cressingham in 1297 to the King of England it has the spelling 'Glasgu'. In the Charter of 1324 by Robert the 3rd it is written as 'Glasgw'. Another Charter of 1419 by John Stewart, Lord Darnley has it as 'Glaschow'. Yet again the spelling changes in the will of Archbishop Betoun where he refers to himself as Archeuesque de Glasco.
 

Origins of the name

           It is generally accepted the name is not from Gaelic, as at the time of its formation this area was a Welsh settlement. It is probably from the Welsh 'Glas', and 'cu' or 'gu'; translates as 'Beloved Green Place' and is referring to the spot where Kentigern met Columba thus Kentigern becoming the Patron Saint of Glasgow. 

Radical Glasgow.

Mention Glasgow and various stereotypes jump to mind, dreadful slums, hard drinking, random violence, razor gangs, shipbuilding, locomotive makers and other heavy industries. What else is written about the city usually refers to captains of industry, architects, inventors, and medical men of note. Scratch the surface however, and you find another Glasgow with a long tradition, the real Glasgow, 'Radical Glasgow'.

          Glasgow can boast of a long tradition of radical movements growing from the ranks of ordinary people. People struggling not only to improve their own conditions but that of all working class people.

          Glasgow can lay claim to a series of firsts. Besides being the birthplace of the 'European Temperance Movement', the following are just some other firsts that can be added to its roll of honour: Birth of the Scottish Labour Movement.
First effective trade unions formed.
First trade union papers printed.
Scottish Co-op movement first established.
Scottish Labour Party founded.
First Trades Council in Scotland.
History of Glasgow Green

         The Glasgow Green has always been a focal point for the people of Glasgow and a cradle of social movements throughout its history. The following list is but a hint at the history of the Green: Through the 1700 and 1800s, the various reform movements.
Pre-1914, the woman’s suffrage movements.
1916, rent strikes.
1938 anti-fascist movements.
1971 U.C.S. crisis.
1984 miner’s strike.
 

Conclusion

        Both the above lists could be expanded depending where you place your focus, and no doubt will continue to expand as the people of Glasgow go on to face new challenges.
        I hope the following articles give at least some insight into that other Glasgow, the Glasgow that does not always find its story in the mainstream literature about the city, but is the true heart of the City of Glasgow, the city of compassion and vision. 

This article was lifted from Strugglepedia at https://spiritofrevolt.info 

 

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Free Events.

 

          If you are in and around Glasgow on the dates on the poster below, it would be well worth paying a visit to the Electron Club CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow. There will be a very interesting series of events, See the poster below. talks/discussion/information/ and all the events are free. Glasgow's Spirit of Revolt will be there, Hope to see you there.

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Revolting Art.

 

             I posted this piece back on the 7th July, but thought it worth while to remind people of this exhibition by Eaun Sutherland, a long time active comrade.

          We live in a world of chaos, pillage and plunder, all managed and manipulated by powerful and rich individuals and corporations, aided and abetted by the various states. All to their advantage at the expense of the lives of ordinary people, the ones who actually produce all that wealth. Wars, ecological disasters, mass poverty, gross injustice and inequality is the norm produced by this economic system of insanity and greed.
          However, below the surface there is always a rumbling of anger and an army of people working hard at trying to change this mayhem to a fairer and sustainable system, a system freed from the profit motive, that sees to the needs of all our people built on mutual aid and co-operation.
          That underground army must use every means at its disposal from literature on the streets, autonomous spaces, community based mutual aid groups, workplace organisations that build solidarity, mass protests, direct action, strikes and reminding everybody of the history of this economic system of greed and exploitation.
         We also should never forget the part art and poetry can make to this struggle for justice. Both these mediums can inspire, point a direction, awaken those feelings of desire for freedom and explain the basic injustices of the present economic system. 

          So, not to be missed is an exhibition of art works by Euan Sutherland, Portraits of Power. This will run from Tuesday 1st to Saturday 12th. August and will be held in The Deep End 21 Nithsdale Street G41 2PZ This exhibition will be part of the Govanhill International Festival here is a copy of the festival program

 

 

Between Dignity and Poverty

In this metropolis of wealth with its fountains of opulence
We are the excluded army that walks that tightrope
Between dignity and poverty.
The excluded, the marginalised, the forgotten,
Regulated by mercenaries, some with guns, others with pens.
They know not, we are their brothers and sisters.
Nor do they know,
Our strength is forged in the humiliation of the bread line
Our daily question, will there be food,
Or will the pangs of hunger stay.
We exist in a system of numbers and balance sheets,
Our lives, dehumanised statistics,
Catalogued and filed by a blind accountant.
When asked to count our dead, do we count the living dead?
Will this tightrope be the inheritance to our children
Or shall our tortured journey lead us from anxiety to revolt
Will the anguish of our children feed our righteous anger
Causing us to tear asunder this fabricated web of injustice 

 

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Anti-War.

Image courtesy of Nation Library of Scotland

         Monday May 15th. is International Conscientious Objectors Day, a day when we rightly mark in honour of all those who had the courage to refuse to be drafted into the state's military killing machine. Two world wars have seen thousands of individuals take a stand against the state process of murdering citizens who happen to live on another patch of this planet, and all the blood and misery shed is for power and wealth to the few. We owe a debt to these courageous individuals for their courageous stand in the face of brutal and savage state reprisals.
        Glasgow like most cities, towns and villages across the country has a proud band of conscientious objectors. To them we raise a clenched fist and say thank you.  

      The two short pieces from our Spirit of Revolt Archive T SOR 1-1-2 refer to Allan Burnett one of Glasgow's young courageous conscientious objectors who eventually ended living in New Zealand.

 

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Poetry.

 

             A reminder that the next event by Red and Black Clydeside to mark May Week, will be the Poetry and Music Night at Red Rosa's, 195 London Road, Calton, Glasgow, May 3rd. A night to come and chat then settle down for some poetry and music, a pleasant night guaranteed.  

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

May Week.

 

      Continuing with their May Week celebrations, Red and Black Clydeside's bring you a great poetry and music night at Red Rosa's 195 London Road Calton Glasgow. Some well known Glasgow poets and some from further afield, with some music thrown in for good measure. A night not to be missed, so mark your diary.

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info 

Kropotkin.

 

           Last wee reminder, tonight, Red Rosa's 195 London Road, Calton, Glasgow. Start of Red and Black Clydesides's May Week Celebrations, Kropotkin Night. Learn more about the man and his ideas, a must for those looking to create that better world for all.

 

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Liberty.

 

          For March “Read of the Month” we at Spirit of Revolt offer you a magazine from March, 1977, Soil of Liberty, Volume 3, No2. It is from our Bratach Dubh Collection T SOR 5-1-4. It is an excellent read like the thousands of other documents letters, booklets, pamphlets, and lots more, held in the Spirit of Revolt Archive. Delve in and learn about our history, the people’s history, history from below.

READ ON LINE.

           Spirit of Revolt is probably the largest anarchist/libertarian Socialist archive in Scotland, and it is free to use. It is run by a small team of unpaid dedicated volunteers, but it does require money to function in this capitalist system. Wifi, website maintenance costs, annual fees for domain, name paper and ink cartridges and other ancillary costs etc. We receive no grants and rely on the generosity of our friends, comrades and supporters. So if you think we are doing a worth while job and would like to see it grow, why not donate the price of a couple of cups of coffee a month, so that we can continue to gather and catalogue and make easy accessible more of the struggle and history of the ordinary people.

                       DONATE.

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Barrett.

 

    
             How have anarchists fared in Glasgow since 1910? Have we grown, shrunk or remained that same little band of dedicated individuals. The reason I ask is after reading a George Barrett essay written while he was in Glasgow in 1910. In the essay he posts the question, "What is the matter with Glasgow anarchists?"
           The following is an extract from that essay, taken from the book published by Freedom Press, The essays of George Barrett, "Our Masters are Helpless." Though written in the early 1900's, George Barrett's words are always worth a read.

      "What is the matter with Glasgow anarchists?
Since May Day a little band, a very little band of us have been holding meetings with more or less regularity, averaging at least more than one a week. We have occasionally received words of encouragement from some local comrades; nay, more, we have even received promises to fix up meetings in outlying districts; but herein ends the "assistance" offered us. The regular sales of Freedom in Glasgow indicates that there are many sympathisers here. But to live a life of sympathy is not to live, it is only to wistfully watch other people live. The meaning of life is in the anarchist movement. Let us live. - - - -"

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No Poverty.

 

         Get behind this mass protest, if you can't get to London, then try to organise one in your own locality. We have to get the message across, we will no longer be poor to pay for the gambling machinations of the financial mafia. Glasgow will be holding one in Buchanan Street at the Donald Dewar statue. Saturday 1pm give these all the support you can muster, it's your standard of living.

          Another new Prime Minister, same old war policy. Rishi Sunak's selection to No. 10 is unlikely to see any trimming of the magic money tree for war.
        The re-appointment of Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, means that huge proposed increases in military spending are set to be maintained. We're told that all departmental budgets are could face cuts but the 'defence' budget is going to be doubled to £100 billion by 2030.
        Cuts for the NHS, our schools and possibly pensions but mammoth increases for weapons and war. It's a disgrace. We have to get rid of this government before these ludicrous hikes in military spending become reality.
       That’s why Stop the War and CND are throwing our weight behind The People’s Assembly’s ‘Tories Out’ demonstration this Saturday (5 Nov). Join us on the 'Welfare Not Warfare' bloc which is assembling at midday at Embankment Bistro Cafe.

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Rebellion.

 

            Saturday October 1st.  saw the people of Britain take to the streets in their thousands, About 50 cities saw mass protest demonstrations take place in the city centres. Enough is Enough was the rallying call, the anger is growing at this latest cull on the poor, anger at this blatant handout to the rich at our expense. However it can't end there, these protests must grow and tell the powerful, privileged wealthy who shape society in their favour, we will no longer accept poverty as our way of life in the midst of wealth and opulence. We have to take control of our lives and shape society to see to the needs of all our people. Bring an end to a society based on pomp, privilege, power and wealth, all at our expense. We are the creators of all the wealth in this country, and we allow it to be syphoned to the privileged few, why. We must become a land of rebellion to right the wrongs that unnecessarily blight the lives of so many of our people.

          A  photo from the Glasgow protest, thanks to a friend of a friend.

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Refuse.

 

       The message is getting louder, "We refuse to be poor anymore", again Glasgow showed support for the RMT picket at Glasgow Central Station, today August 20th. Colourful banners and vociferous street support, is now the common sight in our cities around the country. Let's join them up and bring this stinking system of greed and privileged wealth to a grinding halt to which it will never recover. Poverty is not our lot as a given, we create that wealth, we are the owners of that wealth, we should decide how that wealth will be divided.

Some photos from Saturday's picket.

 

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

Solidarity.

 

         Strikes are popping up all over the place, some union organisd and others wildcat strikes, all with the same message, we will not be poor any more. Post Office workers have just voted 98% in favour of strike action, others are going in the same direction. The anger of the ordinary people is now being transferred to action with the mind set this plundering of the ordinary people for the fat cat corporate world, can and will be challenged. All of us must get behind these struggles for a decent life, it is all of us that are being shafted on a daily basis. Our solidarity is unbeatable, if we all stand together and support every action for that better life for all.
         Glasgow again showed support for the RMT workers and their struggle for a decent life. Thursday August 18th, a protest by RMT was held outside Scotrail headquarters in St Vincent Street, and again there was colourful and vociferous support from various groups and individuals standing with the RMT Union members. The support and actions must continue and gain momentum and we will win. 

Some photos from the protest.

Visit ann arky's homme at https://spiritofrevolt.info