Justice For All Hunger Strikers.

Wednesday, 4th. December, 3pm.

Justice for all the Hunger Strikers! (Unity)
Festival Court, 200 Brand Street, Glasgow G51 1DH

    Isa Muazu has been returned to the UK after a failed attempt at deportation by Theresa May and the Home Office. Isa is critically ill, and it’s essential that he is released from detention immediately. It will be great if everyone could unite once again and show their support for every person who is on hunger strike while waiting for a decision from UKBA.
      We all need to remember, people are seeking asylum for HOPE and better FUTURE. We cannot destroy dreams. We need to show our support for ISA and for many others on hunger strike.

      Please join us WEDNESDAY 4TH DECEMBER at 3PM outside the HOME OFFICE in BRAND STREET.

For Further Info -http://unitycentreglasgow.org/?page_id=895

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

Don't Let Isa Fly!

      Day and daily, no matter where we live, we see the state's inhumanity. In most cases our own babbling brook of bullshit, the mainstream media, don't report that inhumanity in its own back yard, but is quick to point the finger at foreign regimes. It is usually up to the general public to hold their particular state to account.

      This is one such case of the state's inhumanity and it is up to us to call them to account. An appeal from Unity:

Don’t let Isa fly!
      Isa Muazu (Home Office Reference A1464395) came to the UK in 2007 on a visitor’s visa. He was detained and put on the Fast Track process in Harmondsworth Detention Centre on July 25th 2013, when he applied for asylum. Isa cannot return to his native Nigeria: hard-line Islamist group Boko Haram have already killed several members of his family and he fears that if he returns his life too would be in danger.
      Isa has been on hunger strike in protest at his treatment whilst in detention for almost three months. He is now dangerously ill. Last week a judge refused to release him from detention because the Home Office had issued him removal directions even though Isa is too sick to move from his mattress on the floor. The Home Office plan to forcibly remove Isa on Wednesday 27th November at 22.20 on Virgin Atlantic flight VS651.
    The Home Office are refusing to release Isa because they believe he is deliberately starving himself for trivial reasons. Last week they drew up an “End-of Life” plan with Isa including helping him to write his will. The Home Office have hardened their stance towards hunger strikers in detention since releasing four men on medical grounds earlier this year.
      Isa has been clear- he started his protest because the food he was being given in the detention centre exacerbated several related medical conditions he suffers from. Since then he has widened his protest to include the way he has been treated within the detention centre since beginning the strike. Members of Unity have been supporting Isa since before he started his hunger strike. The Home Office have now issued Isa removal directions to return him to Nigeria before he dies in the detention centre.
       Isa is not fit enough to survive being returned to Nigeria. He is extremely weak from not eating. He is finding it hard to see or to walk. If he is returned to Nigeria there is a strong possibility that he may die. The Home Office have acknowledged this fact by stating they will deport him with a medical team if necessary.

What you can do:

1. Lobby Virgin Atlantic.
We need to put pressure on Virgin Atlantic not to fly Isa. Please politely ask Virgin not to co-operate with the Home Office’s plans to remove Isa to his potential death in Nigeria.
Virgin Atlantic, The Office, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex,RH10 9NU.
Email: special_assistance@fly.virgin.com
Tel: 0844 811 0000
https://www.facebook.com/virginatlantic
Comment on their Blog at
http://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Blog-Home-Page/ct-p/Cat1#.UpOb4cSGp-g
To leave a comment you’ll need to sign into the blog using Facebook Connect.

2. Contact Theresa May, Home Secretary.
Ask her to exercise her discretionary powers to stop Isa Muazu’s flight. You can write a polite letter please add your address, and do please remember to include Isa Muazu’s Home Office Ref A1464395, and the Virgin Atlantic flight number VS651 from Heathrow and the flight’s date and time- Wednesday 27th November 22.20hrs.
     Teresa May is already under pressure from MPs and members of the House of Lords for the new hard-line stance being taken by her department.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/theresa-may-could-face-mps-over-failed-nigerian-asylum-seeker-isa-muazus-hunger-strike-8962102.html
http://politics.co.uk/news/2013/11/23/hunger-strike-theresa-may-ignores-appeals-for-mercy-from-mps

Tel: 020 7219 5206
Fax: 020 7219 1145
By Email:
mayt@parliament.uk Or: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk - UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk

3. Contact your own MP and ask them to do something Please contact your   MP to ask them to contact Teresa May and the Home Office on behalf of Isa.
http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=fd4245447a04e2631f21f7786&id=00982b3c5e

4. Join the protests
    On Wednesday afternoon at 3pm supporters of Isa will gather outside the Home Office Reporting Centre in Glasgow to protest at Isa’s treatment.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1415794365321522/?notif_t=plan_user_joined
      Over the weekend there were protests outside the Harmondsworth detention centre near Heathrow where Isa is being kept in the medical centre.

UNITY!
Unity Centre Glasgow
30 Ibrox Street
G51 1AQ
0141 427 79 92
info@unitycentreglasgow.org

http://www.unitycentreglasgow.org

Practical support and solidarity to all asylum seekers and migrants in
Scotland.

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

A Few Dates For Your Calendar.

        A few dates for your calendar, come together, discuss our problems and then we can find our answers, and start to create that society freed from the grip of profit, greed and corruption. If we don't discuss the problems from our perspective we will never get answers that are to our benefit.

Mon 24th June - Turning Words into Action (Dundee)

 

7.30pm Dundee Voluntary Action, 10 Constitution Road, Dundee DD1 1LL

 

      Speakers include Susan Archibald, Disability Campaigner.

Forum organised by Unite the Resistance in Scotland.

      The forum will bring together people from different campaigns resisting Austerity. By standing together we gain strength and learn from each other’s experiences.

 

      Supported by Black Triangle, UNITE R&F M&E Construction Branch and UNITE Scottish Housing Association Branch

 

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Tues 25th June - Turning Words into Action (Edinburgh) 

 

7.30pm Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL

 

     Francis Wylie (UNITE United Left) will be speaking on blacklisting and fighting back, John McArdle (Black Triangle) on the attacks on disabled people, Penny Gower (EIS-FELA President) on Tory changes to our employment rights & PCS speaker (to be confirmed)

 

Forum organised by Unite the Resistance in Scotland

 

       The forum will bring together people from different campaigns resisting Austerity. By standing together we gain strength and learn from each other’s experiences.

 

      Supported by Black Triangle, UNITE R&F M&E Construction Branch and UNITE Scottish Housing Association Branch

 

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Tues 25th June - Turning Words into Action (Glasgow) 

 

7.30pm Jurys Inn, Jamaica Street, Glasgow, G1 4QE

 

     Jim Harte (UNITE R&F M&E Construction branch) on the Blacklist and Joyce Drummond (ATOS campaigner) on ATOS and the assault on welfare. Other speakers to be announced

 

Forum organised by Unite the Resistance in Scotland

 

     The forum will bring together people from different campaigns resisting Austerity. By standing together we gain strength and learn from each other’s experiences.

 

Supported by Black Triangle, UNITE R&F M&E Construction Branch and UNITE Scottish Housing Association Branch

 

 

Sat 29 June - Armed Forces Day

 

       Events to mark Armed Forces Day are being held around the UK on or around 29 June.

 

      "In both Iraq and Afghanistan, once the reasons for going to war were found to be false, or unattainable or just forgotten, those with a vested interest in continuing the wars resorted to one of the oldest tricks in the book.

They cultivated the myth of the soldier as hero.

They told you that you might not understand why the war continued but that you should support the soldiers.

Never again will I be complicit in the killing and torture of my Brothers and Sisters.

Never again will accept the vile religion of Patriotism.

I refuse to pull on that rancid uniform.

I refuse to fight for Queen and Country."

 

Ben Griffin, former SAS soldier

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Sat 29 June - Scotland United Against the Bedroom Tax

 

10.30am - 4pm Meadowbank Stadium 139-141 London Road, EH7 6AE Edinburgh

 

      Local campaign groups, trade union branches, equality campaign organisations and housing and legal specialists and politicians are invited to come along to explore the options available to mitigate and eliminate the bedroom tax and its impacts.

 

Organised by the STUC

 

http://no2bedroomtax.co.uk/event/scotland-united-against-the-bedroom-tax-conference/

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/149017925283500/  

PATRIOTISM.

No, I shall not die for the fluttering flag,

if truth be known, ‘tis nothing but a multi-coloured rag

held aloft by some foolish hand

inciting worker and peasant to kill

on some green and wooded hill,

peasant and worker from some other land.

Nor shall I shed blood for the fluttering rag

that brings out fools to stand and brag

of brutal deeds painted grand,

deeds where rustic and craftsman lie so still

killed by my brothers' misguided hand.

No allegiance have I for the Nation

this man made autocratic creation

that divides my brothers in a world so small,

binds us to a country's cause, right or wrong,

bids us follow its drum, sing its song,

then sheds our blood in some border brawl.

No, I'll be no slave to flag or nation,

have no ear for power oration,

though its iron heel is on my breast,

my back feels its leather thong,

at patriotism's barracoon, I'll be no guest.

ann arky's home.

A LETTER FROM THE PAST.

From the Anarchist Library, an anonymous letter from a worker 1883:

Capital and the Capitalists

What is capital? The harvest of the rich by the sweat of the people.

       Yes, we workers created capital. By our work we increase it every day. And far from profiting from what we have created, we become slaves to it and by making the capitalists richer to our own detriment, we become insufferable. Many workers look to suicide to end this order of things. I think there is a better way.

      What, the capitalist wallows in pleasure and the worker cannot live off the product of his labor. While the former is dancing and feasting, the latter is starving.

        O worker, my brother, you are suffering and the capitalist is laughing at your pains. You die and he insults your corpse. Faced with these blatant facts, you find nothing better than to end your life without caring that on the day of action your brothers in slavery will be missing your support.

        No, you have not thought of that and that is your excuse, but from now on chase these thoughts from your head and feel something different.

        Yes, there is a better way than dying. You have to live in order to prepare the great era of the future. You have to live to see your efforts crowned with success. You have to live to be present at the resurrection of the worker and the death of the capitalist.

        To get there what do we need: Audacity — we have it. Finances — we’ll find it. Sacrifices — we are all ready to give what is dearest to us for the triumph of our ideals.

        Therefore, let’s get to work. Let’s group together — there is strength in union. No half-measures. Think of those who are suffering, whose children demand vengeance. Encourage the weak. Finally, let’s get ready because the hour approaches when we will have to call upon different arguments than those of our corrupt representatives.

        And on that day, no mercy to the masters, like they have shown none to us. Let our battle cry be:

Down with capital.
Crush the capitalists.
Death to traitors and scoundrels.
Long live the Revolution!

— Letter from a worker exploited by capital.

ann arky's home.

CLEAN GLASGOW'S STREETS.

          Today, Glasgow should come together to clean its streets, today the nazi SDL want to turn our streets into avenues of hate. This off-shoot of the EDL/BNP nazi groupings are not welcome on the streets of our city, a city that has a long tradition of stuggling for the betterment of all its people, a city with a proud history of working class unity. We can't allow this band of deranged dangerous nazi nutters to soil that history.

Celebrating Multicultural Glasgow

Saturday 25 FebruaryFrom 12 noon, George Square, Glasgow

Bring flags, balloons, placards & banners
Download the flyer here: http://alturl.com/4f9dr Facebook Event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/232093423552257/

See you on Saturday.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:
       The Islamophobic and racist Scottish Defence League (SDL) has stated its intention to have a demonstrate in Glasgow on 25th February. It will be the first SDL demonstration of 2012. There organisations around the country have recently been attacking mosques, campaigning street stalls and trade unionists.

      Glasgow has a proud history of challenging prejudice and promoting equality. We oppose discrimination of all kinds. We’ve all worked and campaigned together for many years to build a successful, multicultural city where different communities live peacefully side-by-side. We will not accept attempts to create fear and intimidation in our community. The SDL is a violent, racist organisation. They should be opposed wherever they attempt to organise.

      We call upon all people, political parties, trade unions, cultural, youth, faith and community organisations to work together to unite our city and defy the SDL’s attempts to divide us and stir up hatred.

       The last time the SDL tried to march in Glasgow we saw a 3000 strong demonstration of mass unity on the streets.

Lets see that mass unity drive them off the streets again.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) is a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the rising threat of the extreme right, in particular the British National Party (BNP), Britain First and the British Freedom Party gaining an electoral foothold in this country. We aim to unite the broadest possible spectrum of society to counter this threat. UAF is backed by every national trade union, includes members of political parties, anti-racist campaigns, faith organisations, and a variety of individuals in between. We have no affiliations to any political party.

The fight against fascism doesn’t stop once we chase the SDL out of our city.
       We urge you to join UAF and help us fight that fight until the fascists are defeated.
For more info and to get involved:
web ~ www.uaf.org.uk
email ~ uafscotland@gmail.com
Facebook: UAF Scotland

ann arky's home.

THE SCUM IS RISING FROM THE SEWER.

         It would appear that the Scottish Defence League (SDL) intend to hold a “static” demonstration somewhere in the centre of Glasgow on Saturday February 25. It is up to the Glasgow citizens to turn up in their hundreds and show their disgust and hatred of this fascist off-shoot of the English Defence League/BNP Nazi grouping. The ordinary people of Glasgow should make it quite clear that there is no room on our streets for this bunch of racist/Nazi/fascist scum. These people have been responsible for intimidation and violence against any group that shows any form of libertarian views. They have attacked stalls in the city centre because they don't like what they say. When ever these brainless clones raise their empty heads above the sewer it is with the intention of intimidation and violence, they get off on doing Nazi salutes in front of a mirror, we should not allow them to create divisions with in our class, we are all being exploited by the same corporate greed machine, even the Nazi scum, but they are too stupid to realise that fact. They should not be let out alone.

         At a time when we are facing an all out attack on our living standards from the corporate fascist, these brain dead street fascists seek to find scapegoats. It can be anyone who is different, immigrants, people of colour, those with a different religion, all they do is create divisions in the working class making it easier for the corporate fascists to plunder the public purse. The ordinary people have a common cause against the corporate world that is destroying the very fabric of our society, there is only one division, those who own and control the means of production and distribution, and the ordinary people, those exploited of this system. We can't allow the brain dead fascists of the SDL ilk to divert us from our resolve to win a better life for all.

ann arky's home.

PUBLIC SECTOR + PRIVATE SECTOR = VICTORY.

     While the Cameron millionaire cabal in The Westminster Houses of Hypocrisy and Corruption slash at the social sector destroying social fabric of lives of the ordinary people of this country, he is giving the nod to his millionaire corporate Mafia friends to attack the wages and conditions in the private sector. The electricians in the construction industry are being forced, without negotiations, to accept a 30% wage cut and a change in conditions. Of course the electricians are not taking this lying down.

       Of course we have to realise that this is not a public sector struggle and a private sector struggle, this is one struggle against a system that sees workers as an insignificant mass that can be treated as best suits the corporate/financial world, and can be discarded and impoverished if it suits big business. It is time that the private sector and the public sector joined hands and worked as one, only then will we win and then we can change the system to one of justice and fairness, free from the greed of the profit motive.

ann arky's home.

STOP DAWN RAIDS! STOP DETAINING CHILDREN!

STOP DAWN RAIDS! STOP DETAINING CHILDREN!
Come to the protest Monday 21 November, 10.00 am at Festival Court

        Following the dawn raid on two families early last week Unity is calling for a protest outside of the UKBA reporting centre and headquarters of the Immigration Enforcement Team on Monday 21 November. Unity hopes it will be a well-attended protest that will make it clear once and for all that the UKBA using dawn raids and the detention of families is just not acceptable. Monday 21 November is the next working day after the UN's Universal Children's Day on 20 November - a day set aside for promoting the welfare of the children of the world. (http://www.un.org/en/events/childrenday/).

SOLIDARITY.

        We want as many people as possible to come to Brand Street on Monday to make a noisy colourful protest against the resumption of dawn raids that the UKBA cannot ignore. More information about how Funke and Joseph were treated can be seen below this call-out. People involved with Unity are particularly angry that the dawn raids were carried out on families containing young children who were asleep when immigration officials forced their way into the homes. The children were woken up by immigration officials wearing uniforms and stab-proof vests only to see their mothers being handcuffed.
       This barbaric treatment of families who have not been convicted of any crime is something many people thought had disappeared following widespread community protest and opposition from all Scottish political parties in 2006. We want the protest on Monday to be a big day-long action, so tell as many people as possible. The protest will continue into the afternoon so even if you can't make it for 10am, come along when you can.
        Join the protest outside the UKBA office on Brand Street from 10am on Monday 21 November to show your opposition to dawn raids and child detention. We will be running a banner and prop making workshop and preparation meeting from 1pm on Sunday afternoon. If you'd like to come and help then please contact Unity to find out details of the venue.
And if you'd like to come from out of town - we can provide accommodation!

Just get in touch J
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=272568582785246

Unity!
         The protest on Monday is being held outside the UKBA reporting centre at 200 Brand Street, Ibrox, Glasgow. It is very close to Cessnock underground station and less than 100 metres from the Unity Centre. There is a map and directions on how to find the centre on our website at http://unitycentreglasgow.org/?page_id=16
          Funke Olubiyi and her son Joseph were forcibly removed from the UK on Saturday evening despite a last minute attempt to get an injunction on medical grounds. Speaking from Nigeria, Funke described how nine immigration officials and guards and a doctor accompanied her and her son onto the plane. On the phone Funke thanked everyone who had tried to fight for her and told us that she was OK for now and staying with friends.
        Funke and Joseph were the first family from Scotland known to have been detained in the new family detention centre called 'Cedars' in the village of Pease Pottage close to Crawley in Sussex.
The family had been detained following a 'dawn raid' at their home when little Joseph aged only 5 and 2 months had been asleep in his bed. Funke had been preparing to have a bath and had been undressed when seven immigration officials forced their way into the family's small flat on Shaw Street in Govan. Joseph was not allowed to have any breakfast in his house and was only given some food after the family had been taken to the reporting centre at Brand Street.
         A day earlier the UKBA had detained another single mother and baby during a dawn raid but she had managed to convince the immigration officials to realise her after being held at Brand Street with her baby for over seven hours. These two raids mark the return of dawn raids to Glasgow following a period of several years when the UKBA had almost totally stopped raiding asylum seeker families. Despite holding Funke and Joseph for three days and three nights in their 'pre-departure accommodation' at Cedars which with its 2.5 metre tall perimeter fence is run by security firm G4S the UKBA still insist "We do not detain children for immigration." Unity calls on all campaigners and supporters to work to make sure that for once this becomes a reality.

Come to teh protest on Monday 21 November.

The UNITY Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ

ann arky's home.

BETWEEN PEOPLE, BRING THE WALLS DOWN.

No need to write anything, David says it all with much more feeling than I could.



Although the wall is now a reality, a huge scar across the land, it doesn't mean we should ignore it. Walls keep people out, but they also keep people in, walls crumble, they can also be brought down.

ann arky's home.

MORE ON BENEFIT CUTS.

       
       For all those on benefit these are very worrying times as our millionaire public school thugs set about cutting and hacking at any form of social benefits. People on Disability Living Allowance are probably among the most vulnerable of those being targeted. Apart from living with their respective health problems, they now have to go through a worrying and stressful process of re-assessment, a process that is no more than an attempt to get them off benefit, saving the government money, irrespective of the effect on the individual concerned.

        Those on benefit and facing cuts should not have to fight this alone, it is important that they are furnished with as much information and support as possible. It is important that they are aware of their rights in all situations. There is a website set up for that very purpose, where you will find a wealth of information on all aspects of benefits and the intended cuts, and how to handle re-assessments. You can find it HERE.

 Solidarity.

      Please spread the word of the help that is available, come together in support, nobody should be alone in these circumstances, unity is strength.

      Everything you need to know on the benefit cuts situation ; http://antibenefitcutsglasgow.wordpress.com/

ann arky's home.

GROWING ANTI-PEOPLE LEGISLATION.

     

        In one of my recent posts, “Anti-people legislation”, I stated that the Institute of Directors has called for collective bargaining to be scrapped for all public sector workers. Some may think that this is too far fetched to come about. However, just cast your eyes across the pond to that land of freedom, the good ol' US of A, and you will find that the Governor of Wisconsin has included in his budget proposals, legislation that would more or less remove collective bargaining from all public sector workers. Fortunately the people are having none of it, as they have taken to the streets in their tens of thousands and are being joined by workers in other states and across the border in Canada. You can read a full report HERE. Of course our media is not big on reporting mass demonstrations in the western developed countries, they prefer when it is happening in other countries. The only way we will ever turn around this greed driven corporate world to a federation of sustainable needs based societies, will be for the workers across all borders to link hands and fight in unison. It is a common enemy, the state and its companion the corporate world, no matter the country. An injury to one is an injury to all.

ann arky's home.

GLASGOW ANTI-RACISM MARCH.

       Today Saturday 27 November saw Glasgow's annual anti-racism march and rally. In spite of the snow and very cold weather, there was a good turnout and it was the usual colourful affair with an array of different banners. The banners varied from union banners to anti-cuts banners and Scotland Against Criminalising Communities, SACC.  The march started at St Andrew's in the Square and snaked its way through the city ending up at the GFT cinema where there were speeches from some well know names and faces.

      I'm sure that those on the march will be well aware that anti-racism cannot be separated  from the quality of life within our society and hopefully they will continue to demonstrate and protest at the onslaught being perpetrated on the living standards of the ordinary people of this country. It cannot be two separate campaigns, racism is woven into the fabric of this government's ideology, as it carries out a slash and burn policy with all our public assets.
      This coalition of millionaires has a very open campaign against immigrants, they will continue to throw up the usual scapegoats and the media will always swing the usual red herring, all to keep the focus from being on the real criminals in this society, the free market millionaire fundamentalists, the corporate cabal of the corrupt. Unity between all the groups, solidarity across all sections of the ordinary people of this society is the only way we can defeat this plunder of our assets and the privatisation of our welfare state.

ann arky's home.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

      

      As the Cameron/Clegg millionaire twins keep telling us, "We're all in this together." So let's put that into action by supporting the coming event.

Action for Refugee and Migrant Rights conference:

Glasgow, Saturday October 9th* 10am -- 2pm

Venue;

 STUC 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NG.

      A networking and action-planning event, bringing together a wide range of groups working for asylum and migrant rights. With discussion groups, workshops, information stands, food.

An event organised by National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, with Church Action on Poverty and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).

supported by:

UNITY

Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees

Scottish Detainee Visitors

Medical Justice

Govan & Craigton Integration Network

Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network

    A programme of meetings and workshops will be published soon at http://www.ncadc.org.uk/october9

Food and refreshments will be available. Creche available - * but please contact to reserve a place for your child *

To book childcare, email: angela@gcin.org.uk

For more information, contact:
Michael Collins
Campaigns Coordinator, North
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
email michael@ncadc.org.uk
phone 0141 334 1333
 
 

ann arky's home.

SOLIDARITY.

Landlord messing you around?

Agency not paying you?

Job centre making life a misery?

Feel like it's too much to cope with alone?

We all face problems like these and it can seem impossible to do anything about them. The Glasgow Solidarity Network is a group of people, just like you, who work together to support one another and stand up for their rights.

Modelled on Seattle Solidarity Network, Anti-Poll Tax unions and the Claimants' Union from the 80's, Glasgow Solidarity Network is a non-hierarchical organisation controlled by its members and unaffiliated to any political group or party. It aims to confront bad landlords, bad employers, and bad jobcentres/benefits agencies through collective direct action and build solidarity between tenants, claimants and workers, active and retired.

Come by Daisy Street on the 13th July to help us get this project off the ground, whether you could really use some solidarity yourself or whether you can offer it to others.

Blog: http://glasgowsolnet.tk

Email: glasgowsolnet@gmail.com

ann arky's home.