Glasgow's Lost Comrades.

        Just back from our travels down south, and a wonderful time it was, the weather was great, very warm. So much so that I burnt my baldy head and was forced to buy a "bunnit", which seemed to create a considerable amount of laughter each time I placed it on my head. Which made me all the more determined to wear the thing.

       Our first stop was Warwick University Archive department, where we spent some time prowling through old issues of the Freedom paper, 1900's. What surprised me was the amount of names that appeared from Glasgow. It would appear that there were a considerable amount of active comrades in Glasgow at that time, who seem to have been lost to us, or at least to me.

      In Glasgow there were at one time, three names of individuals from whom you could get your Freedom. There meetings being arranged and literature being published by people we seem to have forgotten, that shouldn't happen. Perhaps it is my ignorance. I would be delighted if anyone anywhere, can provide any detail to the names that follow. Any information, date of birth, death, where, and if they worked, family, activities, addresses, writings, etc., of course photos would be icing on the cake.

     Blair Smith, 15 Sunnybank Street Dalmarnock and Paisley, seems to have been very active around 1902/03, he also published a pamphlet in September 1900, called "Direct Action Versus Legislation" it would be great if somebody could tell me where I can lay my hands on a copy. Also, P. Josephs 198 Main Street Gorbals. Other names that cropped up in articles/letters etc., are, Moscow, John Turner, Arthur St. John, Fred Charles,  McKay, Paisley/Glasgow 1904, Macfew Seklew, listed as "Individualist", A. P. Howie, 91 Aitkenhead Road also 69 Toryglen Street, 1905, and 99 Trongate 1905, (Seems Tronagte was a popular address from those comrades.). There was a J. Docherty, who wrote in Freedom, "Notes from Scotland" May, 1903.

     There was a D. Baxter 126 Trongate, around 1903, also listed at 127 Trongate, perhaps a typo, George Dallas, also listed as 126 Trongate, published Voice of Labour, 1904. Was 126 Trongate an office or book shop or a residence, or what, was Howie's 99 Trongate a typo?

       I hope someone, out there somewhere, can come up with some details, anything so as to get a better picture of who they were and of Glasgow at that time. I would be delighted if I could add them to Strugglepedia.

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

The Start Of WW1.

      For those interested in the start of WW1, the should look no further than the excellent film by Robert Newman, "The History Of Oil". As any informed person knows, we can all say, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, my arse. He also touches on the Iraq invasion and why.

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

Global Fuckin' Warming.

       From Damming rivers to tar-sands, from fracking to de-forestation, the corporate Mafia are screwing the planet, and their puppets the national governments are putting the stamp of legitimacy on the rape and plunder of our world. They use the euphemism, "progress", which really translates as, greed for profit. What world will we hand to our grandchildren?

This from "The Stimulator":

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

Seasons Such As These.

 

           Most people would agree that Willie Shakespeare had a way with words, and some of those words are just as relevant today as they were on the day that he wrote them. How about a few lines from "Seasons Such As These".

Poor naked wretches, wherese're you are
that hide the pelting of this pityless storm,
how shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you
from seasons such as these.

           As the Cameron cabal carry out the merciless plan of the financial mafia, under the guise of "austerity", we  see poverty sink its pityless teeth ever deeper into the fabric of our way of life. Day and daily fears of poverty become reality, the spectre of homelessness a way of life. Benefit cuts, sanctions on the unemployed, workfare for no wages, zero hour contracts, dragging more and more families into he dark pit of deprivation. Food banks a necessity, loan sharks arrive in the guise of a saviour. We are in the midst of a man made season of wretchedness. Only the ordinary people can move us to that season of a bountiful spring.
              A  quote from "Freedom" November 1903, by someone who signs him/herself, "anarchist".

He who would be free
Himself must strike the blow

Here we are,111 years on, and we have still to strike that blow. 

Still No Democracy.

 
         Still down south sipping coffee and reading papers, among other things. It was while doing the coffee, paper thing that I came across an article in The Times of July 28th.. which I had to spout my view on. They had a photograph and a full page article on the Bullingon Club, mentioning that a high percentage of those in the photograph had died in the first world war. The article seemed to convey the notion that the war had claimed the lives of all classes. This may be true, but without a shaddow of doubt, it was the ordinary people who paid the highest price by a very large margin.
        There is also another difference. Since this war was nothing other than an imperialist scramble for wealth, power, resources and markets, for thos imperialists and their parasite friends, and the Bullingdon Club was stuffed full Princes and other friends and members of that imperialist class, they are the ones who should have done all the fighting. It was their war, they stood to gain or lose imperial wealth and power. On the other hand, the ordinary people, who died in their millions, came from poverty, and after the greed driven avoidable blood-bath, those who returned, returned to unemployment and poverty.
        I personally, have no sympathy, nor will I shed any tears, for those of the imperialist parasite class, who died fighting an imperialist greed fest, which they engineered. They were defending theur own position of wealth and power, or trying to gain more. They ordinary people, on the other hand, were hoodwinked and bullied into believing they were defending something they never had, and still do not have, namely, "dwmocracy"
      The article is just another plug at the establishment propaganda line, "we're all in this together", pure unadulterated bullshit.

 

A Quiet Spell.

        ann arky is heading down south for a couple of weeks, a sort of working holiday. So my rants will cease for a spell, thanks for all your support, keep struggling, you know it makes sense, I'll continue ranting soon.

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

Escape The Games.

       Trying to find somewhere to escape "The Games"? Well you can do that and at the same time be informed on what is behind the corporate spectacle that pumps public money into the coffers of the big-business world.

Glasgow Autonomous Updates:

Glasgow Games Monitor invite you to a critical intervention into the Commonwealth Games. Free talks, film screenings and the Games Monitor Library………23rd July to 3rd August at Stereo and The Old Hairdressers

http://gamesmonitor2014.org/no-wealth-for-the-commons-glasgow-games-monitor-events/

 

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

The Protests must continue, The Genocide Must End.

      It is important to keep the pressure mounting if you want to have any effect on the governments of the world, in a bid to stop the genocide that the Israeli state is carrying out in Gaza. Tonight a hospital shelled, 5 dead and at least 11 wounded, how do you claim to be trying to avoid innocent civilians when you shell a hospital? The protests must continue and most grow in numbers.

This from Stop the War Coalition:

 National demonstration: Stop the Massacre in Gaza - Free Palestine!

     Gaza End the Siege As if the people of Gaza have not suffered enough, Israel has escalated its brutal assault on Gaza in the last 24 hours.

      Last Saturday a fantastic 100,000 marched to the Israeli embassy - this Saturday's demonstration is even more important.

      Over the weekend more than 150 Palestinians have been killed, 67 in one attack alone last night including 17 children and 14 women. The media continues to accept the rhetoric of 'limiting casualty levels' and 'targeting militants' and the politicians refuse to condemn Israel and call their action what it is, a massacre of innocents.

      Why? Because Israel remains the West's main ally in the Middle East.

       That is why we have called a national demonstration this Saturday starting at the Israeli Embassy and marching to Parliament. Last week 100,000 of us descended on the Israeli Embassy, this Saturday we are taking our anger to the centre of political power in Britain.

      National demonstrations are the best way to show the government that the majority in Britain oppose their disgraceful support for the Israeli assault.

      We are asking all our supporters around the country to organise transport to get the maximum numbers to London next Saturday.

Check for details as they emerge on the Stop the War web site. We will email further details later in the week.

National Demonstration: Saturday 26th July.

      Meet 12 noon at Israeli Embassy. Nearest tube: High Street Kensington. March to Parliament.

      Organised by Stop the War, PSC, Friends of Al-Aqsa, CND, BMI, MAB and Palestine Forum in Britain.

       Please share and invite your friends to the Facebook event. Let's make it go viral!

E-mail your lists and share with your organizations and unions

Organise leafleting in your area. Call 020 7561 4830 to order flyers.

Let us know your transport details by e-mailing office@stopwar.org.uk

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

Armed Police, Stop And Search, Democracy??

      Another matter that is raising the hairs on the back of my neck is the recent case of a driver being stopped for speeding in Aberdeen and it turns out that both police officers had holster guns strapped to their sides. These were later joined by another two police officers, who it appears also had holstered guns. Four armed police for a speeding offence. Some time earlier it appears that three police officers were seen walking through the streets of Inverness to a disturbance in a restaurant, all three were armed with holstered side arms. Is this Scotland, land of the supposed, unarmed police force, or the US of A? Slowly, slowly, little by little, the police in Scotland are being armed, not by parliamentary legislation, but the designs of the chief constable of Scotland. He has apparently stated that this is not a political matter, it is a policing decision, and he will make the decisions. Well so much for "democracy".

       Still going on about the policing in Scotland, it seems that we are a nation of very dodgy characters. The latest figures show that we in Scotland suffer stop and search intrusions, nine times more than the citizens of New York. Obviously the police in Scotland view the people of Scotland as nine times more criminal than the NYPD view their citizens. Either we are a nation of dodgy criminals, or we are cursed with a more authoritarian police force. I know where my opinion lies.

      Armed police started appearing in our cities, airports etc. under the guise of anti-terrorism, now it seems that they are needed to stop speeding offenders, and to stop disturbances in restaurants. Lets go the whole-hog and arm traffic wardens, job centre employees, security attendants in shopping malls, you know how crazy some people get during the sales. The poison seeps through every fibre of society, authoritarianism, control, intimidation and repression.

     Let's get together and insist that the guns get off our streets. You can't trust a person who could get angry and has a gun, whether they have a fancy uniform or not.

Visitann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Establishment's Weaving Of Lies.

       That babbling brook of bullshit,the mainstream media, always gets it wrong. At the moment it is pouring out lots of hate rhetoric against Russia, but precious little against the murderous onslaught by the Israeli state against the people of Gaza.

     Also on the WW1 "celebrations", they throw their weight behind the establishment view, of it being a heroic and glorious battle for democracy, which we, being the democratic half of the contest, won of course. I wonder what the German people think about that?

      What we should never forget is that the blood letting that goes by the name of WW1 wasn't won, it was an armistice. It was stopped because the imperialist psychopaths were faced with mutinies, rebellion and spontaneous out breaks of truces between the ordinary soldiers on the front line, some of these young men paid with their lives in front of a firing squad for the act of humanity. At home, the imperialists were faced with another battle, strikes and civil unrest across the continent of Europe. Another factor that brought the war warmongering nut-cases to call a halt, to the greed driven slaughter, was the fact that the death toll continued to soar and the maimed continued to be carried home, they were simply running out of canon-fodder. WW1 was an unimaginable spilling of mainly young blood, to further the aims of greed driven imperialist ambitions, in other words, greed and nothing more.

    Up to the start of that unnecessary blood letting of WW1, Europe had no democracy to defend. After the bloody event, Europe had no democracy anywhere. 100 years after that imperialist blood letting, we the ordinary people are still fighting for democracy in Europe.

Part of an email I recently received: 

         As the UK commences four years of commemorations of the centenary of World War 1, the Northumbria and Newcastle Universities Martin Luther King Peace Committee has released a set of resources to help schoolteachers mark the December 1914 Christmas Truces as part of their World War 1 teaching. They are designed as a corrective to the government-sponsored commemorations of the slaughter in the trenches as a heroic and necessary war.

        The December 1914 Christmas Truces, when British, French and German soldiers stopped fighting to celebrate Christmas, exchange gifts, sing carols, and even play football, are one of the most extraordinary episodes in modern military history. These were not isolated incidents. Following weeks of spasmodic fraternisation by men unconvinced by war propaganda, the Christmas Truces occurred right down the front from the North Sea to Switzerland. Made possible by shared traditions of Christian celebration, they were a hopeful moment of recognition of common humanity and a (brief) rejection of the terrible violence of industrialised war pursued by rulers in a deadly game of global imperial competition for territories and resources. They were quashed by orders backed by threats, and by replacing troops with men 'untainted' by the Truces.

         The truces are worth teaching about because they are simply so remarkable and evocative in themselves. Ordinary men recognising their common humanity infuriated high commands by temporarily stopping the industrialised slaughter of the trenches. However at a time when revisionist historians and politicians are offering retro-chic defences of the First World War as somehow necessary or even heroic, the truces can also teach an important message that may otherwise be overlooked in the centennial commemorations.

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

Follow Chile, Boycott Israeli Goods.

 Photo Source.

        Saturday's protest in Glasgow, calling for an end to the murderous actions of the Israeli state against the people of Gaza, saw the number of protesters swell considerably from the previous week. Despite the continuous rain, well over a thousand people filled the top of Buchanan Street with banners, placards and plenty of noise. This was repeated in cities and towns across the world, and still the Western governments mumble and mutter platitudes, and look the other way. 

 Photo Source.

      Chile is the first government to ban trading with the state of Israel, we should all put pressure on our own government to follow suit. We can of course carry out our own boycott of Israeli goods they are easily recognisable. A bar code starting with “729″ indicates that the product is produced in Israel. This is a relatively simple and effective way to support Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation and their ethnic crimes. If it starts with that 729, dump it. Hit them where it hurts, in their pockets. Goods produced in the occupied territories are more difficult as they can vary. This from Boycott Israeli News:

      The Israeli bar code story is not so simple. I purchased several food items from Israel to investigate which could be from the occupied territories. The Achdut Tahini from Industrial Zone Barkan (Occupied Territories) starts out: 7 219.... Pri-Vayerek Olives from  Industrial Zone Har Tov starts: 7 922... (Barbet (Jam) imported from Israel by Supreme Foods of Concord Ont.: 6 507...)

     The bar code might not be completely accurate, but it is an excellent tool and used with reading the label, should help to put pressure on the Israeli state.

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

World's People Against Israeli State, Worlds States Support It.

       Anger against the Israeli policy of genocide in Gaza is growing, today protests against this Zionist brutality, are taking place in cities across the world, there is no possible rationale that can claim this slaughter of innocent elderly, women and children as justifiable. The Israeli state could not do this without the backing of the powerful Western states, especially the US. The US is the Israeli banker, they fund the Zionist state's weaponry, and turn a blind eye to its brutality. The vested interests of the West need Israel to keep the oil rich Middle East in turmoil, allowing the West to exploit its resources unhindered by powerful governments. If any Middle Eastern government shows signs of controlling its own rich resources, the West  will step in and bring chaos, as in Iraq and Libya, allowing the Western exploitation to go on unhindered.

 

Melbourne today.

This from The Freedom Socialist party in US:

      Israel plays a pivotal role for Western capitalists as a watchdog in the Middle East. Its job is to prevent revolution and keep this oil rich, strategic region safe for imperialist investors. The political support and foreign aid the U.S. gives apartheid Israel allows it to continue this role which involves ethnic cleansing—with total impunity. U.S. taxes fund foreign aid to Israel to the tune of $3 billion dollars a year. Much of this money returns to the enormous U.S. arms industry because the Zionist state’s police and military buy weaponry from U.S. producers. And so, the Israelis have free rein in Palestine.

       For this reason, it is important to strengthen the Boycott, Divestment, Sanction movement against Israel and to educate about the economic interests at work behind the murderous Israeli/U.S alliance. In solidarity with the Palestinians, the U.S. public can pressure our government and Israeli leaders to end the carnage.

Stop the bombing now!
Cut off U.S. foreign aid to Israel!
End Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza!
Secure the Palestinians’ right of return to their homeland!

 

Issued by Freedom Socialist Party

Read the full article HERE:

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

Anti-ATOS Protester Arrested At Queen's Baton Parade..

Games Monitor · in Actions, ATOS

 http://gamesmonitor2014.org

      Police accompanying the Queen’s Baton near Barrhead, East Renfrewshire arrest protesting disability activists, pinning one to the ground. The group, Glasgow Against Atos, has staged a series of increasingly high-profile direct actions demanding the removal of IT giant Atos as a sponsor.

      The firm has sought to boost its public profile by sponsoring database software for international sporting events, but campaigners have fought to expose its role in deadly cuts to disability benefits.

       The firm has seen a string of scandals and wrongful sanctions arising from its contracts quizzing sickness benefit claimants with “work capability assessments” for the Department of Work and Pensions.

      The affair has even seen silent protest from Paralympic athletes who hid their branded lanyards from cameras at London’s 2012 opening ceremony, while Sport Disability Scotland told MSPs in April of athletes who could no longer afford to continue their sporting careers after losing out to a work capability assessment.

      Games organisers insist they are “very proud” of Atos’ involvement, while press officers have refused to comment on whether they are contractually obliged to offer public shows of support. 

      This is the latest in a series of protests and occupations from the Glasgow Against ATOS group including two occupations of the Commonwealth Games Gift shop in Central Station and an occupation of the main CG store in George Square.

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

Why Must Gaza Weep Alone?

      Saturday July 12th saw hundreds of people turn up at Buchanan Street in Glasgow to vent their anger and disgust at the Israeli genocide that is taking place under the noses and closed eyes, of the so called Western democracies. The brutal killing and maiming is still going on, our anger and disgust is now greater than ever. The pressure must be kept up, demonstrations are organised across the country for this Saturday, 19thy. July.

 

      If you are in or around Glasgow this Saturday please turn up, bring your friends and family, show your support for the families in Gaza who are at the receiving end of the force of one of the most powerful military powers in the world. The killing and maiming must stop, Palestinian people have a right to peace and self determination. The Palestinian People must not weep alone.

Saturday 19 July 1pm Buchanan Street 

at the steps to the Royal Concert Hall

      Scottish National Demonstration for Palestine to coincide with the national demonstration in London. Let the world know loud and clear, Scotland supports Palestine. Stop Bombing Gaza! End the Occupation! Free Palestine! All Welcome. Sponsored by Scottish Friends of Palestine, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition Scotland, Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Ahl al Bayt Society, Friends of Al Aqsa and more supporters of Palestine.

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

Legalising Beatings And Killings.

 Now legal in Peru!!

      "The Peruvian government passed a law stating that members of the armed forces or National Police are "exempt from criminal responsibility" if they hurt or kill people while on duty."  Bloody hell, seems to be the only rational response to this latest piece of Peruvian legislation. To pass a law exempting armed thugs from any criminal responsibility, is giving carte blanche to them to do what the hell they want, in beating and killing of protesters. No problems about responsibility, minimum force, restraint, or any of that crap, that ties the hands of psychopaths, in Peru they now have the stamp of legitimacy to run amok. 

 Now legal in Peru!!

        Of course if one state uses that approach, and it works "to their advantage", and I have no doubt it will, others may follow suit. States learn from one and other, they are all looking for the same thing, total control over their population.

Now legal in Peru!!

This from Care2:

     Five years ago, violence exploded between police forces and indigenous protesters trying to protect their homes from huge mining companies. More than 30 people, both civilians and officers, were killed in the clash; 200 more were injured. And while more than 50 protesters were put on trial for the injuries and death, no police officer has thus far been held accountable.
      This sets a terrifying precedent for police officers and soldiers to abuse their power in Peru, and it's only going to get worse. The country recently passed a law that explicitly allows on-duty officers to injure or kill protesters without being held criminally responsible.
       Considering that Peru is one of the world's largest producers of silver, copper and minerals -- and that the country has previously allowed mining giants to run roughshod over indigenous communities in order to make a profit -- this is truly frightening news for environmental protesters. What is to stop an officer of the military or the law from shooting at protesters, even nonviolent ones, for the "crime" of standing up for their culture and their land?
       This is no way to ensure justice in the country; it only helps stoke a state of reactionary aggression. Ask Peru to revoke its new law giving police and soldiers a "license to kill!"

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