The Bank Of No Money.

       It has been some time now since a group of anarchists and like minded people decided to occupy an empty bank on Deptford High Street, London. Well they are still there and doing fine thank you. Of course they will need all the support they can get, not just to survive, but to spread their ideas and keep up the good work of working with the community creating solidarity where needed and over as wide an area as possible.

This is their latest communiqué:

     We are rats running rabid through the stinking guts of London …

        Sick of the fractured ‘scene’ of squatters in London, sick of faux-punk venues and the fashionable veneer of rebellion, sick of the apathy and passivity, sick of housing where everyone is locked in their own rooms, their own lives, their existence atomised, stinking of fried chicken and choking on the bones of what once was, we came together to act …
     We are a collective of those in active rebellion. Warsaw. Barcelona. Roma. Thessaloniki. London. All over we meet in joint attack.
      We organised on the beaches of London for the TRESPASS gig – selling propaganda to fashionpunx and tourists about the trial of the Warsaw 3, dropping banners and smokeflares whilst the crowd rioted amongst itself, spitting in our faces and rejecting all politics.
      We put on infonights, skyping with comrades from across Europe, and people came and listened, complained that there was nothing organised in London, that everything was too fluid, too temporary, that nothing ever happened, and we laughed to hide the tragedy of their blindness to their own domestication. ‘You can’t win’, they said, and we sneered, knowing our victory is in the struggle itself.
     We meet in the streets outside squats under threat of eviction in Bethnal Green, Brixton, Aldwych, to jeer at bailiffs covered in paint, or see doors battered in, or taunt the cops and accuse them of murder by association. Though we called out for accomplices, few came, but enough remained to support each other and fight.
     We battled outside the Camelot HQ, trapped between lines of security and cops and vans and carnage and refused to let go, refused to give up even one of our number, until all were dispersed and the squat remained, refusing any collaboration with the business snakes trying to turn rebellion into money.
    We gather, seeking out other accomplices. Inspired by the mould that grows on rotting food, we chose our target – a disused bank in the heart of Deptford – a no-go zone for the UKBA immigration filth, a frontline of the gentrification war, a barrio within London where there still exists community, affinity, fucking neighbours instead of yuppies and hipsters and cops cops cops.
      We took it – and lined its innards with mattresses to dull the sounds. Within five days it was packed to the rafters with punks in support of the Warsaw 3, its walls lined with banners, its floor full of curious locals and friends old and new. After how many years, finally a non-commercial venue, free of the tyranny of rent and capital.
      The infonights continue – on the progress of the Warsaw 3, on the antiraids network spreading from Deptford to Whitechapel to beyond, on the arrest of the anarchist comrades in Italy, their words now as dangerous as bombs. Once a week we open the doors for Scum Dine With Me, part-street kitchen, part-info-night, part-cinema, where all and sundry are welcome and fed, and we mix more with our neighbours and friends from further afield.
      The bailiffs came but did not succeed in getting rid of us. On the day we are forced to leave, we will take our ideas, our struggle, our new connections, and spread across London, the UK, Fortress Europe, unstoppably changing and adapting, spreading our disease and infecting new mutantations against domination, power, hierarchy.
      Until we mutate into an end to all forms of oppression.

Until all are free.

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

Lizzie's House Needs Repairs!!!!

       You own a house, it is in need of repairs, so you go to your neighbours in the street and ask them to foot the bill for your house repairs. I think you know where you would be told to go. However, this is what is being suggested by our lords and masters, for an old lady living in one of her several homes, all of which are far to big for her, though she has no worries about the bedroom tax. Lizzie Windsor is no pauper, she has stashed away an unimaginable fortune, lives a life of opulence, pomp and grandeur, at our expense, as do a large contingent of her over privileged off spring. It appears that we have to fork out £369 million, to sort out some repairs at Lizzie’s London abode. It shows the true callous indifference our lords and masters have for us the general public. While they administer “austerity” in the shape of benefit cuts to the sick and needy, cap housing benefit, throwing thousands deeper into poverty, and increasing homelessness, preside over the NHS disintegrating for lack of funds, they are quite openly and publicly spending £369 million repairing a monumental edifice to British imperialism, which is the home to a bunch of extremely wealthy parasites. I’m not suggesting that they should ask the “Royals” to pay for it themselves, I’m suggesting that the whole rotten stinking system of unearned privilege, that is part and parcel of the festering cancerous marriage of imperialism/capitalism/monarchy be labelled, humanity’s darkest hour and swept away and disposed of in the dustbin of history. 

 

 

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

When People Realise They Are The Power-------

       As winter tightens its grip in North Dakota, the struggle to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, continues. The struggle by the Water Protectors is having a real impact, after a petition was delivered to the Bank DNB in Norway, they have sold their assets in that venture.

      Huge news! Bank DNB announced it is going to sell its assets in the Dakota Access Pipeline project!

     It’s clear our message is having an impact. On Tuesday, we delivered hundreds of thousands of signatures right to the Bank’s offices in Norway, and thousands of us flooded its Facebook page with messages in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. 

Two days later, we won.

      Something special happening at Standing Rock!!! When people realise that they are the power, then something special can, and will happen.

Farewell To The Pope Of Hope.

     Recently the babbling brook of bullshit, our mainstream media, has been giving us snippets of Obama, in the last few days of his stint as big chief of the imperialist world, touring the world's capitals for a round of red carpet and banquets. Obviously as he hops from country to country, helping the climate to change in his big jumbo jet, he receives a variety of welcomes and protests.

      In Greece, where the people, mired in poverty, with shattered social services, and who are among those worst hit in Europe by the polices of the neo-liberalism regime that he presided over, showed their thoughts when he arrived in Athens, though the babbling brook of bullshit didn't show much, if any, of that welcome. The people of Athens certainly gave The Prince of Peace, The Pope of Hope, imperialist boss-man, Obama, a rousing display of their feelings.

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

Kate Sharpley Library.

     Kate Sharpley: During the war she left her job with a baker and worked in a Woolwich munitions factory. She was among the first people active in the shop stewards movement. Her father and brother were killed in action and her boyfriend (active in the anarcho-syndicalistic Horse Transport Union) was listed as missing believed killed. She suspected, though she had no proof, that he had been shot for mutiny. At the age of 22, when called to receive her family's medals from Queen Mary (wife of George V) she threw the medals back at her, saying "if you like them so much you can have them". The Queen's face was scratched, Kate Sharpley was beaten by police, and imprisoned for a few days, though no charges were brought against her. She was fired from her job at the factory.

      The Kate Sharpley Library is a wonderful asset to anarchists and libertarian socialists across the world, it is an Aladdin’s cave of our history, to learn from and enjoy. A wealth of information that we can dip into, indulge in, or wallow in.

      Their latest bulletin, October No.88, is now on line for all to enjoy. We should always support such rich veins of our history, we can't expect the establishment to record our history for us.

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

What If------!

 

      As always, Not Buying Anything, comes up with something thought provoking.

"What if the spider you just killed in your home had spent its entire life thinking that you were its room-mate? 

Ever think about that? 

No, you only think about yourself."

I read this recently, and laughed. Then I thought, and thought some more. It makes sense. I might think differently if I lived in Australia, but I hope not.

Since reading this I have seen it it in other places, unattributed to any author. To me it has the life-positive, anti-violent vibe of Buddhism, or Jainism. It has caused me to be even more aware of the preciousness of life, and how everything just wants to live.
This level of sensitivity to the needs of others can be applied to all situations.
How about,

"What if that computer you are typing on was made by child labour, or is toxic to workers, or destroys the habitat of wild creatures? 

Ever think about that? 

No, you only think about yourself."

Or,

"What if that flight you are taking increases your carbon footprint dramatically and adds to potentially catastrophic climate change? 

Ever think about that? 

No, you only think about yourself." 

What if our habits and desires are killing not only spiders, but the very Earth itself? Ever think about that?

"Rest easy spider

My broom

Does not sweep that far."

- Issa Kobayashi

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

The Trophies Of War.

 

      In Exarchia Square in Athens, they do things differently, apparently they have a rather endearing tradition. They decorate a statue in Exarchia Square with the spoils of their encounters with the state's hounds, the police. The latest artwork is formed from police riot shields and helmets.

      17/11/ Exarhia: Traditional decorating of the statue in the square with riot cop helmets and shields.
     A group of comrades this morning trapped a police van transferring riot cop gear, the comrades managed to grab 2 shields and 2 helmets, before being attacked by the riot cops. The shields and helmets then traditionally decorated the statue in Exarhia square, as happens with all loot that is grabbed by the cops.

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

Hands Off!

     State repression goes on day and daily, sometimes dressed in wigs and gowns, wearing the mask of "law and order", sometimes the mask is of and it is raw, savage brutality, but it is always there. The form it takes will vary from state to state, but the aim remains the same, defend the established power structure, and control the population.

     A new zine from 325, Hands Off is worth a read.

Hands Off !

     Two unsolved robberies in Aachen lead to an international anarchist witch-hunt involving cops, laboratories, judges and screws. As a result, three anarchists, incorrigible dreamers of freedom and bitter enemies of all power, are arrested in Spain and the Netherlands and extradited to the dungeons of the German State. Let’s seize the challenge of this very contemporary repressive design and transform it into an attack on the existent, each in their own way, with their own means.

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

 

Solidarity With The Water Protectors.

        The fight goes on to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, the number of determined protesters, "Water Protectors", grows by the day, but now they are heading into the winter, and it will make their defence all that more difficult. They need all the support they can get to win this important struggle against the juggernaut of corporate madness.

       This report from The Freedom Socialist Party

  Patrick Burns and I arrived at Standing Rock this morning after flying in to North Dakota from Seattle. We were very moved by the vast panorama of teepees, tents, yurts, a large white geodesic dome and thousands of people. The energy was thrilling! It is clear that the water protectors are strong in their fight to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline and they aren’t going anywhere!
      While many people at the camp were glad about the recent news of the U.S. Department of Army and Interior calling for a delay on further construction of the pipeline, they know that this may not even slow down the drillers and that the movement must keep up the pressure. Several people were justifiably skeptical after experiencing hundreds of years of broken promises and lies by government officials. The camp is in it for the long haul and is preparing for the bitter winter ahead.
       Today, Patrick used his skills to assist in the assembly of over 25 wood stoves for the campers. I talked with many people who have flooded in from all over the country to provide solidarity. I also helped the support team and saw the leadership role many Native women are playing in getting donations sorted and distributed, orienting volunteers, preparing food, and providing security.
     Standing Rock has broad support. You can see it in the hundreds of flags flying at camp from many tribes and countries, and in the banners and signs from feminist, environmental and labor organizations. People greatly appreciated the concrete help and beautiful banner we brought from Radical Women (RW) and the Freedom Socialist Party (FSP). Today’s massive international day of action raised spirits of those on the ground here, despite continued government repression, arrests and pepper-spray targeting the hundreds of people putting their bodies on the line for safe water and the rights of indigenous peoples.
        We look forward to what else this week will bring!

      Gina Petry, the Organizer of Seattle Radical Women, and Patrick Burns, a union carpenter and activist with the Seattle branch of the Freedom Socialist Party, responded to the urgent call for on-site support to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, which will jeopardize the country's water supply by running toxic oil conduits under the Missouri River. They will be in North Dakota through November 20.
       To contribute to the delegation’s expenses, please donate by clicking here. If donations exceed the $2,000 needed for the trip, additional funds will be sent to the Water Protector Legal Collective, which desperately needs money to cover bail and legal costs for arrestees.
        Please contact Radical Women or FSP, RadicalWomenUS@gmail.com or 206-985-4621 (ask for Doug Barnes), if you would like to interview Gina or Patrick after their return or have them make a presentation to your union or community organization.

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

    

A New Messiah From The Sewers.

 

        Yea, we are still trying to work out the eventual outcome of the fact that roughly a quarter of Americans, yep, just a quarter of Americans, gave the driving wheel of the most brutal and powerful imperialist country in the world, to a feckless dipshit egotistical, power crazy, TV showman. I still think that on the world stage it will be the unbridled power of the greed driven corporate military complex that will call the shots, with, of course, the blessing of their new figurehead. On the lower scale of what happens on our streets, well that is a different picture. All the right-wing vermin will now crawl out of the sewers, emboldened by their new Messiah. We are in for some very troubling times. We are living in an era of devastating wars, unprecedented inequality, unimaginable population displacement, an era of ever mounting world crises. we are haunted by environmental disaster of our own making, and now we are to receive a tsunami of divisive right-wing, xenophobic, fundamentalism. We are indeed, living in very troubled times

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

Live Music, Poetry, Fun And Solidarity.

 

        The good people of Castlemilk Against Austerity, have been putting on a series of community events, and they are growing in popularity, helping to bring together the rich strands of the community. They range from talks/discussions, poetry and music as well as philosophy and food sharing. They are now putting out the word of their next get-together, and looks as good and rich as the previous.

       This is our next Event please come along and let people know about it they're brilliant nights 

  Live Music Night Fundraiser By the people, for the people A night showcasing local musical talent, should be fun and once again we need the support of the people to make the night a success.
Tickets are available through the page and are a snip at £2.50.
      This will be our 4th Music Night the previous 3 have been great wee nights with amazing talent we even had the Brilliant Gerry Cinnamon do his stuff at the last one. We want to encourage all of us to share ideas about how we can stick up for each other and campaign to change the unfairness, inequality and poverty we are all facing. We know what the issues are and believe that only the people in the community pulling together can really change things. The Live Music Event brings together all that in the most creative way. Everything is original from all the participants with their own music and words with a few auld favs added. It’s not just raising community spirit and unity but also reminding people it’s us who create things not the millionaires.

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

Truth In An Image.

        I love this image, taken from arrezafe, a simple image but it tells a true story powerfully.

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

War Is Not a Game.

        Any observer of our society would be well aware that we are a warring society. Through the onslaught from the babbling brook of bullshit, that is our mainstream media, with its war movies, stories of "great" battles, and war heroes, their justification for every war in which we have ever been involved. Then there is the "games" fed to our kids, super-human heroes, winning fierce battles over the bad guys, games of war, killing sprees where the player enjoys killing and never feels the pain of hot shrapnel tearing through their flesh, and knows that at the end of this violent indulgence, they can walk away unscathed, a million miles from the real killing sprees into which the state throws our kids. 

Of course we should not forget those callous military recruiting teams that infiltrate our schools, targeting the poorest areas.

 This is war.

      All the state has to do is reap this harvest and dispatch them to fight the imperialist wars that it indulges in at the behest of the corporate giants, who are ever hungry for more resources and markets, all gained from the blood of our youth.

 This is war.

     The armed forces make around 11,000 visits to secondary schools and colleges schools in the UK each year, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) spends around £26 million each year on school Combined Cadet
Force (CCF) units, both of which have a strong recruitment agenda behind them, contrary to the repeated denials of this in recent years by the MoD

      Marlborough science academy is one of thousands of UK schools to invite in the military. Today, as part of an Insight Into Industry event, the army and other organisations – including the fire and rescue service, Marks & Spencer, and Hertfordshire University – are giving students an insider’s view of their work. Next to the assault course is a display showing salary scales for all military ranks, and male and female soldiers from different units are on hand to answer questions.

         We recommend that the Welsh Government considers whether further research is needed into the reasons for the apparently disproportionate number of visits to schools in areas of relatively high deprivation.

  Concerns over how many visits army officers make to schools in deprived areas will be debated by assembly members on Wednesday.

 The British Regular Army visits schools as a major part of its recruitment programme and a third of new soldier recruits are aged under 18. These recruits may face serious personal risk and challenging moral dilemmas, yet their terms of service can prevent them from leaving the army for up to six years. Given that minors are less able than adults to make free, informed and responsible decisions about enlisting, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the House of Commons/Lords Joint Committee on Human Rights have recommended raising the minimum age of recruitment to 18. Both Committees also recommend that the UK ensure that disadvantaged communities are not targeted for recruitment.

 This is war.

      If we wish peace to be the main picture of our society, then we have to stop the military from the callous recruiting of kids, which happens mainly in poor and deprived areas, all with the blessing of the state. We have to ban all military recruiting teams from anywhere near a school. Schools are supposed to be a safe and welcoming environment for the enlightenment and development of our kids, allowing them to make balanced and informed decisions as adults, they are not to be a conveyor belt of cannon fodder for the interests of a profit greedy corporate world.

This is war.

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

Our Only Help Will Be Self Help.

      Anybody who lives in the world of the ordinary people is well aware that we are going through very difficult times. Poverty is rife among our communities, and it is no accident, it is the result of ideology, an ideology that sees big business as the most important entity on the planet. All legislation is shaped to help big business, and that is always at the expense of the individual. So appealing to that machinery to help sort your problems will reap little if any gains. The world is now corporate orientated, the people are to be used to feed that entity. In the grand corporate plan of things, the people are on a downward spiral, as the drive for ever increasing profits, which fuels this greed driven juggernaut, is the root of their ideology.

     As the poverty grows and the powers that be, move ever further away from the people, we have to realise that we are on our own, no body is coming to help us. We have to develop self defence systems within our own communities, in co-operation with other communities. we have to devise strategies to empower our communities and the individuals within those communities, we have to grasp solidarity as one of our weapons, the only help we can expect is self-help.

     So it is congratulations to the people of Castlemilk, one of Glasgow's large housing estates where, like the rest of them, poverty is endemic. Community spirit and solidarity within the community is growing, community events are on the increase, thanks to the drive and initiative of individuals within the community. Let's see if this attitude and spirit can become infectious, and spread like an epidemic across our city, and other cities.  

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

A Capitalist Sytem Can't Save Our NHS.

      So the Branson brand gets a massive £700 million slice of the NHS, shock, horror, well no, I, like many others have been shouting for years that the NHS is to be privatised. Slice by slice, bite size bit by bite size bit, it will be gobbled up. If you are appealing to the capitalist system, to please don't privatise our NHS, you're wasting your time. If you accept capitalism, then accept that everything that can make money will be privatised, that's what they are about, that's the system you are tolerating. All that is termed essential services, gas, electricity, the postal service, all gone into the broth-pot of the corporate world. More and more councils are handing over what were services that they delivered, to private companies. Part of the prison system is in private hands, care for the elderly, the DWP assessment of the sick, is in private hands. So what makes you think that the NHS will be treated differently, considering they have already punted large sections of the NHS to their mates in the corporate world.

     Stop shout at the government to "save our NHS", they have already bankrupted it, making it ready for "private capital" to come rushing to the rescue. Start acting against the root cause of all this privatising, (plundering of public assets) and concentrate on getting rid of capitalism, only when that is done, will our NHS be safe.

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