Workers, Know Your History, Miners Strike 1984/85.

      The miners’ strike, began on 12 March, 1984 and ended on 3 March, 1985. This year marks the 30th. Anniversary, and in certain areas, feelings still run deep and bitter. In appearance it was an industrial dispute over planned pit closures, but at its heart, it was a battle of ideologies, sacrificing communities in the killing off of heavy industry. The intervening 30 years has not seen an industrial dispute of such length and heartfelt passion and intensity. It was a dispute in which the British state threw its full power against a well organised trade union in an attempt to crush any resistance to the new Britain of financial services, as opposed to manufacturing. 

The miners strike was a monumental show of working class heroism, the like of which has not been seen since. It also should the brutal extent that the British state would go to in crushing working class struggles. We should learn from the tactics of the miners and their supporters and take pride in their strength in that bitter brutal struggle, and be prepared for future savage attacks on working class resistance, as capitalism continues to savage the living conditions of all our people. 

  

    In a simple and humble way, Spirit of Revolt has put up a small display marking the 30th. anniversary of that strike. It is in the window of the 13th Note pub in King Street, near Trongate in Glasgow.

 

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

Punished For Being Low Paid!!

       So you think the present "austerity" policies are as bad as it gets, and you believe that the rich bastards can't do much worse to us? Well, what is in store for the us will make the present feel as if you have been living in a socialist utopia. You will be punished for not earning enough, you know it's your fault, you should be out looking for a better paid job. It's a strange philosophy, you work but don't earn enough, so punish the worker and not the employer who doesn't pay them enough. Logic, sanity, fairness, justice, all turned on their heads and spouted as truths. Ah the wonders of capitalism.

This from The Void:

     In breath-takingly savage news, it has been reported that the DWP plans to stop Housing Benefit payments to low paid part time workers if they fail to carry out ‘work related activity’.
       When Universal Credit is finally introduced, those earning less than the equivalent of the minimum wage for 35 hours a week will be forced to constantly look for more or better paid work to qualify for in-work benefits such as Tax Credits and Housing Benefit.  Part time workers could face being sent on workfare in the hours they are not at work and will have to prove to Jobcentre busybodies that they are constantly looking for another, better paid job.

Read the full article HERE:

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

There Is No Glory In Blood Letting.

     Across the country there are groups organising to stop the Cameron millionaire cabal from taking what was a bloody imperial land grab, known as World War 1, in which at least 15 million people, almost entirely drawn from the working class, were killed, and turning it into a spectacle, where our duplicitous dignitaries stand under flags, lauding it as a war for democracy. We can't allow the deaths of over 15 million people to be demeaned by this vulgar garish lie. Before, during or after the slaughter, democracy was never on their agenda, nor did it arrive after the blood letting was over. Those who did come back from that hell on earth, came back to abject poverty and unemployment. The truth of that indictment against the powers that be, must be shouted from the roof tops. It was a clash of greed driven empires, a battle between aristocrats where they threw the people against each other to grab as much territory as possible. The cost in lives was of no consequences, it stopped because they were running out of bodies to throw. The aristocrats and empire builders do not know the meaning of democracy, and would never engage in any struggle that might bring it about.

This from Stop The War Coalition:

Campaign Against Glorification of World War One

---

     In 2014, Stop the War, No Glory and a range of peace organisations are organising meetings, debates and cultural events to mark the First World War centenary.
     We oppose the attempt by David Cameron, Michael Gove and others to use the centenary to "celebrate" a slaughter that killed 15 million people as a "just" and "noble" cause.
      Here is our calendar of events organized by Stop the War and other organisations. The latest events will be updated on the Stop the War web site. Full details of each event can be obtained by clicking on the links below.

Wandsworth: How should we remember WW1?	17 March 2014	Wandsworth Stop the War
SOAS London: WW1 debate	17 March 2014	SOAS Stop the War
Cardiff: WW1: Was it a war for democracy?	20 March 2014	Cardiff Stop the War
Newcastle: The Real History of WW1	20 March 2014	Newcastle Stop the War
Bristol: WW1: Was it a war for democracy?	27 March 2014	Bristol groups
The Great Debate: How Should We Remember World War One?	03 April 2014	London Stop the War
Portsmouth: Carving Up the Globe - the Real Causes of WW1	09 April 2014	Portsmouth Stop the War
Somerset No Glory in War	22 April 2014	South Somerset Peace Group
London WW1 Cultural Event	30 April 2014	North London Stop the War
St Albans WW1 Debate	12 May 2014	St Albans Stop the War
Cold Stars Lighting... First World War Poetry Readings	15 May 2014	London No Glory in War
Nottingham CND: WW1 Debate	29 May 2014	Nottingham CND
Frome: Oh! What A Lovely War!	09 July 2014	Frome Stop the War
No Glory in War Folk Night	18 July 2014	London: No Glory
Manchester Peace Conference: Peace History Lecture: No Glory	20 September 2014	Manchester Peace Conference
World War 1914 - What are the lessons for World Peace 2014?	16 October 2014	Bath UN Association

If you would like help setting up a debate or cultural event in your area, please telephone 020 7561 4830 or reply to this e-mail.

      Please consider joining a group in your area, or starting one, to stop this using the dead as a propaganda exercise to glorify the war mongers and power freaks. 

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