ACE In Edinburgh.

   Stuff to keep you amused, busy and informed, to the end of the year, if you are around Edinburgh. ACE events, as usual well organised and interesting.

   INFO from the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place EH7 5HA

ACE is open Sats 12-4pm, Tues 12-3pm, Thursday 6 - 8pm

Advice and solidarity on benefits, debt, housing etc on Tuesdays.

    Leith Wholefoods, the Info Shop, Scottish Radical Library and free broadband available all 3 days.

Open monthly meetings first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm at ACE

0131 557 6242 ace@autonomous.org.uk www.autonomous.org.uk

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AT ACE and in Edinburgh

*ACE mid winter fair.*

This Sat 13th December 12-4pm at ACE

    Come share a vegan friendly Palestinian lunch of hand rolled, sun dried maftoul, roast tomatoes with za'atar and juicy organic dates. All welcome.

     Beat the winter bugs with legendary Four Thieves Vinegar available to try or buy while stocks last. Traditionally used to boost the immune system against plague. Last chance to bulk order before the holidays.

     Best prices for organic, fairtrade wholefoods and eco toiletaries. Wide range available or bulk order what you wish. The wholefood co op is a not for profit organisation run by volunteers.

    Plus Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity stall with amber jewellery, embroideries, handicrafts and t shirts, all from Zapatista co-ops.

     And view the new photo exhibition for the 20th Anniversary of the occupation of Edinburgh Unemployed Workers Centre. The accompanying pamphlet UP AGAINST THE STATE is available for 3 pounds.

*Sun 14th 6pm - 8pm ACE Cinema*

     Come down to ACE this Sunday for the last of this year's ACE Cinema screenings; the seminal 7:84 Touring Theatre Company's production of 'The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black, Oil'.

    John McGrath's excellent play was recorded for the BBC's 'Play for Today' series under the direction of John Mackenzie, and chronicles with great humour and vivacity Scotland's own particular story of what happens when profit is valued above people and the earth.

Running time: 90 mins

FACEBOOK EVENT https://www.facebook.com/events/1546064085633125/?fref=ts

IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395967/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

BFI Screen Online entry:

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/466025/index.html

Wikipedia entry:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cheviot,_the_Stag,_and_the_Black_Black_Oil

Tues 16th 5pm - 7pm

Scottish Radical Library meeting All welcome

Sat 27th at Ace

Left over food social. Bring food to share if you can or your appetite if you can't. All welcome.

Also FOOD SOLIDARITY collection of cans or dried donations of food on the 27th.

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

Detail;s Of The Nikos Romanos Story.

     A detailed report on the story behind Nikos Ramanos, of the state's two standards of justice, one for bankers, and one for those who oppose the systems corruption. Bankers who robbed the banks of millions and charged with fraud, allowed to walk free, while those who dare to oppose this system are brutally assaulted and imprisoned and denied their just rights.

 

From ROAR MAG:

Few doubt that the young anarchist was refused educational leave as a punishment for his ideas, by a government eager to show that it will not tolerate radical dissent. Romanos demanded from the state, which he intensely abhors, that it recognize his legal rights, which the state is supposed to guarantee for all. He never stole from the public purse nor from citizens; rather he attempted to rob one of the banks which was never brought to account for its part in the economic debacle of the country. No one failed to notice the irony of young anarchists being brutally persecuted for an unsuccessful and bloodless bank robbery by the very same people who treat those convicted of large-scale theft of public money and violent crimes with utmost lenience.

Read the full article HERE

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

Statement from Nikos Romanos.

      The first public statement from Nikos Romanos since ending his 31 day hunger strike. This is a remarkable victory brought about by the courage and tenacity of this young man. We wish the strength to continue your chosen path.

From Act For Freedom Now:
 

Statement from Anarchist Nikos Romanos 11/12/14 – Athens – Greece

Following 31 days of a tough and tenacious struggle, I end my hunger strike, having scored an important victory. The amendment voted in Parliament with me its single recipient, had important differences to the initial proclamation of the Minister of Justice, eventually meeting my demands – even if this involves me “wearing an electronic bracelet”.

The only thing certain is that this victory was an outcome of the political pressure applied for it by the people in struggle and  Combative Anarchy are indisputably the great moral, political and practical victors. The multiform revolutionary struggle and us, as political prisoners, resurface from this struggle stronger than before.

I raise my fist, sending the warmest regards and my unlimited love to all those comrades who stood by my side.

BY ALL MEANS!

SOLIDARITY TO POLITICAL PRISONERS

LONG LIVE ANARCHY

PS: A detailed text will follow in the days to come.

PS2: I would like to also thank the hospital doctors who refused to bow to the pressure by the attorney regarding my forced feeding, and who supported me to the possible extent.

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

A Victory For Nikos Romanos.

      The best news I've heard in a long while, Nikos Romanos has won his right to study at university, he will be allowed to classes wearing an electric tag. This is a tremendous victory for this young man, but at considerable cost to his general health. 31 days on hunger strike will not leave him undamaged. What comes through in this case, apart from the determination and courage of Nikos, is the state's callous brutality in denying him is legal rights, to the point of near death. Perhaps the state was afraid that if Nikos died in prison, Greece would explode. Let's all hope he makes a full recovery and leads a long, full and active life.

Nikos Romanos after his arrest, and his 15 year old friend Alexis Grigoropoulos, who was shot in 2008 by a thug in uniform.

Announcement on Act For Freedom Now:

 Nikos Romanos has ended his hunger strike. Athens

     Nikos Romanos has ended his hunger  strike after 31 days. The law that will be applied is that he will wear an electronic bracelet to control his movements while studying outside prison. Solidarity with Nikos Romanos and all those arrested.

Act for freedom now!

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

You Grow The Food, You Create The Energy!!!

         The picture in the UK is grim, we have had almost 5 years of wage cuts/freezes and rising inflation, a sure path to deprivation for millions. We are informed by our millionaire lords and masters, that the cuts so far are nothing to what has yet to come. This picture of falling income has seen food banks on a rapid increase, we are a nation of families that go hungry. Since 2007 food prices in the UK have risen by 32%, twice the average in the EU, with “experts” predicting matters getting worse, as they expect food prices to rise at twice the rate of inflation for at least a decade, with your shopping basket price rising by approximately 4% per year, until around 2022. When it comes to energy prices, they have been rising at 8 times the rate of earnings. Since October 1010, energy suppliers have increased their prices by 37%.

 

       These two factors, food price increases and energy price increases tied to low or no wage increases, are enough to push millions more of us into poverty. When you factor in more cuts in the next five years, than we have seen in the last five, millions will move from poverty to deprivation on a massive scale.
 

        No matter which of the millionaire parties you may decide to vote for, if you are foolish enough to vote, It will make no difference. All the major parties are tied into what the financial Mafia have prescribed. No party will upset their financial masters, for fear of reprisals, the parasites will lift their money and go elsewhere. Bringing turmoil for the country, and our lords and master might lose control of the population as unrest could explode. Capitalism is not patriotic, that's for the peasants, it will callously see a country's infrastructure disintegrate into ruin, and to hell with the people, if its puppet politicians don't toe the line.
 

     No amount of lobbying your MP, changing the suited smiling face at the podium, or trying to change the party “from within”, will not make one iota of a difference. You may get a few more crumbs here, or an extra teabag there, but the trajectory of our living standards will be for ever downwards. The only hope is to dismantle the whole stinking edifice that is the capitalist system, and from its ruins build that fairer world that we all want. A society that is based on mutual aid, co-operation and voluntary association, one that is free from the cancerous profit motive, and sees to the needs of all our people. You grow the food, you create the energy, why do you go without?

 

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

 

Solidarity Has No Borders.

 

        An appeal for solidarity from Labour Start:

      Tomorrow is Human Rights Day -- and I'd like to ask for your help to get our brother Huber Ballesteros released from prison.
       Huber Ballesteros is one of Colombia's best known trade union and human rights activists. He is also one of the most threatened.
He was arrested on 25th August 2013 and accused of 'rebellion' and 'financing terrorism'.
He has still not faced trial.
     Huber is vice-president of FENSUAGRO, Colombia’s second largest union and one of the most persecuted, having had over 1,000 members assassinated in recent years. We believe it is because of his activism that Huber is being targeted, and are calling for his unconditional release, along with that of all other political prisoners in Colombia.

Please take a minute to send your message of protest to the Colombian government:

http://www.labourstart.org/go/freehuber

    And please share this message with your friends, family and fellow union members.

Eric Lee 

Copyright © 2014 LabourStart, All rights reserved.  our website (http://www.labourstart.org) Our mailing address is: LabourStart 27 Muswell Hill Place London, England N10 3RP United Kingdom Add us to your address book Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Mainstream Medis, The State's Tranquilliser.

Greece.

      That babbling brook of bullshit, the mainstream media, is meant to be a form of tranquilliser, to lull the populace in to a stupor, a befuddled subservience. Across the world the streets are alive with protests, riots and police brutality, but what do we get? A large helping of what Kate wore in America, how the Americans love her, and the children are beguiled by her charm. We are informed of how passionate Wills is about poachers living fat of the sale of ivory. I wonder just how much ivory lurks in the vaults of his family residence, and does he ever think about his entire family living fat of the sweat of others. No doubt we will never know.

Finland.

      From Greece to Finland, from America to Mexico, people are raging on the streets, but it is not considered news. Thousands poured onto the streets of Barcelona at the weekend, but you would need to search to find any info on that event. We did get a lot of coverage about the Hong Kong riots, but then again, they were rioting against China, an enemy of the Western imperialist, hence the cover. Police brutality is rife, in Greece, after a series of arrests at a demonstration, MP's went to the police station and were astounded at the blood all over the place as those arrested were beaten by the police once inside the police station. We hear of daily shootings and beatings by American police, and the case of the 43 abducted and murdered students in Mexico, beggars belief.

America.

      One would imagine that journalist would be highlighting this mass unrest, and asking questions such as why are our cities exploding, why is there so much discontent across the globe. But then they may come up with the answer, that it is the system we live under that is the real problem, that wouldn't suit their masters the media barons. They are the ones that are tasked with keeping us all in a state of ignorance and subservience.

Mexico.

      They peddle illusions, they manufacture a false world, and make you believe you live there. In this world of smoke and mirrors, truth is a crime, an act of rebellion. We are meant to believe that we live in a world of glamour and high fashion, where the highest aim is to be a “celebrity” where happiness comes in pretty boxes with designer labels. We are angry because we know the real world and it is harsh, brutal and unjust, we know it need not be like that, and we want to change it to that better world that lives in our hearts.

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

The Privatisation Of The NHS Glides Ever Forward.

      Even before TTIP, the corporations charter, has been ratified, the big greed merchants are targeting the NHS, and all with a nod and a wink from their Oxbridge millionaire friends, sitting in the Westminster Houses of Hypocrisy and Corruption. No matter the public statements to the contrary, being uttered by the residents of that Westminster millionaires club, the sale of the NHS is on their agenda, TTIP is just making sure it is written into law. Only by a massive uprising of anger and protests of the ordinary people will it be stopped. The sale of the NHS is in the interests of the millionaire class, and guess who is looking after and legislating on the NHS? That's right, it's the millionaire class of course. Only you can stop them, it is your NHS, you have a fight on your hands to keep it so.

 

 This from Sum Of Us:

      Incredible! Over 80,000 of us have signed the petition telling NHS England to keep mega US weapons company, Lockheed Martin, out of our healthcare system.
      Let's make sure we go into 2015 with a bang (after all, Lockheed Martin is used to those). Can we get to 100,00 signatures by the end of the year?
Here's what you can do:
Forward the email below to at least five of your friends.
Click here to share this campaign with your friends on Facebook.

       Let's make 2015 the year we kick corporate power out of the NHS,

Martin, Hanna, and the team at SumOfUs.org

Share email:

Friends,
      American arms company, Lockheed Martin, is targeting huge chunks of our NHS! If successful, the world's biggest weapons manufacturer could be in your GP's office, handling your records and scheduling your appointments.
      Lockheed Martin isn’t content with raking in billions from selling weapons to countries right around the world -- now it wants a slice of our National Health Service.
      Right now, it’s sniffing around a huge £1 billion contract to supply services to our GPs and family doctors. But the NHS hasn’t decided yet who will make it through the bidding process, so we’ve still got a chance to stop this arms company from profiting from the healthcare our families receive. But we don’t have long to make our voices heard.

      Join me to tell the government and NHS England to stop Lockheed Martin from bidding on the NHS contract. Gun-runners don't belong in the NHS! http://action.sumofus.org/a/weapons-NHS/

More information:
International arms firm Lockheed Martin in the frame for £1bn NHS contract The Independent, 21 November 2014
World's biggest arms firm targets £1billion NHS contract, Mirror, 19 November 2014

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

Grangemouth Anti-Fracking Protest.

     This afternoon ann arky was at the anti-fracking peaceful protest at Grangemouth. Despite the Baltic weather, it really was wet, windy and foul, there was a fair gathering of people from different political backgrounds, with the usual array of  colourful banners as well as some well wrapped up kids.

     Fracking is another one of those insane ideas that corporations come up with that can make a lot of money for their shareholders, while showing complete disregard for the people that live in the areas affected. The list of problems that flow from fracking is endless, subsidence, earthquakes, toxins finding their way into the water table, rivers and the soil. Drinking water contaminated and the resultant health problems. But still the powers that be will push ahead with the licensing of fracking contracts, even to the extent of trying to bribe some of the local communities with the promise of some of the money from the insane and dangerous scheme coming to them. They would of course, as they are in the pocket of the big corporations, as well has having some of their millions invested in those companies. Let's hope that the anger against fracking grows and grows, until our whisper becomes a roar.

Some PHOTOS:

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