(Fédération anarcho-communiste de l'Amérique du Nord-Est)
NEFAC International Secretariat Collective
c/o Sabate Anarchist Group
PO Box 230685
Boston, MA 02123
email: sabate36@juno.com
web: http://www.geocities.com/anarchocommie/nefac/index2.html
see also: http://www.tao.ca/~wdbf/
Secrétariat Francophone (French-speaking contact)
Fédération des anarcho-communistes du Nord-Est
a/s Groupe anarchiste Emile-Henry
C.P. 55051
138 St-Vallier Ouest
Québec (Québec)
G1K 1J0
CANADA
email: emile.henry@sympatico.ca
web: http://www3.sympatico.ca/emile.henry/nefac.htm
List: Join an organising discussion list of the northeastern federation of anarcho-communists by sending the message subscribe nefac [and nothing else] to lists@tao.ca. Subject line is irrelevant.
International Anarcho-Communist Solidarity with the International Red & Black Revolutionary Anti-Capitalist Bloc
"We believe in internationalism and the globalization of our struggle
against all of capitalism, regardless of political borders, and we
work towards a genuine international unity which will one day lay the
basis for global social revolution."
-- Revolutionary Anti-Capitalist Bloc, Washington, DC, April 16, 2000
Revolutionary greetings from the Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists (NEFAC) of North America and the Anarchist Federation (AF) of Britain to all participants within the International Red & Black Revolutionary Anti-Capitalist Bloc.
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, a global movement is rising to resist exploitation by transnational capitalism. From trade unionists to environmentalists, from religious groups to non-governmental organizations, from indigenous peoples to the urban homeless, the dispossessed echo the cry emanating from the Lacandon Jungle: "Basta, Enough!"
As this refreshing breeze gathers strength, it bends capitalism's rotting branches, but only an anarcho-communist social revolution can rip up the roots. Reform is no match for capitalism's resilience; capitalism's destruction will only be achieved by a gale force storming the globe.
On September 26, the IMF and World Bank's scheming misers will meet in Prague to make their backroom deals. Our comrades around the world have seen through the flash bulbs and beyond the shimmering television images that tell brazen lies with pretty pictures. Many of these comrades will join Solidarita and other Czech revolutionaries to expose, confront and disrupt this capitalist elite. We, the federated anarcho-communists of Britain and the American Northeast, proclaim solidarity with the International Red & Black Revolutionary Anti-Capitalist Bloc, for social revolution and against global capitalism.
Signed;
Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists (United States)
Fédération des Communistes Anarchiste du Nord-est (Canada)
Anarchist Federation (Britain), International Secretariat
"We are going to inherit the earth; there is not the slightest doubt
about that. The bourgeoisie might destroy its own world before it
leavesthe stage of history. We carry a new world here, in our hearts.
This world is growing this minute."
-- Buenaventura Durruti, 1936
The Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists is an organization of revolutionaries coming from different resistance movements who identify with the communist tradition within anarchism. The federation's activities are organized around theoretical development, anarchist propaganda, and intervention in the struggle of our class, be it autonomously or by direct involvement in social movements.
Anarcho-Communism
As anarcho-communists we struggle for a classless and non-hierarchical society. We envision an international federation of radically democratic, self-managed communities and workplaces. To achieve this society, our class will abolish the wage system and socialize all industries, means of production and distribution. We reject the division of labor that condemns an individual to a life of restricted activity for the sake of the commodity economy. The abolition of markets and exchange value will allow for the satisfaction of human needs, adhering to the communist principle, "From each according to ability, to each according to need."
Capitalism
We seek to abolish all forms of capitalism, whether it be free-market capitalism or so-called socialist state capitalism. Capitalism creates a society divided into two antagonistic social classes: a small, elite ruling class and a large, exploited working class. The ruling class owns and controls the means of production and distribution, and are thereby able to monopolize the wealth. Their ownership of these two primary functions in society further enables them to focus production toward their own class interests (commodity production, increased profits, relentless expansion, etc.) without regards for society as a whole. Those of us who are not part of the capitalist ruling class are forced to sell and rent our labor, whether physical or intellectual, for a wage in order to survive. We are trapped in wage slavery.
Class Struggle
There is no one single humanity, there is a humanity of classes. Through inequality, and irreconciable class interests, an ongoing struggle exists between different social classes. All aspects of modern capitalist society are a direct result of this struggle, developing through centuries of conflict. Anarcho-communism originiated and was honed in the every day struggles of the working class against the oppresion of class rule.
The State
We are also opposed to all forms of Statism and government. The purpose of any State, whether "representative democracies" or totalitarian dictatorships, is to administrate society in a way that ensures that the privileges of the ruling class are upheld. In order to accomplish this, the State must centralize and monopolize power through a complex network of political, legislative, judiciary, military and financial institutions. This system results in all power being removed from ordinary people, and leads to a society based on hierarchy. By placing itself outside and yet in control of society, the State negates the social and political potential of society and transforms all logical social functions into bureacratic State functions.
Patriarchy
Of all oppression in the world, the most entrenched is that of patriarchy, the domination of men over women. This domination expresses itself everywhere--in both private and public realms. Although it is perpetuated by capitalism and the State, patriarchy existed prior to them and without confrontation will exist beyond their abolition. Anarchist feminism is a theory and practice by which we critique and attack the triple reign of patriarchy, capitalism, and the State, through the realization that this sexual, economic and political subjecation has at it's heart the common principle of authority. Only by uniting both the revolutioanry class perspective of anarchism and the feminist critique of patriarchy can anarchism and feminism reach their common goal of human liberation. "There will be no revolution without women's liberation. There will be no women's liberation without revolution."
Racism
Exploitation and oppression are also expressed through social inequalities and hierarchies based on race and ethnic origin. Like patriarchy, this form of social oppression is used to divide and weaken the working class and must be opposed at every level. Throughout the history of North America class stratification has been defined, in large part, by race. Although racism is perpetuated by capitalism and class society, it will not necessarily end with the abolition of capitalist social structure. We work to combat racsim in all its forms and support those from our class who organize autonomously within the revolutionary movement around specific forms of social liberation.
Queer Liberation
Capitalist patriarchy uses a specific set of gender roles in order to reproduce itself. These expectations breed homophobia and lead to an environment that limits an individuals personal sexual development. We strive for an environment free from oppresive socialization that traps us into a specific sexual identity and lifestyle.
Ecology
Capitalism also threatens the planet with ecological destruction. This only serves to benefit the wealthy elite, while the rest of us must endure the negative consequences. The society we envision is inherently linked to the natural world, where our needs and desires must be realized through ecological sustainability.
Imperialism
Capitalism further endangers the world and humanity through imperialism and its manifestation: war. Imperialism expresses itself in two different manners: one uses brute force through direct state military intervention, while the other uses economic coercion through transnational financial instutions. As anarcho-communists, we are opposed to both forms of imperalism.
National Liberation
We do not support the ideology of national liberation movements, which claims that there are common interests held between the working class and the native ruling class, in the face of foreign domination. Although we support working class struggles against and political and economic imperialism, racism, genocide and colonization, we are opposed to the creation of a new ruling class. We believe that the defeat of imperialism will only come about through a social revolution waged against the imperalists and the local ruling class. This social revolution will have to spread across national borders. We futher reject all forms of nationalism as this only serves to redefine divisions in the international working class. The working class has no country, and national boundries will be eliminated. We must encourage and develop international solidarity which will one day lay the basis for a global social revolution.
Workers Self-Organization
Workers self-organization is essential to social revolution. It originates from the actions and interests of workers, not laws and regulations. The basis of workers organization is direct democracy: in opposition to hierarchy, workers must directly and equally participate in any decision that affects them; direct action: not an appeal to power, but the seizure of power by workers through strikes, slowdowns, sabotage and expropriation; and solidarity: the mutual aid of workers in struggle, to the highest degree possible. In the creation and transformation of these workers organizations we encourage and support maximum tactical flexibility.
Social Revolution
We recognize that any deeply entrenched system based on power and privelege will not allow itself to be peacefully abolished. True liberation can only be attained by social revolution. For us, the concept of a social revolution is not an abstract metaphor, rather, a very real social war against every form of oppression. While we don't fetishize violence or armed struggle, we understand it will require revolutionary force on the part of the working class to bring about social emancipation. Such a revolutionary situation can only emerge from social movements and the autonomous activity of the working class. We advocate radicalization of every struggle. By means of this radicalization and of our involvement in the various resistance movements in which we participate, we encourage the development of an autonomous class consciousness, the only safeguard against political recuperation.
Anarchist Organization
We defend, everywhere and always, the autonomous organization and revolutionary self-activity of the working class. We believe that, if only to wage the battle of ideas, anarchist organizations are necessary. We reject the vision which reduces the idea of revolution to the authoritarian seizure of power by a centralized party believing to be acting in the name of the masses. We know that this vision has led to bloody dictatorships and has nothing to do with socialism. The anarchist organization is neither a party, nor a self-proclaimed vanguard, but an active minority in the working class. It is a rallying point taking part in the theoretical and practical fight against all authoritarian ideology.
Internationalism
We are internationalists based in the northeastern region of North America, and recognize that a social revolution must be global if it is to succeed. We develop and maintain international relationships, solidarity, and discussions to build a united revolutionary anarchist movement.
"We are communists. But our communism is not of the authoritarian school: it is anarchist communism, communism without government, free communism. It is a synthesis of two chief aims pursued by humanity since the dawn of history - economic freedom and political freedom." -- Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921)
Despite the recent resurgence of militant left-activism and a growing interest in anarchist theory and practice, very little has been accomplished in the way of revolutionary anarchist organization here in North America. Since the collapse of Love & Rage over two years ago, few attempts have been made to fill the void left behind. If anarchism is to develop into a serious revolutionary movement, it is important that we begin to establish revolutionary organizations that are capable of maximizing the political impact of militant class struggle anarchist ideas and action within social movements and popular struggles. For the past several months, a number of anarchist-communists from the northeastern region have been networking around the need for such an organization.
From April 7-9, the Northeastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (NEFAC) was officially launched at a conference held in Boston, Massachusetts. For three days, over two dozen anarchists met extensively, discussing the need for more theoretical coherence, tactical unity and collective responsibility within the growing anarchist movement, and collectively working together in establishing a regional anarchist-communist federation based around these principles here in the northeast.
Though the group was limited in what could be accomplished over just one weekend, participants were able to formally adopt a 13-point 'Aims & Principles' statement for the federation (or at least a draft version to be refined at the next conference) and lay down the initial groundwork for an internal organizational structure. By the end of the weekend it was decided that a follow-up conference would be planned for August in order to consolidate and expand on the work that was accomplished at this founding conference.
It was agreed that the basic structure of NEFAC would consist of a membership based on active collectives, affinity groups and individuals from the region who identify with the communist tradition within anarchism. The activity of the federation will be organized around three poles: study and theoretical development; anarchist agitation and propaganda; and intervention within the class struggle. Overall, the federation is not intended to act as a mass organization in itself, but rather as a militant anarchist minority working within existing social movements and popular struggles in an effort to radicalize them, while simultaneously furthering a specifically communist perspective within the general anarchist movement.
In an effort to organize across national and linguistic borders, NEFAC will maintain both French and English sections, uniting predominantly English-speaking anarchist-communists from northeastern U.S. with French-speaking Quebecois anarchist-communists. From now until August, the Sabate Anarchist Group (Boston) and Groupe Anarchiste Emile Henry (Quebec) will act as the respective English and French speaking "coordinating collectives" responsible for the administrative task of registering new members within NEFAC (only official members will have voting privileges and decision making capabilities at the next conference). A general election will be held in August in order to fill administrative positions within the federation for the next year.
To receive a copy of the NEFAC 'Aims & Principles', the draft constitution, and information on how to apply for membership within the federation, contact:
Sabate Anarchist Group
PO Box 230685
Boston, MA 02123, USA
or
Groupe Anarchiste Emile-Henry
C.P. 55051
138 St-Vallier O.
Quebec (QC), G1K 1J0, Canada
Initiative for a
North-Eastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (NEFAC)
(or On The Need For Organization in Order to Combat the Piss-Poor State
of the North American Anarchist Movement)
Since publishing the 'Initiative for a New England Anarchist Communist Federation' in WE DARE BE FREE #4, as well as posting it on various anarchist list serves, a majority of interest has come from outside of the New England region -- most notably Quebec City, Montreal, NYC, Baltimore and Morgantown, WV. For anyone who is interested, we are expanding our organizing efforts to include anarchist-communists from the entire Northeastern region of North America (northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada). Anarchist-communist affinity groups, collectives and individuals from this region are strongly encouraged to get in touch in order to further organizing efforts.
With discontent growing steadily on a global level we can see spontaneous manifestations of anti-Capitalist struggle in the form of scattered strikes, riots, protests, and in some areas, full fledged uprisings. Conditions are getting worse and worse for the oppressed, and the confirmed bankruptcy of authoritarian-Marxist movements leaves anarchists an important task to fulfill. With this opportunity staring us in the face, the question that should be asked amongst ourselves is -- Are we able to fulfill this task? Giving an honest evaluation of the anarchist movement as it now stands, I would have to answer No.
The movement, as we know it, is hardly more than a cluttered assortment of individuals and small groupings possessing differing, and often times contradictory, ideas of what anarchism is and not having the slightest clue as to the actual realization of these ideas. For all too long a majority of North American anarchists have shied away from the subject of organization, and judging from the size, sustainability and effectiveness of the anarchist movements here in the States, Canada and Mexico, I would say that this is a foremost problem to overcome.
To build the sort of anarchist movement that is required to take a prominent role within the global struggle, North American anarchists must start to seriously address the necessity for revolutionary anarchist organizations and federations. With this in mind, we have drafted a proposal for creating such a federation, which would encompass anarchist-communists from the notheastern region of the U.S. (Maine to D.C.) and eastern Canada who acknowledge this need for anarchist organization, and wish to directly participate in its formation.
Why build an anarchist federation? Because the achievement of an anarchist future will remain an impossibility unless we actively organize to make it reality. I believe that for our efforts of anti-capitalist and anti-statist struggle to be effective, we will need organization, coordination, and collective strength amongst ourselves, without which, we can hardly be perceived as any sort of threat to the ruling class. History has shown that without careful planning and organization, any kind of serious challenge to the dominant ruling power has proven easily defeated or else easily co-opted.
On top of the general arguments for an anarchist federation, we must also take into consideration how often committed revolutionaries and activists overlook anarchism as a viable alternative to authoritarian-socialism simply because of what they perceive as lack of seriousness on the part of the anarchists themselves. Much of what we would define as the authoritarian left -- Marxist-Leninists, Socialists, Maoists, Trotskyites, etc, -- is comprised of a rank-and-file membership, who, a decent percentage of which, probably knows fuck-all about the politics of the groups they are apart of as compared to the varying opposing leftist groupings that they are not a part of. Some very dedicated activists (workers, students, etc.) join these groups, oftentimes strongly disagreeing with many policies and central beliefs held by the groups, because they see them as at least serious about working towards the abolition of capitalism, the end of wage slavery, etc. These are people who are often quite sympathetic to the ideas of anarchism, but see it as a pipedream that attracts a core of people with neither the seriousness nor the inclination for its realization. In other words, they are not prepared to waste their time amongst a bunch of dreamers when social, political and economic oppression is a reality that seriously effects their lives -- they are going to put their energy behind what they feel can actually make a difference in the direction of radical social change (even if it doesnt correspond 100% with their own ideas of freedom and equality).
Through organized regional anarchist federations, I believe that we can work towards dispelling the stereotype of the anarchist as the hopeless dreamer, and start to be seen as a strong and desirable revolutionary force.
Why form a regional federation over, say, a continental, nationwide, or coastal federation? One of the biggest problems that North American anarchists face is the sizable geographic region of North America itself. To have semi-regular meetings or conferences that would effect the whole federation is asking alot of people in the way of travel, time off work, expenses, etc. A practical solution to this problem is to federate regionally. Once a few regional federations are established, than we can talk about organizing nationally.
Why build a specifically anarchist-communist federation? Of the various forms of revolutionary class struggle anarchism, we see anarchist-communism as offering the highest degree of social, political and economic freedom. This is not to discount the many important contributions that other tendencies within the anarchist movement have put forward in advancing anarchist theory and practice, and hopefully this call for organizing a specifically anarchist-communist federation will not be interpreted as an act of sectarianism on our part. We are not blind as to who are our allies in the struggle and who are our enemies. We wish to remain in full solidarity with other varying tendencies within the revolutionary anarchist movement, however, just as most anarcho-syndicalists effectively organize themselves within groups such as the I.W.W. or the I.W.A, we feel that it is equally important for anarchist-communists to have a federation structure in order to more effectively organize with one and other.
What sort of structure would a Northeastern Anarchist-Communist Federation take? Well, ideally we would agree upon a broad set of politics and strategy that provides a large degree of freedom for individual groups and members within the Federation. The only limit to this freedom of course being that what every individual does will have an effect on the rest of the federation. Therefore members have a great amount of freedom in what they do locally in their own cities and communities, but their overall responsibility is to the rest of the members. Decisions that effect the Federation as a whole would be decided at regional congresses, where each participating member would have an equal say and resolutions would be passed in a directly democratic manner. Decisions may be hotly debated, but at the end of the day the conference decision would be final (at least until it is overturned by participants of the federation at a later conference). It is through this tactical and theoretical unity that the Federation will build its strength. The key of any anarchist organization is to maintain efficiency while also maintaining as much a sense of direct democracy and bottom-up organization.
The Federation, by definition, is a freely associating group, made up of many smaller groups. These groups would be encouraged to organize their own local campaigns, protests, solidarity actions, prisoner support, study groups, projects, bulletins, lectures, etc. that would be beneficial to their given area. Decentralized action and initiative is one of the great strengths of the anarchist movement, and this autonomy should not be stifled in anyway.
All spokespersons, secretaries, laborers, etc, would be held accountable to the entire membership of the Federation, and no position of power within the Federation could become permanent. Federations also need to maintain a constant flow of information, communication and ideas within itself and should definitely not be allowed to become rigid or resistant to change as the needs of the membership change.
The beauty of anarchist organization is that no structures are permanent and can be dissolved when the members no longer feel the need to maintain it!
Their are many good examples of anarchist federations that we should all study for ideas and examples. From the Jura Federation (anarchist split from the First International -- later 1880s) to the C.N.T. / F.A.I. of the Spanish Civil War. From long-since defunct federations such as the Anarchist Communist Federation of North America to more recently defunct federations such as Love & Rage (North America) and Class War (U.K.) to the many thriving federations and organizations in various parts of the world, such as the Anarchist Communist Federation (U.K.), the Workers Solidarity Movement (Ireland), the I.W.W. and the I.W.A. (International), The French-Speaking Anarchist Federation (France and Belgium), The Awareness League (Nigeria), The Federation Anarchista Italia (Italy), etc. These groups produce plenty of literature about themselves and how they function, and it would be very beneficial for us all to study exactly what it is that works for each organization and what does not, how effective they are, why some have remained effective while others have failed, and how we can apply these various models to the northeastern region of North America.
We will be producing basic study guides with contributions from many of these federations in order to generate ideas, criticisms and general discussion amongst ourselves, and to hopefully lay further groundwork in the direction of getting a federation off the ground.
In closing we would like to strongly encourage responses from anyone who would be interested in taking this proposal to the next step -- namely organizing a regional conference this summer and getting down to business!
2. FOUNDING CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR APRIL 7-9 2000
Alright, after almost a year since the initial proposal to form this federation was printed, and a few months of getting our shit together on this discussion list, we are finally having our official NEFAC founding conference. For the weekend of April 7-9, we will be meeting here in Beantown to collectively participate in establishing this federation, covering everything from organizational structure, to deciding on a politically defining "aims and principles", to discussing the sorts of activity we hope to engage in with this federation, to, well, a whole lot more...
For anyone looking to attend this conference, we want you to write in and register with those of us from SABATE, since we are the host collective (no, a simple email will not suffice). Basically, we need to know:
Beyond this information, we are asking people to send us $2 in order to receive the Conference Discussion Packet that we are working on, which will include materials that are extremely relevant to this conference. We want everyone who will be attending to have active participation within the conference discussions, and we feel that the best way to encourge this participation is by everyone having the opportunity to study these documents which cover many aspects of revolutionary anarchist organization and the rough "aims and principles" that have been drafted on the NEFAC discussion list.
Further information about the conference will be included within the packet (such as a "welcoming point" to receive the weekend's conference program, meeting places, times, etc.).
Please send all your information (and your $2) to:
SABATE ANARCHIST GROUP
c/o WE DARE BE FREE
PO BOX 230685
BOSTON, MA 02123
U.S.A.
3. OLD AIMS AND PRINCIPLES
- SUPERCEDED AT AUGUST 2000 FOLLOW-UP CONFERENCE
1) The Northeastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (NEFAC) is an organization of revolutionary activists coming from different movements of resistance who identify with the communist tradition within anarchism. The activity of the federation is organized around three poles: study and theoretical development; anarchist agitation and propaganda; and intervention in the struggle of our class, be it autonomously or by way of direct involvement in social movements.
2) As anarchist-communists we are opposed to capitalism. Capitalism inherently divides society into two main social classes: a small, elite, wealthy ruling class, and a large, exploited working class (between these two classes there also exists a stratum of people who receive social privileges for serving the interests of the ruling class, and acting as the primary buffer between the antagonistic social classes). Through an unequal social development and antagonistic class interests, a permanent class struggle exists between these two main social classes. The ruling class owns or controls the means of production and distribution, and are thereby able to monopolize the wealth in which they played no part in producing. Their ownership of these two primary functions of society further enables the ruling class to focus production toward their own interests (increased profits for a minority elite) without regard to the needs of society as a whole. All of this means, among other things, that those of us who are not part of the ruling class are forced to sell or rent our labor, whether physical or intellectual, for a wage or salary, in order to survive. Thus we are trapped in what can be called, in a very literal sense, wage slavery. Therefore, not only are wage workers dispossessed as a class of what they produce (social wealth), but as individuals they also have no control over their work, which they become alienated from.
3) We are also opposed to all forms of Statism, or government. The purpose of any State, whether "representative democracies" or totalitarian dictatorships, is to administrate society in a way that ensures that the privileges of the ruling class are upheld. In order to accomplish this, the State must centralize and monopolize power through a complex network of political, legislative, judiciary, military, and financial institutions that are rooted deeply in civil society, or else delegate this monopoly to "the private sector". This control extends also to the institutions which form the consciousness and opinions of society at large, creating a virtual ideological hegemony. These tendencies result in all power being removed from ordinary citizens, and leads to a society based on hierarchy. Furthermore, by placing itself outside, yet in control of, society, the State negates the social and political potential of society, and transforms all logical social functions into bureaucratic State functions.
4) In addition to both capitalism and the State, there is also another pillar of oppression within class society that we oppose: patriarchy. This system maintains the domination of males and the oppression of women and children. It regulates human sexuality and imposes oppressive sexual models which adds to the oppression of women, children, and even some men [rather than "some men", do you think it would be better to put "queers, and transgendered" here?]. In putting the emphasis on the inequality of sexual gender instead of the unique character of each individuals in the socialization of human being, patriarchy is responsible for the first step leading to total reification: the transformation of each and everything into commodity.
5) Exploitation and oppression are also expressed through social inequalities and hierarchies based on race and ethnic origin. Like patriarchy, these forms of social oppression are used to divide and weaken the working class and must be opposed at every level. Although these forms of oppression are indeed perpetuated by capitalism and class society, they will not necessarily end with the abolition of capitalist social structuring. We support those from our class who may find it necessary to organize autonomously within the revolutionary movement around specific forms of social liberation.
6) In addition to perpetuating class divisions, poverty and exploitation by prioritizing profits over people, capitalism also threatens to destroy the planet through ecological destruction by placing profits before the environment. Because of the base aim of production under capitalism (profiteering), capitalists are forced to produce goods in massive quantities to keep overall costs at a minimum, thereby boosting their profit margin. This logic, called productivism, is at the core of the ecological nightmare we are quickly approaching. This destructive order only serves to benefit a minority of wealthy elite. Meanwhile, we are left to endure the effects of increasing ecological devastation (and subsequent risks to our health). The society we envision is inherently linked to the natural world it inhabits, where our needs and desires must be realized through ecological sustainability.
7) Capitalism further endangers the world and humanity through imperialism, and its manifestation as war. Imperialism expresses itself in two different manners: one uses brute force through direct State military intervention, while the other uses economic coercion through transnational financial institutions. As anarchist-communists, we are opposes to both forms of imperialism.
8) We do not support the ideology of national liberation movements, as they seek to replace a foreign elite with a domestic ruling class, changing nothing for the oppressed majority. Although we support struggles against political and economic imperialism, in order to achieve genuine liberation these struggles must pursue a complete transformation of the social and economic order: a social revolution. We further reject all forms of nationalism, as these ideologies serve only to divide the working class against itself. In order to build an effective revolutionary anarchist movement, we must encourage and develop international solidarity which will one day lay the basis for a global social revolution
9) Trade unions, while sometimes practical for gaining small advances in living and working conditions, can never initiate social revolution. Trade unions are confined by laws and labor regulations, restricting them to mere bargaining mechanisms between workers and bosses (class collaboration). In contrast, we encourage and support autonomous actions, wildcat strikes and workers' councils that are controlled directly by the workers themselves. These methods of organization are more responsive to the workers' wants and needs, and allow those involved to further develop class-consciousness that solidarity and direct action bring.
10) As anarchist-communists, we want an egalitarian society that is classless and non-hierarchical in character: a society that would be economically communist and politically anarchist; an international confederation of radically democratic and self managed communities; a society where all industries, means of production and distribution will be socialized and placed under the management of those working in them; a society that will abolish all forms of markets and exchange value in favor of the subordination of the economy to the satisfaction of human needs, adhering to the communist principle: "From each according to ability, to each according to need".
11) Such a society can only be attained by a social revolution. For us, the concept of the social revolution is not some abstract metaphor, but rather a physical, material and very real social war against class society, capitalism, the State, patriarchy, racism, and all other forms of oppression. Such a revolution would obviously require the most careful strategic judgement, profound theoretical understanding, and dedicated revolutionary organizations to be effectively carried out. While we don't fetishize violence or armed struggle, we recognize that any deeply entrenched system based on power and privilege will not allow itself to be quietly abolished. It will require revolutionary force on the part of the working class to bring about social emancipation. Such a revolutionary situation can only emerge, according to us, from social movements. That's why we advocate radicalization (which means going to the root of the problem) in every struggle. By means of this radicalization, and of our involvement in the various movements of resistance in which we participate as anarchist-communists, we look to encourage the development of an autonomous class-consciousness, the only safe guard against any sort of political recuperation.
12) As anarchists, we are opposed to authoritarianism, as much by principle as by necessity. Any revolution will have to prevent the rising of a new elite, bureaucracy, or ruling class. That's why we believe that the only path to human liberation lies in the self-organization, and self management, of working class revolutionary activity, be it by means of a system of councils, or any other means that may arise from the popular imagination. We defend, everywhere and always, the autonomous organization and revolutionary self-activity of the working class. Unlike some anarchists, this does not mean that we reject political organizations in favor of popular organizations that would be enough in and of themselves. We believe that, if only to wage the battle of ideas, anarchist organizations are necessary. What we reject is the vision of the "political-party-guide-of-the-masses", a vision which reduces the idea of revolution to the authoritarian seizure of power by a centralized party believing to be acting in the name of the masses. We know that this vision has led to bloody dictatorships that have nothing to do with socialism. With no interest in the seizure of power, the anarchist organization is neither a party, nor a self-proclaimed vanguard, but rather an active minority in the midst of the working class. It serves as an anarchist rallying point, and to take part in the theoretical and practical fight against all authoritarian ideology.
13) Although we are based in the northeastern region of North America, we are internationalists and recognize that a social revolution must be global if it is to succeed. Therefore, we work to develop and maintain international relationships, solidarity and discussion in order to build a united revolutionary anarchist movement.
4. DRAFT CONSTITUTION DOCUMENT FOR DISCUSSION AT FOUNDING CONFERENCE
Northeastern Federation of Anarchist Communists
Constitution proposal for the founding conference
FIRST DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION ON THE LIST
--> Constitution proposed by the Groupe anarchiste Emile-Henry (Quebec)
1) Preamble
2) Organizational principles
3) Membership
4) Federal structures
5) Regional structures
6) By-laws
1) Preamble
NEFAC is an organization of revolutionary activists coming from different
movements of resistance who identify with the communist tradition in
anarchism. The activity of the Federation is organized around three
poles: study and theoretical development, anarchist agitation and
propaganda, and intervention in the struggle of our class, be it
autonomously or by way of direct involvement in social movements.
Note: To know more on the aims and principles of the Federation, one
should read the document by the same name.
2) Organizational principles
"Anarchy is organization, organization and more organization"
-Errico Malatesta
The Federation recognizes that to be efficient an anarchist organization
we must adopt a number of organizational principles. Here are those to
which we give a special importance.
a) Theoretical and Tactical Unity
Many political tendencies are present within anarchism and this is in
part what make's it so rich. However, when we it is no longer strictly a
question of making the propaganda of ideas but of passing to action,
practice proves that theoretical and tactical unity is necessary. While
the Federation does not reject the positive additions that other currents
and tendencies have made both to the class struggle and to anarchism, it
identifies as anarchist communist and organizes on the basis of this
specific tradition and program. The document entitled "aims and
principles" constitutes the basis of our theoretical and tactical unity.
Note: Considering that the Federation covers a relatively large
geographical territory, encompassing different languages, cultures,
legislation and activist traditions, it goes without saying that the
principles of theoretical and tactical unity must apply in a loose manner
and can only constitute a general frame-work guiding the activity of
members.
b) Federalism and direct democracy
Anarchists think that means must determine ends. So the Federation
organizes itself according to it's ideal of how society as a whole should
be organized, that is to say in a federalist manner and according to the
principles of direct democracy.
Note: Federalism implies that each local group or individual member keeps
their organizational and political autonomy and so is the only
responsible judge of the way decisions and the general tactical line of
the Federation should be implemented. So, as long as they respect the
decision and the position taken by the Federation, the members are
totally free to act as they see fit within this framework.
c) Collective Responsibility
In accepting collective political positions and a determined line of
action, it is evident that it is for each member to apply it in its
political work. What's more, if we have agreed on work to be done and on
a way to do it, we become responsible, to each other, of its execution.
This collective responsibility is nothing more the collective method of
action.
3) Membership
The Federation recognizes two types of membership, collective and
individual. However, since the anarchist communist vision of society and
revolutionary activity are in essence fundamentally collective,
individual membership can only be seen as a temporary measure. It's the
individual duty, and they will have all the help of the Federation to
this end, to join or form new groups.
a) Members
A member is defined as any group or individual that agrees with the
positions and orientations of the Federation, fulfills the expectations
of membership, and whose candidature has been accepted by a Federation
conference.
b) Supporter
A supporter is any group or individual who agrees with the positions and
orientations of the Federation but cannot (or do not want to) fulfill the
membership expectations, whose candidature have been accepted by a
conference and who pay the annual dues fixed by the conference. Right
now, the annual due is of $25 for individuals and $50 for groups. The
dues gives access to all publications of the Federation.
c) Members expectations
Resignation: any member, group or individual, who chooses not to fulfill
the Members expectation for more than 3 consecutive months, is believed
to have resigned. The member will be contacted by the federal executive
to be informed that if he or she does not regularize the situation within
a set period of time, he or she will lose the status of member. Any
member can also signify their resignation of the Federation by writing,
however the dues are not reimbursed.
Note: It is up to each group, if only to adjust its level of due, to
inform the federal executive of any resignation.
Expulsion: any member, group or individual, who break in a grave manner
with the minimal activist ethic or breaks the contract that ties the
members of the Federation by actions that go against the principles put
forward by the organization can be expelled. The process to follow is the
same as with adhesion, that is to say that the facts are brought to the
attention of the federal executive who issues a suspension motion. An
expulsion motion will be sent to the next conference, the motion must
explain the reason why the expulsion is required. The said member can
then come and defend their point at the conference, and a decision will
be made. Any member of the forces of repression, any collaborator with
the forces of repression, any person who is also a member of a party or
political organization whose aim is the seizure of power, and any person
who joined with hostile motives toward the Federation will be
automatically expelled without any other formality. In such a case, the
person will still be free to come and explain themselves to a conference
and ask again to join the Federation if they judge that the federal
executive or the group that ask for their expulsion was wrong in doing
so.
Note: it is up to the groups to define the means of expulsion in there
midst.
4) Federal structures
The Federation adopts for it's working the principles of direct democracy
and federalism. It means that every decision is taken after the
exhausting of the debate at a conference (by a vote when necessary, on
the principle of 'one member, one vote', by consensus most of the time).
Every decision made in a conference is final, immediately applicable and
ties to the membership. Only a new conference can reverse a decision
taken that way. Every working policy and ways of functioning of the
organization are adopted at conferences and therefore apply to all.
However, anarchists know too well that the presence of a majority and a
minority does not necessarily mean that majority are right and the
minority wrong. That's why any anarchist organization should favor a
process that permits a minority, while still being bound to decisions
taken by the organization, to defend it's point of view into the
organization even if it was over-ruled in a conference. In our case, the
internal bulletin and the electronic discussion list exist precisely to
this end. In any case, an anarchist organization must minimally be an
environment where sectarianism is discouraged and dialogue encouraged an
environment where an atmosphere of true camaraderie reign.
a) Conference
The higher decision making body of the Federation is the conference which
is composed of every members of the Federation, supporters and observer
invited to this end. During the conference, only the members have the
right to vote and to present some propositions, but the supporters have
the right to speak, an indicative right to vote and are not excluded in
case of [a closed-meeting]. A quorum of 50% of all the members + 1 is
necessary for the conference to be decisional (this rule applies to all
the bodies of the Federation).
The conference is a place to discuss the analysis of the conjuncture. It
opens with a detail report of activity of each committee of the
Federation and of each member group. It's the conference who adopts the
position and orientations of the Federation, the general tactical line
and the plan of action.
The conference meets at least once a year in a place preferably
determined by the precedent conference. The process to call a conference
is the following:
Four months before the chosen date for the conference, a special
committee is formed to prepare the conference. This committee will have
the responsibility to produce 4 issues of a special monthly bulletin. The
aim of this bulletin will be to share the analysis of the different
members, the report of activity and to start the discussion on a draft of
plan of actions, positions and orientations to adopt. This bulletin will
only be sent to members and supporters of the Federation. A last issue
will be published after the conference; this issue will be made of all
the texts adopted during the conference and will be distributed more
widely to any person or group who wish to know more on the state of the
Federation.
Holding regular conferences generates various relatively high fees that
can eventually discourage the participation to these meetings. That's why
the Federation adopts the following way to share the fees. First off,
registration fees will be charged to all participants to cover the costs
of the organizing committee (production of documents, renting of rooms
and place to sleep, food, etc.). Then, at the end of the conference,
members and supporters will share the traveling cost; that is to say they
will add all of their bills and will divide them by the number of
participants. The goal is to share the costs in an egalitarian manner to
insure that it doesn't cost more to those that live farther away from the
meeting place. Of course, we are expecting every one to organize to
reduce the costs to a minimum !!
In case of emergency, or if one third of the members petition for it, the
federal executive must call a special conference. A call is then sent to
all the members and sympathizers, this call must be composed of a text
explaining the reason of the special conference and an agenda that have
only one item, the reason of the call. This call must be sent 14 days
before the date of the special conference. If this delay is too long (in
case of a declaration of war or a coup d'tat for example), it is also
possible to call, within a delay of 72 hours, a meeting of mandated group
delegates which, exceptionally, have full power but whose decision must
be ratified at a latter normal conference.
b) work committee
All the permanent tasks in the midst of the Federation are of a purely
executive nature, and must submit to a clear mandate and the comrades who
fill them are revocable at any moment. The same rules apply to
delegations. Without making it a formal functioning rule, the Federation
is generally in favor of the rotation of task.
i) federal executive
The federal executive aim is to administer the Federation between
conferences. It is composed of two secretariats, one English-speaking and
one French-speaking; both designated by the conference. There are seven
tasks to fulfill -- two internal relation's secretaries, two
international relations secretaries, two treasurers, and one person
responsible of the electronic discussion list. The executives have,
among other things, a function to execute mandates given to them by the
conference, to produce regularly an internal bulletin in both language of
the Federation, to look after the payment of dues and to the correct
administration of the Federation funds, and to insure that the Federation
maintains good international relations. The executives have no power of
political initiative, any decision that is not of a strictly
administrative or executive nature must necessarily be taken by the
members who will be able to express themselves on these questions through
the internal bulletin or the discussion list.
ii) other committees
When it is judged as being necessary, the Federation conference can also
create working committees and mandate comrades for the realization of
special projects. These committees are submitted to the same rules as the
executives and delegations.
c) Internal bulletin and electronic discussion list
To insure a good internal communication, the Federation produces an
internal bulletin and an electronic discussion list. The aims of these
tools are to insure a lively and constant debate as well as updated
information to members. To this end it is asked of members and supporter
groups to distribute on a monthly basis a short report of their activity
and on a 3 months basis a more detailed one. The internal bulletin
(except in the case of the special conference bulletin) is only sent to
members and supporters who don't have access to the internet. The
bulletin will be published every other week and will be composed of all
texts that where distributed on the electronic discussion list.
The electronic discussion list and the internal bulletin serve also as a
means to consult the members between conferences. The process to follow
in this case is simple; it's the same as with a regular assembly (but
with longer delay, of course). A proposal must be made by a member (no
seconding is needed), and then a period of discussion is open. After a
delay of 15 days after the publication of the proposal in the internal
bulletin, a vote can be taken. The member then has until the next
bulletin dead line to cast a ballot. Decisions taken this way have the
same value that those taken in a normal meeting.
d) language policy
Since the Federation is composed of members from both French-speaking and
English-speaking communities, all the official documents of the
Federation, all the text of proposal and all the pre-conference material
must be available in both languages. For the rest, it is up to each group
to distribute the information in the appropriate language. Also, the dues
paid by each language community must be used to generate propaganda in
the language of the population into which they intervene.
Revolutionary politics not being a hobby but a life choice, the members
of the Federation agreed on the following membership expectations:
d) Adhesion process
If only for a security reason, we cannot accept just any one in the
Federation or just any way. Here's the adhesion process:
d) Expulsion and resignation
To do this, the said group must send a written request of adhesion to the
federal executive. If the request is accepted, the group will become a
supporter group. Then, it will have a year to prove that it can fulfill
the Membership expectations that are asked of every Federations member.
At the first conference after the end of this probation period, the
supporter group can either ask for it's definitive adhesion, in which
case it will be up to the conference to take a decision, or choose to
stay a supporter group.
To do this the said individual must send a written request of adhesion to
the federal executive. If it's request is accepted, the individual will
then become a supporter and the federal executive will put him or her in
contact with the closest group to him/her. The group will then decide
what will follow.
If there is no close group, or if the closest group refuse any new
adhesion for a reason or another, the same process as with groups how ask
to join will apply.
5. DRAFT CALL FOR A REVOLUTIONARY ANTI-CAPITALIST BLOC IN WASHINGTON DC ON A16 (APRIL 9-16 2000)
Due to differences in politics, tactics, and organizing principles with the current direct action networks that are springing up throughout the world, we are calling for an organized bloc of all stripes of anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, revolutionaries at the upcoming demonstrations against the IMF/World Bank. We are not, however, calling for a strictly anarchist black bloc. We want to open the call to those "outside of anarchism", comrades who struggle for much the same truly revolutionary anti-capitalist goals that we do: the abolition of capitalism, the state, and all forms of hierarchy and oppression. Our intent is not to be divisive of the larger protest but to more effectively support it by organizing autonomously. We feel that it is necessary to organize separately as autonomists, anarchists, anti-state libertarian marxists, wobblies, council communists, etc., for a number of reasons:
The reformist message of fair trade, not free trade, and all of the talk about pruning and fixing that was in the streets in Seattle and has subsequently been pushed in the organizing of the A16 demo as well as within the larger anti-globalization movement is unacceptable. While we realize the need to combat the issues that effect our daily lives and those of our comrades the world over, this must be done within a larger anti-capitalist, revolutionary critique that doesnt stop with single-issue struggles.
National protectionism and calls for national sovereignty, which pit the international working class against itself, cannot be tolerated. One nation-state is just as bad as any other nation-state, and so we have to agitate for the abolition of all of them. We are internationalists and therefore, regardless of political borders, see the need to globalize resistance to all of capitalism.
We cannot accept the active participation of cops and/or peacekeepers in this or any other movement, protest, or demonstration. Those whose job it is to protect the ruling class interests cannot be trusted to simultaneously support us. While our main goal is to shut down the IMF/World Bank meeting, it is quite predictable that the cops will aggressively attack those actions, immediately drawing lines between the protesters on one hand, and the cops, police liaisons, and peacekeepers on the other. We do not support collaboration with the enemy at large and they should not be invited nor supported at this demonstration. These and other authoritarian turns that the organizers have taken are extremely dismaying to us and begin to show hastily covered fractures among those of us working to make this demonstration happen.
We can not work with people who dictate what tactics are and are not appropriate. No one should be pretending to own this movement or this demo. Unfortunately, to disallow participation because of opposition to tactics and actions that arent solely symbolic betrays a reformist agenda from the get-go. We are not advocating for any particular tactic; we are simply defending the individuals right to act autonomously however they see fit against our real enemies. If aggressive self-defense or property destruction is unacceptable to some then they shouldnt engage in it.
This is a call for more active participation of anarchist and other like-minded revolutionaries in the entire anti-globalization movement to counter reformist perspectives and goals with revolutionary, anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian actions and ideas. At A16 we envision an active and creative contingent of revolutionaries marching under black, red & black, and green & black flags, anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian banners, and a hail of revolutionary drumbeats. We are mobilizing marching bands, radical cheerleaders, and planning a whole assortment of highly organized creative mayhem! To all of our comrades who support this call, we encourage you to get in touch, endorse it, and take to the streets with your anti-capitalist imaginations and desires!
Do not let the blows against this capitalist system cease! From the streets of Seattle, to Washington, DC, may our resistance be as transnational as capital!
SOLIDARITY AND REVOLUTION!
Signed,
Nosotros Group (Baltimore, MD), Group Anarchiste Emile-Henry (Quebec), Active Transformation (Detroit-East Lansing, MI), Global Action (Eugene, OR), Mutual Aid Legal Defense (Seattle, WA), We Dare Be Free (Boston, MA), Sabate (Boston, MA), Lancaster ABC-SG (Lancaster, PA), Flint Jones - Northeast Regional Delegate of the Workers Solidarity Alliance (WSA-IWA), Morgantown Anarchist Group (Morgantown, WV), Prole Revolt (Morgantown, WV), Mid-Atlantic Infoshop (Washington, DC)
For general information about the protest see www.A16.org To get involved with the revolutionary bloc contact:
Nosotros Group
PO Box 65341
Baltimore, MD 21209
USA
email: mailto:DURRUTI36@aol.com
6. SOLIDARITY STATEMENT TO THE ANTI-WTO ANARCHIST BLACK BLOC
The World Trade Organization (WTO), an international decision-making body and enforcement agency for unrestricted global capitalism, met recently in Seattle, Washington for its Third Ministerial Conference. The WTO is a 133-nation governmental organization, which favors multinational corporations, exploits farmers, supports child slavery, denies workers' rights, and destroys environments around the globe. On November 30th, as delegates were scheduled to begin the opening ceremonies of the week-long conference, they were met by tens of thousands of protestors who not only prevented the WTO's opening ceremonies from taking place, but also managed to shut down the entire downtown shopping district of Seattle for the better part of the day. This was achieved by the use of large-scale festive resistance, innovative protest tactics, and solidarity amongst the varying constituencies of demonstrators.
As activists built effective blockades and successfully occupied street after street throughout the day, the police responded with the unprovoked use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades, pain-compliance holds, and clubbings, thus forcing a volatile situation into a series of riotous street battles. As part of the more militant forms of protest, a loosely organized cluster of individuals and affinity groups known as the anarchist black bloc, engaged in various forms of economic disruption by destroying specifically targeted corporate property. The corporations targeted included: NikeTown and Levi's (whose overpriced products are made in sweatshops), Fidelity Investment (major investor in Occidental Petroleum, the bane of the U'wa tribe in Columbia), the Bank of America, U.S. Bancorp, Key Bank, and Washington Mutual Bank (financial institutions key in the expansion of corporate repression), among others.
The ACME Collective, in their communique on the Black Bloc, said it best by stating:
"As anarchists, we contend that property destruction is not a violent activity unless it destroys lives or causes pain in the process. By this definition, private property-- especially corporate private property - is itself infinitely more violent than any action taken against it.
Private property should be distinguished from personal property. The latter is based upon use, while the former is based upon trade. The premise of personal property is that each of us has what s/he needs. The premise of private property is that each of us has something that someone else needs or wants. In a society based on private property rights, those who are able to amass more of what others need or want have greater power. By extension, they wield greater control over what others perceive as needs and desires, usually in the interest of increasing profit to themselves.
Advocates of "free trade" would like to see this process to its logical conclusion: a network of a few industry monopolists with ultimate control over the lives of everyone else. Advocates of "fair trade" would like to see this process mitigated by government regulations meant to superficially impose basic humanitarian standards. As anarchists, we despise both positions. Private property-- and capitalism, by extension-- is intrinsically violent and repressive and cannot be reformed or mitigated. Whether the power of everyone is concentrated into the hands of a few corporate heads or diverted into a regulatory apparatus charged with mitigating the disasters of the latter, no one can be as free or as powerful as they could be in a non-hierarchical society."
We, the Initiative for a Northeastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists, express our deepest solidarity with our comrades who took it upon themselves to strike capitalism where it hurts and demonstrate to the world the important role militant resistance will play in the struggles yet to come.
Do not let the blows against this capitalist system cease! From Athens, Greece to the streets of Seattle... Our anarchist resistance is, and will continue to be, as transnational as capital!
Solidarity and Revolution,
The Initiative for a Northeastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists.
Signed,
Groupe Anarchiste Emile-Henry (Quebec), Nosotros Group (Baltimore), Prole Revolt (Morgantown, WV), We Dare Be Free (Boston), Sabate (Boston), and a number of individual revolutionary anarchist-communists from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
7. SOLIDARITY FUNDS APPEAL FOR ANARCHISTS ARRESTED IN SEATTLE
We, as active participants involved with the Initiative for a Northeastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (NEFAC), are sending an urgent appeal to donate funds in solidarity with those activists apprehended during the anti-WTO demonstrations in Seattle the week of November 30, 1999.
The Direct Action Network (DAN) Legal Defense, as well as the Mutual Aid Legal Fund, have been organizing on the west coast to secure funds to help with the legal costs associated with defending large numbers of arrestees, and in preparation for the possibility of prolonged legal battles. In addition to the hundreds of misdemeanor cases, a number of anarchists were arrested and subsequently charged with felonies. These charges, especially, will require a significant amount of financial support. As revolutionary anarchists, we are particularly concerned with supporting those anarchists facing the felony charges. Acts of solidarity with those who dare, whether internationally or locally, are one of the most necessary components in maintaining a strong revolutionary movement. Under no circumstances will we allow our active militants to be abandoned.
We believe that direct action against corporate property is one, often necessary, tactic in the fight against capitalism. We see an entity such as the WTO as a figurehead of the capitalist system, whose role is to strengthen the free trade agenda globally. That system is growing exponentially and must be destroyed. Therefore we support all acts of resistance taken against bodies such as the WTO, corporations and their property, and the oppressive institutions that are created as a by-product of capitalism. Likewise, we fully support any actions used in self defense against the direct physical threat of the police. Using every means at one's disposal to enage in acts of physical resistance and self defense is a desirable, and often necessary, response to the repressive violence of the State.
The Seattle based, non-profit Mutual Aid Legal Fund has been organized in part to make sure the felony anarchists receive the legal representation and legal support money that they deserve. The money NEFAC organizers collect
will be earmarked by the Mutual Aid Legal Fund for those felony cases. The Mutual Aid Legal Fund has established a bank account, accepts Canadian currency, and can be reached at: bd259@scn.org
In Canada, please send funds to:
groupe anarchiste Emile-Henry
C.P. 55051
138 St-Vallier O.
Quebec (QC) G1K 1J0
Canada
In the Eastern U.S. (and from elsewhere) please send funds to:
Seattle Legal Defense
c/o We Dare Be Free
P.O. Box 230685
Boston MA 02123
USA
Checks can be made to "We Dare Be Free," and "Groupe Emile-Henry," respectively.