Older additions to Struggle
This page is an archive of items added to Revolt before those that
appear on the 'What's New on Struggle' page
which covers the last three months. This is the index for this year,
there is also an index for 1998,
1999,
2000,
2001 and
2002
July
[Download PDF
file]
- People Power Confronts
Shell
The jailing of 5 Rossport men for refusing to allow Shell to
install a potentially lethal pipeline has suddenly focussed
attention on the whole project. But it has done more than
highlight safety issues. It has highlighted the cosy relationship
between business and the Irish State.
- Dangerous Men Loose in
Dublin
Garda Brutality : Business As Usual with the death of Donegal man
Richie Barron and other cases
- Found: CAZ and Barracka
Books share premises
New radical spaces in Cork city - The Cork Autonomous Zone (CAZ)
and Barracka Books, a workers' co-op.
- Gama Workers' Strike Wins
Back Stolen Cash
The striking Gama workers got back the part of their wages which
had been stolen by their employer and hidden in a Dutch bank; and
at the end of May they voted to accept terms relating to overtime.
A big bullying multinational construction firm had manners put on
it.
- Review: 'Anarchism
& Environmental Survival' by Graham Purchase..
The book sort of falls between the polemical and academic stools.
It's too short and under referenced to be truly academic yet lacks
the bite and poetry of good polemic. That said there are some new
and fairly fascinating ideas here.
- Irish Ferries Fly The
Jolly Roger
Agencies like CF Sharp Crew (which was Salvacion's employer by the
way) have been used by shipping companies for decades as a device
to drive down sailors' pay, and to take the blame or legal
responsibility for horror stories like Salvacion's . They operate
in countries where labour laws are so unfair and so weakly applied
that they facilitate this robbery from labour by ruthless
profit-seekers.
- The G8, Live 8, and Africa
- Taking Hypocrisy to New Levels
There is always a temptation to welcome any well intentioned
efforts to make the world a better place and those who concentrate
on criticising others' efforts to improve the world can find
themselves being easily dismissed as cynics and knockers.
- That's
capitalism
Includes Money for Bertie's make-up, Money for Bankers, Money for
Management, Money for Nothing but No money for starving children
- Anarchism and the
WSM
Recently, members of the WSM have been agitating with the Dissent
network in Scotland against the G8.We're also involved on a more
local basis, from the "stand up for your rights campaign" aimed at
unionising unorganised workers, anti-racism, and trade union
struggles.
- Thinking about
Anarchism - Social Revolution
Anarchists often talk of the 'Social Revolution' as the event
which will destroy hierarchical and exploitative institutions,
thus opening the way to living our lives according to our desires.
- INTO Branch Opposes Tactics
Of Deportation Cops
The Dublin City North Branch of the INTO has passed a motion
endorsing the call by outgoing union president, Austin Corcoran,
that all schools become safe places for all children -to be given
the status of embassies. It is hoped that more branches within the
union will take up this issue and that by next year's annual
congress a campaign will be launched in the union to make this a
reality
- Man Deported Because Of
Garda Brutality Cover up
In the early hours of May 19th Michael Alabi was deported by the
Irish State. Michael was resident of a hostel in Lower Gardiner
street and was part of a group of Nigerian men who decided to go
on hunger strike to protest against the department of Justice's
draconian immigration policies.
May
[Download the PDF
file]
- The Murder
Machine
Thousands of US soldiers desert rather than fight or die for Bush
in Iraq
- Postal Workers Under
Fire
Interview: An Post and the Threat of Privatisation I hope things
will come around and that at the end of the day we will manage to
save An Post from privatisation. You don't want to think the
opposite, because it is your job. But the truth is that all the
signs, everything is pointing the other way around.
- The great Housing rip
off
Whether we pay rent or a mortgage, the cost of keeping a roof over
our heads takes up a huge proportion of our income - those of us
who are 'lucky' enough to be in a position to do so. Everywhere we
look - both in Dublin and other cities and also in small rural
villages and towns - the skyline is dotted with cranes and houses
and apartments seem to be springing up everywhere.
- The Iraqi
'Resistance'
A Closer Look at the Forces Fighting the US in Iraq. It is clear
that there is no single 'resistance' in Iraq but rather a network
of organizations often with conflicting end goals once you look
beyond the question of removing the US presence.
- International Women's
Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is on 8th March and is an
inherently political event that started in 1910 when Clara Zetkin
proposed that it be celebrated every year around the world at the
Second International Conference of Socialist Women.
- Book Review: Peter
Kropotkin's Masterpiece 'The Conquest of Bread'
The first thing that really strikes you about the book is the
simplicity of the arguments: the author describes clearly the
basis of anarchist communism, without resorting to obscurities
which, usually, veil one's lack of arguments.
- Water Tax
They want to take more money away from us. The British government
plans to impose a water charge averaging £340 a year in
Northern Ireland. That's for 2006, and we can be sure it will rise
every year.
- Red Ink Bookshop
Review of the new Radical Bookshop in Dublin's Temple Bar
- Cork City: Culture
of Capital
A group of artists in Cork, aware of the lack of affordable work
space, took over an empty building in the centre of Cork at the
beginning of February.
- Liberty
It is often said that there are two types of liberty, positive
liberty and negative liberty, or, roughly, 'freedom to...' and
'freedom from...' This, I believe, is a false and meaningless
dichotomy
- Internet Review: Dissent
Network Against the G8
The Dissent! Network was formed to provide a networking tool to
co-ordinate radical resistance to the upcoming G8 (the 7 richest
countries in the world plus Russia) Summit in Scotland. The
network was founded in the autumn of 2003
- Getting organised for a
brighter future
We are social creatures. We cannot do many things on our own, we
flock together, and in most cases we solve our problems together.
- That's
Capitalism
Bank Robbers and Robbing Bankers - Brazen Wolves, Obedient Sheep
- Anarcho-Syndicalism:
Theory and Practice
A review of Rudolf Rocker's classic introduction to
anarcho-syndicalism.
- "If
you are not cowards, kill me!"
A review of a book about anarchist heroine Louise Michel. Edited
by a Marxist, it downplays her anarchism and reflect the usual
Marxist ignorance of anarchism and the Paris Commune.
- Inequality
kills
Welcome to modern Britain, where the difference in life expectancy
between the poorest and most affluent parts of the country is now
wider than in Victorian times.
- Yet
more Bush Hypocrisy: This time it's the Sudan
The Bush Junta is changing line on genocide by dictatorial Sudan.
Why? Intelligence sharing and oil. Scumbags.
- Testing
times
For a "damp squib," the controversy over the Attorney General's
legal advice is pretty lively. The key issue is that in his 7
March legal advice, Lord Goldsmith said that if there was no
second UN resolution authorising war against Iraq, there had to be
'hard evidence' of Iraqi 'non-compliance and non-cooperation' with
its disarmament obligations.
- Snippets
on Iraq, Blair and the war.
Why the war was apparently legal because Blair said it was, on
"democracy" in Iraq, the cost of war and why taxi drivers in
Bagdad problemly won't get a tip taking people to the airport.
April
- Now
and Then
The SWP revised history somewhat on its coverage on the 15th
anniversay of the Poll Tax Riot.
- Movie
News: V for Vendetta
Hopefully Alan Moore's classic novel about an anarchist superhero
fighting a fascist state will be turned into a good movie.
Probably not, though.
- For
war not back
A few words about the UK election. Time to spoil your ballot
paper...
- The
new Pope
Meet the new Pope, even worse than the old one!
- A
tale of two atrocities
Comparing the reporting on Saddam's mass murder compared to the
100,000 killed by Bush and Blair.
- No
news is good news...
The US State Department is not printing its annual terrorism
report. Why? because the number of terror attacks is at an
all-time high. So much for Bush's "war on terror."
- Incredible,
but true
The FBI is censoring reports released under the Freedom of
Information Act as disclosure harm the "personal privacy" of Osama
bin Laden! What does Bush have to hide?
- Just
a coincidence?
The Bush Junta has just got $500 million to build bases in Iraq.
- A modest
proposal...
MG Rover's collapse exposes the ugly face of capitalism.
Occupation to form a co-operative is the only libertarian solution
- Not
welcome Anywhere!
Bush gets booed at the Pope's funeral while in Iraq 300,000
protesters burn him in effigy. Only such mass protests backed up
by direct action can end the occupation.
- Deterring
Democracy in Iraq
How the US has ensured that democracy in Iraq does not threaten
its plans for the country.
- People Power
in Lebanon
On the protests in Lebanon and how Bush is not responsible for
them.
- Must
try harder!
While the US is happy to attack its new "democratic" regime in
Iraq for human rights abuses, it remains silent on its own.
- Priorities
and Hypocrisy
What Terri Schiavo tells us about the priorities and politics of
the republicans.
- What
a coincidence!
The new Afghan government will allow the US to build permanent
bases while the new Iraqi government is made up of previous US
appointees. What are the chances of that happening?
- On
the Pope
Against the "great man" view of history, how the pope hardly ended
Stalinism and why he was hardly a champion of freedom.
- Democracy
in Action?
Reports say that United Iraqi Alliance has abandoned its election
promise to demand a timeline for U.S. withdrawal. Welcome to
western-style democracy!
March
- High
Sea Adventures
Ocean Crossings in Search of the
Revolutionary Atlantic. So we've been doing the rounds around the
Caribbean, picking up bananas at a variety of
ports. Heading towards the Dominican Republic, our ship the
MV Suriname, a four thousand ton reefer vessel flying under a
Panamanian flag, cuts through the breezy tropical sea at a steady
eighteen knots.
- The Battle of
Cancun
a closer look at the Anti-Globalization/
Global Justice Movement as it mobilized in Cancun, explaining how
the infrastructure of resistance was set up, outlining the aims
and objectives of the mobilization and evaluating the impact of
the various different forms of protest and direct action on the
general proceedings.
- Anarchism
and Community Politics
An article summarising why anarchists reject electioneering and
suggesting an alternative in the form of popular assemblies (from
Black Flag no. 224, autumn/winter 2004)
- On
the road (block) to Freedom...
On the Iraqi elections, why Bush did not want them and how they
will not end the occupation
- Lost
in Translation
Why did Bush cancel a "town-hall" meeting in Germany? Because the
Germans refused to script it like the ones in America.
- The
Retreat from Liberty
Why we should oppose the new terror laws in the UK.
- Target
Iran?
Is Bush really insane enough to invade Iran?
- Into
the Memory Hole...
Iraq was not invaded to bring democracy to Iraqis so the war
cannot be retroactively defended because of the recent (flawed)
election.
- The
new Mercantilism
Why inflation is a code word for class struggle and how capitalism
needs state action to survive.
- Economising
with reality
Why editorials in the Economist are ideologically driven, its
support for Bush's plan to privatise social security being just
one example.
- If it's
good enough for them...
Various short articles on the maddness which is our current
system.
- Told
you so...
What is Bush up to?
Feb
[Download PDF
file]
[Read the
articles online]
- Tricky Taoiseach Turn
Pink
The madness of the 'socialist' beloved leader is there for all too
see. Dear leader, socialism means more than letting the commoners
into the parks. and the Botanic Gardens.
- War and Peace
Let Them Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is
- Shannon Activists
Trial
The State Persecutes the Ploughshares People
- Zapatistas: An
Inspirational Decade On
The importance of their rebellion is not in the brief military
struggle that took place 11 years ago but in the society they have
built in the years since.
- Working in a Music
Store
Who'd Have Thought Exploitation Could Be So Hip?
- Social Space is the
Place
Seomra Spraoi Initiative Aims to Create Radical Social Space
- that's
capitalism
Tax fraud and hospital beds
- Devolution Ain't No
Revolution
For almost a month in late November/early December we were treated
to nightly reports from RTE journalists and others - delivered in
bated breath - on the possibility of a return to "devolved
government" and "power-sharing" in the North
- Anarchism in 2004
Last year the Workers Solidarity Movement celebrated its 20th
Birthday. It was also a year of firsts.
- Communist
anarchism
Anarchists have a rounded conception of freedom; it is not merely
the absence of tyranny, but the meaningful opportunity to shape
one's own life. As well as being free from, one ought to be free
to do.
January
- Total
banker
Next Sunday, the 30th of January the president of the World
Bank is due to visit Dublin. The President Mr. James Wolfensohn is
here to talk to the World Council of Churches
Download
the PDF file
- Don't
Mention the Reality
How Bush's coronation speech has nothing in common with reality or
freedom.
- Anarchism:
A Very Short Introduction
A review of Colin Ward's good, but not prefect, new introduction
to anarchism.
- Meet
the new boss, same as the old one
How Lula's government confirms the anarchist case against radicals
using elections.
- 1905
An analysis of how the 1905 Russian Revolution vindiated
anarchism, not Marxism -- as well as combating a few Marxist myths
about anarchism along the way..
- The
Weekly Worker, Anarchism and the 1905 Russian Revolution
A letter to the Weekly Worker explaining the real facts about
anarchism and the general strike (among other things).
- Leninists
and anarchist history
An example of how Leninists rewrite history to exclude anarchists
or references to anarchists
- W stands for
Wanker
Bush's reponse to the disaster in East Asia shows his real
personality -- and the priorities of capitalism.
- What
a bunch of Muppets
Iraq is getting worse, so exposing the Bush Junta's incompetence
(and ulteria motives).
- The
Salvador Option
The US is thinking about using death squads in Iraq. Obviously
killing tens of thousands in Central America is considered a
success.
- Bush:
Al Qaeda's best recruiter
The Bush Junta choice of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General
shows (as usual) it is busy strengthening Al Qaeda.
- Freedom,
Iraqi style
How the use plan to turn Fallujah into a police state, with the
aid of slave labour.
- Fallujah:
Liberation at work
On the civilian deaths in Fallujah.
- It's
official (again), no WMD in Iraq
No Iraqi WMD. Not to worry, as Bush would do it again knowing what
he knows now. Remember 9/11 and don't think!
- A
few bad apples?
The AUCL gets a FBI memo which shows Bush approved the use of
torture in Iraq (and elsewhere). The Bush Junta are the real "bad
apples" responsible.
- Taxing
times
A series of shorts on the maddness of capitalism.=
- Wall
Street, altruism personified
It wants to lobby for privatising Social Security in the US and it
won't make any money out of it! How generous!
- What
really happened in Spain?
This is a summary of the debate between anarchists and James
Donald on what happened during the Spanish Revolution of 1936 and
1937. Contained in this file is a summary of James Donald's many
postings on the subject during that debate.
- Education, anarchism and
education struggles
An index of anarchist articles about education and about the
struggles of students and those who work in education
- Making a
killing on your property
Children are not property and should not be used to further the
agenda of chemical companies.
- This
is what democracy looks like?
On the US assault on Fallujah. Saddam would be proud.
- Sick,
sick, sick
A few short articles on the madness of capitalism
- Bush-whacked
The reports of voting irregularies are increasing as job growth
falls. Welcome to Bush's America.
- Polls
Apart
Comparing the response to the US and Ukrainian elections.
The irony of the Bush Junta using exit polls to attack the results
in the former. If you are going to steal an election, use the Bush
way -- the invisible hand of the market!
December
PDF file of Red and Black
Revolution 8
- After the Dust
Settles - Lessons from the Summit Protests
Despite the very real problems associated with the idea of 'summit
hopping' and spectacular protest these manifestations have
provided a public face of anarchism and at least as importantly
have given anarchists an opportunity to work together
- Summit protests and
networks
The major advantage of the network form of organisation is that it
allowed the rapid development and growth of a movement of tens of
thousands from a tiny base without significant resources But no
single form of organisation, unless it is one that involves the
majority of workers, will ever be able to take it on in a straight
fight
- Media Mayhem - Anarchists
and the Mass Media
This article examines the mainstream media and looks at the
various factors which ensure that it effectively works as a
propaganda tool for the powerful. It looks at ways in which
anarchists can deal with this situation, by creating our own
media, but also by challenging the hostility that they habitually
encounter from the mainstream. It is mostly based on the
experience of the 2004 Mayday protests in Dublin.
- Playing the Media
Game
Perhaps the two biggest problems in dealing with the media are
firstly that the media can, through the questions they ask and the
pressures they bring, begin to set the political agenda of the
group. Secondly servicing the media machine can take up all a
group's time and energy (to the detriment of the other activity).
- The ideas of James
Connolly
James Connolly is probably the single most important figure in the
history of the Irish left. He was an organiser in the IWW in the
USA but in Ireland is best known for his role in building the
syndicalist phase of Irish union movement and for involving the
armed defence body of that union, the Irish Citizens' Army in the
1916 nationalist insurrection. This left a legacy claimed at one
time or another not only by all the Irish left parties but also by
the nationalists of Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein.
- Workers Without Bosses -
Workers' Self-Management in Argentina
The original battle cry of Argentinean people "Que se vayan todos"
- We want all of them out - that expressed the will to break with
the corrupt bureaucracies, with the political class, turned out
with all of them staying in the end. These experiences also
highlight many of the problems anarchists elsewhere face in the
wake of popular risings and they show us that the building of a
libertarian society is not a matter of repeating clichés
and slogans.
- Review: No Global - The
People of Ireland Versus the multinationals
No Global appears at a vital time. Anyone who wants to see how the
bigger picture has unfolded to date can read in detail about the
numerous struggles. But No Global is less clear and less
persuasive when it comes to dissecting the political ideas within
the environmental movement and the problems these caused
[Read the articles
online]
[Download the
PDF ]
November
- The Speed
of Dreams
If the false arguments that the war against Iraq was a war
"against terrorism" have collapsed, the real reasons are now
emerging, more than a year after Hussein's statue was pulled down,
aided by the tanks of the US war, and a euphoric Bush erected
another one to himself declaring an end to the war
- Help for
Zapatista villages in Montes Azules
The EZLN has therefore agreed, with the express consent of their
residents, to reconcentrate some of the zapatista villages in that
region, so that they can thus be taken in by the Good Government
Junta of the selva border region.
- Never
mind the ballots
A few comments on the US 2004 election. The real alternative is to
be found in the streets and workplaces, not the ballot box.
- 100,000
plus dead. Mission Accomplished?
The latest figures of possible dead civilians in Iraq due to the
war is shocking. With the so-called moral case for war on its last
legs, why did it happen? The short answer, imperialism.
- The
Anarchist Media: Use it or Lose it
Lack of participation is, I fear, a common problem with anarchist
journals and papers. While many people are happy to consume a
product (in the shape of a paper or journal) and complain about
what it does or does not carry, fewer seem to be willing to get
involved in actually producing them
- No
shit, Sherlock!
So it is now official. Saddam had no WMD. So we went to war based
on (effectively) Saddam's letter to Santa. Some ideas on how the
anarchist media in the UK should develop. Plus a call for people
to help out with Black Flag magazine.
- Fantasy
Politics
Is Bush back on the drink and drugs? How else can you explain his
apparent new abode in fantasy island when it comes to Iraq? And
Blair's almost as bad. From September 2004.
- Gene
Genie
GM grass spread a greater distance than had been found in previous
studies. Not good. From September 2004.
- What
really happened in Spain?
A reply to "anarcho"-capitalist James Donald's lies about the
Spanish Revolution and the role of Anarchists within it. From the
mid-1990s, when I had the misfortunate to get into a discussion
with the barefaced liar.
- Serfdom
in Catalonia?
James Donald attempts to show how the CNT "enserfed" the peasants
in Catalonia
- Reign
of Error
The continuing debate between anarchists and James A. Donald on
what happened during the Spanish Civil War
- Objectivity
and Right-Libertarian Scholarship
Another reply to right-libertarian distortions on Spanish
anarchism. While less in-your-face in terms of lies than Donald's
work, it is still riddled with distortions and inaccuracies.
Written in 1997 and subsequently revised.
September
No Masters
issue 1
- Education
and control
Education is not accessible to all in society. The reasons for
this inequality are abundant. The main reasons are predominantly
due to broader social and economic inequalities created and
maintained by the present government.
- What
Type Of Student Politics?
Basically the future of education is up for grabs this year. There
are frightening prospects at stake here: Privatisation,
reintroduction of fees and basic notions of democracy are on table
and the student movement could very easily lose
- Listen
'Student.'
For the rest of my life I will have to work for somebody else,
selling them my ability to work, selling them my energy, so as
they make a profit out of me, and so as that I can live. I say
live with reservation, can I really call the life ahead of me
'living'?
- Housing
For Profit
Its that time of year again, when a vast majority of students
realise one simple thing: we are being ripped off by our
landlords. You've probably couch surfed for weeks, or ran around
trying to open accounts in what ever bank it is that will extend
an immediate over draft.
- Saddam-lite
On the new regime in Iraq and why Iraq is not "liberated" or
"free." And how the US has taken over Saddam's role as the crusher
of Shia revolts.
- Beating
about the Bush
On the lies, smears and distortions of the Republican National
Convention in New York. How imperialism abroad is distracting from
class at home. Bush as "girlie-man" and the Republican love of the
leader principle.
- Another
letter on GM crops
More on GM and why it is not like a machine and why the evidence
suggests a rethink on it.
- Final
letter to Freedom on GM crops
Explaining (yet again) why there is no sound scientific reason to
assume GM crops are safe.
- The Folly of
Racism
Citizenship Referendum:Politicians played the race card and most
workers were fooled
- Surviving on the Minimum
Wage in Dublin
The amount of money you earn is one of the most important factors
that influence your quality of life.
- SIPTU's Dirty Deal
SIPTU has signed its first ever no-strike deal with Connex, who
run Dublin's LUAS trams
- Slaughter and
Lies
Over the past decade Chechnya has been torn apart by a vicious and
brutal war between Russia and Chechen separatists.
- Squatting in
Dublin
One Squatter's Story: On August 8th of last year, a group of us
moved into an abandoned and run down house on Leeson St and
proceeded to make it our home
- The Joy of Reclaiming
Streets
The first feeling at any Reclaim The Streets is a strange one for
someone accustomed to the plodding, predictability of your usual
lefty "protest".
- Review of Understanding
Power by Noam Chomsky
Understanding Power is a collection of edited interviews,
presentations and discussions that Noam Chomsky has had with
activists and community groups over the ten year period from
1989-99
- That's
capitalism
The rich in Ireland and the state of the health service
- The Role of the
Gardai
The primary role of the police is to preserve the status quo in
society. In other words, the first task of the police force, of
any police force, is to ensure the rule of the State and the rich
elite
- Thinking about Anarchism -
Crime
Whatever nice theories about crime anarchists might come up with
we can be sure that any community subjected to a murder or a rape
will want something done about it.
- About Workers
Solidarity
We don't believe that being able to choose between a bunch of
gangsters, grafters and gombeen men every few years adds up to
democracy
- Midwest USA: An
anarchist view
It was my first time in the USA. I came with all the baggage. I
had lived near a tourist town and had experienced thousands of
grey haired, green clad, overweight, camera wielding yanks. The
Mid West was an eye-opener.
August
- The Clash of the Two
Europes
According to the press, on Mayday there was going to happen a huge
clash between the "forces of order" -riot police- and the "forces
of evil" -sinister anarchists coming down from London to gas to
death innocent Dubliners
- A Message
from Marcos - August 2004
Marcos breaks the silence with new communiques detailing what the
Zapatistas have been up to
- Two
Flaws - August 2004
There are two mistakes which seem to have persisted in
Zapatista political work: the place of women, on the one hand,
and, on the other, the relationship between the
political-military structure and the autonomous governments.
- Three
Shoulders August 2004
So we rose up in arms one first day of January in the year of
1994Éin order to seek another shoulder which would help us
walk, that is, to exist. Includes the accounts of the five Good
Government Juntas
- Four
Fallacies about the Good Government Juntas - August
2004
These were brandished by intellectuals of the right, judges,
legislators and officials in order to oppose the San
Andrés Accords, and the putting into practice of those
accords with the creation of the caracoles and the Good
Government Juntas
- Five
Decisions of Good Government (Zapatistas)
Marcos details the first year of the Good Government Juntas in
which some internal accords were formalized and new decisions
were defined
- Six
Advances - August
This is what the zapatista peoples are doing. They're not
waiting for the government to give them charity and speeches.
They are working to improve their living conditions, and they
are achieving that.
- Seven Days
in Zapatista Territory - August
A snapshot of what is happening on the ground
- Enter
Durito - August
And so, when no one is expecting it (including me), a beetle
appears on the screen (or on the paper) with the following
speech:
- Arms Dealers to
Converge on Dublin for Weapons Conference
Sunday Tribune announces international arms fair in Dublin with
title 'less lethal weapons in peace and war"
- Aug 22 - Old Head of
Kinsale Walked Again
At todays peoples picnic on the Old Head of Kinsale in Cork
protestors climbed the walls and crossed the razor wire to again
walk to the lighthouse.
- About anarchism in
China
New index of articles on Chinese anarchism
- The Partition of
Ireland
New position paper from the Workers Solidarity Movement as agreed
at their July 2004 conference
- The Student
Movement
A guide to activity for stundent members
- Our
Perspectives
How we see the times ahead
- The Trade
Unions
With a new short term perspectives section
- Our
publications
Details how publications are produced
- Capitalist
Globalisation and Imperialism
with very minor changes
- Kate
Bamidele: Don't let them send her to her death
If the Irish government sends her back to Nigeria, she faces the
prospect of being stoned to death
- Review - Red
Barcelona:Social Protest & Labor Mobilisation in the 20th
Century
A rather sectarian attempt to draw lessons from the growth of the
CNT for activists today
July
June
- Civilisation, Primitivism
and anarchism
Over the last decade a generalized critique of civilization has
been made by a number of authors. Facing this challenge anarchists
need to first look to see if primitivism offers any sort of
realistic alternative to the world as it is. [PDF
file]
- Dublin Grassroots
Network
Dublin Grassroots Network is a network of activists and groups who
come together to fight for a better future, based on the
Grassroots principles.
- Why capitalism needs illegal
labour
The real purpose of racist immigrations controls in the USA and
Europe is not to prevent the entry of migrants. It is to create a
situation where those who get in live in constant fear of
deportation. This makes them an ideal labour force that fulfills
capitalism need for cheap labour
- Vote No: Send a
Message to McDowell on June 11th
If we vote 'Yes' on June 11th, children who were born in Ireland,
and have never set foot outside of Ireland, will have no rights as
Irish citizens. They will be liable to be kicked out of their own
country.
- PDF file of Vote No:
Send ...
For you to download, print out and distribute
- Struggle talk
Struggle talk is a high volume discussion list for people
interested in the sort of stuff published on struggle.
May
- Join the Campaign Against
the Racist Referendum march
The Campaign Against the Racist Referendum (CARR) has been set up
by a broad range of organisations and individuals with the aim of
strengthening opposition to the June 11th Citizenship Referendum.
- End
the Occupation!
The pictures of US torture of Iraqi prisoners is yet more evidence
that the occupation must end. And it's not a "few bad apples", it
is systemic.
- Mirror,
Mirror
After the sacking of the Mirror editor, why not start sacking the
lying politicians who invaded Iraq?
- You
vote, they rule...
How the Indian election proves anarchist theory on how capital
controls the state, not the population.
- Wildcat
fire strikes
Why the recent firefighters strikes should be supported by
anarchists
- It
makes you sick
What Tesco's attack on the sickie says about capitalism.
- The
economics of freedom
A review of a recent SolFed pamphlet on the anarcho-syndicalist
alternative to capitalism.
- Letter
to Socialist Resistance (2)
Replying to their reply on anarchism. Available as
pdf file.
- Letter
to Anarchy (2)
Reply to comments made in Anarchy magazine in response to my first
letter.
- PDF file of Workers Solidarity
81
For you to download, print out and distribute
- Democracy Where Are
You?
When the EU circus leaves, we start concentrating on the
visit of the world's no. 1 terrorist, George W. Bush. Let's all
make sure he knows how we feel about him when the leader of the
'free' world lands.
- Vote NO to Racist
Referendum
The government is trying to create a smokescreen to cover up
their own failures by rushing through a referendum to attack
Irish children's rights.
- That's
capitalism
The hundred richest Irish people to deporting McDowell
- Haiti and US
Terrorism
Haiti has long suffered from Uncle Sam's interventions. Born
through slaves' revolts against their French masters, Haiti was
the first black republic in the world -1804 - and for that has
paid a high price.
- Ireland's
'Traditional' Racism Remains
An interview with Mrs Ellen Mongan, a Traveller with seven
children. It's 2004 and close to 1,000 Traveller famlies are
still living on the roadside without access to basic
facilities-water, sanitation or electricity
- Review: We Are
Everywhere
We Are Everywhere is a collection of articles, photos
and interviews about the past decade of global anti-capitalist
resistance. What marks this book out is that all the
contributors are activists
- We Don't Want Your
Vote
Most, if not all, of the left wing political parties in Ireland
are standing candidates in the up-coming local elections.
Members of the Workers Solidarity Movement will not be joining
them
- Building the Anti-War
Movement from Below
The question now is what sort of broad anti-war movement can be
built that is genuinely inclusive and democratic?
- State
Terrorism
If we examine history and look at current events in the world
we are confronted by a multitude of examples of state
terrorism.
- The Pay-Rise is in
the Post
Dishonest newsroom bosses told us about the "strike" in An
Post. There was no strike by workers, but there were hundreds
of workers suspended in what was effectively a lock-out by
management.
- Abortion Rights
Still Denied
In 1861, abortion was made a criminal offence in Ireland.
One hundred and forty three years later the Irish government
continues to deny women their right to choice.
- Property
is theft
Why the theft of over £4 million by a PA from the bank
accounts of three financial high-flyers exposes the con at heart
of capitalist economics.
- Destroying
Iraq in order to save it
On the US attacks on Fallujah, the logic of occupation and how we
can end it.
- The
Revolutionary Ideas of Bakunin
An introduction to Bakunin's ideas to mark the 190th anniversary
of his birth. Find out why he is still worth reading today.
- Review of "Hurrah
for anarchy!" - Anarchism: Its Philosophy and Scientific Basis
by Albert R. Parsons
Review of the book by one of the Haymarkets Matyrs
- May 1st - The long
march on Farmleigh
In terms of the development of a libertarian movement in
Ireland the march on the EU summit at Farmleigh will probably be
seen as a turning point. For the first time the movement mobilized
large number of people from outside its own ranks, in a
demonstration that was in direct defiance of the Irish governments
attempt to ban such demonstrations.
- Archive of DGN press
releases
Dublin Grassroots Network press releases for the EU summit
protests
- The real
Mayday street party is still on
The Government may have cancelled its 'Beautiful Night' concert
in O'Connell Street, but the real Mayday weekend street party
is going ahead.
- Dublin
Grassroots Network seeks clarification on Mayday powers for
police and army
Huge disruption is to be caused to Dublin by the EU ministers'
Dublin Castle photocall, which entails the closing of Dame
Street, and the Farmleigh banquet, for which Europe's largest
public park is to be sealed off by a rumoured seven miles of
razor-wire, water-cannons, soldiers and armed gardai.
- Will gardai
be allowed to shoot protestors?
Mayday protest organisers have called for clarification on
police and army powers for the Mayday weekend
- Mayday organisers
reject GRA allegations
The Dublin Grassroots Network, who are organising a weekend of
events this May Day to highlight "Fortress Europe", have
sharply criticised recent statements from Garda Representative
Association (GRA) general secretary, PJ Stone, as heightening
tensions and criminalising the right to protest.
- Royston backs
down over May Day protests
Dublin's Lord Mayor Royston Brady has been forced to admit that
the May Day protests planned in Dublin are legitimate and that
"every citizen has a right to make a peaceful protest".
- Mayday
protests will not be cancelled - organisers
Mayday protests events in Dublin will go ahead, organisers
insisted today (Thursday). They were responding to a garda
decision to ban protests on the weekend when Ireland hosts the
EU summit.
- Grassroots
Network invites Dubliners to join May Day events
Dublin Grassroots Network has called for the people of Dublin
to join in May Day parties and protests and make their voice
heard in the face of Garda attempts to prevent the events and
unfounded scare stories.
- Bertie, gardai
have lost the plot, say protestors
Gardai and politicians have lost the plot completely and are
saying the first thing that comes into their heads
- Government 'putting
gun back into Irish politics'
The Government is "putting the gun back into Irish politics" by
deploying armed gardai and soldiers to deal with May Day
protests, according to protest organisers.
- May Day
Protest Dress Rehearsal
Come and see what is really planned for May Day in Dublin this
weekend.
- Demonstrators
challenge anonymous smear campaign against right to
protest
One of the main groups organising protests against Dublin's EU
summit in May has criticised an anonymous smear campaign aimed
at undermining the right to protest.
- "All Aboard For
May Day Mobilisation in Dublin"
Cork activists of the Grassroots Network are on their way to
Dublin for the major mobilisation in the capital this weekend.
- Arrests
confirm pattern of garda harassment
The arrests of three protestors in Dublin last night (Tuesday
night) have been branded by protest organisers as simply the
latest in a campaign of garda harassment in the run-up to next
weekend's protests.
- May Day
organisers condemn Polish represssion
Dublin Grassroots Network, which is organising a Mayday weekend
of events for an alternative Europe, today condemned the
repression of activists campaigning against the World Economic
Forum in Warsaw.
- Dublin
Grassroots: Saturday march not cancelled - April 30
Dublin Grassroots Network reject in the strongest possible
terms allegations made in recent television news that our
Saturday "Bring the Noise" march has been "cancelled".
- Organisers condemn banning of
May Day march
Dublin Grassroots Network, the group organising the "Bring the
Noise" march to Farmleigh House at 6 pm on Saturday evening,
has condemned Garda measures announced yesterday evening which
amount to the banning of the march
- Banned march
went ahead2
We have shown that it is not so easy to take away democratic
freedoms. You can break people's bones. You can throw them in
jail. But they will still assemble. And they will not give up
the right to protest so easily.
- Injured protesters
were denied access to hospital
The Dublin Grassroots Network has expressed concern at the
non-reporting of injures caused by the Garda attack on
demonstrators on the Navan road on Saturday evening.
- Attempt to
criminalise protest overturned
Spokespeople for the Dublin Grassroots Network welcomed this
afternoon's High Court decision, which overturned the District
Court's refusal to grant bail to May Day protestors
- Civil liberties
were suspended for "security operation"
Dublin Grassroots Network, the organisers of many of the May
Day protest events, today condemned the effective suspension of
civil liberties for the weekend.
- Fortress
Dublin? The criminalisation of protest and the demonisation of
dissent
This dossier is a very brief list of events, all of which can
be readily documented from obvious sources (media archives,
Indymedia).It consists of two parts: firstly a chronicle of
recent events giving rise to concern from the moment of the
banning of the Farmleigh march; secondly a dossier of "dirty
tricks" which we prepared before the banning of the march and
released on Friday, April 30th.
- May day
spokespeople resign en masse - May 13
We volunteered to do a particular job. Now that job is done,
our mandates are over
- Archive of DGN
documents
Information other than press releases
- No
Borders, No Nations - March 4
The consolidation of the EU's immigration policy has led in one
direction: Fortress Europe. This is the policy of a Europe that
cares only about profit and economic expansion, at the
detriment of human life.
- Protect
the right to protest: Dublin Grassroots Network this Sunday
- April 3
Please come to the next Dublin Grassroots Network meeting and
lend a hand. Even if you are unable or feel too intimidated to
come out on May Day, you can help us with publicity, media
work, finance or legal support.
- No Borders
camp details
On Sunday May 2nd the Dublin Grassroots Network will be opening
a temporary No Borders camp to welcome asylum seekers and
refugees to Ireland.
- Open
letter to Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice (and
his reply)
In the wake of media scare stories surrounding security plans
for Mayday, the Dublin Grassroots Network once again seeks
clarification
- Dossier
of "dirty tricks"
May Day
organisers: government "inciting a riot"
April
- PDF file of What's wrong
with the EU
12 page PDF pamphlet
- What's wrong with the
European Union?
The EU is one of the motors of capitalist globalisation, the rule
that all decisions should be made on the basis of profitability
alone.
- The neoliberal
agenda at the heart of the EU
EU decisions are driven not by the needs of the people of Europe
but by the wishes of the European based corporations. These
corporations produce drafts that are later turned into EU policy
- Fortress
Europe
Increased integration of EU asylum and immigration policy. One of
the first steps towards the creation of Fortress Europe was the
Schengen Agreement which was originally signed in 1985 by five EU
states
- The EU, militarism
and Ireland
The story of the European Union and militarism goes back as far as
1955 when the Western European Union (WEU) was formed. This was
the main avenue for joint European security efforts and was
closely tied to NATO
- The libertarian
alternative to the bosses Europe
For us, the libertarians, these struggles are not a means to
conquer the power of others. For us, these struggles are a means
to radically change society. Instead of power, we want freedom;
instead of privilege, we want justice.
- Gardai
harassment of Mayday protest leafleting continues
Over the last week the Gardai have repeatedly turned up on
occasions where the Dublin Grassroots Network has been attempting
ton inform the public about the Mayday protests.
- No to Fortress Europe
Mirror site for the DGN Mayday EU summit protests
- Red
Emma and the Reds
A lengthy reply to an American Leninist and his lies and
distortions about Emma Goldman's politics and life. For my
daughter, Sophie Emma.
- Iraq:
the war continues
On the Shia revolt in Iraq. It must have put a damper any plans
the US may have had to the mark the fall of Baghdad.
- Lies,
actually
Summarising some of the more obvious lies to justify the war which
have been exposed recently.
- Help
wanted...
While the US finds it hard to get someone to be ambassador for
Iraq, it is finding work for Saddam's old secret police -- in the
new secret police!
- GM
refused?
The end of GM in the UK? Perhaps. Or the end of any pretence of
safety testing.
- Say no
to ID cards
The new excuses for introducing IDs are nonsense. Blair government
is spinning the Madrid bombings to justify their authoritarianism.
- Letter
to Freedom on the last Wildfire Bulletin
A few comments on the last ever Wildfire Bulletin. On the poverty
of primitivism.
- Letter
on anti-GM article
Defending my anti-GM article against a reader of Freedom.
- Emma
Goldman
Index of writing by and about the famous anarchist
- How safe is Nigeria
Online documents on what forces cause people to flee Nigeria
- Workers Solidarity No 80 is
online
Individual articles can be accessed below
- PDF file of Workers Solidarity
80
For you to print out and distribute locally
- Mayday Mayday
EU leaders in the castle - we'll take the streets. On Saturday,
the first of May, anarchists and other activists from the
Dublin Grassroots Network are calling for a day of action and
protest against the EU.
- Thats
capitalism
Racist attacks, Fianna Fail bribes and housing shortages in
Ireland
- Deporting our
neighbours - Government plays race card to divide and
rule
It suits the Irish elite to scapegoat refugees for all the
problems that their mismanagement of society causes. The ruling
class wants to set Irish workers against immigrant workers so
as to prevent the workers from seeing that their interests are
the same regardless of nationality
- Quebec 1, Global Elite
0
When the summit circus came to Quebec and lost. The Summit of
the Americas, a meeting of 34 head of state to advance the
agenda of neo-liberal capitalism, was held in Québec in
2001.
- On the frontlines of
the health crisis
An interview with Dr. Ciara McMeel, a GP working in West
Tallaght
- Book Review -
Palestine by Joe Sacco
In the book '1984', Winston Smith is told what the future is
going to be like. He is told to imagine a boot grinding a face
into the ground over and over again.
- Thinking about
Anarchism - Immigration
The flip side to the world of freedom of movement for the
wealthy and their commodities is that there are massive
restrictions on the freedom of movement for those seeking to
escape the poverty of the third world.
- Hijab: lifting the
veil
Standing up to religious oppression or state racism? Ultimately
we believe that people should have the freedom to dress
whatever way they like. This means freedom from state
interference and freedom from religious interference in how one
should dress.
- International
Women's Day
International Women's Day is an expressly political day. In
1907 women sweatshop workers marched in New York and thus the
first International Women's day was born.
- Transport
privatisation: working conditions under attack
Reduce wage costs, increase fares, cut back on less used
routes. That's the plan for the bus service. Airport workers
are also looking at worsening conditions with the threatened
break up of Aer Rianta
- Tough
on Blair. Tough on the causes of Blair
On why Blair's justifications for war are nonsense and why the
focusing on Blair by some parts of the anti-war movement is wrong.
We need to change the system, not politicians.
- No
to all forms of Terrorism!
On the Madrid bombings. Written the day after the event and
correctly doubts whether ETA was responsible.
- Union
busting, Iraqi style
Labour unions in "liberated" Iraq? You should know better!
- Money
talks...
Some light is shed on Blair's meetings with big business. A truly
listening government.
- What
is Anarchism?
A review of Alexander Berkman's classic introduction to
Communist-Anarchism. A highly recommended book.
- EUfortress
say no to Fortress Europe, come to Dublin for the Mayday No
Borders weekend 2004
- SIPTU section supports
Columbian Coca-Cola
SIPTU members in Trinity College have called for no investment in
Coca-Cola by the Trinity College pension fund
- The attacks on the USA, September
11 2001
Index of useful articles and anarchist statements on the attacks.
- Anarchist anti-war PDF files
Collection of leaflets, posters and booklets for you to print out
and distribute
- The US war on Iraq, analysis and
resistance
Archives articles up to the fall of Baghdad
- Israel/Palestine, an anarchist
analysis of the conflict
Articles from an anarchist perspective
- Islam and the 'war on terror'
Articles on Islam and links to information sources
Anti-war protests in Ireland
and the world
March
- CNT Madrid declares its
rejection to the terrorist outrages on the11th March
It seems unreal that, nowadays, fully installed in the 21st
century, we still have to keep reminding to people that workers
are exactly the same here in Madrid than in Cordoba, Barakaldo, La
Bisbal, Kandahar or Bagdad.
- Review of The Many Headed
Hydra
by Peter Linebaugh and Marcus Rediker - Sailors, slaves, commoners
and the hidden history of the Atlantic
- Letter
to "Socialist Resistance"
A reply to another crap Marxist article on anarchism. Will these
people ever read an anarchist book?
- The
Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Review of the excellent book by Greg Palast. This is what
journalism should be like!
- General
Franco made me a 'Terrorist'
Review of volume 2 of Stuart Christie's excellent autobiography.
- Gullible
Morons or Getting Militant?
Blair's government has, unsurprisingly, decided to allow GM crops
to be grown. The only sensible thing to do is to oppose GM.
- New
Labour: Power Junkies
Blair's support for random drugs tests in schools shows that this
should be done to his government. They are power junkies, seeking
more and more power regardless of the costs.
- Is
the real reason for really an official secret?
Jay Garner, the former interim administrator of occupied Iraq
shows that the real reason for the invasion is not so secret after
all
- Opps,
they did it again...
The independents on Globalise Resistance have resigned over the
way the SWP works. The only surprise is that they took so long to
do so...
- Sidney
Solomon
a long-time anarchist and painter who lived in New York,.
Member of Vanguard Group, the New Trends Group and the
Libertarian Book Club
- Housing, space and squatting in
Ireland
Index of articles conerned with housing, social spaces and
squatting
February
- Eoin Rice in High
Court
Judge Mangan tried to change his bail conditions (5 Euro bond) to
include a ban from the entire of Co. Clare. Eoin refused to accept
these conditions and has been in Limerick prison since, where he
is on hunger strike.
- An anarchist response to
Ireland on Sunday
Feb 8th, Ireland on Sunday published a scare story about anarchism
and the forthcoming EU protests. Below is a reply
- Information for Irish
women about abortion services in the UK and Europe
This website has been set up by pro-choice activists to provide
Irish women information about abortion services in the UK and
Europe
- Looking
like a right tit
What Janet Jackson's breast tells us about the Bush White House.
And why anyone believing the nonsense of the Bush Junta suffers
from a massive failure of intelligence...
- A
Whiter shade of White
An article on the whitewash called the Hutton Report. Did not
predict the extent of the backlash as it was written the day after
it came out.
- Building
the new world...
On why anarchists should support co-operatives as a practical
alternative to privitisation and nationalisation.
- There is
power in a union!
A few comments on anarchism and the labour movement, with some
suggestions of what we should be doing to spread anarchist ideas
in it.
- After
the New Economy
A review of Doug Henwood's excellent new book on the US bubble of
the 1990's. Highly recommended.
- "How
Revolutions must not be made" -- and the alternative
A review of two recent reprints of anarchist classics: Emma
Goldman's "My Disillusionment in Russia" and a collection of Peter
Kropotkin essays called "Anarchism." Both are essential reading
for anarchists today.
- The
question of how we get to a primitivist utopia
Primitivists don't want to go back to the Stone Age, they just
imply they do. They also consider peasant life a "return to a life
of drudgery," but also "argue for" it.
- Diary on Irish racism
This is an unofficial account of some events, political decisions,
and actions related to the rise in racism in Ireland from 1997 to
2000.
- Nigeria's police: The
horrifying truth
Article was written by Ede Ahmed an asylum seeker based in
Ireland.with the intention of highlighting the reasons why the
Minister of Justive is not justified in colluding with the corrupt
Nigerian police
- Tunde
Adekiyesi
Arrested at Dublin Airport for apparently having no ID,, charged
under the Illegal Aliens Act, 1935. He works at Dublin Airport
packing in-flight meals,
- 30 days in prison for wanting
to see his child
Steve Oladeja was a policeman in Nigeria. He had moral objections
to enforcing the murderous policies of the then government, and
was imprisoned in horrific conditions after voicing his
objections, and refusing orders
- Ike Vincent
Jailed for committing the 'impossible crime'
- Anarchism and the European Union
An index of articles and links on the European Union and
opposition to the construction of a bosses Europe. Includes
details of forthcoming protests in Ireland.
January
- Index of Workers Solidarity
for 2004
Including the latest issue
- PDF file of Workers Solidarity no
79
For you to print out
- A busy year for the
anarchist bogeyman
On virtually every occasion that anarchists were mentioned in
the media in 2003, it was in the context of a scare story about
threatened violence. The reality of anarchist activity was far,
far different. While we were arrested, fined, injuncted and
jailed in significant numbers for taking part in peaceful
protests, we did not thrown a blow at a single person. Never
once were we given a chance to give our side of the story.
- Anarchism on the
Move
Kieron Barry reviews 2003, a busy year for Irish Anarchists. A
small but growing number of anarchists are building opposition
to the status quo based on the politics of freedom and equality
- Thats
capitalism
Health, education, housing, employers and MEP's
- Bertie's European
Act
Over the next six months you will be hearing a lot about the
European Union (EU). Part of the reason for this is that
Ireland is taking over 'The Presidency' of the EU, but the
other part is that in June elections will be held for the
European 'parliament' in Brussels.
- The final victory will
be the people's
An interview with Farzad, an Iranian Dissident in Exile in
Ireland.
- Restlesness in the
Andes
The Bolivian people suffer from one of the most blatant and
shameless exploitations in the world by both their local and
foreign rulers. They have a long tradition of organisation and
direct action.
- Book Review - Do or
Die - vol 10
Voices from the Ecological Resistance
- Anarcha-Feminism
An important principle of anarchism and one that more than any
other differentiates it from other types of socialism is its
emphasis on freedom and non-hierarchical social relations.
Central to anarchism is the rejection of any power hierarchy
between men and women.
- The Fight for a Free
Iraq
What is life like for the Iraqi workers caught under the
occupation and all too often in the cross-fire? The US/UK
occupying force is not too happy that Iraqi workers are
organizing themselves rather then obeying the puppet Iraqi
Governing Council
- Wages Up 23%!
(of course not - only the bin-tax jumps up like that) The
anti-bin tax campaign fought a long, hard struggle in 2003
involving pickets, blockades in estates and outside depots.
- Glossary of terms used on this web
site
The start of what should expand into a detailed glossary of terms
used on this site of particular use to those outside of Ireland
- We
were right all along
An overview of what has happened in Iraq, indicating that
anarchist analysis and predictions have, sadly, been confirmed.
- Kilroy-Silk
is an idiot
A few comments on Kilroy-Silk's racist article on Arabs and why
freedom of speech must be defended while combating bigotry.
- Oceania
has always been at war with Eurasia...
On Rumsfeld revising history in September 2003 to deny he ever
said the Iraqi's would welcome the US invasion with open arms.
- Out
by 20 years...
An analysis of Bush's 2004 "State of the Union" address. Exposes
its hypocrisy and suggests it is even more Orwellean that we have
come to expect from him.
- Something
to really swear about!
A few comments on the insulting and illogical "oath" the Blairites
want to make immigrants swear.
- Letter
to Anarchy (1)
Replying to distortions by one of the then two editors of the UK's
"Green Anarchist" magazine on the Scottish Anarchists. Then a
discussion why the unabomber is not an anarchist and why
"primitivism" is flawed. From 2000 (I think)
- Letter
to Anarchy (2)
Replying to the pretty crap responses of Bob Black and the editor
of "Green Anarchist" to my first letter. Discussing the
authoritarian and down-right sick ideas of "Green Anarchist."
Again, from 2000.
- Letter
to Anarchy (3)
Replying to (the just as bad as the first one) response of Black
and the (then) other editor of "Green Anarchist"). Indicating that
even their attempts to distance themselves from their original
ideas fails. Again, from 2000.
- Making
history or just repeating it?
A plea for Marxists to stop repeating the mistakes of history and
for them to reject parliamentarianism. The alternative is
community and workplace organisation and struggle.
- Fight
Fibs! Fight Inventions!
A short article pointing out the lies of the UK based
Revolutionary Communist Group and the fact they did not print my
letter refuting them.
- Free
Trade benefits all?
A short article from 1999 looking at growth in Brasil to see the
effects of "globalisation"
- Clinton,
workers' rights and reality
A short article written after the Seattle protests showing how
direct action, not discussing "Labour standards" at the WTO, was
the only way to improve workers' rights.
- Italian
Syndicalism and Fascism
Article refuting Bob Black's claims that the "Italian syndicalists
mostly went over to Fascism." In fact, they fought fascism tooth
and nail. Printed in Black Flag 217
- Reply
to Bob Black
Letter in reply to Black's comments on the article "Italian
Syndicalism and Fascism." From Black Flag 219
- N30
in London
My experiences at the N30 demo in London. From 1999.
- Reaping
the profits
On the Bush Junta's barring non-Coalition based companies from
contracts in Iraq.
- What
a surprise!
A short piece on why lack of WMD protection of UK troops shows
that either Blair is a liar or his is really evil.
- What
a surprise! (long version!)
On how the recent announcement that British troops invaded Iraq
without WMD shows that Blair lies. Plus the Bush Junta's
announcement that it would bar companies from non-Coalition states
from tendering for Iraqi reconstruction contracts shows that
plunder was the real reason.
- Every
Cloud has a Silver Lining
In spite of the lack of WMD in Iraq, corporations are making money
out of the search for them.
- The
return of Mini-Me...
On how the US has replaced Saddam's dictatorship by its own.
- Doing
our job for us...
An article on how New Labour has confirmed the anarchist case
against the state. What better advertisement for libertarian ideas
can there be than Blair?
- 1 in
5
More 1 person in 5 are live in poverty in the UK. 1 in 5 workers
have suffered a pay cut in the last 10 years. Strong unions stop
this. Time to organise!
- 1 in
5 (longer version)
More of the same, plus more on social perspectives under new
Labour and the self-defeating nature of "individualism"
- Capitalism
is losing its Barings?
Old article (early 1990s) on globalisation and what it means for
social change.
- Anarchist
Organisation and the Organisation of Anarchists
An article from the early 1990s on ideas how the Glasgow Anarchist
Group should organise itself.
- Bakunin
and the Invisible Legions, revisited
Lengthy article on Bakunin's "invisible dictatorship." How
Marxists quote out of context to smear his ideas and anarchism in
general.
- Lula's
"Tropical Blairism" in Brazil
On Lula's continual right-wing fall into opportunism. Anarchism
vindicated yet again.
- WHY
MAYDAY?
Text of a leaflet explaining the anarchist origins of May Day.
- Wildfire
reply (sent)
Reply to the primitivist Wildfire collective's letters on my
critiques of their Bulletins. Concentrates on the 9key issues why
primitivism is pants. Sent to Freedom.
- Wildfire
reply (Unsent)
Long reply to the primitivist Wildfire collective's letters on my
critiques of their Bulletins. Not sent as replying in kind to
their insults hide the real issues.
- One
people! One planet! One struggle!
Text of an anti-fascist leaflet handed out in Glasgow
- Draft
SFA aims and principles, including preamble.
I was involved in drafting these Aims and Principles for an
anarchist federation in Scotland in the early 1990s.
- Nevermind
the Ballots!
Short anti-election leaflet from 1997. New Labour got in and
proved it right!
December
- Wishes
of pregnant girl must come first says pro-choice group
The pro-choice group 'Alliance for Choice' today said that the
case of the pregnant 14 year old girl in the care of the Midland
Health Board again shows how the ban on abortion in Ireland
creates huge problems for women with crisis pregnancies, and for
those responsible for the care of girls with crisis pregnancies.
- Small bin tax
victory in Dun Laoghaire
Every Wednesday morning I arise at 7 am. Our mission to make sure
that every bin on the Granville Road, Doonsalla, Watsons road is
lifted whether they have paid some, all or no bin tax.
- Red and Black Revolution
Indes of all issues of this Irish anarchist magazine
- Red and Black Revolution No
7
- PDF file of Red And Black
Revolution 7
- Has the Black Block
tactic reached the end of its usefulness? by Severino
(Barricada Collective)
As class struggle anarchists who recognize the importance of a
diversity of tactics in order to attack Capital, the State, and
oppression in an effective manner, we see the black bloc as an
important tool of struggle. Only one tool among many, but an
important one nonetheless.
- Where to Now?
Anti-capitalist protest - global and local by Gregor
Kerr
It is certainly hard to avoid the conclusion that
anti-globalisation protests that avoid direct action will kill
off the movement, or at least greatly reduce participation in
it.
- Repressing Abortion in
Ireland by Mary Favier (Doctors For Choice)
The Republic of Ireland has one of the most draconian abortion
laws in the world. At present abortion may only be performed
where continuation of pregnancy poses a 'real and substantial'
risk to a pregnant woman's life - about 5 cases per year of
50,000 pregnancies
- Direct Action against
the war in Ireland by Andrew Flood
In every country after February 15th the anti-war movement was
thus faced with the question of what to do next. In Ireland
almost all of the direct action protests were targeted on
Shannon airport. More than half dozen successful actions took
place, ranging from a large scale breach of the fence in
October, to physical attacks on planes as the build up to war
escalated.
- The IAWM's dismal
leadership" A critique of the politics of Trotskyism by Dec
McCarthy
After months of regularly attending the Irish Anti-War
Movement's marches and particularly after months of listening
to the speeches of the leading lights of the IAWM my head is
buzzing with cant and rhetoric and I have that dejected feeling
you get when you know you have just lost a chance that won't be
coming around again for a long time.
- Industrial
Collectivisation during the Spanish Revolution by Deirdre
Hogan
Within hours of the start of the Spanish revolution workers had
seized control of 3000 enterprises. This included all public
transportation services, shipping, electric and power
companies, gas and water works, engineering and automobile
assembly plants, mines, cement works, textile mills and paper
factories, electrical and chemical concerns, glass bottle
factories and perfumeries, food processing plants and
breweries.
- If you want to create
Socialism - it must be based on Freedom by James
O'Brien
Anarchists also seek to create communism. But for us freedom
plays a central role, not only in the future society, but in
how we try to get there. That is why, when we talk of
communism, we talk of libertarian communism
- Open Borders: The
case against immigration controls reviewed by Conor
McGloughlin
Most mainstream groups eventually come down clearly in favour
of immigration controls and deportations, though arguing for
"generosity." This book takes a position that so far has only
won over a small but growing minority and argues for the
immediate ending of all border controls.
- The trouble with
Islam by Andrew Flood
The September 11 attacks, the Afghan war that followed from it
and the ongoing war in Israel/Palestine have once again raised
the issue of Islam in the minds of many anarchists in Ireland
and Britain. Not just because of the role Islam has in shaping
those conflicts but also because militant Islam has become a
far more noticeable presence on solidarity demonstrations.
- Dec 6 2003 - Blockade
of Shannon warport (with photos)
December 6th saw the largest anti-war demonstration at Shannon
airport since Aprilof last year. Some 400 people took part in what
the Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) had advertised as a blockade of
the airport.
- Marxism
or Anarchism?
A talk given as part of a debate organised by the Trotskyist party
"Alliance for Workers' Liberty." A basic introduction to why
anarchism is better than Leninism.
- The
integrity of protest, the hypocrisy of power
A few comments on the rhetoric used by Bush and Blair before the
latter's state visit to London in November. Why the protestors
were right, in other words.
- Fawkes
pas...
The irony of the Scottish Socialist Party's attempts to
appropriate libertarian rhetoric in the run up to Guy Fawkes
night.
- A
second letter to FRFI on the Makhnovists
Correcting why more Leninist lies about the Makhnovists, this time
by the UK based RCG.
- Letter
to Weekly Worker (4)
Yet more on the Russian Revolution and whether paraphrasing
Bakunin means breaking with "consistent anti-statism"
- Letter
to Weekly Worker (5)
Replying to disgraceful revising of history by a Marxist about the
Makhnovists as well as clarifying why a free federation of
workers' councils can never be a state.
- Critique
of Green and Black Bulletin no. 1
Letter to Freedom critiquing the first primitivist
bproudhon2.htmlulletin published in its papers. Discusses why
primitivism is silly.
- Critique
of Green and Black Bulletin no. 2
Letter to Freedom replying to a primitivist article on why "mass
society" must be destroyed. Exposing its contradictions as well as
its impracticality.
- Letter
to Freedom on class struggle (1)
Old letter on why class and class struggle are key ideas in
anarchism.
- Letter
to Freedom on class struggle (2)
Another old letter on why class and class struggle are key ideas
in anarchism.
- Letter
on Property and Anarchist Communism (1)
An old letter from 1999 defending anarchist ideas about private
property from attacks by a mutualist-anarchist (who later rejected
anarchism to become an "anarcho"-capitalist)
- Letter
on Property and Anarchist Communism (2)
More clarification from 1999 on the anarchist position on private
property, showing that to call two different things as possession
and private property the same name is a bad idea...
- Letter
on Property and Anarchist Communism (3)
More from 1999. Correcting an obvious distortion of Proudhon's
ideas by his mutualist "defender" as well as repeating the
anarchist case against private property and for possession. And
why anarchists should be (libertarian) communists.
- Letter
on Property and Anarchist Communism (4)
Yet more from 1999. Refuting the claims that Proudhon wanted
private property (as opposed to possession) in land. A discussion
on resource use in communist-anarchism and why private property
and anarchism do not go together.
- Letter
on why "property is despotism"
Another old letter to freedom on why "anarcho"-capitalist denial
of "group issues" generates despotism, not freedom. Shows why
capitalism and anarchism do not go together. Also shows that
Somalia is hardly the capitalist system "anarcho"-capitalists like
to say it is.
- Letter
on "Capitalist Acts" in anarchy
Yet another old letter to Freedom on why an anarchist society need
not fear "capitalist acts" between people. Also on how capitalism
bans "capitalist acts" between people every day, not to mention
socialist acts, on private property. Plus how capitalism was, in
fact, the product of state violence.
November
October
- Anti-bin tax
meetings in Cork
About fifty people gathered in Mayfield GAA club in the first of a
series of meetings re launching the campaign against the refuse
charges in Cork city. The meeting was addressed by Paddy Mulcahy
and Ted Tynan both jailed in 1991 for non-payment
- Why
does he hate America?
Find out which unelected head of state urged terrorists to attack
American troops.
- Anarchism
and War
A short article on the anarchist position on capitalist wars.
- The
return of the wildcat
Workers at British Airways went on wildcat strike. This discusses
the response of the "liberal" press to the action.
- Babylon's
Burning
The dossier is a side issue. The real issue is that
the government lied to justify an illegal, immoral and imperialist
war and that (most of) the media went along with the lies (as
usual).
- The
"More Oil" Case for War
Text of a leaflet handed out on the September 2003 anti-occupation
demos in London and Edinburgh.
- Dodgy
dossiers, dodgier decisions
On the all-party foreign affairs committee deciding that Blair did
not lie. Plus a few comments of the state of the UK anti-war and
anarchist movements.
- Democracy
in action!
On the hypocrisy of Blair lecturing Chinese students on democracy.
- Paging
Mr. Kettle...
Blair (killer of thousands of Iraqis) on the death of Saddam's
sons (killers of thousands of Iraqis).
- Labour
Pains
On the 2003 Labour Conference, on Blair's "reverse gear" and what
the alternative to Labour really is.
- Something
to really swear about!
A few comments on the insulting and illogical "oath" the Blairites
want to make immigrants swear.
- Phoney
Blair
Blair's backtracking after the war, from WMD to "WMD programmes."
- Sale of
the Century!
Live, from Iraq... On US plans for selling Iraq off to US
corporations.
- The
lie of the land
On