Organise! #60

14 Pages·2003·33.7 MB·English

by  ACF/AF Anarchist Communist Federation/Anarchist Federation

REVOLUTIONARY PORTRAITS
Revolutionary portraits
I I
-
Senna Hoy was born Johannes Holzmann in 1882 into
a well-off Jewish family.
Hoy is mentioned as a member of
Helen Blavatsky's Theosophical circle
in Berlin in 1903, when he would have
been 18. The following year he broke
with the compromise politics of the Social
Democrats and their accommodation to
the Kaiser's Germany. He took the
4’
4:391
name Senna Hoy (his first name more
Democrats would support it and that it
or less spelt backwards) and started
notorious Citadel prison in Waisaw
would be disastrous for the German
‘bringing out a weekly anarchist magazine
and from there to the criminal lun ll II
masses. Senna Hoy argued for
Kampf (Struggle). Kampf reached the
division (with echoes of the ti ealinvnl
workers’ self-organisation and against
circulation figure of 10,000 in 1905,
of dissidents under the Soviet iegnm )
the trade unions controlled by the
which was no mean feat for a political
Suffering from TB brought on by
Social Democrats. Anarchists from
weekly of that period.
starvation he was in a terrible
Kampf went to the industrial region of
Kampf was an amazing publication.
condition Else Lasker-Schulei who
the Ruhr to spread this message in
Alongside the agitational articles were
was in love with him came to Russi I
1905, and their efforts laid the basis
pleas for sexual freedom, above all gay
in 1913 to plead for his release Ilul it
for a strong working class anarchist
liberation. Whilst not homosexual
was already too late because a Ivw
tradition there. A national network
himself, Senna Hoy was a pioneer in
months later on 28 April 1914 Si~nn.i
around the magazine began to be created,
advocating tolerance of homosexuality.
Hoy was to die at the age of 29 HIS
which spread throughout Germany.
In 1903, in conjunction with Adolf Brand,
body was brought back to Bei Iin I I
he brought out a pamphlet, The Third
Repression
Lasker-Schuler wrote a moving |)()( III
Sex, on the subject. Alongside this were
.7_~m.ifi _
in tribute to her fallen lovei But II I
The Berlin police began to take note,
articles from artists, writers and poets.
Senna Hoy have the last WOI d in I
and repression against Kampf forced
Erich Muhsam, who was to become a
poem smuggled out of prison Ill III!
Hoy to leave Germany for Switzerland,
notable anarchist and end up being
last year of his life
where he edited the anarchist magazine
done to death in Hitler's concentration
Der Weckruf (The Dawn). A great
camps, began to contribute and was a What does it mean to have lived I! Ir
revolutionary ferment was taking place
close associate of Hoy. known wanted sown reaped?
within the Russian Empire from 1905-
Gustav Landauer, another notable Soon I will be no more and the WOIIII
1907 and Hoy gravitated to this. In
anarchist who was to be murdered in who knows? - will last for eons
Poland and Lithuania, part of the Tsar's Deeds there are which I haven I (lnm
the repression of the Munich workers’
Empire, the anarchist movement was thoughts bum — which haven t iipmiml yr
councils in 1919, also contributed.
Pain whips which haven t toirim rl
young and vibrant. A secret conference
Trailblazing artists and poets began to
laughter resounds which I haven I IIHIIIIH fl
of anarchist-communist groups from
contribute, like Paul Scheerbart, who
There go my gravediggers to [h(‘ll I/I/(HA
these two countries took place in June
invented ‘sound poems’ and the gifted
with pipes jokes
1907 and a Federation of Anarchist
poet and writer Else Lasker-Schuler
The last thought 1CeS over H] the hi IIH
Communist Groups was set up.
(she had thought up his new name).
last desires shriek in the heart
In the repression which followed,
Hoy had a profound influence on Franz
I regret every crime in my life Hm! l
24 anarchists were arrested, among
Pfemfert who was to bring out the
haven t yet committed
them Senna Hoy, apprehended in
magazine Aktion, which united
Every wish which I haven t realm (I III
Moscow. They were imprisoned for a
revolutionary ideas in politics and art.
my life
long time in dreadful conditions. Hoy
Pfemfert paid tribute to Hoy when he
was tortured and then sentenced to Senna Hoy had an important pdll In
called himz" A 20-year-old political
prison with hard labour. Some of the play in his action and his influvni I mi
conscience in Berlin. He did not go in
comrades became mad as a result of others in the growth of the Gei m.m
vain into the fight for freedom".
the appalling treatment they received. anarchist movement and his obsi Ill II y
Kampf prophesied a coming war
In 191 1, Senna Hoy was moved to the is unjustified
with the British Empire, that the Social
28
.4, _ ____._ aw _ _ i
I 9. _*1,,
.~\ ta" .-' ‘L4
."" '2
. ,- .
FEATURE
ANARCHIST FEDERATION
Iraq
At war with Iraq 3
Oil 5
Lions led by donkeys 7
Michael Mclaughlin 9
Organise! is the magazine of the Anarchist Federation (AF) and the Anarchist Federation
the struggle
Ireland. Organise! is published in order to develop anarchist. communist ideas. It aims
10
to provide a clear anarchist viewpoint on contemporary issues and to initiate debate As we send The USA and Britain have launched their attack on Iraq. We expect this war to be
t legislation: the
on ideas not normally covered by agitational papers. over quickly, with minimum casualties for the USA and its allies, and at enormous
in Ireland 13
Organise! off to the
We aim to produce Organise! three times a year. To meet this target, we positively human cost to the people of Iraq. The following pieces will necessarily be dated
solicit contributions from our readers. We aim to print any article that liirthers the by the time you read them, however they are worth reading as they provide some
printers, war has
objectives of anarchist communism. If you'd like to write something for us, but are
background to this latest round of dominance games being played by the USA.
unsure whether to do so, why not get in touch first.
We now have to ask, “Who next?" This war is just part of the USA’s attempt to
finally broken out
Even articles that are 100% in agreement with our Aims and Principles can leave
reshape the world at the beginning of the 21st century. Certainly Colombia is in
much open to debate. As always, the articles in this issue do not necessarily represent
the firing line, maybe Iran, maybe even a ‘democratic’ coup in Saudi Arabia. Only
the collective viewpoint of the AF. We hope that their publication will produce responses
time will tell. One thing they all have in common is enormous oil resources. We
from readers and spur the debate on.
do predict that resistance from Iraq will continue, even when the formal war is
The next issue of Organise! will be out in June 2003. All contributions should be
over. How the USA and Britain will react to a steady trickle of body bags over the
sent to: AF, c/0 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. It would help if all Back issues
months to come is anyone’s guess. Short of working class rebellion, we expect
articles could be either typed or on disc (PC or MAC format). Alternatively, articles can
this to be the picture of the world for years to come.
be emailed directly to the editors at: [email protected].
Back issues of Organise! are still available
Acknowledgement: Most of the illustrations in this magazine are shamelessly
from the London address. They cost 20p The United States prepares for regime change
ripped off from other magazines and web sites, however, the photographs generally each plus SAE.
The State and the ruling class of the United States seem determined to carry out
Issue 19: The Poll Tax Rebellion
come from the excellent Indymedia website. They can be viewed, along with much
their war threats all around the planet. Whilst the US normally prefers to conquer
Issue 27: LA Riots; Yugoslavia; Malcolm X
more at www.indymedia.org. We thoroughly recommend it.
Issue 29: Debate on the unions; Italian new territories by the penetration of its capital, there is always the option of a
Anarchist Federation contacts: workers organise
follow—through with military domination if that fails. Other Western powers that
Issue 37: Pornography; Booze, cigs and
wish to increase their influence now see the US in the ascendant. In the Persian
London: AF, c/o 84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX dope; Moral panics
Gulf, the chief obstacle to American domination is now Iraq. Up until recently, US
Issue 40: Work, work, work; Art as a
Birmingham: AF, PO Box 3241, Saltley, Birmingham B8 3DP
weapon interests meant that the Saddam regime was supported and armed. Today, the
Leicester: 73 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WB
Issue 46: Lorenzo Kom'Boa Ervin;
American boss class needs to sweep away the Saddam regime and establish a
Email: [email protected]
Syndicalism
protectorate under its military control. If that regime is not dealt with, US capital
Manchester: PO Box 127, Oldham OL4 3FE
Issue 48: French unemployed; Haile
will not have enough freedom of movement in the Gulf region.
Email: [email protected] Selassie; Revolutionary unions?
Issue 50: GM Foods; Who owns the land; To find a pretext to launch a war, the American ruling class has sought to use
Merseyside: c/o 96 Bold Street, Liverpool 1
War in Kosovo; Ireland - the ‘peace’
the United Nations weapons inspectors, but there have been problems with this,
South East and all other areas: AE PO Box 375, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey GU21 2XL
process.
Tlyneside: PO Box 1TA, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1TA8 as their reports have not provided sufficient evidence for such an attack.
Issue 51: War in Kosovo; Roots of our
Wales/Cymru: PO Box 7, Pontypool, Gwent NP4 8YB A series of ultimatums that Iraq cannot accept are to be used in the same way
movement; Land and freedom; East Timor
Scotland/Alba: AF, PO Box 248, Aberdeen AB25 1JE, Scotland/Alba Issue 52: Mass direct action; East Timor; as the Rambouillet accord was used — as a pretext to smash what was left of ex-
Email: [email protected] Youth resistance to the Nazis; Workplace Yugoslavia.
notes
Ireland: Anarchist Federation (Ireland), PO Box 505 Belfast BT12 6BQ
Not only has the overthrow of the Saddam regime been decided but the USA
Issue 54: Civil war in Colombia; Humans
Phone: [phone]. Email: [email protected]
has decided who to put in its place. This will consist of the Group of Four (the
and animals; Giving up activism; Dissent
Issue 55: Land and ecology; Kropotkin Democratic Party of Kurdistan, The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the main Shiite
Websites
and tribal society; Mental health
opposition group, as well as the National Iraqi Accord) and the organisation of ex-
Anarchist Federation: www.afed.org.uk
Issue 56: Anti-capitalism; Riots in
military officers of the Baath regime (backed by the Central Intelligence Agency).
Leicester AF: http://hometovim.aol.co.uk/leicesteraf/myhomepage/opinion.html
Oldham; Anarchist culture
US support to this Group of Four represents a policy change from support for the
Manchester AF: www.af-north.org
Issue 57: The war against terror; Class
National Iraqi Congress, now considered insufficient to the task ahead. This itself
AF Ireland: www.flag.blackened.net/af/ireland war in Argentina; ADD; Primitivispi
AF Scotland/Alba: http://flag.blackened.net/af/alba Issue 58: Afghanistan War; Class war in points to a more aggressive American strategy, as all these armed groups are
Argentina; ADD; Primitivism and Deep
involved in smuggling and gangsterism.
Ecology; Santa Claus; Anarchist song in
Subscribe The American effort to isolate Iraq has collapsed. Russia is owed vast amounts
France and Italy
by Iraq and economic links between the two countries are estimated at billions.
Issue 59: The Sex Issue: What does
The Russian oil enterprises LUKOil and Zarubezhneft and the French company
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
sexual freedom mean?; Interview with a
Total-Fina-Elf have major interests in Iraq. Iraq is currently working to reopen its
dominatrix; Sex workers and industrial
0 Q n Q Q 0 Q 00' Q Q Q Q u IIIQ-I-IOII-I’-hi!-Iilj a l o Q u Q Q not a o u o c o on
oil pipelines towards the port of Ceyhan in Turkey and in constructing a new pipeline
organisation; Class Struggle in China;
[J I enclose £6 for a three-issue sub or £8 for a three-issue supporting sub.f\
The Arclititi del Popolo (anti-fascism in to Jordan and another towards Syria and Jordan. Other countries such as China,
i x "S (Add £25.%_1for overseas subs or institutions)
Italy); The Prison Industrial Complex; India, Indonesia and Vietnam have economic interests in Iraq. Iraq has the second
The Zazous (French youth against the
enclose £6_1:o pay forafprisoner"s subscription. ‘ . ; ; ‘ biggest reserve of oil in the world.
Nazis during the war)
The strategic position of Iraq in the Gulf and the reserves of gas and petrol I
El I enclose £8 for a joint ‘subscription to Organise! and Resistance. A
Alternatively send us a fiver and we'll
close by in Central Asia mean that the domination of the region is crucial for US
Return formto: AE c/o 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. send you one of everything, plus whatever
interests. As was admitted recently in the Chicago Sun Times: "Military victory is
else we can find lying around.
3
2
FEATURE FEATURE
anticipated inside the Bush administration flagrant dictatorship of the ruling class which has spread to many sectors of dominant world power. Huge new class women and men can yet halt the obstacle of dogmatic non-violent
as the tonic that will prompt corporation and the industrial-military complex. society - with special reference to movements are springing into life, rush to war and barbarism. The key pacifism. There is a whole future to be
officers and private investors to unleash The government no longer needs proof, young people who are taking direct partly based on previous mass factors are a break with nationalism, won, and anarchists must prepare
the American economy's dormant trial or legal defence. It can put anyone action in their schools and in the streets. mobilisations of the last 40 years. The with the chloroform of establishment themselves to take a full part in helping
power. Although it is impolitic to say on its territory, with or without So the anti-war movement should not mass movement of millions of working media propaganda, and with the this come about.
so, the fact that the United States will citizenship, into its civil or military be underestimated in a strategy for
be sitting on a new major oil supply prisons. The recent arrest of Abdullah developing a revolutionary answer to
will stimulate the domestic economy. al-Mujahir accused of plotting a ‘dirty’ the war. Hopefully, large numbers of
That puts a high premium on quickly nuclear bomb demonstrates this, with people involved in this movement can
gaining control of Iraq's oil wells still no evidence offered by the become increasingly radicalised. The
before they can be torched — a major government. New legislation, like the readiness to take direct action, the fact
uncertainty in an otherwise strictly proposed Patriot Act, will strengthen that a huge movement has emerged
scripted scenario." this. even before the war is officially declared,
But there are deep divisions within The US government has revived its are positive factors.
The following comes from a
the US administration on how this can old Cold War propaganda and even
talk delivered by a member of
What about Britain?
be done. General Tommy Franks in the that of the Second World War. The
the AF Ireland in Belfast in
Washington Post predicted that 200,000 National Security Agency has launched Why has the Blair regime sided with
February:
military would be needed and an a campaign with the motto “Loose lips the US rather than with the Franco-
invasion would incur heavy losses. The sink ships”. Indeed the US and British German bloc? It is true that there are
obstruction of US ‘allies’ like France governments are attempting to re- divisions within the British boss class The US Department of Energy announced
and Germany have slowed the American launch ‘anti-fascist’ sentiment that over the war (this explains the favourable at the beginning of this month that by
offensive. The Russian ruling class, proved so useful in gaining popular coverage given to the anti-war movement 2025, US oil imports will account for
despite lying prostrate before US military support for World War II, but with little in some of the establishment media), perhaps 70% of total US domestic
power, is deeply opposed to any military success so far, as a dictator not even but the bulk of the ruling class has demand.‘ US oil deposits are becoming
attack on Iraq. Since November 2000, able to rule over the whole of Iraq traditionally allied itself with the US. progressively depleted and many other
Iraq has preferred to use the Euro rather hardly compares to a confident and The Conservative Party stands solid non-OPEC fields are beginning to run
than the dollar for its oil transactions. expansionist Hitler. All restrictions on with Labour on the war, and the core dry. “This really means that the bulk of
In the meantime, the bombing by the espionage and domestic surveillance of Labour is totally loyal and compliant. future supplies will have to come from
US and its British ally has continued. have been lifted. A huge new The bulk of the British establishment the Gulf region"? Since Iraq has the
From 17 December 1998 to 18 May bureaucracy is being created under the regards it as political suicide to break second largest reserves of oil in the r
I
I
2002, warplanes carried out 38,504 banner of the Department for Security with their US allies. world after Saudi Arabia, it seems
raids and the bombing still continues. of the Country, centralising every The Liberal Democrats have marched sensible to seize them, particularly
The US has systematically destroyed aspect of surveillance, of application of into the ranks of the anti-war movement. now that Bush and Cheney are in the
I
the Iraqi infrastructure. the law and of public security. But their stance and that of their leader White House; both are former oil
At home in the USA, the government According to official statistics of the Charles Kennedy is not anti-war as company executives, while Bush Snr.
has acted rapidly to establish a more US government, foreign investment in such. They take the side of the Franco- was founder, in 1954, of the Zapata
the USA has plunged by 60% from 2000 German bloc, and that section of the Offshore Oil Company. Cheney, when
to 2001. This shows the real crisis of ruling class in Britain that sees the president of the Halliburton Company
American military power in the area
confidence in the US economy, because most fruitful way forward is to develop of Houston, sold Saddam $23 billion have billion-dollar contracts with
foreign capital is searching for better a strong European bloc in opposition to dollars of oil field equipment. Baghdad, which they fear will disappear will naturally be used to benefit
I'D RATHER BE
American-based corporations as opposed
dividends elsewhere. This is the biggest the dominant US bloc. Their emphasis In last April's New Yorker, the in ‘an oil grab by Washington’, if
KILLING CAPITALISTS...
America installs a successor to Saddam." to, say, French ones. However, if it was
slump in the USA for more than 10 is on gaining UN approval, and so investigative reporter Nicholas Lemann
years. The US administration has to Iegitimising a war with a larger wrote that Bush's most senior adviser, (The Observer) just a matter of the interests of individual
corporations or sectors of the economy,
There are a number of interrelated
maintain the circulation of capital in percentage of the population. They— and Condoleeza Rice, told him she had
the USA in the same way that it has to France, Germany, Russia and China — called together senior members of the issues here. Firstly, the profits of then market competition would compel
assure the control of the most important would not be opposed to any war to National Security Council and asked individual corporations are dependent them to, for short term reasons, do
. at. merchandise of capitalism: oil. The only further their own economic and them “to think about how to capitalise on relations with the oil producing business with Iraq, irrespective of what
regime is in power there; so secondly,
option for the US boss class is war. strategic interests, if it was more on these opportunities", which she states. A diversification of oil production
Using war on terrorism as a pretext, politically effective. This would mean compared with those of 1945-1947: - opening up new sources of supply and most importantly, the question is
L_-:"i'|" the US administration has, and this is better thought-out military strategies the start of the Cold War. " (John Pilger) (such as that in Central Asia or by where does the profits which have
no exaggeration, declared war on the that did not involve such mass “The Bush administration, intimately re-bringing Iraqi oil on to the open been creamed off the backs of the
whole planet. opposition. Their role within the anti- entwined with the global oil industry, market) weakens the power of OPEC, working class in oil-producing areas
The realisation of this grim fact is war movement will have the long-term is keen to pounce on Iraq's massive the consortium of oil producing states, end up? It can be re—invested in the
world economic system dominated by
FIGHT THE REAL ENEMIESI an underlying and as yet not fully strategy of confusing and demoralising untapped reserves, the second biggest thereby strengthening the bargaining
Bosses, Cops & Politicians expressed factor within the huge anti- that movement. in the world after Saudi Arabia's. But position of the corporations who elites in the West, as we can see in ‘
Will".ii1i-4L}?'5ii£'.II}}.'llIl'§I this extract on Saudi Arabia from the
war movement that has affected so In the long term, the US‘s aggressive France and Russia, who hold a power purchase from them.
many countries around the world and foreign policy may be its epitaph as a of veto on the UN Security Council, Furthermore, an increase in Washington Post: “Since the 1970s,
4 5
m m
FEATURE FEATURE
donkeys
Saudi Arabia has shifted from its role
lil
as a large oil supplier to becoming the
principal US ally and economic partner
1-iii-I
in the region. In the 1970s and 1980s,
it bolstered the international banking
system with its oil revenue Since 1981,
The Great By the time this article is read, it is usual to read its entrails to discover
US construction companies and arms
possible that the firefighters will have who won the struggle between organised
suppliers have earned more than $50
labour and the state. But with war
rejected government's ‘final offer’ and
billion in Saudi Arabia, according to
Firefighters
we will be in the middle of a bloody raging or the government in crisis, .
the Congressional Research Service US.
war abroad and a bruising dispute at winners and losers will take second
Investments in the country reached
home. place to more pressing issues. When
$4.8 billion in 2000, according to the Strike of
The firefighters rejected the FBU the dust has settled, at conference
Commerce Department. The US oil
Executive's recommendation at the time, each side will no doubt claim
giant Exxon Mobil Corp. was recently
2002-O3
Brighton conference, but the result of something. The FBU Executive will put
chosen by the Saudi government to
the ballot of all firefighters about the a brave face on the concessions they
lead two of three consortituns developing
offer isn't yet known. If the strike is will have had to make. Tony Blair and
gas projects worth $20bn-$26bn.”
still going on, the FBU Executive will his government of management
(Washington Post 21/9/01) The oil industry, as well as being a 70% of the oil consumed in the US will
be desperately seeking to make control-freakery will claim to have
However, a nationalist government source of capital, also produces an be imported. It could be argued that
concessions that avoid the strike being defeated the ‘Wreckers’, the new
in power in an oil producing area, important resource. While ‘America’ is this would place the US at a strategic
declared unlawful and the threat of ‘enemy within’. Whatever the claims
aiming to build up a native industrial certainly not dependent upon imports disadvantage. There is, of course, a
legislation to make strikes illegal in the by each side, who will have won the
base - as did most of the rogues in the of it from the Middle East, large parts way around this, not to mention the
Fire Service. But the minimum the strategic victory both sides began to
Middle East that ‘the West’ has fought of the world, included Europe and slightly more pressing problem of
government is demanding is flexibility believe possible last year?
against, from Nasser to Hussein — would Japan, are, and thus the more power global warming, and the rise in asthma
on overtime and rostering, part-time
make for lost profits. The wealth which Washington has in the Middle East the due to exhaust fumes — the development
Veto
working throughout the Fire Service
could go into the coffers of the West's more influence it has over these of sustainable transport alternatives to
and the loss of thousands of jobs — an Some people feared the strike was lost
banks, arms companies, construction potential rivals. Thus, in the second the petrol driven motor car. But I
outcome totally unacceptable to rank- even before it began, back in the summer
companies, is instead invested developing two cases, the American state is wouldn't hold my breath waiting for
and-file firefighters. of 2002 when the government vetoed.
local industry. This is bad news, not representing the interests of not just that from a government of ex-oil
Eventually a face-saving formula the 16% pay offer. ‘Modernisation’ (ie
just because of that lost profit, but even oil corporations, but the overall interests executives whose election campaign
(on all sides) will be cobbled together cuts) has been the government's
more fundamentally, given that we are of the corporate elite. was funded by big oil.
and the ordinary firefighter will pay agenda for years and as soon as the
talking about areas where lies one of Furthermore, while today there is
1 “The Looming war isn't about
the price. With war raging, the FBU pay claim appeared on its radar it struck.
the most valuable commodities in the no American reliance on Middle Eastern
Chemical Warheads”, Robert Fisk, 18
Executive cannot afford to be accused No doubt the FBU leadership expected
world — a resource which could form oil, in the future this may be radically
January 2003.
of betraying ‘our boys’, but they risk a quick campaign and the municipal
the building block for the development different. The US Department of Energy
2 Michael Renner: Worldwatch Institute
the union splitting down the middle. It employers to capitulate. But national,
of an imperialist rival to ‘the West’. recently announced that, by 2025, January 2003.
will be seeking an ‘acceptable’ form of pre-announced strikes allowed the
, _
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j _
" flexibility, despite the fact that the kind government to shoulder the employers
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nurtured image of competence. The
‘1I-'-I-'§"!5;3i-I.:'~:-P3-1-'1; "-1-1-+:=_.j_-I,-' I-. W -.. "-‘I-':'I'§ resisted fiercely for years.
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launched the pay claim in 2002 on-off nature of the dispute helped to
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=.~_I '-'_.g—. oil economy brought in revenue of trading currency adds another
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6 y 7
FEATURE FEATURE
vicious onslaught). They quickly
their part in attempting to sell the
employers would have been forced to refuse to be dictated to by unreasonable Service has many stations in prime
realised the dangers facing them but
firefighters a bad deal, then ran for
take back the negotiations and settle. and unpatriotic strikers. sites — 150 are targeted to go. Why
cover. Workers will be further stood firm, and argued for all-out
The biggest losers long-term will be, But as Blair's war on Iraq became buy fire engines? Let the private
demoralised, anger about pay and industrial action to force government
of course, the rank-and-file firefighter more and more unpopular, it was less sector buy them and lease them back!
conditions deflated, pay demands to negotiate sensibly and quickly. They
and (less directly) all public sector easy to use popular consent and media More importantly, who will be able to
moderated, privatisation slowed but also fought to defend the principle that
workers. The firefighters, well-disciplined, vilification to paint the firefighters as stand against privatisation, part-
not stopped. The fix will be in, and no developing public services should be a
popular and with a massive democratic ‘wreckers’ or ‘the enemy within’. This privatisation and externalisation when
mistake. co-operative endeavour, between those
mandate - 87% voted yes when balloted strengthened the FBU Executive's the firefighters couldn't? Who can
who use and who provide the service.
in October 2002 — were led to the picket resolve when it came to debate the argue against modernisation now?
Losers
The service provided on Merseyside
line like lions and staked out for the (worse than November) offer of 16% Expect the pace of ‘partnership’ to
has cut fire deaths in half by installing
The big losers will be low-paid public
media vultures like donkeys. over three years instead of two. quicken and big contracts for public
assessment by the independent Labour
sector workers. Tony Blair raised the twice the national average number of
The trouble is there is as yet no sector provision to fall into the bloated
Research Department!
Backing off spectre of 10%, 15% or 20% pay smoke detectors, a policy championed
strategy for winning a pay rise without hands of the corporate fat cats.
What lessons can we learn? Firstly
demands if the FBU won. If the strike by firefighters but now threatened by
As usual, at the end of 2002, while any ‘modernising’ strings. The best
Some services will is settled on harsh terms, the campaign cuts and the breakdown in industrial that strikes are best not led by the so-
ordinary firefighters called for the ‘big the FBU Executive can do is hope to
for a fairer share of public sector relations. At the same time, and as a called leadership, unless workers are
push’, their generals quailed, cowered postpone the worst and most damaging
be ripe for
prepared to compromise from the start.
spending is almost beaten before it can measure of just how corrupt municipal
and gave in, sounding the recall by changes. Even so, sometime soon,
Second, that once stopped, they are
start. Three per cent is more likely than government is, the councillors elected
priva tisa tion
suspending first a planned eight-day perhaps this year, the government will
1 5% this year. And with all the talk of to the Merseyside Fire Authority voted hard to re-start. It is far better to change
strike and then a planned two-day strike. issue a consultation paper on the
your tactic to intensify pressure on the
recession and economic ‘hard landings’, themselves a 50% increase in their
Too late the TUC and ACAS ambulance ‘future’ of the Fire Service. The The screw will tighten around the
enemy while reducing it on your own
it's likely that public sector employees allowances (in line with other fire
was rushed to the field to rescue the counter-attack will be launched. A firefighters: “If you can't talk about
forces: rolling strikes and guerilla
will be faced down and accept less — or authorities). The Chairman, Peter
survivors: the battered FBU leadership full-time service (preserved in London service improvements, we can't
rather their leaders will. Corcoran (who got a 52% pay rise), strikes cause an image of ‘chaos’ and a
and the discredited fire authority and Merseyside) will go and more implement the pay agreement". “If
dispute ‘out of control’ which will force
The most heartening thing about said “independent assessors are saying
negotiators. No doubt the leaders of moderate (and easily cowed) part-timers you won't modernise, there will have
we should receive proper allowances the bosses on the defensive.
the strike was the sheer determination
the TUC hoped to curry some favours, recruited. Over the next few years to be job losses". The FBU will be
Thirdly, the trade union leadership
for the job we do". A sentiment the
of the ordinary firefighter (and the
making themselves useful to the flexibility will lead to 4000 lost jobs. forced to fight on the government's
firefighters would endorse, since their will always seek to compromise at the
public support they got throughout,
government and popular with members terms, not theirs. All the dispute has
expense of workers rather than jeopardise
Safety threat despite the government and media's own claim to £30k was based on an
and the public alike. They too are done is put them in the firing line this
their mediating role between worker
firefighters, though of a different sort... Prescott announced in December 2002 year and next. If a strike should develop
and employer. Fourthly, and most
But their efforts misfired: government that he wanted to give Chief Fire it will be on the battleground of service
importantly, that there are no solutions
OBITUARY
ministers and their fat cat advisors Officers the sole power to override improvement (always popular with the
within the framework of what we call
Michael McLaughlin
hated the way they ‘rescued’ the safety legislation that sets out consumer), not fair pay or safety. The
work, our working lives — no solution
firefighters just as they were closing minimum standards of fire cover. This moral high ground will have been lost
to low pay, inadequate pay, unfair pay.
for the kill: public support for the strike has been the aim of government since and the dispute, if one develops, will
The tragic death, aged 34, of our comrade, Michael McLaughlin, came as a antisocial hours or working practices,
was waning, the army was coping and 1980, and as recently as 1999 the be fought in the swamp of management-
great shock to the Anarchist Federation in Scotland and beyond. to stress, to alienation, to bullying or
Andy Gilchrist went ‘over the top’ with employers proposed performance- speak about ‘performance indicators’,
Although a libertarian for several years, Michael had only been an active indifferent bosses. Many trade unions
his “Time for Real Labour” speech. related pay and local flexibility as the ‘public-private’ and ‘output measures’.
militant of the AF-Alba for about a year. But in that time we quickly grew to were formed to enable the worker to
Two planned strikes in December were basis of negotiations in the future. The public gaze will falter and turn
realise that he was a comrade of great conviction. And a really good man. seize the means of production — tools,
cancelled: the enemy within had blinked, As Bob Pounder, an FBU Executive away; the dispute will be lost.
Always practically-minded, Michael took a major role in the organisation machines, the lorries and looms, the
and were ready to be crushed. Then Committee member, suspended for More importantly, Blair's jack-
of the AF-sponsored Anarchist Dayschool in Glasgow last November and was factories and fields — and to enable
came the offer of mediation, the closing of speaking about the dispute, says: “In booted ministers, Nick Raynsford and
involved in the AF at all levels of the organisation. Many comrades have workers to organise their working lives
ranks, the critical speeches, the hints Greater Manchester, we face a E5 John Prescott, will have won a famous
happy memories of Michael from last year's National Conference. He was the for themselves and for society's benefit.
of disaffiliation. Blair, Prescott, Blunkett million cuts package. Prior to this victory, consolidating their iron grip on
kind of person who immediately made those around him feel comfortable and Now they just sell insurance. Yet
and Raynsford will not forget such dispute, we were in a strong and domestic policy. They will have faced
valued. He was the kind of person who inspired confidence. When he said workers, and we are workers too, put
disloyalty, and it will be the ordinary militant position. However, unless down a group of workers driven to the
he'd do something, it generally got done. We could do with a few more of his our trust in them and expect them to
worker who pays the price. something changes, the signal will go end of their tether and solidly militant
kind. deliver us from the not-so gilded cage
Early in 2003, a new round of strikes out that the FBU is a spent force, and because of it. They will have discredited
Michael was active in his workplace and was a Health and Safety Rep with of a working life, a life of toil with
were threatened and Prescott threatened this will strengthen the hand of the Left at the same time as they out-
the MSF union and also a member of the Clydeside branch of the Industrial scant reward. We must organise as
to take powers to end the dispute and management to implement cuts, maneuvered and baffled the FBU leader,
Workers of the World. If things were happening, he was generally in the thick workers to take back the means of
force a settlement, effectively which will reverberate throughout Andy Gilchrist. They will have proved
of it. His commitment to his social revolutionary politics was rivalled only by work, in order to free ourselves from it.
nationalising the Fire Service by taking every brigade in the country." that no public service, however valued
his enthusiasm for his beloved Celtic. His first AF meeting was followed by a
negotiating powers away from the Some parts of the fire service will or organised, is immune from the
visit to Parkhead with another AF Celtic-heid (the other-three comrades went __I_|$:|I‘-3:1,],:l'£n;JI€‘-|%(|_5x'l -i__LI:._;_-'iI_I,,Ili__Ir_:..¢___-II?§:;_,II'>!li::"-5'?!‘I.-:-I’-_-I‘-,i-1%,-‘$5.3,-_-I :"l::I:'4-_'|.r.I'._.-:.|I__-,._.-j-:u-f-ii-__‘_-_..1":-Li‘.__-___r|,-I_.:1.I,-._-'.__-_-3.-__._.,-._-3;:-,,-4:,--VI',t3.,-'-,;:._I,--_.§-_1.-In-‘I43_._,-,5.-55._;._I'_-__I_;-_._,~-
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local employers. The FBU Executive be prepared for privatisation. The modernisation treatment. They will *. “I'?-'.-T?"-'= -*~I¢'- ttmtf 1- -=--.#'- i'"1I'*Ii=5=rii~->?‘I*aI~?IE-'1"‘!"'F}5i':i*iI-11$"{*-*’."'l";{'E-"I5‘-'?5:'§'='{*9"1§“5'F7Ii-5"'Ei*"i.’=i"I-‘E?-‘:2’-"¢?*5'?'b'I'I\E‘?iii!-'5'-'"553
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Blair his chance. How easy it was to sums will be licking their lips. No government while gaining no credit F=I-,'..-’-I.‘-.I-<.-;I.i.-I‘I-,I'_~iI_‘-Iht*t-IQ.I--'=-.II"=*I-iI"*.!--."Ii"-;:-,-15"+-“’I''-,II‘1=4.I-'1~.='I-.'-I-I‘I:_.I,*.I”'a f-'_*I'r_“-I-'I|"IrI.._'§-.-'I=-I'-I".i.,--"_I"-..I,-i_-I"-""--‘:-I';,¢IJ:nI-I.Is--_‘»III’'-'.--:’-4_=f3‘?»-IfI-s',1~."=I.*-.-.-‘--_‘I.I-’---I,’I:.<.-_’:;- t t “IIIII":--II.-3I_:1'--.I-‘2I-iI-..I-jrI.--m"I2".-.;--‘,'.--..-’1IfI;=-,.Ir_II‘I=i'!-'1‘I|\,1.-.--'7.’'1-,.-§:-I.-'I".'-“+‘I\i,’+:=.II'"!i'('-I=I"''*I!',!I-I.I'fl'PI.--II.'I,i-''i..---‘€n-*IbI-'-;:-.IrI..:I''.II,'*I-II'.I"’-I-.*.w5’?1--'_i-§-'.._’I-.i.--§-_-=I'.I--r-I9'F-.I5-’‘?1P,-;'-_~=f'"r:.’""-I-‘I.I-a='_-.-i
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wrap his government in the flag and doubt like the railways, the Fire with ordinary workers — they played
9
8
FEATURE FEATURE
Argen tin a:
the piqueteros also turn out to defend
them both from state attacks. The
piqueteros, who were previously
looked down upon and called ‘le
negrada’ (the blacks), are now seen as
heroes and great examples by the
people they help, who in turn help
them — active solidarity is the key.
A similar approach has been taken
In previous issues of On 16 March 2002, armed police and political tendency (we're looking at to health issues. A number of private
hired goons (including members of the you trotsl). Also, they arose on a hospitals were abandoned by their
Organise! we situated
football hooligans’ Barra Bravas) classic spontaneous model — they were owners during the uprising. These
the Argentinean crisis in forced their way into the Brukman formed to meet the demands of the have now been occupied and are
textile factory in Buenos Aires, which current situation, they are not simply operating as profit-free ventures. The
its historical context and
had been under occupation since the the mechanical application of forms of same is true of the system of alternative
examined ways in which
owner fled four months previously. organisation that were determined education, which has mushroomed and
They were shortly afterwards driven elsewhere in a different struggle. operates entirely outside of the state
the situation might
out by the combined forces of the Though it should be pointed out that, system. Cultural spaces have also been
evolve. In this issue we
worked out by those they affect — not
occupying workers, piqueteros, to a certain extent, spontaneity is opened, where people come to talk which has expanded to include not
just the workers.
members of unemployed groups and really just the coming to light of about how they can collectively help just immediate blood relatives, but all
take a look at the forms
Today, there are hundreds of
local residents. This direct action was previously submerged networks each other: plays and songs about members of the local community.
of working class self-
occupied workplaces (and not just
one of the first that brought together designed to meet collective social working class life and solidarity are People have grown to see through
factories but also schools, hospitals and
organisation that have in practical co-operation the various needs. Spontaneity is what the bosses performed. Creches, bakeries and joint struggles that their problems can
other ‘white-collar’ sites) covering
forms of working class self-organisation sneeringly call working class self- canteens are also set up in these only be addressed through collective
been built in the space
every region of the country. A closer
that have developed since the December activity when they finally manage to spaces. On top of all this, local action. Their answers lie in working
look at how these places work, the
created by the actions of 2001 uprising — a wonderful example of see what is going on under their noses. communities turn out en masse to with others, hence the almost
different forms the occupations have
social solidarity put into practice — and With 40% unemployment (100,000 physically oppose evictions and desperate desire to forge new links
the participants in the
taken and the state's attitude to them
one which helped to speed the growth jobs lost a month), inflation around attempts to cut off essential local with others in struggle as demonstrated
reveals that there are in fact two types
original uprising — of working class co-operation and 1 1% (also rising) and the state services. All of this activity is carried by the unprecedented growth of
of occupation; one that results from
autonomy. imposing utility bill increases of 50% on outside of the state and its local territorial, local, national, occupational
particularly the factory
communities organising to directly
One of the most important things on heating gas, 35% on electricity and representatives. and interest based co-ordinations,
and workplace about the incredible growth of self- other essential services, it's unsurprising which magnificently demonstrate the meet their own needs, and one under
Active solidarity is
the control of official ‘working class
organisation is that the initiatives that the first forms of self-organisation desire for human community -
occupations.
representatives’ or of representatives
developed - in the overwhelming were concerned with meeting the communism.
the key
of the local state and capitalist
majority of cases, outside of any party immediate needs of the community. To
ln the workplace
institutions who seek to recuperate
or institutional influence — are a direct bypass the supermarkets which were
expression of the needs of the making the most of the crisis by A less successful venture was the The movement of factory and workplace this activity and direct it into support
participants and the wider community, increasing prices, a whole network of ‘truque' or barter network that, at its occupations has grown rapidly during for ‘stability’ and the state as benefactor.
as against the needs of a particular communal community gardens height of popularity, had over 8,000 the past year, from a handful of The Zanon ceramic factory in the
producing directly for the community clubs and three million members. The isolated and under—siege examples at province of Neuquen is probably the
problems stemmed from the network's the start of the year, to a full-scale largest occupied workplace still
developed. People worked together to
clear wasteland or other suitable areas use of an alternative currency that social movement with hundreds of actually producing. Pay remains at the
.5? ‘i g’
‘IF
soon became the de facto currency in occupations, complete with regional same levels as prior to the occupation
for growing food, which is given to
many places — soon 90% of the and national conferences, ‘National (with inflation being taken into account)
those who have no other means pf?
s.,,""W"ii
-=..‘="'.Il..
support, or is exchanged for goods ‘certificates’ were forgeries and credit Plans of Action’, and attempts at and the ceramic tiles produced are sold
' " ' . _ ' ._.IJ_;7_:-..:-'11__‘'5-;.-:-
*-:-:-.‘:.‘=""-:-'-'?-."....=ai=-'*=
"'5 “I if
inflation was at 40%. On top of these recuperation by state and leftist forces. at 60% of their former price through a
from the occupied factories (see below).
problems, the network was being used The first occupations took place series of street vendors employed by
Meeting social needs to finance small-scale local capitalism, during the December 2001 argentinazo, the piqueteros or at the ‘popular’
if if
Similarly, the piqueteros (see previous and large-scale producers were taking notably of the Brukman and Zanon supermarkets set up in Rosario and
954+?-'
their goods out of the system and factories, which have both played an other towns specifically to sell the
issue for background on these) dealt
with the problem of social housing by selling them off at inflated prices immensely important role in practical goods from the occupied workplaces.
outside of the network. (These were and symbolic terms. These two have When new workers are needed,
simply forming a brick-making factory
not local problems — they are inherent become the public face of the piqueteros and other unemployed
from whatever material they could
find and proceeded to collectively in systems of this type, but we do not occupation movement, providing space groups are taken on, and at the same
have the space to deal with that here.) for others to work out their own plans rates as the other workers. Decisions’
build houses for those in need, whilst
A significant change in people's of occupation and as a place where the are taken by the mass workers’
being fed from the community
behaviour is their view of ‘the family’, implications of the occupations can be assembly (with delegates from other
gardens and the factories. In return,
10 11
FEATURE
FEATURE
I — —
groups present) and production is workplaces, for wiping out debts and central role in the uprising and in
organised collectively. A technical for establishing a clear legal framework building up resistance (Rosario and
college for members of the local for further expropriations. The Cordoba being particularly noteworthy).
community has also been established. Brukman factory has been forced by The slogan for the march was “Throw Class Struggle in Ireland 1 760-1840
One of the first things the Zanon circumstances to follow this path, the bums out!" and ended up at the
assembly sought to do was to establish asking the Buenos Aires government Plaza de Mayo (scene of bitter fighting
links with others in struggle, especially to expropriate the factory and re-hire and many deaths last year) on the first
the piqueteros and other factory it back to them, and to give them a anniversary of (President) De La Rua’s
How the During the years 1788-1868, 2,249 political prisoners were transported from
occupations, and to that end they preferential option to buy the plant resignation.
Ireland to exile in Australia. Of that number, less than 20% belonged to the well-
hosted a national meeting of occupied after two years, when it will be put up Solidarity actions under the banner
commemorated nationalist rebellions and conspiracies of 1798, 1803, 1848 and
Whiteboys
factories in April (more on the various for sale. Provincial and city legislatures of ‘Que Se Vayan Todos' (They All
1867.1 Who were the rest?
co-ordinations and conferences below) are currently drafting a number of bills Must Go) took place at the same time
From the 1760s to the 1840s successive revolts of the rural poor broke out
which declared that it would start a to create a government agency to assist in every corner of the globe — resisted
across Ireland. These comprised of a variety of underground movements with
plan “of public works, controlled by in the formation of co—operatives and Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia,
varying names but common characteristics. They are now called after the first
workers, to construct schools needed to facilitate expropriations, as presently Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech
oppression
suchimovement — the Whiteboys. These were movements of the rural poor; wage
by teachers and students, public expropriation is only legally possible if Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland,
labourers, those who worked in small-scale industries and cottiers (small tenant
hospitals, and housing". it is in ‘the public benefit’. This France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
farmers).
temporary manoeuvre is designed to Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,
State interventions Labourers would often rent (or be allowed to rent land as part of their wage),
speedily introduce stability, all the Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
while the smallest tenant farmers would supplement their income with labouring.
The Ghelco ice cream factory in better to allow the real capitalists to Switzerland, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay,
Whiteboys were almost exclusively male and young, usually teenage.
Buenos Aires highlights a different step back into their old shoes when USA and Yugoslavia. The network now
Their organisation was secretive and underground, and also fairly libertarian,
approach to the direct occupation at conditions allow. On top of this, many extends far beyond the borders of
with independent groups in each town networked with others to form an entire
Zanon, one that the state is increasingly factories are not actually occupied in Argentina, putting into practical effect
movement across several counties. Of at least one group, it is said that all its
viewing as both a way out of its the classical sense since they are still the demand for No Borders!
members had ‘equal command’. There
stability problems and as a potential paying the previous owners’ rent or
was extensive use of ritual — initiation
Prospects
bulwark for co-opting the working have written off months of unpaid
oaths, elaborate pseudonyms, and
class back into its political and structural work and owed back—wages. The current state of affairs is a series
uniforms, costumes or special insignia.
of self-organised initiatives that
programmes (a la Peron and the
Direct action was the method of
Communication and networks
unions). The factory was occupied by operate to a greater or lesser degree
these movements. Typically a
an order of a bankruptcy judge, who This is not to say that the people successfully, and largely outside of the
proclamation or ‘law’ would be issued,
decreed that it should be rented back involved are not aware of these state's institutional structures. But
.. to the effect that rents, priest dues or
to the workers. After a set period, the dangers: they are, and a series of there is a growing awareness and
1 tithes were to be reduced, wages were
factory was then legally expropriated conferences and co-ordinations willingness on the state's part to make
to be increased or ‘land grabbing’, by
by the local state and handed over to amongst various groups have taken use of these initiatives to put itself
M which the middle class forced the rural
the workers, thus building up ties place to discuss these issues. The back on its feet — to get capital
poor from their land, was to cease. If
between the state and the occupation Brukman, Zanon and Grissinopli accumulation started again and to
_,_,. ignored, the laws would be enforced by
from the outset, and potentially factories all held national meetings introduce a measure of social stability.
violence and intimidation. Firstly,
providing support for capital in any attended by hundreds of delegates There are clear efforts being made to
destruction of property, mutilation of
future crisis (“after all you're all bosses from all of the groups in struggle. split the movements through
-
............ . . animals, warning shots fired through
now"). The Ghleco workers now earn ‘National Plans of Action’, Solidarity recognising certain useful sectors as
windows, and then assaults and murder
the same pay as before, but working commissions, factory committees, official and taking them under the
as the movements became progressively
-4--1"
r*'
hours have jumped to twelve hours a National Workers’ Assemblies, ‘Plans (local) state's wing.
more violent after the 1790s (as did
day to cover administrative expenses. of Struggle’ were amongst the This should not be a cause for
~. their opponents). The enclosure of
M-11km
The state has offered quiet support initiatives thrashed out at these undue pessimism however — as we
,--.1-bu-\\n~u~<
annn-.I|'|-1|;
.. ~ previously common land was resisted
-up
for MNER (National Movement of meetings in order to turn the state's pointed out in an earlier Organise! the
-nu»
by the levelling of fences and grasslands
Inn
Recovered Factories) which lobbies for plans to their own use. The co-operation dynamic of people organising their hum- ____ _ ---~»... |:-u-|_< ._»_,._
“ M“ were dug up to produce more conacre
legal expropriation of occupied between the groups over the year has own lives and communities logically
W M M ,_ W — the potato plots on which the labouring
built up very strong bonds of solidarity, leads them to organise against the
Q ~ population relied.
a solidarity that was highlighted state. The genie is out of the bottle,
during the important National March and the Argentine working class is in
Class structure
by piqueteros last December, made no hurry to chase it back in. When _ __.1......-:'. """“""""““""""'”""-
d.._-..-.-q-mq~....--.-.--.-,..,_...,. -r,,'4""l"""""._-.___;_"""""“'""""""' "'""""""~ A
Irish history is portrayed as a series of
'*"““"""*"“""'“""-- - “"""“’-""“W
possible through the wider networks collective needs are taken as the I ' . , ‘|‘r~4*‘ilI§-'II-fl..V-.-"-“,"-..,'-~-q\n-.‘m*| -
',|n|.~AI-II 4
v_’_.-'¢_ , <l
nationalist uprisings and movements
established in the struggle. starting point for collective activity,
against Anglo-Irish rule. In fact, much
This March lasted five days, without any fuss being made of this —
rural violence and agitation was class-
blocking highways and organising then we can truly say that struggle HEIGHT OF IMPUDENCE.
based, of Catholic Irish versus Catholic
soup kitchens, whilst passing through has changed people (just like we said !?'i.*=i'iil.'!£i2?l !i"1{>_!.:§lill liiullz Hi"ip;iI"L‘ .1 ".i"hrifl::s, yer i""i€')l'li§'JLil’, for ;i Prior ll'l1~;l"1 l-r.'.1<;i to buy L-I bit of
.1 i’)ll.Ii"ll.1lt’?fi’.li.1$;5i witli. " (llmzrli, 1846) Irish.
towns and cities that have played a it wouldl).
13
12
FEATURE
FEATURE
not ordered and structured under the movement fought back by tearing down Organisers were sent into the adjoining
The employer and landlord of the
Adult males and rural class
counties of Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork
control of Rome until after the Famine, the fences and hedges over what had
rural poor was not the Anglo gentry,
structure circa 18412
and various folk, pagan and magical been common land, and digging up and Limerick to stir things up there.
but the Irish Catholic middle class of
Category Number Per cent The Caravats began to move in a less
practices remained popular. The Catholic pasture so that it could not be used for
farmers. Even where areas were less
Rich Farmers 50,000 2.9
Church, only gradually becoming a grazing and could be turned back to pragmatic day-to-day direction, and
developed, a ‘middleman’ stood between
(average holding 80 acres)
according to some reports had as their
legal institution, was far from being conacre. Grasslands were exempt from
the mass of the population and the
‘Snug’ Farmers 100,000 5.9 ‘
ultimate goal a re-division of the land.
the established force it was to become. religious tithes in Ireland and this tax
landlords. A ‘Middleman’ being a tenant
(average holding 50 acres)
This episode was unique in the
Likewise for most of these decades too became the target for Whiteboy
on a long, stable lease, often Catholic/
Family Farmers 250,000 14.7
response of the middle class. From
there was no state education system, resistance as it fell hardest on those
Irish, and profiting through subletting,
I (average holding 20 acres and usually not
1806 an organised violent retaliation,
and children were educated in ‘hedge engaged in subsistence farming.
but less commercially orientated than
employing labour)
in the form of the Shanavests — a
schools’ under the control of the
the middle class which developed in
Whiteboys & Rightboys
Cottiers 300,000 1 7 . 7 i
remnant of the nationalist United
community (i.e. not the state or gentry).
fertile areas.
I (average holding five acres)
Irishmen-Defender organisation of the
This freedom from cultural institutions The period up to the end of the 1780s
Statistics from 1841 show this, and
Labourers 1,000,000 58.8
1790s. and held in readiness for a
controlled by the ruling class had a was characterised by anti-clerical actions
clearly give lie to the popular nationalist
. (average holding one acre, though often
positive impact on the persistence of in addition to the standard Whiteboy French landing that never came — was
view of an Anglo gentry above
without any land)
directed against the Caravats. Apart
Whiteboyism. Some of the communities activities. Catholic priests were targeted
homogenous downtrodden Irish masses
_._ _ _ _ 1
from individual assassination, this
Irish agriculture was increasingly which nurtured Whiteboyism also had for denouncing the rebels from the
(see the chart opposite).
conflict consisted of fights at fairs and
commercialised and orientated towards a collective economic base, through pulpit. In Tipperary “the parish priest
Living standards of the rural poor export, firstly to French and British ‘rundale', a form of communal land of Kilsheelan, Fr. Nicholas Phelan, other public gatherings (where both
colonies and after to an increasingly tenure and farming. This was more vigorously condemned the Whiteboys organisations tried to recruit), involving
There were localised famines in 1800,
hundreds and even thousands of
urban Britain. often found in economically back ward and had to flee for his life from his
1817, 1822, 1831, 1835-37 and 1842.
participants armed with traditional
This affected Irish society in two areas but also could be found on poor parish. Tradition also states that a Fr.
Prior to 1838 there was no state welfare
wooden clubs, home made swords or
ways: firstly the rise of a farming, lands in generally fertile South Leinster Darcy of Kilmurry, preached against
system. In 1841, two fifths of Irish
spears and sawn off shotguns. This
market-orientated, middle class. Secondly, and East Munster. them in Grangemockler, was attacked
homes were one-roomed mud walled
was the most pronounced expression
people's lives were now subject to the by a mob and had to flee also from the
cabins. In the words of a contemporary
Early Whiteboyism
of the struggle between labourers and
dictates of the market. Increased district."4
observer: “The hovels which the poor
profitability in agriculture produced In the 1750s, the growing market The aim was also to reduce the fees the farming middle class. By 1811 the
people were building as I passed, solely
higher land values, which led to increased demand for pastoral products led to an priests charged for presiding at various area was flooded with troops — more
by their own efforts, were of the most
rents and the expansion of tillage or expansion of dairy farming and grazing religious services. than had been there during the 1798
abject description; their walls were
rebellion and a ‘special commission’
formed, in several instances, by the pasture for export at the expense of (which required the enclosure of common
The Caravat Whiteboys
sent to investigate. The Whiteboy-
land for subsistence farming (and the lands). As agriculture became more
backs of fences; the floors sunk in
people engaged in subsistence farming). profitable, land values rose, and so did The most class conscious and violent Shanavest conflict appears to have
ditches; the height scarcely enough for
out, with the Terry Alts and Lady
persisted until the Famine period.
the price of conacre (the small plots on of the Whiteboy movements, the
a man to stand upright; poles not thicker
Counter-culture Clares in Clare, Galway and Roscommon,
In the 1820s discontent was
which the bulk of the population Caravats arose in Tipperary, as a result
than a broomstick for couples; a few
channelled into the Catholic Association, and the Whitefeet in Leinster. This is
Viewed from the perspective of 200 depended). The rural poor faced ruin. of the agricultural boom created by the
pieces of grass sods the only covering;
the first outbreak of Whiteboyism for
years later, one of the most remarkable Beginning in Tipperary, a county which Napoleonic Wars. Rising land values a middle class organisation aiming to
and these extending only partially over
which there are police statistics, which
end the remnants of the Penal Laws
things about the society of this period was a fertile producer of agrarian unrest, and higher prices, coupled with an
the thing called a roof; the elderly people
record for Clare and Connaught (and
which discriminated against Catholics,
is the extent to which popular culture and then expanding into east Munster increasing population which hindered
miserably clothed; the children all but
most of this was happening in the '
was beyond elite control. Religion was and south Leinster, the Whiteboy the possibility of a rise in wages or specifically the ban on Catholics sitting
naked. "3
single county of Clare) the following
in the House of Parliament. Led by the
employment, squeezed the rural poor.
‘outrages’ in 1831: Administering
Commercialisation of agriculture The Caravats demanded that wages right wing nationalist Daniel O'Connell,
Oaths (952), Assaults (566), Attacks on
rise, rents be lowered, ‘land grabbing’ and employing the ‘moral pressure’ of
Whiteboyism existed in the context of
‘monster meetings’, i.e. mass rallies, houses (1,684), Homicides (72), Cattle
to cease, also inflationary practices
and was a response to the growth in
Maiming (125), Illegal Notices (875),
this body saw its goal achieved in the
such as hoarding food to end, all “by
market relations, the development of
Levelling (244), Robbery of Arms (571)
1829 ‘Catholic Emancipation‘.
order of Sir John Doe, Governor of
capitalism and the commercialisation
People soon became disillusioned, and Demand of Arms (135).?
Munster"5, as the notices of these
of agriculture.This was not universally
The social class which produced
Whiteboys read. as aptly described by one priest: “I
true: under-developed Clare was an
Whiteboyism was devastated by the
Failure to comply with Caravat have often heard their conversations,
insurrectionary hotbed for instance.
Great Hunger at the end of the 1840s,
when they say. ‘What good did
demands after three warnings meant a
However, typically the centres of
and by the emigration that followed.
Emancipation do for us: Are we better
degree of violence greater than that
Whiteboyism were the most fertile,
previously used by Whiteboy groups. clothed or fed, or our children better Whiteboyism continued in some of the
and thus most commercialised areas,
more backward areas, those untouched
clothed or fed?" As a Whiteboy put it:
There were also numerous raids for
and movements arose as a reaction to
by commercialisation and which had
“Emancipation has done nothing for
arms and robbery of mail coaches and
what the market was inflicting upon
1!‘ not seen Whiteboyism before, e.g. West
us. Mr O'Connell and the rich Catholics
such like, as well as a concerted effort
labourers and cottiers. Analysed in this
go to Parliament. We die of starvation Ulster. But the Famine can be said to
to drive migrant workers from Kerry
way, the world of the Whiteboys was
iii
have been its end, and just a shadow
just the same”.6
and Cork out of the Tipperary area,
not so far removed from the world we
111.... ivmi in-2' Ror it is l‘7‘i.-=i~c'\-*1.) I""¥"T‘ r ire H i..Z"§’ 1;. 1 at _.A 1+". W I1‘! iii mi §£‘l A new wave of Whiteboyism broke persisted. The rural working class was
and so reduce the supply of labour.
live in today. From the 1720s onwards,
15
14
FEATURE
FEATURE
and foremost ever be implemented. distance from conventional militancy — impossible not to love and care for all
silent for decades afterward until a brief
Association and discussion are every competitive, aggressive egos struggling children everywhere.
adoption of syndicalism in the early
bit as essential as loving is for children. for status, dominant influence, ‘non- Perhaps, in an ideal world, all adults
20th century. Whiteboyism was to a
And we need to deflate our adult egos, hierarchical' leadership. would care passionately, would relate
small extent exported with emigration,
if we are to deliver what some of us Elites of un-powerful power-mongers, like parents to every child. Wow, how
most famously with Pennsylvania's
Or, some mad rad dad rants
preach, the primacy of children. blindly critical, guilt-tripping, does that sound? All those caring,
Molly Maguires.
Where does ‘parenting’ stop and regurgitating and putting people down, nurturing, multiple influences. ..
The Whiteboy phenomenon was
‘educating’ start? It's a complex, grey rarely offering useful, constructive, Nobody with love to give yet living
contemporary with the beginning of
Children, the most joyous, innocent football crazy. emotionally untouchable, area, and perhaps they are even the positive and healing remedies of any lonely lives, isolated and unsupported.
the long march of the Irish bourgeois to
and playful people, in my humble fevered egos. A recipe for disaster that same thing. Most parents ‘home educate’ variety or substance. Empathy, sensitivity, Nobody need ever work at looking
state power, aka ‘national independence’.
opinion need not just ‘equality’ with currently has to be dealt with and then Lmtil they send their kids off to school... It compassion and a rational determined after children because of the accident
During 1760 to 1840, the two historic
faces of national liberation had their adults, but often in today's ‘civilised’ cleaned up afterwards as best as can be. seems the secret to ‘successful’ parenting reverence for the remarkable variance of birth, if they were not up to it for
first outings. The 1 790s saw the radical. societies, children should take priority There is urgent need to understand is tqrgo all out to really be oneself. Not of life or continue with hastening whatever reason. No more obligation.
over adults. Children obviously need to and acknowledge the extent of the always easy, at times incredibly difficult. degradation? Everyone gains, adults, kids, the planet
non-sectarian, secular, revolutionary,
be cared for and they need to be uneven deal that men frequently receive. How few people really know themselves, The lunatics are running the and the phenomenon that is LIFE.
republicanism of the United Irishmen-
nurtured; most basically they require Most men miss out on so very much, whilst truly loving their friends, family, asylum, they care nothing about the
Defenders and the 1820s the narrow,
Learning from play
love, and lots of it. You certainly don't competing endlessly and aggressively, extending to the broader environment multitudes of common people as they
Catholic reformism of Emancipation. At
have to be a parent to know that, but wrongly asserting how ‘right’ we are. they live in, the world at large? It's threaten to press buttons that could So much can be learnt from children.
the same time a proletarian struggle
to fundamentally understand it in We speak only of absolute facts all the tough trying to maintain daily contact end everything we ‘have’ and have Play has phenomenal learning potential,
existed in opposition to both, rather
principle helps a lot. time, with a tendency to beat ourselves with every little feeling and emotion, known. Maybe there never was any yet today it is seriously undermined, as
than as a subsidiary of either.
The word father was never in my (and other people) up, physically and even after years focused trying. Maybe hope in these environments where is the inventiveness of questing
Class struggle continued irrespective
vocabulary prior to becoming one, for mentally, much of it verbal, often violent. the revolution of everyday life is the free will and up-front equality might children. Where does ‘play’ end and
of national flag, and the nationalist
a variety of reasons. The word father In reality, men are fallible, vulnerable, everyday life of revolution. . .(hmm). never be even vaguely considered, the process of ‘learning’ start? To help
movement, as a movement representing
sounds distant, formal and it implies emotional and do possess all the Becoming a parent can present the never mind ‘understood’ or realised. children to play freely we must start to
bourgeois interests, fought the class
hierarchical authority: father figure, capacities for empathy and compassion. future in a clearer, brighter light. I Same old shit... Until all are free, comprehend ourselves as adults, what
struggle against the proletariat.
head of the family, Our Father Who Art want to suggest being a caring parent everyone remains in chains, physical, has been hurt, warped, damaged
On those occasions where the
Abuse
In Heaven. is deeply rooted and revolutionary, as mental, spiritual. Men and a few and/or lost in each of us, men and
bourgeois successfully managed to
I'd never used the word father and One outcome of conventional parenting/ starkly amazing as any other aspect of women might have a lot to lose, yet women. With a healthy support network
marshal the rural poor behind their
flag, e.g. Catholic Emancipation, the I'd certainly never thought about any educating is that two to three children life. Thoughtful contemplation and the humanity and nature have everything of friends, family, and perhaps therapy,
concept of fatherhood. How badly are killed every week in this country, practise of fatherhood (growing together to gain. The current fetish for ‘freedom’, counselling, yoga or massage, etc, we
people got nothing out of it.
prepared the male of the species is for usually by a parent! Care homes for the respectfully and sensitively) could ‘justice’ and ‘equality’ are horrific in could re-adjust perspectives against
The non-existence of Whiteboys in
one of life's greatest gifts. Volumes of most vulnerable kids are increasingly eventually become a full frontal actuality and worse in result: women the enforced mainstream. Then we can
history, as it is written, remembered,
books have been written upon fatherhood found to be riddled with child abusers... challenge to patriarchy, the regulation copying ‘successful’ men and claiming begin to do justice to the children and
televised and commemorated, is
exploring many issues. Recommended The parents who think they are doing male domination of everything, power, equality. How sad, demeaning and inspire through our ‘being’, our
instructive of the role played by
is: Fatherhood Reclaimed by Adrienne the best by their kids by giving them organisations, wealth etc. Looking utterly vulgar. All oppression becomes selfhood, with children. We can learn
nationalism in 20th century Ireland. That
Burgess, which gives an empathic ‘everything’. It seems much more likely after babies and children could play a more firmly fixated, more stagnant, to play again amongst ourselves, and
is, as part of the hegemony of ideas,
perspective to the subject. they are taking everything away from direct part in changing societies towards more engulfing. could perhaps for the first time really
aiming to paper over class divisions
With men particularly de-sensitised them, profoundly denying their true harmonious (complex, chaotic, creative, It seems basic gender equability is learn how to learn... If we dearly love
with a heroic myth of national oppression
to the core, parenting is still for many identity. Children in consumer societies co-operative) fulfilling, gratifying very rarely openly talked about, except our children, if we were to respect our
and national redemption. It is for this
little more than a duty-bound, long-term are abused in a wide range of ways. So natural spaces... The world over is for some crazy, unconventional ‘partners’ past, present and future, then
reason that we remember 1803, 1848,
chore, bringing with it a compulsion to many discarded children, with a seeing through the redundancy of the anarchistic type people. If adults got to things will change. We can undoubtedly
and 1867 while the Whiteboys go down
work and a financial liability with no distraught Planet Earth unable to meet capitalist system. Observe at first hand really know themselves intimately, to all grow every single day of our lives,
the ‘memory hole’ into oblivion.
payback. The idea of totally giving their needs. its continuing failures: legal murder understand the damage incurred and the potential profound. If we don't
1 Police and Protest in England and
ourselves to our kids, playing with them, The necessity some people feel for (wars), persistent harangues by hideous recognise a need and desire to heal sacrifice our kids to the horrors of
Ireland, 1 780-1850, Palmer, p58.
listening to them, learning from and assuming power and control to suit leaders with fingers twitching on and visibly move forwards, then could establishment schools and instead
2 Ireland since 1800, Conflict and
with them, requires comprehension their egos results in gross imbalances nuclear buttons. Why shouldn't we begin the transcendence of this home educate them, if we take children
Conformity, Hoppen, p38.
that totally overcomes conditioned throughout our lifetimes. Consequently, dare to consider alternatives? Apathetic/ de-sensitised humanity. In becoming seriously and make efforts never to
3 Quoted in The Great Irish Famine,
masculinity (and conditioned femininities every interaction, communication and crushed/damaged/sore people could re—sensitised coerce them, chances are good they
Campbell, p18.
too). Both sexes are equally capable of intimacy is likely to be affected. There help quicken the beginnings of new we will will develop into centred, rounded,
4 Garrick-On-Suir and its People, Power,
transcending ‘father absence’ and - is a desperate global need to transcend communities that people might want endorse creative, co-operative free-thinkers.
p83.
just as important — ‘mother A all oppressors, authoritarians and control to live in... ourselves. Those free-spirited kids could live their
5 Quoted in Irish Peasants, Violence and
dominance’, if only the effort were made. freaks. The human race is suffering After years of routine-type meetings, making it lives as they choose voluntarily,
Political Unrest, Clark and Donnelly,
The overwhelming majority of men great collective illness, nature made demos etc there's a feeling of being respectfully and virtually spontaneously.
p86.
do not begin to struggle to be ‘new’ or sick and requires healing... Only with a less restricted, less robotised as a Rich, deep, fulfilling. whole lives, with
6 Quoted in Ireland since 1800, Conflict
PC — why should they? Yet the status substantial authentic ‘equality of militant now I'm a dissident dad. Often inner and outer peace for themselves,
and Conformity, Hoppen, p19.
quo portrays men as self-absorbed, parenthood’ can the foundations for preferring now to work with women each other and all of nature... an ideal
7 Police and Protest in England and
authoritarian, workaholic, drinkaholic, putting an infant's best interests first and have female friends, I relish the worth striving for?
Ireland, 1780-1850, Palmer, p326.
16 17
-.-_
PRISONERS PRISONERS
Democrats, as long as prisoners were Revolution of 1917, the ARC in the
social revolutionaries they would be United States disbanded after news
supported. was received that all the political
prisoners had been released. Several
Chapters
ARC members went to assist the
By 1906, the ARC had groups in Kiev, revolution in Russia, where they were
A byMatthew Hart
Odessa, Bialystok and other cities, warmly met by the political prisoners
probably as a response to the mass they had once supported. But, before
arrests by the Tsar following the 1905 long, the Bolsheviks began arresting
For close to a century, Who would have suspected that a few men supplying boots, linen, and clothing to Revolution. Trials of revolutionaries ‘counter-revolutionaries'.10 With the
deportees in Bialystock would have been the beginning of an organisation that has took place throughout the land, including rise of a new dictatorship, the ARC
anarchists have united
spread throughout the globe?1 at least six members of the ARC for was forced to reorganise in 1919 as
under the banner of the Recently, statements have been made referring to the history of the Anarchist theiflinvolvement in the 1 905 Revolution. the Anarchist Black Cross, to avoid
Black Cross as mere folklore. But a dedicated search for the organisation's history Many fled the country and those who confusion between them, the
Anarchist Black Cross,
uncovers information that is far from fairy tale. Hundreds of pages filled with facts managed to escape started ARC chapters International Red Cross and the
for the sole purpose of
regarding the history of the organisation are being assembled by members of the in other countries. The first was in Political Red Cross.“ In the Ukraine,
Los Angeles branch of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation in hopes of one day London in 1907. The organisation the Black Cross was organised as
supporting those
publishing it. collected funds from other chapters defensive units to protect cities and
comrades imprisoned International focus
The Anarchist Black Cross dates back to the politically turbulent times of Tsarist throughout Europe and sent them to villages and organise resistance to
Russia. Due to the cruel aristocratic rule of the Tsar, many Russians began to search political prisoners in Russia. Those pogroms led by Cossacks, V\Ihite Guards By this time the Spanish Civil War and
for their commitment
for answers outside of existing political institutions. The words of Karl Marx and involved in the London branch included or the Red Army. Many of those then Second World War broke out in
to revolution and to
Michael Bakunin created a massive stir within the soul of the Russian people and Peter Kropotkin, Alexander Shapiro, involved in these units were members Europe, and the organisation switched to
the ideas of anarchism. their desire for freedom lead many of them to rebel against the toil and serfdom V Cherkezov and Rudolf Rocker. The of the Nabat Confederation in the a more international focus. ABC worked
that defined their very existence. With the rise of political opposition to the Tsar, following year, the first North American Ukraine or had previously been active to aid anarchists fleeing Fascist persecution
many anarchists, socialists and revolutionaries paid for their desire for freedom by chapter was started in New York and in the ARC in the United States.” and those arrested in the resistance
imprisonment, exile or death. soon other chapters were formed in Because of their activities, Anarchist movement. Most ABC members at this
Conditions within the prisons were terrible and political prisoners faced cruel Chicago, Philadelphia, Brownsville, Black Cross members experienced time were Russian Jews, so being caught
treatment? A prisoner's aid organisation called ‘Political Red Cross’ was formed to Detroit and Baltimore.7 constant harassment by the Bolshevik in Europe dLu"ing this period meant
support prisoners within Tsarist prisons or labour camps. This organisation not only One of the more interesting groups government, including the seizure of almost certain death. Once again, Social-
provided aid to prisoners, but many times assisted escapes from prison or places in early ABC history was the Lettish goods. imprisonment for belonging to Democrats refused to assist ABC in
of exile. The great anarchist thinker, Peter Kropotkin, was one of the many former section of the ARC. In 1914, the an illegal organisation and murder of helping their comrades escape and
political prisoners that owe their freedom to members of this organisation.3 anarchist community became enraged ABC activists. By 1924-1925, the caused hundreds of Jewish anarchists
Although the PRC was non-partisan, it wasn't long before the Social-Democrats when John D.Rockefeller ordered organisation in Russia was virtually to die in Nazi concentration camps.
(the followers of Karl Marx) gained control of it. Aid to anarchists or others not National Guardsmen to attack the striking destroyed. By 1939, most of the chapters in the
associated with the Social—Democratic Party began to dwindle. When anarchist workers and their families in Ludlow, Several members of the ABC, like United States and Europe collapsed
supporters became aware of this they were infuriated at this divisivenessfi The Colorado. Several miners. women and Lea Gutman, Helana Ganshina and under the work needed to support
only way their comrades would receive help was for the anarchist community to children were killed and anarchists Aaron Baron, were arrested and killed thousands of anarchist prisoners in
create their own aid organisation and the Anarchist Red Cross (ARC) was formed. planned to give Rockefeller the same by the Bolshevik government. Others Europe and the organisation seems to
The exact year of the Anarchist Red Cross’ formation is unclear, but it is treatment.8 Members of the Lettish were arrested but due to international have disappeared. As the ABC this may
estimated by Rudolph Rocker that it was section of the ARC drew up a plot to campaigns by anarchists abroad were have been true, but it actually continued
formed during 1900-05. The organisation assassinate Rockefeller. Sadly, on the later released.“ At least two ARC for two decades under different names:
came about during a meeting in London morning of the planned assassination, members converted to Bolshevism but The Joint Committee for the Defense
with Vera Figner, who was the treasurer the bomb planned for the industrialist later lost their lives during the of Revolutionists Imprisoned in Russia,
for the political prisoners of the Party went off in the apartment where the Stalinist purges. Society to Aid Anarchist Prisoners in
of the Socialist Revolutionaries.5 anarchists were staying, killing ARC Several individuals who got out of Russia, Relief Fund of the International
If this is true, then the ARC appeared members Charles Berg, Carl Hanson Russia met in Berlin and reorganised Working Men's Association, Chicago
no earlier than 1905, the year Figner and two others. The bomb showered the ABC. The organisation stayed in Aid Fund and the Alexander Berkman
was released from prison. The only the street below with debris and body Berlin for several years before moving Aid Fund. All these organisations were
known visit by Figner to London was in parts. Dozens of people were injured to Holland and then Paris. Chapters in continuing the work of the ABC.15
June of 1909, but by then ARC groups and repression after the incident the Unites States re-emerged to Towards the end of the war, only a
were already established. During the increased heavily. This event became support the comrades still in Russian few groups remained active. The
visit a meeting was held and it was known as the ‘Lexington Avenue jails, but by 1936 contact with them Berkman Aid Fund in Chicago, one of
agreed that the ARC would support bombing’. The plot involved non-ARC began to dwindle and by 1940 all the few groups able to organise serious
both Anarchist and Socialist- members and one other ARC member, contact with prisoners in Russia aid operations, organised a Paris
Revolutionaries in prison and in exile Louise Berger, who had left the building ceased. Later it emerged that most, if branch, where C.A.R.E. packages were
since both had been excluded from the minutes before and got away unharmedg not all, anarchist political prisoners sent to anarchists in serious need of
Political Reds.6 Unlike the Social- With the outbreak of the Russian were killed during Stalin's purges.” funds and support. This work went on
18 19
L l