--- F R E N D Z of martian --- (Fw: SchNEWS 258, Friday 5th May 2000) [ --8<-- snipped the contact/begging bit but I put it in again at the bottom :-) ] > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > wake up! wake up! wake up! wake up! The writing's on the wall SchNEWS > > ISSUE 258, FRIDAY 5th MAY, 2000 > > LAWN AND ORDER > > "As you would expect the MayDay message about why people were there got > kind of lost. But what is a few smashed windows and some daubed paint > compared to what global capitalism is doing to the planet?" > An anonymous demonstrator > > Monday's MayDay demonstration in London nearly brought about the collapse > of the British way of life. Apparently. SchNEWS was there and has a > slightly different story to tell. > > In the morning landscape gardeners arrived for a spot of planting at > Parliament Square. Bananas and magic mushrooms popped up amongst the > pansies and spinach, while large banners declared 'The Worms Will Turn!', > 'Let London Sprout', and 'Capitalism is Pants'. The cops had helpfully > flooded the square the night before, making it easier to roll up the turf > and start laying it over the road. Up went a Maypole and the celebrations > began. As Big Ben chimed, SchNEWS wondered how long it was since such > traffic-free revelry had happened in front of the Houses of Parliament. > > Further up the road a McDonalds was getting the customary trashing, before > riot police moved in, splitting the crowd in two and trapping hundreds of > people in Trafalgar Square for hours. > > The police had taken a bloody nose at last year's Carnival Against Capital > on June 18th (see SchNEWS 217/8) and were in no mood for a repeat > performance. Even the army were apparently on standby (eh, aren't the army > always on stand-by?), while according to the Financial Times, more than 80 > per cent of financial institutions were 'concerned about the damage to the > City's standing' if there was any repeat of last June's Carnival Against > Capital. As one person from Reclaim The Streets commented, 'The police made > sure that everybody knew they were planning the biggest operation for 30 > years. Just to keep some gardeners in fancy dress under control.' > > > The police and press hyped the event, and eventually they got what they > wanted. A few smashed windows, some graffiti, some people throwing beer > cans and hey presto! > > 'MAYDAY BLOODBATH ORGY - END OF CIVILISATION AS WE KNOW IT - HALF > CHEWED BABIES RIPPED APART BY ANARCHISTS FROTHING AT THE MOUTH.' > > And what about the cenotaph. Maybe it needs a little bit of perspective. > Tony Blair talks about the 'mindless thuggery' of Monday, yet didn't he > personally invite Russia's President Putin over to Britain, conveniently > forgetting that on the orders of the President, Russia has bombed Chechnya > back into the Dark Ages? Forget about the 20,000 dead Chechnyans, as Putin > gets whisked off to have tea with the Queen. And it's gonna take a lot more > than a little detergent to clean up Chechnya. So let's keep this in > proportion, no one at the Mayday celebration is to be charged with > genocide, child killing or mass murder. > > Yet behind the hysteria, comments from the politicians reveal that > something else is on the agenda. Blair says "This kind of thing cannot > happen again", while Home Secretary Flan Widdecombe asked in the House of > Commons the day after MayDay "Would the groups concerned with yesterday's > disorder be covered by his new definition of terrorists under his (Jack > Straw's) new terrorism legislation?". > > SchNEWS reckons the public is ripe to accept that no more anti-capitalist > protests will be allowed to happen again. For more thoughts on the day > check out www.indymedia.org.uk > > * Did you get arrested on the day? Did you witness any arrests? Then let > the Legal Defence and Monitoring Group know. BM Haven, London WC1N 3XX > 020 7837 1688. > * International report back on what happened at Mayday on Sat 13th with > food, bookstall and filmshowings. Meet 3pm Unemployed Centre, 6 > Tilbury Place, Brighton. > * There will be meetings throught London during May to develop ideas > around Guerrilla gardening. 020 8374 9885 for info. > * Anaroks - did you know? It will be five years on Sunday 14th May since > Reclaim The Streets held their first street party in Camden High > Street. > * And remember this after the 2nd RTS on 28th July '95? 'If peaceful > protesters are baton charged by riot police, they are more likely to > turm up to the next demos more prepared and equipped to fight back if > attacked' (SchNEWS 33). > * Compare and contrast the riots in Guatemala to the 'riots' in London. > In Guatemala, there were four dead and 16 injured in the capital city > after bus operators raised fares by 3p (about a third). Buses were > burned, shops and riot police attacked with stones who responded with > water cannon and tear gas. The rises have now been scrapped. > > Top > > DAMAGING A CRIMINAL > > One pleasing improvement to Parliament Sq on Mayday was the green turf > mohican and painted communist hammer and sickle on the statue of that > racist old bigot Winston Churchill. He once described communists as "swarms > of typhus-bearing vermin" and held similar views about everyone else who > wasn't rich, reactionary and British like himself. > > > Justifying the slaughter of indigenous peoples, he wrote "I do not admit > that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black > people of Australia by the fact that a stronger race has come in and taken > their place". It wasn't that different at home - he was against women > getting the vote. He believed dole money "should never be enjoyed as a > right and tried to withdraw relief from striking miners' families in the > '20s, sending in the army who killed two of the welsh miners. > > TIKB, the initials of a Turkish communist group, were written on the statue > - a fact perhaps connected with Churchill's actions against the peoples of > that region. As Foreign Secretary in the 1930s, Churchill ordered the use > of mustard gas against Kurdish villages, saying "I do not understand this > squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favour of using gases > against uncivilised tribes". Not just a racist, but a mass murderer too. > > Unfortunately, the British government's attitude to the Kurds has not > changed much in the last 70 years. Blair's lot are strongly backing the > Ilisu Dam project in Turkey (see SchNEWS 244) that will displace 16,000 > Kurdish people, flood 52 villages and 15 towns and destroy Hasankeyef, a > 3,000 year old city that is the heartland of Kurdish culture. We know the > media couldn't give a toss about people in poor countries (as long as they > don't come here) but they do seem to have suddenly developed a full-on > concern for monuments. So why not ring up one of their hotlines to shop > Tony Blair and his sidekick Stephen Byers for their planned destruction of > one of the most ancient cities in the world - criminal damage that goes > slightly beyond an easily removable lick of paint. > > * Contributions are wanted for 'Reflections on MayDay'. Send them to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > IT'S YER SchNEWS SUMMER GUIDE TO PARTY AND PROTEST > > MAY: > > * Sun 7 Demo at Windmill Mink Farm, Dorset. Coalition to Abolish the Fur > Trade, 07939 264864 www.arcnews.co.uk > * 9 'Rap for Rights in Columbia'. Performance and talk by rappers from > the displaced Cacarica community in Columbia. Chats Palace, 42-44 > Brooksbis Walk, London E9. Free. 020 72815370. > * 9 Public meeting on Roma rights. Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP. > Grand Committee Room, House of Commons, London SW1. 7.30pm. > * 10 Women's Wednesdays in Whitehall. Every Wednesday outside Whitehall. > 1-2pm. Crossroads Women's Centre 020 7482 2496 or > http://womenstrike8m.server101.com > * 10 Rio Tinto AGM. Join people from Indonesia, West Papua and > Philippines to hassle the mining company that gets its kicks from > destroying indigenous peoples land. Queen Elizabeth II Conference > Centre opposite Westminster Abbey. 11am. 020 77006189. > * 10th Reith Lectures 2000, Radio 4. 8pm Series of lectures on the > future of sustainable development. This lecture by Vandana Shiva on > Povery and Globalisation. 8pm. > * 12 - Wed 17 International Hope & Resistance Gathering, Oxford. A > gathering of people commited to nonviolent direct action. Reservation > > essential, �50 for full board for 5 nights. Tel: 01273-625173. > * 12 Anarchist Forum. Discussion group who meet every Friday, Conway > Hall (Red Lion Square), London, WC1. 020 8847 0203. > * Sat 13 Faslane Carnival, join the carnival and help stop Trident. > Bring instruments to make your own entertainment. 10am at the north > gates, buses arranged from Glasgow, contact 0141-4231222/01324-880744. > * 13 Hull Car Free Day > * 13 Refugees and an Ethical Foreign Policy. Day school discussing the > impact of foreign policy on the lives of asylum seekers around the > world. St Columba's United Reformed Church, Alfred Street, Oxford. > 10.30am-4.30pm. Admission �2. 01865 517819 > * 13 Picket for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Radical American journalist who is > still on death row. Picket the American Embassy, Grosvenor Square, > 3.30-5.30pm. Mumia Must Live!, BM Haven, London, WC1N 3XX. > * 14 Fringe Sunday 12 noon - 6pm comedy, theatre, music on the Brighton > Level FREE 01273 647100 > * 14 Demonstration against largest mink farm in UK. Woodview Farm, > Youlstone, Bude, North Devon. 07931-962798. > * 14-21 Home Educators' Seaside Festival. Dorset, 0208 300 7236 > www.choiceineducation.co.uk/ > * 16 Anti-Fascist Action and Hillsborough Justice Campaign benefit gig. > At the Lemon Lounge (upstairs of Liverpool Brewery), Berry Street. > 9pm-2am, admission �2. > * 16 - Sun 21 Woodland Design & Permaculture. Course run by fully > qualified Permaculture Design Teachers, �150/�100 all inclusive. > Sustainability Centre, East Meon, Hampshire GU32 1HR, 01730-823166 > * 18-25, Aldermarston Trident Ploughshares 2000 camp. Confront the > Atomic Weapons Establishment where they make Britain's illegal nuclear > weapons, with a Blockade on Monday 22 at 6am. Contact > 01603-49301/01865-725991. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 19 Can Anarchism Transform Your Life? Discussion by the London > Anarchist Forum. 8pm, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1 > * 19-29 Blandford Festival. Bands, entertainment and much more. > www.blanfest.co.uk/ > * 19 Citizen Fish + The Bus Station Loonies, 8pm at the Wellington Rugby > Club (Somerset). �4 with proceeds to local environmental groups. > * Sat 20 Huntingdon Life Sciences National Demo. At the Occald site. > Contact 0739 458846 for transport and more info. > * 20 Energy Efficiency at Home and Work. Money saving tips and new ideas > in non-technical language. 9.30am-5.30pm Ryton Organic Gardens, > Coventry. 024-76303517. web: www.hdra.org.uk > * 20 Levellers Day, Warwick Hall, Burford. Info: www.levellers.org.uk > 20-27 Greyhound Awareness Week. 01562 745778. > * 26-Mon 29 Women Speak Out. London, venue t.b.c. A weekend gathering > for all women involved or interested in political, feminist, radical > and anti-capitalist activism. Contact: 020-83749885; > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 27 All day workshop. Where do we go from Mayday? University of London > Union, Malet Street, London WC1. 10am-6pm. > * Plymouth Reclaim the Streets. Fun, fetish and full of vegan and normal > cosmic yoghurts. Meet noon at Bretonside Coach Station. > > * Homelands. Corporate dance crap in Winchester > * 27 Action on Human Genetics. International Centre for Life. Contact > GeneNo! 07788 520037 > * 27th-29th, Birmingham Pride. Free. > * 27- 29 Rare Plant Weekend, a chance to see and buy unusual plant > varieties at Brogdale Horticultural Trust, Brogdale Road, Faversham, > Kent. 9.30am -5.30pm Tickets �2.50/�2. 01795-535286 > * 29 Kingston Green Fair. FREE 020 8941 6277 > www.gfutures.demon.co.uk/KGF.htm > * 29th, Peace 2000 Celebration, Celebrating cultural diversity: global > food stalls, workshops and performances. Hove Lawns, 11.45am-7pm, > free. Details: 01273-620125. > * 31 Demo against the Hunting Inquiry. Meet 1pm outside House of > Commons. National Anti-Hunt Campaign 01442 240246. > * Picket and Protest, outside Haringey Magistrates Court in support of > the criminalising of Delroy Lindo 9.30 am Bishops Road, Highgate N6. > (Delroy faces constant harrassment by the Met Police - he has had > fifteen charges against him and been found not guilty every time - > because of his campaigning for Winston Silcott) 0973 31 31 39 > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > JUNE: > > * 1 Stonehenge Celebration. Walkers' picnic. Battersea Park peace > pagoda. More info www.geocities.com/soho/9000/scn9909.htm Sat 3 Moon > at the Monarchy. 2000 arseholes wanted for the first ever public > mooning at the Queen. 3pm right outside Buckingham Palace > * 3 Birmingham Action against capitalism "carry on laughing", meet > outside central Library City Centre at 11.30 > * 3 Strawberry Fayre. Cambridge. FREE 01223 560160 > www.strawberry-fair.org.uk > * 3-4 Newcastle Festival. Community Green festival. Leazes Park, Barrack > Road, Newcastle.Free. 0191 2321750. > * 3-11 Green Transport Week. www.eta.co.uk Sun 4 Get yer kit off and > Protest Naked, for the right to be naked in public, Brighton Royal > Pavilion, 2pm. www.geocities.com/thehumanmind/ > * 7-11 Earth First! Summer Gathering, North Wales. This is an > opportunity for groups to meet and share skills and inspiration. > There's over 100 workshops and planning campaigns covering all aspects > of ecological resistance. Evening entertainment, kids' space, nature > walks, rock climbing and much more!. �10 per person, catering �2.50-�3 > per day: Summer Gathering 2000, c/o Norfolk EF!, PO Box 487, Norwich, > Norfolk NR2 3AL. www.eco-action.org/gathering > * 8-15 Resist Global Oil. Meeting of the World Petroleum Congress in > Canada. A week of protest, action and discussion is planned. Calgary, > Alberta, Canada. www.nisto.com/activism/project/petrol.html > * 9-10 European Business Summit Brussels, Belgium. Various protests > planned. www.ebsummit.org > * Sat 10 Building Bridges to the People of Yugoslavia. Conference > organised by Committee for Peace in the Balkans. Speakers include > Alice Mahon MP, Tony Benn MP and Harold Pinter. Conway Hall, Red Lion > Square, London WC2, 10.30am-5pm. 020 72750164 > www.peaceinbalkans.freeserve.co.uk > > * 10 National Demo for the Newchurch Guinea Pigs. Meet 12 noon at Darley > Oaks Farm, Newchurch. 01902 564734 for transport details. > * 10 'Taking Control'-A Radical Routes Event Speakers include comedian > Mark Thomas and Dave Morris (McLibel defendant). Summerhill Centre, > Winson Green Road, Birmingham. 11am-5pm. 0121 5511132 > * 10-18 Stop the Arms Trade Week Campaign Against the Arms Trade is > organising a major petition and needs help with stalls, getting > signatures, distributing leaflets. To get involved or more information > contact CAAT: 020-72810297. > * 11 Organic Vegetable Growing Day. Talks, demos and activities for > everyone, including beginners 10am-4pm Ryton Organic Gardens, > Coventry. 024-76303517. www.hdra.org.uk > * 16-18 Solstice Eco-fest. 01522 829067. > * 16-24 June, National Anti-Angling Week. Campaign for the Abolition of > Angling 0870 458 4176. www.anti-angling.com/ > * Sat 17 Demo outside Huntingdon Death Sciences vivisection laboratory > 0121 632 6460 www.welcome.to/shac 17 Day of Women's initiatives. To > coincide with the World Marches. More info [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 17 'The Global Marketplace: In Whose Interest?' Conference on the > effects of globalisation on democracy. Includes prominent speakers and > discussion with the audience. Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London > WC1R. 2pm to 5pm, �5 admission. 020 8444 4322 > www.amisuk.btinternet.co.uk > * 18 The Scurge of Blagg Island, 3pm The Gloucester, Brighton, �3. > Starring Tragic Roundabout and Thespionage in a multi-media > extravaganza. > * 20 Save Our World Festival music and environmental festival Brockwell > Park, London 12 noon - 9pm �3 donation 07958 637467 http//surf.to/sow > * 20-21 Summit of the European Union, Oporto, Portugal. Demonstrations > planned at Santa Maria de Feira, near Oporto. www.ras.eu.org/marches/ > * 23 Take 2000 One day conference speakers inc. Reclaim The Streets, > Friends of the Earth Imperial Gardens, New Rd., Camberwell, London > 07930 327248 > * 22-25 Social Summit of NGOs. To run parallel to the United Nations > social summit. Geneva, Switzerland. [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 23-25 Glastonbury Festival. Tickets a mere �87 from Ticketline > 01159-129129. > * 26-28 Mobilisation against Conference of New World Economy. > Participants include the OECD, the WTO and numerous multinationals. > Paris. [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 30-July 2 Big Blether Scottish Activists Gathering. Talamh community, > Lanarkshire. 0131 5576242 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 28 - 30 Guildford Live music festival 01483 454159 > www.guildford-live.co.uk > * 28-16 July, Sacred Voices Millennium Music Village, London's longest > running free music festival. A festival of divinely inspired vocal > music from around the world. At venues all over London, free admission > to many events, 020-74560404. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > JULY: > > * 1 London Mardi Gras March and Party. Details t.b.c. > * 1-2 International Conference, Global Capital and Global > > Struggles:Strategies, Alliances and Alternatives. Topics include > grassroots movements; GM issues; New labour; Third World debt. > University of London Union, Malet Street, London, WC1. �5 unwaged. > www.gn.apc.org/cse > * 7-8 Beggars Fair. 01703 227256 www.beggarsfair.org.uk > * 8-15 Mad Pride World Week. Worldwide celebration of survivors of the > mental health service. London festival on 15th, Clissold Park, N16. > Bands include P.A.I.N. Details of other festivals www.madpride.net > * 9-10 Meeting of G7 Foreign Affairs Ministers. Miyazaki, Japan. > * 14 Bastille Day. A long weekend of events against the prison industry. > Bring camping gear, inspiration and people. Meet Golders Green > station, 9am. CAGE, PO Box 68 Oxford, OX3 1RH. 079931 401962 > www.veggies.org.uk/cage > * Sat 15 Protest Naked at Scotland Yard, 2pm. You are Human, you are > beautiful, you should not be punished because of how the human body > looks. Do you have the courage? www.geocities.com/thehumanmind > * 21-30 Fifth Anarchist Summer camp near Berlin between a wood, meadow > and lake. The camp is 'self organised', requiring your input and > ideas. (030) 42017286. net: http://travel.to/acamp > * 21-23, Womad Festival. 0118 939 0930 or http://realworld.on.net/ > * 26-30 Big Green Millennium Gathering on the Wiltshire Downs near > Warminster powered by the wind, the sun and the people. Five daily > themes exploring key aspects of the green future. Also Children's > area, and funfair, crafts, veggie food, and non-stop entertainment. > Tickets in advance from BGG, PO Box 155, Hampton, TW12 2FJ, > 020-89416674. www.big-green-gathering.com > * 29 Brighton Gay Pride, Starts Madeira Drive, finishes Preston Park > FREE . 29 Demo outside Huntingdon Death Science vivisetion laboratory > 0121 632 6460 > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > AUGUST: > > * 4-6 Bracknell Festival. Tel 01344 427272. > * 4-6 Big Chill Enchanted Garden 2000. 0180 372 9735 www.bigchill.co.uk > * 7 Vigil and Action for Iraq. Mass act of civil disobedience to > highlight the ongoing crisis in Iraq due to UN sanctions. Voices in > the Wilderness, 01865 243232 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 10-29 'Into the Cauldron' Rainbow Circle Creativity Camp. Music, > dance, theatre, spirituality etc. �100 waged/�60 unwaged 01452 813505. > * 10 -15 Northern Green Gathering, wide range of workshops, info and > entertainments, �35 Tel: 0113-2249885 > * 12 Hackney Volcano Everything from Brazlian to Turkish to > soundsystems, 'reflecting the diversity of cultures in London' FREE > 020 8509 3353 www.continentaldrifts.uk.com/ > * 12 Thurrock Music Festival. www.thurrockmusicfestival.com/ > * Sat 23 National Protest Rally in Brighton against New Labour > conference, meet 1pm Preston Park > * 25-27 Reading Festival. 0181 961 5490 or visit > www.readingfestival.com/ > * 25-27 Gosport Festival, Hampshire. Music and lots of other events. > 01483 454159. > * 25-28 Manchester Gay Fest. Parade, vigil and local events, > individually priced. > > * 26-28 Leeds Festival. 0181 961 5490. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > SEPTEMBER: > > * Sat 2 Worthing Green Fair. Field of Hope, Beach House Green, Sea > Front. 12 noon -10pm. FREE 01903 210351 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * 3 Burston Strike School Rally, Norfolk. Annual event celebrating the > longest strike in history. March round the village, stalls, info, > speakers and entertainment. Organised by Education for Tomorrow. 020 > 8843 9591. > * 3 Tortoise Day. If you want to adopt a tortoise or already have one go > to the annual get together of British Association of Tortoise Keepers. > 12am-4pm Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry. 024-76303517. web: > www.hdra.org.uk > * 6 March in New York. To coincide with the UN Millennium Assembly. "The > Whole World is Marching". > * 11-12 Cider and Perry Festival. Brogdale Horticultural Trust, Brogdale > Road, Faversham, Kent. Tickets �2.50/�2. 01795-535286/535462 > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > 26 SEPTEMBER: > > Wondering where to go after Mayday? Go to Prague! The meeting of the > International Monetary Fund/World Bank in Prague this September is the next > mobilisation against global capitalism. Large protests are planned, with > groups already coordinating internationally and continuing the movement's > ethos of 'our resistance shall be as transnational as capital'. As > resistance grows so do the fears of the authorities, with Czech police > announcing that any demonstrations will be banned, along with streets being > evacuated, schools closed and the 20,000 delegates being given a > 'protective ring' of 11,000 police. > > Since joining the ranks of the IMF/World Bank in 1990, the Czech republic > have been feeling the unpleasant repercussions. The Czech group Initiative > Against Economic Globalisation spoke of the 'inaccessibility of health care > and education, sharp increases in living costs, job-reductions, > unemployment, the destruction of local eco-systems and the curtailment of > union rights'. > > UK group, September 26 collective, are organising action and held a two day > conference in London last weekend focusing on the effects of globalisation > and strategies for resistance. www.egroups.com/group/september26collective > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > RED LEICESTER > > Leicester's Mardi Gras event has been cancelled after Denise Pfeiffer, an > ex Mickey Mouse saleswoman, NF supporter, fanatical Michael Jackson fan > (since he became white) and former model told them to beat it. Denise > Pfeiffer and the 'Silent Majority' tell us they are not homophobic, but are > simply promoting family values. This is quite strange considering Denise > Pfeiffer scaled a 8ft fence lined with spikes, entered a house and then > proceeded to threaten the family of Jordy Chandler, who happens to be the > boy Michael Jackson paid �15m after allegations of abuse. Not everything in > this situation is black and white, for instance, the 'Silent Majority' > share similarities with the Jackson Five due to there being only five of > them. > > > The plug has been pulled on the Mardi Gras after threats from the National > Front and pressure from Leicester's answer to Eva Brown. Leaflets printed > by the NF proclaimed 'sexual deviants and perverts are coming to Abbey Park > to promote their sick way of life'. All is not lost though, Unity Against > Prejudice believe that NF supporter Denise Pfeiffer is just forever blowing > Bubbles and they are to stage an alternative Mardi Gras which, they > believe, will be as easy as ABC. Denise, denies reports that 'Billie Jean > is not my lover' although she freely admits 'I'm bad, I'm bad, I know it'. > A starry eyed Unity Against Prejudice spokesperson told SchNews "we're > hoping for sunshine, moonlight, good time, I blame it on the boogie. - We're > sure it's going to be a thriller. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > MAYDAY ROUND-UPS > > Mayday celebrations went with a swing in Manchester, where revellers > brought partying, protesting and picketing to the town. A lively Reclaim > The Streets carnival swept through the streets armed with sticks of > revolutionary rock proclaiming 'resistance is sweet'. As they went, they > encountered many old friends, McDonald's, Amec Construction, Shell, > Employment Agencies - they were all there to share the fun! From there, the > partygoers formed into groups for the special 'Challenge Anarchy' treasure > hunt, hosted by the one and only Anarchy Rice, and finally made their way > onto a splendid free party at a squatted building - completely undetected > by police! As SchNEWS went to press, the building, the Hacienda, still > remains squatted and is being put to extremely good use with parties having > been held since Mayday. Manchester Earth First 0161 226 6814 > > www.capitalismsucks.co.uk > > Sheffield held their MayDay celebrations on Saturday 29th April. There were > actions against GM foods, NatWest and Stagecoch, and a critical mass, > Maypole dances and a chill out party on Devonshire Green. > > Finland Over 500 people marched 'for humanity, against capitalism' through > Helsinki city centre, stopping at a market place, where leftwing parties > and unions bored their listeners. Later the demo reached the poshest hotel > and restaurant in Helsinki, only two blocks away from the President's > castle. The street was blocked and the Street party started with 2000 > people partying outside. The Hotel tried to get the police to intervene, > but they didn't bother and the party went on till 8pm. > > Turkey, 10,000 people march to S�hh�ye Square, Ankara > > Korea 15,000 trade unionists and farmers in South Korea held may day > rallies to protest about wages and the takeover of local companies by > foreign multinationals. A general strike is planned for June unless the > government drops plans to sell off corporate assets, and continue with > privatisation. Students also fought with riot cops after they occupied a > roundabout, and there were 2 people seriously injured. > > Berlin The capital of Germany saw its usual mayday mayhem when over 10,000 > people fought cops in the Kreuzberg district who were protecting a rally by > neo-nazis. The riot lasted about 15 hours, 226 police were injured, and 401 > demonstrators nicked . The head of Berlin Police said with tears in his > > eyes, 'Police officers are also people and they also have empotions, fears > and feelings of pain and perhaps some overreacted' Try telling that to > friends and relatives of the Swiss anarchist who was reported killed during > the riots. > * There were actions and demonstrations around the world. Check out DAMN's > updated Mayday page, with reports and articles. > > http://damn.tao.ca/mayday.htm > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > BLACK DAY FOR CAPITALISM > > Hey SchNEWS isn't expecting the world's media to start saying maybe these > anti-capitalists have got a point, that's why we do SchNEWS. That's why we > loved the spoof newspapers like the 'Brighton and Hove No Leaders' and > 'Maybe', Reclaim The Streets' version of the 'Metro'. That's why every town > needs to have its own rabble-rousing humorous news-sheet like Worthing's > 'Porkbolter'. That's why we all need to get out of our ghettos and into our > communities. Why not try and turn your local residents groups away from > always moaning about dogshit and street lighting into being positive forums > for change. Unfortunately quite a lot of this hands-on politics is hard > work and quite boring but maybe we need to take some examples from the past > and present... > > As globalised resistance to capitalism spreads, it's easy to overlook > community based politics. Former Black Panther Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin gave > SchNEWS some crunchy thoughts to get our teeth into, drawing attention to > the trend to adopt foreign causes as pets rather than resolving community > issues. It's the charity syndrome, feed the starving kids in Africa whilst > ignoring your neighbour's kid being battered by the cops. > > Lorenzo spoke about the roots of the Black Panthers in youth activism and > community projects, reminding us that it was not all the romantic image of > armed Panthers in black berets. In their fight against white supremacy they > asserted every community's right to self determination, whilst support from > 'progressive whites' was useful, a black community based organisation had > to be about black people taking control of their own lives and > institutions. He characterised the 60's struggle as ordinary people doing > extaordinary things, with the ethos of 'heal thyself, organise thyself'. > > In '56 the boycott against the segregation on buses (not only did blacks > have to sit at the back but it was a criminal offence for a black person to > refuse to give their seat up for a white) led to the setting up of an > alternative bus service. At the same time, students were occupying the > offices and buildings of housing businesses run by white racists, and > mobilising communities into self defence and underground organization. It > was this non-violent, student organized, community based activism that > later merged with the Black Panther movement, calling for a radical > overhaul of the whole racist, capitalist system of violence and poverty. > Black community control of institutions, education, land, housing, clothing > and other community resources, and representation on juries trying black > people, was as central to the 10 point platfom of '66 as was the call for > armed self - defence against police brutality. > > > defence against police brutality. * For copies of 'No Leaders' and 'Maybe' > send SAE with 60p postage to SchNEWS. For the PorkBolter send SAE to P.O. > Box 4144, Worthing, BN14 7NZ www.worthing.eco-action.org/porkbolter * > Recommended books: Stokely Carmichel, 'Black Power', Bobby Seale, 'Seize > the Day', Huey P. Newton, 'Revolutionary Suicide'. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > SchNEWS in brief > > * A recent report by Sustain concluded that if all the Capital's green > spaces were converted to urban agriculture the city could produce 18% > of the food required by its 10 million occupants. Sustain, 94 White > Lion Street, London, 020 783711228 www.sustainweb.org > * The Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) runs a campaign to get > people to grow food in cities. They have a free information pack, > including excellent tips on growing food on a budget. 024 7630 3517 > www.hdra.org.uk > * There's new book by Mumia Abu- Jamal called 'All Things Censored', > with more than 79 essays-many freshly composed by Mumia with the > cartridge of a ball-point pen, the only implement he is allowed in his > death row cell. www.sevenstories.com/all.htm > * Nine Ladies Anti-Quarry Campaign was set up to defend the historic > wildlife site on Stanton Moor Hillside from destruction by the > reopening of two quarries. They would cover about 30 acres and would > be close to the Nine Ladies ancient stones. The camp needs more people > as eviction is imminent- there's a meeting on May 17th . Contact 0797 > 404 9369 http://pages.zoom.co.uk/-nineladies/ > * The ancient homeland of one of the Pygmy tribes of the Cameroon, the > Bagyeli, is being lost forever to the relentless march of > multinationls. A major oil pipeline is under construction which will > desecrate the forest and animals the Bagyeli depend for their > survival. Oil companies already involved in this scheme, including > Exxon and Chevron, look set to be joined by a lovely new partner. Yes, > the World Bank obviously couldn't just sit back and watch this > destruction and displacement without getting their hand in, now could > they? Jacques Ngoun, a tribal member will be in London from 21-23 May > to seek international support for his peoples' struggle. 020 7242 1441 > www.survival-international.org > * Good SchNEWS Last week in SchNEWS we reported that a former Shamrock > monkey farm vet had been appointed Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer > at the RSPCA. Now thanks to pressure from campaigners he will no > longer be taking up this post, after the RSPCA said that due to > planned protests it would have been difficult for him to carry out his > work. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Burger Me! > > In the name of the Father, the Son and Ronald McDonald a bizarre group > called The Barbeque Ministry are holding barbeques in major cities over > summer, where they will be giving away burgers to the public and trying to > convert them to Christianity. Animal Rights group Viva! will be protesting > > at all of them, pointing out the stranglehold of the meat industry over > much land and resources in the developing world. Viva!01273 777688 > > www.viva.org.uk > > SchQUALL Book > > SchNEWS and Squall are getting married and > having a baby book. So expect the imminent > patter of tiny words. The book will feature > issues 201-250 of SchNEWS together with > in-depth stuff from Squall, cartoons and > photos, a massive contacts database and more. > Buying your copies now will help us pay the > printers. So send us cheques/postal orders (and > an A4 envelope would make our lives a lot > easier) to Justice? for �8 inc. p & p, don't > grumble there'll be 280 pages! > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > RICKY REEL > > Lakhvinder 'Ricky' Reel, a 20 year old Asian student, died in 1997 in > suspicious circumstances. Despite his case being well supported and > receiving much publicity from his family and the public, the actual events > of his death still remain unknown. The Metropolitan Police promised swift > action into race-related deaths at the Lawrence Inquiry, yet this has not > been fulfilled, and the Reel family have been given virtually no support > from the authorities. The Justice for Ricky Reel Campaign asks that a new > investigation be opened, and a public inquiry be launched as soon as > possible. > > There's a day of action called for Saturday 13th May between 12-3pm. Picket > Scotland Yard, Broadway, London, SW1. Simultaneous pickets are to held at > other police stations around the UK. Organise your own demo, for more info > call the campaign on 020 8843 2333 or 0956 410773. > > www.iansmith.co.uk/justice/press > > THE REBEL ALLIANCE > > Sunday 7th May 7 pm Brighton's monthly direct > action forum. Plus footage from the recent > protests in Washington and a history of Mayday. > Tea and food free/donation. @ Unemployed > Centre, 6 Tilbury Place, Brighton (off Carlton > Hill, behind the American Express Building). > > ...and finally... > > A new campaign by Nettle Appreciation Forum (NAF) is being launched to > champion the humble stinging nettle. A spokesperson told SchNEWS "While > people continually carp on about the many uses of cannabis and how it can > save the world, the poor old nettle is left in the corner of the roadside > and forgotten." > > According to tradition, Caesar's troops introduced the Roman nettle into > Britain because they thought that they would need to flail themselves with > nettles to keep warm, and until recently 'urtication' or beating with > nettles, was a standard folk remedy for arthritis and rheumatism. > > Not only that but nettles are one of the best vegetables you can eat, full > or iron and vitamins A, B and C, plus lots of other minerals and even > serotonin (the drug which makes us happy, and which doctors reckon is > depleted after you've stuffed your face full of ecstasy pills). In a herbal > tea they make a cleansing spring tonic and are good for everything from > > eczema to anaemia. You can even apparently inhale the powered leaves as > snuff for nosebleeds! They can be also be used as shampoo, are great as a > compost activator and are loved by wildlife . > > "What's more," added the spokespreson, "Unlike cannabis they won't make you > boring." Contact on internettle, www.ouch.org > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > double issue disclaimer > SchNEWS warns all garden gnomes that the seedy bastards who planted > evidence want trouble-makers rooted out and grassed up. They're determined > no stone should remain unturned and have called on anti-capitalists to turn > over a new leaf. Hoping to capitalise on the soiled reputation of Reclaim > the Streets, Special Branch are to nip the flowering resistance in the bud > by studying press cuttings and placing bugs. > > So don't be a worm by getting outta yer tree on a bit of weed and throwing > the trowel in just coz of a little turf luck. Honestly > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > Cor-blimley-they're-practically-giving-them-away book offer SchNEWS Round > issues 51 - 100 �5 inc SchNEWS Annual issues 101 - 150 �5 inc. SchNEWS > Survival Guide issues 151 - 200 and a whole lot more �6 + �1.20 postage (US > Postage �4.00 All three yours for �15 inc. postage (US add �10.00 postage). > In addition to 50 issues of SchNEWS, each book contains articles, photos, > cartoons, a 'yellow pages' list of contacts, comedy etc. All the above > books are available from the Brighton Peace Centre, saving postage yer > tight gits. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subscribe to SchNEWS: Send us first class stamps (e.g. 20 for the next 20 > issues) or donations (cheques payable to "Justice?"). Or �15 for a year's > subscription, or the SchNEWS supporter's rate, �1 a week. Ask for > "original" if you plan to copy and distribute. SchNEWS is post-free to > prisoners. You can also pick SchNEWS up at the Brighton Peace and > Environment Centre at 43 Gardner Street, Brighton. > > To unsubscribe to SchNEWS email, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > only "unsubscribe schnews-l" (without the quotes) in the body. > This must be sent using the name and from the email address you originally > subscribed from. > > SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 2DX, England > Phone/Fax (call before faxing): 01273 685913 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.schnews.org.uk/ and now also > @ http://www.schnews.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Last updated 5th May 2000 > @nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute! > > SchNEWS Web Worzels ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: Jo Makepeace <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2000 8:58 AM Subject: SchNEWS 258, Friday 5th May 2000 > This is SchNEWS, the weekly direct action newsletter published by Justice? in Brighton, England. You're subscribed to SCHNEWS-L, our automated mailing list. To unsubscribe, or to get in touch, see the bottom of this message. > > We're (still) skint! If you want to make a donation, send a cheque payable to "Justice?" to the address at the bottom of this message. Write "SchNEWS Online" on the back of the cheque. Or, print out the Standing Order form on the site... http://www.schnews.org.uk/grant.htm - Thanks! > > Could you help us build and maintain a better web and email service? Then get in touch! > > This week's SchNEWS: http://www.schnews.org.uk/thisweek.htm > > Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective > To unsubscribe to SchNEWS email, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with only "unsubscribe schnews-l" (without the quotes) in the body. > This must be sent using the name and from the email address you originally subscribed from. > > ** BIG RATTLE IN SEATTLE: N30 WTO MELTDOWN > Exclusive video available from SchNEWS > Send a cheque for �6.00 + 80p in stamps to SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 2DX, England > -- Sent to you via the frendz list at marsbard.com The archive is at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
