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250 posts
21 May
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08:58
Picture 1.png A detailed look at the production process for our documentary Expect Resistance, which looks at the growing housing justice movement by looking at Take Back the Land Rochester. As many people know, this blog is also tied to a larger film project called Expect Resistance. This is (...) -- occupy movement, housing
20 May
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11:16
lavoratori_sul_tetto_san_raffaele.jpg After months of difficult struggle – in which workers blocked major roads, occupied rooftops and fought with police – an agreement has been reached at Milan’s San Raffaele hospital. The agreement was reached with unions early on the morning of Friday 10th (...) -- health and medicine, Italy, Milan
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11:01
litalia-sono-anchio8_opt-300x199.jpg A country at the crossroads A country at the crossroads Racism, however, comes not only from well-known xenophobes, such as the Northern League, but also from unexpected places. read more -- Italy
19 May
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19:12
Protest and resistance by refugees and solidarity activists in the Netherlands is meeting serious repression. This is now getting media attention, and provoking new protest as well. Asylum seekers in a detention centre in Rotterdam have revolted in recent days. The revolt was connected to a (...) -- Netherlands, No Border Network, Peter Storm, Werkgroep Deportatieverzet, immigrants
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11:22
combabt16th.jpg Merseyside anti-bedroom tax groups get organised It’s been a slog but, after months of meetings and discussion, anti-bedroom tax groups across Merseyside met, on Sat 18th May, to conclusively set in place the Merseyside Anti-Bedroom Tax Federation. read (...) -- UK, bedroom tax, welfare, housing
15 May
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17:17
brescia.jpg Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi called for an unusual rally against the judiciary system on Saturday May 11. Thousands of left-wing activists and M5S supporters protested, while police protected Berlusconi's supporters. Berlusconi has a love-hate relationship with the (...) -- Italy, demonstrations
14 May
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14:04
zero dark thirty.jpg Tom Jennings considers the new softcore torture porn entertaining justifications of crimes against humanity in the name of its greater good. By Any Means Unnecessary. Film/television review – Tom Jennings read (...)
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00:13
marcia per la vita .jpg Pro-life supporters march in Rome on Mother's Day (March 12); meanwhile a hundred of left-wing activist also rallied to remember Giorgiana Masi, the 18-year old who was killed in 1977 during a rally celebrating the anniversary of the victory of the divorce (...) -- Italy, abortion, women
12 May
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20:31
teachers.jpg The Greek government has issued orders for teachers to halt a planned strike over working conditions this week. This weekend the Greek government ordered striking teachers back to work. The union of secondary school teachers(OLME) had voted on strike action to take place starting (...) -- Greece, schools, strikes
10 May
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18:20
genova torre crollata.jpg Two workers are still missing and seven were found dead at the Port of Genoa, after the Jolly Nero, a cargo ship, hit the pilots’ control tower on the night of Tuesday May 7. The city is in mourning. There was a 15 minutes stoppage during the morning of Wednesday, (...) -- docks, Italy, health and safety
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15:14
400px-Soto_socied_obreira600.jpg A chapter on the economic of libertarian communism that argues that distribution is one of the key aspects defining communist economics, and exploring the different approaches to communist distribution across the broad libertarian communist current. (From a (...) -- Scott Nappalos, anarchism, economics, libertarian communism, workers councils
9 May
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11:35
scontri milano.jpg Health workers across the Lombardia region took part in a 24-hour strike on Wednesday 8th May, as part of the ongoing struggle against 244 redundancies at San Raffaele Hospital. Already, 66 workers have been served with redundancy letters, effective immediately. However, (...) -- health and medicine, Italy, demonstrations, Milan, strikes
8 May
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20:20
images-1.jpg Seven dock workers lost their lives on Tuesday May 7, when the cargo ship Jolly Nero hit a pilots' tower in the Port of Genoa. This incident draws attention on the shocking lack of safety of maritime workers in Italy, the country with the highest number of work-related deaths (...) -- docks, Italy, health and safety, killings, strikes
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15:45
Oscar_Alvarez.jpg We, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) want to express our deep concern and strong condemnation of the unfair dismissal of Oscar Alvarez, Union Representative of the IWW at the West Perivale garage. We, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) want to express our (...) -- UK, buses, IWW
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11:15
napoli_polizia.jpg A rally of students was brutally charged by the police in Naples on Tuesday morning. The images of the attack went viral immediately, shared both on mainstream and independent media, from Repubblica to youreporter.it. Surprisingly, almost all sources unanimously introduce (...) -- Italy, police, fascism, Naples
7 May
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20:16
Friedman.jpg A sex worker's response to columnist Mia Freedman's blog in which implied that she does not respect the right of women with mental illness to become sex workers. A few weeks ago both Dr Brooke Magnanti and Mia Freedman appeared on an all women panel on Q and A. Quite a (...) -- Australia, sex industry, feminism, mental health, sex and sexuality, women
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14:39
6 May
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17:44
migranti torino.jpg Over two months after the Italian Government has officially declared the end of the so-called North African Emergency, thousands of refugees lack social provisions or support, proper housing and basic rights. Here is an account of some of their struggles across the Italian (...) -- Italy, migration
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00:26
abc_bellevue_evac_kb_121031_wg.jpg An article about the role of power in the medical system from the perspective of a healthcare worker. In The Subject and Power, Michael Foucault lays out a framework for understanding relationships between how we are placed as subjects, power, (...) -- health and medicine, Michel Foucault, Scott Nappalos, USA
4 May
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06:52
Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during April 2013 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: http://twitter.com/spartacusnews. This month there has been news from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, (...) -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
3 May
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14:43
BristolCommuteG_468x314.jpg An article about transit, it's relationship to work and capitalism, and an exploration of a revolutionary anti-capitalist orientation towards transit struggles. The film Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a surreal comedy-fantasy depiction of a city run on (...) -- buses, rail, Scott Nappalos, trams, USA, anarchism, Florida, Miami, prices
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14:40
Fel_chile_en_valparaiso_2005.JPG Using the concept of the intermediate level, an exploration of what a new workers movement in the US might entail. It’s a tired truism that the workers movement in the US is floundering without a real base or path forward. A new generation of experimentation, (...) -- Scott Nappalos, anarchism, unions, workplace activity
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14:33
cigarworkers.jpg This piece looks at Malatesta's anti-syndicalist arguments, and critiques them for not having a perspective that looks at workers struggle across time. Looking at the role of struggle in cognition, it argues for seeing workplace struggle as a shifting plane of social (...) -- Errico Malatesta, Scott Nappalos, anarchism, unions
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14:25
483px-popova_air_man_space.jpg A look into revolutionary cognition that argues for the necessity of cultivating radical subjectivities. Arguments for automatic consciousness are critiqued, and the role of struggles, ruptures, and breaks is explored. How is liberation possible? Or (...) -- Scott Nappalos, anarchism, psychology
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14:15
Occupy-Wall-Street-Anti-B-007.jpg An exploration of the 2008 global crisis and responses. This article looks at militant reformism and the role of existing means and channels of settling disputes in society. Equilibrium and social forces of stability are identified for their central role in (...) -- Scott Nappalos, anarchism, insurrectionism, social movements, state socialism
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14:05
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13:59
Riot_Porn_by_liquidroot.jpg An essay on the form and content of struggles, and the fetishization of militant forms of action. Moving away from believing tactics to have inherent potential, it argues for the central role of the social relationships and process of protagonists in struggle. (...) -- Scott Nappalos, anarchism, insurrectionism, violence
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13:54
2 May
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20:02
P5010089.JPG The celebrations of May Day have emphasized the rift between the union confederations and the base unions, with protests, scuffles and clashes happening in major cities like Bologna, Naples and Turin. There was a clear split in the May Day celebration in Bologna. read (...) -- CGIL, Italy, demonstrations, unions
1 May
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00:36
foto-1.jpeg Over the past ten years, many squats across Italy have begun opening self-organized sports centres, offering mostly (but not exclusively) combat disciplines and promoting anti-fascist values alongside a non-commercial training philosophy. In this article, we provide an overview of (...) -- Italy, fascism, mixed martial arts, social centres, sport
28 April
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22:35
Palazzo-chigi.jpg Information has started circulating about Luigi Prieti, the man who opened fire early today against a group of carabinieri guarding Palazzo Chigi, the Palace of the Italian Government, injuring two police officers, Francesco Negri and Giuseppe Giangrande (who is in a critical (...) -- Italy, Rome, unemployment
26 April
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15:53
no progetto eleonora 2.jpg Last Saturday morning (20 April 2013), in Arborea, Sardinia, a thousand people gathered for the Earth March, organized by ProgReS (Progetu Repùblica de Sardigna, a Sardinian separatist party) and the No to Project Eleonora civic committee. This was a curtain-raiser (...) -- Italy, environment
23 April
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21:43
6237_welfare_landing_page_graphic.jpg Tensions between claimants and jobcentre workers over sanctions have been rising for some time. Now, with the Public and Commercial Services union stifling rank-and-file efforts to initiate a non-cooperation campaign, they threaten to boil over into active (...) -- UK, civil servants, CSRF Network, PCS, Phil Dickens, welfare, UK against austerity
22 April
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17:29
di canio fascista.jpg Children are watching. And they are frightened by our indifference to fascism. Original post published here. Thanks to Luca Pisapia and La Privata Repubblica. “Always historicize.” Fredric Jameson Children are watching. And they are frightened by our indifference to (...) -- Italy, fascism, football
21 April
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19:07
protesta-san-raffaele-300x225.jpg Healthcare workers at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan protest after receiving the first 40 letters of redundancy. After a general assembly, the struggling workers occupied the hospital reception and the roof of the building, prompting the heavy-handed (...) -- CGIL, health and medicine, Italy, USI, job losses
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03:45
images.jpg Giorgio Napolitano is elected as Italy's president for a second mandate, an unprecedented event in the institutional history of the country. His re-election follows a few days of political stalemate and chaos and was welcomed by loud protests, emphasizing the political crisis (...) -- Italy, elections, Italy against austerity
20 April
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22:14
130413 Troublemakers School 022.jpg With the recent Labor Notes Troublemaker's School in mind, how can labor begin to further tie into the housing struggle? Voices from We Are Oregon, Labor Notes, and elsewhere say that this may be from finding an "intersection" in struggle. Neighborhood (...) -- USA, community organizing, community syndicalism, labor notes, solidarity, solidarity network, take back the land, troublemaker school, we are oregon
18 April
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00:45
Picture 13.png Check out this interview with Noam Chomsky about the growing housing justice movement, the future of Occupy, and how direct action can play into all of this. As a commentator, educator, public intellectual, and one of the best-known anarchist voices in the U.S., Noam Chomsky (...) -- Noam Chomsky, Shane Burley, USA, direct action, occupy movement, housing, interviews
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23:20
17 April
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16:46
salviamo-il-paesaggio.jpg The national forum “Salviamo il Paesaggio” (Save the Countryside) launches demonstrations across the country on Earth Day (April 21, 2013), to protest against the consumption and destruction of fertile soil. To coincide with World Earth Day on Sunday 21 April 2013, the (...) -- Italy, environment
13 April
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23:02
11.jpg In this article, Madaline tells the story of how she fell into organizing and the IWW – pushed both by terrible bosses and by amazing solidarity among her coworkers. If the first week of work at Artistry Bakery and Cafe was any indication, there was no way this four-month experience (...) -- Canada, food service, IWW, Madaline Dreyfus, Recomposition, accounts, on-the-job action, work life, workplace activity
10 April
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15:56
piacenza manif 6 aprile.jpg Around 1000 people marched through the streets of Piacenza on April 6 to protest against the exclusion notice served on Aldo Milani, national coordinator of the radical union SI-COBAS. The notice bans Milani from the city of Piacenza for three years, and came just (...) -- Italy, demonstrations, Ikea, Piacenza
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14:45
537299_544835432206105_1543862155_n10.jpg The last few days have seen a number of incidents across Greece. Fascist attacks, hunger strikes, rival groups of protesters clashing and thousands of people having their electricity cut off are just some of the news stories from one day. There are (...)
8 April
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22:36
thatcher-savile.jpg Former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died. The occasion has been the cause of both mourning and jubilation. What follows is a reflection on what this means in the context of the ongoing class struggle. Today, along with up to 55,000 other workers in HM (...) -- UK, Conservatives, Margaret Thatcher, Phil Dickens, UK against austerity
7 April
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10:12
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09:53
Van-Gogh-069.jpg A number of us have begun work on a pamphlet/online text which seeks to offer advice to those who suffer from depression. While the bulk of the text is complete, we’re still looking for submissions from those who’ve dealt with depression, how it’s affected their involvement in (...) -- health and medicine, mental health
6 April
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21:40
combatbedroomtaxdirectaction.jpg Today, Saturday 6th April saw around 60 delegates from the various local anti-bedroom tax campaigns on Merseyside come together to discuss a strategy for co-ordinating action across the region. After hearing the stories of several tenants affected by the tax (...) -- UK, welfare, bedroom tax
5 April
4 April
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12:56
Thasos_Golden-Dawn.jpg Residents of Crete and Thasos have recently stopped Golden Dawn activities in separate incidents on the Greek islands. Members of the far-right party Golden Dawn(GD) were forced to leave a small village on the island of Thasos at the weekend. GD representatives had come (...) -- Golden Dawn, Greece, community activity, Crete, fascism, Greece against austerity
2 April
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21:00
gruel.jpg A blog about welfare reform from a social care worker's perspective, and the creation of the "welfare addict" as a recession-era scapegoat. Inspired largely by today's Novara show, and the people I work with. I've got a personal grudge against a colleague of mine. I know (...) -- UK, claimants and unpaid, ECAP, public and third sector, Ramona, Scotland, social care, welfare, UK against austerity
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14:44
hongkongdockstrike.jpg Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during March 2013 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: http://twitter.com/spartacusnews. For more news from China (in Chinese) see (...) -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Spartacus, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
1 April
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19:10
Movimento-NO-MUOS-e1355607357263.jpg Citizens of Niscemi in Sicily have been struggling for years against the proposed construction of the new MUOS station, a new satellite network serving the US Navy. Health hazard and environmental impact are the main concern of the population. On March 30, (...) -- Italy, environment, USA
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19:05
asda-logo.jpg Are the UK government planning to use Workfare placements and welfare store-cards as part of a state-run 'Truck system'? The Guardian reported this week that Birmingham council is to provide crisis welfare in the form of prepaid store-cards, which will be redeemable only (...) -- UK, welfare, Asda-Wal-Mart, UK against austerity
30 March
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18:00
MANI_23_3.jpg Another march took place in the heart of the Susa valley on Saturday March 23, 2013, organised by the NoTAV people together with local authorities and other local bodies, which have been part of this struggle since the beginning. Many people, perhaps as many as 40,000, took part (...) -- Italy, rail, accounts, demonstrations, No TAV
29 March
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16:55
Sitin.jpg Federico Aldrovandi was only 18 years old when he died of police brutality in 2005. Unlike the majority of such cases, Federico's murder found justice as the four responsible agents were found guilty of excessive force leading to death earlier this year. On March 27, a group (...) -- Italy, police, repression
27 March
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17:01
referendum bologna.jpg This is “the story of David and Goliath, Ulysses and Polyphemus, Beowulf and Grendel” is how the writer collective Wu Ming describes the struggles of the Articolo 33 committee in Bologna in an article in the Internazionale magazine. The Articolo 33 committee was set up in (...) -- Italy, schools, Bologna, school
26 March
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12:12
maydaycartoon-lg3.jpg Liverpool Solidarity Federation, along with radical comrades from across the city, will be holding a celebration of radical working-class and grass-roots solidarity in the city on Saturday 4th May to coincide with May Day weekend. After last year’s stolid washout, we want (...) -- UK, May Day
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11:21
blu_xm24_thumb.jpg Bologna is burning, while just outside its ancient walls a battle is being fought, under the single eye of Sauron, looking down from one of the two towers that are the symbol of the city. On one side are the bankers, shop keepers, butchers, politicians, and all the enemies (...) -- Italy, Bologna, social centres, social movements
25 March
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09:46
P3230032.JPG Despite heavy rain, around 1000 people marched through the streets of Bologna on 23 March 2013, in a general demonstration against the Bossi-Fini law, a restrictive law on immigration from 2002. The demands were clear: The guarantee of a residence permit for everyone, not related (...) -- Italy, Bologna, immigrants, Italy
23 March
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18:08
anzola sciopero.jpg Many of the most important warehouses in northern Italy blockaded and the logistics sector of three of the most industrialized regions paralysed: that’s the result of the 24-hour strike called by the SI COBAS union and the ADL COBAS union to demand a new national contract. (...) -- distribution, Italy, immigrants, Italy
21 March
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20:49
notav proteste.jpg No-TAV activist have launched a demo for the 23rd of March. The demo will be the first public event of the movement since the last Italian's general elections, which completely reshaped the Italian Parliament. How will the newly elected Parliament members interact with (...) -- Italy
19 March
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21:58
sodexo-regione.jpg Cleaners at the Cisanello hospital in Pisa picketed their workplace for over three months, from October 2012 to January 2013. They were protesting the proposed cancellation of 78 jobs to comply with the cutbacks to healthcare spending. Their determination earned them the (...) -- CGIL, cleaners, Italy, job losses, Sodexo, strikes, women
17 March
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18:50
l43-milano-130316184348_medium.jpg Ten years after the murder of leftist militant Davide Cesare aka DAX, stabbed to death by fascists on March 16 2003, thousands of activists march in Milan to commemorate his death and to carry forward his ideals. On Saturday 16th March 2013, around 10,000 (...) -- Davide Cesare, Italy, fascism, killings, Milan, repression, riots
16 March
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20:38
l43-sito-casapound-anonymous-130311224639_medium.jpg On March 11, 2013, Anonymous Italy took down the website of Casapound, a far-right extremist group that recently stood in the general political elections. The hackers claimed the anti-fascist nature of their act, while also demanding the (...) -- Anonymous, Italy, fascism, internet
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23:27
482700_139556046214469_1030400102_n.jpg An update on an ongoing strike at a nonprofit 'mobile foodshelf' in the Twin Cities. As I previously blogged, canvassers who work for a local nonprofit 'mobile foodshelf' in Minneapolis affiliated with the IWW and went out on strike on (...) -- IWW, USA, Minneapolis, Minnesota, strikes
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21:06
291697_303482429780211_583067233_n.jpg Today in Liverpool finally saw the knights in shining armour from the local Labour Party riding into town to rescue the city’s working class from the clutches of the evil Tories. Or at least that’s how the Labour left would like to portray the situation. (...) -- UK, welfare, bedroom tax
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18:50
media.jpeg Since I visited the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell I have been harbouring an interest in porcelain, pots, ceramics and such folk, craft, popular art objects which commemorate radical moments in history. So I thought I would have a little look at what else I can find online. (...) -- UK, Manchester
15 March
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21:41
Screen Shot 2013-03-15 at 1.40.29 PM.png A video look at how the housing liberation efforts of Take Back the Land Rochester can affect a homeless family, and can serve as a model for community direct action. read more
14 March
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11:27
rivoluzione_civile_Ingroia-586x217.jpg The defeat of Rivoluzione Civile (Civil Revolution, a newly-established party) in the recent elections was much worse than expected. The coalition led by Antonio Ingroia (a former public magistrate involved in the investigation about state-mafia dealings) (...) -- Italy, elections, state socialism
13 March
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16:33
sexism.jpg The UK Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party (SWP) is in deep crisis after rape accusations and faction fights have ended in the leadership reimposing some 'order' , and oppositionists leaving the party in droves. Some analysis, and some ideas on what attitude (...) -- UK, Peter Storm, Richard Seymour, SWP, Leninism, state socialism, Trotskyism, women
11 March
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21:45
885178_221932167950867_494295414_o.jpg Victimisation, by bosses and the state, of those who try to organise in the workplace is nothing new. But recently a spate of high profile cases have focused wider attention on the issue. Last year, William Hill bookmakers announced plans to extend their (...) -- UK, PAMSU, PCS, Phil Dickens, RMT, UCU, direct action, strikes, unions, wildcat strikes, workplace activity
10 March
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23:06
733743_555723207782534_1386530315_nier.jpg The dispute over gold mines in Greece intensified this week. Police invaded the town of Ierissos and tear-gassed school children as residents protested. The last few days have seen more incidents in the dispute over gold mines in Northern Greece. (...) -- Greece, mining, community activity, environment, repression
8 March
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02:45
l43-monti-121027141141_medium.jpg Analysis of the recent Italian elections, asking if they really constituted a rejection of austerity. A vote against austerity? read more -- Italy, elections, Italy against austerity
7 March
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02:48
420607_10150639042957065_790649534_n.jpg An article by Juan Conatz replying to some of the Direct Unionism discussion paper responses. Cleaning out my numerous Google Doc drafts, I found this, which continues the direct unionism debate by taking on most of the responses to the original (...) -- Juan Conatz, Recomposition, direct unionism
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02:24
pink.png Dave Stannton's account of his experiences as a “pink collar” militant working at an immigrant-serving non-profit organized by a large public-sector union in Northern Alberta. This article is an account of my experiences as a “pink collar” militant working at an immigrant-serving (...) -- Canada, Dave Stannton, Recomposition, accounts
6 March
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20:23
In the months before the Italian elections there was great concern that there might be a resurgence of support for fascist parties. There is certainly potential for such fear to become real: the economic and political crisis, strong popular dissatisfaction, unemployment, and widespread (...) -- Italy, elections, fascism
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12:13
06.10.02.Forat_.07.jpg Resisting "urban renewal" in Barcelona in the context of larger economic struggle read more -- Spain, urban planning
5 March
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00:35
sabino.jpg The official statement of the El Libertario collective following the murder of Sabino Romero, Yukpa indigenous rights activist, in Zulia, Venezuela last night. During the night of March 3, 2013 Yukpa Cacique Sabino Romero, well known for his defense of the rights of the Yukpa (...) -- El Libertario, Venezuela, killings, repression, indigenous
4 March
3 March
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18:58
feb12th.jpg As the president of Greece becomes the latest person to predict a 'social explosion' in Greece it seems a good idea to ask the question: Are we likely to see an escalation of social unrest as the crisis continues? Quote: “We are faced with a societal explosion if any more (...) -- Greece, Greece against austerity
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18:35
grillo-movimento-5-stelle[1].jpg This is an interview by Roberto Ciccarelli, whom we thank, and it appears in today’s (Friday’s) issue of “Il Manifesto”. We couldn’t be more clear and straightforward than this. It synthesises what we think about the Movimento 5 Stelle (henceforth M5S) and about its (...)
2 March
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15:07
unemployedworkertaipei.jpg Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during February 2013 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: http://twitter.com/spartacusnews. For more news from China (in (...) -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Spartacus, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
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02:34
12270_10200175047437843_299975466_n.jpg Information on a just begun strike at a non-profit mobile food shelf and soup kitchen in Minneapolis. From the Twin Cities IWW blog: read more -- IWW, USA, Minneapolis, strikes
1 March
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17:24
bootlebedroomtaxliverpool.jpg Housing associations are no better than scabs. In fact, they are scabs As tenants are catapulted towards the chaos of the bedroom tax, one question must be asked again and again of housing associations: Whose side are you on? Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH), (...) -- UK, welfare, bedroom tax, welfare, housing
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11:52
tamburi-57.jpg While the media’s attention has been focussed on the Italian election results and their ramifications, workers continue to suffer, and the justice they deserve continues to be denied to them. Thursday the ILVA steel mill in Taranto, the factory with the highest number (...) -- Italy, steel industry, Ilva, Italy, Turin
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04:57
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04:50
photo-22.JPG This is the first in what I hope becomes a series under the heading "The Culture of Capitalism." For the original post and many other pieces of writing, see my Outside the Circle blog at cbmilstein.wordpress.com. New York City is perhaps one of the best places to be a flaneur, (...) -- Cindy Milstein, capitalism, Cindy Milstein, culture
26 February
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16:55
MoVimento_5_Stelle_logo.png Now that the Five Star Movement has made such an impression in the Italian national elections, we believe it is no longer possible to avoid examining this phenomenon in terms of a political vacuum that the movement, founded by Beppe Grillo and Gianroberto (...) -- Italy, Beppe Grillo, elections, Italy
23 February
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15:49
maude_strike_1934019c.jpg Stories about the government threatening a “crack down” on trade union power emerge almost on a loop. Particularly in times of heightened class antagonism. But far from showing the unions as threats to society, such threats are a demand that the unions tighten up their (...) -- UK, civil servants, Conservatives, CSRF Network, PCS, Phil Dickens, public and third sector, TUC, Unite, capitalism, direct action, UK against austerity, unions, workers committees, workers control
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13:06
latinlibnews.png Announcing a new Twitter account that will provide irregular and brief updates on social movements and news of interest to libertarian communists in Latin America. Follow it here: https://twitter.com/latinlibnews -- Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, news, social media
22 February
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20:46
universita-1.jpg The national university council has recently made figures about student enrolment at Italian universities publicly available. In the last ten years it has fallen by about 20 per cent. This sudden drop is linked to the crisis and to the awareness of the pointlessness of working (...)
21 February
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01:21
ale.jpg A parody Q&A about 'stuff' in the anarchist movement... So NAN, who are they? NAN stands for Northern Anarchist Network. They are something of an elderly gentleman's club based, surprisingly, in the north of England. Mainly composed of a few disgruntled ex-SF/DAM (...)
20 February
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12:18
room-measuring bedroom tax da.jpg One - but only one way - to combat the bedroom tax One – but only one – of the challenges to the bedroom tax is the minimum size of your smallest bedroom. Many of the smallest rooms in social housing are less than 70 sq/ft and thus a boxroom rather than a (...) -- UK, welfare, bedroom tax, housing
19 February
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18:45
combatbedroomtaxdirectaction.jpg In the past week, the Labour Party has launched its Labour Against the Bedroom Tax campaign nationwide, with its roots in Liverpool. It’s the usual Labour Party fare; sign a petition, display a poster. It offers no support for real action by tenants themselves (...) -- UK, local government, welfare, bedroom tax, social housing
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10:40
sans papier.jpg On 25 February there will be demonstrations across Italy to highlight the difficult situation in which refugees from a number of North African countries have found themselves over the past 18 months. The demonstrations are also to draw the authorities’ attention to the need to (...) -- Italy, demonstrations, migration, race
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00:10
PHE-wu-wei.gif Ying-yang anyone? Daoism has been discussed on this site with little fanfare before. At best it’s a historical account of libertarian utopian thinking amongst a scholar-class in early China, signalling a move into dialectical reasoning, at worst it’s a form of mysticism lending (...) -- philosophy
18 February
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16:21
downhills.jpg Documentary detailing the community campaign against the forced academisation of Downhills Primary in 2012. Some interesting scenes in this documentary. Effectively charting the campaign against something that was clearly a done-deal long before parents or school workers were (...) -- UK, Choccy, education, NASUWT, NUT, academies, London, privatisation, schools, tottenham
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15:52
skouriesvehicles_390_1802.jpg Over the weekend a group of people carried out an attack against a controversial mine in northern Greece causing significant damage to vehicles and mining equipment. On Sunday morning a group of 40-50 people raided the compound of the mining company Hellenic Gold (...) -- Greece, mining, environment, Greece against austerity
17 February
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17:20
commies-party.gif A number of pieces have been written recently on “unity” amongst the left and the ways we can achieve that. What follows are the reasons I reject left unity as a notion and the kind of real unity that the workers' movement needs – and, to a large extent, already has. (...) -- UK, Phil Dickens, anarchism, state socialism, Trotskyism, UK against austerity
12 February
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21:36
omniasuntcommunia.jpg A short blog inspired by a long banner. Some students today unfurled a giant banner. In simple white type on black, one side simply read 'communism'. On the reverse, 'omnia sunt communia'. Not being versed in latin, an accompanying leaflet translated and (...) -- UK, education, Joseph Kay, universities, Brighton, casualisation, University of Sussex
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19:08
dc0321a6753b11e2b45222000a1f97b0_7.jpeg A short visit to the Library. This afternoon I paid a visit to the Marx Memorial Library on Clerkenwell Green. I'd always wondered what was behind the red door, its a library. Full of interesting bits and pieces apparently they get a majority of (...) -- UK, Karl Marx
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13:16
7522166666_d575a9fdf3_b.jpg Today's ruling that every part of workfare other than the Mandatory Work Activity scheme breaks the law has given campaigners against workfare a huge boost - we were right all along. But the DWP have already said they will be doing a simple rephrase of the (...) -- UK, claimants and unpaid, Rob Ray, workfare
11 February
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19:11
Workfare 20 June.JPG With attacks on claimants and the unemployed escalating, campaigners and trade unions have made numerous calls for “unity” between workers and the unemployed. But too often, this “unity” is a purely theoretical one. How can we go beyond words to build a practical basis for (...) -- UK, civil servants, claimants and unpaid, PCS, Phil Dickens, public and third sector, unemployment, welfare, UK against austerity
9 February
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15:02
wuhan_chinese_workers_gangnam_style_protest.png Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during December 2012 & January 2013 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: (...) -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spartacus, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
8 February
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01:55
want-to-see-exactly-what-happened-at-the-action.jpg John O'Reilly on the Occupy movement in the United States and the direction it took. “Those who make revolution halfway only dig their own graves” – Jacobin leader in the French Revolution, eventually put to death by Robespierre read (...) -- John O'Reilly, Recomposition, USA, occupy movement
7 February
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17:26
axethebedroomtax.jpg An account of Liverpool housing association demonstration and occupation 40-50 people turned out today for Combat the Bedroom Tax’s warning shot to the largest Housing Association in Liverpool, Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH), who we argue are complicit in the implementation (...) -- welfare, bedroom rax, welfare, housing
6 February
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23:49
bfu.jpg A podcast of a paper I presented at the Brisbane Free University. In mid-December 2012 I spoke as part of a panel entitled ‘Australia: The Lucky Country? Capitalism and its Discontents’ along with Kristen Lyons as part of the Brisbane Free University. read (...)
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20:32
For Sale By Owner.jpg Though the economy may be on the upswing, it doesn't erase the inequality that sits under the surface. A recent Bloomberg article is looking forward for housing in 2013. Or, perhaps that should be restated. read (...) -- USA, housing crisis
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11:57
THUMBS UP!.JPG A blog entry detailing my recent experiences as a language worker--examining the structure of my particular workplace and potential opportunities for organising in the industry. For a little over a year I've been employed teaching English at a school in Eastern Europe. The (...) -- Eastern Europe, TEFL, accounts
4 February
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23:40
photo.jpeg New online publication of opinion pieces originally published in UK Building Design magazine from Dutch Design As Politics. I thought this new collection of texts may be interesting to some, all originally published in BD as opinion pieces and now brought togther online. Design as (...)
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23:11
P3060559.JPG Two self-organised spaces were successfully defended when they were attacked by fascist and police forces over the weekend. Supporters of the fascist Golden Dawn attacked self-organized spaces in the Athens' neighbourhood of Zografou on Saturday night. The attack, which was (...) -- Greece, fascism, social centres, squatting
3 February
1 February
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11:31
ginacu.jpg An attempt to grasp what recent reports of both rising unemployment and a skills shortage means tells us about capital accumulation in Australia The core hypothesis that I have proposed, and seek to test, is that Australia is in a condition of ‘precarious prosperity’: that the solid (...) -- Australia, construction, education, Karl Marx, welfare, unemployment
31 January
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22:04
Screen Shot 2013-01-31 at 4.02.04 PM.png When thinking about what kind of housing model we really want for the future, we can see the new structures sprouting in the very acts of resistance we have today. Resistance, in the political and social sphere, is both the means and the ends. Direct (...) -- North America, Rochester Red & Black, housing
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18:53
hmv.png HMV official Twitter turned against itself. The Guardian is reporting how a worker at HMV's HR department (allegedly Poppy Rose) briefly hijacked ([url=https://twitter.com/poppy_powers/status/297032073976373249]a term she contests on her Twitter page as she was meant to be in (...) -- UK
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18:30
In the age of the internet, does the printed pamphlet have any kind of future? With self-publishing so easy online, could the pamphlet soon be obsolete? With a short talk on some of the history of the pamphlet, and an open discussion on where it's going... Quote: Past Tense with the Radical (...) -- UK
30 January
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21:22
kids_protest.png NUT will not be balloting members for industrial action at Warren Comprehensive after school drops academy conversion plans. Warren Comprehensive in Chadwell Heath, east London, has dropped plans to become an academy. This week school governors voted against the plans to (...) -- Choccy, education, NUT, academies, London, schools
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17:59
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12:24
Len-McCluskey_1600503c.jpg In September 2012, TUC Congress overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for co-ordinated national action, up to and including a general strike. As the first step towards putting this motion into effect, a conference took place in Liverpool on 26th January (...) -- UK, general strike, Len McCluskey, Liverpool, Solidarity Federation, Unite
29 January
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18:11
Joke Kaviaar, activist and publicist against the oppression, detention and depiortation of refugeesin the Netherlands , has been sentenced to a four months jail sentence for "incitement". Solidarity with refugees should know no borders; solidarity against efforts to censor Joke Kaviaar, and all (...) -- Joke Kaviaar, Netherlands, Pussy Riot, Russia, censorship, repression
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13:27
apergia-2.jpg The Greek government has forced an end to a nine day public transport strike which brought parts of Athens to a standstill. Over the weekend the Greek government forced an end to a nine day transport strike which brought much of Athens to a standstill. The union representing the (...) -- Greece, rail, Athens, Greece against austerity, repression, strikes, wildcat strikes
25 January
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23:02
Briey_unite_d_habitation.jpeg So long for Le Corbusier's famous streets in the sky! Lead image: Corb's Unité d’Habitation, Firminy, France from Archiseek Arch-Tory think-tank Policy Exchange today issued a policy document apparently describing how: read (...) -- UK, urban planning
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02:10
tumblr_mh2t01Y2a61qz7tulo1_400.jpg Once known for its culture and its seemingly idyllic political model, the city of Bologna has undergone harsh political and economical transformation, leading to gentrification and massive real estate speculations. F or those political people seeking to (...) -- Italy
24 January
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05:41
Grocery-store.jpg An organizer's overview of an ended Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) campaign in the Twin Cities. Oftentimes as workplace organizers, we have a difficult time admitting our mistakes. We are driven and strong-willed, and though these attributes often aid us in the (...) -- Grace Parker, IWW, Recomposition, retail and food, supermarkets, USA, accounts, Minneapolis, workplace activity
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23:17
gove_michael_pob-e1293722468110-300x210_1.jpg NUT executive votes against strike action in March despite accelerated attacks on education The National Union of Teachers Executive Committee today voted 22-20 against strike action in March. An initial date of 13 March had been expected. This (...) -- UK, Choccy, education, NASUWT, NUT, schools, unions
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20:48
We Won't Pay.jpg An account of the resistance building against the Bedroom Tax in the UK. It’s been 12 days since a public meeting was held in Liverpool to decide what to do about the Bedroom Tax. The overwhelming response from the packed out tenants meeting was one of militant resistance. (...) -- UK, welfare, bedroom tax, housing
22 January
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17:26
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11:03
happy_birthday_black_n_red_greeting_card-p137447145744307272bhc2d_325.jpg A short blog looking at a small instance of solidarity in defense of a victimised workplace activist and the connections between such small acts and building a wider culture of solidarity at work. Just after sitting (...) -- accounts, workplace activity
21 January
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23:23
fightingforourselves_0.jpg Collective Action's review of Solidarity Federation's recently published book 'Fighting for Ourselves: Anarcho-syndicalism and the class struggle'. Fighting For Ourselves: Anarcho-Syndicalism and the Class Struggle (from this point on referred to as (...) -- UK, Collective Action, anarcho-syndicalism, reviews
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22:28
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20:09
dibattito-al-manifesto.jpg As the 40-year old Communist newspaper il manifesto managed to survive its imminent closure earlier in December, the mediascape of the Italian left continues to evolve. Recent newspapers like Pubblico shut down, due to poor management and lack of readers, and an old (...) -- Italy, newspapers
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01:22
lunch.jpg Some thoughts on low-income cooking, health, guilt, and the punishment of the poor. Food has always been characterised with angst, guilt, and worry for me. As a teenager I was dangerously underweight and tried to remedy this by stuffing my face with processed food, fizzy drinks, (...) -- Ramona, food
20 January
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23:07
1177216.jpg An attempt to sketch out my attitude as an anarchist towards the prison system. Why do we oppose them? Why does our solidarity go to the jailed over their jailers? How do we view the role of trade unions such as the Prison Officers Association? Outsourcing and privatisation is a (...) -- UK, Phil Dickens, POA, prisons, anarchism
18 January
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23:05
IMG_20130118_151319-1.jpg While delegates from Labour councils across the country met at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool, likely at public expense, to discuss how best to implement cuts while keeping their council seats under the banner of “Austerity With Fairness”, members of Liverpool (...) -- UK, UK against austerity
17 January
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16:10
ginoriassemblea.jpg Richard-Ginori, famous around the world for the production of porcelain, is one of the best known “Made in Italy” names. The firm’s production plant has been in Sesto Fiorentino, near Florence, since 1735. In August 2012, due to the firm’s critical economic condition, all 314 (...) -- Italy, manufacturing and materials, job losses
16 January
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11:38
elmetto-cantiere2.jpg Eurostat figures released on 7 January 2013 confirm Italy’s shocking success: it is the country with the highest number of work-related deaths in Europe. The statistics from 2010 show that, in Italy, 718 people suffered a work-related death in the workplace, compared with (...) -- Italy, deaths, statistics, work
15 January
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15:02
75060_508085072547808_916039185_nlk.jpg This afternoon the police evicted the Lelas Karagianni squat in central Athens. The fourth attack in under a month. Once again this afternoon a helicopter could be heard circling over central Athens. These days this is a good indication that another (...) -- Greece
14 January
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20:14
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11:41
180226_10151076463517182_92378477_neuro.jpg Early this morning the main office of governmental party New Democracy was fired upon with an AK47. This is the latest in a series of attacks on political and media targets in the last few days. In the early hours of this morning shots were fired at (...) -- Greece, Greece against austerity, terrorism
12 January
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02:10
524812_514272128593606_54377415_n.jpg Joke Kaviaar, writer/ poet/ anarchist/activist, had been put on trial by the Dutch state for íncitement against public order'. The charge is based on four articles she wrote and published on het website, in which she strongly criticized the oppression, (...) -- Joke Kaviaar, Netherlands, writers, censorship, migration
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23:09
NewJobNextExit1.png This essay is the second in a series articulating a methodological framework for developing Wobbly organizers and identifying key features of workplace committee building at the micro level. Much of the content of the Industrial Worker, as well as the Organizer Training (...) -- IWW, Recomposition, USA, x370559, workplace activity
11 January
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16:46
a4e scam red - a4 size.jpg I was recently reffered onto the Work Programme by the Job Centre on very sketchy grounds. Yesterday I had my initial introductory group meeting with A4E called "About You" and here is my account of how it went and everything leading up to it. It all started a (...) -- UK, claimants and unpaid, unemployment, welfare, A4E, accounts
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14:56
734915_506348822721433_869797256_n.jpg The battle against the eviction of squats in Greece heats up as more occupations are attacked and dozens arrested. There now seems little doubt that the Greek state is carrying out a sizeable and sustained assault on squats and the anarchists movement in (...) -- Greece, Greece against austerity, occupations, repression, squatting
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12:47
afdheader.jpg This piece is a critique of an argument around the welfare changes put forward by prominent Australian socialist blogger John Passant and suggests an alternative way to understand them They all turned their papers over and drew more squares. When Kollberg was ready, he looked at (...) -- Australia, welfare
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11:44
IKEA-PIACENZA1.jpg IKEA and CGS have finally surrendered. CGS is the contracting consortium for the Swedish giant warehouse in Piacenza which serves all of Southern Europe. After months of struggle, clashes and charges, the consortium has had to reinstate all the workers it suspended because (...) -- distribution, Italy, Ikea, Piacenza, unions
10 January
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16:51
1.jpg The offices of Robert Fiore’s fascist, ‘Forza Nuova’ party have been firebombed by persons unknown. The fascists have stated that extensive documents, membership information, flags, banners, and a large amount of literature has been destroyed. The offices in Bonifati are the regional (...) -- Italy, Working Class Self Organisation, fascism
9 January
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18:51
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09:43
villa1-300x225.jpg This morning there was an attempt to reoccupy the recently evicted Villa Amalias squat in Athens. In response the police again attacked the squat. There was an attempt this morning to reoccupy the Villa Amalias squat in the centre of Athens. At this point details are (...) -- Greece, occupations, repression, squatting
8 January
7 January
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22:34
iStock_000005580858Small.jpg An overview of the way in which with increasing autonomisation of finance capital, models come to shape the real economy and influence its restructuring. Arbitrage is defined as any technique to profit from differences in price between identical assets in (...) -- finance, capitalism, economics
6 January
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14:55
Ninja-libcom.jpg The 10 most popular articles which have been posted to our blog section in 2012. 10. Safer spaces, false allegations, and the NYC Anarchist Bookfair - Ramona 9. Europe-wide general strike November 14: How real? How relevant? - rooieravotr read (...) -- top tens
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14:38
Picchetti davanti all'Ikea 3 gennaio 2013 ©IlPiacenza.jpg On January 3rd, porters and stores workers at IKEA and subcontracted cooperatives in Piacenza again blocked the entrance to the warehouse. Over the past two months, in spite of an uphill battle against the giant furniture company, (...) -- Italy, retail and food, StrugglesInItaly, Ikea, job losses, strikes
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03:16
redback-graphix-if-the-unemployed-are-dole-bludger.jpg An attempt to understand the changes to welfare in Australia by looking at the impact of the labour-shortage caused by the mining boom. As some readers might be aware on 1st of January substantial changes to the single parent payment took (...) -- Australia, claimants and unpaid, housework, unemployment, welfare
5 January
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02:09
PublicServiceCuts.png An exploration of the reasons for austerity in Queensland, Australia and a critique of those arguments that would reduce the cause to one of 'ideology'. ( For non-Australian readers the title refers to jokes about the nature of Queensland, based on its history of (...) -- Australia, public and third sector, debt
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01:30
Antifa Masked.jpg Some on the liberal end of the anti-fascist movement have argued that "no platform" is dead and free speech the best antidote to the far-right. This argument rears its head time and time again, but it bears shooting down every time. Today, a Robert Sharp posted a short blog (...) -- UK, Phil Dickens, fascism, liberalism, violence
4 January
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18:05
sss.PNG Frustrated at the lack of help from the local or national government, being kept in terrible conditions, and frequent threats of deportation, 100 asylum seekers have occupied a church in Vienna – 27 of whom are now on hunger strike. Despite the possibility of alternative accommodation (...) -- Austria, Working Class Self Organisation, Christianity, hunger strikes, migration, occupations, squatting, Vienna
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20:20
Ninja.jpg Here are the 10 most popular articles read by you lot throughout 2012. 10. Prison survival guide 9. Golden Dawn offices bombed 8. Economics of the war economy - Paul Mattick 7. The black sea revolt - Tico Jossifort read (...) -- top tens
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16:46
cat.jpg Our annual breakdown of statistics on people reading and posting to libcom.org. Here are our reader and user stats from 2012 1. In summary, reader figures have fallen slightly on the previous year, but are still significantly higher than 2010 and 2009. 1. Different stats systems (...)
3 January
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21:45
RobotCommunism[1].jpg ALL MUST WORK! declares the cabinet of millionaires. 'Workers not shirkers!', they implore. 'Strivers not skivers!' The divide-and-rule rhetoric trying to pit those in work against those without is as relentless as it is transparent. But what's so good (...) -- UK, housework, Joseph Kay, Maria Mies, unemployment, feminism, technology, work
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03:35
With Sober Senses is a new project in which I am trying to reorientate my research and writing towards mapping out the territory of capital accumulation with Australia, in a way I hope will reach a larger audience and may be useful for those trying to understand and change the society they live (...) -- Australia
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01:16
2 January
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21:19
X.PNG Hundreds of prisoners at Prison Number 6 in Kopeisk, in the Urals region of Russia, have fought fierce battles with screws and security forces and launched a rooftop occupation in a protest against draconian conditions, torture, extortion, and the use of solitary confinement. Four (...) -- army, legal, military and law enforcement, police, prisons, Russia, Working Class Self Organisation, protest, riots, uprisings
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15:40
fighting.jpg "Fighting For Ourselves", a new book by which SolFed explains it s view on anarchosyndicalism, deserves to be widely read. In what follows, I try to review the book, both highlighting its strengths and pointing to a few problems I encountered on the way. "Fighting For Ourselves" (...) -- UK, Argentina, CNT, FORA, France, Italy, Solidarity Federation, Spain
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03:00
6923_586369618449_4123504_n.jpg Raising the question of whether intentional communities of care can be a site of struggle, rather than just a place of support. I have personal experiences in creating and expanding communities of care, street medicing, radical mental health, as an herbalist (...) -- Gayge Operaista, health and medicine, housework
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01:20
Capture.PNG Hundreds of workers are striking against non-payment of bonuses, for an end to racism, and improved conditions at Sierra Leone’s largest diamond mine in Koidu. Following a blockade of the entrances and clashes with scabs, the armed forces were deployed, who opened fire on the (...) -- mining, Sierra Leone, Working Class Self Organisation, killings, repression, strikes, wildcat strikes
1 January
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17:54
aaa.PNG Yesterday around 70 immigrant squatters and protesters have stormed the Vatican Embassy in Paris in protest against the church and its decision to evict squatters from an empty church in Lille to “preserve the sacred space”. Many of the squatters are now on hunger strike. The protest (...) -- France, Working Class Self Organisation, occupations, squatting
31 December
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18:44
2.jpg A run-down of the ten Libcom blog posts / articles that I found the most informative, interesting, or thought provoking in 2012 10 (Red Marriott) The policeman's new clothes - new styles of repression in the Bangladeshi garment industry 9 (Steven) A run-down of the ten Libcom blog (...) -- Working Class Self Organisation, top tens
30 December
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02:44
Discussing conflicts of interest on my school's Board of Trustees and some forms that all non-profit institutions are required to keep on their premises and that you can request! About two months ago, a professor at my university gave a talk sponsored by the student union entitled, “The (...) -- universities, USA, debt, students
27 December
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14:18
1.jpg Over 1,000 tea workers in the India state of Assam have gathered outside the home of the plantation owner as part on an on-going labour dispute. Following shots being fired from the plantation owner’s house, the workers set his house and cars alight. The plantation owner, Mridul (...) -- agriculture, India, Working Class Self Organisation, protest, repression
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06:10
An initial summary on the political ideas of Colin Ward. Sometime in 2008 I passed over a chance to go to a talk by Ward and favoured instead the comfort and surroundings of the pub. In reflection this was a big mistake. Colin Ward died in 2010, I never having got the chance to hear him (...) -- Colin Ward, Freedom Press, anarchism
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20:54
imesapi-granollers-franqueses-movilizaciones_1_1509059.jpg Members of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT union and CGT union have gone on indefinite strike and occupied their workplace at the IMESAPI lighting plant in Granollers, Catalunya, Spain, demanding an end to the redundancy plans which would (...) -- CGT (Spain), CNT, public and third sector, Spain, job losses, occupations, strikes
25 December
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02:12
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01:48
0930_WVteaparty.jpg When it comes to institutional analysis and eviction defense, is citing the Constitution still at the top of the list? As we remain reeling from tragedy after tragedy it has sent most blogs and social networking sites exploding with reactionary fervor as pundits and people (...) -- USA, legal, housing
24 December
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19:51
SWP.jpg A personal account of life in the Socialist Workers Party. The Weekly Worker is known to many as the unrivalled gossip rag of the British far-left. Most workers wouldn’t give a toss about anything published in it, but to those of us who have passed through any of the various (...) -- UK, SWP, activism, state socialism, Trotskyism
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12:41
180226_10151076463517182_92378477_neuro.jpg As more loans have been released to the Greek state a combination of recent surveys and reports show the true effects of years of austerity. There has been across the board reductions in conditions and living standards for large parts of the Greek (...) -- Greece, Greece against austerity, statistics
23 December
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20:47
2.jpg Violence against women in India has reached epidemic proportions. This year there have been 256,000 violent crimes, of which 228,000 have been against women. There is a woman raped in India every 20 minutes, and the rate is rising. Last week saw the brutal rape of a young student on a (...) -- India, police, Working Class Self Organisation, demonstrations, repression, sexual violence, women
22 December
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23:56
manifesto-chiusura.jpg After over four decades of activity, the Communist newspaper Il manifesto closes, highlighting the general crisis of the Italian Marxist press. After four decades, the Communist newspaper Il Manifesto is closing. The news was rumored in February and confirmed in May; a (...) -- communications, Italy
21 December
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19:21
1111.PNG Two people have been killed, dozens injured, and at least 137 arrests have been made in several poverty stricken cities across Argentina, during an outbreak of mass lootings at supermarkets. The state has deployed the armed forces to try and maintain order. The first incident of (...) -- Argentina, supermarkets, Working Class Self Organisation, looting
20 December
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13:37
villa1-300x225.jpg Police in Athens are currently raiding one of the oldest squats in the city. I'm reposting here some reports on a current police raid on the Villa Amalias squat in central Athens. The raid began early this morning and event are still on going. This is the latest in a (...) -- Greece, Athens, Greece against austerity, repression, squatting
19 December
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22:28
rifugiati.jpg A few hundreds of asylum seekers from Libya demonstrated in the northern-eastern town of Reggio Emilia, where they currently live. They were demanding resident status and, consequently, access to social services before their temporary permits expire. Their struggle to be (...) -- Italy, migrant workers, human rights
18 December
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07:03
Screen Shot 2012-12-17 at 1.07.26 PM.png A look at why direct action can be the foundation of transforming housing in eviction defense, foreclosure resistance, and housing liberation. If there is one thing that has marked the libertarian tradition, at least in the classical sense, it has been (...) -- USA, homelessness, squatting, housing
17 December
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20:52
iwa-ait.png International Workers' Association 90th anniversary conference 5 January 2013, London Due to unforeseen circumstances, including one of the key organisers and speakers having been taken seriously ill, we have had to reduce the conference to just Saturday 5th January 2013. (...) -- anarcho-syndicalism, IWA
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16:25
images.jpg In light of the government’s decision last week, to ‘green light’ the practice of onshore gas drilling (fracking) here is my brief ‘non-expert’ look at the issues. The drilling company ‘Cuadrilla’ had to stop ‘Fracking’ at several areas along the Fylde coast 18 months ago, due to concerns (...) -- UK, gas, USA, Working Class Self Organisation, environment
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00:43
this12.png A left wing MP was today viciously attacked at a football match between AEK Athens and Atromitos, by a group of boneheads identifying themselves as members of the fascist ‘Golden Dawn’. Dimitris Stratoulis, of the radical left coalition (Syriza), claimed that three men approached him (...) -- Greece, police, Working Class Self Organisation, anti-fascism, Greece unrest, Nazism
16 December
15 December
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18:18
s4.reutersmedia.net_.jpg Yesterday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conneticut once again re-ignited the gun control debate. For US liberals, stricter gun regulations are the key to preventing future tragedies. For conservatives, responsible gun ownership and armed (...) -- North America, Phil Dickens, schools, USA, killings, school students, suicide
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15:57
sciopero-fiom-3_er.jpg The union FIOM (the metalworkers’ federation) held a general strike on December 5 and 6 to protest against both the agreement’s merit and the fact of having a separate agreement signed by the sector’s right-wing unions excluding FIOM, the sector’s most representative union. (...) -- Italy, metals, StrugglesInItaly, universities, demonstrations, strikes, students
13 December
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13:49
568x300_terrace.jpg One premier league and several championship clubs have given their backing to a campaign for the re-introduction of ‘standing’ facilities at football matches. Added to this, around fifty MP’s have signed an early day motion calling for a ‘trial’ of standing sections. Many other (...) -- UK, Working Class Self Organisation, football
12 December
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20:02
1.jpg The findings of a review into the 1989 murder of Belfast human rights solicitor, Pat Finucane has been made public. The findings, whilst not exactly a surprise, are nevertheless shocking, and lay naked the lengths the British state will go to in order to silence people who get in its (...) -- UK, Ireland, Northern Ireland, police, Working Class Self Organisation, killings, repression
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11:30
20121127_singapore_smrtdrivers.jpg Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during November 2012 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: http://twitter.com/spartacusnews. This month there has been (...) -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spartacus, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
9 December
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17:22
374532_490173951005587_1244651644_mem.jpg 6th of December marked four years since the murder of 15 year old Alexis and the uprising of December 2008. On the day protests against police violence took place aross Greece. Remember, remember the 6th of December. Four years on the police murder of (...) -- Greece, demonstrations, Greece unrest
8 December
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12:51
chavs.jpg Two parallel definitions of the word are used in political discussion. It's a perennial problem that radicals don't define what they're talking about when discussing class, or worse, making sweeping statements about it. There were plenty of things wrong with last (...) -- UK, claimants and unpaid, unemployment, welfare, class, socialism
6 December
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13:01
1.jpg The gentrification around the South African world cup of 2010, the 2012 London Olympics, and the slavery and human trafficking associated with preparations for the world cup in Qatar highlighted in last months ‘Freedom’, are proof if it was needed that the major global sporting events are (...) -- Brazil, construction, Working Class Self Organisation, gentrification, sport
5 December
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17:56
530345_468203589887990_556722965_n.jpg The recent furore surrounding Starbucks has once again pushed the issue of tax dodging and its relation to austerity into the limelight. But it has also brought into sharp focus the problem with calls to “pay your tax” being divorced from questions of class (...) -- UK, Phil Dickens, UK Uncut, tax, UK against austerity
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12:50
NLRB-picketing.jpg A blog exploring what appears to be a turn away from NLRB elections by the mainstream unions in America. Why is this happening and what does it tell us about the state of working class self-organisation in the States? Although there can be little doubt that class struggle in (...) -- AFL-CIO, UFCW, USA, wildcat strikes
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10:51
empty-home[2].jpg The Guardian today reports a rise in homelessness. This is a predictable (and predicted) consequence of benefits cuts, but it has nothing to do with a shortage of homes. The 'housing shortage' has become something of a received wisdom amongst the political (...) -- UK, Joseph Kay, welfare, homelessness, housing
4 December
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19:12
GD BOMB.JPG It would appear that Christmas has come early in Greece. Earlier today a ‘makeshift’ bomb that included dynamite exploded in the offices of the fascist ‘Golden Dawn’ in Asprogpyrgos – a suburb of Athens. There were no casualties reported, but a huge hole was ripped through a wall, (...) -- Greece, Working Class Self Organisation, fascism, Greece unrest
29 November
28 November
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18:29
tromba d'aria ilva.jpg One worker is missing after a huge tornado hit the Ilva steelworks in Taranto, the surrounding area and the nearby town of Statte, on the morning of November 28. The worker fell into the sea, as the crane he was working on with three colleagues collapsed in the (...) -- Italy, steel industry
27 November
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10:58
ilva.jpg The Italian judiciary system is continuing its prosecution of the management of Ilva, the largest steel corporation in Europe, which has its main factory in Taranto. On Monday November 26th the judges ordered seven arrests (4 of which were house arrests) of key managers within the (...) -- CGIL, Italy, steel industry, assemblies, environment, Ilva, lockouts
26 November
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22:59
JL.JPG Some reflections on the recent resurgence of the Wobblies, their current campaigns, and their role in radicaly renewing the labour movement and reviving the working class' struggle against capitalist exploitation. Author: An IWW organiser Source: (...) -- UK, cleaners, IWW, John Lewis, UK against austerity
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22:49
roma antifascista.jpg On November 24 2012, three different demonstrations took place in Rome and in other cities. In the morning, two separate rallies marched through the capital, both protesting against cuts in school budgets. The first was led by the COBAS union, which had called for a (...) -- education, Italy, schools, demonstrations, fascism, Italy against austerity, Rome
25 November
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23:53
Foreclosures have become a raging fire, destroying whole communities in their wake. Tenants of foreclosed buildings often times have the least control over their situation. Here is a look at some rights that tenants do have during a foreclosure, and why we need to step even beyond these. Take (...) -- North America
23 November
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20:23
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16:58
914769-15213102-640-360.jpg A look at some of the context behind the vicious attack by fascists on Tottenham fans in Rome before the teams met for their Europa League tie. Considering last weekend's result, it feels pretty odd for me - as an Arsenal fan - to sit down and try to write (...) -- UK, Ed Goddard, Italy, libcom.org, fascism, football, Jewish, race, sport
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13:16
cameron.jpg Apparently we're in an economic war. Who with, and to what end? I've blogged before about the project of the political class to attack working conditions and living standards, in some cases with calls for British workers to give up leisure activities and (...) -- UK, UK against austerity, unemployment
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01:47
natl day of mourning.jpg When we attempt to tell a history from the bottom up of Thanksgiving, we need to remember to tell the whole thing. As a revolutionary who lives in New England and was born and raised in Massachusetts, I feel a particular obligation to help propagate a (...) -- Gayge Operaista, USA, indigenous
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00:08
Wal-Mart.jpeg Friday the 23rd of November will see Wal-Mart, which owns UK chain ASDA and which has an entirely non-union workforce, hit with coordinated strikes and protests on “Black Friday”, the busiest shopping day of the year. This article, written by a American-born SolFedder who's (...) -- supermarkets, UFCW, USA, Asda-Wal-Mart, strikes, USA
22 November
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10:17
535708_10150795996062182_1508645110_nanti.jpg The far-right continues to grow in Greece but so to does the antifascist response. The last few weeks alone have seen antifascist actions across the country. Over the last six months and more if you checked the news from Greece in the morning (...)
21 November
20 November
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20:53
notinmyname.jpg Solidarity to Palestine spreads across Italy, with rallies held in the major towns of the country. Italians have joined the international wave of solidarity with the people of Gaza, now suffering the consequences of the Israeli bombings. A spontaneous sit-in happened in Rome (...) -- Gaza, Italy, Palestine
17 November
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15:21
this.PNG Ann Hansen is a former member of Direct Action, an underground anarchist group active in the 1980s, who presently lives as a writer, farmer and public speaker in the Kingston area. On August 3, 2012, Ann was arrested and had her parole suspended for ‘unauthorized associations and (...) -- Canada, police, prisons, Working Class Self Organisation, direct action
16 November
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20:54
Qatar_stadium_WP.jpg My latest piece I wrote for Freedom magazine, published in the October issue. On migrant workers' conditions in Qatar, where the World Cup of 2022 is supposed to be held. Basically the original version, but with a few small corrections. One of the Arab countries (...) -- Middle East, construction, Equal Times, Human Rights Watch, Peter Storm, football, migration, sport
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16:00
A list of (about) all the demonstrations which took place in Italy for #14N - the 14 November set of strikes and general strikes across Europe. Agrigento: demonstration outside the prefecture. Alessandria: in the bankrupt city, the protest was led by public employees, demonstrating against (...) -- Italy, StrugglesInItaly, demonstrations, general strikes, strikes
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01:02
monson communist.jpg Anarchist MMA fighter scores his biggest win in recent years over Alexander Emelianenko tonight. For any MMA fans interested, Jeff Monson defeated Alexander Emelianenko tonight in St.Petersburg, Russia. Alexander is the brother of Fedor, who defeated Monson this time last (...) -- Choccy, Jeff Monson, mixed martial arts, sport
15 November
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12:42
tumblr_lyvgujoSXe1roynxgo1_500.jpg The following presents a commentary on a three-part debate (part 1, part 2 and part 3) conducted, within the pages of ultra-left journal Socialisme or Barbarie, by different representatives of the libertarian communist tradition on the trade unions. The (...) -- George Fontenis, Socialisme Ou Barbarie, debates, unions
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00:02
PB141111.JPG Four rallies, involving 10,000 people, crossed Bologna as part of the European general strike on 14 November 2012. The rallies left at 9 a.m. from different parts of the city, marching along all major streets, from those of the university quarter to shopping areas to the avenues (...) -- CGIL, CISL, COBAS, education, Italy, retail and food, schools, universities, Bologna, Ikea, school, students
14 November
13 November
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18:37
precari_manifestazione_web-400x300.jpg More than 3,000 students and unemployed workers demonstrated on November 12 in Naples as a protest against the Ministers of Labour and Education, who were in town to attend an intergovernmental summit on occupational policies. More than 3,000 students (...) -- Italy, StrugglesInItaly, unemployment, demonstrations, Naples
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13:47
PB110018.JPG Another round of austerity measures has been approved in Greece. Before, during and after the vote people went on strike and took to the streets. And there are signs of resistance stiffening. There are grounds for both pessimism and optimism when looking at last week in Greece. (...) -- Greece, general strikes, Greece against austerity, strikes
12 November
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21:46
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21:14
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17:12
strike2.jpg The struggle of IKEA workers in Italy goes on. After a workers’ blockade in front of the IKEA storage in Piacenza was violently cleared on November 2, the protest spread to other cities. Solidarity rallies were organized in Bologna and Piacenza on November 7 and solidarity (...) -- CGIL, CISL, COBAS, Italy, manufacturing and materials, StrugglesInItaly, Ikea, job losses, Piacenza, strikes
11 November
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21:55
blocco1.jpg Following on from recent occupations, strikes and demonstrations by health workers in Milan, workers at San Raffaele Hospital block traffic on a major ringroad to protest against planned redundancies. On the morning of Monday, 5 November, hundreds of workers from San Raffaele (...) -- health and medicine, Italy, StrugglesInItaly, blockades, job losses, Milan, strikes
10 November
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07:20
photo-42.jpg One of a series of blogs from Cindy Milstein on living through the hurricane. While power is out and tanks roll in, somehow people are still making it in to work... At around 5:00 p.m. yesterday, out of some perverse curiosity, because I almost didn't want to believe it, I (...) -- Cindy Milstein, USA, climate change, environment, Hurricane Sandy, New York
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07:17
photo-39.jpg (Originally written on November 1, 2012) On the last day of October 2012, I walked across the Manhattan Bridge twice, each time mostly with downtrodden-looking workers, going to and/or from likely dismal and low-paying jobs that might not even be there when they arrive. It’s hard (...) -- Cindy Milstein, climate change, Hurrican Sandy, New York, North America
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07:25
9 November
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18:46
juan.jpg Libcom.org is very happy to announce that one of our US-based users, Juan Conatz, has joined the admin collective. For a good few years, Juan has been the most prolific contributor to the libcom library, so we thought it was only fair that he should have a say in the running of the (...)
8 November
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18:55
causpsafe.jpg As tuition reaches untenable levels, American University students are uniting and fighting back Last evening at 11:00 pm a group of forty students banging pots and pans marched from American University’s campus to AU President Neil Kerwin’s house demanding a two-year freeze on the (...) -- universities, students
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18:52
edl20birmingham20protest.jpg Some brief observations regarding attitudes towards the repression of the far-right by state forces. The following observations are in no way typical of the majority of anarchists, just a small minority I have encountered in recent weeks. The last few months has (...) -- UK, legal, police, prisons, Working Class Self Organisation, fascism, state
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14:39
accident-256.jpg The following was published as an introduction and a primer for an anarchist reading of the following text - 'What is Communisation? - Leon de Mattis - as a result it assumes a certain understanding of concepts within communisation theory (outlined in that text) as well as (...) -- Collective Action, communisation
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14:29
1.jpg Verdi15, an occupied student residence, was cleared out. Students and left wing activists demonstrated. In 2011, 180,000 students in Italy were eligible for financial aid; however, only 150,000 ended up receiving it. The other 30,000 students were denied aid despite their eligibility. (...) -- Italy, StrugglesInItaly, universities, occupations, social centres, students, Turin
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12:32
bekasi strike.jpg Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during October 2012 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: http://twitter.com/spartacusnews. This month there has been news from (...) -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Spartacus, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
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05:49
drippingblood-1.png An account written by Abbey Volcano about non-profit employment, lack of medical insurance and divisions in the workplace. This is a story about anger, “non-profits,” and pissing blood. I was in my fifth year working at an independent health food store run by religious (...) -- Abbey Volcano, charity, Recomposition, USA, accounts, work life
6 November
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05:10
Online-radio.jpg I've been off blogging recently for various reasons, but having put together a few audio files recently it struck me that there's not really anywhere that such things are being collated (or the specific files at least). This might be something for a dedicated section (...) -- media and culture, Rob Ray, anarchism, audio
3 November
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11:43
ikea_piacenza_scontri_polizia_ansa-e1351873801273.jpg Four workers have been hospitalized after riots took place in front of the gates of the Ikea plant in Piacenza this morning (November 2). The plant is the Swedish corporation’s main Italian storage centre and its workers are nominally (...) -- COBAS, Italy, manufacturing and materials, Ikea, migration, Piacenza, strikes
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01:43
b.jpg For the first seven weeks of the National Football League (NFL) season, bosses have locked out all 212 unionised referees. The issues that have led to the dispute are the same as those that started the recent National Hockey League (NHL) players lock-out, namely, pay, and pensions. As (...) -- USA, Working Class Self Organisation, lockouts, sport, strikes
2 November
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21:45
d.jpeg At ‘Texim’, a Turkish textile factory that produces clothing for Hugo Boss and Pierre Cardin, thirty eight workers have been sacked for legitimate trade union organising Their crime was attempting to resist punishing changes to working conditions, and to object to an impossible 50% (...) -- textiles, Turkey, Working Class Self Organisation, Hugo Boss, Pierre Cardin
1 November
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18:31
c.jpg The following is a press release from the 'No Dash For Gas' campaign', following their occupation four days ago of the West Burton gas plant in Nottinghamshire. There are currently several activists on top of 300ft high chimneys and cooling towers. This morning, sixteen (...) -- UK, gas, Working Class Self Organisation, climate change, environment, occupations
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16:14
l.jpg Following the failure to reach a consensus on a new collective bargaining agreement between NHL (National Hockey League) bosses and the players union, all 750 players registered with the NHL have been locked-out as of Sunday 16th September. For the duration of the lock-out all players (...) -- USA, Working Class Self Organisation, lockouts, sport
31 October
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21:01
1.jpg Wal-Mart has become one of America’s most successful retail chains by offering everyday goods at low prices for working families. But just how is Wal-Mart able to charge less than many of their rivals, and what has their success done for their employees? Documentary filmmaker Robert (...) -- retail and food, USA, Working Class Self Organisation, Asda-Wal-Mart, videos
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11:30
November-30.jpg Steven Johns' detailed account of how the union has handled the recent dispute over pensions. It sheds light on the role unions play in contemporary society, and argues that if ever us workers are going to start winning things again, we will have to go beyond them. (...) -- vote-yes-letter.pdf, UK, health and medicine, local government, schools, Steven Johns, Unison, accounts, pensions, strikes, UK against austerity, unions
30 October
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21:26
solfed.org_.uk_.png Having been gainfully unemployed for a number of months, I’ve recently returned to take a swim in the shark-infested, soul-destroying, disease-ridden hell hole that is the job market. It’s also the first time I’ve been, ehhem, lucky enough to be able to claim dole. This means (...) -- UK, unemployment, welfare, accounts, DWP
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20:02
BasicsCard.jpg From April 1st 2013 Liverpool City Council will replace the crisis loans and community care grants with the Citizen Support Scheme (CSS). It is not just a meaningless re-branding exercise; it has serious ramifications for people all over the country. The scheme’s key differences (...) -- UK, claimants and unpaid, Working Class Self Organisation, Liverpool
29 October
28 October
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19:49
400190_2509541113769_2130838615_n.jpg A look at recent developments within the civil service. The government's latest attacks, the response from both the union and ordinary members, and the prospects of workers taking control of their own struggles. On Thursday 18th October, Cabinet (...) -- UK, civil servants, Conservatives, PCS, Phil Dickens, public and third sector, strikes, UK against austerity, unions, wildcat strikes, workers committees
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19:06
P9291189.JPG The anti-immigrant operations continue and expand across Greece. Detention camps, round-ups and harassment are now state policy. The extreme right wing party Golden Dawn(GD) has been gathering more attention from the media recently. There have been significant reports about GD (...) -- Greece, Thrasybulus, fascism, migration, race
26 October
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22:04
IMG_8877.JPG Recently I was lucky enough to take part in a meeting of radical historians in Barcelona. The event was billed as “a meeting of colleagues and comrades, all active in interpreting and bringing out the radical history of the place where they live”. As well as sharing experiences and (...) -- Western Europe, anarchism, Barcelona
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12:53
l_aquila-firefight_2376881b.jpg Current news headlines in Italy concern the 6-year prison sentence given to seven scientists and officials found guilty of manslaughter. All were involved in the seismic activity committee, known as the National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of (...) -- Italy, earthquake, Italy, L'Aquila, sciece, seismology
24 October
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22:28
angel's share.jpg Official 'truth' being more dishonest as well as stranger than fiction, Tom Jennings looks instead at feral youth fairytales screened since last August's riots. We Found Hope in a Loveless Place. Film review – Tom Jennings read (...) -- UK, Tom Jennings, film, reviews
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