I Intend To Escape ......................And Come Back

Don't Worry, 2012 Will Be OK

Amongst my Christmas gifts was a hagiography of Barack Obama for teenagers, written by Tim Alexander.

I am assuming 'Barack Obama Hope For The World: Everything you wanted to know about the President, and more!' (Orion, 2009) was written as a deliberate attempt to provoke heart attacks and haemorrages across the US right - it is impossible to see what other purpose it serves. Think of a combination between a Jackie annual and the manifesto of a student union candidate, and you are about half way there.

As we enter 2012, there are a lot of things to be fearful of. Take your pick from continued recession, debt, the rise of restrictive technologies and new laws, the lack of credible political alternatives to the Con-Dems, the prospect of conflict between Israel, the US and Iran, religious extremism, ongoing climate change and overpopulation. But, it seems I am being pessimistic:

"Behind us there stands years of war, global warming, economic difficulties and inequality. Ahead there is the hope of peace, freedom and a world where men and women of different colours, beliefs, and religions can live in harmony. A genuine change is taking place and we have a front row seat. One man has stepped forward to bravely lead the world towards our future." (p.5)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Having now seen the first English language adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - I can only recommend others go and see what is likely to be the film of 2012.

In terms of acting, the development of tension, occassional outbreaks of humour and genuine suspense, director David Fincher has done a remarkable job, although he was working from very strong source material.

Whilst his publisher styles Stieg Larsson as one of the world's foremost experts on the far-right, referring to him as such on the dustjacket of his books, I was never a fan of Larsson the man. His relationship with the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight (a malign influence in the UK anti-fascist movement in for a generation) attracts my suspicions. Larsson edited Searchlight's Swedish sister magazine Expo. I am also informed that even though Anarchists form the backbone of the anti-fascist movement across Scandanvia, Larsson made comments about such activists that were prejudicial and indeed stupid. A proper reassessment of his political work is overdue.

As a crime novelist however, I suspect Larsson will be regarded as unsurpassed - he is the man who left too soon.

Not My Cup Of Tea

Leonard Zeskind and Devin Burghart have a big article on the US occupy movement in the November issue of Gerry Gable's Searchlight magazine. I think it best to use the term Gable's Searchlight, as we know that former Searchlight editor Nick Lowles is launching his own magazine in the new year............

Zeskind and Burghart cover what they see as as the threat posed to the occupy movement by the Tea Party, supporters of Ron Paul and the conspiracy theories of Texas snake oil salesman Alex Jones. What is noteable about this thesis is however just how overpowering an organisation as diverse (and some might say contradictory) as the Tea Party is viewed as being by the authors. Take the hyperbole of this opening:

"For the past two+ years, the Tea Party movement has had a death grip on the American political discourse. The Tea Parties strangled any move towards an equitable system of single-payer health care. They dominated the November 2010 congressional elections. They came within a hair's breadth of driving the United States itself into insolvency".

And there was me thinking Barack Obama had been President of the United States since 2009! Indeed many of his supporters were at one point insisting Obama had delivered on healthcare, and that this would be seen as the key success of his Presidency!
This approach is a classic example of how political commentators give the ruling elite a get out of jail free card. Any failure of Obama to deliver in the United States is not the fault of the man himself, the Democratic Party or even the US economic system - we can instead blame those on the right who are criticising Obama, for 'impeding' change!

As important as it is to be aware of the likes of distractor flares like Ron Paul or Alex Jones, it should not mean people take leave of their critical faculties. If the US neared bankruptcy, perhaps Obama (and Bush before him) should have spent a little more wisely and a little less on defence projects? And perhaps Zeskind and Burghart could consider where the buck stops in the American political system, rather than attacking easy targets?

Is it too hard to accept that if President Obama has not been 'radical' in office, it might actually be because he was never radical in the first place?

Anarchist Studies: Colin Ward Issue Published

The new issue of Anarchist Studies (Vol 19, No.2) has landed on my doormat.

It is a special issue devoted to the later Anarchist writer Colin Ward, best known for his writing on housing and his attempt to put anarchist ideals into practice in the challenging circumstances of post War Britain. Ward's legacy is considered by Carl Levy, Peter Marshall, Pietro Di Paolo, David Goodway, Brian Morris, Carissa Honeywell, Robert Graham and Stuart White.

You can find out more online about Anarchist Studies, and the Anarchist Studies Network.

When Is A Political Prisoner Not A Political Prisoner?

.............When he or she is an Anarchist.

I guess at my age I should be too old to get annoyed by the Socialist Workers Party, or indeed by the wider socialist/marxist milieu in the UK, of which the SWP is representative. Every now and then however they still manage to press my buttons, in a way that it surprises me how much I can still rage at their idiocy and perversion of ideals.

The Socialist Worker website currently has an article and list of prisoners it suggests we write to over Christmas. It is a mixed list of those jailed in the student revolt, alleged and actual miscarriage of justice cases, plus a couple of examples of very long term prisoners who have been in correspondence with left wing groups for many years.

Needless to say the five anti-fascists still in UK jails for attacking members of the fascist Blood and Honour organisation in 2009, do not get a mention. I can think of no reason for this other than the fact they are Anarchists. They simply do not exist in Socialist Worker's ethos.

One thing that does exist in that rose-tinted view of the world is a 'war against Islam'. Curiously two of the men who were allegedly behind the most important British Jihadist website, Azzam.com are listed on the SWP's support list. Azzam.com, named after the spiritual founder of Al-Qaeda, Abdullah Azzam, played a key role in supporting the struggle to establish an Islamic theocracy in Chechnya, receiving praise from the likes of Ibn ul Khattab.

This article sums up the level the last century left has slumped to. Five working class men in jail for fighting Nazis on the streets of London are not worthy of a mention, yet a veteran of the Bosnian Mujahideen, like Babar Ahmad, is.

I have never really believed the argument that concepts of a 'left' and a 'right' in British politics are no longer relevant. However, on this type of evidence, and more generally on issues surrounding race and religion (especially Islam) I really can't see where the divide exists any more. That a division between the gullible and the realist exists, I am sure. How to articulate that it wider political terms, I am, at this stage, less sure about. Perhaps my PhD is a step towards doing that.

2012: Jean Vigo Coming To Our Cinema Screens

Forget Mission Impossible 24, or whatever Tom Cruise's franchise is up to now. January and February 2012 sees several UK cinemas showing L'Atalante, by the French Anarchist film maker Jean Vigo.

The British Film Institute's preview should hopefully garner your interest, although it sadly avoids any examination of Vigo's politics. For that - consider this overview from the Daily Bleed, and this copy of the now defunct Jean Vigo website.

Thanks to the ever patient Muriel for introducing me to the importance of Jean Vigo.

 

Christopher Hitchens Crossing Swords With The Enemy

As a tribute to to the late great Christopher Hitchens, my favourite Hitch clip:

 

Companies To Avoid Like The Plague: Heart Internet

If anyone out there is looking for an Internet service provider, I really do urge you to steer as far as possible from Heart Internet.

They ignore basic instructions, threaten customers with bailiffs over sums as low as £10, and carry on ignoring instructions even when they have been clearly expressed in writing. They are scum. If you are using them - I suggest you switch to another provider. If you are going through a list of potential suppliers - cross them off it.

 

Libya: The Things People Miss

I have only just come across this BBC piece from 31 August "Fears Over Islamists Within Libyan Rebel Ranks".

Written by Dr Omar Ashour of the University of Exeter, it contains two significant omissions. Whilst covering the re-emergence of Abdul Hakim Belhaj, who was known as Abu Abdullah al-Sadiq when he headed the jihadist Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, the author neglects to tell us that this gentleman, who's presence was apparently worrying Western governments - once lived happily in exile in the UK.

Secondly whilst we are told the LIFG attempted to kill Gaddafi in 1995 and 1996, and that Belhaj also served time in Gaddafi's jails, no mention is made of allegations that the 1996 plot was a joint enterprise between the LIFG and our very own Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.

Clearly if we all agree to not mention Londonistan, and forget that historically Britain has so often worked with Islamist actors against Nationalist, Socialist or Communist currents that 'threatened' our interests, everything will be alright.

Fingers crossed everyone!

1 in 12 Club Appeal Fund

Aside from activism, the Anarchist movement in the UK rather lacks things to be a part of, or to go too.

That is perhaps why Anarchist Centres like the 1 in 12 Club in Bradford are important - they provide a possible alternative to the routine of marching, leafletting and being followed by police officers with cameras. The last time I visited the 1 in 12 was in 2008, when I drove up London Class War's enormous collection of foreign language Anarchist material, which was given to the 1 in 12's library as a donation. Earlier years saw some marathon drinking sessions there with Wakefield Class War (RIP) although I have to say every band I ever saw play at the 1 in 12 was uniformly pisspoor!

All the more distressing then that the 1 in 12 club faces a series of threats, which could ultimately end in closure, due to actions by the Fire Brigade. Clearly the FBU has forgotten about all the Anarchists who hooted their support when the firemen were campaigning for a £30,000 salary! Freedom covers some of the particular assistence the club needs, but financial support is also required. The 1 in 12 sets out what you can do to help on their website - if you can, do so. Anarchism generally, but Bradford in particular, would be a poorer place without the 1 in 12.

Oh - and as a reminder of how long the club has been kicking fat Tory arse, here is the 1989 Pickles Papers, about Bradford Tory leader Eric Pickles, now better known as MP for Brentwood and Ongar and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Anarchism: It's About Laughing and Crying

What else can you do when you read a statement like this:

"Turritopsis Nutricula is a multi-gendered, multi-cultural, multi-generational collective of individuals with varied sexual orientations, subcultural affinities and favourite foods.  We are a
Revolutionary household.  By this we mean that we are opposed to police, prison, borders, racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, body-policing, speciesism, fascism, capitalism and any other form of oppression."

Apparently this collective is a week in to a squatted occupation in Seattle. You can read more details here. Oh, and a Turritopis Nutricula is apparently a jellyfish. They look a little like this:

Black Flame London Book Launch

This Saturday 10th December, 2pm at Freedom Press in Whitechapel:

BLACK FLAME: The revolutionary class politics of anarchism and syndicalism

BLACK FLAME: The revolutionary class politics of anarchism and syndicalism
Lucien van der Walt & Michael Schmidt

'Black Flame' examines the anti-authoritarian class politics of the anarchist/syndicalist movement, and its 150 years of popular struggle on five continents. An  indispensable conceptual and historical roadmap, with close attention to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, looking at its:

·   Opposition to hierarchy, capitalism and the state
·   Strategy: building revolutionary counter-power 
·   History: labour, community, anti-imperialism
·   Agenda: participatory, cooperative economics 
·   Revolutions: Mexico, Spain, Ukraine, Korea 
·   Revival: today's struggles

MORE @ http://black-flame-anarchism.blogspot.com


------------------------------------------
REVIEWERS SAY
· 
  "one of its distinctive contributions is its global scope... their book is brilliant and thought-provoking ... a valuable study for activists, students and academics alike..." (Mandisi Majavu, Africa Project for Participatory Society, 'ZNET')
·   "deserves to be read by all those on the Left seeking to understand anarchism's diverse
contributions to democratic socialist thinking and practice ..." (Devan Pillay, 'Amandla')
·   "illustrates the universality of anarchism, which until now, other literature has not done ... countless examples of large movements globally from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and the United States, to South Africa, Egypt, Korea and Japan ... Spain, Italy, Russia, the UK and Ireland ..." (Mandy Moussouris, 'South African Labour Bulletin')
" extraordinary ... succeeds in bringing anarchist ideas into vivid relief in their historical contexts ... shows the increasing relevance of an anarchist critique for our own time" (Martin Miller, Duke University, author of 'The Russian Revolution', 'Kropotkin')
·   "a fascinating account of the often obscured history of anarchists, their organisations and
history. There is much to commend in the book ..." (Leo Zeilig, 'International Socialism')
·   "the depth and breadth of the research are impressive, the arguments sophisticated, and the call to organize timely ..." (Mark Leier, 'Labour/Le Travail')
·   "If you have a passing interest in radical politics, get this book. If you have an interest in anarchism, get this book ..." (Deric Shannon, 'Interface: a journal for and about social movements')
·   "fascinating, revealing and often startling ..."  (Alan Lipman, anti-apartheid exile, author of 'On the Outside Looking In: colliding with apartheid and other authorities')   
·   "useful and insightful ...  a  grand work of synthesis  ... an excellent starting point..."  (Greg Hall, 'WorkingUSA')
· "Brilliant  ... outstanding ... Do yourself a favour and buy it now!"
(Iain McKay, author of 'The Anarchist FAQ', volume 1) 
·  "considerable scholarship and deep reflection  ... remarkable ... powerful and lucidly written  ..." (Jon Hyslop, University of Witwatersrand, author of 'The Notorious Syndicalist: JT Bain, a Scottish rebel in colonial South Africa') 
·   "an outstanding contribution ...  unique in examining anarchism from a worldwide perspective instead of only a west European angle ..." (Wayne Price, author of 'The
Abolition of the State: anarchist and Marxist perspectives') 
·   "a must for everybody interested in nonauthoritarian social movements ... "  (Bert Altena, Rotterdam University, author of 'Piet Honig, Herinneringen van een Rotterdamse revolutionair') 

-----------------
Michael  Schmidt is a Johannesburg-based investigative journalist/ journalism trainer and activist, with experience in Chiapas, civil war Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Darfur, and Lebanon.

Lucien van der Walt teaches at Wits. Winner of the 2008 international 'Labor History' dissertation and the 2008/2009 CODESRIA Africa thesis awards, his extensive publications include (with Steve Hirsch) 'Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial
World, 1880-1940' (Brill 2010).

A Tribute to Socrates

The first World Cup I can really remember, and certainly the first World Cup where I watched the majority of the games, was Spain in 1982.

The highlight of that tournament was Italy's fabled 3-2 victory over Brazil, and the highlight of that match, to my twelve year old's football brain, was the Brazilian goal where Socrates beat Dino Zoff at his near post. Socrates seemed incredibly exotic. This was an era where English footballers were 'over the Brian' in interviews, our World Cup mascot was a bulldog that would not have looked out of place as an illustration in National Front News, and our two best players, Trevor Brooking and Kevin Keegan, injured more than they were fit.

Socrates seemed improbably, impossibly exotic. The idea of a footballer who was also a Doctor was in the English context, unthinkable. But a footballer named after a Greek philospher, and who chain smoked when not on the football pitch? This interview, with Mancunian journalist Andy Mitten, not only gives us the mark of the man, but the following examination  of Brazil's defeat to Italy:

"Our loss to Italy was not simple," Socrates says. "It was like achieving the conquest of the most beautiful woman in the world, but then being unable to do what matters with her. But it can happen, in life and in sport. "Some say that we were the greatest side never to win the World Cup. They tell us that to this day ... People remember our team because we lost, not won. But nobody tried to copy Italy, the pragmatic team which lifted the World Cup. The beautiful team, with the art and creativity, lost."