Solomon's Mindfield

Sanum's report from Sounds Like Freedom

2012-01-07T05:15:00.001Z

So, for my first blog post of the year Sanum Ghafoor gives us a fantastic overview of last year. She dun 'alf go on, in the most entertaining and humerous way. This video is a report from the Sounds Like Freedom event put on by our friends Philosophy Football. Keep them coming guys...

Organisation requires skill & vice versa...

2011-11-26T09:59:00.001Z

Lenin as a Midfield General?

via Philosophy Football

"For those who desire not simply an aimless skipping from instance to instance, an integral central movement will take us forward towards a great goal."
- Lenin

The Agrarian Question and 'The Critics of Marx' might not be the most obvious place to find the tactical masterplan to re-organise a midfield drifting into non-activity. An early proponent of route one, Lenin's team kept their eyes on one step forwards, not too many backwards, towards the other lot's six-yard box.

Leninist football rejects the appeal of a talented but disorderly squad in favour of the centrality of class upfront. Never mind United, Philosophy Football's latest T- shirt features the one, only and original 'Red Army', preparing to conquer all opposition.

Available from HERE

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Counterfire national members and supporters meeting: Confronting the crisis

2011-11-16T14:27:00.001Z

07730 612105

Saturday December 3rd, 1-5pm,
Marchmont Community Centre
62 Marchmont Street

London WC1N 1AB

Crisis in Europe - threats against Iran - the occupy movement - November 30 strikes and protests,
This is the most challenging and exciting time for the movement in decades.

Counterfire is holding this meeting to assess the situation post N30 and discuss next steps.
The agenda will include:
1) The crisis and the movement
2) Taking Counterfire forward

We need as many members and supporters from all parts of the country to participate to get a real picture of the state of the movement after N30 and to discuss what has worked and what hasn't for Counterfire locally.

Come and join the discussion. If you book transport now you will save money.

Phone Jo on 07730 612 105 or email jo@counterfire.org to register and for more info

Wall Street is War Street: the protests go global

2011-10-17T00:25:00.001+01:00

STOP THE WAR COALITION

> 16 October 2011
> Email office@stopwar.org.uk
> Tel: 020 7801 2768
> Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition
>
> IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
> 1) WALL STREET IS WAR STREET: THE PROTESTS GO GLOBAL
> 2) FILM, VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF THE ANTI-WAR ASSEMBLY
>
> *********************************
> 1) WALL STREET IS WAR STREET: THE PROTESTS GO GLOBAL
>
> The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests this weekend have spread
> worldwide taking in 1000 towns and cities in 80 countries. We
> could be witnessing the start of a global movement on a scale we
> haven't seen since tens of millions went on to the streets in
> 2003 to oppose the Iraq war.
>
> At the heart of the US Occupy Wall Street demands is the call to
> cut the war machine (SEE http://bit.ly/qDXOFP) which has consumed
> over a trillion dollars in the past ten years and is currently
> fighting wars in seven countries - Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan,
> Libya, Somalia, Yemen and - the latest addition - Uganda, where
> Obama has just deployed US troops. (SEE http://bit.ly/r1e0yu)
>
> If the "war on terror" is included - the latest instalment of
> which is the ludicrous Iranian "plot", the war-addicted Barack
> Obama - holder of the Nobel Peace Prize - is currently waging
> eight wars. (SEE http://bit.ly/nEArmP)
>
> We need to make the cost of the UK war machine integral to the
> OWS movement here, which has begun so impressively this weekend
> with Occupy the London Stock Exchange.
>
> This year alone Britain is spending £9 billion on the wars in
> Afghanistan and Libya and on the maintenance of the Trident
> nuclear missile system. Recent Stop the War articles have shown
> how this money could be used to fund public services, rather than
> the government's current policy of decimating them. (SEE
> http://bit.ly/qxLqXO AND http://bit.ly/odNXt3)
>
> *********************************
> 2) FILM, VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF THE ANTI-WAR ASSEMBLY
>
> Stop the War has been flooded with positive comments about the
> Anti-War Assembly in Trafalgar Square on 8 October - more than
> we've had for any event for years. These are typical of the
> responses:
>
> "Great day! What a great feeling to be amongst so many people who
> feel so passionate about this issue. And what an outstanding list
> of speakers and performers!" - Sean Murphy.
>
> "Amazing day! I loved how everyone came together through
> creativity, through music, art and poetry...it was beautiful!" -
> Madeleine McCabe
>
> We have now posted a 45 minute TV film of the event, which
> captures the spirit and inspiration of the day, including the
> march to Downing Street at the end of the Assembly, led by
> 106-year-old Hetty Bower, which blockaded David Cameron's
> official residence. (SEE http://bit.ly/pYJ6Pb)
>
> Also on the Stop the War website are videos of the speeches by
> John Pilger, George Galloway, Brian Eno and many more. (SEE
> http://bit.ly/pC0CYW)
>
> We have begun creating picture galleries for the hundreds of
> photographs we have been sent of the event. (SEE
> http://bit.ly/pe08yk AND http://bit.ly/qJv6ZH). More to follow
> soon.
>
> Many thanks to all the speakers, filmmakers, actors, musicians
> and artists who made the Antiwar Assembly in Trafalgar Square on
> 8 October such a success.

Clare's livestream from #occupylsx on my Qik

2011-10-16T16:42:00.001+01:00

[embed]http://qik.com/claresolomon[/embed]

Feel free to embed. Live link up from New York coming soon.

#occupylsx livestream and liveblog

2011-10-16T13:23:00.004+01:00

Liveblog HERE

Watch live streaming video from counterfire at livestream.com

Noam Chomsky: Join us in Trafalgar Square on 8 October

2011-10-06T15:04:00.001+01:00

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
> 1) NOAM CHOMSKY: JOIN US IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE ON 8 OCTOBER
> 2) WHY UN COMPOSER PLAYS AT ANTIWAR ASSEMBLY
> 3) STOP THE WAR BRIEFING ON CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN
> 4) PLEASE KEEP DONATING
>
> ****************************************
> 1) NOAM CHOMSKY: JOIN US IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE ON 8 OCTOBER
>
> The Antiwar Mass Assembly on Saturday continues to attract high
> profile pledges, the latest from Noam Chomsky and others who have
> issued the following statement:
>
> After 10 years of war in Afghanistan, more than 100,000 Nato
> troops remain and tens of thousands have died. Government claims
> that the war is contributing to Britain's stability look
> increasingly hollow. Opinion polls suggest the majority of
> Britons want a speedy withdrawal of British troops, a view
> recently endorsed by the trade unions. Politicians have to get in
> step with public opinion and announce a date to bring troops
> home. We will be attending the mass anti-war assembly this
> Saturday 8 October in Trafalgar Square. We urge you to join us.
>
> * To see the full list of those attending, go to:
> http://bit.ly/pBlNMI
> * To see the provisional timetable for the day, go to:
> http://bit.ly/o10L6p
>
> This is clearly going to be a memorable day. It will end with a
> march to Downing Street, led by ex-soldiers and military
> families, to demand that the government bring the troops home
> from Afghanistan now.
>
> Please do all you can in the days remaining to spread the word
> and encourage as many people as possible to join us.
>
> ANTIWAR MASS ASSEMBLY
> 8 OCTOBER 12 NOON - 4PM
> TRAFALGAR SQUARE LONDON
> See http://bit.ly/o10L6p
>
> ****************************************
> 2) WHY UN COMPOSER PLAYS AT ANTIWAR ASSEMBLY
>
> The world-renowned composer Howard Blake, whose compositions
> range from the huge hit "I'm Walking in the Air", from the
> classic film The Snowman, to his composition titled "Charter for
> Peace" commissioned by the United Nations for the 50th
> anniversary of its founding, which was first performed in 1995
> before the Queen, prime minister John Major, and a host of
> dignitaries.
>
> Howard Blake was so outraged by the United Nations' resolutions
> in March this year -- when it gave the US and NATO cover for
> going to war with Libya -- that he has withdrawn the "Charter for
> Peace" from his catalogue, saying:
>
> "The UN resolutions taken over Libya leading up to its invasion
> on March 19th 2011 violated [its] principles and the work is
> withdrawn from the catalogue, since to say that the organisation
> carries out a 'charter for peace' is no longer anything but a
> mockery of its formerly professed beliefs." SEE
> http://bit.ly/nTKN6G
>
> It is for this reason that Howard Blake has offered to play his
> most famous composition "I'm Walking in the Air" at Saturday's
> Antiwar Assembly in Trafalgar Square. Stop the War very much
> welcomes his decision to join us.
>
> ****************************************
> 3) STOP THE WAR BRIEFING ON CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN
>
> Six percent of babies die at birth and 25 percent before their
> 5th birthday. Conflict and political violence force millions of
> children and their families to flee their homes.
>
> A child's basic right to life and development is seriously
> compromised by growing up in the context of war and occupation.
>
> Afghanistan has become the very worst place on earth to give
> birth to or raise a child.
>
> A new briefing, written for Stop the War by Lisa Davis, director
> of Rights International, with a conclusion by US author and
> activist David Swanson, is available on the Stop the War website.
>
> * For a summary of The Children of Afghanistan, go here:
> http://bit.ly/rdZdLZ
> * To download the full report, go here:
> http://tinyurl.com/5s69xhm
>
> ****************************************
> 4) PLEASE KEEP DONATING
>
> Many thanks to everyone who has donated to our financial appeal
> to cover the costs of the Antiwar Assembly on Saturday. Your
> contributions have helped enormously.
>
> However, we still need to raise more to ensure that we are not
> left with a debt after Saturday, which would hinder the future
> activities we are already planning.
>
> If you have not contributed, please consider giving a donation
> now. Details of the various methods for donating are here:
> http://bit.ly/n0eEh2
>
> If you would prefer to make your contribution by becoming a
> national member of Stop the War, you can do that here:
> http://bit.ly/k0tBVk
>
> ****************************************
> --
> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank e-mail to stwc-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net

Book launch: People Demand. Out now

2011-09-26T07:23:00.001+01:00

'The People Demand: a short history of the Arab revolutions' - video trailer

Posted: 25 Sep 2011 01:43 PM PDT

28 September: London book launch - details HERE

12 October: Newcastle book launch - details HERE

Read an extract and buy the book HERE

Trailer by Elly Badcock

Book and/or donate to 1st Oct Coalition of Resistance conference

2011-09-23T17:34:00.001+01:00

Coalition of Resistance Against Cuts & Privatisation | 28 | September 5th

Bookings are coming in fast now from across Britain and Europe. Next Saturday is set to be an exciting day! Make sure you have booked your place - click here to register

An urgent appeal from the Coalition of Resistance

Dear supporter,

As you may already be aware, Coalition of Resistance has initiated an important European wide conference to help co-ordinate the resistance to austerity on a mass, global scale taking place on October 1st in London.

The conference is costing in excess of £10,000 and we need to raise this money through our supporters.

How you can help:

1) Book your place for the conference now. Click here to book online
or send a cheque for £5 waged / £3 unwaged / £10 rep. from organisation to Europe Against Austerity, Coalition of Resistance, Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX
We wan't everyone to register in advance as ticket money will help towards the cost of the conference.

2) Donate to the Conference. Click here to make a donation online
or send a cheque to Europe Against Austerity, Coalition of Resistance, Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX

Thank you for your continued support and see you on the 1st October,

Andrew Burgin
Secretary, Coaliton of Resistance

EUROPE AGAINST
AUSTERITY CONFERENCE

Saturday 1st October, London

Should Greece default?
Has the euro got a future?
Is there an alternative to cuts?
Are we facing 'double dip' recession?

As the European economic crisis worsens and ordinary people are made to pay, hear what the left parties and campaigns across Europe have to say. Take the opportunity to be part of the debate: join us to discuss alternatives and action for change.

Speakers include: Jeremy Corbyn MP; Unite; NUJ; Pierre Laurent, Party of the European Left; Sevim Dagdelen MP Die Linke; Sinn Fein; Olivier Besancenot NPA; Annick Coupe Solidaires, France; Max Banc Attac Germany; Piero Bernocchi COBAS, Italy; Prof Costas Lapavitsas, SOAS; Marisa Matias MEP, Left Bloc, Portugal

Registration: £5 waged / £3 unwaged / £10 delegates from organisations

More info from www.europeagainstausterity.org / coalitionofresistance@gmail.com / +44(0)7939 242229

Conference initiated by Coalition of Resistance.

See here for a list of supporting organisations.

Our mailing address is:

Coalition of Resistance

Coalition of Resistance, c/o Housman's Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road

London, London N1 9DX

Add us to your address book

TWEETS NOT WAR: LEARNING FROM THE ARAB SPRING

2011-09-21T00:16:00.001+01:00

ANTI-WAR SPEAKOUT/TWEETOUT
7:30PM UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNION
MALET STREET LONDON WC1E 7HY
For more details, see: http://bit.ly/n9X9qz

Whether you attend the Antiwar SpeakOut/TweetOut in person in
London, or you watch the live stream on the Stop the War website,
this is an event not to be missed.

You will see poets, rappers and spoken word artists (see below)
performing at a Twitter convention in which everyone can
participate.

Don't worry if you are not a Twitter user yet. This will be an
event in which you can learn how it works and why it has become
such an important tool for activists and campaigners, not least
as was shown in the Arab Spring uprisings. It is today enabling
instant eyewitness reports of the brutal crackdown on the Yemen
democracy movement.

Stop the War has taken the idea of a TweetOut from the Egyptian
democracy movement, which used them to spread the word about
their protests.

As well as enjoying the brilliant cast of spoken word artists
performing for Stop the War, the aim will be to publicise as
widely as possible in the Twittersphere the Antiwar Mass Assembly
in Trafalgar Square on 8 October, marking the tenth anniversary
of the war in Afghanistan.

If you're coming to the SpeakOt/TweetOut in person, come armed
with your mobile! Or your laptop, if you want to be really
ambitious (there will be a WiFi link).

If you're not a Twitter user yet, you will be able to text your
messages which Stop the War will turn instantly into tweets for
display on the Tweet Screen and publish directly to Twitter.

The performers in the SpeakOut include author Michael Rosen, who
was until recently the Children's Poet Laureate, poets Michael
Horowitz, Michael Powell and Sanasino Al-Yemen, rapper Jimmy
Jitsu, and many more.

Twitter users at the event, and those following it on the live
stream, are asked to use the hashtag #8oct (non Twitter users
will learn what a hashtag is on the night!).

Tweeters will also be reacting to the spoken word artists,
whether watching them in the audience or the live stream, and
instantly communicating with their Twitter followers about the
performances.

The aim is to make SpeakOut/TweetOut as interactive as possible
and as much a collective event as we can. Join us in person if
you live in London, or online if you don't.

ANTI-WAR SPEAKOUT/TWEETOUT
7:30PM UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNION
MALET STREET LONDON WC1E 7HY
For more details, see: http://bit.ly/n9X9qz

TUC votes to reaffirm support of Palestine

2011-09-15T12:44:00.001+01:00

Lots of good stuff coming out of the TUC this week...

The Trades Union Congress voted on Wednesday to reaffirm its work with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to actively encourage affiliates, employers and pension funds to disinvest from, and boycott the goods of, companies who profit from illegal settlements, the Occupation and the construction of the Wall'.

The new policy also 'calls on all unions on the basis of this policy to review their bi-lateral relations with all Israeli organisations, including Histadrut'. To read a full report click here, to find out more about trade union support for PSC at this year's TUC read here.

TUC statement on pensions

2011-09-15T07:07:00.001+01:00

embargo: For immediate release

The TUC's public service unions met urgently today after the conclusion of the TUC's annual Congress to receive a report on the most recent round of negotiations with the government on public service pensions and to consider the next steps in their united campaign to defend decent pensions for millions of public services workers as part of their battle for decent pensions for all.

The TUC and unions are committed to continuing the talks with the government, and with the relevant employers in each of the separate major public service pensions schemes, but the government is urged to bring new proposals to the table urgently to make progress possible. Today's meeting also agreed, however, given the failure of the government to engage properly in the negotiations, to step up the campaign and to hold a first day of action on Wednesday 30 November.

Each union has been asked to consider taking what they judge to be the most appropriate form of action possible to show their support for this united campaign.

This would range from strike action, where ballot mandates have been secured from members and unions judge that appropriate, through to lunchtime meetings, rallies and joint events with community groups and service users. The intention will be to take the call for pensions justice for both public and private sector workers to every corner of the land on that day in the biggest trade union mobilisation in a generation.

Further consideration is being given to what further action may be appropriate beyond the day of action if progress towards a settlement is not secured.

A further meeting will be held before the end of September to receive reports from unions on plans being made.

This call reflects the huge anger of public service workers over the threat to their pensions and the deep frustration over difficulties of securing government engagement in meaningful negotiations. This planned day of action will be an unprecedented coming together of the whole public service workforce and the communities they serve in a united demand for pensions justice.

The TUC and unions remain absolutely committed, in good faith, to seeking a fair negotiated settlement of this dispute so that this action will not be necessary. But the government needs to understand the strength of unions' resolve reflected in today's decision.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E:rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

Press release (500 words) issued 14 Sep 2011

Fab Fernando's Kitchen at Philosophy Football event.

2011-09-09T15:56:00.000+01:00

For the third year running Philosophy Football is organising a party for the TUC as part of the World Day for Decent Work. This year the evening is headlined by the sublime comedy of Isy Suttie , best-known as Dobby in Channel 4's Peep Show. Plus Llewella Gideon performing her brilliant one-woman show, Little Big Woman. And closing the night a musical fusion of Flamenco, Latin and North African beats from Fernando's KItchen to get you up and dancing. Plus a DJ set by Melstars:Music filling the dancefloor into the early hours.

As always our ambition is to provide a night to mix entertainment and ideas. With contributions from Owen Jones, author of Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class; Sarah Veale, Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC; Danny Dorling, author of So You Think You Know About Britain ; and Rebecca Asher, author of Shattered: Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality. A panel guaranteed to get you thinking!

FRIDAY 7 October. At the New Red Lion, 271 City Road in Islington, one of London's premier theatre pubs.

Booking opened last week and the first couple of rows are sold already so don't delay! Book your tickets at > http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=493

Or call 01273 472 721

Mark

War? Not up my tweet.

2011-09-06T17:17:00.001+01:00

Very glad to be asked to participate in this fab event. Copied from our friends in Egypt, what an exciting sounding project. Hope to see you there too.
=================

This brand new, exciting Stop The War project is to raise awareness of the Anti-War Assembly on 8 October in Trafalgar Sq and, hopefully, get it 'trending' on twitter. Remember to bring your smart phones.

Hosted by Clare Solomon this fun-packed evening includes poetry and spoken word by Michael Rosen Michael Horowitz and Sanasino Al-Yemen, 140-second special tweet appearances by Laurie Penny, Sanum Ghafoor & Owen Jones, MC's Jimmy Jitzu & Raggo Zulu Rebel, live link-ups with Joe Glenton and others, and much much more.

All acts will be live tweeted and projected on a large Twitter Wall.

**Please can you also publicize the event on your blogs, Facebook walls and, of course, Twitter** And you can also set up your twitter to feed directly to Facebook using Selective Tweets: http://www.facebook.com/selectivetwitter

Suggested donation of £3/£5 to go towards the costs of the Assembly.

If you can't make it you can still participate on the night by simply tweeting at the same time using the hashtag #StWOct8Assembly anytime between 7.30-10pm on 22 September.

Line up so far:

Micheal Rosen
Micheal Horovitz
Owen Jones
Laurie Penny
Sanum Ghafoor
Sanasino Al-Yemen
Jimmy Jitsu
Raggo Zulu Rebel
Black Snow
Nekz Mc
Ed Greens
Alan Morrison
Celia Mitchell
Martin Powell
Clare Saponia...more to come.

========================================

The assembly on 8 October has been organised to mark the 10 year anniversary on the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan and the injustice of Palestine, and now of course Libya. The event will be a rallying call against the injustices of the war, from Guantanamo Bay to arms sales around the world, and a chance to show the creative richness of all those campaigning for peace.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=236491009695617

Historic Ft. Lewis speak out brings together active-duty soldiers, veterans and military families

2011-08-30T13:21:00.001+01:00

Subscribe Forward this email Donate
Historic Ft. Lewis speak out brings together active-duty soldiers, veterans and military families
Movement to stop soldier suicides and wars abroad gains momentum
SSG Kevin Baker speaks about organizing inside the barracks after Sgt. Kirkland's suicide. (Photos: Steve Fetbrandt)
This report is from March Forward!, an organization of veterans, service members and military families that is leading the struggle in the United States to expose the military's criminal mental health care system and to stop U.S. wars. March Forward! is an affiliate of the ANSWER Coalition.

March Forward! veterans organized a historic speak out at Ft. Lewis Army base in Washington state on Aug. 12. The event, organized in less than one week's time, built upon the hard work that March Forward! has carried out over the past year.

The main goal of the speak out was to challenge the U.S. military's criminal treatment of troops with PTSD—and to accuse the command at Fort Lewis of murder.

Iraq war veterans traveled all the way from Los Angeles, and linked up with March Forward! members at Ft. Lewis on Aug. 7. We began to prepare for the speak out by continuing the campaign for justice for a fellow soldier, Sgt. Derrick Kirkland, but our efforts turned into much more.

'Justice for Sgt. Kirkland'

Since March 2010, March Forward! has rallied around the case of Sgt. Kirkland, a two-time Iraq war veteran and infantryman at Ft. Lewis who was rated a "low risk" for suicide after three suicide attempts and pleas for help. He hanged himself after being denied any meaningful treatment, and being publicly humiliated by his superiors for seeking help.

Active-duty March Forward! members in Sgt. Kirkland's unit, who served with him in Iraq, witnessed the treatment he received, and were in the barracks when he lost his life, began organizing against their own command and the mental health care system at Ft. Lewis.

The Aug. 12 speak out outside Ft. Lewis was a culmination of this work. Sgt. Kirkland's mother, his fellow soldiers, and other veterans organized this public event to draw attention to the suicide epidemic, challenge the military brass, and give a voice to the thousands of veterans and their families suffering because of the wars and the mental health care crisis.

Organizing the speak out

Spending less than a week organizing outside Ft. Lewis, scores of active-duty troops and recent veterans were brought into the anti-war struggle.

Word got out quickly about the exciting work being done. March Forward! held a press conference announcing the speak out, which was covered widely in the local media. It became a top story on the evening news. One local TV station reported "Soldier's suicide sparks campaign for change."

With in the first few days, we met a diverse group of soldiers. Immediately, their responses to the Kirkland campaign were overwhelmingly positive. Every single soldier spoke in complete unison about the broken mental health care system, as well as being fed up with deployments. They all expressed distrust with their chain of command, and highlighted the fact that these wars were and are not worth loosing their lives over. Each soldier expressed that, before meeting March Forward! members, they had no idea organizations like this existed. They were eager to get active.

'Justice for Staff Sergeant Hagemann'

March Forward! members and new recruits covered the surrounding area with flyers and posters for the speak out. One of those flyers made it into the hands of Ashley Hagemann, a 26-year-old mother of two, whose husband had just lost his life to suicide weeks before.

Ashley Hagemann (center) and Mary Corkhill (right), speak about the mistreatment their loved ones received before their suicides.
Her late husband, Staff Sergeant Jared Hagemann, was in 2/75 Ranger Regiment at Ft. Lewis. He had been on eight combat tours, with a ninth on the horizon. After each deployment, he sought help for PTSD. He was rejected each time. By the time his eighth deployment was complete, he was desperate to never to go again. Despite his pleas to the military for help, he was told he had no choice. According to his widow, Ashley, Jared felt had no other option but suicide. He died of a gunshot wound to the head on June 28, 2011. He was one of a shocking 11 suicides in just a few months at Ft. Lewis.

But like Sgt. Kirkland's case, this suicide became much more than just another number. Finding other military families, joined with soldiers and veterans, gave Ashley a vehicle to fight back, expose those responsible, and join the movement for change that brought so many together at Ft. Lewis in the first place.

March Forward! made this happen. We exposed the case of SSG Hagemann through the media attention already generated around our work on the Sgt. Kirkland campaign. SSG Jared Hagemann's tragic death quickly became a national story. Click here to watch the first story breaking the case.

March Forward! has just launched a nationwide campaign around SSG Hageman's case. Please sign the petition to demand justice for SSG Jared Hagemann and forward it widely.

'The Army is guilty of murder'

The March Forward!-organized speak out was held Aug. 12 at Coffee Strong, a veteran-run, anti-war coffeehouse just outside Ft. Lewis. It was the first event of its kind--active-duty troops, veterans and military families banding together to exert direct pressure on the military brass--since the current U.S. war drive began in 2001; and at a crucial time, with the Army reavealing on Aug. 13 that July yielded the most suicides ever in a single month.

Over 80 active-duty soldiers, veterans, military families, and community members turned out to the event. People traveled from all over the Seattle-Tacoma area to attend, including several from as far as Portland, Ore. Several veteran political activists in the crowd told March Forward!: "This is the best political event, we have ever attended."

The panel itself included Mary Corkhill, Sgt. Kirkland's mother, Ashley Hagemann and five members of March Forward!, including members of Sgt. Kirkland's unit, Iraq war veterans and an active-duty soldier stationed at Ft. Lewis. Each told their own personal stories, and each condemned the Army and the U.S. government for throwing away the lives of so many service members.

Ryan Endicott, a former Marine Corps infantryman who served in Iraq and March Forward! organizer, put the mental health crisis in context: "There is now an epidemic of suicides in the military. For the last two years, more soldiers have died from suicide than from combat. This is a staggering number. This is a major crisis. Something is very wrong. … And if this is such a crisis for U.S. troops, imagine the rate of post traumatic stress disorder among the people of Iraq and Afghanistan."

Spc. Joseph Chroniger and Cpl. Ryan Endicott speak about the broken mental health care system in the military.
Iraq war veteran and March Forward! co-founder Mike Prysner chaired the event: "It is our assertion here tonight, that Sgt. Kirkland and SSG Hagemann did not kill themselves, that they were killed by the Army. They were killed by the Army's criminally inadequate mental health care services, and by the chain of command. … Drastic change in needed. And we must be the vehicle for that change to happen."

Mary Corkhill traveled from her home in Indiana to participate in the speak out. "Thank you all for honoring my son by being here. It really, really means a lot to me to know that you guys care." She went on to describe the long list of deceptions and evasions that have characterized her dealings with the Army over her son's death, including false claims that he died in combat and that the grieving family did not wish to speak with the media.

Fellow soldiers of Sgt. Kirkland exposed their eyewitness accounts of his treatment. A soldier who served in Iraq with Sgt. Kirkland, Joseph Chroniger, said, "They did nothing to help Kirkland, as far as I'm concerned the Army killed my friend."

Ashley Hagemann gave gripping testimony about here husband's struggle to get help: "People mocked him. They judged him. They told him to 'man up. Take a sleeping pill. You're fine. It's all in your head.' No, it wasn't. … The only thing he had control of was how he ended his own life. For that I blame his chain of command." Sign the petition demanding justice for SSG Jared Hagemann.

Another of Sgt. Kirkland's fellow soldiers, Staff Sergeant Kevin Baker, said, "The fact that we are being sent over and over to wars we have no reason to fight, then treated so carelessly when we get home, shows that enlisted soldiers have the right to organize internally, within the military, in our interests."

Specialist Danny Birmingham, an active-duty soldier on Ft. Lewis, pointed the way forward for active-duty troops. Birmingham recently returned from Iraq, and has set the example to other troops by taking a stand and exercising his right to refuse to take part in these unpopular wars, and became a conscientious objector. "A lot of people that resort to suicide feel that there is no other way out. Being a conscientious objector is an alternative way out. Obviously the military doesn't want people to know this. Well, I'm going to tell them."

It was a diverse array of speakers, all accusing the military of murder, and calling on others to join the growing movement of veterans and their families to hold the U.S. government accountable.

The event literally brought the issue of soldier suicides to the military's doorstep. March Forward! made this happen.

March Forward! was able to show that the military is incapable of handling the crisis that it has created, and the only real way to make change is through the rank-and-file, along with military families.

The speak out and organizing effort at Ft. Lewis was a major step in building the movement for change. We are now planning for more such events in the months ahead.

This historic speak out was made possible by the support of people like you. Please donate to help this important project to expose the military's criminal mental health care system and to stop the wars. We urge you to make a generous donation today.

A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
http://www.AnswerCoalition.org/
info@AnswerCoalition.org
National Office in Washington DC: 202-265-1948
Boston: 857-334-5084 | New York City: 212-694-8720 | Chicago: 773-463-0311
San Francisco: 415-821-6545| Los Angeles: 213-251-1025 | Albuquerque: 505-268-2488

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The Autumn of Resistance

2011-08-23T11:15:00.001+01:00

London bulletin
07730 612105

The Autumn of Resistance is fast approaching. The riots showed there is an anger in this country that needs to be directed. The new student term will bring in a layer of activists, and in October the European conference and anti-war mass assembly will take place. We are calling on Counterfire members to prepare for these events now:

London fresher's Planning Meeting
Monday 5th September
6pm
ULU, Malet Street

The student protests of last year saw thousands on the streets, with anti-cuts events and the Arab revolutions highlighting an increased political awareness and the potential for radical political action. Counterfire is planning to have as wide a reach as possible within student politics from the start of the new academic year, with stalls at Fresher's fairs across the country. In London we will hold a Fresher's planning meeting to prepare for this. If you are a returning student, new student or are able to help during this period do prioritise this meeting. In the meantime, if you are able to help during the Fresher's period then reply to this email with details of the dates you are available.

Europe Against Austerity Conference
1 October
10am-5pm, Camden Centre, London, WC1 9AU

The Europe Against Austerity Conference on 1 October could is a starting point for a Europe wide fight against Austerity. The potential for co-ordinated action will depend on the number and breadth of those attending. Hundreds of European delegates from a variety of organisations have already registered. Here in the UK we need to ensure there is a broad representation of activists booked- therefore we are asking all Counterfire members to register for the conference now and to contact anti-cuts activists and groups to get them to do the same. To register click on the link: http://www.europeagainstausterity.org/

Locally regular CoR stalls and leafleting sessions should take place. If you need help with this please get in contact.

Anti-war mass Assembly
Saturday 8 October
Trafalgar Square
12 noon

The anti-war mass assembly will take place on the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. A mass turn out in Trafalgar Square on 8 October will send a message to MPs and the government that it's time to go. Sign the pledge and spread the word- involve yourself in local STW activity and encourage meetings and leafleting sessions to take place.

Recent events in Liyba show we have to demand the NATO forces get out. Read John Rees' current article on the situation: http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/51/14504

Anti-EDL Demonstration
3rd September
11am Weavers Field
Tower Hamlets

The Anti-EDL no place for hate demonstration is an important event in combating Islamophobia and showing the strength of people opposed to the EDL and racism. Counterfire members to across London should take part in this demonstration. If you attending please reply to this email so that we can organise activity on the day.

Counterforum: The working class ain't what it used to be
Thursday 25th August,
6.30pm,
Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road (nearest tube: King's Cross)

This is the fifth in a series of theoretical forums hosted by Counterfire to discuss the changing nature of the working class. With:
Owen Jones- author of Chavs: The demonization of the working class
Dan Poulton- writer and producer
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216233048425876

Libya-What next?

2011-08-23T09:39:00.001+01:00

Libya - what next?

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 04:15 AM PDT

John Rees on Libya:

'There will be no tears for the end of the Gaddafi regime if that is indeed what we are watching. The Gaddafi regime was a brutal dictatorship and it deserved to be overthrown just as much as that of Ben Ali's in Tunisia or Mubarak's in Egypt. But, unlike the defeat of Ben Ali or Mubarak, the end of Gaddafi has not been brought about mainly by a popular revolutionary rising. It has been brought about by a military victory in a civil war in which the rebel side has become largely dependent on western military fire power.

So the question now posed is this: in whose interest will the new rulers of Libya act? NATO is already saying that it will work with the Transitional National Council. This, more of a threat than a promise, should be no surprise. The point of the western intervention in Libya was to gain a foothold in the fast moving Arab revolutions and to create a compliant regime by making it militarily and economically dependent on the west in a way in which, say, the Tunisian UGTT or the Youth Coalitions of Egypt could never be said to be.

So the major powers will be looking for payback. They will want an Arab regime which is a home for western military bases. They will want a regime that is supportive of Israel (and the TNC has already made supportive statements in favour of the 'war on terror'). And they will want a Libya that is safe for BP, Shell and other western corporations, whether from the oil industry or elsewhere.'

Read in full HERE.

Share

A Narrative of Unrest-who's going to this?

2011-08-16T10:18:00.000+01:00

Student protesters declare victory as Glasgow University sit-in ends

2011-08-16T10:15:00.002+01:00

Please congratulate them HERE. If you send to me too I'll add some of your comments to a post on our site. Ta. x

by T la Palli on August 15, 2011

Students at the University of Glasgow sit-in are celebrating this week after Principal Anton Muscatelli conceded defeat in his attempt to impose swingeing cuts on the University.The u-turn comes after six months of pressure exerted by students occupying the Free Hetherington led to concessions ensuring a new postgraduate club, no further cuts to courses and no compulsory redundancies at the University.
As part of the deal secured by the Free Hetherington occupation, students will be able to quiz Principal Muscatelli directly in a mass open meeting in October over the lack of perceived transparency of management decisions at the University.
In exchange the students will end their six-month sit-in at 13 University Gardens to allow management to convert the former postgraduate club into lecturing space.
Students say they are enthusiastic about the outcome:
"Six months after management refused to engage with us, we've finally won these demands. Direct action and direct democracy work – we've proved that and management have accepted it, which in itself is a huge achievement." - James Humphries, 24, postgraduate student in Philosophy.
They were keen to emphasise that the end of the occupation does not spell the end for activism on campus:
"While we've achieved a lot on campus this year the fight absolutely does not end here. We will continue our campaign against tuition fees and ensure management keep their end of the bargain. We will be back" - Laura Jones, 24, student in History of Art.
On 1st February 2011, a group of students entered the disused former Hetherington Research Club on campus and pledged to remain in the building until their demands, which included no course cuts and the reopening the postgraduate club, were met. In the past six months, a large body of students and staff have continually kept up pressure.
For almost two-hundred days the students have been sleeping, studying and campaigning in the former postgraduate club. Their efforts have received international acclaim and attracted visits from celebrities including director Ken Loach, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg and Scottish Makar Liz Lochhead. A packed schedule of events, lectures and workshops has made the Free Hetherington a focal point on campus for thousands of students and members of the local community.
As the longest-running student occupation in UK history, the Free Hetherington has become a lasting symbol of the wave of anti-tuition fees protests and occupations that swept the country in December 2010.
Students will bring the occupation to a conclusion around the end of August. A spokesperson for the occupation said the date would be announced in due course.
Interested media should contact glasgowoccupation@gmail.com.
A bullet point version of the agreement is available. A finalized version is being confirmed with management. In short:
The Agreement
1. No more course cuts.
2. No compulsory redundancies.
3. A new postgraduate club, to be opened in the next year.
4. No cuts for student services, a guarantee of transparency with the SRC (Student Representative Council).
5. A public meeting with the principal Anton Muscatelli, where students and staff may address their worries.
6. No repercussions from the University for staff or students involved in the occupation.
7. An assurance that no information will be volunteered to the police about people involved.

Post riots planning mtg this Thursday at ULU

2011-08-15T11:03:00.003+01:00

Dear CoR supporters,

Please come to the London Activists planning meeting this Thursday.

As riots erupted across Britain, activists need to come together to plan our response to the government's brutal cuts and austerity agenda, an agenda which makes young people pay for a crisis they did not cause, an agenda which gives them no stake in society. As our communities are deprived of jobs, services and access to education, a united response is required.

The Coalition of Resistance is holding a planning meeting for London activists, where we we can bring together ideas for actions, engagement and solidarity, against the brutalisation of young people by the police and government.

Date: Thursday 18 August

Time: 6.30-8pm

Place: Room 3A ULU (University of London Union), Malet St, London, WC1.

Please forward this email and here's the facebook group for you to invite friends: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147869565296694

Wanted

2011-08-12T18:05:00.000+01:00

Give Our Kids a Future! A North London Unity Demonstration

2011-08-12T11:30:00.002+01:00

http://hackneyalliance.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/give-our-kids-a-chance-north-london-unity-march-saturday-13th-august-1pm-gillet-square-dalston/

This march is called by The North London Assembly, a temporary Assembly which saw 70 local community activists meet at the North London Community House on Tuesday 9th August to discuss our reaction to the riots of early August in Tottenham and Hackney. It includes people from many Turkish and Kurdish community groups, like Day Mer and Gik Der, and also the Haringay and Hackney Alliances for Public Services who are all supporting this march.
We state that this is not us seeking to represent the community but it is our attempt to try to bring unity to the community in which we live. There are many different views on the events but we are seeking the most positive outcome from them.
This will be a positive and peaceful march with an Assembly at the end for people to express what they are thinking about recent events

ONLY CLICK ATTENDING IF ATTENDING PLEASE

Statement 10/8/2011

A North London Unity Demonstration

Saturday 13th August
Assemble Gillet Square, Dalston, N16 at 1pm. March to Tottenham Green, N15

Our communities need a united response to both the riots and the causes of despair and frustration that can result in riots.

We demand:
• A CULTURE OF VALUING, NOT DEMONISING YOUTH AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.
• SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE RIOTING, INCLUDING THE IMMEDIATE RE-HOUSING OF PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS AS WELL AS GRANTS FOR AFFECTED
SMALL BUSINESSES.
- COMMUNITY LED REGENERATION AND RESTORATION OF DAMAGED AREAS.
• REVERSAL OF ALL CUTS TO YOUTH SERVICES IN OUR BOROUGHS
• NO CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES! INSTEAD, INVESTMENT INTO AND REGENERATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING HOUSING, JOBS, EDUCATION AND SPORTS
FACILITIES.
• AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY INQUIRY INTO POLICING METHODS IN OUR BOROUGHS. AND AN END TO STOP AND SEARCH.
• AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SUPPORT FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARRESTED BY POLICE - YOUNG PEOPLE FACE POTENTIAL SENTENCES THAT WILL AFFECT THEM, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR WIDER COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME.

We are responding to the events of the last few days, in particular the Tottenham protest over the killing of Mark Duggan and the riots that followed in Tottenham and Hackney.

By coming together and calling for unity we want to encourage all sections of our local communities, young and old,
black and white, residents and workers, to work together to find solutions to some of our long-standing problems.

We know there are all kinds of strong feelings and differing views. We do not claim to represent the whole community, but merely seek to promote unity in the communities in which we live.

Simply labelling rioters as opportunistic criminals does little to relieve tensions and provides a poor explanation for the worst riots in decades. While the shooting of Mark Duggan provided the trigger, against a background of oppressive policing, especially towards ethnic minorities, the root causes are deeper.

Our communities have been blighted by high levels of deprivation, poverty and lack of opportunity for decades. Inequality is growing and recent funding cuts to local services, particularly youth facilities, along with rising unemployment, and cuts to EMA and benefits have exacerbated the conditions in which sections of frustrated young people turned to rioting, which unfortunately has resulted in people losing their homes and small/family businesses losing their livelihoods.

Britain is a wealthy country, but the economic crisis created by greedy bankers and financial speculators is further impoverishing already poor areas like Tottenham and Hackney. The £390 billion of combined wealth of the richest 1,000 people in Britain should be redirected to fund the services we all need.

In the last few months we have seen mass local protests against cuts, student occupations to defend free education, half-a-million strong demonstration on March 26, and 800,000 public service workers out on strike on June 30th.

We need to build on these and other inspiring local and national struggles. Let's work together for a decent society, based not on greed, inequality and poor conditions, but on justice, freedom, sharing and co-operation.

North London Unity Demonstration supported by the Haringey Alliance for Public Services, Hackney Alliance for Defending Public Serices, Day-Mer (Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre), NLCH (North London Community Centre), Day-Mer Youth, Alevi Cultural Centre, Fed-Bir, Kurdish Community Centre: Roj Women, Halkevi, Gik-Der (Refugee Workers Cultural Association). Britania Peace Council: Hundred Flowers Cultural Centre. TOHUM. Socialist Party, Youth Fight For Jobs, Right To Work, Red Pepper.

Counterfire recent articles

2011-08-10T10:31:00.001+01:00

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Darcus Howe's Timely Insurrection
09 Aug 2011 10:48 pm

It's not from the reporters and well-heeled media pundits where you can find insight into the London riots, but from the people they are obliged to interview, argue Joe Glenton and Jo Gough.
read more


Politicians - condemning the riots from a different planet
09 Aug 2011 08:06 pm

FE student Amy Addison-Dunne argues that most politicians live in such a different reality, their opinions on the riots can be of little value.
read more


A short history of the London riot
09 Aug 2011 05:39 pm

Politicians and journalists have rushed to blame the riots on 'sheer criminality'. The same cry from the defenders of the status quo has echoed down the centuries after every riot in London.
read more


Theresa May and the Tories: relics without solutions
09 Aug 2011 05:02 pm

The moralistic backlash from the Con-Dems and the media has begun in earnest. Jonathon Shafi takes on the reactionary critics, with reference to a challenging BBC interview with influential commentator Darcus Howe.
read more


Public Meeting: Riots, Recession and Resistance | August 11
09 Aug 2011 12:27 pm

Called by Coalition of Resistance and Black Activists Rise Against the Cuts - What do the recent riots in Britain mean? Why are they happening? What can we do in response? All welcome to come and discuss this and decide on what to do next.
read more


Construction bosses back on the attack
08 Aug 2011 12:25 pm

Two years after construction bosses got a bloody nose when they tried to smash union organisation on major construction sites, they think enough water has passed under the bridge to give it another go. Richard Allday argues they can be
read more


Riots in the Age of Austerity
07 Aug 2011 09:27 pm

Excessive policing in Europe and the United States shows that governments are resorting to ever more coercive measures in order to save their neoliberal project, writes Dan Poulton.
read more


Tottenham: Nothing left to lose
07 Aug 2011 09:02 pm

In the most unequal borough of the UK, young people do not riot just for the fun of it. Poverty and a lack of opportunities are the deeper causes behind the public anger that erupted in Tottenham over the weekend, argues Elly Badcock.
read more


London riots - live blog
07 Aug 2011 03:24 pm

Regularly updated and challenging the portrayal of the London rioting as simply a mass outburst of criminality without any roots in social problems and police harassment.
read more


Superpower downgraded - the global balance of power shifts
07 Aug 2011 01:56 pm

The world's leading economy has had its credit rating reduced as the ability of the US political system to manage the crisis is called into question. James Meadway looks at the implications.
read more


Tottenham Burning – a first hand report of last nights events
07 Aug 2011 01:11 pm

A first hand account of last night's riot in Tottenham by Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
read more


Police killing sparks Tottenham riot
07 Aug 2011 03:32 am

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read more


Panic in the markets as Euro crisis deepens
05 Aug 2011 11:13 am

As fear spreads across the world's stock markets, political leaders offer no real solutions. This might be the end of the Euro in its current form, argues James Meadway.
read more


From Rebellion to Reform in Bolivia
04 Aug 2011 06:47 pm

From Rebellion to Reform in Bolivia is an important contribution to understanding Bolivian politics, critiquing the politics of Evo Morales in an effort to analyse the limitations of his rule and the potential of the social movements that brought him to power.
read more


International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organisation pulls out of Israel
04 Aug 2011 02:19 pm

After extensive lobbying and boycott threats from the UK and around the world, the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organisation has withdrawn its annual conference from Israel.
read more


Will Palestinian statehood bring us closer to freedom for Palestine?
04 Aug 2011 08:13 am

The UN Assembly vote on a Palestinian state is an important issue, but statehood can only be a first step in the struggle for the Palestinians' rights, argue Joseph Daher and Hesham Zakai.
read more


Newcastle Counterforum: The Politics of Resistance | 10 September
03 Aug 2011 06:41 pm

Discuss some of the big issues facing socialists and campaigners today.
read more


Get involved

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Counterfire books

Strategy and tactics: how the left can organise to transform society

By John Rees

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Capitalism and Class Consciousness: the ideas of Georg Lukács

By Chris Nineham

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Eleven Reasons to Resist the Con-Dem Cuts

By Neil Faulkner

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Public Meeting: Riots, Recession, Resistance

2011-08-09T09:35:00.000+01:00

Riots, Recession, Resistance

Speakers:
Lee Jasper, Barac (Black Activists Rising Against Cuts)
Symeon Brown, Youth Worker in Tottenham and SOAS Black Students Officer 2009. See him speakHERE

John McDonnell MP
Andrew Murray, Unite the union

Clare Solomon, Springtime: The New Student Rebellion
Zita Holborne (Black Activists Rising Against Cuts)

Viv Ahmun Black Men in the Community
Josie Fraser mother of Demetre Fraser death in custody
Merlin Emmanuel Smiley Culture

Aaron Kiely NUS BLack Students Committee

More speakers will be added in a while-check back in abit

7pm Thursday 11 August
University of London Union (tbc-check back here later today)
Malet Street, London WC1
(tube: Russell Square, Goodge Street or Euston Square)

Organised by the Coaltion of Resistance and Black Activists Rising Against Cuts

Protest: clean up the press, clean up the police, clean up parliament

2011-07-15T17:26:00.002+01:00

Protest when the Murdochs come to Westminster.

1.30pm, Tuesday 19th July outside Parliament.

Rupert and James Murdoch and Rebecca Brooks are being questioned in Parliament on Tuesday over corruption and criminality at the heart of the British establishment.

Make sure you are there so they know what we think.

Who Runs Britain?: Media & Democracy mtg with Laurie Penny & others. All welcome

2011-07-14T15:31:00.000+01:00

Greek protesters withdraw €€ to crash the banks

2011-06-13T12:54:00.002+01:00

News from the streets in Greece

Hello friends,

I am writing to you as we are experiencing huge demonstrations all over Greece on daily basis for the past week. After our entrance to the IMF, a year or so later people have had enough.

There are daily demonstrations happening in over 60 cities around Greece. Everywhere. In Athens yesterday some 200,000 people surrounded the parliament chanting "Thieves, thieves, thieves" and calling politicians names. They brought rope and hang a dummy representing a politician. Women, children, young, old, from all walks of life have come out with metal pans.

The movement is called "The outraged" and there is a web site and a face book blog created where people are joining and are exchanging ideas and organizing.

The movement is calling for direct democracy, for the IMF loan not to be payed off, for the corrupt politicians to go to jail, for change in the constitution and for the Government to step down. They also are saying they want out of the euro and to go back to our own currency, the drachma. People are starting to take their money out of the bank, effectively creating a "bank run" saying that if the government doesn't default on the IMF loan they will collapse the banking system. There is a call for people to start taking 100-200 euros each day out of their bank account until the government decides to default on the IMF loan, or go bankrupt. Whichever comes first.

There are assemblies happening each night on squares around the cities where people are getting together and talking about a new system using direct democracy. They don't want any political parties and when they see anyone with a flag or a sign from a political party trying to approach the demonstration or to come to the assemblies they turn them away, asking them to come back without any political signage or affiliation.

So far the demonstrations have been very peaceful. The movement has created a security group to police the demonstrations, so no provocateurs can infiltrate and cause problems. There are people camping outside of the parliament 24/7, there are teams created to feed people and teams created for legal support, medical support etc.

So far the people are learning how to self organize and the movement is growing at the speed of light. Just yesterday on the Athens face book there where 90000 people, today there are more than 110000.

People are massively calling TV stations and making their web sites to go down because they are not covering the uprising and/or are misinforming people.

Last night the politicians had to escape from the back entrance of the parliament, at night, through the park where security took them with flash lights because the people had blocked the front entrance. The outpouring of the people was so large, estimated at 200,000 that even the cops were not able to hold them back.

There is no stopping us now. Everyone is talking about change. People who never even talked about politics, are now coming out in an outcry for direct democracy. The government is scared and they don't know what to do. The prime minister has not appeared in days anywhere and has not made any comments.

It is becoming known now that the IMF deal is a big scandal. The agreement has been liked and is online and many constitutional lawyers are going to the streets to inform people of what has really happened. They have forced on us terms that are illegal even under International or European law. They are not allowing us to go to elections. The IMF agreement states that the Greek state cannot go to a Greek court to challenge the agreement and it cannot sale its debt in order to pay it back. We have to go to European courts (from 10-15 different European nations who are the creditors of the loan) and challenge the legality of the loan in each court individually. They, on the other hand, can sale the loan to another country.

They have asked that all political parties in Greece accept the IMF and EU loan as legal and that all political parties sign it, or else we will not get the next payment. That is why they refuse to allow us to go to elections. How can they stop us from having elections in our own country? Well it is a term written in the loan agreement. Yet it is illegal and there is no court in Europe or International that can uphold such term. But our stupid sold out government has no guts.

Our system is parliamentarian, so we have a President of Democracy, who is basically a person voted by all political parties in parliament, and serves as a check and balance in our political system. If he resigns the government gets dissolved as per our constitution. In the past week he has refused to sign anything that has been voted from the Greek parliament and the Government. We hope that he will do what is right and resign. If he doesn't sign an agreement or a law that gets passed in parliament, it doesn't come to effect.

Well, there are tons of things happening. It is crazy how people, especially the youth, has mobilized. Even the church is starting to come out for the protesters, although probably a political move to gain sympathy and approval from the people.

I will write again soon with updates, there are a lot of things happening and I cannot even begin to start elaborating on them. This same movement is also going on in Portugal for the past 3 weeks, in Spain for the past 2 weeks, and in Greece for a week now. It is spreading now in France, Italy, England and other countries. Last
Sunday it happened all across Europe in dozens of European cities.

Millions of people came out on the streets and is now been organized for the entire Europe.

This coming Sunday there will be a huge protest outside of the Greek parliament where protesters will come from all over Greece. Look for the government to possibly come out or escape via helicopters, like in Argentina.

OUT OF THE IMF, EURO AND THE EU NOW.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY NOW!!!
lots of love and peace

Spanish Revolution Storify...to be updated regularly

2011-05-26T16:54:00.002+01:00

My Dazed & Confused interview

2011-05-25T14:06:00.002+01:00

Thank you so much to Dazed And Confused Digital for the opportunity to be interviewed about our book Springtime: The New Student Rebellions. They published THIS selection from my answers for which I am grateful. Here are the full answers that could not be published due to me going over the word limit!!

Firstly, tell us a little about the form this book takes

The book contains moments and memories of the recent student protests. We took an eclectic approach, bringing different generational and international points of view together. They reflect the diversity of the movement and the connections between them. New shoots of rebellion have grown from the roots of the past - together they weave their way through articles, letters, essays, analysis, images, video screenshots and other art.

Secondly, were you worried about making what was quite a kinetic phenomena (!) into a book - a completely stationary object?

All books are a snapshot of history in one way or another. I hope Springtime will inspire others to reconsider how they perceive the student protests, or add alternative perspectives to get a deeper understanding. And, more than that, it is always necessary for us to record our own history as a 'taking note', as the Italian revolutionary Gramsci said, 'of actual events, seen as moments of a process of inner liberation and self-expression'. Otherwise we may only get to hear the voices of those in power. It is the self-expression of these new shoots that was most important for this book.

Springtime marks one of the first times I've ever seen Social Media championed in such a way. Usually Social Media discussion often flits back and forth between doom-mongering proclamations of declining individuality and what not, or the potential for marketing and selling you things. In your book Social Media seems to become more social Social Media!

I certainly don't think the Internet is some sort of 'out there' phenomenon; an organism with a mind of it's own. It has hardware, software and functions and features very much produced and used by human hands. We form relationships online not entirely different to how they form 'in the real world', in fact I would say that cyberspace is very much part of 'the real world'. We don't live in parallel spaces. We have always put on different masks for different tasks so taking on a different persona online is akin to this.

However, I don't buy the argument that it is some sort of equaliser, a free space in which we can operate outside of capitalist relations. Capitalism always finds ways of enclosing free space, of turning it into a commercial enterprise and those with wealth and power will do their best to prevent the spread of rebellion. Think of the closing down of Facebook groups or monitoring of twitter, whether here on a small scale or in Arab countries on a larger scale in recent months.

I can understand why some people may be hesitant or even resistant to 'new media'. In Russia a century ago, some people initially objected to Lenin's proposal to produce an agitational newspaper because many people at the time were illiterate. He would organise massive meetings and literally read the articles to them. It may take a while for some people to understand the language of new forms of communication.

Marx once wrote

'the beginner who has learned a new language always translates it back into his mother tongue, but he assimilates the spirit of the new language and expresses himself freely in it only when he moves in it without recalling the old and when he forgets his native tongue.'

Or, more recently, Clay Shirky said that 'technology only becomes socially useful once it becomes technologically boring'.

Tell me about the role it played in the student rebellions and how you went about getting the immediacy of Twitter into a book?

Twitter was crucial for co-ordination of the various forms of protest, so using the hashtags #solidarity and #demo2010 we searched for tweets that captured the spirit of the protests - from the NUS president's slightly understated 'looks like the biggest student demo for a generation' to the Met police's 'we would like to work with you' tweet and, more poignantly, the communique between parents and their kettled children. We wanted to demonstrate how we communicate and co-ordinate in the 21^st century.

Tell me about some of the new voices that emerged during those weeks?

We attempted to provide a space for voices so often ignored in society. This was a political priority, as was demonstrating the links between the present and the past and, hopefully, pointing to the future. A new generation of writer/activists has emerged, with the likes of Laurie Penny and Jody McIntyre moving from fairly low-profile blogging into more mainstream spaces but retaining their commitment to fighting for social change.

It is no coincidence that conservative forces try to avoid and repress uprisings. They know that people gain confidence and a rapid political education when involved in social struggles, which is why I'm a little surprised at how quickly the new coalition government moved in implementing various forms of cuts. If they thought they could do this and no one would rebel, they are out of touch with reality.

A lot has been said about 'apathy'. Culturally / Individually - what (in your opinion) happened?

Students can never get it right: one minute they're apathetic, the next 'they're always protesting about something'. The apathy is an effect of a supposedly democratic society which has stripped away any real possiblility for engagement. A vote every four years is hardly the most enticing thing, especially when people feel that this vote is not listened to. Two million people marched against the Iraq war, many more millions now disagree with these wars: our governments do not listen to us. And then they want us to vote again for an increasingly similar selection of liars. No wonder people can't be arsed.

And, on the other hand, the actions of the students have exposed the hypocrisy of our governments. Condeming the smashing and burning of a few inanimate objects by students whilst at the same time bombing and killing millions in the middle east and north Africa. They have all of a sudden found a few extra billion pounds to carry out this new imperialist intervention in Libya.

What they try to cover over is the causes of the uprisings. People don't just go out and protest for no reason. The suffragettes didn't smash windows because they just felt like it; they wanted their voices to be heard when they demanded the vote, and we don't now condemn them for this historical achievement.

Students protested so vociferously because, as a fifteen-year-old said on Newsnight, 'you're taking away our education and EMA, we won't be able to get work and if we have to sell drugs to make ends meet you will then blame us'. Enough said.

(Working in a bookshop and all!) Tell us about the Book Shields?

Ha, shame you weren't able to pick up a momento! It would be against the wishes of the producers of these books to expose their identity but the very striking image of these massive polystyrene philosophy book shields (to protect against getting beaten by police) combined with the FE students having to set their exercise books alight to keep warm when kettled (Sorry I haven't got my homework Miss but...) has become symbolic of the contradictions in the government's education plans.

Although the book has this particularly emancipatory or at least a collective swell of direction or purpose, we still have to deal with the possibility that things are going to get worse before they get better. What's next?

No one can predict the future. But I bet things will get worse before getting better. The worse it gets, the more people will resist. We need to get across the argument that not one cut is necessary. They found money for war, so there's money to save our libraries and so on.

What we need now is a mass movement of resistance to all the cuts. Change is never brought by just a small group of militants. We need everyone: precarious workers and pensioners, unemployed and disabled people, single parents, civil servants and, of course, trade unions and so on. We shouldn't just be aiming for political change at the top but social change from below, for society to be run by us, for people and not for profit. Another world is possible, but only if we all organise for it.

If all we have done so far is weaken the coalition government that is insistent on smashing the whole of society then we will have taken a leap forward. Recent election and AV results were blamed on the LibDems reneging on the tuition fees promise. We did that: we, from the beginning of term, exposed their hypocrisy. We will not put up with their lies and distortions anymore. We will continue to build resistance.

Protest TMRW (Tuesday) when Obama the war president meets the Queen

2011-05-23T17:29:00.000+01:00

Troops Out of Afghanistan • Stop the Bombing of Libya • Free Palestine

Barack Obama makes a state visit to Britain next week, as he is waging three wars -- in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

Protest at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 24 May, when Barack Obama will meet the Queen.

Called by Stop the War, CND, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Justice for Bahrain

PROTEST WHEN OBAMA MEETS THE QUEEN : TUESDAY 24 MAY

Counterforum full timetable-you can book your place in advance...

2011-05-03T12:08:00.000+01:00

Discussions include: how mass protest can change the world; revolution and imperialism in the Middle East; tackling Islamophobia; The working class and the movement today; from economic crisis to slump

Event details

12 - 6pm

Upper Hall, ULU, Malet Street
London WC1 7HY
Map

Free entry, please register in advance

sam@counterfire.org

07872481769

Timetable

Session 1) 12.00 - 1.15pm

The next steps: how protest can change the world

with:
Sanum Ghafoor, activist and maker of YouTube hit March 26th London: what really happened
Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop the War Coalition,(pc) socialist and author of several books including Material Girls:Women, Men and Work
Chris Bambery, socialist activist, author and National Secretary of Right to Work (pc)
Joe Glenton, ex-soldier who went to prison for refusing to return to Afghanistan

Session 2) 1.30 - 2.45pm

From crisis to slump

with:
James Meadway, New Economics Foundation (pc), regular commentator on the economic crisis

Islamophobia: tackling the new racism

with:
Shamiul Joarder, Friends of al-Aqsa and the Enough Coalition against Islamophobia, and others

Session 3) 3.15 - 4.30pm

Counterfire: What we do and why we do it

with:
Jo Gough, UNISON activist and member of Counterfire editorial board
Chris Nineham, vice-chair Stop the War Coalition (pc) and author of Capitalism and Class Consciousness: the ideas of Georg Lukacs

The working class and the movement today

with:
Neil Faulkner, writer, historian and officer of the Coalition of Resistance (pc)
Dot Gibson, pensioners leader and socialist activist

Session 4) 4.45 - 6.00pm

Revolution and imperialism in the Middle East

with:
Egyptian activists from Cairo
Joseph Daher, Middle East commentator and student activist
Lowkey, rapper, activist and member of the Equalities Movement
John Rees, eyewitness from Egypt and Tunisia and author of Imperialism and Resistance

Book launch & party for Springtime: The New Student Rebellions

2011-04-02T16:56:00.000+01:00

The New Student Rebellions

Edited by Clare Solomon and Tania Palmieri

OUT NOW in the UK; Published September 2011, USA

Book launch and party on:

Thursday 7 April, 2011, 6.30pm – 11pm

At The Venue & Gallery bar @ ULU, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HY

Free entry / All ages / All proceeds to PalestineConnect http://www.palestineconnect.org

Come early for drinks reception

Books available for purchase at discounted price of £7

With talks and readings from:

Clare Solomon, (President of ULU)

Jody McIntyre , (Equality Movement)

Dr Nina Power, (Roehampton)

Jo Casserly, (UCL)

Ashok Kumar, (LSE SU)

Kanja Sesay, (NUS Black Students Officer)

James Meadway, (SOAS)

& more tbc

And open mic, poetry, live graffiti wall, music and projections by:

Noel Douglas, (Globalise Resistance), Tyler Perkin, (Havering Sixth Form College), DJ Steaz , Logic MC, (The Peoples Army & We are Dubist), Zain (Words Apart poetry group)

The autumn and winter of 2010 saw an unprecedented wave of student protests across the UK in response to the coalition government's savage cuts in state funding for higher education, cuts which formed the basis for an ideological attack on the nature of education itself. Middle-class students, teenagers from diverse backgrounds and older activists took part in marches, teach-ins and occupations, and also creative new forms: flashmobs, YouTube dance-offs, and the literal literary resistance of colourful book blocs.

The protests spread with wildfire speed, mainly organised through the unprecedented use of social media such as facebook and twitter. Web-savvy, media-literate students developed Sukey, the anti-kettling phone app, publicise their demands through online and traditional media outlets and continue to build ever-denser international networks of solidarity.

The winter of discontent now gives rise to the new spirit of rebellion this spring with a broader, stronger resistance to austerity measures. We have already seen the astonishing events in the Arab world, trade union rallies in Wisconsin on a scale not seen in America since Vietnam protests, direct-action by tax-justice campaigners UK Uncut – and 26 March will see 'March for the Alternative' the largest national anti-cuts demonstration yet. SPRINGTIME is both an inspiring chronicle of and companion to this movement: "the formulation of an experience" of a generation.

Rather than considering them a series of isolated incidents, this new book locates the student protests in the movement spreading across the entire western world: ever since the financial crash of 2008 there has been growing social and political turbulence in the heartlands of capital and beyond. From Athens to Rome, San Francisco to London – and the stunning events in Tunisia and Egypt that captured the world's imagination – students are playing a key role in developing a strong, coherent social and political movement.

—————————————————————-

CLARE SOLOMON is President of the University of London Union and has been centrally involved in the student protests.

—————————————————————-

ISBN: 978 1 84467 740 5/ $14.95 / £9.99 / Paperback / 296 pages

—————————————————————-

For more information or to buy the book visit:

http://www.versobooks.com/books/799-springtime

———————————–

Become a fan of Verso on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Verso-Books-UK/122064538789

And get updates on Twitter too!

http://twitter.com/VersoBooksUK

Brilliant video of the WHOLE March 26 march

2011-03-30T15:27:00.000+01:00

What an absolutely brilliant video. Paul gets the whole thing including speeches, music and even him chatting away or trying to avoid being removed! Flick through to see all the different banners, colours, actions and so on. Well done Fourmanfilms.

Re-elect Clare Solomon #1 ULU President. ALL* University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card.

2011-03-12T19:46:00.003Z

Well, the elections have started with a bang. At 11am Friday morning (so 47 hours after voting opened) over 1,200 votes had been cast. For the whole week last year, there were around 2,000. I feel confident that my manifesto pledge of last year to increase turnout to elections will be not broken.

Clare and Tariq drink radical beer! Thanks to the students of Courtauld Institute for this lovely publicity-it certainly lubricated the campaign trail

We’ve had loads of lovely endorsements so far and people from many different groups are helping out, from FOSIS to the African – Caribbean Societies, from Women’s to Football teams.

I have support from lots of ULU colleges:. Here’s a selection of some of them:

Daisy Jones, President of the Courtauld Institute and the crew there made these fantastic beers –>

Daniel Lemberger Cooper Royal Holloway President-elect and ULU Senator

Active, campaigning and creative unions of the kind that Clare has developed over her short time at ULU are going to be key in fighting against the government’s public spending cuts and their devaluing of education. She has been central to the movement’s upsurge, a committed organiser who has made the University of London Union relevant again! Vote Re-elect Clare Solomon #1 ULU President

Tahmeena Bax Queen Mary

Vote to Re-elect Clare Solomon #1 ULU President for a President that will fight against racism and not stand by as students are intimidated, kettled, beaten by police and liberation campaigns smashed and silenced!

Wanda Canton Queen Mary Women’s Officer.

Clare Solomon has genuinely worked hard to resist the appalling and discriminatory cuts of the coalition. Considering the heightened controversy of the student movement this year, she has stood by us and led a ULU union with integrity and honesty. If don’t want to stand by whilst fees hike, public services are obliterated, and the poorest, least represented communities are isolated further and blocked from education and welfare; VOTE CLARE #1 brap brap!

James Haywood Goldsmiths President-elect and ULU Senator

Go Clare! 100% support! Been absolutely amazing for ULU to have Clare as President, we need another year of it!…For a University of London Union that will campaign like it used to against Apartheid in the 1980s!

ULU Tango Society: Tangology Org

Claire offered ULU students the “gift of tango”, a life changing hobby. We hope to be able to resume activities soon. Thank you Claire!

Mark Bergfeld

Clare is at the heart of the struggle. She has made ULU the hub of the students’ movement and will continue to make it the centre of the movement. I wish Clare all the best in her campaign!!!

Sky Yarlett

Clare has been at the front-line of the student movement, representing thousands of students voices, showing the government that students will not back down and take £9k fees!

I personally and professionally know Clare is one of the hardest working women out there! She doesn’t understand the idea of office hours and can be found working at all hours!

Re-elect Clare Solomon for ULU President!

Sky Yarlett

NUS LGBT Committee (Open Place) p.c.

Aaron Kiely

Go Clare! Stunning in her defence of students and her attack on the Tory-led government’s destructive policies. There is only one choice and that’s for Clare Solomon!

Bryan Simpson

Clare is simply one of the most charismatic and inspirational student leaders in Britain at the moment. She has the fire and commitment to further solidify ULU’s reputation as the centre of the anti-cuts movement. Vote Solomon #1 for ULU President.

Here’s my hustings at 4min 26 secs. Then Q & A’s. Hear all the hustings for all the positions, from those that came, in this lengthy video courtesy of the fantastic QMTV. Loved the question ‘What is Liberation and how would you campaign for this?’ at the end of the video…

Thanks for all the support-let’s make this turnout a record year to match the increase in turnover and footfall!

HOW TO VOTE

ALL University of London students can vote (you don’t need a ULU card)- and here’s how:

1- Check your uni/college email. You should have been sent a Username and Password from ULU*. The subject of the email is ‘2011 ULU Elections Password’.

2- Log on at www.ulu.co.uk/elections/election and cast your vote.

3- Share with all your friends!

ULU President. ALL University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card.

2011-03-12T11:13:00.000Z

Click to enlarge and/or print off for your campus. And you could upload or 'Share' on facebook. *ALL* University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card. Even students overseas on year abroad

*ALL* University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card.

The University of London Union needs a President who sticks to their manifesto pledges and defends education for all, unlike the Cleggs and Camerons of this world. I promised a campaigning ULU: you got it, with ULU at the heart of the student protests over cuts and fees.

Voting details: ONLINE ONLY 9-16th March. Check your college inbox (and check spam) for your username and password. If you can’t find it email elect2011@ulu.lon.ac.uk.

See all the manifestos at http://www.ulu.co.uk/elections/content/index.php?page=98225

Join the Facebook group HERE

I’m proud of the role ULU played in helping pull together the biggest student movement for a generation. ULU helped support occupations and demonstrations across the city, becoming a powerful voice for students in London and beyond. That’s a voice we will need over the coming year as education faces exceptionally tough times.

A more relevant, visible ULU means greater student engagement. ULU’s turnover is up, with 11,000 more people through our doors than last year. I’ve organized events and conferences on everything from education to immigration, and widened ULU’s range of cultural activities, along with the NUS Black Students conference.

As promised, I’ve taken steps to improve ULU democracy, establishing the regular London Student Assemblies and ensuring Senate meetings are open to all.

I want to build on this record by pushing ULU harder, improving our services and policies, and ensuring the London Living Wage is implemented here and across university institutions. I will continue to work with and apply pressure on the NUS, working with them where possible and taking a lead where they fail us.

I’m asking for your vote to ensure London students keep their union campaigning.

See my manifesto at ulucampaigner.wordpress.com and join in the campaigns

Get your Tunisia solidarity Tshirt

2011-01-22T16:33:00.003Z

Philosophy Football have produced this excellent T shirt in support of the Tunisian revolution. You can get yours here.

" If, one day, a people desires to live, then fate will answer their call." Abul-Qasim Al-Shabi
Tunisia 2011, the people with popular protest and civil disobedience have overthrown a ruthless despot. Chanting in the streets the words of the great Tunisian poet of the early twentieth century, Abul Qasim Al-Shabi. Philosophy Football have produced this T-shirt to help promote solidarity, featuring the poetry in the original Arabic. With a shattered Tunisian flag, representing the structures of totalitarianism which divided their country for generations that the the politics of partnership Tunisians are themselves are now constructing to dismantle. At a special low campaign price of just £16.99

Latest on the near on revolution in Tunisia

2011-01-14T18:32:00.001Z

I've copylefted this from Luna17 because it is excellent! Thanks luna

Join the Support Tunisia facebook page for very regular updates

Latest at 18.00 (reverse order):

SOURCES SAY BEN ALI HAS FLED TO MALTA. OTHERS SAY TO FRANCE. STILL TO BE VERIFIED. SOME REPORTS ALSO SAY SOME OF HIS CORRUPT RELATIVES HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. STILL TO BE VERIFIED

THE TYRANT BEN ALI HAS FLED THE COUNTRY. LEADER OF PARLIAMENT TEMPORARILY IN CHARGE. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL TUNISIANS

Army surrounds Carthage presidential palace, and the airport with tanks. Rumours that army taking over, and that soldiers have arrested some of the President's in-laws, the Trabelssi family at the airport as they try to flee the country! (to be verified)

=====================

Channel 4 News is currently liveblogging events in Tunisia, where the popular revolt appears to be growing and threatening key sites of power like state television. The government and parliament have both been disbanded.

For understanding the dramatic events in Tunisia I highly recommend two articles by SOAS student activist Joseph Daher, both published at Counterfire in the last few days:
Tunisia and Algeria: the wind of anger rises
Gunfire in Tunis: Protests and repression continue

There will be a solidarity protest in London on Monday, followed by a public meeting (at University of London Union) on Thursday.

Protest at Tunisian Embassy in London - Monday 17 January, 2.30pm - see HERE

Public meeting in solidarity with Tunisia uprising - Thursday 20 January, 7.30pm - see HERE

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Philosophy Football: CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT THE HOPEMAS PARTY!

2010-12-15T12:33:00.002Z

Philosophy Football's Christmas party on Friday 17 December. Why 'Hopemas'?

The Hopemas Christmas party celebrates the victorious Hope not Hate campaign against the BNP in Barking and is generously supported by the PCS trade union. A superb line-up featuring the briliant poetry of Lemn Sissay. Performing a special version of her hit Edinburgh show 'Afroblighty' (on nationwide tour in 2011) the supremely talented comic Andi Osho. Rap mixed with comedy from Doc Brown opens the night. Mixing ideas with the entertainment contributions from Clive Bloom author of the very topical Violent London : 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts, Owen Hatherley author of the recently published book A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain, PCS National Executive Member Zita Holbourne, and Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty. Plus filling the dancefloor into the early hours, music from the Melstars sound system

Tickets are just £8.99 and each ticket is a £5 OFF voucher on shirts on the night so combine the evening with your Christmas shopping!

At Philosophy Football's usual party venue The New Red Lion 271 City Road, London EC1V 1LA.

Book either at http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=638 or call 020 8802 3499 to book.

London Calling: Dec 9th National demo against tuition fees

2010-12-07T16:58:00.002Z

Dear fellow campaigners, what a long time a few weeks in politics can feel.

From Millbank to Newsnight, from Carnivals to Cat & Mouse games, ULU has certainly been at the forefront of student activism recently.

At Senate we voted to support peaceful direct actions and occupations and have been heavily involved in the building and organisation of various actions and demos and have called a National demo on Thursday Dec 9^th the day that MP’s will vote in Parliament on the raising of tuition fees.

As you can imagine, it’s been a really busy time so I’m sorry for not replying to all the thousands of requests to speak and/or attend meetings etc.

Six of ULU’s colleges are in occupation and many more actions are planned in the run up to the National Demo. ULU has been really active with all sorts of thing.

Our newly formed London Student Assembly is attracting hundreds of students each Sunday. We submit and pass motions, decide democratically what actions to take next and basically use these assemblies to coordinate our actions to ensure we have maximum unity and strength. The process was a bit painful to start with with the 1^st meeting taking over 3 hours! but we felt it was essential to make sure we are all singing off the same songsheet.

Yesterday we reconfirmed our support for a National Student Assembly sometime in early January. We will let you know more about this closer to the time.

Here’s a few more things that you can get involved in:

1) London Calling: National Demo on the day of the Fees Vote in Parliament.

Here’s a poster for Thursdays demo for you to print off and ut up or handout as flyers. I also have some available at ULU for those of you who don’t have a budget to do at your college.

http://ulucampaigner.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/london-calling-national-demo-against-tuition-fees/

It is imperative that we get as many people to ULU as possible in order to prevent more kettling and containments. If you are organising a meet up point at your campus please then bring it to ULU for 12 NOON.

...and I'm really please that NUS are now promoting this demo.

2) Please volunteer to be a Steward for the demo. Email campaigns@ulu.lon.ac.uk

3) Here also is the link to the Kings College (a ULU college) Petition that has already gathered 900 signatures in two days:http://www.gopetition.com/petition/41174/signatures.html

4) Don’t forget the ULU trip to Berlin for Holocaust Memorial Day. Book your flights and email campaigns@ulu.lon.ac.uk to let me know or call me to ask more details on 07850 177 637. See http://tinyurl.com/uluberlin for more details.

MP's Vote Against Fees Petition

2010-12-05T13:46:00.000Z

In the coming week, the need to engage with the the wider public, the media and, most
importantly, the British Government, should lie at the very heart of
everything we do.

In this vein, a few of us at KCLSU have put forward a petition. In the
run-up to next week's vote, an intelligent poltical focus will prove
to be one of our greatest assets.

In it, we demand that MPs votes AGAINST the rise in tuition fees.

You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/voteagainstfees

I would be extremely grateful if you could take the time to read what we have put forward and add your
signature if you agree with our sentiments. If you could also take a
few minutes to spread the word about this, then that would be
fantastic.

It is fair to say that we are sick of being branded lazy, apathetic
trouble-makers. A petition such as this provides a formal and academic
lobbying of our MPs. Our aim is to present this petition to Parliament
on Thursday and we need as many signatures as possible for this to
work. Tell your friends, family, dog - whoever. We need to get this
message out there.

Through this we can show them that we are not the uneducated, naive,
disaffected generation they would so readily have us be.

Thanks,

Natasha

Natasha Wynarczyk,

Editor-in-Chief of Roar,

VP Media and Engagement at KCLSU

Carnival of Resistance 24th Nov 2010 for National Day of Action

2010-11-19T19:05:00.004Z

Nick Clegg talks to the hand

2010-11-08T13:54:00.001Z

Daily Mail report and brilliant photos HERE.

The Guardian HERE

We were in the Financial Times, the Metro, on BBC News at 6 & 10pm then also the next day.

On Wednesday, what Nick Clegg intended to be a beautiful publicity stunt turned into a PR disaster when students

managed to grab the media attention. This photo I took inside 70 Whitehall demonstrates, perhaps, how scared the government are at the moment.

12 students from higher education and school students were invited to ‘discuss developing policy on the future of Higher Education Funding’ on the day that the coalition government released their report on education cuts.

He invited me, Clare Solomon, and 11 other education representatives, all of whom have colleges in Lib Dem constituencies, to what I can only describe as a sham consultation.

At 12.30 he released his report into the Brown Review. We were to meet him at 1pm. This gave us no time to download, digest and analyse the content therefore making a mockery of his attempt to pass off the meeting as though he had discussed it thoroughly with us.

Prior to the meeting we decided to write Hands Off Education on the palms of our hands a couple of us wore t-shirts with slogans on them underneath our regular clothes and managed to get past security with them concealed.

When Clegg invited the BBC to do a 3 minute panoramic shot of him looking cosy with students I was able to remove my shirt and tie and expose the message “Remember, Remember, the 3^rd of November: The Coalition Government Plot Blows Up Education’. His minders quickly tried to hide my striking t-shirt by surrounding me but I kept moving and waving my palm in the air.

This set the tone of the meeting, at which all students were very angry with Clegg, his bogus meeting and his defending of the massive cuts to education that he and his party are supporting.

Mr Clegg, along with all his Liberal Democrat colleagues, signed a pledge to vote against any rise in tuition fees. This Wednesday it was confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister intends to break his promise and vote for fees to be trebled to £9,000 a year, despite having proposed their abolition at the general election and signing a pledge to “vote against any increase in fees.”

We demanded to know why the LibDems broke their manifesto promise of removing fees. Clegg said ‘you may live in a bubble but in the real world we have no alternative; what’s YOUR alternative then?’ he asked!! What a cheek. We told him to stop allowing companies like Vodaphone to dodge taxes, to halt the 55% pay increases for the bosses, to implement a progressive tax system across society, to stop funding war and Trident.

He said ‘that is complete nonsense’!!

When he tried to justify the loans scheme that poorer students will have to take to afford the fees one of the school students asked ‘are you saying that debt is acceptable?’

Elliot from Leeds Uni brought up the fact that Muslim students may not be able to take out loans because of the interest that is associated with the loans so large swathes of people will also not be able to afford the fees.

Elliot also pointed out that since education benefits the whole of society not just the individual who receives it (an educated society is more likely to vote, to have lower infant mortality, is more healthy etc etc) and that, therefore, it should not be the individual that pays. We need to push for progressive taxation across the whole of society so that the rich pay more tax and the poor less. This is the only fair way to fund the best education system.
We told him that we are committed to fighting both the cuts to education and to wider society and also against fees. We told him about the NUS & UCU demo; and we told him we will be hounding the LibDems wherever they go (like the EducCamp students in London have been doing to Vince Cable)

See you on November 10^th. Don’t forget the Big Demo and Breakfast at ULU from 8am, banner & placard making and student press conference at 10.15 all at ULU. Ask your coach to drop you at Mallet St.

Email campaigns@ulu.lon.ac.uk to book your breakfast. We have over 1,200 booked in so far so make sure you let me know asap.

see: http://ulucampaigner.wordpress.com

See more videos on this playlist: http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=5A612FD02298763C

Fees rise to £9k, 100% cut to Arts & H-tell me ur protest details by 1-2pm...

2010-11-03T12:37:00.001Z

Remember, remember, the 3rd of November. And I'm going to parliament! I've just heard that 20 coaches from Sheffield University are fully booked up for the demo next Wednesday. If this is representative Nov 10th will be the biggest anti-cuts demo yet. The uprising starts here and with the students...send me photos of your protests today so I can tell the government!

Fees to rise to £9k, 100% cut to Arts & Humanities funding and much worse.

This is the beginning of the proverbial nail in the coffin.

We need huge response from students today.

As you may know, I've been invited to Nick Cleggs office today. I need msgs from students and unions by 1-2pm about what your response is.

Hold a flash protest or more at 1pm today, email, twitter, Facebook, leaflet if poss etc to get as many people out on the streets, shout at something, make some visuals, a3 paper makes a simple placard!

Dress up in funeral black. Paint messages on your hands/face/Walls and anything visual.

Send photos/videos to me at c.Solomon@ulu.lon.ac.uk by 1-2pmand/or by text on both 07850177637 and07535629289 so I can inform media at Parliament. Spread the news.

Sent from my iPhone

t 07850 177 637
w www.ulucampaigner.wordpress.com
w www.counterfire.org

BOOK EARLY! Philosophy Football's Christmas 'Hopemas' party

2010-10-29T19:56:00.001+01:00

I know, it seems crazy asking you to book up for a Christmas party when October isn't even over but our Christmas party always sell out and with the line up we have for this year's, Friday 17 Dec will be no exception. So do book early to ensure the best seats!

Why Hopemas? The brilliant Hope not Hate campaign in Barking and Dagenham which helped secure the defeat of the BNP and their odious leader Nick Griffin was undoubtedly one of the highlights of 2010. Join our Hopemas party to celebrate this victory.

Our Hopemas party is support of Hope not Hate and generously supported by the PCS trade union. A seasonal night out of ideas and entertainment featuring the superb poetry of Lemn Sissay . Performing a special version of her hit Edinburgh show 'Afroblighty' (on nationwide tour in 2011) the supremely talented comic Andi Osho. Hackney Empire New Act of the Year 2010 award winners, the hilarious hip comedy improv of Abandoman. And filling the dancefloor into the early hours, music from the Melstars sound system. With contributions from Zaiba Malik author of the August R4 book of the week We are a Muslim,Please, Nick Lowles, editor of Searchlight magazine, Owen Hatherley author of the recently published book A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain, PCS National Executive Member Zita Holbourne, and Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty.

At our usual party venue 'Offside' on City Road in Islington, completely refurbished and renamed the 'New Red Lion'. Tickets with or without supper. And combine the night with your Philosophy Football Christmas shopping - your ticket is a £5 discount on shirts bought on the night!

Book either at http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=638 or call me on 020 8802 3499 to book.

But don't delay. Our Christmas parties ALWAYS sell out!

Mark

Education on Trial at ULU. Tickets now on sale

2010-10-26T19:37:00.008+01:00

Another fantastic line up of discussion, poetry, video and totally Sh!t Theatre are lined up for your debating pleasure.

Set a week before the NUS, UCU & UNISON national demonstration 'Education Cuts: Fund Our Future' this event hopes to build for the demo and beyond. With LSE now announcing they are looking into privatisation these discussions are more than ever important.

Click on the images for provisional lineup and agenda. Feel free to print off and put up round your campuses and workplaces.

Buy your advance tickets HERE before they sell out. And bring slogans to paint on your very own banner at Sky Yarlett's Banner and Placard Making Session :-)

Email, facebook and twitter away this post and feel free to invite anyone you like...

Solomon's Mindfield

Sanum's report from Sounds Like Freedom

Organisation requires skill & vice versa...

Counterfire national members and supporters meeting: Confronting the crisis

Wall Street is War Street: the protests go global

Clare's livestream from #occupylsx on my Qik

#occupylsx livestream and liveblog

Noam Chomsky: Join us in Trafalgar Square on 8 October

Book launch: People Demand. Out now

Book and/or donate to 1st Oct Coalition of Resistance conference

EUROPE AGAINST AUSTERITY CONFERENCE

Saturday 1st October, London

TWEETS NOT WAR: LEARNING FROM THE ARAB SPRING

TUC votes to reaffirm support of Palestine

TUC statement on pensions

Fab Fernando's Kitchen at Philosophy Football event.

War? Not up my tweet.

Historic Ft. Lewis speak out brings together active-duty soldiers, veterans and military families

Historic Ft. Lewis speak out brings together active-duty soldiers, veterans and military families

Movement to stop soldier suicides and wars abroad gains momentum

The Autumn of Resistance

London bulletin

Libya-What next?

A Narrative of Unrest-who's going to this?

Student protesters declare victory as Glasgow University sit-in ends

Post riots planning mtg this Thursday at ULU

Wanted

Give Our Kids a Future! A North London Unity Demonstration

Counterfire recent articles

It's not from the reporters and well-heeled media pundits where you can find insight into the London riots, but from the people they are obliged to interview, argue Joe Glenton and Jo Gough.

FE student Amy Addison-Dunne argues that most politicians live in such a different reality, their opinions on the riots can be of little value.

Politicians and journalists have rushed to blame the riots on 'sheer criminality'. The same cry from the defenders of the status quo has echoed down the centuries after every riot in London.

The moralistic backlash from the Con-Dems and the media has begun in earnest. Jonathon Shafi takes on the reactionary critics, with reference to a challenging BBC interview with influential commentator Darcus Howe.

Called by Coalition of Resistance and Black Activists Rise Against the Cuts - What do the recent riots in Britain mean? Why are they happening? What can we do in response? All welcome to come and discuss this and decide on what to do next.

Two years after construction bosses got a bloody nose when they tried to smash union organisation on major construction sites, they think enough water has passed under the bridge to give it another go. Richard Allday argues they can be

Excessive policing in Europe and the United States shows that governments are resorting to ever more coercive measures in order to save their neoliberal project, writes Dan Poulton.

In the most unequal borough of the UK, young people do not riot just for the fun of it. Poverty and a lack of opportunities are the deeper causes behind the public anger that erupted in Tottenham over the weekend, argues Elly Badcock.

Regularly updated and challenging the portrayal of the London rioting as simply a mass outburst of criminality without any roots in social problems and police harassment.

The world's leading economy has had its credit rating reduced as the ability of the US political system to manage the crisis is called into question. James Meadway looks at the implications.

A first hand account of last night's riot in Tottenham by Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

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As fear spreads across the world's stock markets, political leaders offer no real solutions. This might be the end of the Euro in its current form, argues James Meadway.

From Rebellion to Reform in Bolivia is an important contribution to understanding Bolivian politics, critiquing the politics of Evo Morales in an effort to analyse the limitations of his rule and the potential of the social movements that brought him to power.

After extensive lobbying and boycott threats from the UK and around the world, the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organisation has withdrawn its annual conference from Israel.

The UN Assembly vote on a Palestinian state is an important issue, but statehood can only be a first step in the struggle for the Palestinians' rights, argue Joseph Daher and Hesham Zakai.

Discuss some of the big issues facing socialists and campaigners today.

Get involved

Join Counterfire

Contact your local Counterfire group

Counterfire books

Strategy and tactics: how the left can organise to transform society

Capitalism and Class Consciousness: the ideas of Georg Lukács

Eleven Reasons to Resist the Con-Dem Cuts

Public Meeting: Riots, Recession, Resistance

Protest: clean up the press, clean up the police, clean up parliament

Who Runs Britain?: Media & Democracy mtg with Laurie Penny & others. All welcome

Greek protesters withdraw €€ to crash the banks

Spanish Revolution Storify...to be updated regularly

My Dazed & Confused interview

Protest TMRW (Tuesday) when Obama the war president meets the Queen

PROTEST WHEN OBAMA MEETS THE QUEEN : TUESDAY 24 MAY

Counterforum full timetable-you can book your place in advance...

Discussions include: how mass protest can change the world; revolution and imperialism in the Middle East; tackling Islamophobia; The working class and the movement today; from economic crisis to slump

Event details

Timetable

Session 1) 12.00 - 1.15pm

The next steps: how protest can change the world

Session 2) 1.30 - 2.45pm

From crisis to slump

Islamophobia: tackling the new racism

Session 3) 3.15 - 4.30pm

Counterfire: What we do and why we do it

The working class and the movement today

Session 4) 4.45 - 6.00pm

Revolution and imperialism in the Middle East

Book launch & party for Springtime: The New Student Rebellions

Brilliant video of the WHOLE March 26 march

Re-elect Clare Solomon #1 ULU President. ALL* University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card.

ULU President. *ALL* University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card.

Get your Tunisia solidarity Tshirt

EUROPE AGAINST
AUSTERITY CONFERENCE

ULU President. ALL University of London students can vote, ie, you do NOT need a ULU card.