Give Our Kids a Future! A North London Unity Demonstration

http://hackneyalliance.wor​dpress.com/2011/08/11/give​-our-kids-a-chance-north-l​ondon-unity-march-saturday​-13th-august-1pm-gillet-sq​uare-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.

My Dazed & Confused interview

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.

Public Meeting: Can't Pay, Won't Pay: Solidarity with the Greek Protests

Following the massive popularity of the Can't Pay, Won't Pay: Solidarity with the people of Greece facebook group a meeting has been organised to discuss these issues, issues which will affect us all, especially with the new ConLib coalition.


*Public Meeting*

Caroline Lucas MP will join Tony Benn and others at the Can't Pay Won't Pay - Solidarity with Greek Protests rally.

Join the Facebook group HERE.

Make sure you are there and please publicise widely.

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

Public Meeting
Can't Pay Won't Pay: Solidarity with the Greek Protests
Stop the Cuts in Britain.

Speakers include Tony Benn, Caroline Lucas MP, Christos Giovanopoulos coalition of the Radical Left SYRIZA • Aris Vasilopoulos SYRIZA, Clare Solomon ULU President elect and more...

Wednesday May 26th, 7pm
Conway Hall,
Red Lion Square WC1R 4RL
Nearest tube Holborn

Speakers include
Tony Benn, Caroline Lucas MP,

The IMF is demanding that Greek wages be cut and public services decimated.

It is unacceptable that ordinary people should be made to suffer for a crisis caused by financial speculation and the relentless drive to profit.

We must not allow the Greek present to become our future. All those who wish to defend jobs and public services should come along and support those in Greece who are defending their jobs, wages and services and prepare to defend our own.

Me, Penny Red and the New Statesman

Further to my facebook profile being disabled, blogger Penny Red has written a great article in the New Statesmen.

Three weeks ago I set up a facebook group entitled Can't Pay, Won't Pay: Solidarity with the people of Greece

The group not only showed support and protested against the so-called austerity measures but also enabled a coming together of activists from around the world. Through it I helped organise international protests with people who had never even been on a protest before let alone organise one!!

My profile was disabled on the night of the Brittish general elections, May 7.

After my account was disappeared the other two admins were disabled a few hours later. A Reactivate Clare Solomon and Andrew Burgin support group was set up by someone who I do not know. In the morning I set up a new account which was also disabled within mins and so was a profile which I use for organising not for profit events and campaigns.

My 'disappearance' concerned my family and friends and was, to say the least, a little disconcerting; it seems like 1984 is the future. We discussed all sorts of theories. However, an Egyptian activist I know goes by the thinking that the more you are visible online the more it is noticable when you disappear. Whether recent events has changed my behaviour is yet to be analysed but I am certainly going to be taking precautionary steps to protect both my content and my safety.

The fact that the security words that I had to enter when I used my activist profile on fb were 'the leninist' (photo on post below) was most probably a coincidence but it did draw my attention to the fact that the Internet allows for a manipulation of reality.

Clearly any service run for profit will be controlled by those who own it. We contribute content to fb for free. Effectively we all work for facebooks for nothing. Facebook then makes money by using our free labour to boost advertising rates.

Certainly by using open source software platforms we have more control and, usually, revenue is not generated by our free labour. I am hoping to soon transfer myself and my friends over to an opensource model, possibly/probably Diaspora.

Creative Campaign a la Lady Gaga

Facebook help group for Volcano strandees

You can join the group HERE

What a brilliant use of facebook. People are offereing free accomodation and food and more. This is exactly the sort of thing the internet is good for and why we should campaign to keep access to it free and for all.

This is the Tweet going round: Nearly 1000 stranded travelers&locals networking on Facebook: JOIN US! http://bit.ly/bjyzPq #getmehome #putmeup

Follow those two hashtags for information, advice and help.

I'm a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! Exhibition to launch campaign

http://PhotographerNotaTerrorist.org/

We are proud to announce the formation of a new campaign for photographers’ rights – I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!

Photography is under attack. Across the country anyone with a camera is targeted as a potential terrorist. This campaign is for everyone who values visual imagery and press freedom.

This campaign will co-ordinate a collective response to the restrictions on photography across the country. We will be organising events where photography is restricted to show how pointless these restrictions are. It will also be an information resource for photographers’ rights and will map areas where photography is restricted.

Come to the launch party for this new campaign on Saturday the 8th of August at The Foundry in East London from 6pm till late. We’ll have:

- Good Cop – Bad Cop slideshow

- Interactive self portrait photo-booth

- Screening of a ‘Silly Season’ slideshow and other delights at 8pm

- And a guest appearance from the ‘Hackney Secular Singers’

'Prison population in Israel is 90 percent black'

This shocking, yet not so shocking, report from inside an Israeli prison comes from campaigner and filmmaker Ishmahil Blagrove following his recent detainment alongside former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as they attempted to deliver aid to Gazans following the Israeli Siege on Gaza this winter.

Read a full report at Operation Black Vote HERE

Thanks to SOAS student @symeonbrown for alerting us to this on Twitter. Keep up the good work Symeon.

Facebook and Twitter blocked in Iran over Hossein Derakshan's case

Some of you have tried recently to open some pages of our campaign site for the release of Hossein Derakhshan http://www.freetheblogfather.com

The company wich hosts our sites has reported last tuesday that the server where our site where located has been hacked and shut down and the place where the pages of our site where recorded has been also errased during this major attempt.

We are trying to recover situation. 

This morning some facebook users in Iran reported also that they are no longer able to access this site. You'll find this CNN report even tough we need more information on this. 

- http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/23/iran.elections.facebook/index.

Twitterers in Tehran reported early Saturday that Facebook wasn’t the only social network banned. Twitter was apparently down as well, though it has since returned.

Hossein Derakhshan is still detained in an unknown place in Iran, without a due process and the charges against him are not clear. 

More than ever, he needs our support. 

SOAS director Paul Webley's pathetic and disgraceful response to UNISON's vote to strike

IMPORTANT: please read Richard Seymours excellent overview of the sheer shabbyness of this case, if you haven't done so already, before you go on-he puts it much better than me...Read it HERE

INTERNAL MESSAGE FOR STAFF REGARDING INDUSTRIAL ACTION BEING TAKEN BY UNISON MEMBERS ON THURSDAY 28TH MAY 2009

Members of UNISON have voted to enter into a one-day strike following a failed appeal to reinstate a former member of staff  (unfairly SACKED) for gross misconduct. UNISON have informed the School that this strike will take place on Thursday 28th May 2009.

At a recent ballot, 31 members out of 110 voted in favour of going on strike – that’s a third of UNISON members (what a disgusting reponse-45 people were at this meeting. This is well over quoracy and is 2/3rds of the meeting. And a higher percentage than most uni's union turnouts)

The decision to take industrial action is regrettable particularly at such a crucial time of year for our students as they prepare for exams, and in light of all the correct processes being followed. We will do all we can to ensure students are not inconvenienced by this action (How dare he try to play students off the staff-we have policy after policy supporting this campaign and we stand in solidarity with Jose Stalin)

The School takes seriously any complaints made by our colleagues (erm, how come they refused the ONLY witness statement then? And how about the racist and derogatory comments made by the complainant to Stalin-witnessed by a student whose statement was also not allowed ).

We have strict procedures and guidelines in place to investigate such allegations in a fair and reasonable manner which have been agreed in consultation with both UNISON and UCU.

Throughout the process, these guidelines and processes were followed to ensure this particular case was not prejudiced in any way (is this why they sneaked Stalin out to a change of venue for his last hearing. If I hadn't seen them leaving no-one would have known. When i then proceeded to follow them Charles Perry, Human Resources tried to take back routes and trips to the toilet to lose me. When I kept on their heels he told me he didn't want my sort at the meeting. He told me to go away. All i wanted to do was know where they were taking him without telling the Union reps-I didn't even say anything. Rude, vile man).

The welfare of our staff is of utmost importance and we have a duty of care to provide a safe and secure workplace for all employees (Why, then, did they place Stalin back in a tiny broom cupboard of an office with someone who had already been through an employment process with Stalin? that, my friends, is un-acceptable). 

A (warped) questions and answers sheet about this strike is attached.

Professor Paul Webley

Director and Principal

Thursday 21st May 2009

Questions and answers about UNISON one day strike to be held on Thursday 28th May 2009

Why are UNISON members going on strike?

Members of UNISON are taking strike action following the dismissal of a member of staff for gross misconduct. The decision to strike was taken after a disciplinary hearing and a failed appeal.

Who voted for strike action?

A ballot was held of the 110 members of UNISON who work at SOAS. 45 ballot papers were returned - 14 voted against strike action and 31 voted in favour. SOAS employs just under 1,000 people so this is around three per cent of the staff population and just 28 per cent of UNISON members. 

Is the School able to disclose details of the case?

The School believes that internal disciplinary and grievance complaints should remain confidential and not be made available. That is why the School is deeply disappointed that individuals participating in the disciplinary process, including the complainant, have been named by union representatives.

Was the disciplinary process carried out in a fair manner?

SOAS’s disciplinary and grievance processes have been agreed with UNISON and UCU. The disciplinary procedures were fully complied with and UNISON regional officers were involved throughout the process.

Was the appeal carried out in a similar way?

The appeal against dismissal was conducted according to the process agreed with UNISON. The same UNISON regional officer represented the member of staff at this hearing. The representative confirmed from the outset that she was happy with the hearing panel.

How will a strike affect staff and students?

The School will do all it can to minimise disruption. Some library and IT services may be affected which will inevitably impact on staff and students. 

Can anyone take strike action?

No. Only members of UNISON who voted for action will be protected by law. Staff who take ‘sympathy’ action (not in unions and in unions other than UNISON) will be in breach of their contract.

Do I have to take strike action if I’m a UNISON member?

No. UNISON members are entitled to take strike action but are not obliged to do so.

What are the consequences of going on strike?

UNISON members who go on strike will be in breach of their contract and as a result, the School will deduct a day’s pay.

Does the School have a policy on pay deduction?

Yes and it can be found on the SOAS website http://www.soas.ac.uk/hr/procedures/ 

Will there be a picket line?

UNISON is organising pickets at the main entrance to SOAS premises. There will be no more than six official pickets at the entrance to the building and they will be identified by armbands. Pickets will be respectful and not in any way threatening. Members of staff are not obliged to speak to those taking part. 

What if I am on leave on the day of the strike?

Staff who have already booked annual leave will not be affected. However we have advised managers that any further annual leave requested on the day of the strike will not be agreed to ensure adequate staffing levels.

What if I am working from home or away from the office on SOAS business?

Staff who normally work from home on this day or those away on School business should confirm their arrangement with their line manager to ensure pay is not deducted.

What are the consequences of strike action?

Taking strike action will inevitably lead to students not being able to access all the services they need and staff may have to cover for colleagues who are on strike. It will also lead to UNISON members losing a day’s pay. 

What next?

SOAS is disappointed that strike action is going ahead despite all the proper processes being followed. It does not wish to suspend its internal processes, which were agreed with unions, on the basis of one case. The School remains committed to working with unions to ensure that all policies and procedures are implemented effectively and that similar action is avoided in the future.

Human Resources Department

May 2009

SOAS staff to strike in support of Jose Stalin Bermudez

See Stalin speak at Birkbeck campaign meeting HERE

Joseph Stalin Bermudez, the SOAS UNISON Branch Chair was sacked by SOAS management following what UNISON believes was a deeply flawed and unfair disciplinary process.

Stalin an Ecuadorian migrant worker, is a respected member of staff who had worked at the School of Oriental and African Studies for ten years with a previously unblemished record

SOAS UNISON together with colleagues in SOAS UCU and SOAS Students’ Union had called for a genuinely independent appeal to review the School’s decision but this was refused. SOAS UNISON has been forced to conclude that SOAS management had decided in advance to dismiss Stalin and issues such as evidence and fairness were not going to be allowed to get in the way.

The School dismissed the signed statement and personal testimony of the only independent witness to the alleged events that formed the basis for the disciplinary investigation. It is disgraceful that in SOAS of all places that this evidence provided by a black member of staff can, be dismissed as being “not credible.” In order construct a case sufficiently strong to dismiss Stalin the School referred back to a previous allegation that it had found at the time to be “unfounded and unsubstantiated”. It dismissed numerous character references provided by staff across the School in support of Stalin.

Stalin has been an outstanding SOAS UNISON Branch Chair and has consistently stood up for UNISON members’ rights. His work with the SOAS Living Wage Campaign was central to ensuring that SOAS cleaning staff can now work with a degree of dignity.

It is time to return that solidarity and show full support for Stalin. We urge SOAS staff and students to show whatever support they can.

***In support of Stalin, SOAS UNISON members have voted to conduct a 24 hour Strike Action, which will take place on Thursday 28th May.**

Join the facebook group HERE for updates

Read Lenin's comments HERE

80% of Egyptians don't like Palestinians apparently

...according to our waiter at the Windsor Hotel. 

'they come here and take all our money and land' he said...sound familiar?

Of course this is not true...as i've just been reminded by Egyptian comrades that Egypt has the biggest pro-Palestinian demos that happen in the Arab World. Sorry ya camaradeen Masreyeen.

Just managed to quickly catch a photo of this SAVE GAZA road sign miles from nowhere

I will post more from Egypt soon.x

Assed Baig beats the BNP. Go President Baig

In the face of a vicious, racist campaign at his uni Assed Baig has proved that All it Takes for Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing by winning the presidency of the students' Union.

Assed has not done nothing and therefore evil has  not triumphed.

Baigus has been an inspiration to many standing firm on his politics fighting fascism on campus, defending liberation campaigns and campaigning for free education for all (amongst many other things). Last year he did a national speaking tour  on the topic 'What is Racism?' putting his studies in jeopardy, and not seeing  his son for days on end. 

The campaign against him included smears about his personal life but worse still apparently he was going to:

• implement sharia law
  
• close the night club
• separate women in classes and social spaces
• have only curry in the catering services (like that would be a bad thing!!)
• references to Assed bin Osama
• and more.

Read his report HERE if you are on facebook  or HERE if you are not which includes all 116 comments.

His university is in the heartland of the BNP and has had fellow campaigners beaten up for working with p*ki's. He has campaigned tirelessly on his campus for a few years now, has been on  the SU exec for 2 and now has proven that he knows how to put his money where his mouth is and has built many campaigns on what was otherwise an awful politically passive university.

Here are a few of the lovely comments on his facebook page: 

From Bonolo Woracker - Oh My Days Brother!!!! Congratulations dude, I am so proud and happy. I knew you would make it!! You have been an inspiration and mentor to me and now I know you can only bring good things to the students at Staffs!! If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything!! Congrats President Assed!!

Jennifer Jones - So amazing you're elected, can't believe you managed despite all the lies and smears. proves you can't win an election by relying on islamophobia! now racism will never go unchallenged on your campus. you're gonna be brilliant next year I will be so proud to waive motions to you at NUS! "Goldsmiths waives to Assed Baig, President of Staffordshire Students' Union"!!!

Shamin Akhtar - Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

I feel compelled to share the thoughts of Subhaiha Sheik which she wrote after having accompanying Assed on his tour: Why racism is very much White on Black.

I want to wish Assed all the best and would like you all to send your support to him on facebook (if you're on it).

Poem for Peach Blair

OUR TEACHER BLAIR

Our teacher Blair
Had tousled old hair

Big brown eyes
An enormous size

And they smiled when he walked
And they smiled when he talked

And whenever he stammered
His love only hammered

Our teacher Blair
He was always fair

Black white or brown
He’d never let us down

He taught us words
That made us fly like birds

And the meaning of together
And to stay that way forever

He taught us right
And how we’d have to fight

To make the world again
And find peace again

One hell of a teach
Was our Mr Peach

He didn’t make nno fuss
Just struggled and died for us

ANON, London

This poem was read out at a packed fringe meeting at the NUT Annual Conference last Sunday to remember East London NUT member Blair Peach, who was murdered by a police officer in Southall on 23 April 1979 whilst on a demonstration against the National Front. It is part of an anthology of poems for young people called One for Blair which anti racist teacher and now lecturer Chris Searle put together in 1989 to commemorate Blair on the 10th anniversary of his murder.

The message from this meeting was of the urgency needed now to organise against the BNP, with the European elections set for June. It is possible that this Nazi organisation could gain 7 MEP places if the turnout is low. We will need to organise in our areas to ensure that people exercise their right to vote and use it against the Nazi BNP.

The Army needs subvertising-we need real jobs not bombs.

Outside my son's college all the phone boxes are covered in these Army recruitment adverts. As the world plunges deeper into recession and unemployment levels skyrocket a 'career' in the army can appear to be an exciting prospect, offering working class kids the 'opportunity' to travel the world and do many things otherwise out of their reach.

I could not believe it when my son came home a couple of weeks ago and announced that if he doesn't pass his exams he's going to join the Navy along with his friend. They had had a visit from the Military recruiters at his college and were told that they wouldn't have to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan!

Given that even MY son can fall for this--he has been on Stop the War demo's and has Free Gaza posters on his wall--I am outraged by the military's blatant lies and propaganda.

As an army brat I did too get to travel the world but at what cost? Attending a military school meant that the education we received was quite different to what other schools teach. Our history lessons, for example, did not teach us about Imperialism and colonialism. We were pushed into attending military training. I was in the Air Training Corp and learnt all about the 'good' work that the military does around the world.

My Dad left in the end because he was disillusioned with the army and went onto to become a nurse. I have met up with other ex-military friends of my dad's and they are still suffering from depression and disillusionmeent. All of them say that they could not resist because at the end of the day they were just 'doing their job' and the only way to protest was by leaving which they could not do until they had served a minimum time or pay thousands to buy themselves out. I understand how many people join the military because they want to help people but what help exactly are they giving?

I fully support this campaign and urge us all to do similar actions.

See Clara's blog post about another fabulous action by Hackney Stop the War

See the article in the Hackney Gazette group

and a link to website offering advice to people thinking of joining the military: http://www.beforeyousignup.info/

Top military lies about recruitment: http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/62945/

Is the idea of communism dead? Free entry to conference confirmed.

Today we can safely say that the idea that 'the idea of communism' is old news is indeed old news. The fact that the impending conference On the Idea of Communism being organised by the Birkbeck Institute of Humanities (BIH) sold out within 24hrs, coupled with a return to radical actions in the form of student and workplace occupations, demonstrates a renewed interest in looking for another way to organise the world. Marx's Capital has seen a massive rise in sales and reading groups based around his ideas are back on the agenda. This resurgence has not come from nowhere: it is grounded in material conditions; in the recession beginning to take a firm group on society, in the recent collapse of the banks, and in public services including education being the first places to be hit with cuts.

It is with this in mind that I want to contextualise SOAS's recent activities surrounding the above conference. SOAS and Birkbeck have a relationship that sometimes frustrates students and academics from both institutions including people at the BIH. We have a distinct lack of space at SOAS to hold society meetings and have noticed that an increasing number of our rooms have been given over to Birkbeck for teaching. We are not best pleased with this. Birkbeck management on the other hand are not best pleased with us either. Our recent successful Justice for Cleaners campaign at SOAS has, as Bbk management said at a UL management meeting, 'opened a can of worms' and they are right: Birkbeck students have also initiated their own cleaners campaign.

Further, we are aware of the government's recent withdrawal of funding for ELQ's (Equivalent Level Qualifications) which has meant that roughly 75% of Birkbeck students are no longer eligible for funding. So, financially, Birkbeck as an institution has been hit hard. Although it is the government who are ultimately responsible we are not convinced that Birkbeck management had the political will to fight these cuts on any more than a financial basis. When we heard about an expensive conference being hosted by Birkbeck of course we thought that it was Birkbeck proper, and not BIH (in fact most of us hadn't even heard of the BIH!), attempting to claw back lost revenue. We see plenty of events hosted by Birkbeck promoting right-wing ideas so in our motion we said that the fact that there is an extortionate charge was 'politically motivated'. We are pretty sure that a conference entitled 'On the Idea of Capitalism' would be free-Birkbeck would probably sponsor it personally!

Initially angry SOAS students wanted to storm the stage of the Communism conference. We decided that this would not be the best approach because it would appear that we are attacking the left and we are fully aware there are plenty of people who do this already. So, with only 5 minutes to deadline, we wrote a fairly basic (and not correctly researched) motion. To be honest SOAS UGM's are fairly laid back and we thought that any mistakes would be ironed out in the meeting. No-one challenged the motion and therefore not much more thought was given to the inaccuracies. The person on the exec who was then supposed to carry out the action points went on holiday leaving the issue in the air. So we took the issue up ourselves.

Through a series of meetings and discussions we are now aware that BIH do not get a single penny from Birkbeck or any other sources. The conference was initially planned for a considerably smaller room of just 180. With tickets sold out within 24 hours a larger room was needed. This then expanded a third time to a room with a capacity of 933. With only a skeleton staff to carry out all re-organisation we totally understand how a rapidly snowballing conference places so much pressure on the overworked staff that some things slip through the net. I truly believe that because of this that it was an oversight an offer for 'each according to their means' was not made obvious.

The organisers are 'totally committed to the non-commodification of education', have been involved in student occupations in the 70's and many other activist based projects and are sympathetic with our method of resistance, although disappointed (this is not quite the word I am looking for-any suggestions?) by our not having contacted them first. They would like to organise a series of lectures with us which we will work on once the conferences are over.

It was a stoke of luck that our conference 'The Internet for Activists' is being held on the same day. Many of the confirmed participants, including a large group of Italian students who have also been in occupation of their universities over Gaza, have contacted SOAS to ask what they can do to get involved in the protest; they too could not afford the entrance fees. Partly because of our work in united front campaigns we are confident that we will be able to remove any further antagonism and tension.

Through our taking a stand we have ensured free places in an overflow room with video link-up and are thrilled that our conference will now be launching the Free Our Books campaign in the main hall of the Communism one. This has injected a well needed activism to add political credibility to the theoretical ideas being discussed and gives people from both conferences the opportunity to get together to discuss the best way to put our ideas into action. At the end of the day, as Marx said, the idea of communism can only fight the idea of capitalism. We need concrete actions to fight to change the ideas.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved, and there has been many, and especially the organisers for listening to our concerns. We have all learnt a great deal from this and hope that we continue to work together to fight for a better world.

Finally, we would like to invite all of you 1) to both conferences! And 2) to the SOAS common room on Friday for our Rhythms of Resistance music for St. Patrick's day and on Saturday for Ugandan food and music.

Read what Alex had to say in today's SW

Campaign victory: FREE Communism for ALL!!

We are delighted to announce that our campaign to allow the masses into the On the Idea of Communism Conference has been successful.

A campaign which combined practical action mirrored online has lead the organisers of the conference to do the following:

1) Organise an overflow room with live linkup
2) Provide time to launch the Free Our Books Campaign in Logan Hall at 1pm.

We would like to thank the organisers for being so understanding and for supporting our action.

More details soon.

I just need to do something but I will write a full report in a bit.

SOAS activist disgracefully sacked. Other staff threatened with dismissal if they take industrial action

I don't have any more information about the threats to dismiss staff for taking action but will update this post once i do.

When Paul Webley was appointed to SOAS most people were pleased. I could not help but see his expertise title as a bit of a give away: 'Economic Psychologist'. He knows how to fuck over the finances without you noticing. He gives £50 in one hand to do a little party or something whilst slashing thousands from somewhere you are not looking. at his previous college, Exeter, he closed entire departments against the wishes of the staff. 

Well, Paul Webley-we ARE looking and we will not be intimidated by your threats. This is completely outrageous. Strike action is a wholey legitimate form of protest and we will use it at the request of the majority of union members.

One further thing that concerns us is that Sharon Page, second in charge of SOAS, has resigned YET she was chairing the panel which dismissed Stalin. Now, no-one can be held to account. 

Please email Paul and Sharon expresing your concerns 

We the undersigned condemn the sacking of José Stalin Bermúdez, SOAS Union Branch Chair, by SOAS management. We believe this to be a victimisation due to his prominent role in the successful SOAS Living Wage Campaign. We call on SOAS management to immediately reinstate Stalin!

Please send messages of complaint to Paul Webley, Director and Principal of SOAS, at pw2@soas.ac.uk

Julia Rapkin, Birkbeck Unison
Liam Taylor, Institute of Education student
Johnny Darlington, SOAS UCU
Ben Sellers, co-president, SOAS SU
Janet Lucitt, Birkbeck law student and London teacher
Dermot Bryers, English for Action
Luke Stobart, campaigns officer, Birkbeck Students Union
Katie Boothby, SOAS student
Sam O'Neill, UCL student
Richard Carabine, Birkbeck UCU
Sebilio Lillo, SOAS student
Naomi Bain, Birkbeck UNISON
Jesse Oldershaw, Birkbeck student and UCL UCU
Christophe Josiffe, Senate House Unison

Defend José Stalin Bermúdez! Victimised SOAS activist

His offence? Helping cleaners fight poverty pay

Join the solidarity protest on the 24^th February!

SOAS Unison branch chair José Stalin Bermúdez has been suspended from his post and is awaiting a hearing that could see him sacked from his employment with the college.

Stalin's colleagues and other campaigners believe the move follows his role in leading a successful campaign at the University against poverty pay among cleaning staff.

Stalin, an Ecuadorian immigrant and himself a former cleaner, helped launch a campaign for the London Living Wage after Latin American SOAS cleaners approached him for support, as some of them had not been paid for 3 months by SOAS' cleaning contractor. Stalin, along with other staff and students, organised a series of protests which would see cleaners raise their wages from £5.52 to £7.45 per hour and gain trade-union recognition! This important victory has encouraged similar campaigns to be set up in other London colleges.

We believe that his suspension is groundless.

The Background

Over a year ago, a complaint against Stalin by a colleague was rejected after an investigation by the College. However no attempt was made to either reconcile the two employees or separate them in their duties (despite requests to do this by SOAS union representatives). This was particularly serious as both work in a very small workspace. The atmosphere was so bad that a third member of staff became ill. Still no action was taken. When Stalin did question behaviour on the part of his colleague, he received a further complaint. College management appear to have accepted his version of events over Stalin's.

A cleaner who witnessed events was then examined by college management. There are serious questions about the way this was handled. Firstly, a meeting was held in the presence of his cleaning firm's supervisor. Secondly, instead of being asked for an account of what he had heard, he was read a long quote that Stalin had supposedly made and asked to agree to it. Despite the fact that the cleaner did not speak perfect English, he was not shown the quote, which contained colloquial English expressions that the cleaner, who came to Britain not many years before, was unlikely to understand (and Stalin, who has English as his second language, was very unlikely to use). Under these conditions, the cleaner accepted the version of events presented. However, when he finally read the words, after the meeting, he withdrew his comments. Another member of staff has presented a statement also questioning the alleged version of events.

The procedure adopted to examine the complaint suggests that SOAS management have not been interested in giving Stalin fair treatment. Despite having no serious evidence of wrongdoing, SOAS management, nonetheless, are pressing ahead with a disciplinary hearing.

Stalin's treatment has been unanimously denounced by SOAS Unison and SOAS UCU branch passed a motion to support his campaign.He has already received messages of support from several other union branches and student groups.

Stalin has been working at SOAS for most of the ten years he has lived in Britain since emigrating. He has often showed his solidarity with people fighting for their rights, within SOAS, at neighbouring colleges such as Birkbeck, and elsewhere in London.

For committing these 'crimes' now he and his family of four are facing the prospect of unemployment in the midst of recession.

We need more people like Stalin that stand up against injustice. And we need you to support his campaign.

A solidarity protest for Stalin has been called to coincide with his hearing on the 24^th February at 9.30 am at SOAS (main building entrance, Thornhaugh Street, near Russell Square). Please come and support him and ask union branches and campaign groups to do the same.

Also, send messages of support to Jose Stalin Bermudez jsstalinb@hotmail.com and Sandy Nicoll, SOAS Unison Branch Secretary, an2@soas.ac.uk.

No to victimisation of union activists!

Join the solidarity protest on the 24^th February!

Joint statement from: various people/officers from Warwick Pride

Joint statement from:

Warwick Pride | Campaigns,
Warwick Pride | Entertainments and the Student’s Union LGBTUA+ officer.


The fight for LGBTUA liberation is often difficult and sometimes complex but is something we all believe in.

LGBTUA issues of liberation, are always prominent in the lives of all LGBTUA students; be it showing solidarity with those living in fear of imprisonment, or death for simply loving someone of the same sex, or actively fighting for recognition, their rights within the law, challenging discrimination and defeating stereotypes.

It is a sad fact, that organizing and fighting for LGBTUA liberation is disrupted in times of conflict - times of war.

While the struggle may be disrupted, the concerns, and realities faced by LGBTUA students remain.

It is our firm belief that conditions of war are the worst under which to fight and organize for LGBTUA liberation. This includes the current Israel Palestine conflict.

It is our resolve to stand in solidarity with all those LGBTUA students affected by situation in Gaza, by supporting the “Warwick Solidarity Sit In".

It is important that while we discuss and educate about LGBTUA awareness, as activists we engage with a contemporary issue and show solidarity with Palestinian and Israeli civilians affected by Israeli aggression.

We expect to re-organise Pink Families shortly and encourage you to find out more about current events at the sit-in.

Visit the group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45406209703

In Pride,


Warwick Pride | Campaigns

Warwick Pride | Entertainments


James Hilsdon
UWSU LGBTUA+ Officer
WMNUS LGBT