My election results and results drinks....

Well, as you can imagine we are all exhausted. And it's still not over yet...The lady is about to start singing tho :-)

I have had positive feedback from every campus so if nothing else we have created a good network of activists to build out of.

*Drinks tonight*: 5.30pm ULU, Malet St. The results are due to be announced at 6pm unless there any complaints. I don't know exactly which room but go to the Duck and Dive on 1st and I will put up posters if we move to another room. Please do try to make it and feel free to bring friends!!

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

For those that cant make it we will send a msg at about 6.15 if it is announced on time. Please spread the news on facebook etc.

I can't wait to get out of this election frenzy-it takes over ones life!

Speak later. Clare

SOAS Stop the War has started with a bang...

Our first meeting 2 weeks ago attracted about 60 people and this was before lessons had even started. From this we organised a planning meeting followed by elections for the committee.

New people to the group came up with some really great ideas: a T-shirt design competition to all wear together on the demo, setting up a blog, Google groups to assist with organisation, banner AND flag making for the demonstration, doing announcements and flyering at other meetings. We want to make a large lively impact on the day of the demonstration.

Sami and Hamza suggested leafletting the upcoming meeting on Egypt. When we arrived there they also wanted to cover the lecture theatre with flyers which they did. We were a bit nervous about doing this because we didnt know whether we were allowed to or not but they did it anyway!

We didnt realise that the meeting was being hosted by comrades and fellow travellers: Rabab alMahdi from Egypt, Anne Alexander and Phil Marfleet amongst others. We asked if we could make an announcement to which they said 'off course you can, this is a very political meeting'!

Hamza and Sami did a bloody stirling job. Alex Callinicos looked clearly impressed. Things like this just confirm the need for young, fresh, new ideas to keep a group refreshed.

We now have regular planning meetings 5pm every Monday in the JCR (Junior Common Room) so please feel free to come along if you like.

Our next event is: Rethink Afghanistan. Read more HERE

Join our mailing and organising group HERE

Hope to see you all on the demo...

Signs of Revolt: anti-capitalist festival

 From luna17activist.blogspot.com

Signs of Revolt: Creative Resistance and Social Movements since Seattle
Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 November 2009
Truman Brewery, Hanover Street, London

For details of this event see the Facebook Event HERE and the website HERE.

Contact show@signsofrevolt.net for more info

This weekend festival of events, which has just been announced, looks excellent. Here's the summary you can find on the Facebook Event, but I recommend you also look at either Facebook or the website for the full timetable.

'10 years ago, in November 1999 an alliance of direct action activists, environmentalists and trade unionists shut down the meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Seattle, stopping the next trade round of Capitalist Globalisation. In the process they sparked a Movement of Movements right across the globe - its slogan became ‘Another World is Possible’.

This November, exactly 10 years from that momentous demonstration, and with most of the predictions of the movements rapidly coming true with the crisis of the economy, a permanent state of war and the collapse of our eco-system wrecking lives across the planet, the rich and powerful meet again in Copenhagen to discuss the next Climate treaty after Kyoto. Yet again activists are preparing to challenge the idea that the Market can solve the problems of the world, and take another step toward that possible world after Capitalism.

Sign of Revolt is an exhibition that weaves together the story of the past decade's social movements, drawing out the influences and connections between and across the movements against Capitalism, War and Climate Change. Using archive material and documentary photography and video from movement photographers and filmmakers, it reveals the story of how we get from Seattle to Copenhagen.

Interspersed in this narrative are works by artist and designer activists and collectives, produced during, within and for the movements, this is the first time such a collection has been brought together in the UK and it will be a chance to reflect upon and celebrate the new creative impulses that the movements spawned and the possibilties for developing the creative capacity of future movements, these issues will also be discussed in greater depth during a series of talks during the exhibition.

As capitalism threatens our very existence, Signs of Revolt defiantly maps out possible routes to a future filled with hope…

The festival is free.

Palestine 'Supermarket Sweep' action - Sainsbury's, Kensington, 11th October 2009

Supermarket Sweep action - Sainsbury's, Kensington, 11th October 2009

Video of action:

http://current.com/items/91154940_boycott-settlement-goods-protest.htm (by Fil Kaler)

On 11th October 2009, a swarm of activists descended upon Sainsbury’s on Cromwell Street, West London to highlight the sale of Israeli and illegal Settlement produce by both Sainsbury’s and other major supermarket chains. Coming from a diverse range of campaign organisations, around 40 activists stood in solidarity with the Palestinian call for a global boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign.

Enterring the store, protestors held up an array of settlement and Israeli produce demanding that the supermarkets put a halt to their sale and reminding consumers of their capacity to effect change by not buying these goods.

Popping up a tent and claiming it to be an “Israeli Settlement”, the actions demonstrated the ridiculous ease at which Israeli Settlements pop up around the West Bank, protected by the military and evicting Palestinians from their land and homes.

They proceded to chant against the occupation and the sale of Israeli goods, following this they went on a tour of the store so that all staff and customers were made aware of Sainsbury's role in supporting illegal settlements. Handing out leaflets and engaging with customers, many of which were supportive, the actions communicated the need for greater citizen action.

Management and security were keen to encourage the protestors to leave but with no success. After twenty minutes within the store, demonstrators left of their own accord, clapping hands and chanting "Free Free Palestine", feeling that their efforts had been succesful in communicating to the store and the general public.

Police arrived soon after and despite a brief interaction with protestors there were no arrests and no signs of aggression.

Activists then left the scene and were followed for some time afterwards, however no further action by the police was taken.

------------------------

This non-violent initiative seeks to challenge the economic and political infrastructure that supports the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Similar to the efforts against Apartheid South Africa, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign hopes to undermine the apartheid in the West Bank and Gaza whereby checkpoints, Israel only roads and the Apartheid all segregate and impoverish Palestinians. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, over 60% of Palestinians live below the poverty line, and in Gaza the figure sits at 70%.

Illegal Israeli Settlement produce is on sale in most of the high street supermarket chains, including Tesco’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Marks and Spencers, and Asda as well as Sainsbury’s. According to the 2004 judgement by the International Court of Justice, Settlements are illegal and in violation of the Fourth Geneva Conventions. Sale of produce from these Settlements reinforce their existence and financially contribute to Israel’s theft of Palestinian land and violent oppression of Palestinians themselves.

This mass action follows a number of smaller protests that have taken place across in London and across the UK which make explicit public opposition to the sale of Settlement goods in British stores. It also follows the September 2009 decision by the Trade Union Congress to commit to building a mass boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign.

Mutiny's Money on trial looks a treat. Joint the Mutiny, jump aboard.

Mutiny presents Money on Trial on Thursday, September 24.

Karl Marx described money as the “universal pimp”. But the grumpy German philosopher is dead and the Queen’s head is still on the £10 note. Having no money is depressing. Money means food. Money means paying the rent. Money means getting a round in. But even those with stacks of cash spend their whole lives desperately trying to make more. Money perverts everything it touches. So do we need money? Is it a fact of life the same way as water, gravity or syphilis. Can we run the world without it?

Money on Trial is an evening of engaged debate and entertainment.

There will be three main themes..

Music and resistance: Has money destroyed the music business;
Green money: Can the money markets deliver on climate change and
Government and our money: can the government be trusted with our money?  

Doors open at 6pm with music and the performances start at 7pm so get there early.

Mutiny has adopted and adapted the Red Room meeting format for a series of events themed Money on Trial, Violence on Trial and Love on Trial. Each event will feature live performances, film showings and music. The performers are invited to a round table discussion with speakers and members of the audience.
Each event begins at 6pm and ends at 11pm starting and finishing with an hour of live music and DJs.

The heart of the meeting will be three sessions of 45 minutes which will feature short films, poems, talks, plays and other performances along with discussion around a central “dinner table” with microphones and questions and statements from the audience.

The first event is titled Money on Trial. The first discussion session will open with an examination of the impact of money on the music industry. We will hear from a new generation of rap artists who have rejected the cliché of drugs, guns, cars and sexism in favour of politically engaged performance. This  session will also be examining copyright laws and hope to have a speaker from the appropriately named Pirate Party.

We will then examine Green Capitalism with a short film from director Nick Bloomfield called A Time Comes about the Greenpeace occupation of Kingsnorth; a video on the Vestas occupation and a discussion about whether green investment and legislation can prevent climate change.

Finally, there will be a video performance before a discussion about money and democracy which will look at the issues around MPs expenses, welfare not warfare campaigns and whether the human race actually needs money to exist.

There will be a twitter wall, an exhibition mezzanine and a goody bag of leaflets and information so that everyone can express their creativity, their ideas and their standpoints. We are still open to new ideas to make the event as stimulating and informative as possible.

Here's a glimpse at some of the contributors...

Photographer Anna Logophobia (great name)
Green artist Kat Austen
Reid Dudley-Smith presents on Music and the Internet
People’s Army General VICTORY
War on want campaigns director

and many more...

See the line-up at the News Update section of the blog

London Student Feminist network activist day. Is this a return to Feminism?

It's interesting how many more young women, and men, are becoming once again interested in what has classically been called Feminism. But what does feminism mean today? Are we still fighting for the right to work, for equal pay, for equal position in society? Well, yes, it seems so. Women, although we are now encouraged out of the home, to work for a boss, to be free to wear what we like in reality this is by no means equal. What sort of work are we allowed to do? Who do we want to be equal to? Who are we trying to emulate? Certainly we are not really equal. The media is littered with sexist images and propaganda which encourage women to behave in certainn ways. Fro example, I was astounded by this article on the launch of the new Pole Dancing doll. 

I don't want to here go over the well argued positions in the many feminist strains but to draw your attention to the fact that feminism the word is back on the agenda and is attracting a new layer of activists.


Although as a Marxist I do not see the struggle for womens rights as seperate from the struggle for equality for all I welcome any moves which encourage people to join in the fight. It is through these campaigns that many people become full blown revolutionaries.

In 1909 Alexandra Kollontai, a leading revolutionary, wrote a fabulous pamphlet entitled  'The Social Basis of the Woman Question'


Here is a quote which encaputlates the opposition to feminism as seperate from class struggle:

The feminists see men as the main enemy, for men have unjustly seized all rights and privileges for themselves, leaving women only chains and duties. For them a victory is won when a prerogative previously enjoyed exclusively by the male sex is conceded to the “fair sex”. Proletarian women have a different attitude. They do not see men as the enemy and the oppressor; on the contrary, they think of men as their comrades, who share with them the drudgery of the daily round and fight with them for a better future

 and further:

For the majority of women of the proletariat, equal rights with men would mean only an equal share in inequality, but for the “chosen few”, for the bourgeois women, it would indeed open doors to new and unprecedented rights and privileges that until now have been enjoyed by men of the bourgeois class alone.

 It is on this basis that '[a] woman can possess equal rights and be truly free only in a world of socialised labour, of harmony and justice.'  We can only have equality once the conditions from which oppression are founded have been removed. And this means we must continue our struggle, our fight and our campaigns against an unjust system which places profit before people, which places competition at the heart of all movtivations and which justifies class inequality. You should read her whole article; she puts it much better than me!

Anyway, a suuprising development has arisen surrounding the iminent Feminist Activist Day to be hosted at SOAS: MEN are allowed to attend. And a welcome addition this is. The day will be guided by women; all votes and decisions will be made by women but men can come as observers. Great.

I am providing a short introduction to the political uses of the internet and demonstrating some of the tools of internet activism. I welcome any comments and advice on this.

The day will be kicked off by JUDITH ORR- author of Sexism and the System, former editor of the Socialist Review and veteran speaker at SOAS feminist events and rallys. She will be giving the opening speech on the challenges for feminism today and the backlash against feminism.

The full timetable can be found at the London Student Feminists Network blog

Whilst this is a dayschool for student activists, I'm sure non-students can attend as observers. Please email them to request a space.

Also, if you wish to have a stall there feel free to also contact Elly.

I look forward to seing you all.

Cyberspace Lenin...absolutely

Thanks to Luna 17 for his well presented argument HERE

Following on from my continuing calls for better use of the new technologies that are at our disposal, in the implementing of the Internet for Activists conference that I helped set up in March, and also from the way ICT was employed in the recent occupations I am currently writin a paper on the political uses of the internet vis a vis the revolutionary paper for Historical Materialism conference in November.

Please add any useful links and advice below.

So relevant is the 'quote of the day' below to our situation today that I want to flag it up as a post as well...

Solomon Quotes Marxists (and friends)

Quote for the Day: 22 August 2009

any army which does not train to use all the weapons, all the means and methods of warfare that the enemy possesses, or may possess, is behaving in an unwise or even criminal manner. This applies to politics even more than it does to the art of war.

Lenin, Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder (1920)

Feminist Friday Friends

Well done to London Student Feminists for organising this fab action.

Whilst I am not in favour of a blanket ban on porn, these mags do nothing other than feed into sexist stereotypes of what a woman should look and behave like and feed the pockets of the rich owners.

Capitalism and the rapidly increasing (can it increase any more?) consumerism that it uses to control us recreates the notions that women should be subserviant and sexualised in order for men to find us attractive. Male dominance perpetuated in these mags provides men the excuse to carry out offensive actions against us against our will. Two male members of staff put the covered mags "down their pants and told our activists to pointed to his crotch and said come and get them". Fucking cheek. They have been reported to the police.

So, well done Feminist Friday, long may it continue. Please let us and others know when you're doing more action and we can help build for it and let people know after.

Read excellent reports on Lad's Mags HERE at Object website.

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

Assed Baig is with Aid workers who are to go on hunger strike at Rafah-Gaza border

18/05/2009

British, Belgian and Greek doctors, nurses and aid workers will go on hunger strike tomorrow over the Egyptian Authorities’ refusal to allow entry into Gaza.

After constant attempts aid workers, doctors and nurses, have been refused entry in to the Gaza strip by the Egyptian authorities. Some doctors have been waiting for forty days. Out of utter desperation and witnessing the treatment of Palestinians by the Egyptian authorities, aid workers and activists have been left with no choice except to go into hunger strike and stay at the Rafah crossing until they are allowed through into Gaza.

Although the Egyptian authorities had said the border was open for two days the fact is that non-Palestinians were not allowed to enter, even though some were Palestinian but held different nationalities.

Contact Dr Omar Mangoush
Tel: 0020193764783

Assed Baig
0020178126819

British student activist Assed Baig is ok for now...

Assed texted. He's ok. He's not held separately from the rest of group anymore. The group includes Brits, Belgians and at least 1 Italian.

More on mine and hossams twitter.

http://twitter.com/solomonsmfield or arabawy

Will email more once known.

Other International activists are camping out in Rafah and will start a hungerstrike till Egyptian authorities allow them entry to Gaza

Student Occupations spread to Croatia

Read about it here

On Monday (20/04/2009) an independent student initiative for the right to free education started a peaceful occupation of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia. They organized this action demanding the right to free education for all and the elimination of all tuition fees, at all levels of higher education: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate. During the occupation, everyone is free to enter and leave the Faculty building, but regular classes will not be held. Instead, students have organized an alternative educational program, which consists of lectures, public discussions, workshops, movie screenings and other happenings. Everyone is free to attend these happenings, whether they are students or not.

Every evening, a plenary session will be held, at which students will decide whether they will continue with the occupation the next day. Everyone is free to attend these sessions, participate in discussions and vote, whether they are students or ordinary citizens. The issue of the right to free education is not one that concerns only the students, it is an issue of relevance for the future of the entire society, therefore every member of the society has the right to participate in decision making at the plenary sessions.

On this page you will find information about the initiative for the right to free education, as well as translations of some of our important documents into several languages.

For more information about the reasons for the protest and why the students chose to carry it out in this manner, see frequently asked questions.

So far, we have received numerous letters of support from individuals and organizations, both at home and from abroad. Among those who have expressed support for our cause are Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler and Slavoj Žižek. Full list of who supports us can be accessed here.

SOAS sacks key activist

From Lenin's Tomb

Employers have a number of ways of getting back at successful strikers, and one of them is to target militant trade unionists. Recently, after a high-profile campaign by SOAS Justice for Cleaners, which was ultimately victorious in its demands for decent pay*, the SOAS Unison Branch Chair, Jose Stalin Bermudez, was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing. This was presumably good news to the management at my alma mater, Birkbeck College, where Bermudez was supporting the Living Wage campaign by cleaners there - a campaign that continues to this day, and which involves staff and students at Birkbeck.

The charge against Bermudez was that he had made a "death threat" to a colleague in 2007. The charge has not been substantiated, and was rejected by an earlier grievance hearing, but nonetheless Sharon Page of the SOAS directorate resuscitated the charge in order to justify his sacking. This was the same Sharon Page who had, in 2008, conceded that there was "no evidence or witness to substantiate" the claim that there was "any verbal threat" to the life or safety of the complainant. This was subsequently confirmed in correspondence from the Human Resources manager Charles Perry.

Following the initial decision to sack Bermudez, an appeal was launched. SOAS selected a panel to hear the appeal, rejecting the arguments from SOAS Unison, UCU, NUS and several members of the Academic Board for an independent review. That panel, under the direction of the HR advisor, affirmed the original decision. The basis of the decision was the perception of the complainant, Norman Riseley, of the Estates and Services staff (Estates and Services manages the facilities at SOAS). But there was an independent witness, Pablo Grisales, who - instead of being given the opportunity to testify - was brought before three managers, who read to him a prepared statement and asked him to confirm it. He was given no chance to read the statement, or qualify it in any way. He was prevented from offering his own independent version of events. And the statement, never signed, became the official "witness statement".

Grisales subsequently attended the disciplinary hearing earlier this year, and supported Bermudez's recollection that there had been no threat of any kind. However, Sharon Page dismissed the evidence as a fabrication, declaring that "on the balance of probabilities" she would prefer to believe the managers' claim that Grisales had "verbally confirmed" the unsigned "witness statement". Further, the complainant's version of events was deemed "far more credible" than that of either Bermudez, the accused, or Grisales, the sole independent witness. This absurd judgment reeks of prejudice. In their statement on the decision, SOAS Unison and SOAS UCU, say: "To say that this borders on downright racism would be an understatement. Sharon Page made her decision to dismiss Stalin on her perception of the complainant's perception. One white manager's perception of a white complainant's perception of a black employee. No contest in SOAS."

*The SOAS Living Wage campaign successfully sought to raise cleaners' wages to the modest London Living Wage level of £7.45 per hour, set by the Greater London Assembly to account for the high costs of living in the city. This campaign continues at the other Bloomsbury colleges.

Ahmadinejad asks for defense rights for Hossein Derakhshan

 http://ping.fm/NFn5t

Protest the Thai way: that's the way to do it

Thai protesters force the government to declare a National holiday along with closing down the ASEAN summit.

Watch the video HERE

Not bad AlJazeera coverage including protestors overturning Police truck  HERE

We could learn a lesson or two from our Thai comrades.

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/

5 REASONS TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR THIS WEDNESDAY:

Saturday's Put People First demonstration was excellent. Tens of thousands came out to protest against the whole spectrum of the world leaders' policies. The anti-war bloc was very big and very loud and got lots of coverage.

The next big event is the Yes We Can demonstration this Wednesday.

This is the only anti-war demonstration at the G20. It is the main chance we have to make sure that the G20 leaders can't avoid the massive opposition to their war policies.

The demonstration will assemble at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Sq, London W1A
2LQ. Nearest tubes Green Park or Bond Street.

We will hand in a message to Barack Obama and then march through central London to Trafalgar Square for an alternative summit.

Speakers include Arthur Scargill, Tony benn, Susan George, Lindsey German, Bruce Kent and Daud Abdullah.

5 REASONS TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR THIS WEDNESDAY:

* Barack Obama has just announced a surge of 23,000 extra troops for
Afghanistan. The British government looks set to send another 2,000.

* The murderous siege of Gaza continues. Israel is still bombing the tunnels in
to Gaza.

* No date has been set for the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq.

* Both US and British projected military spending has risen on last year.

* Britain is still selling arms to Israel.

Schools meant for ‘teaching things’, a minister tells MPs

Read this and other hilarious headlines of the fantastic Financial Times mock-up which was handed out at the demo. Printed on salmon pink paper it was so realistic I actually thought it was the FT!

Read it HERE