Category: vegetarian / vegan


Hi there.. I see on Farcebook we are now more than 2000 Friends of ‘The Free’ the new novel set in an Occupy style social revolution, during the COLLAPSE of capitalism due to Climate Chaos. If you haven’t seen it yet you can read online or free download, or even order a paper edition  HERE: thefreeonline.wordpress.com

In reality only a tiny handful of those who’d like it have even heard of ‘The Free’..It has no commercial distribution for one thing, and most folks are put off by words like REVOLUTION..

Can you help please..? by re-posting, sharing, or re-blogging this letter, or asking your bookshop or library to stock it.

Best wishes and LOTS of luck………mikegilli

May 9, 2012  7.00an…
they are evicting the Rimaia Lliure University .. + + + … by surprise, for the fourth time!

The eviction is a brutal provocation just 3 days before the big 12M mobilizations, and with the anarchist Laura Gomez still held for no crime.

 From 6:45 o’clock in the morning two units of the Mobile Brigade of the Catalan police (fourteen vans) are evacuating the building of the University Lliure The Rimaia in 12 Ronda Sant Pau in Barcelona. The agents have come by balconies with ladders and have burst the door of the building to the surprise of the people living there, because the trial court ordered 22 of Barcelona’s criminal case file two years ago it was understood an abandoned building for two decades and, therefore, was not committing any criminal offense against property developer Camat, owner of the property. (the trial had been archived) View full article »

By Rebecca Solnit   Violence is what the police use. It’s what the state uses. If we want a revolution, it’s because we want a better world, because we think we have a bigger imagination, a more beautiful vision. So we’re not violent; we’re not like them in crucial ways.

When I see a New .York City policeman pepper-spray already captive young women in the face, I am disgusted; I want things to be different. And that pepper-spraying incident, terrible though it was for the individuals, did not succeed in any larger way.

In fact, seen on Youtube (704,737 times for one posted version) and widely spread, it helped make Occupy Wall Street visible and sympathetic to mainstream viewers. The movement grew tremendously after that. The incident demonstrated the moral failure of the police and demonstrated that violence is also weak. It can injure, damage, destroy, kill, but it can’t coerce the will of the people, whether it’s a policeman assaulting unarmed young women or the US Army in Vietnam or Iraq…..

We Are Already Winning

The powers that be are already scared of the Occupy movement and not because of tiny acts of violence. They are scared because right now we speak pretty well for the 99%. And because we set out to change the world and it’s working…..

This movement is winning. It’s winning by being broad and inclusive, by emphasizing what we have in common and bridging differences between the homeless, the poor, those in freefall, the fiscally thriving but outraged, between generations, races  and nationalities and between longtime activists and never-demonstrated-before newcomers. It’s winning by keeping its eyes on the prize, which is economic justice and direct democracy, and by living out that direct democracy through assemblies and other means right now.

It’s winning through people power direct-action tactics, from global marches to blockades to many hundreds of Occupations.  It’s winning through the creativity of the young, from the 22-year-old who launched Move Your Money Day to the 26-year-old who started the We Are the 99% website. And by tactics learned from Argentina’s 2001 revolution of general assemblies and politica afectiva, the politics of affection. It’s winning by becoming the space in which we are civil society: of human beings in the aggegate, living in public and with trust and love for one another. Violence is not going to be one of the tools that works in this movement.

What Actually Works

The language of Crimethinc is empty machismo peppered with insults. And just in this tiny snippet, incoherent. People who don’t like violence are not necessarily fearful or obedient; people power and nonviolence are strategies that are not the same as the ideology pacifism. To shut down the whole central city of Seattle and the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting on November 30, 1999,  or the business district of San Francisco for three days in March of 2003, or the Port of Oakland on November 2, 2011—through people power—is one hell of a great way to stand up. It works. And it brings great joy and sense of power to those who do it. It’s how the world gets changed these days.

Crimethinc, whose logo is its name inside a bullet, doesn’t actually cite examples of violence achieving anything in our recent history. Can you name any? The anonymous writers don’t seem prepared to act, just tell others to (as do the two most high-profile advocates of violence on the left). And despite the smear quoted above that privileged people oppose them, theirs is the language of privilege. White kids can do crazy shit and get slapped on the wrist or maybe slapped around for it; I have for a quarter century walked through police lines like they were tall grass; people of color face far more dire consequences. When white youth try to bring the police down on a racially diverse movement—well, it’s not exactly what the word solidarity means to most of us……………….

Another Occupy Oakland witness, a female street medic, wrote of the ill-conceived November 2 late-night antics, “watching black bloc-ers run from the cops and not protect the camp their actions had endangered, an action which ultimately left behind many mentally ill people, sick people, street kids, and homeless folks to defend themselves against the police onslaught was disturbing and disgusting in ways I can’t even articulate because I am still so angry at the empty bravado and cowardice that I saw.” She adds, “I want those kids to be held accountable to the damage that they did, damage made possible by their class and race privilege.” And physical fitness; Occupy Oakland’s camp includes children, older people, wheelchair users and a lot of other people less ready to run………….-

Read much more here... WITH THANKS  http://occupy.infoshop.org/blogs-mu/2011/12/01/throwing-out-the-master%E2%80%99s-tools-and-building-a-better-house/

March 2012

Happy to let you know ‘The Free’ is now IN PRINT, on request,  as a real ‘dead tree’ book… Just in time to take part in the ‘Occupy 2012’ movements planet wide!!


Available here: https://www.createspace.com/3702134    costs 10€, or $14, + post. (postage may be cheaper from Amazon here http://www.amazon…. )

..one lonely, abused schoolgirl occupies her own life..and sets off an explosive social and economic revolution


Also it’s Out Now as a free download for Ipad, iPhone, Sony, Kobo, Nook,, etc. Available here:http://www.mediafire.com/?9sdkp1dyhtjbiym for ePub (colour) costs nothing.


Also it’s in Kindle Stores (costs 3€)› US  › UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007EHCF14


And still a free pdf download from its website here: http://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/testing-downloads/ 362 page colour 100 illustrations +all info.


Hope you enjoy the adventure, and build on its ideas to exploit the inevitably coming collapse of capitalism

Best of luck to you all…..mike gilli

Would you like to HELP DISTRIBUTE the printed book? You could just tell your friends.. or ask your local bookstore to stock it by ordering through them. Or ask a library to get it.  Trade stocking details ’The Free’ ISBN 978-1466409323                   .CreateSpace. Direct Reseller Application https://www.createspace.com/pub/l/createspacedirect.do?rewrite=true Also trade distributors like http://www.ingrambook.com/retailers/orderingi.aspx(from April 2012) which unlike Createspace should take returns.  For Libraries the agent is http://www.btol.com/ts3/ 

VIDEO,A  pharaonic real estate, known as Plan Caufec, evicted families a few years ago, destroyed houses and urbanized part of the mountain Collserola , Barcelona…

VIDEO, Un muntatge immobiliari faraònic, conegut com el Pla Caufec, desallotjà fa uns anys famílies, destruí masies i va urbanitzar una part de la muntanya de Collserola d’Esplugues de LLobregat .


Encara avui, varis joves s’enfronten a la judicialització de les accions de protesta que van realitzar per defensar els espais.
Avui, Sacresa, l’empresa promotora està en fallida.
Un centenar d’indignades d’Hospitalet i Esplugues van decidir, el 25 de febrer de 2012, recuperar el solar per obrir horts comunitaris.

 Even today, several young people face the judicialization of the protests that were made to defend the space.  Today, Sacresa, the sponsoring company is bankrupt. One hundred outraged people from Esplugues decided on 25 February 2012, to OCCUPY the lands for  community vegetable gardens.

Dediquem aquest video als companys de la dilatada campanya contra el Pla Caufec, que encara enfronten la criminalització de la protesta.ç

We dedicate this video to friends of the long campaign against the plan Caufec, still facing the criminalization of protest.

VEURE VIDEO:“Recuperem el solar!”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCq-w4imFGU


We’ve counted some 140 ”Occupied Social Centers”  the Spanish state. (en castellano abajo)

 ”In every neighborhood an occupied social center… The movement is no longer so defensive, enclosed in a comfortable (and sometimes thankless) ghetto, and has begun to expand. It’s a good time to welcome without fear new people from other political traditions, and above all, people never politicized.”

In ‘A las Barricadas’ magazine we published a map some  months ago of social centers (squats or not), cultural associations, think tanks, foundations, social libraries, bookstores and other places of anti-authoritarian character.The very variety of the Iberian anarchism today, makes it difficult to categorize or locate many spaces.

The 15M  Occupy The Streets Movement

One of the results of the huge new assembly based movement of 15M, in 2011 ( an anti party and anti leader movement which is still spreading round the world), has been the number of occupations that its various assemblies have opened up.  Apart from Madrid and Barcelona, the squatters of 15M have occupied centers in  Zaragoza, Cuenca, Murcia, Vigo, Burgos, Oviedo, Palma and Leon. We can not deny that it is positive that they have adopted the practice of direct action.  (note.. this refers to the common complaint that the 15M ‘Take the Streets’ movement is much too pacifist.)

Some of these are squatting symbolically, a flower of one day, others are intended for housing, but some have become neighborhood social centers. Its easy for old activists to be critical of starry eyed kids. However the 15M  intentions of being a social center have identical demands to those of social centers in the  90′s. (Note.. many occupations are of public services threatened with closure.)

Squat the Basque Country

Speaking of the phenomenon of squatting we need to observe different contexts in the Spanish state. For example, it is known that all the comrades in Euskal Herriak play in another “League” as there are ‘gaztetxes okupados‘ squatted almost everywhere. In Bilbo city alone there are about a dozen. The idea is, more or less,  of a “social center in each neighborhood.” Strongly influenced by the political context, of course. In most of the gaztetxes leftwing nationalism is more or less open. In other cases they are more hippies, with less political content, and others are autonomous or even libertarian. Reflecting the strength of this movement is the huge response to the eviction of Kukutza III in Bilbo, easily the biggest rally in favour of squatting in recent years (probably) in Europe. On the other hand, in  Iruña (Pamplona) there has been a marked decline, from 10 to 1 (Zizur Nagusia) in recent years, the result of brutal continuous and long lasting repression.(represión.)

Revolutionary Barcelona and Catalunya

In the city of Barcelona is also fulfilled the phrase “in every neighborhood an occupied social center.” It is

La Carbonera. Barcelona 2012

possible that even in every neighborhood there are several. According to the weekly info-mural sheet ‘USURPER’ (Info Usurpa) in the city there are about 24 CSOs (Occupied Social centers), to which must be added those that carry out their activities from time to time and do not appear in InfoUsurpa. What’s more, we should add another dozen libraries and social ‘ateneos’ (autonomous workers centers) with more or less explicitly libertarian inspiration. In total at least  40 community centers (including Ateneos and others) in the city (but not all with daily activity). In the past decade the squatcenters have attracted many young (and not so young) who came to the city from all sides. In some neighborhoods the squatting has been endemic, as in Vallcarca or Poble Nou. Now there is a little everywhere, especially in Carmel, Sant Andreu, Sants, Horta, Clot, the Raval … It has lost the strong presence that it had in Gràcia in the past, but it has moved to other neighborhoods.

But the phenomenon of squatting has spread across the whole of Catalonia. CSOs can now be found in the industrial cities around Barcelona..  Molins de Rei, L’Hospitalet, Cornella, Vilamoura, Castelldefells, Santa Coloma, Badalona, etc.. There is also some displacement of squatters into neighboring Sierra Collserola mountains in the municipalities of Sant Cugat, Cerdanyola, Moncada, La Llagosta …  Kan Pasqual and Can Masdeu..  are rur-urban squatters, with one foot in the city and another in the field. This idea has spread to other CSOs around Barcelona.

And of course the rest of Catalonia, Tarragona, Reus, Baix Llobregat, Barcelona Nord, Sabadell, Terrassa, Manresa, Cerdanyola, Girona, Figueres, Lleida, and so on. There are probably as many CSOs outside as inside Barcelona city. Often there is a “squatter emigration” from Barcelona to the villages and smaller towns. In others it is the original people from the villages, that after participating in the Barcelona squatting movement, have decided to return home to OKKUPY.   Note.. The 15M Occupy movement is also strongly attracted back to the land.

A problem that may be associated  is the creation of certain “culture of the snack bar.” This means that the militant social circle in the center evolve a lack of communication with other social centers (of even their own neighborhood), without being coordinated to carry out common good politics. Sometimes more centers can mean more dispersal of social activists.. Managing an occupied social space can be difficult and exhausting. Especially if you enter into the dynamics of judgments, evictions, squatters, enabling space, student holidays … which can lead to disabling social activists for months until they have their own space underway again.

The 1930´s movement and Today

In the 30′s, according to Pere Solà, there were about 200 Ateneo centers run by Catalan workers. Today the number of social and cultural associations – although we may wonder – is not much less than this amount (about 70 between squatted social centers and cultural associations, some 50 of the Catalan independence movement and another 20 or 30 ideologically undefined). But whereas in the years ranging from 1910 to 1939, every Ateneo had 100, 200 or 500 people associated today in every community center there is an affinity group that is managed and how much some groups that give use . That is, if successful, the social center will have a dozen people running it, or if we include supporters who go through the CSO or Ateneo about 50 or 70 people (which is not bad, of course!). In short, if in the 30′s the phenomenon of labor ateneísmo figures moved tens of thousands of members and activists today are just a few hundred people and a few thousand supporters.

Among the short-term needs is the coordination of social centers belonging to the same ideological tradition (eg, CSOs more explicitly anarchist libertarians with the Athenians) and intergenerational generation of spaces in which knowledge is transmitted and take a policy formation process of the new generations (so you do not have to “reinvent the wheel” again and repeating the same mistakes that past generations).

As to what is known as “squatters’ movement” … In the Barcelona squatting no longer dominates the anarcho-punk atmosphere of the past, which made squatting had a certain aesthetic and ideological coherence, but now there are many variations with many political and aesthetic nuances, which makes it impossible to identify the new squatters politically as belonging to the same movement. Some are separatists, communists, autonomous anarchists, women, postmodern, queer, punk, counter-cultural, ravers, undefined, and so on. Is not the same Can Vies, as Kasa de la Muntanya, you can’t compare the series of Rimaia free university occupations with the District VI and the huge ‘circus squats’..

In Barcelona, today we should speak of “squatting” without more adjectives, iunstead of “squatters’ movement.” We believe that what really should matter is whether a social center falls within the libertarian movement or not, whether that’s part of its business or not. And if so, begin to create opportunities for mutual understanding and collaboration. We understand that the root cause of the malfunction la Assemblea d’Okupes of Barcelona is the very fact that the squatter movement is too dispersed. Otherwise, the generations go by without  libertarian practice  evolving ideologically, and centers burn out naturally over the years.

Madrid Squat movement taking off

By number, Madrid would be the third area of the state with more squats. Today there are about 15 in the capital and about 6 in the Community. This is a record. There has never been more occupied social centers. There are also other universities and community centers that complete the picture coming to be more than 40 social spaces. A similar situation occurs in the city of Barcelona, which is sometimes duplicated efforts, and collaborate rather than fall into certain excess of diversity. However, as there are fewer social centers in Barcelona, it is logical to occur later this numerical growth causes the subsequent referral to the various political movements that adhere to different centers (anarchists, communists, postmodern, and so on. .) Since then Madrid is still in growth phase, but at a pace that will squats in the city in a few years will be achieved or install an Athenian social center in each neighborhood.

And all over the place!!!

Galicia is an area that has experienced a remarkable growth occupied social centers, driven mainly by the independence movement there. In some ways trying to emulate their fellow Basques and Catalans, and to some extent have achieved success going from almost zero to twenty social centers in five years. In the more libertarian countryside there are 5 and about 3 ‘athenaeum’ squats and social libraries. There are also 5 other local initiatives which can classed as libertarian.

As for the rest of the peninsula, we have the case of Andalucia, which despite all its extension has little tradition  except in Granada, Seville and Malaga. In any case in recent years there have also been occupations (some failed to take) in Cordoba, Cadiz, Chiclana and Moron. Here its often squats of blocks of flats with neighbors, where social activists join in squatting and which become social centers occasionally (this also happens in Madrid and Barcelona).

There are also new CSOs on the island of Tenerife (2), Murcia (2), Cuenca (2), Burgos (2, 1 and evicted), Logroño, Salamanca, Valladolid, Leon, Salamanca, Oviedo, Palma, Zaragoza .. . and many places that years ago would have been unexpected as Arnedo, Badajoz, Plasencia or even Valdepeñas (who was evicted). And say nothing of smaller towns rhytm, Madrid and Catalonia, with squats (and some even more).

We conclude that the phenomenon of squatting, despite the laws, despite police repression and all the “bad reputation” associated with it, has remained over time, and has even spread throughout the Spanish state . Right now all regions except Cantabria have squatted social centers( although it had one three years ago and has some ‘Atheneos’. According to the map, there are some 140 CSOs counted statewide, but some are probably left out and others already lost.

For several years the libertarian movement has been complaining about the lack of anarchist Ateneos. (traditional workers social centers). Usually these Atheneos were linked with anarcho-syndicalist unions, but by the 70′s some were created in Catalonia which were autonomous anarchist organizations. With the advent of the crisis in the Iberian anarchism in the 80 and 90, the number of Ateneos remained very low and usually associated with anarcho-syndicalist unions who organised them.

Anyway, in the last 5 years or so, we are seeing an upturn,  with the creation of new explicitly libertarian cultural associations . The drive has several sources. On one side are the unions that create them, because they believe it is the line to be followed for the training of its members and to lead them cultural activity. On the other hand, we have different anarchist activists who, instead of creating a social center create an ideologically undefined libertarian ‘ateneo’ . Some of these activists have learned from their experiences in squatted environments , or being in assemblies too pluralistic for their point of view. The fact is that now there are about 50 libertarian cultural associations in the state and every month we hear of new ones.

The creation of free spaces, the generalization of these initiatives in particular areas (cities and districts with several social centers), and horizontal expansion (in terms of territory: new districts, new towns and cities which are receiving social activist groups) cause the spread of anti-authoritarian practices and are fairly widespread.

It is clear that this freedom movement of our time lacks an ideological coherence. Many people involved in these initiatives refuse to be labeled as anarchists. There is no self-consciousness of “liberation movement” out of the unions libertarian or the Athenians, and autonomous or anarchist insurrectionary groups. We need to change this dynamic and work together to include self-managed different libertarian initiatives in a social-political movement, coherent in terms of principles and objectives, while plural as to tactics. But that all members feel part of the project and see their initiatives as complementary.

We must begin to recognize that we are not so few as 15 years ago, and we need to change perspective. The movement is no longer so defensive, enclosed in a comfortable (and sometimes thankless) ghetto, and has begun to expand. It’s a good time to welcome without fear new people from other political traditions, and above all, people never politicized. The emergence of 15M reminds us of the need to be attentive to what happens in the street, not to despise any opportunity to let our message be heard, because after all “there is something left.” And above all, lets take every opportunity to continue building this libertarian infrastructure (spaces, own media, support groups, means of economic self-management, etc..) To be the basis of “parallel society”.

transalation by Google and corrected and slightly edited by this blogger. (one note. In Spanish ‘libertarian’ means ‘left wing anarchist’.

From  http://www.alasbarricadas.org/noticias/node/19600 with thanks


original Spanish version

Hay contabilizados unos 140 CSO en todo el estado, pero como siempre, “ni son todos los que están ni están todos los que son”.

En Alasbarricadas publicamos hace meses un mapaque hace las veces de directorio de centros sociales (okupados o no), ateneos, centros de estudios, fundaciones, bibliotecas sociales, librerías y otros espacios de carácter anti-autoritario. Se trata de crear un listado exhaustivo de iniciativas libertarias destinado a convertirse en una herramienta más del movimiento libertario (o de los diferentes movimientos anti-autoritarios). Es importante que la gente que comienza a tener curiosidad por el anarquismo o inquietudes sociales, tenga lugares de referencia en los que encontrar anarquistas. Sin embargo, la propia variedad del anarquismo ibérico actual, hace difícil catalogar o localizar muchos espacios. Por ello el directorio es lo más amplio posible, sin ánimo de excluir a nadie, intentando que cada persona pueda encontrar y desarrollar sus afinades.

Pero también estos mapas sirven para realizar análisis en base a los datos que aportan. Probablemente uno de los resultados colaterales del movimiento del 15M, del 2011, haya sido la cantidad de okupaciones que sus diferentes asambleas han llevado a cabo. Estas okupaciones han afectado incluso a territorios anteriormente libres de okupaciones, extendiendo esta práctica. Además de Madrid y Barcelona, las okupaciones del 15M se han desarrollado por Zaragoza, Cuenca, Murcia, Vigo, Burgos, Oviedo, Palma o León. No sabemos en qué pararán estas nuevas okupaciones, pero no podemos negar que es positivo que hayan adoptado la práctica de la acción directa.

Algunas son okupaciones simbólicas, flor de un día, otras están destinadas a viviendas, pero más de una se convertirá en centro social de barrio. Quienes llevamos ya años en temas políticos habremos leído otras veces comunicados sobre las intenciones de un centro social okupado cualquiera. Por muy del 15M que sean, las intenciones de ser un centro social de “barrio para el barrio”, que realice “actividades para lxs vecinxs”, así como que sea un “lugar de encuentro”… son idénticas a las de los centros sociales de los 90.

Hablando del fenómeno de la okupación observamos diferentes contextos en el estado español. Por ejemplo, de todxs es sabido que en Euskal Herriak juegan en otra “Liga” ya que hay gaztetxes okupados casi por todas partes. Solamente en Bilbo ciudad hay cerca de una decena. Se cumple, más o menos, la idea de un “centro social en cada barrio”. Influye mucho el contexto político, claro está. De hecho la mayoría de los gaztetxes orbitan en torno a la izquierda abertzale de una forma más o menos abierta. En otros casos son más hippies, con menos contenido político, y en otros incluso autónomos o libertarios. Como muestra de la fuerza de este movimiento okupa autóctono está la respuesta al desalojo de Kukutza III, en Bilbo, produciéndose la manifestación en favor de la okupación más grande de los últimos años (probablemente) de Europa. De todas formas en Iruña se ha dado un descenso acusado, pasando de 10 a 1 (el de Zizur Nagusia) en los últimos años, fruto de una brutal represión.

CATALUNYA

En la ciudad de Barcelona se cumple también esa frase de “en cada barrio un centro social”. Es posible que incluso en cada barrio existan varios. Según la hoja mural del Info Usurpa, en toda la ciudad hay unos 24 CSOs, a los que habría que sumar los que realizan actividades propias de vez en cuando y que no aparecen en el Usurpa. Por si fuera poco, habría que sumarle otra decena de ateneos y bibliotecas sociales de inspiración algo más explícitamente libertaria. Fácilmente habrá unos 40 centros sociales (incluyendo ateneos y demás) en la ciudad (pero no todos con actividad diaria). En la pasada década se ha consolidado la okupación, atrayendo a numerosos jóvenes (y no tan jóvenes) que venían a la ciudad de todas partes. En algunos barrios la okupación ha sido endémica, como en Vallcarca o Poble Nou. Ahora se da un poco por todas partes, en especial (además de en esos barrios) en el Carmelo, Sant Andreu, Sants, Horta, Clot, Raval… Se ha perdido la fuerte presencia que hubo en Gràcia en otros tiempos, pero ésta se ha trasladado a otros barrios.

Pero el fenómeno de la okupación se ha extendido por Cataluña entera. Predominan por número los CSOs de las ciudades industriales de los alrededores de Barcelona como Molins de Rei, L’Hospitalet, Cornellà, Viladecans, Castelldefells, Santa Coloma, Badalona, etc. Aunque también se observa cierto desplazamiento de okupas hacia la vecina Sierra de Collserola (a tiro de metro o tren) en los municipios de Sant Cugat, Cerdanyola, Montcada, La Llagosta… Kan Pasqual y Can Masdeu abrieron la veda de las okupas rur-urbanas, con un pie en la ciudad y otro en el campo. Esta idea se ha extendido a otros CSO de los alrededores de Barcelona.

Y por supuesto también en el resto de Cataluña, como en Tarragona, Reus, el Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès Nord, Sabadell, Terrassa, Manresa, Cerdanyola, Girona, Figueres, Lleida, y un largo etcétera. Probablemente existan ya tantos CSO activos fuera de Barcelona como dentro. Muchas veces se produce una “emigración okupa” desde Barcelona hacia los pueblos y ciudades más pequeñas. En otras es la propia gente emigrada desde estos pueblos, que al participar en el movimiento okupa de Barcelona, al retornar a casa decide okupar.

El problema que puede llevar asociado tanto centro social es la creación de cierta “cultura del chiringuito”. Es decir, que la militancia se encierre en su centro social produciéndose una incomunicación con los demás centros sociales (de incluso su propio barrio), sin llegar nunca a coordinarse para llevar a cabo una acción común efectiva políticamente. Así, se podría dar que, a más centros sociales más dispersión de la militancia. Y es que gestionar un espacio cuesta mucho esfuerzo. Especialmente si se entra en la dinámica de juicios, desalojos, okupación, habilitación del espacio, vacaciones estudiantiles… que puede llevar a desactivar militantes sociales durante meses hasta que tienen su espacio propio en marcha otra vez.

En los años 30, según datos de Pere Solà , había en Cataluña unos 200 ateneos obreros. Hoy en día el número de centros sociales y ateneos – aunque nos pueda sorprender – será no mucho menor de esta cifra (unos 70 entre centros sociales okupados y ateneos, otros 50 del movimiento independentista catalán y otros 20 o 30 sin definir ideológicamente). Pero mientras que en los años que iban desde 1910 al 1939, en cada ateneo había 100, 200 o 500 personas asociadas, hoy en día en cada centro social existe un grupo de afinidad que lo gestiona y como mucho algunos grupos más que le dan uso. Es decir, que si tiene éxito, el centro social tendrá una veintena de personas llevándolo, o si contamos los simpatizantes pasarán por el CSO u ateneo unas 50 o 70 personas (que no está mal, claro). En resumen, que si en los años 30 el fenómeno del ateneísmo obrero movía cifras de decenas de miles de socios y militantes, hoy en día son solo unos cuantos cientos de personas y algunas miles de simpatizantes.

Entre las necesidades a corto plazo está la coordinación de los centros sociales pertenecientes a la misma tradición ideológica (por ejemplo, los CSO más explícitamente libertarios con los ateneos anarquistas) y la generación de espacios comunes intergeneracionales en los que se transmitan conocimientos y se dé un proceso de formación política de las nuevas generaciones (para que no tengan que “reinventar la rueda” una vez más y caer en los mismos errores que las generaciones pasadas).

En tanto a lo que se conoce como “movimiento okupa”… En la okupación barcelonesa ya no predomina el ambiente anarko-punk del pasado, que hacía que la okupación tuviera una cierta coherencia estética e ideológica, sino que ahora se dan muchas variantes con muchos matices políticos y estéticos, que imposibilita que los nuevos okupas se identifiquen políticamente como pertenecientes al mismo movimiento. Las hay independentistas, comunistas, autónomas, anarquistas, de mujeres, posmodernas, queer, punks, contra-culturales, raveras, sin definir, etc. No es lo mismo Can Vies, que la Kasa de la Muntanya, ni que la Rimaia o el Distrito VI.

Por ello, en tanto a Barcelona, hoy en día se debiera hablar de “okupación” sin más, sin adjetivos, renunciando a hablar de “movimiento okupa”. Creemos que lo que nos debe importar realmente es si un centro social entra dentro del movimiento libertario o no, si participa de su actividad o no. Y si es así, comenzar a generar espacios de entendimiento mutuo y de colaboración. Entendemos que la causa de fondo de que no funcione laAssemblea d’Okupes de Barcelona es el propio hecho de que el movimiento okupa es demasiado disperso. De otra manera, las generaciones van pasando sin profundizar en la práctica libertaria, sin evolucionar ideológicamente, quemándose de forma natural con los años.

Madrid..

Por número, Madrid sería la tercera zona con más okupaciones del estado. Hoy en día hay unas 15 en la capital y unas 6 en la Comunidad. Se trata de una cifra récord. Nunca ha habido más centros sociales okupados. Además existen otros ateneos y centros sociales que completan el panorama llegando a haber más de 40 espacios sociales. Ocurre una situación parecida a la de Barcelona ciudad, que en ocasiones se duplican esfuerzos, y que en vez de colaborar se cae en cierto exceso de diversidad. Sin embargo, al existir menos centros sociales que en la ciudad condal, es lógico que se produzca ese crecimiento numérico que posteriormente provoque la derivación posterior hacia los distintos movimientos políticos a los que se adhieren los diferentes centros (anarquistas, comunistas, posmodernos, etc.). Desde luego aún Madrid está en fase de crecimiento, pero al ritmo que van las okupaciones en la ciudad en pocos años se logrará instalar un ateneo o centro social en cada barrio.

GALIZA

Galiza, es una zona en la que se ha experimentando un crecimiento más notable de centros sociales, impulsados sobre todo por el movimiento independentista de allí. En algunos aspectos intentan emular a sus correligionarios vascos y catalanes, y de cierta manera han logrado un éxito al pasar de casi cero hasta la veintena de centros sociales en un lustro. En el campo máslibertario hay 5 okupaciones y unos 3 ateneos y bibliotecas sociales. Además hay otros 5 locales en los que pueden encontrarse iniciativas libertarias.

En tanto al resto de la península, tenemos el caso de Andalucía, que a pesar de toda su extensión y población la okupación política no tiene tradición más que en Granada, Sevilla y Málaga. De todas formas en los últimos años se han producido okupaciones (algunas no lograron durar) en Córdoba, Cádiz, Chiclana o Morón. Aquí se dan más las okupaciones de bloques de viviendas con vecinos, en los que también se meten a vivir activistas sociales, convirtiendo la okupación en un centro social ocasional (ocurre lo mismo en Madrid y Barcelona).

También se observan nuevos CSOs en la isla de Tenerife (2), Murcia (2), Cuenca (2), Burgos (2; 1 desalojado ya), Logroño, Salamanca, Valladolid, León, Salamanca, Oviedo, Palma, Zaragoza… y muchos lugares que hace años habría sido insospechado como Arnedo, Badajoz, Plasencia o incluso en Valdepeñas (que fue desalojada). Y esto sin hablar de pueblos más pequeños en Euskal Herria, Madrid o Cataluña, que tienen okupaciones (y algunos con incluso varias).

Se puede concluir que el fenómeno de las okupaciones, a pesar de las leyes, a pesar de la represión policial y de toda la “mala fama” que lleva asociado, ha permanecido en el tiempo, e incluso se ha extendido por todo el estado español. Ahora mismo todas las comunidades autónomas excepto Cantabria tienen centros sociales okupados, aunque ésta tuvo uno hace tres años y mantiene algunos ateneos. Según el mapa, hay contabilizados unos 140 CSO en todo el estado, pero como siempre, “ni son todos los que están ni están todos los que son”.

Desde hace varios años el movimiento libertario ha venido quejándose de la falta deAteneos Libertarios. Normalmente estos ateneos estaban vinculados con los sindicatos anarcosindicalistas, pero hacia los años 70 se crearon algunos en Cataluña que eran autónomos de las organizaciones anarquistas. Con la llegada de la crisis del anarquismo ibérico en los años 80 y los 90, el número de ateneos permaneció muy bajo, y generalmente ligados a los sindicatos anarcosindicalistas que los montaban.

De todas formas, desde hace unos 5 años, se está produciendo un repunte mediante la creación de nuevos ateneos explícitamente libertarios. El impulso tiene varios orígenes. Por un lado están los sindicatos que los crean, porque creen que es la línea que deben seguir para la formación de sus militantes y para derivar en ellos su actividad cultural. Por otro lado, tenemos a diferentes activistas anarquistas, que en lugar de crear un centro social sin definir ideológicamente crean un ateneo libertario debido a sus ideas previas. Algunos de estos activistas vienen quemados de sus experiencias en entornos okupados, o bien, de estar en asambleas demasiado plurales para su punto de vista. El caso es que ahora hay unos 50 ateneos libertarios en el estado y cada mes tenemos noticia de nuevos.

La creación de espacios liberados, la generalización de estas iniciativas en puntos concretos (ciudades y barrios con varios centros sociales), y su expansión en horizontal (en cuanto a territorio: nuevos barrios, nuevos pueblos y ciudades que van recibiendo grupos de activistas sociales) hacen que la difusión de las prácticas anti-autoritarias esté bastante generalizada.

Está claro que a este movimiento libertario de nuestro tiempo le falta una coherencia ideológica. Muchas personas que participan en estas iniciativas se niegan a etiquetarse como anarquistas. No existe una conciencia propia de “movimiento libertario” fuera de los sindicatos libertarios o los ateneos, y de los grupos insurreccionalistas o anarquistas autónomos. Es necesario cambiar esta dinámica y aunar esfuerzos para incluir las diferentes iniciativas libertarias autogestionarias en un movimiento político-social coherente en cuanto a principios y objetivos y a la vez plural en cuanto a tácticas. Pero que todos sus integrantes se sientan parte del mismo proyecto y quieran que sus iniciativas se complementen.

Tenemos que empezar a reconocer que ya no somos tan poca gente como hace 15 años, y que es necesario cambiar de perspectiva. El movimiento ya no está tan a la defensiva, encerrado en un cómodo (y a veces ingrato) ghetto, y comienza a expandirse, pero debe saber acoger sin miedo a nuevas gentes provenientes de otras tradiciones políticas, y, sobre todo, a personas nunca antes politizadas. La irrupción del 15M nos recuerda la necesidad de estar atentas a lo que ocurre en la calle, no despreciar ninguna oportunidad para que se escuche nuestro mensaje porque después de todo “algo queda”. Y sobre todo aprovechar cada situación para seguir construyendo esta infraestructura libertaria (espacios, medios de comunicación propios, grupos de apoyo mutuo, medios de autogestión económica, etc.) que será la base de la “sociedad paralela”.

http://www.alasbarricadas.org/noticias/node/19600


CAPE TOWN, Jan 25, 2012 (IPS) – When a food crisis hits the continent, African countries tend to look to the international donor community to mobilise aid. But a fast-growing, drought- resistant tree with extremely nutritious leaves could help poor, arid nations to fight food insecurity and malnutrition on their own.

A 15-hectare plantation of the “miracle tree” with the botanical name Moringa oleifera has already started to make a positive change in the rural village of Tooseng, which is located in one of South Africa’s poorest provinces, Limpopo.

Moringa leaves are dubbed a “super food” because scientists found that they contain the calcium equivalent of four glasses of milk, the vitamin C content of seven oranges, the potassium of three bananas, three times the amount of iron found in spinach, four times the amount of vitamin A found in a carrot and twice the amount of protein in milk. It is like a supermarket on a tree……

Mavis Mathabatha, a former school teacher from Tooseng, has been working hard to set up a Moringa farm over the past three years that will produce enough leaves to make a positive difference in her community and further afield. “I want to make an impact in my area, province and across the country through this project,” she explains….

Today, Mathabatha’s farm produces and packages up to 10,000 tonnes a year of Moringa leaf powder, which is distributed not only within South Africa, but also exported to Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho. “I am hoping to further extend my market in the next few years. There is a lot of interest in my product,” Mathabatha says….

Read full story HERE… with thanks!  http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=106539

 

From The F Word- by Natalie DzerinsDisclaimer: This article will discuss my personal feelings about anti-capitalism, anarcho-communism and their relationships with feminism (and other systems of oppression). Because of this, I will not be discussing the histories of the movements. If you wish to learn about these, the origins section on the wiki-page for anarcha-feminism will point you in the right direction.When I was about seven years old, I asked my mother why everyone couldn’t just do what they were good at and share everything equally. This was my first foray into anti-capitalism, and my opinions haven’t changed much in the past fifteen years.It has always been very important to me to strive for social equality, and capitalism simply does not provide that. I could wax lyrical all day about the oppressive and unjust nature of the capitalist society, in which we are told that the only value of a human being lies in their ability to make profits for a CEO, but this is a feminist website, and I have a 700-word limit. So I will merely outline why I believe that capitalism is inherently anti-feminist and that the solution to smashing patriarchy will necessarily involve smashing capitalism.

It is in capitalism’s best interests to oppress women. The main reason for this is that by devaluing and denigrating 51% of the population as useless and inferior, it seems legitimate to pay them less, or to not pay them at all, for their work – no matter how good it may be for society. Childcare and housework are two prime examples of this. They are services essential to humankind, yet we expect women to a) be the sole or primary providers of these services and b) perform them for free as well as generating capital by holding down other jobs. This is what is known as the “double burden” on women. In a truly equal society, not only would these roles be seen as suitable for everyone, they would be seen as equally important to other work. As it stands, “Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours, produce half of the world’s food, but earn only 10% of the world’s income and own less than one percent of the world’s property” (Global Poverty Project).

Another way in which capitalism exploits women is by creating problems for them to worry about, then offering to sell them a solution. This usually takes the form of making women feel disgusted about their own natural bodies, and convincing them they must change – see pantyliners, douches and pretty much the entire make-up industry. If we smashed capitalism, we’d smash the need for people to sell us things by making us ashamed of who we are.

There are many more examples of this, but once again, I am writing a blog post, not a doctorate. So – why do I believe that once we have smashed capitalism, anarchism is the solution?

Honestly, it’s mainly because I don’t believe in anything else. Any hierarchical system of government or community, be it feudalism, the current parliamentary system or party-led communism will necessarily contain inequality. The needs of the few who make the decisions will outweigh the needs of the many who have decisions made for them. We can see this with the current coalition, whose members have both simultaneously claimed £35,000 on a “second home” when their first home is literally down the street and demonised people with severe disabilities wanting to live normal lives as “scroungers”. Four legs good, two legs better indeed.

However, people in the anarchist movement have been brought up in the same prejudiced, patriarchal societies as the most rabid capitalist, and that has to be overcome. Whether it’s women’s needs not being taken care of in an anarchist environment, or silencing women in group discussions, manarchism seems to constantly rear its ugly head, and we need a feminist movement-within-the-movement to counter it, and that movement-within-the-movement is anarcha-feminism.

So, that’s a very short version of why I am an anarcha-feminist. I’m not claiming to be 100% right, or to speak for all anarcha-feminists(!), but this is what I believe we need to do to create a fair, just and equal society for all.

For more on anti-capitalist feminism in the current UK climate, this article is a very worthwhile read.

Comments From You

Saranga // Posted 24 January 2012 at 13:04

hear hear!

k gallagher // Posted 24 January 2012 at 13:43

Brava! It’s so good to see anarcha-feminism getting a voice in the “Big Feminist Blogosphere!”
http://anarcha.org/ is another great resource for information :)

tom hulley // Posted 24 January 2012 at 19:22

What a refreshing article, thanks Natalie.

From The F Word- by Natalie Dzerins

”Occupy Everything! Call-Out to Occupy Buildings on January 28th, 2012 January 12, 2012 at 9:53 pm

We call on people to reclaim space in their areas on January 28th in the spirit of the occupy movement, but first and foremost to move past the idea of private property and build communities of resistance.

Groups in multiple cities have already announced plans for building takeovers on this date. We urge people to partake in actions that match their capacity. Momentum is on our side; resistance is building.

The natural next step of the occupy movement is to create a political squatting movement that will be a base of power for the continued struggle against the state and capitalism.”

https://incorporealcommittee.wordpress.com/

Comment and 10 Tips.. COPY Spain!!

In Spain also squatting is a criminal offence. Yet in Catalunya alone there are dozens of thriving ‘ Occupied Self managed Social Centers of every description.’ How is this possible? any movement to grab a bit of free space in the US could learnlots from our ideas and tactics.

Occupied self managed social center.. barcelona 2012

Here ae some tips from an ancient squatter.

1. Pick a building that’s long disused or forgotten or that it’s a disgrace to be abandoned.

2.Invite the neighbours to open house type participation from the start.

3. Immediately start all kinds of daily activities, from yoga to dance to ‘freegan’ cafes etc

4. Decide things by assembly, seeking consensus, this short circuits the ‘politicos’ and power obsessed men

5. People living there have first choice, maybe we can ‘adopt’ one person with problems, but we

can’t invite in all the drug and mental casualties of the brutal capitalism-

6.Good Squat Centers are often begun by an already strong group of friends.

7. The local economy is often based on recycling and benefit parties.

8. A great tactic is to have a backup place in case you don’t survive the first crucial days

9. A theme is a good idea, from Circus Squats, Womens centers, Prisoners Aid, rural permaculture, etc.

10. Above all look out for each other, beyond personal irritations, and enjoy the adventure!

   THEY’LL NEVETR EVICT OUR DREAMS”

Animal Liberators Burn 14 Cattle Trucks in California

12 Jan   by Michelle Macaluso

Animal rights activists are taking credit for setting fire to and destroying 14 cattle trucks at California’s largest beef producing, feeding and marketing ranches.

The North American Animal Liberation press office posted an anonymous letter on its website from activists claiming full responsibility for the arson……

“We were extremely pleased to see that all 14 trucks ‘were a total loss,’ with some being ‘completely melted to the ground,’” the statement reads.

“We’re not delusional enough to believe that this action will shut down the [H]arris feeding company, let alone have any effect on factory farming as a whole. [B]ut we maintain that this type of action still has worth,” the statement reads……

While the Animal Liberation Front is not claiming direct responsibility for the fire, the organization provides a platform on their website for animal rights activists…..

read all HERE  http://earthfirstnews.wordpress.com

Using its colossal market power, Monsanto craftily penetrated into the Indian markets.

Monsanto convinced the Indian government that its GM seeds would produce better crops. According to a report by Farm Wars, one former Managing Director of Monsanto claimed that Monsanto manipulated research data “to get commercial approvals for its products in India.”

Indian regulatory agencies, instead of verifying the data, simply remained compliant with the findings of what Monsanto presented. “They did not even have a test tube to validate the data and, at times, the data itself was faked,” the Farm Wars report says.

 Government regulations worked in favor of Monsanto to monopolize the Indian seed market. For example, “Prime Minsiter’s Office” in India pressured various state governments to sign MOUs with Monsanto to privatize the seed market.

Through these “vested interests” with the Indian government, Monsanto eventually has monopolized the GM seed market for more than a decade……….

The failure of Monsanto’s GM seeds was palpable. The farmers held onto their hopes for better crops after they had planted the “magic” seeds. Their crops never came. Throughout the villages in India the harvest from the GM seeds failed. The parasites destroyed the so-called “pest-proof” GM seeds.

Monsanto uses methods of manipulation and misinformation to reap their own benefits and profits at the cost of the farmers who rely on organic methods to grow their crops and animals, a tradition that existed in India for centuries.

By a contractual clause, the farmers could not save Monsanto’s GM seeds for reuse after the first season……….

With no harvest, the farmers could not pay back the lenders. Burdened with debts and humiliation, the farmers simply took their own lives, some by swallowing poisonous pesticides in front of their families. To date, an estimated 200,000 farmers have committed suicide all over India.

To add to the misery, wives inherited the debts along with the fear of losing their homes and lands. With no money coming in, they also had to pull their kids from the schools. The mass suicide among the Indian farmers is known as the “GM genocide.”

In its company website Monsanto declares that its pledge is “our commitment to how we do business.” And then there are the business philosophies with virtuous words like “integrity” and “transparency.”

Read Long full article HERE Globalresearch.caGlobal Research Articles by Iqbal Ahmed

 

More bio tech type stories I’d like to re blog   (from The Watchers with thanks)

  1. Organic farmers sue Monsanto over GMO seeds A landmark lawsuit filed on March 29 in US federal court seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seeds and to prohibit the company from suing those whose crops become genetically contaminated. The Public Patent Foundation filed suit on behalf of 270,000 people from sixty organic and sustainable businesses and trade associations, including thousands of certified-organic farmers. In Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, et al. (U.S. District Court, Southern……
  2. Secret GM wheat experiments begin in Australia Australia’s first trial of genetically modified wheat and barley is under way near Narrabri, New South Wales in the south-eastern area of the country. The goal of the GM wheat is said to be more nutritious bread (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gm-wheat-…). How exactly the genes were altered to create this alleged more nutritious bread remains a secret. All that is known is that 14 different strains of wheat and barley will be grown. Some strains will allow researchers……
  3. Plant disease raises questions on modified crops Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean was first discovered in 1971 in Arkansas and since then has been confirmed throughout most soybean-growing areas of the U.S. SDS is a fungal disease that also occurs in a disease complex with the soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines). SDS is among the most devastating soil-borne diseases of soybean in the USA. When this disease occurs in the presence of SCN disease symptoms occur earlier and are more……
  4. Nikola Aleksic, Serbian ecology leader arrested for openly defying GMOs and chemtrails In October 2011, Nikola Aleksic, leader of Ecological Movement of Novi Sad in Serbia, was arrested and fined. Earlier on his way to a conference in Belgrade, an attempt was reportedly made on his life. And Monsanto has sued him with the threat of removing him and his family from their rented flat as “collateral.” Why all the fuss? Nikola made a spirited speech, recorded on video, challenging the Serbian president for allowing GMOs to……
  5. Did the USDA deregulate all new genetically modified crops? In press release titled “ USDA Responds to Regulation Requests Regarding Kentucky Bluegrass,” agency officials announced their decision not to regulate a “Roundup Ready” strain of Kentucky bluegrass—that is, a strain genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate, Monsanto’s widely used herbicide, which we know as Roundup. The maker of the novel grass seed, Scotts Miracle Gro, is now free to sell it far and wide. So you’ll no doubt be seeing Roundup Ready bluegrass blanketing lawns……
  6. BASF tries (again) to push ‘Frankenpotatoes’ on Europe Europeans have made it abundantly clear time and time again that they want nothing to do with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). But chemical giant BASF refuses to take no for an answer, and is once again pushing for EU approval of a “Frankenpotato” known as Fortuna that, if approved, would represent the EU’s second new legalized GMO in more than a decade. Unlike most Americans, Europeans generally take a keen interest in the integrity of their……
  7. Biotech’s dirty tricks exposed in new documentary: ‘Scientists Under Attack’ “One question means one career.” This was the harsh warning of UC Berkeley Professor Ignacio Chapela for those daring to conduct independent research on genetically engineered foods and crops. “You ask one question, you get the answer and you might or might not be able to publish it; but that is the end of your career.” Both he and biologist Arpad Pusztai dared to asked questions and do the research. And then all hell broke……

 

 

 

Desallotgen l’antiga seu de Caixa Terrassa a la Floresta

Àgata Guinó
Poble Els Mossos d’Esquadra han desallotjat a primeres hores d’aquest matí el local de la Caixa Terrassa a la Floresta, que estava ocupat des de mitjan novembre. L’espai s’utilitzava com Ateneu i com a seu d’una cooperativa ecològica

L’antiga seu de Caixa Terrassa a la Floresta, ubicada a la plaça Miquel Ros, ha estat desallotjada a primeres hores d’aquesta matí de dimecres pels Mossos d’Esquadra. En el moment de l’entrada dels cossos de seguretat, l’espai no estava ocupat per cap persona. Al matí, els ocupants del local han arribat i han trobat els antiavalots que els hi han permès treure els llibres, materials i altres objectes que tenien dins l’antiga seu bancària.

Els ocupes han lamentat l’actuació policial ja que han explicat que el local donava servei d’Ateneu al barri i que ara cap espai cobrirà aquestes necessitats. També han exposat que abans del desallotjament no havien rebut cap avís judicial. D’altra banda, han afirmat que hi havia una quinzena d’agents antiavalots de la policia catalana, però que no hi ha hagut cap incident i han assegurat que els Mossos s’han portat correctament. Segons fonts dels usuaris del local, els cossos de seguretat han esbotzat la porta principal de l’edifici per entrar. A les nou del matí tres paletes tapiaven la porta d’entrada al local amb rajoles.

Fonts policials han explicat que una dotació d’antiavalots, més tres patrulles de la comissaria dels Mossos d’Esquadra de Sant Cugat s’han desplaçat fins a la plaça Miquel Ros per desallotjar el local ocupat a les set del matí. A més han destacat l’ordre pacífic en què s’ha portat a terme l’actuació.

Ateneu i cooperativa ecològica
El local ocupat donava el servei d’Ateneu del barri. Cada dia es programaven diferents activitats i tallers en els quals podien participar els infants. Per aquest dimecres a la tarda hi havia programat un taller de fang per a la mainada. A més, l’espai s’utilitzava com a seu de la cooperativa ecològica el senglar. Els membres d’aquesta utilitzaven el local per intercanviar productes d’horts ecològics de la zona.

Ya son dos o tres los bancos ocupados por Barcelona en pocos dias.

Los indignad*s de La Floresta hacían una Cercavila por los Bancos de Sant Cugat, luego la Paella Popular

en la Plaza, y actuaron una pequeña drama que terminó..SORPRESA con la entrada en un banco anterior en La Plaza.

Participaron hasta 200 personas incluyendo l*s niñ*s.  El Banc Indignat está cerca al Castillo CSO, ocupado hace 10 dias,

así que hay movimiento, también una cooperativa de consumo y varias cosas más

 

in EEenglish

Now there are I think 3 ex banks OCCUPIED around Barcelona. And on Friday a big crowd played cat and mouse with the baffled police, before successfully occupying another huge building as a ‘home for evicted mortgage defaulters’.

The latest Bank was taken in the La Floresta suburb. After a leafleting and graffiti march around local banks the local  ‘Indignats’ cooked an enormous veggie Paella for up to 200 people. Finally they enacted a drama in the street which ended..SURPRISE in the occupation of an adjoining abandoned bank.(Still going strong). La Floresta is close to the new Occupied Castle Social Center (see post), begun just last week, so there’s plenty of local action, including a small consumers CoOp, an occupied  community garden.. and more stuff.

 

Urgente/ Compañero Mono sufre golpiza dentro de la prision!

El día de ayer, viernes 28 de octubre, nuestro compañero Mono, recibió una golpiza por parte de tres funcionarios de Gendarmería.
La situación ocurrió alrededor de las 16:45 de la tarde, Mono se encontraba dormitando en su celda cuando ingresan los bastardos a realizarle un allanamiento. En eso uno de ellos le pregunta si tiene algo de valor, a lo que Cristóbal responde que sí, su dinero. En esto, se acerca uno de los gendarmes y lo increpa, diciéndole que si acaso cree que le van a robar. En ese momento se armó una pequeña discusión y el mono ya estaba siendo golpeado y lanzado por las escaleras.
Sufrió golpes en su cabeza, tórax y extremidades. Permaneció durante un rato inconsciente y se encuentra con vómitos. Los paramédicos de la unidad no le han tomado la atención necesaria y solo le han administrado antiinflamatorios. Luego, lo trasladaron a una jaula de castigo en donde sufrió episodios de taquicardia y problemas respiratorios. Se encuentra completamente incomunicado y sin comida. Pretenden quitarle su próxima visita. Permanecerá castigado ahí con la asquerosa excusa de que le faltó el respeto a la Autoridad.

No podemos permitir esta situación. No permanezcamos indiferentes
A agitar y solidarizar, no puede repetirse esto.
Ningún compañerx esta solx!    Fuerza Mono!!!

http://grupodeapoyoamono.noblogs.org/Grupo de Apoyo a Mono

I do my Labor with my Neighbor

The front of his white and blueT-shirt had the Watershed Management Group (WMG) logo on it and in a font that looked like it had been stamped diagonally across read the words “CO-OP”. When he turned around to grab a pick axe, other wise known as an Arizona Shovel, the back of the shirt said “I Do My Labor with My Neighbor!”.

-This catchy little phrase does more than just rhyme. It tells of an opportunity for community, a way to reach an otherwise high costing goal. A chance to not only change your own personal landscape, but eventually heal a neighborhood and enjoy a little bit more of a responsible feeling as you look out at your land.

-The WMG has created, and successfully run, this CO-OP program down in Tucson and I have been lucky enough to not only participate in some of the workshops, but I have also been able to meet some amazing and interesting people who share like views on how we should be friendly to the desert……….

………..   -While the clock neared the end of the workshop…who am I kidding, it was actually an hour past end time, the clouds could no longer hold back their hydro-soaked insides and it began to RAIN!! Like I said, the workshop was officially over, but there was still almost every single volunteer still there. This was a passion and a need to see this through. A belief that this was important and an opportunity to grow a property AND grow the knowledge inside. So we hit another gear, put the final pieces into place, and actually started catching that SkyGold into one of the pur-tiest metal tanks in the neighborhood.

-My brain, my clothes and my passion left soaked that early evening as I drove off…back to the Valley of the Sun.   -Hopefully in the very near future, I too can wear a white shirt with a blue logo that PROUDLY states:

“I Do My Labor, With My Neighbor!”

Read Full story HERE  http://rainwaterjunkie.com/2010/08/03/labor-with-your-neighbor.aspx.

 

Watershedding

Here’s what I’m excited about these days: we just held a volunteer workshop to totally makeover a Tucson family’s front yard.  15 volunteers transformed it from a sterile, black-plastic and rock-laden heat island into a runoff-capturing garden of native plants, organic mulch, and (soon) living soil.  This workshop, which was followed by blessed afternoon monsoon rain showers, was just the second in some 24 public workshops that WMG is co-hosting with six different Tucson neighborhoods over the next year.   Through these projects we will de-pave a closed alley to turn it into a pocket park, install rainwater-fed trees along the entrance of a school, and create rain gardens in the middle of a parking lot, among other things.  We will do all of this alongside volunteers from each neighborhood. 20 of these volunteers recently completed a 5-month training with WMG to assess, design, build, and advocate for these kinds of green infrastructure in their communities. 

Check it out HERE http://www.watershedmg.org/node/271

love and rage: life after the collapse of capitalism

Greetings to all, especially you FoFees  (friend of the Free)  hope you’re enjoying the book

Set in the Collapse of Capitalism our heroes escape their School and Family and fall in with the squatters, anarchists and gays, who are busy getting ready for the final confrontation and the Dawn of a co-op Money Free world.. It’s a thriller as well..

Just to say it is selling well..Not a surprise as it’s FREE  (lol). It also makes a very economical present.

It now has 1322 Friends of The Free on FARCEbook (FoFoFs), and I havent a clue who’s who.  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001284179241

Plus its Blog has had 36.218 page views in 7 months. Seems like a lot.

Of course most people just  passed by the blog looking at other stories. http://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/

Here’s a few more of the hundreds of reviews the book has had on the ‘Authonomy’ website  http://www.authonomy.com/books/4458/the-free/

Abuse of power being consistent in our culture, where fear colludes with the bully, it is cheering to see victims organising and supporting each other . This will appeal to a great many young people.
You give us moments of delight:… rolling her big eyes back to us girls … such scandal would zoom round and round the area – like a bee in a jar … Then her daffodil moment of glory: dancing and swirling, waving the flowers at the grey building … the golden snow. I’ve never heard of ‘testerical laughter’, but it kind of hits the mood of the moment.I really like your book and back it with pleasure.  Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Wow; I can’t stop reading! I’ve just finished chapter 8, and I’m only stopping because it’s 1AM! It seems to remind me a little of ‘A Clockwork Orange’, combined with ‘A Child Called It’. I cannot wait to read on. I’m still not entirely sure about a lot of things (such as the political situation) but everything I’ve read so far has been wonderful. If I get the chance, I will buy this book.

Karen Eisenbrey I read three chapters and the glossary. I like your ideas for remaking society, especially the mix of practical, earnest things with more whimsical ideas of fashion etc. I especially like how in the first chapters, it’s not obvious that the story takes place in (I would guess) the near future in a shifting, alternative society. But there are little clues all over the place that things are falling apart and changing, present but not taking over the story. We start with Linda, a real, relatable character. You’ve nailed the voice here. She’s articulate and smart, but not at all formal; young, angry, scared, beaten down but ready to stand up. Good luck with The Free!…Karen Eisenbrey

Aaron Pattis wrote After three chapters, nothing will stop me from reading the rest of this book! Who couldn’t pull for a kid like this and wonder where she’s going to end up? There are some terms that I have difficulty with sometimes, like “lekky” and such, but soon enough figure it out. But I wouldn’t change that voice for this story because it adds to the richness realism in the characters. Great job and backed with pleasure..Aaron,”80 Grit”

Lmfrenchwrote   Wow, what can I say? I love how you capture Linda’s voice. It wasn’t too long ago that I was a fifteen year old girl and…well…wow. I read some of this the other day and wasn’t too

Occupy The Planet. Abolish Debt. For a Co-Op world.

impressed, but I re-read it and trudged on to see what happened beyond the first page and I must say, I am very glad I did. I found myself giggling a bit and read on with a smile. It is a fun story. I am not normally a fan of 1st person POV but you seem to be able to still bring your characters to life. Very nice.

Funny and wonderful. Loved it. J.
CamilleS wrote
What a uniquely funny read.  Really cracked me up!  Camille…Curse of the Golden Fly/The Hobble Knobble Gobble Tree
 Great opening. Fast-paced and spirited way of writing. I like the talk about men drooling over Janice (lol); very typical. It’s real! and the “like a pack of randy dogs snifting after her”…This is what happens most of the time, in real life. Good job Mike. This work is so rich and moving, good humored. I can’t stop reading it.GOOD LUCK!!    Emma Philips…The Dark Intruder
Well Mikey…a huge HUGE contemporary tale. Brutal and brave..comical and painful.  Your style is enviably quirky. The language stripped yet so incredibly weighted. Congratulations, I wish you every success with THE FREE. .    Dawn:ARK
 What a crazy romp this is! I like it!

José and Maria:killed for defending Amazon.

The greedy corrupt Brazilian politicians are voting to give free rein to their fascist landlord colleagues  and the McDonalds backed Ranching industry to  destroy the Amazon Rainforest.

The politicians appeal to nationalist sentiment.. saying we have already destroyed our forests and they have every right.

But 79% of Brazilians are AGAINST the new laws going through.

foto. José and Maria. ‘They gunned them down and cut off their ears”

I blame McDonalds, leading the insane MEAT FRENZY of North American capitalism. A series of major reports including Greenpeace’s ‘Slaughtering The Amazon’ have shown the cheap beef industry to be behind the rapidly increasing destruction of  the billion year old Amazon rainforest, which may be the starting gun for catastrophic climate change and global destruction.

The news of the killing of José Ribeiro and his wife came on the same day the Brazilian congress debated a controvers

the root of Amazon slaughter is Meat Frenzy

ial set of new laws called “Forest Code” which, according to environmentalists, would be harmful to the Amazon, reducing the amount of land preserved from clear cutting.

In a video interview posted on YouTube last November, Ribeiro looks off camera and says to the interviewer: “I have received death threats by businessmen who work with loggers, who don’t want the forest standing.”

José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva campaigned to stop logging and deforestation in the Amazon rainforest

for details click HERE  http://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/jose-maria-killed-by-loggersranchers/

After selling the hardwood and obliterating the ecosystems the land quickly degrades but can support low quality cattle for some years. The trade is fuelled by the billion dollar advertising budget of McDonalds Corporation, and others. With suitable chemical taste additives ever increasing quantities are being sold to already obese North Americans, duped into seeing it as a happy party treat or a virility symbol.

Blaming the fascistic landlord class of Brazil is correct, for their infinite crimes against nature and humanity.

But in the case of José and Maria, due to the driving force of the beef industry, we can trace the culprit straight back to Ronald McDonald!

The Free.   E-book now

available

free DOWNLOAD page, click

HERE 

about the book

Adventure/Thriller.. Maxie rebels and runs away, with anarcha feminists, squatters and gays.. Capitalism goes bottoms up. The climate is revolting.. our heroes live the social and permaculture revolution, and the dawn of a money-free world….The E Book came out on Mayday…. as a FREE  pdf download

Enjoy Fresh Food in Winter

Be more self-reliant by using natural cold storage.

Picture yourself on a frosty Christmas Day(okay in the Nth Hemisphere) serving your own tomatoes or carrots so sweet they’re like candy. And there you are in January, pulling crisp, fresh, raw heads of Chinese cabbage from a box in your cool cellar. Now it’s February, and in one hand, you’re hefting one of those big, rough-looking but fine-grained ‘Long Season’ beets for dinner and, in the other hand, several apples for the lunch box.

Fast-forward to March, and you’re returning to the warm kitchen with a fistful of carrots. Even in April? Of course. That’s you proudly adding your own garden-grown potatoes and garlic to the dinner menu.

In May, you might even find yourself, as we have, eating homegrown sweet potatoes. If you don’t grow a garden, you can buy carefully grown local vegetables in the fall, when they are at peak condition and prices are low, and store them for winter………..

Natural cold storage dovetails beautifully with the best use of your garden space. Many storage crops can be grown as succession crops after early peas, lettuce, radishes, spinach and snap beans.

This fall crop is the second half of the growing season, the half we miss out on if we don’t replant. When you have a cold place waiting for them, these fall-harvested vegetables can carry you well into a new-year bonus of productivity from the same patch of garden soil.

for Free Downloads page/ CLICK HERE

‘The Free’, an adventure/thriller about teenage runaways, during climate chaos and capitalist collapse.  The E-book has been a Free Download since May 1st.

tags: Social Revolution, anarchist, anti-fascist, climate chaos, collapse of capitalism, adventure, coops, coppice, credit union, deschooling, feminist, gay, lesbian, permaculture, magic,money free, online democracy, rape, riot, revolution, squatters,

Become a friend of The Free on Facebook, and share any ideas on how to publicize ithttp://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100001284179241&sk=wal

http://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/

Seed-Mothers’ Confront Climate Insecurity By Manipadma Jena

 

BHUBANESWAR, India, Jul 1, 2011 (IPS) – In eastern Orissa state’s tribal hinterlands about 200 ‘seed-mothers’ are on mission mode – identifying, collecting and conserving traditional seed varieties and motivating farming families to use them.–

As they spread their message through the hinterland, targeting another 140 villages, the women also promote zero dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides….

The struggles of Malkangiri farmers with climate change is visible in the Gudumpadar village where seed-mothers are passionately reviving agricultural heritage and convincing the community to stay with local seeds and bio-fertilisers and pesticides….

Well-known environmental activist and founder of Navdanya, Vandana Shiva, told IPS that “climate resilient seeds in women’s hands are vital to climate security and corporations that have taken out some 1,600 patents on climate resilient seeds are biopirates”.

“Allowing corporations to hijack and monopolise seed supply is a recipe for food insecurity and climate insecurity,” Shiva averred.

read more http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=56332

Read mlore here

Feeding: The anti-poverty group Orlando Food Not Bombs has been passing out free food in city parks for years.

cross-posted from the Miami Herald

ORLANDO, Fla. — Four more activists have been arrested for feeding pancakes and donuts to the homeless in downtown Orlando.

Police officers handcuffed the activists and loaded them into a police van Monday just after they had distributed food to about 30 homeless people in defiance of a city ordinance.

The Orlando ordinance requires groups to get a permit to feed 25 or more people in parks in a downtown district. The rules also restrict the groups to two permits per year for each park.

The law was passed in 2006, but Orlando Food Not Bombs challenged it in court. In April, a federal appeals court in Atlanta ruled that the Orlando law was legal.

Last week, four other activists were arrested for violating the law.

Unclaimed wave of sabotage against pig and turkey farms — IA<br />
Police have reported a rash of sabotage actions against pig and  turkey farms across northeastern Iowa. Damage is described as  “considerable”. Neither the Animal Liberation Front nor other  clandestine animal liberation group has yet claimed responsibility.<br />
The actions are described as occurring at “multiple” farms in three  counties. Three pig factory farms were vandalized in Chickasaw and  Fayette Counties. One turkey factory farm in Bremer County was also  targeted. One of the sabotaged farms was 5 miles northwest of New  Hampton, site of the largest Animal Liberation Front mink liberation in  U.S. history.<br />
The sabotage included damaged office equipment and broken windows.  Police have not ruled out the actions could be merely apolitical  vandalism. However if there was no danger of animal’s being harmed in  the action, factory farms would be a likely A.L.F. target and these  attacks would fit the model of an Animal Liberation Front action.<br />
Police are advising farms to be vigilant in monitoring their farms, and call police if they notice suspicious vehicles.<br />
http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2011022806461745″ /></p>
<p>Police have reported a rash of sabotage actions against pig and turkey farms across northeastern Iowa. Damage is described as “considerable”. Neither the Animal Liberation Front nor other clandestine animal liberation group has yet claimed responsibility.</p>
<p>The actions are described as occurring at “multiple” farms in three counties. Three pig factory farms were vandalized in Chickasaw and Fayette Counties. One turkey factory farm in Bremer County was also targeted. One of the sabotaged farms was 5 miles northwest of New Hampton, site of the largest Animal Liberation Front mink liberation in U.S. history.</p>
<p>The sabotage included damaged office equipment and broken windows. Police have not ruled out the actions could be merely apolitical vandalism. However if there was no danger of animal’s being harmed in the action, factory farms would be a likely A.L.F. target and these attacks would fit the model of an Animal Liberation Front action.</p>
<p>Police are advising farms to be vigilant in monitoring their farms, and call police if they notice suspicious vehicles.</p>
<p><a href=http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2011022806461745

Will Leo the pig take the blue pill and remain in a fantasyland where quaint family farms produce food for our tables?

A nice cartoon that tells you the real truth about animal cruelty and where your food really comes from.

For more information about this film and to take action visit: http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/4/the_meatrix/index.php?fs=action

Bill Sees Link Between Child Abuse And Animal Abuse; Reports By DCF Employees Would Not Be Anonymous

The state House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday for a bill that links cases of child abuse with cases of animal cruelty.

The bill requires local animal control officers and employees at the state Department of Children and Families to report cases of animal cruelty to the state agriculture department. The agriculture commissioner would then be required to issue a monthly report, starting in November 2011, to the DCF commissioner, who would determine whether anyone suspected of animal cruelty is also simulataneously on the list of families at DCF.


full story:
http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/05/bill-sees-link-between-child-a.html

Brazilian beef industry blamed for Amazon deforestation

McDonalds top list of world criminals

Boots and training shoes are not the first things that spring to mind when you think about the causes of rainforest destruction and climate change, but just because the connection isn’t obvious doesn’t mean it isn’t realm, says Greenpeace in a new report, “Slaughtering the Amazon”


SLAUGHTERING THE AMAZON

slaughtering-the-amazon-cover

Greenpeace fingers out Lula da Silva’s complacency with the industry and ranchers Greenpeace fingers out Lula da Silva’s complacency with the industry and ranchers illegal deforestation and in some cases slavery, via giant processing facilities to the supply chains of some of the best known global brands. Shoe companies like Adidas, Reebok, Nike, Timberland and even Clarks are sourcing a significant proportion of their leather from the Amazon – and its big business.

via Brazilian beef industry blamed for Amazon deforestation — MercoPress.

RESOURCE CENTER CLIC HERE.. M c S P O T L I G H T.

 

McDonald’s spends over $2 billion a year broadcasting their glossy image to the world. This is a small space for alternatives to be heard……..

our health

Many nutritionists argue that the type of high fat, low fibre diet promoted by McDonald’s is linked to serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

our fellow earthlings

Vegetarians and animal welfare campaigners aren’t too keen on McDonald’s – for obvious reasons. As the world’s largest user of beef they are responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of cows per year. In Europe alone they use half a million chickens every week, all from windowless factory farms. All such animals suffer great cruelty during their unnatural, painful and short lives, many being kept inside with no access to fresh air and sunshine, and no freedom of movement – how can such cruelty be measured?…….

I’m destroying it

One of the most well-known and sensitive questions about McDonald’s is: are they responsible for the destruction of tropical forests to make way for cattle ranching? McDonald’s say no. Many people say yes. So McDonald’s sue them. Not so many people say yes anymore, but does this mean McDonald’s aren’t responsible?

They annually produce over a million tons of packaging, used for just a few minutes before being discarded……

slave labour

Complaints from employees range from discrimination and lack of rights, to understaffing, few breaks and illegal hours, to poor safety conditions and kitchens flooded with sewage, and the sale of food that has been dropped on the floor. This type of low-paid work has even been termed ‘McJobs’…….

revolution

There is a much more fundamental problem than Big Macs and French Fries: capitalism. But what about anti-capitalist beliefs like socialism and anarchism? Is it possible to create a world run by ordinary people themselves, without multinationals and governments – a world based on sharing, freedom and respect for all life?…..

 

 

RESOURCE CENTER CLIC HERE.. M c S P O T L I G H T.

This blog promotes ‘The Free’, an adventure novel set in the collapse of Capitalism.  free DOWNLOAD page, click HERE 

more posts on crap food, Monsanto, GMOs, etc clic HERE  http://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/category/crap-food/

 

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