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Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective
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Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective
ISSUE 304, FRIDAY 11th May, 2001
WOT A LOAD OF BALLOTS
As election fever grips us at SchNEWS Towers, we spoke to some of our focus groups to see how they will be casting their vote - or not as the case may be...
THE ANARCHISTS
(when they're busy not eating babies) "Time and again we are asked to trundle down to the polling station and choose between a couple of carbon-copy candidates from the lets-accommodate-big-business party. This June, instead of not voting, why not Vote for Nobody.
If more people go to the ballots and spoil their paper with a Nobody/None of the Above vote than vote for the winning candidate, we will declare the victory illegitimate, and the ward in question an autonomous zone. We will then be free to set up popular local assemblies, overturn central/local government jurisdiction, and start establishing some genuine people-driven, community-centred democracy in Nobody's wards." http://uk.geocities.com/votenobody
THE SOCIALISTS
"I'm voting for the Socialist Alliance because, the better it does, the longer that people who hate each other will be forced to work together. There are a number of reasons why those people have come together; frankly, some of them were lonely. But whatever the reasons, being forced to listen to different views about how to change the world has to be good for us. "Why we are right and everybody else is wrong" has never been a very productive pamphlet title for the left.
My hope is that once people in the Alliance have got the hang of respecting one another, they will start to respect people outside it, and earn some respect in return. But I'm glad the RCP has broken up because they were just wankers." - Jeremy Hardy, Comedian
THE GREENS
"The most important issue in the elections and the biggest threat to the planet today is globalisation and free trade, which really means the takeover of the world by multinational corporations, who will run it for the benefit of the super-rich few, and not for the rest of us. The way to stop globalisation is to vote Green. Voting Labour or Liberal Democrat to keep the Tories out is a sick joke, because Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats are all corporate-friendly parties who all support globalisation. And not voting at all is like voting for one of them, because it means that one of them will get in instead of a Green. It is quite understandable that people should hate all politicians after having been let down so badly by Blair, but if you are feeling like this, please think again, and go out and vote Green."
And why not? After all, the Greens won't let us down will they? Just look at Germany.
THE FREE PARTY POSSE
"If you're gonna waste your vote, waste it with style!" Yep, Bob Dobbs from the Church of the SubGenius is once again standing in Brighton, this time for The Free Party - who are asking people to come up with a manifesto on their website. "Here any opinion, however ludicrous or wise, may be aired" they say. "As soon as there are ten suggestions for policies, they are placed upon Bob's wheel of misfortune, and the wheel spun by our spin doctors. Whichever policy the fates choose then becomes concrete manifesto. If unchosen suggestions continue to be supported via the web, they can make any number of appearances; unpopular ones will be sold off to the other main parties, being as they are fairly devoid of their own ideas. And like all politicians, our main interest is looking good on television." www.freeparty.org.uk
THE CLIMATE CHANGERS
"Having consulted our meteorological crystal ball, we can safely predict some severe weather patterns in the run-up to election day, mostly in the form of potentially catastrophic hot air emissions from all parties fielding candidates. What they won't remind you of is that you have 14 more general election votes before 2050. By this time climate change may well have flooded many cities, killed off the Amazon rainforest due to drought, melted the Arctic, brought malaria to the UK and created a billion environmental refugees. Cuts in greenhouse gasses of 60-90% are needed, yet no political party is even willing to discuss cuts of this magnitude. Our sources can also reveal a sinister refusal by parties of all colours to reject the UN-sponsored 'solution', code-named 'Kyoto'. 'Kyoto' seeks to smuggle free market climate change solutions into international law in the guise of a soft and caring environmental treaty. So a June 7th vote is a vote for the end of the world as we know it."
CIVIL LIBERTIES
"With the Terrorism Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, the UK has powers that would make any dictator proud. But the pressure on political parties to get ever tougher in crime, fuelled by a public addicted to stories of crime (they now make up 1/3 of your average TV bulletin) is increasing and is turning our criminal justice system into a Orwellian machine.
"What we really need is an end to the fixation on crime in the media, which increases fear of crime and allows police powers to be increased; removal of advertising which creates artificial needs and makes people feel they are only as good as their possessions; rebuilding communities so that they can gradually deal more with crime and offenders rather than leaving it up to an increasingly authoritarian state; viewing crimes with the appropriate level of seriousness: more emphasis on insider dealing, less on hash dealing"
MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
"The election on June the 7th, will witness the second term of the most right wing labour government since the War. When in opposition many within the labour party stood shoulder to shoulder with human right groups protesting the innocence of the wrongfully convicted. Since taken power, not only have they turned their backs on the plight of the innocent, they have introduced more draconian powers than any other government in the past. Which we, in the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation, unfortunately predict will lead to arise in more and more innocent people losing their freedom. New Labour should hold its head in shame."
Miscarriage of Justice Organisation, Tardis Studios, 52-56 Turnmill St, London EC1M 5QR
TIT-BIT
This month is the 20th anniversary of the World Health Organisation International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - the one that Nestle ignores in favour of profit. The way Nestle push their products in poorer countries means many women stop breastfeeding. They are told, sometimes by Nestle-sponsored hospital staff, or by posters on clinic walls, to start bottle-feeding their babies artificial products instead. This means natural antibodies to disease, usually passed from mother to baby, don't get passed on. Mothers who buy and mix the powdered milk themselves (when the free trial supply runs out) put too much water in to make it stretch further, increasing the risk of their baby catching a water-borne disease. The United Nations Childrens Fund estimate that 1.5 million babies worldwide could be saved every year, by stopping the decline in breastfeeding triggered by corporations such as Nestle. For years, people in over 20 countries have been boycotting Nestle Products. and every year loads of people hold a demo on the anniversary of the Code, outside the UK headquarters of Nestlé. Why not join the 20th anniversary one next Saturday, 19th May, between 11-12 noon. Meet outside the Nestlé UK HQ, St. George's House, Park Lane, Croydon Contact: Baby Milk Action 01223 464417 www.babymilkaction.org
CRAP ARREST OF THE WEEK
For criminal damage to a police camera: A woman was nicked during the Bristol Mayday protests after touching a cop camera with a swiss roll. Despite trying to 'sweet' talk them she was held for 4 hours and then charged.
For criminal damage to a taxi: Cyclists were arrested on the Bristol
critical mass last month after their falling bodies scuffed a taxi as it ran
them over.
Terrorism Act-Up
Last Tuesday, up to 3000 people demonstrated outside the Home Office against the banning of 21 organisations under the Terrorism Act (see SchNews 251). The demonstrators, immediately broke section 13 of the Act by wearing T- shirts emblazoned with logos of the now illegal groups. These include the PKK, the Kurdish workers party that has had a cease fire for more than two years; Tamil Tigers, who have been fighting a bitter war of independence for three decades in Sri Lanka; Sikhs, Kashmiris, and representatives of Muslim groups not to mention a smattering of British activists and assorted trouble makers like the comedian/activist Mark Thomas, John Wadham, the director of Liberty, Louise Christian, a civil rights lawyer and Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP! While the crowd chanted "We are the PKK" speeches were made in support of the now illegal groups, contravening Section 11 and 12 of the act. At one point Mark Thomas and John Wadham went into the Home Office and gave a T-shirt with all of the banned organisations on it to Jack Straw's personal assistant, saying that if it came into his possession he would have to arrest himself as he would also be breaking section 13 of the act! By all accounts this must have been the most multi-cultural demo in recent times with all sorts of people there, the only drawback being that SO 23, the cop photo squad, were there single handedly putting Kodaks share price up by going through loads of film. http://go.to/ta2000
'State of Terror' installation performance all about the new Terrorism Act. Friday 25th May 11am Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton University
US Kansas Governor Bill Graves, with a little help from the Kansas Fertiliser and Chemical Association (KFCA) and the American Crop Protection Association has 'impartially' amended a state law to impose stiffer penalties on people who decontaminate genetic crop sites. The Chairman of KFCA said, "This legislation is a pre-emptive strike and will help deter the growing number of eco-terrorist attacks against crop production".
Positive SchNEWS
- The week that was!!.....Compost Awareness Week!! It may well have slipped us by last week, but now is the time to 'sod' the election and make your garden worms happy. The UK only composts 3% of its total waste. So instead of being an orgasmic, organic pick me up for the garden it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that can also pollute ground water supplies. Stop 'couch-potatoing' and start composting, over 40% of household waste can be useful. If you want to find out about making compost contact HDRA, Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry, CV8 3LG. 024-76303517, www.hdra.org.uk
- Friends of the Earth are running a campaign to save our peat bogs. Peat is used as a compost for gardens, but every time a gardener buys a bag of peat they are directly responsible for destroying some of our most precious wildlife habitats. www.miracle-gone.co.uk
Party and Protest
Over 400 revellers partied on the site of a proposed Sainsbury's last Sunday afternoon in Brighton after a carnival parade through the North Laine. Sainsbury's want a brand new 'sustainable supermarket', getting rid of the blatantly unsustainable organic Harvest Forestry next to the train station and increasing traffic. Unfortunately for Sainsbury's, a new store is not most Brightonians' favourite ingredient - the parade and occupation was an opening direct shot against the chain. Of course the Council still want the supermarket with one councillor saying he "would not be accountable to a public meeting". Police tried to spoil the day by threatening the soundsystem under that old corker the Criminal Justice Act but didn't know what to do with the samba or punk bands. www.solarcity.co.uk/BUDD
- Anyone got any pictures of the day? Get in touch with the SchNEWS office and we'll cross yer palm with biscuits.
- Doreen Massey will be talking on the 'urban renaissance', based on her book 'Cities for the Many not the Few'. Tuesday May 22nd 7.30pm, The Lecture Theatre, Brighton College of Technology, Pelham Street. 01273 681166 www.solarcity.co.uk/BUDD
- A new supermarket Code of Practice, meant to protect small suppliers and the public from the damaging practices of big retailers, is in fact to be agreed with the supermarkets with no consumer or public input. www.foe.org.uk
SchNEWS in brief
- The Rising Tide Tour climate change continues: Edinburgh May 14th, Newcastle 17th, Lancaster 23rd. Tour accompanied by Rising Tide FM (on 87.7, 106.9 in Scotland Details: 078815 435 77 www.risingtide.org.uk
- Anyone who knows of any cheap printers or want to put on a benefit gig should get in touch with Eroding Empire, the monthly listings news/music-sheet for London c/o 56a Crampton St., London, SE17 3AE e: erodingempire@888.nu
- Radio4A will be on the airwaves across Brighton this weekend on 106.6 FM with a mixture of speech and music programmes with a techno party all Saturday night. Also on the web at www.piratetv.net If you would like to contribute call 07980 168115 or email radio4a@hotmail.com
- Silbury Hill, Avebury: a huge hole appeared last year, now it's falling apart 'cos of English Heritage bureaucracy and inaction. Save it! 'Sod Silbury NOW!' demo & talk w/ Terence Meaden. Sat May 19th, 12 noon, village car park, Avebury, Wilts. Bring music, banners, boots and mates. http://www.users.myisp.co.uk/~gtour
- Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy have been arrested at the US Spy Base, Menwith Hill (yet again). Both when arrested asked for their MPs to be contacted as 'the person interested in their welfare' (surely they are taking the piss). They were protesting against the US 'Star Wars' programme and intend to challenge the byelaws on the base. www.caab.org.uk
- Steward Community Woodland low impact project, Dartmoor, Devon, desperately needs letters of support for a planning permission appeal (deadline 28th May). Details www.stewardwood.org
- Activists are gathering at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment this weekend. March through Reading, 11.30am from the Station. Vigil on Sunday at the Main Gate of Aldermaston, 2.30pm. Blockade of Aldermaston, from 7 am on Monday. Further details 01324 880744, www.tridentploughshares.org
- www.smut.org.uk is not a porn website, but is Spitalfields Market Under Threat which aims to protect the Market from development
- Earth First! Nigeria wants to network with other groups, contact them at 20 Dawson Road, By Forestry Junction, Benin City, Nigeria. e-mail environmentalrescue@yahoo.co.uk
INSIDE SchNEWS
- Polish Anti-Nazi Activist Rafal Rusilowski has been arrested and accused of assaulting a Nazi, despite him not being near the fight when it occurred. Letters of support to Rafal at WARHEAD, PO Box 129, 15-662 Bialystok 26, Poland who will translate your letters and send them to Rafal. *
- Mumia Abu-Jamal, ex-Black Panther and journalist, has been on death row in the US since 1982. He was wrongfully imprisoned when police framed him for killing a cop in Philadelphia. There will be a picket in support of Mumia outside the US Embassy on May 12th, 12 pm to 3pm, Grosvenor Square, London W1. Info: Mumia Must Live!, BCM Box 4771, London WC1N 3XX www.callnetuk.com/home/mumia
- Ali Khalid Abdullah is a New African anarchist who has been in jail for over 11 years. He is in prison for assaulting a major drug dealer because one of the sellers sexually molested an eleven year old girl as payment for the girl's mother's drug bill. Since his incarceration, Ali has continued his political struggles. Six years ago he set up the Political Prisoner of War Coalition. For this and other organizing efforts behind the prison walls he has been a target for repression by prison authorities, and was recently denied parole. Write to: Ali Khalid Abdullah, #148130, Thumb Correctional Facility, 3225 John Conley Drive, Lapeer, MI 48446, USA.
...and finally...
"Foot and mouth- dontcha just love it!" rants the photocopied pages of new hate-rag 'The Bristolian.' "What a class conscious virus! Even Class War couldn't beat this one. Badminton Horse Trials - CANCELLED. Countryside Alliance March - CANCELLED. Queen Mum- DISINFECTED.Meanwhile, footie, darts, boxing and snooker-COMPLETELY UNAFFECTED. Ha! Fucking Ha! Ha! This is germ warfare with a political consciousness. BUBONIC BOLSHEVISM"
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Last updated 11th May 2001
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