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Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective

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	"This here world ain't big enough for the two of us."

Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective

ISSUE 323, FRIDAY 21st September, 2001

BUSH-WHACKED

"The response to this unimaginable 21st-century Pearl Harbor should be as simple as it is swift - kill the bastards. A gunshot between the eyes, blow them to smithereens, poison them if you have to. As for cities or countries that host these worms, bomb them into basketball courts." Steve Dunleavy (New York Post, 9/12/01).

As the world edges closer to war, a poll in America finds that 75% of those asked agree that military action should be taken against those responsible for last week's bombing - even if it leads to the deaths of more innocent people. So, let's get this straight, a country is mourning innocent victims of a terrorist attack - and in revenge wants more innocent victims to be killed? But isn't that terrorism? And just who will be the victims of this revenge bombing?

Even before aid workers started leaving the country in anticipation of air strikes, there were dire warnings that Afghanistan was heading for disaster. A three year drought on top of two decades of war and Soviet occupation has left more than 5m people - a quarter of the population - threatened by starvation. As Tamim Ansary, an Afghan writer and columnist who now lives in San Francisco, says, "We come now to the question of bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age. Trouble is, that's been done. The Soviets took care of it already. Make the Afghans suffer? They're already suffering. Level their houses? Done. Turn their schools into piles of rubble? Done. Eradicate their hospitals? Done. Destroy their infrastructure? Cut them off from medicine and health care? Too late. Someone already did all that." After last week, the US government is painting the Taliban as evil without realizing that its main victims are the Afghan people themselves. "Some say, why don't the Afghans rise up and overthrow the Taliban?," says Ansary. "The answer is, they're starved, exhausted, hurt, incapacitated, suffering. A few years ago, the United Nations estimated that there are 500,000 disabled orphans in Afghanistan - a country with no economy, no food. There are millions of widows. And the Taliban has been burying those widows alive in mass graves. The soil is littered with land mines, the farms were all destroyed by the Soviets. These are a few of the reasons why the Afghan people have not overthrown the Taliban."

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Chris Buckley, Christian Aid Programme Officer for Afghanistan explained that "The real Afghanistan is one where 85 per cent of the population are subsistence farmers. Most Afghans don't have newspapers, television sets or radios. They will not have heard of the World Trade Centre or the Pentagon...There isn't even a postal service. Now, in these isolated villages, families are down to their last few weeks of food and already men, women and children in the bulging refugee camps are dying of cholera and malnutrition. And that was before the aid agencies were forced to withdraw."

In a remote village, Dominic Nutt, an emergency officer for Christian Aid, was told by the inhabitants that they had got through almost all their food supplies and had even eaten seeds which should have been planted for next year's crop. Large families were sharing one piece of bread a day. And these are the people who are to be held responsible for last week's tragedy? As the corporate media wags and government figureheads attempt to disguise their bloodthirsty desire for revenge under the guise of justice, it becomes more and more obvious that the punishment America seeks to inflict will only affect people who have spent their whole lives suffering under the worst excesses of war and totalitarian government.

Smack on the Wrist

As last week's SchNEWS pointed out, America's most recent public enemy number one, Osama Bin Laden, was actually funded and trained by the CIA themselves back in the 80's in an effort to keep the big bad Soviets (a previous US public enemy number one) out of Afghanistan. As recently as this Spring, the US government was also surprisingly cosy with another newly declared enemy-the Taliban. In May 2001, the US presented the Taliban with a $43 million gift, making America the leading sponsor of one of the world's most repressive regimes. The reason for this gift? A reward to the Taliban for declaring that opium growing was against the will of God. So how does this reasoning go again? 'Help us in the Sacred War on Drugs and we'll overlook your record of atrocious human rights abuses, but only until you piss us off by not immediately handing over the terrorist we ourselves trained, at which point we'll declare war on you and bomb the fuck out of your country'. Brilliant.

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Taking Liberties

"This attack will benefit the militarists in this country far more than it will benefit anyone else. This unforgivable act of inhumanity will be used as an excuse to crack down on dissent here, to engage in military aggression against other peoples, and to whip up an already more-than-latent anti-Muslim xenophobia." Stan Goff, retired US Army Veteran-cum-radical.

In the wake of Bush's preparation for a long and drawn out "war against evil," an American anti-war movement has sprung into life, urging that last weeks attacks should not lead to more civilian casualties. With the IMF/World Bank meeting that was due to take place in Washington later this month now cancelled, the anti-globalisation rally on the 29th will now become an anti-war protest. As Goff points out, "There is quite simply no security system in the world that can not be bypassed, and there is no way to protect absolutely against these kinds of attacks. When we accept this premise, we have to conclude that overwhelming violence in retaliation for these kinds of acts will not bring such acts to an end, but escalate the levels of overall violence."

And while America's military machine cranks up - and the US military budget is about $9,000 a second - around the globe governments are planning new anti-terrorist laws. But what is the true aim of these laws? Many fear that instead of preventing repetitions of last week's events, new anti-terrorism legislation will only serve to restrict basic freedoms and stifle any resistance against the war-mongering, money-hungry governments that pass them. As one American Earth First! activist told SchNEWS, "There's been so much flag-waving patriotism in America after what's happened, but what people don't realise is that the military and legislative response the US government is planning proves just how empty and meaningless these symbols of American "freedom" and "justice" really are."

Bypass the corporate media www.alternet.org www.indymedia.org

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CRAP ARREST OF THE WEEK

For causing 20 pence worth of damage! Three genetically modified crop pullers are in court this week charged with causing a staggering combined amount of damage of 20p! Obviously Essex Police are desperate to make a conviction after 11 crop pullers walked free earlier this year for damaging the crop the year before.

Plane Failing

After last weeks hijack attacks, the atmosphere looks set to get a breather as people begin to reconsider how they travel and are choosing to keep their feet firmly on the ground - SchNEWS just wishes this was for a better reason than fear!

Air travel, the most polluting form of transport, chucks out loads of carbon dioxide and other nasty pollutants, emitting a lot of this stuff directly into the upper atmosphere where it does the most harm. Despite this, aircraft emissions are not considered for reduction under the Kyoto Protocol.

Now, if you've ever wondered why it's almost as cheap to fly from London to New York, as it is to get a train from London to York then here's a few interesting facts. No VAT is paid on air travel and aviation fuel isn't taxed; if VAT was charged and the fuel taxed at the same level as petrol it'd pull in £6.8 billion a year. Chuck in all the other tax breaks and concessions then this rises to the equivalent of every person in the UK donating £182.45 to the aviation industry every year.

The airlines, already in financial trouble before last week's attacks, saw their shares take massive nosedives. Their response has been to give thousands of staff the push and grovel to governments for subsidies. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic begged the DTI for help so that they could operate on a "level playing field" with the rest of the world. Er, perhaps the World Trade Organisation might be interested in investigating.

*Rising Tide, a grassroots network taking action to tackle climate change, have organised a weekend gathering 13-14th October. The aim is to bring together those campaigning on climate issues to share ideas, tactics and plan for next year. The gathering is at Bridge 5 Mill, a new environmental center in Manchester. More info and bookings: 01865-241097 or RTgathering-subscribe@topica.com www.risingtide.org.uk

* For an in-depth report on the environmental and economic costs of air travel check out www.greenparty.org.uk/reports

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Despite a petition of 4,500 signatures, two fun days, a blockade of the Commonwealth Games Stadium and disrupted council meetings Manchester City Council still decided to close Gorton Tub swimming pool to save a mere £70,000. But still managed to fork out £45 million on their egos building the Commonwealth Stadium! More info: meet 7pm, 1st Oct., St. James' Church Hall, Wellington Street, Gorton, Manchester. www.savegortontub.freeserve.co.uk

* 3 Govanhill Pool protestors were nicked for a 'breach of the peace' for the riotous act of sitting on chairs! They occupied The Lighthouse Gallery in Glasgow as part of the campaign to get Glasgow City Council to reverse its decision. www.saveourpool.co.uk

SchNEWS in brief

• Brighton Peace & Environment Centre wants local arts and crafts, made from recycled/sustainable source materials, to exhibit/sell in their shop. Interested? Call Dinky 01273-570378
• SchNEWS warns people to NOT join SmashTheNazis e-mail group on Yahoo, as it appears to be a fascist trap to get details of anti-nazis. When checking fascist websites use a web utility like Safe Web to mask your computer's identity www.safeweb.com
• URGENT: Ancient woodland is being cut down in Snowdonia National Park for the A470 road widening, more info 07812-429947.

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Gatecrashers

The Neo-Labour Party is coming to Brighton for its annual shallow, war mongering, privatising, media orientated Mc-conference. SchNEWS is none too pleased about this, but we welcome the anarchist-travelling circus who plan to Gatecrash Labour's Party. The fun starts Sunday 30th September, 1pm on The Level in Brighton.

To find out more there's a public meeting at St.Peter's Church, Brighton, 7pm next Tuesday (25th). And a meeting next Wednesday 8-10.30pm at Islington Community Centre, Sebbon Street, Islington, London.

More info: 01273-298192 or gatecrashing2001@yahoo.com

Off the Warpath

The newly formed PAW (Peace and Anti-War) collective had a demo on Tuesday with over 300 people outside the Houses of Parliament. Activities around the country include:

Friday 21st: * Queen Victoria Statue, Town Hall Square, Reading 7pm. 0118-9546430 peacegroup@gn.apc.org * Public meeting 'Which way now for peace?' 8pm Friends Meeting House, Ship St., Brighton. (Every Tues vigil, 12-2pm, MOD recruitment office, Queens Rd) * Public meeting Friends Meeting House, Euston Rd, London, 7pm * Vigil, St.Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh 5-6pm 0131 6695591 jane@gn.apc.org

Saturday 22nd: * George Square, Glasgow 11am 0141-4231222 * Peace Gardens, St. Peter's Square, Manchester 2pm 0161-2738283 * Hippodrome, Bristol 2.30-6.30pm * Reform Street, Dundee 1pm-2pm, 07761104609 http://wib.matriz.net/. * Whitehall, London 2pm Wear black, no banners, no placards, no chanting. CND 020-77002350 www.cnduk.org.

For stuff in your area call CND or check their website * What's happening in Wales 01286-882359

* E-mail list to co-ordinate activities. Subscribe by sending email to : aftermath-11-September-2001-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk

Propaganja

Surprise national news of the weekend was the bust of the Dutch Experience Cafe in 'The Amsterdam of the North', aka Stockport (SCHNEWS 320). They didn't manage to beat the Brighton record of staying open 73 minutes, in fact after the ribbon was put up, it was a matter of seconds before the police unofficially tore thru' the tape, took away the goodies and nicked Colin Davies and his Dutch friends. They were detained for 18 hours before being released on police bail. Good news is that the cafe is still open for Ganja-less business as an informal social centre.

* Campaigning continues with the renamed Cannabis Peace March on September 29th. Meet noon Speakers Corner, Hyde Park for march to Trafalgar Square. Stewards and funding is needed for the March. 020 7636 0951, www.cannabiscoalition.org/

Genoa Headline?

The Parliamentary Commission in Italy has predictably totally exonerated the police actions at the Genoa G8 Summit. Meanwhile recriminations still continue for Italian activists. Last Saturday night the Genoan Pinelli social centre used for planning demos was firebombed, no-one was hurt but the interior was gutted. The following night a memorial dedicated to Carlo Guiliani who was shot dead by police was damaged in a similar attack.

On Tuesday there were about 100 police raids all over Italy with 60 arrests to investigate "Solidarieta Internazionale" which actively supports prisoners in Spain and Greece, and is accused of a number of bombings in Milan. The 'Villa Occupata' squat in Milan was raided, the place trashed and computer equipment confiscated and arrests made, similar events occurred in 20 Italian Cities. All those arrested were released, but 17 are still under investigation under Italy's severe Subversive Association and Subversive Organizations law (anti-'terror' laws).

The raids and intimidation has made planning for the NATO Summit in Naples and a mass mobilization for Genoa on 20th October very difficult. Global solidarity actions are planned. www.genoaresistance.org

* One Italian identified from photos around Carlo Guliani´s murder has had his charges reduced from accessory to attempted murder of a policeman to resisting a policeman. Three Germans arrested at the Genoa protests are still in prison. Money for the Genoa Indymedia Legal Fund can be sent to The Independent Media Centre (IMC) UK, P.O. Box 587, London, SW2 4HA. Cheques made payable to The Independent Media Centre (UK).

Positive SchNEWS

Set up in response to increasing class sizes and the inflexibility of the state education system Human Scale Education promotes small schools and small classes, and there are currently fifteen small alternative schools associated with them. 'Small class size can bring many educational benefits - children are treated as individuals with human scale interactions, their energy and creativity is channelled into positive actions and encouraged to make a full contribution to the communities to which they belong.' Education is aimed to extend the pupils' range of their understanding of the world rather than deliver the pre-packaged state curriculum to prepare you for the rat race of work.

If you want to learn more they are having an Alternatives In Education Fair at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London. 10.30am -5pm. More info Human Scale Education, 96 Carlingcott, nr.Bath, BA2 8AW. 01275-332516 www.hse.org.uk

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...and finally...

So why was America bombed last week? Maybe it was because of their continued support for Israel's occupation of Palestine and their arrogant foreign policy.

Osama Bin Laden may be the number one suspect, but what about those cheeky lesbians? Religious fruitcake Rev. Jerry Falwell, an American TV evangelist, reckons the terrorist attacks occurred because God was angry that the U.S. had become a nation full of abortionists, homosexuality, secular schools and the American Civil Liberties Union!

But maybe it was those hell-raising eco-terrorists? Alaskan Congressman Don Young thinks there's a possibility the attacks are linked to the protests against the World Trade Organization. His reasoning being "If you watched what happened in Genoa, in Italy, and even in Seattle, there's some expertise in that field" Er, when was the last time you saw Earth First! types hijack 737s at demos?

And what about those nasty animal rights activists? Janet George, a big cheese in the Countryside Alliance, reckons that hunt sabs are the same as the people who hijacked four planes and killed up to 5000 people. "Scale is the only fundamental difference between Tuesdays atrocities and the regular behaviour of animals rights extremists in this country and abroad" says the barmy bumpkin. Excuse us but ask Steve Christmas, a hunt sab who was nearly killed last year by hunt supporters, (see SchNEWS 274) about terror and intimidation and while you're about it ask the families of Mike Hill and Tom Worby, two sabs who were killed in 1991 by hunt supporters, about violence.

disclaimer
We're too bushed to think of one, honest.

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Cor-blimley-they’re-practically-giving-them-away book offer

• SchNEWS Round issues 51 - 100 £4.50 inc. postage.
• SchNEWS Annual issues 101 - 150 £4.50 inc. postage.
• SchNEWS Survival Guide issues 151 - 200 and a whole lot more £5.50 inc. postage
• The SchQUALL book at only £6.50 inc postage. (US Postage £4.00 for individual books, £13 for all four).
• SchNEWS and SQUALL's YEARBOOK 2001. 300 pages of adventures from the direct action frontline. £7 + £1.50 p&p. You can order the book from a bookshop or your library, quote the ISBN 09529748 4 3.

In the UK you can get 2, 3, 4 & 5 for £20 inc. postage.

In addition to 50 issues of SchNEWS, each book contains articles, photos, cartoons, subverts, a “yellow pages” list of contacts, comedy etc. All the above books are available from the Brighton Peace Centre, saving postage yer tight gits.

Subscribe to SchNEWS: Send 1st Class stamps (e.g. 10 for next 9 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?). Or £15 for a year's subscription, or the SchNEWS supporter's rate, £1 a week. Ask for "originals" if you plan to copy and distribute. SchNEWS is post-free to prisoners. You can also pick SchNEWS up at the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre at 43 Gardner Street, Brighton.

SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 2DX, England
Phone/Fax (call before faxing): 01273 685913
Email: schnews@brighton.co.uk Web: http://www.schnews.org.uk/ and http://www.schnews.com

Last updated 21st September, 2001
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