CANADIAN LABOUR ONTARIO:

PENSIONERS AND ALLIES OCCUPY 21 ONTARIO TORY OFFICES:

It's called "Blue (collar)-Grey Power", an alliance of workers and pensioners to oppose Tory plans to gut Canada's Old Age Security (OAS). Here's the story, from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) of how they occupied 21 Conservative MP offices across Ontario. You can read more about this action and find out which Tory bench warmers were targeted at the website of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL). A great example of how labour is taking up the innovative tactics of the Occupy movement.

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Seniors and the OFL occupy 21 Ontario Tory offices: Threats to Old Age Security ignite new movement of Blue-Grey Power
Share Labour activists teamed up with seniors, retirees and supporters on February 9 to occupying 21 Tory MP offices across Ontario, while other actions are taking place elsewhere in Canada. The Harper government’s recent threat to cut Old Age Security (OAS) benefits has inflamed a new movement of workers and pensioners, calling itself a movement of “Blue-Grey Power,” that is bringing the fight against the Conservative assault on retirement security directly to Tory constituency offices.

“Prime Minister Harper’s hypocrisy is stunning. He chose to announce his plans to cut Old Age Security in front of the one percenters in Davos, Switzerland when he knows full well that if he were to retire in 2015, he would have a Platinum-Plated, taxpayer-funded pension of $223,517 a year,” said OFL President Sid Ryan, from the sit-in at Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s Whitby constituency office.

Feeling pushed to the brink, the outraged pensioners, soon-to-be pensioners and supporters resorted to the constituency office occupations to demand that Conservative Members of Parliament abandon plans to push back the OAS eligibility age from 65 to 67, or make any reductions to benefits. Instead, they are calling for the Harper government to introduce modest increases to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions that would double benefits for all retirees and seniors.

“Harper’s attack on retirement security is another example of the Conservatives putting ideology over reality and the interests of working families,” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. “Even the government’s own Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, has said that the pension system’s long-term sustainability is sound. We as workers in Canada need to take note of this most recent attack on our rights and standard of living, and mobilize to once and for all elect a government that works for working families.”

To find out more about the occupation, go to www.ofl.ca .

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-TORONTO:

OCCUPATION ENDS/STRUGGLE CONTINUES:

The occupation at the Metro Hall welfare office in Toronto has ended, but the struggle for the 'Special Diet' continues. Here's the story from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP).

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Powerful Action Today at Metro Hall:Call In Tonight to CP 24:

Note to OCAP Supporters: OCAP will be appearing tonight on CP 24's Le Drew Live at 9 pm to talk about the action that took place today at Metro Hall. Please call-into defend the Special Diet and a demand a raise in social assistance rates!

9pm on CP 24

Call: 416-872-2724

Also, footage from earlier today:

http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091208/091208_ocap_rally/20091208/?hub=CP24Home

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Report from Today's Action...please forward widely!

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Powerful Demonstration at Metro Hall: More Than 150 People Occupy Municipal Welfare Offices

December 8th, 2009 - Today, starting at 11:30am, members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) and more than 150, to at times 250 people, who are struggling to survive on Ontario Works and ODSP occupied the 12th floor and main lobby of Toronto's Metro Hall -the head of Welfare bureaucracy in Toronto.

Despite intimidation, the group refused to leave and instead demanded the right to have their Special Diet forms properly processed. The group was loud and determined - chanting "We won't be quiet 'till we get the special diet!". Social Services responded by vaguely telling the group that they are waiting on 'clarification' from the Province on policy around the Special Diet. They then issued an ultimatum and sent in a large team of police, including ETF, who were preparing to mass arrest and physically remove people from the building. After almost 4 hours, the group was forced to exit the building. But this fight is not over - the group from today has vowed to return with an even larger number of supporters.

The City of Toronto is responsible for administering social assistance, and people in this city are currently being denied their right to receive the Special Diet Benefit. Current Provincial policy states that any medical provider can fill out special diet forms. However, the City of Toronto has decided arbitrarily to refuse to process Special Diet forms from Dr. Roland Wong. In doing this they are refusing to follow Provincial policy and are denying access to essential money for hundreds of families on social assistance in this city.

This comes at a time when more people than ever are being forced to live on welfare in Ontario because of massive job loss and a floundering financial system. People on Social Assistance are forced to live on income levels that do not allow them pay their rent and feed their families properly. Welfare offices do all they can to deny even the small benefits people are supposed to get. We suspect that threats to the Special Diet at this time are a scary sign of cuts to come to social services in the name of 'fiscal responsibility'.

The recent Auditor General's report has served to feed the climate in which such cuts can be made. This supposedly 'arms length public watch dog' has timed his tired old allegations of widespread 'welfare abuse' to help the McGunity Government attack people on social assistance and, in particular target the Special Diet. This program has enabled people to reclaim a part of what Harris took from them and what McGuinty has withheld - and it must be defended at all costs.

It is clear that we are are in a crucial time as we face potential cuts. If we are not prepared to fight back, we can be sure that our situation is about to get a whole lot worse. We need to build even stronger resistance - we need new members to work with us to fight for what we all need. Please come to a meeting and get involved. Help build the fight back.

**Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

10 Britain St.

Toronto, ON M5A 1R6

416-925-6939

ocap@tao.ca

www.ocap.ca

CANADIAN LABOUR:

FORESTRY WORKERS PROTEST IN OTTAWA:

Long before the present financial crisis the Canadian forestry industry had been going from bad to worse. Workers in this sector increasingly see the need to take more and more radical actions as their jobs disappear beneath the. Last Tuesday, June 2, workers from across Canada, represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, Canada's largest forestry union demonstrated in Ottawa, calling on the Conservative government to offer the same sort of 'bridge loans' to forestry as are being offered to the automotive sector. The interesting part about this is that it following the occupations of seven federal Conservative offices across the country the day before. The occupations were arguably more effective in putting pressure on the government than the Ottawa demonstration. See the CEP website for more details. Here's the story of the demonstration from the CBC.

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Thousands of forestry workers protest in Ottawa:
CBC News
Thousands of unionized forestry workers from across Canada demonstrated in Ottawa on Tuesday, demanding the government do more to support their industry.

They wanted to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss solutions to the forestry crisis, including protection of workers' pensions and a plan to keep viable mills operating with the help of federal government loan guarantees and other measures.

"The reason we're here is the forestry industry has taken an awful downfall in northern Ontario," Joseph Lefebvre, a pipe-fitter with AbitibiBowater in Iroquois Falls told CBC News.

"We want the Harper government to get off their butts and do something about it."

In the past six years, the industry has lost about 130,000 jobs in Canada.

"Our main demand has always been for the federal government to backstop loans so that viable companies can keep operating, saving jobs and communities," Dave Coles, a spokesman with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, which represents most of the workers, said in a release. "We are not asking for a bailout."

The issue came up in question period, sparking a heated exchange between government ministers and opposition parties.

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe accused the government of offering "crumbs" to the forestry industry in Quebec while throwing out billions for Ontario's auto industry. He said the government supported GM, because it would cause the loss of thousands of spinoff jobs and crush communities dependent on the automaker, which Duceppe said was exactly the same situation the forestry industry faces.

NDP Leader Jack Layton called on the government to create a strategy for the forestry sector. "What we need is some fair trade for a change. What we need is to stop raw logs from going across the border and creating jobs down there in the states," said Layton.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that the forestry sector is struggling because of changes in the market and a dramatic decline in demand for lumber in the United States.

The government, he said, has taken action by offering assistance to help laid-off workers and communities, as well as increasing financing for the sector through the Business Development Bank of Canada.

He also hit back at opposition parties for refusing to support the 2006 softwood lumber agreement with the U.S.

Workers from as far away as British Columbia and the east coast took part in the protest, which kicked off at Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt's office and wound through the city to the prime minister's office.

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MOLLY NOTES:

1)As pointed out over at the CEP website Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff (Icky Iggie) was conspicuous in his absence from this to and fro of debate. Keeping his slate clean for soliciting corporate donations from American connected companies before the next election I guess.

2)As a point of memory the 2006 Softwood Lumber Deal passed because of the support of the Bloque Quebecois, one of the multitude!!!! of times when Harper's minority government survived only by the sufferance of the BQ. Try to remember this if Sneaky Stevie tries to play 'Captain Canada versus the evil separatists' again as he did last January.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-JAPAN:

SOLIDARITY WITH THE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF RYUKYUS:

The following story and appeal is from the Asian Anarchist Network.

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The Statement of Occupation from Okinawa:‏
From:
The Statement of Occupation, March 9, 2009

The authorities at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, have decided to lay off its adjunct language faculty members and massively reduce the number of foreign language courses without fully disclosing why such policies were necessary. Alarmed by the situation, we, the students, have demanded direct negotiations with the university officials twice in the past. But the university dismissed our first demand through writing, and decided to ignore our second request. The university officials thus deliberately failed to create a democratic forum where the students and they could openly discuss the issues and seek possible solutions.

We, the students of the university, will start occupying our campus. As the students who have studied justice, freedom, human rights, and resistance and have been trying to apply them to real life conditions, we question and resist the anti-democratic actions taken by the university authorities.

The aim of this sit-in is to create a situation in which the university authorities must genuinely acknowledge the flawed and problematic nature of its so-called "new language curriculum." If the university still exists for us, the students (as stipulated in its Mission Statement), then the current situation in which it refuses to consider our concerns not only needs to be rigorously critiqued but must be radically changed.

This situation is not the sole concern of the students and adjunct faculty members at the University of the Ryukyus. While the occupation of campus began as a critical response to the neoliberalization of our university and the attendant impoverishment of our educational program, it also aims to shed light upon other related issues such as the breakdown of our"autonomous" university system, crisis of educational system within the Okinawa Prefecture at large, and the issue of unemployment among the residents of Okinawa.

Based upon these conditions and reasons, we demand the officials at the University of the Ryukyus to:

1) Repeal the so-called "new language curriculum."

2) Hold a public meeting about the "new curriculum" that is open to all members of the society.

3) Dismiss president TERUO IWAMASA, and vice presidents KEISUKE TAIRA and RISHUN SHINZATO.

4) Allow the student representatives to participate, speak, and vote at the Board of Trustees' meetings.

5) Establish the democratic election system to appoint president and all board members.

6) Ensure all the rights of the students involved in the occupation and not impose any punitive measure on them.

This occupation is a protest against the university authorities' irresponsible decision to neoliberalize our university that has rather foolishly foregone its commitment to public education and caused the impoverishment of curriculum. This occupation is also a protest against the university officials who, with their authoritarian mindset, never even thought about offering adequate explanations to the students or inviting them into the decision-making process. We, the students, strongly condemn the university's dismissal of the students' voices and will work to reclaim the student autonomy on our own campus.

Finally, we declare our solidarity with all the others who have been actively working and sincerely hoping to abolish the new curriculum. We act with a hope that the University of the Ryukyus, along with all other universities, will reclaim its status as a "university" in the true sense of the word.

March 9th 2009

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THE APPEAL:

The following is the appeal from the students at this University.

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Send your message to

loudaisei@gmail.com

http://loudaisei.seesaa.net/

Please Support the Student Sit-in at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa March 9, 2009:

The authorities at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan,have decided to lay off its adjunct language faculty members and massively reduce the number of foreign language courses without fully disclosing why such policies were necessary. Alarmed by the situation, we, the students, have demanded direct negotiations with the university officials twice in the past. But the university dismissed our first demand through writing, and did not even respond to our second request. The university officials thus repeatedly failed to create a democratic forum where they and the students could openly discuss the issues and seek possible solutions.

As the students who have studied justice, freedom, human rights, and resistance and have been actively applying them to real life conditions, we decided to occupy our campus and voice our resistance against these undemocratically chosen, unforgivable policies. The sit-in has been an important method of self-determination that has been inventively practiced and carefully passed down by the generations of people here in Okinawa in their post-WWII struggles. the sit-in has taken roots in Okinawa because it has allowed the people to directly create a space in which they could openly speak about what a better future meant for each of them when they were living amidst the presence of massive military forces. We thus urge the university to abolish the so-called "new language curriculum" by learning from and drawing upon the method of the resistance historically developed here in Okinawa: sit-in.

The current sit-in aims to create a situation in which the university authorities must genuinely acknowledge the flawed and problematic nature of its so-called "new language curriculum." If the university still exists for us, (as stipulated in its Mission Statement), then we, the students, need to not only critique but change the current critical situation in which our own university does not even acknowledge the concerns and demands of its students.

This situation is not the sole concern of the students and adjunct faculty members at the University of the Ryukyus. While the occupation of campus began as a critical response to the neoliberalization of our university and the attendant impoverishment of our educational program, our sit-in also aims to problematize other related issues such as the breakdown of our "autonomous" university system, the crisis of the educational system within the Okinawa Prefecture at large, and unemployment among the residents of Okinawa.

"The new curriculum" has no legitimate basis to justify itself and benefits no one on campus and in the society, as has been made evident by now at various meetings and through media reports. But it takes much courage for us, the students, to express our demand to abolish"the new curriculum" on the campus of the University of the Ryukyus where all types of harassment take place on a regular basis. To add to this, most tenured faculty members remain silent until today. This is why we sincerely ask for your help because it is difficult to create "the common"or the communal space in our situation now.

Please join our fight to abolish "the new language curriculum." We welcome your participation through various means available: participation in our sit-in, donation, media coverage, and so on. Your support and participation is much appreciated.

Concerned Undergraduate Students at the University of the Ryukyus

CANADIAN POLITICS/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:

PEACE ACTIVISTS OCCUPY CONSERVATIVE MP'S OFFICE:

Demonstrations are continuing every Saturday in Canada against Israel's war on Gaza. One of these today was in London Ontario where four peace activists occupied the offices of Tory MP Ed Holder. Here's the story from the Activist Magazine.

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Peace advocates occupy Conservative MP’s office demanding action on Gaza war crimes:
Written by Rick Telfer
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Four peace advocates in London, Ontario are at the office of London West Conservative MP Ed Holder demanding immediate action from the Canadian government to denounce the continuing massacre in Gaza.

They are determined not to leave willingly until Mr. Holder agrees to advocate that the minority Conservative government:

- call publicly and vigorously for Israel to accept the ceasefire proposed by
Hamas without further conditions or stalling;
- condemn the Israeli
aggression against Gaza for what it is—a war crime (as is the firing of Hamas
rockets into Israel);
- demand that Israel ensure the full and safe delivery
of humanitarian aid to the needy in Gaza and cease targeting relief workers and
emergency medical staff;
- demand that Israel end the collective punishment
of Gazans and lift the illegal blockade of the territory (failing which,
boycott-divestment-sanction measures against Israel must be coordinated by the
international community;
- immediately reverse its shameful opposition to the
recent UN Human Rights Council resolution condemning Israel's offensive in the
Gaza Strip and set up a probe into "grave" human rights violations by Israeli
forces against the Palestinians.

Wendy Goldsmith, a social worker, Beth Guthrie, a library reference specialist, David Heap, a professor, all three from People for Peace, London and Cory Morningstar, president of Council of Canadians London Chapter are outraged at Canada’s complicity with Israeli aggression and crimes against humanity, and deeply concerned over the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"If my family and my community were being bombed to pieces and incinerated by white phosphorous shells, I would hope that people in other countries would take a stand against such atrocities." remarked Cory Morningstar, mother of five. Wendy Goldsmith adds "As a social worker in London, my job is to keep children safe. Who is helping to keep the children of Gaza safe?"

"Thousands of people in London have been crying out for justice for Gaza," points out Beth Guthrie, who has helped organize rallies and other events over the last three weeks. "But our government has been ignoring Canadians and ignoring international law. This complicity has to end."

"All Conservative government offices have turned into mouthpieces for Israeli war criminals." comments David Heap. "There are 142 more Conservative MPs offices across the country where other Canadians should be taking their peaceful, persistent and creative protests."

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Call directly: David 1-519-859-3579 or Wendy 1-519-281-5225 or Beth 1-519-281-5538. For updates or background, contact Rick at mobile@ricktelfer.ca. FRANÇAIS: pour des entrevues contacter David 1-519-859-3579, pour des nouvelles Rick at mobile@ricktelfer.ca. Media release: http://councilofcanadianslondon.wordpress.com/.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-GREECE:

THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE IN GREECE:

Things are quieter now in Greece, the crest of the rebellion seemingly passed, but "quiet" is a relative term, especially when speaking of a country such as Greece. For many years now demonstrations and occupations have been an almost daily occurrence. One person estimated that demonstrations in Sytagma Square in front of the Parliament building "averaged" about 2 per week. In addition bombings and other anonymous attacks on the state and business have been an almost as frequent occurrence for years as well. What was unique about December of last year was not the occurrence of demonstrations, occupations and other attacks on the state but rather the scale of what was occurring.

Here, from Athens Indymedia is a report on the continuing struggle in Greece, up to January 6.

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Greece: 25/12 to 6/1 reports:
This is an update on the most critical events of the past two weeks in Greece

It is true, I haven't made any posts for a long time now, but that doesn't mean that things in Greece are dead. On the contrary. I will try to give you an update on the most critical events on the past two weeks.

Attack against Konstantina Kuneva:

On the 23rd of December, Konstantina Kuneva, a Bulgarian migrant worker in Athens and the secretary of the Union of Housekeepers and Cleaners, was attacked with sulfuric acid in front of her home by two men. She was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. She has burns on her face, head, hands and back and there is a possibility that she will lose her sight. The events before the attack and the testimonies of her fellow unionists and workers show clearly this is an act of punishing her for her involvement in the union. [read more here: http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/konstantina-kuneva-attacked-with-acid/ ]

After the attack, there has been a series of acts of solidarity with Konstantina and against the cleaning company she works for (OIKOMET). OIKOMET is known for sub-letting workers (mostly migrants), who have to work under terrible conditions, paid less than agreed etc. One of the big customers of the company is ISAP (the public rail transport system of Athens) so some of the actions were against ISAP as well. Here is a list (not complete) of the actions:

12/26 Athens: Gathering outside the hospital.

12/27 Athens: Occupation of the offices of ISAP (read: http://katalipsihsap.wordpress.com/2008/12/28/solidarity-to-konstantina-kuneva/ )

12/28 Athens: Demonstration to the hospital

12/29 Athens: Action in a central ISAP station, demonstration and clashes with the police guarding the company's office.

12/30 Thessaloniki: Occupation of the offices of the Trade Unions Center (read: http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/thessaloniki-trade-unions-center-occupation-texts-in-solidarity-with-kkuneva-and-decembers-prosecuted/ )

12/30 Thessaloniki: Demonstration12/31 Athens: Action in central ISAP station

1/3 Athens: Demonstration in Petralona, ticket canceling machines and cameras were smashed (photos: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=960766 )

1/5 Thessaloniki: Demonstration (Photos: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=962264 )

Israeli attack in Gaza

On the 26th of December, as you all know, the Israeli army started a full scale attack on Gaza and protests against the war were triggered all over the world. Same in Greece.

Again, here are some (not all) actions that took place against the war so far:

12/29 Athens: Gathering outside the Israeli embassy. The protesters (500-1000) were attacked by the riot cops guarding the embassy using tear gas. They made some arrests, including one of a young migrant from Syria who broke the police lines and got the Israeli flag down.

12/31-1/1 Athens: Gathering at Sintagma square against the war minutes before the New Year's.

1/3 Athens: Demonstration of 5000people. Protesters threw rocks to the embassy and the to the cops guarding it. The cops fired tear gas.

1/4 Athens: Demonstration of 4000people. Clashes with the cops and some banks smashed (Photos: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=961117#961401 )

Smaller scale protests took place in other cities.

Prisoners support and actions on New Year's

Gatherings outside prisons across the country just before the New Year in solidarity with the prisoners. Many banks, cars and party offices were attacked and there were some clashes with the police.Full article with links to photos and videos:

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=959537

Actions against consumerism and capitalism

Christmas trees placed in central squares across the country for Christmas celebration were burned as symbolic acts against the apathy and so that people won't forget the murder of young Alexandros.

12/29 Athens: Protest inside the biggest and illegally built mall. 150 protesters with banners took the isles of the shopping mall and shouted slogans. Photos: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=959200http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=959215http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=959228

The slogans on the banners read: “what will be the next sale on our lives”, “work, vote, and shut up”, “shut up and shop”, “I shop therefore I exist”, “work, buy, consume, die” and more.

28/12 Athens: On Sundays the stores are closed in Greece but since it was the last Sunday of the year, some shop owners decided to keep them open, demanding their employees to go to work. Some hundreds of anarchists and leftists gathered outside stores in downtown Athens to keep the stores, if not closed, then with no customers. They shouted slogans and prevented people from going in.

1/3 Xanthi and Kavala: Big chain grocery shops were attacked by anarchists who filled carts with food, cooking oil and other goods, left and gave them away to people shopping in nearby people's markets (farmers markets)

More actions that took place during the 2 last weeks for the murder of Alexandros and in solidarity with the arrestees:

Arson attack against a minister's car.

Soundsystem set up to transmit messages and read communiques and demands in Holargos (Athens), Larisa and Kozani

Occupation of the townhalls in Nauplio and Agrinio, the municipal radio station in Xanthi and Poligiros and of a central cultural space in Athens (Irida).

Gatherings or demonstrations in Ptolemaida, Larisa (300 people), Kalamaria, Arta and Xanthi.

There have been also some attacks/arsons against banks and luxurious cars.

On the night of 1/2, 50 or so people attacked the riot squads guarding the PASOK's offices in Exarhia with molotov coctails. The cops threw tear gas.

A small group threw molotov coctails against the police station in Gianena. Three people were arrested.

More arrests took place in Prolemaida, when the cops detained 12 people gathering to demonstrate. Four people were arrested later when they went to the police station to demand their release, 2 are parents of people initially detained.

Unfortunately the number of the arrests is huge. From from 12/06/08 to 12/21/08: Arrests: 246 - detained/ pretrial custody: 66 (full report: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=958127 )

Shots against riot police and police state in Athens

In the small hours of 1/5, around 3am, there were shots fired in Exarhia. Shortly afterwards it was made known that there was an attack against members of a riot squad guarding the ministry of culture and that a cop was seriously injured.

Immediately after the attack, Exarhia were turned into a police state. Hundreds of riot and plain cops were all around the area, detaining anybody who was on the streets. They drag people out of bars and detained. They even detained people who worked at the bars at that time! The cops were very provocative, making people to strip down to search them and they beat up some. All detained, were transferred to police stations, held there for several hours and most of them were released later that morning. The media says 72 people were detained but they might be more that 100.

When the day came, cops invaded into 10 or so houses to search and detain the residents. All the people detained are “usual suspects” since they are active in the anarchistic movement or had previous arrests.

During the whole day, every street in Exarhia was full of cops and riot cops, like an occupation army, provoking and threatening people. At night, the social space Nosotros was blockaded by riot cops but they didn't raid. Around 150 people gathered to protest and protect those inside.

The raids were carried on on Tuesday. Of all the people detained there have been 8 arrests. It's not yet clear but apparently some of the arrested on the first night and some after searching their houses the next day. None of the arrests is related to the shooting. They are charged with weapon possession for items like gas cans, sledgehammer, gas masks, knives, fireworks. In one of the houses they said they found a bullet and in the attic of cafe an old pistol.

The police use “leaks” towards the media to associate the attack with anarchists of the Exarhia area and to justify the raids, the attacks and the arrests against the movement. Comment taken from http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/ :

"The idea that whoever shot the cop would chose to hide in Eksarhia, or would be active in one of the most public and well-known anarchist groups in the city is absurd, to say the least. What is happening in Athens and Eksarhia in particular at this moment is an obvious attempt by the police to predetermine a connection between the shooting and the movement that has been confronting them en mass for the past few weeks .

During the day, the police claimed that 31 shots were fired against the cops and that there were two guns used: an AK-47 and an MP-5. The AK-47 said is the same that fired against a riot police van on 12/24th and the MP-5 was used in 2007 by the revolutionary organization “Revolutionary Struggle”. The cop that was hurt is recovering. It is odd however that right after the attack it was said that the cop had died, they later said he was critically injured and in the end that he had two wounds, one in his leg and one in his armpit. A revolutionary organization fires 31 bullets against a bunch of cops and hit one of them in the leg and armpit? There was a comment in the Greek Indymedia saying “it seems like they were trying to miss”...Oh and the ballistic tests came out in half a day, when in the case of the murder of Alexandros it took 2 weeks.

It is greatly believed that whoever fired those shots against the cops, is not from inside the movement, since an act like this can only harm it. “Was the riot cop shooting orchestrated by the state?” read it here: http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/01/05/was-the-riot-cop-shooting-orchestrated-by-the-state/"

1/6 A month after the murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos

Residents of Exarhia had called a gathering at the place Alexandros was shot a month ago, demanding the police to leave. More than 1000 people gathered and after the cops retreated towards the police station there was a small demonstration on the streets of the neighborhood.

At the late hours there was a series of attacks:

The police station of Patisia (Athens) was attacked with rocks and molotov cocktails. Two banks, a Starbucks and some offices of the ruling party were also attacked.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-GREECE:

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INSURRECTION IN GREECE:

As Molly puts this blog to bed the developments in Greece do not look at all good, as the following stories will illustrate. First, and worst of all, the workers occupying the headquarters of the General Confederation of Greek Workers in Athens have quit their occupation. If this is a signal of anything it is a signal that their initiative wasn't taken up by a large section of the Greek working class. It was actually probably opposed by a majority, some of them quite vociferously. This is a clear sign that it is unlikely that the rebellion will spread beyond its youth base. If this doesn't happen the revolt is doomed in the end.

Meanwhile the Greek government feels either confident enough (or perhaps desperate enough ?) to have revoked the right of asylum on University premises. Whether they are willing to risk serious bloodshed and perhaps many deaths by actually carrying out their threats to invade University grounds has yet to be seen. If not, if they have played their cards correctly, the occupations will peter out as predicted over the Christmas holidays. Not that this won't leave them with considerable political discredit, but that is for the future. In the tense atmosphere surrounding the present events they managed to get their budget passed, opposed by a coalition of Socialists, Communists and the far-right Popular Orthodox party (LAOS). The leftist Syriza Party (Coalition of the Radical Left) abstained, but they had more than enough to speak about, defending themselves from the other "leftist" parties. PASOK and the KKE spend almost as much time attacking attacking Syriza for presumably "being soft on the rioters" as they did talking about the budget.

Presently, according to public opinion polls, almost 90% of Greeks "feel the country is going in the wrong direction". The main beneficiaries of this mood have been the socialists, and the main losers the conservative New Democracy government. Polls give PASOK 38.5% support, the ND 32.5%, Syriza 12%, the Communists 8% and the LAOS 4%. Molly has to admit that she especially pleased by the fact that the leftist party is more popular than the communists. Both the socialists and the communists have become less strident in their calls for new elections, the socialists probably because they see no way to go up up as the riots and the economic crisis drag on, the communists because they fear plunging even further into irrelevancy.

Without at least the passive acquiescence of the leftist parties the insurgency in the streets has a snowball's chance in Hell of actually toppling the government, let alone achieving any other vaguely defined goals. In the end the most likely major beneficiaries of the events will be the Syriza Party as they position themselves, in legend at least, as the heirs of the inchoate sentiment against the police and the state. As to the anarchists, all that Molly can say is that these happenings have shown in crystal clarity the need for a positive vision beyond the romance of rebellion. It's a old rhetorical canard that "revolutions that go half way dig their own graves". This should perhaps be updated to say that "revolutions that go 2% of the way and haven't the foggiest clue as to what to do next will get only a light sprinkling of dust rather than a decent grave".

But enough of editorializing. Here's more news from Greece. First from Athens Indymedia...

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Emergency Communique from the Occupation of the Polytechnic University in Athens:
There is increasing talk that the occupation of the Polytechnic will be stormed by the police. In sight of this, the occupation's assembly issued an emergency communique.

On the evening of Saturday December 20, and after the clashes in the area of the Polytechnic (one of the tens of massive clashes of demonstrators and police which followed the murder of 15 year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos), a flood of rumors started to circulate around the area of the occupation of the NTUA [Polytechnic].

Continuous information about an invasion of the police into the space of the occupied Polytechnic University, in combination with the strategic movements of the riot police during the time of the clashes, foretold the obvious. The police plan to rush the occupation. Doing an end run around the dean's council [who would ordinarily have to approve suspension of asylum that prohibits police from entering universities], and offering the "earth and water" of the Polytechnic to the prosecutor, the police force, and the ministry of the interior, they sent the message indirectly but clearly, with threats and intimidation, that we have only "a few hours" left.

We answer them that we have as much time left as the part of society that has risen up and doesn't accept ultimatums, decides. That, for all of those who participated and participate now and will continue to do so in revolutionary practices, they had best respect them and fear them. These very men, these very women, these thousands of people who have risen up, the students, the workers, the jobless, the immigrants, our comrades, we call on them all to keep unceasing vigilant watch in the area of the Polytechnic, in view of the plotted invasion.

We call everyone to a mass presence at the occupation of the Polytechnic.

We call you to an open general assembly today, Sunday, December 21, at 9 p.m.

We call you to a concert for solidarity and financial support for our imprisoned comrades in the uprising, at 6 p.m. in the area of the occupied Polytechnic University.

We will have the last word!

These days and nights are for Alexis!

Polytechnic Occupation, 12/21/08

http://katalipsipolytexneiou.blogspot.com/

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Here also from the Athens Indymedia is a further post about the lifting of the right of asylum, how it was done and what it means.

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Pushing for lifting of asylum (translation):
Saturday night the prosecutor decided unilaterally to lift the asylum that prevents the police from entering university grounds. Only the disagreement of the provost board prevented a police invasion.

Acting on his own authority, the prosecutor on duty on Saturday evening, December 21, decided to lift the asylum [that normally applies to university grounds and prevents the entry of police onto the campus] for the National Polytechnic University of Athens, but in the end the police did not intervene, after the disagreement of the provost's advisory board.

Police intervention in the university schools under occupation in the coming days, with the argument that they are being used as staging areas for disturbances, by means of a judicial decision and not an academic one, is now an open possibility.

The occupations in the central universities are expected to continue through the holidays, while the schools close tomorrow for Christmas vacation and the students bid farewell with a rally at midday on Tuesday in Athens, and they have set a date for a new rally on January 9th, the anniversary of the murder of Nikos Teboneras (murdered during the student uprisings in 1990-91). In their company will be teachers from all grades, since the unions representing school teachers and university professors decided the day before yesterday to participate in the rally and to act in common with the students, while they are also discussing the possibility of a strike.

Telephone call from the Greek police force about intervention

As the "News" [mainstream Greek daily newspaper] learned, the provost and vice-provost of the NTUA, Mr. K. Moutzouris and Mr. G. Spathis, this past Saturday evening during the episodes in the region around the university, received a phone call from the police force, which informed them a plan was in the works for intervention, since the prosecutor on duty decided that inside the building there were felonies being carried out, such as the construction of explosives. The law gives to police the right to intervene with an order from the prosecutor, even without a decision to lift asylum from university officials, when it is determined that felonies are being committed.

"Dangerous for victims"

The provost authorities of the university disagreed with this decision. "I believe that the clearing of the Polytechnic [of the occupying students] must happen with dialogue and not police intervention. I hope that the occupation will have ended peacefully before the holidays," Mr. Moutzouris told the "News". "The lifting of university asylum is a political decision and if they want, let them make it, as they have the right to do even without our consent. We don't bring up such an issue because there is the danger of having victims, and also because there hasn't been serious damage to the university and the issue of occupations is more general", added Mr. Spathis.

Under occupation are about 160 schools in universities and technical institutes across the country, with basic centers the Law School, the Economic University and the Polytechnic University in Athens, and the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki.

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Finally, from the Occupied London Blog, further news about recent events, including news that the school occupations are likely to be ended as well.

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Polytechnic raid scenario weakens; police resort to dictatorship-style surveillance; shots against riot police van; student demo set to start:
UPDATE, 19:41 Mainstream media now report that the riot police van in Goudi received 7 shots, not 2. A group calling itself “Popular Action” (Λαϊκή Δράση) has claimed responsibility for the attack. The student demonstration in central Athens ended an hour ago. There was a very good turnover and the demo was relatively peaceful; one police car was flipped over.

After a quiet night at the Athens Polytechnic last night, mainstream media (which, more often than not, prepare the ground for police operations) are now reporting that a police raid of the polytechnic is unlikely. The people occupying the building have successfully defended their right to decide themselves when to leave - this will happen at today’s open assembly (6pm).

Reports are coming in, both on Indymedia and the occupations’ open assemblies, that the police have been approaching taxi drivers asking them to pass on information about their passengers (just like they would do during the 1967-1974 dictatorship). In one instance a woman who hailed a cab outside the occupied Economics University and asked to be taken to a northern suburb of Athens was driven straight to the police headquarters. Luckily she realised what was going on a block away from the police building and managed to jump out of the taxi’s window and escape, chased both by the taxi driver and the police.

Meanwhile, mainstream media also report a riot police van was shot at twice at 05:50 am in the Goudi suburb of Athens, next to the university campus in Zografou; one bullet hit the van’s tyre and the other hit the engine.

The last student demonstration for this year is set to start in a few minutes. There has already been a call for a fresh student demo on January 9th and it is expected that demonstrations will continue apace in the new year.

It is also expected that the anarchist occupations of the three universities (Economics, Polytechnic and Law school) will all end later this week, as fatigue is seriously kicking in at these unprecedented 17-days long occupations. Actions will, of course, continue - the biggest bet right now is to expand the revolt and unrest in time and people are focusing their plans on this. We should have a better idea of where things will go after this week’s assemblies.

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FURTHER NEWS FROM THE MASS MEDIA ON EVENTS IN GREECE:

**Greece: Second shooting provokes new wave of mass anger.

**Greek Parliament approves 2009 government budget.

**Greek Parliament passes budget.

**Greek Parliament adopts 2009 budget with 2 percent deficit.

**Police squelch violent Hamburg protest.

**Unrest has ND on shaky ground poll indicates.

**Greek police bus attacked; 3000 at rally.

**Students march, gunman shoots police bus in Greece.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-GREECE:

MORE NEWS FROM INSURGENT GREECE:

The following reports are via the Occupied London Blog. They tell the story of what happened earlier today as the Greek riots enter their second week. One thing not mentioned below but reported in the "mass media" reports that follow this post is an attack on a records keeping company that held the records of credit card and other debtors. Apparently all records of debts were lost. This seems to be following the classical pattern of the French Revolution- "first burn all the records". Another thing to mention is that the Occupied London Blog has a map of worldwide solidarity actions with the Greek insurgents. What struck Molly on looking at this map is the upcoming action in Nuuk Greenland. To say the least the events have touched a nerve in places that you wouldn't first think of. The Occupied London Blog also has an extensive list in print of the worldwide solidarity actions.

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Neighbourhood demonstrations across Athens; more anarcho-transportation actions and radio station occupations; demo at point of assassination set to start :
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The plan for today was for many small demonstrations to take place around the entire city of Athens, so that this decentralised action could bring the city to a standstill. There were demonstrations in the neighbourhoods of Gyzi, Peristeri (were the second student was shot), Chaidari, Petralona, Nea Smyrni, Victoria, Vyronas, Illion (that’s tomorrow) and in the cities of Thessaloniki, Heraclion and Larisa.

Fresh “anarcho-transportation” actions took place at the metro stations of Brahami and Ayios Antonios. In the last few days, many stations around the city have been visited by small anarchist groups that sabotage the vending machines, handing out leaflets (”the self-organisation of the passengers will bring the end of the ticket inspectors”…)

At least four more radio stations were occupied today (”Best,” “En Lefko”, “Athina 9.84″ and “Republic 100.3″; texts against state violence and in solidarity with the arrestees of the riots were read.

Responding to a callout by the Athens Polytechnic occupation, we will be gathering at the point of Alexis’ assassination in the next couple of hours. We’ve been reading the reports from the solidarity actions across the world. Keep them coming. The states murder the people but tonight, a night against state murders, is a night of the people. This is our night.

800 SCHOOLS AND 200 UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS OCCUPIED:NATIONAL THEATRE PREMIERE STOPPED; INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY DAY IS HERE:
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The premiere of the national theatre in Athens was interrupted by around one hundred people tonight - they took the stage and held out a banner reading “everyone to the streets”. The text distributed to the audience and actors read, among others: “now that you’ve deactivated your mobile phones, it’s about time you activated your consciousness”. Once hitting the streets, the crowd quickly formed an impromptu demonstration through central Athens - by the time we had reached Omonoia Square, our number had doubled and seemed enough to scare off the ten or so Zeta force policemen (motorcyclists) who drove off at our sight. The cast and director refused to continue the play, in solidarity with our struggle. Yesterday, a similar action took place at the Athens concert hall.

Mainstream media report that around 800 high schools and 200 university departments around the country are occupied by their students.

On the dawn of December 20th, a full fortnight from the day of Alexandros’ assassination: today is the international day of action against state murders. Once again, we will be on the streets - yet today we won’t be alone… Thousands and thousands across the world are joining us.

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MORE REPORTS FROM THE MASS MEDIA ON EVENTS IN GREECE:

***Greek youths continue riot spree

***Rioters clash anew with Greek police in Athens

***Rioters attack credit firm, Christmas tree

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-GREECE:

MORE DEMONSTRATIONS AND OCCUPATIONS IN GREECE:

The insurrection continues to develop in Greece, with more demonstrations and occupations of both media outlets and another union office. Here's the latest from the Occupied London Blog site via the Anarkismo website, both continually updating the news from Greece.

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Reports from the Athens demonstration:
Reports from yesterdays demonstrations in Athens. A student is shot on the eve of protests, the police are using new and stronger tear gas and five more radio stations and one more TV station are occupied.

Student shot in Peristeri, Athens

Last night (Weds), a 16-year old student was shot and injured in the area of Peristeri, Athens, close to his school. The 16-year old was sitting with about ten more students, discussing future mobilisations. The shot came from a person unknown, though it is near-certain that this would be either an undercover cop or a fascist. The police only issued a statement hours later. When the 16-year old’s co-students returned to the point of the assault to collect the bullet’s shell, another bullet was shot at them.

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Student demo heavily tear gassed in Athens

The big student demo in Athens is being heavily tear gassed. The cops are using a new type of stronger gas. Most of us have retreated in the law school. A money transfer van is on fire. People have entered a nearby church, ringing its bells at every tear gas shot, adding a slightly surreal touch to the scene.

From: http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/

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We just came back from the demo in Athens. The cops were, once again, extremely provocative: Tens of tear gas canisters and stun grenades were shot directly into the crowd. It seems like the newly ordered tear gas supply for the police is here.

People in Athens have been demonstrating and/or rioting for 13 consecutive days and nights.

Meanwhile, occupation of media outlets is spreading across the country: Today, the municipal radio of Tripoli, “Nea Tileorasi” TV in Chania, Politeia FM in Sparta and “Star FM” and “Imagine 897 FM” in Thessaloniki were occupied.

The “Labour Centre” (trade union building) of Patras was also occupied today, in protest against the sold-out leadership of the trade unions, demanding an indefinite general strike now.

From: http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/

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MORE NEWS FROM THE MASS MEDIA ON THE SITUATION IN GREECE:

**Those Greek Riots

**'Greek Syndrome' is Catching

**Greek police brace for more riots

**Riots smashing platitudes in Greece

Molly will continue to present "mass media" stories on the events in Greece as they develop. What strikes me so far is how few of the stories have been of American origins. The above is the exception, where two of the four are from the USA. This carries on a grand tradition of almost deleiberate ignorance of the rest of the world on the part of the US news media. Another thing that strikes me is how many of the mass media stories publsihed so far have contained the warning that the Greek protests will spread to other countries. One can only hope so. It's not a certainty.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-GREECE:

FURTHER COMMUNIQUES FROM WORKERS OCCUPYING UNION HQ IN ATHENS:

The following are communiques from the workers occupying the headquarters of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE in the Greek abbreviation). These workers have found it necessary to respond to respond to lies being told about them by the GSEE boss, Mr Panagopoulos, a life long PASOK (Greek socialist party) bureaucrat.As to why Greek workers are enraged at their union bosses it merely serves to mention that these arms of the state actually receive part of their bloated funds from compulsory deductions from social security payments. In these troubled days the bosses are asking that their generosity be repaid, and too many union bureaucrats seem eager to respond. The following two messages are from the Anarkismo website. Please follow the blog that has been set up by the workers occupying the headquarters. If you cannot read Greek use Google Translate.

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From the liberated building of GSEE:
by Proletarian Initiativ
Communiques #2 and #3
English translations of the 2nd and 3nd communique. Both are responses to Panagopoulos' (president of GSEE in Greece) claims.
Communique #2

(17 December)

An offhand answer to "mr." Panagopoulos regarding his statements on NET channel (State TV station in Greece).

"Mister" Panagopoulos stated on the state channel (NET), that "some youngsters occupied the building of GSEE (...) if they were manual workers, they'd be on building sites now (...)".

This unearthly subject, belonging to the managerial staff of National Bank of Greece,that "represents" the workers, where is he himself now, and what does he know about building sites?

He has been a technocrat for his entire life, a manager in State Companies (DEKO), a party wangler and a gravedigger of struggles. This spokesman of PASOK politics within the workers' movement lives in the northern suburbs, smokes cigars and gets a fat paycheck, from National Bank and GSEE, while administering huge state and European-union funds.

He got promoted from his boss, while it is forbidden for trade unionists to get a promotion during their service time - and he accepted the promotion.

He organized a conference for the 90 years of GSEE in the amphitheater of National Bank, namely the amphitheater of his boss mr. Arapoglou, with funds of the Foreign Office, thus showing his intentions and his class position.

Panagopoulos can go join his bosses, just as he does every day. Just as he signs the collective agreement with the employers, giving us the lower wages in Europe.

How dare he reproach the insurgent workers, he who is the ringleader of repressing every labor demand?

Here in the occupied GSEE, there is plaque that commemorates each of its leaders. Above the name of Panagopoulos, there are many other names of bureaucrats who got the reward of becoming PMs: Kanellopoulos, Protopapas, Polizogopoulos. On this plaque there are also the names of the appointed (not elected) professional unionists during Junta and the Occupation. That's where Panagopoulos' name deserves to be.

He can abandon us where we've been since forever: at work, unemployed, in our class position, in our night shifts, on the streets, on the insurrection during daytime, on the street...

If Panagopoulos has worries about those who now are at work, let him stay calm. They will turn up for the evening assembly, that will open up the building he kept closed during all these years. They will not go to work tomorrow -the day he refused to call for a strike-, to hit the streets and express their rage.

A rage Panagopoulos can't and does not want to comprehend, because that's what his fat paycheck and his repressive role dictate...

Here we are...

Proletarian Initiative from (not that young) night workers of the liberated GSEE building
Related Link: http://gseefreezone.blogspot.com/


Communique #3

(17 December 2008)

by same as above

Thu Dec 18, 2008 23:49
An answer from the liberated building of GSEE

Panagopoulos declared this morning that we are not workers, since workers are at work. This, among many other things, reveals what Panagopoulos' "job" really is. Panagopoulos' "job" is to make sure that workers are at work, to do everything within his reach to secure that workers are at work.

But for the last ten days, workers are not only at work, they are out on the streets. And this is a fact that Panagopoulos and every Panagopoulos can't hide, even if he succeeds in hiding the sun that brings light to our steps and rage onto the streets of this city.

We are working people, we are jobless (paying in layoffs our participation in strikes called by GSEE, when they -the trade unionists- are rewarded with promotions), we are working under contract moving from job to job, we work unsecured formally or informally in "stage" programs or in subsidised jobs to lower the unemployment indices. We are part of this world and we are here. Whoever wants to understand can understand.

We are insurgent workers, end of story.

Every single one of our revenue stamps is paid with blood, sweat, violence, broken waists, broken hands, knees, feet, heads.

The entire world is made by us, the workers.

PS. We heard on the radio that our act was an artistic happening. We accept this characterization, but only as far as the proletariat will abolish art and philosophy (along with state and capital)

...two enraged proletarians from the liberated GSEE

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OTHER NEWS LABOUR GREECE FROM THE MASS MEDIA

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Greek riots to derail vital economic reforms

Rioters of the World Unite

The tragedy of Greek apathy

Athens protests refuse to subside

Riot police, youths clash in Athens:shoppers flee

Riots in Athens escalate