INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SPAIN:

CNT CENTENNARY- SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA STATEMENT:

As has been mentioned previously on this blog this year marks the centennary of the foundation of the Confedracion Nacional de Trabajo, the Spanish CNT. The CNT was the most sucessful of all anarchist organizations in history, and its legacy lives on in many anarchosyndicalist groups both within Spain and outside of it. As I mentioned previously I will be presenting various items about this history over the course of the year. The statements on this centennaryof the two larger Spanish anarchosyndicalist organizations, the CGT and the CNT have already been presented here. See here for the statement of the CGT and here for that of the CNT.

There is another, smaller anarchosyndicalist federation in Spain, Solidaridad Obrera. This organization came out of a split from the CGT, and, speaking somewhat simplictically, it may b seen as being "half-way" between the CGt and the CNT. In terms of icdeological affinity it is the Spanish organization that I personally favour the most. I do, however, recognize that it is something of an exercise in futility. For better or worse the CGT represents well over 90% of anarchosyndicalists in Spain today. Solidaridad Obrera is basically confined to the area of Madrid and one Catalan city.

Still, their voice desreves to be heard on this anniversary as they are also one of the heirs of the CNT. Their statement, translated from one of their journals Contramarchas, follows below. This statement takes both the CGT and the CNT to task for their celebrations of the centennary. A cynic might say that this criticism is something of "sour grapes" as SO doesn't have the numbers to do what the larger federations can do. On the other hand they make very good points about the need for unity amongst the anarchosyndicalists of Spain in presenting the ideals today. How far this unity can go when there is at least one real tactical difference ie whether to participate in workplace elections or not is questionable. This is something real and much more important than the nitpicking matters of "theory" ie opinion that usually divide leftist groups. Still, there is a great "continent" of opportunity for cooperation amongst the groups that is away from this question, and SO is right in that such cooperation should be encouraged as much as possible. The same perhaps applies to other anarchist groups with different agendas elsewhere in the world, though there the differences may be much more profound.

In any case here is their statement on the Centennary.

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2010 CENTENARY OF THE C.N.T.

Between the end of the nineteenth and the start of the early twentieth century, the ideal of worker’s social emancipation permeated large sections of the working class, not precisely like it occurs today. In recent years we have been celebrating anniversaries that we believe are very important (and that we are now very far from being able to repeat) with the intention of disseminating them amongst the workers . Without going much further we have just commemorated in our magazine Solidarity No 15 (Autumn 2009), the 75th anniversary of the Asturian Revolution and the centennary of the Tragic Week, two milestones in terms of the working class confrontation with tyrants (the Second Republic and Alfonso XIII, respectively), without leaders or hierarchies, which put the system in check and which it bloodily suppressed by using the army against the people on both occasions. They filled the jails of all those who bothered them, especially labour militants, and in the case of the Tragic Week forged a shoddy setup to “legally” assassinate Ferrer Y Guardia and permanently close the Modern School, for the greater joy of the Church, which as happens at present, dominates education to conveniently indoctrinate new generations.

Despite all that persecution and repression, Solidaridad Obrera (a union created by socialists and anarchists in Barcelona in 1907 and since then involved in establishing itself in Catalonia) convened its third congress, calling, at the same time, for participation from all the local organizations in the rest of Spain. That Congress decided to build a new state-wide organization to "hasten the economic emancipation of the working class through the revolutionary expropriation of the bourgeoisie ...". Thus was born the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, the anarchist union that would bring together the most militant and revolutionary parts of the labour movement and realize the greatest feats of the workers’ struggle up to 1939: The strike of 1911, underground activity, the revolutionary strike of 1917 with the UGT, The Canadiense strike in 1919, the consequent 8 hours day, the strike against the war in Morocco in 1923, underground activity, the rent strike in 1930, the occupation of the Duro Felguera in 1931, the insurgent uprisings of 1932 and 33 (Casas Viejas), the Zaragoza strike in 1934, the Asturian Revolution (UHP) in 1934, the construction strike in Madrid in 1936, the collectivisation of industry, services and agriculture ... It had to be ended by means of death, horror and blood as the fascists, military and church, led by the Criminalísimo Franco (the biggest murderer of workers in history ) ended this trajectory.

This centennial is claimed both by the current CNT, and by the CGT (which in its manifesto "100 years of anarcho-syndicalism" openly declares itself as anarchist). Both organizations prepare, each for its side and not without some polemics (If anarchosyndicalism is 140 years old and not 100, then we must ask when did the CGT begin?), concerts, conferences, lectures, debates and exhibitions for this celebration. In our opinion, an unnecessary waste of money for mere self-aggrandizement and to keep on sowing discord between the two organizations.

In Solidaridad Obrera on the occasion of this anniversary, we have given our members José Peirats’ trilogy "The CNT in the Spanish Revolution "(2nd Ed 1988), a great work that recounts the accomplishments of our companions in that first part of the twentieth century. We would like it if the centenary was a cause of contact between the anarcho-syndicalist organizations and workers in general, and was used to disseminate the principles, the realized struggle and the news of workers’ self-organization that is currently outside the institutionalized unions. In this sense we set forth proposals that will promote unity and disseminate its results. While we must say that we start from a situation unfavourable for the unitary proposals to succeed, as each organization seeks more the reaffirmation of their own different postulates than the road to anarchosyndicalist unification, so necessary so that the working class can stand up the fierce attacks that we're suffering.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR:

AN END ROUND AROUND RONNIE:

The world is full of sneakiness, and it does my old heart good when I see the "forces of good" do an end round around the "forces of evil". The following from the online labour solidarity site Labour Start is one such instance. It seems that the evil clown Ronald McNasty has tried to suppress criticism of the corporation by buying up internet domain sites, but, as is usual when you pay a manager 150,000 per year or a consultant a one time payment of $500,000, the uselessness of such people comes through. In this case David has done an end run around Goliath. Here's the story.

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McJobs‏
McJobs -- we all know what those are.
One online source defines a McJob as "a low-paying, low-prestige job that requires few skills and offers very little chance of intracompany advancement". McDonald's was never very happy about the use of this term.

In fact, the company bought the domain name "mcjobs.com" just to make sure that no one could use it.

But they forget to acquire "mcjobs.org"( To "oops" is management-Molly ) -- and the global union federation for food workers, the IUF, together with LabourStart, bought the name and today are pleased to announce the public launch of McJobs.org, the website for McDonald's workers around the world.

If you work in McDonald's, or know anyone who does, or are just curious, please do check it out:

http://www.mcjobs.org

Eric Lee

CANADIAN POLITICS-VANCOUVER:

TENT VILLAGE NEEDS YOUR HELP:

The Winter Olympics continue. The clown show of the 'Black Block' is over and done with as the participants slink back to their holes, congratulating themselves about how "brave" they were and how much they accomplished by smashing a few windows and running like hell from the cops. The real protests against the Winter Games, however, continue, and one of these is the "tent village" set up to protest homelessness while billions are thrown at the spectacle of the Olympics. The Village is looking for your support. Here, from the Olympic Resistance Network, is the story and appeal.

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Olympic Tent Village Enters Week 2,

Needs Your Ongoing Support‏:
OLYMPIC TENT VILLAGE ENTERS WEEK 2,

NEEDS YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT!

Since Feb 15, 2010 the Olympic Tent Village has been set up at 58 West Hastings, an empty lot owned by notorious condo developer Concord Pacific, currently being leased by VANOC as a parking lot for the Olympics. The first few days at the Olympic Tent Village have gone strongly and smoothly, thanks to the community effort to support and defend it. Hundreds have gathered during the evening and through the night, especially DTES residents, homeless people, and youth.

* Read Issue 1 of Tent Village Voice:

http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/tent-village-voice-issue-1/

* Watch videos of DTES residents and homeless people residing at Tent Village: http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/media/

Over the next week, we are calling on all supporters to continue to defend the Olympic Tent Village and to support the residents. We need:

- Volunteers to help cook at the Tent Village anytime drop-in starting at 8 am till 8 pm.

- Supporters to be present during the day 8 am to 4 pm and overnight 6 pm to 6 am.

- Independent media, legal observers and others with cameras in case of emergencies (please note, due to privacy concerns, there is no recording in the Tent Village otherwise)

- On site medic support especially overnight from 6 pm to 6 am.

- Donations of non perishable food items, tarps, tents, blankets, sleeping bags.

The 2010 Winter Olympics has escalated the homelessness crisis in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside - Canada's poorest postal code - and the Greater Vancouver area. Since the Olympic bid, homelessness has nearly tripled in the GVRD, while real estate and condominium development in the Downtown Eastside is outpacing social housing by a rate of 3:1.

Meanwhile, a heightened police presence has further criminalized those living in extreme material poverty in the poorest postal code in Canada. With the eyes of the world on Vancouver, residents of the Downtown Eastside and our supporters of the Olympic Tent Village want:

1. Real action to end homelessness now

2. End condo development and displacement in the Downtown Eastside

3. End discriminatory ticketing, police harassment, and all forms of criminalization of poverty.

The Olympic Tent Village has been an inspiring action to take over public space and empty lots, a powerful testament to the building of community, and a reclamation of dignity and freedom amidst daily systemic poverty and injustice.

For updates, articles, video, photos, and further information on how to support: http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/

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Molly Note:

Don't worry. I'll eventually get to my usual denunciation of those who hide their personal psychology under the guise of "anarchism" and "politics". Until then, however, i merely have to mention the obvious, obvious to anyone who isn't bound by the ideology of a subculture. If you represent the political views of a minority, and a very small minority at that, you just might want to represent yourself (and actually be whatever you have been taught by post-modernist professors) as having the "moral high ground". The action of the "tent village", in my mind, serves this purpose very well in that it is exemplary in its non-violence, and any violence towards it by the state will rebound to the odium of the state. This is in stark contrast to those who want to pretend to the anarchist idea of "direct action" by doing the 'symbolic action" of , as I said, minor vandalism and running as fast as they can. The people at the "tent village", whether they carry it out or not, have made their intention to stand their ground in a non-violent way and accept the consequences very plain. Let's take bets. Which way is more useful when you want to speak to the "unconvinced" ? Oh, I forgot, the "heroes" of the overturned mailbox think that the "unconvinced" are irretrievably deluded, and their joy is merely to insult them while doing the "real politics" of running away from the cops as fast as they can.

Ooops, I've started on what I promised to leave until later. so be it. Definitely more later.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRAN:

FREEDOM FOR IRANIAN SUGAR UNION PRESIDENT:

The following appeal for solidarity with imprisoned Iranian unionists comes from the international union federation, the IUF.

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Four Iran Sugar Union Leaders Free but President Nejati Still in Prison and Facing Additional Sentence:
While 4 convicted leaders of the independent Haft Tapeh sugarworkers union in Iran have now been freed, President Ali Nejati remains in prison, where he could spend two years or more on charges of 'endangering national security'. Union Communications Officer Reza Rakhshan is stiill awaiting final sentencing for his conviction last year on similar charges.

Nejati (pictured at right) is currently serving a one-year sentence and faces an additional term of one year or more.

Gorban Alipour and Mohammad Heidari have been released after completing all or part of their sentences; Jali Ahmadi and Feridun Nikfar have been released conditionally on probation after partially serving their sentences.

Nothing has changed at Haft Tapeh, where workers have had to resort to spontaneous industrial action on several occasions since the union leaders were imprisoned in order to obtain payment of their wages.

The campaign for the Haft Tapeh workers will continue until:
*President Ali Nejati is released, his sentence annulled and all pending charges are dropped:
*all past and present charges against Reza Rakhshan are dropped;
*all Haft Tapeh union officers are immediately reinstated in their jobs, with full back pay;
*the government and the company recognize the Haft Tapeh Union as the workers' representative for collective bargaining, fully respecting all trade rights.

CLICK HERE to send a message to the Iranian state and judicial authorities. Your message will be conveyed to the Haft Tapeh workers.

CANADIAN LABOUR-SASKATCHEWAN:

SPENDING MONEY FOOLISHLY:

Here's a great switcheroo. Unions representing City of Regina workers are criticizing the City of Regina for needlessly wasting money on a consultant to develop a new symbol. The cost - $320,000 for a little bit of internet design work that would cost about 50 or 60 dollars outside of "Consultantland". Never let it be said that the right wing is right when they try and blame the unions for the waste of public monies. Government is well able to do it on its own, thank you very much. especially when it involves doling out money to corporate friends. The consulting industry is, of course, one of the greatest scams ever developed, and they are always on the lookout for a willing victim. I mean it-5o to 60 dollars. Any kid in the basement could have done as much in 20 minutes. In this case the unions stand as the guardian of the public purse.Here's the story from the Regina Leader Post.

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Local unions concerned about Regina's 'Infinite Horizons' strategy:
By Joe Couture, Leader-Post February 19, 2010

REGINA — The heads of three union locals that represent City of Regina workers noted their concerns Friday about the city’s recently introduced “Infinite Horizons” branding strategy.

“I struggle with the need to brand ourselves or create an image, especially with something as obscure as a stylized ‘R’,” said Marvin Meickel, president of CUPE Local 7, which represents inside city workers.

He noted the old logo, which had a rendering of the city skyline, and the logo that came before it, which included a crown, were sufficient to represent the city.

Both Tim Anderson, president of CUPE Local 21, which represents outside city workers, and Mike Ehmann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 588, which represents transit drivers, said Friday they, too, thought the previous logo was fine.

Meickel said he gives credit to Mayor Pat Fiacco for his efforts to make the city’s image more positive, noting that is important. But he said he doesn’t understand why city needs to keep spending money on its image when the existing image seems to be well-received.

“We seem to be riding a fairly high tide of city growth and province growth,” Meickel continued. “Were we really lacking as far as that particular brand or logo? I would say, ‘No’. Could the money have been spent in other areas? I would say, ‘Absolutely’.

“There’s all sorts of challenges that the city continues to face that would involve a financial commitment, but they’ve decided to take this particular direction.”

The cost is at the centre of the concerns of the other two union leaders, too.

Anderson said he expects the final price tag for the branding initiative will be significantly more than the $320,000 paid to the advertising firm that developed it.

“We have a number of issues facing the city,” he said. “With the provincial government reneging on their promise to share revenue, we’re looking at a mill rate increase, I would assume. I think the timing of the logo could have been postponed until we can afford it. At another time, it wouldn’t have been that bad.”

Anderson said he thinks spending on the brand now shows a lack of fiscal responsibility.

“I think it comes down to wants and needs,” he said.

Ehmann said, “The money could have been spent better elsewhere,” noting the transit department’s recent well-publicized fleet challenges. “They could have bought a bus.”

Meickel questioned whether a public-sector corporation such as the city even needs to have a style of brand like a private-sector company. The new branding appears to be of such a style, he added.

“I think some people, including myself, just don’t quite understand it,” he said. “Maybe time will give me an opportunity to be more comfortable with it.”
jcouture@leaderpost.canwest.com

CANADIAN LABOUR- BRITISH COLUMBIA:

AN OLYMPIC SWEATSHOP"

The following, from the British Columbia Federation of Labour, exposes a dark underside to the rah-rah of the Olympics commercials that are beamed across the world during the course of the Games. McDonald's is the "official restaurant" of the Olympic Games. One can only imagine an athlete trying to go through training on Ronny's food, but still the endorsements will undoubtedly pour in after the Games. Money trumps truth. What is amazing is that McDonald's is able to dodge the minimum wage laws in the Province of BC while still promoting its Simon pure brand across the airwaves. Here's the story from the BC Fed.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“Official Restaurant” of the Olympics pays lowest wages in the country:
B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair is calling on the "Official Restaurant" of the Olympics to stop paying new employees less than BC's minimum wage which is already the lowest in Canada.

"I talked to several McDonald's workers in the past few days who are making less than $7 an hour and they are not impressed with the company," Sinclair said. "These workers deserve a fair wage and respect. That's the real Olympic spirit."

British Columbia has the lowest minimum wage in Canada at $8 an hour. It has been frozen for eight years. However, McDonald's in the Lower Mainland use the so-called training wage to lower starting salaries to as little as $6.35 an hour. ( Love those loopholes- Molly )The Liberal government introduced the training wage by lowering the minimum wage by 25 percent for new workers and immigrants.

"For those watching the McDonald's commercials celebrating the spirit and values of the Olympics, it might come as a surprise that one of the largest global restaurant chains pays new employees the lowest wages in Canada," Sinclair said. "The company can't just pay lip service to the spirit of the Olympics."

"As part of our Olympic sponsorship we honour the hard work and exceptional performance of our restaurant crew...." said McDonald's Senior Vice-President of Global Marketing, Dean Barrett. Sinclair called on McDonald's to honour the hard work of all its employees by eliminating the low wages.

"This company can find hundreds of millions of dollars to sponsor and promote the Olympics but they pay less than the lowest minimum wage in Canada to new workers," Sinclair said.

Sinclair called on McDonald's to pay all starting employees a minimum of $10 an hour, the wage necessary for a single person working full-time to reach the poverty line.
-30-
For more information: Evan Stewart, Director of Communications (604) 430-1421.

BLOGGING:

THE POLICEMAN'S CHOICE:

This is an anarchist blog, and even more so it is a "labour blog". As such it attracts the attention of those who oppose it. Whatever it may be, the Royal Bank, Walmart, the Hudson's Bay Company, and, of course, governments x,y and z, (and many others) they all drop by here to snoop. Quite frankly their efforts are pretty futile, but it is all the old "putting in time" in any bureaucracy. I've mentioned some bizarre stuff before on this blog where the RCMP was searching down the phone number of one of the kitchens at UBC. The RCMP in Ottawa and the 'Defense Research Establishment' there are pretty good fans of Molly's Blog. I certainly don't catch all their visits because my checking is restricted because of the large number of visitors to this blog. Still, I always hope to catch them in the act of relieving their boredom by clicking on to such things as "Julie Coulard's Tits" ( a favourite amongst bored bureaucratic employees here). Not that I'd squeal on the poor bastards. The Defense Research Establishment (so-called military intelligence) has been caught before accessing porn when they were supposed to be keeping track of the great, grave, serious, overwhelming threats to the Canadian way of life. Exaggeration is hard to maintain when it reduces down to the nitty gritty of mindlessly reading half-witted leftist or Islamic rhetoric over and over and over.

I imagine that the poor bastards who are assigned to check on "the anarchists" must be particularly bored. Quite frankly the greatest threat to the growth of anarchism as a political philosophy is not the evil rotten no good secret police. It's simply some people who adopt the anarchist label and proceed to disgrace it to the maximum of their ability. I have no doubt that the various police forces in Canada have a large number of agents implanted in anarchist groups, and I also have little doubt that, besides the gathering of information, that their tasks often involve the "pushing" of such groups towards violent actions that will disgrace not just the participants, not just anarchists in general but also others that anarchists have made alliances with. The latest example happened out in Vancouver. The political bosses are very happy with such work, and, if done right, it gets a commendation on your record. Still...it's a waste of money from the "opposition's" point of view because there are always more than enough so-called anarchists willing to do the police's work for them for free. As I said above...the greatest threat to anarchism and its growth is...some anarchists.

OK enough sectarian arguments. Back to the police. The other day (night actually-they have these poor bastards sitting in front of a screen 24/7) one guy from the RCMP in Ottawa came here to Molly's Blog and did his due diligence. That's all OK, though I've often thought of sending such people a bill for my services.

Anyways, just because he was bored, he went over to our sister site, Molly's Polls. He decided to vote in the poll 'What Is The Freest Country In The World'. Now if your salary is being paid by a government that hires you as a "spook", even if only an internet spook, you would expect that your first loyalty would be to said government. NO !!! This guy voted for the USA as the "freest country in the world". I guess that his idea of "freedom" may indeed include the "freedom to waterboard" or maybe the "freedom to fly somebody to Syria for torture". Ah, the different meanings of "freedom".

OK, here's what Molly wants. I'd like to see this guy being forced to lie in front of his superiors when he is questioned about where his "first loyalties lie", whether to the country that has given him a security clearance or to the only country that has ever directly threatened and invaded Canada in all of history. I wouldn't want this guy around if "peak oil" comes to be a reality. Can we say "quisling" ? Canada would be occupied anyways, but it wouldn't help any resistance to have those who favour the Empire to the south over their own country in positions of power.

Anyways keep em coming spooks. I love you too. What I cannot comprehend is how you cannot realize that visiting this blog is useless and a waste of time.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-RUSSIA:

SUPPORT NESTLÉ WORKERS IN RUSSIA:

The world of the international corporation knows no borders, and the actions of management worldwide are the same. Conversely the solidarity of ordinary people should also know no boundaries. What follows is an appeal from the international union confederation, the IUF, for solidarity with workers in Russia who are pitted against the dictatorial actions of the Nestlé Corporation.

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Nespressure Again at Nestlé Russia:

Company Punishes Union Workers with Dismissal, Discrimination and Pay Cuts:
Nestlé's Corporate Business Principles state that their business practices are "designed" to "establish a constructive dialogue with unions. In fact they have little choice - if they want to respect international Conventions and treaties which anchor this obligation in international human rights law.

In 2008 - after a year of struggle - Nestlé management conceded that that the union representing Kit-Kat workers in the Russian city of Perm could negotiate the wages management had declared a "commercial secret". Less than two years later, Nespressure - squeezing workers and suppressing rights - is being applied again at Nestlé Russia.

In November 2009, workers at Nestlé Waters Direct in Domodedovo, 30 kilometers outside Moscow, joined together to address the problem of eroding real wages and deteriorating working conditions. Nestlé's subsidiary in Domodedovo bottles and delivers Pure Life water to homes and offices. Workloads have increased substantially for drivers following the 2008 closure of one of the company's three Moscow-region distribution depots (increasing pressure on remaining drivers). Drivers are paid according to a piece rate/bonus scheme. Working days of 12 hours or more are necessary to reach a reasonable level of pay. Last year, the number of dispatchers was reduced by 50% in a cost-cutting exercise, which dramatically increased the workload on the survivors. So drivers, joined by dispatchers, formed a union and on November 17 obtained legal status by joining the All-Russia Trade and Service Employee's Union 'Solidarnost'.

Management immediately began harassing the union chairman and interfering with his access to members. Drivers were reassigned to work as loaders, eliminating the drivers' bonus, or assigned to smaller vehicles, making it impossible to achieve the bonus quota even with 15-16 hours of work. Drivers who joined the union have seen their pay cut by up to 40%.

Union communications to management, supported by the Russia-wide Nestlé Union Coordinating Council, requesting negotiations to determine work schedules, overtime and bonus pay and an end to the anti-union harassment were not answered.

On January 24, braving a temperature of -20 degrees Celsius, union members demonstrated in support of their rights at Nestlé's Moscow headquarters.

On January 27, union vice-chair Sergei Strykov was summarily dismissed. Though Strykov had a perfect work record, he was accused of financially damaging the company by consistently selling the extra bottles drivers have previously been encouraged and rewarded for selling! At a meeting with the bosses, union activist Strykov was told he could collect the overtime he is owed in exchange for "resigning by mutual consent" with the management.

Strykov is one of a group of workers who filed a legal case against the company on January 21 to recover unpaid overtime payment - in Strykov's case money owed since January 2006.

When he refused to "resign", he was fired and ordered to immediately relinquish his company uniform - shirt, coat, hat and shoes - in subfreezing weather! ( who ever said that managers were human beings ?-Molly )

The Nestlé Domodedovo workers have not been intimidated by the brutal sacking of their union vice-chair. Union members and their supporters turned out for another rally at the factory gate on February 5.

The union is demanding the reinstatement of vice-chair Sergei Strykov, that all union members are reinstated to their former work assignments; an end to all anti-union discrimination through rates, bonuses and job assignments and negotiations between management and the union on working conditions and overtime pay.

You can support their demands - CLICK HERE to send a message to Nestlé Russia's Human Resources Director and to corporate management in Switzerland.

Stop Nespressure!
Nestlé - Stop Pressure on the Union!

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The Letter:

Please go to the link above or to This Link to send the following message to Nestlé management in Russia.

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To Stefan De Loecker, Market Head Russiacc Alfredo Silva, Assistant Vice-President, Human Resources - Zone Europe
Dear Sirs
I am shocked to learn that management at Nestlé Waters Direct in Domodedovo has responded to the formation of a union by imposing pay cuts on drivers who join the union and by firing the union vice-chair Sergei Strykov on January 27. I call on you to immediately reinstate Strykov, to reinstate all union members to their former driver work assignments, to end all anti-union discrimination through rates, bonuses and job assignments and to enter into good faith negotiations with the union on working conditions and overtime pay.
Yours sincerely

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS-COLOMBIA:

DEATH THREATS AGAINST COLOMBIAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST:

The following story and appeal for solidarity is from the School of the America's Watch, and it is for solidarity is pressuring the USA to cease its support for the murderous regime in place in Colombia.

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Death Threat against Martha Giraldo:

Martha Giraldo, a Colombian human rights activist and a featured speaker at the 2009 November vigil to close the SOA (video), was subjected to a chilling death threat earlier this week in Cali, Colombia. Two SUVs with tinted windows -- the vehicle of choice of Colombian assassins -- tried to run her car off of the road. As they pulled up beside her, they pulled out guns and pointed them at her. They never fired a shot, but the message was clear: we can kill you, and if you don't keep quiet, we will.

Martha Giraldo and her family continue to tell the truth about how the Colombian army killed her father, a campesino, and dressed him up in guerrilla clothing to make the murder look like a "combat kill." Colombian human rights organizations report that extrajudicial executions of civilians by the Colombian Armed Forces is on the rise. Please take two minutes out of your day today to call one of the Colombia specialists at the State Department, Terry Steers-Gonzalez (202-647-4173) or Susan Sanford (202-647-3142). Click here for the message Martha would like you to communicate.

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A Letter Too:

The School of the America's Watch is also asking people to send the following letter to the Obama Administration. Please go to This Link to send the following letter to 'Mr Change' and his boys and girls.

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The recent death threat against Martha Giraldo, who had spoken out about her father's murder in Colombia, illustrates once more the dire situation that people who are speaking up for justice are facing in Colombia.

I am urging you to stand with people like Martha Giraldo, to stand for justice in Colombia and to abandon the failed U.S. policy of relying on the repressive Colombian military to protect U.S. interests. I am urging you to end U.S. military bases in Latin America, to stop U.S. military aid to Colombia and to issue an executive order to shut down the School of the Americas, now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/ WHINSEC)
cc: Ambassador Brownfield
Sincerely,

LOCAL NEWS-WINNIPEG:
"MILLIONS" FOR CHRIST:

Ah Winnipeg. As the dreary grey winter drags on and on our beloved city administration does its level best to keep the temperature of the citizens up with one zany proposal after another. First it was the little police helicopter that could. Or maybe it couldn't because the Province seemed to duck out of the deal when this latest of glad-hand-Sam's dreams was reported to be likely to cost a bit more than was originally projected. But then it seemed to be on again as the Province said it would indeed cover the extra cost. The future will tell as, like all government schemes, the final cost will be more than a little more than originally estimated. I suppose that such a "dream machine" whereby Winnipeg tries once again to imitate a real city might be of some use in chasing down car thieves. The trouble is that, in the end you have to have real police cars with real police in them to actually arrest the thieves. You can't take the bastards out with Hellfire Missiles whatever the fantasies associated with the chopper. Some might say that this would be a good idea, but it's a no-go. MPI would have a fit.





Then there's the great rolling garbage bin debate. Winnipeg's northwest corner has been supplied with giant "rolling garbage bins". The homeowner is supposed to load their garbage into it for several days on their own property and then roll it out only on the evening before garbage day. These bins are a smaller version of the much bigger, and non-rolling, bins that have been placed in much of Winnipeg's North End. Which is whole different subject. The larger bins require the ability to give the old heave-ho to send your garbage high enough to clear the top. That's fine. More than a few people respond by just leaving the damn garbage on the ground anyways for the stray dogs to deal with.





The push-it-yourself bins require the physical stamina to push said bin out into the alley. Very good...unless it's the middle of winter and you have to push the bin through a blanket of snow and try to find a place to park it that doesn't obstruct the alleyway. Not everyone has a backyard driveway. The city also provides the extra "help" of sending the plows down the alleys and pushing the snow to the side, gradually making the roadway narrower and narrower and narrower as the winter drags on. In my own alley the city-made drifts take off three feet on my side and two feet on the other side. I guess it'll be great exercise for some people, assuming such a thing can be done at all. Not so great, however, if you're in your 70s, with bad arthritis and a heart condition. Really "great" ie impossible if you walk with a cane or walker. the intent is obvious...to fire as many garbagemen as possible and spend the money (an unknown amount, maybe less, maybe the same or maybe more) paying for high tech garbage trucks. With the added bonus of being able to add a tidy profit to this cost if the work is contracted out. All very good for contractors who have political friends but not very good for old folks.





These two items, however, weren't enough amusement for one winter season. Behind closed doors the City of Winnipeg Entertainment and Corporate Giveaway Committee (also known as the Mayor's Executive Policy Committee) plotted to give away $3.4 million dollars to the evangelical group 'Youth For Christ' (YFC) for them to build a "youth centre" at the northwest corner of Higgins and Main. The basic story, from the CBC, can be read here. Winnipeg MP Pat Martin soon raised objections to the idea of public money being used to fund a youth centre run by proselytizing evangelicals. Apparently, there had been some longer term plotting behind the move. The project was originally floated as a collaboration between YFC and the University of Winnipeg (U of W), but the U. of W. wanted the centre built on their campus. This, of course, would have meant at least joint control over the centre and possibly even ultimate U of W control. to say nothing of real estate equity.





The back rooms got smokier, and the federal government became involved, anteing up $3.2 million to the project given City of Winnipeg agreement to co-finance. this sort of thing is right up their alley, shucking off social services to evangelical groups. Not to be outdone in the secrecy department the Mayor began his own canvassing, lining up Centre Venture a quango which it intended to promote downtown development ie give away money to the usual suspects as the "front group" for the "loan" that is a gift to YFC. The scheme is for Centre Venture to give an upfront loan to YFC of $2.6 million which the City will pay back over 15 years (at $225,000/year) equalling a final cost of $3.4 million. Nice "loan" if you have friends in high places. The provincial government has written a "letter of support" for the project but has declined to offer any funding.





If you look at the website of the Winnipeg branch of YFC you will find it has quite the corporate support on its board of directors. That may be neither here nor there, but it is interesting. It might also be interesting to note that the original location at the U of W was actually in an area where people really do live. The new proposed location is perhaps within walking distance of Point Douglas and a very small part of the North End, but it's not an easy distance even from them. YFC itself has been somewhat "no comment" on Martin's complaint, but the Mayor and federal public safety minister Vic Toews (one of whose campaign donors was- you guessed it-Youth For Christ) shot back denying that the proposed centre would be "evangelical" because not only Christians would be allowed to participate in its programs. Toews, in particular, stooped to the lowest form of political smear so typical of Conservative politicians by saying that "Pat Martin doesn't have a problem with allowing gangs to recruit in his riding".





The Mayor's tone was a bit more elevated, but he also echoed the "not only Christians will be allowed in the door" refrain. The way in which the City's involvement, however, came about seems to say that our Mayor could give the federal Conservatives lessons in government secrecy. No mean feat indeed ! After the behind closed doors meeting of the EPC where the give away was decided on (with no input from the City bureaucrats who usually vet numerous far smaller community projects) a one page notice was presented to City Council. The vote was scheduled for one week later, on February 24. Not much time for debate for a matter that will divert a huge amount of money away from present smaller neighbourhood projects into a controversial megaproject of dubious value. I can only hope that Council Chambers will be packed on the 24th.





What I find most notable about the attacks that have been levelled against Martin is the masterful way that his critics manage to divert the whole issue by confusing "evangelical" with its precise opposite ie a group that only wants to associate with its own kind rather than to convert "the other". The other actually has to be present before you can work on converting him, and, of course, groups like YFC want to have the "non-churchy" present so that they can work on them. It only stands to reason, and I'm sure that both the Mayor and Toews know exactly what they are doing and how they are lying by misdirection when they misrepresent what proselytizing actually is. For those who are interested here is the Mission Statement of Youth For Christ from their national website.

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Our Mission
Youth for Christ, Canada exists to impact every young person in Canada with the person, work and teachings of Jesus Christ and discipling them into the Church.






Our ministry is involved in responsible, effective and culturally sensitive evangelism of youth, communicating and caring in ways that are relevant to this generation.






The ministry in Canada is committed to acting as a resource in the helping to further the worldwide vision and mission of YFC International.






We are committed to a journey of faith fully trusting our Lord to supply the resources and strategies to impact the youth of Canada.

*********

This says pretty plainly that they intend to do exactly what Pat Martin says they want to do. They also happen to be damn proud of it, and they'd never deny it. That they leave to their political friends.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

MARTYR FOR LIBERTY BURNED AT THE STAKE:

Today, February 17, marks the 410th anniversary of when the early rationalist Giordano Bruno was burnt at the stake in Rome in 1600. Bruno was born in Campania (1548) entered the Dominican Order at the age of 17 in Naples and became a priest at the age of 24. His free thinking ways and great ability, however, soon got him into trouble, and in 1576 he began a life of wandering across western Europe. As a refugee from the Roman Catholic Church he briefly stayed in Geneva, but soon fell afoul of the Calvinists there. He then went to France where he was protected by powerful patrons and impressed many with his mnemonic abilities.

In 1583 Bruno went to England where he stayed for two years, once more, predictably (Bruno had a habit of sarcastic offense) falling foul of the authorities, this time mainly for advocating the Copernican system that stated that the Earth revolved around the Sun, rather than the other way around. The next few years were spent in wandering in Germany and what is now the Czech Republic. Once more he continued to attract hostility pretty well everywhere he went, managing to be excommunicated by the Lutherans. By this time he had managed to be a bête noir to all three of the feuding religious sects in Europe, Catholic, Lutheran and Calvinist-no mean accomplishment.

He then returned to Italy in 1592 and, after a brief stay in Padua made the mistake that cost him his life by relocating to Venice. Now, for hundreds of years Venice was the most blasphemous state that existed in Europe, but its corruption and hypocrisy was such that bribes could easily be given and people could go on trial for the sort of thing that was very much the day-to-day of the nobles of the City. Going to Venice may be proof of the adage that every genius contains at least one aspect of great stupidity within him. Bruno fell foul of his Venetian host-who was even more corrupt than the usual round of office holders in Europe at that time-, and he was denounced to the Inquisition. the Venetians transferred him to Rome, on the request of the Roman Curia.

His trial in Rome lasted a full 8 years, and his many disagreements with Catholic orthodoxy were the repeated subject of his skillful legal defense. In the end, however, he was condemned and burned at the stake on this day in 1600. Some of the things he upheld included "the plurality of worlds" ie that the stars were suns that could have other solar systems just like our own. He also disagreed with such Catholic (and Protestant) dogma as the absurd theories of the Trinity and the Virgin Birth. Whether he actually believed in reincarnation is in dispute.

Bruno later became a hero to many different political currents. To Italian nationalists who fought against the temporal power of the Church he was a forerunner of their struggle. To socialists, rationalists and anarchists he became a shining example of free thought against clerical obscurantism. In a bizarre twist of fate he is now also a hero to the omnivorous "new age" cultists across the world because of his supposed belief in astrology and, to put it at its crudest, the apparently esoteric nature of his mnemonic graphics. Nobody can accuse new agers of excessive attention to the facts, to history or to detail. Can we say "spinning in the grave " ?

Molly's personal connection to Bruno.

It's actually very little. I once had an Italian anarchist song tape that contained one song whose lyrics began ( In English translation);

"When I die I don't want any priests or monks

Nor 'pater nostri' (funeral services)"

The song goes on to condemn the Catholic Church and end by 'vivas' to Garibaldi and Bruno, after saying that the author wants the socialist flag on his coffin and the socialist leader's girlfriend. I always liked that song.

The other connection was way back when I was in Vet School, and we were condemned to writing an historical essay about medicine. I managed to dig up proof that Bruno, in addition to his other merits, had "discovered" the circulation of the blood during his stay in Geneva, long before its presumed first description by William Harvey. To say the least the peckerhead of a professor wasn't pleased, and I didn't get a great grade in that class. Ah, Giordano, I know how you feel, even if I could never equal your lifelong creativity nor offensiveness.

If you want to read more about Giordano Bruno see the wikipedia article linked above. See also what little writings of his that have been translated into English at http://esoteriaarchives.com/bruno/home.htm , and a good biography at http://punkerslut.com/atrticles/giordanobruno.html .

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SERBIA:

TRIAL OF THE 'BELGRADE 6' BEGINS:

Molly has reported on this case before last year (see here, here and here ). The basics are that 6 activists in the Serbian Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative, the Serbian section of the anarcho-syndicalist international, the AIT, were arrested last fall and charged with firebombing the Greek embassy. As active anarchosyndicalists the comrades, of course, disagree with such tactics of individual vandalism, preferring the open class struggle. The suspicion is that the Serbian government latched on to them because they were the easiest "open targets"(given that the Serbian police force is probably a nest of incompetance to the degree that they couldn't "investigate" tying their own shoes), and they had to prove that they were "doing something".

As we speak here in Winnipeg Manitoba the preliminaries of the trial are already over and done with several time zones over, but the trial will continue. Here's a report from the local Winnipeg Wobbly Blog about this case.

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Six Serbian anarcho-syndicalists are due in court today:‏
Six Serbian anarcho-syndicalists are due in court today charged with international terrorism in what Belgrade academics have condemned as a political trial.

Tadej Kurepa, Ivan Vulović, Sanja Dojkić, Ratibor Trivunac, Ivan Savic and Nikola Mitrovic, were detained on September 4th after a Molotov cocktail broke a window at the Greek Embassy in Belgrade.

Originally arrested for "causing general public danger," an allegation often associated with low-level vandalism, the activists' charges were upped to international terrorism following public comments by Serbian President Boris Tadic that he intended to crack down on "left-wing terrorism.

"The six face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the latest charges - more than double the sentence handed down for the burning to the ground of the US Embassy in 2008 in which one man was killed.

Academics at Belgrade University have condemned the trial, writing in an open letter: "We fear that this was an arbitrary interpretation of the Criminal Code and a case of its use for political purposes.

"Just in the year 2009 we have witnessed the escalation of violence and numerous threats of violence made by fascist groups. All of this was met with a mild reaction from the state prosecution and the police.

"To name just one example: in the days leading up to the Belgrade Gay Pride Parade (set for September 20th and called off due to security fears) threats of physically liquidating the gay population were called just 'polemics' by a representative of the state."

All of the six detainees are activists in or associates of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative (ASI), the Serbian section of the International Workers' Association (IWA). The ASI is part of a growing, independent union movement in Serbia and supporters say this is a political trial aimed at derailing that growth.

The attack itself has been claimed by a group called Crni Ilja, who said it was in solidarity with a Greek anarchist on hunger strike. No members of that group have as yet been positively identified.

The Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative has declared that they knew nothing of the attack or the group that carried it out. Ratibor Trivunac has repeatedly stated that throwing molotov cocktails is not a method of struggle used by the group.

A spokesperson for the Solidarity Federation, British section of the International Workers Association, said: "We unreservedly condemn the trial as a political attempt by the rulers of Serbia to silence an effective radical movement. Members of SF and other IWA sections are going to Belgrade for the trial to show support for our imprisoned comrades."

Source: http://libcom.org/news/controversial-terror-trial-belgrade-anarchists-begins-17022010

CANADIAN POLITICS-ONTARIO:

STARVING HEALTHCARE-FEEDING CORPORATIONS:

The following opinion piece was written by the President of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union and published in the online news journal Public Values. I reprint it here if only because there seems to be a need of periodic reminders of how good Canada (and the rest of the civilized world ) has it in terms of health care when compared to the USA. Through the thunder of their (often mindless ) debate down there on the proposals to reform their healthcare system one can discern the almost comical ignorance that many (most ?) Americans have about how their system compares unfavourably with almost all developed and even a few underdeveloped countries. They spend more money and get fewer results. Not the least reason for this inefficiency is that a good proportion of the funds available are skimmed off as profit by the insurance companies, amongst others. Whatever the inefficiencies of other systems at least other countries don't have to apportion money to this class of parasites.

Up here our health care system is under attack and underfunded. Governments, such as those of Ontario, as mentioned in the following article, would much rather spend the money on corporate handouts. Not that our system is perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Molly has expressed her own preferences here at this blog before ie a system of community clinics and mutual cooperative insurance. The beginnings of such a system could easily be initiated even under our present system, with the mutual insurance covering things not presently covered by medicare. The single payer system would have to be retained until such time as non-government methods of social insurance were more fully developed. That process would have to be gradual to avoid unnecessary suffering. In the process of such a "withering away of the state" the first thing to go would obviously be grants to the corporations. The last thing to remain would be corporate taxes and taxes on the wealthy.

Until this process begins, should it ever begin, it can easily be demonstrated that the Rube Goldberg American system is demonstrably inferior to not just that of Canada but also to that of most of the developed world.

Here's the article.

HCHCHCHCHCHCHC

Canada spends one-half per capita on health than US does, yet we are healthier:
Government pleads poverty, yet proceeding with tax cuts to Ontario corporations.
by Warren (Smokey) Thomas
How sustainable is health care? Opponents of Medicare regularly question the public sector's ability to pay the bills as health care creeps up as a share of provincial budgets. New data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) suggests health care costs may be more sustainable than we think.

Affordability is best determined by looking at health costs as a percentage of our overall economy, not by the size of government. The CIHI data suggests that health care costs have escalated roughly in step with the economy, whereas the size of government has been getting dramatically smaller.

Health care accounted for 10 per cent of our economy in 1992 – the last period of recession. In 2009, health care is expected to be 11.9 per cent largely due to a shrinking gross domestic product (GDP), not rising costs. In 2008 it was 10.8 per cent, less than a percentage point above the 1992 levels. This hardly indicates a lack of sustainability.

"As a share of the overall health pie, hospitals have been shrinking. In 1975 hospitals accounted for 44.7 per cent of health expenditures. Today it’s 27.8 per cent."

There is no question we are living longer and better as a result of the investments we have made. From 1996 to 2006 our average life expectancy was extended by three years – the biggest leap in mortality rates since they have been kept.

Federal funding to reduce wait times is having a positive impact, particularly for hip and knee replacements as well as cataracts. This is something Canadians all said we wanted and were willing to pay for.

According to CIHI, money has also been invested in tailored drug therapies, diagnostic technology, training health care professionals and to increase class size in medical and nursing schools. These last investments are necessary if we hope to replace the soon to retire legion of baby boomers serving as professionals within our health system.

While spending as a percentage of our economy has nudged forward over 20 years, it has not been entirely in lock step. In the 1990s governments dramatically slashed funding to health care, leaving present governments with a major infrastructure deficit. It is far more costly to play catch-up than it is to keep the system on an even keel. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan admitted this when speaking to the Ontario Hospital Association Conference last fall.

Hospitals always appear the target of restraint, but are hardly to blame for rising health costs. As a share of the overall health pie, hospitals have been shrinking. In 1975 hospitals accounted for 44.7 per cent of health expenditures. Today it’s 27.8 per cent.

"Total public sector spending used to account for about half the economy. Today it is closer to one third."

In 2009 Canadians are expected to spend $5,452 per capita on health care – both public and private. That’s slightly less than France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. It's much less than the United States, which spends almost double per capita and yet leaves 45 million Americans uninsured and many more underinsured. On almost every objective measure, Canadians do better with their health than Americans, from infant mortality to our overall longevity.

In the past year there has been an attempt to divide the progressive community by portraying health care as an insatiable monster crowding out education, housing, transportation and even poverty reduction.

The McGuinty government continues to shrink the pie and is happy to see us all fighting over the scraps. Total public sector spending used to account for about half the economy. Today it is closer to one third.

While the government cries poor, it is stampeding ahead with a series of tax cuts, including a $5 billion reduction to Ontario corporations.

We need to defend all our social services, including health care. When we start pitting our sectors against each other, we all lose.
In solidarity,


Warren (Smokey) Thomas,

President
Links and sources Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) site

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE DU CANADA/CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT:

MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR CALL FOR PROPOSALS/SALON DE LIVRE ANARCHISTE DE MONTRÉAL APPEL À CONTRIBUTIONS:
Le Salon du livre anarchiste de Montréal est le plus grand événement de son genre sur le continent nord-américain. Ça s'en vient une fois de plus à la fin de Mai. Voici l'appel pour ceux qui veulent y participer.
The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair is the largest event of its kind on the North american continent. It's coming once more at the end of May. here's the callout for those who want to participate.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Callout for proposals:
MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR (workshops, tables, art, films, events):‏
[1st announcement - FEBRUARY 2010 - please post and forward widely!]
[en français: http://www.salonanarchiste.ca/]
[Note: The workshop proposal deadline is MARCH 21]
----------
Mark your calendars …
MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR 2010
MAY 29-30, 10am-5pm
at the CEDA, 2515 rue Delisle (a short walk from Lionel-Groulx metro)
FREE.
Welcome to all!
No gods, no masters, no bosses, no borders.
Curious about anarchism?: check us out!
-> Participants from all over Quebec and North America, booksellers and vendors, workshops, films, discussions, kids activities, art exhibits and more!
-> Part of the month-long Festival of Anarchy held throughout the month of May at venues and locations all over the island of Montreal.
-> NOTE: During this year’s Bookfair, tabling will take place over TWO DAYS: May 29-30, between 10am-5pm.
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The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair -- and month-long Festival of Anarchy -- bring together anarchist ideas and practice, through words, images, music, theatre and day-to-day struggles for justice, dignity and collective liberation.


The Bookfair is for people who don't necessarily consider themselves anarchists, but are curious about anarchism, as well as a space for anarchists to meet, network and share in a spirit of respect and solidarity. All are welcome.


The Bookfair is organized in a spirit of openness towards the different traditions, visions, and practices of anarchism. Together we share a commitment to promoting anarchism through the values of mutual aid, grassroots democracy, direct action, autonomy and solidarity, while opposing oppression in all its forms.


The Bookfair and Festival of Anarchy provide an important gathering and reference point for anti-authoritarian ideas and practice in North America.
-> What Happens at the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair? Read more here: http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/3
-> Accessibility Statement:
http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/6
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Workshops, Tables, Art Exhibits & Films, Festival of Anarchy Events
a) Workshop Proposals
We encourage your workshop and presentation proposals for both days of this year’s Bookfair (May 29 or 30).


You can submit workshops that are introductions to anarchism, or a proposal that explores an anarchism- themed topic in some depth. Introductory workshops should be aimed at people who are curious about, or new to, anarchist ideas. These workshops should be accessible to non-anarchists.


The in-depth workshops should be intended for people who are already familiar with anarchism, or might identify as anarchists. We also encourage workshop proposals that could be part of an Autonomous Media Room. Autonomous media workshops can be hands-on and skillshare-style workshops, or workshops that explore independent, alternative and autonomous media in-depth in some form.


Please consult the following link for detailed information about workshop proposals, including guidelines:
http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/9
--> The deadline for workshop proposals is MARCH 21, 2010
b) Tabling at the Bookfair
The heart of the Bookfair is the main auditorium that includes booksellers, distributors, independent presses and political groups from all over Montreal, Quebec, North America, and abroad. This year, there will be Bookfair tabling on BOTH days – Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30, from 10am to 5pm.


Contact us at info@anarchistbookfair.ca to request table space. Please provide ALL the following information clearly if you are requesting tabling space at the Bookfair:
a) the name of your group and your geographic location (exactly as you want it to appear in our publicity);
b) provide your contact information (telephone, e-mail and web address); the telephone and e-mail is for Bookfair organizers only, while the web address is to link from our website;
c) indicate whether you want to table on BOTH days, on Saturday only, or on Sunday only;
d) indicate whether have you tabled at the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair before; if you haven't tabled at the Bookfair before, please include a short description of your group and the material you intend to distribute at the Bookfair as well as indicating your agreement with the Bookfair principles:
http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/4
--> The deadline to request a table is APRIL 1, 2010.
c) Art Exhibits
The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair will again be displaying artwork relating to anarchism and anti-authoritarian, autonomous or anarchist-supported struggles. Please consider proposing an exhibit of photos, posters, original art, repros - anything within the parameters of the Bookfair that can be mounted on a wall or placed in a corner!


If you are making an art proposal, please provide the following information:
a) a clear title and short description (for our publicity);
b) the format of your submission (poster, photos, sculpture, etc);
c) your contact information;
d) if possible, please also send us a jpg or pdf of the art you wish to exhibit.
--> The deadline for art exhibit proposals is APRIL 1, 2010.
d) Films
The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair will also have a film room, showing films related to anarchism or anarchist-supported struggles, that fall within the principles of the Anarchist Bookfair.


If you are making a film proposal, please provide the following information clearly:
a) film title and short description, to be use for publicity purposes;
b) duration of film;
c) language of film, as well as subtitles if applicable;
d) format of film;
e) where a copy of the film is available.
--> The deadline for film proposals is APRIL 1, 2010.
e) Festival of Anarchy Events
The entire month of May comprises the Festival of Anarchy, with diverse anarchist-themed events occurring at different venues in Montreal. The Bookfair collective compiles a Festival of Anarchy calendar, but we count on you to organize the actual Festival of Anarchy events. Get in touch to reserve a date for your event in May (calendar dates are "first come first served").


Please note that the evenings of May 18-19 are already reserved for the Montreal Anarchist Theatre Festival, and the evening of May 28 is reserved for the Anarchist Cabaret.


When submitting a Festival of Anarchy event, please provide the following information:
a) a clear title, date and description;
b) contact information with the organizers of the event.
--> The deadline to submit Festival of Anarchy events, to be included in our public calendar, is APRIL 1, 2010
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HELP PROMOTE THE BOOKFAIR
If you can help promote the Bookfair and Festival of Anarchy in your neighborhood, school or community, please get in touch:
info@salonanarchiste.ca
We will be actively promoting the Bookfair all over the Montreal-area. Let us know if you can help with postering or flyering.If you are from outside Montreal, get in touch if you would like us to send you posters and pamphlets. We are also hoping to have these materials available for download on our website soon.


For those of you on facebook, we encourage you to join and share our facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71082453058
And, you can now follow us on twitter:
http://twitter.com/BookfairAnarMTL
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have other ideas for the Bookfair or Festival of Anarchy, don't hesitate to get in touch with a proposal! Contact us to receive regular updates and announcements by e-mail.
-> announcements list:
https://masses.tao.ca/lists/listinfo/salon-annonces
-> e-mail:
info@anarchistbookfair.ca
-> web:
http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/
-> facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71082453058
-> twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/BookfairAnarMTL
-> telephone:
514-679-5800
-> post:
Montreal's Anarchist Bookfair
1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Suite 204
Montréal, Québec, H3G 1N1
Ni dieux, ni maîtres; ni frontières, ni patrons!
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Appel à contributions: SALON DU LIVRE ANARCHISTE DE MONTREAL (ateliers, tables d'expositions, oeuvres d'art, film et plus)‏
[1ère annonce - FÉVRIER 2010 - Veuillez publier, diffuser et transmettre cet appel!]
[English : http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/]
[Notez : La date limite pour la réception des propositions d'ateliers est le 21 MARS]
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À notez dans vos agendas …
LE SALON DU LIVRE ANARCHISTE DE MONTRÉAL 2010
Les 29 et 30 MAI, 10h-17h
Au CEDA, 2515 Delisle(tout près du métro Lionel-Groulx)
GRATUIT.
Bienvenue à toutes et tous!
Ni dieux, ni maîtres; ni frontières, ni patrons!
Pour les anarchistes et ceux/celles qui s'intéressent à l'anarchisme.
-> Avec des distributeurs de partout au Québec et en Amérique du Nord, des ateliers, des films, des discussions, des expositions, des activités pour les enfants et bien plus !
-> Tout le mois de mai 2010: Le Festival de l'Anarchie avec différents évènements en divers lieux
-> NOTE: Pour le Salon du livre de cette année, il y aura des tables d’exposition pendant deux jours : les 29 (samedi) et 30 (dimanche) mai, entre 10h et 17h.
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Le Salon du livre anarchiste de Montréal (ainsi que le Festival de l'Anarchie) rassemble les idées et pratiques anarchistes, par les mots, les images, la musique, le théâtre et les luttes quotidiennes pour la justice, la dignité et la libération collective.


Le Salon du livre anarchiste s'adresse aux anarchistes, mais également à celles et ceux qui ne se considèrent pas nécessairement comme anarchistes mais qui ont développé une certaine curiosité vis-à-vis de l'anarchisme. Le Salon est un espace où les anarchistes peuvent se rencontrer et échanger dans un esprit de respect mutuel et de solidarité. Tous et toutes y sont bienvenu-e-s.Le Salon du livre anarchiste est organisé dans un esprit d'ouverture vis-à-vis des différentes traditions, visions et pratiques de l'anarchisme. Nous cherchons à promouvoir l'anarchisme en mettant en pratique des valeurs comme l'entraide, la démocratie par la base, l'action directe, l'autonomie et la solidarité, et en nous opposant à toutes les formes d'oppression.


Le Salon du livre et le Festival de l’anarchie sont une occasion importante de rassemblement et un point de référence pour les idées et les pratiques anti-autoritaires en Amérique du Nord.
-> Pour savoir « Qu'est-ce qui se passe au Salon du livre anarchiste de Montréal? », suivez ce lien:
http://www.salonanarchiste.ca/fr/node/1
-> Énoncé d'accessibilité:
http://www.salonanarchiste.ca/fr/node/31
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APPEL À CONTRIBUTIONS
ateliers, tables d'expositions, oeuvres d'art et films
a) Propositions d’atelier: Appel à contributions
Nous vous encourageons à proposer des ateliers et des présentations pour les deux jours du Salon du livre de cette année (29 ou 30 mai).Vous pouvez soumettre des ateliers qui sont des introduction à l’anarchisme ou qui explorent plus en profondeur des thèmes liés à l’anarchisme.


Les ateliers d’introduction doivent s’adresser à des gens qui sont curieux de connaître les idées anarchistes ou pour qui ce sujet est nouveau. Ces ateliers devront donc être accessibles aux non-anarchistes.


Les ateliers plus en profondeur devront d’adresser aux gens qui sont déjà familiers avec l’anarchisme ou qui s’identifient comme anarchistes.


Nous vous invitons aussi à proposer des ateliers qui pourraient être présentés dans une Salle des médias autonomes. Les ateliers sur les médias autonomes peuvent être des ateliers pratiques et de partage des connaissances ou des ateliers qui explorent en profondeur un aspect des médias indépendants, alternatifs et autonomes. S’il-vous-plaît consultez le lien suivant pour plus de détails sur les propositions d’atelier, dont les directives: http://www.salonanarchiste.ca/fr/node/25
--> La date limite pour la réception des propositions d'ateliers est le 21 MARS 2010.
b) Tables d'expositions:
Appel à contributions
Le coeur du Salon du livre est l’auditorium principal où se trouvent les tables des libraires, des distributeurs, des journaux indépendant et des groupes politiques de partout à Montréal, du Québec, de l’Amérique du Nord et de l’étranger.


Cette année, il y aura des tables d’exposition pendant les DEUX jours - samedi le 29 mai et dimanche le 30 mai, de 10h. à 17h.


Contactez-nous à info@salonanarchiste.ca pour faire une demande de table d’exposition. S’il-vous-plaît, veuillez fournir TOUTES les informations suivantes clairement pour faire une demande de table d’exposition au Salon du livre:
a) le nom de votre groupe et l’endroit d’où vous venez (dans les mots exacts que vous voulez que nous utilisions dans nos publicités);
b) les informations pour communiquer avec vous (téléphone, courriel et l’adresse de votre site web); le numéro de téléphone et le courriel sont pour l’usage des organisateurs et organisatrices du Salon du livre seulement, mais l’adresse du site web servira de lien à partir de notre site;
c) indiquez si vous voulez votre table pour les deux jours, seulement samedi ou seulement dimanche;
d) indiquez si vous avez déjà eu une table au Salon du livre; si vous n’avez jamais eu de table au Salon du livre avant, s’il-vous-plaît joignez une brève description de votre groupe et une description du matériel que vous prévoyez distribuer au Salon, ainsi que votre accord avec les principes du Salon du livre:
http://www.salonanarchiste.ca/fr/node/43
--> La date limite pour la réception des propositions de tables est le 1er AVRIL 2010.
c) Oeuvres d'art :
Appel à contributions
Le Salon du livre anarchiste de Montréal réserve un espace pour la diffusion d'oeuvres d'art liées à l'anarchisme, l'anti-autoritarisme, l'autonomie et les luttes supportées par les anarchistes.


Faîtes nous part de vos propositions d'expositions de photos, d'affiches, de créations originales ou de reproductions. Le collectif du salon du livre considèrera toutes les oeuvres respectant les principes de base du salon. Les oeuvres devront être accrochées ou suspendues aux murs, voire placées dans un espace délimité.


Si vous faites une proposition artistique, s’il-vous-plaît fournissez clairement les informations suivantes:
a) un titre clair et une courte description (pour notre publicité);
b) le médium utilisé (affiche, photo, sculpture, etc.);
c) les informations pour vous contacter;
d) si possible, s’il-vous-plaît envoyez nous aussi un fichier jpg ou pdf des oeuvres d’art que vous voulez exposer.
--> La date limite pour les propositions pour l’exposition artistique est le 1er AVRIL 2010.
d) Films :
Appel à contributions
Le Salon du livre anarchiste réserve également un espace pour la projection de films durant la tenue du Salon. Les films présentés doivent être en lien avec l'anarchisme, avec des luttes soutenues par les anarchistes ou doivent concorder avec les principes de base du Salon du livre.Si vous faites une proposition de film, s’il-vous-plaît fournissez clairement les informations suivantes:
a) le titre du film et une brève description pour notre publicité;
b) la durée du film;
c) la langue du film et des sous-titres, s’il y en a;
d) le format du film;
e) indiquez où une copie du film est disponible.
--> La date limite pour les propositions de films est le 1er AVRIL 2010.
e) Festival de l'Anarchie:
Appel à contributions
Le mois de mai dans son ensemble sera consacré aux idées ou pratiques anarchistes. Le Festival de l'Anarchie prendra place dans les semaines qui précèdent le Salon du livre (les 29-30 mai), avec des événements reliés à l'anarchisme, dans plusieurs lieux publics de Montréal.


Le collectif du Salon du livre compile les événements à être placés et produira un calendrier public. La seule fonction du collectif, en plus de diffuser le calendrier, concernant le Festival, est de veiller à ce que deux évènements ne se produise pas le même jour. Nous comptons donc sur vous pour organiser les événements du Festival de l'anarchie. Réservez rapidement une date pour votre événements dans le calendrier du mois de mai.
Premierères arrivées, premierères servies!
S'il vous plait veuillez noter que les soirées des 18 et 19 mai sont déjà réservées pour le Festival de théâtre anarchiste de Montréal et que la soirée du 28 est réservée au Cabaret anarchiste.


Lorsque vous soumettez un événement pour le Festival de l'anarchie, svp incluez l'information suivante:
a) un titre, une date et une description claires;
b) un contact pour rejoindre les organisateurs.
--> La date limite pour soumettre un événement pour le Festival et pour être inclut dans le calendrier qui sera diffusé est le 1er AVRIL 2010.
CONTRIBUEZ À PROMOUVOIR LE SALON DU LIVRE ANARCHISTE
Si vous souhaitez contribuer à la promotion du Salon du livre anarchiste et/ou du Festival de l'Anarchie dans votre quartier, votre école ou votre communauté, communiquez avec nous (info@salonanarchiste.ca )


Nous ferons la promotion du Salon du livre anarchiste dans la région de Montréal. Avertissez-nous si vous pouver faire de l'affichage et du tractage.


Si vous résidez à l'extérieur de Montréal, communiquez avec nous si vous désirez recevoir des affiches, prospectus et dépliants. Le matériel de promotion sera aussi disponible pour téléchargement sur notre site Internet.


Pour ceux et celles qui sont sur facebook, nous vous encourageons à vous joindre à notre groupe facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71082453058
Vous pouvez aussi nous suivre sur twitter :
http://twitter.com/BookfairAnarMTL
NOS COORDONNÉES
Si vous avez d'autres idées pour le Salon du livre ou le Festival de l'Anarchie, n'hésitez pas à nous en faire part! Vous pouvez nous rejoindre par courriel, par téléphone ou par la poste.
-> liste d’annonces :
https://masses.tao.ca/lists/listinfo/salon-annonces
-> courriel:
info@salonanarchiste.ca
-> web:
http://www.salonanarchiste.ca/
-> facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71082453058
-> twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/BookfairAnarMTL
-> tél: 514-679-5800
-> poste:
Salon du livre Anarchiste de Montréal
1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Suite 204
Montréal, Québec H3G 1N1
Ni dieux, ni maîtres; ni frontières, ni patrons!