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In the Streets

August 15, 2002 - 2:28pm -- jim
Analysis & Polemic
In the Streets

Tute Bianche: The Practical Side of Myth-Making (in Catastrophic Times)

by Wu Ming 1

It has become a trivial remark, even a ridiculous one, indeed, it is being made by all and sundry: in the aftermath of the demolition of the WTC and the imperial war on Afghanistan, with the amount of "collateral damages" increasing out of sight, we all have entered a new phase of social life and conflict.

This phase is heavily affected by paranoia, war propaganda, will to censorship, restriction of such civil rights as free speech, re-embellished mcCarthysm and angry mobs demanding new *berufsverboten* in the sinister light of the rhetoric on the "clash of civilizations".

Back to the home front. Another Cold War. The Empire asks for it.

August 14, 2002 - 1:52pm -- Uncle Fluffy
News
In the Streets

hydrarchist writes "Italy, Rumors are often misleading - or guilt by association.

[In a previous post http://www.ainfos.ca/02/jun/ainfos00392.html
we pointed to attacks of "Disobbedianti" on anarchists.


Without discriminating between various groups who were associated in
the past with the Ya-Basta, a post: http://www.ainfos.ca/02/jun/ainfos00391.html
included among the guilty the Wu-Ming.


That post was a response to an interview distributing in a-infos-ca list and
whose English translation that was sent to us by Robeto is below.


The author seems to not understand the reasoning of the Wu-Ming
people to hold this style of a common name for the people of
their collective (like the previous Lute Bliset shared name by hundreds
of people in that Project).


It seems the author was not aware of the fact that the Wu-Ming people
have not join the Disobbedianti. Following is the main content of the
communication with Roberto Bui of the Wu-Ming:]

August 12, 2002 - 7:26pm -- Stenglander
Announcements
In the Streets

Bilal Elamine writes:

To all my Arab sisters and brothers. On August 24th, the National
Alliance (NA) is planning "Rock Against Israel" demonstration in
Washington DC. This is a white supremacist group that is claiming to
stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people against the Jews and
the American government. They plan to rally at the Capitol Building
from 11am to 1pm and then meet for dinner and a white power concert
in the evening.

The NA is calling for what they claim will be "the largest gathering
of white nationalists at the US capitol in history". On august 24th
they will probably have the largest gathering of white supremacists
since the mass Ku Klux Klan marches of the 20s. Over the past year
the NA has held 3 rallies at the Israeli embassy and two at the
German embassy. Their last rally at the Israeli embassy had little
organized opposition. We have to stop this racist scum from
polluting the Palestinian cause.

This is a call to all Arabs and especially Palestinians to come out
on August 24th to stop the Nazis from hijacking our cause in order to
use it to justify ethnic cleansing. We have a special responsibility
to say that we have nothing in common with these Nazis. There can be
nothing more effective, to stop this devious strategic maneuver, than
letting them hear it from the horse's mouth: "We are Arabs, we are
Palestinians, and our struggle for liberation is diametrically opposed
to your program of ethnic cleansing. We stand against Zionism but we
stand against anti-Semitism. We make the distinction between the
political movement to ethnically cleanse the Palestinians and the
religion of Judaism. We know that if your rhetoric ever gains
legitimacy we'll be the first on the chopping block."

The East Coast Anti-Fascist Network will be organizing in several
different contingents with various risk levels and levels of
political and tactical unity so a risk-free space will be open for
immigrants. This is call to form an Arab contingent at the anti-nazi
demonstration. This contingent would have a unified message to the
public against the racists. This contingent will be gathered behind
a banner and around chants that express this message and will pass
out fliers to the public and the press. If we don't do this, our
nazi enemies will claim our noble cause and our Zionist enemies will
try to present them as our face.

UP WITH THE INTIFADA! DOWN WITH THE FACISTS!

To help mobilize and organize in NYC, come to this planning meeting:

What: Teach-in and planning meeting to organize NYC antifascist
activists against the National Alliance neo-nazi rally in Washington,
DC on Saturday, August 24th.

When: Monday, August 19th, 7 - 9 PM

Where: 6th Street Community Center, 638 East 6th Street,
212-677-1863, 2nd Floor Lounge

For more info on the planning meeting: opencity45@hotmail.com

For more info on the Arab Block in NYC: zaloom@yahoo.com

August 11, 2002 - 11:10am -- hydrarchist
Analysis & Polemic
In the Streets

Anonymous Comrade writes "European PGA Conference: A Strategies Discussion Paper

2nd European Conference of Peoples' Global Action Leiden, 31 August - 4 September 2002 Discussion Paper on Strategies for Action

2nd European Conference of Peoples' Global Action
Leiden, 31 August - 4 September 2002

Discussion Paper on Strategies for Action


Introduction
************
This document is the result of conversations at the NoBorder camp in Strasbourg, where it emerged that many people desired an emphasis on strategies during the PGA conference. This was seen as involving thought about ways to (1) continue confronting power and face the current wave of repression, (2) relate the opposition against power structures with proactive efforts to create alternatives, and (3) strengthen and widen our networks. This document is aimed at kick-starting debates on analysis and action proposals around these three key dimensions - as part of an on-going discussion, rather than an attempt to reach consensus.

August 11, 2002 - 10:59am -- hydrarchist
News
In the Streets

hydrarchist writes "JULY 20TH 2002: A Little Secular Miracle


From the Low Appennines of Bologna to Piazza Alimonda


by Wu Ming 1


"One says solid things when he tries not to say extraordinary ones"

Isidore Ducasse, Count of Lautreamont, *Poems*, 1870


In the Fall and Winter of 1944 the population of the Tuscan-Emilian Appennine suffered many Nazi-Fascist retaliations and massacres. The Front was on the so-called "Gothic Line", the mountains were the natural border between the territory occupied by the Third Reich and that liberated by the Allies. The Nazis were bewildered by the extension of Partisan guerrilla warfare and aware that they were losing the war, thus committed themselves to the wildest and fiercest repression. The most famous massacre was in Marzabotto in October.

August 10, 2002 - 1:18pm -- hydrarchist
News
In the Streets

Anonymous Comrade writes

SOCIAL STRUGGLES IN ITALY

Creating a new Left in Italy

by ANTONIO NEGRI*

Translated by Ed Emery

A year ago the big Genoa demonstrations against the G8 summit were a shock
awakening for Italy. A few months previously the Left had been swept from
power and Silvio Berlusconi seemed to think that his huge electoral
majority gave him carte blanche to do what he liked. Genoa upset his
plans. The anti-globalisation movement turned out in force and mobilised
large numbers of people. New forms of struggle are now beginning to
emerge, and a working class offensive on various fronts has shown no sign
of abating. Paradoxically, by bringing people out onto the streets the
victory of the Right has raised hopes for a possibility of re-founding the
Left and rebuilding the Republic.

August 7, 2002 - 10:51am -- jim
Analysis & Polemic
In the Streets

from ainfos

There has been much talk about the Italian group
YaBasta--and even imitations!--in anarchist circles. And
while it should be clear to anyone paying attention that
YaBasta (a.k.a. "Movement in White Overalls") isn't an
anarchist organization, the problems with YaBasta go
much deeper. Not only does YaBasta openly dialogue and
work with the state (including supporting and running
candidates in elections), but they even collude with the
state to suppress anarchists and anarchist projects. Yet it is
not only YaBasta as a particular organization that
anarchists should be wary of, but as a method of
organization and a model of struggle--the focus of most
anarchists' acritical jubilation--YaBasta is highly
problematic. They have explicitly moved away from
self-organization and towards politics, away from
conflictual action towards mediated, public spectacles
(often arranged with the police in advance). Thus we
include the article below to clarify where YaBasta stands in
relation to the state, anarchists, and social revolution. But
don't take our word for it, look at the quotes from YaBasta
themselves at the end of the article.

August 5, 2002 - 3:22pm -- jim
Analysis & Polemic
In the Streets

A Capsule History of the Dutch Provos

By Teun Voeten provos

It's no secret that Holland has the most liberal drug laws in the world,
especially when it comes to cannabis. What you may not realize, however,
is that these laws were enacted thanks to the efforts of the Dutch Provos.
The Provos set the stage for the creation of the Merry Pranksters,
Diggers, and Yippies. They were the first to combine non-violence and
absurd humor to create social change. They created the first "Happenings"
and "Be-Ins." They were also the first to actively campaign against
marijuana prohibition. Even so, they remain relatively unknown outside of
Holland. Now, for the first time, their true story is told.

August 2, 2002 - 11:37am -- hydrarchist
News
In the Streets

hydrarchist writes: This interview was originally published at The Commoner.

"Interview with Evo Morales by Yvonne Zimmermanm, La Paz 7.7.02

Evo Morales Ayma, 43 years old, is president of the coca farmers' federation in Chapare and he's a symbol of the struggle against neoliberal politics in Bolivia. In the past four years he was president of the political party MAS (Movement Towards Socialism) in parliament, and in the most recent elections on the 30th June, according to the last counting he received more than 21
percent of the votes. As the second political force he might become the new president in Bolivia, seen as the final election is between the two strongest candidates, in this case Evo Morales and Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada of MNR (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement) who's slightly ahead of him.


These elections will mark a profound change in Bolivia. For the first time ever indigenous peoples and anti-neoliberal movements will be represented in parliament as a significant force. Until now, in that country split between the modern and rich Bolivia of whites and the poor Bolivia of indigenous people, the latter have basically been excluded from politics. According to Morales, they're now not only going to stop, but reverse neoliberal politics that have ruled the country for 17 years.

August 1, 2002 - 6:13pm -- jim
Announcements
In the Streets

STAND UP NEW YORK
9/11 Remembrance for Global Peace and Justice

July, 2002 -- President Bush, backed by most other politicians and
the mass media, is using the tragedy of September 11, 2001, to
justify an endless "war against terrorism." In Afghanistan,
predictably, this resulted in what a sanitized military jargon calls
"collateral damage." In human terms it is thousands of civilian
lives lost. And Afghanistan is only the first stop in Bush's global
campaign. U.S. troops are already active in Colombia, the Philippines,
and elsewhere. US aid abets Israel's war against the Palestinian
people in disregard of international law, UN resolutions, and basic
human rights. Iraq is the next major target.

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