#NoG20 Plan of Action for the International Anticapitalist Demonstration

Latest information about the Welcome to Hell demonstration in Hamburg on July 6th.

Originally published by G20 Welcome To Hell

You will find all No G20 stories here.

Note: Presence Counts is not organizing any of  these events, we are publishing this text for people across the US and Europe to be able to see what is going on and for documentation only.

Goal of the demonstration

With a large international anticapitalist demonstration we would like to offer the many people who are coming to the protests against the G20 summit to Hamburg a platform for our varied and fundamental criticism of the ruling circumstances on the eve of the direct actions against the infrastructure of the summit and the capital. When the most powerful government officials and the greatest war-drifters come to Hamburg St. Pauli, we will already be there: in our camps and centers, on the street, in the houses, in the neighborhood, and all the city. The left-radical pre-evening demo on Thursday shall be a first strong expression of our irreconcilable criticism.

After we built and settled our camps in the city in the days before, the summit of solidarity and the first gatherings and actions took place, we see the international anticapitalist demonstration as a prelude to the „hot phase“ of the direct actions and blockades against the G20 summit. We would like to use the demonstration to invite our international comrades and those who are still arriving to Hamburg to come to the city early and to make visible for the first time how many people oppose the Hamburg summit on the streets and see the enormous strength that we can develop together. It is also a matter of trying together at an early stage, of reevaluating our areas of movement and action, of reacting rebelliously and relentlessly to the repression that is taking place during the summit, whether it is in the form of precontrols, massive police presence or preventing demonstrations.

Preliminary checks? Not with us!

We are firmly assuming that the cops, as announced, will carry out so-called pre-controls during the summit and so also before our demo. This means that they will try to search your bags and you for „dangerous items“ as well as „protective clothing“. These include e.g. protectors, helmets, but also hose cloths, etc. This practice is so far not practiced in Hamburg and is intended to be an intimidation attempt and an authority demonstration. In other cities, this practice is already repressive normality. We do not want to accept such controls and we will resist them! So do not just walk in affinity groups during the demos and actions, but also go there in groups. Take the measures! The larger the groups, the more difficult the execution! We suspect that the controls will take place widely in the area around our showground. Thus, expect controls even if you arrive with the subway on the Reeperbahn etc. Be solid and do not be intimidated! Support people who are to be controlled and block control points!

Fulminant rally

For a great kick-off at the Fischmarkt St. Pauli from 4 pm, we invited numerous comrades and activists from all over the world to tell us about their local battles. On a large stage, different live bands will appear. The pre-demo rally is a fixed and important part of our demo. Here, we will convey our contents loudly and confidently, and hope to convince some who are perhaps still unsure about the demo to come to the Fischmarkt.

The Goldenen Zitronen, Neonschwarz, Johnny Mauser & Captain Gips will play live on the stage from 4 pm and accompany the prepared program with further surprises. On the edge of the rally, there will also be soli drinks and food. The concerts and contributions begin on time at 4 pm !

Activists from different countries are reporting of their struggles and self-organization, of state repression, of sexism and homophobia, of racism, of anti-semitism and of the old and new far-right movements. We are united in the struggle against capitalist conditions, which we no longer want to endure.

At 6:30 pm, the program will move to the loudspeaker and the demonstration will start in the Hafenstrasse at Park Fiction.

The demo

From 7 pm, the demonstration will start moving into Hafenstraße. We are striving for a large, loud, diverse and solidarity demonstration, which runs its planned route through St. Pauli. For a colorful expression, a large organized black bloc will attend, which will walk at the front of the demo. We will make our resistance visible in the city. On the demonstration there will be several blocs (including a FLTI * bloc) and several loudspeakers. We call for the creation of affinity groups for the demo and the coming days and to network and organize as well as possible with further groups and blocs. Especially for the front part of the demonstration we urge to go in chains. Our goal is to carry out our demonstration as planned. We want to walk with the demo, we want to be loud and angry. We wish the demo as a militant joint prelude to the days of resistance. We will not let us harass by the cops and want to find a collective approach to the harassment that they have for us. In this sense, we would also like to have a responsible attitude towards our formulated goal for the demo.

At this point we would also like to emphasize once more that we want to be in the streets with comrades at our side with a clear head and have no understanding for the consumption of alcohol and drugs at our rally and demonstration!

If the cops attack the demonstration or individuals, we will defend ourselves solidly and responsibly and try to continue the demonstration as long as it is reasonable.

In the event of an early demolition of the demonstration or the scenario that the police do not let us get out of the Hafenstrasse, we call for a massive flow into the streets and squares in the neighborhood!

Plan B – Reclaim St. Pauli

It would not be the first time that the police declared St. Pauli and the Schanzenviertel as occupied zone and prevented registered demonstrations. But we also remember vividly the powerful demos for the Lampedusa group or the effective and uncontrollable protests against the so called “danger area”. Whether wild demos, rallies or reclaim-the-streets-party – we take over the „blue zone“!

The demo should be a joint prelude for all of us, which will enable us to start the next few days. This moment of collective self-empowerment – within the exclusion scenario that the city and the cops have been trying to create for weeks – we also want to go in the case of Plan B. That is why we call to keep together in a case of the premature termination of our demo, to be spontaneous and unpredictable and to move in large groups, loud and visible. Because we take the street when, how and where we want!

For those who need a retreat in such a scenario to come down, discuss and orient themselves, we point out that there will be different information points throughout the city throughout the summit. But please respect that these points are not supposed to be places from which actions are started, as these should be safe retreats for people who need them.

Stalk in large groups or as a demo through the district and invite everyone to come along. On the eve of the blockades we explore St. Pauli with our friends from all over the world and show that we are there! We take the city back by being together on the road, unforgiving with the existing conditions and full of longing for a solidarity society. We can not be stopped, either by the shitty cops or by a „blue zone“ free of fundamental rights!

Anarhisti i imigranti na pragu socijalne revolucije u Grčkoj

Dok tvrđavu Europu od izbjeglica ‘brani’ Turska, grčki anarhisti u Solunu i Ateni u skvotiranim javnim zgradama stvaraju samoorganizirane, solidarne centre za prihvat izbjeglica i migranata. Nedavna represija državnog aparata nad izbjegličkim skovotima, u situaciji grčke krize koja je u nekoliko proteklih godina poprimila jasne karakteristike klasnog rata, nosi u sebi iskru socijalne revolucije.

Foto: upute u skvotu Orfanotrofio

U Bruxellesu je 20. ožujka 2016. postignut dogovor u između EU i Turske kojim se adresira problem izbjegličke krize. Ugovor definira protokol po kojem se ilegalni imigranti u Grčkoj, ukoliko ne zatraže azil ili im on bude odbijen, deportiraju u Tursku. Za svakog tako deportiranog sirijskog imigranta, EU se obvezuje primiti drugog iz turskih izbjegličkih kampova. Dogovor je potpomognut omotnicom u iznosu od 3 milijarde eura, liberaliziranjem EU viznog režima za turske državljane, te obnovom pregovora za članstvo Turske u Uniji.

Paralelno s potpisivanjem diplomatskih sporazuma odvijala se i militarizacija državnih granica. Nakon početnih iskaza europske međunarodne solidarnosti, granice su se brzo zatvorile te podigle ograde i bodljikava žica. Pored toga, redovnoj graničnoj policiji društvo u patrolama počele su praviti razne vojne i paravojne jedinice (primjerice u Mađarskoj i Bugarskoj). U svega nekoliko dana, tisuće izbjeglica i imigranata postaju ilegalci zatočeni na srpskom, grčkom ili makedonskom teritoriju. Privremeni (i u velikoj mjeri samoorganizirani) kamp Idomeni na grčko-makedonskoj granici prisilno je zatvoren, a izbjeglice koje su u njemu našle trenutno utočište protjerane su prema Ateni ili prihvatnim kampovima diljem Grčke.

No, razdoblje potrebno da se europska birokratska mašinerija pokrene za raspoređivanje svojih službenika (nekih 2300 sudaca, zaštitara i prevoditelja), grčki anarhisti i pripadnici antiautoritarnog pokreta iskoristili su za organiziranje izbjeglica i imigranta po skvotiranim javnim zgradama. Ti transformirani društveni centri u kratko vrijeme uspijevaju primiti izbjeglice i to na način koji je po humanosti iznad standarda u detencijskim centrima. No, budući da djeluju u okvirima borbenog i klasnog samoorganiziranja, izvan postojećih državnih i civilnih struktura, postali su prijetnja postojećem poretku. Utoliko je državno nasilje koje je uslijedilo protiv njih bilo očekivano.

Slučaj solunskog skvota Orfanotrofio

U prosincu 2015. grupa anarhista, dotad angažiranih na pomaganju izbjeglica u kampu Idomeni, zauzima napuštenu zgradu nekadašnjeg solunskog sirotišta ‘Megas Alexandros’ u vlasništvu Grčke pravoslavne crkve. Sirotište skvotiraju s jasnom namjerom da od njega učine sklonište i sigurno mjesto za okupljanje imigranata i lokalnog stanovišta, kolektivni prostor koji će poticati jednakost i samoorganizaciju bez nadzora državnih institucija ili nevladinih organizacija.

Foto: Orfanotrofio, Thessaloniki

Vlastitim snagama, anarhisti, lokalno stanovništvo i imigranti od zapuštenog prostora stvaraju društveni centar Orfanotrofio s 80 kreveta, kuhinjom, ljekarnom, prostorom za djecu, kafićem i vrtom! Organiziranje svakodnevice centra kao i solidarnih ili političkih akcija provodilo se na tjednim sastancima svih stanara i korisnika centra. Pokrenuti su redoviti sastanci s pravnicima oko sređivanja potrebne dokumentacije za imigrante, kao i akcije prikupljanja solidarne pomoći u vidu hrane ili odjeće, u čijem su doniranju naviše sudjelovali susjedi, također aktivni i u društvenom životu centra. Uzimajući u obzir jezične barijere, svi su sastanci bili višejezični, uz pomoć volontera-prevoditelja. U svakom aspektu djelovanja i općenito života centra Orfanotrofeia vidljiva je antifašistička ideja da se nikoga, bili oni izbjeglice ili imigranti, ne diskriminira zbog njihove vjere, zemlje porijekla, obiteljskog ili pravnog statusa.

Samo 7 mjeseci nakon pokretanja centra, krajem srpnja 2016., policijska operacija prekida rad Orfanotrofia te Nikisa i Hurriye, druga dva solunska centra za izbjeglice i imigrante. U evikciji prisilno su izbačeni svi trenutni stanovnici centra, njih 50-tak, pri čemu su 4 državljana EU i jedan državljanin Grčke uhićeni i optuženi za nelegalni posjed i uništavanje privatne imovine! Potpomognuto crkvenim obećanjima da će na istom mjestu pokrenuti gradnju novog humanitarnog centra bivše je sirotište, koje je bilo privremeni dom za mnoge izbjeglice, teškom mehanizacijom srušeno i pretvoreno u šutu u samo par vrućih solunskih dana.

Foto: rušenje skvota Orfanotrofeio

Iznenađujuće, petorica optuženih oslobođeni su svih optužbi na sudskom ročištu održanome 31. svibnja 2017. U prilog presudi išla je i činjenica da je gotovo godinu dana nakon evikcije Orfanotrofeija, na mjestu nekadašnjeg skvota i dalje ležala ruševina. Obećanja pravoslavne Crkve o građevinskoj investiciji prokazana je kao puka farizejska laž te je postalo jasno da je motiv rušenja društvenog centra i izbacivanja imigranata bilo nešto drugo. Cilj operacije bio je, dakako, eliminiranje društvenog potencijala da se mimo tržišta, države i religije organizira solidarna zajednica koja nadilazi nacionalne i jezične barijere, te spaja lokalno stanovništvo i strance u njihovoj svakodnevnoj borbi.

Otpor u srcu Atene

Akciju evikcije skvotova za imigrante policija nije ograničila samo na Solun. Atena je krajem prošle  i početkom ove godine također bila poprište nasilnih konfrontacija između interventne policije i samoorganiziranih kolektiva. Situaciju u kojoj se država obračunava s anarhistima i izbjeglicama fašisti su jedva dočekali. U kolovozu 2016. molotovljevim koktelima napali su atenski skvot Notara 26 u kojem se nalazilo oko 130 osoba, mahom izbjeglica s djecom. Žrtava nasreću nije bilo, a vatra je brzo ugašena.

Notara je nekada bila zgrada Ministarstva rada koju su, poput solunskih skvotova, zauzeli anarhisti i pretvorili je u funkcionalni centar gdje se izbjeglicama pruža smještaj, osnovna medicinska pomoć, besplatna odjeća i informacije. Slične kolektive nalazimo posvuda po gradu: Oniro, Spirou Trikoupi, Underground Railroad ili City Plaza (bivši hotel na sedam katova u kojem je sigurnost i zaštitu našlo oko 400 izbjeglica), da nabrojimo samo neke. Prema nekim izvorima, u Ateni čak 3000 izbjeglica (gotovo dvostruko više od broja kojeg mora primiti RH!) prebiva u petnaestak tako okupiranih zgrada. Riječ je o napuštenim zgradama koje su se nekad koristile za javne funkcije, poput škola ili bolnica koje je smanjujuća država odbacila, a da bi ih slobodarski pokret transformirao u centre solidarnosti i samoorganizacije. Naravno, sve je postignuto osloncem isključivo na dobrovoljne priloge i volonterski rad, bez korištenja fondova EU, pomoći grčke države ili darovnica kapitalističkih dobročinitelja.

Foto: plenum u skvotu u Ateni

U takvim se kolektivima odvija život nalik na onaj kojeg su izbjeglice morali napustiti: organiziraju se vjenčanja, pokreću zadruge, uče strani jezici, djeca pohađaju školska predavanja, a neki od najmlađih čak su i rođeni u njima. Aktivnosti nezamislive u okruženju državnih detencijskih centara, zapravo koncentracijskih logora ograđenih stražarskim tornjevima i bodljikavom žicom. S druge strane, solidarnost, dostojanstvo i privatnost minimum su koje skvotirani centri nude izbjeglicama. I to je upravo ono što, pored otvorenog političkog rada i primjene direktne akcije, skvotirane centre temeljno diferencira u odnosu na detencijske centre: njihova učinkovitost u postizanju konkretne zaštite i socijalne integracije izbjeglica!

Foto: kuhinja u skvotu Notara, Atena

Međutim, sve to nije zaustavilo državnu represiju nad samoorganiziranim centrima. Štoviše, u grčkim je medijima nedavno objavljena informacija o donošenju sudske presude za iseljavanje tri atenska skvota koja zbrinjavaju izbjeglice: City Plaza, Papoutsadiko i Zoodoxou Pigis 119. U zajedničkom priopćenju kojeg su potpisali ostali skvotovi, sudska je presuda shvaćena kao napad na izbjeglice i nastavak represivne kampanje protiv slobodarskog pokreta. Mogući odgovor na te planove samo je jedan: solidaran i aktivan otpor! Prosvjed koji je održan u petak 23. lipnja ispred grčkog Ministarstva imigracija predstavljao je ujedno i međunarodni poziv za akcije solidarnosti sa skvotovima kojima prijeti evikcija.

Perspektiva socijalne revolucije na jugu Europe

Iako je prošlo više od godinu dana od početka dogovora između Turske i Europske unije, situacija se samo pogoršala za imigrante koji pokušavaju stići do europskih obala. Empatija javnosti za utapanja u Mediteranskom moru otupila je, pa ona više ni nisu tema za mainstream medije. No u isto vrijeme, europski fašisti otvoreno organiziraju pomorski lov na imigrante i na društvenim mrežama prikupljaju financije za tu svrhu. Vlade srednjoeuropskih država upravo dogovaraju novu militarizaciju granica (Hrvatska je također u dealu, naravno), a deportacija imigranata nastavlja se odvijati daleko od očiju medija i javnosti. Proces primanja azilanata u države EU sukladno dogovorenim kvotama ide sporo, ostavljajući tako konkretnu pomoć izbjeglicama u zadatak civilnom sektoru i humanitarnim organizacijama, koji limitirani kapacitetima, donatorskim pravilima i zakonskim okvirima, ne mogu ponuditi rješenje za europsku izbjegličku krizu.

U takvim okolnostima, grčki anarhistički, antiautoritarni i militantni lijevi pokret uspješno gradi funkcionalne socijalne strukture koje putem samoorganizacije i direktne akcije istodobno osnažuju njihove korisnike (izbjeglice i lokalce) te kritički propituju kapitalističku logiku kriminalizacije imigranata. Projekt izgradnje i umrežavanja takvih antikapitalističkih struktura u šire društvo otvorena je prijetnja dominantnom sistemu koji ga vidi kao socijalni virus s potencijalom rapidnog širenja. U grčkoj krizi, koja je u nekoliko proteklih godina poprimila jasne karakteristike klasnog rata, takav pokret može lako zapaliti iskru socijalne revolucije – cilj svih anarhista.

Foto: sukobi na Pyro St., Atena, povodom evikcije izbjegličkih skvotova

Represivna reakcija države prema skvotovima za imigrante u potpunosti odgovara njenoj ulozi u očuvanju postojećeg stanja i zaštite privatnog vlasništva i kapitala. Činjenica da je na čelu države Syrizina, načelno lijeva vlada, donekle otežava primjenu brutalnijih metoda protiv imigranata i anarhista koji uživaju povjerenje, ili barem simpatije, sve većeg dijela grčkog društva. Čak i uz pomoć drugih centara moći poput Crkve i medija (kao u slučaju solunskog skvota Orfanotriferio, kada su nasilnu policijsku raciju pokušali prikazati kao legitimnu i opravdanu), Tsipras nije spreman riskirati društvene nerede u kojima bi se našao na pogrešnoj strani barikada, stoga neće (niti može) okončati pitanje socijalnih skvotova za imigrante. To će anarhističkom i antiautoritarnom pokretu otvoriti dovoljno manevarskog prostora i vremena da nastavi s pripremama za radikalnu socijalnu promjenu, u kojoj su društveni centri tek jedan od potpornih stupova solidarnosti i samoorganizacije.

Okidač za grčku revoluciju postat će vjerojatno neka civilna žrtva oborena policijskim metkom  ili fašističkom batinom, u budućem napadu na skvotirani društveni centar. Klasno osviješteni neredi koji će buknuti nakon toga proširit će se Grčkom i tako prisiliti ostatak europskih članica da vojno interveniraju. Kada prvi NATO razarač uplovi u atensku luku s namjerom da zaustavi daljnje napredovanje ustanka, znat ćemo da je socijalna revolucija, slična onoj koja raste u brdima sirijske Rojave, konačno stigla u Europu!

Porfirije Petrovič, 26.6.2017, #MAZ

Court Permits #NoG20-Camp in #Hamburg – Legal Team Info

The administrative court in Hamburg ruled that the ban of a No G20 protest camp in Stadtpark in Hamburg is inadmissible. Police authorities announced that they will appeal against the court decision. The legal team published information about the legal situation for No G 20 activists.

Submitted to Enough is Enough

The court confirmed its own decision of June the 7th and again allowed a protest camp in Stadtpark in Hamburg from June 30th until the 9th of July. The court motivated their decision that police authorities need to prove that there is a “police emergency” to ban the protest camp. According to the court police authorities failed to do so and the police press department instead stated in German media that the preparations for the G 20 police operations are going well. Police authorities announced that they will appeal against todays court decision.

The legal team published information about the legal situation for No G 20 activists;

Together against repression – also during the protests against the G20 Summit in Hamburg

Political actions often result in problems with the police forces. The Legal Team (EA) is an anti-repression structure supporting you during and after actions. If necessary, in cooperation with solidary lawyers.

The legal team can be contacted under the following number: +49(0)40 432 78 778

This number is NOT A helpline service.

Some hints to effectively counter the repression of the protests to be expected:

during the months before the G20 summit:

• The repressive forces are preparing themselves for the G20 summit as well, namely with attempts of chatting up, house searches, telephone tapping, surveillance etc. Do not let yourself become intimidated, clean up at home and try to keep any incriminating material outside of your private rooms. Encrypt data carriers and your email and SMS communication.
• Make yourself familiar with friends, comrades and confidants about any situation you might be confronted with and make arrangements for the joint behaviour and your forms of actions. Also talk about your fears.
• Exchange your complete names and dates of birth. Memorize the information to be able to speedily inform the EA in case of emergency.
• It makes sense to take precautions in the event that you will be taken in custody and you may have to spend more than 24 hours in a cell. Who shall be informed? Which dates have to be cancelled? Who will take care of what?
• Tell people and/or initiatives in your city about the time you are going to leave and of your planned return.

During the action days:

• It is recommended to take along dark, uniform clothes without particular characteristics (such as patches etc.) and a cap, base-cap.
• Leave any and all needless data at home (address book, calendar etc.)
• If you don’t want to do without mobile, get an inexpensive demo mobile with as little stored data as possible.
• No alcohol, no drugs at actions and demonstrations.
• Take along eye-rinsing solution and first-aid kit and familiarize yourself with the handling. Take along a second set of clothes.
• Take along medicines you need regularly in a sufficient amount (guideline: action period + 3 days) and also your health insurance card.

In case of arrest/detention:

• In case of an arrest/detention, you will be obliged to state your name, your registered address and date of birth. Take along your identity card, passport, visa, residence permits or similar documents. Legal note: if you fail to state your personal data, this will be regarded as an administrative offence and may result in an ED procedure (ED = fingerprints, photos) and even to a detention awaiting trial, depending on the charge involved.
• In any case, refuse to give evidence. Irrespective of what police is asking for, don’t say anything – it would only harm you and others. Refusing to give evidence is a strong offensive approach wearing down and diffusing police interrogations. The refusal is your right and you cannot be forced to give evidence. They will still try to make you talk with tricks. Do not engage yourself in supposedly harmless discussions and do not comment to the charge made – no matter how absurd it is. Do not make any statement regarding the charge to any other fellow inmate as well.
• Do not sign any paper. There is no reason for it and may be harmful in case of doubt. You will also get back your belongings without signature.
• Call the EA. You have the right to a successful phone call, demand this vigorously. Caution: the phone will be tapped, only state your name, date of birth, the place you are and what you are accused of. Do NOT state, what you did or what you didn’t do. In case of doubt, let the EA ask questions.
• It happens, that you will be subjected to an „ED procedure“ at the police station. This will include fingerprints and photos, up to a collection of physical characteristics. In this case, the procedure must „match“ the allegations – in case of a standard charge, such as „disturbing the peace“, the taking of fingerprints, for example, is not allowed, because this will not help to „clarify facts“. Do not voluntarily cooperate in the ED procedure! Do not walk around in front of the camera („Motion Profile“), do not change clothes for the photo. Do not „voluntarily“ hand over DNA samples. These can only be taken with your approval or upon a judicial decision. File an objection against this. This must not be signed by you as well.
• You may be kept in police custody until the end of the following day. Upon a judicial decision, however, up to 10 days. Reasons for this would be, for example, emergency response/preventive custody: „in order to prevent the imminent commitment of an administrative offence of considerable importance for the general public or the commitment of a criminal offence“, or the enforcement of a prohibition of access or stay.
• If police wants to enforce a detention awaiting trial, you will be put before a judge. Urge for legal assistance. Only use the lawyers of the EA. If you are before the judge without a lawyer or only with a police lawyer, insist on a lawyer of the EA and always repeat this request (e.g. „This is not my lawyer, I herewith request a lawyer of the EA and I want to call there“). Do not make any statement here, this is also your right here.
• The EA will take care, together with lawyers, that you will be out of detention as fast as possible. This will not cost you anything.
• As soon as you are out, make sure to quickly inform the EA (check out).

Arrest/Detention of young people

• Legal definition of young people: persons older than 14 but not yet 18 years old.
• In case young people will be arrested,. the parents or guardians, respectively, must be informed. If these cannot be contacted, the emergency services for children and young people in Hamburg will be informed. If you are on the way with adult friends, try to get a power of attorney from your parents, transferring the educational right to them for the period of the action days. This will enable these persons to collect you.
• It is not allowed to arrest young persons at all without any charge against them or who do not considerably disturb the operations. If it is impossible to hand over these young people to a guardian or to the Youth Welfare Office, they must be supervised outside police custody. It is not allowed to accommodate young persons together with adults.
• Often, police officers fail to do so, which might be in the interest of the person involved.
• It is not allowed to subject persons under the age of 14 to an ED procedure or an interrogation.

Special conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany:

• It is prohibited to carry or wear objects protecting the body against police violence (helmets, protectors etc.) and weapons or face masks are not allowed. Be careful and consider well, what you plan to use in which situation.
• Police forces often use close escorting (side escorting) for assemblies, trying to intimidate through presence. It happens, that pick squads enter into demonstrations as a provocation. Pepper spray is used very frequently, also batons and water canons with irritating substances, no rubber bullets.
• Demonstrations are accompanied by police in uniforms and in civilian clothes. Keep this in mind, if you plan to become active out of the demonstration. Arrests will be made, in particular through plain-clothed policemen even hours or days later. If possible, leave the place and change clothes after actions.
• Check, whether you got a health insurance in the Federal Republic of Germany and – if not – take out a foreign travel health insurance.

If you get problems with the repression authorities at a later stage, contact your local anti-rep group or the Hamburg EA.

#NoG20 NEWSLETTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS June 2017

PDF: International No G20 Newsletter June 2017

DOC: International No G20 Newsletter June 2017

#NoG20 NEWSLETTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS June 2017
*** A final info sheet with all numbers and contacts updated will be circulated a few days before the protests. So please stay tuned via the channels provided in this Newsletter ***

Dear international friends and comrades,
In only three weeks we come together in Hamburg from across Europe and the world to protest against the G20´s spectacle of power. Just three weeks until we fill the streets and squares of Hamburg to show that another world is necessary; that it is possible starting with our solidarity on the streets; and until we reject the exploitation, social precarity, wars, ecological devastation and social division that the world’s 20 most powerful leaders and their delegations will organize.
This parade of monsters should decide our future? No, they don’t represent us. It is not just the Trumps and Erdogans, the Temers and Putins, the Modis and Zumas, the Merkels, Mays, Junkers and Macrons. No, the monster is a “system”. A system based on the exploitation and systematic appropriation of work, wealth and land of the many by a few – in its neoliberal form represented by Merkel, Macron and the EU’s transnational elites, and in its nationalist reactionary form represented by the authoritarian, racist and sexist Trump, Erdogan and King Salman. They are two sides of the same coin.
What is at stake in Hamburg is nothing less than the future of our Planet Earth. We already know that their negotiations will not solve any of the current and upcoming wars and military conflicts, will not stop the devastation of the continents, and will not help any of the millions fleeing from war or poverty or those who face impoverishment in the richest economies (see http://g20-protest.info/category/calls/english/).
We know that many of you are planning to come to Hamburg. Others might not make it, but want to follow the news, organize solidarity actions and disseminate information. This is why we’ve compiled as much information as possible in an international newsletter to give you a good overview. However, please be aware that things may change quickly: to stay updated follow us online (see 5 below).

In this newsletter:
1. Overview of the political situation in Hamburg: a compact week of protests against their summit

2. The planned activities: what is planned when, where to go, what to expect, how to participate and where to get more information

3. Logistical matters: accommodation, travel info, bus coordination and where to get information.

4. Legal help and police matters: what you need to know in case of repression, important numbers and helpful information.

5. How to stay tuned for updates and support us: where to find last-minute information and support the activists.

1. Overview of the political situation in Hamburg: a compact week against their summit.
On Dec. 1 2016, the German government took over the presidency of the G20, with many G20 ministerial meetings along the way and the G20 summit itself taking place on July 7 and 8 in Hamburg city centre. It is not only the overall politics of the G20, but also the current representatives of the G20 who will come to Hamburg which need to be criticized, confronted and protested against. Therefore, several initiatives, political groups and representatives of civil society formed a G20 platform and started to organize and coordinate protests with the idea of forming a broad alliance, a transnational convergence of the many under the motto “Solidarity beyond borders” against the G20 and against its global organization of power.
A variety of activities have already taken place in Hamburg and around the G20 ministerial meetings (not to forget the massive protests in Brazil and Argentina these days, both part of the G20). But in Germany for example, in March when the G20 finance ministers met in Baden-Baden; or last week in Berlin, when hundreds of protesters led by anti-racist and refugees groups opposed the Merkel/Schäuble “G20 Compact with Africa,” partly because it will become a feast for multinational corporate privatization at the expense of taxpayer subsidies, partly because the “Africa Partnership Conference” was also clearly about how to secure better the borders of Europe. Other protests will take place in the week before the summit itself (e.g. on July 2 with a “wave of protest” going through Hamburg: see http://www.protestwelle.de).
However, the G20 platform encouraged all groups and networks to organize protest activities against the G20 in a “compact week“ of debate, direct action and a demonstration that gives a picture of how many and how diverse we are. The aim of this compact week is to be in the Hamburg city centre, when “they” are there, to have our protests and critique heard and seen, and to practically link different forms of action and critique.
Of course, such an approach of solidarity, connection and convergence is usually not welcomed by those in power – especially not by the city government of Hamburg. Often we meet bitter opposition to our rights to struggle, to assemble and to protest, from the police or the state. Activists are criminalized and presented as vandals, legal orders are issued restricting the freedom of assembly and movement, a discourse that prioritises “security issues” and fear above the question of democracy and free speech is launched.
In Hamburg, we now see a red-green government delaying talks on / negotiations for public camps for activists. We see a red-green government issuing a broad legal order that declares Hamburg on July 7 and 8 specifically to be a democracy-free zone, outlawing any assembly, movement or camp for July 7 and 8 in an area covering almost all of Hamburg city centre and around (see here for a map). Importantly, the demonstration on Saturday is legally registered and will take place!
There is now a public outcry against repression in Hamburg. Reaching beyond those who are active in the No G20 protests, a “campaign for the right to assembly” has formed and will publish a call for support. Church members will call for “round tables” and public debates, and more will hopefully follow soon. Furthermore, we will of course fight this order through the courts. We will go to court to support each assembly and demonstration that might be affected. Besides, we are building as broad alliances as possible – with all those who don’t accept living in a city that outlaws democracy. And we claim that the right to assemble and the freedom of movement are best preserved when practiced on the streets of Hamburg by as many people as possible.
In 2017 the Bastille stands in Hamburg! Let us be many, let us be loud, let us send a strong and visible sign across the world that we reject the G20 and the politics they represent and practice. Let us demonstrate that another world is necessary, and indeed, is possible and that we are already building it (for the international call to join the protests in Hamburg see http://g20-protest.info/).
We are saying that they don’t represent us – not in Hamburg nor in Africa, the Middle East or Asia, the Americas or elsewhere in Europe and the world (http://g20-protest.info/category/general-information/open-letter-to-hamburg/). We will fight these orders and this discourse through legal processes, by public interventions, and by building broad alliances with movements, civil society, organizations and NGOs, so that tens of thousands of people will be in Hamburg in early July: at the alternative summit, the camps, the transnational demonstration, the mass blockade, the numerous civil disobedience actions as well as many other initiatives and happenings. We will meet, discuss, and practice our vision of a world of freedom, equality and solidarity!
So now, please take some time to look at the variety of activities planned so far. We will be on the streets, we will find accommodation for all of us, we will be together and we will say loudly: Solidarity beyond borders instead of the G20!

2. The protest week in detail: the main activities planned so far
The social centre collectives are gathering all information on all activities and will publish a map and a reader for all of us to use.
See also:
Links for general overview: http://g20-protest.info/category/week-of-protest/ or https://www.g20hamburg.org/en
Links to maps: protest map (http://g20-protest.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/G20-city-protest-map.jpg)
map of the blue zone (http://g20-protest.info/category/material/)

Wednesday, July 5th
10:00-21:30 – Global Solidarity Summit (Day 1)
More than 50 initiatives and organizations from Germany and abroad are inviting people for the international “Global Solidarity Summit“. As an answer to the G20 Summit on 7 and 8 July, the “Alternative Summit“ will bring together and amplify our criticism, discuss alternatives and, above all, build alliances and develop strategies for the implementation of a policy for global solidarity. There will be 11 panels with international guests, e.g. highly renowned economist Jayati Ghosh, globalization critic and winner of the alternative Nobel Prize Vandana Shiva from India and the leading Kurdish politician Salih Müslim from Rojava. In addition to the panels, there will be numerous discussions and practical workshops.
The location is the Kampnagel, Hamburg
Further information and detailed program: http://solidarity-summit.org/en/

18:00 – Night Dance Demonstration
Organizers: Alles allen (Everything for all is a collective of political hedonists)
Starting from Landungsbrücken (for a map click here)

Thursday, July 6th
10:00-21:30 – Global Solidarity Summit (Day 2)
11:30 – Meeting for international activists:
Here is the space to exchange final questions, concerns, updates within the international circle. Location to be announced but it will be at the site of the Global Solidarity Summit.
15:00 – Final action plenary (until the demo starts):
A general assembly for the Block G20 / Colour the Red Zone activity (Friday) with last-minute information, organizing, Q&A (with translation into English for the international activists) – probably in the camp, location will be announced
19:00 – “Welcome to Hell” demonstration:
“International anti-capitalist demonstration against G20 summit called by the autonomous and anti-capitalist alliance “G20 – welcome to hell!” The demonstration will start with a great opening meeting. There will be cultural, musical and political contributions. From 7 p.m., the demonstration will be approaching the red zone and the final meeting will be held a stone’s throw from the summit’s location in the exhibition halls.”
Starting from: St. Pauli Fischmarkt, Hamburg (for a map click here) Call and further information: https://g20tohell.blackblogs.org/international-anticapitalist-demonstration/

Friday, July 7th
The first day of the G20 summit and the day of disobedient mass actions throughout the city!
Block G20 – Colour The Red Zone
“Together with tens of thousands we will reclaim the streets in the heart of the city. Residents and activists from various countries will jointly block the summit meeting. We will organize ourselves in several fingers or similar structures, acting autonomously but in coordination. From all directions we will surge towards the sites of the summit meeting, to the trade fair (Messehallen), to the City Hall and the Elbphilharmonie, in short to the Red Zone that will be sealed off for the meeting. Where the police will be in our way, we will find alternative paths to our goal. Where necessary we will overcome obstacles and possibly break through police chains. We will go as far as we get. Already on our way to the Red Zone, we will demonstrate our societal alternatives through diverse and creative forms like raves, assemblies and the occupation of public spaces and vacancies. We reserve the right to stay overnight.“
Call, action picture, action consensus and important updates: http://www.blockg20.org/en/

Shut down the logistics of capital!
“Hamburg and its harbour is an important hub for the German export economy and the global goods traffic – and because of that, the perfect venue to disrupt the state and capital. Neither will ever be able to provide a better life for all. We are calling to use the international mobilization against the G20 summit to inflict as much pain as possible on a world where commodities can move freely overseas while at the same time migrants are dying by the thousands in the same oceans.”
Information and updates: https://shutdown-hamburg.org/?lang=en

Student strike – Youth against G20
Student strike with demonstration called by a coalition of social, internationalist, trade unionist and antifascist youth groups, organizations, initiatives and individuals.
Call, information and updates: http://jugendgegeng20.de

19:00 – Colourful Critical Mass
“We don’t car!” (twitter: #cmasshh). Stop the lines of cars of the G20 with a huge bicycle tour, promoting environment- friendly movement.
Starting from Moorweide (S- Bahn Dammtor) (for a map click here)

3 to 9.30 pm – Dialogue-Event “We need to talk: Debt20 meets G20″
organized by erlassjahr.de / Jubilee Germany; at the GLS Bank Hamburg (see also http://erlassjahr.de/termin/wir-muessen-reden-debt20-meets-g20/)

7.30 to 10 pm – “DiEM25@G20
“Constructive Disobedience! Resistance in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism“ – a public discussion with Renata Avila, Angela Richter, Aral Balkan, Srećko Horvat, Michael Hardt, Yanis Varoufakis (video), DiEM25 DSCs + special surprise, at the Audimax of the Universität Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 4, 20146 Hamburg

Saturday, July 8th:
11:00 – Mass demonstration
Central, internationalist and anti-capitalist mass demonstration “Solidarity without borders instead of G20” on the second day of the G20 summit with numerous blocs of different political coalitions and spectrums. Open to everyone who shares our outrage and our hope and wants to take to the streets of Hamburg with us in a loud, colourful and diverse demonstration. The goal of the march is to demonstrate the strength of the alliance in its variety and unity. The march will start together and arrive together (see the demo vision at http://g20-demo.de/de/bild-unserer-demonstration/, for now only available in German)
Starting from Deichtorhallen at 11 am with a (German/Turkish) opening rally with speeches from all parts of the alliance and welcoming words in different languages by international participants (for a map click here).
Join the international representative block right at the front of the demonstration to highlight the global dimension of the No G20 protests. Bring your banners and symbols. A contingent / bloc of the alliance and international delegations, activists and comrades will open the march. Please make sure that you bring posters, banners and signs that tell the world what you want to say in your language, and that help to demonstrate that our alliance, the resistance and protest against the politics of the G20 is indeed international and global.
The closing rally will take place at the Heiligengeistfeld in St. Pauli with a huge stage, cultural/music acts and famous speakers from different regions of the world – the women’s movement / Black Lives Matter, US; the Kurdish movement of Rojava; the climate justice movement from Colombia; and Hamburg’s Right to the City movement. Information, demo picture and updates: http://g20-demo.de/en/start-2/

3. Logistical Matters
Many of you come from far away and travel in larger groups. Here you can find some updates on bus coordination, the information system, accommodation – and how to make early contact with those organizing these matters.

Arrival and bus coordination:
If you are travelling in a larger group or convoy, get in touch with us through international [at] g20-2017.org. Let us know where you are coming from and when, so that in case you experience problems with the police we will be notified. Please include an email address or phone contact for a reliable contact person for the busses from each region. Please notice that this contact address for busses is not appropriate for further safe communication! The task now is to establish the necessary contact with all the busses so that we can then establish communication for later on the trip itself. Shortly you will find this mail address for the busses on the NoG20 International website too (see: http://g20-protest.info), together with a contact phone number.
If you want to participate at the BlockG20 action on Friday, make sure to be at the Camp in Hamburg by 15:00 at the latest for the final action plenary!
Please be also aware that for the G20 the Schengen treaty is suspended. We do not know to what extent the police will prevent activists from crossing the border into Germany. But be prepared for police controls! If you are a larger convoy, you might want to think about bringing press and parliamentarian observers from your countries/regions with you, or at least be in touch with some.

First meeting point:
At Arrivatipark (“Neuer Pferdemarkt” outside the blue zone: for a map click here) you can gather first information, orientation and craft your own protest materials.

Accommodation:
There will be accommodation for you! Two camps are being planned: one by an autonomous preparation group (the so-called “anticapitalist camp”) and one by a broader coalition for everybody. Both have registered campsites with the city of Hamburg: the autonomous “anticapitalist camp” at the Stadtpark and the “spectrum-wide camp” at Volkspark Altona. It has been a long process of fighting, going to court, and negotiating, and we are doing everything possible to have a camp take place; if not, there will be alternatives! Both camps should provide – aside from camping and eating possibilities – political barrios and space for common discussion, final action trainings and plenaries.
For updates and information: http://g20-camp.de/ (spectrum-wide camp) and https://g20camp.noblogs.org/ (autonomous “anticapitalist camp”).

Info hotline and Info channels:
We will have a NoG20 (international) info hotline established for the days starting with your trip (more or less) and ending when you are home or when the last busses have crossed the border. This will be posted on the website (https://g20-protest.info) a few days before July 5, so please stay tuned. The hotline will give you info when needed, and will arrange for legal support in case of troubles with the police on your journey.
There will be infopoints at specific, crucial points in the city (e.g. the central station) as well as a reader and map with all available information.

4. Legal matters
As we know from the previous international mobilizations and protests, preparing for legal matters is of crucial importance. Take your time therefore to check out legal information on the blog of the G20 anti-repression structure: https://g20ea.blackblogs.org/en/ in various languages.

There will be a legal team (twitter: @EA_hh) operating, a demonstration watch /monitoring by the Committee for Basic Rights and Democracy (including people from the OECD Assembly Rights Working Group as well as parliamentarians), a medical team and out of action areas watching out for us and helping us, and people waiting outside the “Gesas” (pre-charge detention center).

We also recommend reading this article about German police history and tactics: https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/212864
Legal info in various languages: https://www.rote-hilfe.de/downloads/category/8-legalinfo-in-other-languages.

The emergency telephone numbers in case of arrest etc. will be published in the days immediately before the G20 protest week and your trip. Please check with the mailing lists or us if you can’t find them, since you should have them before your trip.

5. Stay tuned for updates and support us
Things change quickly; many things will be decided and finalised only in the last days before the actions and demonstration: so get in touch with us and stay tuned!
For last Info, telephone numbers, action maps etc:.
Subscribe to the mailing list by sending an email to international [at] g20-2017.org
Check our homepage: https://g20-protest.info
Check Facebook (@g20international) and Twitter (@NoG20_Inter)
If you want to participate in the BlockG20 action, make sure to be at the final action assembly on Thursday, July 6 at 15:00!

Support us:
Solidarity Tickets for international activists
We are trying to raise money also to support activists from other European countries with their travel costs by selling so-called solidarity tickets (http://g20-protest.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Solitickets-Bunt.pdf): you can transfer money directly to this bank account and print out the solidarity ticket for yourself (or wait until Hamburg to get a nice one printed):
Name: Adelante e.V.!
Reference: “Soliticket”,
IBAN: DE53430609671168858400,
BIC: GENO DE M 1 GLS

Donations for BlockG20:
Name: Verein Bewegungsfonds
Reference: “Aktion”
IBAN: CH07 0900 0000 6187 7407 8
BIC: POFICHBEXXX

Donations for the Global Solidarity Summit: http://solidarity-summit.org/en/spend/

Donations for the Demonstration:
Name: Hamburger Forum e.V.,
Reference: G20 Gipfel
IBAN: DE32 4306 0967 2067 3173 01,
BIC: GENODEM1GLS

Media coverage, social media, mobilization material.
Please support us during the protest days through your social media. The Twitter hashtags are: #NoG20, #towardsG20, #BlockG20
Please spread the call and news, download and put up posters, and help with anything we haven’t thought of yet. If you have any questions around this please contact us (international [at] g20-2017.org).
Other Support:
We do need your help not only to prepare everything in advance, to get in touch with us, to inform us about your plans etc. We will also need people who can give a helping hand during the protest week itself – whether it is at the food kitchen, with translation or in the kids’ area. Please keep your eyes and ears open when people ask for help.

If you have any question don’t hesitate to ask at: international [at] g20-2017.org
We are looking forward to seeing you all and sending out our message to the world:
Allons enfants! In 2017 the Bastille stands in Hamburg!
International NoG20

 

More info on: http://g20-protest.info/

Corbyn and the #UK Election; A New Day For Electoralism?

The recent UK election handed the socialist leaning Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn a minor though not insignificant victory. Once again many on the left are discussing the tactic and value of strategies focused on voting and electoral change and advocates for this are eager to present the moment as a major break through. But we think it’s important to understand the counter arguments and especially given the recent memory of Syriza in Greece – the “Coalition of the Radical Left Party” which ran on a platform of anti-austerity and once in power quickly caved in to demands from the EU and bankers. This article is by our comrades with the Workers Solidarity Movement in Ireland. 

Originally published by Black Rose Anarchist Federation

By Fionnghuala Nic Roibeaird

Voting has just ended in the UK election. Many people are consumed with hope that Corbyn could win and implement his reforms “for the many, not the few”. For those of us who work with the broad left, it is inevitable that the topic of elections and voting will come up. Heated debates can occur between those of us who would rather ignore the electoral circus and those who strongly believe in using it as a vehicle on the road to a new society.

Before beginning, it is important to clarify the misconception that anarchists are against voting. We have absolutely no problem with voting – how else could we make decisions? We are against a system that allows for us to tick a box every four or five years which gives whoever received the most X’s to make decisions that affect our lives in a fancy building miles away from us. Politicians once elected do what they like because we can neither mandate nor recall them.

This is a system that divides us into a massive majority ruled by a tiny minority, and that allows for power, wealth and privilege to be concentrated into the hands of that minority. We believe that this democracy is a farce devoid of any real choice; that this form of voting creates the illusion of change while simultaneously reinforcing our current oppressive system. Rather than us being against voting in this system, it is more accurate to say that we are against peddling the belief that any lasting meaningful change can be achieved through engaging in something that has been designed to constrain us.

Genuine radicals who campaign for Corbyn do so under the illusion that his election campaign will significantly boost social movements in a way that putting their campaigning work into workplace, community, and other organizing would not.  Not only is there no evidence for this but the experience of previous electoral campaigns is that failure often demoralizes and demobilizes such movements, as happened after the failure of Bernie Sanders, and success often demobilizes and then demoralizes such movements when the moment of disappointment or betrayal arrives, as happened with Syriza.

The huge amount of energy invested might mean something can be harvested for the future. However the past suggests that only slim pickings are left when the that energy shifts elsewhere. Counterexamples that are sometimes cited, such as Chile under Allende prior to the coup, are not movements built out of electoralism but rather movements which opened up the space for electoral success as a consequence of their own strength.

The nature of an election campaign means there is little space to prepare activists for defeat or betrayal. All hope has to be entrusted in the candidate and even soft criticism has to be avoided lest it deter voters. Elections are not fought and won around the slogan of ‘our candidate although flawed is somewhat better than theirs’ but through insisting that yes indeed they can perform miracles.

This article has been written in response to a piece written by Paddy Vipond titled “Anarchists, It Is Our Duty To Vote”. Throughout I have summarized his arguments before I have dealt with them and so it is not necessary to read his article to understand this one. These headings have been taken from his article and follow the same structure.

Legitimacy

The most common argument that anarchists make about elections and their legitimacy is that a vote represents a vote of confidence in this system. This is one of the weaker anarchist arguments against voting, one that any electoral leftist could argue against with ease when issues such as damage limitation come up, and so I was surprised that it did not appear in this article. Instead it argues that the anarchist belief is that voting legitimizes the government – rather than the system. His argument against this is that “governments take their legitimacy regardless of voter turnout”. This is very true. However it is also an argument I have never seen an anarchist make. I am thus not familiar with it as an anarchist argument against voting.

Of course if you vote for the Tories and they make it into power then that is legitimizing the Tories. But if you vote against them and they make it into power anyway, that is hardly legitimation. No one, let alone any anarchist, would argue against that because it is a basic logical conclusion. Rather, as anarchists we argue that through voting you are legitimizing the system. Through voting you are expressing faith in the “democratic” systems put in place. If the Tories win despite you voting for someone else you are required to respect the “democratic process”. Of course, there are many other reasons, systemic reasons in particular, why the Tories could very well win this election and many more, effectively argued by Andrew Flood in this article.

Vipond next goes on to illustrate a strange hypothetical scenario where the voter turnout is at 0%. In this scenario, the 0% turnout means that the ruling government remain in power and therefore that a dictatorship takes hold. Not only is this hypothetical situation unhelpful in being unlikely in the extreme, but anarchists don’t aim for as few people as possible to vote. In the US, only 40% of the population vote in the elections. While there are a variety of reasons behind this, active and deliberate disenfranchisement being one of them, much of it is because people simply don’t see a purpose in voting. If a real aim of anarchism were to reduce voter turnout, then the face of every anarchist should be completely covered in egg as it would be bizarre for anyone to claim that the US is a shining model for anarchism. In reality it is a country where the masses have been driven to despair and apathy; we have no interest in this kind of society. As anarchists we don’t want 0% turnout, it’s not our aim. Our aim is a society where we are transformed from passive observers to active participants in making political decisions about our lives.

Further along this section Vipond claims that any principled refusal to engage in electoral voting, is “a selfish badge of honor”. He claims that through not voting we are trying to absolve ourselves of any responsibility of the political mess we find ourselves in. I would like to assume positive intent on his behalf here, and so I’m left with no alternative than to believe that this argument is based on the author’s personal experience with anarchists local to him. This attitude is certainly not one prevalent in the Irish anarchist scene. This seems to be a description of an attitude the author dislikes rather than addressing any positions we hold as anarchists against voting in electoral politics, though.

Fairness

In this section of his article Vipond does not actually offer any solutions to the unfairness of the system, which he acknowledges. Instead, Vipond makes arguments about how withdrawing from the system does not make it fairer and does nothing to change it. This is hardly a groundbreaking observation. However anarchists do not argue for withdrawal from the system; we argue for its dismantling instead.

Costs

Oddly Vipond claims that anarchists argue we should abstain from voting because of the time required (i.e. the cost) to educate yourself on parties, policies and representatives. I am concerned again about the personal experiences that this writer has had with other anarchists as it hasn’t been an argument made by any anarchist organization I am aware of. Organized anarchists spend quite a lot of their time organizing in opposition to the current order. This includes familiarizing ourselves with ruling – and otherwise – parties, policies, and representatives. We know this system very well, it’s why we oppose it and work towards a new world. It would be ludicrous for us to want people to have no knowledge or understanding of how broken and oppressive the system of the ruling parties is. Only through this understanding of the system will people struggle against it..

When discussing elections and costs, an argument that is typically made by anarchists is that if we were to engage in them, and perhaps even to use them as a platform for our ideas, it would come at too high a cost. This is a cost associated with electoralist campaigning rather than personally voting, and has  nothing to do with investing time in researching our opponents but rather in reinforcing the idea that “someone else will fix it” which is rampant in our society. As argued by Alan MacSimoin in this article: “Elections are about leaving the vast majority of people in the role of passive observer of political life rather than active participants. Anarchists want to see working class people take an active role in bringing about change in society. Participation in electoral politics has the opposite effect. The cost is too high a price to pay.” I highlight this as yet another major omission and lack of understanding on the part of the author of what the anarchist arguments against voting are.

Effectiveness

In this section the author argues that “the reality is that voting does change things and there is absolutely no denying that.” On the contrary, we can deny that. Voting attempts to provide the population with the illusion of change while in reality it reinforces the current system. A policy here and there may change, the faces may change, but the system of a wealthy minority ruling a poor majority remains.

So then what happens when voters in England are faced with two opposing choices between a socialist and a bloodthirsty Tory? A situation we now see with Corbyn and May. How could a broke anarchist student possibly resist the allure of supporting someone who would scrap university fees? I’ll admit, I’d probably vote for him if I lived in his constituency simply because I can’t afford my university fees and I will do anything to try to get out of paying them. I remain unconvinced, however, that he can deliver any lasting and meaningful structural and political change, especially with the Blairites in his party who might as well be Tories who will attempt to thwart him at every opportunity.

True power does not rest in parliament. Members of Parliament (MPs), Teachta Dála (TDs – elected members of parliament in Ireland) and otherwise are little more than the “committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie.” The markets dictate what decisions are made in parliament rather than parliament dictating to the markets. We cannot elect the revolution because capitalism has a backup if any of its opponents do make it to parliament. This backup comes in two forms: the first is the soft force of economic terrorism (the markets), and the second is the much harder force of a military coup orchestrated through the secret state. These arguments have been articulated in more detail by Andrew Flood in this article on Syriza.

I’m also cautious of this being seen as unchecked pessimism, as this is not my motivation. Capitalism is all about quick fixes, about the speed of service, about receiving something in an instant, this is deeply ingrained within us. So when we are presented with a quick fix, a vote to make all our problems disappear, of course we are going to be viewed as pessimistic when we maintain that it’s not going to work, that we have to build a more sustainable resistance. Rather, we would prefer people didn’t spend their time getting sucked into this system of parliamentary democracy in the first place and instead fought against it and for a new world.

To return to the article, Vipond makes an astounding claim that voting has played a major role in social change since the beginning of the 20th Century. This is not true. It is a shocking erasure of the mass movements that lie behind every great social change. Societal change occurs in our mass consciousness long before it is reflected, through the pressure of those masses, in parliaments and other ruling class institutions. In these instances it was not voting that was effective, but the work that occurred on the streets, within homes and workplaces and other places in changing opinions.

So, Why Vote?

In this section Vipond argues that non-voting protects the state, therefore implying that voting weakens it. I don’t see how participating in something that makes people believe that their vote every four or five years gives them any input into their lives does damage to a system based upon the furthering of this belief. The author seems to think that stating that voting is “a right enshrined by law” would convince anarchists to vote. Given the widespread awareness of the unfairness of the rule of law in anarchist circles, which has seen many anarchists imprisoned for acting against it, I think Vipond is barking up the wrong tree with this argument.

The author then proceeds to make an argument for damage limitation, and of course if you are in a constituency where it is a neck and neck competition between a UKIP candidate and Labour candidate no one could blame you for voting for Labour and if I was in such a situation I would probably do so. But to do so without actively fighting – capacity permitting – against the conditions that has led to such a dangerous level of UKIP support is shirking of the highest order by anarchists.

This argument naturally leads to one of choosing between the lesser of two evils. We saw very recently in the US where voting for the lesser evil eventually gets you. It led to a choice between a “pussy-grabbing” living breathing manifestation of all oppression and a war-mongering symbol of capitalism and imperialism. When all you can envisage as your role in changing society is constantly choosing between the lesser of two evils in this society, it allows for those who represent that evil to push their boundaries. Instead of the levels of evil decreasing the opposite occurs.

Vipond goes on to make an attempt at pragmatism by advocating “evolution through the ballot box whilst awaiting the necessary conditions to enact a revolution in society.” Organized anarchists don’t sit around “awaiting the necessary conditions to enact a revolution in society”, we work very hard to try to create them. History has shown us that when fighting for these conditions to be realized with electoralism as one of those tools, we see fighting becoming subservient to electoralism. Those of an electoral persuasion involved in campaigns are forever on the lookout for opportunities to get their profile out there, or are trying to find ‘leaders’ who could perhaps contest the next election. This isn’t necessarily done out of ego, it is done because those who subscribe to this ideology believe in using the platform of elections to advance their own ideals.

The remainder of the article is an argument for the benefits of reform and pushing parties to the left through voting. This reinforces the illusion that there is power in your vote. Fighting this illusion is a cornerstone of anarchist belief and action.

The article lacks a comprehensive understanding of how this system operates and how voting ties into it, as well as a basic understanding of the anarchist arguments surrounding voting. In many instances he argued against arguments that no anarchist organization would ever make. When we argue against voting we don’t mean that abstaining is the route to anarchism. We make this argument to try to highlight the scam that is voting and to encourage people to make political decisions and actions in other ways and to become directly involved in building communities of resistance and support. We have absolutely no interest in encouraging apathy. Yet Vipond seemed to imply this was the aim, or at the very least a direct consequence of anarchist campaigning that we are willfully neglectful of.

The most dangerously inaccurate statement made in this article is the claim that “voting in elections is not only a duty of anarchists, it is the single easiest weapon at our disposal”. After highlighting all of the negative effects that voting can have – of course exceptions can be made such as the case of UKIP vs. Labour that was mentioned – it is clear that voting in parliamentary elections is far from our single easiest weapon. Indeed it is clear that it is the single easiest weapon of the ruling class in fooling us into thinking we have any say in this society.

Whoever is voted in tomorrow, we still have a world to win and that fight will continue until every institution and manifestation of oppression is dismantled. While institutions of oppression remain we have a fight on our hands; while we’re still placing an X in a box every couple of years in the belief that this is true power or democracy we are not free.

Here’s to solidarity among all those who suffer and who struggle for change: “It is learning how to stand alone, unpopular and sometimes reviled, and how to make common cause with those others identified as outside the structures in order to define and seek a world in which we can all flourish. It is learning how to take our differences and make them strengths. For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change.” – Audre Lorde

---

This article originally appeared as “Anarchists, Is It Really Our Duty To Vote?” and the spelling has been modified for a US audience.

#BuildMovementsNotElections #BuildPowerFromBelow #Corbyn

Statement of #CityPlaza squat against the threat of eviction

Statement of #CityPlaza squat against the threat of eviction (En, De, Sp, It, Fr & Gr)
—————————————-

(English)

City Plaza will not bend

“Resist the immigration and
passport bureaus
the frightful flags of states
and diplomacy
war weapons factories”

Michalis Katsaros

——————–
The court order for the evacuation of the Refugee Accommodation Space City Plaza is the latest scene in the repressive management of refugees and the solidarity movement. From the closure of the borders to the shameful EU-Turkey deal, from the prisonlike camps to the evacuation of squats, a policy of casting refugees as a peculiar enemy is being articulated. An enemy that must be dealt with by direct and indirect state violence. The violence on the bodies of foreign nationals breeds fear in the minds of the locals and sinks the entire society deeper into barbarism.
Over the past 14 months, City Plaza, along with all the other refugee housing squats, is a “crack” in the public space where the repressive and racist discourse against refugees is constantly reiterated. City Plaza has not only proven that refugees and locals can live togather in harmony and with dignity. It also signifies, along with other similar initiatives, that there is a Europe that is different to the Europe of the Eurogroup and Frontex. A Europe of solidarity, struggle, humanity. And it is precisely this that is a nuisance to those in power.

We will not be afraid, we will not bend, we will not back down.

We are calling on mass support for City Plaza and all refugee squats by any possible way.

Refugee Accommodation Space City Plaza
__________________________________

(Franch)

City Plaza ne se pliera pas
“Resistez aux administrations des étrangers
et des passeports, aux drapeaux terribles des états
et a la diplomatie,
aux fabriques des matières de guerre”
Michalis Katsaros

L’ordonnance du procureur pour l’évacuation de City Plaza Area est le dernier épisode du traitement oppressif des réfugiés et du mouvement de solidarité. Depuis la fermeture des frontières a l’accord honteux avec la Turquie, et des camps de prisonniers a l’évacuation des squats, s’élabore une politique proclamant les réfugiés come un ennemi singulier. Un ennemi qui doit être traitée par l’utilisation directe et indirecte de la violence de l’État. La violence sur les corps des étrangers cultive la peur dans l’esprit des indigenes, plongeant une société totale dans la barbarie ..

Pour 14 mois, le City Plaza, tout comme les autres occupations pour le réfugiés constituent une « dissonance » dans l’espace public où se répéte sans cesse un discours répressif et raciste sur les réfugiés. City Plaza n’a pas seulement prouvé que les réfugiés peuvent vivre avec la population locale en harmonie et avec dignité. Il donne également le signal, ainsi que toutes les autres opérations similaires, qu’il existe une autre Europe que celle de l’Eurogroupe et de Frontex. D’une Europe de la solidarité, de la lutte, de l’humanité. Et,c’est exactement ce signal qui dérange principalement les dirigeants.

On n’a pas peur, on se pliera pas, on ne reculera pas.

Nous appelons au soutien massif de City Plaza et de touts les squats des réfugiés.

Espace d’ Hebergement des Réfugiés CITY PLAZA
–——————————————

(Italian)

Il City Plaza non si arrende

“Resisti alla burocrazia dell’immigrazione e dei passaporti
Alle spaventose bandiere degli Stati
Alla diplomazia
Alle fabbriche di armi da guerra”

– Michalis Katsaros –

L’ordine del tribunale per lo sgombero del Refugee Accommodation Space City Plaza è solo l’ultimo atto di uan serie di attacchi repressivi nei confronti dei rifugiati e del movimento di solidarietà internazionale.

Dalla chiusura dei confini al vergognoso accordo tra Unione Europea e Turchia, dai campi di prigionia agli sgomberi degli spazi occupati, si articola una politica mirata a rappresentare i rifugiati come un nemico. Un nemico che va combattuto con l’uso diretto e indiretto della violenza di Stato. La violenza sui corpi degli stranieri genera paura e fa sprofondare la società in una ancora più profonda barbarie.
Negli ultimi 14 mesi il City Plaza, insieme a tutte le altre occupazioni abitative di rifugiati, ha rappresentato un’anomalia nell’uso dello spazio pubblico, opponendosi alla costante riproduzione del discorso repressivo e razzista contro i rifugiati. L’esperienza del City Plaza non solo ha dimostrato che i rifugiati possono vivere in armonia e con dignità insieme alle persone del luogo ma, insieme alle altre iniziative simili, rappresenta la concretezza di un’Europa diversa da quella dell’Eurogruppo e di Frontex. Un’Europa di solidarietà, di lotta, di umanità, che dà fastidio a chi sta al potere.

Non abbiamo paura, non ci arrendiamo, non faremo un passo indietro.

Lanciamo un appello per un sostegno incondizionato al City Plaza e a tutte le occupazioni di rifugiati.

Refugee Accommodation Space City Plaza
———————————————————

(German)

Das City Plaza wird sich nicht beugen
“Wehrt euch gegen die Pass- und Ausländerbehörde,
gegen die furchtbaren Flaggen der Staaten
und die Diplomatie,
gegen die Fabriken für Kriegsmaterial”
Michalis Katsaros
——————–
Der Gerichtsbeschluss zur Räumung der Geflüchteten Unterkunft City Plaza ist ein weiterer Schritt in dem repressiven Management von Geflüchteten und Solidaritäts Bewegung. Von den Grenzschließungen bis zu dem EU-Türkei Deal der Schande – von den Gefängnislagern bis hinzu den Räumungen von Besetzungen, es wurde eine Politik Geflüchtete als Feinde zu vertreiben genutzt. Ein Feind der mit direkter oder indirekter Staatsgewalt bekämpft werden müsse. Gewalt an Körpern fremder Nationalitäten, die Angst in den Köpfen der Bevölkerung erzeugt und die Gesellschaft noch tiefer in die Barbarei stürtzt.
Über die letzten 14 Monate, ist das City Plaza, ebenso wie all die anderen Besetzungen zur Geflüchteten Unterbringung, ein Störfaktor im öffentlichen Raum, gegen eine Kulisse der konstanten Wiederholungen repressiver und rassistischer Diskurse gegen Geflüchtete. Denn das City Plaza hat nicht nur bewiesen, dass Geflüchtete und Anwohner*innen harmonisch und in Würde miteinander leben können. Es zeigt auch, gemeinsam mit anderen, ähnlichen Initiativen, dass da auch ein anderes Europa ist, dass anders ist als das Europa der Euro-Gruppe und Frontex. Ein Europa der Solidarität, des Widerstands, der Menchlichkeit. Und genau das ist es, was für die Machthaber*innen eine Störung darstellt.

Wir werden keine Angst haben, wir werden uns nicht beugen, wir werden nicht klein bei geben.
Wir rufen auf zu massiver Unterstützung für das City Plaza und alle Geflüchteten Squats, auf jedem nur möglichen Weg.
Geflüchteten Unterkunft City Plaza
——————————–

(Spanish)

City Plaza no se rendirá.

“Resistir en contra de la burocracia de las migraciones
las espantosas banderas de los estados
y la diplomacia
las empresas de guerra”

Mijalis Kacharos

La orden de desalojo del Refugee Acomodation Space es la última escena de intento de represión del movimiento organizado entre refugiados y voluntarios. Desde el cierre de las fronteras hasta el pacto de la vergüenza entre la UE y Turquía; desde el encarcelamiento en los campos hasta el desalojo de los espacios ocupados, está siendo articulada una política global que convierte a los refugiados en nuestros enemigos. Un enemigo que debe ser combatido, directa o indirectamente, a través de la violencia estatal. Esta violencia sobre los “extranjeros” es la que fomenta el miedo entre los locales, introduciendo a la sociedad más profundamente en la barbarie.
Durante los últimos 14 meses City plaza, junto con los otros espacios ocupados por refugiados, es la primera “grieta” en el contexto internacional en contra de la constante repetición del discurso racista y represivo hacia los refugiados. City Plaza no solo ha demostrado que refugiados y locales pueden vivir en armonía y con dignidad juntos, sino que también existe una Europa diferente a la del Eurogrupo y Frontex. Una Europa basada en la solidaridad, la lucha y la humanidad. Esto es precisamente una molestia para aquellos que están en el poder.

No tenemos miedo. No nos rendiremos. No vamos a echarnos atrás.

Pedimos apoyo masivo para City Plaza y todos los espacios ocupados.

Refugee Acomodation Space City Plaza
————————————

(Greek)

“Ἀντισταθεῖτε στὶς ὑπηρεσίες τῶν ἀλλοδαπῶν
καὶ διαβατηρίων
στὶς φοβερὲς σημαῖες τῶν κρατῶν καὶ τὴ
διπλωματίαστὰ
ἐργοστάσια πολεμικῶν ὑλῶν”
Μιχάλης Κατσαρός

Η εισαγγελική εντολή για εκκένωση του Χώρου Φιλοξενίας City Plaza αποτελεί το τελευταίοι επεισόδιο της κατασταλτικής αντιμετώπισης των προσφύγων καθώς και του κινήματος αλληλεγγύης. Από το κλείσιμο των συνόρων ως η Συμφωνία της Ντροπής με την Τουρκίας, και από τα στρατόπεδα-φυλακές ως την εκκένωση των καταλήψεων, αρθρώνεται μια πολιτική που αναγορεύει τους πρόσφυγες σε έναν ιδιότυπο εχθρό. Εχθρό που πρέπει να αντιμετωπιστεί με την άμεση κι έμμεση χρήση της κρατικής βίας. Η βία στα σώματα των ξένων καλλιεργεί τον φόβο στα μυαλά των ντόπιων, βυθίζοντας συνολικά την κοινωνία στη βαρβαρότητα.

Εδώ και 14 μήνες το City Plaza, όπως άλλωστε και οι υπόλοιπες προσφυγικές καταλήψεις, αποτελεί μια «παραφωνία» στο δημόσιο χώρος όπου επαναλαμβάνεται διαρκώς ο κατασταλτικός και ρατσιστικός λόγος για τους πρόσφυγες. Τo City Plaza δεν έχει μόνο αποδείξει ότι οι πρόσφυγες μπορούν να ζήσουν μαζί με τους ντόπιους αρμονικά και με αξιοπρέπεια. Δίνει το σήμα επίσης, μαζί με όλα τα ανάλογα εγχειρήματα, ότι υπάρχει μια διαφορετική Ευρώπη από αυτήν του Eurogroup και της Frontex. Μια Ευρώπης της αλληλεγγύης, του αγώνα, της ανθρωπιάς. Κι αυτό ακριβώς το σήμα είναι που ενοχλεί κυρίως τους κρατούντες.

Δεν πρόκειται να φοβηθούμε, δεν πρόκειται να λυγίσουμε, δεν πρόκειται να υποχωρήσουμε.

Καλούμε στη μαζική στήριξη του City Plaza και όλων των προσφυγικών καταλήψεων.

Χώρος Στέγασης προσφύγων City Plaza

 

Originaly posted onCityplaza

Times of resistance – International meeting with citizens resisting democratic regression in Europe – 9-10th of June 2017 in Belgrade

What connects the social movements and protests which emerged in  different countries in Europe in the past few years, is the discontent of citizens towards incapacitated or alienated institutions they depend on.  Beside the right-wing appropriation of discontent, which leads Europe to further disintegration, social movements and protests against inequality, racism, authoritarian usurpation of power and for the defence of basic  human rights show how far the regression of democracy has gone and point to the obsolete or corrupted mechanisms which are not resisting the wave of conservative counter-revolution.

Our conference is the initial event of a solidary action, putting together methods, ideas, programs, experiences, chances and obstacles, in order to build a stronger front for democracy. Critical thinking, resistance and international solidarity are the fundamental values of Europe, which we evoke to rethink our common future and overcome the consequences  of

the de-legitimization of democracy. Democracy has been taken for granted, but it is a practice that has to be thought through and developed every day. That is why we invite movements and protests which carried and continue to carry the idea of democracy in the streets and squares throughout Europe, reclaiming public space and public good, to meet and find common ground for future wider actions, to transform the memory of freedom into its social reality.

Democracy will either revolutionize or fall to  counter-revolution.

 

Center For Cultural Decontamination (CZKD) in cooperation with CCFD-Terre Solidaire

 

FRIDAY — JUNE 9th
10.00

INTRODUCTION

Greetings by the team:

Borka Pavićević, Aleksandra Sekulić, Florent Schaeffer, Clémence Beugnot   Video Overview of recent movements and processes in Europe by Ivica Đorđević and Adam Ranđelović

 

10.30
Introduction speech by Igor Štiks

 

11.00
OVERVIEWS OF THE TURMOIL — Panel discussion

All around Europe large movements have emerged. Why? In which political context? Analysis and critical views on several recent citizens’  protests.

•  Michał Sutowski — Krytyka Polityczna, Warsaw

•  Özge Çelikaslan — bak.ma, Istanbul

•  Filip Jovanovski — FRU Faculty of things that can’t be learned,  Skopje

•  Irena Pejić — Mašina, Belgrade

• Jelena Veljić — Social Center Oktobar, Belgrade

Moderated by Borka Pavićević and Aleksandra Sekulić —   CZKD

 

13.00
Coffee Break

 

13.30
PROTESTING AND CONTESTING — Panel discussion

In the past few years the social injustice, corruption, election frauds and media censorship gave reasons to people for protests, solidarity actions, strikes. Resistance in the streets and in the workplace can trigger change, either in the realm of political mechanisms or in a new form of solidarity for future actions.

• Klementyna Suchanow — Polish Women’s Strike and International Women’s Strike, Warsaw

• Mateusz Kijoswski — KOD Committee for the Defence of Democracy,   Warsaw

• Iva Čukić — Ministry of Space, Belgrade

• Damir Arsenijević — Workers’ University, Tuzla

• Andreea Petrut — Demos, Bucarest

• Matija Medenica — Marks21, Belgrade

• Ljubica Slavković — Ne Da(vi)mo Beograd

Moderated by Florent Schaeffer — CCFD-Terre Solidaire and Aleksandra Sekulić — CZKD

15.00
Lunch time

 

16.00
CULTURE IN RESISTANCE — Panel discussion

How the experience of the independent culture and its emancipation during the transition can contribute to establishment of a dynamic public mobilization field around social and political issues? The examples from Croatia can be a starting point for the discussion.

• Mirela Travar — Alliance Operation City, Zagreb

• Aleksandra Sekulić — CZKD

 

16.30
Coffee Break

 

17.00
“STORIES OF THE STREETS“, ISTANBUL — Presentation by Özge Çelikaslan Social movements and human rights activism in Turkey through research on video activism, documentation and digital archiving of political  acts.

 

17.30
Coffee Break

 

18.00
REFUGEES AND EUROPE: KINEPOLITICS — POLITICS OF MOVEMENT  — Panel discussion

Migration is one of humanity’s most basic instincts — to go in search of new horizons. If we use the term crisis, it is appropriate to speak about the crisis of the fundamental European values and the regression of European vision regarding    the dealing with the refugees. It is inclusivity that brings security — belonging, not belongings.

• Žarka Radoja — Journalist, Belgrade

• Aleksandar Obradović — Philopolitics, Belgrade

• Ifigeneia Kokkali — Expert in Refugee Education, Greece

• Sara Kekuš — Center for Peace Studies, Zagreb

Moderated by Lola  Joksimović  — CZKD

 

SATURDAY – JUNE 10th

10.00
Workgroups, networking, informal  meetings

 

14.00
Lunch time

 

15.00–20.00
PUBLIC FORUM: SOLIDARITY AND FUTURE ACTIONS

Plenum discussion and articulation of a common  declaration

The open gathering of all, “plenum”, has been a form of organizing the students’ rebellions in Zagreb in 2009 and Belgrade in 2011. During 2014 protests in Bosnia, plenums became for months a public space to bring citizens back to politics and take collective decisions.

Summing up the shared views and information about the initiatives, examples,histories of resistance, we invite our colleagues and wider public to a free discussion in the form of plenum. The equal treatment of all the participants and the direction of the discussion will be moderated by Igor Štiks. Our hope is  to come up with a declaration on our future solidarity and potential modality of common actions.

Moderator of the Plenum discussion: Igor Štiks

Rapporteur: Clémence Beugnot — CCFD-Terre Solidaire

Simultaneous translation will be provided for this plenum.

 

The program including participants’ biographies is available here.

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Serbian/

Ono što povezuje društvene pokrete i proteste koji su nastali u različitim državama u Evropi proteklih nekoliko godina, je nezadovoljstvo građana prema nesposobnim ili otuđenim institucijama od kojih oni zavise. Osim desničarskog prisvajanja nezadovoljstva koje vodi Evropu u dalje rasipanje, društveni pokreti i protesti protiv nejednakosti, rasizma, autoritarne uzurpacije moći i za odbranu bazičnih ljudskih prava pokazuju koliko   daleko je otišla regresija demokratije i ukazuju na zastarele ili korumpirane mehanizme koji ne pružaju otpor talasu konzervativne kontra-revolucije.

Naša konferencija je inicijalni događaj solidarne akcije, spajajući metode, ideje, programe, iskustva, šanse i prepreke kako bi se izgradio jači front za demokratiju. Kritičko mišljenje, otpor i međunarodna solidarnost  su fundamentalne vrednosti Evrope, koje mi evociramo kako bismo preispitali našu zajedničku budućnost i prevazišli posledice de-legitimizacije   demokratije. Demokratija se uzima zdravo za gotovo, ali to je praksa koja mora biti dobro razrađena i razvijana svakog dana. Zato mi pozivamo   pokrete i proteste koji su nosili i koji nastavljaju da nose ideju demokratije po ulicama i trgovima širom Evrope, ponovo preuzimajući javne prostore i javno dobro, kako bismo se sreli i pronašli zajedničko tle za buduće šire akcije, kako bi se sećanje na slobodu pretvorilo u društvenu  realnost.

Demokratija će se ili revolucionalizovati ili pasti u kontra-revoluciju.

 

Centar Za Kulturnu Dekontaminaciju (CZKD) Beograd u saradnji sa CCFD-Terre Solidaire

 

PETAK — 9. JUN
10.00

UVOD

Pozdrav od strane tima:

Borka Pavićević, Aleksandra Sekulić, Florent Schaeffer, Clémence Beugnot

Video pregled nedavnih kretanja i procesa u Evropi — Ivica Đorđević i Adam Ranđelović

 

10.30
Uvodni govor Igora Štiksa

 

11.00
PREGLEDI NEMIRA — Panel diskusija

Širom Evrope javili su se veliki pokreti. Zašto? U kom političkom kontekstu? Analiza i kritički pregled nekoliko skorašnjih građanskih  protesta.

•  Michał Sutowski — Krytyka Polityczna, Varšava

•  Özge Çelikaslan — bak.ma, Istanbul

•  Filip Jovanovski — FRU Faculty of things that can’t be learned,  Skoplje

•  Irena Pejić — Mašina, Beograd

• Jelena Veljić — Zadruga Oktobar, Beograd

Moderatorke Borka Pavićević i Aleksandra Sekulić — CZKD

 

13.00
Pauza za kafu

 

13.30
PROTESTI I NADMETANJE — Panel diskusija

U prošlosti, nekoliko godina društvene nepravde, korupcije, izbornih krađa i medijske cenzure su dali ljudima razloge za proteste, solidarne akcije, štrajkove. Otpor na ulicama i na radnom mestu može da izazove promene, ili u sferi političkih mehanizama ili u novom obliku solidarnosti za buduće  akcije.

• Klementyna Suchanow — Štrajk žena Poljske i Međunarodni štrajk žena, Varšava

• Mateusz Kijoswski — KOD Komitet za odbranu demokratije,   Varšava

• Iva Čukić — Ministarstvo prostora,  Beograd

• Damir Arsenijević — Unverzitet radnika, Tuzla

• Andreea Petrut — Demos, Bukurešt

• Matija Medenica — Marks21, Beograd

• Ljubica Slavković — Ne Da(vi)mo Beograd

Moderatori Florent Schaeffer — CCFD-Terre Solidaire  i Aleksandra Sekulić — CZKD

 

15.00
Pauza za ručak

 

16.00
KULTURA U OTPORU — Panel diskusija

Kako iskustvo nezavisne kulture i njene emancipacije tokom tranzicije može da doprinese uspostavljanju dinamične javne mobilizacije oblasti oko socijalnih i političkih tema? Kako samoorganizovani mediji otvaraju prostor za refleksiju borbe novih generacija i održe svoju kritičku slobodu? Primer Hrvatske može da bude početak rasprave.

• Mirela Travar — Savez udruga Operacija Grad, Zagreb

• Aleksandra Sekulić — CZKD

 

16.30
Pauza za kafu

 

17.00
„PRIČE SA ULICE“, ISTANBUL — Prezentacija Özge Çelikaslan Društveni pokreti i aktivizam ljudskih prava u Turskoj kroz istraživanje video aktivizma, dokumentacije i digitalnog arhiviranja političkih  činova.

 

17.30
Pauza za kafu

 

18.00
IZBEGLICE I EVROPA: KINEPOLITIKA – POLITIKA KRETANJA — Panel  diskusija

Migracija je jedan od najosnovnijih nagona čovečanstva – da traga za novim horizontima. Ako koristimo termin “kriza”, treba da govorimo o krizi osnovnih evropskih vrednosti i regresiji evropske vizije u suočavanju sa problemom izbeglica. Uključenost donosi sigurnost – pripadati, a ne   posedovati.

• Žarka Radoja — novinarka, Beograd

• Aleksandar Obradović — Philopolitics, Beograd

• Ifigeneia Kokkali — Stručnjak za obrazovanje izbeglica,  Grčka

• Sara Kekuš — Centar za mirovne studija, Zagreb

Moderatorka Lola Joksimović — CZKD

 

SUBOTA – 10. JUN

10.00
Radne grupe, umrežavanje, neformalni sastanci

 

14.00
Pauza za ručak

 

15.00–20.00
JAVNI FORUM: SOLIDARNOST I BUDUĆE AKCIJE

Otvoreno okupljanje svih, „plenum“, je bio oblik organizovanja pobuna studenata   u Zagrebu 2009. godine i 2011. godine u Beogradu. Tokom protesta u Bosni    2014. godine plenumi su mesecima služili kao javni prostor za vraćanje građana ka politici i donošenja kolektivnih  odluka.

Sumiranjem zajedničkih pogleda i informacija o inicijativama, primerima, istorijama otpora, pozivamo naše kolege i širu publiku na slobodnu diskusiju u obliku plenuma. Jednak tretman svih učesnika i pravac diskusije će moderirati Igor Štiks. Mi se nadamo da ćemo doći do deklaracije o našoj budućoj solidarnosti i potencijalnoj modalnosti zajedničih akcija.

Moderator Plenarne diskusije: Igor Štiks

Izvestilac: Clémence Beugnot, CCFD–Terre Solidaire

Simultano prevođenje će biti dostupno za ovaj plenum

 

Celokupan program sa biografijama učesnika možete preuzeti u PDF formatu ovde. 

Program možete preuzeti ovde, a biografije učesnika na ovom linku.