Mayday in Linz

Posted on May 3, 2009

I just got this from a friend in Austria and wanted to post it up for ya’ll.

I live in a rather very small city in Austria. The only reason people from outside the country might know of it is because we are currently the cultural capitol of Europe according to the EU. It’s not a particularly good reason, but it’s a reason. In any case ever since 1991 a coalition of communists, anarchists and generally anti-fascists has organized an alternative mayday demonstration in Linz. Up until this year it was just a quiet, peaceful demonstration with no particular incidents. This year however it wasn’t as quiet. This is the article from indymedia.at that I translated into English, I thought you should know this so that news may spread further, maybe, in any case.

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Who Owns Who?

Posted on March 6, 2009

I was just thinking about immigration and border control – the endless debate over whether a government should have the right to control who crosses its borders. And it occurred to me that the fundamental difference between an Anarchist approach and an Authoritarian one comes down to a fundamental divide over the relationship between people and government, and more specifically a divide that can be framed as a question of ownership.

If Government (and I use the word Government instead of the word State deliberately in order to include non-statist forms of governance) own the people, then it is completely proper for Government to dictate who can do what, where, when, and how. Further, all forms of authoritarianism, from a mild liberal “democracy” to the most authoritarian fascism, are all legitimate because in essence they’re only different methods for the Government to manage its property.

If, on the other hand, “We the People” own the government then border controls and all other forms of coercive control that typify the modern State are illegal and illegitimate.

It’s really that simple.

Thoughts?

Come Meet the New Boss – Obama to defend Telco Spy Immunity

Posted on January 22, 2009

Yes We Can … continue George Bush’s well established precedent of violating citizens privacy rights, protecting big corporations, and trading our freedoms for the false security of a Police State. Come meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Obama to Defend Telco Spy Immunity
By David Kravets, Wired Magazine

The incoming Obama administration will vigorously defend congressional legislation immunizing U.S. telecommunication companies from lawsuits about their participation in the Bush administration’s domestic spy program.

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Class Struggle Anarchist Statement on Gaza‏‏

Posted on January 14, 2009

A newly released statement from the Workers Solidarity Alliance about the massacre in Gaza (I refuse to use the word “war” because it implies a two way conflict when what is happenning in Gaza is anything but that – the latest count I heard on NPR this morning was over 1,000 Palestinians dead compared to 13 Israeli’s).

Gaza is in flames. Its population terrorized by the incessant bombing of Israeli warplanes against its public and residential districts and even its schools (3). Countless of the Gaza Strip’s mostly impoverished residents are dead, many of these children, women, and the elderly. Many more Palestinians have lost loved ones, have been maimed, both physically and psychologically, and all are living without access to basic necessities, water, food, medical care, etc. All of this as the consequence of the largest military assault (codename: “Operation Cast Lead”) waged by Israeli armed forces since 1967 against the Gaza Strip and its approximately 1.5 million residents.

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Against the Wall, Against the War

Posted on January 6, 2009

Anarchists Against the Wall is an Israeli Anarchist organization that’s been fighting for the rights of Palestinians and for a peaceful no-state solution to the conflict in  Israel/Palestine for years.  They need help right now to support their work against the massive campaign of State Terrorism being perpetuated by the US-backed Israeli war machine.   Follow the links for more information and photos from their recent actions.

War on Gaza Met with Dissent from the get-go. Dissent Met with Repression

30/12/2008

Israel’s harshest assault on Gaza since 1967 – codenamed “Operation Cast Lead” – which began on Saturday morning and left over 250 Palestinians dead on its first day alone, was met with widespread condemnation around the world, including dissent within Israel itself.

Protest actions began already the day before Israel’s “Shock and Awe” aerial offensive, when activists demonstrated in the heart of Tel-Aviv, warning against the looming escalation and calling for peace talks with Gaza’s democratically elected officials. This demonstration, organized by the Coalition against the Siege on Gaza, was virtually ignored by the mainstream media. Help us continue the struggle

With the increase of legal persecution against Palestinian demonstrators, AATW are now fundraising to expand its existing legal fund so that it also covers defense costs for Palestinians. This is in addition to covering a standing 15,000 USD debt, resulting from the legal persecution of Israeli anti-wall demonstrators.

We urge you to read our call for support and to please make a donation that will enable us to continue the struggle.