Community hubs

This is the global Anarchoblogs. It collects articles from many smaller community hubs within the Anarchoblogs network. For stories from particular places, groups, or other communities within our movement, check out some of these sites.

Posts tagged international anarchist movement

Molly’sBlog 2010-03-13 22:44:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-CHILE:
CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM CHILEAN ANARCHISTS:
The recent earthquake in Chile disrupted many things in that country, and the Chilean anarchist movement is no exception. Over the past few years the Chilean anarchists have been growing in numbers and sophistication, and now they need help to recover from teh recent disaster and grow even further. the following appeal is from the Anarkismo web site.
@@@@@@@@@@@@
CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH CHILEAN COMRADES
CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH CHILEAN COMRADES:
Dear comrades,
The situation in this region called Chile is already known, thus we believe more details about the recent earthquake are not necessary, as the Internet offers a lot of information about what took place.

The group of individuals that make up the Productora de Comunicación Social* escaped physical damage, even though during the earthquake a couple of comrades from our organization were in Concepción, one of the most devastated regions - leaving the site where they were pretty much uninhabitable and losing some equipment used for the work of the organization.
In Santiago, our main workplace and where meetings were held, also home to a couple of our comrades - the Casa Volnitza - was partially destroyed. Currently, we are looking into repairing the site, since neither the Productora nor the Sociedad de Resistencia Santiago**, with whom we share the space, have another place to go to. Fortunately, we had no other substantial material losses, but the structural collapse that occurred in the Casa Volnitza was indeed major.
We have had constant contact with some organizations in southern Chile. The comrades that were near the epicenter were able to communicate directly with us about the help they need. There are social center and sister organizations in poblaciones, or working class neighborhoods, that were heavily damaged by the earthquake and also by actions taken by the police, the army, mass media and the government.
Given the circumstances, we are asking for help from our comrades from different parts of the world. Here in Santiago, businesses are up and running, so one can even buy food and basic items that are not reaching us via the government. We have already sent some help to the southern region with what we have here in Santiago, even though we too have been affected.
In our space, the Sociedad de Resistancia Santiago is helping to collect items to send to the most affected area where there are still no basic services, or wherever organizations are requesting help.
As the Productora we would like to request monetary support from all organizations that know our work and trust us. These contributions will be used to recover lost material and equipment, possible restorations or an alternative space and to send aid to the Southern organizations. Obviously no institutional channels work to help the direct work of anti-authoritarian organizations, so we reach out to you.
All persons or organizations interested in providing some sort of collaboration, contact us as quickly as possible at our e-mail: productoradecomunicacionsocial@gmail.com
See you soon.
Reconstructing the social movement,
Health, bread and freedom!
Productora de Comunicación Social.
Videorevista – Sin(a)psis***"
comunicando acción en la construcción del movimiento social"
Valparaíso - Santiago - Valdivia - Temuco - Antofagasta - Concepción – and beyond
Translator Note:
*The Productora de Comunicación Social, or Social Communication Production, are the production collectives that publish the Chilean video-magazine Sin(a)psis***, an independent publication in DVD format covering the praxis of anarchist organizing in that region and beyond. More info at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196759735730&index=1#!/pages/Chile/SINAPSIS-la-video-revista/161436684301
**The Sociedad de Resistencia Santiago groups the working, the unemployed and students into anti-authoritarian initiatives to generate collective solutions for immediate needs, be they economic, social and/or cultural without leaving behind the purpose of collective liberation. More info at: http://sociedadresistencia.blogspot.com/
You can also donate to other autonomous, anarchist and radical community based organizations by emailing or clicking on the links below.
Fondo Alquimia
for the Comunidad Lésbica La Teta Insurgente (lesbian anarcho-feminists in Concepción)http://www.fondoalquimia.org/Earthquake-in-Chile-Women-....html
http://www.darcontarjeta.cl/interior_institucion.asp?ll...atego...
Solo el Pueblo Ayuda al Pueblo- Campana de Solidaridad Popular
Only the People can help the People- Popular Solidarity Campaign
(a coalition of various organizations and individuals, including anti-authoritarians)http://soloelpuebloayudaaelpueblo.blogspot.com/
soloelpuebloayudaaelpueblo@yahoo.cl
For news and updates in Spanish check out:
http://santiago.indymedia.org/
http://chilesur.indymedia.org/

Molly’sBlog 2010-03-09 21:59:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT - SOUTH AFRICA:
BLACK FLAME: CAPE TOWN LAUNCH:
This is one book that is sure to become immensely influential in the international anarchist movement in years to come. What it may be styled as is something of a manifesto of international class struggle anarchism in opposition to many of the the distortions of anarchism that have been promulgated by both its opponents and some who claim to be "anarchists", particularly in the USA. I can't say that I agree with everything the authors say, especially as I am a rather convinced gradualist who sees the benefit in the cooperative model of mutualism (one thing that the authors attempt to "read out" of the mainstream of anarchism, with at least some justification). Still, I find it interesting that the anti-social wing of those who like to call themselves anarchist have yet to launch one of their usual vituperative attacks. Maybe I am missing something as I am not a member of the cult and don't follow the cult writings very closely.
Still, what the authors have done is impressive, whether I agree with all of it or not. To put forward a rational basis for the international anarchist movement based on the actual struggles of real people and showing how this has manifested itself across the world is a great achievement. Personally I am still in the process of reading the book. One of the authors, Michael Schmidt, is presently engaged in a book promotion tour of Ontario and Quebec, as has been mentioned previously on this blog.The book has been launched before in numerous countries across the world, including in the authors' native country of South Africa.
Here's an announcement of yet another book launch in South Africa, this time in the city of Cape Town. From the Anarkismo website:
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Cape Town Launch of 'Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism'
The Book Lounge presents the Cape Town launch of 'BLACK FLAME: revolutionary class politics of anarchism and syndicalism' by Lucien Van Der Walt & Michael Schmidt

'Black Flame' examines the anti-authoritarian class politics of the anarchist/syndicalist movement, and its 150 years of popular struggle on 5 continents. An indispensable conceptual and historical road map, with close attention to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, looking at its:
* Opposition to hierarchy, capitalism and the state
* Strategy: building revolutionary counter-power
* History: labour, community, anti-imperialism
* Agenda: participatory, cooperative economics
* Revolutions: Mexico, Spain, Ukraine, Korea
* Revival: today's struggles

This groundbreaking volume has been praised by reviewers as "deeply impressive", "fascinating, revealing and often startling", "a grand work of synthesis", "remarkable" "outstanding", "inspired" and "a welcome antidote to Eurocentric accounts".
THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2010 @ 5.30 for 6.00
The Book Lounge, 71 Roeland Street (corner of Buitenkant), Cape Town
ALL WELCOME!
With thanks to Leopard's Leap Wines.Please RSVP to booklounge@gmail.com
021 462 2425.
MORE INFO:
http://black-flame-anarchism.blogspot.com/
The LAUNCH POSTER:
http://www.mediafire.com

Related Link: http://black-flame-anarchism.blogspot.com/

Molly’sBlog 2010-03-04 22:03:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SWEDEN:
EMBRYOZINE LOOKING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS:
Embryozine is a project of the Swedish anarchist group Anarkisterna, and they are looking for articles for their next issue. Despair not, this zine is bilingual in Swedish and English, so the average reader of this blog might actually be able to write something for them. Here's their appeal.
@@@@@@@@@@@@
Wanted: Contributions for Embryozine #5‏
http://anarkisterna.com/blog/2010/03/04/wanted-contributions-for-embryozine-5/
Now it’s time to start working on the fifth Embryo zine! And we want you to contribute texts, illustrations or anything else you see fit. This time we start from a different point than we’ve done previously. Taking on Embryo #5 begins with three themes we want to explore. These are questions we’ve pondered for some time and which we believe to be rather vital to answer. We hope you feel the same way.
Theme One: In it for life
The first theme deals with how to manage being active in a scene that –for as long as we’ve been part of it – rather than a movement resembles a phase you go through (like adolescence). Some have become disillusioned or abject during their time in the extra-parliamentary Left – the revolution might not happen in our lifetime after all. On the other hand, many have learnt new skills and enhanced self-confidence here – the habit of leading meetings, planning and organizing actions, writing pamphlets, speaking in front of a lot of people and organizing workshops.
But if we don’t want to leave this phase, even though we might not be considered young adults anymore, having children and permanent jobs? How can we create a scene that enables you to remain active even when your life and circumstances change? And how do we take care of each other and create a sustainable activism? An activism based not on individual enthusiasts carrying through until they burn out just to be superseded by the next generation of enthusiasts? How have you dealt with it? What are your experiences? What has worked for you? Theme Two: Structures for movement
The second theme takes up the thread where the first one left off. How can our structures (collective spaces, archives, resources, experiences) help to create a continuous movement or a sustainable activism? What significance does an autonomous space as Utkanten have for activists in Malmö? What traces has the burnt down Cyclops left in Kulturkampanjen?
In Sweden, during the last ten years, Solidaritetsgrupper (anti repression groups) and Aktivist Trauma Support have lined up with the Anarchist Black Cross. What functions do these solidarity structures fill? Or for that matter, our other infrastructure – permanent people’s kitchens, joint farming projects, infoshops and distros?
Previous years’ internal discussions took place in forums that are not available for many of those who are active today. How can we create a continuous exchange of experience? People should not have to reinvent the wheel but rather fall back on the experiences others have collected before them, while at the same time no truths may be too sacred to be questioned and discussed.
Theme Three: How to go about actual change
The third theme, finally, focuses on our perspectives. Why do we do what we do? We are anarchists (or autonomous activists) and strive for an entirely different society that we often have a clearer notion of than we have of the way to get there. With Embryo # 5 we want to strike a blow for the need of long term activism.
We could easily spend all waking time on urgent responses or actions only centered on the here and now – but to actually begin advancing our positions in the conflicts at hand, something more is needed. We must ask ourselves where we want to get and how our actions today take us towards that aim.
Like Timbro (a Swedish neoliberal think tank) in the early 80s copied the language and ways of the left, we can take over a mode of operation from the established organizations and businesses:
A target document.
We call for strategic thinking, evaluation and development of tactics. Your participation if you were not discouraged by the mass of text above, but rather inspired by the idea of contributing to #5, please contact us: You do not have to have a finished article – an opening idea is a good start. Similarly, if you have an article that you think does not bear all the way or that needs to be proof-read – send it to us, we’ll comment on it or suggest changes and send it back, you send it back again and so forth until everyone is content with it.
We are also happy for any photos, comics, or collages. All submitted material may not be included in the zine, though. The time frame is tight, we want the final versions of all contributions at the end of March, since our goal is to have Embryo #5 translated, designed and printed on time for the anarchist bookfair in Stockholm in June.
This zine will not be the end of these discussions, but it can be a part of an ongoing process, hopefully taking us further.
Love & struggle!/Embryo Collective

Molly’sBlog 2010-02-22 22:21:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SPAIN:
CNT CENTENNARY- SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA STATEMENT:
As has been mentioned previously on this blog this year marks the centennary of the foundation of the Confedracion Nacional de Trabajo, the Spanish CNT. The CNT was the most sucessful of all anarchist organizations in history, and its legacy lives on in many anarchosyndicalist groups both within Spain and outside of it. As I mentioned previously I will be presenting various items about this history over the course of the year. The statements on this centennaryof the two larger Spanish anarchosyndicalist organizations, the CGT and the CNT have already been presented here. See here for the statement of the CGT and here for that of the CNT.
There is another, smaller anarchosyndicalist federation in Spain, Solidaridad Obrera. This organization came out of a split from the CGT, and, speaking somewhat simplictically, it may b seen as being "half-way" between the CGt and the CNT. In terms of icdeological affinity it is the Spanish organization that I personally favour the most. I do, however, recognize that it is something of an exercise in futility. For better or worse the CGT represents well over 90% of anarchosyndicalists in Spain today. Solidaridad Obrera is basically confined to the area of Madrid and one Catalan city.
Still, their voice desreves to be heard on this anniversary as they are also one of the heirs of the CNT. Their statement, translated from one of their journals Contramarchas, follows below. This statement takes both the CGT and the CNT to task for their celebrations of the centennary. A cynic might say that this criticism is something of "sour grapes" as SO doesn't have the numbers to do what the larger federations can do. On the other hand they make very good points about the need for unity amongst the anarchosyndicalists of Spain in presenting the ideals today. How far this unity can go when there is at least one real tactical difference ie whether to participate in workplace elections or not is questionable. This is something real and much more important than the nitpicking matters of "theory" ie opinion that usually divide leftist groups. Still, there is a great "continent" of opportunity for cooperation amongst the groups that is away from this question, and SO is right in that such cooperation should be encouraged as much as possible. The same perhaps applies to other anarchist groups with different agendas elsewhere in the world, though there the differences may be much more profound.
In any case here is their statement on the Centennary.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
2010 CENTENARY OF THE C.N.T.
Between the end of the nineteenth and the start of the early twentieth century, the ideal of worker’s social emancipation permeated large sections of the working class, not precisely like it occurs today. In recent years we have been celebrating anniversaries that we believe are very important (and that we are now very far from being able to repeat) with the intention of disseminating them amongst the workers . Without going much further we have just commemorated in our magazine Solidarity No 15 (Autumn 2009), the 75th anniversary of the Asturian Revolution and the centennary of the Tragic Week, two milestones in terms of the working class confrontation with tyrants (the Second Republic and Alfonso XIII, respectively), without leaders or hierarchies, which put the system in check and which it bloodily suppressed by using the army against the people on both occasions. They filled the jails of all those who bothered them, especially labour militants, and in the case of the Tragic Week forged a shoddy setup to “legally” assassinate Ferrer Y Guardia and permanently close the Modern School, for the greater joy of the Church, which as happens at present, dominates education to conveniently indoctrinate new generations.
Despite all that persecution and repression, Solidaridad Obrera (a union created by socialists and anarchists in Barcelona in 1907 and since then involved in establishing itself in Catalonia) convened its third congress, calling, at the same time, for participation from all the local organizations in the rest of Spain. That Congress decided to build a new state-wide organization to "hasten the economic emancipation of the working class through the revolutionary expropriation of the bourgeoisie ...". Thus was born the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, the anarchist union that would bring together the most militant and revolutionary parts of the labour movement and realize the greatest feats of the workers’ struggle up to 1939: The strike of 1911, underground activity, the revolutionary strike of 1917 with the UGT, The Canadiense strike in 1919, the consequent 8 hours day, the strike against the war in Morocco in 1923, underground activity, the rent strike in 1930, the occupation of the Duro Felguera in 1931, the insurgent uprisings of 1932 and 33 (Casas Viejas), the Zaragoza strike in 1934, the Asturian Revolution (UHP) in 1934, the construction strike in Madrid in 1936, the collectivisation of industry, services and agriculture ... It had to be ended by means of death, horror and blood as the fascists, military and church, led by the Criminalísimo Franco (the biggest murderer of workers in history ) ended this trajectory.
This centennial is claimed both by the current CNT, and by the CGT (which in its manifesto "100 years of anarcho-syndicalism" openly declares itself as anarchist). Both organizations prepare, each for its side and not without some polemics (If anarchosyndicalism is 140 years old and not 100, then we must ask when did the CGT begin?), concerts, conferences, lectures, debates and exhibitions for this celebration. In our opinion, an unnecessary waste of money for mere self-aggrandizement and to keep on sowing discord between the two organizations.
In Solidaridad Obrera on the occasion of this anniversary, we have given our members José Peirats’ trilogy "The CNT in the Spanish Revolution "(2nd Ed 1988), a great work that recounts the accomplishments of our companions in that first part of the twentieth century. We would like it if the centenary was a cause of contact between the anarcho-syndicalist organizations and workers in general, and was used to disseminate the principles, the realized struggle and the news of workers’ self-organization that is currently outside the institutionalized unions. In this sense we set forth proposals that will promote unity and disseminate its results. While we must say that we start from a situation unfavourable for the unitary proposals to succeed, as each organization seeks more the reaffirmation of their own different postulates than the road to anarchosyndicalist unification, so necessary so that the working class can stand up the fierce attacks that we're suffering.

Molly’sBlog 2010-02-17 22:15:00


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



As we speak here in Winnipeg Manitoba the preliminaries of the trial are already over and done with several time zones over, but the trial will continue. Here's a report from the local Winnipeg Wobbly Blog about this case.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Six Serbian anarcho-syndicalists are due in court today:‏
Six Serbian anarcho-syndicalists are due in court today charged with international terrorism in what Belgrade academics have condemned as a political trial.
Tadej Kurepa, Ivan Vulović, Sanja Dojkić, Ratibor Trivunac, Ivan Savic and Nikola Mitrovic, were detained on September 4th after a Molotov cocktail broke a window at the Greek Embassy in Belgrade.
Originally arrested for "causing general public danger," an allegation often associated with low-level vandalism, the activists' charges were upped to international terrorism following public comments by Serbian President Boris Tadic that he intended to crack down on "left-wing terrorism.
"The six face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the latest charges - more than double the sentence handed down for the burning to the ground of the US Embassy in 2008 in which one man was killed.
Academics at Belgrade University have condemned the trial, writing in an open letter: "We fear that this was an arbitrary interpretation of the Criminal Code and a case of its use for political purposes.
"Just in the year 2009 we have witnessed the escalation of violence and numerous threats of violence made by fascist groups. All of this was met with a mild reaction from the state prosecution and the police.
"To name just one example: in the days leading up to the Belgrade Gay Pride Parade (set for September 20th and called off due to security fears) threats of physically liquidating the gay population were called just 'polemics' by a representative of the state."
All of the six detainees are activists in or associates of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative (ASI), the Serbian section of the International Workers' Association (IWA). The ASI is part of a growing, independent union movement in Serbia and supporters say this is a political trial aimed at derailing that growth.
The attack itself has been claimed by a group called Crni Ilja, who said it was in solidarity with a Greek anarchist on hunger strike. No members of that group have as yet been positively identified.
The Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative has declared that they knew nothing of the attack or the group that carried it out. Ratibor Trivunac has repeatedly stated that throwing molotov cocktails is not a method of struggle used by the group.
A spokesperson for the Solidarity Federation, British section of the International Workers Association, said: "We unreservedly condemn the trial as a political attempt by the rulers of Serbia to silence an effective radical movement. Members of SF and other IWA sections are going to Belgrade for the trial to show support for our imprisoned comrades."
Source: http://libcom.org/news/controversial-terror-trial-belgrade-anarchists-begins-17022010

Molly’sBlog 2010-02-09 22:35:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-MALAGA:
YES VIRGINIA THERE IS AN ANARCHIST LAWYER:
Every once in awhile, while working on the 'Links' section of this blog (now far and away the most extensive on the 'anarchonet) I come across things that snap my head back. The last time I can remember such a double take as what follows is when, a couple of years back, I came upon and listed items such as 'The Mormon Worker' and other "Mormon anarchists". What gives me pause is that, after the double take, I do a triple take and realize that I have no real objection whatsoever. There are indeed things in the wonderful world of anarchism that are truly disturbing, and I'm occasionally visited by demons from these netherworlds. I don't, however, see why a Mormon couldn't be a good anarchist, though I have to bite my tongue to avoid arguing about religion with same. Mercifully, the older I get the easier this becomes.
The following is one such experience. While dutifully chugging through the CNT listings for Andalucia I was readying the CNT Málaga items for future inclusions. I came across the following link within the site: Sección Sindical De CNT En El Colegio De Abogados De Málaga. Say What ??? This means "Union Section of the CNT In The College of Lawyers". Anarchist lawyers ? Well, I went searching, remembering the conference many years ago in the Netherlands on 'Law and Anarchism'. The two are not mutually contradictory, like the clowns who try and marry (a shotgun marriage if there ever was one) anarchism and right wing politics, especially of the neo-fascist kind (yes, that was one of the demons who once visited Molly's paradise). Neither is this sort of thing immediately repulsive in a moral sense.
To be honest I think that an "anarchist lawyer" is worth more to the movement than 300 political science graduates who can sling academic non-words around. An anarchist accountant or an anarchist economist would be equally valuable. No, it's not a contradiction in terms. It seems, however, that at least one of the members of this Sindicato is in trouble with the Spanish equivalent of the local 'Legal College' in Málaga,a s per the following article from the CNT Málaga website: 'El Colegio De Abogados De Málaga Impone Dos Nuevas Sanciones A Nuestra Delegado Sindical'. This translates as 'The Law College Of Malaga Imposes Two New Sanctions On Our Union Deleagate'. Seems that those who profit by the law are somewhat ticked about a visible anarchist in their midst, and, human nature being nothing if not petty, are out to get the poor bugger. You can read the article in Spanish here. If there is overwhelming popular demand I will translate it into English (though I already have two Spanish translations sitting "in the queue).
Yes I definitely feel sorry for the man and his compañera (also mentioned in the article). The site, however, gives no mechanism whereby we, on the other side of the world, can do anything for them. I do, however, wish him well. Check out the article, and the previous items on this persecution, at the CNT Málaga site. may the guy keep pissing off the "forces of evil" and be happy about it. Good luck compañero !

Molly’sBlog 2010-02-08 19:07:00


ANARCHIST MAGAZINES:
ARTICLES NEEDED FOR 'ANARCHIST VOICES' MAGAZINE:
Molly just received this call out from the Anarchist Voices Magazine and Video Project', formerly Total Liberty magazine. So, if you feel like getting something off your chest why not grease up that typing finger and send your thoughts on to JS.
@@@@@@@@@@@@
Articles needed for Anarchist Voices magazine:
It's that time again.
I'm hoping to get an edition of Anarchist Voices together in time for April / May and need articles!
500 - 1000 words. Plain English not academic English.
Simple black and white graphics (A4 sized are great as I can reduce them! after scanning!). Send to lleogrambyth@tiscali.co.uk
Best wishes
Jonathan

Molly’sBlog 2010-01-26 10:45:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SPAIN:
100 YEARS OF ANARCHOSYNDICALISM:
As was stated previously on this blog this year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Spanish Confederación Nacional de Trabajo, the CNT. Today anarchosyndicalism in Spain is divided, but all the heirs of the CNT claim its rich heritage. Previously I translated and published the statement of the CGT on this anniversary. Today it is the turn of the eponymous CNT, and their statement on this event. The original Spanish can be found at the CNT website.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
CNT, 100 years of anarcho-syndicalism (1910-2010):
On November 1, 1910, in Barcelona's Círculo de Bellas Artes, the CNT (National Confederation of Labor) was constituted. This organization, heir to the Spanish region to the Spanish of the 1st International (1870), was born from within the labor movement itself as the first independent trade union in this country.
Assuming the international slogan "the emancipation of the workers will be the work of the workers themselves, or it will not be", the CNT made itself the repository of that popular rebellion which, like a subterranean stream, opposed power over the length of time, to emerge triumphant at specific times, from the Egyptian Middle Kingdom to the French Revolution, the origin of the unique historical processes in which humanity obviously advanced along the path of freedom, justice, equality, dignity and progress.
Upon the simple agreement to create a labor organization independent from the political, religious and economic powers as a prerequisite for improving the living conditions of the workers through to the end of exploitation, the CNT began its anarchosyndicalist activity. In a few years it brought together most of the labor movement with significant social and economic advances that are now an invaluable legacy for today's society.
The work day of eight hours, the work week of thirty-six hours, the elimination of child labour, equality of women and incorporation into the daily lives of values such as solidarity, federalism, ecology, feminism, free love, anti-militarism, atheism ... so in vogue today, are part of that legacy that reached its zenith in the Social Revolution of 1936, when the utopia-libertarian communism- transformed everyone's daily life in all the liberated territories.
The reaction of international capitalism enabled Franco's fascist army to turn that revolutionary dream into a nightmare of hundreds of thousands of people persecuted, murdered and disappeared after the victorious coup in 1939. But not one of the culprits – all known, some active politicians -of that regime of terror, one of the most murderous in history, was even publicly reproved, thanks to the shameful impunity pact with Franco, which the national democratic left y (PSOE, PCE, UGT and CCOO) sealed in its surrender agreement with capital, known as "Spanish Transition" (1977).
Nevertheless, the people continued to defend, often with their lives, the simple principles of anarcho-syndicalism: independence, autonomy, federalism, self-management, assemblies, solidarity and direct action, ie self-organization, to reject any interference by political parties or other institutions, economic, religious, etc., in labor affairs. Strikes, demonstrations, repression and torture were the daily chronicle of the dictatorship (1939-1976), until their disappearance when the labor movement thrillingly came back to rebuild their beloved CNT (1977).
We live in new years of incessant labor conquest. The days of Montjuic, or San Sebastian de los Reyes, marked the powerful rebirth of the confederation in the 1970s. The progress of the labor movement, again self-organized by the CNT, through examples like the strike struggles of gas stations in 1978, prompted the reaction of capitalism, this time supported by the democratic state and its institutional apparatus (governments, parties, judges, trade union bureaucracies , ...).
The successful union of the CNT was suppressed by the police (Case Scala, 1978) and, with the silence and propaganda campaigns of defamation in the media, this has generated disastrous consequences for the labor movement in this country. The weakening of the anarcho-syndicalist presence in the labor movement made possible the loss of rights acquired after a long and bitter union struggles, by deregulation and labor precariousness implanted with the worst of the corruptions plaguing the country: Union Corruption. An officially silent corruption, which corrupts the union movement in general in the eyes of workers, but mainly it stars institutional unions –the CCOO and the UGT, whose unionist "yuppies" acquire grants and amounts in the millions from governments and businesses as payment to their treason, for accepting whatever measures are taken in defence of capital accumulation and rising profits (EREs, labour reforms, lay offs, etc ...)
Despite all that, thousands of workers now follow the genuine labor organization which we call the CNT, keeping it exclusively their own, making it the only living example of class unionism, capable of dealing with oppression and social control, ecological destruction and overexploitation of the world economy, all aspects inherent to capitalism.
2010 has for us a special connotation: it marks a century of existence of the CNT. It is the centenary of a people and the invaluable struggle of thousands of people, over the last hundred years has provided us with a shining blueprint, to be followed by the world’s working class, by their own culture, self-organizing capacity, radical struggles, popular spread and revolutionary achievements in order to build an anti-authoritarian society based on solidarity.
These ideals form the noble cause to which we invite you here and now.

Molly’sBlog 2010-01-18 10:16:00


INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SPAIN:
CONGRATULATIONS ANARCHOSYNDICALISM FROM THE CGT:
As mentioned before on this blog this year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Spanish Confederación Nacional de Trabajo (CNT) in Barcelona. All of the Spanish anarchosyndicalist groups are planning events to mark this centennial. The CGT have recently published the following congratulatory note in their paper Rojo Y Negro. As can be seen from the article Rojo Y Negro plans to have a continuing series with historical documents and how they relate to the present time. Molly hopes to be following this series and translating at least some of the essays. To my knowledge the article below is the first time that it has appeared in an English translation.
@@@@@@@@@@@@
Congratulations, Anarcosindicalism:
2010 is the centenary of anarcho-syndicalism, that is, each and every one of the organizations. groups and individuals who declare themselves as such. And each and all deserve a fraternal greeting, congratulations for having held to type, congratulations to one of the most rebellious critical and constructive currents for liberty and equality which we could provide to human beings, congratulations to each and every one who in his or her life built anarcho-syndicalism.
And congratulations, then, to all anarchosyndicalist organizations : the first historical CNT of course , and now the CNT-AIT, the Solidaridad Obrera, a splinter or separate CNT in Barcelona, the CNT France but also all sections of the AIT, and other unions outside of Spain that claim anarchist syndicalism (SAC in Sweden, the two USIs in Italy Workers’ Initiative in Poland, the Greek ESE, etc.), and including that this is also the centenary of other anarcho específicos many groups, mainly Latin American, who largely subscribe to the anarcho-syndicalist ideas that emerged from the historic Congress 1910 in Barcelona.
And obviously, despite the current divisions of some anarchosyndicalist sectors , the non-dogmatic anarchonsindicalist backbone, wide and pluralistic, of the CGT, the General Confederation of Labor. Of course.
Its self-organization, its struggles, its popular assemblies, its self critical ability, and its construction of a society open to the horizontal movements of the social base, and especially to all workers , in every sense of the word, testify to a path and a practice that, with its errors and contradictions, is the most genuine expression of anarcho-syndicalism: the constant search for the self-emancipation of the exploited classes.
Rojo Y Negro is reporting the early acts of this anniversary, opening a page that will be revisited over the next eleven months, in which part of an historical text on a specific theme (of the many that have been directly or indirectly been treated by anarcho-syndicalism) will be used for another consideration of the matter and updating of the points made in the historic document. Each page will be accompanied with an original illustration that, with artistic freedom, express an image of what is being "discussed" in the current and historical texts. This is the particular contribution of Royo Y Negro to the centennial.
I cannot but emphasize another fact which was duly reported in the pages of Rojo Y Negro, and coincides with the centennial, and what it means for reflection and updating of libertarian principles, with the formation on the confederal level of the "Jóvenes Anarcosindicalistas-CGT’ (Anarchosyndicalist youth), certainly a historic milestone for the Confederacy, small now but it will hopefully enhance its presence and importance in the not too distant future. That a youth group, affiliated to the CGT, has decided to be called "anarcho" is not trivial. It indicates a clear intention to necessarily follow a path open to innovation, self direction, and self-management of their own lives. The precariousness, both social and in employment, and conditions of manipulation, exploitation and repression in which we live are directly suffered by women and men, and therefore it is up to us to confront this reality, deal with it, and build from solidarity and mutual support an alternative which is urgent and necessary to radically transform the oppressive and unjust world. They are the CGT.
Antonio Carretero,
Rojo Y Negro

Molly’sBlog 2010-01-10 21:02:00

ANARCHIST HISTORY:CENTENARIO CNT ON FACEBOOK:Molly has already blogged a couple of times before on the fact that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Spanish CNT. As promised I’ll be presenting various statements from Spain on…

Continue reading at Molly'sBlog …