The Lost Graves of the International Brigades

I recorded and ripped Battlefield Mysteries for your delectation. Here's the blurb: "Battlefield Mysteries - The Lost Graves of the International Brigades In 1939, the Fascists won the bloody Spanish Civil War – a vicious struggle of ideologies that drew combatants from across the globe. With history written by the victors, the Fascists wiped out any trace of their rivals – over a quarter of a million people. In this episode we return to present day Spain on a quest to uncover the Lost Graves of the International Brigades."

The programme is approximately 43mins long. I've split it into 7 x 100mb RAR files which you will need to recompile to extract (winRAR should do the trick). bm - scw - Part 1 bm - scw - Part 2 bm - scw - Part 3 bm - scw - Part 4 bm - scw - Part 5 bm - scw - Part 6 bm - scw - Part 7

Artificial Life No.5 - Rubella Ballet, Living Circus & The Vulcans

Right To Work - The View From Greece

I attended the Right To Work meeting in Manchester on Wednesday to listen to Greek trade unionist Vasilis Sylaidis talk. Here's what he had to say (though my notes may not be perfect I hope you get the gist):


BACKGROUND:

He had been at Westminster that morning along with PCS comrades who were on strike. "At the heart of old British imperialism," as he put it.

The current Greek government was elected on a socialist ticket last October and, prior to the election, no mention of the austerity package to come had been made (surprisingly enough).

The current Greek fiscal deficit stands at 12.5% of GDP. In 2007 it was around 4%.

The Greek banks received a bailout of 28bn Euros in 2008.

The state bank can not borrow from the European Central Bank. Other borrowings are currently charged an interest rate of between 6% and 7%.

Greece has a high defence budget but only as consumers. In the midst of the banking crisis the government placed new orders for military equipment.


AUSTERITY MEASURES:

There have been both pay and job cuts affecting 100k people in the public sector. The pay cuts are in the region of between 15% and 20%.

There have been both direct and indirect (e.g. VAT) tax rises.

The aggregate loss to workers of the combination of the above measures to between 25% and 30% of pay.

As a result, and knock-on effect, shops are rapidly closing down. The estimated job losses to retail will be around 60k.

Private sector pay cuts will be forthcoming (if not already).

There have been pension cuts combined with a calculation formula change amounting to approx 30%. It is anticipated the retirement age will rise form 65 to 67. Previously women had enjoyed an earlier retirement age - this has already been removed and sync'd with the male retirement age at 65.

Redundancy compensation has been cut to the tune of 50%.


UNION RESPONSE:

The Greek 'TUC', much the same as in this country, is largley beholden to the encumbent socialist government. It's initial response was to press unions to allow the government more time to cope with the crisis.

The government and media portray the public sector as privileged in relation to jobs. (Sound familiar?)

Eventually, thanks to upward pressure from grassroots union members, the 'TUC' was forced to act in defence of it's members.

Following earlier strikes localised by industry or sector, general strikes have taken place on 10th Feb, 24th Feb, 5th Mar and 11th Mar.

A protest march on the 5th saw approx 55k take to the streets and resulted in an 88 year old Greek WW2 resistance hero being tear gassed.

Numbers protesting on each strike date have gradually increased to approx 80k on the 11th. Occupations have now started.

There were approx 6 demonstrations in Athens on Tuesday 23rd.

It is informal union organisation that is driving the strikes as opposed to being 'TUC' led.


OTHER COMMENTS:

The Greek economy is renowned for being largely untaxed with whole sectors escaping contribution. As a result many deals are 'underground' or subject to corruption.

The government had promised to reign in this behaviour and start wholesale tax collections but is now, as a result of the public sector cuts, making tax collectors redundant.

In response to the bank bailouts and the cuts for workers, one noted, "Why pay for a system that doesn't work?"


->END - BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.


Vasilis' talk was filmed and will be on YouTube. I'll update this link when available.


There was a discussion afterwards which highlighted (among other things):

• The necessity of solidarity with striking workers - particularly BA cabin crew. Why isn't Unite using its wider membership to influence the outcome? And if it is unwilling to pressure the government then it is about time we lost the Labour party link (amen to that)
• The difference between the UK and Greece at the moment is that we are the 'wrong' side of an election. All parties have promised cuts but the result (i.e. where Greece is now) has yet to be experienced.
• The media attacks on strikes are appalling. Workers defending jobs, pay and conditions are being portrayed as militants but it appears this 'picture' may be hardening resolve (again, the example of BA through two strike ballots). Again, solidarity is essential to encourage and support each other.
• There was much talk of Bolton's recent UAF/EDL confrontation with one mocking reference to 'designated protest zones'. As one wag noted, "The whole world is our designated protest zone". Also references to the media turnaround on the prtrayal of protesters in the light of footage available on the Internet taken from the demo.
• There was reference to the upcoming election and a positive response to TUSC from voters in Gorton disillusioned with Labour.

Diary Dates

Wed 24th March

PCS National Strike- Budget Day Picket lines everywhere- please visit (at least) one to show solidarity.


Wednesday 24 March 7.30pm

Methodist Centre, Central Hall, Oldham Street , Manchester M1 1JT.

Vasilis Sylaidis of Greek trade union Intracom, will give an eyewitness account of the recent general strike against the austerity measures there. Please spread the word about this meeting.

Organised by Right to Work


Sat 27th March

Defend Education: Rally and Protest

12pm John Dalton Building, Oxford Road, (opp BBC), with speakers from recent victories (Leeds UCU, Sussex student), and local disputes
1pm Assemble All Saints, Oxford Road, (opp Man Met Students Union)

Organised and supported by: UCU (Man Met, Manchester College), Unison (Man Met, Manchester College, Cheadle and Marple SF), Students (Man Met, Man Uni)

Artificial Life No.5 - Hagar The Womb & Death Cult

Mr Bleaney

Mr Bleaney "This was Mr Bleaney's room. He stayed The whole time he was at the Bodies, till They moved him." Flowered curtains, thin and frayed, Fall to within five inches of the sill, Whose window shows a strip of building land, Tussocky, littered. "Mr Bleaney took My bit of garden properly in hand." Bed, upright chair, sixty-watt bulb, no hook Behind the door, no room for books or bags - "I'll take it." So it happens that I lie Where Mr Bleaney lay, and stub my fags On the same saucer-souvenir, and try Stuffing my ears with cotton-wool, to drown The jabbering set he egged her on to buy. I know his habits - what time he came down, His preference for sauce to gravy, why He kept on plugging at the four aways - Likewise their yearly frame: the Frinton folk Who put him up for summer holidays, And Christmas at his sister's house in Stoke. But if he stood and watched the frigid wind Tousling the clouds, lay on the fusty bed Telling himself that this was home, and grinned, And shivered, without shaking off the dread That how we live measures our own nature, And at his age having no more to show Than one hired box should make him pretty sure He warranted no better, I don't know. Philip Larkin

The 'Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour' Bible

WHAT IS ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?

"Anti-social behaviour means a wide range of unacceptable activity and includes things like vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting, nuisance neighbours and intimidating groups taking over public spaces."

It doesn't include decimating communities by closing either public or private industries acting as significant employers in the area. It also doesn't cover foreign invasion under false pretences - those instances should be covered by the jurisdiction of the sovereign country invaded. It also doesn't cover false accounting, again either public or private, carried out as an MP, a bank or hedge fund or person of dubious non-domicile status or any expense claims arising therefrom.

YOUR RIGHTS

"Our website www.direct.gov.uk/localcrime gives you information about the police and criminal justice services in your area as well as what you can expect from them."

But your rights can be mainly summed up in one word - none. We are too busy installing CCTV, collecting DNA, monitoring the Internet, curtailing the right to protest, implementing multitudinous new laws and creating vast databases to be concerned with your supposed rights.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TACKLING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?

"Your local authority, the police and social landlords all have strong and effective powers to deal with anti-social behaviour problems."

Remember those in authority are to be trusted to do everything. You are to do nothing - except carry on working, spending, consuming and living in fear. Above all else you must absolutely NOT start thinking or acting for yourself.

IF THEY FAIL TO ACT, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

"If you have reported anti-social behaviour, but do not feel that action has been taken, you can complain to your Neighbourhood Policing Team, or to the council through their complaints procedure and ultimately the Local Government Ombudsman."

If those in authority have failed to act then you can complain to those in authority. If you feel that those in authority are not taking your complaint to those in authority seriously enough then you can complain to someone else in authority. Ultimately you have the option of suicide for you and any members of your family affected whereupon much time, effort and money will be spent on a very official investigation into where those in authority went wrong and someone else in authority will make many recommendations that the original those in authority will promise to implement to prevent any future recurrence. Until the next time. Obviously.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR LOCAL POLICE?

"Every neighbourhood is different - and so are the problems faced by the people who live there."

But what you tend to find is that poverty stricken areas are more prone to problems than the well-off ones. Funny that - who would've thought it? That having people live in areas where they feel little hope or self-esteem, where incomes are bread line and where they don't feel responsible for themselves or their neighbours would generate problems. Anyway, why should the police care?

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?

"You have a right to expect the police, your council and other agencies to make tackling anti-social behaviour a priority and to respond professionally."

But remember, you must absolutely never start thinking or acting for yourself. You are not a responsible person in a position of authority. You can not be trusted to do anything. In fact you might actually be one of the untrustworthy ones. Your role is to work, spend, consume and be afraid. Afraid of everything if possible but if not then hoodies and terrorists is a good start as it covers both domestic and foreign threats. You must only ever report problems to people in positions of authority. Which you are not.

Artificial Life No.5 - Reviews, The Membranes & Sex Gang Children

Fashion. Turning Left.

Because nothing says what vain, dishonest, soulless, repetitive, parasitic, empty, futile, destructive, greedy, wasteful, deceitful and hollow industries the fashion and advertising ones are, quite like a fashion advert from 25 years ago.

Children On Stun - Mondo Weird (CD)

The UK government today announced a scheme to link the latest Japanese mobile phone technology with compulsory ID cards thereby allowing them to track every UK citizen at any time.

The technology won't be limited to just location either as it utilises sensors, known as accelerometers, which will allow the government to determine just exactly what it is you are up to.

Governmental men in white coats, who work in laboratories, came up with the idea when they realised that the Japanese were only suggesting that managerial types use it to spy on employees.

"Why stop there?", one boffin was quoted as saying.

It's anticipated that over time the mobile phone link will allow recorded messages to be delivered to the unwary when the sensors spot that you are up to no good. For instance, a bit of late night one handed Web browsing might result in a terse, "Stop that. You'll go blind". Or if you have just nipped out for a crafty fag and the sensor determines you have flicked your lighter, your phone will deliver a condescending, "That's bad for you, you know."

The government hope that in the long term it will discourage terrorists. They just can't quite say how at the moment.

Richard Cranium, the Home Office spokesperson, issued a statement, "At present we are investing £3.4bn in a trial project but, once the project gets the green light - which it will - the costs are expected to spiral out of our control."

When pressed on privacy issues he said, "The phone-ID card combination will make the UK a safer place for the ordinary citizen - not that we trust them of course. It will store 873 pieces of unique personal data and will be completely secure. Unless you lose it. Or unless the database gets hacked. Or if we leave an unencrypted copy of the database on a train. Or if we leave a laptop, containing the database, on a bus. Or if a call-centre worker gets bribed to sell the database or access to it. Or if the passwords are shit. Or if....." Half an hour later he ended by saying, "But all of those situations are extremely likely. I mean, unlikely."

Joe Bloggs, of pressure group 1984:It's Only A Book!!, said, "For fucks sake! When will it end?"


Children On Stun - Mondo Weird (M&A Music Art MACDL953 1997) 320kbps

1. Mondo Weird
2. Building Boxes
3. Felch
4. Style Police
5. Singles And Doubles
6. Twisted
7. Strange Days
8. Outrageous, Outlawed, Outspoken
9. Scum
10. Aunty Crsytal Thieves
11. Whiskey A-Go-Go
12. Demonica Beatnik

Stop That. You'll Go Blind - pwd: c4ctusm0uth

It's A Queer Time

It's a Queer Time It's hard to know if you're alive or dead When steel and fire go roaring through your head. One moment you'll be crouching at your gun Traversing, mowing heaps down half in fun : The next, you choke and clutch at your right breast No time to think leave all and off you go . . . To Treasure Island where the Spice winds blow, To lovely groves of mango, quince and lime Breathe no good-bye, but ho, for the Rest West! It's a queer time. You're charging madly at them yeling 'Fag!' When somehow something gives and your feet drag. You fall and strike your head; yet feel no pain And find . . . You're digging tunnels through the hay In the Big Barn, 'cause it's a rainy day. O springy hay, and lovely beams to climb! You're back in the old sailor suit again. It's a queer time. Or you'll be dozing safe in your dug-out A great roar the trench shakes and falls about You're struggling, gasping, struggling, then . . . hullo! Elsie comes tripping gaily down the trench, Hanky to nose -- that lyddite makes a stench Getting her pinafore all over grime. Funny! because she died ten years ago! It's a queer time. The trouble is, things happen much too quick; Up jump the Boshes, rifles thump and click, You stagger, and the whole scene fades away: Even good Christians don't like passing straight From Tipperary or their Hymn of Hate To Alleluiah-chanting, and the chime Of golden harps . . . and . . . I'm not well today . . . It's a queer time. Robert Graves

The Love Police

More Here

Pictures of Starving Children Buy Guns?

Feed The World or, at the very least, buy some weapons.

Zig Zag Mar 1984 - Alien Sex Fiend, Eddie Walker, Anorexic Dread & Viz

Mass Delusion Breaks Out

What is it with these crazy Labour supporters? They seem to be getting themselves worked up into a right old frenzy about the upcoming election and imploring those of us who they suspect might be a teensy bit sympathetic to vote Labour. (For 'teensy bit sympathetic', read 'union reps')

I am not quite sure where these people have been for the last 13 years but they do appear to be suffering either from a collective amnesia or mass delusion.

At one time, yes I confess, I would've voted Labour. It was almost a birthright in my family. An heirloom, if you will, passed down through the generations. Labour represented 'us', my family when I lived with my parents, where the Tories never did.

But I've moved on and grown up considerably since then and, a few years ago now, came to the blindingly obvious conclusion that none of them - Tories, Labour, LibDem et al - represent my family as it is now - wife, daughter and myself. Quite why it took me so long I can only put down to the insidious and penetrative effects of the ongoing malaise afflicting those who still 'believe'. Those who can still hear 'Things Can Only Get Better' ringing in their ears when they look upon Gordon's righteous physiognomy. Those who can only see the 'good' in being ruled by a party that perpetuates the very worst elements of capitalism while assuring the faithful how much worse off they will be under the Tories (they're one of the other capitalist parties remember). As I said to one ardent Labour devotee on Twitter, "Britain is only a democracy if u believe the rich&powerful know what is best for u & act in ur interests. I don't believe that."

So, I've racked my brain and come up with a list of some of Labour's betrayals of the working class over the course of 13 years just to reiterate my contempt.

1. Anti-Trade Union Laws - they could've got rid of them but they didn't. Why? Because that would upset their crony, boss mates. And yet my union continues to throw millions at them.

2. The Iraq & Afghanistan Wars - we can find the money to invade other countries yet we can't find the money for public services, funny that. Doh! Silly me, forgot about the oil contracts.

3. ID Cards & The Database State - would you look at the size of that White Elephant?! It's fucking HUGE! What's it really for I wonder...

4. The Privatisation Of The NHS - we're keeping it public, no really we are. Why don't you believe us? Because the evidence to the contrary, that you're doing it by stealth, tells us not to.

5. The Privatisation Of The Royal Mail - see above.

6. MPs Expenses - I know I can't pin this one solely on Labour as they are all in it together. Though that fact alone tells you all you need to know.

7. Lobbygate - Google it if you don't already know what it is. Labour in government and getting cosy with big business is the short version. Very cosy.

8. The Bank Bail-Outs - "No return to boom & bust" that was Gordon. What a twat! You have no control over capitalism's periodic 'bubbles' - even I know that. See also (2). We can find the money to throw at banks...

9. The Ever Widening Gap Between The Rich & The Poor - Labour spout off about "A future fair for all". It's just that some are more 'fair' than others under their stewardship. And let's not even get onto their hollow promises around child poverty.

10. Addiction To Debt - has been going on for more than 13 years admittedly but has only got worse under Labour. Record unsecured debt coupled with suppressed wages married to an economy built on consumerism multiplied by top-up fees and student loans do not a happy combination make.

11. The 'War On Terror' - as Jim Royle would say, 'War on Terror my arse!" An excuse to keep people living in fear while getting away with the Police harassing photographers, no right to silence, CCTV all over the fucking shop, FIT teams photographing political protesters.... The list goes on. See also (2) and (8). We can find the money to...

12. Cash For Honours - or "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours". As long as you have the necessary funds to donate to Labour of course. See also (7). Labour & big business buddies - nice.

13. The Marketisation Of Education - your university place - sponsored by McDonalds! Our courses offer an exciting range of studies: learn how to say "Do you want fries with that?", the correct temperature for serving a burger, how is a McFlurry made?.....

There you go, that's one for every year of office.

Give 'em their due though - it would be worse under the Tories but at least everyone knows what to expect from that shower of shit. They don't hide behind a facade of care, compassion and "we'll do better next time if only you'd re-elect us" while stabbing you in the back with lies and spin. Labour, Tories, Lib-Dem.... THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.

Anyone else want to make a contribution of something glaringly obvious that I have missed?