A-Infos (en) Britain, HEREFORD Anarchist Federation GROUP Heckler #13 April/May 2010

Council failing on affordable housing Time to squat ---- To buy an average-price house in 
Herefordshire you would have to be earning ÃÂ48,856 a year. ---- Those are the findings of 
housing charity Shelter, which brands Herefordshire Council as one of the worst providers 
of affordable housing in England. ---- At the current rate of availability it would take 
almost eight and half years to house the estimated 5,207 households on the waiting list 
for affordable housing in the county. ---- Shelter found that 1,113 new affordable homes 
would need to be built each year in Herefordshire to keep up with local need. By their own 
admission, council officials have said that only 531 new homes were built over the last 
four years. At an average of just 133 a year this is clearly not good enough!

But as we revealed in our last issue, almost 2,500 properties are lying
unused across the county. What is Herefordshire Council doing to bring
these back into use?

Here at Heckler HQ we have a radical solutionÃÂÂalbeit short-term: squat the
lot! If the council canÃÂÂt get their act together and continue to waste millions on
a new shopping centre no one wants then weÃÂÂll have to house ourselves.
Despite its bad image, squatting is still legal and itÃÂÂs not just something for
people with dreadlocks and thin dogs on string.

Squatting has a history in England dating back to at least 1649 but more recently,
there was a huge squatting movement involving ex-servicemen and their families
following World War II. This involved thousands of people occupying sites as
diverse as former military bases and luxury apartment blocks in West London.

With this issue we are launching our ÃÂÂHeckler Estate AgentsÃÂÂ, a listing of long-
term empty properties around the county that could be squatted by families
desperate for a home. Although squatting is perfectly legal, some methods of
gaining entry arenÃÂÂt and we strongly advice anyone considering this option to
seek legal advice first. Get in touch with the Advisory Service for Squatters and
get hold of their excellent ÃÂÂSquatters HandbookÃÂÂ for more information.
Armed with knowledge and a genuine need to be housed, squatting may
give you the solution to your problems. LetÃÂÂs show the council that if they
wonÃÂÂt house us, weÃÂÂll house ourselves.

Heckler Estate Agents

6 Lloyd Street, Portfields, Hereford

Property close to city centre. Empty
for at least two and a half years.

8 Lloyd Street, Portfields, Hereford

Property close to city centre. Empty
for at least two and a half years.

23 Cotterell Street, Whitecross, Hereford

Semi-detatched house in desirable
location.

Old NHS building, Eign Street, Hereford

Next door to old Eye Hospital. Large
property. Could house several families.

1 Quicksets, Redhill, Hereford

Property on the edge of the city.
Empty for several years. Has potential.
We are pleased to report that after years of standing empty,
the last of the old SAS houses on the Stirling Estate, Putson,
are now being renovated and are coming back into use.
Letusknowofemptyproperties:kay.bulstreet@hotmail.co.uk/Advisor

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Hereford BNP announce candidate

Attempting to keep up with the
local political game, the British
National Party have recently
announced their candidate for the
Hereford and South Herefordshire
constituency. Twenty-four year-
old, self-employed ÃÂÂbusinessmanÃÂÂ
(odd-job man and gardener),
John Oliver, has been chosen
to represent the party locally.
However, one thing the BNP
failed to announce is that John
is in fact not from this area at
all ÃÂÂ theyÃÂÂre shipping him in
from Newport, Gwent to stand
in the election! Considering
HerefordÃÂÂs next MP?
John announced that his
John Oliver, looking
campaign would focus on the
like a prize idiot
local economy and ÃÂÂhalting the
immigration swindleÃÂÂ there is some irony here.
This choice highlights numerous things about the local BNP
rag-tag. Firstly it shows the incompetency of the local branch,
not being able to find a single suitable candidate in the county.
A bit strange, considering this time last year they were bragging
to the local press about how much the party had grown in the
area, and how many ÃÂÂdecent peopleÃÂÂ they had attracted. Along
with the fact that we havenÃÂÂt heard a peep from them since the
European elections, the evidence suggests that somebody may
have been telling porkies.

This decision also shows that they are no different to the rest
of the political parties in the area; shipping in politicians to fight
the election, who will be quick enough to up sticks and scuttle
off to the next place after the people of Herefordshire vote.
The Tories moved millionaire and old Etonian, Jesse Norman,
into the county following his failed attempt at becoming a
representative for Cheltenham. The Liberal Democrats moved
in Sarah Carr, who seems to jump on every bandwagon rolling
past. Labour have announced Neil Sabharwal, a businessman
from London to stand in the North Herefordshire constituencyÃÂÂ
he didnÃÂÂt even turn up at a recent election debate in Bromyard,
sending one of his campaign team to speak instead!
Obviously a lot of people move around the country, but these
political parties seem to move in career politicians, use local
people to their advantage (get our vote), and then leave if they
donÃÂÂt succeed. This attitude is damaging and dividing to local
people, using constituents as political pawns or cannon fodder,
and putting their own personal political careers and agendas
before any real desire to represent us or work to our benefit.
The BNP are no different, and despite their claims of being an
ÃÂÂalternative to the old-gang partiesÃÂÂ, they offer very little more.
As they have shown numerous times across the country, once
elected into a position of power, they repeatedly misuse their
position and are just as crooked as the rest! Their Barking &
Dagenham councillors on the take and countless suspensions
from councils across the country are examples of this. So if you
are looking for an alternative to the Westminster liars, cheats
and crooks donÃÂÂt look towards the BNP!

ItÃÂÂs Our City

Day of Action

High Town

10th April 2010

www.itsourcity.org

-----------------------------------------------------------

Illegal, immoral and ignored by the law

Saturday 27th February 2010ÃÂÂThis is a dead harrier, being picked
up from the A49 by one of the whippers of the evil Ross Harriers
who aimlessly chase innocent and beautiful animals around the
countryside for fun for eight months of the year.
The out of control hunt, ran onto the fast moving road where
inevitably a car struck the hound. No sign of the harrier pack using
false trails or ÃÂÂflushing to eaglesÃÂÂÃÂÂclearly hunting live quarry.
Hunting is illegal, as you would expect in a civilised society, but
ÃÂÂoverlookedÃÂÂ by the authorities, as you would expect in a country
where the law and police force only exist to preserve the power of
the ruling class.
But the law would hardly be an issue where our Leominster MP
proudly announces his support for illegal and shameless torture of
animals by having his ÃÂÂCountyside Alliance AwardÃÂÂ blazoned at the foot
of his headed paper.
Our suggestion? Contact your local hunt sabs at www.huntsabs.org.uk
and wipe the smiles off these hunterÃÂÂs arrogant, twisted faces. Our
solution? Send a donation, weÃÂÂre saving up for a gyrocopter.

------------------------------------------------

HerefordÃÂÂs Radical HistoryÃÂÂpart two HerefordÃÂÂs counter culture

Growing up in Hereford in the 70s I was surrounded by alternative
radical influences. Hereford had a thriving music scene that grew out
of the hippie eraÃÂÂand Hereford was well known for its hippies! There
were gigs at the Flamingo, at the art college and various venues.
A place for meeting up and hanging around was Buzz Music in
Widemarsh Street (now a car park; how unsurprising!) This brightly
painted music shop was a candle to us young impressionable moths.
You could go in and listen to records all day, drink coffee, smoke and
ything. There were real rock stars coming and going and as Buzz Music
smoke, and still not buy anything. There were real rock stars coming and going and as Buzz 
Music expanded into PA hire for major rock tours there was a real feeling of being at the 
centre of the counter culture. Once Buzz closed down there were all sorts of rumours that 
the PA hire was more to do with smuggling for a certain Mr H Marks (nice!).
There were several pubs that took on the role of centre of counter culture too. The 
SaracenÃÂÂs Head was famous for its cheap cider and hash dealers, as were a few others in 
the town.

There was a real feeling in the air as the 70s progressed, that the ÃÂÂstraightsÃÂÂ were 
losing the argument ÃÂÂ and then punk happened! All of a sudden, instead of a few long 
haired hippies noodling on guitars representing our counter culture, we had aggressive 
loud youths shouting about it and how anarchy was going tear down the state! Youths were 
getting political.

The punk movement faded into the mainstream but from it came a new kind of political 
awareness, namely that the ruling classes are corrupt and full of self serving rich crooks 
getting richer! This was a radical view in ÃÂÂ77, but today itÃÂÂs what most people think.

---------------------------------------------------

Labour have no clue about Leominster

Prior to the general election, the Labour party has announced the
candidate they will be standing for the Leominster constituency, a
previously unheard of Neil Sabharwal. And as per usual, Labour
have got things disastrously wrong.

Neil Sabharwal, a Cambridge graduate who studied economics,
is a former financial analyst for global company Ebay and lives in
London where he continues to operate within the business world,
presumably in between fighting the struggles of the working man.
SabharwalÃÂÂs selection only further proves how out of touch Labour
is with the people of this country, especially in rural areas such
as ours. Leominster faces poor education from the sub-standard
Minster College, people facing unemployment after Skymark shut
down, plus possible job losses in the future at Cadbury, so Labour
select a filthy rich Cambridge graduate from the City, a guy who
has no idea how people in a small market town live their life, and
what problems they face. The only alternative Leominster faces is
the dominant Conservatives, headed by the obnoxious Bill Wiggin,
a man so insultingly ignorant of real life that he called workers
fearing for their jobs ÃÂÂwhingersÃÂÂ. Given the choice between a
ranting toff and a wealthy City boy, itÃÂÂs no wonder that fringe parties
such as the BNP are winning votes from disillusioned working class
voters who believe that none of the major parties care about them.
Rather than wanting to make Leominster and the surrounding
area a better place, for politicians like Neil Sabharwal, this election
is just one big job interview.

---------------------------------------------------

TRUCKER STANDS UP TO BOSSES

A Ross-on-Wye trucker has exposed a local haulage
firm who were bullying and intimidating their drivers into
cheating on their driving hours.
Wye Transport had their operating license removed by the
Department of Transport and the driver was praised by Nick
Jones, the traffic commissioner for the West Midlands.
This company was putting lives at risk by making drivers
work longer hours than was legal or safe. The bosses put
profit over the lives of their employees and other drivers.
The haulage industry is being squeezed hard at present
and many bosses are hiring in vulnerable drivers at cut
rates and cheating on hours. This brave bloke stood up
to the intimidation and reported the dangerous practices,
he has been praised and the company closed downÃÂÂwe
should follow his example and expose dodgy bosses
whenever we can.

This is yet another example of the individual standing up
for himself and it goes to prove that we donÃÂÂt have to suffer
the poverty wages and life shattering hours that bosses are
happy to inflict on us, whilst they line their own pockets!

------------------------------------------------

The Wobblies are growing

As the latest recession (or reorganisation
of capitalism) bites and the class struggle
intensifies with rising job insecurity and
unemployment, workers are looking for
organisations that can defend our class
against these latest attacks on our living
standards.
The mainstream unions are, on the whole,
showing once more their lack of fight and
reliance on support of the Labour Party.
Many workers including long standing
trade unionists are deeply disillusioned and
are seeking an alternative in the Industrial
Workers of the World (nicknamed the
Wobblies). The IWW is not a ÃÂÂtradeÃÂÂ union it
is a syndicalist union. Syndicalist unions are
different in three main ways in that they:
ÃÂÂ Organise by industry rather than trade
helping to unite all workers rather than
pitch them against each other.
ÃÂÂ Organise at the place of work, have no
union bureaucracy and no gravy train.
The national structure is federal and fully
controlled by members.
ÃÂÂ Seek to abolish wage slavery and the class
system creating a free and equal society.
In the past few years membership has
increased five-fold with new branches
opening all across the country. The IWW
welcomes all workers, pensioners and
unemployed. Join the efforts to build the
ÃÂÂone big unionÃÂÂÃÂÂa fighting union.
Hereford Solidarity League will be hosting
a public meeting of the IWW. Details to be
announced on our website in May.
The IWW is an officially registered
trade union. Central Region IWW, 54
Allison Street, Birmingham B5 5TH.
Tel. 07970 575 154 or visit
www.iww.org.uk

------------------------------------------------

International WomenÃÂÂs day

Annually on 8th March, thousands of events are held throughout
the world that inspire women and celebrate achievements to mark
International WomenÃÂÂs Day. The day has has been observed since
the early 1900s and is now an official holiday in many countries
including China, Russia and Ukraine, but not in the UK. Why not?
Many women from a younger generation feel that all the battles
have been won for women while many feminists from the 1970s
know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of
patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality
in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of womenÃÂÂs
visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, it is easy
to be deceived into believing that women have gained true equality.
The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to
that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal
numbers in business or politics, and globally womenÃÂÂs education,
health and the physical, sexual and emotional violence against
them is worse than itÃÂÂs been for decades.
Switch on your telly and your are bombarded by negative images
of women, that promotes the above. Between Katie Price, Patricia
Hewlett and the Queen, we hardly have a standing chance!
With the upcoming elections, the mainstream parties are actively
recruiting and fighting for the womanÃÂÂs vote. Where are they the
rest of the time? One in four women suffer domestic abuse, 6% of
rapists get convicted, politicians are forcing women back into work
whilst their children have to go to expensive nurseries, and yes,
MotherÃÂÂs day is celebrated in the place of WomenÃÂÂs day!
They still want us in aprons, with pregnant bellies doing the washing
up, because the modern man enjoys to cookÃÂÂarenÃÂÂt we lucky!

-------------------------------------

Sport

Hereford United season round-up

The 2009/2010 season has been a very poor one for Hereford United, both on and off
the pitch. Following our relegation from League One this time last year, things have
dipped to a new low. The fact that we are staying is little consolation for supporters.
On the pitch weÃÂÂve had a team that at best looks like theyÃÂÂre glad to get paid, at
worst, like they donÃÂÂt want to wear our shirt. With a recent 3ÃÂÂ1 defeat to our rivals up
the A49, a 5ÃÂÂ0 away loss to Notts County, and a terrible performance which saw us
go from 2ÃÂÂ0 up, to lose 4ÃÂÂ3 at home against Burton. This has left us struggling in the
league, seated firmly in the bottom half of the table.

Off the pitch attendances have suffered greatly, often reaching lows of around
1,200. Whilst crowds across League Two are down 10%, HerefordÃÂÂs are down by
an average of 30%. With very poor facilities and unattractive football, it is little
surprise that people are reconsidering paying ÃÂ13 every other week to come to
Edgar Street. We at Heckler HQ believe more can and should be done to encourage
people to attend; cheaper gates and more incentives for school and youth groups to
come along. More should also be done to expand and build upon the community
work that the club does; encouraging and facilitating local, grassroots football and
involvement in local schemes to help the young, disabled and others to enjoy the
beautiful game. Scunthorpe United is a good example of a league club with great
ties and involvement with their community through their community trust, and in
turn theyÃÂÂve been rewarded for it!

After calls from all directions for Trewick to go as manager, Graham Turner finally
made the decision and took temporary reins over the team. this has been followed
by two good wins for the Bulls, with a passionate victory over Bradford and a decent
away win against ChesterfieldÃÂÂyoung Birmingham loanee Jake Jervis scoring in
each of these matches. We hope for a decent, committed and honest manager next
season, and look forward to the building of the new stand and improvement of Edgar
StreetÃÂÂs aged facilities. The club is what we, the fans, make itÃÂÂget behind the Bulls
for the 2010/2011 season and letÃÂÂs have more of that 2006 promotion spirit.

The real cost of sport

As we enter the aftermath of last years recession, the government and local councils
are earmarking cuts and cost savings. Social services, health, education and even
community centres and groups are all the targets for these cuts. So is it right that
we should pay for the failings of the banking system while billions of pounds of our
money are being spent on international sporting events?

The continually rising cost of the London 2012 Olympics now looks set to reach
ÃÂ10 billion. That is an enormous sum of money that would surely be better spent
funding our childrenÃÂÂs education or providing housing that is so badly needed in
places like Herefordshire.

Many of us in Hereford Solidarity League are sports fans, but itÃÂÂs clear to see that
while governments love the opportunity for a bit of patriotic flag waving, the bank
accounts of sports governing bodies like FIFA and the IOC are filled with our money.
We can no longer justify the costs of these tournaments, but when there is so much
money to be made by advertisers, international corporations and government back-
handers, itÃÂÂs hard to see when theyÃÂÂll be scaled down or stopped.

And spare a thought for the people of South Africa. ÃÂ3 billion is being spent on this
yearÃÂÂs football world cup. This is in a country where millions suffer due to homelessness,
unemployment, rampant crime and trigger happy cops.

Of course, if you are a sport fan without the worries of work, housing or feeding your
family, youÃÂÂll be looking forward to hours in front of the television watching our boys
and girls doing their bit for the country. But while youÃÂÂre enjoying the spectacle spare
a thought for those that are paying for it.

---------------------------------------------------

Helen Heckler

ÃÂÂ The potential MPs for Hereford
attempted to capture the young
vote recently, attending a debate
at the sixth form college. They
mainly focused on their views on the
future of Hereford, at the same time
accusing each other of being out of
touch, career politicians. Which
settles it, no matter who we vote
for, we still get a posh kid who
thinks Hereford is in Wales.
nÃÂÂ *ADVERTISEMENT* If you would like to
book Paul Keetch for your event and/
or function, just ask parliament to
discuss your local area the day after
and the Mr. Blobby of Herefordshire
will be there ASAP! Rent-A-Keetch:
adding ease to your sleaze!

ÃÂÂ Apparently Nick Griffin is set to
be appearing on another edition of
question time this year ahead of the
general election, despite the fact
that he looks about as comfortable
on camera as a hostage reading
their ransom. While everyone hates
Griffin, we hope his racism wonÃÂÂt
distract people from Gordon BrownÃÂÂs
racist immigration policy, David
CameronÃÂÂs unequal welfare ideas, or
the hilarity of someone from UKIP
wearing a suit. Our stance is clear:
none of them represent us, and none
deserve power over us.

ÃÂÂ Finally, Alistair DarlingÃÂÂs
budget has recently been released,
detailing a 10% tax increase on
cider. As it only applies to strong
ciders, this means only the small,
locally focused breweries will be
hurt by this. Yours truly is hardly
a fan of the Labour Party anyway,
but now Ali D wants the people
of Hereford to put up with only
drinking rubbish like Strongbow, it
just got personal.

-------------------------------------------

nÃÂÂ Hereford Solidarity League works to build a society based on the ideas of freedom, 
equality and community ÃÂÂ
  ÃÂÂ Anti-fascism is an important
part of our politics, but we believe that all politicians maintain a system of inequality, 
privilege and control that divides communitiesÃÂÂ
ÃÂÂ Real change does not happen at the ballot box and can only come about by independent 
working class action; that is, people looking out for each other and organising themselves 
to deal with the problems that they experience on a day to day basisÃÂÂ
ÃÂÂ Our aim is to increase the fighting spirit and self-confidence of working class people 
to change things for themselves.
Find us on the internetÃÂÂÃÂÂJoin our Facebook group ÃÂÂHereford HecklerÃÂÂ; visit 
www.herefordheckler.wordpress.com; or email
kay.bulstreet@hotmail.co.uk
_________________________________________
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