A-Infos (en) Ireland, Anarchist Workers Solidarity #117 - September / October 2010 Twenty-Six Years of Irish Anarchist News

CONTENT - Inequality is the problem -- Haiti: A New Beginning? -- Ardoyne Riots -- 
Thinking About Anarchism: People Are Selfish -- That's Capitalism! -- FAS says 'Work for 
No Pay' -- Spanish Celebrate 100 Years of Anarchist Trade Unionism -- Institutionalised 
Discrimnation -- http://www.wsm.ie/sites/default/files/WS117-web-final.pdf PDF of Workers 
Solidarity 117 Web Edition 1.95 Mb ---- Anarchism and the WSM ---- With the summer months 
traditionally a quiet time politically, we have been focusing on internal discussions 
around how to mount an opposition to the next round of cuts that we will face in the 2011 
budget. We have also been involved in external dialogues and, to this end, we attended the 
Kilbarrack Activist Fleadh in mid-August. As per their programme, this event was “designed 
to enable us all - activists and non-activists, radicals of all ages and people in many 
different communities, movements and struggles - to find spaces to talk to each other 
about what we have in common.” It aimed to address the following questions: “What are the 
big structures of power and inequality that shape our world, and how do we meet them? How 
can we find effective ways of protesting, disrupting, constructing alternatives and taking 
action? How can our local struggles connect to large-scale strategies for change that have 
a real chance of success? What is the “big picture” in terms of global justice and 
ecological sustainability, and where do we fit in? How do personal transformation and the 
development of leadership come into the struggle for a better world?” With this in mind, 
there were workshops on social inequality, fighting the cutbacks, sustainability and 
global justice, creative media and bringing about change, amongst others.

Around 60 people from different community and political organisations, as well as 
individuals, attended the event to try and provide answers to the above questions. One of 
our contributors at the event pointed out that “we need to use the [trade union and 
community sector] structures that exist, as they can … mobilise the greatest numbers. … We 
need to instil in our unions that ability to organise and fight again.  We need to spread 
… this into the communities where the brunt of these cuts is being felt.  We need … to 
build a widespread network of people who are going to resist what is going on, and to 
build towards change. It is also time to eradicate this fear, … fighting for something is 
better than accepting the idea that your neck is free from the axe for now.” Another WSM 
member who attended the event concluded that “it appeared to be the first step in bringing 
together various groups, community activists, political parties, organisations and 
campaigns to get us moving in the same direction.” As ever, such proposed solutions will 
only succeed if we get large numbers of people involved so if you want to be part of that 
solution, or simply would like to find out more about the WSM, then contact us!

In This Issue

Inequality is the problem http://www.wsm.ie/c/wealth-ireland-distributed-maximum-wage

The 2010 Inequality Survey published by independent thinktank TASC has shown that 87% of 
respondents believe that wealth in Ireland is unfairly distributed.  This is up from 70% 
in the equivalent survey carried out in 2008

Haiti: A New Beginning? http://www.wsm.ie/c/new-beginning-haiti

The earthquake that devastated Haiti and shook the world could have heralded a new start 
for the perpetually impoverished Caribbean nation. But the reconstruction plans have made 
it clear that local and global elites wish to continue the policies that lie behind 
Haiti’s history of violence and deprivation.

Ardoyne Riots http://www.wsm.ie/c/ardoyne-riots

This summer’s Belfast riots must have been the most anticipated for some time, being 
widely predicted throughout politics and the media. The August rioting in Ardoyne (and 
Short Strand, the Markets, Lower Ormeau, New Lodge, Broadway; and Lurgan, Derry & Armagh) 
saw three days of trouble, shots fired at police and a landmine attack in South Armagh.

Thinking About Anarchism: http://www.wsm.ie/c/thinking-about-anarchism-people-are-selfish

“Human nature being what it is, you could never have an anarchist society – not one in 
which both individual freedom and co-operation exist anyway”. How often have people who 
are fighting for real change heard statements like that?


That's Capitalism! http://www.wsm.ie/c/thats-capitalism-1

Dublin jewellery shop Weirs know the recession isn’t hitting most of the rich. The Grafton 
Street business is currently taking orders for a limited edition Patek Phillipe watch that 
costs more than €250,000. This summer Weirs sold one watch for €454,000.

Spanish Celebrate 100 Years of Anarchist Trade Unionism
http://www.wsm.ie/c/spanish-celebrate-anarchist-trade-unionism

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Confederation of Labour (CNT), a militant 
anarchist union in Spain.


Institutionalised Discrimnation
http://www.wsm.ie/c/civil-partnership-bill-institutionalised-discrimination

The Civil Partnership Bill was signed into law in July and the first civil registrations 
are expected early next year. The new legislation provides same-sex (and heterosexual) 
couples with ‘marriage-like benefits’ and can be seen as a move towards equality for LGBT 
(Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transsexual)

FÁS says ‘Work for No Pay’ http://www.wsm.ie/c/fas-work-no-pay-dole

FÁS saysThe state employment and training service, FAS, is telling the unemployed to work 
for nothing. On the 29th July 2010 they had 484 work experience positions on offer. Not 
only do these jobs pay no wages, they are allowing bosses to get rid of staff and replace 
them with free labour.

http://www.wsm.ie
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