A-Infos (en) Ireland, Hi there and welcome to Red & Black Revolution 7 of the Anarchist WSM

[Worker <a-infos-en@ainfos.ca>]

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In this issue of the magazine, we continue our tradition of dealing with
the pressing issues of the day for anarchists and libertarians, and for
all who are seriously interested in bringing about a new society. We
also continue to provide a space for non-members of the Workers
Solidarity Movement who wish to contribute to the development of
the theory and practice needed to bring about that new anarchist
society.

We are pleased to carry articles by a member of the North Eastern
Federation of Anarcho-Communists (NEFAC) in relation to the future
of the Black Bloc http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/blackbloc.html
and related issues, and by a member of Doctors For
Choice (writing in a personal capacity) on abortion rights
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/abortion.html (or the lack
of them!) in Ireland. As we have said before, we want this magazine
to be a forum for debate and we welcome contributions from other
anarchists. So if you have something to contribute - either in relation
to any of the articles in this issue or on any other topic of interest to
anarchists - please get in touch.

It is in looking at the lessons of the past and the present that we can
develop theory and practice for the future. In this issue, we look at
one of the most successful periods of anarchist history - the Spanish
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/spain.html
revolution - and, specifically, at how the workers' collectives in Spain
were organised. Their success and the success of anarchism at that
time remains a beacon of hope for the future. We also carry an article
which argues that, if we want to create socialism it will have to be
based on voluntary cooperation, not State power
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/socialism.html
In addition, we carry articles which analyse and comment on some of
the ongoing issues which face the movement today. The Black Bloc
tactic, the future development of the anti-capitalist movement
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/blackblocreply.html
and the links between its global and local elements are looked at.

One of the consequences of capitalist globalisation and of the 'War on
Terror' has been a further tightening of border controls as Western
governments build more and more barriers - both real and
metaphorical - against the free movement of people. While anarchists
are obviously opposed to all forms of immigration control, we don't
always have all the arguments to answer the fears and worries of
working class people when the right wingers issue their dire warnings
about 'floods' and 'waves' of immigrants coming to take all our jobs
and houses. In reviewing a book which argues the case against
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/openborders.html
immigration control, we hope to provide some more of the necessary
arguments for facing down such nonsense.

Islamic fundamentalism http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/islam.html
has emerged as the new 'bogeyman' and the
excuse for the aggression of Western governments in their socalled
'War on Terror' in the wake of the September 11th attacks on the
USA. The response of large parts of the left to the fundamentalists
has been to adopt a 'softly softly' approach. In an article here however
we argue that our enemies' enemy isn't necessarily our friend. We
also take a look at the Irish anti-war movement during the 2003 gulf
war. We carry two articles; one concentrates on the direct action
movement, http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/antiwar.html
while the other looks at the political failure
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/iawm.html
  of the leaders of the mainstream anti-war movement.

We don't expect that any article will provide all the answers, but we
do hope that the articles we carry will be thought-provoking and will
contribute to the further development of the movement. Above all, we
want the articles here to contribute to the development of a theory
which when put into practice will lead us forward to a new, free,
anarchist society.

Has the Black Block tactic reached the end of its usefulness? by
Severino (Barricada Collective)
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/blackbloc.html
As class struggle anarchists who recognize the importance of a
diversity of tactics in order to attack Capital, the State, and
oppression in an effective manner, we see the black bloc as an
important tool of struggle. Only one tool among many, but an
important one nonetheless.

Where to Now? Anti-capitalist protest - global and local by Gregor
Kerr
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/blackblocreply.html
It is certainly hard to avoid the conclusion that anti-globalisation
protests that avoid direct action will kill off the movement, or at least
greatly reduce participation in it.

Repressing Abortion in Ireland by Mary Favier (Doctors For Choice)
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/abortion.html
The Republic of Ireland has one of the most draconian abortion laws
in the world. At present abortion may only be performed where
continuation of pregnancy poses a 'real and substantial' risk to a
pregnant woman's life - about 5 cases per year of 50,000 pregnancies

Direct Action against the war in Ireland by Andrew Flood
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/antiwar.html
In every country after February 15th the anti-war movement was thus
faced with the question of what to do next. In Ireland almost all of the
direct action protests were targeted on Shannon airport. More than
half dozen successful actions took place, ranging from a large scale
breach of the fence in October, to physical attacks on planes as the
build up to war escalated.

The IAWM's dismal leadership" A critique of the politics of
Trotskyism by Dec McCarthy
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/iawm.html
After months of regularly attending the Irish Anti-War Movement's
marches and particularly after months of listening to the speeches of
the leading lights of the IAWM my head is buzzing with cant and
rhetoric and I have that dejected feeling you get when you know you
have just lost a chance that won't be coming around again for a long
time.

Industrial Collectivisation during the Spanish Revolution by Deirdre
Hogan
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/spain.html
Within hours of the start of the Spanish revolution workers had seized
control of 3000 enterprises. This included all public transportation
services, shipping, electric and power companies, gas and water
works, engineering and automobile assembly plants, mines, cement
works, textile mills and paper factories, electrical and chemical
concerns, glass bottle factories and perfumeries, food processing
plants and breweries.

If you want to create Socialism - it must be based on Freedom by
James O'Brien
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/socialism.html
Anarchists also seek to create communism. But for us freedom plays
a central role, not only in the future society, but in how we try to get
there. That is why, when we talk of communism, we talk of libertarian
communism

Open Borders: The case against immigration controls reviewed by
Conor McGloughlin
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/openborders.html
Most mainstream groups eventually come down clearly in favour of
immigration controls and deportations, though arguing for
"generosity." This book takes a position that so far has only won over
a small but growing minority and argues for the immediate ending of
all border controls.

The trouble with Islam by Andrew Flood
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/rbr/rbr7/islam.html
The September 11 attacks, the Afghan war that followed from it and
the ongoing war in Israel/Palestine have once again raised the issue
of Islam in the minds of many anarchists in Ireland and Britain. Not
just because of the role Islam has in shaping those conflicts but also
because militant Islam has become a far more noticeable presence on
solidarity demonstrations.

PDF file of Red And Black Revolution 7
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/pdf/rbr/rbr7.html


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