PROFANE EXISTENCE #38 NEWS

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SKULD RAIDED BY GERMAN POLICE

Gerlingen, Germany
On the 16th of March, 2000 at around 11 AM Skuld Releases (a German punk record label, formerly the European partner of Profane Existence) was raided and searched regarding charges of the "use of symbols contrary to the German constitution," (§ 86A Abs. 1 Nr. 2 STGB), the "illegal use of protected copyright," and "the suspicion of tax evasion" (§ 370 Abs.1 Nr. 1 AO).

Prior to this a shipment from Blackened Distribution in the USA was searched and the "Police Bastard" 7" record from the band Doom was referred to the special German police force for the "protection of the German constitution" by customs authorities. Furthermore, in the same shipment, it was charged that the band Armistice used a bear in their logo on one of their records, which allegedly looks like Winnie the Pooh. Walt Disney Germany have since reported Skuld Releases to the police claiming violation of the "brand law" (§143). The charge of tax evasion was based on calculations by the customs office stating that goods of $195.30 (US) had not been declared. The import tax on the sales of these goods amounts to 30 DM or $18 (US).

Based on this so-called "evidence" of criminal activity, a search order was requested and granted by a judge. During the search, which lasted for four hours, everything that could be brought into association (in the broadest sense) with the above charges, was confiscated. This includes all sales invoices from January 1998 to February 2000, many other accounting documents, plus all records which were decorated with smashed swastikas, or swastikas obviously within an anti-fascist context, were seized.

As repeatedly done before against other German punk record labels, the state's legal instrument for prosecuting "right wing" or pro-Nazi organizations was used against a part of the anti-fascist movement. This hypocrisy was even admitted by one of the investigating officers during the search, but ,"Law is law," and one has the 'German' duty to act against 'evil' Nazi symbols, never mind the context they are being used in. This is an obvious effort to twist the terms of a legal document to give the authorities moral justification to proceed against left-wing politics.

This confiscation and pending charges are aimed only at anti-fascist bands, labels, distributors, and consumers, with the main goal to monitor and harass anti-fascist (punk) organizations and engage in a renewed attempt to criminalize the anti-fascist "counter culture." This is not Skuld Releases alone, but Skuld Releases is at this moment representative for everyone who is actively supporting anti-fascist ideals. They will only get as far as we are willing to let them.

NO CENSORSHIP - NO CRIMINALIZATION!

UPDATE:The prosecutors in the case against Skuld Releases have indicated that their main charges will revolve around the cover of Doom's "Police Bastard" EP, on which a British police officer is depicted with a swastika on his helmet. By using this avenue, the authorities can skirt around the sticky issue of the swastika being used in an obviously anti-fascist context (even though the cover was made in an obvious attempt by the band to expose the fascist tendencies of the police). The prosecution has yet to present their case, but the other charges were obviously exaggerated to justify the search and harassment.

The legal defense of Skuld Releases against these charges are paramount, not only to anti-fascist and punk movement in Germany, but the political left at large. The charges not only present immediate criminal penalties for Skuld Releases, but will have long-reaching ramifications in an effort to criminalize the left. If Skuld Releases are found guilty, a new precedent will be set, giving the German authorities (and those world wide) another weapon in their arsenal of censorship and control. A guilty verdict will also justify further raids on other labels and distributors across Germany based on seized invoices which document where these so called "illegal" records have been sent.

In North America, Blackened Distribution is heading up the solidarity campaign in support of Skuld Releases. Legal defense costs are expected to be extremely high and have already crippled this small, home-based operation. We are asking that people around the world unite to support Skuld by helping spread this information, organize benefit concerts, or otherwise make a donation to the Skuld Defense Fund. Updated information will be posted to Blackened's web site and will be mailed out periodically.
Please send donations to (checks payable to "Blackened distribution" memo "Skuld Defense Fund"): Skuld Defense Fund c/o Blackened Distribution /PO Box 8722 / Minneapolis, MN 55408 / USA or directly to: Skuld Releases / Malmsheimerstr. 14 / 71272 Renningen / Germany
Another internet record auction will be taking place this summer to benefit the Skuld Defense Fund. Please watch our web site for details: http://www.profaneexistence.com

POLICE PRACTICE "RESTRAINT" MPLS-STYLE AT MAYDAY DEMO.

"I've never seen it up close like that. They were just beating people up. Some girls were sitting down and they were just pulling them by their hair." - a bystander observing incident at 2nd and 6th

Article by Aaron
On Monday, May 1st, thousands of people in cities across the world took to the streets in a day of action against corporate power and globalization. People marched, partied, danced, and shut down entire streets to celebrate May Day, a traditional worker's rights holiday. Here in Minneapolis, hundreds and hundreds of people gathered downtown and marched through the streets of Minneapolis engaging in non-violent direct action, shutting down streets and blocking traffic. A total of 34 people were arrested for participating in the May Day festivities after the police attacked the demonstration several times.

The day started off with a rally downtown in Peavey Plaza at the intersection of Nicollet and 11th at 11:33 in the morning. Our crowd was between 400-600 strong and it consisted of a very diverse range of people of all ages and backgrounds. There were working class people, punks, hippies, Aztec dancers, union members, AIM members, a Somalian women's dancing group, and activists of all different sorts in attendance at the festivities. An enormous amount of creativity was evident and there were massive puppets everywhere. Some people walked around on stilts and others brought drums and a wide range of instruments. A group of activists had constructed a giant 10ft x 10ft platform on wheels, which was used to transport several couches, an electric generator, an amplifier, and some instruments. There was even a radical cheerleading squad there to rev up the crowd and lead some cheers.

A black bloc of about 30 or so people marched in all the way from the University of Minnesota campus and joined the rally. They held homemade riot shields that were ingeniously constructed from orange plastic road construction barrels that were cut in half and then covered with paper mache and painted to look like masks. These shields came in handy and prevented many possible injuries later on during clashes with the police.

There was already a very visual police presence attempting to control the crowd. However, tensions between the police and us were still relatively low at this point and there were not any officers in riot gear present. Food Not Bombs had arrived and was just starting to set up when the decision was made to start moving.

The crowd traveled a block over and we joined forces with a huge labor rally already in progress consisting of several-hundred hotel workers demanding decent wages and better health benefits. The workers were from the labor union HERE (hotel employees restaurant employees) #17 and their contract was about to expire. It was the high point of the day to see so many people of different backgrounds united in solidarity against economic oppression.The mass of people spilled into the streets and we started to move north along Marquette Avenue in high spirits while chanting, "Whose streets? Our streets!" The mobile carnival against capital marched freely throughout the streets of Minneapolis for another hour or so surprising curious businessmen who packed the skyways trying to figure out what was going on.

At the corner of 6th and Hennipen, some activists attempted to secure the intersection by setting up couches and locking arms. The police frantically put the couches back on the cart. A thirty-foot wooden tripod was erected for a brief moment before it was immediately taken down by the police and hauled away. At this point, police began showing up in riot gear and the crowd became unsure of what to do next. After a tense stand off between the police and us, the crowd abandoned the huge cart-like platform and we started to move eastward down 6th street as a line of riot cops pursued us. The protestors at the rear locked arms and formed a protective barrier against the police.

Our mobile demonstration arrived at the intersection of 6th and 2nd where we had a rental truck parked on the corner complete with sound equipment, some turntables, and a DJ. About thirty of us locked arms and surrounded the rental truck. But unfortunately before the dance party in the street could get started, the DJ was arrested.

Here the demonstration turned ugly. The line of riot cops charged the people surrounding the truck with clubs swinging. They beat and arrested people indiscriminately. One person had his arm broken by the police as he was arrested. Another person in custody was seen with his face all cut up as though he had been dragged along the ground. His hands were also shades of white and blue from the plastic handcuffs being on too tight. One young lady, who was in the way of the charging brigade of boys in blue, was telling them that she was leaving and not to hurt her, when an officer thrusted his billyclub into her sternum. This serious blow knocked the wind out of her causing her to collapse on the sidewalk where she was treated by a medic for ten minutes.

The brutality on the part of the police was completely unwarranted. The protestors were not displaying any violent behavior of any kind. Even when we were being attacked, the crowd did not respond with force. As the police moved in, the crowd started chanting "No violence!"

The police threatened trained legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild with arrest for taking notes about what was going on and proceeded to arrest a legal observer by the name of Randal Morris. While he was being arrested, the police tried to get his notes but he managed to pass them on to another legal observer.

All in all, there were close to 20 arrests or so at this intersection.

After some indecision about what to do next, we started going south down 2nd street, all the while being pursed by a vicious looking line of riot police. At this point, the crowd meandered through the south part of downtown, not sure what we should do next. The police started to direct us down certain streets by sending a group of ten to twenty riot cops running past us and blocking off the streets they didn't want us to go down. It was kind of funny to watch them try to run; all huffing and puffing. A few more people who were unlucky enough to get in the way of the police were arrested here and there.

After weaving throughout the streets of Minneapolis for what seemed like an eternity, we came to Loring Park at around 2pm. The police stopped at the entrance to the park, formed a line and stood around looking stupid while all of us sat down and down and relaxed. Sister's Camelot, a group that distributes free food here in the Twin Cities, served food to all the hungry activists. An hour later the police got bored and left.

A group of 50 people marched from Loring Park back downtown to city hall where the 24 people arrested were being held to show solidarity for those who were arrested and to wait for them to get out. We arrived to find city hall closed off and its entrances sealed off by riot police. Several well known activists, who were probably targeted primarily because of their past involvement with the Highway 55 protest encampment, were arrested by undercover police officers. One of the cops was wearing a tie dyed T-shirt and was apparently trying to look "hip" or something. There were quite a few undercover police officers spotted at the May Day events.

We stood around on the sidewalk outside the north side of city hall and waited to find out more information about the people arrested. Some people drummed and chanted and overall our small band of activists were being peaceful and non-confrontational. An hour later, a busload of riot police suddenly arrived and told us to clear the area. People were starting to leave when the police moved in. As we started to cross the street, police tackled and arrested close to ten people who apparently were not moving fast enough. This was totally unnecessary as we were cooperating and clearing the area.

After crossing the street, the police continued to chase us. We asked them where we could be and not be arrested while still maintaining our constitutional right to peacefully assemble and we were simply told to go home. By this point, most people had left and there were only a few small groups of people still roaming around.

Most of the people who got arrested were charged with disorderly conduct and did not get released on bail until very late in the morning. Before they were released, the protestors had to sign a document stating that they would not go downtown for a week, they could not have any dealings with downtown business owners, and they could not have any dealings with any union members!

When the people who were arrested went to court, they collectively asked for the paperwork detailing their arrests. Since the police had very little evidence and paperwork for what each person "did", the charges were dropped pending investigation. However, recently at least three of the people arrested have had their cases brought up again.

All in all, I think that the events that occurred on May Day were positive and showed what can happen when different groups combine their efforts and = work together in solidarity. The whole event was organized in a very decentralized and anarchistic fashion with different groups working on various projects. The diverse range of organizations participating in the May Day actions greatly increased the turnout and diversity of the crowd.

A May Day celebration is such an empowering experience that one cannot even begin to describe it. This is one event that is definitely worth calling in sick for. Be on the lookout for next year's May Day celebrations, hopefully they will be even bigger.

Contact info:
Minneapolis May Day organizing committee
May Day hotline: 612-676-2188
Maydaympls@hotmail.com
http://www.circlevision.org/pages/mayday/MayDay.html

Information on May Day events happening internationally:
http://Mayday.indymedia.org
http://Infoshop.org/mayday2000.html

"I think is high time that people stand up to the greed of the corporations, and I think that's what people are doing today." -unknown May Day participant.

On May 1st, 2000 I took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis because capitalism has to end. Because the calculated and systematic exploitation of the planet and its people has gone on far too long. Because private property in the form of capital has committed violence against indigenous peoples, the poor, and the working class for hundreds of years. Because neighborhoods of color in Minneapolis and across the country are terrorized by the police every day. Because my genes are not for sale. We have allowed ourselves to be domesticated and disciplined by an overlapping network of institutions (schools, prisons, factories, hospitals) that manage and direct our lives from the cradle to the grave. We are granted "rights" only on the understanding that we will never use them, and when we do momentarily break free through spontaneous and creative action we are met with immediate and overwhelming force on the part of the police. Never forget that there are more bums than millionaires, more punks than police, and that when we stand together we can not only shut down cities, but run them ourselves. The streets, the fields, and the factories belong to the people and we will take them back. -Suspect #28

ANTI-CORPORATE ACTIONS: RESISTING THE O.A.S.

By Stu

This story begins a couple of months back when we began planning a benefit show so that people could go to this large action in Windsor, Ontario.

Unfortunately, during my drive up to London for Mumia leafleting, I managed to fuck up my car, yet again. The problem was to do with the exhaust system, and I knew this because of the familiar loud sound the car was making. Strangely, the sound was not coming from the muffler, this time it came from the front I could already tell this would be an expensive problem to fix. It didn't look like the car would be fixed, but I got it done, and increased my automotive debt.

During this, we had the benefit show, and did not make much money due to the May 2-4 weekend, but enough was made to drive down and get some film so all was good. June 4th began for me at 8:00 am. I got up and immediately began taking all the un-needed stuff out of my car. This was quite a lot, since I have maintained the inside much the same as my room at home. After this, I went to pick up my first two, and what turned out to be three passengers. We then made a stop at a variety store to get some film, then began driving to pick up the last passenger.

We drove for around 2 and a 1/2 hours before we arrived in Windsor. We eventually found a parking spot for a reasonable $2.00 flat parking fee and began walking downtown. Looking around, one could see helicopters flying around everywhere.

On our way in, we were stopped and our bags were searched by police. They sniffed water, and asked questions about the stuff we had. "What do you need so much vinegar for?" the one cop asked a friend.

He replied, "In case there is trouble."

"Are you expecting trouble?" asked the cop.

"Well," answered the friend, "You can never be too careful."

We continued walking and a block or two away, came across the Food Not Bombs van; with anarchist banners to boot! We chatted, and some of our crew had some water melonslices, and then we were on our way.

Since we were late, we didn't know where to meet up. We walked down the street to where a humyn rights organization were mobilizing and joined in with them to march down to where the rest of the group were.

We arrived at a waterfront park around 1:15 PM and began watching speakers. At this point, there had already been some action. A group of people had tried to hang a banner on the fence and were promptly pepper sprayed by riot cops. There were tall chain-link fences separating the protesters from the OAS meetings, and behind these fences, stood mean and bored looking riot police.

As I walked by I smiled and nodded at this guy who was standing there. He returned the courtesy, and I began chatting with him. He looked like a "normal" mid-twenties type guy, so I asked him what brought him out for the action. "To see things," he replied, "See what people are thinking." I persisted "Corporations are raping the Earth, and raping people while they're doing it." That pretty much says it all. We chatted for a bit more and he bought a zine. I then directed my attention to the makeshift stage, where a man with an accent was speaking. It turned out he was Chilean, and was comparing the atmosphere to that of when Pinochet was in power. I didn't think it was that bad.

One didn't have to walk too far to come across a literature booth set up by either the communists or the socialists. There were people there from many different sections of the resistance rainbow.

At around 2:00, we marched out with the intention of marching the perimeter of the fenced in area, but 10 minutes later, we turned around and walked back to this main corner of the down town area.

I walked back to the park area because I was bored, and on my way, ran into an interesting looking person. He stood wearing a Che Guavera shirt holding a flag of El Salvador. I approached him, and asked him where he was from. He replied that he was from Hamilton, Ontario, but was originally from El Salvador. I asked him what interests he had there and he began to tell me about stuff.

He believed that the OAS was a North American dominated organization, that would act not in the best interests of the South/Central American participants. Apparently, out of 6 million people, 2 million people have jobs there, while the rest are peasants.

He also said that for twelve years, a war between a guerilla group called the FMLN (Forabundo Morti Liberacion National - I think?) and the El Salvador government. He said the US government was funding the government army with money and training in the war against he FMLN. Since then, the FMLN and the government have had a peace settlement, in which a condition was that FMLN become a registered political party to run in elections.

I asked what the political leanings of this group were, and he told me they were generally leftist and was comprised of many different types of political people.

Apparently, there is a network of people all over North America working in support of the FMLN.

I walked around for a bit more, until I saw a golden photo opportunity. A young man stood with a green Rage Against the Machine Zapatista shirt, a red bandana, black braids or dread locks, and a big black gas mask. I approached him, and asked if he minded if I take his picture. He said that I could, so he posed for me, and I did the job.

I asked him where he was from and it turned out he was from Kitchener/Waterloo. His motive for being there was generally the treatment of South/Central America. "Small groups of people are making big decisions," he said.

I left him to walk back to the main street corner again, taking pictures and chatting along the way. When I arrived at the corner, it seemed that everyone was just standing around waiting for something; although none of us knew what that was. We sat down right in the middle of this street and continued waiting.

Suddenly, the crowd got up and began marching out. We eventually found out that we were now going to march to perimeter of the fenced in area.

We marched along, with cops walking beside us the whole way. It was quite a while along, when it came in over the walkie talkie that there had been a police confrontation, and what turned out to be a subsequent arrest. I have no idea what happened, but a lot of the people near where I was started running back towards the location. Organizers started yelling for people to return, and not to run, because cops are easily confused.

People regrouped, and we continued marching, without the knowledge that we were headed towards a fenced in area.

We walked along towards this fence where cops were, and outside of this, a bus stood, lonely, and wanting of attention. And attention it was given - right under the noses of gray-suited scary cops.

I could see this kid running around the bus with silly string, and also with catsup, spraying the bus. It was hilarious and scary at the same time. It was then rumoured that the side tires had been slashed, and it didn't take long for anti-OAS spray-paint and chalk graffiti to appear on it.

It was after this, that the cops decided they had to move it. When the cops made this decision, many people sat down in front of the bus. A forklift slowly drove up to the gate to move the huge cement barriers away so that the cops could get through the fence. The gate was opened and the heavily armoured cops marched through the door gripping batons and riot shields.

The cops moved in and began pepper spraying people, while other riot cops made a circle around the sitting people facing towards those on the outside to prevent anyone from getting in to help the people who were being pepper sprayed.

It was at this time, that pepper spray drifted on the air towards the rest of the crowd. We didn't know if it was pepper spray or tear gas, so we each grabbed something to put over our faces, and doused the articles with vinegar.

The smell did not last, however, and turned out to be just pepper spray. People had been sprayed and batoned and were being treated by medics.

The bus was soon escorted away by the cops, and the fence closed off again. I approached a medic who was from Montreal and asked her what put her in the position of medic. She told me that many times she does not like to be in the front getting sprayed, but she likes to help people, so the medic seemed like a good position for her.

After an hour of standing at the fence with the cops, the "leaders" of the protest met at a giant paper mache head and discussed tactic. A man with a bullhorn said that the decision was to meet at the fence where several people would speak about the day's events, and then we would march out towards the location where arrested people were kept (Apparently an old Canadian Tire building).

People spoke in several different languages, and one point that stood out in the English speaking person's speech was that we had turned away a couple busloads worth of OAS delegates. It was also said that the media was saying it was people from out of town who were causing trouble, and this was being used to further militarize the Windsor Police Department. Hmmmm.

At 4:45 PM, an hour and a bit after we got to the fence, we turned around and marched back the way we came. We briefly stopped at the location that was rumoured to be the make-shift prison, but this quickly ended, and we continued walking down the city streets of Windsor chanting, "Who's streets? Our streets!" and by the time we reached the Revenue Canada building, "The banks, the banks, the banks are on fire. We don't need no water let the mother fucker burn."

At 5:15 PM, we returned to the waterfront park again and just kind of laid around and talked. We waited to see what was happening, and then decided to leave. It was at this time that an undercover cop was exposed.

ANARCHISM ON THE INTERNET

by Niels

In contrast to other radicals and leftists, anarchists took to the Internet nearly as soon as it was available. There were anarchist newsgroups and email lists in existence long before the World Wide Web gained its current popularity. With the advent of the Web, anarchist organizing has enjoyed a renaissance. It's no secret that the Seattle and Washington, DC protests were coordinated over the Web, and that anarchists and anarchist sympathizers played a big role in making this happen. Following is a list of the major points of interest on the Web, both specifically anarchist and more generally radical. So get down to the library or sneak some time from the boss and take a look at these sites:

http://www.infoshop.org/
The Mid-Atlantic Infoshop is probably the best-organized and easiest to use compendium of Internet anarchist resources. The original content includes a newswire which compiles relevant news and opinion from both mainstream media and anarchist sources, a guide to physical infoshops and a huge and constantly updated FAQ on just about everything anarchistic. You can find links to just about everything else worth looking at here, organized by subject and also by country of origin.

http://www.tao.ca/
The Anarchist Organization or TAO is a multifaceted, federated grouping of anarchists working to produce and distribute anarchist media and support anarchist organizing. While there is some actual Taoist content the bulk of the information and links is specifically anarchist. TAO produces some original content, as do its member groups. It hosts the Direct Action Media Network, a clearinghouse for news and info about protests and direct actions. TAO is also a good umbrella site with links to a broad variety of sites and information.

http://www.protest.net/
Although Protest.net is not specifically anarchist, it is the best and most comprehensive listing of upcoming actions throughout the world, as well as reports and analysis of past actions. At this point, the mechanics of the site are very well organized. However, there is a shortage of content as far as smaller local demonstrations go. If you have an action or protest planned you owe it to everyone to get it submitted to Protest.net.

http://burn.ucsd.edu/~abcf/
The Anarchist Black Cross Federation is an umbrella group for Anarchist Black Cross local groups. ABC is the international prisoner support network that organizes resistance to the increasingly sinister imprisonment culture that is gaining ground the world over. The Website provides links to local groups as well as providing general information about individual prisoners as well as organizing the War Chest and Subsistence campaigns, which provide material support for anarchist prisoners and prisoners of war.

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/archivehome.html
The Anarchist Archives is pretty self-explanatory. Included are a list of famous anarchist writers with biographies and links to their collected works, which are available online. There are also scans of old anarchist propaganda and articles about significant events in anarchist history.

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/4372/anaring.htm
The Anarchy Ring is a Web ring with a couple of hundred anarchist sites of varying degrees of quality and usefulness. Many of the sites listed are personal homepages or sites for Anarcho-punk bands. One of the more amusing links is Download A Revolutionary (http://www.rain.org/~philfear/download-a-revolutionary.html) which allows users to download and printout paper dolls of various anarchists and radicals. Perfect for anarcho-kids.

http://www.spunk.org/
The Spunk Library is an online collection of anarchist information, mostly in the form of magazine articles and opinion pieces. It's fairly comprehensive, with links to some of the most influential zine articles from the last 20 years of anarchist publishing, as well as more obscure fare. There's plenty of stuff in languages other than English.

http://www.akpress.org/
Long time readers of Profane Existence should be familiar with AK Press, as it has been and remains the biggest and best anarchist press and distributor. Check out their catalog and order online or have one sent to your house if you're worried about the NSA capturing the records of your purchases on their big computers in Virginia.

Finally, a site to avoid:

http://www.overthrow.com/
The Utopian Anarchist Party is an extremely dubious organization. When you see this mix of strident, hysterical rhetoric, violent imagery and recycled accounts of infighting in the radical scene, it usually means one thing: agents provocateurs. While there is no direct proof that the Utopian Anarchist Party is a front group organized and/or funded by government agents, it certainly has politics that are just as bad as what you'd expect from a group like that. Additionally, the Website's producers seem to have some kind of creepy fascination with vulnerable
teenagers.

SMASH THE WTO!

by Julian Dautremont-Smith

On Tuesday November 30th the streets of Se attle became alive with the spirit of revolu tion when between 50,000 and 100,000 people turned out to protest the opening day of the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The whole downtown was shut down and the opening ceremonies were canceled. The cops were in full force however and tear gas and rubber bullets were used repeatedly on nonviolent protesters. Between 20 to 50 people were arrested on Tuesday and the police repression only got worse as the week progressed. Even by Tuesday night, a state of emergency (which entails martial law) had been declared and a curfew imposed on all downtown. There are numerous accounts of the police tear gassing protesters and residents in residential areas outside of the curfew zone.

By Wednesday, a 40 block area of downtown had been declared a no-protest zone and several hundred protesters were arrested for attempting to exercise their constitutional freedoms of assembly and speech. Overall somewhere around 700 people were arrested during the week and countless others were tear gassed by the police. Reports have come in that the police: shot people in the face at point blank range with rubber bullets; swabbed pepper spray directly into protesters' eyes; tear gassed a bus full of prisoners; put over 200 of the prisoners in solitary confinement; beat an elderly man in a wheel chair; shot rubber bullets at residents of Seattle who had nothing to do with the protest; and drove a motorcycle over a locked down protester. And just in case you wanted to protect yourself from the tear gas, gas masks were made illegal!

All this and yet all we hear about in the mainstream media is the "riots" and property destruction caused by a tiny minority of the protesters. It is outrageous how the smashing of a few multinational corporations' windows by protesters receives headlines and pious denunciations from the media but the bankruptcy of hundreds of small businesses as a result of the WTO's policies receives almost no coverage. The property destruction by protesters is insignificant when compared to the destruction of our environment, democracy, small businesses, labor rights, human rights and public health that the WTO is responsible for. In addition, it is worth pointing out that the damage by the protesters was to private property, whereas the damage by the WTO is to public property - the earth itself. Furthermore, compared to the violence and destruction carried out by the police against protesters, the protesters' actions are really pretty mild and perhaps even justified in the face of such police repression. So why did so many people turn out to protest the WTO? What's all the fuss about?

The WTO was established in 1995 with the purpose to eliminate "barriers to trade" which include environmental regulations, labor laws, consumer protection laws and public health laws. The WTO allows countries to challenge each others' laws and regulations as violations of WTO rules. Cases are decided in secret by a panel of 3 un-elected trade bureaucrats who are not screened for conflict of interests. If a country's law if found to be a barrier to trade, that country must either: change the law to conform with WTO requirements; pay permanent compensation to the other country, or face economic sanctions.

The WTO has ruled that it is illegal for a government to use method of production as a basis for discriminating against a product. This means that a government cannot treat a product made with child slave labor and in an environmentally damaging way any differently than a product made by a high wage union worker in an environmentally friendly way. For instance, a provision of the US Endangered Species Act that forbade the sale in the US of shrimp caught in ways that kill endangered sea turtles to be illegal because it was discriminating against shrimp based on how they were produced. The WTO has also ruled that governments cannot take into account the behavior of companies that do business with vicious dictatorships like Burma when regulating products. This means that the laws that prohibited the purchase of products made by companies doing business with Apartheid South Africa and were responsible for the fall of Apartheid would be illegal today.

The WTO has found that restrictions on goods must be the least-trade-restrictive possible and the restrictions must be "necessary." To prove that a regulation is "necessary," a country must show that there is a world-wide scientific consensus on the danger, and a WTO tribunal of corporate lawyers must agree that the proposed regulation is a reasonable response to the danger. This puts an almost-insurmountable burden of proof on any government that wants to protect its citizens and its environment from harm and could potentially overturn the ban on chemicals like DDT or PCBs. Furthermore, this means that anything is legal until people can be 100% sure that the product is harmful. This has the effect of being sorry rather than safe and forces governments to line up the bodies of the dead before a product can be regulated. For example, the US challenged and won a decision against a European Union ban on the sale of beef in the EU from cattle that had been raised with certain artificial growth hormones that significant evidence, but not 100% certainty, has shown to cause cancer.

Even labeling of products could be illegal by WTO rules. The European Union has passed a law requiring food containing genetically modified organisms to be labeled as such. However, our wise leaders at the Clinton/Gore administration have said formally that this is an illegal restraint of trade because there is no difference between normal food and genetically modified food (yeah right). The Clinton/Gore administration has officially argued that even "country of origin" labels are WTO-illegal because they allow consumers to discriminate against certain countries like Burma because of its propensity for slave labor. The WTO has not yet ruled that "eco-labels" are illegal, but the hand-writing is on the wall. Unless something is done it appears to be only a matter of time before the modern era of environmental protection is fully rolled back.

Sometimes even the threat of a WTO suit is enough to get a country to change their laws. For instance, in 1988, in response to concerns about advertising misleading mothers into thinking that baby foods and infant formula are healthier than breast feeding (breast feeding is superior to all synthetic substitutes because it provides an infant with significant immunity against disease, creates a strong emotional bond between mother and child and helps prevent breast cancer whereas 1.5 million infants die each year from fetal diarrhea caused from drinking infant formula prepared with contaminated water), Guatemala passed a law: prohibiting the use of labels associating infant formula with healthy, chubby babies; prohibiting baby food manufacturers from providing free samples of their product to mothers (a mother will stop lactating if a baby starts taking free samples and the mother will be forced to buy more to feed her child); prohibiting baby food manufacturers from marketing their products directly to young mothers in the hospital; and requiring infant formula labels to carry a statement that breast feeding is nutritionally superior. Gerber, a US baby food manufacturer that sells product in Guatemala, refused to comply with these regulations and also refused numerous attempts to negotiate. After Gerber lost its final appeal, it threatened to challenge the law before a WTO tribunal and suddenly Guatemala changed its laws to satisfy Gerber. This case illustrates how easy it is for huge multinational corporations to intimidate poor countries into weakening their public health, environmental, and labor laws. It also underscores the fact that many poor countries cannot afford to support a full-time delegation to the WTO or to maintain in-house legal expertise. To make matters worse, one country can challenge the credentials of another country, thus prolonging the trial indefinitely and making defending oneself at WTO very expensive.

Clearly, the system is such that minor reform will not do - the WTO will still remain a tool of corporate oppression with the ultimate goal of reducing all barriers to trade. Total abolition of the WTO is the only solution.

No one is free while others are Oppressed - Rip the WTO!

For more information, see
Lori Wallach and Michelle Sforza, Whose Trade Organization?: Corporate Globalization and the Erosion of Democracy (Washington D.C.: Public Citizen, Inc., 1999).
http://www.tradewatch.org
http://www.ifg.org

WTO: FROM THE FRONT LINES...

Okay everyone, I'll try to make this coherent, but it's been a really long two days and tomorrow promises to be pretty crazy as well.

I'd like to write more about the entire experience but right now I'll give you the shortened I need to sleep or I will die version, up-to-minute police state siege class war version. Check out whatever news you can about Seattle. British seems to be pretty good. There is tons of alternative documentation, live internet feeds, etc.

The real deal: as I write this riot squads and the national guard are shooting cs gas (tear gas), concussion grenades, rubber bullets, pepper spray (from cannons and directly into faces), using long batons, boots, etc. against peaceful protesters, shoppers, workers, and anyone else they come across. Yesterday (November 30), what seems to be at least 100,000 people took to the streets of Seattle for nonviolent protest, civil disobedience, direct action, and also fucking shit up. Riot cops (armor, carrying rifles, pepper spray, tear gas cannisters, helmets) gassed people sitting on the ground and dancing in front of them at 9:30 am. The next time I was gassed, again sitting nonviolently (and backed up by the Infernal Noise Brigade, (including Jessicka!!) A marching band of anarchists in matching band outfits, fuzzy hats, and gas masks with flag twirlers, a drum corps, and others, marching and standing in formation, as we waited to get gassed!!!! (holy inspiration!!!!), as we dispersed they shot the tear gas ahead of us up the block, in front of us, trapping people in alleys.

By 3 PM, after the United Steel Workers and IWW decided to break from the humongous (and only permit granted, cop escorted) march and head straight into the heart of things and got into a face off with cops, there were many people in town who had not received any civil disobedience or nonviolent protest training, and had no experience in this sort of thing, and had no idea what was going on, had arrived. This face off led to confrontation (another attack from cops), this led to a huge standoff 5 PM (again, the Infernal Noise Brigade marched right up in front, this time blockaded with burning dumpsters, in front of the riot squads and 'the peacemaker', an armored artillery cop vehicle). More people were out in the streets, checking things out, pissed at the cops. They fired gas, concussion grenades, rubber bullets constantly. (During this whole time I was helping to keep the crowds from not panicking, moving slowly and not trampling one another, helping to treat injured people).

It was about this time that the rioting really broke loose, and i will stress that if it was mindless, it was still in response to cop brutality and aggression, curfew was declared, and the cops started to drive people out of downtown (which meant marching on us, firing tear gas constantly as we dispersed). They followed far beyond the perimeter they declared, at least
two miles out of downtown into a neighborhood which then responded in kind as best they could. This fighting kept on until am hours.

Is this readable at all? Sorry. I've been gassed more times than I can count now, sprayed with pepper spray, seen children, old women, and anyone else you can imagine, brutalized. A girl shot between the eyes with a rubber bullet. People lying on the ground losing consciousness in clouds of gas, running blind and vomiting if they can.

Today has continued beyond that, with the declaring of martial law, police chief refusing to comment when asked if gas and bullets are being used, claiming that all explosions (the concussion grenades which are fired in rapid succession into crowds) are pipe bombs thrown by demonstrators. The police declared a No Protest Zone in the core of downtown (a clear violation of first amendment rights, as if that is the only violation occurring), a perimeter which you would be arrested if crossing into and suspected of being a protester, not a business worker showing ID. By this early afternoon, they went outside of that zone, way beyond it, firing gas and grenades and rubber bullets into crowds, protests, driving us into an outdoor market and gassing the market (all businesses were open, people on the streets shopping, lunch break, going home, etc.). Then columns of riots squads began to occupy streets, beating people, etc. (assume that that is constant), herding people to the waterfront. There has not been a curfew imposed in Seattle since WWII, and martial law was last declared in 1919. I got out of downtown after sundown, up to safe space, and then hours later the cops came and invaded, laid siege to the same neighborhood they had come to the night before and are still in as far as I know, right now.

Okay, that's the horror stories, but only a fraction of it. The solidarity here has been amazing, steelworkers supporting ecology activists supporting anarchists, on and on. Lots of citizens completely in agreement and completely disgusted by the police state actions. The space that is being used by Direct Action Networks (major organizers of protests, including Art and Rev, Reclaim the streets, FNB, etc.) is an amazing hub. The few days before this civil war erupted, they held workshops on legal rights, nonviolence training, cd, ...). There are over 500 people in jail, practicing disobedience and jail solidarity there, although their legal rights are being severely abused as well. Supposedly jails are full, which is why the cops have become so much more brutal, as they have no where to put us. But, yesterday they arrested almost no one at all, and when asked why not, the chief replied "you can't just arrest people for nothing." Oh, but you can brutalize them into submission (well, so you think, fuckers). Fuck.

So, do not believe whatever mainstream media bullshit you see. This has been by far and large completely nonviolent, no-confrontation protest. There was some destruction, and what some would call deserving businesses were targeted for the main part (Starbucks, Nike, Gap,etc.). In my experience, almost all destruction came in response to police attacks on nonviolent protestors (not to mention the young black kids taking to the streets after years of police attacks). This is an all-out war at this point, and it is amazing to me that in the face of body armor, batons, grenades, gas, pepper spray, rifles, and what is pretty much a tank, we are defending ourselves with only wetted bandanas, swim goggles (if you're lucky), baking soda and water solutions, and solidarity. I am writing to you from a militarized zone where they are laying siege to entire neighborhoods in the name of "restoring peace", a peace that exists save for the violence they bring. For every news segment showing "the anarchists in black" smashing windows, how about us anarchists giving medical aid and helping to keep order in the streets while under attack? Again, the organizing is amazing, medical and communication teams, daily meals, jail solidarity. It's amazing to see all the red/black flags and neckerchiefs flying everywhere. Please pass this on to everyone you know and get the word out. Spread the truth.

Love and Struggle, John

Inititative for a Northeastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists Solidarity Statement to the Black Bloc

The World Trade Organization (WTO), an international decision-making body and enforcement agency for unrestricted globalized capitalism, met recently in Seattle, Washington for it's Third Ministerial Conference. The WTO is a 133- nation governmental organization which favors multinational corporations, exploits farmers, supports child slavery, destroys environments around the globe, and denies workers' rights. On November 30th, as delegates were scheduled to begin the opening ceremonies of the week-long conference, they were met by tens of thousands of protestors who not only prevented the WTO's opening ceremonies from taking place, but also managed to shut down the entire downtown shopping district of Seattle for the better part of the day. This was achieved by the use of large-scale festive resistance, innovative protest tactics and solidarity amongst the varying constituencies of demonstrators.

Activists built effective blockades and successfully occupied street after street throughout the day. The police responded to these actions with the unprovoked use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades, pain-compliance holds, and clubbings, thus forcing a volatile situation into a series of riotous street battles. As part of the more militant forms of protest, a loosely organized cluster of individuals and affinity groups known as the anarchist black bloc, engaged in various forms of economic disruption by destroying specifically targeted corporate property. The corporations targeted included: NikeTown and Levi's (whose overpriced products are made in sweatshops), Fidelity Investment (major investor in Occidental Petroleum, the bane of the U'wa tribe in Columbia), the Bank of America, U.S. Bancorp, Key Bank, and Washington Mutual Bank (financial institutions key in the expansion of corporate repression), among others.

The ACME Collective, in their communique on the black bloc, said it best by stating:
"As anarchists, we contend that property destruction is not a violent activity unless it destroys lives or causes pain in the process. By this definition, private property-- especially corporate private property-- is itself infinitely more violent than any action taken against it.

"Private property should be distinguished from personal property. The latter is based upon use, while the former is based upon trade. The premise of personal property is that each of us has what s/he needs. The premise of private property is that each of us has something that someone else needs or wants. In a society based on private property rights, those who are able to accrue more of what others need or want have greater power. By extension, they wield greater control over what others perceive as needs and desires, usually in the interest of increasing profit to themselves.

"Advocates of "free trade" would like to see this process to its logical conclusion: a network of a few industry monopolists with ultimate control over the lives of everyone else. Advocates of "fair trade" would like to see this process mitigated by government regulations meant to superficially impose basic humanitarian standards. As anarchists, we despise both positions. Private property-- and capitalism, by extension-- is intrinsic violent and repressive and cannot be reformed or mitigated. Whether the power of everyone is concentrated into the hands of a few corporate heads or diverted into a regulatory apparatus charged with mitigating the disasters of the latter, no one can be as free or as powerful as they could be in a non-hierarchal society."

We, the Initiative for a Northeastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists, express our deepest solidarity with our comrades who took it upon themselves to strike capitalism where it hurts and demonstrating to the world the important role militant resistance will play in the struggles yet to come.

Do not let the blows against this capitalist system cease! From Athens, Greece to the streets of Seattle, our anarchist resistance is, and will continue to be, as transnational as capital!

Solidarity and Revolution,

The Initiative for a Northeatern Federation of Anarchist-Communists

signed; Groupe Anarchiste Emile-Henry (Quebec), Nostros Group (Baltimore), Prole Revolt (Morgantown, WV), We Dare Be Free (Boston), Sabate (Boston),and a number of individual revolutionary anarchist-communists from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.

LINKING ARMS WITHOUT GETTING STEPPED ON: AN ANARCHISTS IN COALITIONS PRIMER

by Niels

The recent wave of mass protests against globalization has found anarchists working in or with coalitions on a level not seen for several decades. While the N30 Seattle and A16 Washington, DC protests owe much of their success to our willingness to work in coalition with other radicals and progressives, the sweet taste of victory has been undercut with a tang of bitterness. This article is based on coverage of the N30 Seattle protests in both the mainstream and alternative media and my own experience working with several coalitions in Minneapolis in the early '90s.

Why Work In Coalition?
Anarchists have a (not undeserved) reputation for preferring to go it alone when it comes to confronting capitalism and the state. This comes, not only from our serious theoretical and tactical differences with most groups on the left, but also from the almost universal experience of marginalization we've had when working in coalitions. However, there are many benefits to organizing within a coalition that may outweigh the inherent difficulties. First, coalitions provide numbers that anarchists organizing alone can rarely hope to duplicate. Although only a small percentage of them may be radical, there are millions of people with some connection to environmental, feminist, labor and peace groups. Second, working with organizations that are more established than (generally) young anarchist groups provides access to resources (propaganda, meeting spaces, mailing lists) that would be unavailable otherwise. Third, as we saw in Seattle, a mass of less radical individuals provides both legitimacy and protection for more radical elements. Specific situations may also provide other reasons for working with non-anarchist groups.

The Differences Between Coalitions
While some coalitions, such as the Direct Action Network and People for Fair Trade, which organized the resistance to the World Trade Organization, are massively broad, others are quite narrow. Anarchists who decide to work in coalition may find themselves in groups that include from 1 to 100 other organizations. In general, working in a narrower coalition with other small groups is easier than working in large coalitions that may include everyone from the Sierra Club to the local Catholic Archdiocese. The most notable difference between broad and narrow coalitions is the extent that anarchists will be allowed to influence the process and tone of meetings and actions. Broader coalitions, which are usually created by mainstream groups like Greenpeace or NOW, operate on the dull, authoritarian methods that the majority of their member groups employ. This means that meetings have preset agendas, little time devoted to discussion or debate, and a bias toward the opinions of the largest, most conservative member groups. Broad coalitions rarely operate by consensus or direct democracy, and frequently have elite steering committees, which are allowed to make most of the real decisions.

Conversely, it's often very easy for anarchists to influence the direction of smaller coalitions, even without numerical superiority. The innate fairness of the principles of consensus and small-group democracy that many anarchists prefer will often be apparent to other members of a small coalition, even if they do not share those preferences. Also, even if the group is not majority-anarchist, having a significant proportion of anarchists in the group carries the implied threat that if our opinions are not respected, we will simply leave and hold our own damn demo.

Anarchists In Broader Coalitions
Almost without exception, anarchists in broad coalitions will find the experience full of frustrations. If it's not the authoritarian meeting set-up, it's the insistence on following the wishes of the least radical groups so they won't get offended and leave. There are however, ways to minimize the amount and type of frustration. First, get in early. No matter if the coalition involves an ongoing campaign or is leading up to one large action, if you don't get in on the ground floor, there's very little chance to influence the process or the outcome. Second, insist on as much autonomy as possible for member groups. Any grouping of anarchists is basically just autonomous individuals anyway, who may or may not adhere to coalition guidelines for the action or actions. Third, make sure that the anarchists in the coalition, as well as any "fellow-travelers" who have mostly anarchist principles, maintain a united front in the face of the more conservative members of the coalition. Solidarity is always the key. The other groups will doubtless be meeting outside the main meetings to coordinate their plans and actions, and there's no reason we can't as well. Fourth, don't take responsibility for the actions of all anarchists who may show up to the protest or participate in the campaign. Be very clear about exactly whom you represent and what that representation means.

Anarchists In Smaller Coalitions
Without a doubt, it is easier to organize in coalitions when they contain only a few groups. However, there are still dangers. Just as the power of anarchists is vastly increased in a small coalition, so is the power of each participating organization. In my experience, the greatest threat to effectively organizing in small coalitions is authoritarian communist groups. When anarchists, radical feminists and communists joined forces in 1993 to fight a national Operation Rescue gathering, it was the authoritarian communists of the Revolutionary Workers' League who stymied every effort to build an effective, liberatory resistance. If you do find yourself in a coalition with communists, especially the type that produce a boring monthly paper and go by some cookie-cutter three-letter acronym -- WATCH THEM CLOSELY. When the RWL came to Minneapolis in '93, they admitted that their usual modus operandi was to join a coalition, sow dissension and division and after the coalition had been destroyed and then recruit new members from the disaffected remnants. Clearly, this is an extreme, but even the most principled communists will try to influence the coalition to mimic their party line. As distasteful as it sounds, anarchists must adopt a few of the communists' tactics to prevent being co-opted. Just as you would in a larger coalition, it helps to go in organized. Don't expect to come to the first couple of meetings and hash out all the details of the coalition actions right there. Talk with the other anarchists who are involved and agree on shared goals and principles. Lively debate is great in anarchist-only groups, but unprincipled types can exploit any division of purpose in a coalition setting. As mentioned above, a smaller coalition affords an opportunity to get the meetings run on anarchist principles. Read up on small-group democracy and consensus-based decision making before the first meeting and propose that the coalition be run according to these principles. Resist any attempts to form executive committees or allow broad decision making powers to be grabbed by a small number of individuals.

The Promise of Coalition Organizing
Although the work is hard, organizing within a coalition can be incredibly rewarding. The recent May Day demonstration in Minneapolis was a beautiful example of solidarity in action. Everyone from artists and native-rights groups to anarchists, socialists and progressive ministers was there. When the radical demonstration joined an already-large picket line in front of the Hilton Hotel, the feeling of power and the possibility for change was palpable. Both the Seattle and Washington, DC protests were marred by infighting, yet the message they sent was clear. Labor unions, students, environmentalists, anarchists and progressives CAN work together and accomplish a great deal. Working in a coalition gives anarchists the best possible opportunity to gain sympathizers and converts, not by selling papers or begging donations like the communists and progressives, but by showing that our methods and our principles work in real life, and work better than capitalist structures. Even a small amount of solidarity and support goes a long way towards destroying the lies the corporate media tells about anarchism. Stay strong and united as anarchists and you can improve both the coalition you're working in and the society you live in.

MASSIVE POLICE RAID AGAINST AMSTERDAM SQUATS

On Monday 26th June 2000, the squatters of the Swammerdam neighborhood in East Amsterdam were finally evicted by a massive police operation costing 600,000 guilders (180,000 British pounds). We can only presume this was necessary because 50 people living together communally, running a nonprofit bar and infocafe, creating community garden space from derelict wasteland - in fact living together as a COMMUNITY - is nowadays considered just too dangerous and undesirable.

We were treated to a spectacular show of force:
-150 riot police (with batons, shields and tear gas - thankfully they didn't use the gas)
-50 plain clothes 'arresting' police,
-one bulldozer,
-one water cannon,
-one 40-metre high crane,
-and one helicopter.

Quite an ensemble! But a fantastic struggle was put up full of creativity, action and not a little bit of daring. After a couple of weeks of trying legal means to save our homes (during which time we had to deal with increasing police intimidation), we were finally given one day's notice of the eviction.

A support action was hastily planned - an occupation of the offices of De Key housing corporation who own the houses - which was really successful and peaceful, despite 40 riot police wanting to violently remove us, even though we were just 20 people, half of whom were lying on mattresses in the street to show that we were now homeless. We demanded that De Key call off the eviction immediately and stop their policy of selling-off social housing to be used as luxury apartments, but they seemed to all go mysteriously deaf at these suggestions.

All the streets leading into our neighborhood were barricaded by 7am, the alarm call was sent out to all the squats in the city, and by 8 or 9 the streets were full of supporters. The forces of darkness seemed to have some difficulty getting out of bed however, and didn't arrive until the afternoon. They arrived to find banners hanging from all the buildings saying "why privatise when you can socialize?", "no pasaran", "senseless" and "we will be back". Dozens and dozens of well-aimed paint bombs gave some bursts of color to the normally dull blue police vehicles...! After 6 hours the homes were finally evicted - the police tactic was constantly blasting the houses with water cannon and finally using a sea-container hanging from a 40-meter crane, filled with riot cops and when landed onto the rooftops the police spill out of it and then chainsaw their way into the house... But the last laugh goes to us - the houses were strangely empty when the police finally got inside, not one squatter was to be found anywhere!! Where could they have escaped to and how?? Who knows...

The eviction and action got good coverage in all the national Dutch media, often very positive and sometimes even understanding the issues behind the squatting. So 50 people are now homeless on friends' floors, but this will only make us stronger - the CIA infocafe reopens in a new location this weekend, the tapas bar will soon follow, and more squats will be cracked!

For general squatting news and info see:
http://squat.net

For an archive about the Swammerdam squats (and soon a photo gallery) see
http://squat.net/leeuwenhoek

-- LATEST UPDATE!! --
The derelict land that was squatted and turned into a beautiful community garden over the past few months was completely destroyed this morning (Wednesday 28th June) by construction workers. They simply bulldozed everything flat and chopped down all the trees and plants with chainsaws. Local residents who supported the squatters and people in the unevicted squats in the neighborhood are on the receiving end of constant harassment by builders and security guards even though they have every right to live their lives in their own neighborhood.

The A-Infos News Service
http://www.ainfos.ca

LAST NEO-NAZI BUNKER IS SWEDEN CLOSED DOWN

During the 1990's many Swedish nazi spaces were closed down by active anti-fascists - both through militant actions and public opinion campaigns. Some of the more spectacular "shut downs" occurred in Stockholm in the successful "Nazi free Södermalm" campaign. The lack of nazi gathering places has seriously undermined their attempts to hold the Swedish nazi movement together.

However, one of the sore spots in every Scandinavian anti-fascist's eyes has long been the Swedish city of Gothenburg. Nazis have been an unusually strong force to reckon with there and the different leftist factions have previously not been able to collaborate in order to achieve any lasting results. Attempts at militant confrontation have even sometimes lead to dismal defeats for anti-fascists in this city of 550,000.

But thist is no longer the case. A successful campaign and cross-organizational networking has finally brought down the last nazi bunker in Sweden, the infamous boutique "Midgård". Several large demonstrations of up to two thousand participants held last winter finally opened up the eyes of local politicians to the problem. Political pressure was then applied on the owner of the space who has finally decided to oust the nazis. On 30 September 2000 Midgård is history. The chance of them finding a new space to rent in the city is equal to zero.

GBG 2001
Gothenburg, is not nazi free, but their days are now numbered!
350 days left to the EU Top meeting in Gothenburg, June 2001!
Amsterdam, Cologne, Gothenburg... we'll see you on the barricades!

-Antifascistisk Aktion-Stockholm

UNIVERSAL SHELTER ASSOCIATION

Bloomfield Community Centre / 2786 Agricola Street / Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 4E1 / CANADA / phone/fax: 902-454-5459

The Universal Shelter Association was formed in March of 1996 to respond to the issue of domestic violence in our community. We are a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization founded on the belief that every person has the right to live their life free from violence and abuse. The services provided by the Universal Shelter are designed to be sensitive to the diversity of our community in terms of culture, language, sexual orientation, physical ability, and/or level of income. We offer counseling, crisis intervention and refuge to anyone who wishes to leave a violent situation. Victims of family violence will receive emergency shelter and care in safe houses registered with the Universal Shelter Association. Our safe homes are private residences located throughout the Metro-Halifax area, and are maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers.

We uphold the philosophy of zero tolerance towards family violence. Physical, emotional, financial, political, or religious abuse. Family violence has no boundaries based on culture, race, religion, class or gender. Every human being has the right to live a dignified life, free from violence and abuse. Shelter from abuse is an essential first step in regaining control over one's life. It is our purpose to provide that first step.

If you want us to help you can email me: aras@cornerpub.com

MAD EVENTS FOR ANGRY HEADS

July 30:
Unity through Diversity - Summer Arts Festival
Amarillo, Texas
A day of music, art, theatre, and poetry.
This is a function of the Brian Deneke Memorial. Please contact them if you are interested in participating in any way. Be it spoken word, music, artwork, you name it.
This is an annual festival in rememberance of Brian, and also to educate, inform, and make sure that people know that what happened will not be forgotten - and to prevent this from happening in other places around the world.They really want people from all over - not just Amarillo - to participate in this - either as performers or spectators.
For more information on the festival please visit:
http://www.briandeneke.org/unityfest.htm
If your band would like to play the festival please send an email to: kaos138@revolutionist.com
For more information relating to the murder of Brian Deneke visit: http://www.briandeneke.org

July 31:
Republican National Convention 2000 / Unity March
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I think the reason to attend this one is self explanatory. In the A.M, gather near the Liberty Bell, proceed to march up Market Street to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and then stop to rally (or whatever the fuck you want! Just come to Philly).
Contact info: 529 Court St. #509//Reading, PA 19601. Tel-(610)478-7888. Fax-(610)478-7457.

August 1-16
EKOTOPIA
Maisaari Island, Finland.
"An annual and international gathering for European activists involved in social and environmental issues. 300-500 activists form an ideal society for 2 weeks." Applications are due by June 15. For more info, or to register, write: EKOTOPIA / Liisankatu 17D /00170 Helsinki / Suomi-Finland.
HTTP://EYFA.ORG

August 11-17
North American Anarchist Gathering
Los Angeles, California
The North American Anarchist Conference: A Festival Of Communities In Resistance will be taking place in Los Angeles from August 11-17 2000. The primary focus of the NAAC will be the intellectual, philosophical, theoretical, technical and spiritual advancement of anarchism as a political theory, ideology, practice, and the analysis and evaluation of the current state of anarchism as a viable political theory and practice.

The first three days of the NAAC (August 11-13) will include speakers, workshops, films, study groups, networking, plays, film shows and preparing for the last four days (August 14-17) which coincide with the Democratic National Convention which is being held in Los Angeles. There will be lots of direct actions and street protests taking place around the DNC.

Alcohol and drugs, as well as cameras, will be banned from all NAAC sponsored housing and events
For more information about pre-registration, transportation, housing, and the protests against the DNC, please visit our web-site at http://naac.8m.com

UPDATES:
The pre-registration forms have begun to come in! Please keep them coming! Thank you to everyone who has sent one in.

The workshop proposals have been great, keep up the good work. Our workshop committee is in the process of confirming and arranging the many workshop proposals. We will send out an updated and refined conference program soon.

We realize that there are some people who may not be able to attend the North American Anarchist Conference for whatever reason. In an effort to include people who cannot attend we have devised a way in which people not attending the NAAC can help to make it happen, as well as receive information about what happened during the NAAC.

For a $10 donation you can help sponsor the NAAC. Individuals who give a $10 donation will be sent a post conference package detailing the workshops and events that happened during the NAAC.
In this manner, people not attending the NAAC can still benefit from the information put forth at the NAAC, as well as help to make the NAAC happen.
Talk to you all in the next update, The August Collective
The August Collective, P.O. Box 6188 Fullerton, CA 92834 or email:
augustcollective_la@disinfo.net

September 11
SHUT DOWN THE WORLD
ECONOMIC FORUM
Melbourne, Australia
This September the worldwide social movement of creative resistance against globalisation will continue to raise its voice against the institutions of greed & exploitation.

s11: STAND UP FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
SEPTEMBER 11-13, CROWN CASINO, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
On September 11-13th, the World Economic Forum (WEF) will hold its Asia-Pacific Economic Summit. Like the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the IMF/World Bank, the World Economic Forum is a means of promoting economic and social policies that will benefit the rich and the powerful at the expense of the majority of the world's people and the environment.
Participants are being lured to the summit with the opportunity to meet "at a time when the eyes of the world will be fixed on Australia, and coordinate their participation in the Summit with the Olympic Games." Members of the WEF include Amcor, BHP, BP, Boeing, Citibank, Commonwealth Bank, Cheveron, Dow Corning, Dupont, Exxon-Mobil, General Motors Holden, McDonald's, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Monsanto, Nestle, Nike, Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd., Rio Tinto, Shell, Siemans, Westfield, Western Mining.

***COME TO MELBOURNE!***
s11 will be a kaleidoscope of actions, conferences and workshops united in opposition to the current policies of corporate globalisation and the WEF.
This is a worldwide call to action, inviting social justice/human rights/animal rights/peace activists, workers/students/trade unionists/environmentalists/indigenous groups/artists/community campaigners/consumer advocates/citizens and all people who are concerned about the violence and inequality of the globalised economy.

LINKING ARMS
The s11 Alliance is a network of organisations, affinity groups, and individuals that all share a common concern about the growth of corporate power and the direction of globalisation. We are one of the main groupings organising a week of cooperation, networking and protest action against the WEF. We encourage everyone who is concerned about the direction of globalisation and the actions of the WEF to join our network and/or organise actions on and around September 11. We will provide support and assistance to anyone attending the s11 actions.

WHAT TO DO?
-Forward this message to as many people as possible!
-Tell your friends, family and colleagues about s11 and the WEF!
-Form an affinity group, collective or group (5-20 people) and plan your autonomous actions for s11 - music, theatre, art, noise, marches, non-violent direct actions, human chains, banner drops, boats on the river, blockades, parachutes, anything is possible!
-Send a statement to us, describing your group (or just you), how you can be contacted and what you think about the WEF and we will put it on our website. Go to:
http://www.s11.org for information and updates!
-Organise actions in your own community if you can't make it to Melbourne!
-Contact the s11 alliance for information, posters, leaflets and other material to distribute or see website for templates!
-Get your organisation and its members involved.
-Invite a speaker to talk to your workplace, school, or group about globalisation and s11!
-Have your group endorse the action statement available on the website.
-Get involved in the organising of publicity, transport accommodation, and other tasks for s11. (If youíre in Melbourne come to s11 meetings 6.30pm Wednesday RMIT otherwise go to http://www.s11.org/ for contacts in your city.)
-Make a donation to the s11 campaign fund! Make cheques out to s11 Alliance.

ABOUT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
The WEF is an exclusive, un-elected, invite-only organisation. It is a "think tank" and a driving force behind the global economy. Its members include the CEOs from the top 1000 multi-national corporations in the world. A select list of academics, trade-ministers, heads of state, and elite media will also attend as guests.
The WEF holds its annual meeting in the small ski resort town of Davos in the Swiss Alps. According to the WEF this meeting is now considered the global summit that defines the political, economic and business agenda for the year. The WEF's summits allow the richest and most powerful corporations in the world to mingle with trade representatives from nations, and with each other, to make business deals and determine global political and economic policies.

According to the WEF, it initiated the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the focus of protest in Seattle last year. Its 1982 annual meeting in Davos brought together cabinet members of major countries with heads of international organisations, such as the World Bank, IMF, and GATT. This special Informal Gathering of Trade Ministers from 17 countries organised the launch of the Uruguay Round, which is where the WTO was founded. This is just one significant example of how the WEF, driven by its corporate agenda, shapes the political, economic and social landscape.

The World Economic Forum is an extremely powerful and unaccountable body who are making major decisions about what we will read in the media, what food we will eat, what we will study in school, where, when and in what conditions we will work; almost every aspect of our everyday life.
Our actions against the WEF are the beginning of communicating our struggles, learning to co-operate, and working towards an alternative to the violent world order that enforces exploitation and inequality across the globe.

***STAND UP FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE!***
s11 Schedule: September 7-11
7th) Thursday: Melbourne Convergence!
People from around Australia and the world will arrive in Melbourne to gain cohesion, build community, network and plan for the week of s11. Keep an eye on the website for up-to-date information or call us for assistance with accommodation, resources and transport.
8th-10th) Friday-Sunday:
Network Counter-Summits, forums, workshops and networking, parties and actions. A range of organisations will be hosting discussions on globalisation - discuss the problems, plan resistance. The convergence will continue with trainings and briefings for the big day.
11th) Monday:

***s11 - SHUTDOWN THE WEF!***
!!PROTEST AT CROWN CASINO!!
A cascade of * RALLIES * BLOCKADES* DIRECT-ACTIONS*MUSIC*THEATRE*!
12th-13th) Tuesday-Wednesday:
Further actions to be announced as they develop
Contact: S11 Alliance / PO Box 222, Fitzroy Tel: 03 9419 8700; Fax: 03 9416 2081 Email: s11_@hotmail.com http://www.s11.org/
Our resistance must be as global as capital!