Just a quick note to say this blog won’t be updated for the immediate future. I don’t have time to update it very much, but I’ll keep it up as a resource page (check out some of the links!).
For local stuff keep an eye on www.herefordheckler.wordpress.com . Issue 11 should be out soon so keep your eyes open!
Have a jolly Christmas & New Year.
Laters, RB.
Following on from Ian Bone’s blog entry regarding the wearing of the poppy within the anarchist movement, I thought I would add my two pence.
Over the past few weeks I have worn a poppy, as I always have and as I always will. Today hundreds of thousands of people observed a minute silence at football grounds across the country (Edgar Street included). Tomorrow, myself and other comrades will attend local rememberance ceremonies.
Many anarchists are sheepish when it comes to the issue, but for myself there is no question in the matter. We should not (and cannot!) forget the millions of working class people slaughtered in wars, both past and present. The heroes who fought against fascism in WW2, and the thousands of volunteers who left these Islands to fight for freedom in the lesser-known Spanish Civil War, deserve our respect. Currently family and friends are risking their lives in Afghanistan, fighting a seemingly endless war whilst the scum that sent them there are sat safely in their mansions. These people should be remembered.
Maybe more of us should take a leaf out of the book of our West Midlands comrades. They’ve been attending memorial events for a few years now, and they will be again tomorrow.
Just in time for postal strike tomorrow – print one off and stick it over you’re letter box!
Another day, and another leak from the British National Party! They really are a cauldron of a party aren’t they?! First it was the security manual, then the major membership list leak in November last year, and now an updated list from April 2009. ‘One Eyed’ Nick first claimed that those responsible would be hunted down and exposed, then he stated that it was a forgery (a quick comparison between this latest gem and November’s suggests that this is not likely to be the case) – somebody has clearly had their feathers ruffled. The party’s merchandise team have also announced another print run of the ‘I’m on the list’ t-shirts. Hardly any consolation to potentially thousands of members doing ‘the curtain twitch’ or cowering being the bolted door tonight is it?!
‘Penny pincher’ Nick also appears to be skint again, for the (what seems like) one hundredth time this year he’s begging party members to make a donation – no doubt straight into his pocket! “This is your last chance to give us posh twats money & save the world (no – I mean the last, LAST chance, honest!)”
If you’ve turned on your television sets over the past fortnight, then it is likely that you’ve also experienced the misfortunate of seeing Mr. Griffin and his screwed up face. First of all it was the non-white membership argument and the European court case, then it was his appearance on Question Time, then it was the ‘hijack’ of the British armed forces, and tomorrow he IS on Question Time…I mean come on, it is hardly news is it? We’re getting to the stage where the guy gets column inches for opening his mouth. The TV reporters whine on with the usual illogical, inconsistent arguments and questions, most of which Griffin is well versed in answering by now, effectively giving the party a platform for their ‘respectable’ new image. Judging from the Question Time panel tomorrow, you can expect much of the same. Anti-fascists will no doubt try to block him from getting in, or at least hold a large demonstration outside, but similarly that isn’t going to defeat the BNP or the rise of fascism in this country.
We must not shy away from debate, but at the same time we have to make sure that the BNP and their ideas are not accepted into the political & cultural mainstream in this country. We need grassroots opposition to fascism- that is normal, working class people like you and me leading the fight back- not elected ‘representatives’, community, religious, or self-appointed ‘anti-fascist’ leaders (ahem * Weyman Bennet and the UAF*) blindly leading us down a doomed path. We need to argue directly against the fascists’ ideas, expose them for what they are – lying, racist, wannabe politicians. We need to disrupt them in their organisational stages and confront them whenever they have a presence on our streets. And most importantly we need our own fighting, working class movement that is truly committed to getting rid of the current rotten system, and replacing it with something that is natural, something that works, and something that benefits all not just the few! We need to fight the fascists, and we need to fill the vacuum!
Rebel Bull
The October/November issue of the Hereford Heckler (bulletin of the Hereford Solidarity League) is out now…
Including:
It’s Our Hereford! – the campaign against the ESG
Hunt Saboteurs save lives
Bulmers Axe jobs
as well as plenty of other short stories, anti-fascist news, a sports round up, the Helen Heckler column & more!
http://herefordheckler.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/hereford-heckler-w10.pdf
You know it’s Autumn when you see countless tractors & trailers brimming with apples winding along the country lanes of our green & pleasant county. That means one thing…cider making time!
Again, I send my apologies for not posting much recently (not that many of you care). The Rebel Bull has been busy in the real world, and has been doing a lot of real politics.
It’s interesting to see that my ‘Casuals United’ article about the Aston Villa anti-fascist group has been getting a lot of hits. I’m going to chuck up a proper article about the actual group ‘Casuals United/English Defence League’ very soon, when I find enough time.
There are a fair few events coming up locally which I will post up on here as and when I get details. The next issue of the Hereford Heckler will be hitting the streets very shortly as well, so keep your eyes peeled.
RB
I’ve added a link to the temporary ’It’s Our City!’ website, a local campaign against the planned redevelopment of Hereford through the Edgar Street Grid.
The planned development will effectively see Hereford city centre being split, with the potential of creating a ‘ghost town’ much like the situation that has happened in Wrexham and other places that have seen similar redevelopments.
One of the main arguments for the ESG is that it will bring much needed local jobs to the area. However the vast majority of these jobs will be temporary, low-paid and casualised labour, not decent jobs that provide a decent wage, security or any job satisfaction. Basically, not the kind of jobs needed by working class people at the moment. The ESG will also put people who currently work in the area planned for redevelopment out of work.
The lack of public consultation from Herefordshire Council, and their inability to listen to the concerns of local people shows their usual undemocractic nature. They are yet again putting the needs of big business before the needs of local people.
I could go on, but it’s probably better if you attend the next It’s Our City public meeting:
Monday, 19th October
@ The Courtyard Theatre, Main Auditorium,
7.00pm start.
Or visit them in their Maylord Orchard HQ.
This is certainly something that local activists will be getting involved in over the next few months. Keep your ears open for protests and other events.
RB
Appologies for the lack of posts on the blog recently, the blog master has been busy.
Here’s a joke that’s been doing the rounds (I don’t know who come up with it, so I’m crediting nobody!):
Five surgeons are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on.
The first surgeon says, ‘I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up,everything inside is numbered.’
The second responds, ‘Yeah, but you should try electricians, everything inside them is colour coded.’
The third surgeon says, ‘No, I really think librarians are the best, everything inside them is in alphabetical order.’
The fourth surgeon chimes in: ‘You know, I like construction workers… Those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over.’
But the fifth surgeon shut them all up when he observed: ‘You’re all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There’s no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and the head and the ass are interchangeable…’
Cheers & beers, The Rebel Bull.
Since the June elections there have be numerous documents produced analysing the successes of the BNP, and what the anti-fascist ‘movement’ needs to do to counter this. The Independent Working Class Association pretty much hit the nail on the head with ‘Filling the vacuum,’ http://www.iwca.info/?p=10143 .
An article that was included in the Red Pepper magazine has been posted around plenty of similar blogs recently, so I’m posting a link here as well as I agree with the majority of what has been written, http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Anti-fascism-isn-t-working .
Get off the internet and into the streets!
RB
Now it might be a bit too late for the LEA Pool in Hereford (see Hereford Heckler #6 – http://herefordheckler.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/hereford-heckler-w06.pdf) , but there may be some lessons to be learned from this.
Protesters stage sit-in at pool |
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Protestors campaigning against the permanent closure of a swimming pool in Bridgwater have staged a sit-in to fight for a last minute reprieve. Around 30 people carrying banners and wearing swimming costumes invaded Sedgemoor Splash pool. The group said it would not leave until Sedgemoor District Council agreed to postpone the closure of the pool, which is due to happen on Sunday. The council decided to close the pool to save money. It said in order to bring the 18-year-old facility up to scratch, and in accordance with current legislation, it would need to spend about £4m for an extra five to seven years of use, on top of the £700,000 annual running costs. ‘People in tears’ Local Labour councillor Brian Smedley said protesters would not leave the pool until the council can assure them they will continue to operate the swimming pool until the outcome of a review. He said: “People have been in tears over this, it has provoked a lot of strong feeling in the town. “The plan was for a swim-in but we have not been able to enter the pool – but we will be staying put inside the building.” The Sedgemoor Splash Pool Users Group has served a “pre-action protocol for judicial review” on the council claiming there were constitutional and legal failings in the decision-making process which led to the closure being agreed. A council spokesman said the decision to close the pool had been taken democratically. He said: “Sedgemoor District Council recognises and supports the public’s wish to express their views by way of peaceful public demonstration but its first responsibility is to the safety of the pool users, especially as many of them are children and staff. “The building has been locked with staff and the protesters inside to prevent more people joining and we hope that the situation will be resolved soon. “It is planned that the pool will re-open at 7am on Saturday.” The pool will be demolished after closure and Tesco is the sole bidder for the site. The proceeds of the sale will be used to fund a new swimming pool in Chilton Trinity Technology College which will open in three years. |
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