The Czech anarchists are all members of Solidarity-ORA, an organisation that has been active on a wide range of issues since in its formation in the mid-90s. In particular Solidarity-ORA has worked to propagate direct action and grassroots democracy in a range of workers' struggles. This is in the face of a wave of job losses, rent and prices increases that have decimated workers' living standards in the last number of years.
Solidarity-ORA has also played a key role in organising against the IMF/WB meeting in Prague this September. Like their counter-parts in the States, anarchists have had a key role in 'radicalising' these protests.
The Irish tour will involve meeting in Cork, Dublin and Belfast. Details of Cork meeting are below.
You'll hear a lot about gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but so far there's been little mention of where the real gold is being made and at who's expense. Who are we talking about? The sport wear companies like Nike, Reebok, Ascis and Adidas of course! These corporations are very prominent in the Olympics. Their logos are everywhere and in case you don't know it already, their products cost a fortune. This might lead to you to imagine they pay reasonable wages to their workers - no way. NIKE and the others companies are some of worst slave wage offenders on the planet:
Here's what one report said about working For NIKE!
"The women are fired if they get pregnant, refuse to work overtime, or even try to organise to defend their rights. Nike makes 40 percent of its shoes in China, where workers are forced to endure 12 to 14 hour shifts for wages as low as 11 cents an hour.... In Vietnam Nike pay the daily minimum wage of $1.60, but it's not enough to buy three meals a day."
The WSM will be holding a series of meetings in Cork beginning with the visit of the Czech anarchists on Oct 11th. Following this meeting we will be holding a series of more informal meetings about the anarchist tradition and activism. If you want to find out about when these meetings are going to be on and where they'll be held, contact us at the address/ email below:
Write: PO Box 31, Cork
Email: cork_wsm@yahoo.com
Since early August, activists with Householders Against Service Charges (HASC) have been dumping rubbish outside Cork's City Hall. It's not a pretty sight to see heaps of smelly refuse piled at the entrance to the building, but then this is what many people in Cork have had to face over the last number of weeks as the Corporation implemented its new 'Pay-Up or We Won't Collect' policy.
Cork Corporation's bin charge now stands at £120 a year. We're expected to pay for this even though a levy for this service is already taken from our PAYE tax bill. Who are the Corpo trying to fool?
Having gone through a long lull HASC has become active again very quickly. Straight off the Campaign has hit the right level of militancy. Dumping the rubbish on the Corpo's front door is an excellent first step.
But that said, there are problems. Over the next while a lot of work has to be done. The campaign needs to grow but this can only be done by being more locally based and active. As important the Campaign needs to adopt clear organisational structures. We need to be open and democracy in practice and there has to be a commitment to involving people and letting everyone know what's happening in the Campaign. The following are our suggestion for building HASC in Cork:
There should be weekly organisational meetings The Campaign needs to meet outside of an 'open' pub venue as this is less than adequate for doing business and discussing policies. We need a proper meeting place and a regular time slot to organise business.
Preparation of an area-wide plan to establish where the campaign is organised and what areas need to be targeted for growth.
Election of co-ordinators for key areas in the cities where the campaign cam hope to have large support
Co-ordinators to organise 'local' meetings to build up street by street membership.
Campaign meeting to take formal reports from activists and elected co-ordinators at weekly meetings.
Last but not least the name of the Campaign needs changing. Having the word 'Householders' in the name excludes many. It may seem a small point, but it's important. It's time to update the logo!