Europe-Wide Action/Strike Against Austerity, November 14

Anti-Austerity March, London, 20 October 2012

On Saturday 20 October, thousands of  people (it is estimated at about 100,000) took to the streets of London (and Glasgow and Belfast) to protest against the policies of the ConDem government, which attack the most vulnerable in society, while doing nothing to restrain the greed of the bankers and the rich.

 Here are some images from the march. This is my favourite, for wit, design and charm.

Here are some images of Green Left, the group I am proud to belong to. (I'm the one in the red beret! 2nd photo)

Promoting our new journal! On-line edition here - The Ecosocialist

This is the banner of the  William Morris Society  - had I not been helping on the Green Party stall, I would have loved to march with my friends from the Society!!

     Activists from  Disabled People Against Cuts  blocked the road in Park Lane for about an hour.

And some more images from the march, showing the participation of Coalition Of Resistance , Unison, USDAW, Friends of the Earth, and - wonderfully for me - The William Morris Society (see above!)

Europe Against Austerity - March and Conference

Europe Against Austerity Action Conference | October 21

By Coalition of Resistance

Come to London:
Join the TUC demonstration on 

Saturday 20 October and the

 Europe Against Austerity Action Conference on

 Sunday 21 October

On Saturday October 20th the British Trades Union Congress is holding a
 march against austerity ‘For a future that works’. Hundreds of thousands of
 peoplewill take to the streets of London to oppose the cuts being forced upon
 them.
The Coalition of Resistance will be at the heart of this demonstration with its
message of ‘No Cuts’. The participation of delegations from across Europe will
 hugely strengthen the significance of what will be a massive mobilisation.

In 2011 our organisation initiated the Europe Against Austerity conference
 which issued a call for joint action against austerity throughout Europe.
 More than 600 people attended the conference in October 2011,
 with 150 coming from other parts of Europe. Since that conference
 we have seen big struggles in Greece where there have been many
days of general strike action and in Spain where the Asturian miners
have inspired the support of millions throughout Europe.
The nature of the onslaught on the peoples of Europe means
 that such actions will continue and escalate.
 Further solidarity work and coordination is now urgently needed.

We appeal for anti-austerity organisations throughout Europe to come to
 London on 20th and 21st October to participate both in the London
demonstration  and to meet the following day to discuss common action to
turn back the tide of austerity. We must build co-ordinated action to enable
victories against a common enemy.
We are already receiving pledges of support for these events,
 from OLME and Syriza in Greece, from trade unions and anti-austerity groups in
France, Belgium and Spain, and from the European Left Party Executive.
Please help us build on this by joining us in London in October –
 to show that the strength of the European working class movement is in its
 unity and solidarity.

Let’s make October 20/21 the next step in our common struggle
 against austerity.

The TUC demonstration will assemble outside the Embankment
 Underground station on Saturday 20 October.

The Europe Against Austerity conference will take place from 
11am till 4:30pm on Sunday 21^st October in the head office of the 

UNITE trade-union, 

128 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8TN, near Holborn underground station.

The proposed agenda is as follows:

11am – 12pm: Breakfast
12 – 1pm: Eurocrisis – Into the abyss?
1.15pm – 2.45pm: The shape of the resistance
3-4:30pm: Actions, co-operation and the timeline to the
 Athens 2013 Alter-Summit.

A more detailed agenda with the list of speakers will be circulated.

Please let us know if you require accommodation and if you will be attending one or both events.

Coalition of Resistance
Coalitionofresistance@mail.com

Andrew Burgin
International Officer, Coalition of Resistance
andrew@andrewburgin.com

Coalition of Resistance Public Meeting, 19 June 2012

The TUC is calling a national demonstration against austerity on 20 October. Coalition of Resistance wants to begin the work of building the largest possible mobilisation, beginning with a major central London meeting.

Tues 19th June 6.30 pm
Friends Meeting House
Euston Rd
London NW1

Speakers include:

Tony Benn

Len McCluskey (Unite)

Christine Blower (NUT)

Katy Clark MP

Owen Jones

Wendy Savage (Keep Our NHS Public)

Danielle Obono (Front De Gauche)

Vassilis Fouskas (Syriza)

Andrew Burgin Coalition of Resistance

Salma Yaqoob (Respect)

Clare Solomon (co-editor of Springtime: The New Student Rebellions)

Chair: Romayne  Phoenix  (Green Party)

3rd National Day of Protest against Benefit Cuts

The 3rd National Day of Protest Against Benefit Cuts has  been called for  April 14th 2011. Millions are set to be affected by savage cuts to  housing, disability, sickness and welfare  benefits.  People with disabilities, illness, the unemployed,  single parents, carers,the low waged, part time  students, volunteers, homeless people and college  students are all likely to see a devastating drop in  disposable income with many slipping even further  below the poverty line. The poorest and most vulnerable are being asked to pay for  the mistakes and extravagances of the richest. Meanwhile poverty pimps like Atos Origin and A4e  are set to rake in hundreds of millions on government  contracts to bully and intimidate people from claiming  the pittance handed out in benefit payments.  Many disabled people have threatened suicide if  these cuts are allowed to continue.  Some have tragically already carried out that threat. The first two days of protest against benefit cuts  have seen demonstrations, meetings, unemployed  discos,  public pantomimes and occupations in cities  across the UK. Atos Origin have been forced to close  offices, protesters have gathered inside and outside  workfare sharks A4e and demonstrations have  taken place from  Downing Street to local town centres such as  Lydney and Crawley. This time we have two months to organise for the  biggest day yet.  We call on all claimants, as groups or individuals,  to organise and take action around the country on  April 14th. If you are planning an event in your town or city  please add details on the wall below to be added  to this page and the website at:  http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/ You can also send details to notowelfarecuts@yahoo.co.uk If you would like to see action locally, set up a group, event  page or ask below. We will do out best to promote and  co-ordinate all activity. We are fighting for our homes, our livelihoods, our very  survival. It's time to show these public school parasites  and their poverty pimp collaborators we mean business. Confirmed events so far: Brighton Thursday April 14th 2-5pm Churchill Square Brighton http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210782635605158 Bristol Thursday April 14 · 12:00pm - 5:00pm Benefit Cuts Hurt Protest - 3rd National Day of Protest Government Buildings, Flowers Hill, Bristol, BS4 5LA http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199413500079998 Leeds Thursday, April 14 · 10:30am - 2:00pm Meeting @ Leeds Train Station 10am before moving to picket ATOS from 10:30 for an hour then move onto A4e/BEST for a couple of hours. The last picket was a great success and we hope to have another good day. Bring banners, flags etc. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155593464493862& London Thursday, April 14 - 2pm Protest Outside The Daily Mail - Stop the Defamation - Stop the Lies Daily Mail Headquarters, Young Street (off Kensington High Street), London W8 5TT http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161556473898500& Protest Outside Westminster City Hall & Mass Food Give Away! Thursday, April 14 · 5:00pm - 9:00pm Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186039361439862 Poole Outside the Jobcentre at noon. Everyone welcome! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161332900587762 Everywhere National Troll A Tory Day 3 and Rat On A Rat! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173026406078054 Supported by: o Anti-Benefit Cuts Glasgow o Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign o Brighton Benefits Campaign o Cardiff’s Unemployed Daytime Disco o Carer Watch o Carer Watch fb page o Crippen – Disabled Cartoonist o Diary of a Benefit Scrounger o Disabled People Against Cuts o Dundee Unemployed Workers o Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty o Free London Listings o Goldsmiths in Occupation o Haringey Solidarity Group o Ipswich Unemployed Action o Islington Poverty Action o Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group o Lancaster and Morecambe Against the Cuts o London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP) o London Foodbank o Mad Pride o Medway Against The Cuts o Mental Health Resistance Network o Norfolk Community Action Group o Nottingham Claimants' Union o Nuneaton Against Benefit Cuts o Oxford Save Our Services o Squattastic o Tyneside Claimants Union o Welfare Action Hackney o Welfare Rights 4 u (UK) o Work Programme & Flexible New Deal Scandal o World Homeless Day

TUC National Demonstration, 26 March 2011

Save Libraries Campaign, Saturday 5 February

Saving the libraries - a nationwide campaign that most of us care about passionately!! Most public libraries throughout the UK are threatened by the ConDem cuts, but we are united in our determination to preserve this lifeline; we will campaign for access to books and music for everyone. 
Libraries don't 'just lend books', this is the START of what they do....for many people, the public library has been the start of a life-long love-affair with literature, music and the arts. Our campaign is part of the campaign against cuts to the arts in general.

This is the link to the Coalition of Resistance page listing as many campaigns as possible - many towns and London Boroughs are planning read-ins.


http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2011/01/5th-feb-library-read-ins-planned-across-the-country/


La lotta continua!! We need to protect, save and - yes - PROMOTE our cultural heritage, and not allow the UK to be turned into a nation of philistines!!!

Attack on the poor- protest march 23 Oct.

The Comprehensive Spending Review has now been published, and, as we feared, the poor are going to suffer most. The people who have most need of support are having the rug pulled from under their feet. Even the  Institute for Fiscal Studies says the cuts are unfair!!! Although Clegg, predictably, says this is 'complete nonsense'. Of course, the rich and the bankers are going to be as protected as ever.
Which is worse - the cuts to benefits for the sick and disabled, or the cuts to Housing Benefit?
This is the position about Disability Benefits - what was previously Incapacity Benefit, and is now known as Employment Support Allowance, WILL BE STOPPED AFTER A YEAR.

ESA was brought in to replace incapacity benefit and supports people who are unable to work because of ill health or disability. These cuts mean that people who moved on to ESA and who previously worked will only be able to claim it for one year. At the moment, there is no time limit and people can claim ESA until they find another job.
After one year, people with assets, savings or partners who work will no longer receive benefits. Single people with no assets may be able to qualify for a means-tested safety net, but everyone else will have to manage on their husband or wife's salary – no matter how low it may be – or dip into any private savings they may have.

The change will affect hundreds of thousands of people, as 1.7 million Britons have moved from incapacity benefit to ESA. Many of them are likely to have been put on the contributory version of the benefit.

Critics said the announcement penalised people who had paid national insurance contributions for years precisely to cover them in the eventuality that they are unable to work through sickness or incapacity. They also said that the decision would make it much harder for disabled people to find jobs.
(Anna Bawden, Guardian, 21 Oct 2010)
Do they think anyone who is too ill to work is going to make a miraculous recovery after a year? Or, more likely, the Old Etonians hope they will die off, so as not to have to feed these useless mouths.
 
The cap on Housing Benefit is another attack on the poor - again, those in most need are the hardest hit. There should instead be a limit on THE AMOUNT OF RENT THAT PRIVATE LANDLORDS ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE.
 
On top of the widely-publicised cap on housing benefit to the equivalent of a four-bedroom property, an overall limit on benefit receipt and the limiting of Employment and Support Allowance, Chancellor George Osborne has announced that local housing allowances will be calculated by taking an average of the lowest 30% of rental values in the locality, rather than an overall average. He also raised the threshold whereby a single person with no dependants would only be entitled to the equivalent in housing benefit on a single room in a shared property from 25 to 35.
(Information from BBC Wales, 22 Oct)



There used to be a Rent Tribunal, which was able to control rents - this seems to have been phased out years ago, leaving people at the mercy of the market. The intention seems to be to drive poorer people out of London, as it is already almost impossible to find affordable accommodation, and the new measures will make it worse. (Although presumably some of us will have to stay there to work for the rich, so that we can clean their toilets, scrub their floors and look after their kids....although I suppose we can come in from our ghettoes on the night bus).
 
These are two of the concerns I wanted to discuss - I haven't even STARTED on the threats the education and the arts!! But just briefly - the Arts Council of England has suffered a 30% cut,
 
 
 

and national museums a 15% cut.
 
 

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We have to start the protest and fight back now!!
We can start by going on the protest marches on 23 Oct.

This is the info from the Coaltion of Resistance  about the Protest March.

March against cuts Saturday 23 October

Assemble: 11am, RMT HQ, Unity House, Chalton Street, Euston, for a march to the anti-cuts rally at Congress House
RMT London Transport Region are organising a march to the TUC to support the TUC’s anti-cuts meeting. We are organising together with NUT, FBU, NSSN and CWU members and others. We are seeking support from all other unions, community organisations and individuals. Please come along and oppose the ConDem cuts.


Assemble at RMT HQ, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD at 11.00am.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events#!/event.php?eid=148201075219859
March to TUC, Great Russell street, London WC1B 3LS where rally will be held from 12 noon.
Invited speakers include:
•Mark Serwotka
•Christine Blower (NUT)
•Billy Hayes (CWU)
•Bob Crow (RMT)
•Matt Wrack (FBU)
•Linda Perks (UNISON)

My life as a 'benefit scrounger'

The Chancellor, George Osborne, has excelled himself in his latest outrageous announcement. 

(And has anyone noticed that he is almost a clone of his master, David Cameron?!)

In a recent BBC interview, he said the following:

Mr. Osborne told BBC political editor Nick Robinson that "those making a life-style choice to just sit on out-of-work benefits" would be affected. [by the newest welfare cuts]

Mr. Osborne said "We are going to reform out-of-work benefits so there's a strong incentive for people who can work to get work.......People who think that it's a life-style choice just to stay on out-of work benefits....that life-style choice is going to come to an end".

In my opinion (and experience) the only people who think that unemployment is a 'lifestyle choice' are the pampered public schoolboys of the Tory Cabinet.

For the record, here is the 'lifestyle choice' of the average 'benefit scrounger' - the minimum, apart from food, that even we need to buy. This only applies to single people and childless couples, parents will of course need even more frivols in order to feed their children and send them to school.

(I am a pensioner, so I won't be quite so badly affected as people younger than myself, but I am not exactly about to enjoy a comfortable retirement).

The comfortable lifestyle of the 'benefit scrounger'; basic necessities.

Toilet paper

Toilet cleaner

Soap

Shower gel

Deodorant

Shampoo
Toothpaste

Washing-up liquid

Laundry liquid/fabric conditioner

Stain remover

Bleach

Disinfectant

Multi-purpose cleaner (to include bath/shower cleaner)

Tissues

Light bulbs

Polish

Dusters

Paper to write on

Pens to write with

Transport costs (so at least people can travel to job interviews!!!)

Weekly visit to the launderette (presumably a family would need a washing machine)

Gas bills

Electricity Bills

Phone Bills

Housing costs (rent or mortgage repayment)

Council Tax

Er....CLOTHES, SHOES...even if these are bought second-hand, we have to pay for them!!

And God forbid we should buy newspapers or ....gasp...BOOKS!! Or ever go to the theatre, or a concert, or an art exhibition, or the cinema.....that's too good for the likes of us!

Many of us are very angry about the way we are being treated, and we need to translate our anger into action. 

First port of call :

 Coalition of Resistance

We can join this either as individuals or as groups, and protest against the cuts.