The initial plans for a solidarity demo were changed after the hungerstrike was ended, but yesterday when people came together at the Dokwerker to celebrate the victory of the hungerstrikers, they together decided to do a demo through the city after all, where texts were read out loud through speakers and leaflets handed out to inform the public about the situation.
Video: Soli with 300 Migrants on Hungerstrike in Greece (many thanks to "Spirit of Squatters" for again providing video)
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Showing posts with label antifascism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antifascism. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2011
Solidarity demo with 300 Migrants on Hungerstrike in Greece.Video part 1 + update
from: http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2011/03/10/536-the-hunger-strike-of-the-three-hundred-migrant-workers-has-ended-the-struggle-for-a-world-of-equality-solidarity-and-freedom-continues/
#536 | The hunger strike of the three-hundred migrant workers has ended. The struggle for a world of equality, solidarity and freedom continues…
The hunger strike of the three-hundred migrant workers has ended. The struggle for a world of equality, solidarity and freedom continues…
On January 25th, 2011 three-hundred migrants in Athens and Thessaloniki commenced a fierce hunger strike, claiming the most basic things: equal rights with the local workers and the legalisation of all migrants living, working and moving across the country.
44 days later and after more than 100 strikers were hospitalised with serious health issues, the state was forced to drop its intransigent attitude along with previous threats of deportation of the strikers and to negotiate officially with them, meeting a significant part of their demands:
- Decrease of the required residence time of migrants in the country in order to submit applications for residence permits to 8 years, down from 12 years before (this applies to every single migrant living in the Greek territory)
- Decrease of the required work credits to 120, from 200 before (same as for local workers)
- Decrease of the work credits required for insurance cover to 50, from 80 before (this applies to all workers, local and migrant)
- For the three-hundred hunger strikers in particular, the allowance has been given for them to indefinitely renew their 6-month "state of tolerance" status until the time when they reach the time and conditions to receive a residence permit. During that time they will be allowed to travel freely to and from their country of origin.The three-hundred migrant strikers risked their lives not on the basis of individualistic or utilitarian motives but for a collective right, in a struggle that asserted rights concerning the dignity of the entire working class. This hunger strike is a social struggle against the illegality of all migrants, a struggle addressing the entire class of workers. It comes as a continuation of struggles of the recent past, from the farmer-migrants in Manoliada, Ilia and Skala, Lakonia to the strike of the fishermen-migrants in Michaniona, Thessaloniki.The struggle of the three-hundred migrant workers proves nothing is impossible.
If the three-hundred achieved this, imagine what thousands of migrants-workers-repressed can achieve together
Assembly of solidarity of anarchists/anti-authoritarians/libertarians/comrades
Monday, February 28, 2011
Video CDAPVVD Clownpaign Tour: The Blond Parties want your vote!
Next week (We. March 2nd) elections in the Netherlands: the provences and indirectly the senate. Unsure if the right-wing populist government will get a majority. So it's about time to give them some help! Rebel clowns started a promotion campaign for the CDAPVVD, the 3 in 1 party responsible for loads of measures coming our way. The Hague was the place to be!
Saturday, Febr. 26th: it should be the most exciting campaign day before the elections: it wasn't... It was raining and we were in the Hague. We started 11.00 o'clock our clownpaign tour in the Vlamingstraat and Spuistraat: a boring shopping area. There we met our first colleagues from the Christendemocrats CDA, had a nice chat with them and went further in the direction of the Hofvijverweg - because we had 1 big desire: meeting our dearest friends of the rightwing liberal party VVD and especially Ivo! Ivo who? Ivo Opstelten, the minister of Security and Justice! Wowww; he's a hell of a campaigner! It was raining and VVD and clowns have 1 very important thing in common: they don't like rain!! So we spent hours together in the indoor shopping streets the Passage.
And that was fun! Ivo wasn't alone; he had company of several other VVD-campaigners. They had their flyers. We had our flyers. For sure we spread more flyers than them! Competition is a clown liberal principle!
We had a great flyer with a fantastic heading "The Blond Parties want your vote" with a picture of prime-minister Rutte (VVD) and minister Verhagen (CDA). Both with a Wilders (PVV) wig.
And a text in Dutch with 12 important points like for example:
"All non-Dutch animals should leave the country: the highland cows back to Scotland, elefants to Africa and hamsters to Asia!"
"Less nature (all trees look the same) and more asphalt!"
"No money, no masters degree: let the elite be educated!"
"More Dutch troops, police and animal cops to Afghanistan! And 10 billion for JSF-fighters!"
To be honoust: our beloved friend Ivo didn't do much. He talked very, very long with people he already knew and several times he enjoyed the terrace seats. In the meantime we continued leafleting and tried to convince people how wonderfoool the blond parties are doing their thing.
Not everyone agreed. Some people made statements they don't want to be in touch at all with Wilders and the other blond parties.
And there were also some PVV-fans who thought we were making fun of Wilders and showed their middle finger. One of our clowns was pushed by a PVV-fan.
But loads of people accepted the flyers with a smile. Some of them even asked for more to spread at home! What else could you wish during a CDAPVVD clownpaign tour?!
Finally we accepted the rain should take hours and left the indoor area. Walked around the Binnenhof, city hall and other shopping streets. Had contact with campaigners from other parties, but most of all with many very nice people from the Hague. After more than 4 hrs of clownpaigning all our flyers were gone. Time for a break, time for a beer!
Pictures and film will follow
E-Mail: rebelact@ddh,nl 
Website: http://www.rebelact.nl
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Videoverslag lawaaidemo in Bunnik bij BAM
Hier een korte filmpje van de lawaaidemostratie in Bunnik bij BAM hoofdkantoor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTQCGgrArys Website: http://www.bambesmetbedrijf.nl
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
aktievideo van BAM BESMET BEDRIJF aktie
Onderstaan de link naar de film gemaakt tijdens de aktie van WSD op 1 december
Werkgroep Stop Deportaties heeft 1 december een ontsmettingsaktie gevoerd bij het hoofdkantoor van bouwmaatschappij BAM in Bunnik. BAM maakt deel uit van een consortium dat het nieuwe vluchtelingen-detentiecentrum op Schiphol bouwt, geld verdient aan opsluiting en deportatie van vluchtelingen, en daarom een besmet bedrijf is.
Website: http://www.bambesmetbedrijf.nlHier het aktieverslag met persbericht:
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/12/71803.shtml Hier de video van Mediakollektief De Linkse:
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/12/71899.shtml Hier het fotoverslag:
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/12/71860.shtml E-Mail: stopdeportaties@jcschiphol.nl Website: http://www.jcschiphol.nl
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
PRESS RELEASE : Let’s withdraw our money !
http://www.bankrun2010.com
We thank the footballer Eric Cantona for having instilled the idea that we have taken literally. The die is cast. Time will tell whether we were right. (07/11/2010)
BANKRUN 2010
Press Release
Dear media,
For a short time, the international press reported the call for a bankrun that we launched on Facebook to invite all those who wish to follow us to withdraw their money from their accounts on the 7th of December, 2010.
Since the publication of our call, people around the world mobilized to translate the text into their language to recreate the event in their country, to promote our initiative by all possible means and invite their contacts to do the same. Our call has met with a success that we did not dare to hope for. We are very happy about it and thanks to the personal investment of all those who, like us, want to enjoy a healthy banking system, equitable, affordable and accountable, we hope that over the weeks we can convince enough people in the world to finally be heard by our respective Governments.
For clarification purposes, we do not speak on behalf of any political party or from any labour union or religion. Our action is a civic involvement that keeps its distance from any form of hate or conspiracy theories that could be made on behalf of our movement, by others during their interventions on any areas of discussion, which is beyond our control. We only speak for ourselves and for no other organisations. We do not seek to harm anyone in particular. It's towards a corrupt, criminal and deadly system that we decided to oppose, as far as our ability our determination and respect for the law are concerned.
Why have we launched this action?
First of all, we wanted to raise public awareness on the functioning of the monetary system.
The overwhelming majority of holders of a bank accounts, savings accounts or even a pension plan, are unaware the way money is created or what the banks are doing with the money that 'they are given. They know nothing about the principle of money as debt. They do not know the reality behind words like "asset bubbles", "Treasury bills", "Hedge Funds" or "securitization". Hence the media in general make little effort to inform in an objective, transparent and accessible way to all. The only thing the public really understands is that most major financial crimes and insider trading remain mostly unpunished, but they are the first to pay the consequences.
Not only do we deplore how many questions posed by ordinary citizens on the economic situation remain without clear answers in your columns, but we also regret your lack of zeal in denouncing the measures that have allowed the global economic situation get to the point where it is today: a situation that has bought our heads of states and Governments to their knees before the rating agencies, trembling with fear at the idea that our currencies are deteriorating.
Our politicians can't meet both the interests of financial markets and those of its citizens. So, it is time to remind them who they were elected to serve.
Strikes and demonstrations are no longer useful because whatever we do, we are not heard. And whatever they do, we are not consulted. So we decided to hit the system at its core - THE BANKING SYSTEM
Are we aware of the economic consequences that would result from the success of our action?
We are especially aware of the consequences that the deregulated and uncontrollable global financial system will have on our jobs, our health, our education, our pensions, our industries, our environment, our future, our dignity, the dignity of the citizens of countries that the system has enslaved by debt that they will never be able to repay to better appropriate their resources. This is the fate that awaits people if we in the West do not take ourselves in hand.
We are aware of the role this system plays in the prosperity of industrial empires whose interests depend on armed conflicts, diseases, food shortages and poverty prevailing in the countries that provide labour and natural resources at minimal cost. We are aware that this system will never have anything to gain from a world of peace and prosperity and that continuing to entrust our hard and honestly earned money to this sick system, we make ourselves accomplices of its thefts, for its crimes, its wars and the misery war generates.
What do we want?
We, the citizens of the 21st century, heirs of generations who have sacrificed so that we may live free and dignified, demand the creation of a CITIZENS BANK- serving citizens, a bank that would put our money away from speculative fever, free of all financial bubbles designed to burst one day, free of operations that transform our loans & assets and use our debt to buy other assets.
We want banks that lend only the wealth they have. Banks that help small and medium enterprises to relocate jobs, & bank lending at zero rate. (*) Banks that support projects that benefit citizens rather than the "market". Banks where we can deposit our money, which will then create a peaceful conscience within ourselves. Banks we will not have to be worry about. Banks whose success will sound the death knell of the merchants of death, disease and slavery. On the ruins of the old system, we want to build a banking system that will no longer sacrifice more human dignity on the altar of profit.
We, the people have finally been awakened by poverty and despair afflicting the most vulnerable among us - pensioners, welfare recipients or working poor - and is now threatening what remains of the middle class & entrepreneurs. Even these are exploited as milking cows, and we now simply want the cancellation of the public debts generated by the sick system that we no longer want. We do not want our taxes, our efforts, our resources to continue to feed this bottomless pit. We want to regain the power to coin money and free ourselves from the guidelines imposed on us by the European Union, which was built against the consent of the majority of people consulted by referendum, not to mention those whose country of origin have no organized popular consultation.
(*) What the Islamic banks to successfully achieve by refusing usury for religious reasons, we can do for civic reasons.
To conclude
We draw your attention to the fact that even if we manage to relocate jobs, advanced technologies and machines have replaced human labour in a growing number of areas. They can produce more, faster, cheaper, and for these reasons, they create fear to those who wonder how they will earn their living tomorrow. This is unfortunate because since the invention of the wheel, technology is meant to improve the living conditions of mankind. If progress was meant to serve citizens rather than serve the market, we could make a quantum leap in technology development today paralyzed by special interest groups that are the primary beneficiaries of this system.
We already have the knowledge to free humanity of its needs in fossil and nuclear fuels and to produce and deliver drinking water throughout the planet at a lower cost, to produce fruits and vegetables, from ice fields to the desert. Poverty only exists on our planet because of the lack of political will of industrialized countries, subject to market forces. Pollution and waste of resources are the sad consequences of this obsolete system which we must put an end to.
We, the inheritors of chaos, we have a world to rebuild. A world where work is no longer seen as slavery, and lack of work as a tragedy because we have been able to rethink how mankind of tomorrow will ensure its survival, education, well-being and old age.
We thank the footballer Eric Cantona for having instilled the idea that we have taken literally. The die is cast. Time will tell whether we were right. (07/11/2010)
BANKRUN 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
(Video) BAM BESMET BEDRIJF (1-12-2010)
Mediakollektief De Linkse
Neem over op je website!
Ontsmettingsactie bij hoofdkantoor BAM start van campagne!
Aan het einde van de Sloterweg van Badhoevedorp bouwt BAM met het consortium POORT VAN SCHIPHOL een nieuwe gevangenis voor mensen zonder verblijfspapieren.
Nieuwsbericht op IndyMedia:
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/12/71803.shtml Meer informatie:
http://www.bambesmetbedrijf.nl E-Mail: delinksemedia@gmail.com Website: http://www.bambesmetbedrijf.nl
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
SAINT NICHOLAS'S AGAINST RACISM Action - Movie
Like every year also this one black saint against racism its doing his educational action. Here it's the movie
And here the speech for kids from last year:
SAINT NICHOLAS'S AGAINST RACISM
When a child of five years says to his
school teacher :
"He can't be Saint Nicholas"
And the school teacher asks:
"Why not"
To which the five year old boy replies:
" Because his skin is black"
You may wonder why I am dressed as
Saint Nicholas with a black face.
To which I will reply:
"WHY NOT"?
This question was asked recently by a five year old boy in a Dutch school.
Some believe that the Caucasian race is by far superior to all other races. This is racism, it is called White Supremacism. Racism can be expressed subtly, this being much harder to identify. White Supremacism can be expressed overtly and accepted by mainstream in a blink of an eye, without questioning such overt antics. Picture this, a white bearded figure named Saint Nicholas sitting on a white horse, and wearing religious red bishop robes. Let's not forget Christians associated the colour black with evil and degradation. His submissive slave/servant named Zwarte Piete, who has supposedly evolved from a devil and was miraculously tamed by that wonderful white supremacist Saint Nicholas. Others say that Pete is an Ethiopian slave freed by that pure and very white Saint.So as it goes Zwarte Piete symbolized the devil, a joker who was submissive, frightening and disobedient. Anyone who shouts 'It's Dutch Tradition' is using this to block intelligent analysis and maintain the status quo of negative stereotyping. Get educated and read about the Dutch History of Colonialism and Slavery and stuff Tradition where the 'Sun Doesn't Shine'
from http://www.doorbraak.eu
Filmpje tegen racistische traditie van Zwarte Piet
Zwarte Piet staat in een lange traditie van Europees racisme versus Afrikanen
Harry Westerink
And some history:
The first voices that protested against Black Peter came from the former Dutch colony Surinam where the holiday was also a national celebration. When Surinam received its status of independence in 1975, the black slave was abolished. A new movement came into existence that searched for new positive images of black people. Representations of blacks as docile and submissive were no longer accepted. "Saint Nicholas" was changed into a black figure called "Good Father" and accompanied by black "employees". This change may seem minor but also in Surinam the myth of the white saint and his black slave was difficult to contest or criticise. For example, in 1970 writer Astrid Roemer was a High School teacher who refused to celebrate the holiday at school. She talked to her colleques and the principle of the school, but they refused to listen to her arguments. The day of the celebration she did not appear at the school. She was fired the next day.
In the seventies a lot of Surinamese people migrated to the Netherlands due to the political circumstances in their home country. Their presence led to a re-evaluation of the ways the Dutch dealt with their colonial history and their images of black people. Again Black Peter was scrutinised, only this time in a context where the majority of society was white. Blacks had already experienced the insult of hearing "Black Peter!" shouted at them on the streets in Paramaribo (as they were associated with the figure), but the person shouting was often black himself. In the Netherlands they entered a society that hardly knew anything about them; the only images white people were familiar with were stereotypes like 'Black Peter'. In response to the insult of the stereotype some Surinamese people refused to send their children to school when "Saint Nicholas" was celebrated, others urged for alternatives like a red or blue "Peter" in stead of a black one. For a while the yellow, blue, red painted versions of "Black Peter" were successful but as the protest-voices declined the Black version of Peter dominated the eighties.
Spirit Of Squatters Collective
Spirit Of Squatters Collective : This is solidarity action (like most of our videos). The solidarity is stronger when it is seen by as many people as possible.So...Please use it ! Pass this info to everybody who could be interested !!!
Feel free to embed,link it,send it,screen it etc. Use it=don't loose it. Reclaim the media with us !
... So get inspired. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER !!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritofsquatters Spirit Of Squatters Collective is always trying to report and support good things what are happening around us. We trying at least one time a week show You some news. Our goal is to do it daily but 1st we can not be everywhere and 2nd We don't have enough time mainly to edit ( there are many projects waiting for their time...) That's why we waiting for You to help us support good things with our video channel and with creating independent media.
and that's few words from our pages:
With our activities we want to make this world a better place.Reclaim the media with us.Feel free to use our videos.Now all up to you !!!Real life is beginning when you turn off the tv, computer. See you on the streets in actions !!!
If You think its important and good what we are doing You can donate what can help us to find more time to improve our activity. Click here:
http://ourmediaindymedia.blogspot.com OR EVEN BETTER YOU CAN OFFER US WORK.Thanks !!!
WATCH!
READ!
THINK!
REALIZE!
TALK!
COMMUNICATE!
LISTEN!
DEFEND!
DESTROY!
CREATE!
CHANGE!
GET INSPIRED!
RECLAIM MEDIA WITH US!
JOIN US!
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!
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SQUAT!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Filmpje tegen racistische traditie van Zwarte Piet
from http://www.doorbraak.eu
Filmpje tegen racistische traditie van Zwarte Piet
Zwarte Piet staat in een lange traditie van Europees racisme versus Afrikanen
Harry Westerink
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Videoverslag demonstratie van AAGU op 22 november.
Op 22 november hield de AAGU (Anarchistische Antideportatie Groep Utrecht) een demonstratie van de rechtbank op het Vrouwe Justitiaplein naar het kantoor van de IND (Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst) aan de Bergstraat, in Utrecht.
In de rechtbank dienden twee zaken tegen de AAGU uit 2008 en 2009, respectievelijk een bezetting van het dak van het detentiecentrum Kamp Zeist en een bezetting van het Kennis en Leercentrum van de IND.
AAGU laat zich niet veroordelen en heeft daarom de zitting niet bijgewoond. Wij verklaren de IND moreel failliet!
Onderstaand de link naar het filmpje over de demonstratie en de gehouden toespraak:
Website: http://www.aagu.nl
In de rechtbank dienden twee zaken tegen de AAGU uit 2008 en 2009, respectievelijk een bezetting van het dak van het detentiecentrum Kamp Zeist en een bezetting van het Kennis en Leercentrum van de IND.
AAGU laat zich niet veroordelen en heeft daarom de zitting niet bijgewoond. Wij verklaren de IND moreel failliet!
Onderstaand de link naar het filmpje over de demonstratie en de gehouden toespraak:
Website: http://www.aagu.nl Saturday, November 20, 2010
SAINT NICHOLAS'S AGAINST RACISM
SAINT NICHOLAS'S AGAINST RACISM
When a child of five years says to his
school teacher :
"He can't be Saint Nicholas"
And the school teacher asks:
"Why not"
To which the five year old boy replies:
" Because his skin is black"
You may wonder why I am dressed as
Saint Nicholas with a black face.
To which I will reply:
"WHY NOT"?
This question was asked recently by a five year old boy in a Dutch school.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Black Sint Against Racism
Comming days in some places around center of Amsterdam would be possible to see Black Saint Against Racism. We interviewed him to find out why he is doing it. Here You can watch the movie where he is explaining in simple way his statement for respect, for tolerance, for liberation of Black Peters, against slavery, discrimination and racism. The movie is made for children so if You are parent or If You know some parent's or children let them see this funny and educational,short movie. :)
Educational movie for kids about racism and disrimination, made by colecitive Spirit Of Squatters.
tekst below from : http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/question/jan05/
The first voices that protested against Black Peter came from the former Dutch colony Surinam where the holiday was also a national celebration. When Surinam received its status of independence in 1975, the black slave was abolished. A new movement came into existence that searched for new positive images of black people. Representations of blacks as docile and submissive were no longer accepted. "Saint Nicholas" was changed into a black figure called "Good Father" and accompanied by black "employees". This change may seem minor but also in Surinam the myth of the white saint and his black slave was difficult to contest or criticise. For example, in 1970 writer Astrid Roemer was a High School teacher who refused to celebrate the holiday at school. She talked to her colleques and the principle of the school, but they refused to listen to her arguments. The day of the celebration she did not appear at the school. She was fired the next day.
In the seventies a lot of Surinamese people migrated to the Netherlands due to the political circumstances in their home country. Their presence led to a re-evaluation of the ways the Dutch dealt with their colonial history and their images of black people. Again Black Peter was scrutinised, only this time in a context where the majority of society was white. Blacks had already experienced the insult of hearing "Black Peter!" shouted at them on the streets in Paramaribo (as they were associated with the figure), but the person shouting was often black himself. In the Netherlands they entered a society that hardly knew anything about them; the only images white people were familiar with were stereotypes like 'Black Peter'. In response to the insult of the stereotype some Surinamese people refused to send their children to school when "Saint Nicholas" was celebrated, others urged for alternatives like a red or blue "Peter" in stead of a black one. For a while the yellow, blue, red painted versions of "Black Peter" were successful but as the protest-voices declined the Black version of Peter dominated the eighties.
In the Netherlands 17 percent of its citizens are people of 'color' right now. Most people are from former colonies like Indonesia and Surinam but a lot of people have their roots in Morocco and Turkey. They were drafted to do factory-work in Holland during the seventies with the idea that they would return home after a few years. But history decided otherwise; their wives and children joined them later and together they started a new future. This 17 percent of citizens are called "Allochtonen", a combination of two Greek words that literally means; "from another world, earth". This definition of citizenship is problematic in itself because it denies everyone who isn't white, Dutch membership. The 'allochtoon' is the Other; the ones who are usually discussed as a problem population by the media, in the political sphere and academia; all of which are pre-dominantly white and male. The 'allochtonen' are located in the so-called 'multicultural' society that exists in juxtaposition to the ‘Dutch society’, the domain of ‘Dutch’ people also called ‘Autochtones’ which means "from this earth".
The dualist relationship in which the two groups are locked in characterises the way Dutch society deals with the identities of her citizens. One can be Dutch by passport but that doesn't mean one can automatically claim the national identity of 'Dutchman'. For this identity the main condition is that one simply is White or looks White. Although whiteness determines whether one can claim the national identity, the effects of this ethnic factor are not being acknowledged. The ethnic factor and its power effects become invisible as it’s turned into an neutral universal category (that sets the norm) by particularising the identity of the Other; the migrant, her children ànd grandchildren. The identities of non-whites versus “Dutch” people are defined in terms of difference, dichotomies: the Allochtoon becomes everything the white Dutch person, the Autochtoon, is not.
This is problematic when it comes to having an active role in the way the nation-state should be organised. Although we are officially all equal, membership counts when it comes to public deliberation. The second rate citizenship of the ‘Other’ was also used as a strategy in the debate on Black Peter.
While there were always people, black and white, who individually protested against the celebration, the protest got organised in1995 by a group of second and third generation migrants. Contrary to their parents or grandparents they are born in the Netherlands, not limited by the idea that they are "guests”, having to conform to the symbols of a "host" which they find insulting. They are part of a generation of people that demands a place in Dutch society much more forcefully. Because of their input the discussion became a national one in 1996 in the sense that it was being discussed on television, in newspapers and schools.
The critics of Black Pete were repeatedly confronted with the argument that ‘they’ did not have the right to critique 'Dutch tradition' because they weren't 'Dutch'. The discussion was being polarised as if the different opinions were divided along ‘racial’ lines. The argument is as follows: as an 'allochtoon', a 'migrant', one has to accept the Dutch ‘traditions’. Just as a ‘Dutch’ person would have to accept local traditions when they lived in ‘another’ country. The logic here is that it’s not their country and culture that the youngsters are criticizing.
By ascribing second-rate citizenship to the critics who aren’t considered “Dutch”, the authority of the speaker is undermined. On the other hand when it appears that the critic is white, he or she is often being marginalized as being “political correct”, which is used as a contemptuous term. The letters in the newspapers and on the internet were in general very emotional, reflecting a fear that ‘Dutch’ culture is being ‘threatened’ by ‘foreigners’ The main arguments were:
* The holiday is a celebration for children and children aren’t racist.
* It’s a matter of ‘tradition’ (that certainly can’t be changed by ‘Foreigners’).
* The critics are the ones who make it racist.
The refusal to listen to counter-arguments and reply those with substantial criticism (in stead of ridiculing or marginalizing them) reflects an insensibility for the opinion of a minority. The portrayed image of the Netherlands as being “the most tolerant nation in the world” makes a critical self-reflection also very difficult: every accusation of racism is beforehand answered with denial.
One could say that the real problem in the Netherlands is not Black Peter, but for example the fact that the unemploymancy rate among colored people is ten times higher than whites. Of course the real problem is not Black Peter in itself. The debate about Black Peter and the white Saint however, is a discussion about citizenship, identity, and racism. And because this discussion does not take place behind closed doors between politicians and intellectuals only, but in schools, between colleques, family-members and friends, it offers us a chance to challenge old conceptions of self and other at many different levels. However, this annual debate is not sufficient to change things, but it can lead to more activism, a critical outlook and recognition of those situations where the same strategies of marginalization are being used. The Black servant and his White master can not be isolated from the social context, Dutch society, in which they exist.
Answer/Article by Lulu Njemileh Helder ©
Comments: blackservant_whitesaint@hotmail.com
Educational movie for kids about racism and disrimination, made by colecitive Spirit Of Squatters.
tekst below from : http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/question/jan05/
The first voices that protested against Black Peter came from the former Dutch colony Surinam where the holiday was also a national celebration. When Surinam received its status of independence in 1975, the black slave was abolished. A new movement came into existence that searched for new positive images of black people. Representations of blacks as docile and submissive were no longer accepted. "Saint Nicholas" was changed into a black figure called "Good Father" and accompanied by black "employees". This change may seem minor but also in Surinam the myth of the white saint and his black slave was difficult to contest or criticise. For example, in 1970 writer Astrid Roemer was a High School teacher who refused to celebrate the holiday at school. She talked to her colleques and the principle of the school, but they refused to listen to her arguments. The day of the celebration she did not appear at the school. She was fired the next day.
In the seventies a lot of Surinamese people migrated to the Netherlands due to the political circumstances in their home country. Their presence led to a re-evaluation of the ways the Dutch dealt with their colonial history and their images of black people. Again Black Peter was scrutinised, only this time in a context where the majority of society was white. Blacks had already experienced the insult of hearing "Black Peter!" shouted at them on the streets in Paramaribo (as they were associated with the figure), but the person shouting was often black himself. In the Netherlands they entered a society that hardly knew anything about them; the only images white people were familiar with were stereotypes like 'Black Peter'. In response to the insult of the stereotype some Surinamese people refused to send their children to school when "Saint Nicholas" was celebrated, others urged for alternatives like a red or blue "Peter" in stead of a black one. For a while the yellow, blue, red painted versions of "Black Peter" were successful but as the protest-voices declined the Black version of Peter dominated the eighties.
In the Netherlands 17 percent of its citizens are people of 'color' right now. Most people are from former colonies like Indonesia and Surinam but a lot of people have their roots in Morocco and Turkey. They were drafted to do factory-work in Holland during the seventies with the idea that they would return home after a few years. But history decided otherwise; their wives and children joined them later and together they started a new future. This 17 percent of citizens are called "Allochtonen", a combination of two Greek words that literally means; "from another world, earth". This definition of citizenship is problematic in itself because it denies everyone who isn't white, Dutch membership. The 'allochtoon' is the Other; the ones who are usually discussed as a problem population by the media, in the political sphere and academia; all of which are pre-dominantly white and male. The 'allochtonen' are located in the so-called 'multicultural' society that exists in juxtaposition to the ‘Dutch society’, the domain of ‘Dutch’ people also called ‘Autochtones’ which means "from this earth".
The dualist relationship in which the two groups are locked in characterises the way Dutch society deals with the identities of her citizens. One can be Dutch by passport but that doesn't mean one can automatically claim the national identity of 'Dutchman'. For this identity the main condition is that one simply is White or looks White. Although whiteness determines whether one can claim the national identity, the effects of this ethnic factor are not being acknowledged. The ethnic factor and its power effects become invisible as it’s turned into an neutral universal category (that sets the norm) by particularising the identity of the Other; the migrant, her children ànd grandchildren. The identities of non-whites versus “Dutch” people are defined in terms of difference, dichotomies: the Allochtoon becomes everything the white Dutch person, the Autochtoon, is not.
This is problematic when it comes to having an active role in the way the nation-state should be organised. Although we are officially all equal, membership counts when it comes to public deliberation. The second rate citizenship of the ‘Other’ was also used as a strategy in the debate on Black Peter.
While there were always people, black and white, who individually protested against the celebration, the protest got organised in1995 by a group of second and third generation migrants. Contrary to their parents or grandparents they are born in the Netherlands, not limited by the idea that they are "guests”, having to conform to the symbols of a "host" which they find insulting. They are part of a generation of people that demands a place in Dutch society much more forcefully. Because of their input the discussion became a national one in 1996 in the sense that it was being discussed on television, in newspapers and schools.
The critics of Black Pete were repeatedly confronted with the argument that ‘they’ did not have the right to critique 'Dutch tradition' because they weren't 'Dutch'. The discussion was being polarised as if the different opinions were divided along ‘racial’ lines. The argument is as follows: as an 'allochtoon', a 'migrant', one has to accept the Dutch ‘traditions’. Just as a ‘Dutch’ person would have to accept local traditions when they lived in ‘another’ country. The logic here is that it’s not their country and culture that the youngsters are criticizing.
By ascribing second-rate citizenship to the critics who aren’t considered “Dutch”, the authority of the speaker is undermined. On the other hand when it appears that the critic is white, he or she is often being marginalized as being “political correct”, which is used as a contemptuous term. The letters in the newspapers and on the internet were in general very emotional, reflecting a fear that ‘Dutch’ culture is being ‘threatened’ by ‘foreigners’ The main arguments were:
* The holiday is a celebration for children and children aren’t racist.
* It’s a matter of ‘tradition’ (that certainly can’t be changed by ‘Foreigners’).
* The critics are the ones who make it racist.
The refusal to listen to counter-arguments and reply those with substantial criticism (in stead of ridiculing or marginalizing them) reflects an insensibility for the opinion of a minority. The portrayed image of the Netherlands as being “the most tolerant nation in the world” makes a critical self-reflection also very difficult: every accusation of racism is beforehand answered with denial.
One could say that the real problem in the Netherlands is not Black Peter, but for example the fact that the unemploymancy rate among colored people is ten times higher than whites. Of course the real problem is not Black Peter in itself. The debate about Black Peter and the white Saint however, is a discussion about citizenship, identity, and racism. And because this discussion does not take place behind closed doors between politicians and intellectuals only, but in schools, between colleques, family-members and friends, it offers us a chance to challenge old conceptions of self and other at many different levels. However, this annual debate is not sufficient to change things, but it can lead to more activism, a critical outlook and recognition of those situations where the same strategies of marginalization are being used. The Black servant and his White master can not be isolated from the social context, Dutch society, in which they exist.
Answer/Article by Lulu Njemileh Helder ©
Comments: blackservant_whitesaint@hotmail.com
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Big Blond Parij Voor de Vrijhaat Zombie Walk one more video from anti racist 30 oktober
Finally finished and uploaded the Big Blond Parij Voor de Vrijhaat Zombie Walk video...
You can watch it online here;
http://www.youtube.com/user/kazzeliot?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/8bnRHIRhk-c Fom the indymedia story here;
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/10/70719.shtml Still have a lot more pictures i need to upload sometime here;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneliot/sets/72157625155421785/ And just in case you missed it..a video of the Schoolstraat ontruiming here;
Operation C(l)o(w)nfusion near Schoolstraat
http://www.youtube.com/user/kazzeliot?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/hb1Aka4qwwE Sill more pictures i haven't uploaded yet here;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kareneliot/sets/72157625348651732/ Enjoy!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Lawaaidemo bij nieuw detentiecentrum
Lawaaidemo bij nieuw detentiecentrum
Vandaag werd voor het eerst een solidariteitsdemo gehouden bij het in juli geopende nieuwe detentie- en uitzetcentrum op Rotterdam Airport.
..alsof je tegen een muur praat... Maar ze horen het toch!
Een groep van zo'n dertig mensen heeft vandaag de eerste lawaaidemo gehouden langs de vijf meter hoge muren met schrikdraad rond dit nieuwe deportatiekamp.
Voor het grootste gedeelte was het zeer moeilijk om visueel contact te krijgen met de mensen binnen. Het is vrijwel overal rond het centrum onmogelijk om genoeg afstand van de muur te nemen om zo de celramen te kunnen zien. Voor zover dat wel gaat is het alleen mogelijk om de bovenste verdieping te zien.
We zijn linksom rondgelopen vanaf de hoofdingang. Zoals te verwachten stond marechaussee klaar om zeker te maken dat... tja? Zeker ook 'gewoon hun werk', net als deporteren..
Om het centrum, direct naast de muur, is een asfaltweg aangelegd, je loopt dus vrij dicht langs de muur met al die spandoeken. Gelukkig hadden we ook van alles bij ons om geluid mee te maken, megafoon, sirene, fluitjes en onze eigen stemmen natuurlijk! Even werd aan de achterkant geprobeerd om meer afstand van de muur te nemen, maar deze poging eindigde in de kletsnatte klei-achtige modder.
Wat langer werd stilgestaan aan de achterkant ter hoogte van waar we weten dat de isoleercellen zijn (zitten continu vol), in de hoop dat de mensen daar de demo ook zouden opmerken. Daarna door, en toen hoorden we stemmen. Heel ver weg, nauwelijks verstaanbaar, maar we waren gehoord want er riep iemand 'dank je!'..
Weer aan de voorkant gekomen konden we wat verder af gaan staan, op een weg naast een in kantoorgebouw in aanbouw tegenover het centrum. Toen konden we mensen achter de celramen zien. Ze zwaaiden terug. Daar zijn we nog wat langer gebleven, daarna nog terug in het midden aan de voorkant. We zagen toen ook mensen links en zij ons ook. Zoals zo vaak geeft zo'n lawaaidemo je een machteloos gevoel. Toch is dat niet helemaal waar. De mensen binnen krijgen er een opkikker van dat je er bent en dat je protesteert, het geeft ze weer even kracht. En daar doen we het voor!
Het zal niet bij deze demo blijven, en ook niet alleen hier.
E-Mail: stopdeportaties@dc-16.nl Website: http://www.dc-16.nl
Friday, November 12, 2010
Kristallnacht Herdenking.Speech of Mirjam Ohringer
"KRISTALLNACHT" POGROM
Mirjam Ohringer has been active since she was 14 years old in the resistance movement against the nazi occupator in Amsterdam and has been active against xenofobia and racisme eversince.
"KRISTALLNACHT" POGROM
On 9 November, named the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, we commemorate the "Kristallnacht" pogrom of 1938. On November 6th, Herschel Grynszpan, a Jew who was angry with the increasingly repressive measures being adopted in Germany against Jews, took revenge by shooting the diplomat Ernst vom Rath at the German embassy in Paris. The diplomat died two days later and news of his death reached Germany on Novermber 9th. This started a massive nation-wide pogrom, secretly organised by a section of the Nazi party, which left many Jews dead in the streets, and hundreds of Jewish businesses and synagogues destroyed. It marked the beginning of the Holocaust, the systematic murder of 6 million Jews, over a million Roma and Sinti, gay people as well as communists, trade unionists and many others.
De spreekster is Mirjam Ohringer. Ze werd geboren in Amsterdam in 1924. Een deel van haar Joodse familieleden in Duitsland werd vlak voor de Kristallnacht in 1938 gedeporteerd naar Polen. Na het uitbreken van de oorlog gaat ze in het verzet. Haar geliefde wordt naar het concentratiekamp Mauthausen gedeporteerd. Ze weet de oorlog te overleven door onder te duiken. Ohringer zet zich tot op de dag van vandaag in om de herinnering aan de slachtoffers van het fascisme levend te houden. Ze sprak in 1996 en 2008 ook op de Kristallnachtherdenking in Amsterdam.
Spirit Of Squatters Collective
Spirit Of Squatters Collective : This is solidarity action (like most of our videos). The solidarity is stronger when it is seen by as many people as possible.So...Please use it ! Pass this info to everybody who could be interested !!!
Feel free to embed,link it,send it,screen it etc. Use it=don't loose it. Reclaim the media with us !
... So get inspired. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER !!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritofsquatters Spirit Of Squatters Collective is always trying to report and support good things what are happening around us. We trying at least one time a week show You some news. Our goal is to do it daily but 1st we can not be everywhere and 2nd We don't have enough time mainly to edit ( there are many projects waiting for their time...) That's why we waiting for You to help us support good things with our video channel and with creating independent media.
and that's few words from our pages:
With our activities we want to make this world a better place.Reclaim the media with us.Feel free to use our videos.Now all up to you !!!Real life is beginning when you turn off the tv, computer. See you on the streets in actions !!!
If You think its important and good what we are doing You can donate what can help us to find more time to improve our activity. Click here:
http://www.ourmediaindymedia.blogspot.com... OR EVEN BETTER YOU CAN OFFER US WORK.Thanks !!! WATCH!
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Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
EDL supporting Wilders demo.Counter-protests.Part 2
Press release antifa!-amsterdam antifa
Press Release: EDL demonstration embarrasment, anti-fascists very satisfied with counter-protests.
Antifa! Amsterdam is positive about the course of the demonstrations and actions today in Amsterdam.
In many ways today it became crystal clear that no'one over here wants the kind of fascist street-activism as the right-wing English Defence League hopes to export to mainland Europe.
The demonstration of the EDL / DDL was an outright failure, not more than 50 protesters eventually took the trouble to show their support for Wilders. This while the organization, even after the forced relocation to a midle of nowhere spot in the western docklands, still said this week to expect up to1,000 supporters.
In the end, the meager turnout (in particular on the part of the Dutch Defence League, only a few of the protesters were Dutch) and the fierce resistance that they were confronted with should be an omen about the future prospects of their crossing of the channel.
This while simultaneously a broad range of hundreds of people and dozens of groups showed throughout the city their disapproval and anger about the coming of the racist scum to the capital.
Antifa! Amsterdam expresses support and appreciation to each and everyone who has gone out on the streets today against racism and xenophobia.
From the hundreds of protesters who protested at 1941 general strike monument, the dozens of activists that spread over the city to prevent that the EDL would still showup in the center, to the many people who decided to ignore the emergency orders from the mayor and went in direct action in the docklands.
The great variety of people who have come today in opposition is a clear signal, from young immigrants to experienced activists, from soccer fans to social organizations.
In particular, the presence of Jewish individuals and the reform movement in Iran, for whom the EDL pretends to speak, and the high turnout of football fans that the EDL consider as their natural support, show that people are not deceived by the EDL.
In summary Antifa! Amsterdam considers the day as overwhelmingly successful, and calls on everyone to keep fighting, in resistance against discrimination, hatred, fear and extreme right violence.
Spirit Of Squatters Collective
here You can see first part of raport from EDL supporting Wilders demonstration "Don't buy the lie.Part 1:"Our bus hasn't windows left":
http://ourmediaindymedia.blogspot.com/2010/10/edl-supporting-wilders-demonstration.html More parts would come...
Spirit Of Squatters Collective : This is solidarity action (like most of our videos). The solidarity is stronger when it is seen by as many people as possible.So...Please use it ! Pass this info to everybody who could be interested !!!
Feel free to embed,link it,send it,screen it etc. Use it=don't loose it. Reclaim the media with us !
... So get inspired. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER !!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritofsquatters Spirit Of Squatters Collective is always trying to report and support good things what are happening around us. We trying at least one time a week show You some news. Our goal is to do it daily but 1st we can not be everywhere and 2nd We don't have enough time mainly to edit ( there are many projects waiting for their time...) That's why we waiting for You to help us support good things with our video channel and with creating independent media.
and that's few words from our pages:
With our activities we want to make this world a better place.Reclaim the media with us.Feel free to use our videos.Now all up to you !!!Real life is beginning when you turn off the tv, computer. See you on the streets in actions !!!
If You think its important and good what we are doing You can donate what can help us to find more time to improve our activity. Click here:
http://ourmediaindymedia.blogspot.com OR EVEN BETTER YOU CAN OFFER US WORK.Thanks !!!
WATCH!
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GET INSPIRED!
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JOIN US!
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1.000 demonstranten bij de Dokwerker
ENTHOUSIASME EN STRIJDBAARHEID BIJ ANTIRACISME DEMONSTRATIE
Ruim 1.000 demonstranten hebben zaterdag bij de Dokwerker in
Amsterdam duidelijk gemaakt dat ze pal voor Artikel 1 van de Grondwet
staan. En dat deze bijeenkomst een begin is om een breed protest
tegen racisme op te zetten. De manifestatie richtte zich tegen het
beleid van de regering (gesteund door de PVV), waardoor discriminatie
van bevolkingsgroepen normaal lijkt te worden.
Op de manifestatie van het Platform tegen Vreemdelingenhaat bij de
Dokwerker waren volgens de gemeente Amsterdam 1.000 demonstranten,
terwijl het pro-Wilders protest van de extreemrechtse DDL / EDL in
Amsterdam-West slecht 50 mensen trok.
Het Platform tegen Vreemdelingenhaat bestaat uit 25 (minderheden-)
organisaties die zich zorgen maken over de snel toenemende
intolerantie in Nederland. Bij de Dokwerker spraken ondermeer
Mohammed Rabbae (Landelijk Beraad Marokkanen), Jaap Hamburger (Een
Ander Joods geluid) en Lydia Rood (Schrijfster en columnist).
_________________
VIDEOVERSLAGEN:
- AT5-Nieuws over de demonstratie: http://tinyurl.com/3azw42w
- Video van optreden en publiek: http://tinyurl.com/27x6lyx
- Optreden DJ's (einde demonstratie): http://tinyurl.com/34l7ux4
FOTOVERSLAGEN:
- Fotoverslag demonstrant 1: http://tinyurl.com/2eafkrd
- Fotoverslag demonstrant 2: http://tinyurl.com/22wq6q7
- Overzicht 24 foto's Parool.nl: http://tinyurl.com/25zsud5
TEKSTVERSLAGEN:
- ANP over de toespraken: http://tinyurl.com/2c3d3aq
- ANP; gemoedelijke sfeer: http://tinyurl.com/33khny2
- Persbericht gemeente/politie: http://tinyurl.com/33kunou
Zie ook: http://www.platformtegenvreemdelingenhaat.nl
_______________________________________________
Petitie mailing list
http://nederlandbekentkleur.nl/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/petitie
Ruim 1.000 demonstranten hebben zaterdag bij de Dokwerker in
Amsterdam duidelijk gemaakt dat ze pal voor Artikel 1 van de Grondwet
staan. En dat deze bijeenkomst een begin is om een breed protest
tegen racisme op te zetten. De manifestatie richtte zich tegen het
beleid van de regering (gesteund door de PVV), waardoor discriminatie
van bevolkingsgroepen normaal lijkt te worden.
Op de manifestatie van het Platform tegen Vreemdelingenhaat bij de
Dokwerker waren volgens de gemeente Amsterdam 1.000 demonstranten,
terwijl het pro-Wilders protest van de extreemrechtse DDL / EDL in
Amsterdam-West slecht 50 mensen trok.
Het Platform tegen Vreemdelingenhaat bestaat uit 25 (minderheden-)
organisaties die zich zorgen maken over de snel toenemende
intolerantie in Nederland. Bij de Dokwerker spraken ondermeer
Mohammed Rabbae (Landelijk Beraad Marokkanen), Jaap Hamburger (Een
Ander Joods geluid) en Lydia Rood (Schrijfster en columnist).
_________________
VIDEOVERSLAGEN:
- AT5-Nieuws over de demonstratie: http://tinyurl.com/3azw42w
- Video van optreden en publiek: http://tinyurl.com/27x6lyx
- Optreden DJ's (einde demonstratie): http://tinyurl.com/34l7ux4
FOTOVERSLAGEN:
- Fotoverslag demonstrant 1: http://tinyurl.com/2eafkrd
- Fotoverslag demonstrant 2: http://tinyurl.com/22wq6q7
- Overzicht 24 foto's Parool.nl: http://tinyurl.com/25zsud5
TEKSTVERSLAGEN:
- ANP over de toespraken: http://tinyurl.com/2c3d3aq
- ANP; gemoedelijke sfeer: http://tinyurl.com/33khny2
- Persbericht gemeente/politie: http://tinyurl.com/33kunou
Zie ook: http://www.platformtegenvreemdelingenhaat.nl
_______________________________________________
Petitie mailing list
http://nederlandbekentkleur.nl/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/petitie
Saturday, October 30, 2010
EDL supporting Wilders demonstration "Don't buy the lie.Part 1:"Our bus has no windows left" video
persbericht antifa!-a'dam over verloop EDL demo
Antifa!-Amsterdam - 30.10.2010 18:03
Persbericht: EDL demonstratie gênante afgang, anti-fascisten zeer tevreden over tegen-protest
Antifa!-Amsterdam is positief over het verloop van de demonstraties en acties vandaag in Amsterdam.
Op veel verschillende manieren werd vandaag kristal helder dat men niet zit te wachten op het soort fascistoïde straat-activisme zoals de extreem rechtse English Defence League hoopt te exporteren naar het vaste land van Europa.
De demonstratie van de EDL/DDL bleek een regelrechte afgang, hoogstens 50 demonstranten namen uiteindelijk de moeite om hun steun te betogen aan Wilders. Dit terwijl de organisatie, zelfs na de verplaatsing naar een tochtig bedrijven terrein, van de week nog zei tot 1000 aanhangers te verwachten.
Uit eindelijk moet de magere opkomst met name die van de kant van de Dutch Defence League, slecht enkele van de demonstranten waren nederlands, en het felle verzet waar mee ze geconfronteerd werden een teken aan de wand zijn over de toekomst perspectieven van hun oversteek van het kanaal.
Dit terwijl er tegelijkertijd een breed scala van honderden verschillende mensen en tientallen groepen verspreid over de stad hun afkeuring en woede over de komst van het racistisch tuig naar de hoofdstad.
Antifa!-Amsterdam spreekt haar steun en waardering uit aan iedereen die vandaag de straat op is gegaan tegen racisme en vreemdelingen haat.
Van de honderden demonstranten die betoogden bij de dokwerker, de tientallen activisten die zich verspreiden over de stad om te voorkomen dat de EDL zich zou roeren in het centrum tot de vele mensen die besloten de noodbevelen van de burgemeester naast zich neer te leggen en directe actie probeerden te voeren in het westelijk havengebied.
Ook de zeer grote verscheidenheid van mensen die vandaag in verzet zijn gekomen is een duidelijk signaal; van jonge migranten tot ervaren activisten, van voetballiefhebbers tot maatschappelijke organisaties.
Met name de aanwezigheid van joodse individuen en de hervormingsgezinde beweging in Iran voor wie de EDL pretendeert te spreken en grote opkomst van voetbalsupporters die de EDL als hun natuurlijke achterban beschouwt maken duidelijk dat mensen zich geen rad voor de ogen laten draaien over wat voor vlees ze in de kuip hebben.
Samengevat beschouwt Antifa!-Amsterdam de dag als overwegend zeer succesvol en roept iedereen op om in het verweer te blijven komen tegen discriminatie, haat, angst en extreem-rechts geweld.
Spirit Of Squatters Collective : This is solidarity action (like most of our videos). The solidarity is stronger when it is seen by as many people as possible.So...Please use it ! Pass this info to everybody who could be interested !!!
Feel free to embed,link it,send it,screen it etc. Use it=don't loose it. Reclaim the media with us !
... So get inspired. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER !!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritofsquatters Spirit Of Squatters Collective is always trying to report and support good things what are happening around us. We trying at least one time a week show You some news. Our goal is to do it daily but 1st we can not be everywhere and 2nd We don't have enough time mainly to edit ( there are many projects waiting for their time...) That's why we waiting for You to help us support good things with our video channel and with creating independent media.
and that's few words from our pages:
With our activities we want to make this world a better place.Reclaim the media with us.Feel free to use our videos.Now all up to you !!!Real life is beginning when you turn off the tv, computer. See you on the streets in actions !!!
If You think its important and good what we are doing You can donate what can help us to find more time to improve our activity. Click here:
http://ourmediaindymedia.blogspot.com OR EVEN BETTER YOU CAN OFFER US WORK.Thanks !!!
WATCH!
READ!
THINK!
REALIZE!
TALK!
COMMUNICATE!
LISTEN!
DEFEND!
DESTROY!
CREATE!
CHANGE!
GET INSPIRED!
RECLAIM MEDIA WITH US!
JOIN US!
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!
LOVE !!!
SQUAT!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Einde Toespraak.Rekening Retour deel 5-video
Report on Rekening Retour rally of October 23rd
tekst from http://griekenlandisoveral.wordpress.com
About 500 people joined the Rekening Retour rally on October 23rd against the austerity measures and immigration policies of the new right wing government. The rally took place at Koekamp. It was initially planned for The Plein, but this location was banned at the last moment by the mayor of The Hague.
Just before the start of the main rally, about 80 to 100 people assembled near the Central Station for a critical, anticapitalist march towards the Rekening Retour rally to join the rest of the demonstrators. 
At Koekamp, several speakers took the stage, from organizing groups in Rekening Retour, from local initiatives, as well as for instance a cleaner active in the cleaners-struggle and a brave worker without papers. Some songs were played in between, people networked and the rally was ended with a symbolic returning of the bill (of the crisis).
Among the 500 participants were workers, students, academics, artists, immigrants, unemployed, squatters and different social-political groups (mainly of the left). Notable absents were the large trade unions as well as the parliamentary parties of the left (although there were people from SP Zaanstreek, a speaker from abvakabo fnv, as well as FNV Vecht Voor Je Recht). Although the Rekening Retour platform put considerable effort in bringing these organisations on board, it seems they have other priorities than organizing large-scale protests against the austerity measures of the new government.
The police presence was huge. A dozen or more riot cop vans were spotted, several fast police-buggies, a lot of 'normal' police, a camera van which was allowed to come close to the rally, a water-cannon standing by and a helicopter hovering above us. Already beforehand, many of the sticks for flags and posters were confiscated by the police. It is clear that the government has chosen repression as the means to deal with the people that are struggling for their right to work, to study, to have affordable health insurance and receive social protection.
Besides the horrible weather and train failures, the form of the protest wasn't uplifting either. Rekening Retour had chosen for a manifestation in which everyone stands still at one place and is basically turned into a crowd of spectators instead of participating demonstrators. This was known beforehand and was also part of the reason for Greece is Everywhere to call for an additional supporting march to the rally.
After the rally dozens of protesters wanted to warm up, dry up and have some drinks in The Hague, and the obvious place was the banned location of The Plein. Since we were not allowed to hold a protest there, and the roads to it were blocked, we had to move in small groups, of 2 a 3 people. Somewhere between 40 and 50 protesters eventually ended up in café's on The Plein, heavily guarded by police forces. After the police had largely gone, 25 remaining protesters unrolled three big banners on The Plein, as a symbolic act of resistance to the repressive policies of The Hague's mayor, who had banned a demonstration. For the participating people, this felt like an appropiate optimistic 'final touch' to the protest as it showed that people are not willing to compromise and are willing to defy the undemocratic decision of the mayor of Den Haag to ban the demonstration.
We are glad to see that people from many different backgrounds came together united against the new Dutch government that is supported by the extreme right wing populist Geert Wilders. We hope that the resistance against the austerity measures and government will increase and diversify in the coming months. Greece is Everywhere will continue working hard to try to help build this movement and hope that many people will join our next open meeting on Friday October 29th (details follow soon).
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