Recently, we called on people to complain to Channel 4 about the inclusion of an attack on a female Communist MP by a Greek neo-Nazi politician in a 'comedic' review of 2012. The channel's reponse is published below. Grace Dawson of Channel 4's viewer enquiries department says that the programme's "ridicule was directed at Ilias Kasidiaris rather than the recipient". In the eyes of Channel 4, therefore, it is OK to use violent attacks on women and left-wingers as a pretext for comedy, as long as the attacker is also ridiculed. This must be of great comfort to those who have been the victims of fascist violence.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, including one of the key organisers and speakers having been taken seriously ill, we have had to reduce the conference to just Saturday 5th January 2013. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
IWA-AIT 90th anniversary conference
Hosted by South London Solidarity Federation
Final programme
12:00 – 13:15 IWA - 90’s years of ideas & practice
For 90 years the IWA has been at the forefront of the struggle against capital and the state, a SolFed member with decades of experience as an workplace militant and long time IWA affiliate introduces the theory and practice behind anarcho-syndicalism.
Last night (December 28th), Channel 4 broadcast a programme called The 50 Funniest Moments of 2012 which, bizarrely, included TV footage of Ilias Kasidiaris, a Greek Member of Parliament and spokesperson for the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, physically assaulting Communist politician Liana Kanelli.
There is clearly nothing funny about a woman being violently attacked by a man, let alone a man who is a fascist politician. Such incidents must be condemned and organised against. They should not be used as a pretext for comedy.
Early morning, 29th December, a 23 year old woman died in a hospital in Singapore surrounded by her family. 13 days earlier she had been brutally gang raped by six men whilst travelling on a bus in Delhi with a male friend. The attack caused irreparable damage to her vital organs and has triggered outrage across the world.
Members of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT union and CGT union have gone on indefinite strike and occupied their workplace at the IMESAPI lighting plant in Granollers, Catalunya, Spain, demanding an end to the redundancy package which would see four of the 21 workers let go.
The workers – now 23 days into their strike – are responsible for maintaining the street lights throughout the small Catalan town, and therefore are of critical importance to the town council. IMESAPI itself is a part of the huge ACS conglomerate owned by Florentino Pérez, the multibillionaire engineering tycoon known internationally as the owner of Real Madrid FC.
Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores, Conferencia del 90 aniversario. 5-6 enero de 2013, Londres.
Los trabajadores revolucionarios de todo el mundo se reunirán en Londres durante dos días a comienzos de enero del 2013 para conmemorar el 90 º aniversario de la fundación de la Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores - basada en los principios del sindicalismo revolucionario, que significó la aparición del anarcosindicalismo en el movimiento obrero mundial.
A great turn out again to all that turned out for today's anti-workfare picket at the Clayton Street branch of Poundland - a big thank you and well done to all that took part. See you all next time!
Anyone wishing to help in SolFed's anti-workfare campaign should get in touch via the contact page (top left)
Blacklist Support Group statement on the death of chief blacklister Ian Kerr.
Ian Kerr, chief executive of the Consulting Association and full-time blacklister of trade unionists and environmental activists since 1969, when he started work for the infamous Economic League died on Tuesday.
His £50,000 a year salary + bonus + BUPA + Mercedes company car lifestyle, funded by the major UK construction firms including Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Carillion, Kier, BAM, AMEC and AMEY came to a halt when the illegal conspiracy was closed down in 2009.
