The Red Pepper round-up: 28 September
28 September 2012: The week around the web and upcoming actions, with Izzy Koksal
As the Liberal Democrats spent the week demonstrating their utter detachment from the rest of the population real politics were taking place in the streets of Spain and Greece as hundreds of thousands of people took the streets against austerity. The photographs of the protests are incredible with many showing the police brutality that the protesters were faced with. See these photos from Spain, these from Greece and the ‘Greece – life in an economic crisis’ Flickr account.
The mainstream media have spent the week being excited by a privileged white male speaking down to someone. I guess his archaic language did add some novelty to what is otherwise a non-story. Johnny Void points out the hypocrisy of a criminal justice system that has seen others sent to jail for swearing at coppers whilst Andrew Mitchell will no doubt retain his freedom.
The Cuts Cafe is coming soon to London. Check out their blog as they fill it with fantastic articles about the impacts of the cuts and how we can organise together. If you’ve got an idea for an article, email it to them to make this a brilliant space for generating ideas, discussion and debate. The blog has kicked off with an absolutely awesome post on our housing crisis and what we can do about it. Two other housing stories this week – with Corporate Watch reporting social engineering at the King’s Cross Central development and a public meeting where residents from the Carpenter’s Estate defended their homes against UCL’s plans to ‘redevelop’ the area – give yet more evidence to the argument in the Cuts Cafe blog.
Former HMRC boss and friend of Goldman Sachs David Hartnett saw his evening of port and tax dodging deals disturbed by black tie activists who gate-crashed the event. Watch it here and read Adam Ramsey’s explanation on why we need to mock the rich and powerful. More video fun with ‘Occupy Wall Street: One Year Later’.
If you’re in this for the long-haul, check out this investigation from the ‘Our Beeb’ team showing the massive failures of the BBC in their reporting of the NHS reform bill over the last two years. It’s huge but vital reading!
Happy Birthday Critical Mass! The first ever Critical Mass took place 20 years ago in San Francisco. We’ve been pushing pedals around the world ever since.
Events and Action
It looks like a quiet week this week, but that’s just cos we’re getting ready for a rowdy autumn!
Cuts Cafe Public Meeting, 7pm, Monday 1 October, Unite Head Offices, ground floor suite, 128 Theobald’s Road, Holborn, London, WC1X 8TN
Ending the Fuel Bill Rip-Off Public Meeting, 7pm, Thursday 4 October, Crossroads Women’s Centre, 25 Wosley Mews, Kentish Town, London, NW5 2DX
Read an article that you want to share? Got an event coming up? Tweet me @IzzyKoksal
Equal marriage: DUP homophobia shames Northern Ireland Equal marriage must come to Northern Ireland, writes Adam McGibbon
To ‘Camp Frack’, and beyond! Paul Mobbs reflects on the national extreme energy gathering, and the challenges for our campaigns during the coming year
After Woolwich – Stand together against the politics of hate Michael Calderbank says nothing excuses the Woolwich killing - but the hands of our political classes are no less besmirched with blood
Dawkins vs democracy Leigh Phillips looks at Richard Dawkins’ proposal to put scientists instead of bishops in the House of Lords
The Spark of learning Morten Thaysen Laurberg previews a week of workshops, skill shares, organising, and talks in London in the lead up to the G8
Right-to-buy in the great rip-off economy On the Woodberry Down estate in Hackney, all the council homes are being demolished in a £1billion regeneration project. It is a perfect illustration of why we have such a housing shortage says Koos Couvée
Fasting to support Guantanamo Bay hunger strikers We spoke to Maya Evans during her fast over the weekend in solidarity with Guantanamo Bay hunger-strikers
A new party of the left comes one step closer Salman Shaheen of Left Unity, the group supporting Ken Loach’s call for a new left party in Britain, reports from its first national meeting
Diary of a ‘wannabe MP’: local elections, UKIP and the left Davy Jones is Green Party parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown at the next general election and a member of Red Pepper’s board. This is the second of a series of regular blogs on his campaign
South Africa’s poor resist home attacks Amid Britain's decision to cut aid for South Africa by 2015, Caroline Elliot hears from poor shack dwellers who vow to resist the destruction of their homes.
Confronting the Climate Crisis: Graham Petersen interview On Saturday 8 June the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group is holding a conference bringing together climate scientists, trade unionists and environmental activists. Red Pepper's environment editor Kara Moses speaks to Graham Petersen, UCU environment and Greener Jobs Alliance co-ordinator
Tapping the resistance in Greece A combination of opposing privatisation and putting forward practical alternatives is helping water campaigners mount an effective challenge to austerity in Greece. Hilary Wainwright reports
The seven faces of Michael Gove Mike Peters looks at how the Tory education secretary uses the words and ideas of the left to win support for his policies
The Brighton pay dispute: the union view GMB union organiser Rob Macey puts the workers' side of the argument
The pay dispute at Brighton council: a Green view Davy Jones, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown, gives his view of a dispute that has caused huge debate among Green Party members in the city and across the country
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