Report on Radical Workers’ Bloc at Tolpuddle 2019

It pissed down Friday afternoon and Saturday morning then cleared up, Sunday was hot and we got our kit away dry. Les’ food was superb as ever. We were  a bit thin on the ground as AFed were all up to no good in Slovenia. The POA seemed to be on their best behaviour, so as far as we’re aware no-one got groped or verbally abused.

Rumours of an imminent TERF infestation having circulated on Saturday night, a sharp eye was kept out for them. The fundamentalist WPUK group boasted on twitter that they had marched, but nobody saw any, and a considerable amount of video footage has been examined since. The picture they bandied about shows three transphobes with an imitation union banner stood on the road outside the marquee facing the march route. The CWU’s balloon-bearers are behind them walking in the opposite direction, indicating the march had finished. Another snap shows them stood with the crypto-Stalinist, dictator-apologising Stop the War Coalition, presumably discussing Bukharinist/Trotskyist revisionism or something equally topical.

The ‘Freedom for Ocalan’ campaign stole the show, with a Kurdish marching band, a disciplined, colour co-ordinated bloc and a balloon each end. We slotted in behind, led by Dorset IWW’s Free Kevan Thakrar banner, highlighting the most blatant miscarriage of bourgeois ‘justice’ since the pub bombing show trials and the framing of Stefan Kiszko in the 1970’s.

We didn’t get a stall this year and we hear Weymouth Animal Rights and Brighton Solfed were also declined. but as Dorset have taken over the IWW one we were able to insert some literature relating to syndicalist history, theory and practice. It was missed, because people kept asking about it. Your best bet is to come and see us at Dorset Radical Bookfair on the 7th September, or if you’re too far away get in touch. We haven’t got a literature catalogue and we’re out of space on here. We may have to set up a separate blog to host all the new stuff. There’s a job for someone with a lot of time on their hands (hint).

Shout out to, in no particular order: Rain, Sabcat Andy, Heledd, Sarah-Jane, Neil, Doozer and Les, Nikki and Kev, Swindon Jon, Dodger, Skimmity hitchers, Russ, positive Jon, Jim-Bob, Bristol SolFed, Morrish solicitors, Barnsley folk, Pete the Poet, Keith, Steve W, Robb, Lib-Com Ray and the comrade from Marea Granate, many others whose names I’ve mislaid.

Here’s some video:

Justice for Kev facebook page

RADICAL WORKERS’ BLOC AT TOLPUDDLE 2019

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and rally 2019 Friday, 19th to Sunday, 21st July 2019. View map No stall this year, apparently they were “oversubscribed”. Nah we don’t either, more time to get drunk then.

On the plus side the IWW are back, with a new improved stall run by Dorset branch.

Wob kitchen will run from Friday evening to Sunday lunch, next to the Big Tent; you’ll hardly notice the difference. Wessex Solidarity will make some of our literature catalogue available on the day. We’ve lots of new stuff that isn’t in the reference library as we’re running out of storage space – it hasn’t been updated for years. Why not get in touch now if there’s a subject you’re particularly interested in.

Catering Cadre: Comrade Les, our Wob kitchen chef is offering free training on outside and event catering for Radical Workers and groups who want to feed their members, homeless or unemployed workers in a safe and cost-effective way. Topics including:

• Basic Health safety and hygiene.
• Basic budget and Menu planning.
• Basic dietary requirements.
• Basic safe use of LPG and Butane gas cookers.

Let us know if you’re interested or come and see us about it at the festival.

Safe Space Policy: “don’t be a dick”.

This year we ask Radical Workers to be especially kind to members of the Prison Officers Association, as they are ever so sensitive, and easily upset by loud noises and rude words.

Bloody hell it was hot! Tolpuddle R.W.B. 2018

Anna is with us, we fight on! Bristol Antifascists Demo 16.03.19

Bristol Antifascists are joining with other radical groups and comrades in Bristol for a demonstration on 16th March to remember our amazing and inspiring comrade Anna Campbell. We also want to show our shared commitment to all that she stood for and towards the better world she fought so hard for.

Here’s some of the struggles Anna gave so much to and which we carry on:

Anarchism, Anti capitalism, Feminism, Anti Patriarchy, Queer struggle, Antifascism, Animal liberation, Hunt sabotage, Prison abolition, Defendant solidarity, Ecological struggle, Eviction resistance, Direct action…

Join us! Meet 2pm near the International Brigades plaque in Castle Park, between the church and the river.

15th March 2019 marks the first anniversary of when we lost Anna Campbell. Anna went out to Rojava, the Kurdish region of Syria, to join the Kurdish struggle against fascism. She was inspired by the revolution because of the politics of direct democracy, feminism and environmentalism and fought with the YPJ (Women’s Protection Units), who have been at the forefront in the fight against ISIS. Anna was killed by a Turkish airstrike whilst defending the city of Afrin.

Anna lived in Bristol before she left for Rojava, and throughout her life was active in many groups and causes, including prison abolition, feminism, anti-fascism and animal liberation.

Join with us to remember Anna and all those who have fallen in the struggle, and to take a stand for all that she, and we, believe in. The demonstration will be followed by a gathering at Hydra Bookshop, where Anna volunteered, to launch a zine made by Anna’s friends and comrades and to (hopefully) link up with the Internationalist Commune in Rojava.. If you have ideas or contributions for the gathering on please get in touch by email.

Friends, comrades and all those who wish to remember Anna and others are welcome.

Bristol Antifascists

Bristol IWW

facebook event

https://alternativebristol.com/events/anna-is-with-us-we-fight-on/

Support Dorset Eye – Independent Citizen Media

Via www.dorseteye.com

Dorset Eye is a vital resource for communities and activists, providing local, regional and international voices on a wide range of topics determined by the public. Since 2012 thousands of people have contributed news and analysis to a website that is unique in the UK, supporting local democracy, defending public services and keeping a close “Eye” on those with authority and influence.We aim provide an empowering democratic experience, so the website is run entirely by volunteers operating on a not-for-profit basis. The site is clean of corporate advertising: content is at the centre of the media experience. With growing costs and ambitious plans to become a model that can compete with the corporate media we need a significant increase in resources, especially through financial support.

What they say about Dorset Eye:

Debbie Monkhouse, Defend Dorset NHS:

“Dorset Eye covers the news that really matters to us here and is not afraid to state the facts. Dorset Eye has really helped get the message out about what is happening to our Dorset NHS – the huge losses at Poole Hospital A&E and Maternity, 245 acute beds across the county, and community hospitals in Portland, Wareham, Ferndown, Westhaven and Alderney. Crucially, Dorset Eye has not shied away from sharing clear evidence of the risk to life inherent in the CCG plans.”

Dr David McQueen, Journalism & Media, Bournemouth University:

“Dorset Eye provides a quite unique example of citizen journalism in action – giving local people a venue to write about and debate topics that range from parking, crime, traffic issues, the impact of austerity on local NHS provision, to Brexit, climate change and the mainstream media’s failure in its reporting around Saudi Arabia and the war in Yemen. No other local media in the UK is so open to citizens’ voices across such a wide range of topics and stories.

Please support Dorset Eye as generously as you can and never hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can help each other. You can back us financially at:- Support Us:  https://dorseteye.com/support-us/

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Please circulate this message to your friends, workmates and neighbours, and through your community, trade union, party and other networks.

You can contribute your own news, reports and analyses to Dorset Eye at: https://dorseteye.com/submit-a-report/

The Dorset Eye team

A Bristolian (and a toy fox) who fought ISIS

Bristol Anarchist Bookfair Saturday September 16th 2017

RADICAL WORKERS’ BLOC AT TOLPUDDLE 2017

This year’s Martyrs Festival and rally is Friday 14th to Sunday 16th July 2017, our well oiled machine will spring into action on Friday lunchtime, if you haven’t done this with us before it’s a lot of fun. If you have, you know what to expect … View map

Photo by Wheelz.

For a world without leaders, elections, jobs, money, nukes or fascists: Report from Radical Workers’ Bloc at Tolpuddle 2016.

Cowley club appeal

If you’ve ever visited the Cowley Club in Brighton it’s a great community resource and worth defending. It’s struggling financially due to the council imposing punitive business rates.

These places are a threat to those who seek the total commercialisation of our town centres and are coming under pressure everywhere. We’ll miss them when they’re gone. Please consider supporting this appeal:

If enough people set up a small standing order each month from their bank account we could thwart the bureaucrats and developers by keeping our radical social centre alive. A tiny amount you won’t miss, even one pound a month per person would be a massive help!

Name: The Cowley Club Ltd
Account no: 60362080
Sort Code: 09-01-55

Thanks! X

TIME TO STOP THE GHOSH

If you vote Tory you’re an animal-fucker

-Ed

Dame Helen Ghosh earns 185,000 pounds a year as head of the National Trust charity which is providing one of the biggest cover ups for illegal hunting this country has ever seen

Campaigners have spent six years in total trying to find out what hunts she gives a trail hunting licence to,  Now campaigners have got increasingly frustrated and have started to storm her lectures shouting BAN THE HUNT all the way through and they are making plans to ensure that the National Trust AGM meeting does not go ahead without strong protest and demonstrations.

Six years have been spent asking the same question “what hunts to do you give a licence to” and not once has a straight answer ever been received.

William Shawcross ,  head of the charity commission claims that the commission  have no legislation to act that exists for a charity that exploits loopholes in the law so effectively and the charity is not subject
to the freedom of information act.

The National Trust claim that the fifty hunts they give a licence to are following an artificial scent

Most of the hunts that The National Trust gives a licence  have been prosecuted for breaking the law, including the very notorious Heythrop Hunt. Repeatedly these hunts are found to be breaking the hunting act but yet are reinstated by the charity

http://www.huntingact.org/news/national-trust-bans-fox-hunt/
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14021300._Out_of_control__hunt_did__extensive_damage__to_3_000_year_old_hill_fort__says_National_Trust/
http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/national-trust-banned-fox-hunt-exmoor-estate/story-28723081-detail/story.html

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/national-trust-faces-backlash-for-allowing-hunt-on-its-land-after-attack-on-beach/story-30066896-detail/story.htp

The National Trust is receiving hundreds of emails a week from people making enquiries. It has had a meeting with the League of Cruel Sports and still the public do not know the answer to the question “what hunts do you give a licence to”

https://www.league.org.uk/news/hunting-on-national-trust-land-league-statement

Currently everyone is being given this same standard response

“We believe the majority of our trial hunt licences and approved trail hunting dates have ended for this season. We will be reviewing how licences will be issued for the coming year.

We have received a number of communications making enquiries about licensed trail hunts over the past year. The National Trust’s position and information regarding trail hunting is available at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/our-position-on-field-sports and is being updated with information following the end of this year’s trail hunting dates – this will be available shortly.”

Petitions to sign are

https://www.change.org/p/rachael-pavey-national-trust-stop-giving-minehead-harriers-a-licence-to-kill

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/887/114/403/revoke-land-use-licences-to-fox-hunts/

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no-moor-management-for-grouse-shooting-on-two-national-trust-estates-in-derbyshire

Kate Bradley

More info on Ledbury hunt’s thug Ross Loader.

Report on Loader’s assault of a hunt sab by Innocent Badger

Report from Bristol Hunt Saboteurs: LEDBURY HUNT STOPPED FROM HUNTING SO TURN TO VIOLENCE

If you’re a peaceful animal lover you’ll want to steer clear of this nasty little shit so here’s a handy spotter card to help you do so.

A marked man, Ross Loader of Malvern.

You might also want to give his business Broadleaf Tree Care at The Barn California Lane, Welland, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NQ a wide berth.

Email: broadleaftreecare@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07971 200 960 or 01684 311 420 facebook

Some web directories still give Loader’s old address 34 Wyche Road Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4EG. However he sold this address on 20th April 2016, it fetched the princely sum of £200,000, so he was able to buy this nice new truck in July.

ISUZU TRUCKS GRAFTER N35.120 2016 Reg DF16 ZWY

When we identify his other vehicle/s we’ll put them up here so you can avoid them too – contact us in confidence.

You might want to get rid of the coat, Ross

Loader is employed as a ‘terrierman’ by the Ledbury hunt, to dig out and drive foxes from cover, a practice that has been illegal for over a decade. The last frame above shows him legging it when told to “fuck off now” by one of his mounted masters.

Anyone recognise the other prick?

What is the role of terriermen in ‘trail hunting’?

Terriermen arrive, loader bottom right, prick two top right; all three were wearing identical jackets.

Loader has a long association with Little Malvern & Welland Parish Council.

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 20th May 2013 record: “The Clerk was also to contact Ross Loader to add more wood chippings to the base of the climbing frame and to trim the lower branches of the silver birches by the war memorial.” On Monday 19th August 2013: “The Clerk was to contact Ross Loader for advice on how to remove the two willows near the war memorial.” As of 21st October 2013 “The Clerk was [still] waiting to hear from Mr Ross Loader about the removal of the willows outside the village hall, but £150 was allocated to the project.” The Minutes however record that Broadleaf Tree Care was paid £600.00 for Grass Cutting.

As recently as 2015 the council paid Loader £345 for grass cutting. If you object to public money funding mr Loader’s animal abuse fetish you can contact the Parish Clerk David Sharp, 20 Farley Road Malvern Worcestershire WR14 1NF. Tel & Fax 01684 573213

Email info@wellandparishcouncil.org.uk or use their contact form to demand they sever their association with this wanker. Remind them there are plenty of other tree surgeons in Malvern

Another of Loader’s customers is Gloucester Rugby Club. In August 2015 he was employed to pollard some lime trees at their Kingsholm stadium.

Contact Mr Shaun Roberts, Operation Manager, Gloucester Rugby ltd, Kingsholm stadium, GL1 3AX. Tel: 0871 871 8781 shaunroberts@gloucesterrugby.co.uk Twitter: @sir1969 @gloucesterrugby

If you hear of anybody using this company please prevail upon them to take their business elsewhere.