Guest blogs: Owen Jones and Billy Bragg write for us!
Posted on Tue 22nd May 2012, 1:08pmAt this time of flag-waving, when the government hopes the upcoming Jubilee and Olympics will create a ‘feel-good-factor’ to hide the devastating impact of their unfair and unnecessary cuts programme, we must question and debate what this country is really about and what we, as a society, with progressive, democratic values, want it to be. This is the second in a series of special blogs published this week on why we must take action now to fight against the cuts.
Keep up the fight and remember past struggles, by Owen Jones
Wandering around the centre of London, it's hard to miss the gigantic Union Jacks draped over the main shopping centres. In a country not known for flag-waving zeal, it's certainly a striking sight. But, as the Jubilee approaches, we are being offered a very narrow view of what constitutes ‘Britishness’. It’s often reduced to Kings and Queens, Empire, aristocracy and class privilege.
Let’s be clear, that is one very real form of Britishness – but it belongs to the Britain of the ruling elite. There are other traditions, too, which are intentionally airbrushed out of existence: of struggle from below against injustice, oppression and exploitation.
There was the Peasants Revolt of 1381, one of the greatest rebellions of medieval Europe. After King Richard II imposed a crippling poll tax, rebels marched on London. As they gathered on Blackheath, the priest John Ball addressed them and questioned the very existence of a class system: ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?’
A century and a half before the French Revolution, our own King was deposed and a Commonwealth established. Radical groups flourished: such as the Levellers, pioneering proponents of the sovereignty of the people; and the Diggers, who were early communists.
In the 19th century, the Chartists were formed to campaign for far-reaching political reform, such as universal male suffrage and the right of all men to stand for Parliament. They were the world’s first mass working-class political movement.
We have a long tradition of trade unionists fighting for the right of workers, despite frequent attempts by those with power to crush them – such as the Taff Vale legal judgement in 1901, which made trade unions liable for losses during a strike, effectively bankrupting them if they took industrial action.
And then there were the struggles of suffragettes and suffragists for women to have the right to vote. They were demonised in their time: take one sensationalist article from The Times in the early 20th century attacking the movement. At the top of the piece were four headlines: ‘MORE SUFFRAGIST CRIME’, ‘ASSAULT AND OUTRAGE’, ‘FURTHER MUTILATION OF PICTURES’, and ‘THE TALE OF DESTRUCTION.’ On the eve of World War I, Lord Robert Cecil railed against ‘suffragist outrages’, denouncing them as a ‘very serious evil’.
There are countless other struggles, too: against racism and fascism (such as the Battle of Cable Street in 1936); for women’s rights; for gay rights; and for peace.
In recent years, hundreds of thousands have taken to British streets: against the invasion of Iraq; the trebling of tuition fees; or the biggest cuts since the 1920s. Through peaceful civil disobedience, UK Uncut has helped force the one-time fringe issue of tax avoidance to the top of the political and media agenda.
Like previous struggles, these movements are often demonised and savaged by those with power. But those who battled for democracy, equal rights and against injustice often ended up victorious eventually, despite the many odds stacked against them.
These struggles are traditions of another Britain, and we should celebrate them. By the simply act of fighting back, UK Uncut help uphold the memory of those who, before us, battled against oppressors and elites. It should be a source of pride for us all.
Photo credit: Jim Shannon
This summer- celebrate our tradition of resistance by Billy Bragg
In a country like ours, with no written constitution to uphold common values, the role of unifying the nation has traditionally been taken by institutions such as the church or the monarchy. With church attendance falling away, this summer will see a big campaign to place the monarchy at the centre of what it means to be British.
Happily, for those who find the Diamond Jubilee nothing more than a celebration of power and wealth, there are other traditions in these islands that we can celebrate.
In many ways the British have been defined in their opposition to absolute power. Magna Carta was the first attempt by any nation to hold the monarch to account. The Reformation sought to break the power of the Papacy.
The Civil War was fought over the principle that none are above the law, not even the monarch – the Roundheads called it ‘The Good Old Cause’. And when King Charles I refused to be held accountable for his actions, our parliament became the first ever to put a monarch on trail for treason against the people.
The republic that legally tried and executed Charles I did not last, but the restored monarchy was no longer able to exercise executive power. When James II tried to bypass parliament, he was deposed and a new settlement that made the monarch accountable to parliament was signed in 1688.
Absolute power now passed to parliament and so the British people focused their energies on holding the Executive to account. The Chartists, the world’s first working class movement, campaigned for voting reform, the Suffragettes for votes for women. In the middle of the 20th century, the British people voted to mitigate the destructive power of capitalism by setting up the first universal welfare system.
Under the globalisation agenda, absolute power has passed to the financial markets, who seek to dictate the terms on which we run our economies. While the monarchists celebrate their tradition this summer, we should celebrate ours by campaigning to hold the markets to account – after all, it’s a good old British tradition.
Keep up the fight and remember past struggles, by Owen Jones
Wandering around the centre of London, it's hard to miss the gigantic Union Jacks draped over the main shopping centres. In a country not known for flag-waving zeal, it's certainly a striking sight. But, as the Jubilee approaches, we are being offered a very narrow view of what constitutes ‘Britishness’. It’s often reduced to Kings and Queens, Empire, aristocracy and class privilege.
Let’s be clear, that is one very real form of Britishness – but it belongs to the Britain of the ruling elite. There are other traditions, too, which are intentionally airbrushed out of existence: of struggle from below against injustice, oppression and exploitation.
There was the Peasants Revolt of 1381, one of the greatest rebellions of medieval Europe. After King Richard II imposed a crippling poll tax, rebels marched on London. As they gathered on Blackheath, the priest John Ball addressed them and questioned the very existence of a class system: ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?’
A century and a half before the French Revolution, our own King was deposed and a Commonwealth established. Radical groups flourished: such as the Levellers, pioneering proponents of the sovereignty of the people; and the Diggers, who were early communists.
In the 19th century, the Chartists were formed to campaign for far-reaching political reform, such as universal male suffrage and the right of all men to stand for Parliament. They were the world’s first mass working-class political movement.
We have a long tradition of trade unionists fighting for the right of workers, despite frequent attempts by those with power to crush them – such as the Taff Vale legal judgement in 1901, which made trade unions liable for losses during a strike, effectively bankrupting them if they took industrial action.
And then there were the struggles of suffragettes and suffragists for women to have the right to vote. They were demonised in their time: take one sensationalist article from The Times in the early 20th century attacking the movement. At the top of the piece were four headlines: ‘MORE SUFFRAGIST CRIME’, ‘ASSAULT AND OUTRAGE’, ‘FURTHER MUTILATION OF PICTURES’, and ‘THE TALE OF DESTRUCTION.’ On the eve of World War I, Lord Robert Cecil railed against ‘suffragist outrages’, denouncing them as a ‘very serious evil’.
There are countless other struggles, too: against racism and fascism (such as the Battle of Cable Street in 1936); for women’s rights; for gay rights; and for peace.
In recent years, hundreds of thousands have taken to British streets: against the invasion of Iraq; the trebling of tuition fees; or the biggest cuts since the 1920s. Through peaceful civil disobedience, UK Uncut has helped force the one-time fringe issue of tax avoidance to the top of the political and media agenda.
Like previous struggles, these movements are often demonised and savaged by those with power. But those who battled for democracy, equal rights and against injustice often ended up victorious eventually, despite the many odds stacked against them.
These struggles are traditions of another Britain, and we should celebrate them. By the simply act of fighting back, UK Uncut help uphold the memory of those who, before us, battled against oppressors and elites. It should be a source of pride for us all.
Photo credit: Jim Shannon
This summer- celebrate our tradition of resistance by Billy Bragg
In a country like ours, with no written constitution to uphold common values, the role of unifying the nation has traditionally been taken by institutions such as the church or the monarchy. With church attendance falling away, this summer will see a big campaign to place the monarchy at the centre of what it means to be British.
Happily, for those who find the Diamond Jubilee nothing more than a celebration of power and wealth, there are other traditions in these islands that we can celebrate.
In many ways the British have been defined in their opposition to absolute power. Magna Carta was the first attempt by any nation to hold the monarch to account. The Reformation sought to break the power of the Papacy.
The Civil War was fought over the principle that none are above the law, not even the monarch – the Roundheads called it ‘The Good Old Cause’. And when King Charles I refused to be held accountable for his actions, our parliament became the first ever to put a monarch on trail for treason against the people.
The republic that legally tried and executed Charles I did not last, but the restored monarchy was no longer able to exercise executive power. When James II tried to bypass parliament, he was deposed and a new settlement that made the monarch accountable to parliament was signed in 1688.
Absolute power now passed to parliament and so the British people focused their energies on holding the Executive to account. The Chartists, the world’s first working class movement, campaigned for voting reform, the Suffragettes for votes for women. In the middle of the 20th century, the British people voted to mitigate the destructive power of capitalism by setting up the first universal welfare system.
Under the globalisation agenda, absolute power has passed to the financial markets, who seek to dictate the terms on which we run our economies. While the monarchists celebrate their tradition this summer, we should celebrate ours by campaigning to hold the markets to account – after all, it’s a good old British tradition.
Guest post: The Jubilee is a celebration by the rich for the rich- we should instead celebrate a multicultural Britain and stand up against the cuts
Posted on Mon 21st May 2012, 1:21pm
At this time of flag-waving, when the government hopes the upcoming Jubilee and Olympics will create a ‘feel-good-factor’ to hide the devastating impact of their unfair and unnecessary cuts programme, we must question and debate what this country is really about and what we, as a society, with progressive, democratic values, want it to be. This is the first in a series of blogs published this week on why we must take action now to fight against the cuts.
The Jubilee is a celebration by the rich for the rich- we should instead celebrate a multicultural Britain and stand up against the cuts by Zita Holbourne, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
When the Royal Wedding took place last year, it was estimated that it cost the economy £5 billion with an estimated £20 million of taxpayer's money spent on security alone. The Royal Wedding offered nothing for ordinary working class people apart from the local authority grants for street parties. These were offered at the same time that funding for much needed services, that communities rely on, was being cut by the same local authorities. Anybody that dared to express a dissenting view publicly was promptly removed by police.
The ‘pomp and glory’ of the Queen’s Jubilee will offer much the same as the Royal Wedding - a celebration by the rich, for the rich- while the royal family for me is a symbol of the legacy of enslavement (from the Transatlantic Slave Trade) and Empire. This symbol does little to encourage me to participate or indeed feel welcomed to participate in the celebrations.
Whenever I see the British flag waving I immediately think of the BNP who have incorporated it into their logo, while fascists have also selected St George's Day as a key date for parading their hatred. I have to laugh when I see that because it would seem that the racists and fascists couldn’t be bothered to look into St George’s ethnicity and heritage. But on a serious note, I think we need to reclaim both the British flag and St George’s day because neither should be a symbol of racism in the UK.
David Cameron has declared that multiculturalism has failed and is dead- what does that say for the multicultural communities that make up our society? Does this failure apply to the old British cultural tradition of a street party bringing neighbours together to celebrate?
There’s little to celebrate for the vast majority of working class people in the UK today – frozen pay, job cuts, having to work longer to receive our pensions whilst paying more in and getting less out, young people cannot afford an education and over a million of them cannot get work, the welfare state is under attack and facilities we might have once enjoyed in our communities have been cut.
So why not use the street parties as a coming together of minds and hearts and use the opportunity to mobilise and build campaigns to defend our multicultural societies, stand up against the discrimination of cuts impacting on black communities, women, disabled people, young people, children and the elderly in a show of strength and unity.
We support UK Uncut’s Great British Street Party for public services, rights and a welfare system.
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BARAC together with other organisations including trade unions will be organising a public meeting to coincide with the opening of the Olympics on the theme of global human rights. To get updates on this please join our email list: barac.info@gmail.com.
You can also connect with us via our website, www.blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.com facebook ‘black activists rising against cuts’ and twitter BARACUK.
Creative call-out! #May26
Posted on Fri 18th May 2012, 4:00pmThis is a creative call out!
May 26. Get it in your diary...
On May 26, in towns and cities around the UK there will be anti-cuts street parties themed around the year 1948, (the year when the NHS and welfare state were born & the last time the Olympics were in town). People will be gathering to protest, party and picnic, talk, listen, and try to define what we want for our future. A future uncut.
This is an artist call out, wherever you live in the UK, we're after your creative contributions, performance, readings, music, song, poetry, film, paintings, activities, games. It can be anything. Something that needs an audience (we can help with that bit) or just bring your own DIY activity to share.
You can read out loud, get interactive, messy (paints, pens, lego?), work with a small group, one person, or a large crowd. It can be for kids and grown ups – themed (NHS, Women, Welfare and Real Democracy are the 4 different blocs for the London protest). Content can be political, vintage1948 or just about JOY.
It’d be great to have as much creative activity as possible and we hope you are able to come along to support and be part of your nearest street party (here's a list of all the towns and cities in the UK where they are happening).
And if you can’t be there in person, you can send us something. We'll read it out/perform it for you. You'll be with us in spirit.
We want the day to be positive, defiant, hopeful. Packed with good ways of sharing thoughts, ideas, resistance.
If you've got something to share, please bring it on the day. Email ukuncut@gmail.com with your ideas and/or questions and please help us spread this call out far and wide.
See you there!
More info here: The Jubilee is a national sedative- this is a national wake up call!
Check out our 1948 Street Party call out video
Please note our 4 LONDON MEETING POINTS
#futureuncut #May26
written by Cat, an Art-Uncutter/ UK-Uncutter...
May 26. Get it in your diary...
On May 26, in towns and cities around the UK there will be anti-cuts street parties themed around the year 1948, (the year when the NHS and welfare state were born & the last time the Olympics were in town). People will be gathering to protest, party and picnic, talk, listen, and try to define what we want for our future. A future uncut.
This is an artist call out, wherever you live in the UK, we're after your creative contributions, performance, readings, music, song, poetry, film, paintings, activities, games. It can be anything. Something that needs an audience (we can help with that bit) or just bring your own DIY activity to share.
You can read out loud, get interactive, messy (paints, pens, lego?), work with a small group, one person, or a large crowd. It can be for kids and grown ups – themed (NHS, Women, Welfare and Real Democracy are the 4 different blocs for the London protest). Content can be political, vintage1948 or just about JOY.
It’d be great to have as much creative activity as possible and we hope you are able to come along to support and be part of your nearest street party (here's a list of all the towns and cities in the UK where they are happening).
And if you can’t be there in person, you can send us something. We'll read it out/perform it for you. You'll be with us in spirit.
We want the day to be positive, defiant, hopeful. Packed with good ways of sharing thoughts, ideas, resistance.
If you've got something to share, please bring it on the day. Email ukuncut@gmail.com with your ideas and/or questions and please help us spread this call out far and wide.
See you there!
More info here: The Jubilee is a national sedative- this is a national wake up call!
Check out our 1948 Street Party call out video
Please note our 4 LONDON MEETING POINTS
#futureuncut #May26
written by Cat, an Art-Uncutter/ UK-Uncutter...