The war and "the left" - what do "we" do?

[srb7677]

You mean the media and ruling class that are entirely behind the defence of Ukraine?

Exactly, it is their hypocrisy I was highlighting. Which undermines their moral standing even if their support for Ukraine is the right call this time. The fact that they are responsible for similar in the past themselves undermines their moral credibility.

 

[LDC]

Notes from a talk Simon Pirani was due to give alongside the StWC, but it got cancelled.

Worth a good read, especially for some on here.

Why is Ukrainian resistance invisible to you?

An appeal to supporters of the Stop the War Coalition Here are notes I made for a talk at an on-line meeting of the Stop the War Coalition’s Brent (north-west London) branch tomorrow (28 June). I w…

peopleandnature.wordpress.com

 

[Dystopiary]

Notes from a talk Simon Pirani was due to give alongside the StWC, but it got cancelled.

Worth a good read, especially for some on here.

Why is Ukrainian resistance invisible to you?

An appeal to supporters of the Stop the War Coalition Here are notes I made for a talk at an on-line meeting of the Stop the War Coalition’s Brent (north-west London) branch tomorrow (28 June). I w…

peopleandnature.wordpress.com

Great points, articulately written. Wonder if he'll get a response, would be surprised to see one written in good faith.

My only criticism is that he referred to the "former Soviet states" in the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Baltics yet didn't mention Belarus, despite its relevance to the war in Ukraine.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

This lot are back

London Makhnovist Centre squat in Fleet Street

history-is-made-at-night.blogspot.com

 

[hitmouse]

Sounds like Operation Solidarity has had a messy split - statements from ABC Dresden:

Solidarity Collectives - Update Solidarity work with Ukraine - Anarchist Black Cross Dresden

The processes within the solidarity structures in recent weeks have not been easy, especially in the current situation. We have been involved in many discussions and have contributed our perspective. In terms of content, we share the statement regarding the conflicts of Operation Solidarity and...

abcdd.org

Solidarity Collectives (one side of the split):

Solidarity Collectives Statement

We, the former members of the Operation Solidarity network, together with European comrades, want to inform you about what happened in our initiative. Since the first days of the war, our collective has been supplying our anti-authoritarian comrades who took up arms with everything they...

telegra.ph

The other side of the split, no new name yet:


No news yet as to whether either side will be applying for a stall at the London bookfair and who'll be granted one if so.

 

[hitmouse]

Following from the above, new interview with the Solidarity Collectives:

Solidarity Collectives – Interview about solidarity work with Ukraine – AND

 

[Dystopiary]

This Ukrainian anti-fascist has been captured by Russia, whose propagandists have been defaming him as "nazi".
This happened on June the 24th; at first his colleagues requested that this not be publicised, so as not to worsen his situation, but have now decided it's the right time to make it public.
His name is Maksym Butkevych.

[Maksym] was one of the important figures of the informal anarchist and anti-fascist movement of the 1990s.
Later he was a co-founder of the No Borders Project and has been helping refugees in Ukraine for many years.

 

[LDC]

Something else from Karmina.

The tragedy of the Ukrainian working class

Clan capitalism, the national question, and war.

karmina.red

 

[ska invita]

Something else from Karmina.

The tragedy of the Ukrainian working class

Clan capitalism, the national question, and war.

karmina.red

its very long, can you give a line summary?

 

[hitmouse]

Solidarity demo with the Belarusian railworkers next week:

Free Belarus Rail Workers Arrested for Anti-War Sabotage!

PROTEST SATURDAY, 23 JULY 2022 FROM 12:00-13:00 6 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DL, United Kingdom We are gathering outside of the Belarus Embassy in London in support of the Rail Workers of Belaru…

ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org

 

[Dystopiary]

There's a new article by Taras Bilous in Jacobin today.

Perhaps most striking about many of these debates about the Russian-Ukrainian war is the ignoring of the opinion of Ukrainians. Ukrainians are still often presented in some left-wing discussions either as passive victims who should be sympathized with or as Nazis who should be condemned. But the far right makes up a clear minority of the Ukrainian resistance, while the absolute majority of Ukrainians support the resistance and do not want to be just passive victims.

I’m a Ukrainian Socialist. Here’s Why I Resist the Russian Invasion.

Vietnam’s struggle did not just benefit Vietnam; the defeat of the United States there had a significant (if temporary) deterrent effect on American imperialism. The same is true with Ukraine. What will Russia do if Ukraine is defeated? What would prevent Putin from conquering Moldova or other post-Soviet states?

 

[Dystopiary]

This is something Solidarity Collectives have been doing lately - helping a small unit of anarchists defending the Kharkiv region.

There are details at the bottom in case anyone who wants to help can do so.

 

[Dystopiary]

Petition to President Zelenskyy: Protect workers' rights!

Laws 5371 and 5161, were adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament on July 19. If signed by President Zelenskyy, these Laws would destroy Ukrainian workers’ rights and working conditions.They would legalise extremes of exploitation in Ukraine that would also endanger workers’ rights across the whole of Europe.

We call on President Zelenskyy to stand with Ukraine’s workers by exercising his presidential veto on both laws. They must be replaced with measures which would increase the security of workers and enable them and their families to survive the devastation of war and build a new and stronger Ukraine.

Please sign our petition!

Sign the Petition

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this but this is an informative article about wildcat strikes in Ukraine

Wildcat strikes in Ukraine on both sides of the front line

Labor protest actions? During the war and under the ban on street rallies by martial law? Is this possible? It turns out that yes! Please support this online newsletter for humanitarian aid to civilian population in Kharkiv or a campaign to restore community social fabric via collective...

libcom.org

 

[The39thStep]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this but this is an informative article about wildcat strikes in Ukraine

Wildcat strikes in Ukraine on both sides of the front line

Labor protest actions? During the war and under the ban on street rallies by martial law? Is this possible? It turns out that yes! Please support this online newsletter for humanitarian aid to civilian population in Kharkiv or a campaign to restore community social fabric via collective...

libcom.org

There has been some coverage of the recent anti trade union legislation implemented as well.

 

[The39thStep]

PETITION TO VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE

URGENT: Copy and paste the following petition into an email and send it to President Zelinskyy at letter@apu.gov.ua, with copies to fpsu@fpsu.org.ua (Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine) and info@kvpu.org.ua (Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine).

ukraine-solidarity.eu

 

[The39thStep]

some background to this appalling legislation

Ukraine passes laws wrecking workers’ rights

Zero-hours contracts set to be legalised and 70% of workforce exempted from workplace protections

www.opendemocracy.net

 

[AmateurAgitator]

An article on the war in Ukraine by a new anarchist network in the UK :

DON’T FORGET TO MENTION THE WAR…

As the class war rages at home and abroad, it is fed by the same capitalist crisis that has brought us to the superpower brinkmanship of the conflict in Ukraine and the consequent global food crisi…

anarcomuk.uk

 

[LDC]

An article on the war in Ukraine by a new anarchist organisation in the UK :

DON’T FORGET TO MENTION THE WAR…

As the class war rages at home and abroad, it is fed by the same capitalist crisis that has brought us to the superpower brinkmanship of the conflict in Ukraine and the consequent global food crisi…

anarcomuk.uk

Is this the ACG split off? What's the story behind that?

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Is this the ACG split off? What's the story behind that?

No, they are not a split from the ACG.

 

[RD2003]

some background to this appalling legislation

Ukraine passes laws wrecking workers’ rights

Zero-hours contracts set to be legalised and 70% of workforce exempted from workplace protections

www.opendemocracy.net

And some on here reckon they revere Johnson only because he supplies armaments. Not so-the ideal of the Ukrainian political and business class is 'Thatcherism.' Thatcher is also revered among the east European movers and shakers. Has been for 40 years.

The Russian elites snarl at you as they remove workers' rights. The Ukrainians smile and say something about 'universal values' and stuff.

 

[Wilf]

No, they are not a split from the ACG.

I'd be interested to know who they are/why they've formed, even if only 2 sentences by PM.

 

[danny la rouge]

I'd be interested to know who they are/why they've formed, even if only 2 sentences by PM.

Who: they include me. You need more? OK- We are a loose collection of people, many of whom have been active for decades. Nobody famous, though.

Why we formed: to have the benefits of a network of anarchist communists. To stay in touch with each other and undertake activities in common.

 

[Dystopiary]

Absolute melts St*p the W*r have got a meeting in a couple of weeks. The title they're going with is "How Do We End the War in Ukraine?"

 

[Shechemite]

Who: they include me. You need more? OK- We are a loose collection of people, many of whom have been active for decades. Nobody famous, though.

Why we formed: to have the benefits of a network of anarchist communists. To stay in touch with each other and undertake activities in common.

Sounds good, all the best with it

 

[The39thStep]

IMV quite a thoughtful, if depressing piece, about Ukranians in the East

The Superfluous People of Eastern Ukraine - Lefteast

Imagine you are a Russian-speaker in some bombed-out Eastern Ukrainian city, waiting to be liberated. Some of the “liberators” will be first checking your closets for young men to mobilize and use as a Z-branded canon fodder. The other liberators make it clear that they see you аs nothing more...

lefteast.org

 

[AmateurAgitator]

The latest article from the AnarCom Network about the war

Fortunes of War

Before the wheels of war have a chance to stick in the mud of Ukraine’s autumn rains, they are turning to reverse in a direction entirely contrary to Russia’s intended war aims. Vladimir Putin’s sp…

anarcomuk.uk

 

[zahir]

Meduza interview with Taras Bilous

‘Let’s not exaggerate Russian propaganda’s influence’ Ukrainian socialist Taras Bilous serves in the Territorial Defense Forces. He’s also fighting the Western Left’s stereotypes about Ukraine. — Meduza

Interview by Alexey Kovalev. Abridged translation by Eilish Hart.

meduza.io

Tara Bilous is a Ukrainian socialist, editor of the left-wing publication Commons: Journal of Social Criticism, and an activist with the organization Sotsyalnyi Rukh (“Social Movement”). After Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, Bilous signed up for the Territorial Defense Forces. But in his free time, he takes part in lively debates with Western left-wing activists, intellectuals, and politicians on Twitter and advocates for solidarity with Ukraine in the pages of the most prominent left-wing publications. Meduza sat down with Taras Bilous to talk about the Ukrainian political landscape, the Western Left’s stereotypes about Ukraine and Russia, and how to counter them.

 

[hitmouse]

some background to this appalling legislation

Ukraine passes laws wrecking workers’ rights

Zero-hours contracts set to be legalised and 70% of workforce exempted from workplace protections

www.opendemocracy.net

First major strike since the start of the war:

Ukrainian coal miners defy protest ban to go on strike

Industrial action at Mine No. 9 in Novovolynsk follows takeover at the top and allegations of corruption

www.opendemocracy.net

 

[The39thStep]

Meduza interview with Taras Bilous

‘Let’s not exaggerate Russian propaganda’s influence’ Ukrainian socialist Taras Bilous serves in the Territorial Defense Forces. He’s also fighting the Western Left’s stereotypes about Ukraine. — Meduza

Interview by Alexey Kovalev. Abridged translation by Eilish Hart.

meduza.io

Isn't his group Trotskyist ?