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Call out to all squatters
Mikhail Bakunin - 25.05.2010 19:44
Call out for decentralized, direct actions on the 1st of June.
On the 1st of June the Eerste Kamer (first chamber of dutch parliament) scheduled voting about squatting ban. It is quite clear that the majority of the Eerste Kamer is in favour of this law. We will not leave this attack on us, that is performed by the dutch parliament, unanswered.
Our answer is RESISTANCE AGAINST their rotten and inhuman LAW! Coming squatting ban will not stop us! We will continue to OCCUPY empty BUILDINGS and RESIST each coming EVICTION!
We call everybody to DO DECENTRALIZED, direct ACTIONS on 1st June...Time to radicalize our performance in the political theater...
THE STREETS ARE OUR SCENE
THE REVOLT IS OUR ART *
*Last two sentences are from a statement released by occupiers of National Opera in Athens:
 http://libcom.org/news/national-opera-house-occupied-athens-turned-counterinformation-resistance-base-06022009
Additional note to avoid unnecessary comments and misunderstanding:
1.Indymedia.
We hope this time you will not censor our call out as you did previous time.
2.Peaceful activists.
If you don't agree with our proposal, don't join us. WE ARE NOT OBLIGATING ANYBODY TO GO WITH US! The Netherlands is big enough for diversity of tactics. Just do your own peacful demostration or action and we wish you good luck!
3.Anarchist "philosophers" and "books and discussions lovers".
We agree it is important to build up knowledge about political theories and practice. We are not against deep and intelectual discussions about political struggle and stratgies, but when the police is knocking on our doors, we rather barricade our squats then hold intersting discussions. Time to revolt now, instead of reading books about some past revolutions.
4.Party squatters
After your countless parties it is time to join the struggle against squatting ban, otherwise you are just parasites of squatting movement.
5.Conformist squatters
Many of you are talking about Antikraak (Anti-squat) as solution or you are making plans to move out of the Netherlands. It is time to join the struggle against squatting ban, otherwise you are just poseurs not squatters.
6.We think is good to have discussions. Pity that we can not meet face to face with our opponents to discuss longer, better and with more details and personal experiences.
It is also part of anarchist movement, squatters movement and other progressive movements to have a lot of disagreements about strategy, ideas and visions. We are more critical (towards our comrades as well ), because anarchists, individualists, free thinkers are not conforming easily also within own comrades. We are on this matter in oposition to fascist and conservative people, they are not so critical (they love to have leaders to tell them what to do), and they are narrow-minded (they love to conform in conservative way).
Hopefully our call out is clear enough...
SEE YOU ON THE STREETS!!!
Other call outs:
Waar moeten we zijn? NIET op het Plein!!
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2010/05/67436.shtml
Call out by Angry Brigade
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2010/05/67460.shtml
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| Read more about: wonen/kraken | | supplements | | | roll eyes | nn - 26.05.2010 13:59
'Theory without practice is meaningless/empty/sterile/mere intellectual play, but practice without theory is blind'
"We agree it is important to build up knowledge about political theories and practice. We are not against deep and intelectual discussions about political struggle and stratgies, but when the police is knocking on our doors, we rather barricade our squats then hold intersting discussions. Time to revolt now, instead of reading books about some past revolutions."
This call out is pretty disgusting in it's anti-intellectualism, and apart from some broad personal jibes as a poor substitute for actual political criticism (fucking typical of the dutch radical left) there's nothing to distinguish it from the several other call outs to action, in it's blind actionism of "Do something! I don't know what, just do something!" http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/05/67460.shtml
What's important now is to start thinking of how, come october, we're going to resist the implementation of the law and actively beat it. The same way the resistance to any new tax or law has in the past. Direct action, refusal to pay, carrying on, gaining momentum, being bigger, more in your face in terms of both numbers, diversity and well rounded radical political arguments and critiques. Same as it ever was.
"It is also part of anarchist movement, squatters movement and other progressive movements to have a lot of disagreements about strategy, ideas and visions."
But in order for there to be disagreements people would have to actually hold positions on strategy, ideas and visions! This doesn't even exist. When was the last time there was or you even had a political argument or discussion about strategy in the scene? Furthermore, there would also need to be an understanding of what strategy even is to begin with. The whole problem as outlined in http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2010/05/67352.shtml
of there not being any political content, argument or strategy is actually reinforced by such comments as above and call outs such as this. Besides which, it's elitist and condescending as fuck, "Get out of the way pseudo political squatters let the real and serious political squatters through!" AKA "How to lose friends and alienate people." Until we start recognising our common interests, repoliticising that, developing our understanding and getting back to self organisation and direct action, which is what provided us with success in the first place, we're not going to get anywhere.
BASIC STRATEGY if the capitalists can do it, why can't we?
http://www.managementhelp.org/plan_dec/str_plan/models.htm
1. Identify your purpose (mission statement) - This is the statement(s) that describes why your organization exists, i.e., its basic purpose. The statement should describe what client needs are intended to be met and with what services, the type of communities are sometimes mentioned. The top-level management should develop and agree on the mission statement. The statements will change somewhat over the years.
2. Select the goals your organization must reach if it is to accomplish your mission - Goals are general statements about what you need to accomplish to meet your purpose, or mission, and address major issues facing the organization.
3. Identify specific approaches or strategies that must be implemented to reach each goal - The strategies are often what change the most as the organization eventually conducts more robust strategic planning, particularly by more closely examining the external and internal environments of the organization.
4. Identify specific action plans to implement each strategy - These are the specific activities that each major function (for example, department, etc.) must undertake to ensure it’s effectively implementing each strategy. Objectives should be clearly worded to the extent that people can assess if the objectives have been met or not. Ideally, the top management develops specific committees that each have a work plan, or set of objectives.
5. Monitor and update the plan - Planners regularly reflect on the extent to which the goals are being met and whether action plans are being implemented. Perhaps the most important indicator of success of the organization is positive feedback from the organization’s customers.
So. let's say then that our PURPOSE is to defeat the squatting ban. Let's say one GOAL is simply the maintaining of the status quo, legally speaking. Let's identify a specific APPROACH, resist the implemenetation of the law, carry on with squatting, develop and improve our arguments and organisational and operational abilities, a growth in strength and numbers, (HINT: Days of Action aren't an approach, goal, purpose or strategy and have limited tactical benefit, they also generally don't work, at best it brings us to our next point). Specific ACTION PLANS, this may include once off action days but as stated has to be seen in a long term implementation of strategy. Preferably regular, continuous large squatting actions in defiance of the law would make some pretty decent action plans. Then MONITORING and UPDATING means continuous discussion of ideas, politics, strategy and improving our anlysis and critiques.
It's the act of continuing squatting and not how much we "RESIST each coming EVICTION!" 11!!1!!! that will determine our success. When was the last successful squat resistance even under the present law? You've definately put the cart before the horse in your suggestions and analysis here.
| | 5 steps | Anarchist Nr 9 - 26.05.2010 17:11
Mission statement: Staying in our squats and squatting more empty houses as part of the struggle against capitalism.
Goal: To get the State to not evict squats. (Not to change their laws, who cares about their laws?)
Approach: Whenever there is an eviction or demonstration: Defend yourselves.
Action plans:
In the weeks/months before eviction: Talk to neighbours, friends, etc and show that as a squat-collective you have good intentions. But make sure that the State and police know we will not be evicted easily.
On the day itself: Barricade, block, fight.
Update: When squat is lost: Squat some other building and update your barricading skills.
When squat is won: Keep eyes open and barricade some more!! And get the neighbourhood and friends to come and have a nice party.
The anti-intellectualism of the dutch radical left is based on the fact that all those who did a lot of theorizing in the dutch squatscene in the past turned like leaves on a tree as soon as they got suckered into demilitizing. Arm-chair intellectuals are useful in a way, but if everybody is busy with theory then who does the practice?
Our political critisism is simple: Capitalism and the State offer the world an unequal way of living. Poverty, war, homelesness, police-violence and destruction of our enviroment are all generated by capitalism. Let's first bring that down and then we will see what the future brings.
| | Praxis - Theory and Practice | nn - 27.05.2010 13:52
"The anti-intellectualism of the dutch radical left is based on the fact that all those who did a lot of theorizing in the dutch squatscene in the past turned like leaves on a tree as soon as they got suckered into demilitizing. Arm-chair intellectuals are useful in a way, but if everybody is busy with theory then who does the practice?"
That's odd and quite strange, cause I've travelled alot and you meet a lot of foreign radicals coming through the netherlands and amsterdam in particular and it would seem that while in other countries there may be some solely theoretical publications most gtoups will have their own internal education, discussion and debate of history, ideas and theory, managing to couple this with activities and campaigns. You also meet individuals from these groups that have a highly developed analysis, understanding and tactical and strategic thinking and have been involved in some of the more well known riots of the last 5-8 years. Even if you talk to many Greek anarchists there's a huge level of theoretical development there and that's not to say they make mistakes but they're engaged with a process of learning and informing, they can hardly be criticised for their lack of militancy. This can be seen from the talk given in Appelscha. Perhaps this is to do with the numerous groups, assemblies and publications there as opposed to what we have here, which is people living in squats, social centres with no mass open assemblies, and a handful, if even, of groups who's analysis or praxis extends beyond even single issues. What is it that makes the Netherlands so unique in this regard?
Also, armchair intellectuals aren't that useful. The point of quotes such as "Theory without practice ... Practice without theory ..." is that we need both theory and practice together, they're not mutually exclusive. However, what we have here in the netherlands is no theory and a lot of practice but practice which doesn't go beyond blind actionism or "days of action against [insert single issue or vague unexplained concept such as capitalism]".
Also, following on from that last point, it's great and all being opposed to Capitalism and the State, I am :), but have you ever asked a dutch squatter to explain capitalism, it's pretty depressing and involves a lot of talk about bad companies doing evil things.
Capitalism
The system based on exchange of commodities, private ownership by a few of the means of production and the exploitation of wage workers.
Capital
Capital is wealth which is used to create more wealth, where wealth is a description of anything created by human labour. Capital takes the form of money (money capital), which is then invested in the means of production (tools and raw materials; fixed capital) and labour power (wages; variable capital) to produce commodities. Collective production produces a surplus (surplus value, profit), which the capitalist recieves when the commodities are sold.
This can then be added to the original capital to expand it (valorisation, or capital accumulation). Expanded capital is then reinvested into production to create a constantly expanding cycle of both production and capital accumulation.
The working class is forced to work for a wage since they do not own capital themselves (although some people receive income from both sources), and because all the means of life (food, shelter, energy) are sold as commodities. As such, capital, rather than simply being "wealth" or "dead labour" represents the social relationship which makes it impossible for the working class to produce for their own needs without working for a capitalist or the state. Since it is this social relationship that libertarian communists want to replace, rather than specific powerful individuals or companies in control of it, we usually refer to capital, rather than "corporations, capitalists, the ruling class" terms which tend to be either too general or too specific to describe what we mean.
| | Answer | Mikhail Bakunin - 27.05.2010 16:34
To author of "roll eyes".
We hope, after Anarchist nr. 9 explain very well our call out in other words, now you understand what we mean.
Extra explaination about party squatters an conformists squatters.
We live in the city with maybe 200 squatters or more. When there is punk concert or tekno party many of those squatters are going to the party, but when in our city someone want to squat a building there is 5 people on squatting action and sometimes we are force by this situation to invite people from other cities to help.
It seems that accept, "Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll" (party squatters) and free house/"I don't need to work, so I can be lazy and do nothing"/"I can spend my money on drugs an alcohol, becuse I am not paying rent" (conformists squtters), nothing more is important for them.
This is very painful fact that frustrate us about condition of squatting movement.
About Theory and Practice.
Look for answer in point number 3 and 6.
Yes, we do read books and we do like discussions, "but when the police is knocking on our doors, we rather barricade our squats then hold intersting discussions. Time to revolt now, instead of reading books about some past revolutions."
We are not only "riot lovers", but we think is important to show to the government our determination to defend our squats, becuse it is huge infrastructure for diffrent activities of our movement.
We organize protests, benefit concerts, info evenings, movie screenings, some of us join political struggles in Mexico, Greece and other countries. Of course we go to demonstrations and squatting actions.
We are afraid, but not 100% sure, that most of the people just criticise us from their comfortable arm chair and don't practise own political ideas. We know that practise sometimes means mistakes, but we prefer that then only reading books.
| | A further response | nn roll eyes - 27.05.2010 18:29
Without giving away my anonymity, I am actively involved in a couple of groups political and squat related yet I still read and study theory, politics, philosophy and history but have also found it difficult in introducing this or having it included due to the anti-intellectual culture of the radical left here in the netherlands. This, for me and for others it seems now (as can be seen particularly in Luca Voorhorst's text) is a huge problem and a large weakness, yet you still seem to be rejecting this.
The problem I've outlined which still hasn't been satisfactorily responded to is the defensive and reactive nature of your suggestions and "strategy". You focus on the end result and responses/reactions to eviction. If you're emphasis and focus is on eviction and the moment when the police are actually standing outside your door, how do you plan on achieving success in resisting and potentially overturning the kraakverbod? How do we/you plan on creating a campaign and counter power that will succeed? What does it mean to win? What's our strategy? This is a conversation that needs to be had.
For lack of a comparable case in terms of squatting or of one specific to the netherlands to provide suggestions, how about we take the anti Poll Tax campaign in the UK as an example, most well known for the poll tax riot in trafalgar square. Though spectacular, the riot was not what stopped the tax - it was the mass non-payment direct action campaign.
"In 1989 the then Tory government tried to introduce a new local tax, the Community Charge or Poll Tax, first into Scotland and then, in 1990, into the rest of Britain. This new tax levelled a fixed charge on all tax payers meaning that poorer people paid a much higher percentage
of their income than the better off. For the very poorest the new tax would be a real burden whereas the rich would see their taxes fall.
Through much debate and disagreement a movement grew to resist the new tax by refusing to pay it. This movement organised itself into local Anti Poll Tax Unions, or APTUs, which organised to spread the idea of non-payment and to help people resist any attempts to force them to pay. The APTUs organised mass meetings, physical resistance to bailiffs trying to collect the tax and protests at and occupations
of town halls and council buildings. These tactics were so successful that bailiff companies went bust, unable to operate when confronted with entire communities determined to stop them. Council revenues collapsed as up to 17 million people refused to pay and the cost of chasing non-payers through the courts rocketed.
Protests at town halls often turned into confrontations with the police,
with small scale riots and disorder all over the country. A national
demonstration went the same way when police attacked in Trafalgar Square and fighting went on for hours. The grass roots of the movement
rallied round to defend those arrested, but some left political parties involved disowned the rioters (although they soon soon denied having done this when the riot proved to be popular) and even cooperated
with the police, proving that in the end they’re more concerned with their own power than the needs of working class people.
In the end, the Poll Tax was defeated by widespread self organisation and direct action. The APTUs allowed people to meet and make their own decisions and the non-payment campaign created a direct confrontation
with the state, a confrontation that we won."
Confrontation here being in the widest sense possible with regards its meaning, not just the poll tax riot. As can be seen, riots have been a part of that but it would be a fatal error to mistake the form (trafalgar square riot) for the content (the mass non-payment, self organisation and direct action) that brought about mass social struggle and eventually defeated it. It's the problem of the cart before the horse, the form over content in your analysis, as mentioned before.
I share your frustrations with what has been called elsewhere the "parasitical" and "conformist" parts of the squat scene, I've experienced and do experience first hand myself, but if we're to defeat the kraakverbod it will be necessary to surpass these elements and create a critical mass capable of overturning it or at least resisting it to the point that it is unable to be implemented. No one is questioning your resolve or determination by the way. For whatever problems and arguments, the fact that all this discussion and debate is now taking place is inspiring and shows hope for the future and the future of the radical left in the netherlands. That change can and must take place if we and anarchism are to ever become a credible and significant force (again?) in dutch society.
| | Overturn or resist | Political squatter - 28.05.2010 13:54
In a short reaction to the last comment:
I think that a lot of people who are active in the anarchist movement do not see a reason to overturn any law. They just want to see our squats defended as we are using squatting as a platform from which we can organize other stuff. Squatting not being the main point of being an anarchist. So it is important to turn any anarchist strategy away from just squatting if we ever want to get more people involved. Squatting as a means not as the end result.
In that case a simple strategy to defend and behold the squats is enough. The anarchist movement in the Netherlands should come up with a strategy that can get the so-called Totaalstrijd on the map again. To get all the little niches to work together. Lately a lot of cities have started forming anarchist collectives and this is the first step. To get everybody away from their little one-issue thing and together focus on the all the issues. Again, squatting just being one small issue.
| | Anarchist groups | nn roll eyes - 28.05.2010 15:34
"I think that a lot of people who are active in the anarchist movement do not see a reason to overturn any law. They just want to see our squats defended as we are using squatting as a platform from which we can organize other stuff. Squatting not being the main point of being an anarchist. So it is important to turn any anarchist strategy away from just squatting if we ever want to get more people involved. Squatting as a means not as the end result.
In that case a simple strategy to defend and behold the squats is enough. The anarchist movement in the Netherlands should come up with a strategy that can get the so-called Totaalstrijd on the map again. To get all the little niches to work together. Lately a lot of cities have started forming anarchist collectives and this is the first step. To get everybody away from their little one-issue thing and together focus on the all the issues. Again, squatting just being one small issue."
Hey, totally agree and I think the fact that these groups are starting to spring up now is an incredibly positive sign and also a sign of the tiredness of single issue campaigns (including squatting) with no wider analysis and a willingness for more theory, analysis and practice on anarchist terms. We'll see what the future holds, but in this regard it's looking positive. Forwards, not forgetting.
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