Bath Activist Network

Cuts Stuff

2011-10-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Two public meetings will be showing their faces soon in the city:

On Friday the 4th of November, about possible changes to the NHS, at Friends Meeting House at York Street in Bath, at 7.30pm.

And then on Tuesday the 8th November, Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance will be holding a public meeting at 7.30pm - also at the Friends Meeting House - about the governments cuts plans and how to get involved in the fight against them.

See you on the seats!

Bath Vegan Fair 2011 coming up!

2011-10-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the 29th of October, Bath Animal Action will be proud to present the fourth Bath Vegan Fair, 2011! Taking place from 12 til 3pm at the Percy Community Centre on New King Street (just round the corner from Sainsburys), the event will be free entry to all.

As well as free locally and lovingly prepared vegan meals, free vegan savoury and sweet treats, free film showings and talks, there will be reams of information on all aspects of vegan living and issues.

More details are to follow, but at present, we invite you to join us on the day and eat yourselves silly!

Related Link: http://www.bathanimalaction.blogpsot.com

Bath Activist Network going deep under cover for summer...

2011-07-07T04:38:00.000-07:00

...like, REALLY under cover. So BAN has decided to non-hierarchically infiltrate itself into a sleeper cell til November, at which point the network will have a bit of a relaunch. in the meantime, there's our friends over at Bath Animal Action, Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance and Bath Bomb who will keep the rich's home fires burning.

love n rage

Calling All Squatters!

2011-05-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

Got any positive, funny or random stories from your squatting experiences?

We're putting together an exhibition and zine with positive squatting
stories to contradict and show the other side to squatting, to the one
regurgitated again and again by the mainstream media.

Wherever you squatted, be it Brixton or Kurdistan, or whether you squat
now or you did in the 70s, any positive stories are welcomed -- the more
varied in time & place the better. Some of the stories we have so far
include from after the second world war when families took refuge by
squatting abandoned army barracks, as so many homes had be bombed in the
blitz, as well as some stories of how newly arrived Asian families to
Britain gave up the council housing they had received to squat together in
empty estates to avoid the racial abuse they were suffering.

Your stories don't have to be this extreme though, anything that is
positive, funny or in some way a success of managing to stick it up to the
landlords or a successful use of squatting for a protest or campaign, is
very much welcomed. The stories don't have to be your own experiences but
can be ones of friends, or ones you've heard, just so long as they are
true.

Any good pictures you might have that can accompany the stories would be
brilliant too. Also, if you have pictures of transformations you've made
turning a destroyed building into a beautiful home, they would also be
really appreciated. Of course you can be completely anonymous from
anything you contribute.

Email stories & stuff to homemade[at]lorax.org.uk

Many thanks!

Bath Bomb #38 Out Now

2011-04-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

THE BATH BOMB

@nti-copyright: copy and distribute!
Issue #38
free/donation
April 2011

“I hope I don't have to plan another car crash” Elizabeth Windsor

*

A Guide To Preparing, Hosting & Enjoying Your Own Personal Royal Wedding Party

CELEBRATIONS ARE RAPIDLY approaching as the country waits in eager anticipation of the holy union of Prince William and Kate Middleton, no relation. Many people have been busying themselves with neighbourhood street parties and other festivities to enjoy on the special day. If, however, like me, you wish to appreciate the marriage ceremony in a more dignified, personal manner, then this is the guide for you.

Preparations:

Like any good host knows, the key to a great party is being prepared. There are several items and devices you'll need to get the most out of the historic day, so you'll want to make sure you don't miss out. First and foremost, you'll require a television. Many people prefer the old-fashioned route of listening in on the wireless but I feel this leaves too much to the imagination; at the very least you should have a 50” H.D. T.V. to fully appreciate the beauty that is Kate Middleton. Second up is curtains. Remember, this is a private party. The street party outside is not welcome. You don't want neighbours' eyes staring in and judging you and the good time you're having. Next is another essential: royal events are rarely short affairs and you need to make sure your party's not over before the wedding's even begun. It's for this reason I recommend lubricant, and plenty of it.

Hosting:

Well, as this is a personal do, the only person to entertain is yourself and with the Windsors on show, this'll be quite a simple task. Just taking a skim through the morning papers should get you well in the mood for the day ahead. Of course, there are many ways to get more out of the occasion than simply turning up. I would certainly be inclined towards procurring some royal merchandise. Here are a few items to ease your day as the host: a drinks hat (hands-free), a mug, tissues, a W.W. vibrator and/or a K.M. fleshlight.

Now to begin. There are those who reckon it's best to get as many in as possible before the day's over; I refute this. Quality over quantity is what I say.

Go at a nice slow pace and let the special occasion build up around you. Take it easy, you'll know when the time is right. It's a long journey ahead, so be sure to use lube right from the off. Have the phone turned off and perhaps the doorbell disengaged. Getting plenty of fluids is important (remember the drinks hat) and eat something before you start. Don't go too furiously whilst ogling at common Kate or horsey William, as Liz might pop on screen and push you over the edge. Don't fear the toys you've just bought, they're modelled on the happy couple and can only improve the day's sensations. Keep applying lube. Once you feel the grand moment coming, don't hold off, just grab the mug, relax and catch your hard work. Finally, clean your disgusting self off and get on with your life.

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Two Tales Of One Demo

IN ORDER TO bring you the most in-depth coverage possible of the recent anti-cuts march in London, the Bath Bomb split its forces, disguising one reporter as an N.U.T. union rep, and a second as a hate-filled, balaclava-wearing anarchist bent on destruction; incidentally, very little disguising was necessary on either count. So, first from our union correspondent:

“Saturday 26th March saw public anger over the brutal Con-Dem spending cuts spill onto the streets, in what was the biggest workers' movement protest in over two decades. Over 500,000 people, on ten specially-chartered trains and over 850 coaches, descended to oppose a program that will decimate the lives, jobs and communities of millions.

Starting at Embankment, the demo was alive with chanted angry slogans, set to a soundtrack supplied by dozens of soundsystems, samba and union brass bands. What was notable was that, far from the usual suspects (who we'll hear from later), the march represented a real cross section of society – young and old, student and workers, unemployed (once again, we'll hear from them later), black, white, gay, straight – the feeling was that all of civil society had come together to reject the cuts. And the sheer buzz of being around so many defiant people was inspiring to all assembled. Once the march reached Hyde Park, the masses were treated to a round of pant-shittingly exciting speeches from the likes of Brendon Barber and, disgustingly, Ed Milliband, who had somehow snaked his way on stage to try and con us into voting for his pack of liars. Ironically, this is the same man who presides over a party which, where it controls local councils, is voting through cuts with almost the same gusto as the Con-Dems!

Despite having Red Ed foisted on them, the marchers left in good spirits, knowing that whoever's in power, we were well-supported enough to win. We don't believe for a second that having Labour in will end the government's pro-business/pro-rich agenda, but what we do believe is that if ordinary people are willing to push hard enough, we are unstoppable; and a catalyst of that spirit was in London. As Brendon Barber himself said – the phony war is over. It is now our task to get mobilizing in our workplaces, preparing people to really get stuck in to what is already shaping up to be the fight of a generation!”

And on the subject of fighting...

“We formed up with the South London Workers feeder march from Kennington Park, and set off to join the main demo. Led by a distinctly Trojan-looking giant horse, alongside many a fluttering red'n'black and the London Solidarity Federation banner, it made an important statement that anarchists were part of the day's action, rather than holding ourselves as aloof and 'more revolutionary than thou' elsewhere. Though our methods sometimes get a little more energetic than the static vigils and tidy A-to-Benn marches deployed by others, it is only through a diversity of tactics – legal or otherwise – that we will topple these Tory scum. After all, “if voting ever changed anything, they'd make it illegal.”

Despite all the prior police threats, the Met seemed strangely stand-offish. Around Trafalgar Square, the various groups and sub-marches split off until the sprawling 500-strong 'Armed Wing of the T.U.C.' converged, running down Picadilly with riot police in tow, beyond the haze of smoke bombs and firecrackers. Navigating by the sound of sirens and helicoptor, the majority of the crowd were uniformed in black and face masks, alongside local youth, all vigilant and mobile against any kettling – either to protect their own identity, or to provide deniability for comrades. Tax dodger or upper class companies like Boots, Starbucks and the Ritz were attacked, alongside racks of Barclays-branded bikes, but a flair of cheeky opportunism lashed out at whatever targets the cops failed to protect, such as McDonalds and, bizarrely, Ann Summers.

The big horse later erupted into flame at Oxford Circus (not quite to the “London's Burning” magnitude that the banner promised), and U.K. Uncut flash mobs occupied banks and outlets along Oxford Street. As mentioned, the Met response was suspiciously low-key, which the mainstream media made much of in their later angry critiques. But what seems more likely is that the police were making the day an example to support their own anti-cuts struggle – 'the police are a necessary force to hold back the violent hordes, and if funding is cut, there will be another repeat of March 26th.' Of course, once the cameras went home, the police got back to rioting as usual, with 202 arrests on the day (including 187 who negotiated to voluntarily end the Fortnum & Mason occupation, under a promise of no arrests; never trust a copper, boys and girls) and over 40 injuries, including 18 filth; they also targeted legal observers for unlawful detention.

And yet the aims of the police and T.U.C. seem largely the same – whilst their constituent unions have been striking and fighting back continuously, the T.U.C. were forced into taking some action, if only to masquerade as 'leaders'. Hence the six-month late march, with its contingent of private security mercenaries to keep the rabble in line. And when Barber and co demanded that volunteer stewards hand in details of known 'trouble-makers' to the police, several stewards had the grace to resign. But now they've marched their troops to the top of the hill and slithered off, what next for the movement? It seems likely that industrial action in isolation won't be enough, and neither will direct action alone (the day's actions cost the West End maybe 15% of its £30 million Saturday take); a greater unity is needed, including students and pensioners, but also an empowered claimants union, too. Twenty years back the Poll Tax was defeated because it was impossible to impose. These cuts are a much more ambitious assault, but once again we need to ensure that they become impossible to implement.”

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Grayling The Sadist

FIGURES RECENTLY ANNOUNCED by The Sadist suggest that 500,000 persons, a third of those previously considered incapable of work, will be moved from sickness benefit to J.S.A. The Sadist claims that these people are in fact entirely healthy and ready for immediate employment. This is a clear case of Tory redefinition of illness, to skimp on money and societal responsibilities. But does it go deeper than that? It turns out that private companies will be payed £14,000 from the public purse when hiring a 'formerly' vulnerable person – three years' worth of incapacity benefit. This means several things, all woefully negative: cleaning and other such companies will deliberately hire those questionably (at the very least!) capable for work over those already job-seeking; because of said firms' revolving door employment policy, these people will likely lose their job way before three years are up; and finally this results in wasted public spending, jeopardised lives and the only beneficiary is once again private interest. The Sadist couldn't care less about the poor and vulnerable, only the fun in hurting them.

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With Friends Bidgood, Who Needs Enemies?

MARCH THE 22ND and 24th saw thousands of university and college lecturers across the country strike against attacks on their pensions, as part of the wider scale Con-Dem assault on Higher Education. In Bath, picket lines were mounted at City of Bath College, the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, joined by some students and locals in solidarity. Though pensions are currently £10,000 and college lecturers' wages are capped at £28,000 – soon to be dropping further – that didn't stop the B.B.C.'s misinformation campaign hyperventilating about fictitious £36K wage packets. Bath Uni's Student Union voted to support the strike, carried out by 50 staff, and an online poll revealed that over 80% of its students supported the lecturers. But this groundswell of support makes the decision of Bath Spa S.U. President Richard Bidgood to condemn the strikes, alongside the rest of his leadership, all the more disgusting. Well known for being an odious, careerist joke of a union rep, Bidgood, rather than joining the majority of students, bleated about the strike being “inappropriate”, and stuck a knife firmly in the back of those people who work so hard to supply him his education. All this after 68% of Bath Spa students voted in favour of the strike, in a poll set by Bidgood himself – democracy or what?

Lets not forget, this is the same man who refused to support a national day of protests against tuition fee hikes and the scrapping of E.M.A., because he didn't want to be associated with the nasty ruffians who act to defend education for future generations. With Bidgood and his cabal getting further and further out of touch with the demands and needs of the average student they're elected to represent, isn't it about time the students of Bath Spa took a stand and (wait for the pun...) Bidgood-bye to bad rubbish?

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GOT A STORY? WANT TO RECEIVE THE BATH BOMB BY E-MAIL? COMPLAINING ABOUT ACCEPTING MONEY FROM BIG BUSINESS? Contact us by e-mailing bathbombpress[at]yahoo.co.uk. Large print e-versions available on request. And for more info on any of our stories, check out http://www.thebathbomb.blogspot.com

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Out With The Tory Cuts

OVER HALF A million took to the streets of London on Saturday 26th March, and its power came from numbers and the social power they represent. But where do we go from here?

Activists in the trade unions are calling for joint action across unions to defend wages, services, jobs and pensions. At the march, Len McClusky, leader of Unite (Britain's biggest union), told the rallly: “This is only the start. We need a plan of resistance, including co-ordinated strike action.” And Mark Sewotka of the P.C.S said “Imagine what a difference it would make if we didn't only march together, but took strike action together.” So, at a busy meeting in Bristol on Monday 4th April, workers pledged to organise to fight back against the government's attacks; unions including U.C.U., N.U.T. and P.C.S. are planning a one-day strike on 30th June. It is now imperative that those of us in unions get involved, and those of us not need to join workers on their lines.

The campaign against wealthy tax evaders/avoiders needs to step up, too. The wealth of the richest 10% in Britain is £4,000 billion, and a one-off tax of 20% on this group would raise £800 billion, wiping Britain's debt in one fell swoop. The campaign against stores like TopShop and Vodafone needs to continue – the rich, not us, should pay for their crisis. Furthermore, we need to stay united in the anti-cuts movement – which includes not crumbling into secularism and laughable old rivalries. All forms of dissent are acceptable, and needed.

In other news:

* As expected, all three M.o.D. sites in Bath – Foxhill, Ensleigh and Warminster Road – are to be closed by 2013. Although some will relocate to Corsham and over-crowded Abbeywood in Bristol, the majority of the 2,600 jobs will vanish. As well as up-ending the lives of workers and their families, the local economy in these areas will be left for dead, leaving miniature ghost-towns. Adding insult to injury, the civil servants' union P.C.S. has had union reps' facility time removed by Cabinet directive, and at least two national reps have been sacked, as the Con-Dems continue their work to dissolve unions
* March kicked off with an anti-cuts rally in Swindon on the 5th, where ten Bathonians and Bristol Anarchist Federation folks joined 30 other locals, for a pleasant round of speeches and impromptu march to the local Vodafone; at the same time as a gaggle of hysteric police wrestled laughably to hold back a mischief of anarchos, two-faced Labour politician Cunty McBullshit condemned the frolics, straight after talking some spiel about “now is the time to fight.” Saturday 19th then saw Bristolians hold a 'Turning Banks into Libraries' blockade and poetry reading in the centre, and in Bath, Wednesday 23rd saw a shy gathering of 15 students and Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance outside the Guildhall, to mark budget day. Then, the 9th April saw a 23-strong blockade of Burtons on Union Street, over the hypocrisy of owner Philip Green's £285 million tax avoidance, whilst at the same time advising the Con-Dems on their cuts program. Bath police tried hard to incite the blockade to violence, but were heard lamenting into their radios “unfortunately, they're peaceful at the moment.” Whilst the banks were bailed out to the tune of £1 trillion back in '07, R.B.S. recently handed £28 million in shares to its nine top execs, and Barclays announced pay-outs of £110 million for its top five. Their boss, Bob Diamond, walked away with £11.5 million – 1,000 times the wage of the average cashier, 542 nurses, or 380,000 E.M.A.s. Oh, and he also graciously plans to accept a £9 million bonus: and why not? Meanwhile, in Bristol, 340 staff posts are on the out, the Tenant Support Service budget is to be slashed by 20%, as is the Safer Homes Project (to the tune of £150K); in Bath, 300 council jobs are to go
* Speaking of E.M.A., just two days after the big T.U.C. kick-off which Education Secretary Michael Gove swore would have no impact on his anti-education policies, he seems to have choked on some of his words. Gove shamefacedly mumbled plans in the Commons about a new £180 million bursary scheme, and a 'discretionary fund' weekly payment for the poorest students in schools and colleges. Though the piddly pennies amount to less than half of the previous E.M.A., it hints at what a good extra shove might achieve
* On Monday 18th April, the staff of Bristol's Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre were out on strike, outraged by declining work conditions and customer service as a result of bosses' unrealistic targets. Another 36 offices around the U.K. were also out
* Wasting £3 billion in reorganisation, Andrew Lansley's planned ground-breaking sell-off of the N.H.S. would see £80 billion (80% of its budget) slipped to G.P. Consortia and, by extension, vultures like Bupa and Virgin Healthcare. In the process, 50,000 jobs are expected to depart, including 27,000 in nursing. Locally, private company bodge ups are already a regular occurrence, with their mistakes remedied by the R.U.H. But Lansley's plans will further remove state responsibility in health provision, and any accountability, and the P.C.T.s are being dismantled right now. On top of that, private providers were to be 'compensated' with an 16% premium permitted to compete with N.H.S. subsidies; but now, Cameron is getting all touchy-feely and making a show of reining in his underling's undemocratic plot. What's the bet that he'd rather destroy the service in stealth later, than do it publicly now?
* The uni fees nightmare is fast becoming reality, as more and more universities opt to set fees at the £9K mark. The University of Bath joins Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham and others, in their joint plot to re-create two-tier education, where the haves get the best, and the have-nots can fuck off
* In a continuation of the Tory gold-rush privatisation of fundamental public services, 'Communities' Secretary Eric Pickles announced last month plans to dismantle the T.U.P.E. code. This code previously ensured that jobs out-sourced from the public to the private sector were still guaranteed the same pay and conditions they previously enjoyed. Now, new starters will see more minimum wage McJobs, with no sick pay, holidays or pensions... The savings will no doubt be re-invested in white long-haired cats, monocles, high-backed revolving chairs, and maniacal laughter
* Another sick joke came in the form of the Tax Payers' Alliance, and their proposed pro-cuts rally in London on the 14th May. Apparent plans for the Tax Dodgers Alliance involve assembling outside F.&M. to applaud that company's unpaid £40 million debt. We can only hope that London's finest go easy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9438000/9438615.stm
http://www.keepournhspublic.com,

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UPCOMING EVENTS

drawing classes: 'Remembering the Present', Mondays & Tuesdays, Stokes Croft Museum, 81-83 Stokes Croft, Bristol; http://www.stokescroftmuseum.info

London Road Food Co-op, Wednesdays, 5-7p.m., Riverside Community Centre, London Road, tel 07837 784715; http://www.londonroadfoodcoop.blogspot.com

film: Factory Film Nights, Wednesdays, 7p.m., the Factory social centre, 26th Portland Square, Bristol, free entry; http://freefactory.wordpress.com

exhibition: 'Remembering the Present', Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 11a.m.-3p.m., Stokes Croft Museum, 81-83 Stokes Croft, Bristol; http://www.stokescroftmuseum.info

Bathampton Community Growers workday, Thursdays, 10a.m.-dusk, Mill Lane, Bathampton, e-mail thelostplot[at]googlemail.com/ tel Chris 07792 444628

Bathampton Community Supported Agriculture project: fruit picking, Thursdays and Sundays, 10-2p.m., F.F.I. e-mail csa[at]transitionbath.org; http://www.bathamptoncsa.wordpress.com

Bath Stop The War Coalition vigil, Saturdays, 11.30a.m.-12.30, Bath Abbey Courtyard

Bradford-On-Avon peace vigil, Saturdays, 11.30a.m.-12.30, by the peace statue opposite Westbury Gardens by the Town Bridge, Bradford-On-Avon

exhibition: 'Remembering the Present', Saturdays, 12-4p.m., Stokes Croft Museum, 81-83 Stokes Croft, Bristol; http://www.stokescroftmuseum.info

Recycle Your Sundays, Sundays, 10.30a.m., starts Abbey Churchyard, the regular series of sociable, easy-paced cycle rides; F.F.I. see http://www.bathrys.org.uk/ tel Hazel 01225 469199

Taunton anti-cuts protests, Sundays, 1p.m., Taunton centre memorial; http://www.tauntonac.wordpress.com

vegan cake bake benefit sale, Friday 22nd April, 11-3p.m., Emporium, 37 Stokes Croft, Bristol; F.F.I. e-mail barc[at]hotmail.co.uk

Sizewell Anti-Nuke Camp, Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April, Sizewell, Suffolk, IP16 4UE; http://www.sizewellcamp.org.uk

Pay It Forward free activities week, Saturday 23rd to Friday 29th April, Bristol; http://www.3ca.org.uk

South Coast Camp for Climate Action, Saturday 23rd April to Sunday 1st May, Brighton; F.F.I. e-mail southcoastcamp[at]riseup.net; http://brightonclimateaction.org.uk

Common Place Social Centre closing weekend, Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th April, 5p.m., Common Place Social Centre, 23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds; http://www.thecommonplace.org.uk

Rossport Solidarity Info Night, Sunday 24th April, 6p.m., Kebele Community Co-op, 14 Robertson Road, Easton, Bristol; http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org

demo: Tour the Vivisectors!, Tuesday 26th April, 12-1p.m. (A.X.A. at Spectrum House, Bond Street, central Bristol), 2-3p.m. (AstraZeneca at Avlon Works, Severn Road in Hallen) and 4-5p.m. (Astra Tech at Brunel Way, Stonehouse, in Gloucestershire); F.F.I. tel 07794 891226 or e-mail barc[at]hotmail.co.uk

Bristol Palestine Solidarity meeting, Tuesday 26th April, 7.30-9p.m., upstairs at Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol; http://www.bristolpsc.info

Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance meeting, Tuesday 26th April, 8p.m., the Bell, Walcot Street; http://www.bathanticutsalliance.blogspot.com

Republican Picnic Against Parasites, Friday 29th April, meet Victoria Park war memorial 12 midday; http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

Alternative Royal Wedding Party, Friday 29th April, 12-9p.m., Trinity Community Centre, Bristol; http://www.3ca.org.uk

Not The Royal Wedding Street Party, Friday 29th April, 11.30a.m., Earlham Street, London; http://www.republic.org.uk

325 punk & hardcore benefit gig, Friday 29th April, 8p.m., the White Heart, Whitehall Road, Easton, Bristol; feat. Oi Polloi, Divine Spark, War/System & Casus; £6 entry; http://www.bastardsquadcollective.wordpress.com

demo: Bath Trades Council May Day, Saturday 30th April, 11.30a.m.-12.30, outside Marks & Spencers on Stall Street

street party & protest: Mayday, Mayday!, Saturday 30th April; F.F.I. tel 07950 889281 or e-mail brightonmayday[at]gmail.com; http://www.brightonmayday.wordpress.com

Bath Activist Network meeting, Thursday 5th May, 7.30-9p.m., downstairs at the Hobgoblin, St James Parade; http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

films & talk: 'The Road to Haymarket, May Day, and its Relevance Today', Monday 2nd May, 7.30p.m., Cube Microplex, Dove Street South, Bristol; £4 or £3 entry, but no one turned away through lack of funds; http://wwwbristolanarchistbookfair.org

film & talk: '¡Viva Mexico!', Wednesday 4th May, 7:30-10.30p.m., Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol; http://www.kiptik.org

Bristol Anarchist Bookfair ska & punk benefit gig, Wednesday 4th May, 8p.m., the Plough, Kilburn Street, Easton, Bristol; feat. Thee Infidels, Luvdump & Po-Lice; £4 entry; http://bastardsquadcollective.wordpress.com

raffle, art sale & DJs: 'Art For Africa' Malawi benefit, Friday 6th May, 7p.m., venue T.B.C.; http://www.temwa.org

talk: 'Soccer vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics', Friday 6th May, 7.30-9.30p.m., Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Road, Easton, Bristol; http://www.brh.org.uk/2011/04/08/radical-history-zone-2

Bristol Anarchist Bookfair, Saturday 7th May, 10.30-6.30p.m., Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol; free entry; http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org

Bristol Anarchist Bookfair punk & folk & hip hop & ska after party, Saturday 7th May, 9-2a.m., Attic Bar, Stokes Croft, Bristol; feat. Anklylym, Colectif Mary Read, China Shop Bull & Aberrant; £5 entry; http://www.kebelesound.wordpress.com

Bath Animal Action & Bath Hunt Saboteurs meeting, Monday 9th May, 8-9p.m., The Bell, Walcot Street, e-mail bathanimalaction[at]yahoo.co.uk; http://www.bathanimalaction.com

Transition Bath in Action Group meeting, Tuesday 10th May, 7.30-9.30p.m., United Reform Church Halls, Grove Street; http://www.transitionbath.org/tbag-meeting

Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance meeting, Tuesday 10th May, 8p.m., the Bell, Walcot Street; http://www.bathanticutsalliance.blogspot.com

Bath Green Drinks, Wednesday 11th May, 8p.m., the Rising Sun, Grove Street

Bath FreeShop, Saturday 14th May, 12-3p.m., outside the Pump Rooms, Stall Street

Taunton Food Fair, Saturday 14th May, Taunton

demo: Tax Dodgers Alliance 'Rally Against Debt' (and counter demo), Saturday 14th May; http://rallyagainstdebt.org

free garden party, Sunday 15th May, 12-9p.m., Trinity Community Centre, Bristol; http://www.3ca.org.uk

8-week course: 'Mindful Communication', starts Tuesday 17th May, 5p.m., Bristol Buddhist Centre, 162 Gloucester Road, Bristol; F.F.I. tel 01179 249991; £200-£500; http://www.bristol-buddhist-centre.org or http://seedofpeace.org/?p=1406

workshop: 'Weaving Magic – Skills for resilient projects', Wednesday 18th to Thursday 9th May, 10-5p.m., St. Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, Bristol; £70-£110; http://www.shiftbristol.org.uk/?page_id=92

day school: 'Beyond Borders', Saturday 21st May, 11.30a.m., Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Road, Easton, Bristol; https://network23.org/bristolnoborders

Bristol No Borders punk & folk & ska benefit gig, Saturday 21st May, 7.30p.m., the Plough, Kilburn Street, Easton, Bristol; feat. KilnAboy, Spanner, Anarcho Folko & Na, No and the Nachos; £5 or £4 entry; https://network23.org/bristolnoborders

Bath Hunt Saboteurs meeting, Monday 23rd May, 8-9p.m., The Bell, Walcot Street, tel 07854 062336

conference: 'The Seven Ages of Dylan', Tuesday 24th May, 11a.m., Department of English at the University of Bristol; http://dylan-at-seventy.weebly.com/index.html

Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance meeting, Tuesday 24th May, 8p.m., the Bell, Walcot Street; http://www.bathanticutsalliance.blogspot.com

Taunton Activist Collective punk & ska benefit, Saturday 28th May, 7p.m., Unity House, Bridgwater; feat. Officer Down, Po-Lice, 51st State & Shavin Mavis; £3 entry

Transition community picnic & acoustic music, Friday 17th June, from 6p.m., Smallcombe Community Nuttery

talk: B.&N.E.S. Youth Climate Summit, Wednesday 29th June to Thursday 30th June, University of Bath; http://www.ycs.greenvisionmovement.org.uk

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Bath Activist Network are a local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development, environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights, workers' rights and more. Helping to produce the Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to anarchists, liberals and greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better. For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, e-mail bathactivistnet[at]yahoo.co.uk, or see our website: http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com

*

Keeping It Brief

* BIG A, LITTLE A (Board): as B.&N.E.S. continue to brown nose unsustainable big business, they've shat on independent retail yet again, with their current controversial drive to squeeze yet more cash from local traders. The mugging this time is over the common A-board, an anti-personnel disaster waiting to happen. Hoping to introduce a £100-a-piece permit scheme, the Tory licensing committee is concerned that these weapons of mass destruction could be capable of inflicting serious multiple injuries, as seen by the regular three-high pedestrian pile-up of bleeding, war-torn shoppers staining the pavements up and down Walcot Street. Staff of the over-stretched, soon-to-be privatised R.U.H. are said to welcome the move
* We've never liked the idea of using Bath Bomb as a vehicle for oblique threats to restaurateurs who may or may not be reading, and now is no exception; so it comes as little surprise to find that the Bath Priory and Queen's Berry Hotels are now proudly schlopping animal abusing 'delicacy of despair' foie gras onto their customers' plates, despite Bath Animal Action's local high profile campaign. Expect a visit soon!
* The Bristol Anarchist Bookfair and/or Christmas will come early this year, taking place on Saturday 7th May at Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, above 'the Canteen' cafe. Free entry and wheelchair accessible, there will be workshops, stalls, a kids space, and a vegan cafe. And books. Expect funny-looking drop-outs in black, gorgeous cakes and an equally gorgeous Bath Bomb stall
* Last month the national Camp for Climate Action collective met and sombrely published online their decision to abandon the done-to-death 'Climate Camp' model of eco-protest. But with campaigns still fighting tooth and nail against G.M. crops, nuclear power, fossil fuel extraction and greenfield development, the swampies are still going strong
* Injustice Secretary Kenneth Clarke is pushing forward yet more anti-squatter/traveller laws, if the next three months' research committee goes his way. Weeping over the nightmare of landlords and big companies having to piss away miniscule fractions of their profits on evicting the homeless or politically active from their second/third homes or ten-year vacant derelict office blocks, would-be home-makers may face jail, and police could gain the right to legally to smash their way in and do landlords' dirty work... like they don't already! Could this mark the end of the beloved Section 6?
* Back at the beginning of the month, naval rating Ryan Donovan of the nuclear sub H.M.S. Astute demonstrated an appropriate respect for authority and gunned down two Lieutenant Commanders, killing one. He was overpowered, though, before he managed to relieve any more brass of command, as with the visiting V.I.P.s. As you may know, fragging has long been a useful tool for grunts to put officers in their place – that is, six feet under
* As well as Gadaffi the Clown's gonzo antics in Libya, the to-do spread last month to Syria, where at least 61 are confirmed dead, alongside the burning of Baath party offices, and the President's minor concession of releasing 200 political prisoners. The revolution bug also broke out against King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen, where top military ranks and tribal leaders defected
* The citizens of Wisconsin in the U.S. outdid themselves in February, when Republican Governor Scott Walker tried to introduce an anti-union bill. The response: a state-wide constant rolling blockade 10,000 strong, and teachers taking mass sick days. There was even a strange move to bring in Obama or Bob the Builder to help. Beat the bosses? Yes, we can.

The Bath Priory:
http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk/media/uploads/pdfs/ClassicTastingMenu.pdf
The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, Weston Road, Bath, BA1 2XT
tel: 01225 331922
fax: 01225 448276
e-mail: mail@thebathpriory.co.uk

The Queen's Berry Hotel:
http://www.thequeensberry.co.uk/uploads/a_la_carte_menu_feb_2011.pdf
Queen's Berry Hotel, Russel Street, Bath, BA1 2QF
tel: 01225 447928
fax: 01225 446065
e-mail: reservations@thequeensberry.co.uk

http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8439401/HMS-Astute-shooting-Nuclear-submarine-guard-kills-officer-in-rifle-rampage.html

*

Black Bloc Rockin' Beats

AS ANYONE WHO has been within a mile of a TV, radio, computer or newspaper will know, the largely peaceful anti-cuts march in London on the 26th March was joined by a large contingent of 'troublemakers' who left corporate targets throughout London a smashed up, paint-spattered mess. While T.U.C. bureaucrats and careerist M.P.s alike clamoured to condemn the property damage in the most vitriolic terms possible, and the corporate media jettisoned semen over images of masked-up protestors trashing H.S.B.C., the rest of us are still trying to decide what to make of it all. It certainly made for dramatic reporting, but what did it achieve? The insurance will cover the smashed windows and business went back to normal, but many will take the view that an expression of anger against the cuts and bailouts was made, and battlelines redefined.

The most important thing to take out of this, however, is the complete lack of context applied by the media. Every single day, banks invest in arms companies putting weapons in the hands of child soldiers, propping up corrupt regimes, and financing the coal/oil/blood diamond-extraction trades whilst, in this country, bankers increase their bonuses and profits at our expense. The difference between the banks and the bank smashers? The minor damage inflicted by the indoor-fresh-air-enthusiasts was committed outside the bounds of this country's laws, while the exploitation meted out by banks is made legitimate by a legal system that has always favoured the rich. The fact that Cameron stands up and condemns the rioters just weeks after returning from his arms trade roadshow tour of the Middle East, smacks of the rank hypocrisy of a state that smiles on daily human rights abuses carried out by banks, 'defence' firms and corrupt politicians, but punishes the breakage of an inexpensive bit of glass with potential imprisonment. Maybe a smashed window won't usher in revolution, but is it any wonder that some will be frustrated enough to throw the odd brick? Surely we would be better informed if, instead of focusing on imaginative new window displays, the media told us the (albeit less sexy) story of the thousands of families booted out of their homes, starved, shot, bombed and tortured in the elite's perfectly legal pursuit of ever more profit.

*

Theory Corner: A Census Waste

WELL, WHAT WITH our 'in it, on it' commitment to bringing you fresh news on the hour, the National Census will no doubt be old hat by the time you get to read this; but that's never stopped us before. What started out in 1801 as a single sheet of paper, has now swollen into a £480 million-plus black hole, even though we're all meant to be broke. The justifications for this irrelevant invasion of our privacy ranges from helping the state allocate funds to local authorities and future health care (£0.00, anyone?), or formulating future housing and transport strategy. And yet, every single time a new route or development is planned, there will still be a fresh consultation – which, admittedly, they'll ignore. But why bother collating all the info this time around? Surely, it wouldn't be good old-fashioned snooping from Europe's most intrusive surveillance state?

Perhaps more controversial than this decadely intrusion, though, is the company who carried out the harrassment: Lockheed Martin. Based in the U.S., the world's second-largest arms dealer enjoy a one-third share in the notorious Aldermaston A.W.E. and manufacture 'Trident' nuclear missiles (the scrapping of which would save the public £97 billion), and yet their greatest area of growth right now is – you guessed it – 'intelligence and surveillance'. Just as well the coalition handed them the £150 million contract. But I'm sure they won't mis-use all that precious info, right?

Right?

But this time around, more and more people are telling them where to stick it, even with the threat of prosecution: 'No Trespass' signs are turning around census delivery agents; “return to sender” and “fuck off” forms are bouncing back through Royal Mail; census form bar codes are being improved with black markers; white candle wax is smearing over “official use” boxes; and, if the forms are to believed, the 'lion tamer in outer space' industry is booming. So that's nice.

http://boycottcensus2011.blogspot.com

*

Theory Corner 2: Riot Etiquette

“YOU'RE JUST MINDLESS vandals, and it is ruining the message.” “This kind of violence isn't going to get us anywhere.” I wish these were just another set of quotes from Labour Party supporters or reformist T.U.C., but instead these are the words of fellow radicals in the Blac Bloc - the revolution has no use for 'K's. In fact, we're pretty sure the anarchist scene would be better off with no K at all... but that's a whole different story.

So, why were these words uttered? It was not empathy for unfeeling panes of glass, nor was it annoyance that some people had broken the law that the capitalist classes set down. Instead, it was the cold feeling of paint coating the faces and – up until that point – anonymous black hoodies of our comrades, or the sight of a couple running back from a window someone was hitting, or the sound of a would-be supporter's pram pushed at superhuman speed to evade a balloon full of emulsion.

For these reasons, it is necessary to compile the following guide to riot etiquette. These aren't rules to be followed, but just things you might want to think about. Or else.

1) Only Wankers Throw From The Back: how many times do we have to say this? If you can't see your target, or there are more than three people between you and that symbol of bourgeois capitalist imperalism, how can you tell if you will hit home, or simply strike a fellow protester in the back of the head? Simple: you can't! Leave that lightbulb of dulux in your pocket for now. For the record, over 30 head injuries were treated by street medics on the 26th, almost all from 'friendly fire'.

2) Windows Don't Have Feelings, Bystanders Do: two-pronged idea this one. Firstly, it is not worth starting a human-vs.-human
fight over a TopShop window, so stand back! Secondly, it is not worth glass in the face of a protester or random old lady to smash said window, so check the coast is clear, yeah?

3) The Press Are Not Your Friends (even if they are your mates): it doesn't matter how cool that picture of the masked-up guy in that broken bank looks, it's not worth three years (with good behaviour) of anyone's time. Let the cameras snap as you march down the street, let them photograph the damage in your wake, but that middle bit? Best if it stays anonymous. Someone attacking capitalism should be surrounded by comrades – not camera men out to make a quick buck. Remember that the next time you see a window put through.

4) We Don't Condone Anything That's Illegal: mostly because we know the cops can read (!) our freesheets and our Facebook
pages, and saying how we took part in action X or Y via any part of the internet would be very, very silly.

5) We Don't Like Rules: even ones with handy bullet point-style numbers. Just remember – keep yourself safe, keep your friends safe, and don't let some idiots ruin our peaceful, wholesome, smashing the fuck out of Capital and all the pigs who get in our way.

*

(A)rms For The Poor

FOR THREE YEARS, the Bath Bomb has been sniffing out scandal, unveiling council and big business sleaze, telling it like it is and isn't, and poking fun at the rich and powerful (something we unfortunately have no short supply of in Bath). We have done all of this on a budget of zero, save the odd kind donation and benefit gig (we asked the council for an arts grant, but haven't heard back). Now, we need your help to secure the future of the Bath Bomb, and here's three simple steps you can take to do it:

Become a 'Comrade of Bath Bomb' – for £15 waged/£10 unwaged, you will get a shiny new copy of your favourite scandal mag posted to your door each month for a year, along with a fashionable, limited edition Bath Bomb badge and 'Comrade of Bath Bomb' card, which gets you modest discounts on a growing number of local outlets – e-mail us F.F.I.

Sponsor an issue – each month, we run off 500 copies of the Bomb, and e-mail out to a further 93, costing £70 per month. Do you or your group love the 'Bomb enough to sponsor a whole issue? Sponsorship gets you a year of copies posted to your door, a badge, a 'Comrades' card, a certificate to show off on yer living room wall and maybe even your name on the front cover if you're feeling risqué

One-off donation – any one-off donation which covers cost gets you a Bath Bomb badge and this month's issue posted to your door

To donate, send cheques payable to 'B.A.A.', along with your name and address, to: Bath Bomb Press, P.O. Box 426, Bath, BA1 2ZD.

*

AND NOW, TO the disclaimer: as anyone is free to contribute, the opinions expressed in each article are not necessarily reflective of all contributors. Naturally, any right-wing or corporate bullshit will be binned and spat upon. Needless to say, the opinions of the author of this disclaimer do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other contributor.

Defend Our May Day!

2011-04-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Defend Our May Day!

As well as its roots in folk history and pagan festivity, ever since the struggles of
the Haymarket Martyrs of Chicago in 1886, the May Day festival has long been a
celebration of workers' power. Even though the rich and powerful would like us to
believe that they have graciously handed us our every freedom, the truth is far
different. Whether it's laws to protect people in their jobs, universal suffrage,
equality, environmental protection, the welfare state or whatever limited
democracy we still have, it's us – or those who have come before us – that have
had to fight and win those rights, wrestling them one by one away from those
would rule.

Now the Con-Dem coalition have announced plans to scrap the May Day bank holiday
and relocate it to the autumn as 'Trafalgar Day'. Yet there are already far too many
religious, military, rich or royal figures that we are forced to revere; May Day is one of
the few days celebrating the achievements of ordinary people, and our self-styled
leaders want to take it from us. It seems that in a time of united struggle against the
cuts, and of re-emerging ideas of people power, that this is a move to try and erase any
memory that the common people have ever won anything.

So, to defend our history, Bath Trades Council, the Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance and others
will gather on Saturday the 30th May, from 11.30am, outside Marks & Spencers at the
bottom of Stall Street. Why not join us with banners, placards and leaflets?
Remember: the powerful give nothing up willingly, and neither will we.

e-mail: bathagainstcuts@yahoo.co.uk
www.bathanticutsalliance.blogspot.com

Bath's Republican Picnic against Parasites

2011-04-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

In 1649 and the close of the second English Civil War, Britain came very close to being great, with the beheading of Charles I – the best cut of all! However, since Cromwell and his ilk then betrayed all our ancestors' hard work and reinstalled the monarchy, things went down hill from there.

Now, 361 years later, the British public are still being robbed and subjugated to feather these inbred parasites' nests. Figures are difficult to ascertain, due to a shroud of bureaucracy, laws and misinformation, but best estimates place the Windsors' annual expenses and allowances at a figure around £40-50 million. Making a mockery of any concept of democracy, the Battenberg/Windsor family have been granted positions of heridatory government, even though we've never once voted for them and they know nothing about life for ordinary people, or display any competence. This nation's history is a sad one of being invaded and invading others, and the Royals are a blatant reminder of that shame, an everyday symbol of a brutal past and decadent present; whilst we struggle to make ends meet, they flaunt their ill-gotten wealth, with 'Her Majesty' even going so far as applying to the Community Energy Fund back in Autumn, to lessen their heating costs. It seems their soul purpose is to give tourists a good chuckle over our medieval ways, and to clog up our newspapers and airwaves with bushels of yet more useless celebrity trivia pap.

Even if we can't enjoy the sight and sounds of “Off with their heads”, let's at least strip these scroungers of their titles and privilege, and put them to work like the rest of us.

Yet now, they're really taking the piss! Whilst an unelected government Con-Dems us to a £60 billion plus program of easily avoidable cuts – a politically-motivated attack against anyone who's not from Eton – we are now expected to shell out a further £80 million on Royal Wedding security. But could the spectacle of the happy couple's 'special day' actually be a smokescreen, cynically arranged to distract us from the savagery of the Coalition's class war antics?

So, instead of gawping at the box on Friday the 29th April, why not join us in Royal Victoria Park (oh, the irony!) in Bath, for a Picnic Against Parasites! Meeting at the war memorial at midday, please dress for the occasion, and bring food, drink, music, friends and banners; oh, and the odd effigy to burn, too.

Bristol Anarchist Bookfair on its way

2011-03-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

upcoming demo and public meeting

2011-02-03T06:57:00.000-08:00

Together, we can...

...STOP THE CUTS!

* Save our services!

* Fight for every job!

* Hands off our retirement!

People and communities before profit and privatisation!

“Bankers, Politicians, Fat Cats – We Won't Pay For Their Crisis!”

* Anti-Cuts Demo – Saturday 5th February, Abbey Courtyard, 12 midday

* Public Meeting – Tuesday 15th February, Friends Meeting House, York Street (near Abbey Green), 7.30pm

It's time to fight back against the cuts!

The Con-Dem spending review has now been released, and it is as bad as everyone expected. By raising our retirement age, freezing our wages, undermining welfare, tripling tuition fees (as well as scrapping humanities and arts departments in Higher Education, and the E.M.A. benefit), upping VAT to 20% and destroying our much-needed public services, this government has introduced a spending review that hits the poorest and most vulnerable in society hardest, and leaves the rich and the bankers virtually unscathed. And the scandal of private companies being handed over control of health services will mean widespread hospital closures, and the complete destruction of the NHS.

While we suffer, the Sunday Times' Rich List reported that the wealthiest 1,000 UK citizens have seen their fortunes increase by £77 billion over the past year. This increase alone would be enough to pay for the Tory budget measures, AND leave those 1,000 individuals £38 million each better off than last year! Restoring corporate tax to pre-Thatcher levels (£27.5 billion), closing down the rich's tax loopholes (£95 billion) and collecting their unpaid taxes (£28 billion), as well as getting troops out of the Middle East (£4.5 billion) and scrapping Trident (£97 billion) – these steps would also heal the deficit... But the budget has more to do with the old Tory policies of privatisation, public sector cuts and looking out for their rich mates, than it does about helping average people. Indeed, the current cabinet includes 18 millionaires, and over half went to private school: no, we're not “all in this together”.

And all this is taking place whilst banks (over here and in Ireland) and companies like Marks & Spencer, SABMiller (brewers of Grolsch), Cadbury's, Boots/TopShop and Vodafone are graciously allowed to opt out of the taxes they owe – with the latter two owing £300 million and £6 billion respectively.

Meanwhile, B&NES Council are making their own plans to carry out the government's cuts, including cutting 400 or more council jobs over four years, as well as privatising or winding down its youth services, healthcare, adult support services and libraries, as well as thousands of MoD jobs to be lost from all three Bath sites. In fact, by adopting its proposed new buzzword role of being an 'enabler' rather than a 'provider' of services, the council itself will cease to have any relevance, or power to do its job and serve its community, in any way.

What can we do to stop these cuts?

Just like with the fight against the Poll Tax at the beginning of the 1990s, a massive campaign has been started to defend our services and fight back against the cuts, up and down the country. We can win, but we need as many people as possible to stand up against these cuts and to defend their jobs and communities.

In Bath, the Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance has already held several large meetings and protests, and consists of a mixture of trades union members, socialists, students, anarchists, community activists and others, and meets fortnightly. To get involved in the campaign, or to let us know about cuts in your workplace or community, email us at bathagainstcuts@yahoo.co.uk

the black fingernail approach to unwanted jobs

2011-01-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

HHello,

As you know, if you are on Jobseeker’s Allowance and you refuse what the Jobcentre calls a reasonable job offer then you get a sanction. To get around this, I have written a letter called Brighton. You will find a copy of it at the end of this email. Using it has allowed me to openly refuse these so-called reasonable job offers without being punished. The more people who know about it the better.

The purpose of Brighton is threefold. First of all, to prevent the Jobcentre from forcing people into taking low paid or unsuitable work. Secondly, to give people who may not be ready to return to work just yet, a breathing space. And thirdly, to undermine the new Work Programme and give it’s grasping providers a massive headache. In short, it is for anyone who wants to actively resist being bullied by the Jobcentre.

HHere is how it works. When I sign on, the Jobcentre try and force me to apply for jobs that are at locations I can’t get to on time unless you have your own transport. Or they try and force me to apply for jobs where I don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience. When I protest, they tell me that if I don’t apply for them then it could affect my claim. To keep them sweet, I apply for these jobs. At the same time I send these companies a copy of Brighton.

IIt works beautifully. If the Jobcentre say anything to me, I just say I didn’t know what they’re on about. Well, there’s no law against scratching your nose is there. They are hopping mad but there’s not a damn thing they can do about it. And at the end of the day, I don’t see why anyone should be forced into taking a shit job just so that this government can pat itself on the back, point to low levels of unemployment and say what a great job they’re doing.

IIain Duncan Smith believes that however demeaning or low paid a job is, people should take these jobs rather than receive benefits. I disagree. Forcing people to take a low paid job just to help this mountebank pay off a debt caused by his millionaire banker chums and his embezzling, house-flipping colleagues isn’t just unacceptable; it’s morally repugnant as well. Duncan Smith’s pronouncements also reveal something far more disturbing: he actually believes he is a force for good in this country. Well, if he believes that these jobs are so nourishing for the soul then why an earth doesn’t he do one of them himself.

WWhat politicians fail to realise is that people remain unemployed for a reason. Well I say fail to realise, I think they realise only too well. Only it doesn’t quite fit into their worldview of how they think things should be perceived according to them. People do actually remain unemployed for a variety of reasons. They may be caught in a benefits trap; they may have been wrongly forced off incapacity benefit or suffering from depression; they may be caring for an elderly relative; or shock-horror, they may not actually want to do the job that they’ve been bullied into applying for.

II’m sorely tempted to send Brighton to Duncan Smith and Grayling just to rub their noses in it; but I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet.

II read an article in the newspaper yesterday that said 177,000 people on Jobseeker’s Allowance were sanctioned because they had refused a so-called reasonable job offer. Consequently, as a matter of urgency, I would like you to circulate Brighton as widely as you can. The more people who know about it the better. Its simplicity makes it the perfect weapon to fight the Jobcentre and Duncan Smith’s work programme.

SSincerely,

TThe Black Fingernail

EEncl: BRIGHTON

DDear Sir or Madam

RRe:

II am writing to you in connection with the above vacancy, which is being advertised in the Jobcentre.

BBecause you have chosen to advertise this vacancy through the Jobcentre, a number of unemployed and formerly long-term sick people are going to be forced by the Jobcentre into applying for this vacancy under threat of having their benefits stopped if they refuse. They will be advised to phone you to arrange an interview or ask if they can send you a CV/written application.

TThe Jobcentre can force the unemployed to apply for any vacancy advertised through them, regardless of their suitability for that vacancy. The unemployed are forbidden from disclosing that they have been told to apply for a vacancy; and nor can they refuse an offer of a job either.

PPeople who are forced into taking a job under threat of having their benefits stopped if they refuse will almost certainly harbour a great deal of anger and resentment. If you employ such a person then that anger could drive them into carrying out wanton acts of vandalism to your company running into thousands of pounds. Your fixtures and fittings could be damaged, for example. Fire alarms could go off repeatedly. Sickness may prevent them from doing a full week’s work. And that’s just for starters.

BBefore you go getting your knickers in a twist, just be aware that people who remain unemployed do so for a variety of reasons. They may be caught in a benefits trap; they may have been wrongly forced off incapacity benefit; or they may be caring for an elderly relative. The Jobcentre also have what they call a ninety-minute rule. This means that if a vacancy is do-able by public transport within ninety minutes (an-hour-and-a half) from where the unemployed live then they have to apply for that vacancy.

TTo indicate to you that they do not want this job and that they only applied for it under threat of having their benefits stopped if they refused; they will scratch their noses. And it will be done in such a way as to leave you under no illusions as to where they are coming from.

SShould you choose to ignore this then you will have yourself the employee from hell; and all that it entails.

January meeting post-poned

2011-01-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

Apologies, but this month's meeting won't be taking place. In February, Bath Activist Network still meets on Thursday the 3rd, at 7.30pm, as normal

Bath Bomb benefit gig announcement

2010-12-04T06:16:00.001-08:00

That's right – it's the season of suicide and drink-driving, so why not drown out the jingle bells hype with The Bath Bomb's Solstice Knees Up!

“Chocks Away!”

Featuring:

Spanner – militant ska punk from Brizzle (http://www.spannerintheworks.net/intheworks.htm)

Belladonna – bristling, raw-throat, rocking post-punk (http://www.belladonnabristol.co.uk)

Rapscallion Sound – punchy juicy reggae 12-piece from Bath, with beats (http://www.myspace.com/rapscallionsound)

and your host, without compere:

Madame Hatter – dirty French lessons, word-play and wonder (http://www.myspace.com/madamehatterfolkhall)

At 'The Love Lounge' (the back room of The Bell public house), Walcot Street, Bath, Saturday the 11^th December, 7.30pm, £3.00 entry and a free gift*. All proceeds go towards funding Bath's only independent radical monthly freesheet – check out http://www.thebathbomb.blogspot.com

For more info, e-mail bathbombpress[at]yahoo.co.uk

*We can't guarantee that the free gift won't be a copy of the above-mentioned freesheet

leaflet for upcoming cuts demo

2010-11-10T07:02:00.001-08:00

Protest the Cuts at B&NES Full Council Meeting

2010-11-04T05:13:00.001-07:00

Together, we can...

2010-11-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

...STOP THE CUTS!

* Save our services!
* Fight for every job!
* Hands off our retirement!
People and communities before profit and privatistion!

'Bankers, Politicians, Fatcats - We Won't Pay For Their Crisis!'

Protest! @ -

B&NES (Tory) cabinet meeting to plan the cuts - Wednesday 3rd Nov from 4pm, outside the Guildhall, Bath

B&NES full council meeting to vote on the cuts - Tuesday 16th Nov from 5.30pm, outside the Guildhall, Bath

*

It's time to fight back against the cuts!

The Con-Dem spending review hs now been released, and it is as bad as everyone expected. By rsing our retirement age, freezing our wages, worsening our pensions and destroying our much needed public and community services, this government has introduced a spending review that hits the poorest and most vulnerable in society hardest, and leaves the rich and the bankers unscathed.

While we suffer, the Sunday Times rich list reported that the richest 1,000 UK citizens have seen their wealth increase by £77 billion over the past year. This increase alone would be enough to pay for the Tory budget measures AND leave those 1,000 individuals £38 million each better off than last year! Tax increases for businesses and the super rich and the shutting down of tax loopholes, as well as getting troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and scrapping Trident could also heal the deficit, but the budget has more to do with the old Tory policies of privatisation, public sector cuts and looking out for their rich mates, than it does about helping average people (the current cabinet has 18 millionaires and 53% went to private school).

What can we do to stop these cuts?

Up and down the country, a massive campaign has been started to defend our services and fight back against the cuts. We can win, but we need as many people as possible to stand up against the Tory cuts and defend their jobs and communities.

In Bath, the Bath Anti Cuts Alliance has already held several large and effective meetings and protests. two important upcoming protests are listed above.

To get involved in the campaign, or to let us know about cuts in your workplace or community, email us at bathagainstcuts[at]yahoo.co.uk

2010-10-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

meeting date for October changed

2010-10-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

As various folks will be off to Swindon to support their anti-cuts protest on Thursday the 7th of this month, the Bath Activist Network meeting for October will be shunted back a week, to take place Thursday the 15th, from half 7pm, downstairs at the Hobgoblin on St James Parade. The following months will be a return to our normal programming.

Up-coming events. Fight the cuts!

2010-08-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Two really big events coming up to start the fightback against the Tory cuts. If you only do two events this year, make it these!

Click posters for larger versions. Feel free to print and distribute (not for flyposting).

Poster for Militant Bloc - anti-tory demo, 3rd Oct, Birmingham

2010-08-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

Local activists Target barclays

2010-03-23T03:43:00.000-07:00

Just after getting out of court (over a possesion order for their squat, and a charge of obstructing a bailiff), local people met with other BAN activists - including a couple of new faces (shock, horror!) and staged a small protest outside Bath Barclays. The demo was well recieved by passers by, and recieved a little of the direct action treatment when two protestors 'found' a ladder and occupied the roof to stage a banner drop. After negotiating with police, the roof occupiers stayed in place for two hours before avoiding arrest and coming down.

All in all a good day.

(C) BAN - 'Helping Bristol put the South West on the Radical map since 2006'

Black Cat squat resistance - demo update

2010-03-23T02:22:00.000-07:00

BAILIFF RESISTANCE, STREET DEMO, FREE GIG

The Black Cat Social Centre on Lower Bristol Road in Bath is due for eviction this
Friday 26th March. This eviction will be resisted. In addition from
9.48am there will be a street demo with free acoustic music provided by
the fabulous Madame Hatter with special guests The Bailiffs (due onstage
at 10am). If you have used, enjoyed or value the Black Cat and what it represents, please get yourself down either to take part in the peaceful demo/gig (no chance of getting arrested, or inside for active resistance (strong probability of arrest!) Blank text to 07529579130 to receive updates.

TAKE ACTION – SAVE THE BLACK CAT COMMUNITY SOCIAL CENTRE

2010-03-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

For five months the Black Cat Community Centre has been providing a free, inclusive space for community events. It has hosted open mic nights, poetry sessions, yoga and dance classes, debt advice centres, meetings and many more events based upon demand and all free of charge – all have been keenly taken up by the people of Bath. This project is run by full-time volunteers using abandoned buildings otherwise going to waste. The council, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that this kind of blatant altruism and community solidarity must come to an end before the people start expecting the council to provide a decent service, and as such are sending bailiffs in to evict us so that the Riverside Studios may once again stand empty gathering dust.

THE BLACK CAT NEEDS YOU!

The first eviction attempt is expected this Friday 26nd March at 10:00am. We WILL be resisting this eviction attempt. This is OUR community and we should not be afraid to stand as the people against power-hungry politicians, fatcats, cops and bailiffs. This is a call to the people of Bath to stand tall with the Black Cat Collective. To receive updates and the all-important eviction alert please send a blank text to 07529 579 130.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET ARRESTED TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

A large crowd outside the building demanding that the centre be allowed to remain sends a very strong message to the council. There are also many vital non-arrestable street roles including:

Grabbing supplies
Arrestee Support
Legal Observer
Media Liaison
Making lots of noise
Bringing all your mates

If you wish to get involved in any way, please come knock on our red front door! Unit 3A, former Riverside Business Park, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 3DW.

TARGET BARCLAYS - Bath demo this wednesday

2010-03-14T10:19:00.001-07:00

TARGET BARCLAYS - GLOBAL INVESTORS IN DEATH

12PM WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH 2010, BARCLAYS BANK, MILSOM STREET, BATH

Barclays Bank are the UK's largest investor in the arms trade, with
holdings of over £7.3bn. In addition to this they also provide market
maker services to weapons manufacturers - this means purchasing shares
from a weapons manufacturer and holding them until such a time as a
buyer becomes available. Barclays props up arms dealers, in return
making a profit from every share sold in UK, and every bomb dropped in
Palestine, Iraq and wherever is profitable to invade next.

In November 2009 Barclays were targeted nationwide by individuals
concerned by capitalisation of war for profit. Yet the bank which relied
heavily upon publicly-funded liquidity schemes to survive the credit
crunch has refused to listen to public opinion. As a result Wednesday
17th March will see Barclays once again targeted nationwide.

Bankers and institutional investors are the glue that finances the state
terror wreaked by the arms trade. Weapons manufacturers do not operate
in a vacuum but are propped up by the networks of corporations and
investors which constitute the global capitalist system which puts
profit before peace, greed before people.

TAKE ACTION - STOP BARCLAYS INVESTING IN MURDER

For more information call 07796 864 649

Open Mic at the Black cat - Friday 12th March

2010-03-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

On the evening of Friday the 12th, The Black Cat centre will be holding its first ever open mic night, compered by everyones favourite French transvestite Madame Hatter. For more info, drop us an email at bathsocialcentre@gmail.com

Here's the invite from the Madame herself -

Friday 12th of March, 7.06 PM

Heya oh teaheads and banditos!

Should you be prudish puddings, freak frogs, vegan vultures, breakfast brutes and funky fruits, bang poets or junk poets or even just plain poets, blue cabbages and pink trumpets, merry-go-round travellers or magic roundabout surfers and hulla-hoop singers, studious students and naughty rodents, squatterpillars or passers-by, funny flapping flowers or blooming butterflies, party people or bursting bubbles, the usual crows and so many more if you're hungry for the encore... You are all invited to the first edition of MADAME HATTER'S SCABROUS CABARET for a night of sweet delirium open to all sorts of performers, artists, poets, musicians and story-tellers...

The Black Cat has currently hold of a massive gig space with a bar, a sound system, a grand piano and even a toilet for you to play with! Roof is high and acoustics much refined, come rock and trash the space and time with paint and taste, we wouldn't mind!

We can be found opposite Pickfords on Lower Bristol Road, The Black Cat is behind a little red door and you are all welcome! Bring a guitar, bring a poem, or just bring yourself for a friendly evening of the arts ^.^

She's slim and slimy and could easily break into your pipery,
Beware of Madame Hatter coz' of decadence she's the plumber... C]:o)

Bath needs a community social centre! - Sign the online petition!

2010-02-26T03:46:00.000-08:00

There has been much public anger over council plans to evict the Black Cat centre from its current home. To object to the council plans, and to let them know that Bath needs a permenant community run social centre, please follow the link and sign the online petition @ http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/blackcatbath

Black Cat - New adress

2010-02-20T06:30:00.001-08:00

Hi All

Just to let you know that Baths premiere occupied community social centre, the Black Cat Centre is now happily settled in to its new home, and the address is

Unit 3A
Riverside Business Park
Lower Bristol Road
Bath
BA2 3DW

The best way to spot the place is looking for a red door opposite Pickfords on Lower Bristol Road, although we'll have a Black Cat sign up soon.

Check out the calendar at www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com to see what's going on, or drop us an email at bathsocialcentre@gmail.com to put on your own event.

The place is huge, and has massive potential for any number of events/gigs/workshops/meetings etc - so pop down to help out, or just see what's on. For the next week or so, it's probably best to email before coming down as we are in the process of fixing the doorbell!!!!

See y'all soon

Black Cat Crew x

Black Cat moves AGAIN!!!!

2010-02-15T04:31:00.000-08:00

UPDATE - After a brief stay at 63 West Avenue, the Black Cat has moved on to a bigger and better building. The location will be secret for the next week or so, but to get involved in helping prepare the space, drop us an email at bathsocialcentre@googlemail.com and keep checking out the Black Cat blogspot (www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com) for more info.

Black Cat Centre has a new home!

2010-02-08T01:22:00.000-08:00

THE BLACK CAT HAS MOVED AGAIN!
After a productive month at the Methodist vicarage, the Black cat has moved on to pastures new. We are at the top of West Avenue (just around the corner from the old building) and our address is

63 West Avenue
Oldfield Park
Bath

We will only be in this building for a very short time (probably a week) and obviously have a bigger better place lined up for then, but for now, all Black Cat Calendar events are running as usual at the above address.

We have a massive list of activities every day, and are being used more and more by the local community, so come on down, or drop us an email if you want to start your own group or workshop.

For a full list of Black Cat calendar events, check out www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com. To get in touch, email bathsocialcentre@gmail.com

Cheers

Black Cat Crew x

New boaters online resource

2010-02-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

As some people may know, our boat dwelling brothers and sisters have been having a hard time of it lately, with British Waterways attempting to crush their way of life. Wanting to make the canals the sole domain of part time boaters and holidaymakers, BW are trying to push through various measures to get residents off the canals - BW hope to trial some of these schemes in the Bath area. A website has been set up to provide info and advice to the canal using community and can be found at - www.kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk - a link can also be found on the 'co-conspirators' section of this site.

e-subvertising - all the cool kids are doing it!

2010-02-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

Finally, a chance to maul those sickening Tory adverts that have been cropping up all over the place. Sure, we know Cameron is no different to Brown, or the rest of them, but his smug etonian mug is in dire need of some re-arranging, so here's your chance - just go to www.mydavidcemeron.com to make your own poster to spread all over the internet. Oh, and if you see one of these posters on the street, why not grab a can of spraypaint and let the world know what you think of the tories?

Bath Activist Calendar info

2010-02-01T04:04:00.001-08:00

You may have noticed our sexy new calendar at the bottom of this page. Scroll up and down the calendar to see daytime and evening events events. There's already loads of demos, workshops, meetings, gigs and other events going on, and to add your own, drop us an email at bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk

IMPORTANT EVENT INFO - All events at the Black cat Centre may not be listed at the right address due to the rapidly changing address of a squatted social centre! For up to date info about the location of the Black Cat, check out www.blackcatcentre.blogspot.com plus posts on this site.

Black Cat Centre - updates and gig info

2010-02-01T03:14:00.000-08:00

After nearly a month of occupation, it looks like the Black Cat social centre will be moving into a new home next weekend. Despite not having been evicted for the Ex-West avenue church, we are voluntarily leaving to allow the church to sell the building and use the funds for valuable community projects. Don't worry though, the Black Cat will only be moving a few minutes away and will be up and running asap.
In the meantime, we are having a leaving party this Friday with DJs Bretrin and ItAL putting on another dub club. Heres the info

Church of Dub
110 West Avenue (ex-oldfield park mathodist vicarage)
Bath

7.30pm - till late

Entry - free/donation

There will be a cheap bar, but feel free to bring yer own.

Opening night at the New Black Cat Centre - Sat 16th - Come on down!

2010-01-11T03:43:00.000-08:00

Following on from the huge sucess of the Black Cat Centre at Kelso Place, The Black cat has been re-opened, this time at the ex-Oldfield Park Methodist Church, West Avenue, Bath.
As with the last centre, we will be open for a huge number of events, meetings, workshops, cafes and will still feature the library, freeshop, etc
We are kicking off proceedings this Satrurday (16th) with a Dub night, running from 8 - 12 midnight. Entry is free or a small donation.

The centre will be open weekdays 2-7, weekends 11-5 and certain evenings for special events. Pop down to check out what is going on, or email the Black Cat at bathsocailcentre@gmail.com

Climate Camp Westside Regional Gathering, 16th & 17th January 2010

2010-01-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

The weekend of 16th and 17th January sees the Camp For Climate Action
come to Bath, as the Black Cat Social Centre in Oldfield Park hosts the
regional Westside gathering. The weekend will see climate activists from
across the South West converge upon Bath to draw together experiences of
the G20, Climate Camps this summer (Cymru, Scotland and London), the
Calais camp, ongoing No Borders activity, Co-Mutiny, the Ratcliffe swoop
and recent events in Copenhagen as a basis for 'where do we go from here?'

The weekend promises to be a great introduction to radical climate
action, as well as the opening of a brand new and much-needed autonomous
social space in Bath. Anyone who is looking to explore empowering routes
to climate justice is warmly encouraged to attend. Crash space will be
provided but bring a sleeping bag!

--------------

For more information please email westside@climatecamp.org.uk or call
07796 864 649 (leave a message if no reply). The Black Cat Social Centre
can be found at the Oldfield Park Methodist Church, in the space between
West Avenue, Triangle North and Triangle West, postcode BA2 3QB. It is
about 20 seconds' walk from Oldfield Park Train Station which runs
direct trains to Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads.

Islam4UK and the Silence of the Left

2010-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

In recent weeks a lot has been made in the media of the antics of the far-right Muslim group 'Islam4UK'. Islam4UK are a pro-Sharia group who advocate the turning of Britain into an oppressive Muslim state. They advocate capital punishment, flogging for public drunkenness, and a whole raft of other oppressive policies, and have as one of their many slogans: “Freedom go to hell”. The group has recently proposed a demonstration in Wootton Bassett (the town where British war dead are repatriated), ostensibly to commemorate Afghan and Iraqi casualties in the two ongoing military occupations, but in reality they are just using it as a chance to publicise their deplorable fascist views (whilst great care must be taken when bandying about this much-abused phrase, in terms of Islam4UK's strong authoritarian slant, advocacy for a strong police state, and excessive punishment for minor crimes and acts of dissent, we feel the term is justified).

While the reactionary forces of white nationalism have been quick to condemn the march and use it as a justification for their racist viewpoints, the radical left has been characteristically silent for fear of being labelled Islamophobic. It is with this silence in mind that we have decided to pen this open letter outlining why it is the duty of the radical left to oppose bigotry and injustice in all its forms, including Islam4UK and other far right Muslim groups.

It was last February that thousands of workers at the Lindsey oil refinery and dozens of other depots around the country engaged themselves in a series of direct actions and wildcat strikes in protection of their jobs, in the face of unemployment and Total Oil's cynical corporate practice (see article https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420969.html?c=on). Despite framing their actions from a clearly non-racist and anti-capitalist perspective, the response from the radical left was at best lukewarm, with sections of the left being downright condemnatory, branding the strikers as 'racist'. The lack of a coherent support base from the political left and anarchists alike has left the strikers out in the cold, with only the British National Party as uncritical allies - allies whose support that the strikers vehemently and physically rejected.

This and the Islam4UK march are two examples of events that require a definitive and class-conscious response from a unified and radical left. Instead, we are allowing political naivety, liberal tendencies and the sensibilities of some of our more questionable 'allies' to prevent us from making a clear call and framing important events from a radical left wing perspective. Thus we allow the forces of the far right the chance to exploit the events to convey their hateful diatribe.

It will be a tragedy for us and for common sense if we allowed the events in Wootton Bassett to only fuel the excesses of right wing extremists and Muslim fanatics alike. This can't be allowed to be publicly viewed as the salt-of-the-earth white nationalists supporting the British people and poor soldiers, whilst the out-of-touch left unquestionably champions political correctness and excuses Islamic lunacy.

Both the BNP and Islam4UK represent a threat to the working class generally and pander to the efforts of the elite, who want to see us all divided along the lines of race, religion, gender and sexuality - as opposed to the only genuine divide in society, which is class. Surely we want to build a working class movement which is capable of, and willing to, overthrow discrimination and oppression in whatever guise it appears.

Since the opening of hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, various groups have increasingly been using the parading of war casualties in Wootton Bassett as a propaganda tool. While some groups have been revelling in the body count to promote anti-western sentiment, others have been using corpses to stir up nationalist feeling and fly their flags. The truth is that dead soldiers are neither heroes nor monsters – they are simply men and women who have paid a harsh price for doing the dirty work of corrupt politicians and generals. Their repatriation is not a political event, and any attempt to make it so is being cold and manipulative. To this end, both BNP leader Nick Griffin and Islam4UK have been specifically made unwelcome by the residents of the town and rightly so, but, like circling vultures, both view the potential propaganda gains from dead bodies and grieving mothers as too significant to pass up.

Let's not beat around the bush; the radical left needs to wake up and treat these people like the fascists they are. Therefore, this call goes out to all ordinary people to join together regardless of their race, faith or lack thereof, and oppose authoritarianism, discrimination and oppression in all its forms, both in Wootton Bassett on the day of the march and in everyday life. The BNP and Islam4UK are two sides of the same hateful coin, and both their visions of an ideal future should be seen as an antithetical barrier to the free and socially just world for which we strive – a barrier that we must overcome.

In solidarity

From within (but not on behalf of) Bath Activist Network

Black Cat Centre evicted and reoccupied! Come on down!

2009-12-17T05:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday saw the much loved Black Cat Occupied social centre evicted, with a 17 strong solidarity demo outside. Despite the eviction being a sucess, new squatting activists have moved in -

Following the eviction of the Black cat Centre yesterday, the building has been re-squatted. Local activists and residents, acting in solidarity with the recentley evicted Black Cat squatters last night squatted the building again, and intend to continue operating it as The Black Cat Socail Centre. Speaking to Bath Activist Network last night, one of the new squatters, a resident of Oldfield Park, said 'The work that the original Black cat squatters put into the social centre was so insiring, and such a benefit to the community that we felt that we had to act, and re-open the social centre to the community for as long as possible'.
This latest development means that owners Cabot will have to re-instigate court proceedings to evict the new squatters. The occupiers last night said that, as with the last occupiers, they were keen to enter into a rent paying agreement with Cabot in order to keep the space in community use for as long as possible.

The new squatters intend to have the Black Cat, with all of its previous uses and events running by Friday morning.

For more information, or for an interview with the new squatters, call 07794774938

Action Stations - come and stop the Black Cat eviction - Weds 16th Dec - 11am

2009-12-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

We've just received our eviction notice. The bailiffs are due around at 11am on this Wednesday, the 16th December.

After a really sucessful few months, the owners have decided to try and evict the Black Cat social centre - but the occupiers have decided not to go quietly. In the 3 months that it has been operating, the black cat has been home to dance classes, open days, a library, a cafe, film nights, a freeshop, a massive benefit gig raising hundreds for local causes and more - we are not going to let that go to waste because of corporate greed.

We desperately need people to help with resisting the eviction, either to be in the house and be difficult to remove, or to film the bailiffs to ensure compliance with the law, or to protest in solidarity outside. This being Bath's only autonomous social space, it's important for us to send a message to the authorities and landowners that they can't just sweep us aside.

The Social Centre Collective can be contacted at BathSocialCentre@Googlemail.com, or on 07794 774 938

We are planning a peaceful solidarity demo outside the building, as well as resistance inside. We have almost unlimited crash space, so come on down and help save a space that has become valued by local residents, activists or otherwise.

You can find us at -

The Black Cat Centre

7-10 Kelso Place, upper bristol rd, Bath

Please distribute this message widely.

In By A Whisker! - Benefit Gig at the Black Cat Centre, Bath - Friday 20th Nov.

2009-11-10T00:25:00.000-08:00

Friday 20th November, doors open at 7.30 - Should be a great night!
Acts -
*Tracy Curtis - protest folk
* Comso - Anarcho folk/one drunk and his guitar
* Robb Johnson and the irregulars - folsky/punky/rock
* Plus more acts tba

The proceeds will be split between Bath Activist Network, Bath Bomb news sheet and Bath CWU. Entry is a suggested donation of £3/4, but free entry with a CWU card and no-one will be turned away for lack of funds.

There will be a cheap/suggested donation bar and cheap food on offer.
The gig is being held at the Black Cat Centre, which can be found at -

Kelso Court
7-10 Kelso court
Upper Bristol Rd
Bath

The Black Cat Centre is a squatted social centre, offering not-for-profit, community space based on mutual aid, not corporate greed.

Other upcoming events include -

*Friday 13th Nov - from 7 - Free film night - we have a decent selection of films, to be decided on the night.

*Saturday the 21st of Nov - Open day including bike repair workshop, gym sessions, recycling/wallet making workshops, guided tours of the building, freeshop, dinner, squatting Q&A sessions, art workshops and more. The evening will be a night of comedy featuring a stand up and the brilliant 'yes men' film.

See y'all there!

Support Bath Posties! - what you can do

2009-10-21T01:58:00.000-07:00

On Thursday and Friday of this week, hundreds of thousands of Posties are taking strike action all over the country. Despite demonization from right wing rags like the Daily Mail, the posties are taking the last option left to them. The Royal Mail, and their 'shareholders' (the government) are intent on pushing through a program of job cuts, pay cuts, service cuts and privatization which will send the postal service the same way as the failed railways, energy companies and all other privatized resources, which now cost us more, deliver worse service, and worse working conditions than when they were publicly owned. If the posties lose this strike, it will mean more than just job losses and pay cuts. We will see more, if not all of our post offices closing down, we will receive a less frequent postal service, and with a profit driven company controlling the post, you can bet stamp prices and delivery charges will go through the roof.

So, what can you do to help? Firstly, pop a sign up in your window letting your postie know that you support him or her, secondly, pop down to the picket line. The Bath picket line will be going on for most of the morning and will be at the Manvers street entrance to the depot (between the cop shop and the church - urgh!). BAN are sending a few people down at 7.30, so why not come along and give your support. Experience on the picket lines has taught us that strikers don't want lefty newspapers and leaflets, they want coffee and cake, so that is what BAN will be bringing! Any food, drink or solidarity donations that you could bring down to the picket line would most likely go down well, and show the posties that we are on their side.

With workers going out on strike over pay cuts, privatization and redundancies in many different industries (refinery workers, lecturers, firefighters, posties to council workers and bin ment to name a few), all 3 major parties promising cuts in public services and the BNP promising the banning of our trade unions, it is time to pick sides do we stand united with other workers in a fight for jobs, respect and decent working conditions, or do we let the forces of government, fascism and capitalism steamroller our rights?

Bath Freeshop listening post

2009-10-21T01:01:00.000-07:00

As part of the Bath Freeshop, some local activists have been running a 'listening post' asking members of the public 'how does capitalism affect you?'. The following link will show you some of the many responses from the public - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHlbKyIeeng

The Bath Freeshop is a local initiative aimed at promoting the ideas of recycling, sustainability, and a world based on co-operation, not greed. The idea is simple, bring down something that you don't want (or don't) and take away something that you do. The freeshop can be found at the Black Cat Centre (email bathsocialcentre@gmail.com for directions), or opposite Holland & Barrett on Stall street on the second saturday of each month between 12-3.

New social centre in Bath! Come and get involved!

2009-10-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Bath Activist Network are proud to announce the opening of a new, and yet unnamed occupied social centre in the heart of Bath. The building is massive, and in pretty good nick, but we need help before we open the doors, so come and get involved at the beginning of an exiting new social centre with loads of potential. In particular, we need people who are up for coming along and helping get the place ready for opening, and to run activities once the place is open – cleaners, painters, electricians, artists, minor hole in roof menders, artists, musicians, radicals, dreamers, schemers, your mates and assorted malcontents are all welcome! We already have several initiatives in the pipeline, such as a freeshop, infoshop, radical library, salsa, café, workshops, activist self defence sessions, squat games and more – and we are up for anyone with ideas or skills to share to come and contribute to the space. The social centre is being run as a counter-capitalist initiative, run by consensus, and giving a living example of how we can create a world based on solidarity, mutual aid and co-operation, not greed and authority. To get involved in any way, big or small, contact us at bathsocialcentre@gmail.com (we are not freely giving out the address at the moment, so email us for directions) We are slowly gathering the stuff we need to complete the space, but our wish list includes (but is not limited to) – *Chairs *Tables *Sofas *Kitchen stuff *Paint *banners *decorations *Any unwanted stuff for the freeshop *Any books, pamphlets or leaflets for the library This is a really great space, and an exciting opportunity to build something brilliant in Bath, so come down and get involved from the beginning. Cheers Bath Activist Massive x (A)
BAN x e-mail: bathsocialcentre@gmail.com

Direct action stations! - Government green lights Bathampton park and ride!

2009-10-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Government office of the South west have denied a public enquiry into the concreting of bathampton Meadows, meaning the councils original green (ha ha) light for the project still stands. It also looks like the Rapid transit route ,which ploughs through a nature reserve and dozens of back gardens (aquired by compulsory purchase orders - forcing the garden owners to hand over the land) has got the go ahead. The meadows are home to bats, foxes, badgers, herons and cormorants, not to mention being a beautiful green space right on our doorstep, and not forgetting the fact that concreting over important floodplains has led to tradgedy elsewhere (including the massive floods in Gloustershire a couple of years back). This decision is pretty bad news, but it is what we expected from greedy and corrupt politicians. The battle is not over, but now we are fighting on more familiar territory - direct action and protest. There will hopefully be a public meeting very soon involving BAN and other groups opposed to the plans, so lets start dreaming up some crazy schemes to save the meadows now! As is often the case, appealing to the good side of politicians has failed (largely due to politicians not having a good side), so now it is up to the enraged population of Bath, who put ecology and community before profit to jam a spanner in the works of this stupid and ecocidal scheme once and for all!

Lax security lets BAN meet Cameron!

2009-09-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Last week saw everyones least favourite toff scumbag David Cameron (you know, that bloke who wants to bring back foxhunting, slash public spending, give more of our cash to the bankers, dismantle the NHS, concrete over Bathampton Meadows etc etc) visit Bath for an 'open' meeting. In fact, to get into the meeting, you had to pre-book, provide ID (despite the tories allegedly being against ID) and submit to various security checks and approval from the local tory branch leader. These best laid plans were ruined however, by an anonymous whistle blower who contacted BAN with the time and location of the meeting. This information was then 'accidentally' plastered all over the internet, and before long, both BAN and the Save Bathampton Meadows crew had called protests! With only a day to organise the protests, and with most BANners being in Bristol for the co-mutiny demo, the turnout was pretty decent, involving around 20 assorted malcontents and a large police presence which stuck with, and far outnumbered the BAN contingent. The protest gained support from the general public, but not the lads and ladies queing to get into the meeting, literally all of whom were obviously from a certain class (we'll give you a clue, it wasn't working or middle!). The protest passed peacefully, and as the BAN contingent were about to call it a night, a posh comb-over in a suit (evidently the bloke who put on the event) appeared behind a locked gate and told the cops to make sure that no BANners got inside. The police smugly replied that they had the situation under control, and the BAN activists, who had been preparing to go home smaelt a challenge. As it happened, dodging security was more than easy, and within minutes, and right under the noses of the dozy plod, 2 activists were over the wall and into the 'Cameron compound'. As heckling was about to begin, the BANners were accosted by a posh bloke in a tweed suit, issuing commands in what was either posh apeak that the rest of us aren't privvy to, or gibberish! However, the handcuffs and equiptment on his belt got the message across, and BAN left the building, stopping only to ask the cops who had promised not to let them in for the keys to the gate. Much hilarity followed as the cops got confused about the law, ranted about foie-gras and desperatley tried to concoct a reason to arrest the activists. having set alarm bells rining at Camerons Eton reunion and confounded the local cops (again), the protest faded into the night for a well earned pint!

Co-mutineers rock the boat in Bristol!

2009-09-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

The comutiny is now over, but we can look back on a week of well attended protests and workshops over 7 days of anarchic madness in Bristol. High points included a 50 strong 'no-borders' demo and workshop at the Trinity rd police station, from which asylum seekers often get detained while signing in, 60 people taking part in a hactic anarchist games day in the city centre and over 100 making some noise (and lobbing a few paint bombs) in Bristols financial district! The week seemed like a massive success, and the hundreds of people involved over the week seemed to find it an educational and fun event well worth repeating in the future.

Co-mutiny is Co-ming to town!

2009-09-07T05:38:00.000-07:00

Less than a week to go and people must be curious as to what Comutiny is and who is involved. EVERYONE IS INVOLVED! Everyone is invited to take part in the event between the 12th and 20th of September in whatever way they/their group feel best!!
In Bristol and surrounds, a diverse bunch of enraged creative, dreamers and schemers, builders and gardeners, workers, students and unemployed have been drawn together by the common threads of our indignation at how a combination of corporate greed, social injustice and environmental degradation is leading us all towards climate chaos and financial collapse. We invite you to converge on Bristol for an uprising of autonomous actions and events from 12th – 20th of September 2009. The provisional CoMutiny timetable is available now. There is more time to add any events/actions/skillshares/performances/happenings so please send the information to: bristolcomutinyworkshops@riseup.net Co-Mutiny Blog

Events include workshops on subjects from climate change and vegan bakery to knitting for begginers, and meetings, protests and workshops will focus on a massive range of subjects including workers rights, animal rights, climate change, recession and more.

This is gonna be big folks, so pull a sickie, quit your job, kill your boss - do what it takes to get down there for a week that you - or the authorities - won't soon forget!

Check out http://www.comutiny.wordpress.com/

Bath Vegan Fayre

2009-08-23T09:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the 29th of this month, from 12 til 3pm, Bath Animal Action present the Bath Vegan Fayre '09! Taking place at the Percy Community Centre on New King Street, just a minute's walk from Sainsburys (boo, hiss), the event will be free admission, and will feature a host of freed vegan food and drink to sample, as well as a host of info on vegan living - be it nutrition, ethics and the environment, vegan parenting - and offer the chance to make links with local campaigns on food issues and animal rights. If you're in the area, why not come along and steal our food? Contact bathanimalaction [at] yahoo.co.uk, for further info.

The Yes Men hit Bath! 11/08/09

2009-07-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

The 'Yes Men', an award winning comedy/journalism activist duo who expose corporate greed and destruction by posing as corporate high-fliers are visiting Bath with their new award winning climate change based film 'The Yes Men fix the World'.

The film will be shown as part of a UK wide tour at the little theatre on Tuesday the 11th of August, starting at 8.30, and will be followed by a live streamed Q&A session with the Yes Men themselves and a talk/workshop from representatives of everyones favourite local malcontents, Bath Activist Network!

THE YES MEN ARE BACK WITH THEIR AWARD-WINNING SHOCK-DOC -"THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD"

Having received standing ovations at its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and winning the Berlin Film Festival’s prestigious Audience Award earlier this year, the hilariously shocking THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD starts its UK cinema release on Friday August 7th at Odeon Panton street with a special simulcast event on August 11th with the film and a Q&A from the Yes Men themselves beamed into 20 independent cinemas around the country.

Directed by the ‘Yes Men’ (Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno) in collaboration with Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 editor Kurt Engfehr, who co-directs, The Yes Men Fix The World leads us through the daring political pranks of two gonzo activists as they take on the fake identity of corporate executives in a bid to highlight the greed and brutal selfishness of some of the world’s biggest and most powerful multi-national corporations.

The film shows the Yes Men posing as Exxon and Halliburton representatives, presenting shocking and ridiculous solutions to climate change to industry audiences, as well as appearing alongside the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans to show how government could right the wrongs done to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Besides covering the Yes Men's daring hoaxes, the film investigates and attacks the blind worship of the free market that has led so many corporations and government agencies to put profits before people.

The result is a hard hitting and hilarious film to inspire even the most politically lethargic into taking action. For screenings, bookings and further information go to http://www.theyesmen.org/movies/theyesmenfixtheworld

"Finally the high priests of the free market get a massive dose of the disrespect they deserve. Hilarious, therapeutic, inspiring. The Yes Men are geniuses." – Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine and No Logo

Resistance to Bathampton park and ride grows!

2009-07-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Last weekend saw a large group of BAN folk and assorted direct action enthusiasts take a trip to the beautiful Bathampton meadows to plan direct action to resist council plans to concrete the area. The meadows may soon be concreted over to make way for a 1400 park and ride car-park, part of the ludicrous new transport package proposed by BANES. Even by BANES own admission, the park and ride would have only a 'minimal' effect on easing congestion, and plenty more evidence sugests it would have even less. The majority of Bath workers come to town from Tewrton and the other outlying areas of Bath, so improved bus transport, or even a tram system would make far more sense - but with £50 million to burn, BANES are bulldozing ahead with their stupid plans. The meadows are home to a large bat population, a rabbit population, large numbers of herons and cormorants and provides a hunting ground for buzzads as well as being a designated AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). A recent meeting to discuss opposition to the scheme was packed out, with over 250 attending - many pledging to continue the fight to the end. The meadows have many features with make them easy to defend against the bulldozers, and BAN activists are busy plotting up ways to fight tooth and nail for every inch of the meadows (to get involved, email bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk). If BANES go ahead with their ecocidal plans, local residents and activists are set to give them a major headache - but in the mean time, find out how to object to the plans, get involved in the campaign or recieve posters and leaflets by checking out www.savebathamptonmeadows.org.uk.

CAPITALISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK

2009-07-01T05:43:00.000-07:00

Before taking any state-sponsored vaccine, it may be worth asking yourself: what caused this problem in the first place? Who is going to profit from this health anxiety? It may be also be worth posing the question: why is the profit motive the real enemy?

Let’s take a brief look at the pharmaceutical industry who we believe are meant to ensure the safety of drugs, and protect the public.

Awareness campaigns are commonly employed by drug companies to gain further control over what medicines are being prescribed, and to whom. GPs tend to be the path of least resistance and often say ‘yes’ to patients, prescribing drugs even though they feel it may not be the most appropriate thing to do. Often companies withhold unfavourable trial results and control what research gets published, ensuring that doctors get whichever message the company wants to promote. The State is usually in collusion, especially in times when they have no credibility, and are looking further to bolster its projected ‘caring role’ to the general public.

Still keen for the vaccine?

Usually it takes years of trials for a popular medicine to be seen as being safe, yet the new vaccine for the swine ‘flu arriving in Britain has been approved within five days, its side effects as yet unknown. Its clinical trials involved a ‘mock-up’ vaccination and, guess what, it will be introduced to the general population, while regulators continue to carry out simultaneous clinical trials. But don’t worry – whatever the nasty side effects may turn out to be, there’ll surely be on hand companies to sell us dodgy drugs for those, too.

A mass vaccination campaign against swine ‘flu was halted in the 1970s after people started suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disorder effecting the nervous system. Yep, that’s right, swine ‘flu isn’t a new thing. The meat industry then, as it is now, is still profiting from the misery of non-human animals, at the expense of our health.

This is where we come to the cause of swine ‘flu. Smithfields Foods, Inc. are the world’s largest industrial pork producer and processor; operations of this thoughtless industry take place in Mexico, Romania, Poland, the UK, China and throughout Europe. Mexico has been cited as the source of the current infection.

Smithfields have come under criticism for storing millions of gallons of faecal material, untreated, in holding ponds. Chemicals and infectious compounds from swine and poultry waste are able to migrate into soil and water nearby. These migrating compounds can have serious effects on human health.

The role of the pharmaceutical companies is simply to exploit the situation presented by the potential of a pandemic. The process is, in principle, simple: take a virus, incubate and then kill it, dilute it, then inject it into the population. Capitalism does not have public health as its priority; its priority is to obtain profit with as low a cost and effort as possible.

The outbreak of swine ‘flu illustrates the interaction between the global capitalists. Thing is, these people may think they’re able to control us and our minds, but they cannot command and control viruses and bacteria. The industry mode of Capitalism is the real flaw: it’s their economy that’s sick, and it’s about time we killed it.

So, a suggestion… Don’t take their shit. Swine ‘flu can e fatal, nobody is denying its existence. But by managing the Media, the State has already marginalized protest. There is no conspiracy here, unless the greed of bankers and businessmen can be called conspiracy. There is no conspiracy here, unless business practices and the failure to consider anything other than profit can be called conspiracy. And if there is no conspiracy, then surely it shows the incompetence of these people, and surely a vaccine against them would be much more suitable.

BNP sucessfully resisted in Bath!

2009-05-23T02:57:00.001-07:00

Nearly 100 people responded to a call out from Bath Activist Network to protest a hustings meeting featuring the fascist BNP. The demo was a huge sucess, seeing the front doors blockaded for nearly two hours, preventing the meeting from going ahead. The majority of speakers due to represent their parties pulled out of the meeting and opted to speak on the street instead, many making the descision to do so on the night. A tiny mob of fascists turned up and made a pitiful attempt to force their way in before giving up and spending the rest of the night moaning to the police (one of whom had an anti-BNP leaflet mysteriously taped to his back). The blockade ended when the police demanded that the demo move out of the public view - protesters unanimously refused, and the blockade was violently broken up allowing the fascists entry to a deserted building, as the real democracy was in full swing on the streets! In an interesting side note, members of the public let protesters know that the police were desribing us as 'scum' and we have some interesting video footage of BNP highups haveing a private chat and a laugh with high up cops. The BNP requested that once the blockade was ended, they should be allowed to move in en masse - a request that the police were all too willing to faclitate. The back patting and obvious mutual support between the cops and nazis was sickening, but on the jight the facts spoke for themselves - Public support was overwhelmingly in favour of the blockade, and the 'no platform for fascists' position. It is impossible for the BNP to publicly advertise, or hold a meeting without protection from the police and a huge and angry reaction from the vast majority of the public. Well done to everyone who turned up and showed once again that the BNP are not welcome in Bath.

'Stop the fascist BNP' protest - this friday (22nd), Bath

2009-05-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

SMASH THE FASCIST BNP! FRIDAY 22ND MAY, 6PM, QUEENS SQUARE, BATH This friday (22/05) sees the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution play host to local fascist and BNP candidate Jeremy Wotherspoon. As a result, Bath Activist Network and other local groups are calling for the largest possible demonstration to oppose this. We are calling for everyone who is disgusted by the fascist policies of the BNP to meet at 6pm on Friday the 22nd in Queens square, Bath to oppose the spread of the fascist lies and hatred propogated by the BNP. Bath Activist Network is an umbrella group and hope to make the protest as inclusive as possible, providing a space for people of all political backgrounds and tactical preference. many of us in BAN hold a 'no platform' position. This means that we do not believe that the BNP should be given the chance to spread their hatred and lies. We believe in peoples right to say and do what they like, until those words of actions are designed to infringe on the freedom of somebody else to do the same. In the case of the BNP, their freedom of speech is used to spread racial hatred, encourage racial violence, deny the holocaust and preach for a society of racial division and white supremacy. Wherever the BNP gain a foothold, racially motivated attacks, vandalism and abuse skyrocket - this is what the nazi BNP hope to achieve with their 'freedom of speech'. We are not willing to sit back and allow this. We also want to spread the message that in these hard times of lying and corrupt politicians and greedy banks and bosses, a vote for the BNP is not a 'protest vote' - its is a vote for fascists, plain and simple. If we want to changesociety for the better, we cannot rely on scumbags like the BNP, Labour or Tories, we must do it ourselves. The last time the BNP held a meeting in bath, it ended in shambles, with the Bath Uni students passing a 'no platform' motion. Banned from the campus, the BNP tried to hold a 'secret' meeting in town which ended with Nick Griffin and 10 hangers on being chased from pub to pub before being allowed a five minute speech in an empty park! It is vital that we continue this resistance to fascism and the BNP and hope you will join us on friday to continue this tradition and join together with people from all backgrounds to demand an end to the nazi BNP. Please help to build this protest by passing this callout on and spreading information to friends and collegues. For more information, please contact Bath Activist Network on bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk, or by calling us on 07794774938

Mayday! Mayday!

2009-05-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Monday the 4th of May saw BAN and friends take a large affinity group down to the Smash EDO hosday mayday shindig in Brighton. The theme of the event was to oppose militarism greed and war - the main target being EDO/ITT a Brighton based bomb building factory on its last legs after a relentless 5 year activist assault.

The 2000 strong march started peacefully enough, save the odd paint bomb lobbed at army recruitment centres and a little disagreement over wether or not the cops should arrest some activists hanging a banner from barclays. Things got livlier however when the cops decided to stop us airing our feelings outside a local McDonalds. During the scrap, a riot van got smoked out and spraypainted and the police tried uncussesfully to split the protest. From then on, the day became a running battle with angry police, back to the same tactics that have recently brought so much anger thier way. However, the crowd stayed mobile and free of police kettles at all times, using a variety of tactics (paint bombs to obscure police visors being our favourite!). We didn't make it to the EDO factory, but we did leave the police confused and out of control. Throughout the day, the activists were in charge, and despite a few bruises it was us and not the police that controlled the protest. Later in the night, several banks and companies with links to EDO were smashed in solidarity with the protest. Our tactics on the day showed that a fluid, leaderless movement is far more caopable of adapting to situations than the graey, authoritarian structure represented by the police. It is just such fluidity, creativity and diversity that we need more of to create a world of justice and peace, free from the deprivations of capitalism and the state.

Demo reports - Bath weekend of Rage!

2009-04-29T11:07:00.001-07:00

Proceedings kicked off on the Friday with a visit to our local Ford garage in Solidarity with the sacked Ford/Visteon workers. During the demo, we handed out loads of leaflets and got plenty of support and beeping horns from passing drivers and pedestrians. More info on the Visteon workers and their struggle can be found at www.visteonoccupation.org.

The following day, BAN split their forces, sending nearly 15 activists to the world day for lab animals in London, and 1 to the Swindon vs Bristol Rovers derby game - resulting in a resounding 2-1 win for the mighty Swindon. Anyways.....

On Sunday we were all back in Bath and holding an anti police brutality demo. Once again, it was well supported by the public and attracted around 15 activists. The cops, who were treated to a chalk redecoration of the front of their station (see pics) kept a shockingly low profile throughout the demo, possibly aware of the consequences of being seen to repress an anti-repression demo! Some good chats were had with the public, many of whom were sympathetic, or had first hand experience of police mistreatment (leaflets went down particularly well with people leaving the station!).

All in all, the weekend proved to be a sucess. Both demos were totally unauthorised by the autorities, and we intend to keep it that way!

Bath Weekend of Rage! - 24th-26th April

2009-04-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Proceedings kick off on the Friday with -

*Friday 24th April - Visteon solidarity picket - 5.30pm-7pm - meet at Ford garage on Lower Bristol road (opposite Bath Press)

Demo to support the sacked visteon/ford factory workers made redundant without any back pay, redundancy pay or notice. There is a strong (and growing) campaign to fight for justice for the Visteon/ford workers. This struggle has huge implications for workers rights/struggle across the UK.

On saturday, BAN are splitting their energies between the World day for lab animals in London (www.shac.net) and casual, football related holliganism, then back to bath on the Sunday for -

*Sunday 26th April - anti-police brutality demo - meet at midday outside Bath Spa train station

To demand justice for Ian Tomlinson (paper seller murdered by cops at G20), and to demand an end to police brutality and inhumane police tactics such as kettling, mass arrests and beatings.

For any more information, or to get involved with BAN, contact us at bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk, or chack out www.bathactivistnet.blogspot.com

Support on these demos from the South West and beyond would be warmly mentioned!

G20 - we had a smashing time!

2009-04-03T04:44:00.000-07:00

Just a quick report - The G20 is over and, as expected, has failed to come up with a cure for the global recession blues. The best our glorious leaders can come up with is throwing an extra £765 billion at the IMF, the same corrupt institution that is responsible for the free market economics and related starvation/exploitation that makes the majority of the world poor in the first place. Eager to suggest a world free of capitalist exploitation, around 10,000 protesters gathered in London to make their voices heard. The results? A huge street party, a 2,000 strong climate camp in the city, several trashed banks, including RBS HQ, a dose of police brutality and a fair amount of angry rioting that succeeded in running rings around the cops despite an £8 million security operation including 5,000 cops from 30 forces. The murderers claimed the life of passerby Ian Tomlinson, tragically caught up in the police's violence, and for that we offer our grief and solidarity, but have some doubts that those uniformed thugs will learn from it. The demo showed the rage that people are feeling about being taken for mugs by bankers, politicians and fatcats - the message was clear - NO MORE! But the question is, where do we go from here?

Summit for the weekend - roll up! Roll up for the G-20 circus!

2009-03-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Next week, the leaders of the world’s richest 19 countries, plus delegates from all EU states, will be meeting in London to discuss deepening the global recession. And as it is getting more and more obvious that it is them and their fatcat and banker buddies who have got us into this mess, we’ll be there to meet them! The week of action kicks off with the ‘Put People First’ march on Saturday the 28th. Meeting at 11am at the Embankment, it calls for “jobs, justice and climate” and is shaping up to be pretty huge. The demo will consist of thousands of people who’ve had just enough of ‘business as usual’, as well as the usual suspects: socialists, environmentalists, trade unionists and anarchists. This will be followed up by several midweek events, starting with ‘Storm The Banks’: starting at 11am on Wednesday the 1st of April, four simultaneous protests will make their way into the heart of London’s financial districts, where some will party, some will protest and some will be a little bit naughtier! There’s room enough for all forms of dissent - peaceful protesters, direct action enthusiasts, experienced and inexperienced protestors alike. Towards the end of the event, the Network for Climate Action have called for a camp to be set up in the financial district to oppose the carbon-driven economy that led to this recession – bring a sleeping bag, food, and sense of adventure, ‘cos this one’s not to be missed! The following day will see a series of protests around the venue of the G20 summit (the ExCeL Centre), during which some will attempt to block the delegates out, some will try to get in, and others will hold a rally. The actions are looking to be pretty dynamic, so if you’re feeling pissed of at the state we’re in, then this is the event for you. People will be travelling to all of the events from Bath, so to find someone to travel down with, drop Bath Activist Network an email to the usual address. What will you tell your grandkids when they ask you where you were when the revolution started? full info and timeline of events at www.g-20meltdown.org

BAN launch local radical lending library!

2009-03-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce the setting up of another free, local resource - the radical lending library. Books in the library cover a huge range of topics, from anarchism to the environment and cooking, both fiction and non-fiction. Follow this link - http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/423520.html (or check out the BAN myspace)for a full book listing, or to find out what we have, or borrow a book, email us at bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk. The library will hopefully soon have a physical home at Twertons soon-to-be social centre 'Off the Map' (the old Twerton railway station). Happy reading folks!

P.s - we have also recently uploaded a mass (yet far from complete) bank of info about BAN activities over the last couple of years. To view it, follow this link - http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/423519.html

Update on the Twerton squat

2009-03-04T05:40:00.000-08:00

Following on from recent events at the Twerton squat, things seem to have calmed down a little bit. With more residents moving in, and interior structural work well and truly underway, the building seems to be back in our hands. It has been over a week since the authorities last attempted to threaten eviction and, after a 16 strong solidarity demo, the only interaction the residents have had with the law has been frequent chats with Twetons beat manager. The transport police seem to have realised that they cannot act with impunity and have not yet acted on their clearly illegal eviction warning. With any luck the building will soon be open to the public as a space to hang out, meet, read, plot and organise and a number of ideas for workshops etc are already being developed. Oh, and the building now has a name. Borne from the fact that it doesn't appear on land registry maps, the squat has provisionally beejn christened 'Off the map'. More info as it arrives.

Squats happening at Twerton Railway station?

2009-02-21T09:39:00.000-08:00

Our brave boys in blue distinguished themselves on the 9th of February with a violent and illegal eviction of a squatted property in Twerton, where a small group of locals had occupied a Grade 2 Listed building and begun work to reverse many years of neglect at the hands of Network Rail. Fortunately, this nefarious behaviour was curtailed when British Transport copper 1306 – acting without warrant, permission, or any form of legal authority, following orders from a company with neither actual claim to the property or to direct police activity, ripped the door off and arrested those inside. So, nothing wrong there then.
The lone occupant present at the time was held in custody until the house could be boarded up and all the fuses stolen. Meanwhile, the police kept their prisoner in a cell with no emergency buzzer, and repeatedly denied him access to his phone call, whilst trying to do him on a succession of increasingly bizarre charges: burglary – dropped upon realising that burglars take stuff out of buildings, not in; criminal damage – apparently this doesn’t apply to people repairing and maintaining a building; padlock theft – dropped after the police failed to boltcrop said padlocks away; and trespass – dropped when the CPS pointed out that trespass isn’t actually a crime. Eventually, the would-be homemaker was cautioned on the fictitious allegation of electricity theft. However, having been chucked out on the streets in the snow whilst their clothes and sleeping bags were boarded in, the former residents were heartened to find a ‘help the homeless’ collection tin in the reception of Bath police station… Although shaken by this blatantly political repression, the squatters have vowed to fight on for housing for all and a community-controlled social space in Twerton and have made a great start by.... moving back in! A few days after the eviction, the squatters recoppied the building and set about repairing the cop damage. A week later, the cops threatened another illegal eviction. Locals rsponded with a 15 strong solidarity demo outside the squat, and the police have yet to turn up. So, as we stand, the squat still exists, and the occupiers are happy for friendly and curious folk to pop by (no cops, bailiffs or network rail employees though!). If the building stays squatted, the occupiers hope to put it to good use, hosting community events and providing an example of ways to resist the current wave of repossesions and financial hardships.

150 Bathonians demand Israeli ceasefire

2009-01-18T03:22:00.000-08:00

Saturday the 17th of Jan saw over 150 people respond to a call by Bath Activist Network for an emergency 'Israel out of Gaza' protest. Starting at Bath Abbey, the protest moved of past Guildhall, before moving down Milsom street. During the demo, activists stopped at 3 corporate baddies who have been financially supporting Israeli war crimes. First came Starbucks, whose CEO, Joe Shultz has been given awards by the Israeli government for his financial supporg and also 'creating close ties between Israel and America (e.g ensuring more funding from the USA). Although activists did not blockade the store, it was effectivley shut by weight of numbers. Our next target was Lloyds TSB who have recently cancelled the bank account of InterPal, a charity set up to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees. Activists entered the bank and leafletted customers and employees before inviting the manager out for a discussion. She refused, so talk turned to going in and talking to her, at which point Lloyds decided to lock their doors and close shop! From there, the protest moved through town and held a livley demo outside M&S, Israels biggest corporate partner in the UK, and a company who gets much of its veg for illegally occupied Palestinan land. The demo was a huge success and was loud colourful and angry throughout. The public were overwhelmingly supportive (aside from a few isolated voices). As the chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'occupation is a crime, Israel out of Palestine' rang through the streets of Bath, tens of thousands of others were doing the same in dozens of towns and cities accross the UK. If the attacks continue until next saturday, another demo is planned, starting at 12.30 at Abbey Courtyard. Bath Stop the war coalition also hold a weekly peace vigil from 11.30 to 12.30 outsde the Abbey every Saturday. Palestine needs our support, and on Saturday, Bath showed that we were not willing to let the Israeli genocide go unopposed.

Israel out of Gaza! - Bath protest this Saturday! (17/1/09)

2009-01-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

As the ground incursion in Gaza intensifies, our resistance must invrease as well. Bath has held several vigils for Palestine, but this Saturday will see the first protest march - and who knows, there might be a few suprises in store for some corporate baddies.
On Saturday 17th of January, Bath Activist Network, Bath Stop the War Coalition and other groups will be joining together to demonstrate against the continued Israeli assault on Gaza. The emergency demonstration will begin at Abbey Courtyard at 12.30 before moving through Bath city centre. Since the Israeli assault began nearly three weeks ago, nearly 1,000 Palestinians, over one third of them children, have been killed, over 3,000 wounded and tens of thousands displaced. In the last five years, 5,000 Palestinians have lost their lives to Israeli attacks. The protest in Bath will be one of dozens happening across the UK. Bristol recently saw a 500-strong protest, London has seen nightly demos, with two numbering 50,000 and 75,000, and Frome recently had a 35-strong march. We hope to be joined by anti-war groups, faith groups and locals concerned at the ongoing genocide waged by Israel against the Palestinian people. In addition to the protest, we hope to encourage people to boycott companies directly involved in financing the Israeli government and the associated war crimes. If you can make it along, or if you have any queries, please email us at bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk. Please spread info about this demo as widely as possible - lets make it impressive!See y'all there!

BANners join in Palestine Solidarity actions

2009-01-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

As the Israeli war machine continues relentless bombardment of the Gaza strip, the world has risen up in solidarity with the Palestinian people. On Saturday, BAN members started the day supporting the Bath peace vigil which numbered around 25 people. The vigil takes place outside Bath Abbey from 11.30 to 12.30 every Saturday and highlights a number of anti-militarist issues, saturdays issue being Israels imperialist and genocidal assault on Gaza

From there, we moved on to Bristol to join a lively 400 strong solidarity demonstration. At the same time as the Bristol Demo, activists smashed the windows of Boeings Bristol offices (Boeing supply planes and components to the Israeli military) and solidarity demos happened in hundreds of cities across the world, with at least 20 in the UK. The London demo attracted 75,000 activists and concluded with a spontaneous march on the Israeli embassy and a mini-riot after the cops launched an unprovoked attack on a peaceful section of the march, seriously injuring many activists, including kids.

A further demo in London is being planned for next Saturday - for info on tickets and travel, or to get involved in anti-militarist activism in Bath contact bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk

Get yer latest Bath Bomb!

2008-12-31T05:01:00.001-08:00

THE BATH BOMB

Issue #17 out now!

This month's action-packed installment includes the following dirt:

* All the latest on local resistance to the recession

* Updates on the foie gras campaign

* 'Bubbling Under' monthly radical cinema - The Battle of Trafalgar & Sir Yes Sir

* Resistance in Greece

* Buy Nothing Day

* Tesco expansion

* BNP membership leak

* Bath Vegan Fayre review

* National climate march

* Upcoming events

* & much, much more!

To read this or any back issues of Bath's monthly radical black n white tabloid scandal-rag, pick up your free copy or free subscription, drop an e-mail to bathbombpress@yahoo.co.uk or check out http://www.thebathbomb.blogspot.com/

THE BATH BOMB #16/Nov '08 ('We won't pay for their Crisis!' campaign launch, Bubbling Under - Nude Girls Unite, foie gras, Bath Vegan Fayre, hunt sabotage, Save Bathampton Meadows, Aldermaston blockade, squat defence, the demise of Envolve, stop the bail-outs, and analysis of the Shut ITT demo)

THE BATH BOMB #15/Oct '08 (launch of Bath radical lending library, protest at Labour Party Conference in Manchester, Bubbling Under - Bombs and Batons & Can't Complain, Ian's Blair's resignation, Shut ITT, media bias, Nazis in Somerset, ID cards, fuel poverty, foie gras)

THE BATH BOMB #14/Sep '08 (resistance to Red, White & Blue fest, Tesco update, action against surveillance, CCTV updates, Are all cops really bastards?, freedom of movement, BIA sabotage, Bubbling Under - Climate Camp, self-transformation)

THE BATH BOMB #13/Aug '08 (birthday edition - media monopolies, Camp for Climate Action, police harrassment, women & climate change, Roots of Change, Bristol Anarchist Bookfair)

THE BATH BOMB #12/July '08 (action against coal, Tesco resistance, sexist advertising, pigs off our streets, badger cull & foie gras, Mad Pride Day, naked bike ride, G8 in Japan, Are all cops bastards?, the IOM)

THE BATH BOMB #11/June '08 (Rolf Harris protest, 'There is such thing as a free lunch!', Bristol Vegan Fayre, foie gras premature celebrations, Carnival Against the Arms Trade, Tesco at Bath Press, Bath Bomb benefit bash, Bubbling Under - J18, IOM pickets, poison alert)

THE BATH BOMB #10/May '08 (Bath Freeze, demise of the 78, Topshop labour abuse demo, advertising & self-image, foie gras sabotage, teacher strike, freeganism, saved green space, Boris Johnson, SHAC demo)

THE BATH BOMB #9/April '08 (Bubbling Under - Breaking the Spell & pacifism debate, 'On the Verge', Fossil Fuels day, rapid transit on the cycle path, anmal rights, birth of the 78, anti-war march, squatting, Aldermaston blockade, foie gras news)

THE BATH BOMB #8/March '08 (Fairtrade Fortnight, Tesco update, FreeShop expansion, RUH attack, foie gras update, Harry in Iraq, 'On The Verge' anouncement, post office closures, Topshop protest)

THE BATH BOMB #7/February '08 (Tesco at Bathwick, skip-diving, Bubbling Under - Power of Community, foie gras update, rail fare 'strike', affordable housing, rich white ghetto tensions, police pay strike)

THE BATH BOMB #6/January '08 (Tesco update, Letinov Steam Circus eviction, 2007 review, foie gras update, rail fare action, climate march in London, Bubbling Under - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, dawn raid disruption)

THE BATH BOMB #5/Dec '07 (anti-fascism in Oxford, demise of Bristle mag, attack on Station Kebab Shop, hunt sabotage, Reclaim the High Street, SHAC demo, biodiesel schoolbuses, Bubbling Under - The Yes Men)

THE BATH BOMB #4/Nov '07 (RBS protest, disabled access in Bath, bodge the badger cull, ethical consumerism, Cadbury's closure, BNP in Oxford, Bubbling Under - Behind The Mask, Harrods demo & London Anarchist Bookfair, MP's incomes)

THE BATH BOMB #3/Oct '07 (Southgate Centre, Cut the Carbon, workers' rights, fur patrols, nuclear consultation, RBS, Bubbling Under, Cadbury's closure, Go Veggie Month, fox hunting trivia)

THE BATH BOMB #2/Sept '07 (police tazers, KFC demo, Camp for Climate Action report, arms companies in Bath, No Borders camp, foie gras update, Mosque attack, Bubbling Under - V for Video Activist)

THE BATH BOMB #1/July & Aug '07 (BNP in Bath, foie gras campaign, Tesco campaign, Western Riverside development, Climate Camp injunction, democracy & activism)