Category: UNEMPLOYED

STATING THE OBVIOUS

A DEFIANT YET modest group of eight activists from Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance, Occupy Bath and B.A.R.F. anarchists, were all out in ‘force’ on the freezing night of Wednesday 5th December, leafleting with blue-tinged fingers, and bemoaning George Osborne’s mopey Autumn Statement. A statement that basically stated: “Yes, the evil Con-Dem austerity package has failed to turn around the economy’s nosedive” and “Yes, we’re gonna do at least another six years of the same, and feign surprise when it turns out it didn’t work”. As well as the recent years of frozen wages, ‘Workfare’ neo-slavery and dismantled public services, the new plan similarly attacks benefits, pensions and teachers’ unions. Meanwhile, the Sunday Times Rich List reported that the wealthiest 1,000 UK citizens have seen their fortunes increase by over £18 billion over the past year, to more than £414 billion – over a third of the national debt. Without meaning to state the obvious, but perhaps it’s about time for a bit of old-fashioned wealth redistribution?

LAST ORDERS AT THE BELL?

DARK DAYS FOR Bathonians last month, with the announcement of the impending sale of Walcot Street’s Bell Inn. For those not in the know, the Bell has long been one of the city’s most distinctive waterholes, with a reputation for real ale, almost nightly live music and independent spirit. The foil-hatted amongst you can almost be forgiven for thinking that some sinister Illuminani-esque conspiracy has been targeting the city over the last decade or so, with closures of real pubs like the Hat and Feather, the Porter Butt and the Longacre (even Moles’ future is looking shaky), the expansion of boarded-up wasteland along the London Road, and increased gentrification (yes, this is Bath we’re talking about). Walcot Street, the so-called ‘Artisan Quarter’, whatever that means, has been hit hardest, with the loss of Doolallys cafe and the sabotage of Walcot Nation Day festival, an annual fest of true weirdness.

Maybe the Bell’s motley crue of dedicated boozers and misfits can save the pub, though, and buy it up themselves; providing they can cough up the £925,000. But failing that, this might well be the pub’s final death knell. Well, we’ve always thought it high time the city had another gastro-pub.

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/Regulars-fear-future-Bell-pub-goes-sale/story-17392550-detail/story.html

NOVEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS

London Road Food Co-op: Wednesdays, 5-7p.m., [at] the Riverside Youth Centre, York Place, London Road, Bath, BA1 6AE; tel 07837 784715

‘Ground Control: Fear and happiness in the twenty-first-century city’ talk: Tuesday 6th November, 6p.m., Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6UX

Abahlali base Mjondolo talk & film: Tuesday 6th November, 8p.m., Cube cinema, Bristol; http://www.permanentculturenow.com; £3/£4 entry

Emporium Film Club – ‘In This World’ & ‘Robert Newman’s History of Oil Live’: Thursday 8th November, 7p.m., the Emporium, 37 Stokes Croft, Bristol

Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance meeting: Tuesday 6th November, 8p.m., upstairs at the Ram, Widcombe, Bath

The famous Bath FreeShop: Saturday 10th November, 12-3p.m., outside the Pump Rooms (opposite Holland & Barrett), Stall Street, Bath; “Give, take and free cake!”

Bath Animal Action & Hunt Saboteurs meeting: Monday 12th November, 8p.m., the Bell, Walcot Street, Bath

‘Reclaim Education!’ week of action: Wednesday 14th to Wednesday 21st November, Bristol Uni; http://www.facebook.com/groups/bristol.left

‘Kicking Back in Austerity Britain’ tour gig: Friday 16th November, 7p.m., Hamworthy Liberal Hall, Poole; feat. Cosmo and Ms. Something-else; £5/£3; http://cosmoguitar.net

Workfare Day of Action: Saturday 17th November, national; http://www.boycottworkfare.org

‘Independence Day’ talks & workshops: Saturday 17th November, 10.30-4p.m., Wesley Chapel, Frome; http://www.independenceday2012.co.uk

national N.U.S. student demo against fees: Wednesday 21st November, assemble 11a.m., Temple Place, London; http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/ean-nov-2012-demo-bw-poster.pdf

‘Reclaiming Our N.H.S.’ action-planning meeting: 21st November, 7p.m., B.R.L.S.I., 16-18 Queen Square, Bath; book early info[at]38degreesbath.org.uk

‘Everything you ever wanted to know about Anarchism…’ discussion: Saturday 24th November, 3-6p.m., Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath; e-mail bathactivistnet[at]yahoo.co.uk

‘Resistance in the Age of Austerity’ talk & film: Monday 3rd December, 8p.m., Cube cinema, Bristol; http://www.permanentculturenow.com; £3/£4 entry

 

PIRATICAL HI-JINKS AND HI-JACKS IN DARTMOUTH

HERE AT THE Mutineer, we take pride in the westcountry’s long history of smuggling, brigandry and piracy, so, we thought we’d take the time to salute Dartmouth resident Alison Whelan for upholding these fine traditions. After a weekend long bender, including copious amount of lambrini and hallucinogenic deadly nightshade, Alison decided to relight the dormant tradition of southwesterly piracy. Commandeering a 45ft. vessel, Captain Whelan steered out of the harbour, smashing into dozens of boats, including a £70,000 luxury yacht, all the while screaming “I’m Jack Sparrow!” Police on the scene described the harbour as “like a giant pinball machine” as she attempted to make it to the high seas. As authorities approached, Whelan was heard taunting police by saying “what are you going to do now?” and “I believe this is out of your jurisdiction”. She was wrong. Later, when interviewed, Whelan’s first words to police were “I would have made it to St. Tropez if you hadn’t stopped me!” This unrepentant pirate is now doing a short stretch behind bars, and, while her water-borne protest can in no way be counted as progressive, we would still like to take off our tri-corn hats in salute to a woman who has reminded us that the west’s tradition of drunken, criminal piracy is not quite dead.

UNFAIR UNIVERSAL CREDIT CRUNCH

ARE YOU READY for yet another change to your benefits? More money is being taken from our pockets and being wasted in overhauling the benefit system. It seems all very confusing but it basically boils down to less money for the vulnerable, disabled, unemployed and elderly and more in the back pockets of the rich. You will also need a computer and the internet, two costly commodities for your home, which these categories are unlikely to be able to afford or be able to use (15 million people do not have a computer in the U.K., 8,000 of which have never used the internet!). It will mean more job losses for those who work for the benefit system, and cuts to pay and pensions. And for those of you who find it difficult to manage money, have bills coming out all over the month or do not have the time to sort it all out due to kids etc., your benefits will be coming to you in one lump sum! For most this will mean bouncing in and out of your overdraft, paying more money to the banks for the pleasure. You will now not be able to work up to 16 hours a week and claim J.S.A., and anything you work will be deducted from your benefits, so you will end up losing a lot more and having to work for it. The new scheme will be put into action between 2013 and 2017, but we in the southwest will be hit first, starting with the pilot study in Bath and and surrounds. So get ready with your complaint letters, e-mails and phone calls to council and local M.P.s. Go to the benefits office and council house, make a big fuss and egg on the staff to complain to their bosses too! And anything else you may think of to show your anger and stress; it’s time to nip this in the bud now.

 

THEY DON’T GIVE ATOS, BUT WE DO

 ON THURSDAY 6th September 20 concerned locals from Bath and Bristol met up outside ATOS offices at Flowers Hill in Bristol, to show their disgust at the I.T. company’s sick treatment of those who are sick and disabled. The protest came amid a wave of action which saw disabled and anti-cuts activists taking to the streets in dozens of towns and cities across the U.K., highlighting the hypocrisy of ATOS’ sponsorship of the Paralympics. In London, in an action planned to coincide with the Paralympic closing ceremony, hundreds of disabled people protested outside ATOS H.Q. and occupied the D.W.P., where out-of-control cops broke the arm of a disabled protester. Even the Paralympic Team G.B. joined the protest, hiding their ATOS-sponsored badges throughout the opening ceremony! As mentioned in our previous issue, ATOS are being handed tax payers’ money to kick people off incapacity benefits. Their tests include whether someone can stand for one minute, or lift their hand above their head, and no medical notes from the claimants’ G.P.s are considered. The offices in Bristol, where claimants are forced to have these assessments, is a 20 minute bus ride from the centre, in a commercial estate without disabled access: apparently the company’s idea of testing vulnerable people before they even arrive.

On the day, protesters handed out leaflets to passing drivers and pedestrians, to a good response. One passerby told how their partner was booted off benefits despite her crippling arthritis, meaning that some days she couldn’t even get out of bed! However, she managed to get them reinstated after a harrowing five month battle, suffering loss of money and increased stress from the uncertainty of her case. The protesters made contact with several claimants themselves being forced through this ordeal, who the campaigners will be able to help through a new action group being set up: Community Action Network. The group is designed to help those who are not only being kicked off their benefits, but are also being kicked out of their homes, schools and day centres, or otherwise shafted by the cuts. As well as undertaking legal casework, C.A.N. will employ direct action – intervening to prevent bailiffs, ATOS and other assorted scum making our lives more miserable. The group is made up of current and former Citizens Advice Bureau staff, alongside radical social workers, teachers, debt advisors, solicitors, claimants, carers and others. If you feel that you are being treated unfairly and would like help or advice, or would like to help please e-mail: thecommunityactionnetwork[at]gmail.co.uk

 

LIFE ON THE EDGE

…THE EDGE FUND, that is! Fed up of having to choose between funding your revolutionary agit-prop at the printshop, or one more pint at the bar? Tired of sitting through the bullshit of yet another cheapskate trying to blag their way past the door at your benefit gig? Well, fear no longer! If your grassroots group is campaigning for social, economic or environmental justice and/or systemic change, or faces injustice itself, then you need The Edge! Grants of under £5,000 are available for U.K.-based groups now; simply e-mail a page describing who your group is, what you do, your group’s annual income and how you plan to combat the existing economic/political system(s) to: edgefund[at]riseup.net, or contact 07767 126915, before 1st December (The Edge Fund is not to be confused with the guitarist from U2, but if you ask nicely/mug him roughly, he may well be good for it, too).

http://www.edgefund.org.uk

WALK THE PLANK

A retrospective gig reviewlet!

Just like the poster says, Thursday September the 27th saw a gentle little evening soiree of music at the Royal Oak freehouse, a real ale local on Bath’s Lower Bristol Road. Put on by B.A.R.F. and friends (the city’s friendly neighbourhood anarchist collective), with sound graciously supplied by the fine folks at Pitchfork Rebellion, the night was set to raise funds for the Mutineer, of all things. But enough of all that guff.

Proceedings were opened with the quirky poetry of humble, behatted Jesse Perrett, who charmed and amused the intimate gathering, and acted as compere throughout. He was quickly followed by the antifolk antics of Karly Hobo: one man, one guitar, and street punk poet rantings about skipping, life and love. Next up was Stratford’s (ex-King Blues) Perkie (not Perky, as mis-spelt on the poster!), a punky folky pianist type, who sings slow, personal, haunting songs – kinda in the style of Tracey Curtis, but not like she’s five – and wears massive granny glasses!

The night was finished up by Bristol’s Clayton Blizzard, folk-rap virtuoso and maybe lyrical genius; between almost hitting it big, he sings songs about songs, being poor, the whereabouts of God, American foreign policy and economics – which is actually nowhere near as boring as it sounds. Between the confidence of his stage presence and the technical ability of his vocal delivery, he had the audience soon eating out of his hand (not literally), and finished up with crowd-pleaser ‘Winning A Raffle, Losing The War’.

But anyway, that’s quite enough brown-nosing for one article.

Keep an eye out for future gigs – you’ll hear it here last!

 

INTERNET COMMENT OF THE MONTH

IN RESPONSE TO news that meaningless, degenerate corpse-in-waiting Prince Harry has been filmed playing ‘strip billiards’ in an exclusive casino, Andy from Devon posts on Yahoo News that: “All members of the royal family should be paraded naked through the streets of Ireland and later fed to a bunch of hungry, wild pigs. They are a waste of air.”

Quite so Andy. Stay tuned for more of the internet’s finest next month.

SEPTEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS

 

London Road Food Co-op: Wednesdays, 5-7p.m., @ the Riverside Youth Centre, York Place, London Road, Bath, BA1 6AE; tel 07837 784715

The famous Bath FreeShop: Saturday 8th September, 12-3p.m., outside the Pump Rooms (opposite Holland & Barrett), Stall Street, Bath; “Give, take and free cake!”

Bristol Greenpeace ‘Hydraulic Fracking’ public meeting: Thursday 13th September, 7.30p.m., @ Redlands Friends Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6JE

‘The Syrian Conflict… And your responsibility to end it’ public discussion: Thursday 13th September, 7-9p.m., @ Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QY; http://www.garisullivan.co.uk

lobby of Bristol City Council: Tuesday 18th September, 5p.m., @ the Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5T

‘Stop the G8 2013!’ planning meeting: Saturday 22nd September, Birmingham; e-mail smashedo[at]riseup.net

Bristol Comic and Zine Fair: Sunday 23rd September, 12-6p.m., @ downstairs at Cafe Kino, Stokes Croft, Bristol; http://www.bearpitzines.tumblr.com/BCZF

Solidarity demo for locked up Belarussian anarchists: Sunday 23rd September, 1-5p.m., @ the Belarussian embassy, Kensington Court, London

Bastard Squad gig, Monday 24th September, 8p.m., @ the Croft pub, Stokes Croft, Bristol; feat. Hexis, This Gift is a Curse & This Ends Here; £5/£6 entry

‘How could fracking affect us?’ public meeting: Tuesday 25th September, 7-9p.m., @ Wells Town Hall, Wells

‘Walk the Plank’ Westcountry Mutineer unplugged benefit gig: Thursday 27th September, 8p.m. @ The Royal Oak, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, Somerset; feat. Clayton Blizzard, & other acts T.B.C.; e-mail mutineerpress[at]riseup.net

anti-badger cull all-night party: Saturday 29th September, South Gloucestershire; e-mail stopthebadgercull[at]gmail.com

No New Nuclear! week of action: Friday 5th-Tuesday 9th Oct, Bridgewater; see http://www.stopnewnuclear.org.uk

anti-Tory Party Conference demo: Sunday 7th Oct, I.C.C, Birmingham