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This New Year’s Eve we took it upon ourselves to get especially festive. Finding that the beer and liquor, fraternizing, and flirting just didn’t suffice, we gallivanted by the US Bank at 103rd and Holmes. We were pleased to spot several large rocks amidst the stunning corporate landscaping. We also located a sturdy metal wastebasket. Soon we were partying like never before, dancing under floodlights behind masks before surveillance cameras to an improvised symphony of shattering plate glass. At least 20 large windows bit the dust before all was said and done. All present will attest: that damn bank never looked so good.

As long as banks get bailed out, we will attack.
Hell—as long as there are banks, we will attack.

Solidarity with all bank robbers, vandals, burglars, and thieves, everyone who seizes the means of consumption rather than slave for wages!

As Chavez attempts to allow indefinite presidential reelections for himself by way of the approval of the Referendum for Constitutional amendment, anarchists publish this declaration, which is also the Editorial of El Libertario #55, January-February 2009 (now on line, in Spanish www.nodo50.org/ellibertario).

During mid-December a large number of people working under temporary contracts in governmental offices lost their jobs due to orders “from above” that mandated a drastic reduction in the inflated state payroll due to the economic crisis. On the other hand a report by the NGO CECODAP counted 174 children dead by gunshots in one year in their neighborhoods, which testifies about the violence we live with in this country, symptom of our social crisis. The lack of decent housing affects 13 million people, after ten consecutive years of the Bolivarian government failing to meet their own goals, which has mobilized the community of the homeless throughout the nation, occupying land under threats of criminalization and police and judicial repression. During 2008 inflation was the highest in Latin America, lowering real wages as the cost of food and services rose, and this situation is not going to improve in 2009. Besides, the state’s income and expenses will drop considerably due to falling oil prices, our main export. The condition of health care, personal security, of people deprived of freedom, the degradation of the police forces and the murder of labor activists do not pass scrutiny either, despite al the government propaganda in the media.

From The Guardian - by Angelique Chrisafis

The village that police say is a threat to the state
Nine deny anarchist plot, saying they were just seeking the simple life

High on a bleak mountain plateau in central France, the tiny village of Tarnac is fiercely proud of its grocer's shop. A smiling lady with a perm stands behind the old-fashioned till amid shelves stocked with everything from fly-swats and fairy lights to socks and soya milk. Elderly villagers boast that thanks to the shop, they don't have to leave their cottages to travel miles for bread in this vast, depopulated rural wilderness of central France known as "the desert". Posters advertise tea dances and cinema club screenings of Billy the Kid.

But the French government claims that Tarnac and its small shop are the headquarters of a dangerous cell of anarchist terrorists plotting to overthrow the state. Images of balaclava-clad police swooping to arrest suspects in Tarnac were compared by bewildered villagers to a strange, rural action movie. The government hinted that locals were too gormless to have noticed the terrorist activity in their midst. But after weeks of controversy, supporters are rising up to defend the young people of the village.

From The Guardian - by Jason Burke

Despite claims of exaggeration, government reports insist a new generation of extremists will soon launch a wave of sabotage and bombings

The French government fears a wave of extreme left-wing terrorism this year with the possible sabotage of key infrastructure, kidnappings of major business figures or even bomb attacks.

Secret French government reports, seen by the Observer, describe an "elevated threat" from an "international European network ... with a strong presence in France" after the radicalisation of "a new generation of activists" in recent years. Senior analysts and experts linked to the government have drawn parallels with the Action Directe group, which carried out 50 or more attacks in the early 1980s. Others cite the example of the Baader-Meinhof gang.

For the 9th year the Chicago Anarchist Film Festival will present a sample of films from mainstream sources, rediscovered classics and the works of filmmakers engaged in social change with an anarchist vision. Most media of all types launch attacks that distort, discredit and deny anarchists entirely. Anarchists and their allies respond with a relentless volley of images and stories that reveal, revive and invigorate a rich anarchist presence in society.

Chicago Anarchist Film Festival organizers seek un- and under-distributed films and videos to include in the 2009 Chicago Anarchist Film Festival. We also welcome suggestions for titles that may inadvertently allow anarchy to seep through the cracks of the status quo. Movie collage, music videos and trailers for works-in-progress will also be considered.

Deadline- April 1, 2009

New Year's eve, most of the people choose to stay in their houses or go to bars, all celebrating the coming of the new year. However there are people who at these times choose to stand close to those who are alone, locked away and forgotten and there are people who believe that the social struggle never ends.

In Greece, at 11.30pm, minutes before the new year, anarchists and solidarists gathered close to prisons around the country and with their slogans and fireworks sent a message to the prisoners that they are not forgotten. There were gatherings outside the prisons in Athens, Patras, Chania, Irakleio and when the year changed, fireworks were lighten and the slogans on prisoners support became louder. The prisoners were watching through the windows and replied with more slogans and with small fires!

In Athens, around 1000 took part. They first started at the mens prison and then continued to the womens. There was a small demonstration on which some banks' ATM machines and surveillance cameras were destroyed. The 6-7 riot squads did not react.

From Z Communications - By Chris Spannos

Autonomous, the word (Auto + Nom(os)), is, of course, derived from the Greek. Auto meaning "self," "same," and "spontaneous," and nomos meaning "law" or "custom"---as in, "one who gives oneself his or her own law is practicing the act of self-governance."

Inspired by the recent Greek rebellion, I am reminded of the Late Greek/French theorist of Autonomy and Self-Management, Cornelius Castoriadis, who made the distinction between those that think society's institutions, laws, traditions, beliefs, and behaviors are either the product of divine intervention (i.e. god/s) or hardwired into historical outcomes, and those who are aware of their self-conscious ability to transform society into something new and better. He called the latter "Autonomy."

Castoriadis, widely considered one of the most serious theorists of democracy, was an ardent proponent of direct democracy. He believed equality and freedom were inseparable. "In Greece," wrote Castoriadis, "democracy was also called at the outset isonomy, equality of the law for everyone." ("Socialism and Autonomous Society," Political and Social Writings, Vol. 3, Minnesota, pg. 316, 1979). In Greece, decades before the police killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos this December 6th, and in the immediate wave of uprising afterward, Greeks have resisted and rebelled against the material and social inequality that rules every moment and that makes "equality of the law for everyone" impossible. Greek resistance and rebellion is consistent with Castoriadis' autonomous project.

Statements from the assembly of the Thessaloniki trade union centre, which was occupied in solidarity with attacked cleaning worker Konstantina Kuneva.

Occupation of the Thessaloniki Trade Unions Center for Konstantina Kuneva - text of Dec.30 assembly
“We occupy today the Thessaloniki Trade Unions Center to resist state oppression manifested in murders and terrorism against working people. We occupy the Trade Unions Center and obstruct its administration; we do not obstruct the workings of 1st degree unions; far from it, we appeal to them and to working people to join this common struggle”

The occupation of the Trade Unions Center of Thessaloniki continues.

From NW Anarchist Forum

The focus of this forum is to draw analysis and proposals as a fervent critique of the current anarchist* milieu in the Northwest specifically (looking at situations nationally and internationally). Drawing upon a praxis - theory into action - and an experimentation of tactics towards a complete social transformation. One towards the total destruction of society, capital, technology, morals, ideology, civilization (call it what one will) and the lineage of the existent.
There are sections for reading groups to be conceived. Whether it is theory, fiction, non-fiction whatever it is the individual or group of individuals want/s to draw analysis upon. Ideas for projects and experimentation of projects to create and discuss. Interesting literature in any form that one finds of interest to the forum or a furtherance of analysis and critique (hopefully which is not just rhetoric of the dead-weighted leftist reformist)

This forum is not to just shit talk. Nor is it to create an embryonic sac for comfortable technophiles. It is a virtual space of discussion and dialogue in a completely mediated manner. Either through anger, hopelessness, depression, discontent any and all emotions that can be thrust out of oneself. Proposing this, it is hoped that discussion and dialogue is pushed outside of these parameters or a setting up of a place to have these discussions exist outside of this virtually mediated space. Into the space of reality where situations arise - towards escalation and confrontation - towards developments of strategy. Because theory in itself is only academic masturbatory specialization left to its dark confines of pacifism.

From ATubes

To commemorate the exciting developments at Anarchist News and in anarchodom around the world we have created a static page for the Anarchist News newsletter ATubes. The latest and greatest ATubes will always be there. Check out This months issue.

This months ATubes is an exciting double-sized issue. The events in Greece are so astounding and inspiring that we have dedicated four pages of ATubes content to just Greece; the events, analysis, and reports. Other news includes the passing, creation, and danger-to of anarchist projects, editorials on the people impacting anarchists and anarchists impacting the world.

We look forward to hearing stories about the distribution of ATubes in your towns, cities, and outposts.

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