Spanish miners carry the true torch of resistance to the New World Order
Here in Ireland, the self appointed keepers of the Irish Republican flame (the so called dissident republicans) pathetically continue to treat Sinn Féin as the main 'enemy', engage in internecine feuds, entangle themselves with drug gangs and fulfil the wet dream of all MI5 and Garda spooks by trying to run tin pot "armies". Meanwhile in the real world, workers, peasants and James Connolly’s “people of no property” are involved in a real struggle to actually change that world.Here's what real social protest looks like (everybody has a part to play) -
Acabar con todo - Enough is Enough - in defence of mining regions
Already on indefinite strike, Spanish Miners and their huge support base in the coal mining region of Asturias and nearby areas have shown the way socialists should be giving a lead by calling a general strike for the 18th of June. Cic Saor readers who have Spanish can read more on the announcement from the confederation of trade union groups here -
http://www.ccooasturias.es/webasturias/menu.do?Inicio:361849
Nothing for us - Everything for Everybody - Capitalism's worst nightmare.
Workers in Asturias announce a General Strike in the region for the 18th of June
With Capitalism in crisis, the argument becomes very clear. Do major bond and shareholders and the rich aristocracy generally, most of whom never worked a day in their lives, have a right to impose their preferred solution to the crisis upon us, or will they be forced to acknowledge the will of the people? The will of the people being that they should not be made to pay for a corrupt system that is rotten with greed. A system that ensures the obscene wealth of a tiny minority whilst millions starve worldwide.
Just like in Ireland, the Asturias region of Spain has been decimated by emigration the hemorrhaging of youth and young families who have left their birthplace (and the roots of their own language – Gallego), and the massive drag of resources to major conurbations. You starve a region, or country or continent, of resources and then declare that it’s not competitive – Geddit?
Asturias also has a very strong history of opposition to fascism and is capable of popular uprisings because the most radical elements have not divorced themselves from the people.
Now with a decision by the Spanish government to slash subsidies to coal mines (effectively meaning they will close), the miners, their families and supporters have engaged in wildcat actions, mineshaft occupations, “Occupy” type actions in town squares and the blocking of transport terminals, road and rail routes. The paramilitary Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional have responded with tear gas and plastic bullets.
The leadership of the mineworkers is very clear about what’s at stake and make a direct parallel with Margaret Thatcher’s successful destruction of the National Union of Mineworkers in the 1980s. Or as the union confederation puts it:
"..al igual que hizo Margaret Thatcher, el Gobierno está echando un pulso a las organizaciones sindicales y a la minería".
"Just as Margaret Thatcher did, the government is engaged in an assault on the trade unions and the mineworkers."
Nor is it simply a question of supporting coal mining as an energy source. The debate goes much deeper and encompasses the right to dignity and to work, to choose where we want to live and the protection of regions that are cut off from the centres of financial power. There is an excellent reflection of this debate with translations of tweets to English here -
http://storyful.com/stories/30966
Spanish workers are making the point, that cannot be stressed too forcefully in Ireland, capitalism has gone viral and it has killed the question of sovereignty. Now, wherever you are in the world, its just us or them.
If you are a politician, trade unionist or member of a community group, as a matter of urgency, raise the issue in your own forum and send messages of support to the people of Asturias.
(Get with the programme all you wannabe paramilitaries. Get with the people.)
Paul Larkin
Carraic, Gaoth Dobhair.
Mí an Mheithimh/June 2012
PS
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