#educate agitate and organise

[dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram]

Nick and Annie also mentioned this in a recent episode of their podcast, but it is worrying how many of the small music venues that are either struggling or have already closed down. It must be so depressing to be an upcoming/indie musicians these days and being faced with fewer options to perform and platforms like Spotify now making payment changes that further disadvantages them.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/30/small-uk-music-venues-struggle-to-stay-open-polar-bear-hull

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/30/spotify-smaller-artists-wrapped-indie-musicians

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/22/spotify-announces-royalty-changes

Anon 2:

Just saw this thread from United Musicians and Allied Workers, which highlights that Spotify’s new payment threshold will mean that 2/3 of the tracks on the platform won’t receive any payment at all in 2024.

Thanks for bringing attention to all this anons. That stratification of the music industry - where the biggest artists are doing incredibly well and there's fewer and fewer people who are making a decent living. It is bad for workers, bad for culture, and bad for people who love music.

I hate that fan culture is one of the boosters to this form of capitalism. It's why I think it's important to emphasise that streaming (as opposed to listening to) your fave's music actively makes the world worse. I don't think fandom has to contribute to making the rich richer and the poor poorer, but I think it's important to acknowledge that as currently practiced it often does.

[our-trans-punk-experience]

hey! I’m looking for tips on things to do

I’ve tried my best to get into punk - not allowed to make my own clothes, but I diy things whenever possible, I’ve been learning diy skills and things

planning on turning the backyard of my house into a vegetable garden, if I ever get the motivation, I stay informed about politics in my country, made a sticker the other day, etc. but like. I feel like I’m not doing enough. Like I live in USA and I’m a minor and there’s so much going wrong! But I’m not sure how to start doing anything impactful, really

You're doing so much already! Especially as a minor it's so difficult sometimes to get involved and you're doing more than is expected of you. There can be a massive pressure I think to perform flashy stand out acts of resistance when most of resistance is being a long term nuisance, holding the line, building community, learning new skills, educating yourself and others, and keeping going. I'm working on a major Practical Resistance (title in progress) guide and that will have a longer list of tips. But you're plenty impactful already kid, don't stop now!

Stay punk, luv ya

[damnesdelamer]

My boss: [the manager of our client/partner] emailed me to tell you they don't want you mentioning unions to their employees.

Me: I'm pretty sure it's illegal to explicitly forbid union members organising, but the national industrial action has been announced publicly anyway.

Boss: Well they just don't want you to mention it.

Me: Remember on my first day, when I had to walk in due to rail strikes, and you said I could work from home for as long as those strikes continued? This is just like that. All I did was ask [our client/partner] if they were aware of the ongoing industrial action in order to address possible delays.

Boss: But if you were a member of the rail union --

Me: Which I am.

Boss: 😐

[metamatar]

you know what's depressing though? like lesswrongers are racist eugenicist cultists but they're so disproportionately fucking successful despite not really bothering to organise agitate educate. just posting online and flattering the rich and white was enough if you're at the heart of the next technological revolution. i fucking hate material conditions sometimes atleast when i see the hindu nationalists im like ok they do a lot of ground work the rss has a presence in the life of every single indian in some way or the other they spent 120 years on this and assassinated gandhi on the way. i can see it. as i've said before, this ideology doesn't even have a fucking wikipedia page

[wobblydev]

do you have any advice on what to do when your workplace is unionized, but the union provides inadequate help to the workers?

an important question. the recent drive for unionising in the US is exciting, but many of the unions involved in these campaigns are about as complacent as it gets. organising for power within a union can be just as difficult as organising against the boss.

for the majority of unions, what they're willing to do for their members begins and ends with the contract they have bargained on your behalf. you have a right to see that contract, so request a copy. be persistent. be annoying if they are too slow. you have a right to see it within a timely manner.

the contract itself will be long and boring, but read the entire thing. it is the totality of what the company and the union have agreed to, and it dictates what you are and are not allowed to do within the limits of the contract.

there is nothing stopping you from taking an OT101 and learning how to speak with your coworkers about what they would like to see improved, and then build power from within to push for that towards the next contract negotiation. some unions are more democratic than others. some encourage membership to attend meetings, others aren't as comfortable with that. transparency differs greatly among the unions. regardless, organising is the same.

gather contact information, map your workplace, listen to your fellow workers and learn what they are frustrated about. agitate, educate, inoculate and continue to push. your union is supposed to represent you and the interests of all the workers performing covered work under the contract. get involved and stay involved. get the personal phone number of your steward and talk to them regularly. remind them again and again about what needs to change. don't suffer excuses, the most common of which will be "the contract is the contract." that contract can and will be renegotiated, so make sure everyone up the ladder knows your name, where you work, your local, and what needs to be changed. be a nuisance, and get as many of your fellow workers as possible to be nuisances until it gets fixed.

because if they don't represent you as you want to be represented, you can decertify from them and sign up with a union that will actually fight.

[scotianostra]

December 23rd 1812 saw the birth of Samuel Smiles, the social reformer and author.

Born in Haddington to Samuel and Janet Smiles, he was educated under strict Calvinist principles, apprenticed to a medical practitioner, and received a medical degree from Edinburgh University. In 1838, failing to establish a successful medical practice, Smiles sold what little property he owned and left Scotland. After touring the Netherlands and Germany, he accepted the editorship of a radical newspaper, the Leeds Times. Although this position paid little, it provided an ideal platform for a young man determined to effect social change. Smiles penned a number of anonymous articles advocating causes like women's education, free trade and parliamentary reform while attacking the aristocracy mercilessly, though with little apparent effect. He also involved himself heavily in radical organisations seeking to build middle and working-class cooperation to bring pressure for the political reform.

He hoped to establish a society in which educated men and women of all classes treated each other as equals, engaged in rational debate, and agitated nonviolently toward a just society. This was certainly a Utopian, even romantic vision to establish an organisation that linked members of the working and middle classes and eventually feared it would end in violence.

In 1859 Smiles published the book Self-Help was to immediate success. It sold over 270,000 copies in Britain during Smiles's lifetime, was translated into numerous other languages, and is still in print in the twenty-first century. The thesis of the book was simple: that hard work, thrift, and perseverance would lead to personal success and national progress. "The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the true source of national vigour and strength." Smiles illustrated and developed this idea with readable biographies and catch-phrases. While some critics have incorrectly seen Self-Help as a justification for self-interest, it is more accurately viewed as a defence of middle and working-class improvement.

Smiles dedicated himself to the cause of working-class improvement, but by the time of his death, his name had become disliked by many who incorrectly saw him as a defender of greed.

There is so much more to this man read up on him here http://infed.org/mobi/samuel-smiles-and-self-help/

[hombrepolitico]

Labor Movement by Ricardo Levins Morales

Saw this poster from @socialjusticeinamerica and wanted to know more. Found the source at the Zinn Project.

More from Levins Morales. (Permanent discount for teachers!)

He wrote: "The social gains of humanity did not invent themselves and will not defend themselves. Only organized people can do that."

Educate. We shall need all our intelligence. Agitate. We shall need all our enthusiasm. Organise. We shall need all our force.

I might have to buy this one.

(They do ask not to share the image without the credit and source.)

[methed-up-marxist]

These attacks on the welfare system are the tip of the iceberg. It’s a sickeningly cruel strain of capitalist, right-wing policy. But of course they aren’t doing it for the sake of cruelty; they are doing it to serve their own class interests—to take from the poor and give to the rich, to take from the workers to give to the capitalists. We’re seeing rampant cuts to welfare, transport, healthcare and conservation to fund massive tax cuts for landlords and the rich. Part of the project of class war here is to manufacture desperation. By putting thousands upon thousands of workers out of their jobs and onto the welfare safety net and then proceeding to attack said safety net, they are adding to a section of the working class desperate enough to work for low pay and poor conditions. This reserve army of labour is required under capitalist society to keep wages down. Why would a boss pay you more if there are a hundred people lined up behind you to take your job? You don’t want to end up like one of them, do you? This is the goal of the capitalists; this is the goal of this coalition government: leverage market forces to keep workers desperate and fearful. ... For decades the political class have been attacking workers organisations like unions, which have been debilitated to the point where their operations and capacity are very limited. If the unions were ever to lead the workers in a general strike again, it would have to come from the rank and file members, not the union bureaucracy or paid organisers, but the members and the delegates. In the meantime, we must build a spirit of resistance among the working class, including the unemployed. For every attack on the workers, we must fight back. These struggles are the schools of revolution, participation necessarily teaches us lessons that theory alone cannot . So we’ll agitate, we’ll educate, we’ll organise, and we’ll disrupt this vile system.

[head-post]

German universities no longer post on X from their official accounts

More than 55 universities and research institutes in Germany announced on Friday that they will no longer publish material on Elon Musk’s social media platform X from their official accounts, German media reported.

The public broadcaster RBB cited a statement by the Federal Association of University Communication:

“The conditions for an open exchange no longer exist. The door has been opened to hatred, disinformation and manipulation under the cloak of supposed freedom of expression.” 

According to Silke Engel, spokeswoman for the University of Potsdam, earlier in the day its management decided to close its official account on the social media platform X, formerly called Twitter, after more than 13 years of existence. Engel said:

“We have been watching X for a long time and have not been as active there as we once were there for a few months because of the political developments. We said to ourselves that we are a place for fact-based exchange, open discourse and transparency that is no longer the case.”

On Thursday, two major German trade unions, the United Service Workers’ Union (Verdi) and the Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW), left X after some 15 years of operation.

Both workers’ organisations criticised the platform as “a forum for spreading right-wing extremist positions, hatred and agitation, hostility to democracy and disinformation.” It is becoming increasingly clear that the platform’s algorithms “favour anti-democratic narratives,” the unions stressed.

The latest developments come amid sharp criticism from Germany’s political establishment of Musk for interfering in the February 23 general election.

The US tech billionaire, who will be an adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, on Thursday reiterated his strong support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the election. Musk said in an online talk on X with AfD leader Alice Weidel:

“If you are unhappy with the situation, you must vote for change. And that is why I’m really strongly recommending that people vote for AfD. That’s why that’s my strong recommendation. And I think this is simply the sensible move. In fact, I, as I’ve said publicly, I think only AfD can save Germany. And I just want to be very clear about that: Only AfD can save Germany, end of story. And people really need to get behind the AfD, otherwise things gonna get very, very much worse in Germany.”

Last week, the German government openly accused Musk of trying to influence the country’s election campaign by showing his support for AfD.

On Wednesday, Germany’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Ferda Ataman called on German cabinet members to close their social media X accounts because of Musk’s posts about German politics.

In December, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) decided not to post any more content on Elon Musk’s X from January 20, 2025, when Donald Trump officially becomes the 47th president of the US.

Read more HERE

[upsettingandunfortunateclasshate]

When we talk about the middle class left, we mean this.

Before its colonisation, the left used to organise, agitate and educate the working class. They'd challenge societal prejudices. But since being colonised by this mob, they hate most of em, not just white WC cos they're all racist as fuck, but especially the white van driving male who they blame for Brexit, emissions, racism, the crusades, inflation

These people need fucking slapping and detaching from politics, the left, activism and definitely labour history. It's not their space, they're not "allies" and certainly not comrades

[our-trans-punk-experience]

HELLOO i recently started a new sketchbook & i wanna make my sketchbook cover have a lot of like, punk stuff on it (ex: phrases, symbols, etc), but im kinda drawing a blank lmao, got any ideas?

scour pinterest!

but look on band symbols, anarchy symbols, and theres a list I made like this i could pin. some to start (from looking down at my jeans) include

be gay do crime

no gods no masters

save our trees

protect trans youth

keep loving keep fighting

no war but the class war

agitate educate organise

rEVOLution

[denimbex1986]

'Organisers of a legendary fundraiser for striking miners are returning to the same venue in Camden Town for a “good old bop” 40th anniversary event.

Tickets for the London Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners’ return to the Electric Ballroom, on May 16, are already selling out.

The Pits and Perverts line-up is yet to be finalised but it promises a night of music, dance, drag, political speakers and compered by cabaret and performance artist David Hoyle.

Synth-pop political agitators Bronski Beat headlined the original gig, in December 1984, which drew more than 1,500 fans, gay activists and striking coal miners from across the country to Camden Town.

The story of the LGSM and the night at the Ballroom has become iconic after it was retold in the 2014 film Pride and its glittering cast including George MacKay, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy among others.

One of the original LGSM organisers, Mike Jackson, told me this week how proud he was about the group’s role in not only supporting the miners – but also changing attitudes towards lesbian and gay people.

Mr Jackson, who lives in King’s Cross, said: “This is the only Pits and Perverts event we’ve had since the original. And it’s really pleasing to be back at the Electric Ballroom. It’s going to be a very diverse night and a good old bop.

“I hadn’t been back there since that day so it was a strange feeling to go in there when we were organising.

“There are lot of ghosts in the Electric Ballroom. So many famous acts have passed through.”

I last spoke to Mike when a signed original Pits and Perverts poster – designed by Kevin Franklin – was put up at the King Charles I pub in King’s Cross in 2022.

On Sunday he was up in Rotherham, Yorkshire, speaking to the miners at a 40th anniversary event.

He said: “I harked back to what it was like as a young gay man in the 60s and 70s. Nobody liked us: politicians, courts, police.

“We had no rights to fight back with. It’s great that things have changed so much with that – and to think how we played a role in it all.

“The unions played a role too.

“Because long before we got those rights enshrined in law, the trade union movement had been helping by starting to look at employment rights, and all the other things that trade unions do.

“When the equalities legislation came in with Tony Blair, there was already a worked-out template for employment rules thanks to the unions.”

Mr Jackson said the LGSM had been “reconstituted” following the Pride movie and that he was part of a group of four remaining working on the legacy.

“We’ve all this merchandise that is still incredibly popular.

“People love our T-shirts. We give the profits away to good causes. We don’t want to be a charity.

“We want to be political. It’s been great to work with the Lesbian and Gays Support the Migrants.

“They are like our next generation really.”

Mr Jackson, a horticulturist who worked at Camden Garden Centre for 16 years, said he was tiring a little physically in old age but still remained as angry as ever.

“The fire is still there. The anger is still there.

“What is this nonsense about people becoming more right wing as they get older? The older I get the more angry I get.

“Because in so much, f*** all has changed.

“I am 72 days before the gig. I can tell you what the news will be: housing, education, war, benefits, the welfare state, greedy capitalism.

“At the same time my best friend is my bed. Sometimes I scream at my bed: ‘I love you, bed.’

“So with all this I am a bit surviving on adrenalin. It’s a bit scary. We are a bunch of amateurs really and it’s a big venue to sell tickets for.

“With the original, we felt the same but once we secured Bronski Beat – I think their Smalltown Boy was No 1 – we knew it would be a success.”

And he revealed his latest theory on where the night got its very excellent name from.

Mr Jackson said: “There’s a great little video you can find called Framed Youth – The Revenge of the Teenage Perverts.

“It was a video project created by the Lesbian and Youth Project, as they were called then, where youngsters had been given training and access to making a video – it was a Ken Livingstone thing, I think.

“This was 42 years ago – two years before the miners strike.

“They go into Ridley Road market in Dalston and simply ask the question: Can you tell me what a lesbian is? It’s like ‘a murderer’, ‘a sex maniac’.

“It’s so comical, but also quite dark. The lesbians were p***ing themselves laughing.

“But that’s what we wanted to do – take the insult, neutralise it and throw it back at people.”

The film, which won an award, is available on YouTube.

The original concert raised more £5,500, which was distributed to families in need.

Tickets for the 7pm event cost £20 and are available on the Electric Ballroom website.'

[ashwinkumar1989]

The Role That Teachers Play In Our Life

This is a poem dedicated to all the teachers in my life. Here goes the content: As most of us should be aware of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s most famous slogan is “Educate! Agitate! Organise!” Well, education is where it all begins Our entire life is a learning process Therefore, education is of supreme importance For, not only does it open the door for job opportunities It also teaches…

[metamatar]

either they don't look at the footage or they claim the footage has some nuance they invent or they pretend the world is still just and ignore the pattern the footage is a part of and im not sure how to cope with trying to educate agitate organise any of these people

[dystopianwarlord]

Tumblr won't let me postt Ireland protesting Biden's visit on standing in solidarity with Palestine. Biden was using the anniversary of good Friday agreement to talk about peace while actively supporting and funding the Israel apartheid state which they say is just not acceptable by a group called Irish anti war movement, they called it a protest against US imperialism with a banner of old anarchists titled agitate, educate, organise. With another pic on the slide that says "NO TO NATO"

Following with actual pics of a Palestinian photographer taking amazing shots of the March for good Friday celebration in the old city of Jerusalem with Christian Palestinians.

I hate social MEDIA SO MUCH

And even twitch doesn't like politics being spoken about AT ALL which sucks because artists usually aren't like that but I guess that shit isn't SAFE FOR WORK

Fuck off

[widthofmytongue]

Work-to-rule weekdays and agitate-educate-organise away days.

already there. i'm doing my part 🫡