This leaflet was distributed to the public on Mayday. Feel free to use any, all or none of it to make your own.
Isn't it time we had streets where people could walk, cycle and breathe in safety, rather than ones dominated by motor vehicles; a public transport system run for people's needs and not for profit; societies across the world where people had control over their own lives and communities rather then having things dictated by big-business and governments?
Capitalism has destroyed our communities - we are encouraged to compete rather than co-operate, to consume rather than conserve, to own rather than share. Products we don't want, like Genetically Modified foods, are forced down our throats. Whose interests are being served? Politicians of all parties promise us the earth come election time, but spend the next 4 or 5 years doing little for ordinary people but going to great lengths to support their friends in big business with endless grants and favours. Is it any wonder that so few people trust them? Millions are give to business, £1billion on the Dome, £500m aid granted to BAE Systems for their 'super jumbo' jet. Motorola awarded £16m aid, BMW £152m, Nissan £40m. Meanwhile ordinary people are still waiting for decent housing and health care.
Recent years have seen growing protests against capitalism, more and more people are beginning to express the dissatisfaction they've felt for years with lives which often seem out of their control, running around from A to B working for bosses who want more and more of our time and want to pay less and less.
From politicians and the mainstream media you may have got the impression that the idea today is to start world war III - but the reality is that Mayday has long been a time of celebration and this years events are just following in that fine tradition. Originally a celebration of the start of summer, it was later adopted by the workers movement after the execution of the Haymarket Martyrs in Chicago in 1886 in an attempt to crush a general strike for an 8 hour working day (the average was 16 hours a day at the time).
It is capitalism which builds guns and bombs and uses them to kill people and destroy buildings on a daily basis. It is capitalism which is inherently violent with its reality that a majority of the worlds' population live in poverty, denied land, without adequate shelter, food and health care etc, so that a minority of the worlds' population - mainly shareholders and directors, can live a life of gluttonous luxury. Is it any wonder that people sometimes respond to this violence in kind to defend themselves and others?
People opposing oppression have always faced violence and intimidation, from the Haymarket Martyrs, to the Ogoni people in Nigeria fighting Shell's destruction of their land to the recent protests in Quebec, where police fired plastic bullets at protestors, leaving dozens injured, one in intensive care.
Yet in every corner of the globe people are fighting back to defend their communities and to challenge the powers-that-be. We can take inspiration from their example.
Derived from ancient Greek it literally means 'without government'. The Chambers dictionary defines it as 'a harmonious condition of society in which government is abolished as unnecessary'. Politicians and capitalists will tell you that it means chaos, disorder and violence. But think about it, they would, wouldn't they. It means they'd lose their positions of power, wealth and privilege.
Some people say that anarchy is a utopian dream that would never work, there would be anti-social, lazy people who wouldn't work or who would take more than their fair share. But isn't it better to strive for your ideals rather than settling for a third rate system? Lets face it, what's happening under capitalism now? A tiny minority of the worlds population have control of the vast majority of the worlds land and resources, forcing millions to live in poverty and degradation. Either capitalism's not working and it's time to try something new, or capitalism is working which means those who devised and uphold it deliberately set out to keep millions in poverty. Definitely time to try something new!
Do you really want to support the system we've got, or have you just gone along with it because we've been taught almost from birth that there's no other way?
Transforming society (to one where ordinary people have control over their lives and communities and make the decisions for themselves about how that society should be run), may take time because we've all been brought up to leave it in the hands of so called 'experts', so we don't have much confidence in our abilities, but isn't it worth a go?
What you can do Talk to friends, neighbours and workmates about these issues and try to organise together to support each other. Most people are dissatisfied with the way things are now, but we never seem to get together to discuss what kind of a future we'd like to see, and how we can make it happen.
Support other workers in struggle (e.g.tube workers) - don't buy the capitalist's line that strikers are all greedy and selfish.
Resist advertising and consumerism (and encourage kids to) - it only leads to having to work more hours (to pay for stuff) and more cluttered lives (ask yourself if you really need it). Spend the extra time you'll have with friends or family or getting to know your neighbours......
Take the plunge - we all tend to underestimate our own capabilities - we're living in an 'expert culture' where everything is left in the hands of so called 'experts' (who are generally making a right mess of things). We need to empower ourselves - don't we know more about our lives, communities and workplaces than any 'experts'?
You can get more information on anti-capitalist protests and groups at:
www.maydaymonopoly.net and at www.indymedia.org.uk. Also the excellent alternative weekly news sheet Schnews, from: SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 2DX. www.schnews.org.uk