Date sent: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 10:00:53 GMT
Send reply to: schnews-l@gn.apc.org
From: "Jo Makepeace"
Subject: SchNEWS 296, Friday 9th March, 2001
This is SchNEWS, the weekly direct action newsletter published by Justice?
in Brighton, England. You're subscribed to SCHNEWS-L, our automated
mailing list. To unsubscribe, or to get in touch, see the bottom of this
message.
Email SchNEWS is FREE but we're skint. If you want to make a donation,
send a cheque payable to "Justice?" to the address at the bottom of this
message. Write "SchNEWS Online" on the back of the cheque. Thanks!
This week's SchNEWS: http://www.schnews.org.uk/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
wake up! wake up! They've nicked yer pint!
SchNEWS
Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective
ISSUE 296, FRIDAY 9th March, 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROFITBEERING!
After a hard day's graft at SchNEWS Towers we like nothing better than
retiring to the local boozer for a swift 23 pints. The problem is that as
we sip our well-earned pint we could be lining the pockets of some
corporate nasty we've never even heard of.
Take Nomura International, the Japanese investment bank who pulled out of
buying the Dome at the last minute. Last month they became the UK's
biggest pub landlord after taking over Bass, and now control over five and
a half thousand pubs. They are also currently in the front running for
Whitbread's 3000 pubs. Whitbread has offered none of the pubs in this
'Everything Must Go' sale to any of its current landlords, preferring to
sell them all to one bidder. If, as seems likely, Nomura is successful, it
will own 8,885 pubs, some 17% of the total pub market.
Other vulture capitalists are now casting their greedy eyes on yer pint.
Punch Taverns have bought up more than 5,000 pubs in the last two years,
and the execrable Wetherspoons seem intent on world domination with a
characterless supermarket pub on every street corner.
The bulk buying capabilities of these groups mean that they are able to
negotiate substantial discounts from the breweries, often purchasing beer
at a discount of between £100 and £120 per barrel compared with the price
paid by an individual landlord. Very little if any of this discount is
passed on to the customer.
At the present time, more that 6,000 pubs in the country are on the market
and a pub closes permanently every day of the year.
So why would venture capitalists be interested in a pub? The answer is
certainly not that they want to serve the community. Pubs are often in
prime city centre locations and represent an enormous profit potential in
real estate terms. Currently, there are many examples of these powerdrunks
deliberately running down pubs that they can't turn into soulless, trendy
and expensive wine bars. Once a pub becomes so run down that it's not
viable, they relinquish the license, demolish the pub and build expensive
housing on the site.
Hands off our Pubs!
The man behind Nomura is Guy Hands, who is reputed to earn £40 million a
year and had Conservative leader William Hague as the best man at his
wedding. Even in the shark-eat-shark world of venture capitalism Hands is
acknowledged as a merciless predator - which is saying something. Hands
has taken full advantage of his contacts, helping Nomura to buy up 57,000
redundant Ministry of Defence houses from the Government at a knock down
price. These houses were not even offered to local authorities or housing
associations, where they could have made significant inroads into housing
problems. The homes were then sold off at vast profits on the private
market.
And don't think you can escape their evil clutches with a few tinnies from
the off-licence. Chances are that Nomura own that too after they bought
First Quench - the country's largest off- licence chain that includes
Thresher, Victoria Wine, Wine Rack and Bottoms Up. Nothing like good old
freedom of choice in the High Street is there?
A local ex-landlord, whose pub was frequented by the more inebriated
members of the SchNEWS crew (that means most of 'em) before Nomura won a
high court battle to evict him, commented that "The days of your local,
friendly, community boozer are definitely numbered. Pubs are being priced
out of the range of ordinary working class people. Soon only the rich or
the trendy will be able to afford to drink in a public house. The global
capitalist pub of the future will have all the character of the foyer of
your local Sainsburys."
* It's a year since Brighton's New Kensington Public House and the
Gladstone fell foul of the vultures (SchNEWS 251). Since then Zel and C
Side continue with their pub and club domination plans killing all
diversity. C Side have now been bought up by - venture capitalists! Check
out www.brightonsucks.com
* See you on the Park Bench, mate - mine's a tinny of Special Brew!!!
POSITIVE SchNEWS
Fed up with over priced beer and crisps? Then why not set up a social
centre? Here's 3 examples of Permanent Autonomous Zones around the
country: "There's no gaffer, no one's in charge."
* Bradford's 1 in 12 club is celebrating twenty years of "self-management,
music and mayhem!" next month. After years of moving from venue to venue
they finally got their own building, which opened in 1988 after three
years of hard work, almost all carried out voluntarily by the Club
membership. "It has been the membership who have led the way and the
principle of self-management has never been compromised. All the way from
the bulk of the building work to the bars and accounts, we've done it all.
And we're still here to be a thorn in the side of those who claim it can't
be done without hierarchy and bosses." The celebrations kick off on Friday
27th April and continue into MayDay and beyond with everything from
hardcore punk gigs to radical folk music, an exhibition of Anarchist
Artworks, a weekend football tournament and a new play by Chumbawamba's
Alice Nutter. Get along to 21-23 Albion St., Bradford, BD1 2LY
www.1in12.com
* The sacked Liverpool dock workers have bought and re-opened the old
Casablanca club on Hope Street and fitted it out with the help of
volunteer labour. They payed for the club with money received from the
Channel 4 drama about the dispute. The Casa Club is run on co-operative
principles, and profits from its three bars will subsidise an employment
training centre housed in the grade II listed building. Tel 0151 709 2148
www.gn.apc.org/initfactory
* Veggies - the vegan catering crew - finally bought a new permanent home
on Wednesday at 'The Ukrainian Centre' in Nottingham. Anyone who wants to
get involved can go along to their public meeting on Sunday 18th. Call
0845 4589595 www.veggies.org.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRAP ARREST OF THE WEEK
For refusing to watch TV! Two teenagers from Ohio were locked up in a
local juvenile detention centre for truancy after walking out of their
classrooms in protest against the compulsory viewing of Channel One.
Channel One is an in-school broadcaster, showing a daily compulsory 12
minute current affairs programme with two minutes of adverts targeted at
children. In return the schools get no cash, but can use the equipment in
other lessons. Channel One is raking it in charging advertisers twice as
much as regular TV stations as they can guarantee viewers with no channel
hopping or off button. Channel One spreads the corporate TV bullshit more
sneakily by enlisting teachers to develop lessons for such socially useful
teaching as designing new Pepsi vending machines and Burger King adverts.
Commercial Alert and Obligation, Inc., two national anti-media groups,
have taken up the kids' cause, saying "When the government sends children
to a juvenile detention centre because they don't want to watch
advertising, that is both Orwellian and more than a little sick. The
public schools ought to be a sanctuary from the noxious aspects of
commercial culture."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sand Grains Of Truth
Nice to see Labour's ethical foreign policy working as usual. The Foreign
Office recently admitted to granting licences for Royal Ordinance
(subsidiary of BAe Systems) to refurbish 30 105mm Howitzer guns for
Morocco. The guns' final destinations are the middle of the Western
Sahara, a country invaded by Morocco in 1975. The people of the Western
Sahara have been fighting an independence struggle from their refugee
camps in the desert of SW Algeria. The camps were 25 years old on Feb 27
this year. 10 years ago the UN sponsored a cease-fire between Morocco and
the Saharawis, on condition that both sides agreed to a referendum on
independence. Morocco has dragged its heels for 10 years and now the
Saharawi's want to return to war if they can't get the referendum. Mark
Thomas, who was in the camps last week said: "Every single Saharawi I
spoke to thought the UN had failed and that they should go back to war
with Morocco as it was the only chance they had of getting their country
back. The family I was staying with had escaped across the desert from the
Moroccan forces, who napalmed people as they fled, and people were asking
me 'Why does Robin Cook want to help my enemies kill me?'" Western Sahara
Campaign 0113 245 4786
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGAL AIDS
The law suit brought by 39 pharmaceutical companies fighting South
Africa's right to import cheap generic AIDS drugs has been adjourned on
its second day. A ruling by the judge has forced the Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers Association (PMA) to find responses to accusations of
profiteering and secrecy.
The corporations are challenging laws that allow patented drugs to be
produced more cheaply by someone other than the patent holder if it's in
the public interest. The drug giants - who fear a drop in profits - say
the laws are breaking World Trade Organisation rules (SchNEWS 290).
The ruling will force the PMA to reveal their pricing policy, which has
always remained top-secret until now. Previously they claimed the
excessive prices in the country are due to mark-ups by chemists, a claim
which lobby groups in South Africa have disputed.
Kenya's health minister has said his country will also adopt South
Africa's stance in order to curb their own AIDS epidemic, promising to use
a clause in international law which allows countries to break patents in
order to respond to a national emergency.
* More than 31 million people are currently living with HIV in developing
countries.
* Action for South Africa 020 7833 3133 www.actsa.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
University of Corporations
Regular SchNEWS readers will be well aware of the privatisation of our
education services, but Cambridge University has gone one further by
appointing a GKN Professor of Manufacturing Engineering. GKN is a dodgy
arms exporter and clearly it is now much more important for the University
to accept money from any company then conduct impartial research for the
benefit of everyone. This comes after appointments of a Shell Chair in
Chemical Engineering and a Thatcher Professor of Enterprise! SchNEWS
wonders how long it will be before there is a McDonalds Professor of
Nutrition. Students are campaigning to stop this corporate take-over of
British Universities, e-mail: dtb23@cam.ac.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SchNEWS in brief
* The striking workers in the London Borough of Hackney massed in front
of the Town Hall this week in the latest one day strike called by
UNISON. A group of residents and workers including the Rhythms of
Resistance (ROR) drum band passed the police and entered and occupied
the Town Hall. Police and security were powerless as ROR rocked the
building! Contact: phil@solidarity.co.uk
* Over 51,000 Indian farmers on Monday were attacked with water cannon
and baton charges from the police during a protest at the port in
Mumbai against the import of foodgrains and the World Trade
Organisation.
* Protest against the resumption of seal hunting by Canada and Norway.
13th March in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Coalition to Abolish
the Fur Trade 07939 264864 www.caft.org.uk
* For any people who want to get along to the Peoples' Global Action
Conference in Milan, there is a meeting this Sunday 7pm at the
Atherton Rd Nursery Squat, off Lower Clapton Road, Hackney E5
* If you want to know exactly How to Build a Protest Tunnel then check
out an 80 page guide at www.discodavestunnelguide.co.uk
* To coincide with the Zapatista Army for National Liberation
demonstration in Mexico (SchNEWS 295) there is a demo this Sunday
(11th), 1 pm at the Mexican Embassy, 42 Hertford St. London (Hyde
Park Corner)
* Brighton & Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign are joining the
demonstration against Israel war crimes in Hyde Park, 11am 17th
March. Meet at B'ton station on 09.35 am Thameslink service.
* NY Surveillance Camera Players' tour of UK demonstrating and doing
theatre in front of surveillance cameras will be in London Fri 8 to
18 June. www.surveillancecameraplayers.org
* R.A.G.E, with Unison, have organised a Conference focusing on the
silent privatisation of residential care, and the use of Human Rights
Act, 17th March 11am - 4pm at the Birmingham United Services Club,
Gough Street B'ham. Info: Anita 0121 744 3187 or 07885027517.
www.defendpublicservices.2001
* Radio 4A, Brighton's community radio is on the air this weekend on
106.6FM. To contribute call 07980 168115 or email
radio4a@hotmail.com, webcast on www.piratetv.net
* South Korean workers, in opposition to the regime's mass sacking of
1,750 workers have suffered yet another violent and brutal crackdown.
Daewoo's creditor banks extended credit after the crack down. Send
messages of solidarity for the striking and sacked workers and their
families to psi98@jinbo.net
* A benefit for the Volcano festival on Fri 23rd March at the Bling
Bling club at East, 189 Regent St, Mayfair features Bob Bon Kaotiki,
The London Toy Orchestra, Flick Ferdinando, Anna Louise, DJ Mini Kev
and Circus in a Box. £8 in advance. Glam dress essential.
* For more adventures in partyland and on the frontlines, check out
'Party and Protest' on the SchNEWS website. Cheers!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE REBEL ALLIANCE
Tuesday March 13 at the Hanover Community Centre,
Southover St, 7.30 pm sharp. Join your hosts 'The
Hagette' girls to find out the latest news and views
from direct action groups in the Bright Town. Served up
with tasty tucker and top tunes... Children welcome.
Bring yer own beer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKWARD FRONT BACK OFF
Last Saturday the National Front (NF) tried to whip up support for their
fascist cause by joining a picket of the paedophile wing at Nottingham
Prison. A pathetic 19 fascists turned up, met by a welcoming committee of
400 anti-fascists. 4 NF who turned up late and couldn't join their
scumrades were recognised by Nottingham Anti-Fascist Action (NAFA). A
chase followed, with one NF member caught and hospitalised. The other
three knocked on a door, ran past an old man, then barricaded themselves
in as NAFA waited outside. The police arrested 15 anti-nazis and if anyone
saw any arrests get in touch with NAFA 07949-312668, nafanotts@yahoo.co.uk
* The NF are going to Leicester on the 21st of April (St George's Day) and
NAFA plan to humiliate them again.
* Find out more about the history of Anti-Fascism get a copy of:
Anti-fascist recollections 1984-93 by K. Bullstreet, also A5 pamphlet,
£2.50 from Kate Sharpley Library, BM Hurricane WC1N 3XX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Itoiz'll be Dammed
The Itoiz Dam in Spain is about to be filled despite the fact that it is
unsafe; a collapse of the dam would endanger thousands of lives and
threaten the nuclear power station downstream. Solidari@s have fought a
17-year campaign and eight members were sentenced to 5 years in prison for
an action that stopped the construction for a year. Now Solidari@s are
calling for actions on 14th March the International Day of Action Against
Dams. www.irn.org/dayofaction
* The Ilisu Dam Campaign is demanding the withdrawal of UK involvement in
the project - which will see 25,000 Kurds forcibly evicted (SchNEWS 259).
Meet 11am, 14th March, 130 Wilton Street, Victoria, London. 020-75661666.
Demo in Sheffield, 5 pm, 14th March, New Town Hall. Phil Turner
01142-670706. www.ilisu.org.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
...and finally...
A Christian fundamentalist group based in California called "The Second
Coming Project", have hatched an ungodly plan to clone Mr J. Christ. As
they say, "Our intention is to clone Jesus ... by taking an incorrupt cell
from one of the many Holy Relics of Jesus' blood and body that are
preserved in churches throughout the world, extracting its DNA, and
inserting it into an unfertilised human egg, through the now-proven
biological process called nuclear transfer. The fertilised egg, now the
zygote of Jesus Christ, will be implanted into the womb of a young
virginal woman (who has volunteered of her own accord), who will then
bring the baby Jesus to term in a second Virgin Birth. No longer can we
rely on hope and prayer, waiting around futilely for Jesus to return. In
order to save the world from sin we must clone Jesus to initiate the
Second Coming of Christ." After pissing ourselves laughing, we decided
that the whole the thing could be a joke, but we'll leave it up to you to
decide. Check out www.clonejesus.com. Maybe we could get in on this blag
and clone people like William Wallace (Braveheart), Robin Hood or even
Boadicea, complete with her spiky chariot. Then we'd show 'em.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
disclaimer
SchNEWS warns all anonymous alcoholics, after drinking in all these
sobering facts you may well wonder what the pint is. 'Onesht. Hic!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cor-blimley-they're-practically-giving-them-away book offer SchNEWS Round
issues 51 - 100 £5 inc SchNEWS Annual issues 101 - 150 £5 inc. SchNEWS
Survival Guide issues 151 - 200 and a whole lot more £6 + £1.20 postage
(US Postage £4.00 for individual books, £13 for all four). In the UK you
can get the fist three for £15 inc. postage. And finally.... The Schquall
book at only £8.00 inc postage. In addition to 50 issues of SchNEWS, each
book contains articles, photos, cartoons, a "yellow pages" list of
contacts, comedy etc. All the above books are available from the Brighton
Peace Centre, saving postage yer tight gits.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO SCHNEWS ON PAPER
Send us first class stamps (e.g. 10 for the next 9 issues) or donations
(cheques payable to "Justice?"). Or £15 for a year's subscription, or the
SchNEWS supporter's rate, £1 a week.
Ask for "originals" if you plan to copy and distribute.
SchNEWS is post-free to prisoners.
You can also pick SchNEWS up at the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre
at 43 Gardner Street, Brighton.
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE OR SUBSCRIBE TO SCHNEWS-L
To unsubscribe, send a message to listproc@gn.apc.org with only
"unsubscribe schnews-l" (without the quotes) in the body. Or if that
doesn't work email webmaster@schnews.org.uk with details of your desires.
To subscribe, send a message to listproc@gn.apc.org, with only the line
"subscribe schnews-l Jo" (without the quotes) below in the body. You can
replace "Jo" with your own name if you like.
SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 2DX, England
Phone/Fax (call before faxing): 01273 685913
Email: schnews@brighton.co.uk Web: http://www.schnews.org.uk/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute!
SchNEWS Web Team (webmaster@schnews.org.uk)
