Shock For Edinburgh Metro Readers

REPOSTED FROM SCOTLAND IMC: Passengers reading the Metro on Edinburgh's buses this week got a real shock - the paper contained something worth reading. A leaflet entitled "The Carnival is not over" mysteriously appeared in over a thousand copies of the Metro "newspaper" which is distributed free on Lothian Region buses.

Issued on the anniversary of the anti G8 Carnival for Full Enjoyment, the leaflet encouraged citizens to resist injustice : "Together we have the power to disrupt the daily grind of the institutions that plunge us into overwork, poverty and debt."

The full text of the leaflet follows:

THE CARNIVAL IS NOT OVER...

One year ago, on 4 July 2005, thousands took to the streets of Edinburgh. The Carnival for Full Enjoyment saw people take action against the G8 - action that expressed our resistance to injustice in our daily lives and our desire for a world of full enjoyment, without the states and borders that divide us.

In the run-up the Evening News issued hysterical and nonsensical claims that "violent anarchists" were planning riots. On the day samba bands played, clowns frolicked - and riot polis from all over Britain took out their batons and battered folk for the crime of marching down Princes Street.

But the polis didn't get it all their own way. People refused to be swept off the streets or corralled into pens. Increasingly enraged at an army of police occupying our city more and more local people joined international protestors in actively resisting the police violence.

The G8 summits claim to address concerns about climate chaos and world poverty. In reality they aim to strengthen the system that causes these problems, and to find more efficient ways of managing, exploiting and controlling us.

One year on, the Carnival's call to fight back is just as relevant.

Let's resist debt - by knowing our rights and supporting each other we can send debt collectors packing.

Fight back against wage slavery - by standing together and taking action, workers can improve conditions, stop management bullying and win wage increases.

Don't put up with benefits misery - by accompanying each other to interviews and by joining together we can act against benefits cuts and harassment.

Say no to army recruiters targeting unemployed youth - don't end up as cannon fodder in Iraq.
Don't be fooled by divide and rule tactics - long time residents can join together with refugees and immigrant workers to fight for a better world for all.

Why should we tolerate a system where a rich powerful minority exploit the majority?

Of course, changing things isn't easy, we are often faced with a lack of collective power.

But remember when millions refused to pay the poll tax, and they had to scrap it? This spring in France thousands went on strike, occupied buildings, blockaded roads, railways and airports to oppose a new law taking away young workers' rights. The government backed down.

Together we have the power to disrupt the daily grind of the institutions that plunge us into overwork, poverty and debt. When we claim Job Seekers Allowance we're told to actively seek work. We actively seek the end of this system based on profit, and we work towards a global community based on freedom, co-operation and sharing the planet's resources.

Published by some Edinburgh residents

Recommended independent websites
http://edinburghclaimants.org
http://www.nodeal.org.uk
http://scotland.indymedia.org
http://www.autonomous.org.uk

Facing charges or been convicted in connection with the G8 protests? Contact July2005solidarity (at) yahoo.co.uk
for advice and practical support

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