GLOBALiSE RESiSTANCE Fundraiser

by Umar Sun Aug 10, 2003 00:48

Is there really any need for the likes of Mob's comments re bombs being placed outside hotels to scare away people?

You're either a bored cop or a kid who shouldn't being playing with daddy's computer or a combination of both.

One question though: Where was the mystical magical bomb that was going to finish of GR?

Grow up! And if you want to make any changes to GR all are welcome and everyone who decides to come to a GR meeting will have a vote.

by Ray Fri Aug 08, 2003 09:51

A bit of a contradiction here -
> [treasurer was] Elected by who?

The regular activist meeting.

> So a GR event was called by the SWP, but you
> don't think this means GR is an SWP front?

Anyone is welcome to take the initiative in trying to set up a GR branch. The SWP is a part of GR and is more than willing to take the initiative in some localities. What exactly is wrong with that?--

Who are the members of GR? Is every member of the SWP automatically a member of GR? If so, why didn't they get a vote in electing the treasurer? (and will they all get a vote at the conference?)
If I joined GR tomorrow, could I call a meeting next week, and say it was a GR meeting? Could I hold regular GR public meetings, on the subject "How Leninism is killing the anti-capitalist movement", or "Why you can never trust a Trot". Do I need to get approval from the activist meeting before I can call a public meeting, and did the SWP branch in Galway get that approval? Or is everything that the SWP does 'pre-approved'?

And about the conference -
-- Tell me, will there be any elections at this
[the GR] conference?

Yes.

Any motions voted on?

Yes.

Were there any elections at the last conference? Any motions voted on? What was the procedure for putting in motions? Was there a finance report at the last conference? Did the SWP have a recruitment stall? Did GR, the non-aligned group open to all anti-capitalists, invite any other political groups to set up a stall? SP? Sinn Fein?

by Anonymous Thu Aug 07, 2003 20:48

Although there may be some more questions that need to be answered with regards to the connection with the Swp - in the whole I think Globalise Resistance has done some brilliant work since it was founded.

Keep going! To do not be deterred by the bemoaners. They have always existed & will always exist.

Hope the fundraiser is a success.

by Resist Thu Aug 07, 2003 17:40

> Can I guess who brought the suggestion to the
> meeting?

I'm not sure who initially suggested a fundraiser but there has been consensus that GR needs one.

> and who is on the subcommittee?

Anyone who wanted to be. The lead role has been taken by a non-member of the SWP.

> [treasurer was] Elected by who?

The regular activist meeting.

> So a GR event was called by the SWP, but you
> don't think this means GR is an SWP front?

Anyone is welcome to take the initiative in trying to set up a GR branch. The SWP is a part of GR and is more than willing to take the initiative in some localities. What exactly is wrong with that?

> GR has colected petitions, attendance sheets,
> em-mail addresses... this information went
> somewhere. I think we both know where.

James has already answered this question.

> Tell me, will there be any elections at this
> [the GR] conference?

Yes.

> Any motions voted on?

Yes.

Any more questions?

by NotGR Thu Aug 07, 2003 16:19

GR conference - Autumn of 2003
(postponed from Autumn 01 and 02)

10-11.00 Registration
(add your name to the SWP mailing list)

11-13.30 Opening Rally - The anti-capitalist movement
with
Joe 90
Kieran 'editor of Socialist Worker' Allen
Token NGO type, sandals preferred

13.30-14.30 Lunch
A chance to buy books off Bookmarks and be asked if you want to buy the paper/join the party

14.30 - 15.45 Anti-capitalism for dummies
Rory Ahern
Patrica McPatsy (GP)
Token SP speaker to prove GR is not a SWP front

15.45 - 16.00
Motions and elections
(debate on motions may be cut short due to time pressure)

16.00 - 17.30 Closing rally - Building the movement
with
Rich Boy Barrett
George Mumbling liberal famous guy
Aoife Ni useful Frontgirl

20.00 Social - Having a movement
Another chance to be asked if you want to buy the paper/join the party

by James O'Toole - SWP and GR Thu Aug 07, 2003 15:48 aortal2002 at yahoo dot co dot uk

I think that the editors should remove the above comments referring to 'blowing up' the Russell Court...even though the remark is of a purile nature there are much more important things for which this site could be utilised.
To respond once more to the questions as to how GR is run.
1.Decisions are made collectively at a bi-weekly activist meeting from which people choose which tasks they can perform (poster or flyer for eg.)
2.GR has it's own bank account which is in the hands of a treasurer who was elected at an activist meeting.
3.We have lots of lists of names which i am in the process of loading into a database and then these lists are going to be given to a group of 3
'contacters' 2 of which are NOT SWP!
4.Yes there will be speakers at any proposed GR conference and an election to positions such as
Secretary/Treasurer etc.
If anyone has anymore questions e-mail them to:
aortal2002@yahoo.co.uk
( no death threats PLEASE!)
And why all the stupid pirate nicknames?
Grow up.

by me Thu Aug 07, 2003 15:46

Since there's no formal membership of GR, who elected the GR treasurer? Let me guess, the GR treasurer was elected at a meeting full of SWPers.

The SWP's 'secret weapon' is their ability to turn out more people than anybody else, and thus to win any votes they have to. This is helped by an aversion to transparency and democracy in the SWP, GR, the IAWM, etc.. For example, you won't find open, uncensored email lists and discussion forums in these groups, and open discussion is not encouraged.

Another factor that helps the SWP control their fronts is the tendency of genuine independent activists to quit in disgust once they see what's going on, thus leaving the SWP cadres in charge.

I'm not sure whether the SWP comrades consciously and explicitly plan to set up and operate a front or not - maybe their ideological certantity and aversion to transparency and democracy just create this result.

by King Mob Thu Aug 07, 2003 14:13

The end of the MONOPOLISE RESISTANCE worms will happen tonight when a number of bombs will explode outside the Russell Court Hotel on Harcourt Street.

by Ray Thu Aug 07, 2003 11:59

(forgot Oscailt doesn't like all these tags) -- Who decided there would be a fundraiser?

-The open fortnightly activist meeting decided that there would be a fundraiser and delegated a subcommittee to plan it.

Can I guess who brought the suggestion to the meeting, and who is on the subcommittee?
-- (and who will look after the money)?

-The elected treasurer of GR.>>

Elected by who? Does this elected treasurer produce reports?

-- Who decided to call the GR meeting in Galway?
-The small number of SWP members in the city took the initiative but everyone is welcome to get involved. Who holds the GR membership lists
So a GR event was called by the SWP, but you don't think this means GR is an SWP front?

-- who has the membership lists
-Good question. As far as I am aware, GR doesn't have formal membership lists.

GR has colected petitions, attendance sheets, em-mail addresses... this information went somewhere. I think we both know where. -- (and who decides when the next one will be)?

-The next GR conference is planned for the Autumn. It is being planned by the same open activist meetings. Come along and take part in the planning if you like.
Tell me, will there be any elections at this conference? Any motions voted on? Or is all that too 'boring', and 'a distraction from the struggle'? Will there be rallies and speakers instead?

by Resist Wed Aug 06, 2003 22:36

> Who makes the decisions in GR?

That depends on the decision.

> Who decided there would be a fundraiser?

The open fortnightly activist meeting decided that there would be a fundraiser and delegated a subcommittee to plan it.

> (and who will look after the money)?

The elected treasurer of GR.

> Who decided to call the GR meeting in Galway?

The small number of SWP members in the city took the initiative but everyone is welcome to get involved.

> Who decides what will be in GR leaflets?

That depends on the leaflet. The leaflet for the fundraiser, for instance, was drawn up the subcommittee responsible for the fundraiser.

> When was the last time GR had a conference

Can't remember.

> (and who decides when the next one will be)?

The next GR conference is planned for the Autumn. It is being planned by the same open activist meetings. Come along and take part in the planning if you like.

> Who holds the GR membership lists

Good question. As far as I am aware, GR doesn't have formal membership lists.

by JJ Wed Aug 06, 2003 19:48

A CLARIFICATION FROM THE GR PROOFREADING AND MISCONTRUANCE AVOIDANCE SUBCOMMITTEE.

When we say:

"All proceeds to keeping GR alive".

Please note:

wE ARE NOT saying that:

a] we are strapped for cash.
b] we require cash to exist [or Resist].
c] we are in danger of not existing, or resisting.

Furthermore:

When we say:

"pay what you can afford!"

This DOES NOT mean that:

a] you pay what your Parents can afford [that would be unfair].
b] we will be crossreferencing your donation on the night with the value of your airmiles or property.
c] the payment is tax deductable

Finally, 2 things:
please note that the Russell Court Hotel have a strict "dress to impress" policy which we would ask all rebels and activists to obey on the night, for the sake of the fundraiser. Please refer to the GR "Charter Of Unsuitable Threads Used in Resistance Environments" [COUTURE].

and on the night:

There is a misleading sign outside the venue on
the railing next to the disco.
Some vandal has cunningly changed the sign to read "No Dogma Allowed". Of course this is nonsense and oxymoronic & should instead read "No Dogs Allowed".
GR apologise to our friends and members in the canine community for this lack of access on the night - there will be a Bitching Session in a pub that sells decent Guinness on monday week to make up for this.

Dogma shall remain an activists [second] Best Friend.

Thank you for your time.

by the oracle Wed Aug 06, 2003 17:48

to finish :90% of us think the SWP are apile of wank + irelevant :discussion over. Oh by the way if the revolution happens i am only joking.

by Janus Wed Aug 06, 2003 17:46

The suggestion that all funds must go to keeping GR alive suggest the organisation is on life support do they not? Money problems?

by Ray Wed Aug 06, 2003 16:50

If GR contained no-one but SWP members it would be a pretty pointless front, wouldn't it? What defines a front organisation is control. Who makes the decisions in GR? Who decided there would be a fundraiser (and who will look after the money)? Who decided to call the GR meeting in Galway? Who decides what will be in GR leaflets? When was the last time GR had a conference (and who decides when the next one will be)? Who holds the GR membership lists?

You could say exactly the same thing about the ANL - not all ANL members are in the SWP - and ask exactly the same series of questions. And the answer will be exactly the same thing. The decisions in GR, just like in the ANL, are made by the SWP. Therefore, it is a front.

Sure, some of the criticisms of GR/SWP are over the top. But these criticisms are never answered either. Instead, anyone who criticises the SWP is a 'red-baiter', a 'witch-hunter', a 'McCarthyist'. Now _that_ is over the top.

by Pablo Montana - Independant Socialist Wed Aug 06, 2003 16:21

Yes and no. GR was set up by the SWP as a front like the ANL but there are people in it who don't view it as such and who's actions speek to the contrary.
I agree with the SWP member who expressed frustration at the people who just spend their time jumping on notices of events because they have an organisation's name attached. You don't see Socialists behaving in this manner when Anarchists post notices of the next issue of WS for example. If you want to criticise a political point that is somehow relevant to the original article that is fine but ranting every time a socialist posts some information is stupid and makes indymedia look like a playgroup.

by gurrier Wed Aug 06, 2003 15:25

People are merely pointing out that GR are in fact a front for the SWP. Far from being a witch-hunt this is actually a public service. Surely people should know what they're getting themselves in for? Or maybe you don't think that GR is a front - why not argue the point? Let's have some examples of where GR's decisions were made outside the SWP command structure? Or some cases where GR took positions that were opposed to the SWP 'line of the time'? If you can't challenge the assertion, you should welcome it, since it is providing useful information to the public.

I really love the mentions of McCarthyism - pull the other fucking one - as if it's a great big plot to throw mud at the SWP. Face it you fuckers, everybody on the left save your members, hates the SWP, not for being reds (I wish ye fucking were reds), but for being manipulative, dishonest, opportunist, body-snatchers. You can't defend yourselves, you can't defend your hiding behind GR, you don't even want people to know about it, so you create this fantastical idea about secret witch-hunts. I'll tell you one thing for sure, around March 1st last, the pigs were very happy to have ye and I'm sure you'll do their work again. You'll sell out the working class for a tiny drop of influence every time. Counter revolutionary fuckers.

by King Mob Wed Aug 06, 2003 14:50

Blow these trotskyite mother fuckers off the face of the earth.

by Ray Wed Aug 06, 2003 14:46

Witch hunt? Who is suggesting that anybody be burnt at the stake?
McCarthyist? Are SWP members going to be blacklisted from their jobs now?
And I thought Man Utd cultivated their paranoia...

by James O'Toole - SWP Wed Aug 06, 2003 14:08 aortal2002 at yahoo dot co dot uk

Once again a simple notice is pounced upon within minutes of being posted.
The WitchHunt continues.
Less of this McCarthyist slander.
Maybe you should attend the gig....never know you might enjoy yourself.
Ciao.

by Eric Blair - Earthlings Wed Aug 06, 2003 13:51

yes indeedie, another swimmie piss up! Good on the GR/SWP for finding an alternative to expensive multinational alcohol driven entertainment. I bet none of the "leaders" are seen on the dance floor, they'll be coughing up spleen on the rants floor.

Seriously though, Globalise Resistance is a cover name for the SWP. The Socialist Workers' Party is a failed political entity, scoring miserably at the polls and alienating many who attempt to create a better world. It makes be wonder if it is a CIA front after all, like some would insist. All it achieves is the harassment of the young and misillusioned. Best thing to do is to hand the proceeds back to the core funders and issue a public apology to all who have been contaminated by the anger and bullying of the SWP/GR.

In the meantime, enjoy the dance.
Shame on the DJs for supporting the bullies, there are several activist groups more worthy of your precious talents,

your in organic bliss,
Mr. Blair