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From our Mailbag 04/18/01 - 04/27/01

Now wait just a danged minute..!(Heh!)

From Paul K., (No City Provided,) USA:

SUBJECT: Dogs Across America

Rod, I've always enjoyed reading Ron Diener's very real take on life in America, but had to write this time because "Dogs" was exceptionally good. Thanks for allowing him the extended space to tell this story.

Is there a book in the works from this?

Keep up the great work!

Paul K


From Greg P. (No City Provided,) USA:

SUBJECT: Strike City

Dear Ms. Adams-

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your "Strike City" article (not to mention getting a glimpse of you in that photo - sorry, I would never forgive myself if I didn't at least mention that. I mean, c'mon, it's a good photo!).

As a screenwriter trying to "break in," I have been aware of the possible upcoming strike, but it hasn't had any monumental impact on my life. It wasn't until I read your article that I even became aware of the actual terms of the dispute.

Your article was full of sarcastic bite (a good thing), and put a wicked grin on my face. But it also lodged a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe even anger. It made me wanna grab a picket sign and start marching up and down... somewhere. Anywhere.

What makes it depressing is that I can't even make a living yet as a screenwriter, I can't even get into the WGA, but I'm already very aware of the lack of respect for me should I actually achieve my dream!

It's sad, really. And it makes no sense. Whenever I spend hours at my computer, sweating to find just the right words, I wonder why people don't realize that this is where every single film begins. In the WRITER's mind. Why can't they see that this is where the magic is born? I've always thought of everyone else who works on a film, the director included, as more of a tradesman, like... a plumber (I might be getting carried away here. Please don't tell Spielberg I called him a plumber).

Obviously there's a need for creativity in every position, but that spark of inspiration, that moment when characters somehow fall out of space and begin to breathe, only happens with the writer. Why isn't that respected more than anything else? I remember reading somewhere that after Spielberg read AMERICAN BEAUTY he said, "Let's make this movie and not change a thing." That inspired me. Who knows if he really said it, but fast forward to the Academy Awards, and even though Alan Ball won an Oscar, it still seemed like so much more attention went to Mendes for directing it. Hell, Kevin Spacey even made that comment in his acceptance speech about how it "felt" like Mendes wrote it! AAAARRRGGHHHH!!!!

It just bugs me because I'm proud of myself for being a writer, and I know how hard it is to write scripts. Even bad ones. It takes a certain "something" not a whole lot of people have to even ATTEMPT to put words to paper.

I don't think your article would have lit such a fire under my ass if it hadn't been for a short script I wrote last year for a friend. He does camera work, has been working in the industry for years, but naturally wants to direct. He had a very vague idea of the type of story he wanted to tell. Anyway, I wrote a short script (a science fiction/Twilight Zone thingie that I honestly pounded out in about two hours; no shine of Oscar gold on that thing). The film was shot in about five days, the production was very professional, and I was there the whole time. It was all at once a thrill and a heartache. I quickly realized, even at the lowest level, that nobody cared about me. At one point I had to write dialogue for a scene an hour before it was shot and literally everybody within shouting distance was throwing me ideas as if they were doing me some monumental favor. After all, EVERYBODY can write, right? How hard can it be?

So the film is ready to go, and I finally see a finished version. Naturally there's the huge A FILM BY credit at the beginning with my friend's name. That sucks enough, but then he doesn't even include me in the credits at the beginning! When the end credits do roll around, I'm even more shocked. He gave himself a credit which we never discussed- "Original Story Written By" him! Then, finally, comes my credit after like four producers. "Screenplay by" me. It's about frigging time! It was so obvious he was terrified someone would realize he couldn't write a script if his life depended on it. He was doing everything he could to hide me. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, he cut another version of the film a few weeks later. On this version, not only did he give himself the "Original Story By" credit, now he decided that he would also share "Screenplay By" credit with me. I imagine if the film had been cut a third time, my existence would have conveniently vanished for good...

Oh, it's too depressing to even continue. It was especially frustrating because I consider him a friend. I just got the sense that treating writers like this was standard operating procedure. I guess I was right.

Anyway, I could go on all night, but I won't. My dream has always been to make a living as a writer, and I guess your article just opened up old wounds. I'll watch the strike more closely now, rooting for the underdogs, the angry loners who hide away in dark rooms, pecking away at keys while the people who really matter Ňthe actors and directors- are out in the world celebrating their awesome talent and vision.

Yeah. Right.

I felt the need to vent. Thanks for listening.

Greg


From Ron Diener, Lizard Lick, NC, USA:

Subject: about the bus thing

Several people have asked me about the characters on the Greyhound bus. Yes, they were real people. I did change their names - with the pair from Salt Lake City, apparently I did not change them enough. Anyhow, I attempted to give a faithful rendering of their stories. If they were telling the truth - or not - I leave up to the reader to try to decide.

You are moving? Any chance to the Raleigh, North Carolina, area? I hope so!

R E D


From Ed V., Berkeley, CA, USA:

SUBJECT: Y'all

Dear Tom & G21,

As a native Texan and journalist of some experience, I noticed a few items that I just know you'd want pointed out.

The spelling of the contraction for "you all" is "y'all." Please tell me it's supposed to be some sort of self-effacing satire to consistently misspell it. Then tell me you have now realized it's not working.

The majority of Texans do not use the awkward vernacular affected in your column. Please tell me it's supposed to be some sort of self-effacing satire to consistently misrepresent the smooth elocutions one hears in Victoria, Galveston, New Braunfels, and so on. Then tell me you have now realized it's not working. Can you pronounce "New Braunfels?" How about "Bexar County?"

A photo represented to be of you on the G21 website shows some fair-weather biker wearing a cell phone. Many in our G21 community are from California, or the UK, or some such place where they won't notice the problems with this photo. You might want to have them use the correct photo. Or at least say it isn't you and send one of former Gov. Ann Richards on her bike until you have another photo made.

Drop me a line next time you're headed my way, you can buy me a beer and thank me then.

Eddie V.
(on assignment in) Berkeley, CA.


TOM RESPONDS: Rod, you can pass this on to yore Peoples Republic of Berzerkley faux-Texican for me:

Monsieur V; In case nobody's ever told you this before, you all might be spelled "y'all" for purposes of literary use, but ya' all is spelled "ya'll." As to how I'd pronounce Noo Bromf'ls, you figure it out from this here message.

As to smooth elocutions, Bubba, I leave those to limousine liberals like you and Molly Ivins.

Now about my photo. Stuff yourself! That was taken of me by my pal Cleavis at a Harley Davidson convention held in Houston two years ago. Yes, I do carry a cell phone around with me because I live in a technological society, somethin' a granola-eatin' faux-Texican like yoreself might not know. Who you on assignment out their in Berzerkley for anyways, Monsieur, the EarthFirst Journal?


From Michael J., London, UK:

SUBJECT: "Goo'bye!"

While I was pleased to see that you Yanks have decided to appropriate our hit game show, "Weakest Link," I would advise your Tabloid Hart not to be so liberal with his use of the derogatory term for we British, "limeys." Lots of British tourists visit Texas, Mr. Hart. I suggest you look out for us.

Michael J.

ALERTS, ACTION, STUFF PEOPLE THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW

From From: "La Gazette de FranceTime"

Subject: You have been added to La Gazette de FranceTime

Bonjour francophile, francophone --

If you are interested in French culture visit us today and join our club. FRANCETIME: The Online French Connection - Le Reseau francophone mondial. FranceTime is the place where people who love France communicate and interact.
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Services: Articles, French news, virtual/real Tours, French home rentals, French-related event in SF Bay Area, Free classifieds, chat rooms, travel tips and advice and more.
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Special feature Don't miss our virtual our of Paris, "Paris en Images". Paris en Images

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A tout de suite.


From Meredith T., Tampa, FL, USA:

Subject: best story of the week

Here is a wonderful bit of news followup courtesy of Durham Herald-Sun columnist Carl Daniels-Kinney: Many of you are aware that the US Supreme Court ruled that the state of Missouri cannot discriminate against the Ku Klux Klan when it comes to groups that want to participate in the adopt-a-highway program.

Well, the Department of Transportation in Missouri has gotten their revenge, and boy is it sweet. Sure, they can't remove the KKK's adopt-a-highway sign, but few would dispute the state's ability to name the highway itself.

The KKK is now cleaning up a stretch of the newly-christened Rosa Parks Freeway.

Travel Radio Channel

From Diamond D, Middletown, CT, USA:

I think this is worth reading in it's entirety when you have a chance....-d-

Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 17:21:01 -0400
Anarchists: You Only See Them When You Fear Them
by Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists (NEFAC)
http://flag.blackened.net/nefac

[Here's the text of the 4 page tabloid that members of NEFAC have distributed 10,000 copies in Quebec City over the weekend]

Apparently it's because of us that a fence will be built in the middle of the city, with 6500 cops around it. We are anarchists from the Northeast. You will understand that, in this context, we have one or two things to tell you.

Even though we have not collectively decided on a common tactical line (believe it or not, not all anarchists are only dreaming of a black bloc), the television and newspapers have been warning you against us for months. Some, not knowing who we are --we are masking up well-- and probably believing that all anarchists must have crasy eyes and frothing mouths, warned us against ourselves.

On the struggle against the Summit and FTAA

For us, the struggle against globalisation is inseparable from the struggle against the economic system that is the basis for it: capitalism. We are radically against capitalism, and we oppose globalisation because it worsens the situation. For us, capitalist enterprises are private tyranny, dictatorships, in which waged workers only have those rights they have gained from hard struggles. Capitalism creates an unbelievable wealth and it keeps the economic ball rolling, that's true, but it's at the price of an incredible concentration of said wealth and an extreme exploitation of natural and human resources. As capitalism has not eliminated misery, (quite the contrary, it feeds it), and leads us to our death because of the search for profit that is done at the expense of any other consideration (including ecological ones), we don't see any reason to back this system.

At the same time, we don't believe states are victims of globalisation. They are leading the way. The proof is that the FTAA is not only a strong arm approach by the bosses and corporations but a project that has been prepared in the offices of foreign relations ministries of the 34 members of the Organisation of American States (OAS, the group organising this summit). We go further that this: we say that the state, which rests on authority and the power of elites, is not part of the solution. There's no reason to back a system of governement that systematically goes against the interest of the vast majority of the population and, what's more, takes the right to impose on all the decisions of the rich and powerful. The state is a cold monster. If democracy still means something, it can only be built outside and against the state.

We are for a radical struggle, one that goes to the roots of the problems, and that is uncompromising. We refuse the rules of the game and, so, refuse to trap ourselves in the limits of the 'possible,' and small reforms without concequences. We are not against every reform per se, some are indeed good and can go against the logic of the system, but we are against reformism.

We are revolutionnaries: if on the road we can get some important concession from the powers that be, fine, but you'll never see us beg for crumbs. Our alternative is libertarian socialism, which is an economy based on self management, the satisfaction of the needs of the people and direct democracy. In the face of the Summit of the Americas and FTAA, we adopt an attitude of categorical opposition and confrontation.

Let's unite in one big anarchist contingent on A21

Are we violent? No. In general we are not violent, and beating up people at demos is not part of our practice. While we don't plan on attacking people in the street or setting Quebec City on fire, however, we reserve for ourselves an absolute right to self defense, and we refuse pacifism. We believe this to be reasonable. If we are physically attacked, we will respond in kind. The truly violent are those who prepare for the summit by accumulating tear gas, plastic bullets and pepper spray. Those who enact laws and measures that will put hundreds of thousands of poors in the street, those who let pharmaceutical corporations make bilions on sickness causing the death of millions of people, those who are copyrighting life and creating dependance and hunger.

In a word, those who put their profits before our lives. These are the ones we should fear, not the anarchists.

If you share these few ideas, we invite you to march with us Saturday under the red and black anarchist banner. During the day of the 21st, our idea is not to divide the movement nor provoke it, but rather that all anarchist tendencies deploy and become as visible as possible. Not visible for the mass-media that always recuperates to their advantage that which attacks the basis of the capitalist system, but directly visible for folx out there in the street, with us. However, our discourse will not be compromised and we will not let reformist forces recuperate our mobilisation in any way. We therefore hope for a large and loud anarchist contingent in the image of the diversity of our movement.

See you at noon On the Marché du Vieux Port, near the CLAC-CASA contingent.

Capitalism is a jail !
Let's break the walls !

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International Anarchist Communist Anti-FTAA Declaration, Québec 2001

AGAINST CAPITALIST GLOBALIZATION !
FOR FREEDOM, SELF-MANAGEMENT AND SOCIALISM !

In April 2001, the thirty-four heads of state from the countries of the Americas, with the exception of Cuba, will meet in Quebec for the third Summit of the Americas. Negotiations at the summit will raise the stakes for the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by 2005. This free trade agreement extends accords that have already been adopted (FTA and NAFTA) from the extreme North of Canada to Tierra del Fuego. NAFTA has had deadly consequences for Mexico, not to mention the wounds it inflicted on workers in Canada and the United States. So we can already see by this example several of the disastrous effects FTAA will have on Latin America.

Free trade accords are the masterpieces of globalization. In effect, they permit the deregulation and opening of markets by eliminating "barriers to trade" such as environmental protection and worker rights. Moreover, these accords contribute to the privatization and commodification of all things, even essential services like health care and education. The phenomenon of globalization clearly doesn't take the interests of the vast majority of humans into account, it aims to enrich the handful of new "masters of the world," namely the financiers and big capitalists. This globalization of exploitation and pillage is as ecological as it is economical. Unemployment, precarious working conditions, poverty and injustice are all being globalized!

And they want us to believe that all this is inevitable! Well, we refuse to accept the fatality of capitalist logic. In Seattle, Prague and Nice we refused to accept it. In Quebec, in April 2001, we will again refuse to accept it.

We fight for an egalitarian society without borders, without classes, without sexism, without racism--a self-managed society where people contribute according to their abilities and receive according to their needs. This stateless society will be free and rooted in solidarity, it will be built on a foundation of direct democracy. Freedom, justice and dignity are possible!

FOR AN ANARCHIST-COMMUNIST SOCIETY!

signed;

Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists / Federation des Anarcho-Communistes du Nord-Est (United States, Canada);
Al Badil alchooii al Taharouri (Lebanon);
Alternative Libertaire (France);
Ceskoslovenska Anarchisticka Federace (Czech Republic, Slovakia);
Workers Solidarity Movement (Ireland);
Congreso de Unificaciún Anarco-Comunista (Chile);
Francophone Anarchist Federation (France, Belgium); Federacja Anarchistyczna Bialystok (Poland);
Priamej Akcie - Anarchokomunistickej Organiz…cie Pr…ce (Slovakia);
Bikisha Media Collective & Zabalaza Books (South Africa);
Solidarita - Organization of Revolutionary Anarchists (Czech Republic);
Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchichi (Italy);
Organisation Communiste Libertaire (France);
Autonomist Action (Russia);
Federation of Social Anarchists - IWA (Czech Republic);
Siberian Confederation of Labor (Russia);
Organizacion Socialista Libertaria (Argentina);
Rézo Maloka (France);
Anarchist Federation (Britain)

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WHAT'S THE USE OF REFORMS?

When we're talking about reformist activists and groups, we're speaking of a political current that wishes to make changes within the current political structures, in opposition to revolutionary activists and groups who advocate purely and simply the annihilation of these strucutres in order to build an egalitarian society on the ruins of the crushed old world.

The coming of the globalisation phenomenon has as a direct political consequence to make of one of the reformists' most cherished institutions, the parliament, totally submitted to the many caprices of multinational capital. But, since Seattle, these reformists are trying to retake the initiative. Last january, reformists from all over the world gathered in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for a "Social Forum", whose goal is the creation of a new reformist international. In Quebec, the "People's Summit" follows the same route.

As long as the people don't give a damn about globalization, governments don't give a damn either about reformists. But, once people start to agitate and the streets start to boil, governments then call them to the rescue. Effectively, who's in a better position than a union bureaucrat to speak on the behalf of the workers in order to defuse an imminent social explosion? Surely not a pretentious yuppie like Peter Pettigrew!

But what do reformists want (apart from subsidized jobs)? While some of them categorically oppose globalization, the major reformist current limits its ambitions to putting a human face on it. Concretely, reformists are pressuring for the inclusion of "social clauses" inside free-trade deals.

But what will this change, apart from moving the battleground from the streets to lawyers' offices? Nowadays, putting all your bets on legalism is like throwing away your last shirt (if your chest isn't already bare...). What can we gain from having an article on the rights of the exploited in the FTAA when we already see Ottawa wiping its ass with ITS Canadian Charter of Rights and Liberties to chat about democracy "in security" with 34 crooks from the Americas???

But the real desires of reformist leaders is to have the power to represent "civil society" along side the big bosses. The joke is that nobody seems to be able to tell who exactly is part of their "civil society": are businessmen included? and rioters?? and policemen, are they part of "civil society"???

To talk about "civil society" without mentioning social classes is like giving a speech on globalization without uttering the "C" word (CAPITALISM!). Beyond this, we still live in a society where the overwhelming majority are dispossessed of all real power over our future to the advantage of a priviligied minority.

As millions of our brothers and sisters still put their hopes in reformism's empty promises, it is more necessary than ever to reaffirm that the only way to put an end to this infamous absurdity is to build the proletarian camp, the only social force with the power to derail the crazy train that's driving us into a bottomless abyss.

Finally, to answer the question that makes up the title of this text: REFORMS ARE LIKE CHLOROFORM, THEY PUT US ASLEEP!

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A WELL PREPARED MADNESS

Accusing the cops and the government to have lost their minds with their security measures is already giving them too much of an alibi: madness. Now, the highest ranks officers of our democratic police-state know exactly what they're doing. They've been working on it since one and half year. They've been elsewhere, in Seattle, Prague, etc. to compare.

To be mad, is to lose control. Now, that's exaclty the opposite what is NOT happening. The Summit of the Americas' ultrasecurity operation is well planned, they they didn't left any room for improvising.

By it's dimensions, the security measures go largely well beyond it's original purpose. Quebec 2001 is in some way a laboratory of antiglobalization repression, if we only consider the fact that including part of a residential neighborhood inside the security perimeter is a precedent never seen before on worldwide level.

As part of their experimentation, the democratic police-state can measure the level of tolerance from Quebec's population regarding such a draconian show of force. They want to know the limit of where they can push their thing.

Many others aspects of this ultrasecurity operation will still be useful for the repressive apparatus once the Summit is over. The crowd control formations given to hundreds of cops, the apprentiship of coordinating different law enforcement agencies on the ground of operations, the re-equiping in repressive technologies, etc.

This, without forgetting that the mass gathering of intelligence on groups and individual involved in the mobilization, from the most moderates to the most radicals elements, will enables to refresh their political database which could be very helping for the next upcoming years...

Some activists publicly lamented over mediatization of the security measures has been made to the detriment of FTTA's stakes. Nevertheless, the growth of the repressive force that we can observe as much on a daily basis than at the occasion of events as the Summit, is entirely part of the globalization pehnomenon. How could they privatize a whole continent without the support on an army of cops?

Trying to ignore this link would would be a great mistake, because it's only when confronted to repression that we can evaluate the real force of a movement. And it's the attitude of this movement toward repression that will determine the future of the struggle.

Against the increasing repression, our most powerful weapon remains solidarity!

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Who we are >The Northeastern Federation of Anarcho-Communists is an organization of revolutionaries coming from different movements of resistance who identify with the communist tradition within anarchism. The federation's activities are organized around theoretical development, anarchist propaganda, and intervention in the struggle of our class, be it autonomously or by direct involvement in social movements.

As anarcho-communists we struggle for a classless and non-hierarchical society. We envision an international confederation of radically democratic, self-managed communities and workplaces. To achieve this society, our class will abolish the wage system and socialize all industries, means of production and distribution.

We reject the division of labor that condemns an individual to a life of restricted activity for the sake of the commodity economy. The abolition of markets and exchange value will allow for the satisfaction of human needs, adhering to the communist principle, "From each according to ability, to each according to need."

For more information:
http://flag.blackened.net/nefac

English General Secretariat Collective:
Roundhouse Collective
C/O Black Planet Books
1621 Fleet St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
roundhouse@mobtown.org

French General Secretariat Collective:
Groupe Anarchiste Emile-Henry
C.P. 55051, 138 St. Valliers O.
Quebec (QC) G1K 1J0
emile.henry@sympatico.ca

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