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Today In Dublin Protesters Marched Against Cuts As A Bail-Out Is Organised


Image by infomatique
Today thousands of people marched in protest against the Government’s austerity program. The austerity package, announced on Wednesday, includes proposals to cut the minimum wage, slash the number of public sector jobs and increase taxes in order to save 15bn euros over the next four years.

The march began from Wood Quay shortly after 12 noon and the protestors made their way along the north quays to the General Post Office (GPO) on O’Connell Street.

The authorities claim that about 10,000 people started the march but that the crowd swelled to around 50,000 as it moved down the quays.

Organisers of the march claimed that the crowd was between 100,000 and 150,000.

A small group of around 400 protestors gathered outside Leinster House after the march.

Bangers were lit and thrown amongst the gardaí along with snowballs and eggs. Some of the protestors were wearing masks and a poster with a picture of Brian Cowen on it was set on fire.

According to RTE, there was only one arrest.

A group demonstrators took to the Liffey in a curragh and flew banners in support of the marchers.

Party and Politics *


Image by Sterneck
*

Party and Politics I *
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157626312156423

Party and Politics II *
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627701466887

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PARTY-POLITICS*

• Jede Party ist politisch, auch ohne Transparente und Flugblätter.

• Politisch ist der Umgang der Leute miteinander: Gemeinschaftlich oder sind alle auf einem Ego-Trip?

• Politisch ist es, wenn alle ehrfürchtig zum DJ hinauf blicken und ihn bejubeln, was immer er auch macht.

• Politisch ist, ob es bei einer Party um die Community geht oder nur um Profit.

• Politisch ist auch das Verhältnis zur Natur bei einem Open-Air: Bleiben Müllberge zurück?

• Politisch sind Partys auf denen in Straßen, Supermärkten und Konzernzentralen für Veränderung getanzt wird.

• Und politisch sind Partys, die sich bewusst Kommerz, Konsum und Kontrolle widersetzen, um dadurch zu einem wirklichen Freiraum zu werden…

Wolfgang Sterneck
www.sterneck.net

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PARTY-POLITICS*

• Every party is political. There needn’t be a banner hanging with a political demand anywhere.

• So, for example, the question of who makes money out of a party is political. Is it a single person that thrives on inflated admission charges? Or is it a group of people that are mainly concerned with a good party?

• Political is the handling of nature at an Open-Air event. Does one strive to use the place sensibly or are there piles of rubbish left behind?

• Political is how people interact with each other at a party. Is it collaborative or an Ego-trip?

• Of course a consciously organized party that becomes a free space and defies the guidelines of commerce and consumption and control is also political.

• Political is as well how drugs are handled on a party.

• For example it is also political if all reverentially look up to the DJ and acclaim whatever he may do.

• Political is more than the question whether a track has political lyrics. Policy is also more than the talk of ministers. Policy is the relationship between us. Policy is our daily action …

Wolfgang Sterneck
www.sterneck.net

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Das Autonome Kulturzentrum Metzgerstraße Hanau * Squat Politics *


Image by Sterneck
"Hinter den Rauchschwaden abgebrannter Flüchtlingsheime wirken und würgen die Krawattenrassisten… "

.

AUTONOMES KULTURZENTRUM HANAU
(Besetztes Haus / Metzgerstrasse-Squat in Hanau / Germany).

– The Squat – Photos:
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627799174125

- Squating the Parliament (1988):
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627923787960

- Concert-Photos 1987-1988:
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627799191443

- Concert-Photos 1989-1990:
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627923799072

- Concert-Photos 1991-1992:
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627923811302

- Concert-Photos 1993-1994:
www.flickr.com/photos/sterneck/sets/72157627923815978

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THE SQUATED AUTONOMOUS CULTURE CENTER
METZGERSTRASSE / HANAU

In December 1986 some people in Hanau (Germany) decided to squat a house that had been empty for a long time, Metzgerstraße 8. They restored it and filled this free space with a new life.

Soon it became an ’Autonomous Culture-Center’ for the people and by the people, and also a focal point for a solidaric projects and for the resistance against ruling systems in all their repressive forms. The center has had a long history of attempts to establish a self-determined culture-center in Hanau, although it has always been repressed by the local city council.

The basic forum of the center is the ”squatter meeting,” which is open to everyone who has an interest in the squat as a counter-cultural free space. Decisions are made on the consent principle, which means that they try to find a decision that can be supported by everyone. Many activists in the squat, but not all, describe themselves as members of the autonomy movement, which connects anarchist, communist and feminist ideas.

At the moment there are a lot of projects, groups, and events that take place in the center. Everything is done on a do-it-yourself and nonprofit basis; no one receives money for her or his work. Solidarity, trust and self-determination are the basis for all work. Here are some examples:

- The ’Infoladen’ (Infoshop): The Infoshop is an opportunity to get information that can’t be found in the normal bourgeois media. There are a lot of autonomous, left radical and feminist leaflets, brochures and newspapers available. There is also a small media center and an archive that includes material on topics like anti-fascism, atomic politics, women’s liberation, internationalism, etc.

- The ’Volxküche’ (Peoples Kitchen): Frequently people from the community cook a vegetarian meal that is available for a small price. The idea behind this is to overcome isolation between people and the patriarchal roles typical in the kitchen, and, of course, to provide a good tasting meal for many people.

- The Concerts: Concerts in the center are organized, and absolutely dedicated to the principle of working in a self-determined way without a manager, an agency, or even a contract. The bands that play in the squat should have a mutual relation to the ideas of the center. There are no musical limits: Local punk bands have played there as well as jazz bands from North-America and Avantguarde projects from Eastern Europe. Some of the performances have been released on tapes and records.

In a way, the things that happen between the people in the center are more important than the events: changes in behavior, opportunities to live together without hierarchical structures, and new ways of relating. Although the squat is like an island in some ways, it’s far from a concrete utopia. Problems in interpersonal relations exist, as well as differences between ideals and real behaviour.

If people want to go alternative ways, the authorities try to stop them. In Hanau the local city council has said for a long time that none of the things the squatters do and organize represent culture. They decided in parliament that the center was to be closed and torn down without an alternative. In place of the squat, they planned to build five parking places. A decision that is very symbolic and characteristic. Certainly, the real aim was to destroy the ideas and the structures this center stands for.

The answer of the supporters of the Autonomous Culture-Center was the squatting of the parliament of the city. The politicians went out of the building and the squatters voted for the continuation of the center.

Up to now the authorities have not been able to realize their plans for various reasons. On the one hand there are many people who support the squat. There are also legal difficulties around closing it, and they are afraid of the resistance and activities that could take place after closing the squat.

But even if they evict the center, they can’t repress the ideas that the squat stands for. It’s about a self-determined culture and a self-determined life. It’s about dreams and ideals. It’s about consequence and change, here and now.

Wolfgang Sterneck, 2001.

Autonomes Kulturzentrum
Metzgerstrasse 8, D-63450 Hanau, Germany.

Autonomes Kulturzentrum Metzgerstraße:
- www.metzgerstrasse-hanau.org
- de-de.facebook.com/people/Metzgerstrasse-Acht-Hanau/10000…
- www.myspace.com/metzgerstrasse
- www.sterneck.net/squat

Info on the Project of John Cage and Sterneck / KomistA in benefit of the squat:
- www.sterneck.net/john-cage/metzgerstrasse-e

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SUBVERSIVE SOUNDS *

Konzerte im Autonomen Kulturzentrum Hanau.

Das besetzte Haus

Im Dezember 1986 kam es in Hanau zur Besetzung eines ehemaligen Nachtclubs in der Metzgerstraße 8. Das Gebäude, das zuvor über Jahre hinweg leer stand, wurde renoviert, neu gestaltet, umbenannt und wird seitdem als Autonomes Kulturzentrum genutzt. Das Ziel der Besetzung war es, einen Freiraum zu schaffen, in dem die Vorstellung einer autonomen Kultur wie auch die Wiederaneignung des entfremdeten Alltags konkret umsetzbar wird.

Vor diesem Hintergrund gelang es, ein Zentrum zu entwickeln, in dem solidarisches Handeln, kollektives Leben und politische Identität auf vielen Ebenen verschmelzen oder sich zumindest annähern. Die Metzgerstraße wurde dadurch zu einem wichtigen Bezugspunkt von dem auf verschiedenen Ebenen vielschichtige politische, soziale und kulturelle Impulse ausgingen.

Im Laufe der Jahre entstanden vielfältige Projekte wie die Volxküche (Essen zum Selbstkostenpreis), der Infoladen (Aktuelle politische Informationen und Archiv) und das Basta-Cafe (Treffpunkt und Sozialberatung). Die politischen Schwerpunkte der im Kulturzentrum aktiven Gruppen liegen unter anderen in den Bereichen ‘Internationale Solidarität’, Antifaschismus und ‘Soziale Veränderung’.

Die Entscheidungen innerhalb des Kulturzentrums werden basisdemokratisch nach dem Konsensprinzip getroffen. Alle Aktivitäten basieren auf einer idealistischen Grundhaltung. Keine Person aus dem Zentrum erhält für ihre Tätigkeiten eine finanzielle Entlohnung.

Selbstbestimmte Kultur ohne Kommerz

Musik hatte von Anfang an in der Metzgerstraße eine besondere Bedeutung. Über das Musikhören hinaus machen viele AktivistInnen selbst Musik, veröffentlichen eigene Aufnahmen oder organisieren Konzerte. Im Sinne des DIY-Prinzipes (‘Do it Yourself’) werden die Auftritte im direkten Kontakt mit den MusikerInnen ohne Konzertagenturen und auch ohne Verträge auf völlig nichtkommerzieller Basis organisiert.

Eine Grundlage bildet ein solidarisches Verhältnis der MusikerInnen zur Metzgerstraße, was sich unter anderem auch in der Gage ausdrückt, die sich in der Regel auf die für die Band entstandenen Unkosten und die Verpflegung beschränkt. Der Eintrittspreis ist so ausgerichtet, dass er für alle interessierten Personen erschwinglich ist und die anfallenden Kosten deckt bzw. im Rahmen von Benefiz-Konzerten bestimmte Projekte unterstützt.

Freiräume statt Parkplätze

Während der ehemalige sozialdemokratische Kulturdezernat Hanaus davon sprach, dass in der Metzgerstraße keine Kultur stattfindet, bildete dass selbstorganisierte Zentrum durch die Auftritte von Bands aus Westeuropa und Nordamerika einen im Hanauer Kulturleben herausragenden internationalen Bezugspunkt. Die musikalische Bandbreite umfasst unter anderem Rockmusik in den verschiedensten Schattierungen, Punk, Hardcore, Folk und Jazz, sowie experimentelle und improvisierte Musik. Lokale Nachwuchsbands traten im Laufe der Jahre genauso auf wie renommierte Gruppen aus unterschiedlichsten Ländern. Einen Kultcharakter erlangten zudem die Nachtcafe-Sessions, an denen jeder und jede teilnehmen konnte.

Die Aufnahmen einiger Konzerte wurden später auf verschiedenen Tonträgern veröffentlicht. 1992 kam es daneben zur Veröffentlichung eines der Metzgerstraße gewidmeten Stücks des Avantgarde-Komponisten John Cage.

In den Anfangsjahren plante der Hanauer Magistrat das Haus nach einer Räumung abreißen zu lassen, um dort stattdessen fünf Parkplätze zu errichten. Die Kulturpolitik des Magistrates entlarvte sich dadurch in einer kaum zu übertreffenden symbolhaften Weise selbst. Das Vorhaben wurde jedoch nicht zuletzt in Folge einer Besetzung des Stadtparlamentes durch Unterstützerinnen des Kulturzentrums nicht weiter verfolgt.

Rund 25 Jahre nach der Besetzung wird das Haus weiterhin als Kulturzentrum genutzt. Im ansonsten auf Konsum und Kommerz ausgerichteten Stadtzentrum Hanaus ist es mit seinen vielfältigen Projekten kreativer wie auch subversiver Freiraum.

Wolfgang Sterneck, September 2011.

Autonomes Kulturzentrum Metzgerstraße:
- www.metzgerstrasse-hanau.org
- de-de.facebook.com/people/Metzgerstrasse-Acht-Hanau/10000…
- www.myspace.com/metzgerstrasse
- www.sterneck.net/squat

Eine ausführliche Beschreibung der Geschichte des Kulturzentrums:
Freiräume entwickeln – Das besetzte autonome Kulturzentrum Metzgerstraße Hanau
- www.sterneck.net/squat/metzgerstrasse-d

English Info:
The squated Autonomous Culture Center Metzgerstrasse Hanau
- www.sterneck.net/squat/metzgerstrasse-e

Infos zum Benefiz-Projekt von John Cage und Sterneck / KomistA für das Kulturzentrum:
- www.sterneck.net/john-cage

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Today In Dublin Protesters Marched Against Cuts As A Bail-Out Is Organised


Image by infomatique
Today thousands of people marched in protest against the Government’s austerity program. The austerity package, announced on Wednesday, includes proposals to cut the minimum wage, slash the number of public sector jobs and increase taxes in order to save 15bn euros over the next four years.

The march began from Wood Quay shortly after 12 noon and the protestors made their way along the north quays to the General Post Office (GPO) on O’Connell Street.

The authorities claim that about 10,000 people started the march but that the crowd swelled to around 50,000 as it moved down the quays.

Organisers of the march claimed that the crowd was between 100,000 and 150,000.

A small group of around 400 protestors gathered outside Leinster House after the march.

Bangers were lit and thrown amongst the gardaí along with snowballs and eggs. Some of the protestors were wearing masks and a poster with a picture of Brian Cowen on it was set on fire.

According to RTE, there was only one arrest.

A group demonstrators took to the Liffey in a curragh and flew banners in support of the marchers.

Discuss On All Parties Exercise On By Polls Candidates, Special Survey On Telangana By Elections, CPI Decision On By Elections, Enquiry On Liquor Syndicates With Congress Leader Rangareddy, TDP leader Peddi Reddy, TRS leader Bigala Ganesh Gupta, Political Analyst Prof Nageshwar Rao
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Stealth Democracy: Americans’ Beliefs About How Government Should Work (Cambridge Studies in Public Opinion and Political Psychology)

Examining how people want their democratic government to work, this study finds that Americans don’t like many of the practices associated with democracy: the conflicts, the debates, the compromises. It finds that Americans don’t want to have to see democracy in practice, nor do they want to be involved in politics. If American citizens had their way, political decisions would be made by unselfish decision-makers, lessening the need for monitoring government.

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The Real Clear Politics Political Download: Election 2012: The Battle Begins

Real Clear Politics’ first in a series of in-depth looks at the 2012 campaign.

With unsurpassed access to the White House, Republican candidates, and their respective staffs, Election 2012: The Battle Begins will give readers a riveting behind the scenes, real time look at the 2012 campaign, providing in-depth reporting and analysis of the candidacies of President Barack Obama, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Michele Bachmann among others. With up-to-the-minute newsbreaking material, this first in a series of three e-originals will be written by veteran RCP journalists Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon, and is sure to make the Real Clear Politics Political Download the authoritative must-read account for understanding the 2012 campaign.Real Clear Politics’ first in a series of in-depth looks at the 2012 campaign.

With unsurpassed access to the White House, Republican candidates, and their respective staffs, Election 2012: The Battle Begins will give readers a riveting behind the scenes, real time look at the 2012 campaign, providing in-depth reporting and analysis of the candidacies of President Barack Obama, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Michele Bachmann among others. With up-to-the-minute newsbreaking material, this first in a series of three e-originals will be written by veteran RCP journalists Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon, and is sure to make the Real Clear Politics Political Download the authoritative must-read account for understanding the 2012 campaign.

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Europe Must Enhance Defense Integration to Avoid Strategic Decline (World Politics Review Briefings)

New figures from the European Defense Agency confirm what is already well-known: The gap between what Europe and America spend on defense is only growing wider. These figures point to some uncomfortable truths about the future of European security. First, there is still a gross lack of integration in the European defense market. Second, Europe needs to invest more in key defense capabilities to fill current gaps.
New figures from the European Defense Agency confirm what is already well-known: The gap between what Europe and America spend on defense is only growing wider. These figures point to some uncomfortable truths about the future of European security. First, there is still a gross lack of integration in the European defense market. Second, Europe needs to invest more in key defense capabilities to fill current gaps.

Price:

Funny is sexy, and Tia Carrere is funny—she was invited to join Saturday Night Live before her big break with Friends. Her down-to-earth persona makes her seem attainable, and anyone who’s seen her in Office Space has to admit she makes even pieces of flair look good. She rarely plays the airhead, and she seldom overplays a role: she’s funny in a quiet, refreshingly human way. And her all-too-human love life off screen inspires sympathy that not even a string of bland romantic comedies can diminish. Other sex symbols drift toward one-dimensionality
Video Rating: 5 / 5