15 January 2011 Conference Declaration
- The phoney war is over. The Coalition of Resistance’s aim is to force the ConDem government to abandon its cuts programme. The recent anti-cuts demonstrations and the Milbank occupation by students mark a turning point in people’s willingness to go beyond token protests.
- As the reality of the cuts manifests itself, local campaigns are now also organising against the government’s programme of demolishing welfare and state provision. The Coalition of Resistance (CoR) therefore calls on all anti-cuts groups, trade unionists, students and campaigning organisations to participate in a week of protest from Monday 14 February involving local events all over the country and a demonstration in London.
- CoR supports the 2010 TUC Congress resolution for united and co-ordinated industrial action against the cuts, and will organise solidarity with those taking action in the front line across the public sector. We support militant and audacious actions against the cuts, including strikes and occupations. We will seek to connect community with trade union campaigns, and support co-ordinated industrial action to the highest level necessary.
- CoR will work to make the national demonstration called by the TUC for 26th March 2001 the biggest demonstration in Britain since the anti-war marches of 2003.
- CoR will encourage all anti-cuts organisations to work together with the aim of establishing a single, broad, and united anti-cuts organisation in each area. Where no local campaign exists, we will encourage CoR supporters to initiate one; where such a campaign does exist we will encourage it to affiliate to CoR.
- In schools, colleges and universities, CoR will encourage the formation of united anti-cuts and anti-fees groups, and will help in the calling of a ‘No cuts, No Fees’ conference in 2011 to establish a united national campaign. We celebrate and support the flourishing student protests, demonstrations, strikes and occupations to fight fees, defend EMA and for free education for all. We agree to call upon the trade union and labour movement, on student days of actions, to provide maximum support including lunch time protests and sending delegations to demonstrations. We support the students who have been arrested on the November demonstrations and the defend to the right to protest campaign launched with Mark Serwotka , John McDonnell MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP and London region UCU.
- In recognition of the international nature of the crisis, the Coalition of Resistance will seek to deepen links with similar movements throughout the world, support the call for mobilisations against the G8 and G20 in France next year, and to initiate an international solidarity Conference Against Austerity.
- CoR is committed to opposing all cuts and privatisation; exposing their effects on the most poor and vulnerable, opposing the government’s plan to dismantle the welfare state; and rejecting all proposals to “solve” the crisis through racism and other forms of scape-goating. We call on all Local Authorities and councillors to oppose cuts in their authorities and to support those councillors who resist cuts. Where councillors refuse to vote for cuts we will do all we can to mobilise support for them.
- CoR will encourage debate on a programme for climate-friendly sustainable economic and social recovery which meets the needs of people and the planet, not profit.
- The Coalition of Resistance will collaborate with other national campaigns, and supports the creation of a national united anti-cuts movement which is able to mobilize millions of people against the ConDem government.
- CoR acknowledges that women absorb many of the additional pressures from the cuts. The coalition will strongly support efforts to defend services, particularly those used by women, and women specific services such as refuges and reproductive services. It will particularly acknowledge the difficulties suffered by women from diverse communities including disabled women and women from ethnic minorities and pensioners. The newly elected national committee will make a statement of commitment to promote human rights and actively challenge all forms of discrimination on grounds of age, class, disability, economic status, gender, gender identity, immigration status, race, sexuality, and take action to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are at the forefront of the work of the Coalition of Resistance.
- There will be a minimum of 50% women on the National Council of CoR and CoR will positively encourage and increase the proportion of National Council and Steering Committee members from Black and Ethnic Minority Groups. Decisions made by the National Council and Steering Committee will be agreed by consensus wherever possible to preserve unity. National Council will meet either in Birmingham or Manchester every third meeting.
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Well, you certainly know what you are against. But isn’t the more meaningful question what you are for? What use is a programme of negatives? Is that the best you can agree on? What do you want to replace ConDem cuts with? Labour cuts over a shorter period? Or is there something more to aspire to? What are you offering in terms of positive political organisation? Where is the Left’s imagination?
Yes, I think you make a valid point. We need, as a friend put it, an answer to “there is no alternative”. Without an answer, how can we win over support from a population that has come to depend upon the mainstream media for answers, and consequently, and in failing to recognise that this economic attack is ideologically driven, believes that the need for “austerity measures” is urgent and unavoidable. So we need an alternative (or perhaps, at least to begin with, a set of possible alternatives) so that we can challenge the lie, by drawing people into a debate.
Looking around, I haven’t found such a set of proposals to rescue Britain and so I decided to try draft a version myself. I am not an economist and so my intention was merely to set the ball rolling. The proposals are approximately halfway through the following post:
http://wallofcontroversy.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/the-answer-to-tina-is-trish/
I firmly believe that something of this kind is desperately needed, though I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers. Perhaps you disagree, in which case, why not write your own version. As I say, the object for now is just to get the debate going.
Nice stentiment, however, can I address this point by point?:
1. Past protests, in this campaign or otherwise, have been strong. Can I point you to the Anti Nazi/Rock Against Racism protests that I was privileged to participate in. Those were backed by massive bands of the time, Aswad, Buzzocks … Where are today’s? Our youth who are set to lose most are the ones who buy their products. Where are they, what, not even the Manics? (Old I know, but I thought they cared!)
2. Hope they do!
3. Yes please, coordinate action against the cuts. However, please remember that those suffering most may become the unintended victims.
4. Excellent, my family and I (3 generations) will be there on 26th March.
5. Again, excellent, not a lot happening here in Wales but then that’s because we have our own Assembly who refuse your Govt’s cuts. If I can help, happy to, we are neighbours!
6. Great, but who will prevent our kids getting “kettled” – btw, my daughter can be seen climbing onto the outer wall of Millbank on the Youtube video of the November demo. If she’d been arrested I’d not have been able to pay for her to come home. Support our children at demos please, not afterwards with fine words!
7. Good luck on that one, St Bob Gelfof never cracked it!
8. Vote Plaid Cymru, or is that racist of us? Failing that, Labour, but the Old, not the New!
9. Good luck again! Shell, BP, British Gas, pretty entrenched but we sure as hell have to make a start! So bus it to London on 26th March, or take the train, do not take your car!
10. Think we did this at number 7 above!
11. I am a woman, like many I have responsibilities that keep me home. On the other hand I have 2 very responsible, socially aware brothers and numerous male friends. I am sure they can be relied upon to uphold the interests of their sister/neice/friend. Incidentally, although born “middle class” my lone parent family and I have sunk to enjoy our reduced status, courtesy of Maggie, as I was born in Yorkshire which she gleefully demolished! Take care not to be patronising!
12. Why? See above?! I trust my brothers and friends. Appoint on merit please, otherwise you will be seen as discriminatory or patronising!
We have seen it all before, some of us did stuff, some just talked, on 26th March my family – mum of 74 years, me 50, brother 45 and daughter 17 Will March! We Will Not Support Violence or Wanton Destruction, That Is the Means to this Movement’s Downfall!
Peacful Protest Please, or It Means Nothing!
Oh, btw, this post is short of supporters, hope this helps!
Jayne x
In answer to Karls question above ‘What are we (CoR) for’?
I thought it was a bit blindingly obvious myself. Eh oh.
Starting with a most urgent and dramatic example. How about being ‘for’ a DWP medical assessment on the sick and disabled claiming benefits. One that is done by health professionals, competent and humane. One that gives the support to those in need but also helps the rest denied that benefit support.
Instead of the current ‘Narnia’ Assessments. Contracted out as they are to a private shark, ATOS, that are finding people even with terminal cancer ‘fit’ for work. They have targets and bonuses to meet after all. Plus paying the dividend to the shareholder. I wonder how many members of parliament have ‘ATOS’ shares? You could not make it up.
What are we for? March 26th. Be there.
Do I have to go on?
Maybe with a name like ‘Karl’ you are thinking of the lefts longer strategy. On that you you are right. I wish there was one.
One step at a time eh?
There Needs to be as Much Pressure as Possible to Achieve This.
No Cuts in Essential Public Services and Welfare before Warfare
Revolution Peaceful Political and Economic to Put an End to the
Bloody War in Afghanistan
Organisation needs to define its programme of redistribution of wealth & on defining how & where it frees up money to ensure know austerity & programme for sustained growth that ensures justice & equality . if the organisation wants long term sustained support from the broad based radical section of our community . Core principles yes ,but very essential.