Emily Wilding Davison centenary - fighting for liberation

Here, first, is something from Philosophy Football to tie in with International Women's Day (8 March) and the centenary of Emily Wilding Davison's death. Below you will find the details of an event I'm helping organise in Newcastle to mark the centenary. I hope the locals among you can get along next Thursday, not only to mark an important centenary but to discuss the continuing struggles for equality, real democracy and women's liberation. Both the Philosophy Football shirts and the Newcastle event are linked to the Emily Wilding Davison Campaign.

 

Via Mark Perryman at Philosophy Football:

One hundred years ago the Epsom Derby was disrupted by perhaps the most famous protest at a sporting event in history.

 

Britain at the time was bitterly divided. The early trade unions were striking against poverty wages and appalling working conditions. The cause for Ireland's freedom was attracting support on both sides of the Irish Sea. And from the Suffragettes there was a massive wave of non-violent direct action.

 

For these Suffragettes the Derby was absolutely a legitimate target for their protest. Horse-racing was the sport of the Establishment, Epsom a day out to celebrate tradition - one that denied women the vote. The King and Queen would be in attendance to watch the King's horse race for glory.

 

When Emily Wilding Davison ran on to the racecourse a century ago she hoped to stop the race and ensure that women's voices be heard.  When the horse racing at full speed collided with her the chances of survival were virtually non-existent. She never regained consciousness and four days later she lost her battle to live.  

 

Emily's heroic, yet fatal, action formed part of a protest movement that involved many thousands more women.  From smashing every shop window in London's West End to blowing up post boxes, via disrupting Parliament's proceedings and heckling MPs at public meetings this was a campaign few could ignore.

 

So instead imprisonment. When the demand by the women that they be treated as political prisoners was also ignored, the Suffragettes responded by going on hunger strike. Again their punishment was more repression. Brutalised by force-feeding, these ferociously brave women still refused to abandon their cause.

 

Philosophy Football have produced a set of commemorative designs featuring the colours purple, green and white. These were hugely symbolic for the Suffragette cause. Purple was for dignity, white for purity and green for hope. Deeds not Words and Dare to be Free were the twin ideals - worn as brooches, on sashes, carried as banners - that shaped the Suffragette movement.  

 

A century later we can wear them again as T-shirts. All designs available from Philosophy Football -

the shirts are in support of the Emily Wilding Davison Centenary Campaign.


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Thursday 14th March, 7:00pm
DEEDS NOT WORDS: Emily Wilding Davison Centenary Event
Black Swan, (next to Newcastle Arts Centre), 69 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1

 

See Facebook Event 

One hundred years ago militant suffragette Emily Wilding Davison was killed after running in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby. She sacrificed her life in the struggle for women’s rights and democracy. The campaign to get a minute’s silence at this year’s Derby will be holding this event celebrating the life and struggle of Emily Wilding Davison.

SPEAKERS: Kate Connelly (memorial campaign co-ordinator and author of forthcoming book on suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst), Yvonne Ridley (writer and broadcaster), Florence Anderson (Labour councillor in Sunderland and formerly a leading Women Against Pit Closures activist), Penni Blythe-Jones (organiser of the centenary programme in Northumberland). Chaired by socialist and feminist activist Lizi Gray. PLUS: songs by folk choir Werca’s Folk (Director, Sandra Kerr)

 

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Bradford Spring: 'a change for all seasons'

This comes via Philosophy Football:

'29 March 2012 was a sensational moment in British political history. George Galloway has dubbed his victory in Bradford West the Bradford Spring.

There's never been anything quite like it: a party from the Left, outside the Westminster mainstream, turning a safe Labour seat into a 10,000 majority against war and cuts, for a progressive alternative.

Wear 'Bradford Spring' on your chest wherever you are and share in the joy of, for once, the neo-liberal consensus being shattered.

And even better, for every shirt sold Philosophy Football will give one FREE to the army of young helpers, many unemployed, who helped win the victory in Bradford West. A small help toward ensuring the 'Bradford Spring' becomes a change for all seasons.

Sizes small- XXL. Plus: women's skinny-rib fitted. Available from here.


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Guernica: 'without mercy, with system'

'26 April 1937. The Nazi Luftwaffe backed Franco's fascists with the first ever carpet bombing of an undefended civilian target, Guernica. This atrocity horrified the world and helped to shift public opinion behind the Spanish Republican cause.
 
George Steer's eyewitness acount in The Times described what he saw as 'without mercy, with system', words that remain tragically pertinent to the bloody legacy of carpet bombing in conflicts ever since.'
 
Philosophy Football's anniversary T-shirt, reflecting Picasso's famous painting, bears witness to Guernica and is available from here
 
See Counterfire's competition to win the T-shirt here.
 
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Sounds Like Freedom - celebrate the Arab Spring

Sounds Like Freedom is this year's Philosophy Football Christmas Party. The evening is a celebration of protest song, verse, street art and football in the year of the Arab Spring. 

Featuring the brilliant poetry of Lemn Sissay, songs from Grace Petrie and Robb Johnson, with a headline performance by the sensational Palestinian artist Reem Kelani. With contributions from photographer Jess Hurd, music writer Dorian Lynskey (author of 33 Revolutions per Minute) and photo-journalist William Parry (author of Against the Wall).

A fundraiser for Palestine Solidarity, the night is generously supported by the trade union PCS and Thompsons solicitors.

Friday 16 December at one of North London's premier theatre pubs, The New Red Lion, 271 City Road, London EC1. Tickets are just £9.99 from HERE or call 01273 471 721 to book your place.

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International Brigades - 75th anniversary

Via Philosophy Football:

'This Saturday, 22 October, is the 75th anniversary of the Spanish Republic issuing the decree to recognise the International Brigades which were forming to join the defence of Spain's Land and Freedom. In a short period of time some 32,000 volunteers from more than 50 countries joined the Brigades.

Made by Sanum Ghafoor, Philosophy Football's film of the Gala to celebrate the 75th Anniversary features Billy Bragg, Robert Elms, Jackie Kay, Tayo Aluko, Grace Petrie, one of the last remaining International Brigaders David Lomon, and many others.

It is educative, entertaining and inspiring, a fitting way to mark the anniversary.

Plus! Philosophy Football's 75th Anniversary T-shirt design features the iconic solidarity poster designed by one of Catalonia's greatest artists.'

See HERE for the shirt.

Video by Sanum Ghafoor:



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Cable Street: they did not pass

Via Philosophy Football:

'Seventy-five years ago, on 4 October 1936, the people of the East End united to stop Sir Oswald Mosley's blackshirted British Union of Fascists from marching through their community. An estimated 100,000 gathered to prevent this parade of anti-semitic hate behind the slogan 'They shall not pass'.

After hours of confrontation, sometimes violent and centred on Cable Street, Mosley was forced to abandon his march. They did not pass!

Philosophy Football's design is based on the original 1936 street sign for Cable Street.'

Available from HERE
 
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Mark Steel promotes PCS tax justice campaign

Comedian and Independent columnist Mark Steel

Via Philosophy Football:

'On Saturday 6 August a new football season begins. And on Friday 5 August Philosophy Football are having an eve-of-season party. Expect to be entertained and inspired in equal measure.

Headlined by the brilliant comedy and biting commentary of Mark Steel. With poetry from the legendary Attila the Stockbroker. And opening the show one of the hottest names in spoken word 'Skint and Demoralised'. While filling the dancefloor late into the night, a DJ set by Two-tone legend Rhoda Dakar.

The party is organised in association with the PCS as part of the union's campaign for fair tax. On this theme the evening opens with a roundtable on 'Football, Finances and Own Goals' . Guardian economics writer Aditya Chakrabortty will be making the case for a 'Rooney Tax' and is joined by Panoroma's Andrew Jennings talking about his investigations into FIFA corruption.

Kris Stewart, one of the founders of the club and their first Chief Executive, speaks on the AFC Wimbledon story, plus football academic and co-author of 'The Football Nation' John Williams offers a critique of The Premiership monster .

The party is also a celebration of 25 years of the football fanzine When Saturday Comes being half-decent. At the recently refurbished theatre-pub The New Red Lion 271 City Road, London EC1V 4LA. Nearest tube The Angel.

Show starts 7pm. Hurry, our parties always sell out!
Book at http://www.philosophyfootball.com/ or call 020 8802 3499.'
 
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70 years on: Philosophy Football celebrates Vasily Grossman's writings

'War correspondent for the Red Star newspaper, Vasily Grossman became Russia's greatest chronicler of both the horrors of the 1941 Nazi invasion and the eventual victory over nazism.

Never afraid to upset the Soviet authorities, his classic account of the USSR's resistance to the Nazi invasion, 'Life and Fate', was not only heroic but also told the story of the Ukraine famine, the Gulags and purges, the instances of collaboration between Russian citizens and the Nazis.

As a result it was banned by Stalin. The book was eventually published under Glasnost in 1988.'

The 1941 anniversary Life and Fate T-shirt is available from HERE  
 
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A landmark moment in the growth of a movement

A good video, via Philosophy Football, for capturing the spirit of 26 March as a landmark moment in the development of our movement. It's interesting to hear Unison's Heather Wakefield acknowledging the unions' limits and saying they need to reach out and work with others. This is a topic I explored yesterday - Can trade unions stop the cuts? - and one we'll repeatedly return to in practice, where of course it's all a bit messier and more complicated than in theory!



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Marching for the alternative - a video report

This video comes via Philosophy Football. It captures one particular area's mobilisation for last weekend's huge demonstration, rather like the Observer article about our coaches from Newcastle.



See Philosophy Football's YouTube channel.

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Does my society look big in this?

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN LOW PRICE. JUST £12.99!

Mr Cameron and his, very, junior partner Nick Clegg would have us believe that our society can do just fine with fewer nurses and teachers. 

Closing down schools, hospitals, children's centres and services for the elderly adds up to a smaller, worse society, neither big nor better. All in the cause of deficit reduction?  How about taxing the bankers' bonuses and closing down corporate tax evasion.

Wear Philosophy Football's  'Does my Society Look Big in This'  T-shirt on the 26 March  TUC March for the Alternative, the brilliant direct actions of UKUncut or wherever and whenever the protest takes you.

Available in sizes S-XXL, plus women's skinny fitted. From HERE

Via Philosophy Football

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T-shirt to raise funds for democracy groups in Egypt

"You are the generation that will overcome defeat" - Arab poet Nizar Qabbani

'For eighteen days so many of us were glued to the TV screens as a revolt unfolded that shook the Arab world, and beyond. When Mubarak finally resigned, Philosophy Football were inspired to produce a fundraising solidarity T-shirt by an article Tariq Ali wrote in the Guardian 

The article quotes one of the great Arab poets of the modern era, Nizar Qabbani. Writing in the aftermath of the 1967 six-day war and the coming to power in Egypt of the US-backed dictators, first Saddat, then Murbarak, the poem's prophecy was finaly fulfilled in 2011: "You are the Generation that will overcome defeat."

 

Philosophy Football's T- shirt is produced in association with the publishers Verso.
 
It will raise funds for Egypt's pro-democracy campaign groups. Groups already active in solidarity with Egypt, Stop the War and others, as well as Verso authors who know the protest movement very well (including Tariq Ali) will be asked to nominate recipients who will make the most effective use of the resources.
 
And generosity is rewarded with the offer of The Verso Book of Dissent at half-price, usual price £12.99, when bought with the shirt.'
 
Available from Philosophy Football
 
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Display your solidarity with Tunisia

“ If, one day, a people desires to live, then fate will answer their call.”
- Abul-Qasim Al-Shabi

'Tunisia 2011: the people, with popular protest and civil disobedience, have overthrown a ruthless despot, chanting in the streets the words of the great Tunisian poet of the early twentieth century, Abul Qasim Al-Shabi.
 
Philosophy Football have produced this T-shirt to help promote solidarity, featuring the poetry in the original Arabic. With a shattered Tunisian flag, representing the structures of totalitarianism which divided their country for generations.
 
Get yours from HERE.' 
 
Local readers (yes, both of you): please get along to this Thursday's Counterfire meeting in Newcastle on Tunisia: revolution at the crossroads. Recommended reading HERE and HERE.
 
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Philosophy Football's 'Hopemas' party

From Philosophy Football:

'Why Hopemas? Because the defeat of the BNP in Barking and the humiliation of their hateful leader, Nick Griffin, was one of the great signs of hope in 2010.

Philosophy Football's Hopemas Christmas party is on Friday 17 December and is generously sponsored by the PCS trade union. It's a fantastic line-up!

Featuring the superb poetry of Lemn Sissay . Performing a special version of her hit Edinburgh show 'Afroblighty' (on nationwide tour in 2011) the supremely talented comic Andi Osho. Rap mixed with comedy from Doc Brown opens the night. And filling the dancefloor into the early hours, music from the Melstars sound system.

With a review of the year from Clive Bloom, author of the hugely topical Violent London : 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts , PCS National Executive Member Zita Holbourne, Zaiba Malik (author of the August R4 book of the week We are a Muslim,Please), Owen Hatherley (author of the recently published book A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain), and Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty.

Just a few handfuls of tickets left, just £8.99 and each ticket is a £5 OFF voucher on Philosophy Football shirts on the night, so if you combine the evening with your Christmas shopping the night costs less than a fiver.

At the brilliant theatre-pub The New Red Lion, 271 City Road London EC1V 1LA in Islington. Show starts 7pm.

Book either HERE or call 020 8802 3499.'
 
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30th anniversary of John Lennon's death

It is 30 years today since John Lennon was killed. On the eve of what is set to be a historic youth revolt, it seems appropriate to highlight and celebrate Lennon's radical streak.

Philosophy Football has a new shirt in honour:

A working class hero is still something to be
John Lennon 1940-80

'John Lennon's classic tribute to where he came from, roots he remained proud of, and loyal to, come what may. Special offer - buy the shirt and 'I'm not the only one' mug is half-price.'

Check out the shirt and mug, and order yours, HERE

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Filler for red stockings

A Christmas cracker of an offer from Philosophy Football here:

'Looking for the perfect gift for the ideologue in your life? Fed up with counting off how many shopping days there are to Christmas while the Con-Dems slash and burn all that you once held dear? Convinced that the season of peace and goodwill is a tool to instil false consciousness, but at the same have a spot under the tree to fill or you're toast?

Don't worry - Philosophy Football have the solution with the kind of present unlikely to be found in most gift guides. Never mind those trendy 'head gardener' or ' yummy mummy' mugs. This one wears its politics on its sleeve, well bone china actually. For those of us who believe no team can ever be too leftsided.'

Available from HERE

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The Cuts Won't Work

CUTS WON'T WORK T-SHIRT JUST £9.99

A timely new shirt from Philosophy Football:

'"The cuts won't work, they'll just make things worse." This sums up precisely the case against the rolling back of the state which is now being executed in an ideological crusade on a Thatcherite scale.

The Cuts Won't Work carries a brilliantly brief argument against the cuts and Philosophy Football are proud to produce this non-profit campaign T-shirt in support at the special low price of just £9.99.'

Available in sizes small-XXL , plus skinny-rib fit, from HERE

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Zizek: have the audacity to change the rules

"In football we win if we obey the rules. In politics we win if we have the audacity to change the rules."
Slavoj Zizek

Wise words from everyone's favourite Slovenian semi-Marxist, Lacan-inspired cultural theorist and philosopher.

This new addition to the Philosophy Football range is definitely one of my favourites. It's available in sizes S-XXL, plus women's skinny rib, from HERE.

I have my criticisms of Zizek, but this very popular animated video illustrates his strengths.

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Help fund Viva Palestina's mission to break siege of Gaza

Philosophy Football has another good fundraising initiative in support of the Viva Palestina convoy, in addition to this solidarity shirt. Here is the info:

'Wear the Viva Palestina convoy t-shirt in solidarity with the siege-breakers!

On Saturday 18 September, the fifth, and most ambitious convoy leaves for Gaza. From London, Casablanca and Doha three simultaneous routes consisting of hundreds of vehicles to break the siege.
 
Three times in the last eighteen months Viva Palestina has broken Israel's siege, each time successfully delivering their aid, despite Israel's murderous assault on the Freedom Flotilla , they fully intend to deliver this time too.
 
Philosophy Football's VIVA PALESTINA 5 T-shirt will be worn by all drivers and crew. Sales of the shirt help fund the convoy. We can't all be on this incredible journey to bring vital material aid and international solidarity to Gaza but by wearing this shirt we are all convoy members.'
 
Available from HERE  
 
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Gaza: show your solidarity

Great (and cheap!) new offering from Philosophy Football, in the run up to September's hugely important Gaza convoy:

'In the 1970s and 1980s Soweto became a global watchword not simply for the murderous brutality of the racist Apartheid regime but also the heroic resistance of the South African people. Solidarity with Soweto became a huge, popular international movement which helped isolate Apartheid.

Today Gaza requires that same wave of support. As part of Philosophy Football's contribution towards this we have produced a delightfully simple T-shirt design on a non-profit making basis.

We are actively supporting and raising funds for the September 2010 aid convoys to Gaza organised by Viva Palestina but we cannot all join the convoys by land and air. Yet we can all wear 'GAZA' on our chest and help spread the message of solidarity. T-shirt in sizes S-XXL, plus womens' skinny-rib fit.

Special campaign low-price JUST £9.99 Available from HERE.
 
Also see HERE.
 
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