WHY ANTI-CAPITALISM?
Capitalism is the name of the system which rules our planet. ICapitalism reduces everything to its lowest common denominator in its never-ending search for profit, a search in which no prisoners are taken, be they human rights, environmental concerns, or equality.. However, the world doesn't have to be run this way, there are many schools of thought on how our lives can be improved, one thing many of these believe is that capitalism must be destroyed for us to really improve the quality of our lives. This festival is a chance for all people who believe that capitalism is inherently destructive to come together and protest.
The past
Mayday has been a celebration of life and pleasure since ancient times. Then in the 1880s it became International Workers' Day to commemorate the execution of four anarchists for their part in the struggle for an eight-hour working day. These aspects of Mayday are intertwined - a festival against work, want and denial, the ruled asserting themselves against their rulers, a vision of renewal, freedom and plenty throughout the world. Many bosses did eventually concede an eight-hour day and they soon realised they could only head off revolution by granting further concessions such as the welfare state. Revolutions still occurred in poorer countries like Russia where workers began to run society through freely elected councils. However, noone can build a new society while they are starving and workers had little strength to prevent oppressive bureaucrats from taking over.
It was not until the 1960s that people began to reject the lies of the 'Communist' and Labour parties and rediscover genuine communism and anarchism. Not only did women, gay and black people mobilise against discrimination, but workers organised protests and strikes in most countries on the planet. The only way governments could contain these revolts was by both co-opting them and making life too insecure for people to rebel. They did this by dismantling the welfare state and reimposing the market everywhere.
The present
Under New Labour, attacks on workers intensify and privatisation accelerates. After a century of pretending to reform itself into a more humane system, capitalism can now only show itself as unrestrained exploitation - much as it did when people fought for an eight-hour day. Its constant drive for profit compels it to ruin the environment, provoke wars and force everyone to work harder - and longer. Everyone is becoming frustrated and angry with stressful lives over which they have no control.
The media are keen to misdirect this anger against fellow workers, against foreigners or 'welfare scroungers'. But last year's demonstrations in the City of London and Seattle show that people are beginning to direct their anger against the real source of their problems: capitalism. This resistance is global as people in Africa, Asia and Latin America oppose the IMF and World Bank that drive them off their land. No issue is isolated, be it land occupations in Brazil, fighting 'workfare' in the UK, resisting oil companies in Nigeria or disrupting immigration controls in Germany.
The future
Everywhere people are realising that we cannot rely on politicians to change anything. We need to change things ourselves through direct action. Examples include the protests that halted the road building programme or the anti-poll tax movement that brought down Thatcher. Such a mass movement then needs to inspire people to take complete control of their lives and replace capitalism with a society based not on their profits, but on our needs and desires - a society where work is replaced by free creativity.
We could then transform the amazing knowledge and productive capacity of humanity to feed, clothe and house everyone on the planet in abundance. If we, rather than the bosses, controlled our skills and ingenuity, we could do all this in far less than eight hours a day and without environmental damage. A world of freedom and equality in harmony with the environment may seem a tall order. Making it happen will not be easy. Leaving things as they are will be far worse. If this kind of vision of the future is to happen, it cannot be left to politicians. Everyone must be involved: old and young, male and female, all races, all sexualities.
There will be a lot in the media about Mayday 2000. Little will be accurate, less will be true. If these ideas make any sense to you - or you think you could make them better, come to the event, decide for yourself. We can then learn from each other, from the past and for the future we hope to create.
What is Anti-Capitalism?
