We are living in times of unprecedented attacks on our living conditions on all fronts, of rising social tension and sometimes violent eruptions of class conflict. And yet if anything, the surprise is not that there have been riots and the odd strike, but that there have been so few. How are we to make sense of this? How are we to fight back, to take the initiative? Against capitalism, what do we want to put in its place? The 20th century discredited state socialism, and rightly so. But with it, a whole history of international class struggle, of revolutions and counter-revolutions, victories and defeats, spontaneous uprisings and vast workers’ organisation has been eclipsed too. This pamphlet aims to recover some of that lost history, in order to set out a revolutionary strategy for the present conditions.

Solfed members are organising a new local group in and around Croydon.

We believe that by standing up collectively against the forces that try to oppress and exploit us; bosses, bankers, landlords and the state we can win better working and living conditions and begin the process of undermining capitalism.

We envision that a future society based on co-operation, equality and direct democracy can replace the inequality and poverty, war, frustration, suffering, and environmental destruction we live with now.

If you want to get involved, or are just getting interested in anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian ideas and want to learn more get in touch.

On Saturday Brighton Solidarity Federation were joined by Brighton Benefits Campaign on our first picket in the national campaign against Workfare profiteers Poundland. Over the course of two hours we handed out a thousand leaflets and struck up many conversations with the public at their North Street store. This follows the high court ruling that the DWP were within the law to force two unemployed workers out of voluntary work and into unpaid labour at the store.

North London Solidarity Federation would like to extend our fullest solidarity to the anarchists who were wrongfully detained while returning from the St. Imier anarchist conference in Switzerland. These actions, executed by British anti-terrorist officers, at best constitute unlawful police harassment. At worst, they are illegal actions designed to intimidate and repress.

North London Solidarity Federation reproduce a powerful statement by Ayanda Kota - a member of the militant South African shack dwellers organisation, Abahlali baseMjondolo, in protest at the murder of 45 striking miners by the South African police force and the role played by the ruling ANC party (once presided over by Nelson Mandela) in allegedly facilitating the police to carry out such acts of violence.

If you wish to express your anger at this, consider phoning the South African embassy in London at 0207-451-7299 and emailing them at london.general@dirco.gov.za .

Members of SolFed in the North East are forming a local based in Newcastle. We are widespread across the region and stretch as far as Teeside - so if you live in anywhere in the North East and want to get involved, please give us a shout!

SolFed members were among the thousands of people who gathered for this year's annual Pride event in Liverpool. Member's of the Liverpool local joined other anarchists and radical workers for the march through the city centre and, despite occasional downpours of heavy rain and a small group of miserable Christian counter-demonstrators, the atmosphere was upbeat and vibrant. We were also there to show solidarity with LGBT comrades facing state repression in Russia, particularly in Moscow where Pride has been banned for the next 100 years by the authorities.


View more of our photos from Pride here.

(Un)Qualified teachers wanted.
While the eyes of most people, both critical and uncritical, are drawn to the Olympics, secretary of state for Education, Michael Gove, has introduced possibly his most significant and destructive piece of reform.

Academies no longer need to employ qualified teachers to teach lessons. Gove heralds this as 'freedom' for academies to employ 'the best for the job'. So while trying to raise the profile of teaching, he's doing the exact opposite. But this is a smokescreen. This is nothing to do with profile, or improving education, or getting 'the best for the job'. It has everything to do with driving down pay and conditions.