At long last—we've released a new episode of the Ex-Worker podcast!

https://cwc.im/exworker80

In January 2022, opponents of vaccine mandates established protest encampments in Ottawa and elsewhere around Canada, blockading several routes crossing the United States border. Far-right organizers and former police officers have prominent positions in this movement, and police took a relatively hands-off approach at first; eventually, Canada's federal government stepped in, taking advantage of the opportunity to set precedents that will be used against liberation struggles as well.

The model tested in Canada will likely appear elsewhere around the world shortly.

In this episode, we present an audio version of the article "Ill Winds From Ottawa," in which our correspondent in Montréal explores the sequence of events that led up to the protests, reviews the agendas of the various forces involved, and reflects on what we can do when the far right gains the initiative.

Against Annexations and Imperial Aggression—
A Statement from Russian Anarchists against Russian Aggression in #Ukraine

https://cwc.im/RussianAnnexation…

An English translation of the statement by http://avtonom.org, a media project that grew out of the regional Russian anarchist network Autonomous Action.
🏴

"We do not want to stand up for any states. We are anarchists and we are against any borders between nations. But we are against this annexation, because it only establishes new borders, and the decision on this is made solely by the authoritarian leader—Vladimir Putin."

"Even if this conflict does not escalate into a world war, Putin’s imperial fantasies are not worth a single life."

"We urge you to counter the Kremlin’s aggression by any means you see fit. Against the seizure of territories under any pretext, against sending the Russian army to the Donbass, against militarization. And ultimately, against the war."

We're receiving reports from one of our colleagues, a refugee from Luhansk whose family remains there, that in the "LPR" and "DPR," all men ages 18 to 55 are now subject to compulsory military connoscription and prohibited from leaving the occupied territories.

Eyewitness reports describe soldiers kidnapping people. Employees of military enlistment offices are rounding men up in neighborhoods, in shops, and on the streets. Many male residents are hiding in their homes.

Cadets aged 16-18 in the military schools are also facing forcible connoscription.

In 2014, people in Donbas were shamed and harassed for fleeing or not wishing to fight for the new republic, but they were never forcibly connoscripted. It was always a choice, though unemployment and other factors drove many people to enlist.

This is a new development.

The people held hostage in the occupied Donbas territories have little hope of escape. Many fear that they will be sacrificed as pawns to justify Russia’s further involvement in the conflict.

Not everyone has the luxury of choosing their side in this fight or the extent of their involvement. We must not let the imperial ambitions of rulers turn us against each other.

***

The photograph attached above is taken from the following article, but we have independently corroborated that this is taking place:

https://zaborona.com/ru/v-ldnr-strelyayut-po-svoim-i-obyavili-massovuyu-mobilizacziyu-zabirayut-dazhe-nesovershennoletnih%ef%bf%bc/

For more background on Ukraine, Russia, and NATO:

https://cwc.im/Ukraine2022
https://cwc.im/UkraineWar
https://cwc.im/RussianAnnexation

To understand the Russian invasion of Ukraine, from locals on both sides who oppose both governments:

A history of the conflict from 2014 to today:
https://cwc.im/UkraineWar

More background:
https://cwc.im/Ukraine2022

Russian anarchists oppose the invasion:
https://cwc.im/RussianAnnexation

Putin claims that Russia is invading Ukraine to enact "demilitarization," to "protect civilians." This is a lie: the opposite is true.

If you stand with Russia in the name of "anti-imperialism"—you are supporting an imperialist war. The blood of countless people will be on your hands.

Our hearts go out to everyone who will suffer in this senseless, needless escalation of global conflict.

In this photograph, a Russian anarchist stands in Moscow, holding a sign reading "No troops to Donbas." The demonstrator was arrested afterwards.

В интервью, "Анархистская Борьба" описывает вызовы и сложности в деятельности анархистской военизированной группы во время сопротивления вторжению Турции в Рожаву в 2019.

#Россия вторглась в #Украину - и сейчас эта статья является ценным материалом.🏴

https://crimethinc.com/2020/10/11/god-spustia-poslie-turietskogho-vtorzhieniia-v-rozhavu-intierviu-s-anarkhistskoi-borboi-o-uchastii-anarkhistov-i-anarkhistok-v-rievoliutsionnom-ekspierimientie-sieviero-vostochnoi-sirii

This is a difficult time to be anti-war and anti-authoritarian in Russia. People were arrested yesterday for opposing the invasion of Ukraine.

Please support the longtime prisoner support group ABC Moscow so they can stand up for Russian protesters who are arrested.

They can receive financial donations here:

https://wiki.avtonom.org/en/index.php/Donate

Here are some telegram channels you can follow for news of the developments in Ukraine:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/nexta_live (not anarchists)

https://news.1rj.ru/str/rebel_queers (Ukrainian anti-authoritarians)

https://news.1rj.ru/str/uantifa (Ukrainian anti-authoritarians)

https://news.1rj.ru/str/ressentiment_channel

Against Russian imperialist aggression: A call from Ukrainian anarchists

Our comrades in #Ukraine are requesting people to demonstrate tonight at 7 pm in front of Russian embassies (or other suitable locations) worldwide.

If Russians can do it—defying Putin and his police—you can do it too.

Please circulate widely!

The Russian embassies and consulates in the US are in NYC, DC, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.

In Canada, they are in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

As the Russian military bombards Ukrainian cities, and the Ukrainian government prepares to respond, the latest episode of the “Revolutions” podcast has just been released. This episode covers the history and theories of the Anarchist Black Army, anarchists and revolutionary peasants who fought in the Ukrainian front of the Russian Revolution.

Direct Link: https://revolutionspodcast.libsyn.com/1087-anarchy-in-ukraine

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revolutions/id703889772?i=1000551821622

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/05lvdf9T77KE6y4gyMGEsD

A hasty translation of a statement from Food Not Bombs Moscow, which just appeared on their Telegram channel:

We will never take the side of this or that state, our flag is black, we are against borders and freeloader presidents. We are against wars and killings of civilians.

Palaces, yachts, and prison sentences and torture for dissenting Russians are not enough for Putin's imperial gang, they should be given war and the seizure of new territories. And so, "defenders of the fatherland" invade Ukraine, bombing residential areas. Huge sums are being invested in murder weapons while the people are impoverished more and more.

There are those who have nothing to eat and nowhere to live, not because there are not enough resources for everyone, but because they are distributed unfairly: someone has a lot of palaces, while others did not even get a hut.

In order to keep and increase the benefits in their hands, the government declares wars. Who will collect their intestines with their hands, who will have their arms and legs torn off by explosions, whose families will bury their children? Of course, all this does not apply to the ruling minority.

We must resist the militaristic regime and the war it is waging with all our might. Spread information among your comrades, fight as best you can. No war but the class war. Solidarity instead of bombs.

In this report, we cover the first day of grassroots resistance to Putin's invasion of #Ukraine in both #Russia and Ukraine and in other parts of the world—including information about how people can support anarchists in both countries, as well as Ukrainians who have been forced to flee.

https://cwc.im/UkraineFebruary24