The Free

Chilean Uprising Continues: “A Smell of Revolution in the Air”

by Internationalist 360° Dec 27, 2019 shared with thanks illustrations added .. 12 more posts from Chilean Revolution,

Carlos Aznarez
No one had predicted before that youthful irruption in the Chilean Metro, that this year was going to present us with the conflict scenario that we are now seeing. A scenario that demonstrates that after the agreed withdrawal of the Pinochet dictatorship from the government and the emergence of a pseudo-democracy overseen by the empire (called Concertación) the system smells of rot.

Arte de protesta en Chile - Floreceremos

That is precisely what the young people (13 to 25 years old) are shouting when they participate daily in the flaming barricades while confronting the criminal repression of the pacos, the militarized police force that acts as a machine to do as much damage as possible.

These courageous youths, whose adrenaline and political awareness are needed to go out into the streets unarmed to confront the machinery of hate promoted by President Piñera, are the ones who have set in motion the restoration of Chilean dignity, who have awakened society as a whole and who, in the process, have recalled that solidarity, comradeship and tenderness are a treasure that has not been lost.

#RenunciaPiñera
¡ Game Over ! pic.twitter.com/lxNlLw7Ovb
— Jota Campos (@Choroy_Traiguen) December 26, 2019

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Bolivian Chapare province evicts fascist Coup Regime: Now prepares for a bloody re-invasion

Bolivia December 24, 2019 Bolivia’s free territory of Chapare has ousted the coup regime and is bracing for a bloody re-invasion Share Tweet

Spending time with the union members of Chapare, who run society in a collective fashion, offers special insights into the resistance to the coup. They succeeded in expelling the police, but now fear a bloodbath in retaliation.

By Ollie Vargas

Cochabamba, Bolivia — Known as Bolivia’s Chapare region, the Tropico of Cochabamba is a sanctuary for elected President Evo Morales’ most dedicated base of support. Since the November 10 coup, it has effectively become a self-governing territory where the military junta is absent.

The police and military were sent in full retreat from this area the coup began and were told they would only be welcomed back if the they “get on their knees and apologize” to the community.

The struggle goes on here & I hope to stay for as long as possible. There is great local media that serves the community, but everyone here is keen for coverage in other languages. I encourage others to come here too, it'll become even more urgent to share these voices. pic.twitter.com/EcSTc8aUwA
— Ollie Vargas (@OllieVargas79) December 25, 2019

In this 12,000 square kilometer swath of land, hundreds of unions have flourished over the years. I spent several days with the union rank and file, witnessing how they run society in a collective fashion, and how they have organized ferocious resistance to a right-wing coup government that threatens to destroy them.

Despite the resilience on display here, there is also a sense of dread. Union leaders told me that if the state decides to militarize the region, as it has threatened, a bloodbath is practically inevitable. If the violent crackdown arrives, it could unravel a social structure they have been steadily constructing for decades.

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Electricity strikers in France light up poor homes this Christmas.. Cut power and gas to bosses and police

Kaosenlared.net translation by The Free original en español abajo by Salvador Soler shared with thanks.

There is no “Christmas truce” for the workers of the Electricity Company of France (EDF) who are on strike. Workers are reconnecting service to poor families and lowering the price of tariffs to popular sectors,

while cutting off power to police stations, management and large companies.

Since the beginning of the strike on December 5, electricians and energy workers maintain power outages against Macron’s pension reform. A fighting method that exposes the strength of the workers and the strategic place they occupy, with the possibility of paralyzing government buildings and large companies with power outages.

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While the strike has had a greater impact among workers of the SNCF (railway), RATP (metropolitan transport company of Paris), National Education or even health, energy workers are not far behind.

#greve26decembre Solidarité

CGT, FO , CNT et #GiletsJaunes devant la gare de Cherbourg:
vente de légumes et de miel à prix libre pour aider financièrement les cheminots en grève.
Productions données par un agriculteur bio solidaire de la grève https://t.co/ynGXaXE270 pic.twitter.com/gFxGCYWL0i
— CGT TUIFRANCE (@CgtTuifrance) December 26, 2019

Among them are electricians and gas workers. Of the main companies in the sector there are 41.4% of striking workers in EDF (Electricity Company of France), 39% in Engie and more than 60% in Enedis. From Tuesday, December 10, the strikers voted in assemblies to generate localized power cuts. Michaële Guégan, director of human resources at Enedis, the most important electricity distribution network, notes that there have been selective cuts “in certain public buildings, a commercial area in Bordeaux, a university in Lyon and even a hospital center.”

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Workers announced that tens of thousands of poor households are being reconnected to have electricity and gas during the holidays. Thanks to the actions of the Electricity of France (EDF) workers, the poorest families will enjoy an illuminated dinner. This will reduce the power supply of the richest areas of cities, shopping centers, police stations and prefecture to leave them in total darkness.

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