Hey everyone! We're continuing our weekly podcast "Trends of chaos and order." This is episode 186. It's prepared by the Irkutsk Anarchist Movement. These are the events from last week that the authors found interesting. The podcast was released in Russian on December 2 and was translated by our volunteers.
Listen on SoundCloud (in Russian)
Heating season
Siberian and Transbaikal winter is very harsh. Any problem with heating can become a critical issue for many.
Novosibirsk, for example, didn't get the preparation passport for the heating season this time. And the township of Linyovo has been having big problems with heating and hot water already for a long time.
Let's also remember how, in the Russian Federation, they're beginning to introduce "diffrates" (*abbreviation of variable rates – transl) everywhere, which means that electrical heating will become very expensive. We can spend a lot of time pondering why this new rate has now become needed at all.
Another interesting story is unfolding in Irkutsk Oblast (federal state of Irkutsk), where electricity used to be cheap thanks to the regional governor's disloyalty in the 90s. And the current governor said a couple of years ago that "we were not the ones who installed it, so it's not up to us to increase it." It looks like something's changed though.
Regardless of that, people still believe that the authorities will help them.
Demo against deforestation in the Akademgorodok [Academic town] in Irkutsk
We've talked about this before. In short, they want to cut down trees in Irkutsk's academic town (*Akademgorodok, the educational and scientific centre of Siberia – transl.*) to build dorms for "young and talented students."
This demonstration against deforestation has a permit, something that rarely happens. The rally calls local residents, and there are plans to record an appeal to the governor and to Putin (*the rally was planned for December 1, before the time of publication – ed.*).
Of course, these kinds of addresses can help illuminate the problem. Naturally, Putin doesn't know about any construction in Irkutsk, and the governor has most likely given the go-ahead personally.
We're used to relying on someone else — on "big brother" or some other big figure. This manifests itself not only among depoliticised or "cotton" people but also, often, among anarchists. Aren't we also turning to some great power when demanding something?
Think about this next time you feel like laughing at people who, to solve a social issue, turn to petitioning the authorities. Think about what exactly it is that makes you any different from them. Is it in the tone that you'd use in your relation to authorities? Then think about how we can become the power that the authorities will need to be asking something from.
Protests in Georgia
Georgian society is now close to becoming the power the authorities will have to ask for something from.
The Georgian government decided not to pursue joining the European Union. Last week, protests broke out in the capital. The reason for the government declining to join the EU might be the European Parliament's resolution to not recognise the latest Georgian election.
The protestors were joined by the most diverse groups. Firefighters refused to supply water (*used by the cops against protesters – transl.*), and the president of Georgia joined the protest.
During the action, the protestors collided with the police. Protestors used fireworks and DIY means of fighting with the cops, while the police used tear gas, water cannons and pepper sprays. At the time of recording (*daytime, December 1 – ed.*) more than 200 people had been detained.
This is an example of self-organisation that we need to adopt here. Wishing victory to all of the Georgian society.
Escalation in Syria
At the same time, Asad's Syrian regime is under attack. The Islamic opposition from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other Turkish proxies occupied Aleppo and, it seems, attempted a military coup in Damascus.
Asad's army is fleeing, leaving gear and weapons behind that the militants are seizing. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken over part of Aleppo and its surroundings.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is, in fact, a more well-prepared ISIL. And if they can take over the main cities, it will mean that pro-Turkey Islamic fundamentalism is taking over.
We'll continue to observe how events will continue to unfold. But for now, it's nothing good.
The year of the "ban on LGTB propaganda"
Fundamentalism and conservatism — that's not only a Muslim country's story. In Russia, it's now been a year since the law "banning LGBT propaganda" was passed. This law has de facto made it illegal to mention LGBT in any positive way. And the [*November 2024 – transl.*] law "banning child-free propaganda" [*covering everything that supposedly shows a child-free lifestyle in a positive light – transl.*] can't be seen as separate from the "ban on LGBT propaganda."
Today, it's hard to say that the main oppressed is "the proletariat," and that it is specifically their interests that we need to fight for. The amount of oppressed groups is much greater, and a struggle that does not include the interests of these groups will always be reactionary and conservative.
In memory of an anarchist
Last week, anarchist Nastya Babyrova, who was murdered by the fascists, would have turned 41. "Novaya Gazeta" published a selection of her poems, letters and diary entries.
"If you want to shine,
You have to be ablaze, and that means,
to burn.
Rising, like a star,
and dying, like a star.
So lift me up,
and I'll gift you four wings:
two for you
and two for the one
who died a long time ago."
[*original – transl.*]
"Если ты хочешь светить,
Ты должен гореть, а значит, должен
сгорать,
Подобно звезде восходить,
Чтобы подобно звезде умирать.
Так подними меня вверх,
И я подарю тебе четыре крыла.
Два для тебя
И два для той, что давно умерла."
А. Baburova
That's it for today! We're reminding you that in "Trends of chaos and order" participants of Autonomous Action and other authors are giving anarchist evaluations of current events. You can listen to us on Youtube, SoundCloud and other platforms, check out our site on avtonom.org, and subscribe to our social media and newsletter.
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