Morning Comrades!
It’s going to be a busy week at this end in regards to the day jobs so let’s get right to it.
The new Weekly Jams, Number 144 - that is almost 3 years of weekly jams that we have shared - is out now for your enjoyment, escapism, sharing and venturing down k-holes with.
Another 3 hours of tunes that made my week with heaps of new songs from the likes of the Black Angels, Goldie and Tinariwen, some absolute classics to heaps of finds from the crate digging department, and then some. Enjoy!
Secondly, I found a few hours last week and dug out my old scanner to get cracking on some new merch artwork for Black Lodges - the original Molotow Illustration is from my friends ATTAK in the Netherlands that I updated a little and yeah, this, alongside some collabs that are in the pipeline will see the light of day soon. There is heaps of logistical nightmares in the merch world these days, especially here in Europe, with every festival happening at once here, merch being ordered in volumes unseen in 3 years and no one being ready for it. I am kind of basing whatever drops on what my printers tell me, but rest assured, like everything else at this stage of the pandemic, it’s anything but good. We’ll see.
Mobility, Political Will and the 9€ Ticket
It is rare that I get into realities here in Germany but seeing that something pretty special has happened 12 days ago I wanted to share this with you as an example of what is possible if wanted.
A disclaimer before I get into it: In no shape or form do I think the government here has, ever or will do their job with the working class in mind - including this measure. They are all terribly corrupt, both ethically and morally and a danger to our well-being. Just so we are clear on that one.
Starting June 1st, all and that means truly all, public transport in Germany excluding our bullet trains will cost a grand total of 9 Euros per month, with that program running till the end of August. You buy one ticket for said price and can use every train, buss, tram, ferry etc etc for as many times as you want. It’s pretty mind blowing and yes, obviously I have bought this, even if I were just to use it for public transport here in Hamburg, I will easily save a 100€, if not more- any yes, we’re all going mad over it here.
Of course, there have been some pretty serious fuck ups running up to the launch of it but essentially, it works and is a widely accepted. There has been some pretty hilarious/evil/ telling backlash from the reactionary conservative media, of course - who in their right mind wants a mobile working class - but all in all, it has been a huge hit across the country. There is heaps of reasoning why our government has done so, none truly play a role but the most important points about this are:
If offered, most, and I mean most people will choose public transport over cars (irrespective of petrol prices, and yes, they are high as fuck here too) as cars are an outdated idea kept alive by some of the worlds most corrupt and damaging industries in the world. Secondly, it is clearly, financially, possible to do so if the political will is there, and I’d go a step further, and say, why not make it all free at all times for everyone- again, it is clearly possible to do so. Offering free mobility to everyone, that is a lot more carbon-emission friendly than any ( even electric car - and don’t get me started on that nonsense ) car is not only a smart move, politically, but it’s a sound moral decision. If you look it from a capitalists POV it makes total sense, more movement, more consumption which is ultimately what those bastards want - but again, fuck them and what they want.
What I will say is this: Free public transport for everyone, invest the communities resources into expanding the infrastructure, people’s care and actually employing modern day mobility concepts for both cities and the countryside that are not based around car companies. It is clearly possible, even within the constrictions of the late-stage capitalism.
Aim high comrades, everything is possible, it is just a question of (political) will.
Following are a few stories that I picked up over the weekend that I found interesting and worthy to share with you. I’ll present these with little to no commentary today but each one of them is definitely worth your time.
The People’s Summit for Democracy, which took place last week in Los Angeles, is not just an alternative to Joe Biden’s Summit of the Americas which has been marked by exclusion and boycotts. Instead, it presents a radical vision for the region built on solidarity, struggles and a resistance to capitalism, imperialism and racism.
Super interesting, easy to understand break down of what it would be mean to “seize the means of production”, below. Seriously well done.
Thanks as always for your time, support and attention. See you here on Wednesday, in our Telegram Channel and whatever social media crap still works. Yours, without compromise,
V.