#We Were Many - A Philosophy Football Review of 2017

Enjoy!

The West Ham 3 Johns at work - Punk John, Chic John and ? John

Busy Saturday. First, was Councillor Surgery at Brasset Point Tenants & Residents Room (had a tricky planning "Stop Notice" issue); then memorial tribute to PC Nina MacKay followed by ward "walkabout" in Dirleton Road E15 with concerned residents (and they have every right to be concerned about issues we came across).

In the afternoon I went to help out at West Ham Labour Party HQ in High Street, Stratford. Following a roof repair and leaking water tank problem we have an enormous amount of wood, chipboard, trunking, broken furniture and other debris to clear up and prepare for removal tomorrow.

My comrades John Whitworth and John Saunders (left and right) were recently described by "The Guardian" fashion page as "Punk Corbynistas" and "Chic Corbynistas". I wonder what they would have made of me and my Philosophy Football "The cuts won't work" tee shirt? It was hard work but fun smashing up planks of wood so they will fit into the van.

In the right of picture you can see the 100 boxes of "Sadiq Khan for Mayor of London leaflets" for West Ham CLP. We picked up the leaflets for West Ham and Custom House wards. If you can help deliver these leaflets in your local ward then contact your branch secretary.

Hat tip photo Rokhsana.

Bevan's Dreamers to Builders: 5 July 1945 Anniversary Tee-shirt by Philosophy Football

It has been a gap since last advert but another great tee-shirt from Philosophy Football. This time to honour the socialist wordsmith, Aneurin Bevan and the Labour Government of 1945. This is what democratic principled political power can deliver.

"We have been the dreamers. We have been the sufferers. And now we are the builders." Aneurin Bevan, 1945

LAUNCH OFFER £5 OFF JUST £17.99. Usual price £22.99 thereafter.

70 years ago, 5 July 1945 Labour achieved arguably its greatest election landslide ever. In a momentous upset the people while lauding Churchill for his war-premiership turned to Attlee to win the peace. Bevan's three line philosophy summed up what was about to be achieved. The welfare state established, an NHS created, a massive public housing programme, comprehensive education, the railways and other public utilities nationalised. A post-war settlement that lasted until 1979, whatever happened to that politics of hope?

Order the tee-shirt online at http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=1235 

Without Mercy...75th anniversary of Guernica

This is the 75th anniversary of Guernica.

"26 April 1937. The Nazi Luftwaffe backed Franco's fascists with the first ever carpet bombing of an undefended civilian target, Guernica.

This atrocity horrified the world and helped to shift public opinion behind the Spanish Republican cause, though shamefully not that of the British Government, which stuck steadfastly to its 'non-intervention' line.

George Steer's eyewitness acount in The Times described what he saw as 'without mercy, with system', words that remain tragically pertinent to the bloody legacy of carpet bombing in conflicts ever since.

Philosophy Football's anniversary T-shirt, reflecting Picasso's famous painting, bears witness to Guernica and is available from here".

International Brigade 75th Anniversary

"For the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the International Brigades the International Brigade Memorial Trust presented a Gala Evening, supported by Unite the Union and organised by Philosophy Football.

Featuring contributions by writer and broadcaster Robert Elms, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, cultural historian Andy Croft, poet Jackie Kay, a special performance of his one-man play 'Call Mr Robeson' by Tayo Aluko, a song commissioned for the anniversary written and performed by Grace Petrie, plus many others.

Philosophy Football commissioned Sanum Ghafoor (aka 'Strange Sanum') to make a film of the evening and explore the legacy of the International Brigades 75 years on.

Spanish Civil War T-shirts available from www.philosophyfootball.com"

Cable Street 75th Anniversary T-Shirt

Another great t-shirt offer from www.philosophyfootball.com who are helping to organise the anniversary celebration.

"Seventy-five years ago, 4 October 1936. The people of the East End united to stop Sir Oswald Mosley's blackshirted British Union of Fascists from marching through their community. An estimated 100,000 gathered to prevent this parade of anti-semitic hate behind the slogan 'They shall not pass'.

After hours of confrontation, sometimes violent, centred on Cable Street Mosley was forced to
abandon his march. They did not pass!

Philosophy Football's design is based on the original 1936 street sign for Cable Street. Available from www.philosophyfootball.com".  Check out events here.  Cable Street veteran Max Levitas  will also be attending.

"From the British People. To Victory! We are With You!"

"From the British People. To Victory! We are With You!" Sleeveprint: Second Front
against Nazism 1941-2011 1941 To Victory!

£5 OFF FOR FIRST 48 HOURS! Just £16.99, usual price £21.99 Based on an original wartime design by the English artist Reginald Mount. This poster was attached to aircraft sent from Britain to aid the Soviet war effort. In 1941 this included RAF No 151 Wing Hurricanes and their aircrew joining the Red Army in their fight against the Nazi invaders. Available in sizes small (36inch chest/90cms), medium (40inch/100cms), large (44inch/110cms), x-large (48inch/120cms) and xx-large (52inch/130cms).

This is another greatpolitical and historical teeshirt offer from philosphyfootball. Related products1941 Arctic Convoy T-shirt 1941 Life and Fate T-shirt 1941 Leningrad T-shirt

March for the Alternative Big Night Out

"After the 26.03.2011 TUC March for the Alternative Philosophy Football organised a 'Big Night Out in association with the TUC. Featuring the spoken word electronica of Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, comic Josie Long, juggler Rod Laver and soulful acoustic from Maddy Carty. Plus contributions from trade unionist, campaigners, journalists and marchers on what the protest mean to them.

'Does my Society Look Big In This' T-shirt available from www.philosophyfootball.com"

TUC March for the Alternative 26.03.2011

Another great video - this time of the TUC March last Saturday.  It tells the story of one group of campaigners, from Northampton, and their journey to join the big 26 March.  It follows them and interviews other protesters then ends up at the TUC celebration Party that took place later that night.

The video was funded by  http://www.philosophyfootball.com/.

Does my society look big in this? Philosophy Football

Hat tip Philosophy Football "SPECIAL CAMPAIGN LOW PRICE. JUST £12.99!

Mr Cameron and his, very, junior partner Nick Clegg would have us believe that our society can do just fine with fewer nurses and teachers, cuts to the emergency services and tripled university tuition fees. Closing down schools, hospitals, childrens' centres and services for the elderly adds up to a smaller, worse society, neither big or better.

All in the cause of deficit reduction? How about taxing the bankers' bonuses and closing down corporate tax evasion.

Wear Philosophy Football's 'Does my Society Look Big in This' T-shirt on the 26 March TUC March for the Alternative, the brilliant direct action of UKUncut or wherever and whenever the protest takes you. Available in sizes S-XXL, plus women's skinny fitted. From http://www.philosophyfootball.com/

"After the Big March we're having a Party"

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Flyer from Philosophy Football "Saturday 26 March is the day of the enormous TUC March for an Alternative. At the end of a day's marching Philosophy Football is organising,  in association with the TUC, a big night out. Headlined by the superb electro hip-hop beats of Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, with the brilliant comedy of Josie Long, the show is opened by the surreal juggling of Rod Laver. And after the acts have finished the Melstars: Music soundsystem provide an upbeat set to fill the dancefloor. 

Its a fantastic bill. The night starts with a specially commissioned film of the day's march introduced by TUC Deputy-General Secretary Frances O'Grady. And reviewing the politics of protest a panel of speakers featuring Guardian columnist Zoe Williams, London Citizens organiser and academic Maurice Glasman, student activist Jessica Riches and Unison National Secretary for Local Government Heather Wakefield.

The show starts at 7pm , its the perfect way to complete the day. At the excellent theatre-pub The New Red Lion 271 City Road, London EC1, nearest tube The Angel handy to get to from the end of the demo.

STOP PRESS! Only standing room tickets now remaining.  Available from > http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=638

Or you can phone to book on 020 8802 3499. Do book early, we don;t expect to have any tickets on the night".

The Centenary of Robert Tressell: Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

 "100 years ago today Robert Tressell, author of the inspirational Ragged Trousered Philanthropists died. Poshtumously published, his book was described by Robert on the title page as " Twelve months in hell, told by one of the damned." A tale of agitation and organisation, battling against the tide of apathy, confronting the small-time capitalists who seek to keep their employees in line.

The main character of the book, Frank Owen, seeks over and over again to win his fellow workers to the socialist cause, most famously with the 'money trick', perhaps the best, certainly the most entertaining, explanation of Marx's theory of surplus value!  Owen doesn't always win the argument but he never gives up believing in "the Golden Light that will be diffused throughout all the happy world from the rays of the risen sun of Socialism."

To mark the centenary Philosophy Football have produced a special Ragged Trousered Philanthropists T-shirt and mug depicting the workers, the agitator and the capitalist. Available from www.philosophyfootball.com

Check out this event in Hastings on Saturday.

You cannot underestimate the influence of Ragged Trousered Philanthropists on British socialism. 

Obtain, read and enjoy (and the teeshirt and the mug as well).

Hopemas Party 2010

PHILOSOPHY FOOTBALL HOPEMAS PARTY : FRIDAY 17 DEC
"Philosophy Football's Christmas party on Friday 17 December. Just a few handfuls of tickets left, just £8.99 and each ticket is a £5 OFF voucher on shirts on the night so combine the evening with your Christmas shopping!

Our Hopemas Christmas party celebrates Hope not Hate victorious campaign against the BNP in Barking and generously supported by the PCS trade union. Its a superb line-up! Featuring the superb poetry of Lemn Sissay . Performing a special version of her hit Edinburgh show 'Afroblighty' (on nationwide tour in 2011) the supremely talented comic Andi Osho. Rap mixed with comedy from Doc Brown opens the night.. And filling the dancefloor into the early hours, music from the Melstars sound system.

With contributions from Zaiba Malik author of the August R4 book of the week We are a Muslim,Please, Nick Lowles, editor of Searchlight magazine, Owen Hatherley author of the recently published book A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain, PCS National Executive Member Zita Holbourne, and Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty.

At our usual party venue 'Offside' 271 City Road London EC1V 1LA in Islington, completely refurbished and renamed the 'New Red Lion'.

Book either at Philosophy Football or call 020 8802 3499". 

Hat tip Mark.

Filler for Red Stockings

  "Looking for the perfect gift for the ideologue in your life? Fed up with counting off how many shopping days there are to Christmas while the Con-Dems slash and burn all that you once held dear?

Convinced that the season of peace and goodwill is a tool to instil false consciousness but at the same have a spot under the tree to fill or you're toast?

Don't worry  Philosophy Football have the solution with the kind of present unlikely to be found in most gift guides. Never mind those trendy 'head gardener' or ' yummy mummy' mugs, this one wears its politics on its sleeve, well bone china actually. For those of us who believe no team can ever be too leftsided.

Available from http://www.philosophyfootball.com/

CUTS WON'T WORK T-SHIRT JUST £9.99

Get your "The Cuts Won't Work" tee shirts here.

From the site "The cuts won't work, they'll just make things worse."

"...This sums up precisely the case against the rolling back of the state which is now being executed in an ideological crusade on a Thatcherite scale.

The website http://www.thecutswontwork.co.uk/ carries a brilliantly brief argument against the cuts and Philosophy Football are proud to produce this non-profit campaign T-shirt in support at the special low price of just £9.99. Available in sizes small-XXL , plus skinny-rib fit, from http://www.philosophyfootball.com/"