Marxist. Trade Unionist. Socialist-feminist. Author. Poet. Speaker. Tutor. RMT ex-Exec. Workers' Liberty. Autie. Bi. PUFC fan.
Theoretical articles, notes and events from the perspective of working-class self-emancipation.
Janine speaks about neurodiversity, capitalism and socialism at the Autistic Pride event in Woolwich on 30 July 2022. Includes the poem Manifesto from Behind the Mask.
Rosa Luxemburg
As I'm sure you must have heard
Was jailed and murdered as she would not conform
And preferred revolution to reform
No-one’s saying leave it to the markets
No-one’s claiming competition’s key
That stockbrokers will lead us from the darkness
None are sneering now at stuff for free
No-one says that laissez-faire will sort it
No-one argues we’ll be saved by greed
None declare just those who can afford it
Should get the test or get the care they need
Since autistic activist Judy Singer coined the term ‘neurodiversity’ some twenty years ago, it has facilitated a great enlightenment and a progressive new approach to the experiences and rights of autistic and other neurologically atypical people.
Autistic, dyspraxic, dyslexic and other people with atypical brain wiring have particular experiences under capitalism. These experiences have positive and negative aspects, and for many people include distress and disadvantage. What are the roots and the causes of this experience? Can we develop the positives while removing the disadvantages? Can we resolve the negatives by tweaking the current system?
Listen to Janine speaking at Momentum's The World Transformed event at Labour Party conference on 24 September 2017.
Today, this website joins with websites Steve Bloom Poetry, Old and New Project, Links (Australia), International Viewpoint, Ecosocialist Horizons, Lalit (Mauritius)
FEBRUARY
On Thursday, the women cried Bread, Peace and Land
On Friday, the workers walked out, joined their stand
On Saturday, more marched, a whole city spanned
On Sunday, the Tsar made the Duma disband
By Monday, Provisional and Soviet command
MARCH
Farewell, Tsar
He went too far
Nasty Nick
Legged it quick
And now he's off -
Bye, Romanov
When the shepherd can't whistle
and the sheep will not herd
The alarm couldn't sound
and when nobody stirred
When the owner growls Sit!
and the dog won't stay
The conductor drops the baton
and the orchestra won't play
That's when the revolution comes
When the piper can't pipe
and the children won't follow
When the lenders can not lend
and the borrowers won't borrow