Today I was bored and researching the boring, yet vital, world of financing yourself through your degree when I happened upon Barclays’ web chat service which allows you to speak to one of their advisers via a pop-up messenger style application. Why not take this opportunity to question Barclays on what their financial practices?

Below is the transcript of this conversation. I got some things wrong I’m sure and I can’t say how productive of an ‘activist’ activity this was, nor whether it was actually the right thing to do (Should I have wasted this adviser’s time?). Decide for yourself below.

(P.S. I adopted the name Ursula Cut as I wanted it to sound like Uncut. I later thought Una Cut would have been better.)

Never give out your password or credit card number in an instant message conversation. Please wait while we find an agent to assist you…
You have been connected to Jason AM.
Jason AM: Thank you for using Barclays Webchat Service. My name is Jason, may I take your name?
Customer: Ursula Cut
Jason AM: Hi, how are you doing Ursula?
Ursula Cut: I’m fine thnks
Ursula Cut: I’d like to ask a few questions
Jason AM: Yes, please go ahead with the questions.
Ursula Cut: I’ve heard rumours that Bob Diamond walked aay with a pay packet of £11.3 million when he became boss. That’s 1000 times more than the average cashier! Is Barclays the kind of company I want to bank with!?
Jason AM: Ursula, we’ve been in banking industry for over 300 years now. And banking with Barclays mean, peace of mind and reliable banking indeed.
Jason AM: I guess, you’re looking at switching your accounts over to us.
Jason AM: Aren’t you?
Ursula Cut: Yes, it’s a possibility.
Jason AM: Great! Would you like me to discuss the options on offer?
Ursula Cut: What share of the £2.3 billion bonus did you get last year? I think the answer would influence whether I choose to bank with you!
Jason AM: I’m not a share holder, instead am a salaried employee. A Barclays Webchat Advisor.
Ursula Cut: So your company doesn’t pay you a bonus, whilst Mr Diamond walks away with millions. This is after he (and the company of course – but not you individualy (you’re nice)) helped create the global finanical crisis of 2007.
Ursula Cut: Barclays are still involved in speculating on world food prices – a contributor to the Arab spring revolutions. If you guys stop this, I could consider banking with you!
Jason AM: Ursula, I wish the major decisions were in my hands. And honestly, you’re much knowledgeable than I am. Because, even I didn’t know all that. So, I cannot comment on anything because, I have no knowledge and could barely understand what you’re talking about.
Jason AM: Ursula, it’s advisable for you to visit a Barclays branch and have a word with a personal banker.
Jason AM: He/she will be able to assist you accordingly.
Jason AM: Please carry two forms of your ID to confirm who you are and where you live when you visit the branch.
Ursula Cut: Thank you. Despite your limited knowledge, you have been very helpful. It may be of benefit to you to look up the financial details of the company you work with. You may decide to think twice about who you work with. But of course a pay check is a pay check and I can’t blame you for living. (Perhaps if you were likeJohn Lewis and all employees were stakeholders you would have more say and make Barclays an ethical company!) Thank you!
Ursula Cut: By the way, I don’t think I can bank with Barlcays with a clear conscience at the moment.
Ursula Cut: I may reconsider when the company pays UK tax on it’s billions in profits. And stops speculating on global food prices which is simillar to the American housing crisis speculation.
Ursula Cut: Please share with your colleagues!
Ursula Cut: Workers and Students! Unite and Strike!
Jason AM: Ursula, I could see your frustration on such things. But, Barclays have prove themselves best in the market, we offer best and competitive products (in banking) and you may like to discuss about global food prices with a manager. They will be able to give you a better explanation how these things work and may OR may not affect market.
Jason AM: If you wish to make a complaint, please follow the attached link.
The agent is sending you to http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?task=articlegroup&site=pfs&value=3657&menu=3134.
Jason AM: And yes, will share your thoughts with colleagues around.
Ursula Cut: Thank you very much Jason!
Ursula Cut: Wish we could debate further on the issue of financial speculations and the evils of capitalism!
Jason AM: It’s been lovely chatting to you (an extra ordinary and brilliant person), Ursula.
Ursula Cut: But alas if you could pass me on to a manager that would be great!
Ursula Cut: And the same to you Jason!
Jason AM: Ursula, you can leave your comments on the feedback e-mail page (the page is tagged on the link given above).
Ursula Cut: Okay!
Ursula Cut: Thank you and goodbye!
Jason AM: People around me are just salaried employees, just like myself. But, if you wish to book an appointment with a manager at a Barclays branch, you can contact our Customer Services Team.
Jason AM: Would you like me to forward you their number?
Ursula Cut: No thank you. But I do sympathise with salaried employees!
Ursula Cut: I’m sure many of you strugle while there are people at the top screwing us al lover!
Jason AM: Ursula, I understand. But, honestly, have enjoyed working with Barclays as of now. And work place is quite employee friendly and yes, good.
Jason AM: It’s been three and a half years, I’ve been working for Barclays. So, overall experience was good working with Barclays.
Ursula Cut: Ahh, it is all part of their money making schemes. I’m sure you as employees are treated moderately kindly. But as a worker who is part of the global movement, they are putting in place mechanisms which effect us profoundly on class boundries whilst the UK government protect Mr Diamond’s interests.
Jason AM: That’s called an ideal business strategy, isn’t it? Most people involved in business would treat their employees and customers fairly kindly to retain their clients and loyalty of their employees.
Jason AM: Indeed, I don’t have much idea about global movements and all that. But, when we research in depth, we may find it helpful in market improvements in some or the other way.
Jason AM: That’s one of the possibilities.
Ursula Cut: Indeed. Whilst putting in place an economy which is prone to the failures we have recetly seen.
Ursula Cut: We face austerity because of the practices of business’ such as Barclays
Ursula Cut: I can’t see a benefit to being one of the largest investors in the arms industry.
Ursula Cut: I think even as employee of Barclays you would think that funding weapons that are used for internal agression and opression of states such as Palestine is not a good thing.
Jason AM: Yes, I understand. But, like I said above, I don’t have much knowledge about that. So, won’t be able to comment anything on that.
Ursula Cut: I understand.
Ursula Cut: I wouldnt want you to jeapordise your positino either.
Jason AM: Thanks.
Jason AM: Ursula, like I said above, you may reconsider Barclays as a bank to bank with. We’ve been in banking industry for over 300 years now, offer best deals in market and are well-known for their best level of customer service.
Jason AM: Are there any other questions for me?
Ursula Cut: No thank you. This has been iluminating. I have learnt a lot about Barclays business practice!
Ursula Cut: Good bye.
Jason AM: It’s been great chatting to you and wish you well, Ursula.
Jason AM: Thank you for using Barclays Webchat Service. You’ve a lovely evening!
Jason AM: Take care. Bye.

UKUncut: A different type of action

April 5, 2011

Activism

2 Comments

Come along to a UKUncut action and you would assume that you’ll spend most of your time trying to get into the space of tax avoiding businesses that are more than aware you are on your way and have probably hired a number of security personnel for the day or decided shutting would be much easier. Sometimes you will get in, other times you’ll have to enact Plan B and occupy the pavement outside (no doubt they will still shut).

Today’s Tower Hamlets Uncut action certainly didn’t follow this usual model however. Starting at Canary Wharf we did a tour of Canada Square’s biggest contributors to the global economic crisis and some of the biggest tax avoiders. We had talks outside Lehman Brothers’ old headquarters, expressed our solidarity with USUncut outside the Bank of America who paid $0 in tax last year and visited our old friends Barclays who are not only tax avoiders, but also investors in the arms industry.

There was chanting, singing, accounts about where money is being taken away from Tower Hamlets – but strangely for a UKUncut protest, no occupation. We joked that all the revolving doors were locked before we got to each of our targets, but even when one company hadn’t locked a door fast enough, we didn’t really care to enter. In fact, we had to interrupt one the speeches to chant “Let him in” when someone was being forced to wait until we moved on before being allowed to attend the meeting they were already late for.

With the on going case against 138 occupiers of tax avoiders and luxury grocers Fortnum and Mason, perhaps this non-intrusive form of UKUncut action will become a much more popular style of demonstrating against tax avoiders. It is informative, funny and dowsn’t have the same ‘piss-off’ appeal as occupying can do. As Tim Hardy points out, the police are being given the go ahead to deal with UKUncut protests as they see fit and we must assume this could include further arrests under the aggravated trespass laws. Whilst there were lots of Police and Canary Wharf security following our action today, it was obvious that they were at a bit of a loose end when they realised the most provocative we would get would be singing a round of Build a bonfire.

Our charismatic tour guide, Liam, a Tower Hamlets school teacher, had also changed the lyrics to a couple of well known songs to celebrate the advent of the financial new year. Our tour ended with us forming a large circle and linking arms in New Years style to sing Liam’s version of Auld Lang Syne in the shadow of 1 Canada Square, prompting several passers by to approach and ask about what we were doing.

I would personally continue to occupy shops and banks, but it is brilliant to see that there is a different type of UKUncut action out there would appeal to our growing number of supporters (Liam had only printed out 15 copies of his song – far too little for the 40 people who attended) as well as those who no longer see occupation as the right form of action for them.

This is far from over, but it might look very different by the end.

~Wail

Auld Lang Syne

Should tax avoidance be forgot,

And never brought to mind,

Should tax avoidance be forgot,

Unfairness you will find.

For Schools and hospitals, my dear

For pensions and home care,

For EMA and libraries,

Just pay your bloody share.

We wish you a happy tax year

We wish you a happy tax year,

We wish you a happy tax year,

we wish you a happy tax year,

Just pay some next year!

Bad tidings we bring,

To offshore banking,

We wish you a happy tax year,

Just pay some next year!

UKUncut: Fortnum and Mason

March 27, 2011

Activism

1 Comment

The party raged at Oxford Circus around the trojan horse as a samba band led those who didn’t want to listen to speeches in Hyde Park in dance and defiance outside companies like Nike and Top Shop. Numbers begun to swell and as the 15:30 meeting time for UKUncut’s occupation of a top secret target grew closer the group’s flags begun to appear towards Regents Street.

One of the flag bearers had recognised me from the picket of a Tory party conference a month earlier, but knew as little as I did about the nature of the secret target. That wouldn’t matter for much longer though as the front of a giant UKUncut march set off down Regents Street past all the usual shops it would be occupying on a Saturday afternoon. The sound of the samba band was left behind and replaced with the adrenalin of knowing that a group with numbers in its hundreads would be occupying for the alternative all together – the biggest UKUncut action yet.

As a couple of police vans seemed to try to block us off we all begun to run and soon reached Piccadilly Circus. People were masking up and blending into the main march, but we all diligently followed the red umbrellas to our target and were soon veering to the left and making our way past a police officer who realised the futility of stopping such as large group.

I had failed to look up at the shop name before entering, but once inside instantly recognised the opulence of Fortnum and Mason. The last time I had been in that shop it was to gawp at the ridiculously priced biscuits and see where Her Majesty gets her fine tea. This time I felt as though I had an actual right to be there as the staff futily hushed the group who was by now singing “you can shove your royal wedding up your arse”, a chant I had only become accustomed to the weekend before on the Rock the Banks action.

Fortnum and Mason surrounded by marchers.

More and more of us filed in and we begun to head towards the rear of the store to make space. Someone had knocked over the overpriced biscuits that my last visit had focussed on and a velvet rope was drawn across the stairs to the cafe area, we respected this boundary and did not disturb customers who had chosen to enjoy some afternoon tea (my optimistic side says they were anti-cuts marchers taking a break from the tiresome day). From upstairs I could see the full extent of the space we had occupied and the real number of us who were there – it was simply massive. Trying to join the majority back downstairs led to my expulsion by a nervous police officer however, but not before I over heard they would be getting the TSG in to remove this overwhelmingly peaceful protest against tax avoidance at the heartland of the rich ruling classes.

Back on the streets I realised the energy of the occupation was as spreading to the march which had become jubilant as occupiers waved flags from the windows of Fortnum and Mason. the crowd were certainly not ready to let that end as the TSG attempted to get past the group, but were blocked off from both the main and side entrances. Reinforcements arrived from our rear and attempted to enforce a kettle, one that was short-lived as a mass of marchers arrived from a side street and kettled the police right back.

Some marchers hold police back.

This bout of kettling and ‘anti-kettling’ continued until officers managed to force our group down back towards Picadilly Circus were many joined the crowds waving to those still inside Fortnum and Mason who soon came out on to a balcony area and had food thrown up to them so they wouldn’t have to raid the supplies of their hosts. Some climbed up the pipes and joined them as TSG beat back anyone who got too close to the entrance.

Oxford Street was ours, and for some time so was what is usually dubbed the “The Royal Grocers”.

Watch the peaceful protest here:

~Wail

Support the UCL Occupation

March 23, 2011

Activism

Offline language, online activism.

March 10, 2011

Activism

1 Comment

On Thursday we saw one of the first examples, that I am aware of, of the anti-cuts movement using ‘hacking’ as a method of activism. UKUncut engaged their old foes Vodafone in a bit of online combat when they used passwords provided by ‘winners’ from the companies World of Difference website to post information on the companies tax avoidance activities.

But what makes this so different compared to the groups occupations of the company’s offline real estate? Essentially, not very much. The motives are the same: to reappropriate the space of companies that avoid paying tax in order to bring light to both their avoidance and the government’s reluctance to fix the issue. Whether the space is physical or digital is irrelevant and both forms are just as important as each other in today’s society.

The law is slightly different however. As Tim Hardy points out the consequences for hacking can be steep and whilst trespassing on a companies space offline is a civil offence (though aggravated trespassing is a criminal offence and can be used as a charge by police against activists), hacking is a criminal offence with sometimes international consequences attatched to it. This, combined with the knowledge required to carry out online actions, is perhaps a barrier to people engaging in such ‘hacktivism’.

Yet, it is becoming more and more essential for such activity to take place and it doesn’t even have to be illegal.

Why are we not squatting potential or misspelt URLs of tax avoiding companies. Purchasing, relatively cheap, domain names such as vodaphone.com and establishing an anti-cuts education site there isn’t illegal (I think) and could cause these companies difficulty if done smartly and strategically. Take twitter.co.uk for example, the site linked is what the domain use to point to, but it seems Twitter gave up and bought the domain. We wouldn’t want companies to purchase domains from us, but it shows how annoying it can get when someone has a domain similar to that of a big organisation’s.

And what’s another way to simulate the Saturday fun of seeing Topshop or Boots shut when we show up? DDoS. Distributed Denial of Service attacks are not new in the realm of online activism and the technique was famously used by Anonymous, supporters of Wikileaks, against MasterCard, Visa and Amazon amongst others by (illegaly) overloading the servers of a website so that it can no longer operate or it is so slow it is unusable.

I wouldn’t know the first thing about carrying out such an attack, and wouldn’t encourage people to do so, but there are people who do understand the mechanics and I predict that it is a technique that will gain popularity within the anti-cuts movement as a way to temporarily seize up the online operations of companies or organisations. Though the disadvantages that you could be targeted by an attack yourself and that the nature of the DDoS attack to ‘passers by’ isn’t entirely obvious without media explination obviously do exist.

Then there is the risks involved in carrying out criminal activity. But when doesn’t this risk exist for an activist? To be a criminal you simply have to annoy the law enforcers – no more. Whether you are totally innocent or a criminal mastermind, your fate is dependant on how much you piss of the person in charge. If you aren’t willing to bow to their control, whether the medium is digital or physical, you could be in trouble. We must take that risk.

The power to strike, occupy and resist is just as real online. All you have to consider is how you coordinate both online and offline efforts to win the battle.

Update: Comments on the use of DDoS edited to clarify that I wouldn’t personally encourage anyone to use this (illegal) technique.

UKUncut: The Plan B

February 27, 2011

Activism

4 Comments

When you arrive for a UKUncut action you often aren’t completely sure where your target is, can’t be certain that there will be more than a handful of people and are never really sure who is a fellow uncutter or just a member of the public (except for the Uncut Heroes of course) and then there is the problem we faced yesterday: your target might get wind of your plans and shut for the day. This is exactly what happened yesterday on UKUncut’s first international day of action.

Success before we have even started? Yes. There were so many branches of, RBS owned, Natwest closed across London that it seems they most certainly got our message and are running scared. But where was the fun in that? And more importantly where was the opportunity to engage with the public on the issue? UKUncut’s bail-ins are not about shutting down the banks but claiming them as public spaces and letting people know that they got us into the mess, we got them out of it and they are long overdue in paying us back. By closing up shop Natwest ran away from us and inconvenienced far more customers than anything we could have done.

So as I stood there in the pouring rain with a couple of fellow uncutters, a confused member of the public and a police van parked across the road, I searching through my twitter feed franticly to find an alternative. Luckily MissEllieMae and the famous Orange Umbrella soon arrived with news of a ‘Plan B’.

“Due to spending cuts the UKUncut comprehensive has had to shut, instead we will be going on a field trip,” said the headmistress before doing a uniform check and quick footing it down Regent Street and on to Oxford Street. Just before we went however, we left our own notes for Natwest.

As we played a game of ‘keep up with the orange umbrella’, questions of “where are we going” spread through the 60 strong crowd of ‘students’. But all was soon to become clear once we saw a fellow uncutter at the doors of Lloyds TSB hurrying everyone in. Shocked staff and customers looked on amused as we sat down for our lessons delivered by folks from Tax Justice Network, Robin Hood Tax, Corporate Watch and The New Economics Foundation. One employee even chuckled and took out his Blackberry when asked by the headmistress to call the CEO!

After only a couple of (very informative) sessions, a police officer (who went by the name of John) spoilt our fun and asked us to move on. We gave one more defiant chant and then moved the lessons outside where we were able to meet up with the Uncut Heroes who had shut down a Natwest and our old friends Vodafone.

Together with the heroes we moved on to another, closed, Natwest and finished off our last few lessons and then wound up back at Regent Street where there was much music, leafleting and discussion with the public.

It just goes to show, neither the rain or closing up shop will deter the UKUncut gang; either mend your ways or prepare to be occupied!

~Wail

P.S. Left over leaflets were put to good use on some of the Barclays ‘Boris’ bikes.

I still maintain that UKUncut needs to do something with these bikes. they represent both the evil of Barclays and London’s Conservative Mayor, Boris Johnson.

Downing Street and Libya were one

February 22, 2011

Activism

2 Comments

Even before the official start time of 15:00 many protestors were gathered across from Downing Street to tell the government and the international community that enough is enough in Libya: the murder of innocent Libyans by Muammar al-Gaddafi’s regime should not be allowed to continue. The crowd grew and grew and as it did so did the energy and emotion. The chants could be heard echoing throughout Whitehall as hundreds turned into thousands and called for the resignation of Gaddafi and reminded the UK government that they had blood on their hands for selling arms to dictatorships such as Libya.

Dr Sabah Almarii wih a message for David Cameron

One gentlemen who came armed with a message for David Cameron (see above) spoke to me about how he worked in Libya for six years but eventually decided to leave because of the Gaddafi regime. He pointed out that Gaddafi has “always been hated” and that this is not simply a copy cat of other North African revolutions. Dr Sabah Almarii fears that “[Gaddafi] will kill everyone before he goes” but also finds it hard to envisage what will become of Libya once Gaddafi does leave. There is not even a pretence of democracy in Libya and any move to democracy would have to be a careful one.

As has been the case in all of these revolutions it is the young that have taken the lead to call for their civil liberties. It was no different today outside Downing Street as children were the most active and lively, some even leading the crowd in chants. One in fact lead a chant of “David Cameron don’t you care, Libyan blood is everywhere” whilst others held placards reading “save my family”.

A Libyan youth that lead the crowd in chants against Gaddafi and David Cameron.

Young children holding placard asking "Please save my family".

The crowd were not scared to show anyone passing the bloody truth either. Many handed around images of those dying in the confrontations between protesters, the army and mercenaries in Libya. These were not images you would be shown on television by even the most daring news channel and were harrowing enough to leave anyone ashamed that Gaddafi’s genocide against his won people to continues.

Protestors carried images of the wounded in Libya

Wounded Libyan being carried away.

Protesters didn’t mind poking fun at the whacky Gaddafi himself however. Many came armed with caricatures and edited images of him.

Spray painted mask in Libyan colours.

Action film shot of Gadaffi referring to Abu-Saleem prison, June 1996.

Cartoon caractature of Gadaffi held by children.

Children holding cartoon caracature of Gaddafi.

The entire effort has sent a clear message of solidarity and simultaneously told the the United Kingdom government they can not keep quite over the situation and certainly should not supply weapons to dictators like Gaddafi. Demonstrations are set to continue throughout the week and many have said they will camp outside Downing Street until Gaddafi is gone.

Befre the demonstration even started.

Image held by protestor.

Clear message for Libyan leader Gaddafi.

More protestors arrive.

Banner showing solidarity with Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.

A group get up high to show their message.

A snippet of the crowd.

~Wail

London will demonstrate in solidarity with Libya

February 21, 2011

Activism

1 Comment

Each Arab state is different, just as every other country in the world has its own character and flavour. Whilst Tunisians were able to oust their dictator in a relatively short period of time, Egyptians were forced to hold their ground in Tahrir square for much longer. Now the revolution has well and truly spread and the world has seen that some have to fight even harder for their freedom.

Libyans are being killed by their own leader for daring to stand up to his tyrannical regime that has lasted for more than four decades. Whilst he shows images of cheering crowds on Libyan state TV, Muammar al-Gaddafi’s citizens are being murdered on the streets by his hired melicia and fired on by planes in Tripoli. More than 300 Libyans have died since this revolution started with many more suffering injuries too horrific to even show on television.

The world is watching on, shocked, but for now only watching. It took President Obama’s administration until 5pm to issue a statement on the matter and when it did come it was simply to express condemnation of what was happening. It is our governments that fund the weapons that are killing Libyans (and others) all around the world and now they are cautious to say anything. Coincidently, David Cameron took arms dealers to Egypt today as part of his Middle East tour. We must call for a stop to be put to this kind of murderous profiteering, sooner rather than later.

Just as we should urge our government to do something about the genocide being committed against Libyans by their ruler. It has become hard to watch the images emerging out of Libya, a lot of it is too harrowing even to show on television.

Attend the demonstration at Downing Street today, 3pm. Coaches left Didsbury Mosque, Manchester at 8am – I hope you were on them. Bring your family, friends and anyone else who cares about democracy, freedom of speech and the lives of Libyans.

This is a universal battle. Don’t let Libyans fight alone.

~Wail