News
If the Cowfolk are doing it, this is where it’s at…
Cricket BGM
There is a B.G.M. For the Cowfolk Cricket Club on Monday 6th February at 7.30 – 9.30 at Easton Community Centre.
Please attend as the season will soon be upon us and we need more people to get involved as players and in organising.
For more information go to Easton Cowfolk Cricket club facebook or text 07743484299 to join the whatsapp group.
Cricket – players wanted!
In 2018 the then membership of the Easton Cowboys Cricket Club voted to leave the Easton Cowboys/Cowgirls Club and form the Easton Cuttlefish Cricket Club. This left the Club with a number of players but no organised cricket team.
Now after a couple of years and the intervention of Covid we have a team. The Easton Cowfolk Cricket Club was formed in 2022 to reastablish a cricket team to represent the wider club. After having had a year of net sessions and a few friendlies, we have now entered The North Somerset Cricket League for the 2023 season. The League is a Sunday league of 40 over games that takes place from April to September. The home pitch will be at the Rose Green centre in Whitehall.
We are looking for players to join whether it be just for nets, a few games or the whole season. The League is an adult league for over 14’s, however we are happy for under 14’s to attend nets with appropriate adult supervision. Membership is open to all genders under the Easton Cowfolk Clubs principals of anti- racist, anti-sexist, anti-fascist, anti-homophobic and anti-transphobic. We respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
Absolute beginners welcome!
For more information go to Easton Cowfolk Cricket club facebook
ECCSSC statement on Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup
ECCSSC STANDS AGAINST ABUSES COMMITTED BY THOSE INVOLVED IN ELITE-LEVEL FOOTBALL IN THE PURSUIT OF PROFIT
With the mens World Cup in Qatar upon us, the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls Sports and Social Club feel the need to add our collective voice to the many others that are speaking out about what this tournament represents.
We believe passionately in football and sport in general as a force for good, and in its ability to catalyse change. It is why we exist as a club. However, there is no escaping the fact that football has long had its murkier side – from racism and violence in the stands to corruption and abuses of power reaching to the highest levels of the sport. Previous World Cups have had their fare share of controversy – many of our members remember Argentina 1978, Spain 1982, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 as examples.
Qatar 2022 seems to have taken this dark side to new levels, the most shocking being the deaths of possibly thousands of migrant workers brought in to build the infrastructure needed to host an event of this size in what is effectively a desert. That on top of a country with an appalling human rights record, especially on LGBTQ+, women’s and disabled rights, being awarded the right to profit from a sport which should be inclusive for all to enjoy.
In the face of such overwhelming corruption, exploitation, oppression and abuse we have to ask ourselves how we stand up effectively against it, and in solidarity with those affected. As a club, as individuals and our home the Plough Inn have done some soul searching as to whether to boycott watching the event is enough or indeed effective. The conclusion was that this should be an individual decision, and that as a club we will focus our efforts on raising awareness, funds and on adding our collective voice to calls for accountability, compensation and change.
As a club, we must also look at ways we can become more proactive rather than reactive on issues such as corruption, oppression, exploitation, racism and homophobia before they become big news. We must define a longer term strategy that means we keep standing up against these issues long after world cup fever has died down, and ask what similar abuses are going on in our own communities which may not be as high profile. We will always keep fighting.
In compassion, solidarity and power,
Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls Sports and Social Club (ECCSSC)
Bristol, UK
www.amnesty.org/en/petition/its-time-to-pay-up/
secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/make_fifa_pay_locked/
#notmyworldcup #fuckFIFA #makeFIFApay #boycottqatar2022
Don’t Pay energy bills campaign
At the cowgirls meeting I spoke about the “Don’t Pay” campaign asking us to withhold paying our energy bills en-masse, especially as prices are set to rise again in April: https://dontpay.uk
I would really encourage you all to have a look at the website, especially the FAQ’s, and sign up. They will only ask people to strike when 1 Millon people commit.
I was initially dubious as I have anxiety about debt, missed payments and bad credit. But the FAQ’s really reassured me. Even if you withhold your payment for a few weeks (before it effects your credit) this will still have a huge impact.
In the past these campaigns have worked. One example would be the resistance to the Poll Tax: more than 17 million people refused to pay and it became impossible for the government to force people to pay. Even then many people were scared to act and not pay the tax. But as confidence grew and local Poll Tax Groups were formed to support each other, it became socially acceptable to not pay. Tens of thousands of liability orders were issued forcing people to pay – but people refused and eventually the Poll Tax was scrapped.
A more recent example was the non-payment campaign against Southern Water in Kent in 2020 after they were fined £90 million for dumping raw sewage into the sea. Outraged by those costs being passed onto consumers, a non-payment campaign took off and eventually residents won by getting 50% taken off their bills.
Take the pledge here: dontpay.uk/pledge-to-strike. You can also download and print posters/stickers etc from the website to help spread the word.
Soooooz.
UPDATE: The strike is currently planned for 1st Dec
Boycott FIFA 2022 meeting
There’ll be an informal meeting on Weds 26th at HQ to discuss everyone’s thoughts on boycotting the Qatar World Cup as well as plans for a fun family tournament on the 18th December to coincide with the final. Please come along if you’re interested. If you can’t make it, you can comment your thoughts/ideas on this post, message Soooooz or email using the contact form on the website.
Cowfolk film night – Rojava
The Cowfolk invite you to join us for two informative and inspiring film nights to learn, discuss and reflect upon two very important causes close to our hearts.
Friday 4th November 6.30-8.30pm – Palestine
Short films made by our very own Cowboy Jesse, Cowgirl Harry, and Blu from Republic Internationale that document Cowfolk football tours of the West Bank of Palestine in 2011, 2014 and 2018. We also have a short presentation from Peace talking about his recent volunteering experiences in the West Bank this year. Becs will also talk about an opportunity to go to Hebron and Bethlehem in March next year to join the Bethlehem Marathon (There is also 5k, 10k etc and lots of people walk!). Finally, we will open up a Q&A and open discussion about future football tours to Palestine.
Saturday 3rd December 6.30-8.30pm – Rojava
Heard of the Rojava revolution but not sure what people are talking about? Come check out this introductory chat and film screening and learn a little about the Democratic experiment created by the people of North and Eastern Syria! We will be screening a short documentary called ‘Blooming in the Desert’ which tells the story of three women from Raqqa that after war and devastation are creating a new life in their home city. Afterward a cowgirl will be giving us an introductory chat about the Rojava Revolution and will be answering any questions.
We really want to encourage all Cowfolk (and friends) to come to both of these nights. In the new year we will be planning to meet again to talk about both Palestine & Rojava and discuss the connection between the Palestinian struggle and the struggle for liberation in Kurdistan and how European Nation state capitalism and colonialism still effects the region as a whole.
Cowfolk film night – Palestine
The Cowfolk invite you to join us for two informative and inspiring film nights to learn, discuss and reflect upon two very important causes close to our hearts.
Friday 4th November 6.30-8.30pm – Palestine
Short films made by our very own Cowboy Jesse, Cowgirl Harry, and Blu from Republic Internationale that document Cowfolk football tours of the West Bank of Palestine in 2011, 2014 and 2018. We also have a short presentation from Peace talking about his recent volunteering experiences in the West Bank this year. Becs will also talk about an opportunity to go to Hebron and Bethlehem in March next year to join the Bethlehem Marathon (There is also 5k, 10k etc and lots of people walk!). Finally, we will open up a Q&A and open discussion about future football tours to Palestine.
Saturday 3rd December 6.30-8.30pm – Rojava
Heard of the Rojava revolution but not sure what people are talking about? Come check out this introductory chat and film screening and learn a little about the Democratic experiment created by the people of North and Eastern Syria! We will be screening a short documentary called ‘Blooming in the Desert’ which tells the story of three women from Raqqa that after war and devastation are creating a new life in their home city. Afterward a cowgirl will be giving us an introductory chat about the Rojava Revolution and will be answering any questions.
We really want to encourage all Cowfolk (and friends) to come to both of these nights. In the new year we will be planning to meet again to talk about both Palestine & Rojava and discuss the connection between the Palestinian struggle and the struggle for liberation in Kurdistan and how European Nation state capitalism and colonialism still effects the region as a whole.
Easton Cowfolk Cricket Club AGM
Monday 26th September 2022, Easton Community Centre, 7 – 9pm.
This is a very important meeting for future of the Cricket Club and all interested parties need to attend. We need to discuss how we want to proceed after a good season of net sessions and a couple of great friendly games.
Calcio Popolare: Boycott Qatar 2022
This was sent to us from Dialectik Football…
About thirty Italian clubs claiming the current of calcio populare, which is an alternative to merchandise football, have co-signed a statement marking their hostility to the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
https://dialectik-football.info/qatar-2022-le-message-du…/
“The World Cup in Qatar is the epitome of what football should never be: a huge business built with the blood and exploitation of the poorest, as well as an entertainment scene for a few millionaire spectators.”
Despite FIFA’s front policies in recent years to combat gender inequality, wage and stadium racism, the choice to host the World Cup in Qatar reveals the true face of business football.
Human rights and civil rights are relegated to the second place, giving a blank card to a country that:
– repeatedly violated the fundamental rights of people from the LGBTQ+ community and migrants to the point that the vast majority of hotels and B&Bs declared they do not accept gay hosts;
– excluded women from almost all sports and sporting events, opposing or preventing their participation;
– has not defined regulations regarding working hours and wages, in particular for migrant workers;
– showed that it is not a country equipped for an event of this size by launching massive, eco-friendly constructions in the desert areas of the country.
The massive financial and trade operation has brought millions of workers from Asia and Central Africa (who often pay for their own jobs) into the country and forced them to come home re to survive in a state of slavery.
Exploitation, temperatures well above 45° and working hours above 12 hours a day are just some of the causes that have led to the death of at least 12 people per week. Amnesty estimates point to 6,500 workers have died since 2010, but other sources describe even more grim situations, with as many as 15,000 victims.
The vast slums that stretch beyond the luxury urban centers are the theatre of miserable living conditions. There is talk of confiscation of IDs to keep people from entering their countries, turning police barracks into prisons, and teams of jailers committing acts of violence on a daily basis.
FIFA’s tacit approval of infamous practices in the country remains embarrassing. Infantino’s statements attest to this: “When you give someone a job, even in difficult conditions, you give him dignity and pride. “This is just an umpteenth evidence of this disgrace.”
We launch this call as a unit alert of the Italian Calcio Popolare scene. Convinced that our sports model is always aimed at the defense and participation of the oppressed, the most vulnerable, the marginalized. So our reason for being is to fight and attack models of “sport” such as those implemented in Qatar.
Knowing the bloody face of the enemy, we will continue to propose with even more conviction a viable football alternative: from suburban pitches to the sports complexes where we play, with left-out and populace marginalized actions as protagonists in a quest for deliverance.
We assert as a basic principle that football has always been a channel of cohesion, integration, a global language that cannot and should not move away from an inch of the eyes and feet of the people and ordinary citizens.
So modern football reaches its climax with the World Cup in Qatar: the rich owners of the sponsors, paid television and FIFA executives rejoice in it with disrepair. But we will not stand idle, we will be a thorn in their foot, attacking and hitting on one hand, and suggesting an alternative on the other.
Still against this cursed modern football: football is for the people, or it is not.”
Signatures 
Polisportiva Sans Papier / NAPOLI UNITED / Polisportiva Sans PapierAsd Aurora Vanchiglia / Polisportiva Sans Papier / No League Sportinzona / Polisportiva Sans Papier / Armata Pirata 161 / ? Atletico San Lorenzo / Polisportiva Sans Papier /Unione Sportiva Stella Rossa / Unione Sportiva Stella Rossa / Spezia Calcio Popolare / RFC Lions Ska Caserta / Unione Sportiva Stella Rossa / ASD Quartograd
