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Fuel Poverty Demo at Offices of British Gas

Udo Erasmus

Well-Known Member
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Worried about how you will afford your gas bill in the coming winter?
Then join the protest:

PROTEST AGAINST BRITISH GAS!
PROTEST AGAINST FUEL POVERTY!
PROTEST AGAINST INCREASED GAS & ELECTRICITY BILLS!


Assemble 2 pm, Saturday 27th September,
British Gas Offices, Churchill Way (off Queen Street)


Bring drums, placards, banners etc.
Please forward this email to as many people as possible - as soon as possible!

Protest to demand -

* AN EMERGENCY WINDFALL TAX on profits of gas companies to fund measures to alieviate the burden working people & fund environmental measures such as house insulation to lower household fuel bills

* GREATER REGULATION OF CORPORATE POWER - government enforced price-capping

* RE-NATIONALISATION OF THE GAS & ELECTRICITY companies and run them to meet the needs of the many instead of the profits of the few!


British Gas raised prices last year to obsenely boost profits by 500% - Now bills have gone up again, and thousands of households have been plunged into financial hardship because of the greed of the few. And every other gas company is now raising prices.

Gas prices are a *key social justice issue* - 1 in 4 people are now in fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of income on fuel), and more pensioners die in Britain in winter - the 5th richest world economy - than in Siberia due to not being able to adequately heat their homes.

Politicians pretend to be powerless before the privatised utilities, but there are many things they could do. Instead, Brown once again cut corporation tax in another tax break for the rich.

This protest is initiated by Cardiff supporters of the People Before Profit Charter but anybody is welcome to support. Already we have had support from left wing councillors, socialists, trade unionists, environmentalists, church poverty groups, social justice campaigners & concerned citizens. A full list of sponsors of the protest will be publicised shortly.


The People Before Profit Charter has been launched to put forward demands that would stop ordinary people sinking deeper into poverty. As well as the demands to tax corporate profits, the charter calls for an end to Brown’s 2 percent pay limit on public sector workers, the abolition of tax on fuel and energy for old people and the poor, and the restoration of the link between state pensions and average earnings.

Current signatories include (all in personal cacpicity) - George Monbiot, John Pilger, Tony Benn, John McDonnell MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Alice Mahon ex-MP, Cerith Griffiths Chair of Fire Brigades Union South Wales, Marianne Owens, ViceChair PCS Wales, Chris Daw, Unison Wales Youth Forum Chair, Ted Knight, former leader of Lambeth Council & many others.

If you wish to support the protest or sign the charter, email [email protected]
 
This sounds like a very good call, Udo. I for one am not happy to be see my gas bill increase just so some very wealthy people can be, er, more wealthy.

Death to the Gas Companies!
 
the demo is getting support from a lot of quarters of the movement of movements, some unexpected, for example, Cymdeithas seem very supportive and have even provided organisers with a welsh translation of the call-out that I will post up shortly/
 
Cheers, socrates, momentum seems to be slowly building up to a thunderous day of rage. The idea that people should just meekly accept gas companies hitching up household bills by 40% at a time when the wholesale price of gas has gone down and they are making record profits is bullshit, we need to get it together.
 
warm thanks to Cymdeithas for this translation

Poeni os medrwch fforddio eich bil nwy y Gaeaf hwn?
Ymunwch a'n brotest:

YN ERBYN NWY PRYDAIN!
YN ERBYN TLODI TANWYDD!
YN ERBYN CODIAD YM MILIAU NWY A THRYDAN!


Ymgasglwch, 2 pm, Dydd Sadwrn, 27ain o Fedi,
Swyddfeydd Nwy Prydain, Churchill Way (oddi ar Stryd y Frenhines), Caerdydd

Dewch a offerynnau taro, placardiau, baneri
Danfonwch yr e-bost hwn i'ch cysylltiadau – cyn gynted a phosib!

Protest i hawlio-

* TRETH ARGYFWNG ar elw cwmnïau nwy i ariannu mesurau i hwyluso'r faich ar teuluoedd a ariannu mesurau amgylcheddol fel insiwleiddio tai i lleihau biliau tanwydd

* RHEOLEIDDIO PWERAU CORFFORAETHOL – prisiau teg wedi eu sefydlogi gan y Llywodraeth

* AIL WLADOLI CWMNIOEDD NWY A THRYDAN a'u rhedeg er mwyn ateb gofynion y mwyafrif yn hytrach na sicrhau elw i'r lleiafrif!


Fe wnaeth Nwy Prydain godi eu prisiau llynedd er mwyn sicrhau elw o dros 500% - Mae ein biliau erbyn hyn wedi mynd yn uwch unwaith eto, gan adael miloedd o gartrefi gyda phroblemau ariannol oherwydd trachwant y cwmnïau. Mae pob un cwmni nwy nawr yn codi eu prisiau.

Mae pris Nwy yn *fater allweddol o gyfiawnder cymdeithasol* - mae 1 ymhob 4 person yn dioddef o dlodi tanwydd (gan wario mwy na 10% o'u hincwm ar danwydd). Mae mwy o bensiynwyr yn marw yn y D.U dros y gaeaf – y 5ed gwlad gyfoethocaf yn y byd – nag yn Siberia gan nad ydynt yn medru gwresogi eu tai yn effeithlon.

Mae gwleidyddion yn smalio eu bod yn methu ag ymyrryd a'r fusnesau preifat, er mae yna sawl peth y maent yn medru ei wneud. Ond er gwaethaf hyn, mae Gordon Brown unwaith eto wedi cwtogi trethi corfforaethol er mwyn sicrhau toriad treth arall i'r cyfoethog.

Mae'r brotest hon yn cael ei threfnu gan gefnogwyr yng Caerdydd o'r Siartr 'People Before Profit', ond mae croeso i unrhyw un gefnogi. Hyd yn hyn, rydym wedi derbyn cefnogaeth gan gynghorwyr adain chwith, sosialwyr, undebwyr llafur, amgylcheddwyr, ymgyrchwyr eglwysig yn erbyn tlodi, ymgyrchwyr dros gyfiawnder cymdeithasol ag amryw o ddinasyddion eraill. Mi fydd rhestr llawn o noddwyr y brotest yn cael ei chyhoeddi'n fuan.

Mae Siartr'People Before Profit' wedi ei sefydlu er mwyn sicrhau nad yw pobol cyffredin yn disgyn fwy fwy i dlodi. Ynghyd a'r galwad am drethu cwmnïau corfforaethol, mae'r siartr yn galw ar Brown i cael gwared a'r cyfyngiad tal o 2% ar weithwyr y sector gyhoeddus, diddymu'r dreth tanwydd ac ynni i'r henoed a'r tlawd, ag ail sefydlogi'r cyswllt rhwng y pensiwn gwladol a chyfartaledd cyflog

Mae'r arwyddwyr presennol yn cynnwys- George Monbiot, John Pilger, Tony Benn, John McDonnell AS, Jeremy Corbyn AS, Alice Mahon cyn AS, Cerith Griffiths - Cadeirydd Undeb Brigâd Dân De Cymru, Marianne Owens, Is Gadeirydd PCS Cymru, Chris Daw, Cadeirydd Fforwm Ieuenctid Unison Cymru Ted Knight, cyn arweinydd Cyngor Lambeth & sawl un arall.

Os dymunwch gefnogi'r brotest, neu arwyddo'r siartr, ebostiwch: [email protected]
 
"They breathe profits; they eat the interest on money. If they don't get it, they die the way you die without air, without side-meat."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 5

"The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 5

"It ain't that big. The whole United States ain't that big. It ain't that big. It ain't big enough. There ain't room enough for you an' me, for your kind an' my kind, for rich and poor together all in one country, for thieves and honest men. For hunger and fat."
- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 12

"Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 14

"Fear the time when the strikes stop while the great owners live - for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken … fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe."
- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 14

"Is a tractor bad? Is the power that turns the long furrows wrong? If this tractor were ours, it would be good - not mine, but ours. We could love that tractor then as we have loved this land when it was ours. But this tractor does two things - it turns the land and turns us off the land. There is little difference between this tractor and a tank. The people were driven, intimidated, hurt by both. We must think about this."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 14

"I know this... a man got to do what he got to do."
- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 18

"And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 19

"How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 19

"The migrant people, scuttling for work, scrabbling to live, looked always for pleasure, dug for pleasure, manufactured pleasure, and they were hungry for amusement."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 23

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 25

And finally -

"Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'-I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build-why, I'll be there."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 28
 
Sorry we haven't got around to compiling the full list of supporters of this call-out but in personal capacity it includes socialists, veteran left wing Labour Councillor Ray Davies & other individuals from the Labour left, Assembly Members such as Bethan Jenkins and Leanne Wood, Cymdeithas, several leading Cardiff trade unionists, peace activists such as the Sec. of CND Cymru and others, also people from pensioner groups, green party, NGOs and environmental groups. The demonstration has also received message from support from Jill Evans MEP and Cllr Ron Davies, Former Welsh Secretary who can't make it.
Hopefully it will build resistance.
 
One thing that I have been thinking about is whether there would be potential to organise a non-payment campaign, such a campaign would need a lot of muscle behind and a lot of work on the ground. An auto-reduction campaign also promotes some sense of working class people organising themselves rather than meekly lobbying the government or gas barons.

One way or another the idea that people should just meekly accept gas companies whacking up bills dramatically when they are raking in massive profits is not tenable. And something has to be done.

Was sent this from the Anti-Poverty Network Cymru:

One of the resolutions all the UK participants will be putting to the General Assembly as an addition to the work programme, will read as follows:

Resolution 3: Energy Poverty
That this General Assembly is appalled by the continued increase in energy prices across Europe over te last year. We note with grave concern the difficulty that many people living on low income will now face during te coming winter. Too many people are now faced with the impossible choice of 'heat or eat'.

We welcome the recent initiative of the European Parliament to address the problem of Energy Poverty as part of the Energy Package and commend all MEPs that have signed te Energy Poverty Declaration.

The General Assembly calls for:
EAPN to lobby the current President of the European Union to support the measures included in the Energy Declaration.
EAPN to build links with other European organizations in order to lobby energy companies directly to ensure that best practice is observed by companies in each Member State they operate in.
EAPN National Networks to build links with relevant NGOs and others to lobby directly Energy companies to take more effective action to address energy poverty.

okay for an NGO motion, though I thinkthe gas companies will only act if they fear the possibility that the government will move to tax them more and introduce greater regulation, and the government will only act if they feel a groundswell of popular opposition. More to the point why should we at the mercies of the greed of the few for essentials!
 
who's this "Thomas_Muntzer" bloke sending me emails then?? :hmm:
:D

won't be in town on sat am afraid, good luck with it.
 
Firstly, you are factually incorrect, Workers Power's document was written in response to the People Before Profit Charter. Secondly, while I don't disagree in principle with any of the demands in the WP Counter-Charter, it does tend to veer towards demands that don't bear any relation to the balance of forces on our side, and the intervening steps we will have to take to get from A to B. The PBP Charter could be criticised for being a little general, but in a sense as Che said, "Words are beautiful, action even more so" it is work on the ground that will put the meat on the bones. Personally, I don't particularly fetishise this Charter, there are a lot of similar documents doing the rounds, the main thing is that there is working class resistance to a major offensive on our living standards.

Your remark is somewhat sectarian, if you choose not to support a protest that's okay, but to actively attack one is another matter. one might characterise "Cardiff Radical Socialist Forum" as basically a front for Cardiff Permanent Revolution pretending to be a broad coalition, if not Cardiff PR trading under a different name. I could have just as easilly written on some of your posts advertising your events, "Don't be fooled, it will just get you on there mailing list". But I think live and let live. Time is too short to waste attacking whatever other left wing groups are up to.

As to going nowhere, well we will see how things unfold. Time will tell.

Finally, I might permit myself a wry smile as the local SWP branch (an organisation I must remind people I am no longer a member of) has not actually been particularly enthusiastic or active in building this demonstration as far as I am aware & more fool them!
 
Ok, fair enough, if PBP came first, I apologise for the inaccuracy. But why not openly admit it is a SWP initiative? The fact that the local branch isn't keen on it only show the deep divisions which led German and Rees to get kicked off the CC.

As to CRSF, PR have been absolutely clear it was our initiative. Now that others have come in, you can check http://www.radicalsocialist.org and see that it is almost completely transformed into a forum site, with just a few details to collectively sort out. CRSF is part of what is now, following the Convention of the Left, a national initiative, agreed to by Lindsey German and Chris Bambery among others, so if you are now so opposed to sectarianism, how about coming along?

As for not supporting the protest, Cardiff PR branch have already agreed to be there. But people have a right to know what's behind it. Left unity initiatives, moreover, do not mean avoiding sharp debate - that was Lindsey German's line at the COTL: let's forget the past. It didn't go down well, especially at the session on anti-deportation struggles, where Respect's refusal to oppose immigration controls was resoundingly criticised.

What the WP initiative possesses, which the SWP one doesn't, are demands which will lead to a challenge to the capitalist order and proposals about what kind of organisations workers need to actually put the demands into practice. In other words, the transitional element. Despite the fact that PR disagree on the appropriateness of the workers' party tactic, we still adhere to a similar method, and I recommend anyone on the left to compare the two documents and ask which one actually does have the practical steps to which you refer.

As to the balance of forces, we have to be circumspect. One of the reasons PR split from WP was that WP had become increasingly voluntarist, and had lost sight of the fact that we cannot hope to build a mass workers party around revolutionary politics before the fighting strength of the labour movement was restored. Many people at COTL took our view. However, as we all know, struggles can erupt quickly in a crisis and consciousness can be changed equally quickly through such struggle, not automatically, but through exposure to the right arguments. That isn't going to happen through initiatives which neither challenge reformist consciousness nor propose the building here and now of the forms of organisation which will actively challenge the capitalists' right to rule.

nb you will find ad ad for the demo on the what's happening page at www.radicalsocialist.org with a link to the People Before Profit blog - this has been up since we heard of the protest.
 
In terms of transitional method, I have some sympathy with your point. Though I would argue that certain key class arguments are put forward, for example the idea that this is an economic crisis created by the ruling class and they should pay for it rather than the working class. I personally thought that the PBP could have been a little 'harder' politically, but then there is also a question at the start of a process of not being too prescriptive and leaving things open.

As far as I am aware, John Rees and Lindsey German are still on the leadership body of the SWP, they have resigned from the leadership body of Left Alternative (the non-Galloway wing of the Respect split) or rather John Rees was apparently instructed by his comrades, to be honest I am a little in the dark as to what is going on in the SWP and what is the terrain of their internal debate on an electoral intervention, take that up with them. I disagree with PRs line that a left electoral alternative is a dead-duck, but also think that an alliance of reformists and revolutionaries has to be built on the basis of promoting change by struggle from below rather than just getting people into the council chamber to do it for us.

On Respect's position on immigration controls:

Firstly, in any coalition of revolutionaries and reformsits, socialists have to make a judgement on whether they should commit a coalition to positions they themselves hold. For example, there are many decent people on the Labour Left or Plaid Left who strongly support anti-deporation campaigns but don't support open borders. Respect's position left the question open (it didn't call for immigration controls) and was too the left of the mainstream.

Secondly, however, personally I thought the position was weak and liberal and voted in 2004 at the founding conference of Respect for it to adopt a position of opposition to immigration controls, and subsequently argued with comrades in South Wales that the agreed position was unsatisfactory. As you suggest, the concept of non-racist immigration controls seems to make sense, but when you try and define what they actually are you get stuck. The obviously philsophical argument against those who oppose the worst aspects of the borders regime is obviously, well if you support borders you have to defend them.

It was also of a disappointment to me, as the first political organisation I was a member of was the Welsh Socialist Alliance. When I attended my first meeting an election hustings (where I joined) the candidate (and SWP member) said two things that grabbed my attention, 1) I will only take a workers wage if elected, I'm a bus driver, I'm not in this game for the trappings of office and perks 2) Immigration controls are racist and in the interests of the rich they should be scrapped, and pointed to the example of the US where all the controls were on the American side of the border.

The second point particularly grabbed my attention as I had never actually heard anyone attack the concept of immigration controls, and it made me thnik (I was at that point not actually convinced, while feeling emotional sympathy for the position)

It was therefore a disapointment that Respect failed to adopt either of these positions. In retrospect, I would say personally that Respect was a false turn.

You will also notice therefore that statements issued by Cardiff Respect on immigration always implicitly questioned the logic of the borders regime, for example, questioning 'why can rich people move to whichever country will give them the biggest tax break, but poor people face harrasment and demonisation" etc.

On the specific issue of household gas bills, I have myself been puzzling over a tactic that challenges reformist consciousness, a non payment campaign would I feel promote workers self-activity rather than meekly petitioning the government and gas companies, but it is debateable what potential there is to build a mass campaign of non-payment.
 
Nice one on fulfilling the stereotypes guys...

I do think though that Udo's behaviour in helping this demonstration is far from sectarian and is pretty constructive. None of the 'general public' are going to know or care which grouplet is behind this charter, it's the content and impact of the demonstration which will matter. If resistance to profiteering and price hikes doesn't get into the local papers or people's consciousness then people will assume that it's normal and should be accepted.
 
Try following the arguments, LL, then you might get beyond your stereotyped idea that I'm a stereotype, and realise what I'm saying is very relevant to the 'general public' and how this struggle is progressed. Do you have any proposals on that score?

Udo, liberate yourself. You are not forced to repeat some kind of leftist Groundhog day by building yet another failed reformist-revolutionary alliance. They don't work. By obsessing on challenging Labour at the ballot box they inevitably involve the kind of selling-out on immigration controls you opposed. But COTL showed there is a huge appetite on the left both for regroupment and for an end to the stultifying bureaucratism which has characterised the socialist movement.

You've left the Cliffites, now break from their methods and allow yourself to freely express the revolutionary politics you seem to believe in.
 
But COTL showed there is a huge appetite on the left both for regroupment and for an end to the stultifying bureaucratism which has characterised the socialist movement.

I think this is a gross exaggeration. The session I attended was awful for a number of reasons. Firstly, many on the left in England haven't yet given up on the Labour Party as a progressive force for radical socialist change. Oh dear.

Secondly, sectarianism is alive and well and there was plenty of pointscoring going on.

Thirdly, the audience was ageing, tired and defensive. It was also relatively small considering the work that went into organising the Convention.

Finally, on the session about the Break up of Britain, several "comrades" revealed their pro-imperialist colours.

I fear the left grouplets are trying to constantly re-invent the wheel, except they're working off a blueprint that shows it's square.
 
Sioned Haf, Campaigns officer of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Cymraeg (Welsh Language Society) supporting the demonstration on Saturday said:

"The increase implemented by British Gas recently, is yet another example of the avarice of the fuel and energy cartels. It is vital that governments interrupt this mode of conduct as protectorates of the well-being of the people. This is a very basic matter of social justice, and the dire need for the private sector and its inherent gluttonous nature to be regulated by the state."
 
I fear the left grouplets are trying to constantly re-invent the wheel, except they're working off a blueprint that shows it's square.

I don't really agree though with your move into Plaid as the way forward. Especially as the left of Plaid seems far less prepared to challenge the leadership head-on compared to, say the Labour Left in its heyday. And the politics of nationalism are inherrently based on appealing to groups in Welsh society with divergent interests.

As to COTL I wasn't in attendence, so can't comment.

I have some sympathy with Penderyn's call for left unity, though one fears the ghetto of warring sects, the talking shop, that the time expended on peace talks between the different shades of trotskyism could be better expended on talking to actually existing working class people.

You've left the Cliffites, now break from their methods and allow yourself to freely express the revolutionary politics you seem to believe in.

But Tony Cliff was a great marxist, no? Particularly the theory of state capitalism, you would agree.
 
On elections: I don't see standing in elections as counterposed to other more important forms of struggles. Obviously, the danger is that standing in elections often results in organisations and individuals being pulled to the right and into the mindest of electoralism.

But elections are a form of politics that most people understand and the election period can be used to push socialist politics on the doorstep. For example, in the election period with the mainstream parties getting their views aired consequently in the media, I don't nessarily think that it is a good thing for socialists to vacate the field and absent themselves from the debate.

For example, in France, the LCR has used elections effectively to make anti-capitalist propaganda, their presidential candidate, a young postman stands on the slogan, "I'm just another wage slave" and uses his profile as a megaphone to amplify strikes, protests and the wider social movements.
 
I don't really agree though with your move into Plaid as the way forward. Especially as the left of Plaid seems far less prepared to challenge the leadership head-on compared to, say the Labour Left in its heyday.

I'd be horrified if you agreed that Plaid was the way forward :)

The Plaid left doesn't have to challenge the leadership in the same way as the Labour left because we haven't got a neo-liberal leadership. The recent annual conference heard the leadership sing from the same hymn sheet of attacking Tory and Labour's slavish devotion to the market and making the case for windfall taxes, regulation of the financial markets and public ownership of utilities. There was also an excellent motion passed on the attacks on the disabled - a motion proposed by Bontnewydd branch in deepest, darkest rural Gwynedd.

Prior to joining Plaid I too had this notion that Plaid in Gwynedd was full of farmers who were tory in all but name while the Valleys branches were full of lefties. Neither stereotype is true - have you met Clayton Jones? - and the reality is that Plaid is a social democratic party with a strong socialist element. Language activists are among the strongest critics of capitalism, as you're finding with Cymdeithas support for your demo.

Plaid ain't perfect but, compared with the petty infighting of the left sects, it's moving in the right direction.

And the politics of nationalism are inherrently based on appealing to groups in Welsh society with divergent interests.
It may surprise you to know that you can be a member of Plaid without signing up to the notion of cross-class nationalism. I'm a Welsh internationalist - for the workers and with nothing in common with that mighty Welsh capitalist class.
 
Things have got in a bad way for the SWP to be pinching Workers Power's initiative (see http://www.workerspower.com/index.php?id=47,1679,0,0,1,0) then stripping it of all transitional demands. Still, got to keep the remaining members busy now the previous reformist projects have collapsed.
Don't be fooled, folks - it's going nowhere and will just get you on their mailing list.
Sectarian!:p
Actually it's shaping up to be hopefully a well attended and widely supported event. Why not come along and see for yourself?:)
 
Not supported by everybody :D

British Gas spokesperson said:
We are aware of the planned demonstration. British Gas is widely recognised as the leading energy supplier in terms of measures to help vulnerable and fuel poor customers.
 
Message from Greens

as a member of the Young Greens in Cardiff we attempted to drum up a lot of support for the protest tommorow, and hopefully we will be bringing a contingent of us to campaign against the unfair increase in our fuel bills! Below inflation price rises, rising gas bills for everybody and the attitude given to us that we are helpless by the fat cats of government is fuelling my reasons for going tommorow. Keep up the good work and keep inspiring people.

Message from Left Alternative

SMASH THE GAS BARONS!
 
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