Sowing the Seeds of Revolution: from Syria to London

Natalie Szarek is currently in Rojava, North Eastern Syria, participating in ecological work and learning from the work of the revolution, which is based on radical democracy, ecological sustainability and gender liberation. Before transplanting to Rojava, Natalie was involved in the ecological food movement in London, including coordinating the Community Food Growers Network, founding Audacious Veg CIC, and working in various community gardening projects. This is the first in a series of articles where she will attempt to apply the experiences and perspectives of the revolutionary movement in Rojava to the community growing and food sovereignty movement in England.

How North and East Syria’s Co-operatives and Autonomous Structures Handle a Pandemic

North and East Syria faces serious challenges in the fight against COVID-19. 600,000 IDPs and refugees live in camps across the region, their situation already precarious without a pandemic. Ongoing attacks by Turkish forces, Turkey-backed militias, and ISIS complicate the security situation and threaten essential civilian infrastructure like water lines. According to the Rojava Information Center,

​​​​​​​Maintenance teams continue its work to re-pump water to al-Hasakah city

The co-chair of the Water Directorate in al-Hasakah canton, Suzdar Ahmed confirmed that the maintenance teams are continuing their work until the water is pumped to the city of al-Hasakah, as well as the completion of maintenance of the damage left by the Turkish occupation’s assault on the electricity network in the city of Tel Tamr.