Posts Tagged ‘Resistance’

A critical look at the G20 London protests one year on

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Well we nearly stormed one of them...

Well we nearly stormed one of them...

The article below is fairly short, sharp and to the point in its critique of last year’s G20 protests and the ‘movement’. It first appeared today on UK Indymedia, the author is unknown. However it articulates what some people, at least, are thinking, and is reposted here to generate discussion. (Images added by Bookfair person. For post-G20 info on arrests and Ian Tomlinson see the Bristol ABC blog).

You may disagree? Perhaps you were on the roof at Jesters No-Tesco squat, or out trashing other Tescos? A climate camp veteran perhaps? Or maybe you’ve come out as an anarchist-communist or class-struggle anarchist and just joined/set up a new group? Maybe from where you are standing the future looks bright and the revolution is just one more action away? In which case thats great, get stuck in, may the force be with you. If you’d like to disagree with this (unknown) author then send in your view.

The Summer of Rage? A critical look at the G20 London protests one year on (original article here)

Did anyone notice the summer of rage? Like all British summers, it was disappointingly non-existent: a few letters in the guardian, a climate camp of Cath Kidston tents and, to top it all, hardly a day of sun. (more…)

Bookfair organising and other upcoming events

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Tonight, Tuesday 9 February, sees our second organising meeting for the 2010 Bristol anarchist bookfair. We have been checking out various venues, which we’ll be discussing further. Plus we have a couple of pencilled in potential bookfair dates - the 11 or 18 September. We’ll also be looking further at possible themes for the bookfair, and its format. Plenty of items for keen anarchists to get their teeth into. We do need more people to get involved in the bookfair collective - the more people means we can organise better and more varied events. The bookfair is a very public anarchist event and a great opportunity for anarchists in Bristol to engage with a wide range of people. It is essentially your event, so dont just expect us to organise it for you.

circle-a_red_star_textTonights meeting takes place at Kebele social centre, 14 Robertson Rd, Bristol BS5 6JY, from 7.30 to 9pm. In the near future we hope to take the organising meetings to other venues, and we’d also be happy to scome and talk about the bookfair with your group, campaign, or network. get in touch.

Following on from our well attended event at The Cube on 1 February about the J18/Seattle protests, we have plenty of ideas for other events covering various topics. Again we’d like to hear from other anarchists what they think needs discussing? For example, some of us think Bristol’s anarchists would do well to hold some sort of weekend ‘politics and strategy’ gathering, which would mix political debate with some forward planning and co-ordination around agreed strategies. What do you think?

Of course many of Bristol’s healthy mix of campaigns, groups and networks continue to organise ongoing activities, many but not all of which appear on the Bristol Indymedia newswire and calendar. Here’s a few upcoming: (more…)

Reflections and strategies 10 years on from J18 and Seattle 1999

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

The Cube cinema, 1 February 2010, 7.30pm:
J18 & Seattle 1999 - reflections & strategies 10 years on

The Bristol anarchist bookfair collective and Bristol Indymedia present an evening of films and discussion that look back to the global protests and counter-summit mobilisations of 1999, and consider where next for the movement of movements. This event is part of Bristol Indymedia’s monthly programme at The Cube, entry as usual costs £3/4 but nobody will be turned away for lack of money - just state what you can afford.

cube_1-feb_posterWe’ll be showing 2 short dramatic films, one each from J18 and Seattle, which should get your adrenalin pumping. There will be no ‘big name’ speaker, so there will be plenty of time for discussion and contributions. Scroll down for background reading links. (more…)

Matters of interest to local anarchists

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

and for those who would like to know more about anarchism

a-bookThe bookfair collective reconvened last week. At our meeting we looked over an organisational timeline for organising the next Bristol anarchist bookfair (or indeed any bookfair), and chewed over a few other ideas for the coming months that some or all of us will be involved in: (more…)

Subvert Festival

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Subvert Festival - 23 to 25 October 2009!
The Bastard Squad Collective swing back into action with their annual Subvert Festival, roping in a number of other local groups to help them along the way. With 3 nights of politics, inspiration, and fun! (more…)

Notes from the tyranny of patriarchy workshop at the bookfair

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

The Bristol anarchist bookfair collective welcomes notes/feedback on the meetings and workshops held at the 2009 Bristol anarchist bookfair from the workshop organisers, and we’ll be happy to publish them if organisers want us to. we also welcome feedback by email from anyone who attended the bookfair.

We’ve received the following notes on the ‘Tyranny of patriarchy in the fight against the patriarchal economy’ workshop at the bookfair, from the workshop organisers - The Laboratory of Futurefull Acts. You can also read their pre-workshop notes here. (more…)

The cops, comutiny, and, er, the bookfair

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Much hilarity all around at the antics of the Avon & Somerset’s finest boys and girls in blue in relation to their PR blitz around the CoMutiny events. Special email addresses, twitter accounts, first names and mobile details, letters posted on the cops website, and even a personal post by ‘Richard’ on Bristol Indymedia. What on earth is going on? (more…)

Is the recession really over?

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Much spinning in the media in recent months trying to talk up recovery from the present recession, with headlines this past week that the recession really is over - based of course on the governments own data. We all trust the government and its advisers don’t we?

However whilst stock exchanges may be starting to fly again, and bankers make like they never nearly crashed the world’s financial systems last year, the reality of the situation may lie somewhere behind the hopeful headlines and spin.

For a more down to earth view check out Will Brown’s article below, ‘Can China Save The World Economy?’, and come and discuss the topic with him at the bookfair on Saturday (room 2, 4pm). You can also find some interesting articles/links on China here. Meanwhile our friends at East Bristol Debtors Alliance have issued an impassioned plea for the cancellation of all personal debt, because its literally killing a lot of people. They’ll be taking this discussion further on Saturday too (room 1, 12 noon), as well as looking at what we can do locally in solidarity with those who have bailiffs and other debt collecting scum at the door. (more…)

Free film night tonight at Plan9

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

“The Students Think We’re Making Submachine Guns”

A Free Film screenings at PLAN 9 (inside The Island aka ArtspaceLifespace), Bridewell Street, BS1 2PZ

Thursday 10th September 2009 7. 30pm.

Fuck Gesture with Bristol Anarchist Bookfair present a night of films exploring the labour process and the process of realising alternative collective desires. (more…)

A common treasury for all?

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

‘But everyone shall put their hands to till the earth and bring up cattle, and the blessing of the earth shall be common to all; when a man hath need of any corn or cattle, take from the next store-house he meets with. There shall be no buying and selling, no fairs or markets, but the whole earth shall be the common Treasury for evey man.’ - Gerrard Winstanley (1609 - 1676). (more…)