Fun Much?

MAC is calling out for submissions to Black Light #1

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:52:14 -0400

but with not much time to go, deadlines are July 15! apparently the theme for this one is anarchy and organisation. issue #0 is available for online or print

If you have something you’d like to contribute send it to:

blacklightzine@gmail.com

The Dead Horse Theory

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:38:43 -0400

A wisdom of the Plains Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that: “When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.”

However, in government more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:

1. Buying a stronger whip.

2. Changing riders.

3. Appointing a committee to study the horse.

4. Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride dead horses.

5. Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included.

6. Reclassifying the dead horse as living-impaired.

7. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse.

8. Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed.

9. Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the dead horse’s performance.

10. Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horse’s performance.

11. Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead and therefore contributes substantially more to the bottom line of the economy than do some other horses.

12. Rewriting the expected performance requirements for all horses.

And, of course…

13. Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position.

Source

Russia: 3 members of feminist punk rock band pussy riot went/are...

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:51:37 -0400

Russia: 3 members of feminist punk rock band pussy riot went/are on hunger strike after being told last week to prepare for trial to start today. They were arrested 4 months ago and have been held without bail since on charges of criminal hooliganism for a performance at Moscow’s top notch venue the russian orthodox church’s main cathedral.

Mutiny Zine #65 Out Now

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 01:11:46 -0400

Online in Web and Print versions, but more importantly in hardcopy. If not already then soon, wherever you find good Anarchist Literature.

This issue includes:

a report back on the sit-in at Sydney University over cuts to university staff

an Interview with author/editor of radical parenting zine Building Blocs

some notes from an info-share held in Melbourne with a Doctor from Kilkas, Greece

a review of the Workers Struggle Conference held at Jura Books in April

the IWW: it’s legacy and potential for building current worker struggles

and an article giving a lot of background to recent Chinese Worker struggles

Rally against Cops ToDay

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:34:00 -0400

4.30 pm today cnr bathurst st and george st. callout from Indigenous Social Justice Association. general arguments are around police control over investigations into deaths in custody and police brutality.

soz ta only find out it a couple of hours beforehand.

Lizards Revenge: Short Film and Information ToNight @ Jura

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:10:00 -0400

The Federal Government approved the expansion of the
Olympic Dam uranium mine in Roxby Downs in October 2011,
to make it the biggest uranium mine in the world. The land is
being irreversibly poisoned in and around Roxby Downs. The
tailings dam is causing dust and ground water contamination
and contamination of its own workers.
We want to talk about uranium mines & processing plants, the
expansion of Olympic Dam and about direct action and the
protest/music camp “Lizard’s revenge”. A short film will be
screened with an invitation of Uncle Kevin.
If you are planning to or are interested to go to Lizard’s
Revenge, this evening is a good opportunity to meet other
people who (might) go, to talk about transport, zombie march,
festival…
Come to Jura Books, 440 Parramatta Road, Petersham on
Thursday 28.6 at 6pm

Paremoremo Prison Protest

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 02:29:00 -0400

Two prisoners have been conducting a protest at Paremoremo prison (Auckland) for two days. They scaled a disused watchtower in the prison yard and have barricaded themselves in.

Related: a recent prisoner riot in Cell Block D at Mt Eden Prison in which people burned their mattresses in protest at the lack of yard time and sunlight; instead they have been given vitamin D pills.

“The issue of private prisons and prison locations is really only one small part of the issue. More fundamental questions need to be asked about the entire rationale for imprisoning people in the first place.” - prisoner rights campaigner, Peter Williams

Link

Occupy Sydney has a Legals Pamphlet

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 01:52:28 -0400

Link

International Day of Solidarity with Honduras June 23

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:32:38 -0400

Rally, 11am @ Iberoamerican Plaza Central Station

Wolves At The Door #2

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:27:00 -0400

Speaking of reading I got my grubby mitts on the 2nd issue of Wolves At The Door this week. Have yet to see a copy online but I’ll update this when I do.

Articles include:

an Interview with disaccords.wordpress.com

an Anarchist perspective on solidarity with anti-colonial struggles

a Review of the film END:CIV

UPDATE: WatD has a noblog and issue 2 is avail in pdf online

Support the Miners... Close the Mines!

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:02:04 -0400

I havn’t been reading much this week because of preparing for other things but I just had to share this photo.

also probably the story is important (8000 Miners on strike in Asturias following government cuts threatening 30 000 jobs). Reported well on other websites such as DarkerNet and Anarchist News.

Jura Books FILM NIGHT: IF A TREE FALLS - A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT (ELF)

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:05:29 -0400

Thursday June 14 6pm-7.45 @Jura Books 440 Parra Rd Petersham

Jura film nights are back by popular demand. This really is an amazing film!! Released in 2011 it delves deep into the Earth Liberation Front, a radical environmental group that the FBI called America’s ‘number one domestic terrorist threat.’ It is a story of radical activism, passionate politics, charges of terrorism and activists turned state informers! It was nominated for the Academy Awards in ‘best documentary feature’

thehellofitall: Scumbag Queen

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 21:34:09 -0400

thehellofitall:

Scumbag Queen

A Victory for Student/Worker Protests in J-berg, that parallels in many ways the recent struggles at Sydney University

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:38:43 -0400

May 20th, a group of thirty-two Wits students prepared to occupy the University’s main administrative building and embark on an ‘indefinite hunger strike’ to protest the unfair dismissal of seventeen catering workers. Royal Mnandi, an outsourced company contracted by the University, fired the workers in April for what it claims was “gross insubordination” after they refused to be redeployed to another workstation…

The Wits Workers Solidarity Committee – an alliance of workers, students and staff that coordinated the hunger strike – has gone some way towards filling the void left by the waning strength of unions on campus. In recent months the Committee has achieved incremental gains, helping workers claw back what they lost. It has put pressure on management and outsourced companies to improve working conditions, raised awareness about worker issues, highlighted cases of racial abuse and other transgressions against workers, and, crucially, helped instil a renewed confidence in workers and progressives on campus.

The hunger strike is the latest victory for workers – a real and symbolic one, small but nonetheless important. After management’s communiqué of 22nd May was rejected the strike continued, with support coming from an eclectic ideological mix of people – from anarchists to left-leaning liberals and radical members of the youth wings of the governing ANC-led alliance. By this time the foyer of the administrative building had become a vibrant hub of protest strewn with blankets, mattresses and placards. Read Full Article

SOLIDARITE AVEC LA GREVE INFINIE http://vimeo.com/43310034

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:25:06 -0400

SOLIDARITE AVEC LA GREVE INFINIE

http://vimeo.com/43310034

Happiest News I read all Day

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 01:52:09 -0400

so glad to share this with you

Chicago Factory Occupiers Form Worker Cooperative

First, they occupied the factory to get their wages from the bosses that owned the machinery. Then, they occupied their factory to keep the second bosses from shutting down their machinery. And, now, they are on their way to owning and running the machinery. Further Reading>

The 2nd Annual Anarchist Bookfair Melbourne 2012

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 01:33:15 -0400

http://amelbournebookfair.org/
2nd Annual Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair – Stall & Workshop Callout

Saturday August 4th, Abbotsford Convent, St Heliers Street, Abbotsford - In its first year, the Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair was a great success. It attracted around 500 people from Melbourne and beyond to share ideas, attend workshops and strengthen networks.

2012 will be no different. This is a call out to independent book-sellers, activist group or individuals who would like to book a stall or run a workshop. Last year we had skill shares and discussions looking at topics such as justice, current Greek situation, DIY, Sea Shepherd, introduction to anarchism, workplace struggles, permaculture, indigenous topics, feminism, education, creating community spaces, gender and refugee issues, and much more.

The idea for this event came from various Anarchist Bookfairs around the world. The London Anarchist Bookfair has been a successful event attended by thousands of politically engaged and radical groups and people for almost thirty years.

Stalls are allocated on a first come first serve basis to independent booksellers, activist groups and other radical enterprises promoting their ideas and merchandise. Please note that this year workshops will be held in separate rooms – so you should be able to hear them!

If you would like to have a stall and/or workshop in 2012 the costs are:

Stall - $40 if paid before June 30th, or $50 after this time

Workshop - $30 (1 hour session)

Stall & Workshop - $60 before June 30th, or $70 after this time

(Note: if you are a not-for-profit group or low-waged individual we will consider waiving these fees and accepting a donation instead – just get in touch with us at amelbournebookfair@riseup.net).

To book please make a direct deposit into our Credit Union of Australia bank account and then drop us an email (amelbournebookfair@riseup.net):

Name: A Melbourne Events

BSB: 814-282

Account: 31139932

Alternately send a cheque payable to A Melbourne Events directly to the bank (CUA, PO Box 100, Brisbane QLD 4001) with our BSB and Account numbers written on the reverse side.

If you have any queries please contact us at: amelbournebookfair@riseup.net.

We are a not-for-profit bunch of volunteers and all money received will go on venue, equipment hire, and publicity (postcards, café posters, larger posters on campuses and in select locations). We are committed to financial transparency and on the website you can view our projected budget

We are also looking for volunteers who would like to help with this event, including promotion and help on the day of the event.

Callouts for Solidarity with:

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 01:28:25 -0400

Canadian Students Indefinite Strike!

Belarus Political Prisoners

USA Political Prisoners

Seth Hayes (former Black Panther & Black Liberation Army) Application for Parole

To partake in A World Social Forum for a Free Palestine Nov 28-Dec 1 2012

also in Melbourne:

Loophole has been served an eviction notice for June 11

The Black Star PA Collective is looking for new members

Also whilst still at the WSM.ie I’m really impressed by...

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 00:16:54 -0400

Also whilst still at the WSM.ie I’m really impressed by the simplicity of their posters. Just witty/poignant 2 section text in impact font on a red & black flag background. Easy to make, bold and eye catching and gets the message across in 1.5 seconds (approx lol).

I’m officially adding colour printing to my anarchist wish list

Old media in the age of The Internet From a session of the 2012...

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 00:07:00 -0400

Old media in the age of The Internet

From a session of the 2012 Dublin Anarchist Bookfair named Old Media in the Age of the Internet. If you notice something fisheye about it it seems Angela from the RAG was cut out of shot probably because they was sitting on the far end of the panel from Andrew from WSM.ie which was where I found this video. A lot of banter about the history of the various papers represented, with alternating introspection about the politics of Anarchist print media and some really solid perspectives on what may work if we work towards it. Worth a view if your involved in any type of documentation of Anarchist Ideas or Action (wink). Also it’s an hour and 20mins long.