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Ireland / Britain - Anarchist Communist Event
Saturday July 18 2009
19:00 hrs

Belfast: Organising for Anarchism

category ireland / britain | anarchist movement | anarchist communist event author Thursday July 09, 2009 21:26author by Belfast WSM - Workers Solidarity Movement Report this post to the editors

A day of workshops and discussions organised by the Belfast branch of the Workers Solidarity Movement and the Anarchist Communist Discussion Group.


Belfast: Organising for Anarchism


A day of workshops and discussions organised by the Belfast branch of the Workers Solidarity Movement and the Anarchist Communist Discussion Group.

1pm- The tasks facing anarchists in Ireland

The strengths and weaknesses of anarcho-sydicalism and the relevance of the platform in the 21st century.

The WSM prides itself on the ideas of the platform based on collective responsibility, theoretical and tactical unity and federalism. Why do we identify with the platformist current within anarchism and what lessons can we learn from social revolutions in the 20th century, that can be applied to how we organise in the here and now. Organise! have been invited to send a speaker.

2pm- Beyond the state and capitalism- Organising for a free society without bosses and politicians.

Anarchists do not believe in blueprints but how do we envisage a future classless and stateless society. How would we organise public transport, distribute goods and services, and deal with crime in a post-revolutionary society? What do we mean by workers’ control of industry and services?

These are just some of the questions WSM speaker Gavin Gleason will be answering in his talk and subsequent discussion.

3pm- Combating racism and the rise of the far right.

The recent racist attacks in the North served as a wakeup call to everyone. Speakers from the WSM, include former chair of the Anti-Racist Network, Davy Carlin. The speakers will outline what steps should be taken to combat racism as part of the struggle for a better world for everyone.


Refreshments and literature will be avaliable.

Date: Saturday, 18th July.

Venue: Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre
45/47 Lower Donegall Street, city centre

Related Link: http://www.wsm.ie
author by Belfast WSMpublication date Thu Jul 09, 2009 22:56author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Over the last few years, we have witnessed the Irish state deploying a huge amount of its resources including the police, navy and air force to construct a Shell pipeline in Rossport in County Mayo. Despite violent repression from Shell security guards and the state, media witch hunts, the local community continues to struggle against the this toxic pipeline which the say is a health safety hazard and offers no social or economic benefits. See http://www.wsm.ie/news_viewer/5736

As the Shell project reaches a critical stage, speakers will outline what we can do to support the struggle in Rossport and the wider question of national resources.

author by mitch - (strictly personal)publication date Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:54author email wsany at hotmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

"1pm- The tasks facing anarchists in Ireland

The strengths and weaknesses of anarcho-sydicalism and the relevance of the platform in the 21st century.

The WSM prides itself on the ideas of the platform based on collective responsibility, theoretical and tactical unity and federalism. Why do we identify with the platformist current within anarchism and what lessons can we learn from social revolutions in the 20th century, that can be applied to how we organise in the here and now. Organise! have been invited to send a speaker."

And some of my platformist friends wonder why some anarcho-syndicalists have issues with them.

I mean, if this is how we attract people to the class struggle anarchist movement, I think there's a problem with that. I mean, if we ever had a workshop: "The strengths of anarcho-syndicalism and the irrelevance of platformism" I think there'd be bloody flaming going on for weeks.

I mean, what does billing a public meeting in this manner actually say? I'm all for the WSM taking pride in its ideas, etc. But to base a public meeting with such a title is a bit beyond me. I'd think in 2009 we'd all seek to argue our points of view in another manner.

author by Randy - NEFAC supporter publication date Fri Jul 17, 2009 22:26author email p_c at riseup dot netauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Mitch,

Unless there is a subtext I am unaware of, I think you are overreacting. It is a bit of a stretch from what the text above says, “the strengths and weaknesses of anarcho-syndicalism”, to what you infer, that it calls anarcho-syndicalism irrelevant. To the contrary, I think the title implies a compatibility of views. For example, I don't think you're likely to see an anarchist communist workshop featuring the “strengths and weaknesses of Leninism.” (Some individuals might have such discussions, but i don't think a group would.) My personal opinion is that anarcho-syndicalism and anarchist communism are closer to each other than to any other ideologies. And I'll be surprised if any member of either school of thought disputes the claim.

If you think anarchist communists inspired by the platform criticize your tradition but don't listen to criticisms of their own, I can say, categorically, you are mistaken. I don't think i am divulging confidences when i say i once applied to join a discussion list hosted by the organization in question, the WSM, and *criticisms of the platform* were required reading prior to joining.

I'd hate to see progress in the direction of increased cooperation among class struggle anarchists in the USA marred by miscommunication.

Randy, personal capacity

author by mitch - (strictly personal)publication date Fri Jul 17, 2009 23:03author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Randy writes: "My personal opinion is that anarcho-syndicalism and anarchist communism are closer to each other than to any other ideologies."

That was exactly my point. That's why a title which seeks to advance one perspective over the other (or at the expense of another) has no place in the anarchist world in 2009. Perhaps this did not come across clearly (obviously), but that was my main point.

"I'd hate to see progress in the direction of increased cooperation among class struggle anarchists in the USA marred by miscommunication."

I think the track record of the WSA is pretty clear on this score. We've been in the forefront (with others) in promoting closer and increased cooperation among US and North American class struggle anarchists.
There's no hidden message or agenda in my comments. Just some disappointment. And my disappointment would be the same if anarcho-syndicalists held a workshop with a similiar title.

Anyway, just a personal opinion. People are going to do what they feel best serves theor own interests and this has been the nature of politics from the start of humanity.

Forward we go.

author by Randy - nefac supporter (personal capacity) publication date Sat Jul 18, 2009 19:53author email p_c at riseup dot netauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

"I think the track record of the WSA is pretty clear on this score. We've been in the forefront (with others) in promoting closer and increased cooperation among US and North American class struggle anarchists."

Mitch,

No quarrel here, and hats off to you.

There *are* weaknesses within anarcho-syndicalism. I'm thinking of the reductionist line put forward by the editors of ASR. I'd count the class focused, but nuanced and well-reasoned politics of the WSA among its strengths. (That's my take, and of course i wouldn't presume to speak for the organizers of the event above.)

I don't see any substantive disagreement between us, aside from you find the title inflammatory, and I don't.

Forward, yes.

 
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