Bringing anarchist ideas and practices to the centre of Bristol (UK)

ireland / britain | anarchist movement | other libertarian press Sunday August 30, 2009 07:26 by Bookfair collective bristolanarchistbookfair at riseup dot net

Bristol anarchist bookfair 2009

The Bristol anarchist bookfair 2009 sweeps into the city centre on 12 September. Bringing together local and national groups, networks and distros, the bookfair provides absolutely anything you have ever wanted to know about anarchism, and much more.

one of the bookfair posters

The Bristol anarchist bookfair 2009 takes place on Saturday 12 September from 10.30am to 6pm. At The Island, Bridewell St, Bristol BS1 2PY. It is also, this year, the opening event for the Bristol CoMutiny Convergence – details at http://comutiny.wordpress.com/

With 35 stalls offering an enormous variety of anarchist, radical & green books, pamphlets, zines, info, dvd's, music and merchandise. Plus 17 workshops, meetings and debates; several films, and an all day vegan cafe.

This year has seen the UK and world economy plunge into its worst recession for 80 years, as the consequences of the greed of corporations, banks and individual executives becomes clear for all to see. Governments and politicians who encouraged such activities remain in disarray, unsure what to do to keep the increasingly unsustainable economic system afloat. UK politicians local and national have meanwhile had their own greed and corruption exposed as they are caught abusing their privileged positions and fiddling their expenses. Unsurprisingly, this years bookfair is loosely themed around 'Resistance, and Alternative to Recession', not least because politicians from every party are saying loud and clear that we, the workers and taxpayers, will be paying for their crisis for years to come.

As anarchists we say loudly and clearly that the present economic and political system is not working for the majority of people, and it is time for real social change. The bookfair offers an opportunity for anarchist ideas and practices to be discovered and discussed by people across Bristol and the south west, as together we struggle against the inequalities and exploitation endemic in society.

Bookfair collective member Andy Brigade explains: 'After the success of last years bookfair in St Werburghs, we wanted to make the bookfair and anarchist ideas more easily accessible to people across Bristol. Hence our move to the city centre at the amazing venue The Island, right in the heart of the central shopping district. The bookfair will have a huge variety of anarchist info, from easy and clear introductions to anarchism, to complex debate and historical testimonies'.

Bookfair collective member Dee Senter adds:'This recession negatively affects us all. The bookfair workshops and debates will focus on collective resistance and alternatives. We'll have workers discussing workplace struggles, debates on the economy, calls for the cancellation of all our debts, look at the wider problems faced by women and disabled people, revisit our radical history, discuss current campaigns such as anti-militarism, rethink education and try to build and enhance our networks of resistance. We'll also look at how we can not just use the media better, but become the media'.

Davey Gower from the collective concludes:'We don't claim all the answers but we believe our basic anarchist principles can be the basis for real social change, and we believe our ideas stand up to scrutiny – come along and discuss with us. What we are demanding isn't utopia, it is common sense. Capitalism is not sustainable, it has already started to destroy the planet, the people who currently run things cannot be trusted, and the time for change is now before it is too late.'

Other bookfair related events include:
Monday 31 August from 6pm – benefit night at The Croft with a film and bands. Details http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/article/690881

Monday 7 September from 7.30pm – bookfair & Bristol Indymedia film night showing 'Winstanley – the Diggers & St Georges Hill', the classic 1970's drama documentary. Details http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/article/690688

Wed/Thurs 9 & 10 September – more films, and a shadow puppet night. Details to follow.

Saturday 12 September from 8pm – Bookfair after-party with Gary Clail (formerly of Tackhead & On-U Sound), The Bus Station Loonies, The Devil May cares and much more. Details here http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org/?page_id=297