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Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair review round up

The Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair has come and gone. There were many improvements on last year’s inaugural event; more space for workshops and talks, more talks. Below are links to some of the reviews, some of which have generated much discussion.

The main controversies, if the pub talk was anything to go by, were the inclusion of the Communist League and Polyester Books as stall holders.

Kieran’s Review: Thoughts on the Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair

A couple of particularly good replies to this review were in the comments of Kieran’s website. From Lia. From Rebecca.

A Marxist goes to an Anarchist Bookfair.

IWW Melbourne GMB: A Melbourne Wob reviews the 2nd annual Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair.

Plan to Win’s recommendations for “good anarchist and activist books”.

The Facebook event also has a lot of discussion.

The next major event for the discussion of anarchist ideas looks to be the Anarchist Summer School up in Queensland in 2013.

 

Black Light #1

We have added Black Light #1, a publication of the Melbourne Anarchist Club, to our Anarchist Texts page. Check out the eye-popping cover after the break.

The Dole Army: Classic Aussie Anarchist prank

Ten years ago (!), some pranksters decided to give the media what they were looking for when reporting on “dole bludgers.”

Interviewer:

Now, Work for the Dole, what do you think about that [unintelligible]?

Anarchist 1:

Pathetic.

Anarchist 2:

Absolutely ridiculous.

Anarchist 3:

Hitler would have loved it.

Statements from Felicity Ryder and Mario López Hernández

There has been much in the Mexican press about an Australian anarchist apparently sought in connection with bombings/attempted bombings. The statement below from Felicity Ryder appeared on Liberacion Total, and there’s no reason to believe it is not genuine.

Statement from
Felicity Ryder

Comrades, friends,
I would have liked to have written earlier, but for various circumstances I haven´t had the chance to yet. I want to send a warm greeting and say thanks to everyone who has worried about me and my situation, to those who have shown solidarity with Mario and I. In these difficult moments it means a lot to have people standing in solidarity from near or from far, even without ever having met me. I sent a revolutionary hug to all of you.

I want to clarify that despite all of the lies of the Mexico City police forces and the mass media, I was never arrested and they never had me detained in any of their prisons. I have tried to understand why they would have said that and spread such false information throughout Mexico as well as Australia, but at the end of the day, as a free person I don´t think like a police officer, and I won´t be able to understand. If it was to try in vain to break or manipulate Mario, to manipulate my family, or to try to appear half competent in doing their jobs, I don´t know.

What I do know is that I am proud of being an Anarchist, and proud to be an enemy of authority and the State.

To my brother Mario, I send him a giant hug and much strength and health. I know that he will always maintain his convictions strong, as well as his desire to achieve Total Liberation. I will always be by your side, compañero. Remember, always face to face with the enemy!

I also send a warm greeting to the fugitive comrades Diego Rios and Gabriela Curilem in Chile. A warm hug to the comrades from the CCF and Revolutionary Struggle in Greece, to the anarchist comrades in prison in Italy, to Braulio Duran, Luciano Pitronello, Gabriel Pombo da Silva, and to all of the anarchist prisoners and fugitives all over the world.

Que viva la Anarquia!

Felicity.

Mario López Hernández was injured when an explosive device he was carrying went off prematurely. According to statements by the Mexican police via media reports and Mario’s statement below, Felicity Ryder’s passport was found in his backpack at the scene. We have reprinted his statement, denying Felicity’s involvement, in full, after the break.

Directory updated

We’ve made a big update to our directory, with more current information on goings on anarchy in Queensland, deleted some dead/inactive/resting groups and more.

2nd Annual Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair 2012

The second annual Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair is a little over a month away. It takes place on Saturday, August 4 at the Abbotsford Convent. Last year’s fair was very successful and this year’s promises to be even more so. For more information please see the bookfair website.

Australian Museum of Squatting

We have added the Australian Museum of Squatting to our blogroll. The website documents the history of modern squatters (not to be confused with the 19th century landowners).

Source: australianmuseumofsquatting.org

Black Rose Books on hiatus, Loophole lynched by landlord

Sydney’s Black Rose Books has closed down after six years at Enmore Road in Newtown. In a post on their website, the collective announced:

After 6 years at 22 Enmore Rd in Newtown, Black Rose Books has once again been moved into storage awaiting it’s next reincarnation. We expect this web address will disappear sometime later this year.

Refer to Jura Books for Anarchist Literature
Peoples’ Kitchen is starting up again on Wednesdays at Dustmonster

Thanks to all those who have been involved over the past 6 years (and the past 30 years!!). There is no collective to be contacted anymore so please direct any questions to Jura books.

Love & Rage

And there you have it.

In other news, Loophole in Melbourne looks set to lose its venue. The fate of Barricade Books, housed at Loophole since they left the Melbourne Anarchist Club, is unknown. The “non-denominational, intergenerational, non-hierarchical, not-for-profit, wheelchair accessible” venue must be vacated by June 11, 2012.

This leaves Jura Books and the Melbourne Anarchist Club as the only permanent anarchist spaces in Australia. Correct us if we’re wrong in the comments.

 

 

Sources: Black Rose and Loophole

Black Star are looking for new members

Black Star PA Collective (Melbourne) are looking for new members. They operate sound equipment. See below.

INTERESTED IN LIVE SOUND?

Black Star PA Collective has been providing live sound to the Activist, Anarchist, and Underground Music scene since 1995. Sound for S11 protests at Crown Casino in 2000, Woomera protests in 2001, Such is Life Punk Festivals, anti-war and peace rallies and countless other benefits and causes are a part of Black Star’s proud history. We are currently looking for new members to keep the collective a sustainable and vital part of Melbourne’s scene.

If you are interested in learning about live sound and want to be involved please email: blackstarpa[at]groups.facebook.com or subnet69[at]optusnet.com.au

ASF flyer for Domino’s workers.

Tonight the ASF Melbourne will be handing out flyers in solidarity with their members in Brisbane who have had their pay cut by 19%.