Towards An Anarchist Federation, June 8–10, 2013
The Melbourne Anarchist Club is organising a gathering to take place on the Queen's Birthday weekend, June 8--10, 2013. The theme of the conference is 'Towards An Anarchist Federation'.
And what better way to celebrate Elizabeth's birthday than to plot the dismantling of her Commonwealth?
A full program will be provided closer to the date, however for those interested a MAC member will be conducting a workshop on the topic of anarchist federation at the upcoming Camp Anarchy (March 9--11).
Dear Channel 9: On the graffiti at Captain Cook’s Cottage
For the record, an open letter to Channel 9 News:
Dear Channel 9,
Re: Cook’s Cottage spray-painted again
We received a message through our Facebook page on February 6 asking for "our side of the story" regarding graffiti on Captain Cook's cottage. It was written in such a way that it was difficult to take seriously. We have pasted it below.
Later that day, we received a more professional message. At that late stage, we determined we had nothing to contribute, even if the contact was genuine. We don't know anything about the graffiti other than what we saw on the news.
We have made no statements or offered any indication that we took responsibility for the action. We are capable of spelling the word "thief" if necessary. Inclusion of our building at 62 St Georges Rd in Northcote in the footage is likely to give your viewers a false impression. We have already received messages (example) indicating that some of your viewers think we conducted the action based on your news item.
We understand that we gave no statement, but we also did not expect silence to be taken as confirmation of responsibility, especially based on the available evidence. As you might imagine, we are a small group ill equipped at responding in a way that your news cycle might demand.
The Melbourne Anarchist Club would appreciate it if you amended the news item to reflect the fact that people claiming to be anarchists have said on the Internet that they wrote the graffiti. The Melbourne Anarchist Club has not claimed or suggested it has claimed responsibility for writing the accurate statement on Captain Cook's cottage. It seems to us that removing footage of our building would be the easiest way of communicating this.
Frankly, there was some debate in the club that Channel 9 news was capable of accurately reporting this news and this contributed to our silence. If you could provide 6 good examples of your accurate or balanced reporting around political action by non-parliamentary groups from the last 3 years, that might go a long way to persuading our group to quickly respond to poorly constructed Facebook messages in the future. We were unable to find a single example of such reporting in our brief search.
Thanks,
–The Melbourne Anarchist Club.
An Evening With Testament (Test Their Logik, CANADA): benefit gig for Freedom Press (UK)
[NB. We now have copies of Testament's album "A" for sale in the infoshop. Recorded, produced, and mixed by Illogik and mastered by Metalworks Studios (known for producing hip-hop acts such as Drake, DMX, and K-OS), "A" is uncompromising in both message and sound. Offering 11 new songs and 3 bonus tracks in just under an hour, it's a lyrical explosion in the face of authority and oppression, a sonic boom in the ears of big brother, and a no-holds-barred escape into rebellion. Ushering in a new era of subversive anti-authoritarian hip-hop, Test Their Logik delivers clear methodical rhymes alternating with rapid-fire lyrical assaults over dark bass- and synth-heavy beats. The album begins with a lyrical experiment never tried by even the most renowned lyricists: a full song only using words that start with the letter A. This title track sets the bar high for what comes next: everything from confrontation to reflection, to dancing, to imprisonment, and liberation.]
Come and spend an evening with our very special guest: Testament, one half of the Canadian hip-hop duo Test Their Logik; North America's most widely-known anarchist hip-hop group.
This is a benefit gig to raise funds for the Freedom Press Bookshop in London, which was firebombed on February 1st. The Melbourne Anarchist Club is organising this benefit to show solidarity and assist with the repair and recovery of their building.
http://www.freedompress.org.uk/news/
ENTRY BY DONATION: $15 waged / $10 unwaged
This is a fundraiser: NO BYO!!!
Doors open 6pm.
With support by MAC's very own anarcho-poet: P@ULIE
Statement on firebomb attack on Freedom Press (London)
The Melbourne Anarchist Club condemns the recent firebomb attack on Freedom Bookshop in London and extends the hand of comradeship in solidarity. As a gesture of our support at our last meeting it was decided to donate AUD500 to assist in the ongoing repair and recovery of the premises.
TOUCH ONE, TOUCH ALL!
Gary Foley: ‘Native Title is not Land Rights’ (Sunday, January 27)
On Sunday, January 27 come down to MAC and hear veteran indigenous activist and eminent historian Gary Foley speak on contemporary indigenous struggles. 2pm start. Light snacks and refreshments available.
Melbourne Anarchist Club
62 St. Georges Rd
Northcote
NB. On Australia/Invasion Day (Saturday, January 26) there's a rally on Wurundjeri country at 8.30am (corner Gertrude & George Sts, Fitzroy) with a smoking ceremony and welcome to country followed by speakers and forums at 9am then a march at midday to the Treasury Gardens for the 'Share the Spirit' Festival (beginning at 1pm).
Stories of struggle from the streets of Spain
Join us for a lively discussion with our special guest speaker Marta de LaPiluka, from La Piluka social centre in Barrio del Pilar, Madrid.
Marta participated in the 15M/Indignado occupation of La Puerta del Sol Plaza in 2011 and has recently returned from Spain where she witnessed events surrounding the occupation of the House of Deputies on September 25.
In addition to providing an update on the current social, political and economic situation in Spain, Marta will focus on police brutality, the criminalisation of dissent, and libertarian struggles for health, education, employment & housing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gvDiiaJogY
WHEN : 2pm, Sunday, December 16th
WHERE : Melbourne Anarchist Club, 62 St Georges Rd, Northcote
Sunday Screening: Harlan County USA
This Sunday at MAC we will be screening the documentary Harlan County USA @ 2pm.
Barbara Kopple’s Academy Award–winning Harlan County USA unflinchingly documents a gruelling coal miners’ strike in a small Kentucky town. With unprecedented access, Kopple and her crew captured the miners’ sometimes violent struggles with strikebreakers, local police, and company thugs. Featuring a haunting soundtrack—with legendary country and bluegrass artists Hazel Dickens, Merle Travis, Sarah Gunning, and Florence Reece—the film is a heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.
Press Statement
We note with interest the reference to the 'Melbourne Anarchist Club' (MAC) in Philip Dorling's article 'Nothing short of anarchy' (The Age, November 14, 2012).
For the record, we have not been contacted by ASIO, will always refuse to provide any information to it if requested, and advise others to do the same.
The MAC exists in order to promote anarchism in Melbourne. We do so by organising public meetings, musical events, social functions and film screenings; attending public rallies and events; producing and distributing propaganda; and otherwise publicising our views.
Our aims and principles may be found on our website. In brief, they comprise a commitment to individual freedom, economic and social equality and working class solidarity. We seek to realise our aim of a classless, non-hierarchical society through education and organisation and the construction of a social movement capable of dismantling capitalism, the state and other forms of exploitation and domination.
For further information on MAC, please feel free to contact us or to attend the Club during our regular opening hours (Sunday, midday to 5pm) or by attending one of our public events.
This Weekend @ MAC
Saturday 3rd November from 2pm:
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Melbourne Anarchist Club, we will be having a BBQ. Entry is free; the cost of food is by donation; and as this is a fundraiser for MAC: NO BYO!
https://www.facebook.com/events/331245723641331/
Sunday 4th November @ 2pm:
In this first Sunday Screening session, we will be showing 'The Wave' (Die Welle). https://www.facebook.com/events/547578395268715/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kddQJPrhzFM
New titles for October 2012
We have some new books at the infoshop. Title, author and price below. MAC is open to the public every Sunday from midday to 5pm.
All Power to the Councils! A Documentary History of the German Revolution of 1918–1919 (Gabriel Kuhn) $27
Anarchism and the City: Revolution and Counter-revolution in Barcelona, 1898–1937 (Chris Ealham) $20
Anarchist Organisation: History of the FAI (Juan Gomez Casas) $20
Anarchist Seeds Beneath the Snow: Left-Libertarian Thought and British Writers from William Morris to Colin Ward (David Goodway) $25
Anarcho-syndicalism: Theory and Practice (Rudolf Rocker) $15
Decolonizing Anarchism: An Antiauthoritarian History of India's Liberation Struggle (Maia Ramnath) $16
Fire and Flames: A History of the German Autonomist Movement (Geronimo) $20
Free Comrades: Anarchism and Homosexuality in the United States (Terrence Kissack) $20
Free Women Of Spain: Anarchism And The Struggle For The Emancipation Of Women (Martha Ackelsberg) $20
Imperiled Life: Revolution Against Climate Catastrophe (Javier Sethness-Castro) $12
No Gods, No Masters (Daniel Guerin) $25
Post-Scarcity Anarchism (Murray Bookchin) $20
Public Power In The Age Of Empire (Arundhati Roy) $5
The Accumulation of Freedom: Writings on Anarchist Economics (Deric Shannon (Editor); Anthony J. Nocella II (Editor); John Asimakopoulous (Editor)) $21
The Child in the City (Colin Ward) $18
The Right to be Lazy: Essays by Paul LaFargue $16
The Russian Anarchists (Paul Avrich) $20
The Unknown Revolution (Voline) $20
Under Three Flags: Anarchism And The Anti-Colonial Imagination (Benedict Anderson) $20
What is Anarchism? (Alexander Berkman) $15
Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots? Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform (Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore) $20