May Day 2010
When : 3pm, Saturday, May 1, 2010
Where : Melbourne Anarchist Resource Centre, 62 St Georges Road, Northcote
May Day is the international workers' day! From 3pm the Melbourne Anarchist Club is hosting a BBQ. Free food (meat and vegetarian) and drinks will be available, or BYO. All are welcome to come and celebrate workers' struggle!
UPDATE: Melbourne Black will also be launching their second issue. A super-deluxe run of 50 with spiffy covers will be there.
Cover of Melbourne Black #2
For more information on the origins of May Day, see The anarchist origins of May Day.
The original Melbourne Anarchist Club was founded on May 1, 1886.
Also on May Day, the RAAF is organising an attention-grabbing direct action around housing issues. For more information, see the RAAF website. There is also a rally in support of refugees at noon at Trades Hall.
On Sunday, May 2, Trades Hall has organised a rally and march. Assemble at noon at Trades Hall, corner Victoria and Lygon Streets, Carlton. (Trades Hall has also organised a gig on May Day. The gig will take place at Trades Hall from 6pm.)
Benefit gig
Chilean Solidarity Benefit Gig : Saturday, April 17, 2010
A benefit gig, organised by the Chilean Popular & Indigenous Solidarity Network, the Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET) and the Melbourne Anarchist Club, is taking place this Saturday, April 17 @ the MUA Hall, 54 Ireland St, West Melbourne, from 7pm ’til late.
Performers include Baka People, Latin/reggae band Madre Monte, hip-hop artist Pataphysics, Us Individuals and more.
Funds raised will be used to support grass-roots and autonomous organisations in Chile: the Sinapsis collective in Santiago and Mapuche (indigenous) peoples, all of whom have been badly-affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami.
Antiracist Rally
Last Friday there was a rally — an "anti-anti-immigration" rally as it was referred to by some — held to counter a proposed anti-immigration and anti-islam gathering that had been advertised on Facebook. The rally was well attended; unions, religious organisations and the usual suspects were there. A half-dozen bewildered racists were spotted at the nearby Young & Jackson's pub and, aside from a young fellow who looked like he might have been celebrating Hitler's birthday a little too early, they kept their distance.
Highlights included Nazeem Hussain from comedy group Fear of a Brown Planet giving the police a fair bit of stick for their own racist antics. Similarly, when the rally's MC implored the crowd to thank the police, it was met by some incredulity and impoliteness. You can see coverage from the media here. Slackbastard also covered this a bit on his blog.
The banner pictured below with "fuck bosses" on it wasn't done by us, but it's still pretty ace. The cops asked the banner-holders to take it down, which they did.
Meanwhile in Sydney on the following Sunday, the far right Australian Protectionist Party bravely held their own Nuremburg-lite out the front of the Villawood Detention Centre. Media reports are scarce, but apparently the racists were outnumbered, although the Sydney rally was more confrontational.
Unfortunately, the racists in Canberra also chose this weekend to announce that all applications by Afghanis and Sri Lankans for asylum will be suspended for six months and that this has absolutely nothing to do with an upcoming election.
Daggy Disco!
A benefit for the Melbourne Anarchist Resource Centre (MARC) and the Black Star PA Collective:
DAGGY DISCO
SATURDAY MAY 23RD
Featuring disco classics from the 70s & 80s & brand spanking new tunes.
Your Old Skool DJs: War Bastard 90310 | Grim Sim | Alice
Plus New Kids: Sam & Anna
SATURDAY, MAY 23RD
OCTO BAR
911 HIGH STREET THORNBURY
(opposite loophole)
$10 workers // $8 shirkers
9pm START
May Day
The Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation and Melbourne Anarchist Club are putting on a May Day celebration on Friday, May 1st.
There will be an ASF picnic at the 8 Hour Monument, cnr of Lygon and Victoria St, opposite near Trades Hall, at 12:00 midday.
Bring food to share.
This will be followed by a social gathering at the Melbourne Anarchist Resource Centre, 62 St Georges Rd, Northcote at 7:00pm.
MAC is also using this event to kick off a regular Friday night anarchist meet-up with drinks and discussion.
[The original 'Melbourne Anarchist Club' was launched on May 1, 1886.]
MAC presents: Two Minutes of Infamy!
Two Minutes of Infamy is a gathering of groups and individuals interested in building grassroots, anti-authoritarian networks.
Contact 2mins[at]anarchobase[dot]com for any additional information. Keep checking back to this website for updates.
Each person has two minutes to promote their project, share their ideas and resources. Get involved in something you feel passionate about in the spirit of mutual aid and solidarity!
Past sessions of 2.M.I. included proposals for anti-war activities, announcements for workshops (e.g. a workshop on making your own website, homebrew, etc), an impromptu surrealist poetry reading (not that we encourage that kind of thing) and individuals looking to start a new group. Your group does not have to be high-concept or ultra-activist; we encourage things as simple as cooking lessons and smashing capitalism.
The session is facilitated by a couple of people (usually a timekeeper and someone experienced in getting a big meeting flowing fast) who will make introductions, lay down the ground rules and, if needed, enforce them. Groups are asked to nominate a delegate who takes a place in the circle (the rest of the group can sit behind the delegate and feed him/her information). The format is roughly like a spokescouncil, though with some modifications.
After everyone has had their two minutes of infamy, we break for beers and music, giving everyone a chance to hook up. In the past, as part of their two minutes, the infamous have nominated a spot in the room where people can meet for more information. Each group will also have a piece of paper on a notice board where people can leave their contact details.
The idea is for groups to share resources and for like-minded lovers of liberty to link up. It's not just about what you can give or take, but about fostering a sense of community and co-operation.
Location:
4PM, TRADES HALL BAR, Saturday 29 JULY 2006
cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
To get to the bar, enter on the Victoria St side of Trades Hall, walk up the stairs. Then there's a little foyer bit, and take the bluestone stairs that are on the left. Or just follow the signs. Disabled access is horrible there, so if you require any assistance accessing the bar, please don't hesitate to drop us an email and we'll make all the arrangements for you. Auslan interpeters may also be provided if required.