London Indymedia

2015 London Anarchist Bookfair - Saturday 24th October

London Anarchist Bookfair | 22.09.2015 21:15 | Culture | London

The 2015 London Anarchist Bookfair will be on Saturday 24th October from 10am to 7pm.

Central Saint Martin’s
University of the Arts London
Granary Building
1 Granary Square
London N1C 4AA


We have finally found a venue suitable for this year’s Bookfair. Central St. Martin’s is a huge building behind Kings Cross train station. It is a fantastic space for us all to display why anarchism is just such a bloody good idea. In these days of hyper capitalism an alternative is needed. That alternative can only be anarchism. Come and find out why.

If you want to book a stall or meeting or want an advert in the bookfair programme go to the bookings page.

What is anarchism?

Like all really good ideas, anarchy is pretty simple when you get down to it. Human beings are at their very best when they are living free of authority, deciding things among themselves, rather than being ordered about. That's what the word means: without government. Read on...

Anarchism and the bookfair

Bookfairs provide a space where like-minded people can come together to re-affirm old friendships, make new ones, discuss all things anarchist and anticapitalist and start planning the future revolution. They're also one of the public faces of anarchism. Anyone unfamiliar with the ideas or wanting to know more about the politics can come along, look through books, sit in or get involved in meetings, workshops and discussions or just chat to the groups and organisations having stalls there.

It is also a space where we counter the rubbish talked about anarchism by sections of the media and our opponents. Bookfairs are one small element of making anarchism a threat to the present political system.

We need people to help us publicise the event to every nook and cranny in London. If you are new to anarchism, check out the pages websites and bookfairs. There are links to anarchist and campaigning groups around the country and anarchist bookfairs throughout the world.

The venue

We will be holding the bookfair at Queen Mary’s university on the Mile End Road again. In 2013, there were a few problems with the venue, including the lift being out of action for part of the day which made it difficult for people with mobility problems getting from floor to floor.

We spent the time after the bookfair looking at other possible venues, but we couldn’t find anything that suited the event better than Queen Mary’s. Most didn’t have the space we needed for 110 stalls, 60 meetings, films and three children and youth spaces. Some did, but they were either far too expensive, or had bad connections (i.e. the Excel building runs the arms fayre as well).

So, we stuck with Queen Mary’s but we have been chatting with the venue about the lift problems in 2013 to try and stop the same problems happening again in 2014.

Access issues

If you have any access requirements, please let us know so we can try and meet your needs. If you are Deaf and require BSL interpreting and/or speech-to-text provision, please give us as much notice as possible and we will do our best to organise these. To discuss any specific access needs, please contact us at access at anarchistbookfair.org.uk.

Dogs

To make the bookfair a safe environment for children and adults alike, we ask people do not bring dogs to the event, except guide dogs. Thanks.

Cameras

Please don’t take photographs – it’s not necessary and it can annoy or concern some people.

See a map of the venue and surrounding area. 

London Anarchist Bookfair
- Homepage: http://www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk/

Additions

More info for the Bookfair

24.09.2015 18:04

local map & travel info
local map & travel info

After-Party no.1
After-Party no.1

sticker
sticker

Please find attached:
- map of area around Kings X & travel directions
- first confirmed after-party
- Bookfair sticker image

We've also set the Bookfair up as a FB event as another way of promoting it, please share the link and invite your friends/networks if you are on FB -  https://www.facebook.com/events/146988205647146/

Thanks!

Bookfair volunteer
mail e-mail: mail@anarchistbookfair.org.uk
- Homepage: http://anarchistbookfair.org.uk/


Check the date - 24 October 2015

29.09.2015 22:54

Apols to P and others and thanks for pointing out errors in the original post! The perils of rushed cut n pastes!

The 2015 London Anarchist Bookfair will be on Saturday 24th October 2015 from 10am to 7pm.

At Central Saint Martin’s (University of the Arts London), Granary Building, 1 Granary Square,
London N1C 4AA. Nearest station is Kings Cross.

"We have finally found a venue suitable for this year’s Bookfair. Central St. Martin’s is a huge building behind Kings Cross train station. It is a fantastic space for us all to display why anarchism is just such a bloody good idea. In these days of hyper capitalism an alternative is needed. That alternative can only be anarchism. Come and find out why."

Bookfair meetings programme now online here -  http://www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk/whatson.html

Bookfair vol
mail e-mail: mail@anarchistbookfair.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk/


Comments

Hide the following 35 comments

Check the dates

27.09.2015 22:24

Hi can someone check the dates and years because 2013,14 are being posted as if thats where we are. 2015 :-)

P


are Counterfire welcome?

30.09.2015 16:46

Hi,

can i come to the bookfair, and bring leaflets and publicise and ask people to join Counterfire?

Counterfire is not a party and it is not a heirarchal organisation, unlike the SWP, of which i used to be a member of.

Anarchists should get behind Jeremy Corbyn.

trot


Anarchist bookfair

01.10.2015 08:27

The fringe of a fringe of a fringe trying to convince each other their views are relevent.

The anarchist scene in the UK has always been the home of sad delusional nutters and the bookfair is where the saddest of that group gather.

Yal


Re - "are Counterfire welcome"

01.10.2015 09:32

Why don't you just fuck off

Does that answer your question ?

London Anarchist Bookfair


Location

01.10.2015 10:05

Really terrible choice of building, you have had a year to prepare for the bookfair and you choose this bloody awfull venue. You need to do better.

Andi


Get a job!

01.10.2015 11:11

Why don't you morons get a job instead of causing trouble? Anarchism is nothing more than a big bunch of unemployed squatters causing trouble on the streets of London. The public hate you and think you are scum so get a fucking job!

Working Londoner


are Counterfire welcome?

04.10.2015 14:34

a very libertarian response - 'fuck off' above by London Anarchist bookfair.

you should read this powerful piece:

 http://www.counterfire.org/articles/analysis/17851-the-steam-and-the-piston-box-is-autonomism-an-alternative

and see through Anarchism/Autonomism.

trot


Cheers for the clarifications

04.10.2015 17:02

No worries Bookfair vol and here's to a 2015 Anarchist Bookfair that brings together anarchists and their supporters from all over.

Oh and by the way fuck off counterfire!

Although I'm sure some of you have been to previous bookfairs as individual libertarian socialists, and will again because you know anyone anarcho-curious is always welcome

Love and Rage

P


Counterfire at the Anarchist bookfair.

05.10.2015 00:27

hey P - not very comradely of you ' fuck off counterfire'.
i thought we were on the same side!!

I strongly advise you to read and study very carefully John Molyneux, who's not in Counterfire btw, and his excellent talk on Anarchism:

a review

 http://socialistsolidarity.ca/anarchism.html

"…an obsession with direct action can lead to a separation between the dedicated minority and the less committed majority. The former can become cut off from the latter and develop the illusion that it is only the dramatic deeds of a tiny group of insiders that really count for anything."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaDxFA1XCdc

this is his talk on youtube, which all Anarchists should watch and learn from, given at the SWP's Marxism festival 2012. Why are there no critical voices at the Anarchist bookfair?

I think that the Anarchist bookfair should invite John Molyneux to give a talk, or Chris Nineham from Counterfire. this is worth reading for Anarchists.

 http://www.counterfire.org/theory/37-theory/5262-lenin-the-vanguard-party-and-the-working-class

see you at the bookfair!

Trot


fuck off counterfire

05.10.2015 11:09

got the message authoritarians? we don't want John Rees and his crew, you have your own thing, you go to that and preach to the converted.

love peace and anarchy

anarkoist


Vanguardism for beginners

06.10.2015 18:20

See Trot we know your type only too well. You claim to know better than us.

You 'strongly' recommend we read this or that and we will have to be led to whatever kind of society you want. Just like the Capitalists you have no faith in ordinary working class people, just a desire to lead for your own gain.

Now if you've had enough of that shit and you would like to have your personal opinion valued as much as anyone else then get yourself along to the Anarchist Bookfair and enjoy the experience...

P


why counterfire is not vanguardist

06.10.2015 19:03

Hi P

this is what i'm trying to get at. Counterfire are not the SWP, and are not Vanguardists. Anarchists can work with us, and we can work with Anarchists.

I used to be an Anarchist, but i grew up and became a marxist, joined the swp and then went with counterfire in the split.

I guess i'm trying to get Anarchists involved with the Peoples Assembly, and for them to not stay out of broad popular movements.

Anarchists have nothing to say regarding things such as the EU refurendum, and can learn from articles such as this:

 http://www.counterfire.org/articles/analysis/17993-another-europe-is-necessary

which argues for a no to europe vote.
this is more important than whatever people at the Anarchist bookfair are talking about. Direct action is quite limited.

you're either with the workers or the boss. i know which side i'm on, and its time to get involved with serious politics. Counterfire is the place for disiilusioned Anarchists.

Trot


Counterfart cant even run a cafe-

06.10.2015 20:57

hi Trot

yadda yadda yadda. ok we'll check your newsite.
you should check out this. John Rees as Hitler


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dkpaht72dQ

go fuck yourselves Counterfire!
patronising dick, we got all the answers.
can't even run a bloody cafe.

 https://ianbone.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/rees-germans-firebox-cafe-closed-and-bankrupt-just-like-their-ideas/

REES -GERMAN’S FIREBOX CAFE CLOSED AND BANKRUPT – JUST LIKE THEIR IDEAS

Oh my aching sides – they can’t even run a fucking café – the end for the TOXIC TWINS – this despite getting money from endless benefits and a desperate but failed crowd sourcing operation

Last week Firebox was locked and empty, with a bailiff’s notice pinned to the door, threatening criminal proceedings against anyone who re-enters, and what looked like £1,000’s worth of books, decorations, furniture and utensils scattered over the floor of this by-now clearly defunct enterprise.


Pdiddy


peoples assembly is not a counterfire front

08.10.2015 14:30

Hi Anarchists,

you've got to realise that Counterfire are hugely responsible for getting Jeremy Corbyn elected as leader of the Labour party. But now we need to put pressure on Labour with the Peoples Assembly,

 http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/supporters

I dont see the names of any Anarchist groups or organisations. Anarchists need to get with the Peoples Assembly.

also, anyone living in London needs to get out there are start campaigning for George Galloway.
Anarchists as well as others should vote for Galloway.

Trot


one response

09.10.2015 14:58

"can i come to the bookfair, and bring leaflets and publicise and ask people to join Counterfire?"

If you want my opinion (not an organiser) then I would say Counterfire members are welcome to come along, discuss ideas etc (as long as they aren't there to deliberately disrupt) but that Counterfire publicity is not welcome. Counterfire is a top-down organisation which we aren't interested in providing a platform for.

anon


Counterfire are libertarian

09.10.2015 18:05

Counterfire is not a political party. As such, there is no basis for Anarchists to object to Counterfire and RS21 coming to the Anarchist bookfair. Ex SWP yes, but not SWP. Counterfire are not rape apologists.

Also, it is not a top down organisation. In fact, most Anarchist groups are top down, secretive groups that imagine they work on behalf of the workers. This is about socialism from below, at the heart of the Counterfire vision, of the IS tradition.


 http://www.counterfire.org/comment/6338-socialism-from-below-trotskys-revolutionary-life

and also remember the best Anarchists, such as Victor Serge, joined the Bolsheviks:

 http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/29587/How+Victor+Serge+kept+the+flame+of+the+Russian+Revolution+alive

All i'm asking for is that the Anarchist bookfair to make it clear what groups are not allowed, and on what grounds.
Who has made that decision, and was there a vote? if not, then the Anarchist bookfair is itself an authoritarian top down organisation, with a secret shadowy leadership directing things.

Counterfire will be at the Anarchist bookfair, but not to disrupt.








Trot


Counterfire

09.10.2015 18:19

I tend to find the reverse is true and that folk get herded down the well trodden trot tracks whilst students before realising they no longer need to hold their mum's hand and take their first brave steps into grass roots bottom up organising. Counterfire is your mum worrying that her progeny have flown the nest and trying to find a new identity or a new set of students to indoctrinate.

Laurie Penny's Eye Lash


Hello Trot

09.10.2015 19:41

I'm patiently looking for something positive from yourself or anyone else involved in your little group, but I don't see it.

Anarchists understand what marxism is, many anarchists have studied the works of Marx, and moved beyond to an understanding of Proudhon and Bakunin. Moved on to an understanding of how working class people can organise themselves and do this in everyday life without any political labels being attached. We don't care about your icons, your leaders or your various little groupings.

What we care about is working class people organising and self managing themselves in whatever ways work best.



P


listen anarchist

09.10.2015 23:19

Anarchists may have read a little Marx, but not much Lenin, Trotsky, and Tony Cliff.

Counterfire dominate the Stop the War coalition
Counterifre were responsible for getting Jeremy Corbyn elected.

you should check out this, John Rees 'Can there be a revolution today?'

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tINvjmxZpvQ

Trot


Lol

10.10.2015 08:00

"Counefire dominate the Stop the War Coalition."

And look how successful that has been in stopping wars.

Laurie Penny's Eye Lash


Hi Trot

10.10.2015 17:21

As I'm sure most people reading this will know trotsky along with his other authoritarian playmates lenin and stalin were responsible for destroying any working class revolutionary ambitions post ww1, and then complacent in inflicting the terrible fascism of the 1930's upon the growing working class movements in Spain, Italy and France.

You don't have to shout at us Trot, we know.

P


Joseph Proudhon

10.10.2015 17:50

Proudhon and his children, by Gustave Courbet, 1865
Proudhon and his children, by Gustave Courbet, 1865

In The General idea of the Revolution 1851 Proudhon urged a "society without authority."

"To be GOVERNED is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be GOVERNED is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, prevented, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be place[d] under contribution, drilled, fleeced, exploited, monopolized, extorted from, squeezed, hoaxed, robbed; then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused, clubbed, disarmed, bound, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality."

Joseph Proudhon -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Joseph_Proudhon





anarchist


one sided hypocritical Anarchists

11.10.2015 16:10

yes, i know the Proudhon quote. Great quote, but not entirely true. And you know it to.
After all, if you are so anti state, then don't claim unemployment benefits, go to NHS hospitals and recieve free healthcare, go to state schools for a free education etc.


This is why it is of the greatest imperative for Counterfire to come to the Anarchist bookfair, and argue for defending the welfare state, not the warfare state. Anarchists should support the cuts, because it is cutting down the state. but they are forced to forget this part of their idiots ideology, and act like socialists.

Its just hypocritical to claim to be anti state and claim benefits like most Anarchists do.

The best Anarchists can see through a lot of this one sided anti state rhetoric, and see that we need to defend the NHS, education and campaign against the cuts and austerity.

you should read this and read it carefully:

 http://www.counterfire.org/articles/analysis/18010-corbyn-electability-and-the-middle-england-myth

Trot


an example of a joint campaign that Anarchists and Trots can work together with

11.10.2015 18:51

Here is a campaign, not controlled by Counterfire by the way, promise, that is a positve campaign that can have real world results, and not just posturing by masked hooligans.

This is momentum,

 http://www.peoplesmomentum.com/

i hope Anarchists can get involved with this, and quote from above so Anarchists can make up their own minds. This is more real than any Anarchist posturing and window smashing, quote from site above:


Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader has transformed into Momentum - a network of people and organisations that will continue the energy and enthusiasm of Jeremy's campaign.
What does Momentum want to do?

Organise in every town, city and village to create a mass movement for real progressive change.

Make Labour a more democratic party, with the policies and collective will to implement them in government.

Bring together individuals and groups in our communities and workplaces to campaign and organise on the issues that matter to us.
How will Momentum do this?

Organise events, rallies, meet ups and policy consultations to encourage mass mobilisation for a more democratic, equal and decent society.

Encourage those inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's campaign to get involved with the Labour Party. Assist members in making their voice heard in Labour Party debates.

Facilitate and coordinate people to build new and support existing organisations that can make concrete improvements to people's lives. Through these actions, we aim to demonstrate on a micro level how collective action and Labour values can transform our society for the better.
Who runs it?

Formed as a successor to the Corbyn campaign, Momentum is in the process of setting up governance arrangements to represent its supporters amongst the Labour Party membership as well as the wider social movement which is springing up. As it grows, Momentum will develop democratic governance structures at every level of the network.
What is the relationship to Labour and Jeremy Corbyn?

Momentum is the successor entity to the Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader campaign but it is independent of the Labour Party's leadership. It will work with everyone who supports Jeremy's aim of creating a more fair, equal and democratic society.

Trot


counterfire are shit

11.10.2015 23:00

Counterfire are shit,
Counterfire can't even run a fuckin' caff.
authoritarianism is not welcome
fuck Corbyn and Labour too, as well as Owen Jones, Russel Brand etc. fuck them

no gods, no masters!

Bakunin


We should all live in yurts and subside on hay

12.10.2015 09:39

You've got to be some kind of apolitical clown to think anarchists would argue in favour of cuts to public services - which they had paid for through tax - as a means of being rid of the state. The state is used as a vehicle of class warfare by the wealthy against the vulnerable. This happens in societies organised along hierarchical lines - including under Labour Govts and Authoritarian 'Communist' regimes - arguing to get rid of the few things that are actually beneficial to the working class won't change shit.

Kindly piss off.

Off You Trot


Read Marx?

12.10.2015 12:38

of course anarchists read marx but why read tony cliff or lenin who are authoritarians and outdated?
this is an anarchist application of marx to contemporary working practices that deliberately disenfranchise working class people.
 https://malatesta32.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/casual-labour3.pdf

malatesta
- Homepage: malatesta32.wordpress.com


anarchists should read this

12.10.2015 19:44

Hi,

Anarchists should read this

 http://www.counterfire.org/articles/book-reviews/15338-tony-cliff-a-marxist-for-his-time

of course, Anarchists are against austerity, but they are inconsistent, as they are against the state, but defending it. That's why thinking Anarchists should join Counterfire.

trot


Anarchists are against this and for that...

13.10.2015 18:57

Anarchists are against the state and capitalism. However we are for self management in all aspects of our lives, and mutually agreed ways of working together for the benefit of us all.

See we don't need the bosses who always want to control us and tell us what to do. It's good to be able to discuss all aspects of our existence without feeling forced in to certain narrow roles.

It's ok don't be afraid, be brave and come to the Anarchist Bookfair :-)

P


anarchists are infantile

15.10.2015 22:20

Hi P

I hope that i can convince some Anarchists to grow up, stop their infantile leftism, and join Counterfire or get involved with supporting Jeremy Corbyn.

How are you going to get to Anarchism? obviously you can't without first smashing the state and setting up a dictatorship of the proleteriat, or workers democracy, in the manner of Lenin and Trotsky. Only after, can the state be dissolved, as classes are abolished.

Do not mistake Stalinism for authentic socialism from below. Tony Cliff is a must read for Anarchists.

Trot


Ah now....

16.10.2015 10:22

their you go with the old infantile leftism. It's only ever a matter of time. Lenin would be proud.

Rob


Counterfire student wankers

17.10.2015 22:19

Counterfire- you are welcome, but cut your crap,
Counterfire are just a bunch of student wankers playing proletarian.


love peace and Anarchy

icepick


anarchists are authoritarian, but fuck counterfire anyway.

20.10.2015 14:41

The Anarchist bookfair unfairly bans the International Communist current from attending the Anarchist bookfair and having a stall inside the venue. why is this?

The ICC uphold the communist left, the council communists and Soviets. The ICC are internationalists and reject all forms of nationalism or socialism in one country.

 http://en.internationalism.org/

Actually, there is no basis to ban Counterfire, RS21 and other IS tendency groups, as they are not parties.
But Counterfire are a bunch of wankers, so fuck them anyway.

The International Communist Current should be allowed in, however, and ICC speakers should be allowed to have meetings.

After all, the Situationist International were far closer to left communism than anarchism, which Guy Debord and others regarded as being rather crude theoretically.

and not buying into Corbyn either. Hahaha!

ultra leftist trot


Former Police Intelligence Analyst Sacked For Calling 7/7 A Monstrous Lie

22.10.2015 05:29

A former police intelligence analyst has gone public with his views that the official story July 7 London Bombings is a “monstrous lie,” and the attacks were “perpetrated by our own intelligence agencies, with clear government complicity”, unsurprisingly causing his career to take a sudden downturn.

Tony Farrell used to be the Principal Intelligence Analyst of South Yorkshire Police … that was until he stumbled upon online research that suggests we were lied to about 7/7 and the 9/11 attacks in the US.

“Last September I was dismissed after 17 years service because of my incompatible beliefs,” Mr. Farrell told WideShut.

In July 2010 Tony began to discover alternative information about the 9/11 attacks on the internet and came to the conclusion that there must have been government complicity. Not clear on how to move forward, he shared his conclusion with a Church minister, who prompted him to take a look in to the July 7, London Bombings as well. After analysing the official government narrative alongside other independent research he concluded that the official 7/7 story was also suspicious.

Because he no longer believed the official theory of the “war on terror”, when tasked with his yearly “strategic threat assessment” by South Yorkshire police he decided to do things a little differently.

“Basically because I did not believe the official versions of the attacks of 9/11 and 7/7, I refused to be perpetuate the lies in my assignment”, part of which included the threat of home grown Islamic extremists, those deemed solely responsible for the 7/7 attacks.

Instead on July 8th, 2010, Mr. Farrell handed in his assessment, this year claiming the biggest threat to society wasn’t Islamic terrorists, but “state sponsored terrorism.”

“This stance led to my dismissal,” he explained.

Farrell was dismissed without any allegations of misconduct, rather a statement that his views were incompatible with the rest of the team.

The Director of Finance said:
“It is a very sad occasion as you have done some excellent work for South Yorkshire Police and I have never been involved in a situation like today. Your beliefs are very sincere and you may be right, but it is I’m afraid incompatible at the moment with where we are.” [1]

Mr. Farrell has appealed the dismissal and the final hearings of the Tribunal will be heard in early September 2011.

Crossposter


Counterfire will be at Anarchist bookfair,

23.10.2015 21:08

Hi

members of Counterfire will be at the Anarchist bookfair.

Trotsky was right about Kronstadt!

The best anarchists, such as Victor Serge joined the Bolsheviks, so likewise the best contemporary anarchists will join Counterfire.

Trot


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