Dublin Anarchist Bookfair 2008

by Gregor Kerr - WSM Bookfair Organising Group Tue Feb 05, 2008 18:47

Go to http://www.wsm.ie/bookfair for more info on the Bookfair. This will be updated as meetings/speakers/stalls/socials etc are finalised

by Bookworm Wed Feb 06, 2008 14:58

What kinds of books will be for sale, and what kinds of books will not be for sale?

by Lara Hill Thu Feb 14, 2008 16:32

Hi Bookworm, I checked out the Anarchist Bookfair for the first time last year. You won't find any Cathy Kelly here or anything at all from the bestsellers list, but the top thing for me about the Book Fair was the zines! As far as I know it's the only outlet for foreign zines in Dublin and it's only bloody on once a year. I was delighted to see 'Morgenmuffel' available there last year. Also an all time favourite, Irish zine, 'Loserdom' was for sale. Apart from the wonderful zine stall, it's pretty much -surprise, surprise - books on anarchism. Please bring back the zine stall this year!

by Gregor Kerr - Dublin WSM Bookfair Organising Group Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:49

We're still finalising the schedule of speakers for this year's bookfair. This is what it looks like at the moment. Hope there's something there to grab your interest

Room A
12:00 - 1:15pm: "Incompetence or Sabotage? - the government and public health"
Speakers: Dr. Ciara McMeel, a GP in Dublin's North Inner City
Sara Burke, freelance journalist and health policy analyst
Alan Morkan, Workers Solidarity Movement

1:30 – 2:30pm: The State Bites Back: The story of how the State threatened Pavee Point for standing up for Roma people last summer and how this is nothing new
Speakers: Martin Collins, Pavee Point and a WSM speaker

2:45 – 3:45pm: Climate Change – how can it be stopped?
A panel of speakers discuss the climate crisis

4:00 – 5:00pm: Solidarity in Action - Palestine: What effective action can grassroots activists take here?
Speaker from Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Fergal Finnegan, WSM

5:15 – 6:15pm: Making Cops accountable - What Communities can do to organise resistance!
Speakers: Dr. Graham Smith School of Law, University of Manchester
Gregor Kerr, WSM
Other speakers to be confirmed

Room B
1:30 – 2:30pm: Not Bush, not the Mullahs - Working class solidarity & Iran
Speakers: Anne McShane, Hands Off People of Iran
Conor McLoughlin, Workers Solidarity Movement

2:45 – 3:45pm: Against a Europe of Capital
A panel of speakers discuss organising against the Lisbon Treaty

4:00 – 5:00pm: Developing Autonomous Spaces - The politics and practicalities
Speaker from Cork Autonomous Zone and Mark Malone, WSM
Other speakers to be confirmed

5:15 – 6:15pm: Organising the Unorganised - Trade union organisation in 2008
Speakers: Eoghan Ryan, Dublin Branch Secretary Independent Workers Union
Stephen Lewis, Organiser, Community Branch, SIPTU (pers. cap.)
Paddy Maphoso, trade union activist and campaigner for the rights of migrant workers
Constantinos Avramidas, WSM

Room C
1:30 – 2:30pm: They fuck you up - exploring family structures
A discussion hosted by Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group

2:45 – 3:45pm: Reclaiming Democracy - A basic introduction to anarchist ideas and the politics of the Workers Solidarity Movement
Speakers: Jose Antonio Gutierez D.and Dermot Sreenan, Workers Solidarity Movement

4:00 – 5:00pm: Feminism and Class
A panel of speakers from Workers Solidarity Movement and Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group

5:15 – 6:15pm: Our Bodies, Our Choices - Organising the fight for abortion rights in Ireland
Speakers: Niav Keating, Choice Ireland
Dr. Mary Favier, Doctors For Choice
Padraic Stack, WSM

by me Fri Feb 15, 2008 14:08

Interesting programme and lots of speakers though I notice that they are all marked by the WSM. And some of the WSM speakers hardly qualify on experts or activists on the topics they're speaking on. Very SWPish actually.

Anyways sounds like a day to look fwd to.

by me Fri Feb 15, 2008 14:11

Not sure about RAG using a line from that misogynist Philip Larkin in their meeting title.

by me 2 Fri Feb 15, 2008 14:15

?

Is there something wrong with a line from Philip Larkin being used in such a manner.
when art is done it belongs to the people not the suits who think they lead nor to
the corporates who sell it for profit.

by me Fri Feb 15, 2008 14:25

What do you mean 'art' belongs to the people once done? Okay, do we embrace all those statues of kings, queens and manifold oppressors that clog up the streets of Europe?

All I was saying is that Larkin was an auld bollocks. I wouldn't use a line from one of his poems for the title of any leftie meeting.

by Failed poet Fri Feb 15, 2008 15:50

Philip Larkin was an accomplished practitioner of well crafted verse; none of that rambling free-verse-banged-out-on-a-typewriter zilch. Ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration is what separates the poets from the doggerel versifiers. The art that impresses and survives goes beyond the private life of the artist. Picasso had a whale of a time with several women but mistreated some emotionally. T.S.Eliot's sex life was a misery because of his first wife's mental illness. Hemingway never lived up to the macho sexuality portrayed in his novels: prizewinning journalist Martha Gellhorn dropped him disgustedly after a short marriage. So what? The art of those three will find empathisers for a long time because it has more than the lives and blemished personalities of those who created.

by Sean Mallory Fri Feb 15, 2008 20:11

Whats wrong with the fact that at an anarchist bookfair that there is an anarchist speaker at all meetings. Its the whole point surely.

Alternativelty we could organise meetings and put on speakers who are not anarchists - sounds like a really good way to spread anarchist ideas- one of the points of the bookfair

by Gregor - Bookfair Organising Group Tue Feb 19, 2008 19:13

A couple of changes to the timetable above:
1) The meetings on Iran and Palestine have been switched so the Palestine meeting will now take place in Room B at 1:30pm and the Iran meeting will be in Room A at 4:00pm. The IPSC speaker at the Palestine meeting has been confirmed as Dave Landy.

2) Two speakers have been confirmed for the meeting on the Lisbon treaty - Barry Finnegan of the Campaign Against the EU Constitution and Finbar Dwyer of WSM

Further updates as they happen on www.wsm.ie/bookfair

by black flagan Thu Feb 28, 2008 18:55

Why is this on the same time as the gluaiseacht trip to london???

Are the anarchists scared of actually doing something? or is getting boots on the streets out of fashion?

by d'other Thu Feb 28, 2008 20:56

Jesus, Black Flagon - is your brain power flagging down a little to the dim side this evening? Can't you see its a conspiracy? The bold Wizzum, long now in the pay of the state, used it's relentless power of clairvoyant intellect this time last year, to scan through yet to be published, future event notices on Indymedia. Then they seized upon an event they thought worthy of screwing up with a clash. And that trip to London was the ideal one.

Sure you know they are just, deep, deep, deep moles in the Irish left, answering to both the Vatican, as well as the reptilian bloodline that rules the world. Think of it! What a story for Hollywood to tell! Reptiles, biblical codes, trench coated anarchists, love trysts aboard ferry ships to the UK, Oirish accented republicans and meeting clashes on the Irish left! After his brave Oscar winning performance in Once, odds are Glen Hansard will be playing the lead.

by Black Flagan Thu Feb 28, 2008 22:06

Splitter :)

by Gregor - Bookfair Organising Group Sun Mar 02, 2008 17:20

Please note that in order to facilitate the speakers, we've had to switch the Palestine Meeting and the Iran meeting so

Solidarity in Action - Palestine: What effective action can grassroots activists take here?
Speakers Dave Landy, Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Fergal Finnegan, WSM will be at 1:30pm in Room B

and

Not Bush, not the Mullahs - Working class solidarity & Iran
Speakers: Anne McShane, Hands Off People of Iran and Conor McLoughlin, Workers Solidarity Movement will be at 4:00pm in Room A

See www.wsm.ie/bookfair for full details

by . Sun Mar 02, 2008 17:23

Any timeslot with activities for kids ?

by Gregor Sun Mar 02, 2008 18:44

We aim to make the Bookfair a parent/kid friendly event.
There will be a parent - child room available

by . Sun Mar 02, 2008 23:17

Good to hear there is a space for parents / kids ,is it part of the fare ,like would there be any interesting activities ,games or books for kids ? Or is it a place to be banished to for breeding ?

by Gregor Thu Mar 06, 2008 20:16

Sorry for the delay in getting back on this.
The room we are providing is basically a space where parents and kids can go. It's not a creche or a childminding service. We're hoping to provide some facepainting etc but it's going to be up to parents themselves to organise minding of their kids. We're not in a position to sort that - Sorry!
Anyone who's able to bring along any toys or games for sharing with other kids = please feel free to do so.

by C - - Mon Mar 10, 2008 21:05

If it tops last years, it'll be a great day. Shame I'll be legging it off for the IAWM march halfway though!

by ita Tue Mar 11, 2008 17:52

Are there any restrictions on what sort of toys we can bring?

by Gregor Tue Mar 11, 2008 18:16

'Child friendly'
Not sure what toys you're thinking of that wouldn't be child friendly Ita.
We've organised that there'll be a telly and DVD player in the kids' room. We're hoping that there might be some more interactive entertainment - that's down to whoever turns up. Bring a few of your kid's favourite toys - or at leat ones that he/she won't mind sharing with others.

by Ciaran - WSM, Lucy Parsons Branch Thu Mar 13, 2008 13:52

An ideal way to recover from/ continue the action:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86496&comment_limit=0&c...22729

by moderate Thu Mar 13, 2008 15:44

Sounds like it's going to be a great gig. I like the poster very much -it's a marked improvement on the cleched fist graphic for the Galway WSM gig posted up earlier this month on indymedia . A young , liberated woman leaping joyously against the soft pink light of a dawning sky ;that's just the image anarchists need to convey to the public .
I sense a moment of dawning or of rebirth occuring for anarchism as a movement right now,and I sense that I am not alone in my assessment. It is surely time we moved on ,moved beyond the old ,tired cliches and the angry divisive rhetoric that has stifled the growth of our movement for too long.
We must be frank with ourselves .The average person ,the so called man or woman on the street , views anarchism with no small measure of derision. It is for us to prove them wrong for we know that Anarchism's spirit is the spirit of the future .
Keep taking it higher !

by protestor Fri Mar 14, 2008 08:22

Could the people coming to the bookfair please postpone the walk on sunday afternoon and get a bus eireann bus on sunday to help support the protestors at rath lugh at the moment.

I know that you have organised your talks & discussions for Saturday, but if there are a lot of visiting activists there it would really make a difference to have some support and help on sunday, rather than people just walking around the city centre and/or going drinking again during the day, when there is an environmental struggle happening right now, which is destroying a part of our history right now. It doesnt even have to be an action, just some solidarity would go a long way

by Bakunin Fri Mar 14, 2008 09:18

"Look, we're not a bunch of anarchists trying to get rid of corporate greed. We're just trying to save this valley. I don't know if I want to live in a world that doesn't have places like Tara in it"

unfortunatley for ye the people at the bookfair will be anarchists, are tryin to end corporate greed and will be sceptical about the virtues of saving tara.

by history Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:35

i dont know where that quote is from, sorry.
i think people would appreciate it - and not all protestors at tara have the exact same ideology.
maybe some of them dont agree with anarchism - may i suggest you be the bigger people and show you're willing to extend your support to other campaigns which arent directly linked to social revoluion. one good gesture often provokes others in return - opening up possible avenues to work with each other in future too.

just because some of them hold different values to the anarchist ideas doesnt mean they arent worth supporting in their fight against the state

not all rossport residents or all of the wheelock family are interested in an anarchist revolution, but their struggles have been supported - why not this one thats currently alive, and in need of support as the cops and state bear all their weight on it to crush opposition?

if there was ever to be a revolution in this country, there will be other people out there who will be involved in struggles that wont just be taking place in the workplace.

this is one thats happening right now. it deserves support.

by Starstruck - WSM Fri Mar 14, 2008 21:25

Wind down after the event of the year in the Clifden Court-
There will be a get together from 8pm onwards after the close of the bookfair upstairs in the Clifden Court Hotel,11 Eden Quay.
Craic,ceol agus Ol will be had.
Bring MP3 players of ye want yer music played.
See y'all there.

To get to the Clifden Court go down O'Connell Street towards the river on the side opposite the GPO,hang a left before the bridge and walk 25 metres down where you will see the Hotel.
The function room is upstairs on the left.

Heres a link to a map for those who don't get my directional style.
http://www.astorhall.com/img/map.gif

by moderate Sat Mar 15, 2008 13:46

The Rath Lugh people are doing a fine job and I think there will definitely be a Save Tara stall with a petition at the bookfair . Everybody should make sure they sign it and if possible take copies .

I don't see why the post-gig wind down couldn't have happened in the Teachers Club which is where most people are going to be anyway . There's a much more tranquil ,laid back atmosphere there and you don't have to shout to get served at the bar . It would allow space for discussions arisng from the seminars to be continued informally . The Teachers Club has the added advantage of having smaller rooms close at hand where those who may wish to meditate or just generally chill out could go to recharge their batteries after what is indeed shaping up to be the event of the year.

That's not to say that there shouldn't also be a chance for those atending the bookfair to feel and express the primal free spirit of anarchism kinetically . We really need to start thinking outside the box a bit more if we are going to connect our message to the aspirations of the wider public -aspirations of which they may not be fully aware of ,but which are nonetheless equally valid as part of the libertarian/anarchist /mystic phenonemenom . Instead of MP3 players and the usual Saturday night brougha wouldn't this have been a wonderful opportunity for a night of ,spiral-energy centred dance?

by Browser Sat Mar 15, 2008 20:23

I was at the Book fair & enjoyed it immensely-got myself several interesting books.

Well done to all involved!

by dunk Mon Mar 17, 2008 14:14

hope ye all had a fine time

heres a little momento from the first bookfair

http://tuba.obin.org/obin_org/video/wawa/04-03-06-bookf...r.mpg

by moderate Thu Mar 20, 2008 17:27

The rain was unremmitting throughout the day and the Tara situation came at a pretty lousy time for the bookfair ,so it's understandable if numbers were down a little this year .But people shouldn’t be overly dispirited . (I wasn't able to attend myself because of an unavoidable previous commitment - also involving green issues , and also somewhat spolied by the weather btw.)

It would have been good to get a report back from the bookfair by now – even if that had meant facing the movement up to some uncomfortable truths that should really be self evident. . As I have said in previous posts , anarchists need to address the fact that we are viewed as being somehow 'not serious' by the vast majority of people outside of our own circles .Gigs such as the bookfair can provide opportunities for a ‘creating of space ‘ and a positive engagement with the public in this regard .

Of course we know that far from being a joke , anarchism is a radical , forward looking movement of engaged ,committed people .But perception is important ! If we want people to see things our way , we should surely be at least prepared to look at how people see us . A positive , but sober, self criticism will not be to the movement’s detriment . On the contrary by fearless challenging our own shortcomings we can begin to at last rehabilitate the good name of anarchism .

by Andrew Thu Mar 20, 2008 17:39

I understand a report is being put together but despite the apparent bad weather (I'm not in Ireland) attendance was only slightly down on last year - estimates I've see are in the range of 400-600 and sales from the WSM stall were very slightly ahead of last year.

by Gregor Fri Mar 21, 2008 14:06

Far from anyone being 'overly dispirited' - or dispirited at all in fact - and far from having to face 'uncomfortable truths', we've been having a few days well-earned rest after a hugely successful Bookfair.

Mind you that 'rest' has included the distribution of several thousand leaflets promoting the Dublin Council of Trade Unions March for a Decent Health Service - and we'll be in Dublin city centre again tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon doing this if anyone wants to join us.

And hopefully by early next week we'll have a Report on the Bookfair published for all to read.

by moderate Sat Mar 22, 2008 14:28

On a positive note .It’s reassuring to see that more experienced 'steadier-hand' anarchists like Gregor and Andrew are beginning to address the issues I have raised . But please chill out Gregor , don’t take me up the wrong way ! I wasn’t implying that anarchists are in any way dispirited by the lower than expected turn out . Perhaps a few hot- headed types may feel that way ,but it is my firm belief that the overwhelming majority of decent ,caring anarchists will join me in congratulating the organizers for the hard work they put into the gig.
I'm already looking forward to next year's bookfair!

by soundmigration - wsm Sat Mar 22, 2008 17:55

me wonders where the reports of dispirited anarchists come from. would be great to let us know moderate, personally i met up with loads of folks over the wknd and none seemed dispirited

also wonder about your posts? i'm asking sincerly here, as it seems you see a clear marcation between "overwhelming majority of decent ,caring anarchists..." and supposed others???? not sure i get ya on that one

not sure either that how from this thread that you see "'steadier-hand' anarchists like Gregor and Andrew are beginning to address the issues I have raised ". I'm sure they will agree as they have just noted that a bookfair report is on the way??? i'm confused as to what issues you feel have been addressed ??

As for anarchist not been seem "as serious", perhaps just a different choosing of words, but i'd go so far as to say that the majority of folks in the country have very little idea what anarchism is or what anarchist are fighting for. A situation i'd like to see changed for sure but a different thing than being seen as not serious

by moderate Mon Mar 24, 2008 15:23

It's good that people aren't dispirited soundmigration ,I'm sorry if you took me up the wrong way on that . Numbers aren't the main issue of course and I'm sure there are many good reasons why attendance was down this year .
I do think ,as I said in my previous post , that it is important for us to see the positive gains for anarchists that can come out of gigs like the bookfair . Certainly the poster produced for the gig (reproduced above )is a good example - a marked improvement on the rather passe in- your face-ad for the upcoming Galway event .

by Bookfair Organising Group Tue Mar 25, 2008 13:04

Initial report from bookfair is here
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86844