A FESTIVAL of Resistance is being held at the new autonomous anti-G8 social centre in Worthing, West Sussex.
Protesters from Shut The G8, part of the Dissent! network, seized a prominent building in the town centre last week.
They have renamed the 3TO nightclub in Chapel Road 23TOPIA and have opened it up to the public as a social centre.
It is open from 11am to 6pm daily, offering a reading room, creative space, free tea and coffee, a free band practice area, a kids' area and various activities.
And this week (June 8-12) 23TOPIA is hosting a Festival of Resistance of special events to coincide with the G8 meeting in the USA.
Tuesday evening, at 7.30pm, sees a "Worthing is Revolting!" theme, with talks on big local issues such as the threatened Titnore Woods development, the proposed Asda store in Durrington, the controversial Tetra police masts and the crisis at the Dome cinema.
On Wednesday there are talks and discussions about the G8 itself and on Thursday there is a "Boycott the Ballots!" day to mark the EU and local elections, with a "Never Mind the Ballots!" band night in the evening.
On Friday there will be a radical video evening and on Saturday (June 12), from 2pm to 5pm, the group will be drawing attention to the disused Teville gate shopping precinct over the road with a Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, complete with juggling and entertainers, presenting a vibrant alternative to the current neglect and decay.
Explained a spokesperson for the group: "Next year the G8 will be meeting in the UK and our aim is to show them that they are not welcome here.
"The G8 is at the forefront of the global capitalist machine, which is ripping off people all over the world, enforcing privatisation and increasing poverty, all in the name of profit.
"We are just a few of the hundreds of thousands of people who are starting to stand up to these self-appointed rulers of the world and making sure they do not have it all their own way."


Website: www.freewebs.com/shuttheg8 and www.eco-action.org/porkbolter
National network: www.dissent.org.uk
Email:  shuttheg8@hotmail.com or  worthing@eco-action.org

Full programme for 23TOPIA Festival of Resistance

Tuesday June 8, 7.30pm.
Worthing is Revolting! News and discussion of burning local issues, include the Save Titnore Woods, the anti-Asda battle, the campaign against Tetra masts and the current Dome cinema conflict.

Wednesday June 9, 7.30pm.
Why we are against the G8. Presentation by Shut the G8, including latest news from anti-G8 protests in USA.

Thursday June 10. All day.
Boycott the Ballots! Centre used as base for anti-election activities.

Thursday June 10. 7.30pm.
Never Mind the Ballots! band night.

Friday June 11, 7.30pm.
Radical video evening.

Saturday June 12, 2-5pm.
Multicoloured Swap Shop in Teville Gate, Britain's ugliest derelict shopping precinct over the road from 23TOPIA. With juggling, entertainers and stalls.

Plus 23TOPIA open 11am-6pm daily.