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Anarchist Bookfair

Rach | 12.06.2004 20:52 | Cambridge

Today myself and five other activists from Cambridge Indymedia attended the anarchist bookfair (see  http://twotins.tripod.com/onesolutionanarchistrevolution/id21.html for further details) in Norwich.

My rough estimate of the number of people that atended would be between 150 and 200. Downstairs there were stalls representing groups such as Norwich Anarchists, SchNEWS, Radical routes, the ISM, the Wombles and many more. Books sold were about subjects ranging from politcal theory to eco-anarchism to biographies of cultural figures. People bought books, took leaflets, chatted, and ate excellent vegan burgers and sausage rolls. Outside the building Theatre of War performed, and a supervised childrens area was set up to free parents to think about how to end capitalism for a while.

Upstairs was where Cambridge Indymedia's stall was set up. We screened several films including the amazing "Crowd Bites Wolf," "Another other way is possible in Venezuela," and also "Hardcore Riot Porno". We met several other activists who were interested in media. Outside workshops, speeches and meetings, held by such groups as the Wombles and Dissent went on throughout the day. A bar was also set up and people listened to live music and drank beer. I watched an excellent band called "High and Mighty" play (according to the programme they are Norwich's premier ska band - I have no idea what this means but I think it is good!). Many people came upstairs to listen to them, and towards the end quite a few were dancing!

Overall a very good day: a relaxed atmosphere, and a great opportunity to meet activists from Norwich and the surrounding areas.

Future events events locally:
East Anglia Social Forum meeting: July 3rd. See  http://www.easf.org.uk/

Rach
- e-mail: rachelbeechinor@yahoo.co.uk

Comments

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lack of passion

14.06.2004 13:04

I felt the Bookfair was lacking in passion and enthusiasm. THere seemed very little interest in anarchist ideas and overall sales of literature from the stalls was low. Perforated and illustrated people seemed to be in the majority. Now , I've nothing against that, and indeed reaching out to them, but where were all the "ordinary " people.
Could not the Bookfair have been a bit more centrally located?The pavilion was a long way out from the city centre, stuck in the middle of a big park. If it had been located in the centre, I think there would have been more chance of larger numbers, and more people chancing on the Bookfair. I fully realise there might be unavailibility of spaces in the city centre, but if there were, wouldn't it have been better to locate the Bookfair there.
One final question, how well was the Bookfair advertised in Norwich, for example, wallposters, handout of flyers in the city centre?
I felt disappointed and discouraged by the low numbers and the lack of interest in anarchist ideas. On the day it seemed more like an exercise in lifestyle rather than serious anarchist politics.

BIg Bad Bakunin

Sorry!

14.06.2004 17:48

Very sorry you feel like that Bakunin. Most of the stall holders I spoke to at the end of the day made quite good money considering there were only a couple of hundred people. Waterloo Park is 10 mins walk from the city centre. Practically every city centre pub was leafleted and all other locations that people would see leaflets were fliered. Street leafleting was done on various occasions aswell, we gave out thousands. Perhaps you have to accept that most people we leafletted just didn't want to come? Is that due to us or the lack of interest in general?

As far as having a lack of passion.....thats why we invited you lot!? Isn't it?
It's certainly not something Norwich Anarchists have been accused of before.

Very few of us are tatooed and pierced etc. Probably about 10%.

This was also the first one....

Everything you have said however will be noted for next year so we can try to act on it.

Best wishes.

Sam