WANNA BUY A SOCIAL CENTRE?

Fresh to the property market is this lovely semi detached three storey social centres situated in a desirable East London cobbled street just a stones throw from the city's financial district. Ideal for anarchists and creative types, the property is well proportioned and comprises a good sized events room, kitchen, utility room, several toilets, and even a shower. It's close to the local amenities, curry houses and the hospital whilst being within easy distance of the city via tube or bus. Oh, and it's just outside the congestion zone which may appeal to some potential buyers.

Yes, the time has finally come. The rampART social centre is on the market and ultimately of course this spells the approaching end of the project, at some point. It's likely to take another three months or more before we face any attempt to evict so don't panic yet. The rampART was intending to run a consultation and visioning process in the next few weeks in order to give fresh energy and insight into the project. This latest news should not change these intentions and you are more than welcome to come and get involved in the time that is left.

COLLECTIVE STRENGTH

On a related note. We've been trying to improve collective organizing and responsibility within the project. One way we've been doing this has been to move lot of the discussion online so that people who can’t make meetings can still contribute. Additionally we're keen that more of the groups that use the rampART are able to see themselves as PART OF the project and find ways to pool efforts to maintain the communal benefit of the project.

One way to do this is to encourage different elements or sub projects within the rampART to form active autonomous collectives that also engage in decision making at Monday’s general assemblies. These groups might include a screening collective, concert collective, library collective, media lab collective, radio collective, workshops collective etc.

HANDS ON

We also welcome individuals to get involved but we've been pretty bad at actually managing to engage interested people on an ongoing basis. To provide another way for people to get involved with RampART, other than just coming along to meetings, we've decided to organize a specific work/play event designed to bring people together doing something practical and social.

Basically the idea is to make a collective effort to revamp the roof garden. It needs tidying up after being used as an overflow for parties in the hall. The roof tiles need fixing as drunks on the roof have trashed them and we could generally make it into a much nicer space, perhaps with some nice art work painted on the tiles or the stairwell. We think it would be good project to involve people in and a way to enjoy the weather, socialize, be creative and end with a veggie BBQ. It's going to happen on Sunday 13th August, 12noon onwards. More details in the next newsletter. Email us if you are interested.

SHARED OFFICE (THE HUB)

We’re also having a belated spring clean of the office space to make it more welcoming and renew our invitation to groups who share similar values to make use of the space and facilities. If you or your group need a space for campaigning or solidarity work etc, please email  rampART@mutualaid.org

SCREENPRINTING

The screen-print workshop is busy seeing over a dozen people printing, and lots of interesting prints are made - patches, clothes, and posters. Due to popular demand, the workshop extends its opening hours and invites everyone interested to join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 8pm. You get an introduction and can then print your own project. Donations (clothes, colors...) welcome.

CINEMA THURSDAY 8pm

Featuring... Sir! No Sir!
The Hidden History of the GI Movement Against the Vietnam war

A feature-length documentary focusing on the efforts by troops in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to oppose the war effort by peaceful demonstration and subversion. Speaking mainly to veterans, but serves as a ready reminder to civilians those soldiers may oppose war as stridently as any civilian, and at greater personal peril.

And... The Fog of War
Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

At the age of 87, Robert S. McNamara sits to be interviewed by documentary maker Errol Morris. He relates his experiences over his lifetime and talks about his success and his failures and the lessons he has learnt. It's a sobering look back at historical conflict. McNamara asserts that the men involved were all 'rational men' and not crazy James Bond villains. The fact that these rational men came 'this close' to nuclear war is a very scary thought. Similarly, other memories of his are quite scary but funny at the same time? In the same way as Dr Strangelove was for example. In fact one memory sounds like it could have come straight from the mouth of General 'Buck' Turgid son himself and that's where McNamara suggests that the US could keep its missile advantage over Russia by imposing a mutual limit on testing? Only to be told that the Russians would cheat by 'testing on the dark side of the moon'!

FUTURE EVENTS

Coming up in the next month -

Queers Without Borders 9th
Sept School Students Against the War 2nd Set (TBC)
Something arty on 1st Sept
nd maybe a Rising Tide benefit on the 11th Aug

If you've got a proposal, check out the guidance notes on the website and drop us an email.

BEYOND RAMPART

You might like to know about the Social Centers Network meeting taking place at the Climate Camp 28th August - 4th September. It will be a chance for those involved in social centers to share stories, experiences, and skills, strengthen the network and organize for the future. There are now about 20 radical, self managed social spaces across the UK and the number grows! See  http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345994.html

Likewise, there are a series of sessions on autonomous spaces taking place at the People's Global Action gathering in Dijon, France (August 19th to September 3rd). - to inform people about our practices within these spaces - to share our experiences - to deal with the various ways of obtaining new spaces for organizing - to build tools for solidarity between different types of spaces - to talk about ways to extend the life of Autonomous spaces. See  http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/346170.html