A Rhythms of Resistance Manchester sambista will be joining the Art and Activism Caravan to help out with samba workshops, in Athens (June 2006). Rhythms of Resistance Manchester will be posting thoughts and experiences on 
http://rormanchester.blogspot.com on the following topics:
1) Creative action as a means of transnational activism
i.e. can samba allow us to cross borders and by-pass cultural/social differences between activists and enable affinity?
2) “Globalisation” of radical samba – Are activists in other areas interested/inspired by samba and tactical frivolity
3) General comments on other workshops on the Caravan.
The thoughts and experiences will be also shared and discussed at an Open Workshop in July 06 (venue to be announced later) aimed to promote samba & activism.
What it the Art and Activism Caravan?
"The AA Caravan Caravan is a border crossing project travelling from Greece (early June) via Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Hungary to the annual activist environmentalist gathering Ecotopia in Slovakia (August 6th)."
The Caravan’s aims are:
The main objectives of this Caravan project are to:
* promote the use of art and creativity in activism and campaigning
* create/strengthen the link between artists, art students, and activists
* strengthen regional and international, east-west cooperation among activists and artists
* support local groups in their campaigns and activities
* involve more youth in social, creative activism.
* use art as tool for social inclusion and political participation
For more info on the AA Caravan: http://www.eyfa.org/art_activism
For more info on Rhythms of Resistance Manchester: http://rormanchester.blogspot.com
http://rormanchester.blogspot.com on the following topics: 1) Creative action as a means of transnational activism
i.e. can samba allow us to cross borders and by-pass cultural/social differences between activists and enable affinity?
2) “Globalisation” of radical samba – Are activists in other areas interested/inspired by samba and tactical frivolity
3) General comments on other workshops on the Caravan.
The thoughts and experiences will be also shared and discussed at an Open Workshop in July 06 (venue to be announced later) aimed to promote samba & activism.
What it the Art and Activism Caravan?
"The AA Caravan Caravan is a border crossing project travelling from Greece (early June) via Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Hungary to the annual activist environmentalist gathering Ecotopia in Slovakia (August 6th)."
The Caravan’s aims are:
The main objectives of this Caravan project are to:
* promote the use of art and creativity in activism and campaigning
* create/strengthen the link between artists, art students, and activists
* strengthen regional and international, east-west cooperation among activists and artists
* support local groups in their campaigns and activities
* involve more youth in social, creative activism.
* use art as tool for social inclusion and political participation
For more info on the AA Caravan:
http://www.eyfa.org/art_activism For more info on Rhythms of Resistance Manchester:
http://rormanchester.blogspot.com 
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Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Impressed!
26.05.2006 18:27
Admirer
you forgot one
29.05.2006 17:00
claire
claire,
30.05.2006 09:32
thats a valid point. we are aware that samba is not always appropriate in actions. Most of the times we work together with other groups that welcome us there. At actions were samba is not appropriate, we are present as individuals (i.e. not as a samba group).
At actions that we organise we do what we believe appropriate (being autonomous and all that).We are very aware that not everyone might enjoy this genre of music or way of activism. And we are aware that there are lots of differences in beliefs within the "activist scene" - we just do what we believe in and we also know when to abandon that if it causes problems with other activist groups (its about prioritising things and thinking about how the aims can be reached)
If it is just a matter of not liking the music then people are different and i think the way forward is to accept that rather than try to homogenise them.
But if you/anyone wants to give activist samba a chance and how it can work in actions have a look at the main rhythms of resistance webpage or to get back in history, google afroblocs or the pink and silver bloc. and as emma goldman said "if i can't dance it's not my revolution"
io
yeah!
30.05.2006 10:50
beanie