But in terms of 'official' speakers, or workshop leaders, it seemed dominated by local green and lifestyle anarchists, who had little understanding of class struggle or that there might be other equally valid kinds of anarchism to their own.
Worse, these 'leading anarchists' often spoke for their whole workshop, providing little or no space for others to participate or offer alternative ideas. The workshop on 'anarchist moments in history' was the worst in this respect. While it was interesting, the speaker spoke for the entire length of the workshop! This monopolisation of discussion was most un-anarchist! Other workshop speakers also laboured their points, patronising their audience by 'baby talking' them through their most elementary points in a lengthly and boring way.
The lowest point was the speaker on 'anarchist responses' to the cuts, who seemed to anger many other participants. She offered no strategy for resisting the cuts - she did not even mention resistance - but said that we all benefit from the exploitation of the third world and need to cut our living standards anyway! She went on to talk about setting up coops etc to replace cut services, in an uncanny echo of David Cameron's 'big society'! Again, she spent ages tediously labouring these mistaken points, allowing not enough time for discussion - although anti-cuts campaigners from the floor managed to inject some sense. Her co-thinkers in the room saw anti-cuts resistance as a diversion from building anarchist coops to make the transition to a low carbon economy, and saw no link between fighting the cuts and fighting climate change. Others protested at this, arguing that the fight to stop the privatisation of forests and the closure of public libraries, etc should also be at the heart of anarchist activity, and that both cuts and climate chaos are cause by capitalism.
Lancaster has seen some of the biggest protest movements for years around the cutbacks. 300 attended a protest here recently. Local anti-cuts campaigners spoke from the floor about how resisting the cuts could radicalise thousands of working class people, and how a defensive movement now around the welfare state could later move onto the offensive against capitalism. It was sad that the organisers hadn't formally invited anyone from local anti-cuts campaigns to participate in this workshop, even though the organisers had no experience in anti-cuts resistance themselves.
The flyer for the event sums up this kind of anarchism, saying the event would be where we could learn how to lead a "DIY life, fix your own bike, work without a boss, make and mend your own clothes".
While this is all valid and good stuff, we notice there is nothing here about 'resisting your boss'. The imagined participants this leaflet reaches out to obviously are not wage slaves or working class people. This is therefore a classic example of 'petite-bourgeoise' anarchism!
Again, the flyer offers us workshops on feminism, environmentalism and coops - but not on synicalism, anarcho-communism, building a radical union, or taking direct action against the cuts. This shows the narrow conceptions of anarchy behind the event.
So well done to the people who organised it - and thanks for the lovely vegan food, etc. Hope these criticisms will be taken constructively, and not be seen too negatively. All in all it was a worthwhile day and I'm pleased I went. Be good (and fun) to have a local bunch of anarchists causing trouble to the powers that be! I will join in! They have orgainsied a follow up event, but this clashes with the local anti-cuts campaigns next big public meeting, which says it all! Doh!
Comments
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Good comments
07.11.2010 20:20
As with 'subvert', i'm not having a pop. just giving a perspective on the movement as someone who has seen it from multiple perspectives. A new group, anarchists against the cuts (which has a website, the address of which I don't remember) seem to be pushing in the right direction.
Well done for putting on the fayre, but as a movement, we need to focus on how we can tap into the concerns of average working class people - something the lifestyle aspect of the movement definitley does not.
(A) Sab x
that said
07.11.2010 20:25
Krop
aint a lifestyle anarchist!
07.11.2010 22:43
I'm unsure what your expectations are, but I don't go along to workshops expecting to be able to talk loads- this can be disruptive to the aims of the workshop and doesn't honour the hard work that people put into their talks and workshop activities.
I was one of the women who facilitated the feminism workshop. I am disappointed to see that you regard feminism as a part of a 'narrow concept of anarchy'. Feminism is often sidelined from anarchy, as are critiques of hierarchies of race, sexuality, age, disability... so I was pleased to be able to participate in what I felt was a broader concept of anarchy than some anarchist events I have been to!
But nonetheless, great that you have offered your feedback. And as an anarchist (who comes from a working class background, and is interested in welfare rights), I would be very much interested to hear of any ideas for taking direct action in lancaster against the cuts. But my idea of direct action would extend beyond doing a demo in dalton square- good as this is, it surely can only be a starting point for rallying people into what hopefully will become a movement towards meeting our needs as a community, autonomously from the state.
Charlie
Mixed bag
07.11.2010 23:43
vengaboy
Great, thanks for those helpful thoughts...
08.11.2010 10:33
We happily accepted a request from class war for a stall but they didn’t show up on the day.
The reason I wanted to work with others to put on this fair was to open up anarchism to a wider audience, challenge misconceptions in the mainstream as well as offer a space for a debate. I think we did this well.
I don’t think you offer constructive criticism of the event, your post if personally offensive to people who worked hard putting it on and preparing their workshop / presentation / discussion.
Other than just being offensive, some of your comments are un-truths. For example, your statement regarding ‘the cuts’ presentation having ‘an uncanny echo of David Cameron's 'big society’ is wrong. The person making this presentation spent a few minutes and had a slide explaining why they thought anarchism wasn’t the ‘big society.’
I don’t want to be part of a drawn out discussion over Indymedia about this, because i'm already bored by it. Lancaster is a small place, you know me and I know you, come and have a cuppa with us or send me an email.
An organsier and a workshop facilitator
Offer support before and during rather than just criticising after
08.11.2010 11:07
In response to Subvet’s comments...I do not think offering spaces to talk about feminism, environmentalism and coops is simply 'petite-bourgeoise anarchism’. If you felt the event was ‘dominated’ at all, it was because they were the interested of the people who bothered to come forward to help organise. If other ‘equally valid kinds of anarchism’ were not represented, or if there was nobody from the local anti-cuts campaigns, it was because they did not offer any input.
I would have liked to go to the history of anarchism talk, however I spent my day helping in the cafe, in the kids corner and staffing the welcome desk. In general though, I find it helpful when people present talks about things that I have little knowledge about. For me it is not ‘un-anarchist’ to share skills, and someone cannot monopolise a discussion, if it is a talk.
Likewise, although I was not able to go to the talks on the cuts, I think it’s a valid point, and brave to mention in the current frenzy of anti-cuts talk, that we all benefit from the exploitation of others and need to reduce our consumption (as I’m told was the speakers point, rather than to ‘cut our living standards’). Although organising against an oppressive governing body I feel is valid, attempting to uphold a lifestyle which is unsustainable is not.
Like the previous post, I feel it is a shame that Subvet has used this space to throw criticism to the organisers of this event. And yes, Lancaster being a small place - I have a good idea of who has posted this. In future, perhaps you will consider offering your input, knowledge and help prior to, during (I notice although thankful for the vegan food, there was no input from you – nor did I bump into you or see your name on any of the rotas during the day), rather than just after.
A helper on the day
Where were you?
08.11.2010 11:08
I think what is out of order is your comments.
As the post above says this was an open event, there was a call out for workshops and a few public meetings so that people could get involved with the organisation of the event: where were you then?
Yes, perhaps the event focused on lifestyle green anarchism (as you call it) but if that was the case (I'm not completely sure) that's not because other views were censored but because that's what those offering workshops believe, I imagine.And, if that's the case, I do agree with them that lifestyle green anarchism is very valid.
Lifestyle, because we need to start embodying the changes we want to see, support alternative modes of organising society and trying them out – growing with grace, growing with nature, and single step (to give a few examples) also have workers, with very low salaries and on the verge of closing down – is supporting them and try to explain why is important to defend them burgeois? I don't think so, but if it is, I don't care!
Green, because if we don't stop climate change we won't have a world in which to live and because the its effects are felt by those in teh global south in terrible ways!
And, by the way, what you call lifestyle green anarchism includes enormous amounts of DIRECT ACTION and RESISTANCE – many of the people who helped out with this event were involved with the carnival of culture, and the occupation of Centros' HD and with many other campaigns which threaten communities and autonomous, meaningful livelihoods - that is about jobs and survival as well!
Where were you in the run up to the event? Why didn't you give your input then? Why didn't you share your knowledge on the strand of anarchism you defend by offering a workshop? Or talk to your mates and ask them to put a workshop on?
I would have loved to learn about anarcho-syndicalism and about other alternative responses to the cuts, but no one offered those workshops. Unfortunately, we're all limited beings, with limited time. True, not everyone can be involved in everything, and perhaps the 'organisers' could have done a bigger effort to include alternative views, but I think they did a pretty good job by opening the organisation of the event from very early on. Knowledge and time are limited and it seems to me that people organising the event and offering workshops offered their knowledge and their views in a truly, honest, inclusive and open way.
It took incredible efforts to organise this and I don't feel your comments are constructive at all. Of course we need a debate amongst the different strands of anarchism, I'd love to have that, please come along and share your ideas next time, or better still organise an event for that to happen. It's too easy to criticise what it could have been post-event.
As for the 'what next?' meeting clashing with the cuts meeting, well, what can I say, that we all make mistakes? Why didn't you send an email or drop into a meeting to remind people to advertise that meeting at the fair? Why didn't you say that on the day and tried to change it?
I wasn't an organiser or a workshop 'leader' (as you called them), but saw the hard work that they put in and I have incredible respect for that...yes, some things were lacking, they always are, but the important point is that it could have been more complete if those with alternative knowledges would have come along to share their ideas, offered workshops and so on.
outraged
Don't snipe - be an anarchist and get involved!
08.11.2010 14:07
other people have said her why dident you do stuff if you want your ideas in the day, and anyway i disagree with what he sed about workshop leaders it was a day with tons stuff goin on and there was no time to have a big discussion by lots of loud white men about what we shud be doin. all the workshops i went to made me really think about stuff and theres more coming i was told with time to talk about stuff as well. if ur really an anarchist (and not a socialist worker) then stop gobbinoff and get stuck in like everyone else did on saturday
i work f**** hard all week and the cuts are goin to hert me and my family but the workshop on the cuts are spot on anarchists need to see the big picter not just the tories
hard worker
Big government
08.11.2010 14:34
Pete
Overly defensive reactions?
08.11.2010 15:54
Just come on here to read this! Interesting discussion. Agree with some of the points made on both 'sides'.
I too went to the fair, although I'm not an anarchist (you know who I am!!!). I thought it was quite good, although - yes -I agree it it had its flaws.
But sadly I find the reactions to criticism on here are overly defensive. All events have a core of people who work hard to put them on - and then a bigger group who attend, but are less involved. Of course you would want to overcome this division, and increase participation as much as possible. But when you organise a successful meeting, demo, festival or gig - then you do - unfortunately - get this division of labour.
But basically some anarchist friends on here are saying to their critic "if you didnt help organise the event then you have no right to make criticisms'. Thats not a good response! Thats not going to lead to your process of learning and growth!
Many times as a socialist over the past 20 years I have helped organise events only to have anarchists turning up on the day and slag it off for being 'authoritarian' or 'reformist' or whatever. My response is often similar - like 'join in and help make it better'. Now you know what its like. Look in the mirror!
But I must agree with some of the criticism - I have never organised a meeting where one person speaks for an hour, - says contentious things - and then says "no time for discussion"!!!! Thats what happened in the 'history' slot, and I too was a bit annoyed. I expect it was just poor planning of the talk - but really! If in my 'trot-days' I did this I wouldn't hear the end of it!!! And you know it! After gaining a reputation of being highly critical of everything socialists do, then anarchists have to live up to the high standards set up by that criticism as well. What is sauce for the (vegan) goose, no .... ?
Its entirely possible for someone to kick off a discussion with a 20 min talk, and then allow 40 mins for a more full discussion. In this its possible to limit peoples contributions to 3 mins each, and only allow someone a second chance to speak once everybody has spoken. It requires someone to chair the session who is not the speaker. Or is that too 'old left'? Of course, thats not perfect, and doesn't suit all situations!
And several friends who went to the anarcha-feminism session all say it was good!
Moving on to the session on the cuts - the speaker / chair / facilitator slipped between roles - workshop facilitator and conducting a polemic. It was obvious that her political position would be controversial and provoke a reaction - but there was not enough time to handle it properly, as she spoke for most of the session!
My anarchist friends are probably not so aware of these drawbacks of the event, or what it was like to merely 'attend'. You get a different perspective. Its hard to acknowledge such comments when you have been closely involved and hectically busy. Its easy just to 'moralise' at your critics for not being as involved as you!
But well done for all your hard work - and from my perspective, I hope its possible for anarchists and socialists to work together and learn from each other. I was quite impressed by the event - but I too saw the problems already commented on, and its sad, but understandable - to see them dismissed in such a defensive way.
In love, rage and solidarity,
:)
'Barrykade'
'Barrykade'
Homepage:
http://barrykade.wordpress.com
Middle class crafts fair
08.11.2010 16:54
Northern A
Lets chill - sorry for provoking this shit
08.11.2010 18:44
I suppose the replies are right. More class struggle @'s should have got involved and helped out. I was just pissed off and alienated by some of the event. Even more now, but I'll get over it.
"Northern A": Yes, the same crew put on event in Kendal. They used the same flyer with same message on as well! One size doesn't fit all. The organsing crew seemed nice enough, though.
But I'm shutting up now, and not slagging people off anymore. Didn't get listened to. Each to their own, probably.
Subvert
Only a small town to some (cliques)!!!
10.11.2010 01:25
The lifestylists say it is a small town. 'We've got your number' they say! Surely they must know everybody who came to the fair? Yes, you knew the gobby male ones.
But most of you all live in a different world - South of the Lune!
So who else, having seen your posters all over town, passed by and dropped in - and dropped out again? Did you notice her?
Oh, an she can read, too:
love
SKAM
(Skerton Anarchist Militia).
*Disclaimer: This post was meant in jest. It is tongue in cheek. It is a Norwegian Blue Herring. SKAM does not even exist (of course it does not occifer). This post is not meant to provoke strife among @'s. But I hope it provokes reflection.
Night Night, was the subvert right?
SKAM
Homepage:
http://www.skam.org.uk
We know who 'SKAM' and 'Subvert' are! Click for expose!
10.11.2010 02:24
On this youtube video you will see these culprits and provocateurs...
Poison Girl
good day
11.11.2010 00:46
eartheart
e-mail:
t
good day
11.11.2010 00:46
eartheart
e-mail:
t
northern a and subvert
19.11.2010 18:57
Why not try stop labelling us into your own convenient 'hate' categories which are just figments of your own imaginations.
Instead why not organise your own anarchist fairs? We'd all love to come along and take part and learn from you both about how to organise and get people involved. I'm sure you'd both mobilise the masses and leave everyone thinking how great it all was. So please, show us the way. I'll volunteer to help.
And it's not about not accepting criticism, its about not being patronised and categorised and pigeonholed and lectured at by people who clearly have got a jumbo jet sized chip on their shoulder which they're seemingly completely unaware of.
Wh
It was a good day.
09.12.2010 21:59
Bloody hell Barry, that was the response of the anti-cuts steering group when they were criticised for talking to the old bill and agreeing to be policed into a dead end (Dalton Square) when nobody wanted to march that way! When their was criticism, in an attempt to learn some lessons, we were told that no-one else had turned up to organise things differently! Anyway, enough of that!
I am a class struggle anarchist, and got to the event pretty late... but I was really pleased by what a success it obviously was. I couldn't give a fuck if there were "hippies" and green anarchists there. Neither do I care what clothes people wear or what they look like.... Of course there is a debate on the anarchist / libertarian left with regards social anarchism versus lifestyle anarchism, but in the group discussion I took part in it wasn't a debate dominated by only one side. There was also many contributions on the struggle against the cuts and how anyone ignoring this would rightly be viewed as "elitist". But there is a debate to be had.... because I won't be collecting signatures to call for support for Pretendy (Community) Cops, but I would be there to defend the local library, nurseries, schools, hospitals, benefit claimants, the disabled etc. I also spoke in a smaller group about the importance of building resistance in our communities and workplaces. This was not met with any dissent. The other point (and this was missing) is a recognition that ideas change in struggle. And unless we are a part of our own community when it fights back, we can't hope to have much influence with anarchist ideas.
I don't remember the follow up meeting clashing with an anti-cuts meeting.... I attended the follow up meeting, and I also attended the anti-cuts meeting at the Coillegian Club, so not sure what the issue is there. There's so many meetings going on at the moment, that unless your a full time political hobbyist then it is impossiblt to attend everything anyway, and some things are bound to clash.
As well as attracting big numbers to the Fair, and creating a brilliant atmosphere for local families, with some interesting and thought provoking workshops, the Fair has also inspired a number of local anarchists to organise. They have been holding regular meetings ever since, and have planned a number of upcoming events from socials, a people's kitchen, a film night, activity around May Day, and an anarchist response to the Government cuts (which incidentally are also being voted in by Labour Councillors!).
So a big thank you to the organisers, the facilitators, the leafletters, and fly posters. The event was great, we are big enough to debate our ideas in an adult way, and the fact that it has led to further actions and events is a big positive!
Solidarity, peace, love and anarchy to all the L@Gers, BL@Ggers, and FL@Gers out there!
Fuck the cuts, fuck the politicians of all parties!
Giuseppe Pinelli