Dan Thompson from Worthing achieved national fame through his #riotcleanup initiative.
(see, among others:
http://prigg.thisislondon.co.uk/2011/08/twitter-cleanup-organiser-stunned-by-the -capitals-response.html )
In an article on his website, Dan argues that the broom-wielding citizens who joined the grass-roots campaign were in fact putting anarchy into action.
He writes: “Anarchy, says Wikipedia, may be 'a complete lack of authority or political organization,' but it can also mean 'a social state characterized by a lack of a state, ruler, or libertarianism'. So while the lawlessness of people smashing shop windows to steal trainers or burn furniture shops down was anarchic, so equally was the mob who, without any leaders or instructions, gathered brooms and dustpans and brushes and took to the streets to clean up on Tuesday.
“They hadn't signed up to a manifesto or an agreed set of rules or beliefs. Nobody was in charge of them, or told them what to do. They were hundreds of individuals who, without leadership or state intervention, took to the streets and worked out a new way of doing things. ”
Full piece at http://www.artistsandmakers.com/article.php/20110812051756469
Dan will be speaking about his initiative, the riots and the implications at the next Worthing Alliance meeting on Thursday August 25 (Beechwood Hall Hotel, Wykeham Road, Worthing, 8pm), where there will, of course, be a chance to ask questions and discuss his viewpoint.
Worthing's local anarchist newsletter, The Porkbolter, took a rather different angle on the riots in its recent statement
http://www.eco-action.org/porkbolter/riots.html
Should be an interesting debate.
(see, among others:
http://prigg.thisislondon.co.uk/2011/08/twitter-cleanup-organiser-stunned-by-the -capitals-response.html ) In an article on his website, Dan argues that the broom-wielding citizens who joined the grass-roots campaign were in fact putting anarchy into action.
He writes: “Anarchy, says Wikipedia, may be 'a complete lack of authority or political organization,' but it can also mean 'a social state characterized by a lack of a state, ruler, or libertarianism'. So while the lawlessness of people smashing shop windows to steal trainers or burn furniture shops down was anarchic, so equally was the mob who, without any leaders or instructions, gathered brooms and dustpans and brushes and took to the streets to clean up on Tuesday.
“They hadn't signed up to a manifesto or an agreed set of rules or beliefs. Nobody was in charge of them, or told them what to do. They were hundreds of individuals who, without leadership or state intervention, took to the streets and worked out a new way of doing things. ”
Full piece at
http://www.artistsandmakers.com/article.php/20110812051756469 Dan will be speaking about his initiative, the riots and the implications at the next Worthing Alliance meeting on Thursday August 25 (Beechwood Hall Hotel, Wykeham Road, Worthing, 8pm), where there will, of course, be a chance to ask questions and discuss his viewpoint.
Worthing's local anarchist newsletter, The Porkbolter, took a rather different angle on the riots in its recent statement
http://www.eco-action.org/porkbolter/riots.html Should be an interesting debate.
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