- Working Bee(Event)(3 days)
- Jura Collective Meeting(Event)(3 days)
- SACT Film Screening; Land and Freedom(Event)(10 days)
- Jura's 31st birthday party(Event)(11 days)
TalkShop @ The Bookshop
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/09/2005 - 10:58.
Music too loud? Politics
in the pub too formal? Desperate to meet other anarchists without
committing your entire week to campaigns? Curious what anarchists think
about?Try TalkShop.
I went out 3 times over
the weekend, and had a really good time. But after drinking and dancing
and hearing hot new music till my eardrums bled, I still felt there was
something missing. Maybe it was that I couldn't hear my companeras
chating over the bassline? Sydney has a remarkable lack of nice places
to sit and talk. Sure there are coffee shops and parks, but you don't
go there to meet new people and here their views - you go there to
drink java or dance around the dog poo with people you already know.
Most of our entertainment venues are merely glorified knock-out shops
where drinking is the main game.
I've been aching for a new social centre to call my own (our own!) A
place where people can chat about things that matter, a place where we
can actually explore ideas without being lectured from the podium or
the page. A place where strangers can become friends over heated
argument and a beer. Somewhere that isn't dominated by political
parties and university-types who know better, and auto-didacts who
desperately want to pull a swifty on them. I'm talking about honest
learning, and community creation, exchanging information, not just
having facts and opinions thrust at me.
I'm tired of action groups and campaigns that never relax long enough
to grasp a really good anarchist analysis of australia's current
socio-economic status. I'm weary of always telling other people what to
think in pamphlets and leaflets and speeches and amusing little songs.
I need a little respite from that world of action, a retreat to the
world of ideas and creativity.
Hopefully, this weekend will bring something of this pining into
reality. At Jura Books, a new series of discussions is starting about
all things anarchist. This really will be discussions, not just
lectures. You, the participant will have a chance to get in and discuss
the topic in a lively way. Hopefully, this will be a space where we can
collectively explore ideas without the pressure of coming to a
'correct' resolution, and we'll have time to mull things over a little.
On Friday 11th November, we'll start talking about myths surrounding
anarchism - what it is and what it isn't. Why do we think of anarchism
as such a dangerous and destructive idea? How did 'anarchy' come to
mean 'chaos', and is chaos such a bad thing anyway? Would the world
crumble without rulers? Or can we manage 'by ourselves'?
On Friday 25th November, we'll talk about the links between anarchism and feminism. Does anarchism need to be feminist?
Is there a feminist conspiracy to divide the working class? Is labour politics enough? What is this patriarchy thing anyway?
The next planned discussion is about Anarchism, Unions And Howard's
proposed workplace laws. How will the IR lawas affect anarchist
organising? How will anarchists in general be affected? What can we do
to organise against the unfair IR laws?
If you're looking for a place to talk about anarchist politics (and eat
some crackers and drink some sangria) come to TalkShop @ The BookShop.
Friday Nights, Monthly
6 - 8pm (but we'll stay late if you will!)
Jura Books
440 Parramatta Road
Petersham NSW
t: 02 9550 9931
e: jura@jura.org.au
w: www.jura.org.au
I'm looking forward to it.
