cesare
shady's dreams ♥
Hey, did you see that recycle thread here where they were asking for people to give them books so they could sell them?
Anarchist Bookfair 2009
- Thread starter durruti02
- Start date
Hey, did you see that recycle thread here where they were asking for people to give them books so they could sell them?
cesare
shady's dreams ♥
OK, I've got a mate who is considerably more leftwing than me, and who would get on with Urban like a wooden house smothered in methylated spirits and stuffed with paper and set alight (and who doesn't come on here presumably because I know he would waste his whole life on it) who has been to this a few times. A mate of his, also a good mate of mine, is politically somewhat dodgy, but otherwise a very sound guy, one of our best mates.
It's the first time I'll have seen these mates in August, since I was down for their Barbecue, and quite looking forward to meeting up with that group of friends, but the former mate doesn't want to invite the latter to the bookfair, and is saying that I should go with two of our other mates and we'll then meet him and the other guy a bit later.
How wrong is it to bring someone not politically aposite?
People either get on or not. It's completely fucking pointless trying to analyse political positions in advance.
There's loads of people that don't like my politics, or I don't like theirs. But in the real world, you either like people or you don't, it's as simple as that.
Life isn't about the minutiae of political alignment. People are either cunts or not. If they're not cunts, you just muddle along, don't get too hung up on anything, mebbe see/hear different stuff, socialise. The vast majority of people don't give a flying fuck, they just want to have a good day with broadly speaking similar values.
If you go, ignore the smelly lifestylists with their dogs on strings, and just relax and have a good time.
That's what I was saying to my other mate.
I was planning to go along for an hour or so with them and then head to the pub
I was planning to go along for an hour or so with them and then head to the pub
cesare
shady's dreams ♥
That's what I was saying to my other mate.
I was planning to go along for an hour or so with them and then head to the pub
Yeah, just have a wander round then head to the pub
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Sounds like they are lefty when it comes to marketing; 'communal' when it comes to stock aquisition and managerial when it comes to labour relations.
I don't know the details, but I'm sure Housmans will be along soon to clarify things.
Rod Sleeves
New Member
You're correct it doesn't matter that a bookshop that gets support from the left and the labour and peace movements decided to hire management consultants to force out one of it's paid employees, leaving to two others resigning in protest.
Personally I prefer Freedom, especially since the management changed and it moved down stairs, anything I can't get there I could order direct from AK Press.
Housmans
radical booksellers since 1945
Just noticed all this - first of, Housmans is run on a not-for-profit basis: it exists to sell radical books "of progressive and alternative ideas". Its roots are in the peace movement - and, specifically, in the radical pacifist end of the movement. Next month its turning 50 (technically opened in 1946, but at its present location in Cally Rd since 1959).Sounds like they are lefty when it comes to marketing; 'communal' when it comes to stock aquisition and managerial when it comes to labour relations.
I don't know the details, but I'm sure Housmans will be along soon to clarify things.
The shop is run by volunteers and a few low paid but committed staff.
Indepedent (never mind political) bookshops are closing down left right and cetnre, and Housmans is struggling as hard as anyone. One of the strategies we have tried to help us stay afloat is to ask people to donate 2nd hand books, which we sell at £1 each. This has been pretty successful: Housmans does still have a lot sympathetic supporters across the political spectrum.
As to the labour relations thing, its been hashed out on this and other boards before. Things got resolved as best they could under dire circumstances, and apologies were made - from what i cant tell it was impending financial doom that set the tone for the episode. This all took place before my time and its not really my place to comment more than that.
For me its important that London has an outlet for radical books that you cant find elsewhere, where you can go and get informed opinion about those books, and also serves as a social center of sorts - with events and discussion from a range of activists and authors. I think Housmans deserves support (else i wouldnt work here). I believe London needs a radical bookshop.
Anyhow, we'll be down at the anarchist bookfair (Housmans was one of the original founders of the bookfair) so if you want to know more, have a chat with someone down at the stall.
Yeah ok. Those internal wranglings mean we're all better off going to some corporate chain, and the sooner Housmans bites the dust the better. In the wider scheme of things does it really matter? ffs.
(eta I realise you're going to AK and freedom but cant seriously believe you think we should have fewer outlets for radical books. Sad.)
Rod Sleeves
New Member
Yeah ok. Those internal wranglings mean we're all better off going to some corporate chain, and the sooner Housmans bites the dust the better. In the wider scheme of things does it really matter? ffs.
(eta I realise you're going to AK and freedom but cant seriously believe you think we should have fewer outlets for radical books. Sad.)
Once a so called radical bookstore turns to spending thousands on private management consultants they lose any right to be considered radical, fuck 'em it's their fault not mine, I honestly couldn't care less if Housemans folded tomorrow.
chico enrico
No hair shows you care.
i had a great time last year. we went to see Bone + martin doing their turn and me and spent the rest of the day in the pub.
doubt this year will be any difference and why should it? (though i am really tempted by this anarcha-feminist forum. arf arf
)
and by the way, i've been going to Housmans for close on 30 years now. this business bout management consultants sounds well dodgy but until a year or so ago there were some CPGB types there so i reckon it must have been their doing. sounds like the sort of trick reds would pull.
but, now the folk running the show are totally sound and old anarchists so it's shite (not to mention nonsensical) to hold what happened a while back and before they were there against Housmans now.
doubt this year will be any difference and why should it? (though i am really tempted by this anarcha-feminist forum. arf arf
)and by the way, i've been going to Housmans for close on 30 years now. this business bout management consultants sounds well dodgy but until a year or so ago there were some CPGB types there so i reckon it must have been their doing. sounds like the sort of trick reds would pull.
but, now the folk running the show are totally sound and old anarchists so it's shite (not to mention nonsensical) to hold what happened a while back and before they were there against Housmans now.
bookfair films
- nothing to do with Housmans or the pub but here are the films for saturday:
10.15 am
A Place in the City
- the ever growing rift between South Africa’s economically marginalised and its government focussing on Abahlali baseMjondolo, a shack dwellers’ movement.
10.45 am
This Black Soil
the inspiring struggle of Bayview, Virginia, USA, a small and impoverished rural African-American community, which successfully defeated a state plan to build a maximum-security prison in their backyard and instead pursued a new vision of economic justice.
12 noon
Reel News
Factory occupations in Argentina + Visteon and Vestas.
1.30pm
The Angry Brigade - The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Britain’s First Urban Guerilla Group
3-5.30pm
Living on your feet: The Struggles of Cipriano Mera
Introduced by Stuart Christie
Cipriano Mera was a bricklayer who became a key figure in the Spanish revolution, a free man who refused to die on his feet or live on his knees.
5.30- 6.30 To Gaza With Love – Introduced by Aki Nawaz
The story of some forty campaigners from twelve different countries who went on boats to break the Gaza siege from the sea. Drama, courage, seasickness, storms and storm outs.
- nothing to do with Housmans or the pub but here are the films for saturday:
10.15 am
A Place in the City
- the ever growing rift between South Africa’s economically marginalised and its government focussing on Abahlali baseMjondolo, a shack dwellers’ movement.
10.45 am
This Black Soil
the inspiring struggle of Bayview, Virginia, USA, a small and impoverished rural African-American community, which successfully defeated a state plan to build a maximum-security prison in their backyard and instead pursued a new vision of economic justice.
12 noon
Reel News
Factory occupations in Argentina + Visteon and Vestas.
1.30pm
The Angry Brigade - The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Britain’s First Urban Guerilla Group
3-5.30pm
Living on your feet: The Struggles of Cipriano Mera
Introduced by Stuart Christie
Cipriano Mera was a bricklayer who became a key figure in the Spanish revolution, a free man who refused to die on his feet or live on his knees.
5.30- 6.30 To Gaza With Love – Introduced by Aki Nawaz
The story of some forty campaigners from twelve different countries who went on boats to break the Gaza siege from the sea. Drama, courage, seasickness, storms and storm outs.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
[Makes note to plagiarise for Projectile 201x]
chico enrico
No hair shows you care.
so pub it is then, yea?
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
sowhenisit?
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
soundsgood2me
Nothing in the london bookfair about current struggles on these islands?
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
busted.....
cesare
shady's dreams ♥
chico enrico
No hair shows you care.
they should just show this instead
DJWrongspeed
radio eros
This seemed to be the biggest, busiest yet. I was there in the afternoon and had a very interesting time. Films (Angry Brigade) UKs very own RAF which i never new about, Discussion 'Participatory Economics' and interesting political rethink and Paul Mason in the 'Crisis' discussion.
Only downside it was too hot. I nearly fainted in the big lecture hall, aircon had broken or somthing.
Only downside it was too hot. I nearly fainted in the big lecture hall, aircon had broken or somthing.
chico enrico
No hair shows you care.
yes the heat was hideous. that, combined with the airborne toxic spores emanating from the black-clad sea-monsters made me feel very ill - to the extent i couldnt even finish my beer in the pub and left early feeling a tad green about the gills. my apologies to all i missed.
next year they should apply to Givenchy or Clinique or one of the other pefumiers who always have franchise displays at the entrance to Harvey nicks and Selfridges, staffed by women with Tango tans. They could just spray their scents about, keeping the place smelling nice and paying particular attention to any stinking crusties who wander in.
as i'm sure we would agree, making for a more pleasant, not to mention salubrious, ambiance for all.
next year they should apply to Givenchy or Clinique or one of the other pefumiers who always have franchise displays at the entrance to Harvey nicks and Selfridges, staffed by women with Tango tans. They could just spray their scents about, keeping the place smelling nice and paying particular attention to any stinking crusties who wander in.
as i'm sure we would agree, making for a more pleasant, not to mention salubrious, ambiance for all.
What was the Greece one like? I meant to go but ended up in the pub at that point, oh dear.
Fozzie Bear
Well-Known Member
I went ice skating instead.
Did I miss any particularly good or bad mags/zines/books?
Did I miss any particularly good or bad mags/zines/books?
