To get involved / help set up local groups all over London…

OPEN MEETING,  SAT 28th April 2012
4pm-6pm, London Action Resource Centre, 62 Fieldgate St, E1 6ES

To get involved / help set up local groups all over London…

OPEN MEETING,  SAT 17th March 2012
4pm-6pm, London Action Resource Centre, 62 Fieldgate St, E1 6ES

Over 25 people attended the last meeting (January) and efforts are underway to develop groups all around London, so please come along and help ensure there’s an active group in YOUR area!

—————————————————————————————-

AN APPEAL TO ALL RADICALS AND ANTI-AUTHORITARIANS

Why we should all help form radical local community-based groups.

Our goal should be the creation of a society free from the exploitation of capitalism and the oppression of the state – a society which is non-hierarchical and in which everyone is free, yet works together collectively. This will be achieved when the mass of the working class share these goals; in other words, we need to help build mass grassroots movements in which radical and anarchist ideas and ways of doing things can flourish in our communities.

Radicals are involved in a wide range of activities. The media tend to stress the more visible and physical roles such as the direct action at demos, arrests etc. But to overcome isolation and not just be a mere pinprick in the side of capitalism and the state, we must also reach out to the mass of the working class.

So what can we do?
The groups that are linked into the Radical London network believe that setting up local radical/anarchist/solidarity groups and networks, with the aim of engaging in local community actions as well as supporting local workplace struggles, is a key way of spreading ideas, solidarity and resistance amongst the wider working class. In addition, we are strengthened by our connection to others and we are in a better situation to actually participate in and win struggles.

For example…

• Campaigns against cuts, to save a local market or a green space, or challenging the impact of the Olympics;
• Supporting community groups and activities such as tenants and residents associations;
• Local industrial disputes and supporting local workers involved in national strikes;
• Practical solidarity work with claimants, people fighting eviction etc;
• Fighting oppression, working with others to challenge racism and other forms of oppression;
• Putting on activities such as film-shows, public meetings or radical history walks;
• Producing leaflets and news-sheets with alternative ways of thinking about current issues & organising.

The groups in Radical London (and around the UK) are doing all of these things. If there were groups throughout London and the UK doing similar things and sharing our experiences and learning from each other, it would be a crucial step in making anarchist & radical ideas influential in a range of grass roots struggles – and a serious alternative to the current establishment / status quo.

To get involved / help set up local groups all over London…

OPEN MEETING,  SAT 11th FEBRUARY
4pm-6pm, London Action Resource Centre, 62 Fieldgate St, E1 6ES

Over 25 people attended the last meeting (January) and efforts are underway to develop groups all around London, so please come along and help ensure there’s an active group in YOUR area!

—————————————————————————————-

AN APPEAL TO ALL RADICALS AND ANTI-AUTHORITARIANS

Why we should all help form radical local community-based groups.

Our goal should be the creation of a society free from the exploitation of capitalism and the oppression of the state – a society which is non-hierarchical and in which everyone is free, yet works together collectively. This will be achieved when the mass of the working class share these goals; in other words, we need to help build mass grassroots movements in which radical and anarchist ideas and ways of doing things can flourish in our communities.

Radicals are involved in a wide range of activities. The media tend to stress the more visible and physical roles such as the direct action at demos, arrests etc. But to overcome isolation and not just be a mere pinprick in the side of capitalism and the state, we must also reach out to the mass of the working class.

So what can we do?
The groups that are linked into the Radical London network believe that setting up local radical/anarchist/solidarity groups and networks, with the aim of engaging in local community actions as well as supporting local workplace struggles, is a key way of spreading ideas, solidarity and resistance amongst the wider working class. In addition, we are strengthened by our connection to others and we are in a better situation to actually participate in and win struggles.

For example…

• Campaigns against cuts, to save a local market or a green space, or challenging the impact of the Olympics;
• Supporting community groups and activities such as tenants and residents associations;
• Local industrial disputes and supporting local workers involved in national strikes;
• Practical solidarity work with claimants, people fighting eviction etc;
• Fighting oppression, working with others to challenge racism and other forms of oppression;
• Putting on activities such as film-shows, public meetings or radical history walks;
• Producing leaflets and news-sheets with alternative ways of thinking about current issues & organising.

The groups in Radical London (and around the UK) are doing all of these things. If there were groups throughout London and the UK doing similar things and sharing our experiences and learning from each other, it would be a crucial step in making anarchist & radical ideas influential in a range of grass roots struggles – and a serious alternative to the current establishment / status quo.

AN APPEAL TO ALL RADICALS AND ANTI-AUTHORITARIANS
Why we should all help form radical local community-based groups

Our goal should be the creation of a society free from the exploitation of capitalism and the oppression of the state – a society which is non-hierarchical and in which everyone is free, yet works together collectively. This will be achieved when the mass of the working class share these goals; in other words, we need to help build mass grassroots movements in which radical and anarchist ideas and ways of doing things can flourish in our communities.

Radicals are involved in a wide range of activities. The media tend to stress the more visible and physical roles such as the direct action at demos, arrests etc. But to overcome isolation and not just be a mere pinprick in the side of capitalism and the state, we must also reach out to the mass of the working class.

So what can we do?
The groups that are linked into the Radical London network believe that setting up local radical/anarchist/solidarity groups and networks, with the aim of engaging in local community actions as well as supporting local workplace struggles, is a key way of spreading ideas, solidarity and resistance amongst the wider working class. In addition, we are strengthened by our connection to others and we are in a better situation to actually participate in and win struggles.

For example…

• Campaigns against cuts, to save a local market or a green space, or challenging the impact of the Olympics;
• Supporting community groups and activities such as tenants and residents associations;
• Local industrial disputes and supporting local workers involved in national strikes;
• Practical solidarity work with claimants, people fighting eviction etc;
• Fighting oppression, working with others to challenge racism and other forms of oppression;
• Putting on activities such as film-shows, public meetings or radical history walks;
• Producing leaflets and news-sheets with alternative ways of thinking about current issues & organising.

The groups in Radical London (and around the UK) are doing all of these things. If there were groups throughout London and the UK doing similar things and sharing our experiences and learning from each other, it would be a crucial step in making anarchist & radical ideas influential in a range of grass roots struggles – and a serious alternative to the current establishment / status quo.

The next Radical London meeting is on  Saturday 12th March 2011, 4-6pm at the London Action Resource Centre (LARC), 62 Fieldgate Street, E1.

We have had whispers that a couple of people from Lambeth and Camden will be at the meeting on Saturday, who are interested in getting something together in their area.  So if you live in or near those areas and would be interested in meeting them, please come along.

There are currently active groups in Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lewisham, Newham/Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel. In addition, at our last meeting, we had two new people from Harrow and Redbridge turn up, who are also keen to explore possibilities or organising locally.

Radical London meetings are for all locally organising anarchist / automonous / libertarian groups in London – or for people wanting to set one up in their area. We use the meetings to network, swap ideas and support each other.

And if you would like to be a key contact for starting up a group in your part of London, then please come along to our next meeting, or email us: info [AT] radicallondon.net.

We will offer practical support and ideas to help you get something going where you live (or work, or hang out).

We will be focusing on areas of London where there is not an existing libertarian/anarchist group. So if you’re interesting in trying to set one up, then please come along.

We had a very succesful day at the Anarchist Bookfair in October, with over 150 people signing up to say they wanted to organise locally in their area.  About half of these were in areas where there is not an active group.  So there is plenty of potential for new groups to emerge.

Come along and find out who else is there from your area!

STANDING UP FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OUR INTERESTS
- how best to organise and take action?

For all radical, community-orientated local groups and individuals throughout the country.

- Which issues should be our main priorities?
- How do immediate practical concerns link to the need for fundamental social change?
- What is our relationship with local residents’ groups and broad-based campaigns?
- Are we having the effect we’d like?

This event aims, through workshop discussions, to:

· share information, local experiences and views about some of the key issues affecting our communities
· establish better links and communication channels among radical, community-orientated local groups and individuals
· promote collective and non-hierarchical, open and horizontal forms of organisation
· promote anti-authoritarian, anti-state, anti-capitalist and pro-community, pro-working class grass-roots politics – that is, the interests of people rather than of governments and corporations!

The aim of the event is to share information and experiences, and exchange our views as local activists. Obviously, there’s only so much that we can do at one event. But we hope to work out how to promote the concept of community action effectively, to establish better links and communication channels among local groups, and encourage new ones to flourish all over the UK. That way we will be more effective and be able to make a real difference in our communities.

The full Agenda and workshop themes are set out below. An informal social event is also being planned for the Saturday evening at the Sumac Centre .

Contact:  communityactionnetworkuk@googlemail.com
Updates: http://communityactionnetwork.wordpress.com/

Note 1: Feel free to join the list! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CommunityActionList When doing so please let us know your name and where you live.

Note 2: Also in Nottingham on Saturday 27th March 2010, 11am – 3pm. Building a working-class anti-racist and anti-fascist network. A conference to organise against the EDL and the BNP, initiated by Notts Stop the BNP. @ Queens Walk Community Centre, Queens Walk, The Meadows, Nottingham. It is hoped to arrange a joint feedback session between this and the concurrent Community Action Network Gathering. Delegates to each event are urged to bring colleagues to attend the other!
View & download leaflet from: http://nottmstopbnp.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/organisingagainstracismfascism.pdf
Full details: www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1692

PLANNED AGENDA

11am Arrival / refreshments. Discussions about the agenda.
12 noon Introduction to the event. Brief introduction and very brief reports from each group present.
1pm First workshops/discussions session [See list below]
2.15pm Break for refreshments
2..45pm Brief plenary
3pm Second workshops/discussions session [See list below]
4.15pm Report backs from discussions. Plenary on how activists can work together better to support our communities and local struggles… How do we promote the concept of community action, and develop and expand our network?
5pm End and clear up

Evening Informal social

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

COMMUNITY ACTION – WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS

FIRST SESSION – issues
1. Fighting for the local services and facilities we need
2. Our neighbourhoods – improving our streets, our local environment and community spirit
3. Decent and affordable housing for all
4. Regeneration, gentrification and planning
5. Local workplace struggles and issues

SECOND SESSION – strategies
6. Community centres and social centres
7. Interaction with residents and existing residents’ groups
8. Councils – how should we relate to them?
9. How to set up local groups
10. Communication techniques and strategies (newsletters, mailing lists, leaflets etc)

For all discussions

- what are our long term aims and what can we do in the here and now to work towards them?
- What are the existing struggles, campaigns and grass-roots groups which show the way forward?

1. Fighting for the local services and facilities we needHow do we put pressure on those controlling community resources and services to get the improvements we need – education, healthcare, leisure facilities, parks, playcentres, community centres, council services etc? Should our communities take them over? If so, how? What is the role for user groups? Can people set up their own services?

2. Our neighbourhoods – improving our streets, our local environment and community spirit
What kind of neighbourhoods do we want? How do we get safer, greener and friendlier streets? How do we get rid of ugly and oppressive features (billboards, speeding traffic, mobile phone masts, too much concrete etc)? How can we build up community spirit and neighbourliness, and ‘take ownership’ of our areas?

3. Decent and affordable housing for all
How can we ensure decent housing for all. Can homelessness be countered by occupations of empty homes and buildings? How can council house residents defend public and ‘social’ housing against privatisation and gentrification, and fight for more control over their homes? How can private tenants and mortgage-payers stand up to landlords and money-lending institutions etc. What are the pros and cons of housing co-ops?

4. Regeneration, gentrification and planning
Can regeneration and ‘urban development’ benefit our communities? If so, how can people ensure their real needs are addressed? Is regeneration often a cover for gentrification and undermining working class areas and facilities (threatening established housing, green spaces, pubs, community centres, small shopping parades etc) – if so what can be done about it? How are communities resisting private developers and unwanted mega-projects?

5. Local workplace struggles and issues
How do workers and workplaces link into community issues and struggles? How can communities directly link up with and support local workers, and vice-versa (eg. community boycotts and industrial action etc)? Should we work with trade unions or encourage independent workplace self-organisation?

6. Community centres and social centres
What kind of meeting places do local communities need? What are the pros and cons of existing community centres? Where else can people get together (clubs, pubs, cafes, parks, playgroups, church halls etc)? How can radical, self-organised social centres really make a difference in local areas?

7. Interaction with residents and existing residents’ groups
How can activists communicate better with our neighbours and our local communities? How do we interact with community-based groups of all kinds (especially residents associations and others who are committed to their communities)? What kind of activities can bring people together in a positive way – eg. single issue campaigning, public meetings and discussions, local festivals and street parties, informal sports, picnics, pub quizzes etc? How can such activities help build up a culture of local independence and resistance?

8. Councils – how should we relate to them?
What attitude should community activists have towards councils? Councils exercise huge influence over how resources (etc) are allocated – how do people work towards real local control and self-management over all decision-making and resources? Is it possible to support local pro-community and pro-working class election candidates and at the same time emphasise the limits of municipal democracy? Or is it better to lobby Council officers and councillors from the outside, or just ignore/boycott them and rely on direct action? In the absence of mass-participation how does a local group gauge its support in the community?

9. How to set up local groups
Is there a fundamental difference between local ‘political / radical’ groups and local ‘community’ groups, or are they complementary forms of self-organisation? How can such groups spread to every locality, especially in predominantly working class areas? Can community-based single issue campaigns lead to permanent local organisations? How do we ensure that such groups are independent, inclusive, accountable to their communities, take up a wide range of relevant issues, and promote mutual aid and solidarity?

10. Communication techniques and strategies (newsletters, mailing lists, leaflets etc)
What practical methods are the best ways of spreading information, building up communication channels, and encouraging and inspiring people to get involved in the life of their community and to join in with local groups and campaigns? What are the benefits of leaflets, public meetings, newsletters, minutes, email lists, websites, door-to-door visits/questionnaires, notice boards, posters, phone trees etc?

The meetings are a forum for existing groups to support each other and exchange ideas, as well as give a helping hand and encouragement to anyone wanting to set up something new in their area.

It is open to anyone interested in setting up a local anarchist/libertarian group in London. If you would like to come along, please email Radical London for venue details.

Currently involved are groups from Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Newham & Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow and Whitechapel. With the possibility of a new group starting up in Lewisham.