hey callan, there's a fair few posters on these boards from melbourne (not me though, by about 12,000 miles 
). list here
i won't knock you for your age, i wasn't even vaguely political until i was 18/19 
Melbourne Anarchist Movement?
Hey Callan, welcome. Good decision to steer clear of Resistance. I'm in Brisbane but coming up in your neck of the woods is G20 (www.stopg20.org). I know that there's a lot of groups talking up this event and a fair few activists from Brissie are trying to get down too. There's heaps of stuff being organised through the stopG20 site in the lead up and at some of these events you will most definitely cross paths with local anarchists. If all goes well I might cross paths with you to. Rock on!
Hi Callan. Melbourne is home to the longest running and most organised anarchist movement in Oz. Currently there is the Melbourne Anarchist Collective. I don't know anything much about them but it might be worth contacting them.
16? wow. I was an anti-social little cretin at that age. There's some good discussions on libcom that will help you develop your ideas.
It's cool this Oceania forum is starting to get a bit of action - let's see what comes of it. 
I don't know much about the Melbourne scene, but was over there recently. I think its the Melbourne Anarchist Club (rather than collective). MAC do the two minutes of infamy thing. There is also the Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group, but they are small and quite a lot older than you. There are a few anarchists in the IWW too.
A lot of the anarchist scene in Melbourne seemed to be bound up in rather petty disputes and personality squabbles. Best to stay away from that stuff in my view.
jason wrote:
Hi Callan. Melbourne is home to the longest running and most organised anarchist movement in Oz.
Longest running yes, but most organised? I didn't see much visible organisation when i was over there.
Thanks Skraeling, I made the mistaken assumption of conflating long running and organisation from my view from Brisbane. You've just confirmed what I've suspected for a while - the anarchist movement in Australia is basically fucked. It remains to be seen what can be done about this.
Hey Callan, aketus here from Melbourne. Yep get involved in the MAC (in fact we've already heard from you, good one). You'll find most of the MAC members are also in Barricade or Anarres, which are the two Melbourne based anarchist bookshops.
If you have IRC, join us in #oceania on the irc.indymedia.org server. Also add me in MSN if you have it, aptgetanarchy@hotmail.com and we can have a chat.
Oh and steer clear of Resistance! Gah!
Personally i have heaps of affinity for the small 'a' anarchists and the autonomist circles. I think this is the crowd that is organising http://www.aspaceoutside.org/ and manifests in groups like Disobediance.
red stars/blackskies
dave
Hola,
I'm from Melbourne, and have been living here all my stupid life.
Currently, a number of local @s are involved in organising stuff to do with G20 (aspaceoutside), as well as other stuff like Barricade (infoshop), Melbourne Anarchist Club (MAC), Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group (MAC-G) and The Wake (@ squatted social centre). Anarchists are also involved in groups such as FNB and the IWW; one bloke runs an anarchist mail order service called Love & Rage; some others, Anarres. The Anarchist Black Cross is also still around -- just -- as is the Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation. Beyond that, @s participate in grassroots environmental struggles, the labour movement, music industry, etc..
My own involvement in local @ activism extends across 15 years or so, in a variety of groups and collectives, but most prominently Barricade. There was an attempt to establish an anarchist youth group a few years ago (5? 6?) but it never went anywhere, tho' some of those who participated are now doing other things.
Uninformed commentary -- gossip -- can be titillating, but I've found that those who engage in it the most often have the least to contribute. Anyone who wants to engage in a serious discussion regarding such matters as local @ organisation may like to join the Australian Anarchy Bulletin Board -- http://bull.anarchy.org.au -- or -- for that personal touch -- comment on my blog.
Cheers,
@ndy.
Hi,
I live in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and I am 16 and a student.
I have been interested in anarchism and the global anti-capitalist movement for a number of years now.
When I am not overcome by the burdens of homework, I read as much as I can.
It seems that, as a middle class teenager, the vast majority of the people who I interact with on a daily basis would rather bask in their material comfort and apparent ignorance than engage in meaningful conversation or debate about the current state of society or their own social ideals. Very few of my schoolmates, friends or family seem to be interested in politics, and many of them are very hostile towards my ideals of anarchism. I am sick of preaching my ideals to seemingly uninterested friends.
I am wondering, are there any active anarchist or libertarian-socialist discussion groups, collectives or youth organisations which I can join or participate in in Melbourne?
I have done a bit of research, and I have only managed to find out about the group which is associated with Barricade Books.
My beliefs are centered around notions of anarcho-communism and libertarian socialism. I am interested in the social critiques and theories of Noam Chomsky, Peter Kropotkin, and also many of the writings of the Crimethinc. Collective. I am also interested in animal rights issues, and I live by a vegan diet.
I am always looking for new reading material, and I have noticed that the library on this website is a great resource.
I am tired of simply holding these ideals in solitude, and being isolated by my political conscience.
I want to take action and engage with like-minded people. I want put my beliefs into action.
I have heard about the socialist youth group 'Resistance', but I don't want to join them, because I don't agree with party politics.
Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated!
I am open to new ideas, and I don't consider myself to be narrow minded or bigoted.
I hope people can see past discriminating against me because of my age, as simply because I am only young, It does not at all mean that I am not capable of critical thinking or sophisticated argument.
Thanks tonnes, and hopefully somethingwill come of this post.
Callan