Anarchist Movement Conference - Ideas Day - Short Report Back
Jan 19 2009 22:50
Around 50 people from 15 anarchist and libertarian communist groups attended a national meeting in London on Jan17th to discuss a proposal for a UK-wide conference for the Anarchist Movement.
Groups in attendance:
Liberty & Solidarity (London, Reading & West Midlands)
Reading Grassroots Action
Autonomy & Solidarity
Solidarity Federation (London)
London AF
Sheffield AF
South Wales Anarchist Network
London Coalition Against Poverty
Haringay Solidarity Group (London)
Action EastEnd (London)
Camden Anarchist Group (London)
Freedom BookShop (London)
Black Flag
IWW
plus a group of anarchists from Iraq
The meeting started with a presentation with a former member of Class War presenting the political climate we are in, the barriers that we face within our movement and the need for a revolution in the ideas and ways of organising of anarchists in the UK. Throughout the opening presentation there was a continued reference of how as anarchists we related to the impending economic crisis, the possibilities that exists and the neccesity to sort out our own fragmentation.
Some conclusions and suggestions that came out of it were:
Location: London, dependent if there are no alternative proposals coming forth
Date : May 2nd/3rd 2009
Format : Similar to Bradford but this is dependent on the outcome of future national meetings
Process : Practicalities Group to organise the conference
National Meetings every month on the lead up to the conference (Next one on Feb 21st London)
Some Disagreements:
This related on organising methods and there were disagreements on the way decisions should be made. From one side it was argued a mandated vote from organisations, with a majority voting rule. The other side was various tendencies of consensus. Guess who is suggesting what! 
The first Anarchist Movement Conference in May 2009 is expected to have around 450-500 registered participants and it will be an important step for us in the UK. Lets hope we can keep it together and make it a yearly event.
Watch this space
Jan 21 2009 22:45
#2
I won't say too much, because I think some of what went on and needs to be said should remain for the people concerned and/or at the next meeting, but knightrose is correct, if the outcome of this meeting allegedly is suppossed to be an inclusive event, then pushing a majority mechanism is clearly ambiguous.
ETA cos it was unreadable
Jan 20 2009 23:54
#3
I agree. This will definetly should be discussed in the national meetings.
Jan 21 2009 00:11
#4
I'm a bit confused - what is a majority voting even wanted for in this context?
If it's based on Bradford, it's not really a decision making conference is it? What exactly would be voted on? If a good number of the people involved aren't in federations, how would mandates votes for some as opposed to those with no group to mandate them even work?
Or have I completely missed something?
Jan 21 2009 00:37
#5
Hush now Jack all will be revealed in good time.
Jan 21 2009 00:44
#6
Is that the later then?
Jan 21 2009 10:04
#7
Any more info on what the May event is going to try and address. Is this an attempt to create a permanent UK Anarchist grouping that organisations can work within. If so I sounds like a great idea. More information etc would be appreciated if anyone has any.
Jan 21 2009 11:36
#8
Jack wrote:
I'm a bit confused - what is a majority voting even wanted for in this context?If it's based on Bradford, it's not really a decision making conference is it? What exactly would be voted on? If a good number of the people involved aren't in federations, how would mandates votes for some as opposed to those with no group to mandate them even work?
Or have I completely missed something?
Sounds like certain people pushing through the same structure they gave to the wobs recently (much needed) onto a situation its completely unsuitable for, because they don't understand a thing about anarchism. Possible.
Jan 21 2009 16:37
#9
For once you may be right
Jan 21 2009 17:39
#10
Liam_Derry wrote:
Any more info on what the May event is going to try and address. Is this an attempt to create a permanent UK Anarchist grouping that organisations can work within. If so I sounds like a great idea. More information etc would be appreciated if anyone has any.
There is an e-list: conference [AT] haringey.org.uk
There is also a Practicalities Group meeting on Monday, PM for details.
So far apart from the aim of bringing every one together, the aims and format is up to everyone and can only be finalised at the national meetings in the lead up to the conference - at the end of the day its OUR (collective) conference about OUR (collective) movement.
The second invite to the national meeting, to be held in London on Feb 21st, will be made public as soon as the group meets on Monday.
It would be great if people and those people from groups could make suggestions on how they think an anarchist movement conference should work. Better still come along on Feb 21st and discuss it face to face with comrades.
Admin edit: broke email so doesn't get spammed silly
Jan 28 2009 13:45
#11
Any updates on the 21st Feb meeting? Be handy to know time/location (London?) to try and get cheaper train tickets. 
Also, the list of groups at the top suggests there's a social anarchism emphasis in this process. I've no problem with that, but wondered if this was intentional or just a result of greens, climateers and others not responding?
Jan 28 2009 22:27
#12
Offcentre wrote:
Any updates on the 21st Feb meeting? Be handy to know time/location (London?) to try and get cheaper train tickets.Also, the list of groups at the top suggests there's a social anarchism emphasis in this process. I've no problem with that, but wondered if this was intentional or just a result of greens, climateers and others not responding?
An invite will be made public by the weekend. But Feb 21st IS set for London so book now.
Jan 29 2009 13:21
#13
Latest:
Quote:
We had a remit from the last full meeting to go ahead and boo a venue, but no other remit. So, what will follow in a few days are just suggestions we have come up with which need to be discussed over this list and then discussed and decisions made at the full meeting on February 21st. We haven't got a venue for this meeting yet, but will have soon and will let people know. But, it will be in London from around 1pm to 6pm for those outside London who need to sort travel and accommodation.OK, the venue and date for the actual conference. We contacted about 20 different venues in London and because of the short notice of the event and the amount of rooms we wanted, there was very little choice. In the end we decided, for a number of reasons to go for Queen Mary and Westfield College - the same place the London Anarchist Bookfair has been held for the last two years. The date of the conference will be Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June.
Please start spreading the word as widely as you can to those around where you live who might be interested. We can contact a lot of people in London and some outside London but we are relying on others to contact interested people around the country, to let them know it is happening.
Cheers and see you on Feb 21st.
Jan 30 2009 11:46
#14
on home turf at QM again, eh!
shame it didn't get booked for the May 2/3 weekend as originally planned, as it would be awesomely cool to have a big anarcho presence on the may day march the day before. but glad it is happening nonetheless.
Feb 3 2009 07:53
#15
ftony wrote:
on home turf at QM again, eh!shame it didn't get booked for the May 2/3 weekend as originally planned, as it would be awesomely cool to have a big anarcho presence on the may day march the day before. but glad it is happening nonetheless.
But it would have been pants for those of us who want to attend the conference and do their local May Day event who don't live in the south east of Englandshire.
It strikes me that it was foolish to fall out over voting. This is going to be an event that will live or die on a level of basic agreement - issues can't be pushed through by majority voting. I'm afraid that's sad but true, and I say that as an advocate of using majority voting.