In August 2012 anarchists from all over the world will be gathering in St Imier, Switzerland for a week of events to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Anarchist International- a major split with the authoritarian international of Karl Marx. This split represents a fundamental divide between those who believe that communism can be imposed from above, and those who believe that we can only have true communism if we have freedom as well. How we get where we want to go is as important as where we want to go.
As part of the process of building up to the summer event, the AF is hosting a series of meetings around the country. The theme of the meetings is the struggle against authoritarianism- from St Imier to today. The following issues will be discussed:
• The background to St Imier and what was involved in the split
• How the struggle against authoritarianism continued in key revolutions such as Russia and Spain
• The debate about human ‘nature’ and why humans do not need authority to flourish
• The role of authoritarian tendencies in struggles today eg the cuts movement, the strikes in the public sector, the student movement and within the anarchist movement itself
• Examples of organising without authority
Feb 9 2012 16:12
Feb 10 2012 10:07
They're on Tuesdays now. PM me.
No dates as yet for St imier meetings. watch this space.
Feb 10 2012 19:04
Oddly Battlescared is wrong. There are dates for the St Imier Conference. They are Aug 8-12. The conference website is live but has not got much on it yet.
Feb 10 2012 19:10
Think he meant for the AF meetings in the run up to the event.
Feb 11 2012 09:19
No, oddly, I'm right. I'm talking about dates for the public meetings.
Mar 21 2012 03:43
You could have a AFED meeting in Milton Keynes, I'm definitely interested and others will be !!!! in Anti - Authorian and Free Communism .....
This is the link for the location, all we need to do is plan .... and book this place:
Mar 21 2012 08:38
Yes, will take up this kind offer. Incidentally someone just applied to join in MK, first name begins with T.
Mar 21 2012 12:00
Milton Keynes??? My son moved out of MK a few months ago but I'll ask him if he knows anyone there who might be interested.
Mar 21 2012 15:36
I moved out of MK back in september, the place never seemed to have any organisational potential or political interest past the ideals of the Liberal Democrats but it may have changed a bit since.
Milton Keynes would be a great meeting and discussion place in the run-up to St. Imier. It is very central and accessible, and not so much of a trek as London for people coming down from the North. It is also very well signposted as a town.
Mar 22 2012 00:17
We are gonna have to get a specific time .... and date ... down for the Milton Keynes meeting and costs etc ....
I'm planning to go St. Imier and make some contributions ..... What are the travel arrangments ..... What about cost etc, I do have the time to save up etc.
Mar 22 2012 10:03
Its 150km (just under 100 miles) from Geneva, to which there are bountiful cheap flights. From there to St imier public transport ( train) is regular and cheap.
Travelling
Saint-Imier (Jura) can be reached by train from Geneva, Zurich and Basel airports via Biel/Bienne.
Train Geneva Airport - Biel/Bienne (once every hour)
Train Zurich Airport - Biel/Bienne (twice every hour)
Coach from Basel Airport to the Railway Station
For information about the coach click here.
Train Basel - Biel/Bienne (twice every hour).
Biel/Bienne - Saint-Imier (twice every hour)
You can check the trains timetable at the web site of the Swiss Federal Railways
Various types of accommodation will be offered for the International Meeting of Anarchism in St. Imier:
A campsite (soon an online form will be available for reservation)
Three gyms for dormitories
List of country cottages available in the area of St-Imier
Mar 22 2012 21:27
Can I do a talk at the meeting .....
MMMMMM the country cottages sounds amazing with the Jura that's where I'm staying ....
Mar 23 2012 09:18
Contact the website for that to see if there's a space but as far as i can see not likely at this late stage of organising and in particular as meetings were arranged through participating organisations.
Latest news
Edinburgh AF meeting on April 18th.
Glasgow AF meeting April 19th.
London AF meeting May 19th.
Nottingham AF meeting (date to be announced)
Hants/Surrey AF meeting (date to be announced)
Sheffield AF meeting June 23rd ( at Sheffield Anarchist Bookfair)
Mar 27 2012 17:19
Brian Morris will be a guest speaker at the London meeting
JHadfield I'm PMing you in regards to possible MK meeting
Mar 31 2012 21:44
@Battlescarred I emailed you back and said: 14th June Centrecom, Central Milton Keynes 7:30pm - 9:00pm ....
The London one is a possibilty to go for me ....
Apr 1 2012 11:12
Just to say that Battlescarred is away for ten days.
Apr 17 2012 16:24
Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA
7pm Wednesday 18th April
In August 2012 anarchists from all over the world will be gathering in St Imier, Switzerland for a week of events to mark the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Anarchist International- a major split with the authoritarian international of Karl Marx.
This split represents a fundamental divide between those who believe that communism can be imposed from above, and those who believe that we can only have true communism if we have freedom as well. How we get where we want to go is as important as where we want to go.
As part of the process of building up to the summer event, the AF is hosting a series of meetings around the country. The theme of the meetings is the struggle against authoritarianism- from St Imier to today. The following issues will be discussed:
• The background to St Imier and what was involved in the split
• How the struggle against authoritarianism continued in key revolutions such as Russia and Spain
• The debate about human ‘nature’ and why humans do not need authority to flourish
• The role of authoritarian tendencies in struggles today eg the cuts movement, the strikes in the public sector, the student movement and within the anarchist movement itself
The following evening -Thursday- there will be a meeting on St Imier in Glasgow
St Imier 140th anniversary – Talk and News On Upcoming International Anarchist Festival.
Public Event By Glasgow Anarchist Federation And Friends
Thursday, 19 April 2012
18:30 – 21.00
Room 407, Boyd Orr Building,
University Avenue,
Glasgow, G12 8QQ
and meeting on St Imier organised by Hants/Surrey AF will be on Thursday, May 3rd at 6pm
Apr 18 2012 02:06
A member of London AF spoke for half an hour on Circled A Show on resonance FM last night ( Tuesday 17th) Broadcast should shortly be available on Circled A Show on Internet
Apr 19 2012 10:34
Edinburgh meeting went well, Glasgow meeting tonight.
Apr 30 2012 10:25
Public meeting on St. Imier and the Anarchist International
3 May at 19:00 at Royal Holloway College, Geography Building
Egham
See separate thread under Hants/Surrey AF
May 11 2012 20:01
Royal Holloway COllege meeting went very well, I think, with very good discussion/Q&A time
May 11 2012 20:01
Saturday May 19th 3pm at Lucas Arms, Gray’s Inn Road, London , Nearest tube King’s Cross.
Anti-authoritarianism Today and Yesterday: On the 140th Anniversary of the Founding of the Anti-Authoritarian International in St Imier Switzerland
This year marks the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Authoritarian International . Following moves by Marx and his followers to expell two leading anarchists , Mikhail Bakunin and James Guillaume, from the First International, the first genuine intertational working class organisation, the Jura section in Switzerland, supported by the Italian and Spanish sections, revolted against these bureaucratic moves and convened a conference. They were soon joined by other sections equally dismayed by these moves and Marx’s high handed decision to move the General Council of the First International away from Europe to New York. These developments have left a permanent mark on the socialist and workers movements.
Thousands of anarchists will be attending a massive celebration of the founding of the Anti-Authoritarian International in St Imier itself, with round tables, public meetings, music concerts, film shows, plays etc.
The following issues will be discussed:
• The background to St Imier and what was involved in the split
• How the struggle against authoritarianism continued in key revolutions such as Russia and Spain
• The debate about human ‘nature’ and why humans do not need authority to flourish
• The role of authoritarian tendencies in struggles today eg the cuts movement, the strikes in the public sector, the student movement and within the anarchist movement itself
• Examples of organising without authority
This meeting will give an account of the original events and give details of the coming celebrations. All welcome.
speakers so far;
speaker from Anarchist Federation
Brian Morris, author of books on Bakunin, Kropotkin, and Ecology and Anarchism
Speaker from Haringey Solidarity Group
other invited speakers from rank and file electricians Sparks, the Occupy movement (tbc)
Free.
May 11 2012 20:25
Ugh, going to be working that Saturday. Is there a chance it will be recorded in anyway?
May 11 2012 20:30
We hope that it will and are sorting that out
May 15 2012 12:17
Just a few days away!!
May 18 2012 18:08
Tomorrow at 3pm!!
May 19 2012 09:22
Today at 3pm!!!!
May 19 2012 09:29
I wish I could make this. Best of luck. I bet it'll be good.
(our friend W called and said he's looking forward to it)
May 19 2012 09:56
Steady on Battlescarred. I know you're excited an all but you'll just have to wait a few more hours.
Bless him, he's like a kid waiting for father christmas 
May 19 2012 10:08
Battlescarred wrote:
Today at 3pm!!!!
Are you recording this mate?
Sounds great, do you have any dates and venues yet? Been trying to go to the Thursday AF meetings but Thursdays have proven no good for me... can never make it from work in time, despite living reasonably close.