Autonomy in the UK

[Serge Forward]

Italy in 1977 - David Wise

A personal memory... .and the link between intensifying cultural commodification, increasing state repression and the spectre of terrorism. Originally published on the Revolt Against Plenty website in 2007.

libcom.org

This is an interesting account and reflection by one of the Wise brothers (King Mob / BM Blob etc) on them visiting Italy in 1977 and getting caught up with various events.

The stuff on Italy that went missing after being sent to some anarchists in the Midlands... I'm wondering if that was my group in the Potteries??? I can't think of any other Midlands groups in that period who would have been interested. Ours would have been. Anyway, I have zero recollection of the incident, but it could have been after I moved "south" to Stafford. I'll have a word with the only other surviving member and see if he knows owt about it.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

The stuff on Italy that went missing after being sent to some anarchists in the Midlands... I'm wondering if that was my group in the Potteries??? I can't think of any other Midlands groups in that period who would have been interested. Ours would have been. Anyway, I have zero recollection of the incident, but it could have been after I moved "south" to Stafford. I'll have a word with the only other surviving member and see if he knows owt about it.

It would be absolutely wild if someone still had this stuff in their loft

 

[Serge Forward]

I've just spoken to him and he has no knowledge of it. The only other surviving member was last spotted as an aging roving hippy with remnants of the convoy, so finding this stuff in that direction seems highly unlikely

The only other possibility is that it somehow found its way to the old Wildcat group - though they would have hated to be called "anarchists" Anyway, I'll get in touch with a remaining member I'm still in touch with.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Thanks Serge Forward that's great.

I am in touch with Dave Wise and can ask him about the group but he is not in the best of health and may not remember in any case...

 

[ID47]

Italy in 1977 - David Wise

A personal memory... .and the link between intensifying cultural commodification, increasing state repression and the spectre of terrorism. Originally published on the Revolt Against Plenty website in 2007.

libcom.org

This is an interesting account and reflection by one of the Wise brothers (King Mob / BM Blob etc) on them visiting Italy in 1977 and getting caught up with various events.

Interesting, I was there throughout those years, there was so much hope back then, '77 was definitely a high water mark but what happened in March the following year and the subsequent massive crackdown that followed changed Italy for the worse forever.

Fucking CIA and SISDE/SISMI (and their predecessors) state terrorism.

 

[Serge Forward]

Thanks Serge Forward that's great.

I am in touch with Dave Wise and can ask him about the group but he is not in the best of health and may not remember in any case...

Don't get your hopes too high as it's all a bit tenuous, I just can't think of another Midlands group that would have been interested in it back then. But there's no guarantee it was sent to us in the first place either. Anyway, I've emailed the ex-Wildcat person. I don't think he's online much so a response might take a while.

 

[Serge Forward]

He just got back to me. He's never seen it either. Maybe it went to one of the student anarchist groups back then, but apart from Keele Anarchists (which was a Careless Talk front), I've no clue. The only non-student anarchists in the Midlands that we had much contact with was in Crewe. I've no idea what happened to them. Alas, the trail has gone cold

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Hey no worries - thanks for checking!

 

[Lurdan]

The anarchs who later turned into the 'Pleasure Tendency' were in Leeds in the early to mid '80s. Not sure the timescale is right to be the group Wise is talking about but they are an example of many local groups at that time who started out as 'anarchists' in some sense but who then moved in different (sometimes very different) directions. Very few of those groups are remembered of course unless they were 'serious' anarchists.

'Serious' (adj) :- a group which becomes involved in some way with one of the 'national' anarcho-politico organizations.

 

[hitmouse]

New issue of Notes From Below will be having launch events in London and Norwich this week:

Notes From Below Issue 22 Launch · Luma

Launch of Notes from Below Issue 22 - Worker Centres: Locations of Class Power! Come and join us for the launch of the issue, with contributors speaking, and a…

lu.ma

Notes From Below Issue 22 Launch - Norwich · Luma

Come and join us for the launch of the issue, featuring contributors and editors. Stay afterwards too for a social with food and drinks. Worker centres are…

lu.ma

 

[Fozzie Bear]

The Fragile Juggernaut: Marx & Engels on Capitalism, Class Struggle and Crisis - Harry Cleaver

Whether loving or hating it, many visualize capitalism as an unstoppable juggernaut. For those of us who would defeat it, we must identify its weaknesses. Fortunately, Marx and Engels’ writings on “crisis” reveal them. They show how its endless imposition of exploitative and alienating work...

libcom.org

Harry Cleaver’s new book is available for free - The Fragile Juggernaut: Marx & Engels on Capitalism, Class Struggle and Crisis - Harry Cleaver

 

[redsquirrel]

Thanks Fozzie

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Henri Simon (founder of Socialisme ou Barbarie and Echanges et Mouvement) has died at the age of 102.

There is a nice film about him from a few years back…

Henri Simon - The story of a (non-)militant

Henri Simon. The story of a (non-)militant

en.labournet.tv

 

[Lurdan]

Interview with him last year at Brooklyn Rail
Henri Simon with Dominik Müller - The Brooklyn Rail

He was in SouB from 1952-58 (the group's origins went back to 1949). part of the minority including Lefort which was 'more or less excluded'. They founded ILO. Then came ICO in 1960 and Échanges in 1975. Editions Acratie have published two volumes of his correspondence with Gaston Davoust ('Henri Chaze'). The third volume covering 1968-1974 is forthcoming. (In French obviously).

Knew him slightly in the 80-90s when he was still visiting London fairly regularly. Obviously sad news but he outlived several generations of younger activists while still remaining very active himself.

 

[Lurdan]

In a message to Échanges subscribers (reprinted here) the project is being wound up.

A number of you have been concerned that you have not received the Exchanges bulletin since n° 185 dated winter 2023-2024. The debilitation of Henri Simon and then his death provide the reason. Henri had an accident on September 25. He was in hospital for several weeks, then in a rehabilitation center, before finally being taken in by his daughter Anne in Vaucluse. It was there that he died in his sleep, on December 16. (...)
[There are then details of a tribute to him in Paris on January 25th].
These circumstances have led us to think about the future of the bulletin. With Henri's agreement, we have decided to publish a special issue of the magazine, which will be the last. Our idea is to solicit texts from different people who wish to write about their experiences with Exchanges during its long existence (50 years in April!), whether this encounter lasted or not. (...)
We want to receive all contributions before mid-January 2025, so that it can be distributed on January 25 in Paris. Only one rule: no tributes and no hagiography please!
[email protected] or Échanges et mouvement, BP 241, 75866 Paris Cedex 18

 

[hitmouse]

There's actually two films sort-of about him:

Les copains d'Henri - Henri's Friends. A story that didn't make career

Henri's Friends. A story that didn't make career

en.labournet.tv