London Anarchist Bookfair 2022

[l'Otters]

SPGB RIP? Also, what did QFA do to end up on the naughty step?

If I was a bitter, mean-spirited person who liked to make snide digs, I might point out that, at the time of the kerfuffle that led to the demise of the previous anarchist bookfair, there was that open letter that had, as its first demand, "To change the date of the LABF in future years so it does not clash with the United Friends & Family Campaign Annual Demonstration and to actively promote attendance at the annual UFFC March." And, five years later, here we are, with the shiny new improved anarchist bookfair taking place on the same day as a major protest against a police killing. Not really having a go at the organisers for that, just reflecting on the fact that organising major events is actually quite hard and maybe it might possibly be counterproductive to denounce organisers for crimes such as not being able to find a perfect date when nothing else important is happening in London?

The comparison doesn’t make sense from the pov of organising an annual event though, the UFFC march being annually held on the same Saturday in October for years, vs protests in response to a killing which happened a couple of weeks beforehand.

 

[nastyned]

SPGB RIP? Also, what did QFA do to end up on the naughty step?

If I was a bitter, mean-spirited person who liked to make snide digs, I might point out that, at the time of the kerfuffle that led to the demise of the previous anarchist bookfair, there was that open letter that had, as its first demand, "To change the date of the LABF in future years so it does not clash with the United Friends & Family Campaign Annual Demonstration and to actively promote attendance at the annual UFFC March." And, five years later, here we are, with the shiny new improved anarchist bookfair taking place on the same day as a major protest against a police killing. Not really having a go at the organisers for that, just reflecting on the fact that organising major events is actually quite hard and maybe it might possibly be counterproductive to denounce organisers for crimes such as not being able to find a perfect date when nothing else important is happening in London?

The CWO did have a stall but weren't allowed to have a 'No War But The Class War' talk because the organisers are pro-war. Sorry, I mean have a more nuanced position on NATO.

 

[LDC]

The CWO did have a stall but weren't allowed to have a 'No War But The Class War' talk because the organisers are pro-war. Sorry, I mean have a more nuanced position on NATO.

That sounds like bullshit to me tbh. I'd be very surprised if that was true, any proof?

 

[AmateurAgitator]

The CWO did have a stall but weren't allowed to have a 'No War But The Class War' talk because the organisers are pro-war. Sorry, I mean have a more nuanced position on NATO.

Wouldn't surprise me if that were true, but its good to back up what you're saying with evidence.

 

[nastyned]

I can only report what I heard from someone that spoke to the CWO. But I don't know why it sounds like bullshit. The two bookfair organisers I know have both written pro-war articles in the publications they're associated with (Freedom and Organise!). And the CWO didn't hold a talk this year at the bookfair.

 

[The39thStep]

The CWO did have a stall but weren't allowed to have a 'No War But The Class War' talk because the organisers are pro-war. Sorry, I mean have a more nuanced position on NATO.

What is a ‘ more nuanced position on NATO’ ?

 

[nastyned]

What is a ‘ more nuanced position on NATO’ ?

pro-

 

[LDC]

I can only report what I heard from someone that spoke to the CWO. But I don't know why it sounds like bullshit. The two bookfair organisers I know have both written pro-war articles in the publications they're associated with (Freedom and Organise!). And the CWO didn't hold a talk this year at the bookfair.

'Pro-war' - I think you might be mis-characterizing their positions somewhat. The CWO have never had a talk at the Bookfair afaik, so them not having one this year doesn't mean anything. It sounds like bullshit as the NWBTCW position is commonplace in the anarchist scene and groups, it seems highly unlikely that would be the reason a group was refused a talk to me.

It is quite odd there wasn't a talk/discussion on Ukraine, a sign of a more inward facing Bookfair?

 

[LDC]

What is a ‘ more nuanced position on NATO’ ?

They clearly just mean a position they don't agree with.

 

[The39thStep]

would like to have seen an anarchist’s for NATO workshop

 

[RD2003]

would like to have seen an anarchist’s for NATO workshop

I knew Anarchists for NATO wasn't just something in my own head...

 

[charlie mowbray]

No, it is true, LDC, not bullshit. A member of the CWO showed me the email they had received from the LABF on his phone.

 

[LDC]

No, it is true, LDC, not bullshit. A member of the CWO showed me the email they had received from the LABF on his phone.

Wow, that's very odd, I am really surprised.

FFS as well, that's a totally fucked up reason to turn that talk down, the NWBTCW position is I'd guess a majority one in the anarchist groups. Also do think calling any positions that aren't that as 'pro-NATO' is incorrect, unhelpful and equally as juvenile as calling all the NWBTCW people as Putin apologists.

 

[Shechemite]

Went to the Lisa and Martin talk. Enjoyed it - if that’s the right way of putting it. Speakers and ensuing discussion recognising how (even more) grim things are going to get, but also ideas about how to push the anger into an anarchist direction. Was to tired to make a contribution (I’m always tired atm, v frustrating)

it was mentioned that it was being recorded. Looking forward to re-listening

 

[nastyned]

They clearly just mean a position they don't agree with.

It comes from this article: Fuck leftist westplaining

 

[A380]

As a wanky reformist I must say that the shenanigans about organising a book fair once a year don’t fill me with that much confidence about how an anarchist society would keep the electricity, water and telephone networks on…

 

[LDC]

Yeah, have seen and read that. I wouldn't call that article pro-war or pro-NATO though. TBH I think both the labels pro & anti-war are stupid and unhelpful when discussing this topic among ourselves.

Bonkers for the talk to be refused I think, but par for the course it seems nowadays to turn things down.

I do see how it can be challenging to walk the line between representing the broad church of anarchism but without putting lots of your own time into organising space for things that you very much disagree with. But I'd thought anyone taking on the Bookfair or an equivalent event would have thought about that and come to a way of dealing with it.

 

[RD2003]

As a wanky reformist I must say that the shenanigans about organising a book fair once a year don’t fill me with that much confidence about how an anarchist society would keep the electricity, water and telephone networks on…

Maybe some of them at least think NATO would step in and help.

 

[nastyned]

Yeah, have seen and read that. I wouldn't call that article pro-war or pro-NATO though. TBH I think both the labels pro & anti-war are stupid and unhelpful when discussing this topic among ourselves.

Bonkers for the talk to be refused I think, but par for the course it seems nowadays to turn things down.

I do see how it can be challenging to walk the line between representing the broad church of anarchism but without putting lots of your own time into organising space for things that you very much disagree with. But I'd thought anyone taking on the Bookfair or an equivalent event would have thought about that and come to a way of dealing with it.

A serious response was written to that article and another even worse one Freedom posted. But I can't be arsed today.

 

[The39thStep]

Yeah, have seen and read that. I wouldn't call that article pro-war or pro-NATO though. TBH I think both the labels pro & anti-war are stupid and unhelpful when discussing this topic among ourselves.

Bonkers for the talk to be refused I think, but par for the course it seems nowadays to turn things down.

I do see how it can be challenging to walk the line between representing the broad church of anarchism but without putting lots of your own time into organising space for things that you very much disagree with. But I'd thought anyone taking on the Bookfair or an equivalent event would have thought about that and come to a way of dealing with it.

It's a bit of a rambling article tbf however whilst she might not be a fan of NATO , she is for NATO and its expansion isn't she?

 

[RD2003]

It's a bit of a rambling article tbf however whilst she might not be a fan of NATO , she is for NATO and its expansion isn't she?

Just when you thught the world couldn't get any more absurd, we seem to now have the spectacle of anarcho-communists cheering on the very same people who'd kill them when the day comes.

 

[charlie mowbray]

WTF are you on about?

 

[LDC]

It's a bit of a rambling article tbf however whilst she might not be a fan of NATO , she is for NATO and its expansion isn't she?

Not sure, although I can see if coming from certain positions you might simplify it to that. Anyway surely we've done this discussion to death now? And this isn't the thread for it anyway.

 

[RD2003]

WTF are you on about?

I thought people were talking about anarchists who support NATO.

 

[LDC]

THERE AREN'T ANY. There are some anarchists/socialists/communist (many more of the later two than the former) who think this is a horrendously fucked up situation where there are no clearly easy or good decisions to be made (unless you're a long way away from Ukraine) and some of the compromises made are better than some of the alternatives. And given what's been happening in Russian occupied areas I think their case is much improved rather than weakened tbh.

But knock yourself out if it's better for you to engage in lazy simplifications to boost a feeling of ideological purity and correctness. Throw some stuff in about Ukrainian nazis if that helps as well.

What's weird is all this would have been discussed at the Bookfair in years past. Now none of this debate seems to be allowed. And some of that is replicated in part on here with all the name calling and simplifications tbh.

 

[planetgeli]

THERE AREN'T ANY. There are some anarchists/socialists/communist (many more of the later two than the former) who think this is a horrendously fucked up situation where there are no clearly easy or good decisions to be made (unless you're a long way away from Ukraine) and some of the compromises made are better than some of the alternatives.

Oh you and your nuance.

 

[The39thStep]

Not sure, although I can see if coming from certain positions you might simplify it to that. Anyway surely we've done this discussion to death now? And this isn't the thread for it anyway.

Where is the thread to discuss the LABF decision to ban CWO because they don't support NATO?

 

[LDC]

Where is the thread to discuss the LABF decision to ban CWO because they don't support NATO?

Except they weren't banned. And they weren't not banned for that made-up reason anyway. You're often one of the worst for misrepresenting people's positions and the facts on this.

People are mixing all sorts of different shit up in their heads. Not agreeing with a strict NWBTCW line does not equal 'support for NATO' ffs.

 

[hitmouse]

There were more stalls than usual of an “insurrectionary” nature, as well as what I guess you would all herbalists and arty types.

No AK Press or Haringey Solidarity Group. View attachment 343285

Mildly interested by the difference in emphasis between the stalls and the talks, which seemed a bit more class-focused to me (even if they didn't include a debate on who does and doesn't support NATO).

would like to have seen an anarchist’s for NATO workshop

FFS, I can tell you missed my workshop on "anarcho-pedants for correct punctation".

Went to the Lisa and Martin talk. Enjoyed it - if that’s the right way of putting it. Speakers and ensuing discussion recognising how (even more) grim things are going to get, but also ideas about how to push the anger into an anarchist direction. Was to tired to make a contribution (I’m always tired atm, v frustrating)

it was mentioned that it was being recorded. Looking forward to re-listening

Did anyone turn up waving unreadable JPGs around, or were THE NEXT GENERATION OF UNRULY YOUTH not feeling very forceful that day?

 

[RD2003]

THERE AREN'T ANY. There are some anarchists/socialists/communist (many more of the later two than the former) who think this is a horrendously fucked up situation where there are no clearly easy or good decisions to be made (unless you're a long way away from Ukraine) and some of the compromises made are better than some of the alternatives. And given what's been happening in Russian occupied areas I think their case is much improved rather than weakened tbh.

Sounds like a roundabout way of supporting NATO to me.

Has there been any recognition of the role of NATOs slow motion preparation of this war over the last 30 years?