Our Dear Green Place.

 

        The ever decreasing green places in our city is a frightening prospect. A city with little or no green parks is a concrete desert. Even those places that are still green and pleasant within our city are under attack, because of the continual renting them out to commercial interests. This is not what these green and pleasant spaces were created for, they were not created to make profits for commercial concerns, they were spaces for our citizens to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Places within our city for kids to run free and safe, for people to walk in peace, to relax, for safe open air leisure, for an escape form the concrete and traffic. Without them our lives are diminished, impoverished, and our kids are deprived of that essential in growing up, the ability to run, play and relax in pleasant and safe surroundings.

 

My local Springburn Public Park

        These paces must be protected and preserved for our leisure and pleasure, not as opportunities for the commercial world to cream off ever greater profits.

     An appeal from my Friend Bob, but also from my heart.

    Two events concerning the commercialisation of green space and what we can do about it

A discussion (Thursday 13th Dec)

       Each summer the volume of paid events occupying our parks is expanding. The disruption to ordinary park users who see the park as an escape from the chaos and consumerism of daily life is worsening. Many park users see these disruptions to their enjoyment of using and living round the park as out of sync with what the park is there for.
      We will be discussing these and other park and green space issues and some that that are also enjoyable and more conducive to park use – and that could help to stop the use of our parks for commercial profiteering.

Speakers to be confirmed.

A workshop (Sunday 16th Dec)

The workshop will be around. How to find out things about parks, greens pace, commons and how to use the “Community Empowerment Act”. The general public need to be heard in this conversation in protecting community assets. We will be looking at the various, forums, assemblies and mechanisms, that could help to enable groups as well as individuals to take part in this important dialogue.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Thursday 13 December 7:00
Kinning Park Complex. (For food 6:00)

WORKSHOP

Sunday 16 December 3:00 (Soft & hot drinks)
Kinning Park Complex.

Please forward to interested.

More info: inthecommongood.org

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk 

Propaganda And The Absence Of Truth.

John Carey:

”It is arguable that the success of business propaganda in persuading us, for so long that we are free from propaganda is one of the most significant propaganda achievements of the twentieth century."

      Propaganda, the tool of those who wish to control us. Corporations use it continuously to coerce us into accepting their products. States use it to breed patriotism and alienate us from those “others” over there, and take us down the road of war and destruction, to further their wealth and power. Sadly propaganda has replaced discussion in the machinations of our politicians. Propaganda is so profuse it has permeated every fibre of this capitalist society, it has replaced truth. So called outlets of information, TV, newspapers and journalists etc. have become welded into what is now a babbling brook of bullshit, with one aim, to mould the mind of the individual and the public at large, to the establishments ideology.

The Big Lie:  "the principle & which is quite true in itself & that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily,"

Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf

        A film well worth seeing on this subject of propaganda, "The Occupation of the American Mind" Israel’s Public Relations War in the United State. is coming to The Kinning Park Complex, on Sunday October 2nd.

      Justifying the indefensible is about. Keep saying the same thing over and over again till people believe it. While the carnage continues behind a vale of propaganda. An important film everyone should see.

Screening:  Kinning Park Complex
When:        Sunday 2nd October 2:00 4:00

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

Glasgow Dates For Your Diary.

      The Govan Participatory Action Research Project will be participating in the GSC Funday running a ZINE workshop, come along, tell your friends.

GLASGOW SOCIAL CENTRE: Summer Funday!
Saturday, August 8 at 11:00am until 4:00pm
Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street, G411BA (opposite Kinning Park
Underground)

      Come one, come all, to our fantastic Summer Funday. This event is perfect for people of all ages!
Funday activities include:

- Relaxing massages from 2pm
- Tricks by a stage magician
- Free food for all
- Arts, crafts and games
- Make your own water squirter (2PM -outdoors - weather permitting -
bring change of clothes)
- Free shop with clothes,ornaments and plants
- Stalls from groups such as the Radical Independent Bookfair, WestGAP,
Unity and AFed
- Live music
...and more!
      The event is free, but we will be collecting donations that can go towards our fund to setting up a social centre so a few quid per person could go a long way.

AND

COMMON GOOD FILM NIGHT CONVERSATIONS:

GROWN IN DETROIT
Tuesday, August 11 at 6:30pm
The Portal Plantation Productions, 987 Govan Road, G51 3AJ

      Focuses on the urban gardening efforts managed by a public school of 300, mainly African-American, pregnant and parenting teenagers.
     Also COMMON GOOD PROJECT, will be at 
Centre Human Ecology in the Pearce Institute every Thursday from between 
1-4pm, or by prearranged times:

Phone:
07811263923 

email: info@inthecommongood.org 

Web: commgood.wordpress.com

PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
Part of the PAR To increase understanding and encourage participation in helping to build local institutions where research can be shared, discussed and developed with others.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

RIB On The Move.

     RIB is on the move, Glasgow's own, longstanding, Radical Independent Bookfair is on the move, reaching into the far distant nether regions of the borders and will be in Dumfries in April. However, you can enjoy this  pop-up event right here in Glasgow also in April at Kinning Park Complex.

    Home and Away -

    Two April events from the Glasgow's Radical Independent Bookfair project...

HOME

Sunday 13-20 April

Kinning Park Complex

43 Cornwall street

Glasgow.

RiB - Black BOX

       Glasgow's Radical Independent Bookfair project presents 'black box'… (physically in the form of a black fold out booth and visually as a recorder of recent and past radical events…) this week long stand will have an array of materials squeezed into it including… new titles from AK Press, Angry Artworks t-shirts, Govanhill Baths' bags, second hand Unity books, Feral Trade coffee as well as old publications to swap, Document dvds to watch, customised stickers for kids and of course an array of other free materials.

       This stall will be part of a Broth Mix Cafe event organised by the Open Jar collective. A week long event where the main hall of Kinning Park Complex will be transformed into a cafe providing homemade soup and bread along with a series of free workshops, talks and performances.

The stall is open for the duration of the Broth Mix event - detail of all these related free events click here.

<http://ns13.net-hosted.com/%7Eemilycha/openjarcollective.co.uk/Images/Broth%20Mix%20Programme.pdf>

Stall open at these times...

sun 13th - 12-7pm

mon 14th - 12-5pm

tues 15th - 12-8pm

wed 16th - 12-5pm

thur 17th - 12-8pm

fri 18th - 12-5pm

sat 19th - 12-5pm

sun 20th - 12-6pm

AWAY

Wednesday 9 April

11am-5pm

University of Glasgow, Crichton Campus.

Dumfries.

RiB - travelling stall.

      Contemporary Anarchist Theory and Practice: Critical Perspectives School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, Rutherford McCowan Building, Crichton Campus Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4ZL (campus is approximately 2.5 miles from Dumfries train station)

     For the first time ever - we will be doing a stall outside of the Glasgow area! Trundling down to Dumfries with a small stall at this mini conference. The mini-conference/get-together is an opportunity to share research and critical practice. With ‘critical’ playing multiple roles, meaning either important, relevant/vital, analytical, supportive, evaluative or from opposing traditions.

I'm a better anarchist than you.

Speakers include:

Morgan Gibson (Queensland University)

Vicente Ordóñez Roig (Jaume I University, Castellón, Spain)

David Lamb (Hon Reader in Bioethics, Univ. Birmingham, Council member of

the Companion Animal Wel-fare Council)

Angela McClanahan (Edinburgh University)

Dek Keenan (Independent Labour Researcher)

Hartwig Pautz (Spirit of Revolt and University of the West of Scotland)

John Crossan (University of Glasgow)

Sotiris Frantzanas (University of Glasgow)

Hamish Kallin (University of Edinburgh)

Friend RiB on facebook here...

<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glasgows-Radical-Independent-Bookfair-Project/250139438423326>

www.ribproject.org

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Glasgow In The 60's and 70's.

        Looking for an interesting and cheap night out? Well look no further than the Kinning Park Complex, and find out a little about Glasgow's history.

GLASGOW (1982) FILM SCREENING
THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER, 6.30 FOR 7PM START
KINNING PARK COMPLEX (next to Kinning Park Subway)

       A rare screening of episodes from a series of films about Glasgow originally aired on the BBC in 1982. The series constitutes an amazing document of Glasgow, and the East End in particular, and provides a crucial historical context for understanding present-day social and environmental problems in the city.
       Episodes focus on the blight left behind from the mass demolitions of the 1960s and 1970s – the era of Comprehensive Development Areas; the closure of Beardmore’s Forge at Parkhead and with it the end of large industry in the East End; and a portrayal of the infamous Barrowfield Scheme next to Parkhead. For those interested in current ‘regeneration’ plans associated with the Commonwealth Games 2014 and Clyde Gateway, it is unmissable.
     Margaret Jaconelli, who was evicted by CPO on the site of the Commonwealth Games Village, and Neil Gray from Glasgow Games Monitor 2014, will talk about the films in relation to the present era. Followed by open discussion. Donations on door welcome.
Organised by Glasgow Games Monitor 2014 and Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!

http://gamesmonitor2014.org/2013/11/28/glasgow-1982-film-screening/

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Commons And Common Goods.

     This land is our land, not a song but a statement of fact, in the words of the football pundit, "We wis robbed".

A reminder:
     Kinning Park Complex Sunday 26th May 2:00 - 5:00

There will be a small Radical Independent Bookstall at this event.


     ‘Show the people that our Old Nobility is not noble, that its lands are stolen lands – stolen either by force or fraud; show people that the title-deeds are rapine, murder, massacre, cheating, or court harlotry; dissolve the halo of divinity that surrounds the hereditary title; let the people clearly understand that our present House of Lords is composed largely of descendants of successful pirates and rogues; do these things and you shatter the Romance that keeps the nation numb and spellbound while privilege picks its pocket.’

Tom Johnston

INFO:
http://comglas.co.uk/the-commons-and-the-collective-imagination-gathering/#more-1660


Event Poster PDF
* the-commons.pdf (289 KB) hosted on Ubuntu One:
http://ubuntuone.com/123ne64QuAN8dhX07Rvwru

ann arky's home.

Anarchism, Marxism,

       In spite of my pocking a little fun, a night worth marking in your diary, I'm sure it will be both informative and interesting, as well as lively. 

       Friday 10^th May, with Ben Franks: 'Between Anarchism and Marxism: The beginnings and ends of the schism?'Discussion 6.30-8.30pm. Social 8.30pm onwards at Kinning Park Complex, 40 Cornwall St, Glasgow G41 1AQ

https://www.facebook.com/events/558999170798205/?ref=ts&fref=ts

      Benjamin Franks will introduce his recent work, 'Between Anarchism and Marxism: The beginnings and ends of the schism? (2012), which will be followed by group discussion of the questions posed. 
     "The standard approach, endorsed by orthodox Marxists and many anarchists, is to see an irreconcilable difference between anarchism and Marxism. However, the historical record shows that whilst Marx opposed – and was opposed by - leading anarchists prior to 1917 there was considerable positive interaction between diverse Marxist and anarchist groups. The division between the two, viewed as fundamental, I argue, is in fact the product of a particular form of political structure that dominated the revolutionary-left in the last century. Now that these hierarchical forms of organisation have been discredited, rediscovered and revised forms of Marxism have arisen that, once again, actively engage with anarchism."

     Hosted by The Strickland Distribution, with the support of Glasgow Anarchist Federation, Radical Independent Bookfair, Clydeside IWW.
All welcome!
(Refreshments available. BYOB.)
Kinning Park Complex, 40 Cornwall St., Glasgow G41 1AQ
http://www.kinningparkcomplex.org

ann arky's home. 

LET'S GET TOGETHER.

      The book that should be on everybody's bookshelf, and the end of year social that every anarchist/libertarian socialist, freethinking individual should be attending. Forget the works night out, (if you still have a job) this is the one.

End of Year Anarchist Social & AFAQ Vol.2 Book Launch

Kinning Park Complex

14/12/2012
7PM-1030PM

     You are invited an end of year anarchist social. We will be providing soup, bread and beverages, as well as opening up the main hall for stalls from the Radical Independent Bookfair, Glasgow Anarchist Federation and the Solidarity Federation amongst others.

This event will also mark the launch of the Anarchist FAQ Vol.2 by AK Press. It’s author, Iain McKay, will be on hand to undertake an informal Q&A session between 7:30 and 9:30. The RiB mini-stall will also be on hand to browse and pick up any radical literature that takes your fancy (including the AFAQ vol. 1 & 2).

 It's a great big social, so i' is.

      Feel free to spread the word and we look forward to seeing you there!

ann arky's home.

GLASGOW SOCIAL CENTRE.

       Glasgow Anarchists will be doing a stall and Kids Space at this event on Saturday 11th between 12 noon and 3pm. Help with this still welcome.

Launch of the Pop Up Social Centre @ Kinning Park Complex.

        Over the weekend of the 10-12th February, the KP will see the first Pop-up Social Centre. For more details of what the popup is read on. Here's the line-up:

Friday 6.30 - 9.45 talks, discussions and film (details below)

7pm: Urban Activism and the Commons

7.20pm: Kinning Park Complex story

7.40pm: Sustaining Activism over the Long Term

8.30pm: Film: The Garden

Urban Activism and the Commons

        Sometimes it seems that our city is drowning under the torrential logic of capital. A councillor’s retirement package amounts to more money than many of us will make in a working lifetime; private developers and monopoly landlords gorge on public assets fed to them by local government; and the ruling parties continue to propagate the most insulting sound-bite of the current crisis: "We’re all in this together". B*llsh*t, we’re not all in this together, the political, industrial and financial elites are doing very well on our labour, time and anxieties.

        Stopping the rot starts wherever we find ourselves. There is no big secret to enacting change. The knowledge and skills required to end the rule of the few resides within each of us. Tapping into that knowledge is itself a learning process that takes place in the here-and-now, not sometime in the future. Our communities are worth more than any number of pound, euro or dollar signs. We realise this worth when we come together and share what we have. This ‘coming together’ is the essence of the Glasgow Social Centre (GSC).

         From the 10th to the 12th of February, the GSC invites you to take part in a series of events spanning across the coming year in various locations around the city. These events, known as Pop-Up Social Centres, are intended to increase our collective confidence through

sharing our stories and ideas. These events are intended to produce practical actions that defy the possessive logic of capitalist greed by creating collective ways of being-in-the-world.

Saturday 3-10pm Roller disco, food, entertainment, stalls and more!

3-6pm Roller Skating

12-8pm People's Cafe

6-10pm Acoustic Cafe and pot luck. For pot luck bring along anything you want to share: food, tricks, games, music, instruments, ball pools etc. Also stalls during the day and free shop! Bring or take clothes for free.

Roller Disco Disco, Food & Chat

        The ‘Social’ in Social Centre is crucial to the ethos of the social centre movement. Theatre, poetry, music, dance and roller-skating discos: we use these mediums to tell our stories of love, adventure and resistance; we use these mediums to imagine new ways of being-in-the-world; and we use these mediums to simply make an arse of ourselves.

          Saturday is about roller-skating, food and fighting capitalism. Saturday is about coming along to share a song, a joke, a story, some cake, a recipe; or a piece of utterly useless information about clocks, owls, coat hangers or sand paper. If, for the time being, you’d like to hold on to such particulars, then that’s fine too: your company is more than enough.

        If you can, please bring along guitars, trumpets, mandolins, drums, shakers, wobble boards, sport socks, bean bags, post-its and egg-timers (the fancier, the better).

Sunday 11-6pm Gardening, craft and bikes

11-3pm Gardening workshop/skillshare

2-5pm Dr. Bike from the Bike Station (bring your broken bike!)

2-5pm Craft workshop

Gardening, Dr Bike & Craft

         My mate gave me his old racer when he bought himself a brand spank’n new Rally Grifter. The racer is gubbed and in need of some serious attention. On Sunday 12th February at the Pop-Up Social Centre our friends The Glasgow Bike Station are running a bike maintenance workshop. The winter is particularly harsh on our two-wheeler, ten-speeder dream machines: pop along for some Tender Lovin Bike Care. I’ll see you all there with ‘Bullet the Blue Sky’ (that’s my new racers name).

        Other friends will be there too. We will be running a workshop on raised garden beds. Dominate your vegetable patch without backache. Erect a raised garden bed on your urban plot and let the worms work their magic.

         Sunday is about skill sharing. It’s about learning practical stuff with friends. As well as the above, the Glasgow Social Centre will be putting on an up-cycling workshop where you can learn how to turn bike tire inner tubes into wallets, purses and maybe even dinner jackets. There are all sorts of practical and fantastical things you can do with a wee bit of junk and imagination. We’ll let you what junk to bring over the coming week.

For directions please visit

http://www.kinningparkcomplex.org/directions/

http://glasgowsocialcentre.blogspot.com/2012/02/pop-up-social-centre-launch-kp.html

ann arky's home.

THE POP-UP SOCIAL CENTRE.

Pop-Up Social Centre Friday 10the February Kinning Park Complex

Urban Activism and the Commons (free entry)

6.30pm: Doors Open (Tea and Coffee and biscuits)

        7pm: Urban Activism and the Commons: This introduction to the evening attempts to dspel some of the myths surrounding common property in terms of what distinguishes it from private and public property and what rights we have in relation to it. By paying particular attention to ‘City Property (Glasgow) LLP’ (an Arm’s Length External Organization) the talk will also introduce the harsh reality for the future of both common and public property in our city if privatization is allowed to continue unchallenged.

       7.20pm: Kinning Park Complex: Given by a long-term and active participant in the Kinning Park Complex, this talk tells the remarkable story of the building thus far. This is a story of struggle, community solidarity and commitment in the face of powerful actors in local government and big business. Recent developments in the management of Glasgow’s property portfolio, would suggest that Kinning Park’s story is by no means over.

       7.40: Sustaining Activism over the Long Term: Towards the end of last year fellow activists from Glasgow and Edinburgh, along with likeminded folk from around Europe, took part in a week-long series of workshops in Northern Spain. These workshops were geared towards sustaining a commitment to social and environmental justice over the long-term. Some of those who attended the event invite you to participate in a workshop built around reflections of their experience.

       8.30pm: Film: The Garden – The 14 acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles was the largest of its kind in the United States. It was started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992. Since that time, members of south central’s community have created a green oasis in one of the country's most blighted urban neighborhoods. Growing their own food; feeding their families; creating a community. But now bulldozers threaten their oasis. The Garden is an unflinching look at the struggle between these urban farmers and the City of Los Angeles and a powerful developer who wants to evict them. Beer, softdrinks and pop-corn available throughout the duration of the film.

        9.45pm: Finished in time for last tube. Kinning Park tube station is directly across from Complex.

ann arky's home.