Upcoming Conference: From Rebellion to Revolution: Dynamics of Political Change

From Rebellion to Revolution: Dynamics of Political Change
16th Berlin Roundtables on Transnationality, October 17 – 20, 2012, WZB

The Irmgard Coninx Foundation, a non-profit-organization founded in Munich in 2001, organizes an annual Roundtable on Transnationality, held in Berlin. The Roundtables provide a forum for international young academics and journalists to discuss the political and social challenges facing a global civil society. This year’s Roundtable is “From Rebellion to Revolution: Dynamics of Political Change”

The recent waves of protests and demonstrations in many countries around the world have reintroduced the question of revolution and grass-roots system change to the political and scholarly agenda. Whether it is the fight against autocratic and corrupt regimes or protests against market-driven politics, in many of these cases revolution is in the air or already on the streets. Against this background, the 16th Berlin Roundtables on Transnationality want to examine the dynamics of political (and often violent) unrest that lead to, or at least aims at, fundamental structural transformations of political regimes and alterations in power relations between the masses and the elites. Our key questions are: Who makes revolutions and why? What influences the emergence and course of revolutionary situations? What the immediate and long term outcomes? And what are successful modes of transformations to more democracy? (via Irmgard Coninx Stiftung: Revolutions.)

A detailed background paper on the conference and its themes is available.

They are looking for participants who are younger academics (max. up to 5 years after PhD) or activists/practitioners (eg workers in governmental or urban services, NGOs, journalists). I’m not sure if it is exactly what they had in mind, but I would think they’d be interested in people in Black Bloc groups or actively involve in significant Occupy movements.

Those interested in participating are invented to submit a paper (max. 3500 words max), an abstract (max. 300 words), a narrative biography and a CV. Submission deadline is June 30, 2012. Co-authored and already published papers will not be accepted. There is an online submission process.

Based on a review of submissions, approximately 45 applicants will be invited to participate in the conference with peers and prominent scholars in Berlin. The Irmgard Coninx Foundation will cover travel to and accommodation in Berlin.

Nancy Fraser will be giving evening lectures as part of the conference. Fraser is the Henry A. and Louise Loeb Professor of Political and Social Science and professor of philosophy at The New School in New York City. She has written extensively on social theory, gender, Foucault, etc., with a focus on issues of justice. (I would love to hear her talks.)

LaborFest 2011 is on in San Francisco

LaborFest is happy to present our 18th annual labor cultural arts festival in Northern California. This year in addition to commemorating the 1934 San Francisco general strike, we will commemorate and have events around the 150th anniversary of the US civil war and the role of slavery in California, the 125th anniversary of May Day and the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Fire In New York where 146 mostly immigrant Jewish and Italian garment workers perished in a fire. We will also be having our Film Works United festival, theatrical and musical performances, our annual BookFair and labor history cultural walks and presentations.

via LaborFest.

Event: Down with the IMF – DC, Oct 7-10

Some of the Scheduled Events:

Thursday Oct 7th – IMF Teach In – Details at http://imfresistance.org/?p=45

Friday Oct. 8th – March and Rally – Details at http://imfresistance.org/?p=45
Non Violent Direct Action Workshop with Nadine
Anticapitalist Night of Action

Saturday Oct. 9th – Festival of Resistance

For more info: The IMF Resistance Network.

Event: People’s World Cup – Sydney, 12 June

In the shadow of corporate funding and overt attempts to deny the game’s multicultural and working-class history. In opposition to racists and sexist attitudes within and surrounding the game. Jura is organising a match to reclaim football (yes, we mean soccer). A football match like no other you have ever been a part of. A match that will borrow and adapt anarcho-football rules and style of play, with any player able to substitute back for either team without formal restrictions on substitutions. And naturally it will not be gender restrictive, encouraging all to play! The general theme of the event will also aims to subvert the primacy of nationalism and patriotism during the Men’s World Cup period.Come join the Jura people and the anarchist community in a football kick around within an anti-racism, anti-sexism setting. Jura will also organise a people’s kitchen on the day.

Kick Racism out of Football!
Tackle Sexism in Football!
Shoot unethical companies out of Football Sponsorship!
No Winners. No Losers.

via Facebook | People’s World Cup.

Anarchist football is a regular feature of North American anarchist bookfairs – and always a highlight, a pleasure, a joy.

Event: Dublin Anarchist Bookfair 2010 – May 29th

The 5th Anarchist Bookfair will take place in Dublin the weekend of 29th May.

Doors open at 10.30 on Saturday the 29th of May in Liberty Hall, Dublin, there are also events on Friday and Sunday.

This May sees the return of the annual Anarchist Bookfair to Dublin, our fifth Bookfair to take place in the city to date. Starting from humble beginnings in the St. Nicholas of Myra Hall in The Liberties five years ago, last year’s Bookfair was arguably the most successful to date. Over one thousand people passed through Liberty Hall during the day with ten different meetings and workshops held discussing a wide range of topics ranging from Palestine to Left Unity, Iran to Shell to Sea, Social Centres and beyond.

Note: This event notice is being passed along in solidarity. I won’t be there and have nothing to do with the groups involved. I would go if I were in Dublin, but here I am on the wrong side of the globe… I’d be particularly interested in catching the discussion of “Revolutionary unions in Spain” and the talk by the Iranian feminist activist.

Even if you don’t consider yourself an anarchist, or have no idea what the hell an anarchist is, if you have never been to an anarchist bookfair, I highly encourage you to get along to one – if not this one in Dublin, then one in San Francisco, or Seattle or Toronto or wherever. The strangeness and hope and community you will find may change your life – and they are great places to meet and flirt – intercourse both intellectual and otherwise is always on the table, right next to the pamphlets on alternative parenting and making your own beer.

Schedule of events below…

Event: Sharing Solutions Workshop « Ecology Center, Berkeley

Finding new ways to integrate sharing into our homes, neighborhoods, transportation, food, and other realms of life is one of the most powerful things we can do toward creating a more sustainable, equitable, and enjoyable world. At the same time, sharing brings interesting, yet worthwhile challenges. Figuring out what to share and with whom, sorting out sharing agreements, grappling with legal issues, planning for changes, and communicating collaboratively are some of the skills necessary to successful sharing arrangements. Please join us for a Sharing 101 workshop led by attorneys Janelle Orsi and Emily Doskow, authors of The Sharing Solution: How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life & Build Community (Nolo 2009). The workshop will explore ways of sharing cars, homes, yards, food, household goods, tasks, family care, work, and more. Bring your sharing ideas for discussion, or just come to explore the bold new world of sharing!

Time:	10am – 1pm.
Location:	Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley.
Cost:	$15 general, $10 Ecology Center members, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Info:	510-548-2220 ext. 239, register@ecologycenter.org, http://ecologycenter.org/.

Event: Philosophy of Bumper Stickers – reading at Moes, Berkeley

Wednesday, April 14th at 7:30pm
Jack Bowen reading from his new book analyzing bumper stickers and the philosophies underpinning them:

Event: Tribute to Howard Zinn at San Francisco Green Festival

[an email from Screening Liberally – hotlinks added]

This Sunday at the San Francisco Green Festival

Join Alice Walker and Friends in a Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Progressive Historian Howard Zinn with Special Guests Danny Glover, Alice Walker, People Speak Director/Producer Chris Moore and Gloria Steinem via Satellite (4pm)

And see The People Speak movie- Howard Zinn’s final work starring Matt Damon, Danny Glover, Morgan Freeman, Josh Brolin, Marisa Tomei and more (6pm screening- arrive by 5:50 for entrance)

Event: Crash the tea parties! – Infoshop News [UPDATED]

On April 15th thousands of right-wingers will attend rallies in cities and towns across the United States. The organizers of this nationwide day of protest call it a tea party. This tea party movement that emerged only a year ago is a coalition of conservatives, anti-Semites, fascists, libertarians, racists, constitutionalists, militia men, gun freaks, homophobes, Ron Paul supporters, Alex Jones conspiracy types and American flag wavers.

Support Left Bank Books!

Support Left Bank Books!

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Friends of Left Bank Books!

As you (hopefully) know, Left Bank Books is still alive and well, after 36 years in the Pike Place Market. We are still run collectively, and we still carry a wide variety of general books, while specializing in left-wing and anarchist materials.

HOWEVER—as you know, several independent bookstores have folded recently, both because of the economic crash, and competition from Amazon, etc. The demise of independent bookstores would also spell the demise of small presses, whose publications are ignored by the corporate chains.

Event: The inaugural Anticapitalathon (TM) Games

The Self Described Anarchist Collective is pleased to announce the schedule of events for the inaugural Anticapitalathon (TM) Games. The events will be held from April 23 through April 25 in Washington, DC, and are timed to coincide with the annual spring meetings of both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
via Self Described Anarchist Collective.

If you’ve never played fútbol with a bunch of anarchists, it is an experience not to be missed. (It’s similar to playing ultimate frisbee with a bunch of freegans who found a huge stash of Red Bull…) And at 10pm in Dupont Circle it should really be a hoot. Check out the rest of the events at the link above…

Event: European Day of Action to ban nuclear weapons

April 3rd will be a European Day of Action to ban nuclear weapons. Mass actions will take place at every European NATO nuclear weapons base in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Belgium.

via Independent Media Center | www.indymedia.org | ((( i ))).

See also

• Trident Ploughshares
• Greenpeace UK
• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Event: Panel Discussion on “Prospects for Winning in an Age of Crisis”

16 March at 7.30pm

To celebrate the publication of two new books discussing the state of ‘the movement’ in this current age of ecological and financial meltdown, what does it mean to win, and how we might actually do so, the panelists will provoke a discussion on these weighty topics of the day..

Panellists include:

Tadzio Mueller and Gifford Hartman of the Turbulence Collective
Sasha Lilley, editor of ‘In and Out of Crisis’ and the new Spectre imprint.
Andrej Grubacic, historian, fellow-traveller with People’s Global Action and co-author of ‘ Wobblies & Zapatistas’

Moe’s Books
2476 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley
(510) 849-2087
moesbooks.com

Left Forum 2010: The Center Cannot Hold [UPDATED]

Left Forum 2010 presents

THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD:
Rekindling the Radical Imagination

March 19-21

Pace University
One Pace Plaza
New York, NY 10038

Each spring in New York City, Left Forum gathers intellectuals and activists from around the world to address the burning issues of our times. The theme for 2010 is “The Center Cannot Hold: Rekindling the Radical Imagination.”

via Left Forum 2010 presents | Left Forum.

Update

Video of three of the session at Left Forum 2010 can be found at Left Forum 2010 « Kapitalism101.

Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair

SF County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park
Saturday and Sunday
March 13th and 14th 2010
Free – presented by Bound Together Anarchist Collective Bookstore
Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair

More on the Bookfair from AK Press