Repost: Anarchist Thugs Respond: A Word About Saturday’s Events at Downing Street

Read the full article here.

“The masters of London have to be made to understand that they are surrounded by enemies. We outnumber them. Their entire strategy has been based on the assumption that we are better people than they are. They’re right of course. We are. We would never dream of kicking anyone out of their homes – even them. We’d never resort to guns and bombs like they do. But that very sense of decency that makes us refrain from doing so compels us to take action.

That’s what we did on Saturday.

The Tories need to know that their every move will face determined—and if need be, militant—opposition. When police attacked a peaceful protest, this time, protesters fought back. History must now record the very first day of the new regime was marked by battles in the streets. It will not be the last. And history is very much what’s at stake here.”

 

Mayday Stalls, Elections Seminar, and the Sunday Swap Shop

Hi all,

Just putting together a really quick post to update folks on the events I was able to get to over this Mayday weekend. First  up where the stall on Mayday itself, where a good number of the cities anarchist and libertarian groups came out and set up a stall, linking the history of working class struggles with the struggles in the here and now. For our part we made some red & black biscuits and put out some publications, stickers and badges to help raise forms for the Baltimore Bail/Legal fund.

Working folks in Glasgow were keen to show their solidarity with those fighting white supremacy in the streets of Baltimore and the generous donations raised $161.62 (a bit over £100). Thanks to everyone who said hi during the 3 hours we were were in the street!

 

Later that night the good folks from Critisticuffs (writers of the libertarian communist journal Kittens) had come up from London to give a seminar to examine the function of elections in  capitalist state society. We’ll try to get a full review of the event up shortly.

Finally, on Sunday evening I was able to drop in to the end of the second Glasgow Social Centre pop-up event, a free shop with food and music. While things were winding down as I arrived just close to 6pm it looked as if the day had been a success, with everyone who attended getting well fed, the swap shop still having lots to rummage through, and the event having made a bit of money to towards getting a permanent social centre up and running.

This is what democracy looks like?

What follows is the very rough notes that where used for the introduction to the the first of our Angry Not Apathetic discussion groups. This evening we looked at what elections are, and the role of parliamentary/representative  democracy. It would be great to carry on what was a really engaged discussion, so if you were at the talk (or even if not) it would be awesome if you could put a summation of any points you either raised or took away in the comments bellow.

---

This is what democracy looks like?

The general election is a contest to see who will win the job of running the state, so to understand elections, you need to understand the role of the state:

• An organisation of all the lawmaking and law enforcing institutions within a specific territory.
• Controlled and run by a small minority of people.
• Claims that only violence that takes place with it’s sanction is legitimate.
• Acts to protect the capitalist interests of a specific segment of the ruling class, while also keeping capitalism in check so it doesn’t all fall apart, as the success or failure of a state rests on the success or failure of capitalism within it.
• To maintain social order and class society.

There are a whole lot of reasons thrown up for why elections make sense, none of which stand up to even a light level of scrutiny. Here are some of the most common:

Standing in elections gives a platform to talk politics
This was the reasoning behind the German socialist parties in the early 20th century, it has been the call of many small minority parties since, and today it is used by the anarchist group Class War. The thing is it wasn’t taking part in electoral politics that contributed any success these groups had, it was direct action at the points where we had struggles in our lives. If anything for CW formal involvement in elections has weakened their argument and made their position seem contradictory and muddled, while socialist parties just get trapped in a mire of elections and don’t go beyond that. Politics and power isn’t external in the state, it is everywhere and available to us, and pretending that elections are special hides that power from us.

Voting for the lesser of two evils
No matter who you vote for, the government that forms is going to undertake the same tasks. It may present them differently; in fact New Labour were able to be far harsher than he Tories due to the lack of criticism and scrutiny given to them by the unions. Parties outside of power will always be able to look better than those in. When we look at the policies and actions of government they have never been taken in direct reply to an election so much as the militancy and power of working class movements at any given time. Rather than pretend that elections have any real meaning we should look at ways or organising ourselves so that no mater who is in power, they will need to provide concessions to us as a working class.

A radical minority can pull the state leftwards
Nah, the ruling party will spin things to justify the plans it was going to undertake whatever. A radical minority will be ignored as it can’t be used to further the agenda of those in power (unless painted as a scapegoat and villain – red scare). On the other hand a minor far-right party (such as Golden Dawn or UKIP) can be used as the excuse to drive through harsh laws and reactionary positions because that is what the government wanted to do all along. BNP got used this way without even having an MP.

We need to change the way we vote!
The voting system being the used isn’t the barrier or the key to change. No matter how they are chosen, elected officials are largely unaccountable except to their own party and the tasks of government. Regardless of how they are selected, the main way to see real changes is through organising with those around us, while the electoral process itself is still a massive distraction from building this kind of working class power.

We need to counter voter apathy
This one is half-right. Apathy is a problem, but voting or not voting is beside the point. Apathy comes from a feeling that change is not possible, a feeling that the focus on voting creates. We need to work to build a culture where people feel they can resist the state and capitalism, but that won’t happen by posing a new candidate to vote for; that will only breed more apathy.

We can change the system from the inside
The closer a group gets to executive decision making the more it’s interests start to side with the status quo. We can see this recently with the SNP, where they dropped their pledge to leave NATO, thus indicating to others in power that their commitment to scrap trident is nothing more than hollow rhetoric and that once in power they would (with a regretful face on) keep things as they are.

In Conclusion: I’d argue that anarchism should be a tool for understanding how power and hierarchy works, and as such we should use it to be truthful about elections and work to demystify them. Pretending they are somehow important just holds us back.

---

 

Next month (on the 15th of April) we will be looking at the question of what anarchists actively put their time into, so keep your eyes peeled on this blog  for details of our second talk in this short series: Direct action gets the goods!

Events from the 16th July onwards

Hi folks,

Of note this week coming is that us folks at the Glasgow Anarchist Federation are putting on a discussion on bicycles, transport, and the city environment and the call-out by claimants in Clydebank to show support to their campaign against benefit sanctions. The free personal safety courses for women hare also still ongoing this month:

16th July 10am – 12pm, Castlemilk

22nd July 7pm – 9pm, Toryglen

30th July 7pm – 9pm, Langside

For full information or to book a space on the course, see the Wise Women-Glasgow website: http://www.wisewomen.org.uk/currentcourses.html

Now without further ado…

**********

The Revolution must be Localised: The bicycle as a tool for liberation in the struggle for radical neighbourhoods
July 16 at 6:45pm – 9:00pm
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

The city excites & enthuses us, but it troubles us in equal measure. There are fewer and fewer free spaces in the city, every square foot of this place where we live has been divided up walled in and fenced off a dozen times before we were even born. The only thing that we have left that belongs to all of us is the streets

This months presentation looks at the bicycle as a tool for liberation in the struggle for radical neighbourhoods, followed by a discussion upon the issues raised.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We will also have a book stall from the RiB project with books and other related material for sale. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/

**********

Glasgow Anarchist Collective Support Clydebank Against Benefit Sanctions
Thursday, July 17 at 10:00am – 4:00pm
Clydebank Jobcentre, Radnor House, 245 Kilbowie Rd, Clydebank, G81 2JN

GAC will be in attendance to support Clydebank Against Benefit Sanctions on their day of protest against JSA sanctions.

“we are campaigning locally to end the blight of thousands of people in West Dumbartonshire being reduced to desperate poverty by benefit sanctions.” – Clydebank Against Benefit Sanctions

**********

Ibrox Flower Field Family Day
Friday, July 18 at 12:009m – 4:00pm
Ibrox Flower Field Community Garden, Hinshelwood Drive

Come and join us for an afternoon of family fun at the lovely Ibrox Flower Field Community Garden in Ibrox.

There will be:

Arts & Crafts
Garden Games
Planting Sessions
Herbal Teas
Strawberries and Cream
BBQ

All are welcome to come along and enjoy the afternoon.

**********

‘The Ghosts in Our Machine’ – Free Film Screening, Discussion & Live Music
Saturday 19th July at 6:00pm – 10.30pm
Stereo Cafe Bar, 22-28 Renfield Lane, Glasgow, G2 6PH

FREE ENTR

Earthmovies is proud to present the Scottish premiere of ‘The Ghosts in Our Machine’, an award-winning film with film director Liz Marshall present for a Q&A after the screening (she is coming all the way from the US for a UK tour!). Moreover there will be free vegan food and the fabulous Blochestra playing live music. And the best is it’s all free!

About the film:
Acclaimed photographer Jo-Anne Mc Arthur gives an empathetic insight into the lives of animals which are usually out of our sight. Each story is a window into different global animal industries such as food, fashion, entertainment and research.

Her captivating images raise important questions about how we treat animals in our society. Can it be justified to use animals as products instead of recognizing their value and dignity as fellow living beings?

The screening will be followed by a discussion about animal rights and the role of the media with film director Liz Marshall as well as Tatiana Heise representing Animal Aid.

About the event:
The event will start at 6pm when free vegan food snacks will be served, there will be some info stalls and most likely a raffle as well.

At 7pm the film will start, followed by a discussion.

After that will be some awesome live music entertainment by Blochestra. It’s not your average band but a full sized neighbourhood orchestra featuring all sorts of instruments from trombones to guitars, violin and double bass merging into a unique soundscape.

Hope to see you there! Please spread the word and invite your friends.

**********

Grow Your Own
Thursday, July 24 – September 11
Polmadie Plots, Toryglen

This is a free course though booking is essential. To book a place please contact Colin at either colin@urbanroots.org.uk or 0141 613 2766

Whether you have a spare window ledge for a window box, or an allotment plot, this course will help you to get started growing your own food. The course will cover the basics of seed sowing, planting, composting, and harvesting, and there will also be help to design your own space for growing fruit and veg. There will be lots of practical activities, help and advice, and visits to gardens in the area.

**********

Frack Watch
Sunday, July 27 at 2:00pm – 4:00pm
GMAC, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HD

IT’S HAPPENING UNLESS WE PREVENT IT.

The Scottish Government is going to give the go-ahead for fracking in the central belt of Scotland, the gas to be used as a feedstock for the INEOS plant at Grangemouth. How can we prevent this reckless plan?

Come along to Frack Watch and say what you think could be done.

The date has been chosen because by then the “expert panel” will have reported to Scottish government and the new licences handed out – so we will be clearer exactly what we’re up against.

**********

Grow Local, Shop Local, Love Local
Sunday, July 27 at 12:00pm – 5:00pm
The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, G1 5HZ

*****A Glasgow Local Food Network Market at the Empire Cafe*****

Join us for Food Sovereignty Day at The Briggait: An afternoon of workshops, cookery demonstrations and tasters.

Browse and buy at stalls from local Glasgow growers selling fresh vegetables, herbs, fruit and other delights, all made from locally sourced ingredients!

**********

Playful Movement in nature: discovering self and place
Sunday, August 3 at 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Malls Mire, Toryglen

Playful Movement in nature: discovering self and place.
Facilitated by Satya Dunning, Wellbeing Practitioner and Dance Artist as part of The Living Well series for Urban Roots.
Half a day on Sunday 3 August 2014 at Malls Mire.
2pm – 6pm.
Cost: £5

To book a place email: projects@urbanroots.org.uk or tel: 0141 613 2766

http://www.satyadunning.co.uk

Aim:
Playful Movement in nature aims to increase wellbeing by being creative in a natural environment.

It’s a chance for you to get energised, and absorbed in a natural environment and leave busy thoughts and concerns behind.
It’s a space to reconnect with your body, others and your surroundings through play, movement, mindful based activity, using your imagination and paying attention to what’s around you.

You will:
Discover a new sense of self and relate to your surrounding creatively.
Increase your capacity to be in the present moment and have fun.
Improve your listening skills use a multisensory approach.
Deepen your experience of how creativity and nature contribute to your wellbeing.

The session is usually a mixture of talking, playful movement, sometimes drawing, reflecting and seeing how we can bring these experiences into our daily life.
No experience is needed. Open to 16 years old and plus.
What to bring:
Water, a snack and something to write on (notebook, journal).
Comfortable layers of clothing.
Waterproofs.

**********

Geoengineering – Human Innovation, or Hubris? – Prof. Colin McInnes | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, August 11 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

Geoengineering research is at present a speculative venture at the intersection of Engineering Science, Climate Science and public policy. Current research programmes aim to devise and develop processes through which the climate could be actively tuned to partly offset the potentially regressive impacts of future human-driven climate change. For some, geoengineering is a clear example of human hubris, and, for others, a hedge against high climate sensitivity and/or the continued growth of carbon emissions.

In this talk, Colin will explore the technological means of delivering geoengineering interventions, both feasible and speculative, and will put contemporary thinking on the topic into its historical context. He will then speculate on how large-scale engineering ventures could impact human development into the deep future – whether greening deserts or greening Mars, or indeed protecting the Earth from the natural calamities of the past.

Colin McInnes is Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Strathclyde where leads the Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory, an awarding-winning space technology research centre. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was awarded the Society’s Kelvin Prize in 2013. He is author and co-author of a number of publications on the technological challenges associated with Geoengineering, most recently contributing to an edited volume Geoengineering the Climate System published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

**********

Create Your Own Cult, The Scientology Way – Dr Martin Poulter | Best of Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, August 18 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

Scientology has been described in the States as “ruthless, litigious and lucrative” and in this country as “corrupt, sinister and dangerous”, yet it boasts global success and has made hundreds of millions of dollars. Thanks to the Internet, it now faces an unprecedented global opposition. The scary secrets of Scientology and its recruitment methods will be exposed in this talk. It will be useful for anyone wanting to set up their own lucrative cult

Dr Martin Poulter first encountered skepticism while a teenager. He has a Philosophy and Psychology degree from Oxford University and a PhD in Philosophy of Science from the University of Bristol. He has been a Scientology-watcher since 1995, when he was threatened with legal action over material he posted online. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the SubGenius, which offers eternal spiritual salvation or triple your money back.

– – –

Martin spoke at one of Glasgow Skeptics’ first events, back in January 2010. As we approach our fifth birthday in November, we hope to bring back some of the best speakers we’ve heard from in that time.

**********

Health & Hierarchy
Wednesday, August 20 at 6:45pm – 9:00pm
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

This month’s talk looks at the negative impact capitalist society has on our health. Full blurb to follow.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We will also have a book stall from the RiB project with books and other related material for sale. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/

**********

The Decline of Violence – Helen Dale | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, August 25 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, criminologists warned a despairing and frightened public throughout the developed world that already terrifying rates of violent crime would continue to rise. They described, among other things, the emergence of the ‘Superpredator’, an adolescent male who knew neither conscience nor remorse.

However, their predictions were wrong.

Crime rates began to drop like a stone. In the US, the drop had already commenced when criminologists were sounding their direst warnings. Other developed countries – including both England and Scotland – followed the US lead, and crime is now at historic lows.

Those who have read Steven Pinker’s ‘The Better Angels of Our Nature’ would be aware that Western societies have become less violent over the long term – as in, since the Middle Ages. The period from 1965 to 1990 – when crime rose – represented a short-lived and partial reversal of this trend. Because criminologists got it so wrong, many have reoriented their scholarship in an attempt to work out just what it was that made crime escalate in the 1960s, and then, as though by magic, drop away in the 1990s.
Helen will discuss the various theories put forward in an attempt to explain the latest decline of violence, and offer suggestions as to which have the greatest explanatory power.

Helen Dale studied her English law at Oxford (where she was at Brasenose) and her Scots law at Edinburgh, and although she now works in corporate law, she started out – for the most part – practising criminal law. One of her advanced papers at Oxford was in criminology, and she (like lots of other lawyers) wanted to work out how an entire discipline could get it so wrong, and what may explain the (recent) decline of violence.

Helen blogs at: http://skepticlawyer.com.au/

Events from the 24th June onwards

Hi folks,

We got a wee request to put this announcement out with this update:

We are keen amateur allotment/garden growers, with a really good sized garden to share and develop with other local growers. It needs a lot of work (there are no plots dug out yet) but could become an ideal long term project for those interested. We are interested in all year around organic/permaculture/biodiversity growing, building long term relationships, sharing skills, knowledge and experiences. If you are interested please contact: bloodfirewater@riseup.net

Along with that the Scottish Peace Network will be attending Armed Forces Day in Stirling on Sat 28th to give an alternative message to the glorification and celebration of war that is trumpeting all through the WW1 remembrance this year.

There are also many other new events on the list, so without further ado…

**********

Elder Farm Community Garden Meeting
Tuesday 24st June, 11.00am – 1.00pm
Elder Farm Community Garden, G51 4AA

Every last Tuesday of the month at 6pm – meeting of supporters to sort out things – everyone welcome to support / help organise / add opinions etc

**********

Scottish Education Workers Network
Tuesday 24st June, 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Electron Club Room, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/scottish-education-workers-network/

Open meeting of the Scottish Education Workers Network. Come along and share updates and news, review our activities over the past months, and generate some plans for the near future.

**********

MAKE NOISE for asylum seekers
Wednesday 25st June, 11.00am – 1.00pm
Home Office, 200 Brand Street, Ibrox (nr Cessnock Underground)

As a response to the current rise in xenophobia across Scotland and the United Kingdom, we feel it is time to make a stand in solidarity with migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who are in our communities today, we want to spread the WELCOME message

On WEDNESDAY 25TH JUNE, come MAKE NOISE to show your support and solidarity, bring instruments, pots and pans or just your voice! from 11am – 1pm outside the HOME OFFICE at 200 BRAND STREET, IBROX

We support asylum seekers, refugees and migrants – they should not be made to feel like criminals or subject to discrimination by police in our streets, their homes or at their workplaces

We will NOT stand for racist raids taking place in our communities – we are GLOBAL CITIZENS

If you have no musical instruments, or pots and pans, take a look round your house and bring anything you can find that’ll make a loud noise!

http://unitycentreglasgow.org/?p=1125

**********

Team Girl Comic Live! – (Issue 10 Launch Party)
Thursday, June 26 at 7:30pm
Andrew Bridge Club, 2 Woodside Crescent (Charing Cross), G3 7UL

TGC has reached issue 10! To celebrate the launch of our bumper tenth edition, TGC and friends will be performing their comics – LIVE! Expect a night of performance art, as well as music, drink’n’draw (BYOB!) and comics chat.

Inspired by Deecap, for more information see http://comicsforum.org/2013/08/21/comics-and-performance-from-chalk-talks-to-carousel-by-damon-herd. If anyone is interested in performing a comic, drop us a message, the more the merrier!

**********

GAYLIDH
Friday, 27 June at 7:30pm
Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street, G411BA (opposite Kinning Park Underground)

Due to popular demand the LGBT Unity Gaylidh is back!

This special night brings an eclectic mix of live music, wild dancing, lovely people and delicious free food, from Scotland and all over the world, to celebrate the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland!

It’s on a Friday, so you better write in your diary now!

Free food from a variety of cuisines
Cheap bar
Wild Music
Dancing until your feet hurt!

Entry is 3 pounds (Free for asylum seekers)

We are gonna have a cracking night so get your kilts on and come along!

**********

Faslane 32- annual music and cultural celebration of peace
Friday, 27 June
Faslane Peace Camp

Acting Strange Theatre Company and Campsie Socialists invite you to come sing, act, laugh, eat and celebrate 32 years of principled peace campaigning at Faslane Peace Camp.

**********

NO MORE WARS.
Saturday, 28 June at 11:00am
Meeting on the lawn of the Stirling Smith Museum on Dumbarton Street, Stirling.

Come with placards and banners to protest Armed Forces Day and the glorification of war, militarism and imperialism. The Stirling Armed Forces Day is the focal point for the UK and there will be a march with many military bands. We will have a visible presence along the march route to protest and present an alternative. NO MORE WARS. Sponsored by the Scottish Peace Network, a coalition of groups including the IWW, CND, and others.

**********

Herb Foraging Walk
Sunday, 29 June at 11:00am
Meeting at the Glad Cafe on 1006A Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow, G41 2HG

Discover medicinal and edible plants growing around us in the city. Plant medicine has been used for thousands of years and many of us have lost the basic skills to identify and use this free, seasonal, sustainable resource. Catriona Gibson is a Medical Herbalist working in Glasgow who regularly leads groups in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Join her for a free foraging walk around Queen’s Park, finding out about plant identification, modern and historical uses, chemistry and folklore. Expect to see Summer flowers and plants you might have seen as weeds that can aid a range of ailments and make a tasty salad.

The walk starts at 11am on Sunday 29th June at the Glad Cafe on Pollokshaws Road – we’ll then head to the park to identify and discuss medicinal and edible plants, walking towards Locavore on Nithsdale Drive to try some of the plants we’ve seen at around 1pm. The walk is suitable for all ages and no prior knowledge is needed. We will mainly be on good paths which are suitable for wheelchairs or buggies – do get in touch if you’d like to check about accessibility.

Further Questions: whitecat-herbal@hotmail.co.uk

**********

Protest Against Welfare Sanctions and Workfare
Thursday, July 3 at 12:00pm – 2:00pm
20 Benalder Street, Partick, G11 6QN.

The Scottish Unemployed Workers Network will be joined by members of Clydeside IWW and other fellow workers to protest against the use of sanctions and workfare to punish people for being unemployed.

**********

Poverty of the state? The state of poverty
Friday, July 4 at 7:00pm & Saturday, July 5 at 12:00pm
Garnethill Multicultural Centre, 21 Rose Street, G3 6RE

Two public events exploring the economic logic behind austerity measures and welfare reform.

——-

With the advent of the financial crisis of 2008 and the following world-wide general economic crisis, living conditions for many people deteriorated. This crisis and the reaction to it by capitalist states led to a sovereign debt crisis which governments responded to with further large scale but this time planned impoverishment: austerity.

In these two workshops we want to give an introduction to how the state finances itself – and what for – in order to explain why the state implements austerity and how this economic system presupposes and reproduces poverty in boom and bust.

Both workshops are open to all. No prior knowledge of finance or political jargon is required. Each event stands alone – you’re welcome to attend one or both.

——-

1. Austerity Talk and Discussion
Friday 4th July, 7pm-10pm
Garnethill Multicultural Centre

In this workshop we want to present and discuss what welfare reform has to do with the UK’s AAA rating, why the benefit cap is an apt austerity measure even though it only affects a small minority of people, why the government puts pressure on people to find work in a time of mass unemployment, and why the government’s agitation against “benefit scroungers” is agitation not only against people on benefits but also against other workers.

2. Sovereign Debt Workshop
Saturday 5th July, 12noon-7pm
Garnethill Multicultural Centre

That austerity is somehow related to how the state finances itself is well known. It is however a bit of a riddle how something with the power to raise taxes – i.e. choose how much money to earn – can be in trouble with paying the bills. Indeed, one response to austerity – by groups like UK Uncut and beyond – is to remind the state of its tax raising powers and to demand “tax the rich” to plug the hole in public finances; so why isn’t this happening?

——-

These workshops are hosted by WestGAP and presented by Critisticuffs (https://critisticuffs.org/).

Please note that although Saturday’s event has level access (and an accessible toilet), Friday’s event will be taking place up two flights of stairs. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

**********

Sma’ Shot Day
Saturday, July 5 at 12:00pm
Paisley

The Anarchist Federation and Clydeside IWW are planning stalls at Sma Shot Day at Abbey Close and Paisley town centre from noon. This is the annual celebration of the historic victory of the weavers over their employers in a political battle fought in 19th Century Paisley; day begins with a parade from Brodie Park to the town center, led by the beating of the Charleston Drum which should be an inspiration for our current industrial organising campaigns!

**********

Oppose the Racist SDL in Berwick
Saturday, July 5 at 1:00pm
Berwick

The Racist Scottish Defence League Are Coming Back to Berwick!!

After a dismal turnout last time, and after Berwick showed their true anti racist colours, the SDL have decided to come back! Not able to have a decent sized demo by themselves, they are having a ‘unity’ march with their equally, if not more, racist friends the North East Infidels.

Berwick needs to come together once again to show these bigoted idiots that they are not welcome in this town and neither is their hate filled message!

No Pasaran – They Shall Not Pass

**********

Party on the Plots!
July 12 at 2:00pm to July 13 at 12:00am
Polmadie Plots, behind high flats, Prospecthill Circus, Toryglen

Summer garden party at Polmadie Plots!

Join us for an afternoon of hands on activities from bushcraft to archery, great grub on the open fire and strawberries and cream.

Then from 5pm we’ll have some awesome and eclectic bands to entertain you, followed by a smorgasbord of DJs late into the night. We’ll keep the fire going and stay for a campout if you’re up for it!

More details to follow 🙂

**********

The Revolution must be Localised: The bicycle as a tool for liberation in the struggle for radical neighbourhoods
July 16 at 6:45pm – 9:00pm
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

The city excites & enthuses us, but it troubles us in equal measure. There are fewer and fewer free spaces in the city, every square foot of this place where we live has been divided up walled in and fenced off a dozen times before we were even born. The only thing that we have left that belongs to all of us is the streets

This months presentation looks at the bicycle as a tool for liberation in the struggle for radical neighbourhoods, followed by a discussion upon the issues raised.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We will also have a book stall from the RiB project. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/

**********

Glasgow Anarchist Collective Support Clydebank Against Benefit Sanctions
Thursday, July 17 at 10:00am – 4:00pm
Clydebank Jobcentre, Radnor House, 245 Kilbowie Rd, Clydebank, G81 2JN

GAC will be in attendance to support Clydebank Against Benefit Sanctions on their day of protest against JSA sanctions.

“we are campaigning locally to end the blight of thousands of people in West Dumbartonshire being reduced to desperate poverty by benefit sanctions.” – Clydebank Against Benefit Sanctions

**********

Frack Watch
Sunday, July 27 at 2:00pm – 4:00pm
GMAC, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HD

IT’S HAPPENING UNLESS WE PREVENT IT.

The Scottish Government is going to give the go-ahead for fracking in the central belt of Scotland, the gas to be used as a feedstock for the INEOS plant at Grangemouth. How can we prevent this reckless plan?

Come along to Frack Watch and say what you think could be done.

The date has been chosen because by then the “expert panel” will have reported to Scottish government and the new licences handed out – so we will be clearer exactly what we’re up against.

**********

Create Your Own Cult, The Scientology Way – Dr Martin Poulter | Best of Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, August 18 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

Scientology has been described in the States as “ruthless, litigious and lucrative” and in this country as “corrupt, sinister and dangerous”, yet it boasts global success and has made hundreds of millions of dollars. Thanks to the Internet, it now faces an unprecedented global opposition. The scary secrets of Scientology and its recruitment methods will be exposed in this talk. It will be useful for anyone wanting to set up their own lucrative cult

Dr Martin Poulter first encountered skepticism while a teenager. He has a Philosophy and Psychology degree from Oxford University and a PhD in Philosophy of Science from the University of Bristol. He has been a Scientology-watcher since 1995, when he was threatened with legal action over material he posted online. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the SubGenius, which offers eternal spiritual salvation or triple your money back.

– – –

Martin spoke at one of Glasgow Skeptics’ first events, back in January 2010. As we approach our fifth birthday in November, we hope to bring back some of the best speakers we’ve heard from in that time.

Events from the 9th June onwards

Hi folks,

Back to the long-list format this week. For those of you picking up this mail on Monday there are several events later this evening that slipped through the update net until just now so worth checking out, especially “These Streets Were Made for Walking” starting at Midnight.

So without further ado…

**********

We Need to Talk About Fracking – Glasgow Debate
Monday June 09 at 8:00pm
The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, G2 8DL

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Mary Church – Friends Of The Earth
Maria Montinaro – Falkirk Councillor, Concerned Communities of Falkirk
Liz Arnold – US Anti-Fracking Campaigner
Tina Louise Rothery – Residents Action on Fylde Fracking
Tom Barlow – Reclaim The Power

This is a critical moment for Britain. The government’s plans to introduce fracking will change the UK forever.

There are several issues surrounding this technology that we need to talk about. Can fracking cause a real threat to our water supply ? Will fracking bring a genuine jobs boom? Will fracking help us tackle climate change, or will it make it worse?

Come along to hear these questions and many more debated. The debate starts at 8pm. Doors open from 7. Tickets are free. You just have to sign up at talkfracking.org.

**********

These Streets Were Made for Walking
Monday June 09 at 11:45pm
Queens Park, Glasgow.

After an increasing number of serious sexual assaults on women in Glasgow, including most recently within one week of each other, a woman being subjected to gang rape in Toryglen and another young woman being raped in Govanhill, it has become clear that something has to be done to send a message to both the perpetrators and the authorities that we will not stand by and let this massive problem within our city be ignored.

Myself and Ashley Crossan who are organizing this walk are both young, female residents of Govanhill and are quite frankly, tired of harassment, and the fear of assault being a part of our daily lives, simply because we are female. We are tired of being told when we can and cannot walk around our own neighborhoods as a “preventative measure”. Not to mention the taxi fares spent going from each others houses after dark for fear of walking alone! Well, what we’re suggesting is that we stop putting the onus on the victim and what they can do to be ‘responsible’ re their own safety, and instead focus the blame right where it should be: on the rapist.

This walk is then both a show of solidarity, in support of the victims of rape, and a call to action; to encourage more police presence and support in this area and to make sure that these kind of attacks on our mothers/sisters/daughters/spouse (and indeed fathers/brothers/sons) never happen.

This is a peaceful walk, not a protest. It will take place at midnight on Monday 9th of June and we will meet at the Queens Park Gates at 11.45. The police have been informed that this event is taking place. All are invited, women, men and children.
All donations will go to Rape Crisis Scotland, more information will be available in the coming few days so please do check back for further information.

http://www.rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk/index.php?id=149

**********

Bike Maintenance Level 2
Tuesday June 10 at 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Toryglen Community Base, 179 Prospecthill Circus, G42 0LA.

Come along and have your bike checked and learn how to maintain it yourself. If you already know the basics when it comes to looking after your bike but want to further your knowledge then this is the course for you.

This is a free course but booking is required. You do not need to have completed level 1 to attend.

For more information or to reserve a place please contact projects@urbanroots.org.uk or Tel:0141 613 2766

**********

Great Grub
Starts Tuesday June 10 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Hall, 160 Peat Road, G53 6DE

This is a free course but booking is necessary.

Come along to our weekly cookery workshops and make delicious food to share with your family

Learn new cookery skills through practical cookery workshops
Learn about healthy and nutritious food
Share and exchange recipes
Learn about how food can be healthy for you and the environment
Eat delicious food together!
This course is Free, though places are limited

To book a place contact Lucy at Urban Roots

Tel:07974523925 or Email: lucy@urbanroots.org.uk

**********

Clydeside IWW Branch Meeting
Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Electron Clubroom, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Branch meeting of the Clydeside IWW, a grassroots union for all workers.

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/

**********

Jamfest: `Fuck the Tories, Sing us yer Stories
Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00pm
Pivo Pivo, 15 Waterloo Street, G2 6AY

*we did this back in 2012 with great success and we are bringing the infamous Jamfest Coalition special back to Pivo Pivo on June 10th.

*Featuring an outstanding array of musicians, singers, poets, M.Cs all gathered together for a special one-off collaboration. All genres, all styles welcomed with a loose `F*** the Tories` theme binding it all together .

*All artists are invited along to join in by giving us a song, reciting a poem, joining in the jam or telling us a story.

*We will also reveal who is playing the special Jamfest `Making Things Happen` tent at Kelburn Garden Party

stage is open * Entry is free * attendance is mandatory

**********

Faslane Peace Camp’s 32nd birthday
Thursday, June 12 until Monday, June 16
Faslane Peace Camp, Shandon, Helensburgh, G84 8HL

Faslane Peace Camp will be celebrating its 32nd birthday on 12th June, followed by a weekend of workshops, music, and mischief. 2014 is a crucial time in the campaign against nuclear weapons, and presents a real opportunity to banish Britain’s Bomb from Scotland and the world. Join us from 12-16th June to share skills and plans for a summer of action. Camping and vegan food available throughout; please let us know of any other requirements in advance. Children and (well-behaved) dogs welcome. Check our Facebook page as the day approaches for workshop and performance times.

**********

Fail Better. JUNOWHITYERGETTININTAE?
Thursday, June 12 at 8:00pm
McChuills, 40 High Street, G1 1NL

We’re back! Aye, it’s only been a month, but you missed us.

This time we’ve got a JackalTrades Exclusive and a Fail Better first cos this yin’s a live album.

We have…

RORY O’BYRNE -rising young star of the music scene from Oban with lyrical, acoustic songs of wonderment`… He’ll be singing, and maybe even shouting over the excitement.

And later on MARK McG will be saying hings into microphones mixing some poetry, comedy, spoken word and hip hop Markapella`

THE TWISTETTES will make us lose our feminist moshing crowdsurfing shit.

The award winning KATHRINE SOWERBY will be reading her poetry

And AMAL EL-MOHTAR will be back with more tales of honey

and, LOKI will be hyping, so basically, beat that for a line up.

**********

This is South Africa Youth Uprising Soweto Day
Friday, June 13 at 7:00pm – 1:00am
Glasgow University Union, 32 University Avenue, G12 8LX

Mark Soweto Day by sharing in a celebration of culture from the South of Africa.

Enjoy live performances from emerging African and Caribbean talent

Help us launch Ubuntu Botho, a South African community group based in Glasgow, most of whom lived under Apartheid in South Africa for many years. Many are nurses and some treated victims of the state violence visited on the youths of Soweto that day!

Hear emotional authentic South African liberation songs sung by the members of the Ubuntu Botho choir.

Then dance the night away to Hip Hop, Kwaito, R&B, Township Jive. Live DJ till 1am. Licensed bar till 1am.

LOOK OUT FOR SPECIAL GUEST STAR ANNOUNCEMENT, COMING SOON …

**********

Freedom Theatre comes to Glasgow! – CREATION UNDER OCCUPATION
Friday, June 13 at 6:00pm – 9:00pm
CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

An evening of documentary and discussion about the work of The Freedom Theatre Palestine.

The Freedom Theatre was built in the heart of the Palestinian resistance in Jenin Refugee Camp in 2006. The aim was to create a political and artistic movement of theatre and filmmakers who could fight the Israeli Occupation through art and use cultural resistance as a tool to fight oppression. Due to the provocative nature of the work the theatre has had its building attacked, received numerous death threats, had its members interrogated and imprisoned and in 2011 the theatre’s Artistic Director Juliano Mer Khamis was murdered. Despite this the theatre has managed to tour their work internationally as well as open many productions in Jenin Refugee Camp where it is based.

The discussion will be led by Nabil Al-Raee. Nabil was born in Alrob refugee Camp in Palestine and is an actor, director and teacher. He has worked at The Freedom Theatre since 2006 and took over as artistic director when Juliano Mer Khmais was murdered.

The evening will also include the documentary Arna’s Children which was directed by Juliano Mer Khamis telling the story of a Palestinian theatre group that was established by his mother Arna in Jenin. Juliano went on to found The Freedom Theatre, leading the artistic vision for six years until he was murdered in 2011.

**********

After Antibiotics? – Laura McCaughey | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 16 at 7:00pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

The UK government recently announced that antibiotic resistance was as big a threat as terrorism, predicting that in the next 20 years the world could revert back to a pre-antibiotic era, in which routine operations, cancer treatments and childbirth could become life threatening. The problem of antibiotic resistance is fuelled by the over-prescription of antibiotics, their use in animal feed, and a lack of development of new antibiotics. In this talk, Laura will review how these practices have contributed to this crisis and the changes needed to prevent further damage., and will also discuss how realistic the idea of “a world without antibiotics” is, and the consequences of such an occurrence.

To combat antibiotic resistance, new ways of killing bacteria are required. During her PhD, Laura has developed protein antibiotics that are produced by bacteria to kill bacteria and, she will close the talk by discussing how these could be used to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Laura McCaughey is a final year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, specialising in the development of new antibiotics to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, notorious for their antibiotic resistance. Laura has also worked in the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, testing the safety of antibiotics for human trials, giving her a unique insight into the pharmaceutical industries perspective of antibiotic resistance.

Laura was the overall winner in Glasgow Skeptics’ recent SpeedScience event, hosted in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.

**********

Book Launch & Talk: New Forms of Worker Organisation (w. Immanuel Ness)
18 June at 18:45 – 21:00
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

Book Launch and Talk, co-hosted by Clydeside IWW, Spirit of Revolt, Glasgow Anarchist Federation, and the RIB Project.

Bureaucratic labour unions are under assault throughout the world. The decline of labour unions has exposed workers throughout the world to capitalist absolutism, where trade unions are unable to defend workers’ interests under capitalism. As financial capital controls investment decisions on a global scale over the past 30 years, most unions have surrendered the achievements of the mid-20th century, when the working class was a militant force for change throughout the world. As unions implode and weaken, workers are independently forming their own unions, rooted in the tradition of syndicalism and autonomism—and unions rooted in the tradition of self-directed action are auguring a new period of class struggle throughout the world. In Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, workers are rejecting leaders and forming authentic class-struggle unions rooted in sabotage, direct action, and striking to achieve concrete gains.

Immanuel Ness, editor of ‘New Forms of Worker Organisation’, will present a compelling case that labour unions are at a turning point that will change the character of worker representation that was crafted in the U.S. and imperialist states in the mid-20th century.

For more on the book see: http://www.workerorganization.org/

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy on glasgow.afed.org.uk. This month’s meeting is co-hosted with the Spirit of Revolt, the Radical Independent Bookfair Project, and the Clydeside branch of the IWW.

**********

Refugee Week – Feast of Stories: Tales of migration and welcome
Saturday 21st June, 7pm-11pm
Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street Glasgow, G41 1BA

Payment on a sliding scale from £5 – £15.

Celebrate the rituals of sharing food and storytelling with people and organisations in Glasgow who welcome refugees and asylum seekers. There will be tales about migration, welcome and home from seasoned storytellers, alongside a delicious, local and organic meal cooked by volunteers on the day. There will be space to share your own story, as well as music, poetry and maybe even dancing. Proceeds will go to a local charity.

Feast of Stories needs volunteers to help cook on the day, decorate and participate- email bridgetholtom@hotmail.co.uk to get involved.

**********

Team Girl Comic Live! – (Issue 10 Launch Party)
Thursday, June 26 at 7:30pm
Andrew Bridge Club, 2 Woodside Crescent (Charing Cross), G3 7UL

TGC has reached issue 10! To celebrate the launch of our bumper tenth edition, TGC and friends will be performing their comics – LIVE! Expect a night of performance art, as well as music, drink’n’draw (BYOB!) and comics chat.

Inspired by Deecap, for more information see http://comicsforum.org/2013/08/21/comics-and-performance-from-chalk-talks-to-carousel-by-damon-herd. If anyone is interested in performing a comic, drop us a message, the more the merrier!

**********

Faslane 32- annual music and cultural celebration of peace
Friday, 27 June at 03:30 – 08:30
Faslane Peace Camp

Acting Strange Theatre Company and Campsie Socialists invite you to come sing, act, laugh, eat and celebrate 32 years of principled peace campaigning at Faslane Peace Camp.

**********

Oppose the Racist SDL in Berwick
July 5 at 1:00pm
Berwick

The Racist Scottish Defence League Are Coming Back to Berwick!!

After a dismal turnout last time, and after Berwick showed their true anti racist colours, the SDL have decided to come back! Not able to have a decent sized demo by themselves, they are having a ‘unity’ march with their equally, if not more, racist friends the North East Infidels.

Berwick needs to come together once again to show these bigoted idiots that they are not welcome in this town and neither is their hate filled message!

No Pasaran – They Shall Not Pass

**********

Party on the Plots!
July 12 at 2:00pm to July 13 at 12:00am
Polmadie Plots, behind high flats, Prospecthill Circus, Toryglen

Summer garden party at Polmadie Plots!

Join us for an afternoon of hands on activities from bushcraft to archery, great grub on the open fire and strawberries and cream.

Then from 5pm we’ll have some awesome and eclectic bands to entertain you, followed by a smorgasbord of DJs late into the night. We’ll keep the fire going and stay for a campout if you’re up for it!

More details to follow 🙂

Events from the 27th May onwards

Hi folks,

Apologies for the lateness of this week’s update. Some interesting things coming up, including a change to the previously advertised Glasgow AF talk for June as we have Manny Ness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Ness) coming to town to give a talk on the new book he has edited for PM Press (details below).

So, without further ado…

**********

Bike Maintenance Level 1
Tuesday, May 27 at 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Toryglen Community Base, 179 Prospecthill Circus, G42 0LA

Come along and have your bike checked and learn how to maintain it yourself. Our trained bike mechanic will teach the basics of maintaining your bike.

This is a free course but booking is required.

For more information or to reserve a place please contact projects@urbanroots.org.uk or Tel:0141 613 2766

**********

Scottish Labour History Seminar ‘Factory Occupations, Deindustrialisation and Mulitnational Enterprises: Lee Jeans and Caterpillar’
Thursday, May 29 at 5:15pm
Lilybank House Bute Gardens, G12 8RT

This is the first in the new SLH seminar series and it will take place in the seminar room in Lilybank House at the University of Glasgow. The theme will be factory occupations, deindustrialisation and multinational enterprise. Professor John Foster, co-author of The Politics of UCS Work-In and Track Record: The Story of The Caterpillar Occupation will speak on the occupation of Caterpillar’s factory in Uddingston in 1987. He will be joined by Andy Clark, Ph.D candidate at the University of Strathclyde who was published in the latest SLH journal and will deliver a paper on the occupation of Lee Jeans in Greenock during 1981.

Papers will be followed by a drinks reception.

Open to all.

**********

Radical film archive
Thursday, May 29 at 6:00pm to Friday, May 30 at 5:30pm
The Electron Club room, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Is a collection of radical films on a hard drive.

-Come and collect films with a hard drive or USB.

-Discuss how we can develop the archive. What films should go in and which should come out?

– Where can the archive go be shared?

– Meeting a also a chance to discuss the films that you have seen from the collection.

**********

Glasgow Against Atos – Final Picket (End of campaign)
Friday, May 30at 12:30pm – 3:00pm
Atos Assessment Centre: Corunna House, Cadogan Street, G2 7RD

Join Glasgow Against Atos (GAA) and friends for an afternoon of salutation, contemplation, recognition, and celebration – in bringing to an end GAA, a campaign we at GAA are proud to have participated in. Our grassroots campaign against Atos reached far and wide, we were involved regionally, nationally – our banners and logo’s even featuring in European activist campaigns. It was a dynamic and passionately fought campaign; GAA more than played its part in forcing this insidious company Atos out of the political shadows – and into the full glare of society.

Some of our activists have constantly campaigned with GAA from its inception, a few have been actively on the picket since the end of 2012. GAA feel we have met most of our campaign demands and objectives – and the time has come to end the campaign and Glasgow Against Atos.

We thank everyone who has supported GAA, and this event on May 30th is our chance to unite for one last time.

**********

Is Britain a Christian Country? Is Scotland? – Prof. Callum Brown | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

David Cameron has raised interesting issues regarding both his personal form of Christian faith (like Magic FM’s poor reception in the Chilterns) and the nature of Britain as ‘a Christian country’. Callum Brown will reflect on this with some reference to hard and soft evidence.

Callum Brown is Professor of Late Modern European History at the University of Glasgow. He is the author of 10 books, mostly on secularisation, religion and society, including The Death of Christian Britain (2001). He maintains the Humanist history blog at http://humanisthistory.academicblogs.co.uk/

**********

REMEMBER CLEMENT MÉRIC – INTERNATIONAL ANTIFASCIST DAY OF ACTION
Thursday, June 5 at 7:00pm
George Square

This day marks the first anniversary of the assassination of antifascist Clement Méric in Paris. Come out and show your solidarity with antifascist groups across Europe.

**********

Permaculture Gathering 2014
Saturday 7 June – Sunday 8 June, Starts at 10:00
Urban Roots Glasgow, Toryglen Community Base, 179 Prospecthill Circus, G42 0LA

This year’s Permaculture Scotland gathering is a one day event at Urban Roots in Glasgow, on Saturday 7th June 2014 – to include:

– Inspirational workshops (contact us if you want to run one!)
– Practical permaculture demonstrations
– Fun kids space
– Networking and info opportunities
– Ceilidh, bar and super-amazing prizes raffle
– Scottish General Meeting

To Book:
Please follow this link:
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/scotland/gathering14
where you’ll find loads more info and a link to the booking form.

See you there!

**********

Vile Maxim – Jim Dick exhibition
Saturday, June 7, 8:00pm onwards
The Old Hairdressers, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

“All for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind.” – Adam Smith

An exhibition of new work by Glasgow artist Jim Dick.

The Opening night will have stalls from the Radical Independent Bookfair and the Glasgow Anarchist Federation, as well as a DJ Set From Afrodeesia.

The exhibition will be open daily 12pm – 10pm, Sunday 8th – Thurs 12th June

**********

Great Grub
Starts Tuesday June 10 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Hall, 160 Peat Road, G53 6DE

This is a free course but booking is necessary.

Come along to our weekly cookery workshops and make delicious food to share with your family

Learn new cookery skills through practical cookery workshops
Learn about healthy and nutritious food
Share and exchange recipes
Learn about how food can be healthy for you and the environment
Eat delicious food together!
This course is Free, though places are limited

To book a place contact Lucy at Urban Roots

Tel:07974523925 or Email: lucy@urbanroots.org.uk

**********

Clydeside IWW Branch Meeting
Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Electron Clubroom, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Branch meeting of the Clydeside IWW, a grassroots union for all workers.

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/

**********

Freedom Theatre comes to Glasgow! – CREATION UNDER OCCUPATION
Friday, June 13 at 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue TBC (see next update for more)

An evening of documentary and discussion about the work of The Freedom Theatre Palestine.

The Freedom Theatre was built in the heart of the Palestinian resistance in Jenin Refugee Camp in 2006. The aim was to create a political and artistic movement of theatre and filmmakers who could fight the Israeli Occupation through art and use cultural resistance as a tool to fight oppression. Due to the provocative nature of the work the theatre has had its building attacked, received numerous death threats, had its members interrogated and imprisoned and in 2011 the theatre’s Artistic Director Juliano Mer Khamis was murdered. Despite this the theatre has managed to tour their work internationally as well as open many productions in Jenin Refugee Camp where it is based.

The discussion will be led by Nabil Al-Raee. Nabil was born in Alrob refugee Camp in Palestine and is an actor, director and teacher. He has worked at The Freedom Theatre since 2006 and took over as artistic director when Juliano Mer Khmais was murdered.

The evening will also include the documentary Arna’s Children which was directed by Juliano Mer Khamis telling the story of a Palestinian theatre group that was established by his mother Arna in Jenin. Juliano went on to found The Freedom Theatre, leading the artistic vision for six years until he was murdered in 2011.

**********

After Antibiotics? – Laura McCaughey | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 16 at 7:00pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

The UK government recently announced that antibiotic resistance was as big a threat as terrorism, predicting that in the next 20 years the world could revert back to a pre-antibiotic era, in which routine operations, cancer treatments and childbirth could become life threatening. The problem of antibiotic resistance is fuelled by the over-prescription of antibiotics, their use in animal feed, and a lack of development of new antibiotics. In this talk, Laura will review how these practices have contributed to this crisis and the changes needed to prevent further damage., and will also discuss how realistic the idea of “a world without antibiotics” is, and the consequences of such an occurrence.

To combat antibiotic resistance, new ways of killing bacteria are required. During her PhD, Laura has developed protein antibiotics that are produced by bacteria to kill bacteria and, she will close the talk by discussing how these could be used to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Laura McCaughey is a final year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, specialising in the development of new antibiotics to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, notorious for their antibiotic resistance. Laura has also worked in the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, testing the safety of antibiotics for human trials, giving her a unique insight into the pharmaceutical industries perspective of antibiotic resistance.

Laura was the overall winner in Glasgow Skeptics’ recent SpeedScience event, hosted in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.

**********

Book Launch & Talk: New Forms of Worker Organisation (w. Immanuel Ness)
18 June at 18:45 – 21:00
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

Bureaucratic labour unions are under assault throughout the world. The decline of labour unions has exposed workers throughout the world to capitalist absolutism, where trade unions are unable to defend workers’ interests under capitalism. As financial capital controls investment decisions on a global scale over the past 30 years, most unions have surrendered the achievements of the mid-20th century, when the working class was a militant force for change throughout the world. As unions implode and weaken, workers are independently forming their own unions, rooted in the tradition of syndicalism and autonomism—and unions rooted in the tradition of self-directed action are auguring a new period of class struggle throughout the world. In Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, workers are rejecting leaders and forming authentic class-struggle unions rooted in sabotage, direct action, and striking to achieve concrete gains.

Immanuel Ness, editor of ‘New Forms of Worker Organisation’, will present a compelling case that labour unions are at a turning point that will change the character of worker representation that was crafted in the U.S. and imperialist states in the mid-20th century.

For more on the book see: http://www.workerorganization.org/

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy on glasgow.afed.org.uk. This month’s meeting is co-hosted with the Spirit of Revolt, the Radical Independent Bookfair Project, and the Clydeside branch of the IWW.

**********

Refugee Week – Feast of Stories: Tales of migration and welcome
Saturday 21st June, 7pm-11pm
Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street Glasgow, G41 1BA

Payment on a sliding scale from £5 – £15.

Celebrate the rituals of sharing food and storytelling with people and organisations in Glasgow who welcome refugees and asylum seekers. There will be tales about migration, welcome and home from seasoned storytellers, alongside a delicious, local and organic meal cooked by volunteers on the day. There will be space to share your own story, as well as music, poetry and maybe even dancing. Proceeds will go to a local charity.

Feast of Stories needs volunteers to help cook on the day, decorate and participate- email bridgetholtom@hotmail.co.uk to get involved.

**********

Faslane 32- annual music and cultural celebration of peace
Friday, 27 June at 03:30 – 08:30
Faslane Peace Camp

Acting Strange Theatre Company and Campsie Socialists invite you to come sing, act, laugh, eat and celebrate 32 years of principled peace campaigning at Faslane Peace Camp.

Events from the 17th May onwards

Hi folks,

Just wanted to remind everyone that tonight is the WestGAP Fundraiser at Stereo (details below). Also we at Glasgow AF will be holding a discussion/workshop this week all about anarchist methods of organising this Wednesday so hope to see peeps there. Now without further ado…
**********
WestGAP Fundraiser
Saturday, May 17 at 8:00pm
Stereo Cafe Bar, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

STEREO and WestGAP present: a West Glasgow Against Poverty Fundraiser, featuring:

DISCO SHARK (Stevie Jackson, Belle and Sebastian)
NO MORE TIGER
PAUL THOMSON (Franz Ferdinand) DJ Set til late
plus more!

Throw yourself around to all those hits you feared you might never hear live again, as performed by pop legend Stevie Jackson (Belle and Sebastian) and his super troupe, DISCO SHARK. Hot damn! Courtesy of Franz Ferdinand’s PAUL THOMSON, you’ll get down to records that you can’t believe you never heard the first time round. And you’ll enjoy the brand new opportunity to see brand newly re-branded outfit NO MORE TIGER (previously Easy, Tiger), featuring Nudes on Mars DJ Flore De Hoog and Jim McAteer, esteemed co-host of the Rio Cafe’s splendid monthly open mic night.

All this, and you’ll be doing a good thing, too.

WestGAP is an anti-poverty community group run by and for people in Glasgow who have first hand experience of living in poverty. Since 1997 we’ve been providing a free, independent and confidential advice service focusing on welfare rights, as well as providing support with housing problems, fuel poverty, homelessness and a broad range of other issues. We are totally independent, are not funded by government, and are not part of any political party or organisation. Our service is open to all and completely free.

WestGAP is run entirely by volunteers, and we depend on donations to keep our doors open. At a time when the rights of the most vulnerable residents of our city are being eroded, it’s essential that community advice services continue to exist, to support claimants in defending themselves against screwed up policies and unfair decisions. All proceeds from this show will go directly to WestGAP, and will support the organisation’s basic running costs: rent, phone bill, photocopying, stamps.

http://westgap.co.uk/
**********
Fundraising Picnic
Sunday, May 18 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Woodlands Community Gardens, 91–111 West Princes Street, G4 9BY

Join us for a special fundraising picnic, organised by our friends at West End ACTS. Enjoy tasty and seasonal food, pick up some tips on planting, tuck into a freshly made cake and buy yourself a garden T shirt. All proceeds go to support our local food social support hub project and help us to support more people affected by food poverty.

**********
Frack Watch
Sunday, 18 May at 14:00–16:00
GMAC Glasgow,103 Trongate, G1 5HD

Meeting for people in Glasgow who want to oppose unconventional gas. Discussion includes idea to launch campaign to get local councils on board to refuse permission to the dirty gas companies. Updates from Falkirk, Canonbie, North Lanarkshire. Update from FoE. More fundraising ideas.
**********
Until there is an HIV cure for all! Free Screening of United In Anger – A history of ACT UP
Tuesdy, 20 May at 18:30–20:30
The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, G2 8DL
Community Discussion on the Past, Present and Future of Scotland’s HIV Activism against the Epidemic.

Featuring a panel discussion and Q + A with guest speakers who are pioneering new strategies in the fight for an HIV cure for all.

A free screening of the feature-length award-winning documentary –

United in Anger: A History of ACT UP is an inspiring documentary about the birth and life of the AIDS activist movement from the perspective of the people in the trenches fighting the epidemic. Utilizing oral histories of members of ACT UP, as well as rare archival footage, the film depicts the efforts of ACT UP as it battles corporate greed, social indifference, and government neglect.

http://www.unitedinanger.com/

“United in Anger is clearly a labour of love and does a fantastic job of reminding this generation of how hard not only the gay community, but also people of all races and genders, fought for basic human rights. There is a focus on clarifying that members of ACT UP were aware of their privileges and attempts to include members of all groups that the AIDS crisis affected. Despite initially being a group of mainly white gay males, they worked closely with separate activist groups that included women, the poor and ethnic groups. All of these groups were united together fighting the same cause, and United in Anger does a fantastic job capturing the spirit and electricity in their protests.” Toronto Film Review

LIMITED SPACES – Please RSVP –

As there are limited spaces – we would like committed people, HIV positive people or affected by HIV at large, activists and artists to come. There is a serious need to build a strong militant HIV movement in the UK to build
alliances with all those challenging austerity in the UK and all those fighting the HIV epidemic across the world. You don’t have to be deeply involved in HIV activism but committed to build power and alliances with it. Please email shafted@theglassishalffull.co.uk couple of lines about why you want to come and your place will be confirmed
via email by Tilly or dan from Shafted?!.

Hosted by – ACT UP SCOTLAND and SHAFTED?! the show performers -www.shaftedontour.wordpress.com

Shafted?! is coming to Edinburgh (June 18th, 19th) as a show sharing the realities of HIV in Scotland and we are looking for people to participate! SHAFTED?! is an unashamedly deviant HIV cabaret and activism movement to stop the HIV ‘Second Silence’. The show combines dance, performance, live music, stunts and spoken word to tell true life stories of people living with and affected by the virus. It is part of a wider body of activism combining workshops, mentoring schemes and direct actions UK-wide, in response to austerity cuts and the silence around the epidemic. The current HIV epidemic and the growing cuts to HIV education and prevention services right across the UK are a big concern so Shafted Goes on Tour 2014 – A Celebration of ACT UP’s Anniversary are looking for more people to speak out and share their story to inspire others to get involved in HIV activism.This can be completely confidential.

Please contact tilly.gifford@gmail.com (or on 07717887221)

“It was great to see HIV positive people taking centre stage in a positive (no pun intended), laughter inducing, yet thought provoking format. Usually HIV is shrouded in mystery, myth and misconception which only serves to fuel the persevering social stigma attached to it – so hurrah for Shafted and it’s fresh approach to challenging this.” JohnBarber, Brownlee Centre, Gartnaval Hospital
**********
Organised Anarchists?
Wednesday, May 21 at 6:45pm – 9:00pm
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

‘Anarchism is not a beautiful utopia, nor an abstract philosophical idea, it is a social movement of the labouring masses.’ – The Organisational Platform of the General Union of Anarchists (draft)

‘Anarchism is organisation, organisation and more organisation.’ – Errico Malatesta

A common question raised at our monthly discussions is to ask what we need to do to win victories in the struggles we face. This short talk aims to present a view of what we in the Anarchist Federation mean when we talk about revolutionary organisations and what role they play as part of the working class. We will then open the discussion to look at the practical methods of organisation that we could all take into our lives, whether we are anarchists or not.

Come along and be part of the discussion.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/
**********
Climate Shock: Activism, State Repression and Trauma- a roundtable discussion
Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30pm
The Pearce Institute, 840-860 Govan Road, G51 3UU (opposite Govan underground)

Police raided and detained climate activists at the COP15 climate negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009. In the UK, climate activism has been infiltrated and disrupted by police as ‘domestic extremism’.

How do we find our own way to deal with state violence and the state of the world? This session is a personal contribution and opening for this discussion.

The session is hosted by Michael Dunn, who was one of those in the cages in Copenhagen. Govan resident Michael is an environmentalist, founding member of Plane Stupid: Scotland & part of People & Planet and Climate Camp networks. In 2009, he attended the Climate Summit in Copenhagen. After that, he worked with Unity and refugee activism for two years. He gained a degree in Economics at Stirling, and now works as a builder and finds it a better way of connecting to people about our issues.
**********
Welcome Zine Workshop
Thursday, May 22
The Art School, 20 Scott Street, G3 6RQ

As part of Refugee Week, and with our friends at Feast of Stories: Tales of migration and welcome and No Globe we will be running afternoon drop-in workshop for people to come along and contribute to our ‘Welcome’ Zine.

We will be working on pages for a zine that explore the themes of migration, welcome, exploration and transition.

We will be writing, drawing, monoprinting, playing with carbon paper, getting messy, taking pictures annnddd…PHOTOCOPYING!

We will provide some fun materials, a long armed stapler and (somehow yet to be confirmed) a photocopier.

You could provide: ideas, work you have already done you would like to include, new work that you do with us in the bar over beer, or just come chat to us about the project!

The zine will be compiled and ready to go at the next Feast of Stories event, which is being held at Kinning Park during Refugee week.

SEE YOU THERE ZINESTERS!

P.S We will be having lunch together at 1.30!
**********
Ms B Presents… TWIN PEAKS
Sunday, May 25 at 7:00pm
The Old Hairdressers, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

Grab your logs, slice yourself some cherry pie and pour yourself a damn good cup of coffee – it’s Ms B Presents… TWIN PEAKS!

///CALL FOR ENTRIES///

Ms B Presents… is a performance and lecture night at The Old Hairdressers, where a variety of interested/interesting people gather to explore a chosen subject. This year’s run is concerned with cult television with an influence that can be felt all over pop culture.

I’m looking for writers, performers, lecturers, historians, musicians, fans and other interested individuals to contribute talks, lectures, presentations and/or performances of all kinds, responding to Twin Peaks and satellite cultural happenings. Ideas to be explored could include..
– TV tropes used in Twin Peaks
– The role of music in the show
– The show in the context of David Lynch’s other works
– The legacy of the show in pop culture over 20 years after it was aired
– Performances/music inspired by any aspect of Twin Peaks
– A discussion of a particular episode or character
…but any ideas are welcome. All contributions to be up to 30 minutes long.

Ideas, proposals and questions to clairebiddles@hotmail.co.uk by Sunday 11 May.
**********
Radical film archive
Thursday, May 29 at 6:00pm to Friday, May 30 at 5:30pm
The Electron Club room, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Is a collection of radical films on a hard drive.

-Come and collect films with a hard drive or USB.

-Discuss how we can develop the archive. What films should go in and which should come out?

– Where can the archive go be shared?

– Meeting a also a chance to discuss the films that you have seen from the collection.
**********
Glasgow Against Atos – Final Picket (End of campaign)
Friday, May 30at 12:30pm – 3:00pm
Atos Assessment Centre: Corunna House, Cadogan Street, G2 7RD

Join Glasgow Against Atos (GAA) and friends for an afternoon of salutation, contemplation, recognition, and celebration – in bringing to an end GAA, a campaign we at GAA are proud to have participated in. Our grassroots campaign against Atos reached far and wide, we were involved regionally, nationally – our banners and logo’s even featuring in European activist campaigns. It was a dynamic and passionately fought campaign; GAA more than played its part in forcing this insidious company Atos out of the political shadows – and into the full glare of society.

Some of our activists have constantly campaigned with GAA from its inception, a few have been actively on the picket since the end of 2012. GAA feel we have met most of our campaign demands and objectives – and the time has come to end the campaign and Glasgow Against Atos.

We thank everyone who has supported GAA, and this event on May 30th is our chance to unite for one last time.
**********
Is Britain a Christian Country? Is Scotland? – Prof. Callum Brown | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

David Cameron has raised interesting issues regarding both his personal form of Christian faith (like Magic FM’s poor reception in the Chilterns) and the nature of Britain as ‘a Christian country’. Callum Brown will reflect on this with some reference to hard and soft evidence.

Callum Brown is Professor of Late Modern European History at the University of Glasgow. He is the author of 10 books, mostly on secularisation, religion and society, including The Death of Christian Britain (2001). He maintains the Humanist history blog at http://humanisthistory.academicblogs.co.uk/
**********
Permaculture Gathering 2014
Saturday 7 June – Sunday 8 June, Starts at 10:00
Urban Roots Glasgow, Toryglen Community Base, 179 Prospecthill Circus, G42 0LA

This year’s Permaculture Scotland gathering is a one day event at Urban Roots in Glasgow, on Saturday 7th June 2014 – to include:

– Inspirational workshops (contact us if you want to run one!)
– Practical permaculture demonstrations
– Fun kids space
– Networking and info opportunities
– Ceilidh, bar and super-amazing prizes raffle
– Scottish General Meeting

To Book:
Please follow this link:
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/scotland/gathering14
where you’ll find loads more info and a link to the booking form.

See you there!
**********

Vile Maxim – Jim Dick exhibition
Saturday, June 7, 8:00pm onwards
The Old Hairdressers, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

“All for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind.” – Adam Smith

An exhibition of new work by Glasgow artist Jim Dick.

The Opening night will have stalls from the Radical Independent Bookfair and the Glasgow Anarchist Federation.

DJ Set From Afrodeesia

The exhibition will be open daily 12pm – 10pm,
Sunday 8th – Thurs 12th June
**********
Great Grub
Starts Tuesday June 10 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Hall, 160 Peat Road, G53 6DE

This is a free course but booking is necessary.

Come along to our weekly cookery workshops and make delicious food to share with your family

Learn new cookery skills through practical cookery workshops
Learn about healthy and nutritious food
Share and exchange recipes
Learn about how food can be healthy for you and the environment
Eat delicious food together!
This course is Free, though places are limited

To book a place contact Lucy at Urban Roots

Tel:07974523925 or Email: lucy@urbanroots.org.uk
**********
Clydeside IWW Branch Meeting
Tuesday, May 10 at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Electron Clubroom, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Branch meeting of the Clydeside IWW, a grassroots union for all workers.

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/

 

**********
After Antibiotics? – Laura McCaughey | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 16 at 7:00pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

The UK government recently announced that antibiotic resistance was as big a threat as terrorism, predicting that in the next 20 years the world could revert back to a pre-antibiotic era, in which routine operations, cancer treatments and childbirth could become life threatening. The problem of antibiotic resistance is fuelled by the over-prescription of antibiotics, their use in animal feed, and a lack of development of new antibiotics. In this talk, Laura will review how these practices have contributed to this crisis and the changes needed to prevent further damage., and will also discuss how realistic the idea of “a world without antibiotics” is, and the consequences of such an occurrence.

To combat antibiotic resistance, new ways of killing bacteria are required. During her PhD, Laura has developed protein antibiotics that are produced by bacteria to kill bacteria and, she will close the talk by discussing how these could be used to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Laura McCaughey is a final year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, specialising in the development of new antibiotics to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, notorious for their antibiotic resistance. Laura has also worked in the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, testing the safety of antibiotics for human trials, giving her a unique insight into the pharmaceutical industries perspective of antibiotic resistance.

Laura was the overall winner in Glasgow Skeptics’ recent SpeedScience event, hosted in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.
**********

Health & Hierarchy
18 June at 18:45 – 21:00
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

This month’s talk looks at the negative impact capitalist society has upon our health and wellbeing.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/
**********
Faslane 32- annual music and cultural celebration of peace
Friday, 27 June at 03:30 – 08:30
Faslane Peace Camp

Acting Strange Theatre Company and Campsie Socialists invite you to come sing, act, laugh, eat and celebrate 32 years of principled peace campaigning at Faslane Peace Camp.

Events from the 13th of May onwards

Hi folks,

The Glasgow AF crew were away over the weekend so we are a little later with this weeks update than is usual. That said it looks like the event listing has really filled up over the coming month, with a special note of the call for solidarity by asylum seekers requested for Wednesday morning at Brand Street. So without further ado…

**********

Clydeside IWW Branch Meeting
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Electron Clubroom, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Branch meeting of the Clydeside IWW, a grassroots union for all workers.

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/

**********

Inn Deep || Poetry || Spoken Word
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30pm
Inn Deep, 445 Great Western Road, G12 8HH

Reading this month we have –

Han-nah Fyfe, Daisy Douglas, Sarah Galloway, Declan Welsh, Amy Shipwa, Andrew Blair, Stephen Watt (Spit – Poetry Collection By Stephen Watt), Nova Waves, Mistah Rotavator, Jim Ewing, Robin Cairns, Joe Zenga, Pacifique Makangu, Bram E Giben, Craig Cunningham

It’s free in Starts at 8 And more acts will be added closer to the date If you would like a slot the month after next please comment below or talk to me on the night.

**********

Stand up for your rights!
Wednesday, May 14 at 10:00am to 12:00pm
Outside the Home Office, 200 Brand Street (near Cessnock Underground)

STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!
We will not be hidden!
AMNESTY NOW!
Asylum seekers in Glasgow are calling for a demonstration outside the Home Office on Wed 14th May 10.00-12.00 Many have been waiting for a decision for over six months from the Home Office, not knowing what is happening, not knowing if they are safe.
Come and protest! Join us! Bring musical instruments and banners! UNITY!

**********

Community Gardening Session
Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30pm
Battlefield Community Garden, Ledard Rd/Arundel Dr, Battlefield

Join us in the garden for some blethering, pottering, seed sowing, planting, weeding and other gardening shenanigans.

No gardening experience neccesary (though welcome).

See you there! 🙂

**********

WestGAP Fundraiser
Saturday, May 17 at 8:00pm
Stereo Cafe Bar, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

STEREO and WestGAP present: a West Glasgow Against Poverty Fundraiser, featuring:

DISCO SHARK (Stevie Jackson, Belle and Sebastian)
NO MORE TIGER
PAUL THOMSON (Franz Ferdinand) DJ Set til late
plus more!

Throw yourself around to all those hits you feared you might never hear live again, as performed by pop legend Stevie Jackson (Belle and Sebastian) and his super troupe, DISCO SHARK. Hot damn! Courtesy of Franz Ferdinand’s PAUL THOMSON, you’ll get down to records that you can’t believe you never heard the first time round. And you’ll enjoy the brand new opportunity to see brand newly re-branded outfit NO MORE TIGER (previously Easy, Tiger), featuring Nudes on Mars DJ Flore De Hoog and Jim McAteer, esteemed co-host of the Rio Cafe’s splendid monthly open mic night.

All this, and you’ll be doing a good thing, too.

WestGAP is an anti-poverty community group run by and for people in Glasgow who have first hand experience of living in poverty. Since 1997 we’ve been providing a free, independent and confidential advice service focusing on welfare rights, as well as providing support with housing problems, fuel poverty, homelessness and a broad range of other issues. We are totally independent, are not funded by government, and are not part of any political party or organisation. Our service is open to all and completely free.

WestGAP is run entirely by volunteers, and we depend on donations to keep our doors open. At a time when the rights of the most vulnerable residents of our city are being eroded, it’s essential that community advice services continue to exist, to support claimants in defending themselves against screwed up policies and unfair decisions. All proceeds from this show will go directly to WestGAP, and will support the organisation’s basic running costs: rent, phone bill, photocopying, stamps.

http://westgap.co.uk/

**********

Fundraising Picnic
Sunday, May 18 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Woodlands Community Gardens, 91–111 West Princes Street, G4 9BY

Join us for a special fundraising picnic, organised by our friends at West End ACTS. Enjoy tasty and seasonal food, pick up some tips on planting, tuck into a freshly made cake and buy yourself a garden T shirt. All proceeds go to support our local food social support hub project and help us to support more people affected by food poverty.

**********

Frack Watch
Sunday, 18 May at 14:00–16:00
GMAC Glasgow,103 Trongate, G1 5HD

Meeting for people in Glasgow who want to oppose unconventional gas. Discussion includes idea to launch campaign to get local councils on board to refuse permission to the dirty gas companies. Updates from Falkirk, Canonbie, North Lanarkshire. Update from FoE. More fundraising ideas.

**********

Organised Anarchists?
Wednesday, May 21 at 6:45pm – 9:00pm
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

‘Anarchism is not a beautiful utopia, nor an abstract philosophical idea, it is a social movement of the labouring masses.’ – The Organisational Platform of the General Union of Anarchists (draft)

‘Anarchism is organisation, organisation and more organisation.’ – Errico Malatesta

A common question raised at our monthly discussions is to ask what we need to do to win victories in the struggles we face. This short talk aims to present a view of what we in the Anarchist Federation mean when we talk about revolutionary organisations and what role they play as part of the working class. We will then open the discussion to look at the practical methods of organisation that we could all take into our lives, whether we are anarchists or not.

Come along and be part of the discussion.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/

**********

Welcome Zine Workshop
Thursday, May 22
The Art School, 20 Scott Street, G3 6RQ

As part of Refugee Week, and with our friends at Feast of Stories: Tales of migration and welcome and No Globe we will be running afternoon drop-in workshop for people to come along and contribute to our ‘Welcome’ Zine.

We will be working on pages for a zine that explore the themes of migration, welcome, exploration and transition.

We will be writing, drawing, monoprinting, playing with carbon paper, getting messy, taking pictures annnddd…PHOTOCOPYING!

We will provide some fun materials, a long armed stapler and (somehow yet to be confirmed) a photocopier.

You could provide: ideas, work you have already done you would like to include, new work that you do with us in the bar over beer, or just come chat to us about the project!

The zine will be compiled and ready to go at the next Feast of Stories event, which is being held at Kinning Park during Refugee week.

SEE YOU THERE ZINESTERS!

P.S We will be having lunch together at 1.30!

**********

Ms B Presents… TWIN PEAKS
Sunday, May 25 at 7:00pm
The Old Hairdressers, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

Grab your logs, slice yourself some cherry pie and pour yourself a damn good cup of coffee – it’s Ms B Presents… TWIN PEAKS!

///CALL FOR ENTRIES///

Ms B Presents… is a performance and lecture night at The Old Hairdressers, where a variety of interested/interesting people gather to explore a chosen subject. This year’s run is concerned with cult television with an influence that can be felt all over pop culture.

I’m looking for writers, performers, lecturers, historians, musicians, fans and other interested individuals to contribute talks, lectures, presentations and/or performances of all kinds, responding to Twin Peaks and satellite cultural happenings. Ideas to be explored could include..
– TV tropes used in Twin Peaks
– The role of music in the show
– The show in the context of David Lynch’s other works
– The legacy of the show in pop culture over 20 years after it was aired
– Performances/music inspired by any aspect of Twin Peaks
– A discussion of a particular episode or character
…but any ideas are welcome. All contributions to be up to 30 minutes long.

Ideas, proposals and questions to clairebiddles@hotmail.co.uk by Sunday 11 May.

**********

Radical film archive
Thursday, May 29 at 6:00pm to Friday, May 30 at 5:30pm
The Electron Club room, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Is a collection of radical films on a hard drive.

-Come and collect films with a hard drive or USB.

-Discuss how we can develop the archive. What films should go in and which should come out?

– Where can the archive go be shared?

– Meeting a also a chance to discuss the films that you have seen from the collection.

**********

Glasgow Against Atos – Final Picket (End of campaign)
Friday, May 30at 12:30pm – 3:00pm
Atos Assessment Centre: Corunna House, Cadogan Street, G2 7RD

Join Glasgow Against Atos (GAA) and friends for an afternoon of salutation, contemplation, recognition, and celebration – in bringing to an end GAA, a campaign we at GAA are proud to have participated in. Our grassroots campaign against Atos reached far and wide, we were involved regionally, nationally – our banners and logo’s even featuring in European activist campaigns. It was a dynamic and passionately fought campaign; GAA more than played its part in forcing this insidious company Atos out of the political shadows – and into the full glare of society.

Some of our activists have constantly campaigned with GAA from its inception, a few have been actively on the picket since the end of 2012. GAA feel we have met most of our campaign demands and objectives – and the time has come to end the campaign and Glasgow Against Atos.

We thank everyone who has supported GAA, and this event on May 30th is our chance to unite for one last time.

**********

Is Britain a Christian Country? Is Scotland? – Prof. Callum Brown | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

David Cameron has raised interesting issues regarding both his personal form of Christian faith (like Magic FM’s poor reception in the Chilterns) and the nature of Britain as ‘a Christian country’. Callum Brown will reflect on this with some reference to hard and soft evidence.

Callum Brown is Professor of Late Modern European History at the University of Glasgow. He is the author of 10 books, mostly on secularisation, religion and society, including The Death of Christian Britain (2001). He maintains the Humanist history blog at http://humanisthistory.academicblogs.co.uk/

**********

Permaculture Gathering 2014
Saturday 7 June – Sunday 8 June, Starts at 10:00
Urban Roots Glasgow, Toryglen Community Base, 179 Prospecthill Circus, G42 0LA

This year’s Permaculture Scotland gathering is a one day event at Urban Roots in Glasgow, on Saturday 7th June 2014 – to include:

– Inspirational workshops (contact us if you want to run one!)
– Practical permaculture demonstrations
– Fun kids space
– Networking and info opportunities
– Ceilidh, bar and super-amazing prizes raffle
– Scottish General Meeting

To Book:
Please follow this link:
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/scotland/gathering14
where you’ll find loads more info and a link to the booking form.

See you there!

**********

Vile Maxim – Jim Dick exhibition
Saturday, June 7, 8:00pm onwards
The Old Hairdressers, 20 – 28 Renfield Lane, G2 6PH

“All for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind.” – Adam Smith

An exhibition of new work by Glasgow artist Jim Dick.

The Opening night will have stalls from the Radical Independent Bookfair and the Glasgow Anarchist Federation.

DJ Set From Afrodeesia

The exhibition will be open daily 12pm – 10pm,
Sunday 8th – Thurs 12th June

**********

Great Grub
Starts Tuesday June 10 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Hall, 160 Peat Road, G53 6DE

This is a free course but booking is necessary.

Come along to our weekly cookery workshops and make delicious food to share with your family

Learn new cookery skills through practical cookery workshops
Learn about healthy and nutritious food
Share and exchange recipes
Learn about how food can be healthy for you and the environment
Eat delicious food together!
This course is Free, though places are limited

To book a place contact Lucy at Urban Roots

Tel:07974523925 or Email: lucy@urbanroots.org.uk

**********

Clydeside IWW Branch Meeting
Tuesday, May 10 at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Electron Clubroom, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, G2 3JD

Branch meeting of the Clydeside IWW, a grassroots union for all workers.

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/

**********

After Antibiotics? – Laura McCaughey | Glasgow Skeptics
Monday, June 16 at 7:00pm
The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, G2 7DA

The UK government recently announced that antibiotic resistance was as big a threat as terrorism, predicting that in the next 20 years the world could revert back to a pre-antibiotic era, in which routine operations, cancer treatments and childbirth could become life threatening. The problem of antibiotic resistance is fuelled by the over-prescription of antibiotics, their use in animal feed, and a lack of development of new antibiotics. In this talk, Laura will review how these practices have contributed to this crisis and the changes needed to prevent further damage., and will also discuss how realistic the idea of “a world without antibiotics” is, and the consequences of such an occurrence.

To combat antibiotic resistance, new ways of killing bacteria are required. During her PhD, Laura has developed protein antibiotics that are produced by bacteria to kill bacteria and, she will close the talk by discussing how these could be used to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Laura McCaughey is a final year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, specialising in the development of new antibiotics to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, notorious for their antibiotic resistance. Laura has also worked in the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, testing the safety of antibiotics for human trials, giving her a unique insight into the pharmaceutical industries perspective of antibiotic resistance.

Laura was the overall winner in Glasgow Skeptics’ recent SpeedScience event, hosted in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.

**********

Health & Hierarchy
18 June at 18:45 – 21:00
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, G4 9AJ

This month’s talk looks at the negative impact capitalist society has upon our health and wellbeing.

=====

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here: https://glasgowanarchists.wordpress.com/safer-spaces/

**********

Faslane 32- annual music and cultural celebration of peace
Friday, 27 June at 03:30 – 08:30
Faslane Peace Camp

Acting Strange Theatre Company and Campsie Socialists invite you to come sing, act, laugh, eat and celebrate 32 years of principled peace campaigning at Faslane Peace Camp.

Organised Anarchists? Workshop/Discussion

Wed 21st May
18:45 – 21:00
Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, Glasgow, G4 9AJ.
Facebook | Map

‘Anarchism is not a beautiful utopia, nor an abstract philosophical idea, it is a social movement of the labouring masses.’ – The Organisational Platform of the General Union of Anarchists (draft)

‘Anarchism is organisation, organisation and more organisation.’ – Errico Malatesta

A common question raised at our monthly discussions is to ask what we need to do to win victories in the struggles we face. This short talk aims to present a view of what we in the Anarchist Federation mean when we talk about revolutionary organisations and what role they play as part of the working class. We will then open the discussion to look at the practical methods of organisation that we could all take into our lives, whether we are anarchists or not.

Come along and be part of the discussion.

Glasgow AF discussion group is open and free to all, however any donations towards costs will be appreciated. Tea/coffee/juice/biscuits will be provided free of charge. Our venue is accessible to wheelchairs/powerchairs. We ask that all those attending this event read the brief introduction to our safer spaces policy here. We will also be joined by a stall from the Radical Independent Bookfair project who will be bringing books, pamphlets, stickers and other items related to the talk for sale.