Alliance of Radical Booksellers Bookfair 2014

Saturday 10 May 2014

at the Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH.

From 10:00 a.m.          Entrance Free  

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers presents the London Radical Bookfair & Alternative Press Takeover, showcasing the depth and breadth of radical publishing and bookselling in the UK.  

After last year's successful inaugural event, the London Radical Bookfair returns bigger and better, this year teaming up with the Alternative Press gang…

130 exhibitors, author events, panel discussions,
book awards, workshops and more - too much going on to list here - for full details:
http://londonradicalbookfair.wordpress.com/

Spread across the three floors of Bishopsgate Institute (opposite Liverpool Street station) you will find an array of stalls from radical booksellers, publishers, zine makers, artists and activists.

Guest authors shortlisted for two book prizes, the Bread and Roses Award for Radical Publishing, and the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award, will also present talks throughout the day. The bookfair will culminate in an awards ceremony for the two prizes, to be awarded by guest judges Jess McCabe, Seumas Milne and Nina Power.

The Little Rebels Award for Radical Children's Fiction is run by Letterbox Library on behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) and is now in its 2nd year.

Mini timetable of the children's lit events Letterbox Library is hosting: 

 

12.30pm-2pm Radical Children's Literature: the little rebels authors

Shortlisted authors, Gill Lewis, Geraldine McCaughrean and Deborah Chancellor will be in conversation with Bookstart founder and Little Rebels Judge, Wendy Cooling.

 

2.30pm-4pm Radical Children's Literature: where are all the little rebels?

Ann Lazim, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education and co-founder of the UK section of IBBY will chair a discussion on children's literature in relation to radical thinking. Speakers will be Professor Kim Reynolds and authors Alan Gibbons and Catherine Johnson. This panel is being held in commemoration of Robert Leeson (1928-2013). 

 

4.30pm Wendy Cooling will present the prize to the winner of the Little Rebels Children's Award for Radical Fiction.

For further information on stall holders, speakers and guest judges please visit the London Radical Bookfair and Alternative Press websites.

Free entry to fair and talks; no advance booking required.
The bookfair will be open from 10.00am - 5.00pm.

 

See also:

http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/event/456/Troublemakers?---London-Radical-Bookfair--Alternative-Press-Takeover?&Keyword=bookfair&TypeID=

Troublemakers? - London Radical Bookfair& Alternative Press Takeover

Next RaHN meeting: Reminder / Update (Political Policing and Surveillance)

Radical History Network (RAHN) meeting
STANDING UP TO POLITICAL POLICING AND SURVEILLANCE
Wednesday May 7th

How and why are the police used to try to suppress public dissent and any challenge to the capitalist ‘status quo’?

What tactics have protestors and campaigners developed to successfully defend public rights and struggles for a better society?

Including:

Kevin Blowe from Newham Monitoring Project on community campaigns resisting oppressive policing and seeking to hold the police to account.

Dave Morris on London Greenpeace - possibly the most infiltrated group in UK history. Despite that it was a highly effective campaigning organisation - the group initiated the Stop 'The City' anti-capitalist mobilisations in the early 1980s, and the global anti-McDonald's and McLibel campaigns in the '80s and '90s.

John Eden on campaigns against police corruption in Hackney in the 80s and 90s.

All welcome to come and share experiences, anecdotes, photos, archive material and general thoughts.

Wednesday May 7th
7.30pm, Wood Green Social Club
3 Stuart Crescent, N22 5NJ  (off the High Rd, near Wood Green tube)

From the security files, early 1970s vintage:-

How MI5 saw the Underground press...

... Solidarity

... and Anarchists

FREESCHOOL: Remembering the Real WW1 (London)

On Sunday 18th May, 11.30 a.m.  – 5.00 p.m.

Venue: no 88 Fleet Street, London, EC4 1DH.
Nearest tube: Blackfriars

Updated information:

Real World War One Freeschool

Sunday 18 May at No. 88 Fleet Street (entrance in St. Brides Avenue), London EC4 1DH (Blackfriars or Chancery Lane Tube)

 The official accounts and commemorations of the anniversary of World War One mask the real social history of the period. This conference is a chance for us to educate ourselves about the protests, strikes, mutinies and revolutions that preceded, provoked and, eventually, ended the war. We will also discuss how best to oppose both the official commemorations and future wars. Please bring food to share if you can.

11.30am (for 12 noon start) - 1pm

WORLD WAR ONE AND ITS RELEVANCE TODAY

Why did the war start: Imperialism? The reassertion of masculinity? An attempt to forestall European revolution? Why did so many support the war?  Did World War One ever really end? Why does capitalism need war?

 1.30-3pm

WOMEN’S PROTESTS, MUTINIES AND REVOLUTIONS

 Why were the first mass protests of the war started by women? Did politicians keep the war going to prevent the Russian Revolution from spreading? Did mutinies in the Russian, French and German armies end the war? What about the rebellions in the British army?

 3.15-4.15pm

UKRAINE, PUTIN AND WAR IN EUROPE TODAY?

Was the Maidan Square uprising a revolution - or a fascist coup? Should we take sides between Putin and the West?   Will the Ukrainian crisis lead to another European conflict? 

 4.30-6pm

COUNTERING CAMERON’S COMMEMORATIONS

Why is Cameron so keen to celebrate World War One?  How do we celebrate the mutinies and revolutions of the period instead? How do we counter the official commemorations without disrespecting the dead?

For information, please contact pasttense@alphabetthreat.co.uk

therealww1.wordpress.com

The plan is to have short introductory talks followed by open discussions.

As it stands there are proposed sessions on:

• World War 1, its relevance today; why Capitalism Needs War

• Mutinies, women’s protests and revolutions

• Countering Cameron’s Commemorations

• War Today: Ukraine, Putin and more…

But other suggestions are welcome: we are not ‘experts’, we have some historical knowledge, but are always ready to learn. We see this freeschool as an opportunity for us all to learn from each other, and maybe come up with ideas to counter the government’s plans for glorification of the First World War.

All welcome, this event is free, but donations would be gratefully received on the day.
Disabled access is unfortunately poor…

This event is organised by Remembering the Real WW1 (London). We are a small group of activists, historians and rebels, part of a growing network of groups and individuals working to highlight the histories of the Great War that official ‘commemorations’ will sweep under the carpet.

For more information email us on: therealww1@riseup.net

Or check our blog: therealww1.wordpress.com

London At War: events series in May

"With walks, workshops, lectures and talks, this special events series explores some of the unexpected dimensions of the city during the two world wars. The series takes place across May and is open to all. It is convened by the Raphael Samuel History Centre and some of the museums, archives and galleries which make up its History and Heritage Adult Learning Network (HHALL)." 

“Our events are generally free and open to all (though some may require pre-booking); we welcome anyone with an interest in history.”

Including (relating to WW1):

·         7 May         National Maritime Museum: Drawing the War, Tour of Queen’s House war art display:

·         8 May         Keynote Lecture: Jerry White, ‘London in the Great War. Celebrating the publication of Professor White’s Zeppelin Nights: David Sizer Room, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS.

·         12 May       King and Country (1964), film screening, Birkbeck College

·         13 May       Sex in the Wartime City 1914-1918, guided tour: an evening of walks and talks, exploring shadowy, forgotten worlds...

·         19 May       'After the Battle': Soldiers' Homecomings in Poetry and Prose. Birkbeck

·         22 May       The politics of the Imperial War Graves Commission 1917-1939, Michèle Barrett

·         15 May       Taking London’s wartime pulse.’ Londoners’ health archive talk.

·         20 May       Shell-shock, celluloid and WW1: The discomforts of being a spectator. Waterstones, Gower Street, London WC1E 6EQ

·         20 May       Archives and war workshop at  Bishopsgate Institute

·         23 May       The war-torn City 1914-1918. London Metropolitan Archives, talk and tour
 
Flyer with programme  [most events are to be booked in advance; not all are free].

RSHC website events section

No Faith in Trident national tour in London

Veteran peace activist Bruce Kent

No Faith in Trident national tour in London 

Bruce will be leading the public debate with faith communities across Britain about the future of Trident - Britain’s nuclear weapons system. 

Derby cathedral Catford, 11th April: 7:30pm, Lewisham Town Hall, Catford Rd, London SE6 4RU; with Bruce Kent & Dr Rebecca Johnson 

Global Day of action on Military Spending, 14th April: 11:00am, outside DFID, 22 Whitehall, London SW1A 2EG; with Bruce Kent, Kate Hudson, John Hilary (War on Want) & Medact, & Scientists for Global Responsibility  

Tower Hamlets, London Muslim Centre, 15th April: 6:30pm, London Muslim Centre, 46 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JX; with Bruce Kent, Kate Hudson, Shaykh Abdul Qayum, & Anas Altikriti 

Wandsworth, Westminster Interfaith Group, 26th April: 2:00pm, Wandsworth Quaker Meeting House, 59 Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PT; with Bruce Kent & members of the Friends, Buddhist & Muslim communities 

Haringey, 30th April: 7:30pm, St John Vianney, West Green Road, London N15 3QH; Bruce Kent & members of St John Vianney parish and the wider community 

See the full list of tour dates on the CND website to find out where he'll be next.

9th annual Dublin Anarchist Bookfair

The Dublin anarchist Bookfair returns to Liberty Hall on Saturday 12^th April

(events also on Friday night & Sunday afternoon)

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission free; donations towards cost gratefully received.

To include:

• discussions
• speakers from movements engaged in struggle, in Ireland and elsewhere
• books, stalls and much more

Extras:

Friday night film screening before the main event in Liberty Hall on Saturday;

an afters party / fundraiser is to be held in The Flowing Tide on Saturday night;

and then a Cycling tour around Dublin on Sunday afternoon (see below).

More details of the programme at www.wsm.ie/bookfair

 

Sunday 13^th 2pm – 

Cycling Tour: Dublin Housing Action, Past & Present – starts at Mountjoy Square Park.
Visiting some of the many sites of housing actions, from the activities of the Dublin Housing Action Committee in the 1960s & the Dublin Squatters’ Association of the 1970s, through the traveller community's protests in the 1990's, right up until the 2000's anti-Globalisation protests, finishing with the current occupations by squatters in the city with many other interesting stories of social struggle in between.

 

 

For King and Country, Question-mark

The Jewish East End at War

Walking tour: Poetry and Parades

Sunday 6^th April, 11 a.m.

Cost: £13.50

 “Highlights the association of the Jewish East End with the Great War”. Includes

·         poet Isaac Rosenberg

·         the stories behind those who refused to fight.

Part of a programme of events entitled For King and Country? The Jewish Experience of the First World War, which will be running from this weekend through to August. See

www.jewishmuseum.org.uk for tickets and further details. (Or leaflets in public libraries.)