A-Infos (en) Freedom 6401 Jan, 2003 - Bookfair on the move

[Worker <a-infos-en@ainfos.ca>]

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This year's Anarchist Bookfair will be held at the
University of London Union on 25th October. It will
be housed in two halls, with at least ten meeting
rooms on the site, as well as food and drink at the
student union bar. Ironically, ULU refused a booking
for the Mayday 2000 conference, although they're
booked every year for the Socialist Workers Party
'Marxism' jamboree. When challenged about this
contradiction three years ago, they said it was
because "anarchists mean what they say (and write)".
There will be no evening event at the venue -
perhaps others will take on organising something?
Costs for the booking are roughly the same as for last
year's Bookfair at the (smaller) Camden Centre, but
there will be no income from the bar or food, both of
which will be retained by ULU. Fortunately, last
year's Bookfair ended up with a healthy bank
balance allowing a deposit to be put down for this
year. Benefit events will be held during 2003 to raise
more funds.  These will be advertised in Freedom,
but offers of help are needed now.
In November, the bookfair collective hosted a public
discussion to review last year's event, to which a
disappointing two people turned up. Discussion
centred on what the purpose of the Anarchist
Bookfair was. Is it an opportunity to buy books and
meet old friends, a chance to introduce anarchist
ideas and practice to newcomers, or both?
There was also a debate around whether the bookfair
should be more of a conference and organising event.
Central to the discussion was the fact that six people
can only do so much. Without the involvement of the
wider movement in publicising, organising and
actively participating in it, it's likely that the
Anarchist Bookfair will continue to attract only
those who are already committed to anarchist ideas.
As Britain's largest annual anarchist gathering, is
this good enough? The collective will hold another
public meeting in the spring.  Come along, have your
say and get involved.
MH
For more information, visit the bookfair website at
www.anarchistbookfair.org



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