It's fayre time folks

We want to put the Fayre back into Bookfair.

Want to make that coconut shy with David Camerons face on, how about a pin the black mask on an anarchist, anarchist tug of war, use your imagination to help us make the Fayre a fun day to remember.

This years bookfair is at the trinity centre for the first time and we have a great outdoor lawn space to use for anarchist fayre fun. Are you a performer, artist, juggler, hooper, or people who just have a good idea for the Fayre. Think of it as a village fete with a anarchist edge, we are open to any ideas. We do have zero budget so would have to be self sufficient, but when did money ever stop an anarchist from doing anything :) Also if anyone can run some good kids activities, that would be great as we want to make it a good un for the next generation of rabble rousers. We don't expect people to do stuff all day, it could just be a half hour activity, or a short performance, or whatever takes your fancy. So to get involved we have a meeting this Wednesday at Kebele 7pm, focusing on the fayre in particular so come along and have a chat, if you cant make it then email mike@permanentculturenow.com obviously all this will be weather permitting.

As well as the Fayre, we also have 3 outside covered spaces, that are hosted by permanent culture now and need your input.

Marquee one is for talks around permaculture, commons and anything to do with moving away from reliance on capitalism to self sufficiency and new ways of living, check out www.permanentculturenow.com to get an idea. Currently we have workshops on urban permaculture, commonising capital and is permaculture political lined up.

The second marquee is for workshops, currently we have self defence and rocket stove making, so have spaces for lots of other workshops if you have any ideas.

The third space is for promoting independent volunteer land and food based autonomous projects that show the spirit of cooperation, mutual aid and collectivism in action. so if such as so if you are involved in a community supported agriculture project, community farms, bike projects, or any project which is helping us move away from reliance on capitalism to a better way of living. We are looking at giving groups an half hour slot to promote their project on the day so people can find out more and maybe get involved.

So if you have any ideas for a workshops, talks or want to promote your project, then contact mike@permanentculturenow.com

In terms of the main bookfair space we still have spaces for workshops, stalls, but are going fast so please check out the bookfair website if interested in putting them on.

Propaganda and its role in shaping the views of a nation

Monday 4th March 8pm The Cube, Dove Street, Bristol.  Entry £3/£4 (But nobody turned away due to lack of funds)

Permanent Culture Now, Bristol Indymedia and Bristol Radical History Group are proud to present as part of the Bristol Radical Film Festival a presentation and series of films about how propaganda was used by the Establishment  during the time of the Empire and Colonialism to persuade our own population of the greatness of the empire.  The techniques and manipulation of information have a resonance for today as we constantly see propaganda techniques used to justify illegal wars and policy decisions.

Frances Gooding has been researching colonial film as part of the a wider project and he will present a series of rare films that highlight the propaganda machine in action, he will explain film was manipulated to rewrite history, a charge that could these days be pointed at Hollywood movies (Pearl Harbour, Braveheart  anyone). After viewing these films Francis will unpick the motivations for making them and explain how they were changed to fit the ruling class ideology of the day. This will be an essential event for anyone interested in how our views are shaped by the media we consume and how this is used by the powerful interests of society, i.e. the state and ruling class to put their view of the world onto the mass population.

The event will be followed by a Q&A where we will discuss the relevance of these propaganda techniques for the world we live in today.

Roll up roll up it's yer Bristol anarchist bookfair propaganda extravaganza - words and images to inspire action, and of course to seduce you along to the bookfair!

We have flyers, stickers and posters to distro out to the good people of Bristol and beyond - and we respectfully ask for your help. Take a few to hand them out, and put them up in your workplace/college/school/front window/community space/local shop & bar & cafe & club. Or use the images online to share with friends and networks. See all publicity here: http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org/2013-bookfair/publicity-materials/
You can pick up flyers, posters from Kebele social centre & Hydra Bookshop when they are open, or catch us at Kebele tonight from 7pm whilst we have an organising meeting.

- We are now down to our last 20 tables for bookings. All the info and forms you need to book a stall are on the Stalls page of our website here http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org/2013-bookfair/stalls/

Meetings & Workshops & Demos - We also invite proposals to run meetings & workshops. We have a variety of spaces and sizes both inside and out, some of which will have a specific theme - from food to history to action - so do please read carefully the Meetings & Workshops Info before you fire off a form or email. All the info & forms you need are on the Meetings & Workshops page of our website here http://www.bristolanarchistbookfair.org/2013-bookfair/meetings-workshops/

Freedom bookshop is the U.K.’s longest running anarchist bookshop and publisher. It was founded in 1886 and is currently based in Whitechapel, East London. As well running a bookshop and printing a monthly anarchist paper, “Freedom”, the collective opens it’s doors to a range of anarchist and anti authoritarian groups and campaigns for meetings and events.

Sometime after 4am on Friday 1st February, the Freedom bookshop and social space in London was firebombed, after persons unknown had forced open a locked metal shutter. Fire and water damage was considerable, but not terminal, and luckily nobody was hurt. Britain’s oldest, and probably largest, anarchist bookshop was up and running again within days thanks to an amazing response from supporters around London. The rest of the building is operating reasonably well, allowing the numerous groups who meet or have offices there to continue their work.

Many groups and individuals around the UK and beyond have provided support and solidarity, and there’s an ongoing series of fundraisers to help Freedom pay for repairs and replenish its stocks of books. There has been impressive international solidarity and a big shared effort to get the shop up and running again. With this gig we make our contribution to support Freedom and the solid work they do to promote anarchist ideas and action. If you are coming to the gig please give generously.

Solidarity with Freedom. They can burn our books, but our ideas are fireproof!