A-Infos (en) Britain, Organise* #64 - LETERS

Dear Organise!
The article in the last issue which sketched
some of the anarchist activity of the last 20
years was very interesting for those of us
who've been active throughout that period.
In addition to the groups, papers and issues
that were flagged up there's a very wide
range of anarchist and anarchist-influenced
activities which could and should also be
acknowledged. For example, off the top of
my head (many from my own knowledge):
Claimants Unions (at least up to the early
'90s); London Greenpeace (a strong
anarchist social/ecological group active for
30yrs) including its offshoot the successful
international anti-McDonald's/McLibel
campaign; the Stop The City anti-capitalist
protests ('83-4); the anti-militarist
mass blockades and camps in the early/mid
80s; Reclaim The Streets and their
inspirational street takeovers which
morphed into the international anti-
capitalist days of action including putting
Mayday back on the map; 20 yrs of the
Ear th First! movement (including direct
action campaigns,
and inspirational annual gatherings) plus
the whole anti-road building movement and
direct action camps; SchNews of course
(weekly for 10 years); the animal liberation
movement; regional anarchist networks/
conferences (eg the Northern @ Network);
anarcha-feminist networks and events;
social centres and bookshops networks; the
incredible anti-poll tax mass campaign, in
par ticular the independent tendencies and
the highly significant Trafalgar Square
Def endants
Campaign (which also led to the still-existing
Legal Defence Monitoring Group); other anti-
repression campaigns and prisoner support
(including the Anarchist Black Cross). And of
course the annual Anarchist Bookfair (and a
number of local ones too) attended by
thousands ofpeople, a testament to the
wide range of anarchist publications and
distribution networks (also including music,
videos etc) etc.
Many of the above groups and movements
have also worked hard to form local,
countr ywide and international alliances and
networks, and to promote informational and
communication channels, and also general
debate. But most importantly there are
dozens of local anarchist and anti-
authoritarian groups (like in Bristol,
Edinburgh, Newcastle, Haringey,
Walthamstow, Norwich, Nottingham,
Worthing...). These are the backbone of the
anarchist movement, active week in and
week out, with a loose, total `membership'
of maybe 2-3000 people at any one time.
Over the last 20 years local groups have
produced between them an average of
maybe 300,000 leaflets and local
agitational newspapers each year, plus
organising regular local meetings, mailouts,
e-lists, centres, protests, strike support,
stalls, support for single issue campaigns
and forming links at a community-based
level etc.
Let's all recognise, support and encourage
those involved and the work they are doing,
and look forward to an active local
anarchist/solidarity collective in every
borough, town and village. By being involved
in local issues, campaigns and communities
- including promoting workplace and
community self-organisation as a prelude
and preparation for people taking control of
all decision-making and resources
themselves - the anarchist movement will
earn the respect and influence that we all
strive for.
In solidarity to you all out there, beavering
away...
Dave, of Haringey Solidarity Group

Writing to Organise!
Send your letter to Organise! by writing to
Organise!, AF-IAF London, BCM ANARFED, London, WC1 3XX AF-IAF  WC1
Alternatively you can email us at: organise@afed.org.uk


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* Organise is the magazine of the Anarchist Federation.
It is published twice times a year to promote discussion
and the development of anarchist communist theory.



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