New repressions against Russian anarchists: solidarity needed!

​On February 1, in Moscow, Russian FSB has raided several flats and arrested 10 people under « conspiracy charges ». All of them were later released, after all-day interrogations and physical tortures, except one person, Azat Miftahov. He is accused of « fabricating explosives » and being a member of a « radical anarchist organization Narodnaya Samooborona » (Peoples’ Self-Defense). This organization has become, during last year, the main target of police repressions in Russia : several members of this group were arrested, tortured or threatened.

Did the FSB use a neo-Nazi agent provocateur in their case against Russian anti-fascists?

From Open Democracy (Jan 31, 2019)

After the first defendant in a high-profile terrorism investigation is sentenced, new evidence emerges that security services may have used an agent provocateur against Russian anti-fascists.

Organizing some ideas about Venezuela

From Indymedia Venezuela by Lucia Lotta, published January 24th, 2019. (all footnotes by translator)

What’s happening in Venezuela?

Venezuelans have gone out to protest against the government of Maduro since April 21st. Since 1989, the popular neighborhoods have not come down from the mountains. During those times, the government of Acción Democrática [Democratic Action] murdered many protesters, with it becoming known as the Caracazo.[1]

Talking SubMedia with JR

From From Embers

SubMedia is an anarchist video collective based in Montreal. Founded in 1994, they have been putting out high-quality video for more than two decades, featuring satirical takes on the news, “riot porn”, explanations of anarchist concepts, calls to action, and more, always with a strong dose of humour. Their latest project is called Trouble, and features in-depth interviews about a new theme each month. Check with your local anarchist community space to see if they are screening monthly screenings – if not, start your own!

Comrade of Fermento arrested

Tuesday, 29th of January, shortly after midday, one of our comrades was arrested in his flat. The door was opened by force by a forensic unit.

His arrest, the house searches at his home, as well as - once again - of the Anarchist Library Fermento have been justified by the authorities with following accusations:

- Arson attack against several vehicles of the swiss army in Hinwil (Zurich) on September 27th, 2015

- Arson attack against radio antenna Waidberg of the cops in Zurich on July 10th, 2016

Withered Green Anarchism

Originally published in French in La Mauvaise Herbe vol.17 no.2

“No one cares about them anymore around here, why don’t you just let them wither away in impertinence?” asked a good friend who identifies as an anarcho-primitivist.

Anecdotal perhaps, but I couldn’t help but remember a very successful event on radical ecology which I attended not so long ago. It was a well-prepared conference, by an anarchist who knew his shit. To a crowded room of young enthusiastic radical students, during a segment devoted to anarcho-primitivism, the whole discourse on equality, direct democracy, and even the 15-hour-workweek-which-feels-like-play-anyway was conveniently served. [1] At least he didn’t start talking about telepathy or telescopic vision. I remember it made such a good impression that a coordinator from the College where the event was taking place approached the Mauvaise Herbe, who were on place distributing publications, to see if they would eventually come share their positive message with the youths. They gave her a few Mauvaise Herbe to read and I think she changed her mind.

Reflections on the Yiddish Anarchist Movement

Following the YIVO conference on Yiddish anarchism which took place on January 20th in New York (video here), Raymond S Solomon puts it in context with an earlier work — 1980 documentary Free Voice of Labor.

A conference on Yiddish Anarchism which took place in New York earlier this month is reminiscent of Free Voice of Labor: The Jewish Anarchists.

New Podcast from C4SS: Mutual Exchange Radio

From C4SS

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new project from the Center for a Stateless Society: Mutual Exchange Radio. This new podcast on anarchist thought, hosted by Zachary Woodman, brings together a wide variety of guests, from academics, to on-the-ground activists, to Center scholars, to entrepreneurs to discuss the latest developments in the philosophy and practice of market anarchism.

Serbia: Anarchists keep pressure up against damaging ‘micro-dams’

New protests took place this week pushing the government on its promises to halt a boom in environmentally-damaging projects across the region.

The region’s extensive network of waterways have been eyed for years as having hydroelectric potential, which originally led to plans for nearly 3,000 plants, around a third in environmentally-protected areas.

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TOTW: Collaboration

One of my favorite quotes is the following: 'If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.' Too often I find that the projects I'm interested in participating in suffer one of two fates: They either are too disorganized to ever get off the ground and never last longer than the initial phase of excitement, or they are too structured to be enjoyable, and the 'bossiness' of the organizers kills all motivation to participate. Is there something unique and useful that anarchism can bring to the concept of 'collaboration'?

Book Review of Children’s Literature, Domestication, Social Foundation

From http://layla.miltsov.org

Without much thinking, we often juxtapose wilderness and civilisation. The ontology of wilderness translates into anarchy, and the ontology of civilisation translates into order. However, Layla AbdelRahim shows that this neat and orderly dichotomy is a mere fad – the human world consists of wilderness, and of civilisation, and of endless shades of grey between the two.

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