Report back from Grassroots Gathering held over June Bank holiday weekend, Dublin.
national |
anti-capitalism |
news report 
Friday June 20, 2008 19:45
by jaded - Grassroots Gathering
The Grassroots Gathering 2008 took place in Casadh - a drug rehabilitation centre in the Liberties, Dublin over the sunny June Bank holiday weekend.
Friday night opened with the Irish leg of a major film and information tour by Activist Trauma Support and the Genova Legal Forum showing 'L'Ordine Publico, Genoa 2001: Public Order during the G8'. Over the weekend upwards of 300 euro was raised to support the Genova Legal Forum's ongoing case against the Italian state for the events of Genoa.
If you would like a copy of the DVD (5 euro - money raised through selling DVDs goes to Genova Legal Forum) or if you would like to make a donation please contact grassrootsgathering08@gmail.com
For more information see http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87740
Throughout the weekend numerous workshops facilitated collaborative learning on movement issues. Lots of interesting discussions have developed and are continuing beyond the Gathering such as...
- the question over whether 'we' identify as a movement
- the means through which we may address this question
- the usefulness of resourcing such forum/networking structures as Grassroots Gatherings and AAA (Anti-Authoritarian Assemblies – a dormant Dublin-area activist forum)
- the question of where broader community activism is going in this country, and how we can usefully engage with it
There was a general sense that there was a need for all-island and face to face networking and a desire to look into creating a forum structure.
It was decided that there will be a meeting on the future of the Grassroots Gathering in mid-July – contact grassrootsgathering08@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.
A group has formed to explore a relaunch of the Anti-Authoritarian Assemblies. Keep an eye out for further details.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Gathering: who chopped vegetables; mopped floors; attended workshops; answered questions at the 'Re-quiz The Street' table quiz (it happened on the street); who mulled over the future of the anti-capitalist movement over a cup of tea.
Special thanks to those who cooked our dinner, organised the workshops, dreamed up the creative space, mastered our quiz and everyone else who made the Gathering happen.
Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5Just curious how many people showed up - 30-40?
Thanks, Jaded, nice report.
In reply to Counter, there were a lot more people than that. I'd say more than 100 took part in one way or another, and even more passed through over the weekend. One of the organisers might have a better idea of numbers.
Tour of Dolphin's Barn Community Garden, part of the Grassroots Gathering timetable
Delicious vegan food being served by Seomra Spraoi People's Kitchen
As a follow up to a call from the Grassroots Gathering Alister (Seoma Spraoi), Eoin (Campaign to Legalise Cannabis) Ciaron (Catholic Worker/Ploughshares), Apologies Mark (WSM) met to explore an organisational form in the wake of the Anti-Authoritarian Assemblies
A network gathering approx every 6 weeks.
*Gathering is primarily for networking, face to face (offline) information sharing, clarification, mutual aid NOT a decision making body ("assembly" might not be the best description for it!)
*aim (minimally) is to get delegates from groups and campaigns (but open to all to attend)
*activist not ideologically driven
*aimed at anarch/librtarian grassroots movment milieux outside of authoritarian left and NGO structutures
groups/ groupings we hope would attend
*explicit anarchist groups - R.A.G (anharcho feminist)., WorkersSolidarity Movement, Catholic Worker
*anarchists involved in ongoing campaigns - Tara, prison solidarity, Rossport, Anti War, Campaign to Legalise Cannabis etc
*counter institutions - Seoma Spraoi, Revolt Video, gig organising, anarcho cyclists (Critical Mass), Food Not Bombs, Commmunity Garden, indymedia. community tv, punk zines etc
*anarchs involved in specific mobilisations eg. Bush visit, Coca Cola sponsored footy matches etc
*outta town anarchs - Belfast, Cork, internationals passing through
*grassroots campaigns if they see it as beneficial - deaths in custody, Colombia Solidarity, Palestinian Solidarity etc
Proposed date for first one - July 19th (week after anarchist summer camp)
3pm-6pm
proposed structure of meeting
3pm gather
3.15 appoint facilitator
guest speaker -(possible) damien moran reports back on 2 years of anarch activism in Poland
3.45 delegate reports
4.45 break
5 resume delegate reports
6pm pint
Mark to nail venue
all to publicise and invite
There is some discussion of the AAA proposal going on at http://www.anarchistblackcat.org/viewforum.php?f=40 apparently something similar was tried unsuccesfully in Quebec
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