Freedom Press is the oldest anarchist publishers in the world. Alongside their books, they run Freedom newspaper and a bookshop in London’s east end. In 2013 there was an attempt to firebomb their premises.
Free parties. These developed out of rave and spread around the globe.
Here are a couple of links.
The first is to the site about UK parties 1990-94, which includes some rarely seen footage of Castlemorton Common. Lots of old news coverage, plus links to sites featuring particular sound systems such as DiY, Circus Warp, Bedlam, Circus Normal and the Spirals.
And a second link to the Malfaiteurs site on Facebook.
This group describes itself as:
“The [freespace] movement is an experiment in what is possible when a community shares the gift of physical space. A [freespace] is a gathering place for people to come together, to create, teach, learn, and share the things which they are truly passionate about, and strengthen connections between individuals as well as communities through art, events, and long term projects.
[freespace] began in June 2013, inspired by the National Day of Civic Hacking, when a building was gifted to the community for just $1. The radically low barrier to entry and open door policy lead to a hugely diverse range of people from different cultural, economic, and professional backgrounds connecting and creating projects together such as a free bike share, maker classes for people in homeless shelters, and a community garden.
To date, [freespace] has hosted over 300 free events, seen more than 30 murals, fostered 4 long-term projects within San Francisco, and instigated an immeasurable amount of inspiration, collaboration, and solidarity within the communities it has touched.
[freespace] is now a global movement. Currently there are [freespaces] developing in 26 locations and 18 different countries around the world.”
A fairly oddball Facebook group, but with some interesting links. I’m sure we’ve heard the one about the truth being out there, somewhere…..
The Free Tibet Campaign keeps the world informed on what is going on inside Tibet. And mobilises support for the Free Tibet campaign around the globe.
Tibet has been occupied by China since 1950 and the 14th Dalai Lama since 1959, has been forced to live in exile in India working with a Tibet Government in Exile. The head of the Tibetan Buddhism, which used to be based in Lhasa, he has expressed no hatred towards the Chinese and sought to work for Tibetan autonomy, showing genuine compassion, integrity and kindness. He is the epitomy of non-violence, following on from the teachings of Gandhi.
It is believed that the Chinese government plans to put a ‘puppet’ Dalai Lama in his Holy Holiness’s place when he dies.
There are many campaigns and organisations fighting for a move towards a free Tibet in some form.
Links to the official Dalai Lama site and the UK-based Free Tibet campaign.
One of the world’s oddest, most eccentric squats. This link takes you back to Notting Hill in London in 1977. If you ever saw the Ealing comedy, ‘Passport to Pimlico’, this is the hippy version!
Friends of the Earth International is their hub to global campaigns on environmental and social issues.
One of the most esoteric thinkers of the twentieth century. His ideas and writings provided ‘mind food’ for many free cultural spaces and people. A complex legacy. Here are a couple of links that introduce us to elements of that legacy including the ‘Gurdjieff International Review’.
“Without struggle, no progress and no result.”
The Gängeviertel (English: Slums-quarter) consists of a few streets that remain of the old poor mans´ quarter in Hamburg, with smaller innercourt-streets called ´gänge´. What was vacant, was squatted in 2009 and the artisan collective thus prevented it from beeing torn down by an investor. Surprisingly, the Municipality bought the houses back from the investor and thus the squatters could continue to evolve the Gängeviertel further, as a legalized entity now. However, the urgent restoration of the buildings is still ground for discourse between local government and the circa 200 residents, since gentrification is on the lure and they want to keep control over the housingpolicy.
The website presents an overview of the public activities and what happens in which houses. It is only in the German language, but under the das Gängenviertel-section you can find some visual Impressionen on what is beeing done there. During the G20 in 2017, the Gängeviertel shows itself as a haven for protestors and a oasis of freedom in a militarized city.
UK-based, George is an important commentator/writer on the edges of festival culture. His books on festivals, radical gardening and music are situated in the cracks and margins between social activism, popular culture and academic study. He describes himself as “a British academic with a longstanding research interest in alternative cultures and living practices, festivals and gardens, participatory arts and media, music, protest, peace, disability, and social movements.”