Mutiny Convergence Around Forbes 500!

SUBPLOT: A Convergence of Anarchist Ideals and Actions
Friday 26th - Monday 29th August
Venue: tbc (but definitey somewhere in Sydney)

At the Sydney Opera House from August 30th, under the name of something not worth mentioning'*', the heads of some of the richest and most influential corporations in the world will gather. A mocking fuck you from those responsible for labour abuses, environmental destruction, war profiteering, etc, etc. A fuck you that implies nothing we do can resist the paths they plot for global capitalism.

But every storyline is made up of many subplots. This is ours.

In spite of all that has passed we continue to gather. In spite of military policing, anti-terror laws and general state oppression. So we invite all interested in stuff like anarchism, autonomism, independent ratbaggery, community organising, radical action and general everyday resistance to participate in this convergence. As an act of defiance in itself and also to make specific plans for protests against the corporate soiree at the Opera House. Most importantly, to inspire each other, to envisage, to create, to incite and to plot for the longer term. To truly move our protest from one-off action into the territory of everyday life.
So bring your creativity and inspiration. And your anger and frustration. We want to discuss all aspects of resistance and creating revolutionary change. Subplot aims to explore our affinities though a diversity of workshops around ideas and tactics of organised autonomous resistance, for the Forbes protests and ongoing resistance. So far we know there will be workshops on anarcho-feminism, anti-racism, practical guerrilla art, environmental justice and the corporate take-over of Iraq.

Subplot is happening alongside the Sydney Social Forum (SSF)**. On Saturday we will be presenting a stream of workshops as part of the SSF in an effort to build connections with other groups whose struggles overlap with ours. The next two days will be held at a nearby but separate venue, in order to create a space to explore our political commonalities. On the Monday time and space will be set aside to, hopefully, put the ideas, networks and affinities developed at the conference into practice in preparation for the Forbes protests. The weekend will also have plenty of time for socialising and it all starts, of course, with a launch party on Friday night.

Subplot will always be a work in progress, made from what all participants bring. If you'd like to organise a workshop or raise ideas you think need to be discussed, please get in touch.

Contacts:
Louise 0417 683 218
Dave 0412 372 131

*Ok, it's the Forbes Global CEO conference: this means around 500 executives from the richest and most influential corporations in the world will be meeting at the Sydney Opera House. While not a policy-making body, it has the power to influence policy as demonstrated by the presence of John Howard and Bob Carr as guest speakers.**An open space conference promoting solidarity and cooperation between political, community and NGO based activists.

Underverse

The Underverse seems to be expanding fabulously. I've now added a journal thingi and a news desk. Check it out here.
I'm sooooo excited about this project. It really is fucking awesome.

And on another front:
I've also finally started doing some information mining for sexy Nomad Spike who is manintaining the ZNET Queerwatch Page whilst studying Tibetan cooking and massage techniques in northern india...hmmmm....i'm obscenely jealous and aroused at the thought.

If you haven't checked out the Z Communications page then you bloody well should.

AudreyAutonomy2005

George Clooney type cast for phoney charisma yet again.

*schlock phlegm (n) - A poisonous viscid substance that appears when Justin is subjected to movies as mediocre and stoopid as "Three Kings". Schlock phlegm is secreted by the mucus membrane and violently ejected by fits of nauseous coughing and bleeding from the eyes.

Audrey Autonomy 2005

WHAT IS FREEGANISM?

Freegans are people who are concerned so deeply with the social and ecological impact of economic over-consumption that they choose to buy and work as little as possible and, instead, to live directly off the massive waste created by our modern society. Freegans avoid contributing labor or wealth to an economy based on materialism, explotation, greed and waste by refusing to participate in it. Instead of producing their own waste, Freegans sustain themselves off the already existing waste thereby curtailing garbage and pollution and lessening the over-all volume in the waste stream.
Because so much is trashed in our society, a freegan lifestyle can be one of great abundance -- food, books, magazines, comic books, newspapers, videos, music (CDs, cassettes, records, etc.), carpets, musical instruments, clothing, rollerblades, scooters, furniture, vitamins, electronics, pet care products, games, toys, bicycles, artwork, and just about any other type of consumer good can be found in the discards of retailers, institutions, and individuals simply by rummaging through their trash bins, dumpsters, and trash bags. Many of these items are entirely useable, clean, and safe in perfect or near-perfect condition. Lots of used items can also be found for free on websites like freecycle.org and in the free section of your local craigslist.org. To dispose of useful materials check out the EPA's Materials and Waste Exchanges directory. Of course, freegans are as happy to give for free as to take for free. When freegans do need to buy, they buy second-hand goods which reduces production and supports reusing and reducing what would have been wasted.
Some freegans also extend their commitment of non-participation to include transportation (via trainhopping, hitchhiking, walking, skating, and biking) and housing (via establishing communities to rehabilitate and inhabit abandoned buildings -- a.k.a squatting). Many freegans are part of communities of like minded people who collect resources together and share with others. They believe in the philosophy of mutual aid over competition and advocate sharing wealth with all instead of hoarding private property.
"Freegan" is a play on the word "vegan". While a vegan only sees harm in and avoids products from animal sources or products tested on animals, a freegan sees harm in all industrial products. A freegan restricts further her purchasing by choosing to monetarily consume nothing so as to give no economic power to the capitalist-consumer machine which inevitably hurts living beings and the Earth.
For additional definitions of freeganism, click here.


Samadhi was right, i do like this ethos. However, i lack (consciously and wholeheartedly) the discipline required for this sort of living. Also, Adelaide (suburban blight) is geared against this sort of thinking. Dumpster diving (and associated activities) can be a really exhausting and unrewarding process here. All the dumpsters near my apartment (i live in one of the most highly centralised areas in the state) are LOCKED UP and some of them are under surveillance.
~ Audrey Autonomy 2005