From Genoa to the Gathering

The events of Genoa 2001 are still going through the courts, as the Genova Legal Forum puts the state on trial for human rights crimes during the Diaz raid and at Bolzaneto detention centre. Verdicts are in soon. Activist Trauma Support, on tour with films, information, and a donations bucket for the court case, will stop off in Dublin on Friday May 30th to open this year's Grassroots Gathering. We caught up with ATS's Mark Covell before he caught his ferry over.

Related Links: Genoa G8 on Indy.ie Activist Trauma Support Grassroots Gathering Details GG Homepage GG 2008 Reader

'If you're broke enough for the bus you might just join the army'

Back in March I published a compilation of the first half dozen interviews I had conducted with anarchists in the North Eastern USA. Here I present another 11 such interviews recorded with 20 anarchists during a vast n of a journey that started in Miami, moved North to Cleveland, west to Bellingham and then began the long descent south to LA.

The democratic primary continued to be the backdrop as the months and thousands of miles passed by both in terms of my closing question and the conversations on dozens of Greyhound trips. But I passed through more besides, from counter-spying on Burger King HQ in Miami, to attending a Winter Soldier hearing in Gainesville. From witnessing the destruction of Detroit to speaking in the heart of Chicago. From a mini riot in Olympia on Mayday to journeys end in the vastness of LA.

Related Links: Speaking tour details Previous Interviews

If you were walking the streets of Paris this month 40 years ago, chances are you would be completely caught up and participating in a time that has since changed French society forever.

Then, France was on the verge of a total revolt with 12 million workers on strike, 122 factories occupied, and millions of students fighting for a radical change in the way the world was working. A spark that boldly called for revolution and dreamed of an end to capitalism appeared to come out of nowhere. Its ripples sparked further questioning and action in other parts of the world including our own little island.

Ultimately, Paris ’68 did not succeed, but that’s not to say that the spark has been fully quelled or, indeed, that it wont boldly appear again in what are still troubled times.

Scene of the crime

In mid April, Cork dock workers took action in support of the crew of The Defender, a cargo ship owned by Forestry Shipping from Riga, Latvia but registered in Cambodia.

The Defender had nine crew on board and was carrying cargo for delivery in the Cork area.Kevin Doyle spoke to Peter Andrers, Stephen McCarty and Timmy Ricken, members of SIPTU’s No 5 branch about the action.

Related Links: Siptu - International Transport Workers Federation

A Weekend of Anarchy

Its been a while, but now they're back. As the sun comes out we have the first bitch fest of the summer in this (possible) lineup for the grassroots gathering. Reading like a more convoluted version of those old Indymedia favourites - 10 reasons to hate the grassroots gathering - this article proves how popular a bit of criticism, constructive or not, really is.

PLENARY SESSION (ROOM ONE): ONE SOLUTION - DISSOLUTION?

Opening feedback / reports from the sessions (limit of 2 minutes each!! - only a brief recollection - perhaps the most important conclusions reached, if any, from the workshop sessions)

The plenary is open to everyone to talk to, and is being held in an atmosphere of openness and tolerance. No aggressive or intimating repsonses will be permitted. People are free to constructively criticise and discuss openly any doubts they have about their own activism or that of the group.

Related Links: Indymedia is crap | 10 reasons to hate the Labour party | Reasons to Hate Anarchism and Anarchists | 10 reasons to hate Liberals | 10 reasons to Hate Bitchy Comments on Indymedia | Indy exclusive: Chekov's takeover of the WSM | Actual Gathering Event Notice