2014 Anarchist Bookfair in Wellington
Anarchists and their supporters are gathering in Wellington this
coming weekend for, what could be, the first Anarchist Bookfair to be
held in New Zealand.
The Bookfair, on 15 March at 19 Tory St, will feature a wide range of
anarchist material of all shades and tendencies.
"Some of the literature," said spokesperson Anna Cocker, "has not been
seen in this country before. There will be literature that covers many
of the various nooks and crannies of anarchism. It will be an
opportunity for locals to savour not only NZ anarchist leaflets,
pamphlets, zines and books but material from around the world."
The Bookfair is not limited to the Saturday. An art exhibition of
posters, zines, badges and protest art will be on display at 19 Tory
St from 12th to 16th March. There will also be a series of public
talks and discussions over the week, including talks by authors,
writers and local anarchists.
"At 19 Tory St we will create a space to foster an interest in
anarchism," said Ms Cocker. "Through not only the Bookfair, but also
through both a series of talks and the art exhibition, we hope to
introduce anarchism to a wider audience. At 19 Tory St we will look at
where we came from, where we're going, what's happening now, and also
at what can happen in the future in Aotearoa.
"In a time," said Ms Cocker, "when families and communities across
this country, and indeed the world, are struggling more and more to
just survive, anarchy offers solutions. An anarchist critique of all
the awfulness that makes up capitalism allows hope for a society
founded on mutual aid and respect, it allows belief in a
non-hierarchical society based on self-determination.
"Anarchy rebels against the utterly corrupt political and economic
system of capitalism," said Ms Cocker. "Anarchy confronts the current
system and unmasks it as one owned by the corporate class. It is a
class that routinely spies on us and works in conjunction with what
has become a totalitarian surveillance police state to maintain power.
"It is hoped," said Ms Cocker, "that people will join us at 19 Tory
Street to challenge capitalism and to celebrate anarchism through
books, literature, film, speakers and more.
"It is hoped people will join us in asking questions, finding answers
and discovering the joy and power of solidarity and mutual aid."
For a full schedule of events, speakers and vendors, please visit our
website at http://wellingtonanarchistbookfair.com
ENDS