The meeting last night went extremely well, and was quite well attended too. Thanks to Barry and Bryan for travelling over to join us. The Minutes are as follows:
Minutes
Burnley Anarchists Meeting
22nd June 2006
Burnley League Club
Attended: Jim, Eileen, Barry, Brian, Les, Mitch, Michele
Apologies: Reg, Rufus, Karen
Items on the suggested agenda were as follows:
1. Projectile Collective Anarchist Film Festival. Report from Barry.
2. Arrangements for Commemoration of 70th Anniversary of the Spanish Civil War. Brian.
3. Update on N.A.N. Conference taking place on 8th July 2006. Brian.
4. Access/posting difficulties on Burnley Voice and production of a B.V. Newssheet. Michele.
5. Little Marsden Community Action Group. Mitch and Michele.
6. A.O.B. including Burnley News. Les, Jim, Eileen.
• The 2nd annual Film Festival organized by the Projectile Collective, which is a part of the Star Shadow Collective, was held on the weekend commencing Friday 16th June 2006 at a warehouse in Byker, formely owned by Tyne Tees Television, which is currently undergoing renovations to turn it into a cinema. The weekend consisted of a mix of film shows and discussion workshops and a number of Anarchist organizations were represented on stalls at which their literature was for sale. One of the notable films shown was ‘Liberatias’ which highlighted the actions of the anarchist women during the Spanish Civil War and the liberation of the prostitutes at that time. Another noteworthy film was ‘Israeli Anarchists Against The War’. Barry will make enquiries of how to obtain copies of these and other films held by the Projectile Collective for possible showings in Burnley and other towns to raise funds towards the 70th Anniversary of the Spanish Civil War exhibition. Barry reported that the discussion workshops included one between Dave Douglass and Dave Hopper, and also a discussion regarding forming alternative social centres such as The Basement in Manchester. He said that the weekend had been a good source of Networking between various anarchist groups. The groups represented by stalls were: Class War, I.W.W., A.K. Press and the N.A.N. Please see the Projectile Collective Website for more details and contacts.
www.projectile.org.uk/• Arrangements are underway to present an Exhibition commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Spanish Civil War on 8th July 2006 at The Basement, Lever St, Manchester, to co-incide with the N.A.N. Conference. Brian outlined the background of the original arrangements for this event, the committee that was formed and the subsequent ‘break away group’ that had been formed over a disagreement about what should actually be commemorated, one group felt the exhibition should focus mainly on individuals involved with the conflict, whereas the other group felt that a fuller picture of the Spanish Civil War should be presented which highlighted the stories of all involved, including Anarchists. The ‘break away’ group felt that a new constitution should be written for the organizing committee, and they left taking the funds of the group and its existing Bank Account. As a result of this split there will now be 2 exhibitions: 1 is already taking place at Tameside until the end of June, and the 2nd one will be the one at The Basement on 8th July. It is hoped that both exhibitions will travel around the North West to be displayed in various libraries and other public buildings. Brian and Barry discussed with us the details of the cost of producing a 20 page glossy pamphlet for their group’s exhibition, which will be sold for £1 each. The cost of production for 600 copies would have been £740, therefore they are considering producing 400 instead. Again it was suggested that funds raised at film shows in the Burnley area and beyond would be used towards the production costs as well as for supporting the Manchester Electricians. It was felt at last night’s meeting that we ought to move on from the disagreements with the ‘break away’ group and that the original constitution should be adhered to. Mitch suggested a visit to the Tameside exhibition, in order to ascertain how much anarchist content is displayed and whether or not it is favourable. Michele and Mitch will arrange this with Barry.
• The next N.A.N. Conference is to be held on Saturday 8th July 2006 at the Hare and Hounds, Shude Hill, Manchester…Near Victoria Station. Dave Douglass will not be able to attend, as previously stated, as he is due to be at the Durham Miner’s Gala that day. He will be replaced by representatives from the Manchester Electricians who will discuss their ongoing campaign. Brian brought the group up to date on the Manchester Electricians’ situation and read a statement from Colin Card, Regional Industrial Manager (T & G North West). Financial and practical help has been sought by the electricians and funds have already been donated by various groups independently. Les Marsden will raise the issue of the Manchester Electricians at the meeting of the Burnley Trades Council, to ask for their support also.
• There have been difficulties posting on the Burnley Voice again recently, with guests and some members receiving a message that they are clicking on the incorrect key. Michele will enquire further via Proboards, and will rectify the problem at the earliest. In the meantime, any articles which are unable to be input by their author should be emailed to Michele and she will post them on the author’s behalf. The message board also still appears to be included on filters in some libraries, meaning that some members/guests cannot access it at all. As there is no chat room on the site, this should not be happening and Michele advised those affected to speak to the staff of the libraries at which this is happening. There has been talk of producing a Burnley Voice Newsletter/sheet for a while now, and it is felt that now is the time to put this into action. A planning meeting for the 1st edition is to take place at Jim’s house next Thursday, 29th June, 8pm. It is felt that the newsletter should cover a variety of issues that are of concern to the people of Burnley, Pendle and other places in the North West, and that the point of view of anarchists should be represented as well as others.
• Michele and Mitch discussed the formation of the Little Marsden Community Action Group which is building steadily and is organizing its own events as well as getting involved with events/projects in all parts of Nelson which have been organized by other groups. At the moment it is managing to be totally self-funded, via Jumble Sales and Car Boot Sales, and members are contributing to the cost of producing leaflets themselves. It is felt that as long as we are able to continue that way, we ought to do so, however we could look at external funding with the help of the Nelson Management Team, as long as we do not allow ourselves to be taken over/controlled by those funding sources.
• The next N.A.N. Conference is possibly going to take place at Llandudno in September, and a member living there is going to provide a guided tour of the town. Les Marsden discussed his ongoing situation with Burnley Council’s Planning Department and was concerned regarding the accountability of the Council. One campaign that is of much concern is the placing of Mobile Phone Masts. Residents are finding that they are fighting to prevent the erection of masts where they live, and are succeeding initially, only to find at a later date that the issue re-emerges and the fight starts all over again, they are becoming disheartened and it is felt that T.A.M.S. must discuss other forms of protest that are more effective.
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