Anarcho-Bicyclist Conference Manchester April 2011

For The Poor.

Andy - we give "alms" to the poor not "arms."

Here are some alms.

That's what we give to the poor, right?

Andy - we give "alms" to the poor not "arms."

Yeah, but that picture is ace.

And they're vegan friendly.

Chopped of anarchist dolls.

Does the tag "Grow up tossers" apply to the anarchists or to those who disparage them?

The former mainly, Clive, but a few of the latter, latterly...

cheer up! you have an anarchist conference to go to where you can discuss the corporate whores Giant,Trek,Merida,Pacific bike co and Shimano and really stick it to the man. if you are lucky you might get to 'break those chains' by making your own! no need to be enslaved by sram or Izumi.

good luck with that.

stop being ignorant

how is it not just armchair anarchism wrapped up with fringes of society bicycle culture and pointless naval gazing?

fuck man, that question had nothing to do with anarchism. you need to take more drugs

stop being ignorant

stop telling me what to do.

you have missed a significant point, i am not a government.

'meme with a pic of josef stalin and the words:
i haven't missed any of your points
i just ignored them

woohoo, have spread enough rep to be allowed to worship at the alter of smyth again

woohoo, have spread enough rep to be allowed to worship at the alter of smyth again

i can wipe my own arse thanks.

Might I suggest that the first and only session should be a history lesson for all attendies. Then, once suitably educated, you would be able to realise that, actually, we did have anarchy once, and guess what? People need and want leadership, and it is an inevitable, natural, human trait.

Then you could all go home for a quick cup of pg tips, knock up some obsure bicyclomobiles with park tools then blog about on your mutlimational company built computers using the corporation/state owned communication systems. Or you could spend the time going on demonstrations in nike trainers and film it on sony cameras. It certainly makes some money for the news companies

Good luck though, it's good to have dreams

A weekend of discussions, workshops, rides and activities from Friday 8th April to Sunday 10th April, 2011. We invite people to share skills, information and ideas.

Open to both individuals and people from grassroots and anarchist bike projects from everywhere in the UK.

REGISTER HERE: http://ibikemcr.org.uk/?q=node/5455

Vague timetable:

Friday Evening
Arrivals
6pm: Bike MCR! Taking in some bike related sights of Manchester and some nice off road routes.
Vegan Meal + Bike Movie

Saturday
10am: Introductions
10.30am: WS: Trailer Building
12.30pm: D: The corporate takeover of the Bicycle.
There appears, on some level, to be a bicycle revolution, but are anarchists invited?
1.30pm: Lunch
2pm: D How different groups communicate and what they find effective
3pm: WS:Leading a bike ride, risk assessing and touring with all ages (Bike needed)
4.30pm D: "Beauty" + The Bike. Is the bike lane the new catwalk?
5.30pm: WS: Hands off bike repair teaching
7-11.30pm: Dinner + party
Midnight: Midnight Ride

Sunday
10am: WS: Encouraging participation with young people and others!
11am: D: Bikes + Gender in the workshop
12.30pm:WS:
1.30pm: Lunch
2.15pm: WS:
3.15pm: D Critical Mass: practicalities, promotion, politics
4.15pm: WS: Bike Polo (with adults + kids)
5.30pm: Food + Films

Food shall be kindly prepared by Manchester Food Not Bombs. It will all be vegan and tasty and yours for a small donation.

All topics discussed and workshops include simply what people have suggested, offered or requested. If you would like to facilitate a discussion or workshop please get in touch, we have left available lots of space so that participants can choose what we do. THIS TIMETABLE IS ONLY A LOOSE GUIDE AT THE MOMENT.

For more information please email nes@pedalmcr.org.uk

Places are LIMITED due to space and MUST be booked in advance

REGISTER HERE: http://ibikemcr.org.uk/?q=node/5455

Might I suggest that the first and only session should be a history lesson for all attendies. Then, once suitably educated, you would be able to realise that, actually, we did have anarchy once, and guess what? People need and want leadership, and it is an inevitable, natural, human trait.

Yes that would be much more fun thank you for your input

we were poor, but we were 'appy

you were poor? all our extended family and a few of our neighbours saved up to give my eldest brother the chance to be poor. we were so proud

You had neighbours? Luxury!

You had neighbours? Luxury!

most of them were rats, but point taken

all we had was home and away.

Reading through this thread I am frustrated, and a little suprised (although I probably shouldn't be) about the polarised and frankly misinformed or short sighted view that many have been taking. There is an attitude, which is reinforced by the media, that 'anarchists' are either underground, well organised terrorists, slightly mad attention seekers (see chris knight), or yobs out for a fight. While all three of these may be occasionally true, the majority of people I have met who have identified as anarchist are in reality far from this sterotype. To be honest, I'd argue that most of the conservative party fill these roles in one go. Also, stop the shit about vegan food. If you don't want to eat it don't. But it's normally really tasty, and it's just nonsensical to argue that the provision of vegan food is an exclusive choice, or a prerequisite to being an anarchist. I'm an anarchist, I choose to cook vegan most of the time, because it helps keep my weight down (and not from a lack of choice or protein) and I don't like to support an industry that is massively carbon intensive, and treats animals in a way I wouldn't be happy to witness myself. But if you want to eat meat then fine! I ate meat for 9 years, and still occasionally indulge myself.
Stop generalizing, stop quoting from media stereotypes etc.

tl;dr.

some good laughs here.

Reading through this thread I am frustrated, and a little suprised (although I probably shouldn't be) about the polarised and frankly misinformed or short sighted view that many have been taking. There is an attitude, which is reinforced by the media, that 'anarchists' are either underground, well organised terrorists, slightly mad attention seekers (see chris knight), or yobs out for a fight. While all three of these may be occasionally true, the majority of people I have met who have identified as anarchist are in reality far from this sterotype. To be honest, I'd argue that most of the conservative party fill these roles in one go. Also, stop the shit about vegan food. If you don't want to eat it don't. But it's normally really tasty, and it's just nonsensical to argue that the provision of vegan food is an exclusive choice, or a prerequisite to being an anarchist. I'm an anarchist, I choose to cook vegan most of the time, because it helps keep my weight down (and not from a lack of choice or protein) and I don't like to support an industry that is massively carbon intensive, and treats animals in a way I wouldn't be happy to witness myself. But if you want to eat meat then fine! I ate meat for 9 years, and still occasionally indulge myself.
Stop generalizing, stop quoting from media stereotypes etc.

Lolhai! Welcome to the internets!

Reading through this thread I am frustrated, and a little suprised (although I probably shouldn't be) about the polarised and frankly misinformed or short sighted view that many have been taking. There is an attitude, which is reinforced by the media, that 'anarchists' are either underground, well organised terrorists, slightly mad attention seekers (see chris knight), or yobs out for a fight. While all three of these may be occasionally true, the majority of people I have met who have identified as anarchist are in reality far from this sterotype. To be honest, I'd argue that most of the conservative party fill these roles in one go. Also, stop the shit about vegan food. If you don't want to eat it don't. But it's normally really tasty, and it's just nonsensical to argue that the provision of vegan food is an exclusive choice, or a prerequisite to being an anarchist. I'm an anarchist, I choose to cook vegan most of the time, because it helps keep my weight down (and not from a lack of choice or protein) and I don't like to support an industry that is massively carbon intensive, and treats animals in a way I wouldn't be happy to witness myself. But if you want to eat meat then fine! I ate meat for 9 years, and still occasionally indulge myself.
Stop generalizing, stop quoting from media stereotypes etc.

don't worry, most of the naysayers just do it for the attention. this is teh internets after all.

teleflorist, dear chap. I think you will find that a good number of the posts that questioned the role of veganism in anarchist politics did so from the basis that we questioned why anarchists should play to a further stereotype rather than seeking broader appeal. I am sure that vegan food is occasionally tasty. I am also sure that once in a while most of us consume something that might be considered vegan but why does anarchism have to be linked to veganism as this conference does and, indeed, as your post does?