Read "Anti-Semitism and the Beirut Pogrom" by Fredy Perlman

Scrappy Capy Distro has released the first issue of Harbour, an anarchist literary journal. It has 7 pieces from 6 authors, poets, and artists. You can download it for free online, or get it on paper if you happen to live in Berlin and know the anarchist scene there.

Full Disclosure: one of those authors is me! My story Fair Game is the first prose story in this edition (on page 3 on both versions of the PDF). I'm very excited that they accepted it, especially because that means I can start posting a related comic/art project I’ve been working on in the background for several months.

In the beginning of the journal the editors say this on the subject of fiction:

Traveling to some anarchist book fairs, we noticed that most of the tables were filled with theory and there was very little fiction. This edition, and future ones, is an attempt to remedy this.

Theory is often placed above fiction as more important and serious, but we believe that fiction deserves just as much space. Not all critique of the world has to offer a complete or even partial alternative to the existent, but when we fail to tell a narrative of what possible anarchist futures could look like, it can be very hard to entice others away from the pull of capitalism.

If there ever were some collapse or successful insurrection, ideologies whose ideas were most digestible or had been most widely spread would win out. Following such change, we don’t want things to return to the way they were. We want anarchist ideas to ripple out across the populace, for them to be something easy for others to play with and understand. Stories are one way to do this.

We want to make a space — a space to imagine, a space to vent, where ideas from many different places can come together, a place where we can then leave with these ideas, to pass them on.

A harbour is a place from which to venture out.

I think there's a ton of overlap between that and solarpunk in general, and the ability to show positive, attainable futures, and to demonstrate the lived experience of those better worlds, how they work, is a big part of what draws me to the genre. Hopefully I'll have a more solarpunk story for them in the future.

Speaking of which, if you have a vision of the future you want to share, they're already planning for their Fall 2024 (Issue 2). Submissions will be open from September 1st to 30th: https://en.scrappycapydistro.info/submissions

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/18380435

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/anarchism@lemmy.ml/t/959553

At least six people lock themselves in Grade II-listed York and Albany next to Regent’s Park and post notice

Squatters have taken over a pub in London leased by Gordon Ramsay that is up for sale with a guide price of £13m.

A group of at least six people locked themselves inside the Grade II-listed York and Albany hotel and gastropub, next to Regent’s Park, boarding up the windows and putting up a “legal warning” defending their takeover, the Sun reported.

In photographs taken before the windows were further boarded up, a person could be seen sleeping on a sofa in the bar, surrounded by litter.

On Saturday morning, two masked people wearing black tracksuits and carrying backpacks and carrier bags exited the property, running away from reporters before they could be approached for comment.

A notice taped to a door said the group had a right to occupy the venue, which they said was not a “residential building” and was therefore not subject to 2012 legislation in England and Wales that made squatting in a residential building a criminal offence.

The piece of paper, signed by “the occupiers”, also said: “Take notice that we occupy this property and at all times there is at least one person in occupation.

“That any entry or attempt to enter into these premises without our permission is therefore a criminal offence as any one of us who is in physical possession is opposed to such entry without our permission.

“That if you attempt to enter by violence or by threatening violence we will prosecute you. You may receive a sentence of up to six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.

“That if you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim for possession in the county court or in the high court.”

Ramsay called the police on Wednesday but was unable to have the people removed, it is understood.

Another notice asked passersby for “food and clothes donations or anything else you no longer want or need”.

The occupation of a person’s non-residential property without their permission is not a crime in England, though police can take action if crimes are subsequently committed, including damaging the property or stealing from it.

The Metropolitan police said in a statement: “Police were made aware of squatters at a disused property in Parkway, Regent’s Park, NW1 on Wednesday 10 April. This is a civil matter and so police did not attend the property.”

In 2007, the film director Gary Love bought the freehold of the former 19th-century coaching inn.

He subsequently leased the property to Ramsay on a 25-year term with an annual rent of £640,000.

The Kitchen Nightmares host unsuccessfully attempted to free himself from the lease in a legal battle at the high court in 2015.

The venue went on sale at the end of last year with a guide price of £13m.

According to government guidance, squatters can apply to become the registered owners of a property if they have occupied it continuously for 10 years, acted as owners for the whole of that time and had not previously been given permission to live there by the owner.

We are excited to announce our upcoming West Coast speaking tour, Report from Rojava: Women’s Revolution, Direct Democracy & Social Ecology in North-East Syria, which will take place May 11th - 17th, featuring public talks led by ECR members Debbie Bookchin and Arthur Pye.

Tour Schedule:

Sat May 11: Bellingham, WA

Sun May 12: Seattle, WA

Mon May 13: Olympia, WA

Tue May 14: Portland, OR

Thu May 16: San Francisco, CA

Fri May 17: Oakland, CA 

Cynosuralism is one of my own interpretations of libertarian political philosophy. I had originally named it as “Sociocratic Confederalism” as it is heavily inspired by Democratic Confederalism, Communalism, Libertarian Municipalism, and Social Ecology, all of which are interconnected amongst themselves.

It is also influenced by communitarianism, autarchism, mutualism, and many more philosophical, political as well as non-sectarian concepts such as the concept of the “ecovillage” intentional community.

Introduction to Cynosuralism

Ideology

Overview

Cynosuralism, a nuanced political philosophical, emerges as a beacon of hope amidst the tumultuous currents of contemporary governance paradigms. Rooted in principles of autonomy, decentralization, sustainability, and sociocratic self-organization, Cynosuralism envisions a transformative societal framework where communities govern themselves in confederated harmony, fostering a culture of virtuous liberty and collective prosperity.

At its core, Cynosuralism represents a departure from traditional top-down governance structures, offering a dynamic alternative that empowers local communities to chart their own destinies. Inspired by the rich tapestry of anarchist ideals, communalist principles, mutualist thought, and pacifist approach, Cynosuralism advocates for a bottom-up approach to governance, where decision-making authority is vested in the hands of those most directly affected by the outcomes.

Sociocracy

Sociocracy, characterized by inclusive and transparent decision-making processes, lies at the heart of Cynosuralist governance. Drawing upon the wisdom of sociocratic principles, Cynosuralism endeavors to cultivate a culture of consent-based decision-making, ensuring that the voices of all community members are heard and respected.

Decentralization

Decentralization serves as another cornerstone of Cynosuralist philosophy, challenging the hegemony of centralized power structures in favor of a more distributed model of governance. By dispersing authority across multiple levels of organization, Cynosuralism seeks to mitigate the risks of tyranny and foster greater grassroots participation in decision-making processes.

Autonomy

Central to the ethos of Cynosuralism is the concept of autonomy, wherein communities retain sovereignty over their affairs, free from external coercion or domination. This autonomy is not merely symbolic but is enshrined in the fabric of the confederal system, where each community is granted the freedom to determine its own path while engaging in cooperative endeavors with others.

Sustainability

Sustainability in Cynosuralism underscores the imperative of ecological balance and resource stewardship within intentional communities. Embracing sustainability entails adopting practices that minimize environmental impact, promote renewable energy sources, and prioritize conservation efforts. By integrating sustainability into its ethos, Cynosuralism aims to ensure the long-term viability of communities while safeguarding the natural world for future generations.

Posthumanitarianism

Cynosuralism places a strong emphasis on posthumanitarianism, extending ethical considerations beyond human welfare to encompass the well-being and of all sentient beings, including animals and ecosystems. This philosophy aligns with the cardinal principle of sustainability, as it acknowledges the interconnectedness of life and advocates for compassionate and sustainable actions that promote the flourishing of all beings and the preservation of the environment. By prioritizing the flourishing of all beings and promoting sustainable practices, cynosuralism advances the creation of a harmonious and equitable society where individuals can thrive in harmony with one another and the natural world.

Conditional Pacifism & Principle of Proportionality

Conditional pacifism alongside the principle of proportionality stands as a fundamental tenet of Cynosuralist ideology, underscoring the philosophy's commitment to resolving conflicts through non-violent means. By advocating for this nuanced approach to pacifism, Cynosuralism acknowledges the complexities of real-world conflicts while emphasizing the importance of proportionality and restraint in response to aggression. This principle aligns with Cynosuralism's overarching goal of fostering harmony and cooperation within communities, promoting social justice, and safeguarding individual freedoms.

Free and Open Organization

The Free and Open Organization - a confederated polity, emerges as the structural embodiment of Cynosuralist ideals, providing a framework for cooperative interaction among autonomous communities. Through confederal councils and assemblies, intentional communities come together to address common challenges, share resources, and coordinate collective action, while safeguarding the sovereignty of individual entities.

Common Ownership & Cooperative Economics

In terms of economy, Cynosuralism advocates for common ownership and cooperative economics as complementary to its cardinal principles. Cynosuralism emphasizes autonomy, decentralization, sociocracy, and sustainability, all of which align closely with the principles of common ownership and cooperative economics.

Autonomy and decentralization are upheld through common ownership, as communities collectively manage and govern their resources without external interference. Sociocracy is facilitated by the democratic decision-making processes inherent in cooperative enterprises, where members have an equal say in the management and direction of the organization. Sustainability is promoted through the stewardship of resources by the community, ensuring their equitable distribution and responsible use for the benefit of both current and future generations.

Imperfectionism & Pragmatism

While Cynosuralism accepts peaceful coexistence with the state, it must respect the self-government of local communities and refrain from assimilation efforts or intervention in key issues. However, this coexistence does not mean acceptance of the classic state structure with its despotic attitude of power.

Cynosuralism advocates for a transformation in the role of the state, envisioning it as a more modest political institution with limited sovereign rights. In this reimagined framework, the state primarily focuses on ensuring internal security and providing essential social services. This shift aims to reduce the state's dominance over societal affairs and create more space for individual autonomy and community self-governance. Guarantees for healthcare, education in native languages and cultures, and protection of individual freedoms and rights are integral to this process, emphasizing the state's responsibility towards the well-being and empowerment of its citizens.

Virtuous Liberty

At the heart of Cynosuralism lies the pursuit of virtuous liberty, a concept akin to the philosophical notion of Eudaimonia, wherein individuals are free to pursue their flourishing in harmony with ethical principles and the common good. By prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of individuals within the broader context of community welfare, Cynosuralism seeks to forge a path towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cynosuralism or Sociocratic Confederalism is a system of self-organization of intentional communities based on cardinal principles of sociocracy, decentralization, autonomy and sustainability in the form of a confederated polity, referred to as a “free and open organization”. The ideology serves to guide its constituent communities and their residents in the pursuit of virtuous liberty.

Symbolism & Etymology

The symbolism and etymology of cynosuralism are deeply intertwined. The term is derived from root word "cynosure," which originates from the Greek word "κυνόσουρα" (kynosoura), referring to the constellation Ursa Minor, specifically the North Star, Polaris. In ancient navigation, the North Star served as a reliable point of reference for sailors, guiding them safely through their journeys. Metaphorically, it came to represent a guiding principle or focal point that provides direction and stability.

In the context of cynosuralism, the '✦' symbol serves as a modern representation of the cynosure. The symbol visually encapsulates both a compass and a star. It serves as a guiding star, embodying the principles and values of the ideology, akin to how the North Star guided sailors. Each point of the star symbolizes cardinal principles of cynosuralism, including sociocracy, decentralization, autonomy and sustainability.

Therefore, the term "cynosuralism" itself draws from the concept of the cynosure symbol, representing a guiding ideology that aims to steer society towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. Like the North Star, it serves as a beacon of hope and direction, guiding individuals and communities towards virtuous liberty and ethical governance.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I do want to state that a large part of the above text was made using Generative AI as I am not the best at articulating my thoughts. The results were more much eloquent and fancy than I would have liked them to be. I do have my own version but it's much more elaborate than necessary and also repetitive at times. I can share that if someone is interested.

In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defence of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Defenceless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Arctic lumber camps: this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them.

This evergreen essay comes to mind with the latest statements from the state department:

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday became the latest Biden administration official to deny that Israel's six-month bombardment, invasion, and siege of Gaza constitute a genocide

Obviously this man was an important anarchist thinker, but I think this is particularly relevant to anarchism right now in a US election year where this conversation will come up ad nauseum.

He stops short of decrying electoralism in general here, but makes the point that the milquetoast emptiness of the US liberals enables a rightward slide. What he says is short and to the point and avoids getting bogged down in wider issues. He acknowledges that "at least they're not nazis" is an appeal of the liberals, but points out that is the only appeal.

I just think this is a good thing to have if you don't want to type out this argument every time you see it, to point out that this has been happening for a very long time, and to hear a voice of sanity when every single liberal is yelling at you to stop criticising poor Joe or else we'll get the fascists again.

Leftwing activism of recent decades exhibits an anarchist turn evident in quantitative indicators like mentions of anarchists in news reports and by activists adopting anarchist modes of organization, tactics, and social goals-whether or not they claim that label. The authors of this Element argue that the very crises that generated radical mobilizations since the turn of the millennium have both led activists to reject other strategies for social transformation and to see anarchist practices as appropriate to the challenges of our time. This turn is clearly apparent in the Americas and Europe, and has reverberations on an even broader transnational, perhaps global, scale. This suggests the need for research on social movements to consider anarchists and other marginalized radical traditions more fully, not just as objects of study, but as important sources of theory.

First of all, the publication's website counts every time you view a page as a new article being read, so if you view the original and not the archived version you'll just get locked out after refreshing it three times.

Don't bother with the first half imo, it's a useless faff, but the consciousness portion onwards is worthwhile: worker cooperatives being a marginal addition to a capitalist economy where many people are suffering, lack of participation in lower councils even among the Kurds (non-Kurdish groups apparently participate mostly only in name), asayish not becoming obsolete but ossifying into a police force, a war on the "state mentality" of the people. Nothing groundbreaking but updates are always welcome. The author will post a long series. I have my thoughts, what do you guys think?

Leftwing activism of recent decades exhibits an anarchist turn evident in quantitative indicators like mentions of anarchists in news reports and by activists adopting anarchist modes of organization, tactics, and social goals-whether or not they claim that label. The authors of this Element argue that the very crises that generated radical mobilizations since the turn of the millennium have both led activists to reject other strategies for social transformation and to see anarchist practices as appropriate to the challenges of our time. This turn is clearly apparent in the Americas and Europe, and has reverberations on an even broader transnational, perhaps global, scale. This suggests the need for research on social movements to consider anarchists and other marginalized radical traditions more fully, not just as objects of study, but as important sources of theory.

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