Practical Directions: Explanation of Leading Terms

Date:

The extract is from the opening of Thompson's last book before his untimely death, "Practical Directions for the Speedy and Economical Establishment of Communities, on the Principles of Mutual Co-operation, United Possessions and Equality" of 1830. In the main was a practical "build your own community" manual and the bulk of it was taken up with practical matters. However the necessity of squeezing in a summary of the political and economic bases of the projected community, means that this "Explanation of Leading Terms" at the beginning of the work remains the most abbreviated version of his analysis available

Preliminary Observations (on the Distribution of Wealth)

Date:

"Preliminary Observations" is the introduction to his first, and possibly most important book, the lengthily entitled "An Inquiry into the Principles of the Distribution of Wealth most conducive to human happiness; applied to The Newly Proposed System of Voluntary Equality of Wealth" of 1824. It is this work of which the anarchist historian Max Nettlau remarks: "[this] book, however, discloses his own evolution; having started with a demand for the full product of labour as well as the regulation of distribution, he ended up with his own conversion to communism, that is, unlimited distribution". This preface piece shows signs of being originally written before his own conversion to communist distribution with supplemental additions after that change. In it Thompson lays out his approach of applying the critical method of utilitarianism - the re-examination of all social institutions with an atheist skepticism of all received truths, judging outcomes on the basis of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" - to the theories of Political Economy.

No Pasaran; Ireland and the Spanish Civil War

Date:

Part of the Labour party organised, Connolly Festival.

Polish FA Fundraiser Party

Date:

Movies and Music from the Polish Anarchists in Dublin with help from WSM DJ krew

Don't Pay The Water Charges

Date:

.

1pm Saturday 31st March
Assemble at the Arts College, York Street, Belfast.

Initially called by the We Won't Pay Campaign, other anti water charge groups have also endorsed this demonstration. Anarchists from north and south of the border – from Workers Solidarity Movement, Organise! and the broader libertarian movement – will be on this march, supporting the call that the only way to defeat the water charges is through a strong mass non-payment campaign.

What sort of Ireland do we want?

Date:

The second Dublin anarchist bookfair saw a debate between the Workers Solidarity Movement, Eirigi and the Irish Socialist Network on the topic of 'What sort of Ireland do we want?'. These are the speakers notes from the WSM speaker for that discussion

Syndicalism in Ireland - Emmet O'Connor - Audio

Date:

Audio from the 2nd Dublin anarchist bookfair of Emmet O'Connors talk on Syndicalism in Ireland and the discussion that followed it.

Class, Feminism and Revolution audio download

Date:

Edited extracts from the Class, Feminism and Revolution recorded at the 2007 Dublin anarchist bookfair. The meeting was organised by RAG (Revolutionary Anarcha-Feminist Group) and was based around a written text

Interview with Ana Lopez from the International Union of Sex Workers

Date:

Red & Black Revolution interviewed Ana Lopez, one of the founders of IUSW who as a sex worker in London when she finished her masters and wanted to start a PhD. "In supporting this kind of initiative of sex workers organizing, you don’t necessarily have to agree with my view that sex work is a legitimate type of work, and that it’s not inherently exploitative"

Review of Ramor Ryan's book - "Clandestines : the Pirate journals of an Irish Exile"

Date:

At this point in time it is a rare and welcome event when a book by an Irish activist is published and rarer still when a book by an Irish anti-capitalist writer receives widespread praise and acclaim. "Clandestines: the Pirate journals of an Irish Exile", which has received a slew of positive reviews following it's publication in the US by AK Press, is just such a rarity, and as it is being launched in Ireland this week means readers here will soon be able to make their own appraisal of the book.