Vol 46 No 10 OCTOBER 45p

international anarchist monthly

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HANDSWORTH — EVOLUTION VALPREDA & STATE MASSACRE

* been going since Scpt/Oct 1945. which only get 60% on %, which is 18p per was just when I was born. Thus we copy. Unfortunately freedom cost’s-; have both just turned forty! I hope almost 50% more than that to print! (If both Freedom and I do better in the next you divide copies actually sold into forty years. print bill.) So you will be helping us While 1 know that the mere survival out a great deal if you got your regular Happy Birthday of the libertarian ideal in an authorita­ copy of Freedom via a subscription rian age is something of a minor (even the cheap rate one). to us triumph ... it just dqcsn'tfeel like that to me personally. Meanwhile . . . Cheap Group Subs! 99 today! Keeping track of sale or return records A FREE FREEDOM? seems to be beyond the average local THE very first Freedom was published anarchist group. Indeed, as A Distribu-; in October 1886. Interestingly it was As you may or may not have noticed tion have reported ever since they subtitled ‘A Journal of Anarchist we have introduced special ‘low- started, some anarchist groups arc not; Socialism’, and came out monthly. income' rates for Freedom. Twelve very good at paying at all! This first scries ran into the 1930’s issues for £4.95 means you actually get So to save you a lot of bureaucratic when there was a break of a few vears one whole FREE Freedom! It is now nastiness Freedom has decided to offer until Vernon Richard’sSpain and the cheaper to subscribe to Freedom rather (from now until the end of 1986 IVorld in 1936. From 1939 this became than buy it at your local bookshop. anyway) a stupendous loss making (for War Commentary (for anarchism) and Apart from our natural human us) deal. Wait for it . . . Group or back to Freedom again in 1945 generosity, this move was prompted Bundle Subs at 50% off cover price — Throughout this time Freedom Press bv4 a hard look at the realities of sale or post free! The offer is restricted to has also been the main publisher of return via A Distribution. First the anarchist groups andFreedom contacts anarchist books in the UK. bookshops take 'A. then, allowing for only and is really intended to help This current series of Freedom has bad debts, postage costs and returns we those who do ‘irregular’ bookstalls- /strcct sales. We will lose money on it,and you will make money on it, so take advantage of our ‘Centenary Madness’ while it lasts! The catch (there always is one) is that subs arc PAID IN ADVANCE — no pay, no get! For Freedom‘ Contacts’ we’ll do a quarterly sub. For others, six months minimum period. Also we only want to deal in multiples of five copies per month (5, 10, 15, etc) to keep it simple this end. Bundles mailed to a single address only! t The Group Bundle subscription rates per 5 copies arc quarterly £3.25, six months £7.50, one year £15.00, plus as many donations as you can scrape together! Stu Stuart STREET-SELL FREEDOM? Yes, it does get down to that occasionally. Anyone who wants to help street-sell Freedom (and any other rubbish we might have stashed away at the Bookshop) at the CND National Rally on October 26th, should give us a ring on Qd-247 9249 a couple of days before. the event. Go on, pretend you’re an anarcho-trot for the-day! the editors WHY RIOT? i NO ONE seems particularly surprised that there was a riot in Birmingham, Some people with local knowledge didn’t expect it just then. But the idea of riot itself, in Britain, no longer shocks. 1981 has taught something. Forgetting the long homegrown tradi- tion, two basic explanations are pro--) duced. j One is that foreigners riot, especially j FREEDOM COMMENT

Distributed to Bookshops by Printed and Typeset by A Distribution Aldgate Prats c/o 84b Whitechapel High Street FREEDOM 84b Whitechapel High Street Published by Freedom Press SUBSCRIBE TO FREEDOM [In Angel Alley] UK and Ireland £6.50 84B Whitechapel High Street Abroad; surface mail £7.50 London E1 7QX Airmail: Europe £8.00 Tel: 01 247 9249 Rest of World £9.00 Production editors: David Peers, Stu THE OPEN DOOR POLICY Stuart, John Anderson, Nick and Cam. freedom welcomes news, reports and- Contributing editors: Colin Johnstone comradely contributions to a genuine and Arabella Melville. anarchist debate. Articles give the indi­ vidual opinions of their authors. Only CONTRIBUTORS PLEASE NOTE articles specifically signed the editors Freedom is a professionally typeset reflect the shared view of the Freedom paper, which means that articles for Collective. Freedom need to be typed, on one side COME AND HELP 'only, triple-spaced with a large margin A Distribution: Weds 16th Oct and 30th down both sides'of the page. Neat hand­ Oct 5-8pm. written material should be on lined paper Freedom Mail-Out: Thur 31st Oct 6- using every other line. Keep your own 9.30pm (drinks afterwards!) copy rather than ask us to return the LAST COPY DATE original. November issue; 21st Oct: December The editors issue; 18th Nov.

black foreigners. It \vc let them live here and don't keep them in their place, Policing Two Deed this is how they behave. Both views rely on policing. In the There are sad aspects of this riot. Another is that, if we arc nasty to first case this is obvious and the South Two people died. Maybe not so much people, if we don’t socialise them African parallels hold up. In the second in that homegrown tradition or in properly, teach them proper values and case, community policing tries not to international terms, but still dead. allow them to integrate into our value irritate people. There is a professional Another is that, like most traditional systems, they will behave like naughty dispute about which version, they have riots, it was on home ground. This has children. had both, is to blame for Handsworth. tactical advantages, but obvious disad­ The first view has its purple outlet in The Labour-controlled police author­ vantages. The Guardian sees these as mo^t of the press. The level of open ity, which traditionally takes the softer enough to label as stupidity, why do racism varies. The Express draws South approach, supports the force’s hand­ people destroy their own. As if it was African parallels, The Daily Mail talks ling of the riot. The chairman, Edwin theirs, rather than the place they about tribalism. The Sun has maps Shore, thinks that most of the area’s happen to find themselves, controlled equating riots with ‘immigrants’ 56,000 inhabitants want to be policed, by outside agencies. And if it was (Jews? Hugonauts? Poles? Anglo- notice the wording, not want policing worth preserving. Saxons?). There are problems with this for others. ‘We will never turn our (sic) This riot also has its own cheery analysis. The rioters were mixed. If streets over to vigilances'. The solution aspects. One is the way Home Asian-owned shops suffered, it might according to the first view is to pour Secretary Hurd was smartly seen off. be because most of the local shops were money into military policing. That of Next time they’ll have to send Michael Asian-owned. White mobs riot, and the second view is to pour money into Heseltinc and his flak jacket. not just Irish (who are honorary community projects and to use such Wc don’t present solutions to the foreigners anyway) or football crowds police as a reserve. issue of rioting, mainly because we (who are working class). Even police There are various specific reasons don’t sec the same problem. People riot. There have always been riots in put forward for Handsworth. Racial will riot. People with more reasons to Britain, out of hunger, desperation, tension between blacks and Asians be pissed off will riot more easily. The politics or simple fun. hasn't got very far, (‘Why the West problem is that, despite the efforts of The second view sees itself as more Indians Hate Asians’ feature article, Class War , they could often riot more well-meaning. These things arc due to The Sun). The police say that it was set constructively (sometimes the riot is disadvantage. Unemployment in up and organised by drug dealers, completely wrong and directed against Handsworth is twice the Birmingham things cannot happen without a clear some equally oppressed community. average and three times the national hierarchy and leaders. This may seem The world has coo much of this). average. There are more chan twice the chin but it is enough to disturb media Anxious official enquiries, whether by national average of single parent opinion, (“Wc cannot condone a soft Lord Scarman, the police or the local families. The statistics arc endless. The approach by the police to the drugging authorities, cannot seem to grasp this Sun's maps match as well with these of our communities” — editorial, The point. Whether a direct iron fist or a lot things as with ‘immigrants’. This Sunday Times). Liberal opinion blames of waffle is the best containment analysis also has problems, apart from unemployment, as if shitty make-work mechanism is a problem for others. being patronising. For instance, it now schemes keep people content. They Ours is to help people to know \vhy sees solutions as employment and may well be right that the boring, riot*. nuclear families, monitored by local deadening nature of most work stifles, DP authorities, social workers, the ‘caring but not because it gives fulfillment. It professions’. just stifles.

3 f r e e d o m n e w s Iron Hawk Appeal Fv A n a r c h i s t Greetings Brothers and Sisters, 1 am an B o o k f innocent native American on death, oif row in Tennessee. I need funds to hire ^ , routers of Freedom will investigators and specialist lawyers to obtain a new trial and prove it. i£ ito - groups can actually dorrs Please contribute to my defence fund oroanisca good book fair. The last wo and accept my sincere thanks. Please j were jam-packed, with a mob milling don’t let me be a victim of capital about on the pavement outside waiting punishment for a lack of capital.. Send to get in. The New Anarchist Review all contributions to: The Iron Hawk who actually ‘organise1 it consists of Defense Fund, c/o Melodie Hart­ Housnians Bookshop, The Anarchist line, Ashwood Church of Christ, book Service, A Distribution and Riff 2206 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, Freedom Bookshop. Last time every­ Tennessee 37212. body who came asked them to book a Raff bigger hall . . . and so they have. Mary Ward Centre 1 he next Anarchist Book Fair will be at Poets (he Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, FRIDAY September 27th sees the London IVC1 on Saturday 9th November. Charlotte Wilson and Peter Kropotkin start of a new series of weekly Doors open at10:00am until 10:00pm, founded Freedom in 1886. He was a discussion meetings at the Mary Ward entrance free, food and booze available all Russian Prince become soldier become Centre. These meetings have been day plus a social with riders, rants and geographer become social revolution­ held since 1983 as a continuation from mystery events after 6:30pm. ary become philosopher become Nicolas Walter's course on 'Anarch­ Local Papers anarchist and prophet. His autobiogra­ ism — Theory and Practice, Past and phy Memoirs of a Revolutionist is a book Present’ and, to quote the prospectus, There will be a free stall with space that should be on every reader’s list. "discussion is open and wide-ranging, for your paper provided by A To celebrate his life and work, and this all are welcome”. Distribution. You should get letters centenary of Freedom, RiffRaffPocts This session we hope to present a telling you all about it but write to A will be on tour (as they have been these lively programme of debates, talks 1 Distribution care of Freedom to say past fifteen years) carrying literature — and teach-ins on a variety of topics, you re coming if you can. Any local books and pamphlets — and perfor- and the opportunity to hear some of anarchist publishing group that would ming. giving readings of poems and our movement's noted orators: check like some space please do likewise. songs to inspire and entertain. We the listings in Time Out and City Limits These Book Fairs really arc very intend to carry Freedom Press titles, to for details. relaxed, friendly events and a greathave a range of Housmans pacifist and Fridays at 8:15pm chance to get to know other anarchists, peace literature, to encourage others to Mary ward Centre score a few ‘specially cheap’ books, eat publish posccardpoems, posterpoems 42 Queen Square, London WC1 some surprisingly good food and and magazines as we do. Coincidental­ generally have a good time. Every­ ly with Freedom's 100th birthday is Announcement body who is anybody will be there, so Peace News’ 50th birthday. We shall CND demonstration on Saturday, why don’t you be somebody who will endeavour to promote both, not 26 October The annual national be there too! See you Saturday 9th forgetting the other magazines like demonstration this year will consist of November Stu Green Anarchist. We also publish our a mass rally in Hyde Park, London, Mollies Cafe own magazine,RiffRaffPoets, number 3 involving a march round the park to of which may be of interest, get in call at the Russian and American 287 Upper Street, N1 touch if you can organise a mccting- embassies, a 4-minutc die-in, a 4- /performancc in your home town. minutc .sit-down, a 4-minute hand- Mollies Cafe, which celebrated its first RifflRaffPoets, c/o Freedom Book­ link, and a closing meeting. Further birthday in grand style last July, has shop, Angel Alley,84b Whitechapel information from local CND or from had a fresh lick of paint and now sports High Street, London El. the new address ofNational CND: a revitalised anarchist bookshop. Dennis Gould, 22/24 Underwood Street, London Vegan cats: open l:()0pm to 6:00pm, Pat Van Twest, N1 7JG. Monday to Friday. Jeff Cloves NW T » . . J We ve given back your slave»dass citizenship, H ang o n i m in u te and woffled vaguely about repealing the pass laws. Ve’tl just finish It is now you r turn to make a concession. demoUthing tbit. FREEDOM NEWS Pinclli was thrown out of the window Kenneth Brown's The Brig (about and therefore murdered by the author­ military detention), both of which Italy ities were seen in London. Valprcda was arrested immediately In 1964 Beck and Malina were fined after this episode on December 15. and imprisoned for refusing to pay , VALPREDA Once again the evidence was con­ taxes, and their theatre was closed. tradictory. One of the witnesses was an After their release they spent most of alcoholic taxi-driver who was shown a their time in Europe, being based in ! A N D THE photograph of Valprcda before he was Italy but often visiting Britain. Their asked to identify him in an identifica­ productions became larger and looser tion parade. Valprcda remained in as their ideas became more mystical [ STATE prison till 1973 when public opinion and universal, and they also became finally forced the authorities to pass a increasingly conscious of their Jewish special law under which Valprcda roots. But they remained convinced i M A SSA C R E could be released. anarchists, expressing their politics in The judgement of the court of Bari their life and work and inspiring 1: ON the 1st of August this year the will, hopefully, be the last in the series individuals and groups in many places ;' longest and most complicated political of trials to which Valprcda has been by their communal and artistic vision. y trial in Italian history came to an end in subjected over the last 16 years. Julian Beck died of cancer in New 1 Bari, in Southern Italy. Bizarrely, the Unfortunately, the verdict of the court York on 14 September 1985. He will anarchist Pietro Valpreda was together does not necessarily imply that the be remembered as a key figure in the in the dock with a number of fascists innocence of Valprcdn has been offi­ revival of anarchism after the Second accused of having bombed a bank in cially acknowledged, despite the public World War. Milan sixteen years ago. The court prosecutor's clear statement that Val­ NW found them all not guilty for lack of prcda is innocent. ? sufficient evidence. Practically everyone in Italy now Although this should now be the end realises that the State was responsible of the affair, the trial has gone through for the bombing in Piazza Fontana — it so many twists and turns that it is not is’*popularly referred to as the “state In Brief impossible that the state may under massacre". On this occasion, at least, some pretext or other continue its the state's attempt to smear anarchists David Martin, Labour Member of the vendetta against Pietro Valprcda. All has gone badly wrong. The whole European Parliament, has accused the the evidence indicates that the bom­ episode has probably done more to government of failing to impose bing which took place on 12th damage the state's reputation than that sanctions on South Africa because 47% December 1969 in Piazza Fontana in of anarchists. of the Tory Party’s corporate dona­ Milan and led to rhe death of sixteen JA tions arc provided by companies with people (with a hundred injured) was source: Paolo Finzi of Rivista *A9 vested interests in the country. These instigated by the State and carried out companies give over £1 million, about by fascists. Valprcda was always one third of the Party’s total income. innocent. The bombing was the first of its kind Obituary Paul Roorcs, industrial relations dire­ in Italy and deeply shocked the public. ctor for Fords cars, is disappointed ill The police immediately claimed that British management. He has told a anarchists were responsible. They JULIAN BECK meeting that the only useful result of could not have chosen a better weakening trades unions is that it has scapegoat. The press took up the JULIAN BECK, who died last month, removed management’s excuse for theme and launched a smear campaign lived and worked with Judith Malina Britain’s 30 years of relative ineffi­ against anarchists labelling them for nearly 40 years as directors of the ciency. bloodthirsty monsters and madmen. Living Theatre and leading proponents The real monsters, of course, those of cultural anarchism. AIDS carriers who knowingly pass on members of the government and secret Julian Beck was born in New York the disease can be fined S3,500 under a service who set up the bombing. The on 31 May 1925. He met Judith Malina new law in New South Wales, motive of the bombing was clearly to while they were studying with Erwin Australia. The draft legislation, to be discredit the left at a time when the Piscator, the great German pioneer of submitted to the state parliament in political temperature in Italy was left-wing theatre, and in 1947 they September, also calls for a S700 fine for rising. 1969 was a time of tremendous founded the Living Theatre in New doctors who fail to notify health political unrest when students and York. This radical company combined officials of an AIDS sufferer or carrier. workers were joining fores, barricades the tradition of Antoine Artaud's were being erected and demonstrations Theatre of Cruelty with the tradition A former astronaut, James Irwin, has and strikes were commonplace. A of Wilhelm Reich's political psycholo­ abandoned his fourth attempt to find Guiseppe Pinclli was the first anarch­ gy to create, an extreme form of the remains of Noah’s Ark on Mount ist to be accused of the bombing. He dramatic realism intended to involve Ararat, Turkey. was held in detention illegally for 3 audiences in a total theatrical experi­ days. On the third day he was dead. ence. After several years of successful The Home Office is to replace the According to the police lie had avant-garde work, including such entire police mobile radio communica­ committed suicide by jumping from a contributors as Kenneth Rexroth and tions system in England and Wales window. However, the police report is Paul Goodman, the Living Theatre outside London. This is because the so full of contradictions and holes that became world-famous 25 years ago for wavebands now used arc the most no one in Italy believes the police its productions of Jack Gclber’s The suitable for VHF broadcasting. The | story, it is generally accepted that Cotincctioti (about the drug scene) and project will cost £64 million.

5 F7FCDOM NEWS The peace talks have, however, frequently been lurching on the brink’ Sri Lanka of failure because neither side is willing to give way on the abstract question of national sovereignty. The Sinhalese, politicians consider it to be an impera­ KILLING tive that Sri Lanka remain one nation (though they arc prepared to concede some degree of autonomy to the north) WITHOUT whilst some Tamil politicians glimpse, the prospect of power for themselves and arc insisting on the need to create' MERCY Eelam. In other words the politiciansi of both communities have decided that\ BADULLA is a small town in the guerillas mine roads, attack army posts the fact that ordinary people arc dying South East of Sri Lanka. When 1 was and string up ‘traitors’ from lamp posts doesn’t matter half so much as their there recently I stayed in a seedy ‘hotel* but by the time the army responds in own desire to lead a nation. A better where I was the only guest (if you strength they have disappeared into illustration of the evils of nationalism it don’t count the mosquitos). After scrub jungle which is virtually perfect would be difficult to devise (though dinner the owner explained to me whyguerilla territory or else are absorbed the Lebanese and the Ugandans arc the place was so spartan in its back into the community which they trying). furnishings. In 1983 the Sinhalese sprang from. » i majority in the town had indulged in a The army, frustrated by its failures, After the British race riot in which the furniture from has given up trying to control the far From the second the British de­ the hotel had been smashed up or north and has taken to random killings parted, the Sinhalese leaders behaved as stolen. In the same riot the man had of Tamils who live in border regions as if national liberation meant that the seen all his other businesses, a factory, reprisals for raids. The best parallel I good jobs would now go to them four small shops and another hotel, can give for this would be if the instead of the British. They even burned to the ground and he had apprentice boys of Derry were called imposed a ruling saying that all narrowly escaped with his life. His up and sent into the Bogsidc every dealings with government officials had brother had not been so lucky; he was time there was an IRA explosion. At to take place in the Sinhalese language dragged out onto the streets and beaten the gate of the army barracks in Matara thus ensuring not only that the- to death for the simple crime of being a there is a picture of a soldier running a minority were shut out of government Tamil. bayonet into a tiger’s stomach — the work but that they would also find it Such experiences were fairly com­ caption of “kill without mercy" gives a very difficult to get the simplest piece monplace in the '83 riots and the result good indication of the current mood of paperwork completed. A settlement was not difficult to predict. The Tamil being fostered in the armed forces. programme was begun which gave minority made considerable efforts to Many Buddhist religious leaders arc jungle land in Tamil areas to Sinhalese arm itself and began a struggle for encouraging this mood as their respect families to farm (ic they stole the: ‘national liberation' which had as its for the sanctity of all forms of life common land from the locals). Every purpose the establishment of a separate clearly doesn’t extend to the Tamil compromise that the Sinhalese politi-; state in the north and east of Sri Lanka Hindus. One leading Buddhist recently cians have made on this racist syste which they refer to as Eelam. They announced that if the government has come far too late and gives every were none too fussy about their couldn’t deal with the terrorists it appearance of being forced out of them methods. At one stage a group of should hand over power to the by armed struggle or civil disobedi­ liberation ‘tigers’ drove into the old Buddhists who would know how to ence. V bus station at Anuradhapura, yelled handle the job. Compromise wasn't Yet the experience of being on the something equivalent to “take this you what he had in mind. receiving end of a virulent nationalism Sinhalese bastards" and machine gun­ Compromise remains nevertheless a taught the Tamil politicians little about ned everyone waiting for a bus. The serious possibility since the civil war is human rights. In the north and east of death toll was around 100 and the taking its toll on both sides. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka there arc many other guerillas apparently had time to check is heavily dependent on tourism and nationalities besides Tamils; there arc, whether the injured spoke Tamil or the civil war has hit the tourist trade so for instance, a lot of Muslims. When Sinhalese and to finish off those who hard that many people in the country Muslim leaders asked for permission to spoke the latter before driving off into arc desperate for a solution. Financially attend the Thimpu peace talks and a wildlife park where they shot dead a the war is a constant drag on the asked for guarantees about their couple of the guards. government’s development program­ position in any independent or auton­ me and so it had good reason to Terror and Traitors omous state they were rebutted by the welcome Rajiv Gandhi’s arrangement Tamil politicians. ‘‘First let’s create The situation has now polarised on of peace talks at Thimpu. The guerillas Eelam, then we’ll talk about Muslim fairly classical lines. Parties represen­ were less happy about the talks but had rights" was the attitude and fighting ting the majority Sinhalese argue in little choice other than to attend them between Muslims and Tamils amply parliament over how best to deal with because their arms supply and their demonstrates the respect with which the ’terrorist’ threat. Spending on the training grounds arc both rooted in the such promises are greeted by Muslims armed forces has been increased Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. in the cast. Clearly the prospect exists sufficiently to tip the budget into If they refused to attend Gandhi could, that an independent Tamil state would deficit and there are reports of Israeli theoretically, have left them without behave as badly towards its minorities involvement in training the security either adequate arms or a secure base as the Sinhalese have towards theirs. forces, yet genuine successes against and consequently wide open to a In this complicated situation it now the guerillas arc very rare. The massacre. appears as if President Jayawardene’s

6 FREEDOM NEWS government has at last been forced into which they have every reason to B 1C IC LE TA, an independent offering something worthwhile. Law mistrust. For the guerilla leaders the anarchist collective, themselves expel­ and order, land settlement, agriculture time may well have come to ask led from the CNT, published a letter and education will come under provin­ themselves whether it is more impor­ outlining the links bctwcccn the cial jurisdiction and 95*000 Tamil tea tant to create a nation or to look to the Fcdcracion Anarquista Iberica (the workers will at last be granted welfare of those who might live in it. group that had dominated the CN I for citizenship of the country where they For the racist Sinhalese politicians there so many years) and the CNT exiles in were bom. The government is thus may be plenty of time to dwell on the Toulouse. Juan Ferrer, a FA I leader, clinging desperately to its desire to rule fact that it is a lot easier to spark off a had proposed at an intercontinental the whole island but granting under bloody nationalist conflict than it ever meeting of anarchist federations that pressure the things that matter — the is to end it. Andy Brown the exiles should take the reins of the army will no longer raid majority [Eds: Andy Brown is perhaps being CNT, and Federico Moncscny, leading Tamil areas, land will no longer be a touch too “pro-Tamil” in hisexile, and one of those who had served stolen, and Tamils will no longer be report. Under British rule the as minister (!) in the Republican forced to go abroad for Higher Tamils had an extremely pri­ Government in the Civil War, said in Education because they are effectively vileged position, dominating the Paris at a public meeting that rather shut out of local colleges by a quota bureaucracy of government, fi­ than let the CNT escape from their system. Suck an offer is, 1 suspect, nance and education as “trustees” hands they would prefer to sec it die. perfectly acceptable to the bulk of the of British rule. Early Tamil Physical attacks Tamil population since it would leave nationalism was openly fueled by a them free to get on with their own desire to maintain that privileged One should also remember the lives without the risk of a pogrom. Yet position against the majority physical attacks on the so-called there is still a prospect that some or all Sinhalese majority. The educatio­ ‘reformists’ during the expulsion of the guerilla groups may turn it nal “quotas” were a • reasonably period, and just after, when those down for the simple reason that it accurate reflection of the different unions who had broken away had their doesn’t establish a separate nation state. size of the Tamil and Sinhalese offices ransacked (the Water, Gas and The prospects for peace arc therefore populations. “Eelam” is also made Electricity Union in Barcelona in riding on the fragile egos of a few up o f large areas where the January, and the entertainments indus­ guerilla leaders and on the trust they Sinahlese are 60% of the popula­ try union in March 1979). The worst place on the word of a government tion!] incident was on the 16th March, when 60 ‘anarcho-syndicalists’ attacked the Makhno office of the CNT of Maturo, near Incidentally, why is the ‘Orga­ Barcelona, where a regional plenum of Spain nisational Platform of the Libertarian the opposition unions was being held. Communists’ always referred to as the Firing shots in the air and laying about sole work of Arshinov, when it was them with iron bars, they wounded also signed by, among others. Nestor several militants, including Enrique Makhno, and Ida Meet, author of the Marcos, the former general secretary, A REPLY and a militant of Maturo who nearly Kronstadt Commune. Is it because 4 Makhno is a hero’ of the anarchist lost an eye. movement, and k’s OK to salute his Since then, other aggressions have TO THE work in the Ukraine, but not his part taken place. 150 Faistas, waving pistols 4 in the writing of a so-cailcd scurrilous and knives, demonstrated outside the 1 CNT-AIT document? Arshinov never advocated, founding conference of the CNT- <•-4 or even mentioned, the creation of an Unificado. This was as the CNT-AIT ‘anarchist party’, whereas Malacesta press secretary says, obviously the ‘last THE report by the press secretary of during a period in the 1890s talked straw’. Other incidents have included a the CNT-AIT contains a number of about the ‘anarchist social-revolution­ CNT-U militant being struck over the omissions, errors or inaccuracies, and ary party’. Of course, with Malatesta head with an iron bar after a for the sake of the international this was obviously a temporary aberra­ demonstration in Barcelona last year, libertarian movement, they should be tion, not worth talking about. result a fractured skull. corrected. The CNT-AIT press secretary fails For an organisation which accuses He states that the anarcho-commun- to mention the expulsion of Sebastian the CNT-U of being reformist, it ists around the magazine Askatasuna Puigeerver, former member of the seems mighty strange that they should I were ejected because they were follow­ national CNT committee, and a take the question of who owns the ers of the ‘Organizational Platform’ of tendency with which he was affiliated, initials ‘CNT’ to the bourgeois courts. Arshinov. Nothing could be further the Anarcho-Syndicalist Affinity They lost the ease, by the way. from the truth. Askatasuna was not Groups. The grounds for their expul­ [Eds: We did see a Spanish Report Platformist, and it was not ejected for sion, as for the MCL, was that they saying they actually WON . . .?] this reason. It was expelled because it had set up parallel groups that planned There arc probably many workers in advocated a libertarianEnszadi (Basque to take over the CNT. If one bears in the CNT-AIT thoroughly sick of the country) against the ‘greater Spain’ mind that the CNT was only recon­ violence and sectarianism employed ideas of many in the CNT leadership. structed on the merger of different against workers in the CNT-U, There was a tendency influenced by libertarian tendencies — the council- libertarians themselves, just as there arc Platformism, although it used the lists, the libertarian communists, Aska­ many workers who have left the CNT, ‘Platform’ as a point of reference, and tasuna, autonomists, traditional anarch­ and are disgusted at these antics. The not as the gospel. This was the ists, etc, and that the basis on which it sooner these destructive squabbles are Movimiento Communista Libertaria attempted to function was the recon­ settled, the better for the libertarian (MCL) and they too were expelled ciliation of differing points of view, workers movement in Spain. Earound the same time. then this change seems amazing. Nick Heath i 4 7 rwttUUM ANALYSIS

individual selection as the most wide­ spread level of operation of biological , Evolution evolution. As more recent theory is showing cooperation and mutualism i could evolve, via individual selection by mechanisms such as kin selection and ANARCHY AND reciprocal altruism. In kin-scicction gcnctic-rclatedncss serves as the critc-\ rion for who gets ‘helped’ (kin not NATURAL SELECTION necessarily meaning close family mem­ bers). In reciprocal altruism individuals IN his article ‘Evolution: the biological tial survival (strictly speaking the more survivc/brccd more successfully than basis of anarchism’ (Freedom, Septem­ successful reproduction) of some indi­ when they are prepared to help others , ber 1985) Professor Rob gives an viduals, but at what level? One given that those others will help them interesting historical account of the possibility is the greater survival- in the future. Both kin-selection and relationship between ideology and /rcproduction o f ‘fitter’ individuals at reciprocal altruism are susceptible to conceptions of social and biological the expense of others, or of ‘fitter’ cheating but the scale of the problem is evolution. However in addition to genes operating in the bodies of far less severe than for group selection (what looks like) mistranslations/ty- individuals. This can be calledindi­ with all that the latter implies concer­ pographical errors and some blunders vidual selection. Alternatively natural ning the subordination ofall individual he manages to avoid all mention of the selection could operate at the level of interests (even throughout life) to those current issues and debates in evolution­ populations, where some groups of a of the group. But I’m not sure that ary biology and sociobiology (the particular species survivc/rcproducc at group selection would be such an study of -the evolution of social the expense of other groups of that ethically positive evolutionary trend behaviour) of most interest to anarch­ species. This is called group selection. even if it were to be feasible. The ‘hive ists. The only biology is to be found in Note that the reason for one type of mentality’ which would surely result the opening paragraph which mas­ indi vidual/group ‘winning’ in seems alien to any anarchist conception ^ querades as ‘condensed evolutionary evolutionary terms may not involve of what to aim for — it would certainly theory*. The content seemed a vcr> any direct conflict or fighting at all, do away with any notion of thei odd way of introducing the subject to contrary to the popular fallacy. For potentials of individuals being fulfilled, j non-biologists and despite several example if one sort of individual or Even if it be concluded that Kropot­ years research in sociobiology I found group gets up earlier in the morning kin’s evolution fails (in its grounding in it difficult to interpret (perhaps I’m not than the other and gets access to a the then rudimentary state of the one to say this — see PS). restricted food supply, then that type evolutionary biology) his arguments The first mistake occurs in uncri­ may survive and reproduce more can still be effective counters to the tically repeating Kropotkin’s point that effectively than the latc-riscrs without utter crudity of much sociobiological most species had more ferocious the two ever even meeting, let alone commentary on social matters. The ancestors. Unfortunately most species, ‘fighting tooth and nail’. The jargon of main problem, as always when social including ‘communally-living’ ones sociobiology (with evolutionary arms implications arc being drawn from are just as likely to have had less races, wars of attrition, etc) often evolutionary ideas, is to delineate ferocious ancestors too, so chat this completely contradicts the reality. exactly whatmechanisms in individuals : can’t be used to justify a naive belief in Kropotkin’s mutual aid is a varient can express the charactcrstics that are l the historical (now biological) in­ of the idea of group selection but it is supposed to have evolved. Kropotkin evitability of mutual aid. In an) ease not just a reactionary ideology which is virtually useless for this purpose as mutual aid as opposed to strength and leads one to doubt the likelihood of it arc most other evolutionists who don’t warlike behaviour arc in no way happening. Despite much effort stick to biology. It certainly doesn’t logically exclusive. The most evolutionary — and population — help to sidestep the problem by mutualistic of animals may also be the geneticists have had a very great introducing long-discredited (in fact most ‘barbaric’ in different contexts or difficulty in describing a possible pre-darwinian) notions such as humans at different times. mechanism for group selection that being ‘advanced’ or ‘developed’, as Rob also suggests that studies in doesn’t fall down because individuals Rob docs. Biologically humans arc very social anthropology support the would ‘cheat’ (eg not do their ‘bit’ of primitive, undeveloped members of the i hypothesis of the biological evolution of mutual aid but reap the benefits of the mammalian class of primates. I mutual aid, but in fact anthropology is mutual aid of others). Having said that wouldn't even agree that we’re very rarely in a position to answer such it could well be that hidden right-wing advancedsocially cither. Similarly it is questions. In one senseeverything about ideology may lead sociobiologists not daft to assert’chat since mutual aid may i humans could be said to have evolved to need much convincing that group have enabled humans to evolve biolo- biologically, in that our biology/gcnc- selection is improbable. The provisio­ gicallyy that we have some kind of tic structure provides the framework nal conclusion is that the number of biological need to ‘experience’ mutual and limits on potential that cannot be conditions (environmental, popula­ aid in order to survive. Perhaps Rob transcended. But as I’m sure Rob tion-genetic, etc) which would need to meant the survival of the species, a knows biologists mean something be fulfilled for group selection to be concept that has nothing to do with more specific in saying that evolution possible is rather large. Whether there group selection, in fact it’s anti­ has occurred — namely that a gene­ was a situation in human history that evolutionist or non-evolutionist. tically-controlled (or substantially in­ might have ever met those conditions Either way Rob has moved a long way fluenced) characteristic has spread is less certain — probably not, it seems from evolutionary biology, but he s throughout a population over genera­ to me. also committed the well-knownnatur- tions (although not necessarily to all But it is a big mistake to assume that alistc fallacy which is the idea chat 4 members of any given generation). Huxleyan ‘social Darwinism’ is an because something is or has been Natural selection implies the differen­ inevitable concomitant of accepting ‘natural’ (such as mutual aid, it it is) continued page 10 8 FREEDOM ANALYSIS

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9 FREEDOM ANALYSIS then it is a moral imperative that in sociobiology — perhaps English to oversimplify everything for the % should be encouraged just because it’s academia is politically less restrictive beneft of those too lazy to exercise

It's Historic Role, against those who characterised attacks against the state as attacks against society. Kropotki n In Mutual Aid he traces the develop­ ment of the state back to Rome and beyond. More importantly he outlined BIO LOGY a view of the modern state and capitalism as interlinked in purpose. In The Great French Revolution Kropotkin AND pointed to the origins of the bourgeois characteristics of the modern state. The state became, for him, an instrument of MUTUAL AID class oppression (The State: It's Historic Role). Therefore in evolutionary terms the state can be defined as a barrier to I ENJOYED the September article on Aid as an analytical tool for the analysis human progress (Anarchist Communism evolution. It did a good job explaining of society and in the end as a means and the State). j the opposing interpretations of evolu­ with which to change society. It is Revolution tion as put forward by individualism arguable that Kropotkin used his j and anarchism. The article concluded theory of Mutual Aid not merely as a Kropotkin took an evolutionary by outlining a set of evolutionary refutation of the individualist in­ view of social change. “Our first duty alternatives for the future. The choice terpretation of evolution and to pro­ is to find out by an analysis of society, being between anarchy and extinction. vide support for a communal view but its characteristic tendencies at a given Yet there is more for anarchism in that he extended its use so that it moment of evolution and to state them evolutionary theory as a basis. Kropot­ enabled him to elaborate a view of clearly. Then to act according to these kin saw his major task in Mutual Aid as anarchism. tendencies in our relations with all providing a refutation of the oversun- those who think as we do” (Anarchism: 1 plificd individualist explanation of Morality It’s Philosophy and Ideal). Kropotkin competition in evolutionary theory. In Ethics Kropotkin spoke of the used his analysis of these tendencies to Mutual Aid was, Kropotkin said, “A need for a new and realistic moral criticise what he saw as the wrong book on the law of Mutual Aid viewed science. Anarchist Morality was his roads to change. He rejected the as one of the chief factors of evolution attempt to set out such a moral science. parliamentary route to social change as — not on all factors of evolution and He uses Mutual Aid and the solidarity he saw parliamcntarianism as the their respective values; and this book which arises from its''practicc to set political manifestation of the relation­ had to be written, before the latter down a code of moral conduct. This ship between the state and capitalism in could become possible”. He never lost was done at two levels. At the very the developed nations Paroles ( D ’uti sight of the fact that a host of other least Mutual Aid is practised cbccausc Revoke). The state socialist methods factors existed. For instance, he also it pays in evolutionary terms. More are ones which he naturaly rejected. wotc of the effects of environment on importantly, for Kropotkin, such prac­ His later experience in Russia allowed evolution. tice requires an cqua ity which in turn him to see how they operated against yields a feeling of solidarity. It is this the practice of Mutual Aid. Mutual Aid and Anarchism feeling that urges the individual to Anarchism as a revolutionary However Mutual Aid was, for perform at a level of sacrifice beyond strategy did fit in with Kropotkin’s Kropotkin, the chief factor upon which the mere reciprocal level that would evolutionary perspective. Outlining the progressive development of human suffice for a simplistic interpretation of that vision of revolutionary change as society depended. As the September Mutual Aid. evolution would take up too much article suggests, Mutual Aid could be space here but it docs seem something regarded as the biological basis of The State and Capitalism worth following up. As far as it goes I anarchism as it provides evidence for Mutual Aid provides a historical hope this brief paper has shown that the point of view that man is at root an view of society as organic. It allowed we have in Kropotkin’s work a altruistic being. Kropotkin was not Kropotkin to sharply differentiate consistent view of anarchism based on content to leave it at that. In his between the state and society. He is to evolutionary theory. writings he uses the theory of Mutual be found using the point inThe State: K Brennan FREEDOM REVIEWS pornography look into their own motives, their fears and sexual atti­ Freedom tudes? I freely acknowledge that it is difficult to grow up comfortable with sex in a paternalistic society. But to PORNOGRAPHY build fear of men in women’s minds is to hold back the progress of personal liberation. If women make men into & STATE CONTROL enemies, they arc more likely to behave as such. Loving relationships, undermined (according to Liz Verran) PORNOGRAPHY, more than any unconsciously, to snuff films, in which by the attitudes revealed in pornogra­ other issue, brings extreme reactions women arc shown being tortured to phy, become even more impossible from Freedom readers. The anarchist death for male pleasure.” I found the between the sexes if women react in movement is apparently riven by deep breadth of her definition astonishing; the way that she seems to do. divisions, the positions of the conten­ reading her tirade, l felt that she would The sort of pornographic material ders defended with an emotional label as ‘pornographic’ everything she that docs show people — of either sex, passion that we don’t normally en­ found distasteful, any visual image of a any age — being exploited, being counter. It is a pity that so much anger woman of which she docs not approve. subjected to experiences which they generated is misdirected,wasted on Even in her first page, the basis of would not freely choose, is unpleasant. confusion. It is an even greater pity unreasoning prejudice is evident. Un­ Most men who enjoy looking at it when the flames of rage are fanned by fortunately it may not be quite as actually fail to recognise the degree of publications produced by groups who obvious to her average Leader as it was subjugation that is present. Many are see themselves as anarchist, yet advo­ to me, for I have the dubious fooled by the smiling mouth of the cate actions which contravene fun­ advantage of having spent some years model, they don’t see the withdrawal damental anarchist beliefs. listening to the consumers of this type in her eyes. In a more sensitive world, 1 Actions such as the burning of of literature. I know the porn market; I would hope they would be aware of material which is believed to be used to know the punters. And they the absence of genuine sexual joy in the pornographic amount to censorship, a were not the monsters Liz Verran vast majority of publications. But until denial of the individual’s right to seems to think they arc. They arc, for they have worked through their choose what s/he wishes to sec or read. the most part, ordinary human beings obsession with the plumbing, they arc Yet this is proposed as a suitable way who no more revel in cruelty than any not likely to realise that rewarding of dealing with such material by Liz other randomly selected group of sexual relationships include an essential Verran's pamphlet. Pornography andpeople living in Britain. They want to component. By refusing to permit the State Control, published recently bv be part of loving relationships as much display of the female body, we shall Medway DAM-IWA. This pamphlet ns everybody else. Many are lonely. only increase guilty fascination with it. and articles on the same theme which Sexual fantasy offers n warm dream of Let all see whatever thev wish; chon * have appeared in various 'anarchist* acceptance: a very human reaction to they will come to recognise the journals, undoubtedly influence their the pressures of a frequently inhuman emptiness of the pornographic image. readers. It was a report of just such world. In taking this position, I fall into the direct action published inFreedom that Liz Verran seems to see all the men group that Liz Verran labels 'liberal*, see off this whole debate in our pages. who read girlie magazines as potential unfortunately she makes as manv I found Liz Verran’s pamphlet rapists, people whose anger at torally unwarranted assumptions about profoundly disturbing because, read womankind sureiv mirrors her ob- 4 those of us who defend the rights and uncritically by those whose rejection of vious anger with men Site clearly freedoms of pornographers as she does female exploitation focusses on their moves in a perceptual world that is about the consumers of pornography, degradation in some pornography, the very different from mine; for her, for asserting, for example, chat chose who views expressed will seem credible and instance, the only way to avoid being believe in freedom of publication also will probably be received sympathe­ molested is to wear a wedding ring; I believe in the nuclear familv! Where is tically. Many of the statements, such as do not, have never done so, and cannotthe link between these two positions? those about the family, arc indeed at remember the last time 1 was molested Yet this non-cxiscanc link seems to be the core of the anarcho-feminist when travelling, in the street, or sufficient for her to separate belief in position and will be acknowledged as anywhere else. I suspect she perceives freedom from an anarchist position — valid by any anarchist. But woven in molestation when I do not;she certain­ a remarkable feat. with this acceptiblc material (much of ly sees sexual symbolism where I do The separation of libertarianism which actually has little to do with the not. Do others really believe that the from supposed anarcho-feminism is specific question of pornography as Silk Cut cigarette advertisement shows the product of irrational anger. Logic defined by most of us) arc strands of “a vagina-shaped cut . . . implying the has been submerged under passionate nonsense; and the conclusions follow pornographic image of vagina as rejection of an admiredly objectionable not from the sensible parts but from wound (a castrated male perhaps?)” pornography industry. We must not the unreasoned hysteria. For me it is simply fabric with a cut in lose our heads. We must not be swayed The question of what constitutes it; a direct visual representation of the by name-calling by chose who say they pornography is important in this brand name. arc with us but seek to turn anarchism context, and Liz Verran devotes her When we see sexual threats all nvav from the struggle for freedom on first page and a half to it. Her summing around us, does that not say more every level. We must have the courage up reads as follows: “The term about us as individuals than about the of our deepest anarchist convictions pornography covers everything from world that we inhabit? And on that and reject calls for censorship, whatev­ cigarette adverts, which arc effective basis, should not some of those who er their source. because the sexual element is seen would brick sex shops and burn Arabella Melville FREEDOM REVIEWS T society should be based on the useful editorial material and to have decentralisation of power and wealth instead a rather obscure introduction. among voluntary associations. He (Incidentally, although Bonanno men­ suggested that enough wealth is tions Avrich’s edition, there is no produced for everyone, that the first acknowledgement of the way it has task of the revolution is not the been used for this edition, and indeed conquest of power but the 'conquest of no account of the publishing history of bread’ or the expropriations of this the book.) i wealth for the use of everyone, that the Fields, Factories and Workshops Tomor* \ second task of the revolution is the row was Kropotkin’s most practical conquest of so-called luxury which is book, being in effect a textbook of j actually a necessity, that most really libertarian economics. His argument serious decisions arc already made by was in general that the economy tree agreement rather than by the should be based not on physical imposition of authority, that the accumulation or financial profits but emancipation of humanity involves the on human needs and technical possibi- , emancipation of women (which in­ litics, and in particular that the volves liberation from housework), obsession with size, specialisation and and many other points which have centralisation was a delusion which become the common coin of re­ would become a disaster. He suggested volutionary anarchism. The most that industry should be broken down obvious omission is of course how all into small units and reformed to make this is to be achieved in the extreme work more rewarding, that agriculture The Conquest of Bread conditions of revolutionary struggle, should be broken down into small and here the optimism which was units and reformed along horticultural by Peter Kropotkin Kropotkin's most attractive feature lines, that industry and agriculture (Elephant Editions becomes his most dangerous weak­ should be integrated so that countries £3.60) ness. and communities would be econo­ The book was based on articles mically self-supporting, and that Fields, Factories published in the French anarchist press education should be reformed to from 1886 to 1891* while Kropotkin eliminate the false distinction between and Workshops was living in exile in Britain, and it was manual and intellectual work. Perhaps Tomorrow first published in France in 1892. his most striking points were that by Peter Kropotkin English translations of some of the Britain should not develop industry at (Freedom Press £3.50) chapters appeared in Freedom during the expense of agriculture, that it could the 1890s, and an English translation of well feed its own population, and that PETER KROPOTKIN is still the the book was published in 1906, a it could not long survive as the most readable and most read of the revised edition appearing in 1913. workshop of the world. classic anarchist writers, with a special After a long period of oblivion, The book was based on articles appeal to British readers because he expensive facsimile reprints were pub­ published in the British liberal press lived in this country for more than 30 lished in the United States in the late from 1888 to 1891, and it was first 1960s and earlv 1970s. Then in 1972 published in the 1899, a revised edition years. Half a century after his death, at 4 the height of the revived interest in Allen Lane published a new revised appearing in 1913. Again, after a long anarchism during the 1970s, all his edition which included Elisce Rectus's period of oblivion, expensive facsimile books which were published in English preface to the original French edition reprints were published in the United were brought back into print, but since and Kropotkin’s introduction to the States in the late 1960s. Then in 1974 then they have gone out of print again. revised English edition, together with Allen & Unwin published a new New reprints arc therefore welcome, a new introduction, bibliography, and here are two of his most important index and notes bv Paul Avrich, the 0 books. American historian of Russian anarch­ The Conquest of Bread was Kropot­ ism. This hardback edition was ‘in­ kin’s most popular political book, tended to be reprinted in paperback in being in effect a textbook oflibcrtarian the Pelican Classics scries, along with revolution. His argument was in AvriclTs new edition ofMutual Aid, general that politics should be based on but unfortunately this never happened, the combination of anarchism and and both books went out of print communism which he had done so again. much to popularise during the 1870s This edition has now been repub­ and 1880s, and in particular that the lished by Elephant Editions as a cheap revolution — which he imagined paperback in the Anarchist Pocket- beginning in a large city on the lines of books scries, consisting of a reduced the Paris Commune of 1871 — should reproduction of the text, with the loss abolish not only private property but of Reclus’s preface and of Avrich’s also the division of labour and the introduction, bibliography and index, system of wages and prices, and should but with the retention of Avrich’s establish the free distribution of goods notes and the addition of a new eight- and services based on need rather than page introduction by Alfred Bonanno, work and the free organisation of work the Sicilian anarchist writer and editor. and leisure based on co-operation It is good to have this classic available ANARCH It T KX KIT ROOKS t rather than compulsion, and that again, but it is sad to lose so much i I

■ 12 4 FRbfcDUM Ifclltui) revised edition, with a revised title, in paperback, with a facsimile reproduc­ Loverly Flesh both hardback and paperback. It was tion of the text and the addition of a edited by Colin Ward, the former new fourteen-page introduction by I am writing to say how much I liked editor of Anarchy and the author of Colin Ward to take account of further your article ‘Pornography: The Thorn Anarchy in Action, who skilfully sub­ developments during another decade, in all our Flesh*. You have put into tracted from the original text much of with special emphasis on the parallel unambiguous words what I have been the sratistical * material which had decline of the formal economy and thinking for a long time — namely that become obsolete during the interven­ growth of the ‘informal’ economy. on the question of sex, anarchists have ing decades and added long commen­The book remains a very valuable been becoming increasingly censorious taries with more recent matrial confir­ source of facts and ideas demonstrating instead of libertarian. In our zeal to ming the original argument. that anarchism is not an unrealistic condemn symptoms of capitalism, This edition has now been repub­ vision of the future but a realistic view many of us have confused sex and lished by Freedom Press as a cheap of the present. NW expressions of sexual desire with sexism, role-playing and exploitation. The issue of sex shops is a ease in point. A similar lift on censorship to that in Denmark took place in Sweden, with a concomitant drop in sexual offence figures. (I know it’s not ‘good journalisin’ to make such claims without also producing the relevant figures, etc, but I do not have them to hand. You’ll have to take my word for it, or look them up yourself.) I have always viewed pornography as an outlet, a fuse rather than an incitement to rape. I am not against people wishing to picket and smash the windows of their local sex shop, but I’dmuch rather sec it done to Tcsco’s, Sainsbury’s, Marx Dear Freedom and Sparx, and their ilk. These pose a greater threat by far. No Jo y of Sex Shops imprisonment in Wilmslow. Andy Brown's essay made sense Andy Brown too, though his piece about sex shops JUST a brief comment on Donald London seemed to contradict the previous RounTs letter in the last issue which essay. Was a-contrast the desired effect, the Freedom editors, with tongue firmly No Sacred Cows or am I reading it wrongly? And what in cheek (or whatever else is appropri­ was the Donald Rooum cartoon he was ate in this context) entitled ‘The Joy of DESPITE the hysterical cries of the referring to? (Please can you show it.) Sex Shops’. I have no difficulty at all in capitalist press about the “anarchist Finally, I read every anarchist accepting that it is possible to publish threat1’ it is apparent to me that the so- periodical 1 can lay my hands on, and I sexually exciting material and produce called anarchist movement has in the like Freedom best because, though it is products which enhance sexual plea­ last few years degenerated into just not as hoc as Black Flag on news, it docs sure without being exploitative. The another section of the confused, not, like them (and Socialist Worker, point which I’m determined to persist authoritarian left. etc) appeal to the lowest common with is that this is not at all the way sex In view of the authoritarian actions denominator with its banner headlines. shops normally operate at the moment. of some of our “comrades" I had Every ocher anarchist magazine now They are interested in making money started to doubt the usefulness of the seems to be using the ploy of emotive not making the sexual revolution. label “anarchist". The word was in •front pages. Though it doesn’t put me Therefore to say that ‘these sorts of serious danger of being hijacked like off reading and enjoying them, i prefer shops provide mild aesthetic pleasure those other one-time radical labels, less impulsive writing and more and stimulus to the imagination' and to “socialist” and “communist”. reasoned debates. compare them to toy shops, gardening However, Arabella and Colin’s Johnny Yen shops and antique shops seems to me article on pornography has restored Hove to put too much faith in the good my faith in Freedom. 1 hope that the PS Like you say, the porn trade intentions of the owners. It also, and discussion they provoke will mark a flourishes in a sexually inhibited, more importantly, seems to me to pay turning point in the fortunesof Freedom sccctive, guilty society. Here’s to too little attention to the rights of and the anarchist movement. putting the porn merchants out of women. We need a paper that will provoca­ business by screwing in the streets. PS The issuers of the death threat tively tackle authoritarianism, censor­ who referred to us as sexist prats may ship and hypocrisy from whatever Dope Aid like to reflect on the fact that most source. Wherever in the world work­ feminist women I know regard using ing people arc fighting for freedom Let them eat plastic is a pedestrian way of the word prat as using sexist language there is a flowering of free expression coming to the point — the pop music as it denigrates a part of the female and uninhibited discussion.Freedom industry’s contribution to the Third anatomy — I therefore condemn these and the genuine anarchist movement World over the past two decades has comrades for issuing sexist death belong in that revolutionary current. been the buying of dope, as of course it threats and pass prolctarian/feminist Terry Phillips will be again over the next twenty justice on them — sentence life Dyfed/Wales years. Rodney Legg

13 FREEDOM LETTERS Marked Improvement liberate themselves. Secondly, this is a ism, of ‘liberating’ people, of ‘saving typical elitist, ‘vanguard’ of this or that them from themselves’. Beware of the AS a result of the appalling mess made argument which in essence is extreme­ Salvationists and self-styled ‘liberators’, of Freedom by the ‘old’ collective I ly paternalistic (and, unfortunately, of all religious and political ideologies. haven’t paid a subscription for some increasingly materialistic). It is, furth­ They don’t really want to liberate us, time. Nevertheless 1 have continued to ermore, an arrogant assertion. It is the they want to rule us. receive the paper, no doubt also as a “we know better than you what is K eith Roe result of the mess made of the good for you” common ground where Sw eden subscription lists by the old regime. elitist leftists and the moralistic right Rather than immediately renew iny meet. Puritanical Dictatorship subscription I decided to take a “wait But, perhaps worst of all, it is a very 9 and see” attitude to the paper. 1 must dangerous attitude. Who decides what ‘MEPHISTOPHELES’ (F reed o m, say that there has been a marked and the crap is from which we arc to be September), asks where docs one draw steady improvement since the house protected? Where are the borders? the line with regard to tolerating porn. was put in order, so 1 am hereby Look again at the dictionary definition The correct answer for anarchists renewing my subscription. Someone of pornography: that which “is in­ surely must be ‘nowhere’, since there is has been doing a lot of work and they tended to stimulate erotic rather than the most violent disagreement about should be congratulated. aesthetic feelings”. Now very often the what constitutes porn. Arc the writ­ Perhaps the final spur to renewal was difference between the ‘erotic’ and the ings of Henry Miller, D.H. Lawrence, provided by the excellent article on ‘aesthetic’ may be obvious and agreed Molly Parkin, the Marquis de Sadc and pornography written by Arabella Mel­ upon. But there is a huge grey area, John Clcland Fanny ( Flill), pornog­ ville and Colin Johnson in vol 46 no 8. especially between ‘erotic art’ and raphic? There will be about as many It was the most thought out and ‘pornography’. There is no more time answers to that question as there arc sensible article on the subject which I and culture bound, no more subjective people asking it. The only safe course have read in the last decade, and very area, than the definition of the for anarchists to follow is to oppose all necessary it was too in the current aesthetic. How will Andy Brown censorship of porn, however one semi-hysterical climate. I wonder if distinguish between the two? Are the defines it. By all means campaign Andy Brown has read it? If so he hasn’t Art Galleries which fail to live up to against literature which you consider learnt anything from it. 1 became this standard of ‘crap’ and ‘non-crap’ obscene as ‘Mcphistophelcs’ recom­ increasingly dismayed while reading also to be subjected to his ‘treatment’? mends, but banning it or setting sex his article because I was waiting for This is no academic distinction, it is the shops alight is counter-productive, and what I knew from experience had to crux of the matter — for there is will ultimately lead to a puritanical come (it always docs). Sure enough always a veiled threat in positions like dictatorship. Give the censor the right towards the end it came. We arc to be those adopted by Andy Brown. to ban or burn a book or magazine he ‘liberated’ from the power of such Measure up to my definition of the disapproves of today, and he will be places (ie porn shops). We cannot allow ideal, to my definition of the aesthetic back demanding a similar right tomor­ them the freedom to permeate our minds and the non-acsthetic — or else! Or else row. His appetite is insatiable. And with crap. you’ll get a brick through your remember, raping is much older than First of all, in the final analysis, nobody window. Or else you might be reading! ever ‘liberated’ anybody from any­ deprived of your liberty. Or else we John L. Broom thing, all you can do is create the may be forced to ‘re-educate’ you! Scotland optimal conditions whereby they may Such is the end result of salvation- I I ' U U L ^ W - ^ .

FREEDOM CONTACTS LEAMINGTON AND WARWICK Heckling CND ABERDEEN A's, Box 7, The Other Branch, 12 Gloucester Anarchists, c/o Boomtown Books, 163 King Street, Leamington IN recent years at the annual CND Street, Aberdeen LEEDS march certain groups of anarchists BANGOR Box DAM, 59 Cookrldge Street, Leeds LS2 have taken to heckling the speakers. Anarchist/Libertarian Collective, c/o Green­ 3AW house, 1 Trevelyan Terrace, High Street, LIVERPOOL While it is true that this has the Bangor, Gwynedd Direct Action Group and DAM (confusing advantage of showing that not every­ BEDFORD isn't it), c/o 82 Lark Lane, Liverpool 17, body believes the illusions being Anarchist Society, Box A, Bedford College of Merseyside promoted by some of the speakers Higher Education, Polhill Avenue, Bedford LONDON (such as* for example* a Labour vote BOLTON Freedom Bookshop in Angel Alley, 84b Anarchists/Direct Action, c/o Bolton Social­ Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. would bring about nuclear disarma­ ist Club, 16 Wood Street, Bolton, Lancs BL1 Tel: 01-247 9249 ment). I feci that such a tactic docs not 1DY Freedom Box Number Users: A Distribution, contribute very much to the spread of BRACKNALL Class War, East London DAM, Libertarian anarchist/libcrtarian ideas for the A's, Box 21, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Communist Discussion Group, Rebel Press, Street, Reading South Atlantic Souvenirs, Spectacular following reasons: BRADFORD Times, Virus, etc. 1) Many people probably go on the A's, c/o Starry Plough Bookshop, 6 Edmond Greenpeace (London), 6 Endsleigh Street, CND march partly to hear their Street, Bradford London WC1 — meet Thursdays at 7:00pm favourite speakers. The sight of many BRISTOL North London Polytechnic, c/o Students 'strange looking’ people screaming at A's, Box 010, Full Marks Bookshop, 197 Union, Ladbroke House, Highbury Grove, Cheltenham Road, Bristol 6 London N5 the stage would probably confirm their Anarchist Society, University Students Un­ Solidarity (London and editorial groups), c/o opinions that anarchism/libcrtarian ion, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol 123 Lathom Road, London E6 socialism has nothing constructive to BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Streatham Action Group, c/o 121 Books, 121 offer. A's, 'Cornerstones', Sly Corner, Lee Com­ Raifton Road, London SE24 mon, nr Great Missenden, Bucks MANCHESTER 2) Some people will just be looking BURNLEY Manchester University Libertarian Socialist forward to watching the confrontation A's, 2 Quarry bank, Burnley Group, c/o General Office, Students Union, ‘anarchists’ v the rest without thinking CAMBRIDGE Oxford Road, Manchester deeper about organisation and actions. Box A, c/o Cambridge Free Press, 25 Gwydir Timperley Village Anarchist Militia (TV-AM ), Instead, what may be better would Street, Cambridge Room 6, 75 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2BU CANTERBURY DAM, National Secretary, 223 Greenwood be for libertarians to continue to Anarchist Group, c/o Duleep Allirajah, Eliot Road, Benchill, Manchester develop a positive approach which has College, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 MANSFIELD AND ASHFIELD also been developing. This would be to CHELTENHAM DAM, 28 Lucknow Drive, Sutton in Ashfield, produce even more leaflcts/gcneral Green Anarchist Group, c/o Tom, Flat 3, 19 Nolts Glencairn Park Road, Cheltenham, Glouces­ MIDDLESBOROUGH material about their ideas and get tershire A's, Box A, Red & Black Books, 120 Victoria involved in discussions with people at CHESHIRE Road, Middiesborough

the demonstration. While this mav* Mall Housing Action Group, 87 Mill Lane, MID-WALES Macclesfield, Cheshire A's, c/o Carlyon Temple Drive, Llandrindod produce less arrests it may be • i CHESTERFIELD Wells, Powys constructive given the limited i v A's, c/o Jon, Box 42, 48 Beetwell Street, NEWCASTLE sources that we have. Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1SH Tyneside Libertarian Group, 41 Bishopdale D. Dane COVENTRY House, Sutton Estate, Benwell, Newcastle London Anarchist Group, PO Box 125, Coventry CV3 upon Tyne 5QT Careless Talk Collective, PO Box 294, Anarchists, c/o Students Union, Warwick Newcastle, Staffs ST5 1SS University, Coventry NOTTINGHAM CUMBRIA A's, Box A, Mushroom Books, 10 Heathcote Cats Cradle, 29 Camp Streot, Maryport, Street, Nottingham Cumbria OXFORD DERBY A's, Box A, 34 Cowley Road, Oxford Anarchist Times, 40 Leacroft Road, Norman- PLYMOUTH ton, Derby A's, c/o 115 St Pancras Avenue, Pennycross, EDINBURGH Plymouth PL2 3TL DAM Silly Little by Little, Box A, or Counter Informa­ PORTSMOUTH tion, Box 81, both c/o 43 Candlemaker Row, A's, c/o Spice Island, 30 Osbourne Road, THE address for DAM is no longer at Edinburgh Southsea, Hants P05 3LT Raven Press and hasn’t been for some ESH WINNING PRESTON time. If you wish to include DAM in Spanish Information Network (Sinews), 37 A's, Jez Appleton, 34 Elgin Street, Preston, your contact column you should have South Terrace, Esh Winning, Co Durham, Lancs PR1 6BH the up-to-date address, as it’s a bit DM7 9PS READING ESSEX A's,Box 19, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham annoying to sec letters inFreedom from Martyn Everett, 11 Gibson Gardens, Saffron Street, Reading people complaining that DAM hasn’t Walden, Essex SHEFFIELD replied to their letters! EXETER A's, PO Box 217, Sheffield 1 The current National Secretary’s A Group, Devonshire House, Stocker Road, SOUTHAMPTON Exeter Verbal Assault, c/o Box A, 4 Onslow Road, address and Manchester group address GLASGOW Southampton is DAM, 223 Greenwood Road, Here & Now, Box 2, c/o Changes, 340 West SOUTHEND-ON-SEA Bcnchill, Manchester. Princes Street, Glasgow CT4 9HE A's, c/o Graham, 13 Palmeira Avenue, T Crowther Clydeside Anarchists, c/o Clydeside Press, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex 53 Cochrane Street, Glasgow G1 SWANSEA HASTINGS A's, 24 Pentremalwed Road, Morriston, [Eds; If it takes you 8 months or A's, c/o Hastings Free Press, 92 London Swansea, W Glamorgan, Wales more to let us know of a change of Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex WATFORD address whose fault is that? We HUDDERSFIELD A's, Graeme, 18a Woodford Road, Watford don’t do a Grande Tour every A's, c/o Peaceworks Co-op Ltd, 58 Wakefield WINCHESTER month to check the Contact List! Road, Aspley, Huddersfield A's, c/o Books Upstairs, Above the Grain- KINGSTON store, Parchment Street, Winchester Be sensible — even you can’t be Thompasorus People, c/o Mathew, 7 Elmers YORK efficient-] Drive, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 9JB Shelf 22, 73 Walmgate, York

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