T H E · P A V I N G · S T O N E

A-5-1: Available resources

• Mailing-list for internal process discussion, and public contact: stamp@poivron.org.
• A wiki (collaborative website) for grouping meeting reports and facilitating collective work on texts: http://stamp.poivron.org/ (to join and use it, register your nickname and then send a mail to stamp-www@pgaconference.org).
• A public website, with succinct & practical up-to-date information about the conference: http://pgaconference.org/ (contact: stamp-www@pgaconference.org).
• Internet discussion list PGA Europe wherein we try as much as possible to translate/communicate important announcements and discussions concerning the organisational process to the European list: pga_process_europe@squat.net
• an annoucement list called pga-annouce@pgaconference.org for people who are not on the pga_process list but to have regular informations about the conference. To subscribe: http://pgaconference.org/mailman/listinfo/pga-announce
• a rotating secretary, dealing with outside requests for information: stamp@poivron.org

A-5-2: Resources soon available

• phone contact for secretary
• D: A good degree of transparency and visibility was achieved during the lead up to the 2004 Belgrade conference regarding the ongoing organising process. This was disseminated to the European lists, via the pga_process list and enabled positive international input. Presently we are communicating mainly via the internal STAMP list. Unfortunately this has the effect of minimising interaction with other European collectives. So we really need to find urgent solutions for that.

A-6-1: "Plaquette"

• What? "Plaquette" is an "ad" for the next PGA encounters; a synthetic text to catch people's attention, and direct those interested towards other more in-depth documents. It should be an A4 page folded in three, with a two-color layout.
• Translations: it is available in english, italian, german, spanish, russian, and hungarian.
• Distribution: while thousands have been printed and disseminated already, text-mode versions, viewable versions as well as printable versions are available for download at http://stamp.poivron.org/Plaquette
• Perspectives: a second and definite version will be available and spread soon. It will contain practical information on the conferences, its topics and its decentralised locations.
• Coordinators

• layout: culcul@no-log.org
• coordination: darkveggy@squat.net
• printing: cafard@no-log.org

A-6-2: "Plaisantation"

• What? "Plaisantation" is a more in-depth presentation of the initiative than "Plaquette", containing introductions to PGA, Sans-Titre, and STAMP.
• Distribution: it is available in plain-text on http://stamp.poivron.org/Plaisantation - laid-out versions will soon be downloadable, printed and distributed.
• Coordinators: nicolu@poivron.org & culcul@no-log.org (layout)

A-6-3: the "Paving Stone" ("Le Pavé")

• What? "Paving Stone" is the what you're currently looking at! It aims at being a reference document, compiling all decisions taken within the conference organisation process, in a synthetic fashion. It should allow newcomers to jump in, and optimise information search for all of us.
• Perspectives: "Paving Stone" could serve as a basis for writing the PGA reader for the conference (see section on PGA reader below).
• Distribution: the last up-to-date version can always be found on the STAMP wiki (http://stamp.poivron.org/); it is being sent to mailing lists after each major upgrade (following meetings).
• Translations:

• english: kerstinrodgers@hotmail.com, darkveggy@squat.net and nicolu@poivron.org.
• castillan: marcelo@no-log.org
• russe: anya@globenet.org

• How?

• each report writer inserts the tenor within the "Paving Stone" through the wiki;
• a reports' coordinator makes sure reports are integrated within the "Paving Stone", revives writers & fills out if required.
• translations are kept up to date thanks to "page subscribing system" on the wiki, which allows each translator to be notified by mail for each change to the text;

A-6-4: the "tool text" ("texte-outil")

• What? it's an evolving reference document, collectively written, compiling meeting summaries, thoughts & stories on the organisation process, as well as knowledge sheets, pictures, etc. It aims at being:

• a internal diary on the conference organisation process;
• a testimony, targetted at a wider audience, like other collectives which could benefit from this experience;
• a tool for thought, allowing reflection during the process;
• a material that could serve as the basis for putting together a book after the conference, among other things;

• How?

• cut/paste in between the Paving Stone and the "tool text", to avoid cross-writing; writers can ask for contributions & integrate bits from the preparation work;
• relative autonomy of writers, who submit their production to the group only in case of a problem/question;
• writing shall probably be stopped right after decentralised moments start - to be further discussed;

A-6-5: the radio program

• What? it is a pre-recorded radio program introducing the next PGA conference through interviews, among others things. It is to be sent to various radio stations.
• Status: it is currently available in french, and downloadable at http://acarien.nokods.org/creations/radio/
• Perspectives: to be done in other languages?
• Coordinator: absurde@no-log.org

A-6-6: the "tool movie" ("film outil")

• What? it is a movie documenting the STAMP process before & during the european conference. It is being directed collectively, with regular skill-shares.
• Status: work in progress.
• Contact: stampfilm@poivron.org

A-6-7: text collection

• What? a collection of texts refering to the PGA organisation process.
• Coordinator: culcul@no-log.org

A-6-8: "Caillasse"

• What? it is a compact introduction to the conference, targetted at (alternative) press, focused on demanding financial support.
• Status: its utility is being discussed, some proposing to drop it.

A-6-9: information leaflet on the global PGA process

• What? it is a description of the current state of the PGA network throughout the world, and an overview of the debates around the next global conference, the role and future of the PGA network.
• Status: available as a photocopied leaflet in french.

A-6-10: PGA Reader

• What? it is a booklet introducing the conference, which should contain detailed information on logistics, contents, as well as introductions to the themes discussed. It is to be distributed to participants during the encounters (in the spirit of guides produced for the Belgrade PGA conference in 2004, or for the No Border Camp in 2002).
• Status: conference organisation is in a too early stage to start working on the reader, since some important decisions (like theme distribution among decentralised locations) have yet to be taken. The "Paving Stone" is most likely to serve as a primary source for the making of this document.

B-1-1: Difficulties encountered in previous conferences

The idea of geographical decentralisation comes from previous conferences being experienced as too dense, too crowded with people and activities, rendering navigation and full participation difficult.

• It was felt that a large heavily attended meeting was not terribly conducive to meeting other people and making contacts. Especially as in previous years, the length of the conference has been quite short. Whereas smaller gatherings of say, 100 people, might lead to stronger bonding between participants.
• The large choice of discussions and workshops, while beneficial, often leads to a situation where the average attendee doesn't really know what is going on, and can end up consuming rather than fully participating in the conference. This attitude, along with the general confusion caused by the enormity of the conference, does not encourage people to participate in the PGA process. All of which serves to reinforce the perceived distinction between a small coterie of 'insiders' linked to the PGA and the rest of the people. Clearly this is not helpful in combating vertical hierarchies within the PGA.
• The huge quantities of food and equipment necessary for a large conference means that usual methods of restocking supplies (skipping, local and home-produced goods) have to be abandoned. The host collective is obliged to resort to another kind of economy, buying in services and goods from further afield and in large quantities.

B-1-2: Good reasons to decentralise and prolong the conference

By doing the above we hope to achieve the following:

• improve the quality of contacts between people as there will only be 30 to 200 people in each place, plus they will stay for the longer time of 9 days (plus 4 days for the final centralised part);
• give ourselves space to explore discussions in depth;
• favour skill sharing and to give ourselves the time to work on concrete projects which are also a good opportunity to build links and develop team work;
• gives ourselves the necessary time to meet the local collectives and understand local issues and problems;
• inspire reflection on the structure of each local network;
• to dilute and diminish hierarchy by better sharing chores and interests as well as discover better methods of decision making;
• decrease the need to supply food and equipment from external sources, working with the scale and possibilities of the local collective, permitting them to use their usual sources and methods. This will avoid a situation in which the host collective feels both materially and energetically exhausted by the demands of the conference.

B-4-1: Definite decentralised locations

B-4-3: The final central gathering of the conference

The centralised part of the conference will take place in les tanneries in dijon. A big working session will be organised there in july to prepare spaces and logistic. People are needed.

B-5-1: The decentralised part

D: At each decentralised location there will be between 50 and 100 people. If we can count on having 5 places, that means we can accommodate between 250 and 500 people.

B-5-2: The final gathering

We need to accommodate around 500 people.

B-5-3: Quotas and exceeding them

CONSENSUS: We feel it is necessary to have a somewhat formal system of enrolment because certain locations simply cannot accommodate above a certain number of people. However this all depends on the working capacity and preferences of each place which is yet to be defined.

UP FOR DEBATE: We need to find a system which will co-ordinate all the different collectives. We also need to decide what to do if people turn up without advance booking or if more people than realised wish to come.

We could make clear that accommodation in each place is limited and then send them to another location or tell them to piss off....

We could also decide upon "quotas" that are under-estimated, so in the case of more people turning up, we can accommodate them.

Also should we give priority to people who wish to come for the entirety of the mini-conferences rather than to people who just want to come for a bit?

C-1-1: Decentralised part

• C: The decentralised conferences will contain debates based on themes and theories, skill sharing, concrete projects (constructions on sites, actions, project creation...), communal life, discussions leading to decisions on the structure and goals of the European PGA process etc.
• C: We want to make clear that these decentralised conferences will propose various debates and theoretical discussions not only practical projects.
• C: Some time should be reserved at each decentralised location to talk about local struggles and also to set up meetings with local people involved in theses struggles .

C-1-2: The central gathering

• C: feedback everyone about what took place at the decentralised conferences in terms of themes discussed/on site projects and network structures/actions decided upon
• D: We still have to decide how these feedbacks shall be given..
• C: To make decisions about the pga process : structures of the network and coming initiatives. We have not yet fixed upon what form of decision making process to use (should we use the 'spokes' council used in Belgrade or another form?)
• C: Pursue cross themes discussions or theme based workshops and skills sharing
• C: An on-site project? (lasting the 4/5 days of the central gathering). While it would be good to continue to emphasise the practical side of things.... the logistics necessary to host 500 -700 people will entail an enormous practical task in itself. Perhaps it would be better to ensure that the practical workshop is that people actively contribute to hosting the conference (i.e. shift their little anarchist bums and do something).

C-3-1: General direction

• D: Each decentralised location will have two or three specific themes (either linked, complementary, or opposing each other... there are no strict rules)
• D: The theme based discussions could follow a gradual progression during the 9/10 days of decentralised conferences:

• an initial session introducing each group present and their activities;
• then a presentation of the set of problems around which the discussions should be based;
• next will be debates and discussion

• D: There will also be in every places more general strategical discussions : our relationship to radical social change, autonomy, others. struggle and how we place those aims within the context of a revolutionnary movement. (see the strategical issue part below)
• D: For each theme adopted, somebody will write a short introductory text then a working group will be formed which decides upon its content relevant to that theme including; which collectives to invite, ideas for practical workshops, debates, skill sharing
• Its also possible that subsequently there will be written intro's that go into each subject more deeply, plus various texts reflecting upon each theme.
• D: In an ideal world, we will produce and compile documents for all of the themes prior to the conference

C-3-2 : about the creation of working groups linked with locations or issues

• we need to start more specific working groups to prepare the contente of the conference

C-3-3: Initial specific themes

Here are themes to be tackled around within the PGA encounters, some of which are rooted in decentralized locations already, some not. This list aims at opening perspectives, so that each participant can bring contents, workshops, texts... in the months preceding the conference. We really need people around europe to show quickly their interest on these issues and to bring content for the conference.

Specific themes (shared among decentralised locations):

• development & preservation of autonomous spaces (squats, self-managed spaces, collective projects in cities and in the countryside);
• gender issues, struggles against male domination & patriarchy; a lits has been created to work on this one : stamp-feminisms@pgaconference.org
• industrial society, its relationship with space and the transformation of the social environment; the effect of industrial technology of human relationships;
• social control, security and its politics, militarism and repression of protest;
• digital struggles: Indymedia & the movement; alternative servers (riseup.net, squat.net), users' responsability & solidarity facing new repressions;
• adult/child relationships, parenthood, education, ageism;
• rejection of the State: experiences of self-management & direct democracy;
• market economy & consumerism versus alternative non market based economies;
• struggles of workers and welfare claimants; anti-wage slavery;
• the fight against capitalism and its institutions (WTO, IMF, WB, EU, etc.); state of European capitalism (free exchange agreements, privatisation, etc.);
• the current dead-end regarding anti-racism in our anti-capitalist/anti-establishment sphere. Post-colonialism, struggles around immigration, the abolition of borders;
• capitalist management of resources and energy, impending environmental catastrophes, foreseenable alternatives and practical ecology;
• the anarchist ghetto: militant politics & elitism; how to escape its insularity?
• anti-essentialism and critique of the religious relation to « nature », as a shaper for our perception of age, gender, race; anti-speciesm & animal liberation.

Transversal themes (decentralised & centralised locations) "towards a new round of global struggles"

• Confrontational direct action tactics and/or autonomy & practical alternatives building?
• Co-habitation or divorce with institutions, unions, NGO's and The Left
• Our techniques and methods of organisation, actions and debates.
• The question of class, gender and racism at the heart of our struggle
• Links with other protests within a global across the board strategy

C-5-1: Problems/fears

• We've already seen in the past that its often the same people who get involved in the overall structure and decision process while other people are either not interested, completely unaware, don't understand or do not dare to participate.
• Fear that people who already have quite alot of influence in the PGA network only turn up for the decisive moments and big meetings and then dominate. Whereas if people give each other a way of gradual participation with a slower more horizontal decision process, people other than the usual suspects might get involved.
• The experience at the Milan PGA conference showed that we are not immune to trotskyist groups and other troublemakers turn up at decisive moments with the intention of sabotage.
• Fear that our role as conference organiser also gives us too much influence on the network. While its cool that we get the opportunity to urge some of our practical ideas onto the network, we need to be careful of the power that goes along with all that.

C-5-2: Initial guidelines

• D: We think that people who have participated in the whole of the conference, that is, have attended the decentralised meetings, should have more say in the taking of decisions at the central gathering: as opposed to people who turn up at the last minute without having participated in the preliminary discussions. But there will bbe no official reprensentative powers or whatever.
• D: People who worked in the decentralised part of the conference will bring the list of discussion propositions which already gives a direction, framework and therefore quite a lot of influence on the discussions about the pga process during the centralised part.
• C: Although it is preferable that people who are able to, attend the decentralised part of the conference, we will not make it obligatory to have attended in order to come to the centralised meeting and to participate to any discussions.
• C: We should think about how to prevent sabotage by people who only come to bugger things up when we come to take decisions. As an anti-authoritarian, open and horizontal network we are particularly vulnerable to sabotage.

D-4-1: Tour of eastern european contacts

• The aim is to maintain and develop contact with the east partly by actually going to see them.
• After the late spring international meeting (April), various small groups from STAMP will go to visit Eastern Europe.
• Dmitri has volunteered to help this process along with marcelo@no-log.org
• nicolu@poivron.org has contacts for the contacts. He volunteers to talk to people who dealt with registration at Belgrade in order to reissue invitations.
• people interested for eastern european tours : iann@no-log.org, anusso@no-log.org, marcelo@no-log.org, raoule@no-log.org, nicolu@poivron.org, num-@voila.fr, cbertaud@yahoo.com
• greggal2@hotmail.com has offered a truck for this tour.
• dimitri fron russia and marcelo@no-log.org will help with eastern european contacts

D-4-2: Other contacts to make

Reminder :

There are three types of contacts :

• some made through the pga_europe_process@squat.net
• some with people that are not on this list. We create both a international secratariat to answer to mails and questions and announcement list to send regular news about the conference process. We need people send us email adresses of people and collectives that we can subscribe on this list. The people presently involved with the international secratariat are nicolu@poivron.org, raoule@no-log.org and iann@no-log.org.
• some contacts that will be made aroud each local working groups working on decentralised conferences.

More specifically :

• Within the STAMP process, we would like to prepare the way for involving a group ideally from the East who following the conference, would be ready to take-over the convenor ship.
• We would like to establish contacts with people who are preparing the anti-G8 summit this year at St. Petersburg ( which will be done via Dmitri)
• We would like to make contact with the Ecotopia camp which will take place in Slovakia this year at the end of July or beginning of August.
• we would like to establish more direct contacts with people involved in dissent network

D-5-1: Translation

• we need help on this issue. A group has started with someone from the babel network as well with political issues around language. For now there will be also greggal2@hotmail.com coordinating the translation work.

You can imagine how much work this will entail...

• Russian translation: zilonis@mail.ru/anya@globenet.org
• English translation: kerstinrodgers@hotmail.com, darkveggy@squat.net and nicolu@poivron.org
• Spanish translation: marcelo@no-log.org
• German translation: through longo with cbertaud@yahoo.com

D-5-2: Visas

• For people from outside the schengen area, we need to make sure that we don't have too many applying to be in one location in order to facilitate visa requests and accommodation confirmation letters.
• The association "Echanges et Mouvements" (Exchange and Movement) could be useful because it already has a bank account although we would have to renew its public liability insurance. nicolu@poivron.org will check it out. The associations "les petites hommes" and "le forum civique européen" can alos be used.
• In the future, cbertaud@yahoo.com is happy to handle this matter.

E-1-1: Transport/travel

• Help for people who come from far away or for people who aren't well off, either for the actual conference or for the preparatory meetings, especially for people from Eastern Europe.
• Also help for lone mothers/fathers/parents with children.
• There will also be visa costs, for preparatory meetings and the conference.

E-1-2: Food

• Administration of food for the conference
• Apart from skipping food, other suggestions include: arrange with local small farmers to say, help them with their work for a week or two, in exchange for vegetables

E-1-3: Office/secretarial

• Need telephone, internet
• Photocopies, printing costs
• Postal costs

E-2-1: PUBLIC FUNDING

• Public subsidies: iann@no-log.org; lipjo@no-log.org; triranosaure@no-log.org
• European subsidies: joviale@no-log.org
• Finance VVV: lipjo@no-log.org
• "interreg" (grants for across border exchanges): no volunteer yet
• Ask foreign collectives (Escanda, Larc, Eurodisney, Freiburg) if they have any finance plans: iann@no-log.org will ask

For now nothing has been done and we still dont know if it will be.

E-2-2: OTHER WAYS OF RAISING MONEY

• Support concerts/events: cafes, film nights, PGA info nights. To be organised locally and managed by whoever sets them up.
• Street theatre/busking: ask our mates, send them info and see if they are up for it.
• A travelling road show, or music tour (raoule@no-log.org). Contact groups/samba bands/clowns, mime artists ( aargh!)... -possibility of a concert or a 'soiree' at the Usine (iann@no-log.org but he doesn't want to do it on his own)
• A big concert will be done in l'usine in geneva early july (iann@no-log.org and raoule@no-log.org)
• Make a compilation CD from these shows and events highlighting the PGA conference (or get the bands to donate tracks). This could also have written info as well as being a music CD
• "Fuck for the PGA" (FFP) proposed by an enthusiastic sub-committee inspired by a Swedish initiative to finance activism to save forests. This took the form of short alter'porn films sold on the net.

E-2-3: APPEALS FOR INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

• C: The appeal for financial support must be unseparable from support for the aims of the conference.
• We can send out calls for aid by email (to lists or individuals)or post to people who we know are sympathetic and able/wish to give: jocelyne.renard@no-log.org has started to write up an appeal
• We can also send articles/ short introductory texts of appeal for aid to leftist magazines such as: Silence, Politis, L'age de faire, CQFD, Offensive, Passerelle Eco, No Pasaran, Longo Mai magazines. num-@voila.fr will do a certain number; cbertaud@yahoo.com will try too.
• Idea to make one or several radio programmes and distribute them to all the free radio stations ( the experience of NoBorders shows that you don't make alot of money but its a possibility plus it publicises the conference). absurde@no-log.org and jocelyne.renard@no-log.org.
• In Switzerland, are there specific networks? radio zone, le courrier de Geneve, megaphone.

F-1-2: Creating a blueprint for a new society?

F-1-3: Link with social change

• What do we understand by social movement, social change, the constitution of force and power struggles
• How do we win on the battleground of ideas? How do we move beyond activism?

F-1-4: Individual, group and collective expectations

• What practical benefit will we get out of this conference?

G-2-1: Practical questions

• Should we as European convenors take decisions concerning the distribution of finance of the global process ? reply to Mark (a bloke from London who emailed these questions) regarding money/ do we have to find money for the global process?
• We haven't discussed this but a priori we'll not be able to find money for the global process as we alreay lack quite a lot of money for the european conference.
• Implications for the caravan/individual tour proposed during the Haridwar meeting : We have contacted the European pga process list (and global action?) and said that for the moment we were interested but we don't yet know in what way we could get involved

1-i: RACISM AND POST-COLONIALISM

How do we fight against racism and the effects of colonialism? What are the effects of colonialism in a world that claims to be 'decolonialised'?

And racism in our movement? Racism persists, even in countries where its morally and legally forbidden, even in officially anti-racist movements, and even, unconsciously or not, in our personal relations.

Continually and repeatedly we must ask ourselves these questions: how to move forward ? how to discuss this delicate issue?

One hopes that it will be enlightening to discuss this with people of differing views and regions, coming out of movements of struggle (feminist struggle, anti-racist movements, anti-'security' movements, struggles against immigration policies and border policies). It would be of mutual benefit to exchange practical and concrete information(which collectives do what and how?)as well as ideas, and perhaps create new projects?

All these issues are relevant inevitably to questions of domination within the PGA network.

1-ii: THE PRESERVATION OF AUTONOMOUS SPACES

Autonomous spaces, either rural or urban, are where we can practice self-management, production of goods(concrete or virtual, that is say, food, wood, clothes, computer literacy), and plan actions. Social centres are crucial to us, whether we are individuals or part of a movement for social change.

These places permit : agricultural activities, the production of written texts, distribution resources and independent media, recycling and construction, the creation and distribution of subversive culture, the non-monetary based exchange of goods, resources and knowledge, experimentation with new ways of living and collective debate, a base for meetings and projects...

Whether one speaks of urban squats, or of purchased land, negotiated or re-appropriated rural land, of restored or self-built buildings or factories, these spaces are refuges. These spaces are, at least in Europe, at the very heart of inspiring ideas and people dedicated to continuing the struggle, on every level, practical, radical and anti-capitalist, over the recent decades.

In certain countries, determined attacks by the state have already strongly compromised the existence of autonomous political spaces. Right now in France, these spaces are threatened. In the city, the state has been instrumental in starting death-trap fires in order to evict squatters from buildings(last summer, in Paris, at least 100 people died). These squatters are often without legal papers, poor or from collectives that have created activities, resources and workshops for the community.

In rural communities, access to funds is becoming harder and communes find themselves hamstrung by legislation on hygiene, security and gentrification by the bourgeoisie and tourists.

This PGA conference should:

• be a debating chamber on what we expect from and understand by autonomous spaces and where they stand, that is, in the scale ranging from 'alternative' to 'confrontational', in the pursuit of radical social change.
• become informed as to the scope and detail of activities that take place in autonomous social spaces; question productivity and production of goods and services; and encourage exchanges of knowledge particularly between the town and the countryside.
• be a place where we can share experiences, inspire each other, find out what others do in terms of collective life, activities, alternative economic exchange systems...
• discuss different ways of acquiring land and buildings, to collectivise or construct them: squats, legal (negotiated) squats, buying property, loans...
• share practical resources and a feeling of solidarity between:
• different types of autonomous space users (either current or potential): co-operatives, people without papers, activists, travellers, immigrants, urbanites, rural dwellers, small farms
• different ways of using the autonomous space; activities for the community, meeting area for groups and living space
• enable the forming of common strategies when faced with suppression by the state and eviction

1-iii: THE RADICAL 'GHETTO' AND WAYS OF OPENING UP TO OTHERS...

Two remarks with regard to the 'ghetto':

• Marginalisation of the activist tendency: how to leave the ghetto without possible conflicts of interest through involvement with NGO's etc, in other words, reformists?
• Destruction of militantism and the development of a way of life without conflicts between: private life/political activities/work life.

And other common activist ills. Is there a more satisfactory way of going about things?

These two questions are slightly different, but both deal with the same problem: how to keep and develop our political identity without being isolated from other people - or from certain aspects of our lives?

The "ghetto", its identifying group and its militant practices, permit us to get together, resist, exist in the face of pressure of society's norms and dominant practices. Its probably impossible for a social group to differentiate itself from others without developing its own customs, values, language, even musical tastes, ways of dressing (black clothes!) etc. This gives us strength. We like it. Its all good.

The problem is that our actions and values are aimed at changing the outside world. Not just at creating a cozy hermetically sealed little alternative world for ourselves. We will only succeed if we link up with and make ourselves understood by others who are also people disgusted by this society! At its worst radicalism becomes a sort of inverse elite of anti-capitalists, anarchists, etc. who consider themselves more evolved, purer, and braver. They believe they know everything, and therefore stick to each other because others cannot understand... great for the ego but not very efficient. And often, in fact, this leads slowly but surely towards a corporate way of acting. Each person fights primarily for their own interests and, while this can be good, if, at the end of the day, we are only interested in defending our own way of life (i.e.: squats) what is the difference between ourselves and the corporate unions that we criticise (unions, in their turn, believe that squatters just want a free place to live)? Worse, with time, this attitude could end up drifting towards a kind of alternative cocoon or towards right-wing cynicism.

Its not that we are doing it on purpose! But how to break down divisions and media-created stereotypes? In our society we aren't that used to talking directly with people. Its via TV that we know whats going on. Our posters, leaflets, demonstrations are somewhat efficient in regrouping our 'band' (such that it is) but what effect on passers-by, our fellow city dwellers?

Its got to the point that often there is nobody who will try to distribute leaflets or chat to people because ultimately they don't know how. In reality, demonstrations truly exist only if covered by the media. Therefore its the media that formulates (or reformulates more to the point) our message!

At the European PGA conference at Leiden there was a guy from Attac (a French organisation fighting for distribution of stock exchange profits) who came. It was incredibly interesting to see the difficulty we had in explaining to him our criticisms of his organisation. It was as if we simply weren't used to interacting with someone with a differing political viewpoint.

Our attitude is a little schizophrenic because most of us are not full time activists (happily!). In our 'full-time' existence, in our work lives and private lives, we are naturally obliged to live by more conventional rules.

There are obviously plenty of people who both dream of and put into practice an overall life goal; who avoid compartmentalisation by organising their entire life (private life, work etc) in a way that is consistent with their political ideas. Cool if you can manage that, but obviously that once again poses the question of ghettoisation and relations with the outside world.

Seeking escape from this impasse, however, there are interesting experiments: autonomous social spaces (Geneva), theatre happenings, different street (or shop) events, stories such as the first person to start "Precarias la deriva"(a Madrid organisation fighting for women without job security: http://www.sindominio.net/karakola/precarias.htm).

And each one of us, at work, for example, do we not talk about politics? The problem is that our actions and values are aimed at changing the outside world. Not just at creating a cozy hermetically sealed little alternative world for ourselves. We will only succeed if we link up with and make ourselves understood by others who are also people disgusted by this society! At its worst radicalism becomes a sort of inverse elite of anti-capitalists, anarchists, etc. who consider themselves more evolved, purer, and braver. They believe they know everything, and therefore stick to each other because others cannot understand... great for the ego but not very efficient. And often, in fact, this leads slowly but surely towards a corporate way of acting. Each person fights primarily for their own interests and, while this can be good, if, at the end of the day, we are only interested in defending our own way of life (i.e.: squats) what is the difference between ourselves and the corporate unions that we criticise (unions, in their turn, believe that squatters just want a free place to live)? Worse, with time, this attitude could end up drifting towards a kind of alternative cocoon or towards right-wing cynicism.

Its not that we are doing it on purpose! But how to break down divisions and media-created stereotypes? In our society we aren't that used to talking directly with people. Its via TV that we know whats going on. Our posters, leaflets, demonstrations are somewhat efficient in regrouping our 'band' (such that it is) but what effect on passers-by, our fellow city dwellers?

Its got to the point that often there is nobody who will try to distribute leaflets or chat to people because ultimately they don't know how. In reality, demonstrations truly exist only if covered by the media. Therefore its the media that formulates (or reformulates more to the point) our message!

At the European PGA conference at Leiden there was a guy from Attac (a French organisation fighting for distribution of stock exchange profits) who came. It was incredibly interesting to see the difficulty we had in explaining to him our criticisms of his organisation. It was as if we simply weren't used to interacting with someone with a differing political viewpoint.

Our attitude is a little schizophrenic because most of us are not full time activists (happily!). In our 'full-time' existence, in our work lives and private lives, we are naturally obliged to live by more conventional rules.

There are obviously plenty of people who both dream of and put into practice an overall life goal; who avoid compartmentalisation by organising their entire life (private life, work etc) in a way that is consistent with their political ideas. Cool if you can manage that, but obviously that once again poses the question of ghettoisation and relations with the outside world.

Seeking escape from this impasse, however, there are interesting experiments: autonomous social spaces (Geneva), theatre happenings, different street (or shop) events, stories such as the first person to start "Precarias la deriva"(a Madrid organisation fighting for women without job security: http://www.sindominio.net/karakola/precarias.htm).

And each one of us, at work, for example, do we not talk about politics? Yes, there's lots to talk about ...and act upon!