The Freedom Shop Aotearoa

Sunday, 1st March Conrad Ryan from ' Against Equality ' Against Equality is an online archive, publishing, and arts collective focused on critiquing mainstream gay and lesbian politics. Those politics have become so mainstream that in Auckland this year uniformed police and prison officers marched at the Pride Parade - there is no pride in that equality, just as there is no pride in the institutions of police and prison. Instead of wanting equality in that world, Against Equality seeks to build connections with other queer movements across the globe for a truly radical social and economic justice movement. Against Equality challenge the equality rhetoric and the demand for inclusion in the institution of marriage and other state institutions such as the military and the prison industrial complex . Come and have a chat with Ryan, discuss queer revolution - not mere inclusion! Afternoon tea provided! Sunday 1st March at 19 Tory St - 3.30pm As well as the Wellington meetings, ot

Sunday, 1st March Conrad Ryan from ' Against Equality ' Against Equality is an online archive, publishing, and arts collective focused on critiquing mainstream gay and lesbian politics. Those politics have become so mainstream that in Auckland this year uniformed police and prison officers marched at the Pride Parade - there is no pride in that equality, just as there is no pride in the institutions of police and prison. Instead of wanting equality in that world, Against Equality seeks to build connections with other queer movements across the globe for a truly radical social and economic justice movement. Against Equality challenge the equality rhetoric and the demand for inclusion in the institution of marriage and other state institutions such as the military and the prison industrial complex . Come and have a chat with Ryan, discuss queer revolution - not mere inclusion! Afternoon tea provided! Sunday 1st March at 19 Tory St - 3.30pm As well as the Wellington meetin

The  Freedom  Shop  Collective  invites  you  to  another  discussion of strategy and issues for the activist left.   With the upcoming centenary of the Gallipoli massacre, the government’s whitewashing of both history and the present is  in  full  force.  Key  recently  attacked  the  left  for  failing  to stand  up  for  human  rights  by  not  supporting  the deployment  of  NZ  troops  to  the  Middle  East.  How  can  we counter  the  glorification  and  normalization  of  past,  present and future wars? When: 7pm, Wednesday, 25 February 2015 Where: 17 Tory Street, Wellington (formerly 19 Tory St) What:  War & Peace - Then & Now   We are inviting speakers from a variety  of  left  groups  to  give  a  short  presentation  on  this theme, followed by general discussion. Contact FreedomShopAotearoa@gmail.com

The  Freedom  Shop  Collective  invites  you  to  another  discussion of strategy and issues for the activist left.   With the upcoming centenary of the Gallipoli massacre, the government’s whitewashing of both history and the present is  in  full  force.  Key  recently  attacked  the  left  for  failing  to stand  up  for  human  rights  by  not  supporting  the deployment  of  NZ  troops  to  the  Middle  East.  How  can  we counter  the  glorification  and  normalization  of  past,  present and future wars? When: 7pm, Wednesday, 25 February 2015 Where: 17 Tory Street, Wellington (formerly 19 Tory St) What:  War & Peace - Then & Now   We are inviting speakers from a variety  of  left  groups  to  give  a  short  presentation  on  this theme, followed by general discussion. Contact FreedomShopAotearoa@gmail.com

In late February, early March Ryan Conrad from Against Equality will be visiting the country. Currently events are planned in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. Details of events are on Aotearoa Indymedia . If you would like him to visit your town, send us an email and we will see what can be arranged. Against Equality Against Equality (AE) is an online archive, publishing, and arts collective focused on critiquing mainstream gay and lesbian politics. AE are "committed to dislodging the centrality of equality rhetoric and challenging the demand for inclusion in the institution of marriage, the US military, and the prison industrial complex via hate crimes legislation." In March 2014 many of the resources and pamphlets were put together into one book - Against Equality . Ryan has described it as " the culmination of many years of collective work that challenges the celebratory discourse around gay marriage, gays in the military, and LGBTQ inclusive hate crime legislati

In late February, early March Ryan Conrad from Against Equality will be visiting the country. Currently events are planned in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. Details of events are on Aotearoa Indymedia . If you would like him to visit your town, send us an email and we will see what can be arranged. Against Equality Against Equality (AE) is an online archive, publishing, and arts collective focused on critiquing mainstream gay and lesbian politics. AE are "committed to dislodging the centrality of equality rhetoric and challenging the demand for inclusion in the institution of marriage, the US military, and the prison industrial complex via hate crimes legislation." In March 2014 many of the resources and pamphlets were put together into one book - Against Equality . Ryan has described it as " the culmination of many years of collective work that challenges the celebratory discourse around gay marriage, gays in the military, and LGBTQ inclusive hate crime legi

The Freedom Shop Collective invites you to a discussion of grassroots strategy, organisation and issues for the left in the wake of the continuing failure of electoral politics. This is an opportunity to discuss how the activist left can make progress at this time, after a general decline in its impacts.  What are our strengths and weaknesses? Can we learn from history or do we need to re-invent our movement? What issues and strategies should we consider? When: 7pm, Tuesday, 25 November 2014 Where: 19 Tory Street, Wellington We are inviting speakers from a variety of left groups to give a short presentation on this theme, followed by general discussion. Contact us at FreedomShopAotearoa@gmail.com .

The Freedom Shop Collective invites you to a discussion of grassroots strategy, organisation and issues for the left in the wake of the continuing failure of electoral politics. This is an opportunity to discuss how the activist left can make progress at this time, after a general decline in its impacts.  What are our strengths and weaknesses? Can we learn from history or do we need to re-invent our movement? What issues and strategies should we consider? When: 7pm, Tuesday, 25 November 2014 Where: 19 Tory Street, Wellington We are inviting speakers from a variety of left groups to give a short presentation on this theme, followed by general discussion. Contact us at FreedomShopAotearoa@gmail.com .

Sedition: The Suppression of Dissent in World War II New Zealand Introduced by producer/director Russell Campbell. The People's Cinema / Thursday 24 April, 6.30pm After the carnage of World War I many New Zealanders formed a movement committed to rejecting war as a means of settling international disputes. When World War II broke out, government and pacifists were on a collision course; and Communists, too. There was active opposition to New Zealand’s involvement in the war. The government would brook no dissent. Anti-war campaigners were fined and imprisoned, and eight hundred conscientious objectors were incarcerated in detention camps for the duration of the war. Sedition tells their story. Biography: Dr Russell Campbell is an adjunct professor in film at Victoria University of Wellington and a documentary filmmaker with Vanguard Films . Among his films as director or co-director are 'Rebels in Retrospect' (about the Progressive Youth Movement of the Vietnam War er

Sedition: The Suppression of Dissent in World War II New Zealand Introduced by producer/director Russell Campbell. The People's Cinema / Thursday 24 April, 6.30pm After the carnage of World War I many New Zealanders formed a movement committed to rejecting war as a means of settling international disputes. When World War II broke out, government and pacifists were on a collision course; and Communists, too. There was active opposition to New Zealand’s involvement in the war. The government would brook no dissent. Anti-war campaigners were fined and imprisoned, and eight hundred conscientious objectors were incarcerated in detention camps for the duration of the war. Sedition tells their story. Biography: Dr Russell Campbell is an adjunct professor in film at Victoria University of Wellington and a documentary filmmaker with Vanguard Films . Among his films as director or co-director are 'Rebels in Retrospect' (about the Progressive Youth Movement of the Vietnam

Rebellion, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz is a dramatisation of the events on the New Caledonian island of Ouvea in 1988 when pro-independence Kanak activists took a group of French gendarmes hostage.   Screening Friday March 21st 6.30pm The People's Cinema, Manners Street (over the road from McDonald's), Wellington.  This was a crucial event in the long Kanak struggle for independence from France. Rebellions in 1871 and 1917 were followed by increasing pro-independence activism from the late 1960s. In 1981 a Kanak trade union, the USTKE was formed, followed in 1984 by the FLNKS, a pro-independence federation. During the late '80s pro and anti-independence activity led to protests and armed clashes. Much grassroots organising took place amongst the indigenous Kanaks including the establishment of the grassroots school network, the Ecole Populaire Kanak. The lack of reaction by the FLNKS leadership to the Ouvea hostage situation created a perception of the distancing of the

Rebellion, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz is a dramatisation of the events on the New Caledonian island of Ouvea in 1988 when pro-independence Kanak activists took a group of French gendarmes hostage.   Screening Friday March 21st 6.30pm The People's Cinema, Manners Street (over the road from McDonald's), Wellington.  This was a crucial event in the long Kanak struggle for independence from France. Rebellions in 1871 and 1917 were followed by increasing pro-independence activism from the late 1960s. In 1981 a Kanak trade union, the USTKE was formed, followed in 1984 by the FLNKS, a pro-independence federation. During the late '80s pro and anti-independence activity led to protests and armed clashes. Much grassroots organising took place amongst the indigenous Kanaks including the establishment of the grassroots school network, the Ecole Populaire Kanak. The lack of reaction by the FLNKS leadership to the Ouvea hostage situation created a perception of the distanc

'A Place Called Chiapas’ The Freedom Shop film screening on Friday, 14 February , is a film to celebrate 20 years of autonomous Zapatista communities! 20 years ago, on 1st January 1994, NAFTA came into effect and the Zapatistas condemned it as 'a death sentence for the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico'.  Fighting the effects of 500 years of colonisation, they knew what NAFTA would mean and said no to corporate globalisation. The Zapatista army said “¡Ya Basta!”, “Enough!” and since then the Zapatista have become an international symbol and inspiration for resistance against colonisation and corporate globalisation. In spite of murders, mass killings, rapes, harassment and arrests – despite constant harassment by the state and para-military forces, in spite of anti-Zapatista propaganda and attempts by global powers to vilify them – the autonomous communities of Chiapas continue.  Come along and join in a film viewing and discussion about the Zapatista struggle. What

'A Place Called Chiapas’ The Freedom Shop film screening on Friday, 14 February , is a film to celebrate 20 years of autonomous Zapatista communities! 20 years ago, on 1st January 1994, NAFTA came into effect and the Zapatistas condemned it as 'a death sentence for the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico'.  Fighting the effects of 500 years of colonisation, they knew what NAFTA would mean and said no to corporate globalisation. The Zapatista army said “¡Ya Basta!”, “Enough!” and since then the Zapatista have become an international symbol and inspiration for resistance against colonisation and corporate globalisation. In spite of murders, mass killings, rapes, harassment and arrests – despite constant harassment by the state and para-military forces, in spite of anti-Zapatista propaganda and attempts by global powers to vilify them – the autonomous communities of Chiapas continue.  Come along and join in a film viewing and discussion about the Zapatista struggle.

The Wellington Anarchist Bookfair will be a day of Anarchist ideas, anarchist books, anarchist pamphlets and zines, anarchist badges and patches, anarchist posters - that is, lots of anarchist paraphernalia and ephemera and the Freedom Shop will be there.  But the Bookfair is more than a Bookfair: a Week of Anarchy begins on Monday 10th March with an introductory discussion on the history of anarchism in this land; the next night features local anarchist community groups; the Wednesday will be individual anarchists talking about their work at a local community level; the Thursday is a talk by anarchist author Michael Schmidt ('BlackFlame' and 'The Cartography of Anarchy'), and Friday will be the opening of the Bookfair. And throughout the week there will be an exhibition of printing, posters, art, magazines, badges and whatever else to portray visually some of the different protest and organising activities that have gone on over the years. Keep an eye on the Wellin

The Wellington Anarchist Bookfair will be a day of Anarchist ideas, anarchist books, anarchist pamphlets and zines, anarchist badges and patches, anarchist posters - that is, lots of anarchist paraphernalia and ephemera and the Freedom Shop will be there.  But the Bookfair is more than a Bookfair: a Week of Anarchy begins on Monday 10th March with an introductory discussion on the history of anarchism in this land; the next night features local anarchist community groups; the Wednesday will be individual anarchists talking about their work at a local community level; the Thursday is a talk by anarchist author Michael Schmidt ('BlackFlame' and 'The Cartography of Anarchy'), and Friday will be the opening of the Bookfair. And throughout the week there will be an exhibition of printing, posters, art, magazines, badges and whatever else to portray visually some of the different protest and organising activities that have gone on over the years. Keep an eye on the Wel

It is 20 years since NAFTA came into effect and the Zapatista National Liberation Army and people of Chiapas condemned it as 'a death sentence for the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico'. It was on 1st January 1994 that the Zapatista army said “¡Ya Basta!”, “Enough!”. Already fighting the effects of 500 years of colonisation, they knew what NAFTA would mean and said no to corporate globalisation. It is now 20 years since that day and for many the Zapatista have become an international symbol and inspiration for resistance against colonisation and corporate globalisation. In spite of murders, mass killings, rapes, harassment and arrests – despite constant harassment by the state and para-military forces, in spite of anti-Zapatista propaganda and attempts by global powers to vilify them – the autonomous communities of Chiapas continue. Come along on Friday 17 January and join in a film viewing and discussion about the Zapatista struggle. Further information about the Zapatista struggle

It is 20 years since NAFTA came into effect and the Zapatista National Liberation Army and people of Chiapas condemned it as 'a death sentence for the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico'. It was on 1st January 1994 that the Zapatista army said “¡Ya Basta!”, “Enough!”. Already fighting the effects of 500 years of colonisation, they knew what NAFTA would mean and said no to corporate globalisation. It is now 20 years since that day and for many the Zapatista have become an international symbol and inspiration for resistance against colonisation and corporate globalisation. In spite of murders, mass killings, rapes, harassment and arrests – despite constant harassment by the state and para-military forces, in spite of anti-Zapatista propaganda and attempts by global powers to vilify them – the autonomous communities of Chiapas continue. Come along on Friday 17 January and join in a film viewing and discussion about the Zapatista struggle. Further information about the Zapatista struggle

We're ending the year with a film that is less overtly political and a little more entertaining, but not without a moral or two.... 'What to Do in Case of Fire' In 1987, six young Berlin squatters fight street battles with police, smoke a lot of dope and film themselves making a home-made pressure-cooker bomb. The bomb is a dud and soon forgotten. However, 12 years later it goes off - the group have long since disbanded and some of them are a bit more conservative and traditional than they used to be...       Friday, 20 December Doors open: 6pm Film starts: 6.30pm People's Cinema , 57 Manners St, Wellington Watch the trailer here . Original: Was tun, wenn's brennt. 

We're ending the year with a film that is less overtly political and a little more entertaining, but not without a moral or two.... 'What to Do in Case of Fire' In 1987, six young Berlin squatters fight street battles with police, smoke a lot of dope and film themselves making a home-made pressure-cooker bomb. The bomb is a dud and soon forgotten. However, 12 years later it goes off - the group have long since disbanded and some of them are a bit more conservative and traditional than they used to be...       Friday, 20 December Doors open: 6pm Film starts: 6.30pm People's Cinema , 57 Manners St, Wellington Watch the trailer here . Original: Was tun, wenn's brennt.