The Freedom Shop Aotearoa

The Freedom Shop’s 20th birthday party was appropriately opened by the ceremonial smashing of a TV. Inside Thistle Hall there was a timeline of the history of the shop with many historic photos. A zine making workshop lasted the whole afternoon, a patch making workshop was held and visitors enjoyed having a go at ‘pinning the lie on John Key’ (over 200 lies were available to chose from). And of course plenty of radical books, zines, patches and CDs were on sale. Freedom Shoppers who had started the original shop (which was right across the road from Thistle Hall at 272 Cuba St – now the bypass) told yarns about the early days of the shop and an interesting discussion was had around the future of radical publishing (watch this space). In the evening we enjoyed music by Dick Whyte, Dead Vicious, Awkward Death and The Four Stars until late. Thanks to the many people who contributed and helped make the event happen! For those who missed it, stay tuned for our 50th. On the meantime, you can

The Freedom Shop’s 20th birthday party was appropriately opened by the ceremonial smashing of a TV. Inside Thistle Hall there was a timeline of the history of the shop with many historic photos. A zine making workshop lasted the whole afternoon, a patch making workshop was held and visitors enjoyed having a go at ‘pinning the lie on John Key’ (over 200 lies were available to chose from). And of course plenty of radical books, zines, patches and CDs were on sale. Freedom Shoppers who had started the original shop (which was right across the road from Thistle Hall at 272 Cuba St – now the bypass) told yarns about the early days of the shop and an interesting discussion was had around the future of radical publishing (watch this space). In the evening we enjoyed music by Dick Whyte, Dead Vicious, Awkward Death and The Four Stars until late. Thanks to the many people who contributed and helped make the event happen! For those who missed it, stay tuned for our 50th. On the meantime, you c

On the 1st of May 2015, the Freedom Shop in Wellington turned 20! And on Saturday 9th May we will celebrate. We think that lasting 20 years is no small achievement for an anarchist collective and we are celebrating this anniversary by having an exhibition and a day of events at the Thistle Hall, right across the road from where the shop started on 20 years ago in 1995. When:  9 May 2015, midday till midnight Where:  Thistle Hall, corner Cuba and Arthur Streets, Wellington. What:   12 noon: Opening of the exhibition, followed by food. 1 pm: The Freedom Shop history , a discussion about the history of the shop and a chance for current and past members of the Collective to reminisce. 3 pm: The future of radical publishing . Come and join a chat about how we can ensure radical books and literature will continue to be available. 5 pm: What is anarchism? What does it mean to say you are an anarchist? What do we think anarchy is? Come along and join a discussion about anarchism. Food will be

On the 1st of May 2015, the Freedom Shop in Wellington turned 20! And on Saturday 9th May we will celebrate. We think that lasting 20 years is no small achievement for an anarchist collective and we are celebrating this anniversary by having an exhibition and a day of events at the Thistle Hall, right across the road from where the shop started on 20 years ago in 1995. When:  9 May 2015, midday till midnight Where:  Thistle Hall, corner Cuba and Arthur Streets, Wellington. What:   12 noon: Opening of the exhibition, followed by food. 1 pm: The Freedom Shop history , a discussion about the history of the shop and a chance for current and past members of the Collective to reminisce. 3 pm: The future of radical publishing . Come and join a chat about how we can ensure radical books and literature will continue to be available. 5 pm: What is anarchism? What does it mean to say you are an anarchist? What do we think anarchy is? Come along and join a discussion about anarchism. Food will be

Thistle Hall, as part of the 'Remember the Peacemakers' exhibition are also hosting a library ' Between the Lines '.   Remember the Peacemakers, and the library, runs from the 21 April - 2 May at Thistle Hall.   Freedom Shop and Revolting Books , an anarchist library located at 128 Abel Smith St , have both loaned books and zines from their collections for the two weeks that Remember the Peacemakers runs.    Check out the programme for Remember the Peacemakers here http://www.thistlehall.org.nz/projects/ww100.html     Thistle Hall is located on the corner of Cuba & Karo Drive

Thistle Hall, as part of the 'Remember the Peacemakers' exhibition are also hosting a library ' Between the Lines '.   Remember the Peacemakers, and the library, runs from the 21 April - 2 May at Thistle Hall.   Freedom Shop and Revolting Books , an anarchist library located at 128 Abel Smith St , have both loaned books and zines from their collections for the two weeks that Remember the Peacemakers runs.    Check out the programme for Remember the Peacemakers here http://www.thistlehall.org.nz/projects/ww100.html     Thistle Hall is located on the corner of Cuba & Karo Drive

AK Press are dealing with the aftermath of a significant fire which swept through the warehouse they share with 1984 Printing and over 30 residents. Two people were killed in the fire, others have lost their homes and belongings - AK Press is appealing for donations to spread between between themselves and others affected by the fire. Details are at: http://www.akpress.org/fire-relief.html . The direct link to the fundraising page is: http://www.gofundme.com/akpressfire . Please help!

AK Press are dealing with the aftermath of a significant fire which swept through the warehouse they share with 1984 Printing and over 30 residents. Two people were killed in the fire, others have lost their homes and belongings - AK Press is appealing for donations to spread between between themselves and others affected by the fire. Details are at: http://www.akpress.org/fire-relief.html . The direct link to the fundraising page is: http://www.gofundme.com/akpressfire . Please help!

Our current catalogue of books can now be downloaded in PDF format here .

We have received a fresh load of books – here are some of them: Against Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion Ryan Conrad (Editor) If you missed RyanConrad’s talk last weekend in Wellington (or the week before in Auckland), or if you want to read more about Against Equality – we have the book for $21.00. If you can't get to the Shop, send us an email at freedomshopaotearoa@gmail.com and you can buy this book, or any other book or product that we stock, online.   Administration of Fear Paul Virilio  We are living under the administration of fear: fear has become an environment, an everyday landscape. There was a time when wars, famines, and epidemics were localized and limited by a certain timeframe. Today, it is the world itself that is limited, saturated, and manipulated, the world itself that seizes us and confines us with a stressful claustrophobia. Stock-market crises, undifferentiated terrorism, lightning pandemics, "professional" suicides.... Fear has b

We have received a fresh load of books – here are some of them: Against Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion Ryan Conrad (Editor) If you missed RyanConrad’s talk last weekend in Wellington (or the week before in Auckland), or if you want to read more about Against Equality – we have the book for $21.00. If you can't get to the Shop, send us an email at freedomshopaotearoa@gmail.com and you can buy this book, or any other book or product that we stock, online.   Administration of Fear Paul Virilio  We are living under the administration of fear: fear has become an environment, an everyday landscape. There was a time when wars, famines, and epidemics were localized and limited by a certain timeframe. Today, it is the world itself that is limited, saturated, and manipulated, the world itself that seizes us and confines us with a stressful claustrophobia. Stock-market crises, undifferentiated terrorism, lightning pandemics, "professional" suicides.... Fear has b

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

Issue 3 of the Aotearoa Anarchist Review (for Good Housekeeping) is available online here .