Occupied Territory Fresno June 04', Website/Updates

For a Destruction of Conferences - And a Reconnection to Anarchy
http://www.occupiedterritory.net

Open the Communiqué Doors: Occupied Territory is no longer just a conference, we as the organizing collective have decided to take the final step, and make the gathering the most interactive and self-managed event we could think of. Early this year we put out calls on infoshop, on Indymedias, and on sites across the state and got a huge response. But instead of creating another conference that would revolve around trying to get the usual band of well known speakers that make the rounds at all the conferences, we have decided to make you the participant decide what the direction of the gathering will be. On Friday June 18th, we will meet you in Fresno, and that night we will decide what the gathering will grow into be. This gathering, like the future, is up to us.

How to Plug Into the Gathering: Please visit the Occupied Territory website at: http://www.occupiedterritory.net, and check out the various discussions on rides, food, and water. We need people to hook up with others in their collectives and groups for rides and materials. We need people who have discussions or workshops present them to the group on opening night of the gathering, so we can decide and talk about what we shall do with the days ahead of us. We also greatly need: 1.) Food: Bulk vegan food is probably the best choice. If people can bring bulk foods, there will be a kitchen collective started at the gathering, but we are in great need of bulk quantities of food for the gathering. 2.) Water: Although there will be bathrooms, and water outlets at the gathering, please bring water, and water jugs for yourself and to share. These things are being discussed at the website right now, so please join in on the discussion.

Your Thoughts, Discussions, Workshops Needed! How many times have we sat in workshops and waited for a speaker to hit the points that we ourselves want to be discussed? Workshops are great, but at most conferences, isn’t some of the best aspect simply the open networking and connecting with others involved in struggles? Open discussions are also largely helpful, and selfdom in mass gatherings we get to discuss on a large group level different feelings about directions we think that the movement should go in. Instead of the standard speaker/workshop model, we will have an open councils of anarchists and anti-authoritarians bring up issues to discuss in open forums, workshops and skill shares to facilitate among ourselves. This will create fluid, spontaneous, and highly participatory work groups to create our autonomous community, and to maximize involvement with each other. To help out with workshops and discussions. 1.) Think of issues to discuss with a bigger group. What are the issues important to us today? Tactics, theory, networking, campaigns, organization? 2.) Workshops. Have a workshop that you want to do? Bring the idea, and your supplies. 3.) Skillshares. Have a skill? Bring your ideas, and knowledge with you to share with others.

Building an Autonomous Zone: Occupied Territory will work to create, sustain, and build a autonomous community during the conference. We will work to organize and freely associate ourselves into different working groups to complete tasks, and work on different projects within the campsite. Instead of just talking about overcoming the constructs of hierarchal society; instead, let’s grease up our hands and exist in the structures that we want to exist in. Let’s face it, “come the revolution” it (hopefully) won’t be all black blocs, organizing for your local union, or trying to get John Zerzan to come and speak in your town. It will be; however, cooking, teaching, loving, working, enjoying, and existing in a society without the coercion and illegitimate force of the old. Bring for the autonomous village: 1.) Tents and Structures. For yourself and your loved ones and others. We are going to create an autonomous village, so we are going to have to have the building blocks to create it. 2.) Tarps, sleeping bags, and pillows. Bring what you need to sleep and be comfortable.

In Conclusion: There are major issues we need to confront as anarchists and anti-authoritarians as we watch the growth of our movement, especially here in California. With the anti-war, and anti-globalization movement fading, and with the election year threatening to steal away some of our revolutionary fire, we need to be more focused and ready to strike as ever. Come with us and build the world we dream about, and work so hard towards. Think with us, and talk about the issues facing your community, and our movement. Create with us, and share your skills and knowledge. Un-build the spectacle, dismantle the empire, smash the state, and un-learn hierarchy once and for all.

See You in Fresno: Please continue to use and check the http://www.occupiedterritory.net website, and use it to network with other people for the gathering. By posting on the forums you can keep people up to date with ideas, and materials you plan to bring with you. Plan on meeting in Fresno on Friday, June 18th at 1pm-5pm, at Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno (more info on location to come, keep checking site). Fresno Food Not Bombs will be doing a special feed there, and from that point, we will move on to the larger gathering. For further info, please consult the follow.

On Fresno Logistics: soymilk [at] riseup.net Soymilk, CVAC (Central Valley Anarchist Collective) - Fresno

On Workshop Logistics: modanarcho [at] yahoo.com Crudocrust, DAAA (Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians) - Modesto

Website/Web Logistics: freemind [at] riseup.net lu-n&-sE, Free Mind Media Collective - Santa Rosa

Email Collective at: occupiedterritory [at] riseup.net