Friendly Fire Collective Newsletter - November 08

Welcome to the November 2008 Friendly Fire Collective Newsletter!

Well, we find ourselves a couple days before the presidential election and still we're here cranking out another newsletter to keep you (as well as ourselves) in as high spirits as possible. We know you've been waiting for it...

This month we've got a lot of cool stuff for ya. To start we're really happy to be able to pass along an amazing piece of writing on the upcoming elections from our friends down in San Jose with the group Amanecer called "Looking for Democracy in all the Wrong Places." We in Friendly Fire were really wanting to write something on the elections but just couldn't nail down exactly what we wanted to say, or how to say it. Thankfully Amanecer summed it up perfectly discussing the issues so key to any analysis of the complex dynamics present in this year's presidential election, such as race, class, democracy, and movement building, just to name a few. We couldn't have stated it better. You can find that article below in "Suggested Readings" and some other material on the elections as well.

From our original writings we've got an interesting piece assembled by two of our collective members, Ian Paul and Sampada Aranke. In "Towards the Insurgent Artist: A Conversation in Five Parts," the two writers explore the relationship between their political organizing and their creative work, where it intersects and where it splits, as well as examining the idea of radical movements as performance. We also included in this newsletter an interview with Ben Morea of the 60s artist/insurrectionist groups Black Mask and Up Against the Wall Motherfucker! that add an interesting supplement to Ian and Sam's thoughts. Both pieces can be found below.

So hey, even though the elections are here doesn't mean the financial crisis is over. Hell, this shit's just getting started. We made another poster on the subject that provides a glossary of terms that you've probably been hearing a lot. The poster is meant to be both educational and humorous, and we also have an extended version of the glossary in text form with some more specific terms. Both feature definitions provided by some of our friends in addition to ourselves. On the economic note we also encourage you to check out the article "Enric Duran, the Good Thief?" that we're posting this month that looks at an interesting strategy for taking on the financial crisis--one that we must say we're pretty impressed with.

In addition to what we've mentioned above we've got a lot of extra stuff this month including other great articles and some sweet videos. Plus we of course have a new Bay Area Radical History poster, this time the subject being San Francisco's legendary International Hotel.

And lastly we're pleased to announce an honest-to-"god" Friendly Fire event! Either way the presidential election goes, the next four years are going to be an interesting time for radical social movements and especially for anti-authoritarian organizing. We invite everyone in the Bay Area to come and join us on Thursday November 13th at 7pm for "Whoever They Vote For, Are We Ungovernable?", a facilitated discussion on the implications of the election results, how anti-authoritarian activists can best respond, and ideas for the future. We think we've got a venue nailed down but we're still working out the last details. As we were planning on spamming you anyhow with a reminder a couple days prior, we'll let you know then exactly where this is going down, but it will for sure be in the city of SF.

Alright then. That's all for this month's newsletter. We're happy as always to still be around and interacting with you all, even if only electronically. For those in the Bay, nice work this past Friday in surrounding the fuckers at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and demanding they stop the gestapo-like attacks in our city. We were happy to be with you all in the streets and are looking forward to the next time. For everyone else, you should have been there, it was sweet.

Take care of yourselves,

-The Friendly Fire Collective

---------Friendly Fire Original Content---------

"Towards the Insurgent Artist: A Conversation in 5 Parts" By Sampada Aranke and Ian Alan Paul
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/66/towards-the-insurgent-artist-a-conversation-in-5-parts

As students and radicals, we are constantly negotiating between our position within the university, our commitment to liberatory movements, and our desire to actualize and integrate our creative work in the everyday.  This piece emerged from several conversations within our communities which we felt deserved more intentional exploration.  We are dedicated to the struggle for radical social change, and for us, our art is integral to that process.  We hope that this piece participates in the spirit of praxis by creating a space inhabited by both theory and action.

"Economic Break-Down: Glossary of Financial Crisis Terms (extended)" by the Friendly Fire Collective and Friends
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/73/economic-break-down-glossary-of-financial-crisis-terms

A Financial Glossary to help us understand the difficult times ahead.

---------Suggested Reading---------

"Looking for Democracy In All The Wrong Places" by Amanecer
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/72/looking-for-democracy-in-all-the-wrong-places

With the 2008 election around the corner, and with Obama ahead in the polls, many people who normally counsel "not getting your hopes up" are sounding hopeful and excited about the possibility that the Republicans might be kicked out of the White House. New voter registrations from youth, people of color, and low income folks are coming in by the millions. These new voters believe that this election means something, and that electing Obama will help make their lives better. These hopes include everything from saving us all from the economic crisis to bringing universal health care to ending the war in Iraq. This article is an anti-authoritarian analysis of the complex dynamics at play in this election.

"Enric Duran, the Good Thief?: Direct Action Against the Crisis " by Peter Gelderloos
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/68/enric-duran-the-good-thief

On 17 September, Enric Duran, an anti-capitalist living in Barcelona, went into hiding. He had just admitted to essentially robbing 492,000 euros from 39 different banks, and then published this admission in a free newspaper that was distributed in the quantity of 200,000 copies that very morning.

"Up Against The Wall Motherfucker! - Interview with Ben Morea" by Iain McIntyre
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/67/up-against-the-wall-motherfucker-interview-with-ben-morea

Morea talks of the 1960s Black Mask and Up Against The Wall Motherfucker! groups and their activities - such as busting into the Pentagon during an anti-war protest, and "assassinating" a famous poet. He also discusses friendships with various characters, including the late Valerie Solanas - who shot Andy Warhol and wrote the SCUM Manifesto.

"Don't Just Vote: A Flashback to Counter-Electoral Actions around Election Day 2004"
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/69/dont-just-vote-a-flashback-to-counter-electoral-actions-around-election-day-2004

Many anarchists seized the 2004 election as an opportunity for nationwide autonomous actions emphasizing opposition to the farce of representative democracy. Unlike any summit or local issue, the election happened everywhere at once, focusing public attention on a wide range of issues that could be addressed on a variety of fronts. A nationwide campaign on the theme "Don't (Just) Vote, Get Active" urged people to take action on election day to demonstrate all the possibilities for political engagement beyond the voting booth.


---------Video---------

"Synchronized Presidential Debating"
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/64/presidential-debate-deja-vu

Did watching the 2nd and 3rd debates give you a feeling of déjà vu? This montage of synced-up footage from all three presidential debates confirms our deep-seated belief that every debate was exactly the same.

"Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) marches on the Debates"
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/65/ivaw-marches-on-the-debates

One hour before the final presidential debate of the 2008 campaign, fourteen members of IVAW marched in formation to Hofstra University to present questions for the candidates. IVAW had requested permission from debate moderator Bob Schieffer to ask their questions during the debate but got no response.

"Son of Nun -- Reality Check"
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/71/son-of-nun-reality-check

Political hip hop artist, former Baltimore City high school teacher, activist, cancer survivor, sickle cell battler, and recipient of praise by Public Enemy's Chuck D as "[Leaving] a mean look on somebody's face" for being "More than relevant!," S.O.N. doesn't just entertain his crowds he empowers them. Check out his skill.

"Al Jazeera English: People & Power - Saddam's Tribal Strategy" by Big Noise Films
http://friendlyfirecollective.info/articles/70/big-noise-people-power-saddams-tribal-strategy

As part of People & Power's special series of films from Iraq we look at the success of the so-called Awakening movement and how religious tensions between Sunnis and Shias could still undermine the developments.


---------Friendly Fire Graphics---------

*The International Hotel - Bay Area Radical History #4*
Jpeg for Web Viewing
Pdf for Printing (large file)

*Economic Break-Down: A Financial Glossary to Help Us Understand the Hard Times Ahead*
Jpeg for Web Viewing
Pdf for Printing (large file)


---------November 2008 Calendar---------

Terrorizing Dissent: The Election Cut
Monday November 3rd
Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
@ the AK Press Wherehouse
674-A 23rd Street
Oakland, CA
$5-10 sliding scale

Independent media activists have released a new film which chronicles the events at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The documentary shows exclusive footage of the criminalization of dissent in St. Paul, interviews organizers now charged as terrorists under the Minnesota PATRIOT Act, and uncovers who ordered the violence against demonstrators.
http://www.terrorizingdissent.org


Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win
Friday November 7th, 7pm
Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library
6501 Telegraph Avenue (at 65th Street), Oakland

This film covers the worker occupation of the Flins Renault plant and the struggles around it in May and June of 1968. The strikers had to fight not only the bosses but also against their union and the French Communist Party to maintain it. Also depicted in the film are the heroic attempts of as many as 5,000 students and workers from other workplaces and other regions to reach the factory in its rural location to support the occupation and their confrontations with police who try and prevent their solidarity effort. This is a powerfully moving film; discussion will follow. Presented by Red & Black and Mouvement Communiste.


Uprooted
Sunday November 9th, 12pm @ the Brava Theater Center, 24th St & Harrison San Francisco, CA
and Wednesday November 12th @ MACLA, 510 South First Street San Jose, CA

This powerful documentary explores the forced displacement of Black communities from the Pacific Coast of Colombia, and why and how over a million Black Colombians have been forced from their lands.
http://www.uprootedthemovie.org

Whoever They Vote For, Are We Ungovernable?
Thursday November 13th, 7pm
Location TBA
Free!

The Friendly Fire Collective presents a post-election open discussion on what the anti-authoritarian Left should make of the results from November 4th. How do we respond to the new president, whether it be McCain continuing the draconian policies of the Republican Party or Obama platform of "change"? What implications does this have on our organizing? And what do we want to be doing during the next four years regardless of who's in the White House?


Amy Goodman: Standing Up to the Madness
Saturday November 15, 7pn
First Unitarian Universalist Church
1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco

Amy Goodman is the host and executive producer of Democracy Now!, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program airing on 650 radio and television stations in North America.
http://www.democracynow.org/

Immortal Technique- A Benefit for Omeid International
Thursday November 20th, 8:30pm
DNA Lounge
375 11th St San Francisco, CA
$20 advance, $25 at the door

Omeid International is a human rights organization operating in the East Bay and in Kabul, Afghanistan. All the money raised at the door is earmarked to build an orphanage for Afghan children displaced by war. (Plus Immortal Tecnique will be playing a free show at UC Berkeley's Lower Sproul Plaza on November 21st from 5-7pm.)
http://www.omeid.org/


Dahr Jamail: Using Independent Media as a Weapon for Justice
Thursday November 20th, 7pm
CIIS Main Campus
1453 Mission Street , San Francisco

This lecture and workshop will focus on how it is relatively easy to work as an independent journalist in this climate where the mainstream media is in a self-described "crisis." Dahr Jamail is an independent journalist who has been covering the Middle East for five years. He reported for 8 months from occupied Iraq, and is the author of "Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq."
http://dahrjamailiraq.com/

Critical Mass!!!!

Bicycle! Bicycle! Get on your bikes and ride!
Date: Friday November 28th (and the last Friday of every month!)
Time: Gather at 5:30pm, leave at 6:00pm
Location: Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco, CA