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Showing posts with the label COVID-19

The Final Variant is Called ‘Business as Usual’

Below is the Freedom Shop's position on the 'anti-mandate' protests. It’s easy to write off the ‘anti-mandate’ protests in Wellington and other towns. Given New Zealand has had few deaths and a smaller economic impact than most countries, the mandates may be one of the more justifiable of the many restrictions on freedom that the government has come up with and the politically clueless, erratic nature of the protest makes it easy to sneer at. However, judgement shouldn’t be made on the basis of the way the protest is being conducted – that’s a red herring. Sure, there seem to be a high proportion of nutters, and lots of counter-productive behaviour, but the real reason for opposing the protest is the awful politics. In terms of policy, the protests are a mess, not only are a hodge-podge of issues being raised, but no alternatives are being offered and a wide range of conspiracy theories are being promoted. Marty Verry, chief executive of timber and tourism company Red Stag,

Zinefest postponed

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Like many planned events, the Wellington Zinefest had to be postponed. The new date is 29/30 January 2022. For more details see here .   The Disability Zine Project has had its launch online, and we will have copies of the zines in the shop soon. Watch the video here .

aargh! Issue 12 is out

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We had this issue almost ready to go back in March - and then COVID happened and half our articles were obsolete. So here it is now, only slightly out of date because APEC was moved to be an online conference just after we printed it. Get your copy at the shop, contact us if you want one sent by post or download the PDF here .

aargh! Issue 12 is out

Image
We had this issue almost ready to go back in March - and then COVID happened and half our articles were obsolete. So here it is now, only slightly out of date because APEC was moved to be an online conference just after we printed it. Get your copy at the shop, contact us if you want one sent by post or download the PDF here .

Think Carefully About Any COVID-19 Tracing App

Below is an article from anti-surverillance group OASIS on the upcoming tracing app(s): The fear of COVID-19 is viral. That play on our fear means that we may be rushing to introduce surveillance apps that we will later regret. As one of the tools to fight COVID-19 the NZ government has promised that there will be a contact tracing app available by mid-May. The first iteration they have said, will be in the form of an on-line sign-up form, and could be out by 11th May. But there has been minimal discussion about the pros and cons of COVID-19 apps. Rather, our fear of the virus and its effect on our world has meant that most people are unquestioningly accepting the necessity of using apps to keep the spread of the virus under control. However, we need to break away from the fear factor and consider the long-term societal results of any COVID-19 apps. We need to consider possible consequences weighed up against any benefits. We need to not only question the short-t

Think Carefully About Any COVID-19 Tracing App

Below is an article from anti-surverillance group OASIS on the upcoming tracing app(s): The fear of COVID-19 is viral. That play on our fear means that we may be rushing to introduce surveillance apps that we will later regret. As one of the tools to fight COVID-19 the NZ government has promised that there will be a contact tracing app available by mid-May. The first iteration they have said, will be in the form of an on-line sign-up form, and could be out by 11th May. But there has been minimal discussion about the pros and cons of COVID-19 apps. Rather, our fear of the virus and its effect on our world has meant that most people are unquestioningly accepting the necessity of using apps to keep the spread of the virus under control. However, we need to break away from the fear factor and consider the long-term societal results of any COVID-19 apps. We need to consider possible consequences weighed up against any benefits. We need to not only questi

We’re 25!

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Twenty-five years ago, on May 1, 1995 members of the anarchist group Committee for the Establishment of Civilisation (CEC) started up Anarchist Books in the existing space of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), called the Freedom Shop in a tiny building at 272 Cuba St. The Freedom Shop in 1995 A lot has changed since then – the building made way for the ill-named “bypass”, the Cuba St district was thoroughly gentrified, the Freedom Shop is now in Newtown and the future of printed material is uncertain. But some things haven’t. Plans for yet more roads and more destruction of neighbourhoods that resulted in the bypass back then are still election issues today with catchy slogans like “4 lanes to the planes” - a reminder that building more roads inevitably creates demand for even more roads. And this year will see the referendum on cannabis law reform, the result of the campaign to “normalise” marijuana that created the original Freedom Shop. 25 years is

We’re 25!

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Twenty-five years ago, on May 1, 1995 members of the anarchist group Committee for the Establishment of Civilisation (CEC) started up Anarchist Books in the existing space of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), called the Freedom Shop in a tiny building at 272 Cuba St. The Freedom Shop in 1995 A lot has changed since then – the building made way for the ill-named “bypass”, the Cuba St district was thoroughly gentrified, the Freedom Shop is now in Newtown and the future of printed material is uncertain. But some things haven’t. Plans for yet more roads and more destruction of neighbourhoods that resulted in the bypass back then are still election issues today with catchy slogans like “4 lanes to the planes” - a reminder that building more roads inevitably creates demand for even more roads. And this year will see the referendum on cannabis law reform, the result of the campaign to “normalise” marijuana that created the original Freedom Shop. 25 years is

COVID-19: NZ vs SWE

By Peppertree If the fight against the virus was a football game, we would find ourselves in the typical first 15 to 20 minutes. There are two typical strategies for that phase. One is to throw everything forward to score an early goal in order to demoralise the opposition and provide a buffer to take a breather. The other is to not do anything spectacular, but to focus on a solid defence, check out the opposition’s weaknesses and to build up the game. NZ has chosen the first strategy and it seems that the early goal has been scored. New infection numbers have dropped to mostly single digits and the number of fatalities is very low, although still increasing. But now the big question is what to do next. Just like the full-on attack mode in football can’t be kept up beyond 20 minutes, the level of lockdown we have can’t be sustained much longer. The government knows that and that is why Jacinda Ardern is at pains to explain what level 3 will look like. It is becoming clear that there ar

COVID-19: NZ vs SWE

By Peppertree If the fight against the virus was a football game, we would find ourselves in the typical first 15 to 20 minutes. There are two typical strategies for that phase. One is to throw everything forward to score an early goal in order to demoralise the opposition and provide a buffer to take a breather. The other is to not do anything spectacular, but to focus on a solid defence, check out the opposition’s weaknesses and to build up the game. NZ has chosen the first strategy and it seems that the early goal has been scored. New infection numbers have dropped to mostly single digits and the number of fatalities is very low, although still increasing. But now the big question is what to do next. Just like the full-on attack mode in football can’t be kept up beyond 20 minutes, the level of lockdown we have can’t be sustained much longer. The government knows that and that is why Jacinda Ardern is at pains to explain what level 3 will look like. It is becoming clear that there ar

Small revolutions

"I stopped by Commonsense Organics on the way home and a woman in the queue - desperate for a conversation with someone other than her husband - started chatting from 2 metres away. At one point she leaned in and said 'You know, I'm not even wearing a bra. Because no one cares anymore.' Small revolutions happening every day."

Small revolutions

"I stopped by Commonsense Organics on the way home and a woman in the queue - desperate for a conversation with someone other than her husband - started chatting from 2 metres away. At one point she leaned in and said 'You know, I'm not even wearing a bra. Because no one cares anymore.' Small revolutions happening every day."

COVID19 - We’re not all in this together

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By Peppertree There is plenty of writing out there that stresses how the COVID19 pandemic is different from other disasters because “it affects everyone”. Even on the left, people are writing about how the compliance with lockdown is an example of what we can achieve if we all pull together and put human life before profit. They then build a picture of how this crisis can lead to a revolution of sorts that results in a different economic system that doesn’t leave people in poverty and the planet in ruins. That is a nice thought but unfortunately it’s based on a lie, just like any other time when the privileged claim that “we’re all in this together”. Because we’re not. For some, mainly middle class white people like myself, the virus threat and the lockdown has been an inconvenience. I still have my job, I have a home that I can work from, I have access to communications technology that allows me to stay in touch with friends and family. I am reasonably healthy and am not reliant on he

COVID19 - We’re not all in this together

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By Peppertree There is plenty of writing out there that stresses how the COVID19 pandemic is different from other disasters because “it affects everyone”. Even on the left, people are writing about how the compliance with lockdown is an example of what we can achieve if we all pull together and put human life before profit. They then build a picture of how this crisis can lead to a revolution of sorts that results in a different economic system that doesn’t leave people in poverty and the planet in ruins. That is a nice thought but unfortunately it’s based on a lie, just like any other time when the privileged claim that “we’re all in this together”. Because we’re not. For some, mainly middle class white people like myself, the virus threat and the lockdown has been an inconvenience. I still have my job, I have a home that I can work from, I have access to communications technology that allows me to stay in touch with friends and family. I am reasonably healthy and am not reliant on he

The future?

We usually leave the crystal ball gazing to our resident astrologer, but extraordinary times call for extaordinary measures. Here is prediction of what will happen by another member of the collective who says "I'm cautious about making predictions while everything is in a state of flux, but this is almost certainly what is going to happen". If you have a better prediction, send it to us at freedomshopaotearoa@gmail.com . Probable timeline May 2020 – Lockdown extended. Ardern condemns panic buying and praises mutual aid groups for keeping communities functioning. June 2020 – Ardern condemns mutual aid groups and issues plea for people to panic buy in order to keep businesses afloat. August 2020 – Economy collapses. September 2020 – Wave of collectivisations sweeps country as businesses fail. January 2021 – Financial Times newspaper changes name to 'Mutual Aid Times'. August 2021 – NZ military called out, but return to barracks saying people were being mean to them.

The future?

We usually leave the crystal ball gazing to our resident astrologer, but extraordinary times call for extaordinary measures. Here is prediction of what will happen by another member of the collective who says "I'm cautious about making predictions while everything is in a state of flux, but this is almost certainly what is going to happen". If you have a better prediction, send it to us at freedomshopaotearoa@gmail.com . Probable timeline May 2020 – Lockdown extended. Ardern condemns panic buying and praises mutual aid groups for keeping communities functioning. June 2020 – Ardern condemns mutual aid groups and issues plea for people to panic buy in order to keep businesses afloat. August 2020 – Economy collapses. September 2020 – Wave of collectivisations sweeps country as businesses fail. January 2021 – Financial Times newspaper changes name to 'Mutual Aid Times'. August 2021 – NZ military called out, but return to barracks saying people were being mean to them.

Reading for the COVID-19nz Lockdown

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Why Reject the Treaty When the lockdown is lifted, do you want the focus to be on building roads or would it be better to start building homes? Build a quality healthcare system? Abolish prisons? Kick capitalism into the gutter? The Shop is shut but here are some zines to help you plot and plan your way through the lockdown and envisage the communities that can come after the lockdown. The Myth of Passivity by Toby Boraman Prison Abolition Annette Sykes 2010 Bruce Memorial Lecture Anarchy by Sam Buchanan Are We All NZers Now by Ani Mikaere

Reading for the COVID-19nz Lockdown

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Why Reject the Treaty When the lockdown is lifted, do you want the focus to be on building roads or would it be better to start building homes? Build a quality healthcare system? Abolish prisons? Kick capitalism into the gutter? The Shop is shut but here are some zines to help you plot and plan your way through the lockdown and envisage the communities that can come after the lockdown. The Myth of Passivity by Toby Boraman Prison Abolition Annette Sykes 2010 Bruce Memorial Lecture Anarchy by Sam Buchanan Are We All NZers Now by Ani Mikaere

Surviving home detention - the great lockdown

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Obviously the Freedom Shop is closed now while we are in lockdown. For prisoners and people in home detention, being separated from friends and family and having your movements curtailed is quite normal.  While we can't sell you books right now, you can download e-books from our comrades at AK Press - they're having a sale at the moment. We're working on putting some of our zines and pamphlets online soon. See you on the barricades - but 2 metres apart please!

Surviving home detention - the great lockdown

Image
Obviously the Freedom Shop is closed now while we are in lockdown. For prisoners and people in home detention, being separated from friends and family and having your movements curtailed is quite normal.  While we can't sell you books right now, you can download e-books from our comrades at AK Press - they're having a sale at the moment. We're working on putting some of our zines and pamphlets online soon. See you on the barricades - but 2 metres apart please!