Germany, Report from FdA meeting in Ludwigsburg 2015 by LB Quadrat (de)

 Germany, Report from FdA meeting in Ludwigsburg 2015 by LB
Quadrat (de) [machine translation]

End of January was held in Democratic Centre (Demoz) Ludwigsburg held the first of usually 
three FdA meetings per year. For the second time (after 2012) the meeting of Libertarian 
Alliance Ludwigsburg (hereinafter (LB) ² abbreviated) was aligned. Since the previous 
meeting held in Berlin in September 2014 again a place could be obtained in a different 
geographic region Ludwigsburg. This plays a role, especially for inviting guests groups. 
Accordingly, especially (but not only) groups from the southern German-speaking countries 
for meetings that are not members of the FdA came. In addition to assets of the 
Libertarian Action Winterthur and the Anarchist Initiative Ortenau who were present as 
guests in previous FdA meeting, we were able to welcome new guests as representatives * 
inside of Anarchist group Dortmund, Munich and the libertarians Antifa Looking Nuremberg. 
Especially the latter two groups were received with great joy and excitement, there was 
but so far little exchange with organized groupings of Bavaria on FdA level.

A total of 35 people attended from 15 different groups at the meeting. A large part of it 
was already Friday evening in Demoz Ludwigsburg. Since the first plenary phase was 
scheduled until Saturday morning, stayed on Friday night enough time to arrive at rest to 
know each other or to build on past encounters. Two of info tables (LB) ² and the Infoshop 
Karlsruhe supplied with all interested worth reading literature, banners, badges, stickers 
and buttons. On the way from Berlin a (perceived) truck loads of brochures has been 
brought, "change everything" including the current CrimethInc call and the freshly printed 
edition of the brochure "Anarchism - An Introduction" of the Anarchist Network West *. So 
a lively exchange of materials between the cities took place.

Also on interest was in the Demoz just to be seen exhibition "bread and salt" by Peter 
Schmidt. A two-meter high installation consisting of a modeled packet of salt and a loaf 
of bread on a wooden table that maps the traditional gesture of welcome. In the back of 
the salt pack multiple installations in model scale 1:87 as drawers are mounted one above 
the other. On display are scenes of assistance to refugees (eg the Refugee Camp on the 
Oranienplatz), but also their refusal to deal with them and the conflicts over them and 
with them. The tension of the so-called culture of welcome and xenophobia in Germany is 
the theme of the exhibition. All scenes are shown as large photographs in Demoz-tavern 
area again. Very clearly got the visitors * inside as a glimpse of the cultural diversity 
of the Demoz. The events and activities Demoz range from lectures, film screenings, 
practical workshops on exhibitions, Voküs, concerts and (women) Discos to martial arts 
training or drawing classes. As a self-managed, non-profit center is the Demoz on a 
"culture from below", which occupies an offset to discriminatory societal developments. 
The center has been in existence since 1980. Decisive in the establishment and development 
of the center involved were the social movements of the 70 / 80s, especially the local 
anti-nuclear movement.

Although the social conversations moved into the night on Friday night for a long time 
(and also the arrival of some people - the last arrived at half past three clock at 
night), the first plenary meeting started on time the next morning. After the official 
welcome and introduction of all participants all new and interested persons were in a 
separate room, the FdA, presented their structures and ways of working and, for questions.

When everyone had again gathered in large plenum (the rest had meanwhile Organizational 
discussed) saw the agenda before a first AG-phase. Among other things, should take place 
in a corporation, an exchange of groups about the plans of the May 1 activities. People 
from the Ruhr announced that this year an anarchist May 1st demonstration in Dortmund is 
planned, which met with a positive response. Discussed were forms of support by the FdA or 
federated groups outside of the Ruhr. The question of a central mobilization on 1 May to 
Dortmund has been controversial. Finally had some groups, which are involved in their own 
May 1st alliances, participation locally priority. Groups which are not involved in local 
1st of May alliances are expected to mobilize on the 1st of May Anarchist demonstration to 
Dortmund.

A person from the Anarchist Radio Berlin presented the project "Radio Active" before - an 
interactive project which is already implemented by anarchist radio groups in Brazil. It 
is a streamed live radio broadcast. A specially equipped online chat gives the listener 
inside * the possibility to get during the radio show to give feedback or to incorporate 
your own ideas and content, and thus shape the radio show. Once this concept was presented 
was a productive discussion took place about potential implementation shapes, borders and 
barriers and support opportunities of the project by other FdA groups. Whether and how the 
project (as a test) is implemented, is still open - you may be curious.

Emma Goldman's autobiography "Lived Life" (original title "Living my life", appeared in 
1931), there is the German translation since the late 1970s. Into Russian (birth language 
Emma Goldman), the book was not yet been translated for different reasons. A Russian 
translation collective (RTP) finds her book still so worth reading, current and important 
that they want to translate it into Russian. As a first attempt did not work on financing 
Crowdfunding in Russia, the request was approached for support funding to a person in the 
FdA. Here it is important to know that the translation collective works as an economic 
connection with wages. An estimate assumes that the translation of nearly 1000 pages are 
needed about 8000 EUR (in the original). As a financing option to print postcards with 
quotes from Emma Goldman and sold. For more assistance options through the FdA were 
collected in the plenary. A donation account is set up, it will be held by different 
groups FdA events.

In another AG-phase took place in the afternoon, inter alia, the experience gained through 
the development of local federations or local networks instead. First, allowing people the 
Anarchist Federation (Rhine-Ruhr AFRR) her concept of an open anarchist organizing the 
meeting and before the expiry of development, such as the AFRR arose. In Dortmund 2 open 
organizing meetings were organized by the local anarchist group. Here were people who are 
not yet active in (anarchist or local) groups the opportunity to come together and active 
people from local anarchist / libertarian projects this week and to catch up. The 
previously existing projects introduced themselves briefly and in the further course of 
the meeting, the fields of interest of interested were collected. Those interested could 
so with like-minded people form various thematic working groups and to network with 
existing initiatives. So at the 1st open organizing meetings in Dortmund created 9 AGs, 
including on the subject Anarcha-feminism, education & youth or a reading circle AG. In 
the ensuing discussion, the transferability of this approach to regions with different 
conditions was discussed (eg. As rural region rather than large urban agglomeration), but 
also aspects such as openness to organs of repression. Thereafter, the start-up process of 
the Anarchist Network West * (A network Southwest *) of individuals involved was 
presented. In contrast to the AFRR, which has just built a superior communication and 
exchange structure to then create the conditions for a local group formation, was this 
process at A-Power Southwest vice versa * exactly: it existed anarchist groups in various 
cities in the Southwest * before first networking meeting between local groups took place. 
The network was formed by a first jointly organized series of events / campaign. After 
nearly 5 years of existence, the participants also looked critically at ways developments, 
but also problems of regional networking. The entire experience within the AG was 
incorporated interested by the participants, especially since there are ideas and plans 
for a (formal) networking of local groups in other regions in Germany.

According to the official plenary and the discussion of other issues Saturday evening was 
relaxed in a social atmosphere among the people present.

On Sunday there were two large groups: For newspaper Gaidão Federation and international 
networking and especially to the International of Anarchist Federations (IFA). In addition 
to regularly be discussed topics in the Gaidão-AG such as the distribution of tasks in the 
preparation of Gaidão or promotional activities, and possible improvements were discussed. 
To leave as there is the idea for the audio version of Gaidão selected texts from real 
speaker read * inside (in the current audio version of this is done by a computer voice). 
This would increase the quality of the audio version significantly, but is a question of 
participation and the available capacity. There will also be a Gaidão stand again at the 
Anarchist Book Fair in April in Mannheim. And this year one to two Gaidão special editions 
are planned again.

The International AG discussed, among other topics for the coming meeting of delegates of 
the IFA (see the review of CRIFA in Paris in this issue). Was also discussed the anarchist 
Mediterranean Meeting, to be held in October in Athens. In preparation for this, there 
will be a planning meeting in Tunisia in March. For this purpose, the FdA will provide 
financial support.

After a detailed feedback of the participants to the meeting at least the official part of 
the meeting was coming to an end. The conclusion is that in both the high number of 
participants * inside as well as the number of groups represented / cities show (including 
5 guests groups) that there is a great interest in exchange and networking in general and 
on the FdA in particular. So could develop personal contacts in the three days of the 
meeting. But it is also practical cooperation on different projects have been planned, 
which will support stay in exchange for the future. Overall, the FdA meetings included in 
Ludwigsburg an exciting and successful mix of information and experience, based on 
practical, planning and space for informal interaction.

http://fda-ifa.org/bericht-vom-fda-treffen-in-ludwigsburg-2015/