CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS, INTERVENTIONS AND COLLABORATION:

Hacklab: Technology, Creativity, Social Organisation

A weekend gathering for collaborative and creative reflection

February 3/4/5 – 2006

Institute for Advanced Studies

Lancaster University, North West England.

You are happily invited to the “Hacklab”, which is a follow-up event to
(sadly titled?) "Making Global Civil Society" (the funders liked it)
that took place in Lancaster, November 4/5/6. It is hosted at and with
the support of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at Lancaster
University. Since the gathering will be defined by those who get
involved in preparing it, the lists below are merely suggestions.

The plan is to experiment with formats and settings, looking for
helpful, creative moments. Suggestions so far include smaller groups,
with intimate, intense, and longer discussions about a particular topic.
For instance, 10-12 people in a room for 3-4 hours, discussing a human
rights article in relation to social movements, a question, some
concept, whatever - and, for example, write a declaration, compile a CD,
or based on note taking and audio recordings.

The ideal is to go beyond conventions.

To play and to experiment there wil also be themed spaces (hacklab setup
with alt/DIY media intros/hands-on stuff) - suggest something!

New York City War Resisters
Plan Funeral March on Stand Down Day

New York City, Nov. 18, 2005

The New York City Local of the War Resisters
League (WRL) will hold a funeral march on Friday, November 18,
2005, to protest the loss of life in the war being waged in
Iraq. Gathering at the north end of Washington Square Park
(under the arch) at 5 pm on Friday, participants will
assemble coffins draped in black and in American flags,
representing the Iraqi and Americans killed in the war.

Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas writes:

Venezuela Solidarity Day Film Festival

Larkspur, California, Dec. 2, 2005

On Friday, December 2, the anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, the Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas will host an evening of solidarity with the people of Venezuela. Three recently produced documentaries will acquaint viewers with Venezuela's remarkable developments in literacy, health care, food and nutrition programs, and land reform.

"Metastasizing Capital" Conference:
The Logic of Unbridled Growth

St. Catherine's, Ontario, Apr. 10–11, 2006
Keynote: Antonio Negri

The Faculty of Social Sciences and the Humanities Research Institute
in cooperation with the Critical Theory Group and the Depts of
Philosophy, Child and Youth Studies, and Dramatic Arts are coordinating
a conference entitled " Metastasizing Capital: The Logic of Unbridled
Growth," to be held in St Catharines Ontario at Brock University, from
April 10–11, 2006.

This conference will bring together thinkers from a variety of
disciplines in the social sciences and humanities to discuss perhaps
the most pressing issue facing the planet today. In short, how can the
world best move beyond what currently ails it: from a malignant
neo-liberal hegemony into a sanative state of consistent remission and
recovery? Which alternative therapies can arrest the tumescence of
capitalism and provoke a cure? What forms might an unexpected healing
crisis take? Is the only available form of care palliative? By
examining the emergence of the afflictive neo-liberal phenomenon, by
providing an anatomy of its contemporary realities and contagions, and
by plumbing the social imaginary for remedial lines of flight,
participants at this gathering will engage with the most promising
forms of well being: the possibility of ever elusive states of
post-capitalist subjectivity.

Anonymous Comrade writes:

“Spaces of Dissent:
The Borders of Transnational Dreams”
8th Annual Conference of the Marxist Reading Group

Tallahassee, Florida, Mar. 30–Apr. 1, 2006

Keynote Speakers: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and Peter Hitchcock

March 30-April 1, 2006 at the University of Florida

As the networks of global capital become increasingly complex, we are compelled to rethink the idea of borders. The obsolescence of national borders may lead to the transnational-corporate dream of the end of history, but identities historically determined and likewise freed by disappearing borders have reemerged in figures like the refugee. Following Marx’s distinction in The German Ideology, the “refugee serfs,” rather than requiring an abolition of capitalism’s system of labor like the proletariat, assert their rights to production and arrive at free labor. Much like the “refugee serf,” the global capital refugee realizes an impossible (Real) structural dimension through which capital itself is called into question—the refugee is the paradox or contradiction of capitalism’s driving force: the very opposition capitalism tries to integrate into itself again. In light of these conceptions, does the refugee represent a missed opportunity to re-establish a resistance to the coordinates of global capital's structure?

KnoMad writes:

Propaganda 101's "First Saturdays"

New York City, Nov. 5, 2005

Come join the Propaganda 101 Family on Saturday, November 5th, for our second round of "First Saturdays"

Time: 5 PM until whenever
Place: Studio 459.
459 Prospect Place, 3B (b/w Classon and Grand)
Brooklyn, NY

No Cover.
Featuring: Art, DJ's, Propmag Mini Mags, Drinks and Snacks.

Description: Propaganda 101 believes in creativity as a powerful political force, capable of combating the destruction and apathy so prevalent in the world today. Our First Saturdays, which take place at Brooklyn's Studio 459, aim to delight and awaken the senses of a numb society. These monthly gatherings are offered by the Propaganda 101 Family as an eager spark to encourage a broader urban cultural rennaisance. We work to challenge the status quo of not only federal and local politics, but the politics of the art world as well, by creating forums and spaces for writers, visual artists, musicians, and activists to express ideas, showcase talent, meet one another, network, and organize in their local communities and beyond

Propaganda 101 is a youth based, grassroots, multimedia group that works to inject progressive politics into pop culture. See PropMag101 or email info@propmag101.net for more details.

PEN American Center presents:

"State of Emergency:
Readings Against Torture, Arbitrary Detention &

Extraordinary Rendition"

New York City, Nov. 8, 2005

With Edward Albee, Paul Auster, Sandra Cisneros, Don DeLillo, Dave Eggers,
Martín Espada, Philip Gourevitch, Jessica Hagedorn, Heidi Julavits, Nicole
Krauss, Rick Moody, Walter Mosley, Grace Paley, Emma Reverter, Salman
Rushdie, Martha Southgate & Colson Whitehead

Tuesday, November 8, 2005, 7 p.m.

The Great Hall at Cooper Union

7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue

Subway: 6 to Astor Place or the R,W to 8th Street

FREE ADMISSION – Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

For more information: PEN

David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Panel Discussion

New York City, Oct. 31, 2005

Please join us in a panel discussion of David Harvey's new book, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (OUP 2005), followed by a reception to celebrate his 70th birthday.

Monday, October 31, 2005, 7:00 p.m.

Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY Graduate Center

[Fifth Ave. just north of 34th St. B, D, F, N, Q, R, V, W to 34th St.-Herald Sq.; PATH to 33d; #6 to 33d; M2, M3, M4, M5, M16, M34, Q32]

Introduction: Bill Kelly, President, Graduate Center

The panelists:

Leo Panitch, Political Science, York University

Katherine Verdery, Anthropology, Graduate Center, CUNY

Giovanni Arrighi, Sociology, Johns Hopkins University

Doug Henwood, The Left Business Observer

David Harvey, Anthropology, Graduate Center

Moderator: Neil Smith, Director, Center for Place, Politics and Culture, Graduate Center

Reception and birthday celebration:

Anthropology Program, Brockway Room, 6th floor (Room 6402)

Co-sponsored by the Center for Place, Politics and Culture, the Oxford University Press, the Ph.D. Program in Anthropology, and the Office of the President

Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave (between 34th & 35th Streets) New York, N.Y.

Information: pcp@gc.cuny.edu,
212 817 1876

"The Ecosocialist Vision"

Joel Kovel

New York City, Nov. 2, 2005

The New SPACE (The New School for Pluralistic Anti-Capitalist Education) Presents:

THE ECOSOCIALIST VISION

A Talk by Joel Kovel

Wednesday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m.

We are presently undergoing a profound crisis in the relations between humanity and nature — the outcome of which will determine the shape of the future. It is quite clear, although near-universally denied, that this "ecological crisis" is primarily being driven by the force of capital accumulation. It is also clear that this objectively redefines the mission of radical-left politics, inasmuch as capital is both profoundly ecodestructive and unable to correct itself. Hence a new socialism is needed — an ecosocialism that combines "red" and "green" political agendas. To do this, however, a new sense of vision is required, one capable of imagining the contours of such a socialist world despite the failings of twentieth century socialism and the hegemonic power of capitalism. Join us in a discussion with Joel Kovel.

Nietzsche Circle writes:

"Sculpting in Music:
Nietzsche's Early Thought Experiments"

New York CIty, Nov. 19, 2005

The Nitzsche Circle with the support of Deutsches Haus presents

A Recital and Lecture by Dr. Benjamin Moritz

Is it possible to hear Nietzsche's compositions anew? To reconsider them in a different light and make a fresh assessment of works which have suffered from preexisting prejudices? Please join us for this unique event wherein Dr. Moritz will examine Nietzsche's music and its relationship to his thought, seeing it as another form of experimentation for the philosopher. This event will feature a live performance of music by Nietzsche and Chopin. A dialogue with the audience will follow after which there will be a wine and cheese reception.