Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hello!

Myself and some friends are beginning a South London Protest Cafe, based at House Cafe in Camberwell, every 6 weeks or so.

We hope people might just fancy coming along to eat cake and drink wine and try make the world a more just place. We will watch films, write letters, talk to politicians on either local or global justice issues.

Our first event is this Wednesday, a film screening, from 7-9pm.

Are you/ your organisation interested in being collaborators? Or even just popping along? Would love to hear from you.


You can find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/SouthLondonProtestCafe or tweet me! @lulasticblog


Thanks!

In what sense Eddie?


Maybe I didn't explain it too well. The idea is to just have a space where people can talk, and act on issues that matter to them. Sometimes going to a town hall to, say, fight against local public service cuts isn't that appealing, I would certainly rather meet in a cafe to plan, get the MP to meet us there.


Would love to hear why my original post generated so much cynicism?

I find this concept rather strange - it's as if "protest" is more important than any given issue. As I read the proposal it's "let's get together and decide what to protest about" - a low level form of Mao's permanent revolution?


Rather than create a cafe for p*ssed off people to plot protests, why not, instead, open a place where people can meet, socialise, drink and eat well, make friends, celebrate life, exchange recipes or knitting patterns, gossip, review recent films, arrange football matches, plan festivals or carnivals and, perhaps, also plot protests.

Cake and wine - sounds a litte...


"High Priestess seated on Altar, God position.


Magus, kneeling, kisses her feet, then knees, bows with head below her knees, extends arms along her thighs, and adores.


Magus fills cup and offers it to High Priestess, who, holding Athame between palms, places point in cup.


Magus says: "As the Athame is the male, so the cup is the female, and conjoined they bring blessedness."


High Priestess lays Athame aside, and takes Cup and drinks, gives Cup to server, who puts a little in each glass.


Magus presents Pentacle with cakes to High Priestess, saying, "Oh Queen most secret, bless this food unto our bodies, bestowing health, wealth, strength, joy and peace, and that fulfillment of love that is perpetual happiness".


High Priestess blesses them with Athame, takes Cake and eats, while the Magus gives her the Cup again and kisses knees and adores.


All sit as Witches, and invite High Priestess to join them."


...is this what you had in mind?

Hi Marmora Man,

Yep, I can see your point. I guess I am coming from a circle of people who do just generally care about a "more just world" - the cafe is a direct response to groups that take one issue and mobilise around that. Because actually myself, and many of my friends, care about LOADS of issues - the environment, the NHS, the Arms Trade, the food system- but don't have the time to be involved in any significant way with any of them. The Protest Cafe is about carving out a space to doing SOMETHING on ONE of them, one evening at a time. Each event is open to the public so everyone can dip in and out depending on if they want to find out more/ do something about that particular thing.

To me, that just makes sense.


The film is Best Before- it is about the London Food Revolution and is brilliant.

Sadly the cake eating is fairly simple, Maxxi, so not sure it will float your boat.

Lulastic said


"I guess I am coming from a circle of people who do just generally care about a "more just world" - the cafe is a direct response to groups that take one issue and mobilise around that. Because actually myself, and many of my friends, care about LOADS of issues - the environment, the NHS, the Arms Trade, the food system- but don't have the time to be involved in any significant way with any of them."


Sounds a tad precious - do you believe your circle of friends is in some way superior to others in caring about a "more just world"? I am sure many people do - but protest is a very limited route to achieving that ambition.


Why not try participation, engagement, discussion, learning, understanding, fund raising, negotiation and action.


Protest, on its own, without offering an alternative is about as much value as a child's temper tantrum "I hate you, I want sweets, don't want to eat that".

I signed up for SumofUs over some despicable corporate crime, but the protests came thick and fast.


They were both intelligent and unintelligent, well researched and downright fabricated.


I finally realised that these guys had no real interesting justice, honesty or society, they simply wanted to protest. Much of what they did was moronic.


If you have sound intent, insight and alternatives I may well support your cause. If you just want to protest I'd think you're an idiot.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Thank you so much, Imogen – it was a pleasure helping out, and I really appreciate you sharing!
    • Not with all the bins currently stored there.
    • We both own the freehold. They’re in the maisonette and I’m in the flat. They’re older, so with any luck, they’ll be selling soon. Unfortunately, due to recent events, all of this now has to be disclosed on the TA6 form. Honestly, I’d move out of sheer shame if I were them. Poisoning fruit trees planted for children is just cruel, and they haven’t even apologised. I genuinely wonder how they justify this to themselves. Envy is such a toxic and destructive emotion, and sadly, it often explains behaviour like this. I just wanted to say how grateful I am for the support from so many of you, especially at the East Dulwich Forum drinks and for the kind messages on both this forum and the Nextdoor app. It’s genuinely reassuring to know there are still decent, supportive neighbours around.
    • Hmm, you seem to have an agenda.  I like ait of measured that they have done to promote active travel, improving pedestrian and cyclist safety, whilst improving the streetscape. I avoid making sweeping statements about wildlife management as I don't know enough about their policies, and expect some in Southwark are passionate about what they do. Go along to a relevant local meeting and ask, I doubt if you will change a thing by posting here.  
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...