A couple of weeks ago, I gave an introductory talk on Anarchism at the Las Vegas Anarchist Cafe.

As I mentioned at the time, I made a cheap recording of the talk using the voice-note function on my MP3 player. As previously promised, here is the cheap recording, for your downloading and listening pleasure. I ran long (as I usually do the first time I give a talk), and so didn’t get to cover some of the ground I’d hoped to cover. (Notably, I didn’t spend as much time as I would have liked talking about the reasons why the burden of proof is on the statist, not on the anarchist, and I didn’t get to cover in any explicit or detailed way the reasons why Anarchists oppose all forms of authoritarianism, not just statism itself. This is the first time I’ve given this particular talk, but I hope to give introductory talks like it in the future, so I’ll figure out a way to cover it next time; in the meantime, thoughts, questions, suggestions, and so on are all welcome.

Enjoy!

Download: Charles Johnson, What Is Anarchism? Las Vegas Anarchist Cafe, 28 January 2009 (MPEG-3 format)

If you’re in the northern California area, and interested in meeting local anarchists or talking about community-based mutual aid, you may be interested to know that Sacramento Anarchists are organizing an (A)-Cafe this Saturday, running from noon to 10:0pm, with free entry, some interesting workshops, speakers on the theme of mutual aid, and a complimentary dinner.

Schedule

• 12:00-1:00: Mingling
• 1:00-1:30: Davida Douglas from the Alchemist Urban Farm Stand
• 1:45-2:15: Michael Thurman from Courage to Resist
• 2:30-3:00: Geraldine Baskerville from the Loaves and Fishes Jail Visitation Project
• 3:15-4:45: Richard Brown from the SF8
• 5:00-6:00: Dinner
• 6:00-7:00: Tracey Breiger doing a workshop on Herbalism for Women
• 7:00-7:45: Rachel Anderson from Safer Alternatives thru Networking and Education and Peter Simpson from Harm Reduction Services
• 8:00-8:45: Steve Jerome-Wyatt talking about the Land and Leadership Controversy at D-Q University.
• 9:00-10:00: Copwatch Los Angeles

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER!

Sat. Jan. 24. 12–10pm
@ The Brickhouse, 2837 36th St

The Bicycle Kitchen will be open for education and repair!

If you need childcare or would like to volunteer, email us in advance (sactoacafe@riseup.net)

FREE ENTRY! (Donations Welcome)

I fear I won’t see any of you there, because I can’t really make the eight-hour drive both ways. But if any of y’all do make it out there, reportbacks are welcome in the comments section.