Hi Everyone, Here`s a very quick report back of the Northern anarchist Network conference, held in Leeds last weekend. Please note this is a subjective viewpoint. The conference started off with a short plenary which set the tone of the conference as decided at the last get together, i.e. it would be based more on skill sharing and practical work than on theory, although the two are relatively inseperable. The first workshop was on everday struggles and was introduced by Albert Meltzer. The workshop covered the idea of solidarity centres which anarchists should set up, where the community could have a place to organise and get advice about their everday struggles in the workplace and the community. The workshop then moved on to how to spread the message of anarchism in the wider community. The need to link up single issue struggles together to try and offer a more universal outlook was covered as was the need to spread the anarchists message more widely and to attempt to escape from the political ghetto. The second workshop was based around Anarchist Black Cross, and supporting political prisoners. This took the form of addressing the practicalities for supporting prisoners for people who may not have written before i.e. what to say to break the ice, how not to jeprodise a prisoners liberty, and basically a reminder to put the prisoner first and to ask for what _they_ want. The workshop then moved on to what could be acheived by the network in terms of joint protests in the region of Northern England. The workshop also looked at the possibility of organising coaches and mobilizing for national demonstrations. This workshop was then folowed by a short video of the women in the EZLN, which provided a useful insight as to how political upheaval and armed struggle has affected the women involved in the EZLN in Chiapas. The women explained that if they had not joined the movement they would be a lot less free, and would have much less equality to the amount they have in the EZLN. The video was followed by a short discussion introduced by a Workers Solidarity Movment member from Dublin. The debate touched on the politcs and organisation of the EZLN and recent developments in the struggle. It also covered how this relates to anarchism, and whether people support the EZLN or not. In the evening there was a social and an excellent quiz organised by people from Leeds Anarchist Group. This was really good in my opinion, as it had an imaginitive presentation, including an electronic scoreboard, name that tune, question categories, silly costumes and even dancing at the end!! The second day began with a discussion on developing the network. This involved sorting out the details of future work, and discussed methods that different anarchist groups in NAN could work together on. It was also decided that the next conference would be held in January. After lunch there was a speaker from a local solicitors who have been involved in a number of defence campaigns, as well as suing the police etc. This covered legal rights (or lack of them) on demonstrations, what tricks the cops like to pull and how to operate in custody. It then covered examples of when it is possible to sue the police and the likliehood of winning the case. The final session was a contraversial debate on Sexuality. Which looked at sexuality and the role it plays in society, how the state restricts and opresses it the state of sexual politics and the lack of rights that stil exsist for a large number of people in society. The role of the issue within the anarchist movement was then covered, with a wide range of opinions. Althought the turn out was lower than expected, the people that did come were serious class struggle activists and a lot of concrete plans and suggestions came form the weekend. It would appear that the network is truly beginning to take shape, with this conference hopefully being a new start for anarchists up North to work together, aiming higher for bigger and better actions. Doug.