Hydra Books

Bristol Communist Discussion Group

Thursday 26th 7:00pm

Exerts from 2003 documentary focusing on events in Venezuela leading up to and during the April 2002 coup d’état attempt, which saw President Hugo Chávez removed from office for two days. With particular emphasis on the role played by Venezuela’s private media.

The film examines several key incidents: the protest march and subsequent violence that provided the impetus for Chávez’s ousting; the opposition’s formation of an interim government headed by business leader Pedro Carmona; and the Carmona administration’s collapse, which paved the way for Chávez’s return.

Followed By Disscussion.

Wednesday 25th April 7.30pm

Public meeting and films to learn about and share ideas for the upcoming day of action against the Rothamsted genetically modified wheat trial. Bakers, farmers, growers, allotment holders, scientists, beekeepers, and people who eat food are turning out to voice their opposition to GM crops coming back to the UK.

Public day of action against the Rothamsted genetically modified wheat trial. Meet Sunday 27th May, at 12 noon, in Rothamsted, Harpenden, Herts. Or take your own action in your own way, at your own time. Together we can stop this trial.

Cow genes on toast anyone? No thanks!

What’s up with the trial?

It could be dangerous, this trial is testing a brand-new synthetically-constructed ‘fake’ gene that is ‘most similar to one found in a cow’. This is a concerning use of synthetic genes and of animal genes in plants.

Its not wanted. Even the USA has abandoned attempts to commercialise GM wheat because there is no market for it. Biotech company BASF recently  backed out of Europe because no-one wanted to buy GM food.

Once it flowers, it’s here to stay. The trial is happening in the open air, meaning that when it starts to flower it can cross contaminate other wheat crops and wild grasses. This is a real threat. In Canada there is no organic oilseed rape left because all the farms have been cross-contaminated with GM rapeseed.

For more info nearer the time, go to www.taketheflourback.org or contact
us at info [AT] taketheflourback.org

Date:  Wednesday (Tomorrow)

Time: 7:00pm

We will be discussing the current role of the media and in particular Chomsky and Hermann’s Propaganda Model.  Is this the best way of analysing the media or are there other factors at play in the era of the News of the World phone hacking inquiry and Wikileaks?

Suggested reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_model

http://www.chomsky.info/onchomsky/20031209.htm

http://www.medialens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90&Itemid=22

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/09/julian-assange-wikileaks?INTCMP=SRCH

Date: Sunday 1st April

Time: 2:00pm

Discussion led by Jim McNeill

To launch Bristol Radical History Group’s new pamphlet, “Ben Tillett” this talk will cover the life and work of this Bristol-born, Trade Union leader. Tillett was the fiery and outspoken leader of numerous dock strikes from 1888 to 1914 in Bristol, London, Hull and elsewhere. However, by the outbreak of the First World War he, along with many union and Labour Party leaders, had become an open class collaborator and a recruiting sergeant within the working class for the bloody war in Europe.
This talk will also highlight how the Victorian and Edwardian employing class co-ordinated their combating the  rise of mass trade unionism by organising blackleg labour that was protected by both the police and the military. In the light of recent class struggles such as the miners and the printers at Wapping then there are lessons to be learned as to what kind of leadership we want to elect to lead such struggles.
So come prepared for a discussion as well as buying this new BRHG publication!

Date: Thursday 22/03/12
Time: 7:00pm

Dr Edson Burton has written plays for both BBC Radio 4 and regional
radio. In 2010, his first full-length theatrical production, Children of
Salt opened to critical acclaim. His first collection of poetry Seasoned
was published by City Chameleon in 2008. Edson combines his writing with
research, poetry performance, talks and storytelling.