A-Infos (en) Britain, London anarchists: ALARM returns - Posted on May 16, 2012

Alarm has been going for approximately a year, since over 80 people attended the founding 
meeting on 15 May 2011. There have been some fun times and some frustrating ones. When 
numbers dropped and meetings began to feel stale, we knew something had to change – it was 
time either for a drastic overhaul or to quit and humbly call it a day. But as this is the 
year of the olympic games, the jubilee and all this under a conservative Government, it’s 
crucial despite everything that we organise and think smart, because the poor will get 
poorer still and the rich drip in riches before our very eyes. While more and more 
children in the U.K. classify as living under the poverty line for example, as Anarchists 
we cannot afford to ignore this urgent matter.  Continuing with internal squabbling any 
longer when the situation is critical is counter revolutionary.

And we need to each ask ourselves; as Anarchists do we want to be a part of the struggle 
against the system or do we do nothing and as good as lay down and die?

For some of us who are losing our jobs, our public services, our benefits and our homes 
there is no option left but to fight. Because governments and power concede nothing 
without a fight.

We met up for an AGM after a lengthy break to reflect on our time together as a collective 
working as Alarm. The meeting was held at the same place we held our very first meeting. 
But this time the mood was very sombre. We all took it very seriously and there were 
splits of opinion as to the future of the group. Around 15 turned up and we all awaited 
our turn to share our thoughts. Nearing the end of our first half of the meeting was a 
vote. The results were worthy of any satanic cult. 666. 6 abstained, 6 wanted to keep 
Alarm and 6 wanted to see it die. But at the end of the day the group is bigger than any 
one individual. It has managed to sustain this long and we have a bunch of amazing 
organisers ready and willing to work with one another. The spark that enlightened the very 
idea of Alarm is still very much alive and hasn’t gone anywhere. So thank you to all those 
that have put anything towards Alarm. It has been a memorable journey to say the least.

The second vote at the end of the meeting counted a higher percentage of people who 
abstained. So that means that only around 3 people who attended the meeting actually quit 
for good. The condition for the abstainers was that they could change their mind and 
re-join at any point should they wish. But those that wanted to continue were free to, and 
also entitled to keep the same name and all that goes with it.

As Alarm, some of the things members past and present have done thus far is to create a 
well read blog and a vibrant facebook page, set up a phone tree, hold Red & Black socials, 
expand Mixed Martial Arts, and help with demos such as the one against Eton that Ian Bone 
was a part of.

Off the top of my head here is a list of our achievements so far:

July 2011 – ALARM street meeting at Marxism (ULU)
August 2011 – ALARM paper – riot special
September 2011 – Anti EDL mobilisation in Tower Hamlets
October 2011 – Stall & meeting at London Anarchist Bookfair
November 2011 – ALARM talk at Bank of Ideas
November 2011 – Attended N9 student demo – handed out leaflets / bust cards produced for 
the occasion
November 2011 – The Only Cuts We Want to See poster / paper – distributed on N30 ant-cuts demo
January 2012 – ALARM conference
… And more recently we got swanky new badges made.

Our aims

We realise that we need not replicate what is already in existence. For example we want to 
start supporting other libertarian groups that are doing an amazing job. Radical London 
for example is one that we will make every effort to hook up with and intend to work 
alongside. To offer assistance where we can for local community based issues and act with 
speed.

Also we have talked about practical measures we can take as citizens relating to housing 
evictions. The poor in London will face one of the heaviest gentrification wars we’ve seen 
yet and if we have the will and the numbers we could resist hundreds of evictions across 
boroughs and keep families with a roof over their heads instead of just doing nothing 
whilst homelessness increases in multitude. The state and the police don’t have the 
resources to quell a major disturbance on that scale. We could make a fuss of ourselves on 
behalf of and with working class families – especially mothers and children, the disabled 
or the elderly who are always the biggest victims of austerity measures. All this takes is 
dedication to re-affirm our community strength. People will fight back no matter what. 
They do not need much encouragement or explaining to about the current affairs. They live 
the struggle, day in day out. These are the people that make up part of the public. These 
we’ve failed to attract. But we need to start to appeal to them and they should know that 
an viable alternative exists. What we need is a safety net in place that is effective in 
supporting people and winning battles. We don’t have time for hollow words. But we must 
all pull our socks up and do our bit. Don’t ask what Anarchism can do for you. But what 
you can do for Anarchism!

We want to create a safe space where everyone feels they can contribute ideas and 
participate straight away. We don’t count how long you’ve been in the group. Rather what 
is valid is what you’re doing right now. With the refurbished, new-and-improved, 
teamwork-like spirit, Alarm means business. We will set out a strategic plan of clear aims 
and how we propose to achieve them. We would like to build links with other Anarchists 
nationwide. We intend to carry on meeting regularly as and when (depending on the events 
on that week). This is all yet to be discussed and finalised at our next meeting (details 
below). So far Alarm has got members from FemCells, Sol Fed, anti fascist affinity groups 
and others and we hope to strengthen our relationship with Radical London, No Borders, 
Environmentalists, Fit Watch, Space Hijackers, the Anarchist Book Fair team and the RMT to 
name a few.

Where our strength could lay as a group is propaganda. Propaganda is one of the most 
effective ways to spread our message in this concrete jungle. We would like to create a 
constant street presence and be creative with it. And never compromising on the tone of 
our radical voice. In the Anarchist movement since Class War and also W.A.G there has been 
plenty of room for new groups to break boundaries and to offend the rich, the 
corporations, the royals, the bankers, the crooked MP’s and all the other undesirables of 
this society. With the gusto of Anarchist Lucy Parsons we shall proceed to ruffle a few 
feathers along the way! Until then keep and eye on our facebook for updates of 
actions/events/skill shares/meetings and general info coming up.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Friday 18 May from 6pm till 8pm at the London Action 
Resource Centre (LARC). The Red & Black Club social (its 2nd anniversary!) will follow 
from 8pm, and  promises to contain a hub of activists, organisers and all that jazz. 
Although we had a rough patch, this does feel exciting again and the potential is 
enormous. We gotta finally turn this ‘scene’ into a movement.  Are you with us?

===================================================

Minutes of part two of Alarm AGM 13 May / Agenda for next meeting

In the second half of the AGM we discussed future Alarm activities listed below. These 
form the agenda for discussion at the next meeting on Friday 18 May 6pm at LARC:

Elect new treasurer and secretary
Bring out newspaper
Explore potential affects of changes to London over coming months
Offer assistance and support to already-existing groups and organisations that appeal to 
our politics
Co-sponsor events with other groups e.g. Radical London
Eviction support – push out from squatter movement to local communities
Skill shares and workshops on evictions and more
Re-evaluate and improve electronic communications (including setting up author accounts 
for Alarm blog)
Posted in News	 | Leave a reply
ALARM’s Future – 13th May 2012 – AGM 1
Posted on May 12, 2012 by The Green Knight
3
Everyone is asked to not drink any alcohol throughout the first two sessions of the AGM

Start at 1:50 at the  Calthorpe Arms on Greys inn Road

Intro to AGM , why we’re here  (2 minutes)

A Look at the Agenda                    (5-10 minutes)

Section 1

1.    Review of ALARM

a.         A look at what we have achieved over the last year from  street meeting at 
Marxism / ALARM riotspecial paper / Anti-EDL mobilisation / Cuts poster & paper/  Conway 
Hall conference / Radio 
 (20minutes)

b. A critical look at the aboveon the basis that given the resources we have we should 
have achieved more than this 
 (20 minutes)

2.     Lessons learnt  an honest discussion on what the problems have been in ALARM and if 
it is possible to overcome them 
(30 minutes)

3.     Do we wantALARM to continue? Does ALARM has any viable future do we want it to 
continue, i fnecessary this will be decided with on a vote after a ‘go round’ 
         (20 minutes)

Break at 3:40 till 3:55

If we decide ALARM will continue then we shall have a break and move on to section 2.a

If we decide ALARM will NOT continue then we shall have a break and move on to section 2.b

______________________________________________________________



Section2.a                                The Relaunch of ALARM

All returning from the break constitute the ‘year one’ ALARM.

1.     What kind of group should ALARM be?

. We need to decide what kind of group we should be.

. What we can offer.

. Who has ownership in ALARM.

We will be judged by what we do in terms of action and propaganda,not on having the 
perfect structure and a great social set up       (45 minutes)

2.     MovingForward

B)   Sub Groups:Communication Group      (re launch ofall online media)

:  DiscussionGroup

: Red and Black                     (25 minutes)

. How often we meet                                       (10minutes)

. Roles: What positions do we need.           (20 minutes)

. Decision making process                             (20 minutes)
_________________________________________
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