On Tuesday, May 15, join us to celebrate the Vancouver book launch of Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution (OR Books, 2012). Books will be on hand for purchase (cash only).

To celebrate the launch of this creative activists' toolkit, Purple Thistle will convene a conversation among local activists and the co-editors and contributors of Beautiful Trouble about the state and future of creative activism.

Political activism has a creative new edge that's blurring the boundaries between artist and activist and transforming the political landscape. But what are the core principles that make creative activism effective? How can we ensure that our actions are both fun and effective, celebratory and game-changing?

At the beginning of the 21st century humanity faces poverty, war and environmental destruction. We have to seize the opportunity to put an end to the barbarity of capitalism and fight to create a different kind of society.

There has rarely been a better or a more necessary time to show that another world is possible; that revolutionary change can produce something dramatically different than the war, racism and environmental de...gradation that surround us.

But what is the way forward? How do we fight to win a better world? What does it mean to be a revolutionary?

Join us at this one-day conference to discuss and debate these issues and more.

10:00 - registration

Andrew Nellis, Ottawa Panhandler's Union
Karen Cocq, Collectif du Chat Noir
Carlo Fanelli, Socialist Project
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The "Heart Attack" demonstration at the Anti-Olympics Convergence on Feb.
13 has become a controversial subject on the radical left, primarily
because of the property destruction that happened that day. In addition to
all of the controversy and acrimony there were also some productive
debates, and valuable ideas that resulted from arguments about political
strategy and “diversity of tactics”. Further discussion is necessary in
particular because of the upcoming anti-G8/G20 protests in Toronto.