Gnomes have staged a mass walk off to fight for radical social change, inspired by the American political dissident, philosopher and activist Noam Chomsky.
The gnome rebellion at Jura Books on Parramatta Road, Leichhardt is to highlight the Sydney Chomsky Forum, organised by anarchists in the lead up to the big Noam’s visit to Australia in November.
Chomsky is a world-famous cognitive scientist, political activist and a truly dangerous thinker. He is also an anarchist. His ideas reveal the possibilities for radical, democratic change – to increase the scope of human freedom.
Chomsky was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for ‘inspiring the convictions of millions about a common humanity and for unfailing moral courage’ and will address Sydney Town Hall and the Opera House on November 2 and 3.
Searing critiques of US foreign policy earned Chomsky a place on the “enemy list” of the White House by 1970. He is a staunch critic of the US’s support of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Chomsky came under fire this year for labelling the death of Osama bin Laden a planned assassination which violated elementary norms of international law. “We might ask ourselves how we would be reacting if Iraqi commandos landed at George W. Bush’s compound, assassinated him, and dumped his body in the Atlantic,” said Chomsky in May.
The Sydney Chomksy Forum – a collective of anarchists unrelated to the Sydney Peace Foundation who are organising Chomsky’s lecture in November – is exploring Chomsky’s ideas and their relevance for social change in Australia today through a series of discussions, film screenings and reading groups.
“Chomsky is all about people taking responsibility for their own lives, not blindly trusting leaders,” said Jeremy from the Sydney Chomsky Forum. “His ideas have resonance with us in Australia and we should be fighting for increased democracy in our communities rather than giving up our agency to politicians.”
Upcoming events: Chomsky on Israel/Palestine, reading group and discussion – Saturday, October 15, 3pm at Jura Books, 440 Parramatta Rd, Petersham
The radical ideas of Noam Chomsky, UNSW campus, 1pm, Tuesday 18 October.
Chomsky and hope for avoiding ecological disaster, Sydney University campus, 1pm, Thursday 20 October.
Chomsky’s revolutionary politics – Saturday, October 22, 3pm at Jura .
More info at http://chomskyforum.net
BY MILLY CAFFREY
