The government tells us that cuts to public services and social security are needed to save an economy in crisis, but in reality the crisis is capitalism.
For the two weeks leading up to the Trade Union Congress demonstration on October 20th, Cuts Café will provide a radical space in Central London to build resistance to these devastating cuts, and to explore the real alternatives to austerity.
It will be open for all of us who are affected, whether we are people with disabilities, women, migrants, workers, pensioners, students, unemployed… or anyone else not part of the privileged elite who are enriching themselves in this ‘crisis’.
By sharing this reclaimed space, we hope people working in their community, local anti-cuts, student, or autonomous groups, as well as the trade unions, will be able to collectively and democratically build positive alternatives with which to challenge the ‘politics as usual’ forced upon us.
This will be an opportunity for connections to form outside of those groups that we may already be involved with, and to reinvigorate the anti-cuts movement at the grassroots level.
Cuts Café, being part of a movement for creating equality and real democracy, will be organized without discrimination and, as much as possible, without hierarchy. We welcome you to come and participate in the running of the space.
If you or your group would like to facilitate a workshop or skillshare, screen a film, hold a discussion, or use the space in any other way please get in touch! You can also contribute by helping to provide some of the more material resources needed for the day-today running of the space, or just by coming down to share a bit of your time.
For more information email cutscafe@riseup.net or to propose an event get us at eventscutscafe@riseup.net.
Cuts Cafe 
Lets hope to god this place actualy just makes some solid plans instead of having, as is more probable, 20 ‘meetings’ every day, concenring which topics to have for other ‘meetings’, to consist of bickering and hand signals. Dialogue Kills
Best way to ensure that – come along and get involved! We’ve definitely talked about how we want events more along the lines of workshops and planning than talks, but we’ll see…
Erm….dialogue kills?! While I agree that the meetings roundabout is a surefire killer of actualy getting things done (and only the beauracrats are left by the end – and they have’nt a clue or just want to stitch it up for their sorry arse groupsicle). Do you really prefer monologue ( and by who?). Good plan cutscafelondon, I’ll be there, and will try to get something useful together to contribute.
Where will the cafe be?
At this point we can’t reveal the exact location due to security until the space is open and nearer to being open and fully secure; we can confirm it will be in or near to central London and close to a number of tube stations and bus stops.
Might it not be better to invite the “privileged elite” to join in these discussions? I don’t see how the disenfranchised can hope to change the prevailing power structures without entering into dialogue with the established plutocrats…
What about the many of us who are in the richest 2% globally (£19,000/year), or the richest 4% (if you earn above £15,000/year)? Are we ‘privileged elite’? Are we excluded? Should we feel indignant? Guilty? Oppressed? Privileged?(calculations from here: http://www.givingwhatwecan.org/why-give/how-rich-you-are)
…then maybe this isn’t the space for you? “dialogue with established plutocrats” isn’t really the radical way to do things 😉
It would be useful to have more details of access into and around the place and blue badge parking if you want to be inclusive. Also ask all fancy graphic designers to post a text only version as well in 16 point font. Glad you have included ramps in your wish list.
Hi Penny – the reason we don’t have more access info up is because we don’t have the space finalised yet (the nature of the game) – the second we know though we’ll put it up on here. I’ll make sure what you’ve said is spread around!
Thanks for your blog and I wait, with bated breath, for more news of the Cuts Cafe.
I think it would be helpful if, from the outset, the Cuts Cafe worked towards adopting the Social Model of Disability and its terminology, rather than the Tragedy/Medical Model which can be so oppressive towards disabled people.
I note that the blog states: “It will be open for all of us who are affected, whether we are people with disabilities … “.
Can we stick with “disabled people” please?
People “with disabilities” just doesn’t make sense …
I hope this helps explain why:
Click to access Social%20Model%20of%20Disability2.pdf
Thanks.
John
Ooh, fair point. I’ll ask around and check that’s fine with everyone else first though (we like to do things together!)
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