Underground Cafe and Alternative Bookstore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents |
[edit] Underground Café and Alternative Bookstore
The Underground Café and Alternative Bookstore (herein referred to as UCAB) is a collectively-run, vegan, fair trade café and bookstore started - and currently operated - by VAC (either Vision Action Collective or Viable Alternatives Collective). UCAB is a not-for-profit workers’ collective inspired by, and organized along the lines of, participatory economics.
UCAB is located at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, near downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick.
The goal of UCAB is to provide both meeting space and resources for local, grass roots organizations, unions, and community activists. Space and resources are provided to people fighting for social and environmental justice to use for meetings, public presentations, reading and discussion groups, information distribution, et cetera.
UCAB strives to be a window of opportunity for local/regional artists by providing them with a space to showcase and sell their art. In collaboration with Ellipse, UCAB will host a variety of poetry readings, book readings, talks, workshops, skill-shares, musical performances, exhibitions and so on.
[edit] Basis of Unity
The basis of unity has been adapted and adopted from The Mondragon Policy Handbook. The members of VAC changed what they felt was necessary in order to make it relevant to the needs of the collective.
I. UCAB is a workers’ collective inspired by, and organized along the lines of Participatory Economics (ParEcon). Existing economic structures have failed to meet the material and psychological needs of the majority of humankind. A ParEcon system, however, seeks to organize work and workplaces, consumption, decision-making and the allocation of resources in ways that promote certain basic values, such as solidarity, equality, and self-management, which are consistent with empowerment, creativity and other human needs.
II. We believe in ParEcon because it is consistent with direct democracy, which guarantees that individuals will have a direct say over decisions to the degree that they are affected by those decisions. It is also consistent with socialism, which guarantees workers’ control over the workplace, and remuneration on the basis of effort and sacrifice. In emphasizing free association, non-hierarchy, and collective decision-making, ParEcon poses an alternative to authoritarian ideologies and forms of organization on the one hand, and anti-organizational theory and practice on the other.
III. UCAB is part of the larger goal of establishing a self-sustaining infrastructure for community activism in Fredericton and the world. A self-sustaining infrastructure is one that is dependent on neither government grants nor private charity. As such, it generates its own resources, and strives to keep production and wealth within the community, rather than siphoning it off in the form of taxes, rents, and profits.
IV. We believe that a self-sustaining infrastructure can be achieved, in part, by supporting other progressive businesses and organizations (both local and global), and by withdrawing support for products and companies that violate principles of fair trade, workers’ and human rights, as well as ecological sanity. It is also our belief that collective ownership of the means of production (from food production and housing, to desktop publishing and alternative media) is integral to this goal.
[edit] About the Collective
The Vision Action Collective is a collective of mostly youth and students striving for social change and taking an active step to help build a more desirable future for all residents and visitors of the city of Fredericton. The members differ in age, gender, and social background, reject the idea of a centralized power, and share a disapproval of the capitalist socio-economic structure currently in which its members were born into.
Taking from the Participatory Economics model, the collective uses non-hierarchical organizing techniques and business approaches that promote values such as solidarity, equality, diversity, self-management, and respect for life. The goal is not only to promote this social vision through collective projects, but to also provide a permanent space for individuals to practice alternative methods of organization and integrate them into their daily lives.
Everybody in the collective takes turns performing all the different tasks necessary for the success of the project (Balanced Job Complexes). This way, everyone in the collective has all the experience needed to work toward a decision regarding any collective affair. Organizational Meetings are held weekly and any new information or proposals for the collective are heard. Collectively, new business is heard until consensus is reached. In the event that consensus is not reached, a vote is held. All this is done to ensure the collective is governed directly, equally, and co-operatively to complete tasks and reach collective goals. Furthermore, diversity is maintained in membership in order to stay consistent with the mandate to challenge notions of racism, sexism, and homophobia.
In the future (as old members leave and new members join) the collective would like the project to provide youth with experience in co-operative/collective, ethical business management and be the alternative to the rote, un-fulfilling and unrewarding "McJob" most experience as youth.
[edit] The Bookmobile
The bookmobile started in 2001 with only a few books and a plan. It has since grown to include an impressive selection of scarce-or-unavailable-in-Fredericton books, videos, CD’s, tshirts, pins, and patches from individuals and independent publishers and distributors all over Canada and the US. There are also many info sheets, pamphlets, and smaller photocopied books that are given out for free.
The bookmobile is set up at festivals, concerts, universities, rallies, meetings, and anywhere else people may be interested. It has been set up at political conferences such as Coming Together at Mount Allison University, various political lectures at STU/UNB, and various local music venues, among others. The bookmobile is now part of a radical bookstore and library at the cafe.
[edit] Distributors
- Adbusters
- AK Press
- Arbeiter Ring Publishing
- Between the Lines
- Blood Sisters
- Fernwood Books
- Underground Operations
[edit] Important Dates
- October 22, 2005 - UCAB opens its doors to the public. Our first customers were a film crew from the New Brunswick Film Co-op.
- November 5, 2006 - UCAB held its Grand Opening with upwards of 400 people coming and going through the night. The Grand Opening featured a wide variety of local performers including poets, folk artists, country artist as well as speeches from the members of the collective and local groups and businesses who have supported UCAB.
- January 14, 2006 - Internationally renowned folk singer, David Rovics played at the Underground Café.
- March 8, 2006 - UCAB was the site of Fredericton's International Women's Day celebrations with a vegan potluck, Women's Natural Health workshop and entertainment by local female artists.
