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Is
an alternative Capital of Culture possible? This was the question
asked at the public debate organised by the Liverpool Campaign for a
New Workers’ Party (CNWP). Public debate is central to CNWP events
organised in Liverpool. Renewing people’s interest into politics is
a very difficult task and needs innovative approaches, which is why
we are organising public debates, film showings, and alternative
cultural events.
Clara
Paillard – Merseyside Campaign for a New Workers’ Party
The first alternative event organised by the CNWP aimed to gather
“alternative” forces of the city to discuss how to give some room to
the working-class culture and history in the so-called 08
celebrations. As Tony Mulhearn said: “Liverpool wasn’t built on Rock
’n’ Roll!”
The atmosphere at the public meeting was high that Saturday
afternoon and the backroom of the Casa venue was filled with angers,
hopes, dreams and disillusions. It was clear that many people felt
the Capital of Culture was a sham.
Someone told how his idea of a Port Cities Conference had been
“nicked” by the Culture Company who’d rather work on a ‘sexy’ event,
organised with the expertise of the American think-thank Creative
Cities.
Author Nicky Allt told how his book “Culture of Capital” was ironic
about the whole event and how he was trying to set up a football
supporters union. Football is part of the city and was originally a
working-class sport, that has being taken over by capitalists from
all over the world.
A
young Slovak explained how he could see the same speculators and
investors taking over public spaces in Liverpool and in his home
city.
An
older trade unionist told how he would like to see the famous May
Day March being revived and successful.
The idea of an alternative programme is not new and will hopefully
take shape during 2008, after other failed attempts to gather an
alternative. The CNWP called for musicians and artists to perform
before and after our film-debates events.
These start on Weds 19th March, by showing the
documentary The Flickering Flame, presented by
director Ken Loach and some of the former Dockers. The film should
trigger a good public debate on the Right to Strike.
Last Saturday, ideas were booming and the dynamic of the debate
was fabulous, clearly showing a wish for an alternative. Hopefully,
there is still time to build a programme for our City of Culture 08,
better than the capital we despise.
