UK writer and editor Alan Dearling is planning a new book on counter-culture in Australia. To be put together with Mook from the Byron Bay Rainboweb, it will be a follow-up to a number of publications Dearling has been involved in in the UK and beyond.
These publications are compendiums of personal diaries, including photos, tales of good days and bad scrapes with the police, and other material. Many have been written by and with members of the UK's much maligned new Travellers and road protest community. Titles include, No Boundaries: new Travellers on the road outside of the UK and Youth Action and the Environment.
For the past nine months, Dearling has been surfing the internet to meet people and organisations involved in counter-culture and alternative society activities in Australia. He and Mook are compiling a growing list of potential contributors.
They are interested in hearing from any Green Left Weekly readers who might like to get involved. It is hoped that the book will include pieces on festivals like the Down to Earth ConFests; intentional communities; direct action environmental protests; alternative music, publications and performances; land rights issues; working collectives; housing alternatives; rave culture; and druid/pagan groups — but the list is open ended.
In particular, Dearling is keen to include at least one voice from the "ferals" — the nearest equivalent to the new Travellers/eco-protesters in the UK.
Dearling is visiting Australia for one month from February 7. If you'd like to join in the project, contact him at <adearling@aol.com> or phone/fax 44 1297 445024. His web site is at <http://members.aol.com/adearling/enabler/>.