About Blackstar
purpose
black star books was established to:
- Make available a wide selection of radical anti-authoritarian literature and independently-produced media, including critiques of and perspectives on capitalism in Aotearoa and worldwide, as well as information on alternative social, cultural & political forms & organisations.
- Facilitate individuals and radical flaxroots groups in Dunedin::Otepoti and throughout Aotearoa in resourcing themselves, sharing information and networking.
- Support local independent artists, writers and musicians by stocking their work and promoting it where possible.
- Provide a living example of radical, participatory democracy in action.
collective principles
black star books is organised & staffed by a collective of volunteers who work non-hierarchically & make decisions by consensus.
The black star collective actively oppose authoritarianism & reject both capitalism and the state. We reject all forms of exploitation, domination and discrimination, whether based on class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, species, spiritual or religious practice or physical ability. We oppose the commodification of this world & the reduction of land, water, air & beings to lines on a balance sheet.
Instead, we support autonomy, flaxroots organisation, Tino Rangatiratanga (Maori self-determination), ecological sustainability & creativity. Another world is possible!
what you will find in the infoShop
We stock material on radical politics including: feminisms; the anti-authoritarian left (theory & practice); globalisation, anti-capitalism & alternative social orders; radical her-stories & his-stories; colonisation, (neo)colonialisms & indigenous self-determination; anti-racism; international migration & refugees; radical ecology & environmentalisms; queer & transgender politics (including critiques of gender); animal rights & lefts; militarism, terrorism & conflict; labour & community organising (including issues of process & direct democracy). Wherever possible we try to stock materials produced in or about Aotearoa, the Pacific & the Global South as well as those from the (Imperial) North.
We distribute a range of formats & media including (maga)zines, journals, pamphlets, badges, tshirts, patches, stickers, spoken word recordings, music, documentary film & open source software. We try to stock materials that difficult/impossible to get elsewhere & to provide them as affordably as possible.
We have also established a reference library & archive of radical literature, which is available for anyone to use.
communities
We endeavour to be a contact point for activist happenings both in Dunedin::Otepoti & throughout Aotearoa. We welcome submissions of literature, zines, music or media from local and international flaxroots activists, radical thinkers, independent musicians, (graphic) artists, zinesters, documentary filmakers & others. We are particularly interested in distributing information from & about local flaxroots community groups. We do not stock material supporting political parties.
We seek to work collaboratively with any non-hierarchical group who agrees with our aims. We will give critical support to radical campaigns on single issues.
finances
All money / koha that comes through the infoShop goes towards our operating costs: paying rent, buying new & not-so-new books, funding free pamphlets, photocopying & buying materials for screenprinting, saving for new computers. We neither seek nor receive any outside funding whether from government or NGOs, however we welcome donations from those who agree with our aims. We would particularly welcome donations of radical books, computers, printers, a photocopier & fabric.
getting involved
We welcome anyone who is interested in what we are doing & is willing to volunteer & work collectively by consensus; so if you are, drop by & talk to us at the infoShop, send us an email, or even write us a letter. We’d love to hear from you!