Really Really Free Market (Perth)

Final Really Really Free Market for 2010

2010-10-08T05:03:00.002+08:00

3-6pm
Sunday 19 September 2010
Stage Area, North Side of Hyde Park, North Perth

Things to look out for at the next RRFM

2010-09-07T06:57:00.007+08:00

Stephen will have tree saplings available for adoption (you'll get a certificate in return for taking care of them too!). Find out more: http://www.treeadoptees.tk/

Zeks - local Perth band will be playing. Hear their tunes here: http://www.myspace.com/zeksband

Damien Thornber & The Orphans will also be performing. Check out their fusion of music, art and charity here: http://www.damienthornber.com

Gav will be doing free bicycle tune ups.

Resources from a range of social justice and environmental organisations.

If you're headed to the next RRFM (19 September, 3-6pm) why not let us know what you'll be sharing with others so we can post it here. Get in touch via rrfmperth@gmail.com.

more to come...

Our Safer Space Policy

2010-09-06T07:09:00.002+08:00

We hope that everyone at the Really Really Free Market (RRFM) is made aware of the idea of ‘safer spaces’ (information will be on the website and displayed around the venue).

We say ‘safer’ realising that no space can be entirely safe for everyone. Although there is often discourse on ‘equality’, we realise that not everyone experiences spaces in the same way as others.

Safer spaces are welcoming, engaging and supportive. We want the RRFM to be a space where people take care of one another. We want people to feel that they can let their hair down and be themselves, knowing that they will be supported.

We are asking people to be proactive in creating a safer space.
People attending RRFM are asked to be aware of their language and behaviour, and to think about whether it might be offensive to others. This is no space for violence, for touching people without their consent, for being intolerant of someone’s religious beliefs or lack thereof, for being creepy, sleazy, racist, ageist, sexist, heterosexist, transphobic, ablebodiest, classist, sizist, or any other behaviour or language that may perpetuate oppression.

What we need to do to create a safer space at RRFM:

Respect people’s physical and emotional boundaries
Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing personal boundaries
Respect peoples opinions, beliefs, differing states of being and differing points of view
Be responsible for your own actions. Be aware that your actions do have an effect on others
Take responsibility for your own safety and get help if you need it
Look out for children at all times and try not to leave anything around that would endanger them
The space is drug and alcohol free, and smoke-free

Any individual or group engaging in violence (including sexual violence and harassment) within the convergence community will automatically be excluding themselves. The gathering will be asking them to leave the convergence space.

Next RRFM - 3-6pm Sunday 19 September

2010-08-29T21:16:00.001+08:00

The next Really Really Free Market is coming soon!

3-6pm
Sunday 19 September 2010
Stage Area, North Side of Hyde Park, North Perth

Next RRFM - 3-6pm Sunday 20 June

2010-05-28T22:49:00.001+08:00

The next Really Really Free Market is on Sunday 20 June, 3-6pm at Hyde Park.

Download a flier to print and distribute here:

NYW April RRFM Pics!

2010-05-05T19:28:00.005+08:00

Hey yooz!

The last RRFM that was held as part of National Youth Week was heaps of fun, and we have the evidence to prove it below.

There were plenty of amazing services offered, skills shared and things given away.
These included Bike Maintenance, Simone's Massage Parlour, Ask a Historian, Social Justice Info, Food Not Bombs, Gypsy Tarot, a Seed Bombing Workshop, Fixing a Bike Puncture Workshop, and several other amazing things.

So thanks to those who helped organise the event, to those who supported people who were organising and especially thanks to everyone who rocked up.

Let's not wait for the revolution, it's right here. See yaz at the next RRFM, 3-6pm, Sunday 20th June!

RRFM for National Youth Week - 17 April

2010-04-05T10:24:00.005+08:00

1-5pm Saturday 17 April
Hyde Park, cnr of Throssell and Glendower Streets

Come along, bring skills, run a workshop on something you're interested in, start a discussion session, play music and have fun!

RRFM on Sunday 21 March: 3-6pm

2010-03-18T07:17:00.003+08:00

The Really Really Free Market is on this Sunday:
3-6pm
Stage Area, Hyde Park, North Perth

How does it work?
Bring useful items that you no longer need or want to share freely with other members of your community.

Browse through the things others have brought and leave with what your family needs, regardless of whether you brought something or not.

Bring your talent and give something of yourself: music, poetry, storytelling, lessons.

Or bring your unique service or expertise to share with others: haircuts, painting, knitting, bicycle repairs etc.

Bring a gift of food and share in a picnic lunch with other friends and families from your community or share surplus produce from your garden.

The only limit is your imagination.

Next RRFM - 3-6pm Sunday 21 March 2010

2010-02-27T07:48:00.006+08:00

The next Really Really Free Market is coming!

3-6pm
Sunday 21 March 2010
Stage Area, North Side of Hyde Park, North Perth

PLANNING MEETING
Are you interested in helping to publicise and organise the event/s? Come along to a planning meeting on Saturday 6 March at 10am at the stage area on the north side of Hyde Park. Some of the things we will be discussing include:

Advertising and promotion
Music and performances
Food and refreshments
Set up and pack up

2010 RRFMs
The Really Really Free Markets booked for 2010 are:

3-6pm, Sunday 21 March
3-6pm, Sunday 20 June
3-6pm, Sunday 19 September
3-6pm, Sunday 19 December

Add your photos to our gallery

2009-05-09T17:11:00.005+08:00

Do you have photos from a Perth Really Really Free Market?

Email them to rrfmperth.photos@picasaweb.com and put 'RRFM Perth' in the subject line. They will automatically be added to the photo gallery: http://picasaweb.google.com/rrfmperth/RRFMPerth#

RRFM Planning Workshop

2009-04-27T07:36:00.002+08:00

People who are interested in getting involved in the RRFM Organising Collective are encouraged to join us for a planning workshop:

Saturday, May 9th, 2009. 3pm-6pm.
460 Charles St., North Perth
Food provided (vegan pizzas)

What we'll be discussing at the workshop:

Community agreements (our commitments to each other; how we want to run the collective, etc.)
Introduction to RRFM project and the ideas behind it
Discussion on 'Gift economics'
Discussion on 'Consensus', 'Open space', 'Affinity Groups'
Creation of Affinity Groups (Entertainment, Skillsharing, Outreach, Food, Logistics, etc.)

For more details drop us a line on rrfmperth@gmail.com

The Revolution Has Already Occurred

2009-04-20T12:22:00.003+08:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share this brief article which was published in The Nation on March 4, 2009. It highlights beautifully the profound significance of initiatives like the Really Really Free Market.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Revolution Has Already Occurred

by Rebecca Solnit

Barbara Ehrenreich and Bill Fletcher write mournfully that there was supposed to be a revolution--but there was and is a revolution, just not one that looks the way socialists and a lot of '60s radicals imagined it. The Sandinista revolution thirty years ago may well have been the last of its kind. The revolutions that have mattered since have been less interested in seizing and becoming the state than circumventing it to go straight to becoming other people doing other things without state permission. The fifteen-year-old Zapatista revolution, which never sought state power and (though badgered constantly) was never defeated, is the revolution for our times, or really only the most dramatic of countless thousands involving Native Americans and Indian farmers and South African cooperatives and Argentinian workplaces and European utopian communities.

In the United States the most obvious realm in which this has transpired is food and farming. Organic, urban, community-assisted and guerrilla agriculture are still small parts of the picture, but effective ones--a revolt against what transnational corporate food and capitalism generally produce. This revolt is taking place in the vast open space of Detroit, in the inner-city farms of West Oakland, in the victory gardens and public-housing of Alemany Farm in San Francisco, in Growing Power in Milwaukee and many other places around the country. These are blows against alienation, poor health, hunger and other woes fought with shovels and seeds, not guns. At its best, tending one's garden leads to tending one's community and policy, and ultimately becomes a way of entering the public sphere rather than withdrawing from it.

"Do we have a plan, people?" Ehrenreich and Fletcher ask. We have thousands of them, being carried out quite spectacularly over the past few decades, for gardens and childcare co-ops and bicycle lanes and farmers' markets and countless ways of doing things differently and better. The underlying vision is neither state socialist nor corporate capitalist, but something humane, local and accountable--anarchist, basically, as in direct democracy. The revolution exists in little bits everywhere, but not much has been done to connect its dots. We need to say that there are alternatives being realized all around us and theorize the underlying ideals and possibilities. But we need to start from the confidence that the revolution has been with us for a while and is succeeding in bits and pieces. Enlarged and clarified, it could answer a lot of the urgent needs the depression brings.

If anarchists and neoliberals had one thing in common, it was an interest in shrinking the state that socialists hoped would solve things. Right now nothing but that state exists on a scale to drag us back out of what the corporations and international markets dragged us into, but one of the questions for the long term is about scale. Small isn't always beautiful, but big beyond accountability or comprehension got crazy as well as ugly.

Get Involved

2009-04-17T15:15:00.002+08:00

If you would like to get involved with organising the next RRFM drop us a line at rrfmperth@gmail.com

You can also opt to get onto a list to be notified of the next one's date.

Some more photos of the April RRFM

2009-04-06T16:30:00.011+08:00

If you have photos that you took at the RRFM that you'd like to see here why not send them to rrfmperth@gmail.com

You can see some more here too. Thanks Jason!

Photos from 2nd RRFM

2009-04-06T00:10:00.004+08:00

"For once in my life, I feel like I am home" said one participant at today's Really Realy Free Market.

Another said: "Wow, this is like utopia or something!"

We really did create a space of unfettered freedom today in little old Perth. Thanks everyone for making it what it was. I am truly inspired.

There are a few photos from today's event below. More can be found here: http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=143286#143286

Can't wait till the next one!

What to bring to the Really Really Free Market?

2009-04-03T17:56:00.008+08:00

The Really Really Free Market is only a few days away:

When: Sunday 5 April 2009, 3-6pm
Where: Hyde Park, South West Cnr (Throssell and Glendower), Perth How do I get to Hyde Park?

A Really Really Free Market is a 100% free and non-commercial event, organized by participants just like you. Every RRFM is different and depends entirely on those who attend.

It is not necessary to bring something yourself in order to participate however think creatively about whether there is some way that you can contribute.

What you bring to the RRFM is entirely up to your imagination. It could be a useable item like clothes, books, or produce from your garden or it could be a talent or skill that you would like to share. In the past there has been free bike repairs, free food and refreshments, free music performances, free origami workshops, free water wise garden design workshops, not to mention loads of clothes, books, jewellery, artwork, computer hard drives, furniture, cds and so much more.

There's also information available about some of the local community groups that are working hard for a more sustainable and just society.

Browse through the things others have brought and leave with what your family needs, regardless of whether you brought something or not.

You can check out some pictures of the January RRFM below.

Help us keep Hyde Park clean. If no one takes what you brought, please bring it home with you.

Free Store in New York

2009-04-01T16:40:00.005+08:00

The gift economy has even infiltrated the heart of western capitalism, not far from Wall Street where the whole global economic crisis started.

See video at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7956346.stm

This is a unique movement at a unique period in history: These are the seeds of a new economy based on sharing, rather than on buying and selling. Indeed, a new kind of society is being built within the shell of the old; one based on mutual aid and solidarity rather than on greed, competition and exploitation. Everything we need is already right here between us!

Meanwhile, more locally, the Really Really Free Market in Perth is back this Sunday!

Details here:
http://rrfmperth.blogspot.com/2009/03/rrfm-is-back.html

Exciting new additions to the next RRFM event

2009-03-14T17:31:00.003+09:00

I am pleased to announce two new components to the latest edition of the "Really Really Free Market", coming up on Sunday April 5, 3-6pm in Hyde Park (Southwest Corner):

1) An OPEN STAGE for any musicians, actors, comedians, poets, etc. who would like to perform and share their talents with the community. Please note, however, that no power will be available, so your sets will have to be entirely acoustic.

2) An OPEN SPACE SKILLSHARE. Basically, the idea here is for people to convene workshops (e.g. juggling, martial arts, unicycling, fire-twirling, etc.) or facilitate discussions (e.g. emotional healing, the war in Iraq, whatever!) on anything and everything that they wish. Five colour-coded trees will be marked out, which will serve as venues for the workshops. There will, furthermore, be 6 time-slots: 3-3:30pm; 3:30-4pm; 4-4:30pm and so on, up until 6pm. Convenors and facilitators are asked to just turn up on the day and find the skillshare noticeboard, and then a) to write their name and proposed workshop on a post-it note and b) to then post it up on the noticeboard under the chosen timeslot and venue.

The idea is that the whole thing will be self-organising and self-generating. The space really is yours to do with what you wish :-)

And since this event is all about sharing, I was wondering if anyone, by any chance, might be able to lend us a small stage and a trailer to cart it around in? If so, please contact me on 0433 897 824. Thanks in advance, and see you all on Sunday April 5th!

RRFM is Back!

2009-03-07T09:58:00.003+09:00

When: Sunday 5 April 2009, 3-6pm
Where: Hyde Park, South West Cnr (Throssell and Glendower), Perth

A Really, Really Free Market is like a giant potluck made up of useable items, skills, ideas, smiles, talents, friendship, excitement, discussions, and many other things that we as a community can come together and share.

A RRFM is a 100% free and non-commercial event, organized by participants just like you.

If you would like to get involved in organising the next Really Really Free Market drop us a line at:
rrfmperth@gmail.com

Flyers for the April RRFM to distribute

2009-03-07T09:45:00.009+09:00

Please feel free to copy these flyers for distribution via email/print/postering etc. Just click on the image to get a higher resolution version then right click and save image.

Here's a double-sided colour flyer for printing back and front:

Here's a single-sided greyscale version:

Where is the April RRFM?

2009-03-07T09:37:00.002+09:00

Hyde Park is about a ½ hour walk from the Perth train station (about 2km) or you can catch Bus #60 from the Esplanade Busport and get off on William Street just past Chatsworth Road (Stop No: 12860). You can also get off buses on Fitzgerald near Bulwer and walk eastward for 10 minutes.

View Larger Map

More pics of the January 09 RRFM

2009-01-11T19:42:00.004+09:00

The free bike tune up station.

Some delicious vegan goodies.

Well-received refreshments.

A performance by a Korean study group (FIN) visiting Perth.

Some pics of the January 09 RRFM

2009-01-11T19:20:00.010+09:00

Summer Concert in the Park

2009-01-09T19:27:00.004+09:00

The Town of Vincent is kindly putting on a free concert in Hyde Park from 5.30 to 7.30 which coincides nicely with the end of the RRFM so you may like to stay back and enjoy the Funk Club House Band.

Free Bicycle Tuning Available

2009-01-05T20:09:00.006+09:00

If you have a bike that you would like serviced or want advice on bike maintenance look out for Gavin who will be providing bicycle tuning at RRFM.

RRFM Perth Flyers

2008-12-30T22:18:00.002+09:00

Please feel free to copy these flyers for distribution via email/print/postering etc.

How do I get to RRFM?

2008-12-30T20:11:00.007+09:00

What is a Really Really Free Market?

2008-12-30T20:07:00.003+09:00

Have you ever picked up something you found on the sidewalk? Or saved your neighbor from throwing away something useful?

A Really Really Free Market is like a potluck for whatever you want to give or take away. Have you ever brought one dish to a group dinner and gone away with a full belly and a balanced meal? Everybody brings something and goes away with more.

We all have skills, ideas, objects, smiles, talents, friendship, excitement, discussions, and many other things to share. If we bring them all together at the Really Really Free Market, we can provide more balanced and full lives for everyone.

As a community we have many more resources than we do as individuals. If we share our resources we won't need to buy as many new ones. This uses fewer of the Earth's resources, and fewer of our working hours, leaving us more time to devote to ourselves and our communities.

Would we all work forty hours a week at one job if we didn't feel we had to? What if instead we worked at improving our individual skills and talents and shared them with each other? We would all spend more time doing things we enjoyed.

The Really Really Free Market (RRFM) movement is a non-hierarchical collective of individuals who form a temporary market based on an alternative gift economy. The RRFM movement aims to counteract capitalism in a non-reactionary way. It holds as a major goal to build a community based on sharing resources, caring for one another and improving the collective lives of all.

How does it work?

2008-12-30T19:59:00.005+09:00

It is not necessary to bring something yourself in order to participate however think creatively about whether there is some way that you can contribute.

Bring useful items that you no longer need or want to share freely with other members of your community. Browse through the things others have brought and leave with what your family needs, regardless of whether you brought something or not.

Bring your talent and give something of yourself: music, poetry, storytelling, lessons. Or bring your unique service or expertise to share with others: haircuts, painting, knitting, bicycle repairs etc.

Bring a gift of food and share in a picnic lunch with other friends and families from your community or share surplus produce from your garden.

The only limit is your imagination.

Help us keep Hyde Park clean. If no one takes what you brought, please bring it home with you.

Why RRFM?

2008-12-30T19:58:00.001+09:00

...because there's enough for everyone.
...because sharing is more fulfilling than owning.
...because corporations would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get anything for free.
...because scarcity is a myth constructed to keep us at the mercy of the economy.
...because a sunny day outside is better than anything money could buy.
...because no one should have to do without food, shelter, entertainment, and community.
...because life should be a picnic, but it only will be if we make it happen.

Really Really Free Market Comes to Perth

2008-12-30T18:09:00.001+09:00

When: Sunday 11 January 2009, 3-6pm
Where: Hyde Park, Cnr Vincent and William Streets, Highgate

Everyone is invited to arrive between 3:00 and 6:00 pm with goods, services, skills, performances, stories, crafts, food, games, music, clothing, furniture, plants, and resources to give and share with others in the community. There is no buying, selling or exchanging involved—in this market, everything is strictly free. Better than a yard sale, the Really Really Free Market has no price tags!

As at other Really Really Free Markets around the world, we create and participate in an alternative world, a world in which resources are held in common, the community meets the needs of the community, and ‘free’ means just that: really, really free.

The Really Really Free Market is an afternoon when social status can be earned by giving things rather than owning things, and when giving and receiving happens directly rather than being administered through an institution or organisation.

Nothing is required for participation, but if you would like to give something at the event, please think creatively about the skills you have and could teach, the useful or beautiful things you have and don’t need, or the resources you might be able to bring and share with people to create something during the event. This event is not a ‘dumping ground’ for people to get rid of things they don’t want; rather it is a space where people come together to provide for each other, inspire each other, and share together in the abundance of goods, skills, and creativity of our community. People are encouraged to take responsibility for any goods they bring that are not taken by the end of the event.