THE HISTORY AND DETAILS OF THE TAOS PEACE HOUSE AND
INFOSHOP
WHAT IS THE TAOS
PEACE HOUSE AND INFOSHOP ?
The
Taos Peace House and Infoshop is one of a growing number of progressive
activist infoshops and peace centers. The Taos Peace House and Infoshop
was started by Food Not Bombs. The Taos Peace House is also the global
coordination office of Food Not Bombs helping organize new chapters,
organizing tours and Food Not Bombs gatherings.
Infoshops
started to grow the 1980's with 121 Centre Brixton and the Long Haul.
Freedom Books in London and Bound Together Books in San Francisco were
two of a small number of progressive bookshops that survived the sixties
but after the fall of the Berlin Wall there was a revival of underground
bookstores called infoshops. Infoshops became a center for the activist
community in many communities.
An infoshop is a storefront or
social center that serves as a node for the distribution of anarchist
and progressive information, typically in the form of books, zines,
stickers and posters. Infoshops often serve as a meeting space and
resource hub for local activist groups.
Infoshops are
particularly prevalent in Western Europe and North America, but can be
found around the world. According to an Utne Reader article, author
Chris Atton describes British infoshops as having grown "out of the
squatted anarchist centres of the 1980s, such as the 121 Centre in
Brixton, London." Another big influence was the regular
European-wide International Infoshop Meetings of the 1990s.
Writing in Maximum RocknRoll, librarian Chuck Munson places North
American infoshops in the lineage of Vietnam War era peace and justice
centers. In June of 2006, the Infoshop Network, a network spanning
Canada and the United States, was formed at the Infoshop Gathering in
Baltimore, Maryland.
Food Not Bombs cofounder Keith McHenry
had visited many peace houses and infoshops on his speaking tours and
proposed that Taos activists organize an office space. Several
Taos activsts met at wired Cafe one snowy afternoon in 2006 and agreed
to start a community space. A grant proposal requesting $18,000 to pay
for the rent of a space housing the global coordination office of Food
Not Bombs. Ben and Jerrys Foundation responded by providing $14,500 on
December 21, 2007. Knowing that the grant would arrive Food Not Bombs
cofounder Keith McHenry visited a number of locations finding the
perfect location next to the Laughing Horse Inn. He invited the
community to share the Food Not Bombs Global Coordination office by
starting the Taos Peace House and Infoshop. The first event was What
Would Jesus Buy? Holiday Sale in late December 2007. The Taos Peace
House and Infoshop organized a large march against the war on Iraq on
March 19, 2008. The volunteers also organized a community meeting about
how Taos could protect its self in the event of an economic or political
crisis. Over 150 people participated. After many wonderful events volunteers at the Taos Peace House and Infoshop organized a two month long vigil baking bread in a solar oven outside the White House in Washington D.C. The Change We Knead Now! solar bake-in was so powerful the solar oven will be traveling the nation on the Bake Goods Not Bank Bailout - THE CHANGE WE KNEAD NOW! TOUR.
The Taos Peace House
and Infoshop provides libraries of zines, books, music, and information
about how to create an alternative society based on peace and equality.
The infoshop will also host many local activist projects like Food Not
Bombs, Indymedia and other progressive activities. The worldwide network
infoshops has provided a place for people to connect with other
activists and plug into local and global activities and information.
Like the other infoshops The Taos Peace House and Infoshop provides
literature, lectures, videos, cultural events to foster peace, social
justice and respect for the environment. The public can also get
uncensored world news as well as the latest information about how to
support local and global protests and campaigns. We have been contacting
progressive publications requesting bulk orders. Please let us know of
any publications we should carry. We will also host workshops on many
issues such as alternative energy and transportation, democracy and the
use of Formal Consensus, organic gardening and natural medicine ,
popular media, event, tour and campaign planning, drumming, puppet
making, radio production and vegan cooking.
We are inviting
everyone to become a sustaining member and take part in this exciting
community project. All local peace and social justice groups are
invited. Memberships and volunteer opportunities available. To fund the
infoshop we are inviting you to pledge $15 a month as a basic membership
and $25 a month as a sustaining member. Groups can join for $100 a
month.
The Taos Peace House Board - Rachel Dorner
- Keith McHenry - David Lewis
The Taos Peace House Kitchen
Products for sale
BOOK EXCHANGE Bring in your books for our book
exchange.
ART - GIFTS - BOOKS - T-SHIRTS -
ORNAMENTS - BUMPER STICKERS PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE MAGAZINES AND
INFORMATION - EDUCATIONAL EVENTS Hand crafted peace ornaments,
peace buttons, t-shirts, clothing, bumper stickers, books, art and all
the perfect gifts to celebrate this season of peace. Free hot cider, tea
and refreshments.
