Collective of Anarchist Tourists (KATT)

21/12/2006

It’s not a joke, or ... just a little one. We got the idea to found anarchist tourist collective about three years ago but it lasted for some more months till the first tourist action took place. There were many reasons why to start such activities.

Above all, we believe, that spending weekends or whole weeks together on mountains could help us to create and form the real „community“ of people who are interested in anarchism (and it doesn’t matter how deep their interest is). It may sound awkward, but endless discussions on the internet forums on political themes, or meetings just for and before some political action don’t join people to such an extent we really need. Of course we, sometimes, can tell who thinks what about anarcho-comunism but that’s all. We don’t know such „things“ as interests, passions, future plans, problems, phobia or doubts. If the person hidden under the sexy nick and intelligent contributions plans to set a family or study till his/her fifties – we don’t know each other.
At least I DO MISS IT. I want to know more about people, with whom I share my ideas and opinion of society. I would like to find between them somebody I can trust, we can help and support each other etc.

And, of course, there are people, who haven’t contacted any organization, haven’t participated in any activity or haven’t subscribe to any forum – from many reasons – and I don’t wonder why, considering there are not many interesting actions and the discussions led on our forums couldn’t be interesting for them neither. We hope, that we can reach some of them, or at least those who fond of mountains.

Other aspect is the (no) activity in anarchist groups itself. The main reason, as we think, is that the communication is insufficient, almost no personal meetings of people who are from different regions. And, as many good ideas on interesting activities are „found“ unexpectedly, also the activities of KATT could have such results. (And they’ve approved in this way already.)

The Collective has also another potential – in the form of „joke“ to redeem word „anarchism“ – that anarchists are ordinary people who do not need molotovs or stone-blocks (at least in some situations :))
We were asked: „Why to force politics into free time activities?“. Hm, maybe the question is somehow wrong. Politics is not placed somewhere out of our daily life, it is not in front or against as, it’s not (should not be) the synonym of boredom or duty. Even doing politics can be fun! By „forcing“ politics into our free time it’s possible to help to apply principles of anarchism in our everyday life and our everyday feelings and needs.
These are not all motives which attract as to our actions. Each one involved has his/her own reasons, own aims which are hoped to be found there.

If you too see „some“ reasons why to organize anarchist tours on mountains, you are welcome. We have already made two winter tours, three summer tours and smaller regional activities like walks or picnics. It has always been fun and sometimes problems of anarchist decision-making occurred too . Our last destination was High Tatras where we met 20 – Slovaks, Czechs, Austrians. There are also plans to „found“ Czech group and Austrian group of The Collective. We are very looking forward to any suggestions, invitations and participants.

You can view reports and photos from our tours in ODDYCH section of www.priamaakcia.sk.

-MJ-