Our intention had been to celebrate Orwell’s year 1984.
Others certainly had similar plans, as it was an opportunity to face up to the challenge of this ominous, symbolic year. It was a magical year — but to do exactly what? We had come upon our idea five years earlier — at one of those meetings held at a sidewalk cafe: in 1984 we would occupy Venice and declare anarchy!
And so, in September 1984, anarchy was indeed declared in the streets and piazzas of Venice, in all shapes and hues imaginable. We affirmed that we are anarchists and proud of it.
Proud to be anarchists and proud of our history, but mainly in- quisitive about the world, conscious of problems, open to doubts and to challenges. Our pride also suggested that we were strong enough in our convictions to accept revisions, yet modest enough to consider the real issues faced by men and women in today’s world.
This book is in itself the result of a collective endeavour. It is being published in five languages by five publisher friends. A family album, an ethnographic report, a historic document, it is an open book on the peoples of anarchy.