About Us
Autonomous Geographies was initiated by Paul Chatterton (University of Leeds) and Jenny Pickerill (University of Leicester). A third member of the research team, Stuart Hodkinson (University of Leeds), was employed as the project’s research fellow. Here are a few lines about us:
Paul Chatterton, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Leeds
I teach international development and alternatives to development in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds. My main areas of writing and research are: the popular uprising in Argentina since 2001; the corporate control of city centres; and alternative models of development. I am also involved in various solidarity and campaign groups around the UK and beyond, including: Kiptik, a solidarity group helping to build appropriate technology water systems in the Zapatista autonomous communities in Chiapas, Mexico; the Common Place social centre in Leeds; Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network, which provides voluntary support, advice and friendship to refugees and asylum seekers; and Trapese, a popular education collective working on climate change, development and poverty.
Visit Paul’s personal homepage
Jenny Pickerill, Lecturer in Human Geography,
University of Leicester
I am interested in how collective action, participation, spaces for dialogue, autonomy and anarchism can create pathways towards environmental and social justice. I explore these themes as a researcher, teacher and through daily life. I have been involved in a variety of different campaigns in Britain and Australia, am currently building an eco-house in Leicestershire and volunteering with a support group for refugees in Leicester. My aims in life include minimising my environmental impact, undertaking useful and ethical research, encouraging discussion and radical debates through teaching and using my love of photography to explore the beauty of, and challenges facing, society. I am currently a lecturer in human geography at the University of Leicester and have published a book and a number of journal articles on these themes.
Visit Jenny’s personal website
Stuart Hodkinson, Research Fellow, School of Geography, University of Leeds
I am trying to develop with others a grassroots-oriented action research agenda that investigates, explains and challenges the corporate enclosure and exploitation of everyday life under neoliberal globalisation. I am currently focusing on three main areas: (i) networks and distributions of power, ownership and control in the city; (ii) the ‘new enclosures’ being driven by housing privatisation and financial speculation; and (iii) migrant struggles against the modern enslavement system and for asylum, regularisation, full citizenship rights and reparations. I am active in campaigns for affordable public housing and the No Borders network that takes direct action against the detention and deportation of migrants in the UK and campaigns for end to immigrational controls and national borders.
Latest News
Jobs at Permaculture Association
The Permaculture Association (Britain) is a small education and research charity that supports individuals and groups to learn more about the theory and practice of permaculture. It is currently advertising two vacancies for a Project Coordinator and Finance Clerk at its Leeds office. Closing date: 27 June 2008. More information can be downloaded from its website
Free Hicham Yezza!
A former PhD student and current employee Nottingham University faces deportation to Algeria on 1 June following his unjust arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 after he printed an Al Qaeda manual as a favour for a research student. Read on and see the Free Hicham Yezza campaign.
New Social Centres Book
A new book has been published bringing together the diverse stories about many of the UK’s social centres, along with thoughts on their effectiveness, the problems they encounter, and the political ideas they encapsulate. What’s this place? has been written by activists involved in social centres with support from the Autonomous Geographies project.
Living In The Future Film
Undercurrents have released the latest episode of their video series ‘Living in the Future’ about Lammas and many other ecovillage type projects around the world. Living in the Future highlights how people have come together to build their own homes, grow their own food, and create lively and sustainable communities.
Transition Town Movement
Rob Hopkins has recently released his new book “The Transition Handbook”. For an excellent review of this book by Robert Morgan and a video clip from Caroline Lucas MEP about the transition town movement and the new book, visit: transitionculture.org
Lammas re-submit ecovillage proposal
Lammas have resubmitted their proposal to build an mutually-owned ecovillage in Wales which combines the traditional smallholding model with the latest innovations in environmental design, green technology and permaculture. Construction is planned to start in the autumn of 2008 and they are asking for support. See http://www.lammas.org.uk/ecovillage/proposal.htm
Slave Trade Event in Leeds, 17 May 08
On Sat 17 May at Leeds Metropolitan University (10-5pm), Anti-Slavery International is holding an all day workshop in Leeds on the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The event will offer free resources, training and networking beyond the Bicentenary. Click the title for more info…
The Global Blood Trade, 28 April 08
On Mon 28 April (5.15pm in School of Geography, Leeds), Carol Grayson will give a seminar on the ‘Global Blood Trade and its Victims’. Grayson’s MA thesis was a major force in getting an independent Public Inquiry on the issue of contaminated blood in the NHS. She will talk about how blood has become a lucrative globalised commodity, the dire implications for patients’ welfare, and the campaigns fighting for justice.
Transition City Leeds - 19 April 08
On Saturday 19th April (10am until 5pm), the Transition City network will be holding a free one day workshop exploring how Leeds well be affected by climate change and the end of cheap oil, and how we can build a positive, low carbon future for Leeds. Lunch and refreshments provided, child friendly event, but no crèche facilities. No need to book, come for all or part of the day
http://transition-city-leeds.wikispaces.com/
Zizek in Leeds!
The (in)famous cultural theorist, Slavoj Žižek, is coming to Leeds on Tuesday 18 March (5.30-8pm, University of Leeds). Referred to as the “Elvis of Cultural Theory” and “The Marx Brother” he charismatically and provocatively examines popular culture using the unlikely pairing of German idealist philosophy and French psychoanalysis. On Tuesday March 18th, he is talking at the University of Leeds about his latest book Violence. Admission to the event is free. Click the heading for more details.