Every Thursday at Jura Jase is offering casual guitar lessons to whoever turns up, between 2pm and 7pm. Beginners to intermediates welcome. Willing to exchange services if you have something to offer though not necessary. Call 0413 638 668 for more details.

Last year we were presented with a crisis and an opportunity, and we asked for your help. The bank that holds the mortgage for our property called in the loan. They asked us to pay $5,000 immediately and the rest - another $15,000 - as soon as possible.

We are proud to announce that with your help we have raised over $18,000 as of December 2009 !

This is living proof of the amazing capacity and commitment of the community that surrounds Jura Books. We all believe that Sydney needs radical change, and Jura is a key part of making that change.

The Save Jura raffle is over and we're happy to say it was a great success - thanks to you! It was a massive effort over six months, with:
--> 3,000 tickets sold.
--> 900 existing supporters contacted (including 750 via email, 200 via facebook, 200 via sms, 80 by phone call).
--> 200 houses door-knocked in our local area.
--> 5,500 letters hand delivered to people in our local area (these letters talked about what anarchism is, as well as Jura and the raffle).
--> 100s of posters put up across Sydney.
--> Stalls held in Newcastle, Glebe, Redfern, Newtown, Helensburgh and more.

All of this was done by a few dozen volunteers - congratulations to all of you who sold tickets, provided prizes and spread the word. And thank you to everyone who donated (hundreds of you) - every contribution helped. We also received a handful of very generous donations from comrades around Australia, Aotearoa, the US, Europe and other parts of the world. Thank you all! It has been very inspiring to experience this living anarchist solidarity.


Through this effort we raised over $13,000! We've also built a stronger community and communicated with literally thousands of people to engage with them about anarchist ideas - many for the first time. When we started the raffle there was $15,000 left on the mortgage and now there is only $2,500! (We had to spend some of what was raised on bills, insurance and interest along the way.) Interest payments are down from almost $200 per month to $91 per month and will soon be even lower. Through collective action, the crisis we faced has been turned into a opportunity and a success for anarchism in Sydney.

And of course congratulations to the prize-winners (you should already have been contacted). Please collect your prizes if you haven't already done so.

Political diaries and calendars are in stock and at reduced rates, including those funky Slingshot Organisers and 3CR Calendars.

Hi Jura friends and supporters,

There are 4 great gigs on at Jura this month..

--> ONE! Folk punk show this Saturday 23rd Jan. Chris Burrows from
Tasmania is back and playing in his new band making acoustic punk rock
music with a guitar, grand piano, double bass, cello, viola and a whole
bunch of violins. Also from Tasmania, Ethan (from the old Sydney
teenage folk punk crew named Commonfilth!) will be bringing his new
reggae punk band called Phat Meegz. Also, local band Rabbit from
Bankstown / Liverpool way will be bringing their post-HSC post-rock.
You may have seen Ivars, one of the guitarists play at a Juracoustic
event a few months back. There will also be a large amount of tasty mi
goreng for your enjoyment (by donation). 3pm - 7pm, Sat 23rd Jan.

--> TWO! Punk show with Independent Thought Alarm, Ether Rag,
Thylascene, Stono Caves, and others. Entry by Donation. 8pm - 10pm,
Thurs 28th Jan.

--> THREE! The Milvain from Italia, playing catchy hardcore / screamo punk. For at taste see http://www.myspace.com/milvains. 7pm - 9pm, Tues 9th Feb.

--> FOUR! Fun punk rock in the library with Little Lungs (from
Brooklyn, USA), Alphabet Snakes (Melbourne) and Bare Arms. 7pm -
10.30pm, Sat 27th Feb.

In case you missed our email last month and are wondering about the
Save Jura Raffle, we are pleased to report that thanks to you, we
raised $13,000! A few dozen volunteers were able to sell 3000 tickets,
door-knock 200 houses in our local area, hand deliver 5500 letters, and
more. All of this work helped to build a stronger anarchist community
and communicate with thousands of people about anarchist ideas - many
for the first time. Thank you to everyone who donated money and time
(hundreds of you). Collective action works! Prize-winners have been
notified and are listed on our website.

So now is the perfect time to talk about Jura's future. What do you
think we should do in 2010 and beyond? Expand the library? Catalogue
the bookshop? Organise a conference? Build a revolutionary workers
movement in Australia? Come to the Jura Community Planning Workshop -
a day for anyone and everyone at all connected with Jura to have a say
in the future of the project. This means YOU. We want and need your
input - everyone is welcome! Food will be available by donation.
--> Jura Community Planning workshop 2pm, Sat 30th Jan.

Also coming up this month...

--> Jura fixing workshop - help us sort books, paint things and fix the place. 12-5pm on Sat 23rd Jan and Sun 24th Jan.

--> The normal Jura collective meeting to talk about the day-to-day running of the place. All welcome. 5.30pm, Fri 12th Feb.

--> The National Day of Action against the NT Intervention and for
Aboriginal Rights organised by Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney.
The rally is to demand an end to the intervention and income
quarantining. And to support self-determination, Aboriginal controlled
housing, jobs and services for all communities. For more detail see http://www.stoptheintervention.org/ 1pm Sat 13th Feb at the Block, Redfern.

--> Come and help put together the next edition of the Scooter Zine
focusing on DIY women's performance in Sydney. For the Scooter zine
making workshop the Jura library will be an autonomous women's space.
1-5pm, Sun 14th Feb.

--> Ramsey Kanaan
long-time activist and founder of radical publisher PM Press will be in
Sydney again for a short time. He will be giving a political talk about
the progress and prospects of a variety of anarchist projects in the USA. Followed by discussion on how we can use these ideas in Australia. 6.30pm, Fri12th Feb. Free! Snacks provided.

Also, we still have a selection of diaries and calendars for 2010 left.
They are beautifully made and full of radical dates and info to inspire
you. Many of these are now substantially discounted - Slingshots
Organizers are now $6 (small) and $12 (large).  

Hope to see you soon!

Lots of love and rage from the Jura Collective.

440 Parramatta Rd, Petersham
9550 9931
http://www.jura.org.au

Opening Hours:

Wednesday 2 - 7pm
Thursday 2 - 7pm
Friday 2 - 7pm
Saturday 12 - 5pm
Sunday 12 - 5pm