Approaching Apocalypse Distro
The Approaching Apocalypse Distro is an independent zine distributor working out Richmond, Virginia. We publish and distribute DIY zines and other products (patches, buttons, etc.) that inspire and inform. The purpose of this project is to help disseminate ‘propaganda’, connect people around the world, and make the zine community more accessible to people everywhere. Information, art, music, ideas and stories were meant to be shared and the Approaching Apocalypse Distro will do what it can to share them by selling most items at reasonable prices or at cost (or less).
The name Approaching Apocalypse is not reflective of a gloom and doom attitude about a fiasco of biblical proportions, but rather of an understanding that the world is a mess, and will likely only get messier (hopefully not actually end-of-the-world type messy). Reading and learning and writing and creating and loving are all ways that we can ‘prepare’ for what is to come. Approaching Apocalypse is also about living out our beliefs as anarchists- finding ways to be a positive influence and remain true to our anarchist ideals. We can not (and don’t want to) count on the government, corporations or any other organization to take care of us. It is up to all of us to find ways to contribute to our communities. Autonomy and community will be the keys to making the world better, not worse. As Rising Tide North America puts it when discussing climate change and the mess the world is in, “Practical solutions exist; it’s time we start using them and making them more widely accessible. We must dismantle the systems of oppression that permeate our culture and ourselves, and work toward real solidarity across lines of race, class, gender and sexual orientation. When we begin to build a culture of mutual aid and community autonomy, we demonstrate that we don’t need the government, and certainly not giant corporations, to survive. We just need a livable planet.”. (www.risingtidenorthamerica.org). Lofty goals to work towards, but that is what makes us idealists.
When some of my friends at Hampshire and I had the (completely informal and mostly unrealized) Apocalypse club, or just ran around talking about the apocalypse, it was with an energizing feeling. It helped us gain the momentum needed to make hot pants out of a sweater (etc.). I am pysched about projects and friends and community- and yelling ‘for the apocalypse’ helps get me even more excited. Like how excited I am about a zine distro.
The zines published by the Approaching Apocalypse distro have a focus on political and social justice issues (animal liberation, straight edge, vegan, social movements, environmental and sustainability issues, anarchism, etc.) as well as DIY how to subjects, punk, art, travel and personal zines. We welcome any submissions along these lines, and probably most other well-done zines. Contact us if you want to be distributed by Approaching Apocalypse, we are always looking for more titles.
Certain books may also be distributed by Approaching Apocalypse, if they seem relevant to the previous mentioned topics. Hopefully a vast array of awesome things, such as t-shirts, patches, buttons, tapes, and CDs will become available as Approaching Apocalypse grows. Vegan snacks are a future attendee of tabling events.
Approaching Apocalypse will operate mainly through the postal service, tabling at shows and conferences, and potentially a website in the near future. Approaching Apocalypse gives away a lot of free zines- through events such as Richmond Food Not Bombs, the Richmond Really Really Free Market, and by randomly leaving them in coffee shops around town.
Contact: Mo
Approachingapocalypse@riseup.net
P.O. BOx 6025
Richmond, Virginia 23222
About Mo: Mo is a vegan straightedge anarchist queer activist. Mo has not had the time or energy lately to write any more issues of their zine Cuddle Puddles and Hot Pants. Mo has not had the money recently to add much in the way of titles to this zine distro. If anyone wants to mail any donated zines or titles that would rule.
AVAILABLE TITLES------------------------------------
The Secret World of Terijian- Small and foldy, but 86 1/6th of a page pages of love and ELFs. An amazing and magical 'children's' story published by Crimethinc, written by ?, and available for 1 dollar.
Trans People and the Prison Industrial Complex- 20 folded in half pages. An overview of some main concepts, definitions, and quandries, as well as resources to find out more. Brought to you by Building Awareness Across Bars, The Trans Student Alliance, and the Queer Community Alliance at Hampshire College. 1 dollar.
Women and Prison- 24 folded in half pages. An overview of some aspects of the lives of women in prisons as well as some ways to get involved. Very important information, with resources included. Brought to you by Building Awareness Across Bars at Hampshire College. 1 dollar.
Brainscan #21 Irreconcilable Differences- 44 folded in half pages. A personal zine by Alex Wrekk of Stolen SHarpie Revolution accounting her decision to leave her partner of 6 years. Deals a lot with emotional manipulation and abuse. Recommended reading for anyone who has ever been in a relationship that just did not feel right. 3 dollars.
A Practical Body Modification- 32 quarter size pages in a well printed envelope. A zine by Alex Wrekk of Stolen Sharpie Revolution and Brainscan. The zine is about Alex's experience with an IUD type birthcontrol. Provides some good information about that method of birth control. Any women (or men or other) with questions about this type of birthcontrol should check this zine out! 2 dollars.
Nontoxic Housecleaning- 14 quarter size pages. Recipes and directions for creating DIY non toxic house cleaners that are healthier for you and for the environment. Makes it seem very easy to do this on your own. Very well put together and cute informative zine with recipes for everythign from wall cleaner to laundry detergent. So if you clean, you should read this zine! (you should probably clean..at least occasionally) 1 dollar.
An Animal Liberation Primer- Free!
Urban Guide to Living Sustainably- Free!
The Juniper # 9 - Free!- a zine on farming, seeds, growing things, radical
Trasher # 3- Free! - a zine abour hardcore, skateboards and trash, featuring articles- Great dives, why vega, cd reviews, the bands kingdom, sedition coalition, and xtime for changex
Trasher # 4- Free!- a zine about hardcore, skateboards and trash
