Seeds of Fire: A People’s Chronology

Recalling events that happened on this day in history.
Memories of struggle, resistance and persistence.

Compiled by Ulli Diemer

January 14, 1601
The Roman Catholic Church burns sacred Hebrew books in Rome. Related Topics: Anti-Semitism – Book Burning – Religious Persecution
January 14, 1875
Birth of Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), physician, theologian, musician, opponent of nuclear weapons, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Quote: “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.”
January 14, 1918
Mass strikes in Austria-Hungary. Related Topics: Austro-Hungarian Empire (Hapsburg) – Strikes
January 14, 1919
Rosa Luxemburg writes her last article, “Order Prevails in Berlin,” hours before she is murdered. She concludes with the words: “You foolish lackeys! Your ‘order’ is built on sand. Tomorrow the revolution will ‘rise up again, clashing its weapons,’ and to your horror it will proclaim with trumpets blazing: I was, I am, I shall be!” Further Reading: Rosa Luxemburg: Order Prevails in Berlin History Archive of the German Revolution
January 14, 1921
Birth of Murray Bookchin (1921-2006), American anarchist, author, and founder of the social ecology movement. Further Reading: Murray Bookchin: The Ecology of Freedom: The Emergence and Dissolution of Hierarchy Murray Bookchin: The Ghost of Anarcho-Syndicalism Murray Bookchin: Post-Scarcity Anarchism Related Topics: Libertarianism – Social Anarchism – Social Ecology
January 14, 1963
Reesor Siding: A lumber workers’ strike begins in Northern Ontario when workers walk off the job. Among the workers’ grievances are a wage freeze and a plan by the Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company to make them work seven days a week to meet production quotas. Local farmer-landowners who make money selling wood to the company are extremely hostile to the strike, and on February 10 they launch an armed attack on the unarmed strikers, killing three and wounding eight others. Twenty landowners are charged in the attack; eventually three of them are found guilty of firearms violations and fined $150 each. The police also charge 237 strikers for ‘illegal assembly’; 138 of them are found guilty. Further Reading: Reesor Siding Related Topics: Strikes: Canadian
January 14, 1967
The day of the “Human Be-In,” a ‘happening’ in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park; a prelude to San Francisco’s “Summer of Love”.
January 14, 1999
Death of Victor Papanek (1927-1998), designer and author. Further Reading: Victor Papanek: Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change Victor Papanek & James Hennessey: How Things Don’t Work Ulli Diemer: Review of How Things Don't Work Related Topics: Appropriate Technology – Design – Design for Social Need – Design Theory