OUr cultural programme, everyone can take part in it
Studio Watercolour
Come and discover the magic of watercolour in a bookshop surrounded by silence, books, and a calm atmosphere. No experience needed for this session, just curiosity and trust in the process.
During these two hours, you'll explore colour mixing, water control, and basic techniques to paint your own landscapes or abstract compositions. Everything is provided: paint, paper, brushes, and inspiration. You just show up.
Taught by Mathilde BQT, graphic design graduate and visual artist.
€20 · No material needed · Beginners welcome
Evening chats with a psychotherapist: Understanding how philosophers think from a psychological perspective
Join us for another evening dedicated to philosophers and minds with Teodora Muresan!
We're excited to welcome you to the third edition of Evening Chats with a Psychotherapist—a space dedicated to curiosity, reflection, and meaningful conversations. This edition explores how philosophers think from a psychological perspective, not only through lectures, but through guided conversations, practical exercises, and shared reflection. Have you ever questioned - who you are beneath your thoughts and beliefs? - you think, feel, or react the way you do? - what philosophy can teach us about the human mind? Whether you're passionate about psychology, philosophy, or simply interested in understanding yourself and others more deeply, this evening is for you
reading out loud collectively - "we should all be feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
This is an invitation to READERS AND NON-READERS!
After our glorious meeting around the work of defining Ur-Fascism by Umberto Eco, we decided to move on with our reading out loud with another important text by an important author, to reframe what feminism means (cause yes, we need a convergence of fights - but for that, we can all agree it is better to define the terms and why we lead the fights).
Within a 45 minute read, we will be able to go through this entire manifesto and have a conversation or a debate about it.
The reading is volunteer-based; if you don't feel comfortable, you can just listen and get energized by the meeting of other fellows in Unity Bookshop's garden!
FREE EVENT - DONATIONS WELCOME
The reading will start at 6:30pm, and we'll read the whole 53 pages before having a collective chat about the book.
Joining?
(Capacity reached) Zine making as feminist practice. session #3 make your own zine with Caroline
Join us for a late afternoon of feminist creativity with Caroline as a facilitator between you and your future zine.
This last session is the end of a three -workshop series dedicated to feminism and zine-making. YOU CAN STILL JOIN EVEN IF YOU MISSED ONE OR TWO SESSIONS.
All those will be compiled in a collective zine available at Unity Bookshop.
FEMINIST ZINE MAKING WORKSHOP SERIES:
Caroline's first Feminist zine making workshop focused on exploring how women's bodies have been and remain a battlefield, while the second one was centered on both the teachings of feminism that we want to pass onto others, and the ways feminists have sought to reshape teaching and education. This third and last session is dedicated to "Love is as love does" inspired by bell hooks’ writings on the politics and practice of love, and the importance of friendship and community.
No skills required, all material provided, as well as tea and coffee :)
These events are free, but we welcome a 3 euro donation (cash or transfer) to Unity Bookshop.
Feeling watched? A surveillance/art workshop
Join us for a series of workshops in surveillance/art, culminating in a group zine, organized by illustrator Millie Green
Here is a description of her first event at Unity Bookshop, happening on the Saturday 16th of August!
1. Feeling watched?
Exploring the ways we watch ourselves and our loved ones: self/intimate surveillance
Group discussion
how do you think you watch yourself/those close to you?
why do you do it? why do you think those around you might be watching you?
Workshop
Group drawing exercise: we draw one another, one at a time
Talk about how it felt to be drawn and how it felt to draw
Collective anti-fascist reading - "ANTIFA - the antifascist handbook” by Mark Bray
Join us at Unity Bookshop for a our third collective reading session to tackle the multiple forms of contemporary fascism — this time we chose techno-fascism — and deepen our knowledge, activate our critical thinking, and debate together.
Come and get a piece of the book: read amongst your peers for 45 minutes, then discuss and analyse the text as a group for another 45 minutes, bringing our collective knowledge together at the end.
Free event, donations welcome.
——————————————————————-
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook is a 2017 book written by American historian Mark Bray and published by Melville House Publishing, which explores the history of anti-fascist movements since the 1920s and 1930s and their contemporary resurgence.
Content
Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook details the emergence of anti-fascism in the 1920s and 1930s, and offers an analysis of contemporary anti-fascist movements, particularly antifa in the United States and Europe. Bray argues in his book that militant anti-fascism is a reasonable and legitimate political tradition, and describes his book as "an unabashedly partisan call to arms that aims to equip a new generation of anti-fascists with the history and theory necessary to defeat the resurgent far-right". Historical examples referred to in the book include the 43 Group, Rock Against Racism, the Red Warriors, and the Autonomen who popularized black bloc tactics.[1][2][3] It also details key events in the history of anti-fascist movements, such as the Battle of Cable Street.[4]
In addition to describing the history of anti-fascist movements, the book dedicates a chapter to "Five Historical Lessons for Anti-Fascists".[5][1] It discusses the subject of antifa as it relates to deplatforming and freedom of speech.[6][7][1] Interviews that Bray conducted with antifa activists are included in the book.[8][9][10] Bray conducted 61 such interviews across 17 different countries.[5][4] Bray uses the definition of fascism provided by Robert Paxton.[3][11] He defines antifa as "illiberal politics of social revolutionism applied to fighting the Far Right, not only literal fascists" and as a "pan-left radical politics uniting communists, socialists, anarchists and various different radical leftists together for the shared purpose of combating the far right."[11][12][13]
Reception
The San Francisco Chronicle praised the book's writing, calling Bray's analysis "methodical and informative" and his arguments "incisive and cohesive".[5][14]
Carlos Lozada of The Washington Post commented that "the book's most enlightening contribution is on the history of anti-fascist efforts over the past century, but its most relevant for today is its justification for stifling speech and clobbering white supremacists".[3]
In the Los Angeles Review of Books, Luca Provenzano said that the book was "written from a commendable place of engagement and provides a serviceable genealogy for militant anti-fascism in the present", but was also critical of the book, saying that a "closer, more critical look at modern antifa's inception in the 1960s and '70s reveals some of the pitfalls of militant organizing, and a truly credible analysis of anti-fascist protest tactics would need to pay much closer attention to this period."[15]
Fred Shaw, writing in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, called the book "pointed with concise analysis provided by an insider’s perspective", but also said it was "not a page-turner".[11]
In Brazil, Bray's book featured in what Bray described as "a little bit of a controversy" on Twitter in 2021, when a member of the self-described "Anti-Fascism Police Movement" tweeted a photo of himself holding the book, to which the author replied that if he was really anti-fascist he should quit his job.[10]
Studio Watercolour
Come and discover the magic of watercolour in a bookshop surrounded by silence, books, and a calm atmosphere. No experience needed for this session, just curiosity and trust in the process.
During these two hours, you'll explore colour mixing, water control, and basic techniques to paint your own landscapes or abstract compositions. Everything is provided: paint, paper, brushes, and inspiration. You just show up.
Taught by Mathilde BQT, graphic design graduate and visual artist.
€20 · No material needed · Beginners welcome
Friendship Bracelet Making - Bring your political message on board
What if we could be little Swifties but with a political message?
At Unity, we offer a time on a Sunday to meet people with a tea, a coffee, a lemonade and some time talk or brainstorm around your punch line bracelet.
Grab a drink, your pals and the beads and create your own revolutionary message.
This event is an attempt to connect with people, and even more to organise a little fundraising for an NGO we are close to, SOS Mediterranee to help rescuing people crossing the Mediterranean sea in awful conditions, knowing that our governments are actively complicit of thousands of invisible deaths yearly.
If you wish to give more, we create a differentiated price for all audiences.
See you there!
Citizens' assembly #3
Reclaim the narrative. Speak for yourself. Connect with your community.
You didn’t attend the first ones? no problem! It can be a different crowd each time!
On Sunday 26th of August at 6:30pm, Unity Bookshop opens its doors for an evening of drinks and real conversation - the kind that doesn't come with a moderator, a hierarchy, or a script.
We will talk about the things that bind us as people. We can make space for agreement and for dissensus, for debate, in order to stimulate our intellectual reflection, listen to one another, let space for the understanding.
Facing dumb polarisation, manufactured outrage, and the slow creep of politics built on division and fear, let's do something different. Let's think locally, speak honestly, and build something together.
You can suggest a topic, or add a question via the form below - or just show up and join the conversation.
The sociology of freedom - Abdullah Öcalan (collective reading and discussion with Adm - academy of democratic modernity)
Abdullah Öcalan was abducted on February 15, 1999, as part of an international plot. He is considered the leading strategist and the most prominent political figure of the Kurdish freedom movement. While in solitary confinement at Imrali Island Prison, he wrote more than ten books that transformed Kurdish politics and beyond. He speaks for the people's aspirations for freedom from political and cultural oppression, as well as for democracy and peace. His ideas have inspired people from Kurdistan to other parts and struggles of the world. From his prison cell, he started and is leading the peace process and the search for a democratic solution last year.
The Sociology of Freedom is the third volume in a series of five works titled The Manifesto of Democratic Civilization. In it, he revisits the origins of human culture to offer perspectives on twenty-first-century issues and explore potential solutions. He argues that industrialism, capitalism, and the nation-state cannot be overcome within the confines of a socialist context.
At this event, we will read parts of Öcalan's sociological and political analyses to establish a theoretical foundation for understanding the problem of the state and the solution for society. We will read different sections in smaller groups and then discuss them as a whole. Our main goal is to generate interest and excitement about discussing and sharing thoughts on the paradigm. This could lead to forming a reading group to continue reading together or planning a second event focusing on the concrete proposal of building democratic confederalism.
Entry is free.
Lino printing workshop - Atelier Suriz
Join us on August 30th at Unity Bookshop for an introduction to lino printing. This marvelous technique offers so many possibilities, and Alicia from Atelier Suriz will guide you through creation of your very own lino block print from initial design to finished work.
Alicia is an illustrator working right here in the Porte de Namur neighborhood. She has many years’ experience in printmaking, most recently in illustration projects. Paper and basic printing supplies will be provided at the workshop, and at the end of the session you will have a lovely print and lino block to take home.
And in case you want to check out Alicia’s website:
Worlds within Worlds: launch event
Losses are a part of everyday life. These artists navigate this terrain of grief, a transitory space that treads between one state of being and another. One discovers a story of hope, the other finds homecoming within themself. Their works invite the audience to wander into the memories, dreamscapes and experiences that bring forth a journey of becoming and belonging.
Watcharita Aroon lives and works in Brussels. She is the founder of Wolkendag Archive, a repository of paraphernalia from graphic artworks, printed matter to souvenirs.
Shuxian Lee is a storyteller displaced from tropical shores. She has a fondness for graphic novels and has illustrated for Asymptote Journal, an online literary journal, and short graphic stories Putu Piring and Through the Longkang, published by Checkpoint Theatre Singapore. Her comics can also be found in Liquid City Vol. 3 and C'est Bon comic anthology.
Www.instagram.com/whenshudraws
Free event - Donations welcome on site
crochet workshop - make your own bookmark!
Sometimes we need a break from our usual readings and debates to leave some time for creative session at Unity Bookshop!
Join us in our garden for a hands-on crochet session led by Olympiada, our dear librarian, also expert in all things crochet can provide, and leave with your very own bookmark made entirely by your own hands.
Disclaimer: this workshop is not for complete beginner (but you still are welcome - just bear in mind the making can take a long time for yu if you never held a crochet before).
Olympiada will guide you through the essential beginner stitches you need to bring your bookmark to life.
By the end of the session, you wil have mastered the basics and created something small but meaningful to carry with you for your books
The kits with various colours and crochets are available directly at Unity!
You can pick it up on the day or beforehand.
Come stitch, celebrate, and connect.
Yoga, Scones & Sutras
Come and join us for the second time in the courtyard for a gentle yoga session, followed by breakfast and a guided reading of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
Together we'll move, breathe, eat, read, and discuss. Through selected passages of this ancient text, we'll explore questions that are still relevant today: how do we pay attention, live with intention, and relate to ourselves and others?
No previous experience with yoga or philosophy is needed, just bring your curiosity.
The session lasts 90 minutes and includes yoga, freshly baked scones & warm drinks, and the reading/discussion.
Ticket 22€, 6 places available, bring your own mat (or book it if you don't have one).
As a Pilates and Hatha Yoga teacher, I enjoy helping people reconnect with their bodies through mindful movement. Inspired by the teachings of both disciplines, I explore ways to integrate them into daily life, both on and off the mat. My approach is accessible, attentive, and adaptable to every body. Virginia FB:Yopibxl
(sold out)Book & Wine Pairing
Join Andromachi (Andromachi Selection) and Aurore (Unity Bookshop) for an immersive evening of Hellenic literature and wine tasting.
5 wines, 5 books, olive oil, and Kalamata olives.
An evening structured like a journey (nostos, the voyage home), where each "stop" pairs a Greek literary work with a wine from a specific region of Greece, plus a bite of olive oil or Kalamata olives to ground the palate between readings.
Andromachi and Aurore act as co-guides through intertwined narratives — a correspondence between the emotions and stories offered by wine and books.
Find your path to us, and join the journey together!
(Sold out) An evening with a therapist - Kafka's world - a guided conversation with psychologist teodora muresan
Join us at Unity Bookshop for an evening with psychologist Teodora Mureșan, who will guide us through an immersive exploration of meaning in the work of Franz Kafka.
Over a tea or coffee, we'll gather around the table to discuss the themes that run through the heart of The Metamorphosis: the alienation of the individual, the fragility of identity, and the quiet horror of becoming a stranger to one's own family.
By reading literature through a psychological lens, Teodora will offer a fresh and illuminating perspective on our relationship with Kafka's world — one that goes beyond the page and into our own lives.
Your ticket is redeemable as a voucher on the night, over our displayed bibliography of Kafka, directly at the bookshop!
We can't wait to see you there.
Citizens' assembly #2
Reclaim the narrative. Speak for yourself. Connect with your community.
You didn’t attend the first one? no problem! It can be a different crowd each time!
On Sunday 26th of July at 4:30pm, Unity Bookshop opens its doors for an evening of drinks and real conversation - the kind that doesn't come with a moderator, a hierarchy, or a script.
We will talk about the things that bind us as people. We can make space for agreement and for dissensus, for debate, in order to stimulate our intellectual reflection, listen to one another, let space for the understanding.
Facing dumb polarisation, manufactured outrage, and the slow creep of politics built on division and fear, let's do something different. Let's think locally, speak honestly, and build something together.
You can suggest a topic, or add a question via the form below - or just show up and join the conversation.
The Reading Corner
Welcome to the reading corner! 📖
Here’s a glimpse into our Sundays: warm drink in hand, a book you actually want to read, and a few people doing exactly the same thing nearby. Sometimes we talk about what’s happening in our stories, sometimes we just smile and keep reading.
No assigned chapters, no deadlines, just the joy of reading together.
It’s quiet, but never lonely.
Join us any Sunday morning, we always have room for another reader 💛
Donations are welcome at Unity Bookshop as coffee, tea and sweets are displayed for free during the event (would keep going) - just send us a message below to secure your spot!
SlowRead bookclub - “don’t talk about politics” by Sarah Stein Lubrano
“don’t talk about politics” by Sarah Stein Lubrano
(Selected chapters) - You can also order your copy at Unity bookshop for 16 euros
by GrowthKills
Join us on 25 July to read ‘Don’t Talk About Politics’ by Sarah Stein Lubrano. Why does it feel impossible to get others to understand degrowth, when it makes so much sense? Discuss with us how we can share ideas with friends and family without falling into debates. From friendship to community organizing and social infrastructure, the author explores the actions that actually do change minds.
SlowRead is not your usual book club invitation. It’s a no-prep, no-deadline zone of arpentage where we explore the book individually in parts (on the spot) and then bring everything together in conversation as a group
Schedule
10:00 – Arrive, grab a tea, and grab one chapter
10:15 – Read slowly, surrounded by fellow readers
11:15 – Share insights and join the discussion
GrowthKills
This event is organised by GrowthKills, a civil disobedience campaign supported by Scientist Rebellion.
”We challenge the ideology of infinite growth on a finite planet”
Extras
Bring a snack for our potluck table (optional, but always welcome!)
Bring your book if you have it. If not, we can share a chapter on-site or send it before the event (having an e-reader or laptop helps).
Social text
"For the month of July, social text* is landing at Unity Bookshop.
social text* is a nomadic gathering facilitated by juliette yasmine mello & Valentina Bianchi.
It's a collective practice that attempts to facilitate reading as a pleasurable process, moving from conversational modalities toward experimental modes of poetry-making.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own books, especially those they find difficult or resistant.
Through cyclic phases of reading and discussion we will gain new access to the texts as social fields.
Whilst we will mostly read and chat in english, participants can also bring a book in their preferred language.
So bring a book of your choice and let's read together!"
Breakfast with a Journalist #3 - Catherine vuylsteke
There's something rare about sitting down with the person behind the byline.
Join us for an intimate morning at Unity Bookshop: a unique chance to meet a journalist who carries people's stories to their readers. Not a panel, not a lecture. A real conversation, over coffee and croissants in the bookshop's garden.
Our guest brings their own critical lens, their personal journey, and the kind of honesty that only comes in a small room with curious people.
This edition, we are delighted to welcome Catherine Vuylsteke, a militant journalist, writer and film-maker, specialist of China, writing for De Standaard and Knack on a regular basis.
Ask your questions. Enter the conversation. Enjoy the morning.
Happy to see you there!
Anti-fascist Book Club: reading collectively - "Repeat, a warning from History" by Dennis Glover
There is only so much we can ignore from the past.
Here is our second session dedicated to texts we found relevant to what we are sensing, experimenting, defining - an idea of "oh, that rings a bell!"
While our grandparents are still dealing with their war traumas, we are getting bathed in a new technological era of resurgent fascism. In the middle of the worst ecological crisis possible.
Dennis Glover is a former speech-writer and a historian, which explains in itself the concise text of "Repeat".
Why did we choose this book? It goes simply through many authoritarian regimes (Stalin, Hitler, Franco, Mussolini) and the wars perpetuated by elites, that we cannot forget about - not only as a result of madness, but also the mechanisms, and how it could/will impact us in the nearest future.
It is widely accessible to any reader, we are using this book as a tool to read it all at once, and go deeper with a chosen topic from this session.
Finally, we might or might not agree with Glover's - and it could lead to a lot of debates - but this is also what we are looking for, a space for dissent, and a space to activate tools to gather and learn what to do.
How does it work? Each attendant comes at Unity Bookshop’s garden, gets a copy of one chapter (either for one person or in a small group, depending on the amount of participants), we read in silence for 45 mins, and then we each give a feedback of what we read before a collective discussion.
Yoga, Scones & Sutras
Come and join us for the second time in the courtyard for a gentle yoga session, followed by breakfast and a guided reading of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
Together we'll move, breathe, eat, read, and discuss. Through selected passages of this ancient text, we'll explore questions that are still relevant today: how do we pay attention, live with intention, and relate to ourselves and others?
No previous experience with yoga or philosophy is needed, just bring your curiosity.
The session lasts 90 minutes and includes yoga, freshly baked scones & warm drinks, and the reading/discussion.
Ticket 22€, 6 places available, bring your own mat (or book it if you don't have one).
As a Pilates and Hatha Yoga teacher, I enjoy helping people reconnect with their bodies through mindful movement. Inspired by the teachings of both disciplines, I explore ways to integrate them into daily life, both on and off the mat. My approach is accessible, attentive, and adaptable to every body. Virginia FB:Yopibxl
reading out loud collectively - "How to spot a fascist" by Umberto Eco
This is an invitation to READERS AND NON-READERS!
Times are getting darker and darker. We need to learn, organize, and act fast — so at Unity Bookshop, we've decided to design a few events to collectively tackle what looks like a blurry, protean, and ubiquitous problem resurfacing from the past (as if we were learning from our mistakes!).
So, for the first time, we will stand up (volunteer-based) to read out loud. Umberto Eco, with his concise text on the fourteen points that "wire our brains" on "How to Spot a Fascist," is for us a good medium to frame the multiple ideas of fascism.
If we want to tackle this repetition of history, we'd rather get a clear definition beforehand.
The reading will start at 6:30pm, and we'll read the whole 53 pages before having a collective chat about the book.
Joining?
Concert Saint-December
Join us at Unity bookshop for a beautiful acoustic concert by Chris Malapitan, as Saint-December!
“Saint December” (he/him) is the alternative folk music project of Brussels-based singer- songwriter Christopher Malapitan.
Drawing on his life experiences as a global nomad, he crafts original songs exploring themes such as childhood memories, self-acceptance and belonging.
In his live music performances he creates an intimate experience by blending emotional and evocative songs with nostalgic storytelling.
His biggest musical influences are Andrew Bird, Eddie Vedder, and Beirut.
He plays the tenor ukulele and sings in English.
Book your date night
sold out for people looking to date men
〰️
sold out for people looking to date men 〰️
BOOK YOUR DATE - Don’t judge a book by its cover - Judge your next date by their mate’s pitch.
A chaotic dating night inside a second-hand English bookstore. The best potential first date isn’t it?
Books, flirting, red flags, green flags & your friends becoming your cupids. IMPORTANT Everyone is welcome to join the event as long as they are single, and let them pitch you like the masterpiece you are.
No friend available that night? Pitch yourself. Worst case scenario: you leave with new friends.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
At the beginning of the night, each participant receives a small A5 “book” notebook representing themselves (or the single friend they’re pitching).
You’ll be able to:
✦ create your book cover
✦ choose a title & genre
✦ decorate it with markers & collages
✦ write a small “book excerpt” on the back
Your ticket includes a cheeky drink, an extra reason to come and to join the crew!
Brussels Writer's Gym
The Brussels Writers' Gym is a safe space for both budding and experienced creative writers and dreamers who would like to beat the writer's block. The writing session will be followed by reading and discussion allowing everyone to share without any fear of judgement.
Spots are limited and filled on a first come first served basis.
Please bring your own writing apparatus and don't forget to register.
The Reading Corner
Welcome to the reading corner! 📖
Here’s a glimpse into our Sundays: warm drink in hand, a book you actually want to read, and a few people doing exactly the same thing nearby. Sometimes we talk about what’s happening in our stories, sometimes we just smile and keep reading.
No assigned chapters, no deadlines, just the joy of reading together.
It’s quiet, but never lonely.
Join us any Sunday morning, we always have room for another reader 💛
Donations are welcome at Unity Bookshop as coffee, tea and sweets are displayed for free during the event (would keep going) - just send us a message below to secure your spot!
Breakfast with a Journalist #2 - Saïd Al Haddad from Bruzz
There's something rare about sitting down with the person behind the byline.
Join us for an intimate morning at Unity Bookshop: a unique chance to meet a journalist who carries people's stories to their readers. Not a panel, not a lecture. A real conversation, over coffee and croissants in the bookshop's garden.
Our guest brings their own critical lens, their personal journey, and the kind of honesty that only comes in a small room with curious people.
This edition, we are delighted to welcome Saïd Al Haddad from Bruzz, one of the pilars of the well-known Brussels print and digital platform.
Ask your questions. Enter the conversation. Enjoy the morning.
Happy to see you there!
Zine making as feminist practice. session #1 Make your own zine with Caroline
Join us for a late afternoon of feminist creativity with Caroline as a facilitator between you and your future zine.
The theme will be ‘‘Our bodies are a battleground".
No skills required, all material provided, as well as tea and coffee :)
This first session is the start of a three-workshop series dedicated to feminism and zine-making.
These events are free, but we welcome a 3 euro donation (cash or transfer) to Unity Bookshop, OR you can contribute by bringing old magazines, random leaflets and flyers, books, stickers or all kinds of papers that we can cut from and use collectively for zine-making !
Feel free to also bring your favourite feminist books for inspiration.
FEMINIST ZINE MAKING WORKSHOP SERIES:
1. "Our bodies are a battleground" (30 May)
Feminist zine making workshop #1, focused on exploring how women's bodies have been and remain a battlefield, and expressing in a personal zines how we feel our own bodies could be freed from having to fight those battles, or used to fight and win them.
2. "If I learn I can teach others" (25 June tbc)
Feminist zine making workshop #2, centered on both the teachings of feminism that we want to pass onto others, and the ways feminists have sought to reshape teaching and education.
3. "Love is as love does" (13 August tbc)
Feminist zine making workshop #3, inspired by bell hooks’ writings on the politics and practice of love, and the importance of friendship and community.
Irish Summer Solstice celebration
Join us for a poetic celebration of folklore, mythology and music around the Irish culture.
+++ Cúpla Focal Summer Solstice +++
Next Tuesday, we will mark the summer solstice by celebrating Áine, the goddess of fire, birth, and fertility -- the abundance of this season -- so gather with us for abundant harp music, sean-nós singing, and poetry go leor
When and where? Starting at 19h00 on 23rd June at Unity Bookshop on Chaussee de Wavre 83, Ixelles
Silent reading rave
BOOKS - BEATS - TALKS
Bring Your Own Book - a book that is too relatable today
Join us on a new program with minimalist techno, employed as white noise, to experience a collective read outdoor/indoor at Unity Bookshop (before we try a future event completely outdoor in a park)
The idea is to enjoy a social and free event, all together, and reading a book - preferably non-fiction - but it is not mandatory (as long as it’s a contemporary topic - of which we can talk later on).
Everybody is welcome - Respect amongst each other and their tastes is mandatory - water and accessible toilets are provided.
Drop by on the day or switch to our Signal group :)
Yoga, Scones & Sutras
Come and join us in the courtyard for a gentle yoga session, followed by breakfast and a guided reading of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
Together we'll move, breathe, eat, read, and discuss. Through selected passages of this ancient text, we'll explore questions that are still relevant today: how do we pay attention, live with intention, and relate to ourselves and others?
No previous experience with yoga or philosophy is needed, just bring your curiosity.
The session lasts 90 minutes and includes yoga, freshly baked scones & warm drinks, and the reading/discussion.
Ticket 22€, 6 places available, bring your own mat (or book it if you don't have one).
As a Pilates and Hatha Yoga teacher, I enjoy helping people reconnect with their bodies through mindful movement. Inspired by the teachings of both disciplines, I explore ways to integrate them into daily life, both on and off the mat. My approach is accessible, attentive, and adaptable to every body. Virginia FB:Yopibxl
Collective anti-fascist reading - "Empire of A.I. Inside the reckless race for total domination" by Karen Hao
Join us at Unity Bookshop for a our first collective reading session to tackle the multiple forms of contemporary fascism — this time we chose techno-fascism — and deepen our knowledge, activate our critical thinking, and debate together.
Come and get a piece of the book: read amongst your peers for 45 minutes, then discuss and analyse the text as a group for another 45 minutes, bringing our collective knowledge together at the end.
Free event, donations welcome.
——————————————————————-
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI AuthorKaren HaoCover artistDaniel LaginLanguageEnglishGenreBiographyPublisherPenguin Press (U.S.)Publication dateMay 20, 2025Publication placeUnited StatesMedia typeE-book, print (hardback), and audiobookPages496 pp.ISBN978-0593657508
Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI is a book by Karen Hao released on May 20, 2025. It focuses on the history of OpenAI and its culture of secrecy and devotion to the promise of artificial general intelligence (AGI) while extracting vast amounts of resources and exploiting workers.
The book includes interviews with around 260 people, correspondence, Slack conversations, and relevant documents.[1][2] The title makes reference to colonial empires of the 1800s.[3]
Origins
Hao visited OpenAI's offices and covered the company for the MIT Technology Review two years before ChatGPT was released in November 2022.[4][5] Her experience there and reporting on topics of AI and "AI colonialism" for seven years led her to develop the book's thesis and title, Empire of AI, and ultimately became published as a book.[3][4][6]
Overview
Hao covers the history of OpenAI that is sourced from employee interviews and relevant documents. Additionally, Hao covers the departure of early investor Elon Musk, the reinstatement of Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman after being forced out by OpenAI's board,[4] and reports from Colombia, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Kenya,[7] where she interviews low-wage contract workers categorized the severity of graphic content used to train ChatGPT.[2] The book also covers OpenAI's former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever obsession with artificial general intelligence (AGI) by summer 2023, while also becoming concerned about the way OpenAI was handling the technology it was developing.[8]
Citizens' assembly #1
Reclaim the narrative. Speak for yourself. Connect with your community.
On Friday 12th June at 6:30pm, Unity Bookshop opens its doors for an evening of drinks and real conversation — the kind that doesn't come with a moderator, a hierarchy, or a script.
We'll talk about the things that bind us as citizens. We'll make space for agreement and for dissensus — because democracy isn't a consensus machine, and a healthy society doesn't fear debate.
What it should fear is the alternative: dumb polarisation, manufactured outrage, and the slow creep of politics built on division and fear.
So let's do something different. Let's think locally, speak honestly, and build something together.
You can suggest a topic, or add a question via the form below — or just show up and join the conversation.
Radical Justice: Building the World We Need - Meet the author Nani Jansen reventlow (Conversation + Book signing)
An essential book for everyone who believes in freedom and equality, written by an award-winning international human rights lawyer.
About the book
Our society is breaking down. Fascists are winning elections, economic inequality is rampant, and the climate crisis is at its tipping point. It feels like the amount of work needed to overcome these injustices is too much to handle. But what if there is a way to lower the threshold to action? Who will free us if not ourselves?
In Radical Justice, international human rights lawyer Nani Jansen Reventlow shows how we can build a fundamentally different future with our own hands. We all have our own spheres of influence, and each of us can be the revolution.
Taking inspiration from the deep well of anti-racist and social activist writers such as Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò and Angela Davis, each chapter offers tips on how to learn, reflect and act in a society where we are told we are powerless. Including advice on strategic litigation, reclaiming our digital rights, reparations demands, climate activism and much more, the information in these pages is indispensable to the struggle for radical justice.
About the author
Nani Jansen Reventlow is an international human rights lawyer. She is the founder of Systemic Justice, which advocates for marginalised communities through strategic litigation.
Politico named her one of society’s great visionary tech leaders for her work on digital human rights. She has also been honoured with awards from Harvard, Oxford and Columbia Universities.
PFAS - Forever Chemicals in Focus: A Scientific Discussion with Dr. Micael Gouveia, Journalists Federica Tessari & Adriano Rodari
Join us for a thought-provoking scientific discussion bringing together one scientist and two journalists to shed light on one of today's most pressing environmental concerns.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances — better known as PFAS — are everywhere. Found in non-stick cookware, food packaging, waterproof clothing, and even drinking water, these synthetic chemicals have quietly embedded themselves into almost every corner of our daily lives. And yet, for most of us, they remain largely invisible.
So what do we actually know about them? How far have research and regulation gone? And when the scale of the problem feels overwhelming — what can we realistically do?
This evening, our panel will unpack the science, the politics, and the human reality behind PFAS contamination. Together, they will explore several topics thanks to Dr. Micael Gouveia, Journalists Federica Tessari & Adriano Rodani.
The discussion will run for one hour, followed by an open Q&A session where the audience is warmly invited to ask their own questions.
Whether you're deeply familiar with the topic or hearing about PFAS for the first time, this is an evening designed to inform, empower, and spark conversation.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Our speakers
"Micael completed his BSc in Biotechnology and MSc in Nanotechnology in Lisbon, Portugal, before heading to Glasgow, UK, for a PhD in Polymer Chemistry. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where he works on developing sensors for the detection of PFAS — better known as the infamous "forever chemicals" - in drinking water. Along the way, his research interests have expanded, beyond the lab bench, to the intersection of regulation, engineering, and the real-world applicability of PFAS detection and remediation technologies. In the everyday world, Micael is a self-appointed critic of labels and ingredient lists of consumer products, with a particular interest for spotting less-than-honest marketing tricks from companies."
Federica Tessari is an Italian freelance journalist, Brussels-based based, covering security, migrations and digital-social rights. Thanks to the JournalismFund Europe is currently working on a cross-border investigation exploring lacks and weaknesses of "Polluter Pay Principle".
"Adriano works at the intersection of campaign, advocacy, and policy analysis in the field of chemicals management, health and sustainability. He currently works as Campaign Coordinator of EDC-Free Europe, a coalition of public interest groups, representing more than 70 environmental, health, women's and consumer groups across Europe, who share a concern about hormone disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their impact on our health and wildlife.
He is also an experienced facilitator and event moderator, having organised and hosted events with national and local politicians, journalists and activists. In 2024, Adriano coordinated a campaign to mobilise international residents to vote in Brussels' local elections."
Zine making as feminist practice. session #1 Make your own zine with Caroline
Join us for a late afternoon of feminist creativity with Caroline as a facilitator between you and your future zine.
The theme will be ‘‘Our bodies are a battleground".
No skills required, all material provided, as well as tea and coffee :)
This first session is the start of a three-workshop series dedicated to feminism and zine-making.
These events are free, but we welcome a 3 euro donation (cash or transfer) to Unity Bookshop, OR you can contribute by bringing old magazines, random leaflets and flyers, books, stickers or all kinds of papers that we can cut from and use collectively for zine-making !
Feel free to also bring your favourite feminist books for inspiration.
FEMINIST ZINE MAKING WORKSHOP SERIES:
1. "Our bodies are a battleground" (30 May)
Feminist zine making workshop #1, focused on exploring how women's bodies have been and remain a battlefield, and expressing in a personal zines how we feel our own bodies could be freed from having to fight those battles, or used to fight and win them.
2. "If I learn I can teach others" (25 June tbc)
Feminist zine making workshop #2, centered on both the teachings of feminism that we want to pass onto others, and the ways feminists have sought to reshape teaching and education.
3. "Love is as love does" (13 August tbc)
Feminist zine making workshop #3, inspired by bell hooks’ writings on the politics and practice of love, and the importance of friendship and community.
The Brussels Creativity Lab workshop with Christopher Malapitan
Cutting Clutter, Planting Intentions
Spring is nature’s ultimate reset button. As the earth sheds the frost to make room for new growth, it invites us to do the same. But before you can plant something new, you usually have to clear out the weeds. What mental clutter is taking up space in your head right now, and what do you actually want to cultivate in your life?
Join us in the cozy, backyard of a lovely local bookshop for a warm, friendly, and hands-on afternoon. Through a series of collaborative writing and drawing activities, we will explore ways to dust off the winter cobwebs and map out our intentions.
Then, we'll get practical. We’ll be decorating plant pots with personal intentions, before filling them with soil and planting real plants. You'll leave the bookshop with a tangible, living reminder of what you’re choosing to grow this season.
Whether you want to dive a bit deeper or just have some fun—all are welcome.
Get ready to experiment, play, meet others, and have fun!
All materials will be provided.
Ticket €5-10 cash at the door
Covers cost of materials and some snacks.
::::Agenda::::
- 18:00 Arrival & Welcome
- 18:30 Start of session
- 20:00 Closing followed with networking
::: Location:::
Unity Bookshop, Chau. de Wavre 83, 1050 Ixelles
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Brussels Creativity Lab - This group is for anyone interested in exploring, questioning and discovering their creativity. If you're willing to experiment, take risks, play, meet others and have fun, this meetup is for you. We started this group because like any skill, creativity needs practice too.
The Reading Corner
Welcome to the reading corner! 📖
Here’s a glimpse into our Sundays: warm drink in hand, a book you actually want to read, and a few people doing exactly the same thing nearby. Sometimes we talk about what’s happening in our stories, sometimes we just smile and keep reading.
No assigned chapters, no deadlines, just the joy of reading together.
It’s quiet, but never lonely.
Join us any Sunday morning, we always have room for another reader 💛
Donations are welcome at Unity Bookshop as coffee, tea and sweets are displayed for free during the event (would keep going) - just send us a message below to secure your spot!
Camus & Us: A Psychological Exploration with Psychologist Teodora Muresan
Join us at Unity Bookshop for an evening with psychologist Teodora Mureșan, who will guide us through an immersive exploration of meaning in the work of Albert Camus.
Over a tea or coffee, we'll gather around the table to discuss the themes that run through the heart of Camus's writing: the search for meaning in an irrational universe, the absurdity of human existence, and the pursuit of freedom in the face of nonsense.
By reading literature through a psychological lens, Teodora will offer a fresh and illuminating perspective on our relationship with Camus's philosophy — one that goes beyond the page and into our own lives.
Your ticket is redeemable as a voucher over our displayed bibliography of Camus, directly at the bookshop!
We can't wait to see you there.
