Seven weeks to go!
It’s only seven weeks to go until the camp! Below is some Camp specific information and call-outs followed by a bunch of other events that may spark your interest.
1. EDINBURGH GATHERING THIS WEEKEND
The Edinburgh gathering this weekend (Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th) is going to be a biggie! Lots to get through at this exciting stage of planning the summer’s camp. The agenda and gathering info went out in a special separate newsletter yesterday but in case you missed it, you can see and comment on it here.
2. FROM SITE WORKING GROUP
Call outs below from the Electrics and Visuals sub groups of site. And we still need coordinators for: Eco-wash, tools librarian, toilets, tat down. Get in touch with site [at] climatecamp.org.uk if any of these grabs your fancy or you want to find out more!
*ELECTRICS*
The electrical power crew needs to expand! No experience necessary! If you don’t want to get landed with too much work, then don’t worry, there can be a specific manageable task for YOU.
Power providers are secured. The tasks from here are: Teaming up power providers with central users. We need one person per power provider to liaise with users before camp and during. Two people to focus on all issues for 12V users. One person to focus on all issues for 240V users. I am also looking for a coordinating BUDDY to share the workload as much as possible and to check-in with how we’re doing on a regular basis.
If possible, the electrix power buddy would also be involved in liaising with all power providers, central users (medics, media, comms etc), neighbourhoods (who provide their own power, but might need support), securing sufficient batteries and cables, and planning transmission routes around site.
For working groups – have you got your batteries? Can you do with less? How much and when? For neighbourhoods – are you on it? Do you know what you need/want, are you getting it? Please email me through site [at] climatecamp.org.uk with any questions you have, how much you feel able to take on and so on (put “Electrics” as the subject line). And please, please volunteer to be part of Electrix. How much more satisfying will dancing at a climate camp party be when you’ve laid the cables to power the sounds system? Cheers!
*VISUALS*
1. The site group is look for some people to take on some fun/ crafty projects for camp, everything from banners and signs to bunting and installations. No experience necessary just a bit of time and a willingness to explore your creative side.
2. A few questions for neighbourhoods and working groups 1. are you having a space/ structure at climate camp?
3. do you need any signage/ decoration which you don’t already have?
4. what specifically is needed? Let the site team know and we will get on it.
3. STOP THAT TRAIN!
At Kebele, July 11th An evening about train blockades / hold ups and the Malicious Damages Act An evening of film and discussion about direct actions on the railways against climate chaos and nuclear power 7.30 pm at the Kebele Social Centre, Robertson Road, Easton hosted by Bristol and Bath Rising Tide. Come earlier and enjoy a cheap meal at the Kebele Cafe – 6.30 onwards.
Recent weeks have seen 18 people arrested following a blockade of the railway from the Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine to Aberthaw Power Station by Bristol and Bath Rising Tide. 30 years ago on July 8th activists from Bristol, Bath and Stroud held up a nuclear waste train bound for Sharpness Docks where the waste was being loaded onto a ship to be ultimately dumped into the Atlantic. In 2008 climate change activists held up a coal train bound for the giant Drax powerstation.
In all three actions the activists arrested were charged under the Malicious Damages Act of 1861 – a Victorian piece of legislation that still carries a maximum sentence of life. Come and hear personal accounts of the actions, see a film of the Sharpness train hold up and discuss the pros and cons of putting your neck on the line!
4. HOW TO BUILD A WIND TURBINE COURSE
… In Spain! Introduction to Wind Power- Weekend course, 20-22nd August, Sunseed Desert Technology, Spain Introduction to Solar Photovoltaics- Weekend Course, 27-29th August, Sunseed Desert Technology, Spain How to build a Solar Thermal Panel- 5-day course, 6-11th September, Sunseed Desert Technology, Spain Prices between £100 and £450 depending on course and means. If you or anyone you know are interested please send us an email with your details: info [at] v3power.org
5. PEACE NEWS CAMP
Join people from across the broad spectrum of the British peace movement for five days of exploration, celebration and empowerment! This year’s themes this years themes include: feminism and peace; sharing our skills; challenging the military; engaging with other movements; radicalising our lives; and debating nonviolence (see below for more info).
Plus over 40 workshops, including: The launch of David Gribble’s new book ‘Children Don’t Start Wars’, dismantling the Gandhi myth with Milan Rai, gender perspectives on violence with Cynthia Cockburn, a whole-camp discussion on where next after the election? and much, much more!
Book your place here: http://tinyurl.com/ye9o4r5. More info at www.peacenewscamp.info
The Peace News Summer Camp is an inclusive, democratically-run five-day experience-in-miniature of the kind of world we are trying to bring about. Bring your own contribution to a space that bridges the usual divisions in our movements and our society, where we pay as much attention to how we bring about change as to the changes that are so desperately needed.
This year, feminism joins our standing themes of peace and justice. We will be learning from other movements, struggling with challenging issues, creating greater cohesion in a segmented peace movement and debating nonviolence. Workshops will range from theoretical discussions to practical planning for actions later in the year. There will be over fifty years of activist experience at the camp, along with fresh faces. Fed by local organic fruit and veg (lovingly cooked by the wonderful Veggies of Nottingham), we’re camping in a family-friendly and renewably powered way from 23-27 July near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, to make the world a better place.
THEMES FOR THIS YEAR’S CAMP
Feminism and Peace Gender perspectives on violence, nonviolence and activism Building our Skills, Sharing our Skills Nonviolent direct action training, consensus decision making, building a strategy, working in affinity groups, public speaking skills, radical music and more.
Challenging the Military Let’s get the military out of our lives and out of other peoples’ countries Engaging with other Movements and Struggles What can we learn from other like-minded campaigns such as radical climate activism, animal rights, student activism and European peace campaigns Radicalising our lives Food, education, power production and more Debating Nonviolence How can we take effective action?
HOW TO BOOK
Entrance to the camp costs £15-£60 depending on income. For under 14 year-olds the camp is free. The camp is organised on a small budget by a group of volunteers; we are relying on the entrance contributions to break even so please give what you can afford. The cost per day of 3 meals will be £6-£10 for adults. See here: http://tinyurl.com/3315uxq You can pay online at the Peace News webshop: http://tinyurl.com/knuqpa. Please send cheques (made out to Peace News) with your name and address to Peace News, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DY. If you prefer to book by phone with a credit card, please ring the Peace News office on 020 7278 3344. Office hours Monday-Friday (except Wednesdays). You will be able to pay at the camp but orders for food should be received by Friday 16 July.
Please contact us with your order: http://peacenewsgathering.info/summer/contact-us/ Website: www.peacenewscamp.info Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/334b54z
6. CLIMATE DIALOGUE SPACE IN CANCUN/COP16 Call-out
Invitation to participate in the open and independent Climate Dialogue space in Cancun/COP16 From November 29 to December 10, 2010, the 16th U.N. Conference of the Parties (COP16) on Climate Change will be in Cancun, Mexico. Many networks, organizations and movements in Mexico and Latin America, are organizing an open and inclusive, alternative and independent space, the “CLIMATE DIALOGUE”- a gathering of the voices of the peoples and the movements confronting the climate crisis; where we will holding conferences, workshops, seminars, panels, meetings, and a general exchange of experience, etc. in addition to the demonstrations and marches.
Mexican organizations will organize the physical space and logistics in Cancun along with the potential help of international organizations. We will get periodic update on the preperations of this space, which is for social movements, indigenous organizations, peasants, women, urban-groups, and for civil society in general, with a clear political stance: anti-capitalist, no political parties nor governments, no religious institutions or private companies, no to the carbon market, and no to false solutions to climate change (such as CDM or the REDD mechanisms.)
While we have few political differences, the Climate Dialogue space is important to hear and honor other voices confronting the positions being negotiated between governments within the COP16 meeting. Regardless of whether you can be physically in Cancun or not (you may consider organizing local events in your respective region or country), we are interested if you are willing to endorse and promote this call for an alternative and independent space to the official COP16 summit in Cancun. You can endorse at any organizational level; networks, organizations, and collectives. Groups that are willing to endorse, we are requesting that your group sends us the names of the networks and /or endorsing organizations, and if you are able and willing to participate in the organization and coordination work toward Cancun- name and email address of a point-person. The organizations will appear in alphabetical order. Those who can join, please send your information as soon as possible. We are currently building a website and mailing list for articles and other information relating to the COP16 in Cancun, and all the necessary information on how to get involved and participate.
Contact: info[AT]dialogoclimatico.org
Wow, that’s it for now!
Email process [at ]climatecamp.org.uk by Monday nights to submit things for the newsletter.