Earth First! Summer Gathering, 18-24 August
1st June 2009ce
Every year in the UK a bunch of people get together in a field to share ideas, thoughts and plans for action to help people and planet.
The Earth First! Summer Gathering is the place where people involved in radical ecological direct action - or those who want to be involved - get together for five days of time and space to talk, walk, share skills, learn, play, rant, find out what's going on, find out what's next, live outside, strategise, hang out, incite, laugh and conspire.
Earth First! isn't an organisation, it's just a name used by those with common aims. It's a diverse thing with a wide range of approaches to action, so there should be plenty to interest and inspire everyone whether you're a seasoned eco-nutter or completely new to it all.
It's for people who understand that hierarchy and high technology are not going to solve it all, that the solutions will involve grassroots, human-scaled approaches.
The gathering runs for five days, but even if you can't make the whole gathering it's still worth coming for a couple of days. There's usually about 500 people there.
Entry is £20-30 (it's a totally non-profit thing, everyone pays the entry fee including all the organisers), and good cheap food is available on site.
The gathering is also a practical example of non-hierarchical low-impact living in action.
This year it's 18-24 August in the Lake District
What's happening?
Over 80 workshops, discussions, planning, strategy and 'where next' sessions
*Share and learn skills for kick-ass actions on land and water!
Small boat handling and blockading using kayaks / Direct action training – Tripods, lock-ons, Fences / Climbing skills / Action Reconnaissance / Security for Activists / Impacts of G20 and Nottingham 114 / Winning your climate campaign / How to research corporations /
*Network current campaigns against ecological destruction
Open-cast mining / Genetic engineering / Agrofuels / Saving Iceland / Climate actions / Pipeline resistance in Rossport / Anti-nuclear/ Airport expansion/
*Think about eco-centric ethics and alternative ways of organising
Deep green ethics / Anarchist economics / Anarchist history / Radical Politics / Working without leaders/ Consensus decision-making
*Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living.
Introduction to Ecology / Restoration ecology / Flora and Fauna identification / Vegan Cake making / Power from solar and wind / wild food / Squatting / Bike maintenance
The programme also includes...
*A full day of water based direct action skills training on FRIDAY 21st August
Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summers EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.
*An excursion to visit communities in the North East threatened by an expansion of coal mining on Monday 24th August. Visit beautiful valleys and strong spirited communities and make links for ongoing resistance.
As well as international campaigns round-up, networking and planning for future actions.
Cost and practical things
£20-30 according to what you can afford. Vegan food provided by Anarchist Teapot for £4 per day. The gathering is in Cumbria, the exact location will be announced the week before. Book your trains to Penrith now! More info available soon on the website
http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/
summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk
The Earth First! Summer Gathering is the place where people involved in radical ecological direct action - or those who want to be involved - get together for five days of time and space to talk, walk, share skills, learn, play, rant, find out what's going on, find out what's next, live outside, strategise, hang out, incite, laugh and conspire.
Earth First! isn't an organisation, it's just a name used by those with common aims. It's a diverse thing with a wide range of approaches to action, so there should be plenty to interest and inspire everyone whether you're a seasoned eco-nutter or completely new to it all.
It's for people who understand that hierarchy and high technology are not going to solve it all, that the solutions will involve grassroots, human-scaled approaches.
The gathering runs for five days, but even if you can't make the whole gathering it's still worth coming for a couple of days. There's usually about 500 people there.
Entry is £20-30 (it's a totally non-profit thing, everyone pays the entry fee including all the organisers), and good cheap food is available on site.
The gathering is also a practical example of non-hierarchical low-impact living in action.
This year it's 18-24 August in the Lake District
What's happening?
Over 80 workshops, discussions, planning, strategy and 'where next' sessions
*Share and learn skills for kick-ass actions on land and water!
Small boat handling and blockading using kayaks / Direct action training – Tripods, lock-ons, Fences / Climbing skills / Action Reconnaissance / Security for Activists / Impacts of G20 and Nottingham 114 / Winning your climate campaign / How to research corporations /
*Network current campaigns against ecological destruction
Open-cast mining / Genetic engineering / Agrofuels / Saving Iceland / Climate actions / Pipeline resistance in Rossport / Anti-nuclear/ Airport expansion/
*Think about eco-centric ethics and alternative ways of organising
Deep green ethics / Anarchist economics / Anarchist history / Radical Politics / Working without leaders/ Consensus decision-making
*Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living.
Introduction to Ecology / Restoration ecology / Flora and Fauna identification / Vegan Cake making / Power from solar and wind / wild food / Squatting / Bike maintenance
The programme also includes...
*A full day of water based direct action skills training on FRIDAY 21st August
Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summers EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.
*An excursion to visit communities in the North East threatened by an expansion of coal mining on Monday 24th August. Visit beautiful valleys and strong spirited communities and make links for ongoing resistance.
As well as international campaigns round-up, networking and planning for future actions.
Cost and practical things
£20-30 according to what you can afford. Vegan food provided by Anarchist Teapot for £4 per day. The gathering is in Cumbria, the exact location will be announced the week before. Book your trains to Penrith now! More info available soon on the website
http://www.earthfirstgathering.org.uk/
summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk
