Earth First summer gathering

international | environment | event notice Monday July 10, 2006 11:42 by erth first gathering collective - earth first efgathering at aktivix dot org dot uk

The Earth First summer gathering is taking place from Wed 16th to Sun 20th August in west Wales. The site is an hour from Fishguard port. in west Wales. It is a great opportunity for Irish and British activists to get together share information and develop closer links.

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.

The gathering is also a practical example of non-hierarchical low-impact living in action.

We are a diverse community with a wide range of approaches to our action, so there should be plenty to interest and inspire everyone whether you have been active for years or are completely new to

Earth First! is not a cohesive group or campaign, but a convenient banner for people who share similar philosophies to work under.

The general principles behind the name are non-hierarchical organisation and the use of direct action to confront, stop and eventually reverse the forces that are responsible for the destruction of Earth and its inhabitants.

What will happen?
This depends on you and anyone else who has contacted us in advance, to offer ideas and skills, and what everyone will volunteer during the gathering. I.e. to coin a cliché "We are all crew".

The first workshops start on Wednesday 16th August, but people will be on site setting up several days earlier, so please arrive early to help if you can. Help is needed setting up before the gathering and packing away afterwards.

From Wednesday lunchtime to Monday there will be a series of workshops and Gathering-wide discussions relating to ecological / direct action issues, and to the Earth First! movement / network / community. In the evenings there will be entertainment to suit all tastes (no banging party though!).

In general:

Over 90 workshops which will focus on sharing ideas and skills, talking about what we are and where we are going as a movement, how we connect to other forms of resistance in the UK and globally, planning campaigns and networking for all aspects of ecological resistance.
Round-ups of national and international radical activity - find out what groups around the country and further afield are up to.
Practical activities, skill-sharing and training, such as climbing, self-defence, wild food foraging and arrest role-play.
Evening entertainments to suit all tastes, including films, speakers, a quiet café, ceilidh, comedy and an open mic night.
A kid's area, where it will be possible to leave children during workshops. See the Kids section for more information.