Climate Camp - Action for Social Justice - 15.-23. August 2009

national | anti-capitalism | feature

Thursday August 13, 2009 11:52

by Climate Camp - Climate Camp

joinclimatecamp at gmail dot com

9 days of free workshops, direct action, sustainable living and building a movement for climate and social justice

Peer-Review: A Weapon of Mass Construction

The Climate Camp is a place where anyone who cares about climate change or social justice can meet, live, learn and take direct action together. It's happening this August 15th-23rd, in Co. Offaly, Ireland.

The camp will be 9 days of great food, live music, workshops and action for a just, sustainable future.
You can come for as long as you want – it’s up to you.

WHAT CAN I DO THERE?

BUILD: Learn how to construct a solar collector, erect a marquee, or cook for two hundred people. We aim to make the camp a model of sustainable living, and we need you to help us do it.

MEET: Concerned about climate change? You’re not alone – join Irish people from all walks of life to share ideas, make friends and start taking collective action.

LEARN: Discover alternatives. Get up-to-speed with the science and economics. Learn the skills you need - from how to build a yurt and grow your own veg, to how to take direct action and talk to the media. With over 100 workshops to choose from there'll be several to suit your interests.

TAKE ACTION: Find like-minded people. Get trained-up. Make plans. Whether you want to make a silly costume, stop a train full of peat or coal, or start a community garden there will be people here to join you. Join our day of action against the peat industry on August 22nd. And get prepared to join people taking direct action all over the world, including global days of action for climate justice in December 2009.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF CLIMATE CAMP?

  
* To take direct action against the root causes of climate change

We intend to act collectively to take direct action against the root causes of climate change, the key agents responsible, and those who profit from causing climate change. We call on all people in Ireland to join us – not just during our camp but beyond in our own neighbourhoods and communities.

* To build a movement

We aim to build a resistance movement that can bring down climate polluters and carbon traders, demand climate justice and implement sustainable solutions. But beyond this, the movement that we are building must be one that can bring down the structures that have caused the climate crisis and support communities in finding their own answers. We aim to build a lasting movement that nurtures resistance to all forms of injustice and oppression, and supports people in implementing their own solutions. 

* To create a space for education

Provide a safe, positive space, enabling people to be informed about and empowered through engagement in struggles for a better world. The camp brings together people who wish to become active and people already campaigning on climate change and many other issues. We aim to provide resources for, and facilitate the needs of, people who wish to become active and campaign groups, enabling them to meet, discuss, plan, create links, have open dialogue and debate, and develop new ideas.   

* To demonstrate a model of sustainable living

We aim to demonstrate and promote viable alternatives to our current wasteful way of life and failed economic system that is driving the climate crisis. Our camp will show that solutions exist – solutions based on direct democracy, co-operation and concensus, and social justice – we just need to start living them 

WHAT ARE OUR PRINCIPLES?

* Autonomy and self-management

Our aims can only be achieved in a self-managed, autonomous space. The camp aims to run independently of local authority, government, church, business, or other controlling bodies. It is managed collectively by the people who use it.

* Openness and inclusion

The camp seeks to be as open and inclusive as possible, providing a space that is welcoming to everyone irrespective of age, ethnic background, gender, faith, class, sexuality, and/or ability. We encourage - and aim to provide - equal access to participation in the camp. While the camp is a space for open debate and all ideas and opinions are invited, discriminatory ideas and discrimination on the grounds of age, ethnic background, gender, faith, class, sexuality, and/or ability are not welcome.

* Organising without leaders

The camp believes in organising without leaders or bosses, and with everyone having an equal say. When power is shared equally in a group, it can be more effective and sustainable - as well as empowering - for all involved.

* Collective decision making

We try to reach decisions by consensus, as far as practically possible. Consensus decision-making is about trying to find common ground and solutions that are acceptable to all in the space. This attempts to ensure that everyone's opinions, ideas, and concerns in the camp are taken into account.

* Co-operation and mutual aid

In a world dominated by competition and conflict, we believe that working together, sharing knowledge, skills and resources, and helping each other out builds strong communities and networks of support and friendship.

* Solidarity with affected communities

The camp seeks to promote understanding of the principles of climate justice and respect for the rights of affected communities. The camp seeks to further the debate of genuine solutions that are being proposed by affected communities – rather than furthering debate of false solutions proposed by those attempting to profit from the climate crisis. The camp acts to create an Irish voice of solidarity with communities who are struggling against the causes, impacts, and false solutions of climate change.

* Environmental sustainability

In an effort to minimize the ecological damage we cause, the camp seeks to use as little as possible in terms of energy, materials and resources. We strive to use only renewable energy. The camp aspires to create minimal waste and to reuse all waste created. Protection of local biodiversity, protection of land and water quality, and ecologically sustainable design are fundamental to the construction and planning of our camp. We aim to source all construction materials, food, water, furniture, and equipment locally and in the most ecologically and ethically sound manner possible. The use of fossil-fuelled vehicles and all other sources of pollutants is discouraged.

This is a living set of aims for our movement. All are welcome to get involved in discussions about our collective aims and principles - join us!

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
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For more info join the irish climate camp announcements list (low volume/fortnightly updates)
by emailing joinclimatecamp {@} gmail.com

To join the Irish climate camp working list ( for active organising and discussion) send an email to
climatecamp-subscribe@thisbetterworld.org

If you want be involved rather than just informed - (and we hope you do!) - there are small groups of us who look after specific aspects of the camp (outreach, media, kitchen, site crew, research, process, workshop programme, gigs etc). You can read more about what each group does on www.climatecamp.ie

If you are interested in getting involved you can email joinclimatecamp {@} gmail.com or email the group directly. The best thing to do is to come to an event or a meeting and chat about how you can get involved. See www.climatecamp.ie and our Facebook page for upcoming meetings, gigs and other events.

See you there!