permaculture

["rafter t. sass" <liberationecology@gmail.com>]

Hmm... somehow that Confluence invitation I sent out lacked some of  
the basic information. Here is another one, that doesn't!

Best,
rafter

rafter t. sass
The Liberation Ecology Project
liberationecology.org
518-567-7407
skype: raughter


The Northeast Climate Confluence
July 30 – Aug 3rd, 2008
Epworth Camp & Retreat Center in High Falls, NY
www.climateconfluence.org
Cost: Cheap! Sliding scale to be determined.

Confluence: a mixing of different streams or weather patterns that  
flow together and become stronger, resulting in a series of storms.

The Northeast Climate Confluence is a week-long coming-together of  
movements, groups, and individuals to strategize for action,  
strengthen our relationships, and share ideas and skills. The same  
system that wages a daily war on our communities is poised to destroy  
our very life blood: the earth, the water, our food, and our culture.  
The power to stop this destruction already flows through our roots,  
and by combining our knowledge and energy we will create real  
solutions and decrease our dependence on the institutions that are  
attacking the planet and all life.

At the confluence we will slow down, take the time to learn from each  
other, and prepare for the action that we all know we must take. The  
confluence is not the end-goal of our organizing, it is the  
beginning. It is calm before the storms.

There will be workshops, performances, trainings and strategy  
sessions about the issues affecting our communities and our planet  
from prisons and police brutality, to food sovereignty, energy  
security, healthcare, and disaster relief. Together we will plan a  
day of direct action in coordination with similar gatherings around  
the world.

Climate Change is about more than just carbon in the atmosphere. It  
directly affects people's lives. The communities hardest hit by  
climate disasters are already the most impacted by the injustice that  
causes environmental devastation: indigenous people, women, LGBTQ  
folk, people of color, youth, elders, people with disabilities, and  
the working class.

People of all ages and backgrounds will have something to offer to  
the confluence! Young people will play a particularly important role  
during the Youth Track, a set of workshops organized by and for youth  
to empower them to make positive change in their communities and the  
world. Childcare for younger children will also be provided and  
parents are encouraged to come.

We'll also have a lot of fun! Enjoy and share music, art, and good  
food while meeting people from all over the Northeast. Epworth is a  
beautiful outdoor space with lots of room for camping, and tents and  
gear will be available for those who don't have them. There are  
wheelchair accessible indoor spaces and beds as well. Donations of  
any size encouraged to cover costs. No one turned away for lack of  
funds.

The more streams that flow together this Summer, the stronger our  
current will become! The confluence is nothing without you and your  
community. Now is the time to start organizing locally to cooperate  
for transportation, food, and logistics to bring together activists  
from all over the Northeast. Get in touch with the local contact in  
your area, or if there isn't one, become one!


5 Easy Ways to Get Involved!

1) Organize a local Meeting
Forward this announcement on to local groups in your area who you  
think would be interested in coming to the Confluence. We want to  
work with a wide variety of social and environmental justice groups,  
so contact feminist groups, anti-racist groups, indigenous groups,  
prison activists, anti-war organizations, queer groups, everyone! Set  
up a time and invite these groups to come together and discuss how to  
get everyone in your area to the Confluence. Even if not everyone can  
come, getting all these groups in the same room will strengthen local  
organizing in your town.

2) Throw a fundraiser!
We are working to make sure that everyone can come to this event  
regardless of their background or how much money they have. This  
means we have to do a lot of fundraising! Have a benefit party, ask  
local businesses for donations and do a silent auction, etc. Get in  
touch with us for more fundraising ideas!

3) Offer a workshop or performance
Let us know what you'd like to do at the confluence. There will be  
lots of room for workshops and presentations on a wide variety of  
topics from basic skills like herbal medicine, to movement theory.  
Contact: education@climateconfluence.org to offer to facilitate a  
workshop, presentation, or strategy session, and contact:  
evan@riotfolk.org if you're a musician or artist looking to share  
what you do.

4) Join a working group.
There are several working groups that are organizing various  
different logistical aspects of the gathering, and we need lots of  
help. Contact us to get involved in the Youth Track, Direct Action  
(planning for creative actions before, during, and after the event!),  
Fundraising, Logistics (food, medical, etc), Site (construction,  
gear, building toilets, etc.), Communications (media, outreach,  
networking), Content (workshops, performances, etc.)

5) Tell everyone you know!
This is a completely grassroots gathering. There won't be any ads for  
it on TV. So it's up to all of us to get the word out. Forward this e- 
mail to people you think might be interested, but more importantly  
talk to people in person! Invite your friends and family. Get off the  
internet and go visit some meetings of local groups in your area and  
talk to them about the Confluence. We can send you postcards and  
flyers to hand out, just get in touch!


LOCAL CONFLUENCE CONTACTS


Massachusetts
Boston-area: evan@riotfolk.org, 978-852-6457
Western Mass: birdsnest@riseup.net, 413-863-9197
Worcester-area: rduffy@clarku.edu, 541-292-8018

New York
New York City:
Westchester County: jonathon.booth@gmail.com, 914-522-0822
Albany-area: ucanfindme@graffiti.net
Hudson Valley: HudsonValleyClimateJustice@gmail.com

Rhode Island: mercury@riseup.net, 401-270-0315

Connecticut: cwistomoweina@gmail.com

Maine: Jessie@risingtidenorthamerica.org, 202-215-1720

Eastern Canada: healingtheearth@resist.ca