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  • From: "rafter t. sass" <liberationecology@gmail.com>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org, permaculturehudsonvalley@lists.riseup.net, Northeastern Permaculture <northeasternpermaculture@yahoo.com>, permaculture@openpermaculture.org, permie guild <wmasspermies@gmail.com>, growing_foodandjustice@lists.riseup.net
  • Subject: [permaculture] More Confluence Information...
  • Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 13:04:08 -0400

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




  • [permaculture] More Confluence Information..., rafter t. sass, 05/20/2008

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