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