Earth First! Summer Gathering, 19th-24th August 2009, Cumbria

from various sources, updated 17 August 2009:

How to get there:

The gathering this year will be held at Seathwaite in the beautiful Borrowdale. It is located 13 kilometres (8 miles) southwest of Keswick at the end of a minor road that heads south from the portion of the B5289 road that runs between Borrowdale parish and Seatoller over the Honister Pass.

The site is right in the heart of the Lake District and surrounded by mountains, streams and tarns. The nearest train station is Penrith. Penrith is on the West Coast mainline and well serviced from North and South. From Penrith you can take a bus to Keswick and from Keswick a bus to Seatoller, which is a one mile walk to the site at Seathwaite.

The O.S Grid reference is NY 23490 12228. Google Earth position 54 degrees 28 minutes 57.66 seconds N, 3 degrees 10 minutes 56.34 seconds. The post code is CA12 5XJ.

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Want to do something to stop our planet from getting trashed?
Ecological Direct Action without Compromise!

Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we're standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically. It's run without leaders by everyone who comes along, so come prepared to chip in!

WHAT

Earth First! Summer Gathering
19 - 24 Aug 2009, Cumbria

5 days of workshops, skill sharing and planning action, plus low- impact living without leaders.

Meet and share skills with others who care. Plan actions and campaigns. Have fun. We've got over 80 workshops, planning, strategy and 'Where Next' sessions planned, get in touch if you want to offer a workshop!

* Share and learn skills for kick-ass actions on land and water: Small boat handling and blockading using kayaks / Direct action training - Tripods, Â Lock-ons, Fences / Climbing skills / Action Reconnaissance / Security for Activists / Impacts of G20 and Nottingham 114 / Winning your climate campaign / How to research corporations/

* Network current campaigns against ecological destruction: Open-cast mining / Genetic engineering / Agrofuels / Saving Iceland / Climate actions / Pipeline resistance in Rossport / Anti-nuclear/ Airport expansion/

* Think about eco-centric ethics and alternative ways of organising: Deep green ethics / Anarchist economics / Anarchist history / Radical Politics / Â Working without leaders/ Consensus decision-making/

* Find strategies on how to bring about radical change.

* Practical skills for ecological restoration and sustainable living: Introduction to Ecology / Restoration ecology / Flora and Fauna identification / Vegan Cake making / Power from solar and wind / wild food / Squatting / Bike maintenance

The programme also includes...

A full day of water based direct action skills training on FRIDAY 21st August 2009.

Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summers EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.

An excursion to visit communities in the North East threatened by an expansion of coal mining on Monday 24th August. Visit beautiful valleys and strong spirited communities and make links for ongoing resistance.

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 it all.

Meet people, make links, learn skills, take action.

YOU

We are all crew! This is your gathering come prepared to help run the camp and contribute to the programme. Contact us in advance with ideas for workshops, help with organising the gathering, come early to help setup the site or stay on for a couple of days for takedown. If you can help get in touch!

BRING

Bring tent and sleeping bag. You can either cook food for yourself or for £4 per day chip in with collective cooking of delicious vegan organic food. There'll be quiet sleeping areas, toilets and running water, a children’s space and spaces for workshops and info stalls.

Veggies will provide vegan cake and snacks. Children and young adults welcome with subsidized meals.

Arrive Tues pm. Workshops from Wed am until Sun pm.

WHERE

The site is near in the Lake District, Cumbria. The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp.

The exact location will be announced the week before the gathering so that it doesn't turn into a festival. For travel directions check our website or send a stamped addressed envelope marked 'directions' to us.

DOGS

We are fortunate this year to be able to accommodate well behaved owners with dogs on leads but think about whether your dog will feel comfortable in workshops. Please call beforehand so we know numbers. Read more about dogs.

ACCESS

We aim to make the site and programme as accessible to all as we can. Wheelchair users, deaf and visually impaired people, people with learning difficulties and people with mental distress have all come to previous gatherings and we are committed to facilitate access for all. Please contact us in advance with any access issues.

Cost: £20 - £30 according to what you can afford. We are not for profit all extra cash goes to help fund next year. Under 14’s free.

For more info contact us at :

Email: summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk

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