Meetings
Minutes of the Leeds Planning Meeting, 12-13/08/06
- Working groups feedback
- Neighbourhoods feedback
- Site practicalities presentation
- Health and safety presentation
- Occupying the site
- Legal note
- Media strategy
- Neighbourhoods
Working group feedback
What accomplished?
Facilitation - planning/organising all planning meetings so far; plan for decision-making at camp; welcome process/tent OK
Communications - sorting out how process will work, getting radios;
Networking/outreach - media strategy (mainstream & independent), getting issues out there, & security, discussed; sound bite sheet; local Selby meeting planned, planning stall during camp, taking on suggestions for projects in local community; best publicity ever.
Safety/wellbeing - asking neighbourhoods to take on gate duty for a day; know what burns us out, have a friend to keep an eye to point out to us signs of overstress, and also assume that we won't get burnt out.
Site practicalities - see presentation below
Workshops/activities - programme done; process for dealing with workshop givers; how programme displayed thought through;
Action support - marquee
What on track?
Facilitation -
Communications -
Networking/outreach -
Website - getting lots of info on it, lots of people use it to find out further info
Safety/wellbeing - lost children; safe houses for burnt out people; food hygiene checklist/inspections; film canisters for fag buts; not-for-profit provisions stall - suncream, tampons, flapjacks, sanitary towels, condoms; talking to council, NHS etc
Site practicalities -
Workshops/activities - part/role in info tent; power for entertainment, going to apply for ents. license;
Communications - information being gathered & kit collected;
What challenges?
Facilitation - more people needed to help facilitate & help, though asking out & doing trainings at EF! Gathering, buddying up people; already overstretched
Networking/outreach - getting more little yellow leaflets back from hidden piles; getting new posters up in lots of towns; contextualising action stuff with workshops;
Communications - need more people;
Website - getting stuff up soon after sent in, & occasionally missing things sent in as overstretched; dealing with stuff sent in that's not ready for putting up;
Safety/wellbeing - got responsibility for lost children - anyone with CRB check; getting replies from neighbourhoods; lack of legal support - need lots more people to volunteer; going round asking people to volunteer
Site practicalities -
Workshops/activities - people dropping out at last minute - got plan; getting booklet changed as needed by end of today, wasn't circulated because working groups didn't reply to emails from months ago; kids area is still confused, with offers not followed through; getting equipment together;
Action support - need people to give action training during camp; workshop plan worked out, so just need friendly people who've gone on an action before;
Finance - shortfall of a few grand needed before camp, need more fundraising events organised in localities or pre-booking tickets; need demands for money;
What during camp to get new people involved, and to avoid burnout?
Facilitation - buddy up during the camp to look out for each-other and do co-councelling. Asking everyone we can think of to help out. Doing facilitation training sessions at the EF Gathering and we will try to recruit people there. Each of us should have at least one day off. Asking people if they have facilitation skills and if they would like to help us as part of the welcome process.
Networking/outreach -
Safety/wellbeing - look after ourselves, make sure we eat, we don't assume that we will burn out.
Site practicalities -
Workshops/activities - simple easy tasks available; already a bit burnt out, but will have regular time that we meet (notice in info tent) so people can know how to get involved;
Neighbourhoods feedback
Manchester/Bicycology tour - good group, doing fundraising & awareness, though too reliant on students who've now gone away; sorting transport with trains & cycling; bicycle library being organised; kitchen & marquee; not sure about when arriving & getting things on site; hoping to make trailers;
Leeds/Bradford: Yorkshire? - almost got kitchen, hoping for marquee; haven't got coherent group yet; being next to another neighbourhood so can help out - suggestion of setting up as map of Britain, to encourage staying in touch, working together in future
London/South East - lots of structures; working on creche; Art not Oil, Permaculture & Dalston Theatre on squatting/autonomous/international climate justice sections; hoping for workshop programme & projector; providing own power;
Birmingham - starting late, but based through new social centre; not enough equipment to set-up kitchen on own but would like to join up with another;
Oxford (maybe linking in with wellbeing area) - small group with few structures but no big marquees; will be getting proper kitchen equipment with money raised; thought of being able to repeat workshops in central programme in neighbourhood; some people just focussing on neighbourhood alone
Pennine/Calderdale - many people who planning aren't able to come to camp, so need to join in with others, but raised about 1200 quid; can offer £ to other neighbourhoods for equipment.
Scotland - marquee, kitchen, coming together
Nottingham - got catering, marquee and bicycle generator for power.
Bristol - kitchen stuff OK but still need people to cook; possibly joining up; got power.
There will be some central cooking back-up.
Sight practicalities presentation:
Layout and Zoning: keep centrally needed stuff (e.g. workshop areas, central fire pit, bars/entertainment) in the middle of the site so that everyone can get to it, with neighourhoods around it in a horseshoe-shape. Camping outside neighbourhood kitchens and social spaces, with showers accessible to tents and toilets accessible both to camping areas and the central areas. Space for live-in vehicles. Currently unclear on number of roads. Perhaps more than one entrance.
Wellbeing area: perhaps outside the central ring if quiet is needed. Need to think about location of the media tent, welcome area, office etc. in relation to the gate. Transport space needs thinking about. Infopoint: all information needs to be in one place so people can find it more easily. But good to avoid that space getting clogged up with too many people.
Power: lots of uses: gate lighting, exit lighting, radio charging, projectors for workshops. We have some small renewable kits. Struggling to get a large alt-tech provider, but even one large solar truck would not cover our needs. So we will have a generator and a spare. Cables will need burying properly.
Most neighbourhoods are self-sufficient for power, and don't need electricity or can use leisure batteries. Those that need their own generated power will have to provide their own. Will be small bits of kit demonstrating alt tech, possibly solar showers. We are trying to be a sustainable community: we need to reduce our consumption hugely, even for workshops - think about whether the laptop/projector are really needed.
Info-sheet will be available on the power use of appliances and the power available from alt tech sources.
Water: Limited. We need to get used to this. Need 5l/person/day (10 cubic metres per day if 2000 people) and this does not include washing. 2 sources: rainwater (which we can't rely on) and water delivered in bowsers, raised on a ramp, and flowing to taps at kitchens, wellbeing area, medics etc.. We'll need to use buckets for transporting water beyond this. Use rainwater where possible for washing. We'll have to tat means of collecting water - guttering, water butts (ideally opaque) etc..
Need to tell people to bring their own water container/bottle/flask. We will provide steritabs. We don't want people dehydrated, however scarce water is. Need some washing areas, too: some people will be there for more than two weeks, and the areas we'll be taking action might involve lots of coal dust. Need separate areas screened off: provide bowls, perhaps washcloths. Will bring more water onsite if there is no rainwater collected. Neighbourhoods need to bring jerrycans. Bringing a stock of plastic bottles would also be helpful. Take them from the recycling bins at the Northern Green.
Clothes washing: we will need to provide direction to launderettes for things that need to get 'properly clean'. Plus can heat water in neighbourhoods.
Need to think about baby changing.
Loos: About 20 compost toilets, which we'll build. Can get away with 1 to 100 people, if there are separate urinals. Smaller toilets for children, and disabled accessible (need to know where to site these). Handwashing facilities will be available at each toilet block. Flatpack design will be available. There will be signs on how to use them. Need to find lots of wheelie bins.
Local farmer is being helpful in finding a source for five tonnes of hot-composting shit. Worst case scenario: there's someone in London or the council will take it.
Strawbale urinals on the perimeter. Seats and squatbogs for women, screened off.
Greywater: Basic system: waste pipe goes into bath full of innoculated gravel, then out into a 20m run of pipework, cut in half, open at the bottom, greywater soaks away. Backfilling prevents smell/mosquitoes. Will need marking with tape to avoid tripping over.
Kitchens: Neighbourhoods providing own, plus teapot will be there for half the camp. Also a kitchen for set-up time (it will become the Yorkshire neighbourhood after that). We have three organic veg/wholefood suppliers; Organic Pantry will take away our food compost. There will be a way for, e.g. drivers, people being released from custody and other busy people to get food at strange times during the camp, but this hasn't yet been sorted. Really important that people stop and eat!
Waste: Compost being dealt with by organic pantry. Reduce non-recyclable waste as far as possible: people take it with them. Best Recycle (Scarborough) will take all the cans. Options for the rest of the recyclable stuff: either Best Recycle take things to use local Council recycling amenities (we'll have to pay for fuel), or the council come and get them - without the police. We will not allow them onto the site if they bring the police.
Transport: Free shuttle (donations welcome) from Selby station to the camp. Two minibuses and a van for bikes, luggage. Station manager has been asked if more bike carriages can be put on, and if we can have a welcome desk at the station. Also asking neighbourhoods to let us use their buses/drivers as a relief. There will be a waiting point at the site with tea/coffee for people waiting for a vehicle. Plus an emergency transport phone no. All will be running on as much biodiesel as possible. Encouraging people to use public transport and bikes as much as possible. If you want to drive (must be over 25 and have a pre-1997 driving license), contact transport[at]climatecamp.org.uk. Likely to be more focused on actions than on Selby station towards the end of the week. Tat is being transported as well.
Training: Big Green (see above) and training at the Common Place from Monday 21st on electrics, plumbing, marquee building etc. etc.. Meetings each morning to work out what needs doing and share necessary skills. Tat-down: can on Saturday (workshop programme finishes Saturday lunch). Regular meetings during the first open day for people as they arrive. Scheduled days off to prevent exhaustion.
Question: how do we know when we've reached capacity, and what do we do when we get there?! Hard to count people in and out, but the welcome desk could count the number of people who've come in? Can welcome tent take this on and pass information onto site?
We need lots of person-power to get the site built: as many people as possible to help in Leeds from August 21.
Health and Safety Presentation
Event guide for health and safety from council and guide from Northern Greeen but they are not experienced in this could do with people who are.
Fire points fire lanes, kitchen water points - main important points. If you see something not safe deal with it or get someone to -don't just walk past it. Put tapes on guy ropes, watch pegs - major problem is people tripping over stuff.
Emergecy plans
Medical emergency: Medics & tranquility called thru radios. Most experience medic there takes charge & does triage if necessary, tranquility assists for eg clearing area. Comms team called & asked to call ambulance. Give ambulance description of location, number & type of casualties. Notify gate of number & type of casualties. Neighbourhoods told to avoid panic. Keep people out of the way of emergency vehicles
Fire: Alarm: shout fire & bang fire alarm - alarm bottle of wire & bottle of water scattered around site. Comms team gets confirmation & informs medics & ... If fire is too big, comms calls emergency services & notifies gate. Tranquility assists evacuating casualties if needed.
Gas bottle leaks: tranquility team trained to know which fires we can deal with and which not.
Electrical fire: electrical points should have foam - site deals with this.
Most likely - marquee fires. We will have fire lanes to stop them spreading.
Many hands may be needed to put out a fire quickly.
There should be assembly points in Neighbourhoods - working on it.
Neighbourhoods have someone whose job is to evacuate the neighbourhood if needed (role of 'fire marshalls').
Flooding - not considered a major risk, but would have same evacuation procedure as for a fire.
Detailed evacuation plan will be made once there is detailed knowledge of the site.
Checking people aren't asleep in tents - this needs to be worked out along with neighbourhoods once info on site is available.
Drill? - would be very disruptive. Would clash with scheduled workshops. Could do during set-up - needs to be thought about more.
Fire services would bring the police with them if they came on site. But if needed we would have to accept this. At an early camp meeting would be good to go over fire procedures to reduce panic if it happens.
Police raid: We can't control how people will react. Some people will want to physically prevent cops from entering site and some people will want to be as far away as possible. All neighbourhoods have to discuss their actions in case of a raid - not to get consensus but to know everyone else's role - so we can help evacuate those who want to.
Will be spotted by gate or perimeter patrol or static observation posts around perimeter - will notify comms who need to have visual confirmation - needed so not to induce panic - make sure it's not just a shift change. They then activate alarm - will be different from firre alarm, loud and continuous. Comms will notify everyone over radios of location of breach. Some people will go to try to stop it and some will try to get far away. Neighbourhoods must have people whose job is to clear people to as far away as possible if they want to - off site if possible. If this is not possible people moved to a point on site as far from police as possible.
Multiple breaches - people evacuated into a group in middle of site, medics split themselvs between those who are evacuated and those who try to resist.
Police trying to prevent people getting on site: not in Safety and Wellbeing remit? Some people agreed to help sort this out. Can't do this till we know what the site is like.
Raid shouldn't be totally sudden we should see them increasing in numbers and getting tooled up. If there are just 2 cops and a camera and this is not an emergency.
Occupation of site
Further information to follow. Questions about this can be sent to suggestions[at]climatecamp.org.uk
Legal note
Police have been in touch and will be wanting names etc. as we get nearer. Be careful about the info you keep on e-mail. Delete everything before the camp. Think carefully about info you bring to camp. Don't speak to the police, you don't have to. Don't give out e-mail addresses to people you don't know. Remember we are not doing anything illegal and don't get confused by intimidation. Council, fire service etc supportive. This camp will happen!!
How meetings will happen at camp - presentation
Consenus decision making and facilitation will be used. Decisions will be made by those affected, so neighbourhoods and working groups will make most decisions except:
- decisions affecting all site
- decisions when the implications might adversely affect other people's welfare
these must come to whole-site meetings. Works on trust. If you don't like what is happening, take responsibility and get involved to sort things out.
Meeting types:
Evenings before - working group meetings
9-9.30 neighbourhood meetings: Will discuss neighbourhood issues - e.g. housekeeping
9.30 to 10.30 Site meetings for overall coordination 2 delegates (Spokes) to go from neighbourhoods to site meeting. Have to get two-way flow of info. Right, so need 2 people to listen, discuss and record. 1 spoke to go from working group meetings to site
10.30 to 11.00 Safety and wellbeing group to run "how do I get involved today?" meeting
Timing concerns raised - both start times and duration seen as impractical. For working grp to discuss.
Concerns over decision making progress - response: Neighbourhoods can choose. Spokes can just be info. people or empowered to decide on behalf of neighbourhood. Critical decisions should go back to neighbourhoods.Big issues will be dealt with at special neighbourhood meetings if needed.
Comment: camps are rumour mills - how to deal with this? Policy already exists, check web.
Comment: Could whole site meet at least once? When it works is unique and empowering. Response: 2 chances - 5-6pm Saturday, welcome at start; Tuesday pm - long open session on visions of how to create new future, plus practical steps.
Would welcome input on how to structure Tuesday meet. Suggestion: Saturday get together should be flagged up in notice on how to join camp.
Agendas for site meetings will be available beforehand at info.point.
Action forum
- To coordinate planned action rather than decide it (learning from Stirling that this is likely to work better).
Action report backs
- To share info after actions.
- To share good quality info. on doing actions.
- Wednesday - training session followed by coordination meeting.
Discussions on autonomy, secrecy, that space for organising mass action on DRAX is needed
Response: Straw poll on mass meeting to plan a DRAX action AS WELL as meetings already planned - 16 want, 13 don't know, 2 don't.
Will replace 2 planned meetings, so run in action meeting slots Tuesday and Wednesday. Please give workshops a new title and brief description for these slots.
Needs people interested to get together parallel to working group time.
Vision meeting
Idea not consensus. It is for people to share their visions so people can identify like minded others.
Media strategy
Key messages
- Scale of the problem of climate change
- The need for collective action on climate change
- The possibilities for a positive low energy future
Group has produced a document that addresses these issues in detail and covers answers to possible tricky questions. Comments are welcome but not on style, this is up to the people who speak. Get in touch if you spot a gap or something you strongly disagree with. E-mail networking[at]climatecamp.org.uk for a personal copy.
Key considerations:
- Respect people's right not to be filmed.
- Use the media to get a positive image of the Camp and action on climate change.
Activist journalist policy:
Activist journalists are asked to register at the Indymedia tent and have their contact details added to a list so that they can be paired up with affinity groups or pointed to places where filming is needed.
The media team will asssist people in passing footage on to mainstream media if it is desired.
When publishing images or voice recordings in the public domain, activist journalists must obscure faces of anyone doing anything incriminating, (i.e. actions or preparation that could link them with illegal activity), unless all individuals concerned have agreed.
Mainstream media policy:
At the Camp:
The media will be given access to the site between 11 - 12 am each day of the Camp except Wednesday and Thursday (the Mass Action day and the preparation day).
During this media hour, the media team will give tours around the site. The media will be required to stick with the tour and not given free access to the site.
They will not be allowed to go into tents or film meetings and workshops unless invited at the agreement of all participants.
Media tours will be highly visible so that people can stay out of shot if they do not want to be filmed.
For Actions:
Affinity groups are encouraged to do their own press if possible, but the media team will try to facilitate as best they can media coverage of actions.Affinity groups will be able to call the media team to let us know they have done an action and we will send the information on to journalists, film crews and activist journalists as best we can.
The media team will press release the mass action and follow up with journalists.
Press release calendar:
- 12/8/06 - Press release public meeting.
- 16/8/06 - Advance notice of the camp to journalists and follow up.
- 25/8/06 - Announcement of the opening of the camp.
- 30 - 31/8/06 - Press release for mass action.
Other press releases will be sent out in response to events.
Discussion: Anything to tell people what to do if Police want camera? Response: talk to legal Will be a dedicated interview space. Will try and get interviews off-site. Activist media need to register cameras as they come on site. Media policy will be explained to all at welcome desk in a positive way. Media can film workshops if workshops agree, proper consensus and fast decision needed not to cut into workshop time. Will be an indymedia briefing on photos, legalities etc. Internet connection agreed for camp.
Neighourhoods issues
Issues:
- Getting stuff on site
- Jerry cans
- baby changing facilities
- accessible?
- Sourcing food
- anarchist teapot
- catering at odd hours
- gas bottles
- organic waste taken by supplier
- combining neighbourhoods
- limit non recyclable plastic
- delegating people to site meeting
- neighbourhoods provide teams for the gate
- 2 people for day for tranquility
- neighbourhoods not barrios
- relaying info from neighbourhoods to welcome desk
- stall at train station - good if people from each neighbourhood could man it each day
- feeding 2000 people - not clear when anarchist teapot will be there - how will food get there, who organising it
- each neighbourhood will have a radio
Priorities:
- food, teapot, catering at odd hours, gas
- getting teams to gate, neighbourhoods providing people for..., matching people and skill
idea: crib sheet for neighbourhoods: things you need to sort out
Gate and welcome point
Neighbourhoods sign up for rotas:
- Gate - 24 hours a day - 18 people in total - each neighbourhood does one day - if insufficient numbers join up with another neighbourhood.
- Tranquility team - 2 people per day - 4 hour shift
- Outreach: tbc number of people required
- Neighbourhood needs: matching people with skills required.
Neighbourhood meeting each morning
Food
- Anarchist teapot to sent shopping list to (person). This will be given to 3 suppliers in the North and food will be delivered on Sat (?) neighbourhoods then get food from central pool.
Gas