Working Group I: Camps, Convergence Centres, Catering, Fundraising, Local Transport
An update was given to the meeting on the situation as it stands in the UK.
The Convergence Centre(s)
Dissent! is looking for a large convergence centre, currently there is not one. Convergence spaces are being looked for in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth. Due to the location of the G8 summit a lot of comparisons are being drawn with the protests in Evian against the G8. It is assumed unlikely that the government will give a space to protests as they have done in Evian, Genoa and Prague.
We would like to get both an urban and rural space. We will need to get around 20,000 more Euros to pay for these convergence centres, as we are unlikely to be given anything by councils or the government.
Dissent! has come to the consensus decision to squat if a legal convergence can't be found. There is a lot of countryside around, however it would be safer to get a legal convergence space. Dissent! also has an agreement with groups like Scottish CND to have autonomous zones within a wider convergence centre.
Political Aspects of the Convergence Centre:
Quite early on in the G8 mobilization it was explicitly decided one of the most important aspects is creating a convergence space where there are new experiences of collective self-management, where people organize themselves and facilitate autonomous action, build unity and networks.
The idea would be to run the convergence centres a month before hand to encourage groups to come and have their meetings in Scotland.
Part of the reason we are having difficulties.
1. We need more support from within government
2. Money
3. More people to help find the convergence centre.
There will be a training course on setting up a large rural campsite at the end of May to the beginning of June.
The issue of convergence centres has been brought up in Scottish parliament by MSP's. There is a great deal of hype surrounding the issues of convergence centres in the media and the police are rumoured to have approached land owners and warned them not to rent their land out.
The following things are needed for the convergence centre
- Supply of water and cheap ethical food
- Electricity
- Marquees (i.e. big tents)
- Transport
- Bicycles
- Tools
- Kitchens
- Toilets
- Paper
- Indymedia Centre
- Insect Repellent
- Medical Equipment
- Communication Equipment (CB radio/ phones)
- Wood/nails building materials
- Straw
- Lighting
- Effective and participatory decision making processes
- Effective ways of integrating and including people in the process
- Site infrastructure
- Internal camp communication structure
- Children's Space
- Skilled people
- Security
Catering
The Anarchist Teapot kitchen in Brighton is the contact point for anything to do with food (email: anarchisttpot
yahoo.co.uk website: www.eco-action.org/teapot). They are trying to find local suppliers for things like propane gas, water, dried food suppliers. Also the Anarchist Teapot are compiling information so that it's accessible to other food collectives. So far there is absolutely no idea how many people are coming so it's been hard to estimate how many kitchens would be needed.
Cooking Capacity of Kitchens
- Rampenplan: When they have enough people they can cook for 2000-3000
- Anarchist Teapot: Can make good food for 500 and lots of soup for 1000
- Heidelberg: Can cook for 50-60
- Other big kitchens in Hanover and Belgium will be contacted. A list will be made of kitchens that are coming and also of kitchens that need to be contacted.
Anarchist Teapot are sourcing local organic food suppliers where possible.
There is no guarantee that all the kitchens will get into the country so it is important that people think about being as self- sufficient as possible.
Action Points
Anarchist Teapot has 3000 pounds that they can put into the kitchens.
A team of drivers and vans to get food into the camps (around 17 tones will be needed per day) is being found
Contact other food kitchens that were at the VAAG
Marquees (Large Tents)
Currently there are no marquees. It must be noted that even though it is summer in Scotland it does rain a lot. However we can build geo-desic domes if we can source the wood and tarpaulins.
Action Points
- Some one from Germany can bring two large tents
- Someone from Holland who works for a tent company will see what possibilities he has to bring tents over.
- Everyone should bring his or her own tents where possible
- People in the UK will contact various festival organizers to try to source tents
- Dissent! will set up an email address and make sure the convergence list is sent out to everybody.
- Vaaag recommends making a wish list and sending this out.
Discussion about structure of decision-making processes for the convergence spaces
In Strasbourg in the camp was sub structured into different barrios. These were autonomous and people came together in a spokes council with the whole camp on a daily basis.
It is very important that we build an alternative within to the camp but not to set our objectives too high and to make them unattainable. It is difficult to organize truly participatory processes for 10,000 people and decision-making structures need to be very clear and accessible to all.
Fundraising
Everybody needs to do as much fundraising as possible in their own country. Dissent! is fucked for money and really needs help.
Rampenplan are cooking at a commercial festival two weeks before the G8 and will donate around 10,000 euros.
There is a question about the structure of funding, how money is spent, where it goes, how the decisions are made.
Clarification point: groups and individuals who donate money can specify where they want it to be used
Local Transport
There are fairly good public transport link between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Perth. Drivers are needed for buses. People with transport need to work out in advance how much their van/bus will be available for public use.