Tools for Effective-Sustainable Activism

A 10 day workshop in the Catalan Pyrenees

This workshop, in a remote and wild valley in the Catalan Pyrenees, offers a range of tools, collective and personal, which can make our activism more effective. These methods can help us stay in it for the long haul, adding continuity to our movement building. They can be used to ensure the collective and organisational dimensions of our activism exemplify the values we’re struggling for. And they can help us stay inspired, nourished, & more creative in our tactical approach.

It is a one-week training for activists, especially in East/South-East Europe, to develop collective organising skills, action tools and effective skills-sharing. Workshops will include Consensus decision-making, Facilitation techniques, Dealing with conflict within groups, Working within coalitions, Campaign and strategy tools, Affinity groups and Action tactics, as well as tools for training others and sharing these skills.

Call out for contributions!
We are creating a zine and fully-fledged, comprehensive resource list around the themes of anti-oppression and privilege.

From South Africa to the Philippines, from France to Bolivia, from October 12th – 16th actions took place in countries around the world as part of the global week for climate justice. To see what happened, or to add a report of actions in your area visit:

http://global.climate-justice-action.org/

On November 2nd 2010 the action group ‘ Exterminate Monsanto’ will be organising a ‘public inspection to reveal Monsanto’s hidden agenda’: Concerned citizens will check the premises for clues about the intense cooperation between policy makers and the agro-industry. Today’s focus will be on the lobby efforts of mega-corporation Monsanto at their location in Enkhuizen, Holland. The action group will look for evidence of Monsanto’s plans to get an even tighter grip on farmers and to increase their power over the global market.

A new booklet has recently been published, entitled "Space for Movement? Reflections from Bolivia on climate justice, social movements and the state". Collectively written from an anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian position, it will hopefully add to our understandings of the CMPCC and the struggle for climate justice.

"In the wake of the failed COP-15 in Copenhagen last December, Bolivia’s first indigenous president called for a World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth (CMPCC). Was this the necessary space for social movements to respond where governments and the UN have failed? Was it an attempt to co-opt radical demands? Following the event in Cochabamba, April 2010, this booklet reflects on the lessons from Bolivia and the role of movements in the fight for climate justice".

You can download the booklet for free, or order a hard copy for yourself, or your local infoshop or alternative library, from the website:

http://spaceformovement.wordpress.com/

The week of the self-organized noborder camp, set in Brussels' “Tour et Taxis” area, was filled with activities, protests, demos and actions. It was also met by a massive repression, mainly in the form of mass preventive arrests.

The Khimki forest is saved ? Now save the activists!

Thanks to an impressive solidarity and historically courageous struggle, activists in Russia from all parts of society supported by people in common have been able to save the Khimki forest close to Moscow. The plan was to build a toll high way through one of the last forests in the green belt surrounding the city. Direct action to save the forest and wider and wider support at street rallies and in opinion polls made prime minister Medvedev decide in favour of protecting the forest.

In response to last month's Global Matters newsletter, we received quite a few messages about more events happening this summer (and into the autumn). This newsletter is a quick update on these things we missed out on. Enjoy!

.on More summer Happenings

Again this summer there are lots of events and gatherings planned around Europe to keep you busy. From climate camps (lots of them!) to Queeruption, anti-nuclear action to a No Border camp, there's lots to get stuck into – wherever you are.

Have an event planned this summer or autumn that we've forgotten to include? Email eyfa [at] eyfa.org and we'll add it to the website.

.on Global Matters (3)