camp for climate action feedback

by Camper - Met Fri Aug 15, 2008 16:49

Re point 1) We kept _uniformed_ police off site. This is a real achievement. Don't forget all the undercover though.

Re point 2 - The discussion was kicked off by a proposal that the camp adopt the PGA global hallmarks. These are;

1) A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism and feudalism; all trade agreements, institutions and governments that promote destructive globalisation;
2)We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all human beings.
3) A confrontational attitude, since we do not think that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased and undemocratic organisations, in which transnational capital is the only real policy-maker;
4) A call to direct action and civil disobedience, support for social movements' struggles, advocating forms of resistance which maximize respect for life and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the construction of local alternatives to global capitalism;
5) An organisational philosophy based on decentralisation and autonomy.
http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/pga/hallm.htm

It was encouraging to see debate about these hallmarks.

For me the event was worthwhile as a exercise in skill sharing and networking. It was good to meet up and work with people some of whom I had not seen since the G8 in Scotland.

by non-aligned Sun Aug 17, 2008 15:59

The PGA hallmarks are anarchist code for trying to turn a political movement into an anarchist front group. While they are admirable in their own right, I don't like it when the SWP try to turn a politcal movement into a front group for their own devices, and it's even worse when anarchists try and pull similar stunts, due to the hypocrisy of the way in which anarchists are forever complaining of front group building by the SWP.

by been there... Sun Aug 17, 2008 23:03

The PGA Hallmarks were not agreed by anarchists when orginally devised, but were put together by Maoists, liberals, Marxists & associated ilk. It's not an anarchist front group or anything like that. The Camp for Climate Action was/is (debatable) organised along anarchist lines, though not having an explicit anarchist identity.

I like what Earth First! in the USA describes itself as, which is a movement of one no and many yeses.

We don't need to all agree on aims or whatever, and indeed that limits and constricts us - diversity is what we're aiming to protect, and diversity is what we should reflect.

by Anarchist606 Tue Aug 19, 2008 13:24

Good to know your thoughts! Thanks for sharing the words and images.