Workshops
There are dozens of workshops for you to choose from at Shared Planet 2007.
Here’s the full list of what’s available - they are divided into three workshop sessions - Session 1 Saturday 14:00-15:30, Session 2 Saturday 16:00-17:30 and Session 3 Sunday 11:30-13:00.
- This symbol |A| denotes workshops where some previous knowledge of the issue is an advantage.
Session 1 - Saturday 14.00 - 15.30
Students enjoy a workshop at Shared Planet 06
Keeping Oil In The Soil: Running the Ditch Dirty Development campaign
Pete Speller, Ditch Dirty Development Intern, People & Planet
Introduction to the Ditch Dirty Development campaign, looking at both public and private financing of oil and gas projects. Following the story of an oil pipeline this workshop examines how different institutions involved play their part and what impact they have. Moving on to look at how to plan your campaign.
peopleandplanet.org/ditchdirtydevelopment
Go Green at Sixth Form: Turn your school or college into a vision of sustainability
Alex Wood, Go Green Intern, People & Planet
Jane Stratton, Campaign Advocate, People & Planet
Schools account for 15% of public sector carbon dioxide emissions. Learn how to smash your school/college’s carbon emissions through running the new People & Planet Go Green Sixth Form campaign. This workshop will empower you to run a strategic and targeted campaign which will create real change through the implementation of successful campaigning techniques leading to the realisation of practical aims and goals.
peopleandplanet.org/gogreen/sixthform
Panel discussion: How important is student activism in greening the education sector?
|A|
Mike Robinson, National Officer for Unite the Union
Maddy Evans, Ethics and Environment Officer, Essex University
Sherri-Lee Miles, Student Engagement Officer, Ecoversity, Bradford University
Andrew France, Sustainability Co-Ordinator, Sheffield Hallam University
Emma Hughes, Go Green Intern, People & Planet
People & Planet’s Go Green campaign is predicated on the importance of student activism in greening the education sector. Hear experts discuss the role of bottom up approaches and consider whether government legislation could be a more effective way to transform the eduction sectors’ environmental performance.
peopleandplanet.org/gogreen/
A How-To Guide To Fun Street Theatre: ideas, props and formats
Jeannie Thompson & Marion McCartney, Streetacts
Street theatre can be a fun, creative and essential way to communicate your campaign message. Have fun joining in to learn simple formats that really work, how to adapt them to your campaign, simple props, what to avoid, how to get and keep attention, and how to reach different audiences. Come up with your own ideas with help from the facilitators and show us!
Your Message In The Media: making the most of your soundbite
- Session 1: introduction
- Session 2: |A| advanced
Linda Fairbrother, Senior reporter, ITV Anglia television
A working journalist reveals the secrets of how to make the media work for you, from how to contact newsrooms to preparing interviews. In particular, you will learn how to present your messages in a punchy, effective way without losing control. Practical exercises and demonstration interviews will show you how to prepare and practise for an interview, with handy tips on how to speak and look in a broadcast.
Is China the World’s Biggest Climate Change Threat?
Sam Geall & Tan Copsey, China Dialogue
China is now the world’s largest CO₂ emitter. How is China approaching the challenge of potentially catastrophic climate change? And how should we approach China? Web activists from chinadialogue.net invite you to a discussion on how to engage with China.
Stop The Traffik: ending the trade in people
Laura Simmonds & Malcolm Corrigall, Stop the Traffik
This seminar will explore what people trafficking is, how it affects us, and how we can bring it to an end. Through presentations, video and group work we will look at proactive measures each person can take to stop the trade in people - at a personal level, in your schools and universities, and in wider society. You will leave the seminar not only having a greater knowledge of people trafficking but equipped with ideas for action.
The Right To Health: access to medicines
Dr Rhona MacDonald, Senior editor of The Lancet and Editor of TheLancetStudent.com
Is health a human right? Millions of people in the world do not have access to the life-saving medicines that they need. What are their rights and what can we do about it? Come to this workshop and find out!
An Introduction to Development Education
|A| Rob Unwin, Development Education Centre South Yorkshire (DECSY)
If you’re planning to do work in schools or colleges on global issues then this session is essential. DECSY are at the cutting edge of development education practice, and you’ll come away with a whole range of tips and tricks to take back to your group or the classroom. A brief introduction to the background and philosophy of “Dev Ed” will be followed by trying out some practical, interactive activities to run with young people.
A Forgotten Crisis: Introduction to the Congo
Sarah Hughes, Director, International Rescue Committee UK
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year as a forgotten war reignites. The levels of violence are extraordinary, with brutal rape a daily occurrence. Yet most people in Europe aren’t even aware that the fighting is happening. Come to this workshop, learn more about the situation and help put the crisis in the Congo into the global consciousness.
Permaculture Your Life!
Ed Sears, Derby People & Planet
Permaculture is ecological design of the places and ways in which we live. In this workshop, we will dash through the history of the Earth system, the rise of civilisation, human ecology and the principles of permaculture, understanding your home environment, growing food for the first time, local case studies, national and international efforts to reduce emissions and a selection of resources and contacts to get you started.
Know Your Rights: an activists guide to the law
Kathryn Tulip, Activists Legal Project.
Confrontation and creative disruption are essential aspects of effective direct action. As a consequence we run the risk of arrest and conviction. But by being well prepared and knowing our rights we can make our experience of the legal system more positive and empowering. This workshop looks at the legal implications of taking direct action: your rights on arrest and the arrest procedure, likely charges, penalties and implications of conviction.
www.activistslegalproject.org.uk
Abolition Of The Slave Trade: learning lessons from the most important global justice campaign in history
|A| Marlene Barrett, World Development Movement
2007 is the 200th anniversary of the parliamentary abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. It’s an opportunity to reflect on our past and learn lessons for our present and future. Come along to explore the untold stories of resistance and grassroots pressure; to uncover the way in which today’s injustices stem from past abuses of power; and to try and learn the lessons, for today, from perhaps the most important global justice campaign in history.
Session 2 - Saturday 16:00-17:30
Workshop at SP ‘06
TRIPS, Pills And The Druggernauts
|A| Sarah Waldron, Treat AIDS Now campaigner, People & Planet
The pharmaceutical industry promised intellectual property rules would mean better health for more people, and orchestrated an impressive campaign to expand them globally. Yet only 10% of global R&D money is spent on research into the problems that afflict 90% the world’s population and many existing medicines are unaffordable for those who need them. Explore, through the lens of P&P’s Treat AIDS Now Campaign, how big pharma prioritise profits are over public health, and what can we do about it.
peopleandplanet.org/treataidsnow/
Drugs Money: funding the gap
|A| David Hillman, Stamp Out Poverty & James Lloyd, People & Planet
World leaders promised to provide HIV treatment for all by 2010; to halve global poverty by 2015; to tackle climate change. But they still need to show us the money. Funding for AIDS alone needs to quadruple in the next three years to meet promises on access to treatment. New ways need to be found to raise extra funds. The richest market in the world — the trade in money itself — could provide the solution. This workshop will explore this radical proposal to change the face of development financing.
Show Me The Money! How to run creative fundraisers for P&P and your group.
Katie Higgins, Fundraising Officer, People & Planet.
A creative and interactive introduction to organising effective fundraisers that are fun, raise your profile and get people involved with your campaigns! Boost your skills and confidence in event planning, learn how to communicate why fundraising for campaigning, and for P&P, is a great cause, and share your fundraising ideas and successes with others in the network. Want to know how to be a money-making guru with morals? This workshop’s for you!
peopleandplanet.org/supportus/
International skillshare on sweat-free campuses
|A| Marlene Ramos, United Students Against Sweatshops
Anna Wolmuth, Redress Fashion Intern, People & Planet
United Students Against Sweatshops is a grassroots organisation that has achieved concrete victories in its campaign for sweat-free campuses in the US. Learn from the experience of Marlene Ramos, a USAS activist, and share ideas with fellow students on how to go about redressing your campus.
www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org
Go Green Week: Your planet needs you…
Alex Wood, Go Green Intern, People & Planet
…to plan a week of student action against climate chaos - 16-24 February 2008. This will be the UK’s first national student week of actions and events against climate chaos. Expect loads of actions and events taking place at different institutions, along with inter-institutional and regional events, plus coordinated nationwide local actions. We need you to come up with these actions and events and start the planning.
Breaking the Bank: How the Royal Bank of Scotland is funding climate change
Mika Minio-Paluello, PLATFORM
The Royal Bank of Scotland is the second largest bank in Europe and the UK’s primary funder of fossil fuel projects. This workshop will firstly introduce RBS, looking at how they fund oil and gas projects around the world and their impact on climate change; then move on to start planning the campaign and local actions against RBS-Natwest.
AIDS is POLITICAL! An introduction to Treat AIDS Now
Chloe Hall, Treat AIDS Now Intern, People & Planet
World leaders promised to make universal access to AIDS treatment a reality by 2010. However, world leaders don’t always keep their promises. Find out why it is so important that the 2010 target is met and how People & Planet’s Treat AIDS Now campaign aims to put pressure on world leaders to turn their words into solid actions.
peopleandplanet.org/treataidsnow/
After the Climate Camp: what next?
|A|
This summer’s Camp For Climate Action at Heathrow — marked by an incredible week of action, workshops and sustainable living — made big headlines, and put airport expansion firmly on the political map. But what should happen next? And how can you, your group, or P&P nationally get involved? Come to discuss.
Be A Guerrilla Gardener
Olly Zanetti & Emma Hughes
‘Guerrilla Gardening’ is the adoption and transformation of abandoned public spaces by growing and tending plants in them. In this session we’ll do some guerrilla gardening in a site near the campus, clearing it of weeds, and brightening it up with bulbs and small shrubs. As we go, we’ll chat about the history of Guerrilla Gardening, why people Guerrilla Garden now, and discuss tactics and techniques to use in your own Guerrilla Gardening exploits. No gardening experience necessary, but please wear comfortable shoes and if you have any seeds, plants or equipment (trowel, fork) bring them along too!
Public Relations, Media & Spin
Laurence Durnan
How do corporations and other groups shape the political and news agenda? How do you sell a controversial new drug or even a war? Learn the secret tricks of PR men and lobbyists before putting the techniques into practice in an interactive group workshop.
Military Funding At UK Universities: a guide to researching and campaigning
Tim Street, Campaign Against Arms Trade
Arms companies and the Ministry of Defence spend millions of pounds a year funding military research at UK universities. Many universities also invest heavily in arms companies. This workshop will examine these issues and provide information on how you can find out about military involvement at your university. We will be discussing how to start a campaign and will look at examples of successful university ethical investment campaigns.
Climate Myths And Climate Science: understanding the basics
Dr Stuart Parkinson, Director, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the world, but powerful vested interests are trying to misrepresent the scientific evidence. This interactive workshop will give a basic introduction to climate science, explaining in simple terms all the common jargon, the key environmental processes and the main impacts. It will also debunk the most common climate myths, and identify the ‘climate sceptics’. Come and ask those questions you’ve always wanted answered!
Plus, repeated from session 1:
Your Message In The Media: making the most of your soundbite (advanced) |A|
A How-To Guide To Fun Street Theatre: ideas, props and formats
Session 3 - Sunday 11:30-13:00
Redress Fashion: Demand Material Justice!
Anna Wolmuth, Redress Fashion Intern, People & Planet
Most of us are wearing clothes made by workers paid poverty wages and denied the right to unionise to improve their conditions. From seed to shirt, exploitation in the fashion industry is endemic. This workshop will introduce the new campaign and prepare you to take action to Redress Fashion — on the high street and on campus.
peopleandplanet.org/redressfashion
Transform your University! Go Green Skill Share
Harry Day, Campaign Advocate, People & Planet
Debate and learn with fellow campaigners as we discuss how to transform your uni into a top eco performer. We’ll look at how your group can use the Green league 2007 to effect real change on campus.
After Your Uni’s Gone Green — what next for your campaign?
|A| Emma Hughes, Go Green Intern, People & Planet
Are you lucky enough to belong to a university that has already met the four Go Green demands? Wondering what to do next? Then this is the session for you! With these key institutional changes in place you can start demanding radical improvements on campus. Join other successful Go Green activists to discuss how to keep the pressure on.
How To Protect A Human Rights Defender Without So Much As A Bullet Proof Vest
Stuart Bowman, Peace Brigades International
From Indonesia to Colombia, Peace Brigades International (PBI) volunteers have protected local human rights workers around the world for over 25 years. No bullet proof vest is required by these “unarmed bodyguards”. But how does it work? Come along and learn how in a lively participative session.
Dismantling Corporate Power
|A| Clare Faucet, Corporate Watch & Jess Worth, New Internationalist
Can we create a just and sustainable society when corporations hold so much power? If not where do we start in dismantling corporate power? What tools and tactics do we have on our side? If you’re interested in these kind of questions then here’s a chance to start debating the biggest question facing our society.
www.corporatewatch.org.uk
www.newint.org
Corporate Social Responsibility — Solution or Distraction?
Colin Baines, Ethics Adviser, The Co-operative Bank
Is it really possible to run a business ethically or are such claims just greenwash? How can you trust what businesses say? Can corporate social responsibility (CSR) really effect change? In this workshop we will debate the issues and explore the complexities of business ethics and ethical consumerism. In groups, can you identify, agree on and prioritise the material social and environmental issues associated with a range of products? It’s not easy!
Co-operation Works! Co-operatives for social change
Cath Muller, cooperative member, Radical Routes.
Co-operatives can take grassroots control and create bases for social change, as well as acting as an alternative to power wielding corporations. From social centres to food and housing, this workshop will give you an introduction to co-operative living & working, and how to set up a co-operative. Come and find out about Radical Routes — the network of co-ops working for radical social change.
Non Violent Direct Action: Not for girls?
|A| Eleanor Greenhalgh & Jennie Bailey
Is gender an issue in campaign actions? Do women and men participate equally, or might they have different things to offer, and gain? Can protests be dominated by ‘macho’ models of conflict and resistance — and do less confrontational forms of direct action get overlooked? Come to share, discuss, and generate ideas for making political dissent vibrant and truly diverse.
The Politics of Thinking Green
|A| James Connelly, Professor of Politics, University of Hull
This workshop is for anyone interested in the relation between theory and practice. It will consider both why we have obligations to future generations and nature, and what those obligations are. It will then ask how being green fits within a political setting, what can be done, obstacles to doing it and the prospects for success. Come to discuss and question.
Corporation Or Co-operation? Economic systems for a shared planet
|A| Mark Evans, Project for a Participatory Society UK
In this introductory workshop on economic visions for a truly shared planet, we will identify values for a fair economy, analyse and evaluate existing economic options and consider participatory economics as a new long term vision for the global justice movement.
Why Biofuels Are No Solution To Climate Change
|A| Deepak Rughani, Biofuelwatch
There are two routes to runaway global heating. One is by fossil fuel emissions crossing a critical threshold; the other is triggering the collapse of our major ecosystems. Biofuels threatens to do both. This workshop introduces the issue and looks at the role we can each play in halting the biofuels mega-industry.
Supermarket Sweep: corporate abuse and corporate regulation
Emma Harbour, Action Aid
Ever wondered who’s paying the real cost of supermarket price wars? As campaigners around the globe challenge supermarket power on the International Day of Action on Supermarkets, come and find out about ActionAid’s Who Pays? campaign. We’ll explore the problems faced by the women workers in developing countries making the food and clothes we buy. Join us to discuss what action you can take to get the UK Government to make supermarkets play fair overseas.
Faslane 365 - Where next?
|A| Bryony Shanks, Student CND
A successful year-long blockade at Faslane, the home of Britain’s nuclear Trident came to a close last month. Where do peace and anti-war activists go now to stop the Government’s plans to construct a new generation of weapons of mass destruction? This workshop will contain practical information and hands-on ideas about how to continue building student opposition to Britain’s nuclear arsenal and will briefly look at US-UK co-operation in building the planned US National Missile Defence System.
Only if you’re white? Exploring environment and race
Maxwell Ayamba & Samiya Selim
Sheffield Black and Ethnic Minority Environmental Network (SHEBEEN)
Environment and race — how are the two related? From the global to the local, come to discuss. We will look at climate injustice (who’s causing versus who’s worst affected by climate change); environmental poverty and environmental refugees and asylum systems; and bring the discussion to the local level by looking at exclusion of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in local environmental activities and groups, in access to green spaces and the countryside, and in environmental jobs and training.
The Zapatista Indigenous Movement In Mexico: a model for democracy?
Mike Reilly, Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group
In 1994 the indigenous Zapatista movement in Mexico rose in armed rebellion. They have taken over much land that belonged to rich landowners and have developed autonomous communities with their own health service, schools, justice system, and democratic decision-making structures. The workshop will describe this inspiring movement and discuss what lessons it holds for our own activity and organisation.
How To Bring Down The Military Dictatorship Of Burma In 90 Minutes!
Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK
In the wake of years of military dictatorship and recent uprisings in Burma, this workshop will discuss what it will take to bring down the military regime of Burma. A chance to gain more insight into the situation in Burma, addressing human rights issues, and current political lobbying initiatives developed by Burma Campaign UK for the democracy movement in Burma. An address for future action.
Plus, repeated from sessions 1 & 2:
Go Green at Sixth Form: Turn your school or college into a vision of sustainability
Keeping Oil In The Soil: Running the Ditch Dirty Development campaign