The Forum: a packed weekend
Ninety P&Pers from around the country met last weekend to shape the future of People & Planet
P&Pers worked in small groups to assess campaigns options against campaigns criteria
Congratulations to the following students who were elected to the Management Committee at The Forum: * Tom Chance * Harry Giles * Ric Lander * Ben West
A big thank you to all the other outstanding candidates too!
P&Pers on Saturday night chill out with a curry
“I loved it! I’m a new-found P&Per!”
The weekend
Ninety P&Pers from around the country converged in Nottingham last weekend for an intense two days of socialising, debating and setting the direction for P&P as an organisation.
The Forum was a huge success: thirteen topics chosen by the network were debated over the weekend; four new members of the student-led Management Committee were elected; and attendance was 40% higher than ever before, including a healthy sixth form contingent.
As well as debating and deciding on P&P’s new unis economic justice campaign, climate campaigning in schools and colleges, P&P’s democracy, how we work in coalitions and internationally, and more, the weekend was packed with fun.
P&Pers were given the chance to get to know each other on Friday night, with a lively speed-debate including such contentious issues as “House of Lords: elected, selected or other?” and “Cats or dogs?”. Saturday night’s St Patrick/Green-themed party revealed P&Pers’ hidden talents, including a scratch samba performance, a lyrical poem and some impressive vocal performances.
The best things about The Forum event, according to P&Pers:
- The atmosphere
- Meeting new people
- Hearing such enthusiasm and great ideas to make P&P even better
- All of it!
- Meeting 6th formers
- The democratic process — consensus
- Inspirational, lots of involvement, commitment inducing
- Seeing how many people here are really enthusiastic about doing all these important things!
- Knowing that we had a voice in the guidance and decision-making of People & Planet.
- Everybody!! Networking, learning, exploring and deciding!!
- Good alternative to normal-world decision making!
- Meeting everyone and feeling really valued
- Tasty vegan cake
Where now?
- Read the write-ups of sessions at The Forum 2007.
- The office will seek to implement decisions as soon as possible and welcomes contact from students who would like to get involved.
- Get talking about topics from The Forum on the network web forum.
6th formers work together to shape the future of climate campaigning
Open Mic night at The Forum
P&Pers express how they feel about the Ethical Investment campaign by where they stand
Forum participants shake off their tiredness, with a lively game of ‘Rubber Chicken’
Rich. In a silly Guiness hat.
The Forum kicked off with a few trust games
P&Pers let off some steam after an intense session on Economic Justice campaigning