Besides the campaigns workshops and skills workshops at this year’s Summer Gathering there will be plenty of facilitated discussions and planning sessions on a whole range of subjects from Climate Science & Politics to Ethical Investment. Some of these will be facilitated by the rather excellent support office staff, some by choice external facilitators, and others still by members of the network. They may be focused on getting your views or on planning at national, regional, or local level, but they all need your participation so cast your eye over the below and get choosing.
On This Page |
||
|---|---|---|
People & Planet Associated Network for Direct Action (PANDA) |
||
Back to Programme Overview.
Assault Course
Back to top
Who says crawling through mud and climbing over really tall walls doesn’t build group spirit? Well, whoever it is, they’re wrong. So, don’t worry, this isn’t a course in how to assault people or how to be assaulted, it’s just intended to be a bit of co-operative fun and a space to get to know each other. All health and safety compliant. Naturally.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
Bonfire Party & Talent Show
Back to top
As per tradition here’s some time to singe your eyebrows, roast some marshmallows, and bid farewell to Summer Gathering whilst at the same time watching some sword fighting, being serenaded by Nina Simone, and taking in a bit of rap. How could you miss such a combination? Heck, if you’re really excited, perhaps you can show off your own personal talent to the huddled masses.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
Céilidh
Back to top
Back by popular demand, DJ O’Kentish spins his wheels of folk for you to get down and jig to. Don’t worry if you’re new to it there will be exemplary calling (“everybody dosado!”) perhaps courtesy of some of our illustrious network members.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
The Circles
Back to top
There’ll be one of these every morning throughout Summer Gathering but also to kick off and close proceedings. Icebreakers and announcements abound but they also provide space to get to know each other more generally and familiarise yourself with what’s coming up and what’s been achieved so far. Basically, they’re all about feeling good.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
Climate Camp & Stop Climate Chaos
Back to top
Last year’s Climate Camp at Heathrow was a great success, raising awareness of the foolish plans to expand the airport. This year, the camp will be at the site of the proposed Kingsnorth coal power station, a ludicrous project given the UK’s commitments to cut its carbon dioxide emissions. Meanwhile, People & Planet remains a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, whose new campaign theme will focus on saying yes to renewables and no to fossil fuels. This discussion will consider People & Planet’s involvement in both and perhaps start coming up with some plans.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Ethical Investment DIY and Redress Fashion DIY.
Climate Science & Politics
Back to top
Have you been befuddled by the array of studies and statistics putting in an appearance on the climate change stage? Does it seem that politicians always have something scientific to say that backs up their case? Well, that won’t cut the mustard any more, it’s time to get wise. Come along to get your facts straight so that you can get out there and spread the word.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Gender and People & Planet and Renewing and Expanding People & Planet’s Democracy.
Ethical Investment DIY
Back to top
As far back as 1999 People & Planet was working on Ethical Investment with the Ethics for USS campaign. Now the campaign is run by the network, sharing resources, experience, and tips between groups. The focus of the campaign is now on cutting the ties between our universities and the teaming multitude of unethical companies that are out there. This session will provide a space for interested people to discuss the campaign and start laying plans for the next academic year.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Climate Camp & Stop Climate Chaos and Redress Fashion DIY.
Films
Back to top
These do pretty much exactly what they say on the tin. So, for those of you not familiar with Ronseal adverts (that’s not an endorsement of Ronseal by People & Planet before you start referring to our corporate guidelines), there will be a selection of films, perhaps even running in parallel, for your delectation.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
The Future of Go Green
Back to top
The Go Green campaign has been a huge success and numerous universities now fulfill the key criteria that it focuses on. However, because of this success, many groups are now at a loss for where to go with the campaign. Staff at the office are developing Go Green so that those groups can still run it but need your help in identifying how to refocus it and up the ante.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Ditch Dirty Development and People and Planet before Profit
Gender and People & Planet
Back to top
This discussion was started at The Forum 2008 and, given the popularity of the Gender, Inequality, and Development new campaign theme proposal, there is still plenty more to be considered. Whilst there are more women than men in the network there is a tendency for the latter to become increasingly represented moving up the national structures with, for instance, all the student members of next year’s Management Committee being men. This trend, amongst many other related subjects, will be a cause for discussion so come and contribute.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Climate Science & Politics and Renewing and Expanding People & Planet’s Democracy
Group Planning
Back to top
With Summer Gathering being 3 months from the beginning of term you won’t need to be panicking yet but it’s a good idea to get a head start and think about what the group might get up to. It’s especially useful to do so when you’ve got lots of keen P&Pers from across the country to share ideas with, as well as many an experienced member of staff from the support office.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
Open Session
Back to top
In classic People & Planet style there is space in the Summer Gathering programme for discussion of whatever takes your fancy. Throughout the first few days there will be a sheet for you suggest subjects for the Open Session, which will then be prioritised before it commences. This is your opportunity to expand on a subject that you feel is not covered elsewhere.
This session will be taking place at the same time as People & Planet Associated Network for Direct Action (PANDA) and Tibet & The Olympics Campaign.
Other DIY Campaigns
Back to top
With the decision at The Forum 2008 for the Redress Fashion and Treat AIDS Now campaigns to be run by the network, with the former receiving minimal support from the office, it is useful to have some space to look at other DIY campaigns. Come along to find out what works well and take away hints and tips for running People & Planet’s national campaigns without office support.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Campaign Communication and People & Planet’s Approach to Corporations.
People & Planet Associated Network for Direct Action (PANDA)
Back to top
First established by students in the network to facilitate the Faslane anti-Trident protests PANDA has continued and provides a way for groups to co-ordinate direct actions that they might be planning. It also provides a means by which to spread details of direct actions that are being planned by other organisations and that groups might be interested in getting involved with. If you haven’t had your fix of direct action of late then come and tuck in.
This session will be taking place at the same time as the Open Session and Tibet & The Olympics Campaign.
People & Planet’s Approach to Corporations
Back to top
People & Planet has campaigned on many issues connected to corporations, from Pepsi in Burma to RBS/NatWest’s funding of fossil fuel extraction, and has often considered how to approach our gargantuan foes. Should we be about constructive engagement, boycott, a mixture of the two, or something else all together? This session will be considering our approach to corporations, particularly in the light of the new campaign theme, People and Planet before Profit, that was chosen at The Forum 2008 and will focus on corporations.
This session will be taking place at the same time as Campaign Communication and Other DIY Campaigns.
Regional Planning
Back to top
Over the last year there have been some brilliant regional actions across the land and for a variety of campaigns, not to mention the numerous excellent regional training and democratic days. The regions have the capacity to facilitate the sharing of ideas, experience, and resources without having to go all the way to national level. A well placed regional action can really help raise the profile of and enthusiasm for a campaign, and they can always be followed by regional socials as well, which is nice. So, here’s the chance to take advantage of those opportunities and meet your brand spanking new Regional Representative.
This session will be taking place alone, there are no alternatives so you’re in for the long haul.
Renewing and Expanding People & Planet’s Democracy
Back to top
This session will act as a starting point for further discussions leading up to the 2009 Forum where a proposal will be made on the formal decision making structure and processes of the People & Planet Network. Areas the session could cover are: coalition membership; the role, functionality and composition of the Management Committee; the role, functionality and composition of the Forum; the decision making role of other P&P events, e.g. Shared Planet, Summer Gathering, and regional events; what is a ‘P&P group’; and, whether there should be a formal group membership / group agreement. If you’re keen to discuss these issues, or any other concerning People & Planet’s democracy, then please visit the network webforums or email Alex Wood.
This session will be taking lace at the same time as Gender and People & Planet and Climate Science & Politics.
Tibet & The Olympics Campaign
Back to top
You’ve read the news right? Well then, you’re probably aware that there’s a campaign going on to free Tibet from the Chinese imperial yoke and that it’s focusing on raising the issue during the Olympics. If you’re interested in finding out more and getting involved then this is the place for you. It’s going to be led by our good friends from Students for a Free Tibet.
This session will be taking place at the same time as the Open Session and People & Planet Associated Network for Direct Action.