Author: earthfirst

Please Email, Phone or Write Today In Support Of Tortured Filipino Anarchists

Please take a minute to email, phone, fax, or write in support of The Sagada 11, young anarchists falsely accused of a Maoist guerilla attack and tortured in The Philippines. Today, November 17th is an international action day for them! A sample letter and contact details for officials follow this short description of the background to the case…

Please take a minute to email, phone, fax, or write in support of The Sagada 11, young anarchists falsely accused of a Maoist guerilla attack and tortured in The Philippines. Today, November 17th is an international action day for them! A sample letter and contact details for officials follow this short description of the background to the case…

BACKGROUND
On February 14th this year, a group of anarcho-punks from across the Philippines aged 15-25 were on a trip to Sagada, a well known hiking spot, to go walking. Police stopped the vehicle they were hitchhiking with and brutally arrested them without a warrant. Later, they were told of an attack by Maoist guerillas on a military outpost a few days before. When they denied involvement, they were subjected to further torture including suffocation, electrocution, simulated executions and drowning. The two youngest had to be released, but the 9 others have been charged with arson and murder.

The youths were all active in ecological campaigns and groups such as Food not Bombs, but there is no evidence of any connection with any Maoist organisations, or guerilla groups, or any evidence for the crime. Their arrest was illegal. They are being held under terrible conditions without even basic necessities or enough food in overcrowded cells.

International solidarity could make a huge difference to this case. You can say you are phoning/writing about the Sagada 11, mention their names, and that you would like to enquire about their welfare/you think the arrests were illegal/demand their immediate release, etc. Please remember that they are being accused of being part of Maoist guerilla actions so be careful what you associate them with anything politically.

QUICK CONTACT DETAILS
Filipino police: Gen. Arturo Lumibao: 0063 27264361
Jail:see address below, phone number: 0063 744222304
Filipino Embassy: 0207 9371600, Fax: 020 79372925, Email: embassy@philemb.co.uk

Other important email addresses to send to: rvpuno@dilg.gov.ph, chiefacosta@edsamail.com.ph, sechbp@infocom.com.ph, drpvq@yahoo.com, omb1@ombudsman.gov.ph, ssyed@ohchr.org, tb-petitions@ohchr.org, scronin@ohchr.org . The full contact details are given after the sample letter but you can copy this email list to make mailing easier…

SAMPLE LETTER

I recently heard about a case involving eleven young people arrested, tortured and falsely accused of a terrorist attack in The Phillipines…

Names of those still in jail:

1. Rundren Berloize Lao (24) of Gerona, Tarlac.
2. Anderson Alonzo (18) of Calinan, Davao City
3. Aldoz Christian Manoza (18) of Sampaloc St.,
Santolan, Pasig City
4. Ron Pandino (20) of Barangay Mayatba, Siniloan,
Laguna
5. Jethro Villagracia (21) of Calinan, Davao City
6. Neil Russel Balajadia (25) of No. 026 Tawiran St.,
Santolan, Pasig City
7. Darwin Alagar (21) of Barangay Tipuso, Urdaneta
City, Pangasinan
8. Arvie Nunez (21) of Barangay Silangang Mayao,
Lucena City
9. Jefferson dela Rosa (20) of No. 211 A.M. De Leon
St., Santolan, Pasig City
All of them are presently detained in a jail in La
Trinidad, Benguet.

Name of minor victims released to their parent’s
custody:

1. Frencess Ann Bernal (15) of Calumpang, Marikina
City
2. Ray Lester Mendoza (16) of Blk. 157 Lot 32 San
Francisco St., Barangay Rizal, Makati City

Name of persons charged with torture: General Villamor Bumanglag, provincial director of the Benguet Provincial Police Office (BPPO); Police Superintendent Brent Madjaco, head of the 1604th Police Provincial Mobile Group (PPMG) and his men; and unidentified military agents and Cafgu members

It has come to my attention that the 11 persons, who were arrested and subsequently tortured by the police and military men on 14 February 2006, have filed another criminal charges before the Benguet Prosecutor’s Office on June 28. In the new complaint, the victims charged the police and military officials for arbitrary arrest and detention. As you are aware, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in La Trinidad, Benguet had already ruled on May 19 that the arrest of the 11 victims was illegal.

I am deeply concerned that the prosecutor’s office may further delay in resolving this new complaint of arbitrary arrest and detention. I am aware that prior to the filing of this complaint, on March 31 the victims had also filed for violation of Republic Act 7438 against the same respondents. No formal charges have yet been filed against them in court. It is reported that the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Office have yet to act on the recommendation made by the prosecutor’s office. Only until the Ombudsman takes action to the recommendation of the prosecutors the case will make progress in court.

Also, the administrative case filed with the regional office of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) is also dragging at their office. The Commission has yet to commence its summary hearing of the administrative complaint that the victims also filed on July 20 and 21, despite a long hiatus between its original complaint filed to them. The delay to resolve the case on part of the Commission and Ombudsman is seriously
affecting this case. I am deeply concerned this situation may prolong unless acted upon while the victims remained in jail.

I am deeply concerned that charges of robbery with homicide, which was re-filed by the policemen against the 11 victims, after the court’s ruling that the 14 February 2006 arrest and detention of the victims was illegal could be a mere rehash. I am extremely disappointed that the victims’ allegations that the confession and evidence taken from them by way of torture, which the police used prosecuting them, have not been acted upon. To my understanding, the succeeding proceeding–filing of the case–should have been subsequently declared as null and void as the arrest have already been declared illegal. I therefore urged the court, to consider these circumstances in their future deliberation.

I urged your appropriate intervention to ensure that the complaints the victims filed to the prosecutors’ office, ombudsman and the police commission are acted upon promptly. I believed that you would completely agree that promptness to resolve these cases is very essential. Please also request the prosecutor’s office in Benguet to consider dropping the charges of robbery with homicide against the victims re-filed by the police considering given the court’s ruling. If this cannot be done, please request the court to consider approving the victim’s petition for reinvestigation.

Reinvestigation is necessary in order that the allegations of torture are dealt with accordingly.

Additionally, please request the concerned government agencies, in particular the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to considering dismantling the armed militias they are utilizing–Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU). The utilization of Cafgu had already resulted to abuses. In this case, CAFGU members had been accused of taking part in the illegal arrest and detention. The government must send a strong message against the use of this force.

I trust that you will take action on this case.

Yours sincerely,

FULL CONTACT DETAILS

1. Mr. Ronaldo V. Puno
Chairman
National Police Commission (Napolcom)
A. Francisco Gold Condominium II
EDSA cor. Mapagmahal St., Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Voice: +63 2 925 0330 / 31
Fax: +63 2 925 0332
Email: rvpuno@dilg.gov.ph

2. Mrs. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta
Chief, Public Attorney Office (PAO)
DOJ Agencies Building,
NIA Road East Avenue
1104 Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel. No. +63 2 929 9010 / 9436
Fax No. +63 2 927 6810 / 926 2878
Email: chiefacosta@edsamail.com.ph

3. Director General Oscar Calderon
Chief, Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763

4. Atty. Jocelyn Castillo
Regional Director, Commission on Human Rights
Cordillera Administrative Region
3rd floor SSS Baguio Branch Bldg., Harrison Road
2600 Baguio City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 074 619 9088/ 074 619 9089

5. Mr. Raul Gonzalez
Secretary
Department of Justice
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
Email: sechbp@infocom.com.ph

6. Ms. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com

7. Mr. Orlando Casimiro
Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and
Other Law Enforcement Offices
3rd Floor, Ombudsman Bldg., Agham Road
Diliman (1104) Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 926 9032
Fax: +63 2 926 7572
Email: omb1@ombudsman.gov.ph

8. Professor Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr.Safir Syed
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 9179016 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE QUESTION OF TORTURE)
E-mail: ssyed@ohchr.org, tb-petitions@ohchr.org
9. Mr. Leandro Despouy
Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
Attn: Sonia Cronin
Room: 3-060
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9160
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR INDEPENDENCE JUDGES & LAWYERS)
E-mail: scronin@ohchr.org

For more info, http://www.brightonabc.org.uk

next mcr critical mass is on friday 24th november

thats not this friday but the one after..

we added a poster and flyer/sticker to our blog to print and distibute if you wanna..

Manc Critical Mass flier Nov 06thats not this friday but the one after..

we added a poster and flyer/sticker to our blog to print and distibute if you wanna..
http://ilovebicycles.blogspot.com/

we are gonna get some stickers printed this week hopefully ready for next critical mass which is on 24th november.. stickers should fit on top tubes
and on other surfaces!

After the rides we have all sorts of events like meals, beers, parties, film screenings etc. If you’d like to organise something for after a critical mass please email the suggestion to the list

join the critical mass email list here:
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/manccriticalmass

After this one the next dates are:
dec 29, jan 26 (’07), feb 23, mar 30, apr 27, may 25

http://www.velorution.x21.org.uk

Bradford Priest Arrested at Nuclear Blockade

16.11.2006

Over 50 Anti Nuclear protestors from Leeds and Bradford took part in a mass blockade of the Faslane Nuclear Naval Base in Scotland this morning. Twenty seven of the protestors, including the Revd Chris Howson from Bradford were arrested for their role in the blockade, which included ‘locking on’ to a giant CND symbol outside the main gates of the base.

Faslane 365 Leeds & Bradford16.11.2006

Over 50 Anti Nuclear protestors from Leeds and Bradford took part in a mass blockade of the Faslane Nuclear Naval Base in Scotland this morning. Twenty seven of the protestors, including the Revd Chris Howson from Bradford were arrested for their role in the blockade, which included ‘locking on’ to a giant CND symbol outside the main gates of the base.

A group of women were also arrested after succesfully blocking the second gate of the base. They were dressed as lollipop ladies and carried ‘Stop Trident’ signs.

Protestors managed to cause disruption to traffic trying to enter the base for almost an hour whilst police removed protestors lying in the road and used cutting equipment to remove the ‘lock ons’.

The blockade was part of ‘Faslane 365’, a year-long campaign set up to oppose the existence of Trident, the British nuclear submarine programme and to oppose the introduction of any replacement to Trident.

The Rev Chris Howson said, “I came to Faslane to show support to those who had planned to take part in the blockade. I was arrested by the police whilst standing on the pavement outside the base for reasons they would not explain to me, despite my repeated requests. “It is clear to me that the Government’s interests are not with the majority who are opposed to Trident replacement and would rather see the billions wasted on the nuclear weapons programme spent on health, education or climate change, but with George Bush and his colleagues who want us to live in a world of threat, fear and nuclear hypocrisy.”

Professor Dave Webb from Leeds and Convenor of Yorkshire CND said, “Today’s turnout has been fantastic. We have had a great mix of people blockading today, young and old. It just goes to show that people are prepared to take action for the world we live in. The Government must listen to us all and allow a full public and Parliamentay debate on Trident replacement, and disarmament must be an option.”

http://www.faslane365.org/leeds_and_bradford

Mooreen – Sheffield Social Centre

Coming to Sheffield Soon Nov 29 – Dec 13

: laughing : singing : dancing : learning : supporting : agitating : : hacking : resisting : eating : drinking : loving : living :
Mooreen will be a temporary, autonomous, not for profit social centre located in the heart of Sheffield in reclaimed space which owing to city centre regeneration had been left empty, unused and unloved . . . until now.

Coming to Sheffield Soon Nov 29 – Dec 13

: laughing : singing : dancing : learning : supporting : agitating : : hacking : resisting : eating : drinking : loving : living :
Mooreen will be a temporary, autonomous, not for profit social centre located in the heart of Sheffield in reclaimed space which owing to city centre regeneration had been left empty, unused and unloved . . . until now.

For two weeks we aim to fill the space with life, love and creativity.

This grassroots project will be self-organised space, run by collective decision making, mutual aid and co-operation, and free from discrimination against any individual on the grounds of gender, race, age, sexuality, or disability. Mooreen will be a place where we can socialize, express our creativity, learn from each other and share ideas and experiences.

So this is your chance to put on that gig, show that film, run that workshop, stop that war, prevent that ecological disaster, undermine that oppressive economic system or just to create the world you’d like to see.

If you would like to join in or propose an event, come to a meeting:
next one: Rutland Arms, Wed Nov 22 (upstairs)

info line: 07989874965
Email mooreen-discuss@lists.aktivix.org
http://www.mooreen.aktivix.org

shooting sab

.members of the hunt sabs and earth first successfully sabotaged a duck shoot in the north west of england last weekend.

we will not stand by and allow ignorant and selfish humans murder wildlife.nor we will be scared off by arrests.

.members of the hunt sabs and earth first successfully sabotaged a duck shoot in the north west of england last weekend.

we will not stand by and allow ignorant and selfish humans murder wildlife.nor we will be scared off by arrests.

earth first!
Defend the wild!

Directions to pipeline protest & Update

15.11.2006

Despite lots of bluff and bluster, police finally left the site today! more support is needed to keep the protest site going!

Trebanos camp 215.11.2006

Despite lots of bluff and bluster, police finally left the site today! more support is needed to keep the protest site going!

Despite warnings from police that the site would be evicted today at 8am, no attempt to remove activists from the site has been made. police filmed heavily and helped the National Grid intimidate the landowner (who is still very much in support of the protest!).

There are still people staying in the pipe itself 24 hours a day, as well as a presence on the cranes and bulldozers. the floodlight left by police is now able to be turnned on and off as the protestors desire.

If this an URGENT NEED FOR MORE PEOPLE! several people have had to leave today, though they will be returning soon, there it plenty of work needed to be down on site to blockade the pipe.

For directions to the (completely secire and totally legal) campsite alongside the pipe, from Cardiff:

Leave the M4 at junction 44 (signposted Swansea East), then at roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the B4290 (signposted Birchgrove, Clydach) Entering Birchgrove
At traffic signals turn left onto the B4291
Continue forward onto Birchgrove Road – B4291. Entering Glais
Bear left onto Birchgrove Road – B4291. Entering Clydach
At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A4067 (signposted Pontardawe)
Continue forward onto the A4067. Entering Pontardawe
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A4067 (signposted Pontardawe)
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A474 (signposted Ammanford)
At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A474 (signposted Ammanford)
Bear right onto Swansea Road – A4067
Bear left onto Glan-Rhyd Road
Bear left
Bear left onto Ty’n-Y-Pant Road
Arrive at Ty’n-Y-Pant Farm
Enter the courtyard and the camp is on the left, you can’t miss it!

gwentanarchists@yahoo.co.uk
http://southwalesanarchists.org

No to Welsh gas pipe, no to new major carbon energy projects

On Monday morning, protestors stopped work on the huge gas pipeline that is being built from Milford Haven to Gloucester.

We occupied the 48″ gas pipeline and digging machinery to ensure that no work continues.

On Monday morning, protestors stopped work on the huge gas pipeline that is being built from Milford Haven to Gloucester.

We occupied the 48″ gas pipeline and digging machinery to ensure that no work continues.

The landowner invited us on to her land after she felt deceived by the national grid, hence there was a strange legal situation as we weren’t trespassing. Furthermore, she refused the police permission to come on her land!

She had agreed to allow the pipe being built after being told it would just be a small pipe – the destruction of a 100m wide strip which runs all through her land and the woods above her farm that her grandfather built show that they conned her.

However on Tuesday the police and national grid bullied her into asking us to leave the land where the pipe is being built (not the field where we are camped) otherwise she would not receive her compensation. People were still in the pipeline and up cranes last night and an illegal eviction was due to happen at 8am today (Wednesday)

The pipeline is 48″ in diameter and the national grid want it to be running at 92bar pressure. They admit they have no experience of running a pipeline at such hgh pressure.

Different figures are floating around over how much it is costing but it seems at least £700million. According to one of the protesters, it is designed to carry a fifth of the UK’s gas supply.

We need to have 90% cuts in carbon emissions by 2030, yet if we allow this mega-project to go ahead, we will be going in completely the opposite direction. This is a major energy infrastructure project and must be confronted. The government are on paper commited to reducing carbon emissions yet are not changing the energy policy. They are terrified that they won’t be able to meet gas supply as this would cause the city to go into panic and result in capital leaving the country.

There are loads of safety issues as well with this pipeline. It is being built on unstable land and parents in the nearby school are threatening to remove their childen from the schol if it gets built above their school – for fear of an repeat of Aberfan, where a landslide killed all the children in the primary school. Already there have been landslides on the hill above the site we have occupied that have blocked roads.

Work was due to end in October because of weather but they are behind schedule and hence rushing to push it through. They are being fined a large figure every day they are late (£1million a day is floating around) and hence are continuing into November.

Anyone who can get out to the site and get involved with stopping the work should definitely do so. The support of the locals is amazing and they are doing their stuff too; marches, legal proceedings; etc. If you want to go up, then there is a local who drives back from work in Cardiff at 5pm every day and is happy to give lifts to anyone heading up there. His number is 07973619183

News from Kebele social centre (Bristol)

Kebele social centre in Easton, Bristol, remains (sadly) the only permanent radical volunteer run such centre in Bristol – that means no bosses and no paid staff. As we look forwards to the 11th anniversary of the founding of Kebele, we hope that readers & activists will go out and set up their own radical centre, in their part of town. Bristol needs not one, but many, long-term radical social centres, if we are to truly build an alternative to the dominance of the capitalist consumer culture and its destructive nature.

Kebele logo
Kebele social centre in Easton, Bristol, remains (sadly) the only permanent radical volunteer run such centre in Bristol – that means no bosses and no paid staff. As we look forwards to the 11th anniversary of the founding of Kebele, we hope that readers & activists will go out and set up their own radical centre, in their part of town. Bristol needs not one, but many, long-term radical social centres, if we are to truly build an alternative to the dominance of the capitalist consumer culture and its destructive nature.

To celebrate our 11 years of dogged, often creative, activity and resistance, we’ve having a party – on 8 December. It’ll be a late one, with bands, dj’s, PA’s, cabaret, café. Full details to follow shortly.

Meanwhile, adding to Kebele’s news (see  http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25284) our evolution from a housing co-op and kulture project to a community co-op is stuck in the mire of bureaucracy and legal minutiae. But we have in any case gone ahead and launched our new website at  http://www.kebelecoop.org so check it out to see what we have on. Why not add our website to your links page? (check our local and other links at  http://www.kebelecoop.org/Links.html ).

We are also about to undertake major roof repairs of the building, and at the same time give the café space a makeover. We are working on plans for a revamp of the centre, to clean it up and make the overall space more accessible and welcoming, and to bring in new activities.

Kebele has the following regular activities on, so come along:

Monday – Screenprinting workshops from 7-9pm
Tuesday – Beginners Italian classes 5-6.30pm
Wednesday – Bike workshop 12-4.30pm: cheap parts, advice & help to get yer bike back on the road. Some cheap recycled bikes to buy too.
Saturday – Infoshop 11-2pm: radical books, mags, pamphlets too numerous to list, plus stickers, music, t-shirts and loads of free info. All yer radical shopping!
Sunday – Vegan Café 6.30-10pm: due to popular demand the food often runs out so come early.

For full details see  http://www.kebelecoop.org/Events.html

Over the last month we have also had film nights, an open mic session, open meetings on the ‘Kingswood Colliers’ and Rossport protest camp (in Ireland), a Bristol Columbia Solidarity Campaign benefit bash, plus local campaign and other organising meetings from the likes of the Bristle Collective. There’ll be more such events coming up. We are also catering for the Bristol Permaculture group’s ‘South West Permaculture Convergence’ on 26 November at St Werburghs Community Centre (see  http://bristol.indymedia.org/whatson/calendar.php), and for an as yet to be announced ‘Winter Solstice/Yule Social’.

If your campaign/group wants to hold an event get in touch to discuss! If you fancy getting involved with one of Kebele’s sub-collectives then see  http://www.kebelecoop.org/Collectives.html and get in touch! We’ve got lots of ideas and plans, but we need people like you to help put them all into practice.
Kebele social centre, 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, BS5 6JY
Tel 0117 939 9469 during open hours (see above)
kebelesocialcentre@riseup.net
http://www.kebelecoop.org

Wellbeing@Climate Camp

The WELLBEING SPACE @ the Climate Camp
– Analysis and Experiences –
By Activist Trauma Support and the Wellbeing Group at the Climate Camp

climate camp wellbeing tentThe WELLBEING SPACE @ the Climate Camp
– Analysis and Experiences –
By Activist Trauma Support and the Wellbeing Group at the Climate Camp

While Wellbeing in the mainstream society is mostly connected with saunas and mudpacks, we tried to give it a different connotation in activist circles. Personal wellbeing (while the word may sound quite fluffy to some, and while we were at first unsure about it, by the end of the Climate Camp it was obvious that it worked well) is about us. It’s about how we deal with the stress of organising and a lot of responsibility, it is about our physical wellbeing, about taking breaks, not becoming sleep deprived, it is about avoiding burnout and developing sustainable activism. It involves dealing with the fear and trauma caused by police confrontations, it involves learning to stay calm when there’s a lot of pressure on, and most importantly knowing your own limits and treating yourself well. Taking care of each other and taking care of ourselves….so that we can continue our resistances.

The wellbeing space at the Camp for Climate Action near Leeds in September 2006 was a taken on by a group in order to provide resources for the wellbeing of activists. In 2005 at the Camp in Stirling against the G8, Activist Trauma Support had run a Recovery Dome for people who had been traumatised or who felt they needed support. A lot of people used the space and we felt that it was successful and needed. However there was also the issue that it quickly came to be called the ‘Trauma Tent’. This made it hard for people to approach, it being somewhat unclear what was available inside, and possibly some people feeling that maybe they only had the right to come in if they were traumatised.

We took these points on board. Also we had already started working more on burnout and sustainable activism, since it is a common problem amongst activists and has been nearly entirely neglected as a topic, despite the fact that it can have devastating effects. (See burnout flyer on our webpage).

The Wellbeing space

We adjusted our concept and created a wellbeing tent at the camp. The idea was to provide a calm space, away from the Camp centre, but one not too isolated. A big sign at the entrance said: ‘Come in – to have a break, de-stress, relax, have a cup of tea, talk to somebody, recover, book a massage or book a counselor.’ Our intention was to take the stigma and fear away and make it easier for people to come in. Inside we had three areas – a reception with information material about trauma, burnout and how to deal with the police, tea making facilities and places to sit, a recovery area where people could have a lie-down, two more private spaces for body work and talking.

Furthermore we had a second smaller tent in the back, for more intense talking sessions and bodywork. The space was open from 11 to 24h, but staffed at all times for emergencies. We organised ourselves in shifts of 3 hours with 2 people for each shift, everybody taking on one shift per day. Altogether 15 people were involved in running the space, a core group and some satellites. We held daily group meetings of around 60-90 minutes, which made sure that there was a mechanism for debriefing, as well as a place for discussion, group bonding, updates and organising.

We also ran two workshops – one on burnout and sustainable activism and another one on activist trauma and recovery (to book one of these workshops for your affinity group, contact us by email)

Group debriefings

After the main day of action, some parents from the kids block approached us for a facilitated group debriefing and afterwards another debriefing, especially adapted, was held for the kids who had been on the kids block, – maybe the first kids debriefing after a kids block action ever… It was very successful and we realised how important it is to approach groups and to offer a debriefing after an action or to give them guidelines on how to run one. Typically this is done in go-rounds, going into the roles people had and what they experienced, so that everybody gets a complete picture of what was actually going on. Then going into what people thought and felt, so there is a general awareness of each others emotional state and so that the brain can process the experience by talking about it. We decided that we need to be more proactive in approaching affinity groups and neighborhood meetings to offer this.

Avoiding Burnout

By also offering a space that key organisers felt comfortable using, while generally opening up the topic and making it easier for people to talk about burnout, there seemed to be a big change in the general atmosphere of the camp. A lot of the time people can work far beyond their boundaries and then they are out of the game for months afterwards. In this manner atmospheres can be created where taking a break is regarded as a betrayal. This atmosphere was questioned and started to change. People with a lot on came in, lay down for a while, got a massage, or just took time for themselves. This is harder than it sounds if you have a lot of responsibility and work and people come constantly running to you. It is hard to take a break and feel confident that things will also happening without you, maybe differently, but the world will keep turning. Giving importance to your own wellbeing enables you work to work more productively. You can enjoy more and you won’t be totally shattered for ages afterwards. Offering massages can be very helpful in this respect. This time we did not have enough people to cover demand adequately, and in truth we did not organise this area well enough, but at the same time a lot of massages were given to relieve the emotional stress and physical pains of hard work.

Activist Trauma and Recovery

Since there was not a huge amount of police brutality, not as much trauma support was needed; but it was used by people who had been attacked by the police and also by people who felt stressed by the experiences of the day. That this is normal and not something to be ashamed of is part of the paradigm shift we are working towards. Talking about it, with somebody from wellbeing, or a friend, is an important step.

“Mental health� matters

Fortunately people with so called ‘mental health issues’ also feel that it is safe for them to come to an action camp. In this sense the space and the support was used by people who had difficulty coping, or who had just stopped their medication. It was an advantage to us that our team was so diverse, in this way we could help with various different issues. Our age range is from 20 to 50 and includes psychologists, counselors, activists who have been trained in emotional support, body workers and social workers. We hope for a more integrative approach towards different states of mind inside activists’ communities.

Conclusion

Although the people working on wellbeing and Activist Trauma Support come from all over the UK, and some from mainland Europe, over the course of Climate Camp our group has become much more solid, with more people wanting to get involved and work on this. To build upon this we have decided to hold weekend meetings, 3 times a year, from now on, in order to give space for more in-depth work; rather than just working at camps and convergence centers.

Altogether the experience has been very positive. We got a lot of good feedback. Especially interesting was the point about the changes you can’t see and measure – how people think and talk differently, how it feels different to be at a place with a wellbeing space rather than at one with none. Some people said it was reassuring in its own way, like having a medic around, even if you might not need her this time. We are aware that there are probably various things we could have done better or differently. Please let us know if you have any feedback. BTW, we as individuals inside this group also keep learning what we preach, still struggling at times…This is a learning process for all of us, the more people involved the more effective it will be. At this stage in that process, it felt really good to be part of the general political success of the Climate Camp, especially in the sense of fighting repression in ways that make our movements stronger and more versatile.

Contact:
If you have any feedback, criticism or ideas about our work and our presence at the camp or want to get involved please contact us.  activist_trauma@riseup.net, Phone: 07962 406940
www.activist-trauma.net (with a database of people who offer support and trained counselors and psychologists (write to us to sign up if you want to offer your skills))
 trauma_info-subscribe@lists.riseup.net (send blank email to receive irregular info (low traffic))

Shell to sea solidarity critical mass, 18th Feb Nottingham

Saturday 18th Feb – Shell to sea solidarity critical mass – to coincide with the call out for international solidarity actions in support of the shelltosea campaign we will be having a critical mass starting at 11am at the Portland Building on the University Campus, with the intention of heading to a shell petrol station and blockading it. Bring noise instruments, banners and music if you have it. Everyone welcome. For more info on the Shell to Sea campaign check out http://www.corribsos.com