The G8 Summit, the meeting
of the heads of state of the eight most powerful countries in the world, will
take place in Gleneagles, Scotland July 6-8. Major protests are planned, and
organizing has been underway in Scotland and Britain for over a year, and much
of that work has been quite visionary. Urban convergence centers and a rural
encampment will be designed to show a vision of the world we want, and demonstrate
balanced, ecofriendly ways to meet human needs. The Cre8 Summit in June is
being organized by a collective of people from Glasgow and beyond to build a
garden and social center in the path of a planned road development. For
the G8 convergence itself, other plans include spiritual healing spaces that
are being organized by a network involved in earth based spirituality. And,
of course, there will be forums, a march expected to be the largest demonstration
ever in Scotland, and nonviolent direct action.
I’m very excited. I believe this mobilization has the potential to truly demonstrate
what we’re for as well as what we’re against, and to send people home with some
of the skills and experience they need to create the other world we keep saying
is possible. I will be helping to support the organizing in a number of ways.
In late May Erik Ohlsen and I are leading a permaculture course, in coordination
with local Scottish teachers, to help prepare people to be resources for the
design and building of the eco-camp and convergence spaces. I’m also linked
with the training collective that has been offering nonviolent direct action
trainings in many communities in Britain for the past year. I’ll stay in Scotland
for most of June to help with projects and ongoing trainings—with one detour
south for a workshop in London at Alternatives (see below for info.) Others
from the RANT collective of trainers will also be coming to Scotland in late
June, to help support the great work local trainers are already doing.
Below is information on the actions. We need lots of support, magical, practical,
and as always, material. We’re still trying to pay for Erik’s flight over,
for the costs of the permaculture training which we are offering virtually for
free, for the convergence space rentals and the tools and materials we need
to make this vision a reality. If you can help, tax deductible checks can be
made to:
ACT
1405 Hillmont St.
Austin, TX 78704
Earmarked—Scotland
Or, even simpler, donate online:
1) Go to www.rantcollective.net. Just
click on the Donate button at the bottom of the page. Thanks so much!
2) If you’re in Europe or the UK, you can also go directly to the Dissent
Network to donate in your currency. Go to www.dissent.org.uk/content/view/90/66/.
I’ll be writing updates on the trainings and organizing periodically, and I’ll
try to cover the actions on a daily basis. If you’re not already on my list,
subscribe by sending an email to Starhawk-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
and put ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.
-- Starhawk
Cre8 Summit June 12-17
Cre8 Summit has been organised by individuals wanting to protest 'for' something
rather than 'against' the G8. We are planning to work with the ongoing community
protests against the building of the M74 in Glasgow, in particular the council
estates of Govanhill and Gorbles. The plan for the work is to reclaim a vacant
piece of land that is on site for the construction of the motorway, and than
to turn it into a community social space with gardens, sculptures, benches,
artwork, etc.
The work on this project is underway. During May we will be running weekly
workshops with the communities. During the second week of June, we will reclaim
the land (community open day 12th of June) and begin a week of work (from the
13-17th of June) to turn this bit of waste land into something the community
can enjoy.
There is an email list that announces news on this project:
cre8summit@lists.riseup.net
you can subscribe here: lists.riseup.net/www/info/cre8summit
G8 Protest Highlights
Saturday 2nd July - Make Poverty History Demonstration, Edinburgh expected
to be the biggest demonstration ever held in Scotland.
Sunday 3rd July The Alternative Summit, Edinburgh workshops including
George Monbiot, Susan George, Ken Wiwa and Starhawk.
Monday 4th July - Faslane Nuclear Submarine Base blockade. Six of the G8 have
nuclear weapons on their soil. The replacement or otherwise of Britain’s Trident
system must be decided by Parliament shortly.
Tuesday 5th July Climate Justice Day & demonstration at Dungavel detention
centre called by Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees.
Wednesday 6th July Mass demonstration over the hills to Gleneagles Hotel
on first day of G8 summit.
Further information at: www.dissent.org.uk. Dissent
is the main group organizing actions.
Website for alternative forums, etc www.g8alternatives.org.uk.
Indymedia Scotland page scotland.indymedia.org
Starhawk’s workshop at Alternatives
Sunday, June 26
London, England
"Holding Power Well'
This workshop explores issues of power and leadership. How do we take our power
and own it as a life-giving force? How do we recognize when we do have power,
and use it in ways that empower others? How do we nurture and support leadership
in our groups, while also holding our leaders accountable? This is a workshop
for anyone who has struggled with these issues in relationships or groups. All
of us have internalized models of power as domination, which often interfere
when we attempt to form new structures based on power-from-within. We will
consider power within sacred space, and through ritual, trance, and energy work
develop the tools we need to transform destructive patterns into energies freed
for change.
For more information, contact: Alternatives
Tel: 020 7287 6711
www.alternatives.org.uk