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Summer Gathering 2009

Seathwaite in the Lake District, Wednesday 19th August - Monday 24th August 2009

What's it about? | Publicity | Previous Years

Image: Miffy the rabbit canoing down from the mountains

Want to do something to stop our planet from getting trashed?

Ecological Direct Action without Compromise!

Earth First! is a network of people and campaigns who fight ecological destruction and the forces driving it. We believe in doing it ourselves rather than relying on governments or industry. Direct action is at the heart of what we do, whether we're standing in front of a bulldozer, shutting down an opencast mine or ripping up a field of GM crops.

Join us for 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically. It's run without leaders by everyone who comes along, so come prepared to chip in!

WHAT

Earth First! Summer Gathering
19 -24 Aug 2009, Seathwaite in the Lake District

5 days of workshops, skill sharing and planning action, plus low- impact living without leaders.

Meet and share skills with others who care. Plan actions and campaigns. Have fun. We've got over 80 workshops, planning, strategy and 'Where Next' sessions planned, get in touch if you want to offer a workshop!

Check out the Programme page for the full timetable of workshops.

The programme also includes...

Water based direct action skills training on everyday.

Loads of campaigns are taking to the water in defence of the planet, like at Rossport where Shell are trying to lay onshore pipelines and the Great Rebel Raft Regatta at last summers climate camp. This summers EF! gathering will be building on these tactics with training in water based actions.

An excursion to Mainshill protest camp against open cast coal mining in South Lanarkshire on Monday 24th August. Find out more about the threat open-cast coal mining poses and make links for ongoing resistance.

We are a diverse community with a wide range of approaches to our action, so there should be plenty to interest and inspire everyone whether you have been active for years or are completely new to it all.

Meet people, make links, learn skills, take action.

YOU

We are all crew! This is your gathering come prepared to help run the camp and contribute to the programme. Contact us in advance with ideas for workshops, help with organising the gathering, come early to help setup the site or stay on for a couple of days for takedown. If you can help get in touch!

BRING

Bring tent and sleeping bag. You can either cook food for yourself or for £4 per day chip in with collective cooking of delicious vegan organic food. There'll be quiet sleeping areas, toilets and running water, a children’s space and spaces for workshops and info stalls.

Veggies will provide vegan cake and snacks. Children and young adults welcome with subsidized meals.

Arrive Tues pm. Workshops from Wed am until Sun pm.

WHERE

This year's gathering is held at Seathwaite in Borrowdale, at the heart of the Lake District, just 8 miles south of Keswick. Surrounded by nothing but mountains, sky and waterfalls... The nearest train station is Penrith and there is a bus service to the site, there are car and living vehicle spaces outside the camp.

Check out the how to get there page for travel information

Please bear in mind that the gathering is not a festival or free party.

DOGS

We are fortunate this year to be able to accommodate well behaved owners with dogs on leads but think about whether your dog will feel comfortable in workshops. Please call beforehand so we know numbers. Read more about dogs.

ACCESS

We aim to make the site and programme as accessible to all as we can. Wheelchair users, deaf and visually impaired people, people with learning difficulties and people with mental distress have all come to previous gatherings and we are committed to facilitate access for all. Please contact us in advance with any access issues.Read more about access.

Publicity

We are printing up lots of posters and flyers, so get in touch if you want to have some sent to you.

You can download print versions of the posters here. They are fairly large files!
efposter.jpg

Info from Previous Years

The websites from previous years are archived