2015 RRR @greenmountainearthfirst-blog - Tumblr Blog

OOGLES ALERT

TRAVEL ADVISORY:

to all those who may be traveling by rail that there is currently a manhunt underway in New York State along the rail lines for 2 escaped convicts. avoid traveling along there if you do not want to be pulled off a train by a SWAT team!

xoxo

GMEF!

#rrr2015 #RRR EF!

What to bring to the Rondy!

As we get closer to the RRR, here are some reminders of things to pack:

- FOOD, especially if you have particular dietary needs (Seeds of Peace will NOT be serving lunch, so bring lunch and snax)

- long johns & wool hat, warm clothes (seriously. it does get into the 40′s at night here, even during the summer, and this has been a particularly cold and wet summer so far)

- rain gear

- contractor bags

- tarps

- flashlight/headlamp

- water bottle

- your smiling face!!!!!

So excited to see you in the woods soon!

GMEF!

#RRR2015

Directions!

Hooray!

From East of Green Mountain National Forest

From VT Route 100, take 73 West, then take a right on Hathaway Road, followed by another Right on Flora White Road (there's a summer camp by this turn), then keep going til you hit Forest Rd 224 (fr 2 in google maps for some reason) on the right. We’ll be posted up in the Blueberry Management area.

From West of Green Mountain National Forest

Or 73 East, Left on Town Hill Road (sign toward Goshen), Continue on Capen Hill Road, Left on Flora White Road, Right on FR 224 (FR 2 on Google) continue until welcome area.

43.876257, -73.001114 on google maps or assorted GPS devices.

There’s a beautiful short hike to camp (about a quarter mile on a nice even path, though some up and down) so come prepared to carry your gear into camping areas. General parking will be located up to a mile away, so if you wanna camp in your car your gonna be kinda far off. Elders and folks with special needs will be given priority parking spots at the trailhead, and we’ll have support for folks who need a hand getting gear to camp.

Please bring food donations if you can, money, musical instruments, poems, friends, family and your fierce heart!

We will be hosting the Round RIver Rendezvous at Romance Header in Goshen, Vermont in the so called Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. This area is part of N’dakina, the traditional territory of the Abenaki people. Moosalamoo is derived from the Abenaki word Mozal8mo meaning “calls like a moose or song of the moose” Moose call, song or sound” a name that referred originally to an area just north of the Rondy site. Come to the panel discussion Friday evening 7/3 to learn more about current Abenaki struggles, Indigenous justice and solidarity.

2015 Round River Rendezvous Fund

If you’re itching to donate to the Rondy general fund before hand...

wild mountains without end!

#RRR EF!

earthfirstjournal

36th Annual Earth First! Rendezvous!

by Green Mountain Earth First!

We are now just over 3 weeks away from the 36th Annual Earth First! Round River Rendezvous, taking place in the Green Mountains! A week of merrymaking, workshops, skillshares, story-telling, discussions, and rabble rousing! Reflections on the past, looking towards the future and reveling in the present; renewing our commitments to each other and the Earth. While…

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Policies

We’re still finalizing these, feel free to contact us about any of these: gmef (at) riseup (dot) net

Dog Policy

We are inhabiting a sensitive wildlife area and attempting to create a safe space for human and non-human life for the duration of the week. The 2013 NC RRR was marred by a serious dog bite that required a trip to the hospital for a young child. Even "good dogs" can be problematic in a new space with new people, other new dogs and lots of over-stimulation. We ask that all domestic dogs be accompanied by a person equipped with a collar, leash, and tie-out that is taking responsibility for them at all times. Should the behavior of any dog be determined to be problematic, organizers may ask that they be tied out or kept on leash for the duration of the week. Anyone unable or unwilling to make these accommodations may be asked to leave the gathering.

Alcohol Policy

In order to accommodate as many people from a variety of lived experiences and cultures there will be no drinking, visible substance use, or visibly intoxicated people in common spaces including the kitchen, morning circle, and all workshop areas. In addition there will be a sober camping area.

Firearms

Along the same lines, please do not bring firearms into common spaces. Please be aware that it is small game hunting season, although it is unlikely that we will encounter any active hunters.

Photographs

Please do not take pictures of individuals or groups of people during the duration of the week without express consent of each individual.

POLICY ON CONSENT

Consent: Consent is actively and voluntarily expressed agreement. Doing personal work to consistently seek consent and respect the times when it is not given helps to combat rape culture. Informed consent, sexual and otherwise, is necessary in the building of strong, healthy anti-authoritarian communities. The following do not qualify as consent: silence, passivity, and coerced acquiescence. Body movements, non-verbal responses such as moans, or the appearance of physical arousal do not necessarily constitute consent. Further, if someone is intoxicated, they may not be in a position to give you consent. Consent is required each and every time there is sexual activity, regardless of the parties' relationship, prior sexual history, or current activity.

Sexual Assault: Sexual assault is any non-consensual sexual interaction. Sexual assault happens, and it happens in activist and radical communities as much as anywhere else. Sexual assault can be perpetrated by a complete stranger, but is often perpetrated by someone known and trusted by the

survivor and community. Sexual assault is a tool of domination, of taking power, and can rob someone of their self respect, self worth, and autonomy. Sexual assault is rooted in broader systems of oppression—such as patriarchy, white supremacy, capitalism, homophobia, and colonialism—

and is not separable from them in how and why it is perpetrated, experienced, and dealt with.

Rape Culture: Rape culture is the culture in which sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence are condoned, excused and even encouraged. Rape culture is part of a broader culture of violence, wherein people are socialized to inhabit different positions in hierarchical relationships, to commodify their fellow human beings, and to relate to each other through violence and coercion.

We are survivor-centric and survivor oriented. When a decision needs to be made to give "benefit of the doubt" to a perpetrator or support to a survivor, the preference will be to support the survivor. State language which serves to cast doubt onto survivors' experiences (eg. referring to experiences as "allegations") has zero space in radical support and communities. * see section on conflict mitigation.

"How to Win"

Also Known As: Anti-Oppression and Safer Space Policy

Creating a Safer Space is an essential part of every anti-oppression-centric action camp. Safer spaces are a visible presence of people challenging oppression that can help to shape a culture that is accepting of all people. We will strive to make this Earth First! Organizer's Conference and Rendezvous an inviting, engaging, and supportive environment in which all people feel comfortable behaving genuinely. It is important that event organizers, volunteers and participants listen carefully to raised experiences and act on what they hear. Within creating safer spaces we encourage the practice of enthusiastic consent! (please see the consent section) We choose to say "Safer" Space rather than "safe space" because we acknowledge that no space is entirely "safe" for everyone.

We work towards a horizontal structure of organization and incorporate an anti-oppressive framework so we may strengthen our community and move together towards the collective liberation of all peoples and the earth for a world free from domination. Behavior that demeans, marginalizes, rejects, threatens or harms any living being on the basis of its ability, activist experience, age, class/income level, cultural background, education, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, language, species, nationality, physical appearance, race, religion, self-expression, sexual orientation, or status as a parent will not be tolerated. Please speak out against such behavior so that we can collectively create a safer place for all. Various forms of call out/call in culture are encouraged at this camp, but remember to be careful with each other, so we can be dangerous together.

During this rendezvous, there will be specific people who are on a conflict mitigation team who will announce themselves at morning circle. They will be available for the whole duration of this event to be consulted. Conflict mitigators are present to deal with disagreements, instances of oppressive verbiage & actions and assist with existing accountability processes, but it is beyond their scope to start a new accountability process, therefore if someone is asked to leave for their behavior, we will inform their local community of the incident and encourage them to start a process off site. (please see the consent section).

In an effort to create safer spaces there will be several camping spots created thanks to our friends with TWAC (Trans and/or Women's Action Camp), and Mad camp.

Mad Camp

Mad camp is for folks self-identifying as neurologically diverse folks within the Earth First! movement. Here we will share about our experiences with mental health, hardships and moments of clarity. We will brainstorm ways to support each other, while working to dismantle industrial civilization, overthrow capitalism, banish racism and smash patriarchy. Our intentions with creating a camp specifically for those of us challenged by mental health is to provide a sober space where folks can relax, host workshops and discussions specific to the camp, play games, and more!

Mad Pride is a movement for and by folks with varying mental health situations. In general the term is used by folks who prefer to be or are working on being open about the challenges they face while also being present and real with their mental health!

TWAC Camp

The TWAC Camp will be an oasis within the EF! VT Rondy for those who identify as Trans* and/or Womyn and/or Gender Variant, Genderqueer. At TWAC Camp, feel free to pitch your tent, organize workshops/discussions, and play! Let the magic begin.

In the spirit of appreciating what others have done before us and not trying to reinvent the wheel, this document was put together mostly by borrowing from policies written in the past. Some of this was borrowed from our friends Appalachia Resist & The Trans and/or Womens Action Camp, and the EF! Journal. Thanks you all for doing such important work. Also we as the organizers of this event support and endorse the EF! Journal Anti Oppression Policy which can be found at http://earthfirstjournal.org/anti-oppression-policy/

#j11 #june11

via Long Leaf EF!

#earthFirst! unicorns Narwhal

Come to the 36th annual EarthFirst! Round River Rendezvous: a wild week of camping, workshops, skill shares, panels, parties, camp fires, swimming, direct action and climb training, whale watches, and more! This year's gathering in defense of Mother Earth will have a strong focus on deepening our relationships to and understanding of eco-liberation and what it means to directly confront systems of oppression. Eco-Liberation is the synergy of principles we see as essential to the liberation of Mother Earth and all who live in interdependence with her. As Lilla Watson, Aboriginal elder, activist and educator from Queensland, Australia said, "If you come here to help me, you're wasting your time. If you come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."

#eco-liberation

round river rendezvous childcare update!

hey y’all!

we are really excited about creating a space for a safe, interactive, wild and adventurous childcare at the rondy this year. bring little ones so that they too can share in the wonder and magic of these mountains! we’re dreaming of sharing stories of forest creatures and working together on awareness games! plant walks and other such wilderness skill sharing are just some of the things we are looking forward to at this summer’s childcare.

if you are interested in helping out, please email gmef [at] riseup [dot] net

for the wild ones,

#childcare

Groups renew call to scrap entire Vermont Gas pipeline project in wake of Phase II cancellation

Release: Groups renew call to scrap entire Vermont Gas pipeline project in wake of Phase II cancellation

2/10/2015

For Immediate Release: February 10 2015

Contact:

Rebecca Foster, Just Power, 646-468-3511

Maeve McBride, 350Vermont, 802-999-2820

Keith Brunner, Rising Tide Vermont, 802-363-9615

Groups renew call to scrap entire Vermont Gas pipeline project in wake of Phase II cancellation

Today a coalition of organizations including Just Power, Rising Tide Vermont, 350Vermont and Toxics Action Center renewed calls to cancel all phases of the Vermont fracked gas pipeline, in the wake of an announcement that Vermont Gas will no longer proceed with Phase II.

The coalition is calling on the Vermont Public Service Board to revoke the Certificate of Public Good for Phase I in light of the near doubling of Phase I costs, the stark climate impacts of fracked gas, and impacts on landowners in the path of the pipeline. Yesterday, the PSB was given permission by the Vermont Supreme Court to undertake a review of the Phase I permit with no time or scope constraints. The groups are calling on the Board to execute a rigorous review of all aspects of the project given the change in the landscape since the initial filing.

Cornwall resident and impacted landowner Mary Martin said, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of conversations with neighbors and making our voices heard. While we’re relieved that Phase II is cancelled, we can’t stand idly by and watch our neighbors in Monkton and other towns who are fighting Phase I. Today we’re celebrating, but our fight is not over until the whole project is cancelled. If the costs are too high for IP, then they’re too high for the state of Vermont.”

“The house of fossil fuel cards is falling.” said Maeve McBride, coordinator of 350Vermont, “The cancellation of this pipeline is yet another example of a reckless, misguided fossil fuel project that succumbed to people power and practicalities. In the last few days, we’ve seen a tar sands export terminal near Quebec City cancelled and the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund has pledged to divest billions of dollars from coal and tar sands companies.”

Shaina Kasper, Vermont Community Organizer with Toxics Action Center, an environmental and public health non-profit, called the decision a huge step in the right direction. “We've known all along that this pipeline was a bad investment for Vermont's energy future, and we're glad Vermont Gas finally agrees,” Kasper said. “We hope the next step is to abandon the entire project so that we can invest in clean energy and a shift away from polluting fossil fuels.”

International Paper had always been the primary beneficiary of this pipeline expansion, and the primary customer of VGS. Now that IP has decided this is a poor investment and has withdrawn from the project, the groups are concerned Vermont ratepayers will be required to pay for the additional $30 million shortfall for Phase I.

Burlington resident and VGS ratepayer Devon Ayers joined the call to scrap Phase I, arguing that “I can’t afford to pay another dime on top of my family’s already sky high heating costs, especially for a fossil fuel project which threatens the world my son will grow up in.”

“Today’s announcement is a victory for grassroots organizing and our growing people’s movement in Vermont,” said Sara Mehalick, a volunteer organizer with Rising Tide Vermont. “From workers’ rights to migrant justice, and human rights to climate justice, today’s decision reaffirms that social movements have the power to change what’s politically possible.”

###

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1] Total IP contribution ($135 million) - Phase 2 cost ($105) = IP’s Phase I contribution ($30 million). Based on most recent cost estimates from the VGS press release on Feb. 10th 2015: “Our updated cost estimate for Phase 2 is now $105 million...” said Jim Sinclair, Vermont Gas’ Vice President for System Expansion. Under the agreement between Vermont Gas and IP, this would mean that IP’s total financial responsibility to Vermont Gas for Phase 2 as well as Phase 1 improvements would have risen from $99 million to $135 million.”

GMEF! to host 2015 EF! Round River Rendezvous

Have you ever dreamt of finding yourself curled in a hardwood copse full of glacial erratics, beneath maple and ash leaves, listening to the inquiring twitter of the oven bird and the soul stirring and strangely nostalgic harmony of the hermit thrush's song? Or jumping into a deep, green, glacial kettle pond? Or sharing stories of encounters with the wild, of nearly averted disasters, and your hearts deepest desires of freedom and insurrection around a fire with comrades? Well then this is your chance! If you have never been to a RRR before, then know that you are in for a real adventure! They generally consist of a week of workshops, trainings, storytelling, music and poetry. There are opportunities to hear updates on campaigns and struggles from all over the continent, time to connect with lots of amazing folks during the week, and bond during the post-Rondy action (keep yr eyes out for a public action callout).

The 2015 Earth First! Round River Rendezvous, hosted by Green Mountain Earth First!, will be held on occupied Abenaki land in so-called Vermont, *July 1-8*. The ancestors of today's Abenaki are the original inhabitants of what is now Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Southern Quebec. The word Abenaki is derived from Wobanakik, which means "dawn land" or "eastern land.

Many of the people organizing this summer’s gathering are currently involved in a campaign to stop a fracked gas pipeline under Lake Champlain – the largest body of water in VT (and also home to beluga whales!)

The process of collective liberation has been a challenging part of the last several EF! gatherings. The intention for this RRR is to firmly root our work together in growing truly intersectional movements. We are excited to continue to address questions of how to build from past conversations.

We recognize that the same violence that permeates our relationships with the Earth permeates our relationships with each other and ourselves. Eco-liberation = Biocentrism + Deep Ecology + Anti-Oppression + Solidarity! We cannot confront the forces destroying the earth without confronting the systems of power destroying subsistence cultures and exploiting people of color and other oppressed groups around the planet.

What are the ways that we can heal ourselves and continue working together in solidarity while dismantling systems of oppression?

We are excited to extend an invitation to learn from, lend our strength to, and deepen the ties of solidarity and love for the collective future we are dreaming into being.

NO COMPROMISE IN DEFENSE OF MOTHER EARTH!

Check greenmountainearthfirst.tumblr.com for updates and directions! Please contact us at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> with any workshop proposals, questions, etc!

#earthfirst!#earth first #rendezvous #intersectionality #beluga #biocentrism #anti-civ #green mountains

RTVT Stop the Fracked Gas Pipeline Campaign

Rising Tide Vermont is working on a campaign to stop a fracked gas pipeline project proposed by Vermont Gas Systems, which is owned by Gaz Metro, a Canadian energy corporation owned by Enbridge, set to run through the Champlain Valley and under Lake Champlain, which is home to beluga whales. For more info, check out http://www.risingtidevermont.org.

#risingtide #fracking #climate change #climate justice #vermont #pipeline #vermont gas #gaz metro #enbridge

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