[Campaignforrealdemocracy] crd strategy

Wed Oct 28 09:52:27 GMT 2009

> i think we should schedule a CRD meeting specifically designed to work on
> producing something like an intro flyer

seconded :-)

one eve next week? how about thurs 5th nov, at the royal festival
hall? or another day.. ?
only eve i can't do is wed 4th

mark

2009/10/28 James Holland <james at dogmanet.org>:
, rather than more general
> discussion?
>
> j
>
> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 9:11 PM, Mark Barrett <marknbarrett at googlemail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Barry & Everyone
>>
>> Thanks for your email. Please do send through what you feel we need to
>> read; any pointers on necessary mediatory structures, most welcome. As it
>> happens this topic came up at a meeting last night..
>>
>> But first, just to be clear, the CRD strategy mail you've responded to was
>> primarily about 'real democracy cells'. So, a message to
>> encourage grassroots campaigners to consider (1) these issues, and (2) the
>> possibility of a wider alignment. Essentially in their local groups
>> and communities and, by way of challenge, in response to state-managed (ie
>> council-run) local fora.
>>
>> But if this comes to fruition, mediatory structures (by which I am
>> guessing you mean the nature of our constitution as a campaigning group)
>> will, presumably, become more important? But for now, at such an early day?
>> At this point, I'm just thinking: er, let's just get a leaflet about real
>> democratic decision making and the need to form local cells sorted, and
>> then (a) do it in our local communities (b) spread the word to others of
>> like radical mind and (c) see what response we get.
>>
>> That said, as you know, I do think a discussion about structures is
>> important.
>>
>> And it seems to me that this breaks down into two strands, both of which
>> need to take place in my opinion on the Project 2012 list so that the CRD
>> list can remain low traffic and centre solely on the real democracy
>> campaigning side of things.
>>
>> 1st, and  most closely related to the CRD strategy is the question of our
>> own organisational constitution, which is I think the one you raise.
>> Personally I would welcome this conversation, but let's use Project 2012
>> where posting is free and easy.
>>
>> 2nd, is the idea of developing a programme of ideas about structures
>> around which we can realistically visualise a just, democratic world
>> operating. While not the same as (and no substitute for) getting organised
>> in our local neighbourhoods, such a programme could be used in a variety of
>> useful ways. For example as a backdrop to an event (eg some of us are
>> planning a Real Democracy / Third Sector / Transformation of
>> Culture event, for Feb 2010) or in press work around some form of direct
>> action, as was case with the now defunct New Sovereignty blog at the London
>> G20.  We could, for example, be in need of a set of principles / propaganda
>> / or whatever if we did demos at town halls, or the GLA. If we are to build
>> a strong sense of what we are about in the media establishment that is what
>> the journalists are looking for or else they will paint us as a bunch of
>> desparadoes with no political maturity involved in purely gesture
>> politics. Or indeed, it could eve form an electoral manifesto.
>>
>> Anyway, following this, last night a discussion ensued about the idea of
>> us all writing a grassroots manifesto. Why not, said Robin.. So with that in
>> mind I've set up a wiki space for this, here is a place where all the voices
>> who desire can contribute and maybe make a nice patchwork
>> quilt:  http://crdmanifesto.pbworks.com/
>>
>> So, in the spirit of Jocelyn's excellent words (which somehow didn't come
>> to my inbox, but thankfully I found them, by chance when trawling the
>> Project 2012 googlegroup archive) the "..idea of a third force, real
>> democracy, local community based politics can include a much deeper desire,
>> love of, passion for equalising" I agree with that sentiment 100%, so let's
>> all get stuck in..!
>>
>> All ideas very welcome although there can be no guarantees what will
>> become of them. Suggest intellect, emotion, history, desire and the
>> unconscious : whatever works to get people interested, engaged, inspired,
>> let's just tap into it all?
>>
>> Mark
>> 2009/10/27 Barry Fineberg <barry at fineberg.co.uk>
>>>
>>> Hi Mark,
>>>
>>> Your strategy resonates but sadly I am confident that without some
>>> disciplined framework you are poised on the threshold of an unmanageable
>>> complexity. My response of 08.09.09 offered what I believe to be a naturally
>>> ordered approach which, however, may need further graphic evidence for its
>>> better understanding. I shall try to put this together asap.
>>>
>>> To recap, I felt that 'natural spatial disciplines----must be brought to
>>> bear on current disorder'. Your view instead was ' try to push on all doors,
>>> and trust that truth will always win'. A noble but wholly impracticable
>>> sentiment I regret to say. The 'doors' are virtually infinite and,
>>> notwithstanding  common aspirational values, such multiplicity of issues
>>> will I fear defy coherent, practical coordination in the absence of
>>> appropriate mediatory structures.
>>>
>>> Best wishes,
>>>
>>> Barry Fineberg.
>>>
>>>
>>> ---- Original Message -----
>>>
>>> From: Mark Barrett
>>> To: campaignforrealdemocracy at lists.aktivix.org ;
>>> project2012 at googlegroups.com
>>> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 1:37 PM
>>> Subject: [Campaignforrealdemocracy] crd strategy
>>> Having met with local colleagues yesterday, I want to draw together
>>> some of what has emerged from picnics, meetings and discussions on lists and
>>> elsewhere. Do people agree with the tenor of this? If so, I will draw up
>>> a brief leaflet including these  points for distribution.
>>>
>>> The short/medium term aims of CRD are to :
>>>
>>> (1) link different individuals and groups working at the local level
>>> around the concept of real democracy
>>> (2) promote real democracy as equality via horizontal, inclusive
>>> consensus-decision making, in groups & starting at the neighbourhood level
>>> (3) encourage groups to connect for an alternative, democratic society
>>> locally, nationally and internationally
>>>
>>> The strategy (so far identified) to make this happen is  to offer advice
>>> / support / encouragement / materials to individuals and groups to start CRD
>>> cells in local boroughs, wards, neighbourhoods (here and ideally
>>> also abroad).
>>>
>>> Presumably by:
>>>
>>> (1) connecting with like-minds in local area, whether by advertising for
>>> a new group or via already organised groups such as Transition Towns, NO2ID,
>>> LA21, Community Development Network, Housing Co-ops,
>>> Residents/Tenants Associations, anti-tescos campaigns or other
>>> (2) focusing on council run meetings operating at the smallest (ie ward
>>> or, as in my case three ward) level and developing the group as a strategic
>>> challenge to the non-democratic structure of the council run meetings
>>> (3) local independent meetings as CRD/ CRD aligned groups
>>> (4) considering in the medium term the possibility of decentralised
>>> simultaneous actions - eg militant picnics at town halls - to raise
>>> awareness, recruit and get positive media coverage..
>>>
>>> And at the London/wider level we also have the possibilities of :
>>>
>>> (1) taking up the offer of a regular monthly CRD slot at the Peace not
>>> War sessions at Dalston's Passing Clouds, as a way of sharing
>>> info, spreading campaign literature and connecting with the wider public
>>> (2) developing regular CRD meetings and strategic partnerships
>>> (with members of the 21st
>>> Century Network (www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork see for example meeting
>>> on Dec 2nd ), the Community Sector Coalition
>>> http://www.communitysectorcoalition.org.uk/ Peace not War www.peace.fm and
>>> possibly others such as NCIA, Transition Towns, Climate Camp and others.
>>> (3) using the web / live streaming / other tech possibilities for
>>> meetings
>>> (4) more picnics!
>>> (5) connecting with other groups nationally and internationally on line
>>> to see if they would like to join forces under the same banner
>>>
>>> What do people think? good, bad, indifferent? are people up for doing it
>>> / getting involved? any other ideas?
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Campaignforrealdemocracy mailing list
>>> Campaignforrealdemocracy at lists.aktivix.org
>>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/campaignforrealdemocracy
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there no
>> man speaketh as we speak in the street.”
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Campaignforrealdemocracy mailing list
>> Campaignforrealdemocracy at lists.aktivix.org
>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/campaignforrealdemocracy
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
> James Holland
>

-- 
"We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is
there no man speaketh as we speak in the street.”