<div>Hi Barry & Everyone</div>
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<div>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..</div>
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<div>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. </div>
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<div>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.</div>
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<div>That said, as you know, I do think a discussion about structures is important. </div>
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<div>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. </div>
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<div>1st, and most closely related to the CRD strategy is <em>the question of our own organisational constitution</em>, 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. </div>
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<div>2nd, is <em>the idea of developing a programme of ideas</em> 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. </div>
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<div>Anyway, following this, last night a discussion ensued about <em>the idea of us all writing a grassroots manifesto</em>. 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: <a href="http://crdmanifesto.pbworks.com/">http://crdmanifesto.pbworks.com/</a> </div>
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<div>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, <em>passion for equalising</em>" I agree with that sentiment 100%, so let's all get stuck in..!</div>
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<div>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?</div>
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<div>Mark <br></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">2009/10/27 Barry Fineberg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:barry@fineberg.co.uk" target="_blank">barry@fineberg.co.uk</a>></span><br>
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<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Hi Mark,</font></div>
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<div><font size="2" face="Arial">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.</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">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. </font></div>
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<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Best wishes,</font></div>
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<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Barry Fineberg.</font></div>
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<div style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><b>From:</b> <a title="marknbarrett@googlemail.com" href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com" target="_blank">Mark Barrett</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org" href="mailto:campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org" target="_blank">campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org</a> ; <a title="project2012@googlegroups.com" href="mailto:project2012@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">project2012@googlegroups.com</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 26, 2009 1:37 PM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> [Campaignforrealdemocracy] crd strategy</div>
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<div>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. </div>
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<div>The short/medium term aims of CRD are to : </div>
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<div>(1) link different individuals and groups working at the local level around the concept of real democracy</div>
<div>(2) promote real democracy as equality via horizontal, inclusive consensus-decision making, in groups & starting at the neighbourhood level</div>
<div>(3) encourage groups to connect for an alternative, democratic society locally, nationally and internationally</div>
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<div>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). </div>
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<div>Presumably by: </div>
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<div>(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</div>
<div>(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 </div>
<div>(3) local independent meetings as CRD/ CRD aligned groups</div>
<div>(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..</div>
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<div>And at the London/wider level we also have the possibilities of :</div>
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<div>(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</div>
<div>(2) developing regular CRD meetings and strategic partnerships (with members of the 21st Century Network (<a href="http://www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork" target="_blank">www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork</a> see for example meeting on Dec 2nd ), the Community Sector Coalition <a href="http://www.communitysectorcoalition.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.communitysectorcoalition.org.uk/</a> Peace not War <a href="http://www.peace.fm/" target="_blank">www.peace.fm</a> and possibly others such as NCIA, Transition Towns, Climate Camp and others. </div>
<div>(3) using the web / live streaming / other tech possibilities for meetings </div>
<div>(4) more picnics! </div>
<div>(5) connecting with other groups nationally and internationally on line to see if they would like to join forces under the same banner </div>
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<div>What do people think? good, bad, indifferent? are people up for doing it / getting involved? any other ideas? </div>
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<div>Mark </div></div></div>
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<p></p></p></blockquote></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>"We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there no man speaketh as we speak in the street.” <br>